tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3305840857858959680.post9100765587601788726..comments2024-03-07T21:45:59.348-07:00Comments on Madness...Crossword and Otherwise: Saturday, January 26 - Karen M. TraceyLinda Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15816794362786044423noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3305840857858959680.post-59835027823307122262008-03-08T15:55:00.000-07:002008-03-08T15:55:00.000-07:00danke=thank youbitte=pleasedanke=thank you<BR/>bitte=pleaseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3305840857858959680.post-89418741576351699692008-01-27T04:57:00.000-07:002008-01-27T04:57:00.000-07:00Mellocat..Thanks for responding..I agree with your...Mellocat..Thanks for responding..I agree with your analysis...as a very amature puzzle solver, it seems to me that as the week progressive the clues become a bit more obscure increasing the difficulity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3305840857858959680.post-18201662659089603282008-01-26T13:28:00.000-07:002008-01-26T13:28:00.000-07:00My take -- good themed puzzles require more talent...My take -- good themed puzzles require more talent/inspiration to construct, while good themeless ones just require more perseverance. You can start working on a themeless grid with just one or two interesting entries. It can be a bear to finish one though. You want to make nearly all the longer answers lively, and that can be hard to accomplish. So it can take a lot of searching around to find a fill that is interesting enough without too much obscurity or crosswordese in the short stuff.<BR/><BR/>For a themed puzzle, you first have to come up with the theme, and if you're not inspired in that way, how do you start? When I have done themed puzzles I find the grids easier to finish than the themeless ones (assuming the theme is not too constraining on the grid). But if I'm not struck by inspiration (as I rarely am) for a theme, I can't even get started.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the comments!mellocathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10637828760951248690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3305840857858959680.post-16388216566319016672008-01-26T09:31:00.000-07:002008-01-26T09:31:00.000-07:00I think Don is correct..I bet that you would const...I think Don is correct..I bet that you would construct one excellent and enjoyable puzzle!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3305840857858959680.post-3632477860104447612008-01-26T09:27:00.000-07:002008-01-26T09:27:00.000-07:00Don and I did go out to dinner..but instead of sit...Don and I did go out to dinner..but instead of sitting down to watch a movie, he sat down with a book and I with the puzzle. And it's good that I blogged last night...it's 9:15 and I just got out of bed!<BR/><BR/>Karen Tracey's puzzles are usually tough, and I'm always happy if I can finish one...even if I need outside help.<BR/><BR/>It's hard to say which puzzles are harder to construct. Maybe Karen will comment today and address it. A themed puzzle may have more 3- and 4-letter words to accommodate the theme answers..but unthemed puzzles have stacks of long answers that must be hard to negotiate. Don thinks I should try to construct a puzzle some day...I think life is crazy enough without that ; )Linda Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15816794362786044423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3305840857858959680.post-60316780538223867502008-01-26T07:57:00.000-07:002008-01-26T07:57:00.000-07:00A point to ponder...Monday through Thursday puzzle...A point to ponder...Monday through Thursday puzzles (I do not do Sunday's Puzzle) generally have a theme, a quip or a quirk to them, do you think that these are harder to construct than Friday and Saturday puzzles?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3305840857858959680.post-14199454678415554342008-01-26T06:39:00.000-07:002008-01-26T06:39:00.000-07:00Hi Linda,I like you, needed a little assistance fr...Hi Linda,<BR/>I like you, needed a little assistance from Dr. Google for almost the same anchors you had help from Dogpile. I get a bit worried with clues like 55A (Minnelli of Broadway) on a Saturday puzzle as I think Mr. Shortz has something up his sleeve. 1-1/2 cups of java this AM to polish this one off.<BR/>NormanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3305840857858959680.post-67354035613057418902008-01-26T06:35:00.000-07:002008-01-26T06:35:00.000-07:00Hi Linda...no dinner with Don last night?...I agre...Hi Linda...no dinner with Don last night?...I agree 100% that using a search engine is a learning tool. Information sticks better if you look it up rather than getting it from a completed puzzle....other than no W every letter was used.<BR/>Like yourself I had few gimmies and then I had two wrong..SAT for GRE and Hires for BARQS...with Google I was able to finish...I did actually enjoy the puzzle as a lot of the fill was quite cleaver...enjoy your no driving day and the rest of the weekendAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com