0:15:37
Another stair-step stack in the middle today, and I like all
four of them:
NOPRESSURE (Request
softener)
SECRETCODE (A spy
might send a message in one) (too easy)
DEGREEMILL (Unaccredited
university, say) (Like Dr. Nick’s “Upstairs University” in The Simpsons)
SIERRACLUB (Green
giant)
 |
| I picked up one of these on our recent trip! |
The NW and SE corners, too, are filled with strong staggered
Down answers like BONANZA (Treasure
trove), NATTER (Flap one’s gums),
and the full TORIAMOS (Singer with
the 1992 double-platinum album “Little Earthquakes”). And a big shout out to
Boston’s EMERSON!
The North was the toughest for me and Frannie today. I tried
“egoPROJECT” and she tried “diyPROJECT” for PETPROJECT (Usually nonremunerative undertaking). Frankly, I like
hers best of all. (Having done it myself for many years, I first thought of “Self-employment.”)
ILENE (“The L Word” creator Chaiken)
was an unknown, and WIDTHS (Halves
of some measurements) took every cross, and then a few minutes to realize that
they meant half of a LxW measurement. Sheesh!
Other missteps for me included erOs for AMOR, ICEaxeS for ICESAWS,
eArn for RAZE (Bring down), and
COMicS for COMMAS (Characters in
“It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World). Again they get me with a self-referential
clue!
Favorite clue: Kitchen drawers? (AROMAS). Speaking of which, Frannie has just made a batch of
Tollhouse cookies… gotta go!
- Horace
Had a great time with this puzzle...almost fell on the floor when the 28 Across answer fell in!
ReplyDelete26:35
ReplyDeleteILENE is well-known to me, having seen the full series referred to in the clue. Also, nice to see the full ADAMWEST, and any reference to JLAW is welcome at any time. I tried FANlIt where FANFIC belongs, but it didn't quite work for the crosses. ARARAT could have been clued with a "Hitchhiker's Guide" reference, but some wouldn't have liked that too much.