Fun Tuesday!! Unfortunately, I filled 30A with SID on my first pass-through, made mental note that it might be a Y, promptly forgot mental note. Such an easy fix, but still took me 2 full minutes to find it at the end. ARRGGGHHHH!!
My reluctance to switch to pencil in the quest to beat my best time has foiled me once again. :D
Thanks for the puzzle, Mr. Kahn! :)
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38A: Fraudulent or probably fake da Vinci that sold for an insanely ridiculous amount by an unknown idiot Saudi prince does not fit here. Or anywhere, IMO.
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COT (completely off topic). Just home from the last wine tasting of the year and to my complete surprise was treated to a 2 week belated birthday "party" complete with cake, (home baked by one of the members), flowers, and singing. What a nice group.
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What a lovely surprise, suejean.
A nice group indeed.
How great, suejean. A continuing feast.
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That's wonderful, suejean. Obviously, your wine-tasting group find you as delightful as we do here at Wordplay.
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Glad I'm not alone in having failed to remember the painting's title, despite all the publicity the sale garnered. (I would, however, have recognized the work itself anywhere.)
Very smooth solve otherwise; I did at least remember the artist, which was a big help.
I'm with the group that found the clue for MEAN IT off base.
The neighborhood is calm today, with only a few extra news vans hinting at yesterday. We always have kind of a lot of news vans and emergency vehicles around here anyway.
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There’s a 53 year anniversary coming up in a few months. That’s how much time has elapsed since 1010 WINS elected to go all news thus sentencing the art of music to life without parole. Then and now, I ASK myself, how could they? An intro to the CBS affiliate’s station i d, familiar to most newshounds in the N. Y. C. listening vicinity, has been used by 1010 WINS since that fateful Spring day. Our puzzle prompts me to paraphrase the ubiquitous radio ga ga; you give us $450,000,000 dollars, we’ll give you the world. I will post a link to an example of the sound bite right quick, as a reply.
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Here's the well worn, time-tested and case hardened ear worm as promised,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRkY8MeCxIY
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I left NY in 1956 but you just gave me this earworm:
"Listen to Lacey,the guy with a style
Of spinnin' a disc with finesse
Just tune your dial
to ten-ten a while
for double-u eye en ess.
You can listen (da da da da) every day,
When Jack Lacey comes your way!"
and 61 years melt away.
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Found it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA5HTrTrz0s
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I liked how CHRISTIE and O HENRY crossed. The clue for 2d would have worked equally well for 14a, (though it would not have been theme-related.) I appreciated the perfect symmetry of the themed clues. Unfortunately I was convinced that it had to be hEE-haw, and ODAh sounded like a good jazz name (zip-a-dee-doo-dah), so I had to Google my way out of this puzzle in order to trigger the cheesy music. No gold star for me tODAY!
For maximum effect, the two long answers should have crossed at the first O in LEONARDO.
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Shouldn't that be SALVATOUR MUNDI? :)
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Maybe a little further north up the I-75.
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Hey guys, does anybody have $450,000,000 I can borrow? (I knew I shouldn't have bid that much...)
Impressed at how quickly this puzzle was constructed and published. Thanks to the news stories, the artist was a gimme, but I needed a few crosses to summon up the title. Easy (or should I say not UNEASY?) solve overall, but it is only Tuesday.
Recently on Facebook, I posted my list of "Top 15 Covers of Bob Dylan Songs" (I'm all about making lists). Classic rockers The band (who occasionally worked with Dylan) made the list with "When I paint My Masterpiece":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq2e7DPhyHg
P.S. Jimi Hendrix cover of "All Along the Watchtower" was #1, of course.
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Would you take that in bit coin Jimbo, I’m a little short on currency, what with the holidays and all!
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How did Manfred Mann's "The Mighty Quinn" do?
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I ranked it at #3, Jeff. Here's the list, which actually numbered 16, because I couldn't bear to leave off Capt. Kirk.
1) All Along the Watchtower--Jimi Hendrix
2) Absolutely Sweet Marie--Jason & the Scorchers
3) The Might Quinn--Manfred Mann
4) It's All Over Now, Baby Blue--Bonnie Raitt
5) Knockin' On Heaven's Door--Eric Clapton
6) You Ain't Goin' Nowhere--Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (W/Roger McGuinn & Chris Hillman)
7) If Not For You--George Harrison
8) A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall--Edie Brickell & New Bohemians
9) Si Tu Dois Partir (If You Gotta Go, Go Now)--Fairport Convention
10) I Shall Be Released--Tom Robinson Band
11) Forever Young--Pretenders
12) Blowin' in the Wind--Peter, Paul & Mary
13) Maggie's Farm--U2
14) My Back Pages--Byrds
15) When I Paint My Masterpiece--The Band
16) Mr. Tambourine Man--William Shatner
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Question pertaining to crosswords in general, not this one: I have a vague memory from years and years ago of Rex Parker posting a filled-in 15x15 puzzle with no black squares. The entries were all real words or phrases, but they were absurd and nonsensical. But still, the feat was impressive. Does anyone remember this? Does anyone have a link to it?
Also, does anyone know if anyone is trying to make a puzzle with no black squares? With crossword making software getting better, and word lists getting bigger, I feel like it's bound to happen at some point...
We've had a few Minis like that, Seth. 5x5.
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This link to xwordinfo.com shows the published NYT puzzles with the fewest (and the most) black squares:
https://www.xwordinfo.com/Density
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DC, thanks for that - I love how Joe Krozel's name is all over the top of both list. It's almost karmic like he feels the obligation to balance out his contribution in either direction.
I got stuck in the nw corner forever. Could not for the life of me figure 4D.
But I liked that there is both ANTI and ANTE, and DTS and DST in one grid.
Happy to learn more about AMOS Oz--chagrined that I was unfamiliar with him. Anyone read "Judas"?
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Smooth solve as my freshman Art History class comes to the rescue... sorta. AH101 is right there with Latin 1 & 2 and the smattering of Navajo picked up on the job as schooling that has saved my bacon more than once. Watch this box for boring accounts of same.
Kudos for the puz publish speed record.
Perhaps baking anatomically correct Christmas cookies this weekend. A tradition started by my sister after baking some many years ago and seeing and hearing my mother's reaction followed by my father laughing so hard that some of his Martini dribbled out of his nose.
Last day of work for the week: Insert big smile about here.
Nice work David.
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David Kahn, you deserve the gold medal for this puzzle. I MEAN IT. Between the art and all the flying clues, this was a rewarding Tuesday.
I got hung up on YEE Haw, having entered HEE. I thought ODAH was a somewhat odd name, but names often are kind of odd, aren't they? Finally figured it, though.
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I had exactly the same problem. Checked the grid three times word by word and was starting to think there was a glitch as I was not hearing that beloved music. I couldn't imagine any other possible answer but HEE-haw. I finally had to resort to Google. Talk about a 0 DAY!
Awesome puzzle - loved the two long crossing words and the 4 supporting clues in each quadrant (and an extra 60D) with such a timely theme - and a Hanukkah (kind of) and Star Wars (cute!) reference as well!. I thought it was a true masterpiece!
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The crossword is usually a nice little escape for me, but, alas, this morning's reminded me of my inadequate $450.295 million bid for the subject of this puzzle. Sorry if I ruined anyone's morning with this sad tale of my misfortune!
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True confessions! I thought I nailed EROTIC for 3D and paid the price. Well HEE for 29D was also not welcome. The theme was beautifully symmetric and again kudos to the constructor. Still reeling from the asking price.
Long, long time ago while in college I was perplexed then why there were exorbitant valuations of art (then $0.5M). Picasso was then the rage. My friend quipped it is in the eyes of the beholder. So there you have it. It is the painting or a severely upgraded A-380 Airbus. Take your pick.
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"It is the painting or a severely upgraded A-380 Airbus. Take your pick."
What's behind door number three?
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Note to self: (and I MEAN IT) commit the scrabbly name of the hussy from Greek Mythology to memory...As TITLED, both of these clips, in a word association exam, speak to 7d as an ARDENT, respectful and informed response.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6roXHcuKUQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q07Zp7tQBRQ
Mazel Tov,
Bru
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Must have missed that news....but of course I solved it. OREADs were new to me. Not up to date on my nymphs, I guess. Baked fresh rolls for the quilting potluck and Dirty Santa today......fun! Hadn't seen David J. Kahn for a while, it seems to me. More,please!
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OREADs are black nymphs with white creme in the middle.
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I thought that OREADs were cookie commercials.
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It's hard to imagine a lineup of paintings where that one would be picked out as the one with the highest value or worth or price. But people are weird.
Here's a much more beautiful Salvator Mundi:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn52A6wK1es
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But of course the 'big story' has nothing to do with its intrinsic value as a work of art. It's just about the the doings of the extremely wealthy, with which we remain fascinated.
That selling price, by the way, is equal to the combined annual income of about 30,000 people making minimum wage. All quite appropriate given other current events.
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An abiding memory from "To Kill a Mockingbird" is Scout sayin' that Atticus described someone as being pretty as a picture, but he never said what kind of picture.
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I'm afraid I wouldn't have bothered restoring this particular painting. My slogan: If it ain't baroque, don't fix it.
Anyway, I had managed to miss this piece of news, so I got off to a very slow start, but it all came together eventually. Like others, I really liked the Amelia / Han crossing. Impressive to be able to put something like this together and get it published so quickly.
And, as best I can tell, they managed to do it without any errors in the clues. Unlike the editor's 'correction' at the bottom of the column, regarding the ATLANTA clue from Sunday's puzzle. While correcting I-65 to I-75 they managed to mess up another interstate number. Will has to be doing this on purpose. We are not amused.
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"While correcting I-65 to I-75 they managed to mess up another interstate number. Will has to be doing this on purpose. We are not amused."
Several people look at the puzzles and clues (and actual errors like this are rare), but nobody copy edits the column. An error in a *draft* of a correction is quite common in my editorial experience, and here there was nobody to catch it. When it shows up in print (I'm guessing the Sunday paper to reach folks who don't take seven days) it will say I-20.
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"If it ain't baroque, don't fix it". Love it, Rich (and totally agree.
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NOW THEN is in no way an oxymoron, even giving the usual and popular mistake in the meaning of the word.
@caitlin -- Stellar writeup, with humor and right-on observations.
The puzzle put up some delightful resistance here and there, which is rare and wonderful for a Tuesday, due to gaps in my knowledge and some tricky cluing (I loved the misdirect clues for DST and ANTI). It was polished and unusually current.
I learned some basic facts about the puzzle's subject (including its name!), but was intrigued enough to read about it in Wikipedia. OMG, what a fascinating history this painting has! Just for starters it was originally valued at 30 pounds, and in its travels it was given to a mason to satisfy a debt, as well as to a king's mistress. Also, the subject of the painting's authenticity (and there are doubters) makes for captivating reading.
Thank you, David, for starting my day with a lovely puzzle, and for opening my eyes to a most interesting little slice of life.
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Too easy for Tuesday. The fill is appropriate, but the sale of the work of ART in question was such big news in the PRESS so recently that its title, the name of the OLD MSTER who painted it and the auction house at which it was sold were all gimmes. The royal erstwhile owner was a surprise to me but crept out of he crosses easily
I was amused by the pairing of HAN Solo with AMELIA Earhart and pleased to see AMOS Oz, RENE Magritte and BESSIE Smith. Surprisingly, the presence of proper nouns in a puzzle does not irritate me, provided that they are names that I know. ;-)
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Amen to your last sentence, Amital. It was joy to see so many names from my era: AMELIA Earhart, Anita O'DAY, LANA Turner, and BESSIE Smith. Actually, BESSIE was a little before my time, but what a great singer she was.
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This must have been much more difficult to construct than to solve, so I appreciate David's efforts. It certainly helps to get a certain 15 letter down fill early on. I couldn't recall the name of the painting without a few crosses though.
It was a joy to solve, loved all the theme answers. I also liked the 2 Solo/solo flier clues. I was not fooled by the Pot thickener; I wonder how often Pot does refer to the gambling term as opposed to other interpretations, more often than not I think.
All in all a perfect Tuesday, thanks David.
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Nice puzzle, but I have a quibble with 32D. I think the answer given to the clue, if taken literally, is the diametrical opposite of what the expression really means. The only meaning I've ever seen attached to the phrase "with a straight face" is when someone is telling the most outrageous lie while revealing no facial clue that it is, indeed, a lie. It's a talent that is a scoundrel's stock in trade, if I may wax archaic.
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Is there a term 'wax contemporaneous'....if not, there should be, as the talent you (we) refer to is being finely honed as never before...
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What about telling a joke "dead-panning"?--that's with a straight face! I disagree that the clue is wrong. There are multiple possibilities for speaking without an animated expression, don't you think?
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Yes, telling a joke "deadpan" is with a straight face, but I think that only illustrates paulymath's point further. You use a straight face in contrast to your actual meaning (a joke). You can only use a "straight" face if there's crooked/twisted intent behind it. Otherwise it's just your face.
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and Elke
Wow- this was a big news story on Nov.15. 2017 ,and we get this neat puzzle today ?! Seems that David K is an OLD MASTER at this.
The $450.3 million prize sure provides a GOLDEN SHINE on ART prizes. Noted that a picture of Christ is sold by CHRISTIE's , and bought by a Moslem.
Nit- a Nov.3 NYT article says that the painting was at one time owned by Queen Henrietta Maria- wife of CHARLES I- -- I suppose one could consider them as one in the biblical (ADAM) sense. Is this X RATED?
The seller, a Russian oligarch, made a good investment-he paid $127.5 million for it in 2013. If you have time for a NOVELLA(S) of some of the rich :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dmitry_Rybolovlev
It includes a DJT real estate transaction with this Russian....
Not to HARP ON it , but Mazel TOV to GAL Gadot for gracing the puzzle , she needs no RESTORING.
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Splendid all around: the up-to-the-minute theme, the symmetrical positioning of theme items, the crisp fill and clever cluing, Caitlin's delightful column . . . loved it all.
And TIL there's such a thing as an OREAD. Who knew!
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Maybe because of the recent publicity surrounding the theme entries, this seemed to be more of a Monday puzzle than a Tuesday....
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Well, I enjoyed an art-themed puzzle, even if the painting isn't one that I especially like. I couldn't quite remember the actual title of it, and CHRISTUS MUNDI fit, so I tried that first. And I didn't know 14A, but got 2D and 3D immediately, which gave me a word starting with _HR, so it had to be CHRISTIE.
I liked the two clues for solo flyers! My first thought for 10D was CONSERVING, but that didn't fit. Jesus _is_ considered an important prophet in Islam, but I was more surprised at the idea of a Saudi prince buying a painting of a human figure. (I haven't really paid any attention to the new Abu Dhabi Louvre and don't know what kinds of art it features). Anyway, yay for art!
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went very smoothly. Liked the clue for SOX (Red and White) -- Winners in '04 and '05 to the anguish of our Yankees who did win again in '09!
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