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The Allusionist

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A PODCAST ABOUT LANGUAGE
BY HELEN ZALTZMAN

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The Allusionist

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Allusionist 62: In Crypt, Decrypt

September 1, 2017 The Allusionist
A62 In Crypt, Decrypt logo.jpg

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Crossword-solving is often a solitary activity - over breakfast; on the train; on the loo... But a few times a year, crossword puzzle enthusiasts gather in their hundreds to compete to be the fastest, most accurate crossword-solver.

Crossword-solving is often a solitary activity - over breakfast; on the train; on the loo... But a few times a year, crossword puzzle enthusiasts gather in their hundreds to compete to be the fastest, most accurate crossword-solver.

This episode comes to you from a church basement on the Upper East Side of New York City, wherein takes place America's second largest crossword puzzle tournament: Lollapuzzoola.

CORRECTION: the competition prize included a 2017 almanac, not a 2007 edition. Apologies! In my jetlagged state, I misheard, and assumed that Lollapuzzoola were giving out a ten-year-old World Almanac as a wry tribute to their tenth anniversary. The jetlagged brain works in mysterious ways/doesn't work.

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS:

  • Try this year's Lollapuzzoola puzzles - right now you can buy them from bemoresmarter.com.

  • You heard from him in the show, now read Rex Parker Does The New York Times Crossword Puzzle.

  • Several of the people I met at Lollapuzzoola write about crosswords at Diary of a Crossword Fiend.

  • Crosswords by 2016 Lollapuzzoola champ Erik Agard.

  • About those tricksy meta-puzzle elements, by Paolo Pasco who constructed the infernal first puzzle at this year's tournament.

  • A rookie at the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament.

  • A rookie at Lollapuzzoola in 2015.

  • The New York Times's crossword column, Wordplay.

  • The documentary Wordplay is about the NYT Crossword and the ACPT.

  • Want to enter the ACPT, the Indie 500 or Lollapuzzoola?

  • Listen to episode 8 of this show, about the construction of cryptic crosswords, at theallusionist.org/crosswords.

  • The transcript of this episode is at theallusionist.org/transcripts/lollapuzzoola.

YOUR RANDOMLY SELECTED WORD FROM THE DICTIONARY:
xerophyte

A62 xerophyte.jpg

CREDITS:

  • Thanks to Bruce Ryan for making this all happen! Follow him on Twitter @brucery.

  • Much obliged to Brian Cimmet of Lollapuzzoola, and all the attendees you heard on the episode: in order of appearance, Steve, Chris, another Chris, Brian, Ben, Jesse, Erik, Michael, Laura, Adesina, Katie, Penelope, Neville and his mom C.

  • This episode was produced by me, Helen Zaltzman; the music is by Martin Austwick.

  • Find me at facebook.com/allusionistshow, twitter.com/allusionistshow, twitter.com/helenzaltzman and instagram.com/helenzaltzman - and, live and onstage, at this year's London Podcast Festival.

- HZ

Lollapuzzoola 1 this way.jpg
Lollapuzzoola 2 queue.jpg
Lollapuzzoola 3 ready to compete.jpg
Lollapuzzoola 4 puzzle 1.jpg
Lollapuzzoola 5 DeCAThlon.jpg
Lollapuzzoola 6 puzzle 3.jpg
Lollapuzzoola 7 puzzle 4.jpg
Lollapuzzoola 8 puzzle 5.jpg
Lollapuzzoola 9 note for joon.jpg
Lollapuzzoola 10 Local finals.jpg
In episodes Tags words, crosswords, crossword puzzles, crossword compiling, cryptic, crossword setting, puzzles, Lollapuzzoola, contests, competitions, tournaments, Bruce Ryan
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