December 7, 2025

Title: LOADED DICE

Constructor: Stella Zawistowski

Editor: Amie Walker

Theme synopsis:

• DON'T THINK TWICE (20A: "Just go for it!")
• DIAMOND NECKLACE (38A: The Herat of the Ocean in "Titanic" is one)
• DICK VAN DYKE (54A: Julie Andrews' co-star in "Mary Poppins")

LOADED DICE: Each theme answer is contained within the word DICE: DON'T THINK TWICE, DIAMOND NECKLACE, and DICK VAN DYKE.

What I learned from today's puzzle:

• UNTITLED (6D: ___ Goose Game (game whose title was inspired by a stock photograph)) UNTITLED Goose Game is a 2019 indie video game in which players control a goose who bothers the inhabitants of an English village by honking, flapping its wings, and grabbing objects with its beak. The game was developed by House House, an indie game company based in Australia. The idea of creating a game with a goose protagonist came from a stock photo of a goose that an employee posted in the company's internal communications. 

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• SALAD (37A: Larb or lyutika) Larb is a meat SALAD most often made with chicken, beef, duck, fish, or pork, and flavored with fish sauce, lime juice, and fresh herbs. Larb is considered the unofficial national dish of Laos. Lyutika is a vegetable SALAD that originated in Bulgaria. Roasted peppers, tomatoes, garlic, and onions along with vegetable oil are crushed using a mortar and pestle. The SALAD is served cold.
• DIAMOND NECKLACE (38A: The Heart of the Ocean in "Titanic" is one) The 1997 movie Titanic incorporates historical aspects of the sinking of the Titanic, as well as adding fictionalized aspects to the story. The Heart of the Ocean is a fictional DIAMOND NECKLACE that is a part of the movie's plot. 
• TROY (43A: City in "The Iliad") Attributed to Homer, the Iliad is an ancient Greek epic poem set during the 10-year siege of TROY known as the Trojan War. It depicts a fierce quarrel between a warrior named Achilles and King Agamemnon.
• MOP (44A: What a Puli dog resembles) The Puli, or Hungarian Water Dog, is known for its long corded coat - tight curls which resemble dreadlocks. A Puli does indeed resemble a MOP! Most of the dogs are black, though some are white, gray, or cream-colored. They are active dogs with a history of being used as sheepdogs.
• SAM (46A: "Jojo Rabbit" actor Rockwell) Jojo Rabbit is a 2019 movie adapted from a 2008 book by Christine Leunens, Caging Skies. Set in a fictional German town during the collapse of Nazi Germany, the movie centers around a Hitler youth, ten-year old Jojo Betzler (Roman Griffin Davis), and Jojo's imaginary friend, a comedic version of Adolf Hitler (Taia Waititi). SAM Rockwell portrays Captain Klenzendorf, a German Army officer.
• DICK VAN DYKE (54A: Julie Andrews' co-star in "Mary Poppins") In the 1964 musical movie Mary Poppins, Julie Andrews portrays the title character and DICK VAN DYKE portrays Bert, a jack-of-all-trades (and Mary's friend) who during the movie is a one-man band, a sidewalk chalk artist, a chimney sweep, and a kite seller. DICK VAN DYKE also plays the role of Mr. Dawes Sr., the director of the bank. In the 2018 sequel to the movie, Mary Poppins Returns, DICK VAN DYKE portrays Mr. Dawes Jr. It's fun and timely to see DICK VAN DYKE in the puzzle today. His birthday is next week – December 13 – and he will be 100 years old. 
• ERIE (63A: Southernmost Great Lake) Our crossword-friend Lake ERIE is the southernmost of the Great Lakes. The southernmost point of Lake ERIE is located near Huron, Ohio. ERIE is making its first appearance of the month today.
• CANOE (2D: Camp craft?) The question mark in this clue alerts solvers to expect some trickiness. The "camp craft" here is not a beaded necklace, a leaf rubbing, or some other craft you might make at camp. Instead, "craft" here is referring to a type of boat. Therefore, the "camp craft" is a CANOE.
• ALONE (3D: Heart song with the lyric "'Til now, I always got by on my own") The song "ALONE" was originally recorded by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, who recorded it under the name i-Ten in 1983. Heart covered the song "ALONE" for their 1987 album, Bad Animals. Heart's version of "ALONE" reached the top of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. I appreciate that the lyrics quoted in the clue provide a hint to the name of the song.
• EDM (33D: Genre that includes techno, for short) EDM, or electronic dance music, is a broad label for percussive electronic music that includes the genres dance-pop, house, techno, trance, drum and bass, dubstep, and trap. Techno music is characterized by an emphasis on rhythm, and vocals and melodies are uncommon. 
• SKY (37D: That's what's up!) The exclamation point in this clue alerts solvers to take the clue literally. The SKY is literally what's up! This clue made me smile, and I knew the answer immediately, because for years if someone asks me, "What's up?" I have replied, "Oh, the SKY, some birds, a few planes..."
• EYES (60D: Emoji that may mean "I'm paying attention!") 👀 I use the EYES emoji frequently; I guess I pay a lot of attention! 👀
• A few other clues I especially enjoyed:
• ET TU (33A: "Seriously, YOU betrayed me?")
• LLAMA (30D: Mammal known for spitting)
• COMMA (41D: There's one in 1,000)

LOADED DICE are DICE that have been tampered with so they will land on particular numbers more often. As such, LOADED DICE are not generally a good thing, as they are associated with cheating. Today, however, I was happy to see these LOADED DICE. Thank you, Stella, for this enjoyable puzzle.