Tom Martin

Did they swap this week’s Friday and Saturday puzzles? - Tom

Knot too hard. - Tom

I know this poem from, of all things, the 1977 film Telefon starring Charles Bronson and Donald Pleasence. The premise is that a bunch of hypnotized sleeper cell agents have been planted in the US to live normal lives until someone calls them up and recites to them this poem. Upon hearing it, they snap out of it and do the dirty deed they were programmed to do. They don’t make ‘em like that anymore! - Tom

I think there is a second valid solution to this puzzle. 65 down could be ABM, as in anti-ballistic missile. The balance in this case would be balance of powers. 69 across would then be KNOB, which could be a bump on a log. It took me a while to realize it could also be ATM/KNOT, the expected solution. - Tom

So wished the famous British rock group would be Wang Chung, but it didn’t fit, and they’re not really that famous. Close, but… - Tom