Ryan solves the NYT, Sun 7-19-9
Ok, the Dodgers won yesterday which also marked the 3rd time they’ve been mentioned in the puzzle this season. Their record on those days is 1 win and 2 losses. So far, the Dodger/NYT crossword connection has not been so great. Let’s all try to work on that, ok?
Today’s puzzle. Hmmm. Today’s puzzle…by Lynn Lempel…hmmm…I have to say, I didn’t have a great time with this one. I eventually no-googled it but the whole thing was a real struggle. It was just one of those puzzles that I didn’t really connect with and I could never get on a nice roll.
The theme was fine. YOU ARE THERE. The letters U and R were added to in-the-language phrases.
24A. Corrupt financier’s command? (BURY ALL ACCOUNTS). How does one bury accounts?
30A. Mama Bear at the stove? (FURRY COOK). Famous bear #1.
54A. Alpo or Purina One? (CUR RATIONS).
72A. Greeting from Smokey the Bear? (URSINE WAVE). Famous bear #2.
92A. Pumpkin grower’s cry of surprise (OH MY GOURD).
101A. Scheduled activity at a Vegas chapel? (HOURLY MATRIMONY). Pickles and I got married in Vegas by an officiant who worked in a drive through wedding chapel. Classy all the way.
3D. Songbird at an eye drops factory? (CANARY IN THE MURINE).
34D. Sodom or Gomorrah (TOWN WITHOUT PURITY). I’m not very good with all the Bible jazz. I thought these were people. I’d never heard of a Town Without Pity but, apparently, it’s an old movie. Is it also a saying? If it’s just a movie title it doesn’t seem to fit in with the rest of the answers.
So, yeah, this puzzle just never clicked for me. Did anybody else have a similar experience?
Other highlights:
38A. “Catch-22” bomber pilot (ORR). All of a sudden, Bobby’s not good enough?
51A. Word with beauty or parlor (PARLOR). This one drove me nuts. I couldn’t get POWDER out of my head.
53A. Heat (ESTRUS). This is the periodic state of sexual excitement in female mammals. I’d never heard of this which may explain why high school went the way it did.
81A. Singer John with the album “Bruised Orange” (PRINE). Seriously?
97A. Something made in the still of the night? (BOOZE). Oh, I wanted this to be HOOCH.
109A. What drives you to get better? (AMBULANCE). Great clue. Very clever.
Ok, it has now become quite late. I’ve got to get ready as Pickles and I are headed to the Yankee game.
I’m sorry I didn’t like this puzzle more.
Next stop, Monday.
