I saw Sunset Boulevard when I was twenty-one and Norma Desmond seemed like an old woman. It amazing to me how beautiful and desirable she has become in the last fifty years.
1
Hate to think MCI is best known for being purchased ny Verizon.
One of the TWEEST things I know of (and not in a good way) is that the Kardashians all seem to be CUTELY named with first initial K. This is the kind of brain clutter that I normally would like to get rid of, but today it helped with the unknown rapper. With K?IS I dredged up KRIS, tentatively verified by HOUR looking as if it would be right at 22D.
Worked top down, after getting ESSENCE MAGAZINE off the ESSE.... Since I only watch the winter Olympics, and then only the figure skating (and sometimes curling), I ran through all the skaters I could think of from that era, even though I figured it might be some other sport. Anyway, Scott Hamilton and Torvill and Dean and that whole bunch didn't work. With a few letters, I was able to get RETTO/eN, and OWIE cleared that up.
My other problems were also sports related. Never heard of CAM NEWTON. Didn't know Eli Manning's team and for a long time had only ??G. When I got down to the bottom, I was starting on the right. with 54A ending in ...FENSE, I figured it had to be either OFFENSE or DEFENSE. Didn't like a terminal F for the celestial map thing, but the rest of it was a letter-by-letter piecing together.
I think of DAY SAILS as one-day recreational outings on someone else's boat, like to an island for a picnic or the like. (Does anyone out there remember Detroit's Bob-Lo boat?)
Loved the clues for BOULEVARD and LOZENGES.
CAN I LIVE?
Last letter entered was in the 7 square.
Worked top down, after getting ESSENCE MAGAZINE off the ESSE.... Since I only watch the winter Olympics, and then only the figure skating (and sometimes curling), I ran through all the skaters I could think of from that era, even though I figured it might be some other sport. Anyway, Scott Hamilton and Torvill and Dean and that whole bunch didn't work. With a few letters, I was able to get RETTO/eN, and OWIE cleared that up.
My other problems were also sports related. Never heard of CAM NEWTON. Didn't know Eli Manning's team and for a long time had only ??G. When I got down to the bottom, I was starting on the right. with 54A ending in ...FENSE, I figured it had to be either OFFENSE or DEFENSE. Didn't like a terminal F for the celestial map thing, but the rest of it was a letter-by-letter piecing together.
I think of DAY SAILS as one-day recreational outings on someone else's boat, like to an island for a picnic or the like. (Does anyone out there remember Detroit's Bob-Lo boat?)
Loved the clues for BOULEVARD and LOZENGES.
CAN I LIVE?
Last letter entered was in the 7 square.
2
TDS before YDS. PIPES before DUCTS. Was stuck on a computer definition for "Hackers" so tried BACKDOOR before LOZENGES. DAYSAILS seemed made up because it fit. "Orange side" had me thinking some kind of UDF (Ulster Defense Force). Had heard "NO BIGGIE" but not NO BIG". . . a decent Saturday slog.
1
Why would a baby want MYRRH? That's my question.
3
Cathy Ladman had a great bit about that. Search it out by googling CATHY LADMAN MYRRH and go to the clip on Comedy Central's web site.
1
Oh, you know, to cover up the smell in the manger.
Old joke, but a classic:
Do you know what would have happened if it had been Three Wise Women instead of Three Wise Men?
1. They would have asked for directions.
2. They would have arrived on time.
3. They would have helped deliver the baby.
4. They would have cleaned the stable.
5. They would have made a casserole.
6. They would have brought practical gifts.
Old joke, but a classic:
Do you know what would have happened if it had been Three Wise Women instead of Three Wise Men?
1. They would have asked for directions.
2. They would have arrived on time.
3. They would have helped deliver the baby.
4. They would have cleaned the stable.
5. They would have made a casserole.
6. They would have brought practical gifts.
4
In "Monty Python's Life Of Brian," there's so confusion when 3 wise men show up at the wrong house, bearing gifts.
"What is MYRRH, anyway?"
"It is a valuable balm."
"A BOMB?!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVS_zG4a1ag
"What is MYRRH, anyway?"
"It is a valuable balm."
"A BOMB?!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVS_zG4a1ag
2
Smooth DAYSAILing on this one. Finished in good time with nary a write-over. ASAPROCKY was NOBIG for me. Backed off of SPIRITS in a haunted house because I already had my DUCTS in a row. I promised myself I'd remember the spelling of LALANNE last time he was in the puzzle, and it paid off. OTOH, if today's constructor wants to castigate himself over some of the fill (TWEEST?), well, who am I to disagree?
Over the years, a number of TV commercial jingles have proved so popular that they provided fodder for hit singles. In 1966, a studio outfit called the T-BONES reached the Top 10 with "No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In)," adapted from an Alka-Seltzer ad.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbPqz_aMNYo
I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. Shortz.
Over the years, a number of TV commercial jingles have proved so popular that they provided fodder for hit singles. In 1966, a studio outfit called the T-BONES reached the Top 10 with "No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In)," adapted from an Alka-Seltzer ad.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbPqz_aMNYo
I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. Shortz.
2
I think he got too close.
..
..
3
TWEEST? Too CUTELY.
1
Sunset Boulevard is one of my favorite films. Now I'm feeling the need to watch it again this weekend!
"We didn't need dialogue. We had faces." Gloria Swanson's delivery is perfect. Gets me every time. https://youtu.be/ADl0wC_cAbk?t=1m31s
"We didn't need dialogue. We had faces." Gloria Swanson's delivery is perfect. Gets me every time. https://youtu.be/ADl0wC_cAbk?t=1m31s
1
"I AM big. It's the pictures that got small."
One of the all-time greats.
One of the all-time greats.
1
This is the episode from season 1 of the Twilight Zone that I was watching when I was doing the puzzle this morning:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sixteen-Millimeter_Shrine
..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sixteen-Millimeter_Shrine
..
1
Ooh, spooky--what a coincidence! I watched that episode a few years ago. The parallels are obvious, but they did a good job putting a Twilight Zone twist on it. Also, gotta love Ida Lupino.
1
I'm hoping the Split Decisions blog will be up soon as I did quite well with it today.
I'm a bit frustrated with what seems to be more frequent use of rappers' names in the puzzles. It appears there's so many of them with weird spellings-- has this genre become a too-easy go-to for puzzle constructors?
9
Looks like they are messing with the solve rate percentage calculation on the stat page, mine went down today despite solving this fun puzzle.
Not that I'm obsessed with it or anything...
Not that I'm obsessed with it or anything...
1
I noticed this yesterday as well, but today's lag time has been much longer. Yesterday it took about 15 minutes for my stats to update. Today, they still haven't and it's been over two hours.
Another phrase -- CAN I LIVE? -- which I have never heard. If this is just a rude regionalism, I must be living in the wrong region.
5
It's not regional, and I don't think it's rude. A bit snarky, perhaps. It's akin to a lifted-brow "Oh, please" or a "Really, we're doing this now?". It has the lilt of a Yiddishism, but I doubt that is the origin. There seems to be a general move in the direction of sardonic speech among English speakers, particularly among youngish people. I think it has to do with social media, but that is just the small, quiet opinion of someone who does not participate in social media.
1
I'll go on the record with Wags and others that I'd never heard of it either.
It was bad enough in the Maleska days when puzzles would contain obscure rivers and such that a person living let's say, six decades, would never come across in their lives, but a phrase consisting of Top-100 words like CAN, I and LIVE is even more infuriating.
Just because some people say it doesn't mean it's entered the language. My wife calls a pocket t-shirt a "wino," and I understand what she means every time she says it, but that doesn't mean it belongs in a mass-marked crossword puzzle.
It was bad enough in the Maleska days when puzzles would contain obscure rivers and such that a person living let's say, six decades, would never come across in their lives, but a phrase consisting of Top-100 words like CAN, I and LIVE is even more infuriating.
Just because some people say it doesn't mean it's entered the language. My wife calls a pocket t-shirt a "wino," and I understand what she means every time she says it, but that doesn't mean it belongs in a mass-marked crossword puzzle.
1
I had not heard the expression, so I checked with my 22-year-old, who reports:
-- I have not heard or used "Can I live?" but I have heard "Just let me live (my life)."
-- I have not heard or used "Can I live?" but I have heard "Just let me live (my life)."
This one was very tough for me. I got large portions of it by working slowly through things. Absolutely didn't know A$AP ROCKY, and it took me a long time to see the misdirect on BOULEVARD. CAN I LIVE strikes me as one of those phrases that can be just about anything.
On the other hand, there were plenty of weird things that I did know or could get--LALANNE, KIWI, DIETARY, CAMARO, CAM NEWTON (from the crosses, but he's our local quarterback, so at least I could fill him in fairly early), KUWAITIS, TUNIS, even KRIS.
I don't see why people are having a problem with DAYSAILS, but I didn't like TWEEST at all. My mileage varies.
On the other hand, there were plenty of weird things that I did know or could get--LALANNE, KIWI, DIETARY, CAMARO, CAM NEWTON (from the crosses, but he's our local quarterback, so at least I could fill him in fairly early), KUWAITIS, TUNIS, even KRIS.
I don't see why people are having a problem with DAYSAILS, but I didn't like TWEEST at all. My mileage varies.
2
speaking of ROCKY, the voice of the flying squirrel died recently, June Foray, age 99.
4
I was shocked when I filled in the last square and found the solution accepted; I was expecting to go back over the shakier areas a few times before I got it all.
I was Herbach's opposite: for instance, I fumbled my way fairly easily to Essence but had to get man-to-man defense by solving the downs one by one. And I kept thinking No Big couldn't be right. (I did think 22D was lightyear, though.)
I almost didn't bother thinking about the Kardashian entry once I saw it couldn't be Kim, but after I got the i I realized I did know one other Kardashian name and it fit!
Any puzzle I actually solve the first time all the squares are full is a puzzle I enjoy!
I was Herbach's opposite: for instance, I fumbled my way fairly easily to Essence but had to get man-to-man defense by solving the downs one by one. And I kept thinking No Big couldn't be right. (I did think 22D was lightyear, though.)
I almost didn't bother thinking about the Kardashian entry once I saw it couldn't be Kim, but after I got the i I realized I did know one other Kardashian name and it fit!
Any puzzle I actually solve the first time all the squares are full is a puzzle I enjoy!
4
I was quite chuffed with myself for actually finishing this, and correctly!
Lots I didn't know -- ASAP ROCKY, KRIS [just how many Kardashians *are* there?), MAN-TO-MAN DEFENSE, HOUR ANGLE -- but each was recognizable as probable at some point.
CAN I LIVE seems it would be extremely funny if heard in the proper context, but having never hard it at all I can't be sure. NO BIG is obviously a truncated "no biggie," which just goes to show how lazy kids are these days!
For a moment there I was going to enter ENTS as "pond juveniles," but I came to in time.
And MYRRH always requires my writing MYRRH and MYRHH in the margins to see which one looks less weird.
So all in all I was very entertained.
Lots I didn't know -- ASAP ROCKY, KRIS [just how many Kardashians *are* there?), MAN-TO-MAN DEFENSE, HOUR ANGLE -- but each was recognizable as probable at some point.
CAN I LIVE seems it would be extremely funny if heard in the proper context, but having never hard it at all I can't be sure. NO BIG is obviously a truncated "no biggie," which just goes to show how lazy kids are these days!
For a moment there I was going to enter ENTS as "pond juveniles," but I came to in time.
And MYRRH always requires my writing MYRRH and MYRHH in the margins to see which one looks less weird.
So all in all I was very entertained.
1
...where "no biggie" is itself a lazy alternative to "no big deal." So NO BIG is for those times when you're just too lazy to be merely lazy.
8
For me to successfully solve this puzzle, I had to know either a rapper or a Kardashian. I was interested in neither, thought orange JAM sounded like a breakfast side-dish, and did not know the celestial coordinate system. LIGHT YEAR fit but lasted about 10 seconds....or less. HOUR ANGLE, I guess, makes sense, but it certainly never came up in that undergrad class on physical geography. (I wonder what became of my star map?)
So, finished with three wrong letters because DAY SAILS did not sound like a thing. Maybe the people of KUWAIT are referred to as the KUWAITIM?
Whatever.
Sunset BOULEVARD was my fave misdirection.
So, finished with three wrong letters because DAY SAILS did not sound like a thing. Maybe the people of KUWAIT are referred to as the KUWAITIM?
Whatever.
Sunset BOULEVARD was my fave misdirection.
1
I just kept working away at this one and finally took a break with only the Northeast unfinished. After breakfast and more coffee, DIETARY laws came to me and the rest of that quadrant seemed to fill itself. I was also looking for ACES before AVES and only understood the hackers clue when I came to the blog. My late father frequently rested his eyes after lunch while listening to the farm report on CBC and also snored. Like Lewis and his dog Chester, I solve through persistence and dogged determination, although my sense of smell is not nearly as acute.
3
I like to solve in order--top left to top right, center left to right and so on. That usually gets disrupted on Saturdays and it's OK--I'm not obsessive about it. Today for some reason my obsessiveness took over and I sat staring at the NW for 15 minutes. 1A DUCTS went in right away and then 4D obviously had to be COBWEBS. And now you see my problem. After (obsessively) trying to shove Carl Lewis into a six space answer for like, ever, RETTON came to mind, COBWEBS had to go, and I was finally off.
This was a really great puzzle.
This was a really great puzzle.
2
You literally made me laugh out loud, Michael.
(I started with VENTS at 1A.)
(I started with VENTS at 1A.)
1
I think this puzzle struck a good balance between pop culture clues, general knowledge clues and wry humour. I thought LOZENGES was particularly deft.
An extremely enjoyable Saturday puzzle.
An extremely enjoyable Saturday puzzle.
2
I thought ACES were a class of fliers, not AVES (which are like Sts. or Rds.), UNSAVED took forever to get, but is kind of good.
2
Asa Procky. Sounds like somebody in a Hawthorne novel.
5
Anyone who watched Mary Lou RETTON's gold medal winning vault in the 1984 Summer Olympics will never forget her simultaneous display of the thrill of victory and the agony of de feet!
3
I believe you may be thinking of Kerri Strug in the 1996 Olympics?
1
I got a quick start filling in the SE from BOULEVARD, ALIA, LSD, LALANNE, etc. eventually leading to MANTOMANDEFENSE. And then couldn't get anywhere from there. Back up to the top. Jet, Ebony - never thought of ESSENCE and also didn't consider appending MAGAZINE. TheRollingStone fits in that entry (and neatly crosses NYG). Can't be right, I told myself. I think it's earlier than that and why would they have that cover? Can't be right. But it fits. OLLY olly oxen free for 15d? That works with rolling and MYRRH. Can't be right. Maybe it's right. Can't be right.
Spent a long time trying to remember what C.S. stood for. Got Clive on break one and Staples on break two. And that fit, but didn't cross the NILE. Hmmm. Just kept going in circles in that area for way too long and finally GAVEUP.
Speaking of circles - are the letters OOO supposed to represent the numerals 000 or am I missing something? If the former, I don't think that's exactly right.
Thought the clue for TIME was quite clever. On review, I can see how I could have done better than I did on this one. I don't see myself finishing it.
Hi Viv (just in case).
Spent a long time trying to remember what C.S. stood for. Got Clive on break one and Staples on break two. And that fit, but didn't cross the NILE. Hmmm. Just kept going in circles in that area for way too long and finally GAVEUP.
Speaking of circles - are the letters OOO supposed to represent the numerals 000 or am I missing something? If the former, I don't think that's exactly right.
Thought the clue for TIME was quite clever. On review, I can see how I could have done better than I did on this one. I don't see myself finishing it.
Hi Viv (just in case).
2
I read OOO (once it filled in) as resetting a the numbers on a counter, like an odometer but obviously not because odometers have more than three numbers and you can't reset them. Legally. Counter on an old tape recorder? But Os for 0s always makes me cringe a little. (You'll notice I'm not using NYT style there).
Capital-O for zero is acceptable by convention. Sometimes capital-I for one is allowed as well. Some editors rely on these conventions more often others. They are fairly infrequently employed in the Times. The late Henry Hook used them both quite often.
Trip odometers get reset to zero all the time (legally too).
Yesterday I mentioned my dog Chester, and I'm going back to him today to make a point about this puzzle.
When Chester catches a whiff of something, he roots and rustles, working hard, zeroing in on it. And while there is great effort, there is no hint of tiring, just focus and interest, because it's a very good scent. That's how I was during today's solve, enticed mainly by excellent cluing -- DAYSAILS, BOULEVARD, STIRSIN, LOZENGES, DIETARY -- working hard with great and unflagging interest. Thank you, Eric. This was a great puzzle solving experience!
By the way, Chester can sniff out a Ritz Cracker at 50 yards. He actually did this once, and I like the idea of a Ritz Cracker test for gauging the acuity of a dog's sense of smell...
When Chester catches a whiff of something, he roots and rustles, working hard, zeroing in on it. And while there is great effort, there is no hint of tiring, just focus and interest, because it's a very good scent. That's how I was during today's solve, enticed mainly by excellent cluing -- DAYSAILS, BOULEVARD, STIRSIN, LOZENGES, DIETARY -- working hard with great and unflagging interest. Thank you, Eric. This was a great puzzle solving experience!
By the way, Chester can sniff out a Ritz Cracker at 50 yards. He actually did this once, and I like the idea of a Ritz Cracker test for gauging the acuity of a dog's sense of smell...
5
Chester sounds like a terrific dog.
My late beloved Chester was of the cat persuasion. He was terrific too.
My late beloved Chester was of the cat persuasion. He was terrific too.
1
I checked my two British dictionaries for TWEE; one said Too quaint or sentimental" the other "Excessively sentimental". Neither suggested a superlative spelling or pronunciation. My friends have used twee in that way. I would suggest that anyone saying "spot of tea" is being twee. It apparently comes from a child's mispronunciation of sweet.
5
As for the rest of the puzzle, typical Saturday with lots of unknown people and phrases, most already mentioned. Luckily I have no compunctions about looking up rappers, and the phrases eventually filled in with the crosses ( and taking a few breaks).
MYRRH, Jack LALANNE AND TUNIS were a few of the gimmes.
I liked LOZENGES best of all. I'm often sucking them, but because of dry throat, not hacking cough.
I quite enjoyed this one.
MYRRH, Jack LALANNE AND TUNIS were a few of the gimmes.
I liked LOZENGES best of all. I'm often sucking them, but because of dry throat, not hacking cough.
I quite enjoyed this one.
4
Compunctions are one of my impediments, though only one among many.
2
I'll have to try lozenges for dry throat. I blamed it on a medication, but a change hasn't helped.
1
ASAP ROCKY was a complete unknown; maybe how a moose tells a squirrel he wants something now! HOUR ANGLE was also new for me. I definitely had to work for this one. I had WHEW for 41A and was wondering if wRIMED was another new word for me.
10
Same here, Paul. Really liked wHEW, alas. "Nothin up my sleeve, presto!" :)
I always put WHEW and the answer is always PHEW.
I've been on a roll this week; I enjoyed this puzzle a lot, and it fell surprisingly quickly. Being a Gen Xer with teenage kids seems to be working in my favor lately.
I've been on a roll this week; I enjoyed this puzzle a lot, and it fell surprisingly quickly. Being a Gen Xer with teenage kids seems to be working in my favor lately.
1
Answers I enjoyed: Lozenges, Essence Magazine, Retton, OOO, hour angle, disco ball, and Man to Man Defense.
Answers I did not enjoy: cutely, no big, daysails, tweest (shouldn't it be twee-est?), Chicana, efts.
So it's 7-6 in favor of this challenging Saturday!
Plus I learned at least 2 new things: Can I live and A$AP Rocky
Here's a clip of the amazing Mary Lou Retton clinching the 1984 All Around with a perfect 10: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOZLNc_r3cY
Answers I did not enjoy: cutely, no big, daysails, tweest (shouldn't it be twee-est?), Chicana, efts.
So it's 7-6 in favor of this challenging Saturday!
Plus I learned at least 2 new things: Can I live and A$AP Rocky
Here's a clip of the amazing Mary Lou Retton clinching the 1984 All Around with a perfect 10: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOZLNc_r3cY
1
This was a dreadful experience. Words/phrases that were approved such as "Can I live" or "cutely" or "Aves" or "DaySaiils" are not remotely mainstream or cerebrally challenging due to their literary irrelevance.
Rather than "Spent" at the end of this puzzle I felt swindled out of an otherwise perfectly delightful Friday evening. W
P.S. Will Shortz - you must have had few entries to choose from.
Rather than "Spent" at the end of this puzzle I felt swindled out of an otherwise perfectly delightful Friday evening. W
P.S. Will Shortz - you must have had few entries to choose from.
8
Aside from a fill here and there, I worked this from the SE to SW and upwards. I got stuck for some time in the NE (ASAP who?). I caught on to TAKESANAP early because my husband always says he's resting his eyes when he dozes off. (He also says he can't hear me when he isn't wearing his glasses. Marriage is tolerance.)
TWEEST is too CUTELY, but it's NOBIG. Finished it without too many OWIEs. PHEW!
TWEEST is too CUTELY, but it's NOBIG. Finished it without too many OWIEs. PHEW!
4
Ok, suitably...challenging. I guess I am not getting a lot better at this crossword thing as yesterday's puzzle led me to believe.
Pretty nice puzzle today. Especially the two long acrosses. And any puzzle that has Ayn Rand references in it has got to be fun.
Never heard of: CANILIVE, NOBIG, DAYSAILS, ASAPROCKY, TWEEST (I still don't get it - sounds like something Tweety says - "aw, ain't that just the TWEEST thing?").
CAMNEWTON came easy only because of MYRRH and KIWI. I knew supreme court term starts in the fall, now I know it's in OCT.
re: century for senator...I thought I'd seen it once before in one of the NYT crosswords, but I can't find it. Maybe mind is playing tricks.
It's all nice crossings, my least favorites being ASAPROCKY and CANILIVE only because I never heard of them. Favorite was Hacker's helpers.
re: Martin's note about fuzzy fruits - KIWIs and peaches...wondering if anyone here has Passion for Kiwis? :) Maybe some New Zealanders?
Pretty nice puzzle today. Especially the two long acrosses. And any puzzle that has Ayn Rand references in it has got to be fun.
Never heard of: CANILIVE, NOBIG, DAYSAILS, ASAPROCKY, TWEEST (I still don't get it - sounds like something Tweety says - "aw, ain't that just the TWEEST thing?").
CAMNEWTON came easy only because of MYRRH and KIWI. I knew supreme court term starts in the fall, now I know it's in OCT.
re: century for senator...I thought I'd seen it once before in one of the NYT crosswords, but I can't find it. Maybe mind is playing tricks.
It's all nice crossings, my least favorites being ASAPROCKY and CANILIVE only because I never heard of them. Favorite was Hacker's helpers.
re: Martin's note about fuzzy fruits - KIWIs and peaches...wondering if anyone here has Passion for Kiwis? :) Maybe some New Zealanders?
2
Wen, as I have come to understand it (through many hours of watching BBC programming!), "twee" is Britspeak for "precious" -- and not the good precious, the "well, isn't that just precious" precious.
TWEEST I have never, ever heard, but such is the price we sometimes pay for otherwise excellent crosswords! And at least it wasn't spelled TWEEEST.
TWEEST I have never, ever heard, but such is the price we sometimes pay for otherwise excellent crosswords! And at least it wasn't spelled TWEEEST.
1
Oops, but see suejean's post for a more authoritative interpretation.
I held off entering TWEEST. Although I knew the word TWEE, I'd never heard or seen a comparative or superlative form of it.
Myrrh is fragrant only in the most basic definition of "fragrant," certainly not what most English speakers use the word to mean nowadays. Martin, I doubt you have experienced pure myrrh being burned if you think of it as nice smelling. It is extremely dark and pungent, "bitter perfume" in the words of the carol "We Three Kings", and used to outdo and cover the odor of decaying corpses in embalming.
Hour Angle is a measure of how far east one celestial object is from another, taking their longitudes into account. A person having both objects in sight who stands facing due south will be able to measure the Hour Angle easily by extending their arms - remember that the whole sky from eastern to western horizon is 12 hours (180 degrees).
T-boned brought me back to the pilot episode of "Six Feet Under."
Hour Angle is a measure of how far east one celestial object is from another, taking their longitudes into account. A person having both objects in sight who stands facing due south will be able to measure the Hour Angle easily by extending their arms - remember that the whole sky from eastern to western horizon is 12 hours (180 degrees).
T-boned brought me back to the pilot episode of "Six Feet Under."
1
I used to get frankincense and myrrh at the local bodega in the Bronx. I quite liked the scents of them burning. Of course, the baseline smells were pungent too in the Bronx.
2
good puzzle. should have been quicker on clues like DISCO BALLS (got balls. liked orange side YAMS! Had wHEW BEFORE PHEW. We always like EASY MONEY!
1
Hand up for WHEW, which kept my SW mostly blank for quite a while.
Then I remembered that an editorial in yesterday's (?) NYT was "PHEW."
Then I remembered that an editorial in yesterday's (?) NYT was "PHEW."
■ 58A: A DAYSAIL is a sailboat that is too cramped to sleep in comfortably.
Martin,
A DAY SAIL is a sail during the day (on any vessel).
A DAYSAILER is a sailboat without sleeping quarters.
The clue refers -- correctly -- to the former.
Martin,
A DAY SAIL is a sail during the day (on any vessel).
A DAYSAILER is a sailboat without sleeping quarters.
The clue refers -- correctly -- to the former.
6
Good catch (ketch?). The wordplay in the clue, too, works only for the former.
4
CANILIVE was new to me. Never heard of ASAPROCKY. Too many rapper clues for my taste lately.
10
CANILIVE is the expression on a cat's face when Mr. or Ms. Feline is interrupted during an intimate grooming session.
2
Also, the writeup seems to have the constructor comments from yesterday's puzzle.
2
Until the copy desk wakes up, you can read the Constructor Notes here:
https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=7/29/2017
https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=7/29/2017
My bad, sorry. It's fixed now.
1
ASAP ROCKY has had just one song that has made it to the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100. That song has a title which the Times could only publish if Anthony Scaramucci says it. I was going to put the link to the Wikipedia article, but that URL has said word in it, which might cause this comment to be embargoed. You'll have to check yourself if you're curious.
Just sayin'.
Just sayin'.
5
Until I came here, I thought he was ASA PROCKY.
10
That sounds like a Flannery O'Conner character, Kiki.
3
I was curious about how to parse the name, but the photo caption cleared that up.
I think that's probably as much as I care to know, so I'll pass on the Google.
I think that's probably as much as I care to know, so I'll pass on the Google.
Yet, I struggled on this one and it wasn't until Sunday morning that a little birdie whispered in my ear, "I am a flier class in 20A NYTimes crossword." Aces sure looked good but Aves awoke me like the birdie that got the early morning worm.