Manny Nosowsky, who had more puzzles published in the Times (254) than anyone else, died on Wednesday, at 94. He matched his quantity with quality, and his output was rife with punny wordplay. Not the kind that make you roll your eyes, but rather the kind that make you want to stand and applaud. When I make a puzzle, I often research clues for a particular answer, maybe to check if my clue has been done before, or to get ideas for a direction to take that I haven't thought of. There are only a handful of constructors whose clues I *always* look at, and Manny's one of them. He enriched my life with his work, and I'm sure the lives of many others, and I'm so grateful to have his path cross mine. You can read the Times story about his life and crossword work, including some of his great clues here: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/24/us/manny-nosowsky-dead.html" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/24/us/manny-nosowsky-dead.html</a> .
Deb must have written this piece a while ago (and The Times had it on file for use when needed, but didn't update her credit).
@Lewis Except, of course, many of us (maybe even most of us non-US solvers?) can't read it, because we only paid for the puzzle subscription. I presume it was a nice obituary?
@Lewis Here is a gift article for games only subscribers to read. (Hope it works,) <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/24/us/manny-nosowsky-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.lFA.wEhD.CpAImnZueYQZ&smid=url-share" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/24/us/manny-nosowsky-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.lFA.wEhD.CpAImnZueYQZ&smid=url-share</a>
@Lewis Thanks for sharing that. For five or six years, I have worked my way through the NYT crossword archives from 1993 forward. That’s probably how I first encountered Manny Nosowky’s witty puzzles, and I quickly began looking forward to his byline. I’m now solving the 2009 puzzles, and it’s nice to know that I have a few more Nosowskys to solve. My sincere condolences to Mr. Nosowsky’s family and friends.
A beautiful obituary of Manny Nosowsky, a life fully lived. <a href="https://tinyurl.com/3w3psw89" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/3w3psw89</a>
@Lewis My thanks to Steve L, SuzyQ, and Francine for the links, as well as to Strudel Dad for the hint (it never occurred to me to try the "listen" link - I'll have to keep that one in mind). I've been solving since forever (60-ish years, so far), but only started NYT puzzles from a gifted "Puzzle a Day" calendar, with random puzzles from the previous several years, in about 2018, and only joined online in 2020. Since he retired from constructing that same year, I wasn't familiar with the name. Having now read both the NYT article and the family's delightful memorial, I think I might search out some of his puzzles from before I was here. It sounds like they should be fun!
My five favorite original clues from last week (in order of appearance): 1. Canal blocker? (9) 2. A boxer's might knock you out (3)(6) 3. Epithet lead-in (3) 4. Walk on water? (9) 5. Experts in body language? (3)(7) HEADPHONE DOG BREATH AKA GANGPLANK LIP READERS
My favorite encore clues from last week: [Leaves together?] (4) [Increase, as interest] (5) PILE PIQUE
What a nifty theme idea! So simple, yet it gave my brain the workout it loves when I tried to guess the revealer (I failed). I thought surely a constructor would have come up with this theme before in one of the major venues – but no! My search took me down an interesting rabbit hole. In another venue, HOT HOT HOT was a theme answer in a puzzle whose theme was to clue the theme answers as if the T’s were taken out – so HOTHOTHOT was clued [Santa’s hearty declaration]. Huh! Did you know that if you take the T’s out of STUTTGART you get SUGAR? That got word-nerd me looking at today’s answers, seeing how many became other words when you removed the T’s – and there were a ton: PLEAT, MAT, TEACH, TEND, BATH, STUN, STEAL, SEAT, TON, DREAMT, EVENT. I don’t know what to make of it and I’m not going to think about it anymore. My favorite spot in the grid? The cross of two words I love, BESMIRCH and SHTICKS. Your puzzle was fun, Anthony, and so were the side trips! Thank you!
@Lewis Thanks a lot. Now I can't get the original version of The Archies' hit that topped the Billboard Hot Hot Hot 100 in 1969 out of my head: "Stuttgart, Stuttgart" Doo doo doo doo Doo doo By the way, was the revealer to the puzzle you mentioned "Strip tease"?
@ad absurdum -- that's a terrific idea, actually! The actual reveal, however, is TEASE OUT.
Nice puzzle, and I am so happy to see you back Sam !
The guest columnists really did a great job, but yay!! Sam is back!! 🥳 Hope your project went well and glad to see you back!! A fun puzzle to close out another exhausting day!! But I did get to eat tacos over the sea with my husband and my favorite 14-going on 25-year-old, and I can't complain whenever that happens!
Whenever people want a good story from my travel adventures, I tell them my DEATHVALLEY story. So now you get it. Last weekend of October 2012, I went to Los Angeles for a student Objectivism (Ayn Rand) conference. Fully paid for by the ARI. It ended Sunday, drove to Yosemite. Plan was to drive to LAX and fly home Monday night. Anyone want to guess why they didn't happen? . . . Hurricane Sandy hit. My flight got canceled. I couldn't fly home until Thursday. So I decided to watch sunset from Malibu Beach then drive to Death Valley. Well, I must have put the wrong thing in the GPS. I got lost big time. Oh, and all I had to wear was the suit I packed for the conference. So I walked into a gas station around midnight wearing my suit. The guy asked me if I was going to a wedding. I shook my head. He then asked if I was running away from one. He gave me directions, it was another three hours. I drove with my top down. And boy does the desert get cold at night. I got there around 3 AM to my little cabin in the National Park. Spent the day in Death Valley, then drove back to LAX. Fun times
@Steven M. That is one dandy story. Love the "...if I was running away from one."
@Steven M. I don't mean to sound ominous, but it seems to me that I've seen umpteen films in which someone relied on GPS and took a wrong turn, getting lost (or worse) in DEATHVALLEY. There could be a whole college film studies course about this theme!! Here's an interesting film about a community living in a desert town about 300 miles south of Death Valley--in the Sonoran Desert. It's called "Passing Through" about a dried-up Bombay Beach on the Salton Sea. <a href="https://tubitv.com/movies/100043917/passing-through" target="_blank">https://tubitv.com/movies/100043917/passing-through</a>
@Steven M. Wait, are you saying you drove to Yosemite on a Sunday night and then planned to fly out from LAX the next day? And then on Monday, you are back in LA and drove back to Death Valley?? That doesn't seem possible but travelers do things that locals don't always understand. I've lived in Southern California my whole life and have never been to Death Valley. I'm feeling a bit ashamed by that now.
@Steven M. i'm loving this thread, and even though i don't know if anyone will read this, I will say that I've lived here all my life but I've never been to the Statue of Liberty, or even to Liberty Island. Our bargain version for out-of-towners was to take the Staten Island Ferry. On the other hand I have traveled extensively for work, and if I found myself in CA you better believe I drove to Yosemite and Kings Canyon on a day off. Or I'd drive to Duluth because it's the farthest west Great Lakes port. Or drove to Galveston because I was in Houston and Galveston is awesome. Or drove down to Nogales on a day off in Tucson. Ditto for Tombstone. Ditto for Grand Canyon when I was in PHX. Ditto for Mt. Hood when in Portland; ditto for Mt. Rainier and the Olympic National Park when in Seattle. Ditto for finding a reason to drive from one job to the next so that I could visit Crater Lake. We take where we live for granted. I try not to, and think I'm doing a pretty good job, Lady Liberty excepted.
Welcome back, Sam! Good to see you here again! Just wanted to say that my streak started on this day in 2020, six years ago. It’s been quite an enjoyable ride, despite being seriously threatened by that KAC puzzle last Saturday. The best part, of course, is getting to know all of you out here, and being part of the conversation. I’ve never been part of a virtual community, and I appreciate what I receive from this one. Happy Memorial Day, everyone! 🇺🇸
@NYC Traveler All gave some, but some gave all. <a href="https://youtu.be/ydWhRObVxrM?si=yFYMNZXtUorssOe8" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/ydWhRObVxrM?si=yFYMNZXtUorssOe8</a>
As your resident alphadoppeltotter, a role I’ve inexplicably taken in the past eight years, it is my duty to inform you that this puzzle has an unusually low number of double letters, at four, where unusual is any number less than five. This is the third time this year that this has happened. I remain your humble servant, ever on the alert.
@Lewis Thank you for your service. I look forward to your next totting.
@Lewis what SBK said. I always think of you when i notice a large number; i rarely notice a scarcity, and depend on you to point it out. to repeat, thank you for your service.
When I added too much powder to the chili, it was a cayenne the ointment. (Sorry to spill the beans.)
@Mike Sometimes your, a cumin carries you away.. A little music can calm things down. Adjust your recipe: Add oboe.
@Mike I fear you have violated the beliefs of chili-lovers by firmly stepping up-pun the toes of the No-Beans Crowd.
@Mike To prevent future spills, keep them in jars that habanero opening.
That's my 3rd Monday in a row that I solve the crosswords without any lookup, I'm quite proud of myself, albeit quite exhausted. The heatwave is really rough on us, my youngest is struggling a bit to get used to the new house at night. Oh and obviously, starting a new job is not helping making me feel any less tired. But the brain still seems to function, so I'll cheer to that!
@Marie My condolences on the heat. We had one miserably hot day (Victoria Day weekend) but when I went out this Saturday (wind, lashing rain, almost freezing), I put on my winter coat.
Enjoyably quick from a happily renewed subscriber in New Zealand. Determined to start some streaks!
Very nice, quick Monday, Thank you, Andrew. Sam: You really don't want to hang out with the armadillos. They may be cute, but the nine-banded armadillo is one of the reservoirs for leprosy, and they can carry other diseases as well. Handling or consuming armadillo meat is a frequent cause of contracting diseases. Sorry, but best to avoid contact.
@JayTee And they will destroy your lawn. They are determined diggers and make big holes while foraging for insects. If they do it too close to the house, their holes can even cause foundation damage. Around here, armadillos are to landscaping as termites are to houses. There is nothing cute about them.
@JayTee Sorry, Anthony, thanks! And welcome back, Sam!
@JayTee side note on 'dillos, There is an old Native American prayer to the armadillo, which says "Protect my borders, teach me my shield, reflect my pain so I do not yield". And in Mexican folklore, armadillos represent wisdom and the ability to master challenges.
A fine Monday puzzle, but I wouldn’t call the AZTEC Empire “ancient” - it lasted until 1521 when it was conquered by the Spanish. The Renaissance was hardly ancient times!
@LG You are right that’s a common misconception.
@LG I had this same thought! It’s a Eurocentric view of history
@LG Yes! In fact, they didn’t even begin to control that area of Mexico until 1428, so they are even less “ancient” than the Renaissance.
@LG I don't know.... I think my birth year was ancient... 😂
@Linda The internet says 1325 was the beginning for the Aztecs, though you all point out, not exactly ancient. FWIW, I had Olmec first.
@LG Glad to see I’m not the only one with a raised eyebrow for this answer. “Ancient” is just wrong here.
So many interesting connections here! I actually had TAME before MILD and of course it was there also; and the opposite of the theme. On the other hand RANDY fits with the theme perfectly especially LOVESCENE. And of course two types of peppers. Some cute clues for a Monday. I knew GHOSTPEPPER immediately because it happens to be a clue for a puzzle I am making right now; also WHATEVER, coincidentally. Very nice, Anthony you are a Monday specialist!
Ah, it's like that good feeling that washes over you when a good friend comes back into to your life. Welcome back, Sam!
Well, that does it: I finally reached 365 consecutive gold stars. I wasn't necessarily going to post about it — there are many here with much longer streaks — but I thought maybe my experience would be worth sharing. I started playing regularly in early 2022 and twice got very close to a streak of 365 days — through vacations and work schedules and everything else. The first time, there was a tech glitch and a win got logged as blue instead of gold. This was so deflating I didn't even bother to contact customer support, and I took a week off. The second time, I misjudged the (unwritten and seemingly arbitrary) window and again the star was blue. This time as I inched closer and closer to that goal, the less fun the puzzle became; the anxiety overrode a lot of the joy. But I did it!! I got there. And now I can let it go! What a day on which to land! Sam Corbin back in the column — with thanks to some great guest columnists — and a puzzle that sizzles a lot more than any cookout on this bleary holiday. HOT HOT HOT! Anthony Grubb has a knack for fun, breezy but not boring Monday grids. I'm delighted he had this third one published. Congratulations!!
@G Congratulations and thanks for that news of your perseverance that is HOT off the press.
@G Brava! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I congratulate you both for the achievement and for the courage to henceforth choose peace over keeping a streak. (So, do you think you'll turn off the timer, too?) :-)
@G, Congratulations!! A whole year of puzzles is a real accomplishment. Well done!!
Welcome back Sam! Seeing your name and picture simply made me happy.
Hit a new PR for Monday with a 4:28 showing off my skills to my wife thanks to the day off. She normally only sees me struggling through sats and suns so it was a nice moment!
A Monday puzzle that's perfect for a sunny, Sunday afternoon: relaxing and enjoyable. Thank you, Anthony.
First, welcome back Sam! I enjoyed this quirky Monday very much. Two kinds of peppers. And MILK TEA to cool the fire. Two of my favorite musicians. Though still perplexed about RANDY being lefoff the 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters List. For those interested, hers a link to a review of a biography of him that goes into a lot of detail about his life and music. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/14/books/review/randy-newman-biography.html?unlocked_article_code=1.lFA.4Mm0.rYDuPcCraNpA&smid=url-share" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/14/books/review/randy-newman-biography.html?unlocked_article_code=1.lFA.4Mm0.rYDuPcCraNpA&smid=url-share</a>
Welcome back Sam. Fun puzzle. My new mental exercise* is to read the entire puzzle before putting anything on paper and then try to fill in as many answers as I can without looking at the clues. Today I hit 30 to 40 percent which ain't bad. I've heard of people who could remember the entire thing. * Kinda like those Medicare memory tests at the well visits.
@John Carson Not even gonna TRY that.
@John Carson, Wow! Never heard of that one. I’m with MOL. That’s quite a challenge!
I've never heard the song HOT HOT HOT, so there's no way I could have guessed the revealer. I'm sure there's a reason why the lyric is not written in conventional grammatical English, though I have no idea what that might be. A word about the GHOST PEPPER, which I first heard about just now. Avoid it! It's not just a question of not eating it -- who on earth would want to eat a pepper that's 1+ million on the Scoville scale??? -- but don't let anyone put it on your plate or send it to you in a takeout order. Not if you value your eyes. Because if you get it on your hands while removing it -- and then... No, it's too horrible to contemplate! I always, always, always when eating at or ordering from a Thai, Mexican, or Indian restaurant specify: "NO HOT PEPPER, PLEASE!!!". And I'm avoiding peppers that are not remotely close to 1+ million on the Scoville scale. I feel you'd be well advised to do the same -- although I know that YMMV.
"... when eating at or ordering from a Thai, Mexican, or Indian restaurant..." Nancy, I assume you just skip Sichuan cuisine.
@Nancy Um yeah, I don't do anything hotter than a habanero, which can be up to 350K Scovilles.
@Nancy Culvers buffalo chicken strips is the exact right level of heat for me. Just enough to make my nose run but not enough to make my eyes water. Same with Taco Bell fire sauce. I'm pure class all the way 😀
@Nancy it's written in Caribbean English because the artist, Arrow, was from Montserrat, which is a Caribbean island where people speak Caribbean English. I usually enjoy your commentary but this one was pretty insufferable. You might want to get out more.
Arsenal is HOTHOTHOT!
@Becky {YAWNS}
@Becky - One of my closest friends has been a Gunner fan for as long as I can remember -- he is very happy this year!
71 Across: "Most watches have three of these" Well, I had no problem answering that. But I got to wondering, is that really true anymore? Most people I know have digital watches, and when I asked ChatGTP that question, it definitely did not say that most watches sold anymore are analog. I'm sure someone will do their own research and quibble with this. But hey, I don't hang out with the Rolex crowd!
@John (All?) smartwatches have the option to display an analog-like face with hands. I get your nit but I think the clue still holds. My problem with it was that for a moment I forgot what you called "wskazówki" in English 🤣 - our name for watch hands literally translates as "pointers" ("wskazywać" means "to point"; "wskazówka" also means "a hint"). Speaking of which - my car has a fully digital dashboard display, yet the odometer is styled to look like its old-school, analog ancestor. It even imitates the number drums turning slowly as you add another kilometer to your total distance traveled. It's pretty cool 😃
@John I would say that for the most part it still holds true that a digital watch is called a digital watch, while an analog watch is called a watch.
@John I didn't have a problem with it, but "Most pocket watches have three of these," would have cleared things up handily.
@John ditto. meaning that i haven't had an analog* watch since I was a teenager [i rec'd one as a gift in 2000, but the band was too large and I never got it resized], and none of my digital watches have had an option to display a clockface with hands. *analog has an asterisk because even watches with three hands are not analog; the cogs march the second hand forward digitally; not sure if the minute- and hour-hands are analog, but there are folks here who know more than I about such things.
I was disappointed to have clues like 4D (same old, same old.) Even on a Monday we can afford a little more imagination. Purloin, mayhap? If the puzzle can have BESMIRCH, it can certainly dust off some alternative clues for common words. Not even Billie Jean King wears a PLEATed tennis skirt these days. For more than a fleeting pucker, instead of LEMON, try under-ripe persimmon. Heh heh....(Oh, how we so eagerly awaited the first frost!) RANDY Newman.... better yet: "It's a jungle out there!" Isn't that him, again? Or Cat Stevens? (Not my long suit--singers.)
@Mean Old Lady If they wanted to make the clue for RANDY Newman trickier, I'd recommend citing his satirical song "Political Science": <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5mAuPg1ZZw" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5mAuPg1ZZw</a> or his sad "Sail Away": <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCRGrnhdNQE" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCRGrnhdNQE</a> or his lament for meteorological catastrophes "Louisiana 1927": <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGs2iLoDUYE" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGs2iLoDUYE</a> All are great songs.
@Mean Old Lady I'm a big fan of Mr Monk, so definitely a big fan of Randy Newman's " it's a jungle out there!! " My husband won't be super thrilled with it coming up here in the crossword because I have a tendency to sing it with great fervor and at the top of my lungs. I'm not a particularly gifted singer, but would I lack in skill, I make up for an enthusiasm.
A perfectly decent, although toothless, Monday puzzle. Nice theme, good themers. And a revealer that gets us to remember Buster Poindexter, and his alter ego David Johansen: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcqckTknXoo" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcqckTknXoo</a> Anyone remember his beginnings with the glam/punk New York Dolls? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aQTGqqXHw4" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aQTGqqXHw4</a> And any puzzle that gets me to do a deep dive into RANDY Newman's catalogue is OKAY with me! Forget his many songs for movies; they're nice, but too saccharine for my taste. Instead, listen to these: His wonderful world about (limited) nuclear destruction, "Political Science": <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5mAuPg1ZZw" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5mAuPg1ZZw</a> or his sad song about coming to America, "Sail Away": <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCRGrnhdNQE" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCRGrnhdNQE</a> or his lament for meteorological catastrophes "Louisiana 1927": <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGs2iLoDUYE" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGs2iLoDUYE</a> or his song about his hometown in California, which pulls off the amazing trick of being simultaneously sarcastic and sincere, "I Love L.A.": <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcADqxnQA_4" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcADqxnQA_4</a>
@The X-Phile Thanks for the Buster Poindexter/David Johansen/NY Dolls links! Glad I'm not the only one who recognized him.
Delightful Monday! Easy, breezy, and fun to solve. New PB for me. Favorite clue? 68-A!
I remember this poem every Memorial Day: Concord Hymn By Ralph Waldo Emerson Sung at the Completion of the Battle Monument, July 4, 1837 By the rude bridge that arched the flood, Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled, Here once the embattled farmers stood And fired the shot heard round the world. The foe long since in silence slept; Alike the conqueror silent sleeps; And Time the ruined bridge has swept Down the dark stream which seaward creeps. On this green bank, by this soft stream, We set today a votive stone; That memory may their deed redeem, When, like our sires, our sons are gone. Spirit, that made those heroes dare To die, and leave their children free, Bid Time and Nature gently spare The shaft we raise to them and thee.
The British soldiers who died at the Old North Bridge are acknowledged on a plaque that I missed the first time I visited as a child, but that I read and found ironic when I returned years later as a veteran of our foreign wars. "THEY CAME THREE THOUSAND MILES, AND DIED TO KEEP THE PAST UPON ITS THRONE; UNHEARD, BEYOND THE OCEAN TIDE, THEIR ENGLISH MOTHER MADE HER MOAN." <a href="https://monuments.freedomsway.org/monuments/grave-of-british-soldiers" target="_blank">https://monuments.freedomsway.org/monuments/grave-of-british-soldiers</a>/
As a burgeoning composer and score reader for the NY Phil in the mid 80's, I had the opportunity to work alongside many personal heroes and luminaries of the music word, including Sarah Chang, Joshua Bell, Lang Lang, Martha Argerich, and John Williams, to name but a few. The job of score reader is simple: audit the rehearsals, consult with the conductor, annotate the score, and during performance, communicate in real-time to the video producer as to where he should have his crew point their cameras. So that when a French horn solo begins, the camera will be positioned to cover it, and if the piece then shifts to a violin section melody, cameras will be in place for that, too. Another aspect of the job is meeting with the guest artists. Typically we would be given the call sheet and meet with the artist briefly before rehearsal to glean any personal requests they may have regarding camera angles, or last minute changes in performance which we would communicate to the MD. On one occasion in June of 1988, I was thrilled to learn that the soloist that evening would be YO YO Ma, but for scheduling reasons we were unable to meet before the performance. Well, you can imagine my astonishment then, when instead of the world-renown cellist emerging from the wings with his $3.5M Stradivarius, it was Tommy Smothers, aka "YO YO Man," emerging with a $3 Duncan. Circumstances notwithstanding, and typographical conundrums aside, Tommy still managed to nail the Dvorak.
@Ace Thanks for the chuckle. You've had a good life, it would seem, congratulations.
@Ace The Misadventures of Ace from La has a fan in me! I look forward to the next one. ;-)
Pretty interesting fill for a Monday. Fun theme and will executed.
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/25/crosswords/crosswords-visual-art.html?unlocked_article_code=1.lFA.KQj4.rClZ9GLSH1qP&smid=url-share" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/25/crosswords/crosswords-visual-art.html?unlocked_article_code=1.lFA.KQj4.rClZ9GLSH1qP&smid=url-share</a>
@Eric Hougland Thanks Eric! No mention of the Rorschach nature of the grid, including how people often see a nasty swastika lurking.
Nice Monday puzzle. The usual workout for me - needed to work the crosses for a lot of the answers but that's just the enjoyable part. And, I didn't catch on to the theme until I was done and reviewed for a moment. That's a nice touch too. Puzzle find today - a Thursday from March 6, 2014 by Daniel Rayman. Four rebus squares in that one. Here are some samples of those answers with the rebus circled: (DIAL)ECT RA(DIAL)TIRE BRON(ZEST)IRE SEI(ZEST)HEDAY MOONS(TONE)S PIS(TONE)NGINES BRATIS(LAVA) BAK(LAVA) And then the reveal: "Platform... or something that appears four times in this puzzle?" SOAPBOX Here's that link: <a href="https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=3/6/2014&g=20&d=A" target="_blank">https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=3/6/2014&g=20&d=A</a> .....
This was one of the top easiest puzzles for me! My last clue I had to fill in was 55-A. I thought BESMIRCH looked funny but when I entered the puzzle into my Games app, it was correct! I loved all the pop culture clues and was pleased with the theme. Hats off to today’s constructor!
I have a 'streak' of 3 Mondays, despite not knowing there was a measure for the hotness of chillis. I could probably tolerate only about 100. And it's still hot here, at 17.40 it's 31C. It's not Death Valley but for it's weird for us, especially in May.
We don't usually see "hydration breaks" during EPL matches!
So glad to have you back, Sam! I have missed your wise and encouraging comments.
Hurrah! So, so happy to see Sam back! 😀 Your "smirch" comment made me laugh enough to almost spit my coffee. 😄☕ I also enjoyed Mr. Grubb's puzzle--just easy enough for a holiday Monday, and the theme was fun too!
Just stopped by again to mention that xwstats.com now has current and historical stats for the Mini and Midi as well as the main puzzle.
Wondered what happened to you. Very glad you are back
Laura, Sam did tell us, on April 2: As for me, I’ll be returning to my usual post at the top of the solving week, after a brief leave to finish a book I’m writing about — what else? — language.
Here’s a Canadian woman who was more into the arts than sci-tech-eng-math, with her friends in a stem that’s a trunk that’s the bottom of a tree: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._Pauline_Johnson#/media/File" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._Pauline_Johnson#/media/File</a>%3APauline_Johnson_and_group_at_Stanley_Park_VPL_9431.jpg
@JohnWM, Let’s try this instead: <a href="https://tinyurl.com/4mufxu5e" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/4mufxu5e</a>
@JohnWM Alas, neither led to a poem for me, but I am delighted to know of the poet and I will see what I can find later on my own. Our daughter is a "Woman in STEM"...and of course just one of the "minorities" she belongs to....
There was a promotion a while back where you could buy a single tortilla chip, dusted with GHOST PEPPER. There was a QR code on the package so you could upload your reaction video. Now, I love spicy food, but 1 million Scovilles just sounds like self-harm.
Welcome back Sam. You were sorely missed by me.
Today's poem made from words found in today's puzzle <br> <br> a/ sleepy me <br> o sleepy me <br> have the light reach in <br> around three <br> d/ and sleep worn over <br> the forest deep <br> a/ yawns open<br>
on the subject of Randy Newman... I don't want to be a downer, but the work he did on the failed TV musical series Cop Rock should have convinced anyone who didn't already put him in the pantheon, so it's a pity so few saw it. Here's the finale of the first episode, when a drug-addict (I think) mother has made the decision to sell her infant, knowing she cannot care for her. Shreds me every single time. <a href="https://youtu.be/L8ufaE_18VU" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/L8ufaE_18VU</a>
@Bob T. I thought i was the only person who watched Cop Rock. I don't think I ever connected Randy Newman to the show. But as you say, that song is a heartbreaker.
Why am I sure I've already done this puzzle?
Dan, Perhaps for the same reason I'm sure too: I only come to the comments after I've done the puzzle.
@Dan You've certainly encountered some of its fill before, as have I. 😏
Did anyone else notice the Monday Midi layout looks like a swastika? Idk who to contact about it. I took a screenshot but idk where to send it.
@Maria I think if you squint hard enough, any right-angled, vaguely symmetric patterns can look like a swastika. I had to try really hard here to see half of one.
@Maria I don't see a resemblance. The grid is asymmetric and the corners are not the same shapes. The black squares are also in three different shapes and not symmetric in arrangement. I would not call this grid any specific shape, not even a pinwheel. It's a crossword, not a political statement.
@Maria I don't understand why you need to notify anyone.
@Maria Notify the White House. Maybe the Midi constructor will get a medal for getting on board. (Seriously though, don't take the Rorschach test - it might take you to dark places)
@Maria is pretty common for crosswords to have that particular shape. Almost certainly by accident. There are only so many ways to make a radially symmetrical puzzle with right angles.
All this swastika flyspeckery makes me feel sad for Hindus, whose sacred symbol will forever be tarnished.
@Maria it doesn't at all. That is such a stretch. It looks like Tetris peices.
@Maria Your answer = 20A (midi) I find it apropos that 10D is cleverly inserted into this alleged symbol. (Why did I just waste 1:37 of my day commenting on this?)
Ha! I predicted this. I...see...SWASTIKAS!!!
@Maria Why are some people so desperate to feel offended all the time?
@Maria Unfortunately a square pattern that relies on radial or diagonal symmetry is going to resemble a pinwheel (or that notorious symbol) often. This issue has come up before. Rest assured, the NYT would not publish a crossword with an obvious similarity, and most (if not all) constructors probably do their best to avoid creating one that comes close.
@Maria you will wake up in 3... 2... 1... puzzles (including standard NYT) are supposed to have rotational symmetry, although editors will bend the rules for a good exception. The mini and midi are less bound, but the midi seems more inclined to aspire to it even though this one threw in an extra black square or three. Rotational symmetry can look like a pinwheel. Pinwheels can sometimes resemble the swastika pinwheel. you might need a new hobby.
My fastest NYT puzzle EVER. woo-hoo!
Maybe I’m just an old guy who remembers when on a given holiday such as today the theme would have been related to the day. I was kinda hoping for that. Thank you to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our great nation.
Dan, I'm no spring chicken either, but I can't recall ever solving a Memorial Day-themed Monday crossword. Personally, I would rather not see one. And as far as I know, those who made the ultimate sacrifice are not reading the comments.
@Dan Collins you might enjoy today’s Strands puzzle.
Successful rock singers have a great set of pipes. And, they like being told so. We saw a Bob Seger tribute band here Saturday night, and the front man definitely has some serious pipes. Although averse to tribute bands, I just *had to see this one, and did he ever deliver. I did let him know how strong the pipes were. His reply was, "It's more of a controlled scream." What pipes, nonetheless.