Neat trick and fun to solve.
2
I liked this puzzle. I got the two-word/one-clue trick right away -- but even so the puzzle took me an unusually long time. Who knew from "rafter"? I hope we have more from Mr. Mendelson.
3
What are the odds - I had just looked up the word for a group of turkeys a few days ago after encountering yet another RAFTER of them on my drive home.
Thanks for the flashing circle around the "i" for those of us using the app; I checked up there after the second "-" I came across. Tough puzzle, but a satisfying one to have solved!
Thanks for the flashing circle around the "i" for those of us using the app; I checked up there after the second "-" I came across. Tough puzzle, but a satisfying one to have solved!
4
The spelling of "a spirit distilled from malted grain, especially barley or rye" depends on where you live. The U.S. and Ireland prefer "whiskey" while the rest of the world spells it "whisky." Around 1870, Irish distillers wanted to distinguish their export from Scotch whisky (which was generally of poor quality at the time). They added the "e" to mark the difference, and U.S. producers adopted it. A few brands (notably Maker's Mark and George Dickel) forego the "e" in a nod to their Scottish ancestry.
6
Yes, it's Irish whiskey and Scotch whisky. And usually whisky in the UK and whiskey in the US. But both spellings appear back to the eighteenth century, so I'm not convinced about the marketing story. The OED has whiskey citations from 1753.
Here's an 1823 "whiskey" citation from google books:
http://tinyurl.com/j4a2kyj
And one from 1825:
http://tinyurl.com/hovjz4q
The OED considers them variations of transliteration from "uisgebeatha" (Gaelic for "eau-de-vie") that happened to have regional preference.
I call foul on Scotch whiskey or Irish whisky clues if they slip through, but this one seems ok.
Here's an 1823 "whiskey" citation from google books:
http://tinyurl.com/j4a2kyj
And one from 1825:
http://tinyurl.com/hovjz4q
The OED considers them variations of transliteration from "uisgebeatha" (Gaelic for "eau-de-vie") that happened to have regional preference.
I call foul on Scotch whiskey or Irish whisky clues if they slip through, but this one seems ok.
.
Martin,
This election season is depressing, and I can't go to Suzy's bar because I don't know what it's called. So please tell us again your House Whiskeys and House Whiskies/Scotch. Thanks.
Martin,
This election season is depressing, and I can't go to Suzy's bar because I don't know what it's called. So please tell us again your House Whiskeys and House Whiskies/Scotch. Thanks.
That's an interesting excerpt from Mr. Faux's travel journal (1823).
Just got out of a work seminar that lasted all morning, finally some time to catch up with today's comments.
Since I solve the old-fashioned way (in print), I got the full uniclue experience. Years of solving have trained my eyes as to where to look for clues, so this took some adjustment--although I do remember the technique was used before. Got off to a bad start @1A/D, with ZERO/ZILCH, but that was the only glitch. Very clever theme that obviously took a lot of work to put together. Kudos, Morton J. Mendelson!
German synthpop pioneers with the melodic "NEON Lights" from 1978:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YCZVeIJ8xk
Since I solve the old-fashioned way (in print), I got the full uniclue experience. Years of solving have trained my eyes as to where to look for clues, so this took some adjustment--although I do remember the technique was used before. Got off to a bad start @1A/D, with ZERO/ZILCH, but that was the only glitch. Very clever theme that obviously took a lot of work to put together. Kudos, Morton J. Mendelson!
German synthpop pioneers with the melodic "NEON Lights" from 1978:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YCZVeIJ8xk
2
This one called for a calm and patient attitude, an almost Zen-like spirit of detachment from time and space. Across is down, down is across, and what is the sound of one hand solving?
6
Too much of a novice to realize that I should have looked for info when I saw the first -. The app doesn't give a list, just the usual across/down format, so I didn't realize how the - worked until I was nearly through. :-(
Can the app not handle non-standard clue formats?
As for the clues, took me until I started writing this to realize how "one guarded in a duel" gets you to EPEE.
Can the app not handle non-standard clue formats?
As for the clues, took me until I started writing this to realize how "one guarded in a duel" gets you to EPEE.
Hi John,
I just found out that the app also cannot handle a unified clue list (yet). Sorry about that!
In the future, if there is a message for solvers, a circle around the "i" (info button) in the tool bar at the top will be flashing. Once you tap it to read the info, the flashing circle will disappear.
I just found out that the app also cannot handle a unified clue list (yet). Sorry about that!
In the future, if there is a message for solvers, a circle around the "i" (info button) in the tool bar at the top will be flashing. Once you tap it to read the info, the flashing circle will disappear.
I solve in AcrossLite, so I had to spend time puzzling over the connexion between ZEST/ZILCH and STERN/SPONSOR. It wasn't till BEAK/BANKNOTE that I quit Harassing the entries and saw 'Bill' as a uniclue. Guess third ones the charm. Twas great fun to ID the uniclue spots, and impressive to have that many within one grid.
Mis-entered FRENCH for ARABIC (sneaky!) and erred to the end having NADER (which I thought eminently suitable) in place of NAMER.
Nice to have C. Everett KOOP and [in a different way] YAD Hashem, which we recently had to access to form the extensive family history we needed for a legal brouhaha. No lack of amazing stories to be found there, for certain.
As per Deb, I'm not allowed to finish my C-in-C with my observations on A FRESH LIAR IN POWER LOSES CORE and CEDES, so mmmphfff
Mis-entered FRENCH for ARABIC (sneaky!) and erred to the end having NADER (which I thought eminently suitable) in place of NAMER.
Nice to have C. Everett KOOP and [in a different way] YAD Hashem, which we recently had to access to form the extensive family history we needed for a legal brouhaha. No lack of amazing stories to be found there, for certain.
As per Deb, I'm not allowed to finish my C-in-C with my observations on A FRESH LIAR IN POWER LOSES CORE and CEDES, so mmmphfff
4
I also thought it was NADER!! I could not for the life of me figure out what TADE was or where I went wrong.
1
.
LF,
Yes on French
Yes on NAdER (and in his honor, I spent more than 537 seconds on this puzzle)
Yes on "ZILCH??"
Yes on I can't end with what I wanted to end with. Maybe with the holidays coming up I can say that I may not fast this year because the daily dread = atonement enough; but then again, there is only one Judge of atonement.
With the Zika and the flooding, either we'll have locusts/boils/murrain followed by my Exodus to Vancouver, or we won't.
LF,
Yes on French
Yes on NAdER (and in his honor, I spent more than 537 seconds on this puzzle)
Yes on "ZILCH??"
Yes on I can't end with what I wanted to end with. Maybe with the holidays coming up I can say that I may not fast this year because the daily dread = atonement enough; but then again, there is only one Judge of atonement.
With the Zika and the flooding, either we'll have locusts/boils/murrain followed by my Exodus to Vancouver, or we won't.
1
Jon d, when I don't get the happy note, I always check in order first through the Acrosses, then all the Downs. It's a bummer when you can't find the error till the end of the Downs.
A Wednesday toughie for those of us who do the puzzle diagramlessly. I'd be glad to see more of this constructor's work.
2
The nave/APSE conversation reminds me of this Smothers Brothers album, "Curb Your Tongue, KNAVE." Taped before a live audience at Mr. Kelly's in Chicago on Nov. 1 1963, this cut is "Gnus."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QqAv9DbaA0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QqAv9DbaA0
2
I solve in AL, but I'm not sure whether I agree with those who wished they had had the single clue list. I went and looked, and it was interesting to see, but having to figure it out for ourselves in one sense added another dimension to the solve.
I was annoyed at first, though, starting at 1A with a cross-reference! When I had ZEST, IBIS, and LOTT in that corner, I saw ZILCH and thought it had to be wrong, so I took out everything except LOTT. Then got annoyed some more when I saw more cross-references, until BEAK/BANK NOTE opened my eyes to the theme. Trotted back over and re-entered the stuff I'd taken out and I was on my merry way.
So I think it was a jolly fun puzzle, whether you had a uniclue list or the cross-referenced AL version.
SW was the hardest area. IRMA/ROMO--Natick or NiXoN? I think Natick; there may be other possible letters, but the M is the only one that looks likely.
Didn't know Jean RHYS, but had (once I saw it) heard of the book.
I didn't know turkeys' group name was RAFTER (hi, suejean!). Nice to see that word near GIRDER.
Taking a day (mostly) off from my friend's finances. Physical therapy appointment, and I'm sneaking in a volunteer shift at the textbook-recording place. I need the break!
I was annoyed at first, though, starting at 1A with a cross-reference! When I had ZEST, IBIS, and LOTT in that corner, I saw ZILCH and thought it had to be wrong, so I took out everything except LOTT. Then got annoyed some more when I saw more cross-references, until BEAK/BANK NOTE opened my eyes to the theme. Trotted back over and re-entered the stuff I'd taken out and I was on my merry way.
So I think it was a jolly fun puzzle, whether you had a uniclue list or the cross-referenced AL version.
SW was the hardest area. IRMA/ROMO--Natick or NiXoN? I think Natick; there may be other possible letters, but the M is the only one that looks likely.
Didn't know Jean RHYS, but had (once I saw it) heard of the book.
I didn't know turkeys' group name was RAFTER (hi, suejean!). Nice to see that word near GIRDER.
Taking a day (mostly) off from my friend's finances. Physical therapy appointment, and I'm sneaking in a volunteer shift at the textbook-recording place. I need the break!
3
.
Agree that Natick is the term for the phenomenon you describe.
Nixon is a Missouri Governor.
Agree that Natick is the term for the phenomenon you describe.
Nixon is a Missouri Governor.
Can someone define 'natick' for me? I see it referenced here a lot but I haven't managed to work out what it is yet.
I enjoyed this quite a bit. I'm actually sort of surprised that Uniclues are not more common. I did all the gimmes first, and the shared clues started to fall into place. Aside from initially having "Ayes" for Yeas", my biggest trouble was the down answers near the top, and the across answers near the bottom; I kept looking to the wrong part of the clues.
3
This was really tough for me even though I did it in across lite. But it was completely fair. I loved the really different meanings for the single clue. Part of what slowed me down was that I kept looking at my first fill rather than referring to the original clue again even after I knew that wasn't what I was supposed to do. I'm one of the rare solvers that depend on some proper names that I'm sure of, and today there were only 5 I think, so I ended up doing more checking than usual for a Wednesday.
Of course I loved an excuse to browse through "An Exaltation of Larks". There is no index, but I could remember the picture and about where it was in the book, and sure enough found the RAFTER of turkeys.
I think every puzzle has been just a bit harder than usual so far this week, unlike last week. Will we get a really tricky Thursday again?
Excellent debut puzzle (and second published) and I hope there are more to come from Morton.
Of course I loved an excuse to browse through "An Exaltation of Larks". There is no index, but I could remember the picture and about where it was in the book, and sure enough found the RAFTER of turkeys.
I think every puzzle has been just a bit harder than usual so far this week, unlike last week. Will we get a really tricky Thursday again?
Excellent debut puzzle (and second published) and I hope there are more to come from Morton.
3
This was a fun solve. The concept was fresh despite all answers having appeared previously in NYT puzzles. I encountered some angst locating specific clues. The absence of linear separation, no downs, made for a lot of scanning the clue portion of the puzzle. A small price to pay for experiencing a designing wrinkle RAREly seen in these here parts. As per Deb, this is only the 5th time this type of clue layout has occurred...The last to fall was the SE corner as I was 4 letters shy of a solve. A second cup of coffee helped me to SEE the ERRORS of my ways. Staring a potential solving stalemate in the face, I resorted to the 'TAKE FIVE' strategy. TADA! The ploy is most reliable and worked like a charm today...Jane RHYS is new to me, the wild turkey term, the French predicate and IVORY were the four trouble makers that came into focus readily after a break...I enjoyed the crossing of the woodwind and stringed instrument...I couldn't find Lisboa or PORTO on a globe (Portugal?) but it popped up on my grid thanks to crosses...IRMA Thomas, the 'Soul Queen of New Orleans,' collaborated with the late Allen Toussaint in the early 60's on "Need Your Love So Bad." The R&B ballad was originally pressed on a 78 rpm disc and written by Mertis John Jr. in 1955. It is one of my all-time faves.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dagTpLb8-C8
Peter Green (vocals and lead guitar) and Fleetwood Mac covered the song in 1969.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkFamAfQDIo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dagTpLb8-C8
Peter Green (vocals and lead guitar) and Fleetwood Mac covered the song in 1969.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkFamAfQDIo
2
I can highly recommend a visit to both Lisboa (Lisbon ) and Porto (Oporto). I wonder why the latter got translated to Oporto in English. Any language experts here know?
2
Not an expert but I found this tidbit in Wikipedia entry for Porto:
"In Portuguese, the name of the city is spelled with a definite article ("o Porto"; English: the port). Consequently, its English name evolved from a misinterpretation of the oral pronunciation and referred to as Oporto in modern literature and by many speakers."
It also mentions its Roman name Portus Cale as a possible origin for the name of the country, Portugal.
"In Portuguese, the name of the city is spelled with a definite article ("o Porto"; English: the port). Consequently, its English name evolved from a misinterpretation of the oral pronunciation and referred to as Oporto in modern literature and by many speakers."
It also mentions its Roman name Portus Cale as a possible origin for the name of the country, Portugal.
3
That makes sense, Joe. Yet another of my problems solved by you.
1
Nice concept, but I didn't find much enjoyment until nearing completion. Satisfaction trumped annoyance. My problem was: I wince when I see the kind of ambiguous clues (such as "BACK") we often see on Fri/Sat puzzles, and I also wince when I run into a raft of answers not in my wheelhouse, such as YAD and IRMA and PORTO and RAFTER crossing RHYS.
But -- I did it -- so great job, Morton!
But -- I did it -- so great job, Morton!
2
Thanks for the church, Deb. I always get NAVE and APSE mixed up.
3
My Classics major roommate once suggested I think of a ship (naval) because the NAVE is like the body of a ship. I've had no trouble remembering which is which since then.
2
Me too, Nina.
Actually, I not only didn't know which was which; I never knew what either was.
So the diagram helped with that, but I'm still not gonna remember which is which.
Actually, I not only didn't know which was which; I never knew what either was.
So the diagram helped with that, but I'm still not gonna remember which is which.
1
I'll join the crowd.
I don't know my APSE from a hole in the ground.
I don't know my APSE from a hole in the ground.
9
I liked this one a lot. Coming up with the different answers and meanings for the one-word clues was not easy, and each correct solution felt like an accomplishment, a good reward for the work put in. This was a puzzle in the truest sense for me, in that I had to work to figure answers out rather than just bark out something in my memory. The construction was interesting, with no answers larger than eight letters -- whether you like that or not, it's RARE. And I respect the construction -- it couldn't have been easy to come up with the design for all the theme answers, much less the theme clues/answers themselves. Bottom line for me is always the solving experience, and this was right up my alley: Effort followed by self-pat-on-the-back. Morton, thank you for this!
Finally, when I saw the IVORY/TAKE_FIVE cross, I couldn't help but flash on Dave Brubeck.
Finally, when I saw the IVORY/TAKE_FIVE cross, I couldn't help but flash on Dave Brubeck.
7
Since I print out the puzzle and solve in Across Lite, I had clues for both Across and Down with the shared clues clearly pointed out, so, this trick wasn't so hard for me to figure out. I had to print out the newspaper version to really get the full impact. That version would have been much more difficult for me.
I thought this was both brilliantly conceived and executed. Loved the opening ZEST/ZILCH which definitely had a lot of ZIP.
I circled all of the double answers when done and was totally impressed with not only the density, but also with all of the interlocking answers. BEAK/BANKNOTE crosses both GRIN/GIRDER and SEVER/SHARE which connects with TAKEFIVE/TAME, AFRESH/ATANEND and SCREEN/SKIN. Wow!
My favorites were AFRESH/ATANEND for "Over" because they are such opposites.
Thank you, Morton Mendelson, I found this fascinating from beginning to end!
I thought this was both brilliantly conceived and executed. Loved the opening ZEST/ZILCH which definitely had a lot of ZIP.
I circled all of the double answers when done and was totally impressed with not only the density, but also with all of the interlocking answers. BEAK/BANKNOTE crosses both GRIN/GIRDER and SEVER/SHARE which connects with TAKEFIVE/TAME, AFRESH/ATANEND and SCREEN/SKIN. Wow!
My favorites were AFRESH/ATANEND for "Over" because they are such opposites.
Thank you, Morton Mendelson, I found this fascinating from beginning to end!
4
Johanna, I too enjoyed the way the same clue could lead to opposite answers. I thought SHARE/SEVER fell into this category, too.
2
I loved this puzzle, after the initial shock. Never having encountered a uniclue puzzle, this one was unique.
The unusual format suits my solving style, as I never enter an across entry – even a gimme - without glancing at the adjacent down clues, and vice versa. This costs me time with conventional clue lists, but I am a slow solver anyway. It is also economical because the filtering process for a single clue comes up with both answers more often than not.
The solve was smooth but called for some guesswork (e.g. RAFTERS) but no lookups. I became slightly uncomfortable in the SW corner, where there were three unknown names, but IRMA was guessable so I could go through the vowels for the remaining open square at the crossing of KOOP and ROMO.
The unusual format suits my solving style, as I never enter an across entry – even a gimme - without glancing at the adjacent down clues, and vice versa. This costs me time with conventional clue lists, but I am a slow solver anyway. It is also economical because the filtering process for a single clue comes up with both answers more often than not.
The solve was smooth but called for some guesswork (e.g. RAFTERS) but no lookups. I became slightly uncomfortable in the SW corner, where there were three unknown names, but IRMA was guessable so I could go through the vowels for the remaining open square at the crossing of KOOP and ROMO.
4
This was certainly different and it took me a while to get started. Once I got going it went pretty quickly, which was good because I had even less time for the puzzle with my dog again not being overly cooperative (and it was not raining).
1
Unless you solve in Across Lite: Fateful words.
Lumbered through this one using the app that shall not be named. Not sure how WAVE is swell. Wait, I see. Sea shore.
The rest of the fill is solid Wednesday fare.
More coffee.
Lumbered through this one using the app that shall not be named. Not sure how WAVE is swell. Wait, I see. Sea shore.
The rest of the fill is solid Wednesday fare.
More coffee.
3
One of those rare times when I regretted doing this in Across Lite. Would have been neat to see the 'uniclue' layout (though probably challenging for me).
I wasn't getting anywhere in the north. At that point I was thinking that maybe the answer to the across clue was the clue for the down answer (an idea waiting to happen?). I finally caught on with STY / SELL and the rest of the bottom came together in reasonable time. Still was stuck in the north, but a break brought some of my wits back and I saw a couple of obvious things that I'd missed the first time through, and managed to work it out.
Clever and original idea and it must have been quite a chore to construct. And it provided the Wednesday level of challenge that I hoped for.
On the other hand, I have spent a lot of time recently coming up with bad theme ideas and one that I rejected early on was one in which the 'theme' was concentrated in the clues - with the same or similar clues, or slight rewording, etc. I thought - ''nah, the theme is supposed to be in the answers. They'll never go for that."
Also, while it was neat to have different meanings for the clue words and must have been a real challenge to come up with answers that worked, that's really kind of the way that crossword clues work - you have to figure out the intended sense the of the word in the clue. In this puzzle, you just had to figure out which meaning went which way.
Just noting the above. I stress that I was happy with the puzzle.
I wasn't getting anywhere in the north. At that point I was thinking that maybe the answer to the across clue was the clue for the down answer (an idea waiting to happen?). I finally caught on with STY / SELL and the rest of the bottom came together in reasonable time. Still was stuck in the north, but a break brought some of my wits back and I saw a couple of obvious things that I'd missed the first time through, and managed to work it out.
Clever and original idea and it must have been quite a chore to construct. And it provided the Wednesday level of challenge that I hoped for.
On the other hand, I have spent a lot of time recently coming up with bad theme ideas and one that I rejected early on was one in which the 'theme' was concentrated in the clues - with the same or similar clues, or slight rewording, etc. I thought - ''nah, the theme is supposed to be in the answers. They'll never go for that."
Also, while it was neat to have different meanings for the clue words and must have been a real challenge to come up with answers that worked, that's really kind of the way that crossword clues work - you have to figure out the intended sense the of the word in the clue. In this puzzle, you just had to figure out which meaning went which way.
Just noting the above. I stress that I was happy with the puzzle.
2
Also wanted to mention that I was quite surprised to see that only 9 pairs of answers shared an initial letter.
I think that's a sign of my ignorance of grid layouts. I really need to analyze those a lot more than I have.
I think that's a sign of my ignorance of grid layouts. I really need to analyze those a lot more than I have.
Hi Rich, hope you are well. I know we had a bit of a misunderstanding the other day about similar comments we both shared and wasn't sure if you saw my last comment as it was rather late in the day. I'm attempting to share it with you here rather than making you go search for it. Just wanted to ensure there are no hard feelings - certainly none from me. Be well and thanks again for the tips!
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/25/crosswords/adding-on.html?comments#per...
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/25/crosswords/adding-on.html?comments#per...
3
Joe, yes I'd seen that comment and of course there were never any hard feelings. You were quite gracious and I never thought that you were accusing me of anything.
I always go back to the previous days comments every morning to see if I've missed anything, so I absolutely know that I had also read your similar tips before I posted mine. I was really just bemoaning my memory in managing to forget that you had just posted on essentially the same subject the day before, and that that was almost certainly the inspiration for my own tips on the same subject.
I always go back to the previous days comments every morning to see if I've missed anything, so I absolutely know that I had also read your similar tips before I posted mine. I was really just bemoaning my memory in managing to forget that you had just posted on essentially the same subject the day before, and that that was almost certainly the inspiration for my own tips on the same subject.
3
Hand up for not remembering similar constructions. I guess that's why I found this one so fresh and fun. It went fast, once I got used to not looking for clues where they would normally be on the paper. Thanks MM.
3
I don't appear to be able to do the crossword on the website. I can't enter text. This is using an android tablet. Have you made some kind of change to the web app.
Hi Rohan,
I'm not part of the technical team, but if you write a note via the Feedback form on the main puzzle page (scroll down), someone can help you.
The main puzzle page is here:
http://www.nytimes.com/crosswords/index.html
I'm not part of the technical team, but if you write a note via the Feedback form on the main puzzle page (scroll down), someone can help you.
The main puzzle page is here:
http://www.nytimes.com/crosswords/index.html
.
Rohan,
Don't know if this will help.
As an Android user -- by far, most new device activations use Android (that used to be the case for non-US devices but I believe is the case inside and out of the US) -- I too am restricted to using the Web page in a browser on my device.
I had an experience with not being able to enter text in the grid. I mean, the cursor wouldn't even move from the square when I hit a key. This was maybe 11 months ago. Of course, I wrote up a Comment to see if anyone had any ideas. The only ideas offered were, Why do you bother with that buggy website thing; [some iOS app or other] is far superior.
Anyway, about a month later, it hit me. I made one change in my settings, and the problem went away.
So I suggest as a diagnostic: Check if your keyboard settings include either "autocomplete" or even just the keyboard "suggesting" words. In my case, I had the keyboard set to suggest words. Once I disabled that feature, the NYT Crossword accepted keyboard input again. I did nothing else that I am aware of that may have affected whether the thing worked (such as, re-downloading anything).
So have a look at your keyboard settings. I have a vague memory of contacting that tech support place; I am not sure if it was about this issue but I am sure I am still awaiting their answer to whatever I asked.
Rohan,
Don't know if this will help.
As an Android user -- by far, most new device activations use Android (that used to be the case for non-US devices but I believe is the case inside and out of the US) -- I too am restricted to using the Web page in a browser on my device.
I had an experience with not being able to enter text in the grid. I mean, the cursor wouldn't even move from the square when I hit a key. This was maybe 11 months ago. Of course, I wrote up a Comment to see if anyone had any ideas. The only ideas offered were, Why do you bother with that buggy website thing; [some iOS app or other] is far superior.
Anyway, about a month later, it hit me. I made one change in my settings, and the problem went away.
So I suggest as a diagnostic: Check if your keyboard settings include either "autocomplete" or even just the keyboard "suggesting" words. In my case, I had the keyboard set to suggest words. Once I disabled that feature, the NYT Crossword accepted keyboard input again. I did nothing else that I am aware of that may have affected whether the thing worked (such as, re-downloading anything).
So have a look at your keyboard settings. I have a vague memory of contacting that tech support place; I am not sure if it was about this issue but I am sure I am still awaiting their answer to whatever I asked.
1
I see many answers related to Mr. Trump. Hmmmm:
Liar
in power
grin
errors
zilch
loses to
at an end
skin (as in 'thin')
evade
Liar
in power
grin
errors
zilch
loses to
at an end
skin (as in 'thin')
evade
2
Hi Sheila,
I know you're joking, but we try to stay away from political potshots here. The puzzle and Wordplay are places to get away from the news in the rest of the paper.
Thanks for understanding.
I know you're joking, but we try to stay away from political potshots here. The puzzle and Wordplay are places to get away from the news in the rest of the paper.
Thanks for understanding.
3
Deb, I agree, but in fairness to Sheila, several of us regulars did the same kind of thing in yesterday's comments.
We shouldn't have done that (and I'll try to avoid it in the future), but I would certainly understand why that would lead someone to conclude that it's fair game on this blog (I mean - article).
We shouldn't have done that (and I'll try to avoid it in the future), but I would certainly understand why that would lead someone to conclude that it's fair game on this blog (I mean - article).
3
Thanks for that, Deb. As I've stated before, my rule is never to put anything in the blog that might reveal my political leanings. We must keep this blog politics-free, especially during campaign season.
2
After finishing the puzzle in Across Lite, and appreciating the co-clues, I read Deb's column and was intrigued to see what it looked like in the uniclue style. So I opened the "play" button on the crossword page and saw how it worked - and I think that would have been more fun! Really something a little different.
4
Same here Viv.
I'd never give up my AL for the NYT app, but it was interesting to see the uniclue list all. (I think the last time I did a uniclue puzzle I was using pen and paper.)
I'd never give up my AL for the NYT app, but it was interesting to see the uniclue list all. (I think the last time I did a uniclue puzzle I was using pen and paper.)
What's AL, DL?
DA: Across Lite.
Ah yes. My worst nightmare.
Single clues with multiple, completely unrelated answers. Not merely synonyms, mind you, but totally different meanings.
Worse than minor Greek gods. Worse than costars of 1980s television shows. Worse than Shortzetic puns. Far worse than lengthy, multi-part sayings derived from medieval urdu. At least with those I can rightfully claim topical or linguistic ignorance.
With this form of clue you can't even run away for these are the types that try men's soles.
Single clues with multiple, completely unrelated answers. Not merely synonyms, mind you, but totally different meanings.
Worse than minor Greek gods. Worse than costars of 1980s television shows. Worse than Shortzetic puns. Far worse than lengthy, multi-part sayings derived from medieval urdu. At least with those I can rightfully claim topical or linguistic ignorance.
With this form of clue you can't even run away for these are the types that try men's soles.
6
I did this in the PuzzAzz app, which may be what saved me. The Note made NO sense to me, and the clues could just as easily have stayed in Across and Down, but maybe Will was having an attack of frugality and wanted to save ink.
PuzzAzz lit up both A/D entries, but it also lit up various other clues, so even that was confusing.
So, just kept putting in things I knew, and finally I was done! The Green Banner of Solvitude was awarded in due course.
Saw my new eye doctor and learned that the blurry vision in my R eye is a cataract--but not bad enough to warrant surgery. Of course there was much excitement over my nonstandard optic nerves (despite which the eyes are healthy) so I have to go back in 6 months for some testing....having had two docs retire and desert me, this time I picked a young one. Goodness!
PuzzAzz lit up both A/D entries, but it also lit up various other clues, so even that was confusing.
So, just kept putting in things I knew, and finally I was done! The Green Banner of Solvitude was awarded in due course.
Saw my new eye doctor and learned that the blurry vision in my R eye is a cataract--but not bad enough to warrant surgery. Of course there was much excitement over my nonstandard optic nerves (despite which the eyes are healthy) so I have to go back in 6 months for some testing....having had two docs retire and desert me, this time I picked a young one. Goodness!
3
Unsolicited advice: When the doc says it's time for the cataract surgery, go for it! Even if it's only one eye.
Truly painless, minimally inconvenient, magnificently effective!
Truly painless, minimally inconvenient, magnificently effective!
DL, have definitely seen the wonderful effects w/ DHubby and many older friends in QuiltWorld. My problem is that no one will help me because it's not 'bad enough,' even though it is intensely annoying when I am trying to work very precisely on my quilts.
(I think Medicare requires that the docs 'prove' medical necessity...sigh.)
One of the quilters had a big shock post-cataract removal, finding that the 'subtle' tones she thought she was using were instead very intense, bright colors!
(I think Medicare requires that the docs 'prove' medical necessity...sigh.)
One of the quilters had a big shock post-cataract removal, finding that the 'subtle' tones she thought she was using were instead very intense, bright colors!
I had no problem with Medicare. I think it was just a matter of the doc checking the right box.
There are I think a few different kinds of cataracts. One of them, in addition to the blurring, acts as some kind of color filter. I'm guessing that's what your fellow quilter had. (I didn't.) There are also different procedures, one of which involves breaking up the cataract before removing it. I'm told that supplies a really marvelous, albeit brief, kaleidoscope effect. You have to have the right kind of cataract for that kind of procedure too (again, I didn't). I think there's a problem there with getting Medicare to pay.
When I had my cataracts removed, the procedure was done at a place waaaaaay out in Brooklyn. The surgery center sent a car service to pick me up and bring me there, and another to take me home. Plus I got coffee and biscuits. No charge. Seems there ought to be a service like that in Arkansas, since you really shouldn't drive a car right after the surgery.
There are I think a few different kinds of cataracts. One of them, in addition to the blurring, acts as some kind of color filter. I'm guessing that's what your fellow quilter had. (I didn't.) There are also different procedures, one of which involves breaking up the cataract before removing it. I'm told that supplies a really marvelous, albeit brief, kaleidoscope effect. You have to have the right kind of cataract for that kind of procedure too (again, I didn't). I think there's a problem there with getting Medicare to pay.
When I had my cataracts removed, the procedure was done at a place waaaaaay out in Brooklyn. The surgery center sent a car service to pick me up and bring me there, and another to take me home. Plus I got coffee and biscuits. No charge. Seems there ought to be a service like that in Arkansas, since you really shouldn't drive a car right after the surgery.
1
and Elke
This looked impossible at first. But filling in definite "knowns" like LOTT, PORTO, YAD, KOOP , ENE , ETRE , IBIS revealed enough to finish.
OK- tried "nave" before APSE, "harang" before HARASS, also my CREPEPAN is called "blintzpan"(and I use two at a time). Took the time to TAKE FIVE and the neurons were AFRESH. Then things fell nicely into place.
Shimon Peres- one of Ben Gurion's "boys", and a lion who was IN POWER in many positions in Israel, has passed away. He was born Persky, but changed his name to Peres = eagle. R. I. Peace.
Interesting puzzle.
This looked impossible at first. But filling in definite "knowns" like LOTT, PORTO, YAD, KOOP , ENE , ETRE , IBIS revealed enough to finish.
OK- tried "nave" before APSE, "harang" before HARASS, also my CREPEPAN is called "blintzpan"(and I use two at a time). Took the time to TAKE FIVE and the neurons were AFRESH. Then things fell nicely into place.
Shimon Peres- one of Ben Gurion's "boys", and a lion who was IN POWER in many positions in Israel, has passed away. He was born Persky, but changed his name to Peres = eagle. R. I. Peace.
Interesting puzzle.
5
.
YAD
Elke,
My mom got a job after WWII as a nighttime typist in an amorphous, boring company where my aunt worked. The owner was an East Coast blueblood (Philadelphia? Boston?), well-educated in Classics. I think he was spending his trust fund trying to make a go of running a publishing co. People like Mom came in after 5 pm to type things so the staff could have them in the a.m. I believe Mom saw the owner once or twice. The business of the office was perfectly routine.
After the owner died, rumors circulated; they were confirmed by 1994: He had gone to Occupied France in 1940 with $3000 and a list of 200 Jews that his rich NY friends wanted saved. He had no experience at foreign intrigue, and no US Govt help. He arrived in France to find way more people needing aid besides the 200 for whom his friends had arranged visas. So he raised $ however he could, opened an office, hired staff, and got help from a married couple plus other Americans. Much $$ came from Peggy Guggenheim, who was in France buying art for her new Museum in NYC.
When the 200 visas ran out, they improvised; sometimes, visas weren't used. The group eventually got 1000 people out of France, including Hannah Arendt, Marc Chagall, and Franz Werfel; and helped 3000 more. Late in 1940, Mom's boss was escorted to the Spanish border and expelled from France.
In 1994, he was the first US citizen honored with a place at YAD Vashem. The married couple was honored later. Only 2 other US citizens have been added.
YAD
Elke,
My mom got a job after WWII as a nighttime typist in an amorphous, boring company where my aunt worked. The owner was an East Coast blueblood (Philadelphia? Boston?), well-educated in Classics. I think he was spending his trust fund trying to make a go of running a publishing co. People like Mom came in after 5 pm to type things so the staff could have them in the a.m. I believe Mom saw the owner once or twice. The business of the office was perfectly routine.
After the owner died, rumors circulated; they were confirmed by 1994: He had gone to Occupied France in 1940 with $3000 and a list of 200 Jews that his rich NY friends wanted saved. He had no experience at foreign intrigue, and no US Govt help. He arrived in France to find way more people needing aid besides the 200 for whom his friends had arranged visas. So he raised $ however he could, opened an office, hired staff, and got help from a married couple plus other Americans. Much $$ came from Peggy Guggenheim, who was in France buying art for her new Museum in NYC.
When the 200 visas ran out, they improvised; sometimes, visas weren't used. The group eventually got 1000 people out of France, including Hannah Arendt, Marc Chagall, and Franz Werfel; and helped 3000 more. Late in 1940, Mom's boss was escorted to the Spanish border and expelled from France.
In 1994, he was the first US citizen honored with a place at YAD Vashem. The married couple was honored later. Only 2 other US citizens have been added.
13
That is an amazing story of a true hero. Just last week we watched another such story on PBS (Nova I think) involving a married couple - I wonder if it was the same couple to which you refer. I think the program was called ' Defying the Nazis'.
I see parallels in our country now with the run up to WW II in Europe. So much fomenting of hate and fear of anyone who is 'other'. I abjectly hope we do not elect another megalomaniacal dictator.
I see parallels in our country now with the run up to WW II in Europe. So much fomenting of hate and fear of anyone who is 'other'. I abjectly hope we do not elect another megalomaniacal dictator.
1
and Elke
MTF Tobin--- Thank you for telling this story.
At YAD Vashem, there is a Garden of the Righteous Among the Nations. Among the plants are small plaques with the names of people who saved Jews. It is very moving to walk through this.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yad_Vashem
MTF Tobin--- Thank you for telling this story.
At YAD Vashem, there is a Garden of the Righteous Among the Nations. Among the plants are small plaques with the names of people who saved Jews. It is very moving to walk through this.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yad_Vashem
4
"Oar" as the answer for "Row". As a rower, I've pulled an oar or perhaps been referred to as the 4 oar, but never heard "Oar" used as a verb.
5
LG,
OAR (ôr)
n.
1. A long, thin pole with a blade at one end, inserted into an OARlock and used to row or steer a boat.
2. A person who rows a boat, especially in a race.
v. OARed, OARing, OARs
v.tr.
1. To propel with or as if with OARs or an OAR.
2. To traverse with or as if with OARs or an OAR: an hour to OAR the strait.
v.intr.
To move forward by or as if by rowing: OARed strongly across the finish line.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/oar
OAR (ôr)
n.
1. A long, thin pole with a blade at one end, inserted into an OARlock and used to row or steer a boat.
2. A person who rows a boat, especially in a race.
v. OARed, OARing, OARs
v.tr.
1. To propel with or as if with OARs or an OAR.
2. To traverse with or as if with OARs or an OAR: an hour to OAR the strait.
v.intr.
To move forward by or as if by rowing: OARed strongly across the finish line.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/oar
2
We had a similar question yesterday, and I offer a similar comment: If it's in the dictionary, it must be allowed in the puzzle, but that doesn't mean you will hear it or see it In Real Life.
STROKE
STROKE
2
Today's offering is Men in Row Boat Oaring:
http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/men-in-row-boat-oaring-royalty-f...
I find it fascinating that when a rarely-used is encountered, there are always two camps of reaction. Some love learning a new sense for an old word -- a new drop in the ocean of poetic possibilities we call the English language.
Others resist it as an affront and offense. I (being in the first camp, to no one's surprise) am not competent to explain that view. It presumes that only commonly used words and senses belong in crosswords, but I'm not sure why.
I can understand a truly obscure word being controversial. But something that's not only in the dictionary, but is in every abridged desk dictionary, would not seem to be "the word on a technicality" that this reaction suggests.
English is uniquely rich because of its uniquely rich history. Crossword constructors are very lucky to have so much to work with, and I think solvers are lucky to discover new and interesting things that English-speakers have been saying for centuries that somehow we missed. It's my number one joy when I solve.
http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/men-in-row-boat-oaring-royalty-f...
I find it fascinating that when a rarely-used is encountered, there are always two camps of reaction. Some love learning a new sense for an old word -- a new drop in the ocean of poetic possibilities we call the English language.
Others resist it as an affront and offense. I (being in the first camp, to no one's surprise) am not competent to explain that view. It presumes that only commonly used words and senses belong in crosswords, but I'm not sure why.
I can understand a truly obscure word being controversial. But something that's not only in the dictionary, but is in every abridged desk dictionary, would not seem to be "the word on a technicality" that this reaction suggests.
English is uniquely rich because of its uniquely rich history. Crossword constructors are very lucky to have so much to work with, and I think solvers are lucky to discover new and interesting things that English-speakers have been saying for centuries that somehow we missed. It's my number one joy when I solve.
4
The puzzle was easy enough, but the instructions were confusing. I have no idea what that first sentence means. The second sentence would have sufficed, I think. Overall, it was fun to solve. I particularly liked 'zest' and 'zilch'.
1
This was fun! I am especially impressed with 1 A/D: Two words starting with Z sharing a clue? That's pizzazz!
5
My first thought was genuine synonyms, so I had ZERO and ZILCH -- for about one minute.
1
I'm first? Can't be. Anyway, I see from the notes that this has been done before, but since I remember little these days, it was new to me, and a lot of fun. My thanks to MJM.
5
Relieved to see that I'm not the only one with that kind of memory. I'd only done one of these before, but I didn't remember that. I vaguely recalled the puzzle after I went back and looked at it. It was a little different than this one.
SPOILER ALERT: Don't read on if you're planning to go back and do the previous 'uniclue' puzzles.
This is the first one that used a different sense of the same word in the clue. One of them was similar but used exactly the same meaning (GAWK / GAPE, EVADE / ELUDE). Two of them combined the across and down answers into a phrase which was the actual answer to the clue (CASH CROP, LEFT LANE), and then there was a Joe Krozel puzzle, in which the clue was for the across answer and the down answer was a homonym of the across answer (BOULDER / BOLDER, BARRED / BARD), with absolutely no hint that that was the way it worked.
For Across Lite solvers, this was also the first time that the down clues directly referenced the across answer ('See 1a' for example). In the previous puzzles the down clue was always just a dash.
SPOILER ALERT: Don't read on if you're planning to go back and do the previous 'uniclue' puzzles.
This is the first one that used a different sense of the same word in the clue. One of them was similar but used exactly the same meaning (GAWK / GAPE, EVADE / ELUDE). Two of them combined the across and down answers into a phrase which was the actual answer to the clue (CASH CROP, LEFT LANE), and then there was a Joe Krozel puzzle, in which the clue was for the across answer and the down answer was a homonym of the across answer (BOULDER / BOLDER, BARRED / BARD), with absolutely no hint that that was the way it worked.
For Across Lite solvers, this was also the first time that the down clues directly referenced the across answer ('See 1a' for example). In the previous puzzles the down clue was always just a dash.
MTF those "brushes with history" where a person finds out much later that she was a cog in a bigger endeavor make history real. I once worked with a man who had been a low-level assistant to an Air Force officer, and only in August '45 realized that the project he had been seeing through various stages was Little Boy, the atomic bomb.
I think the couple who saved so many from the Nazis were the Sharps, sent by their Unitarian church. Honored in Israel. Bless them.
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