Saturday Themeless by Zhouqin Burnikel
Zhouqin Burnikel- I got permission from 
C.C.to use this bio and picture of our lovely ring mistress that was printed in the program for the 2018 ACPT Competition: Zhoquin grew up in Xi'an, China, and moved to Minnesota in 2001. She started making crosswords in 2010, partly as a way to learn English, and was mentored by veteran constructor Don Gagliardo. Together they have made over 100 puzzles for various publications. Zhouqin created the L.A. Times Crossword Corner blog in 2008. The name Zhouqin comes from the first two great dynasties that ruled ancient Xi’an — the Zhou and the Qin. It is pronounced something like “ZHOH-chin.”Across:
1. Squad whose Double-A affiliate is the Rumble Ponies: METS - A baseball lead off by C.C.!
15. __-free: DUTY.
16. Shoyu dish: RAMEN Recipe
17. "Don't move": STAY WHERE YOU ARE.
20. Part that has a radius but no diameter: ARM - The radius joins the wrist on the thumb side of your hand.
32. Hiding place: LAIR.
33. Chorizo, por ejemplo: CARNE - Meat. Ten things about Chorizo
38. "This can't be happening!": OH NO.
39. Ingredient in some exfoliators: ACID - Contains Salicylic Acid, Exfoliating Body Lactic Acid and Hyaluronic Niacinamide
41. Deal that generates interest: LOAN
42. Investor's concern: NET YIELD - e.g. (exempli gratia - more Latin)
44. Photo finish: MATTE.
45. Boo: BAE - Really?
46. "I want no part of this!": WHO'S WE.
48. Pastry choice: ECLAIR.
52. Fisher of "Shameless": NOEL - Saturday cluing
53. TripTik org.: AAA.
55. Sighed line: THAT'S THE WAY IT IS - C'mon, you thought of him too from back when TV News mostly hid their political views.
58. Poet on some 36-Across coins: DANTE.
59. 57-Down, for one: BEER and 57. Dogfish Head's Notorious H.O.P., for one: IPA.
60. Treat for one's dogs?: PEDI - These dogs are slang for feet
61. Symptoms: SIGNS.
62. Casino figures: ODDS.
63. Side by side?: AREA 😀 Length x Width = AREA
Down:
1. Atole ingredient: MASA - Atole: In Mexico, it is a drink typically includes MASA (corn hominy flour), water, piloncillo (unrefined cane sugar), cinnamon, vanilla, and optional chocolate or fruit.
2. Trattoria request: EXTRA SAUCE - What is a trattoria? and 18. "That's enough": WHEN.
6. Not permanent: GUEST.
7. Infinitive of suis, sommes, etc.: ETRE.
8. Go green, say: DYE - The Chicago River on March 17
9. "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" novelist: BRONTE - A first edition that uses Anne Bronte's pseudonym of Acton Bell.
10. Talk up: LAUD.
11. Vellani of "The Marvels": IMAN.
12. Successor to Claudius: NERO - Did he fiddle while Rome burned? Tacitus suspends judgment on Nero's responsibility for the fire; he found that Nero was in Antium when the fire started, and returned to Rome to organize a relief effort, providing for the removal of bodies and debris, which he paid for from his own funds. After the fire, Nero opened his palaces to provide shelter for the homeless, and arranged for food supplies to be delivered in order to prevent starvation among the survivors.
13. Was certain of: KNEW.
19. "We totally should!": YES LET'S.
24. Send-up: PARODY - Weird Al leaped to my mind
25. Rasta pasta pasta: PENNE.
26. Washed up: CLEAN - Dishwasher indicator
27. Influencer's concern: TREND - These are expert influencers who live on any new TREND
28. Trio in Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 3: VIOLAS - As a full service blogger, I will link to some of that
29. Facing trouble: IN HOT WATER.
30. One who may face an up-Hill climb: SENATE AIDE 😀 - Oh, going up the capitol hill!
31. In lockstep: AS ONE - Certainly the U.S.M.C. Silent Drill Platoon does just that.
33. Writing on the wall?: CAVE ART - This wonderful example of 17,000 year old CAVE ART is in the Lascaux Cave in south central France. It is no longer open to public tours.
34. Able to do splits, say: AGILE.
43. Birds that often nest with spoonbills: IBISES.
44. "Holy __!": MOLY.
46. Blown away: WOWED.
47. Picks up: HEARS - My kids loved using this parabolic reflector
48. Gate stats: ETDS - Airport gates
49. Masala __: CHAI - Masala chai is a popular beverage throughout South Asia, originating in the early modern Indian subcontinent. Chai is made by brewing black tea in milk and water and then sweetening with sugar. Adding aromatic herbs and spices creates chai, although chai is often prepared unspiced. You're welcome.
50. "Constant Craving" singer: LANG.
51. Routing abbr.: ATTN.
52. Not just want: NEED - Teams that NEED a QB in this year's draft.
54. Continent with nine island nations: ASIA - The Island Nations of ASIA are: The Philippines, Sri Lanka, The Maldives, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, East Timor, Taiwan and Brunei.
56. "True Detective" network: HBO.
1. Squad whose Double-A affiliate is the Rumble Ponies: METS - A baseball lead off by C.C.!
5. Like black vinegar: AGED - This is a ten-year old bottle. C.C. says traditional Chinese vinegars are aged 6 - 10 years.
9. Bit of shut eye?: BLINK 😀
14. Rink leap: AXEL - How 'bout a triple?
14. Rink leap: AXEL - How 'bout a triple?
15. __-free: DUTY.
16. Shoyu dish: RAMEN Recipe
17. "Don't move": STAY WHERE YOU ARE.
20. Part that has a radius but no diameter: ARM - The radius joins the wrist on the thumb side of your hand.
21. Item that may wind up in a backyard: HOSE - Oh, that use of the phrase "wind up"!
22. Program-terminating command: END NOW.
23. Feature: ASPECT.
25. Seattle hrs.: PST.
26. Political network: C-SPAN - Is there a non-political one?
27. Media company that claims to be the largest producer of Spanish-language content: TELEVISA.
23. Feature: ASPECT.
25. Seattle hrs.: PST.
26. Political network: C-SPAN - Is there a non-political one?
27. Media company that claims to be the largest producer of Spanish-language content: TELEVISA.
32. Hiding place: LAIR.
33. Chorizo, por ejemplo: CARNE - Meat. Ten things about Chorizo
35. Agnes, in Spain: INES.
36. Italian bread: EURO - Money not a bakery product
37. Deal-maker: AGENT - AGENT Scott Boras has negotiated record $1.217 billion worth of contracts this winter. That’s about $121 million for Boras to keep for himself this winter. Team owners don't like to see him walk in the door.
36. Italian bread: EURO - Money not a bakery product
37. Deal-maker: AGENT - AGENT Scott Boras has negotiated record $1.217 billion worth of contracts this winter. That’s about $121 million for Boras to keep for himself this winter. Team owners don't like to see him walk in the door.
38. "This can't be happening!": OH NO.
39. Ingredient in some exfoliators: ACID - Contains Salicylic Acid, Exfoliating Body Lactic Acid and Hyaluronic Niacinamide
40. Tree huggers?: VINES.
41. Deal that generates interest: LOAN
42. Investor's concern: NET YIELD - e.g. (exempli gratia - more Latin)
44. Photo finish: MATTE.
45. Boo: BAE - Really?
46. "I want no part of this!": WHO'S WE.
48. Pastry choice: ECLAIR.
52. Fisher of "Shameless": NOEL - Saturday cluing
53. TripTik org.: AAA.
55. Sighed line: THAT'S THE WAY IT IS - C'mon, you thought of him too from back when TV News mostly hid their political views.
59. 57-Down, for one: BEER and 57. Dogfish Head's Notorious H.O.P., for one: IPA.
60. Treat for one's dogs?: PEDI - These dogs are slang for feet
61. Symptoms: SIGNS.
62. Casino figures: ODDS.
63. Side by side?: AREA 😀 Length x Width = AREA
Down:
1. Atole ingredient: MASA - Atole: In Mexico, it is a drink typically includes MASA (corn hominy flour), water, piloncillo (unrefined cane sugar), cinnamon, vanilla, and optional chocolate or fruit.
2. Trattoria request: EXTRA SAUCE - What is a trattoria? and 18. "That's enough": WHEN.
3. Rah-rah feeling: TEAM SPIRIT.
4. Cute: SLY.
5. Not permanent: AD HOC.
4. Cute: SLY.
5. Not permanent: AD HOC.
7. Infinitive of suis, sommes, etc.: ETRE.
8. Go green, say: DYE - The Chicago River on March 17
9. "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" novelist: BRONTE - A first edition that uses Anne Bronte's pseudonym of Acton Bell.
11. Vellani of "The Marvels": IMAN.
12. Successor to Claudius: NERO - Did he fiddle while Rome burned? Tacitus suspends judgment on Nero's responsibility for the fire; he found that Nero was in Antium when the fire started, and returned to Rome to organize a relief effort, providing for the removal of bodies and debris, which he paid for from his own funds. After the fire, Nero opened his palaces to provide shelter for the homeless, and arranged for food supplies to be delivered in order to prevent starvation among the survivors.
13. Was certain of: KNEW.
19. "We totally should!": YES LET'S.
25. Rasta pasta pasta: PENNE.
26. Washed up: CLEAN - Dishwasher indicator
27. Influencer's concern: TREND - These are expert influencers who live on any new TREND
28. Trio in Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 3: VIOLAS - As a full service blogger, I will link to some of that
29. Facing trouble: IN HOT WATER.
30. One who may face an up-Hill climb: SENATE AIDE 😀 - Oh, going up the capitol hill!
31. In lockstep: AS ONE - Certainly the U.S.M.C. Silent Drill Platoon does just that.
33. Writing on the wall?: CAVE ART - This wonderful example of 17,000 year old CAVE ART is in the Lascaux Cave in south central France. It is no longer open to public tours.
34. Able to do splits, say: AGILE.
43. Birds that often nest with spoonbills: IBISES.
44. "Holy __!": MOLY.
46. Blown away: WOWED.
47. Picks up: HEARS - My kids loved using this parabolic reflector
48. Gate stats: ETDS - Airport gates
49. Masala __: CHAI - Masala chai is a popular beverage throughout South Asia, originating in the early modern Indian subcontinent. Chai is made by brewing black tea in milk and water and then sweetening with sugar. Adding aromatic herbs and spices creates chai, although chai is often prepared unspiced. You're welcome.
50. "Constant Craving" singer: LANG.
51. Routing abbr.: ATTN.
52. Not just want: NEED - Teams that NEED a QB in this year's draft.
54. Continent with nine island nations: ASIA - The Island Nations of ASIA are: The Philippines, Sri Lanka, The Maldives, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, East Timor, Taiwan and Brunei.
Notes from C.C.:
Our Thursday Sherpa waseeley (William Seeley) and I made today's USA Today puzzle. It's edited by Jared Goudsmit. Click here to solve. Congrats on your worldwide puzzle debut, Bill!
