Monday, November 7, 2016

Bruce Haight’s New York Times crossword — pannonica’s write-up

NYT • 11/7/16 • Mon • Haight • № 1107 • solution

• 67a^R [“Aha!” … or a hint to 18-, 23-, 37-, 48- and 58-Across] I SEE, that old crossword staple. Phonetically, I-C and the initials of the referred entries.
• 18a. [What might make an adult jump in a pile of leaves] INNER CHILD.
• 23a. Home office item that’s surprisingly expensive to replace] INK CARTRIDGE.
• 37a. [What Ramadan is an annual feature of] ISLAMIC CALENDAR. Marquée entry. Is this the raison d’être for the theme? Where can we go from this? Initials! I’ve got 99 problems, but genuinely caring about the why of this theme isn’t one of them.
• 48a. [Obsolescent place to go online] INTERNET CAFÉ.
• 58a. [West African country whose name is usually rendered in French] IVORY COAST. Côte d’Ivoire, y’know.

Hey, you know that thing I’ve been doing in my most recent bunch of write-ups? (Incidentally, Friday’s CHE and yesterday’s WSJ were belatedly posted this morning.) That thing where I barely say anything beyond presenting the puzzle and its theme? I’m doing that again. Feel free to generate comment and content among yourselves. Should be getting back to more substantial recaps soon.*

* But not immediately, so don’t get excited about my take on the Monday LAT.

Dan Fisher’s Wall Street Journal crossword, “Just for Laughs” — Jim’s review

The last few WSJ puzzles have been politically themed. The day before the election, this puzzle is notably NOT politically themed. Today it’s just simple synonyms for “humorous.” Perhaps, editor Mike Shenk hopes to take our collective minds off this contentious election.

WSJ – Mon, 11.7.16 – “Just for Laughs” by Dan Fisher (Mike Shenk)

• 17a [Elbow spot susceptible to tingling pain] FUNNY BONE
• 26a [Product sold in an egg-shaped container] SILLY PUTTY
• 42a [1960s cartoon featuring Dick Dastardly and Muttley] WACKY RACES. And Penelope Pitstop and Peter Perfect and the Ant Hill Mob and…
• 58a [Activity that may involve avoiding windmill blades] GOOFY GOLF. Did you think this had something to do with Don Quixote, too? Once I got it, I realized I’d never heard this phrase. Seems legit, but I’ve only ever seen “Miniature Golf” or “Putt-Putt.”

I admit I solved the puzzle while watching TV so I really wasn’t paying close attention. But now I notice how beautifully clean it is. There aren’t any marquee long fill entries, but there are plenty of nice mid-range ones: GONDOLA, NAIL GUN, THE DOORS, CORAL SEA, AMATEUR, and SKYCAPS. This is what happens when you have only four shortish theme answers, plenty of breathing room, a few cheater squares, and a professional constructor/editor.

There are two odd entries at the corners. CAB IT (9a, [Go by taxi, informally]) and HORSY (62a, [Devoted to equestrian activities]). CAB IT is not a phrase that I use, but I have heard it in a song from the original Muppet Movie. And HORSY doesn’t seem like a serious term that an equestrian would use (though maybe their toddler would). Also, Google seems to prefer the “horsey” spelling.

That’s all for today. Best of luck tomorrow as you get out and vote.

Brock Wilson’s Los Angeles Times Crossword — pannonica’s write-up

LAT • 11/7/16 • Mom • Wilson • solution

• 39a^R [Not a close game, a headline for which may include the end of 17-, 30-, 46- or 63-Across] ONE-SIDED VICTORY. Möbius victorious!
• 17a. [High school infatuation] TEEN CRUSH.
• 30a. [A few hours for doing whatever] TIME TO KILL.
• 46a. [Rich coffee lightener] HEAVY CREAM.
• 63a. [One of two Senate “enforcers”] PARTY WHIP. Concluding the series by making the electoral analogy explicit?

There are some things I could say about the puzzle—the typical mish-mash of connections between clues or entries, duplications, scientific binomials, questionable attempts at humor, editorial rebukes, and the like—but I beg your ongoing forgiveness while I continue to keep the postings minimal.

THEMELESS MONDAY #389 by Brendan Emmett Quigley – Gareth’s review

THEMELESS MONDAY #389

Choice seeds – WAXNOSTALGIC, SAYTHEMAGICWORD, JENESAISQUOI – and some interesting letter patterns in the rest: SATURNV with a dextral mural IVAN and SEMIOTICS (crossing REGO, ulp!).

4 Stars
Gareth