Saturday, July 16. 2022, Malaika Handa

Posted by admin on Jul 16, 2022

Saturday Themeless by Malaika Handa

The string of new Saturday constructors marches on with this puzzle from Malaika Handa of Brooklyn, NY. Below is a link to a playful but instructive interview with Malaika that includes this wonderful quote from her:

Also, when you’re solving, look up entries that you don’t know! It’s a game, not a test.

That's tough advice for us completion freaks but I think it is pretty sound advice. I always say of myself, "I'm smart enough to know how little I know." Exhibit A: I got the correct fill for "Kells artisan" but had no idea what it meant and my research on this fabulous volume led to an incredible amount of learning.

Interview with Malaika Handa

Did you have to get some help to complete Malaika's offering?

Across:

1. Devices that may shed some light on a situation: DESK LAMPS.

10. "4X2=8" rapper from Korea: PSY. I knew of this name from his massive hit "Gangman Style" - I've posted the opening lyrics on the right.

13. Got credit, in a way?: OPENED A TAB.

15. Consumed: ATE.

16. Simple cocktail: GIN AND TONIC - Not as simple as you might think

18. Agcy. whose logo is an eagle holding a scale: IRS - A return address that can get your attention

19. Freelancer's info: SPECS - As a freelancer, you work on speculation

20. Event that might be called "morp": GAY PROM - A "morp" is a prom students organize without school approval. The small school where I sub welcomes gay prom dates!

22. Two dry gallons: PECK.

23. "__ Mañanitas": Mexican birthday song: LAS - From our friend Lucina: "Literally it means the mornings and is usually sung at dawn and I assure you it is hugely popular for birthdays" Here it is with lyrics overlaid in Spanish.

26. Artisan at Kells: SCRIBE - This fabulous book was written and illustrated by three SCRIBES in Kells, Co Meath in Ireland around 800 A.D. The fascinating history of this treasure.

On display in a high security case
at Trinity College in Dublin

27. De Armas of "No Time to Die": ANA - On July 7, we had 42. Wonkette founding editor __ Marie Cox: ANA and Jeffrey Wechsler's July 8 puzzle had 1. Political commentator Navarro: ANA.

28. Semisolid dessert: JELLO.

30. Flax fabric: LINEN.

31. Fast tracks?: PUMP UP SONGS - Our high school Tigers' band used Eye Of The Tiger

33. Element of 1990s fashion: HAMMER PANTS - M.C. Hammer

34. Sticks in windows: BARBER POLES.

35. Stand in a painting class: EASEL.

36. Tries out: TESTS.

37. Handheld or holding hands, for short: PDA - You can see a Public Display of Affection in every school hallway

40. Performs brilliantly: SHINES.

42. __ Moines: DES.

43. Did some digging: HOED.

44. Many a Mugler garment: CATSUIT - "Frenchman Manfred Thierry Mugler launched his eponymous fashion house; and quickly rose to prominence in the following decades for his avant-garde, architectural, hyperfeminine and theatrical approach to haute couture." You're welcome.

46. In the stars: FATED.

47. Reddit Q&A: AMA - Ask Me Anything

48. Celebration where many are out on the streets?: PRIDE PARADE - Fun cluing for people who are "out" in another connotation

52. Bestie: PAL.

53. Cry of horrible realization?: I'M A MONSTER.

54. Class for some immigrants: Abbr.: ESL.

55. Cool footwear: SNOWSHOES.

Down:

1. Place for some nail trims: DOG SPA.

2. Camp nurse's item: EPIPEN - I tried IPECAC for awhile

3. Great Hill People: SENECA.

4. Flair: KNACK.

5. __ flare: LENS - The first images back from NASA's James Webb telescope this week has them emanating from 13+ billion years ago.

6. Tally: ADD.

7. Pilates roll: MAT - I assume they roll them up after use

8. Employee's perk: Abbr.: PTO - Paid Time Off. I retired with 110 unused sick leave and personal leave days

9. Provided backup, in a way: SANG - CHERilyne Sarkasian on the right without Sonny Bono, in a rare photo with Phil Spector, SANG backup for The Ronettes

10. Twosomes: PAIRINGS - Salvatore Sonny Bono and Cherilyne Sarkasian

11. Flashers in a club: STROBES.

12. Sycophants: YES MEN.

14. __-variance tradeoff: BIAS - Knock yourself out!

17. Brooklyn MiLB team: CYCLONES - Named for the famous CYCLONE roller coaster on nearby Coney Island in Malaika's home borough of Brooklyn.

21. Stripes, florals, etc.: PRINTS.

23. "I got this!": LEMME.

24. Herb honored with a National Medal of Arts in 2013: ALPERT - and the Tijuana Brass supplied music for The Dating Game. Here are two early contests on that show.

25. Sucked hard: SLURPED.

28. Cancel one's order?: JUMBLE UP.

29. Go against: OPPOSE.

31. Paired symbols, for short: PARENS

32. Seasons, as pasta water: SALTS.

33. Wants for nothing: HAS IT ALL.

34. Nation in the Lucayan Archipelago: BAHAMAS.

35. __ room: ESCAPE - Click here and scroll down one screen to see how they work

Here's one in Omaha

37. Latke ingredient: POTATO - I've never had one but I'd love to try one.

38. "Dexter's Laboratory" older sister: DEE DEE - Seemed right. A DEE DEE POTATO

39. One of three snake species native to Britain: ADDERS - Had to be

41. Assistant who can control HomeKit accessories: SIRI.

43. Cruel: HARSH.

45. Sturdy tan work boots, slangily: TIMS - Short for TIMberlandS

46. Album buyers, presumably: FANS.

49. Auerbach of the Black Keys: DAN - Saturday cluing of a common name. Were you expecting Blocker of Bonanza, Rowan of Laugh-In or Aykroyd of SNL? 😉