Introduction | List of words | Quotation | OLLI: sounding |
OLLI: sequences | OLLI: anagrams | Example 1 | Example 2

Introduction

• These OLLI-related theme examples would be too specialized for a general audience.
• Maybe appreciated by OLLI members -- only in Southern Oregon, or perhaps only by OLLI cruciverbalists?

List of words?

• theme: [categories (of courses)], e.g., Arts; History; Languages and Cultures; ...
• theme: [OLLI definition/terms]: "OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE"
• LIFELONG=8 & LEARNING=8 match nicely as (short) theme entries!
• OSHER=5, INSTITUTE=11, ROGUE VALLEY=11, ASHLAND=7,
  MEDFORD=7, SOUTHERN OREGON=15, ...
• Any exciting/livelier longer entries?

Quotation?

• theme [quote]: "COME FOR THE CLASSES STAY FOR THE CONNECTIONS"
• Words / phrases don't divide nicely for a 15 x 15 symmetric puzzle

"OLLI"-like words?

• theme [homonyms]: words that sound like OLLI?
• An OLLI Olio: Ooh La La: free-form; OLLI Newsletter; 11/2011
• Redo with longer words, fully-crossed?

"OLLI" letter sequences?

• theme [container]: "OLLI" embedded in other words?
• XWordInfo.com/Finder: *OLLI*, (or a free dictionary site)
  e.g., DOC HOLLIDAY, HEAD-ON COLLISION, ROLLING STONE, ZIEGFELD FOLLIES
• But "OLLI" is a recurring 4+ letter sequence
  -- though maybe ok since different word roots, or for this audience, or if used in rebus?
• theme [rebus]: OLLI's 4 letters in 1 square,
  which would allow longer -- up to 18-letter -- words?
• too complicated for now...

"OLLI" & anagrams?

• theme [anagram]: include entries containing "OLLI" or its permutations:
  ILLO, ILOL, IOLL, LILO, LIOL, LLIO, LLOI, LOLI, LOIL, OLIL, OILL?
• XWordInfo.com/Finder: *OLIL*, *OILL*, etc.
• Or, search local dictionary text files for those embedded sequences.
• Or, in a single command: WordListed: Hidden Anagrams: OLLI
• The number of results obtained will depend on the site and dictionaries used.
• Peruse / brainstorm for "interesting" or "lively" (Shortz) possibilities.
• HAMLET SOLILOQUY -- theme: Shakespeare plays
  or topic in an OLLI class (ideal for Rogue Valley!)
• BILL OF RIGHTS -- law/constitution class
• SHELL OIL -- petroleum industry class
• CALIOLOGY -- ornithology class (study of bird's nests)
• PHILOLOGY -- literature class (study of ancient texts)
• LOLITA -- literature class
• and many others...
• theme [category (topic in an OLLI class) + anagram of "OLLI"]: definitely seems intriguing.
• Embedded 'mixed-up' letters (OLLI, OILL...) might suggest
  eclectic student choices, thus adding another (meta) level
• The main "OLLI" entry should stand out,
  and ideally be able to "explain" the theme -- some possibilities:
• BOLLIXED UP -- definitely messed(mixed) up, but what course topic?
• BORDER COLLIES -- pet/biology topic, but no mixing up
• HEAD-ON COLLISION -- auto industry/safety topic, mixing up;
  also 15-letters like MACBETHSOLILOQUY!
• SCHOOL LIFE
  -- not in a word list, but great since we're encouraged to find new valid entries;
  related to courses, but no mixing up, maybe puzzle title?
• CROSSPOLLINATE -- biology/botany; with interdisciplinary mixing up
• "POLLINATE" ad in Winter 2020 catalog (right) might add another reason to choose!!
• ... -- the hundreds of possible embedded "OLLI" anagrams won't be enumerated here!
• With so many possibilities, the challenge is to find three (or more) entries that are:
  
• interesting -- but not too obscure
• longer -- 9-15 letter entries
• paired in length -- for symmetry, with maybe an unmatched (odd-length) entry in center
• consistent with the theme -- drafting initial clues tests our ability to explain the theme
• for variety, avoid duplicate substrings, e.g., two entries that contains same sequence, e.g., "OLIL"
• fittable in a grid (next section)
• compatible with other words (Fill), e.g., if we include SOLILOQUY, what about the "Q" crossing?
• Some possible entry candidates: entry=length, [ordered by 12 unique OLLI permutations]:
• ILLO: ARMADILLO=9; BILL OF RIGHTS=12; GUILLOTINE=10;
COUNCILLOR=10; OSCILLOSCOPE=12; WEEPING WILLOW=13
• ILOL: PHILOLOGY=9; KILOLITER=9
• IOLL: CRIOLLO=7
• LILO: SOLILOQUY=9; LILO AND STITCH=13
• LIOL: CALIOLOGY=9
• LLIO: WHISKEY REBELLION=16; ELLIOTT GOULD=12; BOXER REBELLION=14; MILLIONAIRES=12
• LLOI: HOI POLLOI=9; COLLOIDS=8; SHELL OIL=8; APOLLO II=8
• LOIL: FUEL OIL=7
• LOLI: LOLITA=6; KILOLITER=9
• OILL: OIL LEASES=9; CHICAGO ILLINOIS=15
• OLIL: HAMLET SOLILOQUY=15; SOLILOQUY=9; SEGO LILIES=10
• OLLI: CROSSPOLLINATE=14; SCHOOL LIFE=10; LOLLING AROUND=13; HEAD-ON COLLISION=15
• PHILOLOGY (study of ancient texts), CALIOLOGY (study of bird's nests), KILOLITER -- too obscure or awkward to clue?
• FUEL OIL, SHELL OIL -- too similar to OIL LEASES?
• CRIOLLO, LOLITA -- 6-7 letters: too short?
• BILL OF RIGHTS -- no great matching 12-letter entries?
  Since it's even length, it can't occupy a solo center theme position.
• BOXER REBELLION -- 14-letters more difficult to place (in rows near top or bottom);
  for a different puzzle, potentially great clues related to a canine or underwear uprising?
• CROSSPOLLINATE -- 14 letters; adjust entry length with prefix
  or noun/verb ending, e.g., CROSSPOLLINATOR?
• How many entries, which lengths to use?

"OLLI" Theme Entries #1

• ILLO: ARMADILLO=9
LLIO: REBELLION=9
LLOI: HOI POLLOI=9
OILL: OIL LEASES=9
OLIL: HAMLET SOLILOQUY=15
OLLI: CROSSPOLLINATOR=15
• Most standard grids (w/ all 6 entries) include Down entries, or 'stack' (adjacent rows: 15-& 9-letter),
  creating difficult crossings (grid discussion)
• Tradeoffs: omit, substitute or modify entries? Customize grid?
• Is it possible to keep all 6, all appearing as Across entries?

"OLLI" Theme Entries #2

• What if 2 entries were plural?
• ILLO: ARMADILLOS=10
LLIO: REBELLIONS=10
LLOI: HOI POLLOI=9
OILL: OIL LEASES=9
OLIL: HAMLET SOLILOQUY=15
OLLI: CROSSPOLLINATOR=15
• After examining some grid layouts, yes, all of these six theme entries can fit Across! (grid discussion)
• However, 40 black squares is probably not acceptable for publication (usually 38 maximum blocks).
• But since this is for an OLLI audience, accept the tradeoff, and don't agonize further over theme selection?
• Include an optional title for puzzle: SCHOOL LIFE, which reinforces the theme and provides another hint?
  (Some daily puzzles (WSJ, Universal) have titles; NYT & LAT have titles only on Sun.)
• Before showing how the grid was designed, and theme entries placed,
  let's check consistency of the theme entries:
• *Danish prince speech -- in Shakespeare class [HAMLET SOLILOQUY]
• *Legal contracts -- in Petroleum Geopolitics class (2 words) [OIL LEASES]
• *Uprisings -- in World History class [REBELLIONS]
• *Small armored mammals -- in North American Biology class [ARMADILLOS]
• *Common people -- in Greek History class (2 words) [HOI POLLOI]
• *A fertilizer of flowers -- in Apiology (bee) class; [CROSSPOLLINATOR]
  interdisciplinary student from [circled letters]? (letters mix in other *-entries) {theme explanation}