On behalf of mctext ….

Author   petebiddlecombePosted on Categories Announcement
A couple of questions e-mailed to me by mctext, who can’t yet post here (I suspect he’ll be on the staff one day).

If you want to reply personally, I suggest using the private message link on his User Profile page (if you have a LiveJournal account)

1. Are there any TftT regulars who use Macs?
I’d like to be in contact with them about (a) Mac crossword software and (b) the vagaries of accessing the Times Online puzzles via the various Mac browsers (Safari, Camino, Opera, Firefox, etc.).
This could be useful for all of us in this situation.
I could also share my UKMAC crossword lexicon with them: built up over several years of Times and Guardian solving and the odd bit of composing.

2. How do people regularly access the TftT site?
My method is to tab-bookmark this URL:
http://community.livejournal.com/times_xwd_times/calendar
At that point I have a look around for what might I want to look back at, then click on the “View Subjects” link for the current month.
The resultant page shows what’s currently up and going.
So I leave this page open and refresh it from time to time to see if the day’s blog is there.

10 comments on “On behalf of mctext ….”

  1. In response to number 2, I have a very lazy method – just use my browser’s history list to open the default view with the latest blogs shown. But this is always AFTER solving today’s puzzle. I would push the calendar and subject views harder as tools to use if I could find a way to get the months and subjects listed showing the most recent first, instead of the oldest. (And yes I have reported this issue to LJ).
  3. Peter,
    Thanks for doing that — and hope the hols went well.
    1. If I get PMs from Mac users, I will, of course, be happy to send on my email address for easier access.
    2. The Calendar/View Subjects method is probably a hang-over from doing the Times in The Australian which is about 6 weeks behind current publication dates. But it has its positive merits.

  4. I use the same link that penfold put in his comment. I have had no problem posting comments to the page using a Mac, but I have not solved the crossword online using one. I have posted to the forum using linux.
  5. Same URL as penfold and glheard and have solved and submitted online with a Mac with no difficulties.
  6. I too use the link referenced above, and only after completing the crossword.
    I don’t use a Mac but I do use Firefox. I have found that if you play around with the font options (tools/options/content/fonts) a little it will print out the daily cryptic quite neatly on one page, with the grid the right size. Mine is set for Tahoma 20pt. If it spills onto a second page I use print preview to reduce it a little
  7. Greetings from Syracuse, NY, USA!

    26A: I’ll bet on OUTDO (cap); TD = Teachta Dála, member of Dáil Éireann.

    Anyway, glheard wrote: “I wonder if I’m the only one struggling with this one? I don’t recall seeing wordplay like that in 6 across in the Times before, nor a lot of clues that need some real unravelling to see the wordplay, such as 20 down.”

    You’re not the only one. Six or seven weeks ago there was a discernible change … deeper wordplay, more obscure references, more complex constructions (or maybe I’m just losing it).

    I’m curious about how the Times puzzles come to exist. I know nothing of the process. You speak of “setters” (?). Are they a select group, or merely those who submit puzzles? A note on the whole process would be appreciated.

    1. For comments specifically on 24327, you should really use the posting on that puzzle – http://community.livejournal.com/times_xwd_times/453489.html (TD is right, as already noted there)

      I’m wary of conclusions about “discernible changes” in the puzzle’s general style – different people seem to see different trends. There have been quite a few tricky puzzles lately but that’s happened before, and then we’ve had an easier patch.

      “Setter” is the British equivalent of “constructor” as what they generally call themselves. The general public more often calls them “crossword compilers”, but this doesn’t quite suggest the right amount of creativity.

      The setters of Times crosswords are a select group rather than anyone whose sent-in puzzle is accepted, as at the New York Times. I believe setters get into this group either by being published elsewhere and impressing the Times editor enough to be invited to join the Times team, or by submitting a portfolio of puzzles published elsewhere and/or new ones intended to be suitable for the Times. There are usually about fifteen people on the Times setting team, ranging from new recruits who might get about four slots a year to experienced regulars who appear about once a fortnight.

      The system for the other UK “broadsheet” cryptics is much the same. The main difference at the Times is the extent to which the Times xwd editor will amend clues to achieve a “house style”. Based on very limited knowledge of the eiditorial process it seems that typically, 10-20 of the clues in a puzzle might have been changed by the editor in some way. At the other papers, the clues seem to be changed much less often.

      1. Thanks for the explanation of how the Times puzzles come to be. Indeed, I had the NYTimes in mind.
        It was my first post. I realized my mistake of not replying in the correct place almost immediately..
        – Vince

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