Nathan Hasegawa’s second puzzle is a hit.
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SUNDAY PUZZLE — At first glance, it may look as though a wide-legged stick figure is dancing at the center of today’s crossword. Should we pay it any mind as we solve?
That may depend on your appetite for wordplay. In his print introduction to this puzzle, Will Shortz described it as having a “multifaceted theme.” He also noted that the constructor, Nathan Hasegawa, “is a junior at Harvey Mudd College, majoring in mathematics,” and that his debut puzzle in 2021 was published “during his senior year at high school.”
In light of these details, I’d say Mr. Hasegawa wasn’t yet around to hear the 1990 M.C. Hammer single “U Can’t Touch This” — the source of this crossword’s title, “Hammer Time” — when it first came out. While he may have intended the title as a witty reference to his theme (and I happen to think he did), any harem pants-clad figures in his grid must be in my imagination. Nevertheless, I’m including the music video for those who wish to revisit the moves that defined an era.
Today’s Theme
“Multifaceted” is certainly an apt description of today’s theme, which uses puns, rebuses and clever grid shading to work its magic. It really does, as 58-Across suggests, GO WHOLE HOG. And this phrase — meaning to “Approach something with gusto” — contains just one of the rebuses that make up the “Game represented visually in this puzzle” (113A): WHAC-A-MOLE.
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Source: Elections - nytimes.com
