QOD: Life is a daring adventure or nothing. ~ Helen Keller (née Helen Adams Keller; June 27, 1880 ~ June 1, 1968), American author and political activist
Don't just sit there in the dark. Turn on a light! Today's puzzle gives us the anatomy of a lamp.
18-Across. * Ocular opening: EYE SOCKET.
23-Across. * Noise blocker: EAR PLUG.
51-Across. * Parachute opener: RIP CORD.
55-Across. * Fall planting in a flower garden: TULIP BULB.
And the unifier:
35-Across. Facetious comment when turning on a device whose components end the answers to the starred clues: LET THERE BE LIGHT.
And a bonus clue/answer:
66-Across. Two-time Oscar nominee Naomi: WATTS. [Name # 1.]
After completing the first two theme answers and seeing EYE and EAR, I thought we might be going for body parts, but we had that theme a week or so ago.
How many mystery writers does it take to change a lightbulb? §
Across:
1. Dangerous African snake: MAMBA. Everything you wanted to know about the Black Mamba.
6. Test score: GRADE.
11. Anti-narcotics org.: DEA. As in the Drug Enforcement Administration. // And 59-Down. 11-Across employee: Abbr.: AGT. As in an Agent.
14. Make furious: ANGER.
15. Churchill Downs events: RACES. Churchill Downs is the home of the Kentucky Derby. It's been in the news a lot this year as numerous horses have been injured or died.
16. PC key near Ctrl: ALT.
17. Japanese noodle dish: RAMEN. We saw the Ramen noodles two weeks ago when it was clued as Instant Noodle Option.
20. Misted (up): FOGGED.
22. Roam around: ROVE.
26. Paths to take: ROUTES.
28. Shoe bottoms: TREADS. Because Soles doesn't have enough letters.
29. "All's __ in love and war": FAIR. Do you known the origin of this phrase?
31. Hill-building insect: ANT. // Add a vowel, and you get 32-Across. Informal contraction: AIN'T.
33. Tablet alternative: GEL CAP.
41. Alpine warbles: YODELS.
42. Taunting syllable that's usually repeated: NYAH. For future reference, you may be interested to known that Nyah is also the name of a town in Victoria, Australia. I can see this being a clue/answer to a Friday level puzzle.
43. Chew the fat: GAB.
46. Perches in churches: PEWS.
47. Illinois county or its seat: PEORIA. But will it play in Peoria?
49. Yearly pro golf event: US OPEN.
52. "No kidding?": IT IS.
53. Like many a coastal drive: SCENIC. I highly recommend the scenic loop in Acadia National Park in Maine.
58. Lunar cycle part: PHASE.
62. Had some grub: ATE.
63. Vowel fivesome: A E I O U. This vowel quartet appeared in last Tuesday's puzzle.
64. Four pairs: EIGHT.
65. Rosy: RED.
67. Prominent: NOTED.
Down:
1. St. Patrick's Day mo.: MAR. St. Patrick's Day started out as a religious holiday, but now is known for parades and festivities. I live near the end of my city's St. Patrick's Day parade.
 |
| This is the street the morning after the St. Patrick's Day Parade. |
2. Former "SNL" regular Gasteyer: ANA. Although she has subsequently appeared in several sit-coms, Ana Gasteyer (née Ana Kristina Gasteyer; b. May 4, 1967) is best known for her tenure on Saturday Night Live. She often portrayed Martha Stewart. [Name # 2.]
3. __ Grand: Las Vegas casino: MGM.
4. Hamburger choice: BEEF PATTY.
5. Golfer Palmer: ARNOLD. Arnold Daniel Palmer (Sept. 10, 1929 ~ Sept. 25, 2016) is regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers. He is also known for "inventing" the Arnold Palmer drink, which is half lemonade and half iced tea. [Name # 3.]
6. Actor Clark of Marvel films: GREGG. Although I am not familiar with the Marvel films, I recognized the Clark Gregg (né Robert Clark Gregg, Jr.; b. Apr. 2, 1962) from other shows and movies. [Name # 4.]
7. "I Think About You" country singer Collin: RAYE. I am not up on my country music singers, so am not familiar with Collin Raye (né Floyd Elliot Wray; b. Aug. 22, 1960). He is also known as Bubba Wray. [Name # 5.]
8. Scored against, as on a tennis serve: ACED.
9. __ Moines, Iowa: DES. The history of the city.
10. That, in Spanish: ESO. Today's Spanish lesson.
11. Actress Fanning: DAKOTA. Dakota Fanning (née Hannah Dakota Fanning; b. Feb. 23, 1994) got her start as a child actress. [Name # 6.]
12. Late news hour: ELEVEN. I live in the Central Time Zone, so local news comes on at 10:00 p.m.
13. Swear (to): AT TEST.
19. French wine classification: CRU. Today's French lesson. Everything you wanted to know about Cru but didn't know to ask.
21. Gloomy __: pessimistic one: GUS. [Name adjacent.]
23. "And others" abbr.: ET AL. Today's Latin lesson.
24. Singer India.__: ARIE. India.Aire (née India Arie Simpson; b. Oct. 3, 1975) released her first album, Acoustic Soul in 2001. [Name # 7.]
25. Tenant's monthly payment: RENT.
26. __ and beans: RICE. A Red Beans and Rice is staple in South Louisiana.
27. Face-to-face exam: ORAL.
29. Has a hunch: FEELS.
30. Clerical robes: ALBS. A brief history of the Alb.
33. Got larger: GREW.
34. Geppetto's boy: PINOCCHIO. “Centuries ago there lived… ‘A king!’ my little readers will say immediately. No, children, you are mistaken. Once upon a time there was a piece of wood.” The true story of Pinocchio. [Name # 8.]
36. Partner of faith and charity: HOPE. A Biblical reference from the New Testament (1 Corinthians 13). Faith, Hope and Charity is the name of a vineyard in Oregon.
37. Paradise: EDEN. Paradise is not Lost this week.
38. Greek lamb wrap: GYRO. Yummers!
39. Tresses: HAIR. Also the name of a Broadway musical that was later made into a movie.
40. Jazz trumpeter Jones: THAD. Although born in Michigan, Thad Jones (né Thaddeus Joseph Jones; Mar. 28, 1923 ~ Aug. 20, 1986), moved to Copenhagen, Denmark in the late 1970s, where lived the rest of his life. He even has a street named for him in Copenhagen. He is considered one of the best jazz trumpet player of his time. [Name # 9.]
43. Rock instrument: GUITAR.
44. Sharp-witted: ASTUTE.
45. Heated to bubbling: BOILED.
47. Code entered by a debit card user: PIN.
48. Hand-held allergy treatment: EPI-PEN.
50. Tire inflation abbr.: PSI.
51. Puzzle with symbols: REBUS. A is a puzzle device that combines the use of illustrated pictures with individual letters to depict words or phrases. ‡
53. Spades, but not shovels: SUIT.
54. Thicken, as cream: CLOT.
56. Friendly dog's offering: PAW.
57. Actress Arthur: BEA. Although best known as an actress, Bea Arthur (née Bernice Frankel; May 13, 1922 ~ Apr. 25, 2009) joined the Marine Corps just days after that branch of the military began accepting women into their company. [Name # 10.]
60. "Murder, __ Wrote": SHE. Murder, She Wrote was a long-running cozy mystery series about mystery writer and amateur detective, Jessica Fletcher, played by Angela Lansbury (née Angela Brigid Lansbury; Oct. 16, 1925 ~ Oct. 11, 2022). She lived in the tiny village of Cabot Cove, Maine, which must have been the most dangerous town in the United States because a murder occurred there every week for 12 years.
61. Gate update: Abbr.: ETD. Estimated Time of Departure at the Airport.
Here's the Grid:
§ Two ~ One to screw it in most of the way in and the other to give it a surprise twist at the end.
What is your favorite light bulb joke? Please share.
‡ 51-Down. The answer to the rebus is Up For Grabs.
חתולה
Many thanks to C.C. who stepped in for me last week.
