MIA Once Again

Sorry I've been MIA . . . it's been a very busy time for me.

Meanwhile, enjoy this human-interest story about Vassar student Jonathan Garfinkel, who creates puzzles for his college paper.

Also, here are the theme answers to today's Billie Truitt Puzzle called "Get A Grip":

20A: Sweetheart (MAIN SQUEEZE)
41A: Short on Cash (FEELING THE PINCH)
57A: During a critical time (IN THE CLUTCH)

Will be back soon!

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

ACPT Weecap/Like Wow, It's the 80s!

Happy spring! We certainly have a great day for the first day of the new season!

Yes, most of the people who matter have reported on ACPT already, but I was so wiped out from the tournament I wasn't up to posting anything until now. Here it goes:

On St. Patrick's Day at 11:00, 600 contestants gathered at the Brooklyn Marriott for a chance for the $5,000 prize and a chance to take your picture with Will Shortz. This year, they were giving away an iPad but nobody knows who won. I don't want to give away the puzzle answers because I believe there are still people solving by mail. Traditionally, the first puzzle has always been the easiest, but I found it to be a a little tricky this year. Also, I realized afterward that two squares were wrong. Puzzle #2 had a most interesting title, but I crashed and burned completely. So did many of the better solvers. I only made it through 60% of puzzle #3 because I figured out the theme too late. Time for a quick lunch break at the Shake Shack (Five Guys makes a better burger) and back for puzzles 4 thru 6. Puzzle #4 was a snap . . . then it was time for #5 (known as "the bastard puzzle"). I blanked out on that one too. I finished Puzzle #6 (another easy one) very quickly and then took a walk to Montague Street for dinner and a little shopping.

I had a truly awful pasta dinner on Saturday night, which gave me an upset stomach. I was able to sit through a slide show of the 35-year history of the tournament, as well as a demonstration of Dr. Fill, the computer program created by Matt Ginsberg. However, I wasn't up to the team challenge called Puzzle Nation, so I went to bed early. After breakfast, Puzzle #7 was distributed. I wound up finishing about 75% of it and I stayed for the talent show and the finals. I was pleasantly surprised by many of the acts, especially the pianist Jon Delfin, musician Vic Fleming, and comedian Mark Saltveit.

Congrats to Dan Feyer, who was the winner for the third consecutive year. Dan was trailed by Tyler Hinman (the former 5-time champ) and Anne Erdmann. Tyler went into the finals error-free and he finished the puzzles quickly. Although I didn't look at my score, I'm sure I languished near the bottom of the field and edged out only those who didn't show up. You can follow this link for the final results. As for Dr. Fill, "he" would have finished only 141st in the standings. However, only humans are accounted for in the final results. In the end, man beats machine.

A special "Thank You" goes out to Helene Hovanec, a children's puzzle creator, for coordinating the ACPT. She has taken on this awesome responsibility for almost 20 years!

Now I'm gearing up for Lollapuzzoola 5, which is on August 4th. I have a lot more fun at this tournament because it's smaller and the puzzles are generally easier. Also, snacks and pizza are included in the cost! Not sure if I'll return to the ACPT next year, but I am going to try my hand at constructing some puzzles for kids. I'm going to start doing some research and see what I can create.

* * *

Today's Newsday puzzle by Billie Truitt featured an '80s theme. I was so happy! Here are the theme answers with pictures:

20A: 80s fad garments (LEG WARMERS). OMG, I had visions of "Flashdance" going through my head! Actually, leg warmers were used by dancers for years in order to keep their muscles from cramping. It was only during the 80s and the aerobics craze that leg warmers became popular.

40A: 80s fad doll (CABBAGE PATCH KID). Was there any little girl in the 80s who did not want this doll? Cabbage Patch Kids were so ugly but adorable at the same time. They came with adoption papers too. People stood on line for hours at toy stores, only to be turned away. Occasionally, cat fights would erupt between moms, too. They are still around, with "adoption fees" in the neighborhood of $200.

57A: 80s puzzle fad (RUBKIS CUBE). I was never able to solve the Rubik's Cube. However, I used to cheat by peeling off the stickers and pretend that I solved the puzzle in record time.

Tonight is a "Mad Men" talk at the Times Center . . . just 5 more days until the season premiere!

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

A, E, I, O, U, and Sometimes Y

One day before the 2012 ACPT and it's my 110th post!

Today's Newsday puzzle by Bruce Venzke is called "Vowel Play." This is one of those puzzles where you replace a vowel and it changes the word and meaning. See the theme answers below. This will be sort of a "Wordless Friday" since I don't have the energy to write. I will post pictures instead.

17A: Human Dynamo (BALL OF FIRE). Jerry Lee Lewis plays his classic "Great Balls of Fire." Video is from 1957.

23A: Cathedral Features (BELL TOWER). Here is the largest Ivan the Terrible bell tower, the largest in the world (pictured left). Located in Moscow.


35A: Arcade Machine (BILL CHANGER). Also handy at casinos. The bill changer pictured is only $897. A mere bag of shells! On sale at Gumball.com.

40A: Cotton-Picking Pest (BOLL WEEVIL). I never knew what a boll weevil looked like. but now I do. They are pretty ugly and are as pesky as bed bugs.

57A: Period of Investor Confidence (BULL MARKET). By the performance of the last few days on NASDAQ and NYSE, stocks are on the upturn. But unemployment remains high. :-(

Tonight at the 92nd Street Y, the Friars Club is presenting a tribute to Jerry Lewis. Rumor has it that many celebrities from Alec Baldwin to Jerry Seinfeld will be in the audience. I can't wait for this event!

When I get home, I will need plenty of shut-eye to get ready for tomorrow's tournament. I may not be able to post anything over the weekend, so until Monday. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Tell It Like It Is

Today's puzzle by Norma Steinberg is called "Do Tell."

20A: Bootee Material (KNITTING YARN). I know so many people who are into knitting and crocheting. I am not one of them. My grandma Fannie (may she rest in peace) tried teaching me, but it was hopeless. I was all thumbs. However, I do love hand-knit sweaters. My mother-in-law Mickey (may she also rest in peace) made me a beautiful sweater, along with some classic ones for Alex. . . . Elizabeth, my former boss, started her own business dying yarn for knitting and spinning. I love the colors . . . check out her Etsy site!

38A: Plan For (TAKE INTO ACCOUNT)

54A: "Yeah, Right!" (A LIKELY STORY)


CYBER SIGHTINGS:

• Two more days until the 35th Annual ACPT! Read Tyler Hinman's take on the upcoming event. Tyler is a five-time ACPT champion; I think he won his first tournament when he was just 21!
• Brendan Emmett Quigley interviews Will Shortz and Dan Feyer, the current two-time ACPT champion. BTW, I love BEQ's puzzles. His clues are very up to date, which is something you don't always find in the NYT puzzle. He also plays in a rock band. And he happens to be a Facebook friend.

I will report on the ACT from an "outsider's" point of view. I know I am not one of the "elite" solvers but I vow that I will make more of an effort to talk to others this year.

Other countdown items:

5 days until spring, although it didn't feel like it today.

10 days until the fifth-season premiere of "Mad Men"

Till tomorrow. . . . 

Signing off,

The Puzzlechick

Song and Dance

Enjoying another spring-like day in NYC! Temps have been in the upper 60s, low 70s for much of this week.

Today's Newsday Puzzle by Fred Piscop is called "For A Song".

17A: Bakery Worker's Request (TAKE A NUMBER). . . . And have a seat. Also frequently used at the DMV. Thank G-d for online license renewal!

55A: Resolve the Situation (CLEAR THE AIR). Also an idiom for driving less and driving smarter. With gas prices these days, no wonder public transportation is becoming more popular!

11D: Knight or Bishop (CHESS PIECE). I never quite understood the game of chess. All I know is that a game can take a very, very long time. Many sitcoms (e.g., "Frasier", "Family Ties", "Outnumbered") seem to have a chess episode. It was even featured in that cheesy '90s sitcom, "Saved by the Bell." Of course, Screech is Bayside's chess champion, and their rival high school (Valley) is trying to sabotage him. Did you ever hear of cheerleaders for a chess team? Yep, they're featured in this episode. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a video clip.

28D: Overexertion Result, Perhaps (BACK STRAIN). This is probably the most common type of back injury. Before running to a doctor, try these tips first.

New episodes of "South Park" begin tonight! Yay!

The countdown:

6 days 'till spring

11 days 'till the season premiere of "Mad Man"

3 days 'till ACPT

Till tomorrow. . . . 

Signing off,

The Puzzlechick

Like, I Don't Care, OK?

I was having computer trouble yesterday and it took most of the day to fix. Therefore, I was unable to post anything.

Today's Gail Grabowski offering is called "Whatever!" This expression was first used by the Valley Girls in the 1980s and reached its height of popularity in the movie "Clueless." You usually say "Whatever!" rather sarcastically and with a "W" in your hands:



Today's theme answers all had the same clue: "Indifferent Remark." Here are the answers:

20A: IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL
27A: NO SKIN OFF MY BACK
50A: I DON'T GIVE A HOOT

Cyber Sightings:

• Want to know the secret to solving crossword puzzles? In this article, Derrick Niederman explains how from both a constructor's and a solver's point of view.
• Prosepct Heights resident Stella Zawistowski hopes to achieve victory at this year's ACPT.
• More news about Dr. Fill. 

The countdown:

7 days 'till spring
12 days 'till the season 5 premiere of "Mad Men"
3 days 'till ACPT 2012

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

For Your Eyes Only

TGIF! Today's puzzle by Richard Silvestri is called "Visionary Words". All the theme answers contain the word "Eyed":

20A: Van Morrison tune (BROWN EYED GIRL). Know as "Van the Man", he is still performing today. Van Morrison grew up in a working-class area of Northern Ireland, where it was expected he would have no formal education and get a full-time job. He rode the cottails of the British Invasion with his band Them. Their biggest hits were "Baby, Please Don't Go", "Here Comes the Night", and of course, "Gloria" which would be covered by several musicians. Morrison went solo in 1967 and released his biggest hit, which you can now watch. This happens to be one of my favorite classic rock songs.

Morrison, has made many, many albums over the years, which include Astral Weeks (1968) and Moondance (1970). He picture is on Irish postage stamps too.

36A: Sugarloaf Top-10 tune of '70 (GREEN EYED LADY). The Colorado-based band Sugarloaf may not be as well-known as Van Morrison, and they had only two hits (the other being "Don't Call Us, We'll Call You.") The latter song was meant to be a dig at CBS Records, who turned them down for a recording contract. And now, the video for "Green-Eyed Lady."

52A: Fergie's Group (BLACK-EYED PEAS). Fergie's real name is Stacy Ferguson. During the '80s, she was on a show called "Kids Incorporated." Below is a video of Fergie at age 9 peforming "Go For It".  She was a cute kid. In high school, she was a cheerleader, an honor student, and a Girl Scout. Then she turned freaky, thanks to crystal meth.

Black-Eyed Peas has some very annoying songs, especially "I Gotta Feeling." They play it at every bar/bat mitzvah just because it contains the words "mazel tov." Kenan Thompson does a great impression of the "the other guy" in BEP.

I don't know how Fergie landed a hottie like Josh Damuhel.

The countdown:

11 days 'till spring
16 days 'till the season 5 premiere of "Mad Men"
8 days 'till ACPT.

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Don't Forget to Change Your Clocks!

This weekend is Daylight Savings Time. We can all solve Billie Truitt's puzzle as we prepare to lose an hour's sleep but get more sunlight.


16A: Cooler drink (SPRING WATER). Why pay $2.00 for bottled water when you can have tap water for nothing? It's better for you because it contains fluoride. Just saying.

28A: Drill sergeant's command (FORWARD MARCH). The Web site Army Times has published their list of top 10 military movies of all time. The list contains all the usual suspects (e.g., "Patton", "Full Metal Jacket."). But the funniest military movie of all time has to be "Stripes", especially the graduation scene:

49A: Come apart (FALL TO PIECES). "I Fall to Pieces" is of course one of Patsy Cline's biggest hits. It's been covered by such artists as Michael Nesmith, LeAnn Rimes, and Linda Rondstadt.



Patsy Cline (1932-1963) was killed in a plane crash during her peak years as a performer. She is cited as one of the most influential female singers of all-time. The Web site "A Tribute to Patsy Cline" is a nice homage to her.

64A: Remote rural area (BACK COUNTRY). Never in a million years would you catch me living or camping in a remote rural area. I'm a city girl through and through! However, some of the scenery really is beautiful.

News of the day: Long-time WNBC (Channel 4) anchor Sue Simmons was axed after 32 years on the job. Her contract is up in June and they decided not to renew it. I guess NBC wants to replace their news team with younger, prettier, and cheaper faces.

The countdown:

12 days until spring
17 days until the season 5 premiere of "Mad Men."
9 days until ACPT

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Low and Behold

Today's puzzle by David W. Cromer is called "Here's the Lowdown":

19A: Retail-store bigwig (FLOOR MANAGER).I was unable to find either a comedy or drama series about a U.S. department store. However, there was a long-running series in England. "Are You Being Served?" was a Brit-Com about a department store that ran from 1972 to 1985. Of course, its humor was based on sexual innuendo, misunderstandings, slapstick, and mistaken identity. This is an episode that features Joanna Lumley, who would of course go on to another great show, "Absolutely Fabulous."

35A: Aircraft repair team (GROUND CREW). The ground crew can also include baggage handlers, ticket agents, gate agents, flight dispatchers, etc. There was a hilarious show on A&E called "Airline", which showed the day in the life of employees at Southwest Airlines. Here's a classic episode for your viewing pleasure:




59A: Money that may be "bet" (BOTTOM DOLLAR). There is a chain called Bottom Dollar Food Stores.  We don't have any yet in New York, but they're in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Did you ever try a cryptic crossword? I have, and it's not easy. Notice how the grids aren't the same as that of a regular crossword. Here's why: http://www.thenation.com/blog/166642/how-cryptic-grid-got-its-squares.

Mitt Romney was the big winner of "Super Tuesday."

The countdown:

13 days until spring
18 days until the Season 5 premiere of "Mad Men."
10 days until ACPT.

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Take Five!

Retro Packaging

Happy 100th Anniversary to my favorite cookie, the Oreo! I still like to twist it apart and eat the cream inside.

And now on to today's puzzle, by Sally R. Stein (one of Stan's pseudonyms). This one's called "Take It From Me", and they are all common idioms.

19A: Take a LOAD OFF YOUR MIND (stop worrying). I just found another meaning to this phrase, one that I can't put in print. Oy!

38A: Take a LOOK IN THE MIRROR (examine yourself critically). Sometimes that's all you have to do to discover the problem that's in front of you! This is also the name of a studio album by the band Korn.

51A: Take a FIVE-MINUTE BREAK (rest for a bit). We all work too hard these days. If you can spare just 5 minutes of your time, just click on the link for 25 fun things you can do.

Today is also Super Tuesday. I never saw a campaign with such undesirable candidates.

Sorry to be so short, but I have a busy day ahead of me.

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Who's Minding the Store?

Happy Monday!

Today's puzzle by Gail Grabowski is called "What's in Store?" Here are the theme answers:

20A: One doing blackjack arithmetic (CARD COUNTER). Of course, when one thinks of counting cards, we think of that famous casino scene from the movie "Rain Man."

38A: Official Journal of the United States (FEDERAL REGISTER). I am all too familiar with this journal, which contains most routine publications of the U.S. Federal Government. I work on a product that provides SEC updates and annotations. We are at the mercy of the Federal Register for effective dates and other changes.

52A: Attorney's closing statement (I REST MY CASE). No explanation necessary here.


News from Cyberspace:

Elementary, my dear Watson: Remember when that nasty computer beat the human contestants on Jeopardy last year? This year's ACPT will have a new contestant, a computer named Dr. Fill. Read more about it here.

Wanna know Who's Who of Cruciverbalists (that's a fancy word for Crossword aficionados)? You can find all the names on Best for Puzzles. Did you know that Stanley Newman uses two secret pseudonyms when he constructs crosswords? They are "Sally R. Stein" and "Anne Stiga". The letters are rearragned to spell something pertinent. Find the answer here.

It's also a well-known fact that doing crossword puzzles helps with one's memory during the aging process. Here's an article from The Aiken Standard.

What's an anagrind? Will it become an acceptable term in the latest crossword puzzle dictionary? Hugh Stephenson from The Guardian voices his opinion.

Here's an excellent article about the ACPT from Saturday's Newsday (note: you have to pay to subscribe to this newspaper).

That's all the news for today. Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

5 & 10

Happy March! So far, this day lives up to its saying ("Comes in Like a Lion, Goes Out Like a Lamb"). It's been nasty and rainy all day.

"Five to Ten" by Fred Piscop is today's puzzle. The theme answers begin with the Roman numeral five ("V") and end with 10 ("X")

20A: Line on a Harrod's Bill (VALUE ADDED TAX (known as VAT)). In the UK, a VAT levied on most goods and services that are registered in the country. Of course, the poor get screwed the most because they spend more of their disposable income on VAT than the rich.

38A: Niacin, Thiamine, etc. (VITAMIN B COMPLEX). B vitamins play an essential role in the activities of enzymes, proteins that regulate chemical reactions and other needed substances. Other vitamins in this list include Pantothenic Acid, Pyridoxine, Folic Acid (very important for expectant moms!), and Cobalamin. Lack of Vitamin B can cause anemia, loss of appetite, depression, hair loss, stunted growth, and birth defects. Here is a chart of foods sources in Vitamin B (courtesy of the American Cancer Society).

• B1 and B2 are found in cereals and whole grains. B1 is also found in potatoes, pork, seafood, liver, and kidney beans. B2 is found in enriched bread, dairy products, liver, and green leafy vegetables.
• B3 is found in liver, fish, chicken, lean red meat, nuts, whole grains, and dried beans.
• B5 is found in almost all foods.
• B6 is found in fish, liver, pork, chicken, potatoes, wheat germ, bananas, and dried beans.
• B7 is made by intestinal bacteria and is also in peanuts, liver, egg yolks, bananas, mushrooms, watermelon, and grapefruit.
• B9 is in green leafy vegetables, liver, citrus fruits, mushrooms, nuts, peas, dried beans, and wheat bread.
• B12 is found in eggs, meat, poultry, shellfish, milk, and milk products.

52A: Beginning of Spring (VERNAL EQUINOX). Spring is just 19 days away! Spring is probably my favorite season. It's gets warm but not super hot and everything comes to life. I live in my denim jacket during these days. However, the down side is that my allergies act up because of the pollen.

The boys are going to Van Halen at the Garden tonight, which means I can watch "Project Runway All-Stars" in peace. Go Mondo!

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick