Monday, November 14, 2016

Zhouqin Burnikel’s New York Times crossword — pannonica’s remitment

NYT • 11/14/16 • Mon • Burnikel • № 1114 • solution

Mammalian-inspired gerund phrases.

• 5a. [Goofing off] MONKEYING AROUND.
• 31a. [Getting ready to click on, as a link] MOUSING OVER.
• 47a. [Eating quickly] WOLFING DOWN.
• 63a. [Storing for future use] SQUIRRELING AWAY.

Craig Stowe’s Los Angeles Times crossword — pannonica’s remitment

LAT • 11/14/16 • Mon • Stowe • solution

• 17a. [Celebration with personnel] STAFF PARTY.
• 29a. [Hangman man, e.g.] STICK FIGURE.
• 44a. [React in the slightest way] BAT AN EYELID.
• 60a. [Hoarse-voiced “Maggie May” singer] ROD STEWART.

Staff, stick, bat, rod. Spare me. Or not.

Mae Woodard’s Wall Street Journal crossword, “Hockey Games” — Jim’s review

We don’t usually get much wordplay on a Monday, so this is a welcome surprise, even if some of the hockey puns are groaners. The last word of some familiar phrases are changed into words taken from hockey.

WSJ – Mon, 11.14.16 – “Hockey Games” by Mae Woodard (Mike Shenk)

• 17a [Hockey score by an aging monarch?] OLD KING GOAL. Old King Cole.
• 27a [Like a relaxed hockey player?] EASY ON THE ICE. Easy on the eyes.
• 43a [Hockey venues doubling as chapels?] WEDDING RINKS. Wedding rings.
• 57a [Shoot to another hockey player?] PASS THE PUCK. Pass the buck. This one’s too close to reality to be humorous.

There is a lot of great fill throughout the grid: OPPOSITES, LEAD STORY, CAGNEY, SLOTHS, NO SOAP, VANGUARD, SKI TEAM, BIG APE, GATEAU, and SKATERS [Hockey players, e.g.]. And only one cringe-worthy entry in IRATER. Well, that and maybe OATER.

On the whole, a nice start to the week. Here’s to hoping we all have a better week than last week.

THEMELESS MONDAY #390 by Brendan Emmett Quigley – Gareth’s piece

THEMELESS MONDAY #390

I feel bad for the lack of actual write-ups today. On the other hand, my eyes are closing, literally, and have been doing so throughout the puzzle. That may account for the time, but I think there were some tricky place too. Clue of the puzzle: [Struggle with hopelessness?], LISP.

I was told there is a factual error in the puzzle, but I don’t have the mental strength to find it right now.

Gareth