Pua Iki
Kauai, Hawaii
Working my way backwards from the beginning of January, nearly done with 2024, and forwards into February with a 38 game streak, I am reminded of what I enjoy best about the good puzzles like this one: When you see it, it feels so good! And this goes for many clues in this puzzle, not just the theme ones. I also love it when the answers are things my parents used to say - "Hoi Polloi" felt really nice.
@HeathieJ People are still yapping about "reminders of the fires"? Seriously? What's next, demands to cleanse the puzzle of anything that might cause anyone the least discomfort? Yeah, let's have a totally bland puzzle landscape. Let's have nothing that could ever potentially cause anyone any discomfort. When you're done with that, start calling for participation trophies for all! I don't want to live in that world and I'm disappointed that anyone is lobbying for it.
WHO CHANGED MY SCREEN AND HOW DO I GET RID OF THAT BLASTED KEYBOARD THAT TAKES UP HALF OF THE SCREEN? WHY DO YOU PEOPLE INSIST ON FOISTING CHANGES ON US? WHAT CRIME HAVE WE COMMITTED?
Nah. You don't get to toss in a rebus to make life easier for yourself. The use and abuse of the rebus is something the staff of the Crossword Puzzle is going to have to do some serious thinking about. Once a fun potential feature, it's become a shortcut for lazy puzzle "creators". Just because I can stuff many letters into a square on an electronic device shouldn't give permission to the "creator" to employ the gimmick.
I recently discovered that my NYT subscription includes the Crossword Puzzle. I used to do it in the paper with pen every day - and then stopped, took 20 years off, and am back. I'm working backwards, too, going through the archives. I must say, it's amazing how many words repeat and repeat and repeat. "EGOT" has been in at least 10 puzzles over the past four months. Kelly Ripa was a popular clue 25 years ago. On the other hand, one would have never seen "Tokes" in 1997.
Yet again, it's entirely possible to solve the puzzle without ever "getting" the theme.
Now that was worth doing. Thank you!
@Mean Old Lady Pua = Flower Iki = Little Pua Iki = Little Flower
Can anyone tell me what "Power Grid" had to do with this puzzle?
Clueless clues. I just happened to get them all right. Yeah, I know about calculator numbers, but I couldn't turn my computer screen upside down. But it was fun to enter that last letter and have the thing tell me I had no errors!
@Bill Thanks! Things have changed. Back in the pen and paper days I could declare my puzzle done and correct - but now there's a machine keeping me honest.
Never heard of any of 'em. Solved it anyway.
Whenever I read these things I'm struck by the fact that I rarely get or appreciate whatever the joke is. Headed into a three-digit streak, having started these in January. Boy do I miss doing these in the newspaper.
@Andrzej I absolutely love her sort of attitude and can't fathom why you felt you should comment on it.
Nice puzzle, but seriously, the circled squares are irrelevant.
@Byron It's not the first that's pulled that stunt. It won't be the last.
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