Andy Walker’s Wall Street Journal crossword, “Is This Thing On?”—Jim’s review
Groups of circles take the shape of checkmarks and spell out the surnames of famous Mikes. The revealer is MIC CHECKS (21d, [Utterances of “One, two, one, two,” and a phonetic clue to four features of this puzzle]). The Mikes in question (or should I say “check”) are PENCE, TYSON, MYERS, and DITKA.
Wall St Journal crossword solution · “Is This Thing On?” · Andy Walker · Wed., 9.4.24
This is fine, and it works well as a theme, giving the solver something to grab on to, if they get stuck. But for me, as time goes on, I think I’m becoming less and less enamored of themes with literal, groan-worthy puns. YMMV, of course, especially if you’re not old and crotchety like me.
The grid looks like it’s light on theme material, but remember that those theme squares have to satisfy three entries: Across, Down, and checkmark. Ergo, they put some constraints on the grid. And yes, there are some iffy entries (AMPLEST and ONE IN are two that stick out to me). But on the whole, the grid is smooth with highlights: CURACAO, EARPLUG, SMILEYS, and ABRAHAM.
Clues of note:
- 51a. [:-) and (-:]. SMILEYS. Who uses that left-facing smiley? That’s just wrong.
- 64a. [Cloud storage?]. SKY. “Storage” doesn’t seem like the right word here, but I like the clue.
3.5 stars.
Kareem Ayas’s New York Times crossword–Amy’s recap
NY Times crossword solution, 9/4/24 – no. 0904
Surprise! It’s a Wednesday rebus theme. The revealer is SEMICIRCLES, [First- and third-quarter moons, e.g. … or a hint to this puzzle’s theme]. The three circled squares contain SEMI circles, with SEMI rebused into the crossing phrases. FUNHOU{SE MI}RROR meets HI{S EMI}NENCE. RO{SE MI}LK (never heard of it) crosses a NUR{SE-MI}DWIFE. And CRUI{SE MI}SSILES crash into YO{SEMI}TE SAM.
Fave fill: SERRANOS, MONUMENTS, “FINAL ANSWER.” Less keen on LYE SOAP, ALETAP.
New to me: 64d. [___ Moskowitz, a.k.a. “Hawk” on Netflix’s “Cobra Kai”], ELI. Certainly a name like Eli flows with a name like Moskowitz, but I haven’t watched this Karate Kid sequel series.
Ever so mildly surprised to encounter NSC and NSA in the same puzzle, the National Security Council and National Security Agency. Does this feel like a dupe to you when both of the NS’s are abbreviated in the grid?
3.75 stars from me.
Karen Lurie’s AV Club Classic crossword, “I Would Prefer Not To”—Amy’s recap
AV Club Classic crossword solution, 9/4/24 – “I Would Prefer Not To”
Oh, this is fun! The revealer is QUIET QUITTING, [“Acting your wage,” for some, and a description of what’s evoked by this puzzle’s theme answers]. I haven’t encountered “acting your wage” before, but I gather it’s “if they don’t pay you enough, you don’t owe them your full attention on the job.” The three themers are synonyms for “quit,” rendered “quiet” by changing an S to an SH, and then the resulting silly phrase is clued accordingly.
- 20a. [Entrée kept on the menu?], DISH CONTINUED.
- 28a. [In favor of a Bond-approved martini preparation?], FOR SHAKEN.
- 48a. [Controlled again, as a doggo?], RE-LEASHED.
Most colorful bit: 9d. [Lovecraft’s tentacle-mouthed creature], CTHULHU. I even spelled it right with barely any crossings!
I briefly had a wrong letter for 56d. [Subject of a classic crossword theme type]. I went with QUIZ, which didn’t work with the crossing, because I blacked out the horror that is QUIP themes.
Overall, the fill is solid. Four stars from me.
Lydia Roth and Christina Bodensiek’s Universal crossword, “Classroom Confusion” — pannonica’s write-up
Universal • 9/4/24 • Wed • “Classroom Confusion” • Roth, Bodensiek • solution • 20240904
- 65aR [Education style that combines online media with face-to-face teaching … and a hint to this puzzle’s theme] BLENDED LEARNING. The circled letters in the other theme answers can be rearranged (unscrambled in the parlance of the clues) to spell school subjects.
- 17a. [Where an old dog might learn new tricks] OBEDIENCE SCHOOL (science).
- 27a. [Social event for the romantically unattached] SINGLES NIGHT (English).
- 49a. [Beatles song with the repeating lyric “goo goo g’ joob”] I AM THE WALRUS (math).
I thought it was neat how the first one (17-across) references learning. Too bad the other two couldn’t be made to do the same.
- 1a [Prone to snooping] NOSY.
- 9a [Playfully taps on the snout] BOOPS. I see this a lot online, but haven’t heard it too much outside of that. Perhaps I’m sheltered. 21a [Lavish love (on)] DOTE.
- 38a [Course after trig, usually] CALC. Quite near to the MATH themer.
- 44a [Met expectations?] ARIAS. With the question mark there, effectively no misdirection at all.
- 71a [Stuck-up sort] SNOOT, which is symmetrical to 9-across, the snout-containing clue.
- 7d [Gas brand hidden in “clear conscience”] ARCO. What in the name of subliminality is this garbage? 8d [Car also known as the “bug”] is Volkswagen‘s BEETLE.
- 10d [“Soo luminous!”] OOH, SHINY! The answer is definitely a phrase I’ve heard and used, but the awkward clue is not. However, it works really well, as I knew the answer without any crossings.
- 34d [Half of the indie pop duo that sang “Closer”] SARA. 57d [Half of the indie pop duo that sang “Closer”] TEGAN.
- 39d [Piece of feline furniture] CAT CONDO, but I tried CAT COUCH first.
- 59d [Group of families] CLAN. Unlike yesterday’s taxonomic clue for ORDER in the New Yorker crossword, this is a more colloquial framing.
Patrick Berry’s New Yorker puzzle – solution grid
Unfortunately no time for a write-up this morning. Feel free to discuss the puzzle in the comments. —Kyle
The New Yorker solution grid – Patrick Berry – Wednesday 09/04/2024
Prasanna Keshava’s LA Times crossword – Gareth’s summary
Prasanna Keshava gives us a fairly simple theme concept: BACKTALK is the final theme answer, and each of four others has a synonym for talk spelt backwards in the rough middle of their answers:
- GETAROOM, [Recommendation called to lovebirds]. ORATE.
- CHEETAHCUBS, [Fast spotted kitties]. CHAT.
- SECRETTUNNELS, [Routes taken in some great escapes]. UTTER.
- ASEASYASPIE, [Super simple]. SAY.
The opening and closing eights, plus central thirteen – force an unusual grid pattern, with two big wodges in the top-left and bottom-right corners.
Difficult spots for yt:
- [Driver’s lic. with added security], REALID. I’ve read this, and I’m still a little unsure how the clue works.
- [Muse’s bestowal, casually], INSPO. But inferable, I suppose.
- [Green one, in slang], NEWB. Not a spelling I’ve encountered.
Gareth
Michael Berg’s USA Today Crossword, “Me Time” — Emily’s write-up
I took my sweet time with this one today!
USA Today, September 04, 2024, “Me Time” by Michael Berg
Theme: each themer phrase contains M—E—
Themers:
- 19a. [It marks the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere], MARCHEQUINOX
- 43a. [Seasonal celebration in June], MIDSUMMERSEVE
- 57a. [Stretch of time aka the “Age of Reptiles”], MESOZOICERA
A very natural set of themers today with MARCHEQUINOX, MIDSUMMERSEVE, and MESOZOICERA. With the first two, I had thought initially that the third would also be related to season changes but not quite.
Favorite fill: ALLSET, BRAVA, EYEROLL, and TOWERED
Stumpers: HAIM (needed crossings), HOLD (also needed crossings), and ERMA (new to me)
A slow one for me today, though I was having an off day it seemed so perhaps you all had much quicker solves. The overall fill was good and the crossings were fair with nice cluing that didn’t seem too tricky, despite my time today. How’d you all do?
3.5 stars
~Emily
NYT: I didn’t even notice the NSA/NSC dupe, as I was so disgusted by the RENT/REST crossing. They share three out of four letters!!!
Other than that, it was a fun puzzle that even rebus haters might enjoy.
Are you joking about RENT/REST? It’s not just that NSA and NSC share two letters, it’s that those shared letters stand for the exact same phrase, National Security. Would you want the FBI and the GBI, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, in the same puzzle, or would it feel a bit duplicative?
Yes, Amy, I am joking. I have seen people complain about almost that very sort of “duplication.”
I realize that NSA and NSC are a different matter. I frankly don’t often notice such duplication and never get too upset over it when I do. I doubt that solvers who don’t read crossword blogs even know that this convention exists.
AVXC: “I blacked out the horror that is QUIP themes.”
I too would be quite happy to never see another quip theme.
If I understand the theme correctly, DISCONTINUE, FORSAKE and RELEASE are all supposed to be synonyms of QUIT? I buy that for DISCONTINUE, but it seems a bit of a stretch for the other two. But the puzzle was fun anyway.
NYT: When I see a clue about an ex of Khloë Kardashian, I know I’m not going to like the puzzle.
In fact, I couldn’t bring myself to spend another split-second with it.
+1
I felt that way too, and in the end I didn’t do one whole corner because it was too hard for me (not that corner, though I filled in the name of the ex very late), but the crossword was quite enjoyable in the main if you like rebus-type puzzles.
What’s the source of the visceral hatred of Khloë Kardashian? I admit to having never watched her or read anything about her (that I recall). I’m not a fan, but I am curious about the strong feelings
I have no animus (or other feelings) whatsoever toward Khloë Kardashian.
What I dislike intensely is obscure (and also non-obscure) pop culture trivia. This clue was about as obscure pop-trivial as any clue I’ve seen.
I have that same aversion. Not only is this person unknown to me, it is information that I don’t care to waste brain cells on. I don’t want to need to know it, even if just for crosswords. Nevertheless, I gave it an eye roll and soldiered on to finish the puzzle.
DougC — I use the same explanation to myself: I don’t want to waste any brain power trying to remember information that is of no intrinsic value to me. Even if it would help solve crosswords.
Then it’s on you if you continue not knowing it every time it shows up in crosswords. Suit yourself.
Yes, it certainly is on me, what I have deliberately avoided spending any effort on learning.
(I don’t believe I blamed anyone else.)
A quick search shows she has over 300 million followers on Instagram. I doubt any aspect of her life is obscure
I find it almost impossible to even scan the daily News headlines without seeing something about the k family, and somehow Odom stuck in my head through that. I never read anything in deapth about them because I’m not interested. There are other news items I’m not interested in either but I’m ” aware of,” buy osmosis.
Same here. I pay as little attention to the Kardashians as I can, but I got ODOM with only one or two letters in place.
I’ll just add that there are a LOT of proper nouns in this puzzle (15 by my count, including people, companies and products) plus three acronyms. That many almost guarantees that most people will find at least a few of them both trivial and obscure.
WSJ–I live in Texas, but I don’t get the connection between “Texas ball player familiarly” and STRO
David Roll: I believe the Houston Astros are sometimes colloquially termed the “Stros”. It seems kind of silly to shorten an already-short team name, but so be it.
Thanks–I was only thinking about the Dallas area teams–my bad.
LAT from SUN 9/1: Can anyone explain the 14D clue and answer? “Over bidding?” means “Again”.
Here’s how I . . . I’ll say reconciled myself to it. Someone who desires for you to do something over (i.e., to do their bidding would be to do it over) might say “Again” to instruct or ask you to do it over. Not my idea of wit, so I didn’t like it, but that’s the best understanding I could come up with.
TY Lester for your input, and your explanation makes sense. Also, I like your posts because they help elevate my understanding and interpretation of other clues/answers too!
Universal –
Cute juxtaposition of answers for 33 and 36 across. ;)