Ryan and Brian Do Crosswords

Sometimes I get my hair cut on Friday mornings after work.  I always go to the same place, Astor Hair Designs and there’s always these two guys at the cashier’s desk doing the Friday NYT crossword puzzle in the actual paper.  By the time I get there I’ve usually already finished the puzzle online and I’ve tried repeatedly to engage them in conversation about it.  I don’t want to give away any answers or brag about how I’ve already finished it, but I’d like to acknowledge this shared experience.  Anyway, they want none of it.  I’ve said things like, “Tough one today.” or “How you doing on the puzzle?” or “Ooh, Nothnagel, he makes great puzzles.”  All they do is stare at me and kind of laugh.  So I pay for my haircut and leave.  Maybe they think I’m going to give away answers or something.  The whole thing is very bizarre. I guess the moral of the story is I’m going bald so, eventually, I won’t need to get haircuts and these two guys will be out of my life.

Today’s excellent puzzle is by Patrick Berry.  How does he pluralize his name?  If you see him and members of his family are they the Berrys or the Berries?  Patrick, if you’re reading this please let us know.

Ok, I know I’ve addressed this subject many times before but I feel I must do so again.  Dan Feyer, Winner of the C Division, Winner of the B Division completed his puzzle in 3:35.  How is that possible?  Seriously.  How…is…that…possible?  I solved it in what I feel is a respectable 46:30 but that’s 43 minutes longer than Dan.  There was no single clue in this puzzle that I didn’t have to think over for at least a minute or two.  Dan, what the hell?  Where did you start?  Was there anything you didn’t know?  Or did you just look at 1A. It doesn’t exist and say, “Oh, of course, NO SUCH THING.  I am so much smarter than Ryan it’s ridiculous.  Next time I see him I’ll have to trick him into giving me the deed to his farm. Ha, ha, ha!”  Oy, I just don’t get it.

The puzzle was great with a big open grid in the shape of a backwards S.

12A. Find fault with (COMPLAIN ABOUT).  One of my favorite pastimes.

16A. Bloomer after whom bloomers were named (AMELIA).  The wikipedia entry on bloomers contains this phrase, “a Japanese bloomer is worn over underpanty”.  I may get that on a t-shirt.

19A. Toy from China (PEKE).  Now, don’t get me wrong, I love this clue but shouldn’t isn’t PEKE an abbreviation.

24A. You might grind it out (BUTT).  Just this moment I realized this has to do with cigarettes and not some sort of exercise called Butt Grinding.

25A. Fast hits (LINE DRIVES).  Did you see that Manny Ramirez homerun the other day?  I mean, did you see it?  Pinch hit grand slam on the first pitch.  On Manny Ramirez bobblehead day.  And he hit it into the Mannywood seats.  That was pretty cool.

29A. Musical direction that means “lyrical” in Italian (CANTIBLE).  I’m learning some Italian in anticipation of our trip in September.  Check this out, “un giapponese Bloomer è indossato sopra underpanty”.  That should come in handy.

43A. It gets you up and around (SPIRAL STAIRCASE).  Great clue.  Hasn’t Will Shortz said one of his favorite all-time clues had this same answer? It was by Martin Ashwood-Smith and read, “It turns into a different story”.

48A. Words from one who won’t settle (SEE YOU IN COURT).  This one I actually got pretty quickly.

21A. Company with a tree in its logo (KEEBLER).  I know we’re all supposed think the Oreo is the greatest cookie of all time.  And, yes, it’s quite tasty but if I had to choose I’d go with Fudge Stripes every time.  Fudge Stripes kick ass.

29A. Local or regional Boy Scout gathering (CAMPOREE).  I spent most of my childhood terrified of everything.  Hence I missed out on fun things like Boy Scouts, Little League and the development of social skills.

35D. “___ by Sinatra” (1982 collaborative jazz album) (SYMS).  Ah, I get it, SYMS is somebody’s name.  This really had me confused.

47A. What next? Saturday.