ACROSS LITE PUZZLE: [ THEMELESS MONDAY] 
PROGRAM: [Across Lite]

PROGRAM: [Java]

PRINTOUT PUZZLE: [ THEMELESS MONDAY]

PROGRAM: [Adobe Acrobat]

Had a chill weekend (for once) in what seemed like, well forever. Some family (on both sides) were in Boston, so it was good to see them. Even took a break from “having to make puzzles” and focussed a little more on, well, everything else in my life. Chillaxing is underrated, if not rated at all.

Couple small puzzle-related things though before I get into a very abbreviated “Behind the Puzzle” episode:

1. Twitter’s an amazing site (are you following me yet?). Just did a cursory search yesterday to see who was solving my Sunday New York Times puzzle, only to discover that ’90s one-hit wonder Lisa Loeb was doing just that. What a mindfuck. Well, I know loads of celebs do the Times puzzle, I just never had proof they were actually doing my puzzles specifically. Well, QED Twitter!
2. Dave Sullivan comes through again with another amazing addition to the site. As you recall he put together that awesome Leaderboard at the top of the middle column. Well, he’s just about outdone himself by adding star ratings along with it. So, go to town everybody: share your times (if you wish) and hit me where it hurts. Tell me what you really think of me with pictures of stars instead of words. (For those into the whole verbosity thing, the comments section remains open. Oh, and please, if you haven’t done so already, check out Dave’s running club.)

Well that’s enough puzzling news. As for this puzzle, 7-Down was, predictably, the starting point. 15-letters baby! And Jesus, what an amazing record. Hunt that record down if you ever liked Talking Heads, or if you just liked the idea of Talking Heads. The 33- and 38-Across section concluded the heavily “Entertainment Weekly” quota of the puzzle (and I forgive if a lot of these entries were: huh?). Was pretty happy with how the NW and SE sections came out (NW especially). The answer to 4-Down I’m sure will be a polarizing entry. For those who were already drinking the Elizabeth Gilbert Kool Aid will invariably love that entry. And for those who can’t stand both that book and all the blind love for that book will invariably groan and/or chalk it up as BEQ-knowing-irony. (I’ll leave that proof up to the reader.) Favorite clues in the batch: 52-Down for the humor, and 6- and 13-Down for the trivia.

Hope you enjoyed it. New puzzle on Wednesday.

Comments (41)