Ryan expertly solves the NYT, Wed 3-26-08
After coming oh-so-close to cracking the 10 minute mark last Wednesday I did today’s puzzle in a shocking 9:18. Does this mean I’m getting better at these puzzles? Or was this particular puzzle just very easy? Or is there another, let’s call it a 3rd, element at play? Is there some latent brilliance of mine that is just now coming to the fore with which I can crush mere Wednesday puzzles under my massive brain as if they were brittle, yet delectable, Fudge Stripe cookies from our good friends at Keebler? Perhaps, perhaps not, but, perhaps.
The theme made no sense. Well, the first one, GLENNFREYSEGGS sort of did. The eggs belong to Glenn Frey and it’s also a pun on how he prepares them. Ok, I don’t like it but I’ll let it pass. But the other two. PETERBOYLESSTEW and SAMCOOKESSTEAK are pretty weak. When I think of cooking stew, boiling is not what comes to mind. And, just reading the clue, 7A. Dinner specialty of an R&B singer?, Sam Cooke could have been making anything. I guess steak was the easiest to fit into the grid. Why was there nothing about meat or grilling in the clue? It would have made it feel a little less random.
Other than that, it was a good solid puzzle. Nothing too interesting but it was enjoyable to solve. I’m still out of town and on a strange computer so I’m keeping these entries short this week. I should be back in town on Saturday so Brian and I are still planning on recording the first podcast this Sunday.
