The best title for this puzzle would have to simply be the reveal, COME TOGETHER, because the circled letters spell COME as they slowly come together in each theme clue/answer.
20 Across. Question, as the opposing side's witness: CROSS EXAMINE.
34 Across. Settings that reinforce personal biases: ECHO CHAMBERS.
41 Across. Tool for monitoring blood sugar levels: GLUCOSE METER.
55 Across. Classic Beatles song, or an apt description of the progression of this puzzle's circles: COME TOGETHER.
1. Baked desserts: PIES.
5. "Shoot!": DRAT.
9. Threaded fastener: SCREW.
14. Kendrick of "Pitch Perfect": ANNA. Name #1
15. Learning by memorization: ROTE.
16. Throw with effort: HEAVE.
17. A little naughty: RACY.
18. Big brass horn: TUBA.
19. Prodded: URGED.
20. [Theme]
23. Location of all but two NATO members: EUROPE.
24. Overly: TOO.
25. Covered in cinders: ASHY.
29. Cell service letters: LTE. LTE stands for Long Term Evolution. It is the standard 4G wireless technology that powers your mobile internet, streaming, and calls when you are not connected to Wi-Fi. It delivers fast, reliable data speeds that are significantly smoother than older 3G networks.
30. List-ending abbr.: ETC. (as long as we are explaining abbreviations:) Etc. stands for the Latin phrase et cetera, which translates literally to "and the rest" or "and other things" in English.
32. Giants legend Mays: WILLIE. Name #2
34. [Theme]
37. Breathe hard: PANT.
39. Language similar to Thai: LAO. I found this to be a rather nasty Natick when crossed with 31 down...
40. Fashioned: MADE.
41. [Theme]
44. Stop working: RETIRE.
45. Icarus, to Daedalus: SON.
46. The first "A" of Reddit's AMA: ASK. (AMA = ask me anything)
49. Landfill output: ODOR.
50. Some short albums: EPS. Extended Play, (I have never seen one...)
53. No longer surprised by: USED TO. (I would be surprised if I saw an EP Album...)
55. [Theme Reveal]
58. Was able to: COULD.
61. Comedian Trevor: NOAH. Name #3
62. "Take this": HERE.
Used to the extreme in the Goes Wrong Show...
63. Possessed: OWNED.
64. Sushi seaweed: NORI.
65. Zone: AREA.
66. Trudges heavily: PLODS.
67. "What __ is new?": ELSE.
68. Element seen all over Las Vegas: NEON.
Down:
1. Package: PARCEL.
2. Bored by routine: IN A RUT.
3. "Do it again!": ENCORE.
4. Authorization: SAY SO.
5. The Electric Mayhem bandleader: DR. TEETH. Name #4
6. Common sauce base: ROUX.
How to Roux...
7. Facing the pitcher: AT BAT.
8. Spanish "I love you": TE AMO. (Te=you, Amo=I love)
9. Give the cold shoulder: SHUN.
10. Individually wrapped breakfast choice: CEREAL BAR.
11. Cleaning cloth: RAG.
12. Night of anticipation: EVE.
13. Hitched: WED.
21. Ronnie who sang lead on "Be My Baby": SPECTOR. Name #5
22. Corn Belt state: IOWA.
26. Luge or skeleton: SLED.
27. Add to the staff: HIRE.
28. Desired response to a promposal: YES.
31. Kenneth of fashion: COLE. (The other half of a nasty Natick...) Name #6
33. Gigantic: IMMENSE.
34. Surrounded: ENCIRCLED. Like today's theme letters...
35. Pic taker: CAM. I call foul on this one, as I wanted SLR... abbreviated picture = abbreviated camera? Meh...
36. Weeding tools: HOES.
37. Claimed no contest, maybe: PLED.
38. Prefix with correct or complete: AUTO.
41. Miracle-__: garden brand: GRO.
42. Appear to be: SEEM.
43. Difficult question: TOUGHIE.
46. Show some stick-to-itiveness?: ADHERE. ð
47. Audiophile's system: STEREO.
48. Like BTS or bibimbap: KOREAN. (Either you know it, or you don't. Perps to the rescue...)
51. Tubular pasta: PENNE.
52. Perch at a pub: STOOL.
54. Hawke of "Before Sunrise": ETHAN. Name #7
56. Action figures?: ODDS. ð
57. Rowboat pair: OARS.
58. Many a "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" character: COP.
59. Bird in Tootsie Pop ads: OWL.
60. Game with Reverse cards: UNO.
The Grid
Today's hasty review is brought to you from a hotel room in Bar Harbor, Maine. I am on vacation (sort of) and I spent most of my day here:
CE:D out...
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áĻāļ
Another easy one.
ReplyDeleteBut it was nice to be reminded of one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite bands.
Anyway, FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
ReplyDeleteThis was a quick adventure. My only misstep was CEREAL BOX where BAR needed to go. Landfill ODOR reminded me of a former coworker. He made a career building methane-fueled power stations, sinking pipes into a landfill, collecting the methane, and using it to produce electricity. Thanx, Matthew and CE:D.
FIR. Hand up for cereal box->CEREAL BAR (¯\_(ã)_/¯.) Also, trods->PLODS, and ragu->ROUX.
ReplyDeleteMy RV home is out in the boonies. I usually get one-bar LTE service, but sometimes I get "SOS" service, whatever that is. My guess is that if I call 911, the phone will try to connect using whatever provider has service at my location. Quite a contrast from my four-bar 5G UW service at my sticks-and-bricks home.
I haven't been to Las Vegas in a long time. I was surprised to read that there is still a lot of NEON still in use there. LEDs require much less maintenance and electricity.
I had no idea what bibimbap is, but I remember that "Boys That Sing" are KOREAN.
I loved Ronnie SPECTOR's cameo appearance in Eddy Money's Take Me Home Tonight.
Thanks to Matthew for the fun, if A&E overloaded, Tuesday puzzle. And thanks to CED for another fine review, except that your LTE reference is a little dated. 3G service no longer exists, and LTE is a subset of the full 4G specifications. 5G is the current king.