Theme: "Squad Goals" - The end of each theme entry is a WNBA team.
23. *Symptom of isolation, perhaps: CABIN FEVER. Indiana Fever.
28. *Leave the nest: SPREAD ONE'S WINGS. Dallas Wings.
48. *No. 1 Katy Perry album featuring the No. 1 song "Firework": TEENAGE DREAM. Atlanta Dream.
56. *Oscar-winning role for Rami Malek: FREDDIE MERCURY. Phoenix Mercury.
82. *One of Sheriff Woody's catchphrases in "Toy Story": REACH FOR THE SKY. Chicago Sky.
91. *Concurrence of many negative possibilities: PERFECT STORM. Seattle Storm.
114. *Lorraine Hansberry play whose title comes from a Langston Hughes poem: A RAISIN IN THE SUN. Connecticut Sun.
121. Championship series where fans hope to find the ends of the answers to the starred clues?: WNBA FINALS.
And something extra: 38. Group seen seven times in this puzzle: TEAM.
Total 12 teams in the WNBA. Missing are the Los Angeles Sparks, Minnesota Lynx, New York Liberty, Las Vegas Aces & Washington Mystics.
Liked this puzzle. Reminds me of the "Single Ladies" for the Universal a while ago. I had a set of teams with singular nouns.
Congrats on your LAT debut, Miranda! You found a brilliant collaborator.
Across:
7. Tell (on): RAT.
10. Barbershop service: SHAVE.
15. Santa __: home of the Charles M. Schulz Museum: ROSA.
19. Without principles: AMORAL.
20. Word with devil or dog: SLY. Also 22. Extremely bad: EVIL.
21. Patio stone: PAVER.
25. Oahu's __ Stadium: ALOHA.
26. Actress Rowlands: GENA. "The Notebook" is so moving.
27. French novelist Zola: EMILE.
31. Cash collector: TILL.
32. Yearbook superlative: MOST.
33. Distillery tub: VAT.
34. "What was I __ to do?": MEANT.
35. Looking for, in ads: ISO. In Search Of.
37. Jackal cousin: COYOTE.
39. Bring up: RAISE.
42. Contrail makeup: VAPOR.
44. Shape of the three-point line: ARC.
45. Illustrator's tools: PENS.
47. Recipient of a classic shout-out: MOM.
52. Fender bender: ACCIDENT.
55. Itty-bitty kitties: RUNTS.
58. Cup holder spot, perhaps: ARM. This refers to armrest, right?
59. Demeanor: MIEN.
61. Prov. that borders all but one of the Great Lakes: ONT.
62. Scrutinize: EYE.
63. No longer consequential: MOOT.
65. Yearbook gp.: FROSH.
68. Busch Gardens city: TAMPA.
71. Brief quarrel: TIFF.
75. "Let's __!": EAT. Went to my sister-in-law Connie's place on
Christmas eve. She made poached salmon (unpictured: tzatziki sauce),
wild rice salad and roasted Brussels sprouts. That piece of seeded bread
is from a local bakery that stone-mills its own flour. So lucky to have such a great sister-in-law!
77. Gomez's hairy cousin: ITT.
79. Soothing YouTube genre, for short: ASMR. Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response.
81. "You think I did that!?": MOI.
88. Accompanist?: USHER. Quite a few nice clues in this grid.
90. Mark on a garage floor: OIL STAIN.
93. Rd. with a no.: RTE.
94. Very, in Biarritz: TRES. French city on the Bay of Biscay.
96. "__-hoo!": WOO.
97. Try to swat: HIT AT.
98. Supports on Kickstarter, say: BACKS.
101. Taco truck dips: SALSAS.
103. "Gangnam Style" rapper: PSY.
104. "The Secret History" writer Donna: TARTT.
106. Smallish batteries: AAS.
107. Degrees for corp. execs: MBAS.
110. Cake layer: TIER.
118. Food processor's output: PUREE.
119. Burgles: ROBS.
120. Papa: DADDY. Ba ba, in Chinese.
123. Fit: ABLE.
124. Fireplace hazard: EMBER.
125. Flow back: EBB.
126. Early online forum: USENET.
127. Brewed beverage: BEER. And 64. Brewed beverages: TEAS.
128. Prophets: SEERS.
129. Early broadcasting co.: RCA.
130. Low points: NADIRS.
Down:
2. Parmesan quality: UMAMI. Connie is cheese connoisseur. She lived in Italy for a few years. She still visits Italy and France regularly.
3. Gas giant?: MOBIL. 90. Round figure?: ORB. I like both clues.
5. Track assignment: LANE.
6. Beauty brand whose name stands for three body parts: ELF. Eyes Lips Face.
7. Sends regrets, perhaps: RSVPS.
8. Heads-up: ALERT.
9. Spare in a boot: TYRE.
10. "Me time" option: SPA DAY.
11. Low-calorie ice cream brand: HALO TOP. Boomer liked Breyers No Sugar Added.
12. Maker of Skin So Soft products: AVON.
13. Fervor: VEHEMENCE.
14. Delete: ERASE.
15. "Fidelity" pop artist Spektor: REGINA. Born in Moscow.
16. Kitchen beeper: OVEN TIMER.
17. Snitch: SING.
18. Woeful sigh: ALAS.
24. Spanish "that": ESO.
29. Green smoothie ingredient, perhaps: AVOCADO.
30. Simple card game: WAR.
32. Synthesizer pioneer: MOOG.
36. Involuntary jerk: SPASM.
37. Rep: CRED.
40. JumboTron maker: SONY.
41. First responder, briefly: EMT. And 43. Send to a specialist: REFER.
42. Cash app: VENMO.
44. "Blessed __ ... ": ARE.
46. Say "aaahh!": SCREAM.
48. Disneyland ride: TRAM.
49. Malta money: EURO.
50. James Bond's first movie foe: DR NO.
51. Pristine, as a baseball card: MINT. So easy to get Boomer Christmas gifts. He loved baseball cards.
53. Like some roads in January: ICY. We finally got some snow last night. Odd not to have snow on ground for Christmas.
54. Pair's performance: DUET.
57. "on ur way?": ETA.
60. "Or perhaps less": IF THAT.
66. Chivalrous title: SIR.
67. URL starter: HTTP. More HTTPS these days.
69. Fashion: MAKE.
70. "Kidding!": PSYCH.
72. "Turn on the AC!": I'M HOT.
73. Author Jonathan Safran __: FOER. His founder Joshua Foer co-founded Atlas Obscura.
74. Like some mattresses: FIRM.
76. Fake it: ACT.
78. Dirty laundry destination: THE WASH. And 95. Dirt, so to speak: SLANDER.
80. Oxidizes: RUSTS.
82. Pop singer Ora: RITA.
83. Fit for a seat?: ELECTABLE. Government seat.
84. Birth certificate entry: FIRST NAME.
85. Top classification: ONE A.
86. Bow-wielding god: EROS.
87. Hub near Marin Co.: SFO.
89. "Don't touch that dial": STAY TUNED.
92. Gratuities: TIPS.
99. Crusty roll: KAISER.
100. Yearbook gp.: SRS.
102. Mythical forest flutists: SATYRS.
105. Surfer's concerns: TIDES.
107. "Morning Joe" network: MSNBC. 109. 107-Down anchor Cabrera: ANA.
108. NASCAR racer Wallace: BUBBA.
111. Afghani neighbor: IRANI. More often Iranian.
112. Conger hunter: EELER.
113. Musical breaks: RESTS.
114. Like many North Africans: ARAB.
115. Judicial garb: ROBE.
116. "__ happy to!": I'D BE.
117. Spout sporter: EWER.
118. City with an iconic tower: PISA.
122. Lots of laughs: FUN.
Jaelyn and Harper now have a baby sister. Melissa's third granddaughter was born on December 1, 2023. She sent me these few precious pictures. Melissa will take an extended break from blogging due to personal matters. We'll be thinking of you and looking forward to your return, Melissa!
 | |
 |
 |
| Jaelyn and Harper |
In spite of the relatively large number of unknown names, I still managed to get through this somewhat challenging puzzle. One thing though: No matter how many times we have “ASMR” I will never remember it, and, most assuredly not what it stands for! Anyway, FIR, so I’m happy.
ReplyDeleteGood morning!
ReplyDeleteThis one came into the station under 20. Just right for a 21X21. D-o even managed to get the theme. Hooray for an easy romp on the final day of '23. Thanx, Matthew, Miranda (nice debut), and C.C. (I think you're right that it's in the arm of a chair. It'd be difficult to hold a cup under your arm, though I've been known to try it with a fast-food to-go order.)
Spent yesterday setting up a new computer. I finally gave up on the HP with its multiple BSDs each day -- sometimes even while rebooting from a BSD. Replacing the SSD drive and memory helped initially, but then the problem came back with a vengeance. Bye-bye, HP.
Hope all cornerites have a fun, safe, New Year's Eve celebration, and a prosperous 2024.
FIR with six erasures.
ReplyDeleteToday is:
NEW YEAR'S EVE (but will you love me tomorrow)
NATIONAL CHAMPAGNE DAY (but will you remember my name tomorrow)
UNIVERSAL HOUR OF PEACE (from 11:30 p.m. December 31st to 12:30 a.m. January 1st, hope for a war-free world)
MAKE UP YOUR MIND DAY (encourages us to quit wavering, to take a side, and follow through with a decision and stick to it. The world doesn’t have enough opinionated people)
LEAP SECOND TIME ADJUSTMENT DAY (interestingly, the GPS system doesn’t receive these updates)
We knew that it had to be the WNBA finals, because "fan" was plural.
I had Agent Reader for USENET access. Since USENET groups were unmoderated, they devolved into spam pits.
We had SEERS and EYE(s) yesterday, but in different context.
I think all the browsers I use REQUIRE sites to use SSL, indicated by HTTPS. Or maybe I just get a warning not to go there. In any case, if it's not HTTPS I don't have access.
I wanted "dirty laundry destination" to be The View. It fit, but perps wouldn't allow it.
It isn't SLANDER if it's true, but it could still be dirt.
Congrats to Melissa on the darling new grandbaby.
Thanks to Matthew and Miranda for the fun puzzle, and to CC for the tour.
I filled Teenaged ream and could not suss a meaning DOH
ReplyDeleteFIR, despite all the obscure proper names like Tartt and Foer. Never heard of ASMR and spent way too much time looking at those squares thinking something was wrong there.
ReplyDeleteThe theme was wasted on me since I know almost nothing about womens' basketball. But I managed to make it through, so I am pleased.
FIW. One bad square---"boo hoo", which led to "the bash." Of course "the wash" makes more sense, but the persistent pop culture references led me to believe "the bash" could be some vacuous talk show on TLC or MTV.
ReplyDeleteNice fair Sunday, even though I'm not a basketball fan so I didn't know the team names. Very creative answers!
ReplyDeleteI wasn't a fan of reGina cross with Gena. Nor ASMR or TARTT
Only thought of YOO-hoo and BOO-hoo and not until I had the other letters did I get WOO-hoo
I always thought of RCA for records (his Master's voice) and RKO as an old broadcaster b/c of their tower logo (RKO Radio Pictures). I then wondered where RKO abbreviation came from and looked it up. Wow--I didn't know this: RKO Radio Pictures was founded in 1928 and operated out of the former Robertson-Cole studios in Hollywood (now part of the Paramount lot). The company was born out of mergers among the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), the Film Booking Offices of America (FBO) and the Keith-Albee-Orpheum vaudeville circuit in the 1920s. The result was Radio-Keith-Orpheum, better known as RKO.
Good morning and Happy New Years Eve. I filled this puzzle so fast I didn't notice the WNBA TEAMs, even after filling TEAM for 38D and lots of unknowns filled by perps. I knew all the theme fills except TEENAGE DREAM-perps for that one.
ReplyDeleteASMR- I don't know any YouTube genres, let alone this one.
TARTT- been in previous puzzles but I didn't remember
ELF- that's a Christmas movie but the "Beauty brand" was unknown
HALO TOP, REGINA, FOER, ANA- unknown 100%
ISO- never seen it
ROSA- many Santas in CA; the jolly one in red just left- unknown
VEHEMENCE-never seen the word but know vehement, so it was an easy fill
VENMO- never used nor intend to; have used ZELLE a couple of times
BUBBA- perfect nickname for a driver in a sport that started with moonshiners racing
"Don't touch that dial": STAY TUNED- What dial? Where is it on the remote?
ANA & MSNBC- I wish Patti would quit referencing a network that very few people watch and a show that basically nobody watches.
"Morning Joe is currently the ninth most popular show on MSNBC and 130th overall on TV, watched by a total number of 1,085,000 people"
FIR. Got through with the puzzle to find the reveal. Knew it had to be the WNBA teams as they are a favorite of Paitt's. No big surprises. Didn't know DOER or TRATT, but perps fleshed them out. Some of the clues showed originality for more mundane answers.
ReplyDeleteNice way to finish out the year, Matthew and Miranda, with C.C. as our ever present guide to complete the package.
Words to live by in the new year:
Be sure you are right, then go ahead. (Davey Crockett)
Future
Musings
ReplyDelete-An easy exercise where the phrases were needed as I did not know most of the teams
-I knew of the MERCURY because its star player had a very public change of heart after her Russian incarceration
-I’m sure there is no place where you can get a SHAVE and a haircut for two bits
-That ARC has reduced pro basketball to shooting 3’s and dunks. I am not a fan.
-ASMR and ASMRISTS (in a Satruday puzzle I had recently) have taken up residence in our puzzles
-Our now absent friend Tinbeni lives near TAMPA
-VEHMENCE: Detroit Lions’ staff showed that last night after an official took away the winning points
-A tough fill that had no alternative: Author Jonathan Safran __: FOER. An impossible fill that had great alternatives: “Fidelity" pop artist Spektor: REGINA born in Moscow.
Subgenius, Bob Lee and Anon at 8:49AM Hand up ASMR is hard to remember and hand up stuck with BOO and YOO before WOO, which I have never heard.
ReplyDeleteI have little interest in sports, but switching to women's sports actually levels the playing field (as it were!) for me. Now no one will know these names! I would rather watch women play, though. More grace and skill and less brute force. FIR but not thrilled with the puzzle.
Here is my photo of the desk of CHARLES M SCHULZ in Santa ROSA where he created all those beloved Peanuts comics.
I was at the CHARLES M SCHULZ MUSEUM in SANTA ROSA in 2012 and enjoyed it very much and learned a lot. He really did enjoy playing hockey and had his own hockey rink on site. Complete with a Zamboni, which is a frequent visitor in the comics. A humble hero and genius of the Greatest Generation.
Schulz' office overlooked the ice rink. He frequently came down to socialize with the skaters. A very nice gentleman.
DeleteI don't usually comment on this blog but as a volunteer with refugees from Afghanistan for the past two years, want to point out that "Afghan" is the proper cultural reference for someone from that country. Afghani refers to the money. Too bad the constructor and editor did not know this but hope this will educate a few folks.
DeleteWishing all the best for the new year.
Very sad news posted n the Jumble blog today.
ReplyDeleteBlogger Ol' Man Keith said...
This is Keith’s wife, Janice. I wanted to let you know that Keith passed away last night. I hope you all get this message.
9:45 AM, December 31, 2023
I had a Facebook connection with Keith - Janice had a similar post there today: "Hello everyone, this is Keith’s wife Janice. Keith passed away last night suddenly and I knew many of you would want to know. Please keep us in your hearts during this difficult time"
DeleteI'll miss OMK; his wit and candor, and his signature diagonal anagrams.
RIP, Mr Fowler ...
Very sorry to hear that. Thanx for the heads-up, CanadianEh!
ReplyDeleteI always like to learn new things. Good for Patti to promote woman’s sports and put them as equals to their male counterparts.
ReplyDeleteA lot of clever clues and lively fill.
Thanks Matthew and Miranda for a year end creative and entertaining puzzle.
…. kkFlorida
Thought I should copy here this 12/31/23 post from the Jumble site:
ReplyDelete"This is Keith’s wife, Janice. I wanted to let you know that Keith passed away last night. I hope you all get this message."
Sorry -it wasabout Ol Man Keith, OMK.
ReplyDeleteAlmost got it done. One blank square however: A-MR; don’t get PSYCH as clued. Must be a slang expression I don’t know.
ReplyDeleteI filled going before MEANT, boo before WOO.
The theme was wasted on me also since I know next to nothing about sports, men’s or women’s, but I figured the answers nevertheless. All in all a great puzzle that was fun to work on.
So sorry to hear about OMK’s passing.
I miss Uncle Fred. We have not seen his posts in quite a while.
Big Easy @ 9:20, I watch MSNBC every day. The most intelligent anchors on the air. Morning Joe is too early for me.
ReplyDeletePatti has a habit of changing clues to obscure people who very few people know. Authors, actors, Commentators...etc. if less than 1/3 of 1% of people watch the show it needs perps to fill it correctly
DeleteEnjoy MSNBC especially Rachel Maddow!
ReplyDeleteThe theme was lost for me. Being female I'd rather see male bodies run up and down the court. However, I'm not seeing much TV at all. Any time it is damp or wet lately, all I see is blobs of color. Think my intake wire coating has been breeched. It enters my house around the eaves trough. I think I'll call the cable guy, but when I get the notion, the whole picture is back. Annoying.
ReplyDeleteThe puzzle took me well over an hour and I had the same unknowns as have been mentioned. I did enjoy some of it.
C.C. glad to know you have a nice sister-in-law to spend time with. Thanks for the blog.
Please send our condolences to Janice for the loss of OMK. He was a great guy.
I think yesterday's and today's puzzles are well-designed, conceived, and constructed. Interesting that one of the answers today is PSYCH when just yesterday sumdaze mentioned how much she liked Dulé Hill in the show "Psych". (I liked him in that show, too.)
ReplyDeleteGood wishes to you all.
Bob Lee, interesting information about RKO!
ReplyDeleteWoohoo reminds me of Misty.
I find that Morning Joe guy (Joe Scarborough) to be exceedingly annoying. He constantly interrupts his co-host, Mika Brzezinski, and even the guests. It is apparent that he believes what he has to say is more important than whatever anybody else has to say, except that he simply doesn't say it very articulately. My favorite MSNBC commentator is Lawrence O'Donnell.
Sad news that Keith passed away last night. I rather liked him. Thanks for letting us know.
More good wishes to you all.
Hola!
ReplyDeleteR.I.P. Keith. That is so sad. I miss him already. Thank you, Janice, for telling us. He was a dedicated poster.
I have been under the weather the last couple of days. It's my right knee which has been very painful though nothing unusual affected it. Even Tylenol only partially helps to alleviate the pain but I've been hobbling along and did not go to church today.
I enjoyed the puzzle which kept me amused and entertained this afternoon. Thank you, Matthew and Miranda as well as C.C. for a BRILLIANT puzzle. C.C., how wonderful that you have a caring sister-in-law.
Last summer my friends and I visited Charles Schulz's home/museum in Santa ROSA. Otherwise, I likely would not have known where he lived in CA. It's well preserved just as he left it and kept vigil by his wife who lives right next door.
"I'M HOT" is the Arizona motto! Or should be.
Luckily, FOER perped or I would not have known it. The same with Donna TARTT.
My maternal grandmother kept a EWER and basin in every bedroom. There was no running water in Concho. Very early every morning she would go out to the "noria" (well) with a couple of buckets to bring water into the house. Not until she moved to Phoenix did she experience water from the tap.
Have a blessed and happy New Year, everyone!
I also watch MSNBC, especially Rachel Maddow and several others including Ali Velshi, Lawrence O'Donnell and Nicole Wallace. So please don't say that "no one watches it." Maybe it's no one in your circle of friends and family.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Melissa and family!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Matthew and Miranda! I had a FIW at beST but needed MOST. FAV: IF THAT
ReplyDeleteThanks, also to C.C. for her explanations and updates!
Melissa. Congratulations on your new granddaughter!
I'm saddened to hear about OMK. Not only was he a wiz at the diagonals but I always smiled at his first lines. For example, from Dec. 11, "sumdaze is on the job for this Christian PZL." I always thought those lines reflected his theater background -- a bit of showmanship craft. RIP, OMK!
BTW ALOHA Stadium has been closed to fans for three years and is due to be demolished soon and replaced
ReplyDeleteWe watch MSNBC too. Is it too advanced for the masses? Is that why it’s not watched by more people?
ReplyDeleteI hope we can get a connection to OMK's obituary if anyone sees it.
ReplyDeleteCreative puzzle theme - I'm familiar with most of the WNBA teams so it was fun to see many of them rolled into a puzzle - the theme answers were "in the language" so you could not know any of the teams and still get the solve.
ReplyDeleteI was hoping for the Minnesota Lynx to be in there, but don't know of an in-the-language phrase that has Lynx in it. Two of their all time leading scorers grew up in my town: Maya Moore and Napheesa Collier.
"Contrails" made from VAPOR is the title of a small book that all cadets entering the USAFA where my son went had to memorize all the facts about the Air Force in their first basic training
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contrails_(book)
Loved GENA Rowlands in The Notebook - tear up at the end - every single time!
Thanks CC for the blog and thanks to Matt & Miranda for the puzzle! and Congrats to Miranda on debut!
Loved the baby picture of MB's new grand!
So sorry to hear of Keith's passing- though I know he wasn't well and wheelchair bound
He was quite an accomplished actor, director, and professor of Drama. Prayers for his wife Janice and family in their loss
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Fowler
Happy New Year
ReplyDeleteI had gone to sleep earlier since the years passing holds no special interest for me …. But woke up just before midnight And found myself in the enviable position of being to welcome the coming new year !!!!!
I finished the Monday puzzle with ease and the answers are no surprise either ….
Prayers, respects znd good and best wishes to all especially those who are on this blog !!!!
Love snd regards !!!!! !!!!!!!!!
Actually, I am afraid MSNBC is too liberal for some.
ReplyDeleteYou and I are kindred spirits, Lucina. Stay in touch!
ReplyDeleteVery enjoyable and doable today!
ReplyDeleteHaving absolutely Ø interest in round-ball didn’t hamper me in the least to FIR, fortunately; perps saved the day for those obscure proper names. Hand up for boo instead of WOO, despite “woo-hoo!” brig one of my pet expressions. Really enjoyed the creative clueing for TYRE, SCREAM (say “aaah!”) among others. And did anyone else get mired in astronomy for “gas giant”?
As much as I love avocados, the thought of an avocado smoothie makes me want to 🤮…
D-O, I have a solution for your computer headaches: get a Mac. Once I switched, my daily screaming at the screen ceased.
Sad to hear of the passing of one of the Cornerites…and the circle of life continues with the birth of Jaelyn and Harper’s new little sister…R.I.P., Old Man Keith ✝️
Thanks for another nice review, C.C. !
====> Darren / L.A.
Too busy yesterday so finished this today. Got it all except for Tides and Tartt. The name just didn't look right. Thought maybe Rides. Tides just didn't dawn on me. I was thinking more about internet surfing. Boomer and I had a lot in common- Baseball cards, bowling, sports and crosswords. We could have talked for hours. Happy New Year all. GC
ReplyDelete