Theme: Swap Meet
20A: Change in basic assumptions: PARADIGM SHIFT
27A: Righty and lefty: SWITCH HITTER
49A: Import-export restriction: TRADE EMBARGO
58A: Wall Street fixture: STOCK EXCHANGE
Very nice theme concept! I like the cluing of the theme answers too. And I am always happy to see my Chinese name initials (ZQ) showing up in one grid. I think we are on our way to a pangram puzzle soon, either from Barry Silk or Allan E. Parrish.
I dislike the clue for OWE (56A: Be indebted) due to the answer DEBT (34A: Outstanding loan). Obviously someone drank way too much before he constructed/edited the puzzle: BEER (35D), ZIMA (5D: Coors product) and ALE (67D: Bottle of brew), since he could not see STAMP (71A: Philatelist's purchase) when he clued REC'D (21D: Shipping dept. stamp).
Or he simply binged on ARBY'S (57A: Meaty fast-food chain) and General TSO's chicken (26A: Chinese menu general), those fatty food can dull your intelligence quickly.
I have a homemade cure for the hangover: Mix one cup of TRIX (64A: Cereal for kid), one cored PEACH (40A: Georgia fruit) and two sliced & cubed RYES (72D: Deli bread) together, use a LADLE (63A: Soup dispenser) to scoop up a cup of plain STOCK (58A) and eat. It won't be TANGY (36D: Zestful), but it will sure sober you up!
Across:
5A: Uses a laser weapon: ZAPS. What exactly is a "laser weapon"? Ground based or airborne?
9A: Burlesque bits: SKITS
15A: Reykjavik's isl.: ICEL (Iceland). Not familiar with this abbreviation. Iceland is too quiet (no army) and chess-madden to be on my radar. Björk does make noise occasionally. This is her infamous swan dress at the 2001 Oscars.
16A: Brimless hat: TOQUE
18A: South of France: MIDI. No, I am not familiar with "Le MIDI" at all. I wanted SUD. "MIDI" is always "noon" to me. Here is a great explanation: "Midday was synonymous with the direction of south because in France the Sun is in the south at noon".
19A: Legend automaker: ACURA
32A: Boxer's stat.: KOS (Knockouts). Not "stats"?
38A: Greek Cupid: EROS. Here is the Avril's title page illustration of "De Figuris Veneris" (Manual of Classical Erotology).
44A: Star in Cygnus: DENEB
68A: Nice farewell?: ADIEU. "SAYONARA" in Japanese, "ZAI JIAN" in Chinese, Barry Silk should like this scrabbly phrase.
70A: Jewish month: ELUL (the 12th month of the Jewish calendar). And 47D: "Voice of Israel" author: EBAN (Abba)
73A: Unit of force: DYNE
DOWN:
3D: Skull-and-crossbones site: RAT POISON. Isn't it on the box of RAT POISON?
4D: Genetic surprise: MUTANT. And 6D: Part of DNA: ACID
5D: Coors product: ZIMA. I did not know until this morning that ZIMA is not a beer.
8D: Minimal: SLIGHT. Are they really synonymous?
11D: Resignation declaration: I QUIT
12D: Gang territories: TURFS
13D: Old Pac. pact: SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization). Abolished in 1977.
35D: Six-pack abs?: BEER BELLY. I like this clue.
41D: Cav. on a scoreboard: CLE (Cleveland). They'd better keep LeBron James beyond 2010.
45D: Burst into laughter: BROKE UP. Ha ha, it's new to me. I always associate "Break up" with "ending a relationship".
51D: Showtime original series: DEXTER. No idea. Is it good?
52D: Had words: ARGUED
53D: ___ Filipinas: ISLAS. Is this the Spanish for "The Phillippin Islands"?
54D: German city: STADT. "City" in German. Unknown to me.
59D: Skelton's Kadidlehopper: CLEM. Absolutely no idea. I got both CLEM & STADT from the across fills.
60D: Supercomptuter maker: CRAY. Another new name to me. See here for more information.
C.C.
20A: Change in basic assumptions: PARADIGM SHIFT
27A: Righty and lefty: SWITCH HITTER
49A: Import-export restriction: TRADE EMBARGO
58A: Wall Street fixture: STOCK EXCHANGE
Very nice theme concept! I like the cluing of the theme answers too. And I am always happy to see my Chinese name initials (ZQ) showing up in one grid. I think we are on our way to a pangram puzzle soon, either from Barry Silk or Allan E. Parrish.
I dislike the clue for OWE (56A: Be indebted) due to the answer DEBT (34A: Outstanding loan). Obviously someone drank way too much before he constructed/edited the puzzle: BEER (35D), ZIMA (5D: Coors product) and ALE (67D: Bottle of brew), since he could not see STAMP (71A: Philatelist's purchase) when he clued REC'D (21D: Shipping dept. stamp).
Or he simply binged on ARBY'S (57A: Meaty fast-food chain) and General TSO's chicken (26A: Chinese menu general), those fatty food can dull your intelligence quickly.
I have a homemade cure for the hangover: Mix one cup of TRIX (64A: Cereal for kid), one cored PEACH (40A: Georgia fruit) and two sliced & cubed RYES (72D: Deli bread) together, use a LADLE (63A: Soup dispenser) to scoop up a cup of plain STOCK (58A) and eat. It won't be TANGY (36D: Zestful), but it will sure sober you up!
Across:
5A: Uses a laser weapon: ZAPS. What exactly is a "laser weapon"? Ground based or airborne?
9A: Burlesque bits: SKITS
15A: Reykjavik's isl.: ICEL (Iceland). Not familiar with this abbreviation. Iceland is too quiet (no army) and chess-madden to be on my radar. Björk does make noise occasionally. This is her infamous swan dress at the 2001 Oscars.
16A: Brimless hat: TOQUE
18A: South of France: MIDI. No, I am not familiar with "Le MIDI" at all. I wanted SUD. "MIDI" is always "noon" to me. Here is a great explanation: "Midday was synonymous with the direction of south because in France the Sun is in the south at noon".
19A: Legend automaker: ACURA
32A: Boxer's stat.: KOS (Knockouts). Not "stats"?
38A: Greek Cupid: EROS. Here is the Avril's title page illustration of "De Figuris Veneris" (Manual of Classical Erotology).
44A: Star in Cygnus: DENEB
68A: Nice farewell?: ADIEU. "SAYONARA" in Japanese, "ZAI JIAN" in Chinese, Barry Silk should like this scrabbly phrase.
70A: Jewish month: ELUL (the 12th month of the Jewish calendar). And 47D: "Voice of Israel" author: EBAN (Abba)
73A: Unit of force: DYNE
DOWN:
3D: Skull-and-crossbones site: RAT POISON. Isn't it on the box of RAT POISON?
4D: Genetic surprise: MUTANT. And 6D: Part of DNA: ACID
5D: Coors product: ZIMA. I did not know until this morning that ZIMA is not a beer.
8D: Minimal: SLIGHT. Are they really synonymous?
11D: Resignation declaration: I QUIT
12D: Gang territories: TURFS
13D: Old Pac. pact: SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization). Abolished in 1977.
35D: Six-pack abs?: BEER BELLY. I like this clue.
41D: Cav. on a scoreboard: CLE (Cleveland). They'd better keep LeBron James beyond 2010.
45D: Burst into laughter: BROKE UP. Ha ha, it's new to me. I always associate "Break up" with "ending a relationship".
51D: Showtime original series: DEXTER. No idea. Is it good?
52D: Had words: ARGUED
53D: ___ Filipinas: ISLAS. Is this the Spanish for "The Phillippin Islands"?
54D: German city: STADT. "City" in German. Unknown to me.
59D: Skelton's Kadidlehopper: CLEM. Absolutely no idea. I got both CLEM & STADT from the across fills.
60D: Supercomptuter maker: CRAY. Another new name to me. See here for more information.
C.C.
