acjones

not sure if people realize just how good the 'fill' as they call it is in this puzzle - it's just one amazing conceit after another - it's literally on of the most beautiful puzzles I've ever seen - and I've been doing them for 30 years. just look at the words and what they mean it's not cheap trivia or cheap words it's flat out Classic.

Rachel and John used obfuscation to make the italics near undecipherable which is WHY we do puzzles - to try and figure out what the creators are up to - after solving I looked back and it's actually really funny how they got such glorious crosses with those italic clues. I loved the answers they're pretty rare in puzzling - bravo!

this is a puzzle that should give Heart to aspiring solvers - it's not as easy as seasoned players make it out to be - you get better at the crossword the more you do it and learn the ropes. much like any other learning curve once you become an adept it's easier - that doesn't mean it's Easy - you just get better at it Fine puzzle Mr. Logan - and a beautiful grid to boot - well done!

this isn't a puzzle about garnering meaning from the clues it's a trivia puzzle - it's Jeopardy not a crossword puzzle no thank you

there's something rotten in Denmark.... this Puzzle why are so many people playing nice about how terrible this painful arcane and not even remotely funny 'puzzle' is toxic positivity has run amok in this forum its like a new age nightmare... people this is NOT a great puzzle its just AWFUL

what amazes me are the naysayers or those who don't understand just how good this puzzle is - creating a mystery box in the middle that turns the theme answers into clues for the 8 words in the center box is phenomenal in every way. Bravo!

'heart transplant's' is NOTHING compared to the wonderful clues and answers of the long crosses - THIS IS WHY WE DO CROSSWORDS. absolutely hilarious ingenious fun witty and deeply thought out fun phrases based on a funny clue. if people were not giggling at how they worked you're missing the real point of the puzzle. the meta conceit is there that's all - the clues are all classic and well loved. what's not to LOVE? I loved it!

its comical observing solvers who can't figure it out then call the puzzle 'worst puzzle ever' its a grown up puzzle for adults figure it out!

it's a brilliant conceit and executed perfectly. easy, fun, classic Tuesday - thanks Hanh!

this was incredible thank you Philippe for real one of the most ingenious puzzles bravo!

this is not a puzzle about the glory of wonderful words, meanings nor grammar - it's simply not fun or enlightening. it's a test about things nobody wants to think about let alone gesticulate. have a wonderful day everyone.

this one is going in the crossword hall of fame - Scrabble is a a crossword puzzle without clues - making this into a crossword is genius. bravo!

congratulations and kudos to Kathryn Bale - this is a crossword classic!

hilarious puzzle Jacob thanks for addressing public speaking microphones and the general horror they invoke universally. Bravo on a puzzle that speaks volumes (mic check) 5 stars

oh how I wish they could all be this good thanks Barbara!

its not fun and that's the bottom line... arcane cluing boring ideas for clues nothing fun... hard doesn't mean UNFUN..

inexcusable drag of a puzzle

clues were just painful.... its all about the clues... without fun clues its no fun.. its suppose to be FUN and enough with banal trivia clues... not a fan

what a drag the clues are a drag not fun nor enlightening..

ingenious puzzle thanks Joe - love you have to obey the commands of the traffic signals and figure out the rebus in your head that's really cool!

r.ip. Dolly somehow you sorta made it into the puzzle today by chance or fate we will never know 'grand ol opry' brilliant puzzle. thanks John & Lance

doubling down on how wonderful this puzzle is - this puzzle is a litmus test for people who are not satisfied by anything and those who truly understand how hilarious this puzzle is -making the marquee answers be classic old school funny using similar letters. the mete theme is an afterthought and is fine why not? the heart and soul of the puzzle is the old school fun in those glorious crosses. the fill is helpful for beginners and experts. 10 STARS!

this is the kind of crossword puzzle lifetime solvers live for - everything has meaning and it reminds us of life on the Briny.. be it in books or on foot! bravo Dario!

Thursday crossword bliss - thanks Jeff & Will and editors this is one is for the ages. absolutely brilliant puzzle!

omg this is absolutely one for the books and a debut wow - this is a puzzle for crossword lovers who have put in the time the years like I have and many others this is an all time classic thanks Kyle!

wonderful puzzle never look at comments until after solve 'careen' had me stuck for 5 minutes was the wrong clue put in by accident? Loved the alliterations to classic novels well done!

I am grateful this wasn't an entry level Sunday puzzle - you had to stretch your thinking to get on Erik's wavelength - pretty ingenious how all these long answers could fit in a grid this size. Bravo!

on this solemn day thank you Robyn and editorial staff for a classic Friday. keep up the amazing puzzling!

lovely solve Robyn my only wish is to Free the Dandelion if people only knew how vital it was to our ecosystems stop killing them!

this puzzle on reflection is a classic reason being it's not reliant on overused tropes - its one banger after another and funny! deriving meaning is always way more fun than recycling trivia kudos to editors thank the Universe Bezos doesn't own the Times

fabulous pride puzzle Kenneth you got a rare prize for this Rex does the crossword gave you 5 stars that's kinda like getting a crossword Oscar. Bravo!

please share this pertinent data. solved the Times puzzles since 1986 <a href="https://linktr.ee/glassjonespiano" target="_blank">https://linktr.ee/glassjonespiano</a> readers must KNOW <a href="https://www.humandignitytrust.org/lgbt-the-law/map-of-criminalisation" target="_blank">https://www.humandignitytrust.org/lgbt-the-law/map-of-criminalisation</a>/ 65 NATIONS jurisdictions criminalise private, consensual, same-sex sexual activity. The majority of these jurisdictions explicitly criminalise sex between men via ‘sodomy’, ‘buggery’ and ‘unnatural offences’ laws. Almost half of them are Commonwealth jurisdictions. 41 NATIONS countries criminalise private, consensual sexual activity between women using laws against ‘lesbianism’, ‘sexual relations with a person of the same sex’ and ‘gross indecency’. Even in jurisdictions that do not explicitly criminalise women, lesbians and bisexual women have been subjected to arrest or threat of arrest. 12 NATIONS countries have jurisdictions in which the death penalty is imposed or at least a possibility for private, consensual same-sex sexual activity. At least 6 of these implement the death penalty – Iran, Northern Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen – and the death penalty is a legal possibility in Afghanistan, Brunei, Mauritania, Pakistan, Qatar, UAE and Uganda. 13 NATIONS countries criminalise the gender identity and/or expression of transgender people, using so-called ‘cross-dressing’, ‘impersonation’ and ‘disguise’ laws. In many more countries transgender people are targeted by a range of laws that criminalise same-sex activity and vagrancy, hooliganism and public order offences.

fun solve thanks Peter! trying to recall if there's been a puzzle like this where a word in the theme clue was also part of the theme answer - referring to 'what' 'this' and 'here'. loved the overall good humor today bravo

it's a shame all these people are hating on this puzzle without realizing how brilliant it truly is - count em FOUR levels make up the theme! its an incredible puzzle on every level. and the final cherry on the puzzle no Chance/Chants which is a homophone and hilarious. bravo David - this is a classic puzzle.

this puzzle is truly one for the books I even told a certain blogger of note its 5 stars period - the depth and complexity after you solve the puzzle makes it even better - we can only hope for such quality puzzles every Sunday bravo Gene & Will

It's hard to fathom people including the infamous Rex blog can't enjoy the humor in this puzzle - the theme clues and answers are hilarious and a real feat of construction. bravo Sam!

a puzzle about Utah with nothing in the puzzle About UTAH. hands down this is the worst puzzle I have ever seen should never have been allowed to be printed it's bereft of anything about Utah good or bad or in the middle. how about mormons practice of baptizing dead people without permission of the families they are baptizing? How about them losing the Sundance film festival for the same reason just mentioned? how about they are creating hell on earth for draining the Great Salt Lake? how about Mormons refusal to accept LGBTQ or women's rights? that's what UTAH IS. has Peter Gorman ever been to Utah? good day!

imaging an entire crossword puzzle of Stevie Wonder's songs - anyone who doesn't love his music is heartless. great puzzle Erik

the Champagne of Tuesday puzzles wow! this is crossword heaven thanks Gia and al involved. Cheers! absolutely delightful!

it would be S'Wonderful if there were no answers referring to religion - the same words get used over and over. we all know the 'culprits' nothing against the religion just the use of these same terms ad nauseum. religious diets and eating habits lead to war and suffering. after all, that's what fuels the fire!! Happy Saturday y'all

for the nitpickers out there - C's and B's are indeed considered average, fine, in the middle, okay, good job. only A's get super perfect, wonderful etc. while poor D's get the drubbing - poor, needs help, look at yourself etc etc etc. classic puzzle Rebecca it's faultless A PLUS! that's pejorative of course there's really no A plus or D minus and that's Finite.

my comments are fresh from solving not reading the always wonderful article in support or comments from others: a classic Friday Katie nothing but superlatives about your effort - it made me really have to think on your wavelength plus the clues and answers are 'al dente' JUST RIGHT. bravo!

once you figure it out its just so ingenious I couldn't argue with it.. bravo!

the reveal is unforgivable - there's an extra letter in every animals name!! how did this pass Muster Mr. Shortz! and the clues.. ABYSMAL

thank you Deb a shame to see you go such a bright light you are!

this is a true brain challenge thank you learned a lot in the process thanks Gene!

idée fixe as an opening teaser is so brilliant the whole puzzle is a joy and if you can't handle a rebus on Sunday work harder its not suppose to be a beginner puzzle - this is still on the easy side at the same time its so ingenious it's a true classic thanks Miranda!