If @BobK gives it bona fides, I'm okay with it. And you have pulled too many rare and wondrous finds in the past for me to start doubting. I just couldn't find anything on Google that settled it for me satisfactorily.
Amazin Close Followers solve time, @Teedmn darlin! Consider it yer early Christmas present.
M&A is still scratchin the hair off his head, tryin to figure out what makes a runtpuz challengin or not. For Close Followers, maybe if the themed answers could be randomly close in **either** direction?? Will keep this in mind, for another time …
FORGET what I said! I found my problem: My bad eyesight! I mis-read the clue! (BTW, have I mentioned that my grandmother's name and my mother's middle name were both ANNA?)
Aside to M&A -- I am always on the lookout for seven-letter words that are new to me, and this morning I did a 10/1/2011 Saturday Stumper wherein one of the answers was PLOPART. Was new to me, thought you might find it handy some day.
Yer reward: a Sunday-sized runtpuz with an eminently runtpuz-questionable-like theme. M&A did not discover his theme-idea blunder (NYTPuz-quality-wise), until too late.
Perfectly useless information (or is it?) which I will share with anyone who is interested (which I would have posted on Rex's blog, except that I don't do the Times puzzle any more): I learned a new word from David Levinson Wilk's crossword in my local weekly shopper today: Clue - "Term used to describe a rearrangement of letters in a word or phrase to create its opposite meaning" Answer - ANTIGRAM (Eight letters, so no good for a runt, but still an interesting concept.)
Examples from the puzzle: "on the sly" HONESTLY; "no fair to trees" REFORESTATION; and, "real fun" FUNERAL (well, at least that's seven letters.)
Not that I could offer any examples of my own, but hey!
p.s. Welcome @kitschef, to the test solver list. Hope U happen to read this, since U asked … The titles of the themeless runtpuzs like "Word Kick" don't mean much. M&A just grabs semi-random individual words from here and there in the puz's clues, and glues em together, to get a "very very slightly" relevant puztitle. Seemed sparklier to M&A than merely titling them "Stumpy Stumper #123", and such.
As someone who has long had a certain - let's not say morbid, but rather, respectful - interest in the year-end necrologies put out by various news outlets, or at the Academy Awards, I must note the passing of a great many U's from the Periodic Table of the Elements, with the official adoption of new permanent names for the four newest members: Element 113: nihonium (Nh), previously ununtrium (Uut), Element 115: moscovium (Mc), previously ununpentium (Uup), Element 117: tennessine (Ts), ununseptium (Uus), and Element 118: oganesson (Og), ununoctium (Uuo).
re: Christmas Perversions. Wow. Finally -- M&A tried to make a tough Stumpy Stumper, and it actually ended up workin out that way, for once!
Sorry, if y'all suffered too much. Was worth it to M&A, just to see @BobK.'s interim guess of ADEEDOO for 4-Down. Really primo desperate guess. I laughed out loud. Thanx.
@BobK. - *Very* well done, considerin U had no NYTPuz to go by.
M&A is celebratin just gettin his day-um Christmas cards done. Can breathe normal again. So … Next up: a "Christmas Cards" runtpuz … Hopin the NYTPuz won't be-scoop M&A on this puppy. (Will unleash him late to-nite.)
Holy moly. Test solvers are skiing thru "Wild Hunt" in blazes of low-nanosecond glory. And all that after M&A served up clues requirin knowledge of directions within Epcot? day-um, U folks are good.
@M&A, FYI, I was just reading a story in the New Yorker magazine and came across a runt-worthy word heretofore unknown to me: cagoule: a lightweight, hooded, thigh-length waterproof jacket.
@Teedmn, you just inspired me to implement a word of the day feature on this blog. It will be a word that contains one or more U's. The first word is your cagoule (see the blog posting).
M&A finds it relievingly gratitfyin, that @BG1, despite his record number of write-overs, got the 1-Down answer correct, the first time. Every other test solver, so far, has made a certain jaw-droppin assumption/accusation that, tho uncomfortably not without its partially true side, just plumb makes M&A wonder…
M&A
p.s. "cagoule". har. Thanx, @Teedmn. Early Christmas gift.
Should I be looking for a Word of the Day feature?
Don't know if this qualifies, and I'm just going to paraphrase rather than look for the exact quote, but I've been hearing on the radio, "... the Chinese Navy picked up a U.S. Navy Unmanned Underwater Vehicle, or UUV, ..."
The runt corpus now includes answers used by the first 801 runts. There are 435 two letter words which is well on the way to the theoretical limit of 676 (26*26). A list of two letter words that have not appeared has been compiled and is available at http://puzzlecrowd.com/missingtwoletterwords.html
I don't want to get carried away, but I must post these things when I encounter them:
You might find a couple of candidates for Word of the Day in this excerpt from a blog post from The Nature Conservancy (http://blog.nature.org/science/2016/11/14/largest-mammal-no-scientist-ever-seen-wild-saola-endangered/):
The Annamite Mountains proved to be a biological treasure trove, with other major wildlife discoveries including the bare-faced bulbul, large-antlered muntjac and Annamite striped rabbit. “The saola is the most spectacular chapter of what is a remarkable story,” says Robichaud.
@Teedmn: Don't overlook the "Christmas Blankettes" runt, which was the first of three published here today. It's the friendliest pup in the litter, I think.
"Christmas Blankettes" Thank you for the heads up, M&A, I had totally missed this one. Warm and fuzzy as promised, as one would expect from a Christmas blankette.
@r.alph: The 2-letter word summary at: http://puzzlecrowd.com/missingtwoletterwords.html sites "RF" as an unused 2-letter runtpuz entry. The Atomic Element Abbreviation checklist at: http://puzzlecrowd.com/chemistry.html sites "Rf" as a checked-off-as-used runtpuz entry.
Confuses the M&A. Will use RF soon, just as a precaution.
http://puzzlecrowd.com/missingtwoletterwords.html is machine-generated. If something is missing from it then I haven't regenerated it for the latest puzzles.
http://puzzlecrowd.com/chemistry.html is manually updated
In case of differences chemistry.html is probably the incorrect one. However you might have referred to some element in circles inside a longer answer. The automatic generation won't catch that.
I have unchecked Rf in chemistry.html. Just refresh it in the browser.
@r.alph: The circles were mostly there to keep some of the squares from windin up unchecked. I realize it didn't add a whole lot of Christmas sparkle to the theme. Sure do like @Teedmn's anagram idea for the circled word, tho.
This Christmas runt just barely made the cut. (U oughta see some of the mongrels that didn't. woof.)
My old Apple computer runt-maker is startin to act up. If I disappear for a spell sometime soon, that might be why. Even an Apple can stand only so many runtz, perhaps?
@r.alph: yep. Omitted that L in building accidentally. But, now kinda like it. Sorta like a building that lost its ell-wing. Great test-solve times, btw.
Pretty good "Fur Ball" times, actually. Good job, folks. M&A agonized, on whether to allow an extra-long solve time limit on it. But, usually the test solvers can nail any stumpy stumper in under 10, soo … nope.
@r.alph, interesting new options with the choice of showing only across or downs. And having the Options selection on the start page is a great addition.
According to The Writer's Almanac, "It's New Year's Eve, which means people across the world will celebrate the passing of another year and toast to hopes for the new year ahead. The idea of celebrating a new year dates back 4,000 years to the Babylonians, who held a massive 12-day festival called Akitu, which was the Sumerian word for 'barley.'"
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akitu)
Seems to make a nice complement to Linksmu Kaledu.
"Buncha Beginners" Owie.
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NzM2NTIxNjg1MDEzNzY1
"Platters Sub" Makes me look like I belong with a buncha beginners.
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MzI4Njg3NzIyMDgzNjk3
@Teedm: U may be correct, on Platter Sub's 5-D answer. Real sorry. No refunds.
DeleteM&A
If @BobK gives it bona fides, I'm okay with it. And you have pulled too many rare and wondrous finds in the past for me to start doubting. I just couldn't find anything on Google that settled it for me satisfactorily.
DeleteThis thing seems to snarl at me a lot, so … 15 minutes for solving.
ReplyDelete"Close Followers" - 7x7 themed biter runt:
**gruntz**
M&A
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete"Close Followers" Fun!
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NzgzNjM0NzgzNTAxMjE3
*** Slight Close Followers spoiler alert ***
Delete*** no peeking ***
Amazin Close Followers solve time, @Teedmn darlin! Consider it yer early Christmas present.
M&A is still scratchin the hair off his head, tryin to figure out what makes a runtpuz challengin or not. For Close Followers, maybe if the themed answers could be randomly close in **either** direction?? Will keep this in mind, for another time …
M&A
"Close Followers" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NDY5ODczNzg4OTY2MzA3
Thanks
FORGET what I said! I found my problem: My bad eyesight! I mis-read the clue! (BTW, have I mentioned that my grandmother's name and my mother's middle name were both ANNA?)
Delete@BobK. -- Hey, yeah … har. ANNA would work, also.
DeleteM&A
"My analyze over the ocean
DeleteSo bring back my anatomy"**
**Student's answer when asked to use analyze and anatomy in a sentence.
Stumpy Stumper: "Red Hot Mess" - 7x7 themeless:
ReplyDelete**gruntz**
M&A
"Red Hot Mess" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NDA2MzU1ODcwMzE1MjQ5
Thanks. Only mess was in my solving!
Aside to M&A -- I am always on the lookout for seven-letter words that are new to me, and this morning I did a 10/1/2011 Saturday Stumper wherein one of the answers was PLOPART. Was new to me, thought you might find it handy some day.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.google.com/search?q=plopart&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8
"Red Hot Mess" Thanks!
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NTQyMzYwODc4NzIyMzUy
Thanx, @BobK, PLOPART-wise.
ReplyDeleteYer reward: a Sunday-sized runtpuz with an eminently runtpuz-questionable-like theme. M&A did not discover his theme-idea blunder (NYTPuz-quality-wise), until too late.
"Take a Creative Number" - 15x15 themed:
**gruntz**
A Sunday Kind of M&A
"Take a Creative Number" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=OTc5MzM0ODgxNDg4OTky
Very creative indeed! Thanks.
Stumpy Stumper: "Mummy Melt" - 7x7 themeless:
ReplyDelete**gruntz**
M&A
"Mummy Melt" Very nice!
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=Nzk2MzExOTQ2MjcxMjA4
@Teedmn: really liked yer "orange hot mess" suggestion, btw.
DeleteM&A
"Mummy Melt" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=Nzk1MTg4OTU1NDIzNDc5
Thanks
"SOFT Underbelly" - 7x7 themed:
ReplyDelete**gruntz**
M&A
"SOFT Underbelly" A real tummy-rubber.
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NTEzOTIxMDMxNjQwMDc0
"SOFT Underbelly" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=OTk2NDI2MTA0MzA4NTg4Mg
Thanks
@r.alph: Partial to that "SOFT U" controversy, that U thunk up, in yer runtcomments. Well done, … and nice solve time.
ReplyDeleteM&A
p.s.
Now that the NYTPuz has made things semi-official, we will need to start insertin a decorated-for-Christmas Runt , now and then ...
p.s.
ReplyDelete@Teedmn: Even nicer solve time, btw. And Libya "slowed U up"? … slack-jawed "day-um!" salute.
M&A
Runtpuz follower's recap for solution to: "Close Followers".
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NjYzMzE2MTA1NDI1ODk4OQ
M&A
Let's start this Christmastime puzs dealy off, oh-so lightly …
ReplyDelete"Tribute Runtpuz" - 7x7 themed:
**gruntz**
M&A
"Take a Creative Number" - Great 15X15!
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MzY0MzE0MTA2NjEzMzAwMA
"Tribute Runtpuz" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NjQyMjc0MTA4MDExMzI5Nw
Thanks
"Tribute Runtpuz"
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=ODIzMDIzMTExNzgyMDc0Ng
This runtpuz is mostly BobK.'s fault. And … it begs the question: "Can y'all pass this test?"
ReplyDelete"Smell Test" - 7x7 themed and technically enhanced:
**gruntz**
M&A
p.s.
Fortunately, the "technically enhanced" part is limited to imbedded pics.
"Smell Test" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MTE2OTk5MTEzNzMyNTg1Ng
Thanks
Re "Smell Test"
ReplyDeleteWatch you step on this one.
http://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MTY3MzExMTM4NDEwNDQ4
"Smell Test" Nice use of the seed entry!
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=ODMzMDY0MTE1NTk2Mjk5NQ
Stumpy Stumper: "Burrowing Garden Foods" - 7x7 themeless:
ReplyDelete**gruntz**
M&A
"Burrowing Garden Foods" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MjAyNDc1MTIxNTM5Njk2Nw
Thanks
Take a Creative Number
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NDE4MTg2MTIxNzQxODcxNQ
"Burrowing Garden Foods"
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NzUyNzM3MTIzOTU2NTExMw
"Stocking Stuffers" - 7x7 Christmassy themed:
ReplyDelete**gruntz**
M&A
"Stocking Stuffers" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NzA2MjUxMTI0NzUwMzMxOA
Thanks
Perfectly useless information (or is it?) which I will share with anyone who is interested (which I would have posted on Rex's blog, except that I don't do the Times puzzle any more): I learned a new word from David Levinson Wilk's crossword in my local weekly shopper today: Clue - "Term used to describe a rearrangement of letters in a word or phrase to create its opposite meaning" Answer - ANTIGRAM (Eight letters, so no good for a runt, but still an interesting concept.)
ReplyDeleteExamples from the puzzle: "on the sly" HONESTLY; "no fair to trees" REFORESTATION; and, "real fun" FUNERAL (well, at least that's seven letters.)
Not that I could offer any examples of my own, but hey!
"Stocking Stuffers" - Very nice!
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=OTk3MTI1MTI5MDcwOTA0Nw
"What Goes Around Comes Around" - 7x7 themed biter:
ReplyDelete**gruntz**
(15 minutes worth)
M&A
"What Goes Around Comes Around" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MjAzODg0MTMyMDcwMjcyNA
Um, thanks.
OK, now I get it, 20 minutes too late.
Delete"What Goes Around Comes Around"
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=OTM0NjkwMTMzMDExMjY4Mw
Stumpy Stumper: "Word Kick" - 7x7 themeless:
ReplyDelete**gruntz**
M&A
"Word Kick" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NTYzNDUxMzg1NDU0NDE1
Thanks
p.s.
ReplyDeleteWelcome @kitschef, to the test solver list. Hope U happen to read this, since U asked …
The titles of the themeless runtpuzs like "Word Kick" don't mean much. M&A just grabs semi-random individual words from here and there in the puz's clues, and glues em together, to get a "very very slightly" relevant puztitle. Seemed sparklier to M&A than merely titling them "Stumpy Stumper #123", and such.
M&A
Runtpuz TP-ed recap of solution to: "Smell Test".
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MTQ1NDc1MTQxMTkxMTY0NQ
M&A
Runtpuz well-stocked recap to the solution for: "Stocking Stuffers".
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NTIzNzkzMTQxMzIwODU5Nw
M&A
Runtpuz pasted-together recap for solution to: "What Goes Around Comes Around".
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MjkyMzM3MTQxNDM4MDQxNA
M&A
"Jingle Bells Jingle" - 7x7 themed:
ReplyDelete**gruntz**
M&A
"Word Kick"
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=ODYwMjQxMTQ2MjMxNTA1OA
"Jingle Bells"
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=Nzg5NTI4MTQ2Mzc3MTI0OA
ReplyDeleteAs someone who has long had a certain - let's not say morbid, but rather, respectful - interest in the year-end necrologies put out by various news outlets, or at the Academy Awards, I must note the passing of a great many U's from the Periodic Table of the Elements, with the official adoption of new permanent names for the four newest members:
Element 113: nihonium (Nh), previously ununtrium (Uut),
Element 115: moscovium (Mc), previously ununpentium (Uup),
Element 117: tennessine (Ts), ununseptium (Uus), and
Element 118: oganesson (Og), ununoctium (Uuo).
"Jingle Bells Jingle" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NDQ1NjIyMTQ3MjEzMTU2OQ
Thank you, M&A!
Stumpy Stumper: "Cookies at an Exhibition" - 7x7 themeless:
ReplyDelete**gruntz**
M&A
"Cookies at an Exhibition" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MjI5NDE2MTUwMTk2NDkwMQ
Thanks
"Cookies at an Exhibition" - the cookie crumbled, for me.
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MTgzMDE2MTU0ODI3NTY1NQ
Help Get Teedmn Back in the Christmas Spirit Dept.
ReplyDelete"Blew Christmas With Runts" - 7x7 Christmas themed:
**gruntz**
M&A
"Blew Christmas With Runts" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MzE0ODEyMTU1OTgyNjQ3NQ
I blew it, alright! Thanks.
"Blew Christmas With Runts" blew those Christmas Blews away, nice. Thanks.
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NDEyODY1MTU4ODg1MDM2MQ
Stumpy Stumper: "Worst Case Scenario" - 7x7 themeless:
ReplyDelete**gruntz**
M&A
"Worst Case Scenario" I did not say "Bite me!" but it did anyway.
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MTAzOTU1MTYzNTEyMjEzOQ
"Worst Case Scenario" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MTM2NDAxNjM3NTE3NDA1
Thanks
"Runtpuz Gift Ideas" - 7x7 themed:
ReplyDelete**gruntz**
M&A
"Runtpuz Gift Ideas" I hope M&A doesn't have my name :-).
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NzEwMTY1MTY3NDk2OTUxMQ
"Runtpuz Gift Ideas" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=OTg4NzcxMTY4NDExNTE5NQ
Thanks
Runtpuz jingly recap of solution for: "Jingle Bells Jingle".
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NzMyNjE3MzY2MjcyNTc
M&A
Runtpuz blown-off recap of solution to: "Blew Christmas With Runts".
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=Mjk0NDMwMTczNzk5MTc0NQ
M&A
"Caroling Bloopers" - 7x7 Christmas themed:
ReplyDelete**gruntz**
M&A
"Caroling Bloopers" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NjE4NTA2MTc0MDYwODYyOA --
Thanks
"Caroling Bloopers"
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NDE0NDAxNzYwNTc4MTQz
Stumpy Stumper: "Christmas Perversions" - 7x7 Christmas themeless:
ReplyDelete**gruntz**
(15 minutes time limit!)
M&A
"Christmas Perversions"
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MTczOTE0MTgwOTk2ODg0MQ
"Christmas Perversions" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=OTU1NTYxMTgxMTcwNjc1Nw
Thanks
re: Christmas Perversions.
ReplyDeleteWow. Finally -- M&A tried to make a tough Stumpy Stumper, and it actually ended up workin out that way, for once!
Sorry, if y'all suffered too much. Was worth it to M&A, just to see @BobK.'s interim guess of ADEEDOO for 4-Down. Really primo desperate guess. I laughed out loud. Thanx.
M&A
Well, shoot. The NYTPuz just scooped M&A, on this here theme. Might as well publish it, and face up to bein an also-ran …
ReplyDelete"FaLaLaLaLaLaLaLaLa" - 7x7 Christmas be-themed:
**gruntz**
(Back to regular 10 min. time limits. Breath normal.)
M&A
p.s.
DeleteOr ... "Breathe normal", if U can spell right.
M&A Breath
"FaLaLaLaLaLaLaLaLa" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NjE4NTYwMTgyMDc0MzgxMw
Thanks
@BobK. - *Very* well done, considerin U had no NYTPuz to go by.
DeleteM&A is celebratin just gettin his day-um Christmas cards done. Can breathe normal again. So … Next up: a "Christmas Cards" runtpuz … Hopin the NYTPuz won't be-scoop M&A on this puppy. (Will unleash him late to-nite.)
M&A
"FaLaLaLaLaLaLaLaLa"
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NjU5MTA2MTg1MjE0NjAxMQ
"Christmas Cards" - 7x7 themed:
ReplyDelete**gruntz**
M&A
"Christmas Cards" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NDM3ODI2MTg1NzM3NTczNQ
Thanks
"Christmas Cards" - very nice. Thanks.
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NzUxOTcxMTg5Mjg0NDU1NA
Runtpuz mop-up recap for solution to: "Runtpuz Gift Ideas".
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=Njc2ODkyMTkxMzUxNDI5Mw
M&A
Runtpuz wassailing-out recap of solution for: "Caroling Bloopers".
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MTU4ODA3MTkxNDY3OTUxMQ
M&A
Runtpuz pre-verted recap of solution to: "Christmas Perversions".
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=OTg2OTYwMTkxNTU1MjU0Mw
M&A
Runtpuz Fala-dog recap for solution to: "FaLa…La".
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=OTk2NjM2MTkxODA0MTM1NA
M&A
Stumpy Stumper: "Wild Hunt" - 7x7 Christmas themeless:
ReplyDelete**gruntz**
M&A
"Wild Hunt" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NzAzNzQ3MTk3NDkxNjMxOQ
Thanks
"Wild Hunt" - Nice.
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=ODE5ODg5MTk3NzE4MjEwOA
Holy moly. Test solvers are skiing thru "Wild Hunt" in blazes of low-nanosecond glory.
ReplyDeleteAnd all that after M&A served up clues requirin knowledge of directions within Epcot? day-um, U folks are good.
M&A
Runtpuz recap, with an XOXO, for solution to: "Christmas Cards".
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MjkwNjY2MjAwNzYyMDcyNA
M&A
"With Santa's Help" - 7x7 Christmas themed:
ReplyDelete**gruntz**
M&A
Number 800!
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MjM1NDcyMDMxNjgwMDA2
"With Santa's Help"
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MzI5ODE0MjA2NDkyMTkyNQ
@M&A, FYI, I was just reading a story in the New Yorker magazine and came across a runt-worthy word heretofore unknown to me: cagoule: a lightweight, hooded, thigh-length waterproof jacket.
ReplyDelete@Teedmn, you just inspired me to implement a word of the day feature on this blog. It will be a word that contains one or more U's. The first word is your cagoule (see the blog posting).
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete@r.alph, U highlighted in red, nice!
ReplyDeletere: "With Santa's Help" runt…
ReplyDeleteM&A finds it relievingly gratitfyin, that @BG1, despite his record number of write-overs, got the 1-Down answer correct, the first time. Every other test solver, so far, has made a certain jaw-droppin assumption/accusation that, tho uncomfortably not without its partially true side, just plumb makes M&A wonder…
M&A
p.s.
"cagoule". har. Thanx, @Teedmn. Early Christmas gift.
This runt dug out of the pen, due to @Teedmn's urgings. So, partially her fault.
ReplyDeleteStumpy Stumper: "Desperate Christmas Tree Harvest" - 7x7 Christmas sorta themeless:
**gruntz**
M&A
p.s.
Delete15 minutes, :time limit!
M&A Judges Desk
"Desperate Christmas Tree Harvest" Thanks!
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=ODU0ODU1MjEwMTIyNzYxOQ
Better late than never --
ReplyDelete"With Santa's Help" --
http://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MzAzMDQ2MjEwNTM4NjEyNA
Thanks
Better (but not much) late than never --
ReplyDelete"Desperate Christmas Tree Harvest" --
http://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MjIyMDUyMTA2OTk4Nzk0
Thanks
Should I be looking for a Word of the Day feature?
ReplyDeleteDon't know if this qualifies, and I'm just going to paraphrase rather than look for the exact quote, but I've been hearing on the radio, "... the Chinese Navy picked up a U.S. Navy Unmanned Underwater Vehicle, or UUV, ..."
UUV is today's word of the day! Thanks Bob.
ReplyDeleteThe runt corpus now includes answers used by the first 801 runts. There are 435 two letter words which is well on the way to the theoretical limit of 676 (26*26).
A list of two letter words that have not appeared has been compiled and is available at http://puzzlecrowd.com/missingtwoletterwords.html
"It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas … Everywhere U Go" - 7x7 themed:
ReplyDelete**gruntz**
M&A
"It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas … Everywhere U Go" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MjMxNjEyMTkxNDkwNTI4
Thanks
"It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas...Everywhere U Go"
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=OTA4NDY5MjE5MzE1MTE5MQ
@BG1: Interesting, that U should ask yer "Reflective" NYTPuz question…
ReplyDelete"Doppelgänger" - 7x7 themed themed:
**gruntz**
M&A
"Doppelgänger" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MzU2NTQxMjE5ODY0MzkyNg
Thanks. Um, what was that policy on refunds again?
"Doppelgänger" Great feat!
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=ODQ2NDAzMjI0MTM3NjQ1NQ
I don't want to get carried away, but I must post these things when I encounter them:
ReplyDeleteYou might find a couple of candidates for Word of the Day in this excerpt from a blog post from The Nature Conservancy (http://blog.nature.org/science/2016/11/14/largest-mammal-no-scientist-ever-seen-wild-saola-endangered/):
The Annamite Mountains proved to be a biological treasure trove, with other major wildlife discoveries including the bare-faced bulbul, large-antlered muntjac and Annamite striped rabbit. “The saola is the most spectacular chapter of what is a remarkable story,” says Robichaud.
That Doopelganger stunt puz was ok, I guess, but let's get back into the Christmas spirit of not sheellackin the solvers …
ReplyDelete"Christmas Blankettes" - 7x7 Christmas themed:
**gruntz**
M&A
"Christmas Blankettes" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NTc0OTcwMjI0NzU1MDA4NQ
Thanks
[sigh] M&A knows he's crankin out too many runtz for the holidays. But this (12 min,) biter is entirely BobK. & the Word of the Day's fault.
ReplyDeleteStumpy Stumper: "Drip Dry Drone" - 7x7 Rated-Ho themeless:
**gruntz**
M&A
Sorry. :( Don't wear yourself out!
ReplyDelete"Drip Dry Drone" --
http://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=ODEzMjIyMjYwMzU0MTg4
Thanks
@BobK. - No problemo. M&A is not a total slave to the wUrd of the Day -- just partly. That drip-dry drone one was too cute to pass up, tho.
DeleteM&A
Drip Dry Bone
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NDUzOTUxMjI2NDg4MTk4NA
Word of the day CUCKOLD
Dang it, @r.alph, @BobK. …
ReplyDeleteStumpy Stumper: "wUrds of the Day" - 7x7 barely Christmas themeless:
**gruntz**
M&A
"wUrds of the Day" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MTI3ODE3MjI3MzQwMzg3OA
Thanks again!
"Drip Dry Drone" I'm the drip.
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=ODY5Nzk5MjI3NzI4OTgzNw
"wUrds of the Day" Still dripping.
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NTM4NzI4MjI3ODE0MzkyOA
@Teedmn: Don't overlook the "Christmas Blankettes" runt, which was the first of three published here today. It's the friendliest pup in the litter, I think.
DeleteM&A
"Christmas Blankettes" Thank you for the heads up, M&A, I had totally missed this one. Warm and fuzzy as promised, as one would expect from a Christmas blankette.
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MTY0OTgxMjMyNzUwMTY0MA
"One Horse Open Runt" - 7x7 Christmas-ish themed:
ReplyDelete**gruntz**
M&A
"One Horse Open Runt" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NTM4ODg5MjM0OTgzNTI0Ng
Thanks
@r.alph:
ReplyDeleteThe 2-letter word summary at:
http://puzzlecrowd.com/missingtwoletterwords.html
sites "RF" as an unused 2-letter runtpuz entry.
The Atomic Element Abbreviation checklist at:
http://puzzlecrowd.com/chemistry.html
sites "Rf" as a checked-off-as-used runtpuz entry.
Confuses the M&A. Will use RF soon, just as a precaution.
M&A Fact Check Team
http://puzzlecrowd.com/missingtwoletterwords.html is machine-generated. If something is missing from it then I haven't regenerated it for the latest puzzles.
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com/chemistry.html is manually updated
In case of differences chemistry.html is probably the incorrect one. However you might have referred to some element in circles inside a longer answer. The automatic generation won't catch that.
I have unchecked Rf in chemistry.html. Just refresh it in the browser.
Must. be. able. to. sleep. tonight …
ReplyDelete"Beyond the Valley of the Weejects" - 7x7 corrective surgery:
**gruntz**
M&A
p.s. Absolutely kick-ass Scrabble score. New runtrecord?
"One Horse Open Runt"
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MzEwODUzMjM3MjEyNTEyNg
"Beyond the Valley of the Weejects". Whew!
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NzcxMDA2MjM3MzY3NDg4NQ
"Beyond the Valley of the Weejects" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NjU4OTUyMzc4Mzg4Njc5
LOL, and Thanks
"5 Runty Christmas Decorations" - 7x7 themed:
ReplyDelete**gruntz**
M&A
The word of the day is Tulum a place in Mexico. It was chosen because @Teedmn has been there.
ReplyDelete"5 Runty Christmas Decorations" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=ODAzNzQyNDI3MDA0MzYy
Thanks
FWIW, one album mentioned on this morning's Gig Alert was "Ominous Harminus" by Idgy Dean.
ReplyDeletehttps://idgydean.bandcamp.com/album/ominous-harminus-3
(I had started to post this note two hours ago, but my power went off!)
@BobK. - har. Especially likin the HAR+MINUS part.
ReplyDeleteM&A
p.s. You'da liked 16-A in the NYTPuz, today. Everyone at RexWorld was askin about U.
"5 Runty Christmas Decorations" Very nice.
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=ODc5MjA2MjQzNTExMzk0Mg
"Five Crooked Santas" - 7x7 themed:
ReplyDelete**gruntz**
M&A
"Five Crooked Santas" Fun, thanks.
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=ODU0NzkyMjQ1OTQzOTgxMA
"Five Crooked Santas" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NjgxNDA1MjQ2NDk1ODE3Nw
Thanks. Seems a night on the town didn't hurt my score as much as I feared it might!
Ha, looks like you didn't even read the downs, @BobK! Nice job.
Delete"We 3 Kings … and a Chicken" - 7x7 themed:
ReplyDelete**gruntz**
M&A
"We 3 Kings … and a Chicken" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=OTE0MjQxMjUxMDYyNTAxMw
Thanks for the gifts!
And now, for a new holiday tradition, that's mostly BobK.'s fault.
ReplyDelete"Desperate Christmas Word Square" - 7x7 sorta themed:
**gruntz**
M&A
"Desperate Christmas Word Square" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MjgzNDI1MjM0MDQ1NTk
Many thanks!
Runtpuz helpful recap for solution to: "With Santa's Help".
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=ODEwODM4MjUzMTU3OTk2Ng
M&A
Runtpuz go-go recap for solution to: "Christmas … Everywhere U Go".
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NzQ5MTUyMjUzMjQ0MDkzNw
M&A
Runtpuz blankety-blank recap for solution to "Christmas Blankettes".
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NTk4NTE3MjUzMzQ3Njk0OA
M&A
Runtpuz horsey recap for solution to: "One Horse Open Runt".
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NTc4Nzg1MjUzNDc3ODcxMA
M&A
Runtpuz decorous recap for solution to: "5 Runty Christmas Decorations".
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NDk4MjkxMjUzNTg2Nzc5Nw
M&A
Runtpuz twisted recap for solution to: "Five Crooked Santas".
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MzM4Njk5MjUzNjk4MTI4Mg
M&A
"We 3 Kings...and a Chicken" Fun!
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=Mzg3MDMyNTg3ODEyOTU1
"Desperate Christmas Word Square". Nice grid, har!
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MjM3MDUyMjU4ODM0MDI1MA
"Hip-Hop Christmas" - 7x7 themed:
ReplyDelete**gruntz**
M&A
"Hip-Hop Christmas" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MTUzNDIzMjU5OTEwMTE4OQ
Thanks
Ominus Harminus has been selected as the word of the day even though it is two words.
ReplyDeleteThe anagram of the day is A ROPE ENDS IT from DESPERATION
"Hip-Hop Christmas"
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=Mjg2MjQ0MjYwMjQxODcwOQ
Only one more of these bow-tied varmintz left, to kick out of the pen tomorrow (I think).
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Eve gift: 15 min. solve allotment.
"Twisted Christmas Path" - 7x7 themed:
**gruntz**
M&A
"Twisted Christmas Path" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=OTkxMjkwMjYwNjQxNzM3Mw
Thanks
"Twisted Christmas Path" Too twisty for me though I'm batting zero today with all the puzzles I've done, so not M&A's fault.
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=Mjg1NjgyMjYxNzg2NTM3Nw
----- "Twisted Christmas Path" spoiler alert ----
ReplyDeleteFinal warnin.
@r.alph: The circles were mostly there to keep some of the squares from windin up unchecked. I realize it didn't add a whole lot of Christmas sparkle to the theme. Sure do like @Teedmn's anagram idea for the circled word, tho.
This Christmas runt just barely made the cut. (U oughta see some of the mongrels that didn't. woof.)
M&A
"Runtpuz Christmas Wish" - 7x7 themed:
ReplyDelete**gruntz**
M&A
p.s. The same goes, to the womenfolk. (You'll know what I mean, after U solve it.)
"Runtpuz Christmas Wish" Thanks, M&A for the qualifier, and all of the Christmas runts this past week or so!
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=Nzg2MDQ1MjY3NTUzMzg2Nw
"Runtpuz Christmas Wish" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MTEyNDEzMjY3NjE0OTIzMA
Thank You, and Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and all other greetings of the season!
Or as they say in Lithuanian, Linksmu Kaledu.
ReplyDeleteStumpy Stumper: "Runty Couch Samples" - 7x7 themeless:
ReplyDelete**gruntz**
M&A
"Runty Couch Samples" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MTE3NTM1Mjc3MTk0OTIxMA
Thanks
"Runty Couch Samples" Nice grid.
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MzI5NzYwMjc3MzUzODAwNQ
My old Apple computer runt-maker is startin to act up.
ReplyDeleteIf I disappear for a spell sometime soon, that might be why.
Even an Apple can stand only so many runtz, perhaps?
M&A
"Almost Anagrams" - 7x7 themed:
ReplyDelete**gruntz**
M&A
"Almost Anagrams" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MjI4NzExMjg0Nzc3NDExOA
Thanks
"Almost Anagrams" Cine!
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=OTU3OTI4Mjg1NjY0MTM2MA
@r.alph: yep. Omitted that L in building accidentally. But, now kinda like it. Sorta like a building that lost its ell-wing.
ReplyDeleteGreat test-solve times, btw.
M&A
Stumpy Stumper: "Bigfoot Band-Speak" - 7x7 themeless:
ReplyDelete**gruntz**
M&A
"Bigfoot Band-Speak" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=Njc4MzE1MjkzMzUyNTU0Ng
Thanks
"X Marks the Snot" - 7x7 themed:
ReplyDelete**gruntz**
M&A
"Bigfoot Band-Speak"
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NzIzMDg3Mjk3NTM4ODEzMA
"X Marks the Snot" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NjYyODk1MzAyMTcyOTYwNg
Thanks
"X Marks the Snot" @BobK and I on the same wavelength today.
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MzU4NjQwMzAyMzQ1NTU5OQ
Stumpy Stumper: "Fur Ball Salad" - 7x7 themeless:
ReplyDelete**gruntz**
M&A
"Fur Ball Salad" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MjU2OTg0MzEwNzM4NDc3OA
Thanks
"Fur Ball Salad"
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=Nzg2ODIxMzExMzcwOTUwNw
Pretty good "Fur Ball" times, actually. Good job, folks. M&A agonized, on whether to allow an extra-long solve time limit on it. But, usually the test solvers can nail any stumpy stumper in under 10, soo … nope.
ReplyDeleteM&A
"The Fifth Element" - 7x7 themed:
ReplyDelete**gruntz**
M&A
"The Fifth Element" --
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=NTYwNjUzMzE5MzkzNDIyNQ
Thanks, and Happy New Year!
"The Fifth Element" I join @BobK in wishing you all a Happy New Year.
ReplyDeletehttp://puzzlecrowd.com:8080/CrowdSource/GetSolution?id=MTQwODM0MzE5NjA1ODk4Mw
@r.alph, interesting new options with the choice of showing only across or downs. And having the Options selection on the start page is a great addition.
ReplyDeleteAccording to The Writer's Almanac, "It's New Year's Eve, which means people across the world will celebrate the passing of another year and toast to hopes for the new year ahead. The idea of celebrating a new year dates back 4,000 years to the Babylonians, who held a massive 12-day festival called Akitu, which was the Sumerian word for 'barley.'"
ReplyDelete(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akitu)
Seems to make a nice complement to Linksmu Kaledu.
Happy New Year, all U nice people.
ReplyDeleteM&A
And Akitu could be a Runt word-of-the-day.
ReplyDeleteM&A
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I "met" you. Happy New Year! I will create a new post tonight to start the New Year off clean.
New post is now available
ReplyDelete