The NYT Crossword

[George K]

When I was at the U, several members of the department would have lunch in the conference room and do the NYT crossword. By Friday, it was difficult, and not unusual to not get it finished.

I've been doing some of the online (I've completed April 2004 - other than Sunday) and I'm surprised at how much easier they seem to be. Granted, I have "auto check" on, making it a bit easier, but still. I can complete Mon-Wed with no issue, and Thu-Sat with, perhaps one "reveal."

Has it gotten easier?

[Copper]

DEI

The E is for equity

Everyone should be able to do the puzzle.

[George K]

@Copper said in The NYT Crossword:

DEI

The E is for equity

Everyone should be able to do the puzzle.

I hadn't considered that. You're probably right.

[Mik]

I just do the mini along with my other morning brain wakeups - Worldle, Waffle, Wordle, Connections, Strands, Mini and the Jumble.

[bachophile]

First of all turn off auto check.
Second, the more you do the easier they become because there are lots of repeats of certain words which seem to always appear ( Oreo, or Lea, as in meadow, for example)
Third, Mondays are so easy that the peeps do them only solving the down clues. When you get to a point that solving Mondays and Tuesdays are a breeze, they get more intersting on Wednesdays. Thursdays I can’t finish consistently. Friday and Saturday I don’t even try (yet)
Fourth. Cmon turn off auto check. With it on you are not really solving.
Fifth. I admit it, I do them everyday. (Except Fri sat). Sundays are a big Wednesday/thursday.
Sixth. Using the archive I’ve done almost every one back to 2010 or so. (Like I said, lots of repeats in the clues) the app follows your stats, solve rate, time to solve etc. really interesting how the solve time goes up consistently through the week. My average Monday in 15 min and best is 6 minutes. My wed average is 32 min best is 13 min. Thursdays are always in the 40s and auto check for the last gaps if I don’t solve. But my Thursdays are improving.

[jon-nyc]

@Mik said in The NYT Crossword:

I just do the mini along with my other morning brain wakeups - Worldle, Waffle, Wordle, Connections, Strands, Mini and the Jumble.

What are Strands and Jumble?

[jon-nyc]

@George-K @bachophile

What’s auto check?

[bachophile]

U can put an option when doing the crossword that tells u the letter you put in a box is right or wrong. (Obviously the “e” version, not the paper one) so u just delete it if it’s wrong.

[Mik]

Strands is a word find NYT game. It can be challenging. Jumble is ancient and syndicated. It's unscrambling letters to form words and then a punny phrase. I do the USA Today one.

[Mik]

Will Shortz, who does the NYT crosswords, is from MFR's home town.

[bachophile]

Just had to brag. This Sunday’s was pretty easy.

[bachophile]

Btw this is the place to read the nyt crossword blog. The guy, Rex Parker, absolutely loves to criticize puzzle makers (and by extension will shortz) no puzzle is good enough for him. But he is funny.

https://rexwordpuzzle.blogspot.com/2024/05/strong-willed-daughter-on-downton-abbey.html?m=1

[George K]

@bachophile nice.

[George K]

One thing that annoys me about some of the puzzles is the references to pop culture - I don't watch much (network) TV and I don't follow (pop) music at all. I love the double-meanings, unusual usages, etc. But pop culture frustrates me.

[bachophile]

The ones that kill me are the rap musicians. I don’t know any. Those I simply have to work around

[bachophile]

I solved the Sunday 7/14/2024 New York Times Daily Crossword in 44:56!

Up with jet lag. What do you expect?

I only mention this, because (spoiler alert) a forum member actually appears in 63 across.

[Axtremus]

@bachophile said in The NYT Crossword:

I only mention this, because (spoiler alert) a forum member actually appears in 63 across.

It's @Pablo, isn't it?

[taiwan_girl]

Is it a subscription to access?

[LuFins Dad]

@bachophile said in The NYT Crossword:

I solved the Sunday 7/14/2024 New York Times Daily Crossword in 44:56!

Up with jet lag. What do you expect?

I only mention this, because (spoiler alert) a forum member actually appears in 63 across.

I never expected my past starring in Cinemax After Dark features to ever come out, let alone make The NY Times…

[Axtremus]

@LuFins-Dad said in The NYT Crossword:

@bachophile said in The NYT Crossword:
Cinemax After Dark

Is that still a thing?