47. Musical symbol : QUARTER NOTE. Quarterback, the field general.
55. Hold that's illegal in amateur wrestling : FULL NELSON. Fullback, blocking and taking the ball straight ahead,.
Argyle here. Are we ramping up for the Superbowl or what? I wouldn't be surprised to find this theme has been done before but it wouldn't detract any of my enjoyment of solving this one. Some other football references included.
Across:
1. PBS science series since 1974 : "NOVA"
5. Barton of the Red Cross : CLARA
10. Secret language : CODE. That seems a little off.
14. Fictional rabbit's title : BR'ER
15. Persian Gulf tanker : OILER
16. __ about: roughly : ON OR
19. Lang of Smallville : LANA. Superman's boyhood friend.
Theme: Top Brass - A bringing together of diverse Generals.
17A. Military bed-making features : HOSPITAL CORNERS. General Hospital, long time running TV soap opera.
28A. Classic jazz vocal group originally composed of four siblings, with "The" : MILLS BROTHERS. General Mills, founded in 1866! (Wiki)
46A. "Special" lobbying faction : INTEREST GROUP. General Interest, like CBS Sunday Morning.
61A. UN organ ... or what the first words of 17-, 28- and 46-Across comprise? : GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Argyle here. Marvelous Monday...and we need it. I worried needlessly when I saw Gareth's name. Two grid spanners, strong corners, good fill with a little crunch to keep it interesting. And I liked the wide range of entries.
Across:
1. Pod used to thicken gumbo : OKRA
5. Moonshine containers : JUGS. I stuck in JARS first.
9. "24" superagent Jack : BAUER
14. __-chef : SOUS. Second-in-command in the kitchen. Not a general yet.
15. Jacob's twin : ESAU
16. Happen next : ENSUE
20. Rose pest : APHID
21. Pimply breakout : ACNE
22. On the __: precisely : DOT
23. Civil rights activist Parks : ROSA. Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
26. Chancellor von Bismarck : OTTO
33. Financial claim : LIEN
35. Sport __: versatile wheels : UTE. (utility)
36. OB/GYN test : AMNIO. Shortening of amniocentesis.
37. Goof : ERR
38. Comic strip with Snoopy : PEANUTS
41. Md. neighbor : DEL. Maryland/Delaware
42. Pierre's "There it is!" : "VOILA!"
44. Bigheadedness : EGO
45. "Should __ acquaintance ..." : AULD
50. Mideast strip : GAZA
51. In the mail : SENT
52. Magazine fillers : ADS
55. Intravenous process : DRIP
57. Ride without pedaling : COAST
65. San Antonio battle site : ALAMO
66. Cookie added to a McFlurry : OREO
67. Banned fruit spray : ALAR
68. Make into confetti : RIP UP
69. Enjoy a Kindle, e.g. : READ
70. Printed goof : TYPO
Down:
1. Fed. workplace monitor : OSHA. (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
2. Surgeon general under Reagan : KOOP. Another General.
3. Make haste : RUSH
4. Pain-relieving pill : ASPIRIN
5. Jumbo __ : JET
6. Stars and Stripes land: Abbr. : USA
7. Black-tie party : GALA
8. Relief : SUCCOR
9. Italian pistols : BERETTAS
10. Cape NNW of Cod : ANN. Boston is in between them.
11. Second-hand : USED
12. Franc replacement : EURO
13. What's leftover, with "the" : REST
18. Revered star : IDOL
19. Not hoodwinked by : ON TO
24. Revolve on an axis : SLUE
25. Nick and Nora's dog : ASTA
27. Electrical unit : OHM
28. Be worthy of : MERIT
29. Poet Stephen Vincent __ : BENÉT
30. Turn out to be : END UP
31. Cambodian currency : RIEL
32. Happy sign for a Realtor : [SOLD]
33. Jeans maker Strauss : LEVI
34. Crease remover : IRON
38. Send down using chutes, as supplies : PARADROP. Or some really big stuff.
I
think this is Meryl Jackson's first published puzzle. It's an
incredible achievement to have your LA Times debut on a Sunday. Sunday
puzzles are just challenging to make due to the sheer size. Small dupes
happen all the time. I was tripped twice by ATE/EAT in a finished grid.
Skillful theme answer placement also. Meryl intersected two set of answers. I love when this happens.
Across:
1. Clambake trash : COBS. Never had clambakes before. Looks delicious.
5. Santa __ : ANA
8. Blue stone, briefly : LAPIS
13. Gastric maladies : ULCERS
19. Award that's a pronunciation of its initials : OBIE. Off-Broadway.
20. Curse : HEX
21. Solder, for one : ALLOY
22. Approached : NEARED
26. Yacht spot : MARINA
27. 1983 title character who sings "Where Is It Written?" : YENTL
28. "... ain't quite as dumb as __": "How Long" lyric : I SEEM. I thought the answer would start with A, but NEHI (6D. Vintage pop) told me no.
29. Now : AS WE SPEAK. Nice 9-letter entry.
31. Pro __ : TEM
33. Island east of Manila : GUAM. BALI came to me first. It's east of Java.
35. First century Roman emperor : OTHO. I can never remember this guy's name. Thought of the D-less OTTO.
41. Bolts : LOCKS
45. Dazzle : SPLENDOR
47. __-Croatian : SERBO
48. Warehouse item : PALLET
49. Sheikh Zayed was its first pres. : UAE. Wiki said Sheikh Zayed was the president of UAE for 34 years. Gosh, never heard of the guy.
50. Brain matter : IDEA. Not CELL.
52. Jostle : ELBOW
54. Like Chopin's Étude Op. 10, No. 3 : IN E
55. Hand truck user : MOVER
62. Rodent control brand : D-CON
63. Olds models : ALEROs
65. "Beats me" : DUNNO
66. "The Path to Love" author Chopra : DEEPAK. I'm not the spiritual type.
68. Taint : CORRUPT
70. Actress Samantha : EGGAR. Stranger to me.
72. Mythical eagle-lion hybrid : GRIFFIN
75. Supporting words : GO TEAM
77. Rimsky-Korsakov's "__ d'Or" : LE COQ. No idea. PALME would not work. Literally The Golden Cockerel.
79. Chelsea's __ Square, fashionable shopping area : SLOANE. Gimme for Steve. Learning moment for me.
80. Gideon Fell's creator : CARR. John Dickson Carr. Gideon Fell is an amateur sleuth.
85. Madre's milk : LECHE
86. Storm dir. : NNE
87. Onslaught : SIEGE
88. Adams of "Octopussy" : MAUD. And 97. "Octopussy," e.g. : SPY STORY
90. Knight in a sitcom : TED. Ted Knight. The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
91. "Toodles" : BYE BYE
93. Reunion attendee : UNCLE
100. Body of rules : CANON
103. Remove : X OUT
105. Iams competitor : ALPO
106. Once named : NEE
107. High-rent game property : PARK PLACE
112. Ancient fabulist : AESOP
115. Bugged a lot : ATE AT
119. Hard one to argue with : EGOIST. Don't engage them.
123. Two-__ : SEATER
124. Monotonous piece : CHANT
125. History book time : ERA
126. Pretender of a sort : MIME. Oh I like this clue.
127. Revered Mother : TERESA
128. Straw sources : PINES
129. Bow raw material : YEW
130. Sistine Chapel ceiling depiction : EDEN
Down:
1. Fragrance giant that went public in 2013 : COTY. What fragrance are you wearing now?
2. Wind with a flared bell : OBOE
3. "Très __!" : BIEN. My ex is dating an Indonesian girl. Je ne care pas. Je ne care pas lots of things.
4. Puget Sound city : SEATTLE
5. Relaxed response : AHH
7. Turning point : AXIS
8. High-tops, e.g. : LACE-UPS
9. Like some choirs : ALL-MALE
10. Ramallah-based gp. : PLO
11. Only state with a two-vowel postal code : IOWA. And 18. 11-Down neighbor: Abbr. : S DAK
12. Dict. entries : SYNS (Synonyms)
13. Not realized : UNMET
14. Lab regulation? : LEASH LAW. Another great clue. Think of dog when you see "Lab".
15. Kind of lane : CARPOOL
16. Iroquoian people : ERIE
17. Soap actress Sofer : RENA. Of General Hospital.
24. Lacking heat, to a cop : CLEAN
25. Showy lily : SEGO
30. Trouble : WOE
32. Dress length : MIDI
34. Côte d'Azur view : MER
37. __ operandi : MODI
38. Forecaster's concern : TREND. Fashion, right?
39. Explorer Tasman : ABEL
40. Reliable : SOLID
43. Game with 80 balls : KENO. I saw it at various casinos. Never played it.
44. WWII weapon : STEN
45. Rash cause, perhaps : SUMAC
46. Author of epistolas : PAOLO. OK, Italian for Paul.
48. Fire inspirers : POKERS
51. Score notation for two singers : A DUE
53. Uncommon blood type, for short : B NEG
56. Goof : ERROR
57. It's not close : ROUT
59. Brit's fireplace : INGLE. I remember this word.
60. Hot state : ANGER
61. Team leader : COACH
62. Green Goblin portrayer : DAFOE. I sure need "Willem" in the clue.
64. Coins : SPECIE
67. Dosage unit : PILL
69. Account : TALE
71. Go nowhere special : ROAM
73. "I'd hate to be __ shoes" : IN HER. I like the movie "In Her Shoes".
74. High-maintenance : NEEDY
76. Slopes challenge : MOGUL. We often see "Mogul" for various ski clues.
78. Put down : QUASH
80. "Street Signs" network : CNBC
81. Novelist Seton : ANYA
83. Word in a boast : VENI. "Veni, vidi, vici".
84. Rapper __ Fiasco : LUPE
87. Parts of writers' queries : SYNOPSES
89. "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice" Oscar nominee Cannon : DYAN. I just told Argyle the other day about a new clue for AVA (DuVernay) & the amazing David Oyelowo. Too bad they're snubbed.
92. Right-angled flier : BOX KITE
94. Nashville awards org. : CMA
95. "Live Young Forever" author Jack : LALANNE. I love my Jack LaLanne juicer.
96. Counts on : EXPECTS
98. Lift : STEAL
99. When to start driving? : TEE TIME. Argyle plays golf in the evening.
101. Transp. group in the Loop : CTA
102. Peter of reggae : TOSH
104. Radical : ULTRA
107. Under-one's-skin type : PEST
108. '40s film critic James : AGEE
109. Big laugh : ROAR
110. Soyuz letters : CCCP
111. K thru 12 : EL-HI. Glue fill.
113. Opposite of buck : OBEY. Verb. Not DOES.
114. Ceremonial pile : PYRE
116. Oklahoma's "Wheat Capital" : ENID.Gimme for most constructors. Not many ways to clue ENID.
117. Crest : ACME
118. "Well __ ..." : THEN
121. Creator of Q and M : IAN (Fleming)
122. Crow cry : CAW
Happy Birthday to Blue Iris (Susan), a school nurse for many years. I enjoy her Bird Seed Salad every week. It's a simple recipe with endless variations. I hope your physical therapy is doing well, Susan!
Welcome to another edition of Splynter 'splains Saturday's Silkie~!
This one was a bear, at least on the first pass - then, little by
slowly, with a few sensible W.A.G.s, followed by a dredging of the
depths of the dark corners of my mind, I finished - and within my
personal time, too. Quite a satisfying solve. Intimidating triple
10-letter corners tied together with crossing 8's - add to that a
boat-load of proper names and some uncommon items and you get what we
have today. Some of the longer answers;
1a. One is featured in the 1962 Ventures instrumental "The 2,000 Pound Bee" : FUZZ GUITAR - I am a huge fan of the guitar, and I am familiar with Jimmy Page's use of the "fuzz" sound.
13d. Sandusky locale : ERIE COUNTY - knew it was in PA, but didn't get it 'til I had ---UNTY
57a. South side : TEXAS TOAST - clever; I was trying to squeeze "CONFEDERATES" in
26d. Power source : SOLAR PANEL - Two weekends ago I was up in a
little, and I mean little, place called South Otselic - it's east of
Cortland, NY, and the little cabin we stayed in was totally powered by a
wind turbine and solar panels. My friend Garry owns the land, and did
the work; in fact, he owned "Go Solar" down here on L.I., and that's how
we met. Here's pics of the cabin, the wind turbine, and me standing in one of the blades that are part of the real wind turbines up at the Fenner Wind Farm; 80 feet long~!
ONWIND~!
ACROSS:
11. Bass output : ALES - Bass - the beer brand; toyed with "LOWS" at first
15. He played the bandit Calvera in "The Magnificent Seven" : ELI WALLACH
16. __ Maar, mistress of Picasso : DORA - all perps
17. Qualified for : ENTITLED TO
18. "The Enemy Below" setting, briefly : WW II - Waaaay before my time; IMDb
19. Zap : LASE
20. Kid's cry : Maa~!
21. Overpower with noise : DEAFEN
23. Airline created by an Act of Parliament : BOAC - British Overseas Airways Corporation
25. Take away : DETRACT - I went with DEPRIVE to start; only 42.8% correct
26. "The Love Machine" author : SUSANN - Since I do not know this person, I was curious about whether this was a first/last name - her Wiki
29. Place to stretch : REST STOP - They're called REST AREAS around here, but I was pretty sure about that second "S" from 11d.
30. In abeyance : ON ICE
31. "Michael" co-screenwriter Ephron : DELIA - I put in NORAH - Bzzzt~! (spelled wrong, to boot); her movie bio page
32. Expected : DUE
33. Tie : LINK - Dah~! My only bad cell; I had LINE, and since it crossed a "foreign" word....
34. "Hot House" Grammy-winning pianist : COREA - Did not think of Chick until I had C-R-A in place
35. Philadelphia tourist attraction : MINT - ah, not BELL; look for the "P" on dimes, etc.
36. DJIA part: Abbr. : AVG - I thought "DOW" was too simple, but it's what I went with until SOLAR PANEL 'enlightened' me
38. Heraklion's island : CRETE - the clue looked Greek, turned out to be Greek -ish
39. Chimney repair job : RELINING - REPOINTING did not fit
41. 14-Down, for one : MARTYR - I did not know this about St. Pete
42. Some property safeguards : PRE-NUPS
43. "Alice in Wonderland" bird : DO-DO
44. They may be frozen or liquid : ASSETS - this was, like, one of my only fills on the first pass (OK, I had MAA & TASE to start, and that was wrong)
45. Ideal figure : TEN - Mr. Silk is probably referring to Olympic scoring; a woman's figure is ideal if she were, say, a "two" - IMHO ;7))
46. School with the mascot Big Al : 'BAMA - mostly perps, but makes sense - my mom loves elephants
50. Quill parts : NIBS
51. Food chain group : HERBIVORES - anyone else think something like "IHOP" first?
54. Greek letters : ETAs
55. Gourmands : OVER-EATERS
56. Erato's instrument : LYRE
DOWN:
1. Sense : FEEL
2. Radius neighbor : ULNA - 'dem bones
3. Unpopular spots : ZITS - I knew ACNE was what we were looking for, but I had TASE and felt pretty confident about the "S"
4. Literally, "twice-baked" : ZWIEBACK - I thought it was a cookie (and the last name of a kid I went to high school with); after reading up on it, I prefer Biscotti
5. Rod : GAT - gangsta talk for a gun
6. "Tracey Takes On" author : ULLMAN
- and her TV show spawned "The Simpsons" - its first airing was Dec 17th,
1989, and has since surpassed all other TV shows for longevity
7. Intestinal : ILEAC - DaH~! Spelled it with two "I"s
8. Cry of achievement : "Ta-DA~!"
9. Routine : ACT - ah, that kind of routine; I guess UPS has got me thinking "RUT"
10. Botswana neighbor, formerly : RHODESIA - a WAG with half the letters via perps
11. Some October campaigns : AD WARS - we're getting close to another "AD" high point - the Superbowl
12. Fare reduction option : LOW-FAT DIET
14. Keys holder in a Rubens portrait : SAINT PETER - Total WAG with only the two "E"s in place; I'm proud of myself~!
22. Singer James : ETTA
24. Person : ONE
25. Strikes out : DELES - DAH~! Was in baseball, not editing, mode
27. Brown, e.g. : UNIVERSITY
28. Business where lines are short? : SINGLES BAR
29. Equip anew : RERIG
31. Pain relief pill brand : DOAN'S
34. Greenside stroke : CHIP SHOT - then there's the stroke below the belt - that's a chEAp shot
35. 1983 Styx hit that begins in Japanese : Mr. ROBOTO - I liked it when it first came out; now, not so much
37. Flanged fastener : T-NUT
38. Rogue : CAD
40. Existing: Lat. : IN ESSE
41. Francs and beans? : MONIES - Plural of money; clever - loved the clue
43. Winger of "Black Widow" : DEBRA
45. Cretaceous giant : T-REX
47. Stretch : AREA - I get it, but this was the 's-t-r-e-t-c-h' clue for the day
48. Seas overseas : MERS
49. Part of PDA: Abbr. : ASST - Personal Data Assistant, now referred to as a Smartphone
52. Certain threshold : EVE - the next "eve" on my calendar is Feb 8th
In the never ending CSO's in the world of the LAT, our feerless leader gets her puzzle from Julian Lim, who lives in Singapore. Normally, Julian's puzzles are very hard for me, but this one was just hard enough for a Friday, with a low word count, and the theme, once revealed really helped relieve the stress. The letter "C" is added to the beginning of first and last word of a known phrase or name to create a new and completely unrelated phrase. 3 are two word phrase; 1 has a proper name, both before and after. I saw no other hidden agenda here, and the reveal which we usually do not get was not a slam dunk reveal so it is a Friday. We have some fun 6 letter fill HONCHO, PHOBIA, PORTIA, PSYCHO, SCROLL, SMOOCH and some longer sparkle BELABOR, GOLIATH, DIES IRAE, DOVETAIL , EMOTICON and NICE SHOT
18A. Jar for leafy vegetable storage? : CHARD CROCK (10). This is difficult on so many layers; first you need to know that CHARD is a leafy vegetable. I hear it mostly as Swiss Chard, and it is called Spinach in South Africa but it is the leafy part of a type of beet. The leaf is quite healthy. HARD ROCKis a developer of hotels, casino etc., here they have partnered with the Seminole Tribe.
24A. Actor Jackie's pet fish? : CHANS CARP (9). We usually see the ARTIST as Jean Arp, founder of Dada, but in German he was Hans. Jackie Chan has had a successful career as a comedic martial arts expert. I was surprised to read that he had done a porno.
50A. Emulate an inveterate swindler? : CON AND CON (9). On and On we go.
57A. Vessel with limited space? : CRAMPED CUP (10). I did not get (r)amped up about this fill, I guess it runneth over.
And the hint:
37A. Opine ... or create four long answers in this puzzle? : ADD ONE'S TWO CENTS. This is not a simple reveal because the symbol for cents, while a C, is really ¢.
Across:
1. Sardine cousin : SHAD. These are both generic names for types of herring.
5. "My take is ..." : I'D SAY. The Millennial phrase.
10. Princess from Amphipolis : XENA. If you need the whole STORY.
14. Iota : MOTE. Little things.
15. One-up : OUTDO.
16. "Head With Pipe" artist Nolde : EMIL. No idea.
17. Watchable, in a way : ON TV.
20. 2000s World #1 female golfer : OCHOA. She came, she conquered, she retired; her CAREER. I remember when she came out of Arizona and played the futures tour winning 3 of the 10 events she played. We obviously have some who like the LPGA because we also have 49A. With 60-Down, only South Korean World Golf Hall of Fame inductee : SE RI. 60D. See 49-Across : PAK. She changed the face of golf with her success inspiring the Asian world of golf.
22. Nurture : REAR.
23. Word with cake or break : TEA. Any other day would have CUP added.
27. "__ Love" (Maroon 5 hit) : THIS.
29. Smoking, perhaps : HOT. Interestingly next to another sexist measure of females....
30. Half a score : TEN. Ladies and gentleman, please let us know who think is a TEN.
31. 1959 novel in whose film version Mary Crane became Marion Crane : PSYCHO. Still one of the most unsettling movies of all time. I love that the P crosses with 31D. Psychologist's concern : PHOBIA though some may suggest it is an impermissible dupe of fill/clue... If you have not seen it and are squeamish, do not watch.
33. Giant : GOLIATH. This guy slings back into our radar.
36. Rabbit's friend : POOH. Can you bear any more Winnie references?
41. Literary __ : LION. This was a struggle, while it is a term I have heard (Mailer was a literary lion) I needed perps to get started.
42. More than hammer home : BELABOR. Very nice fresh fill, which I will not say too often.
43. Video game segments : LEVELS. I do remember the thrill of new levels back in the days of playing pac man in the bar.
45. Jr.'s jr. : III. The kids are often called Tre.
46. Spot for a soak : SPA.
53. Small songbird : TIT. We must have a GREAT picture.
54. Work on a canvas? : SPAR. Excellent misdirection, not a painting but in the boxing ring.
56. Unfortunate : SORRY.
61. Bard's verb : DOTH. A soupçon of Shakespeare.
62. "See Dad Run" star : BAIO. Scott. Never heard of it.
63. Steer snagger : REATA.
64. Mishmash : OLIO. Along with morel, the word that defines Crossword Corner.
65. TripAdvisor alternative : YELP. My oldest uses their review all of the time for restaurants.
66. "No worries" : IT'S OK.
67. White side, maybe : SLAW. Really, I always have carrots and purple cabbage in mine.
Down:
1. More than peck : SMOOCH.
2. Head __ : HONCHO. Comes from Japanese hanchō squad leader, from han squad + chō head, chief. We got it from returning servicemen. Han Solo?
3. Besides : AT THAT.
4. Plymouth's county : DEVON. This area has an interesting HISTORY.
5. Org. with a multi-ring logo : IOC. International Olympic Committee.
6. "No __!" : DUH.
7. Whitewater figure : STARR. Ken. No politics, just a LINK.
8. Pitcher? : AD REP. One who 'pitches' i.e. gives a sales pitch.
9. Green sage : YODA. Now that Episode VII is in the works I am sure we will see more Star Wars references, though Yoda is dead?
10. Survey taker, at times : X'ER. I guess this means one who x'es, checks boxes. A complete meh.
11. Text clarifier : EMOTICON. Since people do not talk and only text, you need some idea of the facial expression to get meaning of the words.
12. Compliment on a course : NICE SHOT. Gary, I am sure your golf game will be ready.
13. Antacid brand word : ALKA. My old pal...
19. Old PC monitors : CRTS. Cathode Ray Tubes.
21. Martin's start? : ASTON. Bond, James Bond.
25. Hollywood glitterati : CELEBS. Eh.
26. Sambuca flavoring : ANISE. Licorice anyone?
28. On a sugar high, say : HYPER.
32. Quaker Honey Graham __ : OHS.
33. Toast, with "a" : GONER.
34. U.S.-U.K. separator : ATLantic.
35. "Truth is more of a stranger than fiction" writer : TWAIN. One of the great minds of all time with a true way with words.
37. The works : ALL.
38. Second section of Verdi's "Requiem" : DIES IRAE.
39. Fit nicely : DOVETAIL.
40. Quarters, e.g. : COINS. So simple, but...
44. Daffy Duck has one : LISP.
46. Move on a screen : SCROLL. To the finish?
47. Shakespearean heiress : PORTIA. My weekly dose of Will. Who said it better?
"The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:"
48. "But I digress ..." : ANY HOW. I am an any way man, Drat.
50. Trainee : CADET. Not just in the service.
51. Marine predators : ORCAS. Whale of a good answer.
52. Bygone birds : DODOS. CSO!
53. Mango tango smoothie server : TCBY. This Can't Be Yogurt. Cousin of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter.
55. Prefix with cardial : PERI. The sac where the heart truly is.
58. Post-spill need : MOP.
Hasten jason
Get the basin
Oops plop,
Get the mop.
59. __-Aztecan languages : UTO.
I do not think it is going out on a limb to say that this was a challenge in places; well I had fun I hope you did. Lemonade out.
53. Dessert topper ... or a literal hint to what's hidden in 20-, 29- and 44-Across : WHIPPED CREAM.
Hmmm, I seem to have hit a pattern of hidden jumbled word themes lately. I guess WHIPPED is the hint that it is CREAM that gets all mixed up today. Last week we had circles to help us out. This week, we were on our own. I think I like it better this way, for a late-week puzzle. Your experience may vary.
Across
1. Impresses big-time : WOWS. The Trans Siberian Orchestra WOWS audiences all over the world with their over-the-top laser light / pyrotechnics displays.
5. Aquarium growth : SCUM. Anyone else fill in "alga" without checking perps? ("Guilty.")
9. Development site : TRACT.
14. Desktop since 1998 : iMAC. Yep, that's what I'm typing on right now.
15. Cream-filled cake : HO HO. Nit: The brand name is Ho Hos. So one cake is a Ho Ho?
16. Try to pick up : HIT ON. "I seem to have lost my phone number. Can I have yours?"
17. __ mining : DATA. Read here why some supermarket chains put the beer next to the baby diapers.
18. Slaughter in baseball : ENOS. I knew the clue was referring to the guy named Slaughter, but do you think I could remember his first name?
19. Facebook posting : EVENT. Since when is a picture of your lunch an "event"?
23. Guffaw syllable : HAR.
24. PC heart : CPU. Central Processing Unit.
25. Doodlebugs and polliwogs : LARVAE.
33. Enjoyed a trail : HIKED.
35. Skin care brand : OLAY crossing 22-Down. Skin care brand : ALMAY.
36. Like many a joke : OLD. Did you hear the one about...? [Insert 23-Across here.]
37. "Gotcha, man" : I DIG.
38. Count : TALLY.
40. Baffin Bay sight : FLOE. They can be beautiful, but...
41. Molokai memento : LEI. My book club read MOLOKA'I by Alan [sic] Brennert. Great book, but I wish he'd learn how to spell ALLEN. ;-)
42. Game divided into chukkers : POLO.
43. Bleachers filler : CROWD.
48. Only vice president born in D.C. : AL GORE.
49. Word of feigned innocence : MOI? I associate the term with Miss Piggy.
50. Shares an email with : CCs. Shout out!
57. Bossa nova ancestor : SAMBA.
60. Agent's favorite sign : SOLD.
61. Ticklish Tyco toy for tots : ELMO. Nice alliterative clue.
62. Posture problem : STOOP. I wish I had a nickel for every time my mother told me to "Sit up straight!"
63. Bed covering : SOIL. Garden bed. Although on second thought, it could apply to my cat's beds. And, why is it that they love to jump up on the white coverlet when they come back inside with muddy paws??
64. Knighted Guinness : ALEC.
65. Ed Asner septet : EMMYS.
66. Trap, in a way : TREE.
67. Knight's neighbor : ROOK. Chess.
Down
1. Side to side? : WIDTH.
2. Beach near Utah? : OMAHA. Crucial targets during the allied invasion on the Normandy coast. Map.
3. Sport invented using boards and a clothesline : WATER SKIING. In 1922, Ralph Samuelson had a brilliant idea.
4. It may involve wiring : SCAM. and 12-Down, 4-Down : CON. I associate a police "wire" (microphone) with a "sting" operation, not so much a SCAM. [Update: Many scams include wiring money to the scammer, on the promise of receiving the millions of dollars that are waiting for you. ]
5. Mountain guide : SHERPA.
6. See eye to eye : CONCUR.
7. "This spells trouble!" : UH-OH.
8. __ pit : MOSH. Do they still do MOSH pits? "That was so '80s!"
9. Curative treatment : THERAPY.
10. Baseball's career save leader : RIVERA. (Siggghhh...more baseball.)
11. Had : ATE.
13. Big bang producer : TNT. Oh, not Chuck Lorre or Bill Prady?
21. Served to perfection? : ACED. Tennis serve.
26. Solo instrument for which six Bach suites were written : VIOLONCELLO. It was the precursor to the modern day cello.
27. Radiant : AGLOW.
28. Put the kibosh on : ENDED.
30. Eldest March sister : MEG. Gaaaah! I filled in "Amy" at first.
31. Lemon or tangerine : COLOR.
32. The whole schmear : ALL.
33. Broom-__: comics witch : HILDA.
34. Perfectionist's goal : IDEAL.
38. Marisa of "The Wrestler" : TOMEI.
39. Mode lead-in : À LA.
40. Pendulum direction? : FRO. It only goes in two directions: to and fro.
42. "Could happen" : PERHAPS.
43. Smart : CHIC.
45. Drive rider : COWBOY. Cattle drive.
46. 2001 Audrey Tautou title role : AMELIE. It seems to have received high ratings on IMDb.
47. Take baby steps : TODDLE. I wanted "totter," but at least I checked the perps first.
51. Stan Lee had one in "The Avengers" (2012) : CAMEO."Super heroes? In New York? Give me a break!" Watch here - he shows up at 5:12.
52. Clothes protector : SMOCK. Hands up for "apron" first?
54. Sibilant summons : PSST.
55. __ Tax: $15 Monopoly fee : POOR.
56. Derriere : REAR. A friend of mine sold pharmaceuticals in N.H., and spent the first month telling all the physicians that she was their new rep for the Derry area...
57. Coeur d'Alene-to-Sun Valley dir. : SSE.
58. Cabbage source? : ATM. Cabbage, dough, lettuce, moola, etc. etc. etc.
59. Palindromic tat : MOM. Surprisingly, very few guys get tats that say "Able was I ere I saw Elba."
That's all I got!
Marti
Note from C.C.:
I mentioned JD's New Zealand/Australia adventure yesterday, the Big Easy (George) sent me these two pictures. Which year did you visit the Down Under, George?
Regarding the second picture, he said
"The 'Bride' and the 'Bride' that I captured a photo of in Wellington
Botanical Gardens. I don't know if it was before or after the ceremony but neither of
them were women."
Theme: BLOODY HELL! Common two-word adjective-plus-noun phrases are re-imagined in such a way that the adjective is used as a British pejorative. Clever use of alternate meanings. The word "confounded" in all the theme clues had me on the wrong track right away, thinking that the modified word would be mixed up rather than a cause of anger or annoyance. So this additional use of an alternate meaning in the clue confounded me from the get go.
20 A. Confounded British illumination? : BLINKING LIGHTS. Lights that flash on and off or lights that cause consternation. You decide
40 A. Confounded British posies? : BLOOMING FLOWERS. Who could be annoyed by these buds opening up and showing off their beauty? Someone with a pollen allergy, perhaps.
56 A. Confounded British residences? : FLIPPING HOUSES. To flip a house is an attempt at real estate arbitrage: buying it for a [presumed] cheap price and then selling it quickly for dear. During the bubble a decade or so ago, properties could be flipped repeatedly in the same day. Not so much any more. After the crash [pro tip: bubbles ALWAYS crash] FLIPPING those FLIPPINGHOUSES got a lot harder, more risky and less profitable.
Hi gang, JazzBumpa here. Maybe Steve should have had this one. I'll admit, solving it was not a doodle for me. Excellent theme, with a grid-spanner and two 14's. Also, some impressive long downs. Let's see if I can get through this write up without making a dog's dinner of it.
Across
1. Monday Night Football regular until 1983 : COSELL. Howard. He was a good announcer - for boxing, and by all accounts a fine human being who did a lot to promote the appreciation of black athletes in all sports. Sadly, though, he knew bugger all about American football and his presence in the press box on Monday nights was a flipping embarrassment.
7. Gobbled, as a turkey : ATE. An American tradition is to gobble the gobbler and fall asleep on the couch watching football.
10. Site with a "Buy It Now" option : EBAY. Etail pioneer.
14. Mecca's peninsula : ARABIA. Geography
15. In the bath : WET. Or in car wash. Soapy, too.
16. "__ Rock" : I AM A. Feeling no pain.
17. Hires a new crew for : REMANS.
18. Styled after : A LA.
19. Shot up : GREW. Quickly. Not to be confused with launched, did drugs, or filled with bullets.
23. Jamaican genre : SKA.
24. Walkway material : SLATE. Alternative to concrete. It has a very smooth surface that can be hazardous in winter.
25. Meter or liter : UNIT of measurement.
29. Med. plan option : HMO. Health Maintenance Organization.
31. "Twin Peaks" co-creator David : LYNCH. It's coming back next year.
34. White House maiden name between Pierce and Welch : RODHAM. Recent first ladies. One of these ladies could also be the first at something else.
37. Dr. J hairstyle : AFRO. Julius Erving was a basketball star in the 70's and early 80's.
51. Vinegar vessel : CRUET. A flat bottom, narrow-necked vessel, often with an integral spout and handle.
53. Dangerous snake : ASP. The infamous Egyptian cobra.
62. Actor Bean of "Game of Thrones" : SEAN. Lord Eddard Stark, like every character SEAN Bean plays, dies on screen. Mercifully, you will not see it in this clip from season 1. Embedding disabled. You can see it here.
63. Aegean __ : SEA. Between Greece and Turkey.
64. Give one's word : ASSURE.
65. Stock options, e.g. : PERK. Short for perquisite, an extra prize given to someone due to their position. Note that there is no consideration of merit.
66. WWII intel agcy. : O. S. S. Office of Strategic Services.
67. Look through partially open curtains, say : PEER IN. Peer out and peep in seem more likely.
68. Round components : ALES. Rounds of drinks. Nice deception. Also making the rounds:
11 D. Round servers : BARTENDERS. A round is one drink for everyone in the party.
47 D. Round components : DRINKS. Steps toward getting loaded.
It's a clecho-go-round.
69. Vague degree : NTH. Yes, it is not specified, but it means to whatever degree is necessary, generally assumed to be a very high degree indeed.
70. Flowed in circles : EDDIED. You can see it happening early in the video taken where the pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Japan.
Down
1. Prep for a marathon, with "up" : CARB. Carbohydrate loading to boost the energy reserve.
2. N.L. Cy Young Award winner three years after Dwight : OREL. In 1985 Dwight Gooden of the N. Y. Mets went 24-4 with an amazing 1.53 ERA and 269 K's. That's Earned Run Average, and strikeouts, for the uninitiated. In 1988 OREL Hershiser of the L. A. Dodgers went 23-8 with a 2.26 ERA and 178 K's. He also recorded 1 save. Since 1967, 5 N. L. relief pitchers have won the award. Among N. L. starters, only Hershiser recorded a save.
3. Nordic language : SAMI. The SAMI people, speakers of this language, also known as Lapplanders, are the northernmost indigenous people of Europe.
4. "Voice of Israel" author : EBAN. This book by Abba EBAN was published in 1969.
5. Rory McIlroy's milieu : LINKS. Famous for McIlroy's sweet 'n' spicy maple chipotle sausages. No, wait - he's a golfer.
35. Excites : AMPS UP. Amplifies anything, so I guess excitement could be included. Not a rock solid connection, though.
36. Wire thickness unit : MIL. Thousandth of an inch.
38. "Kidnapped" author's monogram : RLS. Did Robert Louis Stevenson have restless leg syndrome?
41. Most eccentric : NUTTIEST. Bonkers!
42. Manner : WAY. Behavioral norms.
49. Cloth remnant : RAG.
52. HP competitor : EPSON. Printers
54. Configure : SHAPE.
55. Prepared for a shot : POSED. Like this.
56. Texture : FEEL. The tactile quality of a surface or object.
57. "I don't mind eels / Except as meals / And the way they feels" poet : NASH. A texture thing, I suppose; from Ogden NASH, who also gave us "Candy is dandy/ But liquor is quicker.
58. Previously driven, say : USED. Cars
59. TomKat's daughter : SURI. Modern couple portmanteau construction mashes the two names together, thus Tom and Katie give us TomKat, even long after they have split. Katie comes from my home town, along the shore of . . .
61. Final email step : SEND. Once you push that button, it's too late to say, "Ooops!"
62. Place for a pedi : SPA. Pedicure at a commercial establishment offering health and beauty treatments.
Well, there it is. Not easy peasy by any means. Looks like this might be the first L. A. Times puzzle for Harald Hornung, so congrats to him. I thought the theme was brill, the whole puzzle was ace, and Bob's your uncle.
Happy Birthday to dear JD, who's exploring the Great Barrier Reef at the moment. She and her husband Bob have been visiting New Zealand (very beautiful, she said) and Australia. She was in Melbourne when she emailed me two days ago. Have any of you been to Melbourne?
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