TITLE: HAND JIVE
Bruce has supplied us with a clever puzzle with two switcheroos. First he supplied the names of all the fingers on a hand with cluing/fill that had nothing to do with actual fingers. Secondly he gave the reveal with a two-word phrase DIG IT that could be consolidated to make DIGIT which of course is an alternate name for fingers.
THEME REVEAL
55. "Pay attention, man!" ... and, in a different way, what the end of each answer to a starred clue refers to : DIG IT/DIGIT - Fun! Here are some DIGITS being used to DIG IT.
Here's the "handy" grid with the theme and reveal fill that as you can see is further enhanced by the appearance of the fingers being in order from LITTLE TO THUMB.
Now let's look at Bruce's well-executed theme fill:
18. *"C'mon, loosen up!" : LIVE A LITTLE - A PINKY swear gives us an alternate name for our tiniest DIGIT
23. *Place for lefts and rights : BOXING RING - Waddaya think? A little gaudy?
40. *Compromise : MEET IN THE MIDDLE - George was sure she was giving him the infamous MIDDLE finger.
52. *Market measure : STOCK INDEX - Several Husker VB girls had their INDEX fingers raised after winning the 2015 National Championship.
62. *General principle : RULE OF THUMB - A good use of that DIGIT that separates us from most of the animal world and my assessment of C.C. and the rest of you word warriors here at our little conclave!
Now let's explore some more of the fine fill Bruce has, uh, fingered for us today:
ACROSS
1. Put a spell on : HEX
4. Organizes from best to worst, say : SORTS - One of my favorite Excel features
9. Arizona landforms : MESAS
14. Wrath : IRE
15. Longtime "At the Movies" co-host : EBERT - He listed Casablanca and Citizen Kane among his ten best
16. One bit : AT ALL
17. Shake up : JAR - Definitely a little JAR! Cell phone user?
20. Do penance : ATONE
22. Certain string musician's need : VIOLA BOW - Re-hairing a bow
26. "Star Wars" extras : ET'S
27. Word of passione : CARA - Ya gotta love Jay and the American's singing CARA Mia - My Beloved in Italian
28. Cheek : SASS
31. "Alas!" : AH ME
34. Elementary bit : ATOM
37. Water nymph : NAIAD
43. Orchard trees : PEARS
44. "Ready are you? What know you of ready?" speaker : YODA
45. Low in fat : LEAN
46. Supermodel Banks : TYRA
48. Gross : ICKY
50. PD alert : APB - Calling all cars!
58. French president Hollande : FRANCOIS - His progression of domestic partners in chronological order. He didn't always tell them that someone else was coming in from the bullpen.
61. Sees red : BOILS
65. Bygone muscle car : GTO
66. Holiday visitor : IN-LAW
67. "Science of Logic" author Georg : HEGEL
68. Shy person's note? : IOU - A day late and a few dollars shy
69. Branch quarters : NESTS - Nests are fine, but...
70. Philadelphia pro : EAGLE
71. "Major Crimes" network : TNT
DOWN
1. Muslim veil : HIJAB
2. Sister of Calliope : ERATO
3. Maker of ColorQube printers : XEROX
4. One-named singer portrayed by Jennifer Lopez in a 1997 film : SELENA - SELENA on the left and JLO on the right playing Selena in Jennifer's breakout role.
5. Japanese sash : OBI
6. Gun, as a V8 : REV
7. Roman fountain : TREVI
8. Spot : STAIN
9. Pony Express concern : MAIL - Orphans preferred? Yikes!
10. Vocalist James : ETTA
11. Plopped down next to : SAT BESIDE
12. Apportion : ALLOT
13. Boatloads : SLEWS
19. Stack under a tarp : LOGS
21. "Close, but no cigar" : NICE TRY
24. Family nickname : GRAN(ny)
25. Threadbare : RATTY
29. Boy in "Star Wars" prequel films : ANI
30. "I wish I could" : SADLY NO
31. Bit of band gear : AMP
32. Small snicker : HEE
33. Sub filler : MEATBALLS
35. "So THAT's what's going on here!" : OHO - I'm shocked there is gambling going on in here!
36. First responder : MEDIC - At Omaha Beach
38. It borders the Fla. panhandle : ALA
39. Hideout : DEN
41. Medit. country : ISR
42. Big name in big rigs : MACK - Inside the most expensive MACK truck
47. Dating from : AS OF
49. Cat dish tidbit : KIBBLE
50. Nasal spray brand : AFRIN
51. Danish fruit : PRUNE
53. Parishioner's pledge : TITHE
54. Milo of "Barbarella" : O'SHEA - Sorry, Milo, yours is not the first name that leaps to mind when I think of Barbarella
56. John of The Red Piano Tour : ELTON
57. Strikes through : X'S OUT
59. "Far out!" : NEAT
60. Stockholder's assets? : COWS
63. Trendy boot brand : UGG
64. Blanc heard but not seen : MEL - Not necessarily as in this classic routine (Si, Sy, Sue, Sew) with Jack Benny.
Now let's get your DIGITAL comments:
