BrianQ

This was a fun puzzle. In the beginning I was just putting the numbers in, thinking to myself "We really did not need the hint since these are just rebus like squares." Then the numbers did not match up. I got to a point if I was remembering the right number to the answers. 12 Gun Salute? Sweet 28? Then of course I figured out the multiplication theme. Really fun puzzle. Almost like a crossword with a bit of Sudoko-ish thinking mixed in.

So I thought the "DA" themed answers and "Bears" were totally unrelated. Then of course thinking of the old SNL skit, "Da Bears!" made it much more sensible. Great and fun puzzle.

"I like Kit-Kat, unless I'm with four or more people." - Mitch Hedberg

Fun puzzle! I liked how the theme answers were still valid words that had nothing to do with the clue; it was actually helpful even though I forgot a bit of roman numeration. Like "X"boxes made more sense than "V"boxes.

Just started the puzzle but I have to give props to for recognizing one of my favorite late comedians, Mitch Hedberg. "This shirt is dry clean only which means.... it's dirty!"

Monday puzzle but with a very Thursdayish spirit. Nice way to get beginners to figure how the NY Times puzzles can get quirky with their themes. I enjoyed it!

This reminded me of the old SNL skit "Coffee Talk." Everytime Mike Myer's character got "perklempt" she gave us a topic to discuss among ourselves. Kept hearing Mike Meyer's voice when I was reading out the theme answers. Ex: "Sweetbread is neither sweet nor bread... discuss!"

Kamehameha helped me here. Figured that out from the crosses then I had my "aha" moment and was able to figure out the theme. Very clever. If it has not yet been used, "Words that start with state abbreviations" would be a cool "Connections" category.

Weird. I've always spelled Galbi with a K. Kalbi.

Sorry Deb, but did I read you correctly? Kimchi on pizza?!?!? I mean, I love kimchi and I love pizza; but those two seem to be a weird mix.

I had problems with the METTLE word as well, but not from the first letter. MY MAN was a helpful cross, but I had ACT AS ONE instead of ACT ALONE, and that one letter threw me off a bit.

"Wave" I got. "Tilt" I eventually figured out. And "Lines" I thought was clever. "Curl" though I was not able to surmise by the graphic. All I saw were circles lining up the answer a la Christmas tree house lights. Made for some weird guesses. Otherwise fun puzzle!

This puzzle gets a +1 from me for UBE. My favorite purple ice cream.