Wednesday, January 14, 2026, Jeff Stillman

 Films on the right...

 I wouldn't be CrossEyedDave if I didn't offer you my interpretation of the theme:

Nah, just kidding...

This pleasant 15x15 by Veteran Constructor Jeff Stillman has film titles on the right side of the starred clues as follows:

17. Across *Part of the bus that makes the wheels go round and round, round and round: DRIVESHAFT

You have all seen this thingie under a truck.

But have you seen this film?

(The first of five...)

26. Across *Part of the Blessed Trinity: HOLY GHOST

Image subject to interpretation.

Film also subject to interpretation.

36. Across *Folded flyer: PAPER AIRPLANE.

I flew the above style for several miles by throwing off the Eiffel Tower.

(Hmm, i guess i have also littered in France...)

This film has enjoyably littered movie screens across the world...

49. Across *Command aboard the USS Enterprise: WARP SPEED.

Faster then light travel

Faster than a bomb travel...

And the Reveal:

59. Across, Permission to adapt a novel, say, or what the answers to the starred clues all have: FILM RIGHTS.

14 three letter words (4 of which were names...) I also counted 14 names, but there are more depending on your interpretation.

Across:

1. In the thick of: AMID.

Not A-mud...

5. School attendee: PUPIL. (Are they called this because you have to keep your eye on them?)

10. Muscles above abs: PECS. Pectoral muscles.

14. Junction point: NODE.

One interpretation.

15. Father of Kartikeya and Ganesha, in Hindu traditions: SHIVA.

16. Feedback for a prof: EVAL. Short for evaluation.

17. [theme]

19. Frost: RIME. AI Overview

Rime ice forms from freezing fog (liquid droplets freezing on contact), creating dense, feathery, wind-swept ice, while hoar frost forms on clear, calm nights from water vapor directly turning to ice crystals (sublimation), resulting in delicate, needle-like, easily dislodged formations. The key difference is the moisture source: liquid fog droplets for rime versus invisible water vapor for hoar frost, and wind conditions: rime needs wind/fog, hoar needs calm, clear air

20. "Groovy!": RAD. 

• adjective. very good. synonyms: bang-up, bully, corking, cracking, dandy, great, keen, neat, nifty, not bad, peachy, slap-up, smashing, swell. good. having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified.

21. Leave slack-jawed: STUN.

22. Extend beyond: OUTLIE. (Or possibly out of bounds in Golf...)

24. Mass-mailing tool: ELIST. I presume this to be one word, like Email.

26. [theme]

28. Barbecue wipe: WET-NAP. The official copyrighted name has a dash, so it is not one word. This clue gave me pause, because I would have clued it "Lobster wipe." But i am not opposed to surf and turf.

30. Punster: WAG.

31. One of the Three Stooges: MOE. (There is only one Chairman Moe...)

32. At the original rate, in sheet music: A TEMPO. I was surprised to discover that this is two words.

35. Canasta combination: MELD.

Sets of 3 or more cards of the same rank.

(Learning moment)

36. [theme]

40. Ordinances: LAWS. The law, in its majestic equality, forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal their bread," was said by French writer Anatole France (1844-1924)      Also, 

The sentiment that 

"the more laws the more criminals" is commonly attributed to the ancient Chinese philosopher Laozi (Lao Tzu). 

41. Kolkata resident: INDIAN. I would post a map, but India is a big place, and you would still get lost...

42. Simile center: AS A. 

"Simile center" most often refers to 

an educational activity or station for teaching similes(comparisons using "like" or "as") in literacy, but it can also be a crossword puzzle clue, where the answer is often ASA, meaning "as". In education, it's a classroom setup with tasks like matching similes to their meanings or writing original ones, while the crossword answer highlights the key word in the comparison, as noted by sources like WordTips and USA Today. 

43. Long stretch: EON.

45. Lawn care task: EDGING. And seeding, and mowing, and thatching, and...

49. [theme]

53. Sing in a high range?: YODEL. (Very cute, I just groked this reading it now...)

54. Most peculiar: ODDEST. (Because i am the 53A comment)

55. Glorify: LAUD. (I am The Oddest!)

57. Farm-to-table program, briefly: CSA. (Community Supported Agriculture) is a farm-to-table model where consumers buy shares of a farm's harvest upfront, then receive weekly boxes of fresh, local produce throughout the season, directly supporting local farmers, reducing food miles, and getting peak-season food with fewer middlemen.

58. Golda of Israel: MEIR.

59. [Theme Reveal]

62. Novelist Tyler: ANNE.

63. Rubber-stamping: OKING. (Does it take a King to OK the dang thing?) Interesting that Google prefers Okaying, and thinks OKing is a popular South Korean YouTuber and Streamer...) 

64. Gets even with: TIES. (Ya cant get even with em unless ya beat em!)

65. Badgers: NAGS. (Like 64A vexes me...)

66. Witherspoon of "The Morning Show": REESE.

67. Agile: SPRY.

Down:

1. "Christina's World" painter Wyeth: ANDREW.

See Wiki for complete info

2. Booster target, perhaps: MORALE.

3. Victorious cry: I DID IT.

4. Actor Patel: DEV. (This clue/answer seems devious to me, thank goodness for perps.)

5. Sibilant summons: PSST.

6. Slangy affirmative: UH HUH.

7. Grand instrument: PIANO. (There is also a Baby Grand if space doesn't permit.)

8. Assisted reproductive option: Abbr.: IVF. In Vitro Fertilazation

9. Singer Jackson: LATOYA.

10. Capital of Western Australia: PERTH.

11. Really bad sign: EVIL OMEN.

12. Top with spaghetti straps: CAMISOLE.

Makes for an interesting outfit.

(Oh, straps, not scraps.)

13. Came down hard?: SLEETED. 

Strange name for a bird...

18. Grand property: ESTATE. Tried Manor first, wasn't grand enough...

23. Brand of fleecy slippers: UGG. Overgrown Fuzzy Slippers

25. Onesie closers: SNAPS.

27. Euphemistic expression of affection: L WORD. I just assumed this had something to do with "Love." However Google is less than romantic, and shows it by saying this is a TV show...

29. Each: PER.

33. Quebec neighbor: MAINE. I could say volumes about this clue/answer, but in our current political climate, it would get too political...

34. Brooch: PIN.

35. National fruit of the Philippines: MANGO.

36. Caltech locale: PASADENA. You would known this if you watched The Big Bang Theory.

37. Handing an Emmy to, e.g.: AWARDING.

38. __ chart: PIE.

39. Royal bride of 1981: LADY DI.

40. Doors album whose last track is "Riders on the Storm": L.A. WOMAN.

43. Pothook shape: ESS.

44. Select: OPT FOR.

46. Pet-locating device: ID CHIP.

47. Mama bird, for one: NESTER.

48. Like some stares: GLASSY.

50. French fathers: PERES. 

51. "Love Me Like You Do" singer Goulding: ELLIE.

52. Sends to eternal punishment: DAMNS.

56. Craving: URGE.

60. Actor Barinholtz: IKE.

61. Classic sports cars: GTS. I wanted MGs.

And here's the grid:

Jeff Stillman, name sounded familiar. So i Googled him and only found his NewYork Times puzzles, which led me to This Site which had an interesting compilation of his first time used words in NYT. Click on "Naples Florida" to see how easy you got off with this Wednesday puzzle. Scroll to the bottom for the matching Clue offered. Even more embarrassing than thinking this might be a LAT debut, was that not only was his LAT debut in 2014, I had actually used his LA Times puzzles from November to practice writing this Blog...

Well, before i forget, 

CE:D out...

Tuesday, January 13, 2026 Richard Liu and Katherine Xiong

The Hills Are Alive with a Solfège.  

17-Across. Actress who plays Honey Chandler on "Bosch" and "Bosch: Legacy": MIMI ROGERS.  Mi is the Third musical note on the scale.  Mimi Rogers (née Miriam Ann Spickler; b. Jan. 17, 1956) was Tom Cruise's first wife.  I am not familiar with the Bosch television series.

25-Across. Flightless species last seen in the 1660s: DODO BIRD.  Do is the first note of the musical scale.  A shout-out to our dear friend Dodo.  The dodo is an extinct flightless bird that was endemic to Mauritius, an island east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean.

56.-Across Musical film starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling: LA LA LAND.  La is the fourth musical note on the scale.  The movie, La La Land, was the center of a controversy at the 2017 Oscars when the presenters mistakenly announced it was the Best Picture winner, when in fact, the winner was Moonlight.

66-Across. Lukewarm critique: SO-SO REVIEW.  So, sometimes written as Sol, is the fifth note of the musical scale.

And the unifier:

38-Across. Type of exam that allows crib sheets, or a hint to 17-, 25-, 56-, and 66-Across: OPEN NOTES.  A Solfège is a system for teaching sight-singing by assigning syllables, such as Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La Ti, Do, to musical notes.

Here's the Grid:

Today's puzzle had two other sound-alikes:  1-Across (SEW) and 28-Across (SOW).

Across:

1. Attaches patches, say: SEWS.  It also sounds like it should fit in with today's theme.

5. To be, en español: ESTAR.  Today's Spanish lesson.

10. Hop, skip, or jump: VERB.

14. State boldly: AVOW.

15. Two-time Nobel Prize winner Curie: MARIE.  Marie Curie (née Maria Salomea Skłodowska; Nov. 7, 1867 ~ July 4, 1934) has the distinction of being (1) the first woman to be awarded a Nobel Prize;  (2) the first person to be awarded two Nobel Prizes; (3), along with her husband, was part of the first married couple to be awarded the Prize; and (4) the first person to be awarded two Nobel Prizes in two different fields.  In 1903, she shared a Nobel Prize in Physics with her husband, Pierre Curie () and Henri Becquerel () for their joint work in radioactivity research.  She was awarded the 1911 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her work in isolating radium and polonium. Interestingly, in 1935, her daughter, Irène Joliot-Curie (Sept. 12, 1897 ~ Mar. 17, 1856), and her husband, Jean Frédéric Joliot (Mar. 19, 1900 ~ Aug. 14, 1958)  ware also awarded a Nobel Prize in Chemistry.  They became the second married couple to be awarded the Prize.

16. "Your turn," on a walkie-talkie: OVER.

19. Give in: CAVE.

20. City near Dallas: PLANO.

21. Heritage gp. with roots in China, India, and Samoa: AAPI.  As in Asian American and Pacific Islander.  Who knew?

22. Far from shore: ASEA.

23. Running time: LENGTH.

27. Subj. for some immigrants: ESL.  English as a Second Language has become a crossword staple.

28. Scatter, as seeds: SOW.  Another answer that sounds like it could fit with today's musical theme.

30. Ctrl-Alt-__: PC reboot combo: DEL.

31. Tiebreakers, briefly: OTs.  As in OverTimes.

32. Eyelid malady: STYE.

34. Prefix with day or night: MID-.

36. Family rooms: DENS.

42. Not full-size: MINI.

44. Tailless primate: APE.

45. Buddies: PALS.

49. Ultrasound goop: GEL.

50. Summer zodiac sign: LEO.

53. Smidgen: TAD.

55. Casual shoe, casually: MOC.

59. Like some algebra: LINEAR.

Correct?  You be the judge.

61. X __ xylophone: AS IN.

62. Typical high schooler: TEEN.

64. Science fiction author Jules: VERNE.  Jules Gabriel Verne (Feb, 8, 1828 ~ Mar. 24, 1905) was a French novelist, poet, and playwright.  Some of his work includes: Around the World in 80 Days, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. 

65. Channel: DUCT.

68. Southernmost Great Lake: ERIE.  And a shout out to our old friend Abejo.

69. Used a pen: INKED.

70. Light brown shade: ECRU.

71. Complete groups: SETS.  Beanie Babies were all the rage 30 years ago.

72. Inventor Nikola: TESLA.  Nikola Tesla (July 10, 1856 ~ Jan. 7, 1943) was an amazing inventor.  

73. Hoarse voice: RASP.

Down:

1. Grocery store freebies: SAMPLES.  Since Covid, we don't see these freebies as often.

2. Most wicked: EVILEST.  I am currently reading East of Eden, by John Steinbeck.  One of the characters, Cathy Ames, is the most wicket character in the novel.  She has no conscience and enjoys creating the destruction of those around her.

3. Feminine: WOMANLY.

4. Attempt to hit a baseball: SWING.

5. Punk subgenre: EMO.  A crossword staple.

6. Very long story: SAGA.

7. Tire pattern: TREAD.

8. Apple gadget in an ear: AIRPOD.

9. Live (in): RESIDE.

10. Words on flash cards, for short: VOCAB.

11. Tax crime: EVASION.  Tax evasion was the crime that tripped up Al Capone (Jan. 17, 1899 ~ Jan. 25, 1947).

12. Changes back (to): REVERTS.

13. Rye and sourdough: BREADS.

18. Decomposes: ROTS.

24. Base after third base: HOME.

26. Merrie __ England: OLDE.

29. Victory: WIN.

33. Long time: EON.

35. Genetic letters: DNA.

37. Mind reader's gift: ESP.

39. Medication form: PILL.

40. Choose (to): OPT.

41. Blue-green shade: TEAL.

42. Use a ruler: MEASURE.

43. Prohibited: ILLICIT.

46. Song that begins "My country, 'tis of thee": AMERICA.

47. Short-term offerings from an auto shop: LOANERS.

48. Make a mess of: SCREW UP.

49. Grassy forest clearings: GLADES.

51. Fails big-time: EATS IT.

52. Tied in a best-of-three series: ONE-ONE.  The double fits with today's theme, but it fails because it is not a musical note.

54. Go in headfirst: DIVE.

57. Buys into a poker game: ANTES.

58. Classroom array: DESKS.

60. "Not a chance!": NEVER.

63. Christmas: NOEL.  This is a December clue.

67. Vitamin fig.: RDA.  As in Recommended Daily Allowance.

That's all for this Tuesday.

חתולה