Matt Jones’s Jonesin’ Crossword, “Product Placement” – Erin’s write-up

Jonesin’ resolution 8/2/22

Hello everybody! This week’s Jonesin’ theme concerned including the letter X, representing the multiplication signal, into completely different phrases to create new merchandise (“product” as in an merchandise on the market, in addition to the results of multiplying numbers).

• 20a. [Some imaging services out of Florida?] TAMPA BAY X-RAYS
• 40a. [Cheap, flimsy consoles to play “Grand Theft Auto” on?] CARDBOARD XBOXES
• 55a. [“Star Wars” starfighters whose pilots were too scared to show up?] CHICKEN X-WING

Solely three theme entries this week, though they’re good and lengthy at 13 and 15 letters. Different issues:

• 31a. [Disco hit centered around four characters?] YMCA. Intelligent clue, because the Village Folks all carry out as sure characters, however the lineup has at all times included six or seven members at any given time.
• 43a. [Bad ___ (German spa)] EMS. The German city of Unhealthy Ems is understood for its mineral scorching springs.
• 64d. [Falco’s “___ Kommissar”] DER. TIL that After the Fireplace coated Falco’s track, not the opposite means round.

Till subsequent week!

Dan Caprera’s Wall Avenue Journal crossword, “Storybook Ending”—Jim P’s overview

I didn’t pay any consideration to the theme till I received to the revealer which took my by (a nice) shock. Stated revealer is CANTERBURY TALES (62a, [Story collection (with “The”) in which the surnames in the starred answers are characters]). The opposite entries are well-known individuals whose final names are additionally characters from Chaucer’s well-known work.

Wall St Journal crossword resolution · “Storybook Ending” · Dan Caprera · Tue., 8.2.22

• 17a. [*Alt-rocker with the 1995 Top 10 hit “Carnival”] NATALIE MERCHANT. What a stunning, grid-spanning, serendipitous discover.
• 27a. [*”All My Sons” playwright ] ARTHUR MILLER.
• 38a. [*CEO who introduced the Apple Watch] TIM COOK.
• 48a. [*Grammy winner nicknamed “Empress of Soul”] GLADYS KNIGHT.

I actually loved the aha second that got here with the revealer, and I really like the theme set. These names are all well-known, and I’m questioning if this could be an exhaustive listing of well-known surnames which can be additionally characters from the Tales. Certain, there are different well-known Millers and Knights, however there’s no well-known Squire (Billy Squier doesn’t rely), Prioress, or Monk for instance. (Sure, I seemed up an inventory of characters.) Jim Parsons comes near the Parson, however not shut sufficient. What we’re given is a wonderful set, superbly laid out with the grid-spanners on the surface and the brief, 7-letter TIM COOK within the center. Simply excellent.

Edited so as to add: Oh wait. Thelonious Monk would definitely work, however provided that one other 14-letter identify had been discovered. Should you can consider different names, I’d love to listen to them.

HOBGOBLIN tops the fill together with CITY-STATE. Nothing else stands out, however it’s all strong and clear all through.

Clues of notice:

• 29d. [Up to scratch?]. ITCHY. Hmm. “Up” as in a raised welt? Undecided about this.
• 52d. [Penguins’ projectiles]. PUCK. Obtained me with this one. I used to be imagining precise penguins chucking issues at one another.

This one was a pleasure to resolve. It’s a type of why-didn’t-I-think-of-that sorts of puzzles, and it’s completely executed. 4.5 stars.

Jay Kaskel & Daniel Kantor’s New York Instances crossword—Amy’s write-up

NY Instances crossword resolution, 8 2 22, no. 0802

The theme revealer is REPEAT AFTER ME, clued through 36a. [Swearing-in words … or a hint to 17-, 22-, 48- and 55-Across]. These different themers comprise a doubled letter after the letters ME, “repeat {a letter} after ME.” The theme idea doesn’t seize me in any respect, however the selection of themers redeems the puzzle:

• 17a. [In remembrance of former days], FOR OLD TIMES’ SAKE.
• 22a. [Dim sum serving], STEAMED DUMPLING. With SAKE on the finish of 17a, I half questioned if this was an Asian meals theme.
• 48a. [Product-testing nonprofit since 1936], CONSUMER REPORTS.
• 55a. [Late-night show starting in 2003], JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE. Mystifying title. It’s not often aired as a stay present, and I don’t know why they stick with the dumb title.

Powerful for Tuesday newbies: UVEAS, AEON, LEM, KRONA, UEY, “UM, OKAY.”

Three extra issues:

• 1a. [Cologne ingredient], MUSK. Stay away from me with a musky cologne! There’s a scene in Maya Rudolph’s Apple TV+ present, Loot, that includes a bottled perfume containing civet musk; Rudolph’s character shares my feeling.
• 59d. [Scrip writers], MDS. In drugs, “scrip” is brief for prescription. Wasn’t this utilization in one other latest puzzle, resulting in some solver vexation? (I’m not vexed.)
• 5d. [Palindromic rental], DVD. Whoa! It’s been years since I rented a DVD, although I do know it’s nonetheless a factor individuals do. I’m all in regards to the streaming.

3.5 stars from me.

Elizabeth C. Gorski’s Cr♥ssw♥rd Nation puzzle (Week 583), “Breaking story”—Ade’s take

Crossword Nation puzzle resolution, Week 583: “Breaking Story”

Good day there, everybody! Right here is hoping all of you might be doing nicely as we formally flip into August and to the latter half of the summer season!

At the moment’s theme is all damaged up, as the primary three them entries all have circles which find yourself breaking apart the identical phrase. That phrase, when combining the circled letters, is “life,” and the fourth theme entry, LIFE INTERRUPTED, acts because the reveal (56A: [New York Times column by Emmy-winning journalist Suleika Jaouad…and a hint to the puzzle theme]).

• • LEMON CHIFFON PIE (17A: [Tart, light and luscious dessert cart offering])
  • WILLIAM OF ORANGE (29A: [Dutch-born British monarch who ruled jointly with spouse Mary II])
  • ULTIMATE FRISBEE (44A: [Original name of a non-contact team sport played with a flying disc]) – That’s Final to you!

Positively a puzzle that would go away you hungry when completed, from BLTS (10A: [Crunchy sandwiches]) crossing BANANA (10D: [Potassium-rich smoothie fruit]), with the latter crossing the aforementioned lemon chiffon pie. Additionally makes me wish to bake a pie for the primary time in endlessly, too! Have to like a grid through which the constructor works in her alma mater, which is the case with the looks of BARNARD (50A: [Seven Sisters college in New York City]). One reply made me suppose again to my dad and mom searching for me once I was youthful at VIM (pronounced with the letters spelled out, V.I.M), which is a denims and sneakers retailer that, I imagine, is completely in New York and New Jersey (31A: [Pep]). That retailer was just like the Previous Navy for individuals in Brooklyn earlier than Previous Navy gained a stronghold on the denims attire. May need to return there for outdated time’s sake once I get an opportunity…which is quickly, as I feel there’s a rip in one in all my pairs of denims at the moment in rotation.

“Sports activities will make you smarter” second of the day: TRIANGLE (12D: [Isosceles, for one]) – Together with being probably the most historic baseball stadiums, Fenway Park in Boston may very well be the sport’s quirkiest as nicely, from the 37-foot Inexperienced Monster wall in left to Pesky’s pole in proper discipline that’s barely 300 ft from residence plate. Deep right-center discipline includes a area known as the triangle, the form that the partitions make when coming collectively in that space. The purpose of the triangle measures 420 ft from residence plate, and any ball that’s hit there safely will often result in the batter getting a triple, and even an inside-the-park residence run.

Thanks a lot for the time, all people! Have a beautiful and secure remainder of your day and, as at all times, maintain fixing!

Take care!

Ade/AOK

Brooke Husic’s New Yorker crossword — pannonica’s write-up

New Yorker • 8/2/22 • Tue • Husic • resolution • 20220802

Not an excessive amount of of a problem, however an pleasurable passing of the time. What I seen most in the course of the clear up was the idiosyncratic or private taste in most of the clues. Speaking about stuff like 23a [Glowing parts of some menorah sweaters] for the comparatively humdrum LEDS, and 54a [What a nursing pad absorbs] LEAK.

• 10a [Postprandial alternatives to fennel candy] MINTS. Marvel if the unique clue used the identify mukhwas.
• 15a [Hair style that encircles the head] HALO BRAID. Spent too lengthy attempting to recollect TONSURE.
• 16a [Some Japanese porcelain] IMARI. It’s/was made particularly for the export market.
• 32a [Less partial] FAIRER. For some purpose, this framing had me all circled.
• 37a [Chain letter?] INITIAL NECKLACE. I’ve one in all these, however oddly the letter shouldn’t be the preliminary of any of my names, nor of anybody I’ve been concerned with. Mysterious!
• 42a [What dots represent in the Mayan numeral system] ONES. This I didn’t know.
• 59a [Firm hand?] PARALEGAL. That’s a superb clue.
• 1d [ __ Wujing (pilgrim in “Journey to the West”)] SHA. “Within the supply novel, his background is the least developed of the [three] pilgrims, and he contributes the least to their efforts.” –Wikipedia.
• 3d [Range for many a villainess] ALTO. My very first fill-in of the puzzle.
• 28d [Feature of some tanks] BUILT-IN BRA. Good, surprising clue/reply.
• 36d [Manhattan neighborhood home to Essex Market, in brief] LES, the Decrease East Aspect.
• 56d [“Insurrection! (Our Tools Were Rudimentary, Yet We Pressed On)” silhouettist Walker] KARA.

Matthew Inventory’s USA At the moment Crossword, “Math Is All Round Us” — Emily’s write-up

Enjoyable puzzle with an excellent theme and themer set plus a vertically symmetrical grid!

USA At the moment, August 02 2022, “Math Is All Round Us” by Matthew Inventory

Theme: the phrase “math” encapsulates every of the themers, MA…..TH

Themers:

• 17a. [Containing the highest amount of the active ingredient], MAXIMUMSTRENGTH
• 31a. [“Downton Abbey” star], MAGGIESMITH
• 54a. [Direction that compasses naturally point], MAGNETICNORTH

Regardless of the way you would possibly really feel about math, the title is actually not hyperbole and is a good trace for as we speak’s theme although I didn’t see it till after I solved and took a step again to take a look at the grid. I received a superb begin on MAXIMUMSTRENGTH with the primary three letters buck stored considering alongside the traces of “saturation” as a substitute of efficiency however after a couple of crossings within the second half then the remainder fell into place. Kudos to MAGGIESMITH in all of her roles, of which Gosford Park is a favourite of mine. The second half of MAGNETICNORTH I knew straight away however I wanted crossings for the primary half, considering extra of “due” or “true” as a substitute.

Favourite fill: AMOK, SLUGBUG (makes my arm ache simply fascinated about it), and GOESROGUE

Stumpers: ECLAIR (may solely consider “cannoli”), ROOST (so many prospects: “nests”, “limbs”, “timber”, and my favourite possibility “perch”), and RTS (I couldn’t give you a superb abbreviation for tweets and it clearly wasn’t DMS so this one received me good and took up a little bit of my time)

It’s been some time since I’ve performed a write-up for a “contained” themer of this kind so these days I’ve been specializing in the clear up then searching for a themer, except one thing jumps out throughout it. Plenty of nice fill as we speak and cluing total too! Love the grid design–looks like a chunk of artwork, which I doubly take pleasure in.

4.5 stars

~Emily

Sam Buchbinder’s Common Crossword, “Eye Items” — Jim Q’s write-up

A considerably miserable one for me as I’ve lastly come to phrases with the truth that my imaginative and prescient ain’t what it was 🙂

THEME: Elements of the attention may be discovered within the second phrase of widespread two-word phrases

Common crossword resolution · Sam Buchbinder · Eye Items · Sunday. 08.02.22

THEME ANSWERS:

• STAR PUPIL
• LIGHTNING ROD
• FEMINIST LENS
• SUGAR CONE

Solidly over-the-plate idea right here with 4 robust solutions, permitting for some good respiratory room within the grid.

The primary themer I uncovered was LIGHTNING ROD clued as [One is tall and attractive], so I assumed that the theme was going to be issues that may be described as one thing fetching/attractive which can be simply regular issues. On the time that made sense to me with the title. I even satisfied myself that was nonetheless the theme once I uncovered STAR PUPIL subsequent clued as [Head of the class]. After I caught on to what was truly occurring, dare I say I used to be sort of bummed? I imply the theme is completely high-quality, however I kinda preferred the thought I initially thought.

Anyway, there isn’t a STANK on this puzzle. Loved the trivia for TANGO [Dance banned by Pope Pius X]. I’m guessing he wouldn’t be into twerking both.

3.3 stars as we speak 🙂