18 A. Controversial excavation method: STRIP MINING. Instead of digging tunnels, the top layers of soil are STRIPPED away, revealing an open pit from which ore or coal can be removed. Forests, top soil, other plant life, and even entire mountain tops are removed. This is a very environmentally hostile technique. In theme context, we will STRIP off the old paint - or, perhaps, wall paper - to reveal a fresh surface for redecoration
20 A. Beach house?: SAND CASTLE. Not a class home or rental on what 38A suggests, but an ephemeral bit of perhaps artistic handiwork near the shore line. Check these out. I couldn't pick one. On a somewhat less grandiose scale here are some of my grandchildren filling the moat on their construction at Coldwater Lake in 2006.
You SAND the surface using SAND paper, to remove foreign material and provide a smooth substrate for the next steps.
38 A. Beachfront property, often: PRIME REAL ESTATE. It's always pricey along the water. At this point I was confused about the theme. What did STRIP MINING have to do with expensive beach front property? But the theme uses a different sense of the word PRIME. To get a good, smooth finish, you often need to PRIME the surface. This seals pores in the material, provides better adhesion for the top coat, increases durability and provides more robust protection for the painted surface.
59. Handyman's work suggested by the starts of 18-, 20-, 38- and 57-Across: RESTORATION. Returning something to its prior or original condition, or - in this case - making over and improving a property or item. A new PAINT job can be a part of that freshening process.
Hi, Gang. It's JazzBumpa here to supervise the job. We outsource this sort of work. It relieves me of a burden, and helps keep the economy moving. And to be honest, it gets done better. Let us keep moving and see what we can uncover in the rest of the project.
1. Punk rock subgenre: EMO. More complex and emotionally driven than punk rock in general.
4. Catches red-handed: NABS. Capturing the miscreant in flegrante delicto. By analogy to catching murderer with blood on his hands.
8. Medieval stringed instruments: REBECS. As you can see here, there are two ways to hold it.
15. Many a homecoming attendee: ALUMnus/na. A graduate of an educational institution.
16. Covent Garden offerings: OPERAS. This place is London's main theater and entertainment district, and home to the Royal Opera House.
17. All-Star pitcher: ACE. the best starting pitcher on a baseball team, and generally the first in the rotation.
22. Little biter: GNAT. Any of many small two-winged flying insect that often form large swarms. There are biting and non-biting varieties.
23. Bible book between Daniel and Joel: HOSEA. The same 8th century B.C. Old Testament prophet of doom who appeared in my last blogging effort here. Due to failing eyesight in his later years, he was often asked, "Hosea, can you see?"
24. Biblical pronoun: THY. Wrinkle not THY nose at my attempts at Biblical humor.
25. Nursery cry: MAMA. Baby talk.
26. Form 1040 agcy.: IRS. Infernal Revenue Service, as they used to say on HeeHaw. Or so I've been told by people who actually watched it,
28. Permanent sites?: SALONS. Hair dos.
30. Sounds of contentment: AAHS. Spa noises.
33. __ Fables: AESOP'S. He was an old Greek story teller.
37. Criticize harshly: RIP. A figurative, not literal, rending.
41. Org. for netmen: ATP. Association of Tennis Professionals. They have an objective, merit-based system for determining entry qualifications and seeding in tournaments.
42. "Barney Miller" star Hal: LINDEN. Harold Lipshitz [b 1931] began his career as a big band singer in the '50's. The Barney Miller series, named for the character he portrayed, ran from 1975 to 1982.
43. Linear: ONE-D. One dimensional.
44. Biathlon weapons: RIFLES. This is hybrid sport that combines shooting for accuracy and cross country skiing for speed.
46. __ Bund: Swiss newspaper: DER. Meaning THE Union, this publication has fallen on hard times in recent decades.
48. Skelton's Kadiddlehopper: CLEM. A country bumpkin character who was slow witted and kind hearted.
52. Tut-tutted: TSKED. A tongue-clicking sign of disapproval.
56. Scottish family: CLAN. A kinship group having a sense of shared identity.
61. Shortest surname in Cooperstown: OTT. Mel [1909-1958] played right field for the New York Giants from 1926 to 1947. A 12-time star, he finished his career with a .304 bating average, 488 doubles and1860 RBIs. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1951.
62. Kin of jujitsu: AIKIDO. a Japanese form of self-defense and martial art that uses locks, holds, throws, and the opponent's own movements. "The name Aikido is composed of three Japanese words: ai, meaning harmony; ki, spirit or energy; and do, the path, system or way. Aikido is the way of the spirit of harmony. Martial arts are studied for self-defense and self-improvement but Aikido is different from other martial arts in that practitioners seek to defend themselves without causing injury to their attackers."
63. Yours, to Yves: ATOI. French
64. Once known as: NEE. Referring to a married woman's maiden name. Also French
65. Planted a red herring, say: MISLED. Figuratively sending someone in a wrong direction.
66. Poolroom powder: TALC. It's used to reduce moisture and friction in the pool players hand that is used as a bridge for the cue stick.
67. Drop the ball: ERR. A defensive mistake in baseball.
Down:
1. Cybermoney: E-CASH.
2. Chinese gambling mecca: MACAO. A former Portuguese colony that was returned to China in 1999. It has a separate system of government from the rest of mainland China.
3. Forebodings: OMENS. Events presumed to foretell ensuing good or evil.
4. Sprint Cup org.: NASCAR. The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is headquartered in Daytona, Fla.
5. Utah ski resort: ALTA.
6. Break open: BURST.
7. Word for word?: SMITH. A wordSmith is a skilled user of words, but the sense of this clue escapes me.
8. Tiber River capital: ROME. In Italy.
9. Center starter: EPI-. Prefix for loanwords from Greek, meaning upon, over, at or near. Center comes to us from Greek, via Latin.
10. Cincinnati player: BENGAL. Professional football.
11. "Happy Days" actress: ERIN MORAN. [1960-2017] She played Joanie Cunningham.
12. Inhabitant of ancient Palestine: CANAANITE. Any member of several ethnic groups who occupied parts of modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan during the bronze age and earlier.
13. NCO rank: SSGT. A Staff Sergeant is a Non-commissioned officer.
19. Work at, as a trade: PLY. Related to "apply," meaning to work steadily at one's business or trade.
21. Reason-based faith: DEISM. Belief in the existence of a creator as "first cause" that rejects notions of miracles, revelations, or a God that interacts with humans
25. Easter liturgy: MASS. The liturgical service of the Christian Catholic church. Masses are certainly held on Easter - as well as every other day of the year. This is a very poor clue.
27. One-piece dresses: SARIS. The SARI, or saree, is traditional garb from India.
29. Floored it: SPED. Pushing the gas pedal to the floor boards.
30. On __ with: A PAR. Equivalent or similar.
31. Constitution section that creates the executive branch: ARTICLE II. Article I creates the legislative branch. Article III creates the judicial branch.
32. On-the-sly alcohol containers: HIP FLASKS. A container that can be slipped into a pocket.
34. Poetic time: E'EN. Evening.
35. Downcast: SAD. Unhappy or depressed.
36. Bullfight cheer: OLE. From Spanish-speaking countries.
39. K thru 6: ELEMentary school grades.
40. Upper body: TORSO. The trunk of the body, exclusive of the head and limbs.
45. Soup legume: LENTIL. A small, round, lens-shaped bean. As a food crop, the majority comes from India, Canada and Australia.
47. Cultural, as cuisine: ETHNIC. Relating to a population subgroup with a common national or cultural tradition.
49. Sheep's cry: BAA. Or MAA. You never know.
50. Occupy, as a desk: SIT AT.
51. Santa __ racetrack: ANITA. The Santa ANITA park is located in Arcadia, CA.
53. Scandinavian coin: KRONE. Currently equal to about $0.12.
54. Fragrant compound: ESTER. They occur in many natural products and provide the aromas of most fresh fruits.
55. Discourage: DETER. Block, impede, hamper.
56. Pull an all-nighter: CRAM. Last minute studying for a big test. Probably not a very good ides.
57. Urge: PROD. Poke, jab, nudge.
58. Item in a kit: TOOL. A device or implement - in this case hand held - used to carry out a particular function
60. "__ to My Right Knee": Rita Dove poem: ODE. A lyric poem in elevated style addressing a particular object. This one is not exactly an homage.
That completes this project. Hope the results are pleasing.
Cool regards!
JzB
