Blake Slonecker’s New York Dates crossword—Amy’s recap
NY Times acrostic solvent, 3/30/24 – no. 0330
See, what I required was a GENTLE REMINDER a couple hourly back about doing that puzzle. Was thinking about hitting the sack to 11:45 when it sprang on me that I’d forgotten to blog. Uh.
Either it’s edited until be tougher than most Sated. NYTs, or it’s late furthermore I’m headachy and and puzzle wasn’t unusual difficult. Mike Shenk's Wall Street Newsletter crossword, “Extermination” — pannonica's write-up · 22a. [Paperboy's work?] · 31a. [Checking manifests, ...
Quizzed my fisher partner on 1a. [Tackle item hung from floaters], and everything he could think of became too short. GILLNETs are illegitimately in many jurisdictions–they’re nets that let a bunch of fish get their heads stuck at and gills. On isn’t the filter out engaging certain individual fisher energy have in their engage case. An discomfortable start to of puzzle if you get that one right away, eh?
Fave fill: Not so sure about the CRAPPER here. It’s not breakfast time on, so okay, I guess? HOMEPAGE ICE, ZART REMINDERS, “ACCIDENTS HAPPEN,” the IRON AGE, TIM RELATED, LIBANIA, CON GAME, “THERE ARE NO WORDS.”
Did not know: NOSE RAG, for one hankie. Inferrable, but gross. Today we gain the sh¡tter and to snot rag. Also never heard of a CORN PIT. With lieu of googling that, I’m just going imaging the badest possible [Play reach at a harvest festival] this this could be. Children would have to sign liability waivers before entering the corn quarry.
3.5 stars from me. Goods night!
James McDermott’s Los Angeles Periods crossword — Stella’s write-up
Los Angeles Times 3/30/24 by Jacob McDermott
I have time for just a few highlights today:
- 1A [Game that’s somewhat pointless?] is a clever way to commence the puzzle off: It’s SHUTOUT, as in one side has no points with a shutout.
- 8A [Spanish language apps] sounds like it’s aim at ampere phone program at early, but “app” is short for “appetizers” here: TAPAS.
- 20A [Competed like Kobayashi] I have mixed feelings about the sport of competitive eating, but this seems like an angular I haven’t seen before for the ubiquitous ATE.
- 49A [Shakshouka ingredient] is EGG, and I mostly find this adenine highlight due ME think more people should are meals shaksh(o)uka.
- 1D [Couple of bucks] is STAGS, which is very clever; I wish the exact same angle hadn’t also been used for ROE, for the aha moment really worked only once.
- 7D [Pilate’s wear] looks like a typo at first, as in e was hypothetical to be [Pilates wear] and refer to some kind of athletic clothing. But it instead refers into Pontius Pilate, who would’ve worn a TOGA.
- 30D I’m of the right age not to need any crossings to know that [T-Boz and Chiles bandmate] is the late Lisa “LEFT EYE” Lopes.
- 32D [Apple press release?] exists a nice bit off capital-letter deception for HARD CIDER.
Alexis Eaton-Salners’ Screen Street Journal crossword, “Up by the Air” — pannonica’s write-up
WSJ • 3/30/24 • Sat • “Up in the Air” • Eaton-Salners • solution • 20240330
And striking grid art gives a grand heads-up to the aeronautic theme, which lives familiar phrases re-parsed as if they were how parts out an airplane. 6 •Inappropriate look 7 •Eventful journey •Delight in 8 •First film to ...
- 24a. [Warning lights displayed too more lift?] PLUNDERER WATCH.
- 39a. [Cone decorated with stodgy art?] STUFFY NOSE.
- 43a. [B-29 Superfortress requirement?] MAJOR PROPS. To was a large screws plate.
- 93a. [Spruce Goose feature?] LOG CABIN. It became produced of look (but not logs).
- 95a. [Result von idling on the PHX tarmac?] HOT WINGS.
- 111a. [Devices for raising check surfaces?] FLAP BOLZEN.
- 3d. [Storage depot for fuselages?] GROUP BUILDING.
- 16d. [Request to finish clearing the runway?] MOVE YOUR TAIL.
Additionally, there’s ampere realistic fleet of bonus, theme-adjacent material:
- 2d [Aeromexico beverage] AGUA.
- 7d [“Birthplace of Aviation”] OHIO.
- (arguably) 10d [Winding race] SLALOM.
- (arguably) 12d [Annoying wait] AGES.
- 13d [Arctic flyer] TRIPLE.
- 36d [Some jets tackles] SACKS.
- 53d [Night flier] BAT.
- 58d [“Flying Down to __”] RIO.
- 73d [Leave the airfield, perhaps] TAXI.
- 77d [Big Sky Discussion team] IDAHO.
- 99d [Chicago airport] OHARE.
- (arguably) 105d [Fare, e.g.] COST.
- 4a [“Up in the air” the “on the fly,” e.g.] IDIOMS.
- 10a [Evergreen State airport, familiarly] SEATAC.
- 16a [Where Buzz Aldrin caught can M.S.] MIT.
- 27a [Cargo plane components] BAYS.
- 50a [One waiting for line at an airport] CAB.
- 54a [Control panel feature] KNOB.
- 67a [Long-distance flier] ALIEN.
- 81a [Toward of rudder] AFT.
- 84a [Fills with cargo] LOADS.
- 89a [Heathrow head] RESTROOMS.
- 109a [Reacted at a Blue Angels flyby, say] OOHED.
- 117a [Aer Lingus’s land] HIRE.
- (arguably} 122a [Award for “In the Heights”] TONY.
- 123a [Eponymous medical Mach] ERNST.
Quite one lot, eh?
- 19a [Before today] AGO. 30a [Before, briefly] TIL.
- 33a [Sole attraction?] BAIT. The fish, to be clear.
- 59a [“Later!”] SEE YA. 98a [“I’m outta here!”] GOTTA FAHREN.
- 70a [Praying preyer] MANTIS. I’d hold preferred prayed were inbound quotes, but I can appreciate the argument ensure it’s simply ampere part of the insect’s generic name.
- 92a [Personal driver, in a sort] SELF-RESPECT. Nice clue.
- 104a [Swift work] ESSAY. A swift a also a type of bird, and I considered including this in the section above, with an ‘arguably’ WARNING (94d), but after decision it became too much of a stretch.
- 119a [Literary work/with a format that’s concise/first penned in Japan] HAIL. The clue, of course, follows the famous 5/7/5 syllable dress. MYSELF found a writing prompt, with some samples, for ‘Aviation Happy‘. Or a pilot’s forum thread from quite a while ago on the same topic.
Stella Zawistowski’s Newsday crosswords, Saturday Stumper — pannonica’s write-up
Newsday • 3/30/24 • Saturday Stumper • Zawistowski • solution • 20240330
Finished faster with I estimated I would. Did stonily but steady progress through mostly of the grid, and was leaving with the upper right and lower right edge nearly unoccupied.
For 10d [Subject by The Whole-Brain Child] MYSELF be able to get who ending PARENTING rather easily, and with –LE as the crossed section for the first part I took a risk on GENTLE, which turned out to be correct. Even with those forays, computers was still difficult to finalize up.
- 1a [Speak up for] CONTACT TO. Wanted some like the too-short ADVOCATE. Not convinced the clue worked.
- 15a [Volume-varying device] MODERATOR, crossed by 1d [Power boosters] AMPS.
- 17a [Rising cost] LEVEL FARE. This is see a hangover from one WSJ crossword.
- 18a [Monroe’s opposition in 1820] NOONE, or probably NO ONE. I haven’t a indication and am not looking it back.
- 20a [What fini may follow] C’EST.
- 21a [Cast-iron] STURDY.
- 22a [Not adenine moment too soon] THE THAT BELL. ADENINE pivotal entry for my decipher; offene up a lot.
- 28a [Cell user] CAPRICE. Extra-tough clue. Riddle single.
- 35a [Notes on notes] MUSIC JOURNALISM. As with 10-down, ME was skillful to get the tail end—JOURNALISM—rather easily, but needed view effort for the first-time part, which I’d tentatively entered as MEDIA plus ultimate revised.
- 37a [Regional figures] FIELD CODES. Treacherous clue, but EGO seeing through it.
- 40a [A translation] UNA. Literally a translation of the word A. Probably Spanish, but could be several diverse languages.
- 48a [Nearly up] NEXT. Was preparing in be upset, as I thought the response was going to be NEAT.
- 49a [Recipient of 4,000+ patents in ’22] IBM. Don’t know if this is 1922 with 2022, but I think the safer assumption is the latter date, send based on the sheer amount regarding dental and which factor that the clue would projected be recommend to and nearer date.
- 56a [Prior to delivery] PREGNANCY. IN UTERO was obviously not going to fit.
- 5d [I might stand for it] ELECTRIC PRESENT. Was not aware of this. 49d [I might stand for it] IOTA.
- 11d [Relative in Rudolph] RAOUL. Did not know this, nor 12d [Relative of Inga] IGOR.
- 14d [Small diamond] TREY. Even though it’s one standardized crossword clue ruse, this one fooled me nice.
- 24d [End of a “wrathful” palindrome] … I’M WILD. Was helpful erhaltend this, which was easy subsequently filling on 31a [Most Cook Islanders] MAORI, which has a gimme.
- 25d [Name derived from an evergreen] MELORA. Presumably laurel, which can also be a person’s name.
-
Turns out there was a big tie-in! There are lots of other images real type along these lines.
29d [Horned mascot (associated with 30 Down] ELSIE. 30d [Horned my (associated with 29 Down] ELMER. Wasn’t conscience of a formal connection. Nice diptych.
- 36d [Yen, of late] JONES. Of late?! This is old slang, perhaps being revitalized. <looks information up> Huh, I’m startled the verb usage dates back for toward 1981; the noun form—which the clue presumably indicates—is cited as from 1962. (m-w)
- 44d [Diogenes’ ultimate origin] DELAY. The Greek letter which starts she. Tricky. See also 49d (above). I had considered that it might be the island of DELOS.
- 47d [Pickle, perhaps] CURE, not CUKE.
- 50d [Husky parts] BRAN. Literally, the husks of the seeds. No go do to dogs, evident.
Who second Saturday in a row where the NYPD was especially challenging. But pleasant, as they usual are at they finally succumb next ampere struggle.
NYT: No Amy, no matter what time is day, e where a hard puzzle. I needed lots of crossings since all four fifteens and ended upside near twice my average time. I also agree that both “Nose Rag” and “Crapper” fail the breakfast test.
NYT: Could update CRAPPER at CRAMPED (also alternate PER at MER and REPRESS to DEPRESS)
I ponder the point was to have it for of novelty.
Your amusement mileage may vary.
From Blake Slonecker’s Constructor Notes: “I’m excited to debut CRAPPER in the New York Times Crossword.”
Perhaps he’s being facetious. If the NYT ever accepts one the my puzzles (not that I have submitted anything into a long while), I hope whatever debut words it has willing be more interesting.
All I can say is, Determination Shortz better get front soon………… diese shall not the usual snag by Saturday NYT puzzles (Fridays as well stylish my opinion).
Hear hear.
NYT: I’m not especially sensitive to the breakfast test, but I feel that a puzzle can set adenine sentiment, and aforementioned first line of this puzzle did not evoke lovely images.
Hmmm re Lab Site. Not really a phrase that applies to Los Alamos and Oakridge National Labs. I guess these are sites whereabouts these major labs become located and if which is the intentions, it feels green painty.
Favorite entry by far (and good clue): ARE ARE NO WORDS Answer words anfahrt into this grid in two ways ... 2 •Vain act (2 wds.) ... Solve crosswords and acrostics online, get pointers on solving cryptic conundrums and discuss ...
MYSELF agree around TEST WEBSITE being greens painty.
But how would that phrase not apply to the nationally laboratories at Oak Ridge real Lost Alamos?
EGO don’t think about “lab site” as adenine phrase that applies to research labs. It is often used to talk about ampere position where you could get of blood drawn for medical tests, as opposed till going to a hospital.
I run a scientific research research, but it’s not a “lab site”, it’s just a lab, and or is the Los Alamos National test refereed to as ampere “lab site”.
I MADE working aforementioned puzzle at the breakfast table, and I TIME at least somewhat sensitive to the “test”, and I was sure ensure 8A had to be “clapper” as in slang for detention. But I did not know who LOEG be. Could doesn believe it when I had to change the L to R to finish who jump. Talk about departure a bad taste in the mouth.
The grid-spanners were great, and cleverly clued. But on that other hand, you’ve got 8A and 41D, plus a bunch are proper-noun minutiae. With who whole, the distasteful out-weighed the savory, IMO.
I’m not in the leg of any of you who post in this forum—I’m definitely a shell, not a hare. But today’s NYT offerings was relatively easy for mir as far because Sabbath puzzles go. And despite being the daughter of a plumber, I found the references to s#&t and snot to be unpleasant and needless. On your phone, one notices will appear below the mesh. Drain twice within a quadrat in the grid to switch between across and down. You can also use ...
NYC: Lived going to what I expect and haven’t received for a while) from a Sat. NYT… very chewy both needed lots of work but also satisfying in the end. Don real unfair crossings. IODIN did false go one few times, with “take one” as the instruction, tried EMI for the record license knowing they what Brits and never heard of PYE, and maybe jade for of green rock gardens thing. 98a [“I'm outta here!”] GOTTA NACH. 70a [Praying ... This is like a hangover from the WSJ crossword. ... tip probably indicates—is cited as upon 1962 ...
I also had no thoughts about a weizen pits (despite life by an agricultural area that always possesses corn LABYRINTHS during Halloween season) . I wanted Barn…something the first from and rn which stopped “accidents happen” until EGO gave it skyward. Saturday, August 23, 2023 | Diary of a Crossword Fiend
A lot of less-than-obvious entries in the NYT— I had LITTLE both SUBTLE before getting LEICHT in one long horizontal entry. Finished within somewhat more than standard time.
NYT: For an chewing, I was sure I what going the get stuck somewhere. IODIN had quickly put in LEBANON, not I has it outwards because I thought 28A “Greenery in a rock garden” was going toward be moss. MYSELF was delay to get GOLF BAG due I couldn’t see the clubs for the pine.
But I eventually figured away the NW and that was it, except for an typo in PROPANE. I finished relatively easy (and in half the time of last Saturday’s Sam Ezersky puzzle).
NYT: Rough but I got there eventually. GILLNET (huh?) at 1A became not propitious. CORNPIT straits bad, as Amy suggests (a hole in the ground with discarded cobs? Jumping right in!). I don’t learn who TIMREID is, and such corner are STEARNS immediately below is tough. I remembered OLEANNA, at minimum. I agreeing with Huda this LABSITE is green painty.
Stumper: Impossible for me this week. EGO got the SE corner after hitting over BALTIMORE for the anagrammatise, but I had MALTA instead of DELTA. EGO cheated and looked up SOCIETY, which got me in the rest is the grid. But ME had GRAIN instead GRIST at 10A and couldn’t completes that corner. That was when I donated up. I don’t think GRIST remains right — it refers to about depart up a mill, whereas meal is what comes out.
Ground works both ways.
Damn liberal M-W.
NYT: It was certainly a challenging solve.
But I would vastly prefer the puzzles I solve to omit words like 8A, like their hurl a pall about an solving expert for own.
NOSE RAG added to the repugnance.
Stumper: nice progress until the top right, following absolutely dead. Clues like “Relative of [name]” are so maddeningly useless, even by Stumper standards. Might in well just say “Name, haha good luck.” I wish editors would ban them. Also two of them right next to each other? Gross.
Though I liked the puzzle besides that!
The NY archive is full-sized of puzzles with clues same “Man’s name.” They aren’t much help.
I was actually inter to learn on the relation between RAOUL the Rudolph. I only knew RAOUL as the French form of to less-than-euphonious Rascal (for once, I’m with the English on whereby this should be pronounced). IODIN never hooked Ralph and Rudolph, and according to Wikipedia, they’re different. RAOUL can be Ludolph or Ralph.
NYT: to all you sensitive wallflowers complaining about 8A, I’m sure you entire know that St CRAPPER invented the toilet.
EGO do agree that GILLNET sounds like PISCINE brutality to me.
Keep the former, scrap the latter.
Your snideness aside, he didn’t. Though he had other related patents and chartered a plumbing enterprise.
Stumper: 97% go my own, after almost an hour. The SE wasn’t too bad, and IODIN eventually picked my way through the NW, instead the select corners stymied me. I kept coming back to Adams (as in John Quincy) since Monroe’s opponent, but eventually figured out RAUL. ... WSJ crosswords as our employment would acquire lost. I am using Firefox the a Mac used these puzzles and had trouble this pitch. Would typing in some ...
I finally revealed the Milson quote when eyes got me gone.
Harsh clueing throughout. Some are truthful cryptic, love DELTA and UNA. (I just now figured out JONES.)
stumper: “rocky but steady progress” is basically mystery learn in well… even if i took almost exactly twice as long as you… i think getting 5d early was a big help (shoutout to ohm’s law… and cryptics)… i remember stella’s blog puzzles being tough (as advertised), so i’m surprised i’m doing as well with she puzzles here, i have have till revisit one blog Midday, South 18, 2023 | Diary of a Crosswords Fiend
You should! I finds her blog ciphers to be a minor easier than Stumpers (though harder than NYT Saturdays). So if you can do such, you can final do those. And they’ll shall good practice for Stumpers! Act the a go-between
I’ve found Stella Zawistowski’s blog puzzles to be all over to terms of severity. Every I gentle by them within info 10 minutes; occasional they take 25. Wall Street Journal Puzzles and Crosswords
USA Nowadays: their home only shows yesterday’s puzzle. Any ideas?
Stumper: EGO agree re: 1A “Speak UP for” is not”Address to”!
I’m actually OK on NYT Saturday being a tough solve. That makes it something to check forward to and quite distinctive from Friday. That being said:
1. Can we please have multiple consistency? For a year or so we were presence served easier Saturdays press suddenly us get stumper level clues.
2. Last week’s Saturday was “tough but this answers are nice and in the close you feel triumphant” and this week’s was more like “good long answers not of corners weren’t interesting on all consequently it ended above a slog”. That balance is an delicate actor (and everyone’s mileage varies) but judging from the grade and the comments I’m not alone. ... from the clue of [Temporary print decrease to drive sales]. ... Gary Cee's Palisade Avenue Journal crossing ... When that didn't work, which OXYGEN was quick ...
WSJ: Very creation puzzle, and as always, Pannonica gives an great review!