Welcome to December, everyone! sumdaze here with a truly SPECIAL episode of <dramatic pause> The Crossword Corner.
Theme: 
If you are wondering, "What's the deal with today's puzzle?", skip ahead with me to the reveal:
58 Across. Snarky response to a boast, and what can be said about the ends of the answers to the starred clues?: ISN'T THAT SPECIAL.
In other words, the ends of the themed clues fit the pattern SPECIAL _____.
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| Dana Carvey being snarky as The Church Lady on SNL |
Now let's see how this gimmick works on the themed answers:
17 Across. *Belongings: PERSONAL EFFECTS.
SPECIAL EFFECTS are illusions created for movies and television by props, camerawork, computer graphics, etc.
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| an example of campy SFX in a movie |
23 Across. *Grow, as a savings account: EARN INTEREST.
A SPECIAL INTEREST group is a group of people or an organization seeking or receiving special advantages, typically through political lobbying.
39 Across. *Gas station convenience store chain: CIRCLE K.
SPECIAL K cereal has been around since 1955. It was the first cereal fortified with seven vitamins and iron.
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| CIRCLE K and SPECIAL K |
50 Across. *Philosophical concept concerning the moral code of the universe: NATURAL ORDER. NATURAL ORDER is the orderly system comprising the physical universe and functioning according to natural (as distinguished from human or supernatural) laws.
A SPECIAL ORDER is a request for a customized item, like the one in this Burger King jingle from the 1970s:
Hold the pickle. Hold the lettuce. SPECIAL ORDERs don't upset us. 🎵🎵
I really liked Katherine's theme set! Let's see what other SPECIAL sauce she put into today's grid:
Across:
1. South American capital city with a namesake legume: LIMA. I did not know that they are the same LIMA. Get all the facts here.
5. Tells a white lie: FIBS.
9. Resist authority: REBEL.
14. Many a North African: ARAB.
15. Foot or furlong: UNIT. Both are UNITs of measure.
16. Fill with joy: ELATE. OTOH, to fill with air is to "infLATE".
20. Capitol Hill VIP: SEN. Very Important Person and SENator
5. Tells a white lie: FIBS.
14. Many a North African: ARAB.
15. Foot or furlong: UNIT. Both are UNITs of measure.
16. Fill with joy: ELATE. OTOH, to fill with air is to "infLATE".
20. Capitol Hill VIP: SEN. Very Important Person and SENator
21. "Well, gosh!": GEE.
22. Small talk: CHAT.
28. Small caves: GROTTOS.
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| Italy's Blue Grotto is along the Capri Coast. |
29. South Korean capital: SEOUL. 12 Interesting Facts about Seoul (with pictures!)
32. Fires up, as an engine: REVS. Listen for the engine REVS in the Shangri-Las' 1964 song, Leader of the Pack.
33. Stair climber's aid: RAIL.
36. Bert's "Sesame Street" roommate: ERNIE. In this 2 min. video, Bert and Ernie remind us that we are all SPECIAL. 38. Summer on the Riviera: ÉTÉ. This is the French word for summer.
32. Fires up, as an engine: REVS. Listen for the engine REVS in the Shangri-Las' 1964 song, Leader of the Pack.
33. Stair climber's aid: RAIL.
36. Bert's "Sesame Street" roommate: ERNIE. In this 2 min. video, Bert and Ernie remind us that we are all SPECIAL. 38. Summer on the Riviera: ÉTÉ. This is the French word for summer.
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| It looks so Nice! |
41. Compadre: PAL.
42. Body midsection: TORSO.
42. Body midsection: TORSO.
44. Headquarters: SEAT. Think "County SEAT".
45. Minute __ orange juice: MAID.
46. "__ mio": classic Italian love song: O SOLE. I have linked the Pavarotti version in previous blogs. Today I am opting for this 1967 jaunty instrumental version. (Details can be found in the video.)
48. General unease: MALAISE. Def.: (noun) a vague sense of mental or moral ill-being.
53. Civil rights icon Parks: ROSA.
56. Forensic sci. specialty: CSI. science and Crime Scene Investigation
57. Snatch: NAB.
64. Assumed name: ALIAS.
65. Equipment: GEAR.
66. Silicon Valley city Palo __: ALTO. I'll be there later this week.
67. "__ luck!": LOTSA. This is informal speech for "lots of". It might not always be said with sincere intentions.
68. Best Comeback Athlete, e.g.: ESPY. ESPN presents annual ESPY awards to athletes.
69. Whole bunch: SLEW. There have been a SLEW of ESPY winners. website
Down:
45. Minute __ orange juice: MAID.
46. "__ mio": classic Italian love song: O SOLE. I have linked the Pavarotti version in previous blogs. Today I am opting for this 1967 jaunty instrumental version. (Details can be found in the video.)
48. General unease: MALAISE. Def.: (noun) a vague sense of mental or moral ill-being.
53. Civil rights icon Parks: ROSA.
56. Forensic sci. specialty: CSI. science and Crime Scene Investigation
57. Snatch: NAB.
64. Assumed name: ALIAS.
65. Equipment: GEAR.
66. Silicon Valley city Palo __: ALTO. I'll be there later this week.
67. "__ luck!": LOTSA. This is informal speech for "lots of". It might not always be said with sincere intentions.
68. Best Comeback Athlete, e.g.: ESPY. ESPN presents annual ESPY awards to athletes.
69. Whole bunch: SLEW. There have been a SLEW of ESPY winners. website
Down:
1. Once around the track: LAP.
2. Outrage: IRE.
3. Exploratory vehicles on the red planet: MARS ROVERS. There have been six successful robotically operated MARS ROVERS. This 2 min. video presents a possible next generation MARS ROVER -- a tumbleweed rover. I'm a fan of biomimetic ideas!
4. Removes (oneself): ABSENTS. Def.: (verb) to keep (oneself) away.
5. "Sounds like a good time!": FUN. This was a FUN answer!
2. Outrage: IRE.
3. Exploratory vehicles on the red planet: MARS ROVERS. There have been six successful robotically operated MARS ROVERS. This 2 min. video presents a possible next generation MARS ROVER -- a tumbleweed rover. I'm a fan of biomimetic ideas!
4. Removes (oneself): ABSENTS. Def.: (verb) to keep (oneself) away.
5. "Sounds like a good time!": FUN. This was a FUN answer!
Here is the 2011 song, We Are Young by the band named FUN.
6. Once __ lifetime: IN A.
7. Hogwash: BILGE. I only knew this word in connection to boats (BILGE pump).
6. Once __ lifetime: IN A.
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| This is a screenshot from the Merriam-Webster website. |
8. Cattle ranch animal: STEER. 
9. NBA official: REF.
10. Qualified voter: ELECTOR. Merriam-Webster gives us three definitions. The first relates to this clue and the third was niche so I thought I would include it for your entertainment.
Def. #1: a person qualified to vote in an election.
Def. #3: any of the German princes entitled to take part in choosing the Holy Roman Emperor.
11. "Brandenburg Concertos" composer: BACH. Speaking of German noblemen...Johannes Sebastian Bach [1685-1750] presented the Brandenburg Concertos to one. It is a collection of six pieces given to Christian Ludwig, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt in 1721. The original title translates to Six Concertos for several instruments. They are now known as the Brandenburg Concertos. You can listen to Concerto No. 3 by clicking the video below.
11. "Brandenburg Concertos" composer: BACH. Speaking of German noblemen...Johannes Sebastian Bach [1685-1750] presented the Brandenburg Concertos to one. It is a collection of six pieces given to Christian Ludwig, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt in 1721. The original title translates to Six Concertos for several instruments. They are now known as the Brandenburg Concertos. You can listen to Concerto No. 3 by clicking the video below.
12. Jazz vocalist James: ETTA.
13. "__ we forget": LEST.
18. "I'm taking care of that": ON IT.
19. Add-on charges: FEES.
23. White marsh bird: EGRET. EGRETs are wading birds, closely related to herons. These clever birds have comb-like serrations on the edges of their middle claws which help them to preen feathers they cannot reach with their beaks. this and more
24. Unimaginative retort: ARE, TOO.
25. Sushi seaweed: NORI.
26. Bygone Russian rulers: TSARS.
27. "__ and ye shall find": SEEK.
30. Debt collector's target: UNPAID BILL.
31. Be a go-between: LIAISE. Liaise rhymes with "ablaze". It is a back formation of "liaison". With all of those vowels, you probably already know it comes to us from French.
34. Winter road hazard: ICE.
35. Alpaca kin: LLAMA. I had lunch with this mama alpaca and her 2-day old cria when I was on my cycling vacation. Nancy, the owner of the farm, gave us a lovely tour.
37. Respected leader: ELDER.
39. Pepsi or Coke: COLA. sOdA 🠆 COLA
40. List-shortening abbr.: ET AL.
43. Hyundai sedans: SONATAS. Hyundai has been making these mid-sized cars since 1985. Wiki says it was named after the musical term. BTW, their SEAT is in SEOUL.
45. Salsa percussion pair: MARACAS.
47. Inscribe with acid: ETCH.
49. Unique: LONE.
51. Factor in battery life: USAGE.
52. Ceremonial acts: RITES.
53. Money in Iran: RIAL. We also had its anagram RAIL today. Furthermore, "Iran" and "RIAL" are 75% anagrams.
54. Norway home of the Munch Museum: OSLO. The Munch Museum opened in 2021. It contains a staggering amount of Munch-related pieces. The building itself is also very interesting. Watch this 4:19 min. video to see what I mean.
55. Peevish state: SNIT. Def.: (noun) a state of agitation.
13. "__ we forget": LEST.
18. "I'm taking care of that": ON IT.
19. Add-on charges: FEES.
23. White marsh bird: EGRET. EGRETs are wading birds, closely related to herons. These clever birds have comb-like serrations on the edges of their middle claws which help them to preen feathers they cannot reach with their beaks. this and more
24. Unimaginative retort: ARE, TOO.
25. Sushi seaweed: NORI.
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| You can buy it in sheets, ready to roll. |
26. Bygone Russian rulers: TSARS.
27. "__ and ye shall find": SEEK.
30. Debt collector's target: UNPAID BILL.
31. Be a go-between: LIAISE. Liaise rhymes with "ablaze". It is a back formation of "liaison". With all of those vowels, you probably already know it comes to us from French.
34. Winter road hazard: ICE.
35. Alpaca kin: LLAMA. I had lunch with this mama alpaca and her 2-day old cria when I was on my cycling vacation. Nancy, the owner of the farm, gave us a lovely tour.
39. Pepsi or Coke: COLA. sOdA 🠆 COLA
40. List-shortening abbr.: ET AL.
43. Hyundai sedans: SONATAS. Hyundai has been making these mid-sized cars since 1985. Wiki says it was named after the musical term. BTW, their SEAT is in SEOUL.
45. Salsa percussion pair: MARACAS.
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| Is this Joe Manganiello? |
49. Unique: LONE.
51. Factor in battery life: USAGE.
52. Ceremonial acts: RITES.
53. Money in Iran: RIAL. We also had its anagram RAIL today. Furthermore, "Iran" and "RIAL" are 75% anagrams.
54. Norway home of the Munch Museum: OSLO. The Munch Museum opened in 2021. It contains a staggering amount of Munch-related pieces. The building itself is also very interesting. Watch this 4:19 min. video to see what I mean.
Note #1: Try to spot the swimmer at 3:49 in the very bottom, left corner.
(I looked it up. In its warmest month, that water is 61°F.)
Note #2: The sculpture in the water at 3:53 is She Lies.
55. Peevish state: SNIT. Def.: (noun) a state of agitation.
I would advise against accusing someone of being in a SNIT. If they were not already, they will likely be in a SNIT after your accusation.
59. Agcy. that x-rays bags: TSA. agency and Transportation Security Administration
60. Sticky tree juice: SAP.
61. Snoop: PRY.
62. Stopped fasting: ATE. In a way, we stop fasting every morning. The word breakfast comes to us from a Middle English phrase that means "to break one's fast; end abstinence from food".
63. Blue: LOW. as in "sad"
The grid:
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| Katherine's grid has 61 themed letters. Wow! |
That's all for today. Have a great week, everyone!
16 comments:
I didn’t find much of
anything that was difficult in this puzzle , so I think you will agree with that this was a typical Monday “walk in the park.” But we’ll see.
Anyway, FIR, so I’m happy.
Sorry, I left out the word “me” in “agree with me”
Good morning!
Didn't notice the theme. Again. But didn't need my Wite-Out to put this one to bed in under 6 minutes. Thanx Katherine and sumdaze. (Special K "Mikey likes it" debuted in 1972 -- he might be retired by now.)
FIR, but sad->LOW, and lies->FIBS, even though "lie" was in the clue. I blame decaf.
"Fires up, as an engine" means "start it," not "REV it." I'm glad I'm not a sexist, otherwise I would probably put in a crack about girls trying to write about cars.
Many people thought that Jimmy Carter's “MALAISE Speech” cost him reelection. Most people don't know that he actually didn't use the word MALAISE in the speech.
Thanks to Katherine for the fun start to the month, and to sumdaze for another fine review.
Took 4:49 today to complete the Ops.
I agree with SubG that it was a WITP, other than me trying to correctly spell "malaise", "liaise", and the Italian love song (osole).
D-O, I thought "Mikey likes it" was for Life cereal.
Rabbit, rabbit.
Thanx, you're correct. A mind is a terrible thing to lose.
CW
Quick ‘n’ easy. But first had lateral instead of NATURAL cuz i first used Solaras instead of SONATAS so the mid south needed some work. Allowing for scant clueing I managed to see how SPECIAL the puzzle was. But SPECIAL K eluded me.
Isn’t it a RAILing?
Loved the church lady (“I don’t know, maybe SATAN!!)
I hafta admit I kinda don’t like CW answers like LOTSA
‘O SOLE Mio translates “My Sun” not “Oh My Sun”. In Italian a possessive requires the article: ‘O is Neapolitan dialect for “The”
I presume the “Munch Museum”
has a …. Cafeteria 😛
Abe said something like “With ____ toward none and charity for all”.… MALAISE (or was it mayonnaise?)
Intrigued by sea eagles …. EARN INTEREST
If Clinton didn’t receive a salary as POTUS… UNPAID BILL
December already. YIKES
FIR. Typical easy Monday puzzle. My only misstep was throwing down soda before cola. That caused me some grief staring at sirclek and thinking it was a gas stop I'd never heard of. Silly me! I soon saw the error of my ways and went on to finish.
I saw the theme before the reveal and that actually helped me to fill in the reveal.
Overall an enjoyable puzzle.
Marvellous Monday. Thanks for the fun, Katherine and sumdaze.
This was almost a WITP today. I did get the SPECIAL theme, but FIWed in the SE.
I had MARoCAS crossing roB, and knew that LOrE was not fitting the 49D clue (I really wanted rarE.)
Wishing you all a great day.
Batted a thousand today. No missteps on this relaxing stroll through the park, which took 6:03 to complete. A nice Monday exercise.
My only quibble is that revving an engine occurs AFTER firing it up.
Musings
-After LOTSA snow (5”) on Saturday, we are now getting a smidge more today.
-Having a single letter be part of the gimmick was novel
-Before metrics, track’s 220-yd-dash was a half LAP around what was then a 440 yd. track and was equal to a furlong
-There was a time when a SEN was more faithful to his constituency than his party
-South Korea’s capital is not the WON nor the letter “S”, but the city SEOUL
-Late-game calls and non-calls made by REFS seem to decide many NFL games and generate controversy
-“SEEK and ye shall find” but it helps to have an Air Tag on my keys!
-Our friend works in a dental office and says the worst part of her job is calling people about UNPAID BILLS
-Two weeks ago, a RAIL was a bird in the puzzle
-I agree on rev/fire. Joann’s standing for me to start barbecuing is “Fire up the grill!”
-As usual, Sumdaze provided a FUN write-up, and I really liked the PC STEER cartoon
True Monday SPECIAL this morning. No hiccups, no unknown names, just LOTSA (sorry Ray-o) of fun.
We regularly gas up at the CIRCLE K near our house. Our little sub-division has a water feature frequently visited by snowy EGRETs.
Thank you sumdaze for all the good info and the many funnies.
It's interesting how pronunciation of foreign words change when adoptedby another language.
Lima, Peru - lee muh/ lima bean - lie muh
Greenwich Mean Time - gren ich /Greenwich, NJ - green witch
Bogota, Columbia - bo go TAA/ Bogota, NJ -buh GO ta
Castile, Spain- ka STILE -/ Castile, NY ka STEEL
Tripoli, Libya - TRIP uh lee/ New Tripoli, PA trip OHL ee
H-Gary@9:56. You said it well with "Having a single letter be part of the gimmick was novel." I was thinking the same thing but did not get around to putting that into words. Thanks!
KS@8:33. I can relate with you on "That caused me some grief staring at sirclek and thinking it was a gas stop I'd never heard of." Product branding often uses inventive spellings.
Anonymous@7:55. I did not know what "Rabbit, rabbit" meant so I looked it up. Thanks for teaching me something new!
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