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Hello, everybody, it’s Clare, this time for the primary Tuesday of November! Hope everybody had a spooktacular October and are adjusting to the time change higher than I’ve. My large information is that I had a listening to, and my consumer was granted asylum!! He was SO glad. I’ve been driving that top for the final week. Besides additionally final week I had a “large metropolis” expertise, and my again wheel of my bike was stolen. That not less than prompted me to get my bike fastened up and to placed on clipless pedals. It’ll be my first time with these, so I’ll report again subsequent month on what number of occasions I fall…
Constructors: Kevin Curry and Daniel Bodily
Relative problem: Medium
THEME: T-TOPS (53D: With the enormous letter fashioned by the black squares instantly above this reply, what the solutions to the starred clues all actually have) — Every of the theme solutions begins with the letter T
- T-BONE STEAK (3D: Chophouse alternative)
- T-BAR LIFT (7D: Skier’s help)
- T-BALL GLOVE (11D: Miniature mitt)
- T-STRAP SANDAL (21D: Article of summer time footwear)
- T-SHIRT CANNON (23D: Launcher generally used throughout halftime at a sports activities occasion)
Phrase of the Day: MAE (34A: Astronaut Jemison) —
Mae Carol Jemison is an American engineer, doctor, and former NASA astronaut. She turned the primary African-American lady to journey into house when she served as a mission specialist aboard the House Shuttle Endeavour in 1992. Jemison joined NASA’s astronaut corps in 1987 and was chosen to serve for the STS-47 mission, throughout which the Endeavour orbited the Earth for almost eight days on September 12–20, 1992. Jemison left NASA in 1993 and based a know-how analysis firm. She later fashioned a non-profit academic basis and thru the inspiration is the principal of the 100 Yr Starship undertaking funded by DARPA. She holds a number of honorary doctorates and has been inducted into the Nationwide Girls’s Corridor of Fame and the Worldwide House Corridor of Fame. (Wiki)
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Hmmm. I’m a bit uncertain what to make of this puzzle. The development is stable sufficient, and lots of the lengthy downs are good. However the theme simply type of existed, not less than for me. The revealer itself was a let-down: the phrase TOPS with a T fashioned by 5 black squares above it, requiring a really lengthy clue simply to notice that the primary letter of every theme reply is a T.
All of the T-answers appear legit to me aside from T-BAR LIFT (7D). A T-BAR is a kind of carry, so it’s extremely unusual to consult with it with LIFT within the identify. Sure, a chair carry is a factor, however you don’t speak about gondola lifts or funicular lifts or magic carpet lifts. Apart from, I used to be a ski racer as a child and have spent many tons of of days on the snow at resorts all through the Sierra Nevadas and Rockies and have hardly ever even seen a T-BAR. I rode one a pair occasions in Canada, however they actually aren’t on many mountains anymore. I discovered the T-BAR extremely annoying and onerous to journey — which, sure, has nothing to do with the puzzle — so I’m glad regular chair lifts are used now!
The development of the puzzle for the T-theme created a considerably odd-looking puzzle, though I do just like the symmetry of it. I additionally suppose the constructors did an excellent job with the lengthy downs surrounding the theme solutions and with the clues in the remainder of the puzzle. I particularly preferred SAMURAI (4D: One required by a 1629 regulation to put on two swords), AVE MARIA (6D: Mass recitation), and CAN’T LOSE (8D: Surefire). The three-letter and four-letter crosswordese was clued a bit in another way than standard, which made the remedy really feel more energizing than it might need in any other case. Additionally having MR. T (22A) on this puzzle was actually apt.
Alternatively, I by no means like solutions resembling A AND E (12D: “Storage Wars” community), as a result of nobody spells out the “and” in A&E. I hated the clue/reply for 35A as a result of that’s under no circumstances what I believe a nonspecialist is. You possibly can have an AMATEUR who focuses on one thing (like newbie golfers who compete in tournaments), and you’ll have an expert who doesn’t concentrate on any specific space (like a common surgeon).
I additionally want there’d been extra symmetry with 40A: Outdated man’s previous man as GRAMPA and 47A: Mama’s mama as NANA. They had been clearly clued in an analogous manner and had been shut collectively, so I might have thought it’d be extra like NANA and “Papa.” It may’ve been simple to clue NANA otherwise — the Darling household’s pet in “Peter Pan” is correct there, enjoying with its DOG TOY (46D)! Is it actually known as an IV BAG (15A: Pouch of fluid in an E.R.)? That simply sounds bizarre to me. And I had no clue who OMAR Apollo (48D: Grammy-nominated singer) is, despite the fact that a Google search tells me he’s 26 and may theoretically be in my wheelhouse; guess I must go brush up on my popular culture.
Misc.:
- Pshh. I’ve seen Six The Musical (on Youtube) so I simply know all of Henry VIII’s ex-wives (54D), who embody ANNE Boleyn and ANNE of Cleves. The musical is completely sensible, and it might someday assist you to reply a crossword clue, too.
- I appreciated the love for Michelle AKERS (24A: Michelle ___, FIFA Feminine Participant of the Century) within the puzzle. She was an outstanding participant. And, calendar be aware: Another phenomenal gamers will probably be within the NWSL remaining on November 11! It’s each Ali Krieger and Megan Rapinoe’s remaining sport, and so they’re going head-to-head. It’ll be an excellent one.
- Enjoyable truth about PSY (66A: First music artist to have a video with a billion YouTube views) with “Gangnam Model” is that this tune that was massively in style and viral in every single place by no means went primary on the Billboard chart. The truth that it didn’t make it to primary even with its spectacular numbers prompted Billboard to alter issues for the long run to additionally depend Youtube views towards their chart. Since then, the unbelievable and great BTS have had six primary songs as a gaggle and two as people.
- With the MLB reference at 1A: METS, I’ve to say Bruce Bochy, who managed the Texas Rangers to their first World Sequence win of their 63 years of existence, after taking my Giants to titles in 2010, 2012 and 2014. We love Bochy. The Al championship collection featured two former Giants’ managers – Bochy and Dusty Baker, who was managing the Astros – which does make you marvel about who’s ensuring the Giants maintain their high expertise.
And that is it from me. See you all later this month!
Signed, Clare Carroll, glad to have T’d up the puzzle for you
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