Saturday Themeless by Zhouqin Burnikel
Solving C.C.'s clever puzzle had me following a familiar pattern. I searched for a solid foothold which came up at the grid-spanning PLEASE BE PATIENT/AND YET HERE WE ARE and everything grew out from there. I had a very pleasant 29-minute exercise where C.C.'s construction skills always made me feel I would never COME UP DRY. Another lovely feature was that she only used six 3-letter words.
1. Early revolutions: WARM UP LAPS 😀 Tradition at the Indy 500 has a pace car leading the cars around for the last WARM UP LAP.
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| 1964 Indy 500 |
11. Exam with a max score of 180: LSAT.
15. Only shopped at farmers markets, perhaps: ATE ORGANIC.
16. Set in stone: ETCH.
17. Help in obtaining top-shelf products: STEP LADDER 😀
18. "Educated: A Memoir" writer Westover: TARA ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
19. Homes for some queens: HIVES. 😀
20. Instrument invented by Hermes: LYRE.
21. Bamia or sambar: STEW. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
22. Frosted: ICED.
23. "Fore!" site: TEE 😀
24. Bundles: WADS.
26. Earring parts: POSTS.
28. Ending of "Oedipus": SIGMA - Oedipus is spelled Οιδίπους in Greek. The last letter is the lower case Greek letter SIGMA
31. Put on a bashful front: ACT COY.
35. Overdrive: HIGH GEAR.
37. Line for waiters: PLEASE BE PATIENT - All these peeps are in line and waiting to get to the top of Mt. Everest
39. Cannes Film Festival prize: PALME D'OR - Golden Palm
40. Prankster with opposable thumbs: MONKEY.
41. Aisha of "Archer": TYLER.
42. Oman neighbor: YEMEN.
44. Go, to the dogs: MUSH - 😀 The comma in the clue made this my fav clue.
46. General concern: WAR.
47. Material for some biodegradable bags: HEMP.
51. Kitchen work: PREP.
53. St. __ Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub: IVES ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
55. "Brave" studio: PIXAR - It netted a $350 M profit at the box office
56. Zest source: RIND - I loved orange marmalade before I knew it was zest from the RIND that gave it such a distinctive flavor
57. "Great, now we're pouting": REAL MATURE.
59. Smell: ODOR.
60. Messages that something's gone wrong: ERROR CODES.
61. Word in skin care ads: DEWY.
62. One who has seen it all: EYEWITNESS.
Down:
1. Paper used in origami: WASHI ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
2. Unfinished story, perhaps: ATTIC 😀 Oh, the top story of a house
3. "Still Me" memoirist Christopher: REEVE - My favorite movie portrayer of Superman wrote this after his horse riding accident left him paralyzed.
4. Wore a long face: MOPED.
5. Addresses with dots: URLS. 😀
6. Org. with many excellent drivers: PGA - Fore!
7. Big scoops: LADLES.
8. "... somehow nothing has changed": AND YET HERE WE ARE.
9. Huntington Beach landmark: PIER.
10. Item that's often turned in: SCREW 😀
11. "Our food's getting cold!": LET'S DIG IN.
12. One who might crunch numbers for fun: STATS GEEK - Uh, I might be guilty
13. Orchard unit: ACRE.
14. Spring break?: THAW.
23. Trifled (with): TOYED.
25. Running back Jeanty who was runner-up for the 2024 Heisman Trophy: ASHTON.
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27. Nurse: SIP.
29. Thick hair: MANE.
30. Like some indie movies: ARTY.
31. Cal. entry: APPT.
32. Roland Garros surface: CLAY - The CLAY court in Paris is named for WWI air hero Roland Garros who died in combat in 1918 but never played tennis.
34. Left empty-handed, in a way: CAME UP DRY - In this state that depends heavily on irrigation this can be a big problem
36. Fortnite streamer, e.g.: GAMER ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ An online streaming game
38. Little dude: BOY.
43. Psychologist who created a notable hierarchy: MASLOW - I'm sure I memorized this list when I got my M.A. in Counseling.
45. New team member: HIREE.
47. Suddenly come up with: HIT ON - Dick Fosbury HIT ON the idea of high jumping with his face up and completely changed the sport.
49. Some stable parents: MARES 😀
50. Iron: PRESS.
51. Nudge: PROD.
52. Wheels: RIDE.
54. VIP member?: VERY 😀
55. Formal agreement: PACT.
58. Scan that may diagnose a torn ACL: MRI - “An MRI has confirmed that Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes sustained a torn ACL in his left knee in today’s game. Patrick and the club are currently exploring surgical options.”
Well, a Saturday
ReplyDeletepuzzle from C.C.! She can do everything, can’t she?
And, as I would expect from her, it was fair and far from unsolvable!
I got it right the first time.
FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
ReplyDeleteThe misdirections did not distract me from my goal. Finished in 12 minutes, which may be my best Saturday ever. I'm familiar with POSER, but don't think I've ever heard it spoken. HEMP reminded me of those 20# potato sacks in the grocery stores of my ute. Is STATS GEEK a never-before-seen entry? Nicely done, C.C. and Husker.
The comment at 5:29 was mine.
DeleteTook 10:29 today with no error codes.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know the Actress of the Day (Tyler) nor did I know one of the writers (Tara, but I was able to guess Reeve), and I've never, ever heard of "washi" or "Ives".
My early revolutions were "first years", which gave way to "warm up laps."
Nicely done, C.C.
FIR, but lets begin->LETS DIG IN, lad->BOY, and WADS->webs->WADS.
ReplyDeleteJumble-playing Cornerites will enjoy CC's HIVES today.
I asked Zoё's vet if Siberian huskies are as loud, dramatic and opinionated as they seem on those Facebook videos. "Oh Lord yes" was her reply.
EYE WITNESSes are notoriously unreliable in their descriptions of events.
MOPED could also have been clued "alternative to a motorcycle." We had VESPA a day or two ago.
I seem to remember that whenever my name was used along with HIT ON, a trip to HR ensued.
Thanks to CC for the fun puzzle that even my dumb mass could solve. My favorite was "unfinished story" for ATTIC. And thanks to H.Gary for another fun review. I should get a tee shirt made declaring "ERROR 406."
FLN - Thanks to Darren for the pronunciation tweak. Also, your violin-toting girlfriend reminds me of the big Soft Cell hit from 1981, Tainted Love.
"Once I ran to you
Now I'll run from you"
I had a relationship like that when I was a teen.
Given my consistently miserable and checkered record online, my tee shirt would be "Client errors 400 through 408 (All of the above. And proud of it).
Delete🤣👍🏽
DeleteBack in the fun days, eh Jinx? ====> D.
DeleteGood Morning:
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed solving this wonderful offering from our incomparable CC. The fill, especially Please Be Patient, And Yet Here We Are, Tell Me Now, Let’s Dig In, Came Up Dry, Real Mature, is stunningly fresh and vibrant. The entire puzzle just sizzles with innovation and outstanding creativity and craftsmanship. I think it’s one of the very best efforts from CC that I’ve ever solved. Brava, CC.
Thank you, CC, for such a memorable Saturday experience, and thank you, HG, for highlighting CC’s talents. Your photo array, as usual, was striking and evocative.
Have a great day.
"Educated" is well worth the read. A true story of how a young girl overcomes her restrictive, abusive upbringing in a strict Mormon household and pursues higher education on her own.
ReplyDeleteNow, that was a fun and enjoyable puzzle.
ReplyDeleteThis was the first Saturday LA Times puzzle I completed without looking anything up in several weeks. Then I came here to make sure I had everything right. My favorite clue today was 10 Down, "Item That's often turned in". Great job CC and HG.
ReplyDeleteI saw CC constructed the puzzle, and thought I had a chance at a Saturday. I ended up throwing in the towel as I couldn't get a foothold anywhere.
ReplyDeleteFIR. For a Saturday puzzle this was fair and we'll clued. Last to fall was the SE. When eye witness showed up I was in for the win. I impressed myself by filling in the long answers without any trouble. A fun puzzle to say the least.
ReplyDeleteOverall a very enjoyable puzzle.
A breezy Saturday from our fearless leader. Lots of fun clues that were on my wavelength, and anything I skipped automatically filled in by perps. I really liked how all the long phrases were in the language, nothing contrived or forced. C.C. seems to be very good at this!
ReplyDeleteMy only question is why 28A "Ending with 'Oedipus' " didn't end with a question mark?
Re: STATS GEEK. My dad was an mechanical engineer who's passion was flight. Going through his notebooks revealed pages upon pages of calculus and analytic geometry as he studied airfoil curves and propeller shapes...all for fun!
We don't need ERROR CODES when HG is at the wheel. He's always right on.
Wow! Stunning fill in today's puzzle. I had half a dozen solid DNKs, and was still able to FIR, which points to a very fair grid. Just a lovely composition. Congratulations, C.C. Burnikel, and many thanks to HG for a lively review.
ReplyDeleteCC has a talent for creating puzzles that are challenging yet very doable. She’s a real pro.
ReplyDeleteI encountered several unknowns, mainly people’s names, and WASHI, yet I FIR and felt good about myself. A lovely Saturday.
Thank you HG for your review. You’re also a pro.
Must be due to your opposable thumbs, Monkey 🤣
Delete====> Darren
Fair. Enjoyable. Appropriately challenging for a Saturday. Thanks, C.C. Thanks, H.G.
ReplyDeleteBeing a Saturday, I went directly online, instead of trying to fill pen-on-paper. The CW took several passes, first pass looking pretty grim, but the CW slowly filled with each pass, and I really enjoyed this CW. It was only after I managed to FIR in 25 that I noticed it was a creation of CC. Only 8 names, but I DNK 7. Also DNK "Bamia" or "sambar", needed a couple perps for the V-8 can.
ReplyDeleteI did have a few places that would have been W/Os had I entered my first thought, but perps set me straight: COOK/CHOP/PREP; ACTSHY/ACTCOY.
Overall, a delightful Saturday excursion. Wonderful clues, and the low name count always rings my bell. Thanx CC, very enjoyable.
Thanx too to HG for the terrific write-up. Your illustration of Christopher Reeve reminds me of why I won't ride horses. I mean, if they can kill Superman....
Well we had a crunchy Saturday puzzle, delivered by C.C. I didn't know she constructed it until after completing it. I hate it when either 1A or 1D is an unheard of unknown, WASHI this time. That's why the NW only had ATIC, ICED, and PGA until the end.
ReplyDeleteHARP or LYRE- waited for a perp.
PIXAR and HEMP were WAGs.
DEWY skin was another unheard of unknown.
TARA, REEVE, STEW. TYLER, ASHTON- not known as clued.
CLAY tennis court surfaces are not clay; in Europe they are made from crushed bricks (originally clay). In the US, they usually consist of crushed basalt.
HIT On, When I was a mediocre high jumper in HS, everybody used the straddle technique. I remember when the Fosbury Flop came out and it required a either a Cloud Nine air inflated cushion in the landing area or a tremendous cushion of foam rubber to land on. We had a sawdust pit to land in.
Big Easy- I have no idea why B.E. didn't show.
DeleteThe previous post was using Chrome browser. This one is using Microsoft Edge.
ReplyDeleteHow delightful to get this wonderful Saturday puzzle from our brilliant C.C.--what a pleasure. Thank you, C.C. and thank you too, Gary, for your always helpful commentary.
ReplyDeleteThis puzzle began with suggestions for healthy exercise like WARM UP LAPS, and healthy food, suggesting that we should eat ORGANIC. Not a bad suggestion, especially if that organic food is included in a home-made STEW. We're also encouraged to get some exercise, maybe by using a STEP LADDER to work out. We're also told to PLEASE BE PATIENT, and we can do that, since we work hard to stay REAL MATURE. So thank you again, for all this helpful advice, C.C., and we'll do our best and I'm sure it'll be a big help.
I loved this puzzle. I especially liked the clues for ATTIC, MUSH, and SCREW. A terrific puzzle.
ReplyDeleteFor once in my life, FIR on a Saturday. Loved the unique but doable fill. Took me quite a few passes but the solution slowly revealed itself. Thanks CC for the great puzzle and thanks HG for the great review.
ReplyDeleteSome very clever cluing, especially for ATTIC and SCRE;. Otherwise, I felt there were too many obscurities, even for a Saturday.
ReplyDeleteThanks to C.C. for this fun FIR! FAV clues were for STEP LADDER, SCREW, MUSH, and EYE WITNESS. Well done!
ReplyDeleteI had ACT shY before ACT COY.
Thanks to H-Gary for an equally fun tour! You are a master at "a picture is worth a thousand words". I agree with you about Christopher REEVE.
TTP: Today the Comments link in Chrome takes me to a repeat of the blog, with comments appearing below it. And at least some of us got tags like "Puzzles & Brainteasers" after our comments. That happened to me this morning when I was commenting from my Samsung phone. I'm on the PC now.
ReplyDeleteLoved the puzzle! Favorite clue was Unfinished Story…Attic. I’m a Jumble playing Cornerite, Jinx. Homes for some queens! I’ve folded origami for years, but never knew the paper was called washi. Always learn something new here at the Corner. Thanks CC and thanks HG!
ReplyDeleteWhoo, whatta workout from C.C. today! Like @UncleFred, things were lookin’ pretty grim at first; I didn’t get anything until HIVES, and the next was PALMED’OR, but fills finally started gelling in the bottom half of the grid. Last to fall was the NW; my “Doh!!” moment was getting WARMUPLAPS (I mean, I’ve only done, what, a thousand of those on the racetrack?), and that got the ball rolling to the FIR. Did not know the actresses, and LYRE was Greek to me 😆. Whew, thanks C.C. — you can do almost anything that involves a grid, can’t you!
ReplyDeleteAnother nice write-up, H.G. (My error code t-shirt would probably be a 406, heh heh). That photo of the Disneyland line on Everest is a perfect image of how the whole thing there has disintegrated into a “factory line” — get ‘em up and then (hopefully) get ‘em back down. The sad thing is that at least one of the humans in that photo will likely go back home in a body bag. I just don’t get it…spend $15+K to say “I did it”…??
On a lighter note, we had a Siberian Husky years ago, and yes, she was the most vociferous dog we’d ever owned — Tala would damn near argue with us about stuff! But they’re very lovable (although sometimes can be a bit aloof) and super-loyal; she was a sweetie.
Thanks for the fun time, C.C. and Gary!
====> Darren / L.A.
Ojai Guy. Not much to add that hasn't been said. Always enjoy C.C.'s CWs. It took some erasing but it finally came together for a FIR.
ReplyDelete