dannmann's NYT crossword puzzle ramblings

thursday, november 01, 2007
larry shearer / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle















difficulty factor: well, i stumbled early... was way too stubborn in places... and almost gave up. that said, i'm certain it wasn't too hard for some to figure out at all.

theme: i must admit i get a bit panic-stricken when that notepad icon is visible over the grid...

boy... that second part... about yesterday... really helps NOW, right?!

so... on with the theme... there are eight (8) clues that are shared by two answers, each from their respective starting points:

• 1A and 1D maintain AVOW, AVER
• 5A and 5D fiddle with AMEND, ALTER
• 10A and 10D rubberneck GAWK, GAPE
• 25A and 25D pair DUO, DYAD
• 26A and 26D dodge EVADE, ELUDE
• 31A and 31D gusto VIM, VERVE
• 53A and 53D it's all downhill from here APOGEE, ACME
• 57D and 57D tore RUPTURED, RENT

well... i' been feelin' like crap of late about all kinds o' things. (see 65A) i fully expect to be back on track by friday or saturday...

==============================

in the "not necessarily explained just by the answer" category

==============================

• 14A part of caesar's boast VIDI (veni, vidi, vici: i came, i saw, i conquered)
• 15A _____ soleil (louis xiv) LE ROI (le roi soliel: the royal sun)
• 16A "the night of the hunter" screenwriter AGEE, james
• 17A first name in daredeviltry EVEL (robert craig knievel, jr.)
• 29A start of a phrase meaning "always" DAY IN ("... and day out...")
• 36A annual parade site PASADENA (california... rose bowl parade)
• 38A stamp letters USDA (united states dept of agriculture... on inspected meats)
• 39A _____ mer MAL DE (french "sickness of sea": seasickness) gee, two days in a row with this expression!
• 41A part of the constitution after the preamble: abbr. ART I (article 1)
• 42A n.f.l coach who was undefeated in 1972 DON SHULA (miami dolphins)
• 49A n.f.l. placekicker david AKERS (philadelphia eagles)
• 50A fast-food franchise that started in s. salt lake, ut. KFC, in 1952
• 64A challenge for theseus, in myth MAZE (for an easy reading synopsis of the story, see: http://greece.mrdonn.org/theseus.html)
• 2D in _____ (form of research) VIVO (latin: "within the living": [experimentation] that takes place in or on a living organism.)
• 7D quod _____ faciendum ERAT (latin: "which was to be done")
• 11D composition of the spanish main AGUA (a general term for the seaways around the spanish possessions [1400-1500AD] in the caribbean.)
• 13D florida _____ KEYS (island chain in southern florida ending in key west.)
• 21D prohibition agents T-MEN (treasury men (agents): "revenuers")

==============================

in the "your mileage may vary" category:

==============================

best clue of the day: 20A "motor trend job"

best answer of the day: 9D DISGUISES

worst clue of the day: 46A "ranch closing"

worst answer of the day: 31D VERVE... and only cuz i wanted 'vigor' and just wouldn't give it up!

keep on keepin' on...

dann

all elements of the puzzle (grid layout, clues, and answers), NYT, NY Times, and The New York Times logo are ©2007 The New York Times

14A part of caesar's boast VIDI (veni, vidi, vici: i came, i saw, i conquered) 15A _____ soleil (louis xiv) LE ROI 16A "the night of the hunter" screenwriter AGEE, james 17A first name in daredeviltry EVEL (robert craig knievel, jr.) 18A some romanovs TSARS 19A runtish PUNY 20A motor trend job ROAD TEST 22A legends GREATS 24A 2002 literature nobelist _____ kertesz IMRE 29A start of a phrase meaning "always" DAY IN ("... and day out...") 34A see 33-down LINENS 36A annual parade site PASADENA (california... rose bowl parade) 38A stamp letters USDA (united states dept of agriculture... on inspected meats) 39A _____ mer MAL DE (french "sickness of sea": seasickness) gee, two days in a row with this expression! 41A part of the constitution after the preamble: abbr. ART I (article 1) 42A n.f.l coach who was undefeated in 1972 DON SHULA (miami dolphins) 44A like tennis balls and dinners SERVED 46A ranch closing? -ERO 47A bowl ARENA 49A n.f.l. placekicker david AKERS (philadelphia eagles) 50A fast-food franchise that started in s. salt lake, ut. KFC, in 1952 51A squoosh MASH 61A nippy COOL 62A benny goodman's "_____ foolish things" THESE 64A challenge for theseus, in myth MAZE (for an easy reading synopsis of the story, see: http://greece.mrdonn.org/theseus.html) 65A be a gloomy gus MOPE 66A radio part TUNER 67A pod holder OKRA 68A something _____ (a wow) ELSE 69A door ENTRY 70A unexaggerated REAL 2D in _____ (form of research) VIVO (latin: "within the living": [experimentation] that takes place in or on a living organism.) 3D concert halls ODEA 4D they're unlikely to work WILD IDEAS 6D goofed (around) MESSED 7D quod _____ faciendum ERAT (latin: "which was to be done") 8D negative connector NOR 9D spy supply DISGUISES 11D composition of the spanish main AGUA (a general term for the seaways around the spanish possessions in the caribbean.) 12D hit the road WENT 13D florida _____ KEYS (island chain in southern florida ending in key west.) 21D prohibition agents T-MEN (treasury men (agents): "revenuers") 23D author jaffe RONA 27D sun protection VISOR 28D all bark _____ bite AND NO 30D "sounds like _____!" A PLAN 32D put to rest INTER 33D changers of 34-across MAIDS 35D cartoon character with feminine wiles SMURFETTE 37D death jokes and such DARK HUMOR 40D lover of tess in "tess of the d'urbervilles" ALEC 43D relative of a cod HAKE 45D wicked witch's home in "the wizard of oz" EAST 48D comic, e.g. AMUSER 52D impersonator's work APERY 54D gene group POOL 55D "i goofed" OOPS 56D delight GLEE 58D don juan RAKE 59D old testament book EZRA 60D cry made with a handshake DEAL 63D savage HUN