Dan
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First Thursday I've solved with no hints!! I know it may have been a bit easier for regular solvers but I think changing it up tricky-yet-approachable puzzles such as this one do a lot to grow the community. Fun puzzle!
I'm still newish to the community. This is probably only the 2nd or 3rd Friday I've done with (almost) no hints (SISAL/RIC cross was too tricky for me) Discovering the long entries in this puzzle was some of the most satisfaction I've gotten doing crosswords. Well done
Very happy to see "BOCCE" spelled correctly. Bocce is plural of boccia which means 'bowl' or 'ball' BOCCI would be broccioli which is a flower/plant bud (broccoli anyone?)
What a puzzle! Not even a huge Star Trek fan but still accessible phrases to solve. So many other gems too -"please give me a hand!" -He might be carrying a big picture. And the other NON space related clues -Warp-driven -Docking station One of my all time favorite Sundays
@nytimes the answer key links to Aug 15 2008
@Pat Snoop Dogg? He's an Olympian I think
Great puzzle. Really enjoyed the "aha" moment. Crossing of ERG and KEWPIE (???) was my downfall
I solved without grasping the theme but I thought today's clues were top notch. "It might cause unsurprised looks" Just brilliant
Clever! I didn't get the revealer until the last clue. Fun Wed puzzle
So many "aha" moments in this one. Great clueing
I got soli, but "Arias" is a word in English as well. I disagree that it's an example of 'the language rule' If the clue contains "piano" do we need to answer in Italian as well?
Wow. This puzzle was simultaneously very easy and very tricky! The trivia was tough but attainable through crosses. "America, for one" = CONT? is SO TRICKY! Had me on the wrong path until I finally got SNOCAPS
@Wrandy this threw me as well. And I am known for my dri humor
@HeathieJ haha this was my first Mae West answer with as little as 1 crosser too. NYT Crossword alone has given me respect for her wit
Wow! What a challenging and clever Sunday puzzle! Took me forever to figure out the trick until I got "FACED" But c'mon. STRAP HANGERS? Just brilliant!
Some tough names on this one. Had me wondering if this Ted SHIANG character had a STASHE 🙈
Evidently the term for a young Echidna is a Puggle
@Selective Walrus you perfectly described my issues as well. I kept having to scroll through every clue to try to figure out where the "painter" clue was that filled in the gibberish square I was trying to guess. Then just know that one of those letters is definitely wrong. I find it hard to believe anyone could solve this without help
@batech very well put. Between the proper nouns, overall clue difficulty and "evidence" rendering 10(!) answers gibberish, I don't even really believe the editors were able to solve this without help.
Tricky tricky clues yet all approachable answers. (Only 2 names!!) This is how it's done! Bravo Malaika My favorite crossword moments are when I can't figure a word out and finally get it on crossings, and still don't recognize it as a word for a moment. BRAFITTING got me today.
I'm sorry but the blog has become kind of hilarious in its "TRICKY ANSWERS" section. Yes, please explain to me the Spanish word for Sun, and ignore how Britain is a word for Smart, or how omnomnom is an Answer
As a former basketball player, this annoys me to no end. A TIP-IN is NOT "hard to miss." It is done by redirecting the ball off of a rebound from a missed shot, without taking control of the ball, while defenders are trying to prevent you from getting the ball. It is not uncommon for a player to have 2, 3, 4 attempts at a tip-in on one play. A LAYUP is a hard to miss shot. Watch the YouTube video "Andre Drummond Tips the Ball 7 Times in 10 Seconds" and tell me it's a "hard to miss" shot
Can someone explain why "Chess pieces" is "MEN"?
REGNENT/OCTEHEDRA got me. I think I saw Regent. Happy to see REGNANT included in the blog explanations. So many times I feel like OREO/OBOE/ANTE is listed in the "tricky clues" and not the esoterica I struggled with
@Cody this was my issue too. The two Zs in ZHUZH were the only squares I couldn't get
@Mr Dave I think it's when he told the commenter to "shove it"
@dutchiris Beautifully written. But asserting that a mean (average) "ignores the highs and lows" is woefully inaccurate. Anomalies are exactly why averages can be misleading. Median, or better yet - a "trimmed mean" - which ignores top and bottom ~10% before taking the average, are much better suited to demonstrate your point. -An amateur mathematician easily distracted by semantics
Had to guess on Crooner Mel and Will from Waltons I don't even know who either of them are but maybe I'm getting old at 37
Really enjoyed this puzzle. But can someone explain why Era is a gain competitor?
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