tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78699832348425070442024-03-18T23:22:21.357-04:00Horace and Frances discuss the New York Times Crossword PuzzleHorace and Frances and Colum, three ordinary people who enjoy doing crossword puzzles, discuss the New York Times crossword puzzle.Horace Fawleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04676932991883111336noreply@blogger.comBlogger4038125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7869983234842507044.post-38921496482998563142024-03-18T23:21:00.001-04:002024-03-18T23:21:38.029-04:00Tuesday, March 19 2014, Lynn Lempel<p> </p><p>Today's puzzle has a neat device. The four theme answers are common expressions whose first four-letter words (or, in one case, syllable) can be read as two two-letter words; and the resulting phrases are clued accordingly:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>MA<i>IN</i>DRAG </b>- "Parent dressed up at a Pride parade, perhaps?"</li><li><b>DO<i>OR</i>NAILS</b> - "Choice between a haircut and manicure?"</li><li><b>BE<i>AT</i>THECLOCK </b>- "'Meet me under Big Ben'?"</li><li><b>GO<i>ON</i>SQUAD </b>- "'Continue with your routine, cheerleaders'?"</li></ul><p></p><p>See what's going on? These are fun, goofy and just a little contrived. I like that the last two, when re-parsed, are commands. I also liked having to get to these indirectly - with enough crossers to make the answers apparent, and then seeing how the clues make sense. Definitions for the 'original' phrases are nowhere to be found.</p><p>I'm not sold on the revealer - <b>HALFTIME </b>- supposed to be a hint to interpreting the first parts of the above. I guess .. split them in HALF? I dunno. I feel like I might be missing something. Comments?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/Q0TVOh0iJ3gTQYfO-vVngbDgBqtEkTukYYUgQCxEAx3ENzx4DPx6ROvbOaGkBQMVOcb1xlhBuq61h2pa069GJwqFHRPkHEjc4_9F_u-b5geoUTgJHI004YUw9LFxHdE2GueSR7Xy-k4xdlluLHfHB38=s1600" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="278" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/Q0TVOh0iJ3gTQYfO-vVngbDgBqtEkTukYYUgQCxEAx3ENzx4DPx6ROvbOaGkBQMVOcb1xlhBuq61h2pa069GJwqFHRPkHEjc4_9F_u-b5geoUTgJHI004YUw9LFxHdE2GueSR7Xy-k4xdlluLHfHB38=w494-h278" title="SEA LION" width="494" /></a></div><p>The rest of the grid was easy peasy, though I lost time in the NE corner by entering HIGHTOP instead of <b>COUNTER </b>as a "Booth alternative at a diner". This is the kind of speculative grid entry I need to avoid at the ACPT.... Are erotica and <b>PORN </b>really synonymous? ... Clever to have two 'Q'-themed Down clues side by side (<b>TAB </b>is next to Q on the keyboard, and the Q in LGBTQ is <b>QUEER</b>)</p><p>I have fond memories of pigging out on <b>CAPN </b>Crunch as a child, as gross as it made me feel afterward. </p><p>I enjoyed this one. See you tomorrow!</p><p>-philbo</p>Philbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08043217968097552604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7869983234842507044.post-9260286012735520482024-03-17T22:04:00.001-04:002024-03-17T22:04:35.624-04:00Monday, March 18 2024, Trent H. Evans<p><br /></p><p>I write this with a bit of a heavy heart tonight, having just learned of Will Shortz's recent stroke. I hope you all join me in wishing him a full and speedy recovery.</p><p>Today's puzzle zooms out as you progress down the grid. To wit - the theme answers:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>SISTER<i>CITY</i> </b>- what a "twin town" is called in Europe (and Canada as well)</li><li><b>PURPLE<i>STATE</i> </b>- hotly contested in a US election (this was new to me!)</li><li><b>HOST<i>COUNTRY</i> </b>- Paris, for the upcoming summer Olympics</li><li><b>ALIEN<i>WORLD</i></b> - ET's home, to us</li></ul><div>Too bad there wasn't room for a fifth clue; e.g. "Arnold Schwarzenegger, in 1968-1970" - MR<i>UNIVERSE</i>! At any rate, this was neat mild Monday fare.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://uploads5.wikiart.org/images/salvador-dali.jpg!Portrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="313" src="https://uploads5.wikiart.org/images/salvador-dali.jpg!Portrait.jpg" title="Salvador DALI" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Not much else to report, looking through the grid. Interesting that an <b>ALOHAPARTY </b>happens when one <i>leaves </i>Hawaii....I did stumble slightly on "Store sign lit up during business hours" - I entered NEON and grumbled a bit, to the effect that NEON isn't a sign, it's what's IN the sign - but that was just a big red herring, as the answer was the much better <b>OPEN</b>... Did you know <b>ALEX </b>Trebek was born in Canada? Well, didja?</div><p></p><p>Incidentally, the grid comes to within a Q, a V and a Z from covering the alphabet. So close! I wonder if Mr. Evans thought of having a go at the pangram, but it just couldn't be made to work.</p><p>I give myself a C- for this review. Tomorrow will be a better day. See you then!</p><p>-philbo</p>Philbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08043217968097552604noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7869983234842507044.post-7671789997930730662024-03-17T14:44:00.000-04:002024-03-17T14:44:03.374-04:00Sunday, March 17 2024, Simeon Seigel<p>In preparing for today's review, at a time when a whiff - a soupcon - of existentialism has crept its way into this blog - I observed something I don't think I've seen before: the last four crosswords, starting from last Thursday, have a new editor - Joel Fagliano instead of our beloved Will Shortz. What's up, I wonder.. well, everybody needs a break from time to time! Mr. Shortz may be conserving the energy he will surely need to control the unruly hordes at the ACPT in a few weeks...</p><p>But on to the business at hand. It was apparent very early what the theme was - American tourist attractions - after 2D "Attraction in 69-Across that's part of America's first national park", which, the first two letters already in the grid, was the write-in <b>OLDFAITHFUL</b>. Similarly, the attractions in the seven other theme clues were sufficiently well-known to allow writing them in with just a few crossers - without really reading the clues themselves, all of which refer to '69-Across', and that clue is where the true cleverness lies - it could be either <b>THE<i>N</i>O<i>R</i>TH<i>WE</i>ST </b>or <b>THE<i>S</i>OU<i>T</i>H<i>EA</i>ST</b> or either of the other two US quadrants, thanks to four crossing clues that can each be answered in two different ways:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>"Division for a tennis match" = <b><i>N</i>ET </b>or <b><i>S</i>ET</b></li><li>"Word before fly" = <b>HO<i>R</i>SE </b>or <b>HO<i>U</i>SE</b></li><li>"'No' in a certain dialect" = <b>NA<i>E</i> </b>or <b>NA<i>W</i></b></li><li>"Touch gently" = <b>P<i>A</i>T </b>or <b>P<i>E</i>T</b>.</li></ul><div>I was oblivious to this until after completing the puzzle (and finding the typo that caused the "Grrr" message). On the last clue above, as I entered PAT, I wondered if it might turn out to be PET, and didn't think anything more of it. I could have twigged right then, but no! Anyway, this is a very cool device. Bravo Mr. Seigel!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Katrina_2005-08-29_1415Z.jpg/640px-Katrina_2005-08-29_1415Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Katrina_2005-08-29_1415Z.jpg/640px-Katrina_2005-08-29_1415Z.jpg" title="Hurricane KATRINA" width="481" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>All good otherwise. It took me longer than it should have to suss out <b>ONTARIAN </b>for "Person living in London". I do have a minor beef with "Didn't swipe right?" (<b>STOLE</b>). Is there really a right and a wrong way to swipe something? Also, does "America" really end with a <b>SCHWA</b>? Or do we foreigners put undue emphasis on that last vowel? I'd never heard of <b>SOCA </b>as a Caribbean music genre, but OK - learn something new every day ... Particularly liked <b>WARROOM </b>as a "General meeting place" - took me a while to "get" that one. And it is technically true that <b>SHINS </b>are "attached to their calves", though the anatomist in me raises its eyebrows slightly.</div><div><br /></div><div>That's all you get today. Nice fun Sunday puzzle. See you tomorrow!</div><div><br /></div><div>-philbo</div><p></p><p><br /></p>Philbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08043217968097552604noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7869983234842507044.post-43617711846119806222024-03-16T10:43:00.003-04:002024-03-16T10:47:24.115-04:00March 16, 2024, Carly Schuna<div>A marginally longer solve this week for Saturday than Friday, as is traditional, but I still completed the puzzle in under 30 minutes (26:10). The clever ambiguity of many C/APs today initially led me down the wrong path. There were great ones in both the QMC and non-QMC categories today including:</div><div><br /></div><div>"Fluffy toy, familiarly" (<b>POM</b>) - I was thinking Furby or some such.</div><div>"Without a compass, say" (<b>AMORAL</b>) - I was a bit at sea on this one</div><div>"Metal worker's union" (<b>SOLDER</b>) - oh, *that* kind of union :)</div><div>And how about "Took the lead?" (<b>ERASED</b>) - ha! I was off the mark for a long time on this one.</div><div><br /></div><div>Other QMC's of note were "Small bit of mint?" (<b>DIME</b>) and "Dog park?" for <b>FOOTREST</b>. In the latter case, I immediately twigged to the answer category, but it took me a few crosses to get to the actual answer. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlztbaMVHYSENuJnuikLsNbJc7oC22fx7E2046mGaAzvb74-2KIbsdSvzcqXkcJCu5gnbkGoZ2C6eEcggU6xvdmwTzvZyA5oUa-kPBlRUotYKjV809oUbU1vxg8O8Go_c1GrxhYeNIsaG3yikkmUfVWcQkcMNqxJZ6oPIfdlehxMrpa2K4lfLLsbV9UM/s500/platelet_center.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="58A: PLATELET" border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="500" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlztbaMVHYSENuJnuikLsNbJc7oC22fx7E2046mGaAzvb74-2KIbsdSvzcqXkcJCu5gnbkGoZ2C6eEcggU6xvdmwTzvZyA5oUa-kPBlRUotYKjV809oUbU1vxg8O8Go_c1GrxhYeNIsaG3yikkmUfVWcQkcMNqxJZ6oPIfdlehxMrpa2K4lfLLsbV9UM/w400-h261/platelet_center.jpg" title="58A: PLATELET" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Activated platelet (center)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>I enjoyed the top corner C/AP's "Word of elaboration" (<b>ALSO</b>) and "Elaborate" (<b>ADD</b>). I also liked "Settle" for <b>PAY</b>,<b> </b>and both the clue "Wallop" and answer <b>PASTE</b>. For some reason, the answer <b>CAGE </b>for "'National Treasure'" star made me LOL. Interesting bit about Google displaying results at an angle when <b>ASKEW </b>is searched. I have got to check that out for myself when I am next online (I am currently hurtling westward in a car). [Update: Results *are" askew! It's a little freaky, but cool]. I was not so keen on "Alveoli, e.g." (<b>SACS</b>) and <b>WETS</b>, but maybe that's just me. There was a great supporting cast of fine fill like <b>AMBLE</b>, <b>DEEPFAKE</b>, <b>DEBUNK</b>, <b>PRONTO</b>, <b>MELODIC</b>, and <b>STROPHE</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>I fear my career as the world's next great detective has suffered a blow. Despite looking under the puzzle's info button every day for the name of the constructor to begin the review, I noticed only today that the puzzle's editor by-line changed from Will Shortz to Joe Fagliano. I went back and looked at the week's earlier puzzles and noticed that it's been Mr. Fagliano since Thursday. I turned to Google and found a brief NPR piece about Mr. Shortz having some recent health issues. I'm sure I can speak for all of us here at HAFDTNYTCPFCA-ANAP in wishing Mr. Shortz a speedy recovery. </div><div><br /></div><div>~Frannie.</div>Frances Pagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08474350868613802857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7869983234842507044.post-91333117667938264902024-03-15T10:04:00.002-04:002024-03-15T10:04:11.178-04:00Friday, March 15, 2024, Daniel GrinbergAfter hunting down a FWOE, I finished the puzzle with a pleasing time of 23:24, which made up slightly for the delay and the <b>CARELESSMISTAKE</b>. The problem turned out to be that I had spelled <b>PHILLISWHEATLEY </b>with an initial Y. My brain didn't put up a fight against SHyLOH for some reason. Too soon?<div><br /></div><div>Under 25 with a FWOE is not bad for this solver. I luckily remembered <b>PECOS </b>from a recent (2/16) puzzle (and enjoyed the clever clue "Bill originating in Texas"), plus I immediately got two of the five grid-spanning entries (<b>ESPRESSOMARTINI </b>and <b>HALFTIMEREPORTS</b>) which helped speed me along. <b>EXTRAEXTRAEXTRA </b>was fun and fell into place pretty quickly once I filled in the first 'extra'.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9xzWQjCFci8tq0DVeAcReqvoe_nGZjH2WIdJQbRO66rAbIRQmqBUTnbu25NMq8wK4GuYJ-_dl9IPiDOpA0H0UXuVdNdqLYBRvvDB8lV9cBkHLPYpqdPFUv8CCVUusBqrGC8XPN4u60gDm22AfTcVN9buN3qw4yolQaCq0r4_DazPl6c0lwXcE-z6ErA/s1024/peat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="9D: PEAT" border="0" data-original-height="870" data-original-width="1024" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9xzWQjCFci8tq0DVeAcReqvoe_nGZjH2WIdJQbRO66rAbIRQmqBUTnbu25NMq8wK4GuYJ-_dl9IPiDOpA0H0UXuVdNdqLYBRvvDB8lV9cBkHLPYpqdPFUv8CCVUusBqrGC8XPN4u60gDm22AfTcVN9buN3qw4yolQaCq0r4_DazPl6c0lwXcE-z6ErA/w400-h340/peat.jpg" title="9D: PEAT" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Clue/Answer pairs ran the gamut today from really top drawer to less like<b>ABLE</b>. In the non-QMC category, I enjoyed "Raise" for <b>EXALT</b>, "Got taken for a ride, in a way" for <b>UBERED</b>, and my favorite today, "Nobody else can take it" for <b>SELFIE</b>. In the QMC department, I liked "Ground rule?" (<b>NOTV</b>), "Decks and floors, informally?" (<b>KOS</b>), and, in light of my new job, I especially enjoyed "Bit of deductive reasoning" (<b>TAXTIP</b>) - ha! As for ROIs, it was interesting to learn that the "Source of the words 'plaid' and 'trousers'" is <b>ERSE</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>OTH, there were a number of clue/answer pairs that either I didn't get or where I felt the aptness was out of <b>SYNC</b>. </div><div><div>"Put on blast" (<b>BASH</b>) - is that bash as in a party, or something else?</div><div>"More trifling" (<b>MERER</b>) - I did a search in Google, "use merer in a sentence" and it said, "did you mean meter?" </div><div>"Foul smell" (<b>REEK</b>) - seems odd used as a noun. </div><div>"Catchy tunes" (<b>BOPS</b>) - <b>EWW</b>. </div><div>"'My goodness!'" (<b>MAN</b>) - different registers, if you see what I mean.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Still, overall, the <b>HITRATE </b>was good. And we got some fine fill like <b>ROSTRA</b>, <b>WREST</b>, <b>CUSS</b>, and <b>METIER </b>to boot.</div><div><br /></div><div>~Frannie.</div>Frances Pagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08474350868613802857noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7869983234842507044.post-85122371475114237962024-03-14T09:46:00.004-04:002024-03-14T09:46:55.679-04:00Thursday, March 14, 2024, Jeffrey MartinovicA celebration of Pi, on this most aptest of days for it: 3.14. Although, it probably would actually have been most aptest in 1592. :) I also suddenly realize that Europe can't have <b>PIDAY</b>. Sad. <div><br /></div><div>Anyhoo, in addition to a depiction of the symbol for pi in the center of the grid, the puzzle features two scientists who each had a significant life event occur on this day: <b>STEPHENHAWKING </b>(death, 2018) and <b>ALBERTEINSTEIN </b>(birth, 1879). Both names span the 14 rows of the grid, while <b>THETOWEROFBABEL </b>spans all 15 columns. combine these two numbers with 7D (<b>THREE</b>) and you get 3.1415. Genuis! :) As a bonus, we also find mathematician <b>EULER</b> in the grid. If Huygens is still doing the puzzles, I'm guessing he'll like this one. </div><div><br /></div><div>[SPOILER ALERT: skip this paragraph if you haven't done Connections yet but plan to.] In what is very unlikely to be a crossover event, Connections had a category that included a homophone of today's puzzle celebrant along with three compatriots Moo, New, and Row. I found this, the blue category, more difficult than the purple category. One person's meat ... </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-lfwpsdsnPZmvVRu-gk-UKSQQd0ntGPSSB_zED5D6lKxWjq8Bn6Rx8upo4tRBIou4GKNzUxhV9VC0_4Xb9ClsrqcuQdlMvF2-VW31JCo2sPHW_74c0QoPHyfWFZu7POFdAXS5hvvDzdJfdXfErrwhyphenhyphenHlyRUrAH-Cy2YmqUqZ7NLM9uh58OZj6BI4BDq8/s1280/madelbrotset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="33: PIDAY" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-lfwpsdsnPZmvVRu-gk-UKSQQd0ntGPSSB_zED5D6lKxWjq8Bn6Rx8upo4tRBIou4GKNzUxhV9VC0_4Xb9ClsrqcuQdlMvF2-VW31JCo2sPHW_74c0QoPHyfWFZu7POFdAXS5hvvDzdJfdXfErrwhyphenhyphenHlyRUrAH-Cy2YmqUqZ7NLM9uh58OZj6BI4BDq8/w400-h300/madelbrotset.jpg" title="33: PIDAY" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The Mandelbrot set can be used to approximate pi</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Now, back to our regularly scheduled program. In addition to the two scientists mentioned above there were a couple of other nice paired clues including "Last in a series" (<b>NTH </b>and <b>ETAL</b>), <b>PURPLEPROSE </b>(Colorful language?) and <b>MAGENTA</b> ("Purplish red"), and <b>IPAS </b>and <b>ALES</b>, both "Some craft drafts, for short."</div><div><br /></div><div>The shape of the grid resulted in a significant number of three-letter answers, but that both seems fitting and, IMHO, most of the C/APs in this category held their own pretty well. If that's what it takes to salute pi, I'm all for it. Mmmm, pi.</div><div><br /></div><div>~Frannie.</div>Frances Pagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08474350868613802857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7869983234842507044.post-74667586555071171462024-03-13T08:15:00.002-04:002024-03-14T08:35:28.236-04:00Wednesday, March 13, 2024, Drew SchmennerIn a timely nod to March Madness, today's four theme answers all end with the sound <span class="transcribed_word">fɔː, as does the explanatory revealer itself: <b>FINALFOUR</b>. The constructor gets points for the range of sources and formulas used to spell the same sound in English: common phrases, actors, and my favorite, an ancient apparatus used to transmit a visual signal over long distances. According to the Wikipedia, March Madness - the NCAA variety - is one of the biggest annual sporting events in the U.S. It's not the kind of thing I'm super <b>ALERT </b>to, but I'll <b>WAGER </b>most solvers out there already knew that. :) I couldn't help thinking that it would have been cool if all instances of the final "for" had used four letters, even though I realize that's irrelevant and a bridge too far.</span><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOug4MXdRSO52rHC3bPJOAC6yjFULTbZIsytV9DgdpTMlnVouJlLJKhRA2pl0Ypl62xbcl92Jv-mee-647t7n94HQGYQb9I2-mEhyphenhyphene06g4bWR_INDmyrBUAVG4KbZQHjhJcnpYs0g5EM6lk3jD_ei8QS-0-2WOpqp9Ql59hFRUipaZ7F_dzsNd1L1moMs/s1920/semaphore.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="18A: SEMAPHORE" border="0" data-original-height="1357" data-original-width="1920" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOug4MXdRSO52rHC3bPJOAC6yjFULTbZIsytV9DgdpTMlnVouJlLJKhRA2pl0Ypl62xbcl92Jv-mee-647t7n94HQGYQb9I2-mEhyphenhyphene06g4bWR_INDmyrBUAVG4KbZQHjhJcnpYs0g5EM6lk3jD_ei8QS-0-2WOpqp9Ql59hFRUipaZ7F_dzsNd1L1moMs/w400-h283/semaphore.jpg" title="18A: SEMAPHORE" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><div>The C/AP "Dampens" for <b>WET </b>struck me as something of an icky double dribble, but champion clues include the <b>MIXEDMETAPHOR </b>at 23A: "'When the going gets tough, the early bird gets the worm,' e.g." Heh. <b>SAMOA </b>things I liked were the bit of etymology for crossword darling <b>ODE </b>("Work whose name comes from the Greek for 'sing'"), and the C/APs "Whatever floats your boat!" for <b>SEA </b>and "Unworthy of debate" (<b>MOOT</b>). Also, a shoutout to the rarely-seen <b>RARED</b>. We scored big with fun fill including <b>SNORT</b>, <b>TROMP</b>, <b>AGAPE</b>, and <b>JAMB</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Best swishes to all for an exciting tournament.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="transcribed_word">~Frannie.</span></div></div>Frances Pagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08474350868613802857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7869983234842507044.post-58175648481653207472024-03-12T09:24:00.010-04:002024-03-12T09:24:59.534-04:00Tuesday, March 12, 2024, Andrew Kingsley and Garrett ChalfinI felt like today's puzzle was singing my song. As a non-musical person, I embraced the exhortation in today's revealer, <b>READMUSIC</b>, to reinterpret musical notes as text messages. So Ab (A flat) is <b>APARTMENT</b>, B# is <b>LOOKALIVE</b>, and my favorite today, E#, is <b>TECHSAVVY</b>, which is nice first because it's a clever interpretation of the musical note and second because 'savvy' has two vees in it. That makes it fun. :)<div><br /></div><div>Overall, my solve tempo was vivace. My one miscue occurred early when I entered 'stAge' at 1D for "Field of play?" instead of the correct <b>DRAMA</b>. I particularly enjoyed the northeast corner that contained <b>SATAY</b>, <b>PREGO</b>, <b>ARTISTE</b>, <b>AGHA</b>, and <b>NIHAO </b>- a veritable UN of answers!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbcYtBF4WdqxQnMeiuqtR2Z-RNEaxIBinvhCb6Vj2rPWkpqfQHAVypcyt80sVIU4PuWOXniCKpVdrEOxUvDX0w9lgSvwlt0RrjQ6xYdVBAZITa44XihvOvOaHUPFHZUwviMG6AdHUli4aL4azbU0bXsks9IdLl7d_F6W8b21m2zElcAfO7vafc3DZdCA/s1024/pisa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="26A: PISA" border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="774" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbcYtBF4WdqxQnMeiuqtR2Z-RNEaxIBinvhCb6Vj2rPWkpqfQHAVypcyt80sVIU4PuWOXniCKpVdrEOxUvDX0w9lgSvwlt0RrjQ6xYdVBAZITa44XihvOvOaHUPFHZUwviMG6AdHUli4aL4azbU0bXsks9IdLl7d_F6W8b21m2zElcAfO7vafc3DZdCA/w303-h400/pisa.jpg" title="26A: PISA" width="303" /></a></div><br /><div>Other high notes for this solver were "Smallest unit of purchasing power, in an idiom" (<b>REDCENT</b>), "Shakespearean 'Tsk!'" (<b>FIE</b>), the shout outs to <b>MEL </b>Blanc, <b>BANKSY</b>, and <b>NARNIA</b>, and the self-referential <b>HAIKU </b>at 53D. The QMC "Show stoppers?" for <b>ADS</b> was a fun take on much-used fill. <b>POSIT </b>and <b>OPINE</b> in the southwest make a nice pairing. I also enjoy the emphatic expression <b>ANDHOW</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>The clue "Categorize" for <b>ASSORT </b>didn't <b>THRILL </b>me, but one cantata've everything. </div><div><br /></div><div>~Frannie.</div>Frances Pagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08474350868613802857noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7869983234842507044.post-31550172910192485972024-03-11T10:23:00.008-04:002024-03-11T10:23:50.064-04:00Monday, March 11, 2024, Rebecca Goldstein and Rachel FabiA fun and appetizing theme today featuring <b>THEHUNGERGAMES</b>, or various games with food items in their names: <b>APPLESTOAPPLES</b>, <b>PICKLEBALL</b>, <b>CORNHOLE</b>, and <b>CANDYCRUSH</b>. As a youth, my favorite would have been Candy Crush, but I've soured a bit as I've aged and I now tend to favor pickles. I haven't yet tried pickle ball itself, but I like the sound of it. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8TqrQQJFpbqQbklqUgQ72ZCLDm8H3yflGSJ1427_dMVVVhYDoLbX6JL5Tjo5Ar5PAdKc8hYiQYnKCuMjVXoTAlUPH5H_aubro1uLf6r_itoJmC9hnMVieFbPMTjXXjtjEvBa3lePjKZVNN7cenZlbgKl9IvzYLTw4Co8bI77G6zuoP6ShrJrSuEUBok/s314/conch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="48D: CONCH" border="0" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8TqrQQJFpbqQbklqUgQ72ZCLDm8H3yflGSJ1427_dMVVVhYDoLbX6JL5Tjo5Ar5PAdKc8hYiQYnKCuMjVXoTAlUPH5H_aubro1uLf6r_itoJmC9hnMVieFbPMTjXXjtjEvBa3lePjKZVNN7cenZlbgKl9IvzYLTw4Co8bI77G6zuoP6ShrJrSuEUBok/s16000/conch.jpg" title="48D: CONCH" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I thought the puzzle fell slightly to the harder side of Mondays. A number of the clues brought to mind multiple possible answers (kilo/<b>GRAM </b>; pond/<b>LAKE </b>; Bess/<b>ELLY</b>) which caused me to put those entries on hold and likely contributed to a slower solve time (6:05) for me. From what I know about solve times though, I'm sure others out there instantly grokked the answers and breezed right through. </div><div><br /></div><div>Clue/Answer pairs I particularly liked were "Hat's edge" (<b>BRIM</b>), "Ozs. and ozs." (<b>LBS</b>), and "Full of hot air" (<b>ALLTALK</b>). For references of interest we have Jean-Luc <b>PICARD</b>, a favorite captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise. There was a lot of good fill, too, including <b>KIOSKS</b>, <b>TINKERS</b>, <b>SCATHE</b>, and <b>BROGUE</b>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Has any visitor ever actually used a <b>SITEMAP </b>to navigate an internet resource? </div><div><br /></div><div>~Frannie.</div>Frances Pagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08474350868613802857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7869983234842507044.post-835631632755111452024-03-10T08:15:00.002-04:002024-03-10T08:15:15.228-04:00Sunday, March 10, 2024, Enrique Henestroza Anguiano and Matthew Stock<p>RACK 'EM UP</p><p>We enjoy a good game of Scrabble as much as the next word nerd, so this <b>TRIPLELETTERSCORE </b>theme was perfect for us. In Scrabble, the <i>points</i> are tripled, but here, the letter itself is tripled to make the Across answers work. And since it is only tripled and not sextupled, it remains a single letter in the Downs. Yes, I know, that makes four, but work with me...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyk-ufWVtdo9hN0od3tTRe2LdPQidq9rck0mAP6iL_mwntjJ-BuxKDLpD9YoB6jkhd6E4fkcm2wmCn77AVCz46MFxKbBpve9uh2u_CgD9y_ozYxxt8phW2tLzXKxUED36JBPZ-M76dVFPIoKUnWWvLhiHebIsCaKgmMVRaWv8oP1BCKAZdqjbnZgaVqY8/s464/toast.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="TOAST" border="0" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="464" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyk-ufWVtdo9hN0od3tTRe2LdPQidq9rck0mAP6iL_mwntjJ-BuxKDLpD9YoB6jkhd6E4fkcm2wmCn77AVCz46MFxKbBpve9uh2u_CgD9y_ozYxxt8phW2tLzXKxUED36JBPZ-M76dVFPIoKUnWWvLhiHebIsCaKgmMVRaWv8oP1BCKAZdqjbnZgaVqY8/w320-h180/toast.jpeg" title="TOAST (Something to butter up)" width="320" /></a></div><p>I thought for a moment the theme might be dog-related when the first two entries were <b>CRATE </b>(New dog owner's purchase) and <b>ASPCA </b>(Dog adoption grp.), but things were more normal after that, with crossword darlings <b>BTS </b>and <b>ALPS</b> rounding out the top row.</p><p>"Out-of-this-world outfit" (<b>SPACESUIT</b>) was cute, and "Pastoral setting?" (<b>PARISH</b>) was clever. And I was expecting something like "swf" for "Dating inits.," but no! It's <b>BCE</b>. Nice. </p><p>Is "Film archive bits" (<b>CLIPS</b>) a nod to the Oscars, happening later today? And is "Queen <b>BEE</b>" a reference to "Spelling Bee?" Oh, and what do we all think of "Strands?" Yesterday it didn't appear in the game menu on my laptop, but today it did, so I tried it out. For my money, it's about time someone improved upon the word search. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTtfdHoQgWRdmdL90nr3X268bUe-lv3drhN2xU3gmPHq5rLT3rC5DbN3dAshlhEdGuXbNOEigfvk0TYhPDUJMQ-zyhZ6OZubTRgIh6k6c3ZBu_YUhyphenhyphen8gtyqRH5Klpm2ITcZyRpRo-I-cvyL3r7U0wnmx1gJXTFON-i5FWkEz0jTvMUTG7cLsbL9XiKz4/s1146/Screenshot%202024-03-10%20at%2007.54.45.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="1086" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTtfdHoQgWRdmdL90nr3X268bUe-lv3drhN2xU3gmPHq5rLT3rC5DbN3dAshlhEdGuXbNOEigfvk0TYhPDUJMQ-zyhZ6OZubTRgIh6k6c3ZBu_YUhyphenhyphen8gtyqRH5Klpm2ITcZyRpRo-I-cvyL3r7U0wnmx1gJXTFON-i5FWkEz0jTvMUTG7cLsbL9XiKz4/s320/Screenshot%202024-03-10%20at%2007.54.45.png" width="303" /></a></div><br /><p>What do you think - should we review more than just the crossword? Give a quick report on the games that we do? Should we just post these:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1zYWu8aXFVpmcdH0t3oTnVRB_LMGYFElmUqzHGxP3wz8UjtgaOMxMbBuWqITzB1FXrkffAVJoUM9qWgnnxsQ7JD0qsawkx6UKdBmMHNoD6T7di3zXmBPvG_fNDeuQ7Rc-IhBqeUwqFxU7xTeMX6BA9G7sFFDWDFqz9PbA1GBBUVDjKK3udrWt3ztBAc/s1086/Screenshot%202024-03-10%20at%2008.14.28.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1086" data-original-width="1086" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1zYWu8aXFVpmcdH0t3oTnVRB_LMGYFElmUqzHGxP3wz8UjtgaOMxMbBuWqITzB1FXrkffAVJoUM9qWgnnxsQ7JD0qsawkx6UKdBmMHNoD6T7di3zXmBPvG_fNDeuQ7Rc-IhBqeUwqFxU7xTeMX6BA9G7sFFDWDFqz9PbA1GBBUVDjKK3udrWt3ztBAc/s320/Screenshot%202024-03-10%20at%2008.14.28.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Or should we leave that alone? Thoughts? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Frannie takes over tomorrow, then we can see what she thinks of all this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'll see you again in four weeks. Happy puzzling!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Horace</div><br /><p><br /></p>Horace Fawleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04676932991883111336noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7869983234842507044.post-2521637804167438572024-03-09T08:16:00.002-05:002024-03-09T08:16:35.088-05:00Saturday, March 9, 2024, John Guzzetta<p>Happy Saturday to you all! No <b>DIGITALDETOX </b>for me this morning. I did the puzzle, checked my email, did Wordle (4) and Connections (one mistake) and I looked at the new Threads for the first time last night, so maybe I'll look at that again today too, but first I have to write this review. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvPQuQL9fk34c9mVMn-GrjF-FzuZjbSfVPdhSeIIOtL1wfCg5IaPNHyUGYC5fa_MubBskbvs9i3X736JYCr1Pq8D-O3RIf5Rpn2BTXMbaS8cdbcFT59pToxjWYgVEr-L4bbjqj0UcpsOsVcca0hpRPEjrwDXh8a_hyphenhyphenlQST8360RwBhjqvZHmbSCSTB9s/s1080/gclef.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="CLEF (Sign in front of some bars)" border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="1080" height="95" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvPQuQL9fk34c9mVMn-GrjF-FzuZjbSfVPdhSeIIOtL1wfCg5IaPNHyUGYC5fa_MubBskbvs9i3X736JYCr1Pq8D-O3RIf5Rpn2BTXMbaS8cdbcFT59pToxjWYgVEr-L4bbjqj0UcpsOsVcca0hpRPEjrwDXh8a_hyphenhyphenlQST8360RwBhjqvZHmbSCSTB9s/w320-h95/gclef.jpeg" title="CLEF (Sign in front of some bars)" width="320" /></a></div><p>I got a running start in today with <b>DINGS </b>(Slight faults, to a rater), <b>ADO</b> (Kerfuffle), and <b>MERCYBUCKETS </b>("Thanks a lot!," in intentionally butchered French). All that gave <b>DIORAMAS </b>(They often come in shoeboxes), but I couldn't immediately come up with <b>INFODEMIC </b>(Widespread rumors, in a portmanteau) or <b>NEWNORMAL </b>(Post-crisis baseline), so I moved over the the NE, where I guessed InA (Spanish diminutive) (<b>ITA</b>) and dothETIME (Pay for a crime, say) (<b>SERVETIME</b>), which didn't help a lot.</p><p>So it sometimes is of a Saturday, <i>nest paw</i>? I liked this one, though. It ran the gamut from <b>ROOTCAUSE </b>(Underlying reason) to <b>TELEOLOGY </b>(Branch of causality that comes from the Greek for "study of the end"), from "Tony Stark or Jack Sparrow feature" (<b>GOATEE</b>) to "Beyoncé's 'Dangerously in Love' or John Lennon's 'Imagine'" (<b>SOLOALBUM</b>), and from <b>ENOS </b>(Biblical figure said to have died at the age of 905) to <b>EROS </b>(Concupiscent one). Add in a couple of good quotes - "The ultimate form of free speech," to Denis Leary (<b>COMEDY</b>) and "The origin of wisdom," per René Descartes (<b>DOUBT</b>) - and you've got a good thing going.</p><p>Sorry I can't stay and chat more, but <b>IGOTTARUN</b>.</p><p>- Horace</p><p><br /></p>Horace Fawleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04676932991883111336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7869983234842507044.post-12784029277356568302024-03-08T08:02:00.001-05:002024-03-08T08:02:45.625-05:00Friday, March 8, 2024, Jackson MatzYowza! This was a toughie. I thought for a while that I might never get that SW section, but finally I guessed at <b>BUB</b> (Chap) (odd), then <b>BISTRO</b> (Casual dining setting) (depends on the bistro), and finally <b>WHOOPEECUSHION </b>(Butt of a joke?) (meh) deflated the whole problem. I had hung onto shAwl for far too long for "Cameos might be seen on one" (<b>TIARA</b>). Are they really seen on TIARAs? I can't picture it. I felt like shawl couldn't be right, though, because I was kind of hoping "Give it a whirl!" would be "baTOn." So many problems in that area...<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAd0gN8YYTWeayqjbslhG9CtkwsaXg0ukK393TVn22OJ7vtySnRjyeHgxSGlMQo_bUs3AXxMzcMhyphenhypheniIqgtsnJ0ydw7cLets6qvBOxdr_KQUTGmtRLZ8F-neQ7IpUaz8g6MAhXRnoY5KJoNo5CfuYx0194966RTDYi9ry6pGjfUIoUIGGYdb3ZnumBwTJk/s800/cheetahwetlands.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Water SHREW" border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAd0gN8YYTWeayqjbslhG9CtkwsaXg0ukK393TVn22OJ7vtySnRjyeHgxSGlMQo_bUs3AXxMzcMhyphenhypheniIqgtsnJ0ydw7cLets6qvBOxdr_KQUTGmtRLZ8F-neQ7IpUaz8g6MAhXRnoY5KJoNo5CfuYx0194966RTDYi9ry6pGjfUIoUIGGYdb3ZnumBwTJk/w320-h213/cheetahwetlands.jpeg" title="Water SHREW - "Cheetah of the wetlands"" width="320" /></a></div><div><div><br /></div><div>Anywayyyy.... It's always nice to have a challenging puzzle, but sometimes they feel better than others.</div><div><br /></div><div>I did enjoy the long 15s - <b>ICOULDEATAHORSE </b>(Hunger hyperbole) (I guessed this one off the clue) and <b>CARETOELABORATE </b>("Wanna tell me more?") (not so, this one!), and "Things going beyond your control?" (<b>SELFDRIVINGCARS</b>) was <i>almost</i> good.</div><div><br /></div><div>I just enjoyed some <b>NAAN </b>(Bread with charred brown spots) last night at Punjabi Dhaba in Inman Square. Mmmmm..... Highly recommended.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>My favorite clue might have been "That's what I just said!" (<b>JINX</b>). Heh.</div><div><br /></div><div>A difficult Friday always makes me wonder about Saturday - will it be even harder? We shall see.</div><div><br /></div><div>- Horace</div>Horace Fawleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04676932991883111336noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7869983234842507044.post-51461116003059406352024-03-07T07:21:00.004-05:002024-03-07T07:21:44.422-05:00Thursday, March 7, 2024, Joe O'Neill<p>Well, Dear Reader, if you know me, you know I like the poetries, so you can probably guess that I chuckled at this "modern reimagining" of a classic Frost poem. Here it is for your amusement:</p><p><b>IKNOWWHOSEWOODS<br />THESEAREMYHORSE<br />ISRESTLESSIHAVE<br />ALOTTODOGIDDYUP</b></p><p>It pretty much hits all the notes minus meter and rhyme, and who has time for extraneous beauty these days anyway. I think we should probably move this blog to bullet format and free up your mornings a little more, no? Did we like it? Yes/No. Were there interesting bits? Yes/No. What more do you need? What more could you want?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCR-FPuyTEwtXRzUcT-fBpmAvxSC6G6uerH9gPEFJoW_mX8aNI66nhl7VTWNHHtgpi0Yi4C5isFFZ8lK-l_Eo4-HSSq5GQbrv2yIILB_hDuI-APWxQ9D0CZ7iNaDfdesADowNGLyfJIT_XMsxI3YdC6ZAPrgM8r1yCWMemxHQOclSSFnD0T0AAjJE0gos/s4928/blossoms.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="BLOSSOMS" border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="4928" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCR-FPuyTEwtXRzUcT-fBpmAvxSC6G6uerH9gPEFJoW_mX8aNI66nhl7VTWNHHtgpi0Yi4C5isFFZ8lK-l_Eo4-HSSq5GQbrv2yIILB_hDuI-APWxQ9D0CZ7iNaDfdesADowNGLyfJIT_XMsxI3YdC6ZAPrgM8r1yCWMemxHQOclSSFnD0T0AAjJE0gos/w400-h265/blossoms.webp" title="BLOSSOMS" width="400" /></a></div><p>These are the questions that keep me up at night. </p><p>So anyway, this played tough for me, being old and out of it as I am. I was not familiar with J. B. <b>SMOOVE</b>, <b>MAMA </b>Africa, or <b>YUNG </b>Gravy, and "Throw" did not, and still does not, equate with <b>PEG </b>for me, so even though I guessed a G there (for YUNG), when I didn't get the "Congrats" message, I thought that must be it. Turns out I had entered SNiT for "Impudent person" (thinking, I guess, about "snip") (it's actually <b>SNOT</b>). Ugh. Anyway, the whole SE was a disaster. </p><p>I don't know... even with the poetry angle, I didn't love it. "Lowest of the low?" for <b>BASS</b>? Is it really, though? What about basso profondo? And are clothes really <b>PILED</b> in a hamper? Can you say it's PILED if it's contained within something? Am I piling trash up by throwing it in the wastebasket? <b>HARDLY</b>.</p><p>On the bright side, "Athlete who snaps" was a clever clue for <b>CENTER</b>, and "Untimely?" was cute for <b>LATE</b>. </p><p>But enough about me, how'd you like it?</p><p>- Horace</p>Horace Fawleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04676932991883111336noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7869983234842507044.post-48948833506675404212024-03-06T07:06:00.003-05:002024-03-06T07:06:53.997-05:00Wednesday, March 6, 2024, Brad Wiegmann<p>Some literal letter play in the theme today. "Nicholson and Nicklaus, e.g.?" are <b>ONEEYEDJACKS</b>, "Soren Kierkegaard and Chris Isaak, e.g.?" are <b>DOUBLEAGENTS</b>, "Percy Bysshe Shelley and Billy Ray Cyrus, e.g.?" are <b>THREEWISEMEN</b>, and "Henry the Eigth and Hubert H. Humphry, e.g.?" are <b>FOURHLEADERS</b>. Two work with sound, two with parsing, and together they make a nice set of four.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMOOegbSPs4_M_tvYp3CFIgihwkjFbBzJcCMefFzgYEpBwIDwvUsjDWxrxp29Wp7VM0WGQZ5aYz9YAVIW_q8iAXzCa_OGL3RTS9oUTrj01sxyst6E2TJOjsg8iIHVsCsFAWWs6SPf_-xQ1Av8XoB0w0PFKQhfhb_RPVfGzqcOJCBVypNAj0PMrM1Z_nw/s232/lime.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Club soda with LIME" border="0" data-original-height="232" data-original-width="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMOOegbSPs4_M_tvYp3CFIgihwkjFbBzJcCMefFzgYEpBwIDwvUsjDWxrxp29Wp7VM0WGQZ5aYz9YAVIW_q8iAXzCa_OGL3RTS9oUTrj01sxyst6E2TJOjsg8iIHVsCsFAWWs6SPf_-xQ1Av8XoB0w0PFKQhfhb_RPVfGzqcOJCBVypNAj0PMrM1Z_nw/s16000/lime.png" title="Club soda with LIME" /></a></div><p>Some fun trivia in "Candy whose name derives from the German "Pfefferminz" (<b>PEZ</b>) (mmmmm.... PEZ....). And I love the audacity of <b>IOWEYA</b> ("Next one's on me"). </p><p>It struck me that many of the references are quite old. The one-eyed Jacks are both in their eighties. Soren Kierkegaard, while he died at forty-two, did so in 1855. Even Chris Isaak and Billy Ray Cyrus are both in their sixties. And then there are two clues from 1939 - "Dorothy, to Em" (<b>NIECE</b>) and "The yearling in the 1939 Pulitzer winner 'The Yearling,' e.g." (<b>DEER</b>). I know they're playing to their audience, but sometimes you feel it more than others.</p><p>I liked learning that <b>SARDINES </b>are "Fish thought to be named after a region in Italy," and it's interesting to realize that <b>IRENE </b>is a "Name that becomes another name when its first letter is dropped." And if we continue with the older mindset, it also changes genders. It could also, come to think of it, have been the start of a rather famous philosophical declaration - "I, René, think therefore I am." </p><p>Hoo-boy, I think maybe I had too much coffee. Hey, how 'bout Connections today? Did you do it? I went green, yellow, purple, blue. And no, I did not figure out what blue was before I hit submit.</p><p>- Horace</p>Horace Fawleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04676932991883111336noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7869983234842507044.post-78148537349467146242024-03-05T08:14:00.003-05:002024-03-05T08:14:56.334-05:00Tuesday, March 5, 2024, Christina Iverson<p>Wow. I take my hat off to you, Ms. Iverson, for coming up with this <b>THREEHOLEPUNCH </b>theme. Three "holes" - <b>LOGICALFALLACY</b>, <b>EMPTYSPACE</b>, and <b>PIGSTY </b>(Hah!), and <b>FRUITDRINK</b> (punch). It made me laugh out loud when I figured it out. Hah!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgiK4HXQjfQAbfAHl3pr2meWVuujWvjlmC-vF3go_4Op1FEdCwBjCpTKEItnJLVJKvk6BWPXNQq4nmojHEF-iuMu0stF6QXCnwRsUWgCaqxxGO6H3HX_UUecFC03cQPDBeBu9m-_BpU3X-XGImkvixtKFSnQY7B1Q2gcP4wT-72EA0fWyfmMoOUhEbXc/s1200/swift.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="TAYLOR Swift" border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgiK4HXQjfQAbfAHl3pr2meWVuujWvjlmC-vF3go_4Op1FEdCwBjCpTKEItnJLVJKvk6BWPXNQq4nmojHEF-iuMu0stF6QXCnwRsUWgCaqxxGO6H3HX_UUecFC03cQPDBeBu9m-_BpU3X-XGImkvixtKFSnQY7B1Q2gcP4wT-72EA0fWyfmMoOUhEbXc/w400-h225/swift.webp" title="TAYLOR Swift" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>In other news, I hadn't realized that a <b>BOLA </b>was originally (presumably) a "Cattle-catching weapon," but it sure makes sense. (No <b>HOLMES</b>, I.) And am I the only one who doesn't like the trend in clueing that always makes an <b>ODOR </b>a "Strong smell?" Just last month it was an "Unpleasant smell," and before that a "Febreze target." Does it always have to be bad? I guess maybe so. It's just one more hole in my understanding of words.</p><p>I enjoyed the symmetrical pairs <b>SLANGY </b>(Like "b-boy" or "my b") and <b>DWEEBY </b>(Dorky), and the non-symmetrical <b>ANI </b>(What "their" is spelled with, but not "there" or "they're") and <b>GOI </b>("There but for the grace of God ____"). <b>BIGMOMENT </b>(Eagerly awaited occasion) and <b>BARNDANCE </b>(Where to swing your partner 'round and 'round) were good long Down fill, and we got a little French action with <b>LOIRE </b>(France's longest river) and <b>AMI </b>(French friend). But honestly, with a theme like this, the fill could have been anything.</p><p>- Horace</p>Horace Fawleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04676932991883111336noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7869983234842507044.post-24396608609089826512024-03-04T07:39:00.001-05:002024-03-04T07:39:48.478-05:00Monday, March 4, 2024, Samantha Podos Nowak<p>Cute theme today, where the word <b>BANANA </b>is split across answers in four rows, beginning with row two, where it is found between <b>SCUBA </b>and <b>NANAS</b>. It also appears between <b>CABANA </b>and <b>NAYSAYER</b>, <b>SUBURBAN </b>and <b>ANALOG</b>, and <b>CUBAN </b>and <b>ANAIS</b>. Fun idea. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiknOQeE0e1p0v-pIIeSOKdZoWep1FE1o1XFELwQei-fbTB-QezbCzT3E9fQTKzig6nsemqa-rC4Aawd4zke-_crjBKT2sIaQ7NHZictBMXikVgaR_Sd0mAMJj7O0bRXMoSN-yhn4c145IjxhqZw3MuY9D0-48fJHcyPdsPe92D3WiU63YS578bPTi8hFo/s275/talons.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="TALON" border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiknOQeE0e1p0v-pIIeSOKdZoWep1FE1o1XFELwQei-fbTB-QezbCzT3E9fQTKzig6nsemqa-rC4Aawd4zke-_crjBKT2sIaQ7NHZictBMXikVgaR_Sd0mAMJj7O0bRXMoSN-yhn4c145IjxhqZw3MuY9D0-48fJHcyPdsPe92D3WiU63YS578bPTi8hFo/s16000/talons.jpeg" title="TALON" /></a></div><p>Quite a range of clues today, from "Opposite of NNW<b>" </b>(or "please enter") (<b>SSE</b>), to the more elegant "It comes from the heart" (<b>ARTERY</b>). See also "Gimlet or screwdriver" for <b>TOOL</b>. Very nice.</p><p>The clue and answer "'<b>YER</b> out!' (ump's call)" always reminds me of an old Intellivision baseball game. The action was so slow, and with every routine grounder, after you heard the sound of the ball hitting the first baseman's mitt, they would play this very robotic-sounding "YER out." My brother and I still mimic the exact call from time to time.</p><p>I was a little surprised by <b>AISLESEAT </b>(Plane passenger's preference, perhaps), because if I am going to be up in that tin can, I want to have a view. My preference would always be a window seat. But <i>de gustibus non disputandum est</i>, eh, Dear Reader?</p><p>Fun puzzle, and a good way to start the week.</p><p>- Horace</p>Horace Fawleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04676932991883111336noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7869983234842507044.post-21891688146954469032024-03-03T08:05:00.002-05:002024-03-03T08:05:42.749-05:00Sunday, March 3, 2024, Hoang-Kim Vu<p>COUNTDOWN</p><p>Greetings, Dear Reader! I'm back after what seems like a long time. I've had some ups and downs over the past few weeks - well, ok, more downs than ups - but it's a new month and I am hoping for the best. I mean, what else can you do, really?<br /></p><p>First off, happy birthday to my esteemed co-blogger Colum! He was living it up in the Big Apple last night, and I hope that today he is sleeping in and having cake for breakfast.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoHzJDQGPEBaszA4_PuzhTWyZemN1ex6mFUyAHB9QLqfihf0o6LW9rlroKERYu3hGyAO_AaHChfBq_yelPqlyUPU9v_j7kFHNqiV9w_TJOHhyuJSjzLtRIX-_J9sKT-BvK5vr4tJlnNdjWJ6HT9WbpkegMSOh8WyjcvJ7EiFDWZSSTo4W-L6Q045WYX4/s500/posters.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="500" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoHzJDQGPEBaszA4_PuzhTWyZemN1ex6mFUyAHB9QLqfihf0o6LW9rlroKERYu3hGyAO_AaHChfBq_yelPqlyUPU9v_j7kFHNqiV9w_TJOHhyuJSjzLtRIX-_J9sKT-BvK5vr4tJlnNdjWJ6HT9WbpkegMSOh8WyjcvJ7EiFDWZSSTo4W-L6Q045WYX4/w320-h210/posters.jpeg" title="I wish I had a picture of the POSTERS in my own dormroom, but sadly, photography had not been invented yet." width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>The theme today could put one in mind of a surprise party. Do people count down at those? What do I know, I'm not sure I've ever been at one. Maybe it's more of a New Year's Eve thing. ... anywayyyyyy.... let's get on with it.</p><p>The numbers <b>TEN </b>through <b>ONE </b>are clued with dashes in the Downs, and used in their entirety in the Acrosses that they start in. It's a little sad to me that they used dashes instead of just providing regular clues for all the numbers, but I guess maybe that helped solvers to understand that there was a trick in the Across answers. As in:</p><p>24A: "It might help you keep up with old classmates" - the letters in the Across space spell <b>ALUMNWSLETTER</b>, but the N starts the answer <b>NINE </b>in the Down, and if you use those letters in the across, you get "alumNI NEwsletter." It's a nice little trick.</p><p>Some weird answers today: <b>OILBOOMS </b>(High times for the petroleum industry), <b>TINDERS </b>(Birch barck and pine cones, e.g.), <b>EARTHREENTRY </b>(Concern at the end of a space journey), and <b>EATER </b>(Consumer), for example. But then there were some good ones too -<b> </b>"One taking interest in your education?" (<b>SALLIEMAE</b>), "Missing work?" (<b>STOLENART</b>), "Government bonds?" (<b>ALLIANCES</b>), and "Exchange words?" (<b>WANNATRADE</b>). Hah!</p><p>I guess they clued with dashes because it's as though the Down word doesn't exist - it's just part of the Across word, but then, would it have been better if the letters of the Down word were not included in the rest of the Across words that they went through? Would that have been too confusing? It's confusing to try to even explain what I mean... maybe I should just stop.</p><p>- Horace<br /></p>Horace Fawleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04676932991883111336noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7869983234842507044.post-31249751090712814112024-03-02T09:25:00.001-05:002024-03-02T09:25:09.792-05:00Saturday, March 2, 2024, Natan Last<p>It's my last blog post of the week, and the day before somebody's special day. I won't say who, but strangely they have the same first name as me! Hope is in town with me, and we are going to have dinner out and see a Broadway show tonight, which I'm looking forward to.</p><p>What a nice chunky puzzle today, even with the fact that the NW and SE corners are essentially their own mini-puzzles. I love that central swath with the staggered 9-letter words. I often find myself approaching these central areas by getting the starts and ends and then working into the middle.</p><p>But I started on a wrong foot by putting in MoLto for <b>MILLE</b>, seemingly accurate because of <b>ELMO</b> and <b>LOLCATS</b> (remember those? They were all the rage in our household in 2010). Fortunately <b>SEEYA</b> and impossibility of 8D: Accessory with a scent (<b>LEI</b>) ending in O put me right.</p><p>The first middle answer I got was 24A: Conversation piece? (<b>SOUNDBITE</b>), which gave me the first part of 18D: Altar exchange (<b>WEDDINGBANDS</b>). I tried "oaths" first and then "rings" second, before finally settling on the correct second word. 28A: Action toys, perhaps? (<b>STUNTDOGS</b>) is very funny, and I love the word <b>FORTHWITH</b>. I shall use that word more frequently, forthwith!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/004/623/1538135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="373" height="500" src="https://i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/004/623/1538135.jpg" width="373" /></a></div><br />3D: They're in circulation (<b>BLOODSTREAMS</b>) is excellent. The SW corner moved quickly, and I had the entirety of the SW to NE diagonal filled, before I started staring at the nearly completely blank isolated corners.<p></p><p>The SE went first. Getting <b>KATY</b> and <b>TSK</b> helped, and then I saw <b>BREXIT</b>. 42A: Like one with a spare tire (<b>PAUNCHY</b>) was good. I don't know <b>SEANPAUL</b>, and <b>EVO</b> was a guess, but fortunately the right one.</p><p>I finished in the NW where <b>BALLOONS</b> helped open up things. <b>KABUKI</b> was a word that would not come to mind for a long time, so that definitely added time. I really love the clue at 1D: Civilization, to Freud (<b>KULTUR</b>). It's the German word, not some metaphor that Freud came up with. </p><p><b>BANGUP</b> job, Mr. Last! I turn things over to Horace for tomorrow. <b>SEEYA</b>!</p><p>- Colum</p>Colum Amoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15026647589873845732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7869983234842507044.post-74455613629668443132024-03-01T08:54:00.002-05:002024-03-01T08:54:34.972-05:00Friday, March 1, 2024, Julian Xiao<p>Well, that's more like it! After yesterday's too easy Thursday, I was up for a Friday challenge, and got it with some great fill and fun clues. The central trio of long answers are really strong, and they cross a number of very long answers including the grid-spanning central down answer.</p><p>I found my foothold in earnest in the SW corner. Before that, I had some answers here and there, and even a chunk of the NE corner in place, but couldn't connect things well enough. I don't know if I've actually seen the <b>SKI</b> Vermont advertising, but it made sense, along with <b>IRKED</b> and 60A: One may be stolen or planted (<b>KISS</b>). Given <b>ALASKA</b>, and then the fun 37D: Greeting that contains another greeting backward (<b>ALOHA</b>) - that's "hola" inside of it, I was off and running.</p><p>Every time I see a clue like 36D: Capital on the Mediterranean (<b>TRIPOLI</b>), I have to consider the possibility they're talking about money names, but not here. 33D: Where you might run into some real characters? (<b>THEMEPARK</b>) is such a good QMC. They should use this one to teach the concept in Crossword Puzzle school. </p><p><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.gardenia.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/8czb0bvLYpU3fedM0OujVqtfk99topo6xEQ36Kcc-780x520.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="780" height="267" src="https://www.gardenia.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/8czb0bvLYpU3fedM0OujVqtfk99topo6xEQ36Kcc-780x520.webp" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creeping <b>THYME</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />TRYNOTTOLAUGH</b> is a great answer. I've watched some video compilations, and often I fail at the instructions. <b>THEMSTHEFACTS</b> is good, although I've more frequently heard "Them's the breaks." That didn't fit, sadly. And 37A: Refrain from going on road trips? (<b>AREWETHEREYET</b>) could also be "what makes you refrain from going on road trips." Am I right?</p><p>A fun pair of "Shortening that omits "gram"" clues lead to <b>KILO</b> and <b>INSTA</b>. I also love the clue for <b>OPERA</b>. Hah! Nice work cluing <b>ROM</b> and <b>SCI</b> in interesting ways as well.</p><p>So how about the clue for 8D: One who has ways of making you talk ... (<b>SPEECHTHERAPIST</b>). Great non-QMC. Fun twist on the old spy film torture trope. And yet, why is the ellipsis there at the end? I wondered if there was going to be a second clue related in some way, but there isn't. No biggie, just a little odd.</p><p>- Colum</p>Colum Amoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15026647589873845732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7869983234842507044.post-16477892421537418102024-02-29T07:55:00.004-05:002024-02-29T07:55:57.358-05:00Thursday, February 29, 2024, Esha Datta<p>Happy Leap Day, everybody! I saw an advertisement on the streets of New York City yesterday asking what people were going to do with their "extra day," and suggesting they use it to volunteer, a good cause. But it made me wonder. Why is today the extra day? For me, it's a Thursday. I'm still working today. Isn't the extra day the one that comes at the end of the year, day number 366?</p><p>I'm surprised that the NYT did not have a specific tricksy puzzle for today planned. Instead we get a fun but remarkably easy puzzle that I finished in under 5 minutes, very fast for a Thursday. The theme answers are cute drawings of animals with musical instruments, indicating their names. Thus a crab with a violin is a <b>FIDDLERCRAB</b>. A seal with a lyre is a <b>HARPSEAL</b>. A swan with a cornet is a <b>TRUMPETERSWAN</b>, and a bird with a horn is, um, a <b>HORNBILL</b>. One of these does not quite fit with the others, but that's okay.</p><p>Then there's a punny answer at 57A: Mistakes in baseball ... or what 18-, 24-, 34- and 51-Across might produce? (<b>WILDPITCHES</b>). Hee hee. It's not exactly a revealer, but it does tie everything together. That being said, I entered all of the theme answers prior to entering anything else, which sped things along. It's not exactly what I expect for the first day of The Turn, no matter how lovely the grid and the fill are.</p><p>I do wonder if 17A is bonus theme material...</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/96/I_Am..._Sasha_Fierce.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/96/I_Am..._Sasha_Fierce.png" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sasha <b>FIERCE </b>AKA Beyoncé</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Some nice answers in the rest of the puzzle, though. I love <b>ZAATAR</b>, both as a mix of herbs and as a word. Jhumpa <b>LAHIRI</b> is a very accomplished author, even though I haven't loved her move into Italian literature. </p><p>Also, give me <b>SAMOSAS</b> and you have a happy camper. I love 43D: Most common vowel sounds in English (<b>SCHWAS</b>), that uncategorizable sound in our language. Also, we get 13D: State capital once home to Herman Melville (<b>ALBANY</b>), home to the Amory household for lo, these many years.</p><p>On the clever clue side, there's 1D: Where many bags of leaves can be found (<b>TEASHOP</b>) - not at the curbside in the autumn. 19D: Pause to play? (<b>RECESS</b>) is cute. And 42D: Place for soap? (<b>MELROSE</b>) is a great example of the tortured work one has to do to make a QMC work well.</p><p>So overall I enjoyed the puzzle, but I think it was better suited for a Wednesday.</p><p>- Colum</p>Colum Amoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15026647589873845732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7869983234842507044.post-4644451964723505372024-02-28T07:40:00.004-05:002024-02-28T07:40:38.753-05:00Wednesday, February 28, 2024, Greg Snitkin<p>Hee hee, what a fun theme today for a silly Wednesday. Three long across answers with no obvious connection, brought together by the revealer for a perfect "aha" moment. I love having my mind turned around by the craziness of language.</p><p>53A: The main takeaway ... or, when considered in three different senses, a description of 20-, 33- and 41-Across (<b>WHATITSALLABOUT</b>) is the revealer. And to explain each case, I will put on my explainer hat. </p><p><b>COMPUTERSYSTEMS</b> are what I.T. is all about. A <b>SCARYCLOWN</b> is what "It" is all about. And of course, when you do the <b>HOKEYPOKEY</b>, "that's what it's all about!" So that was a lot of fun.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uHiTPeyrf23Hc76vavQMMT4iK7E=/0x0:2250x1500/1200x900/filters:focal(945x570:1305x930)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59463511/Spread_2.0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uHiTPeyrf23Hc76vavQMMT4iK7E=/0x0:2250x1500/1200x900/filters:focal(945x570:1305x930)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59463511/Spread_2.0.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We take a break from our regularly scheduled Emma programming to show you <b>DAINTY</b> food</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Has anyone watched the new live action version of <b>AVATAR</b>, the Last Airbender? I watched the entirety of the animated series with the family during the early days of the pandemic, and loved it. I almost don't even want to try the new version, but probably will.</p><p>How about 2D: Allergic reaction (<b>ACHOO</b>)? Hah! I put in "hives" first, but took it out immediately because HOP was obviously correct. Took me a while to figure that one out. I also liked 19A: Hell of a guy? (<b>SATAN</b>) - unexpected. </p><p>There were a lot of names in the first half of the puzzle, which slowed me down. <b>ICET</b>, <b>PONTIAC</b>, <b>BREES</b> (not so hard for this football fan), <b>LOLA</b>, <b>MARADONA</b>, <b>LEON</b> (never even heard of this fella). Also <b>ELSA</b>! Who remembers Captain von Trapp's almost bride? Not when fresh-faced Maria is singing the curtains off the windows. What <b>ANTICS</b>.</p><p>Well, I'll stop being a <b>TALKAHOLIC</b> now. On to The Turn!</p><p>- Colum</p>Colum Amoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15026647589873845732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7869983234842507044.post-78007095230714073262024-02-27T07:21:00.001-05:002024-02-27T07:21:03.621-05:00Tuesday, February 27, 2024, Nate Cardin<p>I should never question the NYT crossword editors. Yesterday's Monday puzzle felt a trifle hard for the first day of the week. So today, we get the inverse, a Tuesday that played easier. I'm sure there's a reason they placed them in this order rather than the opposite. Regardless, get ready for a ton of Ks!</p><p>Because today's theme are phrases built around the letters -INKY. Six of theme, inside of a 15 x 15 grid! That's a lot. And as a bonus, the last answer is <b>RINKYDINK</b>, getting an extra -INK in place. I ran through the alphabet and came up with only Tinky-Winky from the Teletubbies as another possibility. And since <b>WINKYFACE</b> is already in the grid, that would have been duplication. There are also the double-consonant starts, like with <b>SLINKYDOG</b>. The only one that I could imagine is what my wife and I call adult beverages: a "drinky-poo." But that's not common parlance.</p><p>Can you think of any others?</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/Emma_Stone_at_Maniac_UK_premiere_(cropped).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="527" height="400" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/Emma_Stone_at_Maniac_UK_premiere_(cropped).jpg" width="264" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm going rogue!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I count 11 Ks in the grid, which is a definitely a lot. There are 3 outside of the theme, in <b>SKYPES</b>, <b>TUSK</b>, and <b>YUCKY</b>. One long answer has to encompass two of the themed Ks, and so we get <b>PUNKROCKER</b> (excellent). The other long down answer is <b>ASYMMETRIC</b>, also a great word. </p><p>There are literally no tricky clues in this grid, which contributed mightily to my getting a sub-3 minute time on a Tuesday. But it's a fun theme, well-executed.</p><p>- Colum</p>Colum Amoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15026647589873845732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7869983234842507044.post-55248274264665424902024-02-26T17:13:00.004-05:002024-02-26T17:13:39.343-05:00Monday, February 26, 2024, Joe Marquez<p>It's a sunny and relatively warm day in New York City, especially for the end of February. And for our delectation, we get a classic theme on a Monday, with shaded and circled squares. The revealer is at 59A: "I'm paying for this round" ... or a literal hint to this puzzle's theme (<b>DRINKSONME</b>). The alcoholic beverages are in the shaded squares, hidden within longer answers, while just below each one, in the circles, are the letters ME.</p><p>I enjoy these hidden words all the more when they are broken up across multiple words in the theme answers. Thus, "vermouth" is hidden inside <b>RIVERMOUTH</b>. That's okay, although it uses up the entirety of the second word. "Wine" is hidden inside <b>TWINENGINE</b> - better, for sure. And the best is saved for last: "sake" inside <b>HESAKEEPER</b>. Across three words! Nicely done.</p><p>Now mind you, I don't drink vermouth straight. I enjoy using dry vermouth instead of cooking wine, and as we all know from watching Auntie Mame, the vermouth is only in the martini long enough to be sploshed out entirely to make room for all that gin. In the other direction, I had the pleasure of having sake squirted into my mouth from a distance at a hibachi restaurant last year. I was nowhere near as effectual in my drinking as one of the guys from the college group sharing our stovetop.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Emma_Watson_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="492" height="400" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Emma_Watson_2013.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How many days in a row can I feature an <b>EMMA</b>?</td></tr></tbody></table><br />This puzzle's fill felt more challenging than usual for a Monday. <b>RCADOME</b>, <b>UNEASE</b>, <b>NAMASTE</b> being examples of answers not typically seen in the early week. But I'm not complaining! It's good to get a surprise every now and then. And look at that excellent <b>IKIDYOUNOT</b> at 30D. Very nice.</p><p>Amusingly, I was just thinking of <b>JIM</b> Henson the other day, recalling the song "The Rainbow Connection," from the first muppet movie. It's a classic, and his voice is so immediately recognizable. Yup, just listened to it again on YouTube. Simply wonderful.</p><p>- Colum</p>Colum Amoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15026647589873845732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7869983234842507044.post-8184983265901998542024-02-25T11:57:00.004-05:002024-02-25T11:57:50.471-05:00Sunday, February 25, 2024, Scott Hogan and Katie Hale<p>SPECIAL TREATMENT</p><p>What's that you say? A doctor related theme for my Sunday start to the week? What fun! </p><p>Wait... no neurology joke? I'm out.</p><p>Just kidding. Hi, everybody! It's your favorite Neurologist practicing in north New Jersey who writes blog reviews for this particular NYT crossword review site, taking over for Philbo after an excellent week. Mind you, he's off on vacation to the sunny (I hope) Caribbean, so he probably won't see this shout-out. </p><p>In any case, today, we get standard idioms punnily related to visiting different medical specialists. Thus, the cardiologist <b>DIDNTMISSABEAT</b>, the dermatologist <b>MADEARASHDECISION</b>, and so on. My favorite by far was saved for last, where the podiatrist helped the patient to <b>STANDCORRECTED</b>. Hah! Good stuff. If you like puns, that is. And I do.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Noether.jpg/1200px-Noether.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="525" height="400" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Noether.jpg/1200px-Noether.jpg" width="263" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>EMMY</b> Noether</td></tr></tbody></table><br />This puzzle went by quickly, overall. I had very few places where I was really stuck for long. So, with that smoothness in mind, I have a few clues and answers to call out.</p><p>I've noticed a trend in clues towards manipulation of the letters in the answer, as in 67D: Man's name that becomes a distance if you move the first letter to the end (<b>EMIL</b>) - becomes "mile." Also, 110A: Rude ... or, without its first two letters, rude person (<b>CRASS</b>) - becomes "ass." Interesting way to make a relatively uninteresting answer more fun.</p><p>Speaking of asses, how about 57A: Sorry ass? (<b>EEYORE</b>). Nice. Even better is the non-QMC at 96A: Professional who works a lot (<b>VALET</b>). Indeed they do. I also liked 44D: It's involved in kissing and telling (<b>LIP</b>).</p><p>What do people think of 48D: Hint to the number of ingredients in Triscuit (<b>TRI</b>). I mean... it's right there in the clue. Can we do this for "Hint to the number of wheels in a tricycle?" Or, "Hint to the number of different sports in a triathlon?" Or "Hint to the number of people who can ride on a bicycle built for two?" Answer: "two." Hmmmm. I'm not convinced.</p><p>Otherwise, a fun puzzle. </p><p>- Colum</p>Colum Amoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15026647589873845732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7869983234842507044.post-77827876009263459802024-02-23T22:37:00.000-05:002024-02-23T22:37:03.249-05:00Saturday, February 24 2024, Rebecca Goldstein and Rafael Musa<p>Pity me, poor readers! I'm under the gun to get the Saturday crossword - the toughest of them all - done and reviewed the night before - as 12 hours from now I'll be in the air, halfway to our Caribbean vacation spot. What, you say? Not a "pity" situation? Yes, I admit, you're right about that. But oh - the pressure! And I found this a tough go after a quick start in the NW corner - I was stymied in the NE and SE quadrant for quite a while. </p><p>I have a photographer in the family, whose name appeared in my Wednesday blog and also in this grid (<b>SIMON </b>is "who says"), and so I am familiar with the <b>GOLDENHOUR</b>, the best time for photo taking right before sunset. That helped me swoop through the start of the puzzle, I entered LIGERS for "Feline hybrids" but quickly realized that its counterpart <b>TIGONS </b>was called for. No harm done. Just below that, "Love scene" was a cute clue for <b>TENNIS</b>. Got bogged down after that. A lot of white space at the bottom right took a while to resolve, with three or four false starts before it all came into focus, including the superlative <b>CLINKED </b>("Made a sound with a flute"). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/allchronology.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/bjorn-borg-en-pleine-concentration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="800" height="379" src="https://i0.wp.com/allchronology.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/bjorn-borg-en-pleine-concentration.jpg" title="Bjorn BORG" width="475" /></a></div><p>Looking at the filled-in upper right section, it's hard to put my finger on why I had such trouble, as everything's fair and not too abstruse, other than <b>TOADETTE</b>, apparently a pink-headed mushroom in Mario Land. Really? <b>COMENOW</b>. <b>IHATETOASK</b>, as a "disclaimer before an uncomfortable situation", finally sprang to mind and unlocked the whole area.</p><p>Elsewhere in the grid...Nice to see <b>ANAIS </b>clued as something other than "Nin"! "Cook for Easter, maybe" was nice and misleading. I thought it was going to have something to do with ham, so <b>HARDBOIL </b>was a nice surprise. </p><p>Did I enjoy this puzzle? <b>OHGODYES</b>. For personal reasons, though (see above), I'm not doing it proper justice in this blog. </p><p>Thanks for "listening" all week, folks! See you on the flip side.</p><p>-philbo</p>Philbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08043217968097552604noreply@blogger.com1