Nice! I had to remember that this was SSS, so I looked for easy when I just wanted to complicate it and make it hard! haha
lbray53 3s · 2024-11-24T14:19:41.849Z
Filling the grid was a bit of a challenge for me. The mechanism came quickly, particularly after solving Mikey's "Break It Up You Two" yesterday. I always seem to try the most recent mechanisms used in new puzzles. Sometimes it helps!
Well, and I used this one to figure out Mikey G's just a day too late.
Dave C 2s · 2024-11-24T14:23:52.083Z
I saw the types of poker first and then it was quick. Fun.
JM 🤓10:51 · 2024-11-24T14:43:23.983Z
P-p-p-perfect!
Cindy Heisler 2s · 2024-11-24T15:49:15.107Z
I was on my way out this morning and took a wild guess -- which was wrong. But when I got back and looked for the metanism, I spotted it right away. Of course, I needed Google to confirm my answer. I don't believe I could name even one of Lady Gaga's songs! It was fun and I solved, so that's what matters. Thanks, Jay!
Okay... Lady Gaga, and three clues about poker and the center entry about inscrutable expressions. So.... "Poker Face". Now to back solve.... Great grid and what ever the metanism is.... It's got to be great cause I, at this point, have no idea.
Morendil 🤓13:30 · 2024-11-24T17:11:26.702Z
Same as several others, the overall theme plus 1A with 65A gave me a wild guess that worked, then I backsolved to reveal the (quite elegant) construction.
Very nice. Did briefly chase a FACE LIFTS = MASKS, FACE CLOTHS = LOOFAH rabbit hole, before I connected up my earlier observation about all the poker options. Ironically, saw LADYGAGA right away, but still didn't instantly guess the answer. Fun stuff, thanks.
MatthewL 🤓9:52 · 2024-11-24T17:54:01.933Z
Got it off the LADYGAGA and the various poker references. Now to find the actual mechanism. Thanks for the puzzle, Jay!
Qmark 3s · 2024-11-24T18:27:35.017Z
Took me longer than I thought it would to see the light...nice AHA moment when it finally came to me...thanks!
whimsy 🤓14:05 · 2024-11-24T19:04:10.037Z
Gotta love that 41A!
KayW 🤓4:39 · 2024-11-24T21:45:44.039Z
Nice one! And believe it or not, I know and like this song even tho it's from this century. Fun Easter eggs, too. Well done, Jay - thanks!
Very nice! Clever mechanism, and easter eggs galore!!
HeadinHome 🤓2:36 · 2024-11-25T02:12:41.180Z
Never heard of this song, but not hard to figure out since it’s a common expression. Thought maybe Poker DROP (drop off, drop cloths, drop lifts — that’s a thing, right? In exercise?) but drop value didn’t sound right. Also played with half (33A) - but again only kinda worked for 3 of them, and was right there in the grid. Good puzzle!
Bird Lives constructor · 2024-11-25T03:36:21.236Z
You might never have heard of it, but according to Wikipedia: "With over 14 million copies, "Poker Face" is one of the world's best-selling singles of all time and became the best-selling single of 2009 worldwide with over 9.8 million in sales that year alone." More to the point, even I had heard of it.
HeadinHome 🤓2:36 · 2024-11-26T00:35:20.308Z
Doesn’t surprise me at all. I listen to nothing but oldies, unless I’m at the gym and they’re playing current hits and I’m trying not to blush at the lyrics.
"So taunt me and hurt me"; (Jay, possibly imagining how at least one oldster felt when post-1978 music knowledge is required to solve a SSS). Nah, great tune and great puzzle, thanks!