Theme: "You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear…"
(...But Mary and Jeff sure make a smooth as silk puzzle out of one!)
17. Some broadcasting equipment : HAM RADIOS.
30. Political patronage : PORK BARREL.
36. Degrees of separation from actor Kevin, in a parlor game : BACON NUMBER.
41. Dachshunds, familiarly : WIENER DOGS.
And the unifier:
58. Obstinate, and what the other four longest puzzle answers are? : PIGHEADED. The beginnings of the theme answers all are varieties of PIG dishes. (DH would be in hog heaven with this one!!)
I forgot to check my time when I finished, but I know it was way under 10 minutes. Did you find it easy for a Thursday, or did some of the tricky clues trip you up? Let's check out where those were.
Across:
1. Lines at the checkout? : UPCs. OK, right off the bat we have a misdirection.
5. Powdery mineral : TALC. Pretty straightforward.
9. Org. for a 4-Down : ASPCA. And 4-Down. Rescued one, hopefully : STRAY. The clue for 9-Across actually let me fill both entries without further ado.
14. It may thicken : PLOT. My mother always used to say, "The thought plickens…"
15. Baseball's Jesus or Moises : ALOU. Ha! Finally remembered the family name after four perps...
16. "She loves you" followers, in song : YEAHS. "…yeah, yeah, yeah."
19. "Cut the chatter!" : CAN IT!
20. Hoopster Shaquille : O'NEAL.
23. Women's org. based at Constitution Hall : DAR. Daughters of the American Revolution.
24. Brightly colored beetle : LADYBUG.
27. Lincoln or Ford : CAR.
28. MPG watchdog : EPA.
29. Opposite of sweet : DRY. When referring to wine, that is.
33. Proportion : RATIO.
35. Swim competition : MEET.
39. Common Oscar gown feature : SLIT. Now, this is a slit!
40. Anxious anticipation : DREAD.
44. One involved in a pickup : CAB. Another tricky clue. Did it fool you?
47. __ carte : A LA. Followed by another straightforward clue.
48. Fourth grade? : DEE. Teacher's grading papers: A, B, C, D, F. Did any of you make it past first grade? (I didn't think so!!)
49. iPod accessories : EARBUDS.
52. Sam Spade type : TEC.
53. Eye layer : UVEA.
55. Roman fountain : TREVI.
56. Not cool : UNHIP.
61. Court figure : STENO.
62. Singer Adams : EDIE. I really couldn't find one of her songs. I remember her from the Muriel cigar commercials: (In a Mae West accent) "Why not pick one up and smoke it sometime?" Maybe CED can help me find a clip.
63. Creepy thing : VINE.
64. "The Master Builder" playwright : IBSEN.
65. Go on and on : RANT.
66. Busy crawlers : ANTS.
Down:
1. Support : UPHOLD.
2. Two-dimensional : PLANAR. Of a plane, as opposed to "cubic" or "spheroid" which would be three-dimensional.
3. Funny business? : COMEDY.
5. Minute amount : TAD.
6. Baba of folklore : ALI.
7. Device with shuttles : LOOM.
8. John who played Nixon in "The Butler" : CUSACK.
9. Bart Simpson catchphrase : AY CARAMBA. Did not know that was his catch phrase, but filled it in with just the "AY…"
10. Salty expanse : SEA.
11. Person who caters to base interests : PANDERER. One who pleases others for their own interests...
12. Watch-Me-Grow fad : CHIA PET. Now they have "Duck Dynasty" chia pets?
13. Celestial : ASTRAL.
18. Priestly garb : ALB.
22. Poke : JAB.
25. Until : UP TO. Short phrases are sometimes tough...
26. Cross the threshold : GO IN. As I said, short phrases are sometimes tough...
31. Sonata movement : RONDO.
32. Swamp thing : REED.
33. Showers, say : RAIN.
34. Followed, as a hunch : ACTED UPON.
36. Laundry room supplies : BLEACHES.
37. Push : URGE.
38. Southwestern formation : MESA.
39. Dumb ending? : SILENT B.
41. '60s dance : WATUSI. Remember The Orlons?? They're still goin' after all these years...
42. Prepare to drag : REV.
43. More profound : DEEPER.
44. Informed : CUED IN.
45. Pre-Christmas period : ADVENT.
46. Backs of singles : B-SIDES. This is kind of an outdated clue/answer, isn't it? Do mp3 files have b-sides?
50. GPS recommendation : RTE. Route.
51. Cry to a diva : BRAVA. and a slight clecho with 54-D:
54. Classic role for a diva : AIDA.
57. Like the finale of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto : IN E.
59. Bathtub booze : GIN.
60. __ up: angry : HET. Don't get all het up with me…I just report 'em as I see 'em!
That's all for this week, folks!
Marti
Notes from C.C.:
1) George Barany co-constructed today's NY Times. Click here. A special on-line version is provided. Don't forget to click on the Solution and read their notes. Congratulations, George!
2) JD just came back from her trip to Kauai. She and Bob even took a helicopter ride over the Waimea Canyon. Here are a few pictures.
Notes from C.C.:
1) George Barany co-constructed today's NY Times. Click here. A special on-line version is provided. Don't forget to click on the Solution and read their notes. Congratulations, George!
2) JD just came back from her trip to Kauai. She and Bob even took a helicopter ride over the Waimea Canyon. Here are a few pictures.
