That write up of this puzzles “gun” theme, hypersensitive to snowflakes using “gun” references related to a seat in a car, thrying to find a lost item, and bubble gum, and was one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever read. Presumably we’re all grownups here.
3
I do the crossword nearly every day and read wordplay often but this is my first comment!
Legal semantics here re: 69 Across but a refugee is generally someone who is outside of the country who seeks refugee status in the USA, while an asylee is someone in the USA or presenting at a port of entry seeking asylum. So much misinformation about immigration nowadays that getting the words straight seems important. Two different processes with different requirements but both use the refugee definition - must be unable or unwilling to return to your home county due to persecution on the basis of an enumerated ground (race, religion, nationality, political opinion, particular social group).
Good puzzle otherwise - didn’t find the theme to be tone deaf. Do we get rid of the word “gun” in casual vernacular? Demonize it’s use altogether? Trust me, I agree we have a serious gun problem in this country and reform is necessary, but is energy best spent removing it from our language and crossword puzzles? And those complaining about the inclusion of “trigger warning” because they think the concept is ridiculous ...oh I won’t even go there.
Anyhow, nice respite from thinking about the borderline humanitarian disaster happening in our country right now...
2
TRIGGERed has never been more appropriate reading the blog and comments
This will probably earn me a reprimand and some negative comments, but it's an opinion I've expressed many times before and I still believe it. This is a crossword. It is intended to give you joy in solving it, and challenge your brain.
** It is NOT about you **
Being offended by a crossword puzzle that has words that have been part of the lexicon for many years is simply selfish. None of the terms even refer to guns. Riding Shotgun, regardless of it's etymology, is an accepted phrase for riding in the front passenger seat. Bazooka Bubble Gum is a sugary, fruit flavored piece of gum with a comic in it.
These phrases have nothing to do with the firearms that are part of their letters.
I understand being upset about what is going on in this country, and I feel the same way. But in my opinion, going nuts over a puzzle that happens to contain words that by themselves refer to guns is simply ridiculous.
Let the rebuttals begin.
10
I’m as pro gun control as they come, and yet I cannot begin to wrap my head around the offense some seem to be taking at today’s theme. To me it reads like a right-wing parody of left-wing political correctness.
This is why they don’t take us seriously.
15
For the record, if you had two burlap bags and put Will in in one and all the people who criticize him in the other, well I don't know what I'd do with that really overstuffed bag, but I'd take the one with Will in it. And probably set him free. Will is the best. Words will set us free. And Will. Yay Will.
7
Mickey, you need to start doing some crosswords from other publishers. The New Yorker's new weekly is excellent, as is the Washington Post Sunday and the online-only American Values Club.
I like the team-work displayed by and in today's column. Are you hiring?
4
Here’s a thought: instead of writing flaming reviews of a clever and well thought out puzzle on a topic we don’t feel good about, let’s all call a congressperson and ask them to change a law.
Or have a conversation with an actual person, and hear what they have to say on a subject we don’t agree on.
For the record, this wasn’t my favorite theme. By a mile. But you know what? I finished the puzzle (like most of you), and I think that says a lot.
This is not the forum to effect change, people.
In other news, how cool is it to hear from The Man himself about The Process? And how cool is it that Deb was able to step back and say that she couldn’t do the article today, and for that to be okay?
Major kudos to the crossword department this week.
47
I've kept my mouth shut all day trying to make sense of the extreme vitriol being slung at Will Shortz. We are guests in his house, so to speak, is this how you treat your host?
He published a really well constructed puzzle by the great Peter Gordon which included non-gun related phrases with the mention of guns and a split reveal that refers to a phrase that's not gun related. There was no mention of violence.
I do understand why anyone who has been harmed physically or emotionally by gun violence might be offended. But the intent of the constructor and editor was not defending or promoting violence. It was celebrating wordplay. This is a puzzle. BAZOOKABUBBLEGUM is a fun phrase not a call to arms.
Quite frankly, while many here are calling for Mr. Shortz' demise I am calling for the apologies he deserves for the vicious attacks he received today.
25
We are not guests in Will Shortz' house. We are customers in Chef Will Shortz' restaurant, and he served something that a lot of people thought was burnt. We're not saying the restaurant should be shut down, but we are saying that the chef should admit that it might have been in the oven too long.
1
Just so so sad to hear the news about our dear Jimbo. I'm numb with shock and saddened with woe. This one's for you brother.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nknIhwHzKEg
)-;
11
Wow! Such reactions to today's puzzle! I would put myself in the "It's only a puzzle" camp. I don't attribute any foul motives on the parts of Mssrs. Gordon and Shortz, and trust the latter's editorial discretion. I'm sorry that so many people were offended by this one, however. (I must admit that I cringed a bit at 69A ...)
To the puzzle itself, I slowed down a bit in the NE where I was unsure of EPONYM, ZOOTOPIA, and MCI, but the rest went fairly smoothly. Was off my best time by less than 2 mins. (maybe due to the extra row?) ;)
8
At about 10:15 last night, give or take a few minutes, I commented: Let the floodgates open. I knew the reaction was going to be swift and furious in some quarters.
Now let me preface what I'm going to say about the puzzle itself with a sense of where I'm coming from. I used to be a fairly middle-of-the-road guy until they painted the double line over my left foot. So in today's political climate, I'm squarely a liberal, although only so far as liberalism makes sense. As such, I wholly oppose DeBlasio's plan to eliminate the exam for the specialized high schools; that will destroy them in short order. I'm not a big fan of gun mania defenders who hide behind the 2nd Amendment; anyone who can read critically can see that it doesn't exist so murderers can have AR-15s. But I can understand that there are some valid reasons for gun ownership, such as protection in rural areas, from animals as much as from criminals; target practice as sport; and even hunting if you can get by the humane issue. I feel that much can be done through legislation to make this country safer by controlling who gets guns, what kind of guns they can have, and the distribution of ammunition.
(continued)
6
Now, to the puzzle. There were three phrases which use a gun word (shotgun, rifle, bazooka) in a non-gun sense. The revealer also contained a gun word (trigger), but the connection of the phrase's meaning only tangentially had anything to do with guns. A trigger warning tells you "caution, danger ahead."
As Martin said, a trigger warning really has nothing to do with firearms.
Now I can understand that if you lost a loved one to gun violence, you might be saddened to run into a "gun word", but in real life we come across these kinds of words every day. A sad song may "trigger" an emotional reaction; a "shotgun wedding" is one where the bride is pregnant (although that's not so odd anymore); "He's got an arm like a bazooka" is often said about an outfielder who can throw baserunners out.
Ultimately, this puzzle is really about guns very tangentially. I know for some people, even tangentially is too much. And I'm sorry for those who have serious emotional trauma when confronted by a themeset like this one. I'm sure their pain is real.
However, if we were to censor the language to make sure no one was ever offended or hurt, we'd have to get rid of...
Adolph's meat tenderizer. That name's expiration date has passed.
"She's a slave to fashion." Too many bad memories in the collective consciousness of the nation.
The Dixie Chicks. How dare women call themselves chicks? Or emphasize that they're from the former CSA?
14
Son of a gun. Better go back to the saltier version of the phrase.
Bottom line: Were you hurt, or just offended? If the latter, perhaps you're just a bit oversensitive.
I would guess that there were some who were truly hurt because they've had a gun-related personal experience that has caused long-lasting trauma. I hope that tomorrow's puzzle will be less problematic for you.
But if you were merely offended, I think you're creating cannon fodder (pun most certainly intended) for the anti-liberals who call you "snowflake" and work hard to take all you hold dear to you away. To these people, you present as a joke if you take offense at everything that is "politically correct". Better to take action. Join the MAJOR political party (and there's a reason I emphasized one word) that aligns most with your beliefs and be an activist for candidates who have a realistic chance of getting elected and carrying out your agenda.
But taking potshots (there I go again) at a crossword puzzle is a weak substitute for substantive social change.
And remember to project positivity and reasonableness so that not just the fringe can grasp onto your message.
Surprisingly, Rex Parker wasn't too bent out of shape by the theme. Jeff Chen didn't even bat an eye. Not surprisingly, Deb reacted differently.
Different strokes, they say.
As for me personally, I can't get too upset over this theme, even though it gives me the opportunity.
May no one be touched by random gun violence.
15
For anyone in the New York City area, one of Jimbo's Facebook friends posted:
The family will have a viewing this Friday evening in Baldwin. I hope everyone can attend.
Just wanted to let everyone know there will be a viewing for Jimbo this Friday, June 22 from
6:00 to 9:00pm.
Fullerton Funeral Home
769 Merrick Rd.
Baldwin, NY 11510
(516)223-1460
11
I did the puzzle as a puzzle and forgot about it when I
finished it. I would never had thought of it again but made
the mistake of reading the article. I’m kind of new to doing
the NYT’s crossword. I didn’t know they were to be taken so
seriously. I just try to fill in the words! Have I been wrong not
to connect them with the news?
11
Thank You Mark!!! You've stated it so much more eloquently than my comment which will probably not make it to the published comments anyway. Bravo!!
Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
5
I, for one, thought today's theme was fine. It's just a clever turn of a common phrase in today's lexicon. I'm disappointed in the way some people in these comments are approaching the subject in such a juvenile way and trying to bully Will and Mr. Gordon into regretting this puzzle.
10
I don't find Mr. Shortz's flat affect indifference at all shocking. It's simply more of the same tone that's been ratcheting up for some time: "L'état c'est Shortz".
3
We should be so lucky to have Will Shortz in charge.
13
In her haste to remove the offending photo, Deb replaced it with one making no sense. This puzzle is best forgotten.
Period.
You must have missed Deb's explanation of the new photo in response to an inquiry several hours ago: "It's a lecture, as the revealer clue and the headline indicate."
Apostrophe.
3
The clue didn’t make sense either. Unless it is supposed to depict possible violence if you don’t like what the lecturer is saying.
Michele,
You're confusing a term that you don't know with nonsense.
trigger warning: a statement at the start of a piece of writing, video, etc., alerting the reader or viewer to the fact that it contains potentially distressing material (often used to introduce a description of such content).
A trigger warning allows an audience member who might be sensitive to the lecture topic to leave. It has nothing to do with firearms.
A well-constructed puzzle. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy one bit of it due to the timing of the theme. An unfortunate juxtaposition. Respect to Mr. Gordon and Mr. Shortz, but desipte this puzzle's impressive construction, this was not a positive nor fun experience as most are.
10
I'm pretty disgusted by this theme. Puzzles do not exist in a vacuum. The gun crisis in this country is killing our children and deserves actual NYT coverage every day, not in the puzzles. And the flippancy of TRIGGER WARNING appearing here is offensive.
The NYT puzzle is increasingly old-fashioned and out of touch. I've been a daily player for years but it's becoming harder and harder to justify the subscription cost for a puzzle who doesn't pay its contributors fairly, is overwhelmingly male, isn't keeping up with the times, and does themes like this.
"Elegant" wordplay doesn't count for anything when it hurts people. Pay more attention to your audience and the context of the world in 2018.
9
Can there any more important mission than to scour the crosswords for offensive phrases and words? I think not, and so let me extend deep thanks on behalf of everyone here and express the hope as well that you’ll continue your vigilance not just for crosswords, crucially important as they are, but to all walks of life, indeed to any place where you may find your sensitivities threatened by ideas, words, or pictures. These sorts of things MUST be stamped out.
21
As is often the case, there's Nobis-ness like Showbis-ness.
The discussion has exceeded my simple xwp-solving capacity. I'm off to sequester my BB King records.
Free the children
I came of age in the decades right after WWII so I certainly knew what a bazooka was. However I never made any connection between the armament and the gum. Now that I think about it maybe the connection was the sound that this extra chewy, slightly thicker gum made when a bubble was blown and popped. What I am saying is that sometimes a word is just a word.
3
In the Not-Only-But-Also category, there was the parallel between BAZOOKA Joe and Joe Palooka.
1
Skipping the puzzle today. It shows a gross lack of situational awareness and judgement. The crossword puzzle has been my daily escape from the insanity of the harm generated by the White House. Mr. Shortz, there are no excuses nor apologies that justify your choice.
3
This theme, its answers, and the word ASYLUM were all in very poor taste, and the timing could not have been worse. I am so disappointed.
6
Just noticed ASYLUM! (I must have gotten it through only the downs.) Insult to injury!
Now ASYLUM is in "poor taste"?! Seriously? ASYLUM seekers are being treated poorly by our current administration, but that makes the word in poor taste?
6
When I read the editor's remarks, my first thought was that we were in some sort of hall-of-mirrors regression. Was this intended a tongue-in-cheek illustration of the puzzle's trigger-warning theme? If so, I thought, the exercise was too clever by half. But scanning the comments about the remarks makes me think we are actually taking this all quite seriously.
If it's the former, then the joke's on me. If it's the latter, then--really? Of all the many problems facing us today, perhaps the most intractable is our increasing inability to speak across symbolic divides. Guns are not just guns: the very idea of a gun has become a flashpoint around which our current climate demands we assume an identity and a host of entrenched political and moral positions.
I found nothing in this puzzle that celebrated guns or violence in any way. On the contrary, I very much enjoyed Rifling Through my mind to locate a memory of Riding Shotgun while extracting a hard pink rectangle of gum from its wrapper. Bazooka was tougher to chew and not as elastic as Double Bubble, but the hidden comic strip made it feel like you'd won a prize. Obviously, other people have very different associations with these same phrases. Isn't that the point of Trigger Warnings, to alert us to the possibility that some people may find some content upsetting?
I fear it may soon be impossible to speak at all for fear that our words will do violence to someone, somewhere.
23
On the plus side, one can focus on the USA Today crossword and be challenged by brainteasers like "___
On the plus side, one can switch to the USA Today crossword and be challenged with brainteasers like "______'s Company"!
8
Yes, and I liked your first version, too!
Maybe we need "trigger warnings" on every NYT article. Wouldn't want to risk upsetting anyone...
14
It’s not about “upsetting” someone, for pete’s sake. If you know or love anyone with PTSD or who has survived a rape, you’d be less flippant and cavalier , and have a deeper understanding of what happens when someone is triggered.
2
As it happens, I do in fact know more than one survivor or such trauma, and while I am very sensitive to their specific emotional needs when dealing directly with them, I nevertheless find this over-the-top hypersensitive response to a crossword puzzle theme to be both ludicrous and, as a true blue liberal, deeply embarrassing.
Fer cryin’ out loud, can we please stop acting like the snowflakes they say we are?
2
I wasn't commenting one way or the other on the cxw puzzle. I was commenting on the trivialization of the idea of trigger warnings ... as I posted elsewhere. Trigger warnings are a sign of respect for the experiences of others and require no censorship, nor do they stifle free speech, nor do they require the ones issuing the warning to share those feelings ("acting like snowflakes"). You simply announce, as did Will and Deb, that the subject might trigger someone's trauma, leaving it up to individuals to decide what action they need to take--leave, gird their hearts, close their ears, etc. No judgement anywhere implied by anyone--just respect.
the tone deaf selection of today's puzzle is to me comes as annoying but not shocking given the editorial judgment of the times these days. i am not offended because i am "triggered" by the upsetting content—as the puzzle's creator might coyly assume i would be. i am instead annoyed that in this post shortz makes no attempt to address the concerns raised by his colleague of the obligation to be sensitive to national traumas
13
I am way more offended by WANGLE than the gun stuff.
9
I choose Not to work today's NYT Crossword. It seems that the NRA has an advocate in Peter Gordon. There is enough support for GUN OWNERS in America. I do NOT need to have a crossword puzzle set the tone for my day.
5
Are you seriously suggesting that the NRA’s vile agenda is somehow advanced by the publication of a crossword puzzle in the NYT that contains a handful of gun-related puns?
Really? Really?
Do you realize how over-the-top that sounds?
5
So much for the "breakfast table test". Harmless words that are considered rude or blue aren't allowed anywhere in the Times puzzle, but a puzzle that specifically mocks "liberals" by making the buzzword "trigger warning" into almost a threat of violence by linking it to a list of guns is not a problem.
Will claims to try to keep his politics out of the puzzle. I think he fails in general, but it's a spectacular and specific failure today.
Expecting to see "MAGA" clued as "Patriotic promise, say" any day now. Waiting on "Treasonous group" to clue "NFL" as well.
6
Honestly, I think your post mocks liberals more than any puzzle ever could.
19
Mark, can you tell me what the "WARNING" is supposed to be in the theme? In the original phrase, "trigger warning" is an alert that content that follows may be upsetting. As a "hint to the puzzle's theme," it's warning you that all these theme answers have triggers. Which you need to be warned about because... if they are triggered, it will hurt or kill somebody, right?
I'm not offended by "trigger warning" being treated in a dismissive or nonchalant way; it's an overstated idea that I don't think causes real issues in classrooms but is blown out of proportion by "anti-P.C." agitators. I am offended by the notion of making the phrase literal -- warning the sensitive libs that there are a lot of dangerous weapons in the grid and they better be prepared to deal with it.
Would you be okay with a theme that had a bunch of synonyms for Mafia executions ("hit", "ice", "whack", etc.) and a revealer that was something like "Picking between two options, for a hired killer?" and the answer was PROCHOICE? It's distasteful because it links a political issue to violence (equates, reproductive health care with "killing babies"), even in a supposedly clever, jocular way.
Sorry Dain, but the overly emotional and spectacularly far reaching content of your posts lead me to assume that an attempt at a thoughtful response would be futile.
Today's comments may be one of the most comprehensive and interesting debates I've ever read about gun control. So many interesting angles, from the emotional to the technical, explored in detail. Consequently, I'm glad the puzzle ran. Your reactions, fellow commentators, were worth it.
7
On a more MINImal subject, where do you have to live to hear stuff like ZHUZH?
4
My thought exactly. That's a new one on me.
1
I've heard zhuzh many times (native New Yorker), but would have spelled it completely differently. Then again, I've never seen it written down before.
I think this is an example of the adage that just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. I don't consider any topic taboo or off limits, but I question the choice of something that is obviously going to be painful to many people.
So I started today with this very disappointing and distasteful puzzle, along with the deeply distressing cries of children taken from their mothers. (Should the clue for ASYLUM have been tweaked to make it "cute"? Maybe something you shouldn't seek if running for your life from domestic or gang violence, or much of anything else?)
Altogether, today is off to an extremely depressing start. And now I'm off for some unpleasant medical tests.
About the only good thing about today is the observance of Juneteenth.
BTW, is gum really considered "candy"?
7
"And now I'm off for some unpleasant medical tests."
You probably just inspired several constructors, Deadline. Sorry about the nature of the tests; best wishes for pleasant results.
3
"You probably just inspired several constructors, Deadline."
I wish that hadn't made me laugh, but it did. Guilty.
1
Actually, things got a bit better.
There was some research being done on a way to make one of the tests easier. I didn't notice that it was particularly easier, but they gave me $20 for being a subject. That was just about one-way taxi fare to the hospital.
And my cab drivers both ways were really quite terrific. The first understood and went along with my wishes to take a less direct route, but one that would avoid the tunnel access traffic. Coming home, I got one of those cabs where there is only a teeny little vent for A/C in the passenger compartment, and the driver invited me to ride up front where it was deliciously cool. Both these drivers were, of course, well tipped.
(But I still think mocking wanton violence and/or PTSD, knowing that the mockery would cause real pain to many people, is in atrocious taste.)
1
The original clue for eponym would have had two joules in the clues. Fun stuff!
And if you’re polling the responses, I too believe trivializing PTSD is in exceedingly poor taste.
Tom
5
While I am glad to see a change of photo accompanying the column, I was perplexed as to what the new photo's possible relevance to the puzzle is. I guess that it must be the presence of a ROSTRum. Or is some sort of TRIGGER WARNING required before attending a lecture on Franz Liszt? I would have thought that a ROUSSEAU painting would have made a nicer image.
1
Hi Andrew,
It's a lecture, as the revealer clue and the headline indicate.
1
Oh, of course. Thanks, Deb. I couldn't see the forest for the trees!
I don't mind seeing a couple of trees here: the revealer clue, but the ROSTRum as well.
1
It’s nice that the Times was able to air both Deb’s view and Will’s in a civil manner. There is always room for more than one view.
Oh yeah, the puzzle. It was one of my fastest times and I thought the clues were usual Peter elegant. Love the azooka Bubble Gum.
14
My five favorite clues from last week:
1. Source of multicolored Maos (6)
2. Critic's pick (3)
3. 1960s TV unit (6)
4. Path of an overnight star (10)
5. Fair game (8)
WARHOL
NIT
F TROOP
ZERO TO HERO
RING TOSS
4
I'm a different type of solver, in that I rarely pick up on the the theme, so come to Wordplay and find out what I figured out after the fact.
I quite liked the puzzle as I did it (how many first-time entries were there? It seemed like a record for a Tuesday.)
However, reading the comments gave me pause. If a colleague is unwilling to go along, it might may be a moment of clarity to decide not to run with the theme.
Mr. Gordon is clearly a talented person and Will is a legend, but I think this needs to be a teaching moment for both.
13
Deb, I’m reading Wordplay via the Times app,andI have an all-access subscription. For the first time, I can’t “take a peek at the answer.” What gives?
Hi Trish,
My apologies, I had the wrong link in there. I've fixed it. Give it a minute or two, refresh and try again. Thanks for your patience.
1
UPDATE from Deb Amlen, 9:10 a.m.: The original photo on this column, which showed a man firing an automatic rifle...
As long as we're decrying weapons, let's decry them accurately, please. The AR-15 is a semi-automatic rifle; the M-16 (the military original) has the full auto option.
3
That hardly seems relevant in any way. Can't I decry both without being lectured too about the difference?
4
Hi Dain,
(1) Since it is not legal for civilians to possess fully automatic rifles, I think it has some relevance to the discussion of civilian gun possession.
(2) How, exactly, is requesting a more accurate photo caption "lecturing you?"
That’s Barry for you.
Had this idea for a cute theme that Will might like ...
Theme answers:
- LYMPHOMA
- MELANOMA
- MYELOMA
- SARCOMA
Revealer: GIVE ME A CAN SIR (Polite response to "Bottle or draft, son?", or hint to starred clues.)
:
10
I've managed to survive two bouts of cancer.
Laughing at just about everything, including cancer, has helped me tremendously.
I wouldn't be offended at this theme at all.
In fact, I would laugh while solving it!
11
Did you read my post or do we just happen to be on the very same wavelength today?
While a victim laughing at cancer, (an affliction which is beyond anyone's control), is an understandable way of coping, I still would say that laughing at someone who has just been stricken with cancer would not be very appropriate. Therefore the way in which that humour is manifested is extremely important.
Yet I still would not see that as a parallel of joking about mass murder, which is a very serious societal problem, and always involves guns and wilful violence. Would any of us admire a "clever" crossing of, say, DEAD CHILDREN with SANDY HOOK in a puzzle? My point being that I do believe that we all have lines that are not to be crossed. Those lines can vary greatly from person to person based on their own experiences, but we need to respect that such lines exist, and not just brush things off with "Get over it! It's just a puzzle!"
1
I would be interested to see how these online comments compare to those submitted by email/mail (or by other means) -- quantitatively/statistically. Could this puzzle generate letters to the editor? Do people think these puzzles are generally not being sufficiently vetted prior to publication? What other topics would be considered taboo? We are living in difficult times with many sensitive/contentious/controversial subjects. In all seriousness, Will Shortz, Joel Fagliano, and Deb Amlen should consider writing an op-ed for the NYT main page to solicit comments from the general community, to garner opinions from those who don't work these crossword puzzles.
5
As the theme dawned on me I thought, "No...the NYT is not really going to do this, are they?" Then I came over here, saw that disgusting photo and read Mr. Shortz's smug commentary and realized, "yep, guess they are" with a sinking feeling in my stomach. Why? Why run something like this? As someone who suffers from PTSD, and who relies on "trigger warnings" for what they are, I really detested the supposedly light-hearted approach to a serious and demoralizing issue in our country.
What's next - a puzzle on immigration, with the hint being "SEPARATION ANXIETY?"
9
I knew from Facebook there was some controversy going on, and when I got to RIDES SHOTGUN my heart sank.
MMM, your "separation anxiety" is a perfect example of what this puzzle tastelessly does -- makes wordplay out of a national crisis touching the lives of thousands upon thousands of people.
"Why?" and "detested" -- my reactions exactly. Both the author and the editor must have known they were going to upset people, so why do it? WHY?
With "73,505 nonfatal firearm injuries ... and 33,636 deaths due to 'injury by firearms" [Wikipedia], literally millions of people in this country have had gun violence kill or damage their families, friends, lives. Why on earth treat their grief so callously?
5
It's good to see the photo change.
4
Alas, on my iPhone app, the murderous assault weapon is still in place.
1
That weapon murdered somebody? Wild!
Stu, Definition of murderous: (Merriam-Webster)
"having the purpose or capability of murder"
So yes, murderous.
1
I agree with Ms. Amlen on this puzzle. I am not a fan of guns in the theme generally, and find the timing of this puzzle questionable given the problem of gun violence in the United States, but the use of TRIGGER WARNING is what made me find this particular puzzle so distasteful.
Trigger warnings are not just to help people avoid vaguely “upsetting” lectures, but to avoid something actually traumatic, in the PTSD meaning of the word. Mr. Shortz should have continued his editing of the clues so that this clue was accurate instead of just his vague understanding of the word.
Throwing the phrase TRIGGER WARNING around in a joking manner, as was done in this puzzle, further distances it from its true meaning and makes it harder for it to serve its true purpose: respecting those who have gone through some pretty heavy stuff. Words have meaning, and they often have a bigger impact than just serving as a fun turn of phrase.
13
TRIGGER WARNING; Roy’s mount rearing on his hind legs when sensing the presence of a Diamondback; the reptile not the NLer.
8
Damn.
3
Indeed.
[faint praise]
This puzzle rubbed me the wrong way. It wasn't the gun theme itself that particularly bothered me. What did bother me was the idea of connecting it to "trigger warnings," which might be a controversial concept, but not one to make light of - especially in the context of guns - since the concept of trigger warnings has to do with survivors of trauma.
It was just in really poor taste.
With the number of submissions the crossword receives, surely there must have been plenty of other options.
16
Cher, Madonna and Adele will be sad to know that Spelling Bee won't accept MONONYM.
6
Not a MONONYM, but a singer (?) of sorts, YOKO ONO appeared but was sadly not accepted. NONO was a no-no, and isn't HONKY a word?
And what about that MONONYM BONO? He wasn't accepted either
Ah, Andrew, I wanted to put in HONKY too. But then, I saw that it has only derogatory meaning, so no way it'd get accepted. HONKY-TONK, on the other hand, perfectly ok. But we don't have the letters and it's a hyphenated word.
Cheers for BAZOOKA BUBBLEGUM. Hadn't thought of it in years but clearly remember its color, taste, smell, and how it totally filled my mouth.
Re differences of opinion: if we all cut off relations with anyone we disagreed with, we would all be alone in our individual bubbles.
6
I have not heretofore heard the phrase TRIGGER WARNING, and I kind of don't get it...(yeah, firearms have TRIGGERS, as a rule, but WARNINGS are not necessarily issued.) And for really big guns, there is generally a lanyard, (said the artilleryman's daughter.)
Whatever. The guns that are the problem are not usually RIFLES, SHOTGUNS, or BAZOOKAS.
Harking back to yesterday, I had a lovely telephone encounter with the co-owner of Modern Quilt Studio, designer of quilting fabrics. I was desperately seeking a particular fabric in a unusual color, having purchased the smallish end-of-bolt quantity at a local quilt shop...but I needed more! And he had their last bolt right there, @ $12 per yard. What we need are more quilters! If you can afford the fabric, you can't afford guns. Problem solved, eh?
1
TRIGGER WARNING was new to me, too. I assumed it did not refer to Roy Rogers' horse.
2
Oh, yes, to more quilters = more fabrics = less $ for guns!
I think my Guild has one of the MQS people coming next year. Yay!
We all have fabric search stories, right?
And the puzzle? I usually am late to the theme, but today's revealed itself pretty quickly. Although words are just words and a crossword puzzle is just a puzzle, still, the words and the puzzle today were a reminder of the current state of our union. The sloughs of despond, indeed.
1
I, too, am a Mean Old Lady and a quilter. The world would be a much bettter place if we made quilts, not violence. Or if we made quilts, not complaints. And if we made quilts and not guns. And if we made quilts and everyone was warm. And if we made quilts and spent our idle hours looking for the perfect piece of fabric. Or the perfect sunset. Or the perfect smile on a friend to whom we just told a joke about why the quilter crossed the road.
7
Spelling Bee:
1. This is the second puzzle with only one vowel (with the one sometimes vowel). The first one was June 12 - KNPRTY-O). I wonder if we'd ever have a one vowel puzzle without a Y. Or three vowels.
2. I noticed that there hasn't been an S or a J so far. I suspect the S is less likely to show up because of the plural implications. It's early days yet - it's only been about a month.
Question for all - yesterday's puzzle was 191 points for Genius - is a high-point puzzle harder or easier? Or is it easier to reach genius but more difficult to reach Queen Bee? Or does it make no difference and just depends on person and specific puzzle?
The final 5 or 6 that I got were like pulling teeth. I didn't even try ANTI, as it's a prefix, not a word. Silly me. I got Genius but never so far the ultimate...
And now I hear that Will thinks we wd not know EPONYM?
I was thinking that maybe he had to cater to broad audience therefore assume EPONYM is unknown to some solvers. But as in the mini, if the ZHUZH fits...I don't see why EPONYM would be a challenge.
I think it's really:
1. Cluing that is a good demonstration of an EPONYM. i.e. just having a single name leave you hanging out there and a universe of possibilities.
2. The name is not so obscure as to be out of reach of most people to know that it is both a name and an EPONYM.
From the point of view that it should be easier to get 70% of a large number of words than of a small number, high point count should be easier for Genius status. But you still have to know a lot of words.
I suspect you're right about the S. It would be interesting to see if there's some combination of letters that leads to very few nouns and verbs that have two forms, with and without final S. (Take that as a challenge, Queen Bee!)
I don't normally respond to off-topic discussions, but since it was brought up by several participants, the morality of using firearms is certainly one to consider. I firmly hold that the real culprit in gun violence inflicted by and against people is ammunition, and I would be much in favor of restricting access to ammunition in any form with appropriate legislation and substance control law. Guns, rifles et cetera are means of delivery. Without ammunition they are just mechanical objects and intricate machines.
We have been and still are engaged in a global effort to reduce nuclear weaponry. The focus of that reduction has not been on means of delivery, but on ammunition -- the nuclear "gunpowder". Think about that one.
6
"Think about that one."
I did. Please pass the SALT.
1
Here's an update, then:
https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/USRussiaNuclearAgreementsMarch2010
I'm a high-school teacher. I go to work every day wondering whether this will be the day for my school (and/or for me).
This theme was insensitive. Maybe if we were living in a culture without such a murderous gun fetish we could regard this theme with some distance, but that's not the America we live in. Bad choice.
Meanwhile, in today's mini, I had never heard 4A before anywhere. I get, after some googling, that it was used for awhile on a cable tv show, but it seemed pretty obscure to be.
15
Dave, while often we thank our veterans for their service because of the sacrifice they make, we don't do enough to thank our teachers, so I want to thank you for being a teacher, first of all. While it's not quite the same level of sacrifice, increasingly, you are in more dangerous situations.
re: 4A, I assume you meant 64A FIREPLUG?
5
Thanks for the good words.
No, I meant 4A in the mini puzzle for today, ZHUZH. It must be a word, because my autocorrect just offered it to me.
4
Poorly worded - increasingly in more dangerous situations *than before*.
I abhor guns. For a long time I have been openly telling people I support the repeal of the 2nd Amendment. I would love to have a Gun Grabber in Chief as president some day.
That said, I'm flummoxed by the negative reactions to this puzzle.
Putting aside that it was a really well-constructed work and a really fun solve, it in no way conveys any kind of pro-gun message (IMO).
Books, theater, film, opera, ballet, and yes even puzzles may have themes with difficult subjects. That's life.
And that's freedom.
Sure, one has the freedom to feel bad about a puzzle or to find it distasteful, but suggestions that it shouldn't have been run or that some might cancel their subscription seem particularly silly.
While I worry about a world with unfettered access to guns, I also worry about a world without unfettered access to free thought and expression.
41
Briefly on the solve: Very smooth - the couple of things I didn't know came easily from the crosses. I'd never heard of TRIGGER WARNING and TRIGGER was the last thing I filled in.
On to the main topic. I grew up around guns. We had several in our basement as far back as I can remember. I got my first rifle at age 13 and I sold dozens of them working in my grandfather's sporting goods store. Beyond that, I think it's safe to say that I have probably witnessed (and participated in) more gun-related violence than all but a very few. I'm sure I've had hundreds of rounds fired in my general direction and helping to pile up almost 60 bodies (ours and theirs) after one long night was the point of numbness for most in my unit - certainly for me. And because of that, I also understand that seeing one person shot, or even just seeing something on TV, could well be as traumatic as the sum of my experiences.
I don't own any guns now. I have no desire to, nor do I see any need to. The theme didn't bother me; I understand why it would bother some people and wondered before I got here what the reaction would be. And then I saw the picture. The whole point of this theme was gun-related phrases that didn't actually relate to guns. But, let's show a picture of a real gun? And an AR-15? Really?
That seemed more than a bit over the top to me - smirky. No opinion beyond that. I will continue to read and appreciate what others have to say on both sides.
22
If there was a photo of a gun, it's gone now. A rostrum (singular) remains.
1
I've been meaning to unsubscribe from the NYT puzzle app for lots of reasons. Thanks for giving me the motivation to finally do it.
2
Bye bye.
4
My initial reaction to your post was, "Well, it was (not) nice knowing you." Then I reflected and must admit I have changed behavior (TV show watching, movie attendance, radio listening, etc.) because of things I consider offensive to my moral code. So I would change my reaction to, "I am sorry to see you go. I hope you change your mind."
I knew when I sussed out the puzzle theme what this blog would look like before I even wandered over here, and I was not disappointed. I respect the beliefs and convictions of everyone here, though I do not share all of them.
I will repeat something I said a few days ago though...the crossword puzzle is a trivial pursuit. This forum has a tendency toward the literal and over-reaction concerning this pursuit, which I find a bit disheartening. Every day it is just another small erosion of any middle ground which may still exist.
14
"Every day it is just another small erosion of any middle ground which may still exist."
Permit me to offer a minor change of language (and concept). When each side hears extreme positions from the other, neither is willing to accept the other's as the starting point for finding a "middle." What we need is "common" ground. There is no "middle" between CCW reciprocity and no pheasant hunting. There is "common ground" in that a majority of NRA members favor greater restrictions on access to guns.
Better than average puzzle. (Myra *and* Jane? Oh my.)
7D brings memories. Wasn't it Fleer's Double Bubble that also had a comic strip wrapping the gumball? And if nothing else, those sugary chews sure helped keep the dental profession employed. (I still have my mercury amalgam fillings.)
56A raises a philosophical point: how can an object lack something it never had?
In regard to 54A, if a Capo di Tutti Capo speaks to an audience of like-mined men, is it on a Cosa Nostra rostrum?
And a long overdue quibble: 59A is a bit off -- the correct verb is riffle. The "single f" word speaks more to theivery than searching.
I might riffle some pages looking for a quote, but I'd rifle through drawers seeking a particular fabric for a block.
9
"Fleer's Double Bubble"
Yep, that and Bazooka were the two main bubble gum purveyors. (I always like the flavor of Double Bubble better.)
1
Dr W, 'lacking laces' is an enduring characteristic of loafers: never had'em, never will. Your philosophical point would apply if the clue used 'miss' instead of 'lack'. Or so it seems to me.
Re your suggestion elsewhere: restrictions on ammunition have indeed been a consideration in some public health circles for a couple of decades [to my knowledge] and goes well beyond the wider initiative against lead poisoning. Seriously.
OK ladies and gentlemen - time to submit LOTS of puzzles with less controversial fare .Will edited and published it ( I agree poor taste and timing ) but someone created and submitted it . Let the onslaught begin !
3
I write this as someone horrified by the repeated mass gun violence that is far too prevalent in the US, and a strong proponent of common sense gun control.
A gun-based theme, especially one that uses words related to guns in a non-violent way - RIFLE THROUGH, RIDES SHOTGUN, BAZOOKA JOE - is just a theme. These terms and expressions don’t disappear from our language, and shouldn’t, even if they’re loosely tied to guns.
In my opinion, the reaction to this puzzle by many commenters is symptomatic of how liberals and progressives are often perceived by conservatives - overly sensitive, and afraid. Until this kind of reaction stops, the perceptions will continue.
I dread seeing the following story in the conservative media - “NY Times crossword puzzle solvers voice concerns that gun-themed puzzle should have come with trigger warning”.
NY Times readers are better than this. Stronger than this.
30
Today's offering goes way beyond the pale and should not have been published. Likewise the photo in the blog. We must start somewhere to de-normalize gun violence and I applaud Deb's stand.
8
There was a cold-blooded murder on the backstretch at Belmont Sunday morning. No firearm was used. Violence is the ogre we have to confront. Weaponry will always be part of the human factor no matter the form. Man's perpetual inhumanity directed outward is the problem we must address head on in a practical vein...Oh YES, YES, about the puzzle; twice, and briefly, I had to bear the burden of speed bumps. One was anyway/ANYHOW and the other @ square 39 where slam eventually gave way to WHAM. I was able to RIFLE THROUGH the rest despite PITEOUS and ROSTRA RAISIN' some cane with my effort...Today's twofer, in reverse chronological order, speak directly to our puzzle's topic. Released within a couple of years of each other, here are the Mamas And Papas, with a live version of "Straight Shooter," following Sir Elton's beautiful ballad, "My Father's GUN."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jB2qE_TDImA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LooSp7_7ZiE
Be SEEin' Ya,
Bru
5
I fully agree with Deb. Guns will be part of American life until we stop letting them be so. Everywhere.
9
I came into this puzzle with excitement and high expectation because Peter's last few in the Times have been sterling, and technically, this puzzle was a polished beauty. It also provided a terrific piece of learning, because I had never heard of a TRIGGER WARNING, and when I saw how well it Googled I realized it is something I should know, so I'm grateful for that.
But having a theme based on guns during this particular kids-scared-to-go-to-school time in a country where the over-sanctity of gun rights is the obvious cause of so much pain and sorrow -- well, that fell a bit flat. I don't believe we should bury our heads in the sand, nor do I believe we should we playfully bandy about gun references as if they were harmless trifles, like a juggler's bean bags. Shall we base a crossword puzzle on the etymologically-fun different types of cancer? It just gave me an ew-type feeling.
Thus, TRIGGER WARNING as a thing, turned out to be a true warning for me, giving this puzzle a meta feel. That was kinda cool. So I came eagerly into this puzzle, and leave it with some yukness blended with praise for positive elements, making it for me a mixed and memorable bag.
10
Yeah, I'm pretty easy with themes and clues and entries and stuff, and would have been fine with theme entries that are weapons-based, but I found the reveal cringe-worthy.
Conservatives love to make fun of trigger warnings as snowflake fodder, so the reveal seemed (to me) to be mocking gun-control arguments. I had the same reaction that I do to most "Mallard Fillmore" cartoons: "that's supposed to be clever?"
But it's just a crossword and the nastiness directed at the editor seems a bit over the top as well.
27
At first, when I got BAZOOKA GUM relatively early on and had a wonderful flashback to the joy of a fresh doughy piece of bubblegum in my mouth, I was loving this puzzle. Then there were the three theme entries - fine - “This is America.” But TRIGGER WARNING? That phrase means something quite confronting to many people. The last straw was the photo of Joseph Pereira shooting an AR-15 in Florida “for the first time.” Did he do it again? Is that a name we should know? Is he Florida’s next mass shooter? The Old Gray Lady has suffered a serious lapse of judgment.
7
I agree with Deb and many of the commenters. There is no need for guns in a puzzle. Regardless of your gun views Will, there is more to choosing an acceptable puzzle than the “good puzzleness” of it. Ick for this puzzle
12
Long time solver, first time commenter. To call this theme distasteful is an understatement. The accompanying photo is appalling. We don’t censor free speech AND we aren’t obligated to give a platform to those who joke about a VERY serious subject. Yesterday a friend forwarded me a post about a 10 year-olds’ softball league selling raffle tickets to win a handgun. I quit Facebook to avoid that nonsense and I’ll cancel my NYT subscription if these type of tone-deaf puzzles continue.
19
Why do we need gun violence in crossword puzzles, as well as everything else? This country has a real sickness.
16
Well done, Deb. Your decision and the excellent comments of the majority of our wordplay group with a good number of recommendations helped me to get over the feeling that this puzzle engendered the minute I noticed the theme.
15
I'd like to add that I don't think that freedom of expression is an issue here. I would not deny the right of those who found nothing wrong with the choice of theme for the puzzle the right to express that opinion in word play. I just think that with all the wonderful puzzles with clever and fun themes from which to chose it is a poor idea to chose one with such thoughtless theme.
I wish I could express myself better.
9
"I wish I could express myself better."
You expressed yourself just fine, suejean.
3
You expressed yourself just fine, suejean!
Will is the Phil Mickelson of the xword world. Smug, over the hill and out of touch. Please replace him with someone who will return the NYT xword to its place of prominence before it is too late.
11
NY Times, If you had to show a “fun” gun picture, you should have shown the off duty FBI agent who accidentally shot someone while on the dance floor. You probably think that one’s a riot.
8
Hi Michele,
I take responsibility for that photo, apologize for it and have replaced it.
1
Hi Deb,
I'm trying -- but failing -- to grasp declining to write the column because of the puzzle content but then selecting the shooter photo.
1
I agree with the comments that this is at best a tone deaf puzzle, a poor explanation for normalizing guns and the impact they have had on so many (trigger warning comes across as snide in this context) and an appalling photograph to use. Normalizing the AR-15 in this way is not at all appropriate in any venue.
Had you asked us, the people who pay for this service first what we thought I would have agreed you have a right to publish it but asked that you consider a responsibility to do so in a way that did not treat the issue as a game. And certainly would have advised using a photo and a caption that illustrated in some way the damage done by irresponsible gun use to so many every day due to the incoherent policies and use of guns by people without training (or insurance).
It seems rather unnecessary an argument to be picking at this point; and yes I am aware of the dangers of calling any topic off limits but I see no compelling reason to have published this. And the proforma statement on keeping politics out of our entertainment is disingenuous at best, and comes across as a dig at your colleague.
Let’s do better going forward.
33
Please explain why you chose this appalling photo. A teenager in Florida of all places just months after the mass murder of teenagers in Parkland. I wasn't crazy about the puzzle but this makes it so much worse.
19
I am hugely disappointed by the insensitivity of the theme of this puzzle and by the response of Mr. Shortz to it.
I second the response that perhaps, after a behind-the-scenes discussion where you KNEW it would be insensitive, you could have chosen a puzzle by an under-represented puzzle maker instead.
In the last year or so, the quality of the puzzle has decreased in proportion to its racist, sexist, and misogynistic clues.
Please consider the climate we live in and do not kid yourself that this was not a political statement by you.
26
Aristotle said two things that bear on this puzzle:
"There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing."
"We cannot learn without pain."
I learned something form this puzzle and these comments.
I also suspect this theme will not be a regular occurrence.
3
It's not just that the puzzle goes fully gun, it's that it also mocks the phrase "trigger warning". It embraces guns, so I assume the cross-referenced revealer is supposed to riff on the idea that liberals need safe spaces when all evidence is that conservatives are the ones who silence speech (including on campuses). I normally don't flinch at seeing UZI in a puzzle, cause it's a puzzle, but to see a theme like this? Come on.
23
My impression is that liberals - and I count myself one - are the bigger problem as regards suppression of free speech on campus these days by means of things like, yes, TRIGGER WARNINGS.
It has been a very long time since I was on campus, though, so I could be mistaken and have no firsthand knowledge on the subject. It certainly was not that way back in my day when campuses were bastions of free speech. Bill Maher, for example, refuses to do campus gigs any more, and rails against the lack of tolerance for controversy they provide these days.
9
In the late 60s Secy. of State Dean Rusk spoke at Indiana University. Or tried to speak through the shouts of Vietnam War protesters doing their best to drown him out. Not our finest hour, but in general there was free and open debate on campus and political differences didn’t interfere with friendship.
2
Equating trigger warnings with intolerance of disagreements and suppression of speech and debate is fundamentally erroneous. A trigger warning is what Will and Deb did at the start of the column: it alerts readers/viewers/listeners that something is about to be discussed/shown that might trigger someone to re-experience trauma. The point is not to censor or silence the speaker, but to allow the person who feels they might be triggered to leave, or not read/view the material. And it’s not ab”this might upset me” but rather as for PTSD sufferers or victims of other trauma, that it might cause them to re-experience the trauma. The trivialization of the term trigger warning is rampant and disrespectful of what we supposedly understand about trauma.
1
Today’s theme and photograph were in such poor taste that I am quite surprised NYT published it.
Although I’ve always been a Shortz fan, the fact that he had no problem with either the photo or the theme tells me that he is out of touch.
In the face of Parkland, Las Vegas and Sandy Hook, its really a shame that Mr. Shortz alluded to this theme as a “political” issue. Mass shootings are a societal issue and one that doesn’t need amplification by the NYT Crossword.
36
Hi Will!
This puzzle's content is super tone deaf in light of the increase in school shootings in the past few years (there have been 23 this year! We're only on week 26!) AND the recent gun violence that's led to multiple musicians losing their lives. I'm massively disappointed in the choice to run this puzzle, and I'm disappointed that neither the constructor nor editor took a moment to evaluate whether this was an appropriate theme to run.
28
Anyone else have an issue with the puzzle not accepting GDR for 37A? I completed the puzzle, triple checked everything, and after still not seeing where I messed up (not always great at spelling), I succumbed to clicking on reveal puzzle, only to find that it struck the G that I had written. I went back and looked at the answer sheet at the bottom of WP and found that I was missing...a G! Lost a very small streak for that (missed Sunday’s puzzle).
Okay, spoke too soon. The answer key today reverted back to my own puzzle (looks like how it can be completed in browser) and not the pdf looking key that normally pops up, which means I was checking my own work against...my own work *sigh.* There’s always tomorrow...
I had GDR at first and had to look for my error which I found when I saw HYgRATE.
It’s the German acronym Deutsche Demokratik Republik?
3
There are so many words —worlds of words — that I agree with Deb. Being tone deaf to violence is what has gotten us to this tragic point in our country. It doesn’t matter how clever or easy it is.
25
Mr. Shortz comes across as pretty smug in his replacement blog write-up. I really don't know why I continue to subscribe...
9
Thank you, Deb.
17
Adding ", informally" to "Big do" threw me off.
2
I'm neither a gun nor anti-gun fanatic.
I don't mind solving phrases that use the names of types of weaponry in relatively common phrases where the use of the weapons is not implied.
The phrases used in today's puzzle are/were common enough that they weren't bothersome for me.
22
You should have listened to Deb.
I do the puzzle for a brief respite from the craptastic rest of the world. I don’t need this “clever take” on weapons in my daily distraction. I’ll bet some enterprising young puzzle constructor ( maybe a woman or someone with a fresh take) has submitted a puzzle that would have been a pleasant alternative. True, you might have had to work a little harder, but it would have been worth it
44
Second this response.
5
Shame on Will Shortz, shame on The NY Times. To say this puzzle is tone deaf doesn’t even begin to describe its callous theme.
31
For me, this puzzle was a blast. I shot through it with my best Tuesday time.
I agree that the cleverness outweighed the sensitive subject matter.
12
'Blast'--punny.
2
Pretty fast even for a Tuesday. Yesterday's was a record for me. Virtually filled itself. Haven't been around for a few days because I blew both Saturday and Sunday. Haven't dared to look at the solves. Very. very discouraging.
“Guns are part of American life.” Yeah, and bazookas will soon be too, no doubt.
You're probably being humorous, but.... I am unlike Will. A total ban. But I'm not being a troll. I have learned we all are so apart on this, that it really can't be discussed.
2
The dispute about this puzzle is not only about us being "far apart" on the political or moral issue of guns. Peter Gordon and Will Shortz might be just as upset as any solver about the guns in this country and their consequences. Readers are also angry at their dispassionate use and defense of a gun theme in a puzzle, and that does not exactly reveal political leanings. As for me, I hate guns, I care about the migrants and whether they can attain asylum, and I liked the puzzle very much.
You've quite clearly thought about this too much, Lois; you're making sense.
1
I'm not a fan of the theme. I didn't have a visceral negative reaction, but then I've not lost someone to gun violence either. I thought it was awfully easy even for a Tuesday.
2
I did not know that emus lay green eggs. Can I get some ham with that?
6
Same, I just took a stab at it as a four letter plural bird entry, almost tripped myself up by originally having “daises” instead of ROSTRA beneath it, tho; I figured they both couldn’t be correct.
2
I googled EMU and was pleased to immediately get pictures of large green eggs.
So do some varieties of chickens, and I can attest that green herons lay lovely aqua eggs. (We had a nesting green heron in our live oak; she raised four chicks, to our delight. Baby grand-birds!)
2
I have no problem with the puzzle.
I'm not thrilled about the photo selection.
21
I felt the same way. THAT was a bad call.
3
How about a Bazooka Joe comic instead?
5
I felt the same as Barry. Understanding that some will be extra sensitive about the topic. The photo was unnecessary. I'm glad it has now been changed.
1
I was so distracted by ASYLUM and PITEOUS that I completely missed the gun theme. Things might get UGLY? Yup, they sure have.
5
Oh boy, so many people are gonna be triggered by today’s puzzle. :D Sadly I didn’t even notice there was a theme since I did an Across-only solve, killing my average time since I usually do speed runs on Tuesday. Fun despite being easy, tho!
1
After having finished the Mini (which I do as an appetizer), I was wondering who was going to say something about that awful ZHUZH (doesn't he play for the Yankees?)
But then came the main course. Let the floodgates open.
10
Don’t usually do the Minis, but you got me curious... WTH? I’ve never even seen that once in my life before.
1
I'm used to picking up new words (or non-words) in the main course; in the mini, not so much. I didn't know ZHUZH, apparently because I don't watch Queer Eye.
2
I was hoping someone would mention this! I knew the phrase, but the mini made me realize I had never in my life seen the spelling. And after it was finished, I just stared at it for 30 more seconds, thinking, [z]HU[z]H.
3
Another non standard grid ! I like it !
I did stop briefly today to admire the theme.
3