Came to the blog to read/talk about Monday's puzzle, but -- alas -- nothing. I guess if Deb is also looking, at least it isn't me.
Spoiler alert:
Happy Birthday, suejean.
Happy Birthday, suejean.
Hi all,
According to the emus, the Monday column published, but it's no where to be found. It's one of the hilarious pranks that they pull on me, and I'm looking for it now. It will most likely be in the last place I look.
My apologies to Kristian House, the constructor.
According to the emus, the Monday column published, but it's no where to be found. It's one of the hilarious pranks that they pull on me, and I'm looking for it now. It will most likely be in the last place I look.
My apologies to Kristian House, the constructor.
I am compelled to point out that Mt. Shasta is, by a considerable margin, the second highest peak in what reasonable minds could consider the Pacific Northwest; at least for purposes of superlative peaks, fixing the southern boundary of the region at the Oregon border seems a bit of a gerrymander.
1
Is Martin around?
I can see Santa SCLERA from my house.
I can see Santa SCLERA from my house.
2
Perhaps he is helping Deb REPOT the Monday column.
1
Martin made it fairly plain that he is busy this weekend entertaining family and cooking. So, either that is the case or he is deceased. The Blog will go on and I will continue addressing my comments to Martin, regardless.
2
I didn't - and still don't - understand 128 Across ("Makes It?" = Tags). Does that have to do with an item in a store, on which the tag indicates who made the item?
Read the clue as "Makes [somebody] 'it'" — as in the game of Tag: TAGS.
Hi Daniel,
We are playing "Tag."
If I tag you, I make you "It."
Makes "It" = TAGS.
We are playing "Tag."
If I tag you, I make you "It."
Makes "It" = TAGS.
Think of a schoolyard during recess time; the person who's "it", touches someone else and says "Tag, you're it!"
I'm not sure if that happens any more, nowadays.
I'm not sure if that happens any more, nowadays.
Monday puzzle is up, but column and comments are not. Too many martinis from Sunday's mixology?
Me too, Barry. It's nine in the morning (Monday morning) here and still no column or comments. I just rushed here to say Happy Birthday to suejean!
2
Clever innovative theme that was lots of fun to work on, trying to get the answers with as few crossing letters as possible. It was at first mildly disappointing that it was so easy to see what the theme was from the upper left theme entry at 23 Across, but this soon didn't matter at all. Also lots of nice tricky clues (but not too tricky). Fun!
2
I liked this Sunday offering a lot. I knew BEAR BRYANT right off the bat, but was pleased to find the other intricacies involved with the theme phrases and the three parts to the cluing that offered hints to the inner words and completed phrase. What puzzling fun; all eleven of them, very different but with the commonality of construction to connect them. And non-theme words like EMBLAZON and SIPHON and more. Well done!
2
When you do the puzzle on an iPad the clock keeps running until you get every square correct. I enjoyed this one a lot, but I must have an error somewhere, and after a dozen proofs I'm ready to quit and lose my streak! Arrrgh!
There's a lot to be said for the bliss of ignorance doing it on paper!
There's a lot to be said for the bliss of ignorance doing it on paper!
3
I lost a 58-day streak in exactly that fashion last Sunday, Chris. My only consolation was that the error was revealed to be in a name for which I didn't know the correct spelling, so no amount of review would have produced a solve in my case. Good luck to you!
1
I never thought I'd say a computer generated theme was as fascinating as I found this one to be. It never got boring for me to figure out every single theme answer ... all 11 of them!
Matt, I like a lot of theme and don't mind a little "glue" to make a lot of theme work. I think what you and your computer did here was amazing.
I am, however, embarrassed to say that I spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to figure out how a plant moves before I got REPOT. (Slowly with the sun? Very slowly ... up? With the wind? ...)
Matt, I like a lot of theme and don't mind a little "glue" to make a lot of theme work. I think what you and your computer did here was amazing.
I am, however, embarrassed to say that I spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to figure out how a plant moves before I got REPOT. (Slowly with the sun? Very slowly ... up? With the wind? ...)
3
The plant one got me too, Johanna. Doh! when I finally got REPOT. Good one, clue writers! :)
2
I liked the theme and figured it out pretty early, but for me, too many obscure and/or foreign word crosses left me unable to solve without a few reveals. Not my wheelhouse, I guess.
Here's a question: what key am I hitting that makes letters disappear when I back up to reword my comment?
The puzzle: liked it a lot. And I did use the "interior" clues as solving aids. Matt, I'm glad you didn't get to use the alternative clues you suggested. It was hard enough for me, particularly the SW, which SNAILED... I was pretty excited when I saw the title, thinking (as a mixologist) it would be right up my alley. But not exactly! However I did invent a drink called the Grape NEHI, which is fairly popular and requires the restaurant to keep grapes on hand. The only problem is that post-MASH generations struggle with pronunciation.
The puzzle: liked it a lot. And I did use the "interior" clues as solving aids. Matt, I'm glad you didn't get to use the alternative clues you suggested. It was hard enough for me, particularly the SW, which SNAILED... I was pretty excited when I saw the title, thinking (as a mixologist) it would be right up my alley. But not exactly! However I did invent a drink called the Grape NEHI, which is fairly popular and requires the restaurant to keep grapes on hand. The only problem is that post-MASH generations struggle with pronunciation.
(1) Isn't that when you (accidentally) hit the Delete key [which on my keyboard is] directly below the Insert key?
(2) When will you serve Grape NEHI (to those of us who can pronounce it)?
(2) When will you serve Grape NEHI (to those of us who can pronounce it)?
1) Thanks, but apparently not on this machine.
2) I'd love to serve y'all a Grape NEHI, if you're ever in the neighborhood! I don't know if you were around when the Mr. Happy Pencil cocktail was invented, a few years back. I changed my profile photo to show it at the launch party, but now I don't see it or my little Katie dog. Maybe it'll show up after I submit, or next time I comment? We shall see...
2) I'd love to serve y'all a Grape NEHI, if you're ever in the neighborhood! I don't know if you were around when the Mr. Happy Pencil cocktail was invented, a few years back. I changed my profile photo to show it at the launch party, but now I don't see it or my little Katie dog. Maybe it'll show up after I submit, or next time I comment? We shall see...
I'm seeing a very cute little black dog, I think wearing some kind of scarf.
I think I was just starting at Wordplay when you invented your MHP drink, and I saw it referred to but never knew what was in it.
NEHI was around when I was a kid, but I think people pronounced it something like NEH-hee. Only when M*A*S*H came along did I learn it was KNEE-high. (I prefer my grapes fermented.)
I think I was just starting at Wordplay when you invented your MHP drink, and I saw it referred to but never knew what was in it.
NEHI was around when I was a kid, but I think people pronounced it something like NEH-hee. Only when M*A*S*H came along did I learn it was KNEE-high. (I prefer my grapes fermented.)
Since no one commented on this I will go ahead and do that. The constructor of the puzzle took a little "poetic license" in 97 across when he used the l for both pale and rental. That was the only time he did that and it threw me for awhile until I realized that was the only thing that would work there.
David,
I believe RENT A CAR is intended in 97A.
I believe RENT A CAR is intended in 97A.
2
You're right. Duh.
Who knew there could ever be a connection between BEARBRYANT and BODIDDLEY?!! One writeover at 130A: yule/NITE. Oh, you mean _that_Nick...
1
So I have a question for y'all about this puzzle.
I've been enjoying the NYT Sunday crossword for maybe 50 years, since I was about ten. I couldn't do them then (and can't do them now!), and the fun for me was always figuring out the theme and the theme answers. Everything else was just filler. (Of course, in those pre-Shortzian days, much of the else really *was* filler.)
So when I *make* a crossword, I always trade theme density for quality of fill, at least until Will dials me back. :) My question about this puzzle: too much? There *is* a lot of dreck or semi-dreck, and reducing the number of theme entries from 11 to 10 would probably have allowed me to remove virtually all of it. Should I have?
Thanks for any responses!
I've been enjoying the NYT Sunday crossword for maybe 50 years, since I was about ten. I couldn't do them then (and can't do them now!), and the fun for me was always figuring out the theme and the theme answers. Everything else was just filler. (Of course, in those pre-Shortzian days, much of the else really *was* filler.)
So when I *make* a crossword, I always trade theme density for quality of fill, at least until Will dials me back. :) My question about this puzzle: too much? There *is* a lot of dreck or semi-dreck, and reducing the number of theme entries from 11 to 10 would probably have allowed me to remove virtually all of it. Should I have?
Thanks for any responses!
4
Too much what? Methinks you worry too much -- today's was a good one and I liked it. As for the "dreck and semi-dreck" -- well, I occasionally like to submit a quibble when that occurs -- but I didn't find anything worth quibbling about either. (Maybe you should try harder?)
Nice presentation today. Really.
Nice presentation today. Really.
2
i'm with Dr W on this. My nits were about a bit of the cluing, not about the fill. As I noted earlier, while it was not IDEAL, this puzzle had good IDEAS. (Or do the cognizanti deem it "dreck" to have IDEAS and IDEAL in the same puzzle?)
My opinion is yes -- 10 themers with a spotless grid is better than 11 with some ughs. It is a much tougher call on a smaller grid, of course. That said, I loved every theme answer you had today. Even though they were generated on computer, to me, who loves wordplay, I found the answers astonishing -- that such words can be produced. And, as I mentioned in my earlier post, they were an awful lot of fun to figure out!
As arcane as it comes -- seeing Matt's name was a tipoff. Maybe I've been at this too long .. :-)
I was profoundly impressed by the consistency of the difficulty of each of the theme entries, without exception. I find in most Sunday xwps clue-fill combos with varying degrees of ease and obscurity scattered throughout. Not here. That's exceptional.
119A gave me a chuckle -- Mrs W and I were there in 2008 and most impressed by the system maps. And I thought the one for our own MTA was pretty good.
I was profoundly impressed by the consistency of the difficulty of each of the theme entries, without exception. I find in most Sunday xwps clue-fill combos with varying degrees of ease and obscurity scattered throughout. Not here. That's exceptional.
119A gave me a chuckle -- Mrs W and I were there in 2008 and most impressed by the system maps. And I thought the one for our own MTA was pretty good.
2
I haven't been to PARIS since the 1960s, and back then I was impressed by the system maps.
I can no longer manage the stairs, but the last time I took a NYC subway--perhaps five years ago--we hadn't even thought of catching up to where the METRO was fifty years ago.
I can no longer manage the stairs, but the last time I took a NYC subway--perhaps five years ago--we hadn't even thought of catching up to where the METRO was fifty years ago.
This is most easily solved by ignoring the themes and just concentrating on the keyword or even gestalt of the clues. I seldom if at all tried to use the + + indicators. The circled letters I never even looked at. it was a good puzzle overlayed with a useless complex concept.
Like many, I bet, I guessed the long word then figured out why the clue made sense. Got stopped by BIAS TIRE. Never heard of it. Ah, well.
1
Bias and radial refer to the arrangement of reinforcing threads (also called plies) embedded in the tire tread and walls. If you look at a tire lying flat on the ground, the bias ply threads lie on a slant while the radial threads lie in vertical "slices". Bias ply tires are much older in usage.
Thanks, Dr. Still, I get the feeling, perhaps wrong, that the puzzle constructor got trapped with BIAS TIRE, then looked it up and - whew! - it means something! [But maybe not]
I mostly enjoyed this one. Maybe the theme answers weren't exactly wordplay, but I found it a nice challenge to try to work them out from one or the other of the short words or the complete answer or all three at once.
I guess this must have been on the easy side; I caught on almost immediately with ERRANT BABY BEAR BRYANT and I was off and running, and I worked it steadily from top to bottom after that (which I almost never do).
And then... I got completely stuck in the vicinity of my last unfilled theme answer, which was RADIANTHEAT. A variety of things there - first the AGAMA, DORAG, TAGS trio. But I finally got the last of those and that resolved that. But then I just went all flavors of dim. How could I not recall MTADAMS? I tried to think of what happens in October and Halloween never dawned on me (yes, I'm serious). MARIA never crossed my mind, and then there was APIA, BIAS and RATT hanging out in the other corner.
I spent well over half of my solve time trying to work that out and was pretty frustrated by the time I was done, though I guess I have to take the rap for most of it. Halloween. MARIA. Don't know where my brain was.
Ah, well. One failed check. So close.
I guess this must have been on the easy side; I caught on almost immediately with ERRANT BABY BEAR BRYANT and I was off and running, and I worked it steadily from top to bottom after that (which I almost never do).
And then... I got completely stuck in the vicinity of my last unfilled theme answer, which was RADIANTHEAT. A variety of things there - first the AGAMA, DORAG, TAGS trio. But I finally got the last of those and that resolved that. But then I just went all flavors of dim. How could I not recall MTADAMS? I tried to think of what happens in October and Halloween never dawned on me (yes, I'm serious). MARIA never crossed my mind, and then there was APIA, BIAS and RATT hanging out in the other corner.
I spent well over half of my solve time trying to work that out and was pretty frustrated by the time I was done, though I guess I have to take the rap for most of it. Halloween. MARIA. Don't know where my brain was.
Ah, well. One failed check. So close.
4
"How could I not recall MTADAMS?"
Because you are so short you don't have to open doors? Whenever I see 60A, I still hear "...have you heard? I'm gonna jump from a big iron bird."
Because you are so short you don't have to open doors? Whenever I see 60A, I still hear "...have you heard? I'm gonna jump from a big iron bird."
As the classic ad goes: Three! Three! Three words in one! I loved figuring out the theme answers. First I'd try to answer it outright, from the third clue. If no success, I'd try to get the circled words or encircled words from their clues. Last resort: crosses. Each theme answer was a little independent puzzle, and I just loved that.
At first I wondered how the heck Matt came up with these, then I figured (correctly) that it was through computer machinations. Still, it was a brilliant idea, worth a couple of iffy clues and a bit of junky fill. SNAILED feels like one of those words you make up when embellishing a story. Maybe it's not common, but I just may start using it. And I do like that DEER/RAT/SNAIL grouping in the middle.
Plenty of peaks in this Sunday to not make it feel like a slog. Between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it is heartening to have a Satisfying Sunday.
At first I wondered how the heck Matt came up with these, then I figured (correctly) that it was through computer machinations. Still, it was a brilliant idea, worth a couple of iffy clues and a bit of junky fill. SNAILED feels like one of those words you make up when embellishing a story. Maybe it's not common, but I just may start using it. And I do like that DEER/RAT/SNAIL grouping in the middle.
Plenty of peaks in this Sunday to not make it feel like a slog. Between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it is heartening to have a Satisfying Sunday.
5
I did *not* like the clue for DEER.
With so many options, why choose one involving killing?
With so many options, why choose one involving killing?
2
This was very enjoyable despite having to reboot several times. I started last night and after three reboots gave up and hoped for more cooperation this morning. All is well now.
"Bias" in tires, clothwork, and when cutting meat has the meaning of "at an oblique angle" - neither with the grain nor across the grain - so, essentially, it means at 45 degrees to the grain.
In the case of layered work (as in multi-ply tires / plywood & clothing construction), two or more layers being produced "on a bias" means that there is the longest possible overlap without alignment, producing the strongest construction. (Of course, multiple bias layers relate to each other at right angles; bias is about how they relate to the material itself.)
The thin strips of cloth that line hems and seams and zippers is called bias tape, and is made to be equally strong and flexible because it is cut at a 45 degree angle to the weave of the cloth itself.
Interestingly, in the case of non-layered work (as in slicing a nice tenderloin for the dinner table), cutting on the bias produces the most satisfying interplay between cohesiveness and separability - the best "fork". Too many cooks don't pay attention to that last recipe step, "cut on a bias." Imagine the length and the breadth of the roast, then cut in a way that is 45 degrees from _both_, not just one of them.
This has been a biased opinion - no surprises here...
In the case of layered work (as in multi-ply tires / plywood & clothing construction), two or more layers being produced "on a bias" means that there is the longest possible overlap without alignment, producing the strongest construction. (Of course, multiple bias layers relate to each other at right angles; bias is about how they relate to the material itself.)
The thin strips of cloth that line hems and seams and zippers is called bias tape, and is made to be equally strong and flexible because it is cut at a 45 degree angle to the weave of the cloth itself.
Interestingly, in the case of non-layered work (as in slicing a nice tenderloin for the dinner table), cutting on the bias produces the most satisfying interplay between cohesiveness and separability - the best "fork". Too many cooks don't pay attention to that last recipe step, "cut on a bias." Imagine the length and the breadth of the roast, then cut in a way that is 45 degrees from _both_, not just one of them.
This has been a biased opinion - no surprises here...
1
URSA, OSA and BEAR BRYANT. Good subtheme.
The Highwayman was a poem my father used to read to me. Nice memory.
Always good to see the alma mater in the puzzle.
The Highwayman was a poem my father used to read to me. Nice memory.
Always good to see the alma mater in the puzzle.
4
You forgot BEARER.
1
We learned The Highwayman by heart in 8th grade and I can still recite it. Same for the prelude to Evangeline.
1
Try "The Barrel-Organ". Even better.
Nit at NITE #2:
97A: PRENATAL CARE. I will be happy to be corrected by the house staff, but I thought the (last part of the) clue should have been "medical" specialty, not "hospital" specialty. NICU si, PICU no.
97A: PRENATAL CARE. I will be happy to be corrected by the house staff, but I thought the (last part of the) clue should have been "medical" specialty, not "hospital" specialty. NICU si, PICU no.
5
PRENATAL, PARENTAL, and PATERNAL are all anagrams of each other. Can this be just a coincidence?
3
BA, correct-o-mundo (as they say). I'll PICU if U'll PICme. Perhaps I'll SICU in the MICU.
[Ah, the good old acronymious days...]
[Ah, the good old acronymious days...]
Didn't quite finish -- got hung up on APIA and BIASTIRE. boo!!
Nit at NITE #1:
125A: EAMES is *not* a "Kind of chair." Parsons is a kind of table, and aalto is a kind of stool, but Charles and Ray EAMES designed many kinds of chairs. I have two different kinds of Eames chairs in my living/dining room. Here are just some of the different kinds of Eames chairs:
http://www.eamesoffice.com/catalog-category/seating/
125A: EAMES is *not* a "Kind of chair." Parsons is a kind of table, and aalto is a kind of stool, but Charles and Ray EAMES designed many kinds of chairs. I have two different kinds of Eames chairs in my living/dining room. Here are just some of the different kinds of Eames chairs:
http://www.eamesoffice.com/catalog-category/seating/
4
Disappointed.
And I fear I must disagree with Deb about any similarity to cryptics (my very favorite puzzle form).
Cryptics are artful and clever, challenging and amusing. To me, this puzzle showed its computer underpinnings at the expense of inventiveness, and seemed to exist for the amusement of the constructor rather than the solver. And was waaaay too easy.
Yes, it can be fun to look at how words and phrases are put together, or can be pulled apart. But what we have here seems to be basically two-word anagrams, constrained only by the fact that each word has its letters in order, albeit mixed with the other word.
Then the clues are so completely straightforward that there is no wordplay at all. As described by Matt in his Notes, his preferred approach to cluing seems better, but only a little bit. I'm still missing the fun, the wordplay.
Some of the themers were really nice--BO DIDDLEY, for example, and PLEA BARGAINS. Couldn't we have had more fun in the cluing, so that we had to tickle our (PEA)BRAINs a bit to figure out the entry and its components.
I did, of course, like some of the themers (and other entries) besides those I've cited--PARIS METRO, PRENATAL CARE, and PIANO DUETS, along with PLAIN FACTS and DOGSLED.
Last letter entered, and only a lucky guess, at the crossing of 58d and 101A. Didn't expect to know the name of the band, but surprised to learn there is something called a BIAS TIRE (parsing OK?) and don't know what it has to do with "radial."
And I fear I must disagree with Deb about any similarity to cryptics (my very favorite puzzle form).
Cryptics are artful and clever, challenging and amusing. To me, this puzzle showed its computer underpinnings at the expense of inventiveness, and seemed to exist for the amusement of the constructor rather than the solver. And was waaaay too easy.
Yes, it can be fun to look at how words and phrases are put together, or can be pulled apart. But what we have here seems to be basically two-word anagrams, constrained only by the fact that each word has its letters in order, albeit mixed with the other word.
Then the clues are so completely straightforward that there is no wordplay at all. As described by Matt in his Notes, his preferred approach to cluing seems better, but only a little bit. I'm still missing the fun, the wordplay.
Some of the themers were really nice--BO DIDDLEY, for example, and PLEA BARGAINS. Couldn't we have had more fun in the cluing, so that we had to tickle our (PEA)BRAINs a bit to figure out the entry and its components.
I did, of course, like some of the themers (and other entries) besides those I've cited--PARIS METRO, PRENATAL CARE, and PIANO DUETS, along with PLAIN FACTS and DOGSLED.
Last letter entered, and only a lucky guess, at the crossing of 58d and 101A. Didn't expect to know the name of the band, but surprised to learn there is something called a BIAS TIRE (parsing OK?) and don't know what it has to do with "radial."
5
Deadline,
When I owned a car, this was something to consider:
http://agricultural.michelinman.com/us/Properly-use-your-tires/Radial-or...
When I owned a car, this was something to consider:
http://agricultural.michelinman.com/us/Properly-use-your-tires/Radial-or...
Oy, Barry.
So glad I've never owned a car.
(But the Michelin Man is kinda cute.)
So glad I've never owned a car.
(But the Michelin Man is kinda cute.)
I've only ever heard the pre-radial tires referred to as BIAS-ply TIREs, based on the plies of cord-impregnated rubber that traversed the tire from one side to the other AT AN ANGLE to the rolling direction of the tire—what dressmakers might call "on the bias." Most passenger-car tires had four plies for strength, crossing each other at right angles.
1
Martin, CIRCLES. At least these circles had a purpose and were at times useful in solving. Another Sunday finished without error or the help of Ms. Check. My last entry was the A and G in TAGS. Lucked out. So I can’t complain.
P.S. I was A BIT disappointed that "Mixology" had nothing to do with booze. Time for my martini....
P.S. I was A BIT disappointed that "Mixology" had nothing to do with booze. Time for my martini....
1
I bogged down in the SW corner, mostly because I had put in MEGA for TERA and then couldn't think of a Santa _____ with an A in the second position (the only letter I had there). D'oh when I filled in MARIA--my grandmother lived in Santa Maria, CA, for many years. And the misdirect about what kind of network and what kind of stations didn't help any. Finally giving up on MEGA led to the solve.
I didn't much like SNAILED. My brain went to TATS for 72D, but I was thinking lacemaking (which didn't make sense with the clue), not tattoos. It was sly to have both ARID and SERE; I usually try ARID first with a clue like that but here we got to use them both.
I didn't much like SNAILED. My brain went to TATS for 72D, but I was thinking lacemaking (which didn't make sense with the clue), not tattoos. It was sly to have both ARID and SERE; I usually try ARID first with a clue like that but here we got to use them both.
3
Hand up for MEGA before TERA.
All hands up, and feet and everything else available, for disliking SNAILED. I could see it as a word that is the opposite of "hared." If it existed. But it doesn't.
All hands up, and feet and everything else available, for disliking SNAILED. I could see it as a word that is the opposite of "hared." If it existed. But it doesn't.
5
DL, snailed is like snaked, sounds okay to me.
1
DL, "hared" does indeed exist as a word, meaning to run very fast.
I finished it fine, but am having some trouble understanding 37D (opts) and 128A (tags). Neither one makes sense to me based on the clue. Any help?
David,
37D: Opting out of something.
128A: Tag! You're it!
37D: Opting out of something.
128A: Tag! You're it!
1
The person who TAGS another person in the game of tag becomes It.
As far as I can tell, the clue for OPTS just refers to the fact that both "OPTS" and "pulls" can precede "out of" to mean decides not to do whatever, but this one seems to me to go beyond the usual conventions for that type of clue construction. I thought it was an ugly clue.
As far as I can tell, the clue for OPTS just refers to the fact that both "OPTS" and "pulls" can precede "out of" to mean decides not to do whatever, but this one seems to me to go beyond the usual conventions for that type of clue construction. I thought it was an ugly clue.
5
DL—Dunno about NYC, but out in Columbus it was (and perhaps still is) the person who is tagged who becomes "It." I think that's also the drift of the clue. Perhaps you just accidentally stated the proposition backwards.
5
got theme with Bear Bryant and Bo Diddley. Sundays seem long compared to the tautness of Saturday and Friday puzzles.
There were some blasts from the past in this one.
Those who remember the actor Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., star of the TV series "The FBI," might (or might not) know that his father, Efrem Zimbalist, was a renowned concert violinist. Here is a 1926 film clip utilizing the brand new film-with-sound technology to record a performance of Beethoven's Kreuzer Sonata, with pianist Harold Bauer.
https://youtu.be/wecNrRUZ1yE
Also, ED AMES comes up in puzzles fairly often, sometimes clued to his role of Mingo in the "Daniel Boone" TV series, sometimes clued to his singing career, of which his 1967 recording of "My Cup Runneth Over" (from the musical "I Do! I Do!") is probably the best known.
https://youtu.be/xvaQisHV8jw
To these, add Coach BEAR BRYANT, finicky spokes-cat MORRIS, R&B's BO DIDDLEY, NEHI drinks...all in all, such a festival for us aging Boomers, that I didn't even mind the passing Lisa and Bart reference thrown in for you young'uns.
Those who remember the actor Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., star of the TV series "The FBI," might (or might not) know that his father, Efrem Zimbalist, was a renowned concert violinist. Here is a 1926 film clip utilizing the brand new film-with-sound technology to record a performance of Beethoven's Kreuzer Sonata, with pianist Harold Bauer.
https://youtu.be/wecNrRUZ1yE
Also, ED AMES comes up in puzzles fairly often, sometimes clued to his role of Mingo in the "Daniel Boone" TV series, sometimes clued to his singing career, of which his 1967 recording of "My Cup Runneth Over" (from the musical "I Do! I Do!") is probably the best known.
https://youtu.be/xvaQisHV8jw
To these, add Coach BEAR BRYANT, finicky spokes-cat MORRIS, R&B's BO DIDDLEY, NEHI drinks...all in all, such a festival for us aging Boomers, that I didn't even mind the passing Lisa and Bart reference thrown in for you young'uns.
4
Alan,
Boomers more aged than you will remember Efrem Zimbalist Jr. from 77 Sunset Strip, not from The FBI. By the time The FBI was on the air, I would not have watched it (but not vice versa).
Boomers more aged than you will remember Efrem Zimbalist Jr. from 77 Sunset Strip, not from The FBI. By the time The FBI was on the air, I would not have watched it (but not vice versa).
2
Those of us slightly more aged--pre-boomers--definitely remember BO DIDDLEY, plus ED AMES from a lot of stuff including his years with The Ames Brothers, NEHI as the stuff no self-respecting kid would touch and only more recently because of Radar.
I do remember EFREM Zimbalist, Jr., from "77 Sunset Strip," although that was before I had a TV, and I also remember that it was there that I learned about his parent.
I do remember EFREM Zimbalist, Jr., from "77 Sunset Strip," although that was before I had a TV, and I also remember that it was there that I learned about his parent.
1
Buckley in Maverick.
RLS did not die in Apia, but he did die on Samoa, the capital of which is Apia.
4
It's a form of misdirection. If I were to die in Tucson, Phoenix would be the capital of where I died! The clue doesn't rule it out.
3
Kiki,
The clue does not say capital *of" where, it says Capital where. The clue is incorrect, either factually or grammatically.
The clue does not say capital *of" where, it says Capital where. The clue is incorrect, either factually or grammatically.
6
Barry,
Albany is the capital where you live. Not the best grammar, but it can be understood that way.
Albany is the capital where you live. Not the best grammar, but it can be understood that way.
4
The constructor writes: "I hope everyone enjoyed the puzzle!"
I don't know about everyone, but I certainly did! I found the themers quite entertaining, and the cluing was ADULT enough to be a TREAT (a puzzle need not be IDEAL if it has good IDEAS). I DO want to leave it at that; I'll save a nit or two for a NITE post.
I don't know about everyone, but I certainly did! I found the themers quite entertaining, and the cluing was ADULT enough to be a TREAT (a puzzle need not be IDEAL if it has good IDEAS). I DO want to leave it at that; I'll save a nit or two for a NITE post.
5
This had too much short fill for me. It was like solving many disjointed little puzzles. Stunt fills may be enjoyable for constructors, but the cluing just made the theme entries into eleven unrelated and pretty dull slogs, if you ask me.
5