Maltese canine refers each to an historic number of dwarf canine usually related to the island of Malta and to a contemporary breed of canine within the toy group. […] The fashionable selection historically has a silky, pure-white coat, hanging ears and a tail that curves over its again, and weighs as much as 3–4 kg (7–9 lb). The Maltese doesn’t shed. /// A Maltese (Italian: [malˈteːze]) is any cat whose fur is both utterly, or primarily, grey or blue and is of indeterminate breed. (wikipedia)

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As for the theme, I do not know … I like that the themers are all 15s; provides a satisfying visible consistency to the set. But I can not say that any of the solutions on their very own is that thrilling, and the 2 “PAR”s idea simply would not have a lot inherent curiosity. You gotta go to mini-golf for the idea, which is okay, however … I’m simply not feeling a lot thematic PEP right here right now. As for the grid as an entire, I actually prefer it. Played like a (very) simple Monday themeless. A whopping eight (!) 9-letter solutions along with the three 15s from the theme. That’s eleven lengthy solutions complete, all of that are someway crammed into an everyday 15×15 grid that truly performs like a Monday. Not certain when I’ve seen so many lengthy solutions in an early-week grid. The reply rely is barely low for a Monday (74, as a substitute of the usu. 78 or 76), however not that low. I really feel like there’s some form of bizarre clown-car magic happening right here. I simply do not see how he received all these lengthy solutions in there, and nonetheless managed to maintain the grid butter-smooth. It’s actually fairly a developing feat, and one which’s so low-key that I doubt many individuals will discover or respect it. So I’m tepid on the theme itself, however form of in awe of the grid as an entire. Think of it like a themeless and I feel you’ve got received a tremendous Monday fixing expertise in your fingers. I’m not that tough to please on Mondays. Gimme some CHEAP WINE and a few BOY GEORGE, possibly a TACO or two, and I’m good.

I simply watched a “Rockford Files” episode the place Jim owned a bit of an up-and-coming boxer, and there have been positively SPARRING PARTNERs in there someplace. The episode additionally featured a automotive dealership (run by Mary Frann, of “Newhart” fame), which should’ve had a PARTS DEPARTMENT. And now that I consider it, Jim runs into some PARALLEL PARKING hassle outdoors the younger boxer’s home when some goons arrive and field in his iconic Pontiac Firebird (lic. CA 853 OKG). He has to ram his approach out of the curbside spot. Very inelegant, however determined instances and so on. Basically I’m saying that I simply watched this crossword puzzle in “Rockford” kind, not half-hour in the past, so I in all probability had a bonus over most of you. Probably accounts for why I barely broke stride from starting to finish. PREENS earlier than PRIMPS (1A: Fusses in entrance of the mirror), however after that, completely no hesitation on any clue till I went with EASY AS PIE after which EASY AS ABC earlier than lastly realizing it was EASY-PEASY at 34D: “So easy!” Then I weirdly wrote in PEONY earlier than POPPY at 50D: Red flower of wartime remembrance, after which refused to tug the set off on the inane INANER and simply let the crosses do the work, which slowed me down barely. Otherwise, once more, about as simple a puzzle as I’ve ever completed. Even the lengthy stuff got here simple. And but it was colourful sufficient to be fascinating, regardless of the easiness. 

“A Fast Count” (“The Rockford Files” Season 5, ep. 11) (a centesimal episode general!) Guest starring Mary Frann (Newhart’s spouse on “Newhart”!) and Kennth McMillan, who was in all the pieces within the ’70s and ’80s, often enjoying dads and cops … my fav function of his was the borough chief in The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3 (1974), or possibly Rhoda’s boss on “Rhoda”

Enjoy the beginning of your week. See you again right here tomorrow, I hope.
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld

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