Scott

@D It truly is interesting how few words can say so much about someone. As for hoping to never encounter certain people, the feeling is mutual. Yikes.

@SP Been to Cincinnati a couple times, enjoyed my stay each time. Especially the chili. If someone doesn't like it, that's okay. It's okay to be wrong. 😉

@Chris I would suggest that you look at the main theme answer to this puzzle (67A), and take it to heart.

@Pagrisan Cheese and crackers, some people just want to be offended.

@Moira Are all blow-up dolls female? Or all buddies? Where's the sexism, exactly?

@Grizzly Hearts and Spades are also games. Catan is, at this point, I'd argue, a more well-known game than either of those.

@Asky At one time, the word "hip" likely consternated some adults. Words and phrases are invented all the time. Language changes.

@Ned S I wish I had the time to write several pedantic paragraphs disagreeing with a crossword puzzle setter.

@Bruce The EVOO abbreviation doesn't irk me. What irks me (or did, I haven't watched her in some time) is when Rachael Ray would say it, then say the full term anyway, completely obviating the abbreviation. One or the other, Rachael.

@Asher B. Crosswords are puzzles. They don't have "integrity". They have solutions. This puzzle's solution was coherent and consistent. Too many people here equate "I didn't get it" with "that was a bad puzzle". No improvements are needed. What's needed is perspective.

@Robin Fascism is right-wing, by definition. Not sure what else to call its opponents but left-wing. Accurately describing things isn't partisan.

@p j fin Not sure how often you come here, but pearl-clutching is not exactly rare. I agree with you, it's an accurate clue.

@Ben I can't wait to see the puzzle you construct to blow all our minds with. Seeing as how easy it is.

@KK Came here to make this comment. One of the best trick-taking games I've ever played.

@BR Self-referential comment?

@Jim Murray Good grief, the idea that Will Shortz has anything at all to do with Der Gropenfuhrer. Dunno, man, seems a bit like jealousy. And if you're having such a terrible time with the NYT crossword, seems like a skill issue to me.

@SBK in TO I would say that in addition to April Fool's, I also detest the current "everyone needs to know my opinion about everything" culture, but I'm participating in it, so maybe I don't hate it that much? I guess I could just...not read these comments. They don't seem to be good for my mental health.

@Barry Ancona The arguing seems to be about something that's a distinction without a difference. I think anti-fascism is a moral position, one I agree with, but even if it's not a "group" the way other social groups are, if you put everyone together who was against fascism, and thus anti-fascist, that would be a (very large, hopefully) group of people. I think all the kvetching is much ado about nothing.

@Scott There I go not rereading the clue. But my point stands; not all ALES are less sweet than porters, most of which are, again, ales themselves.

@Nancy I don't mean to be disrespectful, but isn't almost every answer in a crossword puzzle some form of trivia? I could perhaps agree that an excess of pop culture knowledge could become frustrating (though the Star Wars reference is almost 30 years old now!), but even that is not categorically different from having to remember information about US Presidents or colonies, or dog breeds, or violin notation. Personally, I enjoyed this crossword, as I do almost all of them. I do wish there was as easy a way to access the cryptic electronically, since I also love those.

@Mean Old Lady Just because you don't use "stale" as a verb, doesn't mean it's incorrect. I got that answer immediately, because I use that word that way. I also describe the process as "staling", which probably also makes you mad, for some reason. Consternation about language seems silly to me.

@Jamie Didn't hit my PB, but 9:04 isn't bad. I liked this one.

@Andrzej Do you only like things you understand? It's a crossword puzzle, I like solving crossword puzzles, and I solved this one. Unlike many of the commenters here, I don't pitch a fit when the clues don't match whatever arbitrary difficulty rating I'm expecting based on the day of the week. But thanks for the attempted gotcha.

@Ben The presence of advanced technology does not equate to sci-fi per se. The Force is magic. Magic is fantasy. Star Wars isn't about technology, or futurism, or social change. It's a fantasy adventure, and it literally takes place long, long ago. You're wrong.

@B I didn't mind that as much as FORZA being pronounced "for-zuh" instead of how it's actually pronounced, "fort-za". Doesn't really work with "for the moment".

@Francis Is it still sowing if it's not something worth reaping?

@Anthony 7:34 today, 14:11 yesterday. So, about half as hard.

@The X-Phile It's not a case of replacement, any more than Phillips screwdrivers have replaced slotted ones. Different tools for different uses.