Hello Cornerites!
Today's theme is Ziploc-ed!
Constructor MaryEllen Uthlaut has locked in a fun take on the expression, ZIP IT!
Dr. Evil can elaborate...
15. "I hope you saved __ for dessert!": ROOM.
20. Scold harshly: LAMBASTE. Also, a marinade brand from New Zealand. 😜
22. More preposterous: DAFTER. "DAFT" is a Briticism that means "silly" or "foolish".
23. Mai __: tropical cocktail: TAI. A Mai TAI at Duke's Barefoot Bar on Waikiki Beach will run you $16 + tip.
24. Cost to travel by plane: AIR FARE.
31. Hi-__ monitor: RES.
32. Cry of disbelief: WHAT.
36. Easy throw: TOSS. Hand up for not being able to catch a set of keys when someone TOSSes them directly at me.
37. No longer together: APART. According to this Jack Johnson song, we're Better Together (2005).
39. Queen of Mount Olympus: HERA. HERA was the goddess of women, marriage, and childbirth. The Romans called her Juno. She was Zeus' sister and wife. Together they reined on Mt. Olympus.
40. Tunneling insects with two sets of jaws: ANTS. I like clues that add knowledge. "Tunneling insects, four letters...we know it's ANTS but now we also know they have two sets of jaws. The outer pair is used for carrying objects such as food and for digging. The inner pair is used for chewing. Both pairs seem to love my dog's food.
41. Switched on: LIT. This works if they are both adjectives or verbs.
42. Warning wail: SIREN.
46. Transgression: MISDEED. an act that is criminal or bad
50. Mined matter: ORE.
51. National Guard building: ARMORY.
61. First-rate: A-ONE.
62. Writer Jong: ERICA. her website
63. __ Plaines, Illinois: DES. Mo Willems was born Feb. 11, 1968 in DES Plaines. He is a prolific author and illustrator of children's books. He became a favorite after publishing Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! in 2003. My local library has a whole shelf dedicated to his books.
25. Falafel wrapper: PITA.
26. Object of devotion: ICON.
27. Lean to one side: LIST. This definition is more often used when talking about a boat or a ship.
28. Justin Bieber's "One __ Lonely Girl": LESS. unfamiliar but easily sussed
29. Deliver an impassioned speech: ORATE.
32. Political party founded by Henry Clay in the 1830s: WHIG. History.com link
33. Sage, e.g.: HERB. Did anyone first think of "sage" as an adjective (wise through reflection or experience)?
34. Region: AREA.
35. Orange drink made from a powder: TANG. Have you every tried Hot TANG, made with boiling water?
37. Street-smart stray: ALLEY CAT.
38. Spotted with color: PIED. When I Googled images for PIED, it gave me a lot of pictures of unattractive feet. I do not recommend you try it. #HazzardsOfTheJob
42. Reacted to pollen, say: SNEEZED.
43. Blood bank fluids: SERA. Today I learned that "SERA" is the plural of "serum".
44. "Kinky Boots" Tony winner Billy: PORTER. Here he reflects on playing the role of Lola.
45. Fury: IRE. and 47 Down. Quite irritated: IRKED.
46. Catcher's protection: MASK.
48. Strike, quaintly: SMITE.
49. Feuding schools on "Cobra Kai": DOJOS. Cobra Kai is a TV series sequel to The Karate Kid. In June they announced that next season (its 6th season) will be its last.
52. Gift from one's parents?: GENE. cute
53. One of three on a tricycle: TIRE.
54. Long heroic tale: EPIC.
55. Puerto __: RICO.
Here's the grid:
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)
starring Mike Meyers as Dr. Evil (50 sec.)
The four themers are all items that can have ZIPpers:
18 Across. Change holder: COIN PURSE.
25 Across. Decorative sham, for one: PILLOW COVER.
43 Across. Camper's bedding: SLEEPING BAG.
57 Across. Outerwear for hitting the slopes: SKI JACKET.
They are ZIP-tied together by the reveal:
59 Across. "Pipe down!," and an instruction for 18-, 25-, 43-, and 57-Across: ZIP IT.
The Smithsonian website has an article entitled, The Up and Down History of the Zipper. It credits Elias Howe with inventing the zipper in 1851. The zipper's next big milestone was its debut at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair as a "clasp locker". Gideon Sundback developed our modern version of the zipper in 1913. He called it a "separate fastener" and filed a patent in 1917. The B.F. Goodrich company gets the credit for calling it a "zipper" on their boots and tobacco pouches. French designers did not find a use for zippers in their garment designs until the late 1930s. In 2017, Talon International (a zipper supplier) unveiled a 3.1 mile (~5 km.) long, world record zipper as part of L.A.'s Fashion Week. National Zipper Day is on April 29.
Shall we ZIP ahead to the rest of the clues?
Across:
1. Double-deckers in checkers: KINGS. Great start!
6. RPM gauge: TACH. A TACHometer measures the Rotations Per Minute of a moving object.
10. Brand name on some blue jeans: GAP. GAP Jeans website
13. Be very fond of: ADORE.
14. Bit of fish tank gunk: ALGA. ALGA is singular. ALGAE is plural.
1. Double-deckers in checkers: KINGS. Great start!
6. RPM gauge: TACH. A TACHometer measures the Rotations Per Minute of a moving object.
10. Brand name on some blue jeans: GAP. GAP Jeans website
Seinfeld "So, do you wanna go to the GAP?"
13. Be very fond of: ADORE.
14. Bit of fish tank gunk: ALGA. ALGA is singular. ALGAE is plural.
Def. (noun): a simple, nonflowering, and typically aquatic plant of a large group that includes the seaweeds and many single-celled forms. Algae contain chlorophyll but lack true stems, roots, leaves, and vascular tissue.
15. "I hope you saved __ for dessert!": ROOM.
Japanese people have a similar expression, which I like and have adopted. The word betsubara (別腹), composed of betsu (separate) and bara (stomach), literally says that your body has a second stomach for sweets. This way, you can be full from dinner but still have ROOM for dessert!
17. Any "Breaking Bad" episode, now: RERUN. Breaking Bad originally aired from 2008 to 2013, so if you are watching an episode now, you are watching a RERUN.
17. Any "Breaking Bad" episode, now: RERUN. Breaking Bad originally aired from 2008 to 2013, so if you are watching an episode now, you are watching a RERUN.
20. Scold harshly: LAMBASTE. Also, a marinade brand from New Zealand. 😜
22. More preposterous: DAFTER. "DAFT" is a Briticism that means "silly" or "foolish".
23. Mai __: tropical cocktail: TAI. A Mai TAI at Duke's Barefoot Bar on Waikiki Beach will run you $16 + tip.
24. Cost to travel by plane: AIR FARE.
30. More dangerous for winter driving: ICIER.
31. Hi-__ monitor: RES.
32. Cry of disbelief: WHAT.
36. Easy throw: TOSS. Hand up for not being able to catch a set of keys when someone TOSSes them directly at me.
37. No longer together: APART. According to this Jack Johnson song, we're Better Together (2005).
39. Queen of Mount Olympus: HERA. HERA was the goddess of women, marriage, and childbirth. The Romans called her Juno. She was Zeus' sister and wife. Together they reined on Mt. Olympus.
 |
| Juno-Hera Campana (Lourve, Paris) more details |
40. Tunneling insects with two sets of jaws: ANTS. I like clues that add knowledge. "Tunneling insects, four letters...we know it's ANTS but now we also know they have two sets of jaws. The outer pair is used for carrying objects such as food and for digging. The inner pair is used for chewing. Both pairs seem to love my dog's food.
41. Switched on: LIT. This works if they are both adjectives or verbs.
42. Warning wail: SIREN.
46. Transgression: MISDEED. an act that is criminal or bad
50. Mined matter: ORE.
51. National Guard building: ARMORY.
 |
I visited he DC Armory to pick up my race packet when it used to be the location for the Marine Corps Marathon Expo. It is huge! This Joint Force Headquarters of both the Air and Army National Guard was built in 1941. It was designed by noted New York architect Electus D. Litchfield. Today the building serves as a sports and entertainment complex. more |
52. Friendly store employees by the front door: GREETERS. Lately (post-COVID) I have noticed that employees say, "Welcome in," when I enter a store. They say it at my gym, too. It seems to be the younger employees saying it. Has anyone else noticed this? At first it sounded odd but I am getting used to it.
60. High-fat, low-carb diet: KETO. This is what the Nutrition Diva said about the KETO diet.61. First-rate: A-ONE.
 |
| Due to his impressive lead, it is pretty safe for me to say today (Friday) that A-ONE cyclist Jonas Vingegaard won the 2023 Tour de France yesterday (Sunday). |
62. Writer Jong: ERICA. her website
63. __ Plaines, Illinois: DES. Mo Willems was born Feb. 11, 1968 in DES Plaines. He is a prolific author and illustrator of children's books. He became a favorite after publishing Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! in 2003. My local library has a whole shelf dedicated to his books.
64. Wedding cake layer: TIER. This cake has four ... um ... make that two tiers.
65. Hunter's plastic duck, e.g.: DECOY. 
Down:
1. Auto pioneer Benz: KARL. I wonder why the Mercedes-Benz website spells his name with a "C".
2. "I had no __!": IDEA. This is quite often the case.
3. Standard: NORM.
4. Pub __: casual fare: GRUB. I heard on the Good Job, Brain! podcast (the source of most of my trivia knowledge) that the microwave can be credited for 'elevating' pub GRUB from a bowl of nuts to mozzarella sticks.
5. Elizabeth Warren, for one: SENATOR. She was first elected as a U.S. SENATOR from Massachusetts on Nov. 6, 2012.
6. Element of a battle plan: TACTIC. Also, a mint marketed toward dyslexics. 😜
Down:
1. Auto pioneer Benz: KARL. I wonder why the Mercedes-Benz website spells his name with a "C".
2. "I had no __!": IDEA. This is quite often the case.
3. Standard: NORM.
4. Pub __: casual fare: GRUB. I heard on the Good Job, Brain! podcast (the source of most of my trivia knowledge) that the microwave can be credited for 'elevating' pub GRUB from a bowl of nuts to mozzarella sticks.
5. Elizabeth Warren, for one: SENATOR. She was first elected as a U.S. SENATOR from Massachusetts on Nov. 6, 2012.
6. Element of a battle plan: TACTIC. Also, a mint marketed toward dyslexics. 😜
7. Spiky succulent: ALOE. Here is an idea for making ALOE vera ice cubes to help soothe sunburns. 
8. Movie SFX: CGI. Special FX (effects) are often created by Computer-Generated Imagery.
9. Most easily reached: HANDIEST.
10. Brusque: GRUFF.
11. Primary artery: AORTA.
12. Puzzling problem: POSER.
16. __ mortals: MERE. MERE mortals are ordinary human beings -- not gods. The term is often used tongue in cheek.
19. "The Incredibles" family name: PARR. We've had this a few times but, being the MERE mortal that I am, I keep forgetting it.
21. Carpentry tool with teeth: SAW.
24. Declare with confidence: AVER. I looked up the difference between AVER and avow. This is what I learned:
8. Movie SFX: CGI. Special FX (effects) are often created by Computer-Generated Imagery.
9. Most easily reached: HANDIEST.
10. Brusque: GRUFF.
11. Primary artery: AORTA.
12. Puzzling problem: POSER.
16. __ mortals: MERE. MERE mortals are ordinary human beings -- not gods. The term is often used tongue in cheek.
 |
| for Better Call Saul fans |
19. "The Incredibles" family name: PARR. We've had this a few times but, being the MERE mortal that I am, I keep forgetting it.
 |
| Holly Hunter voices the mom. |
21. Carpentry tool with teeth: SAW.
24. Declare with confidence: AVER. I looked up the difference between AVER and avow. This is what I learned:
To aver is to affirm and to avow is to openly declare. There's some overlap with these words because when people want to aver something — state a truth — they probably also want to avow it — say it publicly. So remember, to aver is to verify, and to avow is to tell the whole world.
25. Falafel wrapper: PITA.
 |
| Yes, please! |
27. Lean to one side: LIST. This definition is more often used when talking about a boat or a ship.
28. Justin Bieber's "One __ Lonely Girl": LESS. unfamiliar but easily sussed
29. Deliver an impassioned speech: ORATE.
32. Political party founded by Henry Clay in the 1830s: WHIG. History.com link
33. Sage, e.g.: HERB. Did anyone first think of "sage" as an adjective (wise through reflection or experience)?
34. Region: AREA.
35. Orange drink made from a powder: TANG. Have you every tried Hot TANG, made with boiling water?
37. Street-smart stray: ALLEY CAT.
Disney's Aristocats (1970) "Thomas O'Malley Cat"
featuring Phil Harris and Eva Gabor
38. Spotted with color: PIED. When I Googled images for PIED, it gave me a lot of pictures of unattractive feet. I do not recommend you try it. #HazzardsOfTheJob
42. Reacted to pollen, say: SNEEZED.
43. Blood bank fluids: SERA. Today I learned that "SERA" is the plural of "serum".
44. "Kinky Boots" Tony winner Billy: PORTER. Here he reflects on playing the role of Lola.
45. Fury: IRE. and 47 Down. Quite irritated: IRKED.
46. Catcher's protection: MASK.
 |
| Buster Posey spent his entire 12-year MLB career with the SF Giants. |
48. Strike, quaintly: SMITE.
49. Feuding schools on "Cobra Kai": DOJOS. Cobra Kai is a TV series sequel to The Karate Kid. In June they announced that next season (its 6th season) will be its last.
52. Gift from one's parents?: GENE. cute
53. One of three on a tricycle: TIRE.
54. Long heroic tale: EPIC.
55. Puerto __: RICO.
 |
| I took this photo of a Tree Fern in Puerto RICO's El Yunque National Forest. It is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S.'s national forest system. |
56. "Don't leave": STAY. 
58. Colorful pond fish: KOI.
58. Colorful pond fish: KOI.
 |
| Today's Zen moment. |
That's all for today. I'm headed out now to take a ZIP drive. Have a good week!
