NYT Crossword 07/31/17 (Mon.)

Cruciverbalist: David Steinberg
Editor: Will Shortz

Solving time: 06:06

Puzzle uniqueness:

Tribute to SEATTLE. Various answers referring to Seattle, WA, plus circled squares, if connected create a semblance of the Space Needle.

Words I hadn't known until now: 0

Trivia I didn't know:

EULER - "Mathematician whose name sounds like a fuel ship"

Junk Answers:

WANNA - "'Are you interested in doing this?'"
STPAT - "March 17 honoree, for short"
IST - "Suffix with real or surreal"
LIL - "___ Wayne, rapper with the #1 hit 'Lollipop'"

Clever clues: 0

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words: 0

NYT Crossword 07/30/17 (Sun.)

Cruciverbalists: Isaac Mizrah and David J. Kahn
Editor: Will Shortz

Solving time: 29:05

Puzzle uniqueness: "By Design"

Common phrases with wacky clothing designer clues. (Example: ONPINSANDNEEDLES - Clue: "Title of a fashion industry seamstress's tell-all?") This is another 75th anniversary collaboration betwixt a famous person and crossword constructor. Unfortunately for me, this famous person (Mizrah) is a complete unknown.

Words I hadn't known until now:

TES - "French possessive"
CRECHE - "Holiday scene"

Trivia I didn't know:

ANA - "Funny Gasteyer"
IRON - "With 53-Across (ORE), goethite, e.g." (Never heard of "goethite")
ENDE - "Fantasy writer Michael"
LAPORTE - "Northern Indiana county or its seat"
KYLES - "N.B.A. notables Korver and Lowry"
JAMESIV - "Last Scottish king to die in battle"

Junk Answers: Lots. Here are a few.

EOE - "Fair-hiring letters"
VAR - "'Enrol,' for 'enroll': Abbr."
EDT - "D.C. summer setting"
CSA - "Civil War inits."
INE - "Bach's Partita No. 6 ___ Minor"
TRE - "Quattro minus uno"
HOS - "Christmas threesome"

Clever clues:

HULA - "Shaker's movement?"
BRA - "Support under a tank?"
VETS - "Ones who fix toys?" (I assume this means toy poodles and such)
JEEP - "Way off base?"
TIMER - "Ding maker"
HOOK - "Swift ending for a bad stage performance"

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words:

IMHOTEP - "Creator of an ancient pyramid scheme?"
ORDERER - "One who says 'I'd like to have...'"

NYT Crossword 07/29/17 (Sat.)

Cruciverbalist: Erik Agard
Editor: Will Smith

Solving time: DNF (Four squares, a rap artist and clever clue undid me)

Puzzle uniqueness: 0

Words I hadn't known until now: 

TWEEST - "Most affectedly dainty, to a Brit"
HOURANGLE - "Measurement in a celestial coordinate system"

Trivia I didn't know:

CANILIVE - "'Jeez, why don't you just mind your own business?!" (WTF?)
TUNIS - "_____-Carthage Airport"
ASAPROCKY - "Rapper with a role in the 2015 film 'Dope'" (WTF?)
VENALLY - "Through bribery" (Was not aware of this definition)

Junk Answers:

OOO - "Setting after resetting"
MCI - "Verizon purchase of 2006"
EENY - "Recess rhyme starter"
NYG - "Eli Manning team, on scoreboards"

Clever clues:

YAM - "Orange side" (This one defeated me)
DAYSAILS - "Eschews overnight shipping?" (Didn't know this was a "thing," per se)
SENS - "Political century: Abbr."
DISCOBALL - "One lighting up the dance floor"
TIME - "It can crawl or fly, but not walk" (This one tripped me up as well)
LOZENGES - "Hackers' helpers"
INITIAL - "C.S. Lewis piece?"
EYELET - "Hole near a tongue"

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words:

TWEEST - (See above)
HOURANGLE - (See above)

NYT Crossword 07/28/17 (Fri.)

Cruciverbalist: Robyn Weintraub
Editor: Will Shortz

Solving time: 11:36 (Record time for a Friday)

Puzzle uniqueness: 0

Words I hadn't known until now: 0

Trivia I didn't know:

DUEL - "Ten ____ Commandments (song from 'Hamilton)"
ELLE - "____ Décor (Hearst magazine)"
UNI - "College, in British lingo"
TENON - "Dovetail component" (Still don't know what this means)

Junk Answers:

DJS - "Some party hirees"
ILE - "Land in la mer"
STA - "Platform locale: Abbr."
TSPS - "Alternatives to lumps: Abbr."
OVI - "Lead-in to duct"
NEV - "Home of Paradise: Abbr."
UNI -  (See above)
ILO - "U.N. worker protection group"
AMO - "Word from a Latin lover"
MST - "Tucson hrs."
SSNS - "Figs. in a 3-2-4 format"

Clever clues:

TROIS - "Parisian crowd?"
COINTOSS - "Dispute settler, maybe"
RUNAFEVER - "Have a hot body"

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words:

OBSTRUSIVE - "Meddling"
TENON - (See above)

"Dunkirk" is a treat

I really enjoyed Dunkirk. Of course, I really enjoy Christopher Nolan's works. I can see where there are some out there who won't appreciate his style of filmmaking.

What with our education system here in the U.S. somewhat lacking over the past few decades, I'm curious to see how many in our country have no clue what Dunkirk was all about. For those not in the know, a mass evacuation occurred during WWII saving several hundred thousand soldiers trapped on the shores of France. The shining part is that they were evacuated using private boats that sailed across the English Channel. Some think it's what saved the war for the Allies.

Nolan temporally interweaves three segments of the evacuation to tell the story; however, I won't get into any more detail in order to avoid spoilers. He is quoted as saying this was an experimental film.

I saw the film in IMAX but not 70mm. I plan on experiencing 70mm next week. I really appreciated the sound of battle in the IMAX format. An interesting side note: Nolan screened the film for veterans of the evacuation, and one veteran remarked that the actual war noises weren't as loud! Nolan was amused.

There are really terrific scenes. Quite dramatic. The air battles in particular popped out for me. Tom Hardy once again performed most of his scenes behind a mask. Shades of Bane!

The acting was solid with appearances by Cillian Murphy, Kenneth Branaugh, Harry Styles, and a very subtle cameo by Michael Caine (You really have to pay attention to catch him. I missed it.).

This is an important story that highlights the triumph of the human spirit. I'm really happy that Nolan chose this subject so that we may all have a permanent reminder of one of the great moments of WWII...and in human history.

NYT Crossword 07/27/17 (Thu.)

Cruciverbalist: Jeffrey Wechsler
Editor: Will Shortz

Solving time: 23:56

Puzzle uniqueness:

Answer HOLDDOWNTHEFORT is clue to three other answers containing "fort" in which "fort" is part of down clues.

Words I hadn't known until now: 

ECTOPIC - "Out of place, in obstetric parlance" (I've run across this word in my life, but would never have pulled it)
HAB - "Biblical book preceding Zeph." (Even with the answer, I have no idea what this represents)

Trivia I didn't know:

BEAUFORTSCALE - "*Wind speed metric"
SYNGE - "J.M. _____, 'The Playboy of the Western World' playwright"

Junk answers:

MDS - "Figures on CBS's 'Code Black': Abbr."
TSP - "Kitchen meas."
RDS - "GPS data: Abbr."
TIL - "Up to, informally"
EEN - "Yet, to Hamlet"
HOR - "Old TV knob: Abbr."
RUS - "U.N. Security Council permanent member: Abbr."

Clever clues:

MASCOTS - "Game animals, for some"
ODE - "What might be written to a famous person"

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words:

ECTOPIC - (See above)
REAIMS - "Adjusts one's sights"
ORESTES - "Euripides tragedy"
STAVE - "Fend (off)"

NYT Crossword 07/26/17 (Wed.)

Cruciverbalist: Brian Cox
Editor: Will Shortz

Solving time: 12:56

Puzzle uniqueness:

Knock knock jokes. First theme answer is WHOSTHERE. (Example: Clue is "Esther..." Answer is ANYONEHOME)

Words I hadn't known until now:

HOB - "Play ___ with (do mischief to)" (Must be a British thing)

Trivia I didn't know:

ISRAELI - "Natalie Portman and Gene Simmons, by birth"
LOGIC - "KenKen solver's need" (Have absolutely no idea what KenKen is)
HAIR - "____ metal (1980's music subgenre)" (Never heard of this)
AMOS - "'Chicago' simpleton ___ Hart"

Junk Answers:

AMC - "Rambler maker of old, for short"
MLLES - "Fr. misses"
ODS - "Some E.R. cases"
SLR - "Camera type, in brief"
OTC - "Like some stock trades, for short"
EST - "Ballpark fig."
INIT - "Rolling ____ (wealthy)"

Clever clues: 0

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words: 0

CLIME - "General local weather pattern"

"Valerian" missed the mark

Saw Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets yesterday. It was OK, and I'm sad to say it, because I like much of director Luc Besson's previous works better, and for the $210 million (US dollar equivalent) it took to make, this should have been much more interesting. Unfortunately, it did not do well at the box office its first weekend. I was really hoping for a much more entertaining film.

Visually, it's terrific. Lots of interesting aliens and backgrounds are what make the film. That was nice. I also appreciated the very beginning of the film starting in 1975 and proceeding to four hundred years later. I won't spoil exactly what happens. On the other hand, I felt like Besson was racing through the plot. I had a hard time keeping up with what was going on.

The two main leads (whom I had never heard of) were very weak as well. I think if there had been stronger actors playing the characters, the overall effect of the movie would have been much more positive.

Rihanna had a nice appearance as a shape shifter. She put on a performance within the film that was quite entertaining. I can't end this post without giving a heads up to Herbie Hancock(!) playing a Defence (sic) Minister. Haven't seen that guy in a long while. He did all right. Hey, Rutger Hauer was in it, too!

Overall, the money spent shows well in the visuals, but the main talent was lacking. I have to say I was entertained, and I expect to take another gander at Valerian down the road just to experience the visuals again. And who knows? Perhaps I'll warm to the protagonists upon seeing them again.

This film could turn out like his previous work The Fifth Element wherein it was poorly received initially, but gained in popularity as the years went by. We'll see.

NYT Crossword 11/25/17 (Tue.)

Cruciverbalist: Alex Vratsanos
Editor: Will Shortz

Solving time: 09:18

Puzzle uniqueness:

Answer SPREADTHEGOSPEL clue to four other answer in which four men of the Gospel are included in the answers. (Example: LUCKYME has LUKE spread through the answer).

Words I hadn't known until now: 0

Trivia I didn't know: 0

Junk Answers: Many. Here are a few.

TERA - "Giga- x 1,000"
TSK - "Sound of reproach"
JOS - "Louisa May Alcott's '___ Boys"
ISO - "Equal at the start?"
XER - "Gen ___"
BSIX - "Vitamin whose name rhymes with a car engine"
LACTI - "Milk: Prefix"

Clever clues:  0

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words:

ESCARP - "Protective embankment"

NYT Crossword 07/24/17 (Mon.)

Cruciverbalist: Peter Gordon
Editor: Will Shortz

Solving time: 10:31

Puzzle uniqueness:

According to Dartmouth librarian Laura Braunstein, this is a "morphological reduplication" puzzle, where "an idiom and the names of a person, a brand, and a Muppet repeat sounds (morphemes) in a rhyming pattern." (Example: OODLESOFNOODLES)

Words I hadn't known until now:

ENDASH - "Hyphen's longer cousin"
ANISEED - "Ouzo flavoring" (I've heard of anisette, but not this)
SLABBING - "Applying thickly, with 'on'" (No...just no...)

Trivia I didn't know:

ABBYCADABBY - "'Sesame Street' Muppet with wings and a magic wand"

Junk Answers:

OHO - "'So that's your trick!"
ARI - "'Exodus' hero"
TOK - "TiK ___' (Ke$ha hit)"
SEZ - "'Oh, yeah? ___ who?'"
AMO - "I love, in Latin"
OOF - "Sound that a punch in the gut elicits"

Clever clues:

STOLE - "Took the wrong way?"
HEARSE - "Opposite of a life coach?"

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words:

ANISEED - (See above)
SLABBING - (See above: No...just no...)

NYT Crossword 07/23/17 (Sun.)

Cruciverbalist: Caleb Madison
Editor: Will Shortz

Solving time: 40:27

Puzzle uniqueness: "Back On The Charts"

Tail end of answers have one word musical artists. (Example: CROWNJEWEL)

Words I hadn't known until now:

ARCTAN - "Inverse trig function"

Trivia I didn't know:

APIA - "Pacific capital"
PAZ - "1990 Literature Nobelist Octavio ___"
ABAA - "Rhyme scheme ending a villanelle"
DOUGIE - "Dance craze of the 2010s"
PROLES - "'______ and animals ae free' (party slogan in '1984'"
IME - "'___ Mine' (George Harrison book)"
CASS - "Lewis ____, 1848 Democratic candidate for president" (Really?)
ANN - "Barack Obama's mother"
COLE - "'Born Sinner' rapper J. ____"
USONE - "Me.-to-Fla. route" (I've lived in the southwest my whole life)
MOUNTKENYA - "17,000+-foot peak near the Equator(4)" ("4" is # of letters in ENYA)
ADRIANA - "Supermodel Lima"
LEO - "Certain fire sign" (Not even sure what that means)
NYU - "Home of the Gallatin Sch. of Individualized Study" (Huh?)

Junk Answers:

OSE - "Sugar suffix"
EST - "Is from ancient Rome?"
WTO - "Intl. commerce grp."
IME - (See above)
ALII - "Others of ancient Rome?"
IMIN - "'Sure, sign me up!'"

Clever clues:

MOONS - "Gets cheeky with?"
NTH - "Degree in math?"
AIR - "It's inspired"
SHOE - "Unit around a foot?"
ACCORDION - "Band member's main squeeze(4)? (4 is # of letters in DION)

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words:

ONYXES - "Banded gemstones"

PROLES - (See above)

DOUGIE - (See above)

ARCTAN - (See above)

PENPUSHER - "One doing routine office work, informally (5)" (Ok, pencil pusher or paper pusher I'll buy, but pen? Also "5" is # of letters for USHER)

HEISTING - "Pulling off bank jobs" (Rare in this tense, IMO)

NYT Crossword 07/22/17 (Sat.)

Cruciverbalist: Zhouqin Burkinel
Editor: Will Smith

Solving time: 1:09:19 (Very tough, thought I would get a DNF)

Puzzle uniqueness: 0

Words I hadn't known until now: 0

Trivia I didn't know:

CLAIRE - "Lead female role on Netflix's 'House of Cards'"
LOGO - "Snapchat's ghost, e.g."
CRETE - "Home to the Museum of El Greco"
BASRA - "Major port near the Persian Gulf"
LANCET - "Maker of hospital cuts"
ROSEANNE - "Show for which Laurie Metcalf won three Emmys"
EISEN - "Sportscaster Rich"
SERT - "Rockefeller Center muralist"
CROSSE - "Sports stick"
LOWES - "Big-box store founded in 1946"
BITMOJIS - "Cartoon avatars on Snapchat"

Junk Answers:

SICEM - "Biting words?"
TMEN - "Dodgers' pursuers"
TAS - "U. 2's?"

Clever clues:

LANDHO - "Shore line?"

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words:

ATBAR - "Being tried"
LUSTRE - "Radiance, in England"
SPELT - "Like H-U-M-O-U-R"
AMENRA - "Ankh-holding deity"

NYT Crossword 07/21/17 (Fri.)

Cruciverbalist: Paolo Pasco
Editor: Will Shortz

Solving time: 13:50

Puzzle uniqueness: 0

Words I hadn't known until now: 0

Trivia I didn't know:

ERIECANAL - "Waterway whose construction began in Rome"
BEL - "'___-Ami' (Guy de Maupassant novel)"
TIL - "Lady Gaga's '___ It Happens to You'"
BIGGIESMALLS - "'Mo Money Mo Problems' rapper"
ARYAN - "Early Indus Valley settler"
ZAYN - "One-named singer with the 2016 #1 hit 'Pillowtalk'"
NAENAE - "Faddish dance move doe to the 2015 hit 'Watch Me'"
MALEGAZE - "Topic in feminist film criticism"
GALOP - "Polka forerunner"

Junk Answers:

MBAS - "Many consultants, for short"
REMS - "Sleep phenomena"
BEL - (See above)
BIP - "Marcel Marceau persona"
RAS - "Dorm V.I.P.s"
ELLS - "Lawful ends?"
TEEN - "This puzzle's constructor, for one" (What, we need to know constructors' bios now?)

Clever clues:

FLOATS - "They might be wished for at fountain"

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words:

ENSEAL - "Formally approve, as a document"
NAENAE- (See above)
GALOP - (See above)
EVITES - "Modern requests for participation"

NYT Crossword 07/20/17 (Thu.)

Cruciverbalist: Randolph Ross
Editor: Will Shortz

Solving time: 17:50

Puzzle uniqueness:

Three answers using famous names in lieu of actual words of the five W's. (Example: WATTSTHEPROBLEM)

Words I hadn't known until now: 0

Trivia I didn't know:

BERTIE - "Edward VII, familiarly" (AYFKM?)
ALBANIA - "Nation whose flag has a black eagle on a solid red background" (Wow!)
ONO - "Middle name of Sean Lennon" (Duh!)
OLEOOIL - "Extract of beef fat" (Really stupid!)
ISAAC - "Shorthand system inventor Pitman"
TIS - "Sequel to 'Angela's Ashes'"
EHLE - "Jennifer of  'Pride and Prejudice,' 1995"

Junk answers:

EXEDOUT - "Edited, in  way"
OSU - "Big Ten powerhouse, for short"
AMS - "Half-days, for short"
OLEOOIL - (See above)
REWARM - "Nuke, maybe" (Come on! It's "reheat"!)
EDT - "Setting for an O's game"
COSA - "Mexican thing"
CANTOO - "Response to a discouraging comment"
CUTTO - "Screenplay directive"
EHLE - (See above)
ILONA - "Massey of old movies" (I actually knew this one, being an old movie buff!)

Clever clues:

OPIATES - "Real downers"
TREE - "Genealogist's work"
TRYST - "Cheating meeting?"
AMI - "Brest friend"
PUGNOSE - "What's turned up on someone's face?"
EMU - "It'll never get off the ground"
TUB - "It may have a ring to it"
ACE - "Big heart?"
TEETIMES - "Driving schedule?"
TSETSE - "Fly over the Equator"

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words:

EXEDOUT - (See above)
BERTIE - (See above)
REWARM - (See above)
EGGY - "Like custard"
LOBAR - "Lung-related"

NYT Crossword 07/19/17 (Wed.)

Cruciverbalists: Michael S. Maurer and Pawel Fludzinski
Editor: Will Shortz

Solving time: DNF (Two never-heard-of words in SW corner were too much to overcome)

Puzzle uniqueness:

Toasts from around the world. (Bleh)

Words I hadn't known until now:

TIRAMISU - "Custardy dessert"
SERE - "Something to watch on la tele"
ROID - "Antidoping target, informally"
ADONAI - "God, in the Torah"
KANPAI - "Japanese toast"

Trivia I didn't know:

DRINKDRINKDRINK - "Line from 'The Student Prince' appropriate for this puzzle" (AYFKM?)
AMALFI - "Italy's ______ Coast"
KCAR - "1980s Chrysler offering"

Junk Answers:

LAT - "Back muscle, for short"
EMAC - "Early 2000s Apple product"
ALER - "Blue Jay but not Cardinal, for short"
HOSP - "Institution often named for a saint: Abbr."
ALTOS - "Descriptive of los Andes"
ARNE - "'Rule, Britannia' composer"
ROK - "Korean War soldier"
IMIT - "'You're lookin' at your guy'"
TDS - "Gridiron highlights, for short"

Clever clues:

HARE - "Second-place finisher, famously"
ARSON - "Flare-up of crime?"

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words: 0

SERIE - (See above)
ROID - (See above)

NYT Crossword 07/18/17 (Tue.)

Cruciverbalist: Michael Hawkins
Editor: Will Shortz

Solving time: 12:13

Puzzle uniqueness:

Stairs answers with black squares resembling escalator

Words I hadn't known until now:

CHALLAH - "Braided Jewish bread"
STAIRCASEWIT - "Cleverness thought of too late to use"
SCRY - "Foretell the future by using a crystal ball"

Trivia I didn't know:

TNN - "Former initials for Spike TV"
TURIN - "City NW of Genoa"

Junk Answers:

TNN - (See above)
ECO - "Prefix with tourism"
BTW - "'As an aside...,' in a text"
ATTA - "Lead-in to boy or girl"

Clever clues: 

BANK - "Place to find a pen and teller"
ICECUBETRAYS - "Freeze frame?"
DEW - "Overnight delivery?"

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words:

TRICORN - "Colonial-era headgear"
REUNES - "Gets back together, as a class"
ASYLA - "Shelters"
ANTEHALL - "Entrance room where guests wait"

NYT Crossword 07/17/17 (Mon.)

Cruciverbalist: Tom McCoy
Editor: Will Shortz

Solving time: 8:54 (A well-placed typo cost me two minutes)

Puzzle uniqueness:

Answer ODDSANDENDS describes five phrases ending in an odd number (Example: AIRFORCEONE)

Words I hadn't known until now: 0

Trivia I didn't know:

SAOTOME - "Principe's sister island"

Junk Answers:

CDS - "Some bank offerings, for short"
RAS - "Dorm figs."
ALA - "In the manner of"

Clever clues:

SPEEDO - "Swim meet coverage?"

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words:

UNSNAG - "Release from being caught on a nail, say"
RUNIC - "Like some ancient characters"

NYT Crossword 07/16/17 (Sun.)

Cruciverbalist: Andrea Carla Michaels and Pete Muller
Editor: Will Shortz

Solving time: 33:47

Puzzle uniqueness: "If The Spirit Moves You"

Answer DRINKSALLAROUND refers to circled squares spelling out alcoholic drinks.

Words I hadn't known until now:

BIALYS - "Polish rolls"
DUC - "French nobleman"
BLOODKNOT - "Fly-fisher's line joiner"
SENG - "Hong Kong's Hang ____ Index"
TITRE - "Concentration, to a British chemist"

Trivia I didn't know:

FRANK - "Architect Gehry"
DORR - "U.S. rebellion leader of 1841-42"
ANI - "Singer DiFranco"
AIDAN - "Actor Gillen of 'Game of Thrones'"
ERNA - "Met soprano Berger"
TOSAM - "'Life According __ ___' (Emmy-winning documentary)"

Junk Answers:

PJS - "Nighty-night wear"
ADAMN - "Rhett Butler's final two words"
IVE - "'___ Just Seen a Face' (Beatles tune)"
EPOS - "'Beowulf and others"
ANI - (See above)
NCO - "Cpl., e.g."
SRI - "Mister, in New Delhi"
RRR - "Elementary school trio, briefly"
TOSAM - (See above)
SENG - (See above)
RNS - "Hosp. staffers"

Clever clues: 0

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words:

BIALYS - (See above)
ERNA - (See above)
TITRE - (See above)

NYT Crossword 07/15/17 (Sat.)

Cruciverbalist: Zachary Spitz
Editor: Will Smith

Solving time: DNF (The southeast killed me. Couldn't get traction.)

Puzzle uniqueness: 0

Words I hadn't known until now:

PLUTOMANIA - "Excessive desire for wealth" (Heard of "plutocracy" but not this variation)

Trivia I didn't know:

AMAZEBALLS - "Incredible, in modern slang"
TRILATERAL - "Like Nafta"
ROCKMELON - "Cantaloupe, by another name" (Never knew this)
ATTU - "W.W. II's Battle of ____" (Huh!)
MARC - "Podcaster Maron"
DATESUGAR - "Sweetener in a health food store"

Junk Answers:

CKS - "A.T.M. deposits: Abbr."
CVS - "Major employer of pharmacists"
MAS - "___ adelante (later on: Sp.)"

Clever clues:

TAXEVASION - "Diminishing returns?"
ARSE - "Seat in Parliament?"
SIGMACHI - "Sweetheart's brothers?"
CURSOR - "It's moved by a keystroke"
ANTS - "Tree line?"
ACNE - "Problem to face?"
LIRA - "Turkey bacon?"
UNDO - "Backup software option?"
LIAR - "Trust buster?"

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words:

PLUTOMANIA - (See above)

NYT Crossword 07/14/17 (Friday)

Cruciverbalist: Patrick Berry
Editor: Will Shortz

Solving time: 13:20

Puzzle uniqueness: 0

Words I hadn't known until now: 0

Trivia I didn't know:

FIAT - "Turin-based automaker"
EBAY - "Onetime owner of Skype"
ANNO - "____ regni"
STYX - "Moon of Pluto discovered in 2012"
SEAOATS - "Beach grass that prevents erosion"

Junk Answers:

AAA - "S.&P. rating"
NHL - "Montreal is part of it: Abbr."

Clever clues:

TOETAGS - "IDs tied to one digit"
ALIBI - "Whodunit story?"
ACT - "Do one's part"
CHOP - "Martial art film hit"
CASTANETS - "Pair in 'Carmen'"
UPSTAIRS - "Flight destination?"
SWORE - "Delivered an oath?"

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words: 0

NYT Crossword 07/13/17 (Thursday)

Cruciverbalist: Lewis E. Rothlein
Editor: Will Shortz

Solving time: 22:44

Puzzle uniqueness:

Answer XMARKSTHESPOT wherein seven across answer have an "x" in the down answers but the "x" represents the word "spot" in the across answers.

Words I hadn't known until now:

DEXISM - "Oppressive rule by absolute power"
PRIXFIXE - "Alternative to a la carte"

Trivia I didn't know: 0

Junk clues:

AGEONE - "What recedes a terrible period?"

UTA - "Actress Hagen"

NNE - "Dir. from Norfolk to Philadelphia"
ETALII - "List shortener"
ITEN - "Major thoroughfare through Houston, informally"
ONATEAM - "like varsity or junior varsity players"

Clever clues: 0

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words: 0

DEXISM - (See above)

ETALII - (See above)

UNTUNE - "Affect, a humidity might a piano"

PRIXFIXE - (See above)

EXENEMY - "Japan, to the U.S."

NYT Crossword 07/12/17 (Wednesday)

Cruciverbalists: Elayne Boosler and Patrick Merrell
Editor: Will Shortz

Solving time: 17:05

Puzzle uniqueness:

Another 75th anniversary puzzle with a celeb co-constructing with a veteran constructor. Old movies with a modern twist to words within the titles. (Example: UBERDRIVER in lieu of "Taxi Driver")

Words I hadn't known until now: 0

Trivia I didn't know:

PIMA - "Fine cotton"
CRU - "French vineyard"

Junk Answers:

CLE - "Indians' home: Abbr."
SICEM - "Canine command"
SGTS - "Barracks barkers: Abbr."
HEMI - "Prefix meaning 'half'"

Clever clues:

NASA - "Moon unit?"
DANNO - "Guy with a lot of bookings?"
SPAY - "Make litter proof?"
FIREPLUG - "What may have a dog leg to the left or right?"
OILY - "Kind of boid that catches the woim?"

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words: 0

NYT Crossword 07/11/17 (Tuesday)

Cruciverbalist: Zhouqin Burnikel
Editor: Will Shortz

Solving time: 8:14

Puzzle uniqueness:

Hint is the answer POWERCOUPLE. Four answers which have AC and DC in their answers. (Example: SACREDCOW)

Words I hadn't known until now: 0

Trivia I didn't know:

JDATE -"Matchmaking site since 1997"
ESSIE - "Big name in nail polish"
GOSS - "Former C.I.A. director Porter___"

Junk Answers:

SWE - "Perennially strong entrant at the Winter Olympics: Abbr."
EOS - "Canon camera"
PEC - "Workout target, for short"
OPTO - "Vision: Prefix"
CARPI - "Wrist bones"

Clever clues: 

THE - "Something that's definite"

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words: 0

NYT Crossword 07/10/17 (Monday)

Cruciverbalist: Timothy Polin
Editor: Will Shortz

Solving time: 7:26

Puzzle uniqueness:

Four answers in which the first words in the phrases are foreign language words for "Peace."

Words I hadn't known until now: 0

Trivia I didn't know:

SHALOMMEIRTOWER - "Tel Aviv skyscraper that was the first to be built in the Mideast."

Junk Answers:

PSST - "Sound  from a would-be test cheater"
MACS - "Apple computers"
SICEM - "'Attack, Bowser!'"
SISI - "'Absolutely, amigo!'"

Clever clues: 0

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words:

CIRRI - "High, wispy clouds"
CHOICER - "Finer in quality"

NYT Crossword 07/09/17 (Sunday)

Cruciverbalist: Will Nediger
Editor: Will Shortz

Solving time: 26:57

Puzzle uniqueness: "First For Knowledge"

Swapping "th" sound for "f" sound. (Example: SECURITYFRET)

Words I hadn't known until now:

FROYO - "Cold treat eaten with a spoon"
SCHLOMO - "Hebrew name that means 'his peace'"
MORNAY - "______ sauce (macaroni and cheese ingredient)"

Trivia I didn't know:

AMANA - "Noted brand once owned by a utopian colony in Iowa"
FENNEL - "Herb in absinthe"
SATIE - "'Gymnopedies' composer"

Junk Answers:

ABU -  "___-Bakr (father-in-law of Muhammad)"
SATIE - (See above)
SRO - "Sign of a hit"

Clever clues: 0

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words:

GUIDER - "One escorting"

NYT Crossword 07/08/17 (Saturday)

Cruciverbalist: David Steinberg
Editor: Will Smith

Solving time: 35:12

Puzzle uniqueness:

Four stack vertical of nine letters.

Words I hadn't known until now:

Remoulade - "Cousin of tartar sauce"

Trivia I didn't know:

GENOA - "Largest Italian seaport"
ROMA - "Citta about 250 miles SE of 45-Across"
TBILISI - "Capital of Georgia"
RAPBATTLE - "Climactic scene in the Eminem film '8 Mile'"

Junk Answers:

CBER - "Bear trap fearer"
TRE - "Square root of nove"
LEM - "Historic vehicle, briefly"

Clever clues:

SLIDERS - "Little beefs?"

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words:

TBILISI - (See above)

NYT Crossword 07/07/17 (Friday)

Cruciverbalist: Andy Kravis
Editor: Will Shortz

Solving time: DNF

Puzzle uniqueness: 0

Words I hadn't known until now: 0

Trivia I didn't know:

VAGUEBOOKS - "Posts an intentional mysterious status update on social media"
MANSE - "'Mosses From an Old _____' (Hawthorne short story collection)"
GOYA - "Court painter of Charles IV of Spain"
RIENZI - "Title Roman tribune of an early Wagner opera" (AYFKM?)
NIMES - "European textile city that gave us the word 'denim'"
OYL - "'Thimble Theatre' surname"
ELSA - "Lohengrin's love"

Junk Answers:

INSTA - "Photo app, slangily"
ADUE - "Together, in music"

Clever clues:

NAILSALON - "Filing station?"
SEWINGKIT - "Where to stick a needle"
VERB - "Win, lose or draw"
NOFLYZONES - "Dimensions without planes"
IDOS - "A couple words?"
BOT - "What may have a strong net effect?"

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words:

RIENZI - (See above)
PROLE  - "Member of the working class"
NIMES - (See above)
ANOUK - "Actress Aimee"
ADUE - (See above)
TITTLE - "'I' dot"

NYT Crossword 07/06/17 (Thursday)

Cruciverbalist: Erik Agard
Editor: Will Shortz

Solving time: 22:40

Puzzle uniqueness:

Two birds with one stone. Too complicated to explain.

Words I hadn't known until now:

BAE - "Hon. modern style"

Trivia I didn't know:

EBAY - "It uses clicks in lieu of paddles"
PIBB - "____ Xtra (soda)
EWE - "Source of Manchego cheese"
ETA - "Second letter before iota"
SONYXPERIA - "Line of Japanese smartphones"
KAHLO - "'The Two Fridas' artist" (Never heard of him/her)
BAMBOOPALM - "Tropical houseplant"

Junk Answers:

UPCS - "Scannable symbols on store items, for short"
ARRS - "Some airport times: Abbr."
BAE - (See above)
TPS - "Decorates with some rolls, for short"
PST - "S.F. winter clock setting"
ARGH - "Frustrated exclamation"
KOR - "Two-nation peninsula: Abbr."

Clever clues:

SNOWANGEL - "Figure whose wings melt in the sun"

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words: 0

NYT Crossword 07/05/17 (Wedneday)

Cruciverbalist: Jake Halperin
Editor: Will Shortz

Solving time: 17:27

Puzzle uniqueness:

Four answer with the same clue: "Travel edition of classic board games?" (Example: FLIGHTRISK)

Words I hadn't known until now: 0

Trivia I didn't know:

AIMEE - "Singer Mann"
OLEG - "____ Burov, K.G.B. officer on 'The Americans'"
ELSA - "Mrs. Albert Einstein"

Junk Answers:

SRI - "Honorific that becomes another honorific if you reverse the last two letters"
UFOS - "Subjects of a Roswell museum"
FAM - "One's nearest and dearest, informally"
CDC - "Atlanta-based health org."
FINI - "Done, in Verdun"
DEF - "It might appear after an entym."
VAR. - "Not the usual spelling: Abbr."
OEUF - "One of a dozen un frigidaire"

Clever clues:

ENS - "Channel 2?" (Two "ens" in the word "channel")

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words:

ANTISLIP - "Providing a better grip"

NYT Crossword 07/04/17 (Tuesday)

Cruciverbalists: Mangesh Ghogre and Brendan Emmett Quigley
Editor: Will Shortz

Solving time: 8:09

Puzzle uniqueness:

July 4 tribute. Takes the answer JULY and breaks it into four first words in phrases that phonetically sounding like each of the letters in July. (Example: JAYGATSBY)

Words I hadn't known until now: 0

Trivia I didn't know:

TOME - "Sao ____ and Principe"

Junk Answers:

NOS - "Thumbs-down responses"
TNT - "Big bang letters"
IDYL - "Pastoral verse"

Clever clues:  0

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words:

VETOER - "President, at times"
SEAEEL - "Anago, at a sushi restaurant"

NYT Crossword 07/03/17 (Monday)

Cruciverbalist: Randall J. Hartman
Editor: Will Shortz

Solving time: 5:50

Puzzle uniqueness:

Four answer phrases where the last word is a synonym for failure (Example: ROASTTURKEY)

Words I hadn't known until now: 0

Trivia I didn't know: 0

Junk Answers:

TBS - "Atlanta-based cable channel"
SRO - "Sign outside a sold-out show"
OWIE - "Source of pain, in kidspeak"

Clever clues: 0

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words: 0

NYT Crossword 07/02/17 (Sunday)

Cruciverbalist: Patrick Blindauer
Editor: Will Shortz

Solving time: 35:22

Puzzle uniqueness: "The Long and Winding Road"

Beatles tribute. Beatles songs in the answers plus certain black squares are utilized as letters which spell out "Drive My Car," another Beatles song.

Words I hadn't known until now:

ORGANIS - "Living thing"

Trivia I didn't know:

RAHAL - "Indy 500 winner Bobby"

Junk Answers:

XER - "Gen ___"
FEH - "'Yuck!'"
LIC - "Bus. need that most lemonade stands don't have"
MTA - "It might help you get to Carnegie Hall, for short"
ENG - "Grade school subj."
ELE - "Spanish letter between ka and eme"
GDS - "Merchandise: Abbr."OTS - "Fifth qtrs."
LTRS - "Contents of some envelopes: Abbr."
TIP - "Cape Horn, for one" (Junk clue, IMO.)

Clever clues:

NRA - "Piece org.?"
HEM - "End of a shift"
TSP - "Kitchen shortening"

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words:

ORGANIS - (See above)

NYT Crossword 07/01/17 (Saturday)

Cruciverbalist: David Phillips
Editor: Will Smith

Solving time: 28:56

Puzzle uniqueness: 0

Words I hadn't known until now:

SOB - "Noodle house noodles"
OPERASERIA - "Mozart's 'Il Re Pastore,' e.g." (Never heard of "seria")

Trivia I didn't know:

EDNA - "Mother in 'Hairspray'"
FATE - "It 'will find a way,' according to Virgil"
MILAN - "Easternmost of fashion's 'Big Four' cities" (Didn't know there were four big cities)
RAO - "'Kanthapura' novelist Raja ___"
POEM - "'A ___ should not mean / But be': Archibald Macleish"
BENSTEIN - "Economist who shared a Daytime Emmy with Jimmy Kimmel in 1999"
HELENA - "Capital that's home to Last Chance Gulch"
LITAFORD - "'Kiss Me Deadly' rocker" (Never heard of her)
AEROLOGY - "Study of the atmosphere" (Never heard of it, but makes sense)
ARAMIS - "Estee Lauder fragrance for men" (Didn't know it was made by that company)

Junk Answers:

RAO - (See above)

AGRI - "Cultural leader?"

PLIE - "Ballet move"

COSET - "48-Down (MATH) subgroup"

SAES - "Freelancers' enclosures, for short"

INKA - "'____ Dinka Doo' (theme song of Jimmy Durante"

Clever clues:

REST - "Time out?"
ORE - "Some hard rock"
ATOMS - "What's the matter?"
TVCAMERAS - "Soap-making equipment?"
MINERAL - "Kind of deposit"

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words:

SOBA - (See above)

COSET - (See above)

AEROLOGY - (See above)