Words: 75 (Pangram~!)
Blocks: 38
Quite an effort for a debut (at least a debut for the LA Times). I did
not recognize the author's name, and I do not see his name on the blog list of
constructors. I dove right in and didn't see the triple-stack in the
center, but I did sense that the grid was slightly w-i-d-e-r than our
normal fare. And a pangram, to boot~! I finished under my personal
time, but I have to confess two Google look-ups; both proper names. Oh
well, still a good solve, and a fun puzzle as well. Just a tad too
many proper names, I thought. The triple-stack;
34. Capital near Las Vegas : SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO - it fit, so I went with it, and it was a good guess
41. Popular software for gamers : ADOBE FLASH PLAYER - a bit deceptive, since I am not a gamer, but I need the software to view certain YouTube videos
42. Variety show on which "The Honeymooners" began as a skit : CAVALCADE OF STARS - my house mate Garry was standing over my shoulder while I was solving, and at 69 years old, didn't know this one - until I told him the answer later. It filled via perp(endicular)s
41. Popular software for gamers : ADOBE FLASH PLAYER - a bit deceptive, since I am not a gamer, but I need the software to view certain YouTube videos
42. Variety show on which "The Honeymooners" began as a skit : CAVALCADE OF STARS - my house mate Garry was standing over my shoulder while I was solving, and at 69 years old, didn't know this one - until I told him the answer later. It filled via perp(endicular)s
ACROSS:
1. Protests by not taking any courses? : FASTS - I tried SIT IN, as in students who audit classes, but don't "take" them
6. Floorboard hardware item : BRAD - as a carpenter, I end up using brads in most finishing work
10. Cloaks : VEILS
15. Top dog : ALPHA - my supervisor at UPS is a mere 21 years old, but he's got a need to prove he's the "alpha" male on the line; it's not working for him
16. Western city with an annual balloon race : RENO - filled via perps
17. She slugged a sheriff in "Selma" : OPRAH
18. Pick up : LEARN
19. Big story : EPIC - dah~! Not SAGA
20. With 13-Down, "Unfaithful" Oscar nominee : DIANE; 13. See 20-Across : LANE
21. Waits on hand and foot : CATERS TO - I pondered this, but waited
23. "Pity" : TSK
25. Proof letters : Q.E.D.
26. Not much power : ONE WATT - Garry owned "Go Solar" before retiring; everything is about watts and volts in his business
27. "Never Cry Wolf" author Farley __ : MOWAT - cheat #1; I had MO_AT
29. "__ tree falls ... " : IF A - if a man speaks, and there's no woman around to hear him, is he still wrong~?
6. Floorboard hardware item : BRAD - as a carpenter, I end up using brads in most finishing work
10. Cloaks : VEILS
15. Top dog : ALPHA - my supervisor at UPS is a mere 21 years old, but he's got a need to prove he's the "alpha" male on the line; it's not working for him
16. Western city with an annual balloon race : RENO - filled via perps
17. She slugged a sheriff in "Selma" : OPRAH
18. Pick up : LEARN
19. Big story : EPIC - dah~! Not SAGA
20. With 13-Down, "Unfaithful" Oscar nominee : DIANE; 13. See 20-Across : LANE
23. "Pity" : TSK
25. Proof letters : Q.E.D.
26. Not much power : ONE WATT - Garry owned "Go Solar" before retiring; everything is about watts and volts in his business
27. "Never Cry Wolf" author Farley __ : MOWAT - cheat #1; I had MO_AT
29. "__ tree falls ... " : IF A - if a man speaks, and there's no woman around to hear him, is he still wrong~?
30. Significant period : ERA
31. __ moment : A-HA
43. Buddy : MAC - argh~! Not PAL
44. Former court gp. : ABA - American Bar Association; I looked on Wiki, but couldn't find out why it is "former"
45. Big name in outdoor gear : REI - this has become a popular crossword clue/answer
46. Pope John Paul II's given name : KAROL
48. "Ready for business" sign : NOW OPEN
52. Toon that debuted in the 1954 cartoon "Devil May Hare" : TAZmanian Devil
55. "Hyde Park on Hudson" subj. : FDR - the movie starred Bill Murray
56. Peak : HIGH NOTE
57. Hardly warm : ALOOF
59. Comet competitor : AJAX
56. Peak : HIGH NOTE
57. Hardly warm : ALOOF
59. Comet competitor : AJAX
61. Secretary of war under Teddy : ELIHU - look up #2
62. Language that gives us "mako" : MAORI
63. Accept : TAKE
64. Tears down, in 65-Across : RASES - the British version of RaZes
65. North Sea county : ESSEX - when it's at the bottom of the grid, it's a safe guess to go with ESSEX, which is letter-friendly
66. Inspected : EYED - I'm a licensed Home Inspector, and a free-lance leg inspector....
62. Language that gives us "mako" : MAORI
63. Accept : TAKE
64. Tears down, in 65-Across : RASES - the British version of RaZes
65. North Sea county : ESSEX - when it's at the bottom of the grid, it's a safe guess to go with ESSEX, which is letter-friendly
66. Inspected : EYED - I'm a licensed Home Inspector, and a free-lance leg inspector....
67. Decorative pitchers : EWERS - another letter-friendly bottom answer
DOWN:
DOWN:
1. Gandolfini's TV wife : FALCO - "The Sopranos", which I didn't watch, but I knew the stars; made me change my NW across answers
2. "Yond Cassius has __ and hungry look" : A LEAN
3. Sudden rush : SPATE
4. Obeyed a fishing regulation : THREW IT BACK
5. Marin County seat : SAN RAFAEL
6. Football's Favre : BRETT
7. Tow job, for short : REPO
8. Singer DiFranco : ANI
9. BBC hero since 1963 : DOCTOR WHO
10. Screwdriver part : VODKA - I went with "BLADE" - the tool, not the drink.
11. Commercial prefix with Pen : EPI - EPIpen
12. Big oil exporter : IRAQ
14. Lose : SHED - like pounds; today I'm at 180, about the lowest I've been in 25 years - lost the long hair, too
22. It may be swiped at work : STAFF CARD - I have an ID card to get on the UPS property, but I don't swipe it
24. Lowland amphibian : SWAMP FROG
27. 1980s attorney general : MEESE
28. Attorney's specialty : TAXATION LAW
32. Simple greeting : "HI-YA~!"
33. Big name in PCs : ACER
34. Ink __ : SAC - took too long to dawn on me
35. Actor Driver of "Girls" : ADAM - my mind was stuck on Minnie
36. Salmon choice : NOVA
37. Involved : ELABORATE - the adjective; this is an involved construction
38. Athlete known as "The King of Clay" : NADAL - I knew we were looking for a tennis star, but I don't watch enough to know which one is the 'king of clay'
39. Absent : ELSEWHERE
40. Logical operators : ORs
47. Pin, say : AFFIX - the verb
48. Rejected : NIXED
49. Self-confidence : POISE
50. Wild blue yonder : ETHER
51. City across the Rhine from Düsseldorf : NEUSS
14. Lose : SHED - like pounds; today I'm at 180, about the lowest I've been in 25 years - lost the long hair, too
22. It may be swiped at work : STAFF CARD - I have an ID card to get on the UPS property, but I don't swipe it
24. Lowland amphibian : SWAMP FROG
27. 1980s attorney general : MEESE
28. Attorney's specialty : TAXATION LAW
32. Simple greeting : "HI-YA~!"
33. Big name in PCs : ACER
34. Ink __ : SAC - took too long to dawn on me
35. Actor Driver of "Girls" : ADAM - my mind was stuck on Minnie
36. Salmon choice : NOVA
37. Involved : ELABORATE - the adjective; this is an involved construction
38. Athlete known as "The King of Clay" : NADAL - I knew we were looking for a tennis star, but I don't watch enough to know which one is the 'king of clay'
39. Absent : ELSEWHERE
40. Logical operators : ORs
47. Pin, say : AFFIX - the verb
48. Rejected : NIXED
49. Self-confidence : POISE
50. Wild blue yonder : ETHER
51. City across the Rhine from Düsseldorf : NEUSS
52. Hardly boundary-pushing : TAME
53. "Poor me!" : ALAS
54. Places with exhibits : ZOOS
56. Cod relative : HAKE
58. Mt. Hood setting : OREgon
53. "Poor me!" : ALAS
54. Places with exhibits : ZOOS
56. Cod relative : HAKE
58. Mt. Hood setting : OREgon
60. Colorful flier : JAY
Splynter
Note from C.C.:
I can't believe Splynter's transformation. Here he is a few years ago.
Note from C.C.:
I can't believe Splynter's transformation. Here he is a few years ago.
Here is the 180-pound Splynter. Click to enlarge. New face. New hair. What's the logo on your shirt, Splynter?
