Constructor:Evan Mahnken
Relative difficulty:Easy (5:47)
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THEME: FINGERS CROSSED (54A: "Here's hoping" ... or a hint to 16-Across/10-Down and 37-Across/14-Down) — two sets of entries cross "fingers" -- the words MIDDLE and INDEX intersect, and LITTLE and RING intersect.
Theme answers:
Hello! Long time reader, first time blogger. My name is Zach and I'm honored to sub for the day while Rex is on vacation! Coincidentally I am also on vacation with my family at the moment, so I got to do this puzzle with my mom, which has been a long standing tradition between us ("I may not go to gay bars with you, but I sure love doing puzzles with you!" - my mom). I was prepared to self-deprecatingly compare my sluggish Wednesday time to Rex's typically brisk one, but either this puzzle was on the easy side or having two brains working through this really made a difference, because we managed 5:43 (!!!). Regardless of the reason, it felt pretty breezy overall.
This was one of those themed puzzles that you're nearly finished with by the time you get to the revealer, so it elicits more of an "I'm impressed they pulled that off" reaction, rather than provide an additional layer for you to crack open and solve. But I still enjoyed it nonetheless. I was going to include a snarky comment about thumbs being shafted in this puzzle, until I looked it up and learned THUMBS. ARE. NOT. TECHNICALLY. FINGERS?! Who knew.
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One of the advantages of solving puzzles with someone of *ahem* a different generation, is your slightly offset Venn Diagram circles of culture knowledge can make a big difference on a crossword. My mom was quick on the draw on LEM and ROUEN, two entries I would likely have had to leave until the end and hope I could get with acrosses. There were a few names -- EVA and ARNOLD -- that we didn't know based on the clues but could infer once we had a few of the letters filled in. At the end I asked "are there any clues I got that you wouldn't have?" I needn't embarrass myself by telling you her answer...
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I thought the fill was a nice mix of phrases (GOT AN A; IN A CORNER), trivia, and common words, though overall the cluing felt very straightforward to me. Would have loved to see some more playful and clever cluing for a Wednesday puzzle!
Some other thoughts:
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Relative difficulty:Easy (5:47)
THEME: FINGERS CROSSED (54A: "Here's hoping" ... or a hint to 16-Across/10-Down and 37-Across/14-Down) — two sets of entries cross "fingers" -- the words MIDDLE and INDEX intersect, and LITTLE and RING intersect.
Theme answers:
- LET FREEDOM RING (16A: Verse ender in "My Country, 'Tis of Thee")
- MIDDLE MAN (37A: Go-between)
- A LITTLE BIT (10D: Somewhat)
- PRICE INDEX (14D: Bureau of Labor Statistics statistic)
Matthew Arnold (24 December 1822 – 15 April 1888) was an English poet and cultural critic who worked as an inspector of schools...Matthew Arnold has been characterised as a sage writer, a type of writer who chastises and instructs the reader on contemporary social issues. (wikipedia)
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Hello! Long time reader, first time blogger. My name is Zach and I'm honored to sub for the day while Rex is on vacation! Coincidentally I am also on vacation with my family at the moment, so I got to do this puzzle with my mom, which has been a long standing tradition between us ("I may not go to gay bars with you, but I sure love doing puzzles with you!" - my mom). I was prepared to self-deprecatingly compare my sluggish Wednesday time to Rex's typically brisk one, but either this puzzle was on the easy side or having two brains working through this really made a difference, because we managed 5:43 (!!!). Regardless of the reason, it felt pretty breezy overall.
This was one of those themed puzzles that you're nearly finished with by the time you get to the revealer, so it elicits more of an "I'm impressed they pulled that off" reaction, rather than provide an additional layer for you to crack open and solve. But I still enjoyed it nonetheless. I was going to include a snarky comment about thumbs being shafted in this puzzle, until I looked it up and learned THUMBS. ARE. NOT. TECHNICALLY. FINGERS?! Who knew.
One of the advantages of solving puzzles with someone of *ahem* a different generation, is your slightly offset Venn Diagram circles of culture knowledge can make a big difference on a crossword. My mom was quick on the draw on LEM and ROUEN, two entries I would likely have had to leave until the end and hope I could get with acrosses. There were a few names -- EVA and ARNOLD -- that we didn't know based on the clues but could infer once we had a few of the letters filled in. At the end I asked "are there any clues I got that you wouldn't have?" I needn't embarrass myself by telling you her answer...
I thought the fill was a nice mix of phrases (GOT AN A; IN A CORNER), trivia, and common words, though overall the cluing felt very straightforward to me. Would have loved to see some more playful and clever cluing for a Wednesday puzzle!
Some other thoughts:
- I thought the clue 16A: Verse ender in "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" was a cute nod to the Fourth. Also if you're anything like me you instantly started humming, sat there for a second, then awkwardly yelled "LET FREEDOM RING!!!!"
- AROD being clued by his more famous (in my universe) female partner?? Love to see it!
- Since MY EXES didn't fit for 24A: Things to keep tabs on, FOLDERS was a good answer lol
- 11D: Cab alternative as a clue for PINOT is great wordplay, especially when that is a very common clue for UBER and LYFT.
- I didn't even notice the clue for RED (19A: Color of most Solo cups) until I had completed it with downs, so I didn't get a chance to make use of all those beer pong games from college (oops sorry, Mom!)
- I adore clues and answers like LID (15A: Part of the eye that a fish doesn't have)— I don't know the answer off the top of my head but it's fair game because it's totally guessable. Plus it's fun trivia!
- PuttingWRIT and ESQS side by side was a nice touch.
- 61A: The "m" in the equation "F=ma"got me thinking about the recent Radiolab episode I listened to about intelligence and Albert Einstein. Give it a listen!
- TOILE is one of those words that looks so intensely familiar that I'm sure I know what it is. But after looking it up I think perhaps I didn't know it and instead just lucked out by combining "tulle" and "doily" in my head. Thank you crossword gods.
Signed,
Your fun substitute teacher Zach D'Angelo
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P.S. My mom clarified that she would LOVE to go to gay bars with me she just hasn't had the opportunity! Hahaha noted.
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