Monday January 3 2022 Bruce Venzke

Theme: SPLIT THE ATOM (51. Nuclear fission phrase, and a hint to each set of circles) - ATOM is split up in each theme entry.

20. Addictive: HABIT-FORMING.

28. Arguing with a cat, say: BIG WASTE OF TIME.

43. Lists of principles for political groups: PARTY PLATFORMS.

Boomer here, blogging another solo from the legend Bruce.

Bruce Venzke

I noticed that a lot of L.A. Times themes have this type of split gimmick, but I only know a 7-10 or 4-6 or a big 4. 

I'm still in the hospital and I prepared this blog with major help from C.C.. I hope to be back in the flowing Monday.

 
Across:

1. Negative attention from the press, briefly: BAD PR.

6. Protrudes: JUTS.

10. Police dept. alerts: APBS. All-Points Bulletins.

14. Pear variety: ANJOU.

15. "I'll take care of that, boss": ON IT.

16. Loughlin of "Full House": LORI. Was in trouble a few years ago.

17. Boxer "Iron Mike": TYSON. No relation to the chicken.

18. Inventory methodology acronym: LIFO. Last In, First Out.

19. Thick Japanese noodle: UDON.

23. Altar promise: I DO.

26. U.S. Election Day: Abbr.: TUE. Coming up again in November.

27. Dunkable treats: DONUTS.

32. Intermittent pork offer from Mickey D's: MCRIB.

33. Soothing cream additive: ALOE.

34. Treated, as a patient: SEEN. I'm treated at the VA Medical Center. I've been seen by many doctors.

35. Cop show shocker: TASER. Kimberly Potter got in trouble for using her gun instead of a taser.

37. Wolfgang Puck, e.g.: CHEF.

41. Bottom of a loafer: SOLE. I'm not the only one.

42. Chicago hub: O'HARE. ORD is its code.

48. Gets money for chips after the game, with "in": CASHES. If you're lucky.

49. Hamburger holder: BUN.

50. How poker players may stand: PAT. If his hand is good enough.

55. Rounded hammer part: PEEN. Ball peen hammer.

56. Horse's morsels: OATS. And 54. "A horse is a horse" horse: MR ED. Of course, of course!

57. Encourages: URGES. I've been trying to convince the doctors to get me out.

61. Two-toned cookie: OREO.

62. Solemn ceremony: RITE. I've skipped Catholic mass for a couple of weeks.

63. Fancy watch brand: SEIKO. When I retied, Graybar gifted me a Bulova watch.

64. Recipe amts.: TSPS.

65. Distinctive periods: ERAS. I'll never forget the ERA I'm in right now.

66. Narrowly defeated: EDGED. Lose by a nose.

Down:

1. Lumber, in baseball: BAT. Louisville Slugger is the best.

 

2. "__ port in a storm": ANY.

3. Wedding reception VIPs: DJS.

4. Christopher Robin's friend: POOH. Winnie.

5. Drink now, pay later: RUN A TAB. Most bars are not long allowing this.

6. Prison city near Chicago: JOLIET. Joliet Prison.

7. Part of CPU: UNIT.

8. Brief quarrel: TIFF.

9. Represented: STOOD FOR.

10. Grads: ALUMNI.

11. Speaker's place: PODIUM. Nancy Pelosi's place.

12. Eyre's creator: BRONTE. Charlotte.

13. Tells the cops everything: SINGS.

21. Commuter's ride: BUS. Or subway.

 22. By __: from memory: ROTE.

23. Pioneering PCs: IBMS.

24. Vegas cubes: DICE. My favorite craps tool.

25. Shrek, for one: OGRE.

29. Take the title: WIN. A lot of bowl game titles are decided on New Year's Day.

30. Art studio stand: EASEL.

31. Grand __ Opry: OLE. Nashville, Tennessee. I never visited it.

35. Kid's favorite shopping site: TOY STORE. I bet they were busy 10 days ago.

36. Matterhorn, e.g.: ALP.

37. Comic Margaret: CHO.

38. Heavenly strings: HARP. I left my HARP in San Fink's Disco.

39. Bombeck of humor: ERMA.

40. Word with gab or Oktober: FEST.

41. Cancel, as an edit: STET.

42. Pointless: OF NO USE.

43. Border guard's demand: PAPERS.

44. Out for the night: ASLEEP. Tough to do in a hospital.

45. Safari herbivores: RHINOS. There's a decent bowler on the PBA Tour called Rhino Page.

 

46. Humiliates: ABASES.

47. Legendary boy king: TUT.

48. 100 smackers: C SPOT. A Benjamin.

52. Hippie musical: HAIR.

53. "At Last" singer James: ETTA.

58. Musician's booking: GIG.

59. __ out: just manage: EKE.

60. Grass in a roll: SOD.

Boomer