Wed., 12/16 Craig Stowe

[magus]

THEME:   parts of pianos found in random phrases
   
GOOD ONES:     
Gershwin's preludes {& theme}   PIANO PIECES   
Short list shortener [two separate clues]   ET AL and ETC ["Short" signals abbreviation]   
   
BTW:   
I applaud four literary references (two from Macbeth, "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," and Sherlock Holmes) while ignoring The Simpsons, Star Wars, and Star Trek.   
   
I cannot decode the texting syntax of the clue "Pal to text '<3' symbols to" answered by BFF ("best friends forever").  It seems a foreign language.   
   
ESO should be clued "Pop song '____ Beso'. "   
   
   
RATING:   
Three grins = Loved it; Two grins = Enjoyed it; One grin = A bit bland for my taste; One teardrop = Not much fun   

[Thomps2525]

The "less than" symbol followed by the number 3 is supposed to look like a heart. Actually, the human heart does not really resemble the traditional heart shape that adorns Valentines Day cards.....but I digress. As for today's crossword answer, I'm assuming "<3 <3 <3" is textspeak for "I love you, I love you, I love you."

We often complain about French, Spanish, German and Italian words appearing in puzzles. To me, these fershlugginer texting symbols seem equally as foreign!

[magus]

So does fershlugginer, which sounds German or Yiddish. 

Thanks for explaining <3.  You have more patience than I.