Constructor: Kevin G. Der
Relative difficulty: Medium-Challenging (**for a Monday**)
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THEME: Start of a bumper sticker … — all theme answers are common opening phrases from bumper sticker slogans.
Theme answers:
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Looks like some of the best constructors are still submitting to the NYT—though with lag times that can run to several years, Lord knows when this one was submitted. At any rate, *this* is how to do an early-week puzzle. What a weird theme. As I was tearing through it (or trying to) I was wondering what I was missing … some connection among the left-off words? I had this sensation of being left hanging. But this turned out to be the point. Despite being incomplete thoughts, the set as a whole is drum-tight. Answers don't need endings. Fill in the blank. Use your imagination. We've all seen bumper stickers that open with these phrases. Hackneyed and lame, as bumper stickers (I think all bumper stickers are terrible and would abolish them if I were Emperor). But as a crossword conceit—all of a sudden this banal rear-of-your-car dumb-assery becomes a clever, and totally unexpected, set. The most fun part is just inventing your own bumper sticker in your mind. For instance, *my* bumper sticker reads HONK IF YOU LOVE SILENCE!
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Allow me to continue. This thing has eight (8) 7+-letter Downs. You may have noticed that, generally, not always, but usually, the more interesting fill is the longer fill. The longer your answer, the more greater the likelihood you'll be able to break free of the gravitational pull of Planet Crosswordese and get to somewhere worth going. And look—all of today's are interesting, even downright creative. I will say that SANDPIT feels made-up. Is that really a thing? I mean, I can indeed imagine a pit made in the sand, but who would call that a SANDPIT? Not beaching-going child-me. Or maybe I would've. I probably wouldn't have called it anything. "Hole," maybe. That's possible. "What're you making there, Mikey?""It's a hole, dad. What does it look like?" I was sarcastic at a young age. Aaaaanyway, SANDPIT! At least it's interesting! And DNA SAMPLING!? Fantastic. That's Friday-themeless good. But perhaps best of all is, in fact, the short stuff, and how well-managed it is. Crosswordese kept to a minimum, and spaced out so you don't notice it, and *none* of that awkward abbr. or plural suffix or other ^***ing nonsense that often tries to pass itself off as legitimate fill. And you also get some legitimately good shorter stuff, like VIPER and KNISH, and most of your short stuff is real words. Look, this is just Good. Stem to stern. Creative/loopy theme combined with real grid craftsmanship. Attention to detail. Even on puzzles that people are going to burn through in a matter of minutes, this stuff matters. To some of us, anyway.
Tomorrow: my recipe for VIPER KNISH. Secret family recipe. World-class. Until then...
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
Relative difficulty: Medium-Challenging (**for a Monday**)
Theme answers:
- 20A: Start of a bumper sticker that may end with one's favorite vacation spot (I'D RATHER BE IN …)
- 29A: Start of a bumper sticker that may end with one's favorite hobby (HONK IF YOU LOVE …)
- 45A: Start of a bumper sticker that may end with one's favorite (usually expensive) vehicle (MY OTHER CAR IS A…)
- 54A: Start of a bumper sticker that may end with one's favorite attraction (WILL BRAKE FOR …) — I don't quite get "attraction" here. If I WILL BRAKE FOR turtles, I like them, I don't want to kill them, but "attraction" doesn't really get at it. Also, wondering if "I BRAKE FOR" isn't the more common phrase. Just wondering.
n.
A piece of dough stuffed with potato, meat, or cheese and baked or fried.[Yiddish, from Ukrainian knysh, probably of Turkic origin.]
Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/knish#ixzz2lbzXHT3V
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Allow me to continue. This thing has eight (8) 7+-letter Downs. You may have noticed that, generally, not always, but usually, the more interesting fill is the longer fill. The longer your answer, the more greater the likelihood you'll be able to break free of the gravitational pull of Planet Crosswordese and get to somewhere worth going. And look—all of today's are interesting, even downright creative. I will say that SANDPIT feels made-up. Is that really a thing? I mean, I can indeed imagine a pit made in the sand, but who would call that a SANDPIT? Not beaching-going child-me. Or maybe I would've. I probably wouldn't have called it anything. "Hole," maybe. That's possible. "What're you making there, Mikey?""It's a hole, dad. What does it look like?" I was sarcastic at a young age. Aaaaanyway, SANDPIT! At least it's interesting! And DNA SAMPLING!? Fantastic. That's Friday-themeless good. But perhaps best of all is, in fact, the short stuff, and how well-managed it is. Crosswordese kept to a minimum, and spaced out so you don't notice it, and *none* of that awkward abbr. or plural suffix or other ^***ing nonsense that often tries to pass itself off as legitimate fill. And you also get some legitimately good shorter stuff, like VIPER and KNISH, and most of your short stuff is real words. Look, this is just Good. Stem to stern. Creative/loopy theme combined with real grid craftsmanship. Attention to detail. Even on puzzles that people are going to burn through in a matter of minutes, this stuff matters. To some of us, anyway.Tomorrow: my recipe for VIPER KNISH. Secret family recipe. World-class. Until then...
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld