... if you happen to be an avid solver, this particular crossword just broke (a very trivial) World record in the realm of crosswords.

If you try the puzzle, can you guess why? You may be able to see why just from the grid pattern.

Anyway, sorry for the not-so-humble-brag. But if you don't like it... it's everyone else's fault but mine. Can't think where I learned that excuse from recently

-MAS

Last edited Sun Oct 23, 2016, 09:16 AM - Edit history (1)

Congratulations on your success. That's awesome. Used to do crosswords, particularly liked Will Shortz.

I wish you did the Sunday Crossword, BTW.

(warning: possible TMI ahead!)

The 15x15 crosswords including the themeless 15x 15 "Sunday Challenge" are all geared to be easy to medium by most NYT standards. (FYI I'm part of a team of 16 rotating constuctors that construct and co-edit the WP 15x15 puzzles) So if anyone is used to my Friday/Saturday NYTs, the WPs are far easier. This is because the WP has found that around the NYT Tuesday level suits their demographic the best. Our Sunday 15x15s are harder, but not super-tough.

As for a Sunday NYT, I don't have any in the works. But I hope to submit one or two within the next few months. But submitting a puzzle to Will Shortz and having him accept it can be pretty tough, even for experienced constructors. Sometimes the theme might not interest Will enough. So it can be a lot of work down the drain! That's not to say it's unfair, but Will can only except so many per month/year. My specialty, if you know my NYT puzzles, tend to be open-looking themeless puzzles.

I gotta say that it's nice to have people recognize my name. However, I usually hesitate to go on about my crosswords too much, because it's such an offbeat job, that you can easily give people the impression implying that you're somehow smarter. And I hate that. Which is ridiculous of course, especially around a site like DU.

-Martin Ashwood-Smith

PS: sorry for any typos etc, I'm out and squinting at my phone.

Thanks for posting.

And please tell us the world record tomorrow!

The challenge awaits...
Thanks in advance.
And congrats!

That one totally flummoxed me. Couldn't even start it.

... I have nothing to do with other puzzles in the NYT. Sorry. But yeah, there's often a pretty big jump between the NYT Wednesday puzzles and the Thursday puzzles. Since, as you probably know the Thursday's usually have an extra "twist" to them. But if you think you see a big error, or you don't like a clue in the NYT, I can pass the message along, if need be!

However, you can blame me, or me partially for any issues you have with the WP 15x15's!

Cheers,

-MAS

He's Tony Orbach. He's a NYT constructor as well as one of the 16 WP constructors. Really nice guy. In fact, I didn't realize at first he was the (now late) actor's son. I was pretty stunned to find out.

I was a huge fan of Jerry Orbach. I fondly remember him in one of *Woody Allen's greatest films "Crimes and Misdemeanors".

Jerry was fantastic in that film. And Martin Landeau's career was utterly resurrected due to this film, IMO.

What a huge loss Jerry Orbach's death was to the stage and film world.

I'll be happy to send any of Tony's Washington Post crosswords out in multi-file format when they appear, to DU members (at least the ones here!). I'll try and alert interested DUers the evening before they appear in the WP. I'll also be happy to pass on some messages to Tony after you've got his puzzle(s). I'll try and keep you posted. But don't hesitate to remind me, either by my gmail address posted in this thread or DU PM. But it's best to not do this too early, as I may forget. I'll check the schedule, and let you know his next date. Maybe later tonight or tomorrow.

-Martin Ashwood-Smith: AKA "Puzzler"

*(I know that Woody Allen now is (to put it mildly) a "controversial" figure. So when I mention him, I want to assure readers that I don't just toss off his name without being aware of this. But that is a different and hugely important subject that is probably not a lounge forum topic. But it is a vastly important one, lest anyone think I am minimizing it. I can't stress this enough!)

P.S. Did you know that Jerry was quite the romantic? His widow Elaine published a collection of the love-notes he would leave EVERY morning before trucking off to the "L&O" locations.

https://www.talkinbroadway.com/bookreviews/rememberhowi.html

He was a Prince of more than The City!