Octopi is not the plural of octopus. Strictly speaking it should be "octopedes" (pus, pedes), but common usage (eg at Monterey Bay Aquarium) is octopuses.
HAVE NO FARE.
1
John is here!
Close, DC.
John is where? (rhymes with fare)
John is where? (rhymes with fare)
Couldn't get the NE corner. Too many proper nouns - a disappointing end to an otherwise enjoyable Sunday.
A very enjoyable Sunday that resisted! Nice to have to work at solving it. And then at the end try to figure out what the theme entries have in common. Which maybe should have been more obvious from TALE OF OWE and HAVE NO FARE, but I had no idea during solving and didn't stop long enough to figure it out until afterwards. (The key was repeating the phrase CURB YOUR SUN ATHEISM until it rang a bell.) Cute!!
At the very end was stalled a bit in the lower right for having TOPS before A-ONE, but CHARRED set me straight. never heard of a SAKE BOMB but happy to learn it. Nice to see ALEATORY, MOM JEANS, and NOODGE in the puzzle.
(On the other hand, I experience psychic pain every time I see OCTOPI in a puzzle. This word is widely avoided in leading style manuals, in favor of OCTOPUSES. The pros and cons can be debated (the reasoning given is that OCTOPI matches a Greek-origin word with a Latin plural), but there is a wide consensus on this. I would not mind nearly as much if only variant spellings were tagged as such.)
As a knee-jerk response I kept expecting that "God: It." was looking for an abbreviation. Not sure why "Italian" was abbreviated in that clue.
Again, a minimum of pop-culture trivia! I hope this is a trend.
At the very end was stalled a bit in the lower right for having TOPS before A-ONE, but CHARRED set me straight. never heard of a SAKE BOMB but happy to learn it. Nice to see ALEATORY, MOM JEANS, and NOODGE in the puzzle.
(On the other hand, I experience psychic pain every time I see OCTOPI in a puzzle. This word is widely avoided in leading style manuals, in favor of OCTOPUSES. The pros and cons can be debated (the reasoning given is that OCTOPI matches a Greek-origin word with a Latin plural), but there is a wide consensus on this. I would not mind nearly as much if only variant spellings were tagged as such.)
As a knee-jerk response I kept expecting that "God: It." was looking for an abbreviation. Not sure why "Italian" was abbreviated in that clue.
Again, a minimum of pop-culture trivia! I hope this is a trend.
2
Since Rich grounded me for staying out late Saturday night, I had a go at the Sunday puzzle while watching a pre-season Yankee game this afternoon. I started in the center with FRITO and OCTOPI (no comment), and then tentacled out in each direction. My first themer was TALESOFOWE, which I thought could be pronounced close enough to "tales of woe" to make the theme puns rather than anagrams. Should've paid more attention to the puzzle title. The smashing CURBYOURSUNATHEISM soon gave me the true theme. Actually finished pretty quickly.
My baby brother, who turned 56 in December, is lovingly known as the NOODGE to his siblings. More from an "Odd Couple" reference than anything to do with his persona.
Think I'm gonna try doing the Sunday puzzle on Sunday more regularly, so I can join in the WP fun 7 days a week.
Actor Tim Curry has an impressive resume of films, but his breakout role in "Rocky Horror Picture Show" led to a short recording career as well. "I Do the Rock," from his second album, is sort of a lyrical snapshot of world affairs ca. 1979. It is well-remembered past its meager chart placement of #91.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXPCsaO_55o
My baby brother, who turned 56 in December, is lovingly known as the NOODGE to his siblings. More from an "Odd Couple" reference than anything to do with his persona.
Think I'm gonna try doing the Sunday puzzle on Sunday more regularly, so I can join in the WP fun 7 days a week.
Actor Tim Curry has an impressive resume of films, but his breakout role in "Rocky Horror Picture Show" led to a short recording career as well. "I Do the Rock," from his second album, is sort of a lyrical snapshot of world affairs ca. 1979. It is well-remembered past its meager chart placement of #91.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXPCsaO_55o
2
"Since Rich grounded me for staying out late Saturday night..."
Can't let that one slip by!
Can't let that one slip by!
Barry, check the late additions to the comments for Saturday's puzzle.
1
Jimbo, all right, you can go out tonight.
Lyrics quiz results? BTW, #2 is completely wrong. I picked it because I couldn't recall that line at all, even though it's a favorite song. Turns out I couldn't recall it because I went to the wrong site to look at lyrics. The actual line is "None of them along the line."
Lyrics quiz results? BTW, #2 is completely wrong. I picked it because I couldn't recall that line at all, even though it's a favorite song. Turns out I couldn't recall it because I went to the wrong site to look at lyrics. The actual line is "None of them along the line."
1
Not much to say except this was wonderful! So fun!
3
The plural of octopus is not octopi. "us" is a Greek root, and the correct plural is octopodes. In English it is octopuses. "I' as a plural is from the Latin grammar.
1
Already discussed at great length.
2
Oliver, you might enjoy the octopi discussion that started here 20 hours ago.
2
So sorry. Didn't look down far enough.
This was my type of Sunday puzzle - lots of wordplay. I have trouble with "info" clues - so didn't know MAMA or SAKEBOMB - but loved all the anagram feelings. I solved on paper today - prepping for the ACPT!
1
This was definitely a Sunday challenge for me and I had to work for it. Along the way, I fell for several misdirections in the cluing. I also missed that the anagram parts all became feelings, so that part of the title passed me by this time. Very cleaver in hindsight. My first theme success was STRUT WORTHY, also my favorite. Had trouble in the ALEATORY area and had SWAK (sealed with a kiss) instead of SWAP down below (didn't know of the rapper). A fine puzzle.
2
Moi aussi "swak". I still think that's the better choice.
1
I hope I've posted the Dahlia walk in Harrogate for MOL and anyone else interested
https://www.google.co.uk/search?ei=QfmyWOmdJeTagAbz6Y3gDQ&q=valley+g...
https://www.google.co.uk/search?ei=QfmyWOmdJeTagAbz6Y3gDQ&q=valley+g...
5
That worked great. Be sure to click/tap on view all.
1
OH!!! That is fabulous. August?
Now, those are some DAHLIAs to take your breath away.
Now, those are some DAHLIAs to take your breath away.
1
Early September. 5 minutes from my house. Hopefully your comment will encourage others to have a look
1
Aleatory? Went almost 67 years without knowing that word. Thanks you. Glad i was successful around it to complete a most challenging puzzle.
5
As Yoda would say: late to the party, I am! Oh, well.
Aside from the truly sad photo of the DAHLIA, there was the extra S that made SURPRISE kind of the red-headed step-child in the themer department. Still, it helped me give up UPRISING and put on the MOM JEANS.
(For what it's worth, I really despise the 'low-rise waist' slacks and JEANS. They don't flatter, they're impossible if you like your shirt tucked, and the button/snap/zipper is uncomfortable. Shut up about my MOM JEANS and I won't say anything about your piercings.)
Oh, the puzzle. Finally saw the theme deep into the solve with CURB YOUR SUN ATHEISM, while I was still wincing over STRUT WORTHY. (Fan of 'Project Runway.')
Way to go, Josh Knapp. (May I call you PAL?)
Aside from the truly sad photo of the DAHLIA, there was the extra S that made SURPRISE kind of the red-headed step-child in the themer department. Still, it helped me give up UPRISING and put on the MOM JEANS.
(For what it's worth, I really despise the 'low-rise waist' slacks and JEANS. They don't flatter, they're impossible if you like your shirt tucked, and the button/snap/zipper is uncomfortable. Shut up about my MOM JEANS and I won't say anything about your piercings.)
Oh, the puzzle. Finally saw the theme deep into the solve with CURB YOUR SUN ATHEISM, while I was still wincing over STRUT WORTHY. (Fan of 'Project Runway.')
Way to go, Josh Knapp. (May I call you PAL?)
3
People who tuck in their shirts must wear mom jeans. It's required, lol. They're also required if you wear tuckable shirts. Grandmom jeans would be a more accurate moniker. Just kidding with you -- have a nice Sunday.
This puzzle ran the gamut of emotions for me ending in my sighing, "Ah, pepsins."
Thank you, Josh Knapp, for a most wonderful morning of old-fashioned, New York Times Sunday morning fun. Bravo!
Thank you, Josh Knapp, for a most wonderful morning of old-fashioned, New York Times Sunday morning fun. Bravo!
3
Very similar reaction here to Deadline's. Love a good old fashioned fun with wordplay kind of puzzle and today was it for me. Didn't catch on until TALES OF WOE and then I was able to think in terms of feelings. Last to fall was TINY AXE/ANXIETY. 'Dale' before VALE and I tried 'top dog' before BIGWIG, but knew that couldn't be right because of OLD DOG. Had a hearty (anagram to EARTHY) laugh over CURB YOUR SUN ATHEISM.
Can't wait to experience WAIT FOR IT in person when I see Hamilton this spring. I expect it to be a 'super ale'.
Can't wait to experience WAIT FOR IT in person when I see Hamilton this spring. I expect it to be a 'super ale'.
3
From the title, I was expecting some kind of letter scramble; so I was not surprised when TALES OF ended in OWE as the first themer I filled completely. I held onto Reagan far too long as the last part of "Negative Nancy," since one of my many unknowns was the first name of Wonder Woman.
As for many others, this turned out, by dint of many lucky guesses, to be a fun puzzle for me. Unfortunately, I gave up too soon on filling the last square at the cross between SWAP and PSY, or I would have finished without any lookups or reveals. Running through the alphabet would have landed me at P, especially if I had noticed that "It's a deal" did not end with an exclamation point.
As for many others, this turned out, by dint of many lucky guesses, to be a fun puzzle for me. Unfortunately, I gave up too soon on filling the last square at the cross between SWAP and PSY, or I would have finished without any lookups or reveals. Running through the alphabet would have landed me at P, especially if I had noticed that "It's a deal" did not end with an exclamation point.
Got the FARE clue first, and wondered if it was based on some sort of sound-swap. Had to get MYSIRE to realize what was going on!
23: Trustworthy/Strutworthy
Interesting puzzle. It is of a type I run into now and then -- wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it and then a third of the way through it suddenly got to be a lot of fun. Not sure I can explain it, but no complaining.
Only one lookup -- the Olympic tennis player.
Only one lookup -- the Olympic tennis player.
1
"Stop insisting Ra doesn't exist!" has to be one of the funniest clues ever. Whom should we thank for it - Josh or Will?
9
Great puzzle. In spite of the fact that I'm usually hopeless with anagrams I got most of them so was really chuffed. It helps to have a fairly familiar phrase; it would have helped even more if I had noticed, as Viv did, that the title was also a clue to the fact that actual feelings were involved.
Of course I enjoyed the gimme for me ANDY MURRAY. I thought another gimme was going to be DALE for the between hills clue, as I live in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. It was close anyway.
I knew MARAT, the guy in the bath, but needed a couple of letters before I got BURKE.
I am shamelessly unfashionable (I don't believe in fashion) so it took me a while to get MOM JEANS, although I suppose I'm wearing them.
All in all a lovely Sunday solve, but I wish we had heard from Josh, and MOL will want a photo.
Of course I enjoyed the gimme for me ANDY MURRAY. I thought another gimme was going to be DALE for the between hills clue, as I live in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. It was close anyway.
I knew MARAT, the guy in the bath, but needed a couple of letters before I got BURKE.
I am shamelessly unfashionable (I don't believe in fashion) so it took me a while to get MOM JEANS, although I suppose I'm wearing them.
All in all a lovely Sunday solve, but I wish we had heard from Josh, and MOL will want a photo.
6
Looked them up (the jeans) and they don't look bad at all. Originally thought they were for those in their last trimester.
No, last trimester you're on past jeans and into PUP TENTS (a la Saturday.)
2
I looked at Xword Info: with 22 puzzles, Josh Knapp has certainly left footprints. When I checked Jeff's comments, there was a photo of a handsome guy of a certain age, whom I suspect of being the culprit, I mean constructor!
I was on my third themer (SUNATHEISM) before I figured it out. Thought this was pretty clever. A couple were a little flat but most were in the 'so bad they're good' category. Struggled mightily in a couple of places and in retrospect can't figure out why.
Milwaukee-Downer college was a women's college that merged with my alma mater (Lawrence University) 3 years before I matriculated. So there were still some DOWNER WOMEN around when I was there.
Maximum range for any indirect fire weapon is attained at about 45 degrees. That's typically the maximum elevation for an artillery piece and the minimum for a MORTAR. MORTARS reduce their range by increasing the elevation while artillery pieces reduce it by decreasing elevation. Kind of interesting from a physics point of view. There's a good reason why MORTARs use the higher elevation. It has to do with gravity.
I was actually trained on MORTARS (11C) but never touched one again after I left infantry school.
GIL Scott-Heron. Deep sigh. I watched 'Do the Right Thing' last night and was near tears at the end. I don't know how we got here.
Milwaukee-Downer college was a women's college that merged with my alma mater (Lawrence University) 3 years before I matriculated. So there were still some DOWNER WOMEN around when I was there.
Maximum range for any indirect fire weapon is attained at about 45 degrees. That's typically the maximum elevation for an artillery piece and the minimum for a MORTAR. MORTARS reduce their range by increasing the elevation while artillery pieces reduce it by decreasing elevation. Kind of interesting from a physics point of view. There's a good reason why MORTARs use the higher elevation. It has to do with gravity.
I was actually trained on MORTARS (11C) but never touched one again after I left infantry school.
GIL Scott-Heron. Deep sigh. I watched 'Do the Right Thing' last night and was near tears at the end. I don't know how we got here.
7
"so bad they're good" -- right on.
1
I don't know how we got here, and I don't know how we're going to get back. Scared.
You also remind me of something I left out of my C-i-C. The clue for 39D is [So-ugly-it's-cute pooch[. No! The PUG is *not* ugly! Sure, you could argue whether its special beauty does or does not qualify as "cute," but "ugly"? No, no, no. The PUG, like all dogs, is beautiful.
You also remind me of something I left out of my C-i-C. The clue for 39D is [So-ugly-it's-cute pooch[. No! The PUG is *not* ugly! Sure, you could argue whether its special beauty does or does not qualify as "cute," but "ugly"? No, no, no. The PUG, like all dogs, is beautiful.
2
I suspected that would rankle you, DL. I agree, there are no ugly dogs.
1
Just chipped chipped chipped away through completion. The theme didn't help much with the solve but made for some good post-puzzle reflection. Clean grid, novel theme, and a brain workout that felt like running at a medium pace up a scenic mountain trail. The puzzle left me feeling energized, and any puzzle that does that is a success worthy of gratitude, in my book.
My favorite part was the debut -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 115A.
My favorite part was the debut -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 115A.
4
Lewis, did you do that on purpose? Knapping is the art of chipping flakes away from stone to make arrowheads. Get it? Knapp. Chip, chip, chip.
3
I'm afraid it was a stroke of ungenius. Did not know that meaning, and thank you for introducing me to it!
Or any other stone tool (with a sharp edge, like a knife, scraper, etc.)
I thought Lewis was being clever, too.
I thought Lewis was being clever, too.
First question-marked clue I got was MY SIRE LOVES COMPANY, but didn't put the anagramming theme together until DOWNER WOMAN.
10D mixed me up, maybe more than it should have. First I put down SATRE, then LOCKE, before realizing finally (when NE was all I had left to do) that it had to be BURKE. Guess that's a sign I should be brushing up on my 18th century European philosophy.
All in all, another enjoyable Sunday.
10D mixed me up, maybe more than it should have. First I put down SATRE, then LOCKE, before realizing finally (when NE was all I had left to do) that it had to be BURKE. Guess that's a sign I should be brushing up on my 18th century European philosophy.
All in all, another enjoyable Sunday.
1
I don't think "curb your enthusiasm" is necessarily the HBO show. That's a common phrase.
4
Nice confidence builder after Saturday's massacre.
1
AAA is not a league. The Salt Lake Bees play in the Pacific Coast League (PCL).
11
You are so right, AQS. I had PCL before any of the verticals, but I had to abandon it for the weird AAA. I wonder if the NYTXWP crew or the constructor have an explanation for this seeming clinker.
Whoops! I just got it, AQS, but I don't like it. AAA is the is the designation for what minor league level the Bees play at. But as you say, it's not a league, and thus the clue is just wrong.
Martin lives on the Pacific Coast, but I'm not sure he follows Triple-A ball, and since the Iowa Cubs are in the PCL, geography isn't as relevant as it was, say, when the westernmost major league teams were in Saint Louis. I wonder whether the insider response, if any, will be:
(1) Oops.
(2) It's the Triple-A Baseball Pacific Coast League.
(3) "League" is not capitalized in the clue. In "lower case," the word can mean level or class, as in AAA level baseball or this song from an Atlantic Coast film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU9p1WRfA9w
(1) Oops.
(2) It's the Triple-A Baseball Pacific Coast League.
(3) "League" is not capitalized in the clue. In "lower case," the word can mean level or class, as in AAA level baseball or this song from an Atlantic Coast film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU9p1WRfA9w
4
Breezy puzzle this evening.
Now, off to the cryptic.
Now, off to the cryptic.
FARE/FARE was my first one, probably because my limit on getting anagrams is usually 4 or 5 letters.
Oh, yippee! A good old-fashioned Sunday work-for-it puzzle! Yay!
And, yeah, I did have to work for it. I had most of the top layer, except for some stuff in NW, and I was wondering what was happening with STRUT-WORTHY. Wound up noodling back and forth horizontally, without much in the way of insights into the theme, until I got to CURB YOUR SUN ATHEISM.
Wow! Not just Aha! But Wow-Aha!. I really like anagrams, so went ack up to the top, figured out STRUT-WORTHY and TINY AXE ATTACK, and whoopee!
The "feelings" part of the anagrams was just another layer of elegance. I loved going back and forth between playing anagrams and playing puns.
Confession: The simplest one was the one that took me the longest to see: HAVE NO FARE. On the bright side, it gave me an extra aha! when I finally saw what should have been so obvious.
Okay, some stuff I didn't know. Never heard of SAKE BOMB. Certainly never could have deduced MORTAR.
But these are such nits. The anagramming of the "feelings" was so elegant (yeah, I know I said that a couple of paragraphs before, but it bears repeating) that I just want to give a special thanks to Josh Knapp.
Thanks, Josh and all. I needed this.
And, yeah, I did have to work for it. I had most of the top layer, except for some stuff in NW, and I was wondering what was happening with STRUT-WORTHY. Wound up noodling back and forth horizontally, without much in the way of insights into the theme, until I got to CURB YOUR SUN ATHEISM.
Wow! Not just Aha! But Wow-Aha!. I really like anagrams, so went ack up to the top, figured out STRUT-WORTHY and TINY AXE ATTACK, and whoopee!
The "feelings" part of the anagrams was just another layer of elegance. I loved going back and forth between playing anagrams and playing puns.
Confession: The simplest one was the one that took me the longest to see: HAVE NO FARE. On the bright side, it gave me an extra aha! when I finally saw what should have been so obvious.
Okay, some stuff I didn't know. Never heard of SAKE BOMB. Certainly never could have deduced MORTAR.
But these are such nits. The anagramming of the "feelings" was so elegant (yeah, I know I said that a couple of paragraphs before, but it bears repeating) that I just want to give a special thanks to Josh Knapp.
Thanks, Josh and all. I needed this.
10
Deadline—Me, too, on FARE/FEAR. Couldn't figure out the anagram till I read the blog.
I was guessing Saketini (??) but when I got the MB filled in, I remembered the drink called a Jagerbomb and put two and two together. Good puzzle!
1
another wacky phrase theme. not my favorite. had no trouble. just read an article about how smart octopi are, with brain throughout their bodies including their tentacles. good to eat too!
Deb
You omitted STRUT WORTHY as a theme entry, which was one of the first themers I solved. My first was HAVE NO FARE. Once I got MY SIRE LOVES COMPANY, I realized there would be two word feelings. That gave me TINY AXE ATTACK.
Very satisfying solve.
You omitted STRUT WORTHY as a theme entry, which was one of the first themers I solved. My first was HAVE NO FARE. Once I got MY SIRE LOVES COMPANY, I realized there would be two word feelings. That gave me TINY AXE ATTACK.
Very satisfying solve.
2
What Deb didn't mention, but we saw for ourselves, was that all the words that were anagrammed were feelings. As per puzzle title Mixed Feelings. ANXIETY, ENTHUSIASM, FEAR, TRUST, WOE, MISERY, SURPRISE and WONDER. That made it a very nice, if easy, puzzle. Good night.
16
Viv—I hadn't notice what you've pointed out, but now that I know it, my opinion of this puzzle has changed from wonderful to brilliant. Congratulations to Josh Knapp for this memorable creation.
3
SERIF and SHERIF in same puzzle was cute.
STRUTWORTHY "popped" so quickly I got the gimmick near the top.
DALE before VALE, but as an old boy scout, liked VIXEN's clue.
And, this is the WORST, if you WAITFORIT you can find NEMO (relative to 5D setting):
http://shodor.org/~rpanoff/ncsi/TheyFoundNemo.jpg
STRUTWORTHY "popped" so quickly I got the gimmick near the top.
DALE before VALE, but as an old boy scout, liked VIXEN's clue.
And, this is the WORST, if you WAITFORIT you can find NEMO (relative to 5D setting):
http://shodor.org/~rpanoff/ncsi/TheyFoundNemo.jpg
1
Themer to start a typographic puzzle: I shot the serif
10
Barry, if I could I'd give you many extra recos for that one.
Except, of course, that I am very pro-serif.
Except, of course, that I am very pro-serif.
5
Remember Omar Sharif ...
2
No mixed feelings for me: I was ECSTATIC. Well, quite pleased, anyway. I did not have a TINY AXE ATTACK over the solve. I had fun with the other themers and enjoyed much of the non-theme material too. Slight delay wanting saketini (which I've had) before SAKEBOMB (which I have not and, after looking up after the solve, don't think I will). Other delay and slight gripe was ROADBIKES. You would pump road *tires* before a race, but it is my understanding that *trail* bikes, not road bikes, are pumped. But if that was the WORST, I'd still say this was AONE.
2
Maybe you transfer the verb from pumping your legs to propel the road bike to the bike itself....?
1
Pumping a *trail* bike is A Thing, not wordplay.
http://www.bikeradar.com/us/gear/article/technique-get-pumping-20355/
http://www.bikeradar.com/us/gear/article/technique-get-pumping-20355/
1
I think my mind works on a tangent. I was thinking filling a motorcycle gas tank....
It was confoozling until it wasn't. A solid Sunday.
I am currently 115A-ing the results of my 40A 97D. Trying to be more 108A than 117A. Of course, the whole adventure has been a 64A...
It was fun running through four or five "roasting places" before the most obvious one fell into place.
I am currently 115A-ing the results of my 40A 97D. Trying to be more 108A than 117A. Of course, the whole adventure has been a 64A...
It was fun running through four or five "roasting places" before the most obvious one fell into place.
3
Wishing you good results, David.
6
Thanks, sj and friends.
What suejean said.
1
Octopi - Please no! Octopus is Greek, "us" to "i" plurals are Latin. Plurals of octopus should be Octopodes, octopuses, or now commonly just octopus (think sheep).
I did like "curb your sun atheism," a very good clue.
I did like "curb your sun atheism," a very good clue.
12
Most everyone here knows that "octopi" is folk etymology. But it's well established folk etymology:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/octopus
In other words, your beef is with the dictionaries that document the usage, if not the many people who use it. Once it's in MW, WS is blameless.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/octopus
In other words, your beef is with the dictionaries that document the usage, if not the many people who use it. Once it's in MW, WS is blameless.
4
Octopus is Latin from Greek oktopous, the -us ending is actually part of -pus meaning foot, which is why it can't be pluralized with -i.
3
If octopi is so accepted then why does the spell checker for this comment have a red underline under the word?
Fairly quick solve (for me). The upper left filled fastest but with a few holes. These holes ended up being the last fills to complete the puzzle. Strangely enough, I caught on to the theme with CURB YOUR SUN ATHEISM, one of the two longest anagrams. DOWNERWOMAN was last before TINYAXEATTACK, which finished the puzzle. I didn't unscramble either anagram, just got all the downs.
3
Wonder woman and anxiety attack
1
Those were tho two I couldn't unscramble.
2
If you thay tho.
1
TALES OF OWE was my aha moment, too. This was a lot of fun.
2