Theme: Punning around the world.
Each of the four theme answers takes an existing phrase with a geographic reference and uses a sound alike replacement to create a new and humorous phrase. We have two grid spanners and two fourteen letter fill, symmetrically with the 15's a country beginning with "S" and the 14's with a "G" so the theme is full. This is the second puzzle from Mr. Holland that I recall, with a Sunday last year as his LAT debut. I found this to be a comparatively easy puzzle, with many early week characteristics, word length, etc. but still some very challenging fill. Let's take a walk through this Holland Tunnel.
17A. One lingering in Edinbugh? : SCOTTISH TARRIER (TERRIER).(15) I learned what I know about Scotland from reading Ian Rankin and M.C. Beaton. Any Hamish MacBeth fans?
27A. Some Athenian physicians? : GREEK ORTHO DOCS (ORTHODOX).(14). I had to bone up on my Greek to get this one.
50A. Berlin sidewalk writing? : GERMAN CHALK LIT. (CHOCOLATE) (14). Lit being literature makes it all work.
64A. Fancy singles event in Stockholm? : SWEDISH MEET BALL.(MEAT BALL) (15). Are we foreshadowing Elin? I thought this was very cute, with all kinds of punny potential.
On with the show.
Across:
1. ___ squad : VICE. Anybody see the MOVIE? (0:58).
5. Sharp fasteners : BRADS. Little shiny guys, not Pitt.
10. Line of movement : PATH. I like this clue.
14. In a while : ANON. I learned this from Shakespeare.
15. Go back to the beginning, in a way : RESET. Time to hit the reset button on life.
16. Spread unit : ACRE. Not butter, or cream cheese but a ranch.
20. Hoglike mammals : TAPIRS. Not quite a potbellied pig.
21. "I could ___ horse!" : EAT A. Don't you love the juxtaposition of the hog and the eating a horse?
22. Touch : DAB. Does anyone not think of
23. Stravinsky's "The ___ of Spring" : RITE. JzB. a few bars please. LINK. (4:42).
25. DX ÷ V : CII. 510 divided by 5 = 102. The Roman math you all requested.
26. "___ a ripoff!" : IT'S.
32. Black gold : OIL. Texas tea.
33. Big Bird buddy : ELMO.
34. DOD subdivision : NSA. Department of Defense oversees the National Security Agency.
35. Really feel the heat : BAKE. A favorite past time here in the sunny south.
37. Plus : AND.
39. Carpenter's tool : RASP.
43. CD conclusion? : ROM. Read Only Memory.
46. Charge carriers : IONS. My first read, I though it said change...
49. Fury : IRE.
54. Valiant son : ARN. Funny, I linked Prince V last week for his haircut.
55. Heavenly altar : ARA. Like this ONE.
56. Hockey Hall of Famer Mikita : STAN. Gew up with Stan and Bobby Hull leading the Blackhawks.
57. Sum (up) : TOT. Total; you get the impression Rich changed the clue here and forgot about 18D. 57-Across's wheels : TRIKE which requires a different tot to ride his tricycle.
58. Personal time? : NITE.?? Up to you all.
60. Some govt. investments : T-NOTES. In between T-bills and T-bonds. Medium term maturities.
67. New coin of 2002 : EURO Time flies.
68. One may work with a chair : TAMER. Looks funny without the Lion attached.
69. Vivacity : BRIO. A puzzle word all should know.
70. Church section : APSE. Even Mrs. O'Hair would have known this one.
71. Angling banes : SNAGS. When you go fishing and your line gets caught.
72. Oh's role in "Grey's Anatomy" : YANG. Sandra playing Cristina.
Down:
1. Humongous : VAST. Man, I wish it were the other way around.
2. Worshipper of the Earth goddess Pachamama : INCA. No clue, but perped itself easily. Who's your pachamama?
3. Condo cousin : CO-OP. Co-operative apartment and the precursor to condo living. Nothing to do with Gary.
4. Complete : ENTIRE.
5. British university city : BRISTOL. In the grand tradition of British subtlety, it is called Bristol University. Where are all of our Brits? Steve did you scare them away?
6. Legal issue : RES. The Latin for things.
7. "Off the Court" author : ASHE. Arthur the tennis professional, who tragically died young from AIDS contracted from a blood transfusion before the threat was widely known.
8. Separate : DETACH.
9. Post : STATION.
10. Links standard : PAR. A golf term that has become an in the language concept for everything.
11. Like citrus fruit : ACIDIC. Looks funny, opposite of BASIC?
12. They might make cats pause : TREATS. Love the sound pause/paws.
13. Chef's array : HERBS. Are you an ERB or HERB person?
19. Military surprises : RAIDS.
24. First name in humor : ERMA. Bombeck, a literal first name. We also have Emma below.
“Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the 'Titanic' who waved off the dessert cart.” ― Erma Bombeck.
27. Tar : GOB. Sailor.
28. Sea inlet : RIA. More crosswordese.
29. One who observes a fraternal Hour of Recollection : ELK. The BPOE CODE
30. Source of invigoration : TONIC. These days our tonics are energy drinks, not celery based.
31. One leaving a wake : OAR. You have to picture an oar slicing through the water.
36. Mess up : ERR. Do not forget to forgive. OAR/ERR?
38. Self-recriminating cries : DOHS. The Simpsons' influence is pervasive.
40. Have a health problem : AIL. I have a cough and stuffy nose from the climate adjustments.
41. Hindu title : SRI. Like Mr. from the Sanskrit.
42. Sweetie : PET. Are you all offended by people calling you sweetie?
44. Muscat native : OMANI.
45. Some Roman Catholics : MARISTS. Followers of MARY.
47. Babbles : NATTERS. Remember the Nabobs?
48. Perspective : SLANT. I often wondered why these have become synonymous. My only guess is that it comes from art, where the slant of shadows is used to create distance perspective. I am sure someone will enlighten me.
50. Mature : GROW UP. Not likely.
51. Adds to the database : ENTERS. That is why the job is known as data entry.
52. ___ Detroit: "Guys and Dolls" role : NATHAN. My youngest played in his high school's version.
53. Like some tree trunks : KNOBBY. And many knees.
54. Having no clue : AT SEA.
59. Peel on "The Avengers" : EMMA. One wonderful inspiration in the 60's, Diana Rigg, she is now playing the dowager of the Tyrells on Game of Thrones.
61. King who succeeded 59-Down : TARA. This was a devilishly clever clue, because King made you think the clue was misplaced, but Linda Thorson was hired as Tara King to replace Diana Rigg.
62. Swedish model Nordegren in 2004 nuptial news : ELIN. Tiger's erstwhile wife. Makes you want to hire a nanny.
63. Tough going : SLOG. I guess you guys managed to slog through the last few links.
65. Buck's mate : DOE. A deer, a female deer...
66. Hosp. test : EEG. So many tests Electroencephalography.
Well my last April effort for this year, and now I must go. Thanks for tuning in and taking time to say hello. Until next week, Lemonade out.
Note from C.C.:
Steve, our Wednesday blogger, took part in Marbles' LA Tournament last Sunday. He said:
"The competition was fun - there were about 25 people at the Los Angeles
event (there were eight or so locations across the country). Eric Maddy
was the winner - apparently he was 11th at the 2010 ACPT. He's a pretty
intense character! There were three puzzles with a 20-minute time limit
and the winners of the three rounds faced off in the final. I completed
the first in about 10 minutes, the second in 15 and was a solid DNF on
the third. I tried the final puzzle for fun and I'd filled in possibly
an eighth of it when Eric finished - I don't think I'm cut out for
speed-solving. It was fun, though."
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| Left to Right: Bill Farhood, Eric Maddy, JT Williams |
You can't see Steve clearly here. He's in purple shirt, sitting next to Eric Maddy.
You can see him clearly here:
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| Steve, Notre Dame London Campus, Nov 2012 |
