Theme: "What am I...?" *
This is Bill Thompson's second LAT puzzle, but I don't remember ever seeing Ann Thompson Richter. Maybe a father-daughter team? It would be interesting to hear from them today. Moving on...
18A. Portrayer of the Elf maiden Arwen in "The Lord of the Rings" : LIV TYLER. You may not know that this hauntingly beautiful lady is the daughter of Steven Tyler of Aerosmith.
26A. Exist like a mob informant, say : LIVE IN FEAR. I thought of Vinnie Antonelli in "My Blue Heaven". A hilarious comedy, and he didn't seem to be living in fear...
49A. Enjoy leisurely : LINGER OVER. I think Bill G. must linger over his delicious lunches!
60A. Solon : LAW GIVER. A "slightly" more modern clue would be John Huston's role in "Battle for the Planet of the Apes".
And the unifier:
69A. It's chopped, in a way, in 18-, 26-, 49- and 60-Across : LIVER. I thought it was elegant to "chop" in different ways in each theme entry.
*The phrase "What am I, chopped liver?" has different meanings, but generally refers to a feeling of being overlooked or under appreciated.
Marti here, blogging another Thursday. I love puzzles on this day of the week - not so frustrating as Friday or Saturday, but more challenging than those "simple" Monday - Tuesday offerings! So, let's analyze this puppy:
Across:
1. Leader elected by monks : ABBOT. I don't think Michael Sharp would argue about the accuracy of this clue.
6. Jazz aficionado : CAT. As in "Hep cat" or "cool cat".
9. "__ Astor": Sargent portrait : LADY. This lady.
13. Rule : GOVERN
15. Maker of Good Grips kitchen tools : OXO. Is this the new "asp"?
16. __ of mystery : AURA
17. Former quarterback Peete : RODNEY. He was the first player from USC to win the Johnny Unitas award as the best quarterback. His NFL career was less distinguished, though.
20. Hunk's pride : ABs
21. The sun, in Cancún : EL SOL
23. Award for books on tape : AUDIE. Apt name.
24. Torchiere, e.g. : FLOOR LAMP
29. Mlle. counterpart : SRTA
33. Nut in a cupule : ACORN
34. Words in a market report : ARE UP. (I wish...)
36. Equip with firepower : ARM
37. Somersaulting dive : GAINER. Do not try this at home!
39. Executive position : TOP JOB. This one started on the bottom floor, and worked up.
41. Tolkien creature : ORC
42. "Pink Shoe Laces" singer Stevens : DODIE. Yay! Music link!
46. Green shade : OLIVE.
47. Tourney ranking : SEED
51. 1988 Radio Hall of Fame inductee : AMOS 'N ANDY
53. Boss, in Swahili : BWANA. My Swahili is a little rusty, so I'll take your word for it!
56. Beatles title woman who "made a fool of everyone" : SADIE. Interesting comments by Lennon below this video. (Click on "Show more".)
57. Bit of work : ERG
62. Santa Catalina's only city : AVALON
64. All: Pref. : OMNI
65. Wrap up : END
66. Place for a picture : CINEMA
67. Narc's goal : BUST. Is this what they're after?
68. Old IBM PCs : XTS
Down:
1. Indian tomb site : AGRA. Hey Vidwan - we're back in Agra!
2. Nincompoop : BOOB. (see 67a)
3. Briefs not seen in court : BVDS. OK, I want to know what the "weight" and "softness" scales on the left side are really referring to???
4. Sommelier's prefix : OEN
5. Like many a New England street : TREE LINED
6. Kid finishing a book, maybe : COLORER
7. They're under shoulder joints, anatomically : AXILLAE
8. "Mazel __!" : TOV
9. Bucks shots : LAYUPS. Milwaukee Bucks, basketball team.
10. Seasonal song starter : AULD. (frown)
11. Eins und zwei : DREI. Eins zwei drei vier fünf sechs sieben acht neun zehn. (Quiz, to follow.)
12. Easy to maneuver, at sea : YARE. Or, "yar"
14. Versatile synthetic : NYLON
19. Cap with a pom-pom called a toorie : TAM
22. Remote hiding place? : SOFA. The TV remote always seems to get buried between the cushions, doesn't it? Clever clue.
24. Frond bearer : FERN
25. Stuck, after "in" : A RUT
26. Old Nigerian capital : LAGOS
27. Words of compassion : I CARE
28. Walt Disney, vis-à-vis Mickey Mouse : VOICE
30. Indira's successor : RAJIV. After Indian Prime Minister Indira Ghandi was assassinated, her elder son took office. Rajiv himself was assassinated in 1991. Sounds like a dangerous job...
31. Treasure stash : TROVE
32. Brew hue : AMBER
35. Unfortunate soul : POOR DEVIL
38. Chewy caramel candy : ROLO
40. Sneaky maneuver : PLOY
43. Buck the majority : DISSENT
44. Guts : INNARDS
45. Quaint outburst : EGAD
48. "Aw, shucks!" : DANG IT. EGAD, two in a row!
50. "Giant Brain" unveiled in 1946 : ENIAC. "Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer". Its design and construction were financed by the US Army during WWII to calculate artillery firing tables.
52. It follows April in Paris : MAI. Janvier Février Mars Avril Mai Juin Juillet Août Septembre Octobre Novembre Décembre. (Quiz, to follow.)
53. Shapeless form : BLOB. This was my first drive in movie. It scared the begeesus out of me!
54. U.S.'s largest S&L until its 2008 collapse : WAMU. Washington Mutual.
55. Botanical bristles : AWNS
57. Mtn. statistic : ELEV. Mtn. abbreviation indicates abbreviation of the answer. Elevation.
58. Where all roads lead? : ROME. When you get there, do as the Romans do.
59. Growl : GNAR. I thought this was short for "gnarly". Snowboarder friends use it a lot to describe awesome jumps. But there it is in the dictionary: snarl or growl. Oh well, what do snowboarders know, anyway??
61. Annoy : VEX
63. "Wheel of Fortune" purchase : AN I
Answer grid.
Until next time!
Marti
This is Bill Thompson's second LAT puzzle, but I don't remember ever seeing Ann Thompson Richter. Maybe a father-daughter team? It would be interesting to hear from them today. Moving on...
18A. Portrayer of the Elf maiden Arwen in "The Lord of the Rings" : LIV TYLER. You may not know that this hauntingly beautiful lady is the daughter of Steven Tyler of Aerosmith.
26A. Exist like a mob informant, say : LIVE IN FEAR. I thought of Vinnie Antonelli in "My Blue Heaven". A hilarious comedy, and he didn't seem to be living in fear...
49A. Enjoy leisurely : LINGER OVER. I think Bill G. must linger over his delicious lunches!
60A. Solon : LAW GIVER. A "slightly" more modern clue would be John Huston's role in "Battle for the Planet of the Apes".
And the unifier:
69A. It's chopped, in a way, in 18-, 26-, 49- and 60-Across : LIVER. I thought it was elegant to "chop" in different ways in each theme entry.
*The phrase "What am I, chopped liver?" has different meanings, but generally refers to a feeling of being overlooked or under appreciated.
Marti here, blogging another Thursday. I love puzzles on this day of the week - not so frustrating as Friday or Saturday, but more challenging than those "simple" Monday - Tuesday offerings! So, let's analyze this puppy:
Across:
1. Leader elected by monks : ABBOT. I don't think Michael Sharp would argue about the accuracy of this clue.
6. Jazz aficionado : CAT. As in "Hep cat" or "cool cat".
9. "__ Astor": Sargent portrait : LADY. This lady.
13. Rule : GOVERN
15. Maker of Good Grips kitchen tools : OXO. Is this the new "asp"?
16. __ of mystery : AURA
17. Former quarterback Peete : RODNEY. He was the first player from USC to win the Johnny Unitas award as the best quarterback. His NFL career was less distinguished, though.
20. Hunk's pride : ABs
21. The sun, in Cancún : EL SOL
23. Award for books on tape : AUDIE. Apt name.
24. Torchiere, e.g. : FLOOR LAMP
29. Mlle. counterpart : SRTA
33. Nut in a cupule : ACORN
34. Words in a market report : ARE UP. (I wish...)
36. Equip with firepower : ARM
37. Somersaulting dive : GAINER. Do not try this at home!
39. Executive position : TOP JOB. This one started on the bottom floor, and worked up.
41. Tolkien creature : ORC
42. "Pink Shoe Laces" singer Stevens : DODIE. Yay! Music link!
46. Green shade : OLIVE.
47. Tourney ranking : SEED
51. 1988 Radio Hall of Fame inductee : AMOS 'N ANDY
53. Boss, in Swahili : BWANA. My Swahili is a little rusty, so I'll take your word for it!
56. Beatles title woman who "made a fool of everyone" : SADIE. Interesting comments by Lennon below this video. (Click on "Show more".)
57. Bit of work : ERG
62. Santa Catalina's only city : AVALON
64. All: Pref. : OMNI
65. Wrap up : END
66. Place for a picture : CINEMA
67. Narc's goal : BUST. Is this what they're after?
68. Old IBM PCs : XTS
Down:
1. Indian tomb site : AGRA. Hey Vidwan - we're back in Agra!
2. Nincompoop : BOOB. (see 67a)
3. Briefs not seen in court : BVDS. OK, I want to know what the "weight" and "softness" scales on the left side are really referring to???
4. Sommelier's prefix : OEN
5. Like many a New England street : TREE LINED
6. Kid finishing a book, maybe : COLORER
7. They're under shoulder joints, anatomically : AXILLAE
8. "Mazel __!" : TOV
9. Bucks shots : LAYUPS. Milwaukee Bucks, basketball team.
10. Seasonal song starter : AULD. (frown)
11. Eins und zwei : DREI. Eins zwei drei vier fünf sechs sieben acht neun zehn. (Quiz, to follow.)
12. Easy to maneuver, at sea : YARE. Or, "yar"
14. Versatile synthetic : NYLON
19. Cap with a pom-pom called a toorie : TAM
22. Remote hiding place? : SOFA. The TV remote always seems to get buried between the cushions, doesn't it? Clever clue.
24. Frond bearer : FERN
25. Stuck, after "in" : A RUT
26. Old Nigerian capital : LAGOS
27. Words of compassion : I CARE
28. Walt Disney, vis-à-vis Mickey Mouse : VOICE
30. Indira's successor : RAJIV. After Indian Prime Minister Indira Ghandi was assassinated, her elder son took office. Rajiv himself was assassinated in 1991. Sounds like a dangerous job...
31. Treasure stash : TROVE
32. Brew hue : AMBER
35. Unfortunate soul : POOR DEVIL
38. Chewy caramel candy : ROLO
40. Sneaky maneuver : PLOY
43. Buck the majority : DISSENT
44. Guts : INNARDS
45. Quaint outburst : EGAD
48. "Aw, shucks!" : DANG IT. EGAD, two in a row!
50. "Giant Brain" unveiled in 1946 : ENIAC. "Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer". Its design and construction were financed by the US Army during WWII to calculate artillery firing tables.
52. It follows April in Paris : MAI. Janvier Février Mars Avril Mai Juin Juillet Août Septembre Octobre Novembre Décembre. (Quiz, to follow.)
53. Shapeless form : BLOB. This was my first drive in movie. It scared the begeesus out of me!
54. U.S.'s largest S&L until its 2008 collapse : WAMU. Washington Mutual.
55. Botanical bristles : AWNS
57. Mtn. statistic : ELEV. Mtn. abbreviation indicates abbreviation of the answer. Elevation.
58. Where all roads lead? : ROME. When you get there, do as the Romans do.
59. Growl : GNAR. I thought this was short for "gnarly". Snowboarder friends use it a lot to describe awesome jumps. But there it is in the dictionary: snarl or growl. Oh well, what do snowboarders know, anyway??
61. Annoy : VEX
63. "Wheel of Fortune" purchase : AN I
Answer grid.
Until next time!
Marti
