Constructor: Sande Milton
Relative problem: Medium? (Simple, however these pre-written letters would possibly’ve confused you some)
THEME: Non-pristine IN-FLIGHT MAGAZINE crossword puzzles — grid is supposed to resemble an IN-FLIGHT MAGAZINE crossword that has been partially stuffed in by a PRIOR PASSENGER; you’ll sometimes discover such a puzzle in your SEAT BACK POCKET, and also you would possibly surrender on such a puzzle as soon as you’re requested to RETURN YOUR TRAY TABLES … (to their upright and locked positions, presumably)
- IN-FLIGHT MAGAZINE (18A: Publication the place this puzzle is likely to be discovered)
- SEAT BACK POCKET (29A: The place the 18-Throughout is often discovered)
- PRIOR PASSENGER (49A: One who could have ruined your puzzle)
- “RETURN TRAY TABLES” (61A: Announcement that would put an finish to the distress brought about purchase the 49-Throughout)
- 17A: Declare brazenly (AVOW) — not “AVER”
- 41A: Genetic materials (DNA) — not “RNA”
- 44D: ___ energy (SOLAR) — not “HORSE”
Phrase of the Day: BAZOOKA (11D: Chewing gum model with pink, white and blue packaging) —
Bazooka is an American model of bubble gum that was launched in 1947. It’s a product of “Bazooka Sweet Manufacturers” (BCB), which was a division of The Topps Co. till the latter’s acquisition by Fanatics, Inc. in 2022. […] Bazooka bubble gum was launched shortly after World Warfare II in 1947 within the U.S. by the Topps Firm of Brooklyn, New York. The gum was most definitely named after the rocket-propelled weapon developed by the U.S. military throughout the battle, which itself was named after a musical instrument. // The bubble gum was packaged in a pink, white, and blue colour scheme and initially bought for 1 penny. Starting in 1953, Topps modified the packaging to incorporate small comedian strips with the gum, that includes the character “Bazooka Joe“. There are over 1,535 totally different “Bazooka Joe” comic-strip wrappers to gather. Additionally on the cartoon is a suggestion for a premium and a fortune.
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If that is an April Fools puzzle, it is fairly delicate on the “fooling.” I am going to admit to tiptoeing round these pre-written solutions, uncertain of what to do with them or how “right” they had been presupposed to be. Seems … considerably right (very like many partially-filled airline crosswords are). Because it by no means occurred to me that the pre-written solutions had been going to really be right, I by no means bought fooled by the PRIOR PASSENGER’s flawed solutions. First pre-filled reply I encountered with AVER. Since TONI Morrison was a gimme (13D: Nobel winner Morrison), it was apparent that AVER was flawed—properly, half-wrong. That is the one factor I like about this puzzle—the realism of the pre-filled grid. It is all the time these scattershot flawed solutions, just like the passenger had by no means solved a crossword puzzle earlier than and was simply poking at it idly and randomly. Plus, the solutions which might be stuffed are exactly the sort that would be stuffed in—the true gimmes. . . besides for AVER. That may be a phrase solely an actual crossword solver goes to enter instantly and instinctively, and even then, that solver might be extra prone to leap to the extra frequent phrase, AVOW (or not enter it in any respect as a result of it is a klassic kealoa*). To be clear, I assume many non-solver *know* the phrase AVER, I simply do not consider that in a principally clean puzzle, with no crosses to assist out, {that a} non-solver would confidently write in AVER (not once they could not even handle Gilda RADNER, or ATHENA, or the OSSO in [___ buco]). Additionally, an inexperienced solver would write in DNA earlier than RNA at 41A: Genetic materials, 100% of the time. Nonetheless, the “I am going to simply put an ‘S’ on the finish of this reply ‘trigger it is a plural” factor could be very actual (you could have tried it your self), and I really like that we get these stray “S”s on this grid. Twice. The idea itself is cute and visually fascinating. And I really like that the software program labored! That’s, I needed to overwrite solely the inaccurate letters. I made a decision to not overwrite the proper letters, simply to check if the software program would acknowledge squares I might have stuffed in myself (however did not) as right, and was shocked after I bought that “Congratulations” message on the finish. Good job, software program individuals.
The one factor concerning the puzzle that actually actually doesn’t work is that ultimate themer. “RETURN YOUR TRAY TABLES” by itself shouldn’t be an announcement I’ve ever heard. If the clue had simply began “Starting of an announcement…,” that will’ve been a minimum of believable, however “RETURN YOUR TRAY TABLES” alone is absurd. You’re both requested to stow your tray tables, or (extra generally?) you’re requested to “RETURN YOUR TRAY TABLES to their upright and locked place.” Oh, and this reply is doubly dangerous as a result of the clue is unnecessary. “Put an finish to the distress attributable to 49-Throughout?” What distress? I suppose in case you are as horrible at fixing crosswords because the final man, perhaps you had been confused by his partially incorrect solutions such that you just could not even make it by the puzzle by flight’s finish. However as partially filled-in puzzles go, this hardly qualifies as “distress”-inducing (I’ve seen approach worse … grids that seem like a battle crime by comparability). Additionally, was it “depressing” to unravel this puzzle? Is that what the puzzle itself is making an attempt to inform me? Additionally, since when does having to stow my tray desk imply I’ve to cease fixing. I’ve a lap, I am good. The final themer fails to stay the touchdown. Very tough. Which is a disgrace, as a result of as I say, the essential premise is authentic and intelligent.
Once I first began fixing as we speak, I believed the theme was going to have one thing to do with the weirdly interweaving letter sample within the NW nook. First three Downs in that nook begin AMI, MIN, INF, whereas the primary three Acrosses in that nook additionally begin AMI, MIN, INF. I believed I used to be shedding my thoughts. “How lengthy can they hold this up?” Not lengthy, it seems. I do not actually have a lot else to say about this puzzle. It was Monday-easy (for those who take the pre-written solutions out of the equation). There are not any clear bother spots. If I by no means see the phrase INFLUENCER once more, it’s going to be too quickly, however I am going to in all probability see it once more earlier than the day is up as a result of that’s the (silly) world we reside in, so I am fairly inured to it (3D: Large shot on the web). Did not make me totally grimace. Extra of a half-grimace. Like “Ultimate outcomes,” END RESULTS all the time appears redundant to me, however once more, it is a phrase, individuals say it, no matter, it is superb (31D: Ultimate outcomes). Nothing a lot else of curiosity as we speak, however the theme is fascinating sufficient that that is OK. All of the grid has to do is be pretty clear, and it was.
Anything?:
- 58A: E.T. arrived in a single (U.F.O.) — E.T. would in all probability dispute this. Additionally, after we first see E.T.’s ship, it’s totally identifiable. It is a big spaceship. Bizarre to simply use UFO as a synonym for spaceship, since as soon as you recognize it is a spaceship, the thing is, by definition, recognized.
- 20D: Letter between “gee” and “eye” (AITCH) — presumably the worst of the written-out letter spellings. At the least it was straightforward to get.
- 55D: “___, meeny, miney, mo” (EENY) — OK, so the fill has some tough patches, however a minimum of this wasn’t TEENTSY, amirite?! (man, y’all had been actual indignant about that one).
See you subsequent time.
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
