V-CUT: [ ACROSS LITE][ PDF]
PROGRAMS: [Across Lite] [Adobe Reader]
When I first met Quiara, I was convinced that I was being trolled. It just seemed to preposterous that here was this young lady who was a little too into crosswords and terminally unhip music (by the youth of today standards only. Not by mine, in that case, impeccable standards). With encyclopedic knowledge on both topics to boot. But, she turned out to be real. We wrote a puzzle last year. Long story, short, I know her. She’s okay. She wanted to run this puzzle here today, I said yes.
Enough preamble, take it away Q:
Every couple months I ask myself, “what is the song least deserving to be turned into a crossword theme?” I thought I topped out on this with the “Back That Azz Up” puzzle I did for AVCX last year, but this one may be worse. By which I mean better. I hope you enjoy it.
On the topic of crossword puzzles I’ve made about turn-of-the-millennium pop music, I should probably advertise that I have a grid called “Total BS” in the Inkubator’s new book. It’s a gorgeous book with a lot of good puzzles. Oh, and I guess I should plug my blog? I’ve been posting long monthly writeups on QVXwordz about notable puzzles in both mainstream and indie outlets, full of grid analysis and cool trivia.
Thanks, Q. And thanks for the crossword.
Share the puzzle. New one by yours truly tomorrow.
I said yes.
Shoulda said no.
No wonder this puzzle was so far out of my knowledge base. I still don’t understand the V-cut title.
Cool puzzle! Thanks to our guest host.
That reference to killing a cat in a microwave almost made me throw up. I had to throw the puzzle away, unfinished when I saw that. That sort of clue has no place in a vehicle of diversion/amusement. -Kim
I thought it was going to have something to do with substituting the Roman numeral V for the number 5 in the theme answers … but it didn’t. Count me among the stumped as well.
Thank you for the puzzle.
I get the Vs, but not the ITs. Please enlighten me. Finished it, though.
Oh! I forgot to tell you how much I enjoyed your clues! Thanks again!
I do The Times (UK) Jumbo every Saturday. It’s fairly challenging. This crossword was an ordeal. Cutesy, overly-long clues (yes,the “parenthetical needlessly lengthened the clue”, girlie). Not a fan of “turn-of-the-millenium pop music”, but whatever. And the V gimmick? After finally figuring out that the “it” was missing, I tried to insert that – but it wouldn’t accept. Did a Reveal Letter on one, out of sheer frustration, got the number 5. Tried to insert “5” in subsequent answers – but it got x-ed out; not accepted. I ended up having to reveal each 5. Oh, and the cat thing creeped me out, as well. It basically felt like this Quiara person constructed this crossword strictly for her own enjoyment, and to show how clever she (supposedly) is. So thanks, but no thanks. BTW, the lovely name ‘Chiara’ means “clear” in Italian (Claire, when used as a name) and “clear” this puzzle certainly was not. (sorry if this sounds ‘b5chy’).
Me neither. What does the missing “it” have to do with the number 5???
Same here. Finished the puzzle eventually, but the mood was ruined. 🙁
I’d like an explanation of some sort, as well.
Awful!
I couldn’t have said it better myself. 100% agreed.
Agreed with JD on thoughts. Absurdly difficult and absurdly tedious.
i got 5 on it
Cool. You do the Times. Quiara and I both write “ordeals” and we have people who tell us they like it. It’s not your thing? Fine, but your entire comment ending with harassment makes it abundantly clear that the best thing you could have done was not commented.
This puzzle put up a fight. I expect Quiara’s puzzles to do that, and I enjoy each one of them. Some of the pop culture stuff was out of my wheel house but not unexpected, and well-executed.
Did you read the revealer?
Y’all can go make your own or stop being cruel. What y’all have done here falls under abuse.
This was loads of fun! I did have to cheat once to get a hook into the SE corner, but the rest was totally gettable. Loved the irreverent cluing. Definitely required my thinking cap 🙂
It costs literally nothing to be nice or shush instead of being a dingus.
Write your own.
To quote the Scarfolk posters – reread it.
I liked this puzzle a lot. Let out an audible “wow” when I figured out how it worked.
yeah of course she constructed the crossword for her own enjoyment that’s why we do it dipsqueak
let it be known that this puzzle is a banger and everyone is a prude
well I liked it
V’amru, amen
I liked it too. I signed up for a high quality hard puzzle and that’s what I got.
Harassment? lol okay then.
What you are suggesting I do, borders on censorship.
I gave my opinion, period. Isn’t that what comment sections are for? Should I have sugar-coated it, so as not to hurt anyone’s feelings? Is that where we’re at, these days? What a pity.
Oh, I see. NOT for the solvers’ enjoyment, then? Thanks for enlightening me.
Thank you. Not into hip-hop at all, so it made no sense to me.
Yes. I’m not into hip-hop at all, so it made no sense to me. Not worth the aggro, frankly.
I mentioned The Times, for difficulty comparison only.
I actually had second thoughts, because I was pretty grumpy when I posted that … but there was no way to edit or delete. I shouldn’t have framed it as an ‘ad hominem’ (more or less) but it just felt like the whole thing was constructed as a self-congratulatory “in-joke”. I do enjoy crosswords with themes and/or gimmicks, but this one was just out there.
a crossword puzzle that just requires a little knowledge of hip hop and everyone goes insane
the alf clue was disturbing though