A wheelchair is a tool, not a cage.
1
https://nightcapped.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/nick-and-nora1.jpg
NIC and NOA Charles, with Asta, the Spunky Wire-haired Terrier
TAPAS BARS U MAC Knight. Did you your hometown at the intersection of 59 & 61? YAKIMA MORON -- now *there's* a FAKE NAME!
Inci dentally, UNTAPED is a reasonable way to describe a healed ankle sprain.
TAPAS BAR
Sauce TATAR
JOIN BROWNS body
EWE I SCAR
BOX SCAR Willie
SAYONAR'
Mucho fun Friday.
NIC and NOA Charles, with Asta, the Spunky Wire-haired Terrier
TAPAS BARS U MAC Knight. Did you your hometown at the intersection of 59 & 61? YAKIMA MORON -- now *there's* a FAKE NAME!
Inci dentally, UNTAPED is a reasonable way to describe a healed ankle sprain.
TAPAS BAR
Sauce TATAR
JOIN BROWNS body
EWE I SCAR
BOX SCAR Willie
SAYONAR'
Mucho fun Friday.
I caved and came here to check Tricky Clues to see if there was help for 1A, and imagine my dismay when the column discussed the clue (telling me what I already knew) but didn't say anything about the answer! (I've seen TAPAS in crosswords but I never heard of a TAPASBAR--which I did eventually work out from the downs and process of elimination.)
At one point I had POPENAME for 63 Across. I was sorry to give it up!
1
A slog but very satisfying. I knew it was SQ something, but what? Tried YD and FT before crosses make IN obvious. Thought it was BUZZFEEDQUERIES at first, which shows you how much I know about BuzzFeed. Didn't get the standard clue even after I had ROSS. D'oh. IMAMORON. Very clever. Standard=flag. I'm a baseball fan, but it took me forever to get MIKEPIAZZA.
Must admit my first flash for wordsmith was SAFIRE, but then I thought, "didn't he expire some time ago?" The crosses led me to keep it.
Equal opportunity insults: You're a jerk, I'm a moron?
My left eye kept picking up intersections and parts of words forming TSA.
Not sure I liked the "Last dance" clue for PROM. I know lots of folks who went to lots of dances after prom. I'm not bitter, mind you, but I never went to prom. . . .sniff. . .
Equal opportunity insults: You're a jerk, I'm a moron?
My left eye kept picking up intersections and parts of words forming TSA.
Not sure I liked the "Last dance" clue for PROM. I know lots of folks who went to lots of dances after prom. I'm not bitter, mind you, but I never went to prom. . . .sniff. . .
1
Buck up, Robert.
I went to prom, giving up something I'd rather have done but didn't have the opporunity until I had already been committed to the dance. One of the biggest bores of my life.
I went to prom, giving up something I'd rather have done but didn't have the opporunity until I had already been committed to the dance. One of the biggest bores of my life.
1
Lots I didn't know today. Had to do the put-it-down-and-come-back ploy before I got WSW and SW.
Didn't know (some as clued): STARCRAFT, BUZZFEED QUIZZES, SCAR, ARTIE, CAKE POP, ROSA, BROWNS, UFC, MIKE PIAZZA, ZANE, BAZOOKA JOE. I've never seen "Glee" or "Brooklyn Nine-Nine." I thought BUZZFEED was one of those sites that posts celebrity "news." I don't think I've had a bubble gum in 70 years (about the age when I might have liked a CAKE POP), and don't remember if there was a comic inside.
EAT before SIT at home. POST before PORT. UNDERSTAND before ARE WE CLEAR.
Proud of myself for thinking that "Closing Bell" might refer to the stock market and thus figuring out CNBC.
ZAP as clued fell flat with me, as did NO A.
Same reaction as Martin to FAKE NAME, AMA, and SANE.
Had to call a customer service person at my pet food and supplies merchant today. Very nice young man, who quickly corrected the problem (missing shipment, which he corrected). He said there had been some problems caused by Irma. Turns out he was speaking to me from south Florida! I told him to get out of there, and he said "Customer service comes first!" I allowed as how I could get cat litter here if I absolutely had to. Hope he found a way out.
Didn't know (some as clued): STARCRAFT, BUZZFEED QUIZZES, SCAR, ARTIE, CAKE POP, ROSA, BROWNS, UFC, MIKE PIAZZA, ZANE, BAZOOKA JOE. I've never seen "Glee" or "Brooklyn Nine-Nine." I thought BUZZFEED was one of those sites that posts celebrity "news." I don't think I've had a bubble gum in 70 years (about the age when I might have liked a CAKE POP), and don't remember if there was a comic inside.
EAT before SIT at home. POST before PORT. UNDERSTAND before ARE WE CLEAR.
Proud of myself for thinking that "Closing Bell" might refer to the stock market and thus figuring out CNBC.
ZAP as clued fell flat with me, as did NO A.
Same reaction as Martin to FAKE NAME, AMA, and SANE.
Had to call a customer service person at my pet food and supplies merchant today. Very nice young man, who quickly corrected the problem (missing shipment, which he corrected). He said there had been some problems caused by Irma. Turns out he was speaking to me from south Florida! I told him to get out of there, and he said "Customer service comes first!" I allowed as how I could get cat litter here if I absolutely had to. Hope he found a way out.
1
Synchronicity: Tonight's "Jeopardy!" had a category something about Brooklyn baseball that featured MIKE PIAZZA. So, never heard of him before in my life, but twice in one day.
Also, OT: The zoologists are watching Mai Xiang as she exhibits signs of either pregnancy or pseudopregnancy. Meanwhile Tian Tian and Bei Bei are apparently enjoying good panda lives: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/news/behavior-watch-for-mei-xiang-beg...
Also, OT: The zoologists are watching Mai Xiang as she exhibits signs of either pregnancy or pseudopregnancy. Meanwhile Tian Tian and Bei Bei are apparently enjoying good panda lives: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/news/behavior-watch-for-mei-xiang-beg...
1
Got a late start today, but had an enjoyable time while finishing in near record time. Even if BUZZFEEDQUIZZES and STARCRAFT and others were not immediately accessible, they finally popped up from the depths of memory when enough crosses provided direction. Never heard of ROSA Diaz, but I too am glad to have an alternative to Parks. The puzzle has a conversational tone to it, which makes it approachable and not pedantic. Nice.
1
Great puzzle! A terrific Friday challenge with many good, unusual entries.
“Sardinas and sangria” led me to think that the answer would be a Spanish term (though I should've noticed that it wasn't “sardinas y sangria”). As soon as I switched back to English I got TAPASBAR and the last corner of the puzzle!
Lots of good words today. Of course I loved QUEEQUEG (I was an English major). Had to give up PALOOKA JOE when I figured out CYBER CAFÉ. The unknown "Glee" character was my downfall. I debated between ERNIE and ARNIE, settling for the latter. That left me running the alphabet for the bare spot on the mountain. Finally grasped that it was ARTIE which gave me SCAR.
So it was a hard but mainly satisfying puzzle. Here it is mid-afternoon and there are only ten comments. That's surprising.
So it was a hard but mainly satisfying puzzle. Here it is mid-afternoon and there are only ten comments. That's surprising.
1
Puzzled a long while over 8D and had my doh! moment when I thought of the meaning of "standard" and then remembered Betsy,
Queequeg and Bazooka Joe inspired! Please add NIC (Cage) to ENO moratorium. Thanks.
2
Couldn't quite finish until the light dawned and I changed ARNIE to ARTIE.
JERK and MORON in the same puzzle was perhaps a bit much?
JERK and MORON in the same puzzle was perhaps a bit much?
Disappointed to see the term " wheelchair bound" in the clues rather than the preferred "wheelchair user." I had a friend who would send the Washington Post a picture of himself tied up in his wheelchair every time they used it. Don't know if they ever learned, but they did run the picture with his obituary.
9
Yes, that bothered me too. Funny note about your friend; I hope he would have enjoyed that they used the picture with his obituary.
Interesting point.
Many years ago, when I was working with people trying to obtain disability benefits, defining terms included "chairfast" and "bedbound."
Many years ago, when I was working with people trying to obtain disability benefits, defining terms included "chairfast" and "bedbound."
1
Ruthinoski's friend used a wheelchair, but "bound" is not appropriate even without the image of being tied up, since "bound" presumes that the wheelchair use was both continuous and mandatory. That information may be offered but should not be assumed. The people Deadline was working with *did* have to document the extent of their mobility and related issues.
1
One tiny thing irked me today: After I got an English solution to D12 I expected an English solution to A57 as well.
It's an interesting point you raise, KMB. The thing is that both "capisce?" and "sayonara!" are used in English as English words, not foreign words, but with added layers of meaning not in the original languages.
"Capisce?" or "Capeesh?" is not used as a substitute for "do you understand?" which is the simple Italian meaning, but always as a veiled threat: "if you don't understand, or won't, I can make it clearer..."
Likewise, "Sayonara" is not used in English as a simple farewell, but always has a tinge of "good riddance" along with the "goodbye."
There might be a discussion to have about the English use of "Adios," but I think it has the same overtones, which Martin alluded to in the column.
Was verbotenes.
"Capisce?" or "Capeesh?" is not used as a substitute for "do you understand?" which is the simple Italian meaning, but always as a veiled threat: "if you don't understand, or won't, I can make it clearer..."
Likewise, "Sayonara" is not used in English as a simple farewell, but always has a tinge of "good riddance" along with the "goodbye."
There might be a discussion to have about the English use of "Adios," but I think it has the same overtones, which Martin alluded to in the column.
Was verbotenes.
4
Apropos of a third-degree mental connection, do you have any ideas about why every language that recognizes a military rank of [similar to] Colonel pronounces it as the obvious three syllables, except for English which inexplicably turns it into a 'kernel'?
1
Before the romance languages settled on colonel variations, they were competing with coronel forms:
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/coronel
It was influenced by the fancy-sounding "coronet" in addition to the original "leader of a column." The English word preserves that competition.
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/coronel
It was influenced by the fancy-sounding "coronet" in addition to the original "leader of a column." The English word preserves that competition.
2
Solid Friday with a high Scrabble count. BAZOOKAJOE was a big help in getting started. Tasty fill like CYBERCAFES, MIKEPIAZZA and 36A more than make up for the yucky UNTAPED. SQFT before SQIN and EATATHOME before SIT. Pleased with myself for remembering QUEEQUEG (never read the book).
My parents took the family to see the big-screen version of "Bye Bye Birdie" way back when, and the movie and the music remain favorites among me and my siblings. Let's check in on the big production number, "A LOT of Livin' TO DO":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS38PiZ2-RA
My parents took the family to see the big-screen version of "Bye Bye Birdie" way back when, and the movie and the music remain favorites among me and my siblings. Let's check in on the big production number, "A LOT of Livin' TO DO":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS38PiZ2-RA
2
I also never read "Moby-Dick," but I know most of the names and QUEEQUEG was a gimme.
"Bye Bye Birdie" was the first Broadway opening night I ever attended.
"Bye Bye Birdie" was the first Broadway opening night I ever attended.
2
I arbitrarily assigned the Glee performer a FAKE NAME, Artig. The erroneous 'e' I entered in that BOX also gave QUEEQUEG an alias, Queg Queg. I'M A MORON? NO, A single mistake on a Friday reminds me that I still have A LOT TO DO as far as honing my solving skill but I'm no dummy. I'm not about to SIT AT HOME and pout. Better to LEAN ON the nearest TAPAS BAR I can find and toast today's near miss. I needed that elusive 'E' as much as the puzzle needed a 'v' ergo no solve and no pangram...Try and ESPY so much as one mountain-side SCAR in this clip of "El Condor Pasa" from the spellbinding Peruvian Songbird, Yma SUMAC; I couldn't.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlPOldBxxVs
SAYONARA,
Bru
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlPOldBxxVs
SAYONARA,
Bru
6
As a millennial, I much enjoyed seeing "BUZZFEED QUIZZES" in this puzzle. Throw in references to Melville, Glee, and tapas and I'm sold!
6
For me it looked quite impossible, and pretty much remained so. This has been a tough week of puzzles for me. I did enjoy the chatty phrases. I have not the remotest idea of what BUZZFEED QUIZZES are, but it makes an interesting entry.
I've heard from Liz by email, but we still have to sort out exactly when we are going to get together on Sunday.
I've heard from Liz by email, but we still have to sort out exactly when we are going to get together on Sunday.
5
Keep us posted...Have fun.
3
Liz, Mr. B and I will be having dinner at a local Turkish restaurant on Sunday. Mezes instead of TAPAS.
3
um, suejean... That sounds like you telling Liz that you're going to have dinner with her husband on Sunday. Colour me surprised.
Looked impossible for a while but TAPASBAR, QUEEQUEG, and YOURAJERK got us rolling. I am vowing to pay more attention (without promising actually to watch) the animated offerings on Netflix, though I would rather have them and their arbitrary spellings stay out of my wheelhouse. For a while we wondered if 15A might be SHORTZ...
Enjoyable Friday and thanks for keeping the TV refs to 2.
Enjoyable Friday and thanks for keeping the TV refs to 2.
1
I found this a fair* and fairly lively Friday, definitely not STALE, with entries from everywhere (tips hat) and a nod to diversity (not every ROSA is a Parks). Minor quibble with the UNTAPED clue: live performances are often taped. 25A could have linked to 41A (i.e., not bugged).
*It's fair if I can do a timely solve despite having never heard of the spanner.
*It's fair if I can do a timely solve despite having never heard of the spanner.
2
Barry, agreed on UNTAPED. Got the answer and moved on and didn't think about it (well, it was late and I was watching football too). Perhaps clue as "Forgot to press REC" or something along those lines. Even better if REC was a cross-referenced entry elsewhere on the grid, because I love those. :)
1
A fine Friday here. As has been said, lots of scrabbly letters including the multiple Zs, Qs, Js, Ks, Fs, and Cs, plus the lone X. I had ARnIE for too long. Now, I wish I had some SARA Lee banana cake.
Re 25A: UNTAPED is not a synonym for "not taped" anymore than "undone" is a synonym for "not done."
5
My spelling of 57A is closely related to 61A. LOL TAPASBAR experience is watching people order a slew of things at once and then trying to arrange/balance the little plates that seem to be everywhere. Hint: one may order 2 or 3 things at a time.
A lot I did not know but crossword regulars (counterpart to Baker Street irregulars) like AJA, ALIA and EWE guided me home.
Big save was QUEEQUEG. HS Sr. project was iconoclasm as represented in 18th century American Lit. Moby Dick was my centerpiece. A small ball of opium provided much insight as well as a unique perspective on Ligeia. Enough about that.
Great puz Sam.
A lot I did not know but crossword regulars (counterpart to Baker Street irregulars) like AJA, ALIA and EWE guided me home.
Big save was QUEEQUEG. HS Sr. project was iconoclasm as represented in 18th century American Lit. Moby Dick was my centerpiece. A small ball of opium provided much insight as well as a unique perspective on Ligeia. Enough about that.
Great puz Sam.
2
19c
@catpet, maybe that 'small ball' provided insights undreamed of by the rank and file.
Mileages vary, as we all know. At least today worked out well for me. The totally unfamiliar entries -- STARCRAFT, QUEEQUEG, BUZZFEEDQUIZZES -- were findable from the crossings, and I enjoyed being reminded of BAZOOKAJOE from my kiddie days. Also, any puzzle that has me hearing Jack Nicholson bark "Are we clear?" at Tom Cruise wins the "crystal" from me.
2
I wanted POST for the trading hub and TAQUERIA for the sangria place. Neither worked alone or with each other, so the NW was tough and the last to fall.
That frustration was easily balanced by the fun in the SE. 54D (SANE) -- Hah! And then I saw that if you changed HASPS to HARPS you could have the delicious combination there of FAKE NEWS, I'M A MORON, and SAYONARA. If only!
That frustration was easily balanced by the fun in the SE. 54D (SANE) -- Hah! And then I saw that if you changed HASPS to HARPS you could have the delicious combination there of FAKE NEWS, I'M A MORON, and SAYONARA. If only!
8
Lewis, that would have been a great fix - don't forget the SANS that would also result in 54D. I wonder if that would have been too overt, though. Will probably would have ZAPped that. Buzzkill.
And unfortunately, every time I see the word FAKE nowadays I first think of #45.
And unfortunately, every time I see the word FAKE nowadays I first think of #45.
3
This was a fun workout. SAYONARA reminds me of what Graig Nettles said of Sparky Lyle when the Yankees got Goose Gossage to be their closer in 1978 a year after Sparky Lyle won the Cy Young as the closer--"from Cy Young to sayonara".
All those Z's leads me to this from Dave Frishberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Sh8-yVz7mo
All those Z's leads me to this from Dave Frishberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Sh8-yVz7mo
4
Kiss Thursday goodbye.
Its puzzle was a sorrow.
Friday is a fresh, new grid...
And it's full (pause)
Yes it's full (paise)
Friday's full...of...Zees!
I liked seeing QUEEQUEG (literature, for a change!). My first thought for 36A was MAJORANNOYANCES, but the true answer came easily enough -- even though I never access that site. I do appreciate the construction of this puzzle, especially that there are few of those too-common, tiny filler words. I like the use of the less common letters. The Scrabble score would be very high.
Here comes the however.
The two very negative long fills mentioned in the blog piece, coupled with Martin's use of the standard internet put-down thrown at anyone who makes an effort -- they must have too much time on their hands! -- have me seeing red. So, SAYONARA. I'm going to go hug my sweet, happy FIDOS.
Its puzzle was a sorrow.
Friday is a fresh, new grid...
And it's full (pause)
Yes it's full (paise)
Friday's full...of...Zees!
I liked seeing QUEEQUEG (literature, for a change!). My first thought for 36A was MAJORANNOYANCES, but the true answer came easily enough -- even though I never access that site. I do appreciate the construction of this puzzle, especially that there are few of those too-common, tiny filler words. I like the use of the less common letters. The Scrabble score would be very high.
Here comes the however.
The two very negative long fills mentioned in the blog piece, coupled with Martin's use of the standard internet put-down thrown at anyone who makes an effort -- they must have too much time on their hands! -- have me seeing red. So, SAYONARA. I'm going to go hug my sweet, happy FIDOS.
1
That was very enjoyable, even though it was a bit tough and I doubted I'd be able to finish.
Loved the J's, Q's and Z's and the X. Especially the Z's. I sorta knew those quizzes were a thing, but never took one (why no, I'm not Mulan). I had no idea they were called BUZZFEED QUIZZES.
I also liked those informal phrases that Martin mentioned.
People used to play a lot of STARCRAFT in CYBERCAFES. Why did those South Koreans love it so much? Because they were able to make money at it as a professional. And since it's a network game and they had high-speed internet everywhere, there was no lag. Great game. Quite a classic.
re: ZAP - I don't think the clue is referencing a person who kills bugs. I think it's just a bug zapper (the gadget)
There was a lot to like about this puzzle, not least was that Mr. SAFIRE makes an appearance here, which along with QUEEQUEG might quell the inevitable bellyache at the pop-culture BUZZFEED QUIZZES reference or that STARCRAFT was unfamiliar to many here. I say it was well crafted and top notch. A fitting Friday puzzle.
Loved the J's, Q's and Z's and the X. Especially the Z's. I sorta knew those quizzes were a thing, but never took one (why no, I'm not Mulan). I had no idea they were called BUZZFEED QUIZZES.
I also liked those informal phrases that Martin mentioned.
People used to play a lot of STARCRAFT in CYBERCAFES. Why did those South Koreans love it so much? Because they were able to make money at it as a professional. And since it's a network game and they had high-speed internet everywhere, there was no lag. Great game. Quite a classic.
re: ZAP - I don't think the clue is referencing a person who kills bugs. I think it's just a bug zapper (the gadget)
There was a lot to like about this puzzle, not least was that Mr. SAFIRE makes an appearance here, which along with QUEEQUEG might quell the inevitable bellyache at the pop-culture BUZZFEED QUIZZES reference or that STARCRAFT was unfamiliar to many here. I say it was well crafted and top notch. A fitting Friday puzzle.
2
I knew a guy who'd build a character then sell it. Is that how they'd make money on Starcraft?
That was probably World of Warcraft, which shares a developer -- Blizzard Entertainment -- with Starcraft. The Korean Starcraft scene includes several tournaments played in front of packed arenas. If you've never seen footage of a major e-sports match, it's really a sight to behold: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_hLPkImh2I
1
I had no idea! Ha! Learn something new every day.
enjoyable puzzle with all the zz's. liked EWE as a Ram's fan. Spent much time waiting for my niece on the Ram Van when she was at Fordham.
1
Proofreading is an incurable affliction. Make that clue Ram's, not Rams (21A).
I think the clue intentionally cast the word Rams as non-possessive to sow misdirection, make us think that it's the NFL Rams team that is being referred to here.
In either case, whether referring to male sheep or the NFL team, it looks to be used as a collective noun used as...an adjective to describe the fan? Hence there is no apostrophe to make it a possessive noun, either singular (Ram's) or plural (Rams').
At least I think that's why it's clued that way. But I might be wrong - grammar was never my strong suit.
In either case, whether referring to male sheep or the NFL team, it looks to be used as a collective noun used as...an adjective to describe the fan? Hence there is no apostrophe to make it a possessive noun, either singular (Ram's) or plural (Rams').
At least I think that's why it's clued that way. But I might be wrong - grammar was never my strong suit.
2
I think the apostrophe is unnecessary. A ewe can be a fan of many rams.
4
Buzzfeed quizzes with two double 'z's and Queequeg with the double 'que's led me to look over the grid for more of the same. I only found the matched pair "ceded" and "Tatar." But this grid has lots of cool resonances at the letter, word, and phrase levels. Very interesting construction.
5
I loved all the Z’s ( pronounced zed, which is the proper way to pronounce z) in this fast and fun crossword.
The best answer is Queequeg because along with being a literary character in a well known book, Queequeg is also the name of Dana Scully’s dog in the X-Files. Scully called her father Ahab and he called her Starbuck.
The best answer is Queequeg because along with being a literary character in a well known book, Queequeg is also the name of Dana Scully’s dog in the X-Files. Scully called her father Ahab and he called her Starbuck.
2
And I bet "labor" has a U in it.
3
You betcha, Neighbour! And remember that if you SHED, YOU'LL be the only LEFT TENANT in the aluminium out house about now.
[Too bad we had Moby Dick's QUEEQUEG instead of something from Iddles of the King...]
[Too bad we had Moby Dick's QUEEQUEG instead of something from Iddles of the King...]
2
and Elke
(from just west of the GWBridge)
Eh,Leapy,- that would be "aboot".
(from just west of the GWBridge)
Eh,Leapy,- that would be "aboot".
2
I loved the juxtaposition of I'M A MORON with YOU'RE A JERK.
5