tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7869983234842507044.post767883935575592051..comments2024-03-27T07:17:39.554-04:00Comments on Horace and Frances discuss the New York Times Crossword Puzzle: Friday, August 21, 2015, David SteinbergHorace Fawleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04676932991883111336noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7869983234842507044.post-20739348187583359772015-08-23T17:35:43.190-04:002015-08-23T17:35:43.190-04:0012:55
Some time spent figuring out that I had mist...12:55<br />Some time spent figuring out that I had mistyped PREENED. BRONXCHEER for the win. I knew Jerry ORBACH. Did you know he played Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast? That fake French accent...Colum Amoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15026647589873845732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7869983234842507044.post-14168622100735709512015-08-23T14:23:37.980-04:002015-08-23T14:23:37.980-04:00I also flew through this, although I didn't ti...I also flew through this, although I didn't time it. All of the question mark (and "perhaps") clues were especially easy.I knew Jerry ORBACH right away and filled in DIANAROSS without hesitation. I enjoyed 39A Stab (GORE) and one of its crosses: 37D Square, in a way (REDRESS). I filled in Lock for 6D Security measure at first before getting PIRATE and changing Lock to the correct LIEN, but other than that, this was a pretty easy Friday. I guess that TSHIRTS are shot from cannons somewhere?Huygenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14539030936919012404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7869983234842507044.post-19956291928721650402015-08-21T15:05:23.161-04:002015-08-21T15:05:23.161-04:00Totally agree with you about the question marks. ...Totally agree with you about the question marks. But even without the question marks almost all of the misdirection attempts here are way too easy. When I read "Place to lead a private life," I immediately thought "army." The switch to BASE was pretty quick. Same for "Supreme leader;" immediately thought of DIANAROSS. Maybe there no question mark would have made it harder. "Not down very much" is another whiff. The way that's worded, the four-letter answer could really only be a verb. CLAMBROTH is a nice lon answer, but that was way too obvious too. Couple other beefs: The Minnesota mascot is a GOLDEN gopher, not just a gopher. The distinction is important to us out here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. In fact, the mascot's name is "Goldy Gopher." Really; I've met him. And how bad is "Deli item that's 14-Across backward"? Horace, isn't that just a slight variation on your Monday cluing joke that they should just write: "Fill in _ _ _"? Of course, we need such a ridiculous clue since NOVA probably isn't known to anybody except New York City deli regulars. Don't like ORCA for "Sea menace;" it's just a carnivorous mammal. Maybe "aquatic theme park menace" but not "sea menace." I would have preferred a 90s/2000s cyclist to ALDRIN for "Armstrong contemporary," especially on a Friday. One thing I do kind of like is "One may be put in the corner of a classroom. That works for an actual speaker for the PA system, as well as what I assume is the intended sense-- a disruptive student relegated to a chair facing the corner. Dated and pedagogically unacceptable though that practice has been for decades. Thumbs down from this quarter. Way, way too easy for a Friday (I expect Colum to come in with a 5 or 6-minute time!) Also, for me, lacking in entertainment value. David, if you read this, it's nothing personal ;) You still have to your credit my favorite puzzle of the year to date (Sat., March 28). Keep 'em coming! englishteacher59https://www.blogger.com/profile/16790678319090827125noreply@blogger.com