I'm glad to learn about the M theme here, because I didn't catch it and was baffled by the letter salad nature of the puzzle. Wasn't a particularly tough solve but it felt gratuitously weird; now I know why.
1
It's a nice feat of puzzle making but it was so subtle that it just whizzed right over my head. Now that I know this I'm more ready to forgive the number of times abbr. appeared in the clues -- especially after I was beginning to wonder if that was the theme! Anyway, mission accomplished.
1
Was hoping I’d see Mame as an answer, as a high density of m’s. But momentum was good.
1
Do this trick with the letter X, and I'll be impressed.
2
A puzzle with lots of Ms. To honor Time Magazine's big announcement today.
2
This may be late enough not to be seen by very many folks, but here goes anyway.
I once heard (in friend of a friend style) of someone who considered naming her cat MMMBobby as a parody of the way J. R. on Dallas used to pronounce his brother's name. She decided against the name once she imagined the neighbors listening to her standing on her back porch shouting, "MMMBobby! MMMBobby!" for minutes at a time to call the cat home.
I didn't notice the M's, neither in the words nor the clues, but enjoyed the trick once explained. Puzzle was fun enough in my oblivion.
4
I had a friend (one-half of a couple who lived on Lavender St at the time) who had a cat named Tis, or Tizzer for short. She gave him that name because she wanted to stand out on the porch calling "Here Tis! Here Tis!"
3
My, my! How marvelous!
2
Mmmm mmmm good!! Fun, clever, not too hard - a little easy for a Wednesday, but it just so happens that 'M' is my 2nd-favourite letter, so.
Thanks, Mr. Probert! I really enjoyed it :)
3
Did not like this one. Most of the fill fell like Monday, even without knowledge of the theme. But the NW and SE corners were very odd and ultimately stumped me... still not sure I understand how Demur fits the clue.
3
If you "make no bones about" something, you speak out directly. This is a negative polarity idiom, so the clue is funny - it's like coming up with "he will budge an inch".
2
Not good. 49D is nonsense. I didn't even notice the clue themeing until reading about it after the fact, since the app only displays one clue at a time in the standard view, so that couldn't add any enjoyment to this.
1
Mmm Mmm Good!
1
Was anyone else bothered by "Motion creates it" as a clue for MOMENTUM? Perhaps "Motion has it" instead?
Motion on its own doesn't have MOMENTUM, right? It motion on a mass that creates MOMENTUM?
1
Unless things have changed since I took physics in high school, you are correct, Wen (and so is the clue).
1
Awkward dated clues, felt more like a saturday at times than a Wednesday. I read Rexword and Wordplay pretty religiously and I completely agree with Rex on this one. Just a terrible puzzle with a bizarre theme. Really everyone should understand the theme as they are doing the puzzle, not hearing about it afterward
2
There was another puzzle on Will's list of 11 remarkable puzzles:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/02/14/cricticschoice/crosswords...
The second to last puzzle is similar, except with letter L. https://www.nytimes.com/crosswords/game/daily/2002/09/09
Whether you like it as a theme...well, YMMV. I personally didn't have a problem with it, but also didn't notice the theme until I came here. It's more of a constructor gimmick than something for the solver.
2
I'm know I'm in the minority here, but this puzzle did not do it for me. While I appreciate the constructor's feat, this one was just too easy, had too many forced, awkward clues, and was filled with glue.
Meh.
3
Well, Jack, at least you played along with the gimmick with your:
"Meh."
3
Caught on to the m theme meme early. (And don't think "mmm hmmm.")
Quibble: the correct fill for 5D is "FORA".
No, it really isn’t. No more than the plural of bonus is boni.
Or FORUMS:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forum
Interesting construction, although the proper name crosses in the NW and the DEMUR issue in the SE made for a trickier solve than usual. I have no clue what an MPEG is, and would note that cabinetmakers and violin makers more often use planes. Nonetheless, I had to go back to make sure all the down entries also had the ubiquitous "M." Impressive, but not particularly entertaining.
thought of a clue/answer for a cryptic:
Stylish, well-groomed lawn ornament: METRONOME
3
I had my g[nome] on an Alaskan subway.
I CAME, I saw, I solved. Noticed a lot of Ms right off with EMMA and EMMET, and the onslaught never abated. It got to the point where the very letter M started to look weird, you know how that goes? Still, a lively fill, so the conceit didn’t overstay its welcome. I had MANSE before MANOR, but quickly mended. Add me to the group of WPers who didn’t notice that all the clues started with M until I read Deb’s essay today.
Canadian rock group the Crash Test Dummies had their big moment in 1993, when their oddball single “MMM MMM MMM MMM” (yes, that's really the title) became an unlikely worldwide smash, reaching the Top 10 in the US and many other countries.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaUqpnHvua8
4
You just reminded me of MMMBop.
1
"MMMBop" was on my short list of the musical selection, but Steve L. already posted it downstream.
Other possibilities included a couple of musical acts: one-hit wonder M ("Pop Musik," #1, 1979) and 80s Canadian band M+M (formerly known as Martha & the Muffins).
1
I'm surprised no one has mentioned it, unless I missed it somewhere, but wouldn't 28 down be considered a "revealer" of sorts for this puzzle?
I actually didn't notice the Ms in the clues and just thought the puzzle was being really repetitive with letters, especially in the NW with all the Ms, Ds, As and Es. Thank goodness for Wordplay!
3
MUM's the word.
1
not noticing all the answers had to have an M, LODE before VEIN before SEAM.
hmmmm.
I had not gotten too far when I noticed all the Ms in the grid which led to the realization that each answer had an M and that helped with the solve. I did not notice that each clue began with an M and for that I am mortified (although a little less so now that I know I am not the only one!). I guess that makes MANDM the perfect reveal. Love the MOON near MARS. And SIMBA and NEMO also belong together in the Disney universe of cartoon heroes.
1
Somehow I missed your comment before I sent mine!
2
And MAPLE and ELM...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHozn0YXAeE
Try getting that out of your head!
2
Wonderful! I thought you were going to point to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i-L3YTeJJM
4
Or this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE9PibiDJLg
3
I was anticipating many mumbling mice.
..
Working in a sleep-deprived fog last night, I didn’t even notice the M theme in either the clues or the grid. No prob - I enjoyed it all the same. I think it’s great when a constructor entertains me in one way and himself in another.
4
Such a smooth solve that the M-thing went completely by us, but made us admire the puzzle in the afterglow. Loved 9D!
3
Not too far into the puzzle I had a subliminal sense that...something was up. At first I thought Clive Probert was doing something with the vowels -- a lot of A's at first, but not exclusively. Maybe making an E-less puzzle? Nope, and while there were no U's yet in the first 8 or 10 answers, making a U-less puzzle seemed kinda odd...
Then I noticed all the M's. Looked at the constructor's name, but nope. Anyway, went on solving, now expecting M's, and at some point my eye caught the line of M's at the start of the clues.
The M's (as opposed to, say, the I's) have it! Got here and saw that people had pointed out the EMMA/EMMET corner and the M AND M center. Very nice!
And I learned the source of "mnemonic." So, a swell start to the day.
"Mum" should have been clued as an abbreviation IMO.
It's in the dictionary as a word in its own right (entry 5):
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mum
1
Well, I thought I was solving a themeless. Noticed that there were a lot of m's in the grid, but not in the clues. For me it was a slightly harder than usual Wednesday.
1
My unconscious caught the M's before I did. Answers with M's fell into place without my quite figuring out what was happening, rather like a musical ear worm. Maybe EMMA set it off. I knew her immediately and followed with OCCAM and ELMS (though I held OAKS in abeyance not having yet noticed the M thing).
Completed the puzzle but no music. Searched my answers, and though I thought EMJET a strange name for an actor and had searched to see if I had an answer without an M, JPEG flew right by until I read Viv's response.
PS - I didn't notice that all the clues began with M.
2
Cute trick. Later this month I will check in Midtown NOLA to see if MNEME has a street along with the rest of the muses.
Puzzle is construction feat with MANDM in the middle.
Is 31 across where they make those Girl Scout Cookies: Inquiring minds need to know?
A quick check of the Stoner dictionary suggest another clue: Munchie maker?
Chuck Jones was a creator and director. My favorite character is Foghorn Leghorn. Foghorn was in cartoons directed by Jones and, as noted by Rick, was created by someone else.
Thanks Clive.
2
I like reading both Rex Parker's write ups and Wordplay's. Usually Parker is really harsh and Wordplay's is a little sycophantic and simpering (but a nice read). Today Parker was VERY angry about this puzzle so then I turned here to get the opposite view and it seemed also to acknowledge that today's puzzle was a miss.
1
There appears to be a bit of confirmation bias in an opinion that the comments here favor the puzzle being "a miss." I didn't get that impression when reading through them. But then, I enjoyed the puzzle, so maybe I'm biased.
2
I had the same reaction, Make, until it dawned on me that Max was comparing the blogs/columns, not the comments on them. Without respect to the choice of adjectives, I don't find it terribly surprising that the column *in* the Times would be somewhat less vitriolic about the Times crossword.
2
hmmm
It seems to me that a positive orientation has quite some distance to travel before it crosses into sycophant territory. Then again, if you key-stroke "enlarge', you'll probably be able to differentiate between a smile and a simper.
I can't put it more simpery than that.
When done I had an urge to watch "Dial M For Murder."
4
Mindlessly meandered & missed main clued M's. Mindful of multiple M's in their matches in the maze.
2
Nitpick on the caption of the picture of Chuck Jones - he did not create Bugs Bunny.
2
Holy MOSES! So captivated was I by this remarkable Masterpiece of construction, I did not even care that I missed out on a solve by one crumby letter. I fall hard every time for those Medieval life scientists. I had occom crossing mob. That lone error reminds me for the UMPteenth time that I will have to brush up my Medieval History and my Shakespeare...I discovered the answers all contained at least one em and then detected the upper case ems heading every clue on the list...Here is another clue and answer that could have made the list: Michael Stipe's band/R E M. He and Bruce teamed up on this live version of "Man On The MOON."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1y4SJred-A
Next Stop MARS,
Bru
2
[mumbling into my morning coffee]
MNEMosynE, gO SYN no more.
My mistake, like others, was that I looked at top clues one at a time, so missed I did that half of the trick. Now, if only all the entries had *ended* with M, that would have been mega-licious. Not that I'm M-bittered.
More to the point, the fill was almost SEAMless and downright Campbellian in being mm-mm good.
Missed opportunity: 4D early caught my fancy, but considered it ripe for an embiggened clue:
Meeting of Director Lee and Senator Thurmond
[Maybe not]
MOON and MARS meta bit of astronomy low on the horizon. Always a sight to see the MOON or Mesmer rising.
Please Mister Probert, could we have SUM more?
7
Constructing a puzzle in which every clue starts with M and every entry contains at least one M is a Major accoMplishment. 28D could be regarded as a revealer if one were needed. In view of this constraint, I am more forgiving than Deb about the quality of the fill, though there are more proper nouns it than I am comfortable with.
I had a leisurely solve with an occasional chuckle: e.g. 24A, 37D, 46D, 47D, 49D, where I thought Godfather for a moment and then DEMURred. All of the unknowns came out of the crosses without assistance until I got back to the NW corner. I had EMMA, ELMS, TEETIME and ANGSTROM and was pretty sure of MNEME (cf. mnemonic), but still needed one google to fill the corner and finish.
A subsequent check of MNEME did not find her among the nine Olympian muses, but in an earlier set of three. She and another one of the three, MELETE – muse of practice – might well be adopted as the patron (matron?) muses of cruciverbalists.
2
Realized there were a lot of M’s but didn’t realize they were in every answer or that every began with M until I came here. Once I did realize there were a lot I was hoping for a full diagonal. Great fun tho as always.
2
My very educated mother never mentioned MNEME.
I need to think of some way to remember that.
6
You mean, "My Nicely Educated Mother's Exclusion"?
8
I solved, then thought, "Wait! What's the theme?" Found the ems in every word, then came here to find that every clue began with M, which completely went right by me.
What I like about a theme like this is that it makes the constructor come up with words and clues s/he wouldn't normally think of -- like how making a rhyming poem makes you come up with ideas that would have otherwise passed you by. That's gives the puzzle a fresh feeling, when it works -- and I believe it did here. It felt strange and wonderful, different.
The six answers out of my wheelhouse were fairly crossed, and I love how the puzzle begins with EM at both 1A and 1D.
2
Yes, saw all the M's in everything,, but I kept hoping there was going to be a full-puzzlediagnal or some such....and I need someone to explain the 'Make bones about it' cluing DEMUR. It's not making sense to me.
We need more Comments from CrossNerd , Mitch the MathMan, and Scott from Puzzlevania! Now I am sorry I did not pick a more colorful identity...LOL
6
I took it as the opposite of "make no bones about it," an uncommon phrase that I think means to agree that something is indisputable. So DEMUR means the same thing, i.e. pass up. So it seems wrong to me, as if you choose to make bones about something, you choose to dispute it.
But I may be missing something. Perhaps Martin will explain it.
2
My fastest Wednesday solution, and without Google yet. Which probably explains my completely missing the M thing.
4
I’m having a bad week. These puzzles are too hard. I’m in Mensa.
I pay $9 each month for this subscription. That’s like two Big Mac meals. If I’m spending my date night money on these crosswords, I’m entitled to rant about anything and everything. It’s my right as a Canadian.
RAMBO: I don’t like him. He makes me feel like I need a gym membership.
MANDM: I don’t like him. He uses swears in his raps. This is far too racy for a Wednesday puzzle.
Molybdenum?! Why so many Shakespeare characters in crosswords??
M is the 13th letter of the alphabet. Now, I’m not superstitious, like an Egyptian leaflet distributor, but such flagrant and gratuitous use of a controversial letter makes me uncomfortable. I may end up calling in sick today.
Thanks for the puzzle.
15
Much too much birthday cake, methinks.
5
CrossNerd - which Shakespeare play is Moly b’Denum in?
3
Ohhhh, CrossNerd!! You know, some gals would gladly forego a date night meal to stay in and do a crossword with YOU :D
3
and Elke
I AM sitting in my HOME(S)(not a MANOR) in the land of the MAPLE Leaf, guarded by the RCMP , who presumably got their Man.
Experienced a modicum of ANGST--- at not discerning a theme IMMEDIATEly , until the plethora of mmmmm's hit me.
Could not DEMUR; instead will MURMUR my approval.
Deb- your theory of an M being in the name of the constructor, -well this solver has TWO of them in her last name - is there a prize ?
Anyway, doing puzzles reminds me: Cogito , ergo SUM.
4
I noticed early on that every word had the letter M, and that did help the solve in a lot of cases - e.g. saved me entering JPEG tho I was not familiar with MPEG. But I can't believe that I didn't notice the glaring column of Ms in the clues until I came here. I guess that's because I have gotten in the habit of only looking at the clues above the grid. This was an issue for one clue a few days or weeks ago, you may recall.
I like having a puzzle like this once in a while, with a shtick trick. It's refreshing.
5
Can’t believe I had no problem with MNEME and failed to get MANDM. Oh well.
2
My my. Much mirth. Magical mysteries.
4
On my screen, an ad server placed the mantra, "MAKE IT MEMORABLE", right before Deb's signoff. Mmm good.
2
I need a mnemonic device to remember who is the muse of memory.
This was a wonderful puzzle for many reasons already pointed out by Deb, but also for the Michigan State entry. (We beat Rutgers tonight, Rich.) Go Green.
8
Go Green.
..
Go White!
Knowing some math was a big help in this one. Loved "Mean Relatives?" = "Medians". But no, a module is not a set. As Wikipedia so eloquently puts it: "In mathematics, a module is one of the fundamental algebraic structures used in abstract algebra. A module over a ring is a generalization of the notion of vector space over a field, wherein the corresponding scalars are the elements of an arbitrary given ring (with identity) and a multiplication (on the left and/or on the right) is defined between elements of the ring and elements of the module." Oops, I seem to have nerded out again. Sorry about that.
6
Agreed, that was a terrible clue for MODULE.
(But a module is among other things a set, so it is not "not a set.")
I wanted MIDWIFES for the relatives, but it didn't fit.
That was really neat! Well done.
2
Naticked at the intersection of 13A and 3D....
Mmm-mmm good!
2
Huh. Finished without noticing the Ms.
1
Glad I wasn't the only one! ;-)
So am I!
me too
I enjoy a puzzle like this occasionally. I did manage to see that the clues all started with M before I got terribly far into it (but after I had noticed that there were an awful lot of Ms in the answers). And every time I got into a pattern of thinking that most of the words started with M, I'd run into one that didn't, like LIMEADE, and those would really jump out.
I knew of Mnemosyne but not of MNEME. I know the phrase, "make no bones . . ." but have never heard the reverse, "make bones . . ." so that just sounded strange and I had to ponder it for a while. I like the line of Ms rising to the northeast from the 62 square.
4
Nice (BUT SMALLER) run OF M'S from 40 in parallel . . .
1
If my name were Mnemosyne, I'd want my friends to call me by a nickname, too.
2
I loved the conceit of an M-laden puzzle. Well done!
Years ago I learned the "M Language" - you simply pronounce all the words with m's in all over the place. Limes thims: "My meamy lum toom tallm them 'M' lamwimge."
1
ok, is conceit another name for idea or did spell check change concept?
Your first guess would be correct.
quick quick! lots in my wheelhouse. Studied OCCAM's razor in my graduate psychology classes. Useful to look for the simplest causation in everyday life also.
1