frequent LA Times constructor and Jeopardy Champion Erik Agard who partnered with Wyna Liu, seen here with a good friend.
Online, I discovered - Wyna is a mixed media sculptor and crossword puzzle constructor based in NYC. She received Master from NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program in 2014. Her work combines digital fabrication techniques with fussy hand finishing processes. She is interested in modularity, mechanisms and the lathe. Okay...
Here's a note I got from Wyna: "This was a fun puzzle to work on! Erik and I began building the grid around CRANKYPANTS, HIDEYHOLE, and NAUGHTYLIST. We worked back and forth a number of times but finally had to lose NAUGHTYLIST to keep it clean (who likes seeing REECHO and OTTOII in a puzzle??). This was one of our first collaborations (the first themeless), and was a formative and invaluable learning experience for me."
Let's review Erik and Wyna's collaborative effort:
Across:
1. Drill bit?: MARCH - It was my first thought but tricky NW cluing held back confirmation
6. Sudden blow: GUST.
10. '60s civil rights gp. inspired by student sit-ins: SNCC - Often called "snick"
15. One singing in musical tones?: ALTO - A list of very good ALTOS/ALTI pop singers
16. Ponies run in it: POLO.
17. Written in mystical letters: RUNIC - Crossword learning made this my first confident fill
18. Ghanaian flag feature: STAR - Oh yeah, it's just south of Burkina Faso. BTW, changing one letter of its capital would give us 2. Luxury auto: ACURA.
20. Irritable sort, in slang: CRANKY PANTS - Grumpypants came and went before I landed on this seed entry
23. Even prime: TWO - We math peeps are aware
24. Stadium opening?: YANKEE - New YANKEE Stadium being built adjacent to the historic old YANKEE Stadium in 2008
27. Mickey's "Love Is Strange" singing partner: SYLVIA - Despite the on-screen graphics this live performance is fun to watch
31. Fricative admonishment: SHH - After a "Huh?" for Fricative, the admonishment of SHH came through. Fricative is a consonant sound that is created by constricting the vocal tract, causing friction as the air passes through it.
35. Clog from France: SABOT - Familiar crossword footwear
36. Wasn't true: LIED.
38. Sober: STAID.
40. Gov't agency with a "meatball" logo: NASA - Students of mine have heard this space educator say "NASA meatball" for decades, therefore, I was so pleased to see Erik and Wyna make this reference. I've told Joann I want my ashes in an urn with the NASA Meatball on it!41. Agent concerned with spots: AD REP - Singular clue should have gotten me off AD MEN a lot faster than it did!
43. Alternative to "start at," in pricing: AND UP - "Oh, if you want the 48. Opposite of austere: DELUXE model, that'll be another thousand dollars!"
45. Only article in a U.S. state capital name: DES - It is on and named after the DES Moines River, which likely was adapted from the early French name, Rivière des Moines, meaning "River of the Monks". You're welcome...
46. Key partner: PEELE - PEELE and Key did a lot of collaborative sketches but Keegan-Michael Key's portrayal of a substitute teacher is the hilarious holy grail for those of us who sub!
49. __ analysis: SYSTEMS - I just love this:
55. Rap music article: THA.
56. Do a surveying task: TRIANGULATE - 1946 Triangulation surveying of Palestine
62. Plant name from the Arabic for "red": SUMAC - SUMAC really brighten the fall landscape around here
63. Film bit: CLIP - Actors on talk shows often have CLIPS from their films to show. Sometimes it is the only interesting scene in the movie
64. Las Vegas Aces' org.: WNBA - All pro teams in Vegas
65. Put into action: EXERT.
66. Was true to, as one's word: KEPT - And so he was
67. Elle Woods of "Legally Blonde" got 179 on hers, briefly: LSAT - I wonder what Reese Witherspoon, who portrayed fictional Elle Woods, would have scored.68. Lucy's husband and son: DESIS - Desi Arnaz IV, later known as Desi Arnaz Jr., appeared only once on I Love Lucy - on the final episode, June 24, 1957, along with his sister, Lucie. But he wasn't playing Little Ricky on that finale. Both Desi Jr. and Lucie later starred on their mom's show, Here's Lucy (1968-74), as her kids, Craig and Kim.
Down:
1. Compassion: MERCY.
3. Saoirse __, "Lady Bird" star: RONAN - Nope, it had nothing to do with LBJ's wife
4. Toasting signs: CLINKS - CRUMBS didn't cut it for this fun clue that was heard often 12 days ago5. Make-out spots?: HICKEYS - you might 6. Respond to a shock: GASP - if you google these
7. Beauty store chain: ULTA - Find the nearest one to you
8. Get out of the way: STAND ASIDE.
9. Dessert that just sounds wrong: TORTE
10. Ooh-and-aah site: SPA.
11. Just okay: NOT TOO BAD - AT&T's new ad pitch. Don't open if you've seen this as many times as I have
12. Classic hole-in-one site: CLOWN NOSE - How else are ya gonna put one on?
13. José's greeting: COMO ESTAS - ¿Cómo estás? Adding usted is optional
21. Kennel chorus: YELPS
22. Dips: SAGS.
26. Equine coat color: ROAN.
28. Physical figures: VITAL SIGNS - On a monitor by every hospital bed
31. Some visual humor: SLAP STICK - The Three Stooges leapt to my mind
32. Alternative to a wall safe: HIDEY HOLE - Bank Vault? Buzz, but thanks for playing!
33. Help line: HERE'S A TIP - Maxine uses that line a lot
39. Aid in developing hair waves: DURAG - Its main purpose is to develop or preserve waves after they are in your hair. Worn by many football players under their helmets
42. Alfred of coffee fame: PEET - The intertwined history of Alfred PEET and Starbucks
50. Animated Tootsie Pop eater in ads: MR OWL - 50 yrs ago he posited the question of "How many licks it takes to get to the center or a Tootsie Pop?"
53. Gaming biggie: ATARI.
54. Splinter groups: SECTS - Some SECTS form because of differing views on sex.
58. Off the rocks?: NEAT - I may have to write Tinman to warn him about this picture 😦
60. Flat: Abbr.: APT - Housing is scarce in our growing town, so finding an apt APT. is difficult
"I'll take Comments for $1,000 Alex". "The answer is 'Fun and Stimulating'". "What is Erik's and Wyna's 1.11.20 crossword puzzle?" You have a different answer?
Note to Wyna - Would this cluing have worked? 😏
Second reverberation - REECHO
HRE emperor known as "The Red" - OTTO II
