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Constructor: David Steinberg
Relative issue: Challenging (Mediumish general, however two tiny sections stopped me chilly for longish intervals of time)
THEME: none
Word of the Day: CARAWAY (23D: Relative of fennel) —
1: a biennial often white-flowered fragrant Old World herb (Carum carvi) of the carrot household
2: the pungent fruit of the caraway utilized in seasoning and drugs— referred to as additionally caraway seed (merriam-webster.com)
• • •
Never actually discovered my grip with this one. Something concerning the cluing wavelength—primarily that I used to be nowhere close to it, at any time. Occasionally this felt like a great Friday, however that whooshing of fantastic solutions, that move, that pop pop of excellent surprises—that by no means got here at present. Felt like I used to be working for every little thing, and with out a lot “aha” payoff. WHOOPEE CUSHION is kinda humorous, however even there, the awkward syntax of the “?” clue made it really feel a bit compelled. Also, I spelled WHOOPIE like that, in order that’s no good. I stored ready for one thing to essentially kickstart the social gathering, however I stored getting simply OK stuff like LEMON SAUCE and WORK OF ART and CARAWAY and BRAIN GAME—you’ll be able to’t fault any of these issues, however there isn’t any standout there. Very a lot loved seeing WHITNEY HOUSTON, however which will very properly be as a result of I acquired that reply a lot simpler than most different issues on this puzzle. But the actual fact is I do not bear in mind a lot of the highest 2/3 of this puzzle. I hacked away at it, made progress, plowed by means of … not terribly exceptional. But the underside was a whole catastrophe, and the worst type of catastrophe, which is to say that the cluing on quick fill made it not possible (for me) to see, and I got here to whole standstills, twice (this usually would not occur even as soon as on a Friday).
The subsequent useless cease, although, was for much longer, and attributable to one thing a lot tinier (finally). And once more, the issue is due solely to the clue attempting Very exhausting to be a ache within the ass. So, that is what I used to be :
In retrospect, after all, I’m considering “properly, simply write in TOY, dummy” (50D: Barbie, e.g.). But here is the issue. I really wasn’t this model of the grid more often than not. What I used to be was simply the one clean, above the “O.” The different clean I had confidently stuffed with a “C” as a result of ACES is the one appropriate reply for 58A: Pros. I actually do not perceive attempting to engineer your puzzle for issue on this manner. You’ve already put within the fully absurd ORE clue proper subsequent door (one which, thank god, I knew from having solved crosswords for many years) (51D: Unit of the Swedish krona). It’s just like the puzzle *needs* this particular, tiny space to be a ache to get by means of. But the clue on AYES, I resent, largely as a result of it so nakedly needs you to suppose ACES. It’s infinitely extra applicable for ACES. I do not know what my response was imagined to be once I came upon it was AYES. “That’s intelligent”? My response was “I can not imagine I wasted minutes of my life for therefore little. I’ll admit that I overthought the Barbie clue, however with the type of cluing this puzzle was throwing at you, you’ll be able to’t actually be blamed for overthinking. My thoughts was racing round for different kinds of “Barbies,” however after Australian barbecues, I used to be out of concepts. And I did not really see the Barbie clue till *after* the “C” was (I believed) safely nestled in place on the finish, inside ACES. But when issues did not work, I began questioning every little thing. I used to be by no means absolutely certain of “LISTEN TO ME!” I began doubting HOMES (which has its personal actually awkward / non-intuitive clue) (45D: Divisions of subdivisions). And POPES, ugh, as soon as I acquired it, I did not doubt it, however do they actually “love” Latin? (42D: Latin lovers, formally talking?). “Officially talking” is doing a whole lot of bizarre and unclear work there. Eventually I patiently ran the alphabet for the Barbie clue and noticed TOY after which noticed AYES after which shook my head very slowly and disappointedly. If the puzzle had given me delight within the longer solutions, I’d resent this fussiness and over-striving within the short-fill cluing rather less (facet be aware: there are *Eight* (8) question-mark (“?”) clues on this one, which is … loads). But as it’s, I spent nearly all my time on these little disasters, and so frustration and annoyance are all I’m actually left with in the long run.
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
P.S. an observant reader confirmed me one thing and now I’m displaying you
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