Zaphod

Waterloo, Amana and Hawkeye - love it as a former Iowan. As we say on St Patty’s - “Kiss me, I’m Iowish!”

Lifelong tuxie adopter so I loved that one - especially crossing him with SANDBOX :0) Got my Cubs and Hawkeyes involved today as well

Mini block of SHAM, LAME and WADUP could have been an appropriate theme. Ugh

So wanted “Assistance for Short Drivers “ to have something to do with the front tee boxes Very tight puzzle - well done

Nerts to all you non-dice playing constructors but for the umpteeth time (39a) rolls of 2,3 and 12 are not losing/bad/bummer outcomes. Like all rolls they can win or lose. 30+ years as a box man and I can assure you players win far more money when these numbers are rolled

Very clever Gotta quit cluing craps as “losing” bets tho - 30 years dealing dice and I’ve seen plenty of money won when 2,3 and 12 rolls. Any of the eleven numbers can be winners or losers.

Annual rant time - NYTXW can’t go a week without mentioning a certain South American country my ex is from - double time today - Lima Peru and Senora today - couldn’t fit in alpaca or Inca?

Not a great puzzle but it made me think of Gary Gulmans skit on how the states got their abbreviations so bonus points for that.