Theme: Countdown [with an implied blast off.] The theme fill contains spelt-out hidden numbers in circled squares that decrease as you move down the grid.
Today's theme song --
20 A. "The Mum Hunt" children's author: GWYNETH REES. Gwyneth Rees (b. 1968) is a British author of children's books. Her novel The Mum Hunt won the Red House Children's Book Award for Younger Readers in 2019, and another, My Mum's from Planet Pluto, was nominated for the Carnegie Medal in the same year. I parsed this wrong as Gwyne Threes, which did not help. The hidden number is THREE.
28 A. "I'll believe it when I see it!": FAMOUS LAST WORDS. Said as an ironic comment on or reply to an overconfident assertion that may well be proved wrong by events. The hidden number is TWO.
48 A. Proceed with care: WALK ON EGG SHELLS. Be extremely cautious about one's words or actions. The hidden number is ONE.
55 A. Oscar-nominated film about NASA mathematicians, and a description of the countdown found in this puzzle?: HIDDEN FIGURES. Three brilliant African-American women at NASA -- Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson -- serve as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, a stunning achievement that restored the nation's confidence, turned around the Space Race and galvanized the world.
Of course, the hidden figures are the numbers included in the theme fill. And the count down is to the blast that launched John Glenn into orbit, where he circled the earth 3 times, if you counted up.
Hi, Gang - Jazzbumpa here. This all should have been as easy as 1, 2, 3, but I foiled myself repeatedly. Let's blast off and orbit this puzzle.
Across:
5. Confidence games, e.g.: SCAMS. Deceptive schemes or tricks used to cheat someone out of something, especially money.
10. Cherished: DEAR. Held in high estimation.
14. Monsieur, across the Rhine: HERR. The honorific "mister." in French and German.
15. Verboten: TABOO. Anything forbidden by religious custom or social mores.
16. Nigerian language: IGBO. The principal native language cluster of the Igbo people from Southern Nigeria.
17. "Yes, correct": IT IS. Statement of agreement.
18. "Rhythm of Love" singer Baker: ANITA. Anita Denise Baker (b. 1958 in Toledo Ohio - my home town) is an American singer-songwriter. She is known for her soulful ballads, particularly from the height of the quiet storm period in the 1980s.
23. ID on a map: IDAHO. I was thinking "identification," making this harder than it needed to be
25. Squeezed (out): WRUNG. Squeezed and twisted (something) to force liquid from it.
34. Enjoy Aspen: SKI. Aspen, in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, is a ski resort town and year-round destination for outdoor recreation. It's also known for high-end restaurants and boutiques, and landmarks like the Wheeler Opera House, built in 1889 during the area’s silver mining boom. Our granddaughter Samantha was there in January working in hospitality for the XXVII X-Games. Bad weather complicated her return trip.
35. Food and dining website since 2005: EATER. Eater is a food website by Vox Media. It was co-founded by Lockhart Steele and Ben Leventhal in 2005, and originally focused on dining and nightlife in New York City. Eater launched a national site in 2009, and covered nearly 20 cities by 2012.
36. Enthusiast: FAN. An enthusiastic devotee (as of a sport or a performing art) usually as a spectator. The word is uncertain etymology. It is likely derived from fanatic, a person with “uncritical zeal and enthusiasm.”
37. One-piece shapewear options: BODY SUITS. A close-fitting one-piece stretch garment for women, typically worn for sports. I misread the clue as "sleepwear," adding to my confusion.
41. "227" actress Reed Hall: ALAINA. Alaina Reed Hall [1946 - 2009] was an American actress and singer who portrayed Olivia Robinson, Gordon's younger sister, on the PBS children's television series Sesame Street, and Rose Lee Holloway on the NBC sitcom 227.
44. Get hold of: OBTAIN. Get, acquire, or secure something.
52. Left turn from sur: ESTE. South and east en Español.
53. Jazz pianist Mary __ Williams: LOU. Mary Lou Williams [1910 - 1981] was an American jazz pianist, arranger, and composer. She wrote hundreds of compositions and arrangements and recorded more than one hundred records.
54. Her, across the Rio Grande: ELLA. Female pronouns in English and Español.
60. __ Pèrignon: DOM. a brand of vintage Champagne. It is named after Dom Pérignon [1638 - 1715] a Benedictine monk who was an important quality pioneer for Champagne wine but who, contrary to popular myths, did not discover the Champagne method for making sparkling wines.
61. Flies: AVIATES. Pilots or flies in an airplane.
62. PIN point: ATM. A Personal Identification Number is used at an Automatic Teller Machine.
64. Sine __ non: QUA. The phrase refers to an essential condition; a thing that is absolutely necessary.
65. Type of roof with dormer windows: MANSARD. A roof which has four sloping sides, each of which becomes steeper halfway down.
66. Unjustly deprive (of): ROB. Take property unlawfully from (a person or place) by force or threat of force.
67. Ave. crossers: STS. Streets cross Avenues.
68. __-Dame de Paris: NOTRE. A medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité (an island in the Seine River), in the 4th arrondissement of Paris. The cathedral, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. Construction of the cathedral began in 1163 under Bishop Maurice de Sully and was largely completed by 1260, though it was modified in succeeding centuries.
69. Place for a scrub: SPA. A commercial establishment offering health and beauty treatment through such means as steam baths, exercise equipment, and massage.
Down:
67. Ave. crossers: STS. Streets cross Avenues.
68. __-Dame de Paris: NOTRE. A medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité (an island in the Seine River), in the 4th arrondissement of Paris. The cathedral, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. Construction of the cathedral began in 1163 under Bishop Maurice de Sully and was largely completed by 1260, though it was modified in succeeding centuries.
69. Place for a scrub: SPA. A commercial establishment offering health and beauty treatment through such means as steam baths, exercise equipment, and massage.
Down:
1. Big tuna: AHI. The Hawaiian term used to refer to Yellowfin or Bigeye tuna. Ahi Tuna has a light pink flesh and a flavor that is stronger than most fish.
2. Vietnamese New Year: TET. The Vietnamese New Year observed during the first several days of the lunar calendar beginning at the second new moon after the winter solstice
3. Art form used to create a crane or a masu box: ORIGAMI. The Japanese art of folding paper into decorative shapes and figures.
4. "A Wrinkle in Time" woman: MRS. WHO. A Wrinkle in Time is the story of Meg Murry, a high-school-aged girl who is transported on an adventure through time and space with her younger brother Charles Wallace and her friend Calvin O'Keefe to rescue her father, a gifted scientist, from the evil forces that hold him prisoner on another planet. You can read more about it here.
5. __ Smiths: Adidas tennis shoes: STAN. Stanley Roger Smith [b. 1946] is an American former professional tennis player. Smith is best known to non-tennis players as the namesake of a popular brand of tennis shoes. A world No. 1 player and two-time major singles champion, Smith also paired with Bob Lutz to create one of the most successful doubles teams of all-time.
6. Sugar stalk: CANE. Sugar cane is a species of tall, perennial grass that is used for sugar production. The plants are 2–6 m tall with stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sucrose, which accumulates in the stalk internodes.
7. Somewhat: A BIT. An uncertain small amount. While "quite a bit" is an uncertain large amount.
8. Light-headed creature?: MOTH. A chiefly nocturnal insect related to the butterflies. It lacks the clubbed antennae of butterflies and typically has a stout body, drab coloration, and wings that fold flat when resting. It is attracted to light.
9. Really take off: SOAR. Fly high and fast.
10. Pesos, e.g.: DINERO. Money en Español.
11. Try to find oneself?: EGO SURF. To search the internet to find references to one's name or one's personal information. Well played clue.
12. Cobra pose muscles: ABS. The abdominal muscles. The cobra pose is a gentle backbend practiced from a face-down position that warms and strengthens the spine while opening the chest.
13. Poke bowl topping: ROE. Poke is diced raw fish served either as an appetizer or a main course.
21. The "y" in ily: YOU. I guess ily means I love YOU.
22. "Grossss!!": EWW. Expression of disgust.
23. "No __, ands, or buts": IFS. An idiom used to indicate certainty.
24. Prescott of the Cowboys: DAK. Rayne Dakota Prescott [b. 1993] is an American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He played college football at Mississippi State, where he twice received first-team All-SEC honors, and was selected by the Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
26. Doc meant to protect trade secrets: NDA. Non-Disclosure Agreement.
27. "Family Feud" reruns channel: GSN. The Game Show Network.
29. Midsize car: SEDAN. A passenger car in a three-box configuration with separate compartments for an engine, passengers, and cargo. The first recorded use of sedan in reference to an automobile body occurred in 1912. The name derives from the 17th-century litter known as a sedan chair, a one-person enclosed box with windows and carried by porters.
30. Frito-__ snacks: LAY. An American subsidiary of PepsiCo that manufactures, markets, and sells corn chips, potato chips, and other snack foods. Frito-Lay began in the early 1930s as two separate companies, "The Frito Company" and "H.W. Lay & Company", which merged in 1961 to form "Frito-Lay, Inc". In 1965, Frito-Lay, Inc. merged with the Pepsi-Cola Company, resulting in the formation of PepsiCo. Since then, Frito-Lay has operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of PepsiCo.
31. Symbols in email addresses: ATS. This thing: "@." It is properly called the at sign.
21. The "y" in ily: YOU. I guess ily means I love YOU.
22. "Grossss!!": EWW. Expression of disgust.
23. "No __, ands, or buts": IFS. An idiom used to indicate certainty.
24. Prescott of the Cowboys: DAK. Rayne Dakota Prescott [b. 1993] is an American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He played college football at Mississippi State, where he twice received first-team All-SEC honors, and was selected by the Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
26. Doc meant to protect trade secrets: NDA. Non-Disclosure Agreement.
27. "Family Feud" reruns channel: GSN. The Game Show Network.
29. Midsize car: SEDAN. A passenger car in a three-box configuration with separate compartments for an engine, passengers, and cargo. The first recorded use of sedan in reference to an automobile body occurred in 1912. The name derives from the 17th-century litter known as a sedan chair, a one-person enclosed box with windows and carried by porters.
30. Frito-__ snacks: LAY. An American subsidiary of PepsiCo that manufactures, markets, and sells corn chips, potato chips, and other snack foods. Frito-Lay began in the early 1930s as two separate companies, "The Frito Company" and "H.W. Lay & Company", which merged in 1961 to form "Frito-Lay, Inc". In 1965, Frito-Lay, Inc. merged with the Pepsi-Cola Company, resulting in the formation of PepsiCo. Since then, Frito-Lay has operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of PepsiCo.
31. Symbols in email addresses: ATS. This thing: "@." It is properly called the at sign.
32. Brazilian singer __ Jorge: SEU.
33. Small combos: TRIOS. A group of three musicians. A trio of piano, violin and cello is common in classical chamber music. A typical jazz trio will contain drums, a chording instrument, such as piano or guitar, and a melodic instrument or singer.
37. Did the second leg of a triathlon: BIKED. A triathlon is an endurance multisport race consisting of swimming, cycling, and running over various distances. Triathletes compete for fastest overall completion time, racing each segment sequentially with the time transitioning between the disciplines included.
38. Artist Yoko: ONO. Yoko Ono [b. 1933] is a Japanese multimedia artist, singer, songwriter, and peace activist. Her work also encompasses performance art and filmmaking. Ono grew up in Tokyo and moved to New York City in 1952 to join her family.
39. Texter's "If I'm being real": TBH. To Be Honest.
40. Take the helm: STEER. To control the course of or direct, especially to guide by mechanical means (such as a rudder;) to set and hold to a course.
41. Floor: AWE. Inspire a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder.
42. React angrily: LASH OUT. Express anger by saying or writing furious words about someone or some thing..
43. Nissan 29-Downs: ALTIMAS. a mid-size car that has been manufactured by Nissan since 1992. It is a continuation of the Nissan Bluebird line, which began in 1955. The Altima has historically been larger, more powerful, and more luxurious than the Nissan Sentra but less so than the Nissan Maxima. The first through fourth-generation cars were manufactured exclusively in the United States and officially sold in North and South America, along with the Middle East and Australia.
45. Very attentive: ALL EARS. Listening eagerly and attentively.
46. "You've had enough of my jokes": I'LL STOP. But I never do.
47. Govt. org. with cryptanalysts: NSA. National Security Agency, a national-level intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense, under the authority of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). The NSA is responsible for global monitoring, collection, and processing of information and data for foreign and domestic intelligence and counterintelligence purposes, specializing in a discipline known as signals intelligence (SIGINT).
49. Current event in the Pacific?: EL NIÑO. An irregularly recurring flow of unusually warm surface waters from the Pacific Ocean toward and along the western coast of South America that prevents upwelling of nutrient-rich cold deep water and that disrupts typical regional and global weather patterns. Another clever clue.
50. Zip along: GO FAST. Zoom
51. Fender instrument: GUITAR. Fender produces acoustic guitars, bass amplifiers and public address equipment, however it is best known for its solid-body electric guitars and bass guitars, particularly the Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jaguar, Jazzmaster, Precision Bass, and the Jazz Bass.
56. Hoover, for one: DAM. Neither president nor vacuum cleaner fit. Hoover Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the U.S. states of Nevada and Arizona. It was constructed between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression and was dedicated on September 30, 1935, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
57. Fashion's __-Picone: EVAN. A line of women's clothing made by the partnership of Charles Evans and Joseph Picone in1949. They sold it to Revlon in 1962.
58. "Runaway Bride" co-star: GERE. Richard Tiffany Gere [b. 1949] is an American actor. He began in films in the 1970s, playing a supporting role in Looking for Mr. Goodbar and a starring role in Days of Heaven. He came to prominence with his role in the film American Gigolo, which established him as a leading man and a sex symbol.
59. Amer. capital: USD. Capital, not capitol. The U.S. Dollar -- $.
60. Blizzard sellers, familiarly: DQS. Dairy Queens are an American chain of soft serve ice cream and fast food restaurants headquartered in Bloomington, Minnesota, United States. It was owned and operated by Sherb Noble and opened on June 22, 1940. It serves a variety of its own original frozen products that vary from location to location.
63. C-suite degree: MBA. Master of Business Administration, a postgraduate degree focused on business administration. The core courses in an MBA program cover various areas of business administration such as accounting, applied statistics, human resources, business communication, business ethics, business law, strategic management, business strategy, finance, managerial economics, management, entrepreneurship, marketing, supply-chain management, and operations management in a manner most relevant to management analysis and strategy. It originated in the United States in the early 20th century when the country industrialized and companies sought scientific management. I has one of dem.
So, we've reached the end of another Wednesday adventure. Hope you had a blast.
Cool regards!
JzB
Well, I’d say this was a Wednesday “toughie,” wouldn’t you? There were a number of words, especially proper names, that were beyond obscure, including the first themed answer. But, fortunately, I had an “inkling “ that the words in the circles would be “three, two, one” and that helped me get through some of the obscurities (but not all.) And though SS may disagree, I think the circles were very helpful in solving this puzzle. Anyway, FIR, so I’m not only happy, I’m relieved!
ReplyDeleteGood morning!
ReplyDeleteD-o also fell into that ID trap. It didn't help that he'd WAGged that the Prescott dude must be ZAK. D'oh. Another detour occurred at ICK/EEW/EWW. Today was not Wite-Out free. It all came down to that W in Gwyneth -- another WAG and my final fill. Saw the numbers in the circles, and was familiar with Hidden Figures, so d-o got the theme, for a change. Thanx to Enrique, Brooke, and JzB.
ORIGAMI: "My dyslexic wife calls me ORIGAMI; she thinks I'm a fold art."
EL NIÑO: An El Niño is predicted to form later this summer. Guam may be experiencing the early effects today from Typhoon Mawar with its 130-mph winds.
Good morning. Thank you, Enrique Henestroza Anguiano and Brooke Husic, and thank you, Jazzbumpa.
ReplyDeleteA fine theme song choice to start the review. That song gets plenty of airtime on the rock radio stations.
A fairly easy puzzle with TWO nice and easy grid spanners. HIDDEN FIGURES was another gimme. Great movie with riveting performances.
Didn't know MRS WHO, IGBO, GWYNETH REES, LOU, SEU and ALAINA, but they perped in easily enough. Did know ANITA, ONO, DAK, EVAN and GERE.
Had MOTe before MOTH, jar before AWE, maxIMAS before ALTIMAS, and micdrOP before I'LL STOP.
In retrospect, I loved that clue for MOTH. Shouldn't have glossed over it and been so quick to throw in the e. The hummingbird moths haven't returned to my gardens yet, but then again, the echinacea is weeks away from stemming up and flowering.
Clechos at the "___ across the (river name)" clues.
Type of roof with dormers could have had a number of legitimate answers, but at seven letters, it was most likely gambrel or MANSARD.
JzB, I must note that you consistently have written the most cerebral reviews of crossword puzzles, and I enjoy them immensely. Thank you.
DNF. What day of the week is this; Friday? Really hard for a Wednesday puzzle.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't suss out 23A, especially with Dak and Mrs.Who complete unknowns. Lots of proper names, not to mention Igbo. The theme came easily and this helped a lot with the solve. But what a workout!
Took over 8 minutes for me to get it wrong and hit "solve" as I didn't know "Mrs_ho" and "Sta_" crossing some author of some book I've never heard of (but, hey, it won some award). T
ReplyDeleteAn actress from 227 (really?) + multiple Spanish words + Latin + The Vietnamese Holiday + some Brazilian singer = "Eww." On the other hand, we got to see the words "one" "two" and "three" in circles.... This puzzle, to me, epitomizes why I dislike circles. The trade-off of bad fill for a lacking pay-off.
Oh joy, circles!!!!
Wow!
ReplyDeleteMore than just a countdown hidden in here...
I lost count of the NHOs (Never Heard Of's) that were almost, but quite not Naticks...
Mansard, Alaina, MrsWho? what else might be hidden in this thing?
The Y in ILY???
I Love You?????
An abbreviation found valentine candy heart messages?????????
( I'd like to give you an abbreviated message, but this is a family Blog...)
Good morning all. Harder than the normal Wed. puzzle but I managed to FIR; it was a struggle; perps and guesses to the rescue for the unknowns. IGBO, SEU, EATER, ESTE, ABS & ROE, TBH, MRS. WHO, GERE, GSN, ALAINA, GWYENTH REES.
ReplyDeleteSEDAN- the Brits call them 'saloons', especially the larger ones
Bad clue ANSWER- 52. Left turn from sur: ESTE. If you go "left FROM south" you go WEST not east.
STAN Smiths- leather clay court shoes. " Smith also paired with Bob Lutz to create one of the most successful doubles teams of all-time." I commented a couple of weeks ago about the night when McEnroe first beat Bjorn Borg. The same night Ilie Nastase was DQed (not Dairy Queen) for his behavior. He was playing Smith's doubles' partner Bob Lutz. Smith's only Wimbledon title was against Nastase. My friend's future wife's family had scheduled an engagement party but all the guys wouldn't go because we going to the tennis matches.
Re: sur and este - doesn’t it depend on which way one is facing? I am facing south, and east is to my left
DeleteGood Morning!
ReplyDeleteOne WO: numbers -> FIGURES, but otherwise enjoyed the bottom half of the puzzle.
That being said, sorry Enrique & Brooke, DNF in kinda a snit. Too many unknowns all lumped together at the top, west -> east, so I couldn’t get a toehold on any of it: Mrs.? football player, shoes, language, author, singer, yoga, food, UGH!
Maybe a WAG on some of them, but others not even an AHA moment when I read the recap. Thanks, JazzB, for filling in the blanks for me today.
DNF because I'd never heard of EGO SURF, and during the Nigerian Civil War the American media spelled the Biafran tribe IBO, not IGBO
ReplyDeleteMy sister worked for the NSA, but she couldn't tell me what she did (of course she'd have to kill me)
Thought of ugh and ick before EEW.
Too many obscure names, though perps filled most of them.
o siri m ike
ReplyDeleteJazzbumpa, I believe you will find that your roof illustration is a gambrel roof, not a mansard roof. The mansard roof has four sloping sides and a gambrel has only two. I live in a house with a gambrel roof, typically called a Dutch Colonial. The gambrel roof typically has more space in the attic as most mansard roofs are almost flat.
ReplyDeleteMuch tougher puzzle today. Like DO, I just wasn't thinking postal abbreviation for ID. Didn't know Gwyneth so until I looked her up I was stuck FIW, but felicitations to those who got through that roadblock.
Thanks to JazzB for the analysis today.
Another hand up for not quickly grasping the ID bit. Nothing quite like "hiding in plain sight" I suppose.
ReplyDeleteA Moment In The History of Aspen, Colorado
Musings
ReplyDelete-Seeing Enrique and Brooke as constructors tipped me off that this would be a real challenge
-I’m proud of getting MRS WHO crossing GWYNETH REES
-I did have to learn how to spell ORIGAMI first
-Wikipedia: Today, the Adidas STAN Smith is not recommended for tennis players, but the shoe continues to be an iconic and stylish model for sneaker fans in general and for old school and retro tennis shoe fans in particular.
-Light-headed? :-)
-A very revelatory scene from Hidden Figures
FIW, losing P&P and just throwing in GWiNEWTH x iOU and EATtR x StU. I also managed to miss De NERO, and eGBO was no help. I should have asked one of those Nigerian princes that call me every few days to split his fortune with me and asked him. But it is good to know that I can not only mispronounce in English and Spanish, I can mispel in both too!
ReplyDeleteAppropriate fill EEW describes my opinion of this one.
Did I get the old dad joke here? Why can't you trust ATOMs? because the make up everything.
Our guys called a packet analyzer a "sniffer", but just why no one NOSE.
The only food and dining app I really need is BringFido.com. Only dog-friendly restaurants need apply.
Pepsi kept Frito-LAY but spun off their restaurants (Pizza Hut, KFC, Burger King (I think)) because their beverage salesmen were complaining that potential customers wouldn't choose Pepsi because they would be subsidizing their competitors.
I'LL STOP. Is that really a thing?
Big Easy - In this country, a boat's "living room" is called the saloon. I used to enjoy hanging around big yachts at a boat show and hear the landlubbers show their nautical lingo by calling it the "salon". As much as I hate to defend anything from this thing, I'll defend the clue for ESTE. If I turn to port from my course sur, I go ESTE. Matter of point of reference - from the sur or going sur.
Thanks to JzB for providing some fun for this one.
Yet another one to fall for the ID deception. It took the perps to fill it. First thought was ZAC but then remembered it is DAK; then came the ID confusion. Wrote down the list of DNKs but it is too long to list here. Overall a tough Wednesday. I did manage to FIR but took a looong time doing so. Clever CW, tough clues, lots of obscure names. Thanx for the Wednesday skull-buster, EHA&BH. And thanx for the wonderful write-up, JzB, all the time and effort you put into it is appreciated.
ReplyDeleteI agree...way too many obscure names and terms that I didn't know.
ReplyDeleteBut I loved the theme.
My favorite famous last words are from Union Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick at Spotsylvania when he told him men, "They couldn’t hit an elephant at that distance," a moment before a CSA sharpshooter nailed him in the head, instantly killing him. Well, at least there's a large monument to him at the battlefield location.
I'll second SubG on "beyond obscure". This was a real slog for me, and I FIW on the Natick of the character in the movie I never saw and the author I never heard of the book I never read! Have to file this one in the fun sponge drawer.
ReplyDeleteWell. It strikes me that cws are supposed to be fun, as well as a learning experience. Needless to say, the obscure names are getting ridiculous. When the learning experience overtakes the fun, it may be time to rethink. Since the editing change I think the ladies have decided to have some fun at our expense and allow just about anything that happens to pop up in the puzzle. Even tho folks are trying to be nice and stick within the rules, you can see the exasperation in their comments. I think you will see solvers dropping off if they continue this onslaught. More than enough said
ReplyDeleteHmmm…. I have been trying to adapt as I believe in being a life long learner. I have accepted that the WNBA clues deserve as much attention as the men’s league. I have accepted that the puzzles will have an unknown female author. But honestly the obscurity of todays clues reflects poorly on Patti’s ability as a crossword editor IMHO. kkFlorida.
ReplyDeleteA “midsize car” is not a sedan…it can be anything as long as it’s midsized. Convertible, coupe, wagon whatever.
ReplyDeleteI mean, take a look at a BMW 740 or any E-Class Mercedes….hardly mid-sized.
“an automobile having a closed body and a closed trunk separated from the part in which the driver and passengers sit; a sedan.” is the actual definition. No size.
So in addition to an author never heard of, an actress from a show no one watches, we have an actual incorrect clue.
Again…it must be nice to be the puzzle “editor”. Especially now that no one expects anything from them at all.
Not even accuracy.
Hola!
ReplyDeleteCan't take time to read all your inspiring comments as I'm watching a three year old who is extremely active.
Cute to go from ATOM to SCAMS to DEAR.
HIDDEN FIGURES is such a wonderful movie with an inspiring story.
I'LL STOP for now but will return later when he takes a nap.
Thank you, JazzB. ta ta for now.
Some fill was Monday easy and other parts were quite crunchy. The NW was a problem.
ReplyDeleteI have often heard of A Wrinkle in Time but didn't know the characters. I am not into that genre. MRS.W-O ?? I looked up the H. which also gave me IDAHO. (Great misdirection with ID. LOL.) That gave me YOU. I had misspelled GWYNETH with an E instead of Y. I believe I would have thought of YOU if the clue was all caps, ILY.
I just looked it up. ILY is stronger than ily. I love you more.
So I had one cell that I looked up.
EAT-R crossing S_U seemed to need an E. Lucky me.
I was heading SUR, so ESTE was a left turn.
AT first I misread SNIFFER as SNIFTER, brandy anyone?
I noticed THREE and ONE so TWO was a solid guess for themers.
Thanks for the great info, JzB.
IMO, even when I know or can perp the names, words, including unknown ones, are more fun.
Some sedans are full size.
ReplyDeleteWhat is a good large sedan?
16 Best Full Size Sedans for the Money for 2023 - Ranked ...
Best Full Size Sedans for the Money
2023 Toyota Crown
2023 Nissan Maxima
2023 Chrysler 300
2023 Dodge Charger
2023 Genesis G80
2024 BMW 4 Series
Hand up for having trouble filling today's puzzle. Somehow I managed to fill all squares, but guessed wrong on one, where I put STU instead of SEU, which actually made more sense. Otherwise, the puzzle was satisfying to fill with plenty of "Oh, sure!" moments. Thanks Enrique and Brooke.
ReplyDeleteThanks JazzB for your extensive review which explained my lingering questions. The expression EGO SURF is new to me although I am familiar with the activity.
Tomorrow is another day....
YR, HG - I didn't get the "ily" at first. Had it been "the '3' in 143" I would have gotten it.
ReplyDelete"In 1915, a new assistant lighthouse keeper, Winfield Scott Thompson, came to the Minot’s Ledge lighthouse. His family lived on a neighboring island and could see the flash of the lighthouse at night. According to legend, Mary Thompson, Winfield’s wife told their children that it was the I Love You flash, their father’s way of telling them how much he loved them from across the water."
'1-4-3' necklaces have been sold in nautical curio shops ever since.
Is there any such thing as a "2 door sedan?" I've always thought that most family cars fell into one or the other category, sedan or tudor/coupe (ignoring sports cars, utes, vans and station wagons.)
I also must add that I don't like those "best (whatever) for the money." Although "price" is fairly objective, "best" certainly is not, nor is the tradeoff between "bestness" and price. I will have to admit that I enjoy reading them, though. Like the tabloids in the checkout lane, and about as dependable.
billocohoes -I also remember the Nigerian rulers trying to starve the "IBO" in Biafra. Didn't know it was spelled IGBO and filled it by perps.
ReplyDeleteAnon @ 9:30- going FROM south your left would be west, not east.
Speaking of SEDANS, remember the 'hardtops'? Those cars had no B pillar between the front window and back window. " A hardtop is a car that does NOT have a pillar post (“B” pillar) or framework that is part of the door that surrounds the door glass." 2-door or 4-door and they didn't call them sedans.
JzB leads us through this Anguiano/Husic PZL.
ReplyDeleteProper names all over the place...
Could not for the life o' me remember the title of HIDDEN FIGURES. A good film with an important message, but I blanked on its name. How could I remember MANSARD, but not this?
Must be a sign of something...
Bob Lee @ 10:16 ~. I like that story of Gen. Sedgwick & the CSA sniper! I wonder if the general had ever SEEN an elephant. Barnum didn't get his Jumbo till the '80s.
And I'll bet there was a longer interval than just "a moment." We do hafta squeeze time to make a good story.
~ OMK
____________
DR: No diagonals this week.
Puzzling thoughts:
ReplyDeleteFIR
Didn't fall for the ID; got IDAHO without a perp
Pretty tough for a WEDS
My SEDAN limerick:
Current Taurus Ford offers is full
Of some newfangled features: You pull
On a lever, unlatch
Sliding moon roof. And natch,
It's one option to convert-a-bull
Thank you, Enrique and Brooke, for your puzzle. That ESTE clue made my dyslexic brain hurt. (side note: I had to read D-O's origami joke 3 times before I saw what was happening.)
ReplyDeleteUnusual for me, I enjoyed today's clever fill more than the long clues. FAVs: Current event in the Pacific?, GUITAR, ALL EARS, Light-headed creature?
Thanks also to JzB for your illuminating explanations -- esp. MANSARD, ily, ID, and the movie trailer (I just added it to my library queue.)
FLN, -T. How did you get an early copy of Sip & Solve? Amazon says mine will arrive next Tues.
Jazz, I too read sleepwear but worse, read 41A as 44A so ALAINA for OBTAIN. Finally noticed as I sat down to read the write-up
ReplyDelete(Like D-Otto)DAK not zAK; Didn't know GSN;DAM not vAc
Same dnks as TTP +MANSARD for me
It certainly did seem like a lot of names so I solved around them.
WC
Sheesh. Nope nope nope.
ReplyDeleteHi All!
ReplyDeleteBig Fat DNF. ID escaped me (I was trying to think of a map abriv), didn't know DAK, I guessed GUY NETHERES wrote the book, didn't know MRS WHO. Insult to injury - hand up for STU.
Thanks for the grid Enrique and Angulano.
Thanks for the post-puzzle salve, JzB. I needed it.
Fav: MANSARD 'cuz I learned something.
Jinx - the packet-sniffer was Ethereal (now called Wireshark) and the tag-line was "Sniffing the glue that holds the Internet together."
Sumdaze - I ordered from Barnes & Noble when C.C. announced it. The one for my daughter gets here Tuesday from Amazon, so I'm giving her mine even though the first two puzzles are done.
Cheers, -T