Theme: None
Total words: 72
Total blocks: 28
This puzzle is anchored by four grid spanners, with one long Down intersecting three Across fill:
17A. Where few people live : MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. Wouldn't it be nice if this entry were placed in 7D, the middle of the grid?
36A. Debugging aid? : INSECT REPELLENT. Real bugs! I was picturing the mysterious briefcase my ex-colleague used to debug the phones.
60A. Pick wielder : DENTAL HYGIENIST. The clue made me think of ice pick.
7D. 2008 Adam Brooks romantic comedy : DEFINITELY MAYBE. Looks good. Abigail Breslin is adorable.
Dan Naddor's puzzle yesterday has a themeless look. Today's puzzle has a themed look, with the long fill arrangement and high number of 3-letter words (total 20).
By the way, remember Alex Boivert's "Living on the Edge" puzzle we had last April Fool's Day? Look at those edge words around the grid. Dan's gimmick was easier to grok, at least to me.
Innovation should be encouraged, no matter in which field. You may like the result, or you may not. But same old same old stuff just wouldn't work any more. Words that precede/follow theme concept (sans twist) will bring you an immediate "No" from Rich.
By the way, remember Alex Boivert's "Living on the Edge" puzzle we had last April Fool's Day? Look at those edge words around the grid. Dan's gimmick was easier to grok, at least to me.
Innovation should be encouraged, no matter in which field. You may like the result, or you may not. But same old same old stuff just wouldn't work any more. Words that precede/follow theme concept (sans twist) will bring you an immediate "No" from Rich.
Across:
1. Island where florins are spent : ARUBA. Shouldn't they use EURO? Aruba is part of the Netherlands after all.
6. Unoccupied : IDLE. FREE wouldn't work.
10. Mental keenness : WITS
14. Charged : RAN AT. Phrasal verb can be a bit tough at times.
15. Hold : DEEM
16. Minimally : A BIT
20. "Is that __?" : A NO
21. Entertainer : ARTISTE. Thought it's just French for "artist".
22. Rural pro : FER. Rural "for".
23. Having no chapters? : NONUNION. Tricky clue.
25. Prohibit : ENJOIN
27. Hardly handy : INEPT
28. Quiet, in a way : OIL. Quiet the squeak.
30. Mattingly's predecessor : TORRE (Joe). Don Mattingly. Dodgers' manager.
31. 20-20, e.g. : TIE
33. Persian for "crown" : TAJ
35. Summer arrivals : LEOs. Oh, babies.
41. Bar patron who appears in every "Cheers" episode : NORM. Unknown trivia to me.
42. Bordeaux bottom : CUL. Cul-de-sac = Bottom of the sack.
43. Clavell's "__-Pan" : TAI. Literally "Big".
44. Marsh bird : SNIPE
46. Norse war god : TYR. From whom we got Tuesday.
48. Schism outcomes : SECTS
52. Jai alai ball : PELOTA. The basket is called CESTA. Al covered both in his Thursday write-up.
54. Float seller : MALT SHOP. I've never been to one.
56. Clark's "Mogambo" co-star : AVA. Gardner had the perfect body measurements.
57. Huge : TITANIC
59. Solid-rock center? : AS A. Solid as a rock.
63. Three-time '80s speed skating gold medalist Karin : ENKE. No idea. She's from Germany.
64. Kathryn of "Law & Order: C.I." : ERBE
65. Um preceder? : NO SEE. No see-ums. Biting flies.
66. Early Sam & Dave record label : STAX
67. Club income : DUEs
68. Head lock : TRESS. Typical grid edge word.
Down:
1. Lawyer's suit? : ARMANI. Nice playing on "suit".
2. Spoil, as a picnic : RAIN ON
3. How a knot may come : UNDONE
4. Like some judgment : BAD
5. Kennebec River outlet, with "the" : ATLANTIC. I'm sure Mainiac nailed this one. Kennebec River is in Maine.
6. "Same here" : I DO TOO
8. Contact, e.g. : LENS
9. Show anger, say : EMOTE
10. ''Do __ Diddy Diddy'': 1964 hit : WAH. Not familiar with the song.
11. Start of a rule with numerous exceptions : I BEFORE E. Spelling rule.
12. Trunk item : TIRE IRON
13. Most severe : STERNEST
18. "__ tu": Verdi aria : ERI. Literally "It was you".
19. Sold (for) : WENT
24. Bouncy : UPTEMPO. I like this word, "bouncy".
26. Kicks : JOLLIES. Did not know jolly can be a noun.
29. Drink from a dish : LAP. For dogs.
32. What an ellipsis may mean: Abbr. : ETC
34. Black shade : JET
36. Big-time : IN SPADES
37. Tempest in a teapot : NON-EVENT
38. Colombo's country : SRI LANKA. Full name. How rare!
39. Same old same old : RUT
40. You'll be busted if you use it : LAST CENT. Man, even a dollar can't buy you anything now. Not even a pack of baseball cards.
45. Blues singer James : ETTA
47. Extents : RANGES
49. One in a cruise ship line : CHAISE
50. Chucks : TOSSES
51. Floods : SPATES
53. Had something : AILED. Had a bug.
55. Full deck in old Rome? : LII. 52. Deck of card.
58. Drive-__ : THRU
61. St. with a panhandle : TEX. Quite a few states have a panhandle.
62. Easter opening? : NOR. Opening of Nor'easter.
C.C.
