MONDAY PUZZLE -- December is my favorite month of the year. And yes, I say that with the weather in mind. It's packed with celebratory occasions -- one of which, to be transparent, is my birthday -- and its slow, snowy days feel almost dreamlike.
Hannah Binney's crossword is a decidedly December-ready delight, with a seasonal theme that's easy to appreciate. I recommend solving by a crackling fire or with a hot drink in hand, though.
Today's Theme
Identifying the [Cause of some wintry weather] at 64-Across is relatively easy, but appreciating the way it functions as [a hint to 17-, 24-, 40- and 51A] requires a bit of lateral thinking. The cited entries must have something in common (in order to be grouped in the revealer as they are), so let's solve those. At 17A, the ["Remedy" for a riled-up person] is a CHILL PILL. A [Penalty for bank fraud], at 24A, would probably be a FROZEN ACCOUNT. You might refer to 40A's [Hip person, in old slang] as a COOL CAT. And to call one idea the [Antithesis] of another, at 51A, is to suggest that it's a POLAR OPPOSITE.
Chill, frozen, cool, polar: Each of the themed entries begins with a term about the cold. In other words, these entries all share a COLD FRONT (64A)! Ha, ha. Pass the hot chocolate, please.
Tricky Clues
27A. The generally accepted definition of PERUSE is to [Read thoroughly], but at some point during the 19th century it could also mean the POLAR OPPOSITE (51A), i.e., to "read casually."
62A. The person here who [Assigned stars, say] wasn't an astronomer but a critic -- Roger Ebert, maybe? The answer is RATED.
3D. Like 27A, the definition of a MAINFRAME has also shifted over time. Where once the term described the physical characteristics of a computer, it now refers to a style of information storage. That shift might be reflected in the term's cluing: In 2000, this [Supercomputer precursor] was instead clued simply as the [Source of a download].
32D. The [Preceder of skip and jump] is figurative, used for describing something nearby as
a HOP, skip and jump away.
36D/50D. These twin clues use identical wording but reveal artfully distinct entries. The [Bit of musical flair] is a GRACE NOTE at 36A, and a jazzy RIFF at 50D. Speaking of flair: In a 2002 Saturday puzzle, the clue for GRACE NOTE was [Extra staff member?]. Very good.
Constructor Notes
I made this puzzle last winter while watching the snow fall. Now that December is starting, it has become relevant again. I hope you think it's cool. Stay warm, and have a chill holiday season!
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