A Devilishly Good Time

June 30, 2025

At his talk on the History of the BSD Daemon at this year’s BSDCan conference, Kirk McKusick announced the availability of a “478-piece lazer-cut puzzle” from Liberty Puzzles. Intrigued, I plopped down the money and, within a few days, my puzzle arrived.

Figure 1: The Box

Figure 1: The Box

Fresh out of the box, a pleasant aroma, vaguely reminiscent of a campfire greeted my senses.

Figure 2: The Jumble

Figure 2: The Jumble

Spreading them all out on the puzzle table, I was delighted by fantastical shapes! This is not your father’s stamped cardboard puzzle.

Here are just a few right out of the box.

Figure 3: Fantastical Shapes

Figure 3: Fantastical Shapes

I set right to work, and without too much effort, the FreeBSD Foundation corner took shape.

Figure 3: FreeBSD Foundation

Figure 3: FreeBSD Foundation

There was progress…

Figure 4: Progress

Figure 4: Progress

and more progress …

Figure 5: More Progress

Figure 5: More Progress

until it was …

Figure 6: Done!

Figure 6: Done!

Really, it took a few hours over 2 or 3 days to get it done. But along the way, I found some real zingers.

The above image is enlarged to show the cut detail. But if you still can’t see them very well, try downloading this copy: https://www.jimby.name/pics/BSD_Daemon_Puzzle_4000x3000_Original.jpg (6MB, right click & “Save As”).

See if you can find:

  • Barefoot running boy
  • Man with a bird on his arm
  • Galleon
  • Ocean waves
  • Mermaid
  • Shark
  • Scuba diver
  • Two eagles
  • Horse
  • Two fireworks
  • Trumpet player
  • Elf
  • Drum major
  • Winged fairy
  • Telescope
  • Two men toasting BSD with beer steins

And my personal favorite

  • Jazz singer

Happy Puzzling!

Tags: BSD daemon Beastie puzzle