Hello Cornerites!
sumdaze here. Today's puzzle comes to us from constructor, Baylee Devereaux. This is her second LA Times publication. I will quote Ol'Man Keith on Baylee's LA Times debut, "Some seriously clever long fills in this Devereaux opus, alternating with commonplace XWD fills, all marshaled for us by JZB."
As for today's puzzle, Baylee had something different in mind. I am calling it
Top Hand
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| Tad Lucas was known as "Rodeo's First Lady". |
Baylee placed her themers vertically in the grid because she wants us to pay special attention to the top (UPPER) part of each of the four themed answers:
3 Down. *Performer's pseudonym: STAGE NAME. a name assumed for professional purposes by an actor or other performer.
8 Down. *Flippable timekeeper: HOURGLASS. Does your brain go here, too?
13 Down. *Creamy dip for vegetables: RANCH DRESSING.
30 Down. *Dog in a Disney tear-jerker: OLD YELLER. TBH, I cannot go there without crying so please, if you have questions, look this one up yourself.
Then the reveal:
32 Down. Advantageous position, and what each answer to a starred clue literally has: UPPER HAND. the position of having power or being in control in a particular situation.
Joining the UPPER parts with HAND, we get:
STAGE HAND a person who moves scenery or props before or during the performance of a play. HOUR HAND This one is a bit of an outlier because it is a clock part, not a person.
RANCH HAND a manual laborer on a ranch.
OLD HAND a person with a lot of experience in something.
Across:
1. Amble along: MOSEY.
12. Wonderland cake invitation that Alice accepted: EAT ME. Two years ago I reread Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There after listening to a podcast that talked about the themes and poems from an adult perspective. If you want to reread them, too, see if your library has a copy with John Tenniel's illustrations. They are wonderful!
13. Nevada gambling town near Carson City: RENO.
15. Emmy category: DRAMA. The 2022 Emmy for Best Drama went to Succession.
16. Merry-go-rounds: CAROUSELS. Let's see what Mary Poppins is up to.
18. Floral wreath: GARLAND.
20. Washer cycle: RINSE.
21. "Fee, __, foe, fum": FIE. from Jack to King Lear
23. DEA agent: NARC. "Drug Enforcement Administration" is abbreviated, so is "NARCotics".
24. Feels the same: AGREES.
25. "Ella Enchanted" star Hathaway: ANNE.
27. Car or truck: VEHICLE.
29. South American grasslands: LLANOS. Pronounced 'ya-nohs' (Spanish for "plains"), they are wide grasslands stretching across western Venezuela and northeastern Colombia.
31. Facts and figures: DATA. Also, a Star Trek character portrayed by actor Brent Spiner. He is a synthetic life form with artificial intelligence.
32. Thumb drive port: USB.
2nd try: obviously incorrect.
35. Humped beast: CAMEL.
36. Buffet table coffee server: URN.
37. Overly sentimental: SAPPY. Hand up for liking the SAPPY Hallmark Christmas movies.
39. Be in debt: OWE. We can OWE money but we can also OWE a debt of gratitude.
40. Prom partner: DATE. The Charleston dance scene in It's a Wonderful Life (1947) was filmed at Beverly Hills High School's Swim-Gym, built in 1939 as a federal public works project.
42. Fireplace receptacle: ASH PIT. Hand up for changing PoT to PIT.
43. Enters using a keyboard: TYPES IN.
45. In this location: HERE.
46. Girl who lost her sheep: BO PEEP.
49. Shoveler's target: SNOW.
51. Hi-__ monitor: RES. "High" is shortened, so is "RESolution".
52. Hearing-related: AURAL.
53. Language of Helsinki: FINNISH.
55. Some horses on a stud farm: STALLIONS. and 17 Down. Thoroughbred's father: SIRE.
60. One of 88 on a piano: KEY. I like this clue! BTW, 32 are black & 56 are white.
61. Vaping pen, informally: E-CIG.
62. Orange Muppet in a striped shirt: ERNIE.
63. Fourth-yr. students: SRS. "YeaR" is abbreviated, so is "SenioRS".
64. Part of the fam: REL. "Family" is shortened, so is "RELative". Were you expecting "sis" or "bro"?
65. Move like a crab: SIDLE.
Down:
1. Pre-__: college track for a future doctor: MED.
2. White-water rafting need: OAR.
4. Corrin who plays Diana in "The Crown": EMMA. They appear in Season 4. (I only saw Season 1.)
5. Pine (for): YEARN.
6. Bunch of buffalo: HERD.
7. __, dos, tres: UNO. counting in Spanish
9. Public tantrum: SCENE.
11. Acceptances: YESES. plural of 'YES'
16. __ package: CARE. a parcel of food, money or luxury items sent to a loved one who is away.
34. Memory units: BYTES.
36. SLC athlete: UTE. someone on a team representing the Univ. of Utah, located in Salt Lake City, UT.
38. Contented sigh: AHH. Sometimes it's "aah" and sometimes it's "AHH". A good perp will give you the "aha" moment.
41. Google Play download: APP. Google Play is the android equivalent of The App Store for iPhones. It cannot be clued as "The App Store download" because "app" cannot be in the clue and in the answer.
42. Unknown author, for short: ANON. CSO to a few Cornerites!
43. Bluish green: TEAL. The Allure & Power of the Color Teal
44. Cozy stopovers: INNS.
46. Savors the sun: BASKS. This word always makes me think of lizards BASKing in the sun.
47. On the periphery: OUTER.
48. Seeks divine guidance: PRAYS.
50. Some ring bearers: WIVES. Perhaps this is meant to be a misdirection to make one think of a wedding ceremony. Here it refers to already married people wearing rings.
53. Wrap for leftovers: FOIL.
54. Apple's digital assistant: SIRI.
56. Apply a bag of peas to, maybe: ICE.
I just noticed that we have a lot of cowboys & horses today.
Here's a fun-loving video clip with RANCH HANDS, OLD HANDS, and (unseen) STAGE HANDS.
I'm an Old Cowhand (from the Rio Grande)
written by Johnny Mercer for the movie Rhythm on the Range (1936)
starring Bing Crosby and Louis Prima on the trumpet
JazzBumpa, can you tell us about that other horn @ 1:40 ?
1. Amble along: MOSEY.
6. "I don't get it": HUH.
9. Secret agent: SPY.
Johnny Rivers Secret Agent Man (1966)
12. Wonderland cake invitation that Alice accepted: EAT ME. Two years ago I reread Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There after listening to a podcast that talked about the themes and poems from an adult perspective. If you want to reread them, too, see if your library has a copy with John Tenniel's illustrations. They are wonderful!
13. Nevada gambling town near Carson City: RENO.
 |
The Truckee River flows from Lake Tahoe to Donner Lake (made famous by the Donner Party), into Nevada, through RENO, and onward. |
14. Pool stick: CUE.
15. Emmy category: DRAMA. The 2022 Emmy for Best Drama went to Succession.
16. Merry-go-rounds: CAROUSELS. Let's see what Mary Poppins is up to.
Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins (1964) (2:05 min.)
18. Floral wreath: GARLAND.
20. Washer cycle: RINSE.
21. "Fee, __, foe, fum": FIE. from Jack to King Lear
23. DEA agent: NARC. "Drug Enforcement Administration" is abbreviated, so is "NARCotics".
24. Feels the same: AGREES.
25. "Ella Enchanted" star Hathaway: ANNE.
 |
| (2004) ~ 3 stars on IMDb |
27. Car or truck: VEHICLE.
29. South American grasslands: LLANOS. Pronounced 'ya-nohs' (Spanish for "plains"), they are wide grasslands stretching across western Venezuela and northeastern Colombia.
 |
| Lt Commander DATA with his cat Spot |
32. Thumb drive port: USB.
How many tries it take to plug in a USB drive? 3
1st try: correct but you're not sure and are afraid to force it.2nd try: obviously incorrect.
3rd try: same as 1st try but with confidence.
35. Humped beast: CAMEL.
GEICO 'Hump Day' commercial. Never gets old! (30 sec.)
36. Buffet table coffee server: URN.
 |
| 21st Century URNs ??? |
37. Overly sentimental: SAPPY. Hand up for liking the SAPPY Hallmark Christmas movies.
39. Be in debt: OWE. We can OWE money but we can also OWE a debt of gratitude.
40. Prom partner: DATE. The Charleston dance scene in It's a Wonderful Life (1947) was filmed at Beverly Hills High School's Swim-Gym, built in 1939 as a federal public works project.
Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed (1:10 min.)
42. Fireplace receptacle: ASH PIT. Hand up for changing PoT to PIT.
43. Enters using a keyboard: TYPES IN.
45. In this location: HERE.
46. Girl who lost her sheep: BO PEEP.
 |
| Woody was sweet on BO PEEP in the Toy Story movies. |
49. Shoveler's target: SNOW.
51. Hi-__ monitor: RES. "High" is shortened, so is "RESolution".
52. Hearing-related: AURAL.
53. Language of Helsinki: FINNISH.
55. Some horses on a stud farm: STALLIONS. and 17 Down. Thoroughbred's father: SIRE.
Here is some information about famous horses from the Smithsonian Institution.
57. Lab containers: VIALS.
57. Lab containers: VIALS.
 |
| This one is a bit meta. |
60. One of 88 on a piano: KEY. I like this clue! BTW, 32 are black & 56 are white.
61. Vaping pen, informally: E-CIG.
62. Orange Muppet in a striped shirt: ERNIE.
63. Fourth-yr. students: SRS. "YeaR" is abbreviated, so is "SenioRS".
64. Part of the fam: REL. "Family" is shortened, so is "RELative". Were you expecting "sis" or "bro"?
65. Move like a crab: SIDLE.
Seinfeld: The Sidler (54 sec.)
Down:
1. Pre-__: college track for a future doctor: MED.
2. White-water rafting need: OAR.
4. Corrin who plays Diana in "The Crown": EMMA. They appear in Season 4. (I only saw Season 1.)
5. Pine (for): YEARN.
6. Bunch of buffalo: HERD.
7. __, dos, tres: UNO. counting in Spanish
9. Public tantrum: SCENE.
 |
| Oh, my! |
10. Heart rate: PULSE.
16. __ package: CARE. a parcel of food, money or luxury items sent to a loved one who is away.
I regularly sent DH these during his (too many) military deployments.
19. Loos: LAVS. Since "LAVS" is shortened, I reasoned that "Loos" must also be shortened but I had to do a little research :
19. Loos: LAVS. Since "LAVS" is shortened, I reasoned that "Loos" must also be shortened but I had to do a little research :
Despite its British popularity for a slightly less crude way to call the toilet, the word “loo” is actually derived from the French phrase 'guardez l'eau', meaning 'watch out for the water”. (plumbworld.co.uk)
21. Edie of "The Sopranos": FALCO. Edie is a frequent guest to XWD grids. We are usually asked Ms. FALCO's vowel-full first name. Just a heads up, she played General Ardmore in the movie Avatar 2 (released 12/16/22). We might start seeing her clued in this new way.
22. Kin by marriage: IN-LAW. It's all RELative.
24. Play a role: ACT.
26. WSW opposite: ENE. Even though they often stumped me, I sort of miss the clues that gave us two cities and asked the direction in relationship to each other. Just writing the opposite of WSW is too much of a gimme. I know...be careful of what you ask for....
28. "Atonement" novelist McEwan: IAN. Goodreads link
33. Steeple topper: SPIRE.
21. Edie of "The Sopranos": FALCO. Edie is a frequent guest to XWD grids. We are usually asked Ms. FALCO's vowel-full first name. Just a heads up, she played General Ardmore in the movie Avatar 2 (released 12/16/22). We might start seeing her clued in this new way.
22. Kin by marriage: IN-LAW. It's all RELative.
24. Play a role: ACT.
26. WSW opposite: ENE. Even though they often stumped me, I sort of miss the clues that gave us two cities and asked the direction in relationship to each other. Just writing the opposite of WSW is too much of a gimme. I know...be careful of what you ask for....
28. "Atonement" novelist McEwan: IAN. Goodreads link
33. Steeple topper: SPIRE.
34. Memory units: BYTES.
 |
Why 8 ? |
36. SLC athlete: UTE. someone on a team representing the Univ. of Utah, located in Salt Lake City, UT.
38. Contented sigh: AHH. Sometimes it's "aah" and sometimes it's "AHH". A good perp will give you the "aha" moment.
41. Google Play download: APP. Google Play is the android equivalent of The App Store for iPhones. It cannot be clued as "The App Store download" because "app" cannot be in the clue and in the answer.
43. Bluish green: TEAL. The Allure & Power of the Color Teal
44. Cozy stopovers: INNS.
46. Savors the sun: BASKS. This word always makes me think of lizards BASKing in the sun.
 |
| Bearded Dragon lizard |
47. On the periphery: OUTER.
48. Seeks divine guidance: PRAYS.
50. Some ring bearers: WIVES. Perhaps this is meant to be a misdirection to make one think of a wedding ceremony. Here it refers to already married people wearing rings.
53. Wrap for leftovers: FOIL.
Mythbusters Episode 96: Adam and Jamie build a balloon out of lead FOIL.
Will it "go down like a lead balloon"? (4:48 min.)
56. Apply a bag of peas to, maybe: ICE.
Have you ever noticed in movies, they always have a handy bag of frozen peas in the freezer for a black eye even if there is nothing else in the refrigerator? Why hasn't anyone eaten the peas???
58. "Eternal Atake" rapper __ Uzi Vert: LIL. Top 10 LIL rappers (Spoiler alert: Mr. Vert is #15.)
59. "O say can you __ ... ": SEE. ♪♪♪
58. "Eternal Atake" rapper __ Uzi Vert: LIL. Top 10 LIL rappers (Spoiler alert: Mr. Vert is #15.)
59. "O say can you __ ... ": SEE. ♪♪♪
 |
| The Francis Scott Key Bridge (I-695) in Baltimore (Hi Waseeley!) It crosses the Patapsco River where FSK was inspired to write the words to the Star Spangled Banner. |
It is now time to HAND you the grid:
I just noticed that we have a lot of cowboys & horses today.
Happy trails to you!
