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Constructor: Adrian Johnson
Relative issue: Medium
THEME: none
Phrase of the Day: EMIL Cioran (49D: Romanian thinker Cioran) —
Emil Cioran (8 April 1911 – 20 June 1995) was a Romanian thinker, aphorist and essayist, who revealed works in each Romanian and French. His work has been famous for its pervasive philosophical pessimism, fashion, and aphorisms. His works ceaselessly engaged with problems with struggling, decay, and nihilism. In 1937, Cioran moved to the Latin Quarter of Paris, which turned his everlasting residence, whereby he lived in seclusion together with his associate, Simone Boué, till his demise in 1995. (wikipedia)
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“IT’S NOT EASY” was what I used to be occupied with this puzzle at varied factors this morning. Actual sluggish, however I believe the principle sluggish factor is me, not the puzzle. For varied dumb causes, I didn’t sleep effectively this week. I obtained my first full evening’s sleep in days final evening, however in some way that has not resulted in fixing superpowers, however fairly an early-morning mind torpor that induced me to neglect, amongst different issues, that not solely do I *know* an H- fowl in 5 letters, I see mentioned fowl virtually each day and have latest footage of mentioned fowl on my cellphone (HERON!). That type of mind torpor. But additionally: this puzzle was simply out of my wheelhouse in some ways. A type of methods was Romanian philosophers (!??!!!??!). Like, I do know we’re not alleged to name solutions “obscure” as a result of who’s to say what anybody’s data base is one man’s obscure is one other man’s how dare you and so on. however EMIL Cioran appears fairly dang obscure to me. I can solely think about that the constructor is a fan and at one level had tried to crossreference EMIL with NIHILIST (34D: One who may say “Nothing is actual”), since, because the “Phrase of the Day” entry explains (above), EMIL Cioran “engaged with problems with struggling, decay, and nihilism.” Could be a giant coincidence to have that man *and* NIHILIST in the identical grid have been it not deliberate. Anyway, EMIL was simply one in all many issues that made me shrug. Like, who is that this LEILA actress and in addition what’s “Animal Kingdom”? (30D: Actress George of “Animal Kingdom”). I do know “Wild Kingdom,” however that was a documentary present about animals from the ’70s hosted by Marlin Perkins and sponsored by Mutual of Omaha (“Mutual of Omaha is individuals / You possibly can’t rely on when the going’s tough“). Cling on, wanting up “Animal Kingdom” … huh, it is an American model of an Australian crime present that ran 2016-2022 (on TNT) and starred Ellen Barkin. Nicely, I like her, and I like crime, however nope, there are a jillion crime reveals and a jillion networks and I can not preserve them straight, and since LEILA George’s movie/TV-ography is tiny, I dunno, man. I would not be stunned if even individuals who watched that present did not know that actress’s identify. I do know CrossWorld wants LEILAs, however come on … and to place that identify *proper* at that tiny tiny one-square-wide chokepoint, interrupting all potential move from one part of the grid to the subsequent, argh. On a Friday, you wanna *maximize* move, not reduce it. Or perhaps the entire world is filled with “Animal Kingdom” followers. I do not know. I simply know the whoosh was Not there for me right now. However since a lot of this seems like a Me Downside, I’ve set the issue degree to “Medium.” Argue about it in the event you should.
I assumed you bought SLIMEd on some precise Nickelodeon present. I did not comprehend it was a part of an *Awards* present as effectively, so I used to be principally out of step with this one from 1-Throughout (individuals have been getting SLIMEd on Nickelodeon for years, most notably on “You Cannot Do That on Tv” after which “Double Dare”). Had CORE and GIST earlier than MEAT (4D: Coronary heart). Had SCABS earlier than SCARS (14D: Outcomes of cuts, perhaps). This led to each BAJA and BEND earlier than RENO (20A: It was referred to as Huge Meadows on the California Path). And I believe the extra widespread / snappier phrase is “IT’S NOT THAT EASY.” “IT’S NOT EASY” alone sounds a bit of flaccid to my ears. Anyway, all this stuff meant that I got here limping fairly than whooshing out of the NW. The SW was considerably simpler (EMIL however), although parsing “SADLY, YES,” once more, a bear. I had “SAD TO SAY…” (56A: “Alas, it’s so”). Misplaced continuity move at Level LEILA and so needed to restart chilly within the SE with MRS. Davis (a latest TV present I’ve really watched! It is loony! Good loony, imho). However as within the NW, I needed to wrestle to get out of the SE. Clues on SLATE and RIPENS simply did not click on (I imply RINSES … RIPENS was the mistaken reply I needed at first, and now it is haunting my write-up) (55A: Will get able to dry, say) (you must ripen the fruit earlier than you dry it, I reasoned!). Could not parse “CAN I SEE?” The clue on NIHILIST did not appear nihilistic in any respect (lacked the downbeat pessimistic tone I affiliate with the idea). No concept what the Barossa Valley is, so no concept about its “export”) (47A: Barossa Valley export => WINE) and I might barely learn the clue on THAT—didn’t see that apostrophe in there after the primary citation mark across the “s” (43A: Phrase earlier than and after “‘s”) so I used to be attempting to think about ___ S or S ___ phrases the place “S” was a totally separate letter. That was … enjoyable. Ultimately, that SE nook was simpler than the NW, however nonetheless, no move to be discovered on this one till the very finish (for me, the NE, the place THE LORAX and CELESTE NG teamed as much as lastly give me a jolt of that Quick Friday Feeling I might been craving).
There’s nothing mistaken with this grid. It is effectively constructed. It does not have the variety of marquee solutions I might prefer to see on a Friday—actually, it does not have greater than a small handful that rise to that degree. Solely “I DON’T WANNA!” and perhaps LIVE WIRE have that marquee power. I additionally appreciated RICE BOWLS, and if the considered Austin Powers did not make me cringe, I might like “OH, BEHAVE!” as effectively (15A: Admonishment from Austin Powers). However the grid is extra stable than sparkly. Oh, I type of like “BE SEATED” as effectively; you would not say it sparkled, however one thing about it feels contemporary. So there are excessive factors, for positive. It simply wasn’t in my wheelhouse, time and again. Even the reply that was an alleged translation from the French made no sense to me. I assumed “I do know French,” however then … nope, no method I might get from “5 successful numbers” to KENO … “cinq [something] nombres” … will get you to KENO … no. In line with wikipedia, “The phrase “keno” has French or Latin roots (Fr. quine, “5 successful numbers”, L. quini “5 every”).” So there’s simply … a single phrase (quine) that means “5 successful numbers”? I stay misplaced. A lot TRIVIA right now (39D: Pub ___). Simply not my factor. Would not go to pub TRIVIA in the event you paid me. Nicely, perhaps in the event you purchased me a drink. Perhaps. However I can not consider a worse method to spend my time in a pub than taking part in TRIVIA. I will simply take my guide (or crossword puzzle) to the top of the bar and drink alone. You guys have enjoyable. See you tomorrow.
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
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