Bad Inventions Vol. 1

What are we as humans, if not inventors? From apple pie to Apple computers, cryptic phrases to cryptocurrency, our past (and future) is defined by invention. When we run out of ideas of what to invent, we invent problems to invent solutions for - see Matt Benedetto of Unnecessary Inventions (great idea) or me, inventing that I need to spend hundreds of hours over-engineering random aspects of my life (bad idea).

Not all inventions are good inventions. Today, we explore the pitches that didn’t quite make it to Dragon’s Den - but maybe, one day, I’ll secure my own deal with Arlene Dickinson for $1 for 1% of my company.

Discussion (and spoilers!) below the break.

Play

Discussion

I don’t always wash my ducks - but when I do, I use Dawn Dish Soap.

I enjoyed coming up with today’s inventions (hence Vol. 1 in the title). As you could probably tell, the art of the pitch is not lost on me - if you didn’t walk away from this crossword thinking “Damn, that is a good idea”, I didn’t do my job well enough.

Today’s Theme

The theme words are based on compound words with an adjective and a noun (ex. raincoat, lighthouse, hotdog). The three long entries take these objects and flip the adjective, making SUNCOAT, DARKHOUSE, and COLDDOG - things you didn’t even realize you needed.

Tricky Clues

5A. You’re the bee’s knees for coming on my little crossword journey :)

17A. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (or AOC) is a notable politician who reached Silver 3 rank in League of Legends - she truly is the voice of the people.

18A. [Animation frame] is admittedly a bit of crosswordese - but this feels like a forgiving place to learn that it’s called a CEL.

33A. I thought that you SEW IN the ends of a crochet or knitting project, but my editor/tester/knitter/partner Heidi said that you weave them in. Small but important distinction - now I’m waiting for someone to tell me you weave in hair extensions (too late, already published!)

3D. You can take the engineer out of engineering but you can’t take engineering out of the engineer - [Ultra-efficient, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (built by U of A students!)] are ECOCARS and it’s a very cool project.

11D. The phrasing of [Some in Quebec] is intentionally a tad ambiguous. It’s not asking for what some people in Quebec are, but the word for “some” in Quebec, or DES.

I hope you enjoyed this puzzle!

Until next Friday,

Brandon

* Any typos in this email are on purpose actually