I just flew through this and have absolutely no idea what the theme is.
@Dave S Maybe if I'd read Deb's blurb first I wouldn't look so dumb...
@Dave S You're definitely not gonna be alone here. I had to come check, and even after reading the explanation... Ough - "uff" (like tough, not oh) Sei - "say" Kane - "kane" (not can) Ieu - "ew"? Ssey - "say" again Uff say kane ew say! Fills me with patriotic fervor.
I liked this puzzle, but i was surprised to see the columnist call it hard. I found it quite easy and got a really good time.
One big “Hah!” after another. First, when with a flash, realizing after OUGH and SEI that we had the anthem opener, and second, when seeing the hat-holding connection. That in itself was worth the price of admission. But then to solve a very rare Times puzzle that has up-down mirror symmetry, that is, if you fold the puzzle along the middle of the middle horizontal line, the black squares match. If I interpret XwordInfo correctly, this is only the fifth time in the 80+ years of the NYT crossword that this symmetry has been employed. Well, for a crossnerd like me, that’s an ooh-la-la experience. Crosslandia gold. Add the lovely IN LIMBO, SENSEI, SPOON FED, CAST IRON, MILIEU, MEZE, and, well, this was splendid all around. From your notes, Adam, it sounds like a lot of think- and grunt-work went into this, and it sure paid off for me. Thank you, sir!
@Lewis. ... Thank you. It is a very unusual symmetry and I didn't see it until I read your comment.
@Lewis Yes, I too thank you for pointing out the unique symmetry of this grid. I’ve been making it a point to try to study the grid patterns before starting my solve, but I overlooked this today. Plenty of grids have had up-down symmetry as well as right-left symmetry, but as you point out, this is only the fifth with purely the former. Three like this appeared in 2017 and the first appeared in 4/15/2012 by Kevin G. Der. I suggest anyone with a bit of spare time today (or some other day) take a look at that remarkable piece of work. First, it is a massive Sunday, fully 17 x 31. Secondly, the constructor posted a very detailed account of how this puzzle was imagined and created which is really worth a read. A very unique puzzle from many angles. See: <a href="https://tinyurl.com/5f39s27z" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/5f39s27z</a>
My first thought was, this is too hard. That was after I made my first pass and had about 5 words filled in. My second thought was, this is interesting. That was after I filled in BOROUGH and SENSEI and began to realize where we were going with those last syllables. My third thought was, this is fun! That was when I had enough of the revealer and the theme entries to quickly fill in the rest. My last thought was, that was awesome! That was when I completed what first seemed impossible without a single lookup. From a dud to a bottle rocket: the most satisfying kind of puzzle. Happy 4th, everyone!
@Heidi I had the same experience, and I just love it when puzzles take me on these journeys.
This Independence Day finds me in a bit of a somber mood, deeply aware of what the founding fathers envisioned versus the current state of affairs. This would probably explain why I took one look at [get in a corpse pose] and, despite knowing yoga terms, non-chalantly plucked in "die." At least it gave me a hearty laugh when I saw the error of my ways. I needed that. I enjoyed the puzzle very much and figured out the theme just in time, which left me hugely satisfied. Before I got it, I stared and stared, and decided that, goshdarnit, I was going to wrangle with it until I got it, even if I had to sleep on it. I'm so glad that won't be necessary. Thank you, Mr. Vincent, for an engaging puzzle, and a Happy Fourth to all!
*plunked* in Oy vey. Auto-correct. And emus, too. . . . . .
@sotto voce All I could think of for a long time was die, as well! Worse yet for the silent peeper, I briefly put Tom... Dark mood much, HeathieJ!? 😆
Also, props to the constructor for knowing the correct pronunciation of the second syllable of our fair town: Spo-Can. We get Spo-Caned all the time.
@Gig So are you saying Orson Wells got it wrong, and he should've pronounced the protaganist's name as 'can' (or maybe 'kahn'?) in "Citizen Kane"? I know the spelling of proper names can be somewhat arbitrary, but if you spell it 'kane', with an 'e' at the end, you have to expect that most people will say "Spo-kain".
@Gig And I have been trying to figure out how I knew the pronunciation, having not been there till age 68 and that only passing through. I spelled it just now for spouse and HE said KAIN. Maybe I heard it on radio or TV once. just strange. Thumbs up for the puzzle! I did try get something like HANDSONHEART to work as the theme, but otherwise smooth sailing.
"OHIO looks like a tractor" is a meme. Here's the best visual explanation of it that I could find: <a href="https://images.app.goo.gl/319L3QeeQJV1wzfd9" target="_blank">https://images.app.goo.gl/319L3QeeQJV1wzfd9</a> I guess there are a lot of tractors in OHIO, and they say, if you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail. You decide.
@Steve L This rural Ohioan has seen plenty of tractors, and while I can see it in the link you posted, it's a real stretch as a meme. But my state also is famous for a game called cornhole, so there's that.
@Steve L Ugh. Or should I say “ough.”
@Steve L I saw the Os as wheels, the lower case h as a seat, and a lower case i as a person, with a head (so in front of the seat, which does not seem the safest spot, but I’m a city person so what do I know).
If I didn't read the blog, I wouldn't have had any idea what the gimmick was. Even so, this was an easy puzzle especially for a Thursday and I finished with one of my fastest times.
As I said to a friend today, "Happy anniversary of the country that used to be America!" Gallows humor for the dark times we're living in. The theme came to me quickly but much of the fill did not, especially on the left side. Once it all fell into place it was very satisfying and a welcome distraction for my news-addled brain.
Considering the date, it’s probably fair to let the US pronunciation win over the British one this time. But in London, the end of borough would sound like ‘uh’ not ‘oh’, throwing the whole theme out… perhaps King George III’s revenge from the grave?
@Michael That's how I've always heard it, too, and I'm American. And I would pronounce "milieu" mill-yuh, not mill-you. No wonder I couldn't work the theme out!
@Michael I live in one of five BOROUGHS of New York City. It is most definitely not just a British word. And it is most definitely pronounced as the puzzle intended. New York City also is home to one of the world's greatest fireworks displays, the Macy's Fourth of July extravaganza. 🎵 Bombs bursting in air! 🎶
Overall, I thought this was a solid puzzle but I feel like it’s too big of a leap to go from “hold onto your hat” to the phonetic anthem. There’s an idea there but I don’t think we got it today.
@Kurt Removing one’s hat during the anthem, perhaps.
@Kurt I guess you have to hold onto it because you don't want it to fall on the ground. I would have preferred "take off" but that doesn't fit 15x15. Happy 4th everybody!
I thought “mealy” was a descriptor for _bad_ Red Delicious apples. You’re telling me they’re intentionally mealy? No wonder I hate them.
@George Krompacky Amen. They are the perfect illustration for the word "misnomer." A worse apple has never been bred. Other than looking sort of textbook apple-ish, they have nothing to recommend them. MEALY, flavorless, and ubiquitous, they have no known uses unless folks can get pigs to like them... (I had a home orchard with Liberty, Prairie Spy, Golden Delicious (deserving of its name!), Gala, and Fameuse (Snow Apple)--the most wonderful apple I've ever seen/eaten/cooked with.
We Brits have a special relationship with tractors. Or at least the outgoing Conservatives do. Let's not Labour that point on Independence Day. Hi ho hi ho, it's off to the polls we go! We shall furrow our brows, then get plowed waiting for the results. We are expecting a turnover, however. Till next time...
@Sherry Bumper 'ploughed' surely? And will Rish! keep his seat?
EGGIEST?? That’s the crosswordiest entry I’ve ever seen! It’s in the dictionary, I know it’s fair, I guess this is the complaintiest I’ve ever been. Are we still doing the emu-lations?
Fantastic. Only problem is that this frolick of a puzzle is overshadowed by learning that SPA is a Belgian town? What?! I’m just learning this today??
@CCNY In Belgium and the Netherlands, Spa is a popular bottled water. It's packaged in red- and blue-labeled bottles. Red is bubbly; blue is still. Asking for "Spa Rood" is the low-countries' equivalent of Perrier or San Pelligrino.
@CCNY My mate is a big Formula 1 fan. I only knew it because there is a big race there!
My younger sister was idly singing the national anthem to herself when she was about 13 years old, which is how I found out she thought the opening line started with: "OK, can you see..." I kind of like it, though. It seems more American.
@Bruce And then there's the story about the Hispanic schoolkid who sang, "Jose, can you see . . ."
@Bruce That reminds me, when I was a kid I thought it went "...by the donzerly light...", where I figured donzerly must be a synonym for beautiful that I hadn't learned yet. As in: "That dress is just donzerly on you."
@MC it's a mondegreen! One of the best things I've learned from the nyt xword community. <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondegreen" target="_blank">https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondegreen</a>
Too easy. Weak/obtuse theme. Average clueing. Sorry, not a fan.
Thank you Mr. Vincent for a holiday themed puzzle. I really enjoyed the clever clues and, like Deb wrote, I had that endorphin rush when I heard the chime. I got hung up on a typo or would have finished sooner. I thought the wordplay was clever and playful. I'm holding onto my hat and getting ready to sing tomorrow. May you all have a wonderful and safe day. May the fourth be with you. Cheers.
Because it’s rough to think about the founding principles lately, I’ll amuse myself by addressing the tune itself. Here’s some other 15 letter answers that come into play when doing 2D: TRANSPOSE THE KEY WARM UP HIGH RANGE SQUEAL “OF THE FREE”
This was a breezy solve, which I enjoyed, but I didn’t get the theme even after having solved it.
Ohio... O = rear wheel, h = seat, i = exhaust pipe, o = front wheel
@Andy Visually oHIo is how I saw it. I saw it immediately after I read the clue. It's really clever, isn't it? emus saw it too.
@Andy I had OMIO for too long …. :/ As though OM was a dawning sound (no? Realization through meditation anyone?) Oops.
Cute 4th of July theme, Adam. I hope everyone has a nice day and all of the wordplay dogs aren't too terrified by the fireworks.
The grid art: Even Mr. Vincent didn't mention it in his constructor remarks, so maybe it's just me, but I see a man with rather large feet, splayed, holding his hat at breast level--but sideways. Was this the original orientation of the grid, I wonder? *** *** Hi Deb! Although Brian Eno coined the phrase "Ambient Music," one could argue that the real father was the French composer Erik Satie, who, in 1917, came up with the idea of what he termed "musique d'ameublement" ("furniture music"). Of course, the concept--music to to played while something else is happening, and not really listened to--goes a lot further back than that: Georg Philipp Telemann's 1733 collections of Tafelmusik come to mind ("Table music"--i.e. music that is to be played as background dinner music). *** *** Anyway, Eno insisted that the best Ambient music should be "interesting, yet ingnorable." And I would be remiss not to include a youtube link of a piece every Wordplayer should acquaint themselves with: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUsDcAcANGE" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUsDcAcANGE</a> This former O.hi.o-an had no problems with the [tractor] metaphor, but there are a lot more tractors in I.o.wa than in Ohio--perhaps John Deere should consider a (two-wheeled) redesign.
@Bill "The grid art: Even Mr. Vincent didn't mention it in his constructor remarks, so maybe it's just me" Perhaps Deb sees it as well, and alludes to it in her sub-headline?
Not a bad idea, maybe a bit easy for a Thursday and the theme was probably a stretch. Calling a Tim Tam a cookie, though? Unforgivable, as I'm sure my fellow Aussies will agree!
@Adrian It's a biscuit! Or, more commonly, a bikkie.
@Paul yes, it’s a bikkie! Something you’d have for arvo tea with Shazza and Cazz!
@Adrian UK ex-pat here. In the US a biscuit is a different thing altogether that you have with a meal and is covered in gravy (I think of it loosely as a cousin of a scone). Whereas everything you and I would call biscuits are called cookies here, including cookies - that we think of as the chocolate chip kind.
I too had to read the article to get the theme. It's a tough one for those of us who sing the anthem in its original Klingon.
Balsa may seem flimsy, but the model aircraft crowd seeks out the lightest pieces. There's plenty that is much harder, but still floats and is light enough to easily carry. And bear in mind that a modern alternative is styrofoam. Wrap the lightweight core in fiberglass, and it doesn't matter how flimsy it is. Quick and easy puzzle today, around half my Thursday average even using my phone, but the point today was more that it was a holiday themed puzzle than a tricksy Thursday puzzle. And no, you didn't *need* to understand the theme to solve it, this one worked the other way, where you solve it, then look at the shaded squares and say "Huh?", then "Oh!" and smile.
@J-J Cote At first, I had BAh for the sound a Black Sheep makes, and wondered briefly whether the native Hawai'ians had imported birch wood to construct their surfboards. Hawai'i to Ojibwe: now, that would be some impressive pre-European cross-cultural contact!
@J-J Cote "Wrap the lightweight core in fiberglass, and it doesn't matter how flimsy it is." Thank you for explaining how balsa wood could possibly be used to make surfboards. I was scratching my head on that one.
That's weird! Usually Deb puts a photo at the top of her column. Today all I see is the word "Ohio".
ad absurdum, Are you looking at it in a mirror reflection? Or looking at it west to east (from Chicago)? From New York, I see oihO. Central Park
@Barry Ancona, nice! I thought the photo should have been flipped horizontally to better show the oHio (or OHio or Ohio, depending on how you see the tractor depicted in the word – I see it as oHio). Happy Independence Day!
@ad absurdum. lol! Actually I thought OHIO looks most like a tractor that is viewed from above... Guess it's all in the eye of the beholder... Fun puzzle!!
Happy Independence Day to all you US based crossworders. It’s voting day in the General Election here in the old enemy country. I for one am fervently hoping for independence from the current chaps. The crossword filled so quickly today I honestly thought it was Wednesday (I’ve being helping my last born move out of the nest for the last few days so am slightly weary). I had no idea what the theme could be, so felt a little relieved to read that many others couldn’t either. I feel like I’ve got a pass being non-American and not expected to know every word to your anthem, especially when teasingly mis-spelled. The pronounciation of BOROUGH has been mentioned already, but I think it’s a perfectly fine clue/answer. OHIO has me stumped. I know two tractors makes: Deere and Massey (my DH’s transport of choice). I can see the wheels making the two Os, but the rest? You got me stumped. What have the letters PSA got to do with FYI at 34D? I can’t work it out. I was impressed with myself that I guessed SPOKANE though. Have a good day everyone, keep your furry family members safe from the fireworks. Nov 5th is the big noisy event here, ours hides in the cloakroom, with the radio next to his ear.
@Helen Wright Supposedly, the H is the seat and the I is the upright exhaust pipe. The tractor faces right because the rear tire/tyre is usually larger. Hope that helps.
@Helen Wright PSA stands for Public Service Announcement — say, an ad about forest fire prevention or seat belt use.
@Helen Wright PSA = Public Service Announcement, so that' For Your Information. PSAs are informative bits, usually aired at no or little cost, since they're for the public benefit. If you look at "oHio" or "OHio" you kind of get the side silhouette of a farm tractor (depending on the size of the wheels).
Way too easy for a Thursday. But obviously themed for Independence Day so you get a pass. Minor beef: if 7A is the London sort of BOROUGH, the last OUGH is very much a short U sound and not the long O necessary for the theme which is more like the NYC pronunciation.
Reminds me of one m y mother taught me: how do you pronounce ghoti ? It's fish. GH as in enough; o as in women; and ti as in inattention. Piece of cake. Attributed to no less than Andrew Jackson: "It's a damn poor m ind that can only think of one way to spell a word."
Well, let's see. OUGH and SEI and KANE, et al, are not kinds of hats. Nor can they be turned into hats by adding or subtracting letters. Nor are they sitting on top of hats in the grid. Or under them. Nor is the other half -- the unshaded half of the word -- a hat. I AM NOT READING THE BLOG UNTIL I FIGURE OUT THE TRICK!!! If I have to sit here all day until the cows, UDDERs and all, come home!!! Got it! And it hasn't been all day. OUGH SEI KANE IEU SSEY. "Oh say can you see." Homophones of the anthem as the theme syllables are pronounced in the words in which they appear. Of course, holding on to your hat during the playing of the national anthem is really a guy thing. I often wear hats -- to protect my head from the sun in the summer and my head and ears from the cold in the winter. I doubt I would think of removing it during the anthem, but maybe I would? And if I didn't, would someone tap me on the shoulder to SCOLD me? Anyway, theme aside, the puzzle was lively. Laughed out loud at MEALY, though I think Red Delicious should sue. Loved the answer SPOONFED which came in from word pattern recognition -- and now someone will tell me what "Here Comes the Airplane" is all about? Maybe someone already has; I'll go back and look. An enjoyable, if odd, puzzle.
@Nancy "Here comes the airplane", or train, or whatever...playing with the tiny spoon with baby food on it trying to get them to open their little mouths as it comes in for a landing. I do miss those days - the grands are way past it, never mind the kids!
@Nancy While I have little experience feeding babies I’ve seen enough relatives do it to feel qualified to answer your query. The airplane is a euphemism - I think that’s the right word - for the spoon that delivers the food to the reluctant baby’s mouth as it “flies” from the food container to the sometimes persistently closed baby’s mouth. The goal, I think, is to amaze the child with the airplane/spoon - often accompanied by sound effects - so the baby opens its mouth in awe of the approaching “plane” and the food is safely delivered. TADA!
Happy Independence Day my American friends! May you (may we all) emerge intact at the other end of the next four years. As for the puzzle, it was an enjoyable if slightly easy solve.
You can tune a piano, but you can't tuna fish! I thought it was a fun puzzle with a cute theme! I figured out the theme early on after SENSEI, since I already had the revealer. Knowing the theme actually did help me because I had no idea where Gonzaga was but knowing that it had to be a can sound led me right to Spokane. It was also helpful in confirming MILEAU and ODYSSEY. Went through it faster than normal for a Thursday, which is kind of funny because when I first saw the grid layout before I started puzzling, I thought it was kind of unusual so I was prepared for super tricky or difficult. I always like to spend a few seconds looking at the grid before I start. I'm not sure why, I'm not looking for anything in particular but some grids are just pretty to look at! Personally, I prefer to compliment my eggs with, "They're EGGs-cellent!" You couldn't pay me to eat another Red Delicious apple, but bring on the Honeycrisp! Fun fact, I proudly work at the college that developed the Honeycrisp! In fact, I was recently at a wedding in which the person who is behind the Honeycrisp was also in attendance. I was pointing him out to my husband like he's a rockstar, which he is, little apple nerds that we are! Okay, now I know it hurts to say goodbye, but it's time for me to flyyyyy, Time for me to fly!
My favorite misdirect was the Apples clue which I thought on first glance to be CRISP, then. I remembered why I hate red delicious the most, and solved MEALY. Made my morning!
Took me several soundings-out to get it then chuckled with admiration. This brought to mind other great lead-in lines to ponder and appreciate today and every day I pledge allegiance to the flag Oh beautiful for spacious skies This land is your land, this land is my land My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty Safe and happy holiday wishes All!
With the reveal hiding in plain sight at 2D I first had trouble connecting the themers but soon cleared that up. I can never hear the opening line of the US National Anthem without thinking of 50's-60's comedian Bill Dana's character Jose Jimenez who, after attending a baseball game for the first time was impressed by how polite the crowd was by asking before the start of the game . . . . . . "Jose, can you see?". Was interesting to read that Dana put Jose to rest in 1970.
John, I knew "Jose, can you see?" from elementary school days, before Bill Dana's Jose Jimenez appeared on television. It was no longer funny in junior high school, since our schoolmate Jose (Feliciano) could not see.
Puzzling: ain’t it grand! Really enjoyed some squinting and whispering words oddly to myself during this one. Accents and variable pronunciations: not preferred when you’re in a real hurry, but Rich facts of living on the planet. The other day we were struggling to understand our two-year old granddaughter, and decided that “baby-talk” is just another accent: she knows what she’s saying, says it the way she does, and we are learning to pick it up, too. Hold on to yer hats in this new year, Amerka — hopefully in a good way.
@JohnWM “rich” not Otto Correct’s friend, Rich. (and getting that one in quotes to stay down took some doing.)
Tuesday or Wednesday difficulty. Not much of a theme. C-/D+.
@Dave m Or perhaps you missed the theme. I saw a normal theme, perhaps not as tricky as some Thursdays, but it's there. Maybe read the column?
@Dave m I agree. The theme, while appropriate for today, seemed quite weak for a Thursday. I managed to solve in well under half my Thursday average, and only a few seconds off my Thursday best. Anyways, Happy Independence Day to all those that celebrate!
Sorry. but Red Delicious apples may lack some of the later more technologically taste-enhanced flavors of newer apples, but they could never be accused of being mealy. Now McKintoshes, OTOH....
@JP Inframan I've never had a Red Delicious that wasn't mealy. (Which is also why I've never bought one- my experience of them is from my school lunch days.)
@JP Inframan red delicious are like eating moist sawdust. The mealiest.
@JP Inframan oh, I knew that would cause some controversy! A fresh apple off the tree shouldn't be mealy, but one that's improperly stored will be. And since the maligned red delicious has a long shelf life, it is often past its prime in the grocery store. Ditto on any really popular apple. We eat them all year, but they are only harvested in the fall. Now a resident of Washington has access to some of the best apples, and the best shot at getting a good one.
Since it is a holiday Thursday, I was expecting a not overly tricky theme and my expectations were confirmed, which is fine by me. (Pehaps BOROUGH should have been clued to NYC.) And I'll take any excuse to post this video of Sondheim's GALPALS featuring Ms. Patti Lupone singing Ladies Who Lunch. (Does anyone still wear a hat?) <a href="https://youtu.be/oTsuK_HGFJg?si=nppRrTDUDGHClztd" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/oTsuK_HGFJg?si=nppRrTDUDGHClztd</a>
@Vaer Cluing BOROUGH as [One of 32 in London] on the 4th of July?! Is Joel Fagliano a redcoat spy?
Finished Thursday’s puzzle with NO peeking! I’ll try not to get a big head.
@RoseAnn Mulford. All I have to do in order to prevent a big head is to remember LAST Thursday's puzzle, which I totally bombed.
@RoseAnn Mulford, Enjoy it! You did the hard work.
@Deb Thanks. Happy to hear from you . I so enjoy your contributions.
"Hold on to your hat" always makes me think of Young Frankenstein. I had fun with this puzzle. Happy holiday to all, I plan on spending some of it in a hammock
And here I was, thinking I talk to myself too much. I found this a fun but very easy solve but had no clue what the partially shaded words had to do with hats. Now I know I should read responses out loud. How clever! Happy Independence Day. May it not be our last.
Deb, for what it’s worth, I think the first O is a rear wheel, the h is the area where the driver sits, the I is the exhaust and the lower case o is a front tire. Ohio. I mean, you really have to want to see a tractor there.
@Byron I was thinking upper case O is the rear wheel, the lower case h is the seat, followed by lower case i as the steering wheel, and the lower case o as the front wheel. I see the upper case I works as the exhaust just as well.
@Byron For my own imagination of "oHio", I have the i in lower case so that you get a little puff of exhaust from the hard-workin' engine.
Just a PSA for tomorrow: Please don’t hold Roman Candles after igniting them. Their togas are quite flammable! cc: emu handler
Ha! Fun! And I even got it without having to go to the column for an explanation. **pats self on back ** And I can’t be the only one who entered PITIFUL as an answer to [2 out of 10], right? 🙂
I noticed the sounds in the gray squares quite early which was a great AHA moment. However I didn’t find the puzzle as easy as most did so just right for a Thursday for me. Loved it.
I've been trying to remember a holiday song I thought would be good for a theme puzzle, but I can't recall which holiday it was referencing. I think it was the Fourth of July? Anyone know what I'm thinking of, or was it just a Chicago thing?
ad absurdum, Are you going to be in the park later today? Ravenswood line; no emus.
@ad absurdum that song takes me straight back to the summer of '72. I was 13, and going all over NYC volunteering for the McGovern campaign. Thanks for the memories.