Theme: C'mon boys, saddle up and let's go get 'em.
The letters EM are added to 4 in the language phrases with an extremely clever reveal. We are back basking in the complicated mind of our favorite South African veterinarian, GARETH Bain, who as you can see from the Interview linked has been with us almost from the beginning of the switch to the LA Times, which coincided with his getting published in the US. The reveal HOLD 'EM, is reminiscent of his first puzzle where the letters ON were removed, with the reveal NIXON. I really enjoy how he locks onto these words and phrases and builds a puzzle. He also obviously works very hard to use a varied fill drawing from many parts of pop and historic culture. He also manages to make the puzzles very accessible to Americans despite his own background. We also get some interesting animal information. Finally, there is some really fun long down fill (to keep from being confused with the across where the theme is) like DAIRY FARMER, KODAK MOMENT. It is so obvious how much effort he puts in to his grid, still finding time for his work and blogging at Crossword Fiend.
19A. Organized group of female monarchs? : EMPRESS CORPS (12). A nice visual of Queen Elizabeth hosting a bunch of female world leaders; more interesting than a bunch of news people.
30A. Ingredient in a concrete American flag? : RED CEMENT (9). A simple penny becomes another visual.
40A. Plastic leg bone? : FAKE FEMUR.(9).Fake fur no more.
53A. Line of hunky monarchs? : HEMAN DYNASTY.(12). I am not an expert on the Han Dynasty, but we have C.C. and others to fill in the blanks. (Note from C.C.: My hometown Xi'An (called Chang'An then) was the capital city of Han Dynasty. Xi'An was the capital city to four Chinese dynasties: Zhou, Qin, Han, Tang. Hence my given name Zhouqin. Chinese written characters are called "Han characters", and over 90% of Chinese are ethically Han people). (Correction: ethnically. Thanks, Big Easy!)
and the reveal
57A. Poker variety ... and what the four longest across answers do? : HOLD 'EM.
Across:
1. It comes from goats : MOHAIR. We begin in the animal kingdom, but my mind goes to this LINK.
7. Old hand : PRO. Gareth was 22 and just beginning in 2009, now he is an old pro.
10. Margery of nursery rhyme : DAW. An old time British (Steve?) nursery rhyme that I heard in my early days. WATCH. (0:53).
13. Reason to be at sea? : ENIGMA. This is the idiom, being at sea, as lost confused.
14. Leak slowly : SEEP.
15. Pub choice : ALE. For Tin and my children.
16. Colorful freshwater fish : TETRAS.
17. 1994 Schwarzenegger film : TRUE LIES. Some very funny parts with Jamie Lee Curtis.
21. Waterskiing challenges : WAKES. from the boat pulling you.
24. Role for Ronny : OPIE. The old Andy Griffith Show gets lots of puzzle exposure.
25. Blood __ : TYPE. Clecho alert!
26. Blood system letters : A B O.
27. Pelion neighbor : MT. OSSA. There is also one in Tasmania, but we climb here in GREECE.
29. Vulpine critter : FOX. More animal info, one of the many groups ending in INE, reminiscent of a recent puzzle.
33. Overwhelming amount : SEA.
35. Feel a strong desire (for) : STARVE. Affection anyone?
36. Former German chancellor Adenauer : KONRAD. I do remember DER ALTE.
39. Fancy carp : KOI. The goldfish of the rich.
43. Mooch : BUM When I smoked it was often OP cigarettes.
45. "Cows of Our Planet" cartoonist : LARSON. The far Side guy.
47. Mesozoic, e.g. : ERA.
48. Old folk song composer, often: Abbr. : ANON. A shout out to our trolls.
50. Bread often served with ghee : NAAN.
51. Hat material : STRAW.
56. Catholic recitation phrase : AVE MARIA. Latin.
61. Chess components : MEN. Even the Queen; very un-pc.
62. Parker array : PENS. Old time company. LINK.
63. Restless feeling : UNEASE.
64. Hill occupant : ANT. If it is three letters, it is ant.
65. Anti-aging treatment target : SAG. I will not link any pictures out of respect.
66. Named : TERMED. This was tricky, even thought it makes sense.
Down:
1. Ran into : MET.
2. 1992 U2 song : ONE. Do you really remember songs by the year? LISTEN.(4:36).
3. Popular song : HIT. Perfect follow up to the song. Do you...
4. Correspond : AGREE.
5. Mosque VIPs : IMAMS.
6. Gravelly sound : RASP. Janis Joplin?
7. Don't give up : PERSIST.
8. Practices one of the environmental three R's : RE-USES. I was not familiar with this CONCEPT.
9. Barrel-conscious gp. : OPEC. Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
10. Jersey owner, maybe : DAIRY FARMER. Jersey Cows, unrelated to Gary Larson, but nicer clue/fill.
11. Syria's most populous city : ALEPPO. Not Damascus. LEARN.
12. Thomas Hardy setting : WESSEX. All you need to know and MORE.
14. Squish : STEP ON.
18. Nephew of Abraham : LOT. I wonder if he learned to hate salt? Anyway, did anyone see NOAH?
20. Dull repetition : ROTE. Not Kyle or Tobin....
21. Cola __ : WARS.
22. Help in a heist : ABET.
23. Ideal time to snap? : KODAK MOMENT. Really great fill.
27. Bovary title: Abbr. : MME. Abbreviation of the French Madame.
28. Starting from : AS OF.
31. HUN neighbor, to the IOC : CROatia. The International Olympic Committee like three letter Country names.
32. Baleful : EVIL.
34. Capt.'s course : ENE.
36. Knowledge : KEN. From the Scottish I believe and unrelated to Barbie.
37. Mystique : AURA.
38. Billiards backspin : DRAW. Another example of the wonderfully diverse knowledge in a GB puzzle.
40. Wearing a lot : FRAYING. A fun reverse clue, where the wear is on a tear.
41. Yoga class regimen : ASANAS. A new yoga STUDIO opened 100 feet from my apartment.
42. Hawaiian coffee-growing region : KONA. I wonder where all of our Hawaii readers are hiding.
43. Grand __ : BAHAMA. Freeport, very close to Fort Lauderdale.
44. Spotty : UNEVEN.
46. Lead singer of the Irish rock group The Corrs : ANDREA. Hmm, U2, the Corrs...
49. Where many vets served : NAM. Too many died.
51. Peach pit : STONE.
52. "House of Payne" creator __ Perry : TYLER. TV show from the very successful producer/actor. LINK.(2:37)
54. Snoozes : NAPS.
55. Turned (off) : SHUT.
58. Sire's mate : DAM. Our final animal clue of the day.
59. Legal closing? : ESE. Legalese.
60. Club __ : MED. Short for Mediterranean and the first of the all-inclusive vacation sites.
I had such a good time I may have gotten carried away; thanks Gareth and I hope you all enjoy the tour. Lemonade out.
Note from C.C.:
The third Minnesota Crossword Tournament will be held on June 22 at The Landmark Center in Saint Paul. Please click here for more information. The puzzles are all made by our local constructors or constructors with MN ties (Andrea Carla Michaels, e.g.). The local constructors include Tom Pepper, George Barany, David Hanson, David Liben-Nowell, Dan Kantor, Jay Kaskel & Victor Barocas (also our editor). Don G and Andy Kravis also took part in the effort. A few are our LA Times constructors. All have been published by the NY Times.
I look forward to seeing some of you there. You'll love this year's puzzles!
Left to right: Tom Pepper; Marcia J. Brott; George Barany; David
Hanson; DK, C.C.; Andrea;
Boomer & Victor Barocas
June 2013
June 2013
