Theme: Miller's Law (Olin Miller Quip)
20A: Start of quip: EXCEPTIONS PROVE
36A: Part 2 of quip: THE RULE AND BREAK
49A: End of quip: THE FAMILY BUDGET
Well, the original quote is "Exceptions prove the rule - and wreck the budget."
I think I understand "Exceptions prove the rule", but why "break the family budget"? Who is Olin Miller anyway? All I could find is that he also said "A man who will not lie to a woman has very little consideration for her feelings.”
Lots of 4-letter words in this puzzle, maybe due to three 15-letter theme entries? I just learned yesterday that if there is an odd number of theme answers, then the middle one has to be structured in the very center of the grid - Row #8 for a 15*15. And it has to have an odd number of blanks. I've never paid attention to this before.
Also, not every quote/quip can be worked into a puzzle. It has to have the right number of words for constructors to break them down sensibly and symmetrically.
I disliked the clue for SOBERS (45D: Gets serious). It needs an "up". And "One" is not needed for STAIR (61A: One step). "Step" alone is sufficient. And cluing ISLE (33A: Tiny landmass) is really a third degree felony. Can't you see the huge LANDMASS (38D: Pangaea, for example)?
The clue for LANCE (41A: Calvary weapon) is fine, but wouldn't it be nice if it's LANCE Armstrong related? Esp since we have 54D: __ d'Italia (bicycle race): GIRO. I think LANCE Armstrong is going to ride in the next GIRO d'Italia (the 100th anniversary).
I also thought "Comet, for one" would be a better clue for REINDEER (39D: Santa's team), since we have AJAX (2D: Comet competition).
Across:
17A: Brace: PAIR. Span means PAIR too. As in a brace/span of oxen.
24A: Abu Dhabi loc.: UAE. Dubai is more populated than Abu Dhabi.
25A: In conclusion: LASTLY
28A: Singer Vikki: CARR. She is not the original singer for "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You", is she?
30A: Sweat shop?: GYM. I like this clue. "Body shop?" is great too.
34A: Impressionist painter: MONET. I have a "Water Lily Pond" bookmark too.
43A: Tennis twosome?: ENS. Two letter N's in "Tennis".
44A: Bolt holder: T NUT. I rather like these T * fills: T-BAR, T-BONE, T-MEN & T-SHIRT.
45A: Is frugal: STINTS
47A: Former California Fort: ORD. I had no idea that Fort ORD was closed (1994).
62A: Sal's canal: ERIE. Here is Bruce Springsteen's "ERIE Canal".
65A: Mythical bird of prey: ROCS
Down:
1D: Stair stupidly: GAPE. I penned in GAWK first.
4D: Police officer, at times: ARRESTER
5D: Turnover, e.g.: PASTRY. I want this apple turnover for breakfast.
9D: Rebuked officially: CENSURED. So close to CENSORED.
22D: 2nd section: PART B
28D: Do together: COACT. New word to me.
31D: What Matzo's missing: YEAST. Hilarious "20 Things to do with Matzoh".
37D: Radical: ULTRA. That's TRES & TRES (49D: Very at Versailles).
46D: Greek cross: TAU
48D: Tattoed lady of song: LYDIA. Here is Groucho's "Tattooed Lady". New to me.
55D: Sevareid or Roberts: ERIC. Do you like ERIC Bana? He is so good in "Munich".
C.C.
20A: Start of quip: EXCEPTIONS PROVE
36A: Part 2 of quip: THE RULE AND BREAK
49A: End of quip: THE FAMILY BUDGET
Well, the original quote is "Exceptions prove the rule - and wreck the budget."
I think I understand "Exceptions prove the rule", but why "break the family budget"? Who is Olin Miller anyway? All I could find is that he also said "A man who will not lie to a woman has very little consideration for her feelings.”
Lots of 4-letter words in this puzzle, maybe due to three 15-letter theme entries? I just learned yesterday that if there is an odd number of theme answers, then the middle one has to be structured in the very center of the grid - Row #8 for a 15*15. And it has to have an odd number of blanks. I've never paid attention to this before.
Also, not every quote/quip can be worked into a puzzle. It has to have the right number of words for constructors to break them down sensibly and symmetrically.
I disliked the clue for SOBERS (45D: Gets serious). It needs an "up". And "One" is not needed for STAIR (61A: One step). "Step" alone is sufficient. And cluing ISLE (33A: Tiny landmass) is really a third degree felony. Can't you see the huge LANDMASS (38D: Pangaea, for example)?
The clue for LANCE (41A: Calvary weapon) is fine, but wouldn't it be nice if it's LANCE Armstrong related? Esp since we have 54D: __ d'Italia (bicycle race): GIRO. I think LANCE Armstrong is going to ride in the next GIRO d'Italia (the 100th anniversary).
I also thought "Comet, for one" would be a better clue for REINDEER (39D: Santa's team), since we have AJAX (2D: Comet competition).
Across:
17A: Brace: PAIR. Span means PAIR too. As in a brace/span of oxen.
24A: Abu Dhabi loc.: UAE. Dubai is more populated than Abu Dhabi.
25A: In conclusion: LASTLY
28A: Singer Vikki: CARR. She is not the original singer for "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You", is she?
30A: Sweat shop?: GYM. I like this clue. "Body shop?" is great too.
34A: Impressionist painter: MONET. I have a "Water Lily Pond" bookmark too.
43A: Tennis twosome?: ENS. Two letter N's in "Tennis".
44A: Bolt holder: T NUT. I rather like these T * fills: T-BAR, T-BONE, T-MEN & T-SHIRT.
45A: Is frugal: STINTS
47A: Former California Fort: ORD. I had no idea that Fort ORD was closed (1994).
62A: Sal's canal: ERIE. Here is Bruce Springsteen's "ERIE Canal".
65A: Mythical bird of prey: ROCS
Down:
1D: Stair stupidly: GAPE. I penned in GAWK first.
4D: Police officer, at times: ARRESTER
5D: Turnover, e.g.: PASTRY. I want this apple turnover for breakfast.
9D: Rebuked officially: CENSURED. So close to CENSORED.
22D: 2nd section: PART B
28D: Do together: COACT. New word to me.
31D: What Matzo's missing: YEAST. Hilarious "20 Things to do with Matzoh".
37D: Radical: ULTRA. That's TRES & TRES (49D: Very at Versailles).
46D: Greek cross: TAU
48D: Tattoed lady of song: LYDIA. Here is Groucho's "Tattooed Lady". New to me.
55D: Sevareid or Roberts: ERIC. Do you like ERIC Bana? He is so good in "Munich".
C.C.
