I love Wanda Sykes.
1
Pineapple is NOT a pizza topping. Worst. Clue. Ever.
2
lost comment? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5rGJncY8Rw
TONGA!!! Who knew! sorry if this magically shows up twice. Note sure what the emu's are doing at this hour!
TONGA!!! Who knew! sorry if this magically shows up twice. Note sure what the emu's are doing at this hour!
1
Before I forget, thanks to all for the elucidations on Morse code.
In particular, your comment about how it's no accident that dah-di-da-dit dah-dah-di-dah "rolls off the tongue," made me laugh: *your* tongue, maybe!
In particular, your comment about how it's no accident that dah-di-da-dit dah-dah-di-dah "rolls off the tongue," made me laugh: *your* tongue, maybe!
2
CQ?
1
Enjoyed filling this puzzle very much. Sort of a nostalgic trip down TV news history lane. I enjoyed figuring out which clue went with which hackneyed anchor line. And I never heard of a SPOONERISM before - MALAPROPISM I know well - so glad to learn something to add to my repertoire. What I didn't like was limited to an obscure golfer's name - well I guess I should qualify that by adding obscure to me - with an unknown - to me - Irish character old or new at 89A and 77D. I was able to guess the golfers name which was probably banging around in the obscure information wing of my memory banks since I'm one of that rare breed who actually likes watching golf on TV which gave me 77D's last character.
I don't eat gluten anymore so I don't care a wit about PANINI, PANINO PANINAE or whatever - I know, that wasn't the point. And I can think of several sweet/savory dishes I enjoy very much such as lamb in prune sauce I had in a French restaurant once many 'ans' ago. Never had a Hawiaan pizza so no opinion either way there. But I learned a while back not to turn up my nose at something simply because I haven't tried it yet which I spent most of my ill spent youth engaging in.
Thanks for a mostly lovely and enjoyable puzzle, Mr D!
I don't eat gluten anymore so I don't care a wit about PANINI, PANINO PANINAE or whatever - I know, that wasn't the point. And I can think of several sweet/savory dishes I enjoy very much such as lamb in prune sauce I had in a French restaurant once many 'ans' ago. Never had a Hawiaan pizza so no opinion either way there. But I learned a while back not to turn up my nose at something simply because I haven't tried it yet which I spent most of my ill spent youth engaging in.
Thanks for a mostly lovely and enjoyable puzzle, Mr D!
Your comment about not turning up your nose at things you haven't tried reminded me of the event that brought me to the same attitude. I once ordered an ice cream cone and the server asked if I wanted "bugs" on it. I said a quick No. Then I discovered he meant the little chocolate sprinkles. I realized that anything offered for addition to a dessert treat would likely be good. So now I say Yes even when I'm not sure what I'm accepting.
2
For Will,
Sorry to be such a stickler, but "panini" is the plural of "panino". 91 down is clearly singular. I know this mistake is made in every wanna-be hip sandwich shop in the metropolitan area, but if you want to sound hip at least the Italian should be correct.
Sorry to be such a stickler, but "panini" is the plural of "panino". 91 down is clearly singular. I know this mistake is made in every wanna-be hip sandwich shop in the metropolitan area, but if you want to sound hip at least the Italian should be correct.
If you want panino, do XWP in Corriere della Sera.
GRAZIE
GRAZIE
1
As a news and current affairs junkie, this was in my wheelhouse, on my wavelength, and up my alley.
I was also tickled that it was a product of Samuel (not the newsman) Donaldson, and was glad that Deb mentioned it.
SPOONERISM took a while for me to see, and I loved it. Also liked ETATS and ESTADOS, and was *so* glad they weren't cross-referenced!
Like Deb, I thought 17D referred to "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue"; the actual song was new to me.
Computer seems to have hiccups and is giving me messages about script. But it's Sunday, and maintenance day, so I'm hopeful that that will be fixed soon. (It's also defrost-the-refrigerator day and clean-the-A/C-filter day. Busy, busy, busy.)
I was also tickled that it was a product of Samuel (not the newsman) Donaldson, and was glad that Deb mentioned it.
SPOONERISM took a while for me to see, and I loved it. Also liked ETATS and ESTADOS, and was *so* glad they weren't cross-referenced!
Like Deb, I thought 17D referred to "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue"; the actual song was new to me.
Computer seems to have hiccups and is giving me messages about script. But it's Sunday, and maintenance day, so I'm hopeful that that will be fixed soon. (It's also defrost-the-refrigerator day and clean-the-A/C-filter day. Busy, busy, busy.)
2
Et tu NYT? The clue for Sunday puzzle 91 down was "grilled sandwich." The expected answer? "Panini." No, no no! The singular is spelled "Panino," with an "o." It is painful enough to have to face the persistent error at cafes, delicatessens, etc. Promise, please, that this will not become the accepted singular in the crossword (or in any NYT news story or feature article).
2
I'm guessing it's too late....
2
I will use my nunchakus to defend against the incursion of paninis. Alas, it won't work.
I shudder every time I hear the word panini referring to a sandwich.
I shudder every time I hear the word panini referring to a sandwich.
I thought we resolved this 17 hours ago.
2
Gucci is an Italian luxury brand of fashion and leather goods. Gucci was founded by Guccio Gucci in Florence in 1921. Gucci is the biggest-selling Italian brand. Gucci operates about 300 directly operated stores worldwide as of and it wholesales its products through franchisees and upscale department stores. In the year 2013, the brand was valued at $12.1 billion. In the Forbes World's Most Valuable Brands list, Gucci is ranked the 38th most valuable brand, with a brand value of $12.4 billion as of May 2015
That makes Gucci one in my book.
That makes Gucci one in my book.
As I was falling asleep last night I was musing about the possibility of a puzzle theme using epynoms. I had bowdlerize, mesmerize, malapropism, and I awoke to find SPOONERISM. I really enjoyed this one.
I'll add my link to Viv's chain for Mac.
I'll add my link to Viv's chain for Mac.
2
Among the many smiles while solving this puzzle, I especially enjoyed the clue for SPOONERISM and the twin foreign-language answers ESTADOS / ETATS.
@Mac: thinking of you and looking forward to hearing from you again.
@Mac: thinking of you and looking forward to hearing from you again.
2
Donaldson nailed it!
Birches are certainly white-barked; ASPENs, oft noted for quaking, not so much....but I imagine Martin has a picture of a white-barked one in his pocket right now....
OGHAM is new and still a mystery (pronunciation, etc.) and I don't expect to see it often.
DOTS today instead of DITS.
YIKES before YEESH (wince.)
@Mac-- we'll all be pulling for you!
Birches are certainly white-barked; ASPENs, oft noted for quaking, not so much....but I imagine Martin has a picture of a white-barked one in his pocket right now....
OGHAM is new and still a mystery (pronunciation, etc.) and I don't expect to see it often.
DOTS today instead of DITS.
YIKES before YEESH (wince.)
@Mac-- we'll all be pulling for you!
2
PINEAPPLE is a dessert, and does not belong on a pizza. That is all.
8
I have to agree with that, Alan.
Amen. Next thing you know they'll be putting it in (multiple) PANINI.
1
Me three. DHubby said, "Hawaiian pizza." But *I* know there is No Such Thing, and For Good Reason!
It took me a while to get the flavor of the theme, and was still fairly challenging when I did, but my attention was divided with the Olympics. However, the news lines were fun to work out. Words I had trouble with and looked up after the solve were, VARIANCES, the clue seems to be a definition in law of which I was not familiar; HEARKEN, same as harken, but noted as obsolete usage; OGHAM, which I didn't know at all, and as Deb says, now I do. :)
1
I enjoyed the humor in the theme answers. I've heard them all on the news at one time or another.
Other news: I'm signed up to meet with my transplant doctor on the 17th. I expect the stem cell transplant will ensue shortly thereafter. I'll have to be in Portland, OR for 6-8 weeks at that point. Depending on how I feel, I may not comment very often. I am looking forward to getting this summer over with and getting on with life.
Other news: I'm signed up to meet with my transplant doctor on the 17th. I expect the stem cell transplant will ensue shortly thereafter. I'll have to be in Portland, OR for 6-8 weeks at that point. Depending on how I feel, I may not comment very often. I am looking forward to getting this summer over with and getting on with life.
8
Mac, I'm happy to start the chain of love and support for you. You have a powerful cheering section here. May its waves carry you to success and cure.
8
I'll be thinking of you and Merrilee a lot over the next few weeks, Mac, and hope you'll feel up to a few visits to your wordplay family
8
Wishing you all the very best and a speedy recovery!
2
Great Sunday puzzle, quick solve for me today.
Especially loved the Bob's Burgers clue. For the uninitiated, Bob's Burgers is one of those mostly unwatchable and occasionally hilarious cartoon on Fox that debuted in 2011.
Tina is the oldest daughter, voiced without a trace of falsetto by a 35 year old comedian and actor named Dan Mintz.
So, while I can't recommend you watch an entire episode, here is a clip that gives you that Burger flavor:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1YV21i4MtA
Especially loved the Bob's Burgers clue. For the uninitiated, Bob's Burgers is one of those mostly unwatchable and occasionally hilarious cartoon on Fox that debuted in 2011.
Tina is the oldest daughter, voiced without a trace of falsetto by a 35 year old comedian and actor named Dan Mintz.
So, while I can't recommend you watch an entire episode, here is a clip that gives you that Burger flavor:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1YV21i4MtA
2
Thanks for the clarification, Chungclan. I wonder how much overlap there is between viewers of the cartoon and solvers of the NYT XWP.
Watched the clip. Don't get it.
Watched the clip. Don't get it.
Grid spanning central answer: "A deep sea diver has to surface after suffering a fracture..."
COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK.
Loved the puzzle and all the theme answers. SPOONERISM was terrific as well. Don't quite get BACKTOYOU, but that's a MINOR nit.
DL, I watched the first half hour of Gatsby and then switched to a baseball game. Was not enjoying it at all. I never got to see how DiCaprio did. I hope it was better than the rest.
COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK.
Loved the puzzle and all the theme answers. SPOONERISM was terrific as well. Don't quite get BACKTOYOU, but that's a MINOR nit.
DL, I watched the first half hour of Gatsby and then switched to a baseball game. Was not enjoying it at all. I never got to see how DiCaprio did. I hope it was better than the rest.
3
Rich, my best take on BACK TO YOU is that a dueler' stance is back-to-back with the opponent, so I guess if the dueler were addressing the opponent and the news person saying to a colleague.
1
RiA, if you watched the first half hour, you lasted about five or ten minutes longer than I did. What I did manage to sit through gave whole new meaning to the word "overproduced."
The flick (what I endured of it) hit me exactly the same way "Moulin Rouge" (what I endured of it) did. Possibly I just don't like Baz Luhrmann.
Turned off TV, turned on Nook.
What Beejay said about BACK TO YOU.
The flick (what I endured of it) hit me exactly the same way "Moulin Rouge" (what I endured of it) did. Possibly I just don't like Baz Luhrmann.
Turned off TV, turned on Nook.
What Beejay said about BACK TO YOU.
1
Be glad you missed those last few minutes, DL.
Believe it or not, it got worse.
Believe it or not, it got worse.
1
Interesting lookup anent 117A:
http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/2597/bodkins-and-bodkin-same-...
http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/2597/bodkins-and-bodkin-same-...
Some fun juxtaposes:
clues 19A and 50A
fills 47D and 57A
fills 84A and 100A (would have been NC-17)
OK, silly time: if you are on the item in the following list where are you?
Aar
Ayr
Aire
Ayre
clues 19A and 50A
fills 47D and 57A
fills 84A and 100A (would have been NC-17)
OK, silly time: if you are on the item in the following list where are you?
Aar
Ayr
Aire
Ayre
I live quite near the River Aire, Dr. W, but I'm stumped by the question.
suejean, I believe you have *answered* the question.
Yes, SJ has answered it correctly.
I was also hoping for a dialect-based answer too.
I was also hoping for a dialect-based answer too.
There were many gimmes (though GIMMEFIVE wasn't one for me), placing this on the easy end of Sunday. I learned Anatolia, and like YEESH, HARKEN, and JACCUSE. I liked trying to crack the theme answers with no or few letters, and BACK_TO_YOU was my favorite.
Some of the puzzle felt cobwebby and dull (answers like EMPANEL, SPOUSAL, VARIANCES), but rather than turn me off, I liked that the puzzle had a distinct flavor and personality, rather than a grab bag of words from which no tone or feeling emerges. So it passed the bar of quality that I look for in a NYT puzzle, and I enjoyed it.
Some of the puzzle felt cobwebby and dull (answers like EMPANEL, SPOUSAL, VARIANCES), but rather than turn me off, I liked that the puzzle had a distinct flavor and personality, rather than a grab bag of words from which no tone or feeling emerges. So it passed the bar of quality that I look for in a NYT puzzle, and I enjoyed it.
1
I love these punny puzzles even when the phrases aren't quite as common here as across the pond. I liked BREAKING NEWS best, and best non theme was the clever clue for SPOONERISM.
I considered myself to be a "Devotee of Dionysus" until I read the description of a MAENAD, so I'll stick with being a WINO, ("grape nuts" being another fun clue. )
Good fun, reminding me of the great Merl Reagle.
I considered myself to be a "Devotee of Dionysus" until I read the description of a MAENAD, so I'll stick with being a WINO, ("grape nuts" being another fun clue. )
Good fun, reminding me of the great Merl Reagle.
2
OCHOA crossing OGHAM? An invitation to Google which I had no choice but accept.
3
OCHOA crossing OGHAM crossing MAENAD? So that's, let's see, a Spanish patronym, Old Celt?, and an ancient Greek fan club? A rare fail for me - guessed the "O", guessed at "Y", but it was "A". Actually, the "H" was also a complete guess, but made sense, I suppose. At the end I was down to OC_O_, OG_AM, and MAEN_D. That's a tough fill.
2
Me too. Interesting find: it's old Irish script, hence "character" in the clue.
OCHOA crossing OGHAM?
Last letter entered. Ran the vowels. No MHP. But H seemed to fit with both Spanish and Irish.
Not the most satisfying way to coax out MHP, but, hey, whatever works.
Last letter entered. Ran the vowels. No MHP. But H seemed to fit with both Spanish and Irish.
Not the most satisfying way to coax out MHP, but, hey, whatever works.
and Elke
Thinking that SPOONERISMs were the theme, I wandered around a while.
Overcame my SADNESS , and SASSINESS kicked in.
A special TASTINESS for J' ACCUSE- Zola's letter which T. Herzl read which led to ultimately a SABRA ((OK- this was a headline version ).
Glad no rebus , just pfun.
Thinking that SPOONERISMs were the theme, I wandered around a while.
Overcame my SADNESS , and SASSINESS kicked in.
A special TASTINESS for J' ACCUSE- Zola's letter which T. Herzl read which led to ultimately a SABRA ((OK- this was a headline version ).
Glad no rebus , just pfun.
Good Sunday. Just kept working away at it. Liked the theme anchor lines.
Shouldn't 91D be clued as plural (grilled sandwiches)?
1
In Ancona, si; in New York, no.
3
Fun. Most of the themers came fairly easily, although the ARE SKETCHY part of 43D took a while due to strategically absent letters that had me wondering what the ending could possibly be.
As to Deb's comment on the names of popes, I've learned that if it's short, it's probably a LEO or a PIUS, and if it's longer, an ADRIAN is a good guess. I've also learned (outside of crosswords) that a "wye" is the actual name for where two or three railroad tracks come together in a triangular shape.
As to Deb's comment on the names of popes, I've learned that if it's short, it's probably a LEO or a PIUS, and if it's longer, an ADRIAN is a good guess. I've also learned (outside of crosswords) that a "wye" is the actual name for where two or three railroad tracks come together in a triangular shape.
2
Liz B,
*The Keddie Wye in California is rather dramatic; google for photos.
*More prosaic wyes were found at the ends of branch lines, so steam engines could be turned without the expense of installing and maintaining a turntable. A fine example may be found -- live or on google maps satellite view -- on the Long Island Rail Road at Montauk.
ALL ABOARD
*The Keddie Wye in California is rather dramatic; google for photos.
*More prosaic wyes were found at the ends of branch lines, so steam engines could be turned without the expense of installing and maintaining a turntable. A fine example may be found -- live or on google maps satellite view -- on the Long Island Rail Road at Montauk.
ALL ABOARD
.
I've taken the LIRR to the end of the line on the North Fork. Can't say I remember the wye as well as I recall how short the walk was to the ferry.
FRITOs
I've taken the LIRR to the end of the line on the North Fork. Can't say I remember the wye as well as I recall how short the walk was to the ferry.
FRITOs
MTF -- Greenport had a turntable, not a wye.
.
.
Deb, any solver unfamiliar with FILM AT ELEVEN should just plunk down in front of a Blu-Ray and/or streaming showing of the NSFW American classic "Kentucky Fried Movie". There, at odd intervals, a young Chevy Chase appears in his newscaster persona to announce some bit of news and promise, FILM AT ELEVEN.
This theme was fun and punny and reminded me of the themes that I was able to suss out when I was not always able to complete Sunday puzzles.
For this past sevennight, my solve time on Monday was quickest, followed by Tuesday and (the amped up) Wednesday. That is all according to form. But after Wednesday, my next-fastest solve was Saturday. Then Thursday (also a bit amped-up). Then Sunday, certainly on the easy side. And my slowest solve was the beastly Friday. None of these were "personal records", although I imagine Saturday and Sunday got near that territory.
I don't think I've ever had a week like that, and I don't believe it has anything to do with wheelhouses. Something is amiss in the difficulty-assessment biz, IMHO.
When I was about 9, I was dragged to an exhibit of FABERGE eggs. I looked at everything but I didn't really get why it was so important. (I had already seen priceless jewelry, meteorites, and gemstones in the Museum of Natural History.)
I am not sure there have ever been that many FABERGE eggs displayed in one place in North America since then. But even if there have been, it's an indelible memory.
.
Deb, any solver unfamiliar with FILM AT ELEVEN should just plunk down in front of a Blu-Ray and/or streaming showing of the NSFW American classic "Kentucky Fried Movie". There, at odd intervals, a young Chevy Chase appears in his newscaster persona to announce some bit of news and promise, FILM AT ELEVEN.
This theme was fun and punny and reminded me of the themes that I was able to suss out when I was not always able to complete Sunday puzzles.
For this past sevennight, my solve time on Monday was quickest, followed by Tuesday and (the amped up) Wednesday. That is all according to form. But after Wednesday, my next-fastest solve was Saturday. Then Thursday (also a bit amped-up). Then Sunday, certainly on the easy side. And my slowest solve was the beastly Friday. None of these were "personal records", although I imagine Saturday and Sunday got near that territory.
I don't think I've ever had a week like that, and I don't believe it has anything to do with wheelhouses. Something is amiss in the difficulty-assessment biz, IMHO.
When I was about 9, I was dragged to an exhibit of FABERGE eggs. I looked at everything but I didn't really get why it was so important. (I had already seen priceless jewelry, meteorites, and gemstones in the Museum of Natural History.)
I am not sure there have ever been that many FABERGE eggs displayed in one place in North America since then. But even if there have been, it's an indelible memory.
2
Hee hee MTF you misspelled "inedible" at the end there...
hee hee
hee hee
2
Drum roll and cymbal crash.
2
Martin, I love this puzzle. In fact, I love it so much I wanted to post to let everyone know how much I love this puzzle before I was finished. This puzzle is what a Sunday puzzle should be.
As for the avatar he is a businessman but, alas, like Blockbuster, his business model became obsolete with cable and his company went bankrupt.
As for the avatar he is a businessman but, alas, like Blockbuster, his business model became obsolete with cable and his company went bankrupt.
Reading for the TOP STORIES, I assume.
I think the internet did his business model in more than cable, but what do I know about such things?
I think the internet did his business model in more than cable, but what do I know about such things?
Martin, you obviously know more than I.
I am watching the SF Giants against the Nationals and the Wife (who never cooks) is cooking Joy Behar’s lasagna from scratch. I am wondering who will melt down first – the Giants or the Wife. In the meantime I’s enjoying George Dickel’s 12 year old sour mash in a scotch hurricane glass, bracing for the worst.
PS. Nunez just hit a triple, so the odds are with the Wife.
I am watching the SF Giants against the Nationals and the Wife (who never cooks) is cooking Joy Behar’s lasagna from scratch. I am wondering who will melt down first – the Giants or the Wife. In the meantime I’s enjoying George Dickel’s 12 year old sour mash in a scotch hurricane glass, bracing for the worst.
PS. Nunez just hit a triple, so the odds are with the Wife.
Martin, the Wife has made the rookie cooking mistake - not allowing enough time and not knowing what to do before starting. I might go across the street at the bar. But, I must say, it smells really good.
"A shortage of cots for our fighting forces? Let's join our reporter embedded with the troops."
Fun puzzle with a fun, punny theme.
Don't worry about keeping up with this Jones. No doubt you're already way ahead!
Fun puzzle with a fun, punny theme.
Don't worry about keeping up with this Jones. No doubt you're already way ahead!
7
"When we come back from break, a story about people with exceptionally small hands, but first, we pause for a commercial."
2
and Elke
Paul- that commercial would be a product using the letters E(MEN)D ? A tie-in to the small hands story ?
Paul- that commercial would be a product using the letters E(MEN)D ? A tie-in to the small hands story ?
1
THIS JUST IN!
eom
eom
4