Whassup Cornerites! sumdaze here. Our theme is:
Today we run up against four themed clues:
17 Across. Lunch combo component, perhaps: CUP OF SOUP. This was my favorite themer today because it was the least rhyme-y.
25 Across. Out of this world: SUPER-DUPER.
36 Across. Classic Connie Francis song with the line "I'd like to clip your wings so you can't fly": STUPID CUPID.
50 Across. Spanish candy brand whose logo was designed by Salvador Dal : CHUPA CHUPS. Did anyone know this one without perps?
Next up, the unifier:
59 Across. Forming couples, or a feature of 17-, 25-, 36-, and 50- Across: PAIRING UP.
UP does not point to a vertical grid feature (as it sometimes does). Instead we have PAIRs of UPs in each themed answer.
It would have been fun to see the gimmick applied to the reveal. By changing the reveal clue to "Forming pairs ....," we could have had the reveal COUPLING UP. (Making 17-Across plural would have preserved the grid symmetry.)
Let's see what else Ajay has gotten UP to....
Across:
10. Broadcaster of some NCAA games: ESPN U.
11. Low on funds, say: STRAPPED. The idiom STRAPPED for cash means to be without money, especially temporarily.
12. Cat breed with blue eyes: SIAMESE. I have been fortunate to have been the human for two SIAMESE cats. If you have ever been around a SIAMESE cat, you know that they have very special and distinct personalities.
13. Acquire from a will: INHERIT.
18. Like a nonagenarian: OLD. Ninety-nine-year-OLD Mel Brooks is a nonagenarian.
22. "__ you serious?": ARE.
25. Scissors sound: SNIP. "While scissors go “snip” in English, the noise translates into “su-su” in Chinese, “cri-cri” in Italian, “riqui-riqui,” in Spanish, and “katr-katr,” in Hindi." more foreign language onomatopoeias
26. Hybrid tangelo: UGLI.
27. Put to rest, as rumors: DISPEL.
29. Lizard with a spiny crest: IGUANA.
32. Munched: ATE.
33. Genre at a rave: EDM. Electronic Dance Music
35. That guy's: HIS.
36. Public message of appreciation: SHOUT-OUT. Example: I just want to give a SHOUT-OUT to C.C. for keeping this blog going since 2008.
37. Provide for free: COMP. COMPlimentary
38. Puts to work: USES.
39. Prom flowers: ORCHIDS.
40. "Me too!": SO HAVE I.
45. Place for prayer: CHAPEL.
That about sums up today's puzzle. If you have questions, we have an amazing SUPPORT GROUP here on The Corner to help you out.
1. Baseball hat: CAP.
4. Ran a towel over: WIPED.
9. Inter Miami star Lionel: MESSI. People say he is the most famous active footballer in the world.
14. Post-OR area: ICU. Operating Room and Intensive Care Unit
15. Baghdad resident, e.g.: IRAQI.
16. Sean of "Rudy": ASTIN. [b. February 25, 1971] He was also Mikey from The Goonies and a hobbit (not The Hobbit) in TLOTR.
19. Media mogul Winfrey: OPRAH. [b. January 29, 1954]
20. Enough: AMPLE.
21. Brewpub letters: IPA.
23. April or May: NAME. "June", too
24. Monopoly card: DEED.
28. Picnic invader: ANT.
29. Gerund ending: -ING. Learning about language is fun!
30. Camping gear retailer: REI. and 7-Down. Supply with gear: EQUIP.
4. Ran a towel over: WIPED.
9. Inter Miami star Lionel: MESSI. People say he is the most famous active footballer in the world.
14. Post-OR area: ICU. Operating Room and Intensive Care Unit
15. Baghdad resident, e.g.: IRAQI.
16. Sean of "Rudy": ASTIN. [b. February 25, 1971] He was also Mikey from The Goonies and a hobbit (not The Hobbit) in TLOTR.
 |
| Here is Sean Astin when he appeared in this 1993 movie. |
20. Enough: AMPLE.
21. Brewpub letters: IPA.
23. April or May: NAME. "June", too
24. Monopoly card: DEED.
29. Gerund ending: -ING. Learning about language is fun!
 |
| Click to enlarge. |
30. Camping gear retailer: REI. and 7-Down. Supply with gear: EQUIP.
REI stands for Recreational Equipment, Inc.
31. Air pump fig.: PSI. "Figure" is abbreviated, so is "Pounds per Square Inch".
32. Like figure skaters: AGILE.
34. Toga costume, in a pinch: SHEET.
39. Rapper/actor __ Jackson Jr.: O'SHEA. [b. Feb. 24, 1991] He is Ice Cube's oldest son.
41. Old Testament figure who is instructed by a burning bush: MOSES. and 46-Across. Filmmaker Brooks: MEL. [b. June 28, 1926]
31. Air pump fig.: PSI. "Figure" is abbreviated, so is "Pounds per Square Inch".
32. Like figure skaters: AGILE.
34. Toga costume, in a pinch: SHEET.
39. Rapper/actor __ Jackson Jr.: O'SHEA. [b. Feb. 24, 1991] He is Ice Cube's oldest son.
41. Old Testament figure who is instructed by a burning bush: MOSES. and 46-Across. Filmmaker Brooks: MEL. [b. June 28, 1926]
Notice that MOSES sits above MEL in the grid. Nice one, Ajay!
42. Piglet pal: ROO.
43. Peacock network: NBC.
47. Wet dirt: MUD.
53. Crunch target: CORE.
54. Loathe: HATE.
55. Pic taker: CAM. Picture and CAMera
56. Not improving: WORSE.
57. Off-white hue: IVORY.
62. Tennis tie: DEUCE. Here's a song for the car lovers on The Corner:
63. Write to online: EMAIL. and 44-Down. Secretly 63-Across: BCC.
64. Every bit of: ALL.
65. Browser history list: SITES.
66. Swiss chocolatier: LINDT. If you are unfamiliar with this brand, consider yourself lucky. Knowing Lindt is eating too much Lindt.
67. Anti vote: NAY.
Down:
Mel Brooks played Moses in this 1:10 min. scene from
History of the World: Part 1 (1981).
42. Piglet pal: ROO.
 |
| Pooh, Roo, and Piglet |
 |
| Can you see the peacock in its logo? |
53. Crunch target: CORE.
54. Loathe: HATE.
55. Pic taker: CAM. Picture and CAMera
56. Not improving: WORSE.
62. Tennis tie: DEUCE. Here's a song for the car lovers on The Corner:
The Beach Boys ~ Little Deuce Coupe ~ 1963
This video includes some scenes from American Graffiti (1973).
63. Write to online: EMAIL. and 44-Down. Secretly 63-Across: BCC.
64. Every bit of: ALL.
65. Browser history list: SITES.
66. Swiss chocolatier: LINDT. If you are unfamiliar with this brand, consider yourself lucky. Knowing Lindt is eating too much Lindt.
Down:
1. Noisy insect: CICADA. This 1-min. video says they are the loudest insects on Earth.
2. Mental sharpness: ACUMEN. My first guess was ACUity.
3. Sock __: PUPPET.
4. Marital partner, perhaps: WIFE.
5. Return-processing org.: IRS. Oh, those types of returns. The IRS processes tax returns.
6. Kung __ chicken: PAO.
8. Big or Little formation in the night sky: DIPPER. and 48 Down. "Earthsea" series writer __ K. Le Guin: URSULA.
2. Mental sharpness: ACUMEN. My first guess was ACUity.
3. Sock __: PUPPET.
4. Marital partner, perhaps: WIFE.
5. Return-processing org.: IRS. Oh, those types of returns. The IRS processes tax returns.
6. Kung __ chicken: PAO.
8. Big or Little formation in the night sky: DIPPER. and 48 Down. "Earthsea" series writer __ K. Le Guin: URSULA.
9. Card game with unspoken rules: MAO. This game is new to me. From what I can tell, it is sort of a hybrid of Crazy Eights and Uno but new players are not told the rules. Here is a 2-min. video from wikiHow:
10. Broadcaster of some NCAA games: ESPN U.
11. Low on funds, say: STRAPPED. The idiom STRAPPED for cash means to be without money, especially temporarily.
12. Cat breed with blue eyes: SIAMESE. I have been fortunate to have been the human for two SIAMESE cats. If you have ever been around a SIAMESE cat, you know that they have very special and distinct personalities.
 |
| H-Gary's cat Lily (l.) and my cat (r.) who has since crossed the Rainbow Bridge |
13. Acquire from a will: INHERIT.
18. Like a nonagenarian: OLD. Ninety-nine-year-OLD Mel Brooks is a nonagenarian.
22. "__ you serious?": ARE.
26. Hybrid tangelo: UGLI.
27. Put to rest, as rumors: DISPEL.
29. Lizard with a spiny crest: IGUANA.
 |
| I took this photo of a gorgeous IGUANA in Costa Rica. |
33. Genre at a rave: EDM. Electronic Dance Music
35. That guy's: HIS.
36. Public message of appreciation: SHOUT-OUT. Example: I just want to give a SHOUT-OUT to C.C. for keeping this blog going since 2008.
 |
| Here is another example from last week's news. |
38. Puts to work: USES.
39. Prom flowers: ORCHIDS.
 |
| I learned so much about ORCHIDs from this book. |
45. Place for prayer: CHAPEL.
The Dixie Cups ~ Chapel of Love ~ 1964
47. Freeman of "Glory": MORGAN. [b. June 1, 1937] Here is some trivia: Morgan Freeman was not nominated for his role in Glory; however, he was nominated that same year for Best Actor for his work in Driving Miss Daisy. Denzel Washington won best supporting actor for playing Pvt. Silas Trip in Glory and Daniel Day-Lewis took home the Best Actor award.
49. From the bottom of one's heart: DEEPLY.
51. Nez __ tribe: PERCE.
52. Savory taste: UMAMI.
53. Fool: CON. Both are verbs here.
56. Droop: WILT.
58. "Absolutely!": YES. a more formal version of yup
60. Bond novelist Fleming: IAN. [1908-1964]
61. Free (of): RID.
 |
| Here is Morgan Freeman when he appeared in this 1989 movie. Denzel Washington is standing behind him. |
49. From the bottom of one's heart: DEEPLY.
51. Nez __ tribe: PERCE.
52. Savory taste: UMAMI.
53. Fool: CON. Both are verbs here.
56. Droop: WILT.
58. "Absolutely!": YES. a more formal version of yup
60. Bond novelist Fleming: IAN. [1908-1964]
61. Free (of): RID.
 |
| If you use this product, you will be free of lice. |
The grid:
