Interesting concept, but poorly executed. The inconsistent use of the gray squares made it feel like it was an unpolished first draft, at best (i.e., sometimes it was simply the tail end of a word, sometimes it linked across to another word). And while we solved virtually the entire puzzle (except for "Abbacy"), we couldn't get to "Drive My Car" because of this inconsistency (which left us chasing ways to fill in more of the gray, and second guessing some of our answers). In the end, I delivered the puzzle to our backyard compost heap.
9
It's getting depressing to find complaints about apps predominating here. I wish they were collected in a separate section so that those of us who never have strayed and never will stray from the time-honored pencil on paper, an entirely different and lovelier experience from apps, can ignore them more easily without wasting time. Ugh.
4
Only pen and paper. Ever.
4
I missed the "song along the path" because the Across Lite version, which I still love and love that they keep it, didn't account for those letters in any way.
And yes, definitely consistency issues with the way the road letters functioned.
BUT: still wonderful to honor the upcoming July 6, 1957, historic date when teenagers John Lennon and Paul McCartney met at the St. Peter's fete in Woolton, beginning the way long and winding road they traveled, and thankfully took us with them.
And yes, definitely consistency issues with the way the road letters functioned.
BUT: still wonderful to honor the upcoming July 6, 1957, historic date when teenagers John Lennon and Paul McCartney met at the St. Peter's fete in Woolton, beginning the way long and winding road they traveled, and thankfully took us with them.
Reading the comments, I have to ask: am I the only person who does the puzzle in pen and paper? Does no one get the newspaper delivered? You are missing out. Of course I don't get electronic times and streak data, but I'm having trouble thinking why I would want them. My Sunday mornings are special coffees and the New York Times. It is lovely.
5
Pen, paper and coffee for me too!
2
I would get it delivered if delivery were available where I live. Given my geographical constraints, I'd far rather have the newspaper online than not at all.
2
I've been completing the puzzle in ink (with occasional coffee stains) for 45 years. Guess that gives me a streak of 2,340 or thereabouts.
3
EPIC disappointment. I saved this puzzle until I got home from vacation. I use the app. I can't believe I won't be able to finish it. If the 'trickery' can't be technically supported in the app then it shouldn't be published anywhere. One puzzle for everyone. Can you imagine my frustration before I started reading the comments? Boo on you, NYT.
5
Count me among the solvers who didn't like this puzzle.
Aside from the app issues (there were grey squares?) and the consequently ruined streak, I was bothered by the inconsistency of the "Drive My Car" answers. In some cases, they connected two answers, e.g. BLOO(D)LINE, MELAN(C)HOLY. Sometimes they were crossing points, such as ELO(I)/TAKE(I). To me, it was bad enough to have the dropped letter gimmick, but to have it used in different ways went too far.
Maybe if the grey squares had worked in the app, I wouldn't have cared. I'm just glad I figured out enough of the hidden clue to make sure that I had all the letters in the song title accounted for.
Aside from the app issues (there were grey squares?) and the consequently ruined streak, I was bothered by the inconsistency of the "Drive My Car" answers. In some cases, they connected two answers, e.g. BLOO(D)LINE, MELAN(C)HOLY. Sometimes they were crossing points, such as ELO(I)/TAKE(I). To me, it was bad enough to have the dropped letter gimmick, but to have it used in different ways went too far.
Maybe if the grey squares had worked in the app, I wouldn't have cared. I'm just glad I figured out enough of the hidden clue to make sure that I had all the letters in the song title accounted for.
3
I loved this puzzle, but it was REALLY not fair that the grayed-out squares did not display on the ipad version.
:(
:(
I would like to publicly thank Eric and his team for addressing the issues and crediting me with an on-time completion.
1
And I would like to publicly invite Eric to please answer my emails and fix mine.
I understand that Eric has a thankless task, and I'm glad the Times was generally responsive to the app/site issue, but feel compelled to point out that it's not accurate to say that the puzzle's special feature was "implemented slightly differently on web and in the apps". It didn't work in the apps, for the reasons Eric explained. I just don't consider not working to be an "implementation".
2
Wow. Lots of frustrated solvers. I finally figured out that on the Android app, I had some letters that I was not able to fill in. Finally got it finished, but Drive My Car was lost to me. Good, clever puzzle. Not great for the app, though. I should have printed out the PDF! Thanks!
Haven't been doing these all that long, but remembering other weird letter overlays, I used the rebus in lite gray to keep track of the Drive my car, & wrote it out in the mag, I do get the Sunday edition. Enjoyed how the letters crossed over on some (only some) to make sense, (like Cleveland, newsreels, bloodline). What I don't like is why are NYT puzzles so renowned when they don't use reasonable words for some others--ack, abbac, oyl. There are always some, but this puzzle has MANY, plus the oddly arranged theme, which could have been a great one.
Susan, ABBACY was the word, crossing CHARLY.
2
Olive Oyl's surname has been a mainstay of crosswords for decades.
Loved the challenge of his puzzle. And the info never claimed that every gray space would contain a letter, only that the letters "along" the path would. It was harder to complete using the app, but I just drew a copy of the path on paper.
Kudos! Hate when the Sundays are too easy.
Kudos! Hate when the Sundays are too easy.
1
Mr. Shortz,
Hopefully you have gotten the message by now from your devoted fan base who use the app.
Clue: Catastrophe (13 letters)
Answer: SUNDAYS PUZZLE
Hopefully you have gotten the message by now from your devoted fan base who use the app.
Clue: Catastrophe (13 letters)
Answer: SUNDAYS PUZZLE
9
Well, didn't get the feedback I needed and thus my streak ended after well over a year. So tempted to cheat and try to find a Beatles quote having to do with the road and fitting in all those squares and also fit with Drive My Car. I looked up the lyrics to Magical Mystery Tour and even managed to fit in kind of a strange quote. Had to click reveal and saw that I did make a mistake. It's Lett, not Latt. George Takei, not Takai. Would I have eventually got it with the necessary feedback. Probably. However, I don't think anyone cares about anyone's streak, anyway, and I find that I don't really care either. Still I had to mention it. I had earlier streaks disrupted by installing Windows 10 and also by somehow forgetting to do a Tuesday puzzle, so I never got the little counter number over 365. Now I never will because I won't start up doing Monday and Tuesday again. I am now signing off forever, or at least till next time.
Despite all the (empty?) promises to the contrary, my streak is now reset to one. I've just decided not to care about my streak anymore...
If you've written Customer Support via the Feedback link at the bottom of nytimes.com/crosswords or in the app, we SHOULD have already fixed streaks - I've been writing to different solvers and have a list of those that have been fixed. If you are still experiencing an issue, please definitely contact us through those feedback links again and we'll try to get things fixed shortly after the holiday. Thanks again for solving and sorry for the frustration.
Nope. No response. Nothing. No fix yet. Streak of 700 reset to 1. Thanks. Love when this happens. Really.
Four emails already, and now you're asking for another?
Four emails already, and now you're asking for another?
If I weren't a happily married woman in love with my husband who lives in a beautiful place and has much to be grateful for, this puzzle would have ruined my whole goddamned day. How would you feel, if, after hours of angst, you Googled a cheat FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, got this link, and realized you had the goddamned puzzle solved all along? I thought every gray square was supposed to have a letter. Why would I not think that? Grr!
6
I loved the theme but was frustrated that it didn't work on the NYT puzzle app
1
We're sorry if you had issues completing the Sunday Puzzle. This puzzle had a special feature that is implemented slightly differently on web and in the apps.
In print, there is a greyed road and users can fill in
In the web version, it too has the greyed road and solvers need only to fill out the specific squares. Unlike a regular puzzle, the cursor will never advance to the grey and winding road - a user has to click on the individual square they want to fill in.
In the app, we can only have a grid square being filled in (usually a white square) or left blank (usually a black square). We do not have the logic to deal with a set of squares that could be left blank OR require to be filled in. As such in the app, the long and windy road is all black; the missing letters that would fall into the road are implied (but don't have to be entered in) to be on the road. Solvers who filled all the white squares correctly will be granted the puzzle "solved."
A complication arose on the browser version of the puzzle - a solver could complete the grid but the timer would not show that the solver completed the puzzle correctly. We discovered the bug at 7:15pm ET on Saturday night and released a fix at 10:15 pm ET Saturday night. Solvers on the browser who were seeing the timer just keep running, could after that time re-enter the puzzle (close tab, open new tab) and/or delete and re-input a letter and the puzzle should solve and users streaks will continue.
In print, there is a greyed road and users can fill in
In the web version, it too has the greyed road and solvers need only to fill out the specific squares. Unlike a regular puzzle, the cursor will never advance to the grey and winding road - a user has to click on the individual square they want to fill in.
In the app, we can only have a grid square being filled in (usually a white square) or left blank (usually a black square). We do not have the logic to deal with a set of squares that could be left blank OR require to be filled in. As such in the app, the long and windy road is all black; the missing letters that would fall into the road are implied (but don't have to be entered in) to be on the road. Solvers who filled all the white squares correctly will be granted the puzzle "solved."
A complication arose on the browser version of the puzzle - a solver could complete the grid but the timer would not show that the solver completed the puzzle correctly. We discovered the bug at 7:15pm ET on Saturday night and released a fix at 10:15 pm ET Saturday night. Solvers on the browser who were seeing the timer just keep running, could after that time re-enter the puzzle (close tab, open new tab) and/or delete and re-input a letter and the puzzle should solve and users streaks will continue.
Your famous 10:15 fix DID NOT fix the problem. I solve on the browser and did not even start the puzzle until after noon on Sunday (long after this supposed fix). The timer on my fully completed and 100% correct grid is still ticking, and has now added a full half-hour to my solve time every time I open the puzzle to attempt another proposed fix. This is really unsatisfactory and it is doubly unfortunate that it happens with creative puzzles / puzzlers like this one - where the comments could have been focused on the delights of the puzzle and not on the failure of the software.
2
Eric, that simply just doesn't work. I have closed the tab several times, reopened a new tab, "resumed" the puzzle, deleted a letter and reentered it and ..... nada. It shouldn't be this difficult.
1
Finally figured out that my Opera browser did not recognize the puzzle was complete. When I signed out of that and reopened in Firefox, it told me the thing was complete. Not a good design...
What was the squiggle supposed to mean?
A fine challenge and one of the few Sunday puzzles I've completed since I started doing the NYT Crossword regularly about 4 months ago. The road absolutely stumped me; I required the combined brain power of 10 individuals and several combs through The Beatles discography to realize that not all of the grey squares were meant to be filled! A tad longer than my average, but a nice treat to have completed it.
Easily our least-favorite of the hundreds of puzzles we've completed. Terrible clues (black as night == inky? why vs the 100 other synonyms of black? Kitchen shortening without a question mark?) and a grid with a huge number of black squares with no big payoff. The Beatles are great but you can't hang your puzzle on nostalgia alone. This week's Wednesday (for instance) puts this puzzle absolutely to shame.
1
Well, it's Shakespearean - "O, that night's black darkness would forever wrap me within it's inky bosom..."
2
And then there's...
QUEEN GERTRUDE
Why seems it so particular with thee?
HAMLET
'Seems,' madam? Nay it is. I know not 'seems.'
'Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother,
Nor customary suits of solemn black,
Nor windy suspiration of forced breath,
No, nor the fruitful river in the eye,
Nor the dejected 'havior of the visage,
Together with all forms, moods, shapes of grief,
That can denote me truly. These indeed 'seem,'
For they are actions that a man might play;
But I have that within which passeth show,
These but the trappings and the suits of woe.
QUEEN GERTRUDE
Why seems it so particular with thee?
HAMLET
'Seems,' madam? Nay it is. I know not 'seems.'
'Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother,
Nor customary suits of solemn black,
Nor windy suspiration of forced breath,
No, nor the fruitful river in the eye,
Nor the dejected 'havior of the visage,
Together with all forms, moods, shapes of grief,
That can denote me truly. These indeed 'seem,'
For they are actions that a man might play;
But I have that within which passeth show,
These but the trappings and the suits of woe.
I know I'm reiterating what others have said/vented/complained about, and part of it can be. Placed squarely on my broad Luddite shoulders, but this was a big oversite for app users, one that I have paid for as up here in Canada our puzzles run several weeks behind (our print/syndicated ones). I am totally clueless as to how to access the web version (instead of letting me sign in it just kicks me to the app) and haven't been able to access the "whole enchilada" either. Likely both tech support questions, but have refrained from commenting until I hit the wall that stood at the beginning of this long and winding road.
Adding insult to injury, "reveal" DOESN'T.
1
Bummed about losing my streak! Why would you do this?!
5
We're sorry if you had issues completing the Sunday Puzzle. This puzzle had a special feature that is implemented slightly differently on web and in the apps.
In print, there is a greyed road and users can fill in
In the web version, it too has the greyed road and solvers need only to fill out the specific squares. Unlike a regular puzzle, the cursor will never advance to the grey and winding road - a user has to click on the individual square they want to fill in.
In the app, we can only have a grid square being filled in (usually a white square) or left blank (usually a black square). We do not have the logic to deal with a set of squares that could be left blank OR require to be filled in. As such in the app, the long and windy road is all black; the missing letters that would fall into the road are implied (but don't have to be entered in) to be on the road. Solvers who filled all the white squares correctly will be granted the puzzle "solved."
We recognize this was a bit of an oddity in being able to support and slightly different rules to fill in. If you would like to have the streak credited for you, please contact Feedback (bottom of web page, in the app) and make a request and we'll try to address shortly after the holiday. Thanks for your patience and for solving!
In print, there is a greyed road and users can fill in
In the web version, it too has the greyed road and solvers need only to fill out the specific squares. Unlike a regular puzzle, the cursor will never advance to the grey and winding road - a user has to click on the individual square they want to fill in.
In the app, we can only have a grid square being filled in (usually a white square) or left blank (usually a black square). We do not have the logic to deal with a set of squares that could be left blank OR require to be filled in. As such in the app, the long and windy road is all black; the missing letters that would fall into the road are implied (but don't have to be entered in) to be on the road. Solvers who filled all the white squares correctly will be granted the puzzle "solved."
We recognize this was a bit of an oddity in being able to support and slightly different rules to fill in. If you would like to have the streak credited for you, please contact Feedback (bottom of web page, in the app) and make a request and we'll try to address shortly after the holiday. Thanks for your patience and for solving!
"Bottom of web page, in the app." What does that mean? There is no bottom of the page in the app, and the app switches to Safari on my iPad when I hit the comment link. How do I get my streak restored? Please be specific. This was very frustrating to encounter. This is the second time a long streak has been broken because of a technical issue with the app. It would be great to have a warning BEFORE I start the puzzle. Thanks.
Yeah, this was a terrible, frustrating puzzle. Please don't do this again.
4
I LOVED this puzzle, every difficult, tricky, devious, memorable part of it. It took longer than usual, but the sense of victory was great. Thank you, Patrick Blindauer. That was fun.
3
My thought is don't put a puzzle online that cannot be done online. Is that too complicated to understand?
16
Well, Deb says one of the answers brought tears to her eyes.For me it was the puzzle. I see now why some of the answers bled into the grays and some didn't but it was really too clever for my feeble brain. The only reason I completed was from reading through the comments and seeing about the R. While I applaud the cleverness and didn't too much mind having to look through the entire Beatles catalog to try and find a song that had enough letters to fill in the grays, the joy of completion was drained away.
Good to get that off my chest. The actual crossword part had some bits of fun. I was particularly pleased that I figured that the answer to 31A was GALLANTS. I take no credit as I know the word from multiple viewings of Murder on the Orient Express. I was seriously held back because I kept trying to fit vamanos into ANDALE and thought 108A had to be Mao. But after learning that his portrait earlier than 1977 I finally got the ALI. I've been in lots of theatres with double balconies but never any with more than one loge, which made the response for 98D difficult to come by.
So good marks for the puzzle overall but please don't do that ever again! ;-)
Good to get that off my chest. The actual crossword part had some bits of fun. I was particularly pleased that I figured that the answer to 31A was GALLANTS. I take no credit as I know the word from multiple viewings of Murder on the Orient Express. I was seriously held back because I kept trying to fit vamanos into ANDALE and thought 108A had to be Mao. But after learning that his portrait earlier than 1977 I finally got the ALI. I've been in lots of theatres with double balconies but never any with more than one loge, which made the response for 98D difficult to come by.
So good marks for the puzzle overall but please don't do that ever again! ;-)
2
Definitely the most frustrating puzzle in NYT history due almost entirely to the sloppiness of the technical execution of the puzzle. Even when the technical glitch was theoretically "fixed" the normal puzzle response that the puzzle was filled by had an error did not appear long after "Drive My Car" was completed. So there was no way to tell whether one had solved the problem or simply that the software wasn't accepting it. My time soared to 8 times my normal average for a Saturday, making my average time useless as a stat for me to see how I'm doing overall. Does this matter? No, not really -- just made for frustration where usually there's satisfaction.
4
For those of you trying to complete the puzzle in the iPhone app (or iPad, I would imagine), there's no need to put anything in a black square. Just fill in the white squares with a single letter, leaving out the letter that would have gone in the black square. It worked for me.
Yes, of course nothing keeps you from filling it in and jut imagining the missing letters in those black squares. But that's not really the point of the construction, is it? You are meant to see the reveal as part of the solve. Didn't work on the iPad app. (My first assumption was that it must be a rebus.)
2
Love doing nytimes puzzles. Been doing them for, I don't know, 30 years. This is the first one I've really hated! Figured out that some of the words were missing a letter. But no consistency. Didn't seem to make sense.
9
Oh no, Mr. Bill!
2
Great Puzzle but as is often the case it is not clear how to complete it on an iPad. Are we supposed to put the letters for DRIVE MY CAR somewhere? In a rebus? I can't seem to get it to complete. There could be an error somewhere else but I am not seeing it.
No it turned out that it didn't work on the apps, which only have empty or blank squares, not optional ones. So you were supposed to ignore those squares, which was a terrible solution.
Dunno whether anyone is still reading, but something occurred to me after scanning all the comments below. Regardless of the technical hiccups, I think the gimmick would have made more sense if the letter-filled gray squares occurred solely at the turns in the "road." It would have provided another layer to the theme, and a symmetry to the finished product. It would have signaled, too, that the thing was finished.
1
Nice idea. Let us know when you've pulled it off. :)
4
I don't understand all the whinging. I did it on an IPad with all black squares, but it quickly became apparent that a lot of answers were one letter short. Hmm, rebus maybe? No, but I got a piece of scratch paper and wrote down the hidden letters in order along the winding road and eventually arrived at Drive My Car. My POSSLQ contributed a lot, and I didn't realize she knew so many Beatles tunes. Exceptionally terrific puzzle and I was able to blow the whole day while watching two golf tournaments. Thank you!
2
I enjoyed the puzzle and found the solution put out there by the constructor to help me through it, but could not get the puzzle to show as finished. It will affect my streak and my average time. I think the empty squares that were supposed to be gray (not gray on my screen) are registering as not filled in.
POSSLQ.....Person Of .....Piece of.....Probable.....Perfect.....
Help.
Help.
Person of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters (an expression that preceded "domestic partner" or other equivalent and was a much appreciated substitute for Church Lady's "living in sin." Pronounced "possel-cue."
I don't get it. What do the grey squares mean. What is the road. I hate this type of puzzle. It is cheap. Will someone tell me the answer.
Great puzzle. Good Beatles tunes plus a structure out of the ordinary -- what's not to like? Many of the Sunday puzzles have become just plain boring -- thank you Patrick for mixing things up.
3
You bet! Glad you liked it.
I'm one of the very frustrated solvers. And the comments aren't helpful. What in the world is the solution?! I still haven't a clue, and I can't believe the online puzzle wouldn't reveal what goes in the gray squares. Shame on you, Lindauer, and shame on the Times for creating so much frustration and disappointment.
My husband always does the puzzle, and he's pretty good at it. But this one, after 3 hours, sent him to bed with a headache. He said, see if you can figure it out. I got the two remaining clues he'd missed - "scrim" and "melancholy", deleted a few letters in the shaded area that didn't look right, and "ta-da!" puzzle solved. This one took two heads. But I got it in maybe 5 minutes after I sat down with the mostly-completed puzzle.
1
An indication that most of the grey squares would remain empty would have been appreciated. With 4/5s of the puzzle solved, and only eight grey squares filled in, I drove myself absolutely nuts trying to figure out what I did wrong. Turns out, nothing!
I did love some of the clues, such as "Highest form of flattery," and I did not find the songs too obscure. But I didn't enjoy the fill because I was too busy trying to find non-existent errors.
I did love some of the clues, such as "Highest form of flattery," and I did not find the songs too obscure. But I didn't enjoy the fill because I was too busy trying to find non-existent errors.
6
My sentiments exactly. Hated it.
1
Uncle. Is the answer published somewhere? Can someone post it here? I have a 58-year-streak of completing the NYT puzzles and this is the first one since 1966 that I could not finish on the same day that I started it. Now I am heartbroken. Heartbroken, I tell you! Puhleeze help me.
Thank you.
Thank you.
3
You're kidding, right?
https://www.xwordinfo.com/
https://www.xwordinfo.com/
Kidding about what?
I had the "Drive my car" fill and I thought the other squares needed to be filled-in as well. So I wasted quite a bit of time trying to fill all those empty squares.
The 58 yeare streak? I started doing crosswords in 1953 because my mother did them. I did not get to the NYT until 1957 when I started commuting to school. I missed a bunch during basic military training and while moving from one place to another.
No. I am not kidding.
I had the "Drive my car" fill and I thought the other squares needed to be filled-in as well. So I wasted quite a bit of time trying to fill all those empty squares.
The 58 yeare streak? I started doing crosswords in 1953 because my mother did them. I did not get to the NYT until 1957 when I started commuting to school. I missed a bunch during basic military training and while moving from one place to another.
No. I am not kidding.
5
Hal, my solution to that dilemma is to have the occasional Epic Fail. It takes the sting out of experiences like this one. I had EEK, not ACK (is that a thing, except for Bill the Cat?) and MEH, not FEH. I thought ABBEY, but it left a hole. ILYA (diminutive of ILYCH) doesn't have two L's, or so I thought.
Patrick B lives in ST L(ouis) in case you want to drop in on him to have a word....
Patrick B lives in ST L(ouis) in case you want to drop in on him to have a word....
1
I am using the app on my iPhone. There are no grey squares, only black ones that cannot be filled in. It seems this cannot be completed.
I just got a sheet of paper and wrote down the "extending" letters in the order they appeared. Did most of the puzzle in the across lite app, with a few extras to keep track.
269 comments? I guess this really got folks excited!
269 comments? I guess this really got folks excited!
1
Seconded. I always use my iPad app. No "gray" squares, just black, unselectable ones. Therefore: (a) I can't complete the puzzle as it was intended, (b) if there is a message in the "gray" squares, I can't see it, (c) I end up with answers that are just wrong (ex. Star Trek's George TAKE), and (d) the NYT published a puzzle that is simply broken. NYT, look at the comments and acknowledge that you ruined something many people once held sacred ... the Sunday NYT puzzle. I said it before, I'll say it again ... STOP the gimmicks on Sunday!
2
I also do the puzzle on the app. Puzzles like this one that not only lack the visual clues but also can't actually be completed -- because the app doesn't allow writing over the dark squares -- are frustrating.
It seems like it shouldn't be a big change to fix the color square issue, and also not hard to use the Rebus button to allow filling in those squares.
It seems like it shouldn't be a big change to fix the color square issue, and also not hard to use the Rebus button to allow filling in those squares.
2
I pretty quickly realized that Across Lite wasn't going to cut it, and switched to the NYT online program. Problem solved. Great amazing puzzle, thank you PB
BTW, is there some insoluble structural reason why the NYT program can manage these non-standard puzzles and Across Lite can't?
BTW, is there some insoluble structural reason why the NYT program can manage these non-standard puzzles and Across Lite can't?
did on across lite. harder to see "long and winding road." did enjoy being reminded of songs from my long-ago days!
and Elke
Sometimes being a relative Luddite helps. Across-lite printout was my access and my success.
Reading most of the (so far) 246 comments SOBERLY , I detect RAGE at losing a "streak". So :
"All together now (1967)" , "All things must pass (1969)" and "All you need is Love (l967)".
Really, people ,we are only doing a puzzle after all....
Sometimes being a relative Luddite helps. Across-lite printout was my access and my success.
Reading most of the (so far) 246 comments SOBERLY , I detect RAGE at losing a "streak". So :
"All together now (1967)" , "All things must pass (1969)" and "All you need is Love (l967)".
Really, people ,we are only doing a puzzle after all....
7
If you have two to three times the number of usual comments for a Sunday and the majority have the basic theme "I don't know how to get the 'finished' flourish to play," you've got a major issue.
9
It took me almost two hours plus numerous Googling time-outs, to realize that almost all of the winding road was potholes with nothing in them instead of being filled with the lyrics of some Beatle song. So I gave up and came here to vent my spleen and discovered that this was one of the most popular Sunday puzzles ever, judging from the number of reader comments.
I can see that it's time for me to acknowledge to myself that I'm too old to be trying to keep up with the current output of puzzle constructors. Time to get out and mow some grass.
I can see that it's time for me to acknowledge to myself that I'm too old to be trying to keep up with the current output of puzzle constructors. Time to get out and mow some grass.
You are not too old, Hepcat. Please don't stop commenting.
2
"...judging from the number of reader comments."
Hepcat,
When you come back in, please examine the *content* of reader comments. You will find plenty of company for your "spleen venting" (from people of all ages).
Hepcat,
When you come back in, please examine the *content* of reader comments. You will find plenty of company for your "spleen venting" (from people of all ages).
3
Had to post again to add, "The highest form of flattery?" is GENIUS. Might be my new favorite pun of all time.
2
Agreed.
Tough puzzle, and thought it would break my streak until I realized not every square in the path got filled in.
For those not getting a 'complete' when they believe it's filled in correctly online, I'd suggest you make sure all answers are right. I filled in the whole grid but never got the "Grid filled in, but you have a mistake" until I filled in *something* for every square in the path. But it turned out I don't think that's necessary. My problem was a couple of mistakes elsewhere in the grid. Once I fixed them, I got the Congratulations without filling in the whole path.
And for me, on the Android app, the path was solid black and so the puzzle undoable there.
For those not getting a 'complete' when they believe it's filled in correctly online, I'd suggest you make sure all answers are right. I filled in the whole grid but never got the "Grid filled in, but you have a mistake" until I filled in *something* for every square in the path. But it turned out I don't think that's necessary. My problem was a couple of mistakes elsewhere in the grid. Once I fixed them, I got the Congratulations without filling in the whole path.
And for me, on the Android app, the path was solid black and so the puzzle undoable there.
What do suggest would be next after confirming that every single square is right and there is still no end in sight?
I thought that somehow all the gray squares would be filled in, and we'd get the entire lyric to a Beatles song. I had the whole thing solved but was looking for all the many squares in between the letters spelling out the answer. Not my favorite gimmick of all time.
3
Let me come out of my long-lurking dark corner to say, I solved it during the 10pm hour last night using the web version (in Windows 7 with FireFox as browser), and once I had all the letters filled in correctly, it completed successfully. Before 11pm. So I never knew there was a problem.
It may be that I happened onto the correct methodology, which was not totally self-evident. For those answers extending into and beyond the grey pathway, I could fill in the white squares, but then the cursor stopped. I had to re-click into the grey square to continue the entry, and if the entry spanned beyond the grey back into the white (as MELAN/C/HOLY, for example), I had to click into the next white square to finish up. All the other grey squares I left blank. They weren't part of "DRIVE MY CAR" so nothing needed to go there. Arrow and tab navigation was a bit flaky, but once I got used to it, I could "get there from here." I don't know whether folks are still dealing with residual glitches that haven't been fixed, or if the properly ordained method of entry hasn't quite occurred to them (or some combination thereof). But as for me, it worked as soon as I had it within the first hour.
And I loved her...I mean, it.
It may be that I happened onto the correct methodology, which was not totally self-evident. For those answers extending into and beyond the grey pathway, I could fill in the white squares, but then the cursor stopped. I had to re-click into the grey square to continue the entry, and if the entry spanned beyond the grey back into the white (as MELAN/C/HOLY, for example), I had to click into the next white square to finish up. All the other grey squares I left blank. They weren't part of "DRIVE MY CAR" so nothing needed to go there. Arrow and tab navigation was a bit flaky, but once I got used to it, I could "get there from here." I don't know whether folks are still dealing with residual glitches that haven't been fixed, or if the properly ordained method of entry hasn't quite occurred to them (or some combination thereof). But as for me, it worked as soon as I had it within the first hour.
And I loved her...I mean, it.
3
Hi Alan.
Good to see you.
Good to see you.
Hi, Alan, hope to see you soon in Durham.
There are people who have got it right and still are not getting released by the puzzle. I have every square (white / gray / black) filled correctly - checked against the solved grid at xwordinfo - and the timer is still running on my puzzle. I solve online with a Mac laptop. It's like finishing your exam and trying to hand it in to the teacher, who resolutely refuses to accept it.
There are people who have got it right and still are not getting released by the puzzle. I have every square (white / gray / black) filled correctly - checked against the solved grid at xwordinfo - and the timer is still running on my puzzle. I solve online with a Mac laptop. It's like finishing your exam and trying to hand it in to the teacher, who resolutely refuses to accept it.
"There are people who have got it right and still are not getting released by the puzzle."
And here's a little sometjhing for them:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKirVyxf0do
And here's a little sometjhing for them:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKirVyxf0do
Took me much longer to read all the comments than it did to solve the puzzle. (If people are going to take the time to post their thoughts, I'm going to read every one.)
For me, solving in print, and being a pop music fanatic, I finished the grid quickly for a Sunday, and took just a minute or so to figure out the bonus song hiding in the gray squares. But I understand the frustration of those who solve electronically (and pay for the option), which today was fraught with problems.
Nice to know there are many other crossword-solving Beatles fans.
A number of Beatles cover versions have become hits in their own right. One of my favorites is Earth, Wind & Fire’s take on “GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE,” which became a Top 10 single in 1978 when lifted from the soundtrack to the “Sgt. Pepper” movie (a dreadful musical-fantasy that is rightly regarded as one of the worst ever).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJPWXq6b1fA
For me, solving in print, and being a pop music fanatic, I finished the grid quickly for a Sunday, and took just a minute or so to figure out the bonus song hiding in the gray squares. But I understand the frustration of those who solve electronically (and pay for the option), which today was fraught with problems.
Nice to know there are many other crossword-solving Beatles fans.
A number of Beatles cover versions have become hits in their own right. One of my favorites is Earth, Wind & Fire’s take on “GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE,” which became a Top 10 single in 1978 when lifted from the soundtrack to the “Sgt. Pepper” movie (a dreadful musical-fantasy that is rightly regarded as one of the worst ever).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJPWXq6b1fA
2
I have 116A saying what you indicate is the right title, but 109D is LIST, and I don't see that it matches the clue. LUST would have made sense, but it can't be right. Sigh.
I read is as related to an election; if you are a formal candidate, you are LISTed on the ballot.
I just solved the puzzle using the web app. It seemed to work fine, got the jingle when complete. Did have to fill in any of the gray squares, other than the theme answer. . . .
1
Same here. I had a single typo and once I fixed it, the puzzle solved.
The problem seems to be (at least in the browser) that if you have any errors once you finish, you won't get the alert as usual due to the empty squares in the "road". This is leading solvers to think they need to do something else with those empty squares. I wasn't sure myself, and tried a few different things before finding my problem.
The problem seems to be (at least in the browser) that if you have any errors once you finish, you won't get the alert as usual due to the empty squares in the "road". This is leading solvers to think they need to do something else with those empty squares. I wasn't sure myself, and tried a few different things before finding my problem.
I finished the puzzle correctly in the hard copy NYT Magazine, and am satisfied with that. But even after reading comments this morning, I gave up on my iPad. I couldn't figure out how to keep track of letters in the gray squares because they weren't gray on the iPad. What is the winding road supposed to say? I got DIE MY A. That can't be right.
DRIVE MY CAR
1
Anybody have any luck getting the puzzle to finish online using Safari? I can't figure out how to mark the gray squares as complete. Everything else is filled. How do I get the gray squares to register as completed?
Thanks,
Gary
Thanks,
Gary
1
Never mind. It worked. I added a space to each blank square. Streak not broken!
SPACE
I'm sorry but I did not enjoy this puzzle with it's obscure Beatles songs that no one knows except Beatles fanatics. A more elegant puzzle would have used more well known songs and trickier clues. The idea of the path was gimmicky and added nothing.
6
Aside from that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?
3
But they're not obscure songs! I didn't remember that there was actually an album called "Hey Jude" that was kind of an OLIO, but other than that none of the Beatles clues seemed complicated. And the songs I didn't know from the clues (ALL MY LOVING) filled in quickly from the crosses. Maybe it helped to be alive in the 1960s.
3
I was alive, but I was busy. HS, college, work, even a surgery. Awareness of The Beatles waned after '65, and I was bored by the drug culture detour.....
I don't care if this is a spoiler - on the Web app, type a SPACE in the "road" squares that don't need letters...not cool, NYT
1
Another Sunday streak breaker because we can't figure out what to type in the blank squares...
I know your pain. At
Least with a rebus you can manage on the iPhone, but this one- no way.
Least with a rebus you can manage on the iPhone, but this one- no way.
I figured out how to get my gold star! But it took playing across both the iPhone app and the desktop version to do it. I started off filling in the puzzle on the app, as I always do ... and realized there was something more to it (it was George TAKEI and a quick conversation with my crossword-solving husband that did it for me). So - for the first time ever - I opened the desktop version. Imagine my joy when I saw that my progress had been remembered across applications! I solved the puzzle, and very much enjoyed doing so. But it didn't read as done. So I reopened it in the app - which was now filled with answered clues, and where the gray squares are black and cannot be filled in at all - and retyped a single letter. That did the trick.
So there is a workaround, for those who value their stats!
So there is a workaround, for those who value their stats!
2
This also works on the android app. Fill in the puzzle on a full browser where you can see the gray road. Then open up the puzzle in the app.
I loved the puzzle. I thought it was fun. If I had to choose either my streak or getting a clever puzzle, I'd take the clever puzzle.
I loved the puzzle. I thought it was fun. If I had to choose either my streak or getting a clever puzzle, I'd take the clever puzzle.
1
So for people who don't have apps but only use the NYT's own online site, the puzzle remains unsolvable. Yay?
BDH said tha the typed an actual space in all the gray squares that needed no letters, and that worked for them.
Hated this puzzle! If you print your puzzles, as I do, this becomes a random, senseless exercise. How about putting a note before the print option?
2
Too clever by half.
Many crossword fans, myself included, prefer to work the puzzles on mobile devices. This puzzle was not optimized for mobile use. As others have complained, this ruins mobile users' streaks and soled/unsolved percentages - two features exclusive to the digital service.
Mr. Shortz obviously knew of this problem, which indicates a certain disregard for these users. I believe we are owes an apology, and a pledge that, in the future, all puzzles will work across all platforms.
Mr. Shortz obviously knew of this problem, which indicates a certain disregard for these users. I believe we are owes an apology, and a pledge that, in the future, all puzzles will work across all platforms.
7
Open the puzzle in a full browser to fill in the gray squares that need filling. Then go re-open the puzzle in your mobile app.
1
I found this puzzle pretty easy to solve, except for the grey squares, which were impossible, at least on my computer. Even clicking (Last resort) "Reveal Puzzle" did not show what is supposed to be in the grey squares. Annoying.
1
Big time blunder for e-users. How hard would it have been to fix the program. I think eusers should get a workable puzzle. Very bad.
6
Add me to the app-using aggrieved here. I like the attractive structure of the puzzle, and the Beatle clues. I would have enjoyed the hidden trick of the thing if I'd been able to see it. Yeah, it's just a puzzle, but this is a service for which we all pay an extra fee on top of the NYT subscription. So the puzzles should work for everyone.
5
I promise that I will read through all 189 previous comments to try to glean a solution to the software glitch. But I have to go on record as really resenting the fact that the NYT continues to post puzzles that are tricky to computerize BEFORE they have figured out and resolved the bugs. This is not Beta land, or it shouldn't be.
What a way to mark what should have been the 700th in a solving streak.
What a way to mark what should have been the 700th in a solving streak.
7
I just got to the end of the comments - nothing that will help me stop the clock - and 1/4 of the comments were repeats from a robot named Eric saying everything was fixed last night at 10:16. Oh, izzat so?
2
I don't know if you did the puzzle on a browser or in a mobile app. Fill in the puzzle in a browser (where the road appears as gray).
Then go open the puzzle in a mobile app (where the road is black). That works at least for the iPhone and android mobile apps.
Then go open the puzzle in a mobile app (where the road is black). That works at least for the iPhone and android mobile apps.
I know it's hard to believe, but there exist people who don't have smart phones and don't have apps. We are few but our money is worth the same to the NYT. Or it should be.
OK I solved electronically and LOVED this puzzle . I am from the generation that sang and remembered all these songs except the one that was "Fixing a Hole " ( I had hiding a hole ) . I was able to use the gray squares and had fun figuring out I had to " drive my car " on the road . Abbacy was new for me - always good to learn a new word. Rock on ...:)
1
Its not only that the puzzle is poorly constructed for electronic solvers but that it is poorly put together with random elements in the unseen squares. In my sixty years of solving Times puzzles this is one of the lousiest I've dealt with.
2
You found the hidden lice? Well done!
4
Patrick,
Don't be crabby.
Don't be crabby.
4
Ha!
1
Well, at least on my computer if I don't have something in ALL the grey boxes the puzzle is not considered "complete." Only when I put in some letter (I used an X) do I get the prompt that I have at least one letter wrong. Since I have independently verified my answers, the only possible explanation is that something is expected in the grey squares. I just have no idea what that could be.
1
I had the same issue. What do you do with the squares to be blacked out?
Ditto on the brain cell tickling as well as the emotional jolt Deb.
Nice to see something truly original and enjoyable.
Too bad that the electronic solvers were distracted from such a great solve.
I was so proud to figure this out because I was truly wondering for a while what in the world was going on.
Nice to see something truly original and enjoyable.
Too bad that the electronic solvers were distracted from such a great solve.
I was so proud to figure this out because I was truly wondering for a while what in the world was going on.
2
For me this was one more example of why I no longer find joy in solving the NYT Sunday Puzzle. Over the last few years the grid has become the emphasis and fill is tortured to accommodate the grid. It's all too clever for me.
10
I agree with you on that.
2
Well, I slogged through it - as others have noted, about twice the usual time. Then I get here and start reading about "gray squares". Your experience may differ, but AcrossLite showed me no gray squares on screen or in print. "Drive My Car", therefore, didn't enter into it. Made it harder? From the comments, maybe not.
Old Dad, Across Lite had a note explaining abut the grey/black squares. Always read the note!
2
I solve in AL so didn't encounter any of the purely technical glitches that others had trouble with, and I don't time anything or care about streaks. So I did what I always do when the yellow notepad tells me there is something different here: I just went ahead and tried to solve the puzzle.
And therein lies the problem: Okay, I finished the puzzle. I saw (what turned out to be) all of of the letters that belonged in the black "road" squares. But there were so many of the "road" squares that didn't get any overflow letter that I could discern! I tried and tried. I couldn't find any clue, in the footnote, or in the puzzle, or floating in the atmosphere, about what I was supposed to do with those squares.
Gave up and came here. Deb's column also offered no clue. Went to xwordinfo and saw that apparently nothing was to be done with the extra road squares. So, either I am missing some terribly clever wrinkle, or mosts of the "road" was just ... there. And pointless. And annoying.
As to content, I like the Beatles a lot, but I'm not religious about it and haven't memorized their entire body of work, so some of the songs took longer than they might have. Other than that, I found the puzzle really easy.
So I didn't get a challenging crossword, just a puzzle of construction that I still can't make sense of because of all the parts where nothing is even supposed to happen. Unless I missed something clever.
And therein lies the problem: Okay, I finished the puzzle. I saw (what turned out to be) all of of the letters that belonged in the black "road" squares. But there were so many of the "road" squares that didn't get any overflow letter that I could discern! I tried and tried. I couldn't find any clue, in the footnote, or in the puzzle, or floating in the atmosphere, about what I was supposed to do with those squares.
Gave up and came here. Deb's column also offered no clue. Went to xwordinfo and saw that apparently nothing was to be done with the extra road squares. So, either I am missing some terribly clever wrinkle, or mosts of the "road" was just ... there. And pointless. And annoying.
As to content, I like the Beatles a lot, but I'm not religious about it and haven't memorized their entire body of work, so some of the songs took longer than they might have. Other than that, I found the puzzle really easy.
So I didn't get a challenging crossword, just a puzzle of construction that I still can't make sense of because of all the parts where nothing is even supposed to happen. Unless I missed something clever.
8
PS re the murder of John Lennon:
I was on what was then the #10 bus going up Central Park West to my then apartment on 86th Street. As we approached 72nd Street, an enormous number of emergency vehicles of all types, lights flashing and sirens screaming, suddenly converged on the Dakota from all directions.
When I got home, I walked the dogs and settled down in time to watch the 11:00 p.m. news, and maybe see what had happened. About halfway through, the regular news was interrupted with the breaking news about Lennon having been shot. It's still upsetting to have to deal with the idea that someone so gentle could fall prey to such violence.
I was on what was then the #10 bus going up Central Park West to my then apartment on 86th Street. As we approached 72nd Street, an enormous number of emergency vehicles of all types, lights flashing and sirens screaming, suddenly converged on the Dakota from all directions.
When I got home, I walked the dogs and settled down in time to watch the 11:00 p.m. news, and maybe see what had happened. About halfway through, the regular news was interrupted with the breaking news about Lennon having been shot. It's still upsetting to have to deal with the idea that someone so gentle could fall prey to such violence.
3
Such a senseless tragedy Thanks for sharing your experience.
Been watching this and find it fascinating: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtsPXB-mrds
Been watching this and find it fascinating: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtsPXB-mrds
1
Thanks for the link, Patrick, and for joining into the WordPlay conversation. It's always a great plus when a constructor comes by; we know that our opinions are being read, and that we're all part of the cooperative gaming and puzzling process.
And especially thanks for the many puzzles of yours that I have enjoyed immensely, even if this one didn't do it for me.
And especially thanks for the many puzzles of yours that I have enjoyed immensely, even if this one didn't do it for me.
2
Started solving in the app, but given the note about the winding road, switched mid solve to the web version so I could add the road's letters. That made all the difference! My breakthrough was seeing CLEVELAND, Harrison's successor, putting the V in the road with the I and E, and thinking it could be DRIVE MY CAR! Light bulbs continued to flash and I finished the journey with the R between NEWS and EELS. The only song title I didn't know was FIXING A HOLE, and do prefer Smokey's version of YOU REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME (it's the voice), but love the Beatles. Wow, very nice. I'll be singing the rest of the day, at least!
9
Very annoying. No gray spaces on iPad version. Could there not be warnings about system issues like this?
3
The note on the puzzle that is present every Sunday explained that the print and web versions showed a path in gray squares, but that it couldn't be done in the mobile versions. The puzzle still worked just fine.
I loved this puzzle!! It took me about the same time as any other Sunday puzzle, less than an hour. I liked having to figure out where the letters fit in the gray squares. Once I realized that it was DRIVE MY CAR, I knew which letters to look out for. I did it on paper first and then on my laptop, which is my habit, to check my answers. Didn't have any trouble typing in the gray boxes online. Then I loaned my convertible to my daughter: Baby, you can drive my car.... Started my day off on a bright note. Still humming.
2
Greatly enjoyed the puzzle, but was at first confounded by the randomness of where the shaded "road" squares would be used. I'm an old-school newspaper solver so can't speak to the technical difficulties others experienced. If I had one criticism it would be that the 50 year anniversary of "Sgt. Pepper's LHCB" was recently celebrated and only one song title in the puzzle came from that album.
2
I initially filled this in on my phone. I had figured out that some squares in the "black" region were shared missing letters. But after filling in all the visible white squares, and validating my answers, I am still told that I have at least one answer wrong. I tried filling in the grey boxes on the web, but to no avail. At this point I am just about giving up. This is frustrating. It will be disappointing if my streak is broken because of this.
3
This DRIVE MY CAR business nearly drove me crazy. It took me nearly twice as long to finish this puzzle as is usual for a Sunday. Had to employ the print edition (luckily I still subscribe to print on the weekends) in tandem with the iPad version I regularly use to figure out where this was headed. CLEVELAND was the hardest of the partially shaded words for me; ELOI/TAKEI the easiest. But in the end, very satisfying to finally be done with.
1
My iPhone APP would not work with this puzzle. ADAM would not fit, and EVE was flat out wrong. And that's just the start. I don't mind difficult - but stop the trick stuff. Might have been fun if it worked, but it did not. No gray squares.
Since one of my Sunday joys is eating brunch at a local eatery while working on the puzzle - start of day ruined. A pox on the tech team ! Try this stuff out on optional free games and TEST it out before you ruin a Sunday puzzle
Since one of my Sunday joys is eating brunch at a local eatery while working on the puzzle - start of day ruined. A pox on the tech team ! Try this stuff out on optional free games and TEST it out before you ruin a Sunday puzzle
15
I'd be interested in seeing stats on how many puzzles were completed today, compared to other Sundays.
3
This was certainly an original, and impressive construction. A bit too-too, maybe, but I enjoyed stumbling through it. Had all the "regular" spaces filled out and still couldn't quite see the trick. Took me forever to see the last "R" in the road, since there were perfectly acceptable answers above and below.
1
In crime fiction there are a few rules (written or unwritten) that one can break but not all of them in the same story. To me this puzzle is like a murder mystery with an unreliable narrator who depends on coincidences to find bodies that turn out to have been alive all along.
10
Very interesting ... [redacted]
1
I found this puzzle just challenging enough: figuring out what the heck was going on while writing in answers that were not all pushovers. Nice one, Patrick B!
Getting here and reading the comments, I do empathize with the digital solvers, but I would really hate for Will to give up what you might call these "variety" crosswords. They are so much fun to figure out and so satisfying to complete. They are the very definition of “thinking outside the box”!
(I just posted a link for printing out the puzzle in a comment to Steve Crisp. Look for a moose!)
As to the death of John Lennon, I was staying at my brother’s apartment on West 82nd that night and heard a siren go up the street right before I went to bed. (A precinct house is on that block. Later I realized the siren I’d heard was the assassin being taken to jail.) Next morning I opened the apt. door to retrieve the Times and saw the headline saying John was dead. I immediately thought, “Oh, that can’t be; he must be wounded.” Staying as I was only 10 blocks north of the Dakota, I went there in the morning but didn’t stay long. Later – that day? That week? – I went to a memorial gathering in Central Park with my sister and sat there on the grass and cried. For me, that was the true death of the Sixties, which were a unique time it was a privilege to live through.
Getting here and reading the comments, I do empathize with the digital solvers, but I would really hate for Will to give up what you might call these "variety" crosswords. They are so much fun to figure out and so satisfying to complete. They are the very definition of “thinking outside the box”!
(I just posted a link for printing out the puzzle in a comment to Steve Crisp. Look for a moose!)
As to the death of John Lennon, I was staying at my brother’s apartment on West 82nd that night and heard a siren go up the street right before I went to bed. (A precinct house is on that block. Later I realized the siren I’d heard was the assassin being taken to jail.) Next morning I opened the apt. door to retrieve the Times and saw the headline saying John was dead. I immediately thought, “Oh, that can’t be; he must be wounded.” Staying as I was only 10 blocks north of the Dakota, I went there in the morning but didn’t stay long. Later – that day? That week? – I went to a memorial gathering in Central Park with my sister and sat there on the grass and cried. For me, that was the true death of the Sixties, which were a unique time it was a privilege to live through.
8
I was in grad school at Columbia. My lab mates and I were on line at a pizza joint in Morningside Heights when we heard. As I recall we lost any appetite we had, and sadly left. The whole upper west side seemed to be in mourning.
1
Probably the "V & T". Fond memories.
Very difficult!! I know lots of Beatles songs, but the clues did not lead me to immediate answers on most of them. The use of the gray squares was extremely confusing. But in the end I did it...very satisfying.
1
Didn't like it. Broke my streak. The "road" squares with mostly empty spaces but a few filled in makes no sense to me as a theme.
My least favorite NYT puzzle in many months. Yuck!
My least favorite NYT puzzle in many months. Yuck!
20
Out of curiosity, what was your favorite? I have a guess.
Lots of favorites, no doubt including some of yours. But I didn't like the empty squares, and I agree with the people who say that most of the Beatles songs used are lesser works. Except for Lady Madonna of course.
If you play the Beatles song "I Am the Walrus" backwards, it reveals the solution to the gray area of this puzzle [Spoiler Alert]: the letters D R I V E M Y C A R are intermittently interspersed along the path from the ten answers that bleed a character into the DMZ.
An interesting feat of construction, but at the cost of clarity and symmetry. Maybe it would have made more sense to just make a border wall with a few circled "gates" for the special letters (clarity) and re-theme the puzzle to explain the crazy pathway: Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds?
An interesting feat of construction, but at the cost of clarity and symmetry. Maybe it would have made more sense to just make a border wall with a few circled "gates" for the special letters (clarity) and re-theme the puzzle to explain the crazy pathway: Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds?
6
I was thinking something along those lines too, CT, but you expressed it better than I could have.
1
One more thought: Anybody else think LETT It Be?
1
Or "GOO goo g' joob"?
I've leafed through the comments but still can't figure out how to 'solve' the puzzle. I'm on a laptop and have finished the puzzle but it still reads as unsolved. Anyone have a suggestion?
Hi David,
Try deleting any single letter in the puzzle and re-entering it. Does that help?
Try deleting any single letter in the puzzle and re-entering it. Does that help?
I have the same problem as David Manson. Deleting a single letter and re-entering it does not make the puzzle solved. I rebooted the computer, and I tried a second computer, with the same negative results. Any other ideas?
Unfortunately, not, Deb. I assume it has something to do with the grey spaces.
But please thank Patrick for the shoutout to our show, Bloodline (2 D).
But please thank Patrick for the shoutout to our show, Bloodline (2 D).
Gobsmacked. I was totally gobsmacked by this amazing puzzle. I mean, just look at the layers of artistry Patrick was able to pull off. So many songs to hum as we motored along the road and then the final surprise (beep beep) including yet another memorable tune.
Yes, there had to be some "glue" to stick to our wheels along the way but Patrick still managed not only to make sense of the theme but he also included such beautiful words as MELANCHOLY and EVANESCE.
The toughest part of the whole solve for me was where I got stuck on niKeS for where SKIS goes. And TIP and TYPE weren't easy to see.
Bravo, Patrick! The Beatles are my all time favorite band and as of today this is my all time favorite Sunday puzzle!
Yes, there had to be some "glue" to stick to our wheels along the way but Patrick still managed not only to make sense of the theme but he also included such beautiful words as MELANCHOLY and EVANESCE.
The toughest part of the whole solve for me was where I got stuck on niKeS for where SKIS goes. And TIP and TYPE weren't easy to see.
Bravo, Patrick! The Beatles are my all time favorite band and as of today this is my all time favorite Sunday puzzle!
14
Aw, thanks!
So let me see if I understand the comments from a few of the readers? Theyre upset that they PAY good money for a puzzle which has a technical error which should have been caught.
So here's my thought...
1) The NYT tries lots of creative puzzles...I remember 1 from the late 80s where you needed to put in <3 's for valentine's day....So I guess they have a choice either try creative puzzles...or only do formats that theyve used before and are 100% sure that the app and/or web can handle. Speaking of Apps...i have an old Ipad....I cant update the software because it....so i cant get my game recorded for statistics...So i use my iphone *shrug*
2)Um..they listened to the solvers and fixed the technical errors at 10:16 on a saturday night....so they fixed the puzzle before its official release date on Sunday anyway.
3) An annual subscription costs $40....so thats about 11 cents a puzzle....Really youre up in arms over 11 cents?
4) l liked the puzzle...Wasnt my favorite...but I thought that the tricks were an interesting addition. They've done single subject puzzles before....I wonder if old people are annoyed that words with young people definitions get used....Or is the young people who need to know old people stuff that's annoying? Margaret Farrar, Will Went, and Eugene Maleska are rolling in their graves.
So here's my thought...
1) The NYT tries lots of creative puzzles...I remember 1 from the late 80s where you needed to put in <3 's for valentine's day....So I guess they have a choice either try creative puzzles...or only do formats that theyve used before and are 100% sure that the app and/or web can handle. Speaking of Apps...i have an old Ipad....I cant update the software because it....so i cant get my game recorded for statistics...So i use my iphone *shrug*
2)Um..they listened to the solvers and fixed the technical errors at 10:16 on a saturday night....so they fixed the puzzle before its official release date on Sunday anyway.
3) An annual subscription costs $40....so thats about 11 cents a puzzle....Really youre up in arms over 11 cents?
4) l liked the puzzle...Wasnt my favorite...but I thought that the tricks were an interesting addition. They've done single subject puzzles before....I wonder if old people are annoyed that words with young people definitions get used....Or is the young people who need to know old people stuff that's annoying? Margaret Farrar, Will Went, and Eugene Maleska are rolling in their graves.
10
Reactions to two of your points:
#2: But they really didn't fix it at 10:16 last night. What Eric said to do did not work for me. What Wendy said worked for her an hour ago (about 11 a.m.) finally worked for me. But why should there be glitches in the first place?
#3: Those of us who already paid for the full subscription to the newspaper were suddenly given the add-on cost of $40 a year for the crosswords, which we previously were getting with the newspaper subscription. We were already getting the crossword in print form, but for those of us who like doing it online better, we had to fork over an additional $40, even though we're not getting anything new. That's a lot more than 11 cents a puzzle. And it's the principle, anyway.
#2: But they really didn't fix it at 10:16 last night. What Eric said to do did not work for me. What Wendy said worked for her an hour ago (about 11 a.m.) finally worked for me. But why should there be glitches in the first place?
#3: Those of us who already paid for the full subscription to the newspaper were suddenly given the add-on cost of $40 a year for the crosswords, which we previously were getting with the newspaper subscription. We were already getting the crossword in print form, but for those of us who like doing it online better, we had to fork over an additional $40, even though we're not getting anything new. That's a lot more than 11 cents a puzzle. And it's the principle, anyway.
1
point taken.
I loved this crossword, both as a Beatles lover and a crossword lover. It was satisfyingly challenging. BUT, using the browser, I'm still having issues with the crossword not being marked as complete: the grey-shaded road still marks as not completed despite my having the title song there. I've looked through the comments for a trick to make it work (I tried to add spaces into the blanks, and I tried to delete and refill a letter, I tried different browsers), but nothing works.
I emailed Eric for help. Deleting and refilling a square didn't help, but exiting the tab (I'm doing this on a laptop) and then re-entering did the trick and preserved my streak. Now that I'm over my frustration on that point, I have to say I think it was a terrific puzzle, probably the hardest I can ever remember solving here before. That road, with random letters filled in and other irrelevant, was insidious.
3
That finally worked for me, Wendy.
Exiting the tab?
Please explain "Exiting the tab" - Steve L says it worked and I'd like to resolve this issue before Monday's puzzle kills my streak permanently.
I deleted all of 1A and part of "igor" and then used to tab to toggle to refill the squares, which is what I thought "exiting the tab" might mean - did not work. I have every square filled correctly and that clock keeps on ticking.
I deleted all of 1A and part of "igor" and then used to tab to toggle to refill the squares, which is what I thought "exiting the tab" might mean - did not work. I have every square filled correctly and that clock keeps on ticking.
I gave up. What a waste of time. Stop being so cute. If Mr Shortz is bored editing puzzles and needs gimmicks to stay interested maybe he should retire.
17
It's grid over substance with Mr Shortz! No subscription renewal for me.
1
I spent a loooong time trying to figure out how every square in the path was filled. It took me at least 30 minutes of staring at the computer (independent of actual filling-in time) to realize that most squares in the path are NOT used. Very frustrating!! Also frustrating how some answers are complete only when reading across to the next word on the other side of the path while others are complete just by including the letter at the corner in the path. There is no consistency here. I like consistency.
12
I used 5 of each.
3
Great puzzle. Having done these every day for the past 50 years I appreciate the challenges posed when being forced to think 'outside the box'. Took an extra five minutes out of my life, but after all, it's just 'A Day in the Life'.
6
I finally threw up my hands and printed out the answer key, in which none of the gray boxes is filled in. I still have no idea what the long and winding road says. Frustrating!
2
Nevermind. The answer finally penetrated this thick head.
2
"WHAT gray squares?" - AcrossLite User.
2
Welp, I can't afford to spend any more time on this. Obviously, knowing Beatles song titles would have helped a lot, and I figures that there were sort of implied letters, but since I print from A-Lite, things were a bit awkward. There also seemed to be some extra spaces here and there.
It's not quite 9 here, and there are alread 137 comments--either it's not a good sign, and folks are pretty riled up.....or there are mountains of praise being heaped on the head of Patrick Blindauer. Lemme think.....
It's not quite 9 here, and there are alread 137 comments--either it's not a good sign, and folks are pretty riled up.....or there are mountains of praise being heaped on the head of Patrick Blindauer. Lemme think.....
5
It appears I too am missing some of the gray squares that might have clued me in to what some folks are calling "overflow" letters. Seems like some of the "non-road" words had letters extend into the "road" and some did not. It would have been helpful to know which those were.
2
Really, really, really hard puzzle. Nothing wrong with that once in a while!
Here's a cool colorized version of one my fave fab four frolics:
http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/the-beatles-classic-all-you-need-is-love-t...
Here's a cool colorized version of one my fave fab four frolics:
http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/the-beatles-classic-all-you-need-is-love-t...
For what it's worth, if you're having technical trouble: After I had the puzzle solved but not recognized as finished, I decided to try inserting blank spaces into the gray squares . For some reason I started at the bottom right. And after inserting just one space into one square, the program congratulated me on having solved the puzzle.
1
I have the same problem. How do you insert 'blank' spaces?
Put your cursor on the gray square and hit the spacebar.
Glad it was fun for the solvers who had gray squares....as an AL user, I want a refund....a properly worded footnote (yellow icon) would have minimized my frustration and ire...
5
But Across Lite is free! ;)
1
The wording of the AL footnote just made it worse.
Thank you, DL....
This was really tough. I started trying to keep track of the missing letters, but it was too complicated. Although a Beatles fan, I'm not good with song titles, so that definitely slowed my progress. It also didn't help to start confidently at square 1 with Atlas/ayes.
It is a shame such a clever puzzle was marred by the glitches in technology.
I recommend the spiral for a pleasant antidote to the frustration.
It is a shame such a clever puzzle was marred by the glitches in technology.
I recommend the spiral for a pleasant antidote to the frustration.
5
Now that I'm 64 (+), I'm no longer willing to DO IT IN THE ROAD, but I transcended the HELTER SKELTER behavior of the iPad app and made it to THE END.
8
Very impressive puzzle, though I needed to take a deep breath (and a break) and reflect on it after finishing before I really appreciated it.
For me, the puzzle could have been titled 'you have a really bad memory' and my frustration at that undercut my enjoyment. I of course had all of those albums (and still have some) and have heard all of the songs countless times, but I still needed way too many crosses for each and every one of them. Plus there were other memory blips (ILLYA, CHARLY, etc.) so that was all just way too much of a focus for me.
Took me a while to figure out the trick, but solving in AL I couldn't type the letters in and just decided to wait and see what the hidden word was. As it turns out I would have spent a while trying to find that final 'R' as I had decided, like others, that NEWS by itself was a sufficient answer for that clue.
I'm pretty sure I've told my story about watching 'Yellow Submarine' twice in a row ("Show it again!") sitting on a bench in an outdoor theater somewhere well south of HANOI. It involved a lot of the substance mentioned in the clue for 116a.
Very unfortunate about the technical glitch for both solvers and Patrick.
For me, the puzzle could have been titled 'you have a really bad memory' and my frustration at that undercut my enjoyment. I of course had all of those albums (and still have some) and have heard all of the songs countless times, but I still needed way too many crosses for each and every one of them. Plus there were other memory blips (ILLYA, CHARLY, etc.) so that was all just way too much of a focus for me.
Took me a while to figure out the trick, but solving in AL I couldn't type the letters in and just decided to wait and see what the hidden word was. As it turns out I would have spent a while trying to find that final 'R' as I had decided, like others, that NEWS by itself was a sufficient answer for that clue.
I'm pretty sure I've told my story about watching 'Yellow Submarine' twice in a row ("Show it again!") sitting on a bench in an outdoor theater somewhere well south of HANOI. It involved a lot of the substance mentioned in the clue for 116a.
Very unfortunate about the technical glitch for both solvers and Patrick.
3
A little more than half-way through this one (solving in AL) I thought, "five bucks that there are technical glitches in the online app." Wish I could have found somebody to take that bet. Then when I opened the comments and saw 124 that pretty much confirmed that. My question would be - if that occurred to me before I even finished the puzzle, whey didn't it occur to the fine, fast, fair, friendly folks in tech support at the NYT before the puzzle was published?
Note to Patrick: Did you ever consider working 'Magical Mystery Tour' into the grey squares instead of 'Drive my car'? Seems doubly appropriate. Maybe triply (?) at this point.
CiC in a separate post.
Note to Patrick: Did you ever consider working 'Magical Mystery Tour' into the grey squares instead of 'Drive my car'? Seems doubly appropriate. Maybe triply (?) at this point.
CiC in a separate post.
3
Nice idea, but it was hard enough to get 10 letters to work!
2
48-Across!
I thought this puzzle was fun and challenging. I come over here to the blog to see what others think and then I realize that maybe I shouldn't. There's so much negativity. Why can't people who are having trouble with the app just politely ask for help? Why do people have to rip into the constructor? I don't see those people constructing puzzles and submitting them to the Times.
This puzzle was clever and kept me on my toes. I solve on my iPhone and had to figure out the random mysterious missing letters which only made it more challenging and fun. Now I'm going to DRIVE MY CAR and head out for the day on the long and winding road.
This puzzle was clever and kept me on my toes. I solve on my iPhone and had to figure out the random mysterious missing letters which only made it more challenging and fun. Now I'm going to DRIVE MY CAR and head out for the day on the long and winding road.
17
I enjoyed the theme, but found it impossible to do in the app, trying to find/remember where my overflow letters were. Finally switched to the browser and figured it out!
3
Worked OK on a PC. An astonishing vista seemed to open up when it turned out that typing into the gray path would follow the path around, seemingly in a parallel world to the regular squares . . . but then nothing came of it, since the gray simply replaced a lot of black squares, except where clues bled in to supply isolated characters. Good idea though. Must have been a lot of work.
Incidentally, that "string of black . . . squares [meanders] from one side of the grid to the other." The subject is string, not squares.
Incidentally, that "string of black . . . squares [meanders] from one side of the grid to the other." The subject is string, not squares.
Re: meander/meanders
Not enough copy editors -- or IT GUYs -- to go around.
Not enough copy editors -- or IT GUYs -- to go around.
3
...or perhaps the "s" of "meanders" was *in* the "string of black squares" and thus invisible but implicit?
2
Despite the now resolved glitch, I enjoyed the experience, the Beatles' trivia, and the challenge of the Long and Winding Road, which to a while to COME TOGETHER.
3
Nice puzzle, and fairly easy. Being a huge Beatles fan, I had all the song titles filled in first. The only issue I had was with the printed version. There were no gray boxes along the Long and Winding Road; they were all solid black. That made the overflow letters a bit tough since I had to remember them rather than see them, but it gave me the final song title.
3
Wow, that's weird, Steve -- in the magazine? Or do you get it in some other paper? Because in the printed version dropped on my doorstep here in NYC, the path is definitely gray. Also in the version I printed from the site (because the magazine is printed on slick paper that's hard to write on).
You can access a version to print here (although I am not sure what limits on access might be) -- https://www.nytimes.com/crosswords/index.html?action=click&contentCo...®ion=TopBar&version=BrowseTree
Bookmarking it might save solvers not tracking streaks and timing a lot of grief.
You can access a version to print here (although I am not sure what limits on access might be) -- https://www.nytimes.com/crosswords/index.html?action=click&contentCo...®ion=TopBar&version=BrowseTree
Bookmarking it might save solvers not tracking streaks and timing a lot of grief.
I download it from the NYT website and open the puzzles in Across Lite. Then I print them off. I've never bothered with streaks or timings.
Dang, Steve: technology, it's a mystery, isn't it? We appear to be doing the same action yet getting different results.
Well, we enjoyed the puzzle and that's what counts!
Well, we enjoyed the puzzle and that's what counts!
I enjoyed the challenge, including wrestling with the on-line app to get a "finished" notice. The Times Android app wouldn't load the puzzle. The load icon just kept spinning, so I had to solve using the browser app. But I got done. I don't have a streak to lose, so I didn't have that concern.
I enjoy innovation and appreciate the challenges inherent trying to make things work on multiple platforms. Thank to Patrick and the Times for the interesting evening.
I enjoy innovation and appreciate the challenges inherent trying to make things work on multiple platforms. Thank to Patrick and the Times for the interesting evening.
6
Nope .... doesn't work. App is convinced the unfilled "grey" squares are necessary. I don't get the "puzzle filled" message until I've filled them all in (on my desktop computer)
Don't so much mind the non-standard puzzle, but I'd be grateful for one that worked.
Can I please get credit for today? I've got it right and I need to get on with my life.
Don't so much mind the non-standard puzzle, but I'd be grateful for one that worked.
Can I please get credit for today? I've got it right and I need to get on with my life.
3
I will add my voice to the chorus complaining that the online/browser version was confusing. I had a typo, but had no indication that my solution was finished, and spent quite a long time trying to figure out how to black out squares, or whether to take my "river" letters out, etc. PLEASE include more instructions when nonstandard formats are used.
8
Solving on my laptop, I didn't have a problem. Loved the theme, had fun solving it. I'm new at doing these online but in the minority this time because I thought this was one of the better ones!
1
When I first saw the grid, I though Bil Keane created the puzzle. However, upon closer inspection I noted the path did not cross itself. So much for Mr. Keane.
What a shame that there are so many comments so soon after the release and most of them are about the technical aspects. Problems that could have been avoided with a little testing. Welcome to the 21st century.
What a shame that there are so many comments so soon after the release and most of them are about the technical aspects. Problems that could have been avoided with a little testing. Welcome to the 21st century.
2
Never saw a K before in Lawn Guyland.
1
It's a speech problem called "ng-click." Many people have it but are not really aware of it. It can be corrected by carefully pronouncing the "ng" but after doing it 3 or 4 times, it becomes a real PITA.
Next question? Deep though it be, there's none too deep for me.
Next question? Deep though it be, there's none too deep for me.
Solved it, got the credit, but If I weren't a Beatles fan I would probably consider it to be a bad editorial decision, to call a single-subject trivia test a crossword.
2
Bingo!
My god, Patrick -- Rex Parker loves it! I nearly lost my mind solving it on my iPhone, but solve it I did. There was a masochistic pleasure in that. So I love it , too.
2
Had a ton of fun with this one! (Especially since we are BIG Beatles fans!) We used the computer version, printed it out once we were done, and then used tiny pieces of post-it notes to stick in the winding road letters. Genius!
3
Patrick, I loved your reply to one of the "bad reviews." Tried to add "reply" so there would be no doubt. Loved the whole thing and once I fixed a teeny little mistrake, I got the music!
Today's puzzle was profoundly awful. Poor concept, worse execution, and embarrassing administration (app failure). Every subscriber should receive a letter of apology from Will Shortz and a pro-rated refund for this waste of time.
13
Austin - I'm sorry if it was frustrating this evening to solve.
The app version should be solvable - For the apps, we typically only have the option to have either black (no filled) or white (fillable) squares and the gray "road" presented a challenge in that we had to have squares where filling them in was optional. So our solution for the app was that you could solve the puzzle and the additional letters that fall into the road would be "implied" letters (much like when we've had letters that appear outside the grid in the past). If you filled in all the white letters correctly in the app, you would be granted the "solved" status.
If you were solving in the browser, we apologize for the bug that kept the timer running. We identified the issue and resolved it at 10:16pm ET. For those of you who've filled the grid completely and correctly but the timer was still running, if you delete a letter in any square and then re-enter it, it should now show you as solved. Let us know if that worked.
Again, please contact us at nytcrossword.nytimes.com with the subject line "For Eric" and we'll make sure your time (if it is too long) is not included in your averages.
Thanks again for your patience!
The app version should be solvable - For the apps, we typically only have the option to have either black (no filled) or white (fillable) squares and the gray "road" presented a challenge in that we had to have squares where filling them in was optional. So our solution for the app was that you could solve the puzzle and the additional letters that fall into the road would be "implied" letters (much like when we've had letters that appear outside the grid in the past). If you filled in all the white letters correctly in the app, you would be granted the "solved" status.
If you were solving in the browser, we apologize for the bug that kept the timer running. We identified the issue and resolved it at 10:16pm ET. For those of you who've filled the grid completely and correctly but the timer was still running, if you delete a letter in any square and then re-enter it, it should now show you as solved. Let us know if that worked.
Again, please contact us at nytcrossword.nytimes.com with the subject line "For Eric" and we'll make sure your time (if it is too long) is not included in your averages.
Thanks again for your patience!
White filled in and timer is still running. This baby doesn't drive!
I had to fill the gray space letters correctly before I finally got the solve. (Firefox, Mac)
Meh.
2
Short for Mehetabel, meaning "God rejoices"? Thanks!
10
Fehbulous.
I never understand all the carping.
I never understand all the carping.
Add me to the thumbs down crowd, even as a pen and paper solver. Though I can appreciate the skill involved in creating this one, I eventually got bored, found an exit off the winding road, and moved on to Will's fun spiral.
2
It takes all kinds.
2
ACK! I have to agree with everyone who said the app version was confusing. I managed to finish the puzzle, but it took a lot longer than usual. I did get get credit towards my streak, so I guess you've fixed that.
1
Oh, and I no longer own a printer.
Nice puzzle, but the bug ruined my streak. And yes, @pblindauer, there definitely is a bug.
Sorry to hear it, but I have nothing to do with the app.
Sure are a lot of streakers around here, though.
Sure are a lot of streakers around here, though.
3
We apologize for the bug for the browser version of the puzzle. We resolved it at 10:16pm ET. We believe if you are in the state where you've completed the grid completely and correctly but the timer was still running, if you delete a letter in any square and then re-enter it, it should now show you as solved.
Please contact us at [email protected] with subject line "for Eric" and we can ensure the longer time is not associated with your averages
Please contact us at [email protected] with subject line "for Eric" and we can ensure the longer time is not associated with your averages
1
That did it. Thanks.
So much strange going on in this puzzle, and as much I love the Beatles, I'll be playing their music, singing along and having more fun instead of trying to complete this. Just because Blindauer could lead me astray, doesn't mean he should have.
2
Why don't we duet in the road?
15
Better still, Deb, send Eric...and the bug.
1
Why should you--no one will be watching.
What a shame for those who who had trouble because of technical issues. This is SUCH a delightful puzzle, different and refreshing. What a shame for Patrick who ingeniously devised this to have it marred with glitches.
Patrick, as one who solved this on my laptop through the NYT with a gray winding road, I was smiling all the way through from several highly entertaining clues and from the puzzle's unique design and feel. This was a joy, through and through. Thank you greatly, Sir Patrick.
Patrick, as one who solved this on my laptop through the NYT with a gray winding road, I was smiling all the way through from several highly entertaining clues and from the puzzle's unique design and feel. This was a joy, through and through. Thank you greatly, Sir Patrick.
13
Ambitious attempt at a novel design, but sorry to say that it was unsatisfying for me. The lack of cohesive logic for the letters in the "road" and the fact that the app didn't fully support the puzzle made it feel a bit sloppy. A major twist like this should have a rationale that's helpful once discovered, IMO.
11
Finding the location of the road letters was meant to be part of the challenge. I was just happy to get it to work at all, honestly.
5
Highly disingenuous that the "long winding road" should only have 10 randomly placed letters to fill, sending us on a wild goose chase.
Two thumbs down.
Two thumbs down.
33
Your mileage may vary.
4
Great mileage here, Patrick. Thanks for the puzzle. (Now if we can just get better format translations for non-print solvers...)
4
Thanks, Barry. It's a tricky thing, keeping paper and e-solvers both happy. The technology will always be behind the curve, at least as long as I have anything to say about it. :)
This is very clever and I am sure enjoyable to those not solving in the app. I would remind the editors that I pay good money for the crossword and I do not appreciate getting a puzzle in a format that compromises the solving experience. Perhaps the app should allow us to print the puzzle so we can get full value when these kinds of puzzles are offered.
3
Can you not find this link?
https://www.nytimes.com/svc/crosswords/v2/puzzle/print/Jul0217.pdf
https://www.nytimes.com/svc/crosswords/v2/puzzle/print/Jul0217.pdf
LOL: {"status":"ERROR","errors":["Not Found"],"results":[]}
I solved it in the app. You can too.
5
I agree with all your commentary. I solved this puzzle after much time and effort, only to receive no credit for my streak's sake. Ugh!
1
Why didn't you get credit? You've got almost 24 hours to finish it. And it can be solved in the app. The letters in the "road" aren't needed for a solution.
Larry, just because you were able to get credit for solving using the app, that doesn't mean everyone can. Obviously, looking at the comments, a lot of people couldn't, including me. And there are ways, such as by visiting xwordinfo.com and redoing the puzzle in Across Lite, both of which I did, to check whether you have any wrong letters.
Sometimes, the browser you use could make the difference. Bottom line, the puzzle shouldn't have been used unless it could be solved on all platforms.
And except for the gimmick, it was a pretty dull puzzle to begin with.
Sometimes, the browser you use could make the difference. Bottom line, the puzzle shouldn't have been used unless it could be solved on all platforms.
And except for the gimmick, it was a pretty dull puzzle to begin with.
Steve - We apologize for the bug for the browser version of the puzzle. We resolved it at 10:16pm ET. We believe if you are in the state where you've completed the grid completely and correctly but the timer was still running, if you delete a letter in any square and then re-enter it, it should now show you as solved.
Please contact us at nytcrossword.nytimes.com with the subject line "For Eric" and we'll make sure your time (if it is too long) is not included in your averages.
Thanks again for your patience!
Please contact us at nytcrossword.nytimes.com with the subject line "For Eric" and we'll make sure your time (if it is too long) is not included in your averages.
Thanks again for your patience!
I LOVED it! I hummed my way through this one. And, btw, you don't have to be from New York to remember where you were when you heard that John Lennon had died. I was in a car filled with people, coming home from a Willie Nelson concert when I heard it on the radio. I wept, and not gently.
3
Huge Beatles fan, but can this puzzle be solved on the App so as to preserve streak.
Hi Peter,
I'm told that streaks will be restored. Apologies for the inconvenience.
I'm told that streaks will be restored. Apologies for the inconvenience.
1
Yes, this puzzle CAN be solved in the app.
The letters that would otherwise fall in the long and winding road do not need to be filled in on the app, they are just implied. If you fill in all the white grid letter correctly, you will be able to get your "solved" status and keep the streak alive
The letters that would otherwise fall in the long and winding road do not need to be filled in on the app, they are just implied. If you fill in all the white grid letter correctly, you will be able to get your "solved" status and keep the streak alive
Perhaps its the version of the app you have...since the app was updated recently....I cannot get solved status online or in the app...and i've triple checked all of my answers and spelling.
Disappointed with puzzles that I cannot solve on my iPad as you are required to write in responses in the black squares. I look forward to the Sunday puzzle...and as a subscriber for 8 years even more disappointed.
Wish I could have at least printed the puzzle.
Wish I could have at least printed the puzzle.
7
"Wish I could have at least printed the puzzle."
I thought anyone who could comment here could print the puzzle....
I thought anyone who could comment here could print the puzzle....
Hi Nina -
I've actually double checked what we do on iPad and it works as expected -- you do not have to have black squares filled in to solve the puzzle. Only the white squares need to be solved and the letters that would fall into the long and winding road are implied. If you are still seeing a non "Solved" experience, you must have something wrong in the grid so double back and check!
I've actually double checked what we do on iPad and it works as expected -- you do not have to have black squares filled in to solve the puzzle. Only the white squares need to be solved and the letters that would fall into the long and winding road are implied. If you are still seeing a non "Solved" experience, you must have something wrong in the grid so double back and check!
FEH, I say. I've solved the puzzle and compared my answers to the ones at xwordinfo and everything looks right. But the timer is still running and no successful solve. I spent far too much time trying to come up with a combination of Beatles' songs that would fill in the gray squares of the road before finally seeing the DRIVE MY CAR. (It didn't help that I didn't have the R of NEWSREELS). Also, I wanted MAO and LIZ before ALI. Cute idea, but very frustrating. No logic to where the letters were on the 'road'. The time glitch has just left me feeling annoyed.
7
I'm having the same problem. It doesn't seem to know it's done. Frustrating! (But the placement of the letters in gray does make sense if you follow the letters along the winding road!)
Please check the rest of the grid that you have everything in correctly - the timer is only running if there is a letter filled in correctly.
1
Eric, that's not true. Normally, you should get an error message when complete, indicating that a letter somewhere is wrong. In this case, the grid is complete (and apparently correct per xwordinfo for example) but the message that the grid is complete (right or wrong) never comes. I think you've missed the problem
1
Maybe next Sunday the Times will bring back the crossword puzzle. I still have no idea what the theme was, much less how the snaky thing could be an example of it. Beatles songs is not a theme, and the clues to the songs were trivia annotations, not wordplay. Worst Sunday in recent memory. And I love the Beatles.
21
Thanks--glad you enjoyed it!
3
My favorite comment of all time!
I should say, favorite reply!
Can someone help me locate the "R," the final letter in the song hidden along the path? I have nine letters but cannot locate the last one.
Thanks!
Thanks!
1
Try 83 down!
1
Far southeast corner down. NEWSREELS.
1
Yeah, that one is too hard to locate. Wish I'd used a clue that couldn't be answered with just NEWS. Mea culpa.
3
Delightful puzzle.
5
While the theme was great, the execution was terrible. I first started solving on the NYT Crossword App on my iPhone, but the 'gray' blocks are all black and did not allow any letters to be filled in, so I was very, very confused (I knew 68 across was DANA but it was only 3 letters). That was my first clue, and after checking the 'theme', I then realized there was no way to solve this puzzle on the app - YOU NEED TO TELL US THAT THIS PUZZLE CANNOT BE SOLVED USING THE APP. I then moved to the web version, which I then could see the 'gray' boxes, but what I find confusing was that, along with ACROSS and DOWN, there was the ROAD, which selected the entire 65-letter 'gray road', making me think this was a very long answer. But it's not, it's 10 word answer. So why allow me to type in all the gray boxes if only 10 of them are used for the answer? You should have mentioned that fact somewhere in the instructions. Again, I loved the theme, but the execution was poor.
3
"So why allow me to type in all the gray boxes if only 10 of them are used for the answer?"
For the same reason that paper solvers could write in any of the gray boxes. I *enjoyed* the challenge of not knowing which of the gray boxes required an entry (much as I prefer rebus puzzles that don't indicate where the rebi go).
(T
For the same reason that paper solvers could write in any of the gray boxes. I *enjoyed* the challenge of not knowing which of the gray boxes required an entry (much as I prefer rebus puzzles that don't indicate where the rebi go).
(T
2
We apologize if the app solving experience was sub par - Will threw us a bit of a curveball and we had a week to figure out how to make it work across the app (which is a bit more rigid) and the browser version (which is a bit more flexible when we get these tricky puzzles). For the apps, we typically only have the option to have either black (no filled) or white (fillable) squares and the gray "road" presented a challenge in that we had to have squares where filling them in was optional. So our solution for the app was that you could solve the puzzle and the additional letters that fall into the road would be "implied" letters (much like when we've had letters that appear outside the grid in the past). If you filled in all the white letters correctly in the app, you would be granted the "solved" status. If you have the solved status on the app, and you've logged in across both the app and the website, we synch your progress - and any synched solve would show the implied letters along The Long and Winding Road.
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I also *enjoyed* the challenge of finding which gray boxes would spell out the answer, but I think the directions could have been clearer, stating that some clues bleed over into some, but not all, gray boxes.
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I solve the puzzle (or try to) on an iPad app. I cannot enter into the 'black' squares. What's up?
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For the app you can solve the puzzle but do not need to fill letters int he long and winding road; the additional letters that fall into the road would be "implied" letters (much like when we've had letters that appear outside the grid in the past). If you filled in all the white letters correctly in the app, you should be granted the "solved" status. Thanks!
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No love for the Across Lite solver. Grrrrr!
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I know one solver who did it on his phone then used pen/paper to find the final song. Sorry that technology can't keep up!
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A Sunday puzzle both delightful and challenging. No glitches in the paper solve.
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uh. whatever. no way to guess how many letters there are supposed to be, or where you are supposed to use the gray squares - or not. online, it takes extra time to enter a letter in a gray square. not really a "crossword puzzle" as such, much as I enjoyed the theme.
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Beep beep yeah! Cute
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Been singing that phrase to my baby all week. :)
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If I can't enter letters in the winding road, how do I keep my streak going? PLEASE explain!!!
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I figured out where to put the correct (I think) 10 letters that fit in the "road" but don't know what to do with all the blank squares. Timer keeps running. I tried dashes, I tried repeating letters, so far no dice.
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I've reported the issue, Alex and Doug. Hoping to get an answer soon.
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TY...yeah...totally freak out since the software doesnt understand the blanks....my streak....oh my streak....my preciousssss......
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Another puzzle which is basically pointless for those of us solving electronically because we can’t write in the “grayed” squares. Pretty frustrating.
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Agreed, very frustrating. I get the final song and have the 10 letters to its title filled in the right spots, but the timer runs and nothing happens. Are those of us who do these online just disregarded at times like these?
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You can. You just have to click on the gray square.
I can fill in the squares but it never has me finishing.
Hello Durham-area Wordplayers:
Brunch next Sunday July 9 at noon at Bleu Olive on Hillandale Road in Durham! Exit 174 off I-85, just north of the interstate.
Post something here to let us know if you're coming so we'll know how many people to expect--I'll make a reservation on Friday so we'll be sure to get a good table. And we'll post at least one more reminder towards the end of the week. Hope to see people there!
Brunch next Sunday July 9 at noon at Bleu Olive on Hillandale Road in Durham! Exit 174 off I-85, just north of the interstate.
Post something here to let us know if you're coming so we'll know how many people to expect--I'll make a reservation on Friday so we'll be sure to get a good table. And we'll post at least one more reminder towards the end of the week. Hope to see people there!
2
Hope to make it down there one day! Have fun and post photos!
1