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Relative difficulty: Easy-Medium
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| "He looks like a leprechaun"—my wife |
The black-square designs:
- LINCOLN MEMORIAL (27A: Landmark dedicated on 5/30/1922)
- STOVEPIPE HAT (63D: Accessory in which this puzzle's subject stashed important documents)
- BEARD (76A: Feature first recommended to this puzzle's subject by an 11-year-old girl)
- A NEW BIRTH / OF FREEDOM (21A: With 23-Across, what this puzzle's subject promised in his most famous address) (you can say "Gettysburg Address" here—we can all see that the puzzle is about Lincoln)
- SAVIOR OF THE UNION (35D: One epithet for this puzzle's subject)
- GREAT EMANCIPATOR (38D: Another epithet for this puzzle's subject)
- HONEST ABE (85A: Nickname for this puzzle's subject)
- RAILSPLITTER (59D: Campaign nickname that reflected the rustic upbringing of this puzzle's subject)
- PRE / SID / ENT (unclued as a complete word; clued only in 3-letter parts)
Jonathan Murray Chu (born November 2, 1979) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known as the director of 2018's Crazy Rich Asians, the first film by a major Hollywood studio to feature a majority cast of Asian descent in a modern setting since The Joy Luck Club in 1993.The films that he has directed often include musical elements, including the dance films Step Up 2: The Streets (2008) and Step Up 3D (2010), musicals Jem and the Holograms(2015) and In the Heights (2021), and the live concert films Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (2011) and Justin Bieber's Believe (2013). Chu is an alumnus of the USC School of Cinematic Arts. (wikipedia)
• • •
Are the STOVEPIPE HAT and BEARD and LINCOLN MEMORIAL designs cute? I guess. But this thing still has to be a crossword puzzle. It has to have crossword ... wordiness. Something. Anything besides random trivia. And, I mean, you didn't even go very deep into the trivia. You actually put STOVEPIPE HAT and LINCOLN MEMORIAL and BEARD in the grid!? But ... they're already in the grid. We Can See Them. Such a weird waste of space. Such bizarre redundancy. And the clue on BEARD is ... shrug. I don't even know what to do with that. It needs some kind of context to be at all interesting. And why do the theme clues keep calling Lincoln "this puzzle's subject" when "this puzzle's subject" is manifestly the Memorial, not the man himself (as the clue on LINCOLN MEMORIAL clearly indicates, it's the Memorial's birthday, not his). The only really interesting aspect of this theme is the way the Memorial design is handled, with three "unchecked" Down answers (answers which are actually "checked," in a way, but the fact that together they spell "PRESIDENT"). That is literally the totality of solving interest in this puzzle. The rest is just fill-in-the-blanks.
Weird to just throw MASSEY in there asymmetrically (33A: Raymond ___, Best Actor nominee for portraying this puzzle's subject (1940)). I can think of at least two other actors who portrayed Lincoln more iconically, and their last names actually have the same number of letters (FONDA, LEWIS), so, you know, go for the actor thing or don't go for the actor thing, but randomly throwing MASSEY in as a kind of afterthought was weird. The clue on EGOTISM was so confusing because I just had no idea what it was pointing to. Who is "me?" Is it you? Me? I wrote in EGOTRIP, which seemed great. Then EGOTIST (is "me" the EGOTIST himself, I wondered). Then finally EGOTISM. Wearisome. I just don't think "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah" is ... a SCAT? One unit of SCAT? It's the title of a song. It is not improvised, it is not filling in for lyrics, it is integral to the rhyme and rhythm of the song. Yes, the "words" are meaningless, so it has that in common with scatting, I guess, but oof, it's a reach. Also, still don't get how SCAT is functioning here. I know it only as a verb. But the clue is not a verb. If it were [Sing "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah," say], maybe SCAT might work. The clue and answer just feel wrong here on multiple levels.
And then there's the stuff that I just found personally unpleasant. There's a 20+-year-old PlayStation 2 game clue for the absolutely ordinary and crosswordesey ATV (I went with GTA, i.e. Grand Theft Auto). There's Nixon speechwriter BEN STEIN who once called Obama "the most racist president there has ever been in America" (and that's not even in the top ten of dumbest shit that guy has said). There's the ultra-boring and hard-to-parse SBALOAN. I'm not seeing where the pleasure is in any of this. I swore off the entire wearisome MCU a few years back, just before "Avengers: Endgame" came out, but even if I'd seen it, I couldn't have told you who directed it, the same way I can't tell you who directed any of the roughly six hundred and forty-three MCU movies. SKINNYDIP! I liked that (5D: Barely get wet?). And BOOMMIC (that was hard, but worth it) (77A: Extendable recording device). But beyond the superficial showiness of the black-square designs, there's really not a lot here.
MAIL CALL!
I got a bunch of mail in response to last week's Letter to the Editor (i.e. to me) from Gene Weingarten, on the question of what limits there should be, if any, on potentially off-putting or even outright repugnant fill (e.g. body parts, bodily functions, awful people, gruesome tragedies, racial slurs, etc.). Gene's basic take was that anything you might find mentioned in the paper itself is fair game for the crossword, and that my often vocal objections to things / people I found distasteful were a form of prudery. I ... well, didn't agree. You can read the exchange here. The letters I got were thoughtful (and occasionally very funny). Here are some highlights:
Gary Greenberg seconds Gene's sentiments. He writes that while he understands and appreciates the criteria by which I judge the things I like, my dislikes...
... seem much more personal and petty, and if they are rooted in any larger discourse, it is the one he mentions: Victorianism. I don't think you are a Victorian or really any kind of prude, but of course I don't know. More to the point, to the extent that prudishness is born of disgust about the visceral, this is how it reads, and one wonders where that revulsion is rooted. It's easy to see why clit works and phlegm doesn't--one bothers you, and the other one doesn't. The same is true of your objections to mentions of the NRA or Elon Musk. It is as if you are horrified to be confronted with people or ideas that disgust you, offended to see them as you solve a crossword.Which in itself is fine, free country and all that, but, and I mean this question seriously, if you're going to be a critic, don't you have to be more than some random fulminator? If so, then maybe you should figure out what role disgust plays in your aesthetic, and why it is a reliable criterion. Why do you give it free reign? Why should it be a lodestar of crossword critique? And why should we take your disgust seriously?
Pedar Benson Bate (Director of Operations, NYC Trivia League) offers an interesting look at the issue from the perspective of trivia contests:
The act of including — AND choosing to exclude — certain topics in our trivia content is *always* an act of politics and can be construed or misconstrued as an act of endorsement. (This reminds me of the baffling decision Martin Scorcese made to cast the real Jordan Belfort as a cameo role in The Wolf of Wall Street, and then say that it wasn’t meant to be an approval of the repulsive actions we just saw fictionalized the previous three hours of the movie.)
Living in this liberal city, we do try to make our questions as even keel as possible, but also with the understanding that there is no such thing as an “objective” trivia night. We know that even TRYING to be objective, our Politics will skew slightly left. Are you going to see a question about Kamala being the first Black woman vice president? Hell yeah! …But don’t ever expect to see questions about [redacted former president], the NRA, or other nasties.
Whether or not we view ourselves as influencers, we must always at least keep in the back of our mind what kind of energy we are putting out into the world, and I think that your balking at [redacted former president], MUSK, or the RNA is the exact kind of positive energy that the world needs.
Some writers felt more strongly than even I do about keeping certain kinds of ugliness out of the puzzle. Connie Hestand writes:
Yes, those things are the reality of today’s world. It’s all out there and I’m forced to acknowledge it whether I want to or not. And if I should have the audacity to say - “Come on people, we can do better. Let’s clean things up a little bit.” - I’m labeled as a fusty, harrumphing old prude who has no interest in staying in step with modernity. If only I’d just stop with the swooning and go along and never say a word to object. Well I do object!
My point is that those who labor to entertain the masses of cruciverbalists are under no obligation to include the “muck, mayhem, malodor, crudeness, crassness and cruelty” we are already suffocated by in order to keep the puzzle socially current. There are plenty of other ways to keep the crossword modern and vibrant without ever dipping into those sewers of humanity.
Tobias Baskin sees an important distinction between the "ick" related to, say, racial slurs or horrible human beings, and the "ick" related to body parts and functions:
Clearly newspapers do write stories about Elon Musk and we are going to get Musked in puzzles. I agree with you, I cringe every time I see him or his ilk in a puzzle and good for you for complaining about it. Still, the other day, a puzzle hit me with Kcup, not in reference to some enormous bra but to the one-shot coffee thing; well those are an ecological catastrophe and I hate seeing them in a puzzle. I think we are going to be gritting our teeth over these kinds of answers for a while.
But I am curious about body parts. A few of them are 'curse' words. But most are not. I get how piss and pus and barf are immediately disgusting. But I get no gag reaction from phlegm. Nor any from blood, rheum, lymph, or say, synovial fluid. I don't see those kinds of words in a puzzle often (ever?) but are they banned (like 'piss') or just obscure? Newspapers would run them in a story (I think). Blood is not obscure but it doesn't seem common in puzzles. What about solid body parts? Kidney? Liver? Intestines? Carcinoma? Appendix? Those don't cause me any ick trouble either and again they don't seem too common.
I don't want to go all moralistic but the same kind of impulse telling us that we should not insult people with slurs, even obliquely in a puzzle, also might tell us that we should get more comfortable with our bodies and their parts.
Ben Kirby's eminently sensible letter made me laugh out loud:
If my name were ever to appear in the NYTXW, I would be overjoyed. I would say something like “I made it!” and I would call my friends and family to share the good news. My mom would cut out the puzzle and frame it. It would be a feather in my cap, to say the least. But! Let’s say you had to figure out my obscure name via crosses. And let’s say that the crosses were HITLER and DIARRHEA. I would no longer feel good and would want my mom to burn the puzzle. My place of honor would have been tarnished by things worthy only of scorn and disgust.I don’t want to see ROBERT E. LEE in a puzzle any more than I want to see him on a pedestal in a public square. Removing a statue of him is not erasing him from history- Wikipedia still exists. It is removing him from a place of honor so that that space can be used to honor those whom we collectively agree ought to be emulated. You can put LEE and HITLER and COCKANDBALLS in the NYTXW all you want, as they are indeed part of the lexicon. But to the extent that the NYTXW is a pedestal, you are cheapening that space and handicapping your own ability to honor someone who is truly worthy of it.
But the letter that was perhaps closest to my own heart was this humdinger from Sally Sullivan, who knows what she likes and what she doesn't like and isn't shy about saying so:
Dear Mr. Parker,In response to Mr. Weingartetn's letter to you and your response, I offer the following thoughts on those words I wish to see in crosswords. And those words I do not wish to see. I am a 78 year old married woman (not quite the 20's dowager), retired social worker and lawyer. I solve crosswords, and other puzzles, purely for pleasure. Each morning I tackle some of the NYT puzzles (Spelling Bee, Wordle, and Letter Boxed) with great anticipation and alacrity, if not with constant success. I then move on to the NYT crossword and the WSJ (which I consider by far the most fun). I don't do themeless. I don't enjoy them. There is no point in doing something that is no fun when one does not have to.And there lies my point. I divide those words (and others) that you and Mr. Weingarten discuss into two categories. There are those that give me pleasure because they remind me of pleasurable experiences. And there are those that are not merely tasteless but downright offensive, because they evoke all that is hateful and evil in our world. I want crosswords to entertain, to gladden, to give me pleasure. I am happy to see "penis," "vagina," "clitoris," "orgasm," all of which have given me great pleasure over the years. I am sure there are others in a similar vein. I also have no objection to "fuck" and "shit," not only because both acts are enormously pleasurable, but also because nothing satisfies like screaming "You fucking piece of shit" to someone (hopefully without a lethal weapon) who offends."Hitler," the president who shall not be named, Elon Musk, and others evoke evil, malevolence, misery, disaster, arrogance, and corruption. And so on. I don't want to be assaulted by these feelings when I puzzle. I get enough in the news. Therefore I stand, at least partially, with you Mr. Parker. I am not a prude. I simply like pleasure, where and when I can get it.I realize much of this is up to each individual's sensitivities, and many words fall somewhere in the middle. For example, I have wiped kids' snotty noses enough times not to be bothered by "phlegmy" while drinking my coffee. Others may differ.With best wishes and hopes for pleasurable puzzliing,Sally Sullivan
You heard Sally. Get your pleasure where you can get it, folks. I'll see you tomorrow. And if you have any crossword thoughts you'd like to see in the Letter(s) to the Editor next Sunday, drop me a line: rexparker at icloud dot com.
P.S. my wife just noticed that "ace" is in the clue for SKY (55A: Place for an ace), even though ACED is already in the grid, and very nearby (43D: Nailed). I think she's correct that this is an editing flaw, albeit a minor one.
P.P.S. Holy cow, that MALT / MELT trap is unfair (33D: Diner order). No idea how I knew that EVA Green was an EVA and not an AVA (41A: Actress Green of "Casino Royale"). Just lucky. MALT is so much better than MELT as an answer to 33D: Diner order that I can totally see how many of you (like my wife, it turns out) would've fallen into the MALT trap. Absolutely awful editing there—the clue on MELT should've been crystal clear, since it's crossing a not-that-famous proper noun at a highly ambiguous vowel.
[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Facebook]
[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Facebook]
I liked the Lincoln trivia.
ReplyDeleteTo almost quote Archie and Edith: "Mister we could use a man like Mr. Lincoln again."
Easy. No real problems (except for spelling MUZAK). Liked it more than @Rex did.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was fine. I didn’t hate it as much as some Sundays. I wasn’t blown away. With the NYT hit rate on Sundays, this is solidly in the upper half. The positive was that it was over fast. A lot of familiar 3-5 word answers helps with that.
ReplyDeleteThat is also why it’s not great. There are a lot of black spaces breaking up the grid. Of course, I get why they’re there, but it feels like the constructors were really limited by them. They sacrificed fill for the look of the puzzle.
This isn't a crossword. It's a stunt puzzle. What words cross 106, 107, and 108-Down?
ReplyDeleteWow this letters thing is interesting... but it does go on and on. I missed last Sunday (holiday weekend interfered) so not yet sure about it.
ReplyDeleteYes grid art is the main thing here; I kinda liked it. Takes me back to my one visit to DC and its monuments (1993); I found the Lincoln Memorial quite worth it. A big statue of him just sitting and brooding, with his speeches on the end walls... neat. So that the grid reminded me of it was okay.
One problem: I finished with an error, MALT crossing AVA at square 41. Classic Natick.
[Spelling Bee: Sat pg in 4 min, 0 and QB later on. Embarrassed that my last word was one I should have gotten in the first 30 sec or so.]
"the president who shall not be named"...
ReplyDeleteSally sounds like my kind of people. I've only spoken that word once in the 5+ years, and I was so angry with myself when it happened.
But sadly, I have to agree with others that for all we saw SASHA and MALIA in the puzz 10 years ago, and even more recently, IVANKA was fair game.
Well, it's kinda sad when the best thing you can say about a puzzle is it's done, it wasn't horrible, I didn't have to research much, and it tried not to be offensive.
ReplyDeleteMOANS are "Spooky sounds?" If you are in third grade maybe.
Speaking of third grade, I'd like to thank my third grade social studies teacher for preparing me exceedingly well to answer the Lincoln stuff without hesitation. Green Mountain Elementary School rules.
Go Falcons.
GMES did not, however, warn me there would be an editor cluing INTERNET as "Premium Flight Amenity." Of all the possible options, that's what they went with [pause for shock and awe]. Have they been on a flight lately? Have they visited the internet when their moms are out of the house? They're experts at finding the lurid in the banal and INTERNET crosses both BRIEFS and SKINNY DIP. Even a pearl clutcher like me would've clued it with a little hot sauce. You know what's a premium flight amenity these days? Arriving in the town you'd planned to arrive in on the same day you were supposed to arrive there and your suitcase made it too. Luxury.
Sally Sullivan sounds like an amazing woman.
ReplyDeleteGet ready for it. Tons of "melt - malt". "Ava-Eva" comments.
ReplyDeleteTuna malt sounds awful.
DeleteAs does Patty Malt.
DeleteIt looks like Abe here is going that emoji shrug. Seems apt. 🤷♂️
ReplyDeleteSame problem as Okanaganer. Malt is close association with diner and melt means warm ice cream to me. Didn’t know Ava from Eva.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the puzzle and yes it was easy and cute and I was glad there was a child’s input which fit for the style of puzzle.
For me not having rebuses (or is it rebi), or other similar complexities my simple crossword mind doesn’t associate with crossword puzzles, is fine occasionally.
If I were great at this like the others here I admire, I can appreciate this one was not challenging enough and they would be disappointed.
As to the interesting exchange about appropriate clues I agree with Sally and Rex. I do this for fun and escape and brain exercise.
None of those is enhanced by references to the worst of Abe’s kind in our history.
That many accept the lie that he won is stunning and appalling to me.
Obvious fact, not opinion, he lost big.
How do I know ? In short, they counted the votes and he was 7 million short after being 3 or 4 million short the last time and about 65 lawsuits all completely failed to find any evidence of a problem. I listened live to 2 of them when the judge asked do you have any evidence of fraud ? And the lawyer shockingly said “no”.
I don’t argue with my smart friends who disagree because I know they don’t reason their way to their positions. You don’t argue someone out of their fear of spiders or snakes, or into finding their friends, relatives, and other group members people to be abandoned.
Still I am staggered that anyone would take the lie seriously. Too 1984 and Brave New World, just keep repeating the lie since you don’t have reality. And Wells was right, it can be beleved!
To those who hate my position, that’s ok, we still have a free democracy that those we remember on this holiday died for. Let’s keep ithat free democracy.
Tom Silverman, Defender
ReplyDeleteI had MUZ-- before I read the clue for 30D and was wondering what word it could possibly be. I'm just glad Wordle doesn't use proper names.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI agree with okanaganer as I didn’t know Eva from Ava and do associate malt with diner but think melt must mean warm ice cream.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the puzzle as being cute and probably way too easy for the great puzzlers who do these and I can understand they would be disappointed.
I like that a child contributed an idea and that seemed fitting.
I appreciated Sally and Rex’s thoughts on clues.
I agree. I do this for fun and escape and to get better at it and wouldn’t enjoy references to people like the worst of Honest Abe’s category and someone who revels in dishonesty.
I’m stunned and horrified at the current perpetual lie that he won and astounded anyone would accept it. It’s not an opinion but irrefutable fact that he lost. How do I know? They counted the votes and helost by 7 million and 73 or so electoral votes. And some 65 lawsuits claiming otherwise ALL LOST and I listened live two times when the judge asked the lawyer if he had any evidence of fraud and each time the lawyer amazingly said “no”.
Like something out of Brave New World or 1984 still many accept it from sheer repetition.
I don’t argue with smart friends who differ because I know they like many of us reach their position out of emotion not reason. you don’t argue someone out of their fear of spiders or snakes. And you don’t get someone to abandon their parents and friends and others in their group with reasons.
To those who hate my position I say fine. Thank God we live in a free democracy. As we celebrate and honor those who died for it I say to all of us “LET’S KEEP IT!”
I agree with okanaganer as I didn’t know Eva from Ava and do associate malt with diner but think melt must mean warm ice cream.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the puzzle as being cute and probably way too easy for the great puzzlers who do these and I can understand they would be disappointed.
I like that a child contributed an idea and that seemed fitting.
I appreciated Sally and Rex’s thoughts on clues.
I agree. I do this for fun and escape and to get better at it and wouldn’t enjoy references to people like the worst of Honest Abe’s category and someone who revels in dishonesty.
I’m stunned and horrified at the current perpetual lie that he won and astounded anyone would accept it. It’s not an opinion but irrefutable fact that he lost. How do I know? They counted the votes and helost by 7 million and 73 or so electoral votes. And some 65 lawsuits claiming otherwise ALL LOST and I listened live two times when the judge asked the lawyer if he had any evidence of fraud and each time the lawyer amazingly said “no”.
Like something out of Brave New World or 1984 still many accept it from sheer repetition.
I don’t argue with smart friends who differ because I know they like many of us reach their position out of emotion not reason. you don’t argue someone out of their fear of spiders or snakes. And you don’t get someone to abandon their parents and friends and others in their group with reasons.
To those who hate my position I say fine. Thank God we live in a free democracy. As we celebrate and honor those who died for it I say to all of us “LET’S KEEP IT!”
Cute puzzle. I was just catching up on my Reconstruction history when this puzzle came our way.
ReplyDeleteThank you for highlighting John Chu and Crazy Rich Asians during AAPI Heritage Month. I will say that I liked the film but didn't love it, and was always bothered by the casting of Henry Golding.
I especially enjoyed today's blog by OFL and his selected Letters to the Editor. In the end, puzzles are entertainment. We are all entertained in different ways, because we have different tastes. I don't like certain sports; I don't much like raunchy humor. But overall, I like the NYTXW, week in and week out.
Not my jam but if you are going to honor the man run this on Feb. 12 - today we get a tribute puzzle to a tribute.
ReplyDeletePRESIDENT in the MEMORIAL is a nice touch though.
@Defender: A melt is something with melted cheese, like a tuna melt. Classic 21st century diner staple; I think malt is more 20th century!
ReplyDeleteThis puzzle did not bring me joy
ReplyDeleteI think this is a good Sunday puzzle. The theme is very well done and not very difficult. I struggled with the fill to some degree. It seemed like Mon/Tues answers with Fri/Sat clues. Maybe I wasn't fully awake when I solved or my brain is just off today. So it was satisfying (and a bit of a relief) to finish. Not a slog, though.
ReplyDeleteA fine puzzle. Nothing to complain about.
ReplyDeleteThe puzzle filled in steadily and smoothly; the only place, actually, that my brain clenched a bit, was when I faced the three unchecked words in the base – it made me realize how comforting having crosses to confirm an answer is. Seeing that those three words actually did have a check, that they spelled a word when connected, gave me a “whew!” of relief.
ReplyDeleteOh sure, I like when a puzzle gives me rub, and I expect more rub on Sunday than I got from this one. But I don’t care, because the puzzle was connected to Lincoln, who is a hero of mine, who stands high as an ethical and eloquent figure, transcending and giving hope amidst the mire so prevalent among the present crop of leaders. Ah, Abe, bless you!
Two random Lincoln facts:
• He was self-taught, with less than 12 months of formal education.
• He said, and man does this ring true at the moment – “The ballot is stronger than the bullet.”
The puzzle, with its mass of theme and terrific grid art, combined with lack of junk in the answers, is a marvel. No surprise to me, because anything with Jeff Chen’s name on it – he, the master cruci-technickan – will turn out this way.
And the smoothness of the puzzle let its Lincolnesque theme stand out and shine, rather than having difficulty take center stage.
Lovely, lovely, lovely, all the way around. Thank you, gentlemen, for this!
EVA/AVA MELT/MALT
ReplyDeleteI have to add my two cents to today’s letters to the editor. Here’s the short version — who decides. It’s all well and good that you want to experience pleasure while solving the puzzle. But what gives you pleasure may cause me pain or annoyance. As an example, Rex finds no problem with Rap artists be glorified by inclusion in puzzles while I find much of Rap incredibly misogynistic and even repulsive. Similarly, I have no love for [former president whose name is redacted to protect reader sensibilities] and find no problem including Obama or Hillary Clinton in the puzzle. I am sure there are plenty of people out there whose feelings are exactly opposite mine. There may even be people out there who think the subject of today’s puzzle was the devil incarnate. Who is supposed to decide who gets offended? I don’t feel qualified to play that role and thus don’t want anyone else to spare my feelings or the feelings of anyone else.
ReplyDelete— Jim C. in Maine
For those who like that sort of thing, that is the sort of thing they like.
ReplyDeleteThx, Daniel & Jeff, for this excellent Sun. workout! :)
ReplyDeleteMed.
Dnfed, and spent 1/2 hr. searching for error. Couldn't find it, so hit 'reveal'. Had MaLT / aVA. :(
Good guess at CHEVRE / CHU. :)
A NEW BIRTH OF FREEDOM sounded OFF, and wasn't sure of ORFEO, but what else could it be?
Great theme and placement of black squares!
Enjoyed the trip! :)
___
yd 0 / Duo: 36
Peace 🙏 🇺🇦 ~ Compassion ~ Tolerance ~ Kindness to all 🕊
At first glance I thought this was going to be a tribute to Eustace Tilley and the New Yorker.
ReplyDeleteI’ve never tried my hand at crossword construction, but now my new life goal is to get a crossword with COCKANDBALLS published in the NYT.
ReplyDeleteAmy: fell into the Eva/Melt trap because I'm more of a Malt girl. Otherwise, this was a pleasant Sunday. Enjoyed Ms. Sullivan's letter.
ReplyDeleteEasy Sunday puzzle with no snags. The themed grid necessitated 35 three-letter answers and 32 four-letter answers and made for a somewhat boring solve.
ReplyDeleteThat damn 41A 33D cross messed me up for too long. I opted for AVA because MALT worked and, well, a bunny trail is a bunny trail.
ReplyDeleteOn a much more important note, I would like your correspondent, Sally Sullivan, to be my new best friend. Can send references if she requires them.
Are any of the regulars here surprised by OFLs take on a Jeff Chen puzzle ?
ReplyDeleteRaymond Massey and Henry Fonda both played Lincoln in movies that came out at about the same time, 1939-1940, and, in the intervening years I think Massey may have been identified more with the role than Fonda because he didn't have as high a profile in other roles.
Seems to me this "he who should not be named" stuff is pretty juvenile.
Not only is Zip-a-dee-doo-dah not in any way scat, it also comes from the racist Disney film Song of the South and was likely an oblique reference to a blackface minstrel song, Zip Coon.
ReplyDeleteSally Sullivan: call me… please.
ReplyDeleteIt was nice to see Georges Perec, himself a master of wordplay and puzzles, make an appearance.
ReplyDeleteI liked it. After finishing, I highlighted the theme answers and admired the four long Downs echoing the columns of the small MEMORIAL at the bottom and the top Acrosses doing the same for the MEMORIAL's two upper horizontals. Not to mention the parallel epithets (SAVIOR, EMANCIPATOR). Like some others, I DNF at MaLT x aVA (for me, a diner = "Oh boy, a vanilla malted!"
ReplyDeleteRe: CRAGGY - I disagree with @Rex's "Weird to just throw MASSEY in there asymmetrically,' as I think Lincoln's features definitely fall into CRAGGY territory. I saw it as part of the theme.
@Son Volt 6:23 - Thank you for drawing attention to the PRESIDENT in the MEMORIAL.
I died in the SE corner. Knew the Mahatma clue from previous puzzles but didn't remember it. Was surrounded by building Specs for years but couldn't get there. Forgot the Stovepipe hat. So that's all on me, but Trattoria Staple for Oregano. Eh.
ReplyDeleteThe rest kept me off the street for a while with it's giant Monday-ness. Liked it.
@Twangster, I can see Eustace there, but it's more of a stretch than Abe. It really would be fun in the New Yorker puzzle though.
@Colin, Catching up your Reconstruction history? That sounds like something I'd do. If you weren't kidding, you also might be interested in The Slave Narrative Collection in the Library of Congress. FDR's Federal Writers project sent writers South to collect the narratives firsthand. You can google it. Nothing else describes the chilling, abhorrent evil of slavery quite well.
My comment has to do with the use of words with a tilde. In the Spanish alphabet ñ is its own unique letter. And as such I would prefer to see the crossing word also need an ñ.
ReplyDeleteIn this puzzle 115 across asks for a plural fill. OK. But the plural of señor is not señors it is señores. Huh??!!
I enjoyed the Honest Abe theme and its derivative answers, bud stumbled badly with a lot of the rest. I pretty much had to concede the entire SE corner with SCARABS, MAHATMA, and “Makeup set?” For ATOMS - which is one of my nominations for the top three worst clues of 2022. Just not enjoyable to parse through cross after cross with that type of cluing and content.
ReplyDeleteSimilarly, I may have enjoyed hanging around to learn what “bijouterie” means, but there is no joy to be had when it is crossed with ORFEO. Agree with Rex that the MASSEY dude looks out of place - probably a swing and miss by the constructor there.
Like others tripped over Eva/Malt/Melt. While it didn’t do a lot for me didn’t find the puzzle as off putting as Rex. With a 14 year old son I dont get to swear off MCU just yet. I do appreciate both Rex’s letter to the editor and the email exchange. Living in a barrage of bad news and in the darkest part of my life time, the NTY Crossword and a cuf of coffee are literally the first thin I do every day. It is my Oasis i na sea of $%^&. I do not need references to those who should not be named or anything that is unnecessarily unpleasant. Not to say I need unicorns and fluff but just leave the other stuff out. It will be in my face all day long. Thanks Rex. You are not a prude. Nad by the way prudery should not appear in the crossword either. Nobody uses it. Almost.
ReplyDeleteI finished the puzzle but got the PRESIDENT combination here. Thanks. I liked the design elements as something different. Reminded me of George Herbert shape poems, like “The Altar,” read in graduate school long ago.
ReplyDeleteThe use of the tilde. I would prefer to see consistency in that both crossing words would use the tilde. Also in this example,115 across, the clue asks for a plural answer. Señors is not the plural of señor. It is señores señores.
ReplyDeleteIn the Spanish alphabet ñ is its own unique letter distinct from n.
That is the first thing I noticed. For shame
DeleteArrogant though he may be (such things often come with creating not one, but several, transformative companies), I don't know what Elon Musk has done to merit mention by Sally Sullivan, in the same sentence as Hitler, as evocative of "evil, malevolence, misery, disaster. . . and corruption." As for the overall mood that pervades current society, I refer to the following quote from Francis Fukuyama: "To find common purpose in the quiet days of peace is hard…. [When] there is no tyranny or oppression against which to struggle, experience suggests that if men cannot struggle on behalf of a just cause, because that struggle was victorious in an earlier generation, then they will struggle against the just cause. They will struggle for the sake of struggle. They will struggle, in other words, out of a certain kind of boredom. They cannot imagine living in a world without struggle. If the world they live in is a world characterized by peace and prosperity, then they will struggle against that peace and prosperity"
ReplyDeletetrump, hitler, glock, sot, che, weinstein, catholic priests, shoot, nazi, moist, dahmer, cosby, and of course trump
ReplyDeleteI imagine drawing the hat was easy and drawing the Memorial was hard. But -- who knows? -- there are probably computer programs that can do that for you. In any event, you guys probably had some fun and a nice challenge in constructing this. But where's my fun and my challenge?
ReplyDeleteAnswer: There's no fun and no challenge for me. The puzzle is dreary. Once I saw the "art", I had then seen the "art". I dropped this one early.
I am a published constructor of crosswords (full disclosure - I have not been published in the NYT, because I choose not to submit to them for reasons beyond this discussion) and I never include anything in my grids that would make a solver go "ugh". No politicians, regardless of ideology, make it to my puzzles. No words that an editor might "let me get away with", or words with unpleasant connotations. What does make it in to my grid are lively words/phrases. I love writing humorous clues. Some make it past an editor and some don't. The bottom line is that I make puzzles for the enjoyment of *the solver*, not to make any kind of statement or raise awareness of some perceived wrong. There are plenty of resources if you're looking for info like that. My grids have received generally favorable reviews, and I will continue to make grids this way until they are no longer desirable for the majority of editors out there. Those are my thoughts from the other side of the fence...
ReplyDeleteBetter than average Sunday. Not high praise, but true.
ReplyDeleteIt's worth mentioning that Jeff Chen made the website xwordinfo which has been helpful for many constructors and solvers. It seems a lot of constructors are also programmers. I wonder why.
In light of the recent Rex blog discussion regarding what words and feelings are acceptable in crosswords, it was a joy to see this theme. We can certainly take a moment to celebrate the great achievements of President Lincoln. But as a puzzle, this felt like something passed out in a sixth-grade classroom on Lincoln's Birthday (back in the day, this was a holiday) with its cutesy grid full of visual gimmicks and appropriate fill. As much as I respect Jeff Chen, this one fell pretty flat.
ReplyDelete@Steve - enjoyed your perspective, thanks for sharing - I’m wondering if GATO crossing SENORS would ever see the light of day in one of your puzzles as well ? From my perspective, since they are not even real (English) words - I understand they have meanings in other countries, it seems like whatever percentage of the population that doesn’t speak the other language(s) is pretty much being disregarded. That’s why I wish WS would stick to a “common usage” criteria instead of just paying lip service to it as he does.
ReplyDeleteHey All !
ReplyDeleteCrabby Rex is back. Me? I liked this puz! I'm'a stand over there with @Lewis. 😁
Neat grid art, incorporating the STOVEPIPE HAT and BEARD, plus the LINCOLN MEMORIAL. I wonder if one constructor asked the other, "hey, wouldn't it be cool if we can simulate the LINCOLN MEMORIAL in a puz grid?" And bam, there it is. Cool to have PRE-SID-ENT in there, although for a bit I thought I wouldn't be able to figure out the clues, as they are clued obscurely. But the ole brain decided to help out. 😁
Never knew he kept documents in his HAT. There must've been a barrier in there, as his head only went so far. A false bottom (or false top, if you will.) I'm going to start wearing a STOVE PIPE HAT, gonna bring in back in style!
Yes @Unknown 4:34AM, gonna talk about the completely unfair Natick of M_LT/_VA. If you wanted MALT, then clue it as is, but if you wanted MELT, clue it as something related to Ice. Who in all the known universe knew for sure wether it was AVA or EVA? Unless you Really like her in that movie and decided to stalk her online, I mean.
Or her mother and family....
yd -3, should'ves 2 (tried the one word I missed 63 times, but failed to realize it had a doubled letter)
Duo -1(oof), missed 1-2-4-7-12-21
Six F's
RooMonster
DarrinV
Anon@10:15, As many will tell you today, Jeff Chen didn't create XWord Info. That credit goes to Jim Horne.
ReplyDeleteSo... is that cross of EVA (to many, not a well-known name) and MELT (which, as clued, could legitimately have been MALT) a Natickealoa????
ReplyDelete@JD, 9:22 AM: Thanks for the link for the Slave Narratives. A while back, we started a monthly book club at work with the theme of racism, and the readings (when I can get to them) have been very informative and inspirational. The latest book was a biography of Harriet Tubman. Little by little, I'm learning more.
ReplyDeleteLast night I opened the Sunday puzzle on my iPad and saw...the Parthenon? Nooo, the Lincoln Memorial! That’s it – there’s Lincoln’s top hat at top.* And the beard right below it! I was enamored of the puzzle already as it’s my favorite monument in DC. And remembered the winning Elizabeth Gorski grid art and theme puzzle from a long ago Sunday (October 18, 2009), still my artful favorite.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is about the grid art, but grid art is fun. Am of Sally Sullivan’s mindset and look for pleasure in my crosswords. Thank you, Rex, for posting the letters’ responses, a fitting complement to our erudite, diverse, and humorous daily commentariat.
Agree with @Carola 9:13 that CRAGGY fits as part of the theme. Thought Daniel Day-Lewis was wonderful as Lincoln.
Like @JD 9:22 and @Twangster 8:13 (I was reading current to backward in time), I can make out a faint Eustace too. I learned from my late husband that there’s a Gibson Girl in the moon, but for me that takes an awful lot of squinting.
Knew EVA Green somehow, so MELT it was, though I do prefer a MaLT. @Lewis 10:41 - LOL. Yes indeed.
The solving took longer than my average Sunday, or so the app tells me, but I had fun. Thank you, Daniel and Jeff!
* Googled Lincoln’s top hat and found this tidbit from the Smithsonian. Smiled to learn from the puzzle that Lincoln stored papers in the crowns of his very tall hats.
I didn't know if it was EVA or aVA but MaLT never crossed my mind. A diner might serve malts but luckily I was looking for a food item.
ReplyDelete@Lewis (10:41 AM)
ReplyDelete'Natickealoa'
Love it! a perfect description for MELT/MaLT / EVA/aVA. 👍
___
Peace 🙏 🇺🇦 ~ Compassion ~ Tolerance ~ Kindness to all 🕊
Any word or name that is “in the language” now or was “in the language” in the past is certainly fair game for a crossword. Further, any word or name that exists now or in the past is also fair game - no matter how niche or how rare - provided non niche or non rare crosses are there to help you get it. The position that certain words, names, concepts, ideas, organizations, philosophies etc. are “inappropriate” for crosswords is patently ridiculous. Its all well and good to express one’s dislike for certain entries, but to suggest that some words should not be included in puzzles on that basis is pure Trump phlegm. Censorship in any form is still censorship - whether to protect someones sensibilities, align with a particular political stance, or conform with anyone’s notion of what is current or olden. Of course, puzzles that contain clues and answers that skew toward a particular period in history, rather than mixing them up - or skew toward a particular gender, race, class, musical genre, etc. rather than mixing them up are not as interesting or inclusive as those that mix it up (themed puzzles being an exception). Please don’t censor the puzzles on any one’s account!
ReplyDelete@Anonymous 12:19 AM. Yes, it is a stunt puzzle. It's Sunday.
ReplyDeleteI was glad to see @Southside Johnny react to the clue for ATOM. I found that weird too
ReplyDeleteWorst puzzle in years--maybe ever.
ReplyDelete@Southside Johnny
ReplyDeleteI will avoid Natiks as often as I can, and in the example you mentioned, I wouldn't do that. Part of the difficulty as a constructor is being to identify Natiks, as vocabularies obviously differ. It also depends on the difficulty rating for the grid. I think most of us strive to make our entry-level/easy grids free of obscurities and all but the most familiar foreign words (OLE) comes to mind). Editors, who obviously have the last word, have asked me to change entries that they didn't feel were level-approprate. This is a good thing, as all of the eds I've worked with had a good sense of their readership and what they wanted in their grids.
Solved the crosses first and entered CHO for the director.
ReplyDeleteSAVIOR OF THE ONION!
If I once had found a feather in my BLT at the diner, and still had no idea who AVA/EVA Green was, I could just as well have entered. MOLT and OVA.
ReplyDeleteI’m no fan of Latin plurals, but I would have preferred MOLT/OVA to the ambiguity we got.
DeleteI am a fan of Abraham Lincoln. I’ve even been to his house in Springfield. But I am not a fan of tribute puzzles. So this registered low on the Fun-O-Meter. It is similar to my response to word ladders and themes with repeating words or letter patterns.
ReplyDeleteWould you rather go to the diner with Eva to get a melt or with Ava to get a malt? I choose the latter and ended up with a DNF.
The answer in the grid that keeps catching my eye is BOOMMIC. It looks like it should describe either a very loud sound or a generation.
Puzzles are solved. Games areplayed. Lately, the NYT has been touting us to "Play the Puzzle." This increasingly appears to be WS's game
ReplyDeleteThis "puzzle" was a lot of PSERINEDT.
Silly me. I saw the references to a most famous address by the subject of the puzzle. So I thought we were talking about the centennial of that famous address. So I spent a fair amount of time wondering what famous address President Harding had given in May 1922. Some kind of "I am not a crook" speech, maybe?
ReplyDeleteBut then I had enough letters to get GREAT EMANCIPATOR and all became clear.
Villager
How come everyone is talking about MaLT/MELT aVA/EVA but no one is mentioning CHo/CHU SAVIOROFTHEoNION/SAVIOROFTHEUNION? Or maybe I’m thinking of Ray of McDonald’s fame and savorer of the onion.
ReplyDeleteThe great Letters to the Editor debate might be summarized via 47A. Gene Weingarten LOVES ICK and Rex doesn’t.
I pretty much knew what the puzzle would be with my first glance at the grid, and I was pretty much right. Not my favorite type, but it’s nice to have variety. Thanks Daniel Bodily and Jeff Chen.
With Rex on this one... pretty meh, but at least solvable...
ReplyDeleteThere were many horribly clued entries today but AOL hasn’t been an alternative to MSN since shortly after the subject of this puzzle was constructed!
ReplyDeleteAh, yes … the Tribute Puz. This kinda thing can get a tad dry, as a big ol SunPuz. Thought this SunPuz was a well done tribute, tho. And a real deservin subject. And primo puzgrid art.
ReplyDeletestaff weeject picks: The memorialized PRE, SID, and ENT. Aka the Otolaryngologist before Sid.
M&A splatzed in MELT and moved on. MALT just didn't quite match up with "diner" as well, for m&e. But I sure can see how those that got their cheeseburger & choco-malt at the local diner mighta been tripped up.
And yep, EVA Green was a know-no.
faves: SKINNYDIP. LOVESICK. CASHCOW. BUREAU. CONMAN & ATOMS clues.
fave Ow de Sperational stuff: CRAGGY. SBALOAN. And am on the fence, over whether BOOMMIC is sound.
Thanx for gangin up on us, Mssrs. Chen & Bodily dudes. And happy Memorial Day, y'all.
Masked & Anonymo9Us
p.s. Cool letters to the non-editor, @RP.
**gruntz**
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteD'oh! Missed the PRE before history. Shoulda seen it. LINCOLN is well worth reading and thinking about. Our first Republican President, and I am wondering if Former Guy will be the last. One of the best book sets I ever bought was the Library of America collection of his speeches and writings. Still in print, and worth every Lincoln penny.
ReplyDeleteI refused to put in SCAT, so a DNF there. Sorry, that tune from Song of the South is not SCAT, unless you think every song using non-words is SCAT. Let's just say, Ella would not have sung it.
Speaking of He Who Must Not Be Named, the guy did one thing right. He got us our vaccines in record time. And as I recall, he cheerfully got the vax himself, and recommended it to all who would listen. An anti-vaxxer he was not. No doubt his kids got all the usual shots too. And, you know, while there are many reasons we are not going to see him on the November, 2024 ballot, his pro-vaccine stance may conceivably contribute to his not being there.
I'm no speed solver, but finished in close to record time.
ReplyDeleteNo HAPPY PENCIL though; and in checking out the puzzle, found out that thanks to Margaret CHo. I, too, had oNION before UNION. Got a big laugh out of it.
Another victim of the MELT/AVA cross.
ReplyDeleteI spent five summers during and after college as a D.C. tour guide, so I knew the LINCOLNMEMORIAL centennial was this year. Also didn't have a problem with the clue for BEARD because I was an American history teacher in a previous life and knew that anecdote cold.
Didn't pick up on the PRE/SID/ENT bit until I came here, though. Clever.
If my name crossed with “diarrhea” and “Hitler” in the NYTXW, I’d find it hilarious. Speaking of Hitler: Imagine typing that name with no qualms and then insistently referring to Trump as “he who must not be named” or whatever. He’s a POS, but get a grip, it comes off as a parody of Twitter lib hysteria.
ReplyDeleteLove the debate and letters to editors! It is an example to all the trolls an ad hominem peeps of how to get point across, disagree, and still respect another’s viewpoint. yay! 🤗🤸🏽♀️🤗 To say nothing of being interesting! 🤝🖖🏼✌🏼🖖🏼🤝
ReplyDeleteAND I loved today’s puzz. Knew it was obvious, and saw the pic - and thought, yeah I know but this overriding theme is fun and clever. And it sure beats every Sunday 🧩 MEHs we’ve had for weeks. Dunno maybe it’s such a low bar that any spark seems like a masterpiece. I was ready to stop doing Sundays….
So Yay Today!
🤗🦖🦖🦖🦖🤗
This time Rex nailed it: "[Zip-a-dee-doo-dah"] is not improvised, it is not filling in for lyrics, it is integral to the rhyme and rhythm of the song."
ReplyDeleteActually, it's a written lyric that happens to consist of nonsense syllables, no more "scat" than "Tu Ra Lu Ra Lu Ra" or "Da Doo Ron Ron." Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Betty Carter are shaking their heads in disbelief right about now.
@jazzmanchgo 1:29 PM - Don't forget Mel Tormé
DeleteMan, this analysis of the puzzle is just so angry and edgy. And, of course, way way way over the top. Ok, Ben Stein sucks. Does every single bad detail need to be detailed in every single puzzle? How about just skipping the outrage and focusing on the puzzle itself? To be clear, Ben Stein sucks.
ReplyDeleteThis puzzle was fun. This review/analysis was much much less fun. It's all edgelord concern trolling. Which is probably worse than being a regular edge lord, because at least the edge lord knows he's a jerk and doing it to get a rise out of people. The concern troll edgelord is just claiming moral superiority. It's not necessary.
Rex,
ReplyDeleteNope. It’s a malted not a malt. Melt is the superior answers, you know, because it’s correct.
I thought it was an exceptionally good anniversary, or tribute, puzzle.
ReplyDeleteOn the whole my reaction was much closer to Lewis's than to Rex's.
I smiled at the the clues for 12D Hurricane (which it took me many crossed to catch on to ) and 5D skinny dip
I learned something - when the Lincoln Memorial was dedicated. (Had somehow thought it more recent)
Enjoyed the "architecture" of the puzzle
(still don't understand "fast ball stat TPH, but don't really care). For the most part the fill was real words and quite interesting ones.
Good puzzle.
@old timer. I enjoyed your satire about Trump's handling of Covid-19.
ReplyDeletePost script and 2$
ReplyDeleteI will always prefer a puzzle that does not contain words like Hitler… even Musk, and other unpleasant, misogynistic, or hateful words … But in a certain context some of these words might even be okay (not fun or pleasant but okay) I probably favor limiting them rather than outright general censorship. That said, I think most of us would prefer a kiss or a tap to a slap in the face especially when playing a game…
@SharonAK
ReplyDeleteIt's EGOTISM/MPH.
I agree with all the folks who say the nonsense phrase zip a dee doo dah is not scat. But none of you addressed Rex's very Rexotic comment about scat being a verb and not a noun. As per Merriam-Webster: scat (n.) jazz singing with nonsense syllables; and scat (v.) to improvise nonsense syllables usually to an instrumental accompaniment; to sing scat.
ReplyDeleteI do not understand 55a place for an ace - sky? I predict a head slap in the very near future. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI forgot to go back and try to figure out what was going on with the crossing of Ana and sins so I just left it blank. I'm not at all confident I would have figured it out (as clued) if I'd given it further thought.
ReplyDeleteI like how Ulysses S. Grant has climbed onto the top of the monument— "Hey, I'm a war hero! And I was president too! Where's my Grant's Tomb puzzle?"
ReplyDeleteShouldn't someone call security to have him removed?
@Anon 2:33 a flying ace ... the term AIRACE even appears in the puzzle sometimes.
ReplyDeletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_ace
~RP
@rex Parker & @ anon thank you both! Head slap , red face!
Delete@anon a crack fighter pilot is sometimes referred to as an ACE.
ReplyDeleteThe MALT trap snared me mightily, and I don't think I would have found out why were it not for OFL's mentioning it. Gratitude.
ReplyDelete@SAVIOR OF THE oNION people
ReplyDeleteI can do you one better: I thought ___ on over (go somewhere in slang) was pOP, resulting in HONEST ApE. Sorry, Mr. President!
finally then to silence…
ReplyDeleteSo beautifully said,Sally Sullivan! Thanks.j
And have any commenters noted (skim them fast) that the 3 negative spaces (vertical fills ) between the 4 columns spell
PRE SID ENT
come on! That be tight and clever 🧩!
Late to the party again. Sometimes I think we'll get our summer camp open just about in time to close it again.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I got home and finished this and thought, oh boy, stunt puzzle, tribute puzzle, and even some answers that could be considered quotes. Going to be some grumpy primates out there, and, sure enough. I didn't much like the grid design but I do like saying "stunt puzzle".
Maybe it's my small town upbringing or my age, but I'm with M&A on associating MELTs with diners and malts with soda fountains. Maybe malts are on diner menus and I'm just avoiding that section while I search for a drinkable beer.
Different fer sure, DB and JC. I Don't Belittle Joint Constructions, and this was a good one, so thanks for the fun.
For me, “malt” summons the image of a “malt shop” or “soda fountain.” A diner is a place to eat, and a “melt” is a sandwich. Case closed.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI'm really proud of this one. BTW, you always know when you have the right answer; the problem is you also always know when you don't have the right answer:) I worked really hard to get this in 2.
Phrazle 82: 2/6
⬜⬜⬜🟪⬜🟩🟩🟩 🟨⬜🟨🟪 🟩🟩🟩 ⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Phrazle turns out to be an incredibly addictive puzzle, everyone. It's really hooked me -- far more than any of the other Wordles ever have. And that's because the feeling of accomplishment you have is so much greater. I can't recommend it highly enough.
https://solitaired.com/phrazle
I liked this one a lot. Why is Rex so reluctant to praise Jeff? Okay, it isn’t perfect, but it’s much better than most Sundays - even though that isn’t saying much…
ReplyDeleteWell, it’s Sunday. Much as I wanted to laud Jeff’s celebration, I find Rex is right and as is often the case, I simply stopped the Sunday NYTXW midway and went to the inbox where the Higgins& Trudeau “Pluses and Minuses” balanced out the day. Nice to come here and see the thoughtfulness expressed by Rex’s correspondents as well as the usual wit and charm of the blog commentariat. De gustibus…….
ReplyDelete@Nancy 5:49 pm - Is that a Phreagle? Congrats! I tried a Phrazle today at the URL you thoughtfully gave, and I'm not sure if I did the same one because I can't find a number for it (82, I think, from your post). Do I need to set up a sign-in to see the Phrazle's number? Any help is appreciated, thanks!
ReplyDelete@Aelurus -- There are two Phrazles a day -- one in the morning and one that goes up at 12 noon EDT and remains there for the rest of the day. At that point the first one disappears into the ether-- at least I can never access it again. Maybe Joe knows how?
ReplyDeleteAll you have to do is type "Phrazle.com" into your search bar. You don't need to sign up for anything. The link that comes up for you to click on says "Phrazle -- Guess the Phrase." Followed by something like "Solitaired.com". That's the link you want. Eventually, if you get as hooked as I am, it will come up as soon as you type in "P".
The two different Phrazles of the day will have two different identifying numbers. I imagine the one you did earlier was the first one -- a two word 6,4 puzzle. I had a 3 on that one.
Yes -- my second solve in 2 was a "Phreagle" -- the word is the result of @bocamp's delightful coinage.
I feel for MALT/AVA vs MELT EVA.
ReplyDeleteI can't see calling out BENSTEIN for the Ferris Bueller reference. The clue/answer was completely apolitical, though REX thought to infer that by his own association. I only know BENSTEIN from his TV and movie appearances (loved Win Ben Stein's Money) and know nothing of his political history/present. If I couldn't disassociate people from their politics, I would never watch another movie, or read Rex's blog.
Just skimmed through all the comments to see if anyone pointed out that Massey has six letters and Lewis and Fonda each have five. Counting counts! This puzzle was obvious and boring. I need a malted…
ReplyDelete@Aelurus (7:39 PM)
ReplyDeleteJust one thing to add to @Nancy's excellent FAQ:
As far as I know, there's no way of seeing the number of the particular Phrazle you're currently working on until you've finished.
When you click on the 'Statistics' icon (the 3 vertical blocks) between the word 'Phrazle' and the 'circled question mark', you'll have the option to 'Share today's game'. This will save the results to your clipboard. Once you paste it, you'll see the number of that Phrazle.
Happy Phrazling! 😊
___
Peace 🙏 🇺🇦 ~ Compassion ~ Tolerance ~ Kindness to all 🕊
@Aelurus ‐ the Phrazle # doesn't display on the site. It only shows up when you copy and paste your result somewhere. The puzzle that gets posted later at midnight will be Phrazle 83 and the one posted tomorrow at noon will be Phrazle 84.
ReplyDeleteYou could conceivably be working two at once, I think, as long as you don't refresh the screen on the earlier one. I.e. if you open #83 at midnight but don't finish it by noon you can still work on it as long as you keep that page open without refreshing it. You could separately open a new Phrazle page at that point which will have #84.
My results today:
Phrazle 81: 3/6
⬜⬜⬜⬜ 🟩🟩
⬜⬜⬜🟨 🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩
Phrazle 82: 2/6
⬜⬜🟨⬜🟨🟨🟪⬜ ⬜⬜🟨🟨 🟩🟩🟩 ⬜🟪🟨⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
If Rex doesn't like your crossword puzzle, you've made it.
ReplyDeleteOh, "it" in this case is the puzzle.
You've made a crossword puzzle.
Dude doesn't like *anything* -- that's what I'm learning from this blog. Just go write them yourself, friend, rather than shit all over someone else's work 30 days out of 31. And no, I'm not going to be a very constant reader. The negativity is TOO much. I'm OK with the complaints about right-wing figures and guns and whatnot. But perfectly reasonable, inoffensive, well-done puzzles still get the toddler pout ... just, no thanks.
On second thought, I'm not sure that opening a second Phrazle page wouldn't override a page you already have open. So, better to have only one going at a time. You can definitely keep a game up and running for more than 12 hours – I've done it. Just don't close or refresh the screen.
ReplyDeleteand here all this time I thought the Memorial was yet another FDR money waster. I blame a poor public education.
ReplyDeleteWas a longer but nice start to Monday. Did know the four themers. My family went on rambling road trips in a Rambler from NY to the West when I was a kid and we’d make stops at Stuckey’s where I’d often get those gooey-sweet Stuckey’s pecan rolls, aka nougat bars. Yes, hope it predicts a good crossword week - NEW BEGINNINGS (hi, @Lewis).
ReplyDelete@Nancy, @bocamp, @Joe Dipinto yd – Thank you!!! (one ! for each) Armed with a trove of detailed information I will enter Phrazleworld again later today and report back, hopefully with puzzle numbers. Nancy, the instructions you posted mid-May were invaluable to my first solve because I knew I didn’t need to come up with a phrase but only valid words, even if the result was more a hilarious "auto-corrupt" (@Zed’s coinage) version of a sentence. The Phrazle I completed yesterday had 20 letters, 4 words.
Was bothered by 73 Down. Was it intentional to throw in a refence to racist America, or ignorance? It is a bizarre interpretation of zip-a-dee-doo-dah to reference it to scat. But it is next to SINS, so maybe intentional referencing our past sins. I hope.
ReplyDeleteAdd me to the ones who Naticked at MELT/EVA. I really enjoyed it otherwise.
ReplyDeleteYep, just came here to echo the AVA/EVA disaster. Was looking for my error for about 20 in-puzzle minutes before I came here and only noticed it highlighted in the write-up. And me a fan of her and her performance in that movie...
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI gotta STOP reading OFF. He can rain out a picnic from a blue SKY. Yes, I saw what the whole thing was about before reading a clue. Right there was the LINCOLNMEMORIAL! I was curious about the three "weejects" inside; thought one of them might be ABE, so I did them first: PRE SID ENT. My first of many smiles. I had a blast, and it wasn't even hard. The complete antithesis of "slog." The AVA/EVA, MALT/MELT trap was solved because of DOD EVA Green. Birdie.
ReplyDeleteAlso birdie in Wordle, getting back a stroke from yesterday's debacle:
BBBBB
BYBYB
GGGGG
ICU GOFAR
ReplyDeleteWE AGREE TO drop TROU, NO HAT ORR EARCLIPS,
and NO BRIEFS you AVOW, let's GOGH SKINNYDIP.
--- STELLA STEIN
Yes, I got the theme immediately, too.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I got most of the puzzle.
And yes, I had a dnf. Due to - wait for it - proper names I didn't know. Gee.
Diana, Lady-in-Waiting for Crosswords
I‘m still trying to figure out how to get from „Tab inits.“ to „LSD“. I mean I know what LSD is, a psychedelic drug, and maybe you take it as a tablet. But that seems far-fetched. Any LSD meaning that I missed?
ReplyDelete