Ryan solves the NYT, Sun 4-26-9
Just finished up a no-google week with today’s Trip Payne ROUGHLY SPEAKING puzzle. You’ve got to hand it to Trip. Two years in a row he’s taken himself out of the ACPT championship by making an error but he still seems to be really good sport about it and genuinely happy for Tyler. Now, it’s possible back home he has Tyler voodoo dolls and a healthy supply of pins but if that side of him does exist I’ve certainly never seen it.
The puzzle was fun with an easy to figure out yet impressive theme. It’s a rebus with every ER and UM shoved into its own square. My favorite theme entry is 62D. 2003 sequel to a popular 1994 comedy (DumB AND DumBerer). Never seen the film but it fits perfectly into the theme. I wonder what came first, the theme or the clue.
29A. State animal of Maine (MOOSE). Has anybody else realized that Gene Hackman has retired? His last movie was Welcome to Mooseport which came out almost 5 years ago. Hey, Gene, do you do crosswords? If so, do you read crossword blogs? If so, are you reading this crossword blog? If so, hey, Gene, keep acting. I think you’re great.
31A. Leonardo’s home (VINCI). I think I may change my name to Ryan daAnaheim. Doesn’t quite have the same ring to it though.
44A. Anakin Skywalker flew on in “Star Wars Episode I” (PODRACer). Hmm, do you fly a podracer? Seems like they just hover a few feet off the ground. Does that count as flying? Does that mean Luke flew his landspeeder? I guess the important thing to remember is that The Phantom Menace destroyed the memories of my youth.
52A. Greeting you shouldn’t say at an airport (HI JACK). This made me laugh and is my nominee for most randomly ridiculous clue/answer of the week.
55A. Baseball Hall-of-Famer George (SISLer). SISLER hit over .400 twice in his career. .407 in 1920 and .420 in 1922. Look at what he’s wearing. How can you do anything athletic in the summer while wearing thick flannel pajamas? The very thought of it exhausts me.
70A. Salon product for flat hair (VOLumIZer). Is there a salon product for bald hair? That’s what I need.
76A. Reading without emotion (INTONING). This is also the technique Gwenyth Paltrow used to win a Oscar.
47D. Paul Robeson, e.g. (BASS). When I see the name Paul Robeson I always think he’s Jim Thorpe. Anybody else have that problem?
65D. Groucho Marx foil Margaret (DumONT).
Dumont: Oh, I’m afraid after we’re married a while a beautiful young girl will come along and you’ll forget all about me.
Groucho: Don’t be silly. I’ll write you twice a week.
71D. Second son of Judah (ONAN). Oy vey, who is this guy? Again with the sons and the daughters and the aunts and cousins in the Bible. I’ll never get it straight.
85D. Rude audience member (BOOer). Not necessarily. Ever been to the Bird Cage Theatre at Knott’s Berry Farm? They used to put on these great live melodramas where you booed/hissed when the villain came on cheered when the hero entered. As a kid I called it the Boo/Hiss Show and it was so much fun. From what I’ve read, they now only use the theater for Halloween and Santa Claus nonsense and the melodramas are no more. Good move. Why would you want to subject your children to a live interactive theater experience?
Great puzzle today, Trip. Tomorrow, Brian and I will be recording our milestone 51st episode of Fill Me In. Look for that on Tuesday morning.
Next stop, Monday.
