Theme: None
Total words: 72
Total blocks: 28
I think this is the first James Sajdak themeless we've encountered since the switch. He mostly focuses on themed puzzles.
No grid spanners or intimidating long stacks today. In fact, no entry is longer than 9 letters. The eight 8s & seven 7s are pretty good. I especially like the below consecutive entries:
61A. Nearly die laughing : BUST A GUT
63A. Zayre department stores creation : T. J. MAXX. Scrabby.
65A. Qualifying words : AS IT WERE. In a way.
Across:
1. Beliefs : CREDOS. Thought of TENETS first.
7. Caber throwers : SCOTSMEN. The large pole they toss is called caber. New to me.
15. Paris jilted her for Helen : OENONE. No idea. Literally "wine woman". Oeno is prefix for "wine".
16. Obama's birthplace : HONOLULU. Only know he's born in Hawaii.
17. Jaguar's coat? : CAR WAX. The question mark did not prevent me from thinking of the big cat.
18. "Two thumbs way up!" : I LOVED IT
19. Simile center : AS AN. Wise as an owl.
20. Quick to the helm : YARE. Meaning the ship is easily maneuvered. Learned from doing Xword.
22. Ancient "Prose" and "Poetic" works : EDDAS. "Poetic Edda" & "Prose Edda".
23. Autobahn sight : OPEL
25. Wipe the floor with, so to speak : DRUB. Defeat easily.
27. "__-mite!": J.J.'s exclamation on "Good Times" : DYNO. Not in my radar. Dynomite!
28. Accused : ON TRIAL. Needed crossing help.
30. Nothing to brag about : SO SO
32. "The Social Contract" author : ROUSSEAU (Jean-Jacques). I wonder if anyone has actually read this book.
34. Product with a secret sauce : BIG MAC. Close to Thousand Island dressing, a la Wiki.
38. Rotter : CUR. We also have 50. Rotter : LOUSE.
39. Divide, in a way : TRISECT
41. Purchase from Sajak : AN I. Got the AN? easily.
42. Channeling device? : STEREO. Why? I don't get the clue.
44. Piecemeal? : A LA CARTE. Nice clue.
46. Poetic peepers : ORBS. Eyes.
48. Just about knock down the door : STORM IN
49. O'Neill title flora : ELMS. was ignorant of his play "Desire Under the Elms".
52. First name in design : EERO ( Saarinen). Son of Eliel Saarinen.
54. Substantial content : MEAT. A LOT jumped to me.
55. Pouts : MOUES. Like this cute boy. .
57. Name for lime based on its chemical composition : CALX. New word to me. Has some calcium in it I suppose.
59. Fleshy-leaved plant : ALOE
66. Band aide : ROADIE
67. Took back : RECANTED
68. Quakers with deep roots? : ASPENS. Quaking aspens.
Down:
1. Chewable stimulant : COCA. Oh, coca leaves.
2. Deduce : REASON OUT
3. Delight beyond measure : ENRAPTURE
4. Drags : DOWNERS
5. Words before budget or mission : ON A
6. Hot : SEXY
7. Bake, as eggs : SHIRR. Shirred eggs.
8. Plant with flamboyant foliage : COLEUS. I only use "flamboyant" to describe a person. Not flowers.
9. Plastic __ Band : ONO. Formed by John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1969.
'
10. Carroll's "slithy" thing : TOVE. "Jabberwocky".
11. London hauler? : SLED DOG. Jack London's "Call of the Wild". Got me.
12. Not clear : MUDDY
13. Boy's name seen in 2000 papers : ELIAN (Gonzalez). Year 2000.
14. Wacky : NUTSO
21. Dwight's two-time adversary : ADLAI ( Stevenson)
24. Surgeon for whom a mouthwash is named : LISTER. Listerine.
26. Stubby-tailed feline : BOB CAT
28. Tolkien meanies : ORCS. From "The Lord of the Rings".
29. Oxygen-consuming organism : AEROBE. Aero + (Micr)obe. Makes sense.
31. "Being on a __ stops me from getting Alzheimer's": Jerry Stiller : SITCOM. Not familiar with this quote.
33. Third most populous nation: Abbr. : USA. After China & India.
35. Tea tray spread : MARMALADE. I like honey.
36. Immunity offerer : ANTITOXIN. Was thinking of exemption "immunity".
37. Javier's hundred : CIEN. Spanish for "hundred".
40. East Los Angeles bus line with a sun in its logo : EL SOL. Educated guess.
43. __ Stone : ROSETTA
45. Welcome center freebie : AREA MAP
47. Tied down : SECURE
49. Put away for a while : EMBAR. Imprison.
51. Score sheets? : MUSIC. Not sports.
53. Like most movies : RATED
56. Cut : SAWN
58. More, in adspeak : XTRA
60. Zsa Zsa has eight : EXES. Wow, really?
62. Pick up : GET
64. Relative of Chas.? : JOS. Chas. = Charles. JOS = Joseph. Had to get help from Argyle.
Answer grid.
Happy Birthday, Maria, wherever you are. Hope you are still solving LAT puzzles and following our blog.
C.C.
Total words: 72
Total blocks: 28
I think this is the first James Sajdak themeless we've encountered since the switch. He mostly focuses on themed puzzles.
No grid spanners or intimidating long stacks today. In fact, no entry is longer than 9 letters. The eight 8s & seven 7s are pretty good. I especially like the below consecutive entries:
61A. Nearly die laughing : BUST A GUT
63A. Zayre department stores creation : T. J. MAXX. Scrabby.
65A. Qualifying words : AS IT WERE. In a way.
Across:
1. Beliefs : CREDOS. Thought of TENETS first.
7. Caber throwers : SCOTSMEN. The large pole they toss is called caber. New to me.
15. Paris jilted her for Helen : OENONE. No idea. Literally "wine woman". Oeno is prefix for "wine".
16. Obama's birthplace : HONOLULU. Only know he's born in Hawaii.
17. Jaguar's coat? : CAR WAX. The question mark did not prevent me from thinking of the big cat.
18. "Two thumbs way up!" : I LOVED IT
19. Simile center : AS AN. Wise as an owl.
20. Quick to the helm : YARE. Meaning the ship is easily maneuvered. Learned from doing Xword.
22. Ancient "Prose" and "Poetic" works : EDDAS. "Poetic Edda" & "Prose Edda".
23. Autobahn sight : OPEL
25. Wipe the floor with, so to speak : DRUB. Defeat easily.
27. "__-mite!": J.J.'s exclamation on "Good Times" : DYNO. Not in my radar. Dynomite!
28. Accused : ON TRIAL. Needed crossing help.
30. Nothing to brag about : SO SO
32. "The Social Contract" author : ROUSSEAU (Jean-Jacques). I wonder if anyone has actually read this book.
34. Product with a secret sauce : BIG MAC. Close to Thousand Island dressing, a la Wiki.
38. Rotter : CUR. We also have 50. Rotter : LOUSE.
39. Divide, in a way : TRISECT
41. Purchase from Sajak : AN I. Got the AN? easily.
42. Channeling device? : STEREO. Why? I don't get the clue.
44. Piecemeal? : A LA CARTE. Nice clue.
46. Poetic peepers : ORBS. Eyes.
48. Just about knock down the door : STORM IN
49. O'Neill title flora : ELMS. was ignorant of his play "Desire Under the Elms".
52. First name in design : EERO ( Saarinen). Son of Eliel Saarinen.
54. Substantial content : MEAT. A LOT jumped to me.
55. Pouts : MOUES. Like this cute boy. .
57. Name for lime based on its chemical composition : CALX. New word to me. Has some calcium in it I suppose.
59. Fleshy-leaved plant : ALOE
66. Band aide : ROADIE
67. Took back : RECANTED
68. Quakers with deep roots? : ASPENS. Quaking aspens.
Down:
1. Chewable stimulant : COCA. Oh, coca leaves.
2. Deduce : REASON OUT
3. Delight beyond measure : ENRAPTURE
4. Drags : DOWNERS
5. Words before budget or mission : ON A
6. Hot : SEXY
7. Bake, as eggs : SHIRR. Shirred eggs.
8. Plant with flamboyant foliage : COLEUS. I only use "flamboyant" to describe a person. Not flowers.
9. Plastic __ Band : ONO. Formed by John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1969.
'
10. Carroll's "slithy" thing : TOVE. "Jabberwocky".
11. London hauler? : SLED DOG. Jack London's "Call of the Wild". Got me.
12. Not clear : MUDDY
13. Boy's name seen in 2000 papers : ELIAN (Gonzalez). Year 2000.
14. Wacky : NUTSO
21. Dwight's two-time adversary : ADLAI ( Stevenson)
24. Surgeon for whom a mouthwash is named : LISTER. Listerine.
26. Stubby-tailed feline : BOB CAT
28. Tolkien meanies : ORCS. From "The Lord of the Rings".
29. Oxygen-consuming organism : AEROBE. Aero + (Micr)obe. Makes sense.
31. "Being on a __ stops me from getting Alzheimer's": Jerry Stiller : SITCOM. Not familiar with this quote.
33. Third most populous nation: Abbr. : USA. After China & India.
35. Tea tray spread : MARMALADE. I like honey.
36. Immunity offerer : ANTITOXIN. Was thinking of exemption "immunity".
37. Javier's hundred : CIEN. Spanish for "hundred".
40. East Los Angeles bus line with a sun in its logo : EL SOL. Educated guess.
43. __ Stone : ROSETTA
45. Welcome center freebie : AREA MAP
47. Tied down : SECURE
49. Put away for a while : EMBAR. Imprison.
51. Score sheets? : MUSIC. Not sports.
53. Like most movies : RATED
56. Cut : SAWN
58. More, in adspeak : XTRA
60. Zsa Zsa has eight : EXES. Wow, really?
62. Pick up : GET
64. Relative of Chas.? : JOS. Chas. = Charles. JOS = Joseph. Had to get help from Argyle.
Answer grid.
Happy Birthday, Maria, wherever you are. Hope you are still solving LAT puzzles and following our blog.
C.C.
