Having trouble posting comments to the Tuesday blog? I believe I may have broken it with a post that didn't look at all right in the preview. Deb has been alerted. I'll explain when it's fixed. I'm sure there is a bug that will require its removal.
Wow, Kiki, whatever did you do? I made the first post commenting on the Tuesday blog, noting that I had to use "search" to find it, since no blogs at all were appearing on the main blog page! Bad night at NYT web tech.
To paraphrase Albert from Pogo: "Friday the 13th come on a Tuesday this week."
As Albert would also say, "Harrumph!"
64 across. Wouldn't the note after fa be sew (a needle pulling thread) and not sow (planting)??
64A = SOL
(The "L" in the crossing 24D JACKSON HOLE)
(The "L" in the crossing 24D JACKSON HOLE)
2
Hey, A, a sound of music reference, which for fa is a long long way to go.
1
Getting to the party late - but I noticed nobody else seems to have fallen for YELLOWSTONE where Old Faithful went...anyway, it also has that magic 11-letter count.
(Anticipating the howls of "how can you confuse Yellowstone with a geyser?", I'd merely point out that the clue is my very very least favorite kind, the cross-reference, that mentions both the place where it is found and the geyser itself. I hate cross-referenced clues. Hate them.)
1
"The Odd Couple": (Felix and Oscar are in adjoining hospital beds, under heavy sedation for separate operations)
Felix: "In my entire life, I've never been to WYOMING."
Oscar: "I'll drive ya."
Felix: "Now you tell me a truth."
Oscar: "I don't wanna drive you to WYOMING."
Felix: "In my entire life, I've never been to WYOMING."
Oscar: "I'll drive ya."
Felix: "Now you tell me a truth."
Oscar: "I don't wanna drive you to WYOMING."
2
Nice geography lesson from Master David today. I watch lots of science and nature shows on assorted cable TV channels, so I assumed the landmarks were laid out in their relative positions in the state; feeling smugly vindicated.
I worked with a journal editor who was located in Colorado; I used to joke with him that it was "one of those big, square, boxy states between the two coasts." Now I know WYOMING is even squarer.
Bru beat me to the only WYOMINS song I could conjure up. Instead, this is "Night NURSE" by reggae artist Gregory IMACS--er, make that Gregory Isaacs.. Absolutely hypnotic rhythm.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FE7lgCGQ48I
I worked with a journal editor who was located in Colorado; I used to joke with him that it was "one of those big, square, boxy states between the two coasts." Now I know WYOMING is even squarer.
Bru beat me to the only WYOMINS song I could conjure up. Instead, this is "Night NURSE" by reggae artist Gregory IMACS--er, make that Gregory Isaacs.. Absolutely hypnotic rhythm.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FE7lgCGQ48I
1
"WYOMINS"? Oops.
1
Instead of being in Tucson, we are, at the moment, in Jackson Hole. Yup. Are we being followed?
6
I've never been to the western U.S., which I know about only from books and movies. Also, geography is one of my weakest areas. So I did learn some stuff today.
I guess I first heard of OLD FAITHFUL as a little kid, so that one and its state were firmly in my brain. I only dimly remember having heard of DEVIL'S TOWER and had no idea where it was (or what, for that matter, until I saw Jeff's picture). I first heard of JACKSON HOLE when a hamburger chain of that name opened in NYC some years back, and its initial PR told us that it was in WYOMING; I still don't actually know what it is though. LARAMIE I think I remember from having seen western movies as a kid, and I guessed at the FORT part.
So of course I had no idea until I came to Wordplay that these features' grid placement replicated the geographical reality. Nicely done, David.
My ignorance, though, was no impediment to solving this Monday-easy puzzle. The only thing I had to get entirely from the crossing letters was JENGA, and a post-solve Google confirmed that it was something new to me.
My one criticism is that this puzzle seemed to have an awful lot of FITB clues, even for a Monday. Of course, I prefer playful clues, but I prefer even the most literal and straightforward ones to FITBs.
Okay. I have just gone back and reread my comment. I don't see anything that might set the emus' feathers afire. But apparently my normal vocabulary is rife with unintended double entendres, so I'm holding my breath.
I guess I first heard of OLD FAITHFUL as a little kid, so that one and its state were firmly in my brain. I only dimly remember having heard of DEVIL'S TOWER and had no idea where it was (or what, for that matter, until I saw Jeff's picture). I first heard of JACKSON HOLE when a hamburger chain of that name opened in NYC some years back, and its initial PR told us that it was in WYOMING; I still don't actually know what it is though. LARAMIE I think I remember from having seen western movies as a kid, and I guessed at the FORT part.
So of course I had no idea until I came to Wordplay that these features' grid placement replicated the geographical reality. Nicely done, David.
My ignorance, though, was no impediment to solving this Monday-easy puzzle. The only thing I had to get entirely from the crossing letters was JENGA, and a post-solve Google confirmed that it was something new to me.
My one criticism is that this puzzle seemed to have an awful lot of FITB clues, even for a Monday. Of course, I prefer playful clues, but I prefer even the most literal and straightforward ones to FITBs.
Okay. I have just gone back and reread my comment. I don't see anything that might set the emus' feathers afire. But apparently my normal vocabulary is rife with unintended double entendres, so I'm holding my breath.
3
What no Thermopolis, no mention of Longmire days in Sheridan! Big life disappointment was not getting a job that would have meant relocating to Wyoming. Nature Conservancy, grrr :).
Went back to Thermopolis after 35 years and it was still great. Sadly, the winsome hippie woman who stole my heart with a smile while selling drums at an art fair was no longer thereā¦ hope springs eternal. Still can recall that smile.
Any way: Puzzle was over and done in short order but for one letter -- Now I know how to spell ROSARY.
Thank you Mr. S.
Went back to Thermopolis after 35 years and it was still great. Sadly, the winsome hippie woman who stole my heart with a smile while selling drums at an art fair was no longer thereā¦ hope springs eternal. Still can recall that smile.
Any way: Puzzle was over and done in short order but for one letter -- Now I know how to spell ROSARY.
Thank you Mr. S.
3
Since I did the puzzle last night, I decided to do a little time travel this morning. I went back and looked at David's history and realized that I had almost certainly not done his first two puzzles, so I did those this morning. The first one was a Thursday with a devilish trick and it completely stumped me.
The second was a Tuesday and I did manage to finish that one (clever theme, too). I also went and read the associated Wordplay blogs for those days. Today's puzzle has FORT and TROOP; that earlier puzzle had FTROOP, which a couple of commenters translated as FT. ROOP. Some hilarity ensued.
His 3rd puzzle was his first Monday. It also included LEI as an entry. It was also the first puzzle I ever commented on (though not the first I ever did). I went ahead and read the blogs from the next couple of days; it turns out that the day after that Monday puzzle was evidently the day they announced the first version of the Verified Commenters thingy (the one that required Facebook). There were many comments about that.
It was a bit sad to be reminded again of how many Wordplay regulars from that time no longer post here - there's quite a list. Also interesting to note that the personalities of one or two regular commenters appear to have... evolved. I won't name names.
The second was a Tuesday and I did manage to finish that one (clever theme, too). I also went and read the associated Wordplay blogs for those days. Today's puzzle has FORT and TROOP; that earlier puzzle had FTROOP, which a couple of commenters translated as FT. ROOP. Some hilarity ensued.
His 3rd puzzle was his first Monday. It also included LEI as an entry. It was also the first puzzle I ever commented on (though not the first I ever did). I went ahead and read the blogs from the next couple of days; it turns out that the day after that Monday puzzle was evidently the day they announced the first version of the Verified Commenters thingy (the one that required Facebook). There were many comments about that.
It was a bit sad to be reminded again of how many Wordplay regulars from that time no longer post here - there's quite a list. Also interesting to note that the personalities of one or two regular commenters appear to have... evolved. I won't name names.
2
"Also interesting to note that the personalities of one or two regular commenters appear to have... evolved. I won't name names."
Wooooo!
EERIE
OUTRE
Meta?
Wooooo!
EERIE
OUTRE
Meta?
Ok, I should have said 'online personas,' not personalities.
BTW, I hope that Viv has a chance to check in today. I'm curious to know how her trip went and how she's doing.
BTW, I hope that Viv has a chance to check in today. I'm curious to know how her trip went and how she's doing.
I knew what you meant, Rich.
..
The former Senator Alan K. Simpson has said the definition of gun control in WY is how steady one holds their firearm...Hunter PENCE, the Giants right fielder is in the line up today a44a...CAFTAN and SAMOSA were new to me but I'M O K with them so long as NURSE crosses is nearby, ready to help fill in the unknowns...RiA, you ought to like this Neil Young instrumental, "Emperor of WYOMING." Don't miss the included slideshow as it includes a sharp shot of 11d. The montage plays like a travelogue for a state that can accurately claim that it's "like no place on earth."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1pa0WCgPyc
I'd like to ADD another link, if I may. My immediate word association for TEJANO is Flaco; Jimenez that is. This medley includes Jose Maria DeLeon Hernandez on vocals.. They harmonize on the second song in the King's English. If you are keeping score, Flaco is 77, Little Joe's 75.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK1OIuTNsI8
The former Senator Alan K. Simpson has said the definition of gun control in WY is how steady one holds their firearm...Hunter PENCE, the Giants right fielder is in the line up today a44a...CAFTAN and SAMOSA were new to me but I'M O K with them so long as NURSE crosses is nearby, ready to help fill in the unknowns...RiA, you ought to like this Neil Young instrumental, "Emperor of WYOMING." Don't miss the included slideshow as it includes a sharp shot of 11d. The montage plays like a travelogue for a state that can accurately claim that it's "like no place on earth."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1pa0WCgPyc
I'd like to ADD another link, if I may. My immediate word association for TEJANO is Flaco; Jimenez that is. This medley includes Jose Maria DeLeon Hernandez on vocals.. They harmonize on the second song in the King's English. If you are keeping score, Flaco is 77, Little Joe's 75.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK1OIuTNsI8
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Brutus, before I click on that first link let me just ask you to confirm one thing:
Neil Young absolutely does NOT sing on that track?
Hi Leapy.
Neil Young absolutely does NOT sing on that track?
Hi Leapy.
Click away RiA!
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RIA: Neil Young on cover of American Way Mag (just flew to Chicago). It was an interesting article. In case ya wanna:
http://magazines.aa.com/content/oh-hello-mr-soul
http://magazines.aa.com/content/oh-hello-mr-soul
2
Fresh and breezy and sunny ... just like WYOMING!
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David, as usual, gives us a great puzzle, Monday-level easy but really interesting, too. More so once I knew the backstory on what the whole theme is. I mean, I knew it was about WYOMING, but missed the importance of the geographical locations of the theme answers until I read David's comments. So, I guess my tiny nit is, if you can't figure out the theme without it being explained to you, it might not be the best, most accessible theme ever. Or I'm just dense. A huge possibility.
I can tell you the David writes the nicest, most upbeat rejection letter ever!
I can tell you the David writes the nicest, most upbeat rejection letter ever!
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I can confirm your last sentence.
Jeff writes very nice ones too.
Jeff writes very nice ones too.
What an elegant theme! I didn't know till I got here that the landmarks were geographically placed, which made it that much more impressive.
Nice job, DS!
Nice job, DS!
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That strategy of positioning the four theme answers is more that geographical in nature spency. In ADDition, it's to allow for water from the geyser to drain nicely into the ski mecca and, as we all know, every trading post requires a lookout structure.
4
When I got to WYOMING, I'd forgotten that it was the fill that had been referred to a couple of times; I mainly wondered if I would have gotten it if I hadn't had the Y from I'M OKAY. I've no intention of entering the "which is squarest" discussion, however.
Rich, I was actually wondering if this was David's first Monday.
Anyway; it seems he is very good at creating interesting Monday puzzles that are still easy to solve. I had to check to see if a couple of things existed, JENGA and TEJANO, and learned that GLUTEN was a protein.
I loved learning that the landmarks were situated in the puzzle as in the state. Very impressive.
Rich, I was actually wondering if this was David's first Monday.
Anyway; it seems he is very good at creating interesting Monday puzzles that are still easy to solve. I had to check to see if a couple of things existed, JENGA and TEJANO, and learned that GLUTEN was a protein.
I loved learning that the landmarks were situated in the puzzle as in the state. Very impressive.
5
Less than 5 minutes after I wrote my comment I started a puzzle in a Games Magazine and soon had the letters TEJANO as an answer to the clue "La Mafia's kind of music". I would have assumed I had something wrong if I'd done it earlier.
3
You made me Google La Mafia, suejean.
I did know TEJANO music, though, having learned it when the artist Selena was killed by an obsessed fan.
I did know TEJANO music, though, having learned it when the artist Selena was killed by an obsessed fan.
2
I very much enjoyed this bright Monday puzzle and the Constructor's Notes. I, myself, could care less about grid art design, but am darn serious about seeing a theme that does not stress the fill. This is a good puzzle for new solvers and VETs. OLD FAITHFUL is going left to right, like most geysers. Thanks for cluing that Disney villain as a generic animal HYENA instead of the name of an animal character. Hoover Dam is adjacent to Boulder City, NV so I'm holding out for Boulder DAM as the historic name.
4
Checking in from the squarest state! Casually doing this on a lazy Sunday. Once I realized what was going on, I picked up the pace. Appreciate the recognition of my home state!
13
It's always easier when the answers are collected from recent puzzles. Starting with IMACS and OLDFAITHFUL through HYENA with DETER even in the same spot as Saturday! I guess that's what makes doing the puzzle worth doing because the next ones always have a benefit. Someone else mentioned working old puzzles, and I highly recommend re-working recent ones as warmups.
2
I'd almost forgotten that Mr. Steinberg does Mondays, though it's only been a little over a year since his last one. A bit more than half of his puzzles are Fridays and Saturdays, but he does have a pretty solid distribution through the rest of the week. He had hit for the cycle (all 7 days of the week) after only his 9th puzzle, which must be some kind of a record.
Nice Monday theme and an enjoyable solve; maybe even a tad on the stiff side for a Monday. I love Yellowstone, of course, but I also really like Jackson Hole, which I've managed to visit 4 times. I stopped there on my way back from Colorado in 1971 and went into a diner for breakfast. While I was there a tall cowboy walked in, sat down at the counter and told the waitress, "I'll have a pan of biscuits, a side of bacon and a settin' of eggs." Hard to forget that.
Nice start to the week.
Nice Monday theme and an enjoyable solve; maybe even a tad on the stiff side for a Monday. I love Yellowstone, of course, but I also really like Jackson Hole, which I've managed to visit 4 times. I stopped there on my way back from Colorado in 1971 and went into a diner for breakfast. While I was there a tall cowboy walked in, sat down at the counter and told the waitress, "I'll have a pan of biscuits, a side of bacon and a settin' of eggs." Hard to forget that.
Nice start to the week.
8
That would indeed be hard to forget.
Did you stick around long enough to see what he got? I mean, what those quantities actually were? Sounds like a lot of food, but I guess it depends on the size of the pan, the side, and whatever a settin' is.
Did you stick around long enough to see what he got? I mean, what those quantities actually were? Sounds like a lot of food, but I guess it depends on the size of the pan, the side, and whatever a settin' is.
1
DL, I think he was just indicating that he was really hungry in a humorous way. I don't remember what he actually got.
BTW, on my various movie channels it typically seems like I can find a good Woody Allen standard at least every other day. I've been checking all of them every day for the last week and a half and the only Allen film that's been on is 'Sleeper.' I'm still determined to get a look at a 'Woody Allen apartment' (and hallway, of course) and actually pay attention this time.
BTW, on my various movie channels it typically seems like I can find a good Woody Allen standard at least every other day. I've been checking all of them every day for the last week and a half and the only Allen film that's been on is 'Sleeper.' I'm still determined to get a look at a 'Woody Allen apartment' (and hallway, of course) and actually pay attention this time.
Oh, dear. I seem to have opened up a whole new thing, RiA.
It's been so long since I've seen a Woody Allen (or any) movie that I really can't remember the specifics. "Sleeper" seems unlikely, but anything set in NYC seems a likely candidate. "Woody Allen apartment" is a common phrase among many of us in NYC. We tend to use the term with envy and longing.
It's been so long since I've seen a Woody Allen (or any) movie that I really can't remember the specifics. "Sleeper" seems unlikely, but anything set in NYC seems a likely candidate. "Woody Allen apartment" is a common phrase among many of us in NYC. We tend to use the term with envy and longing.
1
A very pleasant Mondayish Monday puzzle. Nothing challenging, but almost everyone (save our grandmasters) should find at least one or two entries not in the wheelhouse that will require a cross of two.
My only minor gripe is about a clue or two (not the entry). 11A (DAM) is in the northeast of the puzzle; I was disappointed that it was clued from the southwest. How about mama goat or bighorn sheep? Similarly with 22A, the music is fine, but it's awkward with the Rio Grande north of Jackson Hole.
Meta alert. Neither the constructor nor our columnist mentioned it, but you can find a POWDER RIVER BASIN COAL TRAIN moving through the grid.
My only minor gripe is about a clue or two (not the entry). 11A (DAM) is in the northeast of the puzzle; I was disappointed that it was clued from the southwest. How about mama goat or bighorn sheep? Similarly with 22A, the music is fine, but it's awkward with the Rio Grande north of Jackson Hole.
Meta alert. Neither the constructor nor our columnist mentioned it, but you can find a POWDER RIVER BASIN COAL TRAIN moving through the grid.
5
Not still sore about REARENDED are you? :)
2
You mean RESPEND AS? :)
3
and Elke
You mean the (E)CHO (A)CHOO train ?
You mean the (E)CHO (A)CHOO train ?
2
Uh oh....OLD FAITHFUL changed its orientation....is something happening in the Yellowstone super volcano...?
2
and Elke
Nice to see OLD FAITHFUL living up to its name- it was in last week's National Park puzzle and it was actually erupting . Today it seems to be resting...
Our favorite WYOMING drive is I-80 from Evanston to FORT LARAMIE (or vice versa ).
It traverses the Continental Divide , which spreads itself over 20-30 miles. It's like driving on top of the world.
WYOMING has good explanatory signs for the geology one sees. John McPhee's "Annals Of A Former World" is also a great travel guide.
Head West- young and old MEN. You too ,Liz :))
Nice puzzle, DS
Nice to see OLD FAITHFUL living up to its name- it was in last week's National Park puzzle and it was actually erupting . Today it seems to be resting...
Our favorite WYOMING drive is I-80 from Evanston to FORT LARAMIE (or vice versa ).
It traverses the Continental Divide , which spreads itself over 20-30 miles. It's like driving on top of the world.
WYOMING has good explanatory signs for the geology one sees. John McPhee's "Annals Of A Former World" is also a great travel guide.
Head West- young and old MEN. You too ,Liz :))
Nice puzzle, DS
2
"Squarest." That's a rather hedgy word, and I'm not convinced that Wyoming qualifies. Might Colorado possibly be "squarer" than Wyoming?
Obviously the shape of Wyoming is not really a square. But on a flat-projected map it appears to be rectangular, and thus have "square" corner for purposes of the clue. The same can be said of neighboring state Colorado. The borders of both states were intended to follow straight lines of latitude and longitude, though errors in surveying seem to have introduced slight "kinks" into their straight-line borders here and there.
But even taking the hypothetical straight line borders as true, is Wyoming really "squarer" than Colorado? Remember that meridians of longitude converge, eventually meeting at the poles. So Wyoming's northern border is shorter in miles than its southern border. The same is true of Colorado's northern border vs. its southern border (I read somewhere that the difference is 21 miles.) The resulting shape is slightly trapezoidal, rather than rectangular.
I'll leave it to those who are more adept at geometry than I to decide which of the two state's eastern and western borders lie at more sloping angles than those of the other. I would think that Colorado, being south of Wyoming, would have less slope to its angles, and thus be "squarer" than Wyoming, but my geometry isn't good enough to work it out properly.
Obviously the shape of Wyoming is not really a square. But on a flat-projected map it appears to be rectangular, and thus have "square" corner for purposes of the clue. The same can be said of neighboring state Colorado. The borders of both states were intended to follow straight lines of latitude and longitude, though errors in surveying seem to have introduced slight "kinks" into their straight-line borders here and there.
But even taking the hypothetical straight line borders as true, is Wyoming really "squarer" than Colorado? Remember that meridians of longitude converge, eventually meeting at the poles. So Wyoming's northern border is shorter in miles than its southern border. The same is true of Colorado's northern border vs. its southern border (I read somewhere that the difference is 21 miles.) The resulting shape is slightly trapezoidal, rather than rectangular.
I'll leave it to those who are more adept at geometry than I to decide which of the two state's eastern and western borders lie at more sloping angles than those of the other. I would think that Colorado, being south of Wyoming, would have less slope to its angles, and thus be "squarer" than Wyoming, but my geometry isn't good enough to work it out properly.
1
Alan,
I took cartography in high school, but I also took English. Let's read again what the *constructor* wrote:
"What could be more anti-grid art than a good old square grid? Once I started thinking about square things, my mind jumped to Wyoming, which has always looked so boxy to me on the map!"
Neither here nor anywhere else is the notes does the *constructor* say Wyoming is a square. I trust you would agree that on a map Wyoming (and Colorado) do look "boxy," and that they are the only states that do.
I took cartography in high school, but I also took English. Let's read again what the *constructor* wrote:
"What could be more anti-grid art than a good old square grid? Once I started thinking about square things, my mind jumped to Wyoming, which has always looked so boxy to me on the map!"
Neither here nor anywhere else is the notes does the *constructor* say Wyoming is a square. I trust you would agree that on a map Wyoming (and Colorado) do look "boxy," and that they are the only states that do.
2
The aspect ratio of Colorado (width divided by height) is 1.36. The aspect ratio of Wyoming is 1.33. Therefore, Wyoming is closer to square than Colorado.
2
Closer to square on a Mercator projection.
IRL, closer to being a 3-sides equal trapezoid.
IRL, closer to being a 3-sides equal trapezoid.
2
Nice continued celebration of our national landscape. (With a shout out for a manmade landmark, Hoover Dam.) Fancy noticing the Wyoming landmarks all had the same number of letters! I'm sure Mr. Steinberg will find his grid art masterpiece anon, but nothing wrong with a square for a Monday.
3
I haven't done the puzzle yet, or, of course, read Deb's column or the comments. But I wanted to report that my missing C-i-C on the Friday puzzle has posted! The email notification is time/date stamped 11:37 a.m. on Sunday.
I had to read the comment carefully three times to spot it, but I think I have found the feather-ruffler: In commenting on the entry GOATEE, I referred to another style of beard, named after a painter with a two-word name that starts with "Van."
I wonder: Are the emus' sensibilities over-sensitive, or am I just a chronic potty-mouth?
I had to read the comment carefully three times to spot it, but I think I have found the feather-ruffler: In commenting on the entry GOATEE, I referred to another style of beard, named after a painter with a two-word name that starts with "Van."
I wonder: Are the emus' sensibilities over-sensitive, or am I just a chronic potty-mouth?
2
Try Van Dijk next time. It works for me!
Imagine if you were trying to reference Mary Tyler Moore's one time TV spouse (Oh, Rob!).
Double trouble.
Double trouble.
2
The emus must have a naughty-naughty list that ignores the green check. Another spelling that should work is Van Dyck. The name is sometimes VanDyke. (Testing to see if the emus trap camel case)
1
I solved this mostly from the Acrosses, only checking on the Down clues when I needed some fill, so I had to go back afterwards and look at the Down clues to see what they were. WYOMING is a state I've never visited, but it's on my bucket list for someday. If only the western US wasn't so big! It's going to take several trips, I'm afraid.
It was a nice start to the week. Now I will await the Colorado puzzle . . . and the North Dakota puzzle . . . etc etc etc.
It was a nice start to the week. Now I will await the Colorado puzzle . . . and the North Dakota puzzle . . . etc etc etc.
5
Earlier today I was looking for a motel room in Evanston. Serendipity!
3