Friday, July 26, 2024, Katherine Baicker, Laura Dershewitz

Good morning, Cruciverbalists, Malodorous Manatee here with today's recap.  It  is morning where this solver is but it's 5 o'clock somewhere which is a good thing because today's puzzle by Katherine Baicker and Laura Dershewitz requires a bit of experience with the language and customs of drinking whisky (or whiskey if you prefer potables other than Scotch). 

Let's start with the reveal:

61 Across:  "Straight up, please," to match 17-, 25-, 37-, and 51-Across?:  MAKE IT NEAT.  In drinker's jargon, "NEAT" (or straight up) means with no ice.   At four places within the grid our co-constructors have removed the ICE in order to form creative and amusing answers to the clues.

Let's see how this gimmick is applied:

17 Across:  Orientation for new senators?: POL ACADEMY.  A learning place for politicians (POLs).  Before the removal:  POLICE ACADEMY

25 Across:  "Margaret won't be in the comedy showcase!"?: YOU HAVE NO CHO.  Comedienne Margaret Cho has scratched from the showcase.  Before the removal: YOU HAVE NO CHOICE

37 Across:  Exclamation when a product lives up to the hype?: THE PR IS RIGHT.  The public relations blitz was not just a lot of hot air.  Before the removal:  THE PRICE IS RIGHT

51 Across:  Tables and chairs that wobble?: OFF FURNITURE.  The furniture is not right.  It's a bit off.  Before the removal: OFFICE  FURNITURE

Here is what the completed grid looks like:

Here are the rest of the clues/answers:

Across:

1. Light melody: LILT.

5. Singer Del Rey: LANA.  A frequent visitor these days and, yet, someone about whom this solver remain totally ignorant.  However, while walking around Venice,CA with Valerie I did see these posters:

9. Photographer Adams: ANSEL.  Nice shot.

14. Nice companion: AMIE.  Nice as in not mean?  No.  As in the French city.

15. Sister of Castor and Pollux: HELEN.

16. Raises or rises: REARS.  Here, Trigger REARS (rises).  I wonder if Trigger raised his children to do the same.

19. Possessed: OWNED.  Not a demonic reference.

20. "Way cool!": SO DOPE.  Slang.  Why does BITCHEN or GROOVY, or even PHAT, seem okay but not this?  Wait, don't answer that, please.    In an homage to the Seven Dwarfs, DOPEy is now followed by "What's Up, Doc".

21. "Wabbit" hunter: FUDD.  Elmer was too long.

22. AQI monitor: EPA.  Air Quality Index in the clue.

29. New England state: VERMONT.

31. Conclude: END.

32. __ Lingus: AER.  The Irish airline.

33. Theme park serviced by the Disney World monorail: EPCOT.

34. Took to court: SUED.  I SUED the airlines for losing my luggage.  I lost my case.

36. IRS IDs: SSNS.  We are often asked to supply this even though we're told to never share it.

41. Pupil's place: IRIS.  Not a schoolhouse reference.  An eyeball reference.

43. Wee bit: IOTA.  A constructor's friend.

44. Needed a sick day: AILED.

47. Boxing Day mo.: DEC.

48. Part of a pod cast?: PEA.  Not a tech reference.  PEAs in a pod.

49. Q-Tip and Ice-T: RAPPERS.  Not the swab and the beverage.  Does Elmer listen to wappers?

55. Circular __: SAW.

56. Scull pair: OARS.  Before a surgery the anesthesiologist asked the patient if she'd like to be knocked out with gas or be hit over the head with a canoe paddle.  It was an ether/oar situation.

57. Reptiles in the logos of some dojos: COBRAS.

59. Muddle: MIXUP.

65. Shampoo brand since 1947: PRELL.

Pam Dawber - 1973

66. Correct spelling, say: EMEND.

67. Beltmaking tools: AWLS.  Not as in the old saying "ALLS well that ends well, I suppose."

68. Source of waste: HASTE.  As in the old saying "HASTE makes waste."

69. Movie night rooms: DENS.  Often clued with an ursine reference.

70. Nerd (out): GEEK.  Used as a verb in the clue although I am not sure why as the noun forms of each would have worked out the same.

Down:

1. Cozy cat seat: LAP.

Laptop Cats

2. "Sez me": IMO.  In My Opinion

3. Smaller than sm.: LIL.  This one was a bit of a stretch.  Thanks, perps.

4. Bitter brews: TEAS.  Hand up for trying to make ALES work out. . . and it did at 63 Down.

5. Showed the door: LED  OUT.  Don't let it hit you.

6. First Hebrew letter: ALEPH.

7. Mythical lion's home: NEMEA.  The NEMEA lion was a legendary creature in Greek mythology that ravaged the area of Nemea. Its fur was impenetrable by the weapons of humans and hence, was unstoppable. It was considered to be the child of Typhon and Echidna, father and mother of all monsters.

8. "__ minute now ... ": ANY.

9. Word with poke or push: AROUND.

10. Fresh cut: NEW DO.  A hair style reference.

11. Beach homes?: SAND CASTLES.  With a tip of the hat to Jimi Hendrix.

12. Afore: ERE.

13. Acid initials: LSD.  Did you hear about the guy who got LSD and LDS mixed up?  Instead of going on a trip he went on a mission,.

15. Wore: HAD ON.  

18. University of South Dakota athlete: COYOTE.  Something of a universal mascot in SoCAl these days.

 

21. Italian luxury brand: FENDI.  PRADA and GUCCI would also have fit the allotted space.

22. Morn's opposite: EVE.  Morning / EVEning

23. Pizzazz: PEP.

24. Permafrost predators: ARCTIC FOXES.

26. Turn sharply: VEER.

27. __ of the woods mushroom: HEN.  Thanks, perps.

28. Alternatives: ORS.

30. Hardness scale name: MOHS.

34. Prepare for takeoff, maybe: SIT.  Huh?  Okay, no one stands for takeoff but this one is a huge stretch.

35. Katie Ledecky's team: Abbr.: USA.  An American Olympic swim team member.

36. Pickup alternative: SHIP.  A choice familiar to those who use, for example, Target or Walmart's websites.

38. Docking stations?: PIERS.  Not a tech reference.  A ship reference.  Nice placement.

39. Reddish horse: ROAN.

40. Watch in wonder: GAPE AT.

41. "Who wants cake?" response: I DO.  More often clued with a matrimonial reference.

42. Slo-mo reviewer: REF.  REFeree

45. Time worth studying: ERA.

46. Bargain footwear chain: DSW.

48. Red and blue: PURPLE.  Not the colors alone.  The colors together.

49. Flemish painter Peter Paul __: RUBENS.

50. Extra Extra Dry brand: ARRID.  A deodorant reference.

52. Server error?: FAULT.  A tennis reference.

53. Beginning of a famous boast: I CAME.  If Caesar spoke English.

54. Part of NFT: TOKEN.  Non Fungible TOKENs Explained

58. Unexpected hitch: SNAG.

59. Speed letters: MPH.  Miles Per Hour

60. Rollover subj.: IRA.  Individual Retirement Account

61. Larger than sm.: MED.  Small . MEDium / Large  The last of ten abbrevaitions (your criteria may vary) to be found in today's puzzle.

62. Fleece source: EWE.

63. Bitter brew: ALE.

64. Judgy sound: TSK.  We initially do not know if it'll be TSK or TUT.

Well, it's time now for yours truly to go grab a glass of ju and maybe eat a sld apple.  Have an n day, everyone.  Slainté !

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Friday, July 12, 2024, Renee Thomason, Zhouqin Burnikel

 

Good Morning, Cruciverbalists.  Malodorous Manatee here with the recap of a puzzle co-constructed by a couple of extemely talented folks both of whom you know very well:  CC and Renee (sumdaze).  Brava!

It did not take long to figure out that something out of the ordinary was going on with the themers because, as they filled in, nothing even began to make sense.  Not only in the way of answers, but in any sense.  Complete gibberish.  Could this puzzle really be that bass-ackwards?  Well, actually, yes.  Fortunately, the reveal at 61 Across helped to sort things out:

61 Across:  Classic film with a time-traveling DeLorean, and an apt description of 17-, 24-, 38-, and 52-Across: BACK TO THE FUTURE.

Ah ha! On The Horizon, which was used as the clue for every themed-answer (repetition seems to be a recurring motif in this puzzle's clues) was meant to be taken as "in the future".  And the use of BACK in the reveal tipped us off that we might want to look at the answers backwards.  With these bits of enlightenment the perps, read right to left, began to reveal the answers.   Eventually they all emerged.

To wit:

17 Across:  On the horizon: RENROCEHTDNUORA   - - - > AROUND THE CORNER  Pete Seeger and The Weavers give a more literal example.

Early 1950's

 

24 Across:  On the horizon: NOOSYADEMOS   - - - >  SOMEDAY SOON  Judy Collins will illustrate its useage.

Smothers Brothers Show - 1969

38 Across:  On the horizon: EMOCOTTEY  - - - >  YET TO COME  As in "The Best is Yet to Come"

Frank Sinatra

52 Across:  On the horizon: ESRUOCEUDNI   - - - >  IN DUE COURSE  continuing with the "dinosaur" motif . . .

This is how it all looks in the grid:

.... and now for the rest of the story:

Across:

1. Golfer's vehicle: CART.

5. Lingerie purchases: BRAS.  Repetition seems to be a recurring motif in this puzzle's clues.

9. Lingerie purchase: SLIP.     Repetition seems to be a recurring motif in this puzzle's clues.

13. 21-Across in Spain: AGUA. and, as it says, 21. 13-Across in France: EAU.  Water, in English

14. __ Raton, Florida: BOCA.  I have always wondered how a town named Mouse Mouth could be deemed a desireable place to reside.

15. Buenos __: AIRES.  A geography reference.  Neither buenos DIAS nor buenos NOCHES was going to fit in any event.

20. Permit: ALLOW.  Used as a verb.  As in Please ALLOW me . . .

the Jagger clip

was too long

22. Zip: NIL.  Nothing.

23. Spy-fi org.: CIA.  Interesting clue in that the CIA exists in the real world and is not merely a staple of spy fiction.  KAOS or SMERSH, for example, would be Spy-fy only.

29. Counter attacker: ANT.  Cute.  Not a counterattack.  Something that attacks items left on your kitchen counter.

30. Oft-redacted fig.: SSN.  Social Security Number

31. Burrito option: ASADA.  Repetition seems to be a recurring motif in this puzzle's clues.

32. "I've __ better": SEEN.  Close enough:

34. Mouth pieces?: LIPS.  Not as in the colloquial for attorney.  Literally, pieces of mouths.  Labios de boca de raton?

37. Hosp. caregivers: LPNS. 

41. Fish tacos fish, familiarly: MAHI.  A missed opportunity for repetition  😄

43. Foil kin: EPEE.  Not a Reynolds Wrap reference.

44. Wound covering: SCAB.  Today's "let's skip the image" moment.

48. One of five competitive figure skating disciplines: PAIRS.  Men's singles, women's singles, PAIRS, Ice dancing, synchronized skating.

49. Grilled fish in kabayaki: EEL.  Not familiar with kabayaki but easily perp'd.  It turns out that kabayaki is aka EEL sauce.

51. In the style of: A LA.  A LA Mode.  A LA carte.  A LA King.
 
56. "Miracle Workers" channel: TBS.

57. Fed. health law: ACA.

58. "I knew it!": HAH.   Something that someone might say.  See?

59. Lessens: EASES.

66. Cookies with a Sour Patch Kids flavor: OREOS.  How do I clue thee?  Let me count the ways.

67. Mystical glow: AURA.

68. Fielder's need: MITT.  A baseball MITT.

69. Mangyshlak Peninsula's continent: ASIA.  This solver was not familiar with Mangyshlak but it sounded ASIAn and the answer was easily perep'd.  The Mangyshlak Peninsula is located in western Kazakstan.  All you'd like to know:  Mangyshlak Peninsula

70. More __ meets the eye: THAN.

71. 64-Down, for one: STAT.  STATisitc

Down:

1. Capital city with Bolívar Square: CARACAS.  Venezuela.

2. Botox target: AGE LINE.  WRINKLE had the right number of letters.

3. Go long?: RUN LATE.  Nice wordplay.  As in the event ran long (did not finish in it's originally allotted time)

4. Root in the Hawaiian dessert kulolo: TARO.  If it's a root it's very often TARO.

5. Television network created by royal charter: BBC.  No abbreviations in the clue.  The "royal" bit was the tip off.

6. Sushi topper: ROE.

7. Feels sore: ACHES.  Did you hear about the students complaining of aches and fatigue when they did math homework?  They're calling it fibromyalgebra.

8. Thai skewers: SATAY.   What is the best type of food to eat while wearing a suit?  Thai food.

9. Japanese title of respect: SAN.

10. Actor Simu: LIU.  Simu LIU is the first Asian lead in a Marvel movie, a sitcom star, a memoir writer and a Ken doll in "Barbie".

11. Big name in endurance events: IRONMAN.  Triathlon.  Swim, bike, run.

12. Stretches: PERIODS.  Not something you do pre-workout.  PERIODS of time.

16. Burrito option: SALSA.  Repetition seems to be a recurring motif in this puzzle.

18. Doesn't rent: OWNS.  My friend OWNS a pen that can write under water.  It can write other words, too.

19. "Radical Optimism" singer __ Lipa: DUA.  A frequent visitor these days.

25. Northern European capital: OSLO.  Frequently visited.

26. In reserve: ON ICE.  As in keeping something ON ICE.

27. Valley: DALE.  Over hill, over DALE,  as we hit the dusty trail . . .

28. Best Upset and Best Moment: ESPYS.  Sports awards.  All You'd Like To Know

33. Indira Gandhi's father: NEHRU.  Significant figures in the history of India.

35. Soda: POP.

36. Trusty horse: STEED.  We had a government-employed doctor in our area who was half STEED and half man. He was the centaur for disease control.

39. Japanese soup: MISO.

40. Suffix with ump-: TEEN.  IRE was too short.  

41. Lash lengthener: MASCARA.

42. Decorated fighter pilots: AIR ACES.

45. Form-fitting garment: CATSUIT.

46. Columbia Icefield province: ALBERTA.  Canada.

Photo By MM (many moons ago)

47. Angela of "9-1-1": BASSETT.  An actress.  One T is the hound.

48. Soul singer Bryson: PEABO.

50. "In __ of gifts ... ": LIEU.

53. Comedian Margaret: CHO.

1993

54. Patronize, as a restaurant: EAT AT.  What's a single vowel between friends?

55. Casual agreement: UH HUH. Yup.

60. Devices loaded with cash: ATMS.  Oh, cash!

62. Fish in an ornamental pond: KOI.  Frequent swimmmers

63. LAX safety team: TSA.

64. Young fig.: ERA.  Earned Run Average.  A reference to the Cy Young Award which is given annually to the best pitcher in each league.

65. Booster: FAN.  This solver is a big FAN of today's puzzle.  YMMV.

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