From f59b790a8532212b6194ff7e63c2fa35b107be0a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Carl Worth Date: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 13:26:20 -0800 Subject: [PATCH] Add blog post pointing to 2014 Christmas Code I just completed an entire write-up of the code so people can solve it on theirh own if they want. This blog post summarizes my reaction to how things went this year. --- src/christmas_code/2014/index.mdwn | 40 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 40 insertions(+) create mode 100644 src/christmas_code/2014/index.mdwn diff --git a/src/christmas_code/2014/index.mdwn b/src/christmas_code/2014/index.mdwn new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d3a8462 --- /dev/null +++ b/src/christmas_code/2014/index.mdwn @@ -0,0 +1,40 @@ +[[!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! -- 2.43.0