Puzzling thoughts:
So before I forget, might there be a couple more entries that somehow didn't make the cut? For example: Clue: "Legal recipient of an Irish estate?" LONDONDERRY HEIR. Or, Clue: "Legal wrong at a German bakery?" LINZER TORT
As the "theme" title suggests, today's puzzle uses a series of homophonic phrases as entries. What they all have in common - and what makes this puzzle unique - is that each of the phrases puns a legal term. Not as easy as you'd think ...
18-across. Legal entitlement to be invisible?: GHOST RIGHT. Plays off the word "ghostwrite"
24-across. Constitutional section on entering through the chimney?: SANTA CLAUSE. Who hasn't seen the Tim Allen movie, THE SANTA CLAUSE? Or its two sequeals? The original (1994) was cute; the other two, not so much. Well, it seems THE SANTA CLAUSES is due out this November, streaming on Disney+. I hope it lives up to its billing ... here is a trailer ...
38-across. Funds posted to free a rancher?: HAY BAIL. Hay bale. Cute
48-across. Legal advice from Yoda?: JEDI COUNSEL. The Jedi Council is a Star Wars reference. Click on the link for more info
59-across. Court statements from chess players?: CHECK PLEAS. Ha, Ha! Actually, this one works another way if the theme wasn't based on legal or court-related terms. How you ask? Well, how about this clue: "What restaurant diners never mean in Prague?" CZECH PLEASE
Alexander Liebeskind has two recent puzzles published at the New York Times, and now this one, his LA Times solo debut. For a "kid" from Brentwood, that must feel pretty cool! A Google Search reveals that he is a recent graduate of Columbia University
Here is the grid: You'll note a few words highlighted in red ... some interesting similarities ...
Across:
1. Branches: ARMS. LIMBS didn't fit
5. "Who wants my jellyfish? / I'm not sellyfish!" poet: NASH. Ogden NASH
9. Red wine on a white tablecloth, e.g.: STAIN. Use this to remove:
14. Water under the drawbridge: MOAT. Maybe the best clue of today's puzzle
15. Org. concerned with ergonomics: OSHA. Occupational Safety and Health Administration
16. City known for cheese: PARMA. It's in Italy. PARMAsan Cheese. Also known for its ham. And you thought ham and cheese was an American concoction?
17. Prod: POKE. Be careful; might find a pig in one
20. Sound investment?: STEREO. One commodity that continues to be on the top of the price list for consumer items. And is usually powered by (1-down. Rock blasters:) AMPS.
22. __ standstill: AT A.
23. Writer Anita: LOOS. Her
27. Traditional 30th anniversary symbol: PEARL. Fun Fact: [jewelrywise dot com] says, "Although Pearls are also said to represent tears, one tradition says wearing pearls on your wedding day will ensure your marriage is happy and you won't shed tears during it. In fact, many brides get their first cultured pearl necklace from their mothers or mothers-in-law — passing down a tradition"
28. Hidden agenda: ANGLE. As in, "What's your ANGLE?"
32. Avenger with a hammer: THOR.
34. Chow down: EAT.
36. Many streams: VIDEOS. It's my TV choice. I broke free from cable or satellite dish about 4 years ago
37. "Okay by moi": OUI. Frawnch
40. __ jar: TIP. Fun Fact: TIP is an acronym! "The custom originated in Europe, and while its history is not entirely clear, it is commonly traced back to 17th century England. The word "tip" is speculated to be an acronym for "To Insure Promptitude," which was printed on bowls in British coffeehouses" [businessinsider dot com]
41. Fiction and nonfiction: GENRES. We had the singular, GENRE, yesterday
43. Pro's camera: SLR.
44. Wee: ITSY. Even an ITSY bitsy spider can be scary
45. Daisylike flower: ASTER.
46. Hide away: STASH.
53. Vineyard measure: ACRE. In France they measure by a hectare; one hectare = 2.47 ACREs; and one letter different than ACHE
56. "Kinda": ISH. As in, "I'll arrive around 7-ISH
57. How some stupid things are done: ON A BET. Stupid? Only in a casino, when you really think you can beat the house
62. Bust a gut: ROAR. LAUGH didn't fit
63. Part of Hispaniola: HAITI. Shares an island with the Dominican Republic
64. Ponte Vecchio river: ARNO. River through Florence and Pisa in Tuscany, and one letter different than ARGO
65. First-class: A-ONE. Also a steak sauce brand, spelled "A-1"
66. Young partner: ERNST. "Ernst & Young, which operates under the trade name EY, is one of the biggest accounting firms in the U.S. It performs broader professional services for international companies. These services include auditing, assurance, consulting, tax, and investment banking" [theforage dot com]
67. N.L. East team: METS. One of my highlighted words that goes with (13-down. N.L. East team:) NATS. The METS made the playoffs this year but lost in the first round
68. Site for artisans: ETSY. Goes with ESPN and ESPY, IMO
Down:
2. Miniseries based on a Haley novel: ROOTS. ROOTS. "Based on Alex Haley's family history. Kunta Kinte is sold into the slave trade after being abducted from his African village, and is taken to the United States. Kinte and his family observe notable events in American history, such as the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, slave uprisings and emancipation" [imdb dot com]
3. Score when debating: MAKE A POINT. How do you make points in a debate?
How to Prepare For a Debate:
a) Be a Team: Work Together. Remember that you are on a team and that means you work togetherb) Write Individual Speeches. Before you come together, break off individually and have each person brainstorm on their own
c) Analyze the Evidence,
d) Arguments for Both Sides
e) Prepare Your Speeches
f) Be Confident
4. Less forgiving: STERNER. I had a golf coach in HS whose last name was STERNER. His first name was "Mr."
5. Restricted zones: NO GO AREAS. "A "no-go area" or "no-go zone" is a neighborhood or other geographic area where some or all outsiders are either physically prevented from entering or can enter at risk" [wikipedia dot com]
6. Baseball bat wood: ASH. Maple and Bamboo are also used but didn't fit
7. Sandbar: SHOAL. I don't know why, but when I saw this I thought of: Muscle SHOALs, Alabama
8. "__ luego": HASTA. HASTA in English means "Until"
9. Time of yr. for new growth: SPR. Meh. Abbr for SPRing
10. Last bit: TAIL END.
11. Oscar-winning film about a fake film: ARGO.
12. Short "As I see it": IMHO. In My Humble Opinion
19. __ cross: TAU. "The Tau cross is representative of salvation and of life, due in part to its association with the sparing of believers in the Bible. As Tau is the last letter in the Hebrew alphabet, it symbolizes the revealed Word of God, its completion and perfection. It also can be said to symbolize the Last Day" [symbolsage dot com]
21. In-flight info, for short: ETA. When they expect you to get there
25. Paint-your-own-pottery supply: CLAY. For once they didn't use a proper name for this word; maybe Henry or Cassius was too easy?
26. Catamaran mover: SAIL.
29. Lose one's place: GET THE BOOT. As in being fired from work?
30. "The Giver" novelist Lowry: LOIS. Perps to the rescue
31. Arthur Ashe Courage Award, for one: ESPY. Another highlighted word in my solved grid; similar to 68-across
32. Senate wrap: TOGA. Could you imagine our US Senators wearing these?
33. Color wheel array: HUES. Here's one for wine:
35. "The Misery Index" network: TBS. Perps to the rescue
36. Expert musicians: VIRTUOSOS. A rarely used entry
38. Present: HERE. As well, an answer to a roll call
39. As well: ALSO. Oh, look! (see 38-down)
42. Turns down: REJECTS.
44. "The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl" star: ISSA RAE. This gal has become a crossword staple. Soon, she will be listed as "crosswordese"
47. __ Taylor Loft: ANN. They carry sizes that fit most average women
49. Tango move: DIP.
50. Major religion of Indonesia: ISLAM.
51. French term of endearment: CHERE. More Frawnch
52. Cants: LEANS. TILTS fit, too
53. Marathon aftermath: ACHE. I ran a half-marathon and afterwords had an AC
54. Go over well?: CHAR. Meh. As in, to CHAR a steak. That's when I would use A-1
55. Free __: REIN. What CC gives us bloggers when we recap a puzzle
58. Three-spot: TREY. This:
60. Baby skunk: KIT. This clue stinks!
61. Pantry pest: ANT.
Sorry there are no haikus/moe-kus; that didn't mean I disliked the puzzle, though. I liked it just fine. Margaret and I were in the process of a physical move to a new house when this assignment came to me, so I gave it a good shot, but an abridged version for sure. I'll try to be more creative next time ...
