I like Barry C. Silk puzzles and his Friday, July 11 themeless crossword (answers) is no exception. Here are some of the highlights.
Laplace is one of my favorite historical mathematicians so it's nice to see him in a puzzle. If you study physics you spend a lot of time pondering the partial differential equation named for him.
RIN is a common crossword answer. It's usually clued as "___ Tin Tin" or sometimes as "one-thousandth of a yen" but this clue is more nefarious. Richard Lugar is R-IN, Republican from Indiana. TEAPOTS are left holding the bag. I love Don QUIXOTE described as an "extravagant romantic." I've read the books and I think of him as a very sympathetic character, not the bumbler he's sometimes portrayed as.
The old sitcom surname is MERTZ. Fred Mertz was the landlord on I Love Lucy. Speaking of TV, I had never heard of Gifford's replacement Kelly RIPA. If you never watch television, check out this link. You have no idea what you're missing. It's, uh, amazing.
The "great trek" had nothing to do with the prime directive. BOERs left the Cape of Good Hope in the early 19th century for the more northern parts of South Africa. "Sweet Dreams" profiled Patsy CLINE. In her honor, K. D. Lang's named her band The Reclines. And speaking of initials, there were lots today: R. CRUMB, W. C. FIELDS, and the L. B. J. Ranch.
[quibble removed — see comments]
Before sex became an urban phenomenon, Sarah Jessica Parker starred in that Tony winner between A Chorus Line and Ain't Misbehavin'. Here she is:
