Theme: "Hiss Story" - Snake puns. One word in each common phrase is replaced by a sound-alike snake name. Snake crawling paths are symbolized by consecutive black squares in the middle of the grid (I think).
24A. Healthy, happy newborn snake? : BOUNCING BABY BOA. Bouncy baby boy. This clue brought a big smile.
38A. Wild and crazy snake? : PARTY MAMBA. Party member. Fun clue also.
59A. Schmoozing snake? : SOCIAL ADDER. Social ladder. A consonant is added.
84A. Dashing young snake? : RACER BLADE. Razor blade. Not familiar with racer snake.
99A. Snake in the glass? : WINDSHIELD VIPER. Windshield wiper.
3D. Poolside snake's shedding spot? : COBRA CABANA. Copacabana.
62D. Run-of-the-mill snake? : ASP PER USUAL. As per usual.
40D. Classic Belushi comedy, or an apt description of this puzzle's grid? : ANIMAL HOUSE. Too broad a term. It's not really needed for this theme. I wonder if this entry came up at John's filling process.
100D. Warning from the critters that appear to be slithering through the grid? : SSS. Remember Marti's snake puzzle?
Can you tell John's playful personality by his theme clues? Outstanding!
You'll also notice that there are two long Down fill of the same letter count as the paralleled theme entries:
2D. Essential self : INNER SPIRIT
63D. The Information Age : INTERNET ERA
Constructors/editor try to avoid that for fear that solvers will be confused by what the real theme entries are. Two reasons for their existence today:
1) Theme answers all have question marks in the grid and all have "snake" in them;
2) Already 80 black squares in the grid. You don't want to go over that.
How about you point out John's distinctive clechos (clue echos) to me for a change?
Across:
1. Potato press : RICER.. I like potatoes stir-fried, with a splash of vinegar.
6. Point the finger at : ACCUSE
12. Endure : LAST
16. Local govt. unit : TWP (Township)
19. Jumper cable connection point : ANODE
20. Small bite : MORSEL
21. Sea lion predator : ORCA. What's the lifespan of orcas?
22. Calder Cup org. : AHL (American Hockey League). Minor league.
23. Out of favor : IN BAD. Can you make a sentence for me?
27. Amen prompter : SERMON
29. Future J.D.'s hurdle : LSAT. Shout out to my favorite JD.
30. Aircraft pioneer Sikorsky : IGOR
31. Shepard in space : ALAN
32. Roth investments : IRAs
33. Polish prose : EDIT
35. Persian Gulf leader : EMIR
36. Great Smokies st. : TENN
37. Foreign policy gp. : NSC (National Security Council). I used to think those Secret Service guys were rather cool.
41. Giggle : TEHEE
42. Taster's sense of taste : PALATE
44. Pro foe : ANTI
45. Made a profit on, perhaps : RESOLD
46. Put the __ on: quash : KIBOSH
47. NFL analyst Collinsworth : CRIS. His face looks familiar.
48. Moral misstep : SIN. For Dennis, who knows how to sin backward. He was once innocent, PK!
49. West Bank initials : PLO
50. Kneeling figure, in art : ORANT. Like this. I learned from doing Xword.
51. Injure gravely : MAIM
52. McDonald's arches, e.g. : LOGO
53. A word from P.M. Roget : SYN. Roget's Thesaurus.
54. Fragrant wood : PINE
55. Miraculous food : MANNA
56. Sun-withered tea : OOLONG. Literally "black dragon" in Chinese. Long = Dragon. Oo (Wu in Mandarin) = Black.
58. Critic's bestowal : STAR
61. Transportation option : RAIL
65. Pipsqueak : SQUIRT
67. Takes cover : HIDES
68. Ain't put right? : ISN'T. Right!
69. Conk on the head : BOP
72. Poi ingredient : TARO. Freshly baked taros is quite tasty. Similar to the texture of potatoes.
73. Deposits in 52-Down : ORES. 52D. Mineral-laden deposits : LODES
74. Barren : EMPTY
75. Top gun : ACE
76. "Now __ seen everything!" : I'VE
77. Sierra Club founder : MUIR (John)
78. Self-conscious smile : SIMPER. New word to me.
79. Delaware Valley tribe : LENAPE. Also new to me. Wiki said they're also called Delaware Indians.
81. 1998 Literature Nobelist Saramago : JOSE. Portuguese. Has anyone read his books?
82. Ship's treasurer : PURSER. Gimme for Spitzboov, eddyB & D-Otto. Never heard of it before.
83. Dens : LAIRS
87. Some OR staff : RNs
89. No longer fooled by : ONTO
90. Bumps hard : RAMS
91. Seemingly forever : EONS
92. Tune two croon : DUET. Who's your favorite duet of all time?
93. Jumpy critter : FLEA
94. "Cheerio!" : TA TA
95. What there oughta be : A LAW
97. Full of vitality : YEASTY
103. Peasant's porridge : GRUEL. Millet gruel is comfort food to me.
104. Siesta time: Abbr. : AFT
105. Beachfront property? : SAND. Fun clue.
106. "Sexy!" : OO LA LA. For you, Splynter.
107. Driving hazard : GLARE
108. Kisses, in letters : X'ES
109. Charon's waterway : STYX
110. Woven fabrics : TWILLS
111. Soup partner : SALAD
Down:
1. Trail mix tidbit : RAISIN. Reminds me of Steve J. St. John's RAISIN D'ETRE puzzle two weeks ago.
4. Red-coated cheeses : EDAMS
5. Update, in a way : RE-DO
6. Embassy VIP : AMB (Ambassador)
7. "Enough already!" : COOL IT. And 47. "Enough already!" : CAN IT!
8. Like a curmudgeon : CRUSTY
9. Middies' sch. : USNA. I used to think most Seals attended USNA. The Dummy set me straight.
10. Shakers, but not movers : SECT
11. Quarterback Manning : ELI.
12. Robert of "Prizzi's Honor" : LOGGIA. Stranger to me.
13. Shaded area : ARBOR
14. Surgery memento : SCAR
15. Bar account : TAB
16. Makes the rounds at an affair : TABLE HOPS. I was thinking of love affairs.
17. Sportscaster Keith Jackson's catchphrase : WHOA, NELLY! Thought it's spelled as "Whoa, Nellie!"
18. Anticipated : PLANNED ON
25. Radiant auras : NIMBI. Aurae might be a better clue. Yes?
26. "Bullitt" director : YATES (Peter)
28. Below, quaintly : 'NEATH
34. Dr. with Grammys : DRE
35. "Nurse Jackie" extras, briefly : EMTs
38. Over and done with : PAST. LaLaLinda's "good old days" Yaz post moved me greatly. Then LA CW Addict's subsequent comforting post to Linda just teared me up. Here is part of what he said: "..I did not know about this blog at the time. If I had, I thought, how nice it would have been to stop in and see Dad on my way home from work, so that we could have shared so many of the music clips and movie out-takes provided by you kind folks..."
39. Yacht basin : MARINA
41. Part of a dovetail joint : TENON. Fits into a mortise.
43. They keep to themselves : LONERS
45. Strictness : RIGOR
46. Keystone cutups : KOPs
48. Cobbler's inventory : SOLES
51. Computer shortcut : MACRO
55. Wavy fabric pattern : MOIRE. See this pattern.
56. Harder to explain : ODDER
57. "__ Fairy Tales" : GRIMMS'
59. Smooth-tongued : SUAVE. I recently listened to a John Barry ("James Bond" composer) interview. Man, was he smooth-tongued.
60. Less stuffy : AIRIER
64. Roughly six trillion mi. : LTYR (Light-year)
66. Small swabs : Q-TIPS
69. Everything, informally : BALL OF WAX. Great entry.
70. Marine flora and fauna : OCEAN LIFE
71. Hair shirt wearers : PENITENTS. What's a "hair shirt"?
74. Dún Laoghaire's land : EIRE
77. Comfy slip-ons : MOCs
78. Full of bubbles : SUDSY
80. "We're on __ to nowhere": Talking Heads lyric : A ROAD
81. Malcolm-__ Warner of "The Cosby Show" : JAMAL
82. Camera move : PAN
84. Hard-core, filmwise : RATED-X
85. "Little help here, bud?" : BE A PAL
86. Poet Amy : LOWELL. Oh, how I miss Clear Ayes!
88. Done at the salon : STYLED
90. Hardly fair : RAINY. Rainy and cold here. But I think my peas and cucumbers planted in March survived.
92. Alfalfa's heartthrob : DARLA. "Our Gang".
94. Pointer's word : THAT
95. Assert : AVOW
96. Taylor of "Six Feet Under" : LILI
98. Breakfast fare : EGGS
101. Web address part : DOT. Hi there, Dot!
102. Dorm figs. : RAs. Our dorms were guarded by an old couple who would not allow any boys in after 11:00pm.
Answer grid.
John Lampkin met with Annette and Lemonade during his Florida nature talk last month. Here is a beautiful picture of Annette & Lemonade. Gorgeous shirt, Annette! Here is a fun picture of Lemonade & John.
C.C.
24A. Healthy, happy newborn snake? : BOUNCING BABY BOA. Bouncy baby boy. This clue brought a big smile.
38A. Wild and crazy snake? : PARTY MAMBA. Party member. Fun clue also.
59A. Schmoozing snake? : SOCIAL ADDER. Social ladder. A consonant is added.
84A. Dashing young snake? : RACER BLADE. Razor blade. Not familiar with racer snake.
99A. Snake in the glass? : WINDSHIELD VIPER. Windshield wiper.
3D. Poolside snake's shedding spot? : COBRA CABANA. Copacabana.
62D. Run-of-the-mill snake? : ASP PER USUAL. As per usual.
40D. Classic Belushi comedy, or an apt description of this puzzle's grid? : ANIMAL HOUSE. Too broad a term. It's not really needed for this theme. I wonder if this entry came up at John's filling process.
100D. Warning from the critters that appear to be slithering through the grid? : SSS. Remember Marti's snake puzzle?
Can you tell John's playful personality by his theme clues? Outstanding!
You'll also notice that there are two long Down fill of the same letter count as the paralleled theme entries:
2D. Essential self : INNER SPIRIT
63D. The Information Age : INTERNET ERA
Constructors/editor try to avoid that for fear that solvers will be confused by what the real theme entries are. Two reasons for their existence today:
1) Theme answers all have question marks in the grid and all have "snake" in them;
2) Already 80 black squares in the grid. You don't want to go over that.
How about you point out John's distinctive clechos (clue echos) to me for a change?
Across:
1. Potato press : RICER.. I like potatoes stir-fried, with a splash of vinegar.
6. Point the finger at : ACCUSE
12. Endure : LAST
16. Local govt. unit : TWP (Township)
19. Jumper cable connection point : ANODE
20. Small bite : MORSEL
21. Sea lion predator : ORCA. What's the lifespan of orcas?
22. Calder Cup org. : AHL (American Hockey League). Minor league.
23. Out of favor : IN BAD. Can you make a sentence for me?
27. Amen prompter : SERMON
29. Future J.D.'s hurdle : LSAT. Shout out to my favorite JD.
30. Aircraft pioneer Sikorsky : IGOR
31. Shepard in space : ALAN
32. Roth investments : IRAs
33. Polish prose : EDIT
35. Persian Gulf leader : EMIR
36. Great Smokies st. : TENN
37. Foreign policy gp. : NSC (National Security Council). I used to think those Secret Service guys were rather cool.
41. Giggle : TEHEE
42. Taster's sense of taste : PALATE
44. Pro foe : ANTI
45. Made a profit on, perhaps : RESOLD
46. Put the __ on: quash : KIBOSH
47. NFL analyst Collinsworth : CRIS. His face looks familiar.
48. Moral misstep : SIN. For Dennis, who knows how to sin backward. He was once innocent, PK!
49. West Bank initials : PLO
50. Kneeling figure, in art : ORANT. Like this. I learned from doing Xword.
51. Injure gravely : MAIM
52. McDonald's arches, e.g. : LOGO
53. A word from P.M. Roget : SYN. Roget's Thesaurus.
54. Fragrant wood : PINE
55. Miraculous food : MANNA
56. Sun-withered tea : OOLONG. Literally "black dragon" in Chinese. Long = Dragon. Oo (Wu in Mandarin) = Black.
58. Critic's bestowal : STAR
61. Transportation option : RAIL
65. Pipsqueak : SQUIRT
67. Takes cover : HIDES
68. Ain't put right? : ISN'T. Right!
69. Conk on the head : BOP
72. Poi ingredient : TARO. Freshly baked taros is quite tasty. Similar to the texture of potatoes.
73. Deposits in 52-Down : ORES. 52D. Mineral-laden deposits : LODES
74. Barren : EMPTY
75. Top gun : ACE
76. "Now __ seen everything!" : I'VE
77. Sierra Club founder : MUIR (John)
78. Self-conscious smile : SIMPER. New word to me.
79. Delaware Valley tribe : LENAPE. Also new to me. Wiki said they're also called Delaware Indians.
81. 1998 Literature Nobelist Saramago : JOSE. Portuguese. Has anyone read his books?
82. Ship's treasurer : PURSER. Gimme for Spitzboov, eddyB & D-Otto. Never heard of it before.
83. Dens : LAIRS
87. Some OR staff : RNs
89. No longer fooled by : ONTO
90. Bumps hard : RAMS
91. Seemingly forever : EONS
92. Tune two croon : DUET. Who's your favorite duet of all time?
93. Jumpy critter : FLEA
94. "Cheerio!" : TA TA
95. What there oughta be : A LAW
97. Full of vitality : YEASTY
103. Peasant's porridge : GRUEL. Millet gruel is comfort food to me.
104. Siesta time: Abbr. : AFT
105. Beachfront property? : SAND. Fun clue.
106. "Sexy!" : OO LA LA. For you, Splynter.
107. Driving hazard : GLARE
108. Kisses, in letters : X'ES
109. Charon's waterway : STYX
110. Woven fabrics : TWILLS
111. Soup partner : SALAD
Down:
1. Trail mix tidbit : RAISIN. Reminds me of Steve J. St. John's RAISIN D'ETRE puzzle two weeks ago.
4. Red-coated cheeses : EDAMS
5. Update, in a way : RE-DO
6. Embassy VIP : AMB (Ambassador)
7. "Enough already!" : COOL IT. And 47. "Enough already!" : CAN IT!
8. Like a curmudgeon : CRUSTY
9. Middies' sch. : USNA. I used to think most Seals attended USNA. The Dummy set me straight.
10. Shakers, but not movers : SECT
11. Quarterback Manning : ELI.
12. Robert of "Prizzi's Honor" : LOGGIA. Stranger to me.
13. Shaded area : ARBOR
14. Surgery memento : SCAR
15. Bar account : TAB
16. Makes the rounds at an affair : TABLE HOPS. I was thinking of love affairs.
17. Sportscaster Keith Jackson's catchphrase : WHOA, NELLY! Thought it's spelled as "Whoa, Nellie!"
18. Anticipated : PLANNED ON
25. Radiant auras : NIMBI. Aurae might be a better clue. Yes?
26. "Bullitt" director : YATES (Peter)
28. Below, quaintly : 'NEATH
34. Dr. with Grammys : DRE
35. "Nurse Jackie" extras, briefly : EMTs
38. Over and done with : PAST. LaLaLinda's "good old days" Yaz post moved me greatly. Then LA CW Addict's subsequent comforting post to Linda just teared me up. Here is part of what he said: "..I did not know about this blog at the time. If I had, I thought, how nice it would have been to stop in and see Dad on my way home from work, so that we could have shared so many of the music clips and movie out-takes provided by you kind folks..."
39. Yacht basin : MARINA
41. Part of a dovetail joint : TENON. Fits into a mortise.
43. They keep to themselves : LONERS
45. Strictness : RIGOR
46. Keystone cutups : KOPs
48. Cobbler's inventory : SOLES
51. Computer shortcut : MACRO
55. Wavy fabric pattern : MOIRE. See this pattern.
56. Harder to explain : ODDER
57. "__ Fairy Tales" : GRIMMS'
59. Smooth-tongued : SUAVE. I recently listened to a John Barry ("James Bond" composer) interview. Man, was he smooth-tongued.
60. Less stuffy : AIRIER
64. Roughly six trillion mi. : LTYR (Light-year)
66. Small swabs : Q-TIPS
69. Everything, informally : BALL OF WAX. Great entry.
70. Marine flora and fauna : OCEAN LIFE
71. Hair shirt wearers : PENITENTS. What's a "hair shirt"?
74. Dún Laoghaire's land : EIRE
77. Comfy slip-ons : MOCs
78. Full of bubbles : SUDSY
80. "We're on __ to nowhere": Talking Heads lyric : A ROAD
81. Malcolm-__ Warner of "The Cosby Show" : JAMAL
82. Camera move : PAN
84. Hard-core, filmwise : RATED-X
85. "Little help here, bud?" : BE A PAL
86. Poet Amy : LOWELL. Oh, how I miss Clear Ayes!
88. Done at the salon : STYLED
90. Hardly fair : RAINY. Rainy and cold here. But I think my peas and cucumbers planted in March survived.
92. Alfalfa's heartthrob : DARLA. "Our Gang".
94. Pointer's word : THAT
95. Assert : AVOW
96. Taylor of "Six Feet Under" : LILI
98. Breakfast fare : EGGS
101. Web address part : DOT. Hi there, Dot!
102. Dorm figs. : RAs. Our dorms were guarded by an old couple who would not allow any boys in after 11:00pm.
Answer grid.
John Lampkin met with Annette and Lemonade during his Florida nature talk last month. Here is a beautiful picture of Annette & Lemonade. Gorgeous shirt, Annette! Here is a fun picture of Lemonade & John.
C.C.
