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Mike Mullane, Riding Rockets
A. Miles away
B. Iciest
C. Killing me softly
D. Ed Mitchell
E. Mavrodaphne
F. Ultimis
G. Laffer curve
H. Law students
I. Androscoggin
J. Nayeff
K. Enlightening
L. Rejoice
M. Itty-bittyiest
N. Dashwood
O. Iliac
P. Not if I can help it
Q. Gutta percha
R. Right foot
S. Opposals
T. Cowden Beath
U. Kit job
V. Ebb tides
W. Too little too late
X. Shenanigans
Thursday, June 27, 2019
Saturday, May 18, 2019
Acrostic #2
https://www.dropbox.com/s/79q9mmtsmf8sdp8/acrostic05.pdf?dl=0
This one has a spaceflight theme.
This one has a spaceflight theme.
Monday, May 13, 2019
Computerizing
It so happens that I'm reasonably proficient in the computer language perl, although I'm stuck at the perl 4 version while real pros all moved on to perl 5 many years ago. No matter, perl 4 does everything I need. Perl is now considered a bit dated but originally it was the #1 choice for interfacing web pages with binary data resident on the web server.
So I've created an online assist for acrostic compilation. Since the amount of data involved in a literary acrostic is trivial by comparison with most online databases, the program works very rapidly and all operations appear instantaneous. As I compile a puzzle clue word by clue word, the program keeps track of the statistics, tells me the number of words I have yet to invent and what their average length needs to be. Most important, it compares the letter frequencies in the unassigned letters with frequencies in standard English text. So at any point during the compile, I can see at a glance which letters I most need to use, and which I'm out of or almost out of.
There's a trap there, actually. In writing the algorithm, I used the standard frequency tables in which E, T and A dominate with 12.2%, 9.1% and 8.12% . Obviously, that's because THE and A occur very often in normal text. However, in a set of clue words such as an acrostic needs, THE and A will occur far less frequently. So there is usually a surplus of those letters, and getting rid of all the Ts and Hs can be a problem. A and E are less of a problem since it's generally easy to find a place for vowels. In Acrostic #1 on this blog, "kitty litter" is an example of resolving a surplus of Ts.
The other thing my little program does for me is to assign the binding of word list letters to diagram letters automatically. Doing that the old-fashioned way is highly error-prone, believe me. In the early stages of compilation, there are usually many possible ways to bind a word list letter to a diagram letter, so I arranged for a random choice rather than a "first available" assignation.
Transforming the product of my program into a Word™ file, then a .pdf, is not automated, so I still have some manual work doing that part and rigorously proof-reading. But computerization has unquestionably made acrostic compilation faster and inherently more accurate.
So I've created an online assist for acrostic compilation. Since the amount of data involved in a literary acrostic is trivial by comparison with most online databases, the program works very rapidly and all operations appear instantaneous. As I compile a puzzle clue word by clue word, the program keeps track of the statistics, tells me the number of words I have yet to invent and what their average length needs to be. Most important, it compares the letter frequencies in the unassigned letters with frequencies in standard English text. So at any point during the compile, I can see at a glance which letters I most need to use, and which I'm out of or almost out of.
Part of my compile assist program: Too many Gs and Ys, too few Ls, no Ps
There's a trap there, actually. In writing the algorithm, I used the standard frequency tables in which E, T and A dominate with 12.2%, 9.1% and 8.12% . Obviously, that's because THE and A occur very often in normal text. However, in a set of clue words such as an acrostic needs, THE and A will occur far less frequently. So there is usually a surplus of those letters, and getting rid of all the Ts and Hs can be a problem. A and E are less of a problem since it's generally easy to find a place for vowels. In Acrostic #1 on this blog, "kitty litter" is an example of resolving a surplus of Ts.
The other thing my little program does for me is to assign the binding of word list letters to diagram letters automatically. Doing that the old-fashioned way is highly error-prone, believe me. In the early stages of compilation, there are usually many possible ways to bind a word list letter to a diagram letter, so I arranged for a random choice rather than a "first available" assignation.
Transforming the product of my program into a Word™ file, then a .pdf, is not automated, so I still have some manual work doing that part and rigorously proof-reading. But computerization has unquestionably made acrostic compilation faster and inherently more accurate.
Solution to acrostic #1
"The function of music is to liberate in the soul those feelings that normally we keep locked up in the heart. The great composers of the past were able to do this, but the musicians of today are satisfied with four notes in a line you can sell at the street corner."
Sebastian Faulks, Birdsong
A. Sumptuously
B. Echoic
C. Bees' knees
D. Awesome
E. South Uist
F. The way forward
G. If the shoe fits
H. Alliteration
I. Nacelle
J. Fluff
K. Albee
L. Urtication
M. Lighten
N. Kitty litter
O. Sheerness
P. Brotherhood of Man
Q. Intermittent
R. Roach hotel
S. Deep State
T. Soup spoons
U. Occitania
V. Nether
W. Gated
Sebastian Faulks, Birdsong
A. Sumptuously
B. Echoic
C. Bees' knees
D. Awesome
E. South Uist
F. The way forward
G. If the shoe fits
H. Alliteration
I. Nacelle
J. Fluff
K. Albee
L. Urtication
M. Lighten
N. Kitty litter
O. Sheerness
P. Brotherhood of Man
Q. Intermittent
R. Roach hotel
S. Deep State
T. Soup spoons
U. Occitania
V. Nether
W. Gated
Sunday, April 28, 2019
Acrostics in the Google era
Gone are the days when a clue such as "WBO heavyweight champion June 2007-February 2008" would be thought unfairly difficult. Google or Wikipedia can come up with the answer to that in seconds.
As a compiler, I live with that obvious fact (having no choice!) but I try to think of a few Google-proof clues if I can. Acrostic #1, that I published today, is not a particularly good example, but Googling has its problems for words B, G and R.
I also do the converse—that is, provide a few write-in clues that don't even need Google, just to give my solvers confidence. I consider words D, H, M, N and maybe W to be in that category but others may disagree. General Knowledge is a tricky thing, and depends a lot on one's origins, interests and memory-power.
The "middling" clues yield quickly to Google/Wikipedia if that's what you fancy. Word U is a good example. If solvers wish to have a personal "No-Google" rule, I say "Good idea". As a solver, as opposed to compiler, I generally start off with a No-Google rule but often succumb to the temptation when I'm stuck.
As a compiler, I live with that obvious fact (having no choice!) but I try to think of a few Google-proof clues if I can. Acrostic #1, that I published today, is not a particularly good example, but Googling has its problems for words B, G and R.
I also do the converse—that is, provide a few write-in clues that don't even need Google, just to give my solvers confidence. I consider words D, H, M, N and maybe W to be in that category but others may disagree. General Knowledge is a tricky thing, and depends a lot on one's origins, interests and memory-power.
The "middling" clues yield quickly to Google/Wikipedia if that's what you fancy. Word U is a good example. If solvers wish to have a personal "No-Google" rule, I say "Good idea". As a solver, as opposed to compiler, I generally start off with a No-Google rule but often succumb to the temptation when I'm stuck.
Welcome to the acrostics blog, Here's acrostic #1
On this blog I aim to provide new acrostic puzzle challenges roughly monthly, with the solutions to be posted two weeks after the puzzle. Here's the first acrostic:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zuk8hlk6dhyldpy/acrostic03.pdf?dl=0
Instructions for those new to acrostic puzzles
An acrostic comes in two parts—a diagram and a word list. The cells in the diagram are numbered sequentially from 1 to (in this case) 211, reading left-to-right line by line just like a book. When solved, the diagram and the word list will contain exactly the same set of 211 letters, but arranged differently.
The diagram will contain a quote from a certain book, with black cells delineating the words. The first letters of the words in the word list, reading top-to-bottom, will spell out the author and title of the book quoted.
TIPS
Write in what words you can from the clues given. Transfer each letter into the diagram, using the number under each letter as the cell number. Make a few guesses, such as that plural words end in S (usually), and single-letter words are either A or I (again, usually). After a while, you should start to guess at words in the diagram. Complete these words and transfer the new letters backwards into the word list, using the letter in each cell as a guide to the word they belong to.
Success at acrostics depends on inspired guesswork, and liberal use of the eraser. Have fun.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zuk8hlk6dhyldpy/acrostic03.pdf?dl=0
Instructions for those new to acrostic puzzles
An acrostic comes in two parts—a diagram and a word list. The cells in the diagram are numbered sequentially from 1 to (in this case) 211, reading left-to-right line by line just like a book. When solved, the diagram and the word list will contain exactly the same set of 211 letters, but arranged differently.
The diagram will contain a quote from a certain book, with black cells delineating the words. The first letters of the words in the word list, reading top-to-bottom, will spell out the author and title of the book quoted.
TIPS
Write in what words you can from the clues given. Transfer each letter into the diagram, using the number under each letter as the cell number. Make a few guesses, such as that plural words end in S (usually), and single-letter words are either A or I (again, usually). After a while, you should start to guess at words in the diagram. Complete these words and transfer the new letters backwards into the word list, using the letter in each cell as a guide to the word they belong to.
Success at acrostics depends on inspired guesswork, and liberal use of the eraser. Have fun.
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