google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner

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Apr 25, 2020

Saturday, April 25, 2020, C.C. Burnikel

Themeless Saturday by C.C. Burnikel

Our dear blogmistress C.C. has given us a real Saturday challenge today. Her multicultural knowledge never fails to amaze! This is her comment about the puzzle:

"I sent in this puzzle on June 17, 2019 and it was accepted on August 26, 2019. Just a standard 72-word grid with triple stacks on each corner. " [Husker comment: "Yeah right!]


I only do Saturday puzzles online because I want to do them in advance to better blog them. I was shocked when I put in the A to complete DAE and TEASEL, as you see below, which were unknown to me and as you see, I got the Congratulations message! Patience and educated guesses won the day for me as I got my first real 14. Initial access points: TOEHOLDS at the bottom.



C.C. and me                                                 Final screen image 
                                                                        after successful solve
Now let's take a look at what C.C. calls "just a standard 72-word grid with triple stacks in the corners" 

Across:

1. "Stop kidding yourself": LET'S BE REAL - My response when C.C. said, "Gary you can construct puzzles like I do"


11. Hits or runs: STAT.


15. The Canadian film "Away From Her" is based on one of her short stories: ALICE MUNRO - Alice's The Bear Came Over The Mountain was the basis for this powerful film about Alzheimer's disease. 




16. Lima locale: OHIO - C.C.! Okay, Peru would be too easy on Saturday 


17. Turn sometimes prohibited: RIGHT ON RED 


18. Take risks: DARE.


19. Historian Yuval Noah Harari's country: Abbr.: ISR The website for this Israeli-born historian


20. Target for a hook: HOOP - Clever, C.C., not a CHIN! Kareem called this shot his Sky Hook and here Dave Cowens is finding it impossible to block




21. Hidden difficulty: CATCH 


22. Fish in a poke bowl: AHI - Poke is Hawaiian for slice. This is typically Ahi or Yellowfin tuna, that's cubed and layered up with a satisfying serving of sticky rice and power-packed pickles




23. "Are you comin'?": WANNA GO? - I have developed an ear as to whether my wife really means, "I want you to go along, Gary"


25. "Patrick Melrose" network, briefly: SHO Starring Benedict Cumberbatch on SHOwtime


26. "Take a bite!": TASTE IT - Let's get Mikey to try it


28. Awaiting trial, maybe: ON BAIL - Usually one hears "OUT ON BAIL"

30. Chutney fruit: APRICOT Recipe


33. "Elusive Butterfly" singer Bob: LIND - A one hit wonder that dredges up memories of my college days


34. Zero hour: START -  Zero Hour (1957), the movie that the Zuckers turned into Airplane (1980), the funniest movie I've ever seen.



37. "Not a huge fan": MEH.

38. Traitor: JUDAS 


39. __ stick: POGO.


40. Get the job done: DELIVER.


42. "And here I thought I was the only one": YOU TOO? - My reply to, "I had trouble with TA-NEHISI in Debbie Ellerin's puzzle two weeks ago."


44. Ionic and Versa: FITBITS - Didn't know/had to be




48. __ run: SKI.


49. Internet security company acquired by Carbonite in 2019: WEBROOT.




52. Bug snare: NET.


53. Berry on-screen: HALLE - My fav Cat Woman




55. Count equivalent: EARL - Yes this sandwich chain was founded by John Montagu, the 11th Earl of Sandwich




56. "The Good Doctor" actor Daniel __ Kim: DAE - I knew him from here




57. Conform to: OBEY.


58. Most prevalent grape in Chianti: SANGIOVESE - No chance for me but it filled itself in




61. Snapper rival: TORO - I've had both but I went battery power this time and love it so far




62. Longtime clothing tag: UNION LABEL Look for the UNION LABEL


63. Symbol of grace: SWAN.


64. "You deserve better": DON'T SETTLE 



Down:


1. It's thrown at rodeos: LARIAT.


2. Cuthbert of "24": ELISHA - It appears ELISHA is not a male


3. River through Iraq: TIGRIS.

4. MIT, for one: SCH.


5. Ante matter?: BET - Cute again. File POT under "Right Idea, Wrong Word"


6. Style characterized by long bangs brushed to one side: EMO HAIR - Okay...




7. Arrive as scheduled: RUN ON TIME - Mussolini's train claim


8. 2001 scandal subject: ENRON - It cost my uncle his dignity and his pension


9. Colombian cornmeal cake: AREPA - An AREPA cheese sandwich




10. City served by Ben-Gurion airport: LOD - A 14 minute Uber ride




11. Common mixer: SODA.


12. "However ... ": THAT SAID.


13. Carrier with a Chengdu hub: AIR CHINA - Speaking of air travel, it takes over a day to fly from Chengdu to Ben Gurion airport via AIR CHINA with stops in Shanghai and Addis Ababa 




21. Mexican menu preposition: CON - I like my chili CON carne


23. Turned blue?: WEPT 
and 24. Understood: GOT - John WEPT when he GOT this




27. Card worth a fortune?: TAROT.


29. Dust jacket promo: BLURB Here's the BLURB for this book 
47. "Fifty Shades of Grey" heroine Ana __: STEELE 



31. Collectible frame: CEL.


32. "Oops, slipped my mind": OH I FORGOT


34. Unauthorized photos of yet-to-be-released cars: SPY SHOTS - It's a thing! Motor1.com's best SPY SHOTS


35. Acknowledged applause: TOOK A BOW - "I'll bet you made the cutest BOW"


36. "Beautiful" singer: AGUILERA - Christina


38. "I Love Rock 'n Roll" singer: JETT - Ya gotta love it!


40. Generic surname: DOE.

41. String section: VIOLINS


43. Be shy: OWE and 
45. Seeing red?: IN DEBT - You've gotta have some miles on your tires to know who is saying this (Answer at the bottom *).




46. Plant with prickly leaves: TEASEL - A Eurasian plant that has never crossed my path



50. Bingo relative: BEANO - Parker Brothers said you could call it either one



51. Took to the cooler: RAN IN - That was Danno's job




54. City north of Marseille: LYON 
Marseille est presque au SUD de LYON




59. Spirited cheer: OLE 


60. Winery vessel: VAT - What Lucy looked like (in color) after the famous VAT scene



*That indebted hamburger consumer is Popeye's friend Wimpy (late addition)

Comments for C.C.?


Notes from C.C.:

Happy Birthday to Kazie (Kay), who started contributing to our blog a few months after I started. I've benefited greatly from her knowledge of German & French.


Kay and her husband Barry on Tamborine Mountain, overlooking Brisbane