"Philosopher in Meditation" -- Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, 1632; Musee du Louvre, Paris
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Puzzle by Donna Hoke Kahwaty, edited by Will Shortz
Standard crossword puzzles range in ease or difficulty depending upon the obscurity of the entry or the vagueness of its definition (clue).
A gradation was established by Margaret Farrar, the late crossword puzzle editor for the New York Times, of a Monday to Saturday scale of easy to difficult -- primarily with the thought of the office worker in mind in New York City.
Monday’s puzzle, with its everyday usage entries and sensible definitions allows everyone to get back to work without struggling over some damn nonsense in a crossword puzzle -- a quick-fix feel-good mental challenge. Arriving at work, puzzle done during the commute -- or, if not, quickly under the spread-sheet, or at coffee break. Monday example: Post office purchase = STAMP.
Tuesday’s puzzle is a Monday puzzle with something spilled on it -- workable, but in need of a little squinting. Wednesday and Thursday (and including Sunday) are geared for mid-level ease or difficulty. By Friday -- when one really needs a distraction from the humdrum of the rat race -- an entry like STAMP is defined as “Budd portrayer”. Lord knows what definition (still the same word) it would receive on a Saturday!
In actuality, a fully-constructed puzzle from a Monday can be re-clued (e.g., re-define the words) where both the entry and the definition are totally removed from everyday use or knowledge. One does not necessarily need entries or definitions that are archaic in order to construct a Friday puzzle; however an OSNABURG or an OSSIFRAGE will insure angst -- Drapery material named for a German city ...and... Vulture that feeds mostly on bone marrow.
From Monday through Thursday there will be entries with quotations, inter-associations, double meanings, letter runs (e.g., “QWERTYUIOP“), single-square word (e.g., “LAM“) and symbol (e.g., “&”) entries -- usually clued by a single entry, such as today’s -- ARTLESS (38A Ingenuous…or like 17-, 24-, 50- and 60-Across), which in this case could be called a double-clued entry with an imaginary second entry.
One finds in this case, the answers (or entries) and their definitions (or clues) to be STINGSALARY (17A Con man’s pay?), HEOFDARKNESS (24A Satan?), SURPRISEPIES (50A Slapstick staples?), and MINIGLASSES (60A Parts of dollhouse dinner table settings?) -- inserting the word “ART” these entries become "starting salary", "heart of darkness", "surprise parties", and "martini glasses".
That takes care of five of the 76 entries; however, those five entries are probably of little use to the solver as in all likelihood one will work toward these entries, rather than from them -- I doubt sincerely, that "sting salary", "he of darkness", "surprise pies" and "mini-glasses" are of everyday usage. Being that there are 76 entries left to solve, these five entries are hardly the main composition of the puzzle; however, I am sure you’ll read otherwise elsewhere -- it certainly is simplistic to lump nearly all of crossword-puzzledom under a one-word definition, especially when it is hackneyed and etymologically incorrect. Further, does one really need a secondary name for a crossword puzzle?
The ten-letter entries UPTHERIVER (11D Jailed); FORESTFIRE (12D Dry season danger), ROADRUNNER (29D Cartoon beeper); DINNERDATE (30D Restaurant companion) are the four other long answers in this puzzle’s grid.
Seven-letter entries and their definitions include CINCHES (4D They’re easy), LOSESIT (46D Snaps), KAYAKS (10D Transportation around the Aleutians) and AROMAS (48D Perfumer’s stock in trade).
Six-letter entries -- ARDENT (28A Full of gusto), RESORT (31A Vacation destination), REMAND (47A Send back), and SNORES (49A Disturbs the peace, in a way).
Five-letter entries -- SCARF (6D Simple knitting project), PALED (7D Went white), OWENS (13D 1936 Olympics record-breaker), ARMED (26D Ready to fight), STUDS (33D Ear decorations), SARGE (50D “Beetle Bailey” character), EVITA (51D Broadway hit that originally opened in London in 1978), PAGER (52D Cellphone’s predecessor), DANCE (1A Flicker), SPEAK (6A Dog command), USAIR (14A Aviation name until 1997), ASHEN (22A Almost white), NOISY (32A Blasting), ANDSO (53A “Then what happened?“), AGATE (65A Banded stone), BITES (66A Snacks), SONAR (68A Ocean explorer’s aid), STILT (69A Long leg?) and CAPRA (15A “Ladies of Leisure” director) - on Monday, he’s the director of “A Wonderful Life”.
There are some twenty or so four-letter word entries, including ASTA (2D 1930s film dog) and ASTI (56D Town ESE of Turin) at the beginning and end of the grid; and the Will Shortz twice-used-definition hallmark (in this case with a contrast), SOOT (18D Symbol of blackness) and SNOW (23D (Symbol of whiteness).
A few less than twenty entries are of three letters, including UFO, IGO, ORE, ERE, ERG, EPA, TRE, TAN and NAN -- often referred to as “fill”, but more appropriately these entries are pure happenstance, although their definitions attempt to give them deliberateness; e.g., 11A Object of some amateur films, 61D “Where did ___ wrong?”, 21A Source of wealth, 67A Palindromic preposition, 5D Bit of work, 8D DDT banner, 19A Afternoon hour in Italy, 37A Salon acquisition, and 62D Bert Bobbsey’s twin.
Donna Hoke Kahwaty’s mid-level standard puzzle construction with its five double-meaning entries is pleasant and ARTFUL!
The New York Times Crossword Puzzle solution above is by the author of this blog and does not guarantee accuracy. If you find errors or omissions, you are more than welcome to make note of same in the Comments section of this post -- any corrections found necessary will be executed promptly upon verification.
Puzzle available on the internet at
If you subscribe to home delivery of The New York Times you are eligible to access the daily crossword via The New York Times - Times Reader, without additional charge, as part of your home delivery subscription.
Donald,
ReplyDeleteJust stopping to say hello.
Your blog today is far from ARTless. Pretty amazing too.
How about that staircase? I immediately thought of Escher's drawings of staircases. And who is that guy off to the right and what is he doing? Did the artist put him there just for visual balance or is his role pertinent to the artist's "narrative"? Both?
Ah, the "theme" issue again. Whatever you call these things, devising them seems to add to the creative challenge and enjoyment of puzzle constructing, from what I have read on various blogs. I think you would be an extraordinary constructor. Could we have the pleasure of a puzzle constructed by Dr. Goth, perhaps in a Gothic mode?
Keep up the good work.
Jo
I would be so grateful if you would clean up any mistakes in this commenting before exposing my ignorance to your audience. Thanks.
Jo
ReplyDeleteI did not get a chance yet to transfer the commentary to large print, but will -- probably the reason you were unable to read the title of the painting -- Philosopher in Meditation (by Rembrandt) -- it is indeed an amazing work of art, and I found an interesting article on the painting at this site (you may be interested to read it, it answers your questions and points out other aspects of the painting that are quite interesting):
http://dimahne.tripod.com/Articles/meditation.html
Donald,
ReplyDeleteI read the article with great interest. Each viewer of a work of art sees what they see, not necessarily what the artist had in mind. Whereas I was captiated by an improbability if not an engineering impossibility in the rendering of a staircase and thought of Escher's optical illusions, Abby (as she says her friends call her) saw in the painting the YinYang symbol and its philosophy. Once I read her article, I too saw what she saw.
Enlightenment.
But now for the feminist view. The gal is doing (italicize that for emphasis) the practical work of the world while the guy is idling (again italicize for emphasis) on Cloud Nine. That is just the opposite of the active/passive roles ascribed by YinYang as Abby describes it.
Which reminds me of the much-emailed story of the Three Wise Women. I don't remember most of the details but the general thrust of the story is that when visiting Baby Jesus the women get organized and come prepared to be of some real use -- like bringing clean linens and a casserole to feed all those people.
Best,
Jo
Here is a popular version that I especially like because of the conclusion.
ReplyDeleteDo you know what would have happened if it had been
Three Wise Women instead of Three Wise Men?
They would have asked directions,
Arrived on time,
Helped deliver the baby,
Cleaned the stable,
Made a casserole,
Brought practical gifts, and
There would be Peace on Earth.
Then there is this one. Funny and on target, I'm afraid.
http://home.nycap.rr.com/sweenejr/ThreeWiseWomen.html
Enjoy,
Jo
ion.
Jo
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing your thoughts on the Rembrandt -- it grows on one. I know well because I am still finding it!
I think the staircase was the first feature of the painting to attract me; that and the philosopher by the window with the light from outside. I was sexton of St. Peter's church in NY for several years and every two days would go up a wooden spiral staircase to the steeple to wind the mechanical clock. The stairs were narrow and enclosed, tight and wooden, leading from the vestibule to the six-foot opaque-glass faces of the clock.
The painting -- when I first came across same, I failed to notice the second figure. It surprised me one day, almost as though she had come into the "room" when I was gone.
I am intrigued by the small door, and curious as to whether the stairs also descend, but either way, up or down, is darkness. It is only in that passageway room that there is light.
Thanks also for the three wise women! I sent it on to my sister in South Dakota! I know she will appreciate it, as I did -- we have similar takes on life -- I always felt the best humor is based in truth!
I am so appreciate of your missives with their practical suggestions and illuminating insights!
Thank you for the Rembrandt. I too was overwhelmed by the gorgeous staircase and didn't notice the woman at all. (sigh) Enjoyed the article and loved the wise women!
ReplyDeleteThank you for all your illustrations, which is mostly why I come here (after Rex, I'm afraid.) But I also like that you have a different take on the puzzle and see themes/sub-themes not noticed by others--even give your own titles to puzzles. This is good--do more of it!
This post should appear on your list of POSTS OF NOTE, however, because of the welcome discussion of degrees of difficulty and editorial policy. Before I started reading blogs I knew the puzzle got harder through the week, but anything beyond that was beyond me. Nor did I ever notice a constructor's name. I flatter myself that I have become a more sophisticated observer/participant of the Xword world because of the insights you and Rex and Amy and Linda have shared with us, and I thank you all.
Finally, you apply FILL to the little bits that remove white space. Others seem to say anything in the grid is FILL. The distinction between random words and notable or themic ones is useful.
TimeTraveller
did anyone else have a newspaper that showed the answers to todays puzzle in the 'previous puzzle' space on the same page? Was this an accident or is there something intentional going on? There was also a 'puzzle by' credit with no name next to it. Does it have something to do with the fact that I get my paper delivered in Westchester?
ReplyDelete