Happy Monday, everyone. Christmas came early in the form of a puzzle by none other than our talented blogmistress, Zhouqin Burnikel.
Theme: 
We'll kick things off with the reveal:
We'll kick things off with the reveal:
35 Across. "We've made some progress," and what one might say about the answer to each starred clue: IT'S A START.
Each of the starred clues is a START to something. We have:
1 Across. *With 65-Across, faceoff in a hockey game: PUCK. and 65 Across. See 1-Across: DROP.
In hockey, a PUCK DROP STARTs play.
18 Across. *Ceremonial toss made memorable by Simone Biles at the 2019 World Series: FIRST PITCH.
In baseball, it is common to invite a celebrity to throw a FIRST (unofficial) PITCH at the START of a game.
23 Across. *TV show pilot, typically: EPISODE I.
In TV-land, the first EPISODE at the START of a TV series is called a pilot.
54 Across. *Auction action: OPENING BID.
48. Ballpoint alternative: GEL PEN.
52. "Zoolander" actor Wilson: OWEN.
53. __ Coors: MOLSON. This one was ESP for me. I did know of Coors beer but I did not know that in 2005 Molson of Canada merged with Coors of the U.S. to form Molson Coors Brewing Co. (now Molson Coors Beverage Co.).
57. Joint protected by a patella: KNEE. A patella is a KNEEcap.
60. Spanakopita dough: FILO. The Greeks deserve a Nobel Prize for inventing such a delicious pie with spinach as a main ingredient.
61. Ludicrous display: FARCE. Def.: (noun) an empty or patently ridiculous act, proceeding, or situation.
62. Unagi Day fish: EELS. Mark your calendars. The next Unagi Day will be July 19, 2025.
63. Hand puppet material: FELT. FELT is believed to be the world's oldest fabric. more about FELT
64. Support one's team, in a way: CHEER.
Down:
1. Knob on a viola: PEG.
2. The ACC's Cavaliers: UVA. Atlantic Coast Conference and University of Virginia
3. Fahrenheit counterpart: CELSIUS.
4. Bluegrass-country singer Alison: KRAUSS. (b. July 23, 1971 in Decatur, IL)
5. Ravenous, probably: UNFED.
6. Bête __: NOIRE. Def.: (noun) a person or thing strongly detested or avoided.
8. Dumbbell abbr.: LBS. pounds
9. Superlative suffix: -EST. This is the bestest suffix.
10. Make small talk: CHITCHAT. Have you heard of ablaut reduplication? It is why CHITCHAT sounds natural to native English speakers but chatchit does not. We had a puzzle containing several of these terms on Nov. 6, 2024.
11. Homes for pet rabbits: HUTCHES.
12. Newsroom stars: ANCHORS. Cue Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004):
13. Unspecified degree: NTH. not to be confused with the degrees in 3-Down
19. __-up demand: PENT. According to Investopedia, this describes a rapid increase in demand for a service or product, usually following a period of subdued spending.
21. Theorize: POSIT. Perhaps potentially perky people pencil positive POSITs on Post-its.
24. Full-time athlete: PRO. Last week 17-year old golfer Blades Brown announced he was skipping college to turn PRO. ESPN article
25. Direct toward: AIM AT.
28. Bowlers and fedoras: HATS.
31. Colorado skiing mecca: ASPEN.
32. Snickers producer: MARS. This was the candy bar -- not snickers as in "hee hee".
33. NNW reversal: SSE.
35. "That would be terrible!": I HOPE NOT.
36. Sounds like a lion: ROARS.
37. 1990s collectible disc: POG. We've had this one a few times lately. I hope everyone remembered it this time. in case you forgot
38. Creamy dessert made with cookies: OREO PIE.
39. Derrick setting: OIL WELL.
41. Real knockout: STUNNER. Something that is stunning to see can be a STUNNER.
42. Miss a cue: ERR.
43. "__ betide our enemies": WOE. This time of year we say, "Glad tidings!" but here is a darker use.
45. Heidi Klum's model daughter: LENI. Leni Olumi Klum (b. May 4, 2004) is Heidi's oldest child. Seal adopted her in 2009.
47. Really psyched: STOKED. The first known use of this slang word was in 1965. M-W
49. Color technique with a blended effect: OMBRE.
50. Alto or soprano: VOICE.
51. Revered tribal figure: ELDER.
54. Like weird vibes: OFF.
55. Org. with Cardinals and Saints: NFC. I had to make a trade from the National Football League to the National Football Conference.
At auctions, the OPENING BID STARTs the bidding process.
49. *Musical introduction: OVERTURE.
In theater, an OVERTURE is an orchestral piece played at the START of an opera, play, ballet, etc.
I like the range of STARTS in this puzzle. Also impressive is the placement of a two-part themer in the top-left and bottom-right corners. Let's look at that now. 
Across:
5. "I give up!": UNCLE. I tried to find the reason we say UNCLE to mean "I give up!" but I could find no definitive answer -- only speculation. After reading a few sources, I cried UNCLE.
10. "Eternals" star Gemma: CHAN. (b. Nov. 29, 1982 in London) Eternals is a 2021 fantasy/action film.
14. "__ yours": affectionate sign-off: EVER.
15. Gaming rookies: NOOBS. N00BS (spelled with zeros instead of Os) is an example of leet. Basically, leet is a gamer's writing system that replaces letters with numbers or other characters. Some say it is derived from the word elite. 1337
5. "I give up!": UNCLE. I tried to find the reason we say UNCLE to mean "I give up!" but I could find no definitive answer -- only speculation. After reading a few sources, I cried UNCLE.
10. "Eternals" star Gemma: CHAN. (b. Nov. 29, 1982 in London) Eternals is a 2021 fantasy/action film.
 |
| CHAN as Sersi in Eternals |
14. "__ yours": affectionate sign-off: EVER.
15. Gaming rookies: NOOBS. N00BS (spelled with zeros instead of Os) is an example of leet. Basically, leet is a gamer's writing system that replaces letters with numbers or other characters. Some say it is derived from the word elite. 1337
16. Search for wild game: HUNT. 
17. Fancy fundraiser: GALA. and 26 Down. Broadway background: SET.
17. Fancy fundraiser: GALA. and 26 Down. Broadway background: SET.
I liked the alliteration in these two clues, as well as in the 54-Across themer.
20. Alpine event: SUPER-G. It stands for Super Giant Slalom.
22. __ A Sketch: ETCH.
25. Dried poblano peppers: ANCHOS.
27. Bridge support: TRUSS. waseeley gave told us about "trusses" last Thursday so today I'll point you towards The World's 10 Longest Continuous TRUSS bridges. (I have ridden my bike across #5 many times.)
28. "Nice to see you!": HI THERE.
29. Square root of cuatro: DOS. matemáticas españolas
30. 2001 film with a Seussian title: I AM SAM. I did not hesitate on this one because the soundtrack for this Sean Penn and Michelle Pfeiffer movie is on my Top 5 Soundtracks of All Time list. Every song is a Beatles cover. It is difficult to choose just one. Here is Sarah McLachlan with Blackbird.
34. Mgr.'s helper: ASST. manager and assistant
37. "Hunny" bear: POOH.
40. "Abracadabra!": PRESTO. I like the parity between the clue and answer.
41. Take up or take in: SEW. A tailor might take up a hem or take in a suit that is too large.
44. Baltimore baseballers: ORIOLES. CSO to waseeley!
46. Houston baseballer: ASTRO. CSO to -T!
20. Alpine event: SUPER-G. It stands for Super Giant Slalom.
This is Mikaela Shiffrin winning the Bronze for the Women's Super-G
at the 2021 FIX World Alpine Ski Championships. (1:13 min.)
22. __ A Sketch: ETCH.
25. Dried poblano peppers: ANCHOS.
 |
| The ANCHO is on the left. |
27. Bridge support: TRUSS. waseeley gave told us about "trusses" last Thursday so today I'll point you towards The World's 10 Longest Continuous TRUSS bridges. (I have ridden my bike across #5 many times.)
28. "Nice to see you!": HI THERE.
29. Square root of cuatro: DOS. matemáticas españolas
 |
| The square root of a negative number is an imaginary number, denoted by i. The answer should be 2i. The answer "lost an i". |
30. 2001 film with a Seussian title: I AM SAM. I did not hesitate on this one because the soundtrack for this Sean Penn and Michelle Pfeiffer movie is on my Top 5 Soundtracks of All Time list. Every song is a Beatles cover. It is difficult to choose just one. Here is Sarah McLachlan with Blackbird.
34. Mgr.'s helper: ASST. manager and assistant
37. "Hunny" bear: POOH.
40. "Abracadabra!": PRESTO. I like the parity between the clue and answer.
41. Take up or take in: SEW. A tailor might take up a hem or take in a suit that is too large.
44. Baltimore baseballers: ORIOLES. CSO to waseeley!
46. Houston baseballer: ASTRO. CSO to -T!
 |
| I liked that these two answers were on the same line. |
48. Ballpoint alternative: GEL PEN.
 |
| I 💙 these pens! |
52. "Zoolander" actor Wilson: OWEN.
 |
| Owen (right) starred with Ben Stiller (left) in this 2001 comedy. |
53. __ Coors: MOLSON. This one was ESP for me. I did know of Coors beer but I did not know that in 2005 Molson of Canada merged with Coors of the U.S. to form Molson Coors Brewing Co. (now Molson Coors Beverage Co.).
57. Joint protected by a patella: KNEE. A patella is a KNEEcap.
60. Spanakopita dough: FILO. The Greeks deserve a Nobel Prize for inventing such a delicious pie with spinach as a main ingredient.
61. Ludicrous display: FARCE. Def.: (noun) an empty or patently ridiculous act, proceeding, or situation.
62. Unagi Day fish: EELS. Mark your calendars. The next Unagi Day will be July 19, 2025.
63. Hand puppet material: FELT. FELT is believed to be the world's oldest fabric. more about FELT
64. Support one's team, in a way: CHEER.
Down:
1. Knob on a viola: PEG.
 |
| A viola has four strings so it needs four PEGs. |
2. The ACC's Cavaliers: UVA. Atlantic Coast Conference and University of Virginia
3. Fahrenheit counterpart: CELSIUS.
4. Bluegrass-country singer Alison: KRAUSS. (b. July 23, 1971 in Decatur, IL)
Sawing on the Strings (2008)
5. Ravenous, probably: UNFED.
6. Bête __: NOIRE. Def.: (noun) a person or thing strongly detested or avoided.
 |
| This translates from French to black beast. |
7. Short-legged canine: CORGI. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi was #11 on the American Kennel Club's most popular dogs of 2023 list. Here is a collection of cute CORGI actions (2:18 min.):
8. Dumbbell abbr.: LBS. pounds
9. Superlative suffix: -EST. This is the bestest suffix.
10. Make small talk: CHITCHAT. Have you heard of ablaut reduplication? It is why CHITCHAT sounds natural to native English speakers but chatchit does not. We had a puzzle containing several of these terms on Nov. 6, 2024.
11. Homes for pet rabbits: HUTCHES.
12. Newsroom stars: ANCHORS. Cue Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004):
13. Unspecified degree: NTH. not to be confused with the degrees in 3-Down
19. __-up demand: PENT. According to Investopedia, this describes a rapid increase in demand for a service or product, usually following a period of subdued spending.
21. Theorize: POSIT. Perhaps potentially perky people pencil positive POSITs on Post-its.
23. Flight takeoff hr.: ETD. "Hour" is abbreviated, so is "Estimated Time of Departure".
24. Full-time athlete: PRO. Last week 17-year old golfer Blades Brown announced he was skipping college to turn PRO. ESPN article
25. Direct toward: AIM AT.
28. Bowlers and fedoras: HATS.
 |
| Bowlers (l.) and fedoras (r.) are often made of FELT. |
31. Colorado skiing mecca: ASPEN.
32. Snickers producer: MARS. This was the candy bar -- not snickers as in "hee hee".
33. NNW reversal: SSE.
35. "That would be terrible!": I HOPE NOT.
"Christmas is cancelled" scene from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
36. Sounds like a lion: ROARS.
37. 1990s collectible disc: POG. We've had this one a few times lately. I hope everyone remembered it this time. in case you forgot
38. Creamy dessert made with cookies: OREO PIE.
39. Derrick setting: OIL WELL.
41. Real knockout: STUNNER. Something that is stunning to see can be a STUNNER.
42. Miss a cue: ERR.
43. "__ betide our enemies": WOE. This time of year we say, "Glad tidings!" but here is a darker use.
45. Heidi Klum's model daughter: LENI. Leni Olumi Klum (b. May 4, 2004) is Heidi's oldest child. Seal adopted her in 2009.
 |
| Seal, Leni, and Heidi |
47. Really psyched: STOKED. The first known use of this slang word was in 1965. M-W
49. Color technique with a blended effect: OMBRE.
51. Revered tribal figure: ELDER.
54. Like weird vibes: OFF.
 |
| This one is for Jayce. |
55. Org. with Cardinals and Saints: NFC. I had to make a trade from the National Football League to the National Football Conference.
FYI, The AFC + The NFC = The NFL
56. "So frustrating!": GAH.
58. "Strange Magic" rock gp.: ELO.
59. Precognition letters: ESP. Precognition is a noun meaning "clairvoyance relating to an event or state not yet experienced". So, the opposite of déjà vu???
56. "So frustrating!": GAH.
58. "Strange Magic" rock gp.: ELO.
59. Precognition letters: ESP. Precognition is a noun meaning "clairvoyance relating to an event or state not yet experienced". So, the opposite of déjà vu???
Happy Holidays to everyone! 🎄I will be away for a few days but I will be back before the START of the new year.
Note from C.C.:
Happy 80th birthday to Margot, our caring and loving Misty. Here is a picture of Misty and her
husband Rowland celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary in 2009.
