A classic Saturday. Slow to start, but with steady work, eventually, things become clear.
I entered "coke" for "Cuba libre ingredient" (LIME), but the first thing I knew for sure was RINGO (Lead singer of "Yellow Submarine"), so I worked off of that to get my first foothold. Another singer, CYNDI (Pop star Lauper) led to a politician (CORY), and things started to come together.
I love the QMC "Game of checkers?" for CHESS. It's essentially the same trick as in "Quarterback spikes?" for CLEATS, but I don't find that one quite as good. In Non-QMCs, I guessed right away something was up with "Background for someone who's good with numbers," but it took several crosses to see MUSICALTHEATER. That's a nice one. I also smiled when "Marvel producer" turned out to be MIRACLEWORKER. But I also enjoy answers that turn out to be straightforward when the clue could be taken in different ways, like "Binary" for BASETWO and "Carriers are mobile ones" for AIRBASES. My mind ran to gender issues and viral loads, but no.
It's fun having both PANG (Gut reaction, say) and TANG (Sharp quality) in the grid, and I liked the straight-up Latin MATER for "Venus, to Cupid."
Overall, a solid, challenging Saturday. Just like we like.
- Horace
Great fun! A definite hiccup in the NE, with STARR in there instead of RINGO, and of course the Canadian 'MUSICALTHEATRE' had to be corrected. Aside from the gems you pointed out, Horace, I liked TIDE too. A speedy 7:49 for me today.
ReplyDeleteI am skipping town for the next two weeks, with the intention of staying off the grid throughout. So to all my new friends on this blog - happy fortnight and I'll "see" you toward the end of the month!
Yes, TIDE was a fun surprise! Have a great couple of weeks. We will all envy your "off-the-grid-ness" and we'll look forward to catching up when you return. :)
DeleteSplendor in the grid today! Beautiful fill, sensational cluing, what a treat. Philbo, a blessed and peaceful fortnight to you as well!
ReplyDeleteA bit easier than I like a Saturday, but, as has been stated above, a heck of a lot of fun. I too loved CHESS and, especially, AIRBASES and TIDE. THROAT had a nice, if maybe too easy, clue. THATHURT for "Ow!" is so ridiculous that I kind of like it. Always nice to see MAINE and TSELIOT in a grid. No mention of STANS?? Is that just standard fare for you guys? Any word first coined in 2008, as the verb apparently was, is likely to be unknown to moi. Somewhat cool that it derives from Eminem. Finally, I did not immediately know MAKO, but I really should have, since he appeared in some of my faves from the 70s: M*A*S*H, Columbo, Hawaii Five-O, Mannix, The Incredible Hulk, The Streets of SanFrancisco, and I Dream of Jeannie!
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