Shari Coats

Oh my. There was a lot of crankiness in the comments today. I imagine you might be used to this, Mr. O’Neill, and can take it with a grain of salt. I knew the Frost poem well, but I’m not sure that helped me much, as you were playing with words and meaning—which seems to me is exactly what crossword constructors are supposed to do. I had a big smile on my face when I fixed my final mistake and got my star, so thanks for that and please keep on making puzzles for us.

Not going to name names, but there were a couple of comments today that were downright mean, directed at a debut constructor. It’s one thing to feel and to say that a given puzzle isn’t one’s cup of tea, but why be mean about it?

This one made me smile too, and you are so right about all that, Deb. Sorry the puzzle and/or the format were frustrating for many folks. My version (app on my iPad) had parentheses, and I was working on the bottom part when the theme suddenly made sense to me. I woke up in a very low mood, and the puzzle definitely cheered me up, as did Deb’s commentary. I’m grateful for this pastime and for this community of puzzle people.

What a delightfully fun puzzle on a Monday! It added sparkle to what is sometimes a very ho-um solving experience. I imagine that Mondays are challenging to make because they need to be accessible but not boring. This one was kind of a hoot. Thanks, Kareem.

This was a brilliant puzzle, so I don't think I'll read any other comments today (busy day in any case, handbell practice and so on). Sometimes when I really love a puzzle and have struggled just enough to find a solution to what is going on in the constructor's mind . . . well, it just a bit unsettling to see complaints. And somehow there are always a few who just hate a given puzzle. I'm so grateful to Joe Marquez, and to the whole team. I love Sam's comments as well. Thanks you guys :-) Off for my daily walk now in the glorious sunshine and cool weather.

And once again, I’m surprised to see complaints about what I thought was a thoroughly delightful puzzle. I understand that not everyone loves every puzzle, but is the snark really necessary? So back to you, Tom McCoy. Thank you for brightening my morning with this clever theme. Please keep them coming. I did a Master’s in Linguistics and then taught ESL to adults. I loved it, and today I loved learning about Pittsburghese and “yinz”.

Loved this puzzle. It seemed perfect for a Wednesday. I haven't commented in quite awhile for various reasons, though I have been keeping up with all the puzzles. I recently starting using my laptop to do them, rather than my iPhone or my very old iPad. It has taken me some time to get used to using a different device (I'm not at all tech savvy--Baby Boomer). But I'm figuring out a bit more each day and this is the first time I was able to find the Comments. Yay!! After reading just a few of the recent comments I see there was a change in the format (is formate the right word?). So glad I finally got here because I've missed you guys. The country and the world keep getting more scary every day. I have dear friends in Minneapolis and in Chicago, and they are okay but I've been worried about them. I've been to one protest here in Grass Valley/Nevada City and hope to make it to more now that I'm finally over the weird flu that has been going around. Sorry, that was verbose but it's good to be back among you.

Fast and lots of fun too. I really enjoyed it and I’m very surprised that it was rejected by so many. I’m glad you persevered, Paul Coulter. After reading only the latest few comments, I noticed several complaints about LAY. It is definitely in my wheelhouse, but it would be lovely if folks who haven’t heard of it would just add it to their list of discoveries instead of griping about it.

It’s too bad so many solvers really hated this puzzle, and I hope Kathy has a pretty thick skin. I really enjoyed the solve. Just crunchy enough to be fun. We all have a right to voice our opinions but I wish folks could be a bit less hostile about it.

Well, I loved it, and I always love tricky Thursday puzzles—rebus puzzles in particular. I’m not going to yell at anyone who doesn’t like them though. Big thanks to the father and son constructors and Deb, and the whole team, for sticking with this fun EI/IE idea and making it work in the end. Stay well out there in the winter weather.

Wow. I can’t believe there are so many cranky comments about this puzzle. I thought it was delightful, with just enough crunch to make it fun. I had to check the grid after getting the “keep trying” message, and quickly saw that DRyLY had to be DRILY. That didn’t really surprise me. After finishing, I did a little research and found this from WordPress.com: “In most varieties where the figures can be taken as meaningful, there is a clear preference for dryly, most markedly in US English, closely followed by Canadian.” Hope you can ignore the complaints, Robert S. Gard, and I hope to see more of your puzzles soon. This activity is one of the many ways I try to combat my fear and frustration about all the scary things happening in our world. Be well, everyone.

It’s been a long time since I actually read ALL the comments. I suppose I just don’t often have that much time. But I’m glad I did today, as there were very few Grumpy Gus comments—maybe only two complainers. I saw that just about everyone thought today’s puzzle was terrific. I’m so grateful for this community—for the sense of humor so often displayed, and helpful advice I sometimes get, and book and movie and tv show recommendations. There are so many things to worry about and be afraid of in today’s world and this forum is a wonderful refuge.

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.

Loved the clever theme. My only problem was not knowing SALATA, and not catching on to the misdirection of “Crazy, sexy or cool: Abbr”. It somehow went over my head. That crossing was the only thing keeping me from a win, so I read some comments and finally found one that referenced that same spot. Thanks for that assist, fellow solver! And thanks to Chandi and Kate, for a very enjoyable distraction to all the insanity going on in the world. Don’t know what I would do without my daily puzzles.

A wonderful Sunday challenge! It’s too bad some felt it necessary to insult the constructor. I did find the puzzle to be a challenge, but an enjoyable one. There were certainly some things I didn’t know right away, but the crosses were a big help in the areas where I needed them. I’m sure Mr. Ewbanks will not let the few complaints stop him from making more puzzles for us to enjoy. I hope to see more of his creations in future, and I’m sure we will.

There are so very many things I love about this amazing puzzle that I don’t know where to begin. The father/daughter constructors, the clever theme, the single rebus . . . Just joyful 😊 I’m a big Seth Meyers fan, and it took me quite some time to see what was going on with that one rebus. I hope these two will be bringing us more terrific puzzles, either as a team or solo. Can’t wait! 🤩👏🏻👏🏻

Haven’t read all the comments, but I was comforted to see that others, including Sam, found it more challenging than the usual Wednesday. It certainly was a challenge but also fun and enlightening when I finally got there. I’m old, so I’ve watched the old (and delightful) film, “Desk Set” (starring the great duo Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy) many times. The other big star of that film is a very large early computer which they called EMERAC, (or “Emmy”). When I saw the clue, I thought of Emmy right away, but I also knew the name ENIAC from something—maybe another film?—and that was what I put in that space. I had a lot more luck with the bottom half of the puzzle than I did with the top. As Sam points out, the crossing fill was crucial for this one. I never would have gotten the church without crosses. Congrats on a terrific debut, Casey. And also thank you Will, for helping make this challenging and entertaining puzzle happen.

Well, it was a bit longer solve than Sundays tend to be for me. Quite challenging, but also truly clever. I got my first inkling of what was happening with the magnets around the area where EGG FOO YUNG turned left to make a GNU. My hat goes off to Mr. Kugelman 🙌🏻 These days I really need the distraction from reality that comes from puzzles. Other distractions for me today were singing in my church choir and playing handbells there as well. It was the last time for both until the summer ends, and I will miss them. Hope everyone has a summer safe from hurricanes and wild fires. Stay well friends. 🤞🏻🤞🏻

I cannot tell a lie. I finished—eventually, and with a few look-ups—but still didn’t understand the tricky theme until I read the column. You got me, David Kahn, fair and square. Thanks for the nice clear explanation, Mr. Aronow.

Thanks for a great Wednesday puzzle, Dan Caprera. I really enjoyed it and I agree with Sam that it was just the right amount of tricky. It didn’t take me too long to see what was going on with the theme fill, as I got PUB TRIVIA early on, with help from crosses. I did use a J the first time for NAVAHO, but since the clue was labeled a variant, I knew that could change and of course GRAPHIC DETAIL made that necessary. For a time I had cash STATEMENT at 50A and that SW corner was my last challenge for a time because of that mistake. As soon as I saw the KAZOO that K made all the difference. Looking forward to more of your puzzles, Dan. Also looking forward to a nice tricky puzzle to do tomorrow.

Congratulations on a lovely debut, Mr. Adams. I’m sure we will be seeing more from you in future. There was a lot to like, and although it was quite a smooth solve, it was nice to have a Friday puzzle that didn’t frustrate me and require “research” on my part. The clue for SPAMALOT was one of my favorites. Best of luck to you post-college.

Well, I only read a few comments, and that’s all I can take. I can’t say I loved this puzzle, but it was a challenge I was able to enjoy in the end. I too fell victim to abyss/abysm, partly because I’m not mathy at all and MAXIMUs seemed just as likely as anything else in calculus. I wish I had taken calculus because it pops up in puzzles fairly often. I usually get help from my husband the math major. I loved Sam’s column, and I felt much the same way, as I didn’t see what was going on with the theme and the letters with mirror symmetry until she told me about it. Kudos to you, Sam, for being so honest. You rock! And kudos also to Mr. Martinovic for a worthy challenge.

A lovely puzzle, with a really delightful theme. Congratulations on your debut Mike Ellison. Please give us more.

This was a lot of fun, and a good distraction on a day when I’m in a lot of pain 😣 (long story which won’t interest you). I jumped around the puzzle a lot, looking for as much low hanging fruit as I could find. The first themer I got was the one for “—PERUSE—“ and then was able to go back and suss out some of the others. The title of the puzzle was some help. Thanks for the challenge Simeon Siegel.

Thank you, Tarun Krishnamurthy, for an excellent puzzle that was also lots of fun. Hope your time at SDSU is happy and productive. I’m betting you will graduate with honors.

Lovely Monday puzzle with a bit of crunch. I didn’t know the Flamenco guitarist, the soccer star, the computer brand, or the basketball player—but got them all with help from crosses. I’m sure you won’t let the complaints in the comments bother you too much. So many of us enjoyed it and appreciated a Monday puzzle that didn’t just whizz by.

Terrific puzzle, amazing debut, so clever and tricky, just as Thursday puzzles should be. It took me quite some time to figure out the wheels and where they started. Without Deb’s diagram I would have still been at this much later in the day. And without Deb’s sense of humor and the puzzle solving skills she’s been sharing with us for lo these many years, I don’t know how we will all manage 🤦🏼‍♀️. Still, you deserve some time off, Deb, and I wish you a very happy retirement, doing all the things you didn’t have time for before. Glad to know we will still be hearing from you for awhile before your new life starts.

I really enjoyed this puzzle. I always enjoy Robyn’s challenges and this one was a bit less daunting than most. I figured some would complain that it wasn’t Friday-ish enough, but I loved feeling a little more clever than I usually do on Fridays. To each his or her own I say. I haven’t commented in quite awhile. I was sick for a week or so but grateful to be doing better. It is a sad day and I was glad none of the puzzles featured that horrid history. I know we all remember exactly where we were when we heard the news. My memory about lots of things in the past is getting worse but I suppose I’ll always remember 9/11. Be well, all. Hold your loved ones tight.

Challenging and fun! I really enjoyed it, and it’s too bad that not everyone did. I had to look at Wordplay towards the very end because I was stuck in that very math-y and science-y spot, where FACTOR crossed TITER. (English Major here). I’ve learned to accept those occasional gaps in my knowledge. The theme was just a multifaceted delight, and I can hardly wait to see what young Mr. Hasegawa has in store for us next time.

Thanks, Carly S., for a terrific puzzle. I liked learning a new phrase, SHOOT YOUR SHOT, and also really enjoyed watched your solo circus video. It’s been a few years now since we lost our last rescue dog, and I think the universe has been sending me messages lately. Maybe it’s time?

Oh dear. I too had a bit of trouble seeing where I was in this big and complex grid. But I got there in the end, with some look-ups for things I just didn’t know (that’s within my own personal rules). It was a very clever and timely theme, and Paolo Pasco did an amazing job constructing it.

I’m with you, Sam, on what some folks think is cheating. It’s research in my book, just expanding my knowledge. Thanks for a nice breezy Monday puzzle, Ailee Yoshida. Just what we needed after yesterday’s workout.

Monday puzzles can occasionally be a little ho-hum, but this one was a delight to solve. Thanks Katie and Jeff 😊👏🏻

Well, I wasn’t surprised to see some haters of this very complex puzzle. I will admit that it was very challenging for me, and when I got the “Try Again” message after struggling with it a very long time and finally looked at Deb’s column to get some help. Wish I had seen the trick on my own, but I still admire the mind that came up with it. I have never ever hated a puzzle. I enjoy the easy ones, and the tough ones and the in-between ones. I know a lot of work goes into them. Kudos to the constructor.

I loved this puzzle so much. Thank you for the humor and the challenge, Kareem Ayas. I will definitely keep an eye out for more of yours. It took me longer than it probably should have to see what the trick was. I KNOW I really should read ALL the clues before starting to fill things in, and if I had done that today I would have seen the clever trick much sooner. But I stumbled happily around, thinking it was pretty tough, but finding places I could fill in. I went for my 4 mile walk, up hill and down, listening to my audiobook (“The Winners” by Fredrik Packman—SO good and I highly recommend it). I came home had my lunch and tackled this amazing puzzle again and finally saw the light! Or the absence of ICE! 😊 Thanks to the whole team 👏🏻

Well, yes, I suppose this might have been easier than many Thursdays are. I really enjoyed it though, and I thank John Ewbank for making it. All the puzzles I do are entertaining and so good for my aging brain. I am never inclined to complain about any puzzles, whether it seems too easy or too hard for the day it's on. Gosh almighty, we have enough things these days to be upset and annoyed about. Puzzles are pure joy and distraction, at least they are for me. Thanks to the whole team and to Sam for a great column, as always.

Lots of fun for a gloomy Wednesday. (We have an atmospheric river arriving soon.) I was only a little surprised to see a rebus on a Wednesday, but I do know they are not confined to Thursdays. What I will never understand is the anger expressed by some folks about rebus puzzles. Way too much anger floating around these days as it is. Thank you, Mr.Gard, and please keep them coming.

I just read, or skimmed, through many of the comments, and saw several folks who said they didn’t know ADELIE penguins. Am I the only one who loves the movie “Happy Feet”? That’s why it was one of my easier spots to fill. My 3 year old grandson adores it and will watch it as many times in a row as we let him, which is not very many—maybe two. In fact, I might just put it on and watch it now. It’s a rainy day, and I’m fighting a virus of some sort, so why not?

A delightful puzzle. Thanks for the fun.

Such a delightful Thursday puzzle! So glad you are only semi-retired, David Steinberg 😊 It took me some time to see exactly what was going on, but since things I knew (like PERSEPHONE) weren’t fitting I knew there was some trickiness involved. Have to admit that I didn’t quite see what specific trickiness it was until I finished and saw the delightful graphics. (I did not use a rebus, just the letter U, which was fine.) So grateful for this daily distraction that makes me smile and forget the world outside for a time. Thanks NYT and the whole crossword team ❤️

Very challenging for me. I eventually got some help from Caitlin and worked all the crosses I possibly could. But my last problem spot was “Prez in the 60s” and I fell for that misdirect hook, line and sinker, because I tried both JFK and LBJ. Finally saw the light and realized it wasn’t the 1960s but the 1860s 🤦🏼‍♀️. That was very clever, I must say. Thanks for a tough but satisfying workout, Ryan McCarty.

Well, I thought it was fast and fun. So thanks for the smiles, Enrique Anguiano, and the new word, APPA, to add to my xword inventory. I hope you can ignore the snark in some of the comments I saw, and I will be happy to see your name again one of these days on my morning solve.

I was surprised to see so many negative comments. I thought this puzzle was a bit crunchy but lots of fun to figure out, with a very clever theme. Thanks Ginny Too. Guess I’ll weigh in on the BOLT controversy too. I was definitely familiar with that usage.

Whoa, I love Thursdays and I love a rebus, and I also know that rebuses take forms other than squeezing several letters into one square. I loved the challenge of this amazing puzzle but I admit that I needed a lot of help to finish it. Some lookups, and eventually to reading what Sam had to tell us. I think I may have used all her tricky clues and I know I needed to have the theme explained to me. And that’s okay, especially for late week puzzles. Thanks for the challenge Joe DiPietro. I will be girding my loins in future when I see your name on a puzzle. I know there is scary cold weather arriving in some parts of the country, so please stay safe y’all.

I really enjoyed all the puzzles today. The main crossword was fun and a perfect Monday level I thought--very accessible, with a bit of crunch, just like a DORITO. I usually only read a few of the most recent comments and saw many complaints at problems in having the new Midi puzzle in the line of puzzles available. I haven't had a problem with it (I use an Apple laptop--I'm sure I could be more accurate about that but I'm old and not at all tech savvy). My daily list of puzzles now is Strands, Connections, Wordle, Mini, Midi, Crossword. They all come up for me on the NYT Games app. I'm so glad that is working for me and I know it must be frustrating for those of you having issues. In today's scary world, my favorite puzzles and my daily walks in the natural beauty of Nevada County are really therapeutic.

What a terrific debut for young Mr. Matz! I was a a little surprised to find that out after finishing this delightful and challenging grid. It was full of charm, and at times made me feel very smart—when one of those long grid spanners popped into my head and turned out to be right, and when I filled in TROLL and it turned out to be right too. TIL there is such an animal as a water SHREW, and that some TIARAs contain cameos. I look forward to more puzzles from this talented young man.

It was definitely a tough puzzle for me, but that’s what we expect on a Saturday. There were some things I didn’t know (like BOXFISH) but I got AUDIOBOOKS on my own, which really pleased me. After seeing a few snarky comments I decided to skip the rest, and try to get my daily 4 mile walk, in between the occasional spells of rain we’re having today. I usually listen to AUDIOBOOKS while walking, and I’m almost finished with “Dune”.

What a great theme! This was truly a delight to solve, and each time I figured out one of the theme answers it made me smile. I had to flyspeck at the very end and finally saw my mistake at 70A. Due to my weakness in the areas of both sports and tools, I didn’t know BACKSAW, but knew about hacksaws, and I’ve heard of RBIs, but figured an RHI could also be a thing. But it isn’t. Thanks for giving us a terrific Sunday puzzle and please keep the puzzles coming. You are one of many very young crossword creators and I just love it that you are all sharing your talents with this community. Thanks a bunch 😊

A bit more challenging than most Mondays, which made it fun. I also thought YABBER was surprising, and I saw someone comment that it was Australian. I’ve been reading a series of books set in Australia (Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries) and learning lots of pretty hilarious Australian slang. It’s been a nice break from the more serious books I also read. Thanks for the Monday fun, Kenneth Cortes 😊