Tue., 12/17 Steve Blais

[magus]

THEME:   first word of a phrase can follow FLASH
   
GOOD ONES:     
Spontaneous gathering {& theme}   FLASH MOB   
60's-'70's Canadian…    (FLASH) GORDON LIGHTFOOT   
It may be ear piercing   STUD [I thought Heavy Metal, etc.]   
   
BTW:   
Bottom, to a baby   TUSHIE [a Yiddish baby, perhaps.  My friend's grandmother said something like /tuckis/; his mother said TUSH.]   
   
RATING:    
Three grins = Loved it; Two grins = Enjoyed it; One grin = A bit bland for my taste; One teardrop = Not much fun   

[magus]

Thanks, Jack, for the citation.

English is indeed an agglomeration of languages, and I believe that is enriching.  What I object to in crosswords is the use of non-English words that are not used by speakers of the language (in this I am in the minority).  Tushie is not an English term and not used by the Goyim.  Similarly, comare /kumad/ is used only by those of Italian descent, and, therefore, is not grist for the crossword mill.  There is, of course, a gray area as word usage evolves.  Nosh may be used by more than Jews, at least in L.A. and N.Y. where The Bagel Nosh was an eatery franchise.