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Toothpaste with green sparkles / TUE 7-6-10 / Unwanted plot giveaway / Small sci-fi vehicle / Blondie to Cookie Alexander
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Constructor: José Chardiet
Relative difficulty: Easy
THEME: Apple of my EYE — last words of five theme answers can all be preceded by "i" to make an Apple product name: iMAC, iTUNES, iPOD, iPHONE, iPAD
*NOTE: Blogger is eating comments today, and I have no idea why. (updated 7:25am)
*If you want to comment (as of right now, 7:50), you have to do so as "Anonymous"...
*I *think* this issue has cleared up now (updated 4:50pm)
Word of the Day: BERNIE MAC (20A: *"Ocean's Eleven" actor) —
Bernard Jeffrey McCullough (October 5, 1957 – August 9, 2008) better known by his stage name Bernie Mac, was an American actor and comedian. Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Mac gained popularity as a stand-up comedian. He joined comedians Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, and D. L. Hughley as The Original Kings of Comedy. // After briefly hosting the HBO show Midnight Mac, Mac appeared in several films in smaller roles. His most noted film role was as Frank Catton in the remake Ocean's Eleven and the titular character of Mr. 3000. He was the star of The Bernie Mac Show, which ran from 2001 through 2006, earning him two Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. His other films included starring roles in Booty Call, Friday, The Players Club, Head of State, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, Bad Santa, Guess Who, Pride, Soul Men, and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.
It is hot as &$%& here tonight, so you will have to excuse the briefness of this write-up. I have to find a cold drink or ice cream sandwich very, very soon, or I can't be held accountable for what I might do.
My friend Angela just directed me to a picture of today's constructor, who appears to be very, very young. Some people care about this kind of thing. I don't. I mean, I'm thrilled for the kid, but debuts and youth and what not have never altered my assessment of puzzles, and I'm not gonna change things today.
Luckily I don't have to feel bad, as my initial notes on this puzzle are almost all positive. It was too easy for a Tuesday (faster by far than yesterday's for me), but that's an editorial, not a constructing issue. This was my second-fastest
Tuesday of the year (fastest was an all-time record), and I would've been faster if I'd just spelled stupid GLEEM right the first time through (failure to do so meant I had to double back and come at the bottom from the west) (56A: Toothpaste with "green sparkles"). With the exception of ATE DIRT (45D: Groveled) and EATS AT (30A: Annoys incessantly) (not a fan of same verb used twice), and EXLAX (esp. as clued, jeez louise; if you're gonna be that specific, why *not* allow ENEMA as a valid word?), I liked this puzzle a lot. Cute idea. Some people will get their hackles up and squawk about product placement (perhaps by starting their complaints with "In my day..."), but I don't care (much) about such things. Theme answers are solid, and the rest of the fill is actually quite cool in places. One place that is not quite cool is this damned office, so ... moving on ...Theme answers:
- 20A: *"Ocean's Eleven" actor (BERNIE MAC)
- 25A: *Tweaks (FINE TUNES)
- 37A: *Small sci-fi vehicle (ESCAPE POD)
- 52A: *"Get Smart" device (SHOE PHONE)
- 58A: *Blastoff spot (LAUNCH PAD)
- 64D: Storm center ... or, phonetically, letter that can precede the ends of the answers to the five starred clues to spell popular devices (EYE)
Bullets:
- 32A: N.B.A. nickname (SHAQ) — ESPN crawl just now said something about his possibly becoming an Atlanta Hawk next year. So look out for misdirective Hawky clues, I
guess. - 67A: "Boy Meets World" boy (CORY) — during my most depressive time in grad school, I watched this show. A lot. The older brother made me laugh. It got creepy toward the end—too much sex/marriage stuff for (come on) 18-year-olds. Well, sex, OK, but marriage? Jeez louise, again, I say.
- 2D: Uncalled-for insult, say (LOW BLOW) — as opposed to all those insults that are called for.
- 3D: U2 guitarist (THE EDGE) — ESPN trotted out this U2 song esp. for the World Cup, a remix of "Get On Your Boots"—I have watched a lot of World Cup, and I have literally heard that song no times since its pre-tournament unveiling. What was the point?
- 42D: Unwanted plot giveaway (SPOILER) — In "Where Danger Lives," Robert Mitchum gets arrested for being clean shaven in an Arizona town where they are celebrating something called "Whiskers Week" ... SPOILER!
- 46D: Blondie, to Alexander and Cookie (MOM) — had the "O" and wrote in "SON" (forgetting that the guy is Dagwood, not Blondie)
- 59D: 50 ___ ("Candy Shop" rapper) (CENT) — that guy's still working? Good for him.
I'm coming for you, ice cream sandwich.
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter]
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91 comments:
Not all That Easy. Flubbed up on 7D "As am I." Please, who says that? Et tu, Rex? Also unforgiveably screwed up 39 D as "now" as opposed to the correct answer "pdq," which made "escape pod" much harder to come by. Although I needed one, escape pod, that is. Still and all, an enjoyable puzzle, just not all That Easy.
P.S. It's always hot here in Texas, so we always have ice cream sandwiches in the freezer. Think I will have one now. Hope y'all yankee folks have access to some.
@Rex- you want to talk hot, come on out to Phoenix.
We've had heat advisories for three days in a row with temps over 110º.
This was a very easy fill, I agree, for a Tuesday. No problems anywhere. Only got the theme after the revealer at 64D. Rather clever.
Good puzzle Mr. Chardiet. Especially if you are young as Rex pictured.
Good write up as usual.Agree with the clue for 16A. A bit to literal.
Happy Tuesday all. Shanti !
Can't believe I remembered QUARTO from studying illuminated manuscripts, oh so many years ago - and QED always reminds me of Dr. Pangloss in Candide. And when was the last time I thought of Maxwell Smart? ..."Sorry about that, Chief."
What a trip some crossword puzzles are!
Nicely constructed and a joy to do, but then I am a Mac person, kinda like a liberal who doesn't believe that evil exists in the world. wink, wink, @Greene!
I so want an ice cream sandwich now. Even if it's "summer" in San Francisco now, which means it's freezing. I have no idea what they make the sandwich bits out of (and I'm pretty sure I don't want to know), but I love it.
The puzzle: "love" would be too strong, but I liked it. Other than the revealer clue: I'm of the opinion that if I need to leave breadcrumbs to find my way back through the clue, something's wrong. And this was pushing it. But I don't know how one would have made it more succinct.
Blew through this, other than having CODY for CORY. Which left me staring at 45D. Questioned QUARTO (as well I should; I have no idea what dusty corner of my brain I pulled that out of), but I finally changed the D to an R. Ended up with an average Tuesday time for me, instead of the average Monday time I was looking at before that last bit of confusion.
I'm not remotely squeamish, so EXLAX and its clue didn't bother me at all, but I'm guessing a lot of people will be thinking UGH over that one.
Loved SHOEPHONE (I was hoping for the Cone of Silence), LOWBLOW (believe me, plenty of insults are justified) and even OATMEAL. And marveled at that weird bit of coincidence that shows up in Crosswords once in a while that causes the same unusual answer to show up in the puzzle twice in the space of three days: ESCAPEPOD.
Only significant criticism: Two Simpsons clues in one puzzle. Outside a theme, referencing the same show/movie/artist/book/etc. seems gratuitous.
Liked it. Other than the obligatory joke about whether Steve Jobs paid José off, not a lot to say.
Well done, Mr. Chardiet.
Fun puzzle which I did with my daughter. Well, she mostly did while I proudly sat back trying not to give away answers. In the end I only had to help with codger stuff like GLEEM. Do they even make that anymore?
Caitlin wonders why she struggles less with these early week NYT puzzles than with the puzzle in the local paper. Um, maybe 'cause the NYT puzzle is about 100% better written and edited? I looked at the local puzzle she was toiling over earlier in the day and it was an absolute mess. Truly, I have been completely spoiled by Will Shortz and his crew of fabulous constructors.
Today's puzzle was no exception. Sure it was a big ad for Apple products, but it was clever, timely, and well written. I had fun watching somebody else solve it.
Captcha=gadmia. The element of surprise?
Can't believe I remembered QUARTO from studying illuminated manuscripts, oh, so many years ago...and QED always reminds me of Dr. Pangloss in Candide. And when was the last time I thought of Maxwell Smart? (Sorry about that, Chief.)
What a trip crossword puzzles are!
Thoroughly enjoyed this one, but then I am a Mac person - we are like liberals who do not believe there is evil in the world, just very twisted and panicked people.
Maybe they can give away this puzzle with the new iPhone that doesn't appear to work all that well!
Felt like product placement and I didn't get away with one that was sort of Disneyesque, so I'm mildly grumpy (tho not bashful or doc).
But this seemed super solid fill-wise, no UGH for me...and tho I don't like the idea of EXLAX, I LOVE a word with two X's.
Plus must be a pangram, with a quick glance I see two Qs a Z, a J...a K. So even more kudos.
Wasn't ESCAPEPOD just in Patrick B's NYT puzzle Sunday? or was it his WSJ on Friday? That is some bleedover!
And no matter how many times "Get Smart" is referenced in a puzzle, it always brings a smile!
I think next time someone pulls out their new iPhone to show me, I'm going to pull off my iShoe and pretend to call someone.
I'm with ACME - love anything Get Smart.
Having EX LAX cross cleanse = wonderful.
I'm not an Apple person, but I totally loved this puzzle. Lots of good current pop culture, though I've never seen Boy Meets World.
Nice debut. Did it on an iPod Touch. Hope the iScream sandwich helped!
I'm with ACME - love anything Get Smart.
EX LAX crossing CLEANSE = wonderful.
I'm not an APPLE person, but I loved this puzzle. Lots of good pop culture, though I've never seen Boy Meets World.
I'm with ACME - love anything Get Smart.
EX LAX crossing CLEANSE = wonderful!
Though I'm not an Apple person, I loved this puzzle. Lots of nice pop culture, though I've never seen Boy Meets World.
@andrea - iShoe! I love it!
I thought EXLAX was cute - I first put in SCOTT.
Plunked in BRADPITT before BERNIEMAC. Had GLEAM before GLEEM.
Wanted ASSKISSED instead of ATEDIRT, but that wouldn't fit/be p.c. for the Times.
@Rex - isn't it funny, how someone can mention a dessert, and then that's all you can think of? LOL
fikink said...
Can't believe I remembered QUARTO from studying illuminated manuscripts, oh, so many years ago...and QED always reminds me of Dr. Pangloss in Candide. And when was the last time I thought of Maxwell Smart? (Sorry about that, Chief.)
What a trip crossword puzzles are!
Thoroughly enjoyed this one, but then I am a Mac person - we are like liberals who do not believe there is evil in the world, just very twisted and panicked people.
Did the same thing at GLEEM, @Rex.
And ... I'm testing.
Rex, my former employer (at age 16) Carvel has a nice ice cream sandwich. I like Skinny Cows in case you want to send me some.
Not as thrilled with this puzzle as Rex, more on the cranky side with Ms. Shoephone. What I like about it is the use of all the letters (I think and am to cranky to cross check) and some unique fill: Quarto for one.
Had alias for THIEF and BERNIEMAC is an unknown to me; slowed me down midfield. We were a Crest and Ipana family back in the day. Today we are a Toms of Maine (Fennel) family.
Off for the second in my Hep A/B series with a tetanus shot for a chaser. Soccer will save the day.
** (2 Eyes) Fine puzzle, nice debut.
Fun puzzle, I liked it. However I did have EATSAT/ATEDIRT written in the margin.
The only other word I jotted down was SHOEPHONE. Like @Andrea, it made me smile.
Jose Chardiet ... original theme, well EXECUTED!
It is so hot and humid here already, I'm thinking that ice cream sandwich would make a beautiful breakfast.
Testing again–RP
Loved it! Will see if this posts. -- jesser
Ah. Good. SO much to love about this puzzle! As Andrea said, any puzzle that helps me hark back to 'Get Smart' is likely to have enough Grin Factor to power me through. With this one, the grin just got bigger and bigger as I filled the grid.
What did the blind fish say when he whacked his nose on the concrete wall? "DAM!"
The fact that Ex-Lax got in the puzzle at all, let alone as clued, just slays me. Well EXECUTED!
Well, I could go on and on, but work beckons. Dang it.
Relarmed! (What to take when you have a bad case of Relar.) -- jesser
P.S. @ Rex: It's hot here, too. I feel ya, amigo!
Oates and Oatmeal. I can't go for that.
Only Wade can rhapsodize sufficiently to get a grown man off his couch and out to the QuickiMart at midnight for an ice cream sandwitch in 140 characters or less.
Fikink, the tomato, said:
Can't believe I remembered QUARTO from my illuminated manuscripts class, oh, so many years ago...
QED always brings Dr. Pangloss to mind...
And when was the last time I thought of Maxwell Smart?
What a trip crossword puzzles are!
Thoroughly enjoyed this one, but then I am a Mac person (with lotsa CYAN ink cartridges - oops, that was yesterday's puzzle). Mac people are like liberals who do not believe there is evil in the world, just very twisted and panicked people.
Did the same thing at GLEEM, @Rex.
What IS the story on product placement in puzzles, anyway?
Isn't the TOPHIT of the week the culmination of a Top Ten countdown?
Re: Get On You Boots - Perhaps ESPN realized most Americans were like me, in that they didn't know that soccer shoes are colloqually called boots, and wondered why U2's song showed all these people wearing storm trooper boots. Given South Africa's history, it seemed really inappropriate to me.
Fun puzzle, I liked. However I did have EATSAT/ATEDIRT written in the margin.
I also jotted down SHOEPHONE which like @andrea, made me smile.
Jose Chardiet ... original theme deftly EXECUTED! (Is it true your name is really spelled Chardet?)
It is so hot and humid here already it makes that ice cream sandwich sound like it would be a beautiful breakfast.
Joho
Fun easy puzzle. Wanted number one for 47A
Never heard of quarto
Loved exlax clue
Chefbea the BEET
I just commented as anonymous and it was eaten up :-(
I'll try another way
chefbea
Two Simpsons answers. PDQ, PST, PTS, RXS, ADZ --UGH!
well now I'll repeat what was eaten
fun easy puzzle
wanted number one for 47A
Never heard of quarto
Loved the clue for exlax
Chefbea the Beet
I left out STS.
By the way, the blogger didn't eat my comment, so it seems to be working properly again.
Dingos ate my baby, and Blogger ate my comment! Blast you, Blogger!
Short version: I freakin' LOVED this puzzle! -- jesser
I worked with this puzzle last night with my daughter, Caitlin. Well, Caitlin did most of the solving while I just proudly grinned and tried not to give away any answers. She did pretty well and I only had to help her with codger stuff like GLEEM. Do they even make that stuff anymore?
Caitlin wonders why she has less trouble with these early week NYT puzzles than with the puzzles in our local newspaper. Um, maybe because the NYT puzzle is 100% better written and edited than the local puzzle? I took a look at a puzzle she was working on earlier in the day and it was just a mess of crosswordese and cheater squares. I do believe I have been completely spoiled by Will Shortz and his stable of fabulous constructors.
I really enjoyed the gimmick of today's puzzle. The fact that it was an open advertisement for Apple products didn't bother me in the slightest. I thought it was extremely well written and fun to solve.
@Fikink: Everything's for the best in this best of all possible worlds. Of which, if I may say so, Westphalia is the center.
GREENE (Thumbs Up!)
Captcha = gadmia. The element of surprise?
Made it through early in a.m. and easily. Out to Gristedes and back; hot as hades. Don't own any of those devises. I bought the computer only last Sept. Still getting that "Visual verification" notice in the catchpa box.
have commented twice and both are gone:-(
The Beet
this is getting very frustrating. Every time I comment... it goes away
The Beet
every time I comment...it disappears :-( very frustrating
The Beet
Very nice debut, José! No problem with GLEEM, but I had to chuckle because there's an Electric Mint tooth(paste) gel in my bathroom with tiny sparkles and it's made by Colgate. Possibly named for the SHOEPHONE guy Maxwell Smart, it's called MaxFresh with Mini Breath Strips. The strips are really tiny squares... I doubt if it's a TOPTEN brand.
∑;) ArtLvr
I'm with ACME and Joho- love anything Get Smart.
EX LAX crossing CLEANSE = wonderful!
Though I'm not an Apple person, I loved this puzzle. Lots of nice pop culture, though I've never seen Boy Meets World.
CoolPapaD
I'm with ACME - love anything Get Smart.
EX LAX crossing CLEANSE = wonderful!
Though I'm not an Apple person, I loved this puzzle. Lots of nice pop culture, though I've never seen Boy Meets World.
I think it's working now.
http://www.spike.com/video/pissed-jeans-ive/2934266
Commenting is just royally screwed. I can't do any more than I've already done. It'll get better eventually. For now, if you need to comment, make sure you save it, in case Blogger gobbles it. It will initially look as if your comment has gone through ... only it won't. Or it will in one setting (dialogue box) and not in another (fully page view). Who knows?
rp
Commenting is just royally screwed. I can't do any more than I've already done. It'll get better eventually. For now, if you need to comment, make sure you save it, in case Blogger gobbles it. It will initially look as if your comment has gone through ... only it won't. Or it will in one setting (dialogue box) and not in another (fully page view). Who knows?
rp
Commenting is just royally screwed. I can't do any more than I've already done. It'll get better eventually. For now, if you need to comment, make sure you save it, in case Blogger gobbles it. It will initially look as if your comment has gone through ... only it won't. Or it will in one setting (dialogue box) and not in another (fully page view). Who knows?
rp
This one went down PDQ.
I purposely avoided reading the revealer clue just to see if I could get it by myself and I did.
Funny that in this shameless Apple ad Palms snuck into the SW corner.
Agree that Top Ten doesn't seem to me to be the culmination, No. 1 is.
@ andrea, I love the image of you whipping off your shoe to make a call. I hope your victim gets the joke. Two Ponies
It's not April 1, is it?
i'll try again. They say the 4th time is the charm???
Chefbea
The EYE of the storm should have been in the middle.
Other than that, an easy-breezy FUN Tuesday.
i'll try again
chefbea
(Trying to re-post my post from 5 a.m. - insomniac):
@andrea - iShoe! I love it!
I thought EXLAX was cute - I first put in SCOTT.
Plunked in BRADPITT before BERNIEMAC. Had GLEAM before GLEEM.
Wanted ASSKISSED instead of ATEDIRT, but that wouldn't fit/be p.c. for the Times.
@Rex - isn't it funny, how someone can mention a dessert, and then that's all you can think of? LOL
No one doubts your journalistic integrity, Rex. You're the most respected guy in puzzles. But speaking just for myself, I always like your blogs that give some insight into the constructors. You seem to know everyone in the biz. I think it's interesting that this constructor is young and knowing that enhances my experience because it's fun to look for ways that a constructor's background might influence the puzzle design.
Karen
Comment #1 (AFAIK) was mine except blogger ate it. Didn't have much to say except the obligatory joke about the Steve Jobs payoff.
Good job, José.
I have just two words concerning ice cream sammiches ;Mississippi mud bar.
Heaven in brick form .
Loved the puzzle, read a great article on the kid ,hope he does another.I must say that in today's culture, if the word exlax gives you pause , you are a big squeamish prudie pants. I know that a big part of Will's charm is his mid-western mildness, but I think the puzzles could be so much more flavorful with a little more edge. Honestly, the whole breakfast test concept seems very silly to me.
I have just two words concerning ice cream sammiches ;Mississippi mud bar.
Heaven in brick form .
Loved the puzzle, read a great article on the kid ,hope he does another.I must say that in today's culture, if the word exlax gives you pause , you are a big squeamish prudie pants. I know that a big part of Will's charm is his mid-western mildness, but I think the puzzles could be so much more flavorful with a little more edge. Honestly, the whole breakfast test concept seems very silly to me.
Wobbly conspiracy theory dept.
OK, so a-whatevers on Monday, i-whatevers on Tuesday. The pattern slowly, inexorably emerges. Wednesday is either e-, o- or u-day. If the Shortzmeister is doin' every other vowel, it could be a M&A nirvana puz tomorrow: [drumroll] U-DAY.
Puz theme & fill = ithumbs up.
Will keep this short, in case I get "royally screwed". In which case, ignore all the above.
Noooooooo....My comment... My precious precious comment....:-(
Oh for Pete's sake
Well, I don't mind the product placement; He cleverly embedded his negative opinion about these devices hidden in the northeast and southwest corners. DECOR and EXLAX notes that they are pretty but full of sh*t; and SLEEK and TARDY indicates that they are pretty but are very slow. :) I enjoyed the puzzle, José! Keep 'em coming.
Dough
How embarassing!!! I'm as red as you know what.
Not only were all the comments eaten...they were then thrown up.
Must be the EXLAX effect.
Some Prim & Proper, over at Wordplay, took exception to 8D appearing in the puzzle...how repressed is that?
Congrats to this truly wordy young man...Yes way, Jose!
EXLAX was my favorite part of the puzzle! (And that's from an iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad owner!)
Add me to the Get Smart bandwagon as well. Still one of the smartest shows on TV.
The comments seem to be functioning the same way the old cone of silence always did. Oh, No, Max! Not that.
Lots of fun today, but very easy, I agree!
One thing I noted (which I am sure was unintentional, but appealing to a pattern-nerd like me) was that the five main answers were of the form:
6-3 (Bernie Mac)
4-5 (Fine Tunes)
6-3 (Escape Pod)
4-5 (Shoe Phone)
6-3 (Launch Pad)
Whatever - brief but very enjoyable! :-)
Since having been banned in WP due to my UN-PC ways, I figured ALPACA my bags and mingle among the more down-to-earthy types over here at Rex'es place, I hope the regulars here regard me as simply one of their own...without our ever having to rely on 16A!
Also wanted cone of silence bad enough to try for a one word rebus.One word for 16 A is ugh! (still pretty funny) seen quarto a lot in puzzles and is the most common size after all1 Be nice to Blogger he has an upset tummy
Did Blogger eat too much at the BBQs this weekend? Is it a Bloated Blogger?
I see that EXLAX also crosses oatmeal- OATBRAN was my first fiber of choice.
Missed it by that much
The problem with the Mississippi Mud bar is the same problem with the Neapolitan ice cream sandwich and the Sunday puzzle: They're too big and they inevitably leave your fingers tacky (Rex's characterization of when the cookie gets its stickiness on your fingers. In a perfect ice cream sandwich, the cookie holds out as long as the ice cream sandwich does, leaving no trace of itself.)
"Quarto" is a word commonly used when one discusses Shakespeare. He wrote plays to be acted, not to be read. Some of his plays were eventually recorded in folios; some were recorded in quartos. "Folios being large, tall volumes and the quartos smaller and squarer." Most of his plays were recorded in both and they differ significantly from each other (eg King Lear). There are very few plays of Shakespeare where there is any sort of definitive edition available.
@Mac -- your boys are looking good.
Sure can't join the love-fest on this one: all those a $^@# crossing names in the NW. Managed to guess almost all, but what fun is that?
Ended with one mistake - which is the constructor's not mine IMHO: one logs IN to Facebook, one does not log ON to Facebook (just checked, I never us the thing myself). Since NEI is just as good a "name" as NEO there was no cross-check for that. Bah!
@David from CA - aside from the fact that many people use "log in" and "log on" interchangeably, just as "login" and "logon" are used interchangeably.
I googled and saw many references to there be no legitimate difference, except one particular tech forum where they indicated a subtle difference as follows:
One can log in to a service simply to log in, such as logging in to an Instant Messenger but not actually talking to anyone, simply having it on in case someone wants to get a hold of you.
One would log on to not only log in, but also make immediate use of whatever it is they were logging into (ie logging into messenger and sending a message).
By this analysis, the clue and answer would be correct as well, as "using" Facebook would require you to "log on."
@all
sorry for the horrendous grammar in my last post. I think I was having some sort of mental-breakdown.
@Mac congrats!!!
Late from the Left Coast, where the temperature now is in the 70's -:). Having spent most of my life in NY/NJ, I think here is perpetual vacation land; social and cultural events keep going through the summer where they tend to shut down Back East. We have only two seasons: early spring and late spring (now).
I slogged through the jumble of this blog, as well as the Wordplay blog (including the constructor's comments), but found no mention of the remarkable phenomenon that the Apple products appear in the order of their introduction:
20A 1998 iMac
25A 2001 iTunes
37A 2002 iPod
52A 2007 iPhone
58A 2010 iPad
Chances are 1 in 120 that this is random, so why didn't anyone (especially José Chardiet) mention it?
More kudos -- and please apply to Cal, José!
Lurking Larry
@ David from CA - I agree with the log in - log on analysis presented by The Big E. What he left out, and this is my advice to you, is that if there is an ambiguity you just live with it and allow the constructor the flexibility. Kinda like poetic license.
People have complained about EYRIE/AERIE, CZAR/TSAR, wanting ONE to be declared correct. Ain't. Gonna. Happen.
@Rex - I consider ate/eat a mini-theme.
This was not as easy for an oldster, but I was proud of myself for getting the theme and the i-dea;
and of knowing the 2 rapper clues. And I don't even have to listen to the stuff!
I have friends who still don't have cell phones or are on the internet.
I actually remember GLEEM.
Did not know JUDE Apatow. His earliest movie was 1991.
Also, never heard of CORY for same chronological reason. Took a stab at TOnY at first.
Couldn't bear to see the Matrix.
Didn't realize BERNIEMAC was in the new Ocean's 11. I was a bit ashamed I hadn't noticed his sarcoidosis as a reason for his bulging eyes.
@Robin - as do I. I'm always searching for the mint chocolate sandwiches. Whenever I complain about heat, Hubster talks/brags? about his time in the service at Camp Sam Houston. When the temp/humidity reached 90/90, they were allowed to unbutton their top shirt button.
I'm convinced his Sicilian genes help him out in the heat.
But, HaHa, he has to take those lactose pills to eat ice cream. By the way, I look exactly like my avatar.
@Jen of CT - wanted "sucked hemorrhoids" for the butt mini-theme. Just kidding.
Glad I didn't try to LOG*N earlier, as I'd be paranoid. Or more paranoid.
Go Oranje!
@ David from CA, I knew it was either "in" or "on" but waited for the cross. Keanu's role may not be Crosswordese 101 but it's close. Just put him in your memory bank because he will reappear. Sorry but no sympathy.
@Lurker0, Nice pick up on the chronology. Cool.
If you have an answer that is Mom it's fun to comb through my funny pages archives to find it.
I liked this puzzle and I especially like it when the revealing clue is at the very end.
Gotta run, my shoephone is ringing.
Fun puzzle today. All has been said about that. The comments are hilarious. There was something weird with the LAT blog comments too, this morning.
@Lurker0 Also on the left coast. I'm embarrassed to say I slept under a down comforter and wore a sweater until noon. We'll get our just desserts soon.
Lurker0, great catch.
Jose, take credit man and I'll throw in an extra star... for a Skinny Cow.
Oranje boven!
Liked this puzzle a lot, and had no problem with Exlax at all, or without, for that matter
Noticed the second espacape pod, quarto was somehow known, and I love alpaca wool.
I'm flying to Holland tomorrow evening, and I'm looking forward to a great World Cup party at my sister's on Sunday! Packed my orange shirts and sweaters (never know how the weather will hold up there....). Tomorrow Ulrich will find out if his team is going to be in the final. He's actually predicted this all along.
I must have been thinking escapade!
@mac - Bon Voyage and good luck for your team! See you at the Lola puz whatever!
Fun puzzle -- I really was curious until the reveal as to what the theme was!. And even funner write-up by Rex!
OMG! -- I have, as is my standard practice, read all previous comments before entering my own. I hope I have missed all of the technical problems!
[Went to the beach today but didn't have the Times with me for unimportant reasons, did the puzzle in short order when I got home. An ice cream sandwich would have been nice at the beach today!)
All of today's comments were sent to my Blackberry as individual messages. What's up with that? Blogger hinting that I need an iphone?
@BigE, @Larry the Lurker,
How wonderful, the chronology, AND the balanced letters!
Really fantastic and ulrich would really have appreciated that,, but he prob has World Cup on his mind.
I also noted earlier that PALMS may have been a nod to the competition...or reading too much in to young Jose's puz?
If this repeats umpteen times, all I can say is "Sorry about that, chief"
Balanced letters = Coincidence
Chronology = Intentional
Thanks for the great comments, everyone!
-Jose C.
@Jose C.: Very well-done and thanks for stopping by.
From syncity - guess something during the five weeks leading up to syndicate publication EATSAT clue fonts bec my newspaper anyway contains no italicized clues. Actually, doesn't really make much difference as the "i" popular devices are obvious anyway...
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