Thursday, May 20, 2021, Jeffrey Wechsler

 

Good Morning, Cruciverbalists!  Malodorous Manatee, here.  Today, Betty Boop is kicking things off for us.  This is appropriate as it seems to be Women's Day in puzzle-land.  Betty is making certain that the occupants of that pink '57 Chevy are well fed prior to their road trip Down Route 66.

In an interesting twist, today's puzzle setter, our frequent visitor Jeffrey Wechsler, has placed the reveal at the last clue/answer - 66 Down.  At eight other places within the grid Jeffrey has inserted the last names of well-known Mrses, er Mrss, er Missuses, oh heck, Mesdames and, just to make make sure that we don't miss any of the highlights along the route, the clues for the theme answers are starred at least in the source I use (L A Times Online).

The straightforward reveal:  66 Down - Title for eight puzzle answers: MRS.

Another fine feature of today's puzzle is that the theme answers are neatly placed completely across the first row and the final row  The middle two rows are side to side except for the black squares.  Nice symmetry.

*1 Across - Historic barn owner: O'LEARY.  Although Mrs. Catherine O'LEARY denied the charge, her cow is, in legend and song, said to have started the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 by knocking over a lantern in the shed .  The cause of the fire has never been determined.

*7 Across - Screen seductress: ROBINSON.  Mrs. ROBINSON from The Graduate (1967)

*38 Across - Dried spices brand: DASH.  Mrs. DASH

*39 Across - 1993 Williams role: DOUBTFIRE.  Robin Williams played Mrs. DOUBTFIRE in the eponymous motion picture.

*41 Across - Bart's teacher: KRABAPPEL.  Bart Simpson was (is, perpetually) in Mrs. Edna KRABAPPEL's 4th grade class at Springfield Elementary School.    Get it?  Edna Crab Apple.

*43 Across - Frozen fish brand namesake: PAUL.  Mrs. PAUL.

*69 Across - Virginia Woolf protagonist: DALLOWAY.  Mrs. DALLOWAY

*70 Across - Big name in cookies: FIELDS.  Mrs. FIELDS Original Cookies.

That takes care of our look at the themed answers.  Here are the rest of the clues and answers:

Across:

15. "Peter Pan" playwright: BARRIE.

16. Intimate: ONE TO ONE.  ONE of two three-word answers in the puzzle.

17. Sells at a huge markup: SCALPS.

18. Modernize, as a factory: AUTOMATE.

19. Sorbonne summer: ETE.  Today's French lesson . . . . and one we have had many times before.

20. Sticker shock source, perhaps: Abbr.: MSRP.  Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price

22. ESPN analyst who was a three-time A.L. MVP: AROD.  Alex RODriguez

23. Shakespeare's 154: SONNETS.

25. Small ammo: BBS

27. Tokyo's Yoko: ONO.  She appears very often in xword puzzles.

28. Color variant: HUE.

29. Classic ref. work: OED.  Oxford English Dictionary

32. "... some kind of __?": A NUT.

Sometimes You Feel Like A NUT -1980

35. Iridescent stones: OPALS.

37. Wages: PAY.

44. Continental trade org.: EEC.  The European Economic Community was created by The Treaty of Rome in 1957.  In 1993, The EEC was incorporated into the EU - the European Union.

45. Metal en una mina: PLATA.  Today's initial Spanish lesson.  Often clued as part of Montana's State Motto:  Oro y PLATA (Gold and Silver).

46. General's domain: ARMY.

47. One of many on today's phones: APP.

48. Word with luck or hole: POT.

49. Price __: WAR.  Price Club would not fit but Price Tag might be the three-letter answer on another day.

51. Qantas luggage tag letters: SYD.  The code for the SYDney, Australia airport for Qantas, and all other, airlines.

52. Mediterranean language: MALTESE.

56. Give a heads-up: WARN.  WARNing:  You might laugh yourself silly:

Bill Maher's Classic Film Warnings

59. BLT component: MAYO.  This mindless marine mammal initially thought that it had to be something to do with either Bacon. Lettuce or Tomato.  But no, it's MAYOnnaise.

60. L.A. commuter org.: MTA.  Metropolitan Transit Authority.  In L.A. it is actually called the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

61. Ornamental shrub: OLEANDER.  A popular shrub despite its toxicity.

64. Eastern philosophy: TAOISM.

67. Cloudy: OVERCAST.  Since we did not see these guys earlier, even though it was teed up at the Mrs. Robinson clue, we'll visit them now.

CLOUDY - Simon and Garfunkel (1967)

68. Old-timey stable groom: OSTLER.  By definition and, as pointed out in the clue, rarely heard these days.

Down:

1. Out of use: Abbr.: OBS.  OBSolete, I suppose.  Punt.

2. What slippers generally lack: LACES.

3. Bard's muse: ERATO.  ERATO is the muse of lyric poetry.

ERATO - Francois Boucher (1703 -1770) 

4. "Over the Rainbow" composer: ARLEN.  Harold ARLEN wrote this little ditty.

5. Tear: RIP.  Not tear as in to shed a tear.

6. Agreeable types: YES MEN.  It should have been YES woMEN, today.

7. Crowd approval: ROARS.  Or not.

8. "Come __!": loft dweller's invite: ON  UP.

9. Raise, say: BET.  A poker reference.

10. Skater Midori: ITO.

Midori Ito Conquers the Triple Axle

11. Eduardo's "Enough!": NO  MAS.  Today's second Spanish lesson.  I would have gone with Roberto in lieu of Eduardo.

November 25, 1980

12. Glide high: SOAR.

13. Aware of: ON TO.

14. Require: NEED.

21. Didn't draw a card: STOOD PAT.  Another poker reference.

24. Discontented: NOT HAPPY.

25. Light source: BULB.  . . . and often used to symbolize getting a new idea.

26. Majority (of): BEST PART.

28. Remove with trucks: HAUL  AWAY.  Also, a nautical reference.

Haul Away Joe

29. Kind of poppy: OPIUM.

The Wicked Witch of the West

30. Like an eager "bird": EARLY

31. Coloring agent: DYE.

32. Madison Ave. figure: AD REP.  AD something-or-other (ad rep, ad man, ad fee, ad rate, etc.) has become almost as ubiquitous in our puzzles as E-something-or-other.

33. Spingarn Medal org.: NAACP.  The award was created in 1914 by Joel Elias Springarn the then-chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

34. Modern sort of port: USB.  Universal Serial Bus

A Universal Cereal Bus

36. Sappho or Pindar: POET.

40. Partner of away: FAR. "FAR and away" is an idiomatic expression for for having surpassed something, or someone, to a great extent.

41. Mauna __: KEA.  We always have to wait a bit to see if the Hawaiian volcano is going to be KEA or Loa - but the A can go in immediately.  

42. Walk with effort: PLOD.

50. Much: A LOT OF.  Our second three-word answer.

51. Sound from a cornered cur: SNARL.

Betty Boop's Dog Bimbo

52. McFly in "Back to the Future": MARTY.

Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly

53. Overact: EMOTE.

Worst Informercial Acting Ever

54. Yet: STILL.

55. Simplified: EASED.

Ease His Pain

56. Timber: WOOD.

57. Part of TAE: ALVA.  Thomas Alva Edison, the inventor and holder of 1,093 patents including forms of 25 Down and 58 Down.

58. Projection booth item: REEL.

59. Southwestern sight: MESA.

62. Cpl., e.g.: NCO.  Non Commissioned Officer

63. Crow cousin: DAW.  A bird not often seen in crossword puzzles.

A Western Jackdaw

65. Just-thought link: AS I.  We have reached the end of today's recap . . . .

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Thursday, May 6, 2021, Joe Deeney

 

Good Morning, Cruciverbalists !

If you are not proficient in reading sea creatures' lips, and there is really no reason why you should be, you might guess that my friend above is wishing all of you a very happy Seis de Mayo.  Because Cinco de Mayo fell in the middle of the workweek this year, perhaps only a few of you overindulged in cerveza or mescal or tequila.  If you are one of those who did, it's okay to go back to sleep and read this tomorrow because you certainly do not need to add to your morning headache.  Of course, if you celebrated last night and have already tackled today's puzzle then it might be time for some hair of the dog that bit you.

Those who are proficient in lip reading sea creatures will know that my friend is actually voicing her opinion on several aspects of today's puzzle - Something like twenty proper nouns.  Answers such as YOINK, INSPO, and TECHY.  Throw a handful of abbreviations and a dozen two-word answers into the mix and the bellowing, above, is quite understandable (pun possibly intended).

Today's puzzle setter is Joe Deeney who also created the recent March 18th & 31st and April 17th & 25th puzzles, among many others.  Being an accomplished constructor, we have to assume that Mr. Deeney's choices were well-thought-out and were intended to give us a worthy challenge even if they do, in places, leave us shaking our heads.

THEME:  DU YOU SEE WHAT I SEEST?

The answer at 63 Across provides one key to our eventual enlightenment:  At four places in the puzzle, Joe has placed two-word answers.  Each first word starts with DU and each second word ends with ST.  Thus, the center components of the theme answers are bordered by, JACKETed if you will, by DU and ST.

63 Across. Book protector ... and what 17- 24-, 39-, and 53-Across each has: DUST JACKET.  (It would have been jaw-droppingly impressive if the second word of this answer had also ended in ST).

The elements of this clever bit of construction are:

17 Across. Bridge relative for three players: DUMMY WHIST.  WHIST is a trick-taking card game usually played by four players.  If there are only three players then a DUMMY hand is dealt.

24 Across. NBA All-Star Weekend event, casually: DUNK CONTEST.  Each year, during the All-Star game break, the National Basketball Association holds a Slam Dunk Contest.  A slam dunk is a shot in which the player forcibly thrusts the basketball down through the basket.

39 Across. Equinox sunset direction viewed from the equator: DUE WEST.  By definition.  If the sun is directly overhead at noon on the equator it will be due west when it sets.  Interestingly enough, this could also have been the theme.  The DU of each theme answer falls on the left, west on most maps.  DU WEST.

53 Across. Sporty muffler option: DUAL EXHAUST.  Several manufacturers have come up with aftermarket devices that make your EV sound like a V-8 with glass packs (a V-E?).

We'll put the finished grid here for a better look:

Now, let us consider the rest of today's clues and answers:

Across:

1. Apple since 1998: IMAC.  We are used to seeing the clued Apple be an electronic device and not a piece of fruit and if Apple is the first word of the clue it will be capitalized either way.  So that's no help.  One day, some smart (ass) constructor will play on this and the answer will turn out to actually be a recent cultivar.  Apple since 2009:  ENVY

5. Doctor's order?: SAY AH.

Curious George

10. Large number: HOST.  In the biblical sense (no, not that way), a group or army.  צבאות‎

14. Dunn of "SNL" (1985-'90): NORA.  NORA Dunn was cast-member of the Saturday Night Live television show.

Nora Dunn

15. Food recall cause: E. COLI.

Escherichia Coli Bacteria

16. Not about to back: ANTI.  You can opt to back a cause or opt to oppose it.  When I was a kid, it was considered great fun to ask someone if they could spell Antidisestablishmentarianism let alone explain it.  Okay, so I hung with a bunch of weirdos.

19. Union foe: SCAB.  From the Latin scabere meaning to scratch.  For centuries, the term SCAB has been applied to people who were untrustworthy and/or despicable.  In 1816 the term was first used (by members of the Albany Typographical Union) to apply to strikebreakers.

20. Muse's gift, in modern slang: INSPO.  A riff on "inspiration", I suppose.  The muses must be quite amused that anyone has chosen to add this particular linguistic gift to their lexicon.

21. "Too Many Rappers" rapper: NAS.  NASir bin Olu Dara Jones.

22. Elephantine: HUGE.  Which came first, the animal's name or the adjective?  Apparently, the animal's name.  The adjective is said to have originated in the 1620's.  It derives from the Latin elephantinus meaning "pertaining to  elephants".

23. They're not from around here, briefly: ETS.  Extra TerrestrialS  In Maine, upon meeting an ET they might say, "You're from away.  Chuppta?"

28. TV's Arthur: BEA.  . . .  and then there's Maude . . . and before Maude:

Bea Arthur on the Perry Como Show circa 1960

29. MSNBC host Melber: ARI.  What do you call a cat's Italian sports car?  A fur ARI.

30. Irish New Ager: ENYA.  Alternatively, a four-letter singer who often appears in x-word puzzles.

31. Hawks' home: Abbr.: ATL.  The ATLanta Hawks are a professional basketball team.

32. 23andMe concern: DNA.  DeoxyriboNucleic Acid.   23andME is a company that provides direct-to-consumer DNA testing.

34. Everglades bird: EGRET.

A Great White Egret

38. Eugene-to-Portland dir.: NNE.  North North East or 22.5°

42. Flying phenom: ACE.  Not a UFO.  Not Rodan.  An expert pilot.

The Royal Guardsmen - 1966

43. Miso soup base: DASHI.  The Bon Appetite recipe for DASHI  uses only water, dried kombu and bonito flakes.

45. Sch. found inside hotel suites?: LSU.  A clue intended to be interpreted quite literally.  Louisiana State University -  HOTEL SUITES  

46. Scand. land: NOR.  NORway.  Neither Sweden nor Finland.

47. "Wonderfilled" cookie: OREO.  I had never heard of an OREO being "Wonderfilled" but Oreo is always a reasonable guess for anything cookie-related.  I gather that OREO built an advertising campaign around the Wonderfilled theme.

Owl City Commercial -2013

50. Actor Vigoda: ABE.  ABE Vigoda is best known for his role as Salvatore Tessio in The Godfather and as Fish on the Barney Miller TV show.

Justice Delayed

52. U.S. number-issuing agcy.: SSA.  The Social Security Administration.  Not to be confused with 64 Down.

57. BOLO cousin: APB.  Be On the LookOut and All Points Bulletin are both "Heads Up" alerts from the police.

58. Lone: ONLY.  I first tried SOLE.  Interesting cross with 55 Down.

59. Constitution letters: USS.  Not to be confused with the US Constitution.   A ship . . . . and a pretty easily identified bit of misdirection.  If you go to Boston you can visit the ship.  It's where I learned why a ship's toilet is called the head.

USS Constitution

60. Like computer innovations, say: TECHY.  IMHO (In this Manatee's Humble Opinion) - Tacky.

62. Caiman kin: CROC.  CROCodile.  Oddly, caiman is spelled out and the answer is abbreviated.  Is one-half of a pair of Crocs a CROC?

66. Casino game: KENO.  The name has French/Latin roots meaning "five winning numbers"  (quine) or "five each" (quini).  Thanks, Wiki.

67. Remove entirely: ERASE.

68. "__ we go!": HERE.  And awaaaayyyy . . . . would not fit.

69. Eject: SPEW.  See 2 Down.

70. Malibu, e.g.: SEDAN.  Another bit of (less) easily identified misdirection.  The Chevrolet Malibu was manufactured from 1964 to 1983.  It was reintroduced in 1997 and continues to be part of the company's product line.

A 1964 Chevrolet Malibu Sedan

71. Spenser's "Epithalamion" and others: ODES.  I was familiar with neither the author nor the ode.  The poem was written to his bride by Edmund Spenser in 1594.

Down:

1. The Smiths, e.g.: INDIE BAND.  Formed in 1982 in England, Wiki says that the critics considered The Smiths to be one of the most important BANDs to emerge from the Independent music scene of that era.  I am not familiar with the group.  If I had been, then, perhaps, this answer would have been more quickly figured out.

2. Europe's highest active volcano: MOUNT ETNA.  Elevation -10,991 feet

February, 2020

3. Heat transfer subject?: ARMS SALES.  Carrying a gun is sometimes referred to as "packing heat" and a sale is a transfer or sorts.

4. Like-minded group: CAMP.  I first thought of  BLOC, then SECT.  Thanks, perps.

5. Use a Singer: SEW.

6. Augsburg "Oh!": ACH.  A German language lesson to which we have previously, and repeatedly, been exposed.

7. "I'm taking that!": YOINK.  This was (charitably) a learning moment for this marine mammal.  Other (quite strong) reactions preceded that of charity.  Coined by The Simpsons writer George Meyer and perhaps imitative of the sound effect (made by a violin) that accompanies something being snatched in classic comedies.

8. Treaty of Versailles region: ALSACE.  An area along the border of France and Germany that has been the impetus for several wars.  Under The Treaty of Versailles (at the end of World War One) the Germans ceded Alsace to the French.  This helped precipitate World War Two

9. Tries to pick up: HITS ON.

Daisy Duck

10. Tweet symbol: HASH TAG.  Being unable to text on social media with his flippers, this manatee still thinks that the # symbol means number, or pound, or higher by one semi-tone.

11. When expected: ON CUE.  When filming the original Star Wars, Peter Mayhew had to redo a scene because he missed his CUE.  It was a Wookiee mistake.

12. Does' beaux: STAGS.  The plural possessive and the X at the end of beaux (c'est français) tell us that the answer is going to be plural.

13. Starting point for an Everest ascent: TIBET.

18. "Size matters not" Jedi master: YODA.

Weird Al Yankovic Yoda

25. Pakistani tongue: URDU.  A language frequently seen, if not heard,  in x-word puzzles.

26. Important baseball number: NINE.  There are nine players in each baseball team's starting line up.

27. Nureyev negative: NYET.  Nureyev is a Russian ballet dancer and NYET is Russian for no.

33. Leatherwork tool: AWL.

35. Plundered: RANSACKED.  From Old Norse and Middle English.  Rann (house) + secan (seek).  Modern use of the word is not restricted to houses.

36. Closed system that includes all life on Earth: ECOSPHERE.  ECOSPHRE has evolved, over time, from a circumstellar habitable zone, to self-contained/completely enclosed aquaria to the way it is used in this clue.

37. Substantial storage units: TERABYTES.  A TECKY reference. 

39. Boding disaster: DIRE.  On this day in history, May 6, 1937, the Hindenburg dirigible burst into flames upon touching its mooring mast in New Jersey.  There had been no DIRE warnings.

40. Isaac's eldest: ESAU.

Got It?

41. Replacements: SUBS.  As in SUBStitutes.  Either Sandwiches or  U-boats could also have been made to work as a clues.

44. Phil Rizzuto catchphrase: HOLY COW.

¡Ay Caramba!

48. Radiates: EXUDES.

49. "Yeah, I bet!": OH SURE.

51. James of jazz: ETTA.  Alternatively, a four-letter singer who often appears in x-word puzzles.

53. Places to tie up: DOCKS.  If you are not yet familiar with the series of songs posted on YouTube by the organization Playing for Change, you should correct that oversight post haste.  You could do far worse than starting with Ripple, The Weight and Listen to the Music.

Dock of the Bay  - Playing For Change

54. Gen. Assembly member: UNREP.  United Nations REPresentative

55. Unaccompanied: ALONE.  It is interesting that it intersects with 58 Across.  Also, a great opportunity to slip this into the recap (I could have gone with Gilbert O'Sullivan.  Just kidding):

Arthur Lee & Love - Alone Again Or Circa 2003

56. Mideast ruling family name: ASSAD.  The current ruler of Syria was educated at medical school in Damascus and also trained in ophthalmology in London.  The empirical evidence seems to suggest that he skipped class the day they covered the Hippocratic Oath.

61. Make the same point as: ECHO.  Hey, Alexa!

Amazon Echo Silver

64. Bag-checking org.: TSA.  Transportation Security Administration. Not to be confused with 52 Across. 

65. Comedian Kirkman: JEN.  I was not previously familiar with JEN.

May the 6th Be With You!

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