Theme: Maybe - A fence sitters puzzle; three pros, three cons, and a grid spanning undecided in the middle.
14. "Affirmative!" : "NO ARGUMENT!"
16. "Affirmative!" : "AMEN!"
17. "Affirmative!" : "I'M SURE OF IT!"
38. "It could go either way" : "I JUST CAN'T DECIDE"
63. "Negative!" : "NOT A PRAYER!"
65. "Negative!" : "UH-UH!"
66. "Negative!" : "IN A PIG'S EYE!"
Argyle here. I researched today's constructor before I started and was slightly intimidated. The man's first puzzle was a Saturday NYT! But his debut LAT feels like a perfect fit for a Wednesday. A few unknowns to keep it a learning experience, minimal crosswordese, good fill and a unique grid layout. I would like to see some more of Ned's work.
Across:
1. Bar fixture : ALE TAP
7. Twosome : DUO
10. Border Patrol city of the Southwest : YUMA. Sector map below.
18. Drill command : HALT
19. Shiny fabrics : SATEENS
20. Hiker's map, casually : TOPO. Short for topographic map.
22. Nav. rank : ENS.
23. Times for les vacances : ÉTÉs. They get more vacation than we do in France?
25. Bank products : LOANS
29. Block or stock suffix : ADE
30. Oil, informally : TEXAS TEA
33. Give or take, e.g. : VERB
36. Japanese noodle dish : RAMEN. Clued as Nagano noodles on Sunday.
37. Zebra on a field : REF
42. Pres. Carter, e.g. : DEM.
43. Snarl noises : HONKS. Snarls from a traffic jam.
44. __ Inn : DAYS
45. 1975 seminal green movement novel by Ernest Callenbach : ECOTOPIA. Wikipedia article.
47. Post-WWII nuclear org. : AEC. Atomic Energy Commission. 1946 - 1974
49. Others, in Oaxaca : OTROS. State located in Southwestern Mexico.
50. Down Under st. : TASM.. Tasmania is the island down under Down Under.
52. Former boomer, briefly : SST
55. Staff sign : REST
58. Frankenstein's creator : SHELLEY
60. "The Thorn Birds," e.g. : SAGA. Down Under saga.
67. Hampers : BINS. You know, ladies, those clothes hampers men don't use.
68. Cribbage marker : PEG
69. Colorful fish : TETRAs
Down:
1. Ouzo flavoring : ANISE
2. Fictional salesman : LOMAN. Willy, from Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.
3. Bridge seats : EASTs. The card game.
4. Devoted : TRUE
5. "Deal!" : "AGREED!"
6. Bandleader Tito : PUENTE
7. Excellent, in modern slang : DEF. Short for definitely but Urban Dictionary entry says it's archaic, circa 1981.
8. Second, e.g. : UNIT
9. "Beetle Bailey" dog : OTTO
10. Boors : YAHOOs
11. Thurman of film : UMA
12. Director Brooks : MEL
13. Social worker : ANT
15. Jazz pianist Allison : MOSE. Mose Allison Trio live on PBS. Your Mind Is On Vacation.(2:32)
21. Carpenter's tool : PLANE
24. Performed terribly : STANK AT
26. Bright lobbies : ATRIA. Plural of atrium.
27. Down on one's luck : NEEDY
28. They may be hard to crack : SAFEs
29. Bodybuilder's pride : ABs
31. Lifesavers, for short : EMTs
32. Crossed (out) : Xed
33. Tape, perhaps : VIDEO
34. DVD button : EJECT
35. Buzz : RUMOR
36. Eastern royal : RANI
39. More than that : THOSE
40. Swipe : COP
41. Atlanta-based health org. : CDC. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (or CDC)
46. Sacred scrolls : TORAHS
47. Fireplace receptacle : ASH PIT. Usually there is a trap door under the grate that you sweep the ashes into, the clean out would be in the cellar.
48. Come out : EMERGE
51. "Stat!" relative : ASAP
52. More cunning : SLYER
53. "Ciao!" : "SEE YA!"
54. Rolls rollers : TYRES. British car, British spelling.
56. Short cut : SNIP
57. Shape (up) : TONE
59. Endure : LAST
60. Torpedo, or its launcher : SUB. Some ambiguity, torpedo(sandwich)/sub would be launched by Subway.
61. Yellowfin tuna : AHI
62. Shooter : GUN
64. Mattress feature : TAG
Argyle
Birthday greetings to Windhover today. I hope you are warm and dry.
