Monday, November 21, 2022 |

Brandon Koppy’s New York Instances puzzle – Sophia’s write-up

Theme: Issues heard on the WORLD CUP.

• 17a [South African horn that produces only one note] – VUVUZELA
• 28a [Repetitive cry of encouragement] – OLE OLE OLE OLE OLE
• 48a [Reeeeeeeeally long celebratory cry] – GOOOOOOOOOOOOAL
• 64a [International event where 17-, 28- and 48-Across can be heard] – WORLD CUP

It is a foolish theme, and I imply that in one of the simplest ways attainable. Anytime I get to enter lengthy strings of the identical letter/s, I’m pleased (this NYT puzzle involves thoughts because the final time I entered a bunch of O’s). Despite the fact that VUVUZELA is arguably probably the most “regular” theme reply, as soon as I figured it out I used to be instantly pondering “World Cup” since I, like many individuals, solely discovered about them via their World Cup recognition. The “sound” theme is a pleasant hyperlink, for the reason that theme solutions themselves are very totally different from one another. I’d like to listen to what the NYT thinks the spelled-out sound of a vuvuzela appears to be like like.

I’m a soccer fan, however I don’t suppose it is advisable to be one to understand the puzzle – it pays homage to a significant world occasion occurring proper now, but it surely’s not filled with ESOTERIC soccer gamers or phrases. I additionally recognize that the puzzle incorporates no references to the nation/authorities wherein the Cup is held this 12 months or the group that places it on, each of which have rightly been criticized for circumstances surrounding this World Cup (extra data right here written by of us a lot smarter than I’m). The puzzle retains the main target squarely on the sport itself.

There are solely 4 theme solutions and two of them are fairly quick, so there’s numerous area for different thrilling solutions. And there are many them, excess of typical on a Monday! THE DEETS, RUN WILD, EYE CONTACT, GOOD ONE, HAN SOLO, EPIC WIN are all highlights. On the identical time, although, there are a number of solutions which are tougher than typical. The SW nook is especially tough with OATERS and NEALON (facet be aware: if anybody else solely is aware of Kevin Nealon from the 2009 basic Aliens within the Attic, congratulations you’re my new favourite individual). I’ve additionally by no means heard the phrase SMAZE, and crossing it with LLANO may journey folks up. I’m additionally unsure getting the X into the puzzle is value XFL, and I’ve watched a number of XFL video games on TV. It felt slightly pressured, particularly in a nook with a *ton* of different fill choices.

I’m excited to spend the following few weeks watching soccer, significantly the Seattle Sounders taking part in for the US Males’s staff! Go Cristian, Jordan, and DeAndre!!

Daniel & Morgan Bodily’s Wall Road Journal crossword, “Zero Waste”—Jim P’s evaluate

Theme: IN THE DUMPS (59a, [Sad, or, environmentally speaking, where those starred answers’ starts don’t wind up]). The starred solutions are acquainted(ish) phrases whose first phrases are additionally recyclable gadgets.

Wall St Journal crossword answer · “Zero Waste” · Daniel & Morgan Bodily · Mon., 11.21.22

• 17a. [*Kind of dolphin] BOTTLENOSE.
• 24a. [*Cylindrical channel marker] CAN BUOY.
• 28a. [*Poor musicians have them] TIN EARS.
• 38a. [*Musical group with homemade instruments] JUG BAND.
• 49a. [*Marine, informally] JARHEAD.
• 51a. [*Chart showing distribution via rectangles] BOX PLOT.

Hmm. A few these phrases I’d by no means heard of (CAN BUOY and BOX PLOT), however I suppose that’s my very own failing. I’ve an issue with tin being on right here, as a result of most of us don’t encounter a lot tin in our every day residing that might trigger us to recycle it. There might be some tin in “tin cans” (however not a lot), and moreover we have already got cans on this record, and that’s enough. And I’m unsure what is supposed precisely by “jug,” as a result of its recyclability would rely upon its composition (both glass, earthenware, or plastic).

If it had been me (and I understand it’s not), I’d follow BOTTLENOSE up high, transfer JARHEAD to the center, scrap the “tin” and “jug” entries, after which discover new phrases for “can” and “field.” CAN YOU NOT? and BOX TURTLE would appear to do the trick. The outcome (for my part) can be a extra streamlined theme with extra commonly-known entries, making it extra apt for a Monday.

Talking of tough-for-Monday entries, within the fill we discover LEU, EDDA, and LEHAR. And I’m actually giving “bust A RIB” the side-eye; I’ve heard “bust a intestine” much more. However there are many glowing entries to compensate: BID FAREWELL, “A DEAL’S A DEAL,” NEW RECRUITS, PTEROSAUR, a pissed off “IN A MOMENT!,” (I attempted IN A SECOND then IN A MINUTE first), POP GUNS, UP TO BAT, “MY BAD,”, and JENGA. MODERN LINGO feels a bit inexperienced paintish (I needed MODERN SLANG), however total, that’s a beautiful set of lengthy fill.

Clue of be aware: 4d. [No longer on deck, say]. UP TO BAT. This one perplexed me for an excellent very long time. Pondering it was in regards to the deck of a ship, I couldn’t determine why it began with UP. Good clue (although possibly too robust for a Monday?).

Not a foul puzzle, and I loved the recycling idea, however I feel the theme tries to do an excessive amount of. It could be simpler with a pair fewer entries in addition to phrases which are extra acquainted to Monday solvers. The lengthy fill could be very good. 3.25 stars.

And this seems to be a debut for considered one of our constructors, so congrats on that, Morgan!

Dan Caprera’s Los Angeles Instances crossword — Stella’s write-up

Los Angeles Instances 11/21/22 by Dan Caprera

I’ve blended emotions about revealers: I feel they’re overused, and I wager some nice themes get deserted these days as a result of an excellent revealer isn’t, effectively, revealing itself to the constructor but it surely feels just like the theme gained’t get accepted with out one. Right here, although, is a puzzle wherein an excellent revealer led to an uncommon theme. 60A [Stretch of chilly weather, and what the first words of the answers to the starred clues amount to, phonetically?] is the novella-length clue that results in COLD SPELL. And certainly in case you take the primary phrases of every theme entry and say them out loud, you’re going to get homophones of the letters C, O, L, and D — a SPELL-out of the phrase COLD.

• 17A [*Song sung by sailors] is a SEA SHANTY. I nonetheless haven’t listened to any of these on TikTok.
• 25A [*”Huzzah!”] is OH HAPPY DAY.
• 36A [*Yosemite monolith in the 2018 documentary “Free Solo”] is EL CAPITAN. The film could be very a lot value seeing, particularly in case you can see it on the large display.
• 50A [*Actress who played Elliott’s mom in “E.T.”] is DEE WALLACE.

I appreciated this theme! The grid had a bit extra crosswordese than I like on Monday: ETES, SSTS, SSR, EIDER, MAHI as [Half a menu fish]. DINAH Washington and “The Barber of SEVILLE” had been highlights for me.

Max Schlenker’s Common crossword, “Baloney Sandwich” — pannonica’s write-up

Common • 11/21/22 • Mon • Schlenker • “Baloney Sandwich” • answer • 20221121

Widespread phrases phrases reinterpreted to be about sandwiches. Good and easy.

• 16a. [Sandwich that was dropped outside a deli?] FALLEN HERO.
• 28a. [Major change sparked by a Florida sandwich?] CUBAN REVOLUTION. Since I just lately on this weblog shared Tom Russell and Barrence Whitfield’s ode the cubano, I gained’t embed it this time, however I do really feel obligated to offer a hyperlink.
• 45a. [Specialty sandwich at Disney World?] MICKEY MOUSE CLUB.
• 60a. [Norms and traditions for fans of a long sandwich?] SUBCULTURE.

Am I going to select nits and say that subs and heros are simply totally different names for a similar factor? Nah, I’ve no axe to grind.

• Talking of selecting nits although, 13a [Boxer’s enemy] FLEA. That’s hyperbolic, however the query mark is massaging issues right here.
• 51a [MSG’s savory quality] UMAMI. Seeing an increasing number of self-proclaimed UMAMI powders and sauces on retailer cabinets today.
• 54a [Nintendo game that involves shooting ink] SPLATOON. New to me, however is smart. Nonetheless, I’m now envisioning forensics specialists arriving, analyzing wounds and proof as in the event that they had been Rorschach assessments.
• 39d [No longer in a band] SOLO. 30d [Traveling and playing gigs] ON TOUR. 20a [Concert-opening cheer] LET’S ROCK.
• 42d [Command to a curious canine] DOWN BOY. It is a robust clue in case you occur to misinterpret that as ‘circus’.
• 58d [Couple, to a gossip columnist] ITEM. 23d [Groups such as Batman and Robin] DUOS. 12d [Companion of Nod] WYNKEN; plus Blynken for the total trio. 29d [Put two and three together, e.g.] ADD.

Anna Shechtman’s New Yorker crossword–Amy’s recap

New Yorker crossword answer, 11/21/22 – Shechtman

A lot of good fill right here: LAURIE Anderson (I’ll be aware that Lil REL Howery, LAURIE Anderson, and ULTA shops had been my first three solutions within the grid–wheelhouse!), WHATABOUTISM (noticed it in motion this morning, the place somebody equated a homosexual man in a rainbow shirt being detained by safety for half-hour in Qatar with random avenue harassment of girls … although Qatar truly bans LGBTQ expression whereas the federal government doesn’t require dudes to catcall Western girls on the road), PARIS REVIEW, CRIES WOLF, and SLAP-HAPPY. Additionally appreciated LBD, [Monochrome wardrobe staple popularized in the nineteen-twenties, familiarly]–that’s the little black gown.

Perplexed by the clue for MEN’S CHOIR, [Group with a TTBB arrangement, perhaps]. Tenor, tenor, bass, baritone? I’m guessing there’s a cocktail known as the painkiller, provided that [Painkillers might be added to it] clues BAR TAB. New to me.

Not eager on CMS {you don’t want an S, cm is the abbreviation for centimeter(s)}, together with ANIONS, TSAR, LEO I, TARED, ESTD, USE IN, only for boredom fairly than puzzle-wrecking.

3.75 stars from me. Appreciated the bits of fill that favor girls fairly than, say, followers of early baseball and long-gone vehicles.