But that was part of its charm.
I don't know how to best describe the theme. Surely there's a name for two letters that sound like a word. In any event, the five theme answers are:
17A: Good-looking, briefly (EZ on the eyes). I didn't get this until I had enough of the downs in place to see that it ended with eyes. Then it was just a matter of time.
39A: Oh-so-cute carnival prizes, briefly (QP dolls). Until I was onto the theme, I had teddies. They're cute. And a Q word that isn't followed by a U gets megapoints in my book.
64A: Risky person to do business with, briefly (CD character).
11D: Winter hazards, briefly (IC streets). Once again, BT (before theme), I had ice storms.
32D: Student writing competition, briefly (SA contest).
Despite the fact that they don't rhyme, I loved seeing 30A: Low man (basso) and 46A: "Jerusalem Delivered" poet (Tasso) in symmetrical spots in the grid.
There were several answers I don't recall having seen before...some really good ones.
21A: Like a woodland (forested). A gimme...don't know why.
26A: Thumbscrew ridges (knurls). Words that begin with KN...I mean, does it get any better than that? When we were kids, we purposely pronounced the K. I guess we thought it was cool. I later dated someone whose name began with KN, but he didn't find it amusing.
50A: Fall setting (Eden). Since fall has definitely arrived in this part of Colorado, I was thinking along different lines...probably many of you did the same. Clever clue, though.
52A: Dry rot, e.g. (fungus). It's such a gross word, yet so cool at the same time.
59A: Prayer wheel inscriptions (litanies).
61A: "Oops!" list (errata). The word sounds enough like erotic that I just like it.
71A: Church assembly (synod).
9D: It's too much (overkill).
12D: Hawker's line (spiel). I've never once thought about how that was spelled.
25D: Fair one? (maiden).
40D: Fortress of old (Presidio). I had most of the crosses...not sure I'd have immediately gotten it otherwise.
47D: Possible result of a natural disaster (anarchy). Another good word. Just because it is.
Best different clue for an often-seen word...31D: Shakespeare's "poor venomous fool" (asp).
The only reason I knew 6D: Toby filler (ale) was because I made a Toby mug in a ceramics class 30-some years ago. I've never put ale in it, though...it just sits in a glass cabinet. But it looks good there.
Here's the grid. I had some problems with my scanner tonight, so it came out a bit darker. Not bad...maybe even more readable.
See you tomorrow.
Linda G
12 comments:
oh my f'in holy moly. i saw Wordplay tonight. what a great movie!!!
i also read william sunners' book on crosswords and Crossworld by marc romano this week. both were good background for appreciating the movie.
(psst...don't tell anyone, but orange is not only HOT, she does a fetching little curtsey, too.)
Hi Linda,
Welcome back. How was Hawaii? I was away this weekend so I have missed you for over a week now. The subsitutes were mere epigones of you. Although they did a fine job but they were not you.
I had KG characters and was suprised that Dunkan was spelled with a K. Well I'll add that to my errata.
linda,
oy vey, don't worry about "spiel" (in proper yiddish [which IS an oxymoron!] it's "shpiel" or even "schpiel"... now eat, c'mon, bubula, EAT!"
dann
Never heard of QPDOLLS... I got IDOL from crosses, refuse to watch American Idol (Tyler Hicks?) ugh
It's been a long time since I've seen kewpie dolls, but here they are:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kewpie_doll_(toy)
At one time they were as well known as Cabbage Patch dolls, I think.
All right, cornbread, you're my secret crossword blog commenting boyfriend now. Thanks! (Insert curtsey here.) I read Crossworld, which a lot of the crossword community loathed. I much preferred Matt Gaffney's Gridlock. Matt is a lot smarter than Marc Romano (really, who "forgets" to eat for an entire weekend?), and his book delves into crossword construction (the people, their methods, the business side) rather than his vapid inner thoughts (Romano's approach). And I'm not just saying that because Matt quoted me a couple times in the book and left my mother thinking I'm an alcoholic.
Had to google UINTA and DUNCAN. Got hung up on CDCHARACTER, couldn't get "shady character" out of my head
Man, I was half awake when I started this puzzle. EZ on the eyes was my first theme entry. After that took a bit.
Good puzzle though. Enjoyed it overall.
Glad you're back LindavaG.
I couldn't access my email at work today...frustrating.
Rick, I saw Wordplay before I "met" Orange via her blog, so I didn't know to watch for her. But I wouldn't say she's hot...that's reserved for Charlize Theron, my girl crush, who was named by Esquire as the sexiest person in the world...or something like that. I need to watch it again so I can see the famous curtsey (or curtsy...not to be confused with curtesy, defined as the life interest which a husband acquires in the lands of his wife upon her death, provided they have children capable of inheriting; it's been abolished in many U.S. states and England).
Anyway, I used to have a crossword blog boyfriend, but I guess he broke up with me...sigh.
Thanks for the welcome back, profphil. Good to hear from you again. I had to look up epigones to be sure I knew the meaning. I'll have to disagree with you, though...I want them to come back the next time I take vacation ; )
Dann, thanks for confirming the alternate spellings of SPIEL. I always thought there were more letters. The reference to bubula was priceless. My high school best friend used the word, and it's what our family affectionately called our dog. It sounded feminine, though, so we changed it to bubulee.
KG was good. I don't remember if I said that I wanted shady in there.
I've never watched American Idol either, but I know two names...Taylor and Kelly Clarkson (who I love, but not like I love Charlize Theron).
LindavaG...I like it. By the way, I started reading Love is Nothing, the biography of Ava Gardner, on the plane home. But it was almost 11:00 p.m., so I fell asleep pretty fast.
Sorry if I didn't address all of the comments...I'm glad you're all here ; )
norange- i accept.
and yes, i surmised romano's book was likely distasteful to many of the elite. i even wrote a review including that thought and the fact that his editor seemed to have forgotten to read several chapters. so, my main complaint was the lack of clarity in some sections and the annoying repetition throughout. ie: style rather than content. other than that, i found it helpful and informative.
i will look for "gridlock."
lindava g- to each his/her own.
i stand by my assessment...
love the WOTD, curtesy!
Rick, you've given me a good idea...a WOTD that's similar to a word in the puzzle but has an entirely different meaning. Hmmm...
I certainly mean no disrespect to Orange. I rarely describe a woman as hot. The funny thing about my crush on Charlize Theron is that I'm not that into blondes. Oh, well, who can explain crushes?
that IS a good idea! do it. it's brilliant and so...puzzly.
funny thing about my crushes on you and orange is that i'm not that into brunettes. but oh well, who can explain?
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