Christina Iverson’s Inkubator crossword, “Themeless #38″—Jenni’s write-up

It’s chilly, it’s darkish, and it’s pouring rain, and this puzzle was a pleasant heat diversion.

It’s a 16×15 and we’ve two 16-letter entries. Despite that it performed like a number of smaller grids, at the least for me.

Inkbuator, December 15, 2022, Christina Iverson, “Themelss #38,” answer grid

• Both the grid-spanners are authentic and enjoyable. 18a [Dates for platonic dates] are FRIENDIVERSARIES. I can’t say I bear in mind the dates I met any of my pals and now I wish to rejoice FRIENDAVERSARIES.
• 60a [Ruth Bader Ginsburg quote used as a feminist mantra] is WHEN THERE ARE NINE. If you don’t know the story, Justice Ginsburg spoke at Georgetown University in 2015. She stated “People ask me sometimes, when — when do you think it will it be enough? When will there be enough women on the court? And my answer is WHEN THERE ARE NINE.” When folks responded with shock, she identified that there had typically been 9 males, and nobody had objected to that. Funny factor.
• Someone who [Waits for a visit from Aunt Flo] IS LATE. I’m tempted to not clarify and power some males to do their very own analysis…however I’m
• I loved the juxtaposition of SLEIGH RIDE and DEAR SANTA.
• Until we began rising LEMON TREES in pots I didn’t know they have been evergreen.

What I didn’t know earlier than I did this puzzle: I’m ashamed to confess I’d by no means heard of No More DEATHS. I believe I’m not the one one. Information and a possibility to donate are right here.

Kameron Austin Collins’s New York Times crossword—Amy’s write-up

NY Times crossword answer, 12 16 22, no. 1216

Okay, I don’t breeze by Kameron’s puzzles as a result of he’s bought that present for writing difficult clues. But this is able to be exhausting for a Saturday puzzle … and it’s a Friday puzzle? Oof. Tougher than you anticipated, or is it simply me?

First off, let me point out the grid/clue dupes that Shortz formally doesn’t care about, however that soar out at me: 50d. [Cause of a game‘s end] for a pinball machine TILT when GAMER TAGS is throughout the best way, and 33d. [Complete bores], SNOOZES throughout from GUN BORE. Entirely totally different type of bore, I do know.

Fave fill: BAD JUJU is an incredible 1-Across! Love it. Also TILAPIA, BOLT CUTTERS, CHOKEPOINTS, BAGMAN, DUNK TANK (enjoyable!), a pack of KOOLS, and VODKA CRAN aptly crossing DRUNK.

Wasn’t NetZero an previous ISP? 39d. [Environmentalist’s goal for harmful emissions], NET ZERO. Not a well-known time period for me. Ditto for 17a. [Annual Roman Catholic service for members of the legal profession], RED MASS. I can solely consider the Game of Thrones Red Wedding. Also new to me: 58a. [Abbott known for her “Treasure Island” and “Grimm’s Fairy Tales” illustrations], ELENORE.

Five clues of notice:

• 23a. [Buildings in bad standing?], RUINS. This took me method too lengthy to determine.
• 26a. [Director DaCosta of “Candyman,” 2021], NIA. You’re gonna be seeing her identify in additional crosswords, as a result of NIA is such useful fill and since she’s bought a Marvel film popping out subsequent summer season.
• second. [Glass houses?], AQUARIA. Sure, homes for fish in captivity.
• 9d. [Sharon with a Pulitzer for poetry], OLDS. Crossword constructors, take notice: Her 2016 poetry assortment is Odes, so if you want a clue for ODE or ODES and also you don’t have kids in your viewers, her titles are proper there ready. Check out the Table of Contents. Here’s “Ode of Girls’ Things.”
• 41d. [Certain hog], HARLEY. A Harley-Davidson motorbike slightly than a porcine creature. No SHOAT, WILD BOAR, or PIGLET to be discovered right here.

4.2 stars from me.