Constructor:Peter Wentz
Relative difficulty:Easy-Medium
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THEME:"Rebranding"— "Corrected" slogans, i.e. well known commercial slogans that have been "corrected" (grammatically) to make new, terrible slogans:
Theme answers:
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Well, I learned what LEED is. That was weird. The full name of LEED is so business-speakingly, motivational-posteringly awful that we should all be glad if LEED just takes off on its own and no one ever remembers what it was based on. This theme, also, weird. The slogans are all "corrected" in very different ways. "Nobody doesn't like Sara Lee" is a perfectly "correct" slogan, grammatically. In fact, "EVERYBODY LIKES SARA LEE" is decidedly *not* an equivalent. "Nobody doesn't like" implies that perhaps some are indifferent. "Do you like Sara Lee?""Meh." The original slogan leaves that possibility open. This "corrected" slogan Does Not. Also, EAT FRESHLY is just wrong. It's nonsense. It's a grammatical abomination. The food (presumably) is fresh, not the manner in which I am eating it (unless I'm eating in a pert, saucy manner, which I suppose is possible). Also, "a little dab" is not redundant. Not necessarily. Surely we can all imagine that in the world of "dabs," there might be all different sizes. All dabs matter. Two of these "corrections" set out to "correct""got" ... replacing it with "have" (and other words). This feels absurd. So I mostly don't get this theme. That is, I get it, but I don't Get It. Got theme? No.
RESORT TO BOWED TO AS TO TO A MAN. It's all a little too too. Or TOTO, I guess. Fill is not terrible, but it's not exceptional either. RETRONYM is cool, though (he said, having recently put that word in one of his own puzzles ...). I had very little trouble with this one. AJ FOYT definitely took some wrestling, and I had ENCASE for ENCAGE at first (77A: Confine), and I didn't know LEED (see above), but otherwise, no struggles. Just BUGGLES.
Here are some last-minute CROSSWORD GIFT IDEAS (for procrastinating Santas):
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Relative difficulty:Easy-Medium
THEME:"Rebranding"— "Corrected" slogans, i.e. well known commercial slogans that have been "corrected" (grammatically) to make new, terrible slogans:
Theme answers:
- THINK DIFFERENTLY (Apple) (23A: "Corrected" slogan for a tech company?)
- YES, WE HAVE THAT (Staples) (33A: "Corrected" slogan for an office supply chain?)
- EAT FRESHLY (Subway) (49A: "Corrected" slogan for a fast-food franchise?)
- EVERYBODY LIKES SARA LEE (Sara Lee) (66A: "Corrected" slogan for a dessert brand?)
- A DAB WILL DO (Brylcreem) (83A: "Corrected" slogan for a hairstyling product?)
- LET GO OF MY EGGO (Eggo) (97A: "Corrected" slogan for a frozen breakfast food?)
- DO YOU HAVE ANY MILK? (Milk) (111A: "Corrected" slogan for a dairy product?)
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is one of the most popular green building certification program used worldwide. Developed by the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) it includes a set of rating systems for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of green buildings, homes, and neighborhoods[8] that aims to help building owners and operators be environmentally responsible and use resources efficiently. (wikipedia)
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RESORT TO BOWED TO AS TO TO A MAN. It's all a little too too. Or TOTO, I guess. Fill is not terrible, but it's not exceptional either. RETRONYM is cool, though (he said, having recently put that word in one of his own puzzles ...). I had very little trouble with this one. AJ FOYT definitely took some wrestling, and I had ENCASE for ENCAGE at first (77A: Confine), and I didn't know LEED (see above), but otherwise, no struggles. Just BUGGLES.
Here are some last-minute CROSSWORD GIFT IDEAS (for procrastinating Santas):
- Outside the Box Puzzles (joon pahk) (subscription) (multiple formats) — Branch out from standard crosswords with Rows Garden and Variety Crosswords from Jeopardy! champion, crossword-solving champion, and champion human being joon pahk (are we still spelling your name w/o capitals, joon?). When he's not teaching Physics at Harvard, he's off winning *something* or else making top-notch crosswords and other puzzles. Premium subscription gets you 75 puzzles (annually) for just $30.
- The Crossword Constructor's Handbook (Patrick Berry) (.PDF) — this is the constructor's bible. There is no better guide to how crosswords are made. Even people who never plan to make a crossword themselves will find this guide a revelation. ($10!!)
- Easy as Duck Soup (Tony Orbach) (book of crosswords) — know anyone who is a hobbyist but not (yet) a Saturday-solving ace? Or someone who just likes to devour a breezy, easy, expertly-made crossword now and then? Then get this little stocking stuffer from my friend, crossword bon vivant Tony Orbach.
- Matt Gaffney's Daily Crossword (subscription) (.puz, .jpz, .PDF) — daily 10x10 crosswords, delivered to your Inbox each evening. I love these. If you like the NYT Mini but find the Mini just too ... Mini, well, this is for you. A whole year for just $24)
- American Values Crossword (subscription) (.puz or .PDF) — One of the very best crosswords in the country has a ridiculous deal through New Year's Eve: $3 for 3 months worth of amazing weekly crosswords (no hyperbole, this is arguably the best crossword in the country). You can also get a regular old subscription (recommended; various subscription levels available) or go a la carte, $1/crossword.
- Fireball Crosswords (subscription and/or books) — The other (arguably) greatest puzzle in the country. Hard as hell. Maddening but oh-so-satisfying. The most imaginative work from the top constructors. Subscribe now (2016 subscriptions are 45 puzzles/$25). Or buy collected editions of past puzzles—real, dead-tree books! Bonus: the first promotional blurb on the back is from yours truly. If you know a puzzle snob who looks down on all non-NYT puzzles, give them Fireball Crosswords and wish them luck.
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