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Arles
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Arles
About puzzles becoming easier.... Like a lot of us, I notice this. It puts a crimp the enjoyment. But as I watch newspapers across the country contracting, even folding, I’m thankful The Times can draw on its side enterprises to support the newsroom. Games has nearly 5 million subscribers, producing tens of millions of dollars in annual revenue. That supports a lot of reporters and a lot of reporting. One can imagine the pressure to drive these numbers up. Fortunately, we find ourselves in a golden age of the crossword. If I had to, I know I could find other good and challenging puzzles. But I know, too, that I wouldn't find another newspaper to match The Times.
@Francis. Your admiration is touching. Thanks for writing this
@Rebecca Goldstein Pan-centric, one might say, given the near-universal reliance on the solar calendar
Deb, You’ve been my teacher since I started five years ago. I’ve admired your willingness to speak with your own voice. That’s a great quality in a teacher — and in life. Best wishes to you
I'm happy to see the reference to Mansfield Park. I just finished my fourth reading in five years.
@sotto voce Re your 11-y.o. conversations with your Dad, ask David C.. But until he shows up, I think if you just voice the words and grunts (while paying attention to the movements of lips, tongue, and jaw), it will be evident why the grunts are more economical. They require almost no movement. (Something must be moving somewhere, but I can’t even tell what it is)
@Andrzej. Benihana was a case study at Harvard Business School in 1979. I remember three ways they boosted profits: kept wages low by hiring undocumented immigrants; discouraged lingering after the meal by seating unrelated parties around the same table; and signaled it was time to leave by bringing the knife display to a showy climax.
I interpreted the rebuses differently, and it seemed to work. Instead of converting the double NOs to YES, I converted them to AYES. Then inserted AYES as a sound rather than as letters.
@Striker. Good ear. Ngram viewer shows a tenfold increase since the mid-1990s
@Puzzlemucker Enjambment rules!
@Eric Hougland The circle of people to whom we extend our sympathy has been widening steadily over the centuries. Steven Pinker gives a moving description of this trend in his two books on enlightenment. Your comment fits the pattern, and it makes me happy to read. (Nonetheless, I think banning words like this would be a mistake)
How’s this for overthinking? Lee has CONGEE. Ok, but why congee? Oh, I see. “Lee” anagrams to “eel.” And from there, a short step. Alas, it’s a dead end
All ryes rise. That observation caused me to overthink the theme. But not all Jewish breads rise, making me overthink more
@Marshall Walthew That’s a heart-warming image
@sotto voce. That’s funny. I came to this realization only on reading your post. I’d always wondered the same thing
An agog capybara? I don’t think they do agog
@clue by four Dr Zhivago, five years later, had a memorable toilet flushing
Thinking of the Turing Test, I had UNCANNYVOLLEY
@Don H. How about two words— My Way?
The exclamation point in the clue for 72 across [This is not working!] doesn't seem right. I get the misdirection, but doesn't it rule out the answer? Or am I missing something?
@Barry Ancona Good for you, Barry
@SBK Very interesting, I’ll be looking for “intercalated” in the spelling bee. It was because of cases like this that I used the modifier “near”
In yesterday’s puzzle, should the K in “Sacramento kings” have been capitalized? Otherwise, how would the clue point to “pros”?
@Bill in Yokohama. Thanks, Bill. When I did the puzzle, on my platform it was not capitalized. Just checked again, and it remains lower case. Seems like a surprising mistake. Or am I misinterpreting?
@Andrzej. Andrzej, The other day you puzzled over “hayride,” wondering whether “tractor ride” would make more sense. Here’s another “hay” idiom: “a roll in the hay.” Do you know it? Logical or not, I think you’ll agree it requires no improvement
For ATOLL, the clue is “key ring.” Is “key” necessary? 90% of the time that word can be dropped with no loss in meaning (“key takeaway” grates particularly). Or am I missing something?
@Joe I wish people would be more careful and call it The Gambia
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