Theme: “Element-ary, my dear Watson!”
37A. Unexpected twist (and a hint to what’s hidden inside 18-, 20-, 51 and 56- Across) : SURPRISE ELEMENT. I really enjoyed Peter’s “Fishy” puzzle, as C.C. mentions in her notes. And this one did not go over like a…
18A. Health enhancer, so it’s said: APPLE A DAY.
…lead balloon.
37A. Unexpected twist (and a hint to what’s hidden inside 18-, 20-, 51 and 56- Across) : SURPRISE ELEMENT. I really enjoyed Peter’s “Fishy” puzzle, as C.C. mentions in her notes. And this one did not go over like a…
18A. Health enhancer, so it’s said: APPLE A DAY.
…lead balloon.
20A. It “is no problem. You just have to live long enough”: Groucho Marx: GETTING OLDER. Thar’s gold in them thar quotes!!
51A. “A Moon for the Misbegotten” playwright”: EUGENE O'NEILL.
56A. Longshoremen’s aids: CARGO NETS. The American National Archives use(s?) argon to store important national documents, like the Declaration of Independence.
I loved how the two pairs of theme entries were stacked on top of each other.
Marti here, so let’s get started.
Across:
1. Smoldering bit : EMBER
6. Slip a Mickey : DRUG. A "Mickey Finn" used to be known as a strong drink, laced with chloral hydrate (a sedative). Now it's "roofies" (flunitrazepam). Either way, watch your drink when out in a crowd!
10. It may have all the answers : CRIB. Did any of you use a “crib sheet” when taking exams? (I didn't think so!!)
14. Stiller's partner : MEARA. Funny couple!
15. High rollers' destination : RENO
16. Half of 10? : ZERO. I sat looking at this clue for a while, wondering how to fit “five” in with the perps… I finally hit myself with the V8 can when I saw “10” as a one and a zero!
17. Speed skater Apolo __ Ohno : ANTON. This was a complete WAG (“Wild A**ed Guess”, for newbies to this blog…)
22. Pickup facilitator : LINE. “So, do you come to this blog often?”
23. "Friendly skies" co. : UAL. United Airlines. Abbr. in the clue indicates an abbr. for the airline.
24. __ center : REC. Did anyone confidently fill in “epi-“, like I did?
27. PC time meas. : M-SEC. OK, I confess… I put in _SEC, and waited for perps before I decided if it was “p”, “n” or “m”.
29. Performed, in a way : SANG. If you heard me sing, it would not be a pretty performance!
32. Band that performed "Whip It" : DEVO. Hunh, I must have still been discoing while this one was recorded...
33. Bars in stores : UPC. Universal Product Code.
34. 1965 NCAA tennis champ : ASHE. He was closer to my generation…
35. Aaron's team for 21 seasons : BRAVES. Hah…I am beginning to recognize baseball clues/answers. But I still wanted to put in “NY Mets". (I’ll get it right some day, C.C. – I promise!!)
40. Make : CREATE
41. Gloom mate : DOOM
42. Rural stretch : LEA
43. "... two fives for __?" : A TEN
44. Skin malady, perhaps : CYST
45. What crews use : OARS
46. Expression of disappointment : TSK...tsk
47. Bit of code : DAH. Or, "Kick the bucket", in a southern drawl...
49. Hair care purchase : TINT. Me? No grey hairs here!!
59. Baggy : LOOSE
60. Net reading : BLOG. "So, do you come to this blog often?"
61. "Tiger in your tank" company : ESSO
62. Ban's predecessor at the U.N. : ANNAN. Ban Ki-Moon succeeded Kofi Annan in 2007, and is the current Secretary-General of the United Nations. If you cry "foul" at "Ban" being a first name, while "Annan" is a last name, remember that Ban Ki-Moon is Korean, where the "first" name written, is actually the family name, while Kofi Annan is from Ghana, where the family name is written second.
63. Bastes, e.g. : SEWS. I am already thinking of basting the turkey!
64. Attic constructions : WEBS. Great clue - had me thinking for a few seconds!
65. Bridge seats : WESTS. I entered _ _ STS, knowing it could be either "eaSTS" or WESTS. Yes, Yellowrocks...that's how I solve, sometimes!
And now, to go south:
Down:
1. Net reading : E-MAG. e-zine, e-news, e-cards, e-trade...I still delete all those from my word lists. (Maybe someday I will get into the modern lingo, but for now I will stick to magazine, newspaper, greeting cards, retail trade...)
2. "Writing on the wall" word : MENE. Thankfully, I had filled in the across clues, so did not even see this one. It is an idiom from the Biblical Book of Daniel, where supernatural writing foretells the end of the Babylonian Empire.
Marti here, so let’s get started.
Across:
1. Smoldering bit : EMBER
6. Slip a Mickey : DRUG. A "Mickey Finn" used to be known as a strong drink, laced with chloral hydrate (a sedative). Now it's "roofies" (flunitrazepam). Either way, watch your drink when out in a crowd!
10. It may have all the answers : CRIB. Did any of you use a “crib sheet” when taking exams? (I didn't think so!!)
14. Stiller's partner : MEARA. Funny couple!
15. High rollers' destination : RENO
16. Half of 10? : ZERO. I sat looking at this clue for a while, wondering how to fit “five” in with the perps… I finally hit myself with the V8 can when I saw “10” as a one and a zero!
17. Speed skater Apolo __ Ohno : ANTON. This was a complete WAG (“Wild A**ed Guess”, for newbies to this blog…)
22. Pickup facilitator : LINE. “So, do you come to this blog often?”
23. "Friendly skies" co. : UAL. United Airlines. Abbr. in the clue indicates an abbr. for the airline.
24. __ center : REC. Did anyone confidently fill in “epi-“, like I did?
27. PC time meas. : M-SEC. OK, I confess… I put in _SEC, and waited for perps before I decided if it was “p”, “n” or “m”.
29. Performed, in a way : SANG. If you heard me sing, it would not be a pretty performance!
32. Band that performed "Whip It" : DEVO. Hunh, I must have still been discoing while this one was recorded...
33. Bars in stores : UPC. Universal Product Code.
34. 1965 NCAA tennis champ : ASHE. He was closer to my generation…
35. Aaron's team for 21 seasons : BRAVES. Hah…I am beginning to recognize baseball clues/answers. But I still wanted to put in “NY Mets". (I’ll get it right some day, C.C. – I promise!!)
40. Make : CREATE
41. Gloom mate : DOOM
42. Rural stretch : LEA
43. "... two fives for __?" : A TEN
44. Skin malady, perhaps : CYST
45. What crews use : OARS
46. Expression of disappointment : TSK...tsk
47. Bit of code : DAH. Or, "Kick the bucket", in a southern drawl...
49. Hair care purchase : TINT. Me? No grey hairs here!!
59. Baggy : LOOSE
60. Net reading : BLOG. "So, do you come to this blog often?"
61. "Tiger in your tank" company : ESSO
62. Ban's predecessor at the U.N. : ANNAN. Ban Ki-Moon succeeded Kofi Annan in 2007, and is the current Secretary-General of the United Nations. If you cry "foul" at "Ban" being a first name, while "Annan" is a last name, remember that Ban Ki-Moon is Korean, where the "first" name written, is actually the family name, while Kofi Annan is from Ghana, where the family name is written second.
63. Bastes, e.g. : SEWS. I am already thinking of basting the turkey!
64. Attic constructions : WEBS. Great clue - had me thinking for a few seconds!
65. Bridge seats : WESTS. I entered _ _ STS, knowing it could be either "eaSTS" or WESTS. Yes, Yellowrocks...that's how I solve, sometimes!
And now, to go south:
Down:
1. Net reading : E-MAG. e-zine, e-news, e-cards, e-trade...I still delete all those from my word lists. (Maybe someday I will get into the modern lingo, but for now I will stick to magazine, newspaper, greeting cards, retail trade...)
2. "Writing on the wall" word : MENE. Thankfully, I had filled in the across clues, so did not even see this one. It is an idiom from the Biblical Book of Daniel, where supernatural writing foretells the end of the Babylonian Empire.
3. Michigan's Cereal City : BATTLE CREEK
4. Steamy : EROTIC. Should I let this one go?
5. Arrested : RAN IN
6. Bore : DRAG. "It's a real drag..."
7. Bank takeback, briefly : REPO. Repossessed, as a car.
8. Deprive of juice? : UNPLUG. Loved this clue/answer! The "juice" is the electricity that powers our PCs, TVs, lamps, refrigerators, stoves, aquarium filters, humidifiers, furnaces, refrigerators, microwaves, toasters, coffeepots, radios, can openers, blankets...what else do you have that requires "juice"???
9. Israel's Meir : GOLDA
10. Pre-Communism leader : CZAR. The leaders of Russia were Tsars before there was Lenin or Marx.
11. Thing to stop on : RED. As in, "red light". Or, a euphemism for a communist leader...
12. Savings for later yrs. : IRA. Individual Retirement Account
13. When repeated with "oh" in between, "Wow!" : BOY. "Boy oh boy!!"
19. Slippery swimmer : EEL
21. Mythical beast, to locals : NESSIE. Loch Ness monster, familiarly.
24. Epiphanies : REVELATIONS
25. Score-tying shot : EVENER. Meh...
26. Olympics broadcaster Bob : COSTAS
27. Mideast capital : MUSCAT. Also known as Masqat on some maps (good for constructors to know, a "q" without a "u"...). It is at the tip of the Arabian Peninsula (zoom out to see the geography).
28. Last lap efforts : SPURTS. Using an expression from mb, "...snort !!"
30. Spa sounds : AHS. (After spurts?)
31. Indigent : NEEDY
32. Lake creator : DAM
34. Interior decorator's concern : ART
35. Juiced : BLOTTO. How many euphemisms are there for "drunk"?
36. Sleep acronym : REM. Rapid Eye Movement stage of sleep.
38. Cooking utensil : PAN
39. Dawn goddess : EOS
44. French onion soup topping : CHEESE. I made a caramelized onion and goat cheese soup the other night - yummy.
45. Numbers after nine, often : ONE-ONE. Hmmm...I think this refers to a tied score after nine innings of baseball...but then, what do I know??? (From C.C.: This refers to 911.)
47. Sam & Dave, e.g. : DUO. Sam & Dave were an R&B duo in the 60's - 80's. For "duo", I think of Stiller & Meara, Sonny & Cher, Penn & Teller, Starsky & Hutch, Tom & Jerry...who are your favorites??
48. Nixon's first veep : AGNEW. "Veep" is a euphemism for "V.P." (Vice President).
50. Union acquisition? : IN-LAW. Another great clue/answer. A marriage union often brings unwanted baggage...
51. Vandalizes, in a way : EGGS. Halloween is coming...watch out for those EGGS on the car and TP in the trees, along with smashed pumpkins!
52. Gov't. train wreck investigators : NTSB. Did you all remember National Transportation Safety Board (without looking it up)?
53. Those, to Pedro : ESOS
54. Future atty.'s hurdle : LSAT. Law School Admission Test
55. Eye part : LENS
56. "CSI: NY" airer : CBS. Columbia Broadcasting System.
57. Microbrewery buy : ALE
58. Altercation : ROW (Not to be confused with what crews do, as in 45A.)
Answer grid.
TAFNF (That's all for now, folks!)
Marti
Note from C.C.:
Al is still snowed under with work and won't back to the blog until next April. I'm happy to announce that Marti will be our Thursday sherpa from now on. It takes time, dedication and focus to write an informative & entertaining post every week. I'm so grateful to Marti and my other blogging crew. Xie Xie!
4. Steamy : EROTIC. Should I let this one go?
5. Arrested : RAN IN
6. Bore : DRAG. "It's a real drag..."
7. Bank takeback, briefly : REPO. Repossessed, as a car.
8. Deprive of juice? : UNPLUG. Loved this clue/answer! The "juice" is the electricity that powers our PCs, TVs, lamps, refrigerators, stoves, aquarium filters, humidifiers, furnaces, refrigerators, microwaves, toasters, coffeepots, radios, can openers, blankets...what else do you have that requires "juice"???
9. Israel's Meir : GOLDA
10. Pre-Communism leader : CZAR. The leaders of Russia were Tsars before there was Lenin or Marx.
11. Thing to stop on : RED. As in, "red light". Or, a euphemism for a communist leader...
12. Savings for later yrs. : IRA. Individual Retirement Account
13. When repeated with "oh" in between, "Wow!" : BOY. "Boy oh boy!!"
19. Slippery swimmer : EEL
21. Mythical beast, to locals : NESSIE. Loch Ness monster, familiarly.
24. Epiphanies : REVELATIONS
25. Score-tying shot : EVENER. Meh...
26. Olympics broadcaster Bob : COSTAS
27. Mideast capital : MUSCAT. Also known as Masqat on some maps (good for constructors to know, a "q" without a "u"...). It is at the tip of the Arabian Peninsula (zoom out to see the geography).
28. Last lap efforts : SPURTS. Using an expression from mb, "...snort !!"
30. Spa sounds : AHS. (After spurts?)
31. Indigent : NEEDY
32. Lake creator : DAM
34. Interior decorator's concern : ART
35. Juiced : BLOTTO. How many euphemisms are there for "drunk"?
36. Sleep acronym : REM. Rapid Eye Movement stage of sleep.
38. Cooking utensil : PAN
39. Dawn goddess : EOS
44. French onion soup topping : CHEESE. I made a caramelized onion and goat cheese soup the other night - yummy.
45. Numbers after nine, often : ONE-ONE. Hmmm...I think this refers to a tied score after nine innings of baseball...but then, what do I know??? (From C.C.: This refers to 911.)
47. Sam & Dave, e.g. : DUO. Sam & Dave were an R&B duo in the 60's - 80's. For "duo", I think of Stiller & Meara, Sonny & Cher, Penn & Teller, Starsky & Hutch, Tom & Jerry...who are your favorites??
48. Nixon's first veep : AGNEW. "Veep" is a euphemism for "V.P." (Vice President).
50. Union acquisition? : IN-LAW. Another great clue/answer. A marriage union often brings unwanted baggage...
51. Vandalizes, in a way : EGGS. Halloween is coming...watch out for those EGGS on the car and TP in the trees, along with smashed pumpkins!
52. Gov't. train wreck investigators : NTSB. Did you all remember National Transportation Safety Board (without looking it up)?
53. Those, to Pedro : ESOS
54. Future atty.'s hurdle : LSAT. Law School Admission Test
55. Eye part : LENS
56. "CSI: NY" airer : CBS. Columbia Broadcasting System.
57. Microbrewery buy : ALE
58. Altercation : ROW (Not to be confused with what crews do, as in 45A.)
Answer grid.
TAFNF (That's all for now, folks!)
Marti
Note from C.C.:
Al is still snowed under with work and won't back to the blog until next April. I'm happy to announce that Marti will be our Thursday sherpa from now on. It takes time, dedication and focus to write an informative & entertaining post every week. I'm so grateful to Marti and my other blogging crew. Xie Xie!
