Me, me, me...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyNyHark4xk
Oh, that kind of ALLNIGHTER, where someone CRAMS for a TEST. I couldn’t get out of my mind the famous all-nighters in the soul venues of Northern England.
https://youtu.be/fhbX6IGIWZc
1
I'm happy to let others assess whether the puzzle meets their standards. I was grateful to once again slap my forehead (now that I am older I don't literally do this any more) when I realized I had misread a clue. I read dingy, as in drab or shadowy, and puzzled with the back of my mind the rest of the way how that fit with oven timer. It is always good for me to be reminded that I sometimes come to a conclusion too quickly.
To me, this is a perfect example of a poor Sunday puzzle: I've aced it in one go without having any idea how the themed clues and answers relate to each other. Aside from quickly spotting the ME's that kept popping up, I couldn't make heads or tails....
Why bother with a theme if you don't need to figure out how it works to solve the grid?
2
Don't think I'd put a "mike" on the PODIUM (unless I wanted to capture squeaky shoe noises). More likely, I'd situate it on the lectern. Also, isn't the abbreviation for microphone "mic" not "mike"?
(1) Please see definition 3 for PODIUM:
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/podium
(2) If the mic/mike is on a floor stand it need not be on def. 3
1
Well, def. 3 says that lectern is a synonym for podium. I realize it is often used that way. I guess the question is when does incorrect but somewhat common usage become correct.
If it's on a mic stand, it's neither on the podium nor the lectern.
1
And you would just have the mic. sitting on the lectern? I certainly hope not.
Neat puzzle. But I did run into trouble at 114A where, thinking of Lady Macbeth, I had UNSEX because there was a Q in the square above the U. I also got the ending of 127A wrong (E not A), so I'm looking at 108D and looking at it and wondering what this has to do with a hot pepper. Then the image of a fast food joint near or on 23rd Street near Home Depot came to mind -- and it hit me. Napoleon was right.
"Then the image of a fast food joint near or on 23rd Street near Home Depot came to mind -- and it hit me."
The Chipotle at 21st & Sixth, across from Trader Joe's?
No -- there used to be a Qdoba on 23rd just east of Home Depot. I just now looked for it online and got notice all their Manhattan restaurants closed.
So, Next up is Hoda Kotb in a Qdoba?
I definitely agree with all those solvers who found this puzzle ridiculously easy for a Sunday. Now that I have learned to Google all the unknown media and sports names, I was able to fill in half the grid that way and thereby successfully finish the puzzle in under an hour and forty minutes. Wow, what speed!
I could have solved it even faster by using Reveal instead of Googling, but that would take away my chance for a Gold. Google allowed me to extend my current streak to two. Not bad, hey?
7
I guess you haven't been around here long enough to remember my technique for rapid completion of the puzzle when you're on Metro North or the LIRR or the Jersey trains. Just fill in the squares with anything that looks halfway decent. Your onlookers will be amazed. Absolutely amazed, I tell you.
2
Hal in NY, many years ago when I commuted on the New Haven, I used to race a friend to complete the puzzle, and he always won. At a dinner party at his house I commented on this, and his wife responded, "Just because he fills them all in doesn't mean that he got them right!"
On this unseasonably warm day, I barely had time to settle into the chair outside before the puzzle was finished. A straight run, nearly top to bottom, rare for a Sunday. The themers were easily gettable from the clues, especially with two letters given away. I did have ZEST before ZEAL for a moment or two. Now that MADAMETUSSAUD'S has opened a branch in TIMESSQUARE, I've visited 6 of the theme answers.
EDM duo The Chainsmokers scored their first hit with the well-timed novelty single "#SELFIE" in 2014; more an indictment rather than a celebration of the trend. Over 500 million views on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdemFfbS5H0
2
And I'm like one of them.
Excellent, Jimbeau! A hoot, a most palpable hoot, man!
2
I think the first theme answer I got was the MALL OF AMERICA which horrified me when I first heard of its being built. All the complaints about the easiness of the puzzle sound elitist to me. Relax! Next Sunday will come soon enough.
I was working on Friday's puzzle when two adult children came for the weekend, followed the next day by two more. Had a wonderful family time, the daughters headed for the Sheep & Wool Festival; son and I headed off for an author's talk at the FDR Library.
I retreated a couple of times to try to finish Friday's puzzle. Finally did today.
Saturday's still awaits me. I dived into the Sunday puzzle when the "kids" had left, so I enjoyed the somewhat easier solve. And the weather today is so beautiful that extra time outdoors is appreciated.
1
Elitist? That's a bit judgy, dontcha' think?
1
Maybe we can call it humblebragging? Didn't someone claim a 15 minute (or thereabouts) finish? Come on!! My lips don't move fast enough to finish reading all the Sunday clues in that time...
Seriously, I had to scratch and scrape plenty of times, usually on account of beaucoup clues that drew a blank. Getting a few crosses usually did the trick, except for QDOBA and UBOATS. The former is just odd, the latter seems odd for the clue.
Most of the theMErs were gimME fodder once they were started, eg CHRIST_THE_(what else could follow?) but I'll admit I thought 116A was going to be JERUSALEM_____
It's always possible to wander off-course.
2
My stats are compiled by the NYT website automatically. The averages in there are based on 1160 puzzles solved, 7 days a week, for a couple of years. This Sunday puzzle was solved in less than half the Sunday average time shown in my stats. Since that statement is relative to my own accumulated data, in what way would writing the opinion that it was easy, or that it was easier than what I'd like to be challenged by on a Sunday, be "elitist" or "humblebragging?" I am really mystified by both terms being used in this context.
P.S., nearly all of us who are regulars here don't post specific times, but rather measure either in "cups of coffee" or relative to our individual stats.
1
Crusty audio geek and radio/tv veteran here. It's "mic," if you mean a microphone. "Mike" is Michael briefly.
3
You don't have to be a crusty veteran to know that, D Smith; I'm pretty sure newbies in the business know it too. In the rest of the world, though:
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/mike
1
I must have a few years on you, D. Smith, for in my day it was always "MIKE." I had to come to the NY Times Xword world of contemporary slang to learn that apparently it has been replaced by "mic" (plural: "mice"?).
3
Maybe it goes in cycles (megacycles?), hepcat. You've got quite a few years on me, but my father, who always used "mic.", had quite a few years on you.
1
Favorite clue: "You might take this to go" = EXLAX
4
Nice to see a puzzle that didn't rely on sports related clues nor was it skewed as heavily to east coast references as often seems to happen. No rap star clues either.
As a Washingtonian (the west coast Washington and in my mid 70's) I find the puzzles a good way to keep current. I hate to admit it but If I know I don't know something and it is obvious I will find the answer if I google it I just hit the reveal button. I've never cared about sports and I never will.
5
For me, a pleasant puzzle, and wonderfully contemporary!
4
Some ugly old man photobombs every selfie I try. Thus, I skip them unless my granddaughter is sitting on my lap.
16
Same thing happens in my bathroom mirror. A frazzle-haired, old woman shows up every danged morning, and frowns at me. I have no idea where she comes from.
5
I have a little quibble with 98D (Prime Setter). Actually, The Fed manages interest rate levels in the U.S. economy, particularly short-term rates, but the so-called Prime Rate is an administered interest rate set by one or more commercial banks.
2
You may wish to look at the early comments on this subject.
(Overnight)
1
To me this was a Monday-level Sunday puzzle thus being a great puzzle for new Sunday solvers.
I was surprised that after reading the title, "Selfies," I immediately looked at the two letter circles and thought, "Could it be ME?" CHRISTTHEREDEEMER confirmed it so I filled in all the circles and sped off from there.
Being easy did not mean being boring. I enjoyed "visiting" all the different spots that Tracy picked. I also applaud her for identifying such a current phenomenon as an original theme idea.
Taking selfies is definitely not ME. But getting the chance to zip through a pleasant Sunday morning solve most definitely is. Thank you, Tracy! (Don't trip over the people taking selfies in Times Square!)
6
I was thrown by the "ends in a T" clue as I though it was HILT which made for ORALT which of course doesn't work. I was apparently thinking a bit too laterally.
Enjoyed the puzzle. Seemed to be about 30-40% of my normal Sunday time. But it meant I was able to get out of bed and enjoy more of the lovely weather.
1
I started writing a comment that was a little negative last night but abandoned it.
After reading the comments this morning I thought I'd give it another try.
I ASSESS the puzzle to be EASIER for a Sunday like many others. The gimmick for the theme was not particularly strong on the individual entries, mainly because the number of letters is small. We've seen similar gimmicks in the past but for larger number of letters (there was one in the last two months that was four letters, I believe) that led a bunch of us to say "wow, that must have been difficult".
Having said that, I thought the long theme entries on their own were pretty strong. The shorter theme entries were decent. Putting all of them together as part of a whole package, it was actually well-executed. All of the entries are symmetrical.
So, not diabolically difficult, a tad easy, in fact. But provided good fun.
And it has to be said, totes ADORBS.
3
Agree that this was on the "meh" side for a Sunday. I was looking for more bang for my buck in the theme answers than just "places you might take a selfie that have the word 'me' embedded within them".
Went rapidly thanks to the crosses but spent more time than I should have looking for some zing in the theme.
Did find an excellent video of Bei Bei the panda falling out of trees: https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/national/bei-bei-the-panda-is-great...
2
Thanks, Chung.
Isn't she great!
The title of the Sunday puzzles used to be on the 'Crosswords and Games' page, but isn't there any more. And I failed to notice the title at the top of Across Lite so I didn't entirely appreciate this until I finished and came here.
So, NOW I'll say that I thought it was a fine puzzle and a clever theme. I've heard of CAPTCHA and I know what they are - I just wasn't connecting it at the time. Struggled with a couple of other things as well.
Not a fan of selfies either. I could put that much more strongly but others already have. I was given pause at Ms. Gray's comment that she considered "all but one of every MEMORIAL and MONUMENT you can think of." I hadn't thought of it before but I have no doubt that people have indeed taken selfies in front of 'that' memorial. Deep sigh. I actually posted something on Facebook recently that, at least in part, had to do with why that memorial is different than all the others. Mostly talking to myself nowadays, quite appropriately.
5
I must be tired this morning because I am not catching the one of the all but one. What is it?
I assume 9/11. But I could be wrong. Visited war memorials here and abroad. Selfies at all but very few smiling.
Wolfe, I was thinking of something else, but I'm sure you're probably right.
That didn't even occur to me. I'm going to go put a bag over my head for a while.
1
Very quick for me as well...30% of my average Sunday time, and my fastest Sunday ever by about the same amount. It felt like a large Wednesday.
1
Very fast go for a Sunday - perhaps because it involved EX LAX ! I enjoyed the theme- it just went by a bit too fast for me . Great puzzle if you're a newbie to the Sunday, though . More time to to enjoy this lovely day - See ya .
3
There is really nothing more for ME to say except that I agree with the consensus. I couldn't wait for it to be over. And I so look forward to Sunday. CAPTCHA is new to ME and I am glad to have the word for it. I must admit that the clue/answer for EXLAX made ME chuckle. I must still be 6 at heart.
Taking LITTLE MERMAID as a good oMEn -- actress daughter sidelines as children's party entertainer in Reno/Tahoe area and today is her first gig and she will appear as the MErmaid princess.
4
Three cheers for your MERMAID Princess!
All grumping about selfies aside, I hope she sends you pictures.
1
Tough crowd indeed, just saying it was quite a bit easier that most Sundays ( as some did) would suffice IMHO.
I enjoyed it although there were some of topics that always give me trouble, U.S. TV personalities for example. I didn't get the theme until THE LITTLE MERMAID, and, yes it did become quite easy then to fill in all the MEs and zip through the puzzle.
I was relieved to see that I wasn't the only one for whom CAPTCHA was unknown. Deb just seemed to think the clue was tricky. It was interesting to read about it.
Cute idea, Tracy.
5
I agree with you, Suejean, that just saying it was on the easy end of Sunday would have sufficed. I did love Tracy's spirit here and the grid is clean. I wish I could erase my earlier comment, which, as I read now, feels snarky. Tracy, I light up when I see your name above a puzzle, and I did enjoy zipping through this one, and I look forward to your next!
7
Ironically -- I've been logging into the NYT web site almost always with a captcha accompaniment that keeps asking me to identify cars and traffic signs and (frevvins sake) roads in groups of pictures. It is irritating as all out except where I'm learning what traffic signs in other countries look like without having to go there.
1
Never heard of Captcha nor Qboda (no odder than Sbarro or Hagen Daas, i suppose), nor adorbs--which my English teacher wife, a world class Scrabble player would have challenged, she assures me. I assumed they were Crossword oddities after I checked and rechecked my answers, since I left my phone at home, and was working puzzle over sausage and biscuit at Hardees. Overall it was a Monday solve, but I loved it
Quite a gridworthy solve, though you wouldn't find my car in this amusemMEnt park.
It may be selfiesh, but I just couldn't get excited about The ME Generation.
5
I enjoyed the puzzle, and I didn't mind the theme's oh! so ADORBS conceit of "Look at ME, ME, ME, ME, ME, ME, ME, ME, ME on Facebook!" But I did eventually begin notice how RUDELY some of the non-theme content tends to TILT over the line. When I glanced down the rightmost column, glancing fast enough to misread the top entry as one letter shorter, I thought, "Oh, 33D!" (In fact, 33D by itself strikes me RUDELY enough.) "That AIN'T the Gray Lady!" It's enough to make my THROAT want to scream out "MAA!" (OR ELSE if Mom can't help, how about MRS. Cleaver?) "TV MA!"
(Seriously, I'm just joking around, mostly.)
1
Here's my theory. A small group of crossword constructors and editors have designed some puzzles that need certain words for fill. So they get on the internet, edit the urban dictionary, edit some wiki entries, comment on some blogs, and voila: something like ADORBS becomes a "slang word" in no time at all. Reminds me how we got cheese Triscuits into the market!
4
Selfies? Don't care, and don't care to know more. Facebook? Resent the intrusion of this sewage collection service into my Sunday morning. The trend for NYT has been in this direction, what with all the brand names and pop culture pap; I trend in another.
4
I don't do Facebook. I don't do selfies. I know many wonderful people who do both. This is a great big world. Not everyone has to do as I do. I don't mind the Crossword reaching out to people who are unlike myself. It reminds me we are all human.
3
Tough crowd today. I had fun.
6
Well, if my name appeared in the puzzle 237 times, I would have had fun too.
Wow, this is a tough crowd. I found today's puzzle to be clever and fun.
6
Greetings, all!
After reading all the comments to this point, I decided that rather than express my own agreement with what has already been written, I will just press the recco icon on every post with which I concur.
While I eventually understood the intent of the the[m][e]. the implementation and execution totally escaped me. Although the constructive complexity is admirable, there is more to a successful puzzle than that. With so many talented contributors vying for publication, today's puzzle may well turn out to be the best example of what not to do.
4
Everything came quickly but the Northeast, where I had ADORES and IAMES. I knew that was not right. I looked things up and got the right answers. I don't think I would have gotten IAMBS for a long time. Although I did do a head slap when I saw ADORBS.
Nice puzzle!
Just googled CAPTCHA. New to me.
CAPTCHA? What is that?
A device used to prevent automated software or "bots" from acting on a website. An attempt to prevent scalpers from buying huge amounts of tickets and then reselling them at exorbitant prices before regular folks get a chance to purchase the tickets. Also used to verify that it's an individual making a comment on websites rather than a bot. Can range from a simple click in the box to typing specific text from graphics or picking graphics that contain specific types of objects (trees, street signs, etc.).
New to me, too.
This one's top-notch! Challenging--it took nearly an hour--with the kind of clever cluing that makes you smile when you figure it out.
6
Question: Does being a dogless_infidel mean you have to disagree with everyone else or did you really, really, really like today's puzzle?
Remember the first rule of being a social outcast: Do not evangelize. The more infidels there are, the less of an infidel you become.
1
Perhaps an allergy to dog hair is involved?
and Elke
Are 'selfies' considered a 'meme'? Ironic, huh?
6
heehee, R/Elke!
The theme meme?
(lollol)
3
Ummm .. you mean the me meme?
2
Mimi...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=L6a-DGnNqCw
I'd rather think about this as the Al Franken puzzle (Google his SNL "me" bits if you aren't familiar) because I hate selfies and I tend to think bad thoughts about those who constantly indulge in them.
Look outward, angels.
The grid filled too quickly for a Sunday, I feel. There were a few cute clues ("you might take it to go") and a few that made me wonder. For example, I have friends and relatives who might want to challenge that MRS fill for the "half a couple" clue. Why not "half of some couples"?
Is AREOLA the new BRA?
I like these embedded-word gimmicks, but this one gave away too many squares all at once. The solver needed only one (maybe two) ME fills to see the trick, and figure out that all of the rest of the gray squares fill the same way. That takes the fun out of it for me.
4
I'll go with other commenters on this one. It took about 70% as long as my average Sunday time, and it really wasn't crunchy at all. The Facebook references were gratuitous; one could just as easily post one's selfies to Instagram and other social media outlets.
@DebAmlen, I'd like to point out that the byline of the "A Little Variety" puzzles has been incorrect since June 11. Attribution is given to Wei-Hwa Huang (as well as Frank Longo and Patrick Berry), but the third contributor has been Thinh Van Duc Lai for the last four months.
3
Thanks, Craig. It has been reported.
1
My take, this is an
Example of a puzzle that
Has no real spark.
Moreover, Sunday puzzles should offer
Entertaining entries and challenging clues, maybe
Have some kind of wordplay.
Might be better to have more
Exacting standards for the Sunday puzzle,
Henceforth.
The Little Mermaid is a small, unimposing statue and it is out in the water and she is facing away from the shore, as might be expected - she really wouldn't feature well in the obnoxious artform known as the "selfie" (translation: I'm a modern person with an iPhone and no friends who might take my picture). In fact, most of the items featured as selfie locations here would make spectacularly bad selfie locations "in irl." Jus' sayin'.
2
You lost me, David.
I remember my one visit, long ago, to Denmark and to the LITTLE MERMAID statue. I thought it was lovely. No pix. I think we're sorta agreeing on that.
But then you said, "most of the items featured as selfie locations here would make spectacularly bad selfie locations 'in irl.'" I don't understand what that means. What's "in irl"?
1
In real life, perhaps?
3
(yep, not in Ireland!) ("in irl" was my homage to the atm machine and the pin number)
1
The spirit was thrilling, but the fresh was weak.
3
The spirit's worth swilling but thou dost look peaked.
3
I'll start my comment with my favorite entry: 4A, [Bei Bei and Bao Bao] = PANDAS. This is especially happy given this week's announcement that the giant panda is no longer on the endangered list. It is still listed as "vulnerable," but after all these years of efforts on the part of many countries, especially China, this magnificent animal is on the rebound.
Other than that, I found this puzzle a bit disappointing. I got the idea right away, and it's certainly in my wheelhouse/on my wavelength. I live right near TIMES SQUARE, and my daily life is plagued by those taking selfies, as well as those texting, while walking down the street, making me try to dodge in a way that keeps them from smashing into me and knocking me to my knees.
And of course I have wondered why those people would rather take pictures of themselves taking pictures of themselves, rather than taking pictures of the really great stuff they are supposedly visiting.
So, yes, I got the landmark gimmick, and the ME gimmick. But why were the clues for the landmarks buried with that Facebook stuff? Maybe I'd understand it better if I'd ever been to Facebook. But it seems to me it would have worked just as well -- better -- without it.
Sorry if I am being curmudgeonly. I'd just have preferred something cleaner. Or maybe sharper, aiming a zingier zing at those annoying people who make the sidewalks so difficult to maneuver.
11
Hate selfies, too. I remember watching one of those knock-your-socks-off-there-must-be-a-God sunsets over the Pacific. I was gobsmacked, and I grew up by the ocean! During this entire, spectacular show two very young women sat together on the sea wall, heads together, facing away from the sunset while taking endless cell phone photos of themselves. Nature was it giving her all, but to them it was just a pretty backdrop for selfies. GRRR. I want to pinch people like that.
2
I am not a selfie fan, but every so often my wife insists we do one; they never look good. Plus, can it be a selfie with one than one person?
I don't use Facebook at all but many, many people do, including some of my favourite relatives. Maybe The Times is trying to reach the generation that uses Facebook. I love sports so the sports clues are easy for me. The entertainment clues are harder because I don't keep up. Facebook is just another sports or entertainment category.
This was okay, but nothing really sticks out as anything I want to comment on. Maybe I need a little danger and excitement in my Sunday puzzles! This one went too fast (60% of average Sunday time) and lacked danger and excitement. I did like seeing CAPTCHA in there, and PANDAS are always good. I also liked the symmetry of OVENTIMER and ALARMBELL.
1
Disappointing. Not really a themed puzzle, just 9 vacation locations with ME within them and the sad title "selfies" just referencing the MEs. No challenge here. Time for the Times and Will Shorts to get back to where they used to be, the "puzzles of record."
14
Yeah, okay, it was simpler and more straightforward than usual, but I thought it was charming and a real nice puzzle for newer solvers. If they were all head-banging, paw-chewing difficult, people would flee in swarms!
IMHO. ;-)
9
Some very crunchy fill but generally a pleasant and amusing Sunday puzzle.
4
“Prime setter, informally” = THE FED: the Federal Reserve sets the *federal funds* rate. The prime rate is published by the Wall Street Journal in its daily “Money Rates” feature. This is how the WSJ defines the prime rate: “The base rate on corporate loans posted by at least 75% of the nation’s 30 largest banks.” In other words, the prime rate is a consensus of private lending institutions; the Fed has nothing to do with it.
4
Yes, Fact Boy, but what influences the banks to set the prime rate?
The prime rate is the interest rate that commercial banks charge their most credit-worthy customers. Generally, a bank's best customers consist of large corporations. The prime interest rate, or prime lending rate, is largely determined by the federal funds rate, which is the overnight rate that banks use to lend to one another...
Read more: Prime Rate http://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/primerate.asp#ixzz4wBcrRYp8
5
Where's Martin?
Been a while since I've seen him bach.
3
P.S. Who said "informally" must only refer to the use of an informal name in the entry and cannot also refer to the causal relationship between the Fed and the prime rate?
1
Perennial family story: When I was about 4, one of my brothers (about 8 at the time) pitched one of his legendary tantrums in the Pentagon gift shop because Dad would not buy him a baseball bat. This went on and on even as we were back in the car and driving the streets of the city, and finally began to subside in time for him to point over to the JEFFERSON MEMORIAL and ask, "What's that old bald-headed building?" So life went on, and the bat was eventually forgotten. But the story never died.
5
They sell baseball bats in the Pentagon gift shop?
3
There's a gift shop in the Pentagon?
4
Well, I was 4 at the time so I only knew we were somewhere in D.C. at some gift shop that had baseball bats (maybe small ones for kids). And this was 1954, so things may have changed since then. But that's how I remember the story as it was told over the years.
1
Quick Sunday to balance out a very tough Thursday.
Sorry, but this one didn't do it for ME. Perhaps if the ME boxes had *not* been shaded or circled (or whatever they were in your format), it might have seemed a bit more of a Sunday-worthy challenge. It's one thing to get the theme quickly, it's another to get a lot of help from the theme to get the themers. i was expecting rebi or loops or something more with ME that just two marked letters in a straightforward entry with a straightforward clue.
Ah, ME.
11
I think she meant that of all the memorials and monuments she considered, “all but one” didn’t make it into the puzzle. And the one that did...was the Jefferson Memorial. Nothing darker than that.
DJW,
I made no reference to "all but one." If you were replying to "Rich in Atlanta," he didn't say anything about dark intentions. I did take from his comment that the thought of people taking selfies at the Vietnam Memorial makes him ill. It makes me ill too.
1