Theme: None
Words: 72 (missing F,J,Y,Z)
Blocks: 34
Two constructors in a row named Bruce - a
little over one year since our last Bruce Venzke Saturday puzzle, and another
tough start to for me, but with only one cheat, I was able to get it
finished, and within my personal allotted time. Got deceived by the
"easy" four-letter NW corner, and was unable to get any traction there -
though I did have an inkling about what 1a was supposed to be. My down
run in the NE was quick, and that helped open up the grid. Just the
triple 10-letter corners and two 8-letter fills for the long answers
today;
18a. Sharper : SCAM ARTIST - ah, new definition for me
25a. Showman named Phineas : P.T. BARNUM
47a. Disgruntled fans, slangily : BOO BIRDS
ahh, hockey fans....
65. Windows alternatives : AISLE SEATS
- ah, planes, not computers. Firefox has dropped support for Windows
XP, which is tragic, since I think it was the best version of the
software - now I have to buy a new computer....
onwarDE~!
ACROSS:
1. Cleaning up a mess? : ON K.P. - I was thinking KP, but duty, not the other way around
5. Overcomes, as adversity : RISES ABOVE
15. River to the Laptev Sea : LENA
16. Beset by dire circumstances : IN EXTREMIS
17. Reach new heights : GROW - I am in Delaware this weekend to work out the details of getting three board games into production with my buddy's games company - I hope to reach new heights with them
19. Publication for pitchers? : ADWEEK
21. Paid : REMITTED
22. "I have a lady in the balcony" old radio/TV quiz show : Dr. I.Q. - the Wiki
24. Binge-watcher's aid : TiVO
29. Butterflies : NERVES
33. __ room : CHAT
34. Largest Italian lake : GARDA - my cheat
5. Overcomes, as adversity : RISES ABOVE
15. River to the Laptev Sea : LENA
16. Beset by dire circumstances : IN EXTREMIS
17. Reach new heights : GROW - I am in Delaware this weekend to work out the details of getting three board games into production with my buddy's games company - I hope to reach new heights with them
19. Publication for pitchers? : ADWEEK
21. Paid : REMITTED
22. "I have a lady in the balcony" old radio/TV quiz show : Dr. I.Q. - the Wiki
24. Binge-watcher's aid : TiVO
29. Butterflies : NERVES
33. __ room : CHAT
34. Largest Italian lake : GARDA - my cheat
36. __ Valley, Calif. : SIMI - or NAPA~?
37. Court judgment : LET - tennis, not legal
38. Metaphorical social barrier : ICE - yeah, I need some work on my "ice breakers"
39. Salon substance : GEL - or DYE~? had to wait
40. They might be about nothing : ADOs
42. Gather in a mass : CLUMP
44. Self-named 1954 or 1964 jazz album : MONK - good WAG. Thelonious
45. Expel : BANISH
49. Novelist O'Flaherty : LIAM
51. X-Ray __: U.K. punk band : SPEX
52. Socrates or Plato : ATHENIAN
56. Meditative discipline : TAI CHI
60. Agenda : THINGS TO DO - my list of 'things to do' is way too long - and I still haven't had the chance to wash and wax the new caravan~!
62. Kennebunk-based personal care products brand, familiarly : TOM'S - new to me; here's the website
63. Old crate : RATTLETRAP
64. Noodle bar order : UDON - filled via perps
66. Shady time, for some : PAST - mine contains 15 years of "wreckage": W. Charles - I know what the L.E.B.F.T. stands for~!
DOWN:
1. Wife of Igor of Kiev : OLGA - yeah, not too vague....
2. Socially awkward type : NERD
3. Recognize : KNOW
4. Handled carelessly : PAWED AT
5. Putting in jeopardy : RISKING
6. Like many beginners' piano pieces : IN C - all white keys, no sharps or flats
37. Court judgment : LET - tennis, not legal
38. Metaphorical social barrier : ICE - yeah, I need some work on my "ice breakers"
39. Salon substance : GEL - or DYE~? had to wait
40. They might be about nothing : ADOs
42. Gather in a mass : CLUMP
44. Self-named 1954 or 1964 jazz album : MONK - good WAG. Thelonious
45. Expel : BANISH
49. Novelist O'Flaherty : LIAM
51. X-Ray __: U.K. punk band : SPEX
52. Socrates or Plato : ATHENIAN
56. Meditative discipline : TAI CHI
60. Agenda : THINGS TO DO - my list of 'things to do' is way too long - and I still haven't had the chance to wash and wax the new caravan~!
62. Kennebunk-based personal care products brand, familiarly : TOM'S - new to me; here's the website
63. Old crate : RATTLETRAP
64. Noodle bar order : UDON - filled via perps
66. Shady time, for some : PAST - mine contains 15 years of "wreckage": W. Charles - I know what the L.E.B.F.T. stands for~!
DOWN:
1. Wife of Igor of Kiev : OLGA - yeah, not too vague....
2. Socially awkward type : NERD
3. Recognize : KNOW
4. Handled carelessly : PAWED AT
5. Putting in jeopardy : RISKING
6. Like many beginners' piano pieces : IN C - all white keys, no sharps or flats
7. Burn slightly : SEAR
8. Keith Hernandez, e.g. : EX-MET - this one was in my wheelhouse
9. Marathoner's need : STAMINA
10. Succeed big-time : ARRIVE
11. Pool habitués : BETTORS - like football boxes, not swimming
12. Leave off : OMIT
13. It has two jaws : VISE
8. Keith Hernandez, e.g. : EX-MET - this one was in my wheelhouse
9. Marathoner's need : STAMINA
10. Succeed big-time : ARRIVE
11. Pool habitués : BETTORS - like football boxes, not swimming
12. Leave off : OMIT
13. It has two jaws : VISE
14. Storefront sign abbr. : EST'D
20. Miss an easy spare, say : ERR - ah, bowling....
23. Bobwhite, e.g. : QUAIL - a gimme once the "Q" appeared
25. Classroom with mice : PC LAB - computer mouse, that is
26. Old-time screen vamp Bara : THEDA
27. Track bar : BATON
28. Ernie Banks' sobriquet : Mr. CUB
30. Intensity : VIGOR
31. Fix, as copy : EMEND
32. Track apparel : SILKS - horse racing; I was thinking about running - sweats or sneak(er)s
35. Teaching methods : DEMOS
41. A quarter of a half? : SILENT L - clever
42. Some recliners : CHAISES - another kind of "recliner"
20. Miss an easy spare, say : ERR - ah, bowling....
23. Bobwhite, e.g. : QUAIL - a gimme once the "Q" appeared
25. Classroom with mice : PC LAB - computer mouse, that is
26. Old-time screen vamp Bara : THEDA
27. Track bar : BATON
28. Ernie Banks' sobriquet : Mr. CUB
30. Intensity : VIGOR
31. Fix, as copy : EMEND
32. Track apparel : SILKS - horse racing; I was thinking about running - sweats or sneak(er)s
35. Teaching methods : DEMOS
41. A quarter of a half? : SILENT L - clever
42. Some recliners : CHAISES - another kind of "recliner"
43. Beer openers : POP-TOPS
44. Scrap : MIX IT UP - ah, the fighting and not recycling kind of scrap
46. One of Pete Rose's record 3,215 : SINGLE
48. '80s-'90s co-star with Betty, Rue and Estelle : BEA
50. Far from shiny : MATTE - I refinished the floors at one of the restaurants - in gloss, not matte - came out great, but need to go back and do a buff and re-coat this coming week
44. Scrap : MIX IT UP - ah, the fighting and not recycling kind of scrap
46. One of Pete Rose's record 3,215 : SINGLE
48. '80s-'90s co-star with Betty, Rue and Estelle : BEA
50. Far from shiny : MATTE - I refinished the floors at one of the restaurants - in gloss, not matte - came out great, but need to go back and do a buff and re-coat this coming week
52. First razor with a pivoting head : ATRA
53. Chiang Mai native : THAI - semi dupe with "Tai-Chi"
54. Battleship goals : HITS - "you sank my battleship~!"
55. Myrna's role in "The Thin Man" : NORA
57. Musical closing : CODA - and the title of Led Zeppelin's last album
53. Chiang Mai native : THAI - semi dupe with "Tai-Chi"
54. Battleship goals : HITS - "you sank my battleship~!"
55. Myrna's role in "The Thin Man" : NORA
57. Musical closing : CODA - and the title of Led Zeppelin's last album
58. Managed care gps. : HMOs
59. Exists no more : ISN'T
61. Brooklynese pronoun : DAT - oops, not "DEM"
59. Exists no more : ISN'T
61. Brooklynese pronoun : DAT - oops, not "DEM"
Splynter
