Saturday Themeless by Matthew Luter
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Dr. Matthew Luter is a writer and teacher in Jackson, MS. Originally from Laurel, MS, he is an alumnus of Millsaps College and of the University of North Carolina. He teaches courses in American literature at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School.
Dr. Matthew Luter is a writer and teacher in Jackson, MS. Originally from Laurel, MS, he is an alumnus of Millsaps College and of the University of North Carolina. He teaches courses in American literature at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School.The solve was fun until the NE corner where INTERROBANG was really "out there". Usually long fill is very helpful but it provided no help with a part of the puzzle that was a challenge to me. It MADE NO SENSE.
ACROSS
1. Nowhere near: AFAR.
5. Allegro: RAPID. - I'm confident that our cultured solvers here at the corner know at the Allegro Spring movement from Vivaldi's Four Seasons! Listen to this unique presentation of this Allegro piece
5. Allegro: RAPID. - I'm confident that our cultured solvers here at the corner know at the Allegro Spring movement from Vivaldi's Four Seasons! Listen to this unique presentation of this Allegro piece
10. Improvise: VAMP.
14. Podcaster's software option: GARAGE BAND - A Mac product
14. Podcaster's software option: GARAGE BAND - A Mac product
16. Cricket field shape: OVAL.
17. Conversion that some pray will be successful?: EXTRA POINT 😀
18. Work with Python, say: CODE.
19. Arise: EMERGE.
20. Retraced one's steps, in a way: PACED.
21. Light touch: PAT.
24. Hybrid punctuation mark: INTERROBANG ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
26. Unsure where to go: ADRIFT.
28. Logical start: GEO.
29. Jane in a suit?: DOE 😀 Jane DOE is the female equivalent of John Doe. They simply refer to an unknown person in a legal matter.
30. Pantheon honoree: DEITY.
31. Cereal with a vanilla-flavored Confetti version: CHEERIOS.
28. Logical start: GEO.
29. Jane in a suit?: DOE 😀 Jane DOE is the female equivalent of John Doe. They simply refer to an unknown person in a legal matter.
30. Pantheon honoree: DEITY.
31. Cereal with a vanilla-flavored Confetti version: CHEERIOS.
34. Back up: SAVE.
35. Kleptocracy ruler: THIEF.
36. "The Mystery at Lilac Inn" sleuth: DREW - From October 1930
38. Setting of Frank McCourt's "Angela's Ashes": LIMERICK - You can join this tour at 20 O'Connell St, Prior's-Land, Limerick, Ireland
42. Sportscaster Patrick: DAN.
43. Words of warning: OR ELSE.
44. Absolute noob: RANK AMATEUR - Me at chess
48. Steered: LED.
49. Pretty penny or bad penny: IDIOM.
50. Collection of highlights, perhaps: TOP TEN
52. Dreamcast maker: SEGA.
53. Help line?: DO ME A SOLID.
57. Kathryn of "WandaVision": HAHN ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
58. Strong desire for one in search of just desserts?: SWEET TOOTH. 😀
59. Secondary social media accounts: ALTS - I barely have any primaries let alone any secondaries
60. Pernod flavor: ANISE.
Down:
1. Actuarial stat: AGE - I'll soon turn 80 and this is what one actuarial says my future looks like.
2. Quaint transmission: FAX - 😀 Not transmitting much anymore
3. Word with pop or op: ART.
4. Like an Inverted Jenny stamp: RARE - This misprint can be worth as much as two million dollars.
6. "Cancel the launch!": ABORT - Jim Lovell considered this option during the launch of Apollo 13
7. 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year Bueckers: PAIGE.
8. Something that may be on display while playing D&D: INNER GEEK 😀
9. "Silent Spring" subj.: DDT.
10. Informal lexicon: VOCAB.
11. Vegetarian sushi option: AVOCADO ROLL.
12. Beggared belief: MADE NO SENSE.
13. Fundraising promise: PLEDGE.
15. Turn into a competition, say: GAMIFY - The most famous example of this (3:10)
20. Subpar: POOR.
21. Trampoline park gear: PADS.
22. "We agreed on this!": A DEAL'S A DEAL.
23. Bar exam setting?: TRIVIA NIGHT - Matthew took some pretty big liberties with the language here but it was fun when I "got it"!
25. Utah's Capitol __ National Park: REEF.
27. Article: ITEM.
31. Neighborhood that may contain a paifang: CHINA TOWN.
32. Minute Maid brand: HI-C.
33. Unserious: IDLE.
35. Mine wagon: TRAM - An electric TRAM hauling gold or silver at the Bohemia Mine in Cottage Grove, OR. Postmarked 1909.
37. Intruder from under the surface: WEED.
39. Semisoft cheese: EDAM.
40. Halt: ARREST.
41. Country star Yearwood: TRISHA - She has been married to this "other singer" since 2005.
43. Showed up at dinner?: OUTATE - If. you GAMIFY eating...
45. Zen riddles: KOANS - I learned this in cwd and I know the example of, "What is the sound made by one hand clapping?"
46. "The Wrestler" Oscar nominee: TOMEI - Her portrayal a stripper won accolades for her acting and 44-year-old body.
47. Light blades: EPEES.
51. Alcove: NOOK.
53. Mamdani political org.: DSA.
54. Bath lav: LOO.
55. "__ no use": ITS.
56. Org. that oversees 41-Across: DHS.
I got it!
ReplyDeleteIt was tough but doable.
FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
ReplyDeleteAm I wasting my time, or is Blogger commenting fixed? We'll soon find out.
Yay, d-o finished a Saturday stumper, and in less than ten minutes, too. "Kleptocracy" is a pretty good description of the current administration. A different Dan Patrick is the current Texas Lieutenant Governor who also happens to be an ex-sportscaster. I owned a pair of KOSS headphones back in the early '60s. Now I use Audio Technica. I enjoyed your puzzling efforts, Matthew, and your expo, Husker.