Barry gives us a dose of computer lingo today, with SPAM FILTER a colorful 1-Across. It was interesting to uncover EVERIFY, which ...
read moreBarry gives us a dose of computer lingo today, with SPAM FILTER a colorful 1-Across. It was interesting to uncover EVERIFY, which looked kookily like EVER IF I, and CYBER WAR. I like when mini-themes crop up in a themeless, although I find it more elegant when those answers are in symmetrical spots. Still, having E VERIFY crossing SPAM FILTER is pretty fun.

I thought I had learned all the E-FILE, E-READER, E-TAIL kind of stuff, so I wanted to look up E-VERIFY. Interesting that almost half a million employers use it now. I kind of wish I hadn't looked it up, as it seems to be steeped in controversy around illegal immigration issues.
CYBER WAR … is that "a thing"? Google says it is, although it has an old-timey feel to me, akin to saying "cyberspace." Feels like there's a more colorful term emerging for CYBER WAR, but I'm not sure what it is. Ideas?
Speaking of mini-themes, I really liked the idea of placing two Greek states across the middle. After uncovering SPARTA, I pumped a fist and plunked in ATHENS. Dang it! Well, ITHACA seemed to work better ... no. By the time I got to the correct answer of ATTICA, I really, really wanted some historical tie between it and SPARTA. I found all sorts of information about the rivalry between Athens and SPARTA, but only that ATTICA encompassed the city of Athens. Sigh.
Barry gives us a good amount of colorful long material like SEEK ASYLUM, STARRY EYED, and even FOOD WEB, but it does come at a price. I think most of it is minor, like ISS(ue), the discontinued Olds CIERA, ACR(oss), Mel OTT who shows up in way too much compared to his level of actual fame because of his crossword-friendly name, and the religious inscription INRI. I'd be curious to know how many Christians would say it's a gimme.