Just Saying

Enthralled by the constructor’s comments about the mysterious pepper plant marauder; even more enthralled that the NYT published these comments. tc

A mother-daughter team constructing a wedding-themed crossword puzzle - this surely takes the cake! As the news on the front page gets grimmer, it sure is nice have to have heart-warming stories such as this emerge from the “back pages.” Ladies, keep the puzzles coming! tc

Wanted to point out how the measurements could be considered in four different contexts: distance = feet, weight = pound, volume = gallon, time = minute. Wonder if this was intentional? tc

An architectural gem; a crucverbial meh. (Very few clue/answers sparkled with creativity.) Overall, I hate to do it, 7/10. tc

I know I will be in the minority here - but I found all these mini rebuses to be more tedious than challenging; more pain-staking than fun. tc

Just wondering: I posted a comment questioning the aptness of the answer JEW as an appropriate answer for the Sunday puzzle. The comment generated a vigorous exchange of comments (up to 8), but then the entire “discussion” was deleted. I do understand the sensitive nature of this discussion, and I appreciate the paper does not want to encourage inflammatory dialogue (especially in the puzzle section!), but I felt it was odd that the conversation was summarily deleted without an explanatory note. Open discussion is now more important than ever. tc

Saturday, Can I have my puzzle back, please? tc

DNF because refused to let go of crEW for 45 across. My bad! tc

Dear Friday, Please return my puzzle. tc

Am I the only one who found the nw corner a beast? The rest of the puzzle was grok-able, but this quadrant required hit/miss assistance. tc

Um, so yeah, that felt more like an exercise at the department of motor vehicles, than completing a crossword puzzle. Just filling in all the necessary boxes without thinking too much. Clever idea, but man, on the ez side.

If this puzzle were a ski run it would be a blue circle…fun, very doable. No diamond or double black diamond here. tc

I actually hope this comment does not get published because I was horrified by the experience - but, as I was solving the puzzle, I misread the TIGERWOODS clue by seeing another suit, not clubs. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing - until I looked again, and thankfully saw the error of my ways. tc

For all you crossword creators out there, I wonder if you could work Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure" into a crossword. Not quite sure how it would work, but I think it has potential. tc

The Latin phrase was used as the title of a West Wing episode. Great show, great cast - but, alas, a somewhat mediocre puzzle. tc

In light of recent events was not crazy about 110 down. My guess is that this puzzle was already slotted before the horrific events in New Orleans and Las Vegas. But PTSD is never a trivial concern, especially when it pertains to vets. tc

A preposition did me in. Could not get away from at HAND, when the puzzle wanted ON HAND. Otherwise, puzzle was fun, challenging, but maybe a touch easy for a Friday. tc

This had so much potential to be a really classic puzzle. Unfortunately, it felt trivia-laden, and did not elicit the fun and charm of a Saturday cartoon. Great idea, though!

Fwiw, United We Stand might be a thing of the present, and not the future. Check this out: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvHVen3TrXU" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvHVen3TrXU</a>. Pretty cool when life imitates crossword puzzles. tc

The puzzle was fun, and, for me, definitely challenging. BUT, felt the answer for 94A brought the quality of this puzzle down a full notch - a high-school-level pun, in otherwise clever and rewarding puzzle. tc

If the verticals were not so easy, then DEFINITELY the triple stacked horizontals would have been a real challenge.....but.... it is not too difficult to complete a long answer, when over half the letters are filled in. Unique, but manageable.

On the EZ side for, especially top half. Bottom half a bit more challenging, but not crazy. tc

The longer the clue, the easier the answer, it seemed. tc

The theme felt more Wednesday-ish, but the difficulty felt Thursday. The SW corner, for me, was the toughest. Who gnu? tc

I liked it, too. But, it was too easy for a Friday. I know I should be careful for what I wish, but, please make this late-week puzzles a bit more challenging. tc

Well, that was a fun, interesting puzzle. Thought the conceit was a lot of fun, but was maybe hoping for a little more "thematic relationship" between the six themers. Six longer, circular answers that seemed to have no connection to each other. Otherwise, a proper Sunday challenge! tc

E.z. P.z. tc

Too easy (at least for Friday), I feel. tc

AI says it is “Beep Beep!” And AI is always right!

I’m not quite sure I understood the math symbols in the themed clues, such as -,+. Were they there for aesthetic purposes or were they actual part of the clue? tc

By my count, 10 H’s, which is a bucketful. Reminded me of the great Nazi novel HHhH, about the assassination of Heydrich. A compelling read. tc

Having the word MAIL in the same grid (in crossing answers, no less) was a crossword nono, I thought.

I just wish the rebus boxes spelled something - that would take this puzzle to the next level!