Monday April 29, 2024 Harry Doernberg

  

Happy Monday, everyone! sumdaze here, trying to come up with a suitable title for this Harry Doernberg puzzle. While seeing the theme came easy to me, giving it a title did not. Please bear with me on this one. A slang definition for flame is to insult someone over the internet. Harry's puzzle is so fantastic that it leaves no opening for such behavior. Therefore, my title is 

FlameprooF

Perhaps it is best to leave it at that and move on to the puzzle's four themed clues....

17 Across. Closely held conviction: FIRM BELIEF.  

23 Across. Sport with flying saucers: FRISBEE GOLF.  

46 Across. Blue toon in green overalls and a straw hat: FARMER SMURF.  I was unfamiliar with this character but "blue toon" and "overalls" got me there.  Cute!

57. Formal sleeve style: FRENCH CUFF.  This is a soft double cuff that is made by turning back half of a wide cuff band and fastening with a cuff link.  more on French cuffs

Here is the reveal:

46 Down. Camera lens setting, and a feature of both ends of 17-, 23-, 46-, and 57- Across?: F-STOP.  more on F-stop

All of the themed clues begin and end with the letter F. The Fs act as STOPS. In this case STOP is a noun much like a bus STOP is the beginning or end of a bus route.  

We solvers often see F-STOP and SLR as fill clues and answers. It was fun to see F-STOP functioning as the reveal today. I noticed the initial F's early on but overlooked the final F's. The grid contains only one other F that is not a STOP. It is the second F in FRENCH CUFF. An interesting feature of this grid is how the reveal is placed vertically, growing off of one of the themed clues. I will insert the grid here so you can see what I mean.  

Across:
1. SUV alternative: SEDAN.  A SEDAN is a closed automobile having two or four doors and a front and rear seat. SUVs add a rear door, along with other features. Here is a Car and Driver comparison.

6. Say "I do": WED.  Have you heard that some people are using ChatGPT to write their wedding vows? Who Says Romance Is Dead?

9. Tire speed stats: RPMS.  Revolutions Per Minute

13. Speaker on a dais: ORATOR.  A dais is a raised platform, as in a lecture hall, for speakers or honored guests.

15. Rd. crosser: AVE.  Road and AVEnue

"Chicken" did not fit.  

16. "Pick me! Pick me!": OH OH.  Does this make anyone else think of Arnold Horshack on Welcome Back, Kotter (1975-1979)?  

19. Peeved: SORE.

20. Top combat pilots: ACES.  

21. Yahoo! alternative: AOL.  America Online

22. Nickel or copper: METAL.     and     28 Down. Nickel or copper: COIN.  

"Copper" is a nickname for a U.S. penny and also some British coins. It might have helped to see something in the clue that hinted at a nickname, but that would have foiled the clever clecho.

26. College level HS course: AP CLASS.  "High school" is abbreviated, so is Advanced Placement.

30. Novel thought: IDEA.  Author Danielle Steel has turned over 140 IDEAs into novels.

31. For all to hear: ALOUD.

32. Reward for giving a pawshake, perhaps: DOG TREAT.  Meadow does high fives.

36. Limit, with "in": REIN.

37. Gem State capital: BOISE.  The Star Garnet is the state gem of Idaho. We Januarians recognize the garnet as our birthstone.

39. Wide valley: DALE.  Also ... Dale Evans (b. Frances Octavia Smith; 1912-2001) was Roy Roger's on- and off-screen partner. She became influential in changing public perceptions of children with developmental disabilities when she wrote Angel Unaware (1953) about her daughter, Robin.  

40. Organ that produces insulin: PANCREAS.  

So much for being "pretty on the inside".

42. Classic breath mint: CERTS.  They were officially discontinued in 2018. If you find a roll in your glovebox or at the bottom of an old purse, you might want to throw them out.

43. Microwave: HEAT.  verbs

44. Ceramic cooker for a classic Boston dish: BEAN POT.  This one is new to me. Has anyone cooked beans this way? 

  50. Shiny and smooth: SLEEK.

51. "__ you happy now?": ARE.  This 2003 Michelle Branch song falls into the Break-up Revenge Song category.  

52. "Poor Things" Oscar winner Stone: EMMA.  Here she is winning her second Oscar this past March. I have not seen this movie but I generally like her so I just now put it on my library queue.  

56. "Please clap now!": TA DA.

60. Fail to include: OMIT.

61. Sweets: LUV.  not candies

62. __ sauce: seafood condiment: TARTAR.  I thought the second A was an E.

63. Pea homes: PODS.  

64. Colorado Plateau Native: UTE.

65. Bonkers: NUTSO.  Merriam-Webster says this word is "sometimes offensive".

Down:
1. Furniture to crash on: SOFA.  I liked this clue! Crash is slang for "to sleep" or "to collapse exhausted".

Do you see the U.S. Army soldier crashing on this SOFA?

2. Rapper Eazy-E's given name: ERIC.  I guess that makes sense.

3. Truth alternative, in a party game: DARE.  

4. Money dispensers: ATMS.

5. Noodle: NOB.  NOB is slang for the human head.  

6. Cries and cries: WAILS.

7. Genesis figure: EVE.  Last Monday we had "Genesis man:  ADAM".

8. Rock's __ Leppard: DEF.  Def Leppard is an English rock band formed in 1976. On April 20, 2024, they released a vinyl recording of a live show they performed last year.

9. Site of many outdoor presidential press conferences: ROSE GARDEN.  National Park Service link

10. Shutterstock image: PHOTO.  Shutterstock, Inc. is an American company founded in 2003. It listed 1,274 employees in 2023. They provide stock photography, footage, music, and editing tools. Here is an example of a Shutterstock image:  

11. "Little Bunny Foo Foo" lesson, e.g.: MORAL.  Little Bunny Foo Foo is a preschoolers' song about a rabbit who liked to hop through the forest, pick up filed mice, and bop them on the head. The Good Fairy gave him three chances to change his ways before turning him into a goon.  

Spoiler alert:  The MORAL of this story is, "Hare today, goon tomorrow."

(I did not make that up.)

12. Tchotchke holder: SHELF. A tchotchke is a small trinket that is more decorative than functional. Its etymology is Polish.

14. Guides into adulthood: REARS.  Guides is a verb here.

18. Daily Planet reporter Lane: LOIS.  

22. "__ me halfway": MEET.

23. Short-term trend: FAD.  Maybe this blending-in-with-your-sofa thing could become a FAD.  

Notice he is in a furniture store so he probably did not plan this.

24. Short get-to-know-you pieces: BIOS.

25. Precipice: EDGE.

26. Group with a Staying Sharp program: AARP.  American Association of Retired Persons

Visiting The Corner everyday checks the first two boxes.
(Click to enlarge.)

27. Impassioned cry: PLEA.

29. Cold cuts: LUNCHMEATS.  

32. Insult: DIS.  I first had DIg. 

33. Old West icon Wyatt: EARP.  Kurt Russel played him in Tombstone (1993). Do you recognize the other guy? (See below.*)  

34. Midrange voice: ALTO.

35. Experiment: TEST.

37. Fozzie, for one: BEAR.  He is one of Kermit's buddies.  

38. Horse feed grains: OATS.

41. Stink to high heaven: REEK.  

42. Half-__: coffee blend: CAF.  Half-Caf coffee is made with a blend of regular and decaffeinated beans, usually in a 1:1 ratio. I have also seen it spelled with two Fs.

44. Insult: BURN.  Kelso on That '70s Show (1998-2006) used this slang a lot.

45. Standing tall: ERECT.

47. San Antonio field trip site: ALAMO.  I liked this angle for clueing the site of the 1836 battle between Mexican and Texan forces. These days, 2.5 million people a year visit the ALAMO. I would guess that a substantial number of those are students on field trips.

48. Tried again: REDID.  

49. Irish novelist Binchy: MAEVE.  Maeve was born May 28, 1939 in Dublin, Ireland. She passed away there 73 years later. Her stories are described as "delightful, charming, and a joy to read".

52. Eggshell shade: ECRU.  Both are off-white.

53. Pup of unknown origin: MUTT.  The word MUTT is derived from muttonhead. It has come a long way from being an insult to today's connection as man's best friend.

National Mutt Day is July 31.

54. Some drama degs.: MFAS.  "Degrees" is abbreviated, so is Master of Fine Arts.

55. Questlove's hairstyle: AFRO.  Ahmir K. Thompson (b. January 20, 1971), known professionally as Questlove, is an American musician, record producer, and music journalist. You might recognize him as the drummer for The Roots (Jimmy Fallon's house band).

57. Winter malady: FLU.

58. Dull routine: RUT.  

59. Solo of "Star Wars": HAN.  

Farewell GIF
Have a great week, everyone!

*33-Down. Billy Bob Thornton played the crooked dealer in Tombstone.

Sunday April 28, 2024 Chandi Deitmer

Theme:  "Obviously!" - Each common phrase is clued as if IT does not exist.

23A Poorly put together trays?: CRUDITE PLATTERS.

39A. Donkeys who got caught in the rain?: WET BURRITOS.

51A. Pews?: PRIORITY SEATING.

83A. Khaki work uniform?: TITAN OF INDUSTRY.

92A. Request from one who prefers dry mashed potatoes?: ZERO GRAVITY.

115A. Energy supplies that are just OK?: FINITE RESOURCES.

Reveal:

65. "We all see the obvious here, right?," and how to make six long answers in this puzzle match their clues?: IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING.

Sometimes we have themes where letter or letter string appear in the theme entries but ignored in the clues. We could just have wacky theme answers instead. But today is a good example of why the letter should be included. Perfect reveal and rationale.

Got this picture of when I googled Chandi. She's lower left. Looks who's on upper right? Patti!

Across: 

1. Luminescent gems: OPALS.

6. Fish head?: CRAW. OK, Crawfish.

10. "Who Let the Dogs Out" group __ Men: BAHA. The only Baha Men song I know.

14. Act extempore: AD LIB.

19. Lear daughter: REGAN. Have to mention our local girl Regan Smith.

20. Breakfast scramble: HASH.

21. Some deleted contacts: EXES.

22. Enlightenment philosopher Thomas: PAINE.

26. Mary-in-mourning piece: PIETA.

27. Marshmallow Man in "Ghostbusters": STAY-PUFT. Learning moment for me.

28. Capital of Tibet: LHASA.

29. Literary whaler: PEQUOD. "Moby-Dick".

30. Start and end of a faceoff?: EFS. Letter F.

31. __ of strength: FEAT.

32. Boyfriend: BEAU.

33. Rap's Snoop __: DOGG.

37. God destined to slay the sea serpent Jörmungandr: THOR.

45. "Snowy" bird: EGRET.

47. Ice rink leap: AXEL.

49. Self-satisfied: SMUG.

50. Bankrupt: RUIN. Verb "bankrupt".

54. Sacred text: BIBLE.

55. Bob in the Basketball Hall of Fame: PETTIT. No idea. Wikipedia says he's NBA's first MVP.

56. Dutch painter Frans: HALS.

57. Pat Benatar's "Love __ Battlefield": IS A.

59. Historic space station: MIR.

60. Stern direction?: AFT. Stern of a boat.

61. Stinging insect: WASP.

62. Dorky one: DWEEB.

64. Picnic pest: ANT.

70. Citrusy suffix: ADE.

71. Piccata bud: CAPER. Lots of buds.

72. Marine mammal in a matrilineal group: ORCA.

73. Anti-fraud org.: BBB.

74. Bear's lair: DEN.

75. Reddit forum for inquiries: AMA. Ask Me Anything.

76. Early educ.: PRE-K.

77. Potent potion: ELIXIR.

81. Purple or green herb: BASIL. Never had purple basil. Cilantro is the only herb used in Chinese cooking.

88. Checkout unit: ITEM.

89. Waffle __: IRON.

90. Identical: SAME.

91. Spine-chilling: EERIE.

96. 95-Down beds, maybe: COTS. 95. Steppes tent: YURT.

98. Talk back to: SASS.

99. Yule tune: NOEL.

100. "No problem!": SURE.

102. Spy org.: CIA.

104. Surreptitious one: SLY FOX.

107. French composer Gabriel: FAURE. Another learning moment.

109. Former police procedural starring Kathryn Morris: COLD CASE.

114. Jazz great Armstrong: LOUIS.

117. "You mean a lot to me": I CARE.

118. "This __ fair": ISN'T.

119. Pool table fabric: FELT.

120. Tempts: BAITS.

121. Yearned (for): PINED.

122. Flight nos.: ETAS.

123. Takes a load off: SITS.

124. "Thus ... ": AND SO.

Down:

1. Fantasy baddies: ORCS.

2. Impudent: PERT.

3. Tlaxcala water: AGUA.

4. Pop's __ Gaga: LADY.

5. Dig (at): SNIPE.

6. Toque: CHEF'S HAT. Dim sum chef wears this type of tall hat.

7. Paying strict attention: RAPT.

8. Comm. system with visual cues: ASL.

9. Beluga, e.g.: WHALE.

10. Gets feedback from an early audience: BETA TESTS.

11. Weapons thrown at targets, in some social settings: AXES.

12. Greek goddess of childbirth: HERA.

13. Beast of burden: ASS.

14. Seem (to be): APPEAR.

15. Rum cocktail: DAIQUIRI. Named after a Cuban iron mine, according to Wikipedia.

16. In __ of: LIEU.

17. Engrossed by: INTO.

18. Drop of sweat: BEAD.

24. Clump of hair: TUFT.

25. Defrost: THAW.

29. Word that may be replaced by a slash: PER.

31. NPR show hosted by Terry Gross: FRESH AIR. Used to listen to her faithfully at 8:00pm our time.

32. Open carriages: BUGGIES.

33. Lily-Rose __ of "The Idol": DEPP. Just had her last Sunday. 

34. Fantasy baddie: OGRE.

35. Determination: GRIT.

36. Location metadata: GEOTAG.

38. Skin care brand: OXY.

40. "Ew, stop sharing": TMI.

41. Steamed bite: BUN.

42. Abolitionist Harriet: TUBMAN.

43. Conditioning, as a bamboo cutting board: OILING.

44. Hägar's dog: SNERT.

46. Like some glasses: TRIFOCAL.

48. Path of __ resistance: LEAST.

52. Gp. concerned with crashes: IT TEAM. Hey, we have IT here. A few other short words also.

53. Swiss instrument traditionally made from red pine: ALPHORN. Ricola.

54. Pastel shade: BABY BLUE.

58. Ocean floor: SEABED.

61. "Raw" org.: WWE.

62. Puckered expression in a selfie: DUCK FACE.

63. Iga Swiatek's org.: WTA.

65. Conceptualize: IDEATE.

66. More on edge: TENSER.

67. __ awareness: SPATIAL.

68. Twistable cookies: OREOS.

69. Birds mummified in ancient Egypt: IBISES.

70. Madison Ave. industry: AD BIZ. 78. Bonus, in 70-Down lingo: XTRA.

76. Ensembles associated with Hillary Clinton: PANTSUITS.

79. "Bearded" flower: IRIS.

80. Marbled breads: RYES.

82. "Try to stop me now!": I'M ON FIRE.

84. Nickname that drops -ing: IRV.

85. French pronoun: TOI.

86. "TBH" kin: IMO. To be honest.

87. Actual expenditures: NET COSTS.

93. Gave a boost: GOOSED.

94. Film critic Reed: REX.

97. Rural tower: SILO.

101. Underwater ecosystems: REEFS.

103. "Mrs. America" Emmy winner Uzo: ADUBA.

104. Marina space: SLIP.

105. Centers: LOCI.

106. Currency also known as the renminbi: YUAN. Renmin = People. Bi = Currency.

107. Rock, in Rock, Paper, Scissors: FIST.

108. __ Mae Bullock: Tina Turner's birth name: ANNA. Did not know this.

109. Gaul or Breton: CELT.

110. Ocean Spray prefix: CRAN.

111. Base's chemical opposite: ACID.

112. Complete groups: SETS.

113. Provincial petrol provider: ESSO.

115. Old-timey "ugh": FIE.

116. Camping gear co-op: REI. Stands for Recreational Equipment, Inc.

C.C.

Saturday, April 27, 2024, Evans Clinchy

Saturday Themeless by Evans Clinchy

Evans is a master scrabble player who lives in Tacoma Washington. Obviously he is also a great crossword constructor as you can see by his first LA Times entry we get today. I moved right along in my solve but had a natick at the jumping off point of 1 Across/1 Down. I do not know any New Orleans neighborhoods, old or new, and joining that with uber obscurely clued T-RAP made for some very unsettling final minutes for me. 😖 I guessed at a "K" but I had other equally bad/desperate options. Boo!

Across:

1. One of the oldest neighborhoods in New Orleans: TREME - Excuse my ignorance Big E!

6. Into footwear?: SHOD - A well SHOD unit

10. Included, in a way: CCED.

14. Settle down: RELAX - Aaron said this in 2014 when the Packers started 1 - 2. They then made the playoffs and massed making it to the Super Bowl by 6 points.

15. Come down: POUR - N.W. Ayers and Son ad agency came up with this slogan in 1914 for Nebraskan Joy Morton's salt company.

16. Barcelona's Fundació Joan __: MIRO - Joan MIRO's foundation has the biggest display of MIRO's works and supports many new artists in Barcelona. More info

17. Homes.com units: APARTMENTS - Our granddaughter is very familiar with this site in her job in D.C.

19. Like a kumquat: OVAL.

20. Fair activities for kids: PONY RIDES.

21. Carrot family plant: ANISE 

22. Academic domain: EDU.

23. Took a spill: TUMBLED - The source of Wide World Of Sports' "The Thrill Of Victory, The Agony Of Defeat"

25. Nightie nights?: PAJAMA PARTIES 😀

30. Young egg cells: OVULES.

31. "It's not you, it's me," maybe: LIE.

32. Web-footed divers: AUKS.

35. Struggles with sigmatism: LISPS.

36. Nurse: SIP 😀 Make that drink last!

37. Resolve: SPINE.

38. Swear words: OATH.

39. State on the Arabian Sea known for beautiful beaches: GOA - West coast of India 

 

40. Vandyke kin: GOATEE.

41. World Chess Champion from 2013 to 2023: MAGNUS CARLSEN - Norwegian Sven Magnus Øen Carlsen

44. "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" star: SEYMOUR.

46. Waze suggestion: Abbr.: RTE.

47. Facility for tech-savvy HS kids: AV LAB - Every student in America these days is pretty tech-savvy and goes to an AV LAB. 

48. Election map figure: BLUE STATE - Here is the 2020 election by county

54. Long-handled hammer: MAUL - I split a lot of wood with my splitting MAUL

55. Fan attribute: TEAM SPIRIT.

56. Part of YOLO: ONCE.

57. Belgrade native: SERB.

58. Possible warning signs: OMENS.

59. Uses Siri, maybe: ASKS.

60. Holy chests: ARKS - Opening the Lost ARK was not a good decision

61. Cantankerous: TESTY.

Down:

1. Genre of Ariana Grande's "7 Rings": T-RAP - I threw a flag on this play where this ludicrous cluing with TREME seemed unfair for a common word! In case you're interested: "7 Rings" is a trap-pop song with elements of hip hop and R&B that runs for 3 minutes, with Grande rapping the hook and final verse."

2. Used car, perhaps: REPO.

3. Great exuberance: ELAN.

4. Barra of General Motors: MARY.

5. Highs and lows: EXTREMES - For April 27, Nebraska's EXTREMES are 95°F in 1989 and 24°F in 1950.

6. Got the lead out: SPED UP.

7. Give an edge: HONE.

8. Surpass: OUTSTRIP.

9. MRI orderers: DRS.

10. "Help me out here": C'MON BE A PAL.

11. Means of settling some disputes: CIVIL SUITS - OJ was found not guilty (not innocent) in his criminal trial but was found guilty in the CIVIL SUIT charging he caused wrongful death.

12. Take marks off: ERASE - There was a time...

 

13. Gave out: DOLED.

18. Touchy one?: MIDAS 😀

21. "__ wrong?": AM I.

24. SLC athlete: UTE - In Salt Lake City

25. Game that may be played on horses, bicycles, or elephants: POLO.

26. Brand of slip resistant shoes: AVIA.

27. "Short straw again": JUST MY LUCK.

28. Figures in a dominance hierarchy: ALPHA MALES.

29. Protective cover?: ALIAS.

33. __ sock: KNEE.

34. Spotted: SEEN.

36. Gose or lambic: SOUR BEER  - "Sour beer is beer which has an intentionally acidic, tart, or sour taste. Sour beer styles include Belgian lambics and Flanders red ale and German Gose and Berliner Weisse."

37. Subject worth avoiding: SORE SPOT.

39. Masai Mara mammal: GNU - The great migration in the Masai Mara (Kenya) in Kenya and Tanzania 

 

40. Airport listings: GATES - Hartsfield/Jackson Airport in Atlanta has more GATES than any airport in the world - 195

42. Lump: GOB.

43. Remnants: CRUMBS.

44. American __: SAMOA - You deserve a break today in Pago Pago, Samoa

45. "Captain America" star: EVANS.

49. Willa Cather's "The Song of the __": LARK.

 D.C.'s Statuary Hall

50. Life partner?: TIME - Speaking of people from Nebraska

51. Mars counterpart: ARES - Gods of war

52. Windshield treatment: TINT.

% of light allowed in

53. Artisan's platform: ETSY.

55. Org. that conducts lots of searches: TSA.

Really, you thought you'd get this
stuff through?