MExpat
Germany
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Germany
I enjoyed it. I like a theme. I like a themeless. I like a rebus. I like no rebus. I like elegant. I like corny. Mainly, I like words. I'm glad constructors are willing to puzzle us - seems like something of a thankless task. I imagine it is a lot of work for not much glory. If that makes me easy to please, then guilty as charged. Since in life I am hard to please - just ask my family - it makes a nice break from reality.
On the subject of "too easy" vs. "too hard", I dub this the perfect Tuesday puzzle.
I really enjoyed it. Hope I'm not a minority of one.
Thought this was fresh and clever. Also, I consider no oreos and SSNs and no mangled English to be a bonus.
Absolutely not on my wavelength.
To the constructor: I loved this puzzle. Sorry the tech glitch is dominating the comments.
My years of patience (not sure how many) are finally paying off. I got the theme and used it to solve one of the other clues and finished with no look-ups. I'll get through a Saturday yet.
I have come here to say that blackboards are not obsolescent and where they have been made so, they should be brought back. I am an English teacher and, as they say, you can have my beautiful and beloved six-panel blackboard when you have pried it from my cold dead hands. Does it malfunction? Never! Does it require electricity? Of course not. Does it enable the students to watch their teacher writing in cursive or drawing a picture with all the subtle shading that chalk allows? Well, naturally. Do students zone out less because the teacher is actively creating (drawing diagrams and mind maps in real time, for example, with the possiblity of dropped chalk and hilarious mistakes) rather than pressing buttons and clicking a screen? Indeed they do. Does one need to spend valuable time learning how to use it? No. Keep the blackboard and real education alive. Oh, and students should have paper, pens, B2 and coloured pencils, not computers. See above.
@Mike But the "downs" make no sense then. I was quite pleased with myself when I cottoned on to the trick.
@Chris Enjoy it and perhaps realize that the victims of tragedy have other things on their minds than the NYT crossword. A donation to relief efforts would also be useful, which overreacting to words, phrases, and puns is not.
Really enjoyed this one. As an English teacher of German pupils, I have spent many a lesson coaxing them through sentences such as, "Although she was tough and thorough, she was not tough and thorough enough to get through the rough slough without a cough." They take it with good humour, for which I admire them.
@Jake G I like Mike! Also, I like it when people pun back. If you can't be playful on a wordplay chat, where can you be?
I would like to posit that there is a big difference between snuggling and canoodling.
@Ken Just another kind of trivia. Some people know sports teams, some know rap music, some know obscure actors, and some know basic words in several languages. Why shouldn't language nerds be thrown a sop once in while.
Snorri! Yes! It's not often I get to make use of my literary education in the crossoword.
Breezed through it. No longer feel like a beginner.
@Sam Lyons Agree. A year ago, I could never get more than a few words on Saturdays. I remember ten hits being a thrill. Now it's still a bit up and down, but I'd say solving 2/3s with no lookups is average for me. It's like grandma's baking: You get better with time although it's hard to explain exactly how.
@Andrzej I got all of the headlines except the one you cite just from the years in the clues and a few crosses, but otherwise I had the exact same experience as you, and finally just looked at the answer key. I share your question about SAL soda. I think HBCU is a gimme for most Americans. It stands for historically black colleges and universities, and Howard is the most famous one.
@Susan Rodriguez In Germany, it's definitely always Habsburg, but the anglicised Hapsburg is quite common in the English-speaking world.
@Eddie Here to support Eddie against his detractors.
@Richard I am not usually a complainer, but I completely agree.
Very fun! I don't usually get much on Fridays, but this one charmed me and breezed by. Will be interested to see if regulars find it "too easy for a Friday."
The fact that I read the clue as "Will rugby go to the prom with me" kept me confused, even when I recognize all the answers.
Absurdly pleased with myself for solving this one. Great start to the day. The cleverness of the creator astounds me.
Loved this. Almost every clue was right up my alley. After viewing the comments below, I should perhaps own up to being female and of the everyone-lighten-up persuasion.
Altogether satisfying puzzle for my taste. Always happy to get a Sunday with no look-ups. Had to work for it, though.
Would just like to say that I don't find "Dash it!" to be weird or difficult. Also, it emerges from fairly easy crosses.
@Zack Give up the obssession with streaks and the problem goes away. Otherwise, grin and bear it is the only solution. Your subscription fee does not include curated content. All of us who pay have to put up with puzzles and clues not to our taste. It comes with being part of a community.
My best Friday so far. I got about 80% filled without lookups. To the best of my recollection, I've never solved a Friday or Saturday without help, but my day is coming!
@Charles Probably, but I still teach this distinction to my students. Some dictionaries also define enormity as the state of being huge,which is a shame, as the original meaning is becoming lost and has no replacement. Personally, I think American dictionaries are too quick to include what used to be considered improper usage as standard. It's why I prefer the Oxford Learner's Dictionary although it's not aimed at native speakers.
So clever! Really enjoyed this one. Bonus for me: no look ups, which is still rare enough to give me a lift.
@Grant Although I am an English teacher, I am not picky about crossword clues. A little transgressive language behaviour adds spice to the mix and often elicits a smile or even a guffaw, which is good for our health.
@Francis Well, living in Europe does not really remove us. It's a global world now, and destabilisation is coming for all of us. What we make of it remains to be seen.
@Liz B Though a girl, I never could figure out how to play with dolls, but Barbie dolls were the worst. My best friend had a large collection and I remember stitting there glumly wondering what on earth I was supposed to do. I had more luck with Raggedy Ann, whom I would prop up next to me and then read stories to her.
@Nom De Plume If I may indulge in a bit of snobbery: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory should be read and not seen.
So clever! And only two look-ups for me, which puts me in a good mood.
@D P I think I have a nit in almost every puzzle I solve, but I mostly consider them my own pet peeves so rarely share them. Thanks for sharing your delight instead.
@Maia I always grumble to myself, "Just wait untli I make my literary reference puzzle." ;)
@Edward Rice I find your comment puzzling, as I rarely use my reasoning skills in solving a crossword, but today they were badly needed.
@Andrzej I also had a tough week, solving only Monday and Tuesday with no help. Today's puzzle required more look-ups than I've done on a Sunday in a long time. Too much trivia that was not in my bailiwik!
Solved my first Friday! Also: Did anyone else have poop for #2 til the dire last minute?
@Daryl I think someone needs to loosen up a little.
@Jake Jortles Shows how different people's frames of reference are. Bottom left was smooth for me, but I found the bottom right infuriating, which was ironic, since I am a more than casual beer drinker.
Admire and enjoyed this puzzle. Was tempted to turn on autocheck early on after getting almost nothing on my first pass but persevered and on occasion looked up an educated guess to give myself confidence. Did need two look-ups to get the south-west corner. Nevertheless, a feeling of satisfaction at not having given up too soon and a few cat-that-caught-the-canary moments when flashes of insight occurred suddenly.
Amazing puzzle and a particularly fun solve for teachers!
Well, it was easy for a Thursday but also clever. I enjoyed my little epiphanies and the smooth solve. With puzzles, I just like to take them as they come.