Theme: Food Fad - as the theme reveal explains:
62A. Diet that involves eating fat, cutting carbs, and avoiding the ends of the answers to the starred clues: KETO.
And so we find:
20A. *49ers Hall of Famer who was MVP of Super Bowl XXIII: JERRY RICE. He was best known as a 49er although after he was released by San Francisco he played for the Raiders, the Seahawks and the Broncos. When he was ready to retire in 2006 he signed a one-day contract with the 49ers to allow him to retire as a member of the team where his NFL career began.
26A. *Inactive sort: COUCH POTATO
40A. *One hard to fool: SMART COOKIE
51A. *Head honcho: TOP BANANA. Here's the famous Andy Warhol painting that appeared on the cover of the 1967 album "The Velvet Underground and Nico" and now graces a record label's logo.
According to University of Chicago Medicine, following the keto diet can cause low blood pressure, kidney stones, constipation, nutrient deficiencies and an increased risk of heart disease. No thanks, I'll stick to my rice and cookies.
So a straightforward enough theme from Stella with the keto diet unifying four random foods. The fill was nicely done with a couple of longer downs and generally a very solid word list, nothing to make you groan which is always nice. Let's take a foray into said fill:
Across:
1. Number system in Programming 101?: BINARY. There are 10 types of people in the world - those who understand binary, and those who don't.
7. Tyler, the Creator work that won the 2019 Grammy for Best Rap Album: IGOR. Thank you, crosses. Rap isn't really my strong suit.
11. NYSE news: IPO
14. Gets around: EVADES
15. __ colada: PIÑA
16. Golf scorecard word: PAR. A word not often seen on my scorecards, that's a fact.
17. Best Actress between Halle and Charlize: NICOLE. Kidman in 2002 for her portrayal of Virginia Woolf in The Hours.
18. Late-day religious service: EVENSONG
22. Envelope-pushing: EDGY
23. Produit de la tête: IDÉE. Une bonne une, avec optimisme.
24. Maze rodent: RAT
25. Writer Deighton: LEN. British author best known for spy novels, but did you know he also writes cookbooks and illustrated cookstrips?
31. Bit of verbal derision: CATCALL
35. Like some patches: IRON-ON
36. Student, to a counselor: ADVISEE. One of those words which has gained more currency in recent years. It wasn't really seen around much before the 1950's.
37. Not empirically derived: A PRIORI. Theoretical deduction rather than evidence-based.
38. Sequel title words: PART II. Did Shakespeare write an 11-part play about the famous English King Iv, or am I imagining that? I'm sure I remember the final installment - Henry Iv, Part 11.
39. Shows contempt for: SPITS AT
43. __ tee: TO A
44. Newark-based insurer, on the NYSE: PRU. The ticker symbol for Prudential Financial Inc. My first office job was in a marine insurance underwriters' office who were agents for the Pru. I filed claim forms and entered policy details into a ledger the size of a desk. After six months of that I begged and pleaded to be allowed to learn how to program the computer, and the rest is history.
45. Musical note connector: SLUR
49. Leg bone: SHIN
54. Rest stop facility: MEN'S ROOM
57. Like much humor: IRONIC. It's ironic that none of the situations described in Alanis Morrisette's song "Ironic" are actually ironic. Good song though. Here's a refresher if you've not heard it for a while.
58. Assn.: ORG.
59. Sooty passage: FLUE
60. It has its pros and cons: DEBATE
61. Grill fuel: GAS. I was recently given a table-top electric grill; it's awesome for "skewer" meals like Korean barbeque and yakitori.
63. Not so tough: EASIER
Down:
1. Scruffy film dog: BENJI. Is he that scruffy? He's a mongrel, but cute.
2. Like some college walls: IVIED. Some baseball infield walls also. A ball lost in the Wrigley Field ivy is a ground-rule double.
3. Mussel shell lining: NACRE
4. Absolutely flip for: ADORE
5. Bank (on): RELY
6. River of Flanders: YSER
7. Poison remedy: IPECAC. Nasty stuff, it was an emetic given orally. No longer recommended, as apparently a good session of throwing up doesn't really do much good. Activated charcoal is much more effective and gives your whole system a good clean.
8. Donates, biblically: GIVETH
9. Unseparated: ONE
10. Bled or fled: RAN
11. Music players discontinued in 2017: IPOD NANOS. I've got a mini one lying around somewhere. It holds a grand total of about 50 songs but was quite the thing back in the day.
12. Hunger twinge: PANG
13. Wild indulgence: ORGY
19. "Get this done": SEE TO IT
21. "Who's better than me?!": I RULE! Yay me!
25. "Five Minutes" country singer Morgan: LORRIE. Thank you, crosses. Country music apparently isn't really my thing either.
26. Small Spanish house: CASITA
27. Acid found in vegetable oil: OLEIC
28. Longstocking of kiddie lit: PIPPI. I tried PIPPY first until SMART COOKYE looked a little too medieval English to be correct.
29. __ Bora: Afghan cave complex: TORA
30. "I'll get this done": ON IT
31. Baseball hats: CAPS
32. Cain raiser: ADAM
33. Nielsen concern: TV RATINGS. The Nielsen ratings are becoming less important as the shift continues towards streaming content rather than watching broadcast TV. Instead of estimating audience numbers by polling a small number of households, the streaming figures are actual views.
34. Thick-skinned yellow fruit: CITRONS. Here's one:
37. Invite to a balcony: ASK UP
41. Refuse to participate: OPT OUT
42. Words from a balcony: O ROMEO
45. Ones looking down: SNOBS
46. Molokai neighbor: LANAI. Maui too, they're both about the same distance from Lanai. Molokai is home to the highest sea cliffs in the world.
47. Become 9-Down: UNITE
48. Slot car, for one: RACER
49. Urban portmanteau: SMOG
50. Greek goddess of marriage: HERA
52. Wait for: BIDE
53. Zone: AREA
55. '60s atty. general: RFK
56. Cheer for un gol: OLÉ! Not really, you cheer for a gol by saying "gol!", and in the case of Mexican soccer commentators, strung out ad nauseam. Olé! tends to be used when a team is putting together an extended series of passes and keeping the ball away from the opposition.
And with Programming 101 to start, and Football Chants 101 to finish, here's the grid:
Steve
62A. Diet that involves eating fat, cutting carbs, and avoiding the ends of the answers to the starred clues: KETO.
And so we find:
20A. *49ers Hall of Famer who was MVP of Super Bowl XXIII: JERRY RICE. He was best known as a 49er although after he was released by San Francisco he played for the Raiders, the Seahawks and the Broncos. When he was ready to retire in 2006 he signed a one-day contract with the 49ers to allow him to retire as a member of the team where his NFL career began.
26A. *Inactive sort: COUCH POTATO
40A. *One hard to fool: SMART COOKIE
51A. *Head honcho: TOP BANANA. Here's the famous Andy Warhol painting that appeared on the cover of the 1967 album "The Velvet Underground and Nico" and now graces a record label's logo.
According to University of Chicago Medicine, following the keto diet can cause low blood pressure, kidney stones, constipation, nutrient deficiencies and an increased risk of heart disease. No thanks, I'll stick to my rice and cookies.
So a straightforward enough theme from Stella with the keto diet unifying four random foods. The fill was nicely done with a couple of longer downs and generally a very solid word list, nothing to make you groan which is always nice. Let's take a foray into said fill:
Across:
1. Number system in Programming 101?: BINARY. There are 10 types of people in the world - those who understand binary, and those who don't.
7. Tyler, the Creator work that won the 2019 Grammy for Best Rap Album: IGOR. Thank you, crosses. Rap isn't really my strong suit.
11. NYSE news: IPO
14. Gets around: EVADES
15. __ colada: PIÑA
16. Golf scorecard word: PAR. A word not often seen on my scorecards, that's a fact.
17. Best Actress between Halle and Charlize: NICOLE. Kidman in 2002 for her portrayal of Virginia Woolf in The Hours.
18. Late-day religious service: EVENSONG
22. Envelope-pushing: EDGY
23. Produit de la tête: IDÉE. Une bonne une, avec optimisme.
24. Maze rodent: RAT
25. Writer Deighton: LEN. British author best known for spy novels, but did you know he also writes cookbooks and illustrated cookstrips?
31. Bit of verbal derision: CATCALL
35. Like some patches: IRON-ON
36. Student, to a counselor: ADVISEE. One of those words which has gained more currency in recent years. It wasn't really seen around much before the 1950's.
37. Not empirically derived: A PRIORI. Theoretical deduction rather than evidence-based.
38. Sequel title words: PART II. Did Shakespeare write an 11-part play about the famous English King Iv, or am I imagining that? I'm sure I remember the final installment - Henry Iv, Part 11.
39. Shows contempt for: SPITS AT
43. __ tee: TO A
44. Newark-based insurer, on the NYSE: PRU. The ticker symbol for Prudential Financial Inc. My first office job was in a marine insurance underwriters' office who were agents for the Pru. I filed claim forms and entered policy details into a ledger the size of a desk. After six months of that I begged and pleaded to be allowed to learn how to program the computer, and the rest is history.
45. Musical note connector: SLUR
49. Leg bone: SHIN
54. Rest stop facility: MEN'S ROOM
57. Like much humor: IRONIC. It's ironic that none of the situations described in Alanis Morrisette's song "Ironic" are actually ironic. Good song though. Here's a refresher if you've not heard it for a while.
58. Assn.: ORG.
59. Sooty passage: FLUE
60. It has its pros and cons: DEBATE
61. Grill fuel: GAS. I was recently given a table-top electric grill; it's awesome for "skewer" meals like Korean barbeque and yakitori.
63. Not so tough: EASIER
Down:
1. Scruffy film dog: BENJI. Is he that scruffy? He's a mongrel, but cute.
2. Like some college walls: IVIED. Some baseball infield walls also. A ball lost in the Wrigley Field ivy is a ground-rule double.
3. Mussel shell lining: NACRE
4. Absolutely flip for: ADORE
5. Bank (on): RELY
6. River of Flanders: YSER
7. Poison remedy: IPECAC. Nasty stuff, it was an emetic given orally. No longer recommended, as apparently a good session of throwing up doesn't really do much good. Activated charcoal is much more effective and gives your whole system a good clean.
8. Donates, biblically: GIVETH
9. Unseparated: ONE
10. Bled or fled: RAN
11. Music players discontinued in 2017: IPOD NANOS. I've got a mini one lying around somewhere. It holds a grand total of about 50 songs but was quite the thing back in the day.
12. Hunger twinge: PANG
13. Wild indulgence: ORGY
19. "Get this done": SEE TO IT
21. "Who's better than me?!": I RULE! Yay me!
25. "Five Minutes" country singer Morgan: LORRIE. Thank you, crosses. Country music apparently isn't really my thing either.
26. Small Spanish house: CASITA
27. Acid found in vegetable oil: OLEIC
28. Longstocking of kiddie lit: PIPPI. I tried PIPPY first until SMART COOKYE looked a little too medieval English to be correct.
29. __ Bora: Afghan cave complex: TORA
30. "I'll get this done": ON IT
31. Baseball hats: CAPS
32. Cain raiser: ADAM
33. Nielsen concern: TV RATINGS. The Nielsen ratings are becoming less important as the shift continues towards streaming content rather than watching broadcast TV. Instead of estimating audience numbers by polling a small number of households, the streaming figures are actual views.
34. Thick-skinned yellow fruit: CITRONS. Here's one:
37. Invite to a balcony: ASK UP
41. Refuse to participate: OPT OUT
42. Words from a balcony: O ROMEO
O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I'll no longer be a Capulet.
45. Ones looking down: SNOBS
46. Molokai neighbor: LANAI. Maui too, they're both about the same distance from Lanai. Molokai is home to the highest sea cliffs in the world.
47. Become 9-Down: UNITE
48. Slot car, for one: RACER
49. Urban portmanteau: SMOG
50. Greek goddess of marriage: HERA
52. Wait for: BIDE
53. Zone: AREA
55. '60s atty. general: RFK
56. Cheer for un gol: OLÉ! Not really, you cheer for a gol by saying "gol!", and in the case of Mexican soccer commentators, strung out ad nauseam. Olé! tends to be used when a team is putting together an extended series of passes and keeping the ball away from the opposition.
And with Programming 101 to start, and Football Chants 101 to finish, here's the grid:
Steve
Note from C.C.:
Happy
Birthday to dear Tony (Anonymous-T), who has helped me and this blog
tremendously all these years. Thank you so much for your generosity Tony! You make our blogging so much easier and you lighten up
our blog!
 |
| At Wit's End near Carmel on Father's Day 2017 |
