Puzzle Corner

[Black Hole]

Be good if anyone participating would post their full list of answers!

I can't imagine there will be many participants. How many of us have relevant domain knowledge? For all I know, bung any random selection of letters together and it's an acronym/initialism for something. Well done you for spotting the ones you listed, but...

Puzzles should be solvable without specific knowledge. This, for example, is far more interesting:

 

[prpr]

Spoiler

FJHPD
LUMES
INQXV
CORAB
KTGYW

 

[EEPhil]

This, for example, is far more interesting:

That puzzle is one I do - when I see it. Used to be in various (paper) newspapers. I've not seen it in a long time. Where was this one published?

 

[Black Hole]

Where was this one published?

Weekdays in the Mail.

 

[EEPhil]

Weekdays in the Mail.

Hmm, have to make use of the library online access, if I remember.

 

[Black Hole]

Spoiler

FJHPD
LUMES
INQXV
CORAB
KTGYW

Correct. Not the most challenging example, but I didn't know that when I plucked it out.

 

[Black Hole]

This one is somewhat more challenging:

 

[EEPhil]

I suppose most people can do this on-line. I find this puzzle easier with a paper copy. So time to copy the grid...

 

[Black Hole]

I suppose most people can do this on-line.

Personally I use the as-if-printed edition on my iPad, screen-capture it to Photos, then use an Apple Pencil (stylus) to hand-write onto the screen. Handy for rubbing out too.

There are "live" on-line puzzles available to do in the Mail subscriber app, including Gogen, but they are not the same as in the printed paper. That used to be important to me because I was in friendly competition, and although that is no longer the case I've stuck with it. Mostly I only do the quick crossword, it depends how much of a loose end I'm at (and I have suddenly become at a looser end).

So time to copy the grid...

...or just click "print"

 

[EEPhil]

...or just click "print"

Then I end up with a pdf file. I have no workable printer. If I need to print it's cheaper to use the City library, not the nearest one, as that allows you to print through the internet to a photocopier at 20p a page (b/w A4). The local library - put on a USB stick, book a library computer, print.. and it costs more.
I'll have to see if I can transfer to an Android tablet and try and write with my finger.

 

[prpr]

I just wrote it all down in Notepad (the horror) and filled it in that way, but it's probably easier with my usual Sudoku sized spreadsheet cells.
Anyway, this didn't take too long. There are two obvious starters once you 'write' down the possibilities, then it's just rinse and repeat as the options get fewer.

Spoiler

HYWBF
PGLRV
NMEAJ
SOXCU
TIKDQ

 

[EEPhil]

Might have been slightly more challenging than the first one. Still relatively easy, until I tried to put X down twice. Lost a bit of time undoing that mistake.

 

[Black Hole]

I don't think they get much harder, and TBH I don't want them to – they would occupy too much time to bother with.

 

[Wildebeest]

NY Times do an online one called Strands along these lines should anyone like it, not especially challenging though. I prefer Wordle, Quordle, Tightrope, Connections. (All NYT except Tightrope which is Britannica.)

 

[HugeMaximum]

This is one from Friday's BBC Breakfast on BBC1. The Answer will be on Monday's BBC Breakfast.

Complete the sequence:
Y Y H L Y E Y T R R R ?

 

[prpr]

Spoiler

R

 

[Black Hole]

Easy.