Constructor: Boaz Moser and Jacob Reed
Relative problem: Straightforward-Medium
THEME: none
Phrase of the Day: Sherman Act (8D: Goal of the 1890 Sherman Act) —
The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 (26 Stat. 209, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1–7) is a United States antitrust regulation which prescribes the rule of free competitors amongst these engaged in commerce and consequently prohibits unfair monopolies. It was handed by Congress and is known as for Senator John Sherman, its principal creator.
The Sherman Act broadly prohibits 1) anticompetitive agreements and a pair of) unilateral conduct that monopolizes or makes an attempt to monopolize the related market. The Act authorizes the Division of Justice to convey fits to enjoin (i.e. prohibit) conduct violating the Act, and moreover authorizes non-public events injured by conduct violating the Act to convey fits for treble damages (i.e. 3 times as a lot cash in damages because the violation value them). Over time, the federal courts have developed a physique of regulation underneath the Sherman Act ensuring varieties of anticompetitive conduct per se unlawful, and subjecting different varieties of conduct to case-by-case evaluation relating to whether or not the conduct unreasonably restrains commerce.
The regulation makes an attempt to stop the bogus elevating of costs by restriction of commerce or provide. “Harmless monopoly”, or monopoly achieved solely by benefit, is authorized, however acts by a monopolist to artificially protect that standing, or nefarious dealings to create a monopoly, aren’t. The aim of the Sherman Act is to not defend rivals from hurt from legitimately profitable companies, nor to stop companies from gaining sincere income from shoppers, however moderately to protect a aggressive market to guard shoppers from abuses. (wikipedia)
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I do know the phrase “filth low-cost.” CHEAP AS DIRT, not a lot (33A: For a track). Why would you say this when the terser possibility is Proper There? Appears wordy and sounds barely archaic. Then there’s DAT and DOIN‘, partial slang phrases that collectively appear just a bit TOO CUTE (although I did recognize the Pals reference within the DOIN‘ clue—Joey all the time was essentially the most underrated Buddy). As for “IT’S A ME…,” once more, it is only a partial phrase—I’ve seen the complete phrase within the NYTXW earlier than, as soon as as a solution, and one other time as one of many biggest theme clues ever conceived—in a puzzle with the theme HOLLYWOOD SHUFFLE, the place actors have been clued through anagrams, [“It’s-a-me, Mario!”] was used because the clue for … MARISA TOMEI. Really, one of many biggest anagram finds in anagram historical past, congrats to Erik Agard on that one (not many clues that stick in my thoughts years later). So as we speak’s partial “IT’S A ME…” did not actually have the novelty influence that possibly it had on you. I usually actually get pleasure from colloquial stuff within the puzzle, however as we speak, that stuff was slight, partial, kinda clunky in my ear. And Pokémon can also be of no curiosity to me (additionally: Mario and Pokémon in the identical puzzle? Give it a relaxation), however not less than GOTTA CATCH ‘EM ALL was straightforward, I suppose. I liked MEDIA DARLINGS, which is positioned the place it belongs: in a marquee place, useless middle (14D: Folks all the time getting favorable information protection). ARTISTIC LICENSE is not precisely thrilling, however it’s completely strong. The remaining … I would not say it SPARKLES, however it does alright. Problem might’ve been amped up barely as we speak, however total, I assumed the puzzle was fantastic.
There have been exactly two sticking factors for me as we speak. The primary, as is typical, got here early, within the NW nook, earlier than I might gotten any actual traction. I guessed (accurately) that the quadruple-double was an instance of a RARITY (1A: Basketball’s quadruple double, e.g.), after which was happy as punch (SLANG!) to “verify” the “R” with … RURAL … after which “verify” the “I” with … ICED. Additionally confirmed (no scare quotes) THOR and YAP, however the RURAL ICED injury was achieved. Took a bit of labor to get going once more after that. ETSY’s “Y” was the factor that helped me begin to dig out. I knew a [Corsair] was a ship, however RAIDER was not on my ship checklist (!), so yeah, there was some flailing up there, early on. After that, I whooshed down the west facet, solely to hit one other financial institution of quick Downs that stymied me for a second. I had BIG and guessed LEAD at 29A: Dangerous factor to blow, however couldn’t verify any of LEAD at first. Clue on ALES may be very powerful (in that it appears to level you to mountains, not beer: I virtually wrote in ALPS) (26D: Sierra Nevadas, e.g.). As for TEAT, I strive to consider that phrase as little as potential, so my first stab at 27D: Handful on the farm was REIN. Then there’s FLAP, which places us again into “slang I do not use” (23D: To-do), so … yeah, affirmation of the LEAD a part of BIG LEAD was not forthcoming. However, as with my errors within the NW, the difficulty right here was minor. I acquired out of it with out an excessive amount of fuss, and by no means struggled once more for the remainder of the resolve.
- 9D: Some digital assistants, informally (AIS) — no quantity of wishing or praying or modernizing the clue is gonna make AIS good fill. In reality, by making it stand for “Synthetic Intelligence”s, you have in some way made dangerous fill worse. Nobody desires that **** of their grids. It is terrible and dehumanizing, pretending to be human by feeding off the work of precise people. It is poisoning our data ecosystem (already fairly sickly). When A.I. is utilized in engines like google, it completely positively measurably Does Not Work. So in puzzles, for me, identical to TESLAS, “A.I.” is a buzzkiller. And plural like this!? God no. Chances are you’ll as effectively return to Sue Grafton’s “___ for Alibi” for those who completely positively have to stay AIS in your grid. (I’ve different concepts about the place you may stick AIS, however let’s simply transfer on)
- 23A: It is a quick stroll from house (FIRST BASE) — hurray for the 2 baseball clues as we speak—three for those who depend BIG LEAD. I used to be up at 6am Tuesday and Wednesday to look at the Japan Sequence between the Dodgers and Cubs—the primary actual video games of the season. Dodgers took ’em each. Ohtani (the largest star Japan has) hit a house run, as a result of that is simply what he does. Good instances. Now I gotta wait an everlasting (checks calendar) six extra days for the actual (stateside) Opening Day. Go Tigers.
- 37A: Present once more, as a historic occasion (REENACT) — “present”? “Carry out,” possibly, however “present” appears bizarre.
- 38D: Philippics (TIRADES) — an incredible phrase (“Philippics”), as considerably arcane phrases go.
A philippic (/fɪˈlɪpɪk/) is a fiery, damning speech, or tirade, delivered to sentence a selected political actor. The time period is most famously related to three famous orators of the traditional world: Demosthenes of historic Athens, Cato the Elder and Cicero of historic Rome. The time period itself is derived from Demosthenes’s speeches in 351 BC denouncing the imperialist ambitions of Philip of Macedon, which later got here to be referred to as The Philippics. (wikipedia)
- 42D: Options of the sci-fi planet Arrakis (DUNES) — yesterday, one in every of my college students talked about loving the e book Dune, and he stated that there have been numerous different Dune books in addition to Dune, however they have been written by Herbert’s son and probably not value studying. I stated, “Wait, there is a Dune sequel? What’s it known as? … DUNES?” Apparently there’s an entire Dune universe (or, as I name it, Dune-iverse). The issues your college students train you…
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
