Theme: Ta Da! Each of the the five theme answers use a sound alike progression from T to D to create a new and thought-provoking witty answer. The long vowel sounds are all different. David has been one of the regular contributors to both LAT and NYT, and his November 5, 2010 work was my first write up as full-time Friday. This is his first of 2012, and continues his interesting use of language. I found the puzzle a challenge both from some Friday words, and the stacking of non-theme answers with the theme. But as a math guy I think it all adds up in the end. Or maybe it is a TouchDown (TD) when we finish.
14A. Weaponry etiquette? : CODE (COAT) OF ARMS. Long O. I got the theme right away, or so I thought...
19A. Corpulent corpuscle? : WIDE (WHITE) BLOOD CELL. Long I. My favorite, as you all should know by now, I loves me some alliteration, and two (2!) great words.
34A. Fanatical bakers? : KNEAD (NEAT) FREAKS. Long E. Also a fun image, in the kitchen, maybe Alton Brown.
53A. Warning sign at a kiddie pool? : WADE (WAIT) UNTIL DARK. Long A. Okay this cute also.
61A. Built the perfect case? : SUED (SUIT) TO A TEE. Long U. Oh goody, a theme answer to remind everyone how much they love lawyers.
No Knead for a unifier, so let's wade in and do the rest.
Across:
1. Track posting : ODDS. Yes, I have been known to bet so this was a good start. And also, a mini clecho 46A. Track transaction : BET
5. Iran and Iraq are in it : ASIA. First thought was OPEC but a glance at the downs had me wait.
9. Fernando's hideaway : CASA. Another deferred answer, hmmm.
13. Pickup on a corner, maybe : FARE. By a taxi cab, not from cruising West Hollywood.
17. Fiber-yielding plant : FLAX. So many choices, more waiting.
18. Receiver improvised in WWII foxholes : CRYSTAL SET. Boom, then came this answer with exactly the same number of letters. I knew I was right about this RADIO, but it was not a sound alike and had no T to D, isn't there a rule? Plus if he wanted to be punny he might have tried Comedian Billy's performance.
21. 1990s-2000s TV attorney : MCBEAL. Ally played by Calista Flockhart, Mrs. Indiana Jones. The show had a nice ensemble cast.
14A. Weaponry etiquette? : CODE (COAT) OF ARMS. Long O. I got the theme right away, or so I thought...
19A. Corpulent corpuscle? : WIDE (WHITE) BLOOD CELL. Long I. My favorite, as you all should know by now, I loves me some alliteration, and two (2!) great words.
34A. Fanatical bakers? : KNEAD (NEAT) FREAKS. Long E. Also a fun image, in the kitchen, maybe Alton Brown.
53A. Warning sign at a kiddie pool? : WADE (WAIT) UNTIL DARK. Long A. Okay this cute also.
61A. Built the perfect case? : SUED (SUIT) TO A TEE. Long U. Oh goody, a theme answer to remind everyone how much they love lawyers.
No Knead for a unifier, so let's wade in and do the rest.
Across:
1. Track posting : ODDS. Yes, I have been known to bet so this was a good start. And also, a mini clecho 46A. Track transaction : BET
5. Iran and Iraq are in it : ASIA. First thought was OPEC but a glance at the downs had me wait.
9. Fernando's hideaway : CASA. Another deferred answer, hmmm.
13. Pickup on a corner, maybe : FARE. By a taxi cab, not from cruising West Hollywood.
17. Fiber-yielding plant : FLAX. So many choices, more waiting.
18. Receiver improvised in WWII foxholes : CRYSTAL SET. Boom, then came this answer with exactly the same number of letters. I knew I was right about this RADIO, but it was not a sound alike and had no T to D, isn't there a rule? Plus if he wanted to be punny he might have tried Comedian Billy's performance.
21. 1990s-2000s TV attorney : MCBEAL. Ally played by Calista Flockhart, Mrs. Indiana Jones. The show had a nice ensemble cast.
23. Acidity nos. : PHS. A clue to balance the grid.
24. Mets' div. : NLE. Ouch, National League East.
25. Cast a spell on : CHARM. Were YOU? (4:29)
26. Some HDTVs : LGS. The brand name, or the size?
28. Floral cluster : POSY. A really nice old fashioned word. Less than a bouquet?
29. [Not a typo] : SIC. This Latin guy is starting to follow me around, thus we should not forget.
30. Self-defense, e.g. : PLEA. The law related clue of the day.
32. "The Soul of a Butterfly" memoirist : ALI. he really did float like a butterfly and sting like a bee and almost killed me at LAX, by accident.
38. Dadaism pioneer : ARP. Now a classic clue.
39. Ramadan ritual : FAST. Every day until sundown.
40. Frat party purchase : KEG. Beer Pong anyone?
43. When Canada Day is : JULY. Hmm, fireworks in July, wonder where they got that idea? Mr. Poole still lives in Canada, I believe. David?
47. Strongroom : VAULT. As opposed to the weakroom where you keep the toilet paper?
49. A Gabor sister : EVA. The Green Acres Merv Griffin sister.
50. Miss Piggy accessory : BOA. She is a snappy dresser. LINK.
52. "Hudson Hawk" actor : AIELLO, great in this weird Bruce Willis film, Willis also has 6 letters, MOVIE.
57. Did wrong by : ILL TREATED. Nice long confusing fill, and mirror for CRYSTAL SET.
58. Comes to the rescue : AIDS.
62. Bolt holder : T-NUT. Right after suit to a TEE.
63. For the missus : HERS.
64. Direction de Marseille à Grenoble : NORD. Our French lesson, guess? Non? North!
65. They often clash : EGOS. Luckily this never happens here at the Corner, speaking of which time to run for home.
Down:
1. Not quite right : OFF. Okay, I can hear what you all are thinking....
2. Indian lentil stew : DAL. No idea of this DISH but snappier than Texas airport. Anyone know any good lentil jokes?
3. Downside : DRAWBACK. Another nice and long fill.
4. More glamorous, as a car : SEXIER. Like this LINK?
5. Picking up in tempo, in mus. : ACCELerate.
6. Ending for ab or ad : SORB. Yes, it really goes both ways.
7. Bucolic poem : IDYL. I never have finished Tennyson's Idylls of the King. I have finished most of
8. ___ Fables : AESOP'S.
9. Math subj. : CALCulus. Remember he is a math guy.
10. Prefix for element #33 : ARSENO. Of or relating to Arsenic, I am sure all the mystery readers knew this one; anyone buying Ace Atkins writing Spenser?
11. Gets a whiff of : SMELLS. Wow a literal clue.
12. "Never Gonna Give You Up" singer Rick : ASTLEY. No idea, and missed the whole Rickrolling FAD.(3:36)
15. Texter's "conversely" : OTOH. On The Other Hand I learned this one.
16. They're fleeting : FADS. Oops, anyway; time is fleeting. (4:03).
20. Piano string vibration control : DAMPER.
21. Roast VIPs : MCS. Master of Ceremonies, the host.
22. Psi preceder : CHI. Learn your Greek alphabet.
26. Directed : LED.
27. Faux pas : GAFFE. Another cool word. Like faux pas, French.
28. Suffix with Water, commercially : PIK. A waterpik pic?
31. Overtake on the track, in a way : LAP. I think this is the month Dale junior breaks through.
32. '50s pres. candidate : AES. Adlai E. Stevenson. My earliest political memories, he was an"egghead" and "divorced." Ucky. Since he and Ike were both bald, I thought they were both eggheads.
33. The Western Dvina flows through it : LATVIA. If you knew this, you did not grow up in the US. I have many clients from Riga, but ...
35. Aye offset : NAY.
36. Scoundrel : RAT. An impressionist's DREAM. (1:00).
37. Staying in the shadows : SKULKING. So many nice long words.
41. Bracket shape : ELL. Oh what the 'ell, they can't all be long.
42. '60s-'70s muscle car : GTO. My eldest brother had a 1968. Gran Turismo Omologato, a Pontiac creation of DeLorean among others.
43. Like most seder celebrants : JEWISH. We had many who were not this year out of our 20+.
44. Heat transfer coefficient, in insulation : U-VALUE. The test is Tuesday.
45. Certain kitchen server : LADLER. The one who wields the ladle?
46. WWII Philippine battleground : BATAAN. Als the site of the beginning of the horrible death march.
48. Fizz up : AERATE. Time to offset that mood with a bubbly clue.
50. Composer Bacharach : BURT. Very prolific WRITER.(3:27).
51. Basie's "___ 'Clock Jump" : ONE'O. We have linked this a few times.
52. Went on to say : ADDED. Yes, that is what I am doing.
54. BWI listings : ETDS. Estimated Times of Departure from Baltimore Washingtom International.
55. "Suffice ___ say..." : IT TO.
56. Immodest look : LEER. Now we are talking...
59. Couple : DUO.
60. MA and PA : STateS, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, the double caps are the recognized form of abbreviation for states now.
Answer grid.
Well good golly Miss Molly, we are done for another Friday. Limonāde714 saying enjoy the spring, play in the pool after you finish this Poole effort.
