Mother and son is nice, but are either doing time?
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NYT Public Editor addresses the issue of yesterday's crossword by a constructor in prison for serious crimes: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/11/public-editor/a-crossword-as-a-second....
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Very nice smooth Tuesday.
I got the theme right away, but had a problem because my fingers insisted on automatically typing the "correct" spelling of each of the countries. I had to keep going back and correcting the entries letter by letter.
Didn't know the word LENTANDO, and "TAKEN" rang only the faintest of bells. Didn't know AKIO Morita, but AKIRA Kurosawa was a gimme.
GAZE INTO the crystal ball and SWAMI made me think of old-time carny featuries.
Very pleasant. Thanks to all.
I got the theme right away, but had a problem because my fingers insisted on automatically typing the "correct" spelling of each of the countries. I had to keep going back and correcting the entries letter by letter.
Didn't know the word LENTANDO, and "TAKEN" rang only the faintest of bells. Didn't know AKIO Morita, but AKIRA Kurosawa was a gimme.
GAZE INTO the crystal ball and SWAMI made me think of old-time carny featuries.
Very pleasant. Thanks to all.
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Lentando was a strange one in its place. Since the other three longs to match it were
last name
sign here
gaze into
it felt funny to have a single word in the fourth place. But the word is correct and correctly clued.
The -ando and -endo ending on Italian words has the force of a continuative gerund. Lento, slow; lentando, becoming slow, slowing. Allargando (getting fat / heading to largo) is better known. Crescendo (getting loud) is abused by the general population, which employs it to mean a peak or climax ("the action reached a crescendo"), setting a musician's teeth on edge.
Hope you can get outside, now that there is a little sunshine to be enjoyed, DL.
last name
sign here
gaze into
it felt funny to have a single word in the fourth place. But the word is correct and correctly clued.
The -ando and -endo ending on Italian words has the force of a continuative gerund. Lento, slow; lentando, becoming slow, slowing. Allargando (getting fat / heading to largo) is better known. Crescendo (getting loud) is abused by the general population, which employs it to mean a peak or climax ("the action reached a crescendo"), setting a musician's teeth on edge.
Hope you can get outside, now that there is a little sunshine to be enjoyed, DL.
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P.S.. We did a variation on this theme over on my music site a few years ago, titled "Musical Mergers." Take the names of two acts and mash them together. Some of my own favorites (it helps if you're a pop music obsessive):
Manfred Mannheim Steamroller
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young-Holt Unlimited
Peaches and Herb Alpert
Ringo Starrs on 45
Thelonious Monkees
Boyz II Men Without Hats
Feel free to add if so inspired.
Manfred Mannheim Steamroller
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young-Holt Unlimited
Peaches and Herb Alpert
Ringo Starrs on 45
Thelonious Monkees
Boyz II Men Without Hats
Feel free to add if so inspired.
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That was LOTSA fun. Happy Passover!
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Fun theme, and a wonderful back story. Congrats to our constructors today. No need to cry WOEISME, I sailed right through--well, except for spelling Paul's last name as DEAN, which was quickly corrected by LAYER.
Synthpop duo Eurythmics racked up hit after hit during the mid and late 80s. 1985's "There Must BE AN ANGEL (Playing With My Heart)" features a gorgeous melody, and stunning vocal by Annie Lennox, and a harmonica solo, instantly recognizable as Stevie Wonder. The classic video fetures the other group member, Dave Stewart, as the Sun King, Louis XIV, at first bored, yet ultimately enraptured, by the stage performance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlGXDy5xFlw
Synthpop duo Eurythmics racked up hit after hit during the mid and late 80s. 1985's "There Must BE AN ANGEL (Playing With My Heart)" features a gorgeous melody, and stunning vocal by Annie Lennox, and a harmonica solo, instantly recognizable as Stevie Wonder. The classic video fetures the other group member, Dave Stewart, as the Sun King, Louis XIV, at first bored, yet ultimately enraptured, by the stage performance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlGXDy5xFlw
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Once again, I couldn't get the Monday puzzle, so I was glad that this one showed up.
The theme answers were funny, and I enjoyed reading about the constructors.
The theme answers were funny, and I enjoyed reading about the constructors.
Now that's how you get to BASSO.
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It was a special treat to read the constructor's comments today, and indeed a special treat to solve the delightful Tuesday puzzle. As others have said the theme answers and the reveal all brought a smile, along with many of the other entries, like WOE IS ME and Thoreau living in SECLUSION.
It did go very quickly, but I didn't have time to read the blog or write a comment before my eye check up which involved drops and thus not able to see clearly for quite a while. The good news is another 4 weeks with no jab.
It did go very quickly, but I didn't have time to read the blog or write a comment before my eye check up which involved drops and thus not able to see clearly for quite a while. The good news is another 4 weeks with no jab.
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Glad to hear about your upcoming jabless month, suejean.
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Thanks, Deadline. Are you feeling any better yet?
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Thanks for asking, suejean.
Gradually. Sometimes two steps forward and one step back, but still progress. I'm told it will be another four to six weeks before I'm really back to normal.
Today I walked the whole length of my building. And back. Twice. Thursday and Friday I have doctor appointments, so I will be going ... outside!!!
Gradually. Sometimes two steps forward and one step back, but still progress. I'm told it will be another four to six weeks before I'm really back to normal.
Today I walked the whole length of my building. And back. Twice. Thursday and Friday I have doctor appointments, so I will be going ... outside!!!
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Yesterday the puzzle offered bitter herbs.
Today we have a first born son.
Tomorrow?
Today we have a first born son.
Tomorrow?
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Locusts. But I've already said too much.
5
At first I had a mental bloc....
Interesting what different brains notice about words/names...
Have had the UNITED NATIONS on my mind lately, trying to remind our Congressman and our two Senators of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. (Sigh.)
Interesting what different brains notice about words/names...
Have had the UNITED NATIONS on my mind lately, trying to remind our Congressman and our two Senators of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. (Sigh.)
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Good luck with that.
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Yes, this was an upbeat start to my day. Got a real chuckle when I finally figured out SECLUSION. I was pretty sure Thoreau had not lived in a log cabin and shack didn't seem right either. And when was the last time I thought of SWAMI ... how many known but unused words are tumbling around in our brains?
Loved the MOTHERSON combo as well as all those UNITED NATIONS.
Loved the MOTHERSON combo as well as all those UNITED NATIONS.
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Well, this puzzle was a big breath of fresh air! Yesterday's darkness was totally lifted by the sheer silliness of the theme answers. Plus they are flat out fun to look at: visual zaniness prevails!
Thank you to the dynamic mother/son duo, Zachary and Diane!
Thank you to the dynamic mother/son duo, Zachary and Diane!
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Though this was an easy puzzle to solve, I greatly admire its clever construction.
It took real thought to create this one. Good job!
It took real thought to create this one. Good job!
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I WISH every Tuesday had such a charming theme and a lovely back-story to go with it. Sounds like the Roseman/Spitz clan does it right, encouraging family time and wordplay which in and of itself builds knowledge. Today's puzzle and accompanying visit to the blog left me smiling.
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I echo our constructors lament over the loss of paper puzzles Since that rueful day when NYT ceased daily delivery.....
Family puzzle time. We will torment my sister by using tricky or key fill repeatedly in sentences that often make no sense. For example: Sister dear, is it March or April that comes in like a LAMB? And, woe to the solver who leaves a partially completed puzzle unattended
Cute theme. The UNITEDNATIONS tie up sorta overcame my default loathing of tricks.
Second day in a row the NYT puzzle app failed to register the puzzle as complete and award me my little gold star. Small beer.
Thank you Diane and Zach.
Family puzzle time. We will torment my sister by using tricky or key fill repeatedly in sentences that often make no sense. For example: Sister dear, is it March or April that comes in like a LAMB? And, woe to the solver who leaves a partially completed puzzle unattended
Cute theme. The UNITEDNATIONS tie up sorta overcame my default loathing of tricks.
Second day in a row the NYT puzzle app failed to register the puzzle as complete and award me my little gold star. Small beer.
Thank you Diane and Zach.
1
Nice smooth puzzle and a clever theme. I thought the clueing could have been ramped up just a bit in places, but that's usually not on the constructors. It was fun and a challenge to work out each of the combinations. Also thought there were several nice non-theme entries - SIGNHERE, WOEISME, SECLUSION (all surprisingly rare in crosswords) and that's always a nice touch.
Jeff Chen noted how difficult it is to say NICARAGUATEMALA aloud. I stumble almost every time I try.
Always nice to see a debut but this one really brought a smile to my face. Unusual (for me, at least) to see a mother and son who don't share a LASTNAME. I am a bit curious about that, but maybe it's more common than I realize.
Tried to think of a good music link for this collaboration. I guess Diane could be regarded as a Mother of Invention, but I don't see an appropriate song from that group. Or Zachary could be Mother's Little Helper, but... no, that's not an appropriate song either. I'm sure Jimbo or Bru will come up with something.
Jeff Chen noted how difficult it is to say NICARAGUATEMALA aloud. I stumble almost every time I try.
Always nice to see a debut but this one really brought a smile to my face. Unusual (for me, at least) to see a mother and son who don't share a LASTNAME. I am a bit curious about that, but maybe it's more common than I realize.
Tried to think of a good music link for this collaboration. I guess Diane could be regarded as a Mother of Invention, but I don't see an appropriate song from that group. Or Zachary could be Mother's Little Helper, but... no, that's not an appropriate song either. I'm sure Jimbo or Bru will come up with something.
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Oh, on the LASTNAME thing, never mind. I knew about that.
It's early. I'm old. Sorry.
It's early. I'm old. Sorry.
1
I was going to say that a lot of women keep their surnames upon marrying in Modern Times; was that the explanation you knew about? (See, now this is going to niggle at me all day. Because, of course, second marriages are also common.)
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Sis,
Yep, that was the explanation. As you note, a remarriage is another possibility.
Yep, that was the explanation. As you note, a remarriage is another possibility.
I loved this. I said "Wow!" when I finished, and that doesn't happen often on Tuesday. The constructors had me at PAKISTANZANIA. The reveal tied it up in a beautiful bow, and I broke into a big smile. Very clever.
I'm wondering if anyone has done this with states, with the reveal UNITED STATES, or airlines (UNITED AIRLINES). It might be accepted in a few years.
It felt Tuesday easy, but the theme/reveal totally charmed me. There were even some clever clues, which don't happen often enough on Tuesday (SECLUSION, STONERS) and some answers that appealed (WOEISME, BEANANGEL, SIGNHERE).
Bravo, Z&D! This was excellentertaining!
I'm wondering if anyone has done this with states, with the reveal UNITED STATES, or airlines (UNITED AIRLINES). It might be accepted in a few years.
It felt Tuesday easy, but the theme/reveal totally charmed me. There were even some clever clues, which don't happen often enough on Tuesday (SECLUSION, STONERS) and some answers that appealed (WOEISME, BEANANGEL, SIGNHERE).
Bravo, Z&D! This was excellentertaining!
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Congratulations, Ms. Roseman! These days I solve alone and online, but the days of solving on collaboratively on paper evoke great memories. Although it is rare occurrence, I welcome the opportunity help a newbie get started.
3
The theme is clever. Each themer, as well as the reveal – when I got to it – drew a chuckle. However, it all came so easily that it made the puzzle more of a Monday than a Tuesday for me.
A very minor cavil: To OGLE is not to look amorously. I would settle for appreciatively, and leave less pleasant adverbs to describe leer. YOLO andn STONERS were new to me, but came out of the crosses.
I didn’t know TAKEN, but TAB was vaguely familiar, so I could toggle between AVA and eVA and avoid a look-up.
An amusing mishap made me complete yesterday’s puzzle with a DNF. It turned out that the second I in DISHING was not "I" but" the Hebrew final nun - ן”. Some mysterious hand (mine?) had pressed “switch languages” for this one letter.
Hag Sameach to all concerned.
A very minor cavil: To OGLE is not to look amorously. I would settle for appreciatively, and leave less pleasant adverbs to describe leer. YOLO andn STONERS were new to me, but came out of the crosses.
I didn’t know TAKEN, but TAB was vaguely familiar, so I could toggle between AVA and eVA and avoid a look-up.
An amusing mishap made me complete yesterday’s puzzle with a DNF. It turned out that the second I in DISHING was not "I" but" the Hebrew final nun - ן”. Some mysterious hand (mine?) had pressed “switch languages” for this one letter.
Hag Sameach to all concerned.
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Pesach tov, Amitai v'kol chaverim.
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Kol b'seder, Amitai?
clever indeed! i liked reading the story of the puzzle-solving family. My father was my first puzzle role model. We used to like to do the British cryptic crosswords in the old New York magazine in the 70s and 80s. I'm working my way through the old NYT cryptics now in the Archives.
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Loved the theme and the resulting mash-ups, but now I wish there had been room for Guineabissaudiarabia!
Not as happy about the ear worm 58 Across left me with. Yes, i know what the real answer is, but this is what stuck in my brain.
"Bean angel, (ooh) can you hear me?
Bean angel, (ooh) can you see me?
Are you somewhere up above?
And I am still your own true love?"
Not as happy about the ear worm 58 Across left me with. Yes, i know what the real answer is, but this is what stuck in my brain.
"Bean angel, (ooh) can you hear me?
Bean angel, (ooh) can you see me?
Are you somewhere up above?
And I am still your own true love?"
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Hand up for feta before LAMB.
10
Yep, me too.
Nope, PITA here.
Got me.
YOLO County is one of California's original 27 counties formed in 1850. Now there are 58. I've often wondered if they would adopt the modern acronym as their slogan. So far, I haven't found any evidence that they have. I would like to be proven wrong on this!
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Clever theme and reveal....Tuesday difficulty, but still fun....
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https://www.bestcrosswords.com/bestcrosswords/guestconstructor/GuestCons...