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This was one of those easy/hard puzzles. I raced though the first three-quarters, in less than ten minutes, than came to an abrupt halt on the southwest. Worked it out in the end for my old familiar r1ow, in 22m 17s.
Today's Crosaire Aria
10A: FORENSIC
After watching the Who perform at half-time in the Super Bowl this weekend, I've been hoping for an opportunity to add some of the band's classic music to the collection of Arias. Because hits by the Who are used as themes for all the CSI shows on television, FORENSIC gives me that opportunity. In this video clip, of Peter Townhend's 1977 release, Who Are you?, you get a good look at Keith Moon goofing around (he is the one in the red shirt, and on the drums). Famously, the following year, Keith Moon died of a drug overdose, right after having dinner with Paul and Linda McCartney. Sad. Anyway, crank up the volume, and show this one to the teenage kids. They'll love it ...
The Clue of the Day
It just happens some days ... no clue really sticks out ...
The Lookup of the Day25D: NYMPHS
Many insects, as they go through their life cycle, have a distinct juvenile form known as a larva. The classic example is perhaps the butterfly, which in the larval stage is the very different looking caterpillar. Other insects also go through juvenile stages, but the intermediate juveniles look just like miniature replicas of the mature adult. These juvenile forms are called NYMPHS. A NYMPH turns into a more mature form by moulting, shrugging off the outer skin. Examples of insects that go through successive moults before reaching adulthood are locusts and grasshoppers.
Here are my answers. As always, I welcome comments and explanations. Thanks!
Across
1: AFR(IC)A
A far (AFR-A) about I see (IC) = AFRICA: place here
Perhaps M. Crosaire is referring to "here" as Zimbabawe, Africa?
4: SAT-I-RISE
By the weekend (SAT) I am up (I RISE) = SATIRISE: to make fun of it.
9: T-RUMPS
With bottoms (-RUMPS) at "last" in the answer, TRUMPS: tops.
10: FOR-ENSIC
That's for a start (FOR) since (ENSIC) that makes it = FORENSIC: legal.
12: SHEET ... anagram of "these".
13: RE-SISTERS
They're about (RE) in family (SISTERS) = RESISTERS: but won't give in.
15: AIR
16: NAT-A-L
To get the sunburn, 'tan', back (NAT) half a century (A L) = NATAL: from birth.
17: EV(OK)E'S
Eve is (EV-E'S) about all right (OK) = EVOKES: so one calls her up.
22: M(YRT)LE
Into the elm (EL-M) attempt (TRY) = ELTRYM, back here = MYRTLE: the shrub.
24: O-ZONE
O (O) this region (ZONE) might make = OZONE: a layer.
27: AWN ... anagram of "wan".
An AWN is a slender, bristle-like appendage found on the spikelets of many grasses, it say here ...
28: YOUNG BIRD
There's little of this in AIR.
31: ENTER
A carp (CARP) might come in (ENTER) = CARPENTER: woodwork (sounds like "would work") with this.
32: PLUM-METS
The fruit (PLUM) with the stalk, 'stem', up at the end (METS) = PLUMMETS: comes down.
33: GAMBLE
Play about (GAMBOL) by the sound of it = GAMBLE: to play ROULETTE.
To GAMBOL is to leap about, to frolic, as we learned last November in a Lookup of the Day ...
34: SATANISM
35: S(EVEN)S
Not odd (-EVEN-) in the "middle" of the answer, SEVENS: each of them is odd.
Down
1: ART-IS-ANS
Craft's (ART IS) the short answer to (ANS) = ARTISANS: such skilled men.
2: ROULETTE
Could the kangaroo allow it (ROO LET) to sound = ROULETTE: what's actually a gamble.
3: CAP-IT-ALLY
Put the top (CAP) on it (IT) friend (ALLY) = CAPITALLY: very well.
5: ATOMS ... anagram of "most a".
6: IDEAS ... anagram of "a side".
7: IS-SUED
One may get taken to court (IS SUED) = ISSUED: not that it's been published.
8: EXCISE
11: AR(RE)ST
With rats (AR-ST) around about (RE) = ARREST: what the police may do.
14: INK
All write, "all right" by the sound of it (INK) over the ling (LING) would be = INKLING: just a hint.
18: O-READS
O (O) one sees in books (READS) = OREADS: they're just nymphs.
OREADS are groups of mountain nymphs, in classical myths, I just learned ...
19: EX-ONE-RATE
What's formerly (EX) a single (ONE) speed (RATE) = EXONERATE: you can't blame.
20: PORT-ABLE
Wine (PORT) if one is able (ABLE) = PORTABLE: one may carry the can.
21: TEAR-LESS
23: ROB
25: NYMPHS
As we saw above, ONEADS are groups of NYMPHS, and NYMPHS are also the larval form of certain insects, which was news to me ...
26: TUM-ULT
Had stomach (TUM) last month (ULT) = TUMULT: trouble.
29: GA(M)IN
A profit (GA-IN) about a thousand (M) will make = GAMIN: the ragamuffin.
GAMIN is the French word for a street urchin, a ragamuffin ...
30: IO-TAS
Ten (IO) with the start of SAT-IRISE, back (TAS) = IOTAS: are all so little.
Reveal-An-Answer
Need just one answer to get things moving? Here is my solution to today's puzzle, in a hidden format. To reveal any particular answer, highlight the whole line containing the relevant clue number.
Across
1: AFR(IC)A
4: SAT-I-RISE
9: T-RUMPS
10: FOR-ENSIC
12: SHEET
13: RE-SISTERS
15: AIR
16: NAT-A-L
17: EV(OK)E'S
22: M(YRT)LE
24: O-ZONE
27: AWN
28: YOUNG BIRD
31: ENTER
32: PLUM-METS
33: GAMBLE
34: SATANISM
35: S(EVEN)S
Down
1: ART-IS-ANS
2: ROULETTE
3: CAP-IT-ALLY
5: ATOMS
6: IDEAS
7: IS-SUED
8: EXCISE
11: AR(RE)ST
14: INK
18: O-READS
19: EX-ONE-RATE
20: PORT-ABLE
21: TEAR-LESS
23: ROB
25: NYMPHS
26: TUM-ULT
29: GA(M)IN
30: IO-TAS
