It's Friday, and the themed puzzles are over, but this one, anchored as it is by that COLLEGEROOMMATE running down the middle, feels like it may have a mini-theme. Or at least a vibe. To back this theory up I present as evidence THEMUNCHIES (A craving for snacks), the AP Bio trio - "Myosin's partner protein" (ACTIN), "Oxygen-dependent micro-organism" (AEROBE), and "There are approximately 30 trillion of these in the human body" (CELLS) - and then there's "Angle variable, in math" (THETA), and, well, that's it. Unless you will also allow the amusing and young-sounding COLDTAKES (Uncontroversial opinions).
Us Olds don't need to hang down our heads, though, because we've got that classic #1 from 1958, Tom DOOLEY, the very mature sounding BANKAUDIT (Annual F.D.I.C. requirement), and everybody's favorite Dad-joke types, the PUNSTERS.
I love the Aztec's "turtle-rabbit" name for ARMADILLOS. That is how I will be referring to them from now on. OCCAM would have loved it, had he ever seen one.
There's a slight violence vibe with LOCKANDLOAD (Prepare, in military slang), CIAASSET (Plant overseas, perhaps) (nice clue), and "Combat sport, for short" (MMA), which, in this time of war, isn't the greatest, but I can MAKEBELIEVE it's all ok and focus on ART - the only thing that really matters in this crazy world.
Best clue: "Announcements before giveaways" (SPOILERALERTS).
- Horace
Sometimes there are clues with answers that one generation is bound to know immediately while the others have never heard it. Unlike yesterday's DRIP, which the kids are very much saying these days, COLDTAKES is not a phrase any person, old or young, has ever used. (Confirmed this with my coworker who is 25 years old and also a crossword puzzle junkie)
ReplyDeleteI was also very amused by ARMADILLOS, so much so it almost made up for COLDTAKES.
Hi Anonymous, thanks for commenting, and for verifying the non-existence of COLDTAKES. Sorry for blaming it on the young! I was amused by it, but will try to remember never to use it outside of crossword-specific gatherings. :)
ReplyDeleteCOLDTAKES bad; I relied on crosses for that entry, but regardless I finished this puzzle in under ten minutes. I liked SONOROUS, the clue for CAPABLE (35D Adjective that's synonymous with its last four letters), and BOER, which we don't often see in the puzzle. I, like Horace, will also refer to ARMADILLOS as "turtle-rabbits" from now on in the extremely unlikely event that I have need to refer to the creatures at all.
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