Constructor: Christina Iverson and Jacob McDermott
Relative issue: Simple-Medium
THEME: none
Phrase of the Day: TANTO (16A: Brief Japanese sword) —
A tantō (短刀, ‘quick blade‘) is a historically made Japanese knife (nihontō) that was worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. The tantō dates to the Heian interval, when it was primarily used as a weapon however advanced in design through the years to turn out to be extra ornate. Tantō had been utilized in conventional martial arts (tantojutsu) and within the seppuku suicide ritual. The time period has seen a resurgence within the West for the reason that Nineteen Eighties as referring to some extent type of contemporary tactical knives, designed for piercing or stabbing, although the type isn’t current on any conventional tantō.
A Tanto knife could check with an American type of blade based mostly [on] the Japanese tantō, often with a squared quite than curved tip. (wikipedia)
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Good straightforward (-ish) Saturday puzzle. Felt far more like a Friday than a Saturday on each stage—nicely, on two ranges. The grid form has good total move, which I affiliate with the most effective Fridays. No getting boxed into silly sequestered corners, no big hunks of white house. Additionally, the cluing was accessible, so whereas I positively needed to exert some effort right here and there, the first fixing sensation was nearer to “whoosh whoosh” than “aargh.” There was just one reply that struck me as type of obscure: I had no reminiscence of TANTO, besides possibly as an Italian phrase … yep, it seems like that is the way in which it was clued actually each time it appeared earlier than immediately (and it seems far much less immediately than it did in days of yore). [So much, in music] is the most typical clue for TANTO, however immediately they went with the samurai sword (the seppuku sword!), and I think about that is going to sluggish lots of people up, at the least a little bit (because it did me). I acquired just a few crosses after which thought “oh, they’ve simply discovered a brand new non-Lone Ranger approach to clue TONTO, cool.” Nope. They discovered a brand new non-music approach to clue TANTO. Anyway, TANTO stands out like a sore TANTO on this grid, as the whole lot else feels extraordinarily LEGIT and acquainted. Nicely, possibly not ORBED, however the remainder of it, for positive.
[TANTO … also Spanish …]
The one issues I actually winced at, or got here near wincing at, or did not significantly take care of, had been the THE in THE MONA LISA (not exhausting, simply … gratuitous and ugly) (23D: Solely magnificence to undergo historical past and retain her fame, per Will Rogers) (I believe Will Rogers is making me wince right here greater than the THE is). I would additionally by no means heard the expression “barreled out,” so even with -ELED sitting there, I had no thought what was occurring. Barreling implies velocity to me, whereas “peeling out” completely positively explicitly refers to leaving rubber on the highway (and making a screeching sound whereas doing it). And whereas I’ve heard of barreling, I’ve by no means heard “barreling out.” Unfamiliar clue phrase plus dangerous reply equivalency = frowny face emoji. Additionally did not love the very common reply for the very particular clue at 40D: The W.N.B.A.’s Caitlin Clark, for one (PHENOM). There are such a lot of particular issues that she is, for one, that I by no means would’ve suspected one thing as generic as PHENOM. I believed possibly they wished her crew (Indiana Fever) or her place (level guard) or possibly even her native id (Iowan). In the event you play for the Lakers, you are a Laker, and should you play for the Celtics, you are a Celtic, however what are you should you play for the Fever? Or the Warmth, for that matter? A Scorching One?
How’d you get began on this one. I opened with … the MINES a part of IRON MINES (1A: Underground venues for some heavy-metal bands?). With 4 letters open earlier than MINES and “heavy-metal” clue, I most likely ought to’ve been in a position to infer IRON, however I figured, why not simply check the MINES half first, earlier than you get too assured. Testing MINES proved … inconclusive. All I used to be in a position to “affirm” was ENG (right!) (8D: Major lang. of Gambia) and … “I’M OVER” (in right). I dunno, “I’M OVER right here!” simply appeared believable, what can I say? (6D: “___ right here”). NO WORRIES, although, as I used to be pretty sure 20A: Gun was REV, which took out “I’M OVER” and gave me the “V” I wanted for NAIVE (7D: Like a mark) (a “mark” right here is the goal of a rip-off). [Neon sign word] was clear all by itself (OPEN), no crosses wanted, and from there, the whole lot simply opened up. Northwest, sorted. Nothing else took almost a lot effort.
[“Mr. DINKINS, would you please be my mayor?”]
The primary huge spotlight of this puzzle for me was CHEWING GUM, particularly the clue on CHEWING GUM (27D: Wrigley subject?). It is an apparent pun, however a very good one. I additionally cherished the informal colloquialness of “NO WORRIES,” “I DON’T CARE,” and “EAT MY DUST” (I had it as “EAT MY DIRT” for a second or two, conflating “EAT MY DUST” with “EAT DIRT,” I believe). “EAT MY DUST” takes us again to PEELED out, which now makes me like that reply a tiny bit extra (however then I by no means hated the reply, simply the clue). The lengthy (8+) solutions within the NE had been most likely my favourite. Not glowing, precisely, however very strong (ANTI-SOCIAL BACKSTORIES!). Appreciated the unusual and probably misdirective clue on COIN TOSS (28A: It requires a flipper), and adored Mr. TUXEDO CAT, hi there, child (32A: One all the time seen in a flowery fur coat). So joyful when he turned up. I used to be spinning my wheels a bit within the heart of the grid, attempting to determine what state the steak was in (CUBED) and [Encircled] might presumably imply (ORBED!?), after I determined to alter SAND DUNES (9D: The place to get into the nitty-gritty?) to SAND BOXES, and bam, “X” marks the spot. Put that letter in after which there he was, my TUXEDO CAT. I wrote him in pondering “if that is flawed I do not need to be proper.”
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| [it wasn’t wrong] |
Extra stuff:
- 25A: What’s acquired about an oz of scents? (SACHET) — I had no thought how a lot a typical SACHET holds by weight (or quantity), so I am simply gonna take the puzzle’s phrase on this one. I assume the SACHET is crammed with pot pourri, no matter that’s. A mixture of issues, I believe.
- 46D: Soffritto-based sauce (RAGU) — “soffritto” = fragrant elements sautéed over low warmth for very long time. “In Italian delicacies, chopped onions, carrots and celery is battuto, after which, slowly cooked in olive oil, turns into soffritto. It might additionally include garlic, shallot, or leek.” (wikipedia). RAGU right here is the final identify for the meat sauce, not the model identify (though … I imply, the jarred stuff most likely additionally begins with “soffritto” so … I suppose that works, too).
- 48D: ___ Convy, host of TV’s “Tremendous Password” and “Win, Lose or Draw” (BERT) — yet one more alternative for me to speak about The Love Boat, on which BERT Convy was a frequent visitor, together with one time the place he went on the cruise in drag (together with his pal ARTE Johnson, who used to look in crosswords allllll the time, ask your dad and mom).
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| [yes that’s 3x Academy Award nominee and mother of Laura Dern, Diane Ladd] |
- BERT was in drag as a result of it was a women’ cruise (was this the one the place there was a contest and the grand prize was a date with Engelbert Humperdinck? Having watched nicely over 150 episodes by this level, it is attainable I am conflating episodes). He was on the women’ cruise as a result of he was stalking his personal spouse, whom he suspected (for no cause) of being untrue. Scarily, even violently jealous males had been thought-about cute again then. You get a whole lot of them on Love Boat. Actual creepfest, a lot of the time. My spouse and I are consistently turning towards one another and going “Why Do These Girls Like These Guys!?” However again to BERT. IMDb tells me he was on seven (7!!!) episodes of The Love Boat. Google picture search tells me he was additionally on one thing known as The Love Boat II (!?), which I believe was only a late (1987) Love Boat particular (the collection per se led to 1986). Take a look at this TV advert—I miss the nice outdated days of ridiculous TV and the ridiculous print advert illustrations that went with it …
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| [a real Who’s Who of ’70s/’80s TV talent … and also Celeste Holm!!] |
[Celeste Holm!]
See you subsequent time.
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
