Ryan solves the NYT, Tue 6-23-9
There has been quite an uproar over the disappearance of the Second Sunday Puzzle in the NYT magazine. To that end we have created a petition for you all to sign that we will eventually send off to magazine@nytimes.com. And you can find that petition here.
On to today’s puzzle by Caleb Madison who we met at the ACPT and is much cooler than the two of us put together. The theme was about different ways to get your teeth knocked out by that guy who hates you.
20A. Slapstick puppet show (PUNCH AND JUDY).
33A. “I’m ready for anything!” (SOCK IT TO ME).
44A. Go get some shuteye (HIT THE SACK).
57A. Yuletide tune (DECK THE HALLS).
So far in my life, I’ve avoided getting punched in the face although I know that could change at any moment. There was a guy in the 7th grade named James who enjoyed punching me in the arm repeatedly until my bicep started to quiver. I would calmly explain to him that his actions were hurting me and that I would prefer that he stopped. I’m not sure if it was the high pitched whine I used to deliver this information or the fact that my Indiana Jones hat was not cocked at the correct angle thus depriving it of its authority but my protestations only served to incite more and more bicep punching. This went on for the first two or three months of junior high school until the fates smiled on me and transferred James and his fists to either another school within our district or, more likely, the bowels of San Quentin. I never found out which but he was never heard from again. James, if you’re reading this, send me a line. I’ve love to catch up.
29A. Kind of tide (LEE). This is kind of a random clue for Tuesday. Shouldn’t it be something like “Popular jeans” or “Fall Guy Majors”?
9D. Co-creator of the Fantastic Four (STAN LEE). For those of you who don’t know, the other co-creator was the great Jack Kirby. It is truly remarkable that such an interesting and ground-breaking series has been given such a crappy movie treatment. This was the book that started the whole Marvel empire and the movies are cheapy, special-effects driven afterthoughts. I vote for a do over.
39D. Worker on a comic book (INKER). INKERs don’t get enough credit and probably will never get enough credit but that’s the way it goes. Here’s Joe Sinnott’s website.
64D. Cup holder? (BRA). Hmm. I don’t get this. Aren’t the cups part of the BRA?
Fun puzzle, Caleb.
Next stop, Wednesday.
