Constructor: Trenton Charlson
Relative difficulty: Easy-Medium (not sure—co-solved it with my wife, so there was a lot of reading clues aloud, and discussion, but we still finished in like 11 minutes, which seems fast, given the conditions)
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THEME: none
Word of the Day: DAIKON (45D: Japanese root) —
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Hello from a Starbucks IN DC. I am about to go compete ("compete") in The Indie 500 Crossword Tournament, but this morning I am just trying to crank (trank?) this blog out before 9am. I co-solved this with my wife last night and basically enjoyed it. Couldn't spell TZATZIKI to save my life (Ss? Zs?) (56A: Sauce made with yogurt and cucumbers), and I did PSI for PHI (24A: Golden ratio symbol), and SUM for IAM (47A: Cartesian conclusion), and TEE for TEA (57D: It might be in the bag), but other than that there were no real snags. Helped that my wife got a few things superfast, well before I would have. Zs and Xs and Qs meant that the puzzle played easy. CUTEX (9A: Nail care brand) made it supereasy, because that put the X in the first position, which made XENON GAS obvious (13D: Strobe stuff). But now I'm sitting here with my friend Lena Webb (w/ whom I'll be calling the tournament finals later in the day) and we're going over the puzzle. Actually I'm just watching her doing it and writing down her reactions and the ridiculous things she says. She got CUTEX and TAKE A NAP instantly. She is very very happy with the clue for GIN (both because she loves GIN and because the clue seems designed to trick you into a different 3-letter answer: ARM) (54A: It may be in a sling). There were a few items, however, that we both had some issues with. Let's start with ... ODOR (27A: Repute).
The only time I have ever seen the word ODOR used this way was in a NYT crossword. That is, I have never, ever seen the word used this way. ODOR is never used nowadays in a non-repulsive way. SCENT is neutral. ODOR already implies stink. See "body ODOR." The idea that you sniff someone's "repute" is just ... weird. Lots of great potential for cluing ODOR, completely squandered on this archaic nonsense. Also, the scare quotes on "astronauts" in 37A: Some early "astronauts" was disturbing. I mean, the quotes belong there, obviously, since the APES were unwilling participants, but again, so many clues exist and you want to evoke Great Moments In Animal Testing? Speaking of testing, the clue on IQS was probably worst of all (5D: They're high in the Ivy League). First, it's factually wrong, in the sense that no one takes a ****ing IQ test to get into Harvard or Yale. You are assuming they have high IQS, and maybe you're right, but IQ has zero direct correlation to Ivy League admission. It's also just a gross system of measuring human beings, highly racialized and disgusting. Anyone who talks about their high IQ or believes in its meaningfulness is not to be trusted. Or is deeply, sadly insecure. If you go to an Ivy League school, you may be a brilliant, beautiful person. But if you want high correlation between student attribute and student admission, check where the parents went to school, or how much money they make. Come on, man.
PS Lena has a JUUL ... I have finally seen one in the wild. Look for it in a crossword near you, maybe.
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PPS Erik Agard has the LAT puzzle today, so you should find it and do it because it's probably great. I'll see him later and ask him, but I'm pretty sure it's great.
[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Facebook]
Relative difficulty: Easy-Medium (not sure—co-solved it with my wife, so there was a lot of reading clues aloud, and discussion, but we still finished in like 11 minutes, which seems fast, given the conditions)
Word of the Day: DAIKON (45D: Japanese root) —
Daikon (大根, literally "big root"), also known by many other names depending on context, is a mild-flavored winter radish (Raphanus sativus variety (cultivar) 'Longipinnatus') usually characterized by fast-growing leaves and a long, white, napiformroot. Originally native to Southeast or continental East Asia, daikon is harvested and consumed throughout the region, as well as in South Asia. (wikipedia)
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The only time I have ever seen the word ODOR used this way was in a NYT crossword. That is, I have never, ever seen the word used this way. ODOR is never used nowadays in a non-repulsive way. SCENT is neutral. ODOR already implies stink. See "body ODOR." The idea that you sniff someone's "repute" is just ... weird. Lots of great potential for cluing ODOR, completely squandered on this archaic nonsense. Also, the scare quotes on "astronauts" in 37A: Some early "astronauts" was disturbing. I mean, the quotes belong there, obviously, since the APES were unwilling participants, but again, so many clues exist and you want to evoke Great Moments In Animal Testing? Speaking of testing, the clue on IQS was probably worst of all (5D: They're high in the Ivy League). First, it's factually wrong, in the sense that no one takes a ****ing IQ test to get into Harvard or Yale. You are assuming they have high IQS, and maybe you're right, but IQ has zero direct correlation to Ivy League admission. It's also just a gross system of measuring human beings, highly racialized and disgusting. Anyone who talks about their high IQ or believes in its meaningfulness is not to be trusted. Or is deeply, sadly insecure. If you go to an Ivy League school, you may be a brilliant, beautiful person. But if you want high correlation between student attribute and student admission, check where the parents went to school, or how much money they make. Come on, man.
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| Me and Lena, who is dressed to ... fill |
GQTYPE is awful, some fill left over from a late-'90s word list. Burn it. Love all the food / drink clues, including DAIKON, which is an aesthetically beautiful word (to me). Lena has never heard of "OZZIE and Harriet," and tbh I mostly forgot they existed (mostly because they existed solely before my time). We all had trouble with CAPITAL B, of course (33D: eBay feature). My helpful advice to Lena (I solved before she did) was "Look at the word!" I offer you all the same advice, for all clues. Very useful. OK, I have to post this. It's So Late. Love from DC. Talk to you tomorrow.
PS Lena has a JUUL ... I have finally seen one in the wild. Look for it in a crossword near you, maybe.
[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Facebook]