Note: Fireball is a contest this week. Look for our review after the contest closes.
Hal Moore’s Wall Street Journal crossword, “Fusion”—Jim’s review
Theme answers are “fused” pairs of nationalities that share two letters. Each entry gets a clue that features a dish from each country. The revealer is DUAL CITIZENSHIP (58a, [Status held by the three theme answers]).
Wall St Journal crossword solution · “Fusion” · Hal Moore · Thu., 11.7.24
- 17a. [Adobo + fårikål] FILIPINORWEGIAN.
- 29a. [Falafel + cepelinai] ISRAELITHUANIAN.
- 44a. [Pho + pljeskavica] VIETNAMESERBIAN.
I caught on to the theme while working my way across the top of the grid. As I went along I wondered if there would in fact be a revealer because it felt weak without one. So I was glad to find the revealer and have it make sense.
I wanted the shared letters to cumulative spell something out. These letters are NOLISE which is almost “NO LIES” but obviously isn’t. It does however spell NO LISE, so I wonder if sometime Fiend commenter Lise did something to upset today’s constructor.
Fill highlights include SHIBA INU, STEP BACK, and SHAZAM! Rare but definitely crossword-worthy entry UFFIZI is a tough entry to start with a 1d (“Is it one F and two Zs, or vice versa?”), but it was fun sorting it out.
Clue of note: 22a. [Katharine Hepburn’s acting gamut, in a Dorothy Parker quip]. A TO B. A crummy entry, but it’s rescued by an interesting clue.
3.25 stars.
Joe Deeney’s New York Times crossword — Zachary David Levy’s write-up
Difficulty: Easy (7m57s)
Joe Deeney’s NewYork Times crossword, 11/7/24, 1107
Today’s theme: TO the letter
- BRING (up to) SPEED
- NOTHING (left to) LOSE
- GET (right to) THE POINT
- COME (down to) THE WIRE
My heart just aint in it today.
Cracking: ERSATZ, which in my mind is more “cheap imitation” than (Not genuine)(don’t give me your “more than one definition” spiel)
Slacking: IV BAG, because no one calls it that; it’s one small step above “syringe plunger” or “hospital gown sleeve”
Sidetracking: MR BILL
NYT: I thought this was a fun theme.
Didn’t care for that block in the south-central – WAP, PETA (I’m supposed to know their logo?) and MR. BILL (this must be at least 40 years old, and Claymation characters always, ALWAYS creep me out – ugh!).