Theme: LIGHT-HEADED (60. Feeling woozy ... and a hint to the first words of the answers to starred clues)- Synonym theme.
17A. *Precarious position: SHAKY GROUND.
38A. *1979 boxing sequel: ROCKY II.
11D. *Hall of Fame pitcher with the 1930s Cardinals: DIZZY DEAN.
31D. *Very small chance: FAINT HOPE.
C.C. here, filling in a Wednesday blogging gap.
From
the byline, we can see that this puzzle's idea was Gail's. Constructor
who dreams up the theme normally has her/his name come up first
in byline order. So, this is a GAB puzzle (Gail and Bruce). If Bruce's
name comes up first, then we'll have BAG (Bruce and Gail) puzzle. That's
their code.
Some of you know I have low blood pressure. When the numbers get
too low, I feel DIZZY. I don't use ROCKY to describe
light-headedness though. I'm a happy person if I can make 92/65. Tough job! Very odd problem for someone who loves all kinds of pickled stuff.
Across:
1. Italian fashion label: PRADA. Two more five-letter candidates: FENDI & GUCCI.
6. Invasive Asian vine: KUDZU.
11. CSI lab sample: DNA.
14. "Cosmos" host: SAGAN (Carl).
15. Symphonic winds: OBOES.
16. + or - particle: ION.
19. Zoo opening in Britain: ZED. Just the opening letter: Zoo
20. Long-lasting needlework?: TATTOO. Cute clue.
21. Hero of Uris' "Exodus": ARI.
22. Business magnate: CZAR.
23. Lowest in fat: LEANEST. We also have 28. Most coquettish: COYEST Also .46. Not as clear: HAZIER.
25. "And __ off!": THEY'RE.
27. Take it easy: REST. So glad you're now "clean as a whistle", dear Spitzboov!
Spitzboov, Betty & Argyle
28. Grade-schooler: CHILD.
29. Fido's poodle amie: FIFI.
32. Classification prefix meaning "arrangement": TAXO. Learning moment for me.
34. What candidates "press" a lot of: FLESH.
37. Time division: ERA. FYI, Dave 2, "Lucy Baines" is a song by Chad Mitchell Trio. D-Otto burned a special CD for Boomer, who's been blasting those songs.
40. Wanted poster letters: AKA.
41. Do an airport maintenance job: DE-ICE.
43. Eager about, with "on": KEEN.
44. Foul mood: SNIT.
45. __ Ark: NOAH'S.
47. "Get outta there!": SCAT.
49. Bronchial woe: ASTHMA.
51. Totally puzzled: AT A LOSS. For words.
54. Journalist Paula: ZAHN. Have not watched anything by her after her CNN days.
55. It has a dozen signs: Abbr.: ZOD. OK. Zodiac.
57. Low clouds: STRATI.
59. "Evil Woman" band, briefly: ELO.
62. Knock: RAP.
63. Former Houston hockey team: AEROS. Houston Aeros (1994–2013). Wiki said they were the "AHL affiliate of the NHL's Minnesota Wild. The team is now the Iowa Wild." I forgot. I don't follow the Wild.
64. Tequila plant: AGAVE.
65. Citrus suffix: ADE.
66. __-Roman wrestling: GRECO.
67. Doled (out): METED.
Down:
1. Subtle summons: PSST.
2. 1986 Indy 500 champ Bobby: RAHAL. Not UNSER.
3. Colorful quartz: AGATE.
4. '60s TV show whose title means "doctor" in Swahili: DAKTARI. Unknown to me.
5. "Do I have a volunteer?": ANYONE? Anyone?
6. "MASH" setting: Abbr.: KOR. Korea.
7. WWII sub: U BOAT. Sometimes it's E-BOAT.
8. Gloomy: DOUR.
9. Apex: ZENITH.
10. Amer. money: USD.
12. Lack of musical skill: NO EAR.
13. Agassi of tennis: ANDRE.
18. Heads for: GOES TO.
22. Honeycomb unit: CELL. I'm loving Aldi's raw honey lately.
24. Puts into piles: STACKS.
26. LP player: HI FI.
29. Gave grub to: FED.
Here is a typical kitchen in Guangzhou. My friend Carmen's home. One light soy sauce, one dark soy sauce, olive oil, peanut oil, white pepper, salt and sugar. Oh, Jayce, I just learned yesterday that 胡椒粉 and 花椒粉 are different. Carmen, you and Boomer use 胡椒粉. But my brother uses 花椒粉 (Sichuan peppercorns powder).
Theme: Whatever moves you. The second word of each 2 or 3 word theme entry indicates a descriptor for being highly motivated. I wouldn't say they are quite synonyms, by they do have a common feel. These are the characteristics of ambition and, with along with some luck, skill, and tenacity, success - in business, sports, music or any meaningful endeavor.
17 A. Solar power, e.g. : RENEWABLEENERGY. Five types are recognized: solar, wind, biomass, geothermal and hydroelectric. Personally, ENERGY is what gets you out of bed to face the challenges of the day.
26 A. Soul mate : KINDREDSPIRIT. Those with similar interests and attitudes are KINDRED SPIRITS. Soul mates are bound together more tightly than that, IMHO. Many years ago, I wrote a sonnet about them [see below]. Personally, SPIRIT is the enthusiasm that keeps you going.
THE SUBSTITUTE
There are those whose lives are meant to be entwined,
Lovers thrust together by the force of destiny,
When choice and fate converge, that they may be
Connected at the soul, the heart, the mind.
Within their closed circumference one can find
Two curves in perfect fit -- his yang, her yin,
That in each cycle once again begin
To cluster into love's sweet spiral bind.
But consider -- if in the vast span of infinity
One of them becomes displaced in small degree;
Is born a decade late, perhaps is sent
To the farthest corner of the continent --
The distant echo of an unfelt touch, an unseen face.
Who will be the one who comes to take his place?
48 A. Heavy military barrage : ARTILLERYFIRE. An assault using cannons, mortars, and other weaponry with greater range fire power than rifles and hand guns. Personally, FIRE [as, in the belly] is powerful ambition and determination.
63 A. Common transmission feature : FRONT WHEELDRIVE. Unsurprisingly, this is a tranny system that provides power to the front wheels of a vehicle. Personally, DRIVE is the urge, sometimes innate, to achieve a goal or satisfy a need.
This theme is at once simple, but also possibly a bit elusive. And there's plenty of it, with 2 grid-spanning entries and 2 more at 13 letters each. The trade-off is more words of shorter length than is typical for a Wednesday. The lack of a unifier mid-week is also a little strange.
Hi, gang, JazzBumpa here, somehow feeling motivated. How about you? Lets FIRE it up, get the SPIRIT moving, and use that ENERGY to DRIVE through today's puzzle.
Across
1. Dull : HO-HUM. What - bored already? C'mon, let's keep it moving - at least as far as 20A.
6. "Stronger than dirt" cleanser : AJAX. This is how I remember it. [Yes, I am THAT old!]
10. PCs' "brains" : CPUS. Central Processing Units.
14. Backspace over : ERASE. On a computer, not a typewriter.
15. Try to throw, at a rodeo : BUCK. The highly motivated action of an unwillingly mounted animal.
16. Tall concert instrument : HARP. One harp player I've worked with transports hers in a repurposed hearse.
20. Animal that sounds dull : BOAR. Male hog. Here's an insect that sounds even duller.
43. Any of three 10th-century Holy Roman Emperors : OTTO. The HRE started with Charlemagne in 800 A. D. and ended with Francis II in 1806. For several decades it was run on Otto-pilot.
Otto I [The Great] 962-973 Otto II 973-983 Otto III 996-1002
45. Jazzman Jackson : MILT. Vibraphonist Milton "Bags" Jackson [1923-1999] was a founder of the Modern Jazz Quartet. Here is a slightly different line up.
46. Caravan stops : OASES. Fertile desert spots, with water.
51. Exact revenge on : GET. As in GET even.
52. Big lug : OAF. Lout, churl.
53. Letters after thetas : IOTAS. Not fond of this at all. The Greek alphabet is a unique thing, as are each of the letters in it. Sure, some word could have multiple IOTAS in it, but that is not the sense of this clue.
56. Until next time, in texts : TTYL. Talk To You Later.
59. Slanted page? : OP-ED. Located Opposite to the Editorial Page. Viewpoints are only slanted if you disagree.
66. Sportswear brand : IZOD. Ordinary clothing adorned with an expensive alligator.
67. Lawman played by Russell and Costner : EARP. Wyatt, of OK Corral fame.
68. Ill-fated Ford : EDSEL. Manufactured from 1958-60. Now a collectors item.
69. Lady Gaga's "Cheek to Cheek" duettist Bennett : TONY. These kids are having way too much fun.
70. Helpful hints : TIPS. Pro-tip: see if you can land a gig with Lady Gaga.
4. Password partners : USER IDS. Protection for your on-line activities.
5. Litter cry : MEW. It's the cat's meow.
6. "SOS" band : ABBA.
7. Month with fireworks : JULY. This is what makes the 4th of July my least favorite holiday.
8. Blackjack components : ACES. Along with face cards or 10s. Blackjack is the name of the game, but also a 2-card holding consisting of an ace, counting 11 points, along with one of the other mentioned cards, counting 10. Other spot cards have the count of their pips. Winner is the player who comes closest to 21 without going over, regardless of the number of cards held.
32. Foot bones : TARSI. A cluster of 7 articulating bones at the back of the foot. Five of them connect to the metatarsals - the long bones of the foot.
37. Overpower with a shock : TASE. Use a Taser, an elecroshock gun, on someone.
40. Give off : EMIT. As light, heat, or an odor.
41. Boxer Oscar De La __ : HOYA. [b 1973] He holds dual American and Mexican citizenship. Representing the U. S., he won an olympic gold medal in 1992.
44. Fine cotton fabric : ORGANDY. A translucent fabric that is usually stiffened and used in women's clothing.
47. Provides with, as an opportunity : AFFORDS. From an Old English root meaning "go forth."
49. Trial : TEST.
50. Hot streak : ROLL. Experience a prolonged spell of success or good luck.
53. "__ ain't broke ... " : IF IT. Don't fix it.
54. Minestrone pasta : ORZO. Noodles the approximate size and shape of rice grains.
55. Snagglepuss, e.g. : TOON. Created in 1959, he was featured in a series of shorts, then became a semi-regular on the Yogi Bear Show, and also appeared in other Hanna-Barbera series.
56. Bangkok native : THAI. From the Kingdom of Thailand. The country has always been called Mueang Thai by its citizens. Until 1949 it was called Siam by outsiders.
57. Maryland athlete, for short : TERP. Terrapin, for long.
58. Slangy affirmatives : YEPS.
60. Tuscan tower site : PISA. Home of the leaning tower, in Italy.
61. First name in stunts : EVEL. Mr. Knievel [b 1938, d 2007.] Contrary to rumor, he never jumped the Grand Canyon. His Snake River Canyon jump was a bust, both as a stunt and financially.
62. Proofreader's "drop this" : DELE. Delete.
64. Just out of the pool : WET. Untoweled
65. Dead end? : DEE. Spelt out terminal letter. Rather a sad way to end a puzzle. That wraps up another Wednesday. With only a couple of nits, my enthusiasm remains undampened. Don't lose that passion, peeps!
Cool regards!
JzB
Notes from C.C.:
1) Happy Birthday to Kazie (Kay),
who has been with our blog since the summer of 2008. Kay used to
frequent our blog and was our authority on any French and German matter.
Last time when she emailed me, she was readying for a German trip to
visit her old son and family. She was also very happy that her young son
was engaged.
2)Women of Letters puzzle packet is ready! All the 18 puzzles were constructed and edit by women. The
constructors include: Tracy Bennett, Laura
Braunstein, C.C. Burnikel, Amanda Chung, Debbie Ellerin, Gail
Grabowski (today's co-constructor) Tracy Gray, Mary Lou Guizzo, Angela Olson Halsted
(PuzzleGirl), Pam Amick
Klawitter, Sarah Keller, Lynn Lempel, Donna S. Levin, Ruth Bloomfield
Margolin, Andrea Carla Michaels, Robin Stears, and Robyn Weintraub. The
editors are our own Patti Varol and Amy Reyhaldo. Deb Amlen of Wordplay
initiated this project in early 2017.
To get the puzzles, please donate $10 or more to any of the charities listed in the website. Then send a copy of your receipt as proof of donation to WomenofLettersCrosswords@gmail.com. You'll get a beautifully designed puzzle pack with all the great puzzles, answer grids and all the constructor bios.
TITLE: "SOUP'S ON!" Gail and Bruce have produced another Wednesday winner with this entertaining puzzle employing a food theme shown in the reveal which is in the Down clues whereas the theme answers are in the Across batch: Reveal: 43. "Dinner!" ... and a hint to the first word of 21-, 27-, 44- and 53-Across : LET'S EAT - Shown here in an amusing version of grace
First of all let's see the hands of those who wish this had been a Thursday puzzle so our resident gourmand Steve could have waxed gastronomically! One, two, three... Let's see counting me that's everybody! C'est la vie, you will have to make do with the "meat and taters" guy from the great plains - Husker Gary, who also did C.C.'s EAT UP titled puzzle from Sunday, October 15. Here are Gail and Bruce's themers where each has a first word denoting what you might find on your plate and an entire phrase starting with that word: 21. Finishing a sentence? : SERVING TIME - A single portion at a meal or OJ being dismissed from a Nevada prison at midnight to avoid publicity after nine years of SERVING TIME for trying to recover some memorabilia at gun point but not for...
27. Diagram on a golf score card : COURSE LAYOUT - One of the parts of a meal or the perhaps the most beautiful COURSE LAYOUT anywhere with hole #7 shown at the top of the poster and jutting out into the ocean in the bottom middle of the map
44. Bad news for subway riders : FARE INCREASE - What might be available on a menu or what some of us remember when the Kingston Trio exhorted us to "fight the FARE INCREASE, Vote for George O'Brien, Get poor Charlie off the MTA!"
53. Grammatically, "have" in "I have spoken," e.g. : HELPING VERB - How much you are served or a non-intimidating example of the sample sentence
Let's get some HELPINGS of the FARE Gail and Bruce have for us in the COURSE of this puzzle that is SERVING our gaming appetites and HELPING getting our midweek off to a great start: Across
1. Bunches of bucks : WADS - She is WADDING up her caught cash in an interesting place 5. Strip of latticework : LATH 9. Expels : OUSTS 14. For each one : A POP - A dollar A POP for a serving of corn is a "bucaneer" 15. Jackson 5 hair style : AFRO 16. IV part : INTRA - What my INTRAVENOUS remicade routine looks like every eight weeks
17. Stacy Lewis' org. : LPGA - My mental WNBA/LPGA coin flip was wrong first 18. Severely harm : MAIM 19. Use, as for a snooze : LIE ON - This is how I remember
20. "Well, __-di-dah!" : LAH - Close enough and extremely funny
23. In the air : ALOFT - Airplanes ALOFT in early morning of 9/11/2001. The skies were empty in a matter of hours.
31. Attachment to a movable sprinkler : HOSE - How about getting water from a HOSE and becoming a moving human sprinkler 32. Divinity school subj. : REL 33. John Irving title writer : GARP - The character GARP becomes a writer in Iriving's Oscar Award Winning Screenplay The World According To GARP 36. Romantically involved with : SEEING 38. Oscar Mayer product : WIENER - I wish I were... 40. "And she shall bring forth __": Matthew : A SON - That season is getting close in all the stores since we are nearing Halloween. 41. Bordeaux brushoff : NON - A note in a French middle school - Pensez-vous comme moi ? Oui/NON (Do you like me? Yes/No) 42. Co. known for music compilations : KTEL - They "hooked" me. Ya gotta love Beethoven to a disco beat!
48. VW preceders? : STU - Cool clue! ...m n o p q r S T U V W x y z and 57. Letters between mus and xis : NUS - There is Nu between Mu and Xi
51. Fabric mishap : TEAR 52. Grecian urn glorifier, e.g. : ODIST - Yeah, I'm the only one who had to erase KEATS!
58. Ball co-star : ARNAZ - And cheating husband 59. Revered Tibetan : LAMA 60. Paltry : MERE 61. Author Kafka or composer Liszt : FRANZ 62. City west of Tulsa : ENID - The Enid Storm Shelter company sells these
63. Neck of the woods : AREA - In this AREA, Husker fans who were used to quality football are getting 64. Short-tempered : TESTY 65. College Board exams, for short : SATS 66. Wordless summons : PSST - PSST, wanna buy a Rolex...
Down 1. Character actor Eli who often co-starred with his wife Anne Jackson : WALLACH 2. Horse with a spotted coat : APPALOOSA - This beautiful one was, uh, spotted in New Zealand
3. Backyard pet shelters : DOGHOUSES - They make a husband version 4. Massage venue : SPA 5. Unconvincing, as excuses go : LAME 6. A long way off : AFAR
7. Barely worth mentioning : TRIVIAL - The eighth most sold board game of all time. It rans between Othello and Pictionary. BTW, Chess was number one. 8. Grits, essentially : HOMINY 9. Dashboard indicator : OIL GAUGE 10. Textbook division : UNIT 11. Oktoberfest keepsake : STEIN 12. Beat the pants off : TROMP - _____ U. was TROMPED by ____ U. Nebraska used to be the object of the preposition and not the subject of that sentence. 13. More reasonable : SANER
21. GPS lines : STS - Here are some STreetS of 49. __ Haute : TERRE - TERRE Haute, Indiana on the banks of the Wabash 22. Cpl., for one : NCO - As in Cpl. Maxwell Q. Klinger 24. No longer encumbered by : FREE OF 28. South end? : ERN - The southERN most major street in this 60. 27-Across, essentially : MAP is Washington Street 29. Journey segment : LEG 30. Did terribly : TANKED 34. Orthodontic devices : RETAINERS - I have had many very expensive RETAINERS lost by students on my many trips to Florida
35. Lays a guilt trip on, say : PRESSURES - Part and parcel of some family events 37. Nervously distracted : IN A TIZZY - Where guilt trips can put you 38. Took the title : WON 39. Business abbr. : INC 41. State of bliss : NIRVANA 45. Stimpy's sidekick : REN - Am I missing anything by not having seen this 'toon pair?
46. NFC East team : EAGLES - The EAGLES at the only school where I sub these days 47. Take the wrong way? : ROB 48. Unfair treatment, with "the" : SHAFT - She got the elevator and I got the SHAFT 50. Forearm bones : ULNAS - TESTY eliminated ULNAE 54. Breathe hard : PANT 55. Give off : EMIT 56. X-ray units : RADS - Originally defined in terms of our crossword buddy ERGS The Grid:
Now, how 'bout a healthy portion of your wit and wisdom:
11. *Handsome guy or gorgeous gal : DREAM BOAT. LIFE BOAT.
34. *Temporary group for a specific job : TASK FORCE. LIFE FORCE.
60. Having financial freedom ... and, literally, what the last words of the answers to starred clues comprise : SET FOR LIFE
Melissa
here. Mostly a walk in the park, only one unknown, and perp help needed
with a few. Solved without realizing the clever theme.
Across:
1. Catnip or coriander : HERB
5. Throw in the towel : QUIT
9. Former "Idol" judge Paula : ABDUL
14. Old music halls : ODEA. Definition: A hall, theater, or other structure for musical performances. My unknown - maybe I'll remember next time.
15. Loosen, as laces : UNDO
16. Author John le __ : CARRE
17. Out of control : WILD
18. Road in old Rome : ITER. Latin for road, journey, or way.
19. Martial arts-based fitness routine : TAEBO. Can never remember if it's spelled with an I or E.
23. British brew with a red triangle in its logo : BASS
24. "Oops, almost forgot" : OH YEAH
25. Captain Marvel's magic word : SHAZAM
27. Felt sorry about : RUED
29. Workable, as an alternative : VIABLE
32. Good—and bad—dietary substances : FATS
35. Consumed : EATEN
38. Jiffy Lube supply : OIL
39. __ Fáil: Irish "stone of destiny" : LIA
42. Big fuss : ADO
43. Pennysaver contents : ADS
44. "Family Matters" nerd : URKEL
45. Kenton of jazz : STAN
46. Making a cake, say : BAKING
48. DVR pioneer : TIVO
51. Charlatans : FAKERS
54. Shoe polish targets : SCUFFS
58. Molecule part : ATOM
62. Bouquet __: chef's tasty bundle : GARNI. French for "garnished bouquet," a bundle of herbs gathered and tied into a bundle, usually to prepare soup or stew.
64. Retail complex : MALL
65. Took a tumble : FELL
66. One sent back down the river? : EX-CON
67. "Metamorphoses" poet : OVID
68. Russian river : URAL
69. Loses on purpose? : DIETS. Nice clue.
70. Nickname for José : PEPE
71. A great deal : LOTS
Down:
1. "In what way?" : HOW SO
2. Novelist Wharton : EDITH
3. Race with batons : RELAY
4. Annoys persistently : BADGERS
5. Pielike brunch serving : QUICHE
6. Golden rule word : UNTO
7. "Any more bright __?" : IDEAS
8. Olympic symbol : TORCH
9. Play a part : ACT
10. Words to a black sheep : BAA BAA
12. Metro regions : URBS. Not sure I've heard this shortened word before.
