Nothing obsolete about a plasma tv.
2
Terrific hard puzzle. Went back to it three times before some sections clicked right for me. Great fun.
1
I try to comprehend things intuitively all day long: GROK around the clock.
(Oh DEER...)
3
GROKed this puzzle, fantastic Friday for me! Enjoyed the clues for 9A, 14A, and 54A. Had STEELPICK instead of BANJOPICK, so started with MOLEST before I got MOONED. Had COGNAC instead of WETNAP, so CPOjacket before PEAjacket (remember those in the era of GROKing?). Absolutely loved the banjo/washboard video....thanks, Caitlin, for a fun article. I'm in Austin for my niece's wedding, so the video is particularly a propos.
1
Tough, but many clever clues, those that once you’ve got it you’d go “ahh...”
“Rear-ended?”, that’s a funny one 😆
3
I’ve been away a while because I now do the puzzle in the evening after everyone’s attention is on the next day’s.
But I forget that some constructors May follow this blog to its last post, & so to Mr Wentz, bravo! & 4D (Going places?), JOHNS, Ha!!! I drew a smiley with three exclamation points.
& GROK I quite liked, actually. I’d recently been discussing Stranger In a Strange Land with a very strange stranger at my local bar, so GROK came to mind readily.
I took 41D (FLATTOP) to be an omen that I should return to that cut after a few months of trying out the full shaved head.
Happy Friday... I mean Saturday... Everyone!
—Floyd
[:-c)€
4
@Floyd
Miss you. Bring yourself and Henry Su back to the party, please. Chiming in late is better than not chiming in!
1
I was really enjoying this puzzle until the made-up, lame word GROK ruined it. There are plenty of real words, Pete Wentz, and Will Shortz!
Challenging and entertaining Friday puzzle! I was very tempted use the autocorrect button (especially since my streak was reset a few days ago), but I persevered without it.
STAN as clued predates the current decade. Probably less often clued this way than as STAN Lee, so at least that was a bit fresher.
What's not fresh though is the SILENT letter clue. I was already tired of it yesterday.
1
I usually struggle on Fridays but for some strange reason I just tore through this one like it was Monday. I've never heard of ASAGRAY but he barely slowed me down. Kudos to the constructor for making me feel smart for once.
2
For those who didn't know ASA GRAY, you're getting off easy. I was wracking my brain to remember Louis Agassiz (notice the letter count?) but couldn't recall it 'til just now. Fortunately the crosses helped remember good ol' Asa - not unknown in the crossworld. Gray and Agassiz were on opposite sides of the Darwinian fence.
2
And we’re back. *Fantastic* puzzle. The best ones always put my eraser to good use. Serious guffaws when I finally GROKed 22D. Thank-you, Peter – please keep ’em coming!
4
@Austin
Yes, 22D Ha!!!
Also 4D JOHNS!
[:-c)€
Two days in a row with the “Silent” letters?
5
Totally agree that Silentx should be banned henceforth for lack of creativity, levity or redeeming social importance.
Have no problem with jihad. Nor with johns, mooned or ass. Some fathead male joke? Tsk tsk.
1
Classy and sassy.
For the first ten minutes all I had was TSKTSKS and MALE. Eventually some of the standard fare gave me some support - looking at you, GEEKOUT, YOLO, SAGES and HAM.
Loved MOONED and DOGNAP, struggled with PEENHAMMER and SIDEWAYS before getting the NW corner straightened.
Cheers
Re 8d:
🦌 JOHN,
What we had last SPRING was NICEISH, but nothing REMAINS. I just can't see myself AS A GRAY lady in your arms.
So glad we kept it on a first, but not last, name basis...
So long,
Just Carol
(I'm pretty sure this never happened, but thanks to @Puzzlemucker and @Just Carol for the inspiration)
4
In the 1960’s kids wore peacoats. I never heard it referred to as a peajacket. But they looked the same.
4
@Queenie That threw me too. And I still wear a pea coat.
1
I thought it was spelled PEAYJACKET. (Silent Y).
4
@Andrew
Oh no you didn't!! 😂
1
@Andrew 🤣 troublemaker!
I love Friday puzzles. This one was nice in itself and especially welcome, a soothing application, after yesterday’s puzzle.
4
Well, this was averagely tough for a Friday but had wit, flair and style to counteract a few unknowns. This was quite the home run (if still glacial in parts) compared with yesterday's mélange.
I noted the 2 "NAP"s, but they have totally different etymologies of course, so that was OK. I had seen GROK before (though never heard it spoken).
TIL: STAN (apparently based on an Eminem song - yeah, great help, Dre..!). And NBAJAM. Classic? I could not even parse it correctly without help; it did not help being stacked with DATA CAP (this is rather passé now) and NICKEL (there are MANY types of steel), which did not sit well with my first guess of SOU'WESTER for the sailor's jacket.
CLAYMATION gave me the toehold I needed, and only ASA GRAY slowed me down. Apparently, he believed in evolution (sort of) but believed that it was guided by God. I guess that's why he's not so well known – sitting on the fence between Scientists and Trumpists makes you few friends.
2
Toughest ever! After first pass accross and down I had only two guesses, RAGE (for sure) and YESIam, of which the latter was partlyu wrong. Pushed on, expecting to need to Reveal Puzzle soon, but picking up something each pass. I wondered which sibilant in "miscellaneous" was silent and would be the first letter of _L_Y______. Oh, wait! Isn't there a word like CLAYMATION? By bedtime I had the top eight rows filled in except where STA_ and WET_NAs crossed.
In bed, this 84-year-old finally noticed that his age was a multiple of 12 and would get three more crosses first thing in the morning with PIG.
Finally had only that STA_, WET_NAs cross to go. But I had started to wonder about sEAJACKET. Was there such a thing as a PEAJACKET? Google wouldn't confirm either. I might have to do an alphabet run on the empty square twice and I had alread spent an hour 40 on the thing, so I cut my new streak at about four and clicked Reveal Word.
Maybe I'll stick to Mondays.
8
@kilaueabart yep. My dad has a peajacket when he was in the Navy. wonder if he saved it, I'd love to have it now.
2
In the photo of Dr. Max, the absence of motion blur makes it look as if he is suspended in mid-air.
1
@polymath
Interesting what we focus on. I can’t stop staring at how SWOL and tan that lady pushing the carriage is. I’m jealous.
2
I am always filled with admiration for the constructors, but I do think that ASA GRAY was unfair, especially positioned at the beginning of a corner. I never heard of him, which there are lots of people I haven't heard of, but to place him at the front end of the corner made it very hard to figure it out with crosses. Of course, Friday. But still.
Anyway, a very good puzzle by someone who knows who ASA GRAY is! Double points!
A delightful second course after yesterday's appetizer! I can't wait to see what is for dessert...
6
Both intelligent and enjoyable --- that's how I would describe today's puzzle but I liked yesterday's as well so what do I know?
10
@Tony S
You - apparently - know how to enjoy crossword sadism!
1
If yesterday's entry had been any clumsier, we would have called it Jar-Jar. Today's puzzle was a real breath of fresh air! The answer to "Take a pointer?" was my favorite of the day.
7
@E.W. Swan
The DOGNAP in the WordPlay column is different but fun.
1
Very enjoyable puzzle, in which it took quite a while before I got any traction at all. Had to change fannie to sallie and wallace to asa gray. The unguessable entries for me were stan and svedka, but they came from crossings. It had a very fresh feeling.
5
Not sure the c in miscellaneous is silent. I’d describe it as soft.
8
I recognized the type of joke here, but unfortunately DOUBLEL also fits, which put everything else in that corner way off.
1
In case anyone is interested, here is a little lesson on BANJO PICKing styles. Béla Fleck uses fingerpicks, and Abigail Washburn uses a pickless clawhammer style.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjLYjf4B7xQ
Oh, and a good puzzle.
7
Fun, and quick. Just to ensure the editors and EMUs know where I stand on yesterday's puzzle, IMNSHO, it was tough, maybe a little unfair, but well within the realm of what I consider acceptable. My biggest criticism would be that the circled letters really didn't add much to the game. I am always in favor of tougher puzzles.
5
Ha! I thought I invented imnsho.
2
I must disagree on the SILENT C answer. I take the position that the 'c' is in fact sounded as an 's' at the start of the second syllable.
5
@Bradley Albing
I think this is one of those "could go lots of ways" words.
SEVERAL of the the letters in MISCELLANEOUS are silent. Could be S if C is like "cease". Could be the "C". Could be either of the L's. Could be the O if you think "US" by itself provides the pronunciation.
But getting the SILENT treatment two days in a row?
2
@Bradley Albing
Would you read "micellaneous" with the same pronunciation as "miscellaneous"? I'd either say "mice-el-lay-knee-us" or "mick-el-lay-knee-us."
"Misellaneous" would be the same as "miscellaneous."
1
@Martin Based on the parsing of the syllables, one would need to double the 's' in your example spelling to get the proper pronunciation.
2
What a difference a day makes! I struggled all the way to the SW corner, but had fun doing it. Very good work out. I didn't have to research arcane (for me) trivia for this one.
4
Nice one! Loved seeing GROK, one of my very favorite words. And no issue with JIHAD. The cluing was easier for me after I let the puzzle rest overnight.
However, I too am getting tired of the SILENTx entries. They need too many crosses to uncover and there’s no satisfaction from the root word.
7
If everybody is giving their favourite CLAYMATIONs, would like to offer Nick Park’s Creature Comforts. My favourite are the two old lady bats.
3
@Frances - for me, it's that brasileiro cat. He is the epitome of a good brasileiro! Love Creature Comforts.
We the e-spaaaace.
1
Enjoyed this one, but I see I'm the only one who does not understand 8D. I have DEER, but I cannot understand how it answers the clue! Where's the rebus? Please explain! I feel like an idiot.
2
@PeeCeeTee
The idea is a picture of a deer drawn in lieu of "Dear" in the salutation. I hope the next rebus isn't a picture of a john.
6
@PeeCeeTee
If you opened a letter with the phrase “Dear Sir or Madam” but drew a picture of a deer instead of the first word, that would be a rebus.
3
@Martin aha, thank you!
A tough challenge, worthy of Friday (or Saturday!). It took me nearly double my usual Friday time. I was able to solve the top half fairly easily, down to about PEA JACKET, which stopped me because PEA COAT didn't fit. It took a while to come up with REMNANT, as "leftovers" sounded like food and not fabric (there was a store called The REMNANT Shop where I grew up; the fabric for many of my clothes came from there).
The bottom half was another story. For the longest time, I only had ALOE GEL, NRA, and PIG. I tried IN A instead of AHA. Finally I gave in and Googled names of vodkas, so SVEDKA was the key that got this sections solved. But without that Google, I would have been sunk. A good, tough puzzle.
4
Well, first, ultimately yesterday's puzzle had 3 wrong squares--my own fault for not rechecking a clue at 37D, where REBATES are part of ad campaigns. RUSH instead of DASH IN also gave me ULAMOSA, which seemed possible for a clue that should have been "Obscure, dying city somewhere in darkest Colorado" (I know, I know, it's a wonderful place and I'm just being bitter. Pour me some SVEDKA.)
Next: it's PEA COAT. Coat, coat, coat.
I'm so bruised up (not to mention chilled--it's 43 degrees, windy, and 'normal' is 74) that 4A's "struggle" led me to immediately enter KAMPF, which didn't work on many levels and was immediately removed.
I would stay longer, but I need to find my winter clothes!
4
@Mean Old Lady I'm laughing because I thought the same. I wore a peacoat, never a jacket.
2
Ulamosa can be the name of a city in a post-apocalyptic SciFi dystopia!
I know it as a PEA coat too, but it looks like PEA JACKET came first. See Etymology here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pea_coat
4
All words and wordplay. Almost no names and trivia. What a welcome treat after the absolutely ghastly last two days. Thank, you, thank you, Peter Wentz.
Much of my trouble came from assuming that 43A was one of the --nnIE MAES, Ginny or Fanny, so I couldn't get ASA GRAY, LIKE SO or ALOE GEL (Yes! Green-painty!) until I corrected to SALLIE. And for the teensiest amount of time, I wondered if there was such a thing as a pLATTer haircut (41D). I don't know SVEDKA vodka, though it certainly sounds vodka-y and I had no idea that a rabid fan was a STAN. Sort of wonder why? And WET NAP sounds like something you don't mention in polite society.
My solve was a bit GLACIAL, therefore, but it was also very enjoyable.
14
"And WET NAP sounds like something you don't mention in polite society."
Nancy,
Finger bowl for fine dining, WET NAP for picnics or casual dining; both are perfectly polite. You might not want to mention what might happen *during* a nap.
3
@Barry Ancona -- I knew that was the meaning, or at least I guessed that was the meaning, Barry. I was just making a teensy JOKE. Guess it fell FLAT(top).
4
Nancy,
ALAS, you had it in there with others you more clearly did not know, so I thought I'd HAVEAGO.
3
Caitlin:
I wanted to find out more about “Dr. Max” - but Google yields bupkis! Tell us some more of the story.
And the dude playing the banjo in your video clip is definitely not using a pick. And I’ll give you that the guy with the washboard is “interesting” - but the banjo player is a hack.
I still haven't figured out if the caption to today's picture is in jest. It is using an alternate definition of DOGNAP, and while seemingly absurd, it is very matter-of-fact and in considerable detail. Quite odd.
A very enjoyable puzzle today. I'm not sure whether that is just relative... I struggled to finish the NE corner, but was quite taken by several of the clever clues there - DOGNAP, DEBT, and TSKTSKS in particular.
STAN has been a frequent visitor in RECENT days. Let's give him an OREO and send him on his way!
I have always been haunted by Dylan Thomas' voice. Here is today's reference to 55A:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mRec3VbH3w
4
Today's photo caption is obscure enough to earn a post in the Trump administration.
5
@David Connell
This caption makes more sense:
https://tinyurl.com/y5mav5tf
Oh, I see that the Times has corrected the original (tongue-in-cheek?) caption here.
I made one heck of a lot more progress on this puzzle than that bomb we were served yesterday - - - but I still have to call it a “Completion”.
The only vodka name that starts with an S (in MY storage banks) is STOLI. That was short one letter and did NOT help with crosses.
“SILENTx” answers (no matter what ‘x’ is) drive me nuts. Hate em!!
In my book, a PLASMA TV (or any other TV in the modern age) is NOT a piece of furniture. MY family’s first TV was a Magnavox: Black and White and mounted inside a wooden cabinet along with an AM/FM radio and a record player. THAT was “furniture” in my mind.
The clue for JOHNS was too long a reach for me - - but cleverrrrr!
The rest - at least in retrospect - was “fair and honest”. An enjoyable puzzle.
But where’s the community outrage at the inclusion of JIHAD in our puzzle??? It’s at least as offensive as references to guns and the NRA. Its purpose and intent are unambiguous, violent and opposite to the values that most of us hold dear.
2
@PeterW
“SILENTx” answers..."
ARANTXA
The puzzle does not refer to PLASMA TV as furniture, but rather a fixture, so no argument there. I agree that my first TV was more a piece of furniture than any useful device. More time was spent fiddling with the rabbit ears and the vertical hold than watching any program!
Personally, no complaint with JIHAD as clued.
3
"Personally, no complaint with JIHAD as clued."
Likewise.
4
two words:
Cru
Sade
sheesh
1
ASA GRAY had a lifelong obsession with Shortia Galacifolia — his proverbial white whale. Known as the Acony Bell, it is only found in the mountains of North Carolina. Gillian Welch has a song of that same name and you can hear David Rawlings accompany her using either a BANJOPICK or CLAWHAMMER technique.
3
A**ES in the Mini (ok for the grid, but for the EMUS? Probably not)... JOHNS clued as "Going Places?" and MOONED clued as "Rear-ended?"?
Gray Lady... you're letting your hair down madam! :-)
Perfect level of Friday challenge for this solver. The entries mentioned in my opening sentence made me chuckle, and there were some fun entries to keep me interested.
Such a crazy day yesterday that I didn't have time to get to the Wordplay blog. I haven't yet read today's comments, but I'm assuming that they're kinder and gentler than yesterday's! 😅
2
@Steve Faiella
I forgot to mention that I *did* read yesterday's blog this morning... too late to participate but not too late to comment on... My kingdom for an EDIT function!! 😄
2
Oh no Mr. Bill: CLAYMAYTION!
Friend and I constructed a finger waving animation as a part of the development of a shaming app. The basic idea is one holds out one’s phone, the finger waves, as TSK TSKS scroll across the screen.
Smooth solve except for the vodka part. Son and I will watch the Falcons go down in flames Sunday and I will make it a point to review bottle labels.
Nice one Pete
2
@dk
The "Mr. Bill" sketches on SNL always made me guffaw! Poor Mr. Bill... so trusting... so gentle... and so unrecognizable by the end of the segment.
1
A Friday puzzle for the AGES. I enjoyed every minute of it, working through DOGgedly without any NAPs.
I love a good CLAWHAMMER session. Like my BANJO-player friends say, "It's not as bad as you think!"
3
After yesterday's puzzle, which I enjoyed as a Friday, this one solved for me like a themeless Wednesday. I'm hoping for a Saturday-like Saturday and a Thursday-like Sunday.
5
Wow. A futile first pass with barely an AGES here and a TIPS and RAGE there. Then ASA GRAY said hello and boom went the SW, then, steadily, the SE, mid-region, NE, and with a bit of a stutter, the NW. Such a solve, from zero to hero, is kind of a cliche in the comments here, but it rarely happens to me, and when it does, it is memorable and a sign of a rare and talented construction. Peter, please, more like this, and thank you!
14
loved this puzzle and its many puns and misdirections. such a relief from yesterday!
11
LETTER BOXED THREAD
Weird one today - 2 words that I didn't think would be accepted, were! Both from the 'urban dictionary' I think:
P-B(9), B-I(7)
... will work on more mainstream solutions...
Yesterday:
INGEST THRUWAY
EYEWASH HURTING
4
Got them, again, only with your help. Thanks! Hoping to continue to follow your tips until I develop the skills to goit alone. Really appreciate your guidance,
1
@Amy You said it! For me, Mari has created an interest in this puzzle that I can sense may develop into a pleasant obsession! So helpful!!
@Mary @Amy Thank you both. The puzzle will definitely get easier for you if you do it regularly - and, yes, it can become an obsession! I have learned to set a time-limit on my Letter-Boxed puzzling, as it can consume hours if you let it ...😍 When I started it, I found it very difficult to find even a 3- or 4- word solution, but with the help of others on this forum, soon got to know the tricks and shortcuts.
Enjoyable puzzle! My daughter wanted me to say “STAN BTS!” to you all. I told her there’d be no BTS STANs amongst cruciverbalists. YOLO made her cringe so I told her to put her earphones back on and stop monitoring my puzzle solving progress. Maybe she’s taking a slight interest?
One of my favorite boy bands was AHA, with their now-overplayed “Take on Me.” I wonder if they have been used as a clue for this word before?
ALAS, I got SVEDKA right away. 🍸
Have a wonderful Friday!
13
@Pani Korunova
Twice, apparently, out of 582 total appearances (AHA as the music group).
@Pani Korunova
The phrase "Take On Me" grated on my ears, as very ungrammatical, and not in a "we say it anyway" like "ain't" is. Therefore I never had much love for A-ha, or a-ha, as I think their name was styled.
@Pani Korunova I too was somewhat mortified I got this instantly not from the K, not from the V but from -just- the D.
To pile on a bit, yesterday's puzzle was not my cup of tea (nor shot of vodka) but I heartily raise a glass to today's excellent offering!
SPELLING BEE GRID
G A L R U V Y
Nov 8th 2019
Words: 26, Points: 106: Panagrams: 1
A x 7
G x 12
L x 2
R x 1
U x 1
V x 3
4L x 11
5L x 8
6L x 3
7L x 2
8L x 2
4 5 6 7 8 Tot
A 2 2 1 2 - 7
G 7 5 - - - 12
L - 1 - - 1 2
R 1 - - - - 1
U 1 - - - - 1
V - - 2 - 1 3
Tot 11 8 3 2 2 26
45
@Mari Thank you for the Spelling Bee grid, and thank you @Kevin Davis for hints.
My brain must be too tired at 1am, because I was missing some fairly obvious words even though I quickly found some others that are generally not as well known. Perhaps I need more time to L8 instead of working.
First two letter list:
AG-1, AL-2, AR-1, AU-3
GA-4, GR-2, GU-6
LA-2
RA-1
UG-1
VA-1, VU-2
20
@Mari No RAGU, and no GLUG. I got the 3 V-words immediately - they seemed to pop out. The last to fall was an A6 - found by adding a 'Y' to an A5. Pretty straightforward today, if you remember the well-used (in the Bee) L8 word meaning 'to idle'.
5
@Mari
Hints for the L5, please.
SPELLING BEE
26 words 106 points 1 pangram
A x 7, G x 12, L x 2, R x 1, U x 1, V x 3
8
@Kevin Davis a few unusual words. One meaning prediction. 3 words with that root. A plant used as a food additive as a gum. An Indian music term that sounds similar to a Jamaican music term. An obscure (to me) noun that means inexplicable change from the same root as a more common word meaning unclear.
5
A Friday solved in under an hour without any google or IMDb help!
BEERME!
28
@Bill in Yokohama
Congratulations !! On tough days, I use Google in two ways --
1. Complete lack of knowledge (NBA JAM) This can be difficult, as I swear off the "crossword solution" links that lead the search results.
2. Checking an cross entry with which I am unfamiliar (GLOK, ASA GRAY, SVEDKA).
1
@RAH
I take it you didn’t quite grok GROK.
Following up on the indignation over yesterday’s puzzle, as a newb, I sincerely have to ask:
What that really the worst puzzle in years (I believe some said, the worst puzzle ever)? Or does the crowd say this every couple of months?
Am I just lucky to have encountered the worst puzzle in years, one month into my nyt journey? I don’t have enough data points
7
@Newbie I have not been solving the puzzle long enough to say something is the 'worst ever'. But yesterday's puzzle, in my view, was more focused on the admittedly clever trick with the diamonds than it was on being a fun solve.
today's puzzle, in my view, was a joy - clever misdirections, but 'gettable' without having to know too many obscure names or weird sports teams.
most crossword puzzlers, I would guess, are people who like words and wordplay (hence the name of Deb's column). That is what makes it fun. Dragging in weird, obscure names just to make your theme work - not as much fun, in my view.
19
@Newbie
I missed yesterday’s comments because I had to make myself finish yesterday’s puzzle just to start today’s. Didn’t enjoy it. I think any mass displeasure was justified. Today was much better!
3
@Newbie
If we're still talking about it today, that should tell you something. And it isn't necessarily a good thing.
9
My mother, Lorraine Waxman Pearce, loved to do the Puzzle, and mentioned to me that there often was a correspondence in the puzzles from day to day.
E.G., In Thursday’s Puzzle, we had SILENT I. In today’s Puzzle, we have SILENT C.
Of course, sometimes the Mini gives a little foreshadowing of a Main Puzzle clue.
Anyway, for anyone wanting a little bit of an intriguing history experience, put my Mom’s name into Google and / or Google>Images. There was a NYTimes obit in March or April 2017. Enjoy 😊! She was one of the good ones!
23
@David Scott Pearce
Thank you for sharing the information about your late mother. She was clearly already amazing in her early 20s, when many people are just barely waking up from their adolescent slumbers. I can only imagine the tension with the First Lady if your mom was as outspoken as she must have been, and also because your mom was quite a beauty. This was a delight!
8
@David Scott Pearce
Brilliant, beautiful . . . and a crossword fan. She must have been a wonderful mother and I’m sure you miss her, as I miss mine. Here’s a link to her obituary, which is well worth the read (she invented the position of White House curator during the Kennedy years):
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/07/us/lorraine-waxman-pearce-dead-white-house-curator-for-kennedy.html
10
@David Scott Pearce Wow, she sounds like she was an incredible woman!
1
"You only live once." (Not according to the recent NYT interview with Shirley McClaine nor an old James Bond film.)
I had to retrofit that to YOLO after running the alphabet to get the Y. Feeling smug since I began my short run with Z following yesterday's precedent with AZOLE/FREZONE.
3
Yolo is also a county in California, where UC-Davis is located.
2
Mr. Wentz, I think your original clue for STAN was appropriate for a puzzle that also includes GEEK OUT. Along those lines, I was surprised at seeing GROK, a word I used to explain to my husband how I just "know" some xword answers! Heinlein's "Stranger in a Strange Land" was my favorite book in my herbal tea-drinking, Birkenstock-wearing high school years. Awesome Friday puzzle!
11
@MichelleB Grok is one of my favorite words. There really is no substitute for it.
also a big Heinlein fan. Never did have any Birkenstock's though.
6
@MichelleB I always think of GROK as more like go crazy over, not Comprehend. Anybody?
@childishgrambina - nope, you learned the word wrong. It has a history, an origin and a meaning.
https://www.etymonline.com/word/grok
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grok
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grok
1
Oak's nice.
4
@Joe Bucks "You must be Bret"?
@Joe Bucks
I can’t believe this is the same car.
I thought today’s puzzle was brilliant. The clueing sensational.
I almost fell out my chair when I saw STAN.
MOONED was a bit CHEEKY-er than I expected for this venerable crossword. And WETNAP, a bit too lowbrow...
41Down, I had MULLETT, then FROHAWK. was a bit disappointed it was only FLATTOP...
But after reading Caitlin and comments, I still don’t get the DOGNAP clue or answer. Can someone patient spell this out for me?
I thought TSKTSKS was a little “unfair” as an answer, but hopefully I’ll catalog that one.
5
@Newbie
Okay. I just looked up DOGNAP. I just assumed it was similar to taking a catnap. Do people really steal other people’s dogs? Is that a thing so prevalent it needs an OED entry? Wow
2
@Newbie it happens more often than you'd think. I used to work with dogs at a boarding facility in NYC, and an old clients dog was once stolen from her apartment. It was a puppy who hadn't been spayed yet, and a very popular breed of dog, so breeding it and selling the puppies meant big bucks twice a year. Sadly, overbreeding female dogs a common form of animal abuse that isn't talked about often. Dogs are also stolen to be used as "bait dogs" in fighting rings, a grotesque practice that is rampant despite it being illegal and coming with hefty fines. There is also a well known story in my hometown of a standard poodle (a show dog, in fact) stolen from the owner's backyard. Weeks later it was found in a back room of the city's animal shelter - they had been trying to sell it for a fortune because it was a very well-bred, desirable animal.
PS: please adopt and don't shop! puppies from pet stores often come from cruel "puppy mills" and there are millions of perfectly wonderful dogs waiting for warm safe homes - many of which are euthanized simply because there isn't enough space or resources to house and feed them all.
19
@Megan Osztrosits
What you SAID!!
My local shelter sends a large van to Tennessee - TWICE A MONTH - to bring back 30 or so puppies for spay/neuter and adoption. (They would, otherwise, be euthanized.)
Greeting, bathing, cuddling the puppies is the hottest ticket on our volunteer activities list - and this usually happens at 9-11 at night!
The puppies are generally adopted in very short order.
It’s too bad that puppy mills and negligent breeding by owners cannot be more effectively controlled.
5
I reached my DATA CAP looking up answers yesterday and today
I know the SILENT (letter) is fair game in crosswords but they make the SILENT I groan not so silently "enough"
6
@ColoradoZ
Also, I might be the only person who doesn't elide in the pronunciation but I say mis-cell-a-ne-us. No SILENT C
5
@ColoradoZ
Agreed. That’s why the answer should be silentO...
3
@ColoradoZ
In “normal” pronunciation, either the ‘C’ or the ‘S’ IS silent.
MW gives the following for the phonetics:
mi-sə-ˈlā-nē-əs
Same number of syllables as you suggest - but only ONY sibilant sound at/between the first two.
Your suggested pronunciation would sound strange to MY ear.
Had to work this one bottom to top. Ironically it was GLACIAL that finally got me moving on the top half.
5
This was just too full of obscure clues for me to enjoy. Had to resort to Wordplay and eventually the answer key. Discouraging.
5
@Tom Devine
I'm wondering how you fared yesterday...
3
@Tom Devine
Oooooh. I hope you didn’t suffer awfully much with yesterday’s puzzle.
Nice to see CLAWHAMMER and BANJO in the same puzzle. However, BANJO PICKS are generally called thumb picks or finger picks, which can also be used on other stringed instruments such as guitars and Dobros.
7
When I see the word claymation, I only think of two things - Gumby and Eddie Murphy playing Gumby on SNL.
8
Wallace and Gromet for me!
7
You youngsters!
Mr. Bill, 1976. "Oh, no!"
2
@Barry Ancona
Although Gumby predates Mr. Bill by a long shot.
2
Started out at GLACIAL pace -- then picked UP speed at a pretty good RATE. Fun clues in DOG NAP and JOHNS!
3
I finished but must confess that I don't GROK the clue/fill for STAN and DEER. 😐
3
Dear (insert image of a deer) Carol,
An image of a DEER would be the beginning of a rebus letter to someone. If it were a Dear John Letter, a deer followed by a toilet bowl perhaps.
I learned from a prior puzzle that STAN is slang for an ardent fan, and can be made into a verb.
8
@Just Carol
STAN is "modern slang" for an obsessed fan, from a song of the same name by Eminem.
DEER is a homonym of "dear", which is the start of a letter. When creating a rebus (like they used to do in the old show Concentration), a picture of the former stands in for the latter. Or the letter.
9
@Puzzlemaker
@Steve L
Thanks for explaining the DEER 🦌 (which I’m embarrassed I didn’t get).
And for STAN as well. Appreciate y’all.
😃
10
Along with "Shaun the Sheep", Nick Park and his company (Aardman Animations) did the classic Wallace and Gromit movies - must-see films for fans of claymation and British humor.
A favorite clip from "A Grand Day Out", wherein Wallace and Gromit venture to the moon in search of cheese (a bit of Wensleydale, presumably):
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0qagA4_eVQ
6
@RichardZ My favorite part is when the rocket takes off and the mice put on sun glasses.
6
SILENT C meet SILENT I. I think you’ll be “Friends.”
My NE had more erasures and put-backs than a seating chart for a White House dinner party. ON ITS END finally got me to the end. Loved seeing CLAWHAMMER up there near BANJO. Reminds me of the Carolina Chocolate Drops with a rollicking cover of Blu Cantrell’s “Hit ‘Em Up Style”:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lPl8qlKq41o
(As the former person of a Pointer mix, I was a little saddened by seeing DOGNAP. I know it’s been done before and it’s all in good fun, but it’s a personal nit for me. Dognapping does happen, and it’s not funny).
10
@Puzzlemucker
Rhiannon Giddens is one of those people about whom you wonder why she isn't more famous than she is.
7
@Steve L
Could not agree more. Her solo stuff is outrageously good. I love this video of her and was happy for a chance to link to it.
2
@Steve L We saw her perform live in September! She is amazingly talented!
3
How do we know that it's the "c" and not the first "s" that's silent in "miscellaneous"? Or can we even be sure that there's a silent letter in there at all?
12
@Mark
It's one of the Ls. Let's keep this between "Friends."
15
I had DOUBLE L at first.
2
@David Meyers , Me too for the double L
1
That was a toughie. Still 4 minutes better than Friday average.
1
It doesn’t pay to know too much about a subject that is the subject of one of the clues. E.g, clawhammer banjo does NOT use a pick! It is a technique of hitting the strings with the fingernails and plucking the high string with the thumb! Crudely explained.
3
@Ed Rudolph
I don't think it's cut and dried, or at least not anymore -- you can definitely buy picks specifically for "clawhammer" style. I'm going to amend though because, by Crowe, I'm certainly no expert!
https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/do-you-need-a-clawhammer-banjo-pick
Claw hammer style, also known as frailing, is best played with the nail of the hammer finger, but sometimes when I break my fingernail I resort to using a fingerpick backwards
4