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Relative difficulty: Easy
Theme answers:
- PANTS AND SWEATER (21A: The aerobics instructor wore ...)
- SUIT AND BRIEFS (29A: The lawyer wore a ...)
- BLOOMERS AND HOSE (46A: The gardener wore ...)
- TURTLENECK, BOA, AND CROCS (62A: The reptile expert wore a ...)
- TUBE TOP AND CLOGS (74A: The plumber wore a ...)
- SOCKS AND A BELT (93A: The boxer wore ...)
- SLACKS AND LOAFERS (103A: The happily unemployed wore ...)
n.
1. A ski trail with an artificially prepared surface of packed snow.2. An unpaved road or beaten track. (thefreedictionary.com)
• • •
Resistance points were few. Got very held up at first trying to get the back ends of the first two themers because I decided 22D: Religious branch sometimes spelled with an apostrophe (SHI'ISM) was BAHAISM. BAHA'ISM? Dunno. Something more specific than "Religious branch" might've helped. Anyway, that answer was positioned in such a way that my error formed a roadblock, preventing me from completing those themers. Had to squeeze around it and fill in surrounding material in order to bring the roadblock down. Had ELAN for BRIO, but who hasn't made that error? (31D: Pizazz). I am not often a fan of the repeated clue gag, but I enjoyed its use with ON RAMP / EXIT LANE (19 & 27A: Interstate highway feature), perhaps because of those answers' proximity and parallelitude.
I've never heard of Jonathan NOLAN and have yet to see a second of "Westworld," though I imagine that will change soon. I have heard of PISTES but only barely. Thought the clue on CONSENT was inventive (113A: Sex ed topic). SANDM is one of my favorite ampersandwiches (58A: "Fifty Shades of Grey" topic, for short). I am teaching John DONNE this week, and have taught that specific poem for like 20 years, so that was cake (71A: "Death be not proud" poet). DONNE is perhaps my favorite poet, but that particular Holy Sonnet is one of my least favorite of his poems. I'll leave the poetry lecture for another time. À LUI will always be terrible fill, but it is virtually alone in its terribleness today, so absolution: granted. I wonder if anyone went CRONOS / CLINE instead of KRONOS / KLINE. Seems a very plausible mistake. OK, bye.
So, hey, this week (SUNDAY, NOV. 20, i.e. *today*, syndicated solvers) I'm launching "On The Grid," a (probably) monthly crossword podcast with my friend Lena Webb. We taped the first installment last month in Somerville, MA, and now it's edited and done, so if you have 24 minutes, give or take, check out Episode 001: "MAI / TAI". Thanks.
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Facebook]
Easy-medium for me.
ReplyDeleteCute with not much dreck, or what @Rex said, liked it.
I simply enjoy wordplay, no matter the complexity or theme!As long as it isn't a child level which would be a "fill it in" bit of a bore :)! This isn't a rey to this particular comment, just tossing my thoughts here. Enjoy your puzzles everyone!
DeleteWhat @Rex said.
ReplyDeleteHand up for Cronos/Cline. I first had Kline, but was convinced about the C on Cronos.
Plumber in a TUBE TOP???
Rex, your tastes are so different than mine. You seem to judge puzzles by the quality of their construction, whereas I look for interest and fun. I found the puzzle not very interesting, with a few good clues, but lots of very ordinary ones. But then again, I'm not much of a fan of the Sunday puzzles anyway. I like the weekday ones much better
ReplyDeleteI hope that boxer had on more than SOCKS AND A BELT, not a pretty picture.
ReplyDeleteO.K. Puzzle, but I'm with Mark, not very interesting.
"I've never heard of Jonathan NOLAN and have yet to see a second of "Westward"
ReplyDeleteDitto, or so I thought, then synapses fired and boom, I remembered him as brother of Christopher Nolan, ballyhooed director of Batman etc. More importantly, It came flooding back in an instant, Jonathan was responsible for the idea/short story that became "Memento," his brother's directorial breakout and, at least in 2001, my definition of a great movie. Watched it again a few years back and was fairly relieved it held up okay to older more jaundiced eyes.
Hands up for cRONOS/cLINE. @Rex, you nailed it.
ReplyDeleteRex, I liked that you used the word "parallelitude" in your review. Great word and very apt.
ReplyDeleteAnticipating each theme entry is what makes a themed puzzle fun for me. I very much enjoyed the mental pictures that each outfit created. BLOOMERS AND HOSE - what would complete that outfit on the upper story? Fun to imagine.
Thanks for a very amusing puzzle, Mr. Fagliano; it was a good start to the day.
A gem. Polished, clean, and shining. A clever theme, soaked dry (how many additional answers can you come up with -- I could conjure only one about an electrician wearing cords and shorts), and smile producing. An island-free grid. Enough grit to work the solving muscles, but enough light coming through the cracks (hello Leonard Cohen) to reward persistence. Oh, I wanted a TANKTOP rather than a TUBETOP for that plumber, but shame on me for nitting like that on such a pleasurable Sunday puzzle. Bravo, Sir Joel!
ReplyDeleteWhat a terrific idea. I can't believe some of you thought this wasn't interesting. All the themers charmed me. All. And look more carefully – each themer has a plural:
ReplyDeletePANTS, BRIEFS, BLOOMERS, CROCS, CLOGS, SOCKS, LOAFERS
The combinations sound really natural. So say a
B52 pilot's BOMBER JACKET AND SHELL or
Infantryman's TANK AND TRENCHCOAT
don't flow the way
a veterinarian's POODLE SKIRT AND MULES or
Trump's FLEECE AND SHORTS would. Or his SHIFT AND FLIP FLOPS.
That plumber's TUBE TOP could have a plunging neckline.
And one of those COWMEN could be sporting a muu muu. A florist could wear petal pushers. But there are no contrived spelling changes, which adds to the theme's elegance.
@Lewis – loved your "tank" thought for the plumber.
TURTLENECK BOA. What an odd thought. Lois did try the v-neck boa and the Eton boa, but they didn't hide her chins the way the turtleneck boa did.
86A, the Russian pancake clue was plural. I was thinking the plural of BLINI was "opera."
Seriously, if you have only one, is it a blinus? I'll have a blinus. No wait – make that a gnocchus. But could I taste a tortellinus first ?
And, yeah, I can't seem to shake my fascination with the plural of the computer mouse. I still think I'd call them mouses. MICE feels furry and animalsome.
Joel – I really, really got a kick out of this one! It's so fun to play around with the idea outside its parameters. So what kind of underwear would a giggling Gaga wear?
It's a pleasure to see that Rex and most commenters enjoyed this puzzle, which I also found to be easy, amusing, and fun.
ReplyDeleteJust one write-over, 99A, "Put on," had KID before AIR.
Must admit I went to Google expecting to expose a rare puzzle error at 72A, "Gilbert Grape portrayer." DEPP? Surely it was Leonardo DiCaprio! But, no, I had forgotten that Johnny Depp was the title character of that 1993 movie, and a very young Leo was the brother who was a big part of what was eating him.
So all credit to this, my valedictory New York Times puzzle.
I've really stopped in to say good-bye to Rexville and the two or three friends I still have here. Although I had stopped being an active participant on the blog about six months ago, mostly due to the persistently negative tone, I have continued to read every day. But now that has ended, in a way I had not expected.
When I awoke Wednesday morning to our national debacle, the first thoughts through my head were suicidal. But that seemed unnecessarily unpleasant. On second thought, I remembered those who had said they would leave the country. I had not been one, but that seemed a more attractive option. And yet, very expensive and bothersome. Finally, I realized I could easily accomplish almost the same effect by cancelling my subscription to the NY Times, the newspaper I have been reading for about 55 years. No more daily reminders of the terrible state of the nation and the world! (I have also let my New Yorker magazine subscription lapse.)
Today was my last NY Times day. But I will not be without puzzles and word games, thanks to Joon's Guess My Word, Matt Gaffney's Crossword Contest, Blaine's Puzzle blog, the Friday Wall Street Journal contest puzzles, M&A's Runtpuzzes, and all the other indies - Agard, Kravis, etc, etc. I'll also follow Will Shortz on Sunday mornings with the NPR challenge.
And for those I have met in person, I hope to see you in Westport, Stamford, and Lollapuzzoola.
Ave atque vale!
You'll also have to cancel cable and not leave the house. It's called hunkering down and is a rational coping mechanism. On the other hand, you could do what you can to be the opposite of what you'really avoiding. Be kind, be inclusive, be welcoming. Work for social justice. I have it easy - I live in Vermont.
DeleteIt's not The Times fault! A fault of our times maybe, but surely not that of a newpaper that did its level best to expose
Deletethe donald as a brute and a fraud. Please say you'll stay! I'm not a frequent contributor, but I am a daily reader and appreciate
your intelligent commentary!
@Bob Kerfuffle, I have missed your posts the last 6 months and was delighted to see your name appear until I read further. I'm glad you are well and I understand your angst, but you will continue to be missed. Best of Luck in your cocoon. Save room for the rest of us if the world goes south.
DeleteSay it ain't so, @Bob Kerfuffle. @Loren Muse Smith, your avatar today, and some of your riffs on @Joel Fagliano's theme--priceless. @'mericans in Paris, made me laugh.
ReplyDeleteTechnical notes about this puzzle: Only 132 words, 8 lower than a typical @Will Shortz-edited Sunday. The clue for 26-Across may require further editing by the time this puzzle gets reprinted for anthologies. Can all of you keep NRA, NSA, and NSC straight? ANN vs. ANNE?
The ALDA clue reminded me how much I miss "The West Wing." The clue for TAILS ("Quarter back?") was wonderful. New vocabulary words for me: TAPENADE and PISTES.
Very enjoyable Sunday, went quickly for me with lots of smiles at the theme and ? clues/answers. More like this please!
ReplyDeleteTheme was cute; seemed very Reaglesque to me. I think he would approve.
ReplyDeleteNOOSE and AIDS aren't a very pleasant way to start the day, tho, and ANN/ANNE seems like an oversight due to a late grid change.
@Bob: Don't despair. He ain't sworn in yet!
Not Safe to Read before Breakfast
ReplyDeleteThe cellist wore a... g string and bow.
Fun easy puzzle which I finished last night!! Especially liked...BEET crossing BEE...This was a puzzle made for me!!!
ReplyDelete@BobKerfuffle - E-mail me if you would like me to send you the puzzle everyday.
ReplyDeletei did not like TOOTER or DRONEBEE or PISTES or SALSODA. i found redemption in each quadrant though. i liked CONSENT, TRIBUTEBANDS, LETATCESTMOI and CANNIBAL. happy sunday everyone.
ReplyDeleteStarted in the NW, got HOSE and got what was going on. I'm with Rex, this is what "average" should look like. If you're going wacky be wacky... and then clean up the fill. That even one person could call this a "gem" proves Rex ongoing point about how low average has become.
ReplyDeleteI really don't like the SHI'ISM clue. Shia is the branch, Shi'ites are the adherents of that branch, and SHI'ISM is the system of beliefs and practices followed by that branch. The clue isn't wrong so much as inarticulate, lacking in nuance.
@Bob Kerfuffle - Understood. Keep on keeping on.
@Trombone Tom: You know there are women plumbers, right? And it's possible that some of those women plumbers plumb in trailer parks...so yeah, a plumber can wear a tube top. #hawtplumbersofcamelotestates <--- hmmm...maybe a reality TV show?
ReplyDeleteSo "TOOTER" is someone who toots his/her own horn?
Hang ups at BLINI/PISTES (that "I" was trouble), ONABREAK/ALUI (I had ----DEsK for a long time, which resulted in the little known French word for "his," soUI...yet I knew "LETATCESTMOI easily. I have huge gaps in my French, so soui me), and "aced" for NAIL.
I could be wrong here, but "fans" don't exactly CLAP. "Fans" is short for fanatics. Fans roar, or root, or yell, or weep if they are Michigan fans, but "clap?" Even on a golf course, when a golfer sinks a putt, the fans of the golfer erupt in appreciation. You "golf clap" for the other golfers you don't like, if you're a fan you cheer. OTOH, you may pity clap for your favorite golfer when you're trying to encourage him/her after they hit a couple of balls into the water hazard. So, I guess it's possible.
This one went fast for me which is always good for a Sunday.
In the FWIW department, I moved to NYC on Friday. We should have a Rex Blog get together sometime...?
Pretty easy for me. I was held up by a handful of WOEs, but they were all fairly crossed and/or inferrable -- except for the BLINI/PISTES cross, which left me one square short of finishing.
ReplyDeleteTUBE TOP is an outlier because it is the only one where the entire term isn't used in the double meaning. I'm referring to "TOP."
ReplyDeleteTURTLENECKBOAANDCROCS also an outlier, because the only one with 3 clothing items total, 2 before AND. I had TURTLENECK TOP AND CROCS, never thinking it was a separate item of clothing coming next. There is certainly no such thing as a turtleneck boa. Boas already cover one's neck, though you could wear one over a turtleneck, I suppose if going for some weird L.L.Beane/Ru Paul mash-up.
DeleteAgree completely with Shiism. Also thought B'ahai
I zipped through this one, with nary a snag, but I did find it amusing and well crafted. It took lots of imagination, I should imagine, to come up with so many theme ideas -- much harder to create than to solve. I was initially looking for APRES MOI LE DELUGE instead of L'ETAT C'EST MOI at 15D, but that's probably just the way my mind is working right now. And I initially misspelled TAPaNADE, but other than that, no probs at all.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, do you think that L'ETAT C'EST MOI comes from the same deep psychological place as "I alone can fix it!"? I think it does -- and that's why I'm so very, very worried right now.
@lise... You'd have to go to the 86D to complete that outfit.
ReplyDelete@ncapres...same thought re: CLAP. And yes...for sure! Send me an email.
@Bob K...one reason we haven't cancelled cable is because of the election. We may well do so now... Too many other ways to get information. Not planning on sticking our heads in the sand, just being more selective.
@Bob Kerfuffle, your actions are understandable but this blog will miss you.
ReplyDelete@Old Lady, like you I have it easy, in my case a college town in northern California. Although some of the racist ugliness of the past few days has reached our campus, sad to say.
It will be a long 4 years and communities, even virtual ones like this, will be important survival tools.
Oh the puzzle...
ReplyDeleteI make TAPENADE often, so a nice gimme there. Though I leave out the anchovies...! And add lemon rind.
Chacun à son goût.
I also liked the theme muchly.
To me, one hallmark of a successful theme is that it sparks additional themers, as this one has in droves. Thanks, all you clever folks!
My mom went to the garden center and asked for "executive HOSE", one of her son-in-law's Christmas list items. I'm sure that guy tells the same story to this day.
Liked the much needed SPRITZED cologne over those MIASMAS.
Thanks, Mr. Fagliano.
P.S. @Bob...we'll miss you, but see you in Westport! And at Burger Queen.
In general, I prefer Donne's sensual poems to his spiritual, but he is still my favorite poet, and it was nice to see his name in the grid.
ReplyDeleteTo His Mistress Going to Bed Related Poem Content Details
BY JOHN DONNE
Come, Madam, come, all rest my powers defy,
Until I labour, I in labour lie.
The foe oft-times having the foe in sight,
Is tir’d with standing though he never fight.
Off with that girdle, like heaven’s Zone glistering,
But a far fairer world encompassing.
Unpin that spangled breastplate which you wear,
That th’eyes of busy fools may be stopped there.
Unlace yourself, for that harmonious chime,
Tells me from you, that now it is bed time.
Off with that happy busk, which I envy,
That still can be, and still can stand so nigh.
Your gown going off, such beauteous state reveals,
As when from flowery meads th’hill’s shadow steals.
Off with that wiry Coronet and shew
The hairy Diadem which on you doth grow:
Now off with those shoes, and then safely tread
In this love’s hallow’d temple, this soft bed.
In such white robes, heaven’s Angels used to be
Received by men; Thou Angel bringst with thee
A heaven like Mahomet’s Paradise; and though
Ill spirits walk in white, we easily know,
By this these Angels from an evil sprite,
Those set our hairs, but these our flesh upright.
Licence my roving hands, and let them go,
Before, behind, between, above, below.
O my America! my new-found-land,
My kingdom, safeliest when with one man mann’d,
My Mine of precious stones, My Empirie,
How blest am I in this discovering thee!
To enter in these bonds, is to be free;
Then where my hand is set, my seal shall be.
Full nakedness! All joys are due to thee,
As souls unbodied, bodies uncloth’d must be,
To taste whole joys. Gems which you women use
Are like Atlanta’s balls, cast in men’s views,
That when a fool’s eye lighteth on a Gem,
His earthly soul may covet theirs, not them.
Like pictures, or like books’ gay coverings made
For lay-men, are all women thus array’d;
Themselves are mystic books, which only we
(Whom their imputed grace will dignify)
Must see reveal’d. Then since that I may know;
As liberally, as to a Midwife, shew
Thy self: cast all, yea, this white linen hence,
There is no penance due to innocence.
To teach thee, I am naked first; why then
What needst thou have more covering than a man.
@Bob K (and not to worry, everyone else. Well, yes to worry, but not about our very own Bob K leaving. Bob will be back -- to us and to the Times, I predict. Here's why):
ReplyDeleteLet me tell you about my two closest female friends: One, who like me, worries and agitates and thinks about everything -- and more often than not it's something quite awful -- that's going on on the world. Who, like me, reads the Times assiduously. Who like me simply can't help herself. And the other friend? Her life is comprised of tennis, bridge and theater. If she reads the paper, it's to see what plays have opened that day. I've known her for 20 years and she's never discussed either politics or world affairs with me even once. And yet she's really, really bright and well-educated. I was discussing the latter friend with the former one (they don't know each other) right before the election. And what I said was: "And who do you think is happier? You and I or Carol?"
I suspect, Bob, that the need to know all the awful things that are happening in the world is bred in the bone as far as you're concerned. You may want to block it all out, it may make you happier to block it all out, but I don't think you'll be able to over the long term. We are who we are -- each one of us. Let us know six months from now if you've managed to completely "escape".
Thought for the day: If only Canada weren't so damn cold!
The bartender wore glasses and a nightcap. Or belts and a nightcap.
ReplyDeleteThe sailor wore shrouds and a boater.
This is hard.
Even more kudos are due.
I thought the puzzle was fun, once I got used to the absurdity of the TURTLENECK BOA AND CROCS. The only slight negative was the repeated AND, which gave away too many letters (and maybe should have precluded S AND M?) But fun indeed.
ReplyDeleteOTOH, DRONE BEE? Who calls them that? Just DRONEs. And, to get technical, it's the PATRIOT Act (60D) -- the word is some kind of silly acronym. And if you want to store data on your CD, it had better not be ROM. (But I guess you can buy data on one, so maybe that's OK.)
Trump tweeted this morning that the NYT was losing subscribers because they had said bad things about him during the campaign. @Bob K, I hope you change your mind -- but if you do leave, it sounds like you are a counterexample to that.
@Nancy, there's a piece by Voltaire (can't remember the source) where he remarks that his uneducated neighbor is much happier than he is, but that neither he nor anyone else with education would willingly trade places with the neighbor. This doesn't exactly fit your friend's situation (educated but apolitical), but I think the logic may be the same.
@Nancy -- Indeed, I had picked up on the aptness of the "L'etat, c'est moi" answer, and was inspired to write a mock episode for a new reality television show I called "The Apprentice President". It didn't mention any real person by name (except for ANN Coulter, who I imagined as the new Press Secretary), but it appears that OFL yanked it. Oh well. At least it was up for long enough for George Barany to appreciate it. :-)
ReplyDelete@Bob -- I'm with you. I can't abide listening even to the NPR Political Podcast. They are OBLIGEd to report as if it's still politics as normal, which of course it isn't.
BTW, we liked the puzzle. Finished it in record time but felt the fill was good.
Time crunch here, but wanted to say that I thought this puzzle was way above average for Sunday. It engaged me all the way though and avoided the Sunday slog fest. You don't disappoint, Joel!
ReplyDelete@chefwen:
ReplyDelete"I hope that boxer had on more than SOCKS AND A BELT, not a pretty picture."
Depends on the boxer.
I enjoyed the puzzle a lot; even chuckled here and there which is a blessing. I had a miserable time seeing POT, purely guessed on DEPP of the DE, and it took forever to twig to Louis' claim about the state. I could (but won't) complain bout the DRONEBEE and SHIISM; they really aren't as made up as some of the stuff we see. And MIASMAS and TAPENADE -- though not together, please -- we're delightful. I finished without a cheat in a decent time and that's always nice.
ReplyDeleteI sure do understand @Bob Kerfuffle; I cancelled WAPO because of a really mean op-ed. But I've subscribed to the digital NYT since I retired because I get an educator's discount. Right now, I'm just not reading it. But eventually I'm going to need to know what's happening in the world so I can write letters, join like-minded groups, and stand up for what I believe in. Emotions are running high now but we can't sustain this fervor. When it subsides, foot soldiers are going to have to get to work and I plan to be one of them.
@LMS, Tita A and others. How the hell do you DO that, riff on themes and make it look so easy? I cannot come up with a single example; I'm in awe.
@Old Lady. I'm in a college town in Blue Illinois but we've had incidents on campus as well. It would be good to see our president-elect come out strongly against these behaviors.
It appears that my long term dog supplier has a buddy for my very lonesome girl (and me). That has put a smile on my face. I shall need a name for what appears to be an atypically active male Malamute with floppy ears. I'm thinking of Calvin (from Calvin and Hobbes), though I don't really like the name. Ideas?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to come up with...what the chef wore... Can't come up with a thing...except and apron and toque
ReplyDelete@Malsdemare (11:10) -- When my brother got a Wheaton Terrier rescue and was about to choose a name, I suggested "Kellogg". They named the dog "Charlie". So much for my suggestions being heeded :) Still, I will make a stab at helping you name your new male Malamute:
ReplyDeleteSEWARD
KLONDIKE
REX (nothing to do with R.P, but the Malamute is a kingly-looking dog.)
Ditto for DUKE, BARON; and SQUIRE.
If I think of anything else, I'll let you know. I'm not thinking along the lines of a "people" name, since you hardly need me or anyone else for that.
I really enjoyed the theme, and looked forward to each one. So much so that I’m willing to overlook the ridiculous ANN and ANNE, the weak NSA and NSC, and the %$^#)! Natick at NOLAN/ORS, where I went with NeLAN/eRS.
ReplyDeleteIt turns out that Jonathan NOLAN is responsible for the worst film I’ve seen since Transformers, the waste of eleven hours that was Interstellar (three hours to watch the movie, eight to complain about how awful it was). In a way, even worse than Transformers, which was only a waste of about an hour and a half – an hour to confirm that it wasn’t worth watching any more, and thirty minutes of self-flagellation for not quitting after the first 20 minutes.
@Bob Kerfuffle - you can subscribe to the crossword without subscribing to the paper. You get access to a website where you can either solve the puzzle on a device or print it off and solve on paper.
Also Dirty Dancing was terrible.
@malsdemare... BRIO?
ReplyDeleteFirecracker?
Frisky? (I know, groan?)
Rocket?
If you want people names, Dennis?
Or if you don't like Calvin, how about a sideways reference...Johnny, for John Calvin. (my friend's 5th Sheltie is Johnny.).
(I'm paving the way for the truly clever folks out there to make me cringe at my attempts.
I've been meaning to offer condolences on the loss of your dog, and to post this link.
I'm sure you've seen Eugene O'Neill's "Last Will and Testament of an Extremely Distinguished Dog".
http://www.eoneill.com/texts/blemie/contents.htm
Obamacare option, for short : should have been NFL (not for long)
ReplyDeleteand would have liked: Facilitated, ala Hillary ENABLED
PISTE was a gimme. I've skied them at the Matterhorn aka Zermatt. And will again in Italy this Feb.
@ Tita, thanks for the link, now I am bawling again! And for the names, thanks to you and @Nancy. You've jumpstarted my brain. This dog isn't a done deal and I find that sometimes they are very clear about what they should be called. Stay tuned.
ReplyDelete@kitshef, I got stuck at the NeLAN/eRS cross too. Oh well. TURTLENECK, BOA AND CROCS just struck me as odd but before I got KRONOS (no "C"s for me) I was thinking BrA which was much odder.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this. Of course Joel gets lots of practice. I often wonder if he makes his Minis daily or takes a day off and makes a bunch. They might seem easy and fast to do but they are, in fact, not that easy and not all that fast when one has to dream up clues for all the words that actually have to be carefully selected. And it seems that Joel has been coming up with themeier puzzles lately. Is that a word? I suppose it just became one.
I'm going to miss you, @Mister Kerfuffle, Perhaps I'll revisit runtz to say, "Hi." from time to time.
@Malsdemare, then ther was the dog that thaought it's name was Damn You for reasons that should be fairly clear.
ReplyDeleteGreat Sunday puzzle, what they all oughta be. The clue for CANNIBAL (One looking to serve mankind?) was worth the price of admission alone.
ReplyDeleteHad to guess at the second "I" in BLINI, we've only eaten blintzes. Filling. I always get the speed skater right (APOLO), he's the delightful answer to my quandry as to whether Apollo has two P's or two L's. No Prob with the "K" in KLINE here, he's a favorite. Y'all need to see the little known "I Love You to Death" with him and Tracy Ullman. Based on an insane true story of a woman's unsuccessful attempt to murder her husband.
Is there a TV series that Alan ALDA did not appear in?
Have missed @Bob Kerfuffle, always enjoyed his comments. Sorry to see him go permanently.
I liked this light-hearted puzzle, the initial CHIPPER and CONGAS setting the lively tone. Nicely goofy theme; SLACKS AND LOAFERS made me laugh. Bonus points for CANARDS and CHAKRA.
ReplyDeleteDo-overs: [Van]guard; and (hi, @Lewis) tankTOP.
@Bob Kerfuffle, I'm sorry but I understand. My approach has been to stop reading the front section.
Regrettably, we named our dog Imp and she truely is one. We cut it down from Empress which her previous owner called her wanting to keep the sound similar. Malamutes were bred for hauling heavy loads while huskys were bred for pulling sleds faster. The similarities still seem to warrant the transferrence of names. @Malsdemare, I suggest the name Balto. He was the dog that led the team from Anchorage to Nome hauling the diphtheria antitoxin in 1925. If it's true that a dog will live up to it's name, then why not name your dog for a true canine hero?
ReplyDelete@Malsdemare, how about naming your dog John Wayne? I was saving that for our next dog but you can have it :-)
ReplyDelete@Tita A, thanks for completing the Bloomers and Hose outfit. I'm off to the mall.
I did this puzzle twice - once by pen and paper when it arrived on Saturday, and again in the evening, when it came online. I need the diversion - and as Rex's review shows, this was definitely a wonderful Sunday diversion.
ReplyDeleteI was delighted to know TAPENADE without any help - I think they put that on the Muffalettas in New Orleans, and I've never forgotten about it. However, PISTES was new to me.
I also wanted to check in here on these comments because it's refreshing to see like-minded perspectives regarding the political situation in the country. Enough said from me.
I have kept my NYT subscription - paper delivery because it supports a free (so far) press - however imperfect it is.
Anyone care that AIR appears in the grid (99A) and "Airer" in the clue to 40A? I don't particularly mind, but seem to recall that this is a minor crossword taboo. Perhaps the clue to 40A was originally "Org. that puts 89-Down on the 99-Across" which seem nice because 89D NCIS LA is literally "on" -- i.e. crossing -- 99A AIR.
ReplyDelete@Numinous Yes, one must be careful what one names the dogs. One of my favorite girls was Prudence, and because she was named for some witch program on TV (our breeder does TV themes for naming litters), I registered her as Poker Flat's Something Wicked (from MacBeth). And she was. Feel free to keep the ideas coming; they're terrific!
ReplyDeleteThis was a great Sunday puzzle, with a fun theme, in my opinion. I used the Bunker Randomization again, as I have for the last few weeks on Sunday but I don't think it was necessary in order to stave off boredom on this puzzle (although it's still a fun method of solving a big puzzle).
ReplyDeleteMy favorite was the marquee answer TURTLENECK, BOA AND CROCS. All of the themers were clever but a plumber wearing a TUBE TOP AND CLOGS has to bring the best (worst?) image to mind. No hiding the "plumber's crack" in that outfit. My husband worked in a tech lab where one of the techs was perennially exhibiting said crack. One day, one of their co-workers walked in, pulled the crack displayer's shirt down and said, "Just say no to crack". We still laugh about that.
Except for Tornados before TEMPESTS, "fell" before DOVE (which BRIEFly gave me Frost instead of DONNE), this puzzle didn't put up much of a fight, just an enjoyable Sunday. Thanks, Joel.
Aw heck. The Comment Gallery here just lost a little class, @Bob K. All bon-y voyages, amigo. Let's just call it an extended vacation for now, shall we? ...
ReplyDeleteThe shiverin, Trump-stressed runtpuz constructioneer wore …
A cross and down comforter.
LETATCESTMOI? Joel, Joel, Joel … [M&A was not French tickled enough.]
fave weeject: PTS. Plural abbreviation of convenience. Drips luvly desperation … which is good, cuz there weren't much else for M&A to sink his chipper choppers into, once U get past Louie XIV quips.
fave non-weeject: NCISLA. Funky good. [M&A ain't hard to please.]
Thanx, Mr. Fagliano. The poet DONNE-d no clothes, in yer puz, tho. (Unless they're happily unemployed, a lot.)
Masked & Anonym007Us
**gruntz**
"Sodium Carbonate is an excellent chemical for removing flesh from skulls, jaws, etc. Add 1/4 cup of Sodium Carbonate to each gallon of boiling water used. Place the skull in boiling water for 30 to 45 minutes, then remove. Flesh will become loose and can then be easily removed."
ReplyDeleteFirst definition I found!
Best puzzle in a while. Imaginative and fun to solve with some great cluing. Especially liked the one for CANNIBAL.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteIngenious, funny theme, and excellent execution by Joel today. Well, except ANN and ANNE, NSA and NSC, essential duplicates.
I think the NYT is slowly recovering its "gold standard of crosswords" moniker. If only they could also recover their journalistic integrity, as Mr. Arthur O. Sulzberger Jr. wrote in his letter: "...we aim to rededicate ourselves to the fundamental mission of Times journalism. That is to report America and the world honestly, without fear or favor..." I for one, am not holding my breath.
The clue for 1D was fabulous, evoking the classic Twilight Zone episode, in which scientist couldn't decode the title of the aliens' cookbook "To Serve Mankind" until it was too late.
A thoroughly enjoyable Sunday romp. Thanks Joel.
@BobK, I can understand your urge to hide under M&A's down comforter (good one there!). I felt the same way for two days yet on Friday found myself reading the headlines again as the political news junkie I am. If something good happens, we'll give you a heads up over on the Runt blog. And I am planning to attend the ACPT this year so I look forward to seeing you in person again. I'm still grateful for your company and support this past Lollapuzzoola!
ReplyDelete@Sandy, sounds like the first prep step in 1D's cookbook. (@AliasZ, the Twilight Zone is where my mind went also.)
@LMS, great write up all around, a classic with "plunging neckline" and muu muus.
@Bob K. Though we've never met, I felt I knew you through your posts and your LOUD Hawaiian shirts. @Tita posted pictures of you at the ACPT tournaments; I figured if you came to Northern California I could pick you out in a crowd!
ReplyDeleteMy brother lived in NYC for over 25 years. He stopped reading the NYTimes after about his 23rd year. Although he was the lefty brilliant musician of the family, he hated the newspaper and would only get it on Sunday to read the music reviews. I thanked him for that when I lived there because I would take the puzzle section with me to the park.
Don't be a cave man...it's boring.!
@malsdemare...Malamutes are such noble dogs. Maybe the Mayan lord of drums - Voltan or Hermes, the god of travel. Our two pups are Curly and Moe...How's that for inventive names!
Loved this CHIPPER puzzle.
Puzzle partner and I are busy, busy, busy getting settled into our new apartment so I don't have much time to write.
ReplyDeleteA very nice puzzle. Loved the central spanner: TURTLENECK, BOA, AND CROCS. The full was on point, and there were several fun clues. I loved the "Twilight Zone" clue at 1-Down.
@LMS - Wonderul comment (as usual). Some of your theme ideas made me laugh.
LA gets some love today with LA Woman and NCIS LA.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what COW MEN and ICE MAN would wear if Joel dressed them.
Have also skied the PISTES of Zermatt @anony12:23, as well as those of Crans Montana in Valais. Lovely experience but I'll take the champagne powder of the Rockies over hard pack any day.
Really good puzzle with some excellent themers. My favourite was SLACKS AND LOAFERS. Don't really know what a TURTLENECK BOA is, though.
ReplyDeleteI can understand the desire to bury your head in the sand, but the NYT will at least be attempting to report the actual news, and to hold the president-elect responsible for the things he says and does. Stop reading Breitbart and watching Fox, by all means, but gather yourselves together and get ready to fight back wherever you can. And for God's sake, turn out in full force for the midterms! A tiny number of voters would have tipped the balance in this election, and I hope it reminds people of their responsibility to vote.
@Nancy, surely you know it's a misperception that Canada is cold. Toronto has virtually the same climate as NYC, and Vancouver is even milder. Unless you were thinking of moving to Nunavut, I'm sure you would find it extremely warm here -- in ways that go well beyond temperature.
And to the person who posted the sarcastic comment the other day, Barbra Streisand is welcome here any time, as are Snoop Dogg, Bryan Cranston, and the many other people who have no desire to live in Trump's America. You know who else is welcome here? 33,000 Syrian refugees and counting.
#huddledmassesyearningtobreathefree
After reading all your comments I have been swayed into rethinking the puzzle. I have found new appreciation and must revise my original comment and delete the "not very interesting" portion. Morning eyes makes a difference also does a new mind set.
ReplyDelete@Malsdemere - Happier days ahead with a new pup companion. Helmut comes to mind.
As does, not also does. DOH!
ReplyDeleteIn answer to Rex's musing, I had CRONOS and CLINE instead of KRONOS and KLINE. (Dope slap). What makes that more awful is that first I had KLEIN, which I soon changed.
ReplyDeleteI had fun with this puzzle.
Hey All !
ReplyDeleteDon't know where to start. Was going to just comment on puz, but after reading @Bob Kerfuffle, have to make a political type comment. As much as I think Trump is a baffoon (not because he's a Republican), I think we (collective we, as a nation, regardless of pol party) need to take a breath, and try to see past the whole Presidential Race bullshit that both candidates ran. Personally, I think Trump ran as either a dare, or a joke, at first, and once he realized he was the party nomination, really didn't know how to act in that capacity, so in his sexist ways, was daunted by the fact he might lose to a woman, and resorted to name calling. Which ws reciprocated by Clinton.
What (I think) I'm trying to say is, now that Trump is elected, he'll surround himself with established Pols (although probably not the best ones) and tone down his machismo and actually try to be a good President. Someone said right after the election (on this blog) that his ego would prevent him from being remembered as a bad Pres. So we have to have faith that he'll actually make rational decisions about issues.
I think it's kind of silly for the protests that have been going on since Election Day. It's not going to change the outcome. Become proactive, if you truly want to change things or check them.
We survived 12 years of Republican Prezs with Reagan-Bush in the 80's-90's. We survived 8 years of Clinton, 8 years of Obama. I know most here are Democrats, but remember when Obama was first elected? Republicans had the same reaction. When he got re-elected, hoo boy, I thought the Reps would revolt! We made it through that, we'll make it through this. There's no reason (right now, anyway) to just throw in the towel.
If it gets real bad with Trump, he'll get impeached. I saw online an expert dude who predicted Trump would win, also predicts he will be impeached. We'll see. My only fear is going to war with North Korea. We need tact on that because their asshole-licking irrational dickhead of a leader wouldn't think twice about using whatever is at his disposal against anyone who makes a move towards them.
So, from a Confirmed Pessimist here, I think everything has been kind of blown out of proportion and we need to keep on keeping on, living our lives as normal. And if Trump does royally fuck up, we can all say to Republicans, "See, I told you so."
My opinions, (and you know what they say about opinions)
RooMonster
DarrinV
Don't you think "tank top" would have been better?
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty much all been said and more. I never once thought that we solvers were supposed to imagine those practicing the trade actually wearing the garment. I certainly had to guess at NOLAN crossing ORS, not knowing "Westworld." The puzzle has been in quite a STATE lately, even resorting to French today.
ReplyDeleteMy wife was a flight attendant for many years and crossed paths with celebrities. A few were petulant, the "Do you know who I am?" type. "No, I don't," followed by the announcement, "There's a passenger in 7D who doesn't know who he is." But, the majority were either unassuming or very gracious. Some were down right friendly, and not people you might anticipate based on their public image. She had more than a few encounters with LL Cool J and would rank him at the top of her list. I almost feel a little jealous when she talks about him.
Seeing TUBE TOP AND CLOGS reminds that I haven't been to Walmart in ages.
@Joel I join numerous posters and OFL in my enjoyment of this puzzle.
ReplyDelete@Mohair Sam: SPOILER ALERT: The To Serve Man clue was the punch line for a great Twilight Zone episode about an alien race who came to earth and prevented war and made it a paradise. A philologist translated the title of a book from theM called To Serve Man but was unable to translate the book. As he was entering a space ship to go to their home planet, his assistant ran to the ship and yelled, "Don't go IT'S A COOKBOOK!"
@Bob: I too miss you and wish you the best
@Malsdemare - of course the problem with a dog named Prudence is that if she gets out, you have to roam around the neighborhood yelling "Prudence", which is apt to get you branded as a nutcase. {stolen from the master, PG Wodehouse}
ReplyDeleteWhy two Ann/Anne's?
ReplyDeleteRex nailed it, clean and decent craft
ReplyDeleteClearly easy for a Sunday, did it while conversing
@kitshef ....although perhaps not a bad idea these days. Love PG!
ReplyDeleteI just got a new pup and named him Bubba because he's a Bubba. Yours will likely name himself also.
DeleteCopper tubing is a big plumbing item, but I've never heard it called a "tube."
ReplyDeleteVery late post for me, there's been a lot going on at the firehouse today. It's taken all day to get through the comments. I had KLEIN and KRONUS for awhile. It took some time to figure out that the weird BUA string was just plain old BOA.
ReplyDeleteThe real time suck was realizing my unknown mistake was entering AIDS twice. Apparently I never read the clue for 108A and forgot that I'd already answered the "Philadelphia" clue.
I learned TAPENADE today and it's not even listed in my Webster's. PISTES is a debut word but for some reason it was already underlined when I looked it up. Comment on and don't let the election get you down.
@Malsdemare -- One last thought. Did you once post that you give your Malamutes show names as well as pet names? So now I'm thinking that the show name could be something like "KC Champion Baron von Klondike" and the everyday name could be... CASEY.
ReplyDelete@DrLee77 - Great stuff.
ReplyDelete@Roo Monster - Sanity! Well said. We'll survive this guy, or we'll impeach him.
Very fun puzzle, I laughed at TURTLENECK (I assumed it was turtleneck, boa, and crocs rather than a turtleneck boa...) and adored CANNIBAL and CONGAS. It was fun to know the pop culture references too, such as DEPP for Gilbert Grape and KLINE. Beloved daughter went to Hampshire for two years (AMHERST) and I was an avid downhill skier back in the day (PISTES) so the puzzle just flew for me, but always in a fun and enjoyable manner.
ReplyDeleteMy stomach can't handle the news right now and even a brief visit to Twitter causes me to lose faith in humanity, so I too am taking a break. Hadn't thought about actually cancelling the subscriptions. Sounds like an excellent idea...perhaps I should since the crossword app is separate, and I could still indulge.
The malamute was my high school's mascot (go, Austin E Lathrop High School!). For this Jack London fan, the only proper name for a malamute is Buck and yeah, yeah, I know he wasn't a malamute, but still. Balto is also a great name with an awesome provenance. If you want more, this site has great ideas including Inuit names: http://www.skylandmalamutes.com/MalamuteNames.html
Onward and forward through the dreck...(it's not DONNE but it's how I feel these days...)
You could cancel. Or you could donate the papers you get now to a school or a shelter or a Planned Parenthood and wait until you feel better about things to start reading again. Or just take out the puzzle and keep on donating. That way you can accomplish something positive instead of just hiding in the sand hoping others will step up and be kind and compassionate to those who need it most right now. (On the whole, not regular NYT subscribers.)
ReplyDeleteYou don't have to over-consume bad news to do good in the world, but simply giving up bad news doesn't help anyone but yourself. (if that's all you can handle right now, it's totally understandable, but it's not making a difference.)
Note: "you" in this comment does not refer to any single person. General thoughts.
@ZenMonkey, you are of corse referring to that famous Korean, General Yu.
ReplyDelete@puzzle hoarder, I am doing my level best to to attempt to take this in stride. It will be what it will, que sera, &c..
@Roo Monster and @Mohair Sam, it only looks dark in the tunnel until the turn that leads to the exit has been passed. Of one thing I am sure, this will all come to an end of some sort eventually.
@Cassiopea, thanks for remembering Balto. Here is his story as recorded in Wikipedia. There are more thrilling versions to be found but this lists the facts.
@Malsdemare -- when I named my dog Orion it ws because he seemed to want to be the mighty hunter up in the sky. But it turned out to be a puzzle word, and he has enjoyed being in the puzzle every month or two. Why not name him Mel Ott or Mr Ed? Just kidding.
ReplyDeleteI have found plenty to read in my daily NYTimes while not going near the national political coverage the last few days. I read about how British red squirrels carry leprosy.I read abut how rats giggle when tickled.
The puzzle? took me a long time. And I had a blank space at the end, where a _EB APP crossed some rock album.Guess I got bored running the alphabet, never got to W.
Had the BOA in place first, and anticipated that FEATHER would precede it, so was surprised at what actually showed up. Wondered whether TURTLENE C.K. was sister to Louis C.K. Am betting ole TURTLENE shops at Walmart, @Larry G.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Louis, L'ETAT C'EST MOI also reminded me of 'Apres moi le deluge' (Dern, I've flooded the lavatory again!) and then of 'Honi soit qui mal y pense' (Honey, I'm thinking of moving to Mali). The problem is, I thought it was a Louis said that, but turns out it was Edward III. Why would an English king be speaking in French?
Had a good time with the fill, starting with the deserving CANNIBAL (and thanks for the Twilight Zone reminder, @good buddy) and ending with the [Two for a buck] ANTLERS. In between, liked the echo of yesterpuzz with the SAND MICE MAN probably catching all his little rodents in JUST DESERTS.
@Pablo C, I've loved you for years, today perhaps more than ever.
@Numi, that TURTLENECK BRA you mention could be a real bear to J up. I also thought right away of Balto for @Maldemare's newbie, even though Balto was a Siberian Husky. Turns out that about 20 teams covered the distance from Nenana to Nome, but it was Balto led the team that delivered the serum, running a double stretch at the end in the dark and in whiteout conditions.
I'm gobsmacked at the clever theme examples that came from @so many. I knew an artist who wore shades, a postman who wore mail, and a miser who wore tights, but it's no mean feet to come up with a good pair. Not sure whether an electrician wearing SHORTS and a WIRE qualifies.
Well, I've just finished watching Battleship Potemkin again. That section on the Odessa Steps always gets to me. Am in doubt that Battleship Protrumpkin will have a equally upbeat ending.
We're researching Canadian real estate, too. But IF we decide to stay, we all need to support the few true sources of journalistic integrity. Keep your NYT subscription if only to make that statement. Plus, you'll get to enjoy the puzzle and we'll get to enjoy your comments.
ReplyDeleteGood puzzle this week. Only reason I'm commenting is the sad state of our country, and to ask when we allowed "dove" to become a verb in the past tense in addition to a symbol of peace (71D)? Has my twelfth grade English teacher, who taught us to use "dived" been incorrect all these years?
I'm a New York Times reporter and avid follower of this blog. Please don't cancel your subscription. The new president has declared war on the press, and its continued existence is more important than ever. We need to be strong to hold power to account. Please reconsider! Sarah Lyall
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised by the number of intellectuals who think in terms of either/or Aristotelian logic.
ReplyDeleteNot much mention of dupe NCISLA and LAWOMAN. Nor NRA, NSA, NSC word ladder. Nor ANN and ANNE. Not that I care that much, but it’s often where one would see complaints. The ampersandwich SANDM was my last fill.
ReplyDeleteI actually own a Dread Zeppelin CD. Got it for 50 cents.
Not much more to say, dearth of yeah babiness. BLINI for brunch, so I’m DONNE
My plea for non-slogginess has been answered! There was a series of delights in which I had an opening thought: wow, wouldn't it be cool if the answer was...and lo and behold, it WAS! Examples: CONGAS, SPRITZED (I've never been sure this was a legit word; I know it as a good old Pennsylvania Dutch expression), and a lot of the theme entries. This was fun, and just hard enough here and there to keep me engaged. WOEs include SALSODA (that one was 100% crosses and I still wasn't sure it was right), TAPENADE (no wonder: I don't like ANY of the ingredients), and PISTES.
ReplyDeleteNo direct DOD, so I'll invade the cast of NCISLA to proudly present Daniela Ruah, and if she's not DOD material, nobody is. Hubba x2!
If the clue for 93-across didn't include the word, he could've worn, wait for it, BOXERS! Ah, but that would be dull; they really DO wear those. But it would be a nice pairing with BRIEFS. Cool repetition of the TRIB-segment in the SW, with totally different meanings. No question about it, this is the best puzzle I've seen in quite a while. Eagle!
BONER-GATE
ReplyDeleteOUT in a TUBETOPANDCLOGS with SOCKSANDABELT they let her,
the L.A.WOMAN was ENABLED to ACT OUT PANED SANDM better,
and was OBLIGED to CONSENT as he PISTES PANTSANDSWEATER.
--- SIENNA MIASMAS-SALSODA
Nice crunchy Sunday puzzle. Some tough clues but ultimately solvable.
ReplyDeleteMost fun on a Sunday puzzle in a long time, if not ever. More than made up for the inevitable slog factor that goes with these double-sized puzzles.
ReplyDeleteAmused by imagining the gardener, boxer, plumber, and reptile expert wearing only the clothes and other paraphernalia described. The others were well enough dressed to appear in public.
Theme definitely ENABLED the solve.
CANNIBAL and its clue provided a bonus kick and chuckle.
CHAKRA and HOLE were pausers, and had to parse
LA W OMAN.
Solid, fun Sunday from JF (and WS).
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHad so much fun, I guess, that I carelessly let my avatar take credit, if that's what it was, for my post.
ReplyDeleteOne of the better Sundays to be served up. Mediumish, unsloggish, creative with a wealth of great clues.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I see olives in some concoction, I automatically think TAPENADE, which I like. If I hired a plumber who wore a TUBE TOP, I think a BONER might be in play (I hope that doesn't sound sexist).
A good puzzle to end a good week.
When you love Sundays, love silliness, love a theme that helps solve the therers, then you're gonna love this puzzle. Took my time solving and savoring.
ReplyDeleteCurrently ONABREAK, then off to do te LAX puz.
Diana, Lady-in-Waiting for Crosswords
Gosh, Leftcoast, is your name Tom?
ReplyDelete;-)
Di,LIW
Especially liked the cluing in this puzzle, particularly 1d (serving mankind) and 113a ('consent' as a sex ed topic). Today, Saturday 11/20/16, is my last Sunday for most of you.
ReplyDeleteWanted to say 'hey' to @Bob K, whose commentary I've enjoyed. I've had a similiar reaction (as Bob K said, moving is a hassle) & am now grappling over my own newspaper subscription. Keep & support the press? Just discard the front section? My subscription to the SF Chronicle isn't exactly the NYT (& SF is a liberal area, giving new meaning to 'sanctuary city') -- but I'd still have to see that face on my morning doorstep too often. @Roo M: have to respectfully disagree as I think the protests should continue to keep the opposition to t. active; but otherwise I do agree about being active in & supporting agenda(s) that are personally important.
@lodsf - Thank you to you and to all the others who in their comments offered understanding and support of my decision (which is painful to me, I should note), and to those who offered alternative or supplementary approaches, all quite politely. You seem to come the closest to sharing my particular slant on the issue, and I wish you well in whatever course you decide on.
ReplyDeleteI might even offer an occasional comment on a puzzle, when the wind blows a stray NY Times my way, but only if I have something really clever to say which hasn't already been said.
Fun puzzle! Not being a poetry aficionado, I got hung up entering DaNtE instead of DONNE. Live and learn. But what ultimately caused my DNF was "Excuse." Regardless whether it's a noun or a verb, I fail to see how OUT is an answer.
ReplyDeleteYep, I fell into the CLINE/CRONOS trap
ReplyDeleteusing NearBuz you can search the contact number of plumbers near you and call them up to fix the water leakage issue. local plumbers
ReplyDelete