Tuesday, May 3, 2022 Catherine Cetta
For Book Lovers Only: The word Book can come at the End of the word that the letters spell out to give us a new concept. The circles make a nice Bookend for the letters in-between.
17-Across. "Almost!": NOT QUITE. Notebook.
22-Across. Bargain hunter's event: RUMMAGE SALE. Rule Book.
38-Across. Rush hour woe: COMMUTER TRAFFIC. Comic Book. Odd man out, since there are 3 letters at the beginning, and only 2 at the end of the answer.
49-Across. Lingers: HANGS AROUND. Handbook.
And the Unifier:
61-Across. Items found on library shelves, and what are literally found in each set of circled letters: BOOKENDS.
Here's the Grid:
Across:
1. Prickly desert plants: CACTI.
6. Oolong and rooibos: TEAs. Who knew there were so many types of teas. Rooibos is a red tea and is considered an herbal tea because it is caffeine-free.
10. "The Problem With __": documentary about Indian stereotypes on "The Simpsons": APU.
13. In order to: SO THAT. In order to complete this puzzle ... So that I can complete this puzzle ...
14. Puts on edge: UNNERVES.
16. Springs for dinner: TREATS.
18. Distant: AFAR.
19. "Gorillas in the Mist" animal: APE. Gorillas in the Mist is a 1988 film about Diann Fossey (Jan. 16, 1932 ~ Dec. 26, 1985) and her work in Rwanda with mountain gorillas. Sadly, Fossey was murder in her research cabin in Rwanda.
21. Answering to: UNDER. Think chain of command.
26. Dairy farm animal: COW.
27. Majestic homes: PALACES. Do you know the difference between a Palace and a Castle?
32. As good as it gets: IDEAL.
36. News inits.: UPI. United Press International.
37. __ Beds National Monument: LAVA. I was not familiar with Lava Beds National Monument. It looks beautiful and you can explore caves there.
42. Actress Falco: EDIE. Edie Falco (née Edith Falco; b. July 5, 1963) is probably best known for her role as Carmela Soprano on the television series The Sopranos.
43. "I'm __ ears!": ALL.
44. Iona College athletes: GAELS. Iona College is a private Catholic college in New Rochelle, New York. The mascot looks a bit like a creepy Abe Lincoln.
45. Major plot twist in "The Wizard of Oz"?: TORNADO. Cute clue!
47. Happy __ clam: AS A.
55. Permit: ALLOW.
59. Syst. with hand gestures: ASL. As in American Sign Language.
60. Away from shore: ASEA.
64. Ludicrous: ABSURD.
66. Response to someone saying 65-Down, perhaps: BUNDLE UP. // And 65-Down: "It's c-c-cold": BRR!!!
67. Hairstyle that may be maintained by a professional "loctician": DREADS.
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| Bob Marley (Feb. 6, 1945 ~ May 11, 1981) |
68. Had a bite: ATE.
69. Relay race segments: LEGS.
70. "R u for real?": SRSLY. Text speak for Seriously.
Down:
1. Resort island in the Ionian Sea: CORFU.
2. First-stringers: A-TEAM.
3. __ City: Baltimore's nickname: CHARM. Is this an ironic nickname for Baltimore?
4. Skin art, for short: TAT.
5. "We're on!": IT'S A GO.
6. Melodies: TUNES.
7. Roxy Music co-founder Brian: ENO. Brian Eno (né Brian Peter George Eno; b. May 15, 1948) makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles.
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| Then and Now. |
8. "__-Man and the Wasp": ANT.
9. Title with a "II," maybe: SEQUEL. Do you think that there will be a sequel to 8-Down?
10. Passionate: AVID.
11. Transportation Secretary Buttigieg: PETE. Pete Buttigieg (né Peter Paul Montgomery Buttigieg; b. Jan. 19, 1982) was the 32nd Mayor of South Bend, Indiana before he became the 19ht United States Secretary of Transportation.
12. Icon tapper: USER.
13. Polaris or Betelgeuse: STAR.
15. Part of RBI: RUN. As in the baseball abbreviation for Runs Batted In.
20. Chapel bench: PEW.
23. Rights advocacy org.: ACLU. As in the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU has been around for over 100 years.
24. Datebook entry: Abbr.: APPT.
25. Wild animal's home: LAIR.
28. Communications code word for "A": ALFA.
29. Casual eatery: CAFÉ.
30. Really, really bad: EVIL.
31. Biological pouches: SACS.
32. "Rhyme Pays" rapper: ICE-T. Ice-T (né Tracy Lauren Marrow; b. Feb. 16, 1958) is known as Detective Tutuola on one of the Law & Order series.
33. Knucklehead: DODO. CSO to our dear friend Dodo, who certainly wasn't a knucklehead.
34. Dubai dignitary: EMIR. This is becoming a crossword staple.
35. "Right on!": AMEN.
36. http follower: URL. The Uniform Resource Locator appears with some frequency in the puzzles.
39. "And here it is!": TA DA!
40. Musk of SpaceX: ELON. Elon Musk (né Elon Reev Musk; b. June 28, 1971) has been the news a lot recently. Enough said.
41. Seaweed gelatin: AGAR. Agar makes the base for growing bacteria in the laboratory.
46. "Can't be helped": AH, WELL!
47. Pack animal: ASS. This is becoming a crossword staple.
48. Light lunches: SALADS.
50. "Oh my gosh!" reactions: GASPS.
51. Fertile desert spots: OASES.
52. Garden-variety: USUAL.
53. Square: NERDY.
54. Both parents, in some families: DADS.
55. "Mamma Mia!" pop group: ABBA.
56. Boor: LOUT.
57. Only: LONE.
58. Approved, briefly: OK'D.
62. Word before a maiden name: NÉE. Today's French lesson.
63. Really grooved on: DUG.
Now it's time to get back to my reading.
חתולה
