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After a year of relatively typo-free, online puzzles, something has definitely changed in the Irish Times production department over the past few weeks. I think I am going to have to reinstate the Typo of the Day award, just to make light of something that could otherwise get to be very annoying. After reviewing all the nominations, the winner of the TOD-DY today is the answer to 25A: LAMBOA, which should of course read LAMBDA. Anyway, not a bad puzzle otherwise. It kept me going for about 19m (the clock didn't stop because of the LAMBOA). I fairly raced through until I got down to the last four answers . I had ADDS TWO AND TWO instead of PUTS TWO AND TWO, so I needed to fix that for UNICORN to reveal itself. That gave me DOOM then pretty quickly. I finally put DISC and "over" together to discover DISC, and then CASE LAW dropped in to place. A scrappy week for me, but I'll be going into next week on r2ow. Let's hope Mike made his first Sweep of the Week down in Killarney.
Today's Crosaire Aria
24D: SHERIFF
Can you believe that Eric Clapton only had one chart-topper in the US? In 1974 he released a cover version of the Bob Marley classic I Shot the Sheriff, and ended up selling more copies of the song than Bob Marley did himself. Eric Clapton is a great guitar player, and this relatively recent performance includes an extended guitar solo that shows him at his finest, I think. Clapton's a real guitar hero, not a video game ...
The Clue of the Day
29A: Needs another fifty to be thought perfect (4)
This clue has been around the block in a number of related forms, but I like it because it reads so naturally. Thought (IDEA) needs another fifty (L) to be = IDEAL: perfect.
The Lookup of the Day27A: AUK
An AUK is one of a whole family of seabirds that look rather like penguins in that they have black and white coloring, and an upright posture. Auks and penguins have different ancestors, and so the similarity in their appearance (and many habits) is caused by convergent evolution. In other words the environment caused similar traits to develop in different species (sort of like how birds and bats both developed wings).
Here are my answers. As always, I welcome comments and explanations. Thanks!
Across
1: PUTS TWO AND TWO
10: WAISTED
It all goes to loss (WASTED) by the sound of it = WAISTED: narrower at the middle.
11: CASE LAW
CASE LAW is law that is based on prior judgments and precedent, rather on a constitution or statutes. I know I am missing something here. Where does the "by the sound of it" come in? Anyone?
12: DOOM
One's state of mind (MOOD) turns to = DOOM: disaster like this.
13: ELS(I)E
Some different (ELS-E) is around one (I) to make = ELSIE: her.
15: SHOO
You may put your foot in it (SHOE) by the sound of it, for = SHOO: such a send-off.
17: ETC
The rest of them (ETC) he'd (HE'D) = ETCHED: have drawn.
19: MEN-IAL
People (MEN) get confused ail (IAL) = MENIAL: at being in such lowly service.
21: GE(AR)ED
In the "edge" of this (GE-ED) the Academician, 'RA', turns (AR) = GEARED: to be suited for it.
22: MARRIED
23: NE(ST)ED
Need (NE-ED) around the street (ST) = NESTED: to have made oneself at home.
25: LAMB-DA
The ram perhaps (LAMB DA) = LAMBDA: that's the eleventh letter.
Hopefully the print edition will have the right answer, LAMBDA, and not LAMBOA as it is in the online edition ...
27: A-UK
A (A) on the United Kingdom, initially (UK) = AUK: bird.
An AUK is one of a family of diving sea birds ...
29: IDEA
To be thought (IDEA) needs another fifty (L) to be = IDEAL: perfect.
Nicely worded ...
30: ASP-IC
The serpent (ASP) I see (IC) = ASPIC: is jellied in this.
31: 'ER-GO
'Er ('ER) leave (GO) that's enough to make = ERGO: therefore.
34: NA(I'VE)TE
Into a ten (NA-TE) I've (I'VE) = NAIVETE: is so simple.
35: OUTWARD
OUTWARD Bound is a good organization for the young.
36: AFTER TWO WEEKS
Following the fort-night.
Down
2: U-NI-CORN
You, by the sound of it (U) of the North (NI) grain (CORN) for = UNICORN: one (horn) on a-head.
3: SITE
You may see this (SIGHT) by the sound of it = SITE: where the place will be built.
4: W-ADDLE
Double you (W) to the bad (ADDLE) = WADDLE: to go like this, ducky.
5: ARC-TIC
A little round (ARC) over a little jerk (TIC) = ARCTIC: that's cold.
6: DISC
Round here (DISC) one could get over (OVER) = DISCOVER: to find it.
7: WELSH-ER
He'll go off from Wales perhaps (WELSH-ER) = WELSHER: without paying ("pain" maybe).
8: TWO DIME-NSIONS
A couple of ten cents (TWO DIME-) is the "beginning" of the answer = TWO DIMENSIONS: length and breadth.
9: TWO OF DIAMONDS
14: STIRRUP
16: CAMEL
I think the clue just uses the "foot" to fit in with its neighboring clues ...
18: PEDAL
Nice enough little triplet of clues, albeit far from cryptic ...
20: LAD
He (LAD) with a "red" turn (DER) = LADDER: he may put his foot on it.
And there's the fourth foot in a row ...
21: GEL
One's limb (LEG) may be up, to being = GEL: a bit so solid.
24: SHE-RIFF
The woman (SHE) Arab (RIFF) may be = SHERIFF: an official elsewhere.
A RIFF is an Arab from Northern Morocco, as we saw in a Lookup of the Day back in August of last year ...
26: BAR-RACK
Where the bottles are in the pub (BAR RACK) = BARRACK: jeer.
27: AS-SENT
That's how (AS) it went (SENT) = ASSENT: yes.
28: K(I-MON)O
Got in the knockout (K-O) I, a Scotsman (I MON) = KIMONO: for her in Japan.
32: HERE
Overt (OVERT) this place (HERE) = OVER THERE: is at that place.
33: STYE
That's for the swine (STY) by the sound of it = STYE: an eye-sore.
Reveal-An-Answer
Need just one answer to get things moving? Here is my solution to today's puzzle, in a hidden format. To reveal any particular answer, highlight the whole line containing the relevant clue number.
Across
1: PUTS TWO AND TWO
10: WAISTED
11: CASE LAW
12: DOOM
13: ELS(I)E
15: SHOO
17: ETC
19: MEN-IAL
21: GE(AR)ED
22: MARRIED
23: NE(ST)ED
25: LAMB-DA
27: A-UK
29: IDEA
30: ASP-IC
31: 'ER-GO
34: NA(I'VE)TE
35: OUTWARD
36: AFTER TWO WEEKS
Down
2: U-NI-CORN
3: SITE
4: W-ADDLE
5: ARC-TIC
6: DISC
7: WELSH-ER
8: TWO DIME-NSIONS
9: TWO OF DIAMONDS
14: STIRRUP
16: CAMEL
18: PEDAL
20: LAD
21: GEL
24: SHE-RIFF
26: BAR-RACK
27: AS-SENT
28: K(I-MON)O
32: HERE
33: STYE
6 comments:
Hi Bill,
The typo today had me thinking my little run was at an end as I was sure I was after slipping up when I tentatively put in OUTWARD for my last clue and no 'congratulations' came up. The OUTWARD BOUND organization is a new one on me. I too put in ADDS TWO AND TWO first before spotting UNICORN. I went to hear Eric Clapton in Cork 2 years ago. I enjoyed him but a lot of people criticised him for not playing enough of his old stuff and too much instrumental. The way he plays the guitar, I don't think that should be a complaint!
Martina
Hi Martina,
I am glad to see your little run is getting a little bigger.
I remember the Outward Bound organization was big when I was in my late teens. As I recall, the Duke of Edinburgh was a sponsor (in the days when he was considered a PR plus!). Inner city kids abseiling down the side of a cliff, that sort of thing.
I like this Eric Clapton clip partly because it takes an old classic, and then he goes off on a new twist with his guitar solo. Best of both worlds. One of my favorite albums is Clapton Unplugged. Just him and an acoustic guitar. He does a great version of Layla, stripped down to its very essence.
Hope you have a great weekend, Martina!
Hi Bill and Martina
I three started off with ADDS TWO AND TWO before backtracking when I spotted the UNICORN!
I liked DOOM, SHOO, IDEA, WADDLE, WELSHER and SHERIFF.
461 Ocean Boulevard, which includes I Shot the Sheriff, is one of my favourite Clapton albums...in fact I think it's the only Clapton album I ever bought.
I'm hoping I'll have tomorrow's WEB puzzle done and dusted with a little more speed than last week's marathon...which ultimately beat me despite valiant attempts at completion! I've tempted fate there, haven't I...
Liz
Hi Bill and All.
As LAMBOA is a definite typo, I wish to claim my first 'Sweep-the-week'
I was worried in case I'd spelt WELSHER correctly as 'Welcher' is an alternative but luckily WELSHER was right on this occasion.
Delighted to stay on course from Mon to Sat. Never thought I'd do that and without this blog I know I wouldnt have.
Thanks again Bill.
I loved the Clapton video. He's right up there in my top 10 favourite artist list.
I'm curently listening to an album he made a few years ago with the great JJ Cale entitled 'The Road to Escondido' and it's just brilliant laid back guitar music.
Well worth checking out.
Looking forward to the 1/4 WEB. Should be a doddle Bill. Should'nt it??? Only joking.
Enjoy the weekend one and all.
Mike
Hi Liz,
You know we really should have come up with PUTS instead of ADDS TWO AND TWO, given the "together" in the clue. It's lemmings, we are! :)
Look like the aria was a popular choice. I will have to find an excuse to add some more classic Clapton in the near future.
Trust me, Sunday's WEB puzzle is a breeze. I just hope it's not so easy that it is no fun for you whiz-kids! Enjoy the rest of the weekend, Liz.
Hi Mike,
You are da man! You are really knocking off those milestones at a cracking pace. I will give engrave your name at the top of the Sweep-the-Week rung directly. Of lesser import, but still significant (says I!) is your opportunity to get a Sweep-the-Week PLUS. That means you get the WEB crossword solved too. Should be a breeze for you, Mike!
I have to admit, the few times I've logged onto the Blog today, I've hit the Aria play button and let it rip. We might have to make this one the Blog's anthem!
Hope you're enjoying the southwest there, Mike.
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