SUNDAY PUZZLE – Will Nediger is a professional crossword constructor from London, Ontario, who regularly contributes to The New Yorker and other publications, as well as The Times. He said: “I enjoy architecturally challenging constructions – like this puzzle, which was difficult to create because the content of the topic had to be put in order.”
This is Mr. Nediger’s first solo puzzle of the year, although he has collaborated on two others. I find it amazing how this topic is built – I made a few wrong assumptions before I understood her whole recipe. I found another puzzle on his blog extremely enjoyable if you have time for a second challenge this weekend.
Complex clues
This filling is so smooth and lively that I had the feeling that I was traveling, although it was not a quick decision. I paused to smile at STONER for “High-minded Look?” And ESP for “Sixth of Five?” (It took me a minute to come to the “agreement” and resolve it.)
47A. This record was much more popular in the puzzles of the 50’s and 60’s of the last century, which makes me think it’s time to start calling “Fun functions” SHINDIGS again. (I filled out this post at a time when the topic had just dawned on me, which made me wonder if 25A, “The part of the body that humans have that other primates don’t have,” could be a “knee.” we are the only animal with a BEARD, period and no one knows why.)
76A. I read this clue, “Chemical Ingredient in Fat,” without knowing that Flaubert was a screen invention in The Distracted Professor. This is a “flying rubber” coat rack, but the recipes show that water, glue and BORAX will make you a respectable facsimile (do not try to eat it or levitate).
93A. This is an interesting debut of the name – I understood RUSSOLO on crosses and suggested that this “Composer Luigi, a pioneer of noise music” is probably from the 60’s or later, instead of being a futurist from the early 20th century.
7D. Here I had a “queen” for the “political unit of ancient Hawaii.” I read about Queen Lili’uokalani a few years ago and she made an impression, but she is from the wrong age; in ancient times the islands were considered AUTHORITIES.
12D. This record has always been described as a pirate, not an “eclair-like donut,” but I can’t find any connection between elongated donuts and the high seas (or full-length underwear, in that sense). After all, you’ve probably seen LONG JOHN in a pastry box somewhere. (If this clue tempts you in the kitchen, take some time.)
Today’s topic
There is no doubt that the ordering of topics today has taken a lot of strategizing; the mixture between asymmetry and symmetry is really interesting and skillful. There are four sets of a key word stated innocently enough, and a separate, longer, and more complex entry that involves repeating that word in an appropriate term or expression. The longer entries are symmetrical, but everyone’s seed is hidden somewhere in the north, so that if you solve the clues of this puzzle one by one, these repetitions (which are rare in a crossword puzzle) can sneak up on you.
The first example in this puzzle comes from an extremely simple record, 18-Across: “Doohickey”. It just decides SOMETHING. If you only need to switch to 27-Across, “Argument Extender [ref. 18-Across]”, You will find some combative words – AND ANOTHER THING – which also describe the second appearance of SOMETHING on the web.
Just below SOMETHING in this puzzle is 23-Across, a “Race with very” equal “results, which decides to RODEO (because puppies are tied with a lasso? I don’t know). Just a little further on, at 48- and 87-Across, the clue is “I’ve been around the block several times.” [ref. 23-Across]”, Which is another way of saying THIS IS NOT MY / FIRST RODEO. Of course, this is also not the first RODEO of this puzzle!
I had to understand the purpose of 33-Across, “Ominous Familiar Feeling”, before reaching the main point of this puzzle at 70-Across, “the quote from the classic Yogi Berra [ref. 33-Across]I had to get to DEJA VU AGAIN to connect each expression with the repetition he performed in the puzzle. It’s quite ingenious!
Constructor notes
Several names in this may be unfamiliar to many. If Luigi RUSOLO is new to you, I hope you have read this fascinating figure who invented his own experimental musical instruments and wrote a manifesto called The Art of Noise. Regarding an unrelated note: I would like to state for the record that I do not think that 78-Across, analyzed as AN I, is a legitimate answer to a crossword puzzle (I understood it as ANI).
Do you sing a sad refrain?
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