"Einstein's Hella Powerful Energy" (Cryptic Mini #000000093)

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• riotblob 🤓8:38 · 2024-06-06T11:48:36.133Z

  very nice! 2D and 5A had me thinking for quite a while there (and I especially like 2D, what a clue).

  I would like to see a homophone indication in the clue for 1A. not sure if that's as required in american cryptics as it would be in uk ones? I'm very ignorant here. but with that addition it would be an outstanding clue for me!

  thank you for the puzzle !

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  • bob weisz costruttore · 2024-06-06T15:21:04.546Z

    Oh interesting! I don't think of it as a homophone (just that "sweet" is RAD, so "somewhat sweet" could be "RAD-ISH"... is that the parse you got?

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    • riotblob 🤓8:38 · 2024-06-06T18:35:05.417Z

      oh it is, I guess I just subconsciously picked RADDISH rather than RAD-ISH for how it would be spelled for that meaning! sorry I made such a finicky comment <3

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• Aaron Riccio 🤓2:39 · 2024-06-06T13:11:31.987Z

  Either not as tough as you think, or I'm onto you ;) Either way, a fun puzzle. Your version of 1A is my favorite surface for that parse thus far, and both 1D and 2D are tremendous. I love seeing constructors use modern usages like "dank," or using pop culture ("Big Bird") to hide answers in plain sight. I've said it before, but this is the kind of cryptic cluing I aspire toward: tricky, humorous, grammatically sound.

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  • bob weisz costruttore · 2024-06-06T15:21:21.994Z

    > Either not as tough as you think, or I'm onto you ;)

    Hah, both could be true!

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• Jamixiy 7:18 · 2024-06-06T17:55:38.311Z

  1A is absolutely incredible! I don't really get anything else

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  • bob weisz costruttore · 2024-06-07T04:48:18.000Z

    Hah well I forgot to post the parses! So I'll just reply here:

    1A. def: "salad ingredient". wordplay: "sweet" is RAD, so "somewhat sweet" is RAD-ISH

    5A. def: "Strikes out". wordplay: CANCERS ("signs"), but R becomes L ("to switch hands")

    6A. double def: if she releases, she LETS GO... and LET'S GO is one way to say "we should leave"

    --

    1D. def: "Bon Jovi's music". wordplay: ROC ("according to legend, big bird") homophonized ("was on vocals")

    2D. def: "It's 'thanks' to Einstein". wordplay: DANK ("hella powerful" as in weed) and E ("energy")

    3D. def: "a whole lot". wordplay: SLEW ("did slay" ) + S ("Sigma initially")

    4D. def: "Who's hosting the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony?". wordplay: Hidden Answer in "lOS LObos" (i.e. its "members")

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• CanterburyEgg 2:22 · 2024-06-06T19:02:30.005Z

  Saw the writing on the wall on 2D and had to reveal it. The word "powerful" is really tripping me up there; is it a drug reference?

  Also, not getting where "K" comes from in 1D if you could help me out there. The rest fell into place; I really liked the usage of "switching hands."

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  • Aaron Riccio 🤓2:39 · 2024-06-06T20:16:02.602Z

    I think [was on vocals] is a homophone indicator here, turning roc into ROCK.

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    • CanterburyEgg 2:22 · 2024-06-06T23:58:47.595Z

      OOOHH okay, that makes sense. Easily to grok as the solution either way, so no harm there. Thanks!

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  • bob weisz costruttore · 2024-06-07T04:45:15.609Z

    Ah and yeah, "dank" means "extra-potent" when talking about weed (I think because it's more sticky & pungent). It's more generalized now (viz. "dank memes"), but I know it's not universally known. I hoped the "hella" would be a hint to its slanginess.

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• JWords 🤓5:18 · 2024-06-06T18:55:12.743Z

  Great puzzle! 2D is marvellous. For 1D, why does “vocals” give K, or is my parse wrong?

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  • Aaron Riccio 🤓2:39 · 2024-06-06T20:16:29.165Z

    I think it's a homophone not a charade.

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    • JWords 🤓5:18 · 2024-06-07T01:09:27.900Z

      Ahh yes of course! Can’t believe I missed that aha

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  • nate 🤓5:54 · 2024-06-06T21:54:30.015Z

    I think "on vocals" might be indicating a homophone there?

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• nate 🤓5:54 · 2024-06-06T21:53:50.713Z

  Really great puzzle, tough but doable!

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