46. Cold Opens
PDF / PUZ So we're in the first two months of the year or, as I refer to it, "Counting down to baseball season." My beloved Cubbies look to be improved this year with some solid signings on the off-season; I'll temper expectations, but that should at least keep those pesky Brewers and Cardinals playing at their best! 1. Puzzle #45 recap Puzzle #45 answer: OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW Correct entries: 51 (first streak of two 50+ puzzles!) So, some things to notice early on: a. We have two semi-themers that certainly appear to be opposite in meaning: ANTEDILUVIAN and CONTEMPORARY. b. Those basically mean, in a much simpler way, OLD and NEW. c. But two themers does not a meta make, and there's a lot else going on in the grid, with many entries that do not quite seem to match their clues. Four of the entries are missing something: 16-A: It might be found on your icebox shelf: CONE (C OLD ONE) 37-A: Variety of a popular card game: HEM (H OLD EM) 38-A: You m