Big news in the world of crossword editing. Peter Gordon has stepped down from his post as writer of the topical crossword in The Week, and Matt Gaffney has taken over. Later this year, Patrick Berry will end his tenure as The Chronicle of Higher Education‘s first crossword editor, and he’ll turn the reins over to Jeffrey (“Jangler”) Harris, who’s worked for puzzle publishers Sterling/Puzzlewright and Penny Press. Hearty congratulations to both Matt and Jeffrey! Hat tip: Amy Reynaldo.
Ben Tausig has a new anthology out: 20 Under 30, presenting some of the youngest talents in the crossword-constructing biz. Some names you may know, some you may not, and probably at least one “I didn’t think he/she was THAT young” moment. The puzzles themselves are edgy and fun, with a healthy helping of that AV Club flavor.
Speaking of which, an important addendum to last week: the AV Club puzzle is coming back to the Milwaukee edition of The Onion only, not every edition of the paper nationwide. Thanks to Tausig and Sergio Mertsching for the correction and heads-up.
Neville Fogarty’s honorable loss at the ACPT has to be a little easier to stomach as he’s surpassed his first stretch goal on Kickstarter. Elsewhere on Kickstarter, The Maze of Games has finished its very successful funding run.
Rufus Mangrove has produced a set of ACPT photos so artistic they feel like storyboards for Wordplay II. (Hat tip: Boing Boing.) Plus, more videos! The sound of 570 sheets being turned over, and David Steinberg’s latest report on the Pre-Shortzian Puzzle Project.
Crossword games are probably somewhat easier to measure, in terms of difficulty, than games which depend more on the actions of other players or advanced artificial intelligences. In any case, the Colorado commission sure seems to like ’em.
Ego-solve of the week: Miss Universe. Other Twtter images: This mildly disturbing shirt ad, and the solving trials of a cricketer, Muffins the dog and a pair of square-headed zombies.
“Don’t worry, you’ll still get the Monday crossword, only it’ll be along with Tuesday’s now!” The slow death of newspapers blows through Auburn like a chilling breeze.
Exactly one of these Pleasantville residents gathered for “Celebrating the Voices of Pleasantville” is famous enough to be known outside of Pleasantville. And it ain’t Tina Turner: they couldn’t get her back from Switzerland. Also, did you even know Shortz had founded another puzzle tournament? Not the Symmys from last week, he was only involved in that one. Boy keeps busy. He may have a future at this.
It looks like this quote is getting attributed to Dell Crossword, rather than the anonymous quote-constructor who built it. Gosh, “Dell,” you better hope that “failure” part’s true…
William Volk, creator of Crickler, is working with Ford on a set of sponsored puzzles. He muses about the experience and what it may mean for advertising as a whole.
Finally, mad scientist and sometime talk show host Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz is extremely proud of himself for what happens in the first minute of this video. Nobody spoil it for him, okay?
I just want to mention that the 20 Under 30 collection is completely worth it. I’ve solved 6 of the 20 puzzles so far, and they’re all fresh and inventive. I’m not connected to the project at all – just a fan.
Peter Gordon wasn’t the editor of The Week’s crossword, he wrote it. That’s what I’m doing there now as well.
Durr! My bad. ‘Twas I who added that paragraph to T’s post (and should have known better).
Duly corrected.