NYT Spelling Bee

[cathwen]

I know!  When I saw lynx, I remembered having found that before.  But I am not sure that I would have found procedural, even so.

My second word in LB today was one that I tried in desperation, thinking, "That's not a word"—but then, voilà, LB accepted it.

Before this forum thread, I was always happy to find an LB solution that was under the number indicated.  Solve in five?  Ha!  I got it in four!  Now I'm not happy unless I get a 2-fer.  Yes, this is a fast crowd! : )

[ab_grp]

Ciao_yall, cleanup-paradoxy was my b4ss as well! Argh.

Cathwen, I think my penultimate word yesterday was dildo.  As for today, we may very well have the same word left! Husband and I are each missing one that's 6 letters, but we are avoiding comparing in case we have each other's words.  Is yours also 6?  Congrats on your 2fer!

I agree, I don't always or often find a 2fer, but I don't even try for wordier solutions anymore, knowing that there is always a 2fer in there somewhere. 

[ciao_yall]

SB: Still stuck at amazing and in the slog before I tip into "genius." I find a word and then... gah... still amazing!

There was a study of gamblers that found that addicts were most satisfied when they *almost* won. And junk food companies find that if a snack is *just not quite sweet or salty enough* they can get people to binge on it trying to achieve satisfaction.

Today's LB has lots of b4ss issues. Or wishing there was a common letter like "E." I can't decide if I appreciate them because at least it keeps me from going down the wrong track... but just enough to drive one batty.

Cheers to dopamine...

[cathwen]

Ab_grp, yes, I am also missing a 6-letter word!  I wonder if we're missing the same one? 

Ciao_yall, that is interesting about the study of gamblers and addicts!  It rings true. 

[ciao_yall]

Genius finally.

Oodles of 3fers and a few 2fer b4ss, but it just isn't coming together. I did take a page from cathwen's book and managed a 3fer with something that didn't seem like it would be a word but there you go.

[ab_grp]

Cathwen, husband and I compared # words 6 letters long starting with each letter and were equal.  Then later after still being stumped, we decided to compare the second letters of each of those words, and we still appear to have the same ones.  So I wouldn't doubt that you might be missing the same one we are.  I am completely stumped.  I feel as though I have tried every combo I can think of!

Ciao_yall, that is an interesting study.  I still feel that I would be more satisfied if I could figure out the final bee word or get an LB solution, though! You sound like you're getting closer!

I have a bunch of contenders, but no mates.  Do we have a word for when you have two words that together use up all the letters but can't be linked because they don't start or end with the right letters? I have one of those again.  Maybe I will call them ships, like ships passing in the night.

[ciao_yall]

Cathwen, husband and I compared # words 6 letters long starting with each letter and were equal.  Then later after still being stumped, we decided to compare the second letters of each of those words, and we still appear to have the same ones.  So I wouldn't doubt that you might be missing the same one we are.  I am completely stumped.  I feel as though I have tried every combo I can think of!

Ciao_yall, that is an interesting study.  I still feel that I would be more satisfied if I could figure out the final bee word or get an LB solution, though! You sound like you're getting closer!

I have a bunch of contenders, but no mates.  Do we have a word for when you have two words that together use up all the letters but can't be linked because they don't start or end with the right letters? I have one of those again.  Maybe I will call them ships, like ships passing in the night.

Maybe "feel most satisfied" isn't the right term. They get the strongest dopamine jolt when they *almost* win, which encourages them to keep playing. I mean yeah, winning is great, but do the casinos want you to win? Or keep playing and losing?

Same with junk food. Why stop at one potato chip?

After "genius" or my 2fer I'm pretty much mentally done. I sometimes take a peek and see if there is more, but the dopamine levels seem to peak.

[cathwen]

Ab_grp, I bet we are missing the same word.  I, too, have tried arranging the letters every which way and I just can't find it! 

I like the idea of "ships." 

[Langue_doc]

Race against time to finish the crosswords and sudokus before 6. Also twofer.

Got a few more words on the bee, but that's probably it for today.

[ab_grp]

Cathwen, we probably are.  Husband and I have now compared our 6-letter words and, sure enough, we are missing the same one.  I am curious to check the answers, but there is no rush, so maybe something will occur to any of us at some point.  I like the name "ships", but the idea drives me a little nuts.  ;-) Get one contender, and it leaves another word perfectly that works and everything! But not with the contender and no real way to force it (as far as I can see).   We have a growing set of terms here!

Congrats on your 2fer and for hustling through the puzzles before the puzzle shift change, Langue_doc! I was interested to see if you had gotten to QB, but I understand leaving well enough alone. 

Ciao_yall, I wonder if the dopamine jolts differ by motivation profile.  Though if the study was specifically about gamblers, that might also say something about the personalities involved.  Intriguing!

[Langue_doc]

Let me know if either of you need a hint for LB.

I had to get up even before the crack of dawn to get to the meeting place for the outing. Didn't see too many critters today, unlike on outings in the past. The trees were looking green, and the bushes even greener, which was soothing. Part of the outing was along the shoreline, which was even more soothing. It was also a good workout.

[ab_grp]

Sure, I will take a hint if you are not too tuckered out!

Sounds like another early day with a lot of being on your feet, but nice that it was partly along the shoreline and the greenery was also soothing, even if not too many critters were spotted.

[Langue_doc]

ab_grp and ciao_yall, look for hints in your PM.

I took a peek at the bee answers; one of the six-letter words which I found very early into the puzzle has cropped up at least twice in the last two weeks or so. The other one looks foreign enough that playing with letters wouldn't have helped me if I had persisted in finding more words. I didn't go through the list, so don't remember what the other six-letter words were.

[ab_grp]

Got it! Perfect clueing as usual. Thanks!

[Parasaurolophus]

Found my way to genius and the pangram earlier.