Title: Chop to it
Author: David J. Kahn
Theme: is spelled out at 39a: Antelope with spiraled horns (and a hint to this puzzle's theme) (ADDAX). In other words, the letters A and X are added to common phrases to create new and unexpected answers that are then clued. Like most themes it's easier to show than to spell out:
18a: Levy on cover girls? (MODELTAX).
60a: Try to influence a game show leader? (COAXHOST).
3d: Person born in northwest Germany 1,500 years ago? (NATIVESAXON).
6d: Deception requiring a vote recount? (TALLYHOAX).
25d: Is a student in a housekeeping course? (TAKESWAXING). Also, I guess, a class one might take in cosmetology
36d: Dissertation about neuron appendages? (AXONPAPER). My least favorite of the themed entries -- because I'm not too hip on sub-atomic stuff and I can't find a picture of an axon.
Sunny Spots:
52a: Place for steamers? (SPA). Love those sauna jokes.
26d: NPR's Hansen (LIANE). Co-host with Will Shortz of the NPR Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzle, which I will win someday.
9d: Start of a noted palindrome (MADAM). As in "Madam, I'm Adam." My first thought was AMANA, as in the start to another noted palindrome "A man, a plan, a canal, Panama."
Suns of Bitches: Nothing really, although I did not and still don't know anything about "Knuffle Bunny" so 47d: Girl in the "Knuffle Bunny" books (TRIXIE) was tough.
Sundries: (Presented sans commentary due to poor time management)
1a: Like some yogurt (NONFAT).
7a: Chip maker (IBM).
10a: With 35-Across, die (PASS).
14a: "Spamalot" costar (AZARIA).
15a: Prix fixe alternative (ALACARTE).
17a: "I want to hear all the details" (DOTELL).
19a: "Idylls of the King" name (ENID).
20a: "Otello" premiere locale (LASCALA).
22a: Accelerate, with "up" (REV).
23a: Edgar Allan Poe character Arthur Gordon ___ (PYM).
24a: Courage and fortitude (METTLE).
28a: Spellbind (ENCHANT).32a: Adjust one's sights, maybe (REAIM).
33a: Language of Afghanistan (PASHTO).
35a: See 10-Across (AWAY).
37a: Jazz trombonist Winding (KAI).
38a: 60-year-old carrier (ELAL).
41a: Fender flaw (DENT).
42a: ___-en-Provence (AIX).
43a: 11% of DC (LXVI).
44a: Weights (ONUSES).
46a: Franklin (CNOTE).
48a: Sherbet variety (RAINBOW).
50a: Matisse and others (HENRIS).
53a: Galoot (APE).
56a: "Understood" (IGOTCHA).
59a: Line through the poles (AXIS).
63a: Cans (POKIES).
65a: What a zigzag line might represent in a schematic (RESISTOR).
66a: Make clear (EVINCE).
67a: False negative? (TRUE).
68a: Fashion monogram (YSL).
69a: Kitchen appliances (RANGES).
1d: LaDuke was his vice presidential running mate in 1996 and 2000 (NADER).
2d: Triatomic form of oxygen (OZONE).
4d: Ethel's husband (FRED).
5d: Be hurting (AIL).
7d: Cat food brand (IAMS).
8d: Cartel (BLOC).
10d: Epicurean sense (PALATE).
11d: Works at the Whitney (ART).
12d: D.C.'s Union, for one (STA).
13d: Census form info (SEX).
16d: Waldorf salad ingredient (CELERY).
21d: Org. with a staff of Aesculapius logo (AMA).
23d: Mtge. point, for example (PCT).
27d: Gives out (EMITS).
29d: Wild bunch?: Abbr. (NHL).
30d: First name at the 1976 Summer Olympics (NADIA).
31d: "You're going to like us" sloganeer (TWA).
33d: Crayola color that used to be called Flesh (PEACH).
34d: Dress with a flared skirt (ALINE).
40d: TiVo, e.g. (DVR).
41d: Couple (DUO).
43d: Vivien and Janet of filmdom (LEIGHS).
45d: It has four franchises in Calif. (NBA).49d: Freak ending? (ISH).
51d: Black, in a way (SOOTY).
54d: Knight, e.g. (PIECE).
55d: A lot of stress? (ESSES).
57d: General ___ chicken (TSOS).
58d: Keyboard key (CTRL).
59d: Having a similar quality (AKIN).
60d: Monitor, for short (CRT).
61d: "Jingle Bells" contraction (OER).
62d: Tempe inst. (ASU).
64d: Fertilizable gametes (OVA).
Today's puzzle was brought to you by your friendly neighborhood addax.
Have a nice Thursday, Norrin
2 comments:
AXONs aren't subatomic. they're parts of neurons, which are nerve cells. most of them are microscopic, but some AXONs (the ones connecting the base of your spinal cord to your feet) can be up to a meter long.
you might be thinking of AXIONs, which are hypothetical particles which would indeed be subatomic if they existed. the reason you can't find a picture is that there's no evidence that they actually do exist. (okay, that's not the reason, but it's a fairly relevant point anyway.)
The truth is I don't know my axon from a hole in the ground.
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