pmom

Whoa. I’m not done with the puzzle yet, but I need to come here to comment. The striptease of this puzzle’s central revelation is one of the most masterful constructions I’ve seen in a while. First I had “the southeast,” then “the southwest” (“are there Everglades in the southwest?”), and then I realized that we really, really were all over the map. A puzzle for the ages. Bravo!

Crossing KEPIS and JOSS is diabolical.

“sbarro” two days in a row!

Anyone else get stuck with “arcie grape”?

fighting illini crossed with mai is a nattick :/

Anyone else get stuck with “datted” for a minute there?

Crossing STEEVE with SERIESE felt a bit mean. Also, the clue for SLEEVELESST should have indicated that it’s an abbreviation.

The northwest corner here was unbearable — way too much obscure stuff.

Almost every oat bar I’ve ever eaten is soft! Not crunchy! Was totally thrown by that one.

This is the most Tuesday “Saturday” I’ve ever done. Fastest finishing time ever. Was really hoping for a challenge!

“Brier” patch? Huh?

“boocirds” anyone?

Curious about all the negative reactions to BLEH — maybe it’s a regionalism? (It’s common in the Northeast, I think.) My big issue was the LIPO / EPA cross — I had to look it up. Both could have been clued differently to avoid that

“Silence” does not contain a schwa in any pronunciation I’ve heard. What the heck is this clue?

I always thought it was MEEPMEEP with M

The definition of a NEEDLEDROP is using any licensed commercial music (that is, neither custom composed for the film, nor from a production music library) in a film scene. It doesn’t need to be “iconic” to count.

Germans say “Prost!” as cheers. I’ve never heard “Prosit” before. Maybe that’s the formal way to say it — or the Austrian way? In that case, it should have been indicated.

Who else got tripped up by SURE / UHPULEASE ?

But we gave the kisses and stole the hugs? Wouldn’t “Steal a kiss” make more sense if we removed the Xs, and “Give a hug” if we added the Os?

That Spanish-Japanese cross was annoying.

How are “tan” and “buff” relatives?

Can someone please explain “ABE” for “Fin?”

TAMPA is a major metropolis?

Did I wake up on a Wednesday? I swore it was the weekend today, but after starting the puzzle this morning, I actually had to double-check.

what song do the notes play?

I actually had to check my phone calendar to make sure what day of the week it is, because this was a total Tuesday! Fastest Friday solve of all time. Was hoping for something more challenging!

Doesn’t 18A break the rule that you can’t have part of the answer in the clue? “in /in”

Rough northwest corner for a Tuesday.

scarf / snarf kept me puzzled forever. did anyone know NCO vs CCO off the top of their head? it’s not really a well known abbreviation, I don’t think

did anyone else find the northwest natticky and difficult?

17A crossed with 3D is a nattick. Sad, because it was an otherwise fun puzzle.

I don’t understand the answers that make up “i was framed. it seems random. can someone explain why those letters? also, everyone is talking about a rebus. i finished the puzzle (with some external help for the natticks) no rebus. where are they?

is the monthly bonus puzzle not showing up for other ppl too?

Too many proper nouns, especially in the southeast corner, but elsewhere also. Who is Ronda Rousey? Cartoonist Nast?

What’s with the holes up top? Someone please explain!

What on earth is BONEC?

Doesn’t having TOTE in the clues and in the fill break some sort of crossword rule? I was surprised, especially since KIT could have been clued in a dozen different ways.