ACROSS LITE PUZZLE: [ STIMULANTS PACKAGE]
PROGRAM: [Across Lite]
PROGRAM: [Java]
PRINTOUT PUZZLE: [ STIMULUS PACKAGE]
PROGRAM: [Adobe Acrobat]
For an experiment, I once attempted to make a puzzle just a little high. I figured virtually all of the greatest music was written and recorded all types of messed up. And what are crosswords but entertainment? How amazing would a puzzle be made under the influence?
The answer was “kind of terrible.” At least the first draft was terrible. Unpublishable. Although I had already come up with the theme, I was too paranoid while making the grid, overthinking virtually every entry I put down. My mind went something like this:
“This’ll work, no it can’t, yeah it will, this is the greatest puzzle ever made, man it sucks, how’m I ever going to do the other corner? This theme is amazing, no it’s so hackneyed, who’m I kidding? It’s awesome! Look at this: OREOS helps finish this corner, yeah, boy! Mmmm, Oreos, I could go for some Oreos right now, no, God dammit! Get focus, stay focus, wait … Everything’s misspelled! Oh shit, oh shit. No it’s not, wait, what was the theme again? I can’t remember. None of these make any sense. Was this even in English … ? Okay, I remember now: it was a drop a word theme, so, I think the theme entries are spelled right, wait, is the grid even symmetrical? No it’s not, damn, dammit! Wait, it is symmetrical, shit, this isn’t the greatest puzzle ever made, it’s not even close, but that theme entry is pretty damn funny, I think I have a headache … Focus, focus! Oh man, I can’t think of any word that fits the pattern R E _ _ _ S, there are no seven letter words that start R E and end with S, Jesus, I’m so screwed,” etc.
I stopped the experiment around that point and finished making the crossword later. I suspect had I continued on, and managed to come up with a suitable grid, I would have got equally distracted in the myriad of reference material whilst cluing.
For whatever it’s worth, here’s today’s list, in order, of the drugs I take to make puzzles, for you to take drugs in order to do: coffee, beer.
Postscript: Nice write-up about my ACPT puzzle: here.
Nice puzzle. I’ve heard of the first four, but I’m a little unclear as to 54-Across.
It’s funny — I’m pretty sure that the only puzzle of mine that got into the NYT was filled under the influence.
Hi Brendan, fun puzzle today…got to admit it makes me feel all my 48-years old though. Is WEST another name for SPEED? (When I see N.W.A. I think of Northwest Airlines and thought they might be the first to “pioneer” a WEST COAST RUN (thinking ROUTE, but RUN was all that I could get to fit.))
Anyway, you have a typo in the clue for 45 Across–Video file extension.
Hey Brendan,
I very much enjoyed meeting you on Friday night. It was fun to talk puzzles for a bit and see the band.
To anyone out there, BTO is a great band to see. They are pretty much unlike any group you will likely come across. I highly recommend heading out the next time they play near you.
Too much work to catch up on so far today, but I will take a stab at the puzzle tonight. Thanks!
Maybe it’s sniffing Coast soap?
Guess that’s the two-worder WEST COAST, not just WEST…
The things you can learn from puzzles…
Very nice, Brendan. I can’t remember 47-down being clued so, uh, forgivingly. Not sure about 67-across “miniatures” as the scale is larger. N.W.A. and B.I.G. were off my radar. Enjoyable puzzle, thanks.
Hi Brendan-
I enjoyed today’s puzzle, despite the inclusion of 4 down. My initial response to 52 across was “Ida”. I live in Portland and have been conditioned to think state, not rock, upon seeing “Ore”. Thought it was pretty funny when Ore-Ida popped up at 13 down. Was that intentional–i.e. did one suggest the other as you were constructing? Just curious…
Very nice. I think my optimum for a puzzle is a cup of tea and a hangover, quite frankly. A nice, relaxing, abstracting daze seems to break out the lateral thinking and help with the rapid solving.
I enjoyed how 50-Down also works for the theme. And 4-Down, if you let the last part of the answer stand instead of the first part. (Oh, and F-&@# Duke!)
Sorry I missed you guys in Providence; it’s an hour drive, but I thought about it. Next time you’re that close, I’ll definitely try to make it.
“Just a little high,” eh Towelie?
Well, BEQ, nice one again. It’s sort of difficult to finish a puzzle if you don’t even understand the clues, though! Half pint WTF, half pint I get it! Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you and yours. The “other” Emmett is having his head shaved for St. Baldrick’s Day tomorrow.