34. *Hip-hop trio with a condimental name: SALT-N-PEPA.
38. Fifth and newest member of the set that includes the starts of the answers to starred clues: UMAMI.
Across:
1. Deep opera voices: BASSI. Learned this word from doing crosswords. Before that, I only knew of Shirley Bassey.
6. Quaint "you": THOU.
10. "SOS" pop group: ABBA.
14. From square one: AGAIN. Anew.
15. Pair on a Disney World hat: EARS. Overheard while walking on Main St. USA, "I want one ! "
16. Little brook: RILL.
19. Live __: party hearty: IT UP.
20. Temporary period: INTERIM.
21. Clytemnestra's son: ORESTES. It's all Greek to me, but the perps made it evident.
23. Soap-making chemical: LYE.
24. Often: A LOT. Often, a lot is a ton.
26. Road's end?: STER. This powerful little two-seater was the first Shelby Cobra. It sold for $13.75M.
27. Versatile vehicle, for short: UTE.
28. Handel's "Messiah" is one: ORATORIO. I found this article to be a good read.
32. Vertical billiards stroke: MASSE. The masse is often not allowed because if it is not executed properly, the cue tip can rip the felt.
35. Not fresh: STALE.
36. Ambient music pioneer Brian: ENO.
37. Apple computer: IMAC.
39. NYPD rank: INSP. Inspector
40. Zero, like chances: NIL.
41. "Full court" NBA defense: PRESS. Pistol Pete's basketball coach father was known as Press. But not for an obsession of coaching that style of defense. He got that nickname as a boy selling the Pittsburgh Press newspaper on the streets of Aliquippa, PA. LSU fans know that Dale Brown succeeded Press as head coach of the Tigers
42. Pat Conroy's "The Prince of __": TIDES.
43. Corporate info-sharing system: INTRANET. The internet is the information superhighway for the masses. It is public. An intranet is a limited access information superhighway used by companies, corporations and government entities to disseminate information internally. It is private.
45. Hawaiian dish: POI.
46. "Chestnuts roasting __ open fire": ON AN. Jack Frost nipping at your nose. Seems like it was only yesterday.
47. Online craft store: ETSY.
49. Rap sheet abbr.: AKA. Also Known As.
52. Elks, in Canada: WAPITIS.
55. __ Kodak: EASTMAN. "You press the button. We'll do the rest."
57. Top poker cards: ACES.
60. Ready for harvesting: RIPE.
61. Half of Mork's sign-off: NANU.
62. Novelist Joyce Carol __: OATES.
63. Smartphone ancestors, briefly: PDAS. Personal Digital Assistants
64. Cookbook amt.: TBSP. Cookbooks sometimes abbreviate it as just a capital T, but that would not work as an answer in crossword puzzles.
65. "Elder" Roman scholar: PLINY.
Down:
1. Fragrant herb: BASIL.
2. Ecstasy's opposite: AGONY.
3. Fry: SAUTE.
4. "Your Highness": SIRE.
5. Unappreciative one: INGRATE.
6. Pedro's "I love you": TE AMO.
7. WWII General __ Arnold: HAP. One of only five 5 Star Generals in the US Army. Also, the only General in the US Air Force to have attained the 5 Star rank.
8. Crumbled sundae-topping cookie: OREO.
9. Cold War power: Abbr.: USSR. СССР (Союз Советских Социалистических Республик) is a Russian abbreviation for the Soviet Union or Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).
10. Noble Brit: ARISTO.
12. Treatment for gray hair: BLUE RINSE. New to me, but now I know what my friend meant when talking about those blue haired ladies. I thought it was figurative.
13. Swiss peaks: ALPS.
18. Irritate but good: RILE.
22. 90° from sur: ESTE.
25. How food may be seasoned: TO TASTE. Altitude can change taste. The combination of dryness and low pressure reduces the sensitivity of your taste buds to sweet and salty foods by around 30%.
27. Trojans' sch.: USC. The University of Southern California athletic teams are known as the Trojans.
38. Reception server: URN. Not a person employed as wait staff at a reception.
39. Three, on a sundial: III.
41. Breathe heavily: PANT.
42. Kid's favorite store, often: TOY SHOP.
44. Elevates: RAISES.
45. 10th-grader's exam, for short: PSAT. Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test.
48. Start a golf hole: TEE UP.
49. Vintage violin: AMATI.
50. Megan's "Will & Grace" role: KAREN.
51. Anxious: ANTSY.
52. __ speed: "Star Trek" rate: WARP. "A reaction between deuterium and antideuterium, tempered through a dilithium crystal assembly, allows 24th century Federation vessels to travel at warp speeds." If interested, you can read more about the technology in this explanation.
53. Fails to be: ISN'T. The third person singular (he, she, it) present tense of To Be is IS. The negative contraction of To Be is isn't, but it isn't ain't. Shakespeare (paraphrased) summed it up nicely: "Is or isn't, that is the question."
54. Q-tip: SWAB.
56. Greenish-blue: TEAL.
59. Nav. rank: ENS. Ensign. A commissioned officer in the Navy.
51. Classic French song whose title means "It's so good": C'EST SI BON.
61. Frank holder: HOT DOG BUN.
Boomer here.
Hello
all. Just got back from an annual trip to Las Vegas. Graybar Electric
hosts a retiree reunion at the Orleans. At the banquet on Monday,
President Kathy Mazzarella reports on the previous year's successes. I
give a little stand up comedy, and first I thank President Kathy for
hosting the fine banquet, and then thank her for letting us know that
the people they hired to replace us are doing a helluva lot better than
we ever did. I did pretty well in the casinos this year. I like to play
for low stakes and I found a draw poker machine where you can play 100
hands at the same time for 1 cent per hand. Also played a little low
minimum craps on the machines.
Below
is a photo C.C. took of me at the flower display at the Wynn on the
Strip. The lunar New Year of the Pig is celebrated everywhere in Las
Vegas. C.C. and I were both born in pig years. (Not the same year of
course,)
I
may have turned a corner Thursday, After a couple of ordinary games of
bowling, I decided to resurrect an old Storm "Virtual Gravity" bowling
ball out of the bag and nailed a 235 game with 7 strikes. (two doubles
and one turkey !). Guess what ball I will be using this morning.
You can see more pictures here.Connie is my sister, who lives in San Francisco.
Boomer and the Pig, Wynn
Across:
1. Class-conscious gp.: PTA. Harper Valley's is most famous.
4. Big name in underwear: SPANX. Never heard about this brand. Are you sure it is not just BIG underwear?
9. Near-sighted Mr.: MAGOO. Voiced by Jim Backus who became more famous as Thurston Howell on Gilligan's Island
14. __-de-sac: CUL.
15. Conical home: TEPEE.
Minnesota was historically the home for many Native Americans. I often
wonder how they survived Minnesota winters like the one we are having
this year. Minus 25 a couple of weeks ago, followed by around two feet
of snow. Brings to mind that famous song, "I'm dreaming of a white
Groundhog Day."
16. Do penance: ATONE.
19. Dwindled: WANED.
20. Krispy __ doughnuts: KREME.
These guys came to Minnesota about 10 years ago and cars were lined up
at the window, but eventually they failed. I don't see any stores around
any more. Maybe because the spelling was poor.
21. Chat room chuckle: LOL. I see this all the time but I never hear "out loud".
23. Japanese computer giant: NEC.
24. 18-wheeler: SEMI. Another interesting connotation. I always see the whole truck, doesn't SEMI mean "Half"?
28. A flirt may bat one: EYELASH. Be careful if you are in the on deck circle.
31. Mount McKinley, now: DENALI.
32. '60s "acid": LSD. LBJ took the IRT in the USA, What did he see? The youth of America on LSD. (An old acronym song in my youth).
33. Like baggy pants: LOOSE.
36. Bewilder: ADDLE.
39. Paris' river: SEINE. When will I again, See you there, on the moonlit banks of the Seine.
43. Boxing's "Iron Mike": TYSON. I lost interest in boxing when he bit Holyfield's ear.
44. Yahoo! rival: MSN. Add "BC" and get the news.
47. Obtain through intimidation, as money: EXTORT. It is Tax season.
49. Attached, as hotel rooms: EN SUITE.
54. Unexpected thing to hit: SNAG. Or sometimes a centerfielder will snag a hit away.
55. Cornfield sound: CAW. Cannot scare a crow without a brain.
56. Suffix with iso- or poly-: MER.
57. Footnote abbr.: OP CIT.
59. Sci-fi author Verne: JULES. Very deep works. "Twenty thousand leagues under the sea", and "Journey to the center of the earth."
64. Leaning: ATILT.
We have all seen or ridden on a Tilt a Whirl. I used to call on the
company that made them, Sellner Manufacturing in Faribault, Minnesota.
65. Battery post: ANODE.
66. Absorbed, as a loss: ATE.
67. Fishing line holders: REELS. They make really hi tech reels now. Guaranteed to catch fish.
68. What a rooster rules: ROOST. When I was young, in my house my Mother ruled the roost.
69. Like seven U.S. flag stripes: RED.
Down:
1. Cut for an agt.: PCT. Not a cut for Matt Kuchar's caddy, but he is trying to atone.
2. Thanksgiving birds: TURKEYS. This clue is so easy even I can figure it out.
3. Fearful: ALARMED. Okay, but if you ALARMED your home, you should not be fearful.
4. Flower part: STEM.
5. Brazilian soccer legend: PELE. Only one name and everyone has heard of him.
10. Finished: AT AN END. If it's at the end of a rope, you are finished.
11. (Having) spoiled: GONE BAD.
12. Like amoebas: ONE CELL. I think the largest single cell is an Ostrich egg
13. Wordsmith's ref.: OED. Oxford English Dictionary.
18. Wedding wear: VEIL. "Here comes the Bride"
22. Inc., in Toronto: LTD. Also a big old Ford
24. French salt: SEL.
25. White-sheet wearer, on Halloween: GHOST. Dangerous costume, do not trip and watch out for cars.
26. Singer Rimes and soaps actress Hunley: LEANNS.
27. Never, in Neuss: NIE.
Do we like foreign words in puzzles? Personally, I don't think it's
fair. Like getting Canadian money in change. Sorry Ms. Eh
29. Birch family trees: ALDERS. Are Older Alders Elders ?
30. Not worth a __: SOU.
34. Hog's home: STY. I think pigs live in stys. Hogs live in stylish stys.
35. "Barnaby Jones" star Buddy: EBSEN.
Famous as Barnaby, but also as Jed Clampett in the "Beverly
Hillbillies". But his bad luck was he was cast as the Tin Man in "Wizard
of Oz" but had to withdraw because the metallic face makeup made him
sick.
38. + or - particle: ION.
39. "Just a __!": SEC.
40. Carry out, as a task: EXECUTE.
41. "Don't believe that!": IT'S A LIE. You are correct. Sometimes I cannot believe where my golf ball ends up.
42. Ailing: NOT WELL.
44. Hotel room amenity: MINI BAR.
We did not have one of these at the Orleans. But I'll bet those who
have them pay more for an ounce than I lose at the tables.
45. It's a law: STATUTE. I wonder if there is a statute of limitations on the number of statutes we can have.
46. Opposite of pos.: NEG. Yup, we have a pretty negative Post Office in our city.
48. Comic Conway: TIM. Ensign Parker in McHale's Navy, but also appeared on "Laugh In" quite a bit.
50. Maritime safety gp.: USCG. Hope they are all paid and back to work.
52. Joy of "The View": BEHAR.
53. Maine college town: ORONO. We also have an Orono city in Minnesota. Lots of well-to-do folks have homes there.
57. Sports betting numbers: ODDS.
Here are your craps odds when the point is: 4 or 10 Two for one, 5 or 9
- three for two, and 6 or 8 - six for five. Once the point number is
established, you can place double your pass line bet behind the line
(some casinos offer more). It is not marked on the table because casinos
rarely show a bet that has no house advantage.
58. Browning or Burns: POET. You're a poet and you don't know it, but your feet show it. They're Longfellows.
59. Pickle container: JAR.
60. Ave. crossers: STS. Okay, but where do lanes go? In bowling centers
62. As well: TOO.
63. Beatty of "Deliverance": NED. I loved "Dueling Banjos"
Getting Ahead. The word Beat can be placed "ahead" of the first word of each starred theme answer to give a common phrase.
22-A. * Online business-building method: CROWD FUNDING. If you go shopping on August, you can Beat the Crowd for Christmas shopping.
27-A. * Las Vegas pros: ODDS MAKERS. You can Beat the Odds of getting that "must have" Christmas item if you shop in August.
48-A. * Guinness entries: RECORD SETTERS. Can you Beat the Record for running the mile?
81-A. * User's nightmare: SYSTEM FAILURE. If you try to Beat the System, you might find yourself in jail.
102-A. * Zapping direction: HEAT ON HIGH. If you travel to Antarctica, you can Beat the Heatin Summer.
107-A. * Nine-to-fiver: CLOCK WATCHER. Did you Beat the Clock in finishing this puzzle?
31-D. * Overextended: SPREAD THIN. Did you Beat the Spread in the Super Bowl?
51-D. * Where one might idle away the time?: TRAFFIC JAM. If you leave for work at 4:00 a.m., you may Beat the Traffic in the morning.
And the Unifier:
94-Down. Michael Jackson hit ... or what you can do to the start of each answer to a starred clue: BEAT IT.
Across:
1. Unstressed, as a syllable: ATONIC. Not the easiest starts for a puzzle.
7. Painter of melting watches: DALÍ. As in Salvador Dalí (May 11, 1904 ~ Jan. 23, 1989).
The Meadows Museum at SMU has a fabulous Dalí Collection of work that he did to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the State of Israel.
11. iPhone purchase: APP.
14. A deadly sin: LUST. My first thought was Envy. It was the right number of letters! The other deadly sins are: Pride, Greed, Gluttony, Anger, and Sloth.
18. It's split in a boat: BANANA.
Oh, you wanted this kind of a Banana Split:
19. Command to a junkyard dog: SIC 'EM!
20. Early internet pioneer: AOL.
21. Not fooled by: ON TO.
24. Common Woody Allen character disorders: NEUROSES.
26. Send back, as into custody: REMAND. Please don't say "remand back." That is redundant, since the word already means to send back. One of my pet peeves.
29. Iraq's main port: BASRA.
33. In the past: AGO. A long, long time Ago ...
34. Comic actor Amsterdam of old TV: MOREY. Morey Amsterdam (né Moritz Amsterdam; Dec. 14, 1908 ~ Oct. 28, 1996), is best known for his role as Buddy Sorrell on The Dick Van Dyke Show, which ran on TV in the 1960s.
35. "Be thine own palace, or the world's thy jail" writer: DONNE. Words from the English poet, John Donne (Jan. 22, 1572 ~ Mar. 31, 1631). // And the cross-reference of 12-Down. 35-Across output: POESY. An archaic word for Poetry.
36. Call into question: OPPUGN. Yes, this is a real word. According to Merriam-Webster, the word has been around in the English language since at least the 15th century. It comes from the Latin verb Oppugnare. Op- meaning "against", and Pugnare meaning "to fight." It originally referred to fighting against something or someone, either physically or verbally. Okay, now, everyone, use this word in a sentence. Just kidding! Please do not!!!
41. St. Patrick's land: EIRE. Also known as Ireland.
42. F equivalent: E-SHARP. A musical reference.
45. Like radon, say: INERT. The gas may be inert, but it is formed by the natural breakdown of uranium in the soil. According to the American Cancer Society, there is a link between Radon and Lung Cancer.
47. "Norma __": RAE. The name of a 1979 movie starring Sally Field (b. Nov. 6, 1946).
The movie was based on the real-life union organizer named Crystal Lee Sutton (Dec. 21, 1940 ~ Sept. 11, 2009).
51. Pre-flight frisking gp.: TSA. As in the Transportation Security Administration.
54. One may be played with sticks or brushes: SNARE DRUM.
56. Misplay with matches?: ARSON. Fun clue.
57. Hawkish god: ARES. It's Greek to me!
58. Composer Milhaud: DARIUS. Darius Milhaud (Sept. 4, 1892 ~ June 22, 1974), was a French composer. I am not familiar with his work, but here is his piece entitled A Frenchman in New York.
59. Hard-to-meet condition: BIG IF. You want me to do what!!!???
61. Apple browser: SAFARI. I liked how Safari crossed with 62-Down: Acrobat maker = ADOBE.
63. Former Bears coach: DITKA. As in Mike Ditka (b. Oct. 18, 1939). He also coached the New Orleans Saints in the late 1990s.
65. Satan: BEELZEBUB. Beelzebub is mentioned in this Queen song:
68. Tips, as a hat: DOFFS.
Do you recognize this former United States President?
69. Minerva's Greek counterpart: ATHENA. You don't even have to leave this country to see Athena. There is a large statue of Athena in the Parthenon in Nashville.
71. Smith, at times: SHOER. As in one who shoes horses.
72. End in grand style: TOP OFF. Meh!
74. Baseball's Speaker: TRIS. Tris Speaker (né Tristan Edgar Speaker; Apr. 4, 1888 ~ Dec. 8, 1958) was born and died in Texas, but began his major league baseball career with the Boston Red Sox.
75. 1970 Neil Diamond hit: SHILO. Not a fan of Neil Diamond, so you'll have to find this song yourself.
77. Deactivating: DISABLING.
80. Author Rand: AYN. Any Rand (née Alisa Zinovyevna Rosenbaum; Feb. 2, 1905 ~ Mar. 6, 1982), is probably best known for her books, Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead.
84. Company VIP: CEO. As in the Chief Executive Officer.
85. Prom attendees: TEENS.
86. Out of class: ABSENT.
87. Open a bit: AJAR. When is a door not a door?
88. Muted to the max: SILENT.
91. Bill's attorney general: JANET. Janet Reno (July 21, 19938 ~ Nov. 7, 2016), served as the 78th United States Attorney General. She served during the Clinton Administration, from January 1993 until January 2001.
93. Remove by melting, say: ABLATE. Another word in today's puzzle that I will probably never have need of using.
95. Pungent green: CRESS. Cress is a green vegetable in the cabbage family.
96. Indelicate: CRASS. Nice to have Crass next to Cress, with only a vowel change.
98. Friend of TV's Sheldon: RAJ. A reference to The Big Bang Theory. Not a fan of the show.
101. "__ World": "Sesame Street" segment: ELMO'S. Having no young children, I am not up on all the segments of Sesame Street. I guess he likes to play a SNARE DRUM, though.
104. Seasonal song words after "gay apparel": FA LA LA. Deck the Hall with Boughs of Holly ...
106. Superhero-themed kids' wear: UNDEROOS. It would be 97-Down to show kids in underwear!
113. Future viewer: SEER.
114. See 103-Down: ARK. // And 103-Down: 114-Across Builder = NOAH. A Biblical reference to Noah's Ark and the 40 days of rain.
115. Main blood vessel: AORTA.
116. Manly: VIRILE.
117. Nine-digit IDs: SSNs. As in Social Security Numbers.
118. "Psst!": HEY!
119. Visual okays: NODS.
120. Tinier than tiny: ATOMIC. Also a song by Blondie.
Down:
1. Easy comparative: ABC. This puzzle was almost as easy as ABC.
2. Paving material: TAR.
3. Strawberry Fields benefactor: ONO. O, NO! It's Yoko ONO!
4. Rural turndown: NAW.
5. Like some "La Cage Aux Folles" dancers: IN DRAG. The original French version was even better than the American re-make.
6. Rick's, in film: CAFÉ. A reference to Casa Blanca.
7. Followed a Hippocratic dictum: DID NO HARM. The Hippocratic Oath is historically taken by new physicians and they are directed to Do No Harm in the treatment of their patients.
8. Corrosive stuff: ACID.
9. Novelist Deighton: LEN. Len Deighton (né Leonard Cyril Deighton; b. Feb. 18, 1929), is best known for his spy novels. Tomorrow is his 90th Birthday, so be sure to wish him a great day!
10. "No more for me": I'M GOOD!
11. Docudramas airer: A AND E. Usually seen as A&E.
13. Choice: PLUM.
14. Observation point: LOOKOUT. Here's a lookout point at Mt. Katadin in Maine.
15. Not yet posted: UNSENT.
16. "Tristram Shandy" author: STERNE. As in Laurence Sterne (Nov. 24, 1713 ~ Mar. 18, 1768). I have never read any of his works. The full title of this work is The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, and is published in 9 volumes. That would take some time to read through.
17. Salad preparer: TOSSER. Awkward! You might want to Toss a little CRESS into your salad.
19. Reel trouble: SNAG.
23. Actress Thurman: UMA. Uma Thurman (née Uma Karina Thurman; b. Apr. 29, 1970) is probably best known for her Kill Bill movies, and the famous dance scene in Pulp Fiction.
25. Navigation aids: RADARS. Radar is an acronym for Radio Detection And Ranging. Also used by police to check on speeders.
28. "Frasier" bros., e.g.: DRs. Both Frasier and his brother Niles, were doctors; psychiatrists, in fact.
29. Transvaal settlers: BOERS. Transvaal is a province of South Africa.
30. Like lives in hives: APIAN. Think of the Bees.
32. Have remorse for: RUE. Also the French word for Street.
34. Cleaning tools: MOPS.
37. "__ say more?": NEED I. This puzzle is quite clever. Need I say more?
39. Chicago airport code: ORD. The airport is O'Hare. Originally, however, the airport was known as Orchard Field, hence, the airport code ORD. In 1949, the name was changed to O'Hare to honor Edward Henry O'Hare (Mar. 13, 1914 ~ Nov. 26, 1943), a World War II flying ace, who was killed in the War.
40. Beach divers: TERNS.
43. Clean with S.O.S: SCRUB.
44. Provides home care services?: HOUSE SITS.
45. "There's no use": IT'S FUTILE!
46. New start?: NEO-. As in Neoclassic. The United States Capitol Building is an example of Neoclassic architecture.
48. Played again on TV: RERAN. Or you can watch a Rerun.
49. Hankering: EAGER.
50. Windy City newspaper, for short: TRIB. As in the Chicago Tribune.
52. Feudal worker: SERF.
53. Sale stipulation: AS IS.
55. Tools with tines: RAKES. .
57. CIO partner, familiarly: AF OF L. As in the American Federation OfLabor. A bit awkward, I should think. I am familiar with AFL-CIO, which stands for the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations.
59. Bud's promise: BLOOM. Think of flowers. My roses are already in their first bloom of the season.
60. Suffix often meaning "to make": -IZE. Here is a CustomIZEd vehicle. What is it, a car or a motorcycle?
63. Facts and figures: DATA.
64. Modest admission: I TRY.
66. Jennifer of "Zero Dark Thirty": EHLE. As in Jennifer Ehle (b. Dec. 29, 1969). She is currently 49. I never saw Zero Dark Thirty and don't recognize this actress.
67. Deck crew boss: BOSUN.
70. Thus far: AS YET.
73. Medicare component: PART A.
76. QVC sister station: HSN. QVS stands for Quality, Value, Convenience and HSN is the Home Shopping Network.
77. Draws attention (from): DISTRACTS.
78. "Terrif!": NEAT-O!
79. Injures, as a matador: GORES. From Sonny Stitt's album, The Matadors Meet the Bull.
81. Motion detector, e.g.: SENSOR.
82. Cheerful group?: FANS. Because the Fans full up the Cheering Section of the arena.
85. Marketing hirees: TESTERS. I suppose. Usually the testers are volunteers recruited by marketeers.
87. Tide competitor: ALL. Both are brands of laundry detergent.
88. Speedy ski run: SCHUSS.
89. Dunne and Ryan of cinema: IRENEs. Irene Dunne (née Irene Marie Dunn; Dec. 20, 1898 ~ Sept. 4, 1990) was before my time with respect to her acting career.
Irene Ryan (née Jessie Irene Noblett; Oct. 17, 1902 ~ Apr. 26, 1973) is best known for her role as Granny Moses on The Beverly Hillbillies.
90. Plodding: LEADEN.
91. Sporty wheels, briefly: JAG.
92. Art movement typified by Sloan's "McSorley's Bar": ASHCAN. The Ashcan School was an American Art movement that focused on the daily life of the working-class.
96. After-school job: CHORE. Or, in my house, what we do on the weekends.
97. Not without danger: RISKY. See 106-Across.
99. __-Seltzer: ALKA.
100. Hinged mouth part: JAW. Moose Jaw is the 4th largest city in Saskatchewan. The city used to boast the Largest Moose Statue in the world, but is currently battling with Norway for that title.
104. Shallow crossing: FORD. Not Gerald, the former United States President.
105. Kilauea flow: LAVA. This Hawaiian volcano has been erupting almost continuously for over 35 years.
108. Canterbury can: LOO. British bathrooms.
109. Vel follower: -CRO. More than you ever wanted to know about VELCRO.
1
10. "Tell __": Streisand/Dion duet: HIM. I'll spare your ears on this song, too.
111. Yalie: ELI. A crossword staple.
112. Remote button: REC. As in the Record button.
Hope you all had as much fun with this puzzle as I did.
Here's the Grid:
Themeless Saturday Puzzle by Christopher Adams World Whale Day was started in 1980 on Maui. It reminds us of the challenges faced in our oceans across the globe. Observed annually on the third Sunday in February, World Whale Day celebrates these noble sea mammals. My experience is limited to seeing Killer Whales in Sea World shows. The theme park has not obtained orcas from the wild for decades and now has also stopped breeding programs and theatrical shows with "Shamus" as well but will care for the ones remaining in their tanks as long as they live. Sea World and Orcas
Christopher Adams
Today's constructor is Christopher Adams who appears to making his debut in LA Times. He is a Math/Physics guy and if you scroll down one screen here, you will find a nice bio of him The one odd take I have on Christopher's fun puzzle is that so many long fills were easy and helped with the shorter ones which he clued is some very unorthodox ways. I stared down the barrel of what seemed to be a Natick at AISH_/C_LDER but I correctly guessed the vowel that made the most sense. BTW, I will not say this was a whale of a puzzle and you can't make me. Across: 1. High-tech accessory that may pose privacy issues: WEBCAM - Using these to communicate with our granddaughter during her semester in Grenoble was amazing to me! BTW, if you think you are not ever on a camera at any time... 7. Not quite aligned: OFFSET - A definite possibility on California's Hayward Fault
13. No-nonsense marker: SHARPIE
14. Runs off, in a way: XEROXES - Every teacher's best friend to make worksheets 16. Leader of New Netherland before it was renamed New York: PETER STUYVESANT - The first very doable long fill 18. Caltech, e.g.: Abbr.: INST - A famous though fictional employee
20. "Nixon in China" tenor role: MAO - Tenor John Duykers as MAO feels a song coming on
21. Multiple of LXVII: CCI - CCI is a multiple of LXVII because III x LXVII = CCI (67 x 3 = 201) 22. Mobile maker: CALDER - I wonder what Alexander would charge for this tiny one he is holding
23. Flirtatious bat: WINK - Christopher! Here we see WINKING or flirtatious eye batting!
24. 1983 Streisand film: YENTL. 26. Spy novelist Deighton: LEN - A frequent crossword author/fill 27. "Clerks" clerk: DANTE - A 1994 film. A slightly less literate cluing for DANTE
28. Gandhi family notable: RAJIV - India's 6th Prime Minister who took office after his mother Indira Ghandi was assassinated in 1984 30. Exposes: BARES. 31. "The Card Players" artist: PAUL CEZANNE - Another easy long fill. Hmmm... I thought it might be dogs on velvet
33. Positive: CAN DO - As in CAN DO spirit 34. Contract with a flat fee?: LEASE like 12. What letters need: TENANTS - Clever again! This is what an apartment LETTER in S.F. is charging a LETTEE (TENANT) for a studio apt.
35. Sweetly, in suites: DOLCE- dolce here means play this sweetly.
36. Dizzy genre: BOP - Trumpet player Dizzy Gillespies' genre 37. Secret targets?: ODORS - Another fun deception
41. Old senate setting: ROME - A senate scene in ROME on the Ides Of March, 44 A.D.
42. Japan, to natives: NIPPON - A derisive name for Japanese in WWII was Nips 44. Roof, e.g.: TOP 45. PC space bar neighbor: ALT - Every Windows user knows the Ctrl + ALT + Delete mantra 46. Homer, in baseball lingo: GO DEEP - To homer is to GO DEEP. Homer is a verb here 47. Pieces for one: SOLI - I have sung many a SOLI 48. Historical role played by Sally Field in 2012: MARY TODD LINCOLN - "Uh, Mrs. Lincoln we need to talk about your spending..."
51. Coral relative: ANEMONE - Coral and ANEMONE are both animals of the the group called cnidaria (from Greek knidē ‘nettle) and are found on and form reefs
52. Dr. Scholl's products: INSOLES. 53. Promo: TEASER - Some TEASERS for bad movies have the one, single funny scene in them 54. More adroit: NEATER - Adroit people can do much NEATER work Down: 1. Word of origin: WHENCE - We love to travel but are always happy to return to the place from WHENCE we came 2. Dirties the dishes: EATS IN. 3. Poison frontman Michaels: BRET - If you're a fan, you know which one below is BRET
4. Bit of EMT expertise: CPR
5. "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" host Tyler: AISHA - Here she is 6. Like gong sounds: METALLIC. 7. Space shuttle gas: OXYGEN - The -300˚F Liquid OXYGEN was at the top of the orange External Tank when upright on the launch pad
8. Contagious enthusiasm: FEVER - Husker FEVER has already generated a sellout of 90,000 people for the Spring Game/Scrimmage in April 9. Couples of golf: FRED - Clever cluing for Freddie Couples 10. "Help wanted" sign?: SOS - I'll use any excuse to offer an ABBA song
11. Test taker: EXAMINEE - I was an Examiner for decades 13. Hot: SPICY. 15. Fuel: STOKE.
17. Like film in a camera: UNDEVELOPED - What? They still make film? 😏 22. Composer Debussy: CLAUDE - Claude provided spectacular music for the last scene of Ocean's 11 23. Put on notice: WARNED. 25. Blank state: TRANCE. 27. Ted of "The Good Place": DANSON - I suppose, but the only sitcom this physics teacher has watched in the last decade has been Big Bang Theory. 29. Eponymous 2001 pop album: JLO - Jennifer Lopez 30. Barnyard sound: BAA. 31. Coconut source: PALM TREE - The difference between PALM TREES and coconut trees 32. Early transatlantic flier: ZEPPELIN - Here is the LZ 129 Hindenburg (Luftschiff Zeppelin #129) whose fate we all know
33. Nuclear reactor need: COOLANT.
35. Golden Globes genre: DRAMA. 36. Potential stock buyer: BIDDER - Here are some potential BIDDERS for stock
38. 1962 Lawrence portrayer: O'TOOLE - Peter portrayed T.E. Lawrence 39. Painting supply: ROLLER. 40. Pleasant rides: SPINS - Convertibles are built to take out for SPINS 42. 2007 #1 hit for Alicia Keys: NO ONE - Here ya go 43. Put in one's two cents: OPINE - What we bloggers do here according to C.C.'s rules 46. Classic muscle cars: GTOS. 47. Andy Murray, by birth: SCOT - A proud son of Glasgow
49. Soprano Sumac: YMA - A stalwart songbird in the crossword choir 50. "The Puzzle Palace" org.: NSA
