Interesting little trick today, where the first two Across answers on four lines must be combined into one word and used as a clue for the third Across on that same line. To wit:
EPIC + CENTER = CORE
LIME + RICK = VERSE
DISCO + VERY = FIND
CONS + TRAIN = BIND
It's a nice little theme. I like a bit more of a trick on a Thursday, but whatevs, it did take me almost two minutes longer than the Wednesday puzzle, and that is, I understand, the main criteria for a Thursday, so we're all good.
In the fill... who doesn't love the AMISH, with their resistance to progress? If we were all AMISH, we wouldn't be in this climate situation today. I used to love playing CANASTA as a child, even though back then my hand was only just barely big enough to fan out thirteen cards evenly. (Also, we never had to ANTE in CANASTA. That was more for Michigan Rummy.)
The three names in the center were VERY tricksy for this out-of-touch solver. "Actor Werner of 'Jules and Jim'" (OSKAR), "Rea ____, graphic designer who created The New Yorker's typeface and mascot" (IRVIN), and "Morty's cartoon pal" (RICK), are all pretty narrow fields of knowledge, and when combined with the weird plural ACMES (Peaks) ... well, it made for a little stress. I ended up getting RICK from the theme.
Speaking of being out-of-touch... what's "dirty POOL?" Am I supposed to know this? And the CHEVY logo looks like a bowtie to you? Did it change recently?
Sorry. Sorry. Too snarky. Now I FEELBAD.
Kidding! I was just fitting in more words from the puzzle! :P
OK. I should really go. See you tomorrow!
- Horace
Cute theme! Very nice fill, too, and super clues. And speaking of cuteness...ooh, that Scottish Fold Cat! :-)
ReplyDeleteDirty POOL, as I understand it, is the tactic of making one's opponent's next shot difficult by, e.g. hitting your own ball just hard enough to block the cue ball from any good access to your opponents' balls. Or something like that. Standard practice among the pros (especially pro snooker players) but considered poor sportsmanship in a casual setting. Some might say that blocking the triple-word spaces on a Scrabble board is also a type of "dirty pool".
ReplyDeleteThanks, Philbo. I think we'd be ok playing pool, but maybe we should never play Scrabble. :) - Horace
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