Ryan solves the NYT, Tue 9-23-8
I think the New York Times got their days screwed up again as this Tuesday puzzle by Richard Chisholm was much easier than yesterday’s Monday puzzle. The theme today was:
61A. Where 17-, 29-, 36- and 44-Across often wind up (INHOTWATER).
17A. One risking arrest (LAWBREAKER)
29A. Some seers read them (TEALEAVES)
36A. Sink items (DIRTYDISHES)
44A. Trattoria offering (SPAGHETTI)
Good theme if a little unbalanced as 3 answers wind up in literal hot water and only 1 answer winds up in figurative hot water. But that’s being nit-picky. Of course, being nit-picky is the whole point of having a blog.
Other highlights:
1A. In-box clogger (SPAM). For those of you who have gmail did you ever notice the ads at the top of your spam folder? More often than not, they’re ads for spam recipes. Today there’s one for French-fry spam casserole. I find it hilarious that gmail doesn’t seem to know what spam means in an email context. Or does it do that on purpose?
23A. The “V” in K.J.V. (VERSION). This one took me a while. We’re talking about the King James Version right?
55A. Part of an iceberg that’s visible (TIP). My brain just wouldn’t process this one as I tried CAP and TOP and then just couldn’t figure it out until I got a cross.
65A. Stretch out on a sofa, say (LOLL). Totally valid word and definition but still, bleh. Does anybody actually say, “I’m going to loll on the sofa for a spell”?
1D. Drool, basically (SALIVA). I enjoyed this clue. I also enjoy that, according to xwordinfo, SALIVA has been clued as “Juices” three times which is comically grody.
3D. Teeming, as with bees (ASWARM). No mention of bees would be complete without a picture of one of those crazy mofos that cover themselves in hella bees.
Or a picture of awesome wrestling bees.
7D. Actress Sommer (ELKE). I’m not entirely certain who Elke Sommer is. I do know that a google search for her results in many images that are NSFW. Here is a tamer picture that has Kermit the Frog apparently ogling her bosoms. I hope Miss Piggy was nowhere nearby.
57D. It keeps things on the level (SHIM). Here’s a word I didn’t know. A thin, often tapered piece of material used to make something level. Does shim refer to a specific item or can it be anything? Like the piece of cardboard or napkin you use to stop a table from wobbling. Brian, please tell us the story of you and xop adjusting a table at a restaurant.
For all of you eagerly anticipating Episode #26 of Fill Me In: A Crossword Podcast you don’t have to wait much longer. Brian will be in town for a bit next week and we’ll be recording it on Monday. And we have a surprise special guest.
Next stop, Wednesday.
