Lover 'green protector', very clever puzzle
I subscribed to the crossword puzzles about 3 months ago. I have not been able to sign in once since. It tells me I need to subscribe.. basically I just play the daily puzzle and forget the rest. But I paid the whole year subscription. It would be really nice to be able to use my subscription since I paid to use it.
Thanks.
Josephina colon
[email protected]
65022;2310
I would like to see someone reads my comment and sends me a short reply that explains what is happening.
I paid with my Amex.....
Finished August 2. Checked it. Had friends check it. Finally "cheated" by finding results on line. After a nearly 50 day run, you fail me.
I started doing the crossword this past March, after years of thinking I could never solve one. Deb’s series of articles about how to solve crosswords is what got me my start. I was so proud of that first (Monday!) crossword I finished.
Over time I have gotten better and smarter about reading into the clues for multiple meanings (today’s TOUPEE clue is an example). I started to feel comfortable with the Mon-Weds puzzles. I wouldn’t even bother with the late-week puzzles, though. After opening them and reading all the clues to only come up with a couple of words, I was too discouraged to press on.
I finally realized that... well, that’s how most people start a tough crossword puzzle! No one looks at the clue list and thinks, “Psh, I know all these!” Even if you start out with just a couple of words filled, trust me, you can do it. It is incredibly satisfying to see how you can go from an intimidating blank grid to a solved one if you just keep at it. The sense of pride and accomplishment you will feel is like nothing else. Like, “Wow, I was able to pull all of THAT out of MY little brain?” Deb’s post today gives some excellent advice and encouragement. Listen to her!
1
Change to Ann. Alabama
Deb, thanks for the great insight, strategy and motivational tips for solving. I can attest that these strategies really work. And the AHA solving moments when you come back to the puzzle are priceless!
1
Deb say: "6A: Clue of the Day, if you ask my opinion. “Character raised in ‘Rosemary’s Baby’” is not the devil’s spawn. It’s a written character that is raised above the others, and that would be the APOSTROPHE. I really admire this clue."
This gave me the best laugh I've had in ages.
I stayed with the answer I got because I saw this entry on The Free Dictionary: apostrophe - a variety of personification in which the dead, absent, or inanimate are addressed as if present. Color me scarlet.
Wow, this one was absolutely diabolical! Quite the mental workout. Some very creative cluing. Thank you for the words of encouragement, Deb!
3
Again I’m late to the party so I won’t reiterate what others have said too much. On the subject of BURGERs on a BBQ; i recognise that people from states with a big BBQ culture (Texas, Kansas, the Carolinas and the like) may balk at the idea of a bbq being anything other than their meat of choice cooked low and slow while mopping with sauce to make a superb meal, but for the vast majority of the world, bbq is just a term for grilling outside in general - and burgers are definitely part of that.
Regarding taking a break; I ended up with a couple clues in the north segments just failing to make themselves apparent to me. So I went to the pub with some friends, sank a considerable number of beers, and now that Im home and sat in the smallest room of the house before going to bed, I found them rather easy. Strange, that!
3
It’s funny how a few more clues will come to you after a couple of drinks!
This was a puzzle i could appreciate. The clues were brutal, but they were almost all plays on words.
One name. Not much that was obscure or required knowledge of movie stars or specific cultural niches.
This puzzle would make an excellent model of what i am looking for. Based on some comments here at times, i dont think i am alone.
As a former English teacher, my mantra was “It’s not what you know but where & how to look it up.” Thanks Deb for validating this approach.
Enjoyed this Friday’s puzzle! Ann
6
With "DELUXEPIZZA" as the center down entry, I was really hoping for some cleverly clued toppings entries...
3
If I were to see two of these dinosaurs together, would I SAY I saw two STEGOSAURUSes or two STEGOSAURi?
3
@ColoradoZ
Don't waste your time thinking about that, just start hurling disci at it!
11
*at them
1
ColoradoZ,
If you reported seeing even one of them, I would say you need more BURGER and less BEER.
5
A harder Friday than of late. The long clues were suitably challenging, but there were far too many three letter words/phrases clumped together and used for glue which didn’t sit well with me. I felt that I was playing a bad scrabble player. Got there in the end though.
1
My way to enjoy doing these puzzles:
-go through every across and down once
-go back and try working off the answers I was able to fill in
-read this column and fill in any additional answers
-turn on autocheck and finish! YAY!!!!
6
Well that was crafty.
Lots of uncertain answers with diminutive supports, (AMBUSH / ATA) for starters, and handfuls of oddly similar answers placed disconcertingly close to one another, (MEZZANINE / BUZZARDS; ARBITERS / ARBORS) for example.
When ASILEWAY and AIRDRIED fell into place after SELENAGOMEZ, I was doing well, but the SW corner had me stuck until ITUNES opened for a BURGER and a BEER.
With everything done I didn’t have a complete puzzle, and various spellings were tested before I noticed OTC dangling off of ARBITORS.
Fun crunchy puzzle, thanks!
3
In the spirit of 'it's your puzzle...', I made my own rules. First of course try to solve without looking anything up. Then if stuck (must be Thursday) pick a clue I know nothing about, like musicals, and google the general topic and try to figure out the answer. Still stuck, google the topic more specifically. Last resort (must be Saturday), look up an answer likely to give a breakthrough cross.
4
@David
Exellent !Can we call them Davids rules?
1
@David - Very sensible rules- they mirror mine! (And I know how often I get pulled into a topic with each layer of info uncovered.). I’d add one more rule - go to Deb’s column for that one last push over the finish line. Thank you, Deb. Having a great time and glad you’re here!
@Deb,
When I first joined last year, you had a column where you said if you do not know the answer, “Look it up. This isn’t the SATs.” I may be paraphrasing, but your comment made me laugh and took all the pressure off! I have learned so much looking it up...and sometimes I am so busy reading about interesting subjects that I do not get back to the crossword for an hour or more. I want to thank you for making this such a joy. I am on Day 245 of my streak, largely due to your and Caitlin’s insights and good humor. I missed you when you were away on your vacation, but so glad you had an interesting trip. You make the NT Times Crossword a very special experience.
Best wishes for a great weekend!
33
Thank you @Kate, and thanks for reading! You have a good weekend too.
6
@Kate congratulations on your streak! I wonder how many of us have been helped by Deb's column and her encouragements! I know she's been a wonder for sanity when I was going through a bad phase and finishing the crossword was a big part of my well-being
7
Wow!! 245!!! You go, Kate!
1
Nice Friday puzzle after yesterday's toughie. Having Sundried instead of AIRDRIED held me up at the end, but other than that it was fairly smooth for a Friday.
Easiest Friday solutions in a long time, but some really weird clueing made it a test. For example, BURGER came to mind quickly from a couple of crosses in the SW, but I ruled it out immediately because... BBQ? No way. Cost me 20 minutes, at least.
Never heard of MURSE. Still don't get ATA as a "one-time connection". And a resourceful thief certainly wouldn't need a car to pull a HEIST, as others here have pointed out.
No matter, as I've beaten my average time every day this week, so bring on Saturday!
1
@Grandpa Brian
One "at-a" time, but don't feel bad, it was the last clue I solved. Agree with you about the BURGER. I kept trying to get "brisket" or "ribs" to fit. "Cookout" would have been a fairer clue.
@Grandpa Brian
Funny thing, exhibit of MURSES in yesterday's Styles section of the paper. I sincerely doubt if I would have figured out that clue otherwise.
1
I take issue with AISLEWAY - ridiculous. APOSTROPHE was the only word that worked, but I must admit I thought it might be one of Satan's many aliases! Good puzzle.
1
@Tamara - Having just flown a bunch, I realized this works if one thinks about what the flight attendants must clear before take-off.
1
Tamara,
If your "issue" is that the answer is AISLEWAY, not just aisle, I hope you'll find and read David Connell's comment earlier today on that subject.
1
@Tamara
Same here on APOSTROPHE; it's just similar enough to MEPHISTOPHELES to be plausible.
I've really got to stop reading these clues so literally.
Gary Gnu always pronounced the "G".......
I normally solve on my phone while commuting (by subway), but I had some time to kill today, and no plans to ride the subway again, so I finished on my laptop, and thus heard the "happy music" for the first time ever!
4
Sarah (or anyone else),
Stone age question: Do you not hear the "happy music" because it's too noisy (or your phone is muted) in the subway, or do phone puzzle apps not have sound?
@Barry Ancona and Sarah T.
iPhones do play the same happy tune as the laptops. Sarah, I would suggest that you check the settings on your iPhone app and make sure that "Play Music When Solved" is turned on.
1
It’s because my phone is almost always muted. No one wants to hear anyone else’s phone making noise on a crowded subway.
4
I would have enjoyed APOSTROPHE a lot more if I hadn't read the whole plot of Rosemary's Baby on Wikipedia looking for a name that would fit before getting it. BURr what a story. Never saw the movie, never will.
3
@Margaret
I read the book in the late '60s. (My mother was not too happy about that...). I never saw the movie, but I too racked my brain trying to think of the name.
1
Proud of myself for the clues that I got on my own today. It really shows how much better I'm getting at solving the hard days. I got many of the hard ones without peeking! (apostrophe, aisleway, pistil, air dried, estate law). Wow! Thanks for the words of encouragement.
10
Finished it — only my second Friday, I think (and only one google assist). Thanks for the encouragement! And I got rosemary’s baby at the very end — a great club, I agree.
8
6D: While I had no problem getting the answer from the clue, I trust at least those of us who live, work or travel in urban areas are aware that a HEIST certainly does *not* require a car.
5
@BarryA, I understand what you're saying, but you'll have to admit that, in those cases, you'd need some pretty comfortable "getaway shoes'.
2
Or severe IT savvy for bitcoins and money in tax havens
1
@Barry Ancona
Doesnt heist imply something of fairly large scale, like robbing a bank, as opposed to mugging someone?
If yes, then a car certainly is suggested, if not required. Even could be a subway car.
You need to put some serious distance between you and your target, and if you snagged a bale of cash or a load of jewels, youll have a lot to carry.
Point of southern fact (i.e. - experts): Burgers are NOT BBQ.
12
Jason,
We know, but this is The *New York* Times crossword.
5
@Jason I’m more partial to a good rack of ribs myself.
3
The somber clueing from this past week suggests that DOROTHY and TOTO may have stumbled into some Trouble—spelled with a capital T.
I SAY, let’s connect the dots from the week’s INTEL? The Land of Oz has been IMBUEd with the toxic smell of GASoline this entire week. On Monday, Mr. Tin Man confirmed a GAS LEAK. His condition remains stable, but he is attracted to petroleum products by nature. Mr. Scarecrow also managed to avoid a MISHAP by staying put on the farm and well away from the BLAST ZONES. After more news of extended property damage and RUIN on Tuesday, Mr. Lion is of course MIA and nowhere to be found.
Remember the EERIE SKULL and cross bones from Wednesday? Even more unsettling was the midweek discovery of XII large barrels of acetylENE in Munchkin Land. If overly OXYGENIZEd, the acetylENE could become highly unstable and unleash another MIGHTY blast.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1LwYJ8pDhc
Through a wicked reversal of fortune, DOROTHY and TOTO may END UP being perpetually TRAPped in Oz, struggling like HOBOs, ETC. Let’s hope the Good Witch intervenes and serves up some slightly more upbeat grids next week!
Have a great weekend everyone!
6
@Renard
Or then there's this alternate scenario:
http://daniellepaigebooks.com/books/dorothy-must-die/
Video trailer for the original book:
https://youtu.be/RbKJoaSWAFc
2
A few classic cryptic crossword clues today. I loved it.
4
Enjoyed this, and found it a faster solve than usual for a Friday. I’ve always followed Deb’s advice and over the past couple of years that advice has made me an every-day-of-the-week solver. I’m retired and have time to dip into a Wikipedia articles along the way when needed. The Music Man was my first fill also and it gave me a good foothold. The northwest corner stumped me the longest, but I got “moi” very early on (it just came to me—lots of Muppets in my past I guess) and when I thought of “toupees” it finally came together. I could have sworn that “bur” (prickly husk) was spelled with two r’s, but I was wrong!
3
My solving of Friday and Saturday puzzles generally follows the lines of Deb's advice.
1. Start the night before. Fill in the easier (about 10%) puzzle entries before falling asleep.
2. When insomnia hits around 3 am, continue the puzzle and watch several quadrants magically fill in before your eyes.
3. When things bog down, take a stab at Letter Boxed.
4. Go back to sleep.
5. Next morning, check the unfinished problem areas of the puzzle, (today that was the NW corner), and Presto! somewhere from the deep recesses of the brain solutions come forward.
6. When the "Almost there" notice comes up, go over the puzzle with a fine-tooth comb.
7. Tada! (or not...)
Thanks Deb, for being much more articulate about the process!
7
Varied and challenging clues. My favourites were for TOUPEE, APOSTROPHE, ESTATE LAW and SIS.
Delightfull cluster of ZZZZ like an unexpected chunk of chocolate in your icecream.
TIL that All Cappone used to brag that "“They can’t collect legal taxes from illegal money.”
Main misdirections (or did I get lost all by myself? ) Pterossaurus for STEGOSSAURUS ( started drafting a letter in my mind about lizards and dinos) and antichrist for APOSTROPHE.
THE MUSIC MAN: The series "Crazy ex girlfriend" has been described as delightfully weird, confident, compassionate, honest and hilarious. Its also musical; below "Cold water is a gateway to crack" an update of "You got trouble" (from Debbie's link ):
https://youtu.be/tdx6ai-Ha1m
3
@Laura
if the link
https://youtu.be/tDx6ai-HA1M
does not work just search in youtube
"cold showers are a gateway to crack featuring Rachel Bloom" :)
I got the puzzle solved last night at midnight except for ONE CLUE: The consonant beginning of the word for the cross of biceps and wonderful time. So I stopped 30 minutes in and this morning after a full night's sleep and mentally putting every consonant in the alphabet in that one open square figured out the letter needed was "G". Gee...
@Joan
I had BUNS for the longest time. Anatomy was never my strong suit.
1
@Andrew
ACKtually, you're using the Biceps primarily when the palm of your hand is facing up, the way it is when doing biceps curls. When the palm is facing to the side, as it is when firing a GUN (or at least a PISTIL), then the main elbow flexor is the Brachioradialis, not the Biceps. AFAIK, that's the only muscle innervated by the radial nerve that's a flexor instead of an extensor.
@Leapfinger
Thanks for the valuable lesson. (No problem, I'm sure!) Never having fired a GUN nor a PISTIL, (although I do have remarkable STAMENA), I'll take your word for things. I do make inordinate use of various flexors, tendons, muscles, in the arm, hand and fingers when performing on piano, so I should be better versed on this than I am.
I suppose this whole subject could have been avoided by my correctly stating that *anatomical slang* was never my strong suit...
I find that the difficulty in solving a puzzle seems to depend on what side of the bed my mind got up on that day. There are days like today where I find myself sensing the vibe of the cluer and breezing through while at the same time thinking, where did that come from? ( PISTIL was my first guess for 7A, for instance.) Then I'll have days like Wednesday and Thursday of this week that I'm, well, clueless.
2
I had serious fun with this puzzle: one writeover at 16A (sunDRIED/AIRDRIED). And many thanks for your fine article today, Deb, building our skills and our community at the same time, reminding us that we do this for fun, for those moments when all at once the answer finally smiles back at us.
3
Deb, you are absolutely right about taking a break. I did much of the puzzle (with a few lookups online) last night. Then when i woke up this morning, the rest of it came much easier. I found it helps sometimes to clear out a word or a letter that is 'iffy' (I am using the online version), to see if that helps clarify some of the words in the other direction.
8
@Laurie A. Brains are miraculous, aren't they?
4
The clue that really tripped me up was 2D. I got stuck on trying to fit "Do I?" or "Am I?" in those 3 squares; a little indication that it was in french, or a Miss Piggy reference would have been greatly appreciated. But then it wouldn't have been a Friday puzzle would it?
1
@Rob H
I had exactly the same issue. with 2D. Finally I remembered a scene from my favourite TV series, Fawlty Towers. "Pretentious, MOI?"
2
If Wordplay is looking for a State dinosaur, I would nominate the ROGETSTHESAURUS.
19
@Rich in Atlanta
Ha! There had to be one out there!
@Rich in Atlanta
That is really funny
I'm curious: How does a WATER HAZARD protect the green? I always thought they were there to trip up golfers, not protect the grass.
@pj
If you think of golf as a battle between the golfer and the hole-on-the-green (kind of like the game of capture the flag), the sand traps and water hazards serve as battlements to protect the green from the golfer getting there. It's in the analogical sense. . .
6
@Robert Michael Panoff Fascinating and a little sad. I certainly had *not* thought of golf as one of the war-like sports.
@pj
Hit a few WATER HAZARDS and violence won't be far behind!
2
@Deb I read your explanation for 1D and was surprised I hadn't made that connection even after solving the puzzle! I had what I thought was an equally valid take on that clue: American Trans Air (ATA), the defunct airline, could also be considered a "one-time connection". In fact, I was so stuck on that interpretation of the clue that I had TWA in as a place filler for a long time which really exaggerated the time it took me to solve today.
3
Man oh man! This FriPuzz had a plethora of outstanding clues, a very table grabbag of cruciverbal delight leading to TOUPEES, AIRDRIED, ESTATE LAW, APOSTROPHE and SIS, among those topping the list. OTOH, I thought the interlocking chains of 3s (GAS/WAS-VEE and TAX/SIP-SIS) were summat lightweight for a Friday. Though well done, they assuaged pain, which isn't what your typical Friday masoSCHIST is looking for. Never mind, as the balance was still way over on the positive side for this PISTIL-packing Mamaw.
Thought the ZZs top of the line, though if you think the MEZZANINE is good, you should try and see what you think of the MEZZATEN. Same goes for ARBITER, which fans of Ms. Lauder feel doesn't hold candles to ESTEE BITER.
Also really liked the General AMBUSH at 1A, my only regret being it didn't appear at 41A, where the clue could've been:
"My name is George Herbert Walker and I..."
Not being primarily a zymurgist, I'm more than happy to have my BURGER with a nice Riesling
8
How can you have a state dinosaur when there weren't states when there were dinosaurs, and there aren't dinosaurs now when there are states?
3
@Steve L, I guess I'll have to assume there were no states (at least, no US of A States) when there were dinosaurs. However, now that we have 'the States', I think most people agree there are still dinosaurs. It's just that that is what they are -- very very still dinosaurs.
At some point, you'll have to admit this whole kinetic vs static distinction can be highly over-rated.
Colorado has "an official state dinosaur"??!! Who knew? I'm feeling deprived. Are there any SAURUSes left for NY? Bill de B -- Please stop your ridiculous campaign for president and get us our own dinosaur.
Some great clues in this puzzle. APOSTROPHE (36A) could be Clue of the Year. Also wonderful are WATER HAZARD (20D) and DOROTHY (55A). Re DOROTHY -- I was thinking of "Around the World in 80 Days" rather than "Wizard of Oz".
I've heard the term "Everything Pizza", not DELUXE PIZZA -- but it makes perfect sense.
"Clear the AISLEWAY!!" said no one ever. It's "Clear the aisles!!" I filled in AISLE and then wondered what in heaven's name would come next?
Take out SELENA GOMEZ crossing MIA and I would have loved this puzzle to death.
2
Nice one, @Steve L.!
2
@Steve L
It's a Kakistosaurus!
This puzzle seemed easy for Friday, especially the east half. More like Wednesday puzzle back before they routinely had themes. I did get a little hung up in the NW corner. A few very clever answers, though. Apostrophe, sis, gnu? I enjoyed those.
As if to corroborate Deb's comment about leaving an unfinished puzzle alone and letting your brain work on it while you do something else (In my case walk the dog, do a different puzzle because I'm an obsessed puzzle freak), this was a two session solve for me. The NW was just brutal at first! I use the "let it be" technique often, and the result is almost always the same: that nasty section that I couldn't figure out gets filled in in about 1 minute. It's almost eerie!
Great puzzle worthy of a Jeff Chen POW! award. Fun long entries and crazy (but also fun) clues. And who doesn't like a gaggle of Zs hanging out together?
Thanks for a great start to the weekend, Andrew and Will et al!
3
I've been doing crosswords for decades, and I still quail a bit when I see those long white spaces on a Friday or Saturday. I agree whole-heartedly with Deb's advice to relatively new (or just fearful) solvers. Start where you can, and go from there. Often with those long Across blanks staring me in the face, I start by working the shortest Down crosses and see how many spaces in the long answer I can fill. The fun is seeing the solutions emerge, not in feeling like my intelligence is being tested. So, again, with Deb, I say to the daunted, It's a game. Let it tickle your brain, not bludgeon it.
3
@Michael Dover
Once you get the attitude of "When, not if", then you find that those long spaces don't faze you. After all, there's as good a chance of a long answer being a gimme as a short one, and one long gimme usually opens up a whole quadrant. (For me, THE MUSIC MAN was a gimme.)
This time, the NW wasn't coming to me the first time around, so I just worked around it. I put sunDRIED before AIRDRIED, as if laundry were a tomato, and out-and-out guessed SERIAL once I had the IAL. I had put AT A in as a gimme but I took it out when the SUN rose; once it set, I put AT A back in. I had the crosswordese AWN before BUR. (Although BUR is apparently preferred, for me, the word is BURR. Blame Aaron.)
Sometimes it's not you, it's the clue. I figured "General plan" might have something to do with the army, but it didn't come to me, and I'll agree with others that it was a stinker of a clue.
I was thinking "hair" with the 13A clue, but with ---PEES, I couldn't get the long E pronunciation out of my mind, and I kept thinking of kewpies, even though the spelling was wrong.
But eventually it all worked out. You have to have the chops to be confident, but once you are, you don't get that quailing feeling. If you've been doing puzzles for decades, you probably have the right to that kind of confidence.
1
'... there's as good a chance of a long answer being a gimme as a short one,...'
I think probability theory would argue against the 'as good a chance' part.
2
@Steve L - I agree about the "when, not if." I was describing my initial gut reaction that lasts a few seconds at most. Then I dig in and find my openings and the solutions follow. I only mention that first reaction as a way of assuring those who might be scared away from solving. And I like your "when, not if" way of putting that.
That NW corner was hell. I put in MOI and UPDATE, and then I just sat there. SUN DRIED displaced MOI. I also wanted AWN for the prickly husk. Finally tumbled to the One-time connection (aargh and argh).... I have never heard of SELENA GOMEZ, an AISLEWAY (Srsly?) or SERIAL as a podcast, plus *I* spell it BURR, with 2 R's, and never, ever just one lousy R.
That was full of tricky clues, which were mostly fun..... but I have to say that is one Ugh ugh UGLY PIZZA in the photo, and anyone can tell that the crust is tough as an old boot.
Around OUR house, the dinosaur went by 'Stega'.....
4
@Mean Old Lady
BUR was my last entry because I also am a 2 R guy when spelling burr. If you were to describe ir being cold outside, would you say "br" rather than "brr" ?
2
@Mean Old Lady - well, dear MOL, not everyone is old enough to have been on a first name basis with the dinos...
(^_^;)
3
@Mean Old Lady
I can picture Brando wailing "STEGAAAAAA..."
4
What a Friday puzzle should be! Looked hopeless after the first pass, but with a time slightly above average everthing eventually fell into place. Wonderful clues!
2
Northwest was the last to fall, but I found this to be a delightful solve. A nice mix of trivia, cultural references, and not too many contrived answers. Plus a Friday best, so what’s not to like?
2
Well, I was definitely AMBUSHed in the northwest. I should have taken a break per Deb’s recommendation, but instead I cheated by reading her column. But, hey, it’s not homework, right? Thanks for boost I needed today, Deb.
10
@dlr
No, "homework" was finding the treasure the other day.
1
@dlr It's definitely not homework. Glad you came back to it, though.
For more tips, please check out our solving guide: https://www.nytimes.com/guides/crosswords/how-to-solve-a-crossword-puzzle
My brain resisted BURGER at 48A – “BBQ offering” – for quite awhile. I like burgers, like ‘em a lot, but good as they are, barbecue they are not.
I feel sad to think of someone who’s never had the smoky long-and-slow cooked real deal.
4
A barbecue is an event as well as a style of cooking.
1
Shortly after moving the New England I went to an event advertised as a "Community BBQ". As a former Texan, I tempered my expectations and knew we likely wouldn't be served smoked brisket or the like. I anticipated grilled burgers or chicken. The actual offering: microwaved hotdogs. Talk about disappointment!
5
@Pat
I think the usage is regional. Although Maryland can be considered the South, I think you have to travel a little farther south--and sometimes west--to reach the populace that thinks that BBQ is "meat slow cooked over a low flame" only, and that the event is called a cookout.
Of course, you're right; words can have two meanings, even if one region does not use it both ways. Here in NY, a barbecue restaurant has slow-cooked meats, but usually not hamburgers, yet you can make hamburgers and barbecued chicken in your backyard over a fairly high flame in twenty minutes and call the event a barbecue (and in fact, I will be doing so tonight.)
And I'm a barbecue, not que person.
3
With regard to what Deb is saying about taking a shot at what seems impossible: I had had no suspicion that Colorado had even chosen a state dinosaur (being elitist, are we?), let alone as to any preference thereto.
However, proceeding (semi)blithely, the 'poetic works' pretty well had to be ODES and 'yank' was likely to be TUG, and inserting those presented a partial - - EG- -, and if that doesn't lead straight to STEGOSAURUS, we're talking deprived childhood.
That's the kind of lightbulb I live for on Friday/Saturdays, and the little darlings appear just often enough.
4
Sorry! Meant to add that all on a sudden you have an 11-letter slot filled that by all accounts you had ahem no clue about.
1
Ciao puzzle lovers . Can't help but say I loved all the ZZZ's in this Friday puzzle . Definitely easier than normal for a Friday - at least 15 mins quicker than my average . Having said that , I am an Italian American New Yorker by birth , and a big pizza fan . I am used to pizza " with the works " , but have never seen a DELUXE pizza on the menu .
A minor quibble with a totally enjoyable Friday puzzle . Mangiare !
1
'Deluxe' is a regional term, sadly. Here in Maryland, if I ask for pizza with the works, I get a blank stare. When I explain what I mean, they ask if I want the deluxe. I end up with a mediocre pizza either way. For good pizza, I have to go back to Jersey.
1
@Pat & Cathy - in New Haven, a pizza topped with everything has the simple name:
Garbage Apizza.
Deluxe really threw me!
@David Connell
And in parts of Canada, the term is "all dressed". (To distinguish it from Titian's "Venus Anadyomene", I suppose?)
5
Chocolate?! For breakfast?!
I did my puzzle over pancakes and peppermint tea!
3
@Dan Whatever it takes, Dan. Whatever it takes. :)
2
Deb,
Re: Chocolate
I trust you do not solve over breakfast.
@Leapfinger Amen.
1
I can DO this!! - - - and I DID - - - mostly.
Had no idea that GUNS makes reference to biceps.
13A just had to be TRESSES.
16A just had to be SUN DRIED.
36A was - obviously - DEVIL SPAWN.
Never heard of SELENA GOMEZ - - not even a mention.
The cluing at 19A still escapes me.
Cluing for much of the puzzle was truly clever and a bit devious - but thoroughly enjoyable. There were too many to mention all but 18A, 22A and 36A were among my favorites.
Stretching my “rules” only a little bit, I can call this one a “Solve”. But I didn’t have to distort “The First Rule” even slightly. That rule is “ENJOY YOURSELF!” - - and I DID.
3
@PeterW, I also started with thinking DEVIL SPAWN (or maybe SATAN SPAWN). Although only somewhat peripherally, I do know SELENA GOMEZ, I thought of her with the placement of some crosses and the emerging concatenation of Zs.
As you say, First Rule rules.
Very nice! Clever clues, and none were stretched beyond recognition.
2
@DebAmlen your Wordplay inspired me today, especially the part that the Crossword is not a TEST, but a game, and it's okay to look things up. For some reason most popular music is not in my wheelhouse, and I have no guilt about looking those up, but in such a way that I can dig into it and learn something for each look-up.
11
@David I like your attitude! Keep up the great solving.
2
I was quite pleased with myself when BEELEZEBUB (misspelling) fit perfectly in 36A, but fortunately, the crosses quickly set me straight.
Generals do not plan ambushes! Generals do strategy; ambushes are tactical. at the scene operations. This is a really poor clue.
6
@George Hebben I don't think I've ever differentiated between strategy and tactics. Something to learn about!
1
@George Hebben
I can say with certainty that generals definitely do not plan ONRUSHes, which my brain first feebly came up with.
1
@George Hebben Actually there can be a strategic ambush, like Pearl Harbor though that was designed by admirals, or one that Patton designed in an attempt to trap the German army in a flanking maneuver. Or for that matter Gen Custer (brevet) planned only to be ambused back at Little Big Horn.
1
Faster than my average but today I got bogged down in upper left corner, because I thought it was very clever of me to try VALET for 6 down. Once I cleared that out of the way and realized it was HEIST I was home free.
Great weekend all.
1
The ridiculously simple switch from oaT to NUT was the gateway that enabled me to swoosh in my last 20 empty squares in what felt like seconds. Normally that would have made me happy, but I didn't have to be made happy because I was already on a high from the clues to AIR DRIED, WAD, and even more so from the clues to ESTATE LAW, PAYEES, and ITUNES, and especially from the clues to APOSTROPHES and GNU.
Yesterday we had the adjoining MOO GAS, and today it's STY GAS.
Andrew, with THE MUSIC MAN on my mind, seeing [Noted library] in the clue to ITUNES, I immediately thought of Marian, with a capital M that rhymes with gem and that stands for jewel -- what you created today. Thank you, sir.
6
@Lewis,
Maybe it's just my MESHUG GAS, but for you, we should be coming up with some ASH TAN GAS
1
Quite a challenge for me and an enjoyable solve, though I ended up with the NW largely blank. Like others THEMUSICMAN, DOROTHY and TAXEVASION were good toeholds and then the Z cluster was another big help. Managed to fill in several things that I would never have known just from the clues (ITUNES, e.g.).
But in the NW, SERIAL and ATA were complete unknowns and I never caught on to the misdirection for "if you will." Was thinking hair for 13a, but TOUPEES never dawned on me. Not a big deal - still had a good time and I rarely finish a theme-less unassisted anyway.
Back to the NW: I thought of 'attack' for 1a, but AMBUSH never dawned on me. In my experience an AMBUSH was a squad or platoon sized maneuver, was only used in reference to an NDP (Nighttime Defensive Position) and in fact we generally considered AMBUSH to be a synonym for 'hiding.' Nobody was going to move through the jungle at night unless they knew exactly where they were going and if you were in company size (or larger), 'they' already knew where you were, so the chances of an 'ambush' were non-existent. In short, not something a general would ever be involved in.
5
I had ATA and MOI instantly, so I quickly GNU what "General plan?" would be, and my first thought was "What's Rich going to say about AMBUSH?"
Here we go again, with professionals raising factual objections to a clue and answer that the laity (including the editors) think is fine. Rich is, of course, correct about literal use, but in the metaphoric sense of AMBUSH to mean TRAP, I think it passes muster.
P.S. I liked today's clues for MIA and GUNS.
3
@Barry Ancona Re: Ambush, point taken.
Follow-up from a couple of days ago. From what you said about doing full years of the errors you reported, I conclude that means 1970, 71 and 72. Have you gone beyond that at all?
I finished '69 and was going to start on '70 until I saw your reply. Then was thinking about '73 but just wanted to avoid duplicating our efforts.
2
Rich,
I have not done '73. Have at it!
1
Loved the long answers and all the zeds, more fun for me than usual on a themeless Friday.
7
@suejean
Me thinks me zees a typo; yes?
@brutus
"Harrogate, UK" No typo.
5
@Rich in Atlanta
TY Rich, that’s a GNU one on me. All apologies Suejean.
3
Looking at my stats, my averages from Mon-Thur are dismal, but I'm around 30 minutes for Friday and Saturday. Deb really hit the nail on the head - it took me years to work up the confidence to even attempt the late week crossword.
6
Had the grid’s right half all filled in but struggled with the left. Finally wrapped up the whole enchilada when I realized the library 📚 debuting in ‘01 wasn’t the kind I had in mind; rather a digital variation of such...A fun kick-start to my solving weekend. Thanks Andrew & crew...This is a South Appalachian folk standard, “Shady Grove” from the (I SAY) DELUXE, “PIZZA Tapes” collection. Jerry Garcia headlines...”Peaches in the summertime, apples in the fall.”
https://youtu.be/InFhhtN78Ck
Got It Made In The ARBOR,
Bru
4
@brutus
Nice choice, Bru. Perfect for the lazy hazy days of August.
Also, the song was posted to YouTube by “anonymoose”. Guess what animal is sometimes compared with a moose? Here’s a hint (courtesy of Michael Flanders via Fact Boy):
So let me introduce
I’m g-neither man or moose
Oh G-no, G-no, G-no — I’m a G-nu.
3
@brutus
Pizza Tapes, Wow! Can't think when I heard banjo picking like that.
1
@Leapfinger, @brutus
A late Friday afternoon thought (always dangerous). “Shady Grove” connects not just with PIZZA; it also connects with ARBOR. I’ve seen all three of these guys but unfortunately never together. All of ‘em have helped bring bluegrass to the masses. For no good reason other than I listened to it today, here’s one of my favorite Dolly Parton songs, her cover of Billy Joel’s Travelin’ Prayer (starts slow but gets very fast with some kick-gnu banjo):
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3qAeTkuWVco
The Peabody Award for SERIAL was given in 2014, I believe.
1
Alan,
It was given in 2015 for the podcast(s) of 2014.
http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/serial
https://www.baltimoresun.com/features/baltimore-insider/bal-serial-peabody-podcasts-20150420-story.html
Correct that SERIAL of 2014 earned the Peabody Award.
Same issue with the Oscars and all annual awards: the year's offerings aren't considered until the year ends, and are announced in the following year.
CORRECTION : # of Words is 41, not 42!
Spelling Bee August 2 2019
L E F N T U V
Words: 41, Points: 191,Pangrams: 2, Bingo: yes
E x 4
F x 14
L x 9
N x 2
T x 5
U x 4
V x 3
4L x 15
5L x 8
6L x 11
7L x 3
8L x 2
9L x 1
10L x 1
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Tot
E - 1 1 - 2 - - 4
F 7 3 4 - - - - 14
L 6 2 - 1 - - - 9
N 1 - 1 - - - - 2
T 1 1 2 1 - - - 5
U - 1 1 1 - - 1 4
V - - 2 - - 1 - 3
Tot 15 8 11 3 2 1 1 41
43
@Mari Easy one today- many repeats from some June Bees so still in my head. LUFF and LUFT the only unapproved words I tried.
@Mari. Easy yes,until I got to the second V6, which I only got through sheer drudgery.
First two letters:
1-EF, 2-EL, 1-EV (4)
5-FE, 6-FL, 3-FU (14)
4-LE, 5-LU (9)
1-NE, 1-NU (2)
2-TE, 3-TU (5)
4-UN (4)
3-VE (3)
11
For the hundredth time, what is the deal with the lack of ELFEN and/or ELVEN? Does Sam have something against Santa or Tolkien? Was he traumatized by a stale Keebler cookie as a child?
21
What is your favorite chocolate, actually?
1
Spelling Bee August 2 2019
L E F N T U V
Words: 42, Points: 191, Panagrams: 2, Bingo: yes
E x 4
F x 14
L x 9
N x 2
T x 5
U x 4
V x 3
4L x 15
5L x 8
6L x 11
7L x 3
8L x 2
9L x 1
10L x 1
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Tot
E - 1 1 - 2 - - 4
F 7 3 4 - - - - 14
L 6 2 - 1 - - - 9
N 1 - 1 - - - - 2
T 1 1 2 1 - - - 5
U - 1 1 1 - - 1 4
V - - 2 - - 1 - 3
Tot 15 8 11 3 2 1 1 41
1
Off topic, at least as far as today's puzzle goes. Did anyone else see the Lifehacker article about Mr. Shortz and his work flow? https://lifehacker.com/im-will-shortz-new-york-times-crossword-editor-and-th-1836740218
The thing that struck me was that Will evidently writes about half of the clues for a given puzzle. As someone who has done a lot of editing in my career, that percentage struck me as pretty high, and a possible reason for the feeling that I often have that the puzzles are just a tad too homogeneous.
I think there is a fine line to walk as an editor between ensuring that a work (technical paper, news article, crossword puzzle) meets style and comprehensibility standards and preserving something of the author's original voice. I know that I have become much lighter in my editing as I've grown in experience.
I was also struck by the examples, in which Will outright replaces clues, rather than editing/rewriting them to make them better fit his paradigms.
I think most people who read this column know that I am generally a champion of the puzzle and the editors, but after reading the Lifehacker article, I felt Will might aim at wholly replacing perhaps 25 percent of the clues, and look for opportunities to rewrite clues that don't measure up, rather than discarding them altogether. It might lead to a little more variety in the "feel" of the puzzle.
I'm interested in what others think about this topic.
21
@Puzzledog, I often wonder when we rave about certain clever clues if they are Will's or the constructor's.
Now I'm going to read the article.
2
@Puzzledog
I agree whole-heartedly. I especially object to the same punny clue stretching over several days in the same week. Also, I feel that it might let him check on clueing that is okay for the puzzle (i.e. gives your an inferable starting point), but is factually incorrect. I really feel that even if something is fair as a clue, if it’s not correct it shouldn’t be published.
7
@Puzzledog
Eye-opening article, PD; thanks for posting! Two possible answers for the clue “Will Shortz?” GENIUS and CONTROL FREAK. I have opinions about the editing, but they are conflicted. I like your suggestions for a lighter editing hand which might lead to less homogenity, but I also really like, nay love, the NYT XWP as is.
10
LETTER BOXED
Quite a quick 13. Z-C (6), C-E (7).
Yesterday BOD DRIVESHAFT.
3
@Andrew. I have C------D(8), D---O(5)
The C-D is related to your C-E, and the D-O is a chemical compound.
Yesterday DRIVESHAFT TABOR
1
@Andrew
Ditto. Fastest one in a bit for me.
Advice to newbies: just try words. Sometimes the leftover letters give you more hints than a blank wall. That’s what happened to me today. First effort was similar to ultimate first word. Leftover letters popped out to suggest the Z-C. Revisted and voila.
Yesterday HOVERBOARD SIFT.
@Andrew
Same for me - both today and yesterday.
Ms. Amien, I thought your column today was exceptionally encouraging and accurate. I’ve been working at solving NYT Crosswords since Oct, 1969, when I was introduced to them by two senior colleagues with whom I shared a lunch period when I first started teaching. Took some time away for things like marriage, children, grad school, divorce . . . and life. Got serious again about ten years ago, and only started Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays in 2014, and Sundays about a year later. Your columns always lift my spirits and provide a reason to keep solving. For me, your guidance to “look things up,” has been the most helpful; I was treating it like a test, and thanks to you it has become a challenging game.
I don’t know how often a reader writes to say thank you for helping us five days a week, but it is certainly time for me to add my thanks to that list.
43
Re: “The only close relative I know of with three letters that is also a palindrome is SIS.”
Mom and Dad still love you anyway.
77
@Edward Rice Oops. Sorry, Mom and Dad!
6
Antichrist before APOSTROPHE. Very enjoyable puzzle with creative cluing.
4
I got a toehold with GUNS (today is a weight day for me), but was despairing at the vast blank spaces. The short stairstep fill let me make further inroads, and the puzzle resolved itself in good time. APOSTROPHE and TOUPEES earned groans and exclamations of "oh, that's bad!"--a habit I acquired from my mother, who introduced me to the NYT crossword many years ago, and with whom I solved many puzzles. She loved groan-worthy puns, and I miss her every day. Thanks for a great puzzle.
7
The best clueing I can remember in a very long time.
I'm really not sure what the column was all about but, anyway....
BEER MOI !!
20
Along with "hello," "please," and "thank you," I believe knowing how to say "another beer/liter of wine" in the local language is essential to successful international travel.
6
@Puzzledog
“Can I get a.......?” This phrase is hardly strictly ever prefaced or concluded with a polite word. An overused and/or abused reply to a thank-you is often the horrid “no problem.” Is the current lexicon degenerating into ‘slanguage’ or are these harmless, fleeting linguistic transformations?
3
@brutus
I also used to find "no problem" grating (I tend to go for a charming "my pleasure," and a sincere "you are welcome is always fitting), but when I thought about the many languages that use variations of "it's nothing," I decided "no problem" was OK.
3
In my book for clue quality ... 20D trumped 36A (Golf over Rosemary).
Both excellent clues, nonetheless!
1
AISLE WAY in with my two cents worth and say I GNU that I would like this puzzle as soon as I completed the top RHO with no problem
6
@ColoradoZ
Ooh! Why, IOTA...
2
Super fun one today! Did anyone put TESTIS for PISTIL? It took me a while to undo that. I grabbed hold with GUNS and built from there even though I'm more likely to skip arm day than leg day.
2
@LarryB
I had STAMEN for a while. I memorized the names for plant parts in elementary school, but, alas, not their functions.
1
@Ann
Stamen is also a reproductive part of a flower, so you're not wrong about that. It just wasn't right for the puzzle.
@vaer
I'm still not likely to remember, but thank you!
and Elke
If SELENA GOMEZ had not been dating (more off than on) Canadian Justin Bieber and , if
Al Capone (if one says it fast it sounds like elke pone) had not been convicted of TAX EVASION, then I would have been in serious need of Deb's cheer leading column.
As it turns out those 2 answers got me really started. OK-needed
to replace "wine" with BEER, and "oat" with NUT. Remembered MURSE.
Can't get the picture of a certain TOUPEE being AIRDRIED out of my head.
So DEB---I O U one.
4
APOSTROPHE is in fact the devil's spawn.
11
Hard to top a puzzle with three ZZs. And speaking of ZZ Top, one of their big hits is a favorite of zymurgists :
"BEER Drinkers and Hellraisers"
4
While I had the reaction of wanting to quit right away after looking at the clues, the Capone clue and The Music Man were enough to get me through this one in my best Friday time!
Two of the three states I have lived in helped me beat my Friday average by 70%,by far the most I have ever been below my average on any day.
STEGOSAURUS and THE MUSIC MAN were both easy, long fills for me.
And my granddaughter from Iowa came to Colorado last year to see a SELENA GOMEZ concert, so I was aware of her existence (S Elena's existence, not my granddaughter's-to clarify the dangling modifier, although I am also aware of my granddaughter's existence) which gave me a third long fill.
2
@ColoradoZ You put your fellow Coloradan to shame by knowing our state dinosaur.
@Wags
If you haven't done so, you might enjoy a visit to Dinosaur Ridge. The visitor center enlightened me as to STEGOSARUS and other dinosauruses (dinosauri?)
THE MUSIC MAN was a gimme, and I had LiveS for 12D, but that gave me PISTIL, and ASTHMA followed, correcting 12D to LASTS and helping me finish that section. Not too much trouble with the rest of it except for the NW, where I had some trouble figuring things out. Finally got TOUPEE, and things started to fill in.
Liked the clues for TOUPEE, ESTATE LAW, APOSTROPHE, and DOROTHY.
1
1. This is a good week for a certain movie from 1939. A girl & her dog.
2. Wonder what Marian the Librarian would think of the ITUNES library?
3. APOSTROPHE - hahahaha!
Very fast for a Friday. And fun!
3
This puzzle I found easy for a Friday, and the cluing is what really made it. But Deb's column was great, and it went well with the puzzle, which, as said, was easy, but with a lot of pitfalls for a newcomer. Good job, Deb!
8
Thank you, @David Lundy!
2
Really awesome puzzle, great long entries, beautiful construction with minimal questionable fill. Bravo and thanks!
Question for fellow solvers... is a weird letter (K, Z, Q, J in a middle) in a potential answer sometimes a giveaway to you? Like today’s puzzle... for 47A I had ____ARDS. And after looking at the clue I thought “oh, gotta be BUZZARDS, they’ll always use any plausible answer with ZZ in there.” Is that weird?
4
@David G, Yes
@David G
I’m usually J _ Z Z _ _ when I see Xs and Zs, and sometimes Ys, Js and Ks. They’re almost _ _ X Y. Who k-new TAX EVASION could be sexy?
3
Wait, is suejean saying, "Yes, I do that too" or "Yes, it's weird that you do that, David."
I don't think I'm strategic enough to do what David describes, but I will try to in the future. It sounds clever, not weird. In my case, I had a Z from DELUXEPIZZA before anything else, so BUZZARD was almost a gimme. I always think it's a made-up cartoon word, though. Aren't they properly called vultures?
1D has me ATA loss. Can someone please explain?
One ATA Time
1
@Fred
For the geeks among us - ATA (Advanced Tech. Attachment) was an interface to connect devices on your computer...became SATA later on...
@Ron Yep. A happy coincidence. Maybe sometime Will Shortz will reach further into the history bin to clue MFM.
Anyone else have GAMETE/GUAVA at 7A/7D?
I felt so clever getting those right off, just as I got AGENDA for 1A. I soon found the errors of my way.
1
@Deb
I am a veteran solver but I really was helped by your words of wisdom today.
I have struggled all week. Took me until Wednesday to finally nail down Sunday’s puzzle. Monday and Tuesday each took a full day to complete. I typically get them in ten minutes or less. I just now got Wednesday finished. What in the world? I had to go for getting only one answer before giving my brain a break. Monday/Tuesday hard? Inconceivable.
Then my daughter pointed out I had heart surgery last week and was deep in anesthesia for more than 4 hours. So understandably the brain isn’t working at full steam.
So I’ve done a quick pass Friday and come the morrow I shall be pleased with myself if I get just one answer per session.
34
@Babs
Wow I just reread my post and it comes across as a bit melodramatic. For the record, the surgery was a great success, my health is good and getting better.
21
@Babs
Glad that you are feeling well enough to even think about doing a puzzle, let alone doing one. Go easy on yourself. It’s an understatement to say that you should feel good about finishing any puzzle less than a week after heart surgery and 4 hours of anesthesia. Hope you have a smooth recovery.
11
@Babs
Wow, what a reminder of how remarkable our brains are— and how anesthesia takes a toll. So glad you are doing well, and the puzzles will follow soon.
6
Fun puzzle with several nice clues.
1
Excellent puzzle! Some real great clues, especially for AIRDRIED and ESTATELAW. Kudos!
Can we agree that we’d all like (and maybe deserve) beer and a pizza after this solve?
5
@Sara Horton
I didn't have the pizza, but I did have beer (and bourbon) before solving. Just another Thursday night. Drunk or sober, the streak is at 48 and counting.
2
@Mitchell
Like Deb, I had chocolate with my puzzle.
1
Aisleway is definitely okay by me, though it brings up the complicated history of the word "aisle."
Originally the aisle was the side wing (Latin, ala) as in
LEFT CENTER RIGHT
LEFT CENTER RIGHT
LEFT CENTER RIGHT
Where Center denotes the nave and Left/Right the aisles.
The word was transferred about 300 years ago to the walkway between the main part and the wing part. This is now the primary meaning of it; aisleway makes that meaning explicit.
The "(a)isle" spelling was caused by confusion of the idea of island with the idea of wing; even the "s" of "island" was caused by confusion, since an "island" was originally an "i-land" (an "eye" of land in the midst of water), still retained in the crosswordese "ait."
7
And the island nation of Iceland spells its name Ísland. Their word for island is eyja, which you all know as the first part of Eyjafjallajökull (lit. island-mountain-glacier). The suffix -ey is present in Surtsey, Jersey, Guernsey, and (I assume) Orkney.
3
@Morgan
What about Coney?
1
Andrew,
Coney comes from the Dutch word for rabbit.
1
Loved this puzzle. I didn't realize that I am a zymurgist.
The APOSTROPHE clue should be in the misdirection hall of fame.
12
I SAY, I MEAN, if allowed to OPINE, this was a very doable Friday effort. I thought we had a mini theme with the two -lay it on the line- clues. I misspelled ANISTaN, which took me a minute to find, though it was DOROTHY rather than Jennifer that fixed my error.
Nice one Mr. Ries!
:-)
2
I was once on a 747 trying to take off in Hong Kong. An obstreperous kid about six years old managed to delay the flight for about fifteen minutes because of this rule about clearing the AISLEWAY. No way was she going to sit down! Until finally her dithering parents remembered they were the adults . I never take off without remembering this rule.
3
Is it just me or do others think the clues for 1A and 19A were just the awful ? How is it that 36A is raised - it just is.
Argh !
2
Exactly. A superscript is a number, raised. An apostrophe is only an apostrophe when it is in that position — it is not “raised.”
@Edward Rice
An APOSTROPHE in an unraised position is a comma.
2
Fairly easy at under 15 mins. Enjoyable still.
2
Or more concisely stayed: Fast Friday Fun
This was an easy-ish one, until I got stuck. Had SALINA instead of SELENA. Looking her up now, I realized I don't know who she is. I just knew the name (though apparently, not how it's spelled). Most things came quickly and easily that half of the puzzle was filled in the first two passes, which is really unusual for Friday for me.
I had gotten AISLEWAY begrudgingly. I really didn't have to change much at all. Forgot about BEER but enough crossings reminded me. MURSE was plunked down with no hesitation.
Great Friday puzzle, but I think a bit easy. Might be because of ASTHMA, TAX EVASION, WAGERED, TIBIA, DELUXE PIZZA, WATER HAZARD, which were largely giveaways.
There was also the weakness (i.e. why it was easy) of this puzzle - the long, single-word entries. With a few letters you get a whole bunch of the rest. APOSTROPHE (very sneaky cluing!), MEZZANINE, BUZZARDS, STEGOSAURUS were examples of the weakness. Multi-word long entries are tough, but long single-words almost fill themselves in after a couple of crossings.
I liked the clue for GNU, though I think it tried to hard to be clever.
Always like the double Z's the show up, this time in triplicate! The double E's in TOUPEES and PAYEES and, of course BEER and VEE too.
I wouldn't call ITUNES a library, though I get it. Even in a stretch, I wouldn't call it that. It's a store. I wouldn't call Amazon's ebooks that it sells a library either. It's a store.
5
@Wen - The folder in iTunes that contains all of the music a user has purchased or imported is called the Library. Since it has music in it, it is a "noted library."
5
@David Connell - I'm not buying what you're selling here.
Sure...it's my "library" until one day it's not, like when Microsoft closed its store for ebooks, and the library disappears.
And "noted" is certainly cute. But I stand by my objection to iTunes being called a library.
1
@Wen
I'm with David on this one. iTunes is a store on the corporate side, but it's a library on the user end, in more ways than one. The Mac iTunes is being split into multiple apps, but on the PC it still stores not only music, but audio- and e-books and movies plus a couple other types of files.
2
The g is not always silent:
I’m a g-nu
I’m a g-nu
The g-nicest work of g-nature in the zoo
I’m a g-nu
How d’you do?
You really ought to k-now w-ho’s w-ho
Michael Flanders, ca. 1956
16
@Fact Boy
Thank you, FB. After falling down a Michael Flanders rabbit hole for the past 30 minutes or so, I discovered that his and his partner, Donald Swann’s, song “I’m a Gnu” or “The Gnu Song” appeared on The Muppet Show in 1980. Sung by British Chap and Gnu:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cGVdCGxh1IY
4
Excellent puzzle! Got APOSTROPHE right away. Just last night did an NYT Sunday puzzle from the 90s by Robert H.Wolfe called Full Marks. Theme answers had punctuation marks written out, e.g. RACHEL COMMA RACHEL. Quite a coincidence!
4
@judy d
At first I thought I misremembered the baby's name in Rosemary's Baby. Why would they call the baby "APOSTROPHE"? :)
7
@judy d
Coincidentally, Jennifer ANISTON’s character on “Friends” was RACHEL.
Out of curiosity, I found the “Full Marks” puzzle just now. Looks fun. The clue for RACHEL COMMA RACHEL was “1968 Woodward film”. If I go back to do it I’ll have a much needed head start.
1
@Robert Michael Panoff
Maybe you didn't misremember. "Apostrophe" could be a portmanteau word formed from "apocalypse" and "catastrophe."
6
From my point of view, the Thursday and Friday puzzles this week were reversed. Thursday took me much longer than average, and I solved Friday in little more than half the time Thursday's took. It's funny how you can really be on a constructor's wavelength. . . or not!
I was entertained when I had filled in about a quarter of the squares here and already had the 4 Z's down toward the bottom, and the 3 diagonal W's, and the X and the V. I was hoping the rest of the fill would be equally Scrabbly--it wasn't, but it was still interesting. My first thought for 7A was PISTIL, followed by STAMEN, so I started out with plants. I love the idea of state dinosaurs, about as much as I hate the word MURSE. My blind spots here? SERIAL and SELENA GOMEZ--but both were very gettable from the crosses.
Happy Friday, everyone!
12
@Liz B “Dinosaur” was fun—I had ‘AU’ so I knew it had to be a SAUR, and a fortuitous ‘O’ told me which one.
1
@Dave M, I had the EG so was pretty sure of STEGA
1
Liz,
Same for me. I was barreling towards a record time on Thursday until I ran into the SE corner and wound up over the average. Today it was the NW that slowed me down but I still came in okay. Moral? It’s never over til it’s over.
2
RIA, ABORRRR (Day)!
Great question mark-less cluing throughout. Fast, fun Friday. Wouldn’t mind a redo.
(TIBIA brought back memories of my one and only organized football game, at 14. A compound fracture of my TIBIA and fibula with seconds left. It was soccer for me after that. Just seeing (writing) TIBIA brings a little tingle of leg pain.).
3
ARRRBOR (Day)? I just remember there were a lot of RRRs.
This puzzle slogged easily starting in 1A/1D and filling down and across. Some seemed contrived just to extend a word (AISLEWAY). But any puzzle that reference 2 of my 5 "desert island movies --The Music Man and the Wizard of Oz-- has to be a fine puzzle!
APOSTROPHE over MIA (Farrow) was cute.
5
@Robert Michael Panoff
I take it that Rosemary’s Baby is not in your top 5!
I’ve never known anything to slog easily. Must be nice! :-)
1
@Andrew
"an easy slog" I guess means once I fill 1A or 1D, all the rest of the entries that are continuous fill in slowly but surely, with at least one fill-in keeping the chain going.
1
I've never been crazy about Greek letters as answers, since there's really nothing pointing to them. The only reason I can answer clues like this is I've been doing the Times puzzle for over 60 years, so I'm used to it. I think it's a bit unfair.
10:53. So-so for a Friday puzzle.
2
@Richard Dalin
I don't like it one IOTA either!
5