Ryan solves the NYT, Sat 11-22-8
Well, as so often happens here on R&B Solve Xwords, I spent so much time solving the puzzle that I didn’t leave much time to blog about it. (I think I need to get a laptop.)
Today’s Frank Longo puzzle was a toughie but not impossible. I enjoyed how the black squares formed an open mouth that seemed to be laughing at me as I loaded up the puzzle. This one took me about 12 hours to figure out (there was some sleeping, eating and xbox-playing in the mix as well). I technically no-googled it although Pickles helped me out with a big one (AMERICAN TABLOID) and Brian helped with a few as well (STRUDEL) and reminded me that Robin Goodfellow is Puck and not Robin Hood which helped a great deal with SPRITES.
To be honest, I’ve never heard A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH before. Is that the same as AN EYE FOR AN EYE?
And I’ve always heard it as SETS ON A PEDESTAL not PUTS ON A PEDESTAL.
But these are mere quibbles about an excellently constructed puzzle. We had yet another Simpson’s reference (DOH) and someday I’ll immediately recognize clues like Be transformed? (ARE) for what they really are. Today it only took me a few hours.
Ok, that’s all I have time for today. Again, a new episode of the podcast will be up on Monday.
Next stop, Sunday.
