Funny that GOGOBOOTS (58A: Iconic part of Nancy Sinatra's early attire) appears twice in one week. Oh, ok... twice in two weeks. When's the last time you saw them in a puzzle before that? Not that I'm complaining, really, but Nancy Sinatra? THEFONZ? Zhou ENLAI? Even IMBAD is now 30 years old.
But then there's that SE corner. I like OPTIMIST (38D: Bull, essentially), HOTDATES (39D: Highly anticipated social events), and SPYSTORY (40D: Work with intelligence?), even if it does end up requiring ALITO. We also get HELLOKITTY (47A: Toon who wears a red hair bow) (tried Minnie Mouse first - does that say something about my age?).
In other areas, I enjoyed LINTEL (48D: Doorframe part) ("... And hold to the low lintel up/The still-defended challenge cup..."), HURTLE (11D: Rush) (the NE was very difficult for me!), and PLAGUE (46D: Hound). I did not particularly like the repeated "Heavens to Murgatroyd!" clues (GREATSCOTT & OMIGOSH). I don't know quite why exactly... I guess it just seemed sort of unnecessary. Sort of vague. I'm also done with the whole ____ nazi thing. Can't we just get past that kind of SMEARTACTIC?
1A: Areas where clerics are seated (APSES). C-. Meh.
Favorite: 44A: Quiet (down) (PIPE). This was said a lot in my family. :)
Least: UTA (16A: The Jazz, on sports tickers)
Finally, I will say that I was happy to see DAN clued with "35A: Savage of 'Savage Love.'" Frannie and I saw him speak at an A.L.A. conference a while ago, and he seemed like just as good a guy as he does when you read "Savage Love," which I used to see in a local rag called the Weekly Dig. (Side note - B.E.Q. had some crossword puzzles in there from time to time. Also, I had a couple crosswords in there!) I think that he would be amused to find himself so close to PEGGED. Too much?
- Horace
32:39
ReplyDeleteI agree this was pleasant overall, except for UTA, and APSES at 1A.
On a personal level, my attempt at this puzzle was ill-fated from the start. I should have known better than to fill in DISASTER and REQUIRED for 1D (Hurricane or flood) and 2D (perfunctory) on a Friday. Thirty minutes later I managed to work it all out.
I also wanted Minnie Mouse rather than HELLOKITTY.
41:37
ReplyDeleteThis took longer than it should have for a Friday. I really enjoyed the solve, though, save for the NW, which gave me lots of trouble. My favorites were PIECHARTS, PAPERCHASE, MESSIAH, OPTIMIST and HOTDATES. I wanted "rbis" to be crowbarred into TOTALBASES somehow. Although Minnie Mouse doesn't fit where HELLOKITTY belongs, Petunia Pig does, and I tried that at first. Mmmmm...ASIAGO.
14:13
ReplyDeleteI really loved all the long answers in this puzzle. Super strong.