Re: "AP English" January 8, 2021
Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2021 5:39 pm
Finally got some time to do the puzzle, and was almost undone by the grid. Happily, it came together and so did the meta. Ashore with a Sunday Blantons!
A place to discuss the WSJ Weekly Crossword Contest and other "meta"-style crosswords
https://www.xword-muggles.com/
Good luckTom Shea wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 5:11 pmThe two places I worked the most (time-wise anyway) the last five years before retiring are NOLA and Chicagoland. I am only a little torn on who to root for, since I've worked in Chicagoland for 20 years before that also and have many more friends there (2020 was the first year in a couple of decades where I did not set foot in the city). Met da coach at Ditka's a few times, so I'm rooting for Da Bears, but realize I have a 99% chance of disappointment, either this week or next.tim1217 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 4:42 pmI on the other hand, am just getting ready to watch the Bears 'try' and beat the Saints...only to then have the pleasure of playing the well-relaxed Packers at GB. Are we having fun yet? Thank you sir, may I have another!Bob cruise director wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 4:27 pm
However we had a great 20 year run which is more than any other team so no complaints
BRAVO!! Very well said and most appreciated. I thought the "offending" clue was clever as heck and had the desired effect of being supremely misdirective.Scraps wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 4:15 pmCompletely disagree.EVJ wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 10:23 amAgreedamefox wrote: ↑Thu Jan 07, 2021 6:56 pm Still filling out the grid here, but I found myself so outraged about one of the clues that I couldn't sit and finish without commenting first. (I don't think this is any way related to the meta, but I'll put a spoiler over it in case people don't want to read about the grid before they finish.)
1. Effective crossword clues often lead you astray while being literally correct. 21A is a classic misdirection. I think it’s a great clue/answer combination.
2. There is no “inappropriate” in crossword puzzles. Artistically created puzzles can refer to bad or controversial people, places, or things as suits the creators. What else is not appropriate? Recent puzzles have referred to murderous emperors, battles where thousands were killed, weapons of various sorts, and even (gasp) politicians. Were those inappropriate, too? We muggles are not afraid to call Voldemort or anyone or anything else by his, her or its name as long as the letters fit the grid.
3. When my most non-conformist son got in trouble in high school for harmless but “inappropriate” behavior, he’d say, “‘Inappropriate’ is a word teachers use when you do something they don’t like, can’t explain why it’s wrong and weren’t smart enough to prohibit in advance.”
A great place to visit. If you go to the right places. You can also get into a lot of trouble there. After a while, the chicanery, stench and debauchery sort of wore on me. Toward the end, I never went near the French Quarter. Kenner, Metairie, St. Rose and LaPlace were just fine for me.Bob cruise director wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 5:42 pmGood luckTom Shea wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 5:11 pmThe two places I worked the most (time-wise anyway) the last five years before retiring are NOLA and Chicagoland. I am only a little torn on who to root for, since I've worked in Chicagoland for 20 years before that also and have many more friends there (2020 was the first year in a couple of decades where I did not set foot in the city). Met da coach at Ditka's a few times, so I'm rooting for Da Bears, but realize I have a 99% chance of disappointment, either this week or next.
After the 1986 Super Bowl, I have to go with NOLA. (but who holds a grudge for 35 years?_
Different guy, but also enjoyable.DrTom wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 6:38 pm By the by - dis anyone do the Saturday Crossword by Gary Larson? I thought it immensely clever. The answers were of course interesting but the cluing...I assume this is the "Far Side" Gary Larson and I have always liked his rather twisted humor. But if it is NOT that Gary Larson, I like his twisted humor as well.
Thanks! I always wondered (but not enough to search/check), but doubted it was one and the same, due to the lack of clues/answers with cows, dinosaurs, and frumpy ladies wearing a house dress and cat-eye glasses.Tom Shea wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 6:42 pmDifferent guy, but also enjoyable.DrTom wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 6:38 pm By the by - dis anyone do the Saturday Crossword by Gary Larson? I thought it immensely clever. The answers were of course interesting but the cluing...I assume this is the "Far Side" Gary Larson and I have always liked his rather twisted humor. But if it is NOT that Gary Larson, I like his twisted humor as well.
Three of my favorites. (how can you have only three?)HunterX wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 7:19 pmThanks! I always wondered (but not enough to search/check), but doubted it was one and the same, due to the lack of clues/answers with cows, dinosaurs, and frumpy ladies wearing a house dress and cat-eye glasses.Tom Shea wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 6:42 pmDifferent guy, but also enjoyable.DrTom wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 6:38 pm By the by - dis anyone do the Saturday Crossword by Gary Larson? I thought it immensely clever. The answers were of course interesting but the cluing...I assume this is the "Far Side" Gary Larson and I have always liked his rather twisted humor. But if it is NOT that Gary Larson, I like his twisted humor as well.
“Now this end is called the thagomizer, after the late Thag Simmons”. And now it’s the accepted name for the spiky tail end of the Stegosaurus!Tom Shea wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 7:28 pmThree of my favorites. (how can you have only three?)
Cows in recliners. Phone rings. "There it goes again. And here we sit without opposable thumbs."
Crow answering phone calling to wife in horn-rimmed glasses: "Doris, phone caw!"
Rat couple arguing: "Clean it up! Clean it up? It's *supposed* to be a rat hole!"
I first encountered Gary Larson when I moved to Chicago right after college. My roommate and I were not savvy renters and that apartment had a definite cockroach problem (to this day I can't put a kitchen garbage can under the sink). I really related to all his bug cartoons. I taped them to the fridge as my way of coping!Tom Shea wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 7:28 pmThree of my favorites. (how can you have only three?)
Cows in recliners. Phone rings. "There it goes again. And here we sit without opposable thumbs."
Crow answering phone calling to wife in horn-rimmed glasses: "Doris, phone caw!"
Rat couple arguing: "Clean it up! Clean it up? It's *supposed* to be a rat hole!"
Hi. They stay in your outbox until they are read.MatthewL wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 3:21 pm Thanks to all who nudged. Interestingly, all the nudges were very similar. They helped, and inspiration finally struck. I am ashore (I believe -- guess we'll find out). One question -- I tried to reply to the several PMs folks sent, but all the messages appear to be hung up in my Outbox, as opposed to Sent folder. Not sure why the messages won't go, but in any event, thanks again to all who nudged.
Matthew