THEME: MY ACHY BREAKY HEART( Rx?) (3:55).
All of the three theme answers are phrases which have "ACHE" added to the end, and thereby creating an entirely new phrase clued with humor and visual delight. They also transform the sound from AKE to AASH. This is our third LA Times puzzle from Mr. Torch, both priors were Sunday efforts, if you do not recall his name. He also has has 18 NY Times efforts since 2003. The puzzle has some very difficult clues, and some nice long fill like Pastrami and Branched, and an Errol who is not Flynn. Mr. Torch sounds like he is one of the Fantastic Four. Anyway, I know no more, except what is in the WORDS, so let us see.
17A. Brisket-making flair? : ROASTING PANACHE (15). A simple PAN becomes one of my favorite words, and as a cook who does brisket, I love the clue and fill. Also, it is a grid-spanner.
26A. Hidden dietary supplements? : VITAMIN CACHE(12). So do you believe Linus Pauling or not?
44A. Teen's response to "You need to shave"? : IT'S A MUSTACHE (12). Actually, the question with my sons was, go wash your face, your lip is dirty. The reveal...
56A. Annoyance...and a hint to how 17-, 26- and 44-Across are formed? : PAIN IN THE BEHIND(15). This tells you a synonym for PAIN is tacked on the end of the fill.
Across:
1. Stinger: WASP. My first thought was the COCKTAIL, not of WHITE ANGLO SAXON PROTESTANTS or insects.
All of the three theme answers are phrases which have "ACHE" added to the end, and thereby creating an entirely new phrase clued with humor and visual delight. They also transform the sound from AKE to AASH. This is our third LA Times puzzle from Mr. Torch, both priors were Sunday efforts, if you do not recall his name. He also has has 18 NY Times efforts since 2003. The puzzle has some very difficult clues, and some nice long fill like Pastrami and Branched, and an Errol who is not Flynn. Mr. Torch sounds like he is one of the Fantastic Four. Anyway, I know no more, except what is in the WORDS, so let us see.
17A. Brisket-making flair? : ROASTING PANACHE (15). A simple PAN becomes one of my favorite words, and as a cook who does brisket, I love the clue and fill. Also, it is a grid-spanner.
26A. Hidden dietary supplements? : VITAMIN CACHE(12). So do you believe Linus Pauling or not?
44A. Teen's response to "You need to shave"? : IT'S A MUSTACHE (12). Actually, the question with my sons was, go wash your face, your lip is dirty. The reveal...
56A. Annoyance...and a hint to how 17-, 26- and 44-Across are formed? : PAIN IN THE BEHIND(15). This tells you a synonym for PAIN is tacked on the end of the fill.
Across:
1. Stinger: WASP. My first thought was the COCKTAIL, not of WHITE ANGLO SAXON PROTESTANTS or insects.
5. Banded marble: AGATE. The pretty ones,
10. Saudi Arabia neighbor: OMAN. O man, we get this country all of the time.
14. Earthen pot: OLLA. Olla we get this pot all of the time.
15. Gruesome: LURID. I think of lurid more like Lois, or a romance novel.
16. Got up: ROSE. And the clecho, 47D. Get up: ARISE.
20. Diver's concern: DEPTH. This is true for both kinds of divers.
21. Perps' patterns: MOS. Modus Operandi. In English, method of operation.
22. Blood of the gods: ICHOR. Made from nectar and ambrosia? LINK.
23. 1988 self-titled CW album: REBA. Country singer (2:48) and actress.
25. Brilliance: ECLAT. Wow both panache and eclat, we are special.
31. Broke (in): CHIMED. Well, we all chimed in to comment on Marti's write up.
32. Zap: LASE. To use a laser, I guess. Don't LASE ME bro?
33. Mil. authority: CMD. Take your PICK.
36. Pasta ___: food brand: RONI. Not to be confused with cousin RICE A.
37. Smallest: LEAST.
39. Verve: BRIO. From the Italian, for the modern version: vim and viagra.
40. Restful retreat: SPA.
41. Talking iPhone feature: SIRI. I know you want to know why according to the ex-CEO, Siri is, in fact, not just some random jargon. Instead, it means “beautiful woman who leads you to victory” in the Norwegian language.
42. ___ rod: AARON'S. Does he mean the BIBLICAL reference? The D.H. Lawrence semi-autobiographic novel? Or my son's curtain holder?
46. Medium card: TAROT.
48. The Eagles' "___ Eyes": LYIN. MUSIC.
49. Film director Morris: ERROL.Mostly famous for documentaries.
50. PC key: ESCape.
52. John or Christine of Fleetwood Mac: McVIE. They are to reunite and tour in 2013, but without Christine. LINK.
59. Snippy retort: IS SO. IS NOT!
60. Harden: INURE. In your eye?
61. Avant-garde: EDGY.
62. YouTube co-founder Steve: CHEN. Impressive MAN. Hi Jeff.
63. Plant sometimes called heart' s-ease: PANSY. Hi Marti.
64. Conks out: DIES. The car engine, not the blogger.
Down:
1. One of six in this clue: WORD. Self-referential, cool.
2. Soothing balm: ALOE.
3. Insult: SLAP. No, I do not get this one, but the perps were there. I get it now, that is a slap in the face!
4. Deli choice : PASTRAMI. Anyone for a RACHEL? Or
10. Saudi Arabia neighbor: OMAN. O man, we get this country all of the time.
14. Earthen pot: OLLA. Olla we get this pot all of the time.
15. Gruesome: LURID. I think of lurid more like Lois, or a romance novel.
16. Got up: ROSE. And the clecho, 47D. Get up: ARISE.
20. Diver's concern: DEPTH. This is true for both kinds of divers.
21. Perps' patterns: MOS. Modus Operandi. In English, method of operation.
22. Blood of the gods: ICHOR. Made from nectar and ambrosia? LINK.
23. 1988 self-titled CW album: REBA. Country singer (2:48) and actress.
25. Brilliance: ECLAT. Wow both panache and eclat, we are special.
31. Broke (in): CHIMED. Well, we all chimed in to comment on Marti's write up.
32. Zap: LASE. To use a laser, I guess. Don't LASE ME bro?
33. Mil. authority: CMD. Take your PICK.
36. Pasta ___: food brand: RONI. Not to be confused with cousin RICE A.
37. Smallest: LEAST.
39. Verve: BRIO. From the Italian, for the modern version: vim and viagra.
40. Restful retreat: SPA.
41. Talking iPhone feature: SIRI. I know you want to know why according to the ex-CEO, Siri is, in fact, not just some random jargon. Instead, it means “beautiful woman who leads you to victory” in the Norwegian language.
42. ___ rod: AARON'S. Does he mean the BIBLICAL reference? The D.H. Lawrence semi-autobiographic novel? Or my son's curtain holder?
46. Medium card: TAROT.
48. The Eagles' "___ Eyes": LYIN. MUSIC.
49. Film director Morris: ERROL.Mostly famous for documentaries.
50. PC key: ESCape.
52. John or Christine of Fleetwood Mac: McVIE. They are to reunite and tour in 2013, but without Christine. LINK.
59. Snippy retort: IS SO. IS NOT!
60. Harden: INURE. In your eye?
61. Avant-garde: EDGY.
62. YouTube co-founder Steve: CHEN. Impressive MAN. Hi Jeff.
63. Plant sometimes called heart' s-ease: PANSY. Hi Marti.
64. Conks out: DIES. The car engine, not the blogger.
Down:
1. One of six in this clue: WORD. Self-referential, cool.
2. Soothing balm: ALOE.
3. Insult: SLAP. No, I do not get this one, but the perps were there. I get it now, that is a slap in the face!
4. Deli choice : PASTRAMI. Anyone for a RACHEL? Or
5. Poetic pugilist: ALI. Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee; not a WASP!
6. Perp, perhaps : GUNMAN. Oh, that perp....
7. Ship that survived the Clashing Rocks : ARGO. A nice shout out to me and the ship that made us famous. We are even on a stamp.
8. Advice : TIPS.
9. Author LeShan : EDA.
10. Ancient source of counsel : ORACLE. With the ARGO, and ICHOR a little mythological sub theme.
11. Starbucks flavor : MOCHA. A latte with cocoa powder. Yum.
12. "Give it ___" : A SHOT. What I say ever week when my time to blog comes around.
13. Poetic negative : NE'ER. Never again will I be fooled by a constructor's hidden....
18. Motif : THEME.
19. Specific market type : NICHE. From the French to make a nest.
24. Set of potential suppliers : BID LIST. A term used in the CONSTRUCTION industry, used here by our constructor.
25. Bliss : ECSTASY. When you have PANACHE and ECLAT, you must achieve ECSTASY!
26. TV adjuncts : VCRS. Video Cassette Recorders.
27. Place to see stacks : IHOP. Not in a library, but the International House Of Pancakes.
28. Talking Heads bassist Weymouth : TINA. More MUSIC.(8:07) Obscure to me. Luckily I had the theme.
29. Say with assurance : CLAIM.
30. Small power sources : AAS. Batteries.
33. Marsh critter : CROC.
34. Ho Chi ___ City : MINH. The old Saigon.
35. Tablespoon, maybe : DOSE.
38. Significant period : ERA.
39. Diverged, with "off" : BRANCHED.
41. White Russian spec : STOLI. Stolichnaya, the once premier Russian Vodka, is now made in Latvia.I prefer Chopin, the Polish potato vodka.
43. "...___ to be born and..." : A TIME. There is a season, turn, turn, turn.
44. Like some T-shirt images : IRON ON. Not to be confused with Iron Man; has anyone else seen the newest Spider-Man movie? I like this kid.
45. Stomach issues : ULCERS. What I am getting trying to get this going.
46. Pan : TRASH. A bad review, not a cooking vessel.
49. Large-scale work : EPIC.
50. View from Catania : ETNA. The mountain.
51. Avoid : SHUN.
53. Part of Caesar's boast : VIDI. Forever trapped between VENI and VICI.
54. "Bus Stop" playwright : INGE. Know the PLAY or the SONG.
55. Company that created Rocky Road ice cream : EDYS. HISTORY or controversy.
57. Barely beat : NIP.
58. Ottoman official : BEY. We have had this title of a provincial governor in the Ottoman Empire before (per MW).
Answer grid.
Well, I guess I kept the wolves at BAY long enough to finish, did this puzzle light your fire? Thanks Mike, see you on the other side of next week.
Lemonade
9. Author LeShan : EDA.
10. Ancient source of counsel : ORACLE. With the ARGO, and ICHOR a little mythological sub theme.
11. Starbucks flavor : MOCHA. A latte with cocoa powder. Yum.
12. "Give it ___" : A SHOT. What I say ever week when my time to blog comes around.
13. Poetic negative : NE'ER. Never again will I be fooled by a constructor's hidden....
18. Motif : THEME.
19. Specific market type : NICHE. From the French to make a nest.
24. Set of potential suppliers : BID LIST. A term used in the CONSTRUCTION industry, used here by our constructor.
25. Bliss : ECSTASY. When you have PANACHE and ECLAT, you must achieve ECSTASY!
26. TV adjuncts : VCRS. Video Cassette Recorders.
27. Place to see stacks : IHOP. Not in a library, but the International House Of Pancakes.
28. Talking Heads bassist Weymouth : TINA. More MUSIC.(8:07) Obscure to me. Luckily I had the theme.
29. Say with assurance : CLAIM.
30. Small power sources : AAS. Batteries.
33. Marsh critter : CROC.
34. Ho Chi ___ City : MINH. The old Saigon.
35. Tablespoon, maybe : DOSE.
38. Significant period : ERA.
39. Diverged, with "off" : BRANCHED.
41. White Russian spec : STOLI. Stolichnaya, the once premier Russian Vodka, is now made in Latvia.I prefer Chopin, the Polish potato vodka.
43. "...___ to be born and..." : A TIME. There is a season, turn, turn, turn.
44. Like some T-shirt images : IRON ON. Not to be confused with Iron Man; has anyone else seen the newest Spider-Man movie? I like this kid.
45. Stomach issues : ULCERS. What I am getting trying to get this going.
46. Pan : TRASH. A bad review, not a cooking vessel.
49. Large-scale work : EPIC.
50. View from Catania : ETNA. The mountain.
51. Avoid : SHUN.
53. Part of Caesar's boast : VIDI. Forever trapped between VENI and VICI.
54. "Bus Stop" playwright : INGE. Know the PLAY or the SONG.
55. Company that created Rocky Road ice cream : EDYS. HISTORY or controversy.
57. Barely beat : NIP.
58. Ottoman official : BEY. We have had this title of a provincial governor in the Ottoman Empire before (per MW).
Answer grid.
Well, I guess I kept the wolves at BAY long enough to finish, did this puzzle light your fire? Thanks Mike, see you on the other side of next week.
Lemonade
