Theme: Spiral Galaxies
Words 66 (missing F,J,Q,X,Z)
Blocks: 36
I
did not recognize the name of the constructor, but I did see the unique
grid, and my first thought was that it was one of those layouts that
make it impossible to move from one corner to another because a lack of
word connections - but then I got to 4a, 34a, etc, and realized we had
ourselves a "theme". One I picked up on right away, because I am a nerd,
and I love watching shows on astronomy, so I knew the "local group",
and the reveal at 56a. A nifty spiral shaped pattern to go along with
the theme, with triple 9-letter corners and 8-letter tie-ins between
them.
4a. Largest galaxy in the Local Group : ANDROMEDA
34a. With 35- and 36-Across, second-largest galaxy in the Local Group : THE
35a. See 34-Across : MILKY
36a. See 34-Across : WAY
35a. See 34-Across : MILKY
36a. See 34-Across : WAY
56. By some calculations, projected fate of 4-Across and 34-/35-/36-Across in three to four billion years : COLLISION
More Here
O ~!
N D
W a R
w A r
W a R
N D
O ~!
ACROSS:
1. Mirthful sounds : HAs
13. Stop : AVERT - I tried CEASE
16. Strains at the balcony : SERENADES
17. "Birth of the Cool" trumpeter : DAVIS - a WAG, but today's difficulty level seemed lower, probably due to the cool theme
18. Protesters, in '60s slang : PEACENIKS
19. Talmud letters : ALEPHs
21. Cheerleaders may raise it : MORALE - and a few other things, too
13. Stop : AVERT - I tried CEASE
16. Strains at the balcony : SERENADES
17. "Birth of the Cool" trumpeter : DAVIS - a WAG, but today's difficulty level seemed lower, probably due to the cool theme
18. Protesters, in '60s slang : PEACENIKS
19. Talmud letters : ALEPHs
21. Cheerleaders may raise it : MORALE - and a few other things, too
22. Crashing and burning : TANKING
24. Urban legends website : SNOPES
25. Lobby, often : ANTEROOM
27. Saturn SUV : VUE
28. Trail for a hound : SCENT
29. Zaps : TASES - I had LASES first
31. Ne'ertheless : THO
37. Poetic twilight : E'EN
38. Japanese box lunch : BENTO - filled via perps; did not know this
24. Urban legends website : SNOPES
25. Lobby, often : ANTEROOM
27. Saturn SUV : VUE
28. Trail for a hound : SCENT
29. Zaps : TASES - I had LASES first
31. Ne'ertheless : THO
37. Poetic twilight : E'EN
38. Japanese box lunch : BENTO - filled via perps; did not know this
39. Elemental makeup : ATOMS
41. With 14-Down, "Iron Man" of sports : CAL - with 14. See 41-Across : RIPKEN - Junior, who played 2,632 consecutive MLB games for the Baltimore Orioles - the Wiki
41. With 14-Down, "Iron Man" of sports : CAL - with 14. See 41-Across : RIPKEN - Junior, who played 2,632 consecutive MLB games for the Baltimore Orioles - the Wiki
42. Is demanding : ASKS A LOT
44. Friday revelation? : I'M A COP - "Just the facts, ma'am" - but never spoken in the show
47. Had some impact : HIT HOME
48. Treat with scorn : DERIDE
49. Something hit on a range : DRIVER - oops, not TARGET
50. News dispatch lead-ins : DATELINES
53. Deli qty. : ONE lb
54. Test : CHALLENGE
55. Intensifying exclamation ending : SIREE - yes----
57. SOP part: Abbr. : STD - Standard Operating Procedure
DOWN:
1. Sampled some : HAD A TASTE
2. Serious downfall : AVALANCHE
3. Whitney Houston appeared on its cover in 1981 : SEVENTEEN
4. Critter in Egyptian art : ASP
5. Born identity intro : NÉE
6. Wee nips : DRAMS
7. Carry on? : RECONVEY
8. Weighty : ONEROUS - oops, not OMINOUS
9. Marvel Comics hybrid supervillain : MAN-APE - never heard of 'him'
10. Roman magistrate : EDILE
11. Fakes on the ice : DEKES - oh we are there~! The Stanley Cup playoffs begin~!
Top Ten Shootout Dekes
#3 is unbelievable
12. Pack animal : ASS
15. Brando wore one in "Streetcar" : T-SHIRT
20. __-cone : SNO
23. Finally became a member : GOT IN
26. Valletta is its capital : MALTA
30. Trifling amount : SKOSH
31. 2008 Phoenix/Paltrow romantic drama : TWO LOVERS
32. Brunch order : HAM OMELET
33. Precious gem source : OYSTER BED - and featured in the lyrics of a Blue Oyster Cult song, aptly titled "Blue Oyster Cult" on their 1988 concept album Imaginos
@0:55
35. Earworms, say : MELODIES - I read this as EARTHworms, even after I solved it and thought, is that a typo~?
38. Rod-shaped bacteria : BACILLI
39. Minute Maid Park team : ASTROs
40. Sesame seed paste : TAHINI - I was stuck on HUMMUS, which is chick peas
41. "The Office" star : CARELL - spelled it wrong; CARREL
43. Rib : KID
44. State with a 45-mile Canadian border : IDAHO - I took a train ride from Ronkonkoma LI through Chicago all the way to Seattle back in 2003, and sadly I fell asleep for that 45 mile part of the journey, so I "missed" Idaho; I did pass through Minnesota, C.C.
45. Calcium, e.g. : METAL
46. Former Finnish coin : PENNI
50. XX x XXXV : DCC - Roman math, 20 x 35 = 700
51. Id controller : EGO
52. Sanders or Cruz: Abbr. : SENator
46. Former Finnish coin : PENNI
50. XX x XXXV : DCC - Roman math, 20 x 35 = 700
51. Id controller : EGO
52. Sanders or Cruz: Abbr. : SENator
Splynter
