After the last two themeless puzzles, it's kind of nice to have a theme..for the hints, you know.
Today's is R-Rated Film Remakes. The seven theme answers, as well as links to the original (not R-rated?) titles, are:
23A: Remake about a red, white, and blue libido? (Lust in America).
32A: Remake about impiety during a storm? (Sinnin' in the Rain).
51A: Remake about a strip club? (Risque Business). [Update: I just checked to see its original rating and found some interesting quotes, which is where the link will now take you. How many of you remembered it was Joel who said, "Sometimes you just gotta say..."]
68A: Remake about a lecherous instructor? (The Naughty Professor). Funny, I had a discussion just the other day with a professor friend about this very thing.
88A: Remake about a TV station/F.C.C. controversy? (Broadcast Nudes).
106A: Remake about a holy person's slip? (Saint Misbehavin'). This was the last one to fall into place for me. I had the first letter blank for the longest time...until I realized that 106D: Logical Mr. was Spock.
119A: Remake about a ribald watchman? (The Bawdy Guard).
I know there are some out there who don't like puns (which appears at 112A, clued as Wits' bits). I wouldn't care for a steady diet of them, but I'm okay with them every now and then. And they're easy for me to figure out...wonder what that says about my sense of humor.
I really liked 30A: Boxer Marciano's given name (Rocco). That is just the best Italian name ever...his full name was Rocco Francis Marchegiano. My grandparents all came from Italy and Sicily, and we have some pretty good names in the family...Luigi and Giuseppe were my two favorite uncles, although we called them Uncle Louie and Uncle Joe.
I always like to see multiple word answers, and this had some good ones:
25A: Now and then (at times).
124A: Pamper (cater to).
127A: Represses (keeps in).
3D: It's not worth pursuing (lost cause).
10D: Buttered someone up big-time (laid it on).
33D: Just for laughs (in fun).
56D: Rent (lease out).
85D: "Whatever you want" (I don't care)
And my favorite...89D: Where a whodunit is solved (at the end).
The only hold I know is a nelson (well, other than a half nelson), and I was pleased that it was a gimme at 87A: Hold in the gym. Here's what it looks like.
I did not know 24D: Gather in a condensed layer (adsorb). I can hardly write the word. It feels and looks so wrong. But I looked it up after finishing the puzzle, and it means exactly what it says it does. I know abductor and adductor, as in muscles, so I guess absorb and adsorb can work. Still looks very strange.
I'm back from a two-hour break for dinner (and mucho vino), so I'll call it a wrap. Check the links in the sidebar for further commentary...there's so much more to love. Ooh, before I go...my favorite clue/answer. 16D: Fans' sounds (whirrs). I had the RRS in place and just knew I had something wrong. Yeah...what was wrong was my way of thinking.
See you tomorrow, when I'll be doing double duty. In addition to being here, I'll be at Green Genius, blogging the New York Sun while Robert hits the beach.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Linda G
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Friday, July 6, 2007
Saturday, July 7 - Todd McClary
Before I start on the daily blog, I want to wish a very happy birthday to our daughter, Leslie, who turns 18 on Saturday, 07/07/07. She was unhappy that she had to work on her birthday...an unwelcome welcome to the real world. Happy birthday, sweetie!
I don't know if I can blame it on the heat, but I'll try. Your puzzle totally kicked my butt, Mr. McClary.
But I was totally impressed! Stacks of 10-letter words--not just long, but good.
Three horizontal stacks in the top left:
1A: Magellan, e.g. (spacecraft). I didn't think it had to do with Ferdinand, but I was pretty sure it would end in strait. It actually worked with several of the downs...for a while.
15A: Enthusiastic welcome (hello hello). Not anything I'd say in conversation, no matter how happy I was to see someone. But I'm willing to overlook things like that when a puzzle has this much to offer.
17A: Imparts artfully (insinuates).
And three vertical stacks top right:
12D: Casa dei Bambini school founder (Montessori). Didn't know it by the clue alone, but I had enough of the acrosses to know that's what it had to be.
13D: Show tune sung by a stevedore named Joe (Ol' Man River). This was the only true gimme for the long answers. I learned this in History of Popular Music. It's from the musical Showboat...music by Jerome Kern, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein.
14D: Relinquishes control (steps aside).
The other vertical stacks, bottom left:
26D: Words to leave by (adios, amigo). After I'd done the acrosses, the only one I'd entered in that corner was 62A: "...maybe more, maybe less" (or so). Since I knew that the answer ended in O, I felt pretty confident entering hasta luego. It didn't take too long to see the error of my ways.
27D: Did a dog trick (rolled over). Played dead also fit, but that R at the end meant I'd better think of another trick.
28D: Aids in closing deals (sweeteners). That seems like a stretch, but it's definitely a Saturday clue. Monday would have something to do with iced tea.
The last of the stacks--horizontals in the lower right.
57A: Doctor, at times (inoculator). Until a few weeks ago, I had never been given a shot by a doctor. I'd have told you they didn't know how to do it. But Dr. Mitch, who gave me a cortisone shot, knew what he was doing. And so did I...he was hurting me! Seriously, my shoulder is so much better since that day. That and the physical therapy have worked magic.
61A: Cosmopolitan alternative (piña colada). I was pretty sure this didn't refer to the magazine, but I was trying to think of some kind of martini that would fit. Speaking of martinis, here's the recipe for Oprah's famous lemon drop martinis. They're to die for...and especially refreshing on these 100° days.
63A: Supporters of roads (state taxes). I've seen this just recently, but it may have been in one of my NYT books. Maybe one of the ACPT puzzles. Seven down, one to go, then I'll send it my packet in. Puzzle #7 kicked my butt worse than this one did. Its X crosses with 53D: Record label for Sam & Dave and Booker T. & the MG's (Stax).
Another X appears at 29A: Sorority letters (XIs), crossing with 23D: Track wager (exacta). This one has tripped me up before, and it tried to again.
A rare appearance by Z at 45A: Rumble in the Jungle setting (Zaire), crossing with 45D: Hound (zealot). We've seen the word before, but not clued that way that I can remember.
I very definitely do not understand 37A: Zolaesque imputation (J'accuse). I Googled it and found a reference to ACPT. Can someone clear this one up? And will I feel stupid when it's explained? [Updated 7:27 a.m. - Thanks, Donald. I corrected the way it should be written. Who can shed light on the ACPT reference?]
19A: Word with age or weight (atomic) made me laugh when I finally got it. I had middle. Hey, it works.
The worst word in the puzzle, although clued brilliantly, was 40A: Release a bulletin? (untack). The next time I remove something from my bulletin board, I will consciously be aware that I am untacking it.
I was delighted to see 41A: TV role for Bamboo Harvester. I never stopped to think that Mr. Ed had a name. I was just a kid...what did I know?
Speaking of long ago (although more recent than Mr. Ed), 10D: Quaint note opener (To Sir) made me think of To Sir With Love, starring Sidney Poitier and Lulu. I absolutely loved that movie. Better add it to my Netflix queue.
And 56A: St. __ (Cornwall resort town) (Ives) reminded me of the old rhyme. You can read it, plus an interesting commentary, here.
And I'm off to get some sleep.
Linda G
I don't know if I can blame it on the heat, but I'll try. Your puzzle totally kicked my butt, Mr. McClary.
But I was totally impressed! Stacks of 10-letter words--not just long, but good.
Three horizontal stacks in the top left:
1A: Magellan, e.g. (spacecraft). I didn't think it had to do with Ferdinand, but I was pretty sure it would end in strait. It actually worked with several of the downs...for a while.
15A: Enthusiastic welcome (hello hello). Not anything I'd say in conversation, no matter how happy I was to see someone. But I'm willing to overlook things like that when a puzzle has this much to offer.
17A: Imparts artfully (insinuates).
And three vertical stacks top right:
12D: Casa dei Bambini school founder (Montessori). Didn't know it by the clue alone, but I had enough of the acrosses to know that's what it had to be.
13D: Show tune sung by a stevedore named Joe (Ol' Man River). This was the only true gimme for the long answers. I learned this in History of Popular Music. It's from the musical Showboat...music by Jerome Kern, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein.
14D: Relinquishes control (steps aside).
The other vertical stacks, bottom left:
26D: Words to leave by (adios, amigo). After I'd done the acrosses, the only one I'd entered in that corner was 62A: "...maybe more, maybe less" (or so). Since I knew that the answer ended in O, I felt pretty confident entering hasta luego. It didn't take too long to see the error of my ways.
27D: Did a dog trick (rolled over). Played dead also fit, but that R at the end meant I'd better think of another trick.
28D: Aids in closing deals (sweeteners). That seems like a stretch, but it's definitely a Saturday clue. Monday would have something to do with iced tea.
The last of the stacks--horizontals in the lower right.
57A: Doctor, at times (inoculator). Until a few weeks ago, I had never been given a shot by a doctor. I'd have told you they didn't know how to do it. But Dr. Mitch, who gave me a cortisone shot, knew what he was doing. And so did I...he was hurting me! Seriously, my shoulder is so much better since that day. That and the physical therapy have worked magic.
61A: Cosmopolitan alternative (piña colada). I was pretty sure this didn't refer to the magazine, but I was trying to think of some kind of martini that would fit. Speaking of martinis, here's the recipe for Oprah's famous lemon drop martinis. They're to die for...and especially refreshing on these 100° days.
63A: Supporters of roads (state taxes). I've seen this just recently, but it may have been in one of my NYT books. Maybe one of the ACPT puzzles. Seven down, one to go, then I'll send it my packet in. Puzzle #7 kicked my butt worse than this one did. Its X crosses with 53D: Record label for Sam & Dave and Booker T. & the MG's (Stax).
Another X appears at 29A: Sorority letters (XIs), crossing with 23D: Track wager (exacta). This one has tripped me up before, and it tried to again.
A rare appearance by Z at 45A: Rumble in the Jungle setting (Zaire), crossing with 45D: Hound (zealot). We've seen the word before, but not clued that way that I can remember.
I very definitely do not understand 37A: Zolaesque imputation (J'accuse). I Googled it and found a reference to ACPT. Can someone clear this one up? And will I feel stupid when it's explained? [Updated 7:27 a.m. - Thanks, Donald. I corrected the way it should be written. Who can shed light on the ACPT reference?]
19A: Word with age or weight (atomic) made me laugh when I finally got it. I had middle. Hey, it works.
The worst word in the puzzle, although clued brilliantly, was 40A: Release a bulletin? (untack). The next time I remove something from my bulletin board, I will consciously be aware that I am untacking it.
I was delighted to see 41A: TV role for Bamboo Harvester. I never stopped to think that Mr. Ed had a name. I was just a kid...what did I know?
Speaking of long ago (although more recent than Mr. Ed), 10D: Quaint note opener (To Sir) made me think of To Sir With Love, starring Sidney Poitier and Lulu. I absolutely loved that movie. Better add it to my Netflix queue.
And 56A: St. __ (Cornwall resort town) (Ives) reminded me of the old rhyme. You can read it, plus an interesting commentary, here.
And I'm off to get some sleep.
Linda G
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Friday, July 6 - Pete Mitchell
Now this was a puzzle to love! Pete Mitchell's unthemed puzzle gives us plenty of stacks, both horizontal and vertical, two really clever 15-letter answers, and Scrabbly letters galore!
First, the 15-letter words:
17A: Basis of "America" (God Save the Queen). I guess I didn't realize until I read this that they have the same tune. I do know that Queen plays it at the end of their concerts, although I've never seen them in concert. The Q crosses at 10D: Govt. probe (inq). Hey, that's good enough for me. A Q by any other name would smell as sweet.
55A: Punish publicly, perhaps (make an example of). Not only is it good, check out its crosses:
35D: How some people walk (arm in arm). One of the few answers I had after my first read-through was 45A: Muffin holder (tin), which gave me an I in the right place...on tiptoe worked, for a little while.
36D: Hammer activator (piano key). Got it with only the N in place. Thank you again, tin.
37D: Avalanche setting (Colorado). How many of you thought mountain first? How many of you who live in Colorado did? I'm not even into sports and I got it.
39D: Something taken before practicing (bar exam).
41D: Dough must be squeezed out of them (misers). Excellent. I was thinking of something to do with a pasta machine...
43D: Light up at a dance? (strobe). So very clever, IMOO.
The letter V appears four times in the top three lines. In addition to GSTQ, it appears at:
1A: Actor whom People magazine erroneously declared dead in 1982 (Abe Vigoda). I just loved him as Detective Fish on Barney Miller. He was so grumpy/funny. His V crosses with 4D: Line of motor scooters (Vespa). I know that word from American Graffiti. The nerdy little guy, Terry, rode one.
15A: Persian's gift (nine lives). These clues just keep getting better! We think Dooley must be part cat, because he's already used up three lives that we know of. He seems to have made a complete recovery from the self-induced poisoning, and he survived the 4th of July. Fortunately, no one's setting off anything tonight.
16A: Gull-like (naive).
Several things I didn't know, but I could get most of them from the crosses.
33A: The last novel featuring him was "Stopover: Tokyo" (Mr. Moto). Never heard of the novel or the character.
41A: Cheekbone (malar). It's probably important, puzzlewise, to learn the technical names of the bazillion bones in the body.
60A: Rocker Patty who married John McEnroe (Smyth). Shows what I know...I thought he was still married to Tatum O'Neal.
42D: Distinctive director (auteur). If you don't know about auteur theory, you can read about it here.
Other things I liked:
12D: Get plastered (tie one on), right after 11D: Plaster (daub).
23D: Discards, with "off" (sloughs). I've always liked the word. I think of it in relation to getting rid of dead skin. What else would one slough off? Oh, maybe work, or responsibility of some kind.
25D: Designate (earmark). I would love to know the origin of that expression, but it's getting late. Maybe someone out there knows and would like to share.
37A: "Let's be reasonable..." (come now). What I like is that I got it immediately, and I have no idea why. I have never said either of those things in my life.
It was a bit strange to have a day off in the middle of the week. The downside was that Thursday felt like Monday, and one Monday in the week is enough. The upside, if you followed that train of thought, is that it's already Friday!
Bring on the weekend. Hope yours is a good one.
Linda G
First, the 15-letter words:
17A: Basis of "America" (God Save the Queen). I guess I didn't realize until I read this that they have the same tune. I do know that Queen plays it at the end of their concerts, although I've never seen them in concert. The Q crosses at 10D: Govt. probe (inq). Hey, that's good enough for me. A Q by any other name would smell as sweet.
55A: Punish publicly, perhaps (make an example of). Not only is it good, check out its crosses:
35D: How some people walk (arm in arm). One of the few answers I had after my first read-through was 45A: Muffin holder (tin), which gave me an I in the right place...on tiptoe worked, for a little while.
36D: Hammer activator (piano key). Got it with only the N in place. Thank you again, tin.
37D: Avalanche setting (Colorado). How many of you thought mountain first? How many of you who live in Colorado did? I'm not even into sports and I got it.
39D: Something taken before practicing (bar exam).
41D: Dough must be squeezed out of them (misers). Excellent. I was thinking of something to do with a pasta machine...
43D: Light up at a dance? (strobe). So very clever, IMOO.
The letter V appears four times in the top three lines. In addition to GSTQ, it appears at:
1A: Actor whom People magazine erroneously declared dead in 1982 (Abe Vigoda). I just loved him as Detective Fish on Barney Miller. He was so grumpy/funny. His V crosses with 4D: Line of motor scooters (Vespa). I know that word from American Graffiti. The nerdy little guy, Terry, rode one.
15A: Persian's gift (nine lives). These clues just keep getting better! We think Dooley must be part cat, because he's already used up three lives that we know of. He seems to have made a complete recovery from the self-induced poisoning, and he survived the 4th of July. Fortunately, no one's setting off anything tonight.
16A: Gull-like (naive).
Several things I didn't know, but I could get most of them from the crosses.
33A: The last novel featuring him was "Stopover: Tokyo" (Mr. Moto). Never heard of the novel or the character.
41A: Cheekbone (malar). It's probably important, puzzlewise, to learn the technical names of the bazillion bones in the body.
60A: Rocker Patty who married John McEnroe (Smyth). Shows what I know...I thought he was still married to Tatum O'Neal.
42D: Distinctive director (auteur). If you don't know about auteur theory, you can read about it here.
Other things I liked:
12D: Get plastered (tie one on), right after 11D: Plaster (daub).
23D: Discards, with "off" (sloughs). I've always liked the word. I think of it in relation to getting rid of dead skin. What else would one slough off? Oh, maybe work, or responsibility of some kind.
25D: Designate (earmark). I would love to know the origin of that expression, but it's getting late. Maybe someone out there knows and would like to share.
37A: "Let's be reasonable..." (come now). What I like is that I got it immediately, and I have no idea why. I have never said either of those things in my life.
It was a bit strange to have a day off in the middle of the week. The downside was that Thursday felt like Monday, and one Monday in the week is enough. The upside, if you followed that train of thought, is that it's already Friday!
Bring on the weekend. Hope yours is a good one.
Linda G
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Thursday, July 5 - Elizabeth C. Gorski
The fireworks are almost over. In an effort to keep Dooley calm, we watched a movie tonight, so I didn't even start on the puzzle until 10:15. He's still under the effects of a tranquilizer, so he's happily snoozing as I write.
The puzzle's theme is revealed at 45A: Cable channel...with a hint to the answers to the five starred clues (TBS). The five theme answers--all TBs--are:
20A: Undersized bats and gloves, e.g. (T-ball equipment)
30A: Chophouse order (T-bone)
37A: Founder of Mesa Petroleum (T. Boone Pickens)
42A: Alternatives to rope tows (T-bars)
55A: Caucasus capital (Tbilisi, Georgia). This is my favorite answer of the bunch, and I got it with only two letters in place...the second G and the A. A few days ago I didn't know the place, but yesterday I had a reader from Tbilisi on this blog. It's such a kick to know that readers come from all over the world, and we all have the New York Times puzzle in common.
After an initial read-through of the clues, I had very little in place. I had a partial answer for 10D: Like Romulus and Remus (twin born). I originally had twin boys, then erased everything except twin. Another incorrect answer up in the NE at 16A: Like one leg of a triathlon (swum). I had swim, but that wasn't getting me an answer for 11D: Southern Methodist team, with "the" (Mustangs). That corner finally fell into place.
For some reason, though, the SE came together rather quickly. 45D: Turn on and off (toggle) was a gimme (or a good guess), as was 47D: Didn't split (stayed). Those were the two letters that gave me the long theme answer at 55-Down. I initially struggled with 53A: J.F.K.'s command (PT boat)...I was looking for something like "ask not." I know it wasn't a command, but it was a pretty strong suggestion.
62A: Serving from a grill (kabob) is my preferred spelling. I remember seeing it as kebab a few weeks ago. That just looks wrong.
When I see a clue like 14A: April Fools' Day baby and think astrological sign, it usually means I've been doing more puzzles than usual. It paid off this time...Aries.
Liked the cross of 23A: Accountant's advice (tax tip) and 3D: Mountaineering aid (ice axe).
Was very relieved to see that 23A: Accident letters was EMS, rather than my first thought...the very morbid DOA.
Some fill that you don't see every day:
41A: Dirty campaigner (smearer). Ick...it's such an ugly word.
5D: Strategies (game plans).
7D: Lubricate (oil up).
35D: Makes a very modest living (scrapes by).
37D: Stretchy attire (tube tops). I wanted something with lycra or spandex, but no dice. This works.
56D: Logical start? (ideo).
Did not know 63A: Relative of a plum (sloe). I know the word, and it's been clued several other ways...didn't know it was related to a plum.
Didn't recognize the quote in 18A: "A fly can't bird, but a bird can fly." It's from a poem called Cottleston Pie, by A. A. Milne. That's news to me.
Way past my bedtime, so I'll wrap it up. See you tomorrow.
Linda G
The puzzle's theme is revealed at 45A: Cable channel...with a hint to the answers to the five starred clues (TBS). The five theme answers--all TBs--are:
20A: Undersized bats and gloves, e.g. (T-ball equipment)
30A: Chophouse order (T-bone)
37A: Founder of Mesa Petroleum (T. Boone Pickens)
42A: Alternatives to rope tows (T-bars)
55A: Caucasus capital (Tbilisi, Georgia). This is my favorite answer of the bunch, and I got it with only two letters in place...the second G and the A. A few days ago I didn't know the place, but yesterday I had a reader from Tbilisi on this blog. It's such a kick to know that readers come from all over the world, and we all have the New York Times puzzle in common.
After an initial read-through of the clues, I had very little in place. I had a partial answer for 10D: Like Romulus and Remus (twin born). I originally had twin boys, then erased everything except twin. Another incorrect answer up in the NE at 16A: Like one leg of a triathlon (swum). I had swim, but that wasn't getting me an answer for 11D: Southern Methodist team, with "the" (Mustangs). That corner finally fell into place.
For some reason, though, the SE came together rather quickly. 45D: Turn on and off (toggle) was a gimme (or a good guess), as was 47D: Didn't split (stayed). Those were the two letters that gave me the long theme answer at 55-Down. I initially struggled with 53A: J.F.K.'s command (PT boat)...I was looking for something like "ask not." I know it wasn't a command, but it was a pretty strong suggestion.
62A: Serving from a grill (kabob) is my preferred spelling. I remember seeing it as kebab a few weeks ago. That just looks wrong.
When I see a clue like 14A: April Fools' Day baby and think astrological sign, it usually means I've been doing more puzzles than usual. It paid off this time...Aries.
Liked the cross of 23A: Accountant's advice (tax tip) and 3D: Mountaineering aid (ice axe).
Was very relieved to see that 23A: Accident letters was EMS, rather than my first thought...the very morbid DOA.
Some fill that you don't see every day:
41A: Dirty campaigner (smearer). Ick...it's such an ugly word.
5D: Strategies (game plans).
7D: Lubricate (oil up).
35D: Makes a very modest living (scrapes by).
37D: Stretchy attire (tube tops). I wanted something with lycra or spandex, but no dice. This works.
56D: Logical start? (ideo).
Did not know 63A: Relative of a plum (sloe). I know the word, and it's been clued several other ways...didn't know it was related to a plum.
Didn't recognize the quote in 18A: "A fly can't bird, but a bird can fly." It's from a poem called Cottleston Pie, by A. A. Milne. That's news to me.
Way past my bedtime, so I'll wrap it up. See you tomorrow.
Linda G
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Wednesday, July 4 - Patrick Blindauer
I had already finished this puzzle before I noticed the entry after the date [See Notepad]. Went back to the NYT site, read what I was supposed to do, then failed to follow directions. As a result, it made no sense to me, and I was forced to wait around until Orange blogged to find out what I had missed.
According to Notepad, I was to shade in the squares in 35A: July 4th message to America (Happy Birthday), then shade in all of those letters wherever they appeared in the puzzle. Unfortunately, I missed three of the letters...as a result, I couldn't see USA. The S was there, but it might have been a 5. With the missing shaded squares the U and A looked like two vertical lines. Anyway, if you click on the above link, you'll see the shaded grid. Mine is no longer readable.
Other entries that were shaded (even on mine):
18A: Knocking sound (rat-a-tat-tat). Reminds me more of a machine gun...at least in the cartoons.
55A: Memorable title film role of 1971 (Dirty Harry). If anyone says that 1971 was a long time ago, I will scream. You will be right, but I will still scream. I was already out of high school and married for the first (wrong) time.
I've been doing several puzzles in my NYT books, as well as finishing up my ACPT packet, so a lot of clues and answers look very familiar. If these don't ring a bell with you, it's because I've seen them elsewhere in the last day or two.
5A: Winkler role, with "the" (Fonz). I'm 99.99% sure that was in a recent puzzle. Its cross with 8D: Fanatic (zealot) was perfect.
9A: Cartoon pics (cels).
63A: __-Rooter (Roto). Pretty sure this was in a recent puzzle. I seem to remember that it didn't pass Rex's breakfast table test.
64A: Old comics boy (Nemo). Sorry, I only know Captain Nemo and the cute little orange fish.
39D: "__ Fine" (1963 Chiffons hit). (He's so). This was definitely in the NYT. If I'm not mistaken, it was also in the New York Sun--same day, in the same place on the grid. Speaking of the New York Sun, I've started doing it on a regular basis. Be sure to check out Green Genius...he always has a link to the current day's puzzle (Monday through Friday). He's an avid reader, a collector of autographs, and a lover of comic books...all of which make for entertaining commentary.
I loved seeing 25D: Enchanting (magical) running vertically down the center of the grid. There was just something...magical...about it.
As much as I loved that, I hated seeing 37D:"Phooey!" (rats). It's not that I mind the expression. We've just had a problem with rats in the last few weeks. As some of you know, last week one of our dogs got into the shed and ate rat poison. Thankfully, I saw him come out of the shed and was able to take immediate action, and he's made a complete recovery. He will be taking a 45D: Medicinal amount (dosage) of Vitamin K for a month.
I tripped up a bit in the northwest corner. I was pretty sure about 23A: Have a TV dinner (eat in), but I wasn't sure about 29A: Classic Mercedes-Benz roadsters (SLs). I had no idea that 1D (Shutters) was closes, or that 20A: (Solid alcohol) was sterol. What all of that meant was that 2D: Having a gap (hiatal) wasn't coming together in my head. I kept thinking hiatus, but that wasn't working with eat in...so, lost a few minutes there. Good thing I wasn't timing myself.
Speaking of timing myself, I'm doing fairly well with the ACPT puzzles. Of course, it will be much different when I'm in a giant room full of people solving, but I'm still amazed at how many I've finished...or nearly finished...within the allotted time. I have two to go, then I'll send off the packet. I think I'm supposed to allow six to eight weeks to get them scored.
Clever cluing at 36D: Green card? (AmEx) and 56D: Correct ending? (ive). And an interesting cross of 15D: Tend the hearth (stoke) with 24A: Fire sign? (smoke).
Well, some of the neighboring idiots are setting off fireworks (they're illegal this year because of the fire danger), and Dooley is frightened by them. I think I'll take him into my room and play some music...try to soothe him without having to tranquilize him. That will most likely have to happen tomorrow.
Enjoy the 4th. Whatever you do, be safe.
Linda G
According to Notepad, I was to shade in the squares in 35A: July 4th message to America (Happy Birthday), then shade in all of those letters wherever they appeared in the puzzle. Unfortunately, I missed three of the letters...as a result, I couldn't see USA. The S was there, but it might have been a 5. With the missing shaded squares the U and A looked like two vertical lines. Anyway, if you click on the above link, you'll see the shaded grid. Mine is no longer readable.
Other entries that were shaded (even on mine):
18A: Knocking sound (rat-a-tat-tat). Reminds me more of a machine gun...at least in the cartoons.
55A: Memorable title film role of 1971 (Dirty Harry). If anyone says that 1971 was a long time ago, I will scream. You will be right, but I will still scream. I was already out of high school and married for the first (wrong) time.
I've been doing several puzzles in my NYT books, as well as finishing up my ACPT packet, so a lot of clues and answers look very familiar. If these don't ring a bell with you, it's because I've seen them elsewhere in the last day or two.
5A: Winkler role, with "the" (Fonz). I'm 99.99% sure that was in a recent puzzle. Its cross with 8D: Fanatic (zealot) was perfect.
9A: Cartoon pics (cels).
63A: __-Rooter (Roto). Pretty sure this was in a recent puzzle. I seem to remember that it didn't pass Rex's breakfast table test.
64A: Old comics boy (Nemo). Sorry, I only know Captain Nemo and the cute little orange fish.
39D: "__ Fine" (1963 Chiffons hit). (He's so). This was definitely in the NYT. If I'm not mistaken, it was also in the New York Sun--same day, in the same place on the grid. Speaking of the New York Sun, I've started doing it on a regular basis. Be sure to check out Green Genius...he always has a link to the current day's puzzle (Monday through Friday). He's an avid reader, a collector of autographs, and a lover of comic books...all of which make for entertaining commentary.
I loved seeing 25D: Enchanting (magical) running vertically down the center of the grid. There was just something...magical...about it.
As much as I loved that, I hated seeing 37D:"Phooey!" (rats). It's not that I mind the expression. We've just had a problem with rats in the last few weeks. As some of you know, last week one of our dogs got into the shed and ate rat poison. Thankfully, I saw him come out of the shed and was able to take immediate action, and he's made a complete recovery. He will be taking a 45D: Medicinal amount (dosage) of Vitamin K for a month.
I tripped up a bit in the northwest corner. I was pretty sure about 23A: Have a TV dinner (eat in), but I wasn't sure about 29A: Classic Mercedes-Benz roadsters (SLs). I had no idea that 1D (Shutters) was closes, or that 20A: (Solid alcohol) was sterol. What all of that meant was that 2D: Having a gap (hiatal) wasn't coming together in my head. I kept thinking hiatus, but that wasn't working with eat in...so, lost a few minutes there. Good thing I wasn't timing myself.
Speaking of timing myself, I'm doing fairly well with the ACPT puzzles. Of course, it will be much different when I'm in a giant room full of people solving, but I'm still amazed at how many I've finished...or nearly finished...within the allotted time. I have two to go, then I'll send off the packet. I think I'm supposed to allow six to eight weeks to get them scored.
Clever cluing at 36D: Green card? (AmEx) and 56D: Correct ending? (ive). And an interesting cross of 15D: Tend the hearth (stoke) with 24A: Fire sign? (smoke).
Well, some of the neighboring idiots are setting off fireworks (they're illegal this year because of the fire danger), and Dooley is frightened by them. I think I'll take him into my room and play some music...try to soothe him without having to tranquilize him. That will most likely have to happen tomorrow.
Enjoy the 4th. Whatever you do, be safe.
Linda G
Monday, July 2, 2007
Tuesday, July 3 - Norma Johnson
An easy puzzle from Norma Johnson, with an easy-to-see theme. Since they didn't give it a title, I'm calling it... Make it snappy!
The three theme answers were all gimmes, so that made for a fast solve:
20A: Deeply hurt (cut to the quick)
36A: Ramadan observance (religious fast)
54A: Gulliver's creator (Jonathan Swift)
Despite the easy theme, there was some fresh fill...a couple that bordered on exceptional.
I always like to see multiple word answers in the grid, and there are plenty of them in this puzzle.
41A: Be testy with (snap at)
48A: Attached, in a way (tied on)
5D: "Come on, that's enough!" (oh, stop!)
49D: "Finally finished!" (I did it!). I remember that feeling when I completed my first Sunday New York Times puzzle.
I guess 6D: Doll for boys (GI Joe) also counts as a multiple word answer. For that matter, so does 3D: Semiformal (black tie), 39D: Excursion diversion (side trip), and 44D: Bit of humor most people can't get (in joke).
Clever cluing at 23A: Benevolent fellow (Elk), 33A: Ark complement (pair), and 40D: Cel character (toon).
I wonder about 26A: Quitter's cry (uncle). Has anyone ever heard anyone cry that...other than in a movie?
It was nice to see 13D: Pulitzer winner studs (Terkel) in the grid. I don't remember any details, but I know I heard his radio show when I was growing up. I just looked him up at Wikipedia...he's 95 years old and had open heart surgery at the age of 93. He probably has more energy than I do.
The Scots appear twice in the puzzle clues...attire at 64A (kilt) and turndowns at 68A (naes). I would definitely turn down a man wearing a kilt.
I just noticed 32A: Partner of poivre (sel). I didn't have a clue but got it from knowing all of the downs. I know Spanish...somewhat. I'm guessing this is French for salt, the partner of pepper.
And I have to point out a favorite word. 22D: Drink heartily (quaff). It's just such a cool word...partly because of the Q, partly because of the double F.
I've finally gotten back to the ACPT puzzle packet that's been sitting on my desk for months now. There's no deadline for returning them, so I might as well finish them and send them off. Today I did puzzle #5, with a clever theme that I figured out PDQ. I finished what I knew in about 22 minutes, but spent the last 8 staring at three or four answers that just eluded me. I don't know if the level of difficulty increases with each puzzle, but this one didn't seem as difficult to me as some I'd already done. Maybe they just mix it all up...you know, so you don't get burned out.
It's only 9:00, but I think it's time to call it a night. Hope to see you tomorrow.
Linda G
The three theme answers were all gimmes, so that made for a fast solve:
20A: Deeply hurt (cut to the quick)
36A: Ramadan observance (religious fast)
54A: Gulliver's creator (Jonathan Swift)
Despite the easy theme, there was some fresh fill...a couple that bordered on exceptional.
I always like to see multiple word answers in the grid, and there are plenty of them in this puzzle.
41A: Be testy with (snap at)
48A: Attached, in a way (tied on)
5D: "Come on, that's enough!" (oh, stop!)
49D: "Finally finished!" (I did it!). I remember that feeling when I completed my first Sunday New York Times puzzle.
I guess 6D: Doll for boys (GI Joe) also counts as a multiple word answer. For that matter, so does 3D: Semiformal (black tie), 39D: Excursion diversion (side trip), and 44D: Bit of humor most people can't get (in joke).
Clever cluing at 23A: Benevolent fellow (Elk), 33A: Ark complement (pair), and 40D: Cel character (toon).
I wonder about 26A: Quitter's cry (uncle). Has anyone ever heard anyone cry that...other than in a movie?
It was nice to see 13D: Pulitzer winner studs (Terkel) in the grid. I don't remember any details, but I know I heard his radio show when I was growing up. I just looked him up at Wikipedia...he's 95 years old and had open heart surgery at the age of 93. He probably has more energy than I do.
The Scots appear twice in the puzzle clues...attire at 64A (kilt) and turndowns at 68A (naes). I would definitely turn down a man wearing a kilt.
I just noticed 32A: Partner of poivre (sel). I didn't have a clue but got it from knowing all of the downs. I know Spanish...somewhat. I'm guessing this is French for salt, the partner of pepper.
And I have to point out a favorite word. 22D: Drink heartily (quaff). It's just such a cool word...partly because of the Q, partly because of the double F.
I've finally gotten back to the ACPT puzzle packet that's been sitting on my desk for months now. There's no deadline for returning them, so I might as well finish them and send them off. Today I did puzzle #5, with a clever theme that I figured out PDQ. I finished what I knew in about 22 minutes, but spent the last 8 staring at three or four answers that just eluded me. I don't know if the level of difficulty increases with each puzzle, but this one didn't seem as difficult to me as some I'd already done. Maybe they just mix it all up...you know, so you don't get burned out.
It's only 9:00, but I think it's time to call it a night. Hope to see you tomorrow.
Linda G
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Monday, July 2 - Peter A. Collins
Circles...two days in a row! I was beside myself with joy!
I didn't time myself on Peter Collins's puzzle, but I zipped through it. The theme is revealed at 58A: Earlier...or a hint to the words circled in 17-, 21-, 37- and 51-Across (beforehand). The theme answers are:
17A: Masonry work that may be smoothed with a trowel (stucco wall) => cow hand.
21A: Shoving away, football-style (stiff arming) => farm hand.
37A: More rain and less light, e.g., to a pilot (worse conditions) => second hand.
51A: Some memorization in arithmetic class (times tables) => stable hand.
I had no problem with the theme clues, but I was disappointed that three of the four hand words referred to someone who works on a farm or ranch. I think secondhand is a superior (to the others) word, in that it can refer to something pre-owned...or, if you make it into two words, something on a watch or clock.
Harris, at Water and Waves, said he misspelled 1A: Gem units (carats), which means he must have had karats. Here's an easy way to remember. If the clue refers to gold, it's karats. Think of the 14K engraved on a piece of jewelry. If it refers to a gem, it's carats. Think of the 4 C's of diamonds...cut, color, clarity and carat weight.
From time to time, I visit Harris to check my solution. It's so much faster than going to the NYT website and entering in what I've already written out by hand. I will invariably type something wrong and then spend forever trying to find my mistake.
Whenever I see a 4-letter word clued, as "hen's place," I'm torn between entering nest and coop...and here it was again at 28A. I just skipped it. But when I got to 22D, there was the same clue, only for a 5-letter answer. I knew that was roost, which made 28A coop. Process of elimination works well when you're not timing yourself. If that happens at ACPT, and I'm sure it will, I will be SOL timewise.
There were several actor/singer/director clues in this one. 15A: Actor Holbrook (Hal), 16A: Turner of Hollywood, 23A: Director Bob who won a Tony, Oscar and Emmy all in the same year (Fosse), 57A: Director Kazan (Elia), 9D: Singer Fitzgerald (Ella), 11D: Harold who directed "Groundhog Day" (Ramis), and 55D: Actress Heche (Anne).
Also in the entertainment vein...25A: 1975 thriller that took a big bite at the box office (Jaws). I was living in south Florida at the time. We were all very afraid to go into the water.
Don't get 48D: Popular BBC import, for short (Ab Fab). Never heard of it, but I'm sure someone knows and will tell. And maybe I'll remember.
Hooray! I remembered 36D: Belgian river to the North Sea (Yser). Of course, I had several letters in place, but still...
38D: "Zounds!" made me laugh, as did the answer. Egads! But when was the last time you heard either of those words? Outside of a puzzle, that is.
46D: Radio word after "Roger" (wilco). If I'm not mistaken, that stands for will comply. Anyone?
Was very pleased with a gimme at 25A: Quester for the Golden Fleece (Jason). I don't recall seeing his name in a puzzle before, but we often see his ship, Argo.
31D: Many a person whose name starts Mac (Scot) threw me for a minute. I'd done a couple of puzzles in one of my many NYT books earlier in the day, and Scot had been an answer in one of them (clued as Robert Frost, for one...although I had poet initially). Anyway, I had it in my mind that Scot was in this puzzle twice, and I spent too much time trying to find the other occurrence...which wasn't there.
No Ava clues today. I can't remember the last time she was in a puzzle, although we've had a couple of her exes recently. I ordered the newest Ava biography, Love is Nothing, and am looking forward to reading it. I've also added several of her movies to my Netflix queue. Last night we watched Night of the Iguana...very disappointing. I have higher hopes for The Barefoot Contessa.
That's all for tonight. See you tomorrow.
Linda G
I didn't time myself on Peter Collins's puzzle, but I zipped through it. The theme is revealed at 58A: Earlier...or a hint to the words circled in 17-, 21-, 37- and 51-Across (beforehand). The theme answers are:
17A: Masonry work that may be smoothed with a trowel (stucco wall) => cow hand.
21A: Shoving away, football-style (stiff arming) => farm hand.
37A: More rain and less light, e.g., to a pilot (worse conditions) => second hand.
51A: Some memorization in arithmetic class (times tables) => stable hand.
I had no problem with the theme clues, but I was disappointed that three of the four hand words referred to someone who works on a farm or ranch. I think secondhand is a superior (to the others) word, in that it can refer to something pre-owned...or, if you make it into two words, something on a watch or clock.
Harris, at Water and Waves, said he misspelled 1A: Gem units (carats), which means he must have had karats. Here's an easy way to remember. If the clue refers to gold, it's karats. Think of the 14K engraved on a piece of jewelry. If it refers to a gem, it's carats. Think of the 4 C's of diamonds...cut, color, clarity and carat weight.
From time to time, I visit Harris to check my solution. It's so much faster than going to the NYT website and entering in what I've already written out by hand. I will invariably type something wrong and then spend forever trying to find my mistake.
Whenever I see a 4-letter word clued, as "hen's place," I'm torn between entering nest and coop...and here it was again at 28A. I just skipped it. But when I got to 22D, there was the same clue, only for a 5-letter answer. I knew that was roost, which made 28A coop. Process of elimination works well when you're not timing yourself. If that happens at ACPT, and I'm sure it will, I will be SOL timewise.
There were several actor/singer/director clues in this one. 15A: Actor Holbrook (Hal), 16A: Turner of Hollywood, 23A: Director Bob who won a Tony, Oscar and Emmy all in the same year (Fosse), 57A: Director Kazan (Elia), 9D: Singer Fitzgerald (Ella), 11D: Harold who directed "Groundhog Day" (Ramis), and 55D: Actress Heche (Anne).
Also in the entertainment vein...25A: 1975 thriller that took a big bite at the box office (Jaws). I was living in south Florida at the time. We were all very afraid to go into the water.
Don't get 48D: Popular BBC import, for short (Ab Fab). Never heard of it, but I'm sure someone knows and will tell. And maybe I'll remember.
Hooray! I remembered 36D: Belgian river to the North Sea (Yser). Of course, I had several letters in place, but still...
38D: "Zounds!" made me laugh, as did the answer. Egads! But when was the last time you heard either of those words? Outside of a puzzle, that is.
46D: Radio word after "Roger" (wilco). If I'm not mistaken, that stands for will comply. Anyone?
Was very pleased with a gimme at 25A: Quester for the Golden Fleece (Jason). I don't recall seeing his name in a puzzle before, but we often see his ship, Argo.
31D: Many a person whose name starts Mac (Scot) threw me for a minute. I'd done a couple of puzzles in one of my many NYT books earlier in the day, and Scot had been an answer in one of them (clued as Robert Frost, for one...although I had poet initially). Anyway, I had it in my mind that Scot was in this puzzle twice, and I spent too much time trying to find the other occurrence...which wasn't there.
No Ava clues today. I can't remember the last time she was in a puzzle, although we've had a couple of her exes recently. I ordered the newest Ava biography, Love is Nothing, and am looking forward to reading it. I've also added several of her movies to my Netflix queue. Last night we watched Night of the Iguana...very disappointing. I have higher hopes for The Barefoot Contessa.
That's all for tonight. See you tomorrow.
Linda G
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