Ryan solves the NYT, Thu 7-2-9
Did I get the date right this time? I hope so.
I’m grumpy for two reasons. One, I was once again busy all night at work and barely had time to do the puzzle. Bee, this puzzle ended my no-google streak in a manner I did not appreciate.
The puzzle is by Elizabeth C. Gorski and the theme is GERTRUDE STEIN. Figuring that out took me while as I could only think of Gloria Steinem who is not a poet. At least, not a published one. The puzzle featured a mini-rebus of Rose IS A Rose IS A Rose IS A Rose. All that was well and good. Not my favorite theme as poetry and I don’t normally comingle.
What I had a problem with was the general area featuring DO RE MI and a lot of other nonsense. Yes, I understand that DO RE MI is slang for money but the clue, “Cabbage” is also slang for money. I wasn’t expecting a slang term to beget a slang term. Since the clue was slang I was hunting my brain for a non-slang term for money. Little did I know I had embarked on a fruitless exercise.
The crosses were no help:
41A. “Spring ahead” hrs. (DST). Isn’t daylight savings time in the Winter? Isn’t the Spring and Summer daylight spending time? There’s lots of sunlight in the Summer. Why are we saving it?
62A. That is (IDEST). Yes, IDEST shows up in crosswords a lot. No, I do not know what it means. Is it Latin? Use it in a sentence.
59A. “___ X” (2003 Lisa Kudrow film) (MARCI). There are three main reasons why I should not be expected to know this answer.
- Why on Earth would I pay money to see Kudrow’s ditzy blonde shtick when I can see it for free on any of the 8 daily reruns of Friends?
- Why on Earth would I see anything with Damon Wayans in it?
- Why on Earth would I see anything directed by Richard Benjamin, a member of that odd fraternity of directors who, based on the merits of a respected acting career and moderate initial success behind the camera, are given wads of money to make the most horrendous movies imaginable. Others in the brotherhood include Leonard “Funny About Love” Nimoy and, most distressing of all, Sidney Poitier, an elegant and extremely talented actor who, nonetheless, has helmed absolute garbage like Fast Forward and Ghost Dad.
So, really, I had no chance at figured this section out. But, what can you do? Those are the breaks. I see Doug Peterson, Crossword Gentleman and Man About Town solved this in 4 minutes and change so, clearly, it was solvable. Just not by me.
That, unfortunately, is it for today. Sorry for the grumpiness. I’ve got to grab some shut eye as Pickles and I are leaving for Martha’s Vineyard in just a few hours.
Have a wonderful July 4th everyone. Brian will take everyone through the weekend and I’ll be back next week.
Next stop, the beach.
