Ryan solves the NYT, Wed 9-24-8
Interesting and slightly confusing theme in this Lynn Lempel puzzle.
17A. One of the “dumbest dumb animals,” according to 60-Across (HUMMINGBIRD)
27A. Start of the reason the 17-Across is one of the “dumbest dumb animals” (ITSREALLYTIMEHE)
46A. End of the reason (LEARNEDTHEWORDS)
60A. See 17-Across (GEORGEBURNS)
It confused me in that there was a quip, a bird and comedian and, as I was trying to solve the puzzle quickly, I couldn’t grasp what part referred to what. Luckily, it all worked out in the end and I finished with an ok time of 8:31.
I know George Burns from 3 things: Oh God!, Going in Style and, my favorite, The Sunshine Boys. My mom and I watched The Sunshine Boys about 1,000 times when I was growing up. George was great in it. Worthy of an Oscar? Probably not but still a hilarious performance. “Against you in court, I could win with a cow.” And, let us not forget, the wonderful performance by Walter Matthau. A perfectly cast movie.
Other highlights:
21A. Walton who founded Wal-Mart (SAM). I refuse to shop at Wal-Mart. Of course, it’s easy for me to refuse since there are no Wal-Marts anywhere near me. And if there was? Would I overlook their shady business practices and disregard for their workers just because I can get a discount on a blu-ray player? Am I that unprincipled? [Amanda, doesn't this sound like the beginning of soliloquy-type song? Maybe to the tune of "Who Am I?" from Les Miz?]
25A. Unpaid factory worker (ROBOT). Maybe we should be paying our robot workers. Anything to keep them happy. I would really prefer not to be enslaved by them even though I know it’s inevitable. I would like it on record that I pushed for higher robot wages. Maybe that will help me when I’m thrown before the mercy of robot court. Wait? What’s that you say? My defense attorney is a robot too? No! Damn you, robots! DAMN YOU, ROBOTS! Noooooooooooooooo!
34A. Corn locale (TOE). I put EAR here first. So this went from delicious corn on the cob to whatever the complete opposite of delicious is.
4D. Lousy breaks (BUMMERS). Wow. First appearance of either BUMMER or BUMMERS in the Will Shortz Era.
11D. Imp plus (HOLYTERROR). Also the first appearance of HOLYTERROR. I’m not 100% sure I like the clue. Seems like there might be a better way to word that.
12D. Jon’s comics canine (ODIE). I didn’t understand this clue at all. Is Jon the dude from Garfield? Or does Jon own the comics in which Odie appears?
26D. Something to drool over? (BIB). I really thought this was going to be LIP.
55D. “CHiPs” actor Estrada (ERIK). Erik Estrada, obviously, is totally awesome. Here’s a clip from CHiPs that makes absolutely no sense. But the fact that Estrada can still look cool while taking off skin tight pants is a testament to his total awesomeness.
Next stop, Thursday.
