Wednesday, April 24, 2024 Alex Rosen & Brad Wilber

Theme:  I Get A Rise Out Of You [or maybe not.] We have a circled letter theme, where the circles are contiguous, but not aligned - except for the last one.  And 4 of the 5 spell words with something in common.  The last one is the opposite.  Let's start with the 80% unifier.

7 D. Unlike bread on Passover, and like four of the five sets of circled letters in this puzzle:  LEAVENED.   Containing yeast or another substance that will cause the dough to rise - we'll get back to this.  I understand the best place to get a fast food Passover diner is Seder Rapids.

17 A. Hoodwink: FOOL.  Trick somebody, out of playfulness, malice or greed.

and

20 A. Fad toy with unruly hair: TROLL.  A troll doll is a type of plastic doll with furry up-combed hair depicting a troll, also known as a Dam doll after their creator Danish woodcutter Thomas Dam. The inspiration came from trolls in old Scandinavian folklore. The toys are also known as good luck trolls.

Reading left to right across the two lines, the red letters [circled in the grid] spell ROLL.  A bread roll is a small, usually round or oblong individual loaf of bread served as a meal accompaniment. 

19 A. Analogous: AKIN.  Of a similar nature or character.

and

23 A. Impertinence: CHEEK.  lack of respect; rudeness.

Reading these in a manner akin to that used with 17 and 20A, we get CAKE.  Cake is a flour confection made from flour, sugar, and other ingredients and is usually baked.  The most common ingredients include flour, sugar, eggs, fat (such as butter, oil, or margarine), a liquid, and a leavening agent, such as baking soda or baking powder. 

49 A. Lack of waste: ECONOMY.   A careful management of available resources.

and

56 A. Amplify, as on social media: SHARE.  To repost on a social media platform.  Often this is done to broaden the audience.  Sometimes I'll do it to ridicule the original post.
The red letters here give us a tasty SCONE.   A scone is a traditional British baked good, popular in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is usually made of either wheat flour or oatmeal, with baking powder as a leavening agent, and baked on sheet pans.

52 A. Not just irks: ENRAGES.  Incites extreme anger.

and

59 A. Court for King James, briefly: B-BALL.  LeBron and Basketball, no doubt.  Clever clue.

This combination gives us a BAGEL.  A bagel is a bread roll originating in the Jewish communities of Poland. Bagels are traditionally made from yeasted wheat dough that is shaped by hand into a torus or ring, briefly boiled in water, and then baked. The result is a dense, chewy, doughy interior with a browned and sometimes crisp exterior.

Now, last, but not yeast --  61. Passover cracker: MATZO.  Matzah, matzo, or maẓẓah is an unleavened flatbread that is part of Jewish cuisine and forms an integral element of the Passover festival, during which chametz [leavening] is forbidden.  So this is a bread that does not rise.

Some features of this very elegant grid --

Perfect bilateral symmetry;

Perfectly symmetric placement of the leavened theme entries;

Central location of the vertical unifier;

Central across placement of the 5th, unleavened theme entry.

And the most clever of all - each of the leavened entries, located in two adjacent across lines, rise in the middle, as good leavened fill should.   And the MATZO, of course, does not.  WOW!

By the way, Passover this year started at Sundown on Monday.  Chag Pesach kasher vesame’ach.

Hi, Gang - an awestruck JzB here to illuminate this highly elevated puzzle.    Let's see what else comes up.

Across:

1. Doughy: SOFT.  Well, this was an extremely doughy puzzle, but I thought it was kind of hard, or maybe bagelish.

5. Ramsey of "The Last of Us": BELLA.   Isabella May Ramsey [b 2003] is a non-binary English actor. They are known for their break-out role as young noblewoman Lyanna Mormont in the HBO fantasy television series Game of Thrones and Ellie in the HBO drama series The Last of Us. They received nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for the latter. 

10. Actor Epps: OMAR.  Omar Hashim Epps [b 1973] is an American actor, rapper, and producer. He has been awarded nine NAACP Image Awards, two Teen Choice Awards, one MTV Movie Award, one Black Reel Award, and one Screen Actors Guild Award. Epps's film roles include Juice, Higher Learning, The Wood, In Too Deep, and Love & Basketball.

14. On a bye week: IDLE.  Said of an NFL team with no game scheduled on a given week.

15. Squad suiting up for opening day, presumably: A-TEAM.  The best players on a particular team.

16. Bahama __: MAMA.  A tropical drink made from mixed fruit juices and rum.

18. Shampoo target: SCALP.   Soft tissue layers that cover the cranium. It is an anatomic region bordered anteriorly by the human face, and laterally and posteriorly by the neck. It extends from the superior nuchal lines and occipital turbulences to the supraorbital foramen.

22. Actress Mendes: EVA.

23. Impertinence: CHEEK.  Being sassy

24. Old-Fashioned choice: RYE.  Rye whisky is the characteristic component of the classic Old Fashioned cocktail.  

25. Hill, in Hebrew: TEL.  Literal.

26. Hem and __: HAW.  To stop often and change what one is saying during speech because one is not sure of what to say or because one is trying to avoid saying something.

27. Org. with flag bearers?: NFL.  Officials in the National Football League have flags used to indicate rule infractions.

29. Third No. 1 hit for Bruno Mars: GRENADE.

32. "The Gilded Age" airer: HBO.  Home Box Office, an American pay television network, which is the flagship property of namesake parent-subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery.

35. "Sorry, but ... ": ALAS.   Used to express unhappiness, pity, or concern.

37. Olympic sprinter Szewinska: IRENA.  Irena Szewińska [1946 - 2018] was a Polish sprinter who was one of the world's foremost track athletes for nearly two decades, in multiple events. She is the only athlete in history, male or female, to have held the world record in the 100 m, the 200 m and the 400 m. 

38. "I'm convinced!": SOLD.  I agree with what you're proposing.

39. Gas station station: PUMP.  A two-sided fuel dispensing station, generally customer operated.

40. Family nickname: DADDY.  Affectionate term for one's father.

41. Lip balm additive: ALOE.   The juice extracted from the leaves of the ALOE plant.

42. Dramatic segment of 44-Across: EXPOSE.   A video, report or piece of writing that reveals the truth about a situation or person, especially something involving shocking facts. 

44. David Muir's field: TV NEWS.   Scheduled programming designed to report on significant current events

46. Cassini of fashion: OLEG.   Oleg Cassini [1913 -2006] was a fashion designer born to an aristocratic Russian family with maternal Italian ancestry. He came to the United States as a young man after starting as a designer in Rome, and quickly got work with Paramount Pictures. Cassini established his reputation by designing for films.

48. Dom Pérignon maker, informally: MOET.   Moët & Chandon, also known simply as Moët, is a French fine winery and part of the luxury goods company LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE. Moët et Chandon is one of the world's largest champagne producers and a prominent champagne house.

57. Bolted: RAN.   Suddenly and quickly run away from something.

60. Diving position: PIKE.   The body is bent at the waist with legs straight, lower legs in front of the diver's face. 

63. "Angel eyes" band: ABBA.    a Swedish pop supergroup formed in Stockholm in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. The group's name is an acronym of the first letters of their first names arranged as a palindrome.

64. __ Saint Laurent: YVES.   Yves Saint Laurent SAS, also known as Saint Laurent and YSL, is a French luxury fashion house founded in 1962 by Yves Saint Laurent and his partner, Pierre Bergé. The company specializes in haute couture, ready-to-wear, leather accessories, and footwear. Its cosmetics line, YSL Beauty, is owned by L'Oréal.   Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-Laurent [1936 - 2008] referred to as Yves Saint Laurent or YSL, was a French fashion designer who, in 1962, founded his eponymous fashion label. He is regarded as being among the foremost fashion designers of the twentieth century.

65. Express in words: UTTER.  Speak.

66. Dollop: BLOB.  A small indefinite quantity of a viscous or semi-solid substance.

67. Message status: SENT.  Transmitted from the writer.

68. Many holiday events: MEALS.  Events where people eat food together.

69. Some evergreen shrubs: YEWS.  Any of a genus (Taxus of the family Taxaceae, the yew family) of evergreen gymnospermous trees and shrubs with stiff linear leaves and seeds surrounded by a fleshy red aril

Down:

1. Aerate, as flour: SIFT.  Move a granular material through a sieve.

2. Impetus to clean the fridge: ODOR.  A quality of something that stimulates the olfactory organ, in this case unpleasantly. 

3. Torchiere, for one: FLOOR LAMP.   A lamp with a tall stand of wood or metal.

4. Sesame Street worrywart: TELLY.  Telly Monster is a furry pinkish-purple monster with an orange nose from Sesame Street. He is a recurring character from 1979 to 1990, a major character from 1991 to 2015 and a minor character from 2016 to present.

5. Humanities degs.: BAs.  Bachelor of Arts Degrees.

6. "You get the idea": ET CETERA.  Meaning "and other things," used to indicate not everythign relevant has been mentioned.

8. Film mistakenly announced as Best Picture at the 2016 Oscars: LALA LAND.   Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) and Mia (Emma Stone) are drawn together by their common desire to do what they love. But as success mounts they are faced with decisions that begin to fray the fragile fabric of their love affair, and the dreams they worked so hard to maintain in each other threaten to rip them apart.

9. Psych (up): AMP.  To excite, arouse, or work up a person's emotions.

10. Nebraska city: OMAHA.   Omaha is a city in the U.S. state of Nebraska, on the Missouri River close to the Iowa border. A stop on the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, it's known for its pioneer history, museums and cultural centers. 

11. Pay restitution: MAKE WHOLE.  Financially compensate the victim of a crime or recipient of another legal settlement.

12. Paris pal: AMIE.  Friend in French.

13. Relative standing: RANK.  A position in an ordered hierarchy.

21. Journey segment: LEG.  A portion of a journeym generally between two stopping points.

23. "Weekend Update" comic Michael: CHE.   Michael Che Campbell [b1983]  is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and writer. Che is best known for his work on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live, where he has served as co-anchor on Weekend Update alongside Colin Jost, and the two were co-head writers from 2017 until 2022.

27. Part shaded by a backward cap: NAPE.  The back of one's neck.

28. State of change: FLUX.  The action or process of flowing. 

30. Rodeo cry: RIDE 'EM.   Shout of encouragement to one riding a rodeo animal.

31. Burial city of the Wright brothers: DAYTON.  Dayton is a city in western Ohio. It’s home to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, with a vast collection of aircraft from early 1900s planes to a space shuttle exhibit. Carillon Historical Park contains a Wright Brothers plane, 19th-century buildings and antique trains. 

33. Squander: BLOW.   Waste something, especially money or time, in a reckless and foolish manner.

34. Poems to things: ODES.   A lyric poem in the form of an address to a particular subject, often elevated in style or manner and written in varied or irregular meter.

36. One with a supporting role in the kitchen?: SPOON REST.    A piece of kitchenware that serves as a place to lay spoons and other cooking utensils, to prevent cooking fluids from getting onto countertops, as well as keeping the spoon from touching any contaminants that might be on the counter.   Another clever clue.

38. Eartha Kitt song with the lyric "Been an angel all year": SANTA BABY.

43. Fruit in the liqueur Bargnolino: SLOE.   Prunus spinosa, called blackthorn or sloe, is a species of flowering plant in the rose family Rosaceae. The species is native to Europe, western Asia, and regionally in northwest Africa. It is locally naturalized in New Zealand, Tasmania, and the Pacific Northwest and New England regions of the United States.

45. Cast or oil, sometimes: VERB.   This seems a bit strained to me, for the sake of a pun.  I'm never fond of a part-of-speech reference clue.

47. Use a hula hoop: GYRATE.   Move in a circle or spiral, especially quickly.

48. Tony winner Idina: MENZEL.   Idina Kim Menzel [b. 1971] is an American actress and singer. Particularly recognized for her work in musicals on Broadway, she has been nicknamed the "Queen of Broadway" for her commanding stage presence, powerful mezzo-soprano, and reputation as one of the most influential stage actors of her generation.   Here is a list of her awards

49. Best Play and Best Game, for two: ESPYS.  An ESPY Award is an accolade currently presented by the American broadcast television network ABC except 2020, and previously ESPN, to recognize individual and team athletic achievement and other sports-related performance during the calendar year preceding a given annual ceremony.

50. Leek kin: CHIVE.   Chives, scientific name Allium schoenoprasum, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae that produces edible leaves and flowers. Their close relatives include the common onions, garlic, shallot, leek, scallion, and Chinese onion.

51. Like cognac barrels: OAKEN.   Make from oak wood.

53. Triangular part of a house: GABLE.   The generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of intersecting roof pitches. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system used, which reflects climate, material availability, and aesthetic concerns.

54. Recommended spot to catch a sneeze: ELBOW.   I would think a tissue in one's hand would be more effective.

55. Marble hunks: SLABS.  Large, thick, flat pieces of stone, concrete, or wood, typically rectangular.

58. "__ girl!": ATTA.   An informal expression of encouragement or admiration to a woman or girl.

61. Kate Middleton, to Prince George: MUM.   One's mother.

62. Suturing ctrs.: ORs.   Operating Rooms in hospitals or surgical centers.

So ends this clever and timely puzzle.  And speaking of hospitals, I have my first cataract surgery next Monday.  Rally looking forward [so to speak] to seeing more clearly.

Cool regards!

JzB

Wednesday, April 17th, 2024, Emma Oxford

IN BLOOM

Nirvana - In Bloom

April showers bring....hey, wait, we're too early for the flowers~!  This is my second blog of an Emma Oxford puzzle this year ( see 67A.).  Four 11-letter and one 13-letter spanners for the theme - scrambled, or "wild" - flower names.  No circles, but "in my opinion" ( see 59D. ) it might have helped, as the first two themers are two-word scrambles, but then the second two are just the first four letters.  Your Experience May Be/Might've Been Different - in fact, I'm coining a new term, "YEMBD" - pronounced "yem-beady".  Very few names, plenty of foreign (read) French words, but a longer than usual solve time for me, as I did not get the "ta-DA~!" at the end due to my "LIKE to serve" mistake, which took a while to find.

18. *Be extremely helpful: LIVE TO SERVE - VIOLET - the original Willy Wonka

There's a valid argument for why she should have "won" the Chocolate Factory

29. *Staged a fireworks show: LIT UP THE SKY - TULIP - ah, there's an organ joke in there....

I do not have this record...

36. *Start of an instruction to an automated assistant: SIRI SET A TIMER - IRIS

The 'Monet' version; perhaps you're a Van Gogh type~?

44. *Sensitive area: SORE SUBJECT - ROSE - and the 'start' of the joke ....

Axl "ROSE is" on the piano - and, er, Slash is on piano, too....

58. Colorful elements of a meadow, and what can be found at the starts of the answers to the starred clues?: WILDFLOWERS

And Away We Go~!

ACROSS:

1. Gasteyer of "Mean Girls": ANA

4. Stand-up individual?: COMIC

9. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner: MEALS

14. Place for a pint: PUB - Bzzzt~! Not BAR - AND - 20A. Some pints: ALES

15. Miso soup mushroom: ENOKI - perps, but then again, a crossword staple lately

16. Data processor's need: INPUT

17. Lenovo products: PCs - Lenovo is a Windows-based computer maker

22. Crying harder: TEARIER - meh.

23. Tempo similar to largo: LENTO

25. Prepares, as a sleeping bag: UNROLLS

33. Part of EVOO: OIL - Extra Virgin Olive Oil

34. Used DoorDash, say: ATE IN - had food delivered, that is; I made my own version of General Tso's chicken the other day~!

35. Auction site: eBAY

41. Very: MOST - as in "she is most attractive"

"Très OUI" - Frawnche #1

42. Rene of "Tin Cup": RUSSO

43. Death on the Nile cause, perhaps: ASP - "Very dangerous...you go first"

50. Frightening vision: DAYMARE - as opposed to NIGHTmare - a new word for me; more here

52. Part of TNT: NITRO - Everything you ever wanted to know about trinitrotoluene

53. Do over and over: ITERATE - so to REiterate is to do over and over AND OVER~?

57. "Begone!": SHOO

62. Convent figure: NUN

63. Adult stage in insects: IMAGO

64. Provide an address: ORATE - ooh, clever misdirection

65. Here, in France: ICI - Frawnche #2

66. Airport structure: TOWER

"We have no tower - just a bridge, Sir"

67. "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" host Aisha: TYLER - strangely, this is the second time with this clue/answer for me in an Emma Oxford puzzle blog

68. "Evita" role: CHE


DOWN:

1. Revolt: APPALL - the "ick" revolt, not the political one

2. Atomic cores: NUCLEI - I read somewhere that our constructor Emma has atomic knowledge

3. Playing hooky, perhaps: ABSENT

4. Cartoon still: CEL

5. "Roger that, boss!": "ON IT~!"

6. Make emotional: MOVE - MOKE seemed like a possibility 😜

7. Maker of Ektorp sofas: IKEA - I have learned to default to "IKEA" when it's an oddly-named furniture clue....

8. Fruit type that tends to be in season in winter: CITRUS - I did not know this; read more here from "The CIA"

9. Kathy Bates film based on a Stephen King novel: MISERY - I am not a fan of this genre

10. Month after diciembre: ENERO - the Spanish spelling of January

11. Mo. after Mar.: APRil - the current "mid-spring" month - I have daffodils in my front yard

It would appear that I need to wash my siding

12. Hon: LUV - Thank God it was not the "other" three-letter cringe word

13. Sault __ Marie: STE - Frawnche #3

19. Sty sound: OINK

21. Queen Anne's house: STUART - I have had this type of misdirection before; not the actual house as in structure/style, but the "political" one - see the Wiki highlighted

A "local" example, the James Alldis house in Torrington, CT

24. __-Free: contact lens solution: OPTI

26. Piercing spot: LOBE

27. "Not true!": LIAR - I had "LIES~!" to start

28. Devious: SLY

30. Your, in Tours: TES - Frawnche #4

31. Dash, quaintly: HIE

32. __ nous: ENTRE - fifth and finale Frawnche

35. Characters in some texts: EMOJIS - 😀😎😜

36. Slugger Sammy: SOSA - an easy baseball reference, tho I am not a fan like our blog host C.C. - I did like the link to the two guys trying to hit 100mph fastballs, Chairman~!

37. Guessing game: I SPY

38. Ger. neighbor: AUStria

39. Nashville sch.: TSU - I WAGed this, figured it was something like "Tennessee State University"

40. ID on a Barnes & Noble buy: ISBN - ID is abbr., so too the International Standard Book Number

41. Outraged: MAD

44. Took, as an exam: SAT FOR

45. Baseball analyst Hershiser: OREL - does this mean he offers "Orel" exams~? ba-dum-tiss

46. Transplant: REROOT - I re-potted my houseplant a month ago, and it's still in shock; I don't want to lose it, because it was my mother's plant and I kept it when we sold the LI house after she passed

47. Pertaining to a certain culture: ETHNIC

48. Catcher's stance: CROUCH - ah; much better than "SQUAT", which was my first thought

49. Nickname for the Canadian $2 coin: TOONIE - I filled in LOONEY, as I have seen this before in Crosswords, but obviously had the wrong $ value, and spelling - but 50% correct~!

51. Small fly: MIDGE

54. Out of whack: AWRY

55. Blue-green shade: TEAL

56. Art Deco icon: ERTÉ - I happen to "MOKE" (😁) the Art Deco style - his Wiki

58. Cleverness: WIT

59. Brief "I would say ... ": IMO - In My Opinion

60. Order's partner: LAW - for those who are interested, the LAW & ORDER tab for the TV show theme from Ultimate Guitar; you'll have to create a log-in to see it if you don't already have one

61. Msg. from a pulpit: SERmon


Splynter

Wednesday, April 10, 2024 Trent H. Evans

Theme:  How does your garden grow?  Chaotically, as it turns out.  But in an unremarkable way.  Can we separate the crops from the weeds?  Grab your hoe and lets dig in.  Best to start with the unifier, I think.

59 A. Run-of-the-mill, or what can be found in the answers to the starred clues?: GARDEN VARIETY. Ordinary.  Not special or unusual.  But what is unusual is the use of the word "VARIETY" to indicate a scrambled letter, hidden word theme.  Here, the word is GARDEN.  Don't feel bad it you found this theme to be opaque.  I couldn't suss it, and had to appeal to my fellow corner bloggers for assistance.  I'm bad at anagrams, too.  I guess my brain doesn't work that way

 

20 A. *Splashy arrival: GRAND ENTRANCE.  To appear in or enter into some place in a very dramatic, ostentatious, or conspicuous manner.  But that is not what this is about.  I was wondering what a " GRAND GARDEN" might be.  Sounds plausible, especially in, frex., an English manor.  But, no.  That's also not what this is about.  Our GARDEN is discontinuous.

37 A. *Like a conversation covering many topics: WIDE RANGING.  Extending over a large area; extensive or diversified in scope.  A wide garden would have expansive with and not much depth.  But, instead, the GARDEN is scattered.

44 A. *Friendly signoff: KIND REGARDS.   A common sign-off in emails and other forms of correspondence.  It's used to wish the recipient well without being overly familiar.  By now we should be familiar with the various locations of our GARDEN.

Hi, Gang, JazzBumba here, green thumb at the ready.  Let's head out to the GARDEN and see what we can harvest.

Across

1. Bit of quick inspiration?: GASP.  An indrawn breath, not a clever thought.

5. Saucy dance?: SALSA.  Salsa encompasses a variety of sauces used as condiments for tacos and other Mexican and Mexican-American foods, and as dips for tortilla chips. But that is not what this is about. On the other hand - or perhaps foot - Salsa is a Latin dance, associated with salsa music, which was first popularized in the United States during the 1960s in New York City. Salsa is a mixture of Cuban dances, such as mambo, pachanga, and rumba, as well as American dances such as swing and tap.

10. Personalize a trophy, say: ETCH.  Engrave a name or other information.

14. Gone but not forgotten: AWOL.  Absent Without Official Leave, for a military location.

15. Far from skilled: INEPT.  Incapable.

16. Organ part: PIPE.

17. Webb designer?: NASA.   The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a space telescope designed to conduct infrared astronomy. Its high-resolution and high-sensitivity instruments allow it to view objects too old, distant, or faint for the Hubble Space Telescope.  The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) led Webb's design and development and partnered with two main agencies: the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).   This is not about spiders or computer engineers.

18. Like music with traditional harmony: TONAL.   Relating to music written using conventional keys and harmony.   Salsa, por ejemplo.

19. Big name in big screens: IMAX.   A technique of widescreen cinematography which produces an image approximately ten times larger than that from standard 35 mm film.

23. Meal that features a retelling of the story of Exodus: SEDER.  a Jewish ritual service and ceremonial dinner for the first night or first two nights of Passover.

24. ID-issuing org.: SSA.   Social Service Administration.

25. Org. that says no to some drugs: FDA.   The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.

28. Paint finish: SATIN.  Satin is a paint sheen or finish that falls directly in the middle of the range of interior or exterior paint sheens. Satin paint is glossier than eggshell finish paint, but flatter than semi-gloss paint.

32. Lion of Narnia: ASLAN.   Aslan  is a major character in C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia series. Unlike any other character in the Narnian series, Aslan appears in all seven chronicles. Aslan is depicted as a talking lion and is described as the King of Beasts, the son of the Emperor-Over-the-Sea, and the King above all High Kings in Narnia.

34. Synthetic drug similar to psilocybin: LSD.   Lysergic acid diethylamide, commonly known as LSD, and known colloquially as acid or lucy, is a potent psychedelic drug. Effects typically include intensified thoughts, emotions, and sensory perception. At sufficiently high dosages LSD manifests primarily mental, visual, and auditory hallucinations.

40. Côte d'Ivoire pal: AMIE.  The official language of the republic is French, mes amis, with local indigenous languages also being widely used that include Baoulé, Dioula, Dan, Anyin, and Cebaara Senufo.

42. Triglyceride, for one: LIPID.   A lipid is any of a class of organic compounds that are fatty acids or their derivatives and are insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents. They include many natural oils, waxes, and steroids.   A triglyceride is an ester formed from glycerol and three fatty acid groups. Triglycerides are the main constituents of natural fats and oils,

43. Côte d'Ivoire head: TETE.   The official language of the republic is French, with local indigenous languages also being widely used that include Baoulé, Dioula, Dan, Anyin, and Cebaara Senufo.  Now we're getting a head.

47. "To be," in Spanish: SER.  Ser o no ser, esa es la cuestión.

48. Chosen few: ELITE.   A select group that is superior in terms of ability or qualities to the rest of a group or society.  Or so they would have us believe.

49. Naughty and nice: LISTS.   Santa's record keeping.

51. One of a D.C. 100: SEN.  Senators.

52. Bring out in the open: AIR.  Show something publicly.

55. Existential dread: ANGST.  A feeling of anxiety, apprehension, or insecurity.

64. Social finesse: TACT.  A keen sense of what to do or say in order to maintain good relations with others or avoid offense.

66. Message in a drafts folder: E-MAIL.

67. Air Force Two exec: VEEP.  Air Force Two is the air traffic control designated call sign held by any United States Air Force aircraft carrying the vice president of the United States, but not the president

68. Hoax: SHAM.  Malicious deception.

69. Singer-songwriter Mann: AIMEE.   Aimee Elizabeth Mann is an American singer-songwriter. Over the course of four decades, she has released more than a dozen albums as a solo artist and with other musicians. She is noted for her sardonic and literate lyrics about dark subjects.  Still - she sounds friendly.

70. Salinger heroine: ESME.  From the short story For Esmé With Love And Squalor.

71. Norms on the links: PARS.  The expected numbers of strokes to complete golf holes.

72. Ruminates bitterly: STEWS.  Thinks hard or worries about something, not necessarily bitterly.

73. End to end?: LESS.   I do not understand this at all.  Anybody got a clue? 

Down:

1. Factions in "West Side Story": GANGS.  Sharks and Jets.

2. Already informed: AWARE.  Having knowledge or perception of a situation or fact.

3. "Such a shame": SO SAD.  Alas.

4. Piper Cubs, e.g.: PLANES.   American light aircraft that was built between 1938 and 1947 by Piper Aircraft. The aircraft has a simple, lightweight design which gives it good low-speed handling properties and short-field performance.

5. Place to build: SITE.   An area of ground on which a town, building, or monument is constructed.

6. In a sec, quaintly: ANON.  Soon; shortly.

7. Pre-Easter time: LENT.    The solemn Christian religious observance in the liturgical year commemorating the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert and enduring temptation by Satan, according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, before beginning his public ministry.

8. Dukes it out in practice: SPARS.  Engages in a practice or exhibition bout of boxing

9. Sky supporter of myth: ATLAS.    In Greek mythology, the Titan Atlas was responsible for bearing the weight of the heavens on his shoulders, a burden given to him as punishment by Zeus. Father of many stars and a protagonist in one of Hercules' famous labors, Atlas was also known as a wise man and the founder of astronomy.

10. Big picture: EPIC.  A movie of large scope, rather than an image of large dimension.

11. "Can't believe it's been that long!": TIME FLIES.  When it seems to pass quickly.  Time flies like an arrow.  Fruit flies like a banana.

12. Balancing pro: CPA.  A Certified Public Accountant balances the financial books. 

13. Bad spelling?: HEX.  An evil spell, bringing bad luck and trouble.  Clever clue, spelt correctly.

21. Tie: DRAW.  A game or team event in which the final score is even, so there is no winner or loser. 

22. Bread brushed with ghee: NAAN.  A round flat leavened bread especially of the Indian subcontinent.

26. Poet who was guided through paradise by Beatrice: DANTE.  Dante Alighieri  [c. 1265 – September 14, 1321], most likely baptized Durante di Alighiero degli Alighieri and often referred to as Dante, was a Florentine poet, writer, and philosopher. The referenced poem is Dante's Divine Comedy.

27. Fury: ANGER.  At an extreme degree.

29. Backsplash piece: TILE.  A backsplash is, essentially, an extension of your countertop. It can extend as low as a few inches off the wall or as high as the ceiling. The purpose of any kitchen backsplash is preventing water, grease, and other messes from damaging your walls, particularly behind stoves and sinks.  Typically, it is made from ceramic tiles.

30. "Got it, daddy-o": I DIG.    To like or understand something. It could also mean a combination of the two, as a general verb of approval for something. The term was particularly popular during the 1960s-1970s and is today considered slightly old-fashioned.

31. Nation between China and India: NEPAL.   Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north, and India to the south, east, and west, while it is narrowly separated from Bangladesh by the Siliguri Corridor, and from Bhutan by the Indian state of Sikkim. Nepal has a diverse geography, including fertile plains, subalpine forested hills, and eight of the world's ten tallest mountains, including Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth. Kathmandu is the nation's capital and the largest city. Nepal is a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-cultural state, with Nepali as the official language.

33. Lt.'s underling: SGT.  Military ranks Lieutenant and Sergeant.

34. Finger __: LAKES.  The Finger Lakes are a group of eleven long, narrow, roughly north–south lakes located directly south of Lake Ontario in an area called the Finger Lakes region in New York, in the United States. 

35. Look happy: SMILE.   A facial expression formed primarily by flexing the muscles at the sides of the mouth. Some smiles include a contraction of the muscles at the corner of the eyes, an action known as a Duchenne smile. Among humans, a smile expresses delight, sociability, happiness, joy, or amusement

36. Place to eat while on the go: DINING CAR.   A part of a train in which passengers are served meals

38. "Disturbia" singer, familiarly: RIRI.   Robyn Rihanna Fenty (born February 20, 1988) is a Barbadian singer, businesswoman, actress, and songwriter. She is widely regarded as one of the most prominent recording artists of the 21st century.  This song has no connection to the movie of the same name.

39. Does some kindergarten math: ADDS.  Combines one number with another to get a total.  I don't remember doing this in kindergarten.  But that was a long time ago.  This garten is not connected to the theme.

41. N.H. summer hrs.: EDT.  Eastern Daylight Time in New Hampshire.

45. __ admiral: REAR.  In the navy, Rear Admiral is usually immediately senior to commodore and immediately below vice admiral.   The term originated in the days of naval sailing squadrons and can trace its origins to the Royal Navy. Each naval squadron was assigned an admiral as its head, who commanded from the centre vessel and directed the squadron's activities. The admiral would in turn be assisted by a vice admiral, who commanded the lead ships that bore the brunt of a battle. In the rear of the squadron, a third admiral commanded the remaining ships and, as this section was considered to be in the least danger, the admiral in command of it was typically the most junior. This has continued into the modern age, with rear admiral the most junior admiralty of many navies.   Bo butts about it!

46. Guide for the Magi: STAR.   The Gospel of Matthew (2:1–12) speaks of Magi, or wise men, who followed a star from the East to Bethlehem in search of a newborn king. There they found Mary and the baby Jesus and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

50. Whine: SNIVEL.   Cry and sniff in a feeble or fretful way.

53. Creative sparks: IDEAS.   The other type of inspiration.

54. Pay: REMIT.   A transfer of money, typically to pay a fee or defray a debt.

56. "The Twelve Days of Christmas" half-dozen: GEESE.  And all of them laying eggs.

57. Watch and wineglass features: STEMS.   1) The thin rod that attaches the crown to the watch's movement; 2) the slender part of a winglass between the base and the bowl. 

58. Classifies: TYPES.  Determines to which category something belongs.

60. Bread machines?: ATMS.  Automatic Teller Machines - dispensers of cash, i.e "bread."  Ya dig?

61. Appoint: NAME.   Specify an individual to occupy a certain position.

62. Opinion: VIEW.   Regard in a particular light or with a particular attitude.

63. Pub orders: ALES.  Types of beer with a bitter flavor and higher alcoholic content.  Cf 58 D.

64. Seasoning meas.: TSP.  A teaspoon, about 2.5 to 7 ml, depending on the spoon.

65. "Now I get it!": AHA.   Used to express satisfaction, triumph, or surprise.

Hope you found this puzzle satisfying, and perhaps providing an AHA moment or 2.  It's what we try to cultivate here at the corner.

Kind and Cool Regards!
JzB

Wednesday, April 3rd, 2024, Dylan Schiff

 OPUS

J.S. Bach - "Dorian" Toccata (no Fugue), Opus #538

This puzzle was "on my wavelength", and it takes us on a musical journey.  Two 15-letter spanners, two 10-letter, and one centered 11-letter theme answers, each starting with a synonym for "song", and revealed in the, well, reveal. ALAS, we're missing "ditty" - but that's a 51D.

17. *Rainforest Cafe, for one: THEME RESTAURANT - I did not know about this place; the closest one to me now is in New Jersey - the Wiki; the décor seems too overbearing for dining, IMHO

23. *Depiction of integers at regular intervals: NUMBER LINE

34. *Imperial reign of China ended by Kublai Khan: SONG DYNASTY

44. *Florence Henderson sitcom role: CAROL BRADY - "NOEL" could be a theme answer, too

"The Brady Bunch"

And the reveal

50. Starts looking at things differently, as demonstrated by the first words of the answers to the starred clues?: CHANGES ONES TUNE - and I get the pleasure of looking for "compositions" that match some puzzle answers; I'll try to be diverse....

And Away We Go~!

ACROSS:

1. Greenlights: OKs

4. Dish that may or may not contain beans: CHILI - my chili contains red & black beans

9. Time at a job: STINT - I am hoping that my "stint" with the Pipe Organ company is my last career

14. Feline pet: CAT

Meow

15. Brief mission?: RECONnaissance - Frawnche~!

16. Wobbly craft: CANOE

20. Portion out: ALLOT

21. Deciduous tree with oblong leaves: ELM

22. God, to Rastafarians: JAH - the first word of this "ode"

The Outernationalist - Thievery Corporation

Ambient Electronica, my preferred music genre now that I am "older"

27. Guacamole fruit: LIME

28. "__ Te Ching": Laotzu text: TAO

29. Casual contraction: AIN'T - and the first word of this "ballad", too

 

Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers

30. Direct elsewhere: REFER

31. Like a zebra: MANED - if you hear the thunder of hoofs....

 

he's sporting a "Mohawk" mane

33. Big fans: BUFFS

36. "Summer of My German Soldier" novelist Greene: BETTE - needed perps for this author

37. Shrewd: CAGEY - some obscure Blue Öyster Cult for your ears

 

Cagey Cretins from the Secret Treaties Album

38. Breeze (through): WALTZ - more music, this clue/answer hinting that one "rolled" through ( in 3/4 time~? )

39. Wax counterpart: WANE

 

There's a Solar Eclipse Monday, 8Apr

40. Grab a chair: SIT

43. The 411: INFO

47. Situation Room gp.: NSC - no clue; I tried NSA first

48. Spicy tuna roll tuna: AHI - becoming a crossword staple

49. Totally buy: EAT UP - I don't eat up sushi

55. Unsettling: EERIE

56. Unexpected ending: TWIST - as found in this "melody"

Hole in the Sky - Black Sabbath

57. Single-stranded genetic molecule: RNA

58. Specs dished in a gossip sesh: DEETS - Text/Gen Z-speak for a 'session' and the 'details'

59. Zipper alternative: SNAPS

60. Noggin: NOB


DOWN:

1. One-eighth of a circle: OCTANT - overthought this; I was trying to come up with a clever pizza slice reference

2. Ingredient in a white or black Russian: KAHLUA - plus vodka, and milk makes it 'white'

3. Sailor's patron: ST. ELMO - there was a "coming-of-age" movie "St. Elmo's Fire" during my high school years, but I cringe at the "see 24D." of similar films in the decade - I was more "Raiders of the Lost Ark" & "Ghostbusters" kind of fan

4. "Zorba the Greek" island: CRETE - it's all Greek to me - perps

5. She/__ pronouns: HER

She's A Lady - Tom Jones

6. Curling surface: ICE - I'd like to try this "sport"

7. __ Angeles Sparks: LOS - of the WNBA

8. Aim: INTENT

9. Bathtub buildup: SCUM

10. Roofer's sealant: TAR

11. Right away: IN A JIFFY

12. Total randos: NO-NAMES - heard in this Glam "rocker"

 

Wild Side, Mötley Crüe - Lyric at 2:36, after the spinning drum cage stunt

13. Tie: TETHER - this looked weird in the 'down'; I had "TET_E" from perps

18. Horde: MOB

19. Bass beer: ALE

24. Gamut: RANGE

25. Served up a whopper: LIED

26. Race-sanctioning body since 1994: INDYCAR - this did not make sense until I cut and pasted the clue into Google, and got the Wiki; I was wondering if it referred to the race car's 'open wheel' body style at first

27. Southpaw: LEFTY - I am one - we have several at the Pipe Organ company; "Sinister" types make up about 17% of the population, and let me tell you, it's really frustrating to see how much of the world "assumes" everyone is right-handed, e.g. all vending machines, ever

See~? You'll look at them differently from now on....

30. Bit of deception: RUSE

31. Words on a family banner: MOTTO

32. Animated film with talking bugs: ANTZ - I thought "A Bugs Life" was better

33. Bialy kin: BAGEL

34. Practices for personal well-being: SELF-CARE

35. Prefix with tech: NANO

36. Wailing spirit of Irish folklore: BANSHEE - there's Siouxie and the Banshees, and another band called Banshee as well - not a fan of either, TBH

38. Showed vicarious embarrassment, in a way: WINCED

39. Midriffs: WAISTS

40. Body with notable rings: SATURN - oh, right, the, um, planet

A midriff with a ring

41. "Search me": "I DUNNO"

42. Universal blood recipient's designation: TYPE AB

44. Jost's "Weekend Update" co-host: CHE - Saturday Night Live members Colin and Michael

45. Outperforms: BESTS - Not beAts, the first "S" being my last fill

46. Snitch: RAT - we already had an 80's Hair Band, but how can I pass this up~?

Round and Round - Ratt -  AND -  Milton Berle

48. Long time: AGES

51. Minor quibble: NIT

52. Hold title to: OWN

53. Actress/director Vardalos: NIA - all "Greek" to me here, too; her IMDb

54. Psychic's letters: ESP

Splynter

Wednesday, March 27, 2024. Matthew Faiella

 Theme:  Unfitness Routine for the Lazy.  The second word of a two word in-the-language phrase also had a different meaning in a physical activity context.  The result, from a certain oblique perspective, is a humorous wordplay in which the activity is negated

20. Exercise done by making a grilled cheese sandwich?: PANINI PRESS.  A PANINI PRESS applies weight and toasts the top and bottom of the sandwich without cutting, shaping, or forming the sandwich in any way other than to compress it a bit.  A PRESS is a weight lifting exercise in which weights are lifted vertically over the head.

34. Exercise done by lounging on the couch and bingeing a new show?: TV MARATHON.  A TV MARATHON or watchalong, aka binge watching, is an event in which viewers engage many hours' worth of television, in a condensed time period.

44. Exercise done by hitting the snooze button and staying in bed?: SLEEP CYCLE.  When you sleep, you cycle through two phases of sleep: rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM sleep. The cycle starts over every 80 to 100 minutes. Usually there are four to six cycles per night. You may wake up briefly between cycles.  If you're old like I am, "briefly" might not apply.  To CYCLE is to peddle a stationary or movable bicycle

56. Exercise done by lying around doing nothing all day?: DIDDLY SQUAT.  A SQUAT is a strength exercise in which the trainee lowers their hips from a standing position and then stands back up.  DIDDLY SQUAT means little or nothing.  

So what have we accomplished, a little nourishment, a little entertainment, a nap, and nothing more.  Sounds like an ideal day in retirement,

Hi, Gang - JazzBumpa here, hoping to exercise a little brain power and see what else we might accomplish.  Let's get moving!

Across:

1. Sudden impulse: WHIM.  A capricious or eccentric and often sudden idea or turn of the mind :

5. Patatas bravas, croquetas, etc.: TAPAS. In Spanish, small plates of food - snacks.

10. "SOS" quartet: ABBA.  The Swedish singing group.

14. Pre-migraine phenomenon for some: AURA.   A feature of a migraine (= a condition that can cause a type of severe pain in the head)  that involves problems with vision, especially seeing lights that flash or move:

15. Make up (for): ATONE.   Make amends or reparation.

16. Round vegetables: PEAS.  A spherical green seed that is eaten as a vegetable or as a pulse when dried.

17. Smelting waste: SLAG.   Stony waste matter separated from metals during the smelting or refining of ore.

18. Sulks: POUTS.  Is silent, morose, and bad-tempered out of annoyance or disappointment.

19. Quick kiss: PECK.  A quick light kiss, perhaps by reference to the pecking motion of a birds beak.

23. Sea urchin delicacy: ROE.  The fully ripe internal egg masses in the ovaries, or the released external egg masses, of fish and certain marine animals such as shrimp, scallop, sea urchins and squid. As a seafood, roe is used both as a cooked ingredient in many dishes, and as a raw ingredient for delicacies such as caviar.

24. Microsoft's Satya Nadella, e.g.: Abbr.: CEO.  Chief Executive Officer of a corporation.

25. April birthstone: DIAMOND.  Diamond is a solid form of the element carbon with its atoms arranged in a crystal structure called diamond cubic.

27. Letters before xis: NUS. In the Greek alphabet.  

30. Royal flush cards: ACES.  A royal flush in a card game consists of the 10.jack, queen, king and ace, all in a single suit. 

33. Intl. oil cartel: OPEC.   Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. 

37. "While we're on the subject ... ": ALSO.  In addition.

40. Pair on a tandem bike: SEATS.   Things made or used for sitting on

41. __ Lingus: AER.   Aer Lingus is the flag carrier of Ireland. Founded by the Irish Government, it was privatised between 2006 and 2015 and it is now a wholly owned subsidiary of International Airlines Group.

42. How onion rings are fried: IN OIL.  

43. Milhouse's pal: BART.  Milhouse Mussolini Van Houten is a recurring character in the Fox animated television series The Simpsons voiced by Pamela Hayden and created by Matt Groening. Milhouse is Bart Simpson's best friend in Mrs. Krabappel's fourth grade class at Springfield Elementary School.  I assume everyone knows who Bart is.  If not ---

46. Native American tent: TIPI.  A tipi or tepee is a conical lodge tent that is distinguished from other conical tents by the smoke flaps at the top of the structure, and historically made of animal hides or pelts or, in more recent generations, of canvas stretched on a framework of wooden poles.

48. Horseback game: POLO.   Polo is a ball game that is played on horseback, a traditional field sport and one of the world's oldest known team sports.[9] The game is played by two opposing teams with the objective of scoring using a long-handled wooden mallet to hit a small hard ball through the opposing team's goal. Each team has four mounted riders, and the game usually lasts one to two hours, divided into periods called chukkas or chukkers.

49. Some boxing match finales: KOs.   A knockout (abbreviated to KO or K.O.) is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, muay thai, mixed martial arts, karate, some forms of taekwondo and other sports involving striking, as well as fighting-based video games. A full knockout is considered any legal strike or combination thereof that renders an opponent unable to continue fighting.

50. Greek currency used in "Percy Jackson" novels: DRACHMA.   The Greek drachma was the currency of Greece before it was replaced by the euro in 2002. It was also the ancient money of the Greek empire and city-states. Drachma note denominations ranged from 10 to 500 over much of its existence, while smaller denominations of 1 and 2 drachmae were issued earlier.

53. Short reply?: ANS.   An abrv. [hence "short" for ANSWER.

55. Unagi, in sushi: EEL.   Unagi is the Japanese word for freshwater eel, particularly the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica. Unagi is a common ingredient in Japanese cooking, often as kabayaki. It is not to be confused with saltwater eel, which is known as anago in Japanese. 

62. Emulates: APES.  These words both mean imitate, but "emulate" implies in a inspired way, while "ape" implies in a mocking way.

64. Like early PC graphics: LORES.  I'm completely baffled by this and cannot find anything that explains it.

65. Desire: URGE.  A srtong desire or impulse.

66. Secure skates, say: LACE.   Tighten and then knot the shoe strings.

67. Subside: ABATE.  Reduce in activity, quantity or severity.

68. Bit of inspiration: IDEA.  A thought or suggestion as to a possible course of action.

69. Lil' one: TYKE.  A small child.

70. Bender of "Futurama," for one: ROBOT.  A machine resembling a human being and able to replicate certain human movements and functions automatically.

71. Nightfall: DUSK.   The state or period of partial darkness between day and night

Down:

1. Winged stinger: WASP.   Any of numerous social or solitary winged hymenopterous insects (especially families Sphecidae and Vespidae) that usually have a slender smooth body with the abdomen attached by a narrow stalk, well-developed wings, biting mouthparts, and in the females and workers an often formidable sting, and that are largely carnivorous and often provision their nests with insects or spiders killed or paralyzed by stinging for their larvae to feed on

2. Dance taught at some Oahu hotels: HULA.   Hula is a Hawaiian dance form expressing chant or song. It was developed in the Hawaiian Islands by the Native Hawaiians who settled there. The hula dramatizes or portrays the words of the oli or mele in a visual dance form.

3. Country whose emblem resembles a tulip: IRAN.   Iran, also known as Persia and officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI), is a country located at the crossroads of West, Central and South Asia. It is bordered by Iraq to the west and Turkey to the northwest, Azerbaijan, Armenia, the Caspian Sea and Turkmenistan to the north, Afghanistan to the east, Pakistan to the southeast, the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf to the south. With almost 90 million people in an area of 1.648 million square kilometres (0.64 million square miles), Iran ranks 17th in the world in both geographic size and population. 

4. Orlando team: MAGIC.  Team in the National Basketball Association.

5. Bubble tea pearls: TAPIOCA.  Tapioca is starch obtained from the root of cassava, a plant that mostly grows underground (like a potato). In many parts of the world, it's a food staple. Cassava is a native vegetable of South America and grows in tropical and subtropical regions.

6. At the peak of: ATOP.  On top of something.

7. Rain heavily: POUR.   Heavy, continuous rainfall; it's a figure of speech that's supposed to remind you of the way water pours out of a large pitcher.

8. Chipped in?: ANTED.   Contributes the money each player puts in the pot before the hand begins in a game of poker.

9. Word with jam or cram: SESSION.  A period of time devoted to a particular activity, such as playing music or intensely studying.

10. Tablet download: APP.   Short for application - a software program that's designed to perform a specific function 

11. Time to grab a brewski: BEER O'CLOCK.  An appropriate time of day to start drinking beer.  This may be open to widely varying interpretation.

12. Club ingredient: BACON.  For a club sandwich - consisting of bread, sliced cooked poultry, fried bacon, lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise.

13. Sought, as a price: ASKED.  Refers to the lowest price which the seller is willing to accept.

21. Gets closer to: NEARS.  Approaches

22. Tree goo: SAP.   This sticky liquid runs through the tree and down to the branches to help generate energy while new buds are forming during springtime. Due to photosynthesis, sugars are created which are fed back into the tree and acts as food for the tree during its growth period.

26. No-good jerkface: MEANY.  An unfriendly hostile or oppressive person.

27. Fed. crash investigator: NTSB.   National Transportation Safety Board,  an independent U.S. government investigative agency responsible for civil transportation accident investigation. In this role, the NTSB investigates and reports on aviation accidents and incidents, certain types of highway crashes, ship and marine accidents, pipeline incidents, bridge failures, and railroad accidents.

28. Eye layer: UVEA.    The middle layer of the eye. It lies beneath the white part of the eye (the sclera). It is made of the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. These structures control many eye functions, including adjusting to different levels of light or distances of objects.

See it here

29. Know-it-all: SMART ALECK.   A person who is irritating because they behave as if they know everything.

31. Footnote abbr.: ET AL.   Short for the Latin term “et alia,” which means “and others.” It is used in academic citations when referring to a source with multiple authors.

32. Source of wool: SHEEP.   A domesticated ruminant animal with a thick woolly coat and (typically only in the male) curving horns. It is kept in flocks for its wool or meat, and is proverbial for its tendency to follow others in the flock.

35. Room with a slanted ceiling, often: ATTIC.   A space or room just below the roof of a building.

36. Cookie with a Blackpink collaboration: OREO.   Look here if you want to know more.

38. Grain tower: SILO.   A cylindrical tower structure commonly used for bulk storage of grain, coal, cement, carbon black, woodchips, food products and sawdust. 

39. Spanish cheers: OLÉS.  A cry of approval, joy, etc.

42. Tappable images: ICONS.   Pictograms or ideograms displayed on a computer screen in order to help the user navigate a computer system. 

44. Like wining and dining?: SIMILAR.   Resembling without being identical.

45. Backyard swings, slide, and sandbox, e.g.: PLAY SET.   Themed collections of similar toys designed to work together to enact some action or event. 

47. Research grant?: PhD.  A doctoral degree granted to a scholar recognizing her/his research work.

50. Handed out: DEALT.  As cards in a game.

51. Terminate a debt: REPAY.  Pay back (a loan, debt, or sum of money).

52. Mexican marinade made with chili peppers: ADOBO.  The immersion of cooked food in a stock composed variously of paprika, oregano, salt, garlic, peppers and vinegar to preserve and enhance its flavor.

54. Calamari: SQUID.  Typically referring to squid dishes.

57. Boring: DRAB.   Lacking brightness or interest; drearily dull.

58. Mother of Artemis: LETO.   In ancient Greek mythology and religion, Leto is a goddess and the mother of Apollo and Artemis. She is the daughter of the Titans Coeus and Phoebe, and the sister of Asteria.

In the Olympian scheme, the king of gods Zeus is the father of her twins, Apollo and Artemis, whom Leto conceived after her hidden beauty accidentally caught the eye of Zeus. Classical Greek myths record little about Leto other than her pregnancy and search for a place where she could give birth to Apollo and Artemis, since Hera, the wife of Zeus, in her jealousy ordered all lands to shun her and deny her shelter.

59. Pakistani language: URDU.    An Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in South Asia. It is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan, where it is also an official language alongside English.

60. Range listed on video games: AGES.  The time of life at which some particular qualification, power, or capacity arises or rests.  Or, in this case, is age appropriate.

61. Tropical tree: TEAK.   A tropical hardwood tree species in the family Lamiaceae. It is a large, deciduous tree that occurs in mixed hardwood forests. Tectona grandis has small, fragrant white flowers arranged in dense clusters (panicles) at the end of the branches.    Teak wood has a leather-like smell when it is freshly milled and is particularly valued for its durability and water resistance. The wood is used for boat building, exterior construction, veneer, furniture, carving, turnings, and various small projects.

63. "Happy now?": SEE.  Told ya so!  Words of admonishment spoken after someone did something that had been warned against.  Fool around and find out.  

Well, we had a little song, a little dance, and some eye-ball anatomy [prior to my upcoming cataract surgeries] and a few snacks.  Hope it wasn't too much of a work out.  Happy and blessed Easter to those who celebrate.  Happy Springtime to all.  See y'all next month.

Could this be Matthew's first appearance in the L.A. Times?  If so, congrats, and keep 'em coming!

Cool regards,

JzB

Wednesday, Mar 20, 2024 Michèle Govier

 TWO DRUMS & A CYMBAL...

I had a feeling this was not a "normal" 3- or 4-word 'theme with reveal' when I scanned the grid before starting and saw two stacks of 8-letter ACROSS fills ( and after-the-fact, I see Monday's puzzle had double Down 9-lettter fills ), but nothing close to grid spanning; I did not see the 13-letter-long DOWN fill at first.  This took me longer than my typical Wednesday solve time, due to the crummy crossing of a proper name and a vague abbreviation.  SIGH; the struggle continues.  I did a search of the blog, and found a puzzle of Michèle's from Nov 7 last year; thanks to her for today's clever construction.  As the clue for 14A states, the perimeter of the puzzle, in both the across and down, are words ( highlighted ) that describe sounds - and the "reveal";

14. Audiophile's setup, and an apt description of the perimeter of this puzzle: SURROUND SOUND

YES~!

And Away We Go~!

ACROSS:

1. Half a sit-up: CRUNCH - I just thought this was a "harder" sit-up; here's a quick reference to what is different

7. Commercial tune: JINGLE - what's your most earworm-worthy ad~?

13. "A Wrinkle in Time" novelist Madeleine: LENGLE - proper name fill #1, and I had no clue; the "G" got me

14. Timekeepers that don't work on a rainy day: SUNDIALS

 

I think the time is "beer-thirty"

16. How baked potatoes may be cooked: IN FOIL - meh, but it is certainly a way to cook a spud

17. Remove, as a seatbelt: UNFASTEN

18. Gina Boswell of Bath & Body Works, e.g.: Abbr.: CEO - I do the DOWNS first, just needed the "O"

19. Sequel to Puzo's "The Last Don": OMERTA

21. "Mean Girls" writer Fey: TINA - this proper name I did know

22. Underwater plant with gas-filled bladders: KELP

24. Wayward: ERRANT

26. Time out?: NAP

27. Playground retort: DID TOO - not the usual ARE too

29. Quirky habit: TIC

31. Cliche: TRITE

33. French noble: DUC - I haven't had Frawnche in a long time

35. Comprehend: GRASP

39. Eurythmics lead singer Lennox: ANNIE - one of my favoritest songs

Here Comes the Rain Again

40. Go from 4x6 to 8x10, say: Abbr.: ENLarge

41. Totaled: RAN TO

42. Busy restaurant's notification device: PAGER

43. JFK predecessor: DDE - Dwight David Eisenhower - IKE - two days in a row; I would have liked to have lived during his presidency, even with the threat of the "reds" and nuclear war.  I have "Ike", his biography, and I do like to read about his role in WWII - and he was the man who enacted the Interstate System; for an interesting take on the pros and cons of that massive national project, I would suggest reading "Divided Highways"

44. Like some purchases: IN APP - and - 62A. Are cast members of: APPEAR IN - sort of palindromic

45. "The __ is calm tonight": "Dover Beach" opening: SEA - with a blank grid, I pondered "AIR", but in retrospect, "Beach" might have been a give-away....

47. Mouths off to: SASSES

49. Amtrak stop: Abbr.: STAtion

52. Silky: SMOOTH

54. Guidelines: Abbr.: STandarDs

57. Ultimate: LAST

59. Creative works: OPUSES

61. Goal: AIM

64. Yukon neighbor: ALASKA - "UCONN" is my neighbor, too~!

Ba - Dum - Tss

66. Prop for a rock singer: MIC STAND - drummers who sing

67. Watering hole in TV's "M*A*S*H": ROSIE'S - ah, yes, now I remember....

68. Unnerve: RATTLE

69. 1984 mermaid movie: SPLASH - Tom Hanks, WAY back in his career


DOWN:

1. Hit it off: CLICK

2. Zellweger of "Judy": RENEE - name #5, but I'm not counting....

3. Developing: UNFOLDING - great clue/answer/fill

4. CARE, e.g.: NGO - I had to look this up after I solved the crossword; DAH~!  I tried "NPO", for a Non-Profit Organization; nope - it's a Non-Governmental Organization; not only that, but I was confusing it with GMO - genetically modified organism, too - hey, it was early in the morning when I did this....

5. Sister of Erato: CLIO - I can never remember my muses....

6. Knight cap: HELMET - punny; that would be an accurate description of such head wear

7. Ruling faction after a coup: JUNTA - I could only think of CADRE or CABAL

8. Baby: INFANT

9. Contract that may prevent bad PR: NDA - Non Disclosure Agreement

10. Crux: GIST

11. Ancestor of the romance languages: LATIN- four years for me in high school, but it does help solving crosswords~!😜

12. Justice Kagan: ELENA

15. Button alternative: SNAP

20. Ate away: ERODED

23. Feels sorry for: PITIES

25. Fertile Crescent river: TIGRIS

28. Some combines: DEERES - John Deere.  I want a tractor like this;  I have 1-1/2 acres in CT to mow, the snow, a creek, and a LOT of big rocks

NOT a combine, NOT a John Deere

30. Origami birds: CRANES - SWANS was too short

31. Stout spout: TAP

32. Messenger molecule: RNA

34. Soccer equipment: CLEATS - SHIN PADS didn't fit

36. Youngest daughter of Nicholas II: ANASTASIA - mostly perps

37. Valvoline rival: STP

38. Dad: POP - we're missing "CRACKLE" for a Rice Crispies trifecta

46. Unscrupulous: AMORAL

48. Woolgathers?: SHEARS - the "?" suggested "DREAMS" was not the answer, but 50% correct

49. Poetry event: SLAM

50. Piglike rhino kin: TAPIR

51. Pet re-homing org.: ASPCA

53. Provide a view: OPINE - ah - that kind of view

55. Sea walls: DIKES

56. Huge success: SMASH

58. Assessment that may end with "Pencils down": TEST - dah~! Not EXAM

60. Unappealing food: SLOP

63. NFL passing stat: ATTempts

65. Communication syst. with hand motions: ASL - American Sign Language

Splynter