In our third puzzle from Warren who has two Monday LATs under his belt.It was difficult to parse his re-imagination of PRISM as PR IS M. Words that begin with "PR" are recast with "M" to create new phrases. There are no other PR words in the clues or fill. The triple nines in the NE and SW make this an impressive grid featuring many lovely words like ARMATURES, PERSONNEL EXTENDERS STOMACHED RAPID FIRE ANECDOTAL.
17A. Songs without words? : MIME NUMBERS (11). PRime Numbers, a math concept become an odd concept of people acting out the music. I started wanting INSTRUMENTAL which luckily was too long.
27A. Earthquake consequence? : MOVING GROUND (12). PRoving ground probably started with a term for the place where the military tries out its weapons. This fill gave me the letter(s) switch.
46A. House cat's challenge? : MICE INCREASE (12). PRice increase.
61A. Money-making fiasco? : MINTING MESS (11). PRinting PRess. A double dose of changing pr to m. Good or bad?
68A. Solid that, when divided into three parts, describes this puzzle's theme : PRISM. For all of the math people who comment here, we are talking geometry not light waves when the clue is a solid. LINK.
Across:
1. "Dancing With the Stars" network : ABC-TV.
6. Early sign of spring : ARIES. The first sign of the Zodiac.
11. Big, uncouth guy : APE.
14. Flap : HOOHA. With or without the closing "H" this version may come from the Yiddish הו־האַ meaning hulabaloo. In the Urban dictionary, the meaning is very different.
15. Now : TODAY.
16. King of ancient Rome : REX. This took too long as I was trying to think of one of the KINGS.
19. Celebrity known for wearing gold jewelry : MR T.
20. Like : AS IF. We learned this when Winston was pushing it cigarettes as tasting good "Like" a cigarette should. 10 year olds loved amking it as if.
21. Check for a poker player? : NO BET. Literal.
22. Corner of a diamond : BASE. Third is the "hot corner."
23. Place name derived from a Koyukon word for "tall" : DENALI. Yukon tipped me to the Alaska connection and Denali filled. I knew nothing of this language or PEOPLE.
25. Touch : ABUT ON.
31. Span. title : SRA. One lazy Friday I misidentified this abbreviation for Señora.
34. Pasta sauce flavoring : BASIL. Is a spice a flavoring?
35. Jane __, only female Chicago mayor : BYRNE. It is hard to believe Chicago elected this interesting outspoken CANDIDATE.
36. Strong flavor : TANG. I think more of tangy, but this was okay.
38. Dog or fox : CANID. Per wiki any of a family (Canidae) of carnivorous animals that includes the wolves, jackals, foxes, coyote, and the domestic dog.
40. One looking ahead : SEER. The Romans used them as important advisers, called them oracles. Reagen used astrologists. From C.C.'s Monday.
41. Autobahn autos : OPELS. Cool, now it is here.
43. Dreaded mosquito : AEDES. We have so many diseases spread by mosquitoes. What the CDC says.
45. Mercedes roadsters : SLS. SLS stands for "Sport Leicht Super" (Sport Light Super).
50. Date night destination : CINEMA. No ATM this week.
54. Corporate money mgrs. : CFOS. Chief Financial Officers.
55. Hustler's genre : DISCO. The dance, not the con man or the street person..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSPsGC-15uA
59. Dollar alternative : AVIS. Rental cars.
60. Pop __ : HIT.
63. Important time : ERA.
64. Leader of the pack? : SCOUT. Literally the one who goes out first.
65. Main artery : AORTA.
66. __ Taco : DEL. Not down here but they have locations in Orlando. Never tried it.
67. Manage : GET BY.
Down:
2. Capital on its own river : BOISE. I did not know this geographic fact. Looks pretty.
Comin thro' the rye, poor body,
Comin thro' the rye,
She draigl't a' her petticoatie
Comin thro' the rye.
LINK.
4. Kin, informally : THE FAM. I have a cousin who actually says this.
5. Soccer practice transport : VAN.
6. Sphere opening : ATMOsphere.
7. Lynda Bird's married name : ROBB. She married this man. LINK.
8. Auteur's starting point : IDEE. Frecnh authors have their ideas in French.
9. Stock-tracking device : EAR TAG. Not your portfolio, but your cows. Nice clue/fill.
10. Part of PBS: Abbr. : SYS.
11. Current-carrying components : ARMATURES. I know nothing of electricity or electrical engineering but I read in a current events manual that in DC machines, the magnetic poles are stationary, while the armature rotates-- and hence is also called the Rotor. In AC machines, the armature (heavy coil windings) remains stationary (and hence it is called the Stator), while the magnetic poles rotate inside the stator.
12. Staff : PERSONNEL.
13. Substances that add protein to meat : EXTENDERS. I did not know this either and you prbably do not want to read this LINK. And more food controversy 61D. Stir-fry additive : MSG. MonSodium Glutemate. There is a really great Article about the Chines Food Syndrome and MSG.
18. Pioneer mainframe : UNIVAC.
22. Depth indicators, at times : BUOYS.
24. Court ploy : LOB.
26. Texter's "Gimme a sec" : BRB. Be Right Back. In Monday's puzzle.
28. Son of Abraham : ISAAC.
29. Levi's Stadium player, familiarly : NINER. With ticket prices.
31. Stood : STOMACHED. I will not make a political comment here.
32. In quick succession : RAPID FIRE. Questions, for example.
33. Like some speech components : ANECDOTAL. The great speakers all are able to insert little stories to make their points. Wonderful word used infrequently in puzzles.
37. "Cagney & Lacey" co-star : GLESS. Sharon, who reappeared on Burn Notice
42. Rest : SIT.
44. Govt. stipend provider : SSI. Social Security provides Supplemental Security Income
47. "Fat chance" : NO DICE. Another of many multi word fill.
48. Charm : ENAMOR.
51. "If __ Would Leave You" : EVER I. Ah, Camelot...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xL52hEArSfM
52. Perfume applications : MISTS. At least the department stores no longer spray
53. State in northeast India : ASSAM. In Monday's puzzle.
56. How ties may be broken, briefly : IN OT. In overtime.
57. Re-entry need : STUB. Your ticket stub at the game, the concert or the movie.
58. Word in many place names : CITY.
62. Opening : GAP. Why did I think of this...
Well Spring sprung, and Warren tried his skills at a Friday. I was really impressed with the long non-theme fill. I think this could have easily morphed into a themeless. I missed my Friday Shakespeare but Camelot was fun. Thanks Warren and all of you, Lemonade out.
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