Theme: Divided Countries - Country names (8) are divided and span across mostly two words in each familiar phrase.
27A. Weather unit: DEGREE CELSIUS. The divided country is GREECE (100A. Country divided in 27-Across).
45A. "I'm outa here": TIME TO GO HOME. Embedded is TOGO (22A. Country divided in 45-Across).
58A. Like always: AS PER USUAL. Contains PERU (79D. Country divided in 58-Across).
77A. Makes a special effort TAKES PAINS. Included is SPAIN (68D. Country divided in 77-Across).
89A. FleetCenter predecessor BOSTON GARDEN. Holds TONGA (3D. Country divided in 89-Across).
111A.Without breaking the rules FAIR AND SQUARE. Enclosed is IRAN (122A.Country divided in 111-Across).
16D. Donne words before "entire of itself": NO MAN IS AN ISLAND. Harbors OMAN (48D. Country divided in 16-Down).
44D. Words sung before placing hand to hip: I'M A LITTLE TEAPOT. The split country is MALI (56A. Country divided in 44-Down). The only theme entry broken into three words. My favorite.
Normally the country names are simply circled in this type of theme scheme. I like how the constructor goes one step further, challenges himself construction-wise, and places each country name in the grid. This puzzle also has 146 entries, two more than our LAT Sunday limit 144.
Our first Havey Estes puzzle since the switch. He has constructed quite a few LAT in the past. His penchant for cross-references today reminds me a bit of John Lampkin's style, though John's Sunday is often a pangram. This one does not have letters J & X.
As the norm with our Sunday puzzle, plenty of entertaining clues. My favorite is ACNE (118A. Bad marks in high school?).
Across:
1. __-mouth: MOTOR. A person who talks excessively. New expression to me.
6. Bethlehem visitors: MAGI
10. Ennui: BLAHS. Tried BLASE first.
15. Piece of cake: SNAP. I liked last time's "IT'S A SNAP" better.
19. Superior to: ABOVE. And OVER (4D. Superior to).
20. Like a dust bowl: ARID. Why isn't "dust bowl" capitalized? We also have GOBI (91D. Asian expanse). Gobi Desert.
21. Bug: EAT AT
23. Established districts: ZONED
24. Shade of blue: NILE. Like the color of this car.
25. On the move: ASTIR
26. Ed who played Mingo on "Daniel Boone": AMES. Recognized his mug when I googled.
30. Like a good knight: GALLANT. Nice play on "good night".
32. Flat-pancake filler: AS A
33. Silents star Jannings: EMIL. The first-ever Best Actor Oscar winner.
34. Power source: ATOM
36. Puts in a bad light: TAINTS
37. Deposed '70s despot: AMIN (Idi)
38. Request to Fido: BEG. And ALPO (115A. Rover's bowlful).
40. Fund-raising targets: ALUMNI
42. Punxsutawney prophet: PHIL. The groundhog.
49. Sunblock letters: SPF. Gorgeous summer day here in Minnesota.
52. Word with strip or relief: COMIC. This clue made me laugh.
54. "Is it soup __?" : YET
55. Tyler Perry's "Diary of __ Black Woman": A MAD. Not familiar with the movie.
57. Cruising locale: SEA
62. "Star Wars Episode II" attack force: CLONES. Obtained the answer via crosses.
64. More 47-Down: LANKER. And GAUNT (47D. Very thin).
66. Rural room renter: INN. Triple alliteration.
68. Bashes: SHINDIGS. Not your everyday crossword fill.
70. Colony resident: ANT
71. Strikes, e.g.: PROTESTS. I always think of baseball when "strikes" are called for in crossword.
73. General nicknamed "Old Blood and Guts": PATTON. Cold guy.
74. Start of a simple game TIC. Tic-tac-toe.
75. Poet Amy: LOWELL. Clear Ayes posted her poems on the blog before.
76. Lets out, say: ALTERS. Nailed it.
80. Fearful reverence: AWE
83. Troubles: ILLS
84. Went lickety-split: TORE. SPED, anyone?
85. Canadian prov. whose capital is Charlottetown: P.E.I. (Prince Edward Island). Got me.
86. Cartridge contents: TONER. Alliteration.
88. Wedding notice word: NEE
94. Says further: ADDS
95. "Growing Pains" star Alan: THICKE. Have never heard of the guy nor the sitcom.
97. Sch. with a Lima campus: OSU (Ohio State University). Lima, Ohio.
98. Three-piece suit piece: VEST
102.Swedish import: SAAB
105.West Wing adjunct: AIDE. Was picturing an added building rather than person.
106.One not acting well: HAM
109.Cracks up over: ROARS AT
116.Polite turndown: NO SIR
119.Racing family name UNSER. And STP (117D."The racer's edge"). I think EddyB is in Indy 500 today.
120.Dark purple fruit: SLOE
121.Emcee's task: INTRO
123.Lapel attachment: ID TAG
124.Strokes: PETS
125.Colorado ski mecca: ASPEN
126.Bit of progress, figuratively: DENT. Make a dent.
127.11-Down feature NOOSE. And LASSO (11D. Will Rogers prop). We also have LARIAT (67A. Cattle drive need).
Down:
1. Publisher of Zoom-Zoom magazine: MAZDA. No idea.
2. English horn relatives: OBOES
5. Turn in for money: REDEEM
6. "The Pink Panther Theme" composer: MANCINI (Henry). Not on my radar. Wikipedia says he also composed "Moon River".
7. Disney mermaid: ARIEL
8. Breathing organ: GILL. Oh, for fish.
9. Caesar's big date: IDES. Of March. And ET TU (39D. Brute's rebuke?).
10. Humdinger: BEAUT
12. Communications co.: AT&T
13. Nixon chief of staff: HAIG (Alexander). "I'm in control here".
14. Bedrock, e.g.: STRATUM
15. Big Red: STALIN. Kept thinking Pete Rose of the Big Red Machine.
17. Bond, for one: AGENT. James Bond.
18. Newsgroup messages: POSTS
28. Send out: EMIT
29. He did a Moor good, then harm: IAGO. The bad guy in "Othello".
31. Rich fabric: LAMÉ. Does "Rich" mean "deep-colored" here? Looks silky.
35. Taj __ : MAHAL
37. Ring icon: ALI
38. Cold draft: BEER: Great clue.
41. City served by Ben-Gurion airport: LOD. Always have trouble with this city.
42. IBM products: PCS
43. Tilling tool: HOE
46. Mike of "54": MYERS. Easy guess. Have never seen "54".
50. Fabric fold: PLEAT. We also have PLAID (71D. Flannel shirt pattern). I tend to confuse these two words.
51. Weapons of the unarmed: FISTS. Loved the clue.
53. Straight shooting, so to speak: CANDOR
56. Gourmet mushroom: MOREL. Delicious!
59. Hides: SKINS. Noun. Tricky!
60. Hanging convenience: PEG
61. "__ you asked ...": SINCE
62. Circus employee: CLOWN
63. Hot gossip, with "the": LATEST
65. Forks over, with "up": ANTES
69. Berry of "Monster's Ball": HALLE. I like her in short hair. You?
70. Pulitzer-winning poet Conrad __: AIKEN. Foreign name to me. Why "__" after Conrad in the clue?
72. Lyon king: ROI. Good pun on the "Lion King".
74. Island starch source: TARO
77. Shopping aids: TOTES
78. Bathroom luxuries: SPAS
81. United: WED
82. "Grey's Anatomy" settings, briefly: ERS
84. "For shame!"" TSK
87. Granola bar bit: OAT
89. Ecolutions pens: BICS. What does Ecolutions stand for? Eco-solution?
90. "1984" setting: OCEANIA. South Seas region.
92. Easy to get: EVIDENT
93. Rorem and Beatty: NEDS. Is Ned Rorem very famous?
96. Sci-fi series about people with special powers: HEROES. Have never seen this series.
99. Costume sparkler: SEQUIN
100.Understanding: GRASP
101.Actress Esther: ROLLE. Another stranger to me.
103.Flaming: AFIRE
104.Composer Copland: AARON. Alliteration.
105.Former UN leader Kofi: ANNAN. I have his autograph.
106.Can't help but: HAS TO
107.Fields of study: AREAS
108.On-ramp sign: MERGE
110.A whole lot: TONS. And ACRE (113.Lot, maybe). Lot echo.
112.Fridge foray: RAID. Alliteration.
114.Nullify: UNDO
Answer grid.
Happy LXXIst Birthday to EddyB!
C.C.
27A. Weather unit: DEGREE CELSIUS. The divided country is GREECE (100A. Country divided in 27-Across).
45A. "I'm outa here": TIME TO GO HOME. Embedded is TOGO (22A. Country divided in 45-Across).
58A. Like always: AS PER USUAL. Contains PERU (79D. Country divided in 58-Across).
77A. Makes a special effort TAKES PAINS. Included is SPAIN (68D. Country divided in 77-Across).
89A. FleetCenter predecessor BOSTON GARDEN. Holds TONGA (3D. Country divided in 89-Across).
111A.Without breaking the rules FAIR AND SQUARE. Enclosed is IRAN (122A.Country divided in 111-Across).
16D. Donne words before "entire of itself": NO MAN IS AN ISLAND. Harbors OMAN (48D. Country divided in 16-Down).
44D. Words sung before placing hand to hip: I'M A LITTLE TEAPOT. The split country is MALI (56A. Country divided in 44-Down). The only theme entry broken into three words. My favorite.
Normally the country names are simply circled in this type of theme scheme. I like how the constructor goes one step further, challenges himself construction-wise, and places each country name in the grid. This puzzle also has 146 entries, two more than our LAT Sunday limit 144.
Our first Havey Estes puzzle since the switch. He has constructed quite a few LAT in the past. His penchant for cross-references today reminds me a bit of John Lampkin's style, though John's Sunday is often a pangram. This one does not have letters J & X.
As the norm with our Sunday puzzle, plenty of entertaining clues. My favorite is ACNE (118A. Bad marks in high school?).
Across:
1. __-mouth: MOTOR. A person who talks excessively. New expression to me.
6. Bethlehem visitors: MAGI
10. Ennui: BLAHS. Tried BLASE first.
15. Piece of cake: SNAP. I liked last time's "IT'S A SNAP" better.
19. Superior to: ABOVE. And OVER (4D. Superior to).
20. Like a dust bowl: ARID. Why isn't "dust bowl" capitalized? We also have GOBI (91D. Asian expanse). Gobi Desert.
21. Bug: EAT AT
23. Established districts: ZONED
24. Shade of blue: NILE. Like the color of this car.
25. On the move: ASTIR
26. Ed who played Mingo on "Daniel Boone": AMES. Recognized his mug when I googled.
30. Like a good knight: GALLANT. Nice play on "good night".
32. Flat-pancake filler: AS A
33. Silents star Jannings: EMIL. The first-ever Best Actor Oscar winner.
34. Power source: ATOM
36. Puts in a bad light: TAINTS
37. Deposed '70s despot: AMIN (Idi)
38. Request to Fido: BEG. And ALPO (115A. Rover's bowlful).
40. Fund-raising targets: ALUMNI
42. Punxsutawney prophet: PHIL. The groundhog.
49. Sunblock letters: SPF. Gorgeous summer day here in Minnesota.
52. Word with strip or relief: COMIC. This clue made me laugh.
54. "Is it soup __?" : YET
55. Tyler Perry's "Diary of __ Black Woman": A MAD. Not familiar with the movie.
57. Cruising locale: SEA
62. "Star Wars Episode II" attack force: CLONES. Obtained the answer via crosses.
64. More 47-Down: LANKER. And GAUNT (47D. Very thin).
66. Rural room renter: INN. Triple alliteration.
68. Bashes: SHINDIGS. Not your everyday crossword fill.
70. Colony resident: ANT
71. Strikes, e.g.: PROTESTS. I always think of baseball when "strikes" are called for in crossword.
73. General nicknamed "Old Blood and Guts": PATTON. Cold guy.
74. Start of a simple game TIC. Tic-tac-toe.
75. Poet Amy: LOWELL. Clear Ayes posted her poems on the blog before.
76. Lets out, say: ALTERS. Nailed it.
80. Fearful reverence: AWE
83. Troubles: ILLS
84. Went lickety-split: TORE. SPED, anyone?
85. Canadian prov. whose capital is Charlottetown: P.E.I. (Prince Edward Island). Got me.
86. Cartridge contents: TONER. Alliteration.
88. Wedding notice word: NEE
94. Says further: ADDS
95. "Growing Pains" star Alan: THICKE. Have never heard of the guy nor the sitcom.
97. Sch. with a Lima campus: OSU (Ohio State University). Lima, Ohio.
98. Three-piece suit piece: VEST
102.Swedish import: SAAB
105.West Wing adjunct: AIDE. Was picturing an added building rather than person.
106.One not acting well: HAM
109.Cracks up over: ROARS AT
116.Polite turndown: NO SIR
119.Racing family name UNSER. And STP (117D."The racer's edge"). I think EddyB is in Indy 500 today.
120.Dark purple fruit: SLOE
121.Emcee's task: INTRO
123.Lapel attachment: ID TAG
124.Strokes: PETS
125.Colorado ski mecca: ASPEN
126.Bit of progress, figuratively: DENT. Make a dent.
127.11-Down feature NOOSE. And LASSO (11D. Will Rogers prop). We also have LARIAT (67A. Cattle drive need).
Down:
1. Publisher of Zoom-Zoom magazine: MAZDA. No idea.
2. English horn relatives: OBOES
5. Turn in for money: REDEEM
6. "The Pink Panther Theme" composer: MANCINI (Henry). Not on my radar. Wikipedia says he also composed "Moon River".
7. Disney mermaid: ARIEL
8. Breathing organ: GILL. Oh, for fish.
9. Caesar's big date: IDES. Of March. And ET TU (39D. Brute's rebuke?).
10. Humdinger: BEAUT
12. Communications co.: AT&T
13. Nixon chief of staff: HAIG (Alexander). "I'm in control here".
14. Bedrock, e.g.: STRATUM
15. Big Red: STALIN. Kept thinking Pete Rose of the Big Red Machine.
17. Bond, for one: AGENT. James Bond.
18. Newsgroup messages: POSTS
28. Send out: EMIT
29. He did a Moor good, then harm: IAGO. The bad guy in "Othello".
31. Rich fabric: LAMÉ. Does "Rich" mean "deep-colored" here? Looks silky.
35. Taj __ : MAHAL
37. Ring icon: ALI
38. Cold draft: BEER: Great clue.
41. City served by Ben-Gurion airport: LOD. Always have trouble with this city.
42. IBM products: PCS
43. Tilling tool: HOE
46. Mike of "54": MYERS. Easy guess. Have never seen "54".
50. Fabric fold: PLEAT. We also have PLAID (71D. Flannel shirt pattern). I tend to confuse these two words.
51. Weapons of the unarmed: FISTS. Loved the clue.
53. Straight shooting, so to speak: CANDOR
56. Gourmet mushroom: MOREL. Delicious!
59. Hides: SKINS. Noun. Tricky!
60. Hanging convenience: PEG
61. "__ you asked ...": SINCE
62. Circus employee: CLOWN
63. Hot gossip, with "the": LATEST
65. Forks over, with "up": ANTES
69. Berry of "Monster's Ball": HALLE. I like her in short hair. You?
70. Pulitzer-winning poet Conrad __: AIKEN. Foreign name to me. Why "__" after Conrad in the clue?
72. Lyon king: ROI. Good pun on the "Lion King".
74. Island starch source: TARO
77. Shopping aids: TOTES
78. Bathroom luxuries: SPAS
81. United: WED
82. "Grey's Anatomy" settings, briefly: ERS
84. "For shame!"" TSK
87. Granola bar bit: OAT
89. Ecolutions pens: BICS. What does Ecolutions stand for? Eco-solution?
90. "1984" setting: OCEANIA. South Seas region.
92. Easy to get: EVIDENT
93. Rorem and Beatty: NEDS. Is Ned Rorem very famous?
96. Sci-fi series about people with special powers: HEROES. Have never seen this series.
99. Costume sparkler: SEQUIN
100.Understanding: GRASP
101.Actress Esther: ROLLE. Another stranger to me.
103.Flaming: AFIRE
104.Composer Copland: AARON. Alliteration.
105.Former UN leader Kofi: ANNAN. I have his autograph.
106.Can't help but: HAS TO
107.Fields of study: AREAS
108.On-ramp sign: MERGE
110.A whole lot: TONS. And ACRE (113.Lot, maybe). Lot echo.
112.Fridge foray: RAID. Alliteration.
114.Nullify: UNDO
Answer grid.
Happy LXXIst Birthday to EddyB!
C.C.
