Happy first Monday in June, everyone! sumdaze here. Today's theme is:
Solve Or Snafu?
The four themed clues are:
17 Across. Stark choice between success and failure: SINK OR SWIM. 
27 Across. Hunting dog's prized ability: SENSE OF SMELL.
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| <sniffy (adj.) having or expressing a haughty attitude> |
45 Across. Take baby steps, so to speak: START OUT SLOW. 
60 Across. Footwear without laces: SLIP ON SHOE. 
The unifier is found in the center of the grid:
38 Across. Mayday call, or a pattern found in 17-, 27-, 45-, and 60-Across: SOS.
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| No SOS is needed on this desSerted island. |
I stumbled upon the S-O-S theme halfway through my solve so I used that schema to help fill squares. Doing so made the puzzle fit a Monday level despite what, in isolation, felt like some later-in-the-week level clues. Here is the completed grid:
 |
| I am impressed that ZDL did not reuse an O-word. |
And now for the 72 other clues....
Across:
1. "__ Beach and all the clams we can eat!": PISMO. This one really surprised me because I am not sure how well known PISMO Beach is outside of California. (I guess I will find out in the Comments.) When I was growing up, my family often went on clamming trips to PISMO. We used to make cioppino (with the red broth) on the beach. This photo is of a PISMO clam I found in my grandfather's shed after he passed away. He had cleaned it out, glued it back together, and labeled it as being from 1971. You would be hard-pressed to find one this size today. more about Pismo clams
2. Not as friendly: ICIER.
3. Aunt, in French: TANTE. Hi Monkey! I think we might have missed your birthday. Happy late birthday!!!
4. Egyptian cross: ANKH. I can always picture this but I forget how to spell it. I need a memory trick.
5. Huffed and puffed: STORMED.
6. Old Ford models: EDSELS. While not successful on the car lots, EDSELS found a second life in XWD puzzles.
7. __ Jones Industrial Average: DOW.
8. Colorful eye part: IRIS.
9. City across the bay from St. Petersburg: TAMPA, FL. I quickly started to fill in T-A-M-P-A then wondered what to do with the two extra boxes.
11. Brouhaha: FRAY.
12. High-pitched wind instrument: FIFE.
13. Crop starter: SEED.
18. Horse riding straps: REINS.
22. Valentine bloom: ROSE. CSO to RosE!
25. Conducts (oneself): DEPORTS. Def: (verb) to behave or comport (oneself) especially in accord with a code.
27. Sign at a sellout: SRO. Standing Room Only
28. Post-WWII alliance: OAS. The Organization of American States was established in 1948 as a regional organization aimed at fostering cooperation among countries in the Americas. Its origins trace back to earlier agreements that sought mutual defense and collaboration against aggression.
29. Make, as a salary: EARN.
30. Praise: LAUD. You have probably heard the recommendation, Praise LAUD-ly in public. Criticize in private.
31. The Dalai __: LAMA.
32. AC measures: BTUS. Air Conditioning & the abbreviation for its measurement
33. Toward sunrise: EAST.
34. Region: AREA.
38. Tiny amount: SOU. I was unfamiliar with this word. It is pronounced like the girl's name, Sue. I found this Cambridge Dictionary definition: a very small amount of money. Ex.: I don't have a sou. Vocabulary.com supports that by saying a SOU is "a former French coin of low denomination" and offering the example sentence He hasn't a SOU to his name. I am wondering if SOU always refers to a tiny amount of money.
39. Dawn droplets: DEW.
41. Sporty car roof: T-TOP.
42. The best policy, per a proverb: HONESTY.
43. Historic Texas site: ALAMO.
44. Took up, as a hobby: GOT INTO.
46. Look over again: REREAD. What book have you REREAD lately? I just finished Simon Rich's latest book of short stories, Glory Days. Now I want to go back and REREAD his first book, Ant Farm.
50. "Yippee!": WAHOO. WAHOO is an interjection used to express exuberance or enthusiasm, or to attract attention.
51. Ring-shaped island: ATOLL. Basically, their shape is formed because of a volcano but there is more to it than just that. Learn from National Geographic.
52. Honking birds: GEESE. It's gosling season! So cute!
53. Snow day vehicle: SLED.
54. More than dislike: HATE.
55. Bancroft of "The Graduate": ANNE. [1931-2005] She was married to a Corner favorite, Mel Brooks, from 1964 until her death.
56. "Would __ to You?": BBC panel show: I LIE. Here is a 3 min. clip to give you a taste of what the show is like (if you're interested):
58. General __ chicken: TSO'S.
1. Greek pocket breads: PITAS.
6. Word processor menu heading: EDIT.
10. Close pals, briefly: BFFS. Best Friends Forever
14. "Would love to, but alas": I CAN'T. I prefer clues where the style of the clue matches the style of the answer. Alas and CAN'T are not a good fit. Perhaps "Not gonna happen" would have been a better match.
15. Bilingual cartoon explorer on Nickelodeon: DORA. and 47 Down. Thieving fox often scolded by 15-Across: SWIPER.
16. Western Pennsylvania city: ERIE. At first I thought, "How am I supposed to know a 4-letter Pennsylvanian city name?" but then I thought, "Wait a minute....."
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| PITAS stuffed with falafel & tzatziki sauce |
10. Close pals, briefly: BFFS. Best Friends Forever
14. "Would love to, but alas": I CAN'T. I prefer clues where the style of the clue matches the style of the answer. Alas and CAN'T are not a good fit. Perhaps "Not gonna happen" would have been a better match.
15. Bilingual cartoon explorer on Nickelodeon: DORA. and 47 Down. Thieving fox often scolded by 15-Across: SWIPER.
 |
| Oh, I get it. Swiper is a thief who swipes (steals) stuff. |
16. Western Pennsylvania city: ERIE. At first I thought, "How am I supposed to know a 4-letter Pennsylvanian city name?" but then I thought, "Wait a minute....."
 |
| Population = about 93,000 people |
19. Latte spot: CAFÉ.
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| not a laundry emergency variety of spot |
20. "Totally agree with you both": ME, THREE. This one took me a bit to parse but I loved it after I finally saw how both indicated there were three people involved. ME, THREE is an extension of me, too.
21. Used the hose on: SPRAYED.
23. Lode load: ORE. I like this homophone clue!
24. Not spicy: MILD. The other day, my neighbor brought over some end-of-season mustard greens from his garden. I added two huge leaves to my smoothie. Yikes! It was spicy -- something I do not aim for in my smoothies.
21. Used the hose on: SPRAYED.
 |
| Don't try this at home. (We're not supposed to drink from the hose anymore.) |
23. Lode load: ORE. I like this homophone clue!
24. Not spicy: MILD. The other day, my neighbor brought over some end-of-season mustard greens from his garden. I added two huge leaves to my smoothie. Yikes! It was spicy -- something I do not aim for in my smoothies.
26. Internet co. once known for mailing CDs: AOL. I do remember when America Online used to send unsolicited advertising Compact Discs in the mail. I hung them in my garden to keep the birds out of my tomatoes.
32. Goatees, e.g.: BEARDS.
35. Lacking color: PALE.
36. Org. offering travel advice: AAA. Organization and American Automobile Association
37. Starchy root in poi: TARO. Poi is a traditional food in the Polynesian diet made from mashed TARO roots.
39. Percussion instrument: DRUM.
40. "__ your head!": USE.
41. Norse god who wields the hammer Mjölnir: THOR. pronunciation: miyOl-near
32. Goatees, e.g.: BEARDS.
35. Lacking color: PALE.
36. Org. offering travel advice: AAA. Organization and American Automobile Association
37. Starchy root in poi: TARO. Poi is a traditional food in the Polynesian diet made from mashed TARO roots.
39. Percussion instrument: DRUM.
 |
| Animal on the DRUMs |
41. Norse god who wields the hammer Mjölnir: THOR. pronunciation: miyOl-near
10 Things You Might Not Know about Thor's Hammer
43. Meeting outline: AGENDA.
48. Long stretch: EON.
49. Thwack: SWAT.
50. Canine "I'm happy to see you!": WAG. Anyone have to take a WAG at this one?
53. Chinese canine: SHAR PEI. The AKC describes them as loyal to family members but standoffish with strangers.
57. Ape: IMITATE. We sometimes see this clue & answer reversed.
59. Bowling alley assignment: LANE. Seeing "bowling" and "LANE" on a Monday reminds us of Boomer ... and his preference for bowling lanes. 😄
62. Sicilian volcano: ETNA.
63. Goodyear product: TIRE.
64. Home Depot purchases: TOOLS.
65. Proof of ownership: DEED.
66. 12 months: YEAR. pretty straightforward
67. "__ Mio": classic Italian song: O SOLE. I like how happy Luciano Pavarotti seems to be at the thought of sharing this beautiful song with the audience.
Down:
43. Meeting outline: AGENDA.
48. Long stretch: EON.
49. Thwack: SWAT.
50. Canine "I'm happy to see you!": WAG. Anyone have to take a WAG at this one?
53. Chinese canine: SHAR PEI. The AKC describes them as loyal to family members but standoffish with strangers.
59. Bowling alley assignment: LANE. Seeing "bowling" and "LANE" on a Monday reminds us of Boomer ... and his preference for bowling lanes. 😄
62. Sicilian volcano: ETNA.
63. Goodyear product: TIRE.
 |
| Click to enlarge. |
64. Home Depot purchases: TOOLS.
66. 12 months: YEAR. pretty straightforward
67. "__ Mio": classic Italian song: O SOLE. I like how happy Luciano Pavarotti seems to be at the thought of sharing this beautiful song with the audience.
Down:
1. "__ Beach and all the clams we can eat!": PISMO. This one really surprised me because I am not sure how well known PISMO Beach is outside of California. (I guess I will find out in the Comments.) When I was growing up, my family often went on clamming trips to PISMO. We used to make cioppino (with the red broth) on the beach. This photo is of a PISMO clam I found in my grandfather's shed after he passed away. He had cleaned it out, glued it back together, and labeled it as being from 1971. You would be hard-pressed to find one this size today. more about Pismo clams
 |
| The clue might refer to a Bugs Bunny skit called Ali Baba Bunny. |
3. Aunt, in French: TANTE. Hi Monkey! I think we might have missed your birthday. Happy late birthday!!!
4. Egyptian cross: ANKH. I can always picture this but I forget how to spell it. I need a memory trick.
5. Huffed and puffed: STORMED.
 |
| Nice kicks, Mr. Wolf. |
6. Old Ford models: EDSELS. While not successful on the car lots, EDSELS found a second life in XWD puzzles.
7. __ Jones Industrial Average: DOW.
8. Colorful eye part: IRIS.
9. City across the bay from St. Petersburg: TAMPA, FL. I quickly started to fill in T-A-M-P-A then wondered what to do with the two extra boxes.
10. "Relax": BE CALM.
11. Brouhaha: FRAY.
12. High-pitched wind instrument: FIFE.
13. Crop starter: SEED.
18. Horse riding straps: REINS.
22. Valentine bloom: ROSE. CSO to RosE!
25. Conducts (oneself): DEPORTS. Def: (verb) to behave or comport (oneself) especially in accord with a code.
27. Sign at a sellout: SRO. Standing Room Only
28. Post-WWII alliance: OAS. The Organization of American States was established in 1948 as a regional organization aimed at fostering cooperation among countries in the Americas. Its origins trace back to earlier agreements that sought mutual defense and collaboration against aggression.
29. Make, as a salary: EARN.
30. Praise: LAUD. You have probably heard the recommendation, Praise LAUD-ly in public. Criticize in private.
31. The Dalai __: LAMA.
32. AC measures: BTUS. Air Conditioning & the abbreviation for its measurement
33. Toward sunrise: EAST.
34. Region: AREA.
38. Tiny amount: SOU. I was unfamiliar with this word. It is pronounced like the girl's name, Sue. I found this Cambridge Dictionary definition: a very small amount of money. Ex.: I don't have a sou. Vocabulary.com supports that by saying a SOU is "a former French coin of low denomination" and offering the example sentence He hasn't a SOU to his name. I am wondering if SOU always refers to a tiny amount of money.
39. Dawn droplets: DEW.
Grateful Dead ~ Morning Dew
a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Bonnie Dobson
41. Sporty car roof: T-TOP.
42. The best policy, per a proverb: HONESTY.
44. Took up, as a hobby: GOT INTO.
46. Look over again: REREAD. What book have you REREAD lately? I just finished Simon Rich's latest book of short stories, Glory Days. Now I want to go back and REREAD his first book, Ant Farm.
50. "Yippee!": WAHOO. WAHOO is an interjection used to express exuberance or enthusiasm, or to attract attention.
51. Ring-shaped island: ATOLL. Basically, their shape is formed because of a volcano but there is more to it than just that. Learn from National Geographic.
 |
| Click to enlarge. |
52. Honking birds: GEESE. It's gosling season! So cute!
54. More than dislike: HATE.
55. Bancroft of "The Graduate": ANNE. [1931-2005] She was married to a Corner favorite, Mel Brooks, from 1964 until her death.
 |
| Bancroft with Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate Their eyes tell us so much about what they are thinking. |
56. "Would __ to You?": BBC panel show: I LIE. Here is a 3 min. clip to give you a taste of what the show is like (if you're interested):
British humour
58. General __ chicken: TSO'S.
61. 401(k) kin: IRA.
Signing Off Speedily,
sumdaze
