Tuesday, April 24, 2012 Michael Dewey

Theme: Strong as the Weakest - The last of the unifier can also follow the end of the theme entries.

61A. Elusive evolutionary connection, or the elusive feature of the ends of 18-Across and 3- and 28-Down : MISSING LINK

18A. Florida Keys, e.g. : ISLAND CHAIN

3D. Injury-prone area for pitchers : ROTATOR CUFF

28D. Meat ingredient in many stuffing recipes : PORK SAUSAGE

Argyle here. It appears that this is Michael's debut LAT puzzle but he had a successful Monday debut in NYT in January. He seems to have a future in fine fill.

Across:

1. Place to stand around with a round : BAR. I'll drink to that.

4. Musical triad : CHORD. Three or more musical tones sounded simultaneously.

9. Desert plants : CACTI

14. Self-image : EGO

15. New staffer : HIREE

16. Popular email provider : YAHOO. Might want to add "once" to the clue.

17. Field for 19- or 40-Down : ART. and so 19D. Surrealist Salvador : DALI. and 40D. Spanish muralist José María : SERT

20. Master : LEARN

22. "You're on!" : "DEAL!"

23. The Beatles' last studio album : "LET IT BE". Please read the Wikipedia article before arguing about this.

26. Slip-up on the set : BLOOPER

31. Seeping : OOZING

33. Best-selling touchscreen device : iPHONE

34. Co. that makes stuff : MFR. (manufacturer)

36. Tyrolean refrain : YODEL. This area.

38. Ambulance wail : SIREN

39. Middle-earth menaces : ORCs

41. "Get out of my sight" : "GO NOW!"

43. Gumbo veggie : OKRA

44. "24" superagent Jack : BAUER

46. Diamond surface : FACET

48. Fa-la link : SOL

49. "Sure, let's do lunch" : "I'M FREE"

51. Everest expert : SHERPA. The native guides.

53. The one in a one-two, usually : LEFT JAB. Followed by a right cross. (boxing)

55. Explore caves : SPELUNK

58. Top Olympic medals, in Barcelona : OROs. Spanish gold.

60. Bandleader Kay : KYSER

67. Give the heave-ho : AXE

68. Committee type : AD HOC

69. Lamp dwellers : GENII

70. Something to chew : GUM. Literally.

71. Fort __, Indiana : WAYNE

72. Pilfer : SWIPE

73. New Orleans-to-Miami dir. : ESE

Down:

1. What really matters : BE ALL. Clue/answer seems incomplete, not all.

2. Come to terms : AGREE

4. Cheaply made : CHINTZY

5. Bathrobe designation : HIS

6. NBA's Magic, on scoreboards : ORL

7. Tackle Tolstoy, say : READ. Tried to, once, but he busted the tackle.

8. Cygnus supergiant : DENEB

9. One-eyed monster : CYCLOPS. And seldom seen as an answer.

10. Sigh of pleasure : AAH!

11. All the tea in China? : CHA. Literally, again. Chinese word for tea.

12. You, to Yves : TOI. You need some French.

13. + molecule, e.g. : ION

21. Carnival setting : RIO

24. Bookstore sect. : BIOG. (biographies)

25. Words before "time" or "the line" : END OF

27. Buckeye's home : OHIO. Where have you gone, Buckeye? The Pretenders (6:13)

29. Año beginning : ENERO. Spanish.

30. Kidney-related : RENAL

32. Actress Rowlands et al. : GENAs. Seen here with James Garner in "The Notebook".

34. Big name in oil : MOBIL

35. Bowling score sheet division : FRAME

37. Highland waters : LOCHS

42. Blubber : WEEP

45. Shout "Hallelujah!" : REJOICE

47. One who can do a perfect Vulcan salute : TREKKIE

50. Come by honestly : EARN

52. Tissue box word : PLY

54. 5-time A.L. batting champ Wade : BOGGS. Primarily with the Boston Red Sox.

56. Connection : NEXUS

57. Krispy __: doughnut chain : KREME

59. Did in, as a dragon : SLEW

61. Animal's gullet : MAW

62. Mont. neighbor : IDA.

63. Just short : SHY

64. Holy Trinity member : SON. (Father, SON, and Holy Spirit)

65. Pasta suffix : INI

66. 1-Across quickie : NIP

Answer grid.

Argyle

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