Constructor: Robyn Weintraub
Relative issue: Medium (3/4 very simple, 1/4 one thing a few frog????)
THEME: none
Phrase of the Day: ROSA Bonheur (53A: “The Horse Honest” artist Bonheur) —
Rosa Bonheur (born Marie-Rosalie Bonheur; 16 March 1822 – 25 Could 1899) was a French artist recognized greatest as a painter of animals (animalière). She additionally made sculpture in a realist model. Her work embrace Ploughing within the Nivernais, first exhibited on the Paris Salon of 1848, and now within the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, and The Horse Honest (in French: Le marché aux chevaux), which was exhibited on the Salon of 1853 (completed in 1855) and is now within the Metropolitan Museum of Artwork in New York Metropolis. […]
Bonheur was overtly lesbian. She lived along with her accomplice Nathalie Micas for over 40 years till Micas’s dying, after which she started a relationship with American painter Anna Elizabeth Klumpke. (wikipedia)
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Nicely this all got here all the way down to the frog clue. I do not know if you know the way brutal that clue is if you happen to do not simply *know* that the Latin American model of Kermit is “La Rana RENÉ.” It is not simply that I did not know his title. I do not know plenty of names, most names, and I handle to push by means of them every single day. ROSA Bonheur! Did not know her, however I knew I used to be on the lookout for a human title (key!) and the crosses have been very obliging. However with La Rana RENÉ, I’ve completely no concept I’m on the lookout for a human title. I do know it says “Kermit’s title” proper within the clue, however I figured it was “title” within the sense of “factor we name him,” one thing adjectival!!!! Like “The Unhappy Frog” or “The Gradual Frog” or “The Miserable Frog.” And as I do not know a lot Spanish, I used to be completely useless within the water, as a result of so far as I used to be involved, that adjective might’ve been something (“What’s Spanish for ‘inexperienced’!? Is not it VERDE?! Why will not it match?!”). After which it wasn’t even an adjective—only a random title! “RENÉ the Frog!” Sigh. So I had -ENE and 0 ****ing concept. Worse, I had no concept what 23A: It is equal to a cup (TROPHY) was getting at. Simply none. (“Equal to a cup? … TWO PTS”!?!? Wait … [counts on fingers] … that is not proper” and so forth.). After which that RENÉ / TROPHY part linked to the NE, which I botched for causes that have been 95% my very own DOM fault. This is what I used to be gazing on the finish of my resolve:
I do know the time period TRASH PANDA very effectively! So I do not know why the clue [11D: Raccoon, humorously] made me consider literal precise pandas, nevertheless it did. And GIANT PANDA match completely, “fortunate” for me! So dumb. All of the Acrosses up there would’ve been exhausting *with out* my mistake, however with it, yeesh. I do not know why it took me so lengthy to actually take a look at 10D: Cargo that may embrace a word saying “Miss you!” I believe that in my first cross at it, I solely picked up the “Cargo” half and since I already had PACKAGE, I did not have the mandatory info. Typically I fail to learn to the top of the clue. Principally this works simply tremendous. With CARE PACKAGE, it was disastrous. Anyway, I acquired all of it labored out through CARE PACKAGE—modified CTRS to CTRL (10A: A part of many instructions: Abbr.), found out what dumb Vegas lodge we have been coping with, found out what the LAPS clue was attempting to get at, what software seemed like a zester, and so forth. the top. Anyway, this was a fantastic, zoomy, whoosh whoosh puzzle semi-ruined by a really exhausting and clunky nook there on the finish. The frog clue was malevolent. However the hassle with TRASH PANDA was totally my fault. So I am half mad on the trash frog and half mad at myself for a great, breezy puzzle semi-spoiled by late disagreeable fumbling and awkwardness.
However earlier than that, it was pure Robyn goodness, ALL OVER THE MAP! (25A: Right here, there and in every single place). The second it actually kicked in got here early, after the NW went in easily after which the primary exhilarating drop got here with the good clue/reply pair at 8D: Roger’s relative? (“COPY THAT!”).
From right here I had hassle seeing any of the “COPY THAT!” crosses (and naturally the silly frog subsequent door), so I simply saved going, down down down, all the way in which to the underside of the grid, after which I cleaned up down there:
After that, it was “HERE WE GO AGAIN” throughout the grid to the SW, after which, after all, the aforementioned brutal final stand within the NE. It actually was a super Friday fixing expertise till concerning the 80% mark.
- 39A: A glengarry is one within the form of a ship (HAT) — effectively now I wanna know what the form of a Glen Ross is! Hmmm … effectively, this is the form of a Glenn Ross:
Glenn Ross (born 27 Could 1971) recognized by his nickname “The Daddy”, is a Northern Eire former Worldwide Strongman and Powerlifter who has represented Northern Eire and the UK in a number of World’s Strongest Man competitions and numerous World Grand Prix and European Workforce competitions. (wikipedia) |
- 56A: St. ___ (vacation spot in a rhyming riddle) (IVES) — wished to spell it YVES. I believe we’ve got some facial scrub within the bathe that is St. YVES model … nope, that is IVES as effectively. No concept why I am spelling it like YVES Montand.
- 21D: Title for a Benedictine monk (DOM) — wished FRA at first, which may also be a title for a monk, however is extra carefully related (I believe) with friars.
- 45A: Spent a while within the Outback, maybe (DROVE) — cherished this. Double misdirect! Me: “LOL what’s the five-letter phrase for ‘Ate a Bloomin’ Onion’!? But it surely wasn’t Outback Steakhouse, it was the Subaru Outback. Good.
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
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