A bit early but still a timely reference to the story told in Exodus of Moses leading the Israelites from Egypt, and the reveal - parting the RED SEA. In Samuel's version, the parting is done by a black square. In each paired across theme fill the first ends with RED, black square, then SEA. With that back drop it is no surprise that Sam has included various religious and political references. There are many really sparkly fill that complete this friday grid.
ESSENCE, PERIDOT, POACHED, PREYS ON, ASPIRE TO, CLEAVAGE, MAMMA MIA, PAUL RYAN, ENCROACHED, MERIT BADGE
1A. Flintstones Vitamins option: FRED (4). 5A. Chicago Eight defendant: SEALE (5).
20A. Turned tail: RAN SCARED (9). 22A. Like some underbellies: SEAMY (5).
51A. Needed an eraser: ERRED (5). 52A. Herbs and spices: SEASONING (9).
62A. Ready to drop: TIRED (5). 63A. Burn a little: SEAR.
35A. Emulate Moses ... and what four black squares do in this puzzle: PART THE RED SEA (13).
Across:
10. B.C. law enforcers: RCMP. Royal Canadian Mounted Police. LINK. Hey Eh.
14. Big name in denim: LEVI. Strauss, and a bonus fill as this is one of the 12 tribes of Israel.
15. Dental restoration: ONLAY. Your Dentistry 101 LESSON.
16. Cause of some bad apples?: ALAR. More properly known as Daminozide, quite the scandal at the time.
17. Has to pay: OWES.
18. Part of a script: SCENE.
19. Cyber phenomenon: MEME. Did you know it is an element of a culture or system of behavior that may be considered to be passed from one individual to another by nongenetic means, especially imitation? Dictionary.
23. Memphis-to-Atlanta dir. : ESE.
24. Big fuss: ADO.
25. With "the," what a boxer doesn't want to hit?: CANVAS. Reminds me of Joe PALOOKA.
26. Pulse: THROB.
28. High points: ACMES.
31. Latin I word: AMO amas, amat.
32. Prepared, as eggs for eggs Benedict: POACHED.
34. Votin' nay: AGIN.
38. Like a breeze? : EASY.
39. August birthstone: PERIDOT.
40. "How you doin'?" : SUP.
41. Lost patience: HAD IT.
42. "The Beauty Myth" author Wolf: NAOMI. Naomi R. Wolf is a liberal progressive American author, journalist, feminist, and former political advisor to Al Gore and Bill Clinton. Wolf first came to prominence in 1991 as the author of The Beauty Myth. Wikipedia. No politics.
46. Chip off the old block? : SLIVER.
48. Annoyed exclamation: BAH.
50. Greek god of the wild: PAN. This DEITY, but no religion.
55. Bill __ Climate Lab: former exhibit at Oakland's Chabot Space & Science Center: NYES. The Science Guy.
56. Awaits decision: PENDS.
57. Brief refusal to "Are you hungry?": I ATE.
58. Nineteenth Amendment campaigner: CATT. The Amendment that gave women the right to VOTE.
59. Rolex rival: OMEGA.
60. Gillette offering: ATRA.
61. Book of Mormon prophet: ENOS. No religion.
Down:
1. Daisy component: FLORET. Tricked me with Flower at first.
2. Clean some more: REWASH.
3. Plane, for one: EVENER. The meh of the day.
4. Ph.D. hurdle: DISSertation.
5. "I feel your pain": SO SAD.
6. Went too far: ENCROACHED. That is why you need to get a survey before you buy Property.
7. Protected, in a way: ALEE.
8. Succeed in getting: LAND.
9. Word with private or public: EYE.
10. Collegian's diet staple: RAMEN. That is how they use their NOODLES.
11. Rift: CLEAVAGE. Not the first definition I think of for cleavage. This COLLECTION is for all.
12. "Money, Money, Money" musical: MAMMA MIA.
13. Exploits: PREYS ON. This fooled me for minute, reading it as one word.
21. Henry __ Lodge: WWI senator: CABOT. I grew up in the sphere of these Boston Brahmin families who intermarried to consolidate power. However, it was not the Lodges in a famous quote, "Here's to dear old Boston, The home of the bean and the cod, Where Lowells speak only to Cabots, And Cabots speak only to god."
22. Swedish carrier: SAS. Scandinavian Airlines.
25. Surrendered: CEDED.
27. Nashville highlight: OPRY. As in Grand Old.
29. "SNL" alumna Oteri: CHERI. Classic corssword fill.
30. Scout's honor? : MERIT BADGE. Cute.
33. How some bonds are purchased: AT PAR.
34. Movie role for Skippy: ASTA. Skippy has his own IMDB PAGE.
35. Speaker after John Boehner: PAUL RYAN. So much politics to avoid.
36. Shoot for: ASPIRE TO.
37. Air Force pilot who became a pop star: DON HO. His BIO.
38. True nature: ESSENCE.
41. "__ give you the shirt off his back": HE'D. Give anything and everything one possesses. For example, Tom is truly generous-he'll give you the shirt off his back. This hyperbolic idiom was first recorded in 1771.
43. Morphine, e.g.: OPIATE.
44. It's repeated a lot: MANTRA. Om, om, om.
45. Ready to go: IN GEAR.
47. Kevlar products: VESTS.
49. Mideast ruling family name: ASSAD. The FAMILY.
52. Rest area heavyweight: SEMI. For those who did not like MACK.
53. Cabinet dept. : ENERgy.
54. Long and Vardalos: NIAS.The pictures are backwards which I did not realize until now, but I am too lazy to change.
56. Winner's gathering: POT. Well, maybe now that they have legalized marijuana- oh, you mean a poker pot, Never mind.
Mr. Donaldson always delivers a good workout and a fun puzzle. I hope you all had as a good a time as I did. Lemonade out.
