This is Mr. Nediger’s first solo Sunday puzzle of the year, although he has collaborated on two others. I find it amazing how this issue is created – I made a lot of wrong guesses before I understood the whole recipe. I found another puzzle on his blog extremely enjoyable if you have time for a second challenge this weekend.
Difficult signs
This filling is so smooth and lively, I felt like I was cruising, although it was not a quick fix. I paused to laugh at STONER for “High-minded sort?” and ESP for “Six of Five?” (It took me a minute to come to my senses and solve it.) 47Α. This entry has been much more popular in puzzles since the 1950s and 1960s, which makes me think it’s time to start calling SHINDIGS “Fun functions” again. I filled in this entry at a point where the subject was just beginning to wonder, which made me wonder if 25A, “The part of the body that people who do not have other primates have”, can be a “shin”. that we are the only animal with a Chin, dot and no one really knows why.) 76Α. I read this item, “Chemical component in flubber”, without knowing that “flubber” was an invention on display in “The Absent-Minded Professor”. It’s a portmanteau for “flying rubber”, but the recipes show that water, glue and BORAX will make you a respectable fax (do not try to eat it or swing it). 93A. This is an interesting debut with the name – I discovered RUSSOLO on the crosses and assumed that this “Composer Luigi who pioneered the music of noise” was probably from the 1960s or later, instead of being a futurist of the early 20th century. 7Δ. I had a “queen” here, for the “Political Unit of Ancient Hawaii”. I read about Queen Lili’uokalani a few years ago and it made an impression, but it’s the wrong time. in antiquity the islands were considered CHIEF. 12Δ. This entry has always been considered a pirate and not a “Donut-like éclair”, but I can not find any connection between the elongated donuts and the open sea (or underwear with full coverage, for that matter). You have probably seen a LONG JOHN somewhere in a pastry tray. (If this sign entices you to go to the kitchen, take some time.)
Today’s topic
There is no doubt that the layout of the thematic entries today required a lot of strategy. the combination between asymmetry and symmetry is really interesting and artful. There are four sets of a key word, labeled fairly innocent, and a separate, larger, and more complex entry that involves repeating that word in an appropriate term or expression. The largest entries are symmetrical, but each one’s seed is hidden somewhere to the north, in such a way that if you solve the elements of this puzzle in order, these repetitions (which rarely appear in a crossword puzzle) can be hidden from you. The first example in this puzzle comes from an extremely secular entry, the 18-Across: “Doohickey”. This is simply solved in the THING. If you were to make just a few entries in 27-Across, “Expand Arguments [ref. 18-Across]», You will find some combat words – AND ANOTHER – that also describe the second appearance of the THING in the grid. Just below THING in this puzzle is the 23-Across, “Contest with a lot of ‘tied’ scores”, which is solved in RODEO (because the little dogs are tied with a lasso? I do not know). A little further on, at 48- and 87-Across, the indication is “I’ve been to the square a few times” [ref. 23-Across]”, Which is another way of saying THIS IS NOT MY / FIRST RODEO. Of course, it’s not even the first RODEO of this puzzle! I should have understood the purpose of 33-Across, “Eerily familiar feeling”, before I get to the showtopper of this puzzle in 70-Across, the Classic Yogi Berra quote [ref. 33-Across]. » I had to get to IT’S DEJA VU OVER OVER AGAIN to connect each expression with the repetition it was performing in the puzzle. It is quite inventive!
Manufacturer’s notes
Some names in it may be unknown to many solvers. If Luigi RUSSOLO is new to you, I hope you read about this fascinating figure, who invented his own experimental musical instruments and wrote a manifesto entitled The Art of Noise. In an irrelevant note: I would like to state for the story that I do not think the 78-Across described as AN I is a legitimate crossword puzzle answer (I suggested it as ANI).
Singing a sad chorus?
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