Theme: Let the good times roll!
Constructor David Ding works in electrical and computer engineering, and because that is not sufficiently challenging, he also engages in creative writing and crossword puzzle construction. Today is David's Los Angeles Times debut! Congratulations, David! You can learn more about David at www.davidyding.com. While there, if you listen closely, you might still hear the Whoosh! sound of his articles and riddlers going right over the head of yours truly.
Today is Monday, and even this blogger should be able to solve the puzzle. The clue and answer that reveal the key to today's theme appear here:
59-Across. Call for action, or what one might say before using the ends of 20-, 33-, and 43-Across: LET'S GET ROLLING. This expression suggests it's time to get started on a task or begin a journey. How does it relate to the ends of the listed answers?
20-Across. Formal event attended in costume: MASQUERADE BALL. The end of 20-Across is BALL, and you might say LET'S GET ROLLING if you want to bowl, or play bocce, or skeeball -- that is, to roll a BALL.
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| masquerade ball |
33-Across. Last film starring Daniel Craig as James Bond: NO TIME TO DIE. The end of 33-Across is DIE, which can be a noun referring to a small cube with numbered faces, used in games. The plural of DIE is DICE, of course. You might say LET'S GET ROLLING if you want to start a game of dice -- that is, to roll a DIE.
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| Daniel Craig in No Time to Die |
43-Across. Official record on a ship: CAPTAIN'S LOG. Thanks to Star Trek, yours truly is familiar with the CAPTAIN'S LOG. But a LOG is not always a record book. We usually think of a LOG as a bulky section of a tree trunk or branch. You might say LET'S GET ROLLING if you want to start a rolleo -- that is, a LOG rolling competition.
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| Captain Kirk of the Starship Enterprise recording an entry in his log |
Note that the theme answers appear in symmetrically placed rows, and two of the four are just one square short of spanning the grid. Lovely construction, perfectly befitting the Los Angeles Times.
Shall we talk about the rest? LET'S GET ROLLING.
Across:1. Train for a boxing match: SPAR.
5. Love deeply: ADORE.
10. Follow directions: OBEY.
14. "Beloved" novelist Morrison: TONI. Toni Morrison (1931-2019) won the Pulitzer Prize for her novel Beloved (1987). It is a gut wrenching exposé of the horrors of slavery in the United States.
15. Kitchen gadget for apples: CORER.
16. Locale: SITE.
17. Bygone GM division: OLDS. The automobile brand Oldsmobile was founded in 1897 and acquired by General Motors in 1908. The brand was discontinued in 2004.
18. "Understood": ROGER. In early radio and Morse code communications, the letter "R" stood for "received." If spoken, the word "Roger" was used for clarity, based on the military "Able Baker" alphabet, which preceded the NATO alphabet. If the NATO alphabet had been in use in 1941, we'd be saying "Romeo that" instead of "Roger that."
19. Prize grabber in an arcade game: CLAW.
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| an exercise in frustration and loss |
20. [Theme clue]
23. Like a parent at graduation: PROUD.
24. "Man of Steel" director Zack: SNYDER. Zack Snyder has made a bunch of comic book film adapations, as well as horror and sci fi films. His Army of the Dead won the Oscars Fan Favorite at the 2022 Academy Awards.
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| Zack Snyder and the Man of Steel |
27. Scissors sound: SNIP.
30. Wimbledon org.: ATP. Here yours truly hit a fatal snag. DNK (Did Not Know) that the Association of Tennis Professionals is the global governing body of men’s professional tennis. I learned (from researching for this blog) that the ATP provides ranking information to Wimbledon, but Wimbledon is owned by the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) and overseen by the International Tennis Federation (ITF). So the relationship of ATP to Wimbledon is tenuous.
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| I rank this clue "thumb down." |
33. [Theme clue]
39. Cardamom-infused tea: CHAI.
41. Subscribe again: RENEW.
42. Turn down: DENY.
43. [Theme clue]
46. Broke bread: ATE.
47. Trace of smoke: WISP.
48. Baby goat: KID.
50. Humiliated: ABASED.
55. Walkie-talkie, e.g.: RADIO. A walkie-talkie is a portable, handheld radio transceiver that can send and receive voice messages. This can be handy for short range connections where cellular networks do not reach, like when you're out hiking.
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| walkie-talkie time |
59. [Theme clue]
62. College admissions office offering: TOUR.
63. Garden pest: APHID.
64. Hideout: LAIR.
65. Bilingual cartoon explorer: DORA. Dora the Explorer is the title character of an animated series that ran on Nickelodeon from 2000 to 2019, and then spawned sequels, a feature film, and a series reboot. Dora is Latin American, and the programs teach a little Spanish language.
66. Kitchen gadget for flour: SIEVE. This simple mesh tool helps break up lumps in flour.
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| sieve |
67. Poker buy-in: ANTE.
68. "Don't come any closer!": STOP.
69. Cuts (down): PARES.
70. Talk back to: SASS.
Down:
1. Tread heavily: STOMP.
2. __ opposites: POLAR.
3. "Consequently ... ": AND SO.
4. Racy: RISQUÉ. Naughty, suggestive, improper, indecent.
5. Zoning unit: ACRE.
6. Opportunities, metaphorically: DOORS.
7. Church instrument with pipes: ORGAN. Shout out to fellow blogger Splynter!
8. Like the sound of an oboe: REEDY. An oboe is a double reed instrument. The oboist blows air between two pieces of cut cane (reeds) that are strapped to a metal pipe. Cane is a type of large grass. Yours truly has never played the oboe, but has produced some annoying sounds by blowing on a large blade of grass held taut between her thumbs.
9. Made a blunder: ERRED.
10. Nomination from the Academy: OSCAR NOD.
11. Bar tab, e.g.: BILL.
12. List-shortening abbr.: ET AL. Latin "et alia," meaning "and others."
13. Source of some flexible wood: YEW.
21. Thick Japanese noodle: UDON.
22. Breezy email sign-off: BEST. Short way of saying "Best regards."
26. Sushi wrapper: NORI. Nori is a dried, edible seaweed. Rolled sushi uses nori to wrap up rice and fillings.
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| Vegetarian sushi rolls wrapped in nori -- yum! |
28. Brainchild: IDEA.
29. Ice cream purchase: PINT.
30. UNC's athletic gp.: ACC. This blogger's loyal followers may recall that I am allergic to organized sports. At the long-ago time that I was born, my father had his first professional position, teaching anatomy at the School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, so University of North Carolina did not throw me, but I DNK (Did Not Know) ACC, the Atlantic Coast Conference. 30-Down crossed with the unknown-to-me 30-Across ATP (loosely affiliated with Wimbledon), so the space numbered 30 remained blank.
31. Defrost: THAW.
32. Big __: David Ortiz nickname: PAPI. This blogger's troubles continued here. Have I ever heard of David Ortiz, the Dominican-American former professional baseball player nicknamed "Big Papi"? That would be a NO. 32-Down crossed with the unknown-to-me 30-Across ATP, so the space numbered 32 remained blank. I had two blank spaces -- on Monday! ATP / ACC / PAPI are to blame. I would say David Ding got dinged here ... or I did.
34. Perfect score in diving, or half a score: TEN. A "score" is a group of twenty, so half a score is ten.
35. Connections: INS.
36. EGOT-winning Brooks: MEL. Comedic actor, director, songwriter and playwright Mel Brooks has won the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards, making him a rare EGOT recipient.
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| Mel Brooks receives his first Oscar in 1967 |
37. Furry "Star Wars" creature: EWOK. These fictional cuties defied the evil Empire in 1983's Return of the Jedi, in spite of their technological disadvantages.
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| an ewok |
38. Potato spot: EYE.
40. "We've been duped!": IT'S A TRAP. How I felt about the center left block of the puzzle today.
44. Emer. alerts: APBS. All-Points Bulletins are alerts sent between law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for wanted persons or vehicles.
45. "You go, __!": GIRL. This phrase from African American culture went mainstream in the 1990s. It's a way to praise a woman or girl for an accomplishment.
49. Texas city known as "Big D": DALLAS.
51. Audibly shocked: AGASP.
52. Vintage photo tone: SEPIA.
53. Early anesthetic: ETHER.
54. Motivation: DRIVE.
56. Taurasi who holds the WNBA record for career points: DIANA. Diana Taurasi is an Argentine and American former professional basketball player. She played 20 seasons in the Women's National Basketball Association, spending her entire WNBA career with the Phoenix Mercury. She holds the all-time WNBA scoring record, and is the most decorated Olympic athlete in any team sport, winning six Olympic gold medals with the United States women's national basketball team. Perps (perpedicular entries) helped here.
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| Diana Taurasi |
57. Monogram pts.: INITS. Monogram parts are initials.
58. Fairy tale baddies: OGRES.
59. Stolen goods: LOOT.
60. Capital of France?: EURO. Not Paris -- the euro is the currency (oh, that kind of capital) of France.
61. Poems of tribute: ODES.
62. QB stats: TDS. Quarterbacks score touchdowns.
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An easy puzzle, as befits
ReplyDeletea Monday. Even the usual WNBA obscurity was easily perped, and all the rest fell into place, too.
FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
ReplyDeleteThe A at the ACC/ATP cross was an unfortunate Natick (which d-o still mispronounces with a broad A). Got it, though. Never heard of a flour SIEVE -- mom had a "sifter." Did anyone else enter OPEL as that long-gone GM division? Wite-Out, please. "It's a trap!" immediately evokes Sheldon imitating Admiral Ackbar on TBBT. At least d-o scored a Ding instead of a Bzzzzzt on this one. Thanx, David and NaomiZ.
FIR, but it's a scam->IT'S A TRAP. Not a fan of that clue, or else the fill could have been "it's a setup."
ReplyDeleteAs the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the USA nears, I remember in awe and reverence the last words of hero Todd Beamer: "LET'S ROLL." May we never forget.
Big PAPI was around before my divorce from Major League Baseball, so I remembered him. A power hitter, Daivd hit more than 500 home runs, also known as "DINGers" to color commentators.
FLN - Ojai Guy, I remember folks referring to SLO County, but not the city.
Thanks to David for the fun Monday puzzle, ironically actually scheduled by Patti for publication on a Monday. And thanks to NaomiZ for another enjoyable narrative, and for revealing that IT was a book and a movie. I was thinking that it might be I.T., starring Bayou Tony as The Ethical Hacker.
FIR. Mostly easy Monday presentation. There were a couple of proper names I had no way of knowing like Snyder, and I wasn't thrilled with the crossing of ATP and ACC. Beyond that it was pretty easy sailing.
ReplyDeleteThe theme needed the reveal to get, but it almost wasn't needed.
Overall an OK puzzle.
Good Morning:
ReplyDeleteThis was an almost perfect Monday level puzzle: the cluing was mostly straightforward, as was the fill. The pop culture was minuscule and there were no obscurities. Snyder and Diana might have been unknowns, as well as ACC and ATP, but perps did their job, IMO. The cute theme was well-hidden, at least to me, and the reveal was quite a surprise.
Thanks, David, and congrats on an impressive debut and thanks, Naomi, for tying all the loose ends together. Your detailed and informative reviews are much enjoyed and appreciated!
Have a great day.
NaomiZ, I ERRED as you did. So no FIR for me. The rest of the puzzle was a WITP. SNYDER and DIANA were the only unknown names and perps took care of them. The theme was fun and straight forward.
ReplyDeleteThank you NaomiZ for your review. You included all the info I needed.
Took 3:54 to be like Adele in the deep.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the intersection of ACC & ATP should have been avoided. I was familiar with Zack Snyder, Diana Taurasi, and even the writer of the day (Toni).
Time to go enjoy this sunny day on vacation in SC. The sunrise over the ocean was pretty, as usual.
I am curious. Do you "speak" your answers when you solve or do you type them in? I solved this one in twice your time (~ 8:00) and didn't miss an answer. Either you are an extremely fast typist or I am just super slow 😐
DeleteThank you, David and NaomiZ. Congrats on your LAT debut, David!
ReplyDeleteI didn't see the reveal coming. I even paused to consider what the answer might be before starting to fill the perps that gave me LETS GET ROLLING. To no avail. I needed the perps.
Still, a quick Monday solve. DNK Zach SNYDER. Did know Big PAPI and DIANA Taurasi.
Thanks, NaomiZ, especially for the points on ATP. Even though I accepted the clue and moved on, Wimbledon org didn't (doesn't) feel quite right as a clue for ATP. Especially the org part.
It my mind, it's a situation similar to the PGA tour and the R&A governed Open Championship in golf. Yes, it's on the schedule, and points and rankings are factored in, but the governing bodies (the orgs) are different entities.
As I've mentioned before, once a crossword clue makes its way into print, it'll be immortalized in the crossword databases. As a result, Wimbledon will be associated with ATP evermore, just as OMNI will forever be an upscale hotel chain.
DeleteAnd that the Masters Tournament isn't affiliated with the PGA Tour, or that there is a difference between the PGA of America and the PGA Tour, for that matter. I think to our body of constructors it's tomato/tamahto.
DeleteA quick 7:37 TOUR through this grid, as IM stated, pretty standard clueing and fill, just right for a Monday. The only real unknown for me was SNYDER, filled entirely by perps and I didn’t see it till the review. I did know PAPI and DIANA, but could see how a non sports fan could be tripped up by them. Was curious about MEL Brook’s EGOT, he won three Emmys, three Tonys, and surprisingly two Grammys and only one Oscar. Thanks for your fine construction David, and congrats on your LAT debut! And as always, thanks to NaomiZ for brightening the day with another sparkling follow up!
ReplyDeleteThat’s me above, forgot to click on my Google account so it defaults to anonymous.
DeleteA crunchy Monday: only 12 names, and only 3 DNKs, but still some clues that slowed me down just a bit: FIR in 10.
ReplyDeleteLTC/ATP, all via perps.
Thanx DD, nice CW. And congrats on first LA Times publication.
Thanx NaomiZ for the fun and informative write-up.
Ran the gamut of a Monday to a Friday level challenge. Lots of proper names. DIANA could have had a more Monday type clue, even PAPI (“Madrid Daddy”? , already lots of Spanish in CWs). But the theme was gettable.
ReplyDeleteATP : Adenosine triphosphate supplies energy to cells
At one point I thought it said “vintage phone tone” ”briiing, briing” wouldn’t fit 🤗
NOT, I’M A TODIE …the last Craig/Bond movie? 😄
ROGER doesn’t mean “understood” only that the message was “received” (don’t believe me? Ask Roger)
Inkovers: area/spot/SITE, parer/CORER, scoop/SIEVE ,sifter too long
Openly revealed all mistakes … ERRED
Matchmaker … PARER
Nasty but fine … EWOK
chloroform is no longer used as an anesthetic ____ … ETHER
Lets have a nice week☀️, I’m off 😉
Morning, All. Naomi - I too stumbled on just that spot. Mostly I get sports fill by “accidents” of perps. Thanks for the education! And, David, thanks for the clever theme! Also, “adore” crossed by “door” tickled me 🤷 This puzzle is a nice start for the week. Have a good one
ReplyDeleteNaomi, me too.
DeleteA wonderful Monday offering from David Ding.
ReplyDeleteSolid construction and a well hidden theme.
I FIW with one letter at ATP/ACC …. 😞 sigh
But the puzzle was clever, cute, and fun.
And I’m off to get groceries this morning.
I love that cherries and corn on the cob are in season.
Congrats on your debut L.A.Times debut David Ding.
I wish that the commenters who post regularly as ‘anonymous’ would come up with a handle, at least Darren and Ojai Guy identify themselves, And we all know SS who pretty much has naming rights to ‘anonymous’. 😂
ReplyDeleteAs I post as anonymous….LoL
DeleteI always assume the Anonomi are the same person with Mutiple Personality Disorder. It’s fun when “they” disagree and argue with each other. 😄
DeletePuzzling thoughts:
ReplyDeleteFIR in 8:00 - only word I had to change was AREA => SITE
Congrat's to David on his LAT puzzle debut
NaomiZ => Allergic to sports? Really? 🙁
66 across brought to mind a limerick (or Moe-l'ick, as Wilbur Charles [RIP] called them):
A big fight commenced with our first daughter,
Over present my husband had bought her.
She just couldn't forgive
That he got her a SIEVE;
His apologies just won't hold water.
Constructor Finished it Wrong - CFIW
ReplyDeleteHand up ATP : Adenosine triphosphate supplies energy to cells
Crossed names are bad enough.
But crossed obscure initials crossed with obscure nickname?
Too bad. The puzzle was fun otherwise and the theme was good.
Moving Monday. Thanks for the fun, David (congrats on your LAT debut) and NaomiZ.
ReplyDeleteI FIWed like NaomiZ with an I in that unknown-to-me Natick cross of ATP and ACC (I chose an I for International).
But I did get the ROLLING theme (although it took a minute to remember and parse NOTIMETODIE.
SNYDER and DIANA perped, thankfully.
I wanted IT’S A fake before TRAP.
I had the DIO and entered.auDIO before RADIO perped.
Wishing you all a great day.
Hand up for the Natick at square 30...gee, it could so easily have an F which would've made for easier cluing. Still, a terrific puzzle. Thanks and congrats to David, and thanks, Naomi!
ReplyDeleteI liked this puzzle but FIW for the same reason some of you did.
ReplyDeleteNaomi, I very much enjoy your write-ups.
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On a non-puzzle note:
At my request my granddaughter compiled photos and music into a video to celebrate and remember my wife who passed away a year ago. If any of you wish to view it, please email me and I will email you the YouTube link.
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Good reading all your comments.
Easy and fun Monday. Thanks David! Several sports related clues, which are usually right up my alley. Thanks NaomiZ for the always informative review!
ReplyDelete