Hello Cornerites!
Today's theme is Three-peat
Jon Pennington is back with another Monday toughie. I reviewed Jon's L.A. Times debut on March 20. BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front): I was cruising along pretty well until the SE (southeast) corner. I probably should have given it time to process. Instead, TBT (truth be told) I TITT (threw in the towel) and ask Google about Simone Biles' signature move. Perhaps I should watch more gymnastics.
Let's see where I fell off the beam....
 |
| not Simone Biles |
20 Across. Some virtual get-togethers: ZOOM MEETINGS.
27 Across. Astronomer's setup for outer space transmissions: ANTENNA ARRAY.
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| This is an overhead picture of the Very Large Array in New Mexico. Each ANTENNA gathers information which is then combined with the other ANTENNAs' information to create a composite signal that each independent ANTENNA could not create on its own. How Very Large Arrays Work |
46 Across. Never: ON NO OCCASION.
55 Across. Signature gymnastics move of Simone Biles, and the kind of repetition found in 20-, 27-, and 46-Across: TRIPLE DOUBLE.
Simone Biles is the first woman in history to land a TRIPLE DOUBLE on her floor routine at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Kansas City, MO. (1:57 min.)
Well done, Simone!! You are amazing!!
Today's puzzle has three entries with 3 sets of double letters -- a TRIPLE DOUBLE! The highlighted grid tells the tale.
Hoops fans might say, "Hey, what about a TRIPLE DOUBLE in basketball?" Yep, it's a thing there, too.
Let's vault over to the other clues:
Across:
1. Paddington, for one: BEAR.
5. Amenity in some cafes: WI-FI. 8 tips to stay safe on free WI-FI
9. 51-Across, e.g.: METAL. and 51 Across. Alloy of copper and zinc: BRASS.
1. Paddington, for one: BEAR.
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| the story of Paddington Bear |
5. Amenity in some cafes: WI-FI. 8 tips to stay safe on free WI-FI
9. 51-Across, e.g.: METAL. and 51 Across. Alloy of copper and zinc: BRASS.
Family Handyman article on BRASS doorknobs and the oligodynamic effect
14. Angler's gadget: LURE.
15. Desktop image: ICON.
16. Mealtime prayer: GRACE.
17. Lacking rainfall: ARID. California has seen some big changes.
18. Tear apart: REND. This feels to me like a biblical action so I asked Google how many times REND appears in the Bible. One site came back with 34 instances in 8 translations.
14. Angler's gadget: LURE.
16. Mealtime prayer: GRACE.
17. Lacking rainfall: ARID. California has seen some big changes.
18. Tear apart: REND. This feels to me like a biblical action so I asked Google how many times REND appears in the Bible. One site came back with 34 instances in 8 translations.
verb
- tear (something) into two or more pieces.
19. Like a pair of socks: MATED. Hand up for MATEs before MATED.
23. Cosmetician Lauder: ESTEE.
24. Sudden: ABRUPT.
32. Pride parade abbreviation: LGBT.
35. Before now: AGO.
36. Writer Zora __ Hurston: NEALE. (Jan. 7, 1891 - Jan. 28, 1960) National Women's History Museum link "Although, Hurston’s work was not widely known during her life, in death she ranks among the best writers of the 20th century."
37. Informal promise of payment: IOU. I owe you a better explanation.
38. Wore: SPORTED. Serena Williams SPORTED a one-legged outfit at the 2021 Australian Open in an homage to Flo-Jo.
41. Broke the tape, perhaps: WON. Once, just once, I broke the tape. I did a 1/2 Ironman on Rapa Nui (Easter Island) back in 2012. I was the only female competitor so all I had to do was finish!
24. Sudden: ABRUPT.
32. Pride parade abbreviation: LGBT.
35. Before now: AGO.
36. Writer Zora __ Hurston: NEALE. (Jan. 7, 1891 - Jan. 28, 1960) National Women's History Museum link "Although, Hurston’s work was not widely known during her life, in death she ranks among the best writers of the 20th century."
37. Informal promise of payment: IOU. I owe you a better explanation.
38. Wore: SPORTED. Serena Williams SPORTED a one-legged outfit at the 2021 Australian Open in an homage to Flo-Jo.
41. Broke the tape, perhaps: WON. Once, just once, I broke the tape. I did a 1/2 Ironman on Rapa Nui (Easter Island) back in 2012. I was the only female competitor so all I had to do was finish!
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| See the crown of yellow flowers on the left? That was for me! I'm so grateful for such an amazing day! |
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| "To become a butterfly, a caterpillar first digests itself." Scientific American article |
44. End of a soldier's email address: MIL. ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is responsible for internet domains names.
45. Quaint hotels: INNS.
50. Emphasize: STRESS. Do you feel STRESS when people overly STRESS the importance of something?
59. Alpaca relative: LLAMA.
62. Norway's capital: OSLO. The name comes from Ás and lo. The lo part is a field, meadow or pasture. The Ás part could derive from Old Norse Áss meaning Godhead – derived from the Æsir – to give ‘meadow of the Gods’. source
63. "See above," in footnotes: IBID. Did you see -T's use of IBID in his blog yesterday? See 66 Across.
64. Fragrant shrub: LILAC. This is a well-timed clue since, depending on where you live and the lilac varieties you choose, lilacs can provide color and fragrance from April through June.
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| This looks like a nice spot to read a book or pet a cat. |
65. Like skyscrapers: TALL. The Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the tallest building in the world.
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| MalMan included this pic in his Mar. 31 blog. |
66. "Good one!": NICE.
67. Toast-making sound: CLINK. Was anyone else thinking of this kind of toast?
Instead, it was this kind of toast....
Bridgit Jones's Diary (2001)
So cringe-worthy yet so lovable! 2:10 min.
68. Game recap datum, for short: STAT. sports STATistics
69. Prophetic one: SEER.
Down:
69. Prophetic one: SEER.
Down:
1. Bright flame: BLAZE.
2. Continental bills: EUROS. The "bills" are paper money.
3. "You're __!": "You crack me up!": A RIOT.
4. Beef, e.g.: RED MEAT. Remember when the pork industry tried to distance itself from beef with this campaign in 1987? Was the slogan hogwash? Let's ask the USDA.
6. Slush Puppie company: ICEE. "Slush" might be sufficient but it's a fun play on a Southern dish.
7. Helvetica, for one: FONT.
Helvetica movie trailer (2007) 1:30 min.
8. Mumbai resident: INDIAN. Mumbai's 2023 population is now estimated at 21,296,516. In 1950, the population of Mumbai was 3,088,811. Mumbai has grown by 335,044 in the last year, which represents a 1.6% annual change. source
Ocean's Eleven movie trailer (2001) 2:10 min.
10. Sign of a changed answer: ERASURE.
11. Tit for __: TAT. Last Monday we had 62 Down. __ for tat: TIT
12. "Helpful hardware folks" retail chain: ACE. ACE is the place. ♪♪♪
13. Was in first place: LED.
21. Fellows: MEN.
22. Org. for Jazz quintets?: NBA. Clever misdirection but I am now wise to the Jazz ploy. #SchoolOfHardKnocks
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| Professional basketball teams have 5 players on the court. |
25. Large shrimp: PRAWN.
26. Raptor's claw: TALON.
28. Activate, as a touchscreen: TAP.
29. Bigheadedness: EGO.
30. Marilyn Monroe's birth name: NORMA.
In 1973 Elton John included Candle in the Wind (Goodbye NORMA Jean)
on his album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
He later re-worked the song when Princess Diana died in 1997.
31. Desires: YENS.
32. Wedding day car: LIMO.
33. Hired hooligans: GOONS. a bit of the word's history
34. __ ends: barbecue delicacy: BURNT. BURNT ends is a popular barbecue dish that originated in Kansas City. The dish is made by cooking the fatty ends of meat until they are crispy and charred. The BURNT ends are then usually smothered in barbecue sauce and served on a bun, by themselves, or with baked beans. source
38. Footwear organizer: SHOE RACK. Hand up for first penciling in SHOE tree.
39. "My country, __ of thee ... ": 'TIS. an abbreviation for iT IS
40. Actor Wallach: ELI. ELI makes a regular appearance on grids.
43. "Black Swan" Oscar winner Natalie: PORTMAN. OTOH, Crossword Tracker has only seen this actress' surname 3 times in the past.
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| Natalie as Nina Sayers in The Black Swan (2010). |
45. Completely demolished: IN RUINS. My heart goes out to those in the paths of the recent tornados.
47. CBS forensic drama franchise: CSI.
48. $100 bills, informally: C-SPOTS. run?
C is the Roman numeral for 100. Hand up for first having C-notes.
49. "Flexible on price," in ads: OBO. Or Best Offer
52. Actress Cornish: ABBIE. Unknown to me, ABBIE is an Australian actress and rapper. Her rap name is Dusk. ABBIE's IMDb page
53. Pizza piece: SLICE.
54. Passover meal: SEDER. I hope to be invited to one someday.
56. Future JD's exam: LSAT. Juris Doctor is abbreviated, so is Law School Admission Test.
57. Scat queen Fitzgerald: ELLA.
58. Fool: DOLT.
59. Inc. kin: LLC. Incorporated is abbreviated, so is Limited Liability Company.
60. Short, for short: LI'L. as in LI'L Abner
49. "Flexible on price," in ads: OBO. Or Best Offer
52. Actress Cornish: ABBIE. Unknown to me, ABBIE is an Australian actress and rapper. Her rap name is Dusk. ABBIE's IMDb page
53. Pizza piece: SLICE.
54. Passover meal: SEDER. I hope to be invited to one someday.
56. Future JD's exam: LSAT. Juris Doctor is abbreviated, so is Law School Admission Test.
57. Scat queen Fitzgerald: ELLA.
58. Fool: DOLT.
59. Inc. kin: LLC. Incorporated is abbreviated, so is Limited Liability Company.
60. Short, for short: LI'L. as in LI'L Abner
61. "Thrilla in Manila" victor: ALI. a.k.a. The Greatest
Now that the bookkeeping is complete, I have just one more pic to add:
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| Bendigo, Australia snake catcher Chris Page Chris sees snakes. |
Pretty lame, huh? Props to Jon for finding 3 much better phrases!
That's all for today. Have a great week!
33 comments:
Many ABBIES lie IN RUINS,
Victims of sectarian doin's.
Catholic, Anglicans,
They're at it again!
When'll they realize, God was only foolin'?
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, okay.
But Transgender is another way.
It's a fad,
Lassie to lad,
That most will rue some day!
(As some of you may remember, my wife of over 35 years decided about 3 years ago that she was really a man. I read up on it enough to agree that *some people* really do have gender dysphoria. But my wife wasn't one of them, just caught up in a craze, and too stubborn to admit it.)
Sorry, Sumdaze, but I didn’t find this puzzle all that difficult; in fact, I thought it was a good example of a Monday-level puzzle. FIR, so I’m happy.
OwenKL@3:33 a.m. - What?? Your wife thought she was a man?? All I can say is “O tempora! O mores!”
Good morning!
Noticed all the double-letters on my way through the grid. Failed to notice the reveal, though. [Sigh] This was a nice Monday romp. No Wite-Out required. Thanx, Jon and Sumdaze. (Wow, now we can add Ironman participant to your list of exploits. I assume you saw the moai -- as I understand it, there's not much else to see there.)
MUMBAI -- Visited there a couple of times back in the '80s when it was still called Bombay. It was sad to see the disfigured kids begging in the streets. Criminal syndicates would break the kids' limbs to make them look more pitiful.
LSAT -- I asked our attorney what the J.D. stood for. Told her I supposed it wasn't "Juvenile Delinquent."
Took 4:14 today for me to finish (in a hurry, no time to try to think of a triple letter phrase).
Congratulations on finishing/winning and. heck, even just going to Rapa Nui, sumdaze.
Seemed like a usual Monday puzzle to me, although I have to believe that most people associate triple-double with basketball, not gymnastics.
Truly clever puzzle perfectly constructed. Thanks for the ride, Jon.
This was a fun and fast typical Monday for me. Only theme answer I got without perps was ZOOM MEETINGS - the rest needed the downs to get started but filled once I got a foothold here and there! Not sure how Jon even came up with all the TRIPLE DOUBLEs
Raised a Kansas Citian, I knew all about BURNT Ends(which are usually the ends of a brisket) - my Mom's favorite. In the TV show, "Ted Lasso", Jason Sudeikis often wears TShirts related to KC made by a boyhood friend who has a side gig business while also being a high school teacher. One of the most popular, since he wore it in the show, is a shirt with all the most famous BBQ places put together on one shirt:
Joe Arthur GATESTACK
https://threekcclothingco.com/collections/que
Thanks SD for the blog and Jon for the puzzle!
FIR. Took a while to see the theme, but the solve was smooth. One nitpick: dolt for the clue fool seems a tad out there. But maybe that's just me.
Good Morning:
This was a typical easy-peasy Monday from a cluing/fill standpoint, but the theme and reveal, not so much. Props to Jon for the craftsmanship and execution, and though I would have liked more word play, that’s strictly a personal preference. Any puzzle that showcases the incomparable Paddington wins me over, as does the lovable Llama. No w/os, no unknowns, no problems.
Thanks, Jon, for a nice start to the week and thanks, sumdaze, for the entertaining and evocative review. Loved the Lure comic and seeing Simone Biles strut her stuff is a treat anytime. I laughed at your comment about the Toaster clue as, while solving, my first thought was what the heck sound does a toaster make while making toast. Mine makes no sound but often sends the toasted bread sailing up and over the counter’s edge onto the floor. 🤣
Enjoyed a very nice family brunch at Peggy’s yesterday. There were 31 adults, 3 youngsters, and 1 bambino! And at the risk of giving YR apoplexy, 8 dozen eggs, 7 lbs. bacon, 6 lbs. sausage, plus ham steaks, hash browns, rolls, glazed donuts, etc., fed all those hungry mouths. Mimosas and Bloody Marys (😉) were the drinks d’jour.
Parsan, would you please email me.
Have a great day.
Good Morning! A fine Monday puzzle, but not without a snag to keep me humble. Thanks, Jon.
I didn’t pay attention to the themers until 55A revealed it. Very clever!
My toaster dings, not CLINKS, but wasn’t fooled because I filled it from the downs.
However, I confidently put in C-notes until I worked the across and saw something was amiss. Not in this puzzle, but upon further reflection and research, I’m going to stick with C-Note as the appropriate definition of $100.
Thanks, sumdaze for your always fun recap. Especially liked the alluring lure!
IM, that toaster problem shouldn't exist. Hot toast isn't supposed to hit the floor until after you've buttered it.
DO @ 9:31: You're right about the toast and it lands BSD (Butter Side Down)
FIR, but took longer than most Mondays due to the number of proper names I DNK. No W/Os. Clever theme, and I can’t even imagine how difficult it musta been to construct a CW w/ 3 triple-doubles. Nice work, and thanx for the entertainment, JP. Thanx too to Sumdaze for the great write-up. Rainy day today innFLL: not much electricity to be generated. So far this year have sold about 900 kWhs of power to FPL, but still had to pay them almost $130. What a rip.
Musings
-The fun gimmick stood out immediately and I wondered how Jon would tie it all together
-That Very Large Array is used for SETI and was part of the movie Contact
-Congrats on the win, Renee! Believe it or not, I have run very few races on Rapa Nui!
-IBID – Footnoting is the most tedious skill I have every had to “learn” and I haven’t used it in 50 years
-Our LILAC tree’s fragrance will soon fill the backyard
-Oh, that kind of TOAST! :-)
-Some NBA quintets exclude a center and just have five guys who stand out by the 3-point line waiting for a “drive and dish” (don’t worry if you don’t know what that is!).
-Those BURNT ends immediately wind up on my plate
-ALI was the victor but Joe Frazier’s corner threw in the towel just before ALI was going to quit
It wasn’t until the reveal that I saw all the double letters in the long answers. How clever. We even had some “single” double letters in INNS, STRESS, BRASS, LLAMA, TALL and SEER.
Nice recap, Sumdaze. Seeing little Simone Biles again perform this impossible feat was thrilling.
IM, big family get togethers filled with love, laughter and food are heart-warming. Ours often end in a card game and hilarity usually ensues. Then someone asked when’s our next celebration?
Hi Y'all! Thank you, Jon, for a challenging but doable Monday puzzle. Thank you, Sumdaze, for an interesting expo.
Two things I learned today: an alloy of copper & zinc is BRASS. How'd I get this old without knowing that? The other thing is that caterpillars "digest themselves" to become butterflies? Now that blows my mind.
Love that Simone Biles.
Hola!
Thanks to Jon P. for an easy start to the week. No need to LURE me further!
I did not look for the TRIPLE DOUBLEs but yes, there they are! Clever!
TShirt seen at a museum, My Life is IN RUINS.
Time to go.
Have a marvelous Monday, everyone!
FIR for a nice kick off to the week, but missed the theme until Sumdaze explained it. Hand up for MATES/MATED and C-NOTE/C-SPOT. I've heard ten-spots, but never C-spots. (Although I have SEEN spots a time or two!) Actually knew all the names except for Cornish. Wanted GAME HEN, but it wouldn't fit. ABBIE was ESP. When stationed at Ft. Irwin, CA. In the early '70s, I used to drive by a huge antenna array in the desert between the post and Barstow. Loved the cartoons today, SD!
Needed a couple changes so not a toadily EZ Monday...Inkovers: ere/AGO, gov/MIL. I saw the double letter ARRAYs but didn't get the connection till the reveal. In Florida papers, by law, the "Pride Parade" clue was changed to "large wide screen device" ... LGBigTelevison.
Helvetica..the Romans called Switzerland "Helvetia" where the FONT was developed.
Start-up start....ESTEE
Caged animal conferencesp....ZOOMMEETINGS
What a rat does...TALON
Stevedore...PORTMAN
Concussion side effect...CSPOTS
I have 2 friends who are female to male trans. Married, happy, and well adjusted. 27 studies have shown an average "regret" rate of one percent, not a fad. Unfortunately hate seems not to be a fad either.
Fun Monday puzzle, many thanks, Jon. And always enjoy your delightful commentary, Sumdaze, thanks for that too.
The couple met on a ZOOM MEETING where the guy told a story about how he once WON a prize but got only an IOU in return. The next time he went to OSLO and was able to collect both a few EUROS and a few C-SPOTS. Hopefully he won't experience an ERASURE of all that money any time soon. He should go out to an INDIAN restaurant and order a plate of PRAWNS and then some RED MEAT, and CLINK his champagne glass in a toast. Then take a LIMO home and get some rest.
Have a good week coming up, everybody.
Thank you Jon for the Monday FIR. I can BEARly conceal my joy after Saturday's ABASEMENT plus my DNF yesterday due to my Easter sous chef duties.
A few favs:
14A LURE. A FISHE FATALE?
16A GRACE. The spiritual equivalent of fuel. It's what the SOUL runs on.
19A MATED. I have a SEPARATE section in my SOCK drawer for one half of a PAIR that has become ESTRANGED. I'm eternally hopeful that it will eventually be REUNITED with its MATE.
37A IOU. A BOOMER worthy GROANER sumdaze! 🙄
41A WON. You never cease to amaze Renée!
42A MORPH. I wonder what the sequence of random mutations was that led to that accidental escape hatch?
22D NBA. A spinoff from the "British JaZZ duet"?
25D PRAWN A CRUSHEDSTATION FATALE?
30D NORMA. Also the eponymous DRUIDESS in Bellini's tragic opera NORMA and a signature role for Maria Callas. Here she is singing Casta Diva ("Chaste Goddess") - lyrics with translation. It's not as long as it seems, a lot is just applause.
49D OBO. Short for FIFE?
Cheers,
Bill
Waseeley, that's my opinion of opera, too. It's not as long as it seems.
D-O @2:31 Becha wouldn't say that if you say thru a complete performance of Wagner's Ring Cycle. 😴
Back in 1982 I took the LSAT. I subsequently went to Law School and I’ve been a lawyer for 36 years. Years ago, when my son was first learning to speak, I taught him to say, “Doctor of Jurisprudence.” I would say, “Alden, what does daddy do for a living?” And he would reply, “You’re a doctor of Jurisprudence.” Then, when he started child care, he learned the word “stupid” from one of the older kids. One day I asked, “Alden, what does daddy do for a living?” And he replied, “You’re a doctor of StupidPrudence.” I thought about some of the crap I was working on and I had to admit, the kid had a point…
I liked this puzzle and sumdaze's write-up. I actually learned some interesting stuff.
A Pennington PZL presented by sumdaze...
A clever theme, requiring double letter fills, knowing we tend to back away from such answers because they are rarely correct.
CLINK, of course, not DRINK!
When I see "Cornish," I think "Game hen." But here's a new route to this answer (52D) that has nothing to do with Ireland or roses.
~ OMK
____________
DR: One diagonal, near side.
Its anagram (13 of 15) is a Jeopardy-like question to this answer: when the outer leaves begin to cup inward, as spied from a racing bicycle.
What is a...
"BIBB CRITERIUM?"!
I got a FIR on yesterday's enjoyable puzzle but ran out of time after reading the review and comments -- all good stuff! That led into today's unusual creation by Jon. I quickly noticed all the doubles and wondered how he would reveal the theme. Thanks, Jon, for a Monday puzzle I could FIR today and feel satisfied, even happy.
Sumdaze continued the trend with her review. I was definitely thinking of the wrong toaster and puzzled by the CLINK answer. Thanks for clearing that up, sumdaze. As Jayce succinctly said, "I liked this puzzle and sumdaze's write-up. I actually learned some interesting stuff."
Hope everyone is doing well!
Puzzling thoughts:
FIR with a few k/o's
I got the "AHA" Moe-ment when the reveal was revealed
Thanks Renee for the recap; I visited (so to speak - a driveby actually) the ANTENNA ARRAY in Magdalena, NM (old US 60). Didn't know at the time what exactly it was, but your links provided the answer!
Congrat's to Jon Rahm - the newest Masters champion ... how soon before we see his name in a crossword grid?
Hi All!
My ink-mess was at APO 'cuz I misread the clue 'til 'TIS didn't work out. //and my first non .edu email was @af.mil!
Thanks Jon for a great Monday puzzle. The STATS are in and you put out a good one.
Fun expo, sumdaze. LOL on my overuse of ibid. NICE ;-)
WOs: APO had me fill NORah for Monroe's real name.
ESPs: NORAH->NORMA
Fav: I always like a good SLICE of pizza pie. //I don't know why these videos pop up(?)
Simone Biles [Colber interview] is a Houston native and just a delight to watch her having fun.
OKL - I really don't know what to say. I've followed your saga and have nothing.
@3:06 - LOL! Youngest is looking for Law and just got accepted to Amherst. No way I can afford that w/o cashing out retirement :-(
I never understood KS BBQ. Cidery. Cook the meat right (#TXBBQ) and you don't need sauce. And the ends are not really BURNT - just a little smoky & fat rolling down the gullet.
I enjoyed reading y'all today.
//Waseeley - ain't nobody these days got time for a 15 hour musical ;-)
Cheers, -T
AnonT:
Congratulations to your youngest on being accepted to Amherst! Couldn't she take out a loan and repay it when she makes some serious $$$ as a lawyer? Please don't cash out your retirement! By the time you retire the cost of living will be even higher than it is now.
AnonT, I’m with Lucina on that.
Um, that previous comment was by me, Jayce
-T @4:50 Oh nobody watches all 15 hours at once. They just sample it in small 3.75 hour sips over the course of 4 days.
Fln, I did something I've rarely done on a xword: I checked BISQUE since it just wasn't perping. Then FIR but ? On C/kOTY
Then I had to read Anon-T's most excellent write-up and the Roscoe Conklin news.
Oops, FIR on mIL. I had inked APO not reading "E"mail. Marines were FPO in Nam not that I got much mail. I was deliberately late with my Beneficial loan just to get the reminder bill. Totally detached from "The World"
Hmm. Even I knew Natalie PORTMAN. The Wilbur pop-cul test
Re. Quintet: NBA. They finally did the math and realized that 33% 3pters = c. 50% 2pters. But…
A bunch of missed 3s can produce a 10-15 pt diff fast. Celtics seem to have the technique down.
Masters was interesting. Rahm had it clinched and there he was with a provisional. Nantz never explained that the "lost" ball had landed in the fairway.
Else a 7 or 8 wasn't out of the question. Spieth faded else a -9 would've looked good.
Amateur passed on 275k. Maybe he'll go straight to LIV for fat bonus
Re. Xword. Perfect beginner Monday with some crackle on clues like "Toast" and Jazz quintets.
Two long write-ups with much links and I'm finally ready to post
WC
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