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Since my NYT debut in May 2000, I've had over a dozen puzzles appearing in NYT, NYSun, and Games Magazine. I also enjoy being a test solver for the NYSun. Attorney and father of three lassies. I appeared with my oldest daughter on the 11/24/00 Family Edition version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire". Thanks to the assistance of Cru member Jamie638, we walked away with a cool $125,000. Career hole-in-ones: Two, within 30 days apart.
Married, two grown daughters, guidance counselor in a NYC middle school. I do the NYT every day and love the read the Forum.
Born & raised in Queens. Six years at Hunter College HS in the sixties, where I first started trying to do NY Times puzzles during study hall and while commuting each day. Four years at SUNY Albany, where I majored in math, and hung around with the electronic music crowd. Got married 6 weeks after graduation, packed up the car and drove across the country to our new home in the SF Bay Area. Arrived in Berkeley the day Nixon announced his resignation -- an omen?
Got accustomed to doing the NYT puzzles 6 weeks late in the SF Examiner -- also got to know Merl Reagle's unique puzzling style on Sundays.
My day jobs for the past quarter-century have all been in the international logistics world -- for the past 15 years or so, I've mostly focused on translating between business/functional people and technies. Since October 2002, I've been working as a consultant on a fairly interesting project that has had me on the road to Alpharetta, GA an average of 2+ times a month. This doesn't leave me as much time for crosswords and the Today's Puzzle forum as I'd like!
I've had a lifelong interest in mystery & crime fiction and am one of the publishers of Mystery News, a bi-monthly paper that includes interviews with authors, articles and book reviews. No money in it, but lots of satisfaction and the chance to meet many of my favorite authors.
I ended up moving back to the NY area in 1996. So now I get the NY Times delivered to my house in the suburbs and I try to squeeze the puzzle and the forum into my limited amount of spare time.
I've been a Cru member since before it was called the Cru, before Across Lite, back when there were only a few posts each day. I've been to Stamford every year since 1998, and hope/plan to keep going for a long time into the future...
Motion picture animator and documentary filmmaker. Solver for 20+ years. Cat owner (Angelica, 18.5 years, a little deaf, a little arthritic). I enjoy the Friday and Saturday NYT crosswords, and especially the alternate Sunday puzzles -- diagramless, cryptic, and most of all, the double crostics. I consider a good double crostic my reward for completing the Sunday crossword, and I'm an aspiring double crostic constructor.
My all-time favorite "crossword" was in fact a cross number puzzle, the only one I've ever seen. I came upon it at least ten years ago. All squares were to be filled in by integers; many clues cross-referenced other clues (i.e. having one answer enabled you to calculate another, or part of it). The trick was to find a way inside and get the first answer and this was fiendishly difficult. The whole thing was ingeniously constructed, took a long time to complete, and was, accordingly, VERY satisfying. Does this ring a bell with anyone???
55 years old - married 25 years - son (23), sculptor(?) - daughter (18), college frosh - former ad agcy creative dir - now, spec. ed. tcher in NYC JHS - Will Shortz has my creation hanging on his wall - I remember Will Weng.
Fairly new to the world of crossword puzzles -- started around 2002, age fortysomething. Found out I needed reading glasses during a morning puzzle, because the clues were so small in the newspaper.
I was inspired to start puzzling by my Dad, who loves to solve on a clipboard and sometimes won't give up on a puzzle for WEEKS. I prefer the online version... no messy pencils and erasers, and I like to finish the puzzle in a sitting. I admit to using GOOGLE a lot during puzzles, and feel a certain pride in being able to find the answer in one keyword entry most of the time. I also admit to using my favorite wildcard dictionary, dict.die.net. Was it Will Shortz who wrote "after all, it's your puzzle"?
I love to co-solve with my Dad and our good friend wmclennan on the more difficult puzzles.
In real life I am a software engineer and a mom. When I'm not working or doing crossword puzzles, I love to play my mandolin and fiddle with jammers of various musical genres... Bluegrass, Celtic, and Early Music.
Born and raised in New York City. Edjumacated at the Bronx HS of Science and Syracuse University.
Married since 1988 to Dave and live with two beautiful kids (ages 13 and 8) who keep insisting on calling me "Mom". I'm still not sure what they mean by that. Also owned by an extremely spunky Border Terrier.
In 1997, we schlepped all of them out to New Jersey so we could put all of our money into replacing parts of our house as they die off, one by one.
Careerwise, I was in advertising for 15 years, until I ran screaming out of the corporate world. With the mentorship of William E. Campbell, I re-invented myself as a canine behaviorist, and now have a practice of my own specializing in aggression cases. Much more satisfying than trying to think up new ways to get kids to eat more sugar.
I owe Nancy Salomon my life. My puzzles have appeared in the NYT, Washington Post, LAT, Tribune, among others, and I have the pleasure of working with seven of the greatest young men in puzzledom as part of the construction team at The Onion. As of January, 2008, my puzzles will be featured in BUST magazine in the form of the "X Games" column.
Grew up and live in Virginia. Lived in Tucson, Arizona for a while. Love art museums, just go and look and let myself get swept away to someplace mystical by anything from Cimabue to Rothko.
Masters degrees in music, theology. Love classic literature, read mostly 19th c. English stuff, though I'm working on my French in hope of someday being able to read it, too. Love traveling, do as much as possible, although this has sometimes resulted in a sad lack of home furnishings. Some people remodel their kitchens. We go to Europe. I prefer being in France to being in my kitchen anyway.
Love my two cats. Love dogs, but travel too much to have one.
Stephen Edward Anderson
seahedges2
Polyglot retired expatriate American, graduate of the University of Lausanne, currently residing in Asolo (Italy) and Paris, I have worked as a copy reader for a daily newspaper, a French teacher (Boise State,) and an internatonal tour operator.
Retired high school teacher.
Born in London England, moved to Victoria B.C. Canada in 1969. I have a BA in English history, but have never used it. My first puzzle (a cryptic) appeared almost 20 years ago in my university student newspaper, but it took me another 12 years to have the courage to try the NYT. I've been contributing on a semi-regular basis to the NYT now for about 8 years. I love both solving and constructing wide-open 15x15s (ie: Friday/Saturday puzzles).
Word games and crossswords were a family tradition as I was growing up. I began attempting each day's NY Times crossword at about age 14. When Harper's Magazine introduced cryptic crosswords in 1976, I became a quick convert and have been constructing cryptics occasionally for about 15 years.
In Berkeley a loose-knit group of irregulars (the "ABC River Cluists") have been cooperatively solving cryptics over breakfast each weekend for almost 20 years. This has been so much fun that when I moved to Silicon Valley for a job in 1992, I located similarly-inclined folks in Palo Alto, and a like group has been meeting there ever since.
Professionally, I'm a mathematician and college teacher with additional emphasis on computer graphics and statistics. Avocationally, I enjoy writing and editing, having been the editor-in-chief of a small magazine on traditional English and American dancing for five years. I also do some editing of cryptic crosswords.
As a retired Foreign Service Officer economist, having lived in Senegal, Haiti, Finland, Belgium, France and Morocco, I have retained scraps of 8 languages and the names of all the capital cities, which give me an edge with clues like "nice summer" and "Strasbourg friend". I am now well into a second career as network engineer working with TCP/IP networks as a contract employee at the State Department. My hobbies, aside from the computer, include sundial design and construction, classical music and home improvement projects.
Longtime lurker in Austin. Rare delurker. But as Popeye says, “I love this place.”
I'm a PhD student in biology at MIT (and will be for an undetermined but probably significant number of years), which means that I get to spend most of my time doing puzzles. Most of them are to do with proteins rather than words, of course, but you can't beat nature for cryptic construction.
Now devoting most of my time to constructing crossword puzzles after retiring from my day job--20 years as a drug/alcohol counselor, much of it spent at two local county jails.
Have been doing the Sunday NYT with my wife, Nancy, for over 30 years, and The Nation's cryptic for over 20, but didn't really get into doing the daily NYT's until I got a computer in 1997 and found the CRUCIVERB_L forum and the on-line NYT puzzle.
Have been to Stamford twice--missed this year--and will be there next year. Cruciverbalists are even more fun than drunks and druggies!
Diane Hague Baldwin
dianebaldwin
No relation to the Diane Baldwin who makes puzzles (I do get out kick out of seeing her name on them, though!) I've been doing crosswords on and off since high school, depending on how busy my life was at the time. Now totally hooked on them as a daily routine after breakfast, since it is so easy to access them on the internet. Grew up downstate New York, college at St. Lawrence U. and Syracuse U. - now in central NY where my husband runs an internet software business which I help out with - a bit with paperwork and finance, a lot with support and advice. Three kids - one about to graduate from Yale, one just started at Williams College, one still at home. In addition to crosswords, which exercise my mind, I swim 1-1/4 miles a day which to my mind is the best workout there is - you don't sweat, and you get to do it lying down! I rarely feel qualified to comment in the forum, but like to read the comments and appreciate the help when I have a question!
Howard from 'New Joisey' here, and I am a puzzler.
I've been solving regularly for just the past couple years, finally giving in and making an unofficial hobby out of it. Have an uncle who started me in on all this, but otherwise didn't realize until recently how many other people enjoy this sort of thing. This is where the message boards, blogs, and the community all come into play. A 2006 visit to Stamford sealed the deal, and I eventually wound up here. Thanks, fellow puzzle people, for your camaraderie and overall friendliness.
OK, that said & done, I'm another of those computer/technology peons whose job it is to type a whole lot of information, and by doing so either break things, prevent them from breaking, or confirm that they are indeed no longer broken. (Worked as a software programmer and tester at various times).
I also spend time as a forward on the local floor hockey team, where I try to cover up for my stunning lack of athletic ability with a lot of effort and heart. You can guess how this usually works out. Although we haven't yet won anything of note, we've completed our umpteenth season as the team which has the most fun in the league.
Maybe someday I can whip up something publishable in the puzzle world, but that's a long way in the future. Thanks for reading, and happy puzzling.
Human resources executive. Recovering lawyer. Puzzle fan.
Have been reading (occasionally writing to) the Forum since '98. Love it. I get behind but always catch up!
I have two precious children and one semi-precious wife who is helpful only for certain pop references in puzzles and says that "atoi" is not really a word in French. I think that the Across Lite program and the Litz Bros. are fulfilling the promise of the computer age, and I print out puzzles for stuffing in my briefcase and waiting for an available moment to solve them, which as a middle school administrator (in the Bronx) sometimes means July or August. As such, I enjoy extra-long delays in doctors' waiting rooms, where I have learned the toughest challenge as a solver is fixing some stranger's mistakes in this week's Nancy Jacobsen Cue crossword.
I am a practicing Zen Catholic, fallen CPA, beer-swilling softball player who has been known to whistle Cole Porter on the golf course. Others will tell you that being a NY Mets fan has given shape and direction to my life. I think that caring about professional sports is childish, and if the Mets don't get back to the playoffs this year, I'm gonna cry.
Stephen W. Berry
thefloridabear
Husband to Claudia for 40 years (and counting), father of 3, grandfather of 2 (and counting), Geotechnical Engineer and puzzle convert. Our children are 29 months apart start to finish (kids, do not try this at home). Our oldest, SWB II, is a history professor, the author of "All That Makes a Man, Love and Ambition in the Civil War South - Oxford Press" and is working on his second book; the middle child Margaret (now Maggie to her friends) is a working wife and has two cute boys; and finally there is Patrick, of whom most of you are aware since he makes puzzles for a living, finished his first puzzle book "Crossword Puzzle Challenges for Dummies" and edits a weekly puzzle for The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Born in Leeds, England, and moved to the US in 1972. Retired two years ago and, after 28 years in CT, moving to Florida in June 2000 ... but still an avid puzzle fan and hoping to continue being a CRU member. Enjoy biking, tennis, walking, reading and all forms of puzzles (except Logic problems). I never leave a puzzle undone.
editor, graphic designer, political literature designer, animal lover/consumer
Patrick has been solving since 2003 and constructing since 2004. His first NYTimes appeared on 7/21/2005, and his parents have it on their fridge like some assignment from grade school. Patrick works as an actor/music director for theatres across the country, and in between gigs as a temp/bartender/short order cook for various offices/bars/diners. You might have spotted him on Comedy Central's "Strangers with Candy" or in Ron Howard's "A Beautiful Mind." ("Can we leave one open, professor? It's really hot, sir.") He is based in NYC (Astoria, baby!) and thinks Lombardi's on Spring has the best pizza on Earth.
I am trained as a physician, and I am a Board-certified and licensed internist who practiced clinical medicine for 10 years. Subsequently, I have worked in the managed care area. At the moment, I am between jobs, which gives me time to do puzzles, read, make quilts, and be Mrs. Suburbia, transporting my high-school-age son to and from his activities.
I am a former chef and retail manager now in the car business (where I became addicted to crosswords) I am starting to dabble in construction. My wife Norma and I reside in South Dakota where we stay busy with our 7 children and 9 grandchildren.
Born in Boston but have been a New Yorker for close to 30 years. I am a lawyer by trade (corporate litigation). Hobbies include ballet, opera, and food.
A Brooklyn girl born and bred, graduated from Erasmus Hall HS and Brooklyn College, with top scores in English and bottom scores in math. Did graduate work at NYU and Harvard and taught English at Fairleigh Dickinson, until I figured out that I didn't necessarily need to sell my soul to be successful in business (this from a child of the 60's). After 35 years as an HR executive in the pharmaceutical industry, I retired in 2005. Now happily living on the coast of Maine where the sea welcomes me every morning followed by two ragdoll cats demanding breakfast. Retirement affords the chance to study piano, tutor in an adult literacy program, work to create a community music school, play bridge and do grant writing for needy non profits. Started solving crosswords in Brooklyn; extended my reach with the London Times cryptics (not successfully, but the struggle was worth it).
I live in Meriden, CT but visit NY, NY frequently. Having worked in radio, run a company called Renta Yenta, and always, always done computer stuff, I am changing careers - begin Massage Therapy school this May. I speak Russian fluently, French and Spanish not quite so, and Hebrew and Arabic just enough to find out where's good to eat. I love food, music and people of all denominations. I'm a new vegetarian and long-time puzzler. Also have tennis racquet, baseball glove, roller blades and dog (Rhodesian Ridgeback) Happily single, but always willing to find the one to share these pleasures with.
Love the Forum. Apologize for the puns. In the spirit of the season, "Next year in Stamford!"
Born and raised (reared?) on Long Island, left in '67 to attend USNA. After graduation, 5 years in the USMC, flying F-4s in Hawaii. Tough duty, but someone had to do it. Signed on with Michelin in '76 and have been in the tire biz ever since. Live in beautiful Greenville, SC with my wife Linda and daughter Lauren, where we can play golf about 11 months a year. Got hooked on crosswords as a kid, watching my mom and dad knock off the NYT (in ink) every Sunday.
As a youth, I was a punning math/computer whiz who played with wood sometimes. During my 20s and early 30s, I pursued a Computer Science career for lack of any better ideas. In my mid-30s, I abandoned the Computer Science ship (for one thing, it became too mainstream, impairing my ability to remain a nerdy outsider), to turn segmented wooden bowls and vases full time. As I enter my 40s, I'm still doing that, but am also adding a bit of cruciverbal composition to the mix, as something that pays no worse than woodturning, that I can do in the morning, before I can face being up to my eyeballs in sawdust.
The child of two of the lesser known Greek gods, Foggy spent most of the BC era travling around the North American continent, looking for a decent parking spot. Finally finding a spot vacated by a just departing Leif Garrett the Viking, Foggy started a small business as a meteorologist for procastinators (telling what the weather was two days ago). In 1930, Foggy left the United States and traveling through the South Pacific. The theater owner told him to get out, and it was off to Maine, where he really was born in 1970, and where he spent most of his life, which is sad really. Foggy lives in Somerville, Massachusetts, (the city that tosses and turns because it can never sleep), and makes a living at pretending to work while really browsing the web.
Name: Rick Byrne
Profession: Broadcaster. Radio guy every other Saturday, Master Control for TV station most other days.
Puzzler: Since 1989. Sunday Times solver when time allows. Still has Dell puzzles from 15 years ago.
Puzzling weapon of choice: PaperMate Flair felt-tip.
Distinguishing physical characteristics: those high Hungarian cheekbones. That pseudo-goatee that comes and goes. The chunky, robust figure (don't even start). The glasses.
Known idiosyncrasies: collects closed caption typos for website. Grammar and spelling watchdog. Gadget freak. Creates game show-style games for no good reason. Spends more time on the net than is probably good for him. Loves a good chat with friends - in person or online.
A solver life-long, but got serious about NYT puzzles when I got wired to the web in '98. Started fiddling with condtruction in spring 2001, and late in the year had puzzles accepted by Tim Parker and Will Shortz (but not yet published).
I'm a retired magazine editor (TV Guide, Saturday Evening Post, Better Homes & Gardens, Good Housekeeping) who got into crossword constructing late in life, after I retired. Have since had about 100 puzzles published in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, L.A. Times, Washington Post, USA Today, Portable Press books, and elsewhere. I still write articles for books and magazines, although they're probably ones you've never heard of. Stamford, Connecticut, home of the annual crossword puzzle tournament, is my old home town, but I now live in wonderful Santa Rosa, Calif., an hour north of San Francisco, where I love the Mediterranean climate, feed the hummingbirds, ride my bike around the neighborhood, and spend many summer days down at the ocean in Bodega Bay or one of the coastal beaches. A bonus of living in the Bay Area is that I periodically get to have lunch with my pals and fellow constructors Manny Nosowsky, Stephanie Spadaccini, constructor and Scrabble pro Andrea Michaels, Byron Walden, and Anne Garellick. We also enjoy an annual get-together at the beautiful Saratoga home of Martin and Elaine Herbach. This event, marked by nonstop chatter, laughter. behind-the-scenes puzzle chat and fantastic food and drink, is just indescribably pleasant. You gotta be there, and I hope one of these days you will be.
Nuclear physicist gone wrong
I'm 59 and pretty much retired except for some exciting volunteer activities. Have been a huge puzzle fan since college days spent in upstate New York where I was born and bred.We spent quite a few years out of the country and lost the puzzle habit for awhile. Now I can't start the day without it. I'm hugely wedded to my Mac, but prefer to solve on paper (in black ink, extra credit for neatness) and use the print edition on the weekend.I also garden---have tons of little seedlings germinating under flourescent lights.We've not found another retirement address since we won't live anyplace where they don't deliver the Times and the Post.
Food writer and cookbook reviewer, mainly for Boston Globe and npr.org. Former Food and Society policy fellow (working on sustainability in food systems). Husband Randy a high-school English teacher; two delightful little ones, Noah (7) and Zoe (1). We live in a dilapidated Colonial house in western MA, with no pets but close to 1000 cookbooks.
Started solving the NYT crossword in high school. Though otherwise a model student, repeatedly got in trouble for instigating widespread xword solving during calculus class. Gave it up for years while in Boston (didn't like the puzzles there). Received a NYT xword site subscription for Mother's Day 2007 and slipped back into addiction; am now a regular on the challenge match site. My first week on the site, tried and failed to start a trend kibbitzing in haiku.
Constructed my first puzzle for husby's birthday during a cash-strapped period.
Since then have constructed several more but never submitted for publication--maybe someday.
Like most writers, I have a large arsenal of hobbies to help me avoid writing. Apart from my professional hobby, cooking, I've pretty much winnowed them down to crosswords, chess, gardening, sewing, reading tarot and darning socks. However, more threaten to pop up at any moment and various hobbies-in-remission (ballroom dancing, Scrabble, piano and alto sax) are never really completely dormant.
Hoping to go to my first tournament, in Bklyn this year.
I own and operate a computer graphic design and animation studio out of my live-in loft in Chicago. I work and play with equal vigor, often at weird hours. I travel in search of pristine waters to snorkel and sail (Belize is my favorite retreat), fresh powder to ski, museums to explore, and nature's wonders to photograph and paint.
I've lived in Los Angeles, San Diego, Memphis and Manhattan but am happy to be home again in the Windy City where I drink too much coffee but watch my fat grams. I own a Trademark, but not a car. I ride my Schwinn cruiser along the lakefront and often work my crossword puzzles on the lawn near the Shedd Aquarium.
I have four grown children (3 women, 1 boy), 2 Exes and I feel like a "born-again" virgin. I love Mozart, Miles, Mingus, Monet, and Modigliani. I weep to the classics on the American Movie Channel. When I grow up, I want to be a ballerina or an Olympic figure skater. In spite of the spelling of my name...I am woman.
Very mediocre solver, working hard to get better.
I'm a writer -- advertising mostly -- and love making crossword puzzles. One day I plan to solve one without cheating!
I'm currently plowing through a MS in Electrical Engineering at beautiful Stanford University (yes yes, I HAVE seen Chelsea.. she is doing great). I think GAMES Magazine is the best fusion of ink and paper ever attempted, and have subscribed to it since 1984. (Don't worry, I was not a 10 year old super solver, I just liked the pictures.. Now that I am actually able to work the puzzles, I am glad to have all those back issues!)
Currently amusing myself with talking to my two cats, playing taiko, collecting Atari 2600 video games, and enjoying the NYT crosswords and the fine discussions posted to the crossword forum. Thanks everyone!
Daily solver since c. 1963, when I started doing them standing up on the #6 train to school. (Several breaks when, pre-web, I lived beyond the reach of the NYT or IHT.)
Physicist, husband, father, politician, Chairman of the local Planning & Zoning Commission.
Particular fan of cryptics (especially the Atlantic's.)
In 2001, won the Class C and Rookie awards at the American Crossword Tournament. (Didm't fare as well in 2001.)
Retired from the wholesale wine & liquor industry and happily enjoying life on the South Shore of Eastern Long Island, NY.
Marilyn Collins Balch
mollybalch
I was born in Graceville, Florida, a samll town in north west Florida called the panhandle. I attended college at Florida State University, graduating in 1970 with a degree in English Literature iwth a history minor. It took me ten years from my high school graduation as I went two years to evening classes at Chipola Community College while working full time. I went to Las Vegas, NV with two college chums to work for the summer between my junior and senior year where I met my first husband. After graduation from FSU, I accompanied him to Torrance, CA and then to Arrowhead Highlands in the San Bernardino mountains. I have one son who is now 26 years old and living in Jacksonville, FL. I remarried in 1985 and have one step son who lives in Beaverton Oregon with our three grand children, a 13 year old girl and twin boys, age 8. My husband worked for the City of Redlands (CA) Fire Department for 32 years and retired in 1990. We moved here to Panama City Beach ("home of the world's most beautiful beaches")on the sugar whilte sands of the Gulf of Mexico.
I prefer to be called Vivian. I've been single longer than I was married and though I have no children of my own, I live with and take care of my nieces and great-nieces. I also take care of my disabled mother.
I began doing crosswords and variety puzzles when I was ten or so. My first sale of a crossword was to the college newspaper at Valdosta State. While I've not yet sold to the Times, my puzzles are published in various syndicates and magazines. I also have been published in children's magazines such as "Pockets".
My interests include camping; hiking; collecting postcards, postage stamps, and buttons; and reading books. I also collect dictionaries and rejection slips. (Even a few from Will Shortz).
Gerald Anthony Connell 
gaconnell
Resident of Virginia, near Mount Vernon. Antitrust lawyer with a firm in downtown DC. Born in Stamford, CT ['34], high school in Fairfield, CT [52], college in Worcester, MA [Holy Cross '56], two years in Navy, law school in NY [Fordham '61].Worked for the Antitrust Division of the US Justice Department in DC for 21years, until '82. Last job there was lead counsel in AT&T case. Very fond of tennis, crossword puzzles, the internet, and the wonderful capabilities of computers. Married to the much-admired Ann Kelly of New Canaan, CT. Father of four wonderful-beyond-belief children: Maura, Daniel, Kevin and Timothy.
I inherited the crossword gene from my father, who could never let a puzzle go unsolved (even in TV Guide). The old (early '80s) Games magazine got me hooked on crosswords at a tender age. I've been gratified to watch as the editorial crew from that fine publication went out to establish the new crossword orthodoxy at all the major dailies. I've been living in Vancouver since 2004 and I was pleasantly surprised to find that one of my colleagues at UBC (same department, same division) also solves the online NYT. What are the odds of that? Of course, now the stakes are considerably higher (at least for me, he's got tenure!) Fave constructors: Byron Walden, Manny Nosowsky.
I am a Family Practioner in Texas close to NASA. Have been lurking from early on. The forum and the puzzles are a pleasurable part of my daily routine.
Kathy Countryman
KathyCountryman
I was bored and rained in Washington State, one of thirteen children and eight imaginary playmates. I learned to swim at an early age. I have had several careers; most recently I co-own a restaurant and bar in Silverton Oregon. But sooner or later I will figure out what I want to be when I grow up.
A puzzler for many years, I've been competing since 1985, and have loved getting to meet fellow solvers, and constructors, too!
I grew up with parents who did The Nation puzzles, so cryptics were a part of my life. I've constructed a few cryptics (when all the papers in NYC were on strike for a long time and 'going cold turkey' without any puzzles was hard!), but they would not in any way be suitable for Cru or any publication. They were fun to do, though!
I taught middle-school math after our kids had grown past middle school and after I finished my MA. It lasted only about 10 years before I burned out rather badly. So I read a lot and solve any puzzle that comes into the house -- if I can.
BA Barnard, widow, recently (October 2001) moved to LA because my son and his family are here. Joined the NPL in 1990, and have found it a joy!
Married, two children, one dog. I own a small metal stamping company where we manufacture hinges, latches and fasteners.
i am actually terrible at making puzzles, but i do collaborate with constructors on a daily basis, albeit without their knowledge. i do an illustration to accompany the NYT puzzle(the blog is here- www.emilyjocureton.com/follies). i am not published but someday dream of quitting my job and crosswording full time.
Born in Boston, lived in Massachusetts until 1976, then moved to Los Angeles to attend USC graduate school. Have been in Los Angeles ever since. Still hoping for the Red Sox to win a world series in my lifetime (thus the Fenway part of my userid), but also root for the Boston Bruins, New England Patriots, and Boston Celtics. I also root for the Los Angeles Kings.
I also am an expert rated Scrabble Brand Crossword Game Player (and director of a Los Angeles club). Not all the words appearing in NYT puzzles are acceptable in Scrabble (R), but I do learn some useful words doing them.
I have been retired as a professor of astronomy since 1985. My special interest has been celestial mechanics (editor of "Celestial Mechanics" 1985-1989), a field dealing with motions of objects principally in the solar system: planets, natural and artifical satellites, asteroids, comets, spacecraft, etc. This led me to become involved with computers (beginning in 1948 when they were called punched card calculators). I was the first director of the Yale Computer Center (1956-1966) as well as the Triangle Universities Computation Center serving the University of North Carolina, Duke University, N.C. State University and other colleges and high schools in North Carolina by teleprocessing (1966-1970).
My wife is a long-time potter and we have six children, a son and five daughters and 10 grandchildren. My son is a psychiatrist and the other daughters are respectively a clinical psychologist, Social Worker, musician (cellist), housewife and musician (violist) and Social Worker (plays violin). My main hobby has been videography and I have been active in that area for the last 10 years.
I have been an avid cruciverbalist since I was a teenager and I also enjoy cryptic crosswords (but not acrostics). This is partly due to my interest in languages in general. I very much enjoy the discussions in the Forum as they add to the pleasure of doing puzzles. And - I also enjoy getting to cyber-know the very interesting participants in the Forum.
My crossword puzzle introduction occurred somewhere around '68-'69, when I was married to my second wife. Her mother was a devout NYT Sunday puzzle solver, cutting it out of the paper and attaching it to a clipboard, carting it around with her for the next week and working on it with passionate frustration and glee. She was adverse to using reference material, except for her crossword puzzle dictionary and asking anyone who she thought might have the answer. The learning value of crossword puzzles must never be underestimated. In one of those puzzles that I worked on with my ex-mother-in-law was the answer, "tintinnabulation" (clued, I believe, as "ringing"). That word has stuck in my mind all those years, yet I have never been able to work it into a sentence -- until now.
My third and present wife, Jane, and I live in a house we built in the boonies along the western slopes of the Cascades, in a small town called Morton. We've been here since '77, during which time I have run the employment gamut from designing and building log homes, to working in a couple of the local lumber sawmills, doing some "skidder-logging" with an old-time "gypo logger", performing service warranty and repair work for a "moblie" home outfit, serving a short stint as the Morton City Animal Control Officer (dogcatcher) and an eleven-year go at teaching Fine Art classes at a near-by college, Centralia Community. During that time we also raised Jane's daughter, Adriane, for whom we named our private road, Adriane Way, and from whom I acquired the moniker, "Papa" John.
After I lost my cushy college job to a Ph.D. (I hold a BFA in sculpture from California College of Arts and Crafts), I enrolled in a CAD program at a vocational school that usually provided drafters for Boeing. That was my first hand's-on experience with computers and I was hooked. The drafting education didn't pan out because Boeing dumped hundreds of drafters on the market two months before I finished the schooling, but I've maintained my fascination with PCs and, because of that, eventually found the NYT site and the Forum. So here I am…
Maybe I should have thought a little harder about a user name. "Cake" is just a word I love, "cakes" even better. Cakey? Who knew I'd be called that when I signed up. Feel free to use "Magnus Grande" or something more regal.
I was born in 1963 to a one-L lama and two-L llama, but was raised mostly by the llama and some wolves who were always hanging around. Soon after in 1995 I got a crossword puzzle published in the New York Times.
I am married to Margaret and am an at-home dad to a young daughter, Ava, born in November of 2000. I own a bar in NYC called No Idea. I get high on multi-word phrases and am often scolded for chasing pangrams. I only charge the Times $1 for my puzzles, and the savings are passed on directly to you! Enjoy!
Professional database engineer and lecturer based in New York, with research interests in relational theory, optimization, and database architecture design and automation.
Personal interests include physical fitness, music, social life, avant-garde and counter-culture literature, and, of course, cruciverbalism.
Affiliations include New York Rotary, Toastmasters, and New York University.
Currently a student at Wheaton College in MA. Published in the NYT and LA Times. More than puzzling, I'm a golf bum and carry my three handicap proudly.
Born in England, raised in Canada, a New Yorker since 1967, I love languages and devour books. Daily delivery of NYT has kept me a pen to paper solver, even to printing out the CRU adjuncts. I have lurked long enough. I love the forum for all the obvious reasons.
I find myself looking for the constructor's name on the puzzle know and groaning or rejoicing thereafter. Keep up the good constructing and debating.
I'm a hospital-based pathologist and laboratory director, with principle interests in tumor pathology and microbiology. I live in Palo Alto, CA (on the peninsula 35 miles south of San Francisco) and work at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, another 20 miles south. I'm married (25 years this December) to a very smart woman who would be much better at puzzles than me, if she gave it half a try. I have two sons: Peter is a junior at Stanford (just down the road) studying computer science, and Russ is a sophomore in High School, studying (but not enough)and playing soccer. Puzzles seem to be my dominant form of recreation these days, but I also play USTA team tennis and I try to swim laps 3 times a week. I love to cook (and it shows) and I have a barbecue that gets used all year long. I play trombone, tuba, and drums (alas, not simultaneously) and every November a group from the lab rises from the ashes, dusts off the instruments, learns some oldies, and plays at the lab Xmas party.
I have really enjoyed the interaction with the Cru over the past several years. Its been very instructional to be part of this 'cyber-community' and watch it evolve.
I am a Medical Technologist at Rome Hospital, working the night shift. I've been married since 1971 and our son and daughter are grown and out of the house. My late mother got me started doing crosswords when she used to call me with so many questions, I found it easier to solve as well as answer. Now I'm hooked and was so glad to be able to attend this year's ACPT.
I am an Engineer, retired from a career in property management and consulting engineering. I enjoy my daily fix of crosswords, as well as classical music, high end stereo systems and am learning watercolor painting. The forum is a constant pleasure to read although I am rarely moved to post anything. Getting stuck on a puzzle, which happens often, is usually resolved when the answer becomes available the next day. Those who have the patience and ability to construct these puzzles have my complete respect.
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area with my husband and two kids. I started out doing crosswords in college, when my roommate and I would fight over the puzzle on the back page of the TV Guide. I started doing the dailies in the S.F. Chronicle, which were FULL of crosswordese, and soon I discovered the brilliance of Merl Reagle, whose creations appeared in the magazine section each Sunday.
I never attempted the NYT puzzle until I got married and moved back to the East Bay - doing the Friday puzzle with my dad, Paul Nord, became a key component of our Shabbat observance.
Here's what a dedicated puzzler I am - one of the highlights of my life thus far was attending the Bay Area Crufest '05 last Sunday and getting to meet some of the great luminaries of the crossword world!
Lived in the Panama Canal Zone, California and New York before settling in New Jersey. After college, I married a career officer, became a military wife, helped raise a daughter, and worked as a management analyst. Semi-retired with my husband and working from home as financial consultants. Maleska puzzles introduced me to the New York Times crosswords. Besides puzzling, I'm a voracious reader who finds pleasure in computer games, Caribbean vacations, the stock market, riding my bike, playing my Gulbransen organ, and watching the Giants and Yankees play ball. My dream is to become part-owner of a baseball team. Life is great!
I was born and raised on Long Island and have lived in the L.A. area since 1983. Life is good and recent years have been the best. I was married in 2003, and my wife, Sylvie, and I have one son, Donovan, born 2005. Like so much else, I got into crosswords late in life, picking up the habit in my forties. Eventually I tried my hand at constructing and have had puzzles published in the N.Y. Times, N.Y. Sun, and L.A. Times. My favorite puzzles (to make or to solve) are the ones that aren't like anything else I've seen before. Thursdays are the highlight of the week for me, but each day has its own personality, its own pleasures. Other interests include a big passion for movies (a film noir buff, in particular), music, and sports.
Started doing crosswords in The Times Of India, switched to The New York Times in 1972. Psychiatrist, nearing retirement, married, two children.
I'm a soon-to-be-50 physicist/applied mathematician/computer guy, living in Silver Spring Maryland, which is a short distance from the Maryland-DC border. I was born and raised in NYC (Forest Hills) where I started doing the NYT crosswords-- on the subways; left town at 18 to go to college and graduate school. In grad school I discovered the pleasures of cryptic and diagramless puzzles (and got my degree). After grad school I did some post-graduate work in Minneapolis then got a job in the Washington area, where I've lived ever since. I'm now on the staff of the Johns Hopkins U. Applied Physics Laboratory. Most recent books read are "Ender's Game" and "My Dark Places". Most common comment on seeing my living room is "you've certainly got a lot of books". My friend Sherrie is certain, that, despite all and any claims to the contrary, I will do my taxes during the second week of April.
Bennington graduate, married with two children, daughter Julia graduated from Emerson College, and son Michael a sophomore at Virginia Commonwealth U. Returning to NYC, after 22 years in Springfield, VA., with my husband and two dachshunds. In former life, was a test cook/editor at Gourmet Magazine, and a choir member at Church of the Ascension, 10th St. and 5th Ave. Also once performed at Amato Opera. I Currently tutor children and young adults with learning disabilities, especially those having difficulty learning to read (anyone who know how I can get my practice off the ground in NY is welcome to throw suggestions my way).
I used to say I did all kinds of crosswords except diagramless ones, but this is no longer true.
Frequent lurker and very rare poster to the puzzle forum. Been solving crossword puzzles for about 12 years or so. Grew up in W. Orange, NJ but I've lived in the DC area since 1992. Father of two beautiful daughters, ages 3 and 8 months as of March 2002. I was thrilled when the NY Times started offering their puzzles online - I used to go to my local library and photocopy the Sunday puzzle every week, now I can do them from the comfort of my own computer. My years of doing crossword puzzles helped me greatly when I appeared on Jeopardy! in May 2000 (I unseated a 4 time champion and won 2 games)
Still hoping for a chance to tryout for Who Wants to be A Millionaire before it gets cancelled. I'm sometimes known as Danno or Book M. Danno to my friends.
A transplanted Easterner. After 30 years of growing up on the Atlantic seaboard and environs, and doing all the good things that that implies, I left the east-40 years ago-to settle and work in this little town(Los Alamos) . Never went-or wanted to go- back(except to visit) and have become quite provincial here in northern NM. Retired about five years ago after a wonderful time, 35 years, at the "bomb lab" here. My dear wife and homemaker and I(that's only two persons!) have debunked two myths about retirement. In fact, 1.) you actually need a LARGER-not smaller- house after retirement and, 2.) you'll never have the time to do all the things that there are to do! We go to bed later and rise earlier than when I worked-and still don't get it all done! In re: Crosswords. Have worked them as long as I can remember, notwithstanding that it was only a few short years ago that I learned that there was such a thing as a "rebus" puzzle! Not knowing that, I wonder how many did I give up on as unworkable!
NJ boy bringing poor driving skills and impatient attitude to a sleepy shoreline town in CT
Run a small biotechnology consulting company, which means I work from home and hotels across the country.
Been doing puzzles only for 3 years or so - takes a few days to do the Sunday puzzle, but hey, what better use of time on the throne?
Typically can do Thursday puzzles. Friday and Saturday puzzles have honed my google skills.
aspiring classical theater director from espana living in nyc
I live in a small town right next to State College, the home of the Nittany Lions. My husband and I moved here from Pittsburgh twelve years ago and are now retired. I started working the Sunday puzzles about five years ago and was lucky to find the Talk Forum last year and have been hooked not only on the puzzles, but the daily gab. Thanks to all of you for all the fun!
My name is Reisha Forstat (nickname is momcat but don't use it except when asked by the NYT. ) I live in East Lansing Mi (actually for the past 40 some years) home of Michigan State University. I have been doing crossword puzzles for more years than I can remember (I am 77 years old now. I like difficult puzzles and don't mind a little blood, sweat, tears, etc. I have no problem using reference material when I get stuck, since it is just adding to more store of knowledge. I always did the Sunday NYTimes, and used to go to the library and copy it, rather than buying the whole paper. Now I am so pleased to be able to get the daily and Sunday times for 9,95 a year. I also enjoy all of the extra puzzles that I find in the forums, and I enjoy reading the forum comments. I have been retired for some time now, and my pleasures in life are reading, doing word puzzles (I also belong to two Acrostic Network publications, and they are often much more difficult than any crossword puzzle.) I spend a lot of time on my computer and have just submitted my cat and his bio to <petoftheday.com> Thanks to all of the cru who provide extra puzzles, great comments and interesting information.
Retired electrical engineer living on Cape Cod. One wife, two children, three grandchildren, one cat.
I am an ophthalmologist and a mathematician with an electrical engineering undergraduate degree. I do puzzles out of guilt, and I do not use references out of fear that something VERY bad might happen.
I was ten when I started helping my mom with the Sunday Tribune puzzles. Not solving them, just getting her the dictionary. She had to look up a word one Sunday. I was pretty tall for ten, so I was asked to get the dictionary off the second to top shelf. On the top shelf of the shelving unit (constructed with brackets extending from the wall with boards across them -- really poor design I must say without admitting ANY fault) were 30 precious Hummels. The dictionary didn't quite make it all the way out, so I had to tilt the massive book to get it down, causing the top shelf with all of its belongings to crash and break.
It is this guilt, along with my mother's complaints that I wasn't taking enough liberal arts courses as an engineering student (??), that makes me do the puzzle. Memories of the poor helpless Hummels strewn around me (sometimes I can't sleep) prevent me from using references.
I am still recovering, but from time to time I actually enjoy solving the regular puzzles. I do prefer cryptic puzzles, though, because you don't need to know anything to solve them.
Born in upstate New York (in the 40's) and presently reside in Wellsville, NY. (90 miles south of Rochester) Retired from SUNY Alfred State College, where I taught Microbiology. I am very active in the local chapter of the American Red Cross. I am active in the hospital Auxiliary, also. My hobbies are golf, crosswords, surfing (Internet) not waves, wood crafting, village planning board, etc. (Enough to keep me out of trouble, I hope)
I started doing the NYTimes crosswords in the early 1980s. I did the puzzle every day until November 4, 2002. Then I had a stroke. I didn't do the puzzle for 4-5 months. My husband encouraged me to start again and at first I couldn't even complete a Monday puzzle. Now I can do Monday-Wednesday. Maybe someday I'll be able to complete a Thursday, Friday or Saturday. It takes me all day to do a Sunday puzzle.
Entertainment lawyer/producer based in New York City. I attended my first ACPT this year. My hobbies include dancing (ballroom and Argentine tango) and I was the Northeast Regional VP of USA Dance, which is the IOC- and IDSF-recognized governing body in the U.S. for competitive ballroom dancing. I'm also a FIDE International Arbiter (chess). Degrees from Penn Law, NYU (M.A., Philosophy) and Rutgers (A.B., Psychology).
Retired and moved from L.A. to S.F. Bay area in 1999; a constructor friend encouraged me to try my hand at making puzzles and I've had fun with that ever since.
Born Evanston. IL
Raised Madison, WI
BS - UW Madison 1985 (physics and math)
Married to Karen 1991
MS, M. Phil, PhD Columbia University 1986, 1988, 1993 (plasma physics)
First real job at age 30 at Culham Laboratory, UK
2 children Robert and James 1994 and 1996
Moved to New Jersey 1997
Hobbies: jogging, guitar, crosswords
Being a scientist takes most of my time. The rest if it is spent on my family, my house, and my hobbies. Started seriously doing crosswords about a year ago.
b.1934 Erie, Pa. Reside: Lowville, NY Retired school teacher. Two adult children. Three grandsons, ages 11,9,7. I like to travel; I write an opinion column for the local weekly titled "The Other Side Of the Coin" (I'm the token liberal.)
I am a World History teacher at a private high school in upstate New York. I teach the ninth and tenth grades. I am also the mother of five boys, no girls,and that is how I came to be Ruth5B (5 boys). I am rather new at crosswords but have always been a lover of all kinds of word games. I enjoy following the posts at the NYT Forum and find them entertaining and informative.
Native Long Islander who moved to Iowa in 1989. Had worked as software engineer from 1980 to 2001 when I was discarded. Made a career to insurance and financial sales, jury is still out on eventual success but looking a little dire at the moment.
2006 - Jury made emphatic decision. I’m now working on the staff of the Physics Department of the University of Iowa. Working in data analysis and applications development in project figuring out the mechanisms of the aurora. Fascinating job.
Got interested in crosswords when I saw my high school calculus teacher do the NY Times in the corridor during class switchover. Have enjoyed steady improvement over the years.
With the inspiration and encouragement of the wonderful CRU, I have been partnering in constructing, with Peter Abide for a 2002 debut in the Sun, then with Nancy Salomon for an LAT daily and a NYT Sunday debut. Nancy and I have an LAT Sunday and three NYT dailes confirmed, and there is an upcoming Sun with Myles Callum.
Originally from Brooklyn, where I picked up the NYT Sunday crossword bug from my dad, Morris Glickstein, I live in Woodacre, CA, not far north of San Francisco, with wonderful Audrey and her two cats who are growing on me. My claim to fame is that I invented "the miracle cure for stage fright" and wrote a book about it, "Be Heard Now!" (Broadway Books 1998). My current project is a video documentary: "Women Reclaiming Their Voices."
My interest in US-style crosswords started during an 8 year stint in the US. I have now moved back to India but I continue to solve (avidly) and construct (sporadically).I have had several puzzles published by Universal and LAT and one puzzle each in Games, washington Post (with Nancy Salomon) and the New York Sun.Am hoping to making it to the NYT one day. In my other life, I am a Pediatric Gastroenterologist and father of a five year-old boy and a one year-old girl.
Addicted to crosswords for 46 years now -- started as a teenager in NYC by my brother-in-law who, like me, used only a pen.
Grew up in Brooklyn, NY and earned BSEE from Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn (1961) and MSEE degrees at Northeastern University in Boston. Moved to Massachusetts in 1961 and been there ever since. Worked in industry for 15 years and then went back to Northeastern to teach Computer Engineering. Started consulting in 1971 in the Forensic Engineering area and formed David Lee & Associates. Retired from the University in 1997 and have been consulting ever since.
Hobbies are photography, ham radio (K2YOW), Scuba, and reading.
Addicted to crosswords for 30 years now -- ever since we moved to Connecticut and started getting the NYT home delivered.
Grew up in Northern Indiana, earned BSIE and MSIA degrees at Purdue, then moved to California to pursue PhD studies at Stanford. After a couple years on active duty in the Navy (Viet Nam) I began a career in marketing -- first at Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati, then Frito-Lay in Dallas and Playtex in NY/CT. Since 1979 I have had my own management consulting practice -- Dialogue Marketing Group, Inc., based in Westport, Connecticut -- with some of the best clients in the world. My wife of 38 years is a teaching tennis pro, and we have two sons, both of whom have now embarked on careers of their own and left us to enjoy our "empty nester" years (which we fully intend to do).
Interests and hobbies include computing/hacking (since 1961), reading, walking and sailing (British Virgins are a favorite).
A few years ago, I had my first book published as solo author -- "The Potato Chip Difference: How to apply leading edge marketing strategies to landing the job you want." (Feel free to check out the website at www.PotatoChipDifference.com)
Another book on management consulting was published in 2004. It's titled "Rasputin For Hire: An inside look at management consulting between jobs or as a second career." (Website is at www.RasputinForHire.com)
Longtime solver, exclusively NYT. Now trying, after years of thinking about it, to become a constructor.
I've been doing the NYT puzzles for almost 30 years starting with Will Weng then Eugene Maleska and now Will. Grew up in Fair Lawn, NJ. Commuted to HS in NYC at Regis, Mr. Maleska's alma mater, which probably gave me an unfair edge during his tenure. Certain clues were either so Jesuit or Regian that I wouldn't think twice about writing that answer in. Was chasing a BS in Bio-chem at Canisius in Buffalo until I put my right shoulder behind my right ear at Sugarbush, Vermont and took a LOA while passing to recover. Stayed on in the 'Queen City', living on Connecticut Street for a year and learned what being responsible truly was. Alas, reality bit me and I never went back.
As of today (May 3, 2000) I'm 45 years old, married to a wonderful lady, Diane, who, like I, was in no rush to get married but believed that when you do you actually mean "Until Death Do Us Part". (No, neither of us believe that a "Contract" is a legitimate way to fulfill the above.)
My "OFFICIAL" IQ is well above 150, but I take little stock in it. I've had friends that encouraged me to join MENSA, some to the point of annoyance, but they don't understand that you can enjoy what you are without declaring yourself "special". My favorite saying, to wit, is "Who is the bigger fool, the brick wall or the one that tries to argue with it?". A close second is "Common sense isn't!"
Currently I wish I had more time to just explore my computer. Back in the early 80's I worked for a theatrical sound company and by default became the in-house programmer. For those of you who can appreciate it, I was working on an S-100 bus with a Z-80 CPU, 64K, not MEG, of RAM and a 4M clock rate. Under those limitations I developed some pretty good rental inventory tracking software using a compiler developed by Bob Zale, from the Chicago area, called "Basic-Z".
My job title is "Stagehand". I'm steadily employed but, by choice, have had a wonderful variety of venues. Leaving out some early, HS year summer, jobs I've worked for; Madison Square Garden, the Metropolitan Opera House, Carnegie Hall, Masque Sound and Recording, Radio City Music Hall, ABC(particularly One Life to Live and Good Morning America), NBC, CBS, PBS and quite a few B'way houses. I also do 'one-shots' such as industrials for Allstate, Disney's Pocahontas in Central Park and the AIDS Dancethons at Javitts Center. I'm currently the second banana(carpenter) on the Queen Latifah Show which just went on summer hiatus so I'll be keeping busy at RCMH with the upcoming Daytime Emmys and the Tonys.
I got hooked on Sci-fi after my first Asimov book and recently 'discovered' Timothy Zahn. Also enjoy Ludlum and 'Spenser'. PADI certified SCUBA diver with no desire to 'test the limits'(read that "There are 2 types of heroes, dead ones and sandwiches"), I'd rather enjoy the view. For what its worth I'm not a bad cook, grilling a specialty, and depending on mutual work schedules do the laundry to the satisfaction of my wife. I had an FCC Advanced 'Ham' license which I let lapse some 28 years ago(I wouldn't lie on the renewal form as to having logged sufficient time on the air.)
Just a final note, my E-mail address local1lurch_at_msn.com and my NYT name thebiglurch come from my nickname "Da lurch" given to me (I'm 6'4") by a fellow stagehand Bill Beck and the local1 part is my union "Theatrical Protective Union, Local #1 IATSE(International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees).
I am a violist and flamenco dancer, with a penchant for puzzlemaking. New York City, my favorite city on the planet, is my home.
David Gottfried
david.gottfried
I first began to enjoy the NYT crossword puzzle over morning coffee and muffins with my then girlfriend (now wife) in the student union at Stanford University (Ph.D., Chemistry) during the late 1980s. I am returning to my daily practice after a long hiatus. My 6 year old daughter is a precocious reader and word lover, and soon I will introduce her to the joys of crossword puzzles.
I am employed as a Research Scientist at Georgia Tech.
P.S. An old high school friend runs a web-site, www.allwords.com, which is great for searching for answers.
I’m a semi-retired comuter guy who began working crossword puzzles in a Starbucks in early 2006. I never had time for such luxuries until after I lost my job in March, 2004 (actually I didn’t lose it, I stopped going to my desk every day when the company stopped paying me.) I took the rest of the year off to see what I had missed by working. It was a lot. I decided to travel to Sri Lanka and India for a month beginning Christmas 2006. I was sitting at the edge of the ocean in at the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka the day after Christmas when water started shooting up about forty feet in the air, much higher than the palms. My friend Lou went down to the water’s edge and the water started shooting up again and covered him with sand and debris. To make a long story short, that was us surviving the tsunami (no word for that kind of event in Sri Lanka in either Singhalese or Tamil.) When I got back to the States in February, I thought long and hard about what I wanted to do with my life. Early this year I decided that drinking a cappuccino and working a crossword or two at the local Starbucks was not such a bad thing to do. After all, is that so much less an accomplishment than having people buy lots of stuff they don’t need from a cable television channel? I think not.
I am back to working with a great Branding, Graphics and Interface Design team and I am back to designing computer software that people can use, learning all about my new Macintosh (which people should use,) and learning rapid computer development on Unix (which should only be done by a trained driver and should not be attempted at home.)
I am the world’s most boring guy... since I professed Islam in 2001 (a particularly bad year for such) I have stopped swearing, cursing, consuming alcohol and eating things with eyes (potatos excepted,) all of which I used to do to wretched excess. The world will probably never again see me in a bar dancing to pulsing rhythms whilst balancing a pint of beer on my head.
I’m still not particularly religious, but I do experience the unity of all that is.
I have one wife of nearly 30 years (having discarded a perfectly wonderful one a year before I met this one), have two daughters who are commited to being and doing good things with their lives. We are now on our third rescued dog, a particularly unruly cocker.
Though I was the Chief Technologist at a $5 billion company, my A.D.D. got the better of me in my younger years and I never made it though college... even at the University of Kentucky in the late 1960’s. Oh, well.
I also sell things on eBay.
Larry Grossman (aka Waldo)
grosswl
Semi-retired, part time ski instructor, former engineer and IT professional. Father of two wonderful children, both married (My daughter-in-law and son-in-law are wonderful as well)! One grandson and two granddaughters. I keep busy with golf, fly fishing, cooking, skiing and crosswords. Started doing the NYT regularly in 1991 and have been hooked ever since.
English professor in Maryland
Jenny Gutbezahl 
jennygutbezahl
City: Somerville MA (formerly the Paris of the 90s, now simply a suburb of Boston)
When not solving puzzles, I can generally be found performing with the improvisational troupe Kitsch in Sync, fighting economic injustice with United for a Fair Economy, helping organizations like NASA develop better educational programs, hosting a monthly salon at my home, or brewing beer.
(about my photo: this is probably the most crossword-grid-like article of clothing I've been photographed in)
I'm an editor and Web developer in the sciences, working these days on a project called Columbia Earthscape. On the side, I like to jog, visit museums and galleries, write about them for my personal Web site, and put off doing crossword puzzles.
Started working NYT crosswords in college in late 80's. Still have the first Monday I completed after months of attempting daily puzzles. Solved sporadically during my military years from 1990-95. Got reacquainted with the online version in early 1996 (then free) and solved the weekday puzzles with a friend which greatly improved my vocabulary and ability. Finally got brave enough to try Saturday and Sunday's in mid-1997. Love the computerization of puzzles and the crossword creator revolutionaries (Reagle especially).
Job--Database Computer Programmer
Outdoor Activities--Disc golf, mountain biking, wiffleball, racquetball, tennis, walking, etc.
Indoor Activities--Xwording, reading, beer sampling, ESPN.
Keeper of all things crossword at http://www.primate.wisc.edu/people/hamel/
Started doing crosswords during a long bout of mono when I was in HS in the late 50's. I graduated from the U of SD in 64. Went to Germany to work where I met my future husband who was serving in the US Army in Heidelberg. We have moved all around with his career and have been in Cinti for 17 years. I like to do 8 or 9 crosswords a day. My husband helps me with all the sports and history clues. I have appreciated the help that members of this forum have provided.
I've been doing NYT puzzles for almost half a century, having been bitten by the bug in college (MIT'56). I have achieved my lifelong ambition. I am now a retired architect, and busier than ever. I live only in beautiful places; Aspen, Colorado, for 20 years, then Santa Fe, New Mexico, for the next 11 years, and, since 1988 in Falls Church, Virginia.
II was born in Minnesota...raised mostly in Sioux Falls, SD (with a brief stop in Houston in my middle school years)...and went back to Minnesota for my postsecondary education (BA in political science with an economics minor from Gustavus Adolphus College, MA in public affairs from the Humphrey Institute at the U of M).
I’m a policy wonk by profession (9 years in Florida state government, now in the federal government with a hideously long commute to and from DC). I enjoy jazz, politics, European soccer, backgammon and crossword puzzles, among other things. I am happily married to the beautiful Sherrie (12 years and counting). I am also a budding songwriter and voiceover artist.
My mom (who I’m trying to get to Stamford one of these years) fostered my interest in crossword puzzles at an early age, but only late in 2005 did I seriously try to become a speedsolver. I debuted in Stamford in 2006 and finished 178th...and I aim to better that ranking in 2007. I enjoyed Stamford even more for the camaraderie, which is the best reason to go even for the highly competitive.
Proud resident of “The People’s Republic” across the river from Boston; techno-gadget junkie; online community organizer; small-time (though published) composer; lucky to share the crossword obsession with my other half.
Born & raised in Houston, Texas. Other places lived: Prairie View, TX, Taft, California, Princeton, NJ, New Haven CT, Pittsburgh, PA, New Orleans, LA, Amman, Jordan, Edinburgh, Scotland, East Chicago, IN. I'm now an engineering professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. My wife and I go head-to-head on the puzzles. She wins around 90% of the time. I love diagramless. I like cryptics.
I do software stuff for a living, but have many passions. I am serious about eating and cooking, and am proud that I can confidently order a meal in a hole-in-the-wall in over 50 countries on any continent. (I'm fudging on Antarctica.) I garden, and Elaine and I have studied ikebana for 15 years and are certified as Rank Novice, 7th Degree. Alex is about to enter high school but we're coping.
Husband, father, proud grandfather to two bright, athletic and lovely girls. USMC veteran (no such thing as an EX-Marine). Risk Management and Business Writing consultant. Gym rat with two bad knees. Into genealogy, good fiction, and Cubs baseball. I've been doing NYT daily abd weekends for 20+ years, online for four.
My life has been divided almost exactly in half to this point, having been born, reared and educated in Boston during the first half and having married, established a home and career, and had a family in San Francisco during the second.
I'm a career teacher of English (secondary, public) who veered off to teach/consult in the private sector when Silicon Valley boomed and a host of foreign "guest workers" arrived who needed an English language boost.
Now, in semi-retirement, I'm trying something new. My website explains it. (no, it's not Amway!)
I love to travel and my pharmacist/husband shares the travel bug and accompanies me as his schedule permits. We've visited destinations on 5 continents and never tire of new places, new people.
Oh, and we're avid skiers, too.
I've been a crossword solver since childhood and always had a fascination with the idea of constructing puzzles, but never seriously attempted to have them published until 1999, when I discovered the Cruciverb-l website, AcrossLite, and Crossword Compiler. At that time I contacted Nancy Salomon, and she has given me wonderful mentoring. I have had puzzles published in New York Times, LA Times, and Universal. At present (February 2003) several are confirmed and pending in New York Sun and Washington Post.
Professionally, I am a pathologist practicing in Cape Girardeau, MO. My wife is Fran, and we have three grown daughters.
I grew up in Stafford, KS, and Grand Junction, CO. I attended Wheaton College (BS 1962) and Columbia University (MD 1966). During residency training and army years I had the opportunity to live for a few years each in Cooperstown, Boston, San Antonio, and Los Angeles, and then in Stockton,CA, for nearly 20 years before moving to Missouri in 1993.
My other interests include gardening and playing piano and keyboard, primarily in a church praise-and-worship group.
I will be attending ACPT as a rookie this year (2003).
I've always liked puzzles, but a teacher got me addicted to solving crosswords in particular in late 1998. A few months later, I decided on a total whim to try my hand at constructing. I loved it, and after gradual improvement of my skills and three failed attempts, I was published in the New York Times on July 4, 2000. I've been published in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Tribune Media Services, GAMES, GAMES World of Crosswords, TalkTeens/OutLoud, and my high school newspaper, the TASIS Echo. I now contribute a regular puzzle to Statler & Waldorf, a variety publication here at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Only CRU member who both contra dances and plays beach paddle tennis but not at the same time.
Mitchell Hochman
Mitchhochman2
Avid cruciverbalist, NY Mets fan and Deadhead! Owned a restaurant in Bar Harbor, Maine (Ryan's/Trattoria d'Acadia) for 20 years.
I started puzzling as a child -- nobody else in the family did puzzles, so I can't explain why I did. I hit my stride the summer of '67, when I commuted to NYC by ferry and did the NYT puzzle shoulder to shoulder with others (never peeking). The goal was to finish before docking in Lower Manhattan (14 minutes). I wrote a few puzzles for my college newspaper, but not since. I married a guy who only does crostics, which left the Sunday puzzle for me to do alone, but since I'm now doing the puzzles on-line, he's started working on Sunday in the magazine. He accompanied me to my debut at Stamford, but only to carry the trophies <g>. My son is pretty good, but prefers logic puzzles and cross sums. He has started to do the Philadelphia Inquirer puzzle -- but I still can't talk him into coming to Stamford -- too nerdy for his coolness. Now that I've won the "C" finals in my rookie year, I'll be insufferable. When not solving puzzles, I work as an employee benefits lawyer.
SWF, young-at-heart grandmother, loves walks on deserted beaches, roadtripping, stormy nights by a fire, music, sleeping under the stars, and hikes to high places with spectacular mountain vistas. Reads mysteries, solves and writes cryptic crosswords. Seeks friendships with like-minded cryptic puzzlers, possible LTR by email and occasional lunches and dinners in far-flung locations.
Since I've just submitted my first Cru cryptic puzzle (#132), I guess it's only fair to say something about myself. Vital stats -- 55 year old divorced mom and mom-in-law, semiretired physicist, prefers crosswords to TV so mine is still in storage (where it's been for the past 4 years) -- can't figure out whether the period goes inside or outside the quotation mark, so use dashes instead -- which is symbolic of much of my approach to life. [But not science!] Favorite activities: doing puzzles of all sorts, gardening the part of my few acres that isn't too steep to work, and joining with friends and neighbors to play bluegrass -- we've got some of the best bluegrass I've ever heard, right here.
When we visited my grandparents when I was little, I used to do the "Easy" and "Medium" puzzles in the Dell crossword magazine to which they subscribed. About a year ago (Spring of 03), I started solving crosswords more seriously, doing them just about every day. You all may know my dad, Marty Howard (m_l_howard). My little sister also does puzzles, though they're mostly Mondays. I am a college student aspiring to reach grad school one day with a PhD in Psychology. My other passions are cryptics, good music (Phish, Radiohead, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin), playing violin, piano and guitar, knitting and crocheting blankets, sweaters, hats, scarves and the like, philosophy, political activism, and otherwise educating myself.
I'm a retired art director/illustrator and, now, painter. I was hooked for years on the 'standard' NYT puzzles, until I discovered the Cryptic Crossword. After some hard lessons, I began to ?get it? and now I am hooked on cryptics. Love to solve every cryptic crossword I can get my hands on, and create a cryptic clue now and then, on the Cru Cryptic Workshop, or wherever. I have the GREATEST respect for the wit and wisdom of Cox & Rathvon and others who create the cryptics.
I collect cheap ukuleles, and play a little. Sometimes brew a good pale ale, and drink a little. I attended William Jewell College in Liberty, MO and the KC Art institute, and studied a little.
I was born in Chicago in 1950 and have been doing puzzles since a teenager. I spent a year at USC before moving to Italy with my parents in 1969. I learned Italian, did Italian crosswords, graduated high school for a second time, got a job programming and stayed there until 1975. I moved back to Chicago where I still am (northwest suburbs actually.)
I'm a single father raising three kids, two of whom are really into puzzles. My son, the youngest, and the one who doesn't care about puzzles, helps keeps me physically active with marathon ping-pong sessions.
My main hobby outside of puzzling is road rallying. Two kinds: time-speed-distance and gimmick. Gimmick rallies are like word puzzles on wheels. If anyone's interested in learning more about them, email me.
I discovered the Forum late summer 2001 and have been addicted to it ever since. I've never gotten interested in chat rooms because you can't get into much detail there. I find the format of the Forum enjoyable and stimulating because the people who contribute are all so witty and intelligent.
Graduated from Penn St. in 1987 as a metallurgical engineer. Married since 1991 to Gina, with two boys Jimmy and Tommy. We've been in Lynchburg, VA since 1997. I have been working NYT puzzles since I can remember, and I enjoy Thurs-Sat puzzles and the second Sunday puzzle (I wish there was a P&A every week!). I began constructing 15x15 puzzles this year and have had a few accepted for publication, which was quite a thrill especially for my Dad, who has been an avid solver for many many years. I really admire the work of Mel Taub, Dr. Manny, Frank Longo, Trip Payne, BEQ, and Tyler Hinman (there's others but I can't think of them right now!). Of course, Will Shortz is the greatest.
Born in 1978, I've lived in Parsippany, New Jersey all my life, except for the years I spent at Charlottesville, Virginia at the University of Virginia. I'm a computer geek, an amateur jazz pianist, a television junkie, and an avid baseball fan. My favorite constructor is Elizabeth Gorski, who both challenges and amuses me with her puzzles...which is why I solve NYT crosswords. My favorite crossword partner is my mother, who first got me interested with puzzles when I was young(er).
Born in Brooklyn, NY. (Mis)spent most of my youth on the south shore of Long Island. Undergraduate degree from Hofstra College and graduate degree in biostatistics from Columbia Univ (1957). I was exposed to the Sunday NYT puzzle at my first professional job in a genetics lab where every Monday morning we research assistants would be greeted by the Lab Director with questions such as: “Did you finish the puzzle?” or “What did you get for 20D?” We learned to try to do the puzzle out of self-defense.
Got away from the Times during a long career in Washington DC but relocated to Phoenix upon retirement, where the Arizona Republic publishes the NYT Sunday Puzzle with a one week delay, resulting in my getting hooked again, but I much prefer the Across Lite format.
I toyed with the puzzle in high school, was sufficiently serious about it in college (Cornell '79) that when I came home for breaks, my mother and I would fight over the paper and finally ordered two copies. After a decade or so I lost interest, then came back to the fold when I found the on-line version about a year ago. I'm rapidly developing an interest in Acrostics.
My best crossword memory: in the early '80's I was on Amtrak going from DC to NYC (or vice versa, not sure which). I was sitting next to a man headed for Delaware who was doing Cryptics. We started chatting, found out that we both were Cornellians, then talked about puzzles. I told him that Cryptics were completely baffling to me and seemed to be written in another language. We spent the next hour or two doing the puzzles in his book together. He explained each kind of clue and I stuttered through the answers. Whatever your name was, if you're a Cru member, say hello.
When I'm not doing puzzles, I'm a litigator. My husband and I live in Manhattan and have two daughters in elementary school.
Defense Civil Service job pays the bills and funds a string of 10 consecutive years with 2 or 3 kids in college simultaneously, while permitting me to indulge in solving, constructing, editing, and publishing crosswords. Responsible for the infamous "XXX" puzzle, which led to forming my small concern, InteractiveCrosswords. First accepted by NYT, but first published on April 1, 2003 in the NY Sun ("Fool's Errand" with Mark Diehl). Have also appeared with Nancy Salomon in Simon&Schuster #235, and with my son Jimbo in the NYT on Saturday January 3, 2004, a puzzle Will Shortz described as "perhaps the hardest puzzle I've published in my ten years as the NYT Crossword Editor." Have just completed publishing "Banned Crosswords" in February 2005; not exactly available in stores, if ya know what I mean, but you can find more about it at www[dot]bannedcrosswords[dot]com.
Zach Jesse was born September 1st, 1984 in the quaint town of Richmond VA and recently had his NYT debut on Jan 19th 2004. Zach has been solving crosswords for some time, but has only recently tried his hand at creating them.
In non-cruciverbal endevors, Zach is a Drama/Physics double major at the university of Virginia where he also starts for the school's rugby team. As a thespian, Zach has appeared in lead role in such shows as "Hello, Dolly!" (Horace Vandergelder) and "Much Ado About Nothing" (Leonato), however, most notably he recently appeared in a movie entitled "Living the Lie" starring none other than Jon Bon Jovi. Although Zach had no speaking parts, critics have praised what has been come to known as "The Zach Taking a Big Bite of a Biscuit Scene". He is currently involved in a play entitled "The Virtuous Burglar" by Dario Fo.
In his (little) spare time, Zach earns money by waiting tables and writing hip-hop/rap beats as well as pandering to his high-maintainence girl friend.
Interested in contacting Zach? Feel free! Choose from either e-mail or Instant Message his handle: ZoochZ.
Born in 1963, the year Kennedy was shot, I've spent most of my life in the Boston area, with occasional sojourns to Europe, where I like to improve my French and Italian.
My hobby growing up was doing magic, especially card tricks. I wanted to be an architect until I saw that the reality is unlike what I romantically imagined. I've taught high school mathematics and am currently a textbook editor for Houghton Mifflin, a Boston-based publisher.
A current craze in my life right now is solving cryptic crosswords and writing cryptic crossword clues in the rec.puzzles.crosswords newsgroup. I have also recently joined the National Puzzlers' League, adopting the nom de plume XYZZY.
You can see a photograph of me or my online résumé at my website. Another one of my recent interests is web design and HTML coding, so if you have any questions about achieving various effects in your posts to the NYT forums, feel free to ask me.
Maybe the oldest Cru member. I’ve been enjoying doing puzzles since the 40’s!! - in ink as instructed by my father. Amaze myself with the bits of information that are drawn forth from this old brain from time to time to solve some obscure clues.
My 4 children, 8 grandchildren,music, watercolor and lots of reading keep me otherwise occupied. Plus of course visiting with my Cru “friends”.
Born in '65 I'm a lifelong resident of NC and currently live in Durham. I'm happily married and have two delightful young daughters at home. I taught in Durham public schools for ten years, the last six teaching psychology, which was an amazing experience. I now work at my alma mater, the North Carolina School of Science and Math, helping to develop technology workshops for teachers in low-wealth areas of the state.
I've always loved puzzles, and remember eagerly awaiting the issues of GAMES mag when it first came out. I've regularly done the NYT daily puzzles for the past couple of years, and I recently became a contstructor. My first puzzle was published in the NYT on May 1, 2002. I'm also a big sports fan, with my favorites being the Reds, Tar Heels and just recently the Hurricanes
I have been a NYT puzzle solver for more than 30 years, but just recently have become interested in construction, especially in the cryptic arena. I am (really, was) a litigating attorney by profession, with a practice specializing in intellectual property, antitrust, and complex commercial matters on a nationwide basis. Full disclosure requires me to state that I have in the past represented the New York Times, as well as NBC and other media clients. Sometimes I have found those representations puzzling as well.
My wife (a non-puzzler) and I live in New York City. I became partially disabled (spine and legs) about five years ago, and while ambulation is no longer my strong suit, forcing my retirement from legal practice, we manage a rich, productive and fulfilling life-style in the Big Apple.
Part-time constructor whose puzzles have appeared in the New York Times, the Games Magazine publications, Newsday, Dell, the Uptown Puzzle Club and other venues. "Real" job is advertising sales and layout artist for hometown newspaper.
Solver since about 1998; roughly coincident with the introduction of the Weekend Journal and the puzzle there, since moved to the NYT ones as well. I am a passionate sailor, avid runner, former PhD candidate in philosophy, currently in Montana but will probably head back to a coast in the not too distant future. Hope to construct and publish this year!
Frequent (but not great) solver, began constructing in early 2003 as a way to improve my solving skills. Now published in NYT, NYS, LAT, GAMES, etc. Still not a great solver! Married, 3 kids, recently retired from Microsoft, living in Redmond Wa.
I'm a Middle School teacher from the Northwest who inherited the crossword-puzzle gene from my mother. I was a third-time participant at Stamford '06. I've been following the forum since that first trip to the tournament. I enjoy the Times weekly puzzle progressions, starting out pretty smoothly, but later in the week developing fearsome complexities and generating a lot of commentary -- it's like a week with my seventh-graders.
(Bio last updated January 1, 2004)
I am a computer geek (I graduated with a degree in April 2001), puzzle geek, and garden variety geek to varying degrees. Since I last updated my cru bio, I have had over 20 crosswords published (during the calendar year 2003). I have also had my fingers in a number of other puzzle pies including Cru Cryptics, the World Puzzle Championships (so far as a constructor only, not as a solver), and even some play-testing. I am also now the crossword constructor for The Walrus, a Canadian magazine similar in tone and intent to Harper's and the Atlantic Monthly. I am also finally a premium diversions subscriber (thanks to a thoughtful and unexpected Christmas present) rather than merely a forum freeloader.
I enjoy friendly banter, going out for coffee with friends, sports (when people let me play) and games of a wide variety, pushing the envelope (constructing-wise, ideas permitting), and getting up on the cru soapbox every now and again. I can be a real tease, and I would rather be happy than rich although I have nothing against being both. E-mail correspondence is welcome, although when life gets busy I tend to be hit-or-miss about responding.
That's enough about me. What about you?
Jazz Musician, Cryptic Clue Solver, Good Samaritan, Adoring Grandfather, Real Estate Lawyer (not in any particular order). Ardent admirer of Cox & Rathvon, Pam Wylder, Bob Stigger, Bob Van Langen, Marg Hoglund, Craig Fowler, Heidi Schroeder, Jon Delfin and others whose names escape me because I can only remember so much at my age.
I am by profession a tax lawyer, by avocation a lover of music, travel, food and words. I am an amateur pianist (I play lots of 4-hand arrangements with friends) and an amateur conductor, very involved with our Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. Once a year I hire the Symphony, we invite all of our friends and I conduct a whole concert. (In November it will be, among other things, the Samuel Barber First Symphony.) I am also a software author, Tiger Tables Actuarial Software: www.tigertables.com. My wife Cheryl is a scientist at Washington University Medical School. We have one daughter, Nina, age 11.
I've been constructing crosswords since 1998 and have had puzzles published in Dell, Games, LA Times, and NY Times. I'm married with three daughters and four Australian cattle dogs. My husband and I own a plumbing business, and I also work in an animal hospital.
My subscriber id comes from the fact that everyone who hears me say my name assumes that it's spelled "Kafka," as in Franz. I've since decided that the phenomenon of constantly being mistaken for a descendant of a famous writer is Kavkaesque.
When I'm not doing puzzles, I'm teaching (Jewish studies and philosophy of religion), writing, reading, and other sundry intellectual things ... like watching VH1 Classic or the Game Show Network.
I have puzzled on and off since junior high in the late 1960s; these days I enjoy Friday/Saturday and an occasional cryptic. Hobbies include wine and Opera. Otherwise, I ponder what's going on economically in the U.S., Europe and Japan.
I'm an 18-year-old puzzle constructor currently attending college in Boston, MA. My first book, "Funny Cryptograms", was published in 2003. My stuff has been used by Games Magazine, the World Puzzle Championships, a local game show, National Public Radio, Tribune Media Services, and Puzzlement Online.
Retired USAF and then retired again from Boeing at Kennedy Space Center. Play jazz trombone on the side (Dixi
