Jonathan
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Brooklyn
So glad to see Will Shortz is back!
@Maya Worst comment ever. There, we're both wrong.
I have a small bone to pick with the coder(s) of today's puzzle - I wish the 4mation would have allowed digits in the squared circles. Oh well... Happy Thanksg151ng!
It would have been nifty if the various synonyms for boss were "under cover" in the grid in some more clever way than just being contained within unrelated phrases. World peace would be nifty too. Never mind me.
I looked up Jane Grey (1536-1554) and learned that she was an exceptionally learned woman whose accession to the throne and beheading both resulted from her getting swept up in political events outside her control. Given our contemporary scene I wonder what truths about her situation were known by the general public and what plain folks' attitudes toward her were. As they had no elections to look forward to as a way to impact such high-level goings-on, I'm guessing malevolent players in the political power class saw no need to cultivate a disinformation industry. But maybe there wasn't much of an information industry either. Anyway, pardon that aside on 25 Across.
The fun in this puzzle even includes tapping the three key answers (in the app) just to see the related ones light up in sets.
I thought a clue could never contain a word in the answer for that clue.
As the column mentions the pre-software days of crossword construction, I'd like to ask the puzzle creators and professionals among us about how much computing has changed the game. Has the frequency of great puzzles skyrocketed? Compared to that stone age, does the ease of puzzle-making generally now blow the minds of old-timers? And particularly with the advent of AI, is creating a crossword puzzle today simply a matter of asking for one? There are a few creator names in these parts that are recognizable for consistently, outstandingly creative puzzles. How much (if at all) does that reflect mastery of software on top of pure talent?
This puzzle's theme is quite an accomplishment.
@Dave S Thanks! I came back to add that I'd figured that out - of course, right after posting my comment! Without the rebuses those answers express the theme more elegantly, actually. Now I can go read the Wordplay column...
Don't aim at a kiaken or you'll miss because of confirmation bias.
...aspiring politician: BULL RING
3D: Now that that is an answer I don't recall ever seeing before!
@Cat Lady Margaret Aren't there enough hotel rooms for the school group from Belgium?
@Curtis This is as good a place as any to note that while "sol" and "so" are both correct (as is "soh") in the Solfège system of assigning syllables to musical notes, in instances like 43A I always think, "'sol, a needle pulling thread'?!?!"
Is there any significance to each of the four western unions beyond just being two states? Since only one is an abutting pair, I'm wondering whether the others... were linked by telegraph maybe?
Note to Ms. Lovinger: In the paragraph below the heading "Today's Theme" you mentioned "a revealer entry at 122-Across." Did you mean 117-Across?
I think of the comma in many uses as a stand-in for a word - usually and, but or or but sometimes others, so writing "usually and, but, or or" is to my mind like saying "usually and or but or or or."
@Bill in Yokohama The comedian Brian Regan has observed that "Dora" could rhyme with "explorer" only in the old Kennedy household.
The theme of today's puzzle is wonderfully nerdy.
@John Kroll The giveaway was when the last letter was entered but the focus didn't jump to the next answer.
@Roger When there are a lot of full-length across answers AND I can overcome my compulsiveness (gulp), I start with the Downs.
I'm working my way through the puzzle archives and happen just to have done August 6, 2011, which coincidentally has a similar, cool arrangement of black squares. I wonder if there's a term for it. Since Ms. Lovinger aptly described it as syncopated, I'm thinking "jazz grid." But in the overall orderliness of the layout it's more big band than bebop. How about, "Duke Ellington Geometry"?
The parts of the "hooks" in the shaded squares were hard to see - no wonder they landed those fish! (But I was at sea until I read the explanation.)
I like it when I learn something new from a clue-answer combination, as, here, the fact (which I've verified) that laws barring open containers of alcoholic beverages in moving vehicles specifically exclude certain specialty vehicles (e.g., limos, party buses) that have professional drivers and partitions between drivers and passengers. Of course that makes sense but I don't recall thinking about it before.
@Larry R I sat on PALS and SIC for a while too! But after three times through all the other answers I knew that was the problem spot. Then it hit me - MIC! - and when that got me the congratulations message I headed right over here to commiserate on the number mismatch between "Sources" and PALM.
@Fred Jines How would you clue SITH?
@Leo Where is a useful forum for people who do want to discuss that?
Today's puzzle was as satisfying as the accompanying Wordplay column.
@NESB is Still thinking And their placement in the grid suggests that after partying we puzzlers can get a bit asymmetrical! Happy New Year!
@HEK It doesn't seem possible to devise a clue for this answer that keeps this angle but doesn't use the word. Here's a weak alternative from a different angle: Boss's possible reply to employee's question, "how will you deal with this mess I made?"
@Sam Corbin Good morning and thank you for replying! Which reflects your own opinion of the puzzle - your column or your reaction to my comment?
As far as I can tell, completing this puzzle in the app requires that one figure out how four cells need to be formatted, even after one figures out the idea. I've tried foward slashes, hyphens and nothing. No joy.
May I comment on today's mini? I think the clue for 1A should have started with "With 4 Across," because it doesn't stand on its own to describe the 1A answer (which is too bad because the 4A clue does).
To those who pointed out that my addition would break the rule: Yes! Whoops! Thanks!
@Eric Hougland It sounds like the app puzzle was buggy. I hope that's the most annoying thing that happens this week.
@Steven M. It's possible the intended answer is the generic "event," not "Event" - which I think makes the clue valid, since the mentioned things are as much Olympic "events" as is the guy in seat 22B of the curling venue getting up to buy a drink at the concession stand.
@NYC Traveler And you! Co-worker's possible reply to "how will the boss deal with my mess-up?"
@Barry Ancona Aha! So you're saying that that HAS been here previously. Thanks!
@Al in Pittsburgh Thanks for that insight. I happen to be a fan of the "Sherlock Holmes" series of movies with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, and your second paragraph brought to mind "Sherlock Holmes Faces Death" (1943).
@Mike Excellent! I wonder if a row was raised While trying to construct it. Did one non-G in 20A Make Sheffield say... "Oh [darn] it!" ?
@The Whip Superb! (Does my avoWAL MAR The humor of your comment?)
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