Theme: None
Total words: 72
Total blocks: 30
This puzzle is anchored by two intersecting 15s right in the middle of the grid:
37A. Four-time NBA MVP: WILT CHAMBERLAIN. So, how old was he when he claimed that he had had sex with 20,000 many women?
8D. Residential street warning : SPEED BUMPS AHEAD. Brilliant debut entry.
Barry then builds up his grid with two Down 10s, two Across 9s, then triple stacks of 8s in the upper left and lower right corners.
My favorite fill and clue today is FATTY ACID (47A. It may be essential). Essential fatty acid.
Across:
1. Places for pieces : GUN RACKS. I wanted ARMORIES.
9. Support base : PLINTH
15. Worker's advocate : UNION REP. Needs "for short" in the clue, doesn't it?
16. Foe of Mark Antony : CICERO. Was ignorant that these two even lived in the same time.
17. Imagination : MIND'S EYE. Had trouble seeing the answer.
18. Screwed up : BLEW IT
19. NEA supporters : PTAS. Seems like Husker Gary can write a Ph. D thesis on the function of Nebraska NEA.
20. Third of seven: Abbr. : TUES. My week always starts on Monday.
22. Quantum mechanics subjects : ATOMS
23. "Bojangles" Robinson, for one : TAP DANCER. Recognized the guy when I googled.
25. El Cid player, 1961 : HESTON (Charlton). Have only seen his "The Ten Commandments".
29. Life lines? : BIO. Nice clue.
30. Mass garb : ALBS
33. Like an excited World Series crowd : AROAR. I bet Barry is already picturing his Phillies win the World Series. Also in the grid is ERA (36. Baseball stat). Any Roy Halladay fan?
34. Sign of life : PULSE
40. White, in Waikiki : KEA. As in Mauna Kea (White Mountain).
41. Up : HAPPY
42. Cox who played Drew in "Deliverance" : RONNY. Nope. Can't recall his name. "Deliverance" is absolutely terrifying.
43. Old pol. units : SSRS
45. Substitutes for forgotten words : LAs. In songs?
46. Releases : LETS GO
50. Sterno, for one : JELLY. Ha ha, I thought it's gas inside the Sterno.
52. Vengeful Quaker of fiction : AHAB. No idea about the Quaker connection. Have never read "Moby Dick".
53. Gee : THOU (Thousand). Weird to see G spelled out.
57. Profits : AVAILS
59. Party animal? : ELEPHANT. For the GOP. Great clue.
61. Abrasive mineral : GARNET. Lovely deep red color.
62. Compact : ALLIANCE
63. Derisive : SNEERY
64. Can't abide : DESPISES
Down:
1. Winston Groom hero : GUMP. Forrest Gump. Did not know the author.
2. Newton or curie : UNIT. OK, Dictionary says the un-capitalized curie is a unit of radioactivity.
3. La __: ocean phenomenon : NINA
4. Angler's supply : RODS
5. Q&A part: Abbr. : ANS
6. Greek islander : CRETAN. From Crete.
7. Excite : KEY UP
9. Pollutant found in NCR paper : PCB. What is NCR paper?
10. Color similar to pale plum : LILAC
11. Summer cooler : ICE TEA. No D again.
12. Where to get a muffuletta sandwich : NEW ORLEANS. I've certainly heard of muffuletta sandwich.
13. Garnish : TRIM. As a Christmas tree.
14. Red __: candy : HOTS
21. Pass on a ketch : SAIL BY. Ketch is sailing boat.
23. Tribal Council prop : TORCH. Don't get the clue.
24. Narrow margin : NOSE
25. Peddles : HAWKS
26. Native New Yorkers : ERIES. This refers to the Native Americans, correct?
27. Phenomenon that emits X-rays : SOLAR FLARE. I thought X-ray is emitted by the machine.
28. Work with a shuttle : TAT. Use shuttle to make lace.
31. Fetch : BRING
32. Maker of eneloop rechargeable batteries : SANYO. Not familiar with the batteries.
34. Melonlike fruit : PAPAYA. Looks ugly, but delicious. I like all tropical fruit.
35. Didn't get 100, say : ERRED
38. Stop order : HALT
39. Large amount : LOT
44. Hospital solution : SALINE
46. Abuses freedom of the press, perhaps : LIBELS. Had difficulty parsing the clue.
48. Texas city named for a president : TYLER. No idea. Wiki said the city is named for John Tyler in recognition of his support for Texas' admission to the United States
49. Valencia street : CALLE. Spanish for "street".
50. Flings : JAGS. Did not know jag can mean "spree" also.
51. Novelist Hunter : EVAN
53. Golden Triangle native : THAI. Drug in Golden Triangle. Heroin.
54. Former UN weapons inspector Blix : HANS. Man, it's been a long time. I can still hear his accented English about WMD.
55. Formerly : ONCE
56. Versatile wheels : UTES. Well, here it comes again.
58. Dump : STY
60. Spot : PIP. Playing card spot.
Answer grid.
Thanks for the sweet words about my Dennis birthday puzzle, everyone. I had fun doing it.
C.C.
Total words: 72
Total blocks: 30
This puzzle is anchored by two intersecting 15s right in the middle of the grid:
37A. Four-time NBA MVP: WILT CHAMBERLAIN. So, how old was he when he claimed that he had had sex with 20,000 many women?
8D. Residential street warning : SPEED BUMPS AHEAD. Brilliant debut entry.
Barry then builds up his grid with two Down 10s, two Across 9s, then triple stacks of 8s in the upper left and lower right corners.
My favorite fill and clue today is FATTY ACID (47A. It may be essential). Essential fatty acid.
Across:
1. Places for pieces : GUN RACKS. I wanted ARMORIES.
9. Support base : PLINTH
15. Worker's advocate : UNION REP. Needs "for short" in the clue, doesn't it?
16. Foe of Mark Antony : CICERO. Was ignorant that these two even lived in the same time.
17. Imagination : MIND'S EYE. Had trouble seeing the answer.
18. Screwed up : BLEW IT
19. NEA supporters : PTAS. Seems like Husker Gary can write a Ph. D thesis on the function of Nebraska NEA.
20. Third of seven: Abbr. : TUES. My week always starts on Monday.
22. Quantum mechanics subjects : ATOMS
23. "Bojangles" Robinson, for one : TAP DANCER. Recognized the guy when I googled.
25. El Cid player, 1961 : HESTON (Charlton). Have only seen his "The Ten Commandments".
29. Life lines? : BIO. Nice clue.
30. Mass garb : ALBS
33. Like an excited World Series crowd : AROAR. I bet Barry is already picturing his Phillies win the World Series. Also in the grid is ERA (36. Baseball stat). Any Roy Halladay fan?
34. Sign of life : PULSE
40. White, in Waikiki : KEA. As in Mauna Kea (White Mountain).
41. Up : HAPPY
42. Cox who played Drew in "Deliverance" : RONNY. Nope. Can't recall his name. "Deliverance" is absolutely terrifying.
43. Old pol. units : SSRS
45. Substitutes for forgotten words : LAs. In songs?
46. Releases : LETS GO
50. Sterno, for one : JELLY. Ha ha, I thought it's gas inside the Sterno.
52. Vengeful Quaker of fiction : AHAB. No idea about the Quaker connection. Have never read "Moby Dick".
53. Gee : THOU (Thousand). Weird to see G spelled out.
57. Profits : AVAILS
59. Party animal? : ELEPHANT. For the GOP. Great clue.
61. Abrasive mineral : GARNET. Lovely deep red color.
62. Compact : ALLIANCE
63. Derisive : SNEERY
64. Can't abide : DESPISES
Down:
1. Winston Groom hero : GUMP. Forrest Gump. Did not know the author.
2. Newton or curie : UNIT. OK, Dictionary says the un-capitalized curie is a unit of radioactivity.
3. La __: ocean phenomenon : NINA
4. Angler's supply : RODS
5. Q&A part: Abbr. : ANS
6. Greek islander : CRETAN. From Crete.
7. Excite : KEY UP
9. Pollutant found in NCR paper : PCB. What is NCR paper?
10. Color similar to pale plum : LILAC
11. Summer cooler : ICE TEA. No D again.
12. Where to get a muffuletta sandwich : NEW ORLEANS. I've certainly heard of muffuletta sandwich.
13. Garnish : TRIM. As a Christmas tree.
14. Red __: candy : HOTS
21. Pass on a ketch : SAIL BY. Ketch is sailing boat.
23. Tribal Council prop : TORCH. Don't get the clue.
24. Narrow margin : NOSE
25. Peddles : HAWKS
26. Native New Yorkers : ERIES. This refers to the Native Americans, correct?
27. Phenomenon that emits X-rays : SOLAR FLARE. I thought X-ray is emitted by the machine.
28. Work with a shuttle : TAT. Use shuttle to make lace.
31. Fetch : BRING
32. Maker of eneloop rechargeable batteries : SANYO. Not familiar with the batteries.
34. Melonlike fruit : PAPAYA. Looks ugly, but delicious. I like all tropical fruit.
35. Didn't get 100, say : ERRED
38. Stop order : HALT
39. Large amount : LOT
44. Hospital solution : SALINE
46. Abuses freedom of the press, perhaps : LIBELS. Had difficulty parsing the clue.
48. Texas city named for a president : TYLER. No idea. Wiki said the city is named for John Tyler in recognition of his support for Texas' admission to the United States
49. Valencia street : CALLE. Spanish for "street".
50. Flings : JAGS. Did not know jag can mean "spree" also.
51. Novelist Hunter : EVAN
53. Golden Triangle native : THAI. Drug in Golden Triangle. Heroin.
54. Former UN weapons inspector Blix : HANS. Man, it's been a long time. I can still hear his accented English about WMD.
55. Formerly : ONCE
56. Versatile wheels : UTES. Well, here it comes again.
58. Dump : STY
60. Spot : PIP. Playing card spot.
Answer grid.
Thanks for the sweet words about my Dennis birthday puzzle, everyone. I had fun doing it.
C.C.
