ACROSS LITE PUZZLE: [ THEMELESS MONDAY]
PROGRAM: [Across Lite]
PROGRAM: [Java]
PRINTOUT PUZZLE: [ THEMELESS MONDAY]
PROGRAM: [Adobe Acrobat]
What’s that noise? Is it the Behind the Puzzle theme song? I think it is! (Click here to hear today’s version.) Okay then. Now that we’ve covered that, there will be some answers/clues discussed, so consider yourselves warned! Continue reading at your own peril.
For last week Thursday puzzle, I was thinking about making one called Team Six after the events in the news. Best idea I could have come up was having the themed clues read {Red Sox}, {Cardinals}, {Tigers}, {Twins}, and {Padres}. And of course, their answers would be the men who wore 6 on each of these teams: JOHNNY PESKY, STAN MUSIAL, AL KALINE, TONY OLIVA, and STEVE GARVEY. Alas, they wouldn’t split symmetrically. I toyed with the idea for a while of adding other sports, but only the NBA offered any support: BILL RUSSELL and JULIUS ERVING. None in the NFL or NHL. Plus, I felt mixing the sports made it inconsistent. Therefore, TEAM SIX became the seed entry for this puzzle.
Those who know my work know I usually put the seed entry in the the last across entry, but for this one I tried putting it at 1-Across. Nothing special happened there, so I moved it down just one row to achieve what we have here. Liked the dual of-the-moment entries TEAM SIX and PANETTA crossing each other in that corner. I then moved down to the SW, and since variety is the spice of life, I again avoided putting the seed entry in the last entry across. Over here the seed was THE F WORD, unsurprisingly. Was pretty happy to get another never-before used entry at 41-Down, even if it is pretty fugly. After wrapping up the middle bit, 37-Down went in next. Upon reflection, that would be a great entry to go along one of the edges. But esses are great to start words as well.
Cluing is hard, but hopefully fair. Personal favorites include 8-Across, 30-Across, and 1-Down (unfortunately, one I know too damn well).
Share the puzzle. New one on Thursday.
Hard, yes. Also fresh and a LOT of fun. I like ECOTAGE – hadn’t seen it before. Still don’t get TAS.
I’m convinced you put SILESIA just to rile me up after my distaste with it in last Thursday’s LAT puzzle. Whether you did or not, that was my break0in for the SW, so I appreciate it.
EXITramp for 7D and “deep six” for 39D held me up for a while. Also wanted “get laid” for 16A or 12D (or both) being BEQ after all. But got through it in normal time without help.Wouldn’t I agree ECOTAGE is a nifty new word, but wouldn’t it be something done BY a polluter, not ON one?
That should be “I would agree” not “Wouldn’t I agree. Darn auto-correct!
Can 39-down be used in reference to what we did to bin Laden?
Short, and more familiar, for Ta-ta I think.
Took me a while to do this one even though (for a change) there weren’t a bunch of names I didn’t know.
I had to get 31A from checks. I’m used to British cryptics where “battle” always ends up being AGINCOURT. 🙂 Guess I need to learn a few more.
One of the best puzzles I’ve done in the last 5 years. So many beautiful moments.
Mark Sanchez takes issue with his exclusion from your list of potential Team Six theme entries….
i almost did a spit take on the train at 40 across…yes I am that juvenile