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SUNDAY, 8/3: TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES
Sunday, August 3, 2025
Dear all,
I had substitute writers lined up for this week (I’m visiting my parents in CA) but apparently there was a misunderstanding about who was supposed to write today, which is why there is no post as of 830AM EDT. I have no way to solve write etc from where I am right now (I’m writing this on my phone, which is not how I solve, let alone write blog posts, and anyway I have morning obligations already). So … there will be a late post or there won’t be. At least now you know there’s been a screw-up and I’m aware of it.
I apologize for the missing write-up. I also apologize for any infelicities in this post—it’s 5:30AM and I am writing this in a still-half-asleep semi-panic. Thank you for your patience
REX
P.S. I started the puzzle. Can I stop now? 😭
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88 comments:
First, lol!
Enjoy your visit!
I was waiting for him to really hate this one and wonder why the circled letters were going up. Wish I had time to do a longer post and set the tone for the day. Beautiful weather here at least, enjoy your Sundays!
Despite not regularly watching Star Trek, nearly all of these have made it into the popular lexicon, so not as annoying as I thought.
Relax Rex and enjoy the day.
Hmmmm. It’s every bit as as annoying as I expected.
Things happen. Not to worry. We will all survive:)
Thank you, Eileen ~RP
Life is good, even with the ups and downs! Love to all.
I love Star Trek, appreciated the density of theme material, and the way the constructor worked the USS Enterprise into the grid, and yet the experience left me flat. Perhaps if the grid entries had been iconic expressions of each character? (“I am a doctor, not a ___”, for McCoy, for example) And yes, I appreciate how hard it would be to work their name into one of their stock phrases. But that would’ve been really impressive.
Michael, hope you are enjoying your visit, and that one of your team is able to step in to keep your streak going!
Like burtonkd, I was wondering why the names went up--beam me up? I did see that the grey squares are meant to look like the ship. Rex: no need to panic.
No worries, enjoy your family time ♥️
All of the characters are being beamed up. That’s why they go to ward the top of the puzzle
Loved this! I think the solves were fine -- the cluing mostly referred to classic lines. I thought it clever working the names into related comments.
I’m guessing the letters go up because “beam me up Scottie.”
First of all, it's a huge Sunday grid and randomly placed annoying tiny little circles are everywhere!
Second, I've glimpsed a whole bunch of clues that read like gibberish: 3D; 36D; 45D; 84D etc.
Third: It seems like the theme is created around some familiar (but not to me) piece of ephemeral pop culture I have never and will never consume.
So...
I am dropping this like a hot potato, with but three short answers filled in. If I have made a terrible mistake: if this is one of puzzledom's most brilliant and riveting puzzles -- one destined to make me deliriously happy -- one of my off-blog pals will let me know off-blog, yes? Thanks so much. I have not read a word of the blog, btw, just in case I ever want to do this puzzle.
Stupid "theme"; crappy fill. 'Nuff said.
I presume Scotty is “beaming them up” to the Enterprise at the top of the page. Quite clever, in my opinion.
Glad to hear that everything is ok and it was just a case of people getting their wires crossed. I guess we’ll have to take the training wheels off and do without OFL today.
I thought it was too big of an ask for this theme to carry a Sunday - but it was a pretty noble effort. I’m the right demographic, age wise for this material - watched the show when it was on live and the after school reruns growing up
Thank you Rex, for the explanation. Enjoy your trip!
This is still a great post!
Frankly this was a terrible puzzle. Probably a good thing that nobody had to write it up.
So glad to know you are OK. Came here at 5:45am (CA) and was alarmed. Puzzle was hard for me, but I enjoyed the theme.
Funnily enough, the phrase "Beam me up, Scotty" was never uttered in the TV show nor in any of the movies based on it.
Puzzle resonated for me in a couple of odd places. I have an appointment on Tuesday to get my REAL ID, which seems like a waste of time and money, but there you go. And our next planned trip is to ST PETE to visit, among other things, the Dali Museum, the Imagine Museum, and the Sunken Gardens. To anyone with local experience: recommendations - sights and food - are welcome.
LOL if only politicians were so honest and owned up to minor things. Maybe they wouldn’t become big things 😂
Somehow I think I inadvertently fat-fingered a post (have I mentioned that I hate this blogger software?). I was saying that even though I am in the target demographic, I succumbed to theme-fatigue about halfway through this one. It may have been better suited for a Thursday, as the material is too generic. There is nothing that screams STAR TREK about WE BETTER MAKE THIS QUICK, for example. Something like “Beam me up, Scotty” would have been more appropriate, IMHO. When a theme basically takes over and dominates the grid, it needs to be stellar. It felt like this one fell short on that score.
Well, I finished it. Ugly clues.
Whatevs
84D gives you a hint as to why the circled letters should be read “upwards” - not totally how the effect works in the show, but, whatever.
@🦖
There are no crossword emergencies. Go enjoy your day. And yeah, the puzzle was not great.
My first Sunday solve and …
How could they allow LWORD and ILY to be in the same grid? That is sloppy.
Hate Star Trek. A few clues/answers would be ok, but for a major theme in a Sunday puzzle, WAY TOO MUCH.
Good morning! I knew Rex would hate it so kind of glad not to have him write this up. I do like Star Trek so thought it was fun, if not stellar. Quotes felt a bit weird to me. But I do like the characters being beamed up.
Hey All !
As a fan (albeit not a SuperFan), I liked this puz. But, I can see many, many people calling foul on a theme based on TVshow/ movies they've never watched. And having the embedded names, which I'm sure those unfamiliar will not know them, going up in circles, seems a bit egregious. Granted, I liked the BEAM ME UP aspect, with MISTER SCOTT on top waiting for said BEAMers, but I can see massive disdain for today's puz.
Had a few drivers, but managed to complete puz with no errors. Or I should say, found my errors for a complete puz. No cheats!
Gotta run, late Rex and all. 😁
Have a great Sunday!
One F
RooMonster
DarrinV
I'm not sure 'ephemeral' applies in this case. Next year will be the 60th anniversary of the first airing of Star Trek, and hit has been fairly consistently popular, with (so far) fourteen TV series and thirteen movies.
But no, you have not made a mistake. If you are not going to get pleasure from the theme today, the rest of the puzzle won't rescue it.
GREAT PUZZLE!!!!! AFFIRMATIVE
Got the theme immediately. Almost quit on the spot but that would have been bad form, so I slogged through it. Stupefying. Beam me outta here!
I was afraid I had missed a chance to brag. I never saw "Star Wars," and all I know about it comes from doing crosswords, yet I solved this one (as a themeless) without a cheat or a look-up. I still have no clue about the circled letters (I did understand the shaded squares). When the music sounded, after more than an hour, I was delighted.
If there was ever a puzzle to skip, this is it.
Not a Star Trek fan or watcher, so that added some difficulty for me, but that's not a main gripe.
Just a bad Sunday puzzle. Fill is weak and poor.
OOO? SWUM? OKGO? CRYPTOS? ON KEY? MASSEUR?
Bad cluing, bad answers, bad puzzle.
Better to enjoy life and miss this pile of junk
I think it is time for a ban on all things Star Trek and Star Wars in the crossword. Enough. Truly have zero interest in these things and they are just always in the puzzle. I hate it.
Did you hear about the guy whose ass emitted quality vocals? It was an ONKEY donkey.
Slogan for the striking United Catholic Service Providers: MASSEUR Self.
Since ET went home at the end of the movie, they were working without ANET for the sequel.
I think I get every bit of what was attempted here and I admire the effort. The phrases uttered by each character were meant to at least seem plausible in the context of having to contain the speaker's name backwards within the phrase. They do at least get at the kind of things each character might say, but in the end seem off enough that it left me feeling unsatisfied. But this was a good stab at a very difficult concept, so thanks. Live long and prosper, Jeremy Newton.
Definitely keep the Dali on your list - it’s tailor-made for a relaxing brunch and a leisurely stroll through the museum - the guy was fascinating. If you are flying into Tampa, there is a bit of a restaurant row basically across the street (google Flemings and go from there). If you go during baseball season the Rays are playing at Steinbrenner field, which is the Yankees training camp facility and a minor league stadium, but it is a great place to see a game (across from Raymond James, where the Bucs play). The Tampa Zoo and Busch Gardens are popular with the locals as well.
Obviously, the big draws across the bay are the beaches and the seafood - I’d recommend subscribing to the Tampa Bay Times newsletter, which provides excellent coverage of the culinary scene in Tampa, St. Pete and Clearwater (https://www.tampabay.com/newsletters/taste/). Bring plenty of sunscreen and plan on an afternoon thunderstorm around 5-6 pm daily. Good luck and enjoy.
Just do the northeast corner. I have a mistake, but I did the whole puzzle.
I hate Sunday puzzles but actually liked this one even though I’m not a big fan of Star Trek (I’m definitely a Star WARS nerd). I’m impressed by the density of the theme material and how the constructor figured out phrases that have the characters’ last names hidden in them that (more or less) mean the same as their catch phrases. The fill was pretty good considering the constraints.
The shading effect for THE ENTERPRISE falls flat online.
I think what you have already posted will suffice for the day!
I’m a huge Trekkie and even I hated this one. I finished so could share complete puzzle, but it was pretty easy - aren’t we all really just here for the Rex Rant? 😆
The puzzle is not worth your time, you'll likely hate it. It's a slog. Enjoy your time off with family. The rest of us can talk amongst ourselves.
Wow, would've never guessed how much Star Trek hate there apparently is among crossword fans!
No worries, OFL. As the Buddhists say, "suffering is", which is a far more elegant way of saying s**t happens.
Did the large print edition today, which is almost as annoying as trying to read tiny numbers, as I was always back and forth between the puzzle and the clue page. Can't win.
Anyway, I solved bottoms-up, which turned out to be fortuitous, as the BEAMMEUP thing became clear on the East Coast as MCCOY appeared with an appropriate quote and I saw what was going on, very large aha! Kind of fun finding the other characters--knew them from my younger days, and the quotes were clues. Major slowdowns for not knowing JUMP or KILO as clued, CHEKOV to the rescue. Also had SWAM before SWUM and HRS were my big hits before KOS. Otherwise pretty speedy although the grid felt choppy to me, hard to get any flow going.
Very impressive feat of construction, JN. Just Nice enough to counter any negative feelings about choppiness, and thanks for a fair amount of fun.
Also if you’ve never watched something and know you never will, but it has a fan base measured in the tens of millions (al least), maybe don’t call it stupid out of hand from a position of ignorance?
Me doing my best ST 2 "The Wrath of Khan" - screaming to the heavens: "REXXXXXXXXXX!"
Brah....you missed nothing. (Though...this is the second scheduling issue I've seen in a few weeks. Everything good, fam?)
I unfortunately agree with some of the comments about this puzzle’s flaws. But the misdirection clue for LOOM (106A) and the doubled clue for EAST/ESTE (112A/11D) made me chuckle. So I’m happy.
What's wrong with MASSEUR?
If anyone had to not write this up, Im glad it wasn't RP.
Please enjoy your day with your parents. It is fine! The blog can have a day off. It will be fine.
84D had me completely flummoxed. Ignorant about Star Wars and all its related jargon and characters, I approached the puzzle as a challenge to my generational ignorance. Almost conquered, but alas, clueless about 84D.
Thank you, Rex, for your sincere apology & efforts. I have to admit that I had a slight panic attack since it's Sunday - large grid - but plodded on. Unfortunately, of all themes, I know NOTHING about Star Trek but managed to solve - cheating on Xwordinfo :( & not lose my streak :) Never knew how much your Blog meant to me!
Aha. So the theme is Star Wars. Who knew?
If you had read me carefully over the years, Anon 10:07, you'd know that I sat through about 57 excruciating minutes of the first Star Wars flick -- lots of weirdo-looking characters in a bar -- because my friend and publishing colleague Jim C, who I liked and trusted, had told me that he has seen the movie 11 times!!!!. "I can't walk out, I can't walk out, because Jim loves this so much," I told myself. When eventually I did walk out, I cursed myself for the 57 minutes I would never get back. Did I happen to mention that I found it excruciating?
So, while you may not like my opinion and while you may not agree with my opinion, oh thou smug and snarky Anon, it is an opinion that I have earned -- the hard way.
Not great, because the quotations in the clues are painfully poor approximations of what the named Star Trek characters might say — the worst (possibly) being “I’m a doctor, not a do-nothing” (wince). It’s a problem that the puzzle sells itself on its knowledge of Star Trek while demonstrating a lack of true familiarity with the show. Not the worst offense in the history of xword construction, but not a great puzzle imo.
Looks like there are dueling blog write ups today so I am posting this on Rex's version and Rafa's.
My platform didn't have shaded squares so I had a DNF at 90A. Couldn't parse the clue and the cross was obvi OBVi, not OBVS. I revealed the USS and went back to the NYTimes platform and hit reveal so I could see the gray squares. Of course, the USS ENTERPRISE.
I've seen a lot of Star Trek episodes but that didn't make this a cakewalk of a solve. It was about average, I guess.
My favorite clue/answer was 106A, Warp-driven device = LOOM, not the USS ENTERPRISE, har.
Thanks, Jeremy Newton!
Duncan mcclellan gallery. Great art glass, and owner gives a lot back to the community also. Also sometimes glass blowing demonstrations
bizarrely, i thought this was one of the better sundays in a looooong while. im even kind of (?) sure michael would like it.
Much appreciated, Southside Johnny
Star Trek, not Star Wars, Nancy. Your whole rant was for nothing.
I don't know if "hate" is the right word. But constructors do use Star Trek characters and language excessively, for some reason. It seems to suggest that if you chose not to watch it back then, you were stupid...which is a stupid attitude to have.
I disagree. I can absolutely hear McCoy saying that.
Welcome back to sunny California. 🌞 Enjoy your solve.
Actually, it's Star Trek.
Even if one is not a Star Trek fan, one has to appreciate how much theme material was included, especially the long quotes with the names backwards. Kudos to the author and also to those non-fans who were able to solve the puzzle anyway.
It's Star Trek not Star Wars. Who knew? A lot of people knew, it wasn't difficult to figure out.
I don't care for Star Trek or Star Wars and I didn't like this puzzle but you're being a bit rude. People care about your opinion about as much as you care about the subject matter. Yet you felt the need to express your feelings and be condescending to a lot of people, good job.
Thanks anonymous brigade:)
Tim. Surely you meant that this puzzle was not worth your time and you hated it. You only get your vote…
bizarrely, i thought this was the best sunday in a looooongg time. i also think michael would kind of like it, despite alot you all's guesses to the contrary. could be wrong.
I already posted this on Rafa's version but it's easy enough to do it again, so:
I’m not a fan of tribute puzzles or Star Trek, so this was a bit painful for me. I know a bit about the franchise because I did make a point of tuning in the first TV series so I recognized most of the names. But I had no time or enthusiasm for the subsequent series and I’ve only seen two early movies.
Pretty impressive construction, though, but I have to ask, was the Enterprise an asymmetrical vessel? Because it sure looks that way in the grid art. And is Scotty isolated up there because he’s controlling the “beaming”? If so, that’s clever. And how did that SITH sneak in there at 10D?
Is 28A HEROCOP a thing people really say? And shouldn’t 62D KOS be clued “Some big hits, in brief”? You might take a lot of big hits in combat sports and never get knocked out.
You must go,to the Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement, a few minutes north of Dali. Just fantastic collection. With a lovely cafe.
Ditto.
I actually AM a big Star Trek fan, and this puzzle was one of the least enjoyable Sundays in a long time. (Rafa is my favorite of OFL's wonderful subs, but none of them bring the snark like he can, so when I really hate on a puzzle and look forward what Rex thinks -- it can really make up for my pain -- there's always a slight letdown when he's not there to take it apart limb by limb. Sorry Rafa, and thank you.)
The worst of this puzzle was the flatness of the theme phrases containing the characters' names. "YOU CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON ME," really? A lot of non-ST fans think the show is dull, but it's not nearly as dull as that, promise. Those themers needed to connect MUCH better to their assigned crew members. Only FULLTHRUSTERS even came close.
Second worst was the clue for 4A, "THEE." This needed to be clued so the answer fit for "thee", like "Shall I compare ____ to...." or some such. Then rely on the reference to the group of shaded cells to pull it together. You can't just leave "THEE" hanging out there with no proper clue for the one word.
Third worst was "MISTER SCOTT" when none of the other characters also often called "Mister" got the honorific. Is "Mr. Scott" really more apt than, say, "Mr. Spock" or "Mr. Checkov" or "Mr. Sulu"?
Credit where credit is due though -- STAPLER, a haha moment when I finally saw it after racking my brains for names of screen icons, as the clue intended.
Oh, and -- one too many police-state related clues for my taste today. Stakeouts, hero cops, REAL ID, and drug busts (you didn't have to clue KILO that way). The puzzle is supposed to be a diversion from some of the more depressing headlines. Breakfast table!
Strange New Worlds is back and I've got Trek on the brain, so I loved this puzzle.
Also, I loved that THEENTERPRISE is shaped like The Enterprise. Sue me.
Really appreciate your second paragraph. As a non-ST fan with little recollection of the few shows and movies I've seen, I thought those might be real quotes. But even Mr. Spock wouldn't say something as silly as KEEP COMPOSURE, would he?
I'm with you on the ugly clues. They were more than the crossword-clever things we like and appreciate. They were bland and stayed far too general, in a bad way - unknowable. And murky. Most of the long theme clues did not remind me of their Star Trek links. So, even though a few more of the clues began to get a little more rewarding as I moved along, I have to say it was just not a fun crossword to do.
Thank you, linda and Anon@11:51.
So, I'm searching my computer for the "UNDO" button, and wondering how my pen can make a "TYPO." Some seriously bad clues here, even though I enjoyed the Star Trek part (sue me)
Me too! I thoroughly enjoyed the puzzle. Lots of clever cluing in the non-theme material and a pangram!
Ahora que todas estamos aquí, por favor proceda.
Impressive architectural feat on a very tired and worn out theme. I suppose most of us will recognize the basics, but if I'm going to create something like this, it will be about something from this century. I did find it pretty funny, so I will take it.
Was finished in relatively quick time, but then spent forever trying to find a mistake. I found it in RUSS Feingold instead of SUSS. Stupid MASSEUR. There are way too many short words in the fill of this very big puzzle. A victim of the theme, but not as gunky as it might have appeared.
I also spent an oddly weird amount of time trying to figure out UNDO BUTTON, maybe because there is no such button. All of the letters looked like alphabet soup and I could not parse it in my brain. I'm also perplexed by SWUM vs. SWAM.
TONE isn't a "manner" of speaking. Wouldn't it be nice to live in a world where HERO and COP were synonymous.
Our German crossword dictionary now has 13 entries. ERSATZ is on my favorite word list between AREOLA and SPELUNK and my autocorrect knows none of them.
I loved the STAPLER adding attachments. I guess I use a stapler from time to time even now, but phew it was a good misdirect. Warp-driven device was another nice misdirect.
❤️ [Purveyor of provocative posts.]
😩 ILY.
People: 9
Places: 5
Products: 11
Partials: 12
Foreignisms: 2
--
Gary's Grid Gunk Gauge: 39 of 140 (28%)
Funny Factor: 12 😅
Tee-Hee: SEXY.
Uniclues:
1 Boston rubber boy.
2 Dare to post a photo of your engagement ring on Facebook.
3 Geese gawking.
4 "Redrum" autocorrect plaguing horror novel reviewer.
5 Suggested behavior for one walking through a hotel lobby to meet an escort.
6 Place in space for coffee and lace ... and Klingons.
7 Prayer of one in Hospice.
8 Terse recommendation from the high priest of modern technology on keyboard adoration.
1 THE REDSOX GYM MASSEUR (~)
2 DEIGN KARAT STRUT (~)
3 HICK SWANS ON STAKEOUT (~)
4 TUMTUM TYPO PLIGHT (~)
5 KEEP TAME COMPOSURE (~)
6 SEXY STAR TREK DENNY'S (~)
7 PSST ... ST. PETE ... BEAM ME UP
8 HONOR UNDO BUTTON OBVS (~)
My Fascinating Crossword Uniclue Keepsake from Last Year: Convent chemical consumers. ECSTASY NUNS.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
It took me until 7:30 to finish this puzzle, so, Rex, your slip-up was not a problem for me. Actually, until I figured out what was going on, I hated the puzzle. But eventually, I saw the names going up, not down, and entered THE ENTERPRISE and I got all but a couple entries. For me, that’s all good. 😊
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