Constructor: Hanh Huynh
Relative problem: Simple (would possibly take somewhat longer to enter all of the particular squares, however it’s nonetheless simple to unravel)
THEME: STAR-CROSSED (62A: Ailing-fated … or a touch to 6 squares on this puzzle) — a rebus puzzle the place it’s important to enter a “star” in six squares—the “star” features as a logo within the Downs (particularly, an asterisk), and as letters “STAR” within the Acrosses:
Theme solutions (ACROSS):
- CO-[STAR] (9A: One sharing the credit?)
- THE [STAR]RY NIGHT (17A: Massive attraction at MoMA)
- RE[ST AR]EA (28A: Cease in conjunction with the street)
- NON-[STAR]TER (36A: Concept that’s lifeless on arrival)
- CU[STAR]D (47A: Egg tart filling)
- LO[ST AR]TS (48A: Utilizing cursive and writing thanks notes, e.g.)
- *NSYNC (11D: Band with the 2000 11x platinum album “No Strings Connected”)
- Q*BERT (13D: Eighties arcade recreation with a cube-jumping character)
- M*A*S*H (25D: Present with the most-watched episode in scripted TV historical past)
- E*TRADE (40D: On-line funding agency based in 1991)
Phrase of the Day: DPI (23D: Printer decision spec) —
Dots per inch (DPI, or dpi) is a measure of spatial printing, video or picture scanner dot density, specifically the variety of particular person dots that may be positioned in a line inside the span of 1 inch (2.54 cm). Equally, dots per millimetre (d/mm or dpmm) refers back to the variety of particular person dots that may be positioned inside a line of 1 millimetre (0.039 in). (wikipedia)
• • •
I really feel like I simply solved a puzzle (up to now week?) the place I used to be purported to rely an asterisk as a “star” … oh yeah, Sunday, take a look at that. The * is having week, I suppose. As for this puzzle, the M*A*S*H bit is sort of spectacular. Like, “oh, do you want theme!? Right here … have some!” It is acquired the marquee place, too, as a result of it is aware of it is the most effective factor concerning the puzzle—possibly the puzzle’s complete purpose for being (look, I do know what “raison d’être” means, I simply can’t convey myself to make use of it). The doubleness of the theme can be provocative, with the puzzle squeezing two completely different meanings out of 1 little “*”: it is a visible element of the puzzle within the Downs, however a stand-in for letters (“STAR”) within the Throughout. STAR … CROSSED. Sure, that works. Nonetheless, although, the puzzle is fairly one-note, and (when you uncover the gimmick) neither notably difficult nor notably thrilling. And the fill, yeesh. The quick fill specifically is a bit musty as we speak. I might barely began and already had EBT and SRO in place, which positively set off the “uh oh” alarm, and earlier than I might even actually left the top-left portion of the grid, BAHT, AVI, and two-M UMM and DPI had joined the gunky get-together. DPI was the reply that appeared most grievous. It is an actual spec, however whereas fixing, in actual time, I couldn’t keep in mind what the letters stood for … scratch that, I could not keep in mind what the primary letter stood for, which meant I used to be not 100% sure I had it proper, and since DAZE may simply have been HAZE, given its clue (23A: Foggy state), I needed to make a “D” v. “H” name there. Fortunately, “H” appeared extraordinarily flawed, and “D” rang a bell, so I wasn’t too too fearful, however boo to ugly initialisms, that is for certain. They’ll get you into bother. Anyway, EFT PAREN “ADIA” and many others., the fill on this one verged on actively dangerous at factors, with out a lot (past the themers) to counteract it.
If you happen to went to arcades (or in my case, native pizza parlors, or Chuck E. Cheese, or 7-11, or …) within the ’80s, otherwise you had a house online game system (in our case, Intellivision), then there is a good likelihood you bought the theme idea very early, as a result of Q*BERT was a Factor for a couple of years there. Probably not my factor (my factor being 1. Donkey Kong, 2. Frogger), however you bought to know the adjoining video games, wherever and no matter you had been taking part in. The factor about Q*BERT is that it has solely 5 letters, however as we speak’s reply was six, so …. “they’re doing an asterisk bit, in all probability.” In reality. And I’ve seen THE [STAR]RY NIGHT, simply up to now couple of years, I believe (possibly throughout that Van Gogh “Cypresses” exhibit on the Met?), so bam bam, theme sorted. In fact at that time, I did not know if possibly I might be coping with different typographical symbols, however I bumped into M*A*S*H actual quick, and so knew that it was all stars from there on out.
The one large revelation of the day was that *NSYNC begins with an asterisk! I positively would’ve positioned that factor between the “N” and the “S”—in reality, I did place that factor between the “N” and the “S,” which induced the one actual battle I skilled in the whole puzzle. I used to be desperately attempting to suppose what [Fifth-century invader of Europe] may finish in “-STAR.” By no means heard of a HASTAR … are they associated to the Visigoths? I wished HUN, in fact, however the “*” was in the best way. However as soon as I acquired the “H” from CHEER ON, I entertained the concept possibly I had the “*” within the flawed place, wrote in HUN and whoosh, the entire nook fell into place. Clean crusing the remainder of the best way.
[58D: Great ___]
Assorted notes:
- 26A: Lead-in to many a aspect thought (PAREN) — triply had for me. First, it was within the NE nook, which, as we have established, I used to be already fighting due to the inaccurate N*SYNC. Second, “Lead-in” made me suppose it was going to be a spoken phrase, like “by the best way” or “enjoyable reality” or one thing. And third, PAREN? Who says / writes that? It is like a typo for “PARENT” or “KAREN”
- 47A: Egg tart filling (CU[STAR]D) — enjoyable reality: CURD and CU[*]D are each issues one would possibly discover in a tart, and each are 4 letters lengthy—sharing three letters! No CURDs in an egg tart, although, so it should not have been as complicated to me because it was—solely briefly complicated, although, as E*TRADE got here to the rescue in a short time.
- 70A: #23 of 24 (PSI) — the twenty third of 24 letters of the Greek alphabet, the order of which I’ll sometime decide to reminiscence. Sometime. Gotta have objectives.
- 6D and 49D: Sure “High Gun” jet(s) (MIGS / TOMCAT) — MIGS was a cinch. I used to be much less certain about TOMCAT (esp. as TOMCruise was the star of that film, and that simply appeared somewhat too on-the-nose). I noticed High Gun on the primary (double) date I ever went on. It is doable she didn’t think about it a date, however I used to be sitting subsequent to a woman I appreciated, so … date! Anyway, R.I.P. Val Kilmer.
And, because it was filmed at my alma mater, yet another:
See you subsequent time.
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
