If you solve the runts at xwordinfo.com could you start solving them at
http://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/
This can be reached from runtpuz.org by clicking the "Crowd sourcing runtpuzzes" link. However, if you have previously visited runtpuz.org, please use the sanskritlibrary.com link the first time and refresh the browser so you have the latest version which has a couple of features that you might like: 1. Reveal only a single letter instead of a whole word 2. When puzzle is full, program does not automatically let you know if it is correct. Instead you have to click the check puzzle link. 3. There is a 5 second grace period for fat-fingering.
I am also interested in any suggestions you might have to improve the interface.
To aid those solvers with bad memories (especially those sayin "M and WHO?" right now), please, for your own sakes, study this picture a bit each day, until the next runtpuz appears...
General detail and placement of figures are important. Number of elephant freckles detail is not.
2. After study, discard picture. Absolutely no peeking at the picture, while U solve the puzzle. No!
3. Start solving the runtpuz. Peeking back at the picture is tantamount to 100 Google searches, but…
4. After U start solving the runtpuz, feel free to draw, from memory, your own version of the picture. (Please send copies of all such pictures to runtpuz.blogspot.com, so that M&A might enjoy them).
Bravo! You have created an interesting variation on the crossword puzzle that should be of interest to aging boomers who are worried about exercising their memories.
Thanx, @r.alph. Can a clue inside a crowdsourcerer's runtpuz have an html link to a picture? That'd really grease the hog, without frightening off the "exercise of any kind" timid folks, mayhaps...
See y'all next shortly before Christmas Eve. Get ready to do some Christmas caroling.
@r.alph: Whoa, dude. You're amazin, but don't go to all that trouble... My musings were more along the lines of enabling links somehow in runtpuz clues.
Example: ACROSS 1. What's missing from this picture. [Where "picture" is a link to an actual picture]
I'm thinkin that M&A is wishin for somethin that Santa could not easily deliver. (And M&A ain't been THAT good all year, anyhow...)
@BobK: Jaw-droppin solve time. And I thought this pup had some rough-going, to it. U must really know yer Christmas carols. A runt well-stomped.
@r.alph: I noticed U have a runtpuz.gov FAQ section. Now that yer site is probably in the million-hits-per-week club, U might add these top queries to it...
Q: Why are your puzzles so day-um small? A: Note the webpage name. They all have the runt gene. And it's dominant. Also, it's easier to come up with fresh puzthemes, since hardly anyone has messed with this grid size before.
Q: Are all runt puzzles 7 x 7 grids? A: No. Sunday-sized runt puzzles tend to run 9 x 9. And some other weekday runtz have mutated a bit, in size, shape, and understandability.
Q: What does the double-?? in a clue mean? I've never seen that before in other crosswords. A: In short, it means: trouble brewing.
Q: The puzzle construction here seems pretty consistently desperate. Do you ever feature any professionally-made crosswords? A: First of all, thanx. Almost every well-known and respected crossword constructor has tried to achieve this level of desperation, but so far have mostly failed to hit the high mark we choose to set. One guy has got the hang of it, but prefers to remain masked and anonymous, for reasons relating to problems with creditors. We once also got a real desperate collaboration from a Lovely Mysterious Stranger (see archives). Some other really marvelous desperate efforts by others have occasionally trickled in.
Q: I've noticed this M&A reference. Why is it's menu entry printed it red? A: It is a sorta warning message format, required by the FDA.
Q: When and where did runt puzzles begin? Where are they headed, in the future? A: There is a cryptic reference to runts in Genesis. So far, we don't know where the runtz are headed; it's a little like herding katz.
Q: I was appalled to see unchecked squares, two-letter words, unsymmetric black square placements, and even use of the circles in your grids. Have you no shame? What do you have to say for yourselves?!? (sputter) A: Absolutely no refunds.
Q: Your puzzle answers rarely feature people names. Is this intentional? A: Kinda. Mostly, we just have a hard time remembering most people's names. Unless they've made a "cry for help" appearance in a schlock movie, of course.
Q: What is your process for developing a runt puzzle? A: Draw a 7x7 grid on paper. Start putting words in the grid, until a theme pops into our head. Eat cinnamon roll, to celebrate. Put more words into the grid, trying to add at least one or two more themers. At the end,color in the unused squares with black pencil scratchins. Write clues for all the entries. Use double-?? clues, for the one or two most desperate entries (it's sorta like an award ceremony). Let clues stand overnight. Rewrite clues. Load puzzle to xwordinfo.com. Eat cinnamon roll to celebrate.
Q: How long does it take to make a runt puzzle? A: About what you'd expect, given the funky quality.
Q: How do we locate a new runt puzzle? A: With difficulty. Usually a message is posted, when we're sure no one is watching, at runtpuz.blogspot.com. And lists of older, more venerated runtz are posted at runtpuz.org. Often we drop a subtle hint in a comment at the (highly recommended) Rex Parker site, by including "**gruntz**" at the very bottom. **gruntz** originally stood for "Go to RUNT PuZzles". We had to be sneaky about it, so as not to offend other commenters too much.
Q: Why are there usually an unusual number of U's in runt puzzles? A: U's are the Rodney Dangerfield of vowels, respect-wise, in almost all professionally-written crossword puzzles. We root for the down-trodden, here. We're feisty, like the runts of a litter.
A: What is the question?? Q: We do not require any of our answers to be posted in the form of a question. That'd be pretty weird. Quit it, Alex.
Q: How often do runt puzzles appear? Is there a regular schedule? A: The schedule is totally random. Sometimes every day for the week. Sometimes there are week- or even month-long truces declared. Then sometimes the truces get broken. Sorta like how Congress acts, when they're having a good year.
Q: I see several references to "cinnamon rolls" and "weejects" in these runt puzzles. Please explain. A: Cinnamon rolls are delicious. QED. Weejects stands for Wee Rejects, which are basically all 3-letter words in crosswords, as they seem to be the Rodney Dangerfield of crossword fill, respect-wise. We are a haven for the down-trodden, here at rUntpUz Central. We especially welcome desperate weejects. Example: UOD = {Mixed-up duo??}. For further info on this, we highly recommend: http://mumde.net/runtpuz/ThinU.gif
Q: Does your site take donations? A: Send all tips, in small, unmarked bills, to: Runtpuz, c/o Ralph Bunker, 2151 185 St #14, Fairfield, IA 52556. He does all the worthwhile work, around here. If you flag the tip as "For M&A", r.alph will forward it to @muse, to help fund supplies and textbooks, for needy West Virginia school kids. Fair enough? ... And thanx, in advance, for your inexplicable support. (Runtpuz solvers are such nice peoples!)
Q: Who the hell is this M&A dude? A: A very shy, gentle, safely-medicated soul who has written an awful lot of crosswords. A few have actually been published in the newspapers, under one or more other names. But here, he prefers to wear a mask, and remain anonymous. It's his fave puzzle gimmick.
M&A The FAQs have been updated. I also added your description of how to create a .puz file using Across Lite.
I have not forgotten about putting links in the puzzle. I am working a major revision that lets you play back two puzzles side by side. I am going to add a new feature to this blog that will let any solver compare their solution with with a friend. For example here is a comparison of solving the Monday puzzle with my buddy Dave. 1. Open runtpuz.org 2. Click "Crowd sourcing runtpuzzes 3. Click "Compare your solution with a friends" 4. Enter 122 (my solution) and 123 (Dave's solution) and click Submit
This can be used for any puzzle not just NYT's so I hope to get a chance to see how someone else approaches a runt puzzle (I looking at you Bob!)
Nope, no desire to go the astronaut route. Looking at the capsules at various museums, I'm pretty sure 6'2" would have been a tough and uncomfortable fit. Wasn't it the original astronauts themselves who came up with the "spam in a can" label, and insisted on some sort of limited use joy stick to feel more like pilots?
Plus, as we all know, I didn't have the 'right stuff'...;>)
M&A The next version of KF will compute an ACPT score for the puzzle. To do this I need the maximum time allowed to solve the puzzle (as is done at the ACPT). For the NYT I am setting the max times as follows Monday 15 min Tuesday 20 min Wednesday 25 min Thursday 30 min Friday 45 min Saturday 60 min Sunday 60 min
The program needs to detect the puzzle difficulty from title. It can detect this for NY Times puzzles because their titles always start with "NY Time, " followed by the day of the week. It appears that the title of runt puzzles always begins with "KIDDIE POOL KROSSWORD #" followed by a random number. May I suggest that you continue to do this but add a decimal to the random number to indicate the max scoring time for the puzzle, e.g. #168.10 for a 10 minute puzzle. If you don't want to do this, then I will assume any puzzle less than 15x15 is a runt puzzle and its maximum solve time is 10 minutes.
@r.alph: Most of my new runtpuz titles start with RUNTPUZ #...etc. Seemed like a more efficient use of space. The last runt was a leftover "stray" runtpuz from several months ago. (Tryin to clean out the runt pen.)
I can try addin a few of those decimal difficulty levels, to see how it works out. But I find my estimates of runtpuz difficulty end up bein pretty much the real random numbers in the rodeo...
It is as M&A feared. The runtz take some time off, and everybody either forgets what they're doin, or just plain goes soft from lack of exercise. Examples:
* @BobK goes plumb belly up, when confronted by the "Syllabollix" runtpuz.
* @r.alph soldiers on and bravely completes the runtpuz, then inexplicably sends out a reply message with a url that points back to the original xwordinfo file.
* @muse completely disappears from the face of the earth.
* @evil passes up on bein an astronaut.
M&A is beginnin to worry about all his runt buddies. Next runtpuz had best be a real fluff ball.
Added a few comments: http://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=137 Again, I loved how you used the circles. It saves space in the clue window!
Here's a brand new runtpuz for BobK. to get his nerve back on...
www.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=8633&id2=334
@r.alph: I put a colon after the puzzle number, and then plunked in an estimated max time. Will that work OK? (A period made it look too much like a fraction, I thought). If the ACPT insists on a period, the runtz will probably grudgingly comply, tho...
Sorry, took me a flat 7:00 and one use of "Reveal incorrect letters" to finish this one. It's probably not the puzzle, it's the season. Even the morning after, that bottle of wine slows things down. Also my abject ignorance of many things!
Doesn't look like I allowed enough max time, in my 8-minute guess. @r.alph: What would a fair ACPT-like max amount of time be, for this themeless runt? Maybe BobK. will also have an opinion?
Re forks and spoons http://williamwegman.tumblr.com/post/5197848913/william-wegman-one-or-two-spoons-two-or-three
M&A I really wish that I could email you about a possible project that will give runtpuzzes some exposure. Due to the nature of the project I don't feel comfortable giving details here. Do you have a relative or friend who could serve as a liaison?
har. How on earth do U find these fork-and-spoon places?!?
har. Nice of U. But major alarm bells go off, for lazy bum M&A, whenever he hears the "project" word. Please don't fret about the runtz's lack of popularity: it is, and will continue to be, well-deserved.
p.s. Kinda mystifies m&e, when I keep hearin about @63 not readin his own Rex Parker blog's comments. Especially, since his blog is a (large) comment about the NYTPuz, that presumably he would want constructors, editors and solvers to read. Plus, how do nasty comments get edited out? Does his mom do it?
@r.alph: Asked around, a little -- but nobody was real excited about passing mysterious e-mails back and forth for a guy in a mask. Could you just use that Top Secret construction comment block, at this site? (The one where LMS and I did some collab work.) It at least has a spoiler warning on it.
Anyhoo, I was moved by your highly commendable desire to prep for the ACPT, and made you this 15x15 practice puz. It's probably a Wednesday NYTPuz-like rodeo, but has been totally cow-pattied up by M&A cluing. So I give it a 30-minute limit. The good news: if U can solve this cleanly in that time limit, Dan Feyer will hear footsteps...
Nosing in where I wasn't explicitly invited, as usual, but 19:23, no cheats. Could probably shave off a second or two if I were better at navigating the grid; I'm just a paper solver at heart.
As always, love the clues. Lots of laughs when I understood them.
There are many prizes including a registration fee for the upcoming ACPT. All contestants eligible for the ACPT fee would be required to solve a runtpuz using the runtpuz.org program. So far some of the best solvers in the world have submitted correct answers and I thought this would be a way to gain some insight into how a really good solver approaches a difficult puzzle. But I have decided not to do this because I want some regular solver who came up with the solution to also have a chance.
However I have another idea. What if we do a similar contest? You create a biter runt and I will offer the ACPT registration fee to some solver who is able to do it. Would you be willing to participate in this?
If so, then there really needs to be a way for us to communicate other than on a public blog. Here is my idea. I create a web app that displays a password. It will display it only the first time it is run. I give you the URL of the program, you run it and get the password and report here that you got the password. Once I see this we can use another web app to communicate using the password which only you and I know. Would you be willing to do this?
@r.alph: Kept gettin "can't find server", so I snuck a ".com" in, after the sanskritlibrary word in that first url, and then I got somethin. Judging from what I got, I've probably got the magic password.
Questions now abound, in M&A's brain, about what I do with that second url. Do I put .com in it again? Do I substitute (you-know-what), where I see "Password", in that second url? etc.
har. M&A would make a pretty funky intelligence agent.
1. A puzzle I submitted to the NY Times was added to the "Puzzles that didn't excite Will Shortz" section along with a rejection cartoon from Hayley Gold. She could teach Rex Parker a thing or two about trashing a puzzle!
2. I convinced my buddy Dave to use KF to do puzzles and there is now a section comparing our solutions. The puzzles are done in strict ACPT conditions which mean the first cheat causes the puzzle to be "turned in." Also the clock is always running. To help me focus on the puzzle like I might at the actual tournament, I give Dave $10 if his ACPT score is higher than mine.
Wow, @r.alph -- You're a real good constructioneer! Congrats on yer "near-acceptance". Took me around 8 minutes to solve. Learned something new, at 46-D. Great desperation, at 41-D -- but otherwise, day-um smooth fill and a real fun crossword.
I have a 15x15 (far more excitingly desperate) reject that I will share soon, as additional ACPT warmup fodder.
Thought of a perfect prize for the upcoming ACPT runt puzzle contest. Check this out: http://www.fahrneyspens.com/Item--i-1825115 You can't see it from the photo but the crossword pattern on the pen has unchecked squares and one of the words is RUN with the next square obscured by the clip. Looking carefully reveals that it is a black square but the first thing that came to my mind was that it was a T.
http://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=171 Total solve time 14 min 21 sec ACPT score 110 (assuming 10 minutes for puzzle) Max stall 7 min 7 sec (fortunately I was breathing during that time) Number of stalls 3 Number of sputters 3 Desperation index 25 Number of erased letters 11 Number of requests to highlight incorrect letters 0 Hah! Number of letters revealed 0 Hah! Number of letters entered after final check 0 Hah! Number of letters entered after time elapsed 11 Assuming 10 minutes for puzzle
A 10-min. max seems waaaaay too optimistic, for any Stumpy Stumper worth its salt. More on this, in the Overall comment, within the following constructor's summary...
I bet r.alph's ACPT score would have been much more realistic, if the max had been properly set to somewhere around 15-min. Stumpy Stumper runtz demand R-E-S-P-E-C-T!! One false step with one of these, and you'll need to get a rabies shot.
@r.alph: I left a kfc comment file for the proposed contest runt, over at the undercover Parking Garage site. Let me know, what U think. shar. (secret har)
@Bob If you want to get involved in the planning I will give you access to the parking garage. But that means that you won't be eligible to participate.
For all U ACPT contestants. The attached 15x15 warm-up puzzle has been given the following solver completion ratings: Under 10 minutes: Championship calibre. Under 15 min: Regional champ calibre. Under 20 min: Regional champ contender. Under 25 min: Not bad for an ACPT rookie. Under 30 min: Runtpuz champ calibre. Over 30 min: Just there to have a good time.
Here's the practice "round five" puz. Good luck...
I see fabulous ACPT glory in store for @BobK., if he sticks with the runtpuz ACPT training program. 22:21 is great, for this early stage of the training!
M&A's complimentary ACPT training sessions would not be complete, without acclimating the solver to all the distractions possible, during a puz-solvin session. This runtpuz oughta help give y'all the general idea…
www.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=8942&id2=753
Besides, this'll give BobK. a little somethin to look forward to, when he gets back from vacation. har
In every ACPT, they have One Puz that everybody looks forward to, … in a way. It's the dreaded #5 crossword. It is harder than snot. The real tourney-savvy pros do not let this shake them up. So, neither should a wannabe like U.
Here is a runt-sized "ACPT Wipeout Simulation" of one of those jobbers. To be as authentic as possible, we have used a lot of the Shortzmeister's brainbender clues, in this practice session …
www.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=8994&id2=459
This concludes Phase I of the M&A ACPT Training Regimen (™). Phase II begins, after a much-needed road trip break.
@BobK: Yeah, pretty nasty. But U don't "sound" especially shaken up, so mission accomplished, probably. You've obviously been to the ACPT, before, U wily veteran U. Are U plannin on going there, again, this year? I'm not. Too hard to get @muse to notice m&e.
Wow. Lightnin fast, @BobK. I wanted to start things back up, after this latest truce, with something easier, but I may have overdid it. No way Dan F. can do this puppy in 0:15. Wouldn't it take longer than that, just to get over the initial nausea?!?
5:44 for me this time. Seems like hours are lost trying to get the cursor to the right place, a problem I never (well, rarely) have when solving on paper!
@Bob K: Darn good time, for a runtpuz with that many themers.
I have about got a full-bore 15x15 ACPT practice crossword put together. Should be medium difficulty level, if I'm guessin right. Does have one ??-clue, tho...
To have me doing M&A puzzles is a clear case of casting pearls before swine. I never, ever, noticed that any, let alone all, of the themers, unlike vampires, had perfectly good reflections. (Or, well, except for TP/PT, but in a sense that makes it even worse that I failed to see the others!)
This smidgen of ACPT warm-up should be a piece of cake, in spite of being titled "Stumpy Stumper on Steroids", because of the clues. Let's guess time limit = 12 min.
U go to the ACPT, and think you're gonna see a buncha weekday 15x and Sunday 21x puzs… and … WHAMO!! They throw some odd-sized grid at U, and there U are… a fish out of water. Floppin.
At the ACPT, it's usually a 17x grid. No way M&A can build an ACPT-worthy 17x puz. Sounds too much like work.
But here's a runtpuz mated with a 15x, producing a very nice, odd-shaped grid for your ACPT warm-up pleasure…
In this runtpuz's title, I estimated 15 min. max, which is probably a better call than the 20 min. I inadvertantly re-guessed in the introductory blog comment.
Thought BobK and r.alph had excellent solve times -- especially as wacky as that mutant runt was. Congrats, compadres; U are rounding out into primo solvers. If only the ACPT were all runtpuzs!
ACPT Medal Practice Round. This means: * No more nice M&A constructioneer guy. But it's for yer own good. * Tougher themes. * Edgier clues. I did have mercy, here and there, tho. No killer instinct. * Shorter max times. This 15x15 oversized puppy only gives 15 min. U must not tarry, admirin M&A's crafty wordplay. Don't even take time to groan properly. * Please wear yer seatbelt.
Here it is. After this fight, expect: "A Broad Nose"…
This is why I expect to finish around 300th place at the ACPT: After 30 minutes, I had a completed grid but no happy chime. I asked for "Reveal incorrect letters" and I had three, in squares 5, 52, and the crossing of 63D/65A. It took me until 30:44 to figure those out. "5" I don't feel so bad about; "52" I really should have known; the crossing . . . something I couldn't possibly know crossing something very clever but also outside my knowledge set.
Great puzzle, by the way!
Can't spend too much time on these right now; leaving on Friday for a week in the Alps, hoping to survive skiing for six days!
Wow, cool. Enjoy the Alps. I'll try to space the Medal practice sessions out a bit, until U get back.
I figured that 63D/65A intersection might be a stinker. Originally had 63D clued without the dreaded double-??, but decided to give y'all a challenge, there.
The good news: The Shortzmeister hasn't used the double-?? yet, in ACPT history. Yet.
Hmmm… Okay, then. U know, it's actually real good, to get a heap of all types of practice for that there ACPT dealy. Today, y'all get practice on havin the proper tolerance for desperate constructioneers. (Probably won't come up in Stamford, but U never know…)
www.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=9614&id2=510
Also, fairly good trainin for skiin in the Alps. (har)
41-A was pretty good, except for TOU, the upper crust weeject of the bunch. I think I found the 41-A themer by exploring 15-letter words that had appropriately promising beginnings. Didn't take very long to find that one. Bet there's some out there that are even better, somewhere…
My results at attempting this runt prove that you can take the guy out of the Alps, but you can't take the rocks out of the guy's head.
I got hung up on XEROXER and stayed hung up. Several things I didn't know, plus jet lag, and I was totally lost.
As a native of New Jersey, however, I must note one thing, concerning women voting. Despite the strange use of "enormity" in the second sentence, I would refer you to this item: http://www.heritage.org/initiatives/first-principles/primary-sources/new-jersey-recognizes-the-right-of-women-to-vote
@r.alph: Really commendable, how U jump all over the puzs, securin yer footholds, complainin about the day-um clues… Good approach, to all U ACPT contestants out there (mostly in the Alps, right now, I reckon). M&A tends to stubbornly lope along, fill in the grids from top to bottom, putting all kinds of crap in there until proven wrong. Very very sloooow approach. Loses valuable nanoseconds, scorin-wise. Do it like @r.alph.
"Half Time" runtpuz runnin commentary and de-fense:
Probably call a short truce now, until BobK gets back and can catch up. But do have a nice stable (pen? coop? dungeon?) of extra runts caged up, ready to be unleashed, when the time is "just right".
Since BobK has recently been exposed to a lot of high altitudes, let's ease him back into the ACPT practice sessions, with a "Stubby Stumper" themeless runtpuz. At the 7x7 level, themeless runtz actually seem to play out as easier…
Here is what I am thinking the ACPT contest will be. Entrants can solve as many runts as they want. For each runt uploaded entrant gets one ticket for the drawing. They will have to enter their email address in the overall section. Will have to make that clear.
Prizes will be 1st prize: $215 that can be spent for ACPT registratrion or ~50 classic cinnabons (assuming ~$4 a pop). 2nd prize Crossword puzzle pen 3rd prize Roz Chast book of 2 letter words.
As for the ACPT contest plan, sounds great, but also raises a coupla random questions in my head… * Do solvers have to actually solve each runtpuz, or just download it? * Can a solver download the same runtpuz twice and then get two tickets? * Is all this easy for r.alph Central Control to keep track of? * I think that maybe most of the runtpuzs since Christmas haven't made it to the Crowdsourcing "list" yet. Not an actual concern, other than solvers might miss out on some really weird recent runtz.
Hey, guys -- better solve times, since kumquats are off the menu! I am concerned, tho, that U may be jolted a little by the opening ACPT puz, when U suddenly realize that theirs all have much bigger grid dimensions.
May interject a 15x15 example into the mix of runtz soon, so U can see a big dog hunt.
M & A http://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/ Click on the M & A puzzles link 146 puzzles - awesome creativity! Could you announce the contest on Monday over at Rex Parker? I will create some documentation for the program by then and will have tested all the links.
I will try to switch the runtpuz domain over to my new server by then but no guarantees.
@r.alph: "Awesome" something-or-other; I'd give yah that.
Just let me know what U'd like me to say on Monday, over at Parker House. (I don't want to screw up yer contest, accidental-like. I'm real good, at that sorta ineptitude. It's an M&A Breath thing.) U can leave the instructions over at the parking lot site, if U wish.
Just figured out what this msg meant. Soooo sloooow.
I can do either, on that contest posting time. Might depend on if @63 gets hungover after Sunday night at the Oscars, or some such. Don't think it'll be a Blue'Bel Monday, so somewhat unpredictable, when his blog will post. But I will be on it, like snot on a runtpuz…
@r.alph: Best approach might be for U to post most of the contest rules at Runtpuz.gov, in a new menu entry? Then M&A would have more trouble screwin up the announcement, plus we wouldn't get the usual screams & barks, for postin a long non-NYTPuz-related treatise. Could just give a general announcement, then ref the contest rules writeup, over there.
Getting excited, about this. U are sure nice -- and generous! -- to throw all this together, for all the runt reasons…
@r.alph: Not on Saturday mornin, I sure ain't. Usually up late FriEvening, enjoin the weekly schlock movie festival, with the bro-in-law. Feature #1: RoboCop (the new one) - real good Feature #2: Episodes 3-6 of "Lost City of the Jungle", 1946 (still pretty good, but that there "lost city" turned out to be about a three-minute stroll from the outskirts of some asian city in "Penchang". The lost city has lots of cool Raiders of the Lost Ark-like booby traps in it, tho…) Feature #3: Can't remember the title. It was someone's odd name that started with an "F", tho. Funniest thing about it was we'd seen it before, several festival seasons ago, and neither of us realized it, until the last ten minutes of the flick. We are now officially "geezers". Opens up massive amounts of the film libe for re-use.
Hey-- here's a new twist on the constructioneer's review, for the "Great Grandson of.." runtpuz:
But please don't worry about screwing up. I am fascinated by the creative way that you "screw things up"
I really hope this will introduce more people to the creative world that you have access to.
And it will exercise my program a bit. I will assure people that if the program fails for any reason and they email me what happened they will get a ticket for the drawing.
I will write up the contest rules by tomorrow at 5PM Iowa time.
* runtpuz #122 "Memory Bunk" needs the following picture, to go with it, to make (the usual amount of) sense: http://www.exploratorium.edu/memory/dont_forget/mem_game_2.html The good news: that picture's still out there! * runtpuz #64 "Musings on M&Agic" is co-written by @muse.
After reading your discussion below, I finally "get" the theme of this puzz, utterly brilliant as usual!
And one of my comments above only makes the slightest sense in light of today's (2/22) NYT puzz, in which words weren't words in both directions ... or something like that.
http://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=19 Broke 20 but finished with an error which may have been cause by a typo in a clue. Please advise.
Had to re-issue this msg, as auto-correct does not like my speech patterns. snort.
@r.alph: 1. OK to move runtz from parking garage to list. 2. OK to put "Contractor" in list, too. Maybe indicate "Non-runt warning!", or some such? There's at least 3 other 15x-ers in the list, too, tho… Eh. Whatever. 3. It's usually real hard to make a 6-D with a single mark. 4. Must view Contractor's revealer as the finale of the series progression, as hinted at in the puz title. And, no refunds.
I agree with Bob that the theme of Contractor is brilliant and publishable.
IMO, it is the clue for 59A that is the problem, not the answers. Fortunately, clues are easy to change. How about {Violation of the second law of thermodynamics vis-a-vis 17A, 25A and 46A?}
runtpuz.org now displays a first draft of the contest rules. Any comments are welcome.
DATAGATHERING would be perfect especially since one of the purposes of runtpuz.org is to gather data on how people solve crossword puzzles. If you can make a puzzle with that in it, I would put a link to it on the home page of runtpuz.org!
Contest rules are clear and excellent. Nice job, @r.alph. Just let me know here, when U are all ready to go, for me to announce stuff over at at ParkerHouse Rex's MonPuz blog.
Will work on that there DATAGATHERING clone puz, someday soon…
If RUNE survives the remake, I'll be sure to use the same clue, but with a nice ? slapped on its tail end. har... Runa.
Interesting opportunity to run a test I as a paper solver don't generally get to do: Filling in answers as fast as I could type, still took me 2:56 to fill the grid!
p.s. @r.alph: In "The prizes" section of contest instructions: a coupla thoughts…
1. Item One might read better with "include" instead of "included"? 2. Am fascinated by Item Four. If I may be so bold, could I suggest the picture of this guy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Unknown_Comic U are hereby officially authorized to robo-sign it, with: "Best wishes, X"
M & A I have fixed "included", added a drawing time and added some fine print. How about 4th prize being a signed bag with a couple of eye holes in it?
IMO this is ready to ship. But any new ideas for the runtpuz.org page are always welcome.
My next step is to ask @63 and BEQ to announce it on their blogs.
Ain't that weirder than snot? U got blown away by the runtpuz, and @r.alph blew the runtpuz away.
@r.alph did complain about the double-?? RTE clue, tho. Even tho complaining about a double-?? clue is like arguin with a "man never landed on the moon" dude, or somesuch. Surely RTE = going RATE?? is clear. RATE is going, with the A part already gone, right? Humor me.
@BobK
ReplyDeleteIf you solve the runts at xwordinfo.com could you start solving them at
http://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/
This can be reached from runtpuz.org by clicking the "Crowd sourcing runtpuzzes" link. However, if you have previously visited runtpuz.org, please use the sanskritlibrary.com link the first time and refresh the browser so you have the latest version which has a couple of features that you might like:
1. Reveal only a single letter instead of a whole word
2. When puzzle is full, program does not automatically let you know if it is correct. Instead you have to click the check puzzle link.
3. There is a 5 second grace period for fat-fingering.
I am also interested in any suggestions you might have to improve the interface.
Uploading your solution is optional.
Part VI comments:
ReplyDeletehttp://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=91
M&A
Runtpuz Prep Work Dept.
ReplyDeleteTo aid those solvers with bad memories (especially those sayin "M and WHO?" right now), please, for your own sakes, study this picture a bit each day, until the next runtpuz appears...
www.exploratorium.edu/memory/dont_forget/mem_game_2.html
M&A
p.s.
General detail and placement is fine. It is not necessary to count the number of freckles on the elephant's ass.
I see
ReplyDelete1. boob tUbe
2. bUllseye
3. bUck
4. donUt
5. Udder
6. moUsetrap
7. hand cUpping a rat
8. crUstacean
9. small aqUariUm
10. acUte angle
11. milk jUg
12. fUrrowing device
13. cUtters
14. stUffed chair
15. theUgist hat
16. cUbe
17. tUsks
18. mUmmer
19. doUble bed
20. circUs bear
Interestin speculation has begun to develop.
DeletePlease...
No Wagerin.
Runtpuz #178 "Memory Bunk"
ReplyDeleteSpecial Instructions:
1. Before beginning today's featured runtpuz, carefully study the following picture:
www.exploratorium.edu/memory/dont_forget/mem_game_2.html
General detail and placement of figures are important. Number of elephant freckles detail is not.
2. After study, discard picture. Absolutely no peeking at the picture, while U solve the puzzle. No!
3. Start solving the runtpuz. Peeking back at the picture is tantamount to 100 Google searches, but…
4. After U start solving the runtpuz, feel free to draw, from memory, your own version of the picture. (Please send copies of all such pictures to runtpuz.blogspot.com, so that M&A might enjoy them).
Here is the runtpuz:
www.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=8339&id2=69
M&A
"May the memories always be in your favor"
http://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=104
ReplyDeleteBravo! You have created an interesting variation on the crossword puzzle that should be of interest to aging boomers who are worried about exercising their memories.
Thanx, @r.alph.
DeleteCan a clue inside a crowdsourcerer's runtpuz have an html link to a picture? That'd really grease the hog, without frightening off the "exercise of any kind" timid folks, mayhaps...
See y'all next shortly before Christmas Eve. Get ready to do some Christmas caroling.
M&A
p.s.
DeleteArtist's comments (as best that can be recalled)...
http://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=105
On principle, I don't do exercise of any kind.
ReplyDeletehar. I admire a man of principle.
DeleteAltho, the nice thing about runt exercises is that they are over mighty quick. And less painful than pUsh-Ups.
M&A
@M&A
ReplyDeleteWill put links into comments next week.
@r.alph: Whoa, dude. You're amazin, but don't go to all that trouble...
DeleteMy musings were more along the lines of enabling links somehow in runtpuz clues.
Example:
ACROSS
1. What's missing from this picture. [Where "picture" is a link to an actual picture]
I'm thinkin that M&A is wishin for somethin that Santa could not easily deliver. (And M&A ain't been THAT good all year, anyhow...)
M&A
Will do that also. I enjoy the challenge of keeping up with your mind!
ReplyDeleteWell, OK, thanx. But, wow. This "keepin up with M&A's mind" was mentioned once upon a time in a Donovan tune...
Delete"I may as well try and Catch the Wind..."
I may be the guy to do it. I live in an ecovillage and get most of my electricity from a wind turbine.
ReplyDeleteOK. We're gettin close enough:
ReplyDeletewww.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=8484&id2=812
Peace on earth, good will toward the little guys (and gals).
Merry Christmas, runtpuz solvers. Enjoy.
M&A
3:03, which is about as fast as I can type. (No cheats needed.)
ReplyDeleteAll treat and almost no tricks! (Wrong holiday?)
Merry Christmas etc back atcha!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete@BobK: Jaw-droppin solve time. And I thought this pup had some rough-going, to it. U must really know yer Christmas carols. A runt well-stomped.
ReplyDelete@r.alph: I noticed U have a runtpuz.gov FAQ section. Now that yer site is probably in the million-hits-per-week club, U might add these top queries to it...
Q: Why are your puzzles so day-um small?
A: Note the webpage name. They all have the runt gene. And it's dominant. Also, it's easier to come up with fresh puzthemes, since hardly anyone has messed with this grid size before.
Q: Are all runt puzzles 7 x 7 grids?
A: No. Sunday-sized runt puzzles tend to run 9 x 9. And some other weekday runtz have mutated a bit, in size, shape, and understandability.
Q: What does the double-?? in a clue mean? I've never seen that before in other crosswords.
A: In short, it means: trouble brewing.
Q: The puzzle construction here seems pretty consistently desperate. Do you ever feature any professionally-made crosswords?
A: First of all, thanx. Almost every well-known and respected crossword constructor has tried to achieve this level of desperation, but so far have mostly failed to hit the high mark we choose to set. One guy has got the hang of it, but prefers to remain masked and anonymous, for reasons relating to problems with creditors. We once also got a real desperate collaboration from a Lovely Mysterious Stranger (see archives). Some other really marvelous desperate efforts by others have occasionally trickled in.
Q: I've noticed this M&A reference. Why is it's menu entry printed it red?
A: It is a sorta warning message format, required by the FDA.
Q: When and where did runt puzzles begin? Where are they headed, in the future?
A: There is a cryptic reference to runts in Genesis. So far, we don't know where the runtz are headed; it's a little like herding katz.
Q: I was appalled to see unchecked squares, two-letter words, unsymmetric black square placements, and even use of the circles in your grids. Have you no shame? What do you have to say for yourselves?!? (sputter)
A: Absolutely no refunds.
Q: Your puzzle answers rarely feature people names. Is this intentional?
A: Kinda. Mostly, we just have a hard time remembering most people's names. Unless they've made a "cry for help" appearance in a schlock movie, of course.
Q: What is your process for developing a runt puzzle?
A: Draw a 7x7 grid on paper. Start putting words in the grid, until a theme pops into our head. Eat cinnamon roll, to celebrate. Put more words into the grid, trying to add at least one or two more themers. At the end,color in the unused squares with black pencil scratchins. Write clues for all the entries. Use double-?? clues, for the one or two most desperate entries (it's sorta like an award ceremony). Let clues stand overnight. Rewrite clues. Load puzzle to xwordinfo.com. Eat cinnamon roll to celebrate.
Q: How long does it take to make a runt puzzle?
A: About what you'd expect, given the funky quality.
Q: How do we locate a new runt puzzle?
A: With difficulty. Usually a message is posted, when we're sure no one is watching, at runtpuz.blogspot.com. And lists of older, more venerated runtz are posted at runtpuz.org. Often we drop a subtle hint in a comment at the (highly recommended) Rex Parker site, by including "**gruntz**" at the very bottom. **gruntz** originally stood for "Go to RUNT PuZzles". We had to be sneaky about it, so as not to offend other commenters too much.
Q: Why are there usually an unusual number of U's in runt puzzles?
A: U's are the Rodney Dangerfield of vowels, respect-wise, in almost all professionally-written crossword puzzles. We root for the down-trodden, here. We're feisty, like the runts of a litter.
M&A
p.s.
DeleteA couple more, that I plumb forgot about...
A: What is the question??
Q: We do not require any of our answers to be posted in the form of a question. That'd be pretty weird. Quit it, Alex.
Q: How often do runt puzzles appear? Is there a regular schedule?
A: The schedule is totally random. Sometimes every day for the week. Sometimes there are week- or even month-long truces declared. Then sometimes the truces get broken. Sorta like how Congress acts, when they're having a good year.
Q: I see several references to "cinnamon rolls" and "weejects" in these runt puzzles. Please explain.
A: Cinnamon rolls are delicious. QED. Weejects stands for Wee Rejects, which are basically all 3-letter words in crosswords, as they seem to be the Rodney Dangerfield of crossword fill, respect-wise. We are a haven for the down-trodden, here at rUntpUz Central. We especially welcome desperate weejects. Example: UOD = {Mixed-up duo??}.
For further info on this, we highly recommend: http://mumde.net/runtpuz/ThinU.gif
Q: Does your site take donations?
A: Send all tips, in small, unmarked bills, to: Runtpuz, c/o Ralph Bunker, 2151 185 St #14, Fairfield, IA 52556. He does all the worthwhile work, around here. If you flag the tip as "For M&A", r.alph will forward it to @muse, to help fund supplies and textbooks, for needy West Virginia school kids. Fair enough? ... And thanx, in advance, for your inexplicable support. (Runtpuz solvers are such nice peoples!)
Q: Who the hell is this M&A dude?
A: A very shy, gentle, safely-medicated soul who has written an awful lot of crosswords. A few have actually been published in the newspapers, under one or more other names. But here, he prefers to wear a mask, and remain anonymous. It's his fave puzzle gimmick.
http://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=124
ReplyDeleteThe FAQs will be up tonight.
@r.alph: Thanx. Feel free to adjust them, or add plenty of your own.
DeleteM&A
Constructor feedback, which hopefully gets him back on Santa's good side, just in time...
ReplyDeletehttp://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=125
M&A
M&A
ReplyDeleteThe FAQs have been updated. I also added your description of how to create a .puz file using Across Lite.
I have not forgotten about putting links in the puzzle. I am working a major revision that lets you play back two puzzles side by side. I am going to add a new feature to this blog that will let any solver compare their solution with with a friend. For example here is a comparison of solving the Monday puzzle with my buddy Dave.
1. Open runtpuz.org
2. Click "Crowd sourcing runtpuzzes
3. Click "Compare your solution with a friends"
4. Enter 122 (my solution) and 123 (Dave's solution) and click Submit
This can be used for any puzzle not just NYT's so I hope to get a chance to see how someone else approaches a runt puzzle (I looking at you Bob!)
r.alph,
ReplyDeleteNope, no desire to go the astronaut route. Looking at the capsules at various museums, I'm pretty sure 6'2" would have been a tough and uncomfortable fit. Wasn't it the original astronauts themselves who came up with the "spam in a can" label, and insisted on some sort of limited use joy stick to feel more like pilots?
Plus, as we all know, I didn't have the 'right stuff'...;>)
Doug
Hi, runtsolvers. Time for a nice, post-Christmas goose? ...
ReplyDeletewww.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=8604&id2=985
M&A
Too clever for me.
Deletewww.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=8604&id2=985
ReplyDeleteNice theme idea. Use of circles was a brilliant departure from the norm. But that is what we expect here.
M&A
ReplyDeleteThe next version of KF will compute an ACPT score for the puzzle. To do this I need the maximum time allowed to solve the puzzle (as is done at the ACPT). For the NYT I am setting the max times as follows
Monday 15 min
Tuesday 20 min
Wednesday 25 min
Thursday 30 min
Friday 45 min
Saturday 60 min
Sunday 60 min
The program needs to detect the puzzle difficulty from title. It can detect this for NY Times puzzles because their titles always start with "NY Time, " followed by the day of the week. It appears that the title of runt puzzles always begins with "KIDDIE POOL KROSSWORD #" followed by a random number. May I suggest that you continue to do this but add a decimal to the random number to indicate the max scoring time for the puzzle, e.g. #168.10 for a 10 minute puzzle. If you don't want to do this, then I will assume any puzzle less than 15x15 is a runt puzzle and its maximum solve time is 10 minutes.
@r.alph: Most of my new runtpuz titles start with RUNTPUZ #...etc. Seemed like a more efficient use of space. The last runt was a leftover "stray" runtpuz from several months ago. (Tryin to clean out the runt pen.)
DeleteI can try addin a few of those decimal difficulty levels, to see how it works out. But I find my estimates of runtpuz difficulty end up bein pretty much the real random numbers in the rodeo...
M&A
It is as M&A feared. The runtz take some time off, and everybody either forgets what they're doin, or just plain goes soft from lack of exercise. Examples:
ReplyDelete* @BobK goes plumb belly up, when confronted by the "Syllabollix" runtpuz.
* @r.alph soldiers on and bravely completes the runtpuz, then inexplicably sends out a reply message with a url that points back to the original xwordinfo file.
* @muse completely disappears from the face of the earth.
* @evil passes up on bein an astronaut.
M&A is beginnin to worry about all his runt buddies.
Next runtpuz had best be a real fluff ball.
M&A
Here it is:
ReplyDeletehttp://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=137
Again, I loved how you used the circles. Who needs partial clues?
Added a few comments:
ReplyDeletehttp://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=137
Again, I loved how you used the circles. It saves space in the clue window!
Here's a brand new runtpuz for BobK. to get his nerve back on...
ReplyDeletewww.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=8633&id2=334
@r.alph: I put a colon after the puzzle number, and then plunked in an estimated max time. Will that work OK? (A period made it look too much like a fraction, I thought). If the ACPT insists on a period, the runtz will probably grudgingly comply, tho...
M&A
Sorry, took me a flat 7:00 and one use of "Reveal incorrect letters" to finish this one. It's probably not the puzzle, it's the season. Even the morning after, that bottle of wine slows things down. Also my abject ignorance of many things!
DeleteAlso, here are some construction reflections, for the inadvertently Spanish Inquisition-worthy "Syllabollix" runtpuz:
ReplyDeletehttp://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=140
M&A
http://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=141
ReplyDeleteDoesn't look like I allowed enough max time, in my 8-minute guess.
Delete@r.alph: What would a fair ACPT-like max amount of time be, for this themeless runt? Maybe BobK. will also have an opinion?
M&A
Caddyshack!
ReplyDeleteBTW, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus are both 5' 10" tall
Constructor's comments for the latest themeless runtpuz...
ReplyDeletehttp://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=146
M&A
I figured this "Stumpy Stomper" runtpuz should have a max solve time of about 15 minutes, at the ACPT.* Your experience will undoubtedly vary...
ReplyDeletewww.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=8681&id2=380
Enjoy, and Happy New Year.
M&A
* assuming the ACPT would ever have anything to do with a runtpuz.
(Well-rested, wide-awake, cold-sober): 13:35, no cheats.
DeleteHappy New Year! (Or is that "Happy Nu Year!"?)
18:58 for me
DeleteNice one.
ReplyDeletehttp://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=150
Constructor feedback, for the Stumpy Stomper:
ReplyDeletehttp://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=152
Am amused, by the thought of someone getting in fightin shape for the ACPT, by practice-solving runtpuzs. Desperate! Like.
M&A
p.s.
DeleteI could send out one of my 15x15 puzs, for y'all to ACPT-practice on, sometime. Talk about desperate...
M&A
Re forks and spoons
ReplyDeletehttp://williamwegman.tumblr.com/post/5197848913/william-wegman-one-or-two-spoons-two-or-three
M&A I really wish that I could email you about a possible project that will give runtpuzzes some exposure. Due to the nature of the project I don't feel comfortable giving details here. Do you have a relative or friend who could serve as a liaison?
har. How on earth do U find these fork-and-spoon places?!?
Deletehar. Nice of U. But major alarm bells go off, for lazy bum M&A, whenever he hears the "project" word. Please don't fret about the runtz's lack of popularity: it is, and will continue to be, well-deserved.
M&A
p.s.
DeleteKinda mystifies m&e, when I keep hearin about @63 not readin his own Rex Parker blog's comments. Especially, since his blog is a (large) comment about the NYTPuz, that presumably he would want constructors, editors and solvers to read. Plus, how do nasty comments get edited out? Does his mom do it?
A real head shaker.
M&A
@r.alph: Asked around, a little -- but nobody was real excited about passing mysterious e-mails back and forth for a guy in a mask. Could you just use that Top Secret construction comment block, at this site? (The one where LMS and I did some collab work.) It at least has a spoiler warning on it.
ReplyDeleteAnyhoo, I was moved by your highly commendable desire to prep for the ACPT, and made you this 15x15 practice puz. It's probably a Wednesday NYTPuz-like rodeo, but has been totally cow-pattied up by M&A cluing. So I give it a 30-minute limit. The good news: if U can solve this cleanly in that time limit, Dan Feyer will hear footsteps...
www.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=8750&id2=453
Good luck. Use The Force, if U can.
M&A
Nosing in where I wasn't explicitly invited, as usual, but 19:23, no cheats. Could probably shave off a second or two if I were better at navigating the grid; I'm just a paper solver at heart.
DeleteAs always, love the clues. Lots of laughs when I understood them.
Thanks.
http://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=159
ReplyDelete(See Overall)
ACPT data
Effective solve time = 22
# correct answers * 10 = 740
All correct bonus = 150
Time bonus =25*(30-22)=200
Score =1090
Way to go, potential ACPT regional runner-ups!
ReplyDelete@BobK.: Nose away, dude.
@r.alph: To answer one of yer Q's in the Overall box: U need to parse that answer as 3/2, instead of 1/4.
M&A
"Trainer to the Runner-ups Since 2015"
M&A
ReplyDeleteMy idea was that a runtpuz could be used to determine the winner of this metapuzzle
http://www.chem.umn.edu/groups/baranygp/puzzles/enigma/
There are many prizes including a registration fee for the upcoming ACPT. All contestants eligible for the ACPT fee would be required to solve a runtpuz using the runtpuz.org program. So far some of the best solvers in the world have submitted correct answers and I thought this would be a way to gain some insight into how a really good solver approaches a difficult puzzle. But I have decided not to do this because I want some regular solver who came up with the solution to also have a chance.
However I have another idea. What if we do a similar contest? You create a biter runt and I will offer the ACPT registration fee to some solver who is able to do it. Would you be willing to participate in this?
If so, then there really needs to be a way for us to communicate other than on a public blog. Here is my idea. I create a web app that displays a password. It will display it only the first time it is run. I give you the URL of the program, you run it and get the password and report here that you got the password. Once I see this we can use another web app to communicate using the password which only you and I know. Would you be willing to do this?
OK. Will probably be gone for a week or so, in last half of January, tho. Road trip.
DeleteM&A
BTW, why not try the puzzle yourself?
ReplyDeleteM&A
ReplyDeletehttp://sanskritlibrary:8080/Password/Password
to see the password. You only get one chance to run this once.
Then thereafter
http://sanskritlibrary:8080/Password
to communicate
Please let me know when you get the password.
@r.alph: Kept gettin "can't find server", so I snuck a ".com" in, after the sanskritlibrary word in that first url, and then I got somethin. Judging from what I got, I've probably got the magic password.
DeleteQuestions now abound, in M&A's brain, about what I do with that second url. Do I put .com in it again? Do I substitute (you-know-what), where I see "Password", in that second url? etc.
har. M&A would make a pretty funky intelligence agent.
M&A
p.s.
DeleteNever mind.
See message, over at the parking garage site.
M&A
M&A
ReplyDeleteYou got it. I forgot the com.
I left a message.
Some changes to runtpuz.org
ReplyDelete1. A puzzle I submitted to the NY Times was added to the "Puzzles that didn't excite Will Shortz" section along with a rejection cartoon from Hayley Gold. She could teach Rex Parker a thing or two about trashing a puzzle!
2. I convinced my buddy Dave to use KF to do puzzles and there is now a section comparing our solutions. The puzzles are done in strict ACPT conditions which mean the first cheat causes the puzzle to be "turned in." Also the clock is always running. To help me focus on the puzzle like I might at the actual tournament, I give Dave $10 if his ACPT score is higher than mine.
@r.alph: Candidate contest runt is in the Parking Garage holding pen, pacing back and forth, snarlin.
ReplyDeleteM&A
Wow, @r.alph -- You're a real good constructioneer! Congrats on yer "near-acceptance". Took me around 8 minutes to solve. Learned something new, at 46-D. Great desperation, at 41-D -- but otherwise, day-um smooth fill and a real fun crossword.
ReplyDeleteI have a 15x15 (far more excitingly desperate) reject that I will share soon, as additional ACPT warmup fodder.
Thanx,
M&A
M&A
ReplyDeleteI left a message. I will improve the word-wrapping soon.
Thought of a perfect prize for the upcoming ACPT runt puzzle contest. Check this out:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.fahrneyspens.com/Item--i-1825115
You can't see it from the photo but the crossword pattern on the pen has unchecked squares and one of the words is RUN with the next square obscured by the clip. Looking carefully reveals that it is a black square but the first thing that came to my mind was that it was a T.
Primo. The pen could be first prize, and the ACPT entry fee second prize.
ReplyDeleteSpeakin of the ACPT, here is a "little" more practice for y'all...
www.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=8818&id2=919
15 minutes max time, U speed demons.
M&A
9:58, no cheats. (After two Vodka Collins, 1/2 bottle wine, evah so proper glass of Harvey's!)
Delete@BobK... Good, that U are in training for the imbibing aspects of the ACPT, also. And U said U never did exercises. Ow con-tray-er, mon amigo!
DeleteReally nice solve time.
M&A
http://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=171
ReplyDeleteTotal solve time 14 min 21 sec
ACPT score 110 (assuming 10 minutes for puzzle)
Max stall 7 min 7 sec (fortunately I was breathing during that time)
Number of stalls 3
Number of sputters 3
Desperation index 25
Number of erased letters 11
Number of requests to highlight incorrect letters 0 Hah!
Number of letters revealed 0 Hah!
Number of letters entered after final check 0 Hah!
Number of letters entered after time elapsed 11 Assuming 10 minutes for puzzle
A 10-min. max seems waaaaay too optimistic, for any Stumpy Stumper worth its salt.
ReplyDeleteMore on this, in the Overall comment, within the following constructor's summary...
http://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=172
I bet r.alph's ACPT score would have been much more realistic, if the max had been properly set to somewhere around 15-min. Stumpy Stumper runtz demand R-E-S-P-E-C-T!! One false step with one of these, and you'll need to get a rabies shot.
M&A
Loved the way you parsed the gas guzzler clue!
ReplyDeleteI learned my lesson. I will read your time estimate in the title for now on.
@r.alph: I left a kfc comment file for the proposed contest runt, over at the undercover Parking Garage site. Let me know, what U think.
Deleteshar. (secret har)
M&A
@M&A Check the parking garage.
ReplyDelete@Bob If you want to get involved in the planning I will give you access to the parking garage. But that means that you won't be eligible to participate.
@r.alph - Thanks for the offer, but I think I would prefer to keep my amateur status.
Delete@r.alph: U are now becursed with choices.
ReplyDelete(See undercover Parking Garage drop-box msgs)
M&A
For all U ACPT contestants. The attached 15x15 warm-up puzzle has been given the following solver completion ratings:
ReplyDeleteUnder 10 minutes: Championship calibre.
Under 15 min: Regional champ calibre.
Under 20 min: Regional champ contender.
Under 25 min: Not bad for an ACPT rookie.
Under 30 min: Runtpuz champ calibre.
Over 30 min: Just there to have a good time.
Here's the practice "round five" puz. Good luck...
www.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=8864&id2=635
M&A
22:21, no cheats. Which shows that your calibrator is pretty well spot on! (I'll always be a rookie!)
ReplyDeleteThanks.
I see fabulous ACPT glory in store for @BobK., if he sticks with the runtpuz ACPT training program. 22:21 is great, for this early stage of the training!
DeleteM&A
More stumpy ACPT puz practice, here...
ReplyDeletewww.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=8886&id2=268
Probably around 15-min., for a limit.
M&A
6:30, no cheats.
ReplyDeleteCould I be tuning in to your wavelength?
(Going away for the weekend, so will have to put off further training.)
Thanks.
Holy moly, @BobK!
ReplyDeleteGood thing you're takin a little vacation!
Don't want to unleash a total solvin monster on an unsuspecting ACPT...
Amazin solve time.
M&A
http://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=188
ReplyDeleteRuntpuz themeless #59 comments from the constructioneer:
ReplyDeletehttp://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=189
M&A
M&A's complimentary ACPT training sessions would not be complete, without acclimating the solver to all the distractions possible, during a puz-solvin session.
ReplyDeleteThis runtpuz oughta help give y'all the general idea…
www.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=8942&id2=753
Besides, this'll give BobK. a little somethin to look forward to, when he gets back from vacation. har
M&A
10:02, no cheats.
DeleteYou've obviously been to the ACPT.
(I was just away for a ski weekend, not really a vacation.)
@BobK: Fairly good time; I've seen U do better.
DeleteEasily distracted?
Be sure to use the puz#5 practice, below, to resharpen yer pencils.
M&A
Jan 7: http://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=196
ReplyDeleteJan 10: http://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=197
Typical runt solver experience
ReplyDeletehttp://www.wimp.com/pigletslides/
@r.alph:
DeleteSlick.
Official constructioneer comments, for the ACPT Distractions Simulator runtpuz…
ReplyDeletehttp://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=200
M&A
In every ACPT, they have One Puz that everybody looks forward to, … in a way. It's the dreaded #5 crossword. It is harder than snot. The real tourney-savvy pros do not let this shake them up. So, neither should a wannabe like U.
ReplyDeleteHere is a runt-sized "ACPT Wipeout Simulation" of one of those jobbers. To be as authentic as possible, we have used a lot of the Shortzmeister's brainbender clues, in this practice session …
www.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=8994&id2=459
This concludes Phase I of the M&A ACPT Training Regimen (™). Phase II begins, after a much-needed road trip break.
M&A
The Wipeout Simulation wiped me out. Had to use a few cheats to get anywhere.
DeleteThanks for the training, but I am a slow learner.
@BobK: Yeah, pretty nasty. But U don't "sound" especially shaken up, so mission accomplished, probably. You've obviously been to the ACPT, before, U wily veteran U.
DeleteAre U plannin on going there, again, this year? I'm not. Too hard to get @muse to notice m&e.
M&A
Yes, all signed up, even have my hotel reservation.
DeleteBrooklyn was a lot cheaper for me; I could commute from New Jersey.
But this way I can spend more time on puzzles and less time on the subway.
Loren told me she was hoping to get a nod from you at the ACPT in the past, but if you pitched it, she missed it.
Well, shoot … surely she can't expect a Masked and AnonymoUs, sneaky dude to be obvious,about it …
DeleteM&A
Here's a small themeless that's probably about 10 min. worth of ACPT practice…
ReplyDeletewww.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=9249&id2=724
M&A
Or 2:43 in my case, or 0:15 for Dan Feyer.
DeleteThanks.
Wow. Lightnin fast, @BobK.
DeleteI wanted to start things back up, after this latest truce, with something easier, but I may have overdid it.
No way Dan F. can do this puppy in 0:15. Wouldn't it take longer than that, just to get over the initial nausea?!?
M&A
Constructioneer comments for the latest runtpuz…
ReplyDeletehttp://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=227
M&A
http://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=228
ReplyDeleteand I finished it talking on the phone.
Did I read this right? A solve time of under 2 min.?!? U are progressin nicely.
DeleteI think I finished writin this runt while waitin in the car, while the lovely spouse shopped.
M&A
@M&A
ReplyDeletePlease check the parking garage
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe second ACPT puz always ratchets things up a notch. Like this little (12 min.) ratchetty puppy…
ReplyDeletewww.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=9276&id2=742
M&A
5:44 for me this time. Seems like hours are lost trying to get the cursor to the right place, a problem I never (well, rarely) have when solving on paper!
DeleteThanx.
http://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=233
ReplyDeleteA few construction notes, for the themeless runt #61…
ReplyDeletehttp://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=234
M&A
Here's a little more ACPT practice, inspired by a recent NYTPuz. I estimate 13 min. for a max solve time.
ReplyDeletewww.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=9366&id2=843
M&A
4:31 for my min solve time. Must be catching on to some runttrix.
DeleteThanx.
@Bob K: Darn good time, for a runtpuz with that many themers.
DeleteI have about got a full-bore 15x15 ACPT practice crossword put together. Should be medium difficulty level, if I'm guessin right. Does have one ??-clue, tho...
M&A
Big S.O.B. runtpuz ACPT practice exercise…
ReplyDeletewww.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=9391&id2=531
Heck, I dunno… Let's say 20 min., max?
M&A
12:43 for me.
DeleteBut, hey, who's this guy, max? My grandfather's name was Max.
This one would have played well as a real ACPT puzzle.
Thanks as always!
Thanx as always for trying it out, @BobK. Nice time, and glad U approved of its authenticity. (Other than that one double-?? clue, alas.)
Delete"Max" is the god of ACPT panic time. (har)
M&A
Mad T Party:
ReplyDeletehttp://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=242
Constructioneer's "Mad T Party" comments…
ReplyDeletehttp://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=243
M&A
***Mad T Party Spoiler Alert***
ReplyDeleteI think, if I had thought about the Mad T Party theme an extra day, I might have had slightly more standard runtpuz clues, for its themers.
Example: ROTCART = {Oils in a college armory, as seen from a returning farm vehicle??}. Or somethin like that.
M&A
To have me doing M&A puzzles is a clear case of casting pearls before swine. I never, ever, noticed that any, let alone all, of the themers, unlike vampires, had perfectly good reflections. (Or, well, except for TP/PT, but in a sense that makes it even worse that I failed to see the others!)
DeleteBig S.O.B. puzzle:
ReplyDeletehttp://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=244
This smidgen of ACPT warm-up should be a piece of cake, in spite of being titled "Stumpy Stumper on Steroids", because of the clues. Let's guess time limit = 12 min.
ReplyDeletewww.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=9432&id2=979
M&A
4:48 for me.
DeleteVery healthy infusion of U's.
And some great mis-direction!
http://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=251
ReplyDeleteM&A comments for his "Stumpy Stumper on Steroids" runtpuz…
ReplyDeletehttp://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=253
M&A
U go to the ACPT, and think you're gonna see a buncha weekday 15x and Sunday 21x puzs… and … WHAMO!! They throw some odd-sized grid at U, and there U are… a fish out of water. Floppin.
ReplyDeleteAt the ACPT, it's usually a 17x grid. No way M&A can build an ACPT-worthy 17x puz. Sounds too much like work.
But here's a runtpuz mated with a 15x, producing a very nice, odd-shaped grid for your ACPT warm-up pleasure…
www.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=9467&id2=319
Let's give U 20 min. on this puppy.
M&A
9:06 was sufficient, except that it was only after I finished and pondered awhile that I finally parsed 1 A correctly!
DeleteThanks.
http://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=256
ReplyDeleteHere's some M&A thoughts, re: "Downcast Expert"…
ReplyDeletehttp://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=257
In this runtpuz's title, I estimated 15 min. max, which is probably a better call than the 20 min. I inadvertantly re-guessed in the introductory blog comment.
Thought BobK and r.alph had excellent solve times -- especially as wacky as that mutant runt was. Congrats, compadres; U are rounding out into primo solvers. If only the ACPT were all runtpuzs!
M&A
ACPT Medal Practice Round.
ReplyDeleteThis means:
* No more nice M&A constructioneer guy. But it's for yer own good.
* Tougher themes.
* Edgier clues. I did have mercy, here and there, tho. No killer instinct.
* Shorter max times. This 15x15 oversized puppy only gives 15 min. U must not tarry, admirin M&A's crafty wordplay. Don't even take time to groan properly.
* Please wear yer seatbelt.
Here it is. After this fight, expect: "A Broad Nose"…
www.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=9569&id2=401
M&A
This is why I expect to finish around 300th place at the ACPT: After 30 minutes, I had a completed grid but no happy chime. I asked for "Reveal incorrect letters" and I had three, in squares 5, 52, and the crossing of 63D/65A. It took me until 30:44 to figure those out. "5" I don't feel so bad about; "52" I really should have known; the crossing . . . something I couldn't possibly know crossing something very clever but also outside my knowledge set.
DeleteGreat puzzle, by the way!
Can't spend too much time on these right now; leaving on Friday for a week in the Alps, hoping to survive skiing for six days!
Wow, cool. Enjoy the Alps. I'll try to space the Medal practice sessions out a bit, until U get back.
DeleteI figured that 63D/65A intersection might be a stinker. Originally had 63D clued without the dreaded double-??, but decided to give y'all a challenge, there.
The good news: The Shortzmeister hasn't used the double-?? yet, in ACPT history. Yet.
M&A
34:31 with no help.
ReplyDeletehttp://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=264
Whoa, nelly.
ReplyDeleteDidn't mean to be that tough.
Will now ratchet things back a notch, until y'all get yer nerve back.
M&A
Hmmm… Okay, then.
ReplyDeleteU know, it's actually real good, to get a heap of all types of practice for that there ACPT dealy.
Today, y'all get practice on havin the proper tolerance for desperate constructioneers. (Probably won't come up in Stamford, but U never know…)
www.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=9614&id2=510
Also, fairly good trainin for skiin in the Alps. (har)
M&A
Thanks, I need the training!
ReplyDelete12:21, no cheats, and 41 A and its make-up, just amazing!
http://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=268
ReplyDeleteAgree that 41A is amazing. Did you use a computer program to find it?
41-A was pretty good, except for TOU, the upper crust weeject of the bunch.
ReplyDeleteI think I found the 41-A themer by exploring 15-letter words that had appropriately promising beginnings. Didn't take very long to find that one.
Bet there's some out there that are even better, somewhere…
Nice solve times!
M&A
Runt-sized ACPT practice. There is no substitute…
ReplyDeletewww.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=9693&id2=235
M&A
http://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=274
ReplyDeleteNice fractal theme.
"Runting Around" comments by the constructor…
ReplyDeletehttp://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=275
M&A
My results at attempting this runt prove that you can take the guy out of the Alps, but you can't take the rocks out of the guy's head.
DeleteI got hung up on XEROXER and stayed hung up. Several things I didn't know, plus jet lag, and I was totally lost.
As a native of New Jersey, however, I must note one thing, concerning women voting. Despite the strange use of "enormity" in the second sentence, I would refer you to this item:
http://www.heritage.org/initiatives/first-principles/primary-sources/new-jersey-recognizes-the-right-of-women-to-vote
@BobK: Welcome home. Sorry Runtpuz.blogspot's welcome was so rough. The runtpuz below hopefully will be friendlier.
DeleteM&A
p.s. Hmmm… wrong again, M&A Breath, re: on women voting. Maybe WY was the first to grant the right and not take it away again, at least …?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteRuntpuz inspired by a recent BEQ puz…
ReplyDeletewww.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=9792&id2=380
(BobK misses so much, bein all the way over there in the Alps.)
M&A
p.s. Had to delete previous comment version, as misspelled a word in one of the runtpuz's clues. (Appian)
Sorry, still jet-lagged. Gave it ten minutes, then gave up with errors at 4D and 7D down and 6 A.
Delete7D is very cleverly clued; wish I had gotten it! The other two - just ignorance on my part!
Thanks.
Day-um, BobK. Jet lag sucks. Do not take a plane to that ACPT, whatever U do.
DeleteU just rest up, the rest of today. So to speak.
M&A
http://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=282
ReplyDelete@r.alph: Really commendable, how U jump all over the puzs, securin yer footholds, complainin about the day-um clues… Good approach, to all U ACPT contestants out there (mostly in the Alps, right now, I reckon). M&A tends to stubbornly lope along, fill in the grids from top to bottom, putting all kinds of crap in there until proven wrong. Very very sloooow approach. Loses valuable nanoseconds, scorin-wise. Do it like @r.alph.
ReplyDelete"Half Time" runtpuz runnin commentary and de-fense:
http://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=283
Probably call a short truce now, until BobK gets back and can catch up.
But do have a nice stable (pen? coop? dungeon?) of extra runts caged up, ready to be unleashed, when the time is "just right".
M&A
Since BobK has recently been exposed to a lot of high altitudes, let's ease him back into the ACPT practice sessions, with a "Stubby Stumper" themeless runtpuz. At the 7x7 level, themeless runtz actually seem to play out as easier…
ReplyDeletewww.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=9978&id2=572
M&A
Okay, 2:59 on this one. An eternity for some, I know. But great for me!
DeleteThanks.
@BobK: Nice solve time! Just under the next minute's cutoff: just where U ACPT contestants want to land! Yay, BobK.
ReplyDeleteI think it took me longer than 2:59, just to find a place to park a double-?? clue, in this mess…
M&A
http://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=9
ReplyDeleteHere is what I am thinking the ACPT contest will be. Entrants can solve as many runts as they want. For each runt uploaded entrant gets one ticket for the drawing. They will have to enter their email address in the overall section. Will have to make that clear.
Prizes will be
1st prize: $215 that can be spent for ACPT registratrion or ~50 classic
cinnabons (assuming ~$4 a pop).
2nd prize Crossword puzzle pen
3rd prize Roz Chast book of 2 letter words.
What do you think?
@r.alph: Nice solve time for U, also. Really well done.
ReplyDeleteMy notes on the "Stubby Stumper" runt:
http://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=286
As for the ACPT contest plan, sounds great, but also raises a coupla random questions in my head…
* Do solvers have to actually solve each runtpuz, or just download it?
* Can a solver download the same runtpuz twice and then get two tickets?
* Is all this easy for r.alph Central Control to keep track of?
* I think that maybe most of the runtpuzs since Christmas haven't made it to the Crowdsourcing "list" yet. Not an actual concern, other than solvers might miss out on some really weird recent runtz.
M&A
Runtpuz ACPT Warm-Up Sessions continue, with…
ReplyDelete"Son of a Stubby Stumper" (7x7 runt)
www.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=10011&id2=581
Enjoy the circles!
M&A
8:04.
Delete15 A killed me!
@BobK:
ReplyDeletehar.
"Attack of the Killer Fifteen-Acrosses"!
M&A
http://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=11
ReplyDeleteAgree about 11D. Nice use of the use/mention distinction.
You might be interested in
http://forums.soompi.com/en/discussion/2011081/foods-that-contain-the-letter-u
Just fascinates me to no end, how the times vary, from runtpuz to runtpuz.
ReplyDelete"Foods with U in Them" --- subtitled: "Twenty-five Easy Cannibal Recipes".
Constructor commentary for "Attack of the Killer Kumquats" …
http://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=287
M&A
"Grandson of a Stubby Stumper" runtpuz (7x7):
ReplyDeletewww.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=10033&id2=333
Hint: Almost inserted an EOUS clue, in here. har.
M&A
5:54. Funnest part of my birthday so far.
DeleteThanx and Happy Birthday, @BobK!
DeleteM&A
http://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=13
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday, Bob.
@r.alph: U are correct, about that "pholosophical" question. See my sniveling & apologetic recap, below…
ReplyDeletehttp://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=288
Hey, guys -- better solve times, since kumquats are off the menu!
I am concerned, tho, that U may be jolted a little by the opening ACPT puz, when
U suddenly realize that theirs all have much bigger grid dimensions.
May interject a 15x15 example into the mix of runtz soon, so U can see a big dog hunt.
M&A
ACPT Unofficial Practice Series, Runt Division.
ReplyDelete"Great Grandson of a Stubby Stumper" - 7x7 themeless (?):
www.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=10060&id2=351
M&A
2:41 -- "When in doubt, enter a *U*!"
Deletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=15
ReplyDeleteLet's hear it for symmetric reunification!
M & A
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/
Click on the M & A puzzles link
146 puzzles - awesome creativity!
Could you announce the contest on Monday over at Rex Parker?
I will create some documentation for the program by then and will have tested all the links.
I will try to switch the runtpuz domain over to my new server by then but no guarantees.
@r.alph: "Awesome" something-or-other; I'd give yah that.
DeleteJust let me know what U'd like me to say on Monday, over at Parker House. (I don't want to screw up yer contest, accidental-like. I'm real good, at that sorta ineptitude. It's an M&A Breath thing.) U can leave the instructions over at the parking lot site, if U wish.
Thanx,
M&A
M & A
ReplyDeleteIt just occurred to me that you may not be a morning person so you could post at 11:00 when Rex's post appears.
Just figured out what this msg meant. Soooo sloooow.
DeleteI can do either, on that contest posting time.
Might depend on if @63 gets hungover after Sunday night at the Oscars, or some such.
Don't think it'll be a Blue'Bel Monday, so somewhat unpredictable, when his blog will post.
But I will be on it, like snot on a runtpuz…
M&A
@r.alph: Best approach might be for U to post most of the contest rules at Runtpuz.gov, in a new menu entry?
DeleteThen M&A would have more trouble screwin up the announcement, plus we wouldn't get the usual screams & barks, for postin a long non-NYTPuz-related treatise. Could just give a general announcement, then ref the contest rules writeup, over there.
Getting excited, about this. U are sure nice -- and generous! -- to throw all this together, for all the runt reasons…
M&A
@r.alph: Not on Saturday mornin, I sure ain't. Usually up late FriEvening,
ReplyDeleteenjoin the weekly schlock movie festival, with the bro-in-law.
Feature #1: RoboCop (the new one) - real good
Feature #2: Episodes 3-6 of "Lost City of the Jungle", 1946 (still pretty good, but that there "lost city" turned out to be about a three-minute stroll from the outskirts of some asian city in "Penchang". The lost city has lots of cool Raiders of the Lost Ark-like booby traps in it, tho…)
Feature #3: Can't remember the title. It was someone's odd name that started with an "F", tho. Funniest thing about it was we'd seen it before, several festival seasons ago, and neither of us realized it, until the last ten minutes of the flick. We are now officially "geezers". Opens up massive amounts of the film libe for re-use.
Hey-- here's a new twist on the constructioneer's review, for the "Great Grandson of.." runtpuz:
http://sanskritlibrary.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=289
M&A
M & A
ReplyDeleteAs you wish.
But please don't worry about screwing up. I am fascinated by the creative way that you "screw things up"
I really hope this will introduce more people to the creative world that you have access to.
And it will exercise my program a bit. I will assure people that if the program fails for any reason and they email me what happened they will get a ticket for the drawing.
I will write up the contest rules by tomorrow at 5PM Iowa time.
Yo, @r.alph… great!
DeleteRunt puzzle list is looking superb. Only things:
* runtpuz #122 "Memory Bunk" needs the following picture, to go with it, to make (the usual amount of) sense:
http://www.exploratorium.edu/memory/dont_forget/mem_game_2.html
The good news: that picture's still out there!
* runtpuz #64 "Musings on M&Agic" is co-written by @muse.
Thanx,
M&A
Done. Those were great puzzles.
DeleteACPT Unofficial Practice Series, "Normal" Division.
ReplyDelete"Contractor" - 15 x 15, themed:
www.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=10107&id2=673
Speed is of the essence, but try to enjoy 35-A.
M&A
Would love to claim 17:57, but I had to use "Reveal incorrect letters" to find the two I had wrong, both in the first themer.
DeleteHard to believe that "Catch and release" is 15 letters, but it didn't appear in the grid!
Without getting into spoilers:
DeleteAfter reading your discussion below, I finally "get" the theme of this puzz, utterly brilliant as usual!
And one of my comments above only makes the slightest sense in light of today's (2/22) NYT puzz, in which words weren't words in both directions ... or something like that.
Thanx, @BobK. CATCHANDRELEASE sounds like a primo puztheme, to m&e.
DeleteMaybe DATAGATHERING would been a better CONTRACTOR revealer? Then @r.alph's concerns about entropy would be allayed… ?
M&A
http://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=19
ReplyDeleteBroke 20 but finished with an error which may have been cause by a typo in a clue. Please advise.
M & A
ReplyDeleteDo you want me to add the two puzzles in the parking garage to the list? And I also will add "Contractor" if you want me to.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHad to re-issue this msg, as auto-correct does not like my speech patterns. snort.
ReplyDelete@r.alph:
1. OK to move runtz from parking garage to list.
2. OK to put "Contractor" in list, too. Maybe indicate "Non-runt warning!", or some such? There's at least 3 other 15x-ers in the list, too, tho… Eh. Whatever.
3. It's usually real hard to make a 6-D with a single mark.
4. Must view Contractor's revealer as the finale of the series progression, as hinted at in the puz title. And, no refunds.
M&A
**spoiler alert**
Runa. har.
******************
M & A
ReplyDeleteAdded three more puzzles bringing total to 149. The 150th would be the sesquirunt?
So are you saying that rune is plural?
I agree with Bob that the theme of Contractor is brilliant and publishable.
ReplyDeleteIMO, it is the clue for 59A that is the problem, not the answers. Fortunately, clues are easy to change. How about {Violation of the second law of thermodynamics vis-a-vis 17A, 25A and 46A?}
@r.alph: Kinda like several markS to make one RUNE.
ReplyDeleteLike yer 59A clue; makes it sound like M&A knows somethin he don't.
Sesquirunt. Sweet. Sorta like a miniature Sasquatch. Next runtpuz is gonna hafta really be special, to live up to its position in life…
Note: One of them parking garage puzs was a meta puzzle, but I checked, and the whole thing is pretty much spelled out in the runt.
Sesquirunt. har.
Runa. primo.
M&A
runtpuz.org now displays a first draft of the contest rules. Any comments are welcome.
ReplyDeleteDATAGATHERING would be perfect especially since one of the purposes of runtpuz.org is to gather data on how people solve crossword puzzles. If you can make a puzzle with that in it, I would put a link to it on the home page of runtpuz.org!
re markings:
ReplyDeleteI think strokes would be a better word. I think that is the term that calligraphers use.
Contest rules are clear and excellent. Nice job, @r.alph.
DeleteJust let me know here, when U are all ready to go, for me to announce stuff over at at ParkerHouse Rex's MonPuz blog.
Will work on that there DATAGATHERING clone puz, someday soon…
If RUNE survives the remake, I'll be sure to use the same clue, but with a nice ? slapped on its tail end. har... Runa.
M&A
Meanwhile, in honor of the Fabulous Generous @r.alph, M&A hereby presents "Contractor (Remix)":
Deletewww.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=10110&id2=727
(Check out especially 59A and 6D.)
M&A
"Always Willing To Bend a Bit; And Usually Pretty Bent"
Interesting opportunity to run a test I as a paper solver don't generally get to do: Filling in answers as fast as I could type, still took me 2:56 to fill the grid!
Deletep.s. @r.alph:
ReplyDeleteIn "The prizes" section of contest instructions: a coupla thoughts…
1. Item One might read better with "include" instead of "included"?
2. Am fascinated by Item Four. If I may be so bold, could I suggest the picture of this guy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Unknown_Comic
U are hereby officially authorized to robo-sign it, with:
"Best wishes,
X"
M&A
p.p.s.s.
DeleteDid U wish to mention any deadline, for contestants to get their tickets amassed?
M&A
"Always Thinkin of Somethin"
M & A
ReplyDeleteI have fixed "included", added a drawing time and added some fine print. How about 4th prize being a signed bag with a couple of eye holes in it?
IMO this is ready to ship. But any new ideas for the runtpuz.org page are always welcome.
My next step is to ask @63 and BEQ to announce it on their blogs.
Would like to be a fly on the wall, when U break this request to those guys.
DeleteM&A
p.s.
DeleteNot that they're not both real sweeties, cuz they are.
Have had some one-on-one dealings, with both of em, in another lifeform.
M&A
@r.alph: Okie-doke. I'll put out my own lil announcement comment, once the MonPuz Rex Parker blog opens up. (Unless U inform me otherwise.)
ReplyDeleteHere is the new #150 runtpuz, so that BobK. will have a new one to work on, once the contest starts:
www.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=10114&id2=388
M&A
Sorry, could have stared at this one until next year's ACPT and not gotten anywhere. Total fail for me!
DeleteAin't that weirder than snot? U got blown away by the runtpuz, and @r.alph blew the runtpuz away.
Delete@r.alph did complain about the double-?? RTE clue, tho. Even tho complaining about a double-?? clue is like arguin with a "man never landed on the moon" dude, or somesuch. Surely RTE = going RATE?? is clear. RATE is going, with the A part already gone, right? Humor me.
M&A
http://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=21
ReplyDeleteAll 150 puzzles are now listed.
Nice puzzle with a killer ?? clue. Lets the solver get an inkling of what you watch on TV?
All systems look good.
Just be sure to use runtpuz.org instead of runtpuz.gov :-)
I will start a new post now. Maybe you could announce the contest there also.