Ryan was solving the NYT, Thu 11-12-9
Going to be a short post today. I had work coming out my Yazoo River last night. Once I got home, it took me almost 40 minutes to come very close to solving today’s puzzle and another 5 or 6 minutes to search the web for what I had wrong. In my defense, I’ve been up for a very long time.
Speaking of today’s puzzle, it was constructed by Brendan Emmett Quigley Down Under Starring Tom Selleck and, as is the norm for BEQ, it’s great.
I thought I wouldn’t have too much trouble with it as I got the rebus within the first couple of minutes. I don’t know how the name DIAMOND JIM BRADY came to me but it did. There are 5 DIAMONDS hidden throughout the grid. Is there any significance to the number of diamonds or their placement that I’m not catching onto?
My downfall was 17A. Tending to cut off (ISOLATIVE). I had ISOLAT___ and just couldn’t come up with the rest. All I could think of was ISOLATING which I knew didn’t work with the crossings. I came close when I put in ISOLATINE which I don’t believe is a word unless Apple has a solatine factory I don’t know about. That screwed up that whole area and I was too beat to figure it out. Kinda blows as I made my way quite well through the rest of the grid.
20A. Like some fancy soap bubbles (TORIC). I don’t get this. I was trying to think of fancy soaps. I think the only two brands of soap I know are Dove and Lava.
32A. Chapter’s starting point, usually (RECTO). I’m guessing this has something to do with the Bible?
65A. Marine snail (WHELK). Not sure where I pulled this one out of.
14D. Some A.L.’ers (DHS). C’mon! Totally unnecessary! This could have been “Some Yanks” or “Some Chi Sox” or something along those lines.
Really good puzzle today. Whenever I do a BEQ puzzle I feel like I’m way behind him in cleverness, hipness and smartness and it’s always a fun challenge to try and catch up.
Next stop, Friday.
