Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.
18-Across. * Many stadium screens: JUMBOTRONS.
|
| The Jumbotron at Death Valley at LSU. |
24-Across. * Seven-star pattern in Ursa Major: BIG DIPPER.
39-Across. * Curly-haired dogs: STANDARD POODLES.
53-Across. * Skimpy garment credited to fashion designer Mary Quant: MINI SKIRT. The Mini Skirt seemed so radical at the time. Its designer, Mary Quant (Feb. 11, 1930 ~ Apr. 13, 2023) died just last year at age 93.
And the unifier:
60-Across. Cornerstone of the KonMari method, and the progression found at the starts of the answers to the starred clues: DOWN-SIZING. Hand up if you immediately recognized the KonMarie method.
Across:
1. Stretched the truth: LIED.
5. Takes a break: RESTS.
10. Garçon's workplace: CAFÉ. Today's French lesson.
14. Actress Kendrick: ANNA. Anna Kendrick (née Anna Cooke
Kendrick; b. Aug. 9, 1985) starred in the Pitch Perfect film series, some of
which were filmed on the LSU campus. [Name # 1.]
15. Love, in French: AMOUR. More of today's French lesson.
16. Operatic high point: ARIA.
17. Folk singer Joan: BAEZ. Joan Chandos Baez (b. Jan. 9,
1941) visited us last Tuesday also. [Name # 2.]
20. GI field fare: MREs. Meals Ready to Eat. Don't they look yummy - Not!
22. Phoenix suburb: MESA.
23. Fannie __: federal mortgage agency: MAE.
27. Little League precursor: T-BALL. // And 24-Down.
Clubs for 27-Across: BATS.
29. "__ thoughts?": ANY.
30. Vegetable in a pod: PEA.
31. Fr. holy woman: STE. A continuation of today's French
lesson. A holy French woman would be a Saint.
32. Ballet garb: TUTU.
34. Piece of advice: TIP.
36. Insensitive, in a way: NON-PC.
43. Spreadsheet software: EXCEL. I hate having to use
this program.
44. "Low" rapper __ Rida: FLO. I am not up on my rap
musicians nor their music. Apparently Low was a # 1
song in 2007. Flo Rida (né Tramar Lacel Dillard; b. Sept. 16, 1979) is
from Florida, hence is moniker. [Name # 3.]
45. "Smooth Operator" singer: SADE. Sade (née Helen
Folasade Adu; b. Jan. 15, 1959) is a Nigerian-born British musician. She
goes by Sade, which is a her Sade a shortened form of her Yoruba middle name,
Folasade. [Name # 4.]
46. Actor Pacino and singer Green: ALs. Al Pacino (né
Alfredo James Pacino; b. Apr. 25, 1940) portrayed Michael Corleone in The Godfather. Last year, at age 83, he and his 29-year-old girlfriend had a baby
boy. Al Green (né Albert Leornes Greene; b. Apr. 13, 1946) was big in
the 1970s. [Names # 5 and 6.]
47. Alias letters: AKA. Also Known As.
49. Summer shade: TAN. My first thought was and ELM tree.
50. Nile Valley country: EGYPT. // And 48-Down. Snake
once sacred in 50-Across: ASP.
56. Summer sign: LEO. Hi, Leo III. Come back! We
miss you.
57. "Firefly" actor Tudyk: ALAN. I am not familiar with the
television series Firefly which aired in the early 2000s. Apparently it
was a space Western drama that took place in 2517 on other planets and moons.
I didn't recognize the name of Alan Tudyk (né Alan Wray Tudyk; b. Mar.
16, 1971), but when I looked him up, I recognized his face. [Name # 7.]
59. Brad of "Moneyball": PITT. Brad Pitt (né William Bradley
Pitt; Dec. 18, 1963) gained recognization after his appearance in the 1991
film Thelma and Louise. [Name # 8.]
64. Draw (in): LURE.
66. Nurse Jackie portrayer Falco: EDIE. Edie Falco (née
Edith Falco; b. July 5, 1963) also portrayed Carmela Soprano on The Sopranos. [Name # 9.]
67. Spanish title: SEÑOR. Now it's time for today's Spanish
lesson.
68. Poems of praise: ODES.
69. Wetlands plant: REED.
70. "Fire away!": ASK ME!
71. Flow slowly: SEEP.
Down:
1. R&D setting: LAB. Research and Development.
2. "Almost ready": IN A MINUTE.
3. Fuel surcharge, e.g.: ENERGY TAX.
4. Stunned: DAZED.
5. "The Big Bang Theory" chum of Sheldon and Leonard: RAJ. I
never saw the attraction this show, but it was very popular. [Name's #
10, 11 and 12, all fictional.]
6. 6-foot Aussie bird: EMU. Emus make frequent guest
appearances in the puzzles.
7. WWI battle site in France: SOMME. Everything you wanted
to know about the Battle of Somme but didn't know to ask.
8. Potato or yam: TUBER.
9. Low-budget hotels, for short: SROs. I thought SRO stood
for Standing Room Only, but in the case of low budget hotels, it means Single Room Occupancy.
10. Mustang or Pinto: CAR. Also breeds of horses.
11. Enticing odor: AROMA.
12. End-of-term exam: FINAL.
13. Equipment used in oil production?: EASEL. Cute
misdirection.
19. Result of some needlework: TATTOO.
|
| Why? |
21. Opposite of guzzle: SIP.
25. Blossom parts: PETALS.
26. Duo: PAIR.
|
| Iconic and dynamic duo. |
28. Road curves: BENDS.
31. "Jersey Shore" nickname: SNOOKI. Her given name is
Nicole Elizabeth Polizzi (b. Nov. 23, 1987). [Name # 13.]
33. Take the lid off: UNCAP.
35. Adobe creation: PDF. Portable Document Format.
37. Insipid remark: PLATITUDE.
38. Source of fragrant wood: CEDAR TREE. The flag of Lebanon
has a Cedar Tree in the center.
40. Triangular river formations: DELTAs. Everything you
wanted to know about River Deltas but didn't know to ask.
41. Strategy: PLAN.
42. Inbox subfolder: SENT.
50. Respected leader: ELDER.
51. Rock with inner beauty: GEODE. Loved this clue.
52. "That smarts!": YOWIE.
53. Some puzzle book offerings: MAZES.
54. How paper contracts are signed: IN INK.
55. Metric weights: KILOS.
58. Middle Simpson kid: LISA. [Name # 14, fictional.]
61. Actor Beatty: NED. Ned Beatty (né Ned Thomas Beatty;
July 6, 1937 ~ June 13, 2021) was primarily a character actor. He was in
a lot of movies, but is probably most remembered for his role
in Deliverance.
[Name # 15.]
62. Snack, in slang: NOM. Meh!
63. Higher ed hurdle: GRE. As in the Graduate Record Examination.
65. Telepath's claim: ESP. As in ExtraSensory Perception.
Here's the Grid:
- חתולה
