17. Mole: BEAUTY MARK. A
benign (non-cancerous) growth on the skin, often appearing as a small,
dark spot. It is formed by clusters of pigment-producing cells called
melanocytes, and can be brown, tan, black, blue, red, or pink. I've had
one on my left cheek forever. It does not make me feel pretty.
23. Mole: SLEEPER AGENT. A
sleeper agent is a spy or operative who infiltrates a target country or
organization, living undercover for an extended period, often years, to
act as a potential asset if activated in the future. A mole is a
person who works for an organization or government and secretly gives
information to its competitor or enemy. These are related ideas of
someone working under cover, but not really identical.
37. Mole: UNIT OF SUBSTANCE. It's the base
unit in the International System of Units (SI) for the amount of a
substance, representing 6.022 × 10²³ of elementary entities (atoms,
molecules, etc.). of that substance (Avogadro's number). It is used to
express the concentration of substances in solutions (moles per liter).
The molecular weight of a substance is the weight of one mole of
molecules.
59. Mole: GARDEN PEST. A
small, burrowing mammal with velvety fur, small eyes and ears, and
powerful forelimbs adapted for digging. Moles live in tunnels
underground, primarily in North America, Europe, and Asia. They are
insectivores, feeding on earthworms and other small invertebrates.
They aerate the soil and help control insect populations, while messing
up your lawn.
48. Mole: MEXICAN SAUCE.
In contemporary Mexico the term is used for a number of sauces, some
quite dissimilar. They can contain fruits, nuts, chili peppers, and
spices like black pepper, cinnamon, or cumin.
Hi
Gang, JazzBumpa here to disambiguate the various meanings of today's
repeated theme clue. Let's see what else we can uncover.
1. Maker of the first graphing calculator: CASIO. This was the model FX-7000G, introduced in 1985.
6. Mediterranean volcano: ETNA. This is an active volcano that erupted just last month.
6. Mediterranean volcano: ETNA. This is an active volcano that erupted just last month.
10. Tournament passes: BYES. In a tournament, a "bye" means a player or team advances to the next round without playing a match in the current round, often awarded to top-seeded participants or when there's an uneven number of competitors.
14. Acrylic fiber: ORLON. My first thought was Nylon, but that's a polyamid. Orlon is known for it's known for its softness, durability, and resistance to sunlight, chemicals, and mildew. Alternatively, an R&B group that formed in 1960.
Probably not 1960
15. Blistex targets: LIPS. Blistex Medicated Lip Balm helps prevent dryness and chapping. They tell us that its easy glide formula also soothes irritated lips.
16. Goddess born to the Titans Coeus and Phoebe: LETO. In Greek mythology, Leto is the Titan goddess of motherhood, childbirth, and modesty. She is the mother of Artemis and Apollo,
19. Lots and lots: A TON. A non-specific large quantity.
20. Wager: BET. Risk something, usually a sum of money, against someone else's on the basis of the outcome of a future event, such as the result of a race or game.
21. Declare with confidence: AVER. Assert that something is true.
22. Pressing into service: USING. Taking, holding, or deploying something as a means of accomplishing a purpose or achieving a result;
27. Not as expensive: LESS. Not costing as much.
28. "U slay me!": LOL. Expressions of mirth.
29. Ornamental pond fish: KOI. In Japan, the koi is a symbol of luck, prosperity, and good fortune, and also of perseverance in the face of adversity. Ornamental koi are symbolic of Japanese culture and are closely associated with the country's national identity.
32. 6-Across output: LAVA. Molten rock. Refer to the video above.
35. Pines, e.g.: CONIFERS. Trees that bear cones and needle-like or scale-like leaves that are typically evergreen. Conifers are of major importance as the source of softwood, and also supply resins and turpentine.
41. Rose up: REBELLED. Rose in opposition or armed resistance to an established government or ruler.
42. Wine quality: NOSE. The "nose" of a wine is the wine's aroma or smell. It's a term used by wine experts and enthusiasts to describe the scents that come from the wine.
43. Wool producer: EWE. A female sheep.
44. Not exactly talkative: MUM. "Be silent," 1560s, from a verb mum (Middle English mommen) "make silent" (c. 1400); "be silent" (mid-15c.), from mum, mom (late 14c.), "an inarticulate closed-mouth sound" indicative of unwillingness or inability to speak, probably imitative. As an adjective meaning "secret" or "silent" from 1520s. Phrase mum's the word is recorded by 1704.
45. "Hold on!": WAIT. I'll be right there.
53. Open mic night figure: COMIC. Stand up comedian.
56. Palo __, California: ALTO. Palo Alto (Spanish for 'tall stick') is a charter city in the northwestern corner of Santa Clara County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area, named after a coastal redwood tree known as El Palo Alto. The city of Palo Alto was incorporated in 1894 by the American industrialist Leland Stanford and his wife, Jane Stanford, when they founded Stanford University in memory of their only child, Leland Stanford Jr.
57. Skillet: PAN. A skillet is a type of pan, often called a frying pan, characterized by a flat bottom, slightly sloped or flared sides, and a long handle, making it suitable for various cooking methods like frying, sautéing, and searing.
58. North __ Sea: Central Asian lake: ARAL. The Aral Sea was an endorheic [has no outflow to the sea or ocean, instead, water is lost primarily through evaporation or seepage into the ground] lake lying between Kazakhstan to its north and Uzbekistan to its south, which began shrinking in the 1960s and had largely dried up into desert by the 2010s. It was in the Aktobe and Kyzylorda regions of Kazakhstan and the Karakalpakstan autonomous region of Uzbekistan. The North Aral Sea is the portion of the former Aral Sea that is fed by the Syr Darya River. It split from the South Aral Sea in 1987–1988 as water levels dropped due to river diversion for agriculture.
62. Demolish: RAZE. Completely destroy a building, town, or other site. Etymologically "to scratch, slash, scrape, erase," from Old French raser "to scrape, shave," from Medieval Latin rasare.
63. Advantage: EDGE. An improved position or advantage in some sort of competition.
64. Soeur de la mére: TANTE. The clue indicates the mother's sister. The fill indicates a mature or elderly woman who is related or well known to the speaker (often used as a respectful form of address). None of tis was known to me.
65. Cold drafts: ALES. Move away from the window and enjoy one sitting by the fire.
66. Once in a blue __: MOON. Rarely. Alternatively, a wheat beer brewed with tangerine peel. Not an ale.
67. General delivery?: ORDER. Hmmm. An authoritative command issued by a high ranking military officer.
Down:
1. Some hearty salads: COBBS. An American garden salad typically made with chopped salad greens (authentically romaine lettuce), tomato, bacon, chicken breast, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, chives, blue cheese or other cheeses and red wine vinaigrette.
2. Staggering: AREEL. Walking unsteadily - perhaps from too many ales.
3. Roof option: SLATE. A roof made of natural stone tiles
4. Letters for debtors: IOU. A phonetic acronym of the words "I owe you," that is a document that acknowledges the existence of a debt.
5. Recorded: ON TAPE. In the language, but probably anachronistic by now. Does anybody actually record on tape these days?
6. Big name in glue: ELMER'S. Elmer's Products, Inc. or simply Elmer's, is an American-based company that has a line of adhesive, craft, home repair, and office supply products.
7. Diadem: TIARA. Each is jeweled head band. A diadem can also be more crown- like, symbolizing royalty.
8. "Fresh Air" airer: NPR. National Public Radio.
9. "That's a pretty big __": ASK. Something you request someone to do that will be difficult for them.
10. Really fun time: BLAST. An enjoyable experience or lively party.
11. Himalayan recluse: YETI. A mythical creature that's said to live in the Himalayan mountains.
12. Historic English school: ETON. Eton College is a public
school providing boarding education for boys aged 13–18, in the small
town of Eton, in Berkshire, in the United Kingdom. It has educated prime
ministers, world leaders, Nobel laureates, Academy Award and BAFTA
award-winning actors, and generations of the aristocracy, and has been
referred to as "the nurse of England's statesmen"
13. "Call Me" or "Call Me Maybe": SONG.
13. "Call Me" or "Call Me Maybe": SONG.
18. __ Saint Laurent: YVES. Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-Laurent 1936 – 2008)better known as Yves Saint Laurent or YSL, was a French fashion designer who, in 1962, founded his eponymous fashion label. He is regarded as being among the foremost fashion designers of the twentieth century.
24. Absolutely delight: ELATE. Make someone ecstatically happy.
25. Goopy lump: GLOB. An amorphous and possibly sticky mass.
29. Lotto game: KENO. Keno is a lottery-like gambling game often played at modern casinos, and also offered as a game in some lotteries.
30. Middle-earth menaces: ORCS.
31. "Understood": I SEE. Got it.
32. Fishing aid: LURE. An artificial bait, often made of plastic or metal, designed to attract fish by mimicking prey or triggering their instincts, and is used to catch fish during angling
33. Once more: ANEW. Starting over.
34. General feeling: VIBE. The overall feeling, atmosphere, or energy of a place, person, or situation, often used to describe a positive or negative feeling or mood.
35. Bovine mouthful: CUD. Partly digested food returned from the first stomach of ruminants to the mouth for further chewing.
36. Crush alternative: FANTA. Fanta is an American-owned brand of fruit-flavored carbonated soft drinks. Crush is a brand of carbonated soft drinks owned and marketed internationally by Keurig Dr Pepper, originally created as an orange soda, Orange Crush. Crush competes with Coca-Cola's Fanta.
38. Early Mesoamerican civilization: OLMEC. he Olmec were an ancient Mesoamerican civilization that flourished in the Gulf Coast states of Veracruz and Tabasco, modern-day Mexico, between roughly 1200 and 400 BCE. The Olmec are often considered the "mother culture" of Mesoamerica because their practices and beliefs influenced later civilizations like the Maya and Aztec.
39. __ capacitor: "Back to the Future" device: FLUX. A piece of technology in the 1985 time-travel film Back to the Future and its sequels. Although it's described as the thing that makes time travel possible, the precise mechanism it works by isn't ever explained. It's a bit of fun sci-fi technobabble made up of two pieces of genuine scientific terminology. In physics, flux is the amount of something (like electricity) that’s passing through a given object’s surface and a capacitor is a device that stores electronic charge.
40. Final Four game: SEMI. The two winners advance to the final, to determine the champion.
45. Thoreau work subtitled "Life in the Woods": WALDEN. An 1854 book by American transcendentalist writer Henry David Thoreau. The text is a reflection upon the author's simple living in natural surroundings. The work is part personal declaration of independence, social experiment, voyage of spiritual discovery, satire, and—to some degree—a manual for self-reliance
46. Stake: ANTE. The initial wager in a poker game.
47. Can't be fooled by: IS ON TO. Has it figured out.
48. Marathon units: MILES. A unit of linear measure equal to 1,760 yards (approximately 1.609 kilometres).
49. __ pants: CARGO. Loosely cut pants originally designed for rough work environments and outdoor activities, distinguished by numerous large utility pockets for carrying tools.
50. Overturn: UPEND. Turn something over so that it ends up upside down; alternatively, to abolish, invalidate, or reverse a previous system, decision, situation, etc.
51. Isabel Wilkerson book that inspired the Ava DuVernay film "Origin": CASTE. A nonfiction book by the American journalist Isabel Wilkerson, published in August 2020 by Random House. The book describes racism in the United States as an aspect of a caste system—a society-wide system of social stratification characterized by notions such as hierarchy, inclusion and exclusion, and purity.
52. "Come in!": ENTER. Go into a building or other structure.
53. "Scars to Your Beautiful" singer Alessia: CARA. Alessia Caracciolo, known professionally as Alessia Cara, is a Canadian singer and songwriter who was discovered on YouTube at age 13 for her covers and impressions of artists like Lorde and Alanis Morissette. She has won 25 awards out of 74 nominations, including being Canada's first Grammy winner for Best New Artist. Cara is known for encouraging support for real music and artists.
54. Spoken: ORAL. As opposed to written.
55. Puzzle with paths: MAZE. a network of paths and hedges designed as a puzzle through which one has to find a way.
59. Peridot, for one: GEM. A precious or sometimes semiprecious stone cut and polished for ornament
60. Fuss: ADO. And now, without further ----
61. __ for the course: PAR. An average or normal amount or result; just what one might expect. This term comes from golf, where it refers to the number of strokes needed by an expert golfer to finish the entire course.
That finishes another Wednesday. Hope you enjoyed the adventure.
Cool Regards!
JzB
Actually, one of my
ReplyDeletefavorite kinds of CW puzzles. A word used in many different ways. It kind of gave me pause when one across was a complete unknown, but then it seemed to settle down to its paces fairly well. FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
ReplyDeleteThank you, C.C., for jumping into the fray when JzB's writeup was conspicuous in its absence. This was a nice romp with a gettable theme. Of course, we crossword fans know that Donald was the most famous OLMEC. Nice debut, Tara. I hope we see more entries from you.
Today it's off once again for that annual physical. The earliest appt I could get was 12:30 -- that means a long fast this morning. Ugh.
FIR with no erasure, thanks to my lucky guess at TANTE x CASTE.
ReplyDeleteI had to think about the theme 22.4 times before I got it.
All the MOLEs are homophones, except the Mexican one. MOLE is Spanish for "sauce," I think, making MOLE sauce a little like shrimp scampi. But I wouldn't want MOLE on my shrimp.
Guess COBB salad is the IT clue/fill these days. Not yet as trite as the famous baseball player, but headed that direction.
When the insurance agent asked me how old my roof was, I told him it was around 100 years old. He replied "SLATE, huh?" (Come to think of it, didn't we have SLATE yesterday as a shade of gray?)
Thanks to Tara for the perp-friendly challenge. My favorite was "Crush alternative" for FANTA. My least favorite was the literary and mythological stuff.
I guess I never realized that “mole” had so many different meanings, I know it is a BEAUTY MARK and a GARDEN PEST, and a spy, but never heard the term SLEEPER AGENT, the other two themers were unknown. CASTE/TANTE was my Natick, the T a WAG for my final fill for the FIR in a tick under 10. The clue for TANTE has to be in the top ten for worst of the month. Needed perps for OLMEC, LETO, and CARA. When I worked in Boston, my daily commute took me right by WALDEN pond. Thank you for today’s puzzle Tara, congrats on your LAT debut.
ReplyDeleteIf more Cornerites had studied French (ou Frawnche) in school TANTE would have been a gimme. La plume de ma tante est sur la table is/was a phrase used in teaching the language. I agree definition puzzles are fun, but it is a challenge to find four or five definitions for a word. One of my s-i-ls names all he pet dogs FANTA which is a popular soda in Thailand. Did not know CASTE or CARR as clued but the perps were generous. Thank you, Tara, enjoying your plantation in Georgia? JzB you are the best
ReplyDeleteLemony, I'll have you know that I studied French in first and second grade. I still didn't know TANTE, but I can still sing Frere Jacques.
DeleteTook 6:04 today to play whack-a-mole.
ReplyDeleteAnd since not all Cornerites have studied French/Frawnche, tante - and every other word in the clue - was far from a gimme. Like YooperPhil & Jinx, I had to guess at that intersection with the book. "Olmec" was all perps for me.
Constructor here - "whack-a-mole" was my working title the whole time I was building this puzzle :)
DeleteFIR. I had to take a WAG at the crossing of caste and tante, but it was somewhat educated. I momentarily forgot my childhood French which I spoke till I was 5 years old.
ReplyDeleteI liked the theme; it was fun trying to suss out different types of moles.
Overall an enjoyable puzzle.
Good morning. A very easy puzzle today, I had to guess to get the cross of CASTE and TANTE. I bought CASIO calculators for the office but not graphing types-DNK. CARA and the song were both unknowns.
ReplyDeleteAfter BEAUTY MARK and SLEEPER AGENT the theme was easy. UNIT OF SUBSTANCE for Avogadro's number had me scratching. Molecular weight in grams. Back to the old chemistry days with molar and molal concentrations.
Wow! Is it Monday already? Very few unknowns and easy crosses.
ReplyDeleteI note the ratio of Spanish clues we get to French (and others) roughly equates to their percentage of the American population. Many times more Spanish clues than others.
JazzBumpa, this is the most detailed write-up I've ever seen. You managed to uncover a fact for every single clue! With crosswords, I learn something new every day. Unfortunately, as my name implies, I forget them almost as fast!
I like definition or CLECHO puzzles. It is fun to watch á single word being defined so many ways. I was familiar with all the definitions. My only unknown this morning was CASTES. Of course I knew TANTE since I am one.
ReplyDeleteIndeed á thorough recap from JzB.
Tara, you provided us with a pleasant challenge today. Never would I have guessed that the word "mole" was so ubiquitous. But all the moles in the puzzle are legitimate, including the one that is pronounced with two syllables, and that's because it's a Spanish word that many of us know.
ReplyDeleteWhich brings me to 64 Across, which is a French word. I have little sympathy with those who whine about such crossword entries. I lived in Paris for a couple years, and did their crosswords, which were obviously in French. Well, guess what--there would often be an entry that was in, say, English or German or Italian.
Our world's languages are enriched by their welcoming and incorporating foreign words into their tongue. I was living in France when "weekend" was making inroads into the French language, and the big decision they had to make was whether it was going to be "une weekend" or "un weekend."
"Mere" or "soeur" or "tante" are perhaps not likely to enter our language, but one should not be afraid of them. Americans every day use dozens of words that are French or Spanish or you-name-it.
Thanks, Tara, for a refreshing, fun, and Wednesday-appropriate crossword. Hope to see a return engagement! And thanks to C.C. and JazzBumpa for the double-team recap.
How about a compromise - let's ask authors world-wide to stick with language from countries with which they share a common currency. That way the Eurozone could have full-flavored mixes of tongues, while Americans could solve with words we actually use. After all, it's taken us 250 years to enhance English into the utile vocabulary that we enjoy today :-)
DeleteMusings
ReplyDelete-We were a primitive Little House On The Prairie this morning as the blizzard blew a transformer and we had no power. We’re back up but it’s amazing what you get used to!
-I enjoyed Tara’s puzzle that even had two uncommon uses of MOLE
-One of those uncommon uses was MOLES of matter that perplexed me in chemistry class
-The ORLONS’ Watusi brightened up my snowy day where I’ll have a TON of snow to blow!
-RAZE and Raise, like cleave and sanction, are Janus words that are antonyms depending on usage
-AREEL seems to be one of those “any port in a storm” words
-ON TAPE – Some coaches still talk of watching "film" to assess a game
-Some female athletic teams made some clever videos using Call Me Maybe
-Also, C.C. once posted that she liked Carly's fun song.
-The KENO games in our town contribute big money to the community
-My CARGO pants have removable lower legs which is helpful when you are trying to make PAR on a day that starts in the 40’s but winds up in the 70’s.
-FWIW, I originally bought those pants so I could go into churches in Rome and later walk around in the Italian sun!
Desper-otto's thank you CC made me do a double take of the write up. Hmm, starts with Jzb, ends with Jzb... I can only assume the entire write up was tardy?
ReplyDeleteCaste crossing tante was a total Natick, and yet, somehow, the "T" was my first, and only WAG, hmm...
Record on tape? Yes, bygone technology. I always wonder what future archaeologists will think when they dig up a vinyl record...
(Ever see the comic showing a pic of rooftop TV antennas on every house with archaeologists ruminating that they must be religious symbols...:)
Anywho, reminded me of Mr Carlsons Lab, where you get to tear into old electronics for fun. He recently dug up a mysterious device that recorded voices on metal wire!?!. (I had no idea!) it's 40+ minutes of deep diving into the past if interested.
Orlon again? Since we had it yesterday, I auto penned it. (No political reference intended)
Fanta? The guilty pleasure of my Yoot!
Some 40+ years later, my guilt was increased when I discovered it was created by the Nazis! I kid you not. (Don't research Bayer Aspirin origins if you believe ignorance is bliss...)
And finally, no discussion of moles would be complete without Austin Powers and The Mole in Dr. evils organisation.
Pretty quick FIR this morning, thanks to a lucky WAG in the SE corner. Not bad, for a mid-week effort. I had always thought that a diadem was the gem on a tiara, not the tiara itself?
ReplyDeleteA very enjoyable puzzle, Tara, and a much appreciated detailed and informative review JzB and C.C.
ReplyDeleteblob/GLOB, tons/ATON, usurp/UPEND, and high school chemistry, a long forgotten memory, did not help me with UNIT OF SUBSTANCE.
Did anyone see”Will Trent” Tuesday night? In reference to yesterday’s puzzle by Caroline Hand and reviewed by Ha2Lah. I really laughed out loud when a male character, on seeing a beautifully dress woman, said “Totally SMOKE SHOW”.
Happy day, all!
Yes, ParSan, I got a kick out of that coincidence, too. My favorite part of Will Trent is when Betty is showcased. Will’s new romance is going nowhere, IMO, because he still loves Angie!
DeleteHi All!
ReplyDeleteThanks Tara for the fun puzzle and congrats on a wonderful debut.
Thanks JzB for the in-depth recap.
WOs: Birth->BEAUTY, bLOB
ESPs: ORLON, OLMEC, CARA, TANTE | CASTE
Fav: FANTA [Fluffy 0:56]
Runner-up: FLUX Capacitor
The first graphing calculator I had was the HP-28s in 1988 but I knew that couldn't be 1a.
CED beat me to Austin Powers' MOLE with two of today's meanings.
Avogadro's MOLE was the key to Chemistry class solutions (both meanings ;-)).
I enjoyed reading everyone this morning!
Cheers, -T
64-Across, Sœur de la mère = Sister of the mother, or mother's sister. In other words, Aunt, which in French is Tante.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea, thanks for enlightening me, I thought “de la mere” meant something like “in the water” 🤷♂️😂
DeleteYP, "de la mer" is "from the sea." You were not far off.
DeleteThey say you're never supposed to read the comments section, but you all are so lovely! Thanks for the encouraging feedback on my debut puzzle :)
ReplyDeleteWelcome Tara!
DeleteThanks for joining us here, Tara. We love it when the constructor pops in.
DeleteIt was á pleasure solving your puzzle today.
DeleteHola! I'm on hold with a phone call but it's been a while so I'll take my chances that I can finish this post. Thanks to Tara Holland (my late friend Ann Marie's surname) for an easy puzzle. I was surprised to see Mexican MOLE` which is not pronounced like the others. I know TANTE only because I've encountered it in books I've read. My first glimpse of KOI fish was at a hotel in Hawaii then later at a friend's home in New York.
ReplyDeleteOLMEC crossing MEXICAN SAUCE is interesting. I wonder how many people who don't live in the Southwest are familiar with OLMEC.
Have a wonderful day, everyone!
Lucina, I had never heard of OLMEC, but was introduced to it in a CW here (Sept 20/22) with an informative link given posted by Hahtoolah.
DeleteDelightful Wednesday puzzle, many thanks, Tara--and thank you so much for checking in with us on the day of your debut! And JazzB and C.C. your commentaries are always a pleasure, thanks for your help today too.
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw TIARA I was prepared for a fancy party in this puzzle with maybe a bit of romance if those LIPS were going to LURE people at the party to do any kissing. We could walk around those CONIFERS and check out the KOI fish in the pond, and hear the birds singing a SONG in the midst of this ORAL MAZE.
Finding a GEM would be an additional delight, and later we could sit under the MOON and enjoy some ALES. With all that I'd say this puzzle gave us a potentially delightful VIBE.
Have a good rest of the day, everybody, and thanks again, Tara.
Hi Everyone:
ReplyDeleteLate to the dance due to appointments and a trip to the grocery store. Like others, I find definition puzzles fun and I’m always anxious to discover the author’s particular expression of the various meanings of the theme word. I think coming up with five distinctly different definitions is quite a feat, especially since the grid quality was not adversely affected. Cara and Caste, as clued, were the only unknowns, but perps were fair, so no foul and Tante was easily remembered from HS French and also from Monkey’s earlier screen name.
Thanks, Tara, and congrats on your debut and glad you stopped by, and thanks, JazzB, for a most thorough and informative review. I’m convinced that you could analyze a telephone book (if such a relic still existed) and still be interesting. 😉
FLN
sumdaze, glad you enjoyed the puppy day care shenanigans. I referred several nieces to the article and three responded as such:
Ann: I’m obsessed! I want her job.
Kathy: So cute. I think I missed my calling!
Michele: So cute. Maybe I should start one in retirement.
(Kathy’s brother owns a doggie day care business, Tiny Tails).
Have a great day.
Wonderful Wednesday. Thanks for the fun, Tara and JazzB.
ReplyDeleteI FIRed in good time, and saw all the MOLEs.
We are an H, J, and Q short of a pangram.
One inkblot to change Keys (no, that’s Alicia) to CARA. How could this Canadian not have thought of her first? But I didn’t know Carly Rae Jepson.
“Soeur de la mere” =TANTE was well-known to this Canadian who had 4 years of high school French. I had no Spanish classes, but have learned basic words like Tia, Senorita, Senor, Senora in my travels, reading, or CW solving.
Like Big Easy, I remember molar concentrations from Chemistry classes.
AVER filled with perps, and I didn’t have to decide between it and avow.
I noted RAZE crossing MAZE.
We had a Blood MOON during the lunar eclipse on March 14, but blue MOONs are rarer.
Wishing you all a great day.
I'm Canadian, too (from Quebec, to boot ;).
DeleteOh, I am overjoyed to be joined here by a fellow-Canadian.
DeleteI liked this puzzle for all the reasons you all mentioned. I also always enjoy reading JzB's explanations.
ReplyDeleteThanx TH for a clever, very doable Wednesday CW. I very much enjoyed working your CW, and managed to FIR in 12. 15 names, 7 DNKs. Kinda surprised I DNK "OLMEC". Thanx too to JzB for the truly outstanding write-up.
ReplyDeleteAnon ~ you write a lot like Uncle Fred 😂
DeleteThanks and congratulations to Tara! FAV was the clue for SONG.
ReplyDeleteRemembering Monkey's former handle gave me the 2nd T in TANTE.
Thanks to JZB for his thorough recap! You helped me to see why ORDER worked. Thanks, also, for the Blondie and CARA videos.
I don't know how it's possible that comments can be posted at such diverse times: Anonymous@2:10 PM, YooperPHil@4:36 PM and sumdze@2:56PM.
ReplyDeleteI'm very late because my family was here cleaning my home! I love them so much for doing that and I never asked them to do it, however, they obviously have seen my diminishing capacity in that area. It's embarrassing but also the result of aging and I'm grateful to have such a caring family.
Lucina - Yooper Phil replied @4:36pm to Anonymous’ post @2:10pm. But sumdaze had already posted (as a new post) @2:56pm. The indented posts (at least they show that way on my iPad) are Replies, and can be at any time.
Delete