RustyBrain here, pinch-hitting for Hahtoolah. This is my first time at bat. Many thanks to C.C. for calling me up from the minors to be on the best team in the sport!
Today, Rebecca Goldstein's grid features on-deck circles. Some people don't like circles on the playing field, but I don't mind them. Let's see how the game goes:
17A. "That was a great day": I REMEMBER IT WELL. On the day my first son was born, I watched the Winter Olympics in the waiting room (I don't know what was keeping my wife, RightBrain) as the Jamaican bobsled team came barreling down the track. The boy has always been tickled that they made a movie about his birthday. Circled letters are IRL = In Real Life.
22A. Wearable that can detect heart rate: SMARTWATCH. From science fiction to reality. Who'd a thunk? Circles spell SMH = Shaking My Head.
Today, Rebecca Goldstein's grid features on-deck circles. Some people don't like circles on the playing field, but I don't mind them. Let's see how the game goes:
17A. "That was a great day": I REMEMBER IT WELL. On the day my first son was born, I watched the Winter Olympics in the waiting room (I don't know what was keeping my wife, RightBrain) as the Jamaican bobsled team came barreling down the track. The boy has always been tickled that they made a movie about his birthday. Circled letters are IRL = In Real Life.
22A. Wearable that can detect heart rate: SMARTWATCH. From science fiction to reality. Who'd a thunk? Circles spell SMH = Shaking My Head.
35A. Numbered element in a drawing: LOTTO BALL. Tricky! I like to paint outside the lines. Circled is LOL = Laugh Out Loud.
49A. Morsel in Hansel and Gretel's trail: BREADCRUMB. Something tells me that these two leave more than a trail of BREADCRUMBs behind them. Circles spell BRB = Be Right Back.
55A. Like someone who spends too much time on the internet, and like this puzzle's circled letters?: EXTREMELY ONLINE. EXTREMELY ONLINE usually refers to people who can't tear themselves away from the computer screen while surfing the internet. But in this case, it's because the circled textspeak is split to the EXTREMELY far ends ON the same LINE. Ta da! Pretty good although the circles made it easy to find the extremes, but that's Tuesday for you.
And here comes the first pitch:
Across:
1. Low-pH solution: ACID. Low-pH water can corrode your pipes. It's not great in your body, either.
5. Drastic haircut: CHOP. I think "crew" would be more drastic.
9. Bit of a stink?: WHIFF. "What's that lovely stench you're wearing?" SLAP!
14. Tortoise racer: HARE. Because "The Turtle and the Rabbit" doesn't have the same ring to it.
15. E-tron carmaker: AUDI. E-tron is a family of electric and hybrid cars by AUDI. The four rings of their logo each represent one of the car companies that formed Auto Union, the racing juggernaut of the 1930s. It later would be bought by Volkswagen and rebranded as AUDI, one of the original four brands.
16. Ancient Greek region: IONIA. Cruise destination for ancient Greeks on vacation.
17. [Theme]
20. Former student: ALUM.
21. Says loud and proud: ASSERTS.
22. [Theme]
26. Comfy top: TEE. This one is pretty soft. They get harder as the week goes on.
28. Skewered dish: SATAY. A staple of Thai cuisine, it's usually marinated chicken served with peanut sauce. Delish!
29. Muslim monarch: EMIR. Our crossword friendly ruler, right up there with "tsar."
31. Actor and advocate for science communication Alan: ALDA. Another crossword fav.
33. [Not my error]: SIC. I never make misteaks [sic].
34. Princess from the planet Alderaan: LEIA. I think Han Solo liked her buns.
35. [Theme]
38. Book that's hardly light reading: TOME. Fun clue.
39. Chest muscle, for short: PEC.
40. "RuPaul's __ Race": DRAG.
44. Bellicose god: ARES. The son of Zeus and Hera was the black sheep of the family. He lived in a humble abode atop Mount Olympus when not on vacay in IONIA.
31. Actor and advocate for science communication Alan: ALDA. Another crossword fav.
33. [Not my error]: SIC. I never make misteaks [sic].
34. Princess from the planet Alderaan: LEIA. I think Han Solo liked her buns.
35. [Theme]
38. Book that's hardly light reading: TOME. Fun clue.
39. Chest muscle, for short: PEC.
40. "RuPaul's __ Race": DRAG.
44. Bellicose god: ARES. The son of Zeus and Hera was the black sheep of the family. He lived in a humble abode atop Mount Olympus when not on vacay in IONIA.
45. References in a research paper: CITES.
47. "Yo," in Rio: OLA. Portuguese for "Hi." In Spanish (since we didn't have a lesson today) it's "Hola."
48. Galaxy brain?: CPU. Central Processing Unit. No relation to me.
49. [Theme]
51. Leftover schmutz: RESIDUE.
54. Self starter?: AUTO. A life story written by you about yourself is an AUTObiography.
55. [Theme]
60. "The Leftovers" producer Lindelof: DAMON. Aha! The something new I learn every day doing crosswords. I guess I don't watch enough TV.
61. Hang on to: KEEP.
62. Comes to a close: ENDS.
63. Signs of what's to come: OMENS. Also, a scary movie franchise.
64. Attempts or assists: STAT. Sport STATistics. Not, "Get down the court STAT! I'm attempting to make an assist!"
65. Relax: REST. Always nice to end the puzzle with a REST.
Down:
1. Sushi-grade tuna: AHI. AHI is the Hawaiian term for bigeye or yellowfin tuna. Yum!
2. Sweet sundae sauce: CARAMEL. Yum again! This is turning into a food blog!
3. Home country of novelist Sally Rooney: IRELAND. The acclaimed Irish author was named by Time as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2022. Quite a feat as she was only 31 at the time.
4. Raise objections: DEMUR.
5. Pic taker: CAM. Small PICtures require small CAMeras.
6. Networking center: HUB.
7. "__ to Neptune": Phillis Wheatley poem: ODE. Phillis Wheatley was the first African American to publish a book of poetry, unimaginable given that she was a slave. Her popular works help to dispel notions Black inferiority.
8. "Our Flag Means Death" subject: PIRACY. I thought this meant the Jolly Roger, but turns out it's a popular TV show about pirates. Arrrr!
9. Clever folks: WITS. RightBrain says I'm quite a wit! Well, half of one at least...
10. Gordie known as "Mr. Hockey": HOWE.
11. Lethargy: INERTIA. I first thought of the physics definition of INERTIA and couldn't see how it fit, so I was going to look it up. Then lethargy struck...
12. Coffee maker insert: FILTER. Which FILTER is better? Bleached or unbleached?
13. Not true: FALSE. That can't be true!
18. Ambulance staff: Abbr.: EMTS. Emergency Medical Technicians
19. "Or so": ISH. Kinda, sorta.
22. Restorative space: SPA. Ahhh...
23. Squander: WASTE.
24. Working hard: AT IT.
25. Tex-Mex-inspired casserole: TACO PIE. Not to be confused with Frito Pie, where chili is poured directly into a single serving bag of corn chips for a meal on the go! It's better than it sounds.
29. Unagi fish: EEL.
30. Not so hot: MILD. I've got some in a drawer if you need any.
32. Soothing salve: ALOE. Another old x-word friend.
34. Tied, as a corset: LACED.
36. Meditative mantras: OMS. This takes me back to one of my favorite progressive rock bands, the Moody Blues and their song "Om."
47. "Yo," in Rio: OLA. Portuguese for "Hi." In Spanish (since we didn't have a lesson today) it's "Hola."
48. Galaxy brain?: CPU. Central Processing Unit. No relation to me.
49. [Theme]
51. Leftover schmutz: RESIDUE.
54. Self starter?: AUTO. A life story written by you about yourself is an AUTObiography.
55. [Theme]
60. "The Leftovers" producer Lindelof: DAMON. Aha! The something new I learn every day doing crosswords. I guess I don't watch enough TV.
61. Hang on to: KEEP.
62. Comes to a close: ENDS.
63. Signs of what's to come: OMENS. Also, a scary movie franchise.
64. Attempts or assists: STAT. Sport STATistics. Not, "Get down the court STAT! I'm attempting to make an assist!"
65. Relax: REST. Always nice to end the puzzle with a REST.
Down:
1. Sushi-grade tuna: AHI. AHI is the Hawaiian term for bigeye or yellowfin tuna. Yum!
2. Sweet sundae sauce: CARAMEL. Yum again! This is turning into a food blog!
3. Home country of novelist Sally Rooney: IRELAND. The acclaimed Irish author was named by Time as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2022. Quite a feat as she was only 31 at the time.
4. Raise objections: DEMUR.
5. Pic taker: CAM. Small PICtures require small CAMeras.
6. Networking center: HUB.
7. "__ to Neptune": Phillis Wheatley poem: ODE. Phillis Wheatley was the first African American to publish a book of poetry, unimaginable given that she was a slave. Her popular works help to dispel notions Black inferiority.
8. "Our Flag Means Death" subject: PIRACY. I thought this meant the Jolly Roger, but turns out it's a popular TV show about pirates. Arrrr!
9. Clever folks: WITS. RightBrain says I'm quite a wit! Well, half of one at least...
10. Gordie known as "Mr. Hockey": HOWE.
11. Lethargy: INERTIA. I first thought of the physics definition of INERTIA and couldn't see how it fit, so I was going to look it up. Then lethargy struck...
12. Coffee maker insert: FILTER. Which FILTER is better? Bleached or unbleached?
13. Not true: FALSE. That can't be true!
18. Ambulance staff: Abbr.: EMTS. Emergency Medical Technicians
19. "Or so": ISH. Kinda, sorta.
22. Restorative space: SPA. Ahhh...
23. Squander: WASTE.
24. Working hard: AT IT.
25. Tex-Mex-inspired casserole: TACO PIE. Not to be confused with Frito Pie, where chili is poured directly into a single serving bag of corn chips for a meal on the go! It's better than it sounds.
29. Unagi fish: EEL.
30. Not so hot: MILD. I've got some in a drawer if you need any.
32. Soothing salve: ALOE. Another old x-word friend.
34. Tied, as a corset: LACED.
36. Meditative mantras: OMS. This takes me back to one of my favorite progressive rock bands, the Moody Blues and their song "Om."
37. Testing phase: BETA. My high school English teacher made us memorize the Greek alphabet. I never knew why, but it's come in very handy over the years, even in crosswords oddly enough.
38. "Have I ever steered you wrong?": TRUST ME. "Should we ask for directions?"
41. Gymnast's floor performance: ROUTINE. It's a bird! It's a plane! It's amazing that they can do this!
42. Nuts with a high water footprint: ALMONDS. Growing ALMONDS accounts for approximately 15% of the total water usage in California. That's nuts! But they are nutritious and tasty, so I'm torn.
43. Chitchat: GAB. Is GAB a gift?
44. Test for coll. credit: AP EXAM. A good score in high school on an Advanced Placement EXAM may earn the student college credit.
45. Small streams: CREEKS. Now, where's my paddle?
46. Multifunction printer function: SCAN. "That's nice, but do you have one in a smaller size?"
48. Operating principle: CREDO.
49. Word after beach or ski: BUM.
50. One may be a foot long: RULER. I always carry a RULER with me when I go to lunch because you never know...
52. On board device?: IRON. Stumped me for a second, then I realized "on board" almost sounds like ironing board.
53. Rooms for movie night: DENS.
56. Allow: LET. Also, a LET in tennis (the ball touches the net but still goes in) "allows" you to take another serve.
57. Vote for: YEA. Make a choice.
58. Make a choice: OPT. Vote for.
59. No. from a contractor: EST. One thing I never hear from a contractor is "No." But his ESTimate number keeps growing.
Well, folks, it's bottom of the ninth and our constructor swings for the fences. It's going...going...gone! RB knocks it outta the park!
Notes from C.C.:
I'm so happy that the witty RustyBrain has agreed to join our team. He'll be pinch-hitting for a while.
Here he is at the
Truman Little White House in Key West a few years ago.
