Themeless Puzzle B C.C. Burnikel
Duh, I know it's Ground Hog Day but since that is so obvious I'm going to mention the celebration of a different animal for February 2nd. Today we observe National Sled Dog Day that commemorates the February 2, 1925 arrival of the famous dogsled team on the last leg of the relay from Nenana, Alaska to Nome with serum to stop the diphtheria epidemic. Below at the left you see the dogs in Nome with the lead dog Balto. At the right you see the statue in NYC's Central Park of that lead dog who led the team through a blinding blizzard on that last leg and became a national hero.
Today we get a fun themeless puzzle from our resident den mother and ringmaster, C.C. When I took that left turn in Des Moines a few years ago to go north to Minneapolis, I was carrying precious cargo for her and here you see her wearing it. This shirt makes her a proud, if temporary, Cornhusker. I know it can be dangerous wearing it in Golden Gopher country or in this cold weather but nobody wears it better.
I made it through her puzzle today in decent time and, as always, I had fun. For her to know so much about our language after arriving here from Guangzhou, China in 2001 is one thing but to know it at such an incredible level that she can make up fiendish clues blows my mind
Now let's see some of the gems she has for us today.
Across:
1. Green side: SALAD - I had to abandon my golf green idea for the adjunct to a meal
6. Fruit named for a horticulturist: BOSC - All I can find is that an M. BOSC was the director of the Paris Arboretum when this fruit was developed
10. Target Field athlete: TWIN - Jeffrey Wechsler had "6 Down Target field" recently and the fill was RETAIL
14. Smart timepiece: APPLE WATCH - Mine reminds me of an old Newspaper comic I used to read that some of you are probably too young to recognize
16. "That can't be good": OH NO - The Cigarette Stamp Ring above had better be wary
17. Reason for a case: LEGAL ISSUE - A Florida man got a Quarter Pounder with cheese but didn't want the cheese. So instead of saying, "Quarter Pounder with no cheese" he sued McDonalds for $5M for adding extras he and others shouldn't have to pay for.
18. Neck and neck: TIED - Usually a photo finish
19. Vet: EXAMINE - Some people have rued the day they didn't sufficiently vet people they hired and consequently 23. Refined: HONED that process
20. Chicken __: fast food nuggets: MCBITES.
22. Special nights: EVES - How many people did you have over last night for your Groundhog's Day EVE party? Me too.
24. Hot spot: HADES - One of many euphemisms for H, E, double hockey sticks
26. Ski carriers: GONDOLAS - Fancier than t-bars
29. Jordanian dough: DINAR - The cost of a Big Mac combo meal in Aman, Jordan is DINAR 4.894
30. Disney dog: LADY - C'mon, you thought of the spaghetti kiss with Tramp didn't you?
31. Unpaid assistant in many offices: SIRI - SIRI got me to C.C.'s house for free
32. Weather-sensitive stat, often: ETD - This SWA flight's Estimated Time of Departure should have been delayed because of the icy weather in Omaha two weeks ago that made the plane go off the runway
33. Get ugly with: SNIPE AT - Ain't our government leaders swell?
36. Da Vinci's "The Last Supper," for one: OIL - Leonardo painted the masterpiece on the wall of the refectory in Milan with perspective so it appears to be an extension of the room
37. Policy affecting returns: AS IS.
39. Scrapes (out): EKES - We EKED out a living on $112/wk when I started teaching
40. Beethoven's "Rage Over a Lost Penny," e.g.: RONDO - This RONDO keeps bringing back a theme
42. Tears: RAMPAGES - Upset Saints fans wanted to go on a tear/RAMPAGE two weeks ago
44. Light wash: RINSE.
45. Han River city: SEOUL - The km. markers along and across the HAN River for a half marathon
46. Bits of thread: LINT - Cleaning our dryer's LINT filter is necessary now because laundry can not be 53. Left out to dry: HUNG in our development
47. Resonated, in a way: CLANGED - This field goal kicker CLANGED this kick off an upright
49. Place to find the Silk Road: ASIA MAP - The end of the SILK Road on this map is in Chang'an, China which is now Xi'an, China where C.C. grew up
54. Film with dangerous jobs: CRIME DRAMA - Law And Order did this well on TV
56. Gallic gal pal: AMIE - Your French female friend
57. Game whose heroine was played by Angelina Jolie in a 2001 film: TOMB RAIDER - This must be what a TOMB RAIDER 58. Goes (for): OPTS to wear to work
59. Beachgoers' specs: SPFS.
60. Biblical verb: DOEST - Psalm 86 - For thou art great, and DOEST wondrous things
Down:
1. Spring __: SALE - Nah, I've got all the springs I need
2. Pinnacle: APEX - Who will reach the APEX of pro football tomorrow?
3. Org. for women drivers: LPGA - Ladies Professional Golf Association
4. County where the Golden State Warriors play home games: ALAMEDA - Next season the Warriors will move across the Bay to the Chase Center in San Francisco City/County
5. Drops off: DELIVERS - Does your neighborhood have "porch pirates"?
6. Diamond foursome: BASES
7. Some games end in them, for short: OTS - Both NFL Conference championships were settled in OverTIme this year
8. Ugly film: SCUM.
9. Republic in southwestern Russia: CHECHNYA - It's a red 48. Slight amount: DROP in the Russian bucket on this map
10. Pizza roll brand: TOTINOS
11. Cats with light blond coats: WHITE LIONS - It is said there are about 300 left in the wild
12. What an extended thumb might indicate: I NEED A RIDE - Film buffs know Claudette Colbert's raised skirt worked better than Clark Gable's thumb
13. Silent signals: NODS - Be careful at auctions
15. Results of some press releases?: WINES - Famous wine pressing
21. Compact figure?: BOD - I wish my BOD were more compact
24. Makes out too much, say: HITS A SLUMP - A suggestive clue, C.C.
25. Words of reinforcement: AND I MEAN IT - Part of the parental lexicon
26. Looks amazed: GAPES - OMG, he made that field goal!
27. Laudatory lines: ODES.
28. Farm structure: SILO.
29. Prized: DEAR.
30. What an extended thumb might indicate: LIKE 👍
34. Slights: NEGLECTS
35. Half a two-island country: TRINIDAD - Their football association emblem has an outline of their divided island as well
38. Dish cleaners: SPONGES.
41. London locale: ONTARIO - A 2-hr drive from Detroit, Michigan
43. Mo. named for an emperor: AUG - Caesar AUGustus in 8 B.C.
44. Choir elevator: RISER - Did you have to stand on them to sing in your ute?
46. Gentle sorts: LAMBS.
47. First female Asian-American Cabinet member: CHAO - Here is Elaine CHAO, Secretary of Transportation with her husband you probably recognize
50. Crafted: MADE.
51. Home of the Iowa State Daily: AMES - They reported on a riot on the Iowa State University campus during the annual spring VEISHA celebration
52. Split up: PART.
55. Global financial org.: IMF - International Monetary Fund
Okay, we'll throw a bone to Punxsutawney, Phil too!
TITLE: POSSESSION
This wonderful C.C. Sunday puzzle, which she told me is her favorite of the year, is clever on many levels. As I sometimes do, I decided to put the grid at the front of the write-up to better display her the intricacy of her work. Her gimmick is revealed in the lengthy clue of
52. Ownership claim ... and a hint to the relationship of each answer to a starred clue to a word it intersects : IT'S MINE.
As you can see below she intersected an entire word (clued with an *) with the front or back part of a multiple word phrase. The icing on this word cake was that the stand-alone word required adding an 'S so that the conjoined phrase made sense and truly showed the title of "IT'S MINE". Wow!
Stupid me barged through this exercise oblivious to the juxtaposition of two words that are connected (darn trees do block the forest). When I ran across the reveal, I laughed out loud and quoted that great American philosopher Homer Simpson by exclaiming, "Doh!"
Coupled with C.C.'s always fiendish/clever cluing this was truly a great time. She said it was a very difficult construction but we all benefit from her efforts.
Let's take a look at her possessive pairing genius:
5. *Second-longest reigning British monarch : VICTORIA and 22. Ill-kept confidence : OPEN SECRET yield VICTORIA'S SECRET by making the first word possessive and using the second word in OPEN SECRET. Wearing items from here might guarantee you will have a very OPEN SECRET...
9. *First of all? : ADAM and 24. Seasonal drink : APPLE CIDER yield ADAM'S APPLE by making ADAM possessive and using the first word in APPLE CIDER. This is the Laryngeal Prominence on the thyroid cartilage that is usually much more prominent in men.
75. *Noted WWII lifesaver : SCHINDLER and 39. Consequence of the telemarketing boom : NO CALL LIST yield SCHINDLER'S LIST. (I think you have the idea). I only made it halfway through this powerful movie and left after a scene with children.
42. *English surgeon Henry : GRAY and 44. Vet student's workplace : ANATOMY LAB yield GRAY'S ANATOMY. Here is Henry's original drawing of the larynx with the Thyroid Notch/Adam's Apple
93. *First human woman, in Greek myth : PANDORA and 117. Specialized slicing tools : BOX CUTTERS yield PANDORA'S BOX that of course contains all the evils of the world. It appears that Pan might be shopping at VICTORIA'S SECRET
Now for I. Indiana home for Jackson 5 - GARY and II. Court ruling without a trial - SUMMARY JUDGEMENT which yield GARY'S SUMMARY:
Across
1. Twinkler : STAR
5. Block from the White House : VETO - C.C.'s original clue was Block from Obama and Rich modified it. I like 'em both
9. Sunburn salve : ALOE
13. Others, in Oaxaca : OTROS - OTROS también les encantará este rompecabezas (Others will also love this puzzle)
18. Almond __: candy : ROCA - I have learned that this is a thing
19. Like jeggings : TIGHT - Standard clothing in schools today
20. Fist bumps : DAPS - A more complicated DAP
21. Talked a blue streak? : SWORE
26. Tossed a bone to : PLACATED
27. Playground retort : AM SO - Are not, AM SO, Are not, AM SO, ad nauseum
28. Up-to-the-minute : LATEST
29. "I never __ purple cow ... ": Burgess : SAW A - "I'd rather see one than be one"
30. New Mexico county bordering El Paso : OTERO and 27. Chicago's __ Center : AON. Natick for me -I chose unwisely at their crossing for my standard one bad Sunday cell
32. Dance partner : ESCORT
34. Mr. or Mrs. : ABBR and 83. Country on St. George's Channel : IRE.
36. Hard-to-imagine period : EON
37. It's charged : ION - Here are two atoms becoming charged IONS and voila - Sodium Fluoride
38. Winds up or winds down : ENDS
45. Talks like Daffy : LISPS
47. Mo. town : ST.L. - Sorry ST.L., the Rams belong in L.A.
48. Like a paddling surfer : PRONE
49. With 113-Across, "Funeral in Berlin" author : LEN and 113. See 49-Across : DEIGHTON
50. Waikiki wingding : LUAU
51. Sounded nostalgic about : SIGHED AT - One man's lament
55. Tiger, e.g. : CAT
56. Churchill, notably : ORATOR - "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat" May 1940
58. Curaçao cocktail : MAI TAI
60. American Red Cross founder Barton : CLARA
62. Prankster's missile : WATER BOMB
64. "Popeye" pirate : SEA HAG
66. Racing Unsers : ALS
68. Zen garden piece : STONE and 74. Potted dwarf : BONSAI - I feel peaceful just looking at it
69. Match made in heaven : SOUL MATES
71. Kept from squeaking : OILED
73. Lifesaver, initially : EMT
77. Sticks figure : YOKEL
79. Drive-thru burger chain whose name has two hyphens : IN-N-OUT
81. Make a home : RESIDE
82. Squat : NIL - Nuttin'
84. Summary : OVERVIEW
86. It has Air, Mini and Pro versions : I-PAD
88. Part of a circ. : SEG(ment)
89. Fervently wishes : PRAYS
91. Stooge with a bowl haircut : MOE - MOE's younger brother Curly replaced their brother Shemp in the trio
92. Center of Florida? : EPCOT
94. Govt. guidelines : STDS
95. Name on the 1984 album "My Kind of Country" : REBA
96. Cologne cooler : EIS - Ich möchte keine EIS in meinen Scotch (I don't want any ice in my scotch) Tin?
97. NYC commuter letters : MTA
98. Thunder sound : PEAL
100. Pains : THROES
103. Courier and Roman : FONTS - or a seasonal one
105. King with a pipe : COLE
108. Very destructive : LETHAL
111. Nursery cry : MAMA
115. 1990 #1 rap hit : ICE ICE BABY
119. Chugged, say : DRANK
120. Links seen at pga.com : URLS - Electronic links not grass ones
121. Doctoral candidate's hurdles : ORALS - Not intimidating at all
122. Furry sci-fi creature : EWOK
123. Huffy states : SULKS
124. Duma vote : NYET - Nyet, Nyet Nannette!
125. Lose intensity : WANE
126. Prevent : DENY
Down
1. Letters connected to theater capacity : SRO - Sure, you can get some SRO tix to see the Cubs in their first World Series in 71 years!
2. Collectible baseball card brand : TOPPS - C.C. gave me a George Brett TOPPS card that is prominently displayed in my sunroom
3. Boston-to-D.C. rail service : ACELA
4. Took off : RAN AWAY
6. Blue heron kin : EGRET
7. Peter Benchley thriller : THE DEEP
8. Giants great Mel : OTT - A 1933 Doudney Mel OTT rookie card will set you back $532
10. Slip : LAPSE
11. Facing : OPPOSITE - Our crossword friends, recto and verso, are opposite/facing pages
12. Bilingual subj. : ESL
13. Award declined by George C. Scott : OSCAR - Goldie Hawn shrieked, "Oh my God, the winner is George C. Scott!" She knew he had said he would not show up.
14. Company with a blue bird logo : TWITTER
15. Used Lyft, say : RODE
16. Mining haul : ORES
17. Barcelona-born muralist : SERT - File under Learned/Forgot
19. Leaves for a Chinese dinner : TEA
23. Line crosser : SCAB - A 2000 movie with a more gentle name for football SCABS who crossed a union line
25. SpaceX CEO Musk : ELON
31. Carlo __: wine brand : ROSSI
33. Money immediately available : COLD CASH
35. Book jacket entry : BLURB
40. It's in our genes : DNA
41. Disappeared from view : SET
42. Looks really happy : GLOWS
43. Upgrade, as on Yelp : RERATE
46. Send for : SUMMON
47. Type of massage : SHIATSU
48. Student advocacy gp. : PTA
50. Folk tales : LORE
53. Earth goddess : GAEA
54. Subj. with unknowns : ALG
57. Approaching the hour : TEN TO
59. Coarsely insulting, as language : ABUSIVE
61. Vice squad incursions : RAIDS
63. Classic for which Pavarotti won a Grammy : O SOLE MIO
65. Frenzied : HECTIC
67. Did some farm work : SEEDED - The Sower on top of the capital in Lincoln, Nebraska
70. Legal scholar Guinier : LANI
71. Lacking width and depth : ONE-D
72. Worst of the worst : DREGS
74. Drink, in Dover : BEV
76. Hot : IRATE
78. Foreman stat : KO'S
80. Have a loan from : OWE TO
82. "Fresh Air" airer : NPR
85. *Memorable 1968 role for Mia : ROSEMARY'S - Somethin' ain't right with that BABY
87. Treat on a stick : POPSICLE
90. "Really, Captain Obvious?" : YA THINK?
94. Scheduled : SLOTTED
96. Perry's creator : ERLE - Stanley Gardner
97. CalArts degree : MFA - Maybe not the best degree to find a job
99. Eight, to Mozart : ACHT - He wrote his first symphony when he was ACHT
101. Street fare seekers : HACKS - aka Taxis. Named for Hackney Cabs in Britain. Hackney is the name for a horse suitable for driving or riding
102. Luxurious fur : SABLE - Wearing this fur can be risky
104. Bonnie or Clyde : TEXAN
106. Lerner collaborator : LOEWE
107. Company with an ironically crooked logo : ENRON - Many pensions at Nebraska Natural Gas disappeared with them
108. Shadow targets : LIDS
109. Beige shade : ECRU
110. Marsh duck : TEAL
112. Computer game title island : MYST
114. Gloomy fellow : GUS
116. Ballerina's hairdo : BUN
117. Tool for Cupid : BOW
118. Hawk's domain : SKY
Now it's time for I. McGuffey book - READER and II. Viewer's opinion - AUDIENCE FEEDBACK which yield READER'S FEEDBACK:
