Hidden in the theme fill are the names of military ranks, indicated by the circled letters. If you didn't have the circles, this would be a tough one to suss. Let's check it out.
18 A. "I luv u" message holder: CANDY HEART. These Valentine treats.
A CADET is a young trainee in the military
25 A. Textbook dividers: CHAPTER HEADINGS. Printed matter (as the chapter number or title, quotations, illustrations, or decorative letters) preceding the text at the beginning of a chapter.
In most armies and in some air forces, a CAPTAIN is the commander of the largest group of soldiers that an officer can be expected to know personally—a company in the infantry, a battery in the artillery, a flight in the air force.
40 A. Hybrid interactive experience: AUGMENTED REALITY. A technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user's view of the real world, thus providing a composite view.
GENERAL is the title and rank of a senior army officer, usually one who commands units larger than a regiment or its equivalent or units consisting of more than one arm of the service. Frequently, however, a general is a staff officer who does not command troops but who plans their operations in the field.
53 A. "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" actress: MELISSA JOAN HART. Melissa Joan Hart [b. 1976] is an American actress, producer, and director. She had starring roles as the title characters in the sitcoms Clarissa Explains It All, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and Melissa & Joey. She appeared as Liz in No Good Nick.
Sabrina
A MAJOR serves as the primary staff officer for brigade and task force command regarding personnel, logistical and operational missions.
And the unifier -- 63 A. Asserted one's authority, and what can be found in this puzzle's circled letters: PULLED RANK. To use one's high position in a society, organization, group, etc., to order someone to do something or to get special treatment or privileges. In puzzle context, I guess this means you have to pull out the circled letters to reveal the target words.
Hi Gang. JazzBumpa here to lead this drill, and I promise not to pull rank. I'm not a big fan of circled letter themes. This one might have had a touch of elegance if the military ranks presented were in rank order, but, alas, 'twas not to be. As much as I appreciate how difficult it must have been to find fitting theme fill entries, I am not delighted with the result. But that is mere personal preference. YMMV.
Hi Gang. JazzBumpa here to lead this drill, and I promise not to pull rank. I'm not a big fan of circled letter themes. This one might have had a touch of elegance if the military ranks presented were in rank order, but, alas, 'twas not to be. As much as I appreciate how difficult it must have been to find fitting theme fill entries, I am not delighted with the result. But that is mere personal preference. YMMV.
Let's put on our parching boots then, and see if we can have a successful mission.
5. Mega-excited, with "up": TURNT. It never occurred to me that turned could be spelt this way. This was a stumbling block for me.
10. Pattern: MOTIF. A bit of a stretch, but OK, I guess
15. Big star: IDOL. A person or thing that is greatly admired, loved, or revered.
16. Formal "Same here": AS DO I. Informally -- "Me too."
17. Initiative: DRIVE. Urge or force (animals or people) to move in a specified direction. In this usage, the one being urged is yourself, and the direction is metaphoric for some goal or achievement.
20. "The Lion King" lion: SIMBA. This Disney animated feature follows the adventures of the young lion Simba, the heir of his father, Mufasa. Images here.
21. Nintendo avatar: MII. A Mii is a customizable avatar used on several Nintendo video game consoles and mobile apps. The name Mii is a portmanteau of "Wii" and "me", referring to them typically being avatars of the players.
22. Prefix added to some music genres: ALT. Short for alternative, a category of rock music that evolved from the independent music underground of the 1970s. Alternative rock acts achieved mainstream success in the 1990s with the likes of the grunge, shoegaze, and Britpop subgenres in the United States and United Kingdom, respectively.
24. Kid's elder: GOAT. Of the species Capra hircus.
30. Snippet: CLIP. A small piece or brief extract from a video or audio recording.
31. Extreme anger: IRE. Derived from Latin.
32. __ guard: SHIN. A shin guard is a thick piece of material that you wear inside your socks to protect the lower part of your leg when you are playing a game such as soccer.
33. Glutton: HOG. One who wants both his share and yours.
34. "Ooohhh": AHA. Expressions of surprise or delight.
36. Equal (with): ON A PAR. Equivalent to.
45. "The plan's been approved": ITS A GO. Used to say that things are working correctly or that you have permission to do something
46. "Who, me?": MOI. Pretentious French usage.
47. Split __ soup: PEA. Soup made typically from dried peas, such as the split pea. It is, with variations, a part of the cuisine of many cultures. It is most often greyish-green or yellow in color depending on the regional variety of peas used; all are cultivars of Pisum sativum.
48. Hiker's mix: GORP. An acronym for "good ol' raisins and peanuts", although the mix may contain M&M's and other nuts. AKA trail mix.
50. Cooling syst. meas.: BTU. British Thermal Unit.
52. "__ Green": Kermit's song: BEIN'.
74. Big name in golf equipment: PING. Ping Inc. designs and manufactures golf equipment. The Company's products include golf clubs, club bags, headwear, gloves, travel gear, and accessories. Ping operates worldwide as a subsidiary of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation.
Down:
1. Twitch: TIC. A repetitive movement that is difficult, if not impossible to voluntarily control. Tics can affect any group of muscles. The most common are facial tics, such as eye- blinking, nose-twitching, or grimacing.
2. Orthodontist's org.: ADA. American Dental Association. Orthodontics is a dentistry specialty that addresses the diagnosis, prevention, management, and correction of mal-positioned teeth and jaws, as well as misaligned bite patterns.
3. Pro opposite: CON. In favor of vs. against.
4. Wall hanging showing 48 states, perhaps: OLD MAP. Makes sense - there have been 50 since 1959.
5. Largest island in French Polynesia: TAHITI. Tahiti is the largest island in French Polynesia, the South Pacific archipelago. Shaped like a figure-8, it's divided into Tahiti Nui (the larger, western section) and Tahiti Iti (the eastern peninsula). With black-sand beaches, lagoons, waterfalls and 2 extinct volcanoes, it's a popular vacation destination.
6. "__ your words": toddler parent's phrase: USE. Encouraging a toddler to talk - a decision one may come to regret.
7. Nutritionist's no.: RDA. Recommended Daily Allowance - the average daily dietary intake level that is sufficient to meet the nutrient requirement of nearly all (97 to 98 percent) healthy individuals in a group.
8. "Sunrise" singer Jones: NORAH. Norah Jones [b. 1979] is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. She has won several awards for her music and, as of 2023, had sold more than 50 million records worldwide. Billboard named her the top jazz artist of the 2000s decade. She is the daughter of musician Ravi Shankar and concert producer Sue Jones.
9. Lord and Lady: TITLES. A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify either generation, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification. And, in the plural, the title of this excellent Discworld novel.
10. Physical pros: MDS. Medical Doctors. Rather an odd clue.
11. Never seen before: ORIGINAL. In this usage, something that is the first of its kind.
12. "The Lion King" meerkat: TIMON. Featured on a non-shareable video. You can watch it here.
13. Hosp. attachment: IV BAG. IV bags contain a solution of fluids that is administered directly into the patient's bloodstream through a needle or catheter, with the composition of the IV solution varying based on the type of fluid used and the patient's medical condition. They attach to the patient, not the building.
14. Great deeds: FEATS. Achievements that requires great courage, skill, or strength.
19. Puppy plaint: YIP. Sound made by a small dog.
23. Chevy SUV: TAHOE. The Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon are part of General Motors' full-size SUV family and are differentiated from the similar Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL primarily by the length of the passenger and cargo area behind the C-pillar.
25. Influence: CLOUT. Influence or power, especially in politics or business.
26. __ boson: elementary particle: HIGGS. An elementary particle in the Standard Model of particle physics produced by the quantum excitation of the Higgs field, one of the fields in particle physics theory. The Higgs field is a field of energy that is thought to exist in every region of the universe. The field is accompanied by a fundamental particle known as the Higgs boson, which is used by the field to continuously interact with other particles, such as the electron. Now you know.
27. Q.E.D. center: ERAT. Q.E.D. is the Latin abbreviation for quod erat demonstrandum: "Which was to be demonstrated." Q.E.D. may appear at the conclusion of a text to signify that the author's overall argument has just been proven.
28. Shorten, as a skirt: RE-HEM. A hem is the edge of a piece of cloth or clothing that has been turned under and sewn. To re-hem a garment is to fold over a greater length of cloth, thus shortening the garment.
29. Meyer of "Line of Duty": DINA. Dina Meyer [b. 1968] is an American actress. She began her career appearing in a recurring role on the Fox teen drama series Beverly Hills, 90210, before landing a leading role opposite Keanu Reeves in the 1995 film Johnny Mnemonic.
30. Fragrant latte: CHAI. In America, "chai" has become known as a flavor of tea with predominantly cinnamon or cardamom notes. But in India, chai is not a flavor of tea; it is tea—chai literally translates to "tea" in Hindi. Latte is a coffee drink of Italian origin made with espresso and steamed milk. I don't how to make this fit.
35. Marinade in Spanish cooking: ADOBO. This is a condiment or cooking sauce with a base containing chillies, particularly Chipotle and Ancho peppers. An Ancho pepper is a Poblano chili that is dried after it turns red. These sauces are used as a marinade and to add a smoky, spicy flavor.
37. Laurie of "Twin Peaks": PIPER. Piper Laurie [1932-1923] was an American actress. She is known for her roles in the films The Hustler, Carrie, and Children of a Lesser God, and the miniseries The Thorn Birds.
38. Bit the dust: ATE IT. Died, or less extremely, experience a severe failure.
39. Director Coogler: RYAN. Ryan Kyle Coogler [b. 1986] is an American filmmaker. He is a recipient of four NAACP Image Awards and four Black Reel Awards, and has been nominated for two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and a Grammy Award.
41. Tricks that are also a treat?: MAGIC ACT. Performances usually compounded of verbal utterance and object manipulation, that constitute “performative” acts by which a property is imperatively transferred to a recipient object or person on an analogical basis. Happy to clear that up.
42. Self-images: EGOS. One's self, especially as contrasted with another self or the world. Similarly, one's sense of self -worth.
43. Like Odin and Thor: NORSE. Relating to medieval Norway or Scandinavia, or their inhabitants or language. Odin and Thor are members of the Norse pantheon.
44. Actress Wilson: RITA. Rita Wilson [b.1957] is an American actress, singer, and producer. Her film appearances include Volunteers, Sleepless in Seattle, Now and Then, That Thing You Do!, Jingle All the Way, The Story of Us, Runaway Bride, It's Complicated, and Larry Crowne, and she appeared in the television series The Good Wife and Girls.
49. Overindulge: PAMPER. Indulge with every attention, comfort, and kindness; spoil.
51. "Except maybe ... ": UNLESS. Used to introduce the case in which a statement being made is not true or valid
52. Undeserved notoriety: BAD RAP. An unfairly bad reputation
53. Key material?: METAL. Keys are made of metal. I suppose the intended misdirection indicates a vital material. I'm unimpressed.
54. Cast out: EXILE. The state of being barred from one's native country, typically for political or punitive reasons.
55. Escorted: LED IN. Accompanied by someone who assures you arrive safely or with proper respect
and acknowledgment
56. Unit of energy: JOULE. A unit of work or energy in the International System of Units (SI); it is equal to the work done by a force of one newton acting through one metre. Named in honour of the English physicist James Prescott Joule, it equals 107 ergs, or approximately 0.7377 foot-pounds.
57. Kept out of sight: HID. Concealed.
62. August baby, maybe: LEO. The fifth sign of the zodiac. It corresponds to the constellation Leo and comes after Cancer and before Virgo. The traditional Western zodiac associates Leo with the period between about July 23 and August 22, and the sign spans the 120th to 150th degree of celestial longitude.
64. Fib: LIE. An untruth, spoken with the intent to deceive.
65. Young man: LAD.
66. Comedian Wong: ALI. Alexandra Dawn Wong [b. 1982] is an American stand-up comedian, actress, writer, producer, and director. She is best known for her Netflix stand-up specials Baby Cobra, Hard Knock Wife, and Don Wong. She has also starred in the romantic comedy film Always Be My Maybe, on which she also served as a writer and producer.
67. Persona __ grata: NON. A Latin phrase meaning “unwelcome person.” As a legal term, it refers to the practice of a state prohibiting a diplomat from entering the country as a diplomat, or censuring a diplomat already resident in the country for conduct unbecoming of the status of a diplomat.
68. Pub delivery: KEG. A metal container holding 36 U.S. gallons of beer.
That ending sounds like a visit to the officers club. I had my nits, but this puzzle was OK, so lets raise a cold one.
Across
1. Snack in a hard or soft shell: TACO. My first thought was crab. Oh, well. Taco is the Spanish word for sandwich. Once in Mexico I ordered a jamón con queso taco, not knowing what jamón was. I was surprised to get a ham and cheese sandwich on white bread.
5. Mega-excited, with "up": TURNT. It never occurred to me that turned could be spelt this way. This was a stumbling block for me.
10. Pattern: MOTIF. A bit of a stretch, but OK, I guess
15. Big star: IDOL. A person or thing that is greatly admired, loved, or revered.
16. Formal "Same here": AS DO I. Informally -- "Me too."
17. Initiative: DRIVE. Urge or force (animals or people) to move in a specified direction. In this usage, the one being urged is yourself, and the direction is metaphoric for some goal or achievement.
20. "The Lion King" lion: SIMBA. This Disney animated feature follows the adventures of the young lion Simba, the heir of his father, Mufasa. Images here.
21. Nintendo avatar: MII. A Mii is a customizable avatar used on several Nintendo video game consoles and mobile apps. The name Mii is a portmanteau of "Wii" and "me", referring to them typically being avatars of the players.
22. Prefix added to some music genres: ALT. Short for alternative, a category of rock music that evolved from the independent music underground of the 1970s. Alternative rock acts achieved mainstream success in the 1990s with the likes of the grunge, shoegaze, and Britpop subgenres in the United States and United Kingdom, respectively.
24. Kid's elder: GOAT. Of the species Capra hircus.
30. Snippet: CLIP. A small piece or brief extract from a video or audio recording.
31. Extreme anger: IRE. Derived from Latin.
32. __ guard: SHIN. A shin guard is a thick piece of material that you wear inside your socks to protect the lower part of your leg when you are playing a game such as soccer.
33. Glutton: HOG. One who wants both his share and yours.
34. "Ooohhh": AHA. Expressions of surprise or delight.
36. Equal (with): ON A PAR. Equivalent to.
45. "The plan's been approved": ITS A GO. Used to say that things are working correctly or that you have permission to do something
46. "Who, me?": MOI. Pretentious French usage.
47. Split __ soup: PEA. Soup made typically from dried peas, such as the split pea. It is, with variations, a part of the cuisine of many cultures. It is most often greyish-green or yellow in color depending on the regional variety of peas used; all are cultivars of Pisum sativum.
48. Hiker's mix: GORP. An acronym for "good ol' raisins and peanuts", although the mix may contain M&M's and other nuts. AKA trail mix.
50. Cooling syst. meas.: BTU. British Thermal Unit.
52. "__ Green": Kermit's song: BEIN'.
Alternatively --
Urbie was also Green
58. CIO or CTO: EXEC. Executive - a corporate officer.
59. Good Charlotte genre: EMO. Good Charlotte is an American rock band from Waldorf, Maryland, formed in 1995, that I never heard of. EMO is a rock music genre characterized by emotional, often confessional lyrics.
60. Kitchen cover: LID. For a pot or pan.
61. __ basin: TIDAL. The Tidal Basin is a man-made reservoir located between the Potomac River and the Washington Channel in Washington, D.C. It is part of West Potomac Park near the National Mall and is a focal point of the National Cherry Blossom Festival held each spring. Generically, a basin for boats which is accessible or navigable only at high tide.
69. "__ in Borderland": manga series: ALICE. a Japanese science fiction thriller drama streaming television series [that I never heard of] based on the manga by Haro Aso. The series was directed by Shinsuke Sato. It stars Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya as allies trapped in an abandoned Tokyo forced to compete in dangerous games, the type and difficulty represented by playing cards, to extend "visas" that, if expired, result in the player's execution by lasers being shot from the sky.
70. Inventor Howe: ELIAS. Elias Howe Jr. [1819 – 1867] was an American inventor best known for his creation of the modern lockstitch sewing machine.
71. Gel often kept in the fridge: ALOE. A preparation of leaf pulp from the parenchymal tissue of the plant Aloe vera (Liliaceae). Aloe vera gel contains carbohydrate polymers, such as glucomannans or pectic acid, and various vitamins and essential amino acids, as well as other organic and inorganic compounds. Not sure why it would need to be refrigerated.
72. Slowly, in music: LENTO. I was thinking LARGO. Either is correct.
73. Wetland plants: REEDS. A woody plant with long, slender leaves. Reeds need a lot of moisture, and they usually grow in or near a marsh. The stalk of a reed plant is also called a reed, and it's from this stiff, wood-like material that reeds for certain musical instruments were first made.
59. Good Charlotte genre: EMO. Good Charlotte is an American rock band from Waldorf, Maryland, formed in 1995, that I never heard of. EMO is a rock music genre characterized by emotional, often confessional lyrics.
60. Kitchen cover: LID. For a pot or pan.
61. __ basin: TIDAL. The Tidal Basin is a man-made reservoir located between the Potomac River and the Washington Channel in Washington, D.C. It is part of West Potomac Park near the National Mall and is a focal point of the National Cherry Blossom Festival held each spring. Generically, a basin for boats which is accessible or navigable only at high tide.
69. "__ in Borderland": manga series: ALICE. a Japanese science fiction thriller drama streaming television series [that I never heard of] based on the manga by Haro Aso. The series was directed by Shinsuke Sato. It stars Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya as allies trapped in an abandoned Tokyo forced to compete in dangerous games, the type and difficulty represented by playing cards, to extend "visas" that, if expired, result in the player's execution by lasers being shot from the sky.
70. Inventor Howe: ELIAS. Elias Howe Jr. [1819 – 1867] was an American inventor best known for his creation of the modern lockstitch sewing machine.
71. Gel often kept in the fridge: ALOE. A preparation of leaf pulp from the parenchymal tissue of the plant Aloe vera (Liliaceae). Aloe vera gel contains carbohydrate polymers, such as glucomannans or pectic acid, and various vitamins and essential amino acids, as well as other organic and inorganic compounds. Not sure why it would need to be refrigerated.
72. Slowly, in music: LENTO. I was thinking LARGO. Either is correct.
73. Wetland plants: REEDS. A woody plant with long, slender leaves. Reeds need a lot of moisture, and they usually grow in or near a marsh. The stalk of a reed plant is also called a reed, and it's from this stiff, wood-like material that reeds for certain musical instruments were first made.
74. Big name in golf equipment: PING. Ping Inc. designs and manufactures golf equipment. The Company's products include golf clubs, club bags, headwear, gloves, travel gear, and accessories. Ping operates worldwide as a subsidiary of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation.
Down:
1. Twitch: TIC. A repetitive movement that is difficult, if not impossible to voluntarily control. Tics can affect any group of muscles. The most common are facial tics, such as eye- blinking, nose-twitching, or grimacing.
2. Orthodontist's org.: ADA. American Dental Association. Orthodontics is a dentistry specialty that addresses the diagnosis, prevention, management, and correction of mal-positioned teeth and jaws, as well as misaligned bite patterns.
3. Pro opposite: CON. In favor of vs. against.
4. Wall hanging showing 48 states, perhaps: OLD MAP. Makes sense - there have been 50 since 1959.
5. Largest island in French Polynesia: TAHITI. Tahiti is the largest island in French Polynesia, the South Pacific archipelago. Shaped like a figure-8, it's divided into Tahiti Nui (the larger, western section) and Tahiti Iti (the eastern peninsula). With black-sand beaches, lagoons, waterfalls and 2 extinct volcanoes, it's a popular vacation destination.
6. "__ your words": toddler parent's phrase: USE. Encouraging a toddler to talk - a decision one may come to regret.
7. Nutritionist's no.: RDA. Recommended Daily Allowance - the average daily dietary intake level that is sufficient to meet the nutrient requirement of nearly all (97 to 98 percent) healthy individuals in a group.
8. "Sunrise" singer Jones: NORAH. Norah Jones [b. 1979] is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. She has won several awards for her music and, as of 2023, had sold more than 50 million records worldwide. Billboard named her the top jazz artist of the 2000s decade. She is the daughter of musician Ravi Shankar and concert producer Sue Jones.
9. Lord and Lady: TITLES. A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify either generation, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification. And, in the plural, the title of this excellent Discworld novel.
10. Physical pros: MDS. Medical Doctors. Rather an odd clue.
11. Never seen before: ORIGINAL. In this usage, something that is the first of its kind.
12. "The Lion King" meerkat: TIMON. Featured on a non-shareable video. You can watch it here.
13. Hosp. attachment: IV BAG. IV bags contain a solution of fluids that is administered directly into the patient's bloodstream through a needle or catheter, with the composition of the IV solution varying based on the type of fluid used and the patient's medical condition. They attach to the patient, not the building.
14. Great deeds: FEATS. Achievements that requires great courage, skill, or strength.
19. Puppy plaint: YIP. Sound made by a small dog.
23. Chevy SUV: TAHOE. The Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon are part of General Motors' full-size SUV family and are differentiated from the similar Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL primarily by the length of the passenger and cargo area behind the C-pillar.
25. Influence: CLOUT. Influence or power, especially in politics or business.
26. __ boson: elementary particle: HIGGS. An elementary particle in the Standard Model of particle physics produced by the quantum excitation of the Higgs field, one of the fields in particle physics theory. The Higgs field is a field of energy that is thought to exist in every region of the universe. The field is accompanied by a fundamental particle known as the Higgs boson, which is used by the field to continuously interact with other particles, such as the electron. Now you know.
27. Q.E.D. center: ERAT. Q.E.D. is the Latin abbreviation for quod erat demonstrandum: "Which was to be demonstrated." Q.E.D. may appear at the conclusion of a text to signify that the author's overall argument has just been proven.
28. Shorten, as a skirt: RE-HEM. A hem is the edge of a piece of cloth or clothing that has been turned under and sewn. To re-hem a garment is to fold over a greater length of cloth, thus shortening the garment.
29. Meyer of "Line of Duty": DINA. Dina Meyer [b. 1968] is an American actress. She began her career appearing in a recurring role on the Fox teen drama series Beverly Hills, 90210, before landing a leading role opposite Keanu Reeves in the 1995 film Johnny Mnemonic.
30. Fragrant latte: CHAI. In America, "chai" has become known as a flavor of tea with predominantly cinnamon or cardamom notes. But in India, chai is not a flavor of tea; it is tea—chai literally translates to "tea" in Hindi. Latte is a coffee drink of Italian origin made with espresso and steamed milk. I don't how to make this fit.
35. Marinade in Spanish cooking: ADOBO. This is a condiment or cooking sauce with a base containing chillies, particularly Chipotle and Ancho peppers. An Ancho pepper is a Poblano chili that is dried after it turns red. These sauces are used as a marinade and to add a smoky, spicy flavor.
37. Laurie of "Twin Peaks": PIPER. Piper Laurie [1932-1923] was an American actress. She is known for her roles in the films The Hustler, Carrie, and Children of a Lesser God, and the miniseries The Thorn Birds.
38. Bit the dust: ATE IT. Died, or less extremely, experience a severe failure.
39. Director Coogler: RYAN. Ryan Kyle Coogler [b. 1986] is an American filmmaker. He is a recipient of four NAACP Image Awards and four Black Reel Awards, and has been nominated for two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and a Grammy Award.
41. Tricks that are also a treat?: MAGIC ACT. Performances usually compounded of verbal utterance and object manipulation, that constitute “performative” acts by which a property is imperatively transferred to a recipient object or person on an analogical basis. Happy to clear that up.
42. Self-images: EGOS. One's self, especially as contrasted with another self or the world. Similarly, one's sense of self -worth.
43. Like Odin and Thor: NORSE. Relating to medieval Norway or Scandinavia, or their inhabitants or language. Odin and Thor are members of the Norse pantheon.
44. Actress Wilson: RITA. Rita Wilson [b.1957] is an American actress, singer, and producer. Her film appearances include Volunteers, Sleepless in Seattle, Now and Then, That Thing You Do!, Jingle All the Way, The Story of Us, Runaway Bride, It's Complicated, and Larry Crowne, and she appeared in the television series The Good Wife and Girls.
49. Overindulge: PAMPER. Indulge with every attention, comfort, and kindness; spoil.
51. "Except maybe ... ": UNLESS. Used to introduce the case in which a statement being made is not true or valid
52. Undeserved notoriety: BAD RAP. An unfairly bad reputation
53. Key material?: METAL. Keys are made of metal. I suppose the intended misdirection indicates a vital material. I'm unimpressed.
54. Cast out: EXILE. The state of being barred from one's native country, typically for political or punitive reasons.
55. Escorted: LED IN. Accompanied by someone who assures you arrive safely or with proper respect
and acknowledgment
56. Unit of energy: JOULE. A unit of work or energy in the International System of Units (SI); it is equal to the work done by a force of one newton acting through one metre. Named in honour of the English physicist James Prescott Joule, it equals 107 ergs, or approximately 0.7377 foot-pounds.
57. Kept out of sight: HID. Concealed.
62. August baby, maybe: LEO. The fifth sign of the zodiac. It corresponds to the constellation Leo and comes after Cancer and before Virgo. The traditional Western zodiac associates Leo with the period between about July 23 and August 22, and the sign spans the 120th to 150th degree of celestial longitude.
64. Fib: LIE. An untruth, spoken with the intent to deceive.
65. Young man: LAD.
66. Comedian Wong: ALI. Alexandra Dawn Wong [b. 1982] is an American stand-up comedian, actress, writer, producer, and director. She is best known for her Netflix stand-up specials Baby Cobra, Hard Knock Wife, and Don Wong. She has also starred in the romantic comedy film Always Be My Maybe, on which she also served as a writer and producer.
67. Persona __ grata: NON. A Latin phrase meaning “unwelcome person.” As a legal term, it refers to the practice of a state prohibiting a diplomat from entering the country as a diplomat, or censuring a diplomat already resident in the country for conduct unbecoming of the status of a diplomat.
68. Pub delivery: KEG. A metal container holding 36 U.S. gallons of beer.
That ending sounds like a visit to the officers club. I had my nits, but this puzzle was OK, so lets raise a cold one.
While were having a toast, today is our 33rd wedding anniversary. The best years of my life!
Cheers!
JzB
“Turnt”? What in the Sam Hill is that? This puzzle was by no means easy. In fact, it was more like a Friday puzzle than a Wednesday puzzle, IMHO. The last two themed entries were quite difficult for me to get, for one thing. For another thing, there were a number of obscure names. Anyway, I persevered and got the win, so I guess I shouldn’t complain too loudly. FIR, so I’m happy, if a bit disgruntled!
ReplyDeleteGood morning!
ReplyDeleteYay, d-o saw had the circles and saw the PULLED-apart RANKS. In the Navy, officers have ranks and enlisted personnel have rates. Tried ASLAN for SIMBA -- got my mythologies confused. Never heard of PING in the context of golf equipment, but ALI ruled out PANG or PONG. Thanx for putting some crunch in my cereal, Katie. Esoteric expo, as usual, JzB. (Congrats on your anniversary.)
I agree with D-O - a little slower solve than a usual Wednesday. The AUGMENTED REALITY was the last theme to drop - I had the theme by then so I knew the circles would likely be GENERAL or ADMIRAL depending on the branch. My son just went from CAPTAIN to MAJOR in the Air Force - oddly they get the appointment but the actual promotion/ceremony can take months.
ReplyDeleteLike JzB started with largo before perps shifted me to LENTO
ALI Wong will need to have her Wiki updated as she just won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for best actress in a limited series for her work in "Beef" which is on Netflix. I'm sure it is critically acclaimed but I don't have much interest in a show that is a about a road rage incident that escalates into a feud.
I enjoy CHAI Lattes or just CHAI without the latte
Thanks JzB for the fun (and musical blog) - and happy anniversary! and thanks to Katie for the puzzle.
FIR. But is this Saturday? What a workout for a Wednesday!
ReplyDeleteAnd circles and proper names as well!
Turnt? Seriously? And since when is cadet a military rank "on a par" with captain, major, or general?
Add to this answers like Ping and Mii, and you have a poorly presented crossword. Yuk!
Took 7:42 today for me to get out to sea, man.
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy his posts and his positivity, but I think I also find this disgruntled SubG amusing.
I didn't know any of today's actress (Piper, Rita, or Melissa...), and didn't know many of the proper names.
Oh joy, circles!
As usual, while I admire the work that must go into finding words/phrases that contain the theme words in a hidden, mixed, pulled, stretched, scrambled, etc. manner, it doesn't enhance the solving experience for me. Instead, it detracts because we're forced to deal with the voluminous amounts of proper names and three-letter words. But, like our esteemed guide today said, your mileage may vary.
Rita Wilson has of course also been Mrs. Tom Hanks for 35 years
ReplyDeleteSHIN guards are worn outside the socks by baseball catchers
FIR, getting my WAG @ AHA x ADOBO, and fixing id tag -> IV BAG, brand new -> ORIGINAL, evict - >expel -> EXILE, and mike -> DINA.
ReplyDeleteToday is:
NATIONAL NOTHING DAY (Americans can just sit without celebrating, observing or honoring anything. So why do we have the rest of these?)
NATIONAL FIG NEWTON DAY (darned tootin’)
NATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM DAY (about as robust these days as the Aral sea)
NATIONAL WITHOUT A SCALPEL DAY (doctors treat disease through a tiny pinhole instead of open surgery)
FLN - Bayou Tony, you pull the pin and throw it back. (I know all the blonde jokes because my natural-flaxen sister hates them.)
I use PING irons and Taylormade "woods." The company name comes from the sound their early putters made when struck. I still have one of them, but I only use it when my objective is to be an irritant.
Weren't we just confused with BE IN? Let it go, Patti.
The most recognizable song from Little FEAT is Movin,' with the catch lines:
And if you give me weed, whites, and wine
And you show me a sign
I'll be willin'... to be movin'
Thanks for the fun, candid review, and congrats on your 33rd to JzB. BTW, it takes a while to drive through Waldorf. A guy I met in a class was from there, and claimed that the city timed stoplights to slow down traffic. The stated reason was for safety, but locals think it is to increase sales in the restaurants and shops on the main drag.
ReplyDeleteWhat a difference a day makes. FIR but lotsa unknown PN’s. The way the circles were displayed figured we might have a fun old fashioned adage/motto/saying but just a progression of militiary rank.
AUGMENTED REALITY: still not sure I understand 🙄
Inkovers: ditto/asami/ASDOI, chip/CLIP, I guess/UNLESS
ATE IT means “paid for a loss” while “Bite the dust” is what a gunned down outlaw does. I remember ADOBO cuz it’s like “adobe” only edible. TURNT(up): huh? wha?
TITLES, nobles wouldn’t perp. : just a reminder Odin is the NORSE King of gods NOT the god of war. …Has the plan been approved? ITS A GO or did they PULL THE PIN (where’ve I hear that before?😉)
Some temporary perp problems when I put too many R’s in CHAPTERR. Splitting each one of those peas! Must take forever to make the soup🍲
ADA “Orthodontist” organizations are being suppressed in some states for promoting Critical BraceTheory to children with crooked teeth. 🤓
When I was a kid my grandparents displayed a flag on the 4th with just 46 stars. I figured out later that when they immigrated in 1910 AZ and NM were not yet states. 🇺🇸
Almost had GORE for trail mix, Bleh!! 🤢… speaking of eating, thought “overindulge” referred to gluttony 🍔🍟🍕
Repetitive throat clearing: REHEM
Synonym of Erst…. ITSAGO
Multiple failed attempts to perform “Great Deeds”: the agony of de ____ FEATS
Happy hump day (JzB those wine glasses look empty! 🥂)
This puzzle almost rolled off my tongue today. I had notrouble with it. The hardest clue for me was overindulge. I kept thinking about alcohol but when I came up with 59A EMO, PAMPER became obvious.
ReplyDeleteAgree that the presentation of the puzzle would have been more elegant if the ranks would have been in order of precedence, but chest la Guerrero.
Swell exposition JzB, and congrats to Katie for her "Rank" presentation.
Give stuff away free and the world will take advantage.
Nothing
C’est la guerre?
DeleteGood Morning:
ReplyDeleteRegular readers and contributors to this blog are well aware of my pet peeve about an excess of three letter words. They are also aware of SS's and other's dislike of circles. And there are many who voice displeasure with overuse of proper names. Well, IMO, today's offering manages to capture all three annoyances. As SubG said, this is more of a Friday level than a Wednesday but, by Patti's standards, the perps were fair, so no foul. Yes, the perps were fair, for the most part, and I finished w/o help, but in Friday time due to several unknowns and some very strange and obtuse cluing, e.g., the clue for Use. The proper name count could have been reduced by cluing Piper and Ping differently, as could the several mindless fill-in-the-blank examples. I achieved a successful solve but one lacking in satisfaction or enjoyment.
Thanks, Katie, and thanks, JazzB, for the usual fact-filled, detailed review. Welcome back and Happy Anniversary to you and Mrs. JazzB!
Inanehiker @ 7:02 ~ I started watching Beef but was so distressed by the violence and vitriol that I gave up almost immediately. I can't even imagine how much worse it became in subsequent episodes. Definitely not my cup of tea.
Have a great day.
I got the ranks and the reveal but became very frustrated with the proper names, none of which I knew, I especially dislike the clueing of a long fill with a proper name.
ReplyDeleteTURNT(?) USE as clued. Who says that to a child?
Anyway, I quit. Now that we’re thawing out, I have too much to do to continue.
jaz. Loved your recap, thank goodness.
Musings
ReplyDelete-I was looking for BREAK RANKS
-I am subbing today in a school where there are three teachers who have the DRIVE to take kids out of school periodically to give them real life experiences.
-Some film CLIPS one sees in ads are the very few actually entertaining scenes in the entire movie
-A congressman, a stripper and the D.C. TIDAL BASIN
-A guy I sometimes golf with spent $400 for a PING putter. He doesn’t putt any better than I do.
-I was in junior high when the last two stars were added to the flag
-An IV bag with a funny name used for hangovers
-Actress DINA Merrill is more familiar to me. She was also an heiress to the Post Cereal fortune.
-BAD REP held up my finish for a while
-PIPER was incredible playing a poor, lost soul in The Hustler
-Happy Anniversary to Jazz and his lovely bride.
-Gotta run, there’s a gaggle of Juniors heading into my room
Good Morning! I viewed Katie Hale’s name with trepidation, but the NW filled smoothly, so I proceeded along. And, with a few obscurities it gradually filled with much help from the perps. Thanks, Katie.
ReplyDeleteI guessed wrong with YaP -> YIP since I was not familiar with MII
WO: 41D: (with only the _ AG ): gag gifts -> MAGIC ACT.
I saw the theme which helped fill in the blanks for GENERAL.
Thanks, JazzB for oodles of info to explain it all, and Congratulations!! to you and your lovely wife. How very sweet!
Well,
ReplyDeleteI never heard Subgenius disgruntled before!?
If it's any consolation, I was burnt by turnt too...
(Autocorrect doesn't like it either..)
Happy Anniversary Jzb!
I smiled when goat appeared from the "kids elder" clue,
Then I overthunk it, thinking, well, a small kid may think an elder brother is the Greatest Of All Time, but that quickly diminishes with age...
Learning moment! Taco = sandwich?
Hmm, not so sure, I Googled, and the internet came back with a lot of stuff.. Of note if you scroll down is it's slang meaning...
Anon-T, I failed to conclude the dumb blonde joke, because I was hoping some one could come up with a better punchline.
Jzb, thanks for the Kermit interlude! Reminded me I need to relearn Rainbow Connection.
Oh, and the silly theme link...
I found a new definition of "pulled rank."
DNF this morning. Just not on my wavelength. Got some of the low-hanging fruit, but frustration set in and I TITT. Enjoyed JazBs recap, and it reinforced my decision to move on!
ReplyDeleteHola!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Katie Hale and Jazzbumpa! Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. JZB, on your anniversary!
This was slow going for me because I started early, returned to bed, then resumed after I got up again. For me, circles are not an enjoyable feature in a puzzle. However, I did recognize the RANKS.
I had ATOLE before ADOBO because that is more familiar to me in my vernacular.
CSO to my late uncle, ELIAS. He was born with rheumatoid arthritis and suffered his entire life.
TURNT just looks and sounds wrong. It should be clarified as being obsolete.
Why clue ALICE in a Japanese setting instead of the more common English one?
ALICE is also a CSO to my young friend in San Diego
Another CSO to my sister's grandson RYAN.
I hope you are all enjoying your day!
Forgot congratulate our newly-crowned Miss America, US Air Force 2nd Lieutenant Madison Marsh. She is the first fighter pilot (F16) to win that award. I guess "lieutenant" was too long to fit today's theme.
ReplyDeletePuzzling thoughts:
ReplyDeleteFIR with a few corrections; notably, I had AMPED where TURNT was, and EVICT instead of EXILE. I had a couple WAG's, too, but stayed the course
JzB -> congrat's to you and Mrs Bumpa on your anniversary
Difficulty for today was definitely Fri/Sat
HG @ 10:30 -> the $400 putter doesn't surprise me. I purchased some replacement clubs in the past year as I needed to adjust the flex in my irons and woods. Ouch. I can recall when a complete set of new irons (3-PW) could be bought for $400 or less
I noticed that today's puzzle had a 16x15 grid pattern, and 66 (count 'em) themer squares
Hi, Gang -
ReplyDeleteThanks for the good wishes. I am truly blessed.
And thankful for all you good people here at the corner.
Cheers!
JzB
Correction - Lieutenant Marsh is a pilot, but not an F16 pilot (yet.)
ReplyDeleteHand up TURNT just had to be wrong. Wrong. Hand up did not know any of those actresses. PING just had to be wrong. Wrong. Learning moment. Hand up METAL clue more of a flop than a misdirect. YIP or YAP? A double I is not possible. Wrong. FIW. Unfair.
ReplyDeleteI did enjoy the theme and it helped me with the solve.
Here I stood in the control room at CERN above where the HIGGS BOSON was discovered.
That was two years before the discovery.
Jazzbumpa Happy Anniversary!
From Yesterday:
Chairman Moe I enjoyed your puzzle!
Too many names, of which I knew none. Last letter in was the “U” in “TURNT”, a word I have never heard, nor have I ever heard anyone use the expression “TURNT UP”. Also DNK “GORP”. So with all that I surprised myself by managing to FIR, but in a Friday or Saturday time, and lots of grousing. I did see the theme for a change. KH your CW should have come on a Friday or Saturday, but that’s not your choice. So thanx for the really tough (for me) workout. Thanx JzB for the write-up, and happy anniversary!
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary, Jazzbumpa! I am truly happy that you are happy.
ReplyDeleteAs for the puzzle, WEES.
Cheers, M/M JazzBumpa! Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteHi All!
ReplyDeleteThanks Katie for the puzzle. Overall fun, but TURNT crossing a name and two more names in the same block (37d & 39d) sucked out some of the fun.
Thanks for the extensive review JzB. And Happy Anniversary!
WOs: pig->HOG, I put ERG in LAD's spot, expel -> EXILE
ESPs: TUNRT | NORAH, PIPER, RYAN
Fav: BEIN' GREEN
ON A PAR? I've heard ON PAR with but...
Cool pic, Picard.
That's all I got for now. Cheers, -T
Picard @ 1:15 -> thanks! Glad you liked it. Stay tuned, as more are coming soon ...
ReplyDeleteI knew ping ONLY because it is headquartered here in AZ and has been occasionally featured in the newspaper. Otherwise, I know nothing about golf or its equipment. Ironically, however, my neighborhood is surrounded by golf courses! There is a greenbelt parallel to the highway, ten miles long, which is devoted to golf. On any given day, unless it's raining (which is rare), golfers can be seen all along the greenbelt.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the challenge, Katie. I had a scratching-my-head FIR. FAV: EXILE next to LED IN.
ReplyDeleteCADET felt like the outlier here.
Good to see you back, JzB!! I liked your definition for HOG. Didn't know that about NORAH's dad. I had some of her CDs in the early 2000s. Happy Anniversary!
Lucina @ 5pm
ReplyDeleteWhere in Arid-zona does all water come for all those golf courses?
My goodness, this was a real Wednesday toughie. The whole time I worked on it, I kept thinking, 'Well, Friday's are always tough.' But when I remembered it was Wednesday, I was shocked. When I put in words like GORP and TURNT I was sure I had made a mistake with the surrounding words but just couldn't manage to fix it. Well, Katie, sorry this was such a toughie, but thanks anyway.
ReplyDeleteJazz-B, you were our blessing this morning. Thank you for the careful, thoughtful, clear way you explained every single word to us. Made me feel that this puzzle was actually a learning experience, and made me begin to appreciate it.
And then that lovely news and picture at the end: Congratulations on your long anniversary! How wonderful, and I hope you and your wife are enjoying a delightful family celebration!
Cheers, Misty
Jazzbumpa, happy anniversary to you and your bride!
ReplyDeleteRay-O
ReplyDeleteWater for the golf courses, as I understand it, is recycled from our everyday usage. And the grass is emerald green!