Rusty Wheelhouse

Ah, the legendary CUBICFOOT. This is a European species closely related to another high-mountain dweller, the Dahu. We have many of these noble animals in my part of Switzerland. They are quadrupeds who have evolved with two legs on one side of the body shorter than those on the opposite side. This asymmetry allows it to move in great comfort around a mountain. Unfortunately, only in one direction. Hence, two types of dahu exist, the laevogyrous, or lefty, dahu and the dextrogyre, the righty. I believe, in a prehistoric evolutionary sense, they are also closely related to an American bird, the snipe, and are hunted with much the same technique. This evolutionary correlation between bird and animal can also be observed in my own favorite pet, the emu. For those of you interested in adopting a specimen of one or another of these wondrous species, I highly recommend the excellent Fiona Bowron’s « How to Keep a Werewolf: And Other Exotic Pets Which May or May Not a) Exist or b) Eat You. » Wondrous puzzle. My cryptid and I thank the constructors heartily.

Interesting puzzle. Although I would have preferred the trio of Faith, Hope and Charity, as opposed to Plague, Pestilence and Disease. Seen here with Kapital K’s.

A beast of a puzzle to tackle. No kickstarts, a few nosebleeds, but I can take it. I do what I can. As for the nonreal mutants in the family, the emu and I are currently not on speaking terms. It has retreated to the crawlspace, where I intend to let it swelter until it apologizes for behaving like a threenager. Honestly, am I the only one adulting around here? I may need to install an emucam.

Deb, you make my day. Just wanted to get that out there.

Sticks and stones can break more than bones and even letters can hurt you. I’m sorry to see this wonderfully lighthearted puzzle, otherwise so enjoyable, marred by the insensitive MIA/AWOL clueing. The editors really let the constructors down on this one. Hippocrates may or may not have said it, but ‘Do no harm’ is a good motto. In its long and distinguished history, the NYT Crossword has included other examples of unseemly clueing. Good riddance to all of them and precedent is no excuse. There is no way to tap dance around this. Sorry for the rant, but even a neutral Helvetian was dismayed by the lack of respect.

You had to earn it, but it was a joy to solve. None of the usual suspects, though. So I’ll have to go off and get my own Oreo. I imagine constructors often feel like donning battlesuits to deal with some of the comments they get. It sometimes feels like a snake pit around here. But if, and that’s a big if, no one objects, I’d just like to say I love you, all of you, for making this such a lively place to spend a little time. Have a great day and don’t let the emus bite.

TIL: Essene. A headlong plunge down this rabbit hole brought up the sectarian « Thanksgiving Hymns, which express a powerful anthropology of human depravity redeemed through divine grace » Seems apropos, even after all these years. The text dates from anywhere between the 3rd to the 1st century BCE. Sometimes I remind myself of a retort I received from the distinguised academic who once tried to knock some sense into me. I said: « Why do I have to know this? It’s a purely intellectual excercise. And she said: « Why? Don’t you want any? » I’m always grateful for any and all of the nuggets I mine from the Wordplay column. Congratulations to the constructors on the two beautifully crafted triple stacks. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Dead-Sea-Scrolls" target="_blank">https://www.britannica.com/topic/Dead-Sea-Scrolls</a>

My emu says that was one fine rebus puzzle. And emus never LIE!

I couldn’t be gladder. After weeks in the nadirs, during which they made no sense, I attained a longed for goal. I glommed on to a puzzle theme! Oh my stars, what a state I’m in! Hoo-Rah! I am the Altair, the prima donna, the Ramses I of puzzledom. Ok sure, zip it, enough tralala already, the emu implies. It was an easy one. Let it rest. Methinks the lady, she fusses too much. The beastie is now giving me the Silent T(reatment). But even Cruella couldn’t ruin my day today.

Reading the constructor’s note on his creative process gave me pause to think. Tearing at breakneck speed to solve these delicate webs of language is certainly a lot of fun. But it could also be seen as akin to chugalugging a bottle of very fine wine. Some things are meant to be savored. You’ve changed my perspective today, Mr. Shellito. Take time out to smell the roses. Don’t let the emu’s bite.

At first, this was way out of my wheelhouse. Then I realized it was even out of range of my AIRBASE. Not a smooth, but a thoroughly enjoyable sail. I did have a QUALM about BUSING, (in a French pronunciation that comes out as buZing) but it seems to be an acceptable variant. My emu is in its HIDEYHOLE today. Enigmatic beast. A big MWAH to the constructors.

The onset of winter just makes me want to crawl into a cave and hibernate. Karma has it that I live in the Alps. So anything ice-related that can put a smile on my face is hugely welcome. Delighted by the Zamboni and the puzzle. As luck would further have it, my kids are ice-hockey mad, so I would like to give a shout-out to the New Jersey Devils and their Swiss-born center and captain Nico Hischier. No relation. But nice to feel a connection.

Say what??? Strenuous early morning solve. I may have sprained my brain. But I do so love a good workout.

The puzzle theme merited a 21-gun salute as it flew by well over my head. It was more like sink or swim over here for a while. A magnificent piece of showboating from the constructor and a real dreamboat of a puzzle. Next time I go up a certain creek, I’ll try to remember to bring a paddle. Signed: First Admiral, Swiss Navy. Still at sea.

Ooh la la. Everybody’s got a bad case of the grumpies this morning. Why not scroll down to John Ezra’s post and chill to some sublime music? Or else join me and my emu in going back to bed with a nice Sunday cup of hot cocoa. And a perfectly enjoyable Sunday crossword to chew on.

If we are waxing philosophical, IMHO this puzzle exceeds the Aristotelian definition of wit. It is in the wheelhouse of his definition of genius: « an intuitive perception of the similarity in dissimilars" which « cannot be taught by another ».* Thank you, Grant Boroughs. Not least of all because the emu is so happy to have been included in your puzzle today. It SASHAYS in pride as I write. *See Andrew M. Stewart: <a href="https://digitalcommons.denison.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1074&context=episteme#:~:text=Recall" target="_blank">https://digitalcommons.denison.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1074&context=episteme#:~:text=Recall</a> that Aristotle thinks that,are rightly defined as arts.

At last, a rebus that didn’t leave me feeling like a turkey. I have a terrible confession to make. I love rebuses, even though they often defeat me. So, a rebus combined with a themeless? Well, that’s the cranberry sauce to my stuffing, the pecan in my pie, the cherry on my cake. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, those of you who celebrate. And a great day to everyone. Fun fact: there is no way an American-sized turkey will fit into an average European oven.

Deb, you sound like you’re way beyond even chicken soup. Thanks for thinking of us while you’re so ill and get better soon. FWIW, the puzzle was a delight. Bon courage.

Delightfully frustrating, always a mere one or two letters beyond reach until the ‘Gotcha!’ moments started ticking in. I’ve never run through the entire alphabet so many times. Time itself flew by, which was just as well, because I needed a lot of it. The best kind of Sunday. I maintain my streak of never once having sussed out a puzzle theme. Many thanks to the editors, without whom I would remain sadly ignorant of the inner beauties of puzzledom. The emu has a request. It often has its feelings hurt in the comments. So much emudissing! We are founding the International Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Emus and Other Incorporeal Beings, an NGO based in Geneva. (Where else?) Donations accepted. Emucoin only, please.

OLA! OLE! OY - I certainly went into OT on this one and loved every minute of it. The SWEARJARS were filling up until I took the hint and pulled myself together. My ego went down in FLAMES. I have never, in my life, got a lowly C . OUI OUI, ‘tis true, YOU CANT WIN THEM ALL. The emu got disgusted with me and went off to natter with the GNUS.

Yahoo! I get to be first! Very smooth Sunday puzzle. Only it’s Saturday here. Enjoy, everyone!

Why is my emu staggering around? Has it lost its sense of direction?

My emu is very offended by not getting a mention in this puzzle. « What? Even the lowly NEMATODE gets a shout-out! », it exclaimed, before flouncing off in the highest of dudgeons. At least, that’s what I think it said. It now refuses to speak in anything but Klingon. Who put that idea into it’s head, I wonder? It will take at least a whole box of animal crackers to coax it out of this testy mood. It might take a while. In the meantime, peace and long life.🖖. And bonnes vacances.

At first annoyed, then humbled. ! Bang was not a simple rebus gimmick, but a gap in my rusty wheel house. Big thank you to all the coders, proofreaders and math whizzes who shared knowledge.

Puzzles based on a poem by Wallace Stevens? David P. Williams, I am as uplifted as I am awed. Mille mercis, as they say here. A thousand thanks to you as well, Caitlin, for a set of clues which sent us spelunking down a deep emu crevasse. From the heights of a soaring blackbird to the depths of Tiamat, the whole thing accompanied by alpine strains from Richard Strauss - I think I even spotted Caddy along the way. Peak cromulence.

Not too hard, not too easy, this one’s just right. Add a bear (Pooh Pooh Pooh) for a Gold (ilocks) Sunday.

♾️-ly frustrated and finally defeated. Had to use reveal to fill in the numbers. I got the gimmick, just couldn’t enter it properly into the squares.

Phew! My wheelhouse felt even more aeruginous than usual this morning. TILU (Today I Looked Up) - well, several things. Especially Snorri. Which I’m very embarrassed to say, I should have known, seeing as how he’s most widely translated into French. He’s even in Jules Verne. Oh well, winter is coming, so I can look forward to pulling on a thick pair of socks and hunkering down with some Norse mythology. Live and learn. One of the greatest pleasures in life. Am I alone in ‘never have I ever’ - been able to spot a crossword’s theme without help from the NYT Crosswords gods and goddesses? I think my emu’s heading off to hibernate.

I’ve never cried over a crossword puzzle before, but you got me Deb. I’ll never forget those words and that great hero. Excellent Friday puzzle. My emu is solemn today.

Sunday just isn’t Sunday without an Oreo. Yummy!

SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE (Your Scrabble Tile Bag)

OK, gallimaufry is not my favorite dessert. The construction of this puzzle is nonetheless a work of aDrAtZiZsLtIrNyG Love the polar bears. Watch out for the emus.

Great Monday puzzle. I maintained my unbroken solving stretch of never ever having realized what the theme was. It’s been years now. The picture, to me, looked like it could be captioned « Child at a Paris Fashion Week Show ». But I have to go now. My emu says I need a SANITY CHECK, fast.

The emu ate my rebus. DESDEMONA, the GOLEM and the OGRE all showed up to my tea party, but somehow, we couldn’t find the TROLLey.

I srsly lkd ths pzzl. Bt pls dnt vr mk n sng nly sms lngg. (I seriously liked this puzzle. But please dont ever make one using only sms language.) Et tu, emu?

And just like that. The last letter dropped into place. TGFC (Thank God For Crosses). Without them, I’d never have gotten through the grid. As overseas solvers, the cryptid and I have a lot of fun with the nifty buzzwords and the exotic Ameri-arcana. Which is the whole point of doing a foreign puzzle, non? The emu begs to rectify. It says the precise initialism is TGFCW, (Thank God For Crosswords). I stand corrected.

How about: A sing-by-the numbers primer for emus: Learning to fly (but I ain’t got wings.) The emu and I think NASA is on to something: <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/extravehicular-mobility-unit-emu" target="_blank">https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/extravehicular-mobility-unit-emu</a>/

To paraphrase the late, great Douglas Adams*, I love puzzle themes. I love the whooshing sound they make as they fly by over my head. Off to play with my neopet. * A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Right up there with Yeoh’s Everything Everywhere All at Once.

This sent me down the rabbit hole of researching whether I could help rescue Australia by teaching emus to eat cane toads. Or rescue us at NYTXW by inversing that food chain. Sadly, it appears not. Would cane toads be edible once skinned? Maybe with chili? Garlic? Kale? EWGROSS! Happy holiday eve, to all those who celebrate, whether naughty or nice.

An absolute delight to solve. One of my all-time favorites, or am I just cherry-picking? Crossword satori.