kkseattle

@Keith Law Someone who enjoys learning new stuff?

@Spelling Marauder One of the great pleasures I had as a college student in New York was buying a half dozen yellow roses with my best friend (it was all we could afford), dressing up nicely and begging our way onto the late-night set at NBC to thank her and wish her well on her last broadcast. She graciously thanked us (“How’d you know I was from Texas?!”) and put those roses on her desk on the set that night, which of course we raced back to our dorm on the subway to watch.

@Kevin Davis Or neither of those.

@Darren I thought it was a terrific puzzle. A good mix of lots of interesting things. As is usual on a Saturday, I got about three words in the first pass. But one of them was the delightful MBAPPE, and I don’t think I’ve ever watched more than two minutes of a professional soccer game. I just read the New York Times. TEXAS TWO-STEP, THE SUN ALSO RISES—these are familiar American touchstones. I was wondering how AESOP’s name would be transformed, and the crosses showed me how. Fascinating! (And makes sense: exotica, erotica—and tying that to “fabulous”—well, just fabulous.) I actually thought virtually all of the answers were squarely in the language and the cluing was quite gentle. It’s on me that I had to get DENEB on the crosses—Astronomy is a shamefully weak spot for me, and I can only plead in my defense a lifetime in the cloudiest major city in America. I envy those who have been enjoying the Perseid meteor showers—I read about you in the New York Times.

@Eleanor I’ve worked thousands of puzzles and this was truly great. You can be very proud of your bro!

@Nick I disagree. This puzzle was a delight. No glue, great clueing. It’s not often that I’m scratching my head on these, and this was a treat.

@Mr Dave The entire column is a spoiler. Always has been.

@Manda Adams Love this. I remember asking my law school dean if it would be permissible to have Evan Wolfson, who was in town and was a friend of a friend, give a talk on how the Hawaii Supreme Court had found a constitutional right to same-sex marriage. Our dean was known as a conservative, but he was really a libertarian, and he said that of course we should. So we did. In 1993. (Baehr v. Lewin)

@Barry Ancona I didn’t have any trouble with landing the puzzle on the Tuesday runway (thought it was pretty fresh), but the revealer certainly stumped me.

@Nom De Plume You would have “heard” it because “gaol” is pronounced the same as “jail.”

@JayTee When the answers include: SNAKE COW BEEHIVE CHICKEN Then I think it’s fair to ask if it’s that Gary Larson.

@sonnel I had tentatively dropped in SKIS for “Tahoe runners” and then I got to 23D. Wait a minute . . .

@Jennifer I was playing Space Invaders in Japan in 1979, so nearly half a century ago. I doubt youngsters today have even heard of it.

@Vaer I remember as a kid reading in the Guinness Book of World Records about the shortest correspondence on record. After Les Misérables was published, Hugo, while on vacation, sent a telegram to his publisher: “?” The publisher responded: “!”

@Daniela “Probably 75% of the answers my partner and I went through a handful of more logical words before finding that the actual answer.” The hallmark of a fine constructor!

@James Vait Just take an “i.”

@Steven M. I highly commend to you “A Wrinkle in Time,” one of the most impactful books of many children’s lives—up there with “Charlotte’s Web” in the canon of compelling stories that convey deep, painful truths. Several movie versions have been made, most are dreadful. Ava DuVernay’s was the most thoughtful treatment, but it’s a book that really can’t be captured on film. You’re in for a treat.

@Dan It was the signal to prepare one’s pearls for clutching.

@Steve L Mike didn’t say beef adobo doesn’t exist. Heck, beef ice cream probably exists. Somewhere. He said it wasn’t a thing. Which is true. If you look at a beef adobo recipe, it might have a couple of comments, whereas chicken and pork adobo recipes have hundreds (and, in Tagalog, goat adobo). It’s like clueing “French stew” for “duck bourguignon.”

@SP Seems similar to eye candy or arm candy. A bit risqué? but not necessarily in bad taste.

@George You know, the constructor doesn’t choose the day on which the puzzle is run. Considering scoring the construction and the editorial placement separately.

@D Of course it’s a skill. I didn’t know OREE, but I knew Sun YAT-SEN. World historical figures are not “trivia.” And there’s always the miracle of setting the puzzle down and walking the dog around the block. First, the dog will love it, and your good doggo deserves a chance to get out and sniff the sniffs and maybe bark at a squirrel. Second, you’ll come back and pour yourself another cup of coffee, settle in, and learn something new. SHOWER BEER? Who knew!

@C Tarvin Rime I know. Rimier I don’t. Has anyone ever actually used the word? When I go to a meeting in Anchorage this December and say, “Gee, it’s far rimier here than in Seattle,” I can’t imagine a lot of appreciative nods. (Of course, I rarely use either rime or hoar, except in crosswords.)

@John The clue isn’t “units of light.” It’s “light units.” Units related to lights. Watts works.

@Steve L Elle did not say the clue was incorrect. Elle was explaining why it took awhile to get it right. Chill. Out.

@Cat If it’s the people who didn’t figure it out who came here to gripe, then perhaps not a representative sample. It’s Thursday.