Happy Monday, everyone! sumdaze here, blogging my fourth and final Janice Luttrell puzzle for the year. This time Janice takes a shot at a puzzle with three currency words used in other contexts.
Theme:
 |
| BANK SHOT |
These are the themed clues & answers:
16 Across. Form submitted to the post office before moving: CHANGE OF ADDRESS.
 |
| There was a lot of this going on these past few (hectic) weeks. |
25 Across. Actor who played the U.S. president in "Independence Day": BILL PULLMAN. (b. Dec. 17, 1953. Note: This was a 41-Down year.)
 |
| Pullman, in the 1996 film and today He usually plays very likable characters. |
43 Across. Part of a hotel lobby: CHECK-IN DESK. 
55 Across. "You can count on that!," and a hint to the starts of 16-, 25-, and 43-Across: TAKE IT TO THE BANK.
CHANGE, BILLs, and CHECKs are all things you can TAKE TO THE BANK.
 |
| CHANGE also made me think about dropping coins into a piggy BANK. |
Across:
1. Fancy-schmancy: POSH. According to Gobsmacked!: The British Invasion of American English by Ben Yagoda, POSH came from the British military as a term to mean "superior clothing, or articles of attire other than those issued by and strictly conforming to regulations."
5. Work out details ahead of time: PLAN. Spontaneous events turn out better if you PLAN a bit first.
9. Falsehoods: LIES.
 |
| People do this. They say, "Only joking," when they really meant it. |
13. Capri, for one: ISLE. Yes, Capri pants are named after this ISLE.
14. Krispy __: KREME.
 |
| Dexter knew that no one suspects the doughnut guy. |
15. Golden State sch.: UCLA. I know that California's nickname is The Golden State and that UCLA is short for University of California, Los Angles; but is there another connection between these two terms other than "California"? Could this clue could refer to any CA school?
19. Wood-cutting tool: SAW. It can also be a musical instrument. In this 56 sec. video, a woman plays Somewhere Over the Rainbow on a SAW. Just amazing!
20. Thoroughly engrossed: RAPT. I felt utterly RAPT watching this raptor fly.
21. "How Do I Live" singer LeAnn: RIMES.
22. Source of harm: BANE.
23. Carne __ tacos: steak dish: ASADA. ASADo or ASADA? "Meat" is a feminine noun in Spanish so the last letter is an "A".
29. Taxi: CAB.
32. Gemstone with bands of color: AGATE.
33. "Othello" villain: IAGO. Shakespeare
34. "Ben-__": HUR. Hollywood
35. Smokehouse fare: RIBS.
36. Sudden shocks: JOLTS.
38. Have a meal: DINE.
39. Time for last-minute wrapping: EVE. as in "the night before you give the gift"
40. Soft drink: SODA.
41. __ Barbara, California: SANTA. CSO to Picard! This 3:41 min. video shows highlights of this gorgeous area.
42. "Lust for Life" singer Lana __ Rey: DEL.
46. Large water pipes: MAINS. They replaced the one on my street last summer. It is an extremely noisy process.
48. Rough figs. from the cockpit: ETAS. These rough figures from airplane pilots are Estimated Times of Arrival.
19. Wood-cutting tool: SAW. It can also be a musical instrument. In this 56 sec. video, a woman plays Somewhere Over the Rainbow on a SAW. Just amazing!
20. Thoroughly engrossed: RAPT. I felt utterly RAPT watching this raptor fly.
21. "How Do I Live" singer LeAnn: RIMES.
22. Source of harm: BANE.
 |
| Gophers!!! |
23. Carne __ tacos: steak dish: ASADA. ASADo or ASADA? "Meat" is a feminine noun in Spanish so the last letter is an "A".
29. Taxi: CAB.
32. Gemstone with bands of color: AGATE.
 |
| for example |
33. "Othello" villain: IAGO. Shakespeare
34. "Ben-__": HUR. Hollywood
35. Smokehouse fare: RIBS.
 |
| I bet Fred was on a paleo diet. |
36. Sudden shocks: JOLTS.
39. Time for last-minute wrapping: EVE. as in "the night before you give the gift"
40. Soft drink: SODA.
41. __ Barbara, California: SANTA. CSO to Picard! This 3:41 min. video shows highlights of this gorgeous area.
42. "Lust for Life" singer Lana __ Rey: DEL.
46. Large water pipes: MAINS. They replaced the one on my street last summer. It is an extremely noisy process.
48. Rough figs. from the cockpit: ETAS. These rough figures from airplane pilots are Estimated Times of Arrival.
Note: Pluralizing initialisms can get tricky.
49. Accessory that may match mittens: SCARF.
51. Potato __ race: SACK.
52. Greyhound vehicle: BUS. CSO to Jinx & Zoe!
49. Accessory that may match mittens: SCARF.
51. Potato __ race: SACK.
52. Greyhound vehicle: BUS. CSO to Jinx & Zoe!
The Bus
I stumbled upon this Billy Jonas record several years ago when I was in Ashville, NC.
It's a bit different -- but it makes you think about the people around you and their stories.
59. "You said it!": AMEN.
60. "Yippee!": OH BOY.
61. No-frills grocery chain: ALDI. Aldi and Trader Joe's are owned by the same people.
60. "Yippee!": OH BOY.
61. No-frills grocery chain: ALDI. Aldi and Trader Joe's are owned by the same people.
62. Filmmaker Ephron: NORA.
63. Deadpool player Reynolds: RYAN. Deadpool is a Marvel Comics character. He is the wisecracking alter ego of Wade Wilson, a Canadian by birth. Ryan Reynolds (also Canadian) played Deadpool in four movies. Here is the trailer for the first one (2016):
64. Hilarious person: RIOT.
Down:
63. Deadpool player Reynolds: RYAN. Deadpool is a Marvel Comics character. He is the wisecracking alter ego of Wade Wilson, a Canadian by birth. Ryan Reynolds (also Canadian) played Deadpool in four movies. Here is the trailer for the first one (2016):
64. Hilarious person: RIOT.
Down:
1. Snapshots, casually: PICS.
2. Workplace standards org.: OSHA.
3. Cabbage side often made with mayo: SLAW. and 22 Down. Sandwiches often made with mayo: BLTS.
Speaking of mayo, How about "Beverage made with mayo"? I am not telling 9-Acrosses. Last month this "mayonnaise-style drink", now sold in Japan, was in the news. I avoid mayo; so, when I lived there, I learned to identify this word on packaging early on. 
4. Cornish game __: HEN. They can be male, too! all your questions answered here
5. Move forward: PROPEL. Def.: (verb) to drive forward or onward by or as if by means of a force that imparts motion.
6. "L," on an earbud: LEFT. I love, love, love my bone conduction headphones. This 44 sec. video explains how they differ from earbuds.
7. Doctors org.: AMA. organization and American Medical Association
8. Actor Beatty: NED. (1937-2021) He has 163 actor credits on IMDb.
9. Cheaply sensational: LURID.
10. Hotel fixture that fills buckets: ICE MACHINE.
11. "What __ is new?": ELSE.
12. Back talk: SASS.
14. Actor Reeves: KEANU. his IMDb page
17. Purple flavor: GRAPE. I thought of Jolly Ranchers.
18. Clog-busting brand: DRANO.
23. Amo, amas, __: AMAT. Latin for "I love", "you (singular) love", and "he/she/it loves"
24. Droops: SAGS. This is a 2006 John Mayer song called Gravity:
5. Move forward: PROPEL. Def.: (verb) to drive forward or onward by or as if by means of a force that imparts motion.
6. "L," on an earbud: LEFT. I love, love, love my bone conduction headphones. This 44 sec. video explains how they differ from earbuds.
7. Doctors org.: AMA. organization and American Medical Association
8. Actor Beatty: NED. (1937-2021) He has 163 actor credits on IMDb.
 |
| Ned voiced the character Lotso in Toy Story 3 (2010). |
9. Cheaply sensational: LURID.
10. Hotel fixture that fills buckets: ICE MACHINE.
11. "What __ is new?": ELSE.
12. Back talk: SASS.
14. Actor Reeves: KEANU. his IMDb page
17. Purple flavor: GRAPE. I thought of Jolly Ranchers.
18. Clog-busting brand: DRANO.
23. Amo, amas, __: AMAT. Latin for "I love", "you (singular) love", and "he/she/it loves"
24. Droops: SAGS. This is a 2006 John Mayer song called Gravity:
Oh, graity is working against me
And gravity wants to bring me down.
Oh twice as much ain't twice as good
And can't sustain like one half could
It's wanting more
That's gonna send me to my knees
25. __ one's soul: BARED.
26. "Uncle!": I GIVE. Last Monday we had 5-Across. "I give up!" as the clue for UNCLE.
27. Small printer with a built-in keyboard: LABEL MAKER. Did anyone else think of this 1995 Seinfeld episode with guest star Bryan Cranston? (5:14 min.)
28. Fragrant shrub: LILAC.
30. Mom's sisters: AUNTS. and 38 Down. Fathers: DADS.
31. Short holiday: BREAK.
36. "Grease" star Travolta: JOHN. (b. Feb. 18, 1954)
26. "Uncle!": I GIVE. Last Monday we had 5-Across. "I give up!" as the clue for UNCLE.
27. Small printer with a built-in keyboard: LABEL MAKER. Did anyone else think of this 1995 Seinfeld episode with guest star Bryan Cranston? (5:14 min.)
28. Fragrant shrub: LILAC.
30. Mom's sisters: AUNTS. and 38 Down. Fathers: DADS.
31. Short holiday: BREAK.
36. "Grease" star Travolta: JOHN. (b. Feb. 18, 1954)
 |
| Travolta, now & then |
37. Poems of praise: ODES.
40. Futuristic genre: SCI-FI.
41. Slithering reptile in the Chinese zodiac: SNAKE. SNAKE years are 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, and 2025.
44. Diane of "Book Club": KEATON. (b. Jan. 5, 1946)
45. Like a mosquito bite: ITCHY. My mosquito repellent trick is to stand next to DH. They are attracted to him so they leave me alone.
47. Sports venue: ARENA. Here is some timely trivia around the new Gladiator II movie: The distinction between ARENA, amphitheater, and colosseum is that the ARENA floor is the elliptical space in the center of the Colosseum, toward which the 360 degree seats of the amphitheater face.
49. Lee of Marvel Comics: STAN. (1922-2018)
50. Covert ops garb, for short: CAMO. Ops is short for "operations", so did we need for short in the clue?
51. Japanese noodle: SOBA.
 |
| These SOBA noodles have a mayonnaise sauce. |
52. Indonesian island in the Coral Triangle: BALI.
53. Word processor command: UNDO. A word processor is a device that uses computerized and/or text editing equipment to produce type-written documents (such as business letters). Microsoft Word is an example of word processing software.
56. The Blue Jays, on ESPN crawls: TOR. as in TORonto
57. Quaker possessive: THY.
58. Saloon: BAR. This is the saloon scene from The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018).
Warning: This is a Coen brothers film so expect the bad guy to meet a violent end.
And now for a grid you can bank on:
That's it. I'm all cashed out. Happy New Year, everyone!
32 comments:
Although I didn’t remember the actor Bill Pullman, the perps were more than fair, and this puzzle definitely felt like another Monday “walk in the park.” FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
Ka-ching! Six minutes and done. That map of the Coral Triangle does not include the Great Barrier Reef -- odd. RAPTor in that video appears to be a buzzard (turkey vulture). We often see them riding the thermals around here. Thanx for a Monday glide, Janice. I always enjoy your take on things, sumdaze.
FIR. Nice easy Monday puzzle. I had no problems with this except maybe for the actor Bill Pullman. I'm really not good at names in general, especially actors.
The third long entry awarded me the theme before I got to the reveal.
Overall a fun and enjoyable puzzle.
FIR without erasure. DNK BILL PULLMAN.
Good luck with your CHANGE OF ADDRESS. We file this when we winter in Florida. Seems like we get unimportant stuff forwarded, but things like 1099 forms and medical bills either disappear, or are returned to the sender. One time it was returned "no such address." That one was a 1099 from the training center where I taught project management classes. The administrator called me to let me know. She got a good laugh out of it, while I smoldered.
I think of a short holiday as being like Independence Day, and BREAK being a week or so, like when the rowdy kids migrate to Tampa or Tijuana in the spring.
Haven't seen Book Club, but I loved KEATON with Nicholson in Something's Gotta Give. KEANU was in that one too.
In an effort to retain control of information management in the face of the increasing number of personal computers in the office, our IT folks installed several IBM 5520 word processing systems. They weren't any better than the desktop machines, but they were linked with dedicated data circuits which made sharing documents easy. It also provided automatic backup, something that PC users often forgot to do.
I liked the John Mayer Gravity ballad. The late Jimmy Buffett performed the ballad Defying Gravity, and the more up-tempo Gravity Storm.
Thanks to Janis for another delightful start to the week. And thanks to sumdaze for the fun review, and especially for the arena - ampitheater - colosseum connection. Now, if I can just remember it. (Sometimes I think I should change my handle to Scarecrow - "If I only had a brain.")
Good Morning:
This was a perfect Monday puzzle, IMO. It had a cute, discernible theme, solver-friendly cluing and fill, a minimal amount of pop culture, and even fewer TLWs, all resulting in a smooth, satisfying solve. Bill Pullman is a very versatile actor and is just as talented in dramatic roles as comedic ones, a talent not seen too often.
Thanks, Janice, for a lovely start to the week and thanks, sumdaze, for the upbeat and informative review. I enjoyed the travelogue on Santa Barbara, and the unique rendition of Somewhere Over The Rainbow. Also enjoyed, as always, your special way with words!
Have a great day.
Monday puzzle. Direct deposit plus a mint of information in the entertaining write up!
Greet the day.
Took 3:09 today for me to cash in on this one.
I knew today's actress (Keaton), but was unfamiliar with "Book Club", and I knew all three of today's actors (Bill Pullman, Keanu, & Ryan).
Apologies to SubG, but this felt like a speed walk in the park today.
Good Morning! Nice puzzle to start the week, although it was pure luck the center west came together. EVE started the ball rolling. For the rest of the puzzle, lots of familiar fills brought me to a happy conclusion.
SOBA – Panera used to have a SOBA noodle bowl on the menu. I wish they’d bring it back.
Thanks, sumdaze, for the fun and info. Although I enjoy mayonnaise in its expected places, I think I’d pass on it in a beverage.
Anonymous is RosE. I know what happened. I was infected with adware and had to have my computer cleaned. I've had to re-sign in to all my usual haunts.
Yes, nice, smooth Monday CW. I didn’t know the name BILL PULLMAN but recognized him.
I’ve never been to an ALDI store.
Thank you sumdaze for such á nice review, and the videos of the musical saw and the Seinfeld clip.
It’s so foggy this morning I can’t see across the street.
C.C. has today's USA Today crossword, called "Print Out"
You can find it online at https://puzzles.usatoday.com/.
Back later.
Yeah, they nag at us to delete our cookies, and that is one of the side effects.
At least I think so.
An enjoyable start to the week. Fun clues with a lack of drivel, fairly well-known names, and a nice recap by sumdaze. What's not to like! Laughed at the Flintstone paleo diet, or, "I didn't claw my way to the top of the food chain to eat grass and weeds!"
We had a great Christmas two- day visit at David's . For sixty years we have had delicious roast beef and Yorkshire pudding on Christmas. David is a great cook. I made vichyssoise for an appetizer. My grandson, Kenny, was home from Japan. So wonderful to see him. They celebrated my birthday Christmas evening. I very happy time. Thank you for all the friendly birthday greetings
I am till crazy busy. I will catch up with you all soon.
Well today didn’t require an early withdrawal like some Friday’s and Saturday’s as I FIR in 6:41 (whatever SS comes in at, I can usually double it). A nice no frills puzzle from Janice, a pro at early week puzzles, and an equally enjoyable recap from our Monday maven sumdaze. Thank you both for a pleasant start to the CW week!
Musings
-There appears to be no evidence to support Port Out Starboard Home for POSH
-DINING on ANACAPRI (Top of Capri) is a very pleasant memory
-SODAS and coffee are big profit makers for fast food companies. We only drink water.
-We are within walking distance of an ALDI’s but don’t go there. We are more aware of what they don’t carry.
-The Philadelphia Eagles have popularized the “tush push” where players get behind the QB on the goal line and PROPEL him into the end zone with a concerted push
-Saying, “How are you?” can sometimes trigger someone to BARE their soul to you.
-Yes, Sumdaze, regifting the LABLE MAKER came to my mind!
-BTW, do you recommend マヨ on grilled cheese sandwiches?
H-Gary @ 11:36. I like the Port Out Starboard Home explanation for POSH and wish it were true because it is logical if one's travels originated from the British Isles. I did not mention it because, like you said, there appears to be no evidence. I have never had a マヨ & grilled cheese sandwich and it is highly unlikely I ever will. Are you a fan?
Delightful Monday puzzle, many thanks, Janice. And your commentary is always a help and a pleasure, thanks for that too, Sumdaze.
Well, we didn't exactly get a POSH family in this puzzle, but we did get some AUNTS and DADS, and a BOY, and given the reference to SANTA, it looks as though they might just be finishing up some Christmas celebrations. I suspect they had a lovely dinner with a SACK of food so they could DINE on some RIBS, along with some SLAW and drinks of SODA, followed by dessert with KRISPY KREMES and some GRAPES. Not a bad evening for this family, I would say.
Have a lovely week coming up, everybody.
Fun theme and fairly easy solve. Did not know any of the names as clued. WAGS to FIR.
sumdaze Thank you for the shout out regarding SANTA BARBARA.
Here was a baby gopher SNAKE hiking high above SANTA BARBARA.
Liz was a regular on my hikes and she had a good eye for finding SNAKEs and other wildlife. This was the spot where I broke my wrist in August. I am just about to head out to see the surgeon to find out how it is healing.
Sumdaze
My favorite podcast is The Tony Kornheiser Show and they discuss sports, music, theater and all manner of food. He had a fan send in a recipe of making grilled cheese sandwiches with mayonnaise (especially Duke's). He tried it and sang its praises. I have not done that yet.
Rapid Fill. With a slight hold up in the Midwest. Was sure at first it was save “our souls”. Plus saw the film but as usual couldn’t remember the actor.
SANTA has a lot of lady helpers in California: Monica, Barbara, Rosa, Clara , et al
Doesn’t “Lana DEL Rey” mean wool of the kingin español ?(It: lana del re)
“Rough figs from the cockpit”: unshaved pilots 🧑✈️waaay too long 😃. Didn’t know that AGATE was a gemstone, (have I lost my marbles ?😆🙄.)
What “née” implies …. CHANGE OF ADDRESS
Was once female: Ben __ …. HUR
A skillful songwriter like “LeAnn” is clever with ____ … RIMES
RIP President Carter, when morality and integrity had meaning.
H.Gary, is "Port Out Starboard Home" a navigation shortcut like "Red Right Returning?" I haven't heard of that one.
I had read somewhere that "port out, starboard home" was the preferred accommodation when traveling from Britain on an East Indiaman in the 19th century. I do not, however, recollect why this was so.
Jinx@11:36. If you travel across the Atlantic in the westerly direction, a cabin on the port side of the ship is preferred because the ship is north of the equator. Then on the return trip, going east across the Atlantic, a cabin on the starboard side of the ship is preferred. Some people say that POSH was written on the tickets of wealthy travelers to secure those accommodations but no evidence of this has been found.
C-Echo and I overlapped on this one.
So that your cabin would be on the sunny side of the ship?
Good afternoon. Thank you, Janice, and thank you, sumdaze.
I read the clues for the long answers first. After that faux pas, everything went swimmingly.
Independence Day was a really good movie. I've watched it a couple of times. BILL PULLMAN was well cast for that role.
Busy day. Again. Had to run to the store, and then get the outdoors Christmas decorations down before the rain storms come tomorrow, along with a big drop in the temps. The indoors Christmas decorations always stay up until after the New Year. I don't know why, but that's the rule here. Some neighbors take them down on the 26th.
Speaking of RIBS, that's what I"m making today. Braised country-style ribs. With farfalle pasta. If you see a clue of bow tie, enter farfalle, and if you see a clue of farfalle, enter bow tie. You can TAKE IT TO THE BANK.
SANTA showed up again today, but wasn't bearing gifts.
We are big ALDI fans. True that they don't carry the name brands and very few ready to cook meals, but their vegetables and produce selection is large, and some of their store brands have become favorites. We also like that we can buy some German favorites there, such as their dried Deutsche Kuchen spaetzle. Hard to find ready to cook spaeztle elsewhere, and so much more convenient than making at home when making rouladen or goulash. Their Clancy's brand potato chips are really good.
That's it for now. Gotta take the cover off the dutch oven and let the braising liquid reduce.
Back later.
The long answer faux pas was trying to enter forwarding ADDRESS. I thought it, but didn't key type it in my comments above. D'OH!
FLN: Husker, you posted that old ad for Black Label Beer. Did you notice, if you look close at the fine print in the ad, the last location mentioned for their breweries, is "Natick, Mass"?
Neat puzzle from Janice, and a very cool review from sumdaze. You captivated me from the BANK SHOT theme, to the musical saw, and more. You've mentioned your bone conduction headphones before, and I was interested to get a closer look through the video. And you put this together while your life was completely disrupted, it seems! Brava!
Hola! I haven't commented in such a long time that I completely forgot about it after I finished the puzzle. Also, it was counting Monday and I was tired after I came home. We traveled home from California yesterday and that, too, tires me. My nephew seems to be doing well despite his prognosis and his next doctor's appt. is Thursday to find out the test results.
R.I.P. Pres. Jimmy Carter.
I hope you are all doing well and enjoying this holiday time.
Post a Comment