Polar Bear Club
Today we get another "downs theme." [See: last Monday]. This one from Amie Walker who, IIRC, we last saw set a puzzle for Star Wars Day (May the 4th). Today she lures us to the Polar Bear Plunge by calling it "therapy."Let's see what I mean:
1. Temporary housing-cost regulation: RENT FREEZE.
4. "What's with the dad jokes all of a sudden?": YOU USED TO BE COOL. I've got Dad Jokes, but I'm still cool, right?
7. Streamlined date?: NETFLIX AND CHILL. Snuggle up and watch a movie at home. Streamlined is a twist on streaming over the internet a program / film.
28. Post-workout water therapy option, or a description of the ends of 1-, 4-, and 7-Down: COLD PLUNGE. And there we have it... All the themers go down and end with a synonym for cold.
Across:
1. Not family-friendly, maybe: RACY. I was going with UN-PC first, but that depends on the family ;-)
5. Kylo of "Star Wars": REN.
8. __ pit: slam dancing spot: MOSH. The area in front of the stage where concert goers dance energetically and somewhat violently. You can also body-surf the crowd. Here's folks at a Nirvana concert running on stage and diving off into the audience.
Floyd The Barber (live)
12. Musical pace: TEMPO.
13. Gift at "no gifts" events: PRESENCE. "Just showing up is your gift to me." -Pop on Father's Day (we did get him a $$ grill too).
They agreed "No gifts"
[WKRP @6:55 (I've been binging it (again) while DW's in Japan)]
15. Alaska's capital: JUNEAU.
16. Group that might divide and conquer?: MATH TEAM. I went to state twice (in IL & LA) with the Math Team. #Nerd!
17. Tunneling insects: ANTS.
18. __ and downs: UPS.
20. Indulgent meal: FEAST.
21. Pt. of HDTV: DEF. Hi DEFinition Television.
22. Tire inflation abbr.: PSI. Pounds / Square Inch.
23. Balkan native: SLAV.
24. __ on the side of caution: ERR.
25. Martial arts teacher: SENSEI.
27. MBA course: ECON. ECONomics is part of a Masters of Business Administration degree.
31. "My word!": EGAD.
33. Wicked spell: HEX.
34. Caramel-filled candy: ROLO.
 |
| Originally made by Mackintosh's in the UK in 1937. Now produced by Nestle globally and Hershey's in the US. |
35. Cookie with a Space Dunk variety: OREO. A new clue for an old x-word friend.
37. Princess Tiana costume topper: TIARA.
39. Whole bunch: SLEW.
40. Greek liqueur: OUZO. The Greek version of Sambuca. Both are anise [read: licorice] flavored booze. Goes great in evening coffee.
41. Not new: OLD.
42. Requirement: NEED.
44. Chicken __: trifling amount: FEED. Gramps had this tiny wooden box he made with "Three Piece Chicken Dinner" printed on the top. You open it and there are three kernels of corn inside! #GrampsJoke
45. Mixes thoroughly: BLENDS.
47. Kiss in a crowded room, for short: PDA. Public Display of Affection. eg me smooching DW full-on at a restaurant.
50. Totally wows: AWES.
52. Pretend: ACT.
53. "haha": LOL.
54. No-frills: BASIC.
56. "Ew, whyyy": UGH.
57. Taurus symbol: BULL.
58. Works too hard too fast, maybe: BURNS OUT. I attended a talk at a Cybersecurity conference on Burnout. The guy was the Musical Director for Hamilton. He'd suffered a heart attack and came up w/ a triangle of work/life balance-y stuff. No mention of "Have a beer. It'll all be just fine." :-)
60. "I wish!": IF ONLY.
62. Reason to branch out during yoga class?: TREE POSE. An Ektorp (X-word slang coin'd by Emma Oxford for "a clue whose answer you can get from context without actually knowing it." Splynter proved the rule by entering IKEA at the clue: "Maker of EKTORP sofas").
63. Pines (for): LONGS. Yearns was too long. Cue Python.
Pining for the Fjords [@1:38 of The Dead Parrot Sketch]
64. Crunchy picnic dish: SLAW.
65. Birth announcement abbr.: LBS. How many Pounds the baby weighed. I have no idea why this is important -- perhaps to spot the next heavy-weight champ?
66. Vein rich with ore deposits: LODE.
Down:
1. [See: theme]
2. Iowa college town: AMES.
3. Tax prep pro: CPA. Certified Public Accountant.
4. [See: theme]
5. Record speeds, for short: RPMS. Rotations Per Minute (per is used here in the abbr. but not in PSI... wonder why).
6. Stretch of history: ERA.
7. [See: theme]
8. Set of interactive virtual spaces: METAVERSE. Oy! Don't get me started.
9. Small bills: ONES.
10. "Shoo!": SCAT.
11. Dress edge: HEM.
12. Old TV knob: TUNER.
14. __ butter: skin care ingredient: SHEA.
15. Green gem: JADE.
19. Brooch: PIN.
22. Ad with an educational message: PSA. Public Service Announcement.
23. Clairvoyant: SEER.
26. Concealer specification: SHADE. A makeup c/a.
28. [See: theme]
29. Fotbol cheer: OLE.
30. This second: NOW.
32. "All better!": GOOD AS NEW.
35. "Yikes": OOF.
36. Be sorry about: RUE.
38. Hardships: ILLS.
43. Approximate fig.: EST. ESTimate.
46. Bother relentlessly: NAG.
48. Tea party attendees, often: DOLLS. Not Daddy?!?... the number of times I sat in that tiny chair wearing a TIARA wishing there was beer in my cup...
49. Friend: ALLY.
51. Trace of smoke: WISP.
54. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" singer Ives: BURL. I oft hum this song throughout the year - much to the chagrin of my family.
55. Field of study: AREA.
56. Great Basin people: UTES. Cue Vinny.
My Cousin Vinny clip
57. Open up to, with "with": BOND.
58. "Dynamite" K-pop group: BTS. BTS is an abbreviation for K- (Korean) Bangtan Sonyeondan which translates to Bulletproof Boy Scouts [WikiP]. DW has really gotten into K-Dramas; it's mostly light-fluff.
59. PC port letters: USB. Universal Serial Bus.
61. __ Fighters: "Learn to Fly" rock band: FOO. The front-man for Foo Fighters, known as the nicest guy in Rock & Roll -- Dave Grohl, was the drummer for Nirvana [see: 8d].
There are 3 songs that I know of titled Learning to Fly: Pink Floyd's ('87), Tom Petty's ('91), and the Foo Fighters' ('99). Google says Sheppard ('21) and Christina Aguilera ('23) also have a song titled Learning to Fly. Since the clue is about Foo Fighters (and the Video is funny (Jack Black ++the band members play the main roles)), I'll leave you with 'em b/f the grid.
And the Grid:
 |
| Da' Grid |
WOs: REy -> REN, Serb -> SLAV
ESPs: N/A - Clean (of obscure names) Grid.
Fav: I'll go w/ MATH TEAM //yeah, I'm a #Geek.
Cheers!
-T
 |
| Dave Grohl's bar bill - 'cuz he just had to. |
37 comments:
When I first looked at this puzzle, and saw the grid-spanning spaces waiting to be filled, I thought to myself, “This looks tough.” But actually, it wasn’t nearly as difficult as it first appeared. The perps were friendly throughout, and the long themed entries were well known in-the-language phrases. Anyway, FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
Tried PLAIN before BASIC, but that was d-o's only Wite-Out moment this morning. I remember Rudolph by Gene Autry -- didn't know that Burl also sang it. Theme? There was a theme? Didn't even hear if flying over my head. Nice Tuesday offering, Amie. Enjoyed your nerdy expo, Dash-T. (I'd heard WKRP couldn't be released in rerun due to music licensing issues.)
FIR, but erased aches for LONGS and skor for ROLO. I've never had either, but they sound delicious.
I learned that there was such a thing as MATH TEAM from watching the sitcom Mom. Rosie O'Donnell's character was a mathlete in high school.
The Toyos on my RV need 105 PSI in the front two, and 110 PSI in the back four. Every manufacturer of truck tires produces a table of proper inflation pressures, based on weight on the axle and whether the wheels are dualies or singles. My last set were Continentals, and needed 105 all around.
Wasn't today's OREO c/a an EKTORP?
Thanks to Amie for the fun eyeopener, and to Bayou Tony for another good tour. I think I've mentioned before that Bailey Quarters was my crush, while most of my peers were gaga for Jennifer.
F inished in just under 7 minutes.
R eally struggled to spell "sensei".
I didn't know the chicken feed thing.
G ot today's geographical-based clue (Slav).
I didn't care for "Ew, whyyy" as a clue.
D entist awaits me shortly.
Good one, S.S.!
FIR. No problems whatsoever. This was an easy Monday-like CW.
The theme was clever and the clues were straightforward.
A most enjoyable puzzle.
Monty Python and Les Nessman clips are a great way to start the day.
Good Morning:
Surprised to see a vertical-themed puzzle so soon after Renee and CC's Top Banana, but pleasantly so. I was unfamiliar with Netflix and Chill and Cold Plunge, but perps were fair, so no issues. No unknowns and no stumbles led to a quick and smooth solve. The fill was very impressive, IMO, especially for a Tuesday offering.
Thanks, Amie, and thanks, Anon T, for the folksy commentary. Always enjoy your familial asides and today's tidbit about tea parties with the girls was most evocative. Joe Pesci's "Utes" scene never gets old!
Have a great day.
Fun puzzle - and the theme was the opposite of the weather here!
METAVERSE made me think of the recent MCU movie "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" and it was hard to keep them all straight. But Benedict Cumberbatch did a good job acting through them all
My third child was a whopping 10 LBS 2 oz - so it gets you a lot of sympathy and wow responses when you give the weight!
Gotta get to work- Thanks AnonT for the blog and Amie for the puzzle
I was on the math team in my ute - but I liked the trivia team much better!
Some toughies, keeps you busy, but doable.
Anon-T, thanks for the learning to fly vid. Always gives me a lift...
Dead parrot sketch? That's been done to death! What on earth would you do with a dead parrot anyway?
(Oh wait, I get it now...)
I guess we won't get a visit from Tinbeni today with this theme...
I wonder, what would Jack Nicholson think of this puzzle?
Found this more of a challenge than your average Tuesday. Few times thought I might not FIR 😲. Interesting but gettable vertical themes.
Inkovers: Otoe/UTES
I tried a complete WAG for the “Dad joke” clue: ENOUGH ALREADY but had a blank leftover . For “not family-friendly” porn came to mind ( just for a sec! 😅 . )
RENTcontrolwouldn’t perp. PSI frequently clued as Ψ, “trident shaped Greek letter”. Haven’t seen ROLO in the CW since the last time I chawed on one.
METAVERSE sounds like a poetic rhythm style.
You can stream (line?) on NETFLIX but don’t get the “date”/CHILL connection . BONe “with” (I meant discuss “with”) was actually BOND.
_____ what the capital of Alaska is? …. JUNEAU
80’s show “Kate & (her friend) ___ ….ALLY”
No gifts means no ____ …. PRESENCE
”____ JAMES___ “…. BOND
Finally stopped raining just in time for our Adirondack vacation with the kids and grandkids to end. Figured. 😲
Tsk tsk, IM@8:04, there were 21 three letter answers in today's puzzle. Seems like a lot.
Liked the "vertical" theme today. Some good horizontal fill, like the PRESENCE vs presents in 13A.
My only backout was Serb to SLAV since the butter had to be SHEA.
Thanks to Amie and -T for their collaboration in contributing to our enjoyment today.
Perfect days are few and far between.
Bandersnatch.
Ray o - "...just for a sec!" you sure is wasn't for just a few sex?
Good Morning! Another fine puzzle today. I liked the “down” themers and the reveal clue. It makes me pause to seek it out rather than my often racing ahead to the Corner. Got it!
Two WOs, I knew the words but erred in spelling JUNEAU and WISP.
ESP: REN
I think we’ve had this conversation before. OOF is the sound that happens with a gut punch. “Yikes” is more an OMG type response…..IMHO.
Thanks Dash-T for an entertaining recap. I liked your observations and opinions.
And my thanks to Amie for today's puzzle.
RosE, and then there's OOF-DA, as spoken in Mini-soda.
Hola!
i remember COLD PLUNGE! After a workout, then the sauna, it was a COLD PLUNGE! Those were the days when I could handle that.
Thank you, Amie Walker, for that memory. And this puzzle did seem Monday like though it took me most of the day yesterday to finish the puzzle. First, it was volunteer day at church, then a much needed nap followed by a lengthy conversation by my east-coast friend who will arrive to visit today.
But today's puzzle was another nice slide into the week. I now feel confident of REN and MOSH after seeing them in several puzzles. And the horizontal pattern offers a different view which is always nice.
My daughter still has her mini tea set which she displays with her DOLL collection. My mother started that by giving her the first Madame Alexander Doll.
When I went to Greece I had my first taste of OUZO and since I like licorice it was an instant BOND!
For me it was never the MATH TEAM. I excelled in English and literature.
Thank you, Tony, for the fun expo and have a great day, everyone!
What a refreshing puzzle! I can't explain the magic that makes these clues and answers so much fun, but Amie's puzzle is a winner. OLE!
65 Across made me wonder about weights and lengths on birth announcements. That USED TO BE COOL. I don't see it anymore. Why invite judgments and comparisons?
Loved learning that Anon T kisses his wife in public places, and sits through children's tea parties in private. What a guy! OLE to him, too!
Lee @ 8:47 ~ I don't know why I missed the high TLW count this morning but the count is even higher than your 21. I took a second look and came up with 26 which, indeed, is very high. I guess I was distracted by the novelty of the vertical themers and reveal. Thanks for the heads-up! 😉
Quick FIR. Good Tuesday-level puzzle, but a few of the paraphrases were a touch off-putting. Lookin' at you, OOF & UGH!
For me this was a harder-than-most-Tuesdays crossword, but I did FIR in reasonable unclefred time. As others mentioned: SERB/SLAV, but that was the only W/O. Guess what? I did see the theme, although not until the reveal at 28D. 7D had me scratching my head, even after perps helped fill it. It took -T's explanation. Thanx AW for the fun CW, and thanx too to -T for the terrific and entertaining write-up.
Not sure I want to do a COLD PLUNGE, but sometimes I go from the Jacuzzi to the pool. Enjoyed the theme and the puzzle. Hand up SERB before SLAV.
Yesterday I had a detached retina. It may have happened during the unicycling and excitement at Solstice, but I didn't realize it until afterwards. My visiting friend Virginia took me to the eye surgeon and he did some fancy laser surgery to repair it. I have to take it easy for a week, but I am very grateful. Especially grateful to be living in this modern ERA!
AnonT Hand up good for you enduring the TEA PARTY without beer. And cool that you are a fellow MATH TEAM nerd!
Here was our high school MATH TEAM!
I tried to track down our teacher in the photo some years ago. I was close to finding him and then found out he had been hit by a car and killed just then. So sad. He was a wonderful teacher and MATH TEAM coach.
Didn’t think this was all that difficult but my FIR time of almost 14 minutes tells me it required some thought. Forgot to look at the themers when I was done, but they fit the reveal perfectly. nice job Amie, appreciate your work! I have finally committed SENSEI to memory due to its repeated use in CWs due to esses and vowels. I agree with Jinx about the Space Dust cookie being an EKTORP, haven’t seen that specific type, but a cookie in a puzzle is usually the stale….
I’ve never had the urge to join a MOSH pit.
Thanks T for your rundown!
I thought this cw sucked
Terrific Tuesday. Thanks for the fun, Amie and AnonT.
I FIRed in good time and saw the CHILLy theme. I toyed with COLD Shower, but “therapy” required something stronger. There are actually COLD PLUNGE tubs! It has gone viral.
ColdPlunge
I thought of REy but REN perped.
Big inkblot in the SE corner (perhaps I was just upset about Florida’s win last night - great game!). My tea party was British and attended by Dames. My streamlined date (I defined that as “cheap”) was NETFLIX AND CHips, and my ore-rich vein was a Seam (to go with HEM). FOO made me reassess the whole AREA.
Picard- glad that you were able to get that detached retina treated quickly (and laser surgery is such an improvement over old treatment). Stay COOL.
Wishing you all a great day.
After reading above comments like I guess I understand that a “streamlined date” could be watching NETFLIX streaming AND CHILLing but I’ll bet that young lady (or guy) would likely refuse a second rendezvous.
I’ve heard of cheap dates but that’s extreme
OLE! This was a fun Tuesday puzzle, not necessarily easy, but with helpful clues that made filling things in enjoyable. So, many thanks, Amie. And your commentary was a big help, as always, thanks for that too, AnonT.
Starting RACY got me ready to expect a bit of sex and naughtiness in this puzzle, but it turned out to be perfectly civilized with lots of pleasurable moments. We might even think of being at a party of sorts, with the PRESENCE of a number of guests and music playing with TEMPO and a TUNER, and fun party FEED like OREO cookies with OUZO to sip while munching them, and even that interesting ROLO candy I've never heard of. OK, not a FEAST, but still fun, and at least I didn't have to wear a TIARA. And, thank goodness, no COLD PLUNGE after having to do a TREE POSE.
So, have a pleasant afternoon, everybody!
Musings
-Timely theme as my thermometer shows 101F
Thanks to Amie for her vertical-themed puzzle! The PSI X PSA crossing was fun. We also had PDA in there.
COLD PLUNGE -- jumping into a mountain lake in the Sierras. It will steal your breath!
My school did not have a MATH TEAM but I later "coached" the MATH TEAM when I taught Jr. High math. I used the quotes because those kids were amazing without my help. So fun to listen to them talk excitedly about the problems on the bus ride home.
Misty @ 2:22. OREOs & OUZO. You might be on to something!
Picard @ 11:51. I'm happy to hear they were able to repair your retina. Take it easy.
-T. Thanks for the fun recap! It's good that you have this outlet for that random sketch trivia rolling around in your brain. FAV: UTES video
= )
BTW, did DW find the Japan Hello Kitty book helpful?
I liked the theme even though I was not familiar with the phrase NETFLIX AND CHILL.
Wrinkled my nose at:
"My word!": EGAD
"Ew, whyyy": UGH
"Yikes": OOF.
There are other nits I could pick but I won't. Otherwise it was a satisfying puzzle.
Good reading you all.
Anon-T, there s no PER in PSI in order to IRK IM with another TLW.
Thought it was hard for a Tuesday. Eventually FIR but got stuck on Serb for Slav for awhile
In young people's vernacular - NETFLIX AND CHILL means getting together at someone's house or apartment - watching/streaming a movie or bingewatching a series and engaging in sexual activity. It started before COVID but became popular when everyone was stuck at home.
It could be in a steady relationship (or even marriage) or a casual hook up
Inanehiker: sounds like an interesting take on multitasking. Much like my college GF who could smoke, chew gum, and make out 💋 all at the same time and often I felt in that order of importance 😲
Thank you for the kind comment, Sumdaze. Wish we could get together at a party one of these days. Wouldn't that be fun!
Professor M wrote. "Anon-T, there's no PER in PSI in order to IRK IM with another TLW."
Unless the metric people have changed something in France (again), PSI unpacks to Pounds per Square Inch, but this is probably not enough to get the lady's Irish up.
What fun reading all your diverse opinions! As I've heard someone say "Is this a great country or what?" Yes, it is! We can agree or disagree and still be friends!
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