Theme: 4 of 12 - Like the start of summer, the CRAB can be the start of our theme answers.
17A. Rural political bloc : GRASS ROOTS. Crabgrass, a summer foe.
25A. Crate-moving equipment : FORK LIFT. Crab fork. For those hard to reach morsels. CSO to Sally.
39A. Bone-breaking combo, in a playground rhyme : STICKS AND STONES. may break my bones but these are delish. Crab sticks.
51A. Slow-cooked entrée : POT ROAST. Crab pot, similar to a lobster pot.
64A. Retail outlet with a tech support area called the "Genius Bar" : APPLE STORE. Crabapple.
68A. Nebula named for a crustacean, which can precede the starts of 17-, 25-, 39-, 51- and 64-Across : CRAB
Argyle here. The timely placement of today's puzzle adds a dash of panache to Roger's second Monday with us. A grid spanner, five theme entries and a reveal; very good.
Across:
1. Limerick, e.g. : POEM. OwenKL might grace us with one this morning.
5. Underground molten rock : MAGMA
10. "Get lost!" : "SCAT!" and throw in 57A. "Get lost!" : "SHOO!"
14. Far from fair : UGLY
15. Double-reed woodwinds : OBOEs
16. Global extremity : POLE. North and South.
19. Shortly, to Shakespeare : ANON
20. Submitted : SENT IN
21. Opponents : FOEs or perhaps, 36A. Other side, in war : ENEMY
23. Mate for a stag : DOE
24. Amin of Uganda : IDI
27. Mountain climber's return trip : DESCENT
31. Rain really hard : TEEM. Are we OK with this now?
32. The Trojans of the NCAA : USC. (University of Southern California)
33. Silly error : GOOF
43. Martial arts-based workout : TAE BO
44. "Stop stalling!" : "DO IT!". Start those workouts.
45. Three, in Napoli : TRE
46. Circus safety gear : NETS
48. Double-__: traitor : CROSSER
55. Really annoy : IRK
56. "The Greatest" in the ring : ALI
58. Farther below sea level : DEEPER
62. CBS legal drama "The Good __" : WIFE
66. Bad to the bone : EVIL
67. River in Düsseldorf, in Düsseldorf : RHEIN. in German.
69. Pack of cards : DECK
70. Desirable trait : ASSET
71. Citgo rival : HESS
Down:
1. Wrinkly-faced dogs : PUGS
2. Storybook baddie : OGRE
3. Splashy style : ELAN
4. Connecticut home of a 19-acre maritime museum : MYSTIC. Good pizza, too.
5. Breakfast times : MORNINGS
6. Blood classification letters : A-B-O
7. __ on a tangent : GO OFF
8. "Likewise" : "ME TOO"
9. Stand up for (oneself) : ASSERT
10. Health resort : SPA
11. Burger bar array : CONDIMENTS. First of the two neat long down entries.
12. Emotionally distant : ALOOF
13. Religious belief : TENET
18. One of a triangle trio : SIDE. Or Tom Dooley?
22. Sport with clay targets : SKEET
26. Carson's successor : LENO. (The Tonight Show)
27. Clean with a rag : DUST
28. Juanita's "this" : ESTA
29. Word before method or notation : SCIENTIFIC. Number two.
30. Pond hopper : TOAD
34. Singer Yoko : ONO
35. Govt. banking protector : FDIC. (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation)
37. Inconsequential : MERE
38. River of Flanders : YSER
40. Trucker on a radio : CBer
41. Zither-like Japanese instruments : KOTOs
42. Shrill : STRIDENT
47. World's largest desert : SAHARA
49. Mine extracts : OREs
50. Undetailed drawing : SKETCH
51. Toyed with, cat-style : PAWED
52. Martini garnish : OLIVE
53. Last year's frosh : SOPHs
54. Drinks excessively : TOPEs
59. Skin opening : PORE
60. Important chapters in history : ERAs
61. Civil War fighters : REBs
63. Bugling beast : ELK
65. Stretch the truth : LIE
Argyle
Argyle
Note from C.C.:
Jazzbumpa's mom passed away on Saturday afternoon. Ron said "It was peaceful. She wasn't in any pain or distress. She received excellent care in the hospital and in hospice. We were blessed to have her with us for so long. Visitation is tomorrow, funeral on Tuesday."
Our condolences to Ron and his family. His mom was a brave fighter.
Ron, his sister Pat and their Mom
May 16, 2015
