ACROSS LITE PUZZLE: [ DIRTY WORDS]
PROGRAM: [Across Lite]
PROGRAM: [Java]
PRINTOUT PUZZLE: [ DIRTY WORDS]
PROGRAM: [Adobe Acrobat]
This one’s really an Easy/Medium puzzle. So it’s more of an Easium. I didn’t have time to make a new graphic to reflect this difficulty level, so I apologize in advance. Next time.
Why haven’t I had the spare time? Because I’ve been twiddling around with my new smartphone. We’ve already documented the incredible shittiness of my previous phone in podcasts, hackneyed old-school phone themes, and photo essays. So really, there’s no reason to go in that again. Just throwing it out there right now: I got the new HTC Hero, and without getting a little too “Consumer Reports” on this blog, the phone’s boss. Finally I got a proper smartphone that, you know, is smart. And it runs Google’s Android. And how some people are sycophantic to the Church of Steve Jobs and All-Things Apple, I’m that way towards Google.
I was indoctrinated into the anti-Apple sentiment began years ago. The first computer I had was an Apple IIc. The “c” stands for “crap,” I think. Anyway, my Dad was furious at Apple because he’d spent a lot of money on a computer that, at the time we bought it, was well on it’s way toward becoming an antique. Dad, completely unaware of the immutable Moore’s Law that means all pieces of technology inevitably will become obsolete, vowed never to give Apple any more money after that. And my conversion to becoming a PC was complete.
Go ahead. Call me soulless in the comments section. I can take it.
Anyway, I was going through the pages and pages of apps available for Android phones last night, looking for a suitable crossword reader. At one point I had hopes to make my own iPhone/Android crossword app, but it appears that both markets are flooded with crossword readers. Almost all of them are free. Which is amazing. But my guess is if you already have a smartphone, a crossword reader, and half a brain, you can figure out how to download and play my puzzles your phone. So why make another one? The one I’m leaning toward now is Shortyz, named so in honor of the Puzzlemaster himself. But if there’s a better one I don’t know about: let me know.
So I’m opening it up to the audience. What apps do you recommend to the other BEQ.com visitors? Leave all suggestions in the comments section please.
In the meantime, share the puzzle! New one on Monday.
It’s not Easium, Brendan. Not if it took me and Al and Joon a Thursday/Friday amount of time.
Loved the puzzle, though. The quote didn’t take up much space so you had the flexibility to get better fill in there.
Amy, Amy, Amy. What am I to do? One test-solver said it was an Easy, and the other said it was a solid Medium. That’s an Easium.
Yeah, I tried to compensate for the smallish material with a colorful fill. Glad you liked it.
Jeez, BEQ, I think Amy let you off easy. I was sure she would hit you up on the chauvenist piggishness of your quote. Which gave me a laugh, I must admit.
It wasn’t easy for me but I’m a minor leaguer.
How about “She’s just not that into you, MAN?”
Otherwise, a challenging and fun effort, allowing as always for my pitifully small knowledge of sports and musicians.
Is there an app that makes it so that people can get BEQ puzzles delivered to their smartphones and Facebook pages whenever you make a new one? If not, that might be worth investigating.
amy, i don’t think there is a “thursday/friday amount of time” for me. i’m usually around 5 minutes on thursdays, but fridays are all over the map. today’s KMT, for example, took me 10+.
anyway, this was a solid BEQ “medium” from my perspective. nothing took me particularly long except the quote (i wanted it to end with ABSURD, but there wasn’t room). oh, and the NW, where i had LAW____ for a while and couldn’t work out the rest, and i was (speaking of ABSURD) misreading {Wrestlemania finale, often} as {Wrestlemania locale, often}.
OK, I confess: I was the test-solver who said it was an Easy. I had a really fast test-solving time, so maybe I was just smack in the middle of The Zone for this one.
An easium for me (15:05), but a catcher’s mitt is decidely BEHIND the plate, not “just above” it!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3098/3120215459_359c12ea1e.jpg
You of all people Brendan…
Oops. I meant a “mediard”.
This was medium to me which translates into sweating out 3 or four crossings notably ELSTON/ETHN and LOUADBANO/ABACAB. The quote came easier then usual for me.
amen, Groucho!
I’ve not found an iPhone app that can load the BEQ puzzles. Anyone have better luck?
More medium-hard for me. I think I may have had less trouble with KT’s Fri. NYT. I had to go all the way back to the Cyndi Lauper video to get LOU and, when you are my age, it takes a while for stuff buried that deep to surface!