Saturday Themeless by August Miller
This is my fifth Saturday themeless blog this year for August Miller. He is a former physics Ph.D. candidate turned farmer who lives in Berkshire County, MA.
Here is part of a very nice interview with August: Once upon a time I was going to be a physics PhD. I studied physics in undergrad and tried graduate school (twice), but ultimately that environment just didn’t work for me. And now I come home at night smelling of cows and hay, and it feels so much better.
I was able to make good headway through August's puzzle and enjoyed the trip. Unlike Stella's 12/13/25 puzzle, the long fills were familiar and helpful. My last fill was a stab in the dark at "K" at TAI_A/S_A.
1. Squirrel away: STOW and 1. Squirrel away: STASH - It was fun to have the same clue in the far NW corner.
5. Barely usable pencils: NUBS.
9. "Kapow!": WHAM.
13. Snaps: TAKES A PIC - What we all can do now on a whim. Now when I was a kid...
5. Barely usable pencils: NUBS.
9. "Kapow!": WHAM.
13. Snaps: TAKES A PIC - What we all can do now on a whim. Now when I was a kid...
15. Banchero who was the 2023 NBA Rookie of the Year: PAOLO ¯\_(ใ)_/¯ I will have taken more time on this comment than I will watching any NBA games this season.
16. Manipulator of one of the four elements, in a classic animated series: AIR BENDER ¯\_(ใ)_/¯ This guy is in orange below.
17. Natural styles: AFROS.
18. __ punk: "Tragic Kingdom" genre: SKA and 2. Waititi of "Our Flag Means Death": TAIKA - I knew SKA was some form of music that was foreign to me and I took a flyer on a "K" where it crossed equally unknown TAIKA. Tada!
19. "All My Children" actress Kathleen: NOONE - She was there from 1977 - 1989
 |
| To the far left |
21. Must: HAS TO.
23. Like some waiters: EARLY ๐ - You really want an iPhone 16 so bad you're willing to wait in line.
25. Hesitant sounds: ERS.
27. Mikey Day's show, for short: SNL - If you really care, you'll pick him out, if you don't care, just move on. ๐
28. Guests' guesses: ETAS - You can tell peeps when to arrive but...
31. Some boxing losses: SPLIT DECISIONS - Gane won this match because two judges gave him more points and one did not.
35. "And??": CARE TO ELABORATE.
36. "Who Shot Mr. Burns?," for one: TWO PART EPISODE - Remind you of anything? ๐
37. Glom __: ONTO.
38. Some humanities degs.: MAS.
39. Confession confession: SIN.
40. "The best in pests" company: ORKIN.
42. Attracted to more than one gender, informally: MSPEC - Multisexual Spectrum
46. Peak reward: VISTA - The VISTA from the peak of Everest
48. Stay at a 57-Across, perhaps: GLAMP - Today's portmanteau: GLAMcamPing at Indian Lake, NY which is a 57. Sustainable place to unwind: ECO RESORT.
52. "Hadestown" Tony nominee Noblezada: EVA - I'm guessing August has never heard of the Little EVA song Locomotion.
53. Big name in chips: INTEL - Would you like an Apple with your chips?
54. Hot bodies?: LAVA LAKES - This one is near the South Pole
56. Close call: SCARE.
58. Good listeners?: EARS - My 79-yr-old models need electronic assistance
59. __-eyed: DEWY.
60. Code breakers: KEYS.
Down:
3. Mallow family plants with edible seed pods: OKRAS.
 |
| Okra |
5. Tech startup?: NANO.
6. Top knot, e.g.: UPDO.
7. "Trรจs __!": BIEN and a 14. Miss living in Mexico, say: SENORITA could say Muy BIEN.
8. Safari snap: SCREEN CAP - I just made a SCREEN CAPture of the image below while using the key combination shown on the Safari browser.
9. Array at a hotel breakfast bar: WAFFLE IRONS ๐
10. Lizard with defensive spines: HORNY TOAD - A variation of the name HORNED TOAD
11. __ gobi: ALOO - ¯\_(ใ)_/¯ - Aloo gobi, literally "potato cauliflower" in Hindi.
12. More than some: MOST.
15. Duo: PAIR.
22. Forms of rapid transit: TELEPORTERS - Hallmark makes an ornament of one used on Star Trek.
24. Crime stories?: ALIBIS.
26. Kylie's daughter: STORMI - An addition to the Kardashian clan
27. Tennis great Monica: SELES.
29. Up the __: ANTE.
30. Compass pt.: SSE.
31. Like cut lumber: SAWN.
32. One just starting to shine: PROTOSTAR.
33. Forced a comb through, say: DETANGLED.
34. "Easy-peasy!": SO SIMPLE.
35. Exec who might oversee R&D: CTO - Chief Technology Officer
41. Superfood whose "special power is tasting bad," per Jim Gaffigan: KALE ๐
43. Tea type: PEKOE.
44. Not just some: EVERY.
45. Gives a role: CASTS - This character from Breakfast At Tiffany's may be the worst CASTING decision in movie history. The Boston Globe called the Mr. Yunioshi "an irascible bucktoothed nerd and an offensive ethnic caricature"
34. "Easy-peasy!": SO SIMPLE.
35. Exec who might oversee R&D: CTO - Chief Technology Officer
41. Superfood whose "special power is tasting bad," per Jim Gaffigan: KALE ๐
43. Tea type: PEKOE.
44. Not just some: EVERY.
45. Gives a role: CASTS - This character from Breakfast At Tiffany's may be the worst CASTING decision in movie history. The Boston Globe called the Mr. Yunioshi "an irascible bucktoothed nerd and an offensive ethnic caricature"
46. Bench clamp: VISE.
47. Worshipper of the goddess Pachamama: INCA ¯\_(ใ)_/¯
49. Peignoir trim: LACE.
50. Declare: AVOW.
51. Writer Shelley: MARY.
50. Declare: AVOW.
51. Writer Shelley: MARY.
55. "Why do you __?": ASK.
11 comments:
I got it! I actually
solved a Saturday puzzle!
Oh, this is truly a “red letter day”
(Without any actual “red letters”)!
FIR, and I’m not just “happy”
I’m ecstatic!
Whoopee!
Congratulations!!
FIR Saturday! Ditto SubG's elation. However, save->STOW, had to->HAS TO, lava lamp->LAVA LAKE, stormy->STORMI, and acai->KALE.
WHAM had a big holiday hit with Last Christmas.
We just had TAIKA as fill. If we get again tomorrow, I still won't know it.
The HORNEY TOAD is a great, fun restaurant in Cave Creek, AZ. Try the Frog Light beer brewed on premises. Unfortunately, it looks like the Satisfied Frog just down the street is now closed. Been to both - too many times to count.
If you are of straight orientation, please don't tell me. I don't give a rat's patooey. If you are ASPEC, please don't tell me. I don't give a rat's patooey. If you are lgbtqbhjasdtyfroijxzkajygqhzdmoisdfv+, please don't tell me. I don't give a rat's patooey.
Thanks to August for the fun, easy-for-a-Saturday puzzle. Favorites were "confession confession" and "peak reward." And thanks to H.Gary for another fun review. Hope you are feeling better today, and will get well soon.
With the many unknowns, AIR BENDER, PAOLO, STORMI, and MSPEC to name a few, I was able to peck away and get the congratulatory message in 17:31. EVA and MARY were perped, Saturday cluing. With the two N’s in place I correctly WAGed NOONE, which solved the verts. I had never heard of TAIKA until a couple days ago in the CW, and I actually remembered today. I’ve noticed this quite often, where what many would call an obscurity will repeat within a few days, I think this is by design by Patti. Noticed TAKES A PIC crossing SCREEN CAP, is that the same as a ‘screen shot’ which is what I’ve always called it? I’ve always said ‘untangled’ and never DETANGLED. Nice offering today August, thank you for that. Thanks also to HG for the recap, as long as I’ve been coming to the Corner I don’t remember you ever taking a Saturday off, and your efforts are much appreciated. Hope you feel better!
This was everything a Saturday crossword puzzle should be. It was challenging, but was doable with really clever cluing. The constructor didn’t feel the need to prove how smart he is (and, yes, he IS smart) by filling the grid with impossible, arcane clues. Yes, I needed help to fill in the last few squares on the grid, but I found it to be extremely satisfying. Great job.
Well said, Yooper Phil.
HGary, you are not only reliable, as YPhil noted, but your recaps can always be counted upon to be entertaining, fresh, and above all, useful.
And hey, I told you your Cornhuskers would make it to a bowl this season!
How is BUGS not the answer to "code breakers"?
Took 10:44 today.
I didn't know the soap opera actress of the day (Noone), but a good puzzle.
Gotta run! Leaving shortly and will be gone for a few days.
In my absence, look out for those pesky circles.
FIR. I don't know about everyone else, but I found this Saturday presentation very easy. In fact when I was done I stared at it and thought I must have missed something.
There were a few unknowns, mostly proper names, but with good perps they were doable.
So overall an enjoyable puzzle.
Good Morning:
Anonymous @ 7:41 must be a mind reader as he/she captured my thoughts perfectly. Despite the several unknowns, i.e., Air Bender, Noone, Two Part Episode, MSPEC, Screen Cap, ProtoStar, etc., the generous and helpful perps, plus a few WAGs led to a satisfying and most enjoyable solve. Finally, a Saturday that tested our knowledge and skills vs our patience and tempers.
Thanks, August, your scent of cows and hay is welcome anytime, and, HG, what would we do without you to explain and illustrate these Saturday challenges? Thanks for your dedication and feel better soon.
Have a great day.
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