Elizabeth Duker-Gold premiered here just last month, and Devon Moffat joins her for his debut today.
20. Herbal medicines?: THYME CAPSULES. TIME CAPSULES. The U.S. recently buried a massive 900-pound cylinder near Independence Hall in Philadelphia, packed with artifacts from all 50 states and territories to mark our 250th anniversary, and is scheduled to be opened in 2276. I can hardly wait to see what's inside!
30. Veggie dogs?: BEET BOXERS. BEATBOXERS. Beatboxing is the art of mimicking drum machines and other musical instruments using only the human mouth. It has evolved into a highly competitive art form.
40. Green new deal?: PEAS TREATY. A play on PEACE TREATY, but PEAS and PEACE aren't homophones. And I'm not sure why the deal is "new"? Because it's green? The New Deal was a series of economic programs and public works projects, not a treaty.
52. Unexceptional, or an apt description of 20-, 30-, and 40-Across?: GARDEN VARIETY. I hate to be contrary like Mary, but this theme didn't totally land for me. These are all plant varieties found in gardens, I suppose, but one is herbal and the other two are vegetables. One is pronounced differently than the veggie it's replacing. And they are mixed singular and plural. So, "unexceptional" is an apt description of this puzzle as well.
On the plus side, I did like the puns in the clues. And I liked certain answer pairings such as "ITSY, bitsy, TEENY, weenie," like a yellow, polka dot bikini! Elizabeth and Devon are in the right field, and with a little nurturing, will grow into fine constructors.
Let's see what else we can reap from this.
Across:
1. Kiddie pool filler: HOSE. I wanted KIDS, but it was already part of the clue. Kidding!
5. Admin. aide: ASST. An administrative assistant.
9. General feelings: VIBES. I love the VIBES I get from listening to jazz:
14. The big screen?: IMAX. Watching movies specially formatted for huge IMAX screens can be very immersive...just don't arrive late and have to look straight up at a five-story screen from the front row. Don't ask me how I know.
15. Burrowing rodent: VOLE. I wrote MOLE, which made California's fruit hard to discern until I fixed it..
16. Vinegary sauce: ADOBO.
17. Southern region of South America: PATAGONIA. PATAGONIA is a vast geographic region shared by Argentina and Chile. It is renowned for its vast, windswept steppe, spectacular Andean glaciers, and rugged granite peaks that are very popular with trekkers.
19. Puts up for sale: LISTS.
20. [theme]
22. Crew blade: OAR. Kelsey Pfendler just made history by solo rowing 2,400 miles from California to Hawaii, breaking both men's and women's speed records. It took her 44 days!
23. Covers in goo: TARS. I don't think of TAR as goo, but I guess it is.
24. Obscure to protect privacy, perhaps: REDACT. As a bonus to all our loyal followers, I'm publishing the Crossword Corner's bank account #■■■■■■■■■■■■ so you may withdraw as much as you want!
27. Amer. capital: USD. Your bonus is in U.S. Dollars, of course. You're welcome.
28. Affectionate text: ILY. I Love You. Back in the days of beepers, we'd send 143 as an affectionate page. It represents the number of letters in each word.
29. Glasgow refusal: NAE.
30. [theme]
35. Lost: GONE. Kinda sorta the same.
36. Chabert of the "Crossword Mysteries" series: LACEY. LACEY Chabert starred as crossword editor Tess Harper in five Crossword Mysteries that aired on the Hallmark Channel.
37. Hosp. scan: MRI. Magnetic Resonance Imaging in a hospital.
38. Dancer and choreographer Ailey: ALVIN.
39. Olympic archer?: EROS. From Mount Olympus, not currently one of the participating nations.
40. [theme]
42. NLE rival of NYM: ATL. A National League East rival of the New York Mets is the Atlanta Braves.
43. Any of the Tetons: Abbr.: MTN. Short for Mountain. Tall for mountain is Everest.
44. Arabic for "son of": IBN. A possible Natick where it's first letter crosses TISANES.
45. The "T" of T.S. Eliot: THOMAS. THOMAS Sterns Eliot, Nobel Prize-winning poet, essayist, and playwright.
47. Not great: SO SO. Very great: ZOSO!
49. System of connected PCs, for short: LAN. Personal Computers communicate via a Local Area Network.
52. [theme]
55. Energy-channeling healing technique: REIKI. REIKI is a Japanese energy healing therapy that involves a practitioner lightly placing their hands on or just above a person's body. It aims to channel universal life force energy to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and support the body's natural healing abilities.
57. Cloudburst: RAINSTORM. Perfect for watering one's garden.
58. "WandaVision" star Elizabeth: OLSEN. This miniseries had a clever conceit - each episode was a decade newer than the last, starting in '50s black & white through modern color.
59. "Dibs!": MINE.
60. Shorten, in a way: SNIP.
61. Our, in French: NOTRE. "Il faut cultiver NOTRE jardin". Coined by the philosopher Voltaire, it translates to "We must cultivate our garden." He means, "Mind you own business!"
62. Some cold brews: ALES.
63. "What is it?": YEAH. As in, "YEAH? Whaddaya want?"
Down:
1. In on: HIP TO. Again, not quite the same. HIP TO means to be aware of, while "in on" means to be a participant to a secret or plan.
2. Nebraska home of the College World Series: OMAHA.
3. Forest figure of myth: SATYR.
4. Skills assessment: EXAM.
5. State fruit of California: AVOCADO.
6. Ocean waves?: SONAR. Fun clue.
7. Ignores a "wet floor" sign, maybe: SLIPS. "It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt...then it's hilarious!" (from a popular meme)
8. Steeped brews: TEAS. Or TISANES, per 41D.
9. Silicon __: VALLEY.
10. "Could not stop laughing!": I DIED. This happens when a comedian slays his audience.
11. Brazilian music genre: BOSSA NOVA.
12. SNAP system: EBT. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides food assistance benefits to low-income individuals and families via a reloadable Electronic Benefits Transfer card.
13. "Mayday!" letters: SOS.
18. Manages: GETS BY.
21. Browser links: URLS. Universal Resource Locators are web addresses.
25. "Quiet, you": CAN IT. Wanted ZIP IT first.
26. Wee: TEENY. Clecho of 54D.
27. Four Corners Natives: UTES. Four wheel drives: UTES.
28. Colorful ring: IRIS.
30. Sheepish cry?: BLEAT.
31. Mars neighbor: EARTH. Except in the candy aisle...
32. Many a climate change expert: ECOLOGIST.
33. Wolverine's cohort: X-MEN. Is just one an X-MAN?
34. Historical period: ERA.
35. "Wichita Lineman" singer Campbell: GLEN. GLEN fell in love with a demo of this song, and rushed to record it despite the 3rd verse not being written yet. He filled in the part with an improvised melodic lead using a bass guitar instead, and the rest is history.
38. Shady areas: ARBORS.
40. Condition that may be treated with SSRIs: PTSD. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors are widely considered a first-line medication for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
41. Medicinal 8-Down: TISANES. TISANES (pronounced ti-zahn) are herbal infusions made from the leaves, roots, berries, and spices of plants other than tea leaves. New to me, and I stumbled at the I crossing IBN.
43. Of the sea: MARINE. Like SpongeBob.
46. Word with peace or pace: MAKER. If four letters, it would've been KEEP.
47. SpongeBob's pet, for one: SNAIL.
48. Just like ewe: OVINE. Ha ha!
49. Currency in West Africa: LEONE. The currency of Sierra LEONE.
50. Interior courtyards: ATRIA.
51. Forest figure of myth: NYMPH.
53. Humorist Bombeck: ERMA. She achieved great popularity for her newspaper column describing suburban home life, which she later turned into books. Her insights were always funny.
54. Wee: ITSY. Clecho of 26D.
55. "This Is Us" Emmy winner __ Cephas Jones: RON. RON played Randall Pearson's real father, William Hill.
56. "Evil Woman" rock gp.: ELO. The Electric Light Orchestra. A "light orchestra" is an ensemble that has smaller string, woodwind, brass, and percussion sections. Add electric guitar and voilà! ELO.
* SLEUTH (see pic at 36A)
Be good. RB
Let's see what else we can reap from this.
Across:
1. Kiddie pool filler: HOSE. I wanted KIDS, but it was already part of the clue. Kidding!
5. Admin. aide: ASST. An administrative assistant.
9. General feelings: VIBES. I love the VIBES I get from listening to jazz:
 |
| Vibraphone master Lionel Hampton |
14. The big screen?: IMAX. Watching movies specially formatted for huge IMAX screens can be very immersive...just don't arrive late and have to look straight up at a five-story screen from the front row. Don't ask me how I know.
15. Burrowing rodent: VOLE. I wrote MOLE, which made California's fruit hard to discern until I fixed it..
16. Vinegary sauce: ADOBO.
17. Southern region of South America: PATAGONIA. PATAGONIA is a vast geographic region shared by Argentina and Chile. It is renowned for its vast, windswept steppe, spectacular Andean glaciers, and rugged granite peaks that are very popular with trekkers.
19. Puts up for sale: LISTS.
20. [theme]
22. Crew blade: OAR. Kelsey Pfendler just made history by solo rowing 2,400 miles from California to Hawaii, breaking both men's and women's speed records. It took her 44 days!
 |
| Honolulu OAR bust! |
23. Covers in goo: TARS. I don't think of TAR as goo, but I guess it is.
24. Obscure to protect privacy, perhaps: REDACT. As a bonus to all our loyal followers, I'm publishing the Crossword Corner's bank account #■■■■■■■■■■■■ so you may withdraw as much as you want!
27. Amer. capital: USD. Your bonus is in U.S. Dollars, of course. You're welcome.
28. Affectionate text: ILY. I Love You. Back in the days of beepers, we'd send 143 as an affectionate page. It represents the number of letters in each word.
29. Glasgow refusal: NAE.
30. [theme]
35. Lost: GONE. Kinda sorta the same.
36. Chabert of the "Crossword Mysteries" series: LACEY. LACEY Chabert starred as crossword editor Tess Harper in five Crossword Mysteries that aired on the Hallmark Channel.
 |
| What's a six letter word for "crime-solver"? * |
37. Hosp. scan: MRI. Magnetic Resonance Imaging in a hospital.
38. Dancer and choreographer Ailey: ALVIN.
39. Olympic archer?: EROS. From Mount Olympus, not currently one of the participating nations.
40. [theme]
42. NLE rival of NYM: ATL. A National League East rival of the New York Mets is the Atlanta Braves.
43. Any of the Tetons: Abbr.: MTN. Short for Mountain. Tall for mountain is Everest.
44. Arabic for "son of": IBN. A possible Natick where it's first letter crosses TISANES.
45. The "T" of T.S. Eliot: THOMAS. THOMAS Sterns Eliot, Nobel Prize-winning poet, essayist, and playwright.
47. Not great: SO SO. Very great: ZOSO!
 |
| Led Zeppelin's untitled 4th album, nicknamed ZoSo |
49. System of connected PCs, for short: LAN. Personal Computers communicate via a Local Area Network.
52. [theme]
55. Energy-channeling healing technique: REIKI. REIKI is a Japanese energy healing therapy that involves a practitioner lightly placing their hands on or just above a person's body. It aims to channel universal life force energy to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and support the body's natural healing abilities.
57. Cloudburst: RAINSTORM. Perfect for watering one's garden.
58. "WandaVision" star Elizabeth: OLSEN. This miniseries had a clever conceit - each episode was a decade newer than the last, starting in '50s black & white through modern color.
59. "Dibs!": MINE.
60. Shorten, in a way: SNIP.
61. Our, in French: NOTRE. "Il faut cultiver NOTRE jardin". Coined by the philosopher Voltaire, it translates to "We must cultivate our garden." He means, "Mind you own business!"
62. Some cold brews: ALES.
63. "What is it?": YEAH. As in, "YEAH? Whaddaya want?"
Down:
1. In on: HIP TO. Again, not quite the same. HIP TO means to be aware of, while "in on" means to be a participant to a secret or plan.
2. Nebraska home of the College World Series: OMAHA.
3. Forest figure of myth: SATYR.
4. Skills assessment: EXAM.
5. State fruit of California: AVOCADO.
6. Ocean waves?: SONAR. Fun clue.
7. Ignores a "wet floor" sign, maybe: SLIPS. "It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt...then it's hilarious!" (from a popular meme)
8. Steeped brews: TEAS. Or TISANES, per 41D.
9. Silicon __: VALLEY.
10. "Could not stop laughing!": I DIED. This happens when a comedian slays his audience.
11. Brazilian music genre: BOSSA NOVA.
 |
| Great VIBES from Lionel on this one as well! |
12. SNAP system: EBT. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides food assistance benefits to low-income individuals and families via a reloadable Electronic Benefits Transfer card.
13. "Mayday!" letters: SOS.
18. Manages: GETS BY.
21. Browser links: URLS. Universal Resource Locators are web addresses.
25. "Quiet, you": CAN IT. Wanted ZIP IT first.
26. Wee: TEENY. Clecho of 54D.
27. Four Corners Natives: UTES. Four wheel drives: UTES.
28. Colorful ring: IRIS.
30. Sheepish cry?: BLEAT.
31. Mars neighbor: EARTH. Except in the candy aisle...
32. Many a climate change expert: ECOLOGIST.
33. Wolverine's cohort: X-MEN. Is just one an X-MAN?
34. Historical period: ERA.
35. "Wichita Lineman" singer Campbell: GLEN. GLEN fell in love with a demo of this song, and rushed to record it despite the 3rd verse not being written yet. He filled in the part with an improvised melodic lead using a bass guitar instead, and the rest is history.
38. Shady areas: ARBORS.
40. Condition that may be treated with SSRIs: PTSD. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors are widely considered a first-line medication for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
41. Medicinal 8-Down: TISANES. TISANES (pronounced ti-zahn) are herbal infusions made from the leaves, roots, berries, and spices of plants other than tea leaves. New to me, and I stumbled at the I crossing IBN.
43. Of the sea: MARINE. Like SpongeBob.
46. Word with peace or pace: MAKER. If four letters, it would've been KEEP.
47. SpongeBob's pet, for one: SNAIL.
 |
| SpongeBob with Gary the SNAIL |
48. Just like ewe: OVINE. Ha ha!
49. Currency in West Africa: LEONE. The currency of Sierra LEONE.
50. Interior courtyards: ATRIA.
51. Forest figure of myth: NYMPH.
53. Humorist Bombeck: ERMA. She achieved great popularity for her newspaper column describing suburban home life, which she later turned into books. Her insights were always funny.
54. Wee: ITSY. Clecho of 26D.
55. "This Is Us" Emmy winner __ Cephas Jones: RON. RON played Randall Pearson's real father, William Hill.
 |
| Actors Sterling K. Brown (L) and Ron Cephas Jones (R) |
56. "Evil Woman" rock gp.: ELO. The Electric Light Orchestra. A "light orchestra" is an ensemble that has smaller string, woodwind, brass, and percussion sections. Add electric guitar and voilà! ELO.
* SLEUTH (see pic at 36A)
Be good. RB
Kind of tough, as befits a
ReplyDeleteThursday. Lots of obscure proper names and lots of “?” clues. Nevertheless, I got through it.
FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
ReplyDeleteIt took an alphabet run to get that R at the REIKI/RON cross. And then it was done. The theme was SO-SO, not really tripping my trigger. I blame it on the BOSSA NOVA. Thanx, Devon, Elizabeth, and Rusty.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Devon, Elizabeth, and Rusty Brian.
Sailed right along until the lower left.
Along the way, ALVIN (Ailey) perped in. The clue left me clueless. Ditto with LACEY. Don't think I ever saw an episode or any part of "This Is Us"
The Mars neighbor clue struck me as cute.
I didn't have the problem with the I in the unknown TISANES because Arabic "son of" is always either going to be IBN or BIN. ARBORS made the choice IBN.
However, I turfed it at the intersection of REIKI and RON. I went with Don instead of Jon. To quote Desper-otto, "Bzzzt"
Musings
ReplyDelete-Some unique cluing made this a bit of a challenge and I was really surprised when I got the online Congratulations message for filling in YEAH at the bottom. Huh?
-Aha, the HOSE that fills the pool not what the pool contains.
-The expansive IMAX vision of a liftoff of the space shuttle accompanied by HUGE speakers stunned me!
-Captain Hastings’ description of Poirot’s TISANES
-OMAHA reaps a $150M benefit from the CWS and this year had perfect weather for it.
-My colleague had one blue and one brown IRIS