[Dixonary] OT: Cryptic crosswords

[Dodi Schultz]

Nancy, you know about the free online variety cryptic (printable) at The
Atlantic? Hit their homepage and scroll down the lefthand column.

But wait for the March puzzle, which should be posted early next month.
Don't start with the current (Jan-Feb) one; it's impossible. Usually
they're just difficult and clever (they're by Cox and Rathvon), but most of
us don't even understand the instructions this time around.

The daily Guardian puzzles (they're ALL cryptic in the UK) are also
printable, as are Kegler Kryptics (both straight and variety).

--Dodi

[Nancy Shepherdson]

My husband and I have been doing cryptics for years and he was
thrilled to discover the Atlantic cryptic database a few months ago.
We are working on one from 2005 now. I will tell him though about the
"impossible" one. Not for him, I'll bet.

Maybe we can persuade Will Shortz to add a cryptic to the Crossword
Tournament in March. I'd even come East for that.

Nancy

On Jan 9, 11:38*pm, Dodi Schultz <SCHU... (AT) compuserve (DOT) com> wrote:
> Nancy, you know about the free online variety cryptic (printable) at The
> Atlantic? *Hit their homepage and scroll down the lefthand column.
>
> But wait for the March puzzle, which should be posted early next month.
> Don't start with the current (Jan-Feb) one; it's impossible. *Usually
> they're just difficult and clever (they're by Cox and Rathvon), but most of
> us don't even understand the instructions this time around.
>
> The daily Guardian puzzles (they're ALL cryptic in the UK) are also
> printable, as are Kegler Kryptics (both straight and variety).
>
> --Dodi

[Nancy Shepherdson]

Just a side note:

Now I can reveal the proper cryptic clue for alsobia:

Mr. Gore, cry over state of tropical American herbs.

BTW, Dodi, my husband says thanks for pointing him at this month's
Atlantic cryptic. We finished it tonight -- finally figured out the
instructions, too.

Nancy

[Dodi Schultz]

>> Now I can reveal the proper cryptic clue for alsobia:
>>
>> Mr. Gore, cry over state of tropical American herbs.

Pretty good, Nancy--although technically, the "over" is misleading, no? How
about: Gore state about to weep (or cry) for--? Or, others about to weep
for--?

>> BTW, Dodi, my husband says thanks for pointing him at this month's
>> Atlantic cryptic. We finished it tonight -- finally figured out the
>> instructions, too.

I gave up on the instructions. Ran out of time.

Congratulations on the almost-D0! I really thought you'd aced it, until
Russ's vote popped up.

--Dodi

[Nancy Shepherdson]

I think "over" can mean "in front of." "State about" would either be
ai or it would be ia around sob, for alasobi. It was the "of" that I
though was misleading.
Nancy

On Jan 13, 11:34*pm, Dodi Schultz <SCHU... (AT) compuserve (DOT) com> wrote:
> * >> Now I can reveal the proper cryptic clue for alsobia:
> * >>
> * >> Mr. Gore, cry over state of tropical American herbs.
>
> Pretty good, Nancy--although technically, the "over" is misleading, no? How
> about: Gore state about to weep (or cry) for--? Or, others about to weep
> for--?
>
> * >> BTW, Dodi, my husband says thanks for pointing him at this month's
> * >> Atlantic cryptic. *We finished it tonight -- finally figured out the
> * >> instructions, too.
>
> I gave up on the instructions. Ran out of time.
>
> Congratulations on the almost-D0! I really thought you'd aced it, until
> Russ's vote popped up.
>
> --Dodi

[Tim B]

> BTW, Dodi, my husband says thanks for pointing him at this month's
> Atlantic cryptic. We finished it tonight -- finally figured out the
> instructions, too.

Wow! I tried to work out the instructions, but gave up. I like cryptic
clues, but I think cryptic instructions are going too far!

Best wishes,
Tim B.

[Nancy Shepherdson]

The key for this one was to just start it and figure out the
instructions as you got more of it filled in. In this case, another
key was reading the instructions from the bottom up.

But, I admit, if my husband wasn't so good at them, I would have given
up, too. But I'll also brag that I was the one who finally figured
out what the instructions meant.

Nancy

[Dodi Schultz]

>> "State about" would either be ai or it would be ia around sob, for
>> alasobi.

Not if you consider "Gore state" an entity, Nancy. But I think I prefer the
"others about to cry for" as less ambiguous.

Only cryptic freaks would nitpick like this.

(Aside to Jim, who has done these things: Any comment?)

--Dodi

[Dodi Schultz]

NS>> In this case, another key was reading the instructions from the bottom
up.

Now THAT's going too far! The Puzzlers are tricky enough without asking
solvers to read the instructions backwards! I'm with Tim B on this one.

--Dodi

[Nancy Shepherdson]

It was kinda odd. Maybe rathvon and cox are getting bored.

On Jan 14, 10:17*am, Dodi Schultz <SCHU... (AT) compuserve (DOT) com> wrote:
> NS>> In this case, another key was reading the instructions from the bottom
> up.
>
> Now THAT's going too far! The Puzzlers are tricky enough without asking
> solvers to read the instructions backwards! I'm with Tim B on this one.
>
> --Dodi