Master Theorem returns // Ron Swanson, jigsawer // Escape from the Playa
This Saturday sees the launch of Mark Halpin’s annual Labor Day Puzzle Extravaganza. I was introduced to Halpin’s work two years ago, when I helped some friends with the 2014 set. Ever since, my wife and I have been slowly exploring his back catalog (see below), which is deep and full of some of the most elegant word and logic puzzles I’ve ever seen. Read on for links to the LDE — and other good stuff.
Puzzler
Name a longtime TV personality. Remove three consecutive letters from the middle of his name, along with the space, and you’ll get the last name of a modern American writer. Who are these people?
Puzzles on the web
The Master Theorem returns
M
Years ago, I was obsessed with this secret club that published a new, original puzzle every week, and rewarded fast solvers with points. I’ve been missing it since it shut down in 2011. Suddenly, this week, it came back.
Mark Halpin's Labor Day Extravaganza back catalog
Get ready to lose hours to these epic sets of paper puzzles that the ace puzzlemaker releases every Labor Day. The puzzles are things of beauty. This year’s set will be released this Saturday, September 3, at 1PM Eastern.
Puzzles in the news
The Secret Message Hidden On Sega's Arcade Bags
The A.V. Club
For the past two years, Sega Japan has been hiding a coded message on the plastic bags it gives out to those who win crane game prizes. Nobody realized they contained a secret message.
Nick Offerman And Megan Mullally Do Jigsaw Puzzles
Michelle RegnaBuzzFeed Staff
Stars: they’re just like us.
Puzzles in Chicago
Puzzling in Chicago newsletter
Hey, Chicagoans, sign up for this other mailing list of mine, where I announce puzzle stuff that’s happening in Chicago.
Puzzles in the desert
Elan Lee is building a room escape at Burning Man
After trying more than 100 #RoomEscapes, I'm building one...at @burningman. Come escape 5:05 and A (pic is a hint) pic.twitter.com/TrrJFitqYU
— Elan Lee (@elanlee) August 27, 2016
This tweet is the extent of what I know about this. If you’re at Burning Man, hunt this down and tell me how it is.
Not a puzzle but still worth your time
The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian – A Sci-Fi Podcast for Kids. Like Scooby-Doo, but in Space.
A new podcast for kids and adults from my friend Jonathan Messinger. It’s an old-fashioned serialized space adventure, but with just the right balance of silliness and heart. And it’s got robots, and hidden references to your favorite classic kids books. And it’s SO GOOD.