I thought Juan's uncle? was HOF.

The choice of songs also struck me as odd. Billie Jean, Beat It and the best dance album of all time, the OFF THE WALL album, are the first ones I think of.

Moonwalking is certainly a necessary choice. I actually jumped out of my seat when I first saw it in the Motown special in 1983.

Steve
Steve Manion | 06.30.09 - 11:27 pm | #

At least AMIDOL's a legit word, albeit an obscure one, unlike some of the ones Merl cited. Plus all the crossings are gettable.
Will Nediger | 07.01.09 - 10:30 am | #

CS was nice. Simple theme. Fun Clues. Hadn't seen the ones for ACDC and ARE, but checking dbs it seems variations of this have cropped up before. Janie, have you considered "in the recorded era" as a descriptor for your firsts?
Gareth | 07.01.09 - 4:22 pm | #

i hadn't, gareth -- but i like the suggestion, so thx!

;-)
janie | 07.01.09 - 5:03 pm | #

Agreed about the weird song selections for the MJ puzzle - not good.
I didn't have a problem with amidol - I'd take amidol any day over Czech river Iser and the canary cousin serin.
And great point about the animal collectives. Unless they're cool - enchantment, parliament, etc. - let's pasadena on 'em.
All in all, not one of the better crops of puzzles.
Jordan | 07.01.09 - 6:11 pm | #

Hello all. If anyone cares, here is an email I sent WS. I have never been able to figure out how to get a comment to actually appear here, though I have tried a couple times, so we'll see:

Dear Will,

I am sorry that I feel compelled to send you this note.

Few would deny that Michael Jackson was an important modern cultural figure, a multitalented entertainer, and a troubled, tormented soul who perhaps deserves, in a moral sense, to be absolved of personal responsibility for some of his actions. It is neither surprising nor inappropriate that his death should be reported prominently and in detail.

There is also little doubt, and certainly no reasonable doubt, that he was a blatant, extreme, unrepentent, self-denying, serial pedophile, who was able to use his fortune (perhaps more illusory than real), his position in popular culture, his self-importance and sense of being outside the rules, to buy and wheedle his way out of the normal and usual consequences of his actions. It is depressing, but not surprising, that this inconvenient fact is ignored and swept under the rug in the avalanche of praise and lionization he receives from the media and from society generally. What I find more personally and immediately troubling is that the New York Times crossword puzzle--(I'm trying to depersonalize this, but not very effectively or convincingly)--should join in this process at the expense of its moral sensibilities and its moral judgment.

I believe that the publication of today's puzzle was a serious lapse of judgment on your part. This does not alter my great respect and friendship for you personally, and my appreciation for all the enjoyment you have given me over the past decade and a half.

Sincerely,
Bruce
Bruce N. Morton
Bruce N. Morton | 07.01.09 - 7:21 pm | #

Chiming in a little late here. What's a "string band"? Ask any Philadelphian or anyone who enjoys the New Year's Day "Mummer's Parade."

Art (who hasn't seen it in years because they just televise the stupid Rose parade out here)
Art Shapiro | 07.02.09 - 7:05 pm | #