A little too fast and easy but still it was elegant. The clues/answers flowed gracefully.
I liked this puzzle a lot. Fun, with many words we don't often see. Thanks!
Hi guys. I'm back after a weekend hiatus from Wordplay. Life intruded on my crossworld.
This was my kind of Monday. By that I mean there was a bit more zip than usual (although I agree with Deb that I'd have preferred punny clues), with this tight and enjoyable theme.
Everything else was pretty easy for me, except KATIE Ledecky. I even got GEHRIG right away. Not, mind you, because of its entire clue, but because that clue pointed to baseball and I already had the ending IG. Not too many of those I assume.
Doctor appointment and lots of errands today, and I'm exhausted. Gonna take a lazy evening with my beloved Jessica.
3
You were missed, DL.
Glad to see you back. Get some rest.
(I was holding off on this one, lest I come off more smarty pants than usual...but it's the kind of thing that floats my boats...)
Unkempt is just the English form of the cognate German word for "uncombed" as in hair. In English we use it for any messy situation, primarily but not exclusively in the real world, but originally it just meant literally mussed-up hair.
2
You can be as much of a SMARTYPANTS as you want to, D.C. I love your comments. I only wish I could qualify as a BLUESTOCKING, but I'm not educated enough.
1
OT: since when does "Jeopardy!" go to a tie-breaking question if two players end up with the same winnings? As of 2016, it turns out, but it didn't come up until last Thursday's show.
“If there are two or three players tied for first place after each contestant unveils their Final Jeopardy! response, [host] Alex [Trebek] will present one more category and read the clue. The clue has no dollar value and does not increase the player’s winnings.”
2
Jimbo: Like you, I was quite startled when AT announced that there would be a tie-breaker, having thought we frequently had co-champions.
(I did Saturday and Sunday's puzzles but didn't get to Wordplay, so apologize if this is a carry-over from earlier discussion.)
I liked the co-champions better.
2
Same reaction. I didn't know they'd changed that. And then they gave the champion the first chance to answer and when she got it right it was over. Seems very unfair to me.
And I think co-champions is kind of neat. Bad decision to change it in my opinion.
1
Agree it's a bad decision. Makes them look like cheapskates.
3
Well, I went three and a half days with no electricity and had a tree fall across my driveway. Now I'm sitting in a local library so that I can get on the internet. I can attest to the fact that I'm addicted to the NY Times crossword puzzles and it was a pleasure to zip through today's. I'll catch up with Saturday and Sunday puzzles at another time.
10
Now that's dedication, Meg! I hope you and your loved ones are warm and safe.
3
Fun puzzle, but one nit-pick: human (i.e., non-simian) Capuchins are a branch of the Franciscans and technically friars, not monks. http://youtu.be/xwBiBQztbYA.
3
Do they still run that fish & chips establishment?
3
HA HA HA HA!! GREAT Story! Thanks for the memory!
ACTually, the Society for the Advancement of Amateur Smartpantsing might be interested in the Claim (according to Snopes) that 'Casino tokens collected by Catholic churches in Las Vegas are sent to a monastery for sorting and redeemed by Franciscans known as “chip monks'.
As The King was wont to say: THANKY, THANKY very much.
.
3
My favorite clues from last week:
1. Lee side (8)
2. Where S is ... (9)
3. No mas (3)
4. You're not in it if you're out (6)
5. Stud of the sports world (5)
THE SOUTH
MORSE CODE
PAS
CLOSET
CLEAT
4
I thought 4 was a bit unfair. The correct answer should be "THE CLOSET."
1
A couple of examples of mansplaining here?
My read of your post, sw, is that, although it might not be obvious now, the original common use of bluestocking was pejorative.
And that’s the sense I had, although I don’t have the scholar’s perspective. Just “women’s intuition”?
Misplaced comment above, meant to reply instead to sw, a few posts ago.
1
God, I hate the word "mansplaining." It's very dismissive of half the population.
It implies that as a male, I can't do research on women's topics and get the information that's out there.
Sexism goes both ways.
2
Steve L -
I believe that heretofore I've only (mostly?) seen "mansplaining" used in this blog by men, to apologize for comments that might have seemed patronizing, regardless of the gender of the intended recipient.
Dismissive of half the population: yes, as was written on this blog a month or two ago, referring to "a certain type of feminist" to mean a bitter woman, as I recall. (I may not have the exact quote, this may be only my best paraphrase.)
I further maintain that a Google search or two does not hold a candle to a scholar's knowledge and overview.
And, in common parlance, sexism does not go both ways.
Accepting criticism is more difficult for some of us than others. I'm not great at it, but I will accept that the tone of the word "mansplaining" is pretty negative. I apologize for using it in my original comment.
It makes much more sense to use it when I feel it represents the tone of a real-time, face-to-face, personal conversation, and I always appreciate it when my male partner in conversation accepts the criticism graciously, whether he finds it true or defends it as false.
I very often wish I were skilled in debate, which I'm not. But I do know that we have to keep commenting, reading, writing, listening, if we are to make any headway communicating.
7
Nothing UNKEMPT about this sartorial Monday puzzle from LL. As others have mention, quite a menagerie too, with feathered and FUR-bearing friends throughout. A delight to solve.
One-hit wonders John Fred & His Playboy Band landed at #1 in 1968 with "JUDY In Disguise (With Glasses)," a thinly veiled knockoff of the Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Biu95fyvmLI
2
Thank you again, Lynn Lempel, for yet another perfectly put together Monday level puzzle. You are in a class all your own!
I particularly loved today's menagerie of ROCS, AUK, EMUS, COBRA, YAK, ASS, PIG and CAPUCINS. You managed to create a whole zoo!
6
If I dressed like that I would probably be considered 48A. Not to mention ferklempt.
1
Barefoot boy with cheek of jam?
1
Only the worst kind of turncoat could be BOARD by this delightful puzzle. Although some of the cluing was slightly, erm. garbled*, the theme was absolutely iron-clad.
The well-dressed Ms Lempel can really belt it out, and this spritely Monday is the cherry on the sundae, the coverslip on the slide. If I may coin a new word for her, It's SHEROIC!
*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SBCn64vOiE
That's all,folks!
6
Ah, Leapy, you mix metaphors with the best of 'em!
2
Aw shucks, Dag, I just keep my metaphor mixer on PUREE.
To be frank, I suspect it started with reading SJ Perelman at an early age. I remember coming across his 'travels in the Land of the Surds and Cosines' and never quite got over that.
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/S._J._Perelman
1
"Blue stocking" is offensive; it's an old slur to ridicule and demean learned women, who were denied admission to the universities. All you have to do is look at Thomas Rowlandson's "hilarious" cartoon, "The Breaking up of the Bluestocking Club" from 200 years ago. I doubt Will Shortz would produce a term that disparages on the basis of race; but apparently misogyny is still acceptable.
3
Have a listen to the clip posted by OT quilter, sw
1
I don't need to "have a listen." I'm a scholar of women's writing 1750-1850, and this is a mean, misogynist slur, voiced by many men of letters, including Byron, Keats, Hazlitt, Coleridge.
3
Sw, consider the possibility that words evolve, and what a word might have meant 200 years ago isn't always what it means today.
6
Deb,
Speaking of copy changes, thanks again for making "puzzle links require a subscription" a standard part of the sign-off. It was up just in time for the spate of one-timers who showed up here with Rachel Maddow.
1
Interesting that MSNBC is now using Rachel's tease for her first NYTXWP as the promo for her show.
And she does say "first" NYTXWP. Does that mean more to follow?
1
This puzzle reminds me of a cookbook I once saw, entitled "Easy and Elegant."
Two film references today: Dev PATEL, of course, and also 8D AUK, which reminded me of the Rocket Boys in "October Sky."
4
I was a BERGMAN fan in my younger days, but I also enjoyed the odd irreverent poke, as in this SCTV classic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NESWnzLGcH4
3
Sven Gunderbloom?
Marvelous!
1
Here's some more BERGMAN (by way of SCTV), as Count Floyd, host of "Monster Chiller Horror Theater," mistakes the gloomy "Whispers of the Wolf" for a horror movie. A bit long, but brilliant parody.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMVrMHQk95s
3
Ter-Teen Ter-Teen!
Love it!
1
I too did not see the theme until I came here.
BERGMAN films were oft seen by a young dk in various forms of film clubs. I should watch them again without the benefit of an old Bell & Howell projector and tinny speaker. I wonder if they still make Boones Farm Apple Wine. A film club staple along with Miller High Life and bad popcorn.
Thanks Lynn.
1
Hah, Smiles of a Summer Night! (My first) And The Seventh Seal, which made me ASSiduous in pronouncing 'Max von Sydow'...
1
Wasn't Max wonderful?
2
Marvellous Monday! Elegant and solvable.
Hello Ingmar Bergman, staple of film clubs in UNI!
And only a bit off center in the puzzle: BLUESTOCKING (women) WON!
1
Excellent puzzle and a smooth solve. Lively theme answers, a lot of good bonus material and close to squeaky clean.
I still suspect that it's more difficult to make a good easy puzzle than it is a hard one. Doesn't get much better than this.
5
In agreement regarding the straight forward nature of this puzzle and how it has to be quite difficult to construct such an elegant puzzle with no obscure fills. Great job Lynn! This puzzle is a definitive example of what a Monday puzzle should be.
Could not help but think of one of our colorful previous NYC mayors, the late Ed Koch, when I came to 56A because it was his signature question.
4
So, for Lynn Lempel's 82nd NYT puzzle (over 39 years), she creates yet another grid with spark (UNKEMPT, FRISTS, BRASH, CACHE, CAPUCHIN, PORKYPIG, plus every theme answer), and a vibrant and tight theme (as David Connell illuminates earlier; and it's not easy, IMO, to come up with new theme answers). There's also COBRA / TOYOTA / GAGA/ ANA / YOGA. Lynn's light bulb -- that LL bean -- continues to burn brightly. Thank you for this, Ms. Lempel, and keep 'em coming!
10
lol, LL Bean. That's fantastic, Lewis.
4
Fun puzzle. Nice easygoing Monday.
MOOT reminds me of this Friends scene:
https://youtu.be/8bo54wE_rJU
Just saw Pride of the Yankees (again) on TCM, so Lou GEHRIG was in short term memory.
That's about all, folks.
4
Thanks for sharing that. Joey makes us all feel smarter.
Lynn asks "How AM I doing" @ 56A. Great, I say, with this delightful Monday offering. I didn't get the clothing descriptions of people until STUFFED SHIRT.
Although over too soon, it is nice to just know virtually every answer. I didn't know Katie Ledcky, so just looked her up now, and indeed the clue described her accurately.
Good start to the week.
5
Personal best for Monday, which makes it a personal best for the NYT puzzle, unsurprisingly. Only by a couple seconds, but that makes up for missing my record by two seconds last Tuesday.
I had no idea there was a theme until I came here.
5
Both Deb's column and the guest writer at Rex's place say the theme is "two-word phrases with clothing for the second element" but I think it's a lot tighter than that - the two-word phrases are all describing personality types and they are all mild put-downs, even put-downs with shared characteristics. A very tight set of theme phrases.
17
Politically apt putdowns, no?
1
and Elke
Well, that show with all those EMCEES in their 'fancy pants' is finished, and Christopher Plummer did not win. Was rooting for him ; had seen him first in the 50's at Stratford Festival as Hamlet.
Thought that the CEO and BOARD could be called 'Big Wigs' - . Most would be 'White Collar or Blue Collar' workers. Probably few BLUESTOCKINGs on that BOARD.
Also noticed that the top line is (CO) BRAs leading to BRASH and COY. Actually saw plenty of both at that above referenced show.
The EMUS crossed a word I can't type here.
Nice Monday puzzle , Lynn Lempel.
2
R/Elke.
There are more members of the untypeable species in today's MINI.
1
and Elke
Amitai- after assaying the mini , I can't assail your assertion :))
Too bad Lynn couldn't squeeze in GOODY TWO-SHOES. It would have fit in with the theme and is a phrase used frequently around this household. Not describing me, of course.
8
I thought of goody two shoes as well, Wags.
1
Another hand up for goody two-shoes.
There is a 1980's pop song with that title by the cleverly dubbed 'Adam Ant.' Lyrics are kind of strange in parts so I won't link it here, but I always liked this refrain:
You don't drink, don't smoke. What do you do?
You don't drink, don't smoke. What do you do?
Subtle innuendo follows...
2
The announcer on the Oscars broadcast just teased that ANSEL ELGORT will be appearing soon.
4
What fun. A regular ark of crossword denizens. Or was it an AUK?
5
I was curious about BLUESTOCKING. This is only the third time it's been used; the first two times were in 1956 and 1957, and the clues were pretty negative ("pedantic woman" and "type of egghead"). I'm happier to be a 2018-style BLUESTOCKING!
22
The clueing is the key, right? A woman with literary interests is a positive description. Proud to be a 2018 BLUESTOCKING too!
TIL : the man invited to talk used blue socks! I used to think the women themselves wore blue stockings, as a modern/ less restrictive dress style.
1
I really enjoyed this Monday. I caught on at BLUE STOCKING and had fun looking for clothes. “Something you might come across at a river” made me laugh out loud. Thank you Will Shortz and company.
5
A comforting Monday puzzle for a newbie. No look-ups needed.
8
like to see JUDY Blume in a puzzle. Especially liked "... It's me Margaret." since I am actually Margaret Judith!
4
..."Hello GODS, it's me, Margaret"
EMUS on a two-day streak. . .and both days were COY. A fine Monday with all the "dressings".
5
Fine and fair Monday offering, neither BRASH nor COY. I trust any unknowns could be cross-solved, with nary a Natick nor a Wyeth. This would not have been a good puzzle for a Bugs Bunny appearance; I recall that PORKY PIG often HUNTED him with a GUN. Toons? BERGMAN is more to my TASTE.
(Who was that lady in 52D?)
4
Barry—I'm sure you know that the gun-toting nemesis of Bugs Bunny was Elmer Fudd.
4
I stand corrected, Paulymath, but I did say BERGMAN was more to my TASTE. The puzzle might well have been safe for Bugs, but it would have been dangerous for Daffy Duck.
1
Not sure about "often" but Bugs Bunny's FIRST hunter was, in fact, PORKY PIG (1938).
see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRpGPH50co0 for excerpt
At that time, Bugs was "Happy Rabbit" and more like Woody Woodpecker. But, like many, he evolved. At some point, Elmer came along and HE evolved.
2
Lynn Lempel Monday. What a treat! A lot of the usual crossword denizens - EMUS, AUK, ROCS, YAK, ARIES, ORION, CEO, EMCEES, HOE, ANA etc., yet nothing that would give pause as crossword-gluey. And fun to boot.
Only thing I never heard of was BLUESTOCKING.
4
I must admit I was familiar with the term BLUE STOCKING but hadn't a clue (if you will) to its meaning.
4
The appearance of the word BLUESTOCKING reminds me of Mary Mcarthy's novel "The Group," (published in 1963) about eight Vassar graduates in the 1930s and was a must read for anyone who graduated from a women's college back in the day.
Bluestocking was Meriiam-Webster's Word of the Day on 09/03/2015. have a listen:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bluestocking
4
Worth listening to, Qt
3
"No one had crossed the Atlantic in a plane at that time..."
Deb,
No one had *flown solo* across the Atlantic in a plane at that time..."
5
During 14–15 June 1919, the British aviators Alcock and Brown made the first non-stop transatlantic flight.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transatlantic_flight
1
That's weird. I had "flown solo" in my writing. Must have gotten changed.
1
You can see their Vickers Vimy plane in the Science Museum in London. But you better hurry as I have heard they are going to sell it to pay for Brexit.
7
Tough for a Monday, but fun!
2