Monday July 26, 2021 Rebecca Goldstein

 

Theme: TANGLED WEB (56. According to Sir Walter Scott, what "we weave, / When first we practice to deceive" ... and what appears in each set of circles) - Anagrams (full set) of WEB are hidden inside each theme answer.

17. Reebok rival: NEW BALANCE.

22. "Bravo!": A JOB WELL DONE.

36. Pasture neckwear: COWBELL.

38. Creator of a spider named Charlotte: E B WHITE.

48. 1968 Steppenwolf hit featured in "Easy Rider": BORN TO BE WILD.

Boomer here.  

I think the above says it all about this puzzle.  So I just want to mention that my younger sister from San Francisco is traveling the USA with a friend and plans to stop here in Minnesota for a round of Mini Putt Putt golf and a meal on the shores of Lake Minnetonka. C.C. and I are looking forward to the fun.

Across:

1. "A Sorta Fairytale" singer Tori: AMOS.  Many years ago Tim Moore and Spencer Williams were AMOS and ANDY on a sitcom TV show.  I enjoyed the comedy but it was removed and deemed racist.

5. Hawaiian coffee region: KONA.  Hyundai has one of these on sale.  It is smaller than a Santa Fe. 

9. Mostly closed, like a door: AJAR. 

13. Points connector: LINE.  Also connects a hook and sinker to your fishing pole.

14. World's most populous democracy: INDIA.  They seem to have a Covid problem there.  Of course the USA is not totally vaccinated either.

15. Expert: GURU.

16. "Closing Bell" channel: CNBC.  I tune in a bit to check the stock market, but I cannot stand Jim Cramer.

19. Rowing implement: OAR.  "Gently down the Stream."

20. Field of expertise: AREA.  C.C.'s AREA is Crossword Puzzles.

21. There are 10 in standard Monopoly named for states: Abbr.: AVES. Vermont. Connecticut, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and the three I have been to: Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois.

26. Chicken-king link: A LA.  Also a link between Mississippi and Georgia.

27. Creep (along): SLINK.  Who might remember a SLINKEE and making it travel downstairs ?

28. "Sesame Street" rating: TV G.

31. Passions: ARDORS.

34. "__ you ready?": ARE. I am always ready but I do not know "For What"?

35. Poet Silverstein: SHEL.

40. GPS calculations: ETAS.

41. Pro vote: YEA.

43. "Silent Spring" author Rachel: CARSON. Also  "Tonight Show Host" Johnny.

44. Like wallflowers: SHY.  Not Me.

45. Vegan sources of protein: BEANS.  We planted some in our backyard garden but I think squirrels ruined the plants.  I thought those varmints only ate nuts.

47. Sign-off kisses: XES.

52. Distort, as data: SKEW.  Is there any way to SKEW squirrels?

54. Bearded flower: IRIS.  We do not have IRIS In our flower garden.  I suppose the squirrels would eat them too.  They ruined our Asian Lily.

55. Actress/activist Ruby: DEE.  I only remember Bobby Darin's wife Sandra DEE.

59. Fervor: ZEAL.

60. Swedish furniture store: IKEA.  I think they sell a lot of half-done stuff.

61. Bursts of laughter: PEALS.

62. Expel: OUST.  Looks like fans got the OUST from Tokyo. Stupid Covid strikes again.

63. Stitched up: SEWN.

64. Haywire way to go: AWRY.  Sometimes my golf ball does this.

65. Chooses: OPTS.  Then I take a new one from my bag.

Down:

1. Former maker of Reynolds Wrap: ALCOA.  Aluminum is used in many electrical wires however copper is a better conductor but it costs more.

2. Rapper Nicki: MINAJ.

3. Where many caught "Cats": ON BROADWAY.

4. Part of a min.: SEC.  And the red hand on your clock will count them for you.

5. Gets down to a tot's level: KNEELS.  When I was a kid, we use to have kneelers in church.  Now the choices are sit or stand.  Good thing too, If I had to kneel I don't think I could get up.

6. Discontinued smoothie brand: ODWALLA.

7. Penpoint: NIB. I remember that this is licorice sold in movie theatres.

8. Roadside assistance org.: AAA.

9. Tequila source: AGAVE.

10. May follower: JUNE.  We just said goodbye to June, Now I wonder if it will cool off a bit in August.

11. Rainbows, e.g.: ARCS.

12. Feel remorse for: RUE.  Or one of the "Golden Girls"

14. Memo heading: IN RE.  I don't think anyone uses this anymore.

18. Like a beanpole: LANK.

20. Far from clueless: AWARE.  What did DelAWARE?  She wore her brand New Jersey.

23. Splotches: BLOBS.

24. Desperate, as straits: DIRE.

25. Last non-AD yr.: ONE BC.  I wonder how people lived without TV, computers, or bowling balls.

28. Box orientation instruction: THIS SIDE UP.

29. White House no: VETO.

30. Secluded spot: GLEN.

31. "Pocket rockets," in poker: ACES.  I used to play a bit of poker but I never heard an ace called a rockets.  I did hear them called Bullets now and then.

32. Kind of IRA: ROTH.  I guess this is okay for some. I get by with a regular IRA.

33. More foxy: SLYER.

35. Mole-like mammal: SHREW.  I think it's been tamed.

37. Tilt: LEAN.  That's all Jack Sprat could eat.

39. Shapes, as eyebrows: WAXES.  Does anyone wax their car anymore??

42. Like many peaceful protests: ANTI-WAR.

45. Cereal serving: BOWL. Yes I have cereal in a BOWL every morning but I can think of another meaning.

46. In a bad way: SORELY.

48. Started: BEGAN.

49. Drool catchers: BIBS.  I cannot remember those days when I wore a BIB.  But these days some of my meal ends up on the front of my shirt.

50. "It's the __ I can do": LEAST.

51. Shoulder muscles, briefly: DELTS.

52. Sushi bar beverage: SAKE.  No Thank you.

53. Was informed (of): KNEW.

56. "__ the season ... ": TIS. "The season to be jolly" (In 5 months)

57. AQI monitor: EPA.

58. Beads on grass: DEW.  I have not seen much of it this year.

59. State of chaos: ZOO. "Someone told me it's all happening at the ZOO." Simon and Garfunkel.

Boomer