Dave S

Ottawa

223
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0.324
Avg Sentiment
110
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63
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Dave SOttawaJul 13, 2024, 10:57 PM2024-07-14positive98%

Thanks Jeff! What a brilliant piece of puzzle-making! Sometimes I'm amazed by the cleverness of the creators here and forget to say how much I appreciate the work that goes into giving us an enjoyable diversion.

100 recommendations
Dave SOttawaJun 27, 2024, 2:19 AM2024-06-27positive95%

What a hoot! This must be some kind of record for rebuses!

91 recommendations1 replies
Dave SOttawaOct 4, 2024, 2:29 AM2024-10-04negative92%

I stubbed my toe, badly, when I misspelled 59A as AUNATURAL and it took me ages to find it. The cross was no help, what do I know about models? Super puzzle, btw.

74 recommendations8 replies
Dave SOttawaJul 4, 2024, 2:22 AM2024-07-04negative73%

I just flew through this and have absolutely no idea what the theme is.

73 recommendations6 replies
Dave SOttawaAug 1, 2024, 2:24 AM2024-08-01neutral54%

I solved this without any idea what the theme was, just from the crosses. The spoiler had me parsing the answers every which way trying to make sense of them, and I still didn't see it. Not til I read Deb's comments did it make sense, and the face palm could be heard across the kitchen. What an excellent puzzle, thanks so much!

73 recommendations3 replies
Dave SOttawaJun 25, 2025, 2:09 AM2025-06-25positive97%

Pretty cool puzzle!

67 recommendations1 replies
Dave SOttawaOct 31, 2024, 2:34 AM2024-10-31positive99%

This was a blast! And I grinned to see both see Manet and Monet.

66 recommendations1 replies
Dave SOttawaSep 10, 2025, 2:18 AM2025-09-10neutral57%

So at first glance I had 36D as HAVE A TRY, then HAVE A SIP. The correct answer is HAVE A wait, what? Oh, HAVE AT IT.

64 recommendations2 replies
Dave SOttawaFeb 27, 2025, 3:20 AM2025-02-27negative65%

This is the first time I've ever had to spell JODHPURS, and I got it wrong. I've read it multiple times, I'm sure we all have, but I've never written it down before. Not often I get many firsts at my age. Oh, and fun puzzle too. Love the graphics, they nicely revealed the theme which I had entirely missed. (I've had better days...)

60 recommendations5 replies
Dave SOttawaJan 5, 2025, 1:15 AM2025-01-05positive69%

@Dan I thought they were perfectly consistent, with the clues. Nickel back, ie reversed. Take a penny, no quarter, turn on a dime. This is genius level stuff.

58 recommendations
Dave SOttawaMar 13, 2025, 2:56 AM2025-03-13negative73%

@Steve L I didn't see yesterday's installment so I don't know what you're referring to, and I could be way off base here, but the tone of your comment seems churlish and a tad condescending. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

57 recommendations
Dave SOttawaJan 11, 2025, 11:35 PM2025-01-12positive98%

This puzzle is like my favourite Sunday dinner, pot roast. Not difficult to do, but oh so comforting and delicious.

56 recommendations1 replies
Dave SOttawaSep 28, 2024, 2:52 AM2024-09-28neutral65%

I immediately entered HIGHLANDCOO as that's what Scots call them, and coo is also what most of us do when we see a video of one of the wee ones running up for a scritch.

54 recommendations2 replies
Dave SOttawaMay 31, 2024, 2:22 AM2024-05-31positive90%

Learned a few new terms today -- UBERIZE and GAMIFY. Also didn't know horseshoes had innings. Nice puzzle!

53 recommendations
Dave SOttawaDec 5, 2024, 3:23 AM2024-12-05positive94%

I have so much admiration for crossword creators. To craft a thing like this seems so incredibly difficult, I have no idea how they do it. Hours and hours of work, all to give us a brief spell of enjoyment! Thank you Mr. Chalfin, this is a real treat.

52 recommendations1 replies
Dave SOttawaJun 20, 2024, 3:05 AM2024-06-20neutral78%

@Andrew Sties is fairly common, in these puzzles at least. My kids shared a room so I never used the plural.

51 recommendations
Dave SOttawaFeb 4, 2025, 3:20 AM2025-02-04positive97%

I absolutely love the ends of a loaf of bread. There's nothing better for ripping into chunks and dropping in your soup, or chili.

51 recommendations5 replies
Dave SOttawaOct 3, 2024, 2:24 AM2024-10-03positive98%

Thanks Rena, that was fun! I always enjoy a good rebus.

50 recommendations
Dave SOttawaJun 18, 2025, 2:18 AM2025-06-18positive82%

I think this is a perfect example of Wednesday puzzle.

49 recommendations
Dave SOttawaDec 15, 2024, 11:40 PM2024-12-16negative90%

My poor brain needed an breezy puzzle after that gauntlet yesterday. I'm still reeling.

48 recommendations2 replies
Dave SOttawaFeb 7, 2025, 3:31 AM2025-02-07positive97%

Crosswords are like peanut butter; some are crunchy and some are soft and smooth. This was definitely the latter. I love all peanut butter.

48 recommendations2 replies
Dave SOttawaAug 6, 2025, 2:26 AM2025-08-06neutral61%

I don't know about you, but I've had some pretty deep power naps. It's always a gamble though; will I wake refreshed and bright, or feel like I've been drugged, wondering where I am.

48 recommendations3 replies
Dave SOttawaAug 20, 2025, 2:16 AM2025-08-20neutral64%

Anybody else find the crossing of SEITAN and COLON mildly amusing, or is just my adolescent humour?

42 recommendations1 replies
Dave SOttawaApr 4, 2025, 2:30 AM2025-04-04positive98%

This was a really satisfying puzzle. Nice and chewy, lots of answers I've never heard of.

41 recommendations
Dave SOttawaMay 15, 2025, 2:26 AM2025-05-15negative65%

Got the theme fairly quickly, but I entered SNOTTILY and spent an annoying amount of time finding that. It should have been easier, as I had TOTT, which makes no sense, but I'm tired. Cool puzzle. Love me some rebuses.

41 recommendations8 replies
Dave SOttawaNov 8, 2024, 3:27 AM2024-11-08neutral77%

Constitutional in my house has an entirely different meaning, and it usually involves a coffee and a newspaper.

40 recommendations1 replies
Dave SOttawaNov 29, 2024, 4:00 AM2024-11-29negative88%

@Blake You really ought not to take any crossword clue too literally, grief and pain lie that way.

40 recommendations
Dave SOttawaJan 1, 2025, 6:12 AM2025-01-01positive72%

I just noticed the editor. If I missed your earlier return, allow me to say welcome back Will Shortz!

38 recommendations3 replies
Dave SOttawaJan 19, 2025, 12:09 AM2025-01-19positive98%

I have so much admiration for folks who can make these incredible puzzles. I hope you pay them well!😁

38 recommendations1 replies
Dave SOttawaMar 27, 2025, 2:28 AM2025-03-27positive99%

I thought this was a gem! I love the theme.

38 recommendations
Dave SOttawaJun 21, 2025, 11:20 PM2025-06-22neutral46%

I'm still chuckling at MOTHER IN LAWN.

37 recommendations1 replies
Dave SOttawaMar 15, 2025, 2:24 AM2025-03-15negative74%

I spent several minutes looking for my typo, which of course was on the bottom row. I had left myself a note, it seems. DONT HO.

36 recommendations
Dave SOttawaJun 20, 2024, 2:41 AM2024-06-20positive78%

Holy smokes, I thought I'd met my match with this puzzle. But I worked on crosses until the theme FINALLY came to me, and I thought I was home free. Until I put parole for pardon and went sideways for a spell. Some terrific clues here. Nice puzzle!

35 recommendations
Dave SOttawaJan 16, 2025, 3:18 AM2025-01-16negative82%

I'm so sorry for your loss Deb. My heart goes out to you.

35 recommendations
Dave SOttawaNov 2, 2024, 2:40 AM2024-11-02positive38%

Oof, what a beast. Nice puzzle Blake. I had a typo that took a while to find, turns out SETLUSTS aren't a thing.

34 recommendations1 replies
Dave SOttawaJun 11, 2024, 2:10 AM2024-06-11positive94%

Good Tuesday level puzzle. Today I learned what a tucket is.

33 recommendations2 replies
Dave SOttawaApr 26, 2025, 10:54 PM2025-04-27negative71%

@Mike Put down the beer. Don't you know you shouldn't drink and derive?

32 recommendations
Dave SOttawaMay 2, 2025, 2:46 AM2025-05-02positive90%

@Mike Nice, I got a charge outta that one.

31 recommendations
Dave SOttawaJul 25, 2024, 2:35 AM2024-07-25neutral84%

@J Would I be correct in guessing you haven't heard of a self addressed stamped envelope?

28 recommendations
Dave SOttawaOct 10, 2024, 2:27 AM2024-10-10positive92%

Well done Mr. Boroughs, well done. I picked up the theme quickly, but stumbled a bit over ODIC. I'd plugged ODES in, and raced through the puzzle, but had to backtrack to find my booboo. Still beat my average tho.

28 recommendations2 replies
Dave SOttawaMay 18, 2024, 2:29 AM2024-05-18positive83%

Great puzzle! 1A jumped off the page at me and I breezed through the top half, humming to myself. Then I fell flat on my face in the lower half, seemingly forgetting what language I was reading. Nothing made sense. A couple of crosses in the SW finally emerged, and the rest slowly percolated through. Whew. This is what a Saturday should be.

27 recommendations
Dave SOttawaMay 29, 2024, 2:16 AM2024-05-29positive98%

Well that was a fun debut. We've been charmed by two in two days now!

27 recommendations
Dave SOttawaApr 5, 2024, 2:28 AM2024-04-05neutral40%

I stared at this one in dismay for 5 minutes, thinking my streak was in real danger. The northeast finally broke for me and things began to click into place, and I actually lopped 2 minutes off my average. Good clues, fun puzzle!

26 recommendations1 replies
Dave SOttawaMay 25, 2024, 11:05 PM2024-05-26positive99%

Sunday is the puzzle I look forward to all week, and today was an excellent example. Thanks for a beaut!

26 recommendations
Dave SOttawaFeb 14, 2025, 3:15 AM2025-02-14positive52%

This seemed awfully smooth & easy. Seems like the trend to make Fridays more accessible for newcomers is continuing. I get that, but please please the old pros too.

26 recommendations4 replies
Dave SOttawaJul 3, 2024, 2:16 AM2024-07-03negative70%

Sorry, I meant to say what the heck are i ching coins?

25 recommendations3 replies
Dave SOttawaOct 23, 2024, 2:21 AM2024-10-23neutral50%

@Mike That would be the ultimate zoom call. (This won't bear too close an examination.)

25 recommendations
Dave SOttawaJun 19, 2024, 2:21 AM2024-06-19positive99%

This is a lovely little gem of a Wednesday. Catchy theme & great fill.

24 recommendations
Dave SOttawaJul 27, 2024, 3:35 AM2024-07-27positive98%

Wow that was something else. Tough puzzle, Matthew and Barbara, but most satisfying. Thanks for the challenge, it helps keep me humble.

24 recommendations
Dave SOttawaJun 14, 2025, 3:18 AM2025-06-14positive74%

@Ken W. Stiller and Meara were very well known back in the day, so the clue of classic comedy duo is apt. These were the first fills for me in a very tough, but fair, puzzle.

24 recommendations