In the never ending CSO's in the world of the LAT, our feerless leader gets her puzzle from Julian Lim, who lives in Singapore. Normally, Julian's puzzles are very hard for me, but this one was just hard enough for a Friday, with a low word count, and the theme, once revealed really helped relieve the stress. The letter "C" is added to the beginning of first and last word of a known phrase or name to create a new and completely unrelated phrase. 3 are two word phrase; 1 has a proper name, both before and after. I saw no other hidden agenda here, and the reveal which we usually do not get was not a slam dunk reveal so it is a Friday. We have some fun 6 letter fill HONCHO, PHOBIA, PORTIA, PSYCHO, SCROLL, SMOOCH and some longer sparkle BELABOR, GOLIATH, DIES IRAE, DOVETAIL , EMOTICON and NICE SHOT
18A. Jar for leafy vegetable storage? : CHARD CROCK (10). This is difficult on so many layers; first you need to know that CHARD is a leafy vegetable. I hear it mostly as Swiss Chard, and it is called Spinach in South Africa but it is the leafy part of a type of beet. The leaf is quite healthy. HARD ROCK is a developer of hotels, casino etc., here they have partnered with the Seminole Tribe.
24A. Actor Jackie's pet fish? : CHANS CARP (9). We usually see the ARTIST as Jean Arp, founder of Dada, but in German he was Hans. Jackie Chan has had a successful career as a comedic martial arts expert. I was surprised to read that he had done a porno.
50A. Emulate an inveterate swindler? : CON AND CON (9). On and On we go.
57A. Vessel with limited space? : CRAMPED CUP (10). I did not get (r)amped up about this fill, I guess it runneth over.
And the hint:
37A. Opine ... or create four long answers in this puzzle? : ADD ONE'S TWO CENTS. This is not a simple reveal because the symbol for cents, while a C, is really ¢.
Across:
1. Sardine cousin : SHAD. These are both generic names for types of herring.
5. "My take is ..." : I'D SAY. The Millennial phrase.
10. Princess from Amphipolis : XENA. If you need the whole STORY.
14. Iota : MOTE. Little things.
15. One-up : OUTDO.
16. "Head With Pipe" artist Nolde : EMIL. No idea.
20. 2000s World #1 female golfer : OCHOA. She came, she conquered, she retired; her CAREER. I remember when she came out of Arizona and played the futures tour winning 3 of the 10 events she played. We obviously have some who like the LPGA because we also have 49A. With 60-Down, only South Korean World Golf Hall of Fame inductee : SE RI. 60D. See 49-Across : PAK. She changed the face of golf with her success inspiring the Asian world of golf.
22. Nurture : REAR.
23. Word with cake or break : TEA. Any other day would have CUP added.
27. "__ Love" (Maroon 5 hit) : THIS.
29. Smoking, perhaps : HOT. Interestingly next to another sexist measure of females....
30. Half a score : TEN. Ladies and gentleman, please let us know who think is a TEN.
31. 1959 novel in whose film version Mary Crane became Marion Crane : PSYCHO. Still one of the most unsettling movies of all time. I love that the P crosses with 31D. Psychologist's concern : PHOBIA though some may suggest it is an impermissible dupe of fill/clue... If you have not seen it and are squeamish, do not watch.
33. Giant : GOLIATH. This guy slings back into our radar.
36. Rabbit's friend : POOH. Can you bear any more Winnie references?
41. Literary __ : LION. This was a struggle, while it is a term I have heard (Mailer was a literary lion) I needed perps to get started.
42. More than hammer home : BELABOR. Very nice fresh fill, which I will not say too often.
43. Video game segments : LEVELS. I do remember the thrill of new levels back in the days of playing pac man in the bar.
45. Jr.'s jr. : III. The kids are often called Tre.
46. Spot for a soak : SPA.
53. Small songbird : TIT. We must have a GREAT picture.
54. Work on a canvas? : SPAR. Excellent misdirection, not a painting but in the boxing ring.
56. Unfortunate : SORRY.
61. Bard's verb : DOTH. A soupçon of Shakespeare.
62. "See Dad Run" star : BAIO. Scott. Never heard of it.
63. Steer snagger : REATA.
64. Mishmash : OLIO. Along with morel, the word that defines Crossword Corner.
65. TripAdvisor alternative : YELP. My oldest uses their review all of the time for restaurants.
66. "No worries" : IT'S OK.
67. White side, maybe : SLAW. Really, I always have carrots and purple cabbage in mine.
Down:
1. More than peck : SMOOCH.
2. Head __ : HONCHO. Comes from Japanese hanchō squad leader, from han squad + chō head, chief. We got it from returning servicemen. Han Solo?
3. Besides : AT THAT.
4. Plymouth's county : DEVON. This area has an interesting HISTORY.
5. Org. with a multi-ring logo : IOC. International Olympic Committee.
6. "No __!" : DUH.
7. Whitewater figure : STARR. Ken. No politics, just a LINK.
8. Pitcher? : AD REP. One who 'pitches' i.e. gives a sales pitch.
9. Green sage : YODA. Now that Episode VII is in the works I am sure we will see more Star Wars references, though Yoda is dead?
10. Survey taker, at times : X'ER. I guess this means one who x'es, checks boxes. A complete meh.
11. Text clarifier : EMOTICON. Since people do not talk and only text, you need some idea of the facial expression to get meaning of the words.
12. Compliment on a course : NICE SHOT. Gary, I am sure your golf game will be ready.
13. Antacid brand word : ALKA. My old pal...
19. Old PC monitors : CRTS. Cathode Ray Tubes.
21. Martin's start? : ASTON. Bond, James Bond.
25. Hollywood glitterati : CELEBS. Eh.
26. Sambuca flavoring : ANISE. Licorice anyone?
28. On a sugar high, say : HYPER.
32. Quaker Honey Graham __ : OHS.
33. Toast, with "a" : GONER.
34. U.S.-U.K. separator : ATLantic.
35. "Truth is more of a stranger than fiction" writer : TWAIN. One of the great minds of all time with a true way with words.
37. The works : ALL.
38. Second section of Verdi's "Requiem" : DIES IRAE.
39. Fit nicely : DOVETAIL.
40. Quarters, e.g. : COINS. So simple, but...
44. Daffy Duck has one : LISP.
46. Move on a screen : SCROLL. To the finish?
47. Shakespearean heiress : PORTIA. My weekly dose of Will. Who said it better?
"The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:"
48. "But I digress ..." : ANY HOW. I am an any way man, Drat.
50. Trainee : CADET. Not just in the service.
51. Marine predators : ORCAS. Whale of a good answer.
52. Bygone birds : DODOS. CSO!
53. Mango tango smoothie server : TCBY. This Can't Be Yogurt. Cousin of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter.
55. Prefix with cardial : PERI. The sac where the heart truly is.
58. Post-spill need : MOP.
Hasten jason
Get the basin
Oops plop,
Get the mop.
59. __-Aztecan languages : UTO.
I do not think it is going out on a limb to say that this was a challenge in places; well I had fun I hope you did. Lemonade out.
