Constructor: Trey Mendez

Relative issue: Easy-Medium

THEME: interstate aircraft journey — theme solutions are about airplanes, and are clued as in the event that they have been associated to aircraft journey from the state whose two-letter postal code they start with to the state whose two-letter postal codes they finish with. Thus:

Theme solutions:

• VAPOR TRAIL (18A: What follows a aircraft going from Richmond to Chicago?) (Virginia to Illinois)
• LANDING GEAR (26A: 26A: Part of a aircraft touring from New Orleans to Little Rock?) (Louisiana to Arkansas)
• CONTINENTAL (45A: Former airline from Denver to Birmingham?) (Colorado to Alabama)
• FLYING TIME (56A: Duration of air journey from Miami to Bangor?) (Florida to Maine)

Word of the Day: ENOS Strate (65A: Deputy on “The Dukes of Hazzard”) —

Enos Strate is a fictional character within the American tv sequence The Dukes of Hazzard. The character of Enos was on from 1979-1980 after which after brief break was on 1982-1985. Enos was performed by Sonny Shroyer. (dukesofhazzard.fandom.com) // Enos is a short-lived American motion–comedy tv sequence and a spin-off of The Dukes of Hazzard. It initially aired on CBS from November 12, 1980, to May 20, 1981. The sequence targeted on the adventures of Enos Strate, a former deputy in rural Hazzard County, after he moved to Los Angeles to hitch the LAPD. Actor Sonny Shroyer performed the character of Enos on each exhibits. The scene was set for Enos leaving Hazzard to grow to be a Los Angeles lawman within the third season Dukes of Hazzard episode “Enos Strate To The Top”. // Each episode of “Enos” featured the title character combating crime alongside associate Turk Adams. Episodes normally started and ended with Enos writing a letter to “Dukes of Hazzard” character Daisy Duke wherein he advised her of his adventures in L.A. In an try to spice up scores, plenty of characters from The Dukes of Hazzard (Daisy, Uncle Jesse and Rosco) have been introduced in as visitor stars, however “Enos” nonetheless didn’t catch on. It was canceled after one 18-episode season. (wikipedia)

• • •

HOOHA! Quite a month for HOOHA, sure sir. HOOHA yesterday, HOOHA in the present day. Lots of on-line HOOHA discourse after yesterday’s puzzle, and possibly once more in the present day. If you need to know why, you’ll be able to simply have a look at essentially the most upvoted definition of HOOHA right here. Dictionaries definitely again up the puzzle’s definition of the time period, however widespread utilization goes a decidedly totally different method, so I really like seeing HOOHA within the puzzle, as a result of I sit up for the semi-startled on-line responses of people that have been Not At All Aware that it meant “commotion,” informally or in any other case. Very entertaining to see individuals be taught new issues, particularly this new factor. 

[first story in MAD Magazine #1]

Also very entertaining: the essential concept of this puzzle. It’s attempting to do one thing intelligent, and I feel it principally will get there. Air travel-related solutions that “journey” from one state to a different. Yes. The most I give it some thought, the extra I prefer it. Doesn’t matter whether or not Continental truly flew Denver to Birmingham—the air routes are fanciful, therefore the “?”s on the ends of the theme clues (which warn you to the puzzle’s secondary thematic content material, i.e. the state codes). As far as this theme goes, I’ve no complaints. Good Tuesday stuff. The fill, nevertheless, has some points. The largest difficulty for me is ONALOG, which is a horribly awkward standalone phrase (lengthy prepositional phrases at all times appear so unusual and bare and bereft). It’s additionally simply avoidable. Just change it to ANALOG (an actual factor!) after which change GOT UP to GAS UP (additionally actual) and TAP to SAP (actually actual!). Badda-bing, voilà, no extra ants ON A LOG (for these of you by some means not conversant in this foodstuff, the log is celery and the ants are raisins and I feel peanut butter is the adhesive, however perhaps cream cheese works too? I do not know, by no means ate it, at the same time as a baby).

[cringe]

NEOLOGIC can be unusual, for various causes (36D: Like a just lately coined phrase or phrase). It’s not unhealthy a lot as esoteric. That is, I do know what a “neologism” is, however I’ve by no means seen anybody use the time period for the inherent high quality of a neologism (and it seems NEOLOGIC is definitely the “much less widespread” adjectival type of the phrase; see “neological,” right here). I truly considered “neologism” instantly however could not convey myself to put in writing in NEOLOGIC as a result of it did not appear to be a factor. Anyway, it is a very odd phrase to see hanging round a Tuesday grid. This is just its third look of the century, and each the opposite appearances got here on Saturdays. The brief fill is OK however a bit of on the limp and off aspect—heaps and many previous mates like OLIO and ITO and ENOS and ESSO … talking of ESSO, I used to be stunned to see that Canada is taken into account “abroad” now (54D: Exxon, abroad).

A number of extra issues:

• 10A: Woman’s identify hidden inside “assumed identify” (EDNA) — nonetheless not understanding why the NYTXW has (of late) steered so laborious towards this fashion of cluing brief names. It’s oddly infantile and patronizing. Makes me need to repost the Bernie meme (courtesy of Christopher Adams, who stuffed in for me on Sunday):

• 26D: “___ at ’em!” (“LEMME“) — I had “LET ME” at first. But in fact that may be the extra formal “LET ME at them, please.”
• 34D: Production firm behind “The Hunger Games” and the “Saw” movies (LIONSGATE) — daring, unique fill. As somebody who as soon as put VILLAGE ROADSHOW in a puzzle (as a result of it contained “LAGER”), I approve.

I feel that is Trey Mendez’s NYTXW debut, so congrats to him.

Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld 

P.S. EMS make “clay clammy” (44A) as a result of EMS = plural of the letter “M”

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