I know you have "had a very busy workweek," but isn't your job to do more than muse that "spelunking" is derived from "speleology"?
.
.
Wish to register my objection to the use of the words "preening" and "self-aggrandizing" in this Comment section.
You want to see preening, self-aggrandizing Comments? Try the comment threads for any Wall Street Journal contest crossword. This is just one URL from my browser history; I have no idea if it's especially annoying to read the comments there. http://blogs.wsj.com/puzzle/2016/07/14/host-of-possibilities-crossword-c... Other crossword contests can be easily found (they're weekly), as can preening, self-aggrandizing Comments.
Also on display often on the WSJ blog: Spoilers. Lots and lots and lots of spoilers. And an obsession with mugs.
But the guy who swoops in after the Contest ends, and tells everyone how many correct entries there were, is one of the top editors at that publication (which has the highest circulation of any US daily). He's a Deputy Managing Editor (one of 3 or 4 with that title), puzzler, and mensch. Top dog Gerard Baker is Managing Editor; there's also an Opinion Editor.
Let's see Susan Chira or any of her ilk at Wordplay!
.
Wish to register my objection to the use of the words "preening" and "self-aggrandizing" in this Comment section.
You want to see preening, self-aggrandizing Comments? Try the comment threads for any Wall Street Journal contest crossword. This is just one URL from my browser history; I have no idea if it's especially annoying to read the comments there. http://blogs.wsj.com/puzzle/2016/07/14/host-of-possibilities-crossword-c... Other crossword contests can be easily found (they're weekly), as can preening, self-aggrandizing Comments.
Also on display often on the WSJ blog: Spoilers. Lots and lots and lots of spoilers. And an obsession with mugs.
But the guy who swoops in after the Contest ends, and tells everyone how many correct entries there were, is one of the top editors at that publication (which has the highest circulation of any US daily). He's a Deputy Managing Editor (one of 3 or 4 with that title), puzzler, and mensch. Top dog Gerard Baker is Managing Editor; there's also an Opinion Editor.
Let's see Susan Chira or any of her ilk at Wordplay!
1
Popeye did not have big biceps. I don't understand 1 down.
2
Can anyone clearly explain the following answers:
INE for 112 across and ONER for 21 across.
Thanks in advance.
INE for 112 across and ONER for 21 across.
Thanks in advance.
Barbara, this has been explained earlier in the comments but here it is again.
IN E is a musical reference - the aria is IN the key of E.
ONER is a crosswordese fixture, never encountered in real life, pronounced "wunner" and a noun meaning unique, one of a kind.
IN E is a musical reference - the aria is IN the key of E.
ONER is a crosswordese fixture, never encountered in real life, pronounced "wunner" and a noun meaning unique, one of a kind.
The clue for BICEP is wrong. Biceps are the flexors of the elbow joint and are located ABOVE the elbow, in the upper arm. Popeye's BIG FEATURE are the muscles BELOW the elbow. The forearms contain muscles that flex and extend the wrist and fingers. His Biceps are actually quite puny compared to his forearms.
(Sorry if someone has already brought this up.)
(Sorry if someone has already brought this up.)
3
I was just about to bring this up too
see
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indiewire.com%2Fwp...
see
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indiewire.com%2Fwp...
Spinach has the effect of awakening Popeye's dormant biceps. Post spinach:
http://www.postcompetitiveinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/popeye.jpg
I would call the whole open-can-squirt-into-mouth-or-pipe-grow-biceps thing a "feature."
I wish we could combine all the "Popeye has no biceps" threads for the benefit of drive-by posters (my term for people who post first and read older posts later, if at all.)
Anyway, I usually gripe about the back-formation, "bicep," but at least it's signaled today. There should be a signal for "not really a word."
http://www.postcompetitiveinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/popeye.jpg
I would call the whole open-can-squirt-into-mouth-or-pipe-grow-biceps thing a "feature."
I wish we could combine all the "Popeye has no biceps" threads for the benefit of drive-by posters (my term for people who post first and read older posts later, if at all.)
Anyway, I usually gripe about the back-formation, "bicep," but at least it's signaled today. There should be a signal for "not really a word."
3
Martin,
I'm not happy with "drive-by" for this practice, but I share your frustration with it. As I noted in response to Dr W, and as your illustration cionfirms, even with the administration of spinach, the biceps are still dwarfed by the forearms. This one will not be settled by a dictionary. Regards.
I'm not happy with "drive-by" for this practice, but I share your frustration with it. As I noted in response to Dr W, and as your illustration cionfirms, even with the administration of spinach, the biceps are still dwarfed by the forearms. This one will not be settled by a dictionary. Regards.
1
Pleasant puzzle with a lovely theme with boni (the MONSTER and the DUST BUNNY). A puzzle that was very easy . . . until it wasn't. Is it just a coincidence that the hardest clues to solve always come at the end? (I won't even mention how the PBS supporter had to be NPR, so the no ifs ands or buts thing had to be some kind of BLACK POSTAGEMENT.) Nice to see PASTICHE in the puzzle, which anagrams to a word meaning liverworts, and WISEACRE, maybe the only word in English having the consecutive sequence SEAC in it, useful in the word game called HIPE (see http://digitalcommons.butler.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2083&co....
82D, doesn't work well if you know the lyric is "Whisky in Rye" (as in Rye, NY). You might be reinforcing confused people's thinking that it's "Whisky and Rye".
Zach,
1. Can you cite a source for *in* Rye?
2. Why would anybody on a dry levee know good ole boys drinking whiskey in Rye NY?
3. I don't recall New Rochelle being dry, so why would Don McLean have needed to go to Rye NY for whiskey?
1. Can you cite a source for *in* Rye?
2. Why would anybody on a dry levee know good ole boys drinking whiskey in Rye NY?
3. I don't recall New Rochelle being dry, so why would Don McLean have needed to go to Rye NY for whiskey?
1. McLean sold the original lyrics for $1.2M last year at auction
2 & 3. I guess you'd have to ask Don. :)
2 & 3. I guess you'd have to ask Don. :)
McLean is known for playing with lyrics, so both may be true, but here is the version from his website, Don-McLean.com, with the story of the original words:
Then one day, again in his Cold Spring gatehouse, and “from God knows where in my head,” McLean came up with the catchy chorus:
So bye, bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
And them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye
Singin’ this will be the day that I die,
This will be the day that I die.
See http://www.don-mclean.com/?page_id=2179367 for full details!
Then one day, again in his Cold Spring gatehouse, and “from God knows where in my head,” McLean came up with the catchy chorus:
So bye, bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
And them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye
Singin’ this will be the day that I die,
This will be the day that I die.
See http://www.don-mclean.com/?page_id=2179367 for full details!
1
A very restful and relaxing solve. I particularly enjoyed SAW LOGS above and the MONSTER below the bed. The TATE Britain is where you will most likely see the works of Constable, while the TATE Modern (large, spacious and being expanded) houses and exhibits more modern works. Both are wonderful, and each being located either side of the Thames, one can travel back and forth via the TATE's ferry.
1
Very nice puzzle -- with enough quirk in it to make it fun, almost 127 A.
Looking at the fills for 12D and 101A, I thought of the march back then and wondered -- did the KKK do a 101A at 12D?
Looking at the fills for 12D and 101A, I thought of the march back then and wondered -- did the KKK do a 101A at 12D?
3
Time for one more Paris language story. On our first trip in the 60's we visited my sister-in-law who lived there and spoke fluent French, so we let her do all the talking. At one tourist site, someone came up to us and asked if we spoke English. I pointed to Sharon, and said "she does".
As for the puzzle, I found it relaxing, relatively easy, just as well as I had a busy day. I liked the bed in the middle, and the things under it. I also liked seeing George Barany answer the question of one of our commenters.
As for the puzzle, I found it relaxing, relatively easy, just as well as I had a busy day. I liked the bed in the middle, and the things under it. I also liked seeing George Barany answer the question of one of our commenters.
7
I'll probably be chuckling about that story all day, suejean.
And I will repeat it multiple times as well.
And I will repeat it multiple times as well.
1
SueJean, your French story is sort of a mirror image of mine. Our family was walking in a village on the Route de Vin in the Alsace region and stopped at a house with a sign saying "Cave aux Vins." When a lady came to the door, my wife, who speaks no French, asked her "Parlez vous Francais?" With a distinctly puzzled look on her face, the woman answered, "Oui?" At that point, our teenage daughter stepped up and explained in her highschool French that we were interested in buying some local wine.
After we left with several bottles, I asked my wife why she opened the conversation with that question. Her reply was that the architecture of the town was so German that she thought the woman probably spoke only German. I'm still trying to figure that one out.
After we left with several bottles, I asked my wife why she opened the conversation with that question. Her reply was that the architecture of the town was so German that she thought the woman probably spoke only German. I'm still trying to figure that one out.
1
Hepcat, your wife was quite correct; even to this day many people in Alsace speak German as their first language. My great-grandfather was born in Alsace and very proud of the fact that it was entirely French at that time.
1
Martin, I woke up this morning with a blue moon in my eye.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W3A34TTxFU
Last night’s thread was very funny.
Then I felt bad for those who don’t know about Google Images. Kiki is providing a new dimension to the avatar game, citing the number of hits each day.
Then I read Rex’s blog and felt bad for the authors, one of whom is a regular on that site.
Remember that Memorex TV ad with Ella?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-IvTF0xUxM
Is it BOEUF or is it BEOUF?
I have watched The Greatest Game Ever Played (the story about the 20 year old American amateur Francis Quimet who won the 1913 U.S. Open) more times than I should. I really liked the actor who played Harry Vardon and Stephen Marcus was almost comedic as Ted Ray. Of course, Shia LaBeouf played Francis Quimet. But it was Josh Flitter who stole the movie with his role as Eddie Lowery, Francis’ caddy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Km8b7GE3hjk
I know LaBeouf has had some CAPERS since and I haven’t really followed his career but I see he’s been in five Transformer movies, so I’m not sure he deserved that sack over his head.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W3A34TTxFU
Last night’s thread was very funny.
Then I felt bad for those who don’t know about Google Images. Kiki is providing a new dimension to the avatar game, citing the number of hits each day.
Then I read Rex’s blog and felt bad for the authors, one of whom is a regular on that site.
Remember that Memorex TV ad with Ella?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-IvTF0xUxM
Is it BOEUF or is it BEOUF?
I have watched The Greatest Game Ever Played (the story about the 20 year old American amateur Francis Quimet who won the 1913 U.S. Open) more times than I should. I really liked the actor who played Harry Vardon and Stephen Marcus was almost comedic as Ted Ray. Of course, Shia LaBeouf played Francis Quimet. But it was Josh Flitter who stole the movie with his role as Eddie Lowery, Francis’ caddy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Km8b7GE3hjk
I know LaBeouf has had some CAPERS since and I haven’t really followed his career but I see he’s been in five Transformer movies, so I’m not sure he deserved that sack over his head.
1
Typo posse' reset: It's Ouimet.
Dr. W - Freudian misQ. Ouimet as in We met. Thax.
2
A quick and fairly straightforward solve today, with (I counted) 15 easy fill-in - the blanks, including some right next to each other - 108 and 109 down, I'm talking to you!
Somewhat disappointing for a Sunday.
While I appreciate the stretches to make the themed fill match the grid design, it seemed the remaining fill and clue quality suffer a bit in the stretching.
I agree with many of the comments taking issues with the suboptimal cluing and awkward fill, including okras, eider as a quilt stuffing rather than duvet, Ahab at the helm, and Popeye biceps.
Plus at least 10 clues from movies and TV, although I enjoyed the 2 opera and one Shakespeare references.
But enough with my PAN - there was plenty to enjoy here, especially the reference to the wonderful Mr. Kite. John Lennon tells the story of the song's inspiration from a circus poster hanging in their living room while they were writing. Here is a recording with a still photo of John with the poster:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LCclVtFR6o
Somewhat disappointing for a Sunday.
While I appreciate the stretches to make the themed fill match the grid design, it seemed the remaining fill and clue quality suffer a bit in the stretching.
I agree with many of the comments taking issues with the suboptimal cluing and awkward fill, including okras, eider as a quilt stuffing rather than duvet, Ahab at the helm, and Popeye biceps.
Plus at least 10 clues from movies and TV, although I enjoyed the 2 opera and one Shakespeare references.
But enough with my PAN - there was plenty to enjoy here, especially the reference to the wonderful Mr. Kite. John Lennon tells the story of the song's inspiration from a circus poster hanging in their living room while they were writing. Here is a recording with a still photo of John with the poster:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LCclVtFR6o
4
This is not about today's puzzle but I had to share it with you. I am reading P.G. Wodehouse's "The Code of the Woosters," published in 1938, and came across this sentence:
"She looked at me like someone who has just solved the crossword puzzle with a shrewd 'Emu' in the top right corner."
Take that, young Emus!
"She looked at me like someone who has just solved the crossword puzzle with a shrewd 'Emu' in the top right corner."
Take that, young Emus!
12
Just need to vent about Popeye's biceps on 1 down ... His forearms were his 'big feature' ... And I don't know of an informal name for forearms!
4
Well, this puzzle didn't in any way put me to sleep, in fact, it kept me up late last night happily solving and discovering the MONSTER and the DUSTBUNNY. What great entries!
Thank you Ned and George, you two did a great job creating a visually and thematically entertaining Sunday puzzle. I never wanted to hit the snooze alarm even once. DREAMY!
Thank you Ned and George, you two did a great job creating a visually and thematically entertaining Sunday puzzle. I never wanted to hit the snooze alarm even once. DREAMY!
2
So is it catsup or ketchup? And is there any kind of ketchup other than tomato these days, because some bottles still say "Tomato Ketchup" which just seems redundant.
Interested in UFOs? There's a book by Leslie Kean with a forward by John Podesta. And if you make it onto the mothership ... I bet that's where they call it catsup.
Interested in UFOs? There's a book by Leslie Kean with a forward by John Podesta. And if you make it onto the mothership ... I bet that's where they call it catsup.
1
The original is "kecap," Malay for sauce. We use kecap manis, an important Indonesian ingredient, a sweet soy sauce.
Just behind the gluten-phobes come the nightshade-phobes. Since tomatoes are in the same botanical family as deadly nightshade (along with potatoes and eggplants), many people consider them toxic at some level. Google nightshade free ketchup and you'll find tons of recipes for ketchup without tomato.
Just behind the gluten-phobes come the nightshade-phobes. Since tomatoes are in the same botanical family as deadly nightshade (along with potatoes and eggplants), many people consider them toxic at some level. Google nightshade free ketchup and you'll find tons of recipes for ketchup without tomato.
Hi Blue Moon. I think the term CATSUP is akin to 'mustard' and refers to the product, rather than 'Ketchup' which is a brand name. Kinda like tissues and Kleenex.
Well, I am a bit of an expert having just checked out the Wikipedia page on ketchup. Alternatives are presented for the Malay theory. I had no idea about this nightshade issue. Tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants? Are you kidding me? I'm a (g)oner ... I have to take issue with the ketchup brand-name thing. I don't see any evidence for that. ("Catsup" apparently is used in some parts of the South and in Mexico.)
Anyway, believe it or not, the UFO book is worth a look.
Anyway, believe it or not, the UFO book is worth a look.
2
Ooooooo-Kay.
Say, Will and Joel and George Barany and Ned White: you guys know any QUILTERS???? Here's a suggestion: go ask one (or a thousand) if ANY of them, EVER, 'stuffed' a quilt with feathers or down in any shape or form! Go ahead; I'll wait. Something stuffed with EIDER would be a comforter or a duvet, but a quilt? I'm so annoyed I'm having trouble typing; who checked this puzzle? (Martin, surely this atrocity occurred while you were on vacation, right?)
And that's not all!!!
OKRAS?????? There's no crying in baseball, and there is NO S, ever, added to OKRA. 'Go pick the OKRA.' 'I'd like fried OKRA on the side.' "This stewed OKRA is wonderful!' if anyone ever said OKRAS, he would be met with a look of consternation (drunk?) or disdain (Damn Yankee?) or puzzlement (in need of supervision) or amusement (is anyone really that addlepated?)
And for good measure:
AHAB was the captain of the vessel. His 'post' was the quarterdeck. The HELMsman's post was (wait for it) the HELM. An Able Seaman could hand, reef, and steer; of course, the captain COULD be at the HELM if he so wished, and one notes that it is well, on a sailing vessel, to have many people who possess certain skills. But the captain's post is not necessarily the HELM.
The MONSTERs under the bed turn into DUST BUNNies when the grown-ups look under there to prove that there aren't any MONSTERs.
The end.
Say, Will and Joel and George Barany and Ned White: you guys know any QUILTERS???? Here's a suggestion: go ask one (or a thousand) if ANY of them, EVER, 'stuffed' a quilt with feathers or down in any shape or form! Go ahead; I'll wait. Something stuffed with EIDER would be a comforter or a duvet, but a quilt? I'm so annoyed I'm having trouble typing; who checked this puzzle? (Martin, surely this atrocity occurred while you were on vacation, right?)
And that's not all!!!
OKRAS?????? There's no crying in baseball, and there is NO S, ever, added to OKRA. 'Go pick the OKRA.' 'I'd like fried OKRA on the side.' "This stewed OKRA is wonderful!' if anyone ever said OKRAS, he would be met with a look of consternation (drunk?) or disdain (Damn Yankee?) or puzzlement (in need of supervision) or amusement (is anyone really that addlepated?)
And for good measure:
AHAB was the captain of the vessel. His 'post' was the quarterdeck. The HELMsman's post was (wait for it) the HELM. An Able Seaman could hand, reef, and steer; of course, the captain COULD be at the HELM if he so wished, and one notes that it is well, on a sailing vessel, to have many people who possess certain skills. But the captain's post is not necessarily the HELM.
The MONSTERs under the bed turn into DUST BUNNies when the grown-ups look under there to prove that there aren't any MONSTERs.
The end.
13
Constructors and editors are clearly no longer BATTING a thousand.
OKRAS? Oh HELM!
OKRAS? Oh HELM!
1
Look at all the okras:
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dlawngarden&...
Long, short, purple, green -- so many okras.
As for the down quilt, I'd never heard of one either but it was right there in M-W:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quilt
All I can say is I checked and the dictionary made me do it.
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dlawngarden&...
Long, short, purple, green -- so many okras.
As for the down quilt, I'd never heard of one either but it was right there in M-W:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quilt
All I can say is I checked and the dictionary made me do it.
MOL, on seeing what that 'quilt stuffing' proved to be, I immediately anticipated your reaction, and you didn't disappoint: as BA notes, you're batting a thousand. Wot a Princely Mess quilting with EIDER down or feathers would be!! But just in case I was wrong, I searched on "EIDERdown quilts", and discovered the phrase (at least) does exist. One article in particular was one you might find interesting, but, as you see, the term is used Very loosely.
http://www.oldandinteresting.com/history-feather-beds.aspx
As for OKRAS, the more singular, the better, sez I.
http://www.oldandinteresting.com/history-feather-beds.aspx
As for OKRAS, the more singular, the better, sez I.
1
Well, I of course am the one who failed to finish this. 90 percent of it filled in smoothly and quickly, with just a few brief stops here and there. And that left me with parts of the two theme answers under the 'bed' and the little mid-west section. It was the latter that doomed me but I'll get back to that.
I had told myself to remember the puzzle's title when I started. And then I promptly forgot all about it. I got so focused on the kind of intriguing 'under the central image' part (which I didn't recognize as a bed) that I didn't bother to note the PILLOWs and BLANKETS and COVERS, etc. in the other theme answers. So it took me a while and a bit of chipping to finally work out DUSTBUNNY. Then I saw MONSTER right away, and then I went back and looked and finally got it.
But that still left the mid-west. My memory played a small role as I tried for a long time to remember spelunking, which is quite a familiar word, but never did, so left BEERPUMP at 4d. My other significant problem was that I read the clue for 41d as "the world's largest is IN China" and never re-read it. I did remember SCARNE and had SLAM and ARP and CIO and ICEE and eventually got BRIDE, but that wasn't enough (for me) to figure out the rest. That's not exactly what I think a WISEACRE is, but maybe I've misused it for all these years.
Anyway, big fail in that section. I thought it was a clever theme (when I finally noticed it) and loved the last themer being ANDSOTOBED.
I had told myself to remember the puzzle's title when I started. And then I promptly forgot all about it. I got so focused on the kind of intriguing 'under the central image' part (which I didn't recognize as a bed) that I didn't bother to note the PILLOWs and BLANKETS and COVERS, etc. in the other theme answers. So it took me a while and a bit of chipping to finally work out DUSTBUNNY. Then I saw MONSTER right away, and then I went back and looked and finally got it.
But that still left the mid-west. My memory played a small role as I tried for a long time to remember spelunking, which is quite a familiar word, but never did, so left BEERPUMP at 4d. My other significant problem was that I read the clue for 41d as "the world's largest is IN China" and never re-read it. I did remember SCARNE and had SLAM and ARP and CIO and ICEE and eventually got BRIDE, but that wasn't enough (for me) to figure out the rest. That's not exactly what I think a WISEACRE is, but maybe I've misused it for all these years.
Anyway, big fail in that section. I thought it was a clever theme (when I finally noticed it) and loved the last themer being ANDSOTOBED.
3
This was a lovely solve. There are enough gimmes to get the mind going, but not so much that the fun is spoiled. There is the beautiful visual of the bed -- and that's the first thing I saw -- with that MONSTER beneath. There is some clever cluing (TUNER, BRIDE, BOO, PAN) and appealing answers (COVER_STORY, TWO_POINTERS, AND-SO-TO-BED). I like the final note: DREAMY.
Overall, the puzzle worked for me. It had a lilting charm as well as enough bite to satisfy my mind's need for exercise (it jogged my mind's inner springs?). The comfort level was just right. Thank you, gents!
Overall, the puzzle worked for me. It had a lilting charm as well as enough bite to satisfy my mind's need for exercise (it jogged my mind's inner springs?). The comfort level was just right. Thank you, gents!
1
Has no one yet commented on Popeye and his biceps? It's his forearms that are big - huge, in fact. His biceps are cartoon-skinny. (And Tate Museum is wrong - it's Tate Modern)
10
A Redd,
You are correct: no one had yet commented that it was Popeye's forearm, not his BICEP, that was big. (And please correct me, but it is my understanding that the TATE MUSEUM has several sites, one of which is the Tate Modern.)
You are correct: no one had yet commented that it was Popeye's forearm, not his BICEP, that was big. (And please correct me, but it is my understanding that the TATE MUSEUM has several sites, one of which is the Tate Modern.)
2
I was going to mention that too (about Popeye).
But you got here before I did so someone had already commented on it.
But you got here before I did so someone had already commented on it.
1
I noted that, too, but there were other, even more egregious mis-uses, miscues, mistakes, that I limited myself to the worst three.
I could see FOREARMS wasn't going to fit right off.....
I could see FOREARMS wasn't going to fit right off.....
and Elke
Started in the NW and LAXLY put "cow" instead of ELK (yup). Thus needed more than a course of SPELEOLOGY to get out of that MORASS. It helped that it had to be LOREN with all those awards. Robert still thinks she's HOT and DREAMY.
Here the MONSTERs under the bed can be the large West Coast
Sp(E)IDERs, which need more than a BOO to scare away.
Question (to DL maybe): do cats MEOW over spilled milk ? Don't they just lap it up?
Our foreign language story : Late 40's, Robert in Vienna (having come from Hungarian-speaking lands), was on a streetcar. Noticed lady standing and wanted to ask HER in his fractured German if she wanted to SIT. Instead of saying "Nehmen Sie Platz, bitte" ("please take a seat"), Robert said "Platzen Sie bitte " ( "Explode, please.") Supposedly everybody laughed; anyway he lived to tell this story.
Cute puzzle and visual. Nice to see two Roosevelts of note. Both
could /should have been presidents.
A goodly number of triples means that these OLDS can say : AND SO TO BED and it still is Saturday here on the West Coast. Now to SAW some LOGS.
Started in the NW and LAXLY put "cow" instead of ELK (yup). Thus needed more than a course of SPELEOLOGY to get out of that MORASS. It helped that it had to be LOREN with all those awards. Robert still thinks she's HOT and DREAMY.
Here the MONSTERs under the bed can be the large West Coast
Sp(E)IDERs, which need more than a BOO to scare away.
Question (to DL maybe): do cats MEOW over spilled milk ? Don't they just lap it up?
Our foreign language story : Late 40's, Robert in Vienna (having come from Hungarian-speaking lands), was on a streetcar. Noticed lady standing and wanted to ask HER in his fractured German if she wanted to SIT. Instead of saying "Nehmen Sie Platz, bitte" ("please take a seat"), Robert said "Platzen Sie bitte " ( "Explode, please.") Supposedly everybody laughed; anyway he lived to tell this story.
Cute puzzle and visual. Nice to see two Roosevelts of note. Both
could /should have been presidents.
A goodly number of triples means that these OLDS can say : AND SO TO BED and it still is Saturday here on the West Coast. Now to SAW some LOGS.
2
The only cat I've ever lived with who had any interest at all in milk was my late beloved Sheridan Whiteside (?1972-84). I sometimes enjoy a nice glass of ice-cold milk, and Sheridan liked to come over and take several laps off the top. (Yes, I allowed it; we were very close, and any germs one of us had would have been transferred to the other anyway.) He was neat, and didn't spill a drop. I suspect, though, that if the glass hadn't been filled to the top he would have stuck his head in with likely spillage (and maybe breakage).
In my experience, there are MEOWers and non-MEOWers, regardless of dairy preferences. My beloved Jessica, who doesn't like milk, or even treats, including catnip, has an extensive vocabulary and doesn't hesitate to make her wishes known.
In my experience, there are MEOWers and non-MEOWers, regardless of dairy preferences. My beloved Jessica, who doesn't like milk, or even treats, including catnip, has an extensive vocabulary and doesn't hesitate to make her wishes known.
2
fast Sunday. lots of theme entries. quite easy. Just kept putting in the letters.
not bad even so.
not bad even so.
.
.
I was delighted to see George Barany's name as constructor, and the puzzle was an interesting one combining wordplay, chewy entries, and a visual element. Lots of people found it easy, it seems. It wasn't that way for me. A couple of minutes faster than my "average"; but so was Saturday's. I thought there were plenty of challenges in this one, including BEER PULL, ELK, PARE BACK, and pondering if I'm allowed to type the entry for 34 Down.
And I also spotted, in the wild, a true Natick!!! SCARNE x SANDIA is, for my money, even tougher than the original Natick (because one can at least get "WYETH" even knowing nothing else). Each letter of S-C-A-R-N-E was a surprise. SANDIA makes sense, I guess, once you see it. But I had every other square filled correctly before typing that crossing N, which was a pure guess.
.
I was delighted to see George Barany's name as constructor, and the puzzle was an interesting one combining wordplay, chewy entries, and a visual element. Lots of people found it easy, it seems. It wasn't that way for me. A couple of minutes faster than my "average"; but so was Saturday's. I thought there were plenty of challenges in this one, including BEER PULL, ELK, PARE BACK, and pondering if I'm allowed to type the entry for 34 Down.
And I also spotted, in the wild, a true Natick!!! SCARNE x SANDIA is, for my money, even tougher than the original Natick (because one can at least get "WYETH" even knowing nothing else). Each letter of S-C-A-R-N-E was a surprise. SANDIA makes sense, I guess, once you see it. But I had every other square filled correctly before typing that crossing N, which was a pure guess.
2
I PARED down before BACK, since it could have been Eider.
I mostly remembered the classic card book author, but I think "The World According to Sgarp" got in the way, cuz I couldn't decide between SCARPE/SCARNE/ SCARFE and maybe a few others. Finally just took a stab with SANanything sounding most suitable for New Mexico, and got Mr HP.
I mostly remembered the classic card book author, but I think "The World According to Sgarp" got in the way, cuz I couldn't decide between SCARPE/SCARNE/ SCARFE and maybe a few others. Finally just took a stab with SANanything sounding most suitable for New Mexico, and got Mr HP.
This is exactly what happened to me at the end also. Looking at SCAR_E and SA_DIA as the last blank space, with no idea. Just a good day for lucky guessers at the end of this puzzle . . . I guess.
Am I the only non-STEMer here for whom SANDIA was a gimme?
2
"Enure"? Bah.
1
Kind of INURE face, isn't it?
I just see it as another Mauna Loa/ Mauna Kea situation, and hold off on the E/I, oh.
I just see it as another Mauna Loa/ Mauna Kea situation, and hold off on the E/I, oh.
3
I hate to be a Debbie (eider?)Downer, but I found this one a bit of a snooze.
First, I wish the original wordplay-ish, fun clues had been used. The puzzle was already so easy, I really would have appreciated more lively cluing.
Second, I just don't understand how themers were decided on. Okay, I saw the theme right away, at COVER STORY, having read the title. Then what?
MONSTER told me that the black squares in the middle of the puzzle were supposed to represent a bed. Well, okay. But I find grid art a yawn.
Looked at the stuff above and below the bed. Do ADD TO THE MIX and TWO-POINTER have something to do with the theme? If not, why not? I also hesitated at TATE MUSEUM and SPELEOLOGY for the same reason.
Went with BEER PUMP initially, but remembered SPELEOLOGY. No idea what KAYAK has to do with air fares. Don't remember "Sgt. Pepper" lyrics well enough to recognize MR. KITE.
Some fun entries: DUST BUNNY, PASTICHE, WISEACRE.
I finished the puzzle without an appearance by MHP, but rather than diving back in I just ran Ms. Check. Turns out that I'd made a good guess at the NiXoN crossing of SANDIA and SCARNE, and my only wrong entry was the crossing of PREF and SFO. I'd thought maybe PREM, for "premium" at 120A. But I do know that BART is in San Francisco, so I should have thought of SF at 116D. Maybe later I'll look up the O. (Outback? Opera? Oyster House?)
Sorry to be negative. Maybe I'm just tired.
First, I wish the original wordplay-ish, fun clues had been used. The puzzle was already so easy, I really would have appreciated more lively cluing.
Second, I just don't understand how themers were decided on. Okay, I saw the theme right away, at COVER STORY, having read the title. Then what?
MONSTER told me that the black squares in the middle of the puzzle were supposed to represent a bed. Well, okay. But I find grid art a yawn.
Looked at the stuff above and below the bed. Do ADD TO THE MIX and TWO-POINTER have something to do with the theme? If not, why not? I also hesitated at TATE MUSEUM and SPELEOLOGY for the same reason.
Went with BEER PUMP initially, but remembered SPELEOLOGY. No idea what KAYAK has to do with air fares. Don't remember "Sgt. Pepper" lyrics well enough to recognize MR. KITE.
Some fun entries: DUST BUNNY, PASTICHE, WISEACRE.
I finished the puzzle without an appearance by MHP, but rather than diving back in I just ran Ms. Check. Turns out that I'd made a good guess at the NiXoN crossing of SANDIA and SCARNE, and my only wrong entry was the crossing of PREF and SFO. I'd thought maybe PREM, for "premium" at 120A. But I do know that BART is in San Francisco, so I should have thought of SF at 116D. Maybe later I'll look up the O. (Outback? Opera? Oyster House?)
Sorry to be negative. Maybe I'm just tired.
6
SFO is the airport.
1
Deadline, this was a boring puzzle that put any solver with a perspective to sleep. I applaud you for being the first t say so.
4
I agree, John. But putting the solver to sleep may be part of the theme.
4
Martin, about a third of the way through I was wondering why I was doing this puzzle. About halfway through I was wondering if there was a rebus or something to interest me. After I was done I was wondering what the theme was. Then I read Deb and was wondering what I could use for an avatar. Now I wonder if you know who is under that paper sack. The name is in one of the clues. The writing on the sack is "I am not famous anymore." See how I transformed the game?
Never played with them. They were after my time and not real hot in Alex's. So I was never interested in the movies. I saw a bit of the first one on Amnesia Theater. Megan Fox was okay to look at, but not much of an actress. He wasn't pretty or an actor.
Thanks, but I'll have le poulet.
.
Typically, I would start off with, "This guy [did something or other] ...", before critiquing the choice of Avatar and then telling a related story (which links to the Avatar in a not-always-clear manner).
In this case, I am forced to omit Part A. I know who this guy is; I just have never known a single thing about him. I'm fairly sure his first name doesn't have an Islamic pronunciation. So I guess I know 1 thing about him.
JFC, your experience with the theme brings to mind a story of a politician [could be Churchill] describing a rival politician [best guess, Attlee] addressing an audience [House of Commons?]:
"When he rose to his feet, he had no idea what he would say. While speaking, he seemed to have little idea what he was saying. And upon sitting down, he doubtless had no idea what he had said." [that's a paraphrase, Barry A.]
Now, as for alleged preveal, "The name is in one of the clues."
Please read that clue, and your guy's name, carefully. Very. So of course, his name isn't in a clue, but a portion of his name may seem to be in a clue. However, it's not in a clue in the web version, and I doubt it is true in any other version of the puzzle. If the word in the clue is correctly spelled -- as appears to be the case -- then part of your guy's name is an *anagram* of a single word in one of the clues. More specifically, take a look at the clue word to see if any 4 letters appear in alphabetic order; then check your guy's name for 4 letters in said order.
Typically, I would start off with, "This guy [did something or other] ...", before critiquing the choice of Avatar and then telling a related story (which links to the Avatar in a not-always-clear manner).
In this case, I am forced to omit Part A. I know who this guy is; I just have never known a single thing about him. I'm fairly sure his first name doesn't have an Islamic pronunciation. So I guess I know 1 thing about him.
JFC, your experience with the theme brings to mind a story of a politician [could be Churchill] describing a rival politician [best guess, Attlee] addressing an audience [House of Commons?]:
"When he rose to his feet, he had no idea what he would say. While speaking, he seemed to have little idea what he was saying. And upon sitting down, he doubtless had no idea what he had said." [that's a paraphrase, Barry A.]
Now, as for alleged preveal, "The name is in one of the clues."
Please read that clue, and your guy's name, carefully. Very. So of course, his name isn't in a clue, but a portion of his name may seem to be in a clue. However, it's not in a clue in the web version, and I doubt it is true in any other version of the puzzle. If the word in the clue is correctly spelled -- as appears to be the case -- then part of your guy's name is an *anagram* of a single word in one of the clues. More specifically, take a look at the clue word to see if any 4 letters appear in alphabetic order; then check your guy's name for 4 letters in said order.
1
Could someone please explain "ine" - the answer to 112 across: "Like Verdi's 'Caro nome'"??
Helen, "Caro nome" is a famous soprano aria in Verdi's opera "Rigoletto." The key in which it is sung is E. There aren't a lot of other options for cluing INE, although some people prefer a clue like "Suffix, with serpent." Ned White and I, as co-constructors, brainstormed on potential clues and submitted them to Will Shortz and his team, but they get the final say, which may include taking into account other recent puzzles that might have similar answer words and how they were clued in the other puzzles.
4
Try IN E. Key of E.
.
Hi Dr. Barany,
First, as I always note when constructors participate in Comments, I love when the constructors participate in Comments!
Second, I think your puzzles are terrific.
Third, I feel constrained to disagree with your use of the word "Famous" in your answer to the question from Helen Barkacs. I have no idea how many people do each NYT Sunday Crossword, taking into account new audiences in syndication, books/calendars, and the website/app (one million "digital" puzzle subscribers, at least), on top of people who get the Sunday Times (or just the Crossword) in hard copy. But I would venture to guess that most solvers couldn't hum that aria just from the information in the clue; further, I'd guess that the great mass of solvers couldn't name the aria upon hearing it.
Then there's the specific feature for which you've clued: Key.
A song/aria/piece can be famous. A majority of us may know the title and the tune. But that doesn't mean we know the key. I speak as someone who has *no issue whatsoever* doing what I did, which was to enter IN while letting the crossing word fill in the third letter. I am similarly uncaring about whether an entry is something I "know" from the clue.
My philosophy is that these are grid-filling exercises, not tests with questions and answers.
But I've never really understood why the key of some composition is considered legitimate fill. Coda, firmata, VIVACE, largo -- OK! But I always find entries like "E Maj" or "IN E" distracting.
Hi Dr. Barany,
First, as I always note when constructors participate in Comments, I love when the constructors participate in Comments!
Second, I think your puzzles are terrific.
Third, I feel constrained to disagree with your use of the word "Famous" in your answer to the question from Helen Barkacs. I have no idea how many people do each NYT Sunday Crossword, taking into account new audiences in syndication, books/calendars, and the website/app (one million "digital" puzzle subscribers, at least), on top of people who get the Sunday Times (or just the Crossword) in hard copy. But I would venture to guess that most solvers couldn't hum that aria just from the information in the clue; further, I'd guess that the great mass of solvers couldn't name the aria upon hearing it.
Then there's the specific feature for which you've clued: Key.
A song/aria/piece can be famous. A majority of us may know the title and the tune. But that doesn't mean we know the key. I speak as someone who has *no issue whatsoever* doing what I did, which was to enter IN while letting the crossing word fill in the third letter. I am similarly uncaring about whether an entry is something I "know" from the clue.
My philosophy is that these are grid-filling exercises, not tests with questions and answers.
But I've never really understood why the key of some composition is considered legitimate fill. Coda, firmata, VIVACE, largo -- OK! But I always find entries like "E Maj" or "IN E" distracting.
5
My biggest miss as a first impression was TIME ZONE before EXPORTER at 41d. Yes, China does have the world's largest TIME ZONE that covers the entire country! To China's north you can find six Asian TIME ZONEs. To the south are a few fractional ZONEs, so I won't go there.
1
.
I thought the PRC was the world's largest dePORTER!
Sam Adams Honey Porter
I thought the PRC was the world's largest dePORTER!
Sam Adams Honey Porter
On "Oner": they love this in crosswords but I never see it in real life. The idea must be one-of-a-kind, hence a oner.
5
A quick google search on "oner define" brings up "noun British informal" in the key of "archaic."
2
.
Sometimes, it's the only word that applies. http://www.nytimes.com/2000/08/13/classified/paid-notice-deaths-ettlinge...
(Warning: Not for those who avoid all mention of human mortality.)
Sometimes, it's the only word that applies. http://www.nytimes.com/2000/08/13/classified/paid-notice-deaths-ettlinge...
(Warning: Not for those who avoid all mention of human mortality.)
Perhaps it's how you look at a puzzle -- or life -- but I thought I saw a number of theme-related entries that Deb didn't mention in her column. Please consider, among the acrosses, 18, 20, 21, 58, 67, 87, 126, 127, and among the downs, 2, 10, 13, 14, 92, 94, 95, 97, 110, 117. Happy toggling.
Also, while I understand that there are at least three cultivated varieties of the plant, does that entitle the on species to be called OKRAS?
Also, while I understand that there are at least three cultivated varieties of the plant, does that entitle the on species to be called OKRAS?
1
the on species
the ONE species
the ONE species
I started toggling, and didn't quite see it. Then I, rather quickly, got to an entry that I had intended to mention in my C-i-C as a strangeness, and I got tired of toggling.
Gumbo.
Gumbo.
It is much easier to compare comments and the puzzle when the puzzle is off-line (stone or paper).
1
Mystery solved! I never got a reply from the emus on the strange character displays where the angle brackets other than "»" don't display correctly. The problem I discovered is in the font family "NYT Franklin." It has some deviations from the normal Franklin fonts, one being the angle brackets. In a normal Franklin font both double angle brackets display as double quotes. That only the left does in NYT Franklin indicates a flaw in the font.
1
Can someone explain ONER?
1
"Oner" (won-er) is a word that means "outstanding individual." It is rarely encountered in the wild, although it's in crosswords pretty often.
This is its 598th appearance in the NYT crossword. The first was in 1942!
This is its 598th appearance in the NYT crossword. The first was in 1942!
2
Pronounced "wunner," ONER means "one of a kind."
2
thank you
4
31:19, my best Sunday time yet. This was an easy fill, thankfully because somehow I knew who ODOM was, and that kept me from filling in TATEMODERN instead of TATEMUSEUM. It was a clever theme, and I learned a new word, SPELEOLOGY, which seems like it should be a Hogwarts course, but oh well.
2
Deb, Thanks for your gracious commentary. It was a lot of fun working with Ned on the puzzle, but what I really want to do is trade one Parisian anecdote for another. In 1990, my wife and I spent a few days in the City of Light (it was her first time being abroad) and I mustered up all of my high school French to try to order in the vernacular. The details are hazy, but I must have asked for the poulet. The chauvinistic waiter appreciated the effort, and took the rest of our order in English.
3
My father and I first visited Paris back in 1981. We were seated at a sidewalk café and soon approached by the waiter, who merely took us in at a glance, raised his eyebrows, and muttered, "Ah, deux Américains, deux Coca-Colas..."
Neither of us is a soda drinker (I grew up with a cola allergy and never learned to like bubbles in aught but champagne). Ah, the joys of Paris.
On subsequent visits, I had many more opportunities to experience what I call in my own vocabulary, "being Parised."
There are so many nice people in France. And then there's Paris. We'll always have Paris.
Neither of us is a soda drinker (I grew up with a cola allergy and never learned to like bubbles in aught but champagne). Ah, the joys of Paris.
On subsequent visits, I had many more opportunities to experience what I call in my own vocabulary, "being Parised."
There are so many nice people in France. And then there's Paris. We'll always have Paris.
My experience of Paris, albeit long ago (1960s), is quite different.
First trip, 1963, with then boyfriend: He was quite proud of his proficiency in French. I don't speak the language at all. He tried to speak to people in their own language. I was apologetic about my inadequacy. People were really nice to me, seemed to understand what I was trying to say, and helped me out. BF's attempts, OTOH, were greeted with apparent incomprehension and impatience.
Second trip, 1966, alone: Still didn't speak French. As I struggled to make myself understood, I was always helped and encouraged. No problems at all.
Alas, haven't been back.
First trip, 1963, with then boyfriend: He was quite proud of his proficiency in French. I don't speak the language at all. He tried to speak to people in their own language. I was apologetic about my inadequacy. People were really nice to me, seemed to understand what I was trying to say, and helped me out. BF's attempts, OTOH, were greeted with apparent incomprehension and impatience.
Second trip, 1966, alone: Still didn't speak French. As I struggled to make myself understood, I was always helped and encouraged. No problems at all.
Alas, haven't been back.
2
It's all about the attitude (ours as well as theirs).
1
This went rather quickly but was quite enjoyable. I didn't even need a nap from start to finish, but my dog, Gracie, slept though it all.
5