Another happy Friday with another of the good friends of the blog. John is such an accomplished and warm human being, it is hard not to like all of his work I assume all "got" this theme as soon as the word "Roman" appeared so often. While there are countless words which include the letters which are also the Roman numerals, John limited his selection to the V and the X, with the perfect reveal. My first thought when I saw 1 Across was that all three letters were Roman numerals. You don't see three letter theme fill often but this all worked for me, with no words longer than 8 letters. Your thoughts on this work are appreciated. Off we go....
1A. Roman jet? : DC X. (3) The DC 10 was introduced into service in 1970. This one confused me because D and C are also Roman Numerals.
23A. Roman's advice to prevent an explosion? : COUNT TO X (8). Counting to 10 was a shortcut to meditation.
39A. Roman variety store? (and a hint to 10 other puzzle answers) : V AND X (5). The 5 and 10 was
an American institution, with WOOLWORTH being the epitome.
51A. Roman Shakespearean drama? : V ACT PLAY (8). Shakespeare was dedicated to this STRUCTURE.
70A. Roman graveyard shift hour? : V AM. (3). When I used to work doubles at the rubber factory (2 PM to 6 AM) it was the last hour that was the hardest.
3D. Roman bowler's target? : X PIN (4). A CSO for Boomer!
4D. Roman musical family? : JACKSON V (8). Can you name all five?
26D. Roman bike? : X SPEED (6). Bicycles have become too complex for me. They sell some for thousands of dollars.
27D. Roman "high" request? : GIMME V (6). These days this is one of the first things parents teach their children.
40D. Roman Scrabble Q-tile, e.g.? : X POINTER (8). Ten points, and all those words that don't need a U.
57D. Roman's long golf hole? : PAR V (4). Another CSO to our golfing contingent, HG, BE, Moe and all of those I left out by accident.
Well, I am worn out just listing the 11 theme fill. So let's explore the rest.
Across:
4. Start of a rhyming Basque game: JAI. Alai. Long the fastest moving ball in SPORTS.
7. Reason to use an inhaler: ASTHMA.
13. Knock: RAP. Oh, I guess I can call it "knock" music.
14. Cry buckets: BAWL. The word had a different meaning in my youth.
15. Unexpected twist: SPRAIN. Amusing.
16. The record longest continuous ride on one is 105.57 miles: UNICYCLE. Who knew? This makes it a TRIBUTE puzzle.
18. Unlikely to ride a 16-Across well: KLUTZY. Too true.
19. Hunted Carroll critter: SNARK. More of his IMAGINATION, beyond Alice.
20. Balm-maker's plants: ALOES.
22. A.L. East team: BOSton.
27. '80s jeans: GITANOS. Still for SALE.
31. SOP part: Abbr. : STD. Standard.
32. "48 __": HRS. The TV Show.
33. Assistant who didn't exist in Mary Shelley's novel: IGOR. Eegore, or Eyegor?
34. Whiskey order: NEAT. A clear CSO to Tinbeni.
36. "... beneath __ blue sky": Don Henley lyric: A DEEP. Not a sea but sky. LISTEN.
38. Stubborn equine: MULE.
41. Perry's creator: ERLE.
42. Dull finish: MATTE. JL is an avid and successful photographer as well a musician, ornithologist, entomologist and cruciverbalist - the modern Renaissance man.
44. F-__: STOP. Blushing?
45. A hothead has a short one: FUSE.
46. 67.5 deg.: ENE.
47. Item before a door: MAT.
49. Sack out: GO TO BED.
54. Bargain bin abbr.: IRRegular.
55. Bete __: NOIRE.
56. Immature dragonfly: NYMPH. I think of this when I see NYMPH, not THIS. What do you call a woman who is obsessed with immature dragonflies? Answer below....
59. Stereotypically stylish: UPTOWN. Saturday night.
62. Leaves port: SETS SAIL. Even when the ships do not have sails.
65. Facial feature named after an animal: GOATEE.
66. Muscovite's denial: NYET.
67. Whiskey option: RYE. Any Manhattan drinkers in our crowd?
68. They usually leave the park: HOMERS.
69. Key contraction: O'ER. Francis Scott - ramparts.
Down:
1. R and B's __ Hill: DRU. Not in my WHEELHOUSE.
2. Soup aisle array: CANS.
5. Hole-making tool: AWL.
6. Intestinal: ILEAC.
7. Invite on a date: ASK OUT.
8. NutraSweet competitor: SPLENDA. Both sweetener brand names - blue/yellow.
9. Have faith in: TRUST.
10. Noodle topper? : HAT. Noodle as head, not a form of pasta.
11. "Les __" : MIZ. Broadway.
12. At least one: ANY.
14. "... truth is always strange; / Stranger than fiction" poet: BYRON. From his poem, Don Juan.
"' Tis strange - but true; for truth is always strange;
Stranger than fiction; if it could be told,
How much would novels gain by the exchange!
How differently the world would men behold!"
17. "Willkommen" musical: CABARET.
21. Words on a reward poster: LOST DOG.
24. "... there's __!": Hamlet: THE RUB. Our Friday Shakespeare, but not all 5 acts.
25. Intimidating words: OR ELSE.
28. Exotic pet: IGUANA. These are neither exotic nor pets here; they roam freely unless and until a freeze. The past two winters were warm and their population has grown. They are 'affectionately' called "dem sumbitches" by an elderly neighbor woman.
29. Pre-Aztec Mexican: TOLTEC. I do not know much about this CIVILIZATION.
30. Multi-armed ocean critter: SEASTAR. We also discussed this before. LINK.
35. Bad picnic omen: ANT. Below a JL original, in his words. "This ant is on the head of an Ambush Bug who had just killed and eaten a bee. The ant is enjoying the leftovers while grooming the bug. I actually photographed the whole sequence."
37. Gets bent out of shape: DEFORMS. A pun here if you like the word.
43. Authorize: EMPOWER.
48. Dior designs: A-LINES.
50. Secret hot date: TRYST.
52. Fed. bill: T-NOTE.
53. Simple question type: YES/NO.
58. Casual greeting: HI-YA.
59. "That stinks!" : UGH.
60. Nanki-__: POO. The Mikado.
61. Bagpiper's hat: TAM. I understand the geographic connection, but I see more like...
63. Anatomical orb: EYE.
64. Apollo lander, briefly: LEM. How cool that dear JL ends with a CSO to yours truly.
Yesterday, Harper turned two and today my baby is celebrating his 29th birthday. Tonight we start the fasting for Yom Kippur, which lasts until an hour past sundown Saturday. Party time. Thank you, John and all who read. Gamar Tov. Lemonade out.
Answer: An entomologist!
