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Sam Acker’s Wall Street Journal crossword, “Hidden Figures”—Jim P’s evaluate

Are you stumped, as I used to be, as to what the theme of this puzzle is? I’m not completely positive I’ve figured it out, however I’ll offer you my greatest guess.

Wall St Journal crossword resolution · “Hidden Figures” · Sam Acker · Thu., 8.18.22

My clear up proceeded thusly: I had crammed in practically your entire left half after I bought to the revealer at 65a CHAMELEON [One of three hidden in this puzzle, based on its surroundings]. So we’re on the lookout for chameleons, eh? But I may see nothing on the left facet that pointed to something hidden.

Next, I got here to 13d LEONE [Currency in Africa’s Freetown]. Aha! Could this be a part of a CHAMELEON? But the place was the remainder of it, and why didn’t I see every other elements in different sections of the grid? I made a decision to complete off within the SE.

After some struggles with ERNANI, particularly crossing NYK and RACES (clued opaquely), I once more noticed no different elements of a CHAMELEON. I made a decision LEONE was a crimson herring.

Chameleons change colours, proper? And there are three lengthy entries with colours in theme: BROWN RICE, GREEN-LIT, and GRAY LADY. So that should be it. Are the letters within the colours one way or the other modified from the letters in CHAMELEON?

Try as I would to alter letters round, nothing labored.

The revealer says “based on its surroundings.” So, what’s round these colours? Well, nothing above or earlier than or after every colour appears to pertain, however beneath every “color” phrase is one other entry of the identical size: BROWN RICE & STICK IT TO, GREEN-LIT & GRASSLEY, and GRAY LADY & ROCK STAR. A stick is often brown, grass is often inexperienced, and a rock is commonly (although hardly all the time) grey. Okay, I get that. But how are these issues chameleons?

My guess is that every of these gadgets will not be really these gadgets within the grid. “Stick” is definitely a verb within the grid, “grass” is a part of a final identify, and “rock” is the musical style. Therefore they’re “hidden” of their entries, however the colours assist us to establish them within the grid. So these gadgets are the chameleons. Does that make sense?

I’m unsure I completely purchase that rationalization, so if in case you have one thing higher, pray inform.

Fill-wise, I really like that SW nook with “HOT DAMN!” and ESPERANTO. DRY CLEANS is good within the NW and SMIDGEN within the NE. ON A TIRADE feels a bit synthetic, but it surely works. I didn’t know ELSTON however the crossings appeared fairer than ERNANI’s.

Clues of be aware:

  • 48a. [Baseball’s Blach, Buttrey and France]. TYS. Notably absent: Cobb.
  • 64d. [Retiring]. SHY. Not acquainted with this utilization.

Well, I typically like one thing totally different, and that is positively that. It did require a good quantity of post-solve cogitating to type out (at the least on my half) so I’m unsure it completely works, but it surely will get factors for ingenuity. Four stars.

Adam Wagner’s New York Times crossword—Ben’s evaluate

NYT #0818 – 08/18/2022

We’ve bought nothing happening in immediately’s NYTXW:

  • 18A: Paradise — HEAVE[N ON E]ARTH
  • 10D: Home of greater than 16,000 slot machines — RE[NO NE]VADA
  • 22A: Bland — VA[NIL]LA
  • 3D: Targets of some waxing — BIKI[NI L]INES
  • 40A: Proverbial evaluation for whether or not or not an thought may be taken critically — L[AUGH T]EST
  • 32D: More more likely to get coal, maybe — N[AUGHT]IER
  • 64A: Hot tub shindig — JACUZ[ZI P]ARTY
  • 49D: Almond confection — MAR[ZIP]AN
  • 35D: Ambitious e-mail objective, and a touch to 4 squares on this puzzle — INBOX ZERO

Each of those phrases accommodates a phrase which means “zero” in one among its containers – NONE, NIL, AUGHT, and ZIP.

Happy Thursday!

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