Constructing: Themes: Examples: OLLI

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?
  • pollinateCROSSPOLLINATE -- 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}