Constructor: Andrew Zhou
Relative difficulty: Medium-Challenging
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THEME: BY GEORGE! (61A: Exlamation that describes 13-, 20-, 30, 39- and 51-Across)— all themers are works created by someone whose first name is "George":
Theme answers:
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The theme is stupid in a way I kinda like. Silly, maybe, rather than stupid. Anyway, the revealer provided a nice aha—though actually I never saw that the revealer was the revealer, so I was left staring at the grid for many seconds afterwards wondering what the hell—the damned 8-letter *non*-themers didn't help. Again, all non-themer Acrosses should be *shorter* than the shortest Across themers ... for a reason. FRITO PIE, my eye. Actually, GOOGLE IT, my eye. That is stupid in a way that I don't kinda like. There's being innovative and there's just being too cute by half. [Easy way to get information...] = GOOGLING. That is the only acceptable answer there. If you wrote that in, realized it was "wrong," but refused to change it, you are not only forgiven, you are blessed.
This one played harder than normal, in large part because the constructor decided to drop it to 72 words (?!?!) for a Wednesday themed puzzle, which is weird. Lots of white space *and* a theme-dense grid. This didn't make for the smoothest of solves. I very nearly left an error behind at the ACHESON (who? seriously, how old do you think I am?) / CHABAD crossing. I had an "S" there because ... I think I confused CHABAD and SHABBAT (not Jewish, though that's probably a 'duh' to you right now). Anyway, I can see someone faltering at that cross, easily. Roughest part for me was, well, where all the red ink is here:
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ARIDE = ABADANSWER, so having [Bum ___] for the clue and having the answer not be STEER and then having the answer be ARIDE ... that was a bummer. USED is an Amazon "category"?! So many Amazon categories. So so many. I have never gone to "Used." I know you can buy "Used" merchandise, but calling it a "category" just did nothing a clue is supposed to do. So many ways to clue USED without that dumbness. TAPINTO is good; the clue was just tough in that way that very vague clues are tough (5D: Access). So a pass for this one, but kind of a low one because of design / fill / cluing issues.
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
P.S. LOL at everyone who wrote in ANEWHOPE at 13A: 1977 Lucas film, you know who you are.
[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Facebook]
Relative difficulty: Medium-Challenging
Theme answers:
- "STAR WARS" (13A: 1977 Lucas film)
- "MIDDLEMARCH" (20A: 1871 Eliot novel)
- "RHAPSODY IN BLUE" (30A: 1924 Gershwin composition)
- "DECISION POINTS" (39A: 2010 Bush autobiography)
- "MY SWEET LORD" (51A: 1970 Harrison song)
Chabad, also known as Lubavitch, Habad and Chabad-Lubavitch, (Hebrew: חב"ד) is an Orthodox Jewish, Hasidic movement. Chabad is today one of the world's best known Hasidic movements and is well known for its outreach. It is the largest Hasidic group and Jewish religious organization in the world. (wikipedia) ("known for its outreach" = some weakass wikiplagiarism in the cluing)
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This one played harder than normal, in large part because the constructor decided to drop it to 72 words (?!?!) for a Wednesday themed puzzle, which is weird. Lots of white space *and* a theme-dense grid. This didn't make for the smoothest of solves. I very nearly left an error behind at the ACHESON (who? seriously, how old do you think I am?) / CHABAD crossing. I had an "S" there because ... I think I confused CHABAD and SHABBAT (not Jewish, though that's probably a 'duh' to you right now). Anyway, I can see someone faltering at that cross, easily. Roughest part for me was, well, where all the red ink is here:
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
P.S. LOL at everyone who wrote in ANEWHOPE at 13A: 1977 Lucas film, you know who you are.
[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Facebook]