No matter how inspired we may be, there are write-ups where there is no better title than the constructor's reveal. This is one of those.
Dallas is making his LAT debut though he started with a Universal collaboration with Christopher Adams in 2019, then a solo UC in 2020 and WSJ earlier this year,
40A. Magic trick that affects the answers to starred clues: DISAPPEARING ACT (15). Those three magic letters disappear in every one of the many themers, so before we discuss Dallas and his arrow making abilities, let's look them over.
17A. *Runs drills: PR{ACT}ICES (6).
22A. *Extremely demanding: E{ACT}XING (5).
23A. *Did a double-take, say: RE{ACT}ED (4).
31A. *Produce milk: L{ACT}ATE (4).59A. *Like two-humped camels: B{ACT}RIAN (5).
73A. *In a concise manner: COMP{ACT}LY (6).
12D. *Strategic maneuver: T{ACT}IC (3).
41D. *Has an effect on: IMP{ACT}S (4).
65D. *Thing that matters: F{ACT}OR (3).
The grid:
So we are left with: PRICES: EXING: REED: LATE: BRIAN: COMPLY: TIC: IMPS: FOR. If you can make more out of them as part of the theme I look forward to hearing the theory.
Meanwhile, Dallas did include some nice long fill HAS A COW,
Across:
1. Let off: ACQUIT. This fits right in with earlier in the week mini-rant about our judicial system. There are innocent people who are charged with crimes and desrved to be acquitted. It is not being let off.
7. "Beats me," in texts: IDK. I Don't Know.
10. Boozer: SOT. Everything you didn't know you wanted to know about SOT.
13. Its recipe often includes egg whites: MOUSSE. You guess how to make it work...
29. Screen legend Flynn: ERROL. He would not have appeared in the above movie.
33. "Indeedy": YUP. Slang.
35. One-time Nigerian capital: LAGOS. Abuja is a planned city and is relatively affluent. It was built from scratch in the 1980s and became the nation's capital in 1991.
37. Thingamajig: DOODAD. A recent jumble solution.
44. Seales of HBO's "Insecure": AMANDA. This unlnown to me but multi-talented PERFORMER.
45. Feed a crowd, say: CATER. Well golly, that was who brought the food to my wedding.
46. Printer spec.: DPI. DOTS PER INCH.
47. Singer Susan Boyle, e.g.: SCOT. Another of Simon Cowell's discoveries.
49. Outfit again: RERIG. Meh.
53. Kind of sink: SLOP. A deep sink, usually set low, esp. used by janitors for emptying pails of dirty water.
56. Tot's bruise: OWIE. and 70A. "Ouch!": I'M HURT.
58. __ trap: SET A.
61. Non-Rx: OTC. Over The Counter.
63. Form 1040 calc.: AGI. Adjusted Gross Income.
64. Religious groups that allegedly communicate with ETs: UFO CULTS. A more complicated GROUP.
67. Sweatshirt with a head cover: HOODIE.
69. Classic couples carrier?: NOAH'S ARK. I love this clue/fill.
71. Word with film or form: ART.
72. Utter: SAY.
Down:
11. Lord's Prayer opener: OUR. Father...
15. Handlebar part: GRIP.
16. Last word in a holiday song: SYNE. That auld saw...
21. Kin of Kourtney: KHLOE. Kardashian krap.
24. __ Twins: online comedy duo: DOLAN. The INSIDE SCOOP if you care. This is very "modern" fill which many want to see more of in the 2020 decade.
26. Freaks out: HAS A COW. Not quite as new, but classic BART.
28. Quick dip?: GUACamole.
30. "Bosch" squad: Abbr.: LAPD. Lots of Southern California references in this puzzle.
32. Prep for publication: EDIT.
34. Calif. summer hrs.: PDT. Didn't I tell you.
36. Admissions depts. review them: GPAS.
38. Unique thing, to a Brit: ONER. Steve? Help.
39. Meanies: OGRES. Makes them sound almost cuddly.
40. __ joke: DAD. I had a good one but I forgot, maybe by morning.
42. Tot's tub toy: SAILBOAT.
43. 1:15, e.g.: RATIO.
48. Against: CONTRA. Iran affair>
50. Study, with "on": READ UP.
51. Celebrity socialite: IT GIRL. Not my idea of an IT girl but what do I know.
52. Merriment: GAIETY.
54. Theater ticket abbr.: ORCHestra.
55. Name of 12 popes: PIUS. You would hope they all were and had a well defined...
57. Value system: ETHIC. But, if not...
60. Old-style "Bummer!": ALAS what are you going to do.
62. Crooner Perry: COMO. He settled in So. Fla. for hsi golden years.
64. __ vez: once: UNA. Hola, Lucy.
66. __-high: SKY. And to wrap up the week we have sky back, which leaves popping off rather than popping up. Have a safe and fun 4th of July week-end all. Thank you Dallas, please come by and share your thoughts. We are a bunch of fun curious people. lemonade out.
FENG SHUI, NOAH'S ARK, SAILBOAT, SHAGGY D.A., STORY ARC, and UFO CULTS. The ones in red are new fill. He had some nice combinations like 14 - 18 across and 64 - 69 across. Overall, this does not really play like a Friday with so many three letter fill and so many fill in general. He does provide a reverse CSO to Shawn Corey Carter . On that note, on to the rest.
1. Let off: ACQUIT. This fits right in with earlier in the week mini-rant about our judicial system. There are innocent people who are charged with crimes and desrved to be acquitted. It is not being let off.
7. "Beats me," in texts: IDK. I Don't Know.
10. Boozer: SOT. Everything you didn't know you wanted to know about SOT.
13. Its recipe often includes egg whites: MOUSSE. You guess how to make it work...
100g dark chocolate, broken into pieces
14. System used in home decor: FENG SHUI. This is the ancient Chinese practice that charts the balance of energy, or chi, via scientific calculations.
18. It can unfold over many episodes: STORY ARC. TV Talk.
19. P.O. box item: ENVelope.
20. Canadian grazer: ELK. A deer relative and a CSO to CEh.
25. Sounds of relief: AHHS. Sometimes requiring more Hs.
27. Simon of "Shaun of the Dead": PEGG. Very funny movie.
4 egg whites
¼ tsp lemon juice
20g unrefined sugar
14. System used in home decor: FENG SHUI. This is the ancient Chinese practice that charts the balance of energy, or chi, via scientific calculations.
18. It can unfold over many episodes: STORY ARC. TV Talk.
19. P.O. box item: ENVelope.
20. Canadian grazer: ELK. A deer relative and a CSO to CEh.
25. Sounds of relief: AHHS. Sometimes requiring more Hs.
27. Simon of "Shaun of the Dead": PEGG. Very funny movie.
33. "Indeedy": YUP. Slang.
35. One-time Nigerian capital: LAGOS. Abuja is a planned city and is relatively affluent. It was built from scratch in the 1980s and became the nation's capital in 1991.
37. Thingamajig: DOODAD. A recent jumble solution.
44. Seales of HBO's "Insecure": AMANDA. This unlnown to me but multi-talented PERFORMER.
45. Feed a crowd, say: CATER. Well golly, that was who brought the food to my wedding.
46. Printer spec.: DPI. DOTS PER INCH.
47. Singer Susan Boyle, e.g.: SCOT. Another of Simon Cowell's discoveries.
49. Outfit again: RERIG. Meh.
53. Kind of sink: SLOP. A deep sink, usually set low, esp. used by janitors for emptying pails of dirty water.
56. Tot's bruise: OWIE. and 70A. "Ouch!": I'M HURT.
58. __ trap: SET A.
61. Non-Rx: OTC. Over The Counter.
63. Form 1040 calc.: AGI. Adjusted Gross Income.
64. Religious groups that allegedly communicate with ETs: UFO CULTS. A more complicated GROUP.
67. Sweatshirt with a head cover: HOODIE.
69. Classic couples carrier?: NOAH'S ARK. I love this clue/fill.
71. Word with film or form: ART.
72. Utter: SAY.
Down:
1. Electrical unit: AMPERE. Begins the down clues and they finish with a classic clecho 68D. Electrical unit: OHM.
2. Home plate edge: CORNER. That picher sure knew how to paint the corner. More baseball esoterica for our non-sports group.
3. Accessory for Katniss Everdeen: QUIVER. A self-SO to our constructor.
4. Trojans' sch.: USC. Not the condoms.
5. "That makes sense": I SEE. That is why I am here.
6. Electric wheels: TESLA. My wife wants to drive one- but if she likes it, what do I do?
7. Hypotheticals: IFS. Yes, it is only a thought and the idea is not one...
8. Not like at all: DETEST. I hate
9. Fort defended by Bond: KNOX. The classic 007 film GOLDFINGER starring Sean Connery as James Bond is set mainly in England and Switzerland, but it was partially filmed at Fort Knox.
10. Disney film featuring a canine prosecutor, with "The": SHAGGY DA. Part of the Shaggy Dog series.
2. Home plate edge: CORNER. That picher sure knew how to paint the corner. More baseball esoterica for our non-sports group.
3. Accessory for Katniss Everdeen: QUIVER. A self-SO to our constructor.
4. Trojans' sch.: USC. Not the condoms.
5. "That makes sense": I SEE. That is why I am here.
6. Electric wheels: TESLA. My wife wants to drive one- but if she likes it, what do I do?
7. Hypotheticals: IFS. Yes, it is only a thought and the idea is not one...
8. Not like at all: DETEST. I hate
9. Fort defended by Bond: KNOX. The classic 007 film GOLDFINGER starring Sean Connery as James Bond is set mainly in England and Switzerland, but it was partially filmed at Fort Knox.
10. Disney film featuring a canine prosecutor, with "The": SHAGGY DA. Part of the Shaggy Dog series.
11. Lord's Prayer opener: OUR. Father...
15. Handlebar part: GRIP.
16. Last word in a holiday song: SYNE. That auld saw...
21. Kin of Kourtney: KHLOE. Kardashian krap.
24. __ Twins: online comedy duo: DOLAN. The INSIDE SCOOP if you care. This is very "modern" fill which many want to see more of in the 2020 decade.
26. Freaks out: HAS A COW. Not quite as new, but classic BART.
28. Quick dip?: GUACamole.
30. "Bosch" squad: Abbr.: LAPD. Lots of Southern California references in this puzzle.
32. Prep for publication: EDIT.
34. Calif. summer hrs.: PDT. Didn't I tell you.
36. Admissions depts. review them: GPAS.
38. Unique thing, to a Brit: ONER. Steve? Help.
39. Meanies: OGRES. Makes them sound almost cuddly.
40. __ joke: DAD. I had a good one but I forgot, maybe by morning.
42. Tot's tub toy: SAILBOAT.
43. 1:15, e.g.: RATIO.
48. Against: CONTRA. Iran affair>
50. Study, with "on": READ UP.
51. Celebrity socialite: IT GIRL. Not my idea of an IT girl but what do I know.
52. Merriment: GAIETY.
54. Theater ticket abbr.: ORCHestra.
55. Name of 12 popes: PIUS. You would hope they all were and had a well defined...
57. Value system: ETHIC. But, if not...
60. Old-style "Bummer!": ALAS what are you going to do.
62. Crooner Perry: COMO. He settled in So. Fla. for hsi golden years.
64. __ vez: once: UNA. Hola, Lucy.
66. __-high: SKY. And to wrap up the week we have sky back, which leaves popping off rather than popping up. Have a safe and fun 4th of July week-end all. Thank you Dallas, please come by and share your thoughts. We are a bunch of fun curious people. lemonade out.
