Thursday April 6, 2023, Trent H. Evans

Today's puzzle is courtesy of Trent H. Evans, a veteran of 9 NYT puzzles and two LAT puzzles, the first reviewed by Husker on May 2, 2020.  Trent is a clinical psychologist, has his own puzzle site cleverly titled Grid Therapy, and as it happens lives in Catonsville, MD, about 7 miles down the Baltimore Beltway from our home. 

I must confess that I've been reviewing so many simple "scrambled word puzzles" lately, that I was initially stumped by Trent's theme.  I actually considered popping down I 695 to his office for a little "grid therapy", but then realized that Medicare probably doesn't cover that rare syndrome "Puzzled by theme analysis".

But in response to my SOS to the Blogging team I promptly received the correct diagnosis for my cruciverbal confusion.  It resulted from a failure to read the reveal fill correctly, which should be parsed as COME ON DOWN and not COME ON DOWN.  Just like the question "Really?" used for all three theme clues, the idiomatic phrase COME ON (or perhaps better C'MON) can be substituted for the fill as an expression of surprise or skepticism ...

3D. *"Really?": GET SERIOUS  or "COME ON"

9D. *"Really?": ARE YOU JOKING?  or "COME ON?"

20D. *"Really?": GIVE ME A BREAK or  "COME ON"

... and as they are all DOWN fills we get this reveal:

30D. "The Price Is Right" signature phrase, and an apt description of the answers to the starred clues: COME ON DOWN.   The Price Is Right has aired over 9,000 episodes since its debut. It is the longest-running game show in the United States and is one of the longest-running network series in television history. The 50th season premiered September 13, 2021.  Contestants compete by guessing the prices of merchandise to win cash and prizes. Contestants are selected from the studio audience as announcer Drew Carey calls their names and invokes the show's famous catchphrase, "Come on down!"

You too can join in the fun -- here's where to get tickets!

Here's the grid:

And here''s the rest:

Across:

1. Novel units: PAGES.

6. "The Good Place" Emmy nominee Rudolph: MAYA.  Maya Rudolph got her Emmy nomination for the role of Gen, the judge who rules on interdimensional matters between the Good Place and the Bad Place (which we won't talk about here).   Rudolph is an American actress, comedian, and singer. In 2000, she became a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live (SNL), and during her tenure on the show, she also played supporting roles in the films 50 First Dates (2004), A Prairie Home Companion (2006), and Idiocracy (2006).

Maya Rudolph

10. Missing reveille, perhaps: AWOL.

14. Cornmeal cake similar to a gordita: AREPA.  Here's a recipe.  Or if you'd prefer a gordita here's another recipe.

Arepas

15. Library of Congress collection: AMERICANA.  The Library of Congress' AMERICANA collection of Marian Sadtler Carson (1905-2004) spans the years 1656-1995 with the bulk of the material dating from 1700 to 1876. The collection includes more than 10,000 historical letters and manuscripts, broadsides, photographs, prints and drawings, books and pamphlets, maps, and printed ephemera from the colonial era through the 1876 centennial of the United States.

Sellers and Pennock, Philadelphia
purveyors of fine fire fighting equipment

17. One who takes the fall: PATSY.  Another DOWNER 😟  How about some more AMERICANA ...

18. Takes a fall: NOSE DIVES.  We're COMING ON DOWN.

19. Not to mention: ALSO.

20. USO audience: GIS.

21. Sings some high notes?: YODELS.  We usually associate YODELERS with mountainous regions like the ALPS, but it was also an art form practiced by cowboys.

22. Office chore: EMAIL.

24. Early ISP: AOL.

25. Sully: MAR.

27. Spacewalk initials: EVA. Extra Vehicular Activity - "Going Outside" and a CSO to Husker ...

28. Informal "No reason": JUST CUZ.  This raises a timely question - should we do something JUST CUZ we have the technical capabilities to do it?  In 1976 the visionary computer scientist, Joseph Weizenbaum, one of pioneers of  Artificial Intelligence, wrote a seminal book called Computer Power and Human Reason: From Judgment to Calculation.   In it he expressed his ambivalence towards computer technology and made the case that while artificial intelligence may be possible, we should never allow computers to make important decisions (e.g. replacing our legal system with an AI) because computers will always lack human qualities such as compassion and wisdom.  IIRC Weizenbaum said in his book that computers can never be truly human because they are incapable of feeling fear or facing death.

Joseph Weizenbaum
(8 January 1923 - 5 March 2008)

33. Asylum seeker, perhaps: EMIGRE.

35. __ Mahal: TAJ.  Trent didn't give us a hint as to whether this was the tomb or the blues singer.  As we visited AGRA just last Sunday, I'm going with Taj Mahal's Queen Bee from the Bloody Sunday sessions (lyrics):

36. U2 lead singer: BONO.  Paul David Hewson (born 10 May 1960), known by his stage name BONO (/ˈbɒnoʊ/), is an Irish singer-songwriter, activist, and philanthropist.  He is the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the rock band U2.  Here's his I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (lyrics) released in 1987.  I wonder if he's still looking ...

37. Singer Celine: DION.  Here's Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On (lyrics) from the soundtrack to the film Titanic.  A CSO to CanadianEh! ...

38. 2013 Literature Nobelist Alice: MUNRO.  Alice Munro, née Alice Ann Laidlaw, (born July 10, 1931, Wingham, Ontario, Canada), Canadian short-story writer who gained international recognition with her exquisitely drawn narratives. The Swedish Academy dubbed her a “master of the contemporary short story” when it awarded her the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2013.  Another CSO to CanadianEh!

Alice Munro

40. Paintballs, e.g.: AMMO.

41. Request after eating too many jalapeños: AGUA.  Some like it hot, and some not.  Today's Spanish lesson #1.

42. Defib expert: EMT.

43. Hall of Famer Abdul-Jabbar: KAREEM.  KAREEM Abdul-Jabbar; (born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr.; April 16, 1947) is an American former professional basketball player who played 20 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers. During his career as a center, Abdul-Jabbar was a record six-time NBA Most Valuable Player.  He was a 19-time NBA All-Star—tied for the most ever—a 15-time All-NBA Team member, and an 11-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection. He was a member of six NBA championship teams as a player and two more as an assistant coach, and was twice voted the NBA Finals MVP. He was named to three NBA anniversary teams (35th, 50th, and 75th). Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, he was called the greatest basketball player of all time by Pat Riley, Isiah Thomas, and Julius Erving. Abdul-Jabbar was the NBA's career scoring leader from 1984 to 2023.  He was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 1995.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

45. NASCAR climax: LAST LAP.  This is a CSO to my friend Jeff, a NASCAR fan and 3-A-DAY crossword puzzle solver.

47. Taste: SIP.

48. Extra qtrs.: OTS.  Quarters is abbreviated, so Overtimes has to be too.

49. Sit-up targets: ABS.

50. "The Smartest Guys in the Room" company: ENRON.  ENRON: The Smartest Guys in the Room is a 2005 American documentary film based on the best-selling 2003 book of the same name by Fortune reporters Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind.  In the end these guys didn't turn out to be as smart as they thought they were ...

52. Like "Marriage Story" but not "Toy Story": RATED R.

56. Trough guy: PIG.

57. 4K display, e.g.: HDTV.

60. "Lay it on me": IM ALL EARS.  I think that might be LBJ and Lady Bird off camera ...

I'm All Ears

62. Greek gathering place: AGORA.  The AGORA, meaning "market" in Modern Greek, was a central public space in ancient Greek city-states. It is the best representation of a city-state's response to accommodate the social and political order of the polis.  The literal meaning of the word "agora" is "gathering place" or "assembly". The agora was the center of the athletic, artistic, business, social, spiritual, and political life in the city. The Ancient Agora of Athens is the best-known example:

View of the Ancient Agora.

 

The temple of Hephaestus is to the far left
and the Stoa of Attalos to the far right.

63. Fightin' words: LEMME AT EM.  Sorry, all the clips were RATED V.

64. Victorious cry: WE WON.

65. Petrol brand: ESSO.

66. "Girl on Fire" singer Alicia: KEYS.  Alicia Augello Cook (born January 25, 1981) known professionally as Alicia Keys, is an American singer, songwriter. A classically trained pianist, Keys started composing songs when she was 12 and was signed at age 15 years by Columbia Records.  Here's the title track from her 2012 album Girl on Fire (lyrics).  Oh and guys, you may want to keep a fire extinguisher by your computer ...

67. Allows to use for a bit: LENDS.

Down:

1. Dada: PAPA.  ARP didn't quite fill the space.

2. Rapidly drying Asian sea: ARAL.

3. [Theme clue]

4. __ salts: EPSOM.  EPSOM salts are the compound Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO_{4), which have various medicinal uses, and were named for the town of Epsom, England where they are found in the natural springs there.  Epsom is famous for the Epsom Downs Racecourse, which dates back to 1661 and hosts Epson Derby each year.}

 The 1821 Derby at Epsom
Théodore Géricault

5. "I've been meaning to ask ... ": SAY.

6. Capital city on Luzon: MANILA.  MANILA is the capital of the Philippines and its second-most populous city. Manila is located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on the island of Luzon. It is highly urbanized and as of 2019, was the world's most densely populated city proper.  The second most populous city is Quezon City, which is larger and thus not as densely populated as Manila.

Manila, Philippines

7. John of "Roots" and "The West Wing": AMOS.  John Allen Amos Jr. (born December 27, 1939) is an American actor known for his role as James Evans Sr. on the CBS television series Good Times. Amos's other television work includes The Mary Tyler Moore Show, a recurring role as Admiral Percy Fitzwallace on The West Wing, and the role of Washington, DC Mayor Ethan Baker in the series The District. Amos starred in the TV Miniseries Roots, as the adult Kunta Kinte, based on the book and real life family history of author Alex Haley.  Amos has appeared on Broadway and in numerous films in his five-decade career.  He has been nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and an NAACP Image Award. 

John Amos

8. "Hallelujah!": YES.  This affirmation is the Hebrew word for "Praise the Lord".  As this week we celebrate both Passover and Easter, what better way to affirm them than with this joyful chorus from Handel's great oratorio, Messiah (lyrics):

9. [Theme clue]

10. Prilosec target: ACID.  In my experience drinking lots of AGUA is the best antidote for indigestion.

11. Greet silently: WAVE.

12. Scott Turow book: ONEL.  ONE L tells author Scott Turow's experience as a first-year Harvard Law School student.  First years, or One-L's as they are often called, all face similar issues their initial year of law school. Harvard, known for its reputation as one of the best law schools in the country, takes only about 12% of applicants. Turow recounts his time there, the professors, and the classes that helped mold him into the lawyer and writer that he became.

13. Gal: LASS.

16. Megastars: IDOLS.  Here's Rudolfo, played by one of my favorite IDOLS, introducing himself to Mimi in the Act I aria Che gelida manina of Giacomo Puccini's La Boheme,  followed by Mimi telling him her story in Mi chiamano Mimi ...

20. [Theme clue]

23. __ Lingus: AER.  In our experience they treat their coach passengers like First Class.

24. Barely open: AJAR.

25. Gold __ flour: MEDAL.  Here's a recipe for banana-blueberry muffins.

26. Latina friend: AMIGA.  Spanish lesson #2.

29. Alternative to an uphill climb: T BAR.  A CSO to Malodorous Manatee.

30. [Theme reveal]

31. Yet to be satisfied: UNMET.  See 36A.

32. Goes lickety-split: ZOOMS.

34. Pesky insect: GNAT.

35. Blast letters: TNT.

39. Ballpark judges: UMPS.

44. National Poetry mo.: APR.  Here's how to celebrate.

46. Big dipper: LADLE. 

47. Quakes: SEISMS.  The people of Turkey and Syria can tell you that improving our capabilities for timely predictions of impending large SEISMS is a matter of life and death.  Over the last 20 years or so the QuakeFinder project, described in the video that follows, has made important strides in reliably predicting earthquakes DAYS in advance instead of within MINUTES or YEARS, which are too short and too long respectively.  The Corner is privileged  to have in our community a very talented engineer named  John Doering, known to most of us as jayce, who designed the magnetometer sensor stations (shown in the splash screen below) that provide the data that enable these more precise predictions .  To find out about the current status of the project see quakefinders.com.   For a brief discussion of John's magnetometer sensor station see this October 6, 2022  EOS Newsletter.

51. "Gosh!": OH GEE.

52. Irritate but good: RILE.

53. Iowa State city: AMES.  AMES is a city in Story County, Iowa, United States, located approximately 30 miles (48 km) north of Des Moines in central Iowa. It is best known as the home of Iowa State University (ISU), with leading agriculture, design, engineering, and veterinary medicine colleges. A United States Department of Energy national laboratory, Ames Laboratory, is located on the ISU campus.

54. Highlands hats: TAMS.  A TAM o' shanter (in the British military often abbreviated to ToS) or "tammie" is a name given to the traditional Scottish bonnet worn by men. The name derives from Tam o' Shanter, the eponymous hero of the 1790 Robert Burns poem.  You can buy one of these from Amazon for only $17.99, but as they don't know how to spell O' Shanter they may be of questionable quality:

Scottish TAM

55. Monster who's in his own world: ELMO.  I guess because he always refers to himself in the third person ...

56. Salmon, to bears: PREY.  COME ON UP!
 

58. Stepped: TROD.

59. "Off the Wall" sneakers brand: VANS.  My son brought along a pair of VANS sneakers to China for my 3 year old grandson to wear home. 

And let's sign off with one of VAN'S greatest hits ...

61. Did lunch: ATE.

62. Leatherwork tool: AWL.

Cheers,
Bill

As always, thanks to Teri for proof reading, for her constructive criticism.

 

waseeley