Bob Stepno
@bobstep.bsky.social
Former journalist, tech writer, academic, media historian, now retired in sw Va, playing oldtime-style music (mandolin, uke, guitar), exploring the Blue Ridge, writing a little, including https://jheroes.com
https://boblog.blogspot.com
https://boblog.blogspot.com
Definitely an upswing from the last couple of late night puzzle sessions. Maybe the first time I've had a perfect score on a puzzle that the Times rated as "Trickier than usual."
Connections
Puzzle #885
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨
Skill 99/99
Uniqueness 1 in 84
Connections
Puzzle #885
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨
Skill 99/99
Uniqueness 1 in 84
November 12, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Definitely an upswing from the last couple of late night puzzle sessions. Maybe the first time I've had a perfect score on a puzzle that the Times rated as "Trickier than usual."
Connections
Puzzle #885
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨
Skill 99/99
Uniqueness 1 in 84
Connections
Puzzle #885
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨
Skill 99/99
Uniqueness 1 in 84
Likewise... striking forth on a new streak... Wordle 1,607 4/6*
⬜🟨⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜⬜🟩🟩
⬜🟨⬜🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
⬜🟨⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜⬜🟩🟩
⬜🟨⬜🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
November 12, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Likewise... striking forth on a new streak... Wordle 1,607 4/6*
⬜🟨⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜⬜🟩🟩
⬜🟨⬜🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
⬜🟨⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜⬜🟩🟩
⬜🟨⬜🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
And sleepy and stubborn are not a good combination when playing Connections. But I got the blue line first!
Connections
Puzzle #883
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟩🟪🟪
🟪🟩🟩🟪
🟪🟩🟩🟪
🟪🟩🟨🟨
Connections
Puzzle #883
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟩🟪🟪
🟪🟩🟩🟪
🟪🟩🟩🟪
🟪🟩🟨🟨
November 10, 2025 at 5:19 AM
And sleepy and stubborn are not a good combination when playing Connections. But I got the blue line first!
Connections
Puzzle #883
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟩🟪🟪
🟪🟩🟩🟪
🟪🟩🟩🟪
🟪🟩🟨🟨
Connections
Puzzle #883
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟩🟪🟪
🟪🟩🟩🟪
🟪🟩🟩🟪
🟪🟩🟨🟨
But the rhyming demon got me the next day. Kind of pretty pattern, and I would have had it in seven, honest!
Wordle 1,605 X/6*
⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜
⬜⬜🟨⬜🟨
🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩
Wordle 1,605 X/6*
⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜
⬜⬜🟨⬜🟨
🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩
November 10, 2025 at 5:12 AM
But the rhyming demon got me the next day. Kind of pretty pattern, and I would have had it in seven, honest!
Wordle 1,605 X/6*
⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜
⬜⬜🟨⬜🟨
🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩
Wordle 1,605 X/6*
⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜
⬜⬜🟨⬜🟨
🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩
The connections bought says the first line mistake was the most common mistake of today. That makes me feel so much better . Connections
Puzzle #882
🟨🟩🟨🟨
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪
Puzzle #882
🟨🟩🟨🟨
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪
November 9, 2025 at 5:26 AM
The connections bought says the first line mistake was the most common mistake of today. That makes me feel so much better . Connections
Puzzle #882
🟨🟩🟨🟨
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪
Puzzle #882
🟨🟩🟨🟨
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪
Hard to get this one moving, but got there in 4... Wordle 1,604 4/6*
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
🟨⬜⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
🟨⬜⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
November 9, 2025 at 5:25 AM
Hard to get this one moving, but got there in 4... Wordle 1,604 4/6*
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
🟨⬜⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
🟨⬜⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Saw a possible rainbow red herring first word temptation and passed it up this time. But I couldn't tell which was the yellow line and which was the green, so I missed the point for an inverted rainbow of all categories.
Connections
Puzzle #881
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
Skill 98/99
Uniqueness 1 in 339
Connections
Puzzle #881
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
Skill 98/99
Uniqueness 1 in 339
November 8, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Saw a possible rainbow red herring first word temptation and passed it up this time. But I couldn't tell which was the yellow line and which was the green, so I missed the point for an inverted rainbow of all categories.
Connections
Puzzle #881
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
Skill 98/99
Uniqueness 1 in 339
Connections
Puzzle #881
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
Skill 98/99
Uniqueness 1 in 339
First three here in a while.
Wordle 1,603 3/6*
⬜⬜🟨🟨⬜
🟩🟨⬜🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,603 3/6*
⬜⬜🟨🟨⬜
🟩🟨⬜🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
November 8, 2025 at 5:54 AM
First three here in a while.
Wordle 1,603 3/6*
⬜⬜🟨🟨⬜
🟩🟨⬜🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,603 3/6*
⬜⬜🟨🟨⬜
🟩🟨⬜🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
And then for connections I was in a hurry and decided I hadn't played an obvious red herring rainbow first word in a long time..Connections
Puzzle #880
🟦🟩🟪🟨
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
Puzzle #880
🟦🟩🟪🟨
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
November 7, 2025 at 7:58 PM
And then for connections I was in a hurry and decided I hadn't played an obvious red herring rainbow first word in a long time..Connections
Puzzle #880
🟦🟩🟪🟨
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
Puzzle #880
🟦🟩🟪🟨
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
I had more yellow squares to push around than usual, and push them into the wrong places. Oh well.
Wordle 1,602 4/6*
⬜🟨🟨⬜🟨
🟨🟨⬜🟨🟨
🟨🟩🟨🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,602 4/6*
⬜🟨🟨⬜🟨
🟨🟨⬜🟨🟨
🟨🟩🟨🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
November 7, 2025 at 7:57 PM
I had more yellow squares to push around than usual, and push them into the wrong places. Oh well.
Wordle 1,602 4/6*
⬜🟨🟨⬜🟨
🟨🟨⬜🟨🟨
🟨🟩🟨🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,602 4/6*
⬜🟨🟨⬜🟨
🟨🟨⬜🟨🟨
🟨🟩🟨🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Not a three, but evaded rhyme trap and tied Wordlebot.
Wordle 1,600 4/6*
⬜🟨🟩⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟩🟩⬜
⬜⬜🟩🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,600 4/6*
⬜🟨🟩⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟩🟩⬜
⬜⬜🟩🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
November 5, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Not a three, but evaded rhyme trap and tied Wordlebot.
Wordle 1,600 4/6*
⬜🟨🟩⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟩🟩⬜
⬜⬜🟩🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,600 4/6*
⬜🟨🟩⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟩🟩⬜
⬜⬜🟩🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Got this one done too, skipping the tempting red herrings, but deciding what turned out to be the purple line was just too obvious!
Connections
Puzzle #877
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪
Connections
Puzzle #877
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪
November 5, 2025 at 4:45 AM
Got this one done too, skipping the tempting red herrings, but deciding what turned out to be the purple line was just too obvious!
Connections
Puzzle #877
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪
Connections
Puzzle #877
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪
Got it done.. Wordle 1,599 5/6*
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜⬜🟨🟩
🟨🟨⬜⬜🟩
⬜🟨🟩⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜⬜🟨🟩
🟨🟨⬜⬜🟩
⬜🟨🟩⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
November 5, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Got it done.. Wordle 1,599 5/6*
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜⬜🟨🟩
🟨🟨⬜⬜🟩
⬜🟨🟩⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜⬜🟨🟩
🟨🟨⬜⬜🟩
⬜🟨🟩⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
It's a long movie. So I made the top two mistakes of the day, including my first rainbow of red herrings opening word in a while.
Connections
Puzzle #875
🟪🟨🟩🟦
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪
Connections
Puzzle #875
🟪🟨🟩🟦
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪
November 2, 2025 at 5:38 AM
It's a long movie. So I made the top two mistakes of the day, including my first rainbow of red herrings opening word in a while.
Connections
Puzzle #875
🟪🟨🟩🟦
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪
Connections
Puzzle #875
🟪🟨🟩🟦
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪
Watching French Connection II on the movie channel was not conducive to paying attention. Wordle 1,597 6/6*
⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟨⬜🟩
⬜⬜⬜🟩🟩
🟨⬜🟨🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟨⬜🟩
⬜⬜⬜🟩🟩
🟨⬜🟨🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
November 2, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Watching French Connection II on the movie channel was not conducive to paying attention. Wordle 1,597 6/6*
⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟨⬜🟩
⬜⬜⬜🟩🟩
🟨⬜🟨🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟨⬜🟩
⬜⬜⬜🟩🟩
🟨⬜🟨🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Using pictures instead of words was an interesting twist. I'm still as connected as ever visually.
Connections
Puzzle #873
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟪🟪🟪🟪
Connections
Puzzle #873
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟪🟪🟪🟪
October 31, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Using pictures instead of words was an interesting twist. I'm still as connected as ever visually.
Connections
Puzzle #873
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟪🟪🟪🟪
Connections
Puzzle #873
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟪🟪🟪🟪
Escaped alive with five
Wordle 1,595 5/6*
⬜⬜🟨⬜🟩
⬜⬜⬜🟩🟩
⬜🟨⬜🟩🟩
🟩⬜⬜🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,595 5/6*
⬜⬜🟨⬜🟩
⬜⬜⬜🟩🟩
⬜🟨⬜🟩🟩
🟩⬜⬜🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
October 31, 2025 at 4:42 AM
Escaped alive with five
Wordle 1,595 5/6*
⬜⬜🟨⬜🟩
⬜⬜⬜🟩🟩
⬜🟨⬜🟩🟩
🟩⬜⬜🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,595 5/6*
⬜⬜🟨⬜🟩
⬜⬜⬜🟩🟩
⬜🟨⬜🟩🟩
🟩⬜⬜🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Disappointing oops in the blue line here. And I was surprised the yellow line turned yellow because I thought it was one of the more difficult colors.
Connections
Puzzle #872
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟦🟪🟦🟦
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪
Connections
Puzzle #872
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟦🟪🟦🟦
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪
October 30, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Disappointing oops in the blue line here. And I was surprised the yellow line turned yellow because I thought it was one of the more difficult colors.
Connections
Puzzle #872
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟦🟪🟦🟦
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪
Connections
Puzzle #872
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟦🟪🟦🟦
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪
Happy bluejay day, Donna. Pretty similar puzzle day here .... Wordle 1,594 4/6*
⬜🟨⬜🟨⬜
🟩🟨🟨⬜⬜
🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
⬜🟨⬜🟨⬜
🟩🟨🟨⬜⬜
🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
October 30, 2025 at 5:27 AM
Happy bluejay day, Donna. Pretty similar puzzle day here .... Wordle 1,594 4/6*
⬜🟨⬜🟨⬜
🟩🟨🟨⬜⬜
🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
⬜🟨⬜🟨⬜
🟩🟨🟨⬜⬜
🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
I almost fell into a rainbow first word trap, but was troubled about a possible red herring word in my version of it... then I figured out that my red herring was part of a purple word... And the reverse rainbow happened!
Connections
Puzzle #871
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨
Connections
Puzzle #871
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨
October 29, 2025 at 6:33 PM
I almost fell into a rainbow first word trap, but was troubled about a possible red herring word in my version of it... then I figured out that my red herring was part of a purple word... And the reverse rainbow happened!
Connections
Puzzle #871
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨
Connections
Puzzle #871
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨
If only pushing yellow squares around without letting them turn green were a valued skill. Wordle 1,593 5/6*
⬜⬜🟨🟨🟨
⬜🟨🟨🟨⬜
🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜
🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
⬜⬜🟨🟨🟨
⬜🟨🟨🟨⬜
🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜
🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
October 29, 2025 at 6:20 PM
If only pushing yellow squares around without letting them turn green were a valued skill. Wordle 1,593 5/6*
⬜⬜🟨🟨🟨
⬜🟨🟨🟨⬜
🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜
🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
⬜⬜🟨🟨🟨
⬜🟨🟨🟨⬜
🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜
🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Decided not to watch the full movie, but to do connections and go to bed.
Connections
Puzzle #870
🟪🟪🟨🟪
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
Connections
Puzzle #870
🟪🟪🟨🟪
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
October 28, 2025 at 5:05 AM
Decided not to watch the full movie, but to do connections and go to bed.
Connections
Puzzle #870
🟪🟪🟨🟪
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
Connections
Puzzle #870
🟪🟪🟨🟪
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
I did this while watching the trailer and Terry Gilliam introduction to Fellini's 8 1/2. I don't think that helped
Wordle 1,592 6/6*
⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟩⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟩⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,592 6/6*
⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟩⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟩⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
October 28, 2025 at 4:51 AM
I did this while watching the trailer and Terry Gilliam introduction to Fellini's 8 1/2. I don't think that helped
Wordle 1,592 6/6*
⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟩⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟩⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,592 6/6*
⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟩⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟩⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
I have yet to pip. 😀
October 28, 2025 at 4:49 AM
I have yet to pip. 😀
Congratulations on getting that purple line so early!
October 27, 2025 at 6:04 AM
Congratulations on getting that purple line so early!