59. Keepers of the faith, and what can be found in the answers to the starred clues: RELIGIOUS LEADERS.
And, if you squint real hard, you can see a Religious figure Leading the answers.
18. *Quinta Brunson sitcom set in a school: ABBOTT ELEMENTARY. An ABBOT,
I've never seen this show but this clip popped up in my ad feed recently.
32. *First John Updike novel to feature Harry Angstrom: RABBIT RUN. A RABBI,
39. *Delivery room breathing technique: LAMAZE METHOD. A LAMA,
49. *"Get a load of me!": I'M AMAZING. And an IMAM
Walk into a bar <insert punchline here>.
I think this is Andrew's debut LAT. Congrats Andrew!
Across:
1. Feature of the UNICEF logo: GLOBE. After collecting all those dimes at Halloween, you'd think I'd have remembered the logo.
6. Spanakopita cheese: FETA.
10. Alligator abode: SWAMP.
15. Wrap sheet: SARAN.
16. Andy who coached the Chiefs to three Super Bowl wins: REID. No clue.
17. Desert retreat: OASIS. Second Thursday in a row. TTP, you had a good OASIS pick too!
18. [See: Theme]
21. Marcia's "Desperate Housewives" role: BREE. No clue. Name #2 (don't expect me to keep track like Splynter does.)
22. Track of one's tears?: DIRGE. I don't get it.
23. __ Minor: URSA. Little bear.
26. Kitchen cover-ups: APRONS.
28. Incline: RAMP.
32. [See: Theme]
34. Skateboard trick: OLLIE.
35. Pasture: LEA.
36. Extremely dry: ARID.
37. Fed. anti-mob law: RICO ACT. I loved watching Jack Webb in Dragnet (it's on MeTV @11:30p CDT). RICO - Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations.
39. [See: Theme]
42. Parting word: GOOD BYE.
44. Toast spread: OLEO.
45. Fist bump: DAP.
48. Tests: EXAMS.
49. [See: Theme]
51. Part of MSG: MONO. If you're a fan of Uncle Roger, you know this. //BTW, that's a persona he made up for YouTube but now uses it at his restaurants.
52. Hot condiment: WASABI.
54. Actress Taylor-Joy: ANYA. Name.
55. Totally aces: NAILS.
57. "NBA Today" airer: ESPN.
59. [See: Theme]
66. Totally remove: ERASE.
67. Sly chuckle: HE-HE.
68. Bar in a birdcage: PERCH.
69. Walkways: PATHS.
70. Adderall target, briefly: ADHD. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.
71. Wide variety: ARRAY.
Down:
1. Student-led support org.: GSA. Graduate Student Association - the S is in the clue.
2. Chem class: LAB.
3. Poetic 1-Across: ORB.
4. Madagascar tree: BAOBAB.
5. __'acte: ENTR.
6. Marketing gimmick: FREE PRIZE. Check your cereal boxes!
7. Long swimmer: EEL.
8. Attached, in a way: TIED ON.
9. Syst. overseer: ADMIN. My early career was network ADMIN.
10. Playlist unit: SONG.
11. Belgian site of an 1815 battle: WATERLOO. You don't want to meet yours.
12. Red __ beet: A SA.
13. Former Russian space station: MIR.
14. Social science subj.: PSY.
19. Platter with a pot, cups, and saucers: TEA TRAY.
20. Hesitant sounds: ERS.
23. Link letters: URL.
24. Singer Carly __ Jepsen: RAE.
25. Govt. funds for a mom-and-pop shop: SBA LOAN. Small Business Association
27. "I can't believe you said that!": RUDE.
29. Disney film with Jafar and Jasmine: ALADDIN.
30. Podcaster's need: MIC.
31. Touch tenderly: PET.
33. Poetic feet: IAMBS.
34. Astronaut Ellen who was the first Latina in space: OCHOA. Name #?
37. Like many of Costco's Kirkland brand products: RELABELED.
38. List in detail, in Liverpool: ITEMISE. Notice the UK spelling.
40. Reprimand: ADMONISH.
41. NYC cultural center: MOMA.
42. Aquamarine, e.g.: GEM.
43. Brand of ergonomic kitchen tools: OXO.
46. "__ luck?": ANY.
47. The Masters org.: PGA.
49. Came out with: ISSUED.
50. Diminutive related to Alex: ZANDER.
52. Nintendo console: WII.
53. Waikiki welcome: ALOHA.
56. Many moons: AGES.
58. Daddy: PAPA.
59. Sales agt.: REP.
60. Timeline stretch: ERA.
61. Delt neighbor: LAT.
62. "Quiet, please!": SHH.
63. Make a mistake: ERR.
64. Color TV pioneer: RCA. Hi Misty!
65. Bashful: SHY.
The Grid:
 |
| The Grid |
Sorry for the skinny expo today, folks. I spent the weekend catching up on worked missed whilst sick and then Monday waiting on DW to land at IAH from DFW only to have the storms turn her flight back to Dallas at 1am. Either FlightAware wasn't aware or I wasn't 'cuz I didn't figure it out unti DW texted me from Dalls. I got home around 4am.
Cheers, -T
30 comments:
I think it may take
some “cultural” knowledge to solve some of these clues, but I have no doubt many of you will be up to the task. As for me, FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
Yay, d-o actually read the full reveal clue and saw the characters at the head of the themers. WWNC. If this is a debut, methinks it's a good one. Congrats, Andrew. Thanx for the expo, Dash-T. ("Track of one's tears" -- sad song -- DIRGE.)
This puzzle just solved right along - I found out some of the perps when I came to the blog! The RELIGIOUS LEADERS came from across the spectrum of religions. So nice debut Andrew!
-D-O covered the dirge explanation. Gary & I would have the gimme with Andy REID as we are both Chiefs fans
-I started with siracha but when it didn't fit segued over to WASABI - not a fan of really hot stuff so have only tasted them
-I know OCHOA from the LPGA golfer Lorena more than astronaut Ellen
-I tried eon and aeon for ERA and AGES first
Thanks anonT for soldiering on with the blog
POPEye had nothing on me today, as I finished in 6:11.
I knew the Actress of the Day (Anya), and somehow remembered Ochoa ... once I had 3 perps filled-in.
Dirge is a sad song played at funerals, so it is a music track, ostensibly played while crying. I'm not a fan of this clue, just helping explain it.
FIR, getting my WAGS @ GLOBE x GSA and BAOBAB, and ANYA x ZANDER. I've heard of the PGA's xANDER Schauffele (short for alexANDER,) currently the third best golfer in the world, but not ZANDER. tap->DAP (whatever that is,) and tied to->TIED ON.
OK, I got BREE without benefit of perp. Where do I tender my man card?
The third verse in Pink Floyd's Breathe is:
Run, RABBIT RUN
Dig that hole, forget the sun
And when at last the work is done
Don't sit down
It's time to dig another one
"The Masters org."->PGA is a stretch. Unlike most tournaments on the PGA Tour, The Masters isn't run by the PGA Tour. (And there is a difference between PGA and PGA Tour orgs. The PGA is what your local golf pro belongs to. The PGA Tour is where the best players become rich.) The Masters Tournament is owned, run and operated by the membership of Augusta National Golf Club.
Thanks to Andrew for the fun Thursday challenge. My favorite was "track of one's tears" for DIRGE. Least favorite was the NE corner with GSA using "student" in clue and fill in an obscure org. I'm hoping that it was just another Patti gaffe from "improving" your puzzle, and not something she missed in her role as editor. And thanks to Bayou Tony for another fine review. I once took a puddle-jumper from MIA to Key West. The pilot announced that there was a thunderstorm at the end of the runway, and that we would circle for a while until it meandered along. After a while, the pilot returned to announce that we were flying back to Miami to refuel. In Miami they made us all get off the plane while they refueled, then we all got back aboard for the uneventful flight back to Key Weird. American Airlines called ahead to let the folks at EYW know what was going on, and when we arrived the rent-a-car booths were still open. (The bar was closed, so no "welcome to paradise" drink was available.)
D'Oh! A song track. I kept thinking "Trail of Tears" and, when it filled, I thought, "that's not what a DIRGE is." Thanks D-O!
FIR. The NW gave me fits until saran filled in. I've never heard of GSA so that didn't help. Baobab was also pretty cruel.
And I have issues with the clue for dirge. This seems wrong somehow. Dirge is a song track? I think not!
The theme was clever and I had no problem with the long answers at all.
So overall for a Thursday this was an OK puzzle.
I never noticed the RELIGIOUS LEADERS but I did FIR. GSA for graduate student Ass. was unknown to me, as were BREE and OCHOA. I do know of the great golfers Lorena Ochoa and Xander ( not ZANDER). Just not the astronaut.
TWO MISTAKES today, not by me, but in the clues.
1. Costco's Kirklan is not RELABELED. Those products are made specifically for Costco. If you do enough volume a mfg. will make an exclusive product to you specifications.
2. The Masters org. has nothing to do with the PGA. It is an invitational tournament run by the members of the Augusta National Club.
The US Open is run by the United States Golf Association (USGA)
The British Open is run by the Royal and Ancient.
The tournaments the pros play every week are run by the PGATour, which is not the PGA.
DFW to IAH- wouldn't it be easier to drive? No airport hassle. No weather delays or delays of any kind.
FIR in decent time. I knew practically none of the names but perps or WAGS easily took care of them. I really liked the theme and reveal. The best part of the puzzle.
I don’t understand about the RELABELing of Kirkland products. Big Easy has one theory.
I love noting coincidences. Last night I was reading the introduction to one of John Updike’s books and of course RABBIT RUN was mentioned.
Thank you Á -t for your diligent efforts and sorry for those airline delays. This time of year, using either DFW or Houston airport is iffy because of spring storms.
She was on her way back from Barcelona and on American (hence DFW) because it was the cheapest for her school.
//once, on our way back from SPI, IL, we missed our connection in Dallas and did rent a car.
Good Morning:
In defense of the author and editorial staff, I believe that GSA is a reference to Gender and Sexuality Alliance, formerly known as Gay-Straight Alliances, student led and student organized clubs. No matter what it stands for, I needed perps to get it and, also, Globe. I liked the theme and reveal very much but I’m Amazing isn’t as strong as the other themers, IMO. I’ve never see He He, only Hee Hee. And, as always, for me, too many (26) TLWs spoil the solve.
Thanks, Andrew, and congrats on a fine debut and thanks, Anon T, for soldiering though your health issues and DW’s travel glitches. Loved the alligators!
Have a great day.
Congratulations to Andrew on his impressive debut!
The reveal was the last to fall for me - ah, that is how all of the starred entries are related! A fun and pleasing surprise. I also enjoyed some of the lively fill entries, like WATERLOO and ADMONISH.
Thanks AnonT for the nice review, and I hope that you are able to catch up on sleep!
It's a fer piece to drive from Dallas to Houston. About the same as between LA and Vegas.
According to consumer advocate Clark Howard, Costco and its suppliers are cagey about the difference, of any, between Kirkland products and their national brands. Some seem identical, while some are obviously different.
That plane trip to KW probably took longer than the 3.5hr drive. I driven the Overseas Highway many times but never considered flying, I like the scenery along the way.
I solve on paper and usually make notes in the margins as I go along. I got all the way to the end and had nothing remarkable to report. On the other hand, nothing stood out as bad either, so I guess that's a win. Therefore, nice job Andrew!
My eldest son recently moved to Kirkland, WA (suburb of Seattle) to be closer to a Costco. NOT! He's in IT and that's a high-tech area with Microsoft, Amazon and Costco(!) HQs nearby. What's not nearby is us! He couldn't have gotten much farther away from South Florida while still being in the lower 48. But the Pacific NW is a beautiful area, so there's that to look forward to when we visit.
Thanks Tony, for your efforts. I hope things smooth out for you soon.
Managed to FIR, but the paraphrases, A&E, and erroneous clues sucked most of the fun out.
Weird.
Well said !
FIR with a few well aimed guesses. I figured Abbott Elementary early on so no problems after that. I thought it was OK for Thursday.
Neat Thursday puzzle, many thanks, Andrew. And I always appreciate your commentary, so thanks for that too, Anon T.
Well, it looks as though in this puzzle we might have had a couple SWAMPED on an OASIS in the desert, which they decided to call their WATERLOO. Thankfully they had brought a TEA TRAY and some APRONS and so they went and heated up some WASABI for lunch. Soon they heard someone shouting ALOHA and they knew they were being rescued. So they wished their OASIS a thankful GOOD BYE and then they left.
Have a great enjoyable day, everybody.
I enjoyed solving this puzzle in spite of GSA and that terrible DIRGE clue.
DW and I watched a couple of episodes of ABBOTT ELEMENTARY so I filled that immediately. And as for the Updike novel, I knew it was either RABBIT something or something RABBIT.
OLLIE resulted in changing PAT to PET.
When I see the word DAP I can't help but think of the caulking product, which, by the way, I have used numerous times.
ROOST --> PERCH.
Carly RAE Jepsen always makes me think of the song "Call Me, Maybe."
DW often calls me PAPA.
Good reading you all.
Hola! A very doable Thursday puzzle. Thank you, Andrew Colin Kirk. i see you managed to fit in KIRK in the cluing. Well done. When my granddaughter was small she loved ALADDIN so, of course, she/we watched it numerous times!
it does seem strange to see ITEMISE spelled with an S.
I, too, am more familiar with Lorena OCHOA than with Elena OCHOA.
One of my friends has a grandson named ZANDER. That was the first I had heard the name.
Thank you, Tony, for your duty under duress. Please get some rest.
Have a lovely day, everyone!
Pretty easy cruise down Andrew Lane today — I got a grin out of the hook (once I actually saw the ABBOTT, RABBI et al). Nice job by the constructor, I’d say. And if this is indeed your debut, good on ya, mate — great opener!
The only speed bumps I had were all up in WA state; like @KS, I sussed out the TV show that filled the first wall-to-wall, but even though I knew BAOBOB, I managed to misspell it, so it wasn’t that much help until I unwrapped SARAN — and then the rest fell into place for the woohoo moment, FIR.
Had no prob with “Track of one’s tears” — if one attends a funeral these days, rarely is a DIRGE performed by an ensemble of somber musicians; it will be a pre-recorded track. But GSA as clued was ugly; how about “Govt. agency gutted by Musk”? Oh wait — nah, that would leave way too many possibilities, wouldn’t it…
A fist-bump is a DAP, huh? If you say so.
Those poetic feet of 33D are a poetic feat 😆
AnonT, thank you for going the extra distance despite having to go such an extra distance last night; appreciate ya!
====> Darren / L.A.
Ultra-lib?
We were getting into MIA after dark, so not much to see. I've driven it many times during the day, and agree it is nice - unless some idiot wrecks somewhere blocking US1 where there isn't a bypass. I think this was the only time we stayed in Key West - we usually stayed in Key Colony Beach or Big Pine. (Loved Big Pine, but could stay for free with DW's old friend in KCB.)
Probably involves those crossword-favorite NDAs.
Thank you, Andrew, and congratulations on your LAT debut!
Dagnabbit! I filled the reveal early, and forgot to look at the theme answers to see why they worked. I understand that some people are indifferent to themes, but for me, themes are part of the challenge.
It was a rocky mess in the NW corner. 1A Unicef logo? Easy. Panda. Followed by 1D Student support org? PTA. Nailed ABBOTT ELEMENTARY with the A from PTA, but nothing else in that corner was working. Moved on to more fruitful areas. When I finally returned, I reread the clue for 1D, took out panda and put the obvious down answers of LAB, ORB and ENTR in. That led to SARAN, and finally GLOBE. After solving the puzzle, I did a google search on "logo that features a panda." World Wildlife Fund. D'OH!
You were correct, Dash T. Debut for Andrew. I didn't know BREE either. Back to back episodes of Dragnert are also on MeTV starting at 4AM, followed by back to back episodes of Adam 12. Background noise for me.
That MSG video was good (and funny). I laughed when Uncle Roger said, "Bean sprouts are the Asian version of brussel sprouts." Thanks! BTW, there is nothing wrong with having a sparse review.
Take tomorrow off. Tell the boss you need a ME day.
DAP? Never heard that. ASIA/URSA, PAT/PET. 15 names, DNK 5. FIR in 16, and, whadayaknow, even saw the theme. Very clever! I thought GSA was Girl Scouts of America when it emerged via perps, and was critical that it didn't really fit the clue very well. V-8 can never hit. Not much else to say, other than thanx ACK, and congrats on your debut. Well done! Thanx too to Anon-T for the well written review, a gold star for you today. The Florida Panthers are headquartered right here in FLL, and am pleased to see them advance once again to the finals. Looks like a repeat of Panthers/Oilers. Gonna be a terrible fight. Both great teams again this year.
Big Easy is correct. Retired from major paper mfg. We had some lines that ran almost full time on Walmart and Sam's product. Also made some product for CostCo. Nice to have big customers like that--until they decide to change suppliers.
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