Theme: CRACK THE CODE
20. Combat: ARMED CONFLICT.
28. Compel to land, as a plane: FORCE DOWN.
48. Red or white unit: BLOOD CELL.
58. Speaking Spanglish, say ... or a hint to what's hidden in 20-, 28- and 48-Across: CODE SWITCHING.
Took me a bit to crack this CODE and realize the theme - the word CODE is SWITCHed up and spans across two words in three theme answers. A real mix of gettable and huh? words made this one last a little longer than a typical Wednesday. An enjoyable solve when it was finally completed.
Across:
1. Construction guideline: SPEC. Specifications, also called specs, are the details for the work that needs to be completed in a construction project and includes information such as materials, the scope of work, installation process, and quality of work.
5. Pitfalls: TRAPS.
10. Bible book that chronicles the conversion of Paul: ACTS. Acts of the Apostles, the fifth book of the new testament.
14. Rake prong: TINE.
15. Soprano Fleming: RENÉE. Renée Fleming names six of her all-time favourite soprano arias, below.
16. Fluctuate: VARY.
17. 500 sheets of paper: REAM.
18. "I'm on __!": A ROLL.
19. Access, as a computer program: OPEN.
23. Characterized by: PRONE TO.
24. Provide parenting for: RAISE.
27. Art Deco icon: ERTÉ. Romain de Tirtoff was a Russian-born French artist
and designer known by the pseudonym Erté, from the French pronunciation
of his initials. Erté was known for his glamorous opera sets, jewelry, costumes,
and graphic arts. His work is quintessentially emblematic of the Art
Deco style in its use of tapering lines and simplified ornamentation
inspired by the natural world.
32. Massage therapist's employer: SPA.
34. Penn. neighbor: DEL. Pennsylvania and Delaware.
35. Handling the situation: ON IT.
36. Lilly of pharmaceuticals: ELI.
39. Coffee cup insulators: SLEEVES. My daughter and I traveled to Burbank, CA earlier this month to take the Gilmore Girls fan tour at Warner Brothers. Luke's coffee was served (exceptionally good) with the Luke's SLEEVES, along with pop-tarts and other GG-inspired fare (those are dragonfly shortbread cookies).
42. Texting format, for short: SMS. Short Message Service.
43. "Boogie Nights" actor Reynolds: BURT.
45. Night school subj.: ESL. English as a Second Language.
46. Fashion plate: FOP. Wikipedia: Fop became a pejorative term for a
foolish man excessively concerned with his appearance and clothes in
17th-century England. The pejorative term today carries the
connotation of a person, usually male, who is overly concerned with
trivial matters (especially matters of fashion) and who affects elite social standing.
51. Put one over on: FOOL.
54. Islamic denomination: SUNNI. The larger of the two main branches of Islam,
which differs from Shia in its understanding of the Sunna, its
conception of religious leadership, and its acceptance of the first
three caliphs (rulers).
55. Oregon city near the mouth of the Columbia: ASTORIA.
62. Competent: ABLE.
64. Suck-up: TOADY. Huh? A person who behaves obsequiously to someone important. The word toady has a gross, yet engaging history. Not familiar with this word.
65. Afrikaans speaker: BOER. Huh? The Dutch and Afrikaans noun for "farmer." In South African contexts, "Boers" refers to the descendants of the proto-Afrikaans-speaking settlers of the eastern Cape frontier in Southern Africa during the 18th and much of the 19th century. From 1652 to 1795 the Dutch East India Company controlled this area, but the United Kingdom incorporated it into the British Empire in 1806.
66. Shiraz's land: IRAN. Shiraz is the fifth-most-populous city of Iran and the capital of Fars Province.
67. Make one's case: ARGUE.
68. Cupid's wings: ALAE. Wings or flat winglike process or structure, such as a part of some bones and cartilages. ALAE is the plural form of ALA. This is an awfully scientific term for a fictional character - but common enough in crosswords.
69. Anti-DUI org.: MADD. Mothers Against Drunk Drivers.
70. Tango moves: STEPS.
71. "This is for you": HERE.
Down:
1. Guitar support: STRAP. Not stand.
2. Missouri River capital: PIERRE.
3. Fill with affection: ENAMOR.
4. Fixes in place: CEMENTS.
5. Activist's handout: TRACT.
6. Install new shingles on: RE-ROOF.
7. Quote book abbr.: ANON. Anonymous.
8. Ill-gotten gains: PELF. Huh? Money, especially when gained in a dishonest or dishonorable way. New to me.
9. Move for money: SELL.
10. Guacamole ingredient: AVOCADO.
11. Underwriting?: CAPTIONS. Nice clue.
12. Roman three: TRE.
13. Many a crossword clue: Abbr.: SYN.
21. Ocean trenches: DEEPS.
22. Fury: IRE.
25. Enjoy the pool: SWIM.
26. Tonsillitis-treating MDs: ENTS. Ear, Nose and Throat specialists.
29. Former "Entertainment Tonight" co-anchor Nancy: O'DELL.
30. Make growl, as an engine: REV.
31. Sheet music symbol: CLEF. Any of several symbols placed at the left-hand end of a staff, indicating the pitch of the notes written on it.
33. Actor Baldwin: ALEC.
36. Goes back out: EBBS.
37. Humdinger: LULU.
38. Like a rock-solid contract: IRON CLAD.
40. Language suffix: ESE.
41. Start of civilization?: SOFT C.
44. Constantly: TO NO END.
47. Bureaucratic bigwig: POOHBAH. Grand Poobah is a term derived from the name of the haughty character Pooh-Bah in Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado.
49. Impersonated: DID.
50. On the injured list: LAID UP.
52. Camden Yards player: ORIOLE. Major League Baseball ballpark located in Baltimore, Maryland.
53. One-dimensional: LINEAR.
56. Eye annoyances: STYES.
57. Be on the same page: AGREE.
59. Share-a-ride pickup hrs.: ETAS. Estimated Time of Arrival.
60. Microsoft Excel command: SORT.
61. Compensation: WAGE.
62. Crossbow wielder's asset: AIM.
63. Maidenform garment: BRA.
Melissa
Melissa
Note from C.C.
Here are two great pictures from the Gilmore Girls tour Melissa and her daughter took earlier this month at Warner Brothers'. Click here to see more.
Here are two great pictures from the Gilmore Girls tour Melissa and her daughter took earlier this month at Warner Brothers'. Click here to see more.
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| lorelai's house |
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| on the couch at "central perk" from friends |
