Ginger Roots : C.C. Burnikel

Theme: CC - in more ways than one. One more way is that it is actually CH* CH *, but I'm ignoring that.

8A. Affectedly trendy : CHI-CHI

17A. Chinese dog with a blue-black tongue : CHOW CHOW

31A. Tot's toy on a track : CHOO-CHOO

46A. "Make it snappy!" : "CHOP CHOP!"

64A. "Bottoms up!" : "CHIN CHIN!"

69A. Mambo cousin : CHACHA

Argyle here. We've had "OO" and "WWW" and now we have "CC", with the twist that the second word is a Carbon Copy of the first. And our fearless leader, C.C., is today's constructor. The two longest words are necessarily relegated to the Down columns. I want to be here when we get the Double "D" puzzle.

Across:

1. Furry foot : PAW

4. Sign of healing : SCAB

14. Earth Day prefix : ECO

15. Corn Belt state : IOWA

16. Muzzleloading aid : RAMROD. We had this last Tuesday.

19. Pierce with a point : IMPALE

20. Ward on TV : SELA. Her Fan Club.

21. New York's __ Island : ELLIS

23. 26th of 26 : ZEE

24. NBA position : CTR. (center)

26. Doctor whom Captain Kirk calls "Bones" : McCOY. "I'm a doctor, Jim, not a [moon shuttle conductor / bricklayer / psychiatrist / mechanic / engineer / scientist / physicist / escalator / magician / miracle worker / flesh peddler / veterinarian]."

29. Love, Italian-style : AMORE

34. Doo-wop syllable : SHA na na

35. College football's Famous __ Potato Bowl : IDAHO. With sour cream, at half time.

37. Molecule parts : ATOMS

38. Adds color to : TINTS. Or tincts, last Thursday.

40. Cup edge : RIM

41. Sensitive spots : SORES

42. Texas A&M athlete : AGGIE. The letters "A&M", originally short for "Agricultural and Mechanical", are retained only as a link to the university's past.

43. Port west of Paris : BREST

45. __-Caps: candy : SNO

48. Walks without going anywhere : PACES

50. Red giant in the night sky : S STAR

51. "Sting like a bee" boxer : ALI, Muhammad

52. Chicken __ king : À LA

54. Winner's gesture : V SIGN

57. A dime a dozen, e.g. : RATE. Pretty cheap!

61. One-named Tejano singer : SELENA. Sadly, she was murdered in 1995.

66. Pennsylvania home of Lafayette College : EASTON. Just across the river from NJ.

67. Steaks and burgers : BEEF

68. Off-road ride, briefly : ATV. (all-terrain vehicle)

70. Pell-__: hastily : MELL

71. Dim sum sauce : SOY

Down:

1. Bench-presser's pride : PECs

2. Aleve target : ACHE

3. What daydreamers gather, metaphorically : WOOL. This is a good explanation.

4. [Not a typo] : [SIC]

5. Made logical sense : COHERED

6. Troop truant : AWOL

7. Cry like a baby : BAWL

8. Big name in cooking oil : CRISCO

9. It's often smoked : HAM

10. Little troublemaker : IMP

11. Victor at Little Bighorn : CRAZY HORSE

12. Swiss cheese feature : HOLE

13. Nantes notion : IDÉE. Here's an idea; take a canal boat from Nantes to Brest.

18. City SSW of Dallas : WACO

22. Announcement while coming through the door : "I'M HOME"

25. Divide in threes : TRI-SECT

27. By the seashore : COASTAL

28. Septi- plus one : OCTO

29. End on __ note : A HIGH

30. Fruit-based chip dip : MANGO SALSA (C.C. This is Argyle's clue. Remember Geico Caveman's Roast duck with Mango Salsa?)

31. Tweet : CHIRP

32. Broken mirrors, to some : OMENS

33. __ buco: veal dish : OSSO

34. Opp. of legato, in music : STAC. (staccato)

36. Shady spots : ARBORs

39. Helpful hints : TIPS

44. Brittany or cocker : SPANIEL

47. Largest city of the West Indies : HAVANA

49. Cosmo concern: Abbr. : CIRC. The magazine worried about circulation.

52. "Hang on __!" : A SEC

53. Rachel's sister : LEAH

55. SALT subject : ICBM. Missiles/Strategic Arms Limitation Talks

56. Indian butter : GHEE

58. "Got it!" cries : AHAs

59. Longtime Yugoslav president : TITO. No, not one of the Jackson Five.

60. Green emotion? : ENVY

62. And so on: Abbr. : ETC

63. Japanese drama : NOH

65. Org. with Giants and Titans : NFL. Their season is almost over.

That's it, so "CHIN CHIN" everybody and let's CHA CHA outta here and hope we get back to the Corner soon.

Argyle

Notes from C.C.:

1) I'm sad to say that Jazzbumpa (Ron) lost his mother-in-law Rita on Sunday morning. Ron and his wife Gloria traveled to Toledo often in the past few years to take care of Rita, who is now in a peaceful place and pain-free.

2) Happy 5-year anniversary to our Crossword Corner blog! I'm sorry things have been out of whack lately. Thank you so much for sticking with us.