Monday through Thursday, I, an experienced solver, savor the wit, verve, and skill in the puzzles, which are like delectable appetizers at a fine restaurant. Meanwhile, my excitement grows as it gets closer to the main event, that sweet challenge of Friday and Saturday capital-P Puzzles that make me think sideways, test my fortitude, entertain me with crackling wordplay, and reward me victories along the way. I come into them wondering if they will simply give me an enjoyable taste or if they will be a beast of a feast, a Proper Friday, a Proper Saturday. So, how about today? Did it Friday properly? Oh yes it did, IMO. Riddles, so many delicious riddles – right from the start, with [One with an “accept all cookies” policy?]. Many answers that couldn’t be filled in due to vagueness, multiple possibilities, or out-of-wheelhouse. Grins from wordplay, such as [Understudy opportunities?] and devilish clues like [Macronutrient grouping?]. Today’s box came with brow-furrowing areas that required many visits, countered by thrilling splat-fills cascading out of a single just-slapped-in answer. With lovely answers, such as NO I INSIST, KIDS TABLE, and MERE MORTAL. Interest all over the place in a low-word-count grid with nary a clunker. Yes, Sarah and Rafael, you properly Fridayed today. I left your creation beaming and satisfied, and dazzled by your skill. Thank you so much for this!
@Lewis yeah you basically described my weeks to a tee. Mondays through Wednesdays are just a time trial. I like Thursdays and Sundays for the trickery, but the themeless Fridays and Saturdays are certainly the highlight of the week.
I like reading the comment sections because I was able to fill this one out in on my own—my first Friday!! I now know how it feels like when people post their times or I search through the article for a hint that doesn’t exist and wonder how I don’t know it, but it seems to be commonplace enough to be a clue. So many times I have ticked on a hint or reveal for many a proper noun or phrase, and it reminds me of my demographic and that maybe mine is not the kind to usually solve the crossword past a Tuesday, and the occasional Thursday. This boosted my confidence. Thank you!
@AT Awesome! Soon you'll be streaking into the double digits!
@AT And this was fairly hard, well done!
The drape specialist and I went on a blinds date. (But our relationship is curtains.)
@Mike In Aberdeen Scotland, the local drapery tradesman has "A blind man drives this van" in bold writing across the back of his vehicle.
@Mike Didn't anyone tell you that you shouldn't throw shade at a louver? ??
@Mike Today’s pun reminds me of this classic scene from Cheers. This was the last appearance of Coach on the show. <a href="https://youtu.be/AMSW7gwMCcc?si=YsYMu22nYn1KYBFW" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/AMSW7gwMCcc?si=YsYMu22nYn1KYBFW</a>
I just wanted to take a moment to compliment Deb on her column today. You hit all the right notes, so—no notes. As Andrzej demonstrated (somewhere below), I’m sure many of our non U.S. solvers appreciated it. If anyone has questions, sure, ask here. But definitely read the column first. Sam, Deb, and Caitlin do a great job.
@Warren Nicely said. For the last two months, I’ve been reviewing a few crossword puzzles each week for Diary of a Crossword Fiend. It’s in some ways been more challenging than I anticipated. And (unlike here) no one there cares how little or how much I write or when I post my review. My experience has upped my appreciation of the insights and entertaining content Sam Corbin, Deb Amlen and Caitlin Lovinger bring to each of their columns. Thank you, ladies!
Thank you, @Warren. I will pass your kind words along to Sam and Caitlin
@Warren What a wonderful acknowledgement! And I whole-heartedly agree. The work they put into it, explaining and linking, with thoroughness and wit, is invaluable. Wordplay with only the comments minus the columns wouldn't be the same amazing space.
Fun and challenging Friday. Extra points for pairing "don't be evil" with "mere mortal." Food for thought from two talented and photogenic constructors. Well done. PS Love the crossword printed tank top, Ms. Sinclair!
@Chungclan It's a crossword corset...a crosset?
The pitfalls of solving at 4 AM: Confidently filled in Prado at 9D, then spent diez minutos trying to find the mistake. Just shows to Goya. Otherwise, fun and much faster than yesterday.
@LBG "Just shows to Goya." Priceless!!!
How do they know ants take naps?
@Nobis Miserere They interview them, duh.
@Nobis Miserere Tiny tiny pillows and espresso shots. ____________________ Jesse Goldberg 8/28/2024 for Puzzle of the Decade (emu filler)
@Nobis Miserere Drool on the pillows.
@Nobis Miserere - By observing them in artificial nests with transparent walls. (Like the ant farm my parents would never let me get...) Ants actually have an analogue to our REM sleep. Their antennae twitch. During these bouts of RAM sleep, they are unresponsive to touch by other ants and by the humans watching them. Observers can watch a colony and record how often ants enter RAM sleep. They do so dozens of times per day, for periods of time no longer than a few minutes. I don't know that anyone has used EEG methods to support these observations, but I'm sure someone will, if it hasn't been done already.
While TESLA's birthday is indeed Serbian national science day, we unfortunately don't really celebrate and barely even acknowledge it. Not nearly as much as we should. But then again, as a Serbian scientist myself, I might be slightly biased.
@Sonja As a Polish person, be careful what you wish for. Us Polish people love our national heroes, and we worship them - without understanding why, exactly, and without trying to implement their life lessons in our own lives. The most celebrated Poles are like slogans to Polish people - their names are endlessly repeated but nothing comes out of it and in the end it all means nothing.
While Deb's tug-of-war description was very apt for my solving experience today, my favorite part of her comments was this: "These differences are what make the comments on this column so interesting. We have so much to learn from one another if we remain kind to new solvers and they are open to new information." I do find the differences very interesting and have learned so much from the more seasoned solvers out here in my year plus of puzzling, but I've also observed that many others do not seem to want to learn from them or others, nor are open to new information. Honestly, it's getting a bit tiresome. I appreciate Deb's wise words and hope we can heed them better. As for the puzzle, tough and enjoyable—though I can't remember the last time I had an Auntie Anne's pretzel or had a spit bowl at the dentist. I have read the comments and find it fascinating that others still have the spit sink. I assumed they had all gone the way of floppy discs and VCRs. As such, SPIT did not come quickly to me, but fear not, I wasn't just SPITting in the wind and eventually remembered that it was a thing after a cross or two. Loved KIDSTABLE and EASYAS and SANTA. For some reason, I always enjoy the many misdirects for some sort of thieving. LOOTS fit the bill. Fun fact: Hollywood has the same number of letters as ASTROLOGY and ASTROnOmy! Probably shouldn't admit this but I only knew OHIO as clued (and I knew it immediately) because of my great fondness for Tommy Boy, the movie.
HeathieJ, I agree with your reflections on Deb’s comments. I also think it’s important (for comment regulars especially) to as much as possible recognize that it needs to be the constructor on the other end of your rope, not other commenters of whatever opinion. Don’t be distracted by someone yanking your chain, or a shiny hook in the water. You can’t usually “help” or “teach” someone who has just been miffed by a frustrating puzzle experience (whatever the cause), just like you can’t push a rope - okay, stretched this analogy too far :) That said, I personally enjoy and have learned a ton from all the regulars here, and encourage others (miffed or otherwise) to keep returning if you want to have fun with words in these puzzles.
@HeathieJ Well said! I hope newer commenters will take Deb's and your wise words to heart and understand that the nature of this forum, a civil pow-wow, is unlike others on the internet which seem to be more like boxing rings with vitriol galore. To those not yet familiar with the workings of this forum, please know that everone is welcome, but here we come to share, ask, help, discuss, learn, and laugh, with kindness and respect. And that's really not asking for much.
@HeathieJ I always enjoy your comments. So glad to have the many, many kind and thoughtful solvers in this forum.
If Olivia Rodrigo shows up to comment here with us mere mortals, it will be SO exciting.
@Justin And I'm wondering how many gripers are going to say that OLIVIA RODRIGO is obscure pop trivia.
@Steve L Well, gripers gonna gripe, but I haven’t had as much fun with a puzzle since Halloween. Thank you Sarah and Rafael (and awesome pic—but where are the tongue letters??)
I hope my daughters (18 and 21) would be proud that (thanks to them) Olivia Rodrigo was a gimme. 🤓 .:.:.:. .:.:. .:.
This was a tough one for me, and I am exhausted from working all morning at a local food bank, on a very cold and rainy day. I have an outside job there so came home soaked and chilled through. But I put on dry clothes, had a nice cup of tea and settled in to finish this excellent puzzle. It was a tough one, and I did have some look-up’s and some help from Deb. But I enjoyed it, and I’m grateful for this community. Some days I need the joy of being part of this community more than others. Thanks, Sarah and Rafael, Deb, and the whole puzzle team.
@Shari Coats Bless you for doing such good work for others in such miserable sounding weather! Real dedication!! Glad you got to get cozy and finish this gem up!! :-)
I know many of you have had streaks that have lasted hundreds or even thousands of days but I finally broke my eleven day streak and hit twelve. The southwest corner almost broke me until I figured out BETRAY. Let's see if I can get through tomorrow and really extend the streak.
Lots of fun tugging at a Friday puzzle when there are plenty of answers I don't know from the clues. Good thing this is a crossword!
I wonder what the likes of Richard Gere, Olivia Rodrigo and Cher think when they are keeping up their streak and realize the solve is their name or product? I can imagine that starting the day seeing your name as a test question for millions of people is an ego boost. I bet they don’t read the comments though.
Good clues again, nice week for avoiding tons of obscure proper names.
Well, well, well... I felt smart when ASTRONOMY filled in quickly (smirk, smirk) but the mess it created (esp with 13D) forced me to ignore Science and go with the IDIOCY instead. Other diversions: STEP ON IT at 4D at 4D BEHAVE...then BE GOOD...finally BE COOL (not something I've ever said to admonish anyone. Just ask my kids.) JAY before KAY. Appreciated the gimme at 37A. Got an Honorable Mention at a quilt show there... My first large quilt! What a surprise! Especially since they had hung the quilt sideways...because it was so big. Nice hiking trails, too. I didn't know Google had a motto, let alone old and new versions. And I don't care, even now. Given that the millions of Halloween costumes are devised and worn by *children* I think 18D is a perfect clue exemplifying The ICK Factor. Srsly???
@Mean Old Lady Srsly on the Halloween costumes, as other commenters pointed out. (That makes me think your comment spent some time in emu purgatory.) Congratulations on your quilting award! I hope the design was such that your quilt didn’t suffer much from being hung 90° off.
@Mean Old Lady It's funny. I thought of putting a "T" for the first letter sounding name because of a possible tapas bar, but knew tee was not a name, so I went straight to KAY next and never even thought about Jay. I guess I can see how one's own name would be a blind spot.
Another tough one for me, not sure whether to blame it on the persistent jet lag or merely an inability to get into the constructors wheelhouses. 12A a complete unknown; we have Rainbows, Brownies and Guides here. I only know the concept of Girl Scouts from American tv. Is GAL PAL an actual saying anywhere? I’ve never heard it used IRL, but then there are lots of things I haven’t come across that are perfectly legit. Love the clue for SANTA, though it’s a mince pie and a carrot for Rudolph in our house. I always chuckle at any clue for Northern English Town. It’s always LEEDS. Coming from one of the many, many other Northern towns between Manchester and York I feel I should put in a good word for them. Although, good luck finding words that mesh neatly with Cleckheaton or Heckmondwyke.
@Helen Wright I have a Facebook friend who often posts about having lunch or taking some other outing with her GAL PALs.
Today’s crossword had me feeling like a newbie in a DAISY TROOP lost in the woods! When I hit ‘Macronutrient grouping?’, I was counting carbs and proteins, but it was just the vowels AEIOU—they really gave my brain a workout! ‘Understudy opportunities?’ had me dreaming of Broadway, but turns out I just needed some EASY A’S—who knew slacking off could be so rewarding? And ‘Field of stars?’ had me gazing into space thinking ASTRONOMY, but my horoscope must’ve predicted ASTROLOGY was the answer. By the end, my attempts to ACT clever only highlighted my own Bêtise—IDIOCY never felt so fun!
Deb writes, "I like to refer to [the] contest [between constructor and solver] as a tug of war." That's a nice analogy, and apt for this puzzle. There was enough tricky clueing that I was well down in the grid before I started entering answers. And when I had most of the grid filled in, the NW corner was stubbornly resistant. Although at least three of my four sisters were Girl Scouts, and my mother was a troop leader, I didn't associate Daisies with Scouts until I read the column. Lots of fun stuff here. My favorite answer might be KID'S TABLE, which with Thanksgiving reminds me of the many holiday dinners at which I was seated away from the adults. I mentioned this the other day, but since the puzzle includes such a witty clue for AEIOU, I'll repeat it: Someone pointed out to me that my first and last names are supervocalic. I'm sure I get some kind of prize for that, right? (Or maybe I just have a ready-made clue for AEIOU if I ever get back to constructing puzzles.) If you liked this puzzle, you might enjoy Rafael Musa's puzzle this week for AVCX. It's a little racier than this one, but quite enjoyable. Thanks for the fun, Ms Sinclair and Mr Musa!
@Eric Hougland - interesting… I spend about half of my solve time on the SW corner and had NW done relatively quickly.
@Eric Hougland I'm not going to look it up, but it's possible that Daisies did not exist when your sisters were young.
@Eric Hougland I really liked the KIDS TABLE answer as well. It reminded me of the Old Navy ad from a few years ago in which Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein from “Portlandia’ are banished to that table because of their unstylish attire. Too funny…. <a href="https://tinyurl.com/yc49xejc" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/yc49xejc</a> And the Kraft Mac & Cheese one: <a href="https://tinyurl.com/m3dpa5mj" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/m3dpa5mj</a>
I had fun with this one but it took a long time. The NW was giving me fits because I instantly decided 21D [“Don’t embarrass me!”] was BE GOOD, which a parent might say, instead of BE COOL, more of an adolescent friend request . That enabled IDIOCY and BLIND DATES and on from there. Funny how things can fall into place quickly after even a small fix.
I was expecting 35D to be BIERHALL since Oktoberfest is in the German spelling.
@John It's also the English spelling: <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Oktoberfest" target="_blank">https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Oktoberfest</a>
@John It's actually Bierhalle in the german. That's what clued me to the English spelling.
Mark your calendars: today I knew the pop singer! Seriously, that "driving to the suburbs" song was unavoidable this summer. See, I have my clock radio set to a top 40 station, which normally gets me out of bed promptly, just to make it stop. But I would actually listen to that one if it came on, and occasionally "Antihero." Please don't take away my metalhead card.
@Grant “Antihero” is a pretty good song. Between that and “All Too Well,” I don’t doubt that Taylor Swift has some songwriting chops. I’ll have to give Ms Rodrigo’s song a listen.
This was a lively puzzle with some spritely clues, including those for SANTA, EASYAS, and KIDSTABLE. I solved it fairly steadily by jumping all around instead of trying to be methodical, only stumbling briefly.in the SW corner. I can heartily recommend Peter Jackson’s Let It Be documentary. It’s a wonderful look at the creative process at work, and an instructive look at the tensions in a group of talented individuals struggling with the decision to stay together or break apart. It might have profited by some judicious editing. The sequence at the end of the concert on the roof of Apple studio is pure gold. Perhaps I liked it so much because I have personally always esteemed the Let It Be album (especially the stripped down Let It Be Naked remaster) very high in the Beatles canon, even above Abbey Road. Heresy, I know.
My first thought, as far as young pop artists on Biilboard go, was Brenda Lee. Apparently I actually am older than dirt, or at least my taste in music is. I got Olivia Rodrigo from having heard the name - wouldn't know her music if it bit me, though. Good Friday workout. Thanks for the fun.
@Amy In the age of streaming, it's much easier to debut at #1 than ever before, as you would see if you saw the list that was posted by someone else recently. (Think of all the Swifties streaming a new song the minute it comes out.) The number of debut #1's skyrocketed about 10 years ago. Before that, radio plays were the driving factor. And it was very hard to get hundreds of radio stations around the country to play a new song at the same time. An artist had to already have a superstar reputation, and that works against very young artists. Record sales were also factored into the charts back then, but record sales followed radio play, so they weren't that big a factor in this case. Of course, you generally only buy a record once, but you can stream a song on repeat as many times as you want.
@Amy I'm older than dirt, too, and thought of Brenda Lee. But then, I looked up Peggy March who had the #1 hit "I Will Follow Him". She had just turned 15. <a href="https://www.billboard.com/pro/peggy-march-i-will-follow-him-interview" target="_blank">https://www.billboard.com/pro/peggy-march-i-will-follow-him-interview</a>/
@Amy I didn't think of Brenda Lee, but I DID think of Stevie Wonder, who was 13 when "Fingertips" became #1. But the key word in the clue was DEBUT.
Understudy opportunities! The whole effort was worth that one. Great puzzle.
When the article has to go out of its way to explain that a clue doesn’t really make sense but it does it you just make it up, then it’s really bad. I’m so over this new crossword editor. Deleting this app until Shortz is back or this guy is replaced.
Jonathan, Are you referring to a clue in today's crossword? If so, which one? That is, if you haven't already deleted this app.
@Barry Ancona I did delete the app and cancel my subscription. Macronutrients and Understudy Opportunities immediately come to mind. The article explained for both essentially how much of a stretch it is. When it isn’t these poor clues, it’s really obscure trivia. I never had much trouble before the current editor took over. Now it’s simply not enjoyable at all.
@Jonathan I thought the understudy clue was exceptionally clever. The macronutrients one not so much, but fair. In any case Deb was not saying they were too much of a stretch, just explaining them like she always does.
@Jonathan: I much prefer this style of clue, where you can 'aha' the meaning, to obscure proper names where you have no chance.
You can tell just by looking at Sarah and Rafael that their puzzles are going to be fun. As soon as I saw their names I was ready for a good time. As usual, they delivered. Great SANTA clue even though the SANTA who came to my house preferred pistachios to cookies. We used to buy one of those little green boxes with the red dyed shells to leave out on Christmas Eve.
Threw in the towel after struggling with the NW corner for too long, and glad I did. Doubt I would have ever cracked it. I knew that the cookies were not browser based but could not come up with the right name, forgot all about Daisies (I was in Dogpatch), no clue on APU and just dropped the ball on the vowel quintet. I will however pat myself on the back for figuring out the rest of this clever LIL beast. Well played team.
@John Carson Nice effort. The NW corner took a fair chunk of my solving time. APU was an educated guess. Along with the NO I INSIST that took me too long to get right, APU helped me see AEIOU and finish the puzzle. (Now, if I could only make a similar breakthrough with the Byron Walden puzzle I’m working on in the archives!)
@John Carson same here. Didn’t help that I filled, “Oh, I insist”, that although I have enjoyed The Simpsons I’ve only watched a handful of episodes, that there was not one Daisy in my family, or that as a PhD nutritionist I was hung up on a quest for an actual macronutrient-based answer. The rest of the puzzle was a piece of cake (sugar and oils included).
Gah, Thanksgiving's coming! They still make me sit at the KIDS TABLE with the goats. jk Thanks for another fun one, constructors! Good 4 u
Right on, Deb Amlen. Great column today.
I agree with Deb that putting the puzzle aside for a while is a help. I often feel completely stuck, but when I do come back to it I usually can see things I didn’t notice before. This happened today a couple of times. So a fun Friday puzzle , Sarah and Rafael.
@suejean Today I had three major problems with understanding clues, answers and the links between them, and Deb adressed them all. I would have had to ask about that stuff here had it not been for the column.
I don't mind novelty but the insistence lately on adding small phrases in lieu of words is getting pretty old. NOIINSIST looks like an abomination and can almost only be cleaned with crosses, which, fine. But when half the answers are two word phrases it feels less clever and more ham fisted. Am I alone here?
@BK I agree. I hate them. And I'm a very experienced solver.
@BK I agree that they're harder to get without crosses (and I agree that NOIINSIST is not exactly pretty) but they're perfect late-week "aha!"-feeling fare for me.
"... the insistence lately..." BK, Just for laughs, I picked a 1960 weekday puzzle at random (from the xwordinfo archive) and found four "phrase answers."
@BK I find those phrases challenging but hardly “ham fisted” construction. It took me longer than it should have to get the introductory part of NO I INSIST. (And yes, the string of vowels there is definitely odd-looking.) But phrases like that are now a regular part of “difficult” puzzles here and in other publications. Sometimes, they can be amusing.
I was completely mystified by TROOP, but Rex explained it. Wonderful clues for EASY "A"S; ; ASTROLOGY; AEIOU; and ANTS. It's amazing how quickly I, who never look at ads or watch commercials, remembered DON'T BE EVIL as Google's "former motto". Could it be the unintended irony? Not that I'm saying Google is EVIL, mind you, but it's not exactly the soul of beneficence either, IS IT? A SEXY white sheet for a ghost? A SEXY fright wig and hump for a witch? SEXY bones for a skeleton? I guess Halloween costumes have changed since I was a child, but I just don't see it. I saw SEXY coming in at 18D, and said to the puzzle: "You're kidding me, right?" Just what I want in a Friday themeless. Good cluing, lively fill, and no junk. Very enjoyable.
"I was completely mystified by TROOP, but Rex explained it." Nancy, Interested to see you read Rex before posting on his blog, but you don't read Deb before reposting here. (Deb explained TROOP.)
@Nancy Looks as though my first answer got held up by emus. For the costumes, don't think door-to-door, but parties. I remember many of them in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s. In the South, in the North, in the West, so it did not seem to be a regional thing. The thing I used to love about the time change was that back then you always got the extra hour the last weekend in October, and that was party night.
@Nancy It's really become a cliche at this point that so many women's Halloween costumes are "sexy" versions of other costumes. It's a widespread thing, both as a fact and as a discussion point. ____________________ Jesse Goldberg 8/28/2024 for Puzzle of the Decade (emu filler)
@Nancy Google had to change their slogan when they started putting their thumb on the scale in favor of one political party. The new slogan is, "Don't look at me, it's just the algorithm."
@Nancy For Halloween the year of swine flu, my husband and I created costumes based on that theme (for handing out candy with our apartment building neighbors in the front yard). He had a pig mask handy, so I went to a costume store to find a nurse outfit. To my astonishment, they only offered "sexy" ones. I ended up borrowing a white jacket from my dentist (the one with the office spittoon) and a doctor's kit from a neighboring child.
Anyone who has been to a dentist in the last twenty years knows that you don’t spit anymore.
@David I don't??? Sure seems like I do. As does everyone I've ever met. What do you do with the detritus left in your mouth when they're done? Swallow it? ____________________ Jesse Goldberg 8/28/2024 for Puzzle of the Decade (emu filler)
They use suction now. I haven’t seen a spit sink in decades.
@B Most dentists now use the little suction tube that eliminates the need for constant spitting.
@David When the first person raised that objection, I was baffled by it. Does that person's dentist call it something else? Doesn't every dental patient rinse and spit at the end? Apparently, these objectors are thinking about constant spitting, which of course isn't done anymore, and not the spitting that occurs when you're told to rinse your mouth out at the end of any procedure. Yes, if that's the case, you're spitting less, but you're still spitting. And I don't remember a time there wasn't suction, so the only spitting I remember experiencing is after rinsing. Frankly, I find the suction device the most annoying thing about going to the dentist, and I would be fine with continual spitting. Of course, it probably takes longer that way and will never be done like that again...
@David In the immortal words of Orin Scrivello D.D.S., Say ah! (Ah) Say ah! (Ah) Say ah! (Ah) Now spit!
@David That's my experience, too. My dentist told me the spit sinks were heaven for bacteria. My hygienist does a great job, with no need for spitting. (Is this really a crossword forum? 😋)
@David I'm surprised you didn't write this objection in Old Norse runes.
@David et alii, Good grief. Where’s an emu when you need one?
My favorite in a long time. So many audible “ohs” or “hah”s coming from me. Hard but doable. Fell together nicely, very fun.
Ooof. Tough puzzle. I couldn't seem to come up with a single fill until the SE corner started to come unknotted, and then I started to like it ALLOT. I felt I knew answers but couldn't come up with a version that would make them fit. I finally had to accept that I am a MERE MORTAL. Sarah Sinclair and Rafael Musa, what a clever piece of work to make such a hard puzzle really as EASY AS pie. It was fun and so satisfying when the sea of blank squares finally started to fill up. Thank you!
@Watchbird Interesting how different we all are. I had the toughest time with the SE corner. That's why I'm here - it took Deb's giveaways for me to finish.
(Dumb?) Question for Deb Amlen: Deb, if every time you use the acronym T. I. L. you then follow it with (Today I learned) why don't you just skip the T. I. L? Either that or skip the explanation part and just assume we either remember it, or if a noob, that we will figure it out. :) Despite my nit picking, I do love your Wordplay columns!
@Michael L It's just modern parlance. I often use TIL when chatting online with a friend.
@Michael L Or, you know, not use it, 'cause why. :) I always cite the way Rachael Ray invariably chants "E.V.O.O., that's extra virgin olive oil"... ____________________ Jesse Goldberg 8/28/2024 for Puzzle of the Decade (emu filler)
Hi @Michael L, The copy desk likes to assume that people are reading Wordplay for the first time. I started using TIL to show people what it meant, and then when I dropped the full phrase the copy desk asked me to keep including it. They’re right, of course, but I can see how it might seem redundant
@Michael L Given the common practice of putting crossword answers in all caps in the column and these comments, when I first started coming here, it took me a few weeks to stop looking for the word “til” in crossword grids every time someone used that acronym. You don’t need the explanation. I don’t need the explanation. Other readers might.
@Michael L I suppose it is a bit like getting a lesson on how to use a seatbelt every time you board a flight.
Perfect Friday puzzle. I pondered what a dentist would say for a while, and found the answer very funny -- why I'm not sure. Too bad that they no longer say this. They use that vacuum gizmo instead.
Esmerelda, I've never been asked to SPIT, but when I'm asked to "rinse" I spit into the bowl before rinsing (to get rid of whatever the suction gismo didn't).
@Esmerelda The vacuum gizmo is a cannula. It took me a little bit of googling (which is probably good) to remember that name. 10 years ago, I spent way too long in the hospital. At one point, my kidneys were not working properly and the doctors strictly limited my fluid intake. That left me with an extremely dry mouth. After a few days, someone (possibly a nurse; those folks are awesome) suggested that I fill my mouth with water and use a cannula to suck it out. I’ve never been so happy to put a plastic tube in my mouth.
I found this to be easy for a Friday. Took me nearly ten minutes less than yesterday's (which I found rather difficult for a Thursday). No complaints from me as I prefer the type of solving where I can suss words out rather than having to look up references I have no clue about.
Very disappointed in this puzzle. OLIVIA RODRIGO is NOT the youngest artist to debut at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100; that honor goes to Stevie Wonder at age 13, followed my Peggy Marsh as age 15. Both debuted there in 1962. I had to actually go to a cheat page to get the puzzle answer, because it is so obviously wrong. I would opine on the rest of the puzzle, but having a bad clue/wrong answer put this one in trash for me, and I haven't finished it yet.
@Jamie S Amazing that the constructors, editors and even Billboard itself are all wrong and you’re right. You should deprive yourself from experiencing a great Friday puzzle as a treat!
@Jamie S The key word in the clue is "debut." Stevie and Peggy reached number 1, but didn't debut at number 1.
@Jamie S Did Wonder's Fingertips debut at #1 or simply eventually reach #1.
@Jamie S yes Stevie Wonder’s “Fingertips Part 2” did hit #1 when he was 13 but it did not DEBUT at #1. Before Billboard switched their chart tabulation methodology in 1991, there were zero records that debuted at #1. To chart fanatics like me, the Soundscan Era that began 33 years ago is like the B.C.-A.D. changeover, or baseball’s Dead Ball era. What used to be is statistically different now.
@Jamie S I'm guessing you don't understand how "debut" is being used. They're not talking about the song being the artist's debut (first) song. They're talking about an artist's song (not necessarily their first one) reaching #1 the first week it charts. That's what "debut at #1" means. In the case of a very young artist, it's more likely to be their first song, but doesn't have to be. Hope this helps!
Fun puzzle, I worked my way from center out with Rodrigo and Let it Be first. Until the NW corner totally messed me up. I had multiple combinations of horn and honk for the green light clue and needed help from Deb with TROOP and AEIOU to realize it was TOOTTOOT. So close to getting a Friday on my own. Are people just ready to pounce on AEIOU from experience? I don’t know how you would’ve known the multi vowel thing from that clue alone. I enjoyed EASYAS, TAC, and all the quoted clues. Here’s hoping Rodrigo chimes in.
@Chris J I didn’t know the meaning of of the clue, but I had AE and U and figured it couldn’t be anything other than AEIOU.
@Chris J I had "EIO" in the middle and then figured it out, definitely did not pounce. Interestingly, the "supervocalic quintet" was 51D on Nov 19 so it did seem familiar. Coincidence? Reminds me of the recent Idaho clues...
@Chris J With enough experience, things that don't seem obvious now become obvious. And by enough experience, I mean decades. (I wouldn't say "pounce"; a few crosses do help!) A puzzle that would have taken you an hour when you were new takes mere minutes when you've been solving for 40 years. And you didn't get any smarter in the interim.
Personally I found this to be one of the hardest puzzles I have ever attempted to solve. It was so far beyond me it's actually kinda funny. Not my wavelength, not my trivia.
@Andrzej I know that you finding the puzzle difficult can often be due to Americanisms and cultural differences, but it seems that many have written to say that this one seemed difficult (or more difficult than usual) - which makes it even more surprising that for me it was much easier than usual - about 70% of my average Friday solve time. Usually in such cases I come here only to find everyone complaining about how the puzzle was too easy 🤓 .:.:.:. .:.:.
A pleasant, easy-going Friday puzzle from Rafael and Sarah. As clued, APU gave me trouble, though in hindsight the clue was the giveaway. Guess I don't really think of Simpson characters as toons right off the bat and was trying to think of a Loony Tunes character. Between cookies for SANTA and PESTO for a caprese sandwich, I'm hungry.
@Vaer “Guess I don't really think of Simpson characters as toons right off the bat.” I’d say that was a testament to the skill of the writers, animators and especially the voice actors in creating vivid characters who seem like “real” people. We stopped watching “The Simpsons” a long time ago, but at its best, it was a very funny show.
I enjoyed this one. The long crossers were generally familiar phrases, cleverly clued. I particularly liked the clues/answers for LIL and KIDSTABLE. The tug-of-war metaphor resonated with me, although I think of solving a tough puzzle more like looking for handholds on a climbing rock. Unlike others, TROOP was a good toehold for me as all three of my daughters were Daisies - good times, and I hope the organization is doing well!
After a nice easy Thursday this one was a challenge! Thought I was so cool because I got OLIVIA RODRIGO pretty quickly. But ended up spending a lot of time in the northwest corner at the end. I insist, I do insist, NO, I INSIST.
Superb puzzle. Had to take the usual Friday break to let my brain rest. Came back and finished up the SW corner in seconds. Amazing how well that works. So proud! Such fun.
Not very easy. Not all that clever. But still somehow pretty fun! I liked the puzzle. The upper left and bottom right both gave me trouble, and I never heard of "Nars, The Brand That Looks Like A Typo (TM)". And pesto doesn't seem right; caprese should just be basil leaves. (I'd also prefer that astrology never be referenced in a civilized forum.) But it was a nice tough jaunt to get through this. A good Friday. ____________________ Jesse Goldberg 8/28/2024 for Puzzle of the Decade (emu filler)
@B American sandwich names seem so random to me as a European. If you showed an Italian your Italian sub, they'd be very, very surprised, and possibly a bit taken aback 🤣. I had to Google that sauce today, and when I did, it made zero sense. Caprese is a salad, not a sandwich, and it never includes pesto. European caprese, anyway.
@B Here in Japan, inexpensive Italian chain restaurants often use pesto (or “jenobēze,” from “pesto alla genovese”) on Caprese salads, although the largest such chain, Saizeriya, currently just does a perfunctory sprinkling of dried parsley and several menu revamps ago used arugula leaves. (The extra virgin olive oil and buffalo mozzarella they serve are fairly decent, though.)
Really wanted 35D to be BRAUHAUS.