One of our regular Friday contributors is back with a puzzle, which I expect will be debated. The clues give you a hint of what is going. For example, the "B" in 17 A is read as "BE" which makes "EZR" the interpretation "EASIER." Once you get the idea then the puzzle is not too difficult for a Friday. But you need to get the push from the crosses. We have had various letter sound puzzles before, but none quite like this one. I related to 4 of the themers, but I struggled with sounding out JQZ. Which is a significant fill because it was the cornerstone of making this puzzle a pangram using three of the least used letters. Of course, once I sussed the sound, it was one so obvious. There really are so many types of HOT TUBS, I like the fact that the clue with a letter/word let us know the fill will also need the same. With two grid-spanners and 29 other blocks used in the theme, it is awesome to also get COZUMEL, ERITREA, HURTLED, I LOST IT, MENORAH, ONEONTA, PETTILY, PLATOON, SENEGAL, and SILENT C. Heavy on geography again. Damn, I wish I had studied harder.
17A. Likely to B surprisingly difficult: EZR SAID THAN DONE (15). Easier said than done is something that is easy to suggest, but much more difficult to make happen. Like keeping CED's cats of the furniture.
23A. One might Q Shamu: NML TRAINER (10). Q - cue. An animal trainer worked with Shamu who was the first killer whale (orca) which appeared in shows at SeaWorld San Diego in the mid/late 1960s.
38A. U can soak in one: JQZ HOT TUB (9). Jacuzzi jets provide serious therapeutic benefits.
54A. Something to C at Carnegie Hall: PNO RECITAL (10). "Piano" was only easy to grok because of the word recital. Of course, there is only one way to get to Carnegie Hall for a PIANO RECITAL. Practice!
61A. Possible reason Y lights get turned off: NRG CONSERVATION (15). Energy conservation is a political subject these days. I pass.
1. Figura de __: Spanish skating move: OCHO. The figure eight which is a skating move translated to Spanish. A CSO to our dear departed Clear Ayes and a winsome friend Robin.
5. Besides: ALSO.
9. Cut back a lot: SKIMP. Skimp and save. No comment considering the times.
14. It might not be proper: NOUN. An oldie but goodie clue/fill combo.
15. Secular: LAIC. Adjective for the lay = non-cleric.
16. Edmonton athlete: OILER. The greatest, Wayne Gretsky, started there.
20. __ space: OUTER. Could be inner, also.
21. Spring bloom: IRIS. The iris family is closely related to the lily and amaryllis families, differing from them in having three stamens rather than six. A shout out to our representative from Delaware.
A repeat from yesterday - clued differently. 22. __-fa: set of musical syllables: SOL. Do re mi ...
26. Cycle starter: TRI. Here in So.Fla. the look like this...
27. Place to drive from: TEE. A CSO to Gary and George and more.
28. Not irr.: STD. A standard clue/fill.
29. Affirmative reply: YES I AM. No, I am not.
32. "The Aviator" (2004) Oscar nominee: ALDA.
34. Buffoons: OAFS.
37. "The fool __ think he is wise ...": "As You Like It": DOTH. Will S. two days in a row.
As You Like It, Act 5, Scene 2: "The fool doth think he is wise but the wise man knows himself to be a fool"
41. Biblical hunter: ESAU. As Jacob and Esau grew older, Esau liked the outdoors and became a good hunter, while Jacob lived the quiet life of a shepherd.
43. It was originally called a "Biscuit": OREO. Since its maker was the NAtional BIScuit CO., this should not be a surprise. When the cookie was first introduced in 1912, it appeared as an Oreo Biscuit, which changed in 1921 to Oreo Sandwich.
44. They're mostly on the phone: APPS. I like this clue/fill though no hint to it maybe being an abbreviation.
48. Bygone predators: T-REXES. I still find this scene captivatingly frightening.
50. Long-legged runner: EMU.
52. Bulldog booster: ELI. Yalie from Jeopardy Thursday night.
53. Component of a sweep, maybe: WIN.
58. Downed: ATE.
59. Countenance: MIEN.
60. Lenya of "From Russia With Love": LOTTE. Quite a lady.
65. They're changed on the road: GEARS. Like 44A, I loved this very nice clue for simple fill.
66. Sandwich staple: TUNA. I am a fan.
67. Frequently: A LOT.
68. French greeting: SALUT. A French shalom.
69. Reach: SPAN. Fighters have their's measured.
70. Out of __: SYNC.
Down:
1. College town WSW of Albany: ONEONTA. Another shout out to upstate New York contingent.
The COLLEGES. Geography 1.
2. Island resort near Cancún: COZUMEL. Cozumel is an island and municipality in the Caribbean Sea off the eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. G 2.
3. Went like a runaway train: HURTLED.
4. It's a start: ONSET. Again, simple but tricky.
5. Lord of the ring?: ALI.
6. Brit's bud: LAD. Steve, still used?
7. Sub (for): SIT IN. A CSO to Gary.
8. Earthy tone: OCHRE. This is an earthy pigment containing ferric oxide, typically with clay, varying from light yellow to brown or red. Also, OCHER is acceptable.
9. Juniors, maybe: SONS. In families, not schools.
10. Razz: KID.
11. "My temper got the best of me": I LOST IT.
12. Holiday candle holder: MENORAH. It is much more than that. LINK.
13. Heat at a meet, for short: PRELIM. Preliminary round.
18. LAX landings: ARRS.
19. Opposite of stuffy: AIRY.
24. Entire range: A-TO-Z.
25. Shoshone Falls state: IDAHO. They are higher than Niagara. LINK. G 3.
.jpg/1200px-Shoshone_Falls_(Idaho).jpg)
30. Academic address ending: EDU. EDUcation.
31. Nagano noodle: SOBA. Soba noodles are Japanese noodles that are made from buckwheat flour. Their nutty flavor works well as a base for stir-fries and salads. Oo like them in soup.
33. "Iliad" warrior: AJAX. I had one red betta and I named him Ajax. See above.
35. Behind: FOR.
36. Handle the wheel: STEER.
39. Ont. neighbor: QUE. Ontario - Quebec. G 4.
40. Heavy reading?: TOME.
41. Coastal East African country: ERITREA. G 5.
↢ West Africa East Africa ↣
42. Coastal West African country: SENEGAL. G 6.
45. In a small-minded way: PETTILY.
46. Army outfit: PLATOON.
47. Bit of obscenity?: SILENT C. A witty way to hide the answer. No controversy here from me.
48. Musical saw sounds: TWANGS. You decide.
49. Bias: SPIN. Doctor?
51. Pauley Pavilion Pac-12 team: UCLA. Where the basketball team plays.
55. Fits one within another: NESTS. Nesting dolls are back.
56. Best: ONE UP.
57. Frat letters: IOTAS.
59. Guinness book adjective: MOST.
62. French vineyard: CRU. A vineyard or wine-producing region in France. 2. A grade or class of wine: premier cru.
63. Biological chain letters: RNA. Ribonucleic acid is a polymeric molecule implicated in various biological roles in coding, decoding, regulation, and expression of genes. RNA and DNA are nucleic acids, and, along with proteins and carbohydrates, constitute the three major macromolecules essential for all known forms of life.
64. Moving aid: VAN.
Speaking of moving, it is time for me to be moving on. I hope you had as much fun as I did. Thanks, Bruce and all of you who read our words.
Bonus geography from our trip.
