The weather was absolutely lovely in Seattle yesterday so I spent the entire day scooting around with Robin on our Vespas instead of blogging.
Today's Sunday puzzle (answers) is a straightforward effort by Cathy Millhauser, a veteran constructor who specializes in Sundays. It had a traditional rather than radical feel for me with ORT and OREO and an "add a syllable to change the sense of a phrase" theme that is common for Sundays, but it was a pleasure to solve this solid crossword.
ARC was nicely clued as "story development" — only the second reference to a story rather than a curved path in 117 definitions. "Seals are part of it" was a snazzy clue for US NAVY. SUSSED now has another NYT reference and that verb is on its way to becoming legitimate.
Did anyone else wonder what GOD IS FIGURE was supposed to mean? Since it was my first theme answer I was confused.
I love it when I fall for stupid tricks. "Child protector?" APRON? Does it protect the cook from children somehow? Ohhhhh. That Child.
Finally, in the "you learn something new every day by doing crosswords" department, for some reason "mandibular prognathism" was clearly a LENO reference even without any crosses but when I was done I wanted to understand the exact definitions of each of those two megawords. I've done the research so my readers don't have to. Here's the scoop, according to my dictionary:
Mandibular, and I'm surprised you have to ask because in retrospect it's obvious, means "pertaining to or of the nature of a mandible." Prognathous means "having a gnathic index over 103". Got it? Now you know.
I expect the hipper on-line dating sites now ask for both your zodiac sign and your gnathic index when you sign up. You know, to avoid those awkward situations later.
Yes, yesterday was a day to behold: perfect weather, Mr. Lama at the SeaHawks stadium, you and Robin on your Vespas...and my neighbors, also tooling around, in their matching Hummers, his with the personalized license plate CARBON and hers with FTPRINT. Looks a little drab over Lake Washington now, but the sun was out earlier, the puzzle was enjoyable (I liked all the DIS's), and my gnathic index is a quite comfortable 90 after the head-on collision.
Posted by: KarmaSartre | April 13, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Hi Jim, To Jack the Ripper: "Go disfigure".
Go figure,
Pat
Posted by: Pat Manzo | April 13, 2008 at 01:13 PM
Just to let you know I am watching and noticed that once again we have OREOS and booze...this time it is ALE. That's like every time in the past six months, so I hope everyone is watching for those unexplained urges coming from the subliminal messages from the NYT.
Good fun puzzle despite my ablade error. I also had to redo the ARC, LOO, COG area when I had a condo and a part of a toga there. Soccer season started here and I am back from a ache inducing workout. I wonder if wearing an apron would help?
Posted by: PhillySolver | April 13, 2008 at 01:39 PM
Awww.. how nice to be mentioned in your blog, Jim. It was indeed a fabulous day - one of many in our happy little home. :-)
btw: I left a Jim/Robin story on the Madness blog too: http://madness--crosswordandotherwise.blogspot.com/2008/04/friday-april-11-manny-nosowsky.html
Posted by: Robin Troy | April 13, 2008 at 04:47 PM
And a funny Jim/Robin story it was...who'd have thunk that improper parsing could be so amusing?
I don't think I knew that you played the piano...I know that you conduct. What a multitalented guy you are.
I'm so embarrassed to admit that I didn't get the Child reference until I read it here.
Posted by: Linda G | April 13, 2008 at 05:41 PM
Although I completed the puzzle, I did not understand why apron was "child protector." The only thing that made sense to me was the lead apron one wears when receiving x-rays to protect one's fertility (in part) hence "child protector." It seemed very farfetched but now I know better.
Profphil
Posted by: profphil | April 13, 2008 at 10:04 PM