Theme: "How Much Farther?" - The ends are different measures of distance.
18A. Eschew punishment, in an old saw : SPARE THE ROD. 16.5 feet
29A. Really puzzling : HARD TO FATHOM. 6 feet (used for depth)
37A. "Toy Story" space ranger : BUZZ LIGHTYEAR. 6 trillion miles, about
46A. Athletics group for kids : PEE WEE LEAGUE. 3 miles.
60A. From afar, and how 18-, 29-, 37- and 46-Across literally end : AT A DISTANCE
Argyle right here. Give the kids the answer in these units and make them figure out how far it is for themselves. Right, Bill G.? The use of these words in the answers do not relate directly to distances; that's cool. Two a-words for Tuesday. Three tomorrow? All together, a decent puzzle that will end when we get there. But we're not there yet.
Across:
1. Clumsy type : OAF
4. Like a male lion : MANED. The males have a ruff of hair.
9. Sits for a portrait : POSES
14. Popeye's Olive : OYL
15. Clamorous : AROAR
16. Posthaste : APACE
17. Longtime Elton John label : MCA. (Music Corporation of America, formed in 1924)
20. With, in France : AVEC. Straightforward.
22. Movie-rating org. : MPAA. (Motion Picture Association of America)
23. Santa __ winds : ANA
24. Positive particle : PROTON
26. Carson's sidekick : McMAHON. Johnny's, yes, but who was Kit Carson's sidekick?
32. Currency-stabilizing org. : IMF. (International Monetary Fund)
33. Geography suffix : ERN. Add them to the points on a compass.
34. Part of Columbus's fleet : NINA
42. What there oughta be : A LAW
43. Luau souvenir : LEI
44. "I hate it!" : "UGH!"
51. Not as tidy : MESSIER
54. Shaving aid : LATHER. Shaving can be messy or so I hear.
55. Refugees' subj. : ESL. (English as a second language)
56. Key __ pie : LIME. 3D. Likely to evoke yums : FLAVORFUL
59. Tornado-riding dog : TOTO. Hm, how to measure the distance from Kansas to Oz.
64. "__ Got a Secret" : I'VE
66. "Rosemary's Baby" author Ira : LEVIN. Perps supplied the answer.
67. Perfumer's compound : ESTER
68. Yet, poetically : E'EN
69. Amens : YESes
70. Unfeeling : STONY
71. Monopoly quartet: Abbr. : RRs. (Reading, Pennsylvania, B&O, and Short Line)
NO, we're not there yet!
Down:
1. Half a tuba sound : OOM. 9D. The other half of a tuba sound : PAH
2. Bart Simpson's "Holy cow!" : "¡AY,CARAMBA!"
4. The Phillie Phanatic, e.g. : MASCOT. On the left.
5. Alsatian dadaist : ARP. Jean Arp was born in the Alsace-Lorraine region.
6. Linguist Chomsky : NOAM. His web site.
7. O.K. Corral gunfighter : EARP. (Wyatt)
8. Imagined : DREAMT
10. Uncover, poetically : OPE
11. "Adia" singer McLachlan : SARAH
12. Prefix appealing to frugality : ECONO
13. Car buyer's choice : SEDAN
19. Dial on a dash : TACH. Shortened words in both the clue and answer.
21. Takeoff approx. : ETD
24. 21st Greek letter : PHI
25. "Joy to the World," e.g. : NOEL. (the Christmas carol)
27. When repeated, a 1987 #1 hit for Billy Idol : MONY. Originally by Tommy James and the Shondells.
28. Lille lady friend : AMIE. Lille is north of Paris, on the Belgium border.
30. "F" that most school kids look forward to: Abbr. : FRIday. Clever.
31. It's measured in degrees : ANGLE
35. Less deserving of a Christmas present? : NAUGHTIER
36. Have a debate about : ARGUE OVER
38. Microwaves : ZAPS
39. Düsseldorf duo : ZWEI. In western Germany.
40. Giggle in an IM : HEE. Is this less than LOL?
41. Cash drawer : TILL
45. Seagoing pronoun : HER. Ships are female.
47. Skinny swimmers : EELS
48. Puts pen to paper : WRITES
49. Place to grab a bite : EATERY
50. From __ Z : A TO
51. __-mouthed: indirect : MEALY. In the sense of not saying what one means?
52. Lauder of lipstick : ESTÈE
53. Some Balkan natives : SLAVS
57. Sail support : MAST
58. Opposite of ecto- : ENTO
61. Backgammon cube : DIE
62. "I know people" people : INs
63. 100 yrs. : CEN. (century) Oh, it hasn't been that long.
65. USNA grad : ENS. (ensign)
Ok, we're here.
Argyle
