Theme: Useful Data!
17A It used to store information: CLAY TABLET. I recall from my history lessons that the Sumerians wrote in cuneiform on a wet clay tablet, one of the first examples of written language. That's got us off to a nice educational start, things can only go downhill from here.
22A It used to send information: SMOKE SIGNAL
30A It used to duplicate information CARBON PAPER. I wonder what age you have to be to know that "cc" on an email refers to sending a "carbon copy" of a memo?
39A It’s used to duplicate information: COPY MACHINE
50A It’s used to send information: TEXT MESSAGE. Albeit often useless information such as "OMG! R U SURE? LMAO! CU L8R!
57A It’s used to store information: FLASH DRIVE
Good Morning everyone - Steve here with a really nice Wednesday puzzle from Tim Poor and Jeff Chen. There was so much to like about this theme - six sharp entries and great cluing: the used/used homynym (notice those are symmetrically placed) the "information" repetition and the old-to-new progression. A really impressive job. We believe this is Tim Poor's LA Times debut, congratulations!
Lots of fun with the rest of it, so let's check it out.
Across:
1 Scratcher at a post: CAT
4 Spun some LPs: DJ'ED
8 Kid’s proud retort: I AM SO
13 Fancy ride: LIMO. I saw a stretch limo trying to navigate around central London the last time I was there. Not the best idea, the streets are still pretty much the same width that they were in 1680.
14 Wee bit: IOTA
15 Saves, as a coupon: CLIPS. I get eCoupons on my iPhone. When will I get eGroceries that I can iCook?
16 “I think somebody needs __!”: A NAP. In my infancy, it wasn't "a nap" but "a smart clip upside the head".
19 Make sparkle, in a way: BEJEWEL
21 Satisfy, as thirst: SLAKE
25 Acad., e.g.: SCH. Academy/School? If some schools are academies are all academies schools?
27 Kaffiyeh wearer: ARAB
28 Meadow mama: EWE
29 Twinkie relative: HO HO
34 Open, as classified records: UNSEAL
38 Actress Milano: ALYSSA
43 Eye problem: STYE
44 Brass band bass note?: OOM. Note the question mark in the clue - with "maybe" those conventions always seem to flag the "well, it could be" type of answer like this one.
45 Surrounding glow: AURA
49 Paper or plastic offer: BAG
54 Gridiron gripper: CLEAT
56 73, on many golf courses: ONE OVER. (par). The traditional layout for an 18-hole golf course is four par 3's, 10 par 4's and four par 5's which gives a par for the course of 72.
60 __ colada: PINA. Is it Happy Hour yet? Key ingredients are rum, Malibu liqueur and pineapple juice.
61 Hearty enjoyment: GUSTO
62 A bullet often precedes one: ITEM As in a bulleted list, much overused on Powerpoint presentations.
63 Brings to a close: ENDS
64 Dual pronoun: HE/SHE
65 Shampoo ad buzzword: BODY
66 Teachers’ org.: N.E.A. The National Education Association. This is the country's largest professional employee organization. I know because ..... I just looked it up.
Down:
1 Movie house: CINEMA
2 Key with three sharps: A MAJOR. Because F Sharp Minor didn't fit. One of our resident musical experts can explain that one! Here's the Allegretto from Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 in A Major
3 Capital north of Tulsa: TOPEKA
4 Cuts into cubes: DICES
5 More cheerful: JOLLIER
6 Greek letter between zeta and theta: ETA. One day I'll learn the Greek alphabet. Until then I'll happily wait for the crosses and say "Eta! See, I knew that".
7 __-night doubleheader: DAY. One of C.C.'s favorite things, I'm sure.
8 Hold ’em declaration: I CALL. Not me. Apparently, a poker player who is expert in knowing when to call a bet is said to have "a leather ass". I fold; I'm not sure what I'm sitting on.
9 Actress Jessica: ALBA
10 Wimps: MILKSOPS. I had "POPS" which made PCH look more like a scenic route than a place of learning. Coincidentally, I was on the lovely Pacific Coast Highway on Monday:
11 Graduation Day lineup: SPEECHES
12 Sunrise direction, to a German: OST. The sunrise direction is pretty much the same for everyone, hopefully. This tells us to translate, or wait for the crosses.
13 Short dogs?: LABS.
18 Fed. inspection agency: T.S.A. My friends the Transportation Safety Administration who have me on their Fast Track list, thank you thank you! I'll be seeing them on Sunday when, oddly, I'm going to the airport in 51D.
20 Internet video tool: WEBCAM
23 President before BHO: GWB
24 Prefix with classic: NEO-
26 Circle dance: HORA. Traditionally Jewish.
29 Filly’s dinner: HAY
31 In the style of: A LA. Before "A La Mode" became ice cream, it was understood to mean "according to the fashion".
32 Bert Bobbsey’s twin: NAN
33 Tickle pink: PLEASE. This was nice.
34 25-Across WNW of L.A. U.C.S.B. University of California at Santa Barbara. All kinds of abbreviations and cross references here. Nice!
35 “I’m stumped”: NOT A CLUE. Not today, thankfully.
36 Pirate’s telescope: SPYGLASS
37 Part of a storm: EYE
40 Watergate prosecutor Archibald: COX. The "Saturday Night Massacre" makes for interesting reading.
41 Sexy: HOT
42 “That really touched me”: I'M MOVED
46 England’s Justin Rose won it in 2013: U.S. OPEN. Justin played a little better than 56A over four rounds to win this major championship, and was the first English winner since Tony Jacklin in 1972.
(Trivia Alert: It is the responsibility of the winning player to get their name engraved on the trophy before returning it the next year).
47 Steep-sided landform: RAVINE. C.C. will know Chavez Ravine here in LA - site of Dodger Stadium.
48 Chair’s list: AGENDA
50 Lake near Stateline, Nevada: TAHOE
51 Sea-Tac approx. E.T.D. When I leave Seattle next Wednesday, I'll be hoping my Estimated Time of Departure from this airport isn't later than scheduled.
52 Ibsen’s “An __ of the People”: ENEMY
53 Stats that are better when they’re low: E.R.A.'S. A pitcher's Earned Run Average - the lower the better. Basically, how many runs were scored by batters who got on base when facing his pitches (whether or not he's still pitching when they cross home plate).
55 O.T. queen: ESTH. Absolutely knew this like a shot. Not. Thank you crosses.
57 E followers: FGH
58 Barbecue serving: RIB
59 Simpson judge: ITO. First thought were the animated Simpsons, but then - ah, O.J.
That's about it - hope you enjoyed this as much as I did. See you next time!
Steve
