Theme: We need to get rid of our PR department.
This is our third puzzle from Warren who has two Monday LATs under his belt. It was difficult to parse his re-imagination of PRISM as PR IS M. Words that begin with "PR" are recast with "M" to create new phrases. There are no other PR words in the clues or fill. The triple nines in the NE and SW make this an impressive grid featuring many lovely words like ARMATURES, PERSONNEL, EXTENDERS, STOMACHED, RAPID FIRE, ANECDOTAL. Let us take a trip through Warren's creation.
17A. Songs without words? : MIME NUMBERS (11). PRime Numbers, a math concept becomes an odd concept of people acting out the music. I started out wanting INSTRUMENTAL which luckily was too long.
27A. Earthquake consequence? : MOVING GROUND (12). PRoving ground I believe started with a term for the place where the military tries out its weapons. This fill gave me the letter(s) switch.
46A. House cat's challenge? : MICE INCREASE (12). PRice increase.
61A. Money-making fiasco? : MINTING MESS (11). PRinting PRess. A double dose of changing pr to m. Good or bad?
68A. Solid that, when divided into three parts, describes this puzzle's theme : PRISM. For all of the math people who comment here, we are talking geometry not light waves when the clue is a solid. LINK.
Across:
1. "Dancing With the Stars" network : ABC-TV. Quite the interesting new group this year.
6. Early sign of spring : ARIES. The first sign of the Zodiac.
11. Big, uncouth guy : APE. Generally hairy.
14. Flap : HOOHA. With or without the closing "H" this version may come from the Yiddish הו־האַ meaning hullabaloo. In the Urban dictionary, the meaning is very different.
15. Now : TODAY.
16. King of ancient Rome : REX. This took too long as I was trying to think of one of the KINGS.
19. Celebrity known for wearing gold jewelry : MR T.
21. Check for a poker player? : NO BET. Literal.
22. Corner of a diamond : BASE. Third is the "hot corner."
23. Place name derived from a Koyukon word for "tall" : DENALI. Yukon tipped me to the Alaska connection and Denali filled. I knew nothing of this language or PEOPLE.
25. Touch : ABUT ON.
31. Span. title : SRA. One lazy Friday I misidentified this abbreviation for Señora.
34. Pasta sauce flavoring : BASIL. Is a spice a flavoring?
35. Jane __, only female Chicago mayor : BYRNE. It is hard to believe Chicago elected this interesting outspoken CANDIDATE.
36. Strong flavor : TANG. I think more of tangy, but this was okay.
38. Dog or fox : CANID. Per wiki any of a family (Canidae) of carnivorous animals that includes the wolves, jackals, foxes, coyote, and the domestic dog.
40. One looking ahead : SEER. The Romans used them as important advisers, called them oracles. Reagan used astrologers. Also a word in C.C.'s Monday.
41. Autobahn autos : OPELS. Cool, now it is here.
43. Dreaded mosquito : AEDES. We have so many diseases spread by mosquitoes. What the CDC says.
45. Mercedes roadsters : SLS. SLS stands for "Sport Leicht Super" (Sport Light Super).
Sorry this is the correct car, I was thinking of an example rather than the plural.
49. Supplements : ADDS TO.
50. Date night destination : CINEMA. No ATM this week.
54. Corporate money mgrs. : CFOS. Chief Financial Officers.
55. Hustler's genre : DISCO. The dance, not the con man or the street person.
59. Dollar alternative : AVIS. Rental cars.
60. Pop __ : HIT.
63. Important time : ERA.
64. Leader of the pack? : SCOUT. Literally the one who goes out first.
65. Main artery : AORTA.
66. __ Taco : DEL. This chain of texmex is not down here but they have locations in Orlando. Never tried it.
67. Manage : GET BY.
Down:
2. Capital on its own river : BOISE. I did not know this geographic fact. Looks pretty.
Comin thro' the rye, poor body,
Comin thro' the rye,
She draigl't a' her petticoatie
Comin thro' the rye.
LINK.
4. Kin, informally : THE FAM. I have a cousin who actually says this.
5. Soccer practice transport : VAN.
6. Sphere opening : ATMOsphere.
7. Lynda Bird's married name : ROBB. She married this man. LINK.
8. Auteur's starting point : IDEE. French authors have their ideas in French.
9. Stock-tracking device : EAR TAG. Not your portfolio, but your cows. Nice clue/fill.
10. Part of PBS: Abbr. : SYS.
11. Current-carrying components : ARMATURES. I know nothing of electricity or electrical engineering but I read in a current events manual that in DC machines, the magnetic poles are stationary, while the armature rotates-- and hence is also called the Rotor. In AC machines, the armature (heavy coil windings) remains stationary (and hence it is called the Stator), while the magnetic poles rotate inside the stator. This gives us LINK.
12. Staff : PERSONNEL.
13. Substances that add protein to meat : EXTENDERS. I did not know this either and you
probably do not want to read this LINK. And more food controversy 61D. Stir-fry additive : MSG. MonoSodium Glutamate. There is a really great Article about the Chinese Food Syndrome and MSG.
18. Pioneer mainframe : UNIVAC.
22. Depth indicators, at times : BUOYS.
24. Court ploy : LOB.
26. Texter's "Gimme a sec" : BRB. Be Right Back. Also in Monday's puzzle.
28. Son of Abraham : ISAAC.
29. Levi's Stadium player, familiarly : NINER. Pick you seat....
31. Stood : STOMACHED. I will not make a political comment here.
32. In quick succession : RAPID FIRE. Questions, for example.
33. Like some speech components : ANECDOTAL. The great speakers all are able to insert little stories to make their points. Wonderful word used infrequently in puzzles.
37. "Cagney & Lacey" co-star : GLESS. Sharon, who reappeared on Burn Notice
42. Rest : SIT.
44. Govt. stipend provider : SSI. Social Security provides Supplemental Security Income
47. "Fat chance" : NO DICE. Another of many multi word fill.
48. Charm : ENAMOR.
51. "If __ Would Leave You" : EVER I. Ah, Camelot...
52. Perfume applications : MISTS. At least the department stores no longer spray when you walk in.
53. State in northeast India : ASSAM. And this too was in Monday's puzzle.
56. How ties may be broken, briefly : IN OT. In overtime.
57. Re-entry need : STUB. Your ticket stub at the game, the concert or the movie.
58. Word in many place names : CITY.
62. Opening : GAP. Why did I think of this...
Well Spring sprung, and Warren tried his skills at a Friday. I was really impressed with the long non-theme fill. I think this could have easily morphed into a themeless. I missed my Friday Shakespeare but Camelot was fun. Thanks Warren and all of you, Lemonade out.
Notes from C.C.:
1) TTP wrote an updated post on "How to Create a Blogger Account. It's now archived under Olio on the blog front page. Thank you so much for taking the time and writing detailed instructions for newbies, TTP!
1) TTP wrote an updated post on "How to Create a Blogger Account. It's now archived under Olio on the blog front page. Thank you so much for taking the time and writing detailed instructions for newbies, TTP!
2) A few years ago Husker Gary created this fantastic Crossword Corner map. For those who want to add their name to the map, please feel free to email Gary (gschlapfer@gmail.com). Please also let him know if you want to drop your name from the map. Gary will publish an update map once he has the updated info.
