Words: 70 (missing J,K,Q,X)
Blocks: 32
There was a point during this solve that I started thinking there might
also a steady increase in the difficulty of these Saturday puzzles as
the year progresses, too - I struggled last week, and there was
way too much white this week, as well. But, little by slowly, by
digging into the depths of my brain, and with a few crossword educated
WAGs, I was able to close this one out - with one goof-up on my end.
Deceptive looking grid, with paired 10's hiding inside the edges,
crossing two more:
33A. Setting for the 2001 film "No Man's Land" : BOSNIAN WAR - IMDb - I have not heard of this film
42A. Inexplicable, in a way : PARANORMAL - I learned this word in my "ute" from Ghostbusters, and 'paranormal activity'
11D. Sneaker inserts : ODOR-EATERS - old commercial, I originally went with "---GELS"
12D. Short-term residence, usually : FOSTER HOME - Pretty sure we were looking for a "---HOME", but had to wait for the kind of home
12D. Short-term residence, usually : FOSTER HOME - Pretty sure we were looking for a "---HOME", but had to wait for the kind of home
27D. "Song based on a letter," per McCartney : P.S.I LOVE YOU - Also a movie
28D. Bigoted : INTOLERANT - straight up definition, and for me the hardest part of late-week puzzles; the one-word clue/answer
28D. Bigoted : INTOLERANT - straight up definition, and for me the hardest part of late-week puzzles; the one-word clue/answer
O N W a R D ~!
ACROSS:
1. Leafhopper relative : CICADA - Well, I was pretty sure a leafhopper was a kind of bug, and once the "C-C" appeared....
7. 2002 Man Booker Prize-winning novel : LIFE OF PI - also a movie; never heard of this prize
15. Oath : AVOWAL
16. Show of confidence : "I CAN DO IT~!" - I think I would have preferred "Shout" over 'Show'
17. Evict : REMOVE
18. Accounting concerns : NET COSTS
19. Ad infinitum? : PR BLITZ - my only goof; for some reason, a P.A. Blitz made sense (see this clip); plus, crossing the totally unknown 2D....
21. Having a dark complexion : SWARTHY
22. Clipper target : NAIL - started with HAIR - 50% right - I think I have my math right this time~!
24. "Permit Me Voyage" poet : AGEE - I like our Corner poet, Owen - and his handicapped points reminds me of "Death Race"
25. Dish prepared hot and served cold : ASPIC - dug up from the dredges
29. Ones, e.g.: Abbr. : NOs - remember when this "#" meant number???
31. Fonda's "My Darling Clementine" role : EARP
7. 2002 Man Booker Prize-winning novel : LIFE OF PI - also a movie; never heard of this prize
15. Oath : AVOWAL
16. Show of confidence : "I CAN DO IT~!" - I think I would have preferred "Shout" over 'Show'
17. Evict : REMOVE
18. Accounting concerns : NET COSTS
19. Ad infinitum? : PR BLITZ - my only goof; for some reason, a P.A. Blitz made sense (see this clip); plus, crossing the totally unknown 2D....
21. Having a dark complexion : SWARTHY
22. Clipper target : NAIL - started with HAIR - 50% right - I think I have my math right this time~!
24. "Permit Me Voyage" poet : AGEE - I like our Corner poet, Owen - and his handicapped points reminds me of "Death Race"
25. Dish prepared hot and served cold : ASPIC - dug up from the dredges
29. Ones, e.g.: Abbr. : NOs - remember when this "#" meant number???
31. Fonda's "My Darling Clementine" role : EARP
36. Like Singha beer : THAI
38. Correction : EDIT
39. Astronomical scales : LIBRA
41. Olympic hurdler Jones : LOLO - her website
44. Stop wearing down? : MOLT - Har-Har~! Down, the under plumage of a bird, that is
46. Fa follower : SOL - Do, re, me, fa, SOL?, la, ti, do - why does this one get three letters? Speaking of two-letters, see below
47. "I don't care if you __ again": The Cars lyric : USE ME - from "You're All I've Got Tonight"
48. Coal container : VEIN - I tried MINE - 75% right, but in the completely wrong squares
50. Showed grief : WEPT
52. Mr. Peabody's boy : SHERMAN - before my time; Rocky & Bullwinkle
55. Conic section : ELLIPSE - I wanted PARABOLA, but it didn't fit
60. Balance sheet items : PAYABLES
62. Make less musty : AIR OUT
63. Like some decals : IRONED ON - Ah, the past tense
64. Easier to see, perhaps : NEARER
65. It's not charged : NEUTRINO - subatomic particle
66. Cakewalk : BREEZE
DOWN:
1. Kvetch : CARP - Started with CRAB - again, 75% right, but only 25% in the right squares
2. 2011 Best New Artist Grammy winner Bon __ : IVER - I think I am getting to that age where the music of today makes me feel like my father did as I was growing up, when I thought Iron Maiden was the best band ever - he preferred Dean Martin, so you can see the discrepancy - I suppose it could be worse - I could have kids that actually listen to this stuff
3. Parting aid : COMB - I liked this, but it took a moment to 'get it'
4. Taps absentee, possibly : AWOL
5. Renaissance standout : DA VINCI
6. Hal Foster's Queen of the Misty Isles : ALETA
7. Author Yutang : LIN
8. Refreshing treats : ICES
9. Islamic ruling : FATWA - another one I dredged up
10. Put behind bars : ENCAGE
13. Substance : PITH
14. Far from substantial : ITSY
20. Hummingbird attractors : ZINNIAS - went with PISTILS - can you tell I skipped Biology?
23. Like some humor : LOWBROW
- according to one source, phrenologists of the late 19th century
claimed that the height of one's brow was a clear indicator of
intelligence
25. Genesis son : ABEL - and a slight clecho;
26. Genesis city : SODOM
30. Ball Park Franks owner : SARA LEE
32. 2011 ABC show with multiple pilots : PAN AM - subtle misdirection, as a 'pilot' of a show is the first one the producers make
34. The tallest one is nearly 16,000 feet high : ALP - If this were Jeopardy!, the response would be "What is Mont Blanc?"
35. Took off : RAN
37. Emerald __ : ISLE
43. Statistical anomaly : OUTLIER
45. Building material : TIMBER - Ha-HA~! I had LUMBER, and that's 67% right, and in the proper squares~!!!
49. Nita of early filmdom : NALDI
51. Backup : PLAN B
52. __ doctor : SPIN - I had EXPENSES at 60A, and this answer made me change it
53. Hopping game? : HARE - Game as in hunter's prey
54. __ Carrot: Crayola color : NEON - well, I can see that
56. Requiem title word : IRAE - "Dies Irae", crossword staple
57. Plant's stoma, e.g. : PORE - yeah, see 20D.
58. 1956 crisis site : SUEZ
59. French 101 word : ÊTRE
61. __-Cat : SNO
This week's discussion on M & Ms (@9:15am) reminded me of a similar game I came up with back in my bar days. I will give two letters, and I'm looking for two words that start with those letters, but having opposite meanings. Some easy ones to start;
L - R
H - C
U - D
and some maybe a little more difficult - and there's more than one answer in some cases
S - S
B - E
B - F
Have fun - let me see what you come up with
Splynter
25. Genesis son : ABEL - and a slight clecho;
26. Genesis city : SODOM
30. Ball Park Franks owner : SARA LEE
32. 2011 ABC show with multiple pilots : PAN AM - subtle misdirection, as a 'pilot' of a show is the first one the producers make
34. The tallest one is nearly 16,000 feet high : ALP - If this were Jeopardy!, the response would be "What is Mont Blanc?"
35. Took off : RAN
37. Emerald __ : ISLE
43. Statistical anomaly : OUTLIER
45. Building material : TIMBER - Ha-HA~! I had LUMBER, and that's 67% right, and in the proper squares~!!!
49. Nita of early filmdom : NALDI
51. Backup : PLAN B
52. __ doctor : SPIN - I had EXPENSES at 60A, and this answer made me change it
53. Hopping game? : HARE - Game as in hunter's prey
54. __ Carrot: Crayola color : NEON - well, I can see that
56. Requiem title word : IRAE - "Dies Irae", crossword staple
57. Plant's stoma, e.g. : PORE - yeah, see 20D.
58. 1956 crisis site : SUEZ
59. French 101 word : ÊTRE
61. __-Cat : SNO
This week's discussion on M & Ms (@9:15am) reminded me of a similar game I came up with back in my bar days. I will give two letters, and I'm looking for two words that start with those letters, but having opposite meanings. Some easy ones to start;
L - R
H - C
U - D
and some maybe a little more difficult - and there's more than one answer in some cases
S - S
B - E
B - F
Have fun - let me see what you come up with
Splynter
