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March Madness quartet / TUE 1-28-20 / Branch of mathematics concerned with Möbius strips Klein bottles / Keyboard shortcut for undo on PC / Disposable drink receptacle popular at parties / Parlor ink for short / Body scan for claustrophobe
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Constructor: Trenton Charlson
Relative difficulty: Easy (untimed clipboard solve)
Theme answers:
- COMPOUND W (17A: "The wart stops here" sloganeer)
- MALCOLM X (25A: Civil rights activist with a Harlem thoroughfare named after him)
- GENERATION Y (37A: So-called "millennials")
- CONTROL-Z (51A: Keyboard shortcut for "undo," on a PC)
The National Recovery Administration (NRA) was a prime New Deal agency established by U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) in 1933. The goal of the administration was to eliminate "cut throat competition" by bringing industry, labor, and government together to create codes of "fair practices" and set prices. The NRA was created by the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) and allowed industries to get together and write "codes of fair competition." The codes intended both to reduce "destructive competition" and help workers to set minimum wages and maximum weekly hours, as well as minimum prices at which products could be sold. The NRA also had a two-year renewal charter and was set to expire in June 1935 if not renewed. (wikipedia)
• • •
The only speed bumps today came early on with the perennial "is it AAH or AHH????" question right off the bat at 1A: Sigh of satisfaction (AHH), an (ironically) unpleasant way to begin. I always want AAH for the relaxation sound, as the vowel should be drawn out (to my ear), but today, AHH it is. Then just figuring out HOODOO took most of the crosses (2D: Jinx). Thought there might be something about "hoax" in there, and then even after getting HOOD- thought, "HOODED?" Then since I thought 24A: Zoom up was something you do on your motorbike, not your airplane (SOAR), well, I think I spent more time with that answer than I spent with the entire bottom half of the grid. I didn't even see some of the Acrosses in the SW (where I finished up). Glad I didn't see NRA—I'm grateful they didn't use the gun clue, but if you throw a random Alphabet Soup clue at me, I'm just going to be confused. Do you have any idea how many [New Deal inits.] there are?? But I lucked into getting all the crosses and never actually seeing the clue. Hurray! I think I had RAVED before I had RAN ON (15A: Yakked and yakked)—I definitely wanted one past-tense word—but nothing else in the grid proved an obstacle for even a moment after I got out of the N/NW. Tight theme, smooth fill, easy clues. I've done (much) worse Tuesdays.
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Facebook]
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94 comments:
Generation Why -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=entVpj_IT6M
I thought THE SAME about March.
I'm waiting for someone to construct a SEUSS crossword. Couldn't we have Thidwick and Sneetches and maybe throw in a Yurtle or two?
Fine Tuesday as Tuesdays go. Never heard of a SOLO CUP because I want glass. I want to see what's in my CUP. I remember once holding one of those red plastic things at a party and mistakenly putting it down for a second while visiting the food. Someone ashed their cigarette in my cup - at least it looked like it because there was this black goo in my drink. This would never happen if you serve your scotch in Waterford.
Last entry SEX ED and thinking that no teacher ever taught me about it. I learned every thing I know from a friend in Florida named Doreen. (I can't believe I still remember her name). Anyway, I was pretty naive in those days. She had a book with pictures of how to do it. The trouble was that they were animals fornicating. The worse was this poor elephant. If you ever want to become a celibate CANTOR, watch a pachyderma in action.
I only do OPEN MRI's because I've been ruined for life.
I thought this was a fine tuesdaypuz. Not too easy, no bad corners, and just enough crossword-ese to stretch a Monday beginner. Hate to say it Rex but basketball isn't the only thing that happens in March. There are 5 Tuesdays in 3/2020. I'm guessing their themes are already queued up. Zippy
March 3
* National Anthem Day
* National Cold Cuts Day
* National I Want You to be Happy Day
* National Mulled Wine Day
* Soup It Forward Day
March 10
* National Blueberry Popover Day
* National Mario Day
* National Pack Your Lunch Day
* National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
March 17
* National 3-D Day * – Third Day of the Third Full Week
* National Corned Beef and Cabbage Day
* St. Patrick’s Day
* World Social Work Day – Third Tuesday in March
March 24
* National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day
* National Cheesesteak Day
* National American Diabetes Association Alert Day – Fourth Tuesday in March
March 31
* National Bunsen Burner Day
* National Clams on the Half Shell Day
* National Crayon Day
* National Prom Day
* National Tater Day
* National Equal Pay Day – Changes Annually
Standing O for the theme! It seems so obvious in retrospect, but it took Trenton to see it for the first time. On top of that, it's housed in a solidly clean grid, with the lovely GRANDEUR, and a clever clue for LSD [You'll trip if you drop it], as, in the NYT, "trip" and "drop" have been used in LSD clues aplenty, but not both. Once again, Trenton saw it for the first time. Speaking of which, I'm amazed that the is the first time FINAL FOUR has shown up in a NYT puzzle. And Trenton, I saw your wannabe theme answer SHAM U, and I won't go into the enterprise this immediately brings to my mind.
TOPOLOGY was a mini-passion of mine as a kid, and I'm still fascinated by those Mobius strips and Klein bottles. With that answer plus the aforementioned lovely GRANDEUR, even without your superb theme, you had me with this puzzle. Thank you, Trenton, for putting an AAH into my day.
Apparently I don't know what hoodoo means. I'm thinking of a song lyric from CCR with that word in it.
Anyway, nice Tuesday. I liked the theme execution and don't care that it didn't run in March.
Nice to see the area of my PhD thesis in this easy grid today. Lots of fun and some challenge. I officially became one who can’t tell a coffee cup from a doughnut.
HOODOO! That’s a great word.
What’s the big deal with COMPOUND W? I once had a wart and I ate a whole tube of that stuff and it simply did not work.
I don’t want to sound like a dork but I really like TOPOLOGY. And My Little Pony. And unicorns.
Hey SHAQ is in the puzzle! How timely! It’s not “too soon” for SHAQ jokes, is it?
Because I heard that Shaq said he’s shocked that Lamar Odom outlived Kobe Bryant.
zing!
Any GENERATIONY-ers out there! Good for you!
Ciao!
My favorite topological object is neither Moebius strip nor Klein bottle but something called Gabriel’s horn. It has a finite volume but an infinite surface area. If I think about it too long my head hurts.
Thank you Rex for the Channel Z video. B-52s are one of my faves.
Pronunciation conundrum of the day: KY-OH-TEE or KY-OTE?
@Suzie Q - Born on the Bayou.
I’m thinking it’s time to start a t-shirt company. Today’s entry: I've done (much) worse Tuesdays.
Never used CONTROL Z?!? How does anyone navigate word processing on a daily basis without keyboard shortcuts? Gob. Smacked. That someone, even an English prof, hasn’t read “great novel this” or “great novel that” is just expected. There’s too much to read and not enough time. But knowing keyboard shortcuts? Someone who wrote a dissertation? Someone who writes a daily blog? Wowser. Color me nonplussed.
@Gill I - Rookie mistake. SOLO CUPs have one rule - Never Set Your SOLO CUP Down.
The NCAA Basketball tournament is probably the iconic FINAL FOUR, but any single elimination tournament has one. I understand Rex’s point, but it didn’t get a side eye here while solving.
I wouldn't have noticed this were I not a reader of @Rex and the comments. But I saw there is an additional X,W and 2 other Y's in the grid. It would seem this is a mar of sorts. I can't say it bothers me much but it's there. Anyone want to weigh in?
Back in the 80s when I was teaching the troglodytes in the office how to use these newfangled computer things, my mantra was CONTROL Z is your friend.
“I'm grateful they didn't use the gun clue.” Why is that, pray tell ? BTW, anyone fainting over Shamu and animal cruelty? Oh, yeah, I forgot. It’s just a crossword puzzle. Never mind.
Thanks @ Z, that's the one.
I see @ JOHN X has "gone blue"!
Dr. John had a song called "I Been Hoodoo'd":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSdlq1ar9rM
Too soon!
AAH for AHH or vice versa
Never liked basketball after I stopped playing it (6'5"), never ever watched it, FINAL FOUR messes up March's TV schedule on CBS, that's all.
well, OFL is upset again because these four letters could have been any string of letters. And I think, yeah, but then you wouldn't have the FINALFOUR, would you? I mean, really. After getting the W and the X, it was fun to see how TC was going to find a Y and a Z and connect them, which he did with elegance. Nice.
No repeats yet on the egret vs. heron battlefront. Perhaps peace has been declared.
I say COYOTE should have three syllables, and without looking I bet it comes from Nahuatl and got into English through Spanish, where the E would always be pronounced. I rest my case, based solely on supposition.
Super smooth, and a Tuesday that knows how to Tuesday. Well done sir.
well
Very enjoyable puzzle, with some clever clues and nice fill. Got HOODOO right off the bat since I'd just found it in Spelling Bee the day before, so it was top of mind. But as soon as I saw FINAL FOUR, I wondered too: Why is this puzzle running in January??
@SuzieQ: For an education in hoodoo, listen to the music of Dr. John.
@Z: How does anyone navigate without keyboard shortcuts? By setting up your menu bar with shortcut icons. I use Word every day and have never used CONTROL Z.
@Z - I think the CONTROL Z comment stems from using a Mac, the Mac UNDO command is COMMAND Z.
Loved the puzzle (personal best Tuesday makes me love it more!) and found it a very smooth fill except for the NW, which I finished last. Thanks, Trenton, hope to see your work again soon--
The FINAL FOUR is in April this year and has been for the last several years. I still buy the March Madness clue and think it was very clever and well done.
Definitely easy for me - I knocked 8 seconds off my personal best.
Regarding AHH vs AAH, I think of AAH as a scream, not a sigh, so I never even considered it. Glad the constructor went with the one I thought of.
Lovely being reminded of Edna Ferber. LSD clue rose above the way it's usually phrased. Really appreciate the theme but good question, why not run it in March? Sports world is fairly focused on Super Bowl LIV this week, no? Needed a good diversion after getting beaten up by a marathon course Sunday. Taking a few rest days to lick my wounds. Thanks, TC.
After a disasterous Monday with an error, I set a new record on today's Tuesday.
Generation Y isn't really said so much anymore, but it was the name of the post-Generation X cohort until sometime in the mid-aughties when "Millennials" got media traction and took over. I went to college in the mid-90s, and "Generation Y" is the term we used for the generation below us. It's similar to the way "Baby Busters" was used for "Generation X" before the latter term took hold in popular culture. I would not be surprised if the current "Generation Z" is bestowed a new appellation in the coming decade.
And, as someone you makes a lot of mistakes or changes his mind, Control-Z is a godsend. I use that shortcut daily.
Excellent puzzle. Properly celebrated by Rex....Until he just can’t help himself and signs off by damning it with (very) faint praise.
Tuesday PB, which was surprising as it didn’t seem so when solving.
AHH, SOLO CUPS... I always doubled them up for both insulation and easier to find (wise advice from Z).
Love TOPOLOGY. Is there a topology museum out there? Should be.
John X... yes, it’s too soon. That was cold.
Fun Tuesday. Took me forever to correct SEUSE crossing LED while I wandered around and around trying to figure out what was wrong. Was about to come here to find out how you trip when you drop an LED when it dawned on me. Want to say you drop acid or take LSD, but certainly not sure about that.
Did have to come here to see what FINALFOUR had to do with the crosses, so maybe today's just not my day. Agree it's too early in the year for March Madness.
Control-z is a lifesaver.
@offthegrid
Sure - who cares?
@John X
Don't go away again
Puzzle was great.
HOODOO seems like one of those quasi made up words that the NYT embraces with regularity.
I expected a lecture from Rex regarding NRA and General LEE. Two days in a row now that he has confined his comments to the quality of the puzzle (although he did go on a bit too long about the whole not being the right month thing).
It played like a difficult Monday for me - wonder if we will see a few personal bests today. I didn’t recognize ZAIRE as clued, but the crosses were all pretty straightforward.
OFL, How could you consider “A B C D” acceptable with a “Final Four” reveal? Are you paying attention?
If you really want to go deep on the CCR/hoodoo connection, not only does "Born on the Bayou" mention it ("chasin' down a hoodoo there"), John Fogerty has an unreleased album by this name: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoodoo_(John_Fogerty_album)
There's actually a product with the slogan "the wart stops here"?? Ugh. When COMPOUND W came in, whatever that is, I went through the clues looking for Preparation H. Alas, it was not to be.
I've never heard of CONTROL Z either, but I think I will try it next time I want to undo something. It won't futz up my brand new laptop, will it?
I like TROVE crossing Fort KNOX. It reminds me of our sophomore year Social Studies teacher Mrs. Hodges, who posed us the question: "Let's say I've bred a kind of termite that eats gold and I release a horde of them underground and they eat up all the gold in Fort KNOX, but no one knows it, what will happen to the economy?" The answer, it turned out, is absolutely nothing will happen to the economy, because the economy is based on confidence, not gold. This is the only thing I remember from sophomore year Social Studies, to tell the truth.
I recall some discussion here regarding PAROLEE not too long ago. Apparently there is some disagreement as to whether it shortens the sentence or just the time spent in jail (or perhaps different states have different practices - I forget). Anyway, close enough for an Xword clue in my book.
I hate all of the D&D, GoT and Harry Potter clues - they usually force me to just guess and hope since the frequently are not “real” words or things - is an ORC a thing.
I got a kick out of LEERS, AREOLA and SEX ED all being in the same puzzle.
The Big Ten has fourteen teams and March Madness culminates in April. It seems appropriate that this puzzle should run in January.
I'm just glad it was the last four letters of the alphabet. When I saw Compound W, I was terribly afraid it would be followed, somehow, by Preparation H. And I didn't want hemorrhoids with my morning coffee.
From ANON at 0626:
March 24
* National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day
* National Cheesesteak Day
(and after that light lunch)
* National American Diabetes Association Alert Day
@JohnX OMG I laughed so hard at that. I feel bad.
Hey All !
@Lewis, I seem to have noticed a bunch of doubles today. High, or no?
Nice TuesPuz, regardless of the month. The FINAL FOUR of the alphabet in order. Simple, with nice fill.
Found it easy. Seven and a half minutes thus morning, and I don't try for speed.
I pronounce COYOTE with three syllables, but really like to do the two syllable pronunciation, because it seems cooler to do.
I never understood the MRI fear, granted I don't suffer from Claustrophobia, but your head is flat down with no support, so all you have to do is open your eyes, and look to see the open end of it. Again, never had that fear when I had a scan. I actually almost fell asleep once!
EGRET! Har. Wanted to write in heron first. 😃
🎵Red SOLO CUP, I fill you up...🎵
LASER WASTE
RooMonster
DarrinV
Suzie Q,
I'm guessing you DID (and still do) know what hoodoo is. Or least you know as well as anyone else. the temi s fairly protean. But all parties agree it's largely, a term for magic. Or the supernatural. You come across it most often from African American traditions. Especially the Gullah (sp?) island inhabitants of south Carolina and the folks down in Louisiana (Creoles et al).
I believe Fogerty was using it as a synonym for a ghost, spirit, a will-o-the-wisp.
But a lot of other folks beside African Americans and swamp rockers use it. The Paiute out in Utah did. That's why those marvelous rock formations in bryce canyon are called hoodoos. The legend is the "Legend people" (who predate modern men) were turned into stone as punishment for being too hard on the land. The stone they were traformed into is specifically called a hoodoo. This puzzle is all the slicker for including coyote in the grid. Surely not a coincidence ( and another gap in poor Mike's ken) beacuse it was the god Coyote who transformed the Legend people in hoodoos.
All of which is far less important to any knowledge of hoodoos than this: The twice repeated, and film-ending, gag which uses the term in The Bachelor and The Bobby-soxer.
The film is pure joy. Myrna Loy and Cary Grant are sublime. Even Shirley Temple is more than palatable.
The script is as good as it gets. It won an Oscar for Sydney (sp) Sheldon (sp)? And the best part of the script is the "...I knew man with power of hoodoo..." bit
Pronunciation of coyote varies by region and can be contentious. See the terrific book by Dan Flores, Coyote America, for an explanation. The way coyotes are treated in America is beyond infuriating.
No J, no Q -- opportunity missed.
Growing up I did all sorts of tasks in my father's drugstore, which (like all drugstores) sold all sorts of weird things, and I could kind of visualize the box COMPOUND W came in, but I couldn't dredge up its actual name for the life of me. I needed most of the crosses.
But never mind that, why isn't anyone making jokes about wanting to CONTROL Z?
@ Anon 9:54, That is some interesting hoodoo info. I only knew the term when used, as you said, for a ghost or will-o-the-wisp. The clue was jinx and that was what threw me a curve. I enjoyed the rest of your post.
@Roo Monster - The nature of a phobia is that it is irrational. It sounds like you've never experienced an anxiety or panic attack, which you should be thankful for. Your mind knows that there is nothing to fear rationally, that everything is okay and no harm is going to come your way, but your body, for whatever reason, just goes haywire and into full "fight or flight" mode. I'm not an anxious person by nature, and I never understood phobias until in my late-20s, out of the blue, I had a panic attack on a streetcar (no idea why), fainted, and then became very anxious around public transportation or even any vehicle for a couple years. There was some element of claustrophobia to it, as the anxious moments would happen when the subway would stop between stops, and the door was closed. I knew there was no danger and nothing that could go wrong, but my heart would start racing, and my mind was split into a rational self vs self that just wants to run away. I would take a newspaper and some cold water on the train with me to help distract me and calm me when the anxiety kicked up.
It really, really sucks and I don't think you can understand it unless you've gone through it or something similar. Luckily, when I hit my 30s, it just went away(almost completely, but not quite) . It's a real frustrating feeling to notice your body and mind going haywire in panic mode, while your rational self is trying to talk itself down.
@roo -- I count a dozen, where on my (arbitrary) scale, 20 and above is unusually high, and five or under is unusually low, and I'll always report when that happens, barring my error. Most puzzles fall in the 8-15 range.
For what it's worth, ZOOM actually has a specific meaning in aviation - a rapid climb that trades airspeed for altitude. As opposed to using engine power to steadily climb at a constant speed. So, in reality, it's more applicable to aircraft than motorcycles.
That said, "soar" means to glide without power at a reasonably constant altitude using an updraft, so the clue's still a little off
Suzie,
Jinx stinks as a clue for hoodoo. It's more like a spell.
Anyway, if you ever get the chance, do treat yourseelf to both Bryce canyon and the Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer.
To the gentle soul who cited the debate about paroles shortening sentences.
I stand by my assertion of weeks (?) ago. Parole shortens incarceration, not the sentence. If the sentence were complete with parole, why all the rules regarding behavior of the parolee? Why have a parole officer? The reason of course is that the sentence remains, only the living space has change with parole. Perhaps this too Philadelphia lawyer for some folk. Fair enough. But if you ever find yourself under a court's order, you'd do well to understand the intricacies of the law.
Rex never uses Control Z? Are you kidding? Probably because he has never ERRED that need undoing. But if Rex is still using the edit pull down menu, its long past time to learn this useful keyboard shortcut. I probably use this more than any other shortcut! (though on my Mac it is Command-Z)
Fun Puzzle. Yes, should have been placed in March to give it some zing!
Cute puz finish, alphabet-wise. Primo TuesPuz, no matter when U run it.
Only 74 words. Suspected that kinda lowISH word count might be afoot, when I saw those Abbreviated Jaws of Themedness and real open corners. Gets U more cool longball fillins potential, includin: TOPOLOGY. HYMNAL. GROANER. MINUET. HOODOO. Took a Topology math class in my college days … many an interestin but head-splittin theory … tho I can't prove it. But, I digress.
staff weeject picks: RAW & COY. Dark-horse Final 4 contenders. [Small school]
Thanx, Mr. Charlson. Good job. No need to control-Z anything.
Masked & Anonymo5Us
**gruntz**
Maybe NYT is saving March tuesdays for the “First Fourl” (the play in games for the NCAA tournament. Then A,B,,C,D
I anticipated that @Rex would tear this one to shreds for lack of theme tightness (March Madness having no relationship to the alphabet) and and for mostly dull-as-dishwater theme entries. I liked OPEN MRI next to RELAXES (no way I’m getting slid into that tube).
Not a thing wrong with this puzzle and not a thing wrong with it being run on Tuesday but why, WHY run a basketball puzzle 5 days before the Super Bowl? March madness is a great idea for a theme, but it would have been so much more fun and snappy if it was - you know - March! I liked the crossword fine; however the timing is FOUL . . . which would’ve been a great clue/answer for this one.
I take mild issue with 51A. Technically the answer should be CTRL/X because the word CONTROL is not spelled out on the keyboard key or the Edit menu. (Macs are different according to comments.) Did not know open MRIs were a thing. I’ve had several and had to resort to self sedation via Benadryl to cope. Expecting to see a recurrence of the argument over whether or not a PAROLEE results in a shortened sentence. FWIW, I am in the “no it does not“ crowd. The sentence stands whether the perp is in or out of prison.
Two South Dakota cowboys are riding along and see up on a hill a coyote getting himself all aroused by energetically licking himself.
First cowboy: "Man, I wish I could do that!"
Second cowboy: "I don't know. That looks like pretty mean coyote."
Anon. i.e. Poggius
PS, and apropos previous discussion. When you go out and tell this joke, which I am sure all will do immediately, the first COYOTE is pronounced with three syllables and the second with two. I regard the two-syllable pronunciation as a little folksier.
I'm amused by the considerable number of Rexites who are pushing for pushing the publication of this puzzle into March to coincide with March Madness. Guess who I'm sure doesn't agree with them? Guess who I'm sure is saying: "Finally, finally, this puzzle is seeing the light of day -- and not a moment too soon! I didn't think it would ever happen!" That's right. Trenton Charlson, the constructor. I would take every nickel I have in the bank and bet that Trenton Charlson would not want this puzzle pushed up into March. In fact, I doubt he'd want it pushed forward even until tomorrow.
All constructors, you see, wait in an endless queue from acceptance to publication. Sometimes even years go by. It's excruciating when you think about it. The only way to remain sane is to not think about it. But now, Trenton Charlson's moment has arrived, March and its accompanying Madness be damned. Let's not make his wait any longer.
AHH, @Gill I, you make me laugh with your pachyderms. I'm disappointed that 68A wasn't clued as the way chickens are SEXED.
47A looks like Daffy Duck is trying to say, "Open THESAME".
I thought this was a fun Tuesday, (yes, easy), so thanks, Trenton Charlson.
And 2D makes me think @Joe DiPinto could post Simon and Garfunkel today:
When I was grown to be a man
(Grown to be a man)
And the Devil would call my name
(Grown to be a man)
I'd say "now who do (who)
Who do you think you're fooling?"
(Grown to be a man)
11:02,
Amen. That's why "gliders" call what they do in the air ( after being towed) soaring.
I'm trying to imagine never using Control Z - which I use all the time, along with Control S, X, C, A and V.
I have to laugh. Some things don't seem to change. Decades ago, PC people had no clue about things in the Apple world. I bought a Mac Mini to a conference and the PC users refused to believe it was a real computer. Today, people seem confused (on both sides) on what a control-z or command-z means. [Command-z has no meaning in the PC world.] I was [un?]lucky enough to be forced to use software on UNIX, Windows and Mac operating systems. So I had to learn three conventions. Somewhat confusing.
At least the clue for 51A has a qualifier.
I continue to be surprised and amazed at some of the complaints aimed at the NYT crossword universe. While I can take issue with a few of the entries, I thought this puzzle was a very good puzzle. I seem to recall references to the NCAA tournament having appeared many times in the NYT puzzles throughout the year, never evoing complaints, so I find some comments about 62A somewhat odd.
And for something completely different, I wonder if we are going to be treated soon to a Kobe tribute puzzle.
Down here in TexMex Land, a COYOTE (26D) is someone who smuggles migrants across the border into the U.S. And it's pronounced koh-YOH-tay, which I think is appropriate since it's derived from Mexican Spanish via Nahuatl, as PER my hard copy Random House Dictionary. Rhymes with peyote. Or vice versa.
I see sea birds every day here along the Gulf of Mexico coast. Lots and lots of them. My understanding is the all EGRETs (40A) are herons, but not all herons are EGRETs. Here's the wiki blurb:
"The herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae, with 64 recognised species, some of which are referred to as egrets or bitterns rather than herons." (My emphasis)
Here's Toby Keith's Red SOLO CUP. Lots of cameos in this one. Fun.
In total agreement with Rex, et.al. on the whole March Madness in January debacle. What’s next? Super Bowl/Superb Owl themes in August? Christmas in July?? Isn’t it bad enough that the movie version of the Bicentennial celebration - “1776” - was prematurely (IMHO) released in 1972?? Timing is everything and I don’t need the NYTCW thumbing its nose in my face about my anal-retentive shortcomings.
Also, who relaxes with a long sigh of “Ahhhhh!”??? I defy any normal-breathed person to utter that many Hs in a row without fainting.
It is and should always be “AAaaaH!”
And scene.
rex: Motorbike? I say, are you free for a spot of tea? Colour me curious, but don't you colonists use motorcycle?
Very easy. Trenton at Xwordinfo said he thought this would be a Mon. and I have to agree. Clever and smooth with some fun answers. Liked it a bunch and Jeff gave it POW.
I’ve been using word processors of one form or another (both wysiwyg and markup, e.g WordPerfect, UNIX, MSWord) since the early ‘80s and have never used CTRL Z because I never knew about it. CTRL C, S and V on the other hand I use all the time.
I think that I learned the Control sequences while using WordStar, which I did for years. I was thrilled when I found the Command C, V, and X worked on my iPads and Macbook. I never used Control Z, but now I will.
@pmdm 1:37. The problem with 62 across and the March Madness reveal is that you'd expect this to appear (not in January ) in MARCH! I'm hoping that Trenton thought the same thing. So why in the world run this in January when every one worth their salt is rooting for the Niners to win.\
@Nancy...I'm absolutely sure there must be a lot of angst waiting for a puzzle that has been approved to show up ASAP. I would too! I understand that some constructors have waited years! Not good for the digestion. BUT...you have March clear as a bell in a reveal and you do this in Jan.?
I pronounce it like @Anoa...like God intended. I've heard kahy ohtee and I want to drink peyote.
Congrats to Trenton on becoming the 66th Shortz-era constructor to hit for the cycle (at least one puzzle each day of the week). This played more like a Monday for me. Even with a very slow start in the NW, I was quicker with this solve than yesterday's (though by only nine seconds). Nice theme and a fine revealer. I agree that it would have made much more sense to run this puzzle in March to coincide with the sports calendar.
I use control z all the time. Must make a lot of mistakes.
@John X: LOL. Given the description of your relationship with COMPOUND W, I suspect you might be related to the person who went to the doctor to complain and said, “Doc, for all the good those dang suppository pills did me, I might as well have stuffed them up my . . . !!”
Pleasantly surprised to get CONTROLZ and not the monstrosity that it CTRLZ, which I've seen more than once (and done myself, too, for my sins).
As someone who grew up being labelled as a member of GENERATIONY who's never gotten used to being called a millennial, it was nice to have that blast from the past in there, too.
@Roo 921am
Jeez, I thought I was the only one who slept through a good portion of an MRI. Also fell asleep in the dentist chair a couple times, once while he was examining my teeth, and once when he was drilling. Perils of single fatherhood and an early morning job.
Hooray for wHODO TOPOLOGY.
POUND W
COLM X
RATION Y
TROL Z
That last one happens around here A LOT and A TON.
You worry too much.
The simplicity of the theme so elegantly executed made this a fun Tuesday.
I had a teacher in third grade, Columbus Ohio, who hailed from somewhere deep in the Louisiana bayou country. Her accent alone was challenging to 8 year olds, but her patois when irritated was frightening and powerful!!
Miss Betts had a superbly coiffed beehive hairdo that absolutely defied gravity, and the longest, lethal, luxuriously laquered fire engine red nails I’d ever seen. She scared yet intrigued us with tales of Voodoo, and had jewelry depicting the many veves and told us their various meanings. One art class, she asked us to create our own veve.
When irritated with our rambunctiousness, she would spew out a string of invective that none of us could understand, yet the manner of her delivery, her spooky dance-like gyrations and arm movements and the way she always said, “this-a-HOODOO-RickyB (or whomever)-send you down down DOWN to the depths of hell where you be belongin’!” not only got our attention every time, but I swear we believed she could make good on the threat. That’s where I learned the word HOODOO (among others). I later learned (only because Miss Betts mystique whetted my appetite) the difference between Voodoo and Santeria and that HOODOO is itself actually another religion with African origins. AHH, the wonders of public education.
I was sad that Miss Betts lasted only lasted one year, and much later than 3rd grade suspected that her tenure of such brief duration stemmed from one or more parent’s unwillingness to accept “different.” And yet I probably learned more that year (in so very many ways) than any other in elementary school, and will never forget the experience.
Amazing the memories a crossword can trigger.
Never would have guessed so many would have their panties in a bunch about puzz not being in March.
@kitshef:
My favorite topological object is neither Moebius strip nor Klein bottle but something called Gabriel’s horn. It has a finite volume but an infinite surface area. If I think about it too long my head hurts.
How do you come to topology: algebraic or geometric?? One is, kinda, easy the other not so much.
@JEPlanet:
@Z - I think the CONTROL Z comment stems from using a Mac, the Mac UNDO command is COMMAND Z.
Little known factoid: WinWord was first made for (on contract, no less) Mac and then ported, so yeah.
@CDilly52 - What a great story, not to mention a complete indictment of public education for letting Miss Betts get away.
GILL I. said...
"(W)hy in the world run this in January when every one worth their salt is rooting for the Niners to win."
Perhaps that is true. But come February, all decent people will be rooting for the Chiefs!
@CDilly-And since no one has mentioned it, I am reminded of The Sweet Young Thing who found birth control pills ineffective, as they kept falling out.
@AnoaBob-Thanks for the Nahuatl confirmation. I'll spend the rest of tonight feeling overly pleased with myself.
From the Tuesday Archives as I make my way backwards: January 7, 2003 -- Simplicity gone wild. If you are curious about construction fireworks so basic and dangerous that you have to cross a state line to purchase them, this puzzle is a decent candidate. On a Tuesday.
@GILL at 4:40 - I suppose everyone in your neck of the woods probably is rooting for the Niners to win. But those of us out here in the sticks who bleed KC red are thinking a little differently. When the Chiefs won their last Super Bowl in 1970, I was standing on the front row of the parade line in downtown Kansas City. I touched the convertibles and looked into the players’ eyes as they passed by. I have been waiting 50 years to see them do it again but I will still love them no matter what happens. The team they have this year is something special.
@Joaquin at 6:32 - I couldn’t agree more. LOL.
@Joaquin 6:32.....NO NO NO NO NO NO (add one more)....and it started when Joe left for the Chiefs. Serves them right. Not only did Montana nor Allen prove to be duds, they haven't won anything since then. Serves them right! Our quarterback (I call him Galapagos because I don't know how to pronounce his name) is right up there with the best of them...... :-)
@CDilly 6:08.....Loved your story. When we lived in Venezuela we had a maid that was into "voodoo love" spells. She had a crush on my dad and made a voodoo doll that was supposed to be my mom. She showed me how to stick pins in the doll...Then, when we moved to Cuba, my favorite housekeeper, Elena, did the same thing - only her reason was to rid my face of freckles. That involved rubbing my skin raw of lime. It never worked but I could listen to her stories of Santeria every night. Some called it brujeria (witch craft) but it was truly magical. One of the tools they used was using various herbs to cleanse the skin of impurities. All these religious beliefs fascinated me. Rituals....! I almost feel sorry for people that have never experienced them.
Hoodoo?
Why don't you do that HOODOO that you do so well.
Roo
HOODOO Gurus were a great college rock band and the Spanish pronunciation of “ko-YO-tay” takes the win.
@Joaquin: my sentiments exactly!!
It’s March in the syndicated puzzle.
And I can remember the fourth of July
Runnin' through the backwood bare
And I can still hear my old hound dog barkin'
Chasin' down a hoodoo there
Chasin' down a hoodoo there
Born on the Bayou
@Teedmn: Right on with the S&G tune "She Loves Me Like a Rock!"
And if I was President
As soon as the congress called my name
I'd say now HOODOO, HOODOO you think you're foolin'?
Today that shoe'd be on the other foot. Anyhow, here in Syndiland it IS March and the puzzle IS timely. Yay for us! Theme and execution, especially a nice, tight, cool revealer, get thumbs up. There is some short fill that's trite-ISH, but that's small spuds. Laughed at line 4: EDNA LEERS MONA; get a room, ladies. I'll go with ERIN Brockovich for DOD--either the lady ONESELF, or Julia Roberts who played her. Or both. Honorable mention to Tatum ONEAL. Birdie.
SAVE ORE WASTE ONESELF?
ERIN LEERS as part of THE game,
is she COY, ORE a PRO perplexed?
Ask her GENERATIONY it’s THE SAME
to be a TEASE ORE over-SEXED.
--- ROB CANTOR
Well, March Madness will soon be upon us, but the FINALFOUR has been stretched into April. So there’s that.
Junior Wells’ HOODOO Man Blues: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggAXQyP8uPc
One clue circled for yeah baby ANNE Hathaway. Verily, ANNE hath a way.
Compared to many a Tues-puz, this was neither a MONA or a GROANER.
Fine. FINAL FOUR letters of the alphabet. So what do W,X,Y, and Z have to do with March Madness NCAA games? Nothing. Just sharing a term. Okay.
my apologies in advance:
You remind me of a man
What man?
The man who knew HOODOO.
HOODOO?
You do.
Do what?
Remind me of a man...(repeat as needed, it'll replace Baby Shark)
Well @Rondo, you started it with MONA or GROANER.
Diana, Lady-in-Waiting for Crosswords
Ran on the first Tuesday of March here in Seattle.
@Burma Shave - good one! So was yesterday's.
Nice puzzle today - easy even for a Tuesday, but really well put together. The theme is kinda neat (word/name plus letter). The revealer, though not needed, does triple duty: the letters are the final ones in the 4 themers; they are the final 4 letters in the alphabet; the revealer gives a tangential nod to the NCAA tournament this month, at least for we Syndies.
Swell answers throughout the grid too, and a minimum of dreck. I almost wrote in Skana as the aquarium attraction, but of course I'd heard of SHAMU, and a Canadian orca, who was big at the Vancouver aquarium wouldn't register with most solvers.
Nice stacks in all four corners round out a great piece of construction.
They are called motorbikes if the engine size is under a certain amount of cc's. I had one many many years ago. You can't ride them on limited access highways, the ones with on/off ramps, because they can't maintain the posted speed limits. However, they are very economical to ride, as mine got over 100 miles per gallon.
More non-sequitur from some idiot.
Enjoyed the puzzle but I'll always hate that clue for SRO. I've been to performances that had sold all their seats and only had standing tickets available. I've been to performances that didn't have seats in the first place. But I've never been to a performance that became standing-room only by dint of selling out.
It feels like crosswordese.
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