Carolyn

@DQ — Hello! Constructor here. I have to admit that my original submission did say “…to no end” in that clue. When I saw that the editors proposed removing the “to,” I was confused — but then upon a bit of research, I learned that they were (unsurprisingly) correct to remove it, as the phrase has different meanings with/without the preposition, as others have noted here. I learn so many new things creating crosswords! :)

@Ms. Billie M. Spaight — Hi! Constructor (and referencer of “fax no printer” above) here. I think it basically means “true!!” — like saying “those are the facts!!” — but with “facts” spelled “fax” and the “no printer” thrown in for some sort of random added emphasis. That’s my understanding at least — please do share if anyone has any added etymological info on this one! :) I first heard someone say it on a reality show, and then later saw it on a local coffee shop’s sandwich board on the sidewalk. It was such a silly and colorful phrase that after I saw it twice, I added it to my potential crossword entry list. But since it doesn’t really make logical sense, I think it would likely be too hard/confusing to parse for someone who hasn’t heard the phrase before, so I haven’t put it in an actual puzzle. I do still love it, though!

@Steve — Hello! Constructor here. :) Funnily enough, did originally submit this puzzle with that entry clued as [Economist Amartya who has been called "the consciousness of his profession"], but the editors wanted to change it. They were very gracious about giving me input into which senators were referenced, which I appreciated! (Though I just saw a different commenter express dissatisfaction with my picks. I guess each constructor often tends toward their own voice in their cluing!)

@Mason — (Constructor here) I do think they were a sponsor back when that was the name, from what I understand, so I think it’s ok. In any event, I was going to respond that our submitted clue for this one was actually [“Interstate Love Song" band: Abbr.] — but then I just realized that that song came out over 30 years ago — so was even more old-school than the old race name! Haha. Thanks for solving. :)

@sarahgrin — (Constructor here) Congrats!!! It made me smile to hear this!!! Keep up the good work. :)

(Constructor here) LOL! INDUCE was the one we had clued that way…but I am enjoying this interpretation, too. :)

(Constructor here) @Aging Bull — Good guess, but not the one! :)

@Wyra (Constructor here) — exactly! Like how the musical “Rent” was named not just for a monthly housing payment, but also for things being torn asunder, from what I’ve read. :)

@Josh — (Constructor here) Glad you liked the puzzle! Our original TACO BELL clue was [“Mexican-inspired" chain named after its founder] As we wrote the clues, it was interesting to learn how the chain got its name…but we also really liked the published clue that the editors replaced it with. Glad you did, too!

@Carla — Wow…thank you for this story! I feel honored to have your daughter’s name in my puzzle. Btw I also have four kids…though I am usually not successful at working any of their names into my puzzles! Maybe next time. :)

@Heather K — (Constructor here) Thank YOU for solving! I laughed out loud at that clue a few times while writing it, too. :) And that [Bands together?] clue was all Brian (my co-constructor) — he is such a cluing genius!

@Cathy Parrish — (Constructor here) Thanks for the kind words! So glad you enjoyed it. :)

@Carla — (Constructor here) Bite into a MOCHI DONUT and it will have you “chewing for a minute” too! Haha. So glad you enjoyed!

@Rich in Atlanta — (Constructor here) This is unrelated to today’s puzzle, but your comment made me want to share — there is a slang phrase these days “fax no printer” that roughly equates to “that’s totally true”…like “facts and nothing else”. I almost put that phrase in a Boswords crossword once, but the Boswords editors suggested that it might be hard for folks to parse if they were unfamiliar with the phrase, which made sense to me. I like the fax = facts concept, though, and appreciate you sharing that puzzle with the theme!

@DH — (Constructor here) — yes, Third Culture made the mochi muffins sold at my local boba shop years ago, and I developed quite an addiction! Sooo tasty. And they were at the center of the mochi muffin trademark war we mentioned in the constructor notes. And glad you liked our clue! :)

@Lewis — (Constructor here) Thank you for your delightful puzzle appreciation post, as always! I don’t know you, but whenever I’ve had a puzzle run in the NYT, I’ve thought to myself “I wonder what Lewis will like about this one!” :)

@Gary -- Love it! Thank you! :)

@Chris — (Constructor here) Congrats!!! :)

@Rich in Atlanta — Aw, thank you! Reading the comments is one of my favorite parts of having puzzles published. Whether someone loved it or hated it, I really enjoy the chance to feel that little moment of connection to them and their experience taking the time to engage with something I created. I usually don’t comment back here, but maybe I should start doing it more for any future puzzles I publish! :)

@Ann — (Constructor here) I hadn’t even thought of that possible entry for that clue — but I like it!! Clever!

@Down_Home -- (Constructor here) Appreciate it!!! :)

@Chad — (Constructor here) Thank you! And you might laugh to hear that Brian and I actually had a convo about to what degree the purists would hate on the [Corn whole?] / CORNDOG dupe! So we knew the complaint was coming. We just liked both the clue and the entry enough to include both nonetheless. ;)

@MaxKnish — (Constructor here) Thank you, and thanks for solving!

@Jamie - thank YOU for solving!!!

@B_on_keys and @Esmerelda — (Constructor here) Thank you, both of you! :)

@NYC Traveler — (Constructor here) Creative interpretation! Not what we had in mind, but I like it! :)