I was really hoping this one would run on Wednesday. One of my goals in crossword puzzle constructing is to hit for the New York Times "cycle," and Hump Day is proving elusive. It's the only one I need. I thought this one could be it, but... alas.
Also, I just think this puzzle is more Wednesday appropriate. I think it's clever enough, but it's not tricky. It's straightforward. It's not a rebus, and there are no twists or jumps or anything. I've heard Will doesn't want Thursdays to necessarily be trick puzzles -- the only criterion is that they be harder than Wednesdays and easier than Fridays. And that makes a lot of sense to me. After all if the solver knows there is always going to be a trick then the trick isn't as tricky as it would be if there was the possibility of no trick.
(On a somewhat related note, I've never understood why some log-in passwords require you to use upper case characters, special characters, etc. Doesn't this requirement limit the space of possible passwords, thus making it less secure? Isn't it better to give users the option of these characters to allow for the largest space of passwords possible? Perhaps I'm thinking of this too much like a mathematician. Maybe it's more psychological: Unless people are forced to use special characters, they won't. I honestly don't know.)
But I might not be representative of the general crossword puzzle solving audience. My fear is that solvers will be expecting something trickier, and this puzzle will feel like a bit of a let down as a result. I'm writing this before any reviews have been posted, so we shall see.
Anyway...
The first theme entry for this puzzle didn't ultimately make it into the puzzle. I wanted MAGNUM PI ("Champagne bottle that holds 3.14159... liters?"), but I couldn't find other good symmetric entries with the initials at the end, so I had to change course.
But even after going in a different direction, it took two attempts to get an acceptance. The first grid I submitted is given below.
I was asked to rework it because of 48-Across -- GI BILL ("Invoice for a karate uniform?"). Neither Joel nor Will had ever heard of a gi. I didn't mind changing the puzzle, but I was quite surprised, as I thought gis were common knowledge. Well, maybe not everybody was a fan of MMA back when fighters could wear gis into the ring.
Alright, a few quick bullets and let's call it post.
- In the first version of my puzzle, noticed that the entry is ID CARD (no plural), so that it is symmetric with GI BILL. My clue for this was "Item 'played' to explain instinctive, impulsive behavior?", which I think is pretty good (but it doesn't really work in the plural). I just like the idea of "playing the id card," whenever you do stupid.
- In one of my early puzzles, I used the clue "'Downton Abbey' maid" for EDNA, and a few solvers complained because there is a much more prominent maid on the show named Anna. So of course, I used the same clue this time. I'm glad that it didn't get changed.
- I'm also glad that my RADIOHEAD clue -- "Band that used a pay-what-you-want model to sell their 2007 album" -- didn't get changed. I love that they did this, and I love the album -- In Rainbows. I bought it for however many dollars ten pounds was worth in 2007.
- A clue I was sad to see is "Annual mystery-writing award" for EDGAR. That certainly is not my clue. To me there is only one EDGAR, and he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.
[Better than David Ortiz]
6 comments:
Yes, EDGAR Martinez was better than Ortiz. No to a DH making the Hall. Hell, I'll go one step further and say NO to the DH.
I enjoyed the puzzle. Will was right about GI. After the picture you posted I had a faint tickle of familiarity, very very faint.
Edgar was a decent defensive third baseman for five seasons at the beginning of his career. He switched to DH largely because it benefited the team to do so (somebody has to do it). Paul Molitor is already in the Hall of Fame as a primary DH. (Although he played a decade in the field first.)
Also, Edgar was such a good hitter he still provided a ton of value without playing the field. He's one of just 10 .300/.400/.500 (BA/OBP/SLG) guys since baseball integrated in 1947. Very underappreciated!
I don't disagree with anything you say about EDGAR. Two things about the Hall, though. First, not playing the field diminishes for me what he did at the plate because it generates more At Bats. Look at Miguel Cabrera the last few seasons. How many at bats did he lose to injury that he wouldn't have lost if he were only DHing? Second, and totally unfair to EDGAR I know, but it's hard to look at someone whose best years were after the age of 30 during the late 90's and early naughts and not have at least a twinge of suspicion. So for me, there isn't a pure DH who should be in the Hall. Molitor only played 8 years primarily as a DH. And he's also an example of someone who greatly benefited from not playing the field. Would he have gotten voted in if he had had to play the field his whole career?
Damon, I totally agree: when I finished the puzzle I thought "This was an OK Thursday, but it would have been an absolutely perfect Wednesday".
And I also think I prefer your first grid! Fewer plurals is always better, and gi is just fine with me. Curious that KLUTZ became SCHMO and YORKIE became POM. And I would have liked STALE clued as "Stuffy", sitting as it is right above "Not so stuffy".
Edgar Martinez was a very good defensive player who "switched" to DH because of a debilitating injury suffered in Vancouver of all places in an exhibition against the Brewers. I think he belongs in the Hall. I also think Edgar Bergen is a legit Edgar.
Fun puzzle. Would have worked as a Wednesday. Keep trying.
Thanks everybody for stopping by. I enjoy reading your comments.
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