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.
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.
Constructor Patti Varol has been editing and creating puzzles for more than twenty years, and is the editor of the Los Angeles Times crossword, so she knows the rules! Today Patti has hidden the various functions of an "all-in-one" multifunction printer in four long grid entries. This puzzle is perfect for those of you who hate circles; you'll have to find those printer functions yourself! Luckily, they appear at the end of the long entries, so they're not too hard to see.
The theme clues and answers are:
17-Across. 1980s Atari racing game: SUPER SPRINT. Super Sprint was a 1986 racing video game developed and published by Atari Games for arcades. I watched my son play racing games at arcades, but have no specific memory of this title. You can see from the illustration that it was a multiplayer game. The last five letters spell out our first printer function: PRINT.
29-Across. Minimally invasive surgical procedure: ARTHROSCOPY. Arthroscopy involves inserting a tiny camera (arthroscope) into a small incision on a joint in order to examine and sometimes treat damage to the joint. The procedure has multiple possible targets: knee, shoulder, elbow, ankle, hip, and wrist. The last four letters spell out our second printer function: COPY.
Ouch.
45-Across. Hall of Fame pitcher who threw four no-hitters for the Dodgers: SANDY KOUFAX. Sandy Koufax is an American former baseball player. Widely regarded as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, he played twelve seasons in Major League Baseball for the Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers from 1955 to 1966. Mr. Koufax is the last living member of the 1955 World Series-winning team. His autograph appears on multi-signed memorabilia alongside other baseball legends. And conveniently, his last name ends in three letters that spell out our third printer function: FAX.
Sandy Koufax
60-Across. Cylinder in the snack aisle: PRINGLES CAN. Pringles is brand of stackable potato-based snacks invented by Procter & Gamble in 1968. It is considered an "extruded" snack because of the manufacturing process. The tubular can was designed to address customer complaints about broken chips and empty air in potato chip bags. Kellogg's acquired Pringles in a multibillion dollar deal in 2012. The last four letters of this answer spell out our fourth printer function: SCAN.
Pringles can
A multifunction printer is suitable for most homes, but in my office, I find I get better functionality from a dedicated printer and a separate scanner. Scanning and printing can substitute for copying in most cases. And fax? You can use an online fax if you need one. That said, my mom is pretty amazing using her all-in-one for everything.
Let's see how the rest of the clues and answers function.
Across:
1. Awards such as Best Upset and Best Game: ESPYS. The ESPY Awards, produced annually by ESPN since 1993, recognize athletic achievement during the preceding calendar year. "Best Upset" and "Best Game" have been awarded in the past, but those specific awards do not occur every year.
6. Have a spoonful, say: TASTE.
11. "Tsk!" kin: TUT. Tsk! Tsk! (American) and Tut-tut! (British) are dental clicks used to express disapproval.
14. Fleece source: SHEEP.
15. Astronaut Ellen who was the first Latina director of the Johnson Space Center: OCHOA. Ellen Ochoa is an inventor, former NASA astronaut, and former director of the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. In 1993, she went to space on a nine-day mission aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery.
Ellen Ochoa, first Hispanic woman in space
16. Activist Yoko: ONO. I wonder if Yoko knows how often she shows up in crossword puzzles. It's not a bad thing!
17. [Theme clue]
19. Air passenger screening org.: TSA. An abbreviation in the clue suggests an abbreviation in the answer. TSA = Transportation Security Administration.
20. Future counselor's maj.: PSYCH. Another abbreviated clue calling for an abbreviated answer. To become a licensed counselor, you may need to major in psychology.
21. Hallucinations: VISIONS.
23. Salt Lake state: UTAH.
25. Black dialect, for short: AAVE. African American Vernacular English. Developed over centuries through the experiences of enslaved Africans and their descendants, AAVE is a distinct variety of English with its own grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.
27. "Doggone it!": DRAT.
28. Tree goo: SAP.
29. [Theme clue]
32. Mop target: SPILL.
34. Old photo hue: SEPIA. Sepia ink comes from a cuttlefish called Sepia. Old black and white photos were treated with sepia toner to make them last longer, resulting in a warm brown hue.
NaomiZ's grandparents in a Sepia toned photograph
35. Amuses, as with anecdotes: REGALES.
38. Elementary school shoebox project: DIORAMA. Every fourth grade public school student in California has to construct a diorama of one of the early California missions as homework. This was true for me six decades ago, true for my children, and continues today. The 21 missions were built by indigenous slaves under the control of Spanish priests. Approximately 62,000 indigenous Californians died through the mistreatment they experienced in the mission system. No one told us that in school. Today, kids in California can go to local craft stores and purchase pre-made kits to build their dioramas.
mission in a shoebox
42. Actor Nick: NOLTE. Nick Nolte is an American actor with many movie and television credits, a Golden Globe Award, and three Academy Award nominations.
Nick Nolte
44. Calf's suckling spot: UDDER.
udderly adorable
45. [Theme clue]
50. Industrial tank: VAT.
51. __ vera gel: ALOE.
52. Front of a ship: PROW.
53. Like some high-fiber breakfast bars: OATY. DH has been baking oatmeal applesauce bread, which makes a lovely breakfast for me, and a nice foundation for lunchtime peanut butter for him.
54. Snug apartments: STUDIOS. A studio apartment is one room with a separate bathroom. Same thing as a bachelor apartment. It's like living in a hotel room.
57. Times New __: ROMAN. Times New Roman is a font (or typeface) designed for the British newspaper The Times in 1931. It is one of the most popular typefaces of all time.
59. Give in to gravity: SAG.
60. [Theme clue]
64. Notable time: ERA.
65. Texas A&M athlete: AGGIE. Texas A&M University is a public research university in College Station, Texas, founded in 1876 as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. The Texas A&M Aggies are the students, graduates, and sports teams of Texas A&M University.
66. Cathedral city in Tuscany: SIENA.
NaomiZ dwarfed by family members in Siena, January 2014
67. Summer hrs.: DST. Daylight Saving Time.
68. Frowned-upon acts: DON'TS. Younger son eats lots of DONuTS. His daddy DOZEN't.
69. Analyze, as ore: ASSAY. Investigate to assess presence of a target entity. One thinks of gold rush propectors visiting the assayer's office to find out whether they'd found something of real value.
Down:
1. Start to sneeze?: ESS. The letter "s" (spelled out as ESS) is the start to the word "sneeze."
2. Moo __ pork: SHU. Stir-fried pork, eggs, and veggies, served in a thin pancake.
moo shu pork
3. British cartoon character who loves muddy puddles: PEPPA PIG. Peppa Pig is an animated British preschool television series. I am aware of it because my 11-year-old twin grandchildren were fans.
4. "Oof, that's not good": YEESH. Used to express diselief or exasperation.
5. Quick and nimble: SPRY.
6. Monopoly token sported by the game's mascot: TOP HAT. The tokens, or playing pieces, of this popular board game have changed over the years, but the top hat has survived as a token since the first Parker Brothers edition in 1935.
9. Novelist Morrison: TONI. Toni Morrison (1931-2019) was an African-American novelist and editor. In 1988, she won the Pulitzer Prize for Beloved, and in 1993, she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.
10. Breaks bread: EATS.
11. Miyazaki's "My Neighbor __": TOTORO. My Neighbor Totoro is a 1988 Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Looks amazing -- now I have to watch it.
My Neighbor Totoro
12. Open, as a onesie: UNSNAP. We have been snapping and unsnapping onesies since the newest grandson appeared four months ago.
13. Nice and warm: TOASTY. Our daughter-in-law explained to us that blankets pose a suffocation risk to babies, and our grandson should rely on onesies or sleep sacks to stay TOASTY.
18. Emotional wound: SCAR.
22. 19-Across request: ID CARD. Remember 19-Across, TSA? These folks ask for your ID CARD as you go through the airport security checkpoint.
23. Spy-fi side: USSR. Spy fiction sides included the USA versus the USSR.
24. See 26-Down: TAPE. Next clue, please!
26. With 24-Down, outmoded media format: VHS. The dominant format for home recording of video and audio from the 1980s through the 1990s, VHS tapes were replaced by DVDs, then by Blu-ray discs, and finally by digital files.
29. Mixture of metals: ALLOY.
30. Nail salon brand: OPI.
31. __ City, Iowa: SIOUX.
33. Terse text sent while taxiing to the terminal: LANDED. DH and I text each other when we land, assuming we are not flying together.
36. Large ruminant in the Rockies: ELK. A ruminant is an herbivorous mammal whose digestive system requires it to regurgitate and re-chew tough plant matter as "cud." Here are 59 seconds of an elk chewing its cud:
37. Octagon at an intersection: STOP SIGN.
39. Prepayments in some big book deals: ADVANCES.
40. Ravioli filling, sometimes: MEAT.
41. Highbrow: ARTY. Highbrow means highly cultured and sophisticated. An arty person is very interested in the arts. The latter term is more often used to suggest that such a person is pretentious.
43. Benelux continent: EUR. Benelux is a politico-economic union of three neighbouring countries in Western Europe: Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. Since Benelux is sort of an abbreviation -- a portmaneau, really -- for BElgium, NEtherlands, and LUXembourg, I suppose it's OK for the continent of EURope to be abbreviated in the answer.
45. Got smart with: SASSED.
46. Sites for some rites: ALTARS.
47. Chewy candy: NOUGAT.
48. Blacksmiths' workplaces: FORGES. This word takes me back to "The Village Blacksmith," a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, which I committed to memory as an elementary school assignment.
And children coming home from school
Look in at the open door;
They love to see the flaming forge,
And hear the bellows roar,
And catch the burning sparks that fly
Like chaff from a threshing-floor.
49. Mil. truant: AWOL. Military truant = AWOL = Absent WithOut Leave.
53. Desert watering hole: OASIS.
55. AirPlay and AirDrop tablet: IPAD.
56. Challenging chem course: ORGO. Recent crossword puzzles insist that Organic Chemistry courses are called ORGO, but our crossword solvers insist that this is nonsense. Google likes it, though.
58. Phoenix suburb: MESA.
61. Petty peeve: NIT. Nits are the eggs of parasitic insects like lice. People pick nits out of their childrens' hair. This sort of concern with tiny things has translated into picking on other folks over small matters: "I have a nit to pick with you." "Stop nitpicking me!"
62. Actress de Armas: ANA. Ana de Armas grew up in Cuba, moved to Spain, and then moved to Los Angeles, playing leading film and TV roles along the way. She was the holographic AI Joi in Blade Runner 2049 (2017), Paloma in the James Bond film No Time to Die (2021) and Marilyn Monroe in Blonde (2022), for which she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress.
Ana de Armas
63. Yea's opposite: NAY. Voice votes.
Here's the grid:
Solvers, what did you think of Patti's puzzle?
Did it SAP your strength? Did it SCAR you for life? Did you have a NIT to pick with it?
Or perhaps you LANDED this one, and found it to your TASTE.
