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00:00 - 20:0020:00 - 00:00

Avi
Avi
00:00
so uhhhhh I'm stumped
given that you're given a list of numbers with maximum 1 million and minimum 0
how to keep a running list of the two numbers that are farthest away from each other?
keep a running maximum number and a running minimum number?
Avi
Avi
suppose the first few numbers are like 0, 100, 200, 160, 50
then first 2 = 0 and 100
oh wait is this differences between pairs?
Avi
Avi
first 3 = 0 and 100, or 100 and 200
first 4 = 0 and 100, because 160 cuts 100-200 into 100-160 and 160-200
first 5 = 100-160, because 50 turns 0-50 and 50-100
oh the problem makes more sense now
Avi
Avi
00:04
the question is
can you do this without going over the whole range of adjacent numbers every time
Can you sort first?
This can be computed in O(n) time on a sorted list
Avi
Avi
yeah I kept a sorted set
and it's O(n) to do it once
but if you have to redo it every time that you add a number
it becomes O(n^2) which is no bueno
found a generalization
oh wait not running
drat not applicable
Avi
Avi
that's not helpful, I've already seen this :(
I tried thinking if I put a queue of segments
00:09
you could store a list of ranges
and then each new point, you split the range it falls in
Avi
Avi
sorted by distance
and then see which range is the largest
Avi
Avi
but then the question is, how do you do fast lookups on the range
(I'm thinking specifically of python's range, which has an obscenely fast "in" operator)
oh wait still O(n)
drat
Avi
Avi
yeah :(
still O(ranges) so since each n adds a range, it's O(n)
00:12
is there a known min and max for the given numbers?
Avi
Avi
well, yes
too large to store as an array?
Avi
Avi
highest value for a long? :P
Avi
Avi
btw there are some algorithms here
I'm going down the list hoping to find something
00:14
The ranges idea could be O(n * log(n)) if you do a binary search to find the matching range
and keep a separate variable for the longest range
which is only updated when necessary
Avi
Avi
hmmm
maybe each range is like
first number + distance to the next one
and you can insert by subtracting the distance off and putting it in a new object, with the new num
it's your algorithm, I'm just tossing idea out
Avi
Avi
yeah
I think I've seen something similar with the ranges before
but I'm no expert
at least, not with numbers
graph theory I can do very well
My favorite program was one that, given data, constructed a most-likely HMM and then ran it through the Viterbi algorithm
because I could legitimately say that my program was programming a program
and then make robot movie references
Resisting the urge to make a CGP Grey reference about bots building bots that build bots.
00:22
ahhh he's great!
I like his "how to become pope" video the best
He is! I love putting on his podcast while I code :D
"Not to nitpick (not unlike my podcast, Mostly Nitpicking)...."
@Sciborg I love CGP
I remember when somebody informed me about the hidden bees in all of his videos, and I spent like an entire day hunting through his archive looking for every bee I could find. Turns out there are a ton
He's a treasure
He does have the one weird opinion about how death is bad and there shouldn't be any, but he's nice and coherent and not self-contradictory and has logical arguments, which is more than usual, so it's fine
00:26
Honestly even if I don't agree with that, his video on the subject (The Dragon metaphor) was really well-produced and is fun to watch solely for the quality of animation and storytelling.
does it have any hidden bees?
it might :p
My favorite bee is the plushie bee that hangs out on his desk during videos like The Race for Staten Island
I also get a kick out of the time he literally flew to a different state to look in a library for a lost document from 1955 for one video
that one was great, I cackled out loud and my family looked at me weird
He was like "the search ends here..."
*jump cuts to him literally on a plane*
"I COULDN'T LET IT GO"
00:45
@Sciborg, I'm watching some CPG Gray right now. I blame you.
5 hours ago, by bobble
So, maybe, (-sub)MERGE(-d) + SORT is your parsing
... is completely, utterly wrong?
This is the intended answer.
Avi
Avi
sheds a bitter tear
@Sciborg, you got it!
00:49
Sorry if it didn't work out well
Avi
Avi
shrugs
go for it, @Sciborg :)
(especially stuff=SORT part... I should have chosen a better word, maybe "kind"?)
And yeah, it's indeed the first time for me making a CC
It was understandable, at the very least
Worse for it to be unsolved for a while due to the squickness of the wordplay
01:06
@bobble hm
@Bubbler there's that, and the deletion too - you'd need to specify exactly which letters are removed, not just "shells" meaning any number of letters from both sides
(but other than that, it's a good first attempt! grammar's pretty solid, just need to get some of the subtleties, which you'll learn with time. I've seen and made much worse)
01:36
@Avi dayum
And the initials are in alphabetical order too
user478740
02:16
We're on a roll! Nice job all of you, though at my place I was sleeping the whole time...
user478740
Hoaammmmm... Anyways, @Sciborg are you done with your CC?
Wait wait I was gone for a bit, did I solve???
Was (-sub)MERGED(-d) correct??
I have two solves???? :D
Uhhhh hooray!! I'll make a much better C4 than last time I promise! Lol
user478740
02:43
Hopefully
user478740
Sepulcheral? Ummmm
Don't be rude, please. I was just making a good-natured jab at myself.
@Anonymus25 Yeah, that was kind of mean
@Sciborg Dang you have the same (one less) C4 solved then I have in my entire 2+ years in this chatroom XD
In... three days?
yes, Sciborg gets all the claps
I genuinely have no idea how! :p
02:48
A++ level at completely accidental brilliant solutions.
But I really like solving them, they are fun. I'm trying to create a really good one for you guys this time.
I can check over the wordplay, if you want.
I'm fine with forfeiting a chance at solving, since I don't have one in the first place :P
I think my wordplay is okay, I have thoroughly checked to make sure it is completely clued and that I have the correct definition half/wordplay half format. I'll post in a few minutes when I've tweaked the surface to my liking :)
Of the three I've gotten, two were me solving right after it got out. So my chance of getting this one goes down drastically every minute after posting. It's like buying a new car! The value depreciates right out of the gate.
@bobble Ahahahaha
02:54
"Solve it now while it's fresh!"
That's a great analogy
basically :)
Is there a general length limit? I'm realizing it is a bit wordy
Also, I've scrapped the crown-shaped clue pattern idea. I just couldn't work with a pre-set clue placement. I think I will use different-aged bobblies (no points, 1 point, 2 points, 3 points) instead
@Sciborg no, my alicorn one was really long! wordplay legalness matters more.
Wait Bobblies points matter in age?
02:56
no limit but conciseness is better
Oct 12 at 20:29, by bobble
the older they are, the more little points they get
Ah
Wait but you have three points... can your bobblies ever be older than you?
Yes, there are the elderly ones with points all over. They curse at the baby ones with a single point, since one point is more useful than multiple when you want to poke something.
Okay, here it is and I hope you enjoy:
03:04
drum roll
Avi
Avi
**CCCC:** CCCC text
(bold is two asterisks right?)
yep
Avi
Avi
prescient
03:04
CCCC: Elizabeth's throat cut by net strike, limbs removed before five hundred attendees - was badly shaken. (7)
How do trees drumroll, you may ask? We just do
Wow, that's violent
my clue had "beheaded baby"
Nice surface, regardless though
Apologies for how gruesome the surface turned out.
@NorthLæraðr guessed what I was going to ask?
03:05
@bobble Of course!
what is a "net strike"? did she get clobbered with a fishing net?
Avi
Avi
was badly shaken = saw* flashbacks
oh noes
Avi
Avi
warsaw has 6 letters unfortunately
has Vietnam flashbacks to days of agony over what saws are
03:07
I think my chances have gone to zero :(
Avi
Avi
can "elizabeth" clue Q (as in queen)?
@experienced solvers
user478740
Ok, this is hard, will this CC recreate the msh madness?
It's not even been 10 minutes
@Anonymus25 gotta be honest, I find it genuinely funny that you openly insulted my last CCCC a few minutes ago to my face and now you're trying to compliment me on my work on this one
Avi
Avi
@Sciborg I'm not sure that's a compliment (however, it depends on how the final solution is)
A "hard" CCCC can go both ways - it can be hard for good reasons (e.g. elegant, misleading), or hard for bad reasons (e.g., overcomplexity, bad definition/WP)
still wondering on the "Elizabeth" for "Q" @experienced solvers
03:23
Fair, I hope this one is hard for good reasons then. I still liked our last one even if it turned out to be a bit easy :p
Avi
Avi
yeah it read like a charm (at the price of a slightly incorrect def)
I usually do best on CCs where the wordplay is 1-2 very simple, clearly clued components. That... doesn't seem to be what's happening here
Avi
Avi
this one leans a bit on the complicated side
not as far as your Alicorn Gazette one
Alicorn Magazine
Avi
Avi
ah
03:25
Alicorn Magazine was incredibly complex, I loved it
and I tried to make up for that one by having a very obvious definition & answer
Avi
Avi
it was like a reversal of def and definition
normally you'd expect the def to be complicated and the definition to be simple but it swapped
anyways, I'm off to read some stuff
cheers
cheers
rubs palms together maniacally in the corner
is there mustache twirling and cackling?
(it can be a metaphorical mustache)
03:28
Absolutely
I should have included the word "saw" just to make us all have flashbacks
or "precipitate"
Or both
"saw precipitate"
"precipitate saw"
Oh god I'm flashing back already
0
Q: You will have the answer

Amos ZoellnerA small puzzle to pass the time, because there's nothing else to do. Find the password from the riddle, with your reasoning. (A note to non-native speakers and really everyone, yes this puzzle requires an English dictionary.) Riddle: 10 is the password, the weapon of choice; 9 tracks your progres...

03:33
by the way, I'm still having problems with not wanting to stop solving Statue Parks long enough to construct a Statue Park
The true struggle
glad you're enjoying the genre! (have you given my puzzles a shot yet?)
I'm trying to work my way through every puzzle in the pack. Completionist tendencies - I started it, so I have to finish it. Planning to look at yours once done!
sounds good!
We love you by the way Deus. (Even if you sniped Bobble and Stiv simultaneously on today's Maserlink :p)
03:39
you're a good puzzler :)
So are you Bobble. Puzzle love for everyone <3
<side note> I initially mistyped that as "god puzzler". Debating whether I should un-fix the typo.
Honestly, it's accurate.
Boss fight idea: Deus, God of Puzzles
what is his weapon?
Sniper rifle and wields Boots of Haste + Crown of Superior Intellect.
Only weakness is the special Honeypot item that stumps him with an impossible puzzle.
03:42
Catchphrase?
"Some basic deductions"
Sidekick?
He has two: Stiv, God of Riddles, and Rand al'Thor, the Mighty Dragon.
Can I be in his fanclub?
And his special summon is to piece together Hex items to form Hexomino, Lord of Logic.
03:46
How about jafe, King of Cryptics?
Ooh yeah, Jafe, King of Cryptics is the god who spawns when Deus is at half health
Then you have to fight all of them at once Dark Souls style.
Can my bobblies be his cheerleader squad?
Your bobblies are both his cheerleader squad and his second special summon, which swarm the battlefield trying to drain your PP (Puzzling Power)
If they latch onto you, you have to quickly shake the controller to shake them off.
this is a great game we're creating
Low key I kinda want to make a Game Jam game out of this lol.
"Puzzling SE Boss Rush"
03:49
"With special bobblie (tm) cheerleader pack, for free if you buy now!"
And you can buy the Sciborg DLC, which gives you a completely random +5 Luck Bonus when you're trying to solve Cryptic minigames.
Why is this turning into an actual game concept
because. it's the Lair.
Brb might have to write some of this down...
Hi, @YouKnowMe!
Bye...
Oop, he left
03:52
Hi
@bobble
hello! haven't seen you here before
Welcome to the Sphinx's Lair :)
Where we solve Cryptic Clues and make video game concepts, apparently
where we don't solve cryptic clues because they take nearly a week
3
Cryptic clues?
03:54
See the guide in the starboard?
This may be helpful :)
https://puzzling.stackexchange.com/questions/45984/cryptic-clue-guide
it's a type of crossword clue common in the UK, where every clue has two parts and the challenge is separating them out and parsing them correctly!
Cooooool
We also discuss stuff in Puzzling SE and solve/create puzzles together.
There is occasional AP Physics tutoring
And some people geek out about linguistics
03:56
not naming matt names there :p
well matt isn't the only one
True :)
i'm also prone to geeking out about linguistics
North even made a linguistics puzzle!
So yeah, we talk about a lot of stuff here so you're welcome anytime :)
03:59
Can somebody share a link of an easy(for beginners) cryptic clue?
Deus, link to Kegler's?
And the guide has some good simple examples as well
beginner cryptic crosswords there
here's a cryptic!
https://kegler.gitlab.io/Beginner/Taylor/Taylors_class_09.html
recommended starting clues: 1A, 18A, 2D
it'll still be pretty tough at first, but we're happy to give advice or explain anything you don't understand
There is a bit of a steep learning curve, but once you get the hang of it they're super fun.
Sciborg's learning is sprinkled in the chat transcript
For that matter, so its mine
Avi
Avi
Same (plus I've created a few cryptic crosswords myself)
04:05
I made a math-cryptic hybrid with an assist from jafe
04:18
How Mathematician snake is Adder?
a mathematician adds numbers, so it is an adder
and there is a kind of a snake called an adder
yep! that's a double-definition clue, where both "mathematician" and "snake" define the answer
in a double definition (ddef), there are two definitions for the same answer, and both must be compliant with normal non-cryptic crossword rules
Mathematicians not only add numbers.
but it isn't wrong to say that they add numbers
04:20
true! "adder" is not a complete description of what a mathematician is, but it's a workable definition/synonym
Oh It requires good vocabulary.
yep
Sorry for asking dumb question. How Reindeer's infamous party is Donner?
good vocabulary helps! you can also look things up if you'd enjoy solving it that way more though
Donner Party :)
04:27
no, it's not dumb! it takes time to get used to cryptics, and some of the clues require knowledge you may not have
Donner is both a reindeer and the name of a doomed expedition that ended in cannibalism.
It's hard to get the hang of, it's okay! You have to kinda think in a weird way at first
Donner is the name of one of Santa's reindeer (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus%27s_reindeer), and the "Donner Party" was... what Sciborg just described
Some people coughs Gareth coughs will use crazy-obscure words as their answers. It's fine to google for possibilities!
Are you all University students?
I'm in high school
North and matt are as well, I think
04:30
College graduate.
there are lots of different age ranges here - i'm a graduate student at the moment (but i joined the site back in high school)
msh210 claims to be an old geezer
user478740
PSE Boss rush? That sounds exciting
04:53
bye for the night!
Good night :)
night!
05:10
"Journey for particles leads to issues (9)". How issues is related to ions?
Particles is a reference to ions.
Journey is another word for quest.
Therefore... QUEST + IONS
user478740
06:04
Ok, I would like to post 3 CCs for all of you to test solve them, please
user478740
So I can give other puzzlers a chance to solve too
user478740
Will you test solve them?
@bobble Yep, that's a weekend task! Was leaving it a little while to give more people a chance to view and comment. Plus I ended up real deep in Statue Park...!
user478740
Ok, no answer
@YouKnowMe no, but I'm in my last year of high school
@Anonymus25 anyone but me, cuz I'm not good at solving
 
1 hour later…
07:18
0
Q: The combinational switching lights

iBugYou have probably encountered the mini puzzle in various games where you have a set of switches and a set of lights (or other triggers), such that each switch "flips" the states of one or more lights ("on" becomes "off" and vice versa). You normally proceed through the puzzle by turning on all th...

 
2 hours later…
09:21
@Anonymus25 Ok, just post one for the start :) Do you want to have them checked for legality?
If so, add the explanation of the wordplay
 
4 hours later…
user478740
13:13
Ok, here it is: Evil pushing a goat. (7)
13:55
If you want it checked for legality, you have to give wordplay
user478740
Pushing a goat: Nag a ram, so becomes anagram
where is "anagram" defined?
user478740
Evil: Devious, so angram of devious is Deusovi
ummm that's not a legal def
Definitions have to be acceptable for a regular, non-cryptic crossword
user478740
Pushing a goat is bothering a goat, so nag a goat or nag a ram
14:05
Also, you can't do indirect anagrams
(which means if you anagram any letters, they must come directly from the clue)
Also also, even if everything else worked, pushing a goat would be nagging a ram, so you've got four extra letters.
darn, how did I not catch that!
user478740
14:18
Ok, number 2: The great christian symbol in letterland. (9)
user478740
Christian symbol: CROSS, letterland refers to WORD, =CROSSWORD
How is "the great" a definition for CROSSWORD?
14:36
I don't buy "letterland" as a definition for WORD, either. Also, in cryptic clues "in" generally means putting one thing inside another -- so if you had WOCROSSRD, that would be CROSS in WORD, but not CROSSWORD. That's CROSS on WORD or CROSS with WORD or WORD after CROSS, etc., but not CROSS in WORD.
user478740
The great christian symbol, sorry
92
Q: Cryptic Clue Guide

Deusovi This post is not a puzzle. There is nothing puzzly hidden inside it or the self-answer, posted at the same time. What exactly is a cryptic crossword clue, and how do I write one?

so then is "letterland" defining WORD or CROSSWORD, and in the former case where's the definition of CROSSWORD?
(actually, even in the latter case where's the definition of CROSSWORD? I don't think "letterland" defines CROSSWORD.)
user478740
Let's hope the last one is good: Take a crown, change the buzzers with pointy letters, and add a small hat. (6,3)
i bet it's something with bobble
user478740
14:40
Try solving first
bobble hat?
user478740
Dosen't explain the buzzers and pointy letters
user478740
And, small hat is cap
yes, it was just a shot in the dark
since I don't know if the clue is even legal so no idea where to start
user478740
Answer: Bottle cap
14:43
I think you may underestimate how rigorously specified a thing a cryptic crossword clue is. There's a definite "grammar" that applies to the wordplay parts, a definite structure the whole clue has to have. There are clues that break the rules a bit, but the rules are there for a reason -- to make it possible to solve the clue and know that your solution is right. Impressionistic clues that don't follow the rules tend to make that not true any more, and that's a problem.
(Successful rule-breaking clues generally have the property that when you figure out the setter's unorthodox idea, there's no doubt in your mind that you've got it.)
So, again: in this latest clue, where is the definition?
user478740
Crown: Bobble, buzzers: Bs, pointy letters: Ts, Small hat: Cap
I think buzzers -> bees -> Bs is too indirect.
@Sciborg and @bobble I was dying reading your PSE boss fight idea
Also, in terms of style I'm not keen on being so explicit as "change the buzzers with pointy letters"; generally you want to write clues so that the surface reading gives an entirely false idea of what's actually going on in the wordplay, and this is the exact reverse of that -- it literally tells you what to do. (Just a bit obscurely, with e.g. "buzzers" instead of "Bs" and "pointy letters" instead of "Ts", which I think adds the wrong sort of difficulty.)
15:42
0
Q: Where might I live?

Swiss FrankI don't actually see this problem on Puzzling but not sure if it's original with me or not. From home, if I walk one kilometer north, one kilometer east, and one kilometer south, I'm back at home. Where might I live?

16:07
0
Q: Prove that there exists infinite primes, p such that $3^p-2^p$ is a composite number

Hemant AgarwalProve that there exists infinite primes, p such that $3^p-2^p$ is a composite number.

0
Q: Square forming challenge

RetudinCut a square into 3 pieces Rearrange them anyway you want Cuts must be straight (but can begin/end anywhere). Scoring method 1: For each visible square 1 point For each cut -1 point Scoring method 2: For each square 1 point For each cut -1 point What it the highest score possible? (separate fo...

16:18
I see my C4 still stands :p
hello gentleperson
(this is matt)
Hello! I know you're matt :D
(:
how're the bobblies coming along?
I made the template and I've diagrammed everything, just have to actually sew it! Didn't have a chance to sit down and sew this week
DIAGRAMS OF EVERYTHING
16:22
The way you do it is by making a paper template and then using that to cut/sew the pieces :)
That way it's all symmetrical
How has your week been?
pretty good, thanks for asking :)
I'm meeting someone for lunch today, but I'll be back on later and will drop a C4 hint :)
Glad you had a good week!
:)
@bobble h- alright I'll shut up
@NorthLæraðr what's "sus"?
Never mind, it was explained thereafter in chat
@msh210 suspicious, it's from among us
16:34
@Avi Rev. Hugh G.
Avi
Avi
nice!
@Sciborg I imagine she would be rather shaken by that, yes.
Avi
Avi
Elemental = ELE MENTAL?
Avi
Avi
17:43
???? I don't understand why people do this
0
A: A rectangle, a circle, and a triangle are drawn on a plane

Vassilis ParassidisDraw a square and from the point of the intersection of two diagonals draw a circle as shown below. Then draw a triangle, as shown. The circle, the triangle and the square intersect at 20 points.

this answer is like, days later, provides almost no new information, and is not even properly spoilered
They hope to get at least some points off of it
18:12
0
Q: A weird sort of word search -- cat burglar?

Voldemort's WrathTHE INFAMOUS CAT BURGLAR STRIKES AGAIN READ ALL ABOUT IT IN TONIGHT'S EDITION OF THE NEW YORK TIMES n x b z t a ê s e y m t w u e y s j q l n o i l f k j c y h q x n e z d l g v r x y x a p b b k à a y e g q i h u x b q m h z x r é q m x m e l t i b i k i g c j c h w l w i ï t p i s o w u w...

Avi
Avi
@JohnDvorak you get way more points off of actually good answers
oh well
but, those are harder to make
Avi
Avi
yeah but then you don't have to worry about your answer being deleted and losing a bunch of points later
also Stiv's interpretation of a plane as an aeroplane is very interesting
I gave them a complaining comment
Avi
Avi
maybe we need to make the same question but add lateral thinking tag
"treat the plane as a cylindrical surface"
 
1 hour later…
19:45
@Avi heh :)
hello, fellow!
hello there :)
how goes it?
it goes
ah, good
I'm doing an internship application now :)
19:47
nice!
it seems like this word search is ... in French
I didn't try
still working through the Statue Parks
ah yes, "put the pentominoes on the grid, but like them up with the circle things"
like them, yes yes
ack typos
00:00 - 20:0020:00 - 00:00

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