I SAID MINI SPLIT~!
I thought you said SKIRT
We last saw a puzzle from Mr Ullman here at the LA Times in May 2024. Today, Aaron gives us four phrases that have MINI, "split" across the fill, three of which are unique. Yes, we do have circles, but a mere 9 3LWs, thirty 4LWs, some lengthy Down crossings, and just a handful of names. The themers and the reveal;
17. Traditional social group: FAMILY UNIT
23. Historic hockey game at Lake Placid: MIRACLE ON ICE - the only non-unique themer
36. Dress blues, e.g.: MILITARY UNIFORM
48. Setting for amateur hour: OPEN MIC NIGHT
58. Zoned climate control options, and what this puzzle's circled letters form: MINI-SPLITS - pictured; I have just two window units in my home, and that was all I needed this summer, really - I plan on ultimately installing central air-conditioning, simply because there's a huge attic, enough to install the handler/ evaporator of a "macro" split A/C system and its dispersal lines
And Away We Go~!
ACROSS:
1. Tropical flora: PALMS - I do the Downs first; filled in "GASP" for 1D., so this was "Galms" - Bzzzt~!
6. Site with handcrafted inventory: ETSY
14. Word after solar or lens: FLARE - Solar Flare, Lens Flare
15. Copy, informally: DUPE - short for DUPlicate
16. Vague reply to an ETA request: SOON - "Are we there yet~?"
19. "__ it ironic?": ISN'T - NOT ironic parts of this Alanis Morrisette song make it "ironic"
20. About 5 mL: TSP - TeaSPoon; there are three TSPs in a TaBleSPoon
21. Prima __: at first sight: FACIE - I learned this legalese term from the TV show Law & Order
22. 1:1, for one: RATIO - 1-2-1-4-1 - clever clue, get it~?
25. "Love is __, love is kind ... ": PATIENT - my first thought was song lyrics; turns out to be a Bible quote, I Corinthians 13:4-8, tho I did find this
28. CEO's aide: ASSistanT
29. Couple: ITEM - Typically used in "rags" and tabloids - also known as the "Hot Sheets"
30. What Diaper Genie filters trap: ODORS - I, sadly, have not had the pleasure/pain of rearing a child from birth, so while I knew the answer, I have not acutally gotten a whiff of what a Diaper Genie "does"
33. Long of "The Best Man Holiday": NIA - name #1 - her IMDb
40. Took a lunch break: ATE - very specific today
41. Genesis: ONSET
42. Overlying: ATOP - I agreed with some comments this past Saturday that "ATOP" is hardly synonymous with "ONTO", and was not thrilled with the clue/answer at all....
"
43. Deer dad: HART - I also agreed with Rusty last Friday about "STAGS" vis-à-vis "BAMBI"
45. Decreases: LESSENS
52. Drop out unexpectedly: FLAKE - Yeah, but Meh.
53. Starr on the skins: RINGO - Ringo Starr, drummer for the Beatles; his son Zak plays, too. Name #2
54. Distracted driving awareness TV spot, e.g.: PSA - Public Service Announcement
57. Plunge: FALL
60. Towel finisher: ETTE - as in 'moist' towelette
61. Dark skies, perhaps: OMEN
62. Alternative to a fidget spinner: POP-IT - A "reusable" bubble-wrap-mimicking toy
63. Encouraging cries: "RAHS~!!!"
64. Maritime hazard: BERG - The speculation about the world's most famous iceberg
65. Calendario starter: ENERO - Espaniol lesson #1; calendar / January
DOWN:
1. Incredulous sound: "PFFT~!" - "yeah, OK, as if~!"
2. "Pity, really": ALAS . . . .
3. Prop in "Aladdin": LAMP - uh, well, yeah, I suppose it would be called a "prop"
4. 3D diagnostic tool: MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging
5. Pic taken at arm's length: SELFIE
6. Those responsible for class actions?: EDUCATORS - first of two nine-letter Down fills
7. Viking garment: TUNIC - I wore a tunic for my "Medieval" wedding
Me and my brother, defending the castle from the dreaded serpent
8. Sales pitch: SPIEL - I thought this was Yiddish/Hebrew, but according to the Web, it's from Old German "spielen"
9. To this point: YET
10. "Crazy Rich __": Jon M. Chu rom-com: ASIANS - name(ish) - the IMDb
11. Tacky method of communication?: POST-IT NOTE - Loved this; first of two 10-letter Down fills
12. Video game character who attacks by rolling into a ball: SONIC - ah, yes, now I remember
13. How many ballerinas perform: ON TOE - I am a bit meh about this, only because one of the themers is "ON" as well
18. Michaels purchase, perhaps: YARN - art store; paint, canvas, paper - I did not think of knitting
22. "Scandal" actress Portia de __: ROSSI - I knew her, but still a name #3 - her Wiki
23. "Bosch" actress Rogers: MIMI - it's too bad this fill showed up in the puzzle, as well, leading from a theme "M" no less; it detracts from the purity of the construction, IMO - and name #4 - Bosch is one of my favorite book series; the Amazon adaptation, not so much, but still good
24. Take home, as pay: EARN
25. Soft, strong cotton: PIMA - filled via perps; not familiar with this
26. Still going: AT IT - watch how you parse this one . . . .
27. Option for long-distance medical consultations: TELE-HEALTH - 10-letter Down fill No.2
31. Easter purchase for 46-Down: DYE - AND - 46. Easter basket items: EGGS
32. Summarizing: OUTLINING - nine-letter downfill No.2
34. Element that makes blood red: IRON
35. Fires (up): AMPS
37. "The Christmas Song" composer Mel: TORME - name #5, but a familiar one
38. Body prefix: ANTI - Ah. I was looking for "endo-", not an actual prefix for 'body'
39. Like Formula One cars: FAST
44. Places for spats: ANKLES
47. "Ye Olde" boutique: SHOPPE - I did happen to like last Saturday's "sign language" clue for this
48. Many a promotional email: OFFER
49. Silver, in Spanish: PLATA - Espaniol #2; somehow, I had ARGIO....NOT - argyro is Greek for silver
50. Focus of forensics shows: CRIME
51. Brock Purdy, for one: NINER - QB for the NFL's San Fransisco Forty-Niners; just signed a 5yr, $265mil contract - name #6
54. Half-__: skate park element: PIPE - I would not dare to work with this type of PIPE
55. Use a spoon to homogenize: STIR - that's eight syllables for a four-letter fill....
56. Concerning: AS TO
58. Group of meerkats: MOB - animal groups; we had "parliament" for owls last Thursday
59. Chaney of old films: LON - name #7, but a crossword staple
Splynter
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