Wednesday, Mar 20, 2024 Michèle Govier

 TWO DRUMS & A CYMBAL...

I had a feeling this was not a "normal" 3- or 4-word 'theme with reveal' when I scanned the grid before starting and saw two stacks of 8-letter ACROSS fills ( and after-the-fact, I see Monday's puzzle had double Down 9-lettter fills ), but nothing close to grid spanning; I did not see the 13-letter-long DOWN fill at first.  This took me longer than my typical Wednesday solve time, due to the crummy crossing of a proper name and a vague abbreviation.  SIGH; the struggle continues.  I did a search of the blog, and found a puzzle of Michèle's from Nov 7 last year; thanks to her for today's clever construction.  As the clue for 14A states, the perimeter of the puzzle, in both the across and down, are words ( highlighted ) that describe sounds - and the "reveal";

14. Audiophile's setup, and an apt description of the perimeter of this puzzle: SURROUND SOUND

YES~!

And Away We Go~!

ACROSS:

1. Half a sit-up: CRUNCH - I just thought this was a "harder" sit-up; here's a quick reference to what is different

7. Commercial tune: JINGLE - what's your most earworm-worthy ad~?

13. "A Wrinkle in Time" novelist Madeleine: LENGLE - proper name fill #1, and I had no clue; the "G" got me

14. Timekeepers that don't work on a rainy day: SUNDIALS

 

I think the time is "beer-thirty"

16. How baked potatoes may be cooked: IN FOIL - meh, but it is certainly a way to cook a spud

17. Remove, as a seatbelt: UNFASTEN

18. Gina Boswell of Bath & Body Works, e.g.: Abbr.: CEO - I do the DOWNS first, just needed the "O"

19. Sequel to Puzo's "The Last Don": OMERTA

21. "Mean Girls" writer Fey: TINA - this proper name I did know

22. Underwater plant with gas-filled bladders: KELP

24. Wayward: ERRANT

26. Time out?: NAP

27. Playground retort: DID TOO - not the usual ARE too

29. Quirky habit: TIC

31. Cliche: TRITE

33. French noble: DUC - I haven't had Frawnche in a long time

35. Comprehend: GRASP

39. Eurythmics lead singer Lennox: ANNIE - one of my favoritest songs

Here Comes the Rain Again

40. Go from 4x6 to 8x10, say: Abbr.: ENLarge

41. Totaled: RAN TO

42. Busy restaurant's notification device: PAGER

43. JFK predecessor: DDE - Dwight David Eisenhower - IKE - two days in a row; I would have liked to have lived during his presidency, even with the threat of the "reds" and nuclear war.  I have "Ike", his biography, and I do like to read about his role in WWII - and he was the man who enacted the Interstate System; for an interesting take on the pros and cons of that massive national project, I would suggest reading "Divided Highways"

44. Like some purchases: IN APP - and - 62A. Are cast members of: APPEAR IN - sort of palindromic

45. "The __ is calm tonight": "Dover Beach" opening: SEA - with a blank grid, I pondered "AIR", but in retrospect, "Beach" might have been a give-away....

47. Mouths off to: SASSES

49. Amtrak stop: Abbr.: STAtion

52. Silky: SMOOTH

54. Guidelines: Abbr.: STandarDs

57. Ultimate: LAST

59. Creative works: OPUSES

61. Goal: AIM

64. Yukon neighbor: ALASKA - "UCONN" is my neighbor, too~!

Ba - Dum - Tss

66. Prop for a rock singer: MIC STAND - drummers who sing

67. Watering hole in TV's "M*A*S*H": ROSIE'S - ah, yes, now I remember....

68. Unnerve: RATTLE

69. 1984 mermaid movie: SPLASH - Tom Hanks, WAY back in his career


DOWN:

1. Hit it off: CLICK

2. Zellweger of "Judy": RENEE - name #5, but I'm not counting....

3. Developing: UNFOLDING - great clue/answer/fill

4. CARE, e.g.: NGO - I had to look this up after I solved the crossword; DAH~!  I tried "NPO", for a Non-Profit Organization; nope - it's a Non-Governmental Organization; not only that, but I was confusing it with GMO - genetically modified organism, too - hey, it was early in the morning when I did this....

5. Sister of Erato: CLIO - I can never remember my muses....

6. Knight cap: HELMET - punny; that would be an accurate description of such head wear

7. Ruling faction after a coup: JUNTA - I could only think of CADRE or CABAL

8. Baby: INFANT

9. Contract that may prevent bad PR: NDA - Non Disclosure Agreement

10. Crux: GIST

11. Ancestor of the romance languages: LATIN- four years for me in high school, but it does help solving crosswords~!😜

12. Justice Kagan: ELENA

15. Button alternative: SNAP

20. Ate away: ERODED

23. Feels sorry for: PITIES

25. Fertile Crescent river: TIGRIS

28. Some combines: DEERES - John Deere.  I want a tractor like this;  I have 1-1/2 acres in CT to mow, the snow, a creek, and a LOT of big rocks

NOT a combine, NOT a John Deere

30. Origami birds: CRANES - SWANS was too short

31. Stout spout: TAP

32. Messenger molecule: RNA

34. Soccer equipment: CLEATS - SHIN PADS didn't fit

36. Youngest daughter of Nicholas II: ANASTASIA - mostly perps

37. Valvoline rival: STP

38. Dad: POP - we're missing "CRACKLE" for a Rice Crispies trifecta

46. Unscrupulous: AMORAL

48. Woolgathers?: SHEARS - the "?" suggested "DREAMS" was not the answer, but 50% correct

49. Poetry event: SLAM

50. Piglike rhino kin: TAPIR

51. Pet re-homing org.: ASPCA

53. Provide a view: OPINE - ah - that kind of view

55. Sea walls: DIKES

56. Huge success: SMASH

58. Assessment that may end with "Pencils down": TEST - dah~! Not EXAM

60. Unappealing food: SLOP

63. NFL passing stat: ATTempts

65. Communication syst. with hand motions: ASL - American Sign Language

Splynter

Tuesday, November 7, 2023 Michele Govier

Do Not Pass Go, and Do Not Collect $200.  Oh, wait!  Today we can pass Go and we can collect our $200.   Each theme answer is a different concept for something that one can pass.

19-Across. One known for clutch performances?: RACE CAR DRIVER.

31-Across. One who is sometimes a dummy?: BRIDGE PLAYER.

39-Across. One who is not on a roll?: D PLUS STUDENT.  As I was completing today's puzzle, I had DPL, and thought one of my perps must be wrong.  What kind of word begins with DPL.  I stuck with my perps, to give me the poor student who is barely earning a passing grade.  With grade inflation, this student is probably really totally failing the course.

And the unifier:

53-Across. "No, thank you," or something 19-, 31-, and 39-Across might say?: I THINK I'LL PASS.

Across:

1. Casual hellos: HIs.

4. Let in: ADMIT.

9. Ocular bump: STYE.  Eye problem.

13. Thin-strapped top: CAMI.  Short for Camisole.

14. "Psycho" star Janet: LEIGH.  Janet Leigh (née Jeanette Helen Morrison; July 6, 1927 ~ Oct. 3, 2004) was the mother of actress Jamie Lee Curtis (Nov. 22, 1958).  [Name # 1.]

15. Celebrity rodent of Punxsutawney: PHIL.  Everything you wanted to know about Punxsutawney Phil but didn't know to ask.  [Name # 2.]

16. River through Kazakhstan: URAL.  Everything you wanted to know about the URAL River but didn't know to ask.  The river is in both Europe and Asia.  At 1,509 miles long, the Ural River is the 3rd longest in Europe, followed by the Volga (2,194 miles) and Danube (1,777 miles).  It's the 18th longest river in Asia.

17. Italian salami city: GENOA.  Everything you wanted to know about Genoa Salami but didn't know to ask.

18. Tie: LINK.

22. Third-place medal: BRONZE.

23. Forward, as mail: SEND ON.

26. Nasal membranes: SEPTA.

27. Quick punch: JAB.

30. "Rolling in the Deep" singer: ADELE.  I love this Adele (née Adele Laurie Blue Adkins; b. May 5, 1988) song, but then I love all of her songs.  [Name # 3.]

34. Pack animal: ASS.

37. Tropical veranda: LANAI.  Lanai, Porch, Patio ... what's the difference?

38. That, in Spanish: ESO.  Today's Spanish lesson.

44. Venmo transfer, e.g.: E-CASH.  I didn't realize the company had been around for so long.

45. Curvy shape: ESS.

46. Wear down: ERODE.

50. Certain Polynesian: SAMOAN.  Polynesia is made up a several islands including Samoa.

52. Hurt: PAINED.

57. Carson's successor: LENO.  Both Johnny Carson (né John William Carson; Oct. 23, 1925 ~ Jan. 23, 2005) and Jay Leno (né James Douglas Muir Leno; b. Apr. 28, 1950) hosted the Tonight Show.  Carson was the host for nearly 30 years.  [Names # 4 and 5.]

59. Sales rep's target: QUOTA.

60. NYC drama award: OBIE.  The Obie, or Off-Broadway Theater Awards are presented annual for outstanding achievement in plays performed off-Broadway.

61. "__, Brute?": ET TU.

62. Poet Ginsberg: ALLEN.  Allen Ginsberg (né Irwin Allen Ginsberg; June 3, 1926 ~ Apr. 4, 1997) was known as a Beat Poet and, along with William Burroughs (Feb. 5, 1914 ~ Aug. 2, 1997) and Jack Kerouac (Mar. 12, 1922 ~ Oct. 21, 1969), were at the heart of the Beat Generation.  [Name # 6.]

Allen Ginsberg

63. Lenovo competitor: DELL.  Both companies make personal computers.  Levono is a Chinese company and the name is a portmanteau of Le (for legend) and novo (Latin for new).  Dell is an American company, founded in 1984 by Michael Dell (né Michael Saul Dell; b. Feb. 23, 1965).  [Name adjacent.]

64. Fragrance: ODOR.  I think of a fragrance as being a pleasant smell, while an odor is more stinky.

65. Hold responsible: BLAME.

66. "The Simpsons" disco guy: STU.  Diehard Simpsons fans known that his full name is Stuart Discothèque.  [Name # 7, fictional.]

Down:

1. Zimbabwe's capital: HARARE.  Hand up if you knew the name of this capital city without help from the perps.

2. Joe Friday's declaration in the classic "Dragnet" intro: I'M A COP.  Jack Webb (né John Randolph Webb; Apr. 2, 1920 ~ Dec. 23, 1982.  ) was the actor who portrayed Joe Friday on classic cop show, Dragnet.  [Name # 8, fictional.]

3. Subtle characteristic?: SILENT B.  Not really keen on this type of clue and answer.

4. Aquarium problem: ALGAE.

5. Forest animal with antlers: DEER.  //  And 12-Down. Large 5-Down: ELK.  All Elk are Deer, but not all Deer are Elk.

6. Pay attention to: MIND.

7. "Young Frankenstein" assistant with a shifting hump: IGOR.  [Name # 9, fictional.]

8. Bangkok natives: THAIs.  Hi, Lemonade and Oo!

9. Sweetener brand with sucralose: SPLENDA.  It's the sweetener in the yellow packaging.

Chemical compound of Sucralose,

10. Mystical source of perception beyond ordinary sight: THIRD EYE.

11. __ and yang: YIN.  Yin is also a form of Yoga.

13. Sidewalk edges: CURBS.

20. Captain of industry: CZAR.

21. Osso buco meat: VEAL.  Osso buco is an Italian speciality.  The name literally means bone with a hole, which refers to the bone marrow.  It's supposed to be good, but I have never tried it.

24. Cheers for a flamenco dancer: OLÉs.  More of today's Spanish lesson.

25. Rex Stout sleuth Wolfe: NERO.  Rex Stout (né Rex Todhunter Stout; Dec. 1, 1886 ~ Oct. 27, 1975) was American writer best known for his detective novels, which featured Nero Wolfe.  The Nero Wolfe series has been adapted for film, radio and television.  In 1981, a television show began based on Stout's characters in his Nero Wolfe series.  Nero Wolfe was portrayed by William Conrad (né John William Cann, Jr.; Sept. 27, 1920 ~ Feb. 11, 1994).  There was a second adaptation of Nero Wolfe in the early 2000s, which starred Maury Chaykin (July 27, 1949 ~ July 27, 2010) as Nero Wolfe.  You can still listen to the radio adaptations.  [Names # 10 and 11, one real, one fictional.]

27. Matchmaking app for Jewish singles: JDATE.

28. __ Dei: lamb of God: AGNUS.  Hi, Irish Miss!

29. Abacus units: BEADS.

32. Plural French pronoun: ILS.  Today's French lesson.  It means They, and can be a group of males, or a mix of male and females, but not a group of females.  That would be Elles.

33. Pastry with a crust: PIE.  Yummers!  It's almost time for pumpkin and pecan pies.

34. Fruity summer drinks: ADES.  Hi, Lemonade.  Come visit us again!

35. Pet adoption org.: SPCA.  As in the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

36. Hit with force: SLAM INTO.

40. Traveling show that entertains the troops: USO TOUR.

41. Former Iranian ruler: SHAH.

42. "Arrow" and "Legends of Tomorrow" actor McDonough: NEAL.  [Name # 12.]

43. Camera stands: TRIPODS.

47. How some risks are taken: ON A BET.

48. Arnaz and Ball's production company: DESILU.  A portmanteau of the first names of Desi Arnaz (Mar. 2, 1917 ~ Dec. 2, 1986) and Lucile Ball (Aug.  6, 1911 ~ Apr. 26, 1989). [Names # 13 and 14.]

49. Short-lived Ford model: EDSEL.  It does rather look like it is sucking on a lemon.  Why the car may have failed.  [Name adjacent.]

51. Muslim face covering: NIQAB.

52. Place for cinematic snakes: PLANE.  I never saw the movie Snakes on a Plane.

54. __ and void: NULL.

55. Soft drink nut: KOLA.  Everything you wanted to know about the Kola Nut but didn't know to ask.  Not to be confused with the Koala Bear.

56. Article: ITEM.

57. Many an August baby, astrologically: LEO.  Hi Leo III.  Do come back!

58. Info posted in an airport lounge: ETD.  As in Estimated Time of Departure.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה