Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, everyone!
Theme: A Wrench in the Works
Constructor Susan Gelfand throws a few wrenches into today's puzzleworks, hopefully bringing a smile to the faces of DIYers. Here are her four themers:
17 Across. Ocular opening: EYE SOCKET.
23 Across. Rum and vodka cocktail: BRASS MONKEY.
35 Across. Actress who played dance teacher Lydia Grant on "Fame": DEBBIE ALLEN.
49 Across. Muffler attachment on a car: EXHAUST PIPE.
Next, the reveal:
59 Across. Good gift for a handy homeowner, and what the ends of 17-, 23-, 35-, and 49-Across are?: WRENCH SET. Socket, monkey, Allen, and pipe are all types of wrenches. Together, they make a set of wrenches.
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| (l to r) socket wrench, monkey wrench, Allen wrench, and pipe wrench |
Across:
1. Famous __ cookies: AMOS. AMOS is almost as famous for being in crossword puzzles as he is for his cookies.
5. Iranian currency: RIAL. As of this writing, one US dollar is worth 42,000 Iranian RIALs. A gallon of regular milk costs 101,000.56 ﷼ in Iran. That is about $2.40.
5. Iranian currency: RIAL. As of this writing, one US dollar is worth 42,000 Iranian RIALs. A gallon of regular milk costs 101,000.56 ﷼ in Iran. That is about $2.40.
9. Hopping mad: IRATE. 
14. Daddy: PAPA.
Also...I know that some of you listen to NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! and are familiar with panelist Tom PAPA. Here is 45 sec. of his stand-up comedy routine. (I've heard him on the show for years but I never knew what he looked like until today.)
15. Poker starting stake: ANTE.
16. Parcels (out): DOLES.
19. Accumulate: AMASS.
20. Like a marching band, hopefully: IN STEP. Who doesn't love a marching band?! Generally speaking, a band marches at 120 beats per minute. Each step is about 1.5 ft. long. Therefore, it takes them roughly half an hour to go 1 mile.
15. Poker starting stake: ANTE.
16. Parcels (out): DOLES.
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| Can someone please help DOLE out these cans of pineapple? |
19. Accumulate: AMASS.
20. Like a marching band, hopefully: IN STEP. Who doesn't love a marching band?! Generally speaking, a band marches at 120 beats per minute. Each step is about 1.5 ft. long. Therefore, it takes them roughly half an hour to go 1 mile.
21. Peak in the Cascade Range: SHASTA. Scientists think Mt. Shasta last erupted 3,200 years ago. This NASA page has some interesting information about Mt. Shasta, along with two very cool photos taken from the ISS.
22. Proposal fig.: EST. "Fiancé" was too long.
"Figure" is abbreviated, so is "estimate".
26. Some cars and trucks made in the early 1900s: REOs. The REO Motor Car Company Plant in Lansing, MI was a National Historic Landmark from 1978 to 1985. National Park Service website with several old photos
28. Dinner and a movie, perhaps: DATE. 15 DATE night ideas for seniors (Just saying...)
29. Sponsored spots: ADS. advertisements
30. Stinks: REEKS.
32. V, on a battery: VOLTS. and 50 Down. Battery part: ANODE.
39. Stands in line: WAITS. Here's a flashback to 1981.
26. Some cars and trucks made in the early 1900s: REOs. The REO Motor Car Company Plant in Lansing, MI was a National Historic Landmark from 1978 to 1985. National Park Service website with several old photos
28. Dinner and a movie, perhaps: DATE. 15 DATE night ideas for seniors (Just saying...)
29. Sponsored spots: ADS. advertisements
30. Stinks: REEKS.
32. V, on a battery: VOLTS. and 50 Down. Battery part: ANODE.
39. Stands in line: WAITS. Here's a flashback to 1981.
Foreigner ~ Waiting for a Girl Like You
40. French pancake: CREPE.
43. Guys: HES. plural of the third person singular pronoun
46. Drawn tight: TAUT.
48. Share a border with: ABUT.
54. Patient care pros: RNs. Registered Nurses are professionals.
55. Song sung by sailors: SHANTY. The video below is an example of a sea shanty. This group's story was told in the movie Fisherman's Friends (2019). Clips from the movie are sprinkled in this video. If you like the feelings in this song, you should watch the movie.
56. Capital of Oman: MUSCAT.
58. Diviner's deck: TAROT. A diviner is a person who predicts the future by magical, intuitive, or other means.
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| Do you usually order a sweet or savory crepe ... or both? |
43. Guys: HES. plural of the third person singular pronoun
46. Drawn tight: TAUT.
48. Share a border with: ABUT.
54. Patient care pros: RNs. Registered Nurses are professionals.
55. Song sung by sailors: SHANTY. The video below is an example of a sea shanty. This group's story was told in the movie Fisherman's Friends (2019). Clips from the movie are sprinkled in this video. If you like the feelings in this song, you should watch the movie.
56. Capital of Oman: MUSCAT.
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| a very strategic location |
62. Skip over in speech: ELIDE. Certain sounds are skipped over to make the language easier and faster to say. Some examples are "I dunno" for "I don't know"; "kamra" for "camera"; and "fish 'n' chips" for "fish and chips".
63. Merit: EARN.
64. Green pod that thickens gumbo: OKRA.
65. Direct elsewhere: REFER.
66. Crafter's online marketplace: ETSY.
67. Yellow jacket, for one: WASP.
Down:
63. Merit: EARN.
64. Green pod that thickens gumbo: OKRA.
65. Direct elsewhere: REFER.
66. Crafter's online marketplace: ETSY.
67. Yellow jacket, for one: WASP.
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| They are considered beneficial insects because they kill other insects that are harmful to plants -- sort of a natural (and more selective) pesticide. |
1. Bonobo or gibbon: APE. 
2. "Can you please show me?": MAY I SEE.
3. Like most sandals: OPEN-TOED. not recommended for cyclists
4. Back talk: SASS.
5. Indy entrant: RACER. race car driver
6. Stamping need: INK PAD.
7. Noshed: ATE.
8. "__ the good times roll!": LET.
2. "Can you please show me?": MAY I SEE.
3. Like most sandals: OPEN-TOED. not recommended for cyclists
5. Indy entrant: RACER. race car driver
6. Stamping need: INK PAD.
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| this kind of stamping |
8. "__ the good times roll!": LET.
The Cars ~ Good Times Roll ~ (1978)
9. State known for potatoes: IDAHO. NPR's Planet Money recently did a story about Idaho potato farmers and NAFTA as an example of how pest regulations are sometimes used as a "sneaky form of economic protectionism". I would not label this as "political" since every country does it to some extent. It is more of a reality check on how trade works after the politicians get their pictures in the newspapers. Here is a link to the podcast and transcript, for those who are interested in these types of economic issues. It is about a 30-min. read.
10. Times New __: common font: ROMAN. We use the Georgia font here on The Corner but I changed this one to Times. a brief history
11. Baked __: dessert covered with meringue: ALASKA.
12. Tried out: TESTED. I tried out most of the recipes in that cookbook but I cannot remember ever making Baked Alaska. I was never much of a cake person and I don't think my family was keen on meringue.
13. Literature class assignments: ESSAYS.
18. Wagering site, briefly: OTB. Off Track Betting
10. Times New __: common font: ROMAN. We use the Georgia font here on The Corner but I changed this one to Times. a brief history
11. Baked __: dessert covered with meringue: ALASKA.
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| This is a picture of a recipe for Baked Alaska in my first cookbook. I was 5-years old. I 'was good' at my doctor's appointment so my mom let me choose a book at the bookstore nearby. I chose this one -- probably because there was a cat on every page. |
12. Tried out: TESTED. I tried out most of the recipes in that cookbook but I cannot remember ever making Baked Alaska. I was never much of a cake person and I don't think my family was keen on meringue.
13. Literature class assignments: ESSAYS.
18. Wagering site, briefly: OTB. Off Track Betting
National Problem Gambling Help Line
21. Aroma: SMELL.
22. Make a boo-boo: ERR.
24. Builds a nest egg: SAVES UP. Here is a time-lapse video of a chickadee building an egg nest. You can see the entrance hole on the left. Also, when the fledglings start to leave, look on the right hand side for an insert view of the outside of the nest. The camera actually catches the fledglings leaving.
21. Aroma: SMELL.
22. Make a boo-boo: ERR.
24. Builds a nest egg: SAVES UP. Here is a time-lapse video of a chickadee building an egg nest. You can see the entrance hole on the left. Also, when the fledglings start to leave, look on the right hand side for an insert view of the outside of the nest. The camera actually catches the fledglings leaving.
25. Greek portico: STOA. Def: (noun) an ancient Greek porch-like structure, usually walled at the back with a front colonnade designed to afford a sheltered promenade.
27. Distort, as data: SKEW.
31. Agcy. that helps entrepreneurs: SBA. Agency and Small Business Administration
33. Pampering initials: TLC. Tender Loving Care
Elvis Presley singing Love Me Tender with TLC on the Ed Sullivan Show (1956)
34. "Buona __": Italian "Good evening": SERA. 
36. Teensy: BITSY. and 59 Down. Tiny: WEE.
37. "Let's just leave __ that!": IT AT.
38. Lincoln's locale: NEBRASKA. Illinois also has eight letters and is known as the "Land of Lincoln", but this time we needed the city of Lincoln.
36. Teensy: BITSY. and 59 Down. Tiny: WEE.
37. "Let's just leave __ that!": IT AT.
38. Lincoln's locale: NEBRASKA. Illinois also has eight letters and is known as the "Land of Lincoln", but this time we needed the city of Lincoln.
CSO to Husker Gary!
41. Football players often needed in fourth-down plays: PUNTERS. Another option would be kickERS -- if they want to go for a field goal.
42. Aliens, for short: ETs.
43. Prynne of "The Scarlet Letter": HESTER. Hester Prynne is the protagonist of this 1850 Nathaniel Hawthorne novel. She has a child out of wedlock and is condemned by her Puritan community. She must wear a letter A on her bodice as a reminder of her sin of adultery.
44. Breathe out: EXHALE. I do this about half the time.
45. "Doctor Zhivago" actor Omar: SHARIF.
47. Stopwatches: TIMERS.
51. Say out loud: UTTER.
52. Like groan-inducing jokes: PUNNY.
53. Key to exit a program: ESC.
57. Grub: CHOW. not a bug
60. Maze rodent: RAT. 
61. Spigot: TAP.
41. Football players often needed in fourth-down plays: PUNTERS. Another option would be kickERS -- if they want to go for a field goal.
42. Aliens, for short: ETs.
43. Prynne of "The Scarlet Letter": HESTER. Hester Prynne is the protagonist of this 1850 Nathaniel Hawthorne novel. She has a child out of wedlock and is condemned by her Puritan community. She must wear a letter A on her bodice as a reminder of her sin of adultery.
44. Breathe out: EXHALE. I do this about half the time.
45. "Doctor Zhivago" actor Omar: SHARIF.
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| from the 1965 movie Hi Lucina! |
51. Say out loud: UTTER.
52. Like groan-inducing jokes: PUNNY.
53. Key to exit a program: ESC.
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| I copied this image from -T's write up last Sunday. |
57. Grub: CHOW. not a bug
61. Spigot: TAP.
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| If your spigot stops working, you can try TAPping it with a WRENCH. |
Today's grid:
Thanks and have a great day!
11 comments:
Somebody may not be familiar with Debbie Allen. But even considering that, this puzzle was clearly another Monday “walk in the park.” FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
Tried METES where DOLES needed to go. Thought of our recent AIGHT at that ELIDE clue. Susan is a pro constructor, and today's puzzle showed it -- tight with no dreck. Enjoyed your expo sumdaze. (Methinks that chickadee entrance hole is on the right. Maybe you were thinking "stage left?")
The southland is all agog with inches (not just flurries) of snow forecast for tonight and tomorrow accompanied by sub-freezing temps. Our house is equipped with a PEX water manifold, so I've shut off all the outdoor hose bibbs (TAPS). Phil, the philodendron outside our bedroom, is not going to be happy about this weather.
Sumdaze, thanks for your usual entertaining and helpful guidance today. I believe that in your intro though, where you showed a wrench set, the second-to-the-left wrench is a crescent wrench, not a monkey wrench.
FIW, missing with HEcTER x cHANTY. DNK HESTER, but I knew S/cHANTY could be mispeled either way. Aso metes->DOLES, men->HES, and corny->PUNNY. I didn't enter REEKS incorrectly yesterday; I was just a day early.
In NY/NJ, folks stand on line.
FLN - Picard, looks to me like that dude is standing in or on glass shards and singing/rapping. I used to ride my bicycle to Venice Beach during lunch hour most days. Always something interesting and/or scary going on. (My office was on the 17th floor of the Lawrence Welk building, 100 Wilshire Blvd.)
FLN - NaomiZ, you are right. I remember to thank constructors (at least when I think the puzzle warrants,) the bloggers (they always warrant my thanks,) and CC for all she does. But I forget our chief mechanic TTP who keeps our EXHAUST PIPE intact. So thanks, TTP, for all you do.
Thanks to Susan for another fun start to the week. One small nit - a MONKEY WRENCH is just a brand of PIPE WRENCH. But at least we get a CSO to our own dear MONKEY! And thanks to sumdaze for another interesting and fun review.
“Crescent” is a brand name, commonly used in many areas as a descriptor for any adjustable wrench that looks like the one that sumdaze pictured. In Boston people refer to them as a “Wescott”, another tool manufacturer. I guess any adjustable wrench could loosely be called a MONKEY wrench, but what I think of as one more closely resembles a PIPE wrench.
For those who like an easy puzzle, today is your day! A lot of the clues and fill are standard crosswordese. Perps filled quite a bit for me, words I didn’t see till the expo, FIR in 6:34 (SS might even break 3 on this one). Thank you Susan for easing us into the CW week, and to sumdaze for your delightful review!
Took 3:39 today to get the right combination.
(Sorry, YooperPhil, for taking too long. I'll try harder.)
I didn't know today's actress (Debbie Allen), but I did ok with the Iranian currency (rial), the Italian (sera), the Greek (stoa), and well, the "Roman."
It's a role-reversal (too punny?) as crossword's (and Lucina's) favorite Omar gets his last name as the answer today.
Monday puzzle. Debbie and Hester…..not a clue. The rest was open ended.
Greet the day.
FIR. We are starting the week off with an incredibly easy puzzle. Toughest answer was Debbie Allen, but the perps made it happen in case she wasn't known.
Overall a most enjoyable Monday puzzle.
Good Morning:
As usual, Susan has given us a nice, tidy bundle of a cute, fresh theme and a clean grid with no junk and no obscurities. I saw the Wrench theme after Socket and Monkey, which helped to get Debbie Allen. Exhaust Pipe filled in easily enough, but I’m not familiar with Pipe Wrench. Needless to say, I’m not tool-savvy. No w/os, no unknowns, no complaints, just a fun and enjoyable solve.
Thanks, Susan, and thanks, sumdaze, for the delightful review, filled with facts and fun. All of the comics are great but my favorites today were: The postal worker “stamping” their feet, the poker “Auntie”, and the Garlic couple’s “bad minty” breath. The young Elvis brings back fond memories and Omar Sarif is always a welcome sight. Just ask Lucina! Lots of good “stuff”, sumdaze!
Have a great day.
Susan brought us today not only a tool primer, but also a pleasant challenge to start the week. Her puzzle struck me as well-constructed and well-clued, without an overabundance of TLWs (or annoying staples like ACAI and OREO).
Thanks, Susan, for a clean, fresh, and satisfying Monday challenge that was fun to solve.
I must run, because Monday is always my duplicate bridge day.
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