Michael Weiss

@Eva H. AGORAE is plural for AGORA, at least according to some dictionaries. Note that the clue indicates a plural answer. As for Elmo, you’re falling into the “I haven’t seen it so it doesn’t exist” trap.

@Turing No objections to proper names here, but I’m an American with no interest in most sports. But now I just look up the sports clues without compunction. I used to do at least a complete pass in both directions before looking up anything, and I’d usually get them that way. But I eventually decided I just didn’t care. De gustibus. Or as a wise person once said, it’s your puzzle, solve it however you wish.

@Andrew Glad to see this comment. The constructor’s note made me wonder why he wrote that clue, since he obviously knows better. Yes, it’s technically accurate, but Évariste Galois is hardly a household name to most people, so it’s not like changing “differential” to “algebraic” would give anything away. Yes, more math clues, please!

@Mike The lei goes around your neck. M-W lists INANE as a synonym for VACUOUS. also, if you look at the definitions it gives for both words, you’ll find considerable overlap. US Embassy is a sort of “home” for someone overseas. The clue did have a question mark.

@G Man “most white people (like me) have heard órale“ Really? Maybe if live in East LA. Totally new to me. (As was the papal vestment. OTOH, they are both easy to look up.) M-W also gives this definition: the point where a line drawn tangent to the inner margin of the sockets of the two middle incisors of the upper jaw and projected onto the hard palate intersects the midsagittal plane Now *that* would make a great clue 😊

@Bob T. Yeah, I’ve heard kinda-sorta all the time. Actually rings better to me than sorta-kinda. YMMV

@Liz B I agree. The constructor’s original clue for the song was better, and for me at least would have been easier than the editor’s substitution.

@Gretchen Tater tots are more blobby than cylindrical. Good call by the editors.

@Amanda Aha! Okay, that makes up for the oldie-friendly clue for Peoria.