(Note: Tomorrow's puzzle involves circles, which are unsupported by LA Times website. I'll release the pdf file on the blog around 9:00 pm tonight.
Updated at 9:00pm: Here is the pdf file of tomorrow's puzzle.)
Theme: None
Total word: 72
Total blocks: 29
Pretty low blocks count, though the puzzle reaches the Saturday word limit. No grid spanner. Just solid triple stacks of 9s & 8s in each quadrant. The eight Across 9s are:
6A. Angle on the Titanic sinking, to filmmakers : MONEY SHOT. Terrific entry.
16A. "Be right there!" : IN A MINUTE
18A. Out-of-court testifiers : DEPONENTS. New word to me.
19A. Vulnerable spot : BLINDSIDE
61A. TV show set at the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company : THE OFFICE. Have never watched the show.
63A. Ticketing agent? : METER MAID. Beatles's "Lovely Rita". I was picturing a cop.
66A. Opened : PREMIERED
68A. Words you may hear after being hurt : I'M SO SORRY. Awesome fill.
Overall cluing feels pretty smooth & clever (not frustratingly ambiguous). I was able to get onto the constructor's wavelength and nailed quite a few entries on the first pass. Had to groan at YING (10D. Qin dynasty family name) clue. Ying Zheng. Wayyyyy too obscure, even for me. He's known only as Qin Shi Huang in China. Qin is his dynasty. Shi = First. Huang = Emperor. Qin had its capital in my hometown Xi'An.
Across:
1. Small power source : C CELL. Battery type.
15. Gwen's "Chicago" role, 1975 : ROXIE. Played by Renée Zellweger in the 2002 musical.
17. Big name in wrap : ALCOA. Reynolds Wrap.
21. Suggest : GET AT
22. Takeout throw-in : CATSUP
23. 1942 FDR creation : OSS. CIA predecessor.
25. Lea lady : EWE. Alliteration.
26. Golden __ : AGE
27. It leads the way : PROW. Ship's front. I wanted DOOR.
29. Words in an infomercial disclaimer : PAID AD. Nice answer.
32. Russell of "Felicity" : KERI. Loved her. Long or short hair.
34. Actually : IN FACT
36. Mess up, as power cords : ENSNARL
39. Came out with : UTTERED
43. Unstable situation : CRISIS
45. '70s attire making a comeback : MAXI. And 6D. It's shorter than a 45-Across : MIDI.
46. They can be rare : STEAKS. I like how it crosses SCAMPI (46D. Garlicky entrée).
49. Charlie Brown never became one : TEEN. Tricky clue.
52. Decks, briefly : KO'S. The "briefly" gave the answer away.
53. Many a startup ender, these days : COM. URL ender.
54. Letters seen near a tilde : ESC. I had to look at my keyboard.
56. Doves and loves : COOERS. Wanted RHYME.
58. Make up (for) : ATONE
65. Top level : ATTIC
67. Drink garnish : TWIST
69. Measures of volume : SONES. Sound volume, correct?
Down:
1. Traditional food at the Preakness : CRAB CAKE. What's the traditional drink at the Preakness?
2. Lip enhancer : COLLAGEN. Obtained via crossers also.
3. They'll get you going : EXCITERS. Neither the clue or answer appealed to me.
4. Team with a mascot named Roary : LIONS. Well, gimme for Jazzbumpa. Roary the Lion. Detroit Lions.
5. Help cause, with "to" : LEAD UP. Certain events LEAD UP to (help cause) the war.
7. Barely losing : ONE DOWN. We've seen ONE UP before.
8. Barbers may shave them : NAPES
9. Genre of the 1997 album "Nothing Feels Good" : EMO. Stumper.
11. Bygone blade : SNEE
12. Tried to trap : HUNTED
13. Dan Aykroyd's birthplace : OTTAWA. Got via crosswers.
14. Stuck a toe in : TESTED
20. Three-mo. period : SPR (Spring).
24. Old footwear accessory : SPAT. The black stuff in her ankles?
28. Works on canvas : OILS
30. Routine : ACT. Simple in retrospect.
31. It may follow a bullet : ITEM. Dot bullet. I was thinking of gun.
33. Old empire builder : INCA
35. Solder, say : FUSE
37. Old animal shelter : ARK
38. Get ready for a pledge : RISE
40. Win big : RAKE IT IN. Good one.
41. Dispossess? : EXORCISE. The ? hint sure helped.
42. Takes apart : DISSECTS
44. More fidgety : ITCHIER
47. Common way to carry a child? : TO TERM. Saw this clue before.
48. Works on stage : EMOTES
50. Friendly start? : ECO. Eco-friendly.
51. Music to a dieter's ears : NO FATS. Why plural "Fats"?
55. Name on a controversial 1998 report : STARR. "The Starr Report". What a waste of time & money.
57. Lesser __ evils : OF TWO
59. Marlin's son, in a 2003 film : NEMO. "Finding Nemo".
60. Greek goddess of discord : ERIS
62. Kayaker's obstacle : EDDY. Hey there Dilbert!
64. __ periculo: at my own risk : MEO. Learning moment for me.
Answer grid.
I am pleased to announce that Lemonade will blog Friday puzzles starting in November. Melissa & Jazzbumpa will handle Wednesdays.
C.C.
Updated at 9:00pm: Here is the pdf file of tomorrow's puzzle.)
Theme: None
Total word: 72
Total blocks: 29
Pretty low blocks count, though the puzzle reaches the Saturday word limit. No grid spanner. Just solid triple stacks of 9s & 8s in each quadrant. The eight Across 9s are:
6A. Angle on the Titanic sinking, to filmmakers : MONEY SHOT. Terrific entry.
16A. "Be right there!" : IN A MINUTE
18A. Out-of-court testifiers : DEPONENTS. New word to me.
19A. Vulnerable spot : BLINDSIDE
61A. TV show set at the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company : THE OFFICE. Have never watched the show.
63A. Ticketing agent? : METER MAID. Beatles's "Lovely Rita". I was picturing a cop.
66A. Opened : PREMIERED
68A. Words you may hear after being hurt : I'M SO SORRY. Awesome fill.
Overall cluing feels pretty smooth & clever (not frustratingly ambiguous). I was able to get onto the constructor's wavelength and nailed quite a few entries on the first pass. Had to groan at YING (10D. Qin dynasty family name) clue. Ying Zheng. Wayyyyy too obscure, even for me. He's known only as Qin Shi Huang in China. Qin is his dynasty. Shi = First. Huang = Emperor. Qin had its capital in my hometown Xi'An.
Across:
1. Small power source : C CELL. Battery type.
15. Gwen's "Chicago" role, 1975 : ROXIE. Played by Renée Zellweger in the 2002 musical.
17. Big name in wrap : ALCOA. Reynolds Wrap.
21. Suggest : GET AT
22. Takeout throw-in : CATSUP
23. 1942 FDR creation : OSS. CIA predecessor.
25. Lea lady : EWE. Alliteration.
26. Golden __ : AGE
27. It leads the way : PROW. Ship's front. I wanted DOOR.
29. Words in an infomercial disclaimer : PAID AD. Nice answer.
32. Russell of "Felicity" : KERI. Loved her. Long or short hair.
34. Actually : IN FACT
36. Mess up, as power cords : ENSNARL
39. Came out with : UTTERED
43. Unstable situation : CRISIS
45. '70s attire making a comeback : MAXI. And 6D. It's shorter than a 45-Across : MIDI.
46. They can be rare : STEAKS. I like how it crosses SCAMPI (46D. Garlicky entrée).
49. Charlie Brown never became one : TEEN. Tricky clue.
52. Decks, briefly : KO'S. The "briefly" gave the answer away.
53. Many a startup ender, these days : COM. URL ender.
54. Letters seen near a tilde : ESC. I had to look at my keyboard.
56. Doves and loves : COOERS. Wanted RHYME.
58. Make up (for) : ATONE
65. Top level : ATTIC
67. Drink garnish : TWIST
69. Measures of volume : SONES. Sound volume, correct?
Down:
1. Traditional food at the Preakness : CRAB CAKE. What's the traditional drink at the Preakness?
2. Lip enhancer : COLLAGEN. Obtained via crossers also.
3. They'll get you going : EXCITERS. Neither the clue or answer appealed to me.
4. Team with a mascot named Roary : LIONS. Well, gimme for Jazzbumpa. Roary the Lion. Detroit Lions.
5. Help cause, with "to" : LEAD UP. Certain events LEAD UP to (help cause) the war.
7. Barely losing : ONE DOWN. We've seen ONE UP before.
8. Barbers may shave them : NAPES
9. Genre of the 1997 album "Nothing Feels Good" : EMO. Stumper.
11. Bygone blade : SNEE
12. Tried to trap : HUNTED
13. Dan Aykroyd's birthplace : OTTAWA. Got via crosswers.
14. Stuck a toe in : TESTED
20. Three-mo. period : SPR (Spring).
24. Old footwear accessory : SPAT. The black stuff in her ankles?
28. Works on canvas : OILS
30. Routine : ACT. Simple in retrospect.
31. It may follow a bullet : ITEM. Dot bullet. I was thinking of gun.
33. Old empire builder : INCA
35. Solder, say : FUSE
37. Old animal shelter : ARK
38. Get ready for a pledge : RISE
40. Win big : RAKE IT IN. Good one.
41. Dispossess? : EXORCISE. The ? hint sure helped.
42. Takes apart : DISSECTS
44. More fidgety : ITCHIER
47. Common way to carry a child? : TO TERM. Saw this clue before.
48. Works on stage : EMOTES
50. Friendly start? : ECO. Eco-friendly.
51. Music to a dieter's ears : NO FATS. Why plural "Fats"?
55. Name on a controversial 1998 report : STARR. "The Starr Report". What a waste of time & money.
57. Lesser __ evils : OF TWO
59. Marlin's son, in a 2003 film : NEMO. "Finding Nemo".
60. Greek goddess of discord : ERIS
62. Kayaker's obstacle : EDDY. Hey there Dilbert!
64. __ periculo: at my own risk : MEO. Learning moment for me.
Answer grid.
I am pleased to announce that Lemonade will blog Friday puzzles starting in November. Melissa & Jazzbumpa will handle Wednesdays.
C.C.
