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Onetime HBO series set in New Orleans / TUE 8-8-17 / Great Expectations protagonist / Kleenex of cotton swabs
Tuesday, August 8, 2017
Constructor: Dan Flanagan
Relative difficulty: Easy
Theme answers:
- 17A: 4/4 (COMMON TIME)
- 27A: 11/11 (VETERANS DAY)
- 44A: 20/20 (GREAT VISION)
- 60A: 50/50 (EVEN STEVEN)
com·mon timeˈkämən tīm/noun
Musicnoun: common time
• • •
Fill was also just OK. Some nice stuff, like NAMEDROP and QUICKSAND, but lots and lots of common (!!) stuff; you know, ECO ERES ADELE. Swing a cat and you'll hit a ton of it. ARAL AERO IOTA URSA PAAR ISTO UAE. On and on and on. SSN! The more I look at the grid, the less I like it. Lesson: stop looking! My only holdups today involved themers: COMMON TIME (because I didn't know what that was) and GREAT VISION (because that is not a specific thing, as we have been over). I also blanked (for seconds, which felt like minutes) on 39A: "Great Expectations" protagonist ... and I had -IP in place! I knew the answer, of course, but my brain tried to feed me the Dickens pseudonym (which I know only 'cause of crosswords), BOZ, and so the answer came out BIP, but ... I knew that wasn't right. So there was this weird giant pause right in the middle of my otherwise lightning-fast solve (just broke 3 minutes). So at least it went by quickly. Good for a Tuesday, but since that bar is so low, it's still just OK overall.
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
P.S. TOE is in the grid, and [Tiptoe] is a clue (40A). A no(e)-no(e).
[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Facebook]
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109 comments:
20/20 Vision is, by definition, average. It means that you see at 20 ft what an average person sees at 20 feet. 40/20 vision is great vision - you see at 40 feet with the same clarity what the average person sees at 20 feet. 20/40 vision is poor vision.
I felt pretty uncomfortable about the clue for DECATHLON. Shouldn't it read "Caitlyn Jenner" instead?
Easy for me too and more or less what @Rex said. Not bad for a Tues., liked it.
Also meant to congratulate Dan Flanagan on his debut.
Debut puzzle for @Dan Flanagan, so congratulations! Nice to have the numbers of the theme entries appear in the grid in numerical order. My personal favorite, 11/11.
Thanks for the palindromic hint on OTTO (62-Across), and for the relatively little used (only 6 times, out of nearly 200 Shortz era appearances) OMAR (33-Down) Vizquel. Can we assume that the clue for SARAH (15-Across) was not in the originally accepted puzzle? As for NARC (41-Across), I always thought that term referred to an undercover police officer, which strikes me as different from an informant -- if someone knows more about this, please enlighten!
P.S. to Anonymous at 12:08 AM -- back in 1976, the Olympic athlete who was celebrated on a Wheaties box was still known as Bruce.
The "sexy" person in that Beatles tune isn't a woman. It's actually referring to the Maharishi.
Another drivel free early week puzzle. So far so good. The difficulty was indistinguishable from yesterday. This was done by tablet so hard to say exactly. PIP has not been hammered in yet. TREME also went in by the crosses. I don't even recall ads for that show. Figuring out the M of MELT was probably my biggest hurdle. Sharp as a marble. Another stupid thing, I always want to put an A between the H and the L of DECATHLON. Only the lack of squares stopped me.
I did not know that PATENTs last 20 years.
I do not care that I didn't know some baseball player or the New Orleans TV show.
Anonymous at 12:07 AM, I think great vision used to be listed as 20/10, not 40/20? At least, that's how I remember. Nowadays I only get my diopter prescription -- -0.1 or whatever.
@George Barany: Agreed as to NARC, which is short for NARCotics officer, but the meaning broadened, perhaps through the verb "to NARC," meaning to inform on someone who has done something illegal. See http://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/american/narc_2. The noun apparently now means anyone who informs authorities about another's illegal act.
Not that I would have any firsthand knowledge of the act of NARCing or the experience of being informed on by a NARC.
I liked it, for a Tuesday. I've read some of Carl Sagan's lectures and seen his Cosmos series, but was unfamiliar with the novel, so SETI was totally dependent on crosses. Same strategy with TREME, which rang a distant bell. Fair enough!
The etymology of some words is rooted in trade names. Zipper is one, I think. My grandmother kept her refrigerated items in a frigidaire. Hand me a facial tissue, please! Never quite figured out the recommended use for a cotton swab. Overheard dialog at Hamura Saimin in Lihue involving a grandpa and his grandson:
GP: What you want for drink?
Kid: I want coke.
GP: What kind coke you want?
Kid: I want Pepsi coke.
GP, to server: He want Pepsi coke.
In the desert, watching URSA Major rotating around Polaris is a nightly thing, all year long. Shakespeare's SONNET 116, soon appearing at a secular wedding near you, uses the image of that "ever-fixed mark" as a metaphor for the constancy of true love. Everybody knows the plays, but these dense poems are complex and studying them is worthwhile, and each is only 140 syllables.
Lying PRONE in yoga is called Makar Asana, or Crocodile. Flip over onto your belly, make a pillow with your hands, big toes touching, heels falling apart.
Nice, gentle Tuesday, Dan. ORC ORCA and all. Please don't tell me you've named a pup ROVER or that a two year old does the TODDLE. Maybe a PIP and a WADDLE...?
I'm hoping for GREAT VISION after Thursday when I have my eyeball lasered. I thought I was too young for cataract surgery. My 38 year old ophthalmologist told me that being subjected to sunlight and alcohol can bring on early onset eye problems. Yeah...I was drinking Mojitos in Cuba when I was 9.
Went rapidly for me until I hit 49D/64A. Never heard of Treme, and the clue for "melt" was brutal. Had to run the alphabet twice.
Good choice Rex on 20/20 as the song of the day.
It's in common time, or 4/4! It fits two clues!
Yup, bit it at 49D/67A. Had no idea on the HBO show and put in MD to finish 49D thinking some sort of doctor show. ''Twas wrong, oh well, every else was right. DNF on a Tuesday, Shoots!
@Gil I - Good luck on the eye thing. Had mine done a few years ago, scary, but really no pain, lots to gain. As they say on the islands, No worries!
Gotta agree with anon @12:28 since SADIE is really about the maharishi, perhaps a better clue would have been "Sexy PERSON" since it's very much not a lady despite the she in the lyrics.
(Altho nowadays I've been involved in lots of conversations about folks choosing their personal pronouns, etc. I'm too old for that.)
But not too old to not love QUICKSAND!!! NAMEDROP!! ACMES!!?!
(valuable advice from my therapist: QTIP Quit Taking It Personally)
@Gill - Hopefully they told you about the multi-focal high tech lens options. I can now read the disclaimer print without glasses.
I though that NARC referred to the undercover drug cop, whereas nark with a "k" referred to an informant. As @Mike from Mountainview pointed out, it seems that the spelling with a "c" works for both now, at least in some dictionaries.
@GilI, I have a friend who got high tech lens on one side and you can see it glint at you, like some action movie robot. Disconcerting. Ask Doogie.
Lens replacement means you will see the color blue again, which also means your whites and pastels will shift. Enjoy.
Um, but lasering your eyeball is normally to contour the lens (LASIK), not replace it. Do you know what you're having done?
Oh PS, LASER started life as an acronym, then morphed to a noun, then got verbed by the medical community. Great word.
Clever theme -- if it's never been done before, Dan deserves credit for that! Good clues on a Tuesday for MELT and TOE, and I like the ring of TODDLE. Congrats on the debut, Dan!
I loved the HBO series Treme -- for the inspired and gorgeous music. The woman who played violin (Lucia Micarelli) is coming to perform in my town, and I'll be there.
ORCA/ORC -- two common crossword answers. Could have had more of same if there was an Ara to go with ARAL, an ere to go with ERES, and an Ott to go with OTTO.
The "Vision Thing" ruined it.
Now this is my kind of puzzle--good fill, good theme, well executed by a newcomer to NYT. Enjoyed it very much. Kudos.
Two issues today: one mine, one not. COMMON TIME was a WoE, so it felt out of place against the other three themers. That’s on me.
But TREME? No. Bad enough we have to put up with dadblamed HBO clues from shows that at least have penetrated (slightly) into popular culture like Game of Thrones, but TREME would have been too obscure on a Saturday. On a Tuesday, it’s apocalyptically bad.
@Anonymous at 12:08, yes, the Bruce Jenner clue is an example of "deadnaming" and that's a no no, especially for trans people.
I don't know about dictionary definitions but in the parlance the trade a CI (confidential informant) gives incriminating info to a Narc (drug enforcement officer).Puzzle was an easy solve for me.
I liked it but was microagressed by the Sarah Huckabee Sanders clue. Not cool normalizing the Trump administration. Adios, off to my safe space.
SETI is also an acronym, "Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence". For many years there's been a program crowd-sourcing the processing of data using personal computers at off times. It's called SETI@home. Anyone might be the person whose computer actually finds ET. See https://setiathome.berkeley.edu/sah_participate.php
DNF on a Tuesday also killed by the Treme/melt crossing and the tough melt clue.
Never heard of Treme or Common time...but other than that enjoyed the puzzle
For as long as I have been doing crosswords the Aral Sea has been disappearing. When will it be gone? I guess it will live forever in puzzles.
Jack and Anne, always a struggle to remember double A or double R.
Clue for melt was great.
Treme? Really?
@ACM, Long ago you told us about Q-Tip and I think of you every time I see it. Good advice.
TREME/ERES cross is poor.
If you ever have a chance to see TREME, do!!! Amazing series, amazing performances, amazing music.
Enjoyed the puzzle and found it very easy, though those two points are unrelated.
Yeah, 20/20 is not "great" vision. That answer is flat wrong. Kind of a bummer, cause I liked this puzzle, and I wish they'd thought a bit more about the last two themers. But I can't think of better choices at the moment.
Unaware of TREME. MELT clue Friday-ish. Otherwise, clever puzzle. Great debut. Too much criticism by OFL but what else is new.
"I knew the answer, of course...". Yeah, of course.
Other than the truly obscure TREME, a very easy puzzle that was perfectly pleasant. I liked the way THE was clued (9D) and also agree with others that MELT was tough, tricky and terrific for a Tuesday.
About Bruce Jenner: Shortly after he won the DECATHLON and was, therefore, arguably The Best Athlete in the World, he appeared at Central Park, tennis racket in hand. Someone pointed him out to me on a faraway back court. I watched as he pushed balls back across the net with a form that can only be described as execrable. He didn't really have any form, in fact. It was pretty obvious he had barely, if ever, swung a tennis racket in his life. This is The Best Athlete in the World? I thought to myself. Why, I could beat him! I continued to watch. He got to every single ball. He pushed every single ball back across the net. No matter how hard the ball was hit to him or how far away from it it was, he got every single ball back. Eventually and very grudgingly, I realized that no, I wouldn't beat him. Superior athleticism wins out every time. Even if you have no bloody idea what you're supposed to be doing on a tennis court. [Sigh]
As an optometrist, I can tell you that 20/20 is below average vision for a 75 year old patient. I would be very unhappy if I only had 20/20 vision. I am currently corrected to 20/10, and want to stay that way - but that's just me being picky.
@GILL -- Good luck with your cataract surgery! As to age -- my brother had both eyes done last year, when I think he was 69. And he wasn't drinking mojitos in Cuba at age 9. But it sounds like you had a much jazzier Year Nine than he did. Or me either, for that matter. (Although my father did liked to say that I showed a liking for the taste of liquor from the time I was tall enough to reach the top of the table.) I know lots of people who've had cataract surgery and they all recovered quickly and are extremely pleased with the results. I wish the same for you.
I'm with you on the vision thing (I used to have 20/10 vision, THAT was great) but you are too hard on EVEN STSVEN, which I liked because it so nicely echoed the X/X form of the clues.
Looking back at this morning's review I was wondering if that really was written by Rex. The words Like, Nice(X2), Good, and Learning are all there. Hmmm. Where is our Rex and what have you done with him?
I have become accustomed to the rules of the NYT, most of which I agree with, so Toe as an answer and Tiptoe as a clue caught my eye as well. Other crosswords don't follow these guidelines and make me pause when solving other puzzles. It is a rule I think is valid.
For some reason I am amused by "swing a cat" although in the phrase I know the cat is dead. Still funny.
@Nancy, I know the feeling -- when I was about 14, some of my non-athletic friends and I took up tennis because no one else played it. We got to where we thought we were pretty good -- then some other friends, who were starters on the baseball and basketball teams, decided to play -- and were instantly better than any of us. I went back to pool and billiards.
I remember reading a feature about TREME (can't type the accent) before it came out, and regretting our lack of a TV. Now we finally have a Roku, and I decided to work my way through "The Wire" first, but I'm still working. Treme is next, honest.
I used to run SETI@home, feeling that I was doing my part -- I printed out all the little certificates for completing X number of hours, and taped them up in my office -- but nothing ever happened, and I finally decided it wasn't worth the energy expense of leaving my computers on all night.
Nothing much to say about the puzzle, though!
Hey All !
Agree with SE corner ERODing puz. TREME? Oof. Crossing the oddly clued ERES really sucked. DNF. After finding the M of MELT, which I agree in hindsight was a great clue, had to run the vowels for ERES. Of course, started with U instead of A, so four inserts instead of two to get E. Humph.
Puz theme good. After seeing first two, thought it would be odd numbers up by two, e.g. 13/13 next clue. Har. FANG clue kinda pissed me off, was looking for who/what actually bit Dracula to turn him into a vampire, not what he uses to bite others. SNEAKy.
Loved the Argyle SOCKS. My friends and I used to wear them in high school along with our Chuck Taylors. Every time I see them in stores, it gives me a chuckle.
Was thinking Humblebrag at first for NAMEDROP.
IS TO OTTO UP TO
RooMonster
DarrinV
Liked the simplicity of the theme and the GREAT bonuses of a dropping NAME DROP and sinking QUICKSAND. And, speaking of names, we also got two pallindromic ones thanks to OTTO and PIP.
My two-year old waddled before he TODDLED and my European auto was an Opal before it became an OPEL. Have HBO and watch it regularly but never even heard of TREME.
DECATHALON was another nice extra during the solve and @puzzlehoarder, you are not alone in your struggle with how to spell it. I had a heck of a time trying to squeeze my VISION of the word into not enough boxes.
Have to agree with the criticism of "GREAT" VISION and didn't think an ORC belonged in the same grid where an ORCA already resided.
But overall this was a fun puzzle for a Tuesday morning. Congrats, Dan, on your debut!
Today is International Cat Day. So no cat swinging! Okay?
Game of Thrones has BEYOND penetrated into popular culture and the NYT runs a recap every Monday. Treme is a fantastic shoe by the man who created the Wire and is also the name of a neighborhood in New Orleans.
Average Tuesday puzzle but outstanding comments. I learned what 20/20 means, the meanings of "narc," how athleticism trumps technique in sports. All this with no insults for our host.
I'm a little surprised at the reaction to Treme. The NYT Arts praised the show quite a lot. The acclaim led me to watch a couple of episodes.
Although most of us have little love of numbers, some of us must do the Kenken. I print up the crossword the night before and usually solve it before going to bed. Then I attempt the 8x8 Kenken in the morning. I work on it until either I complete it or I fail (coming to a square where no number can legally be entered). I don't go back to find my mistake. Until the last few weeks, I would solve it almost every morning. But over the last week or so, I've failed more often than I've succeeded. Are the puzzles getting harder or am I losing it?
@GILL I - Best of luck with your eyes. I am pre-laser nerves was not the reason you posted so uncharacteristically early. My aunt had both eyes done and has never looked better.
Is it a coincidence that today is 8/8?
@ GILL
Had the procedure a couple of years ago and never looked back (sorry).
Seriously easy/peasy and glad I did.
Good luck.
Nark is British slang for to inform on. NARC is just wrong -- always means narcotics agent in this country.
Is there a rule against double cluing? Could you put in "HBO series or NOLA nabe"? Never been there but I have known for years where TREME is.
Good puzzle, and way easier than yesterday's I thought.
Congratz to Mr. Flanagan on his debut. THEME was cool. TREME was … well … a debut word. M&A don't receive the HBO, so his chances were 1/1000, on that entry.
Kinda liked how the themer numbers all had whole different angles of interpretation: musical time, date, vision measurement, and sharing ratio. Like @RP, also admired that they went from smallest to biggest.
Come to think on it … are there any other good examples of this "x/x" ilk? … Other than more of them dates?
2/2 = TRAINWHISTLE, I reckon ...
This was a pretty A-ok smooth puz, other than that weirdball SE finishin corner. I mean, look at that openin NW corner … fill is cleaner than snot. Gives a great first impression. But that there SE TREME-machine … kinda slams the door on yer fingers. It is just so … what *is* the word? … ah -- yes … desperate. LENTS? Couldn't U at least go with LENDS? Or was this whole SE corner eery-dealy done on purpose? Mayhaps Mr. Flanagan wants to include a solid partin jolt in there for us to remember him by, to sorta show us who's boss? Is that the way U roll, dude? har. Medium cool … but don't make M&A come down there …
Thanx for the fun with TREME and a cherry on top. Come around some more, so M&A can establish a pattern. [So far, M&A likes what he sees.]
Masked & Anonymo3Us
**gruntz**
I don't think TREME is as bad as many of you, although perhaps a bit tough for a Tuesday. It is, esp. since Katrina, a reasonably well-known neighborhood in NO. I would equate it to other known areas of big cities, the Castro in SF, the Flats in Cleveland, etc. You might or might not know it, but not crazy, IMO. The HBO show, which was widely written about, only adds.
Nice, but easy, puzzle--NYT says my fastest Tuesday, but I don't work by the clock.
Veterans Day is always on a Monday. Armistice Day is always 11/11.
Themewise, I'm with @QuasiMojo 6:57 on this one.
And with @puzzlehoarder and @Joseph Michael on spelling: I stopped after DECAT when there clearly wasn't going to be enough room.
And with M&A on LENTS...as in, 'Several LENTS ago I started giving up ice-cream..."?
Liked the idea of PRIMEVAL QUICKSAND, kind of an alternative to primordial soup. Also FODDER, TODDLE, PUSHY, and (can't explain) SOCKS.
This may be nit picking but Warhol's Marilyn was a silkscreen, not a painting.
@Thomas808 (from yesterday). Re your question about the difference between flotsam and jetsam, the latter is floating stuff that's been thrown overboard, i.e., jettisoned. @Lewis. Lucia Micarelli! I envy your getting to see her. The gripes about TREME's obscurity are legit, but it's too bad so many people are unfamiliar with that stellar series, set in post-Katrina New Orleans. @Larry Gilstrap. The question "What kind of coke?" is as common as "Hot enough for you?" throughout the South, especially in rural areas, where *all* soft drinks are "Cokes" (but never, ever "pop" or "soda"). @Dan Flanagan. Fine Tuesday puzzle, and congrats on the debut.
Thanks, folks. The vote of confidence makes me feel a tad better.
I've had my fair share of surgeries but something about having someone go into my eyeball and remove a part of that thing that makes me see gives me the heebie jeebies.
@jae...yeah, I sat through that 30 minute video that shows all the great things laser can now do to improve your vision. My insurance doesn't cover the million dollar extras so I'm hoping for GREAT VISION on just the cataract removal.
@Nancy...xoxoxo
Hmm, a couple of interesting philosophical questions today. If Sexy Sadie was inspired by the alleged misdeeds of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, but then altered to hide that inspiration, is it still about him? My own take is once an artist puts a work out there the artist's intent becomes secondary to how the work is received. There is no way for a listener to get from the song itself to the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, so the song is about him anymore.
As for not dead-naming Caitlyn Jenner, that's a tough ask. If she announces (and maybe she has and I missed it) that she wants her athletic accomplishments to be identified by "Caitlyn" I would agree that we should do so. But it's equally presumptuous to assume she wants or expects that. Absent specific knowledge to the contrary, I would err by using the name known at the time of the accomplishment. If I were editing the puzzle I'd try to avoid the issue and find a different way to clue DECATHLON.
I have a quibble with LENTS. The clue was "Periods after Mardi Gras." The answer to that is not LENTS. It is LENT. There is only one Lent after Mardi Gras. There really isn't a plural of Mardi Gras, so I am not sure how you would correct the clue. I guess you could say "Periods after Carnivals in New Orleans," but that would be too idiomatic for most folks.
Like @Gill I, I considered waDDLE at 43A (good luck with the eyes!) but if haters gonna hate then toddlers gonna TODDLE.
I had to visualize the TREME title (TREMi?) - we get HBO but that series never quite gelled for us so I haven't seen more than an episode or so. I did go back and watch "The Wire" like @jberg, five years after it had finished, and I loved it even though I hate cop shows. I think season 3 was my favorite though season 4's theme song version was the best.
I see churches names Mt. OLIVEt everywhere so that gave my Parisian girlfriends a weird ending momentarily. And off PR at 39D, I put in PRe- (pre-cambrian, perhaps?) so I had to get my VISION checked at 44A.
A fine Tuesday and debut puzzle, so thank you, Dan Flanagan.
@ GILL
If you are going the high- tech lens route, hopefully your surgeon has given you the option of the Symfony lens, approved by the FDA about a year ago. The Symfony is not a multifocal lens, but rather an extended range of focus lens. Since the Symfony has been in use, the multifocals have pretty much fallen out of favor, due to visual aberrations at night when looking at lights. The Symfony minimizes these aberrations. Virtually, everyone with the Symfony lens can read a newspaper without reading glasses. Well over 90% (myself included) can read a telephone book --remember them? If you opt for a standard lens (the ones that are paid for by Medicare), you will most likely need glasses for reading, and possibly for distance.
Good luck on your cataract surgery.
@JC66 8/8 was what I thought of too when I realized (solved Downs-only) what the theme would be.
Expected the last entry to be something like TODAY'S_DATE, though I now realize that Shortz would never have done that because it wouldn't work in syndication or reprints. Possibly it's just a happy coincidence: I see nothing about it on xwordinfo. Anyhow, mostly a good solving experience, and a creditable debut puzzle.
NDE
P.S. The initial and ultimate steps in this progression, 0/0 and ∞/∞, could both be used in a clue for L'HÔPITAL'S_RULE.
when referring to trans people at a time before they changed their pronouns or had gender reassignment surgery (or hormones, top surgery, etc) it is typical to use their prior names and pronouns. I have no experience with trans celebrities, but friends of mine who are trans or gender queer will say things like, "when I was (former name)" because at that time, even if they were uncomfortable with their gender, they were still using the pronouns and names given to them at birth.
Nope, Bruce Jenner won. It's the name at the time which is referenced, not the current name.
@Anony 1:39...THANK YOU!
I've learned more here about options than at my eye doctor's. I know they probably do the surgery a la assembly line. Sorta like getting a colonoscopy. In and Out. Unfortunately, my insurance only covers the standard lens. I might look into the Symfony you suggested for the second eye....
For no one in particular and speaking of HBO and TREME. I finally began watching "Game of Thrones." I figured since every single character is a clue in the NYT puzzle, I might as well become acquainted. Didn't like the first episode but really got into the second one. Maybe it was the excellent Spanish Calatayud "Honoro Vera" I was drinking or maybe it's because I like dragons, but it does grow on you. After I finish, I'll go on to TREME....!
I agree with the complaint about LENTS. It's like cluing 23a as "singular for Attorney General."
Glad to see OMAR Vizquel in the puzzle. One of my favorites from my 60 years rooting for the Indians.
Why didn't Rex complain about 40d. Really dated. I man, 16th - 17th century?
"I mean," not "I man." Sounds like Tarzan.
I didnt think it was so easy
@Gill - I have no idea how much extra a high tech lens will run you. I know that my multifocal lenses were around 1.5K more each than my insurance covered. I also know that almost 10 years later I'm really glad I made the investment. Just not having to deal with glasses was worth the extra cost. The Symfony lens (@anon 1:39) sounds like a major upgrade in technology (I have the "halos at night" problem with my lenses). My Dr. told me that the tech had improved since my replacement but he didn't tell me specifics. To late for a do over, dang!
Re: Sun and Booze - I attributed my cataracts to years of playing golf without sun glasses followed by extended visits to the 19th hole.
The Symfony lenses I mentioned previously were $3000 apiece, out of pocket. Minor starbursts around bright lights at night, but not distracting or annoying at all. I don't need glasses for anything now. Well worth the 6 grand. I could be wrong, but I don't believe that they will implant a Symfony in only eye with another type of lens in the other.
Treme is better than Game of Thrones. It should be a classic. The story, the acting and the music were outstanding. If putting it in a Tuesday puzzle gets it some new watchers, I applaud.
I think the Mardi Gras clue is fine. Mardi Gras is a single day; a period is a number of days or weeks or months. Would you clue "Advents" as "periods before Christmases"? It makes it sound like Christmas is the next period that follows Advent, rather than a single day.
I also think "Treme" is a perfectly fair Tuesday puzzle answer. I don't have HBO, but I was certainly aware of it when it was on; it was promoted quite heavily as I recall, and it ran for four seasons.
Didn't know "SETI" so I was dependent on crosses, and wasn't sure whether it is "OPAL" or "OPEL," so, that was a problem!
Easy and agree about TREME.
Loved MELT.
Nice debut DF
@mathgent 10:52 -- Do you mean the 6x6 KenKen? I do both KenKens every day, including the 5x5 and 7x7 on Sunday (well I never actually finished the 7x7 this past Sunday because I just didn't have time). I don't think they're getting harder in general, though, I'm sure you know, they do increase in difficulty through the week, same as the main puzzle. Interestingly, by Friday/Saturday, the 4x4 KenKen can be harder than the 6x6 one, because you have to almost see the entire solution to the 4x4 at one time rather than working through it.
Anybody who has specific medical or product advice for @Namcy needs to click on her name and give it to her privately in a way that identifies you and allows Nancy to respond. Otherwise how is she supposed to know the BrandName(TM) lens is not some piece of junk that makes Anonymous a ton of money for each one sold? Let's not engage in medical Amway-ism. Be upfront if you have info like that.
@Joe, the 8x8 is online. 4x4 is never hard, too Sudoku-like for that. @mathgent, sorry, I've been off-grid (har) so am uncalibrated. I always find the 8x8 hard because the numbers are so teeny, but also because it's just hard. Love KenKen!
@Joe: http://www.nytimes.com/ref/crosswords/kenken.html
Puzzle doesn't show up in all browsers, kind of primitive, I think you need one of the graphic plugins. But if you can see it, it's fun to try the 8x8.
@Gill I, you're going to do GREAT tomorrow! I'm echoing the troops when I tell you that everyone I know who's had the surgery has been so pleased with the result. The fancy bells and whistle lenses are a terrific option I'm sure, but consider how tried and true the standard lenses you're getting are and don't second guess yourself. There is something to be said for predictability. Don't worry about a thing.
Nice puzzle. Enjoyed it 24 hours ago.
@Barbie -- Really?! I had no idea they put different KenKens online. I don't have a subscription to the online puzzles, so...that's weird to find out.
(from yesterday, 8:54 p.m.) @Anonymlronic -- That was so thoughtful of you to offer me such wise advice about the cataract surgery, and to take to task the Anonymous poster posting anonymous (and possibly self-serving) advice on method. Only I'm not the one having the surgery. I think you meant your comment for @GILL I. I hope she read it. Good luck, GILL!
Good day,
I'm from United States Of America, I want to quickly write on a Powerful Love spell Caster that helped me when i had a misunderstanding with my husband which leads to Divorced, I contacted this Powerful spell caster for help and He actually helped me without running away with my money.I follow the step that he ask and within 48 hours my husband called me and was eager for my forgiveness and that he wished nothing more than to have me in his arms forever. I am filled with so much joy and happiness that I found Dr. Iyaryi, I hope you all here will find this testimony of mine and get your husband back in just 48 hours. He did a perfect work for me. I am So Happy and Excited because as i am writing this Testimony, My husband is madly in love with me again. If there is any body Out there who is in Difficulties and need help should kindly Contact Dr. Iyaryi on His Email ID driayaryi2012@hotmail.com and he is Ready to Help you no matter the Situation, Here is His Valid Email ID: driayaryi2012@hotmail.com And also Reach him on WhatsApp Number: +2349057915709 Thanks Dr. IyaryI
Good day,
I'm from United States Of America, I want to quickly write on a Powerful Love spell Caster that helped me when i had a misunderstanding with my husband which leads to Divorced, I contacted this Powerful spell caster for help and He actually helped me without running away with my money.I follow the step that he ask and within 48 hours my husband called me and was eager for my forgiveness and that he wished nothing more than to have me in his arms forever. I am filled with so much joy and happiness that I found Dr. Iyaryi, I hope you all here will find this testimony of mine and get your husband back in just 48 hours. He did a perfect work for me. I am So Happy and Excited because as i am writing this Testimony, My husband is madly in love with me again. If there is any body Out there who is in Difficulties and need help should kindly Contact Dr. Iyaryi on His Email ID driayaryi2012@hotmail.com and he is Ready to Help you no matter the Situation, Here is His Valid Email ID: driayaryi2012@hotmail.com And also Reach him on WhatsApp Number: +2349057915709 Thanks Dr. IyaryI
@ AnonymIronic 8:54 P.M.
A simple 15 minute session with Mr.G. will validate anything that I cited. It was also so helpful that you misidentified the poster who I responded to. Whether I share the information publicly or privately is my business. A basic search will confirm that what I have in my own eyes is the latest and greatest technology available today. Oh, perhaps you are a Luddite. Everyone thanks you for your helpful contribution, AnonyMORONIC.
[MUST READ] I was diagnosed officially in March 2014. I've SO MANY symptoms! The "diabetic nerve pain"-though I'm NOT Diabetic! Just LOTS of it! The tingling, & numbness & fatigue and ALL the rest! I don't even have the energy to get my, NORMAL tests, let alone an M.S. one! To get out of bed& go out is BEYOND a chore for me! My life was a living nightmare - in ADDITION to what I have to endure with one of my sons.(I can't even take care of him) - I desperately search for an alternative cure to save my life till a friend of mine from UK told me about Dr. MOHAMEND from AFRICA who cured her husband from ALS, PLS,MND and FSHD with His Herbal Healing OIL, ROOT and HERBS. I contacted Dr. MOHAMEND through His what'sapp number and told him about my MS problem and he assured me that I will be CURED that he has CURES to any disease and VIRUS. I was very happy to hear that from him. I place an ORDER and he sent it through a courier delivery service to my address which I sent to him. I received it within 4 days and immediately commerce usage as prescribed by him, In the first six days of usage, I started noticing great change all over my body, I was now gaining STRENGHT gradually, after two weeks, I was able to move my arms and legs,and also talk I was totally CUREDof MS disease after six weeks. You can contact Dr. MOHAMEND via his email: drmohamendherbalremedy@gmail.com or call/whatsapp on +2348148010628. My FAMILY and I refer people to HIM everyday and they are all happy and cured REVERSAL in SYMPTOMS. Please share this with anyone you know is suffering from ALS, PLS, MS, MSA, MND, FSHD, Parkinson's, and Fibromyalgia. I believe he treats more than those things, so if you have questions please just call. Can't hurt. Let me know if you have any questions! I'll be Happy to help through my email sintakingso@gmail.com. I don't want anyone else to die with this hideous disease! God bless.
I never believed i would be healed someday.This disease started circulate all over my body and i have been taking treatment from my doctor, few weeks ago i came on to search the internet if i could get any information concerning the prevention of this disease, on my search i saw a testimony of someone who has been healed from (HARPS and other from ALS) by this Man DR.OKABEN and she also gave the email address of this man and advise we should contact him for any sickness that he would be of help, so i wrote to dr.okabenherbalspell@gmail.com telling him about my (Hepatitis B and Skin Tag) he told me not to worry that i was going to be cured!! hmm i never believed it, well after all the procedures and remedy given to me by this man few weeks later i started experiencing changes all over me, so i went to my Doctor for test again, when the result came out, behold i was totally free from the Hepatitis B as the Doctor OKABEN assured me, So friends my advise is if you have such disease or virus like HSV, HPV, HBV,MNA, ALS Cancer or any other at all you can email DR.OKABEN
Name: DR. OKABEN Email: dr.okabenherbalspell@gmail.com Tell: call +2349029519146
Whatsapp: +2349029519146
Hi viewers, my son is 28 years old was diagnosed with HPV strains 16 and 21 (after DNA analysis - HPV). It has no visible lesions of the cervix but Pap test detected changes in the cells (ASCUS and AGUS). The doctor prescribed a very good treatment with Cervugid Ovules. We repeated Pap in February, after treatment she was not cured. The last treatment she took was About 2 years ago I applied natural treatment from Dr okaben herbal centre, a week after applying the treatment all the warts were gone. it's now 2 years and some months I don't have single wart or any symptoms of hpv. wow"" it's great, Dr okaben has finally cured me. he is also specialized in the cure of the following: Cancer, HIV,ALS, MND, Low sperm count, Barrenness, Hvp, Herpes, Genital Wart, Rare disease, Hepatitis, Syphilis, Diabetes ETC His email address; dr.oluwarindetradomedicalhouse@gmail.com, call umber: +(2349029519146). I hope other patients to get better after this treatment. God bless
Just commenting on yesterday's Evil Doug and Nancy discussion. See
https://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/304/heretics/
for a viewpoint very close to mine.
Lady Di
ICONIC NAMEDROP
EVENSTEVEN knows THE COMMONTIME to KNEEL and pray
ISTO have such a SESSION well SPENT on VETERANSDAY.
--- SARAH ADELE "SADIE" PAAR
Okay but not thrilling. A bit too easy even for a Tuesday. I agree with OFL this time.
Too bad "hindsight" doesn't fit THE symmetry, it's always 20/20. Otherwise I thought this was fine for a Tues-puz.
THE CENTRAL answer was a real PIP.
I guess yeah baby SARAH Palin is already not fresh enough, so we clue another GOP toadie. In her clued job for less than two months in syndie time, a coupla weeks when THE puz came out.
Low bar as mentioned above not really so low, IMHO. Tuesday A.M. well SPENT.
I don't usually mind bleedovers, but SSN? Really? I had quite a time with the Natick at 64; had to run the alphabet for _ELT twice after missing the significance of MELT the first time through. Brutal--and for a Tuesday, unconscionable, especially when the rest of the puzzle is duh!-easy.
I did learn things, though; one of them not from the grid but from OFL, about "COMMONTIME." Never suspected that was a real thing. Also, of course, that such a series as TREME ever existed. Of course, I don't pay for HBO. I pay too much as it is for TV that's 90% utter crap; I'm not about to add to THAT bill. NARC: I always thought he was the guy the informant informed. Seems strange to call the informant a NARC.
The theme is weird in that the unifying feature appears in the clues rather than in the puzzle. It works, sort of--as explained by OFL. Outside of the above-mentioned, and the appearance of both ORC and ORCA (wasn't one named after the other?), the fill was okay. Palin and her pea-brain just never did appeal to me: I'll take SARAH Jessica Parker for DOD. As a debut? I wouldn't burn my bridges yet, Dan. Par.
Decent theme for Tuesday. Balked at GREATVISION. Thought it was a bit of ocular hyperbole [forgive me].
Liked DIRE straits. MELT for "start running" was good, too. Besides, it helped with HBO's TREME, which I didn't get into
Easy (and pretty simple) all around.
@leftcoastTAM "ocular hyperbole" - har! Actually, in the crowd I hang around with, 20/20 *is* great vision.
Pretty decent Tuesday, the stepchild of the week's crossword puzzles, I thought. Never heard of TREME, but I might check it out. MELT gave me the title. Nice clue, by the way.
Even though it seems common, I've never met a dog named ROVER. I don't often name a DOD (yeah baby), but for a change of pace let me nominate ERIN Moriarty.
It's probably (clearly) me, but I don't much like ADELE. Her singing to my ears is akin to yelling, albeit on-tune yelling.
For the DOD, may I suggest French ACTOR ADELE Exarchopoulos .
She makes my LOINS MELT and I wish she was mon AMIE. Is this GREATVISION or just succumbing to PRIMEVAL urges?
Had company all day. Natick at the place by the thing. Thought of MELT, and said nahhh...
Lady Di
good day lady's and gentlemen i wish to thank this great herbal DR.OBA please listening to my story, herpes has been ongoing in my family for long..I lost both parents to herpes and it is so much pain has not been able to get over. As we all know medically, there is no solution or cure for herpes and the cost for Medication is very expensive. Someone introduced me to a man (Native Medical Practitioner) . I showed the man all my Tests and Results and I told him have already diagnosed with herpes and have spent thousands of dollars on medication. I said I will like to try him cause someone introduced me to him. He asked me sorts of questions and I answered him correctly. To cut the story short, He gave me some medicinal soaps and some herbs(have forgot the name he called them) and he thought me how am going to use them all. At first I was skeptical but I just gave it a try. I was on his Medication for 2 weeks and I used all the soaps and herbs according to his prescription. That he will finish the rest himself. And I called him 3 days after, I arrived and I told him what is the next thing he said, he has been expecting my call. He told me to visit my doctor for another test. Honestly speaking, i never believe all he was saying until after the test when my doctor mention the statement that am, herpes negative and the doctor started asking me how do I do it....Am telling this story in case anyone may need this man’s help. He is the Great Dr OBA here is via email address( drobaspellhome902@gmail.com or call +2348154692747.Thanks Regard
Hello!! I’m indeed very happy for the great help that Dr. okorom rendered to me, I was a herpes patient my husband also was a herpes patient, we saw a blog whereby Dr. okorom cured herpes items, unfailingly we sent him the money he will need in buying the items required, He castes the spell and asked us to go for check-up after three days of casting the spell, Luckily for us we werpes, we (Me and My Husband) decided to contact him which we did, he asked us to buy somre tested herpes negative, now I believe all these Testimonies about him on the internet, he is truly a great man, if you want to discuss with me on how he cured us, kindly email me on deanfneilsarah@gmail.com or you can contact the great Herbalist and a spell caster on dr.okoromspellhome@live.com or you can call him via his mobile phone number on +2348158168556,..
TESTIMONY OF HOW I GOT CURED FROM (HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS) BY THE GREAT HEALER DOCTOR EHIZUELE
Hello everyone my name is jessica I am here to testify of the great work Dr Ehizuele did in my life with the help of his herbal traditional medicine. I have been suffering from Herpes since 2015 and ever since then I have been looking for solutions on how to cure it. I have being to different hospitals but I discovered none of them was working out for me that I was just wasting money. So I decided to live everything to God, then I was taking my medications to sustain my life and reduce the pains. So on this particular Sunday morning after coming back from service I sat down and begin to ask myself questions, then my phone rang behold it was my sister calling which I answered the call and she started telling me that a friend of hers who has been suffering from same herpes has just been cured by Dr Ehizuele the herbal medicine man. Then I was over whelmed, even though I was a little bit confused so she encourage me to also give Dr Ehizuele a trial and see for myself then I told her to help me get his contact and forward them to me, So immediately she got the contact of Dr Ehizuele and send them to me, immediately I contacted Dr Ehizuele and he told me everything I needed to do to enable me get the herbs for my medications and immediately i did that which he instructed me to do without wasting anytime. And here I am today sound and healthy without any symptoms of herpes or any sickness in my body system. And he also told me that there is no sickness on this planet earth that doesn’t have a cure that with the help of herbs he can cure any sickness or disease you can ever think off. So if you are suffering from HERPES or any other sickness or disease and you need a cure you can also contact Dr Ehizuele with this Email Address at (dr.ehizuelespelltemple@gmail.com) or whatsapp +2348133505254 so you can also receive your healing and share your testimony
HERBALS CURED ME OF HERPES IN 7 DAYS. I’M MELISSA ,DR EVEOKO CURED ME OF HERPES VIRUS. I VISITED DIFFERENT HOSPITAL BUT DIDN’T GET A CURE. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR CURE ON HERPES AND SAW TESTIMONY HOW DR EVEOKO BUBA CURED SOMEONE. I WAS SCARED BECAUSE I NEVER BELIEVED IN THE INTERNET BUT I GAVE HIM A TRIAL BECAUSE I WAS HAVING NO HOPE OF BEEN CURED OF HERPES SO I CONTACTED HIM ON THIS EMAIL.(EVEOKOHERBALHOME@OUTLOOK.COM ) +2348022010422..HE GAVE ME HOPE AND SENT HERBS TO ME THAT I TOOK AND IT SERIOUSLY WORKED FOR ME, AM A FREE PERSON NOW, MY HERPES RESULT CAME OUT NEGATIVE. I PRAY FOR YOU DR EVEOKO BUBA GOD WILL GIVE YOU EVERLASTING LIFE, YOU SHALL NOT DIE BEFORE YOUR TIME FOR BEING A SINCERE AND GREAT MAN. AM SO HAPPY, CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFO EMAIL: FREDDONALD3@GMAIL.COM
My name is Emily Brian from United State of America. I was diagnosed with HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS (HSV1/2) in 2016 and I tried all possible means to get cured but all to no avail until I saw a post in a health forum about a herbal doctor called DR. OCUSODO from Africa who prepare herbal medicine to cure all kind of diseases including Herpes virus. At first, I doubted if it was real but decided to give it a try. When I contacted this herbal doctor via his email, I explained my predicament to him and he assured me that all will be well. He gave me 100% assurance that my herpes will be cured withing 2 weeks with the help of his herbal medicine. After all preparation has been made and I got the cure, I used it as prescribed by the herbal doctor and after I finished taking the medicine, I went to the hospital to do TEST and to my greatest surprise, I tested negative to Hepatitis B Virus just as he said it will be within 2 weeks of usage. Do not loose hope too soon. Contact him if you need his help and you can Email him on his email addresses: drocusodospellcaster@gmail.com or drocusodospellcaster@yahoo.com For easy and fast communication you can also call or add him up on whats-app...
WhatsApp or call him now: +2349067457724
I see no reasons to say that God is NOT faithful. He saved me from all evil and diseases.
I carried the HERPES virus for nine years and some months. When my blood test result came out, I was HSV1&2 positive, at first it wasn't a serious thing. I manage to live with it and the disgrace but after then I saw the bad effect of the virus in my body and life, so I went on a discovering for cure of the virus and with the help of GOD I found one with Dr IKHUORIA who cured me using HERBAL concoction that I used for 21 days.
I'm sharing this because I want many to benefit from this blessing. Here is his email:ikhuoriaherbalredemption@gmail.com. contact him, he got cure for STDs/STIs.
Thanks for sharing posts in such a way to resolve our problems.
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Hello all viewer online HIV has cure but doctor said HIV/Aids has no cure until i met Dr Benson who help me in my life. I was infected with HIV/AIDS in 2006, i went to many hospitals for cure but there was no solution, so I was thinking how can I get a solution, so that my body can be okay. until this faithful day as i was browsing the net I saw a testimony on how Dr.Benson helped people in curing HIV Disease, quickly I copied his Email which is drbensonsolutioncure52@gmail.com.... so i contacted him for solution for my HIV, so Dr.Benson told me that his going to prepare herbal medicine for my health, then he prepared the medicine and luckily after two week my herpes was be cured. Dr Benson is well recognize as one of the best herbalist doctor in Africa, you don't have to be sad anymore or share your tears anymore on this disease when the cure have already be found by Dr, Benson herbal medicine, he also cure HERPES,CANCER, ALS,HEPATITIS B, DIABETIC , Add him on whats-apps +2348141972381 Thanks.
It still unbelievable to believe that HERPES can now be cure, me and my Husband has been suffering from Herpes virus for so many years and we have search for help but we were unable to find one, i was told that there was no cure for HERPES but somehow i believe that there was someone out that has a cure because there is no problem without a solution, so that was how i went in search for s solution on how to get cured of HERPES and surprisingly i saw comment on daily news papers where a lady testify of how Dr Tokubo herbal medicine cure her and her boyfriend, i was so confused because first i thought that there was no cure but now seeing that someone outside has a cure, i thoughts of it as a scam but something told me to give it a try and when i did he reply me and assure me that me and my husband will be cured once we receive his herbal medicine, that was how he prepared it, and send my herbal medication through DHL courier that me and my husband used that cure me and my husband in Just 15 days and we were tested HERPES negative. All Thanks to the powerful Dr Tokubo for his help in my life. contact him on his email drtokubotemple@gmail.com
whatsApp him on +2349037990322
I was troubled when the doctor told me that I have been diagnosed with Genital Herpes. I thought about my Family, how they would feel if they knew, I was also feeling pains in my Anus and vagina. I lost hope and I wept all day, but one day I was surfing the internet and I found about a lady who was cured with natural herbs, I decided to contact him through his mobile number, i also wrote him a letter through his email address. He guided me. I asked him for solutions and he prepared a herbal remedy and sent it to me,when i received it, I started taking it as directed. Thank God, now everything is fine, I’m cured by is medicine, I’m very thankful to God and very happy with my hubby and family also thanks Dr oyama You can contact him through his email address on
Email droyamasolutiontemple@gmail.com
Tel/Whats-App: +2348108264684
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