tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post572161331222408691..comments2024-03-28T22:14:27.877-05:00Comments on L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Interview with Doug PetersonZhouqin (C.C.) Burnikelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12750267554729853785noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-91446335785347503902009-04-29T17:20:00.000-05:002009-04-29T17:20:00.000-05:00Thanks Doug. I ordered it when I saw your recomme...Thanks Doug. I ordered it when I saw your recommendation on the same site where you mentioned the other book. I think it was the LAT Confidential site, but I am not sure now.<br />At this point, I really don't know squat about puzzle construction. That didn't stop me from enjoying your puzzle, though. I did recently get a copy of the CROSSDOWN program. Between that and a few books, I should be able to get a basic handle on it.<br />Thanks for the reply.Auntie Naomihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17676091081670473598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-1879327254911573342009-04-29T15:32:00.000-05:002009-04-29T15:32:00.000-05:00@Linda- Most crossword constructors have a backgro...@Linda- Most crossword constructors have a background in math or music. I enjoy words a lot more than numbers, so maybe that's how I got into puzzling.<br /><br />@Lemonade714- My working title for this puzzle was "Now You're Cooking." I like almost any kind of metal with clean vocals. I'm not into the death growls.<br /><br />@PromiseMeThis- Wow, nice detective work! Sadly, the "Random House Puzzlemaker's Handbook" has been out of print for quite some time. But if you're at all interested in construction, you should pick up "Crossword Puzzle Challenges for Dummies" by Patrick Berry. Don't let the title fool you. This is the best book on the market for aspiring constructors. And it also contains 70 original Patrick Berry puzzles: pure crossword gold!Doug Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04235359276440866774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-40308033007324286232009-04-29T15:15:00.000-05:002009-04-29T15:15:00.000-05:00WOW! Great interview. I went to high school in G...WOW! Great interview. I went to high school in Great Falls with a kid named Doug Peterson. He was a year younger than me and I was good friends with his brother, John, who was a year older than me. Naturally, I couldn't help wonder if this was the same Doug Peterson. After much googling, I managed to discover that Doug Peterson of XW puzzle fame is from Billings. I also discovered that he had suggested to Dan Naddor that MONTANA BILLINGS might have been included in Mr. Naddor's crossword from March 24th. I swear I had not run across that information when I suggested that also. In fact, I found out about that on the LAT Confidential site which I was unaware of back then.<br />Doug, I also looked up the <I>Random House Puzzlemaker's Handbook</I> on Amazon. It is out of print and some people are trying to sell used copies for over $80. That sucks! They should be bound with piano wire and forced to listen to Zamfir records.<br />p.s. 'Ape wrestling' is fun.Auntie Naomihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17676091081670473598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-47498505937433231392009-04-29T13:47:00.000-05:002009-04-29T13:47:00.000-05:00Mr. P.
BTW, what was your title for this puzzle; ...Mr. P.<br /><br />BTW, what was your title for this puzzle; while we understand the concept, I am curious how you phrased it.<br /><br />Thank you.Lemonade714https://www.blogger.com/profile/13642909374639570868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-70850583589950102542009-04-29T13:17:00.000-05:002009-04-29T13:17:00.000-05:00C.C.,
I thought I mentioned that one of my incarn...C.C.,<br /><br />I thought I mentioned that one of my incarnations is as a rock and roll lawyer; back when I was younger, traveling on a tour bus was my vacation from trial work. I still do work for bands, <I>Blackfoot</I> being the most active. <br /><br />I like much metal, my youngest plays lead guitar in FDR & the HUGUENOTS. I am always interested what people classify as Metal, as I do not care much for thrash.Lemonade714https://www.blogger.com/profile/13642909374639570868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-80277342434154026262009-04-29T13:05:00.000-05:002009-04-29T13:05:00.000-05:00Another great interview and it certainly helps to ...Another great interview and it certainly helps to know more about the construction process...No heavy netal for me, my Music is Muse is classical.<br /><br />I remember the Cruciverbalist puzzle and that I had great fun doing it and finding the puzzle-making clues.<br /><br />Doug...I will definitely be looking forward to more of your puzzles...this one was right up my alley with the food prep theme. <br /><br />Thanks to both Doug and C.C. for the insight.WMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02840615580631001361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-73068558237316089772009-04-29T12:17:00.000-05:002009-04-29T12:17:00.000-05:00DP: At the risk of showing my age, heavy metal wil...DP: At the risk of showing my age, heavy metal will be 'relaxing' when pigs fly! I can listen to it...but it doesn`t relax me...I like to walk to it...energizing.<br /><br />I am constantly amazed when I find out "new", constructor rules...are they printed in a book somewhere or simply "understood?" If you`re a numbers cruncher, how is it you do so well with words? Such skills are often mutually exclusive.<br /><br />Good interview...the erudite <I> questions</I> always help.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06457316489674295230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-42601071627252299252009-04-29T11:29:00.000-05:002009-04-29T11:29:00.000-05:00"Maybe every themeless puzzle has a hidden theme l...<I>"Maybe every themeless puzzle has a hidden theme lurking below the surface."</I>Hmmm, I think Doug Peterson's comment will send most of us around the bend trying to figure out when a theme is lurking in one of those "themeless" puzzles. ;o)<br /><br />Thanks to both of you for another interesting interview.Clear Ayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14463641770718104835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-75371129130028787912009-04-29T11:02:00.000-05:002009-04-29T11:02:00.000-05:00@Anonymous,
Thanks for the clarification. I didn...@Anonymous,<br /><br />Thanks for the clarification. I didn't read C.C.'s post carefully enough. If I need an attorney, I'll go to Lemonade714, the Headbanging Lawyer! :)Doug Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04235359276440866774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-72822093259518591702009-04-29T10:41:00.000-05:002009-04-29T10:41:00.000-05:00@ Doug P., Lemonade714 is a lawyer.@ Doug P., Lemonade714 is a lawyer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-58933923191062904652009-04-29T10:13:00.000-05:002009-04-29T10:13:00.000-05:00@C.C.: Thanks again for interviewing me. One corr...@C.C.: Thanks again for interviewing me. One correction: I'm not a lawyer. You must be thinking of Alan Olschwang. I work at a small accounting firm, which is even more boring. :)<br /><br />@Lemonade714: No, it's not possible to change a themeless puzzle into a themed puzzle by changing the clues. Before you do anything else, you have to come up with the theme entries. Then you build the grid around them. But sometimes solvers will find "themes" in themeless puzzles by making connections between entries. Maybe every themeless puzzle has a hidden theme lurking below the surface.<br /><br />@Fred: I'll send you an email later today.<br /><br />Thanks for the kind words, everybody!Doug Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04235359276440866774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-9518434668154520872009-04-29T10:06:00.000-05:002009-04-29T10:06:00.000-05:00Doug:
Excellent interview. I've noticed that const...Doug:<br />Excellent interview. I've noticed that constructors who enjoy filling in the grid more than creating clues also generally design the greatest grids and you are no exception. Your grids are above average and today's puzzle is no exception. I thought the grid fill was VERY well done with lots of great words with little used letter combinations.<br /><br />I also noticed you sell regularly to NEWSDAY. I'm very interested in breaking into that market and I have some business questions for you concerning it. Please e-mail me at: frejac3@hotmail.com and I will e-mail you back privately with the questions.Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14376277682993763836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-91678143369826899582009-04-29T09:31:00.000-05:002009-04-29T09:31:00.000-05:00Nice interview C.C. I agree with Crockett 1947 ab...Nice interview C.C. I agree with Crockett 1947 about the heavy metal music, but different strokes for different folks.<br /><br />Doug seems like a very interesting person.Dickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12486268207040292639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-26151954689733250992009-04-29T09:14:00.000-05:002009-04-29T09:14:00.000-05:00Thank you for the interview. That was a surprising...Thank you for the interview. That was a surprising answer to the last question. Relaxing? Not for this guy!Crockett1947https://www.blogger.com/profile/06404431645533093707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-78452105943324641452009-04-29T08:37:00.000-05:002009-04-29T08:37:00.000-05:00As always, interesting interview. Now I want to f...As always, interesting interview. Now I want to find that link to the constructors and have another look at this heavy metal fan!kaziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06761801803016465459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-88164600878510846652009-04-29T08:06:00.000-05:002009-04-29T08:06:00.000-05:00If you met Doug, the first phrase that popped into...If you met Doug, the first phrase that popped into your head would not be "loud heavy metal," I assure you.<br /><br />If I had to nominate a Most Underrated Constructor, I would nominate him. His Newsday Saturdays are wonderful.<br /><br />rpRex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-16591676612468198212009-04-29T07:54:00.000-05:002009-04-29T07:54:00.000-05:00Terrific interview - always enjoying reading more ...Terrific interview - always enjoying reading more about these constructors, why they do it and how they make it happen. Interesting Doug likes doing the grid and sometimes puts off the clues for days. I can see how it must be tough to find ways to reclue the same words that crop up frequently but he does a great job with it.<br />CC - thanks for continuing to provide us such informative and fascinating looks at the 'innards' on xword constructors.SandbridgeKarenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05096939536359849556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-3455373164072931792009-04-29T07:32:00.000-05:002009-04-29T07:32:00.000-05:00Lemonade,
Surprising! Surprising! A lawyer loves h...Lemonade,<br />Surprising! Surprising! A lawyer loves heavy metal music. A themed puzzle can be converted into a themeless, you would think. Not the other way around. Would be interested in hearing from Doug.<br /><br />Dennis,<br />Doug's productivity is extraordinary, that's why I asked him the writer's block question. Now I understand why he is great at Saturday themeless Stumper. The Theme Muse does not visit him often. I should have asked Barry Silk the same question. He has a great puzzle at NYT today.Zhouqin (C.C.) Burnikelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12750267554729853785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-2190101211487757302009-04-29T07:17:00.000-05:002009-04-29T07:17:00.000-05:00Another great interview - no wonder Mike Wallace r...Another great interview - no wonder Mike Wallace retired.<br /><br />I find Doug's puzzles to be among the most interesting, and certainly some of the most challenging I've ever done (or tried to do). It's great hearing about the thought process that goes into them - I would think that after a while, writer's block would be a constant problem as you try to come up with new ideas/themes.<br /><br />I concur w/Lemonade - heavy metal can be very relaxing and 'inspiring'.Dennishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05476669744435495547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-80658321616733112532009-04-29T07:04:00.000-05:002009-04-29T07:04:00.000-05:00Go Heavy Metal Music, I find it relaxing as well. ...Go Heavy Metal Music, I find it relaxing as well. Great feature, getting to know the tormentors, thank you both. <br /><br />Do you ever convert a themeless to a theme as you change your clues?Lemonade714https://www.blogger.com/profile/13642909374639570868noreply@blogger.com