Ryan solves the NYT, Mon 9-29-8
I had my second ever sub-five minute time with this Sharon Delorme puzzle despite being completely stuck for the first 20-30 seconds up on the top left.
4D. Pacific island in major W.W. II fighting (OKINAWA). I put IWO JIMA here which totally screwed the whole thing up. If I hadn’t spotted the gimmie of 17A. Actress Spelling (TORI) I might still be doing this puzzle.
I enjoyed the theme a great deal. I’m not 100% sure what the term is for words that are spelled the same but pronounced differently. I think it’s homograph but if anybody knows a more accurate term please chime in.
18A. One who embroiders a waste conduit? (SEWERSEWER). This is the most interesting person of the group. I’d like to meet the hobbyist who spends their time embroidering aspects of the sanitation infrastructure. I just did a google search for embroidered sewer and if this person is out there they have not yet established an internet presence.
26A. Sketcher of a bureau compartment? (DRAWERDRAWER)
47A. Presenter of a bathroom stall? (SHOWERSHOWER)
60A. One pulling a tall structure? (TOWERTOWER)
Other highlights:
1A. It may get a licking after lunch (OREO). You would think after all these puzzles that I would immediately think OREO after reading the clue. Not so. I was clueless until I got a cross or two.
65A. Put up with (ABIDE). You know those cheeseballs you buy when company comes over? They’re a big baseball sized hunk of processed cheese rolled in nuts. I love them but my wife cannot abide them. For those of you who can abide them here are some delicious recipes.
49D. Many men’s hairlines do this (RECEDE). I did not enjoy this clue or answer at all. I think the clue should be change to something like “Many men’s hairlines unfairly do this” or “Here’s something your hairline does that sucks” or “No matter how many creams or pills you buy the universe will still make your hairline do this as part of some cosmic joke” or “Sonofabitch!”
51D. Actor Damon and others (MATTS). Well, I was going to post a video of Matt Damon’s views on Sarah Palin but for reasons not entirely clear to me I’m trying to keep the blog as nonpartisan as I can. Although I encourage people to rant and rave in the comments. So, instead, here’s Matt on Letterman doing an impersonation of Matthew McConaughey.
As you may recall the Dodgers were mentioned twice in Sunday’s puzzle. They lost the last game of the regular season so they are now 5-3 when mentioned in the puzzle. Next season I’ll start from opening day so the results will be much more scientific. The Dodgers start the playoffs in Chicago on Wednesday. Because the scheduling gods hate me, game time is at 6:30pm ET. Right when I’m at work. Pain in the ass. If anybody out there knows how to get TBS over the internet please let me know. I’m somewhat desperate.
Next stop, Tuesday.
