10 Things You Need To Know Today: February 9, 2019

I started this one by playing with a number of options at 32-Across & ended up with SCULPTED ABS working out best, và only then ... Read more

I started this one by playing with a number of options at 32-Across and ended up with SCULPTED ABS working out best, and only then after running through a number of more normal options for 33-Down và ending up with the unusual C SCALE. I don't love this answer as a musician because the scale itself is ambiguous (Major? Minor? Mixolydian?), but it helped pull together the middle. I originally had BAYONETTED for 29-Across before finding that it was more commonly spelled with one T in American English, so I ended up switching lớn BAYONETING & redoing the NE corner. Unfortunately, there weren't as many stellar fill options here, so I threw in TEA EGG for some interest. I'm sure the critics will love it.

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Overall the editing team did a good job tempering my clues, some of which I'll admit were a bit too difficult. I was sad khổng lồ see a couple of my favorite clues go, including "One-man band?" for ID BRACELET, và "Public display of confection" for DESSERT CASE, but I'm glad they kept my unassuming clue for MEN. Hope you enjoy!

I'm a big fan hâm mộ of Ryan's wide-open constructions. This one, with a football-ish shape in the center, reminds me of another one of his I ... Read more

I'm a big fan hâm mộ of Ryan's wide-open constructions. This one, with a football-ish shape in the center, reminds me of another one of his I loved. It's so clean, just an ENDO as a minor dab of crossword glue needed khổng lồ hold such an audacious construction together. Great craftsmanship.

Some top-notch feature entries, too. Loved TORCH RELAYS và DESSERT CASE crossed by BUSH LEAGUE in the center. ID BRACELET / BOOK reviews anchoring the NW, GOLDEN BEAR / ESPY AWARDS in the SE, even a bit of DIATRIBE in the upper right? Nice to get a little something everywhere you look.

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Because I'd already seen a similar grid pattern from Ryan, my expectations were pretty high. I had a couple of hitches in TWO TONE oto — apparently that's a thing, but it doesn't resonate strongly for me — & SCULPTED ABS, which felt not as solid (pardon the pun) as SIX PACK ABS or WASHBOARD ABS. I know that they mean slightly different things & that SCULPTED ABS is a real thing. But the other two phrases sound so much snappier.

A bit of an ick factor with BAYONETING, too. It's a real word. A pretty unpleasant one, though.

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A couple of clues elated me, while I felt like some others needed explaining:

NINE is a small square — three squared, to lớn be exact!How is FIVE an orange ball? Hmm ... It's the orange ball on a pool table? is so innocent, so fun, referring khổng lồ the field of BOTANY! isn't as innocent for LESS. Yikes is that tough, not in a fun way. I *think* it's referring lớn the "minus" meaning of both?

Overall, a fine piece of craftsmanship. It didn't hit my ear quite as well as Ryan's last one, but it still made for a satisfying và challenging solving experience.