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Theme: Spicy puns make the medicine go down. A vibrant witty romp, with four fun punishing theme answers all herbs from the garden replacing similar, or exact sounding words in in the language expressions to create a new and twisted phrase.
Lemonade back again, and well pleased with my latest assignment; yes Mr. Phelps, let's do it! Our 25th GB puzzle, and my second effort at explicating and entering into his mind.
17A. Means of turning an herb into energy?: BASIL (BASAL) METABOLISM. BASAL METABOLISM means the basic or essential activity of the body, coming from the root word basic. A perfect sound alike pun.
29A. Herb lovers' chat organized by Sarah Palin?: CHIVE (JIVE) TALKIN. Do you like the SONG ? I am sure there is some political joke involved here, but my complete avoidance of politics and politicians, leaves me not getting the joke. I wonder if this was the original clue for 27D. John's (McCain) running mate: SARAH (Palin) ?
47A. Herb eaten with a nightcap?: THYME (TIME) FOR BED. My favorite of the theme answers, as I can picture Lolita sprinkling some thyme on her hot TODDY.
63A. Remark on another encounter with an herb?: DILL, (TILL) WE MEET AGAIN. How many of you immediately thought of this SONG ?
So there we have the theme, two homophones (NOT HOMOPHOBES!) and two sound-alikes, pretty fun stuff from one of the consistent, productive and entertaining constructors helping to make this for me the golden age of crosswords, with many old masters still producing and so many wonderful minds out there. Where are you JL? Jerome you okay? If only Dan Naddor were still around...
Across:
1. Pelican State inst.: LSU. We begin with a mini-shout out to our Pelican Stater, Hahtool, and the ex-home of Nick Satan.
4. Oration setting: DAIS. This word actually has its root in DISCUS which in Latin does not mean something you throw, but a high table, shaped like something you throw.
8. Common slogan spot: T-SHIRT. Also we have 66D. Ball balancer: TEE, now if only we had some Earl Grey...
14. It has many fighters: AIR FORCE. Not my first thought, i was trying to recall Strike Force or some other MMA name.
16. Layette item: ONESIE. Don't you just love babies in their little outfits, especially when they go home with their parents?
19. Chaotic situation: SNAFU. No comment.
20. Garbage tower: SCOW. A large flat bottomed boat. from the Dutch schouw. In South Florida, we have only one hill called Mount Trashmore, a landfill on steroids. My first thought was tower not tow-er.
21. Mo. when asters usually flower: SEP. Month is abbreviated both in clue and answer. Pretty PERENNIALS .
22. Stormers of Saruman's fortress, in "The Lord of the Rings": ENTS. The tree creatures in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Did we love the movie? New Zealand looked gorgeous.
25. Labor party?: MOM. GB, you witty man, the mother being the only one who actually goes through labor, though the three months it took for the fingernail marks to come out of my arm from the birth of my oldest, was a strong memory.
26. Snake's warning: SSS. I like the word sibilant, like the accent of Highlanders.
35. "The gods Must Be Crazy" setting: KALAHARI. A most amusing MOVIE and a great Coke bottle.
37. Care for: NURSE. My mother was a nurse.
38. Q.E.D. word: ERAT. Quod Erat Demonstrandum. That which was demonstrated. Used in logic and in law. Misspelled as Demonstratum.
39. Synopsis: RECAP. I have a tooth...well anyway too early for a recap here.
42. Reclined: LAIN. One of those 'be careful' words, that reminds of Lois Lane and what sex with Superman must have been like; would he be layin' Lane?
43. One putting away groceries: EATER.
45. Unrestricted: ABSOLUTE. Synonyms? Corrupts absolutely? Vodka?
50. Quaint contraction: TIS. Aye it tis, it tis.
51. Negative link: NOR.
52. "High Voltage" rockers: AC/DC. How many BANDS can you name who have hits with different lead singers?
54. __ dye: methyl orange, e.g.: AZO. CHEMISTRY LESSON .
57. Eagle's tail?: EYED. No they do not have eyes in their tails, they are just Eagle-eyed.
59. Iraqi port: BASRA.Their main port city, also spelled with an H at the end, in southeastern Iraq, near Kuwait.
67. Sign of a page-turner?: DOG EAR. if you borrow a book from me, please do not do this.
68. Secret metaphor: SKELETON. In the closet; good thing we have no secrets here. The closet gets a bad rap in language, as the place where people hide their embarrassing secrets and their sexuality. I don't think I have ever had sex in a closet, not even a water closet, but then I have never been to England except in my mind.
69. Slug relatives: SNAILS. Yes, when they come to visit, and take off their shells off to relax, they look just like their cousins.
70. Naval backbone?: KEEL.The 'backbone' of the ship.
71. Two before iota: ETA. I took Greek years ago and I had no idea, but it perped out quickly.
Gasp, time for
Down:
1. They may be chocolate: LABS. Remember my pics of my romp with the Lab puppies?
2. Phillips of "I, Claudius": SIAN. I Claudius is one of the all time best TV mini-series with the incomparable Derek Jacobi as Claudius and Ms. Phillips as LIVIA . Do you recognize Patrick Stewart with hair?
3. __ Minor: URSA.
4. Discuss business, in a way: DO LUNCH. Gag me with a spoon.
5. Starfish appendage: ARM. Really, how can you tell?
6. Party host's bagful: ICE. Gee POT fit as well.
7. Gig arrangements: SETS. My youngest has two more GIGS this month, but they do not know where the word comes from. You think it is related to GIGOLO?
8. In addition: TO BOOT. Sounds great when said by a Canadian; I gave him money for gas and my coat to boot.
9. Single white male who likes the cold?: SNOWMAN. Or as hearti pointed out, an 8 in golf.
10. Norse underworld goddess: HEL. Back to back with 11D. Goddess with cow's horns: ISIS, the Egyptian.
12. Intentionally provoked reaction: RISE. I sometimes include comments in the blog hoping to get a rise out of some of you.
13. Fill-in: TEMP. MOVIE.
15. Military wind: FIFE. Like the fife and drum corps.
18. Wile E. Coyote's supplier: ACME. Wile E. is a semi-regular.
23. Whaling adverb: THAR. SHE BLOWS. Please Carol, Lois, control yourselves, there are youngins around.
24. Arab's father: SIRE. The horse, not Sheik Chic.
26. Olympic event since 1968: SKEET. What has a skeet even done to deserve to be shot at all the time?
28. Like the color of some roofing: SLATY. Don't get your picker picked HR, this is a perfectly legitimate word for something Slate colored.
30. Goldsmith's "The __ of Wakefield": VICAR. This old CLASSIC novel did not come across well in the comic book version, but the book was worth reading and was well received by all of his contemporaries.
31. Break: LULL. Whew, a break in the action.
32. Frank covering: KRAUT. This clues always dogs me when I blog. I am always afraid to offend our Germanic brethren.
33. Last Supper query: IS IT I?
34. Tijuana toddlers: NENES. This means baby literally, but like the English version, it can be used as a term of affection for a boyfriend.
36. "Up and __!": AT 'EM. There was a world before CGI.
40. Swedish group that won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest: ABBA. Not to be confused with the Israeli statesman.
41. Tiny time meas.: P SEC. PICOSECOND, which is one trillionth of a second. Learning moment?
44. Decision about issues: RENEWAL. Okay for all the pseudo-loggers out there, I leave this to you because I have no clue what these have in common. All perps. (Note from C.C.: Magazine issues here.)
46. Flake: ODDBALL. Flake comes from baseball, where odd players were considered "flaky' perhaps because of the prevalence of drugs in baseball in the 50's and 60's (amphetamines, 'greenies,' and became popular in culture with the books of Jim Brosnan (the Long Season and The Pennant Race, which I recommend to anyone who loves baseball, they helped me through my freshman year in high school) and Jim Bouton's Ball Four.
48. Lobbies: FOYERS. From the French, literally the hearth, or fireplace.
49. City near Provo: OREM. Devin dated a girl name Orem, so I will never forget this one.
53. Batting __ : CAGE. No relation to Nicholas.
54. Puts in: ADDS. No we come full CIRCLE.
55. Horse Ranch Mountain's national park: ZION.
56. Gymnast Korbut: OLGA. The Russian Gymnast who was the first to ever receive a perfect score (10) in competition; revolutionized women's gymnastics and captured the hearts of the world.
58. Computer support?: DESK. Tricky, the literal support.
60. Fill: SATE.
61. Reaction from a bad crowd?: RIOT. Hopefully not at a GIG.
62. Tolstoy's Karenina: ANNA.They are remaking the movie version of Tolstoy's novel next year with Keira Knightly and Jude Law.
64. Ring of shells, perhaps: LEI. Did not know it could be other than flowers.
65. __ out a living: EKE. EEK, my time is over and I must go and rest my weary bones and mutinous eye. Aye, and I enjoyed the trip, I hope you all did; until next time, I remain your humble man Friday.
Answer grid.
Lemonade
Lemonade back again, and well pleased with my latest assignment; yes Mr. Phelps, let's do it! Our 25th GB puzzle, and my second effort at explicating and entering into his mind.
17A. Means of turning an herb into energy?: BASIL (BASAL) METABOLISM. BASAL METABOLISM means the basic or essential activity of the body, coming from the root word basic. A perfect sound alike pun.
29A. Herb lovers' chat organized by Sarah Palin?: CHIVE (JIVE) TALKIN. Do you like the SONG ? I am sure there is some political joke involved here, but my complete avoidance of politics and politicians, leaves me not getting the joke. I wonder if this was the original clue for 27D. John's (McCain) running mate: SARAH (Palin) ?
47A. Herb eaten with a nightcap?: THYME (TIME) FOR BED. My favorite of the theme answers, as I can picture Lolita sprinkling some thyme on her hot TODDY.
63A. Remark on another encounter with an herb?: DILL, (TILL) WE MEET AGAIN. How many of you immediately thought of this SONG ?
So there we have the theme, two homophones (NOT HOMOPHOBES!) and two sound-alikes, pretty fun stuff from one of the consistent, productive and entertaining constructors helping to make this for me the golden age of crosswords, with many old masters still producing and so many wonderful minds out there. Where are you JL? Jerome you okay? If only Dan Naddor were still around...
Across:
1. Pelican State inst.: LSU. We begin with a mini-shout out to our Pelican Stater, Hahtool, and the ex-home of Nick Satan.
4. Oration setting: DAIS. This word actually has its root in DISCUS which in Latin does not mean something you throw, but a high table, shaped like something you throw.
8. Common slogan spot: T-SHIRT. Also we have 66D. Ball balancer: TEE, now if only we had some Earl Grey...
14. It has many fighters: AIR FORCE. Not my first thought, i was trying to recall Strike Force or some other MMA name.
16. Layette item: ONESIE. Don't you just love babies in their little outfits, especially when they go home with their parents?
19. Chaotic situation: SNAFU. No comment.
20. Garbage tower: SCOW. A large flat bottomed boat. from the Dutch schouw. In South Florida, we have only one hill called Mount Trashmore, a landfill on steroids. My first thought was tower not tow-er.
21. Mo. when asters usually flower: SEP. Month is abbreviated both in clue and answer. Pretty PERENNIALS .
22. Stormers of Saruman's fortress, in "The Lord of the Rings": ENTS. The tree creatures in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Did we love the movie? New Zealand looked gorgeous.
25. Labor party?: MOM. GB, you witty man, the mother being the only one who actually goes through labor, though the three months it took for the fingernail marks to come out of my arm from the birth of my oldest, was a strong memory.
26. Snake's warning: SSS. I like the word sibilant, like the accent of Highlanders.
35. "The gods Must Be Crazy" setting: KALAHARI. A most amusing MOVIE and a great Coke bottle.
37. Care for: NURSE. My mother was a nurse.
38. Q.E.D. word: ERAT. Quod Erat Demonstrandum. That which was demonstrated. Used in logic and in law. Misspelled as Demonstratum.
39. Synopsis: RECAP. I have a tooth...well anyway too early for a recap here.
42. Reclined: LAIN. One of those 'be careful' words, that reminds of Lois Lane and what sex with Superman must have been like; would he be layin' Lane?
43. One putting away groceries: EATER.
45. Unrestricted: ABSOLUTE. Synonyms? Corrupts absolutely? Vodka?
50. Quaint contraction: TIS. Aye it tis, it tis.
51. Negative link: NOR.
52. "High Voltage" rockers: AC/DC. How many BANDS can you name who have hits with different lead singers?
54. __ dye: methyl orange, e.g.: AZO. CHEMISTRY LESSON .
57. Eagle's tail?: EYED. No they do not have eyes in their tails, they are just Eagle-eyed.
59. Iraqi port: BASRA.Their main port city, also spelled with an H at the end, in southeastern Iraq, near Kuwait.
67. Sign of a page-turner?: DOG EAR. if you borrow a book from me, please do not do this.
68. Secret metaphor: SKELETON. In the closet; good thing we have no secrets here. The closet gets a bad rap in language, as the place where people hide their embarrassing secrets and their sexuality. I don't think I have ever had sex in a closet, not even a water closet, but then I have never been to England except in my mind.
69. Slug relatives: SNAILS. Yes, when they come to visit, and take off their shells off to relax, they look just like their cousins.
70. Naval backbone?: KEEL.The 'backbone' of the ship.
71. Two before iota: ETA. I took Greek years ago and I had no idea, but it perped out quickly.
Gasp, time for
Down:
1. They may be chocolate: LABS. Remember my pics of my romp with the Lab puppies?
2. Phillips of "I, Claudius": SIAN. I Claudius is one of the all time best TV mini-series with the incomparable Derek Jacobi as Claudius and Ms. Phillips as LIVIA . Do you recognize Patrick Stewart with hair?
3. __ Minor: URSA.
4. Discuss business, in a way: DO LUNCH. Gag me with a spoon.
5. Starfish appendage: ARM. Really, how can you tell?
6. Party host's bagful: ICE. Gee POT fit as well.
7. Gig arrangements: SETS. My youngest has two more GIGS this month, but they do not know where the word comes from. You think it is related to GIGOLO?
8. In addition: TO BOOT. Sounds great when said by a Canadian; I gave him money for gas and my coat to boot.
9. Single white male who likes the cold?: SNOWMAN. Or as hearti pointed out, an 8 in golf.
10. Norse underworld goddess: HEL. Back to back with 11D. Goddess with cow's horns: ISIS, the Egyptian.
12. Intentionally provoked reaction: RISE. I sometimes include comments in the blog hoping to get a rise out of some of you.
13. Fill-in: TEMP. MOVIE.
15. Military wind: FIFE. Like the fife and drum corps.
18. Wile E. Coyote's supplier: ACME. Wile E. is a semi-regular.
23. Whaling adverb: THAR. SHE BLOWS. Please Carol, Lois, control yourselves, there are youngins around.
24. Arab's father: SIRE. The horse, not Sheik Chic.
26. Olympic event since 1968: SKEET. What has a skeet even done to deserve to be shot at all the time?
28. Like the color of some roofing: SLATY. Don't get your picker picked HR, this is a perfectly legitimate word for something Slate colored.
30. Goldsmith's "The __ of Wakefield": VICAR. This old CLASSIC novel did not come across well in the comic book version, but the book was worth reading and was well received by all of his contemporaries.
31. Break: LULL. Whew, a break in the action.
32. Frank covering: KRAUT. This clues always dogs me when I blog. I am always afraid to offend our Germanic brethren.
33. Last Supper query: IS IT I?
34. Tijuana toddlers: NENES. This means baby literally, but like the English version, it can be used as a term of affection for a boyfriend.
36. "Up and __!": AT 'EM. There was a world before CGI.
40. Swedish group that won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest: ABBA. Not to be confused with the Israeli statesman.
41. Tiny time meas.: P SEC. PICOSECOND, which is one trillionth of a second. Learning moment?
44. Decision about issues: RENEWAL. Okay for all the pseudo-loggers out there, I leave this to you because I have no clue what these have in common. All perps. (Note from C.C.: Magazine issues here.)
46. Flake: ODDBALL. Flake comes from baseball, where odd players were considered "flaky' perhaps because of the prevalence of drugs in baseball in the 50's and 60's (amphetamines, 'greenies,' and became popular in culture with the books of Jim Brosnan (the Long Season and The Pennant Race, which I recommend to anyone who loves baseball, they helped me through my freshman year in high school) and Jim Bouton's Ball Four.
48. Lobbies: FOYERS. From the French, literally the hearth, or fireplace.
49. City near Provo: OREM. Devin dated a girl name Orem, so I will never forget this one.
53. Batting __ : CAGE. No relation to Nicholas.
54. Puts in: ADDS. No we come full CIRCLE.
55. Horse Ranch Mountain's national park: ZION.
56. Gymnast Korbut: OLGA. The Russian Gymnast who was the first to ever receive a perfect score (10) in competition; revolutionized women's gymnastics and captured the hearts of the world.
58. Computer support?: DESK. Tricky, the literal support.
60. Fill: SATE.
61. Reaction from a bad crowd?: RIOT. Hopefully not at a GIG.
62. Tolstoy's Karenina: ANNA.They are remaking the movie version of Tolstoy's novel next year with Keira Knightly and Jude Law.
64. Ring of shells, perhaps: LEI. Did not know it could be other than flowers.
65. __ out a living: EKE. EEK, my time is over and I must go and rest my weary bones and mutinous eye. Aye, and I enjoyed the trip, I hope you all did; until next time, I remain your humble man Friday.
Answer grid.
Lemonade
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