Thursday, May 29, 2025, John Kugelman

Today I finished the puzzle without understanding the theme, as is sometimes possible, and it took me a minute to figure it out! 

The revealer, TEASEUP, is to be taken for what it sounds like "Ts up," and it explains that in the answers to the clues with asterisks, like "*Two sure things," the Ts will be up one row. So 54-Across isn't just DEA, it's DEATHANDTAXES, but the Ts are above the black squares. It's a nice little trick. And who knew Mensa was a constellation? Probably all those Mensa nerds, that's who.

I thought "Insect named for the Virgin Mary" (LADYBUG) was interesting. Wikipedia tells me that it was so named for its color - because Mary was often depicted wearing red in old art. Of course I googled "Mary in old art" and what do you know, she often has a red dress on. She also usually has a blue garment on over the dress, but yeah, red. Interesting.

SNOOPS (Nosy parkers) and AMSCRAY ("Make like a drum and beat it!") is a solid top row. "Certain seasonal workers?" (REINDEER) was cheeky. "ALL hat, no cattle" and "Over-the-top dramatic" (FULLDIVA) were fun. 

Finally, I learned the word "Dissemble" (LIE) from Pinafore, so why not end with a little more G&S -

Though to catch my drift he's striving,
I'll dissemble – I'll dissemble;
When he sees at what I'm driving,
Let him tremble – let him tremble!

Tho' a mystic tone I borrow,
He shall learn the truth with sorrow;
Here today and gone tomorrow.

Yes, I know.
That is so!

- Horace