2023/04/29

How did it end up like this???

 


I honestly don't know how I managed to produce a puzzle this week, but here it is!! I don't often say this, but I'm proud of the fill on this one. There are some ehhh spots (looking at you, bottom center downs) but I covered the bases in terms of cultural references, from 2023 to *checks notes* 1777? Ok, maybe that one isn't so great...

Me from the future here: I originally had this puzzle available diagramless, but looking back I think the puzzle is a bit too hard to warrant that. I do want to make some interesting diagramless puzzles though. (And I'm NOT just being lazy about editing the name on the old PDFs!!!)

2023/04/10

The World Turned Upside Down

 


I had an amazing time at ACPT last weekend!!! I had no idea so many people had heard about this blog, and I was glad I got the chance to tell a few more people about it! Also, if you didn't hear on Twitter, I happen to be the Schenectady, NY champion ;)

One of my favorite things I learned was that Dan and Babka did my Polar Plunge puzzle on Twitch!!!! It's actually two stream recordings cause Babka ate a power cord (spoiler alert) but I was so happy and honored to see Dan solve my puzzle :) (and this channel is gonna really help me with my nonexistent cryptic skills!)

Also, I'm totally using Ingrid for my next puzzle. As a longtime Crossfire user, I was gobsmacked to find that you can change the symmetry??? Also apparently you can CHANGE THE SIZE OF THE GRID MID-CONSTRUCTION! Haven't tried that but I will let you know...

Finally, before we get into today's puzzle, some puzzles I've really enjoyed recently: Rebecca Goldstein's "Race for the Cure" Universal puzzle, Evan Birnholz's "ID Numbers" Washington Post Sunday, and both of Lila Goldenberg's Lil AVCX puzzles so far! (Doing Lil AVCX puzzles have made me realize I really need to up my clue game. Let me know how I did with this set of clues!)

Ok, finally onto today's puzzle. Not much to say about this one, except that we're back to online-compatible grids! Have fun and talk to you again in a few weeks.