An Eerie Theme
Today's constructor is Alexander Liebeskind,
who is making his 6th appearance on the Corner. His theme today is a
demonstration of the vagaries of English vowel sounds. And quite
coincidentally he has cleverly concealed the answer to his theme reveal
somewhere in the lyrics to the Marine Corp Hymn*. Here are the themers ...
17A. "Almost done!": BE READY IN A JIFFY. If you're in a hurry to get an oil change for your car you can just take it to JIFFY Lube, who specialize in oil changes. They are a subsidiary of Shell Oil and are headquartered in Houston, Texas. A CSO to -T.
 |
| Scotty Enterprise Engineer a CSO to Picard |
59A. 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, and so on: FIBONACCI SERIES. In mathematics, the Fibonacci series is an integer sequence in which each number is the sum of the two preceding ones. Numbers that are part of the Fibonacci sequence are known as Fibonacci numbers, commonly denoted Fn . The sequence commonly starts from 0 and 1, although some authors start the sequence from 1 and 1 or sometimes (as did Fibonacci) from 1 and 2. Starting from 0 and 1, the first few values in the sequence are:
0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144.
The surprising thing is that this sequence is found in geometric patterns in nature, e.g. in plants, shellfish, and even ocean waves. Here are some phenomena exhibiting it ...
In our recent visit to the National Gallery of Art we saw this Nautilus shell whose curve follows the Fibonacci sequence ...
 | |
| Nautilus Shell carved cameo relief in a silver mounting |
.. and this is another CSO to -T who IIRC once developed a computer program to compute the Fibonacci sequence to an arbitrary length.
And here's the reveal ...
37. Capital of Libya, and a phonetic hint to a feature of this puzzle's four longest answers: TRIPOLI. If you place your cursor just to the right of the final letter "i" in the IPA translation of TRIPOLI (/ˈtrɪpəli/) you should see this mouse tip popup -- /i/: 'y' in 'happy'. You can also do this interactively with this IPA reader utility. In each long answer in the grid you'll see a TRIPLET of letters spread across the fill that also sound like the 'Y' in happy, the other two being E and I ...
TRIPOLI (/ˈtrɪpəli/) is the capital of and largest city in Libya, with a population of about 3.56 million people in 2023. It is located in the northwest of Libya on the edge of the desert, on a point of rocky land projecting into the Mediterranean Sea and forming a bay. Founded in the 7th century BC it has many interesting archaeological sites, including this one ...
 |
| Marcus Aurelius Arch built in 163 AD |
Here are the rest of the clues ...
Across:
1. Less occupied: IDLER.
6. Taj Mahal builder __ Jahan: SHAH. Mirza Shahab-ud-Din Baig Muhammad Khan Khurram (5 January 1592 – 22 January 1666), also known as SHAH Jahan I,
was the fifth Mughal emperor, reigning from 1628 until 1658. Under his
emperorship, the Mughals reached the peak of their architectural
achievements and cultural glory. He had this mausoleum built for his
favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal who is entombed there ...
 |
| Taj Mahal |
 |
| The Serbian Diaspora |
14. Gave one's word: SWORE.
15. "Citizen __": KANE. Citizen Kane is a 1941 American drama film directed by, produced by, and starring Orson Welles. Welles and Herman J. Mankiewicz wrote the screenplay. The picture was Welles' first feature film. Citizen Kane is frequently cited as the greatest film ever made. For 50 consecutive years, it stood at number 1 in the British Film Institute's Sight & Sound decennial poll of critics, and it topped the American Film Institute's 100 Years ... 100 Movies list in 1998, as well as its 2007 update. The film was nominated for Academy Awards in nine categories and it won for Best Writing (Original Screenplay) ...
The film is loosely based on the life of publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst, who reportedly wanted to have the negative destroyed. The backstory about his attempts to do so was loosely documented in The Battle Over Citizen Kane. It was panned by the critics.
16. Urgent request: PLEA.
17. [Theme clue]
20. Homer's neighbor: NED. Nedward "Ned" Flanders Jr., commonly referred to by his surname, is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons, voiced by Harry Shearer and first appearing in the series premiere episode "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire." A scrupulous and devout Evangelical Christian, he is among the friendliest and most compassionate of Springfield's residents and is generally considered a pillar of the Springfield community.
 |
| Ned Flanders |
22. Fetch player: DOG.
23. [Theme clue]
29. 3-Down, for one: POET. See 3D.
30. Image on the Connecticut state quarter: OAK TREE. I did not know this. Now we both do.
 |
| 25 Cents |
34. New Haven collegian: ELI.
35. Enjoys hot tea, say: SIPS.
36. Bit of static buildup: ION. Here's an explanation. Here's an example ...
.jpg) |
| Static Electricity The child's hair has lost some electrons due to friction and has become positively charged. . The positive IONS are repelling one another |
41. Rare game show outcome: TIE.
42. In __ parentis: LOCO. Today's Latin lesson: "In place of parents". This policy was the cause a much protest among college students back in the 60's. Also the surname of one of my grandchildren's cats, although I think he's more than a little LOCO. I've never heard him sing.
 |
| Poco Loco |
_(cropped).jpg) |
| Megan Rapinoe |
47. Destructive wave: TSUNAMI. On 11 March 2011, at 14:46 JST, a Mw 9.0–9.1 undersea megathrust earthquake occurred in the Pacific Ocean, 72 km (45 mi) east of the Oshika Peninsula of the Tōhoku region. It lasted approximately six minutes, causing a TSUNAMI. It is sometimes known in Japan as the "Great East Japan Earthquake" or simply "3.11". Nearly 20,000 people were killed and 3 of Japan's nuclear reactors at Fukushima experienced meltdowns, releasing radioactive water into the sea.
It was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Japan, and the fourth most powerful earthquake recorded in the world since modern seismography began in 1900. The earthquake triggered powerful tsunami waves that may have reached heights of up to 40.5 meters (133 ft) in Miyako in Tōhoku's Iwate Prefecture. Here is some National Geographic footage of this catastrophic event ...
49. "Ideas worth spreading" offshoot: TED X. E.g., in the clip for 6D -- but I wouldn't spread this idea any further.
51. [Theme clue]
55. Bronze element: TIN.
56. Mimic: APER.
57. Narrow inlet: RIA.
59A. [Theme clue]
64. Speak for oneself?: BRAG.
65. Art hub in New Mexico: TAOS. It started as The Taos art colony an art colony founded in TAOS, New Mexico, by artists attracted by the culture of the Taos Pueblo and northern New Mexico. The 1898 visit by Bert Geer Phillips and Ernest L. Blumenschein to Taos was an early step in the creation of the Taos art colony and the Taos Society of Artists. In the early-20th century, modern artists infused the area with a new artistic energy, followed in the 1950s by abstract artists. Today Taos supports more than 80 galleries and three museums. There are a number of organizations that support and promote the work of artists on the Taos Pueblo and in the Taos area.
66. Larger relatives of violas: CELLI.
67. "Othello" plotter: IAGO. Hand up if you can think of a more EVIL Shakespearean villain.
68. "While" prefix: ERST.
69. Swinton in many Wes Anderson films: TILDA. Katherine Matilda Swinton (born 5 November 1960) is a British actress. Known for her roles in independent films and blockbusters, she has received various accolades, including an Academy Award and a British Academy Film Award, in addition to nominations for three Golden Globe Awards. In 2020, The New York Times ranked her as one of the greatest actors of the 21st century. Swinton has been in 5 Wes Anderson films, including The Grand Budapest Hotel, one of my favorites. Here Swinton on the film and on Anderson ...
Down:
1. Copyright page ID: ISBN.
2. Nerdy type: DWEEB.
3. "Sister Outsider" writer Audre: LORDE. Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches
is a collection of essential essays and speeches written by Audre
Lorde, a writer who focuses on the particulars of her identity: Black
woman, lesbian, poet, activist, cancer survivor, mother, and feminist.
4. Before, once: ERE.
5. Farthest back: REARMOST. E.g. AFT on a boat, not where 9D is.
6. Rogue artificial intelligence system in "The Terminator": SKY NET. I really didn't know much about the "Terminator Franchise" until it showed up in this puzzle. Someone please tell me this is science fiction ...
7. 17-syllable work: HAIKU. A CSO to MOE.
8. __ Arbor, Michigan: ANN. Years back I used to subscribe to the Worm Runner's Digest, founded, edited, and published by a James V. McConnell, a psychologist at ANN Arbor -- a fascinating publication about research with planaria, a species of tiny flatworms, which can be taught to "run" mazes. If you cut one in half the one without a head will grow a new one. You can even get one to grow two heads! ...
 |
| Planarian |
10. Taps: SPIGOTS.
11. Mischief-maker: ELF.
12. Soccer official: REF.
13. Receiving area: BAY. A BAY is distribution facility where industrial goods are received at, or shipped from. In more common parlance a BAY is any large body of water sheltered by land. Both the former and latter types of BAYS have docks. And in 1967 one of those docks inspired Otis Redding to write this song 😀 ...
18. Coin with a torch: DIME. That would be the Roosevelt DIME.
 |
| 10 Cents |
24. Program opened with a tap: APP.
25. Sport played on horseback: POLO. JOUSTING, Maryland's state sport wouldn't fit, but POLO is popular here as well.
26. Overused: TRITE. In crossword puzzles we call it crosswordese. I hope when you opened today's blog you didn't have to accept any cookies!
27. Lukewarm: TEPID.
28. Positive responses: YESES.
31. Grime: FILTH.
32. Rough, as a translation: LOOSE.
33. Bring on: INCUR.
34. Org. concerned with climate change: EPA.
38. Dwell (on): RUMINATE. Just don't chew your cud twice.
39. "That so?": IS IT.
40. Roundabout: INDIRECT.
43. "Almost done!": ONE TO GO. Well THIRTEEN actually.
46. Office contact no.: EXT.
48. Comparable (to): AKIN.
49. Keyboard pro: TYPIST. CODER was too short. In my generation women were often discouraged from learning to TYPE, lest they be pigeon-holed into secretarial jobs. In my case, "Personal use typing" was the only useful course I took in high school.
50. __ out a living: EKES.
52. Food truck fare: TACOS.
53. Sing like a bird: TRILL. Here is violinist Itzhak Perlman playing the 4th movement of Giuseppi Tartini's Violin Sonata in G minor, popularly known as The Devil's TRILL ...
54. Give: YIELD.
58. Home to more than half of the world's population: ASIA. Also frequently living in crossword puzzles. We never get clues for where the other half lives.
59. "Criminal Minds" org.: FBI. Criminal Minds is an American police procedural crime drama television series created and produced by Jeff Davis. The series premiered on CBS on September 22, 2005, and originally concluded on February 19, 2020, but it was revived in 2022. It follows a group of criminal profilers who work for the FBI as members of its Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU), using behavioral analysis and profiling to investigate crimes and find the unsub (unknown subject), the team's term for perpetrators. The show tells the story of the team as they work various cases and tackle their personal struggles.
60. Nest egg letters: IRA.
61. Purse: BAG. Just last week we started taking our own BAGS to buy groceries, as Baltimore County is now charging 5 cents a pop for every bag the grocer must supply.
62. Train unit: CAR.
63. Camping apparel retailer: REI. Recreational Equipment, Inc., doing business as REI,
is an American retail and outdoor recreation services corporation. It
is organized as a consumers' co-operative. REI sells camping gear,
hiking, climbing, cycling, water, running, fitness, snow, travel
equipment, and men, women and kids clothing. It also offers services
such as outdoor-oriented vacations and courses.
Bill
And as always, thanks to Teri for proof reading and for her constructive criticism.
waseeley
Postlude to last week -- Some of this was covered in a comment Nina (inanehiker) made last week, but as this had already been written by then, and it is tangentially related to today's theme 😀 ...
So what brought Nina to D.C. on October 26? She didn't come specifically to see Teri and I, but rather to attend the *Marine Corps Marathon, which her husband and one of her sons
were both running in on October 29. Nina was flying out separately
and arriving few days early so she reached out to us to see if we could
meet. Which we could, and so the three of us had a wonderful time
visiting the National Gallery of Art and getting to know one another. And the icing on the cake was that my son and his nephew
also happened to be running in the Marine Corps Marathon! And all
four finished! Here's my son's medallion. He said it was heavy ...
 |
| Andrew Altman Sr. Marine Marathon 2023 |
