Constructor: Josh Kindler

Relative problem: Mediumish, although felt like sluggish going for me

THEME: pock the cah at hahvad yahd or no matter — wacky “Boston” accent variations of acquainted phrases:

Theme solutions:

• DOC (“darkish”) COMEDY (17A: Jokes at Massachusetts General Hospital?)
• MISSING THE MOCK (“mark”) (28A: Late to a Harvard Lampoon assembly?)
• PICK A COD (“card”), ANY COD (44A: Invitation at Beantown fish markets?)
• LOAN SHOCK (“shark”) (58A: Unexpectedly excessive rate of interest for a borrower from a Boston financial institution?)

Word of the Day: STAFFA (24D: Scottish island house to Fingal’s cave) —

Staffa (Scottish Gaelic: Stafa, pronounced [ˈs̪t̪afa], from the Old Norse for stave or pillar island) is an island of the Inner Hebrides in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The Vikings gave it this identify as its columnar basalt reminded them of their homes, which had been constructed from vertically positioned tree-logs.

Staffa lies about 10 kilometres (6 miles) west of the Isle of Mull; its space is 33 hectares (82 acres) and the very best level is 42 metres (138 ft) above sea degree.

The island got here to prominence within the late 18th century after a go to by Sir Joseph Banks. He and his fellow-travellers extolled the pure great thing about the basalt columns normally and of the island’s primary sea cavern, which Banks renamed ‘Fingal’s Cave‘. Their go to was adopted by these of many different distinguished personalities all through the following two centuries, together with Queen Victoria and Felix Mendelssohn. The latter’s Hebrides Overture introduced additional fame to the island, which was by then uninhabited. It is now within the care of the National Trust for Scotland. (wikipedia)

• • •

Ah, the Boston accent theme. I assume they gotta convey this one again each 5 or ten years or nonetheless typically, since somebody someplace will not have seen a model but. Pronunciation themes are all the time dicey as a result of the way in which individuals pronounce and even hear phrases varies so broadly from area to area. Nothing about this set of wacky solutions feels significantly “Boston” to me. This could also be why I had no concept what the theme was presupposed to be till nicely over 1/3 of the way in which into the puzzle. I did not even know what DOC COMEDY was presupposed to be doing. Both “doc” and “comedy” are associated to films … I actually thought there was presupposed to be a “dot com” pun happening there, however the “C” (from TECH) wouldn’t budge, so … DOC COMEDY? OK. Took me till the very finish of MISSING THE MOCK to give you the fundamental premise (would not you be lacking the “mockery,” actually? I additionally do not consider “late to” and “MISSING” as being synonymous, however that is one other story). Anyway, my response is especially “seen it” and “these do not actually sound Boston-y in any respect.” A easy -ARK to -OCK change does not give me something, or solely offers me a touch of what could be happening within the mouth of a (hypothetical) Bostonian. The vowel nonetheless does not sound correct. The accent is not that straightforward. Anyway, I’m lukewarm on this complete idea, although I do just like the “if you happen to’re gonna do chaos, do chaos” power of PICK A COD, ANY COD. When doubtful, throw fish round. 

I studied overseas in Scotland and have been there a pair occasions since and but I’ve by no means heard of STAFFA. My spouse is from New Zealand, which has a fern as its nationwide image, and but I’ve by no means heard of a FERNERY. These two information made the STAFFA / FERNERY crossing … fascinating. Luckily, I used to be capable of infer(n) FERNERY as a result of, nicely, “ferns” are vegetation and vegetation are what you’d discover at a “botanical backyard,” tada. Still, type of a depraved cross for any day, not to mention a Wednesday. I received unhealthy vibes off the grid straight away when it opened with ZITI / ZOD. Not that I thoughts that individual cross—it is nice. But … my thought was “oh, no, somebody’s gonna get enamored of crooked letters and the Scrabble-f***ing is gonna get insufferable.” And, nicely, no Qs or Js, so Scrabble-f***ing wasn’t actually the issue, however the fill was a bit UGH all through. ONKP is an actual warning signal (very oldschool). IPOS IPSO, MORRIE NONCOM, ABES OCHRE, UAE YAYS (plural?) … actually that complete SE nook, simply dripping with gunky fill. No concept why you go along with LEW / WILE over, say, LET / TILE. Is that “W” so vital to you?? You actually slim your cluing choices with the “W.” You additionally get choices that take you manner manner out of frequent speech. A single WILE? One of like two or three well-known LEWs that ever existed (or, within the case of LEW Archer, “existed”)? LET / TILE could appear “extra boring” however it’s a lot cleaner and permits for thus many many many extra sorts of clues: easy, humorous, arduous, straightforward, no matter. LEW / WILE simply backs you into an unsightly nook. As I say, I do not get it.

FERNERY

More issues:

• 29D: 1990 #1 rap hit that ends “too chilly, too chilly” (“ICE, ICE, BABY”) — the one reply within the puzzle (in addition to the double COD one) that I can actually get behind. A lovable low level in rap historical past. Curious to see Vanilla Ice and LIL KIM in the identical grid, however apparently they’ve shared the stage earlier than: at a Gathering of the Juggalos in 2010 (nonetheless ready to see JUGGALO(S) in my grid, #NYTXW editors, come on!)

• 4D: Facing wreck, say (IN CRISIS) — this reply and “NICE SHOT!” give the grid some pep as nicely. The quick stuff kinda LIMPS at present, however the longer stuff does alright. 
• 53A: Waves, maybe (SAYS “HI”) — I had LAPSAT … as a result of waves … lap at … the shore? 
• 63A: ___ O’s (breakfast cereal) (OREO) — I like how this reply sits above TATS. Only the toughest of hardcore crossword followers … or OREO followers, I assume … would get OREO TATS. Gonna search the web for OREO TATS now, pray for my eyes … oh these aren’t so unhealthy. Some of them look like pet memorial tattoos 🙁 

Now I would like slightly B&W furball to name OREO! All I’ve received are these bizarre needy shedding tabbies … oh who am I kidding I like them … they usually have to be fed, so good day!