X-Git-Url: https://git.cworth.org/git?p=cworth.org;a=blobdiff_plain;f=src%2Fchristmas_code%2F2014%2Findex.mdwn;fp=src%2Fchristmas_code%2F2014%2Findex.mdwn;h=0000000000000000000000000000000000000000;hp=d3a8462f2c66cf580ab8178a787245dac83e0a3e;hb=93addf7ab050c5b508f79549e1359770c7116373;hpb=dfd1655d9b759f1bea89a89e4afa52047cbf4e09 diff --git a/src/christmas_code/2014/index.mdwn b/src/christmas_code/2014/index.mdwn deleted file mode 100644 index d3a8462..0000000 --- a/src/christmas_code/2014/index.mdwn +++ /dev/null @@ -1,40 +0,0 @@ -[[!meta title="Christmas Code 2014"]] - -[[!tag puzzles]] - -My boys just finished this year's Christmas puzzle hunt, (known in our -family as "The Code"). Read below for a summary of how things went, or -check out the actual puzzles if -you want to solve them yourself or just wonder at the amount of work -my poor boys have to go through before they get any Christmas -presents. - -I'm really pleased with how things went this year. I scaled the -difficulty back compared to last year, and that was good for -everyone's sanity. It's easy to see the difference in just the -numbers. Last year's hunt had 24 puzzles, 5 metapuzzles, and 1 final -metametapuzzle. This year there were only 9 puzzles and 2 small -metapuzzles. I was nervous the boys might think I did too little, but -I think I actually got the difficulty just right this year. - -They did solve it a few days before Christmas this year, but that's a -good victory for them. Last year, there was a tough Battleships -metapuzzle and the deciphering of a Playfair cipher that all came -together only late at night on Christmas Eve. - -Of course, the most important feedback comes from the boys -themselves. There was a priceless moment last night as one-by-one, the -boys in turn had the final flash of insight needed to solve the last -clue. There's nothing better for a puzzle designer than getting to -watch that "ah-ha" moment hit with its explosion of laughter. And that -laughter is always mixed---appreciation for the disguise of the clue -and a bit of disgust at not being able to see through it all -earlier. And last night, it was a perfect cascade of these moments -from one boy to the next. After the first one finally got it, just -knowing it was possible was all the others needed to reach the same -insight themselves. It was perfect. - -This morning the boys reported that this year's code was the "best one -yet". I think I've heard that three years in a row now. That's what -gives me the motivation to do all this again. I guess I had better -start planning now if I want to improve again next year!