Theme: Another Year Older - Four things (first word of the theme entries) associated with celebrating surviving another year and a unifier.
18A. Sure thing : CAKEWALK.
23A. Official political philosophy : PARTY LINE.
36A. Now, with "the" : PRESENT MOMENT.
52A. Deck marker, maybe : CARD SHARP.
58A. Event for the first parts of 18-, 23-, 36- and 52-Across : BIRTHDAY.
Argyle here.
CAKEWALK - Something easily accomplished. It appears the term started on the slave plantations as a dance. "Chalk-line dance" was the slaves mocking the formal galas thrown by their masters. Participants followed the chalk with exaggerated made-up dance steps. There may have been a cake as a prize but my feeling is that isn't really the phrase comes from. More likely, to me, is that it comes from "a chalk walk".
CARD SHARP vs card shark - We've had this word before and determined that both terms fill the same bill(a card cheat), they developed from separate sources.
Across:
1. Corrected, as text : EDITED.
7. Hunger symptom : PANG.
11. Taylor Swift received its 2009 Entertainer of the Yr. award : CMA. (Country Music Association)
14. Swiss convention city : GENEVA. The Geneva Conventions are international treaties that contain the most important rules limiting the barbarity of war(1949). Little bit of trickery in the cluing.
15. Emmy winner Falco : EDIE. from The Sopranos.
16. Stimpy's pal : REN. Premiered on Nickelodeon.
17. Won a game without knocking : GINNED. Help!
20. Slim fish : EEL.
21. Salary : WAGE.
22. Devil's work : EVIL.
26. Donald Duck, e.g. : DRAKE. A female duck (Daisy Duck) can be referred to as a Duck or a Hen. A shout-out to MJ's grandson & Crazyhorse's son, both named Drake.
27. Blackjack need : ACE. In the card game, also called "21", an ACE can count as "11" and all face cards are worth "10" as is the ten card. Together they total "21", a winner. In other combinations, the ACE can be counted as one point.
28. Mute assent : NOD.
29. Jeanne d'Arc, par exemple : SAINTE. French for saint.
31. __-purpose: serving two functions : DUAL.
33. Penalty caller : REF.
35. "__, humbug!" : BAH.
41. Energizer size : AAA. (Battery size)
42. 1988 film noir remake : D.O.A.. It starred Dennis Quad and Meg Ryan. (cover image)
43. Civil rights icon Parks : ROSA. In 1955, refused to give up her seat and move to the back of the bus.
45. Use Listerine, e.g. : GARGLE.
48. Nest egg initials : IRA.
50. Highland hat : TAM.
51. Skater Henie : SONJA. Olympic Champion (1928, 1932, 1936). Clear Aye's inspiration when she first learned skating. You are dearly missed, Clear Ayes!
55. Ye __ Shoppe : OLDE.
56. Site of Napoleon's exile : ELBA.
57. Give in to gravity : SAG.
60. Peace, in Arabic : SALAAM.
63. Night before : EVE.
64. Les États-__ : UNIS. French
65. Lubricating : OILING.
66. Tape deck button letters : REW. (rewind)
67. Red planet : MARS.
68. Mixes smoothly : BLENDS.
Down:.
1. Its yolk is used in mayonnaise : EGG.
2. Agnus __ : DEI. Latin term meaning Lamb of God.
3. Cochlea location : INNER EAR.
4. Church doctrine : TENET.
5. Author Waugh : EVELYN. Despite the name, this author was a man. (1903 - 1966)
6. Third-Sunday-in-June honoree : DAD.
7. Pie nut : PECAN.
8. Old saws : ADAGES. Sayings, truisms.
9. Reebok rival : NIKE.
10. "__ whiz!" : GEE.
11. Necktie : CRAVAT.
12. "I approve," Tarzan-style : "ME LIKE".
13. Often twisted body part : ANKLE.
19. Rocket scientist Von Braun : WERNHER.
21. Add lanes to : WIDEN.
23. Note taker's need : PAD.
24. "We'll tak __ o' kindness yet": Burns : A CUP. For auld lang syne.
25. French cosmetics giant : L'OREAL.
26. Circle meas. : DIAM..
30. On deck : ABOARD.
32. VIP's aircraft : LEAR JET.
34. Busy co. on Mother's Day : FTD. Flowers by Wire.
37. Galsworthy's "The Forsyte __" : SAGA. The Forsyte Saga is a series of three novels and two interludes published between 1906 and 1921. They chronicle the vicissitudes of the leading members of an upper-middle-class British family, only a few generations removed from their farmer ancestors. from Wikipedia.
38. Ballerina Shearer : MOIRA. Image, from the lead role in the 1948 film "The Red Shoes".
39. "Why does this keep happening to me?!" : "NOT AGAIN?!".
40. Winter Palace ruler : TSAR.
44. Load for a roadie : AMP.
45. Start using a successfully tested system : GO LIVE.
46. Composer __ Lloyd Webber : ANDREW.
47. Cream-filled treat : ECLAIR. "Uummmm, eclair!"
49. Lay into : ASSAIL.
51. Like a teetotaler : SOBER.
53. Deep chasm : ABYSS.
54. Oscar winner Berry : HALLE. Her birthday is next month.
56. Dame who's a man : EDNA. Comedian?
59. Sing with one's mouth shut : HUM.
60. Cry out loud : SOB.
61. "Then what?" : "AND?".
62. Classic Brit. sports cars : MGs. And avatar.
Answer grid.
Here is part IX of Kazie's Oz series. The final installment. Olio of nuggets. Noticed how high-priced those Pink Lady apples are? Solid reasoning from Kazie, don't you think? Thank you for showing us the beauty of Northern Territory and for allowing us to "vacation" with you again, Kazie!
Argyle
18A. Sure thing : CAKEWALK.
23A. Official political philosophy : PARTY LINE.
36A. Now, with "the" : PRESENT MOMENT.
52A. Deck marker, maybe : CARD SHARP.
58A. Event for the first parts of 18-, 23-, 36- and 52-Across : BIRTHDAY.
Argyle here.
CAKEWALK - Something easily accomplished. It appears the term started on the slave plantations as a dance. "Chalk-line dance" was the slaves mocking the formal galas thrown by their masters. Participants followed the chalk with exaggerated made-up dance steps. There may have been a cake as a prize but my feeling is that isn't really the phrase comes from. More likely, to me, is that it comes from "a chalk walk".
CARD SHARP vs card shark - We've had this word before and determined that both terms fill the same bill(a card cheat), they developed from separate sources.
Across:
1. Corrected, as text : EDITED.
7. Hunger symptom : PANG.
11. Taylor Swift received its 2009 Entertainer of the Yr. award : CMA. (Country Music Association)
14. Swiss convention city : GENEVA. The Geneva Conventions are international treaties that contain the most important rules limiting the barbarity of war(1949). Little bit of trickery in the cluing.
15. Emmy winner Falco : EDIE. from The Sopranos.
16. Stimpy's pal : REN. Premiered on Nickelodeon.
17. Won a game without knocking : GINNED. Help!
20. Slim fish : EEL.
21. Salary : WAGE.
22. Devil's work : EVIL.
26. Donald Duck, e.g. : DRAKE. A female duck (Daisy Duck) can be referred to as a Duck or a Hen. A shout-out to MJ's grandson & Crazyhorse's son, both named Drake.
27. Blackjack need : ACE. In the card game, also called "21", an ACE can count as "11" and all face cards are worth "10" as is the ten card. Together they total "21", a winner. In other combinations, the ACE can be counted as one point.
28. Mute assent : NOD.
29. Jeanne d'Arc, par exemple : SAINTE. French for saint.
31. __-purpose: serving two functions : DUAL.
33. Penalty caller : REF.
35. "__, humbug!" : BAH.
41. Energizer size : AAA. (Battery size)
42. 1988 film noir remake : D.O.A.. It starred Dennis Quad and Meg Ryan. (cover image)
43. Civil rights icon Parks : ROSA. In 1955, refused to give up her seat and move to the back of the bus.
45. Use Listerine, e.g. : GARGLE.
48. Nest egg initials : IRA.
50. Highland hat : TAM.
51. Skater Henie : SONJA. Olympic Champion (1928, 1932, 1936). Clear Aye's inspiration when she first learned skating. You are dearly missed, Clear Ayes!
55. Ye __ Shoppe : OLDE.
56. Site of Napoleon's exile : ELBA.
57. Give in to gravity : SAG.
60. Peace, in Arabic : SALAAM.
63. Night before : EVE.
64. Les États-__ : UNIS. French
65. Lubricating : OILING.
66. Tape deck button letters : REW. (rewind)
67. Red planet : MARS.
68. Mixes smoothly : BLENDS.
Down:.
1. Its yolk is used in mayonnaise : EGG.
2. Agnus __ : DEI. Latin term meaning Lamb of God.
3. Cochlea location : INNER EAR.
4. Church doctrine : TENET.
5. Author Waugh : EVELYN. Despite the name, this author was a man. (1903 - 1966)
6. Third-Sunday-in-June honoree : DAD.
7. Pie nut : PECAN.
8. Old saws : ADAGES. Sayings, truisms.
9. Reebok rival : NIKE.
10. "__ whiz!" : GEE.
11. Necktie : CRAVAT.
12. "I approve," Tarzan-style : "ME LIKE".
13. Often twisted body part : ANKLE.
19. Rocket scientist Von Braun : WERNHER.
21. Add lanes to : WIDEN.
23. Note taker's need : PAD.
24. "We'll tak __ o' kindness yet": Burns : A CUP. For auld lang syne.
25. French cosmetics giant : L'OREAL.
26. Circle meas. : DIAM..
30. On deck : ABOARD.
32. VIP's aircraft : LEAR JET.
34. Busy co. on Mother's Day : FTD. Flowers by Wire.
37. Galsworthy's "The Forsyte __" : SAGA. The Forsyte Saga is a series of three novels and two interludes published between 1906 and 1921. They chronicle the vicissitudes of the leading members of an upper-middle-class British family, only a few generations removed from their farmer ancestors. from Wikipedia.
38. Ballerina Shearer : MOIRA. Image, from the lead role in the 1948 film "The Red Shoes".
39. "Why does this keep happening to me?!" : "NOT AGAIN?!".
40. Winter Palace ruler : TSAR.
44. Load for a roadie : AMP.
45. Start using a successfully tested system : GO LIVE.
46. Composer __ Lloyd Webber : ANDREW.
47. Cream-filled treat : ECLAIR. "Uummmm, eclair!"
49. Lay into : ASSAIL.
51. Like a teetotaler : SOBER.
53. Deep chasm : ABYSS.
54. Oscar winner Berry : HALLE. Her birthday is next month.
56. Dame who's a man : EDNA. Comedian?
59. Sing with one's mouth shut : HUM.
60. Cry out loud : SOB.
61. "Then what?" : "AND?".
62. Classic Brit. sports cars : MGs. And avatar.
Answer grid.
Here is part IX of Kazie's Oz series. The final installment. Olio of nuggets. Noticed how high-priced those Pink Lady apples are? Solid reasoning from Kazie, don't you think? Thank you for showing us the beauty of Northern Territory and for allowing us to "vacation" with you again, Kazie!
Argyle
