Is it really already February and this is my seventh Brian Paquin themeless Saturday puzzle to blog? Yes, on both counts. I last blogged this Kingston, Ontario resident's puzzle on the 2019 Winter Solstice where I included this bio info Brian was kind enough to share with me:
So, I am a retired computer systems developer. My first interest in crosswords was in figuring out how to write a program to fill grids. I didn't try solving one until I was 40, so this isn't a lifelong thing with me, as it is with many constructors. I still get distracted by playing around with my software rather than writing new puzzles. That's about all that I have for now!
Brian's 12/13/12 side-by-side verticals in the middle are very cool and greatly helped in the solve!
Across:
1. "I Love a Rainy Night" singer Eddie: RABBITT - This goes along with our tradition of saying Rabbit, Rabbit on the first day of the month plus I love this song and rainy nights
8. Rattletrap: BEATER - Be careful if you 7. Test-drive: TAKE FOR A SPIN.
14. TV screen-bottom banner, perhaps: IN LINE AD - Info
16. Bond girl Andress: URSULA - I pictured her in Evan's puzzle last Saturday! Beats a deranged DR NO in rubber gloves!
17. Clapping game: PAT-A-CAKE.
19. Reliable omen: SURE SIGN - Old Sam Clemens hit it on the head
21. "Krazy" comics feline: KAT
22. Modify: ALTER.
25. Murky milieus: FENS - Yeah right, I was the only one who put FOGS!
26. Handle carelessly, with "with": MESS
27. Jamaica's Ocho __: RIOS - This cruise lands at Ocho RIOS (eight rivers) like Columbus did in 1494.
28. Rocky peaks: TORS - 54. Reg.: STD - REGular and STandarD cwd fill
29. Coordinate-based calc.: DIR - Non-math peeps, skip!! If you know the change in horizontal and vertical map coordinates (Δx and Δy), you can calculate the distance, r, and 𝛉 degree DIRECTION required for the move on the plane
30. French wine term: CRU - Here ya go!
31. They can't be prevented: CERTITUDES - We went to the Moon, get over it!
34. What human flight was once thought to be: HARE BRAINED IDEA - "Hey Wilbur, this guy says it'll never get off the ground"
38. Possess: OWN.
39. "Yes, __!": SIR and 56. Threatens with bared teeth: SNARLS AT.
41. "__ giorno!": BUON - Looks like a great way to start the day!
42. Ship's post that secures cables: BITT - I'm betting Spitz could tie these lines!
44. Largest Italian automaker: FIAT - Fix It Again Tony! 😏
45. Big name in health care: AETNA.
46. Big name in home security: ADT - Does a fake American Distance Telegraph sign in the yard deter crime?
47. Most curious: FUNNIEST.
49. Best Actress winner for "The Queen": MIRREN - Helen
51. Longtime Arctic transportation methods: DOG TEAMS
55. Crossed the lake, say: BOATED - My Google search disliked this word so much it replied "Did you mean BLOATED?"
57. Drives: IMPELS - Boated?
58. Emulated Gene Kelly performing "Singin' in the Rain": SLOSHED - Among the most iconic movie images of all time
Down:
1. Copy, as a CD: RIP - An aggressive (and possibly illegal) synonym for copying digital info from one CD to another digital place
2. Santa __: ANA - $650,000 will get you this 1,238 sq. ft. unit in Santa ANA, CA
4. Statistical distortions: BIASES - Nonreponse BIAS in 2016 polling
5. Bring on: INCUR - Don't INCUR the wrath of a Gunnery Sergeant
6. Natural eye cleaner: TEAR.
8. Keg stoppers: BUNGS.9. St. Patrick's home: ERIN.
10. Quiet-mouse connector: AS A.
11. Exhausted: TUCKERED OUT.
12. __ Sports Bureau, statistics giant: ELIAS - The keeper of very ESOTERIC records like: August 2018 - Michael Fulmer - First Tigers pitcher to throw a four-hit shutout (or fewer) with no walks and nine strikeouts since Mickey Lolich against the Angels, Aug. 18, 1972.
13. Diatribes: RANTS.
15. Stereotypical shipwreck sites: DESERT ISLANDS.
20. They're usually not helpful hints: INSINUATIONS - LBJ's campaign made a very famous INSINUATION with this ad in 1964 (1:07)
22. Foot part: ARCH.
23. Turkish coins: LIRAS - Turkish merchants will also take Euros
24. Magnet for rubbernecking: TOURIST TRAP - After hours of driving on the flat South Dakota Plains, this TOURIST TRAP looks might good!
26. Skirt length: MIDI.
28. She was Lois on "Lois & Clark": TERI - TERI Hatcher is, uh, super!
29. Clothing: DUDS.
31. Talking trucker: CBER - A phenomenon enhanced by OPEC Oil Embargo
32. Many a "Buffy" character: TEEN - Many of Vampire Slayers only played TEENS
33. Attach, as a patch: SEW ON.
35. Tighten, in a way: EDIT - My chore here when I write this blog
36. "X-Men" actress Paquin: ANNA - Constructor Brian Paquin's comment on this fill: The Anna Paquin clue was definitely by design, and I'm glad to see that it survived. She does look like a Paquin, but I don't think we are all that closely related. She is part of the Winnipeg Paquins, who moved there from Quebec 300 years ago.41. Addictive Asian nuts: BETELS - Closely associated with cancer of the mouth and jaw. Google pictures at your own risk
42. Tale of a whitetail: BAMBI.
43. Down in the dumps, say: IDIOM - Or "High as a kite"
44. Sponsors: FUNDS - I sponsored two daughters through college and am very glad I was able to
45. 2019 World Series runner-up: ASTRO - Will MLB take away their World Series title?
47. Intuit: FEEL
48. Alike, in Avignon: EGAL - Trente-deux Fahrenhiet est ÉGAL à zéro Celsius (Thirty two Fahrenheit is equal to Zero Celsius)
50. Itinerary abbr.: RTE - My neighbors usually takes the longer RouTE to Minneapolis to see their daughter because the diagonal RouTE has lots of two-lane highways
52. Tough, elastic wood: ASH.
53. West of the movies: MAE.
Comment at will on our Canadian friend's puzzle:
