THEME: From The Waist Down ... — pieces of clothing with body parts in their names
Well the SHIN and ANKLE are part of the LEG, and the HIP is not even part of the leg, but all the articles of clothing do cover roughly the area just about your ANKLE at a minimum, so I guess they have that in common. I hit 17A: Beatles footwear and thought I was going to run smack into yet another BEATLES puzzle today (see NYT), but no. Which is fine by me.
Theme answers:
- 17A: Beatles footwear (ANKLE BOOTS) — I did not know this was a signature piece of Beatles wear.
- 10D: Goalie's protective pair (SHIN GUARDS) — all soccer players wore these when I played as a kid. Very necessary.
- 30D: Pants with a low waistline (HIP HUGGERS)
- 66A: Stockinglike workout wear (LEG WARMERS) — mmm, 80s. My sister owned some of these. Actually, my daughter owns some now and loves them. She's 9, which may be how old my sister was when she had hers.
Crosswordese 101: EARLAP (49D: Winter hat feature) — My lab does this to my shepherd/husky. That is, she laps her ears. If you are like me (and why wouldn't you be), the first time you saw this word, you wondered where the "F" had got to. For some reason, both EARLAP and EARFLAP are perfectly acceptable words for describing the same phenomenon, i.e. those dorky yet oh-so-comfortable appendages on your winter hat.
What else?
- 41A: WWII noncombat females (WAACS) — I thought it was WACS. And ... it was. I read a description explaining the difference and still didn't understand. The WAACs (Women's Army Auxiliary Corps) were British and active in WWI. Then somehow briefly there was a WAAC in 1942 in the U.S. that then became just the WAC (Women's Army Corps).
There was only one year of WAAC in U.S. (1942-43). So ... I don't think I like this answer. - 14A: Psychic's card (TAROT) — like this better as a "deck" rather than just a "card."
- 37D: Hawaiian island (MAUI) — had the "A" and put in OAHU!
- 40A: Like the diving-board end (DEEP) — feels like "... of the pool" was left off the clue.
- 53D: Tequila plant (AGAVE) — used to sweeten at least one of my breakfast cereals.
- 13D: Anne of "Archie Bunker's Place" (MEARA) — I never watched this "All in the Family" sequel, but I do love Anne MEARA for her recurring role on Rhoda, among other things...
See you Friday,
~RP
[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter]
Everything Else — 1A: Closes in anger, as a door (SLAMS); 6A: Cause damage to (HARM); 10A: Cover for a pillow (SHAM); 14A: Psychic's card (TAROT); 15A: Belle man (BEAU); 16A: Watering aid (HOSE); 17A: Beatles footwear (ANKLE BOOTS); 19A: Ancient Andean (INCA); 20A: In a dishonorable way (BASELY); 21A: Japanese electronics giant (NEC); 22A: Pinot __ (NOIR); 23A: Country meadow (LEA); 25A: Spanish wine punch (SANGRIA); 27A: Seasoned pros (OLD HANDS); 32A: The "T" in some fraternity initials (TAU); 33A: 503, in old Rome (DIII); 34A: Casa kitchen crock (OLLA); 36A: Half a '60s pop group (MAMAS); 40A: Like the diving-board end (DEEP); 41A: WWII noncombat females (WAACS); 43A: Sitar music (RAGA); 44A: Seaweed-wrapped Japanese fare (SUSHI); 46A: Analogy phrase (IS TO); 47A: Contest with pistols (DUEL); 48A: Put into service (USE); 50A: Sledding spot (HILLSIDE); 52A: Word game involving a stick figure (HANGMAN); 56A: "No way, laddie!" ("NAE!"); 57A: Highly excited (AGOG); 58A: Edge of a hoop (RIM); 60A: Double-checks the math (RE-ADDS); 65A: Copenhagen native (DANE); 66A: Stockinglike workout wear (LEGWARMERS); 68A: At any time (EVER); 69A: Apex (ACME); 70A: Words after have or save (A SEAT); 71A: Stage constructions (SETS); 72A: Sampras of tennis (PETE); 73A: Burial places (TOMBS); 1D: Wild guess (STAB); 2D: Superboy's girlfriend Lang (LANA); 3D: Boats like Noah's (ARKS); 4D: Beauty mark (MOLE); 5D: "A Streetcar Named Desire" woman (STELLA); 6D: "Real Time With Bill Maher" network (HBO); 7D: Really long time (AEON); 8D: Interest percentages (RATES); 9D: Oman's capital (MUSCAT); 10D: Goalie's protective pair (SHINGUARDS); 11D: "Objection, Your __!" (HONOR); 12D: Computer text code (ASCII); 13D: Anne of "Archie Bunker's Place" (MEARA); 18D: "See ya later" ("BYE NOW"); 24D: Stevenson who lost twice to Eisenhower (ADLAI); 26D: "Apocalypse Now" setting, briefly (NAM); 27D: Bettor's concern (ODDS); 28D: Stead (LIEU); 29D: Fizzles out (DIES); 30D: Pants with a low waistline (HIP HUGGERS); 31D: Cut dramatically (SLASH); 35D: Join the cast of (ACT IN); 37D: Hawaiian island (MAUI); 38D: Got on in years (AGED); 39D: Bargain hunter's delight (SALE); 42D: Sporty Toyota Camry (SOLARA); 45D: Suffix with intellectual (ISM); 49D: Winter hat feature (EARLAP); 51D: Eye lasciviously (LEER AT); 52D: Mythological underworld (HADES); 53D: Tequila plant (AGAVE); 54D: Octet plus one (NONET); 55D: Dad's brother's daughter, to dad (NIECE); 59D: Corp. leadership gp. (MGMT.); 61D: "I __ busted!" (AMSO); 62D: Judge (DEEM); 63D: Colorless (DRAB); 64D: Retd. Air France fliers (SSTS); 67D: Like early morning hours (WEE).
26 comments:
SLAM, HARM, SHAM… Oh my! This is going to be a negative puzzle for a DRAB, still NOIR Monday morning. But, then as I went on, things got better… DUEL, SLASH, HANGMAN, DIES, TOMBS, HADES!
But, why should I be depressed… a weekend of bad football (da Bears!) and the horrible AMA awards show with Lady Gaga… what else could go bad! A broken coffeemaker!!!! Oiy!
Well maybe Tuesday’s puzzle will be cheerier… and then there’s Thanksgiving to look forward to.
And if only I had listened to the MAMAS and the Papas:
MONDAY MORNING
Rex, I loved your Diving Board pic. That perked me up a little.
BYENOW
~ jnh
Rex, I've never tried tequila to sweeten my cereal... hmm! Gotta try that.
Had leotarders, whatever they are, before 66A LEGWARMERS.
Finished the NYT and USA while waiting for youse. Eh?
Nice, fairly smooth and breezy--just what's needed for Monday. Who knew LA would be so concerned about the onset of winter and frigid weather? The fill is not the usual conventional early week--very nice to see. RP, thanks for Elmer Fudd..ties in also w ACME!
My (airforce) Dad's joke, when I was a kid:
"If a WAC is 'women's army corps', then what's a WOC?"
- It's what you fwow at a wabbit.
Seems appropriate what with the write up.
Yes, Rex, why AREN'T we more like you? That line of yours is great! I recommend you put it on teeshirts, or the cover of your autobiography. Thanks for the laugh, and the write up.
SHIN was slooow to pop up in my brain. I thought WAACS looked 'off' but was mostly wrong.
Still, a better Monday puzzle than many we'd had during the semi-recent easing up on difficulty. LEGWARMERS barely pass the 'breakfast test,' however.
\\split
I vote yes! First thing I noticed was the pretty grid.Then I liked Pinot Noir next to Sangria - yum. Minor mention on the write-up; had a soccer coach once that spent way to much time explaining that its a goalkeeper in soccer - the clue relates to the hockey man in the net (and hockey always makes me smile).
NOIR over SANGRIA, I hope that is an indication for the Holiday's construction.
Rex: As to the EarLAP-v-Earflap, Since the 'F' is at the begining of my state's name, I don't wear those dorky hats. But the latter seems "more' correct in everyday language even though earlap is acceptable.
Liked the WAACS. Since the Air Force was part of the Army until 1947 their Wacs were referred to (also) as members of the Women's Army Air Corp. Plus, as you pointed out in your write-up, the first year the Army did use Women's Army Auxiliary Corp. Great cluing/answer.
Overall, too easy even for a Monday LAT
@Tinbeni
I thought the air force had WAAFs (Women's Auxiliary Air Force)
I thought this had one of the most DRAB fills we've seen in a long while. But hey, if I could do better I'd be sending Monday puzzles to the LAT.
Like @RP, I puzzled over EARLAP, wondering where the F went -- learned something new! I didn't have any trouble with today's offering, although did have a couple of writeovers. Initially put BYEBYE instead of BYENOW and spelled AGAVE as AGAVA. Easily corrected. I did not recall sitar music RAGA 'tho I know I've seen it in a puzzle not long ago. Same for MUSCAT. 'Like early morning hours' is a cute clue for WEE. And I like the clue "I ____ busted!" for AM SO; much better than 'playground retort'.
@JNH
WAAF's, Women's Auxiliary Air Force was part of the Royal Air Force during WWII, estab.6/28/39. Renamed 2/1/49 Women's Royal Air Force.
Here in the US we also had WASP's, Women's Airforce Service Pilots. There were approx. 1000 during WWII shuttling military planes all over the place.
"I AM SO busted"
Wasn't that a Marilyn Monroe quotation?
@JNH
WAF's, Women in the Air Force was later formed in 1948 when Truman signed the Women's Armed Services Integration Act.
And I think you are absolutely correct as to the source of the quotation!!!
@JHN Liked you MM joke.
If you all want to see LEGWARMERS take a gander of the 1982 Jane Fonda Workout Video on You Tube - serious LEGWARMER material. If I knew how to embed it, I would. I credit Jane and the movie Flashdance for making LEGWARMERS a main stream trend in the 80's. So glad that fad went away.
Nice semi-easy Monday puzzle. I have always called those hat appendages, EARLAPPERS. Aso enjoyed Pinot NOIR over SANGRIA.
Tried to fit WINKLEPICKERS into 17A: Beatles footwear, but sadly, it didn't fit.
I guess if you keep your arms at your side the hands are below the waist as well.
I thought this was a very nice Monday puzzle. Like the word earlap, remembered it from a former discussion.
Very negative, though, with slams, harm, sham, hose, basely, noir, duel, use, nae, tombs, stab, mole, dies, slash and drab.
http://wordplay.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/22/supremes/
Confirmation that he is in 9th grade
@Eric: I think you are lost.
@JNH, I'm thinking that Rex's lady on the diving board looks a tad like MM and it is definitely a cheesecake shot, like the post cards you mentioned from your Rt. 66 excursion.
Shinguards was a gimme. Have parents of a 14 year goalie demanding 100% of games played. Ludicrous! Where do these people come from? Hope the kid makes it to the NHL!
Getting ready for the hordes on Thursday, so spent today cleaning the pantry. Came across a bottle of agave! I'll give it a shot on some oatmeal tomorrow. Or is it better on grits?
Ddbmc is to Beatles as Tweens are to "New Moon" saga! Ankle boots were the rage, yeah, yeah,yeah!
Put Ravi in for sitar music. Didn't know it was "raga," finally got it on the downs. Norah Jones is Ravi Shankar's daughter....Ben Stiller is Anne Meara's son...it's all relative.
Sadly, I am of an age, where I use an old leg warmer on my Raynaud's Syndrome affected arm--or hockey sock.
Love that picture of Elmer Fudd! Ewwww, you skoowy wabbit, you! Woc, indeed, @Glowe! Nice earlaps. Though I prefer flap. And yes, I have one of those hats. Winter does not bring out my inner sex symbol....
Decent puzzle. Solve was smooth and quick.
@ddbmc, have you tried a calcium-channel blocker for your Raynaud's?
@Orange, no. What are the contraindications?
Well, it'd be good to start out with high blood pressure, because CCBs are blood-pressure meds. But they're an effective way of treating Raynaud's. I haven't had symptoms for three months since switching to a CCB.
Also, a cute young rheumatologist told me the key is keeping your core temperature warm, not just keeping your arm/hand warm. So try an extra layer all over and see if that helps.
Years ago, had atrial fib and flutter, was on digoxin for a bit, but haven't needed it in years. See the cardiologist on a regular basis, as there is history, dad's side. My bp is fine, and I currently take Vytorin and Niaspan (had long talk with the doc about them). Have Rheumatoid markers,frozen shoulder years ago and mom had Raynaud's. Perfect storm, so it seems. I'll mention again to the doc. He's my favorite! (Sorry to everyone else for diverting from puzzle chat TMI, I suppose!) Thanks, @Orange for the info.
TMI would be if we posted photos of purple or deathly-pallor digits.
@Orange
As well as keeping me abreast of crosswordese, you are a wealth of other non-trivial information. I now learned about "Raynaud's Phenomenon"... your comments spurred me to Google. Thank you.
There's only one problem with acquiring medical knowledge... after I read about some disease/disorder, then I start to think I've got that condition myself.
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