Monday September 15, 2025 Freddie Cheng

And just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water…ba-dum…ba-dum…it’s RustyBrain!
Sumdaze is taking some well-deserved time off, so you’re stuck with me for a month of Mondays. It’ll be difficult, but I’ll try to be as charming as she is.

Freddie Cheng has been constructing professionally for fifteen years. In this, his 8th puzzle in the LAT, he has the confidence to dare us to rank his puzzle.

17. Half expecting a terrible outcome: FEARING THE WORST. 

28. "What a pity": THAT'S TOO BAD.

39. Demographic statistical standard: NATIONAL AVERAGE.

46. "No problems yet": SO FAR, SO GOOD.

63. Classic family sitcom starring Robert Young: FATHER KNOWS BEST.

Freddie squeezes in five themers, three of which go wall to wall. I zoomed right through to the end as one would expect on a Monday. No revealer, so once I finished I had to backtrack to discover the secret. I found he's incorporated a basic rating system which could apply to almost anything such as star reviews, with 1 star being the worst and 5 stars being the best. The answers are also in proper order, so I give it *****.

Across:

1. "Darn!": RATS. I guess you could darn these?

5. Bubble tea "bubbles": BOBA. BOBA balls are made from tapioca starch and are designed to clog your straw.

9. Subside, as rain: LET UP.

14. Otherwise: ELSE.

15. Many a Dubai resident: ARAB.

16. Clean thoroughly: ERASE. As a reward (?) for being a good student in elementary school (I was an angel *blush*) I was chosen for the privilege of clapping the chalkboard erasers, sometimes creating works of art on the brick walls outside. Sadly, my path to being a pre-Banksy was blocked by teachers unimpressed with my genius.

17.[theme]

20. Clean thoroughly: SCRUB. I'm calling a clue like this (duplicating 16A) a reclusive (re-clue-sive).

21. "In all probability ... ": ODDS ARE. "I don't think you have a royal flush, so..."

22. Ran into: MET. 

24. __ Lanka: SRI.

25. "That's the fellow!": HIM. Sounds British, like "He's the chap!" A lot of clues today seem to evoke the UK.

28. [theme]

35. Japanese noodle: UDON.

37. Cookbook writer Garten: INA. She grows her herbs in a garden.

38. Mario Kart brother: LUIGI.

39. [theme]

43. Yours, once: THINE.

44. Promos: ADS.

45. Small opening: SLIT. 

46. [theme]

50. "Certainly!": YES. (and the obligatory album cover)

51. "__ the season ... ": TIS. Certainly looks like it already in the big box stores.

52. Pinterest pin: PIC.

54. Spiraling: IN A SPIN.

59. Dads: PAPAS.

63. [theme]

67. "The X Factor" judge Cowell: SIMON. British TV personality and record producer.

68. Architectural overhang: EAVE.

69. "By Jove!": I SAY. Something SIMON says.

70. Elizabeth of "WandaVision": OLSEN. "WandaVision" is a surrealistic miniseries by Marvel Comics where each episode is a decade newer than the last, starting with the 50s in black & white and on up through full-color present day. OLSEN plays Wanda, a woman with telepathic powers. 

71. Audition (for): READ.

72. Casual denial: NOPE.

Down:

1. Game officials: REFS. Now you can play at home! For the sanity of your family, a whistle is not included.

2. Oscar winner Guinness: ALEC.

3. Ruler of Imperial Russia: TSAR. Rule of xwords: Russian rulers are TSARs while government policy wonks are czars. Ideally.

4. Clear component of blood: SERUM.

5. Exile: BAN. Expel underarm odor!

6. URL ending for nonprofits: ORG. Short for ORGanists, I think. Ask Splynter.

7. Cricket club: BAT. I couldn't find a cricket bat, so I settled for one with a grasshopper.

8. Detests: ABHORS.

9. Off-color or blue: LEWD.

10. God with a bow and arrow: EROS. The Greek god made people fall in love by striking them with EROS.

11. Actress Reid: TARA.

12. Sputnik power, briefly: USSR. Sputnik was actually powered by three zinc-silver batteries designed to last two weeks, but they made it 22 days and kicked off the space race. Amazing something so small had such a huge impact.

13. Cubs slugger __ Crow-Armstrong: PETE.

18. Skeptical reply: I BET. "I don't believe you have a royal flush, so I BET it all."

19. Amend: EDIT. 

23. Slender: THIN. "I'd like a half pound of salami cut slender, please."

24. German prison camps: STALAGS. The popular 60s TV sitcom, Hogan's Heros, was set at fictional STALAG 13. It took until 1992 for reruns of the anti-Nazi satire to air in Germany. It failed to connect with audiences until scripts were rewritten to make the Nazi characters seem even more foolish.

25. Chases game: HUNTS. Unless the hunter simply sits in a blind and waits for the game to come to him.

26. Boise's state: IDAHO.

27. Recurring theme: MOTIF.

29. "SNL" alum Gasteyer: ANA. She's' more popular in xwords than she was on Saturday Night Live.

30. Flamenco cry: OLE. Flamingo cry: HONK! (They are very noisy birds.)

31. Yours and mine: OURS. Different from "yours, mine and ours."

32. Bagel alternative: BIALY.

33. A&M student, familiarly: AGGIE. Texas A&M is the AGGIEs, but Florida A&M is the Rattlers (rattlesnakes). There are several other A&Ms, including ones in Alabama and Louisiana, so this clue doesn't hold up.

34. Intake guidelines: DIETS. 

36. Totenberg of NPR: NINA.

40. "__ the ramparts we watched ... ": OER. According to my national park guide, Francis Scott Key used the term spangled in his poem "Defense of Fort McHenry" to mean the stars were tilted or askew on the garrison flag. His work was later set to music and re-titled "The Star-Spangled Banner."

41. Brouhaha: ADO.

42. Abbr. on a brandy label: VSOP. Very Superior Old Pale indicates that it has been aged for a minimum of four years in oak barrels for a smoother, more complex flavor.

47. Use a swizzle stick: STIR. British spy 007 would probably kill you with one of those little swords if you did this to his martini. He's very particular.

48. Pig, cutely: OINKER. Meh. This one's a stinker.

49. Quick swims: DIPS.

53. Airplane seating area: CABIN. This one is preparing for takeoff.

54. "Assuming that's true ... ": IF SO.

55. Emery board target: NAIL. 

56. Casino cash dispensers: ATMS. Automated Teller Machines were an early (1960s) volley in the battle to replace human jobs. And the war continues...

57. Casino card dispenser: SHOE. Almost another reclusive! 

58. Teller's partner in magic: PENN. Now celebrating 50 years together, I saw them with my family in Las Vegas around the turn of the century. Great show, but most impressive was afterwards when they both did a meet and greet in the hallway. They hung around chatting (yes, even Teller) and taking selfies until everyone in the audience had a chance to meet them. Class act.

60. Money in the Philippines: PESO.

61. "Now!" letters: ASAP. As Soon As Possible doesn't necessarily mean right now...unless it's my wife saying it.

62. Eye affliction: STYE. My STYE in my little eye...I'm fun on road trips, too!

64. Scottish refusal: NAE. Something James Bond would say if asked, "Should I use a swizzle stick?"

65. Lab eggs: OVA.

66. Tie the knot: WED. "Tying the knot" harkens back to the ancient ritual of handfasting, where a couple's  hands were tied together with ribbons or cords.

So, was this the best of times, or the worst of times? (Ain't I a Dickens?)

Sunday September 14, 2025 Michael Torch & Andrea Carla Michaels

Theme: "POSITIVELY CHARGED" - ION is added to each common phrase.

23. Literary takeaway?: READERS DIGESTION. Reader's Digest.

31. Riches of the Vatican?: PAPAL BULLION. Papal bull.

48. Blessing over breakfast?: EGGS BENEDICTION. Eggs Benedict.

64. Strong affection for school auditoriums?: HALL PASSION. Hall pass. 

81. Drink to forgive and forget?: ABSOLUTION VODKA. Absolut Vodka. 

91. Army of Istanbul?: TURKEY LEGION. Turkey leg.

107. Lamaze class lectures?: CONTRACTION TALKS. Contract talks.

Two IONs are added to the end of the first words, five are added to the last words. 

It's hard to believe, but our label shows that this is Andrea's first LAT Sunday. Michael had his last Sunday puzzle in March, a collaboration with Kevin Christian, who's a frequent collaborator of Andrea. 

Across:

1. Give for free: COMP.

5. Carpenter's compressor: C CLAMP. Quite a few letter entries: 41. Letter-shaped construction piece: I BAR. 36. City NNW of H-Town: BIG D. 61. Letter-shaped construction piece: H BEAM.

11. Chow: EATS.

15. Fall blooms, for short: MUMS.

19. Olympic fencing event: EPEE.

20. Card carrier?: DEALER. Playing cards. 

21. Yankee preceder in the NATO alphabet: X-RAY.

22. "Gotcha": ON IT.

26. Sorry! or Scrabble: GAME.

27. Poison remedies: ANTIDOTES. I often confuse this word with ANECDOTES.

28. Cut (down): PARE.

29. Carpenter's drill: AUGER.

30. Vellani of "The Marvels": IMAN.

34. Spheres of influence: ORBITS.

38. Courses: WAYS.

39. New Year's __: EVE.

40. Soviet first lady Gorbacheva: RAISA. She was born in Siberia. 

43. Combed: SEARCHED.

53. Feudal baron: THANE.

54. Bronze finishers: MEDALISTS.

55. JFK postings: ARRS.

56. Cutting edges: BLADES.

57. Kin of -kin: ETTE.

58. Zone: AREA.

59. Postpone the inevitable: BUY TIME.  Also love these few entries: 75. Past the point of no return: IN TOO DEEP. 101. "We're doomed!": ALL IS LOST.

60. Salsa support: CHIP.

67. River Achilles was dipped into: STYX.

68. Rubs the wrong way: ABRADES.

70. Buck passers?: ATMS. Fun clue. See also: 88. Oxford heads?: LOOS. 117. Rolls out the green carpet?: SODS.

71. Lena of "Chocolat": OLIN.

73. Farm machine: REAPER.

74. Put up, in poker: ANTE.

80. "Hasta la vista": LATER.

83. Retired professor's designation: EMERITUS. Emerita for our Misty. 

85. Gorilla expert Fossey: DIAN.

86. Sitcom actress Georgia: ENGEL.

87. __-eyed: DOE.

90. Isn't colorfast: BLEEDS.

97. Avianca airlines destination: CALI. Avianca is the largest airline in Colombia. Learning moment for me.

99. Swings around: SLUES.

100. Not fake: REAL.

106. Last Stuart queen: ANNE.

110. Amtrak track: RAIL.

111. The Jonas Brothers, e.g.: TRIO.

112. Appeared ominously: LOOMED. Always large.

113. Cry for worms: PEEP.

114. D.C. group: SENS.

115. "That remains to be __": SEEN.

116. Convent superior: ABBESS. Here are my classes for the next few months. I already had a video lesson with Bill & Margret yesterday. Four more next week.  

Down: 

1. "Arrested Development" star Michael: CERA.

2. Tournament type: OPEN.

3. Spam, lamb, or ham: MEAT.

4. Cab prefix: PEDI.

5. Old PC drive inserts: CD ROMS.

6. Jai alai basket: CESTA. Very athletic. 

7. Weighed down: LADEN.

8. Boxers Muhammad and Laila: ALIS.

9. Storage unit, for short: MEG.

10. Settle in advance: PRE-PAY.

11. Overdramatic: EXTRA.

12. Mermaid who sings "I wanna be where the people are": ARIEL.

13. Philosophy often translated as "way": TAO. Dao in Mandarin.

14. Thesaurus entry: Abbr.: SYN.

15. Business bigwig: MOGUL.

16. Eel in nigiri: UNAGI.

17. Old-fashioned copier, briefly: MIMEO.

18. Back in the navy?: STERN. Navy ship.

24. Ready for making emends?: EDITABLE.

25. Drains, as strength: SAPS.

29. With ears pricked up: ALERTLY.

31. __-mutuel: PARI.

32. "How've ya __?": BEEN.

33. The Cavaliers of the NCAA: UVA.

34. City near Utah Lake: OREM. Next to Provo. 

35. Indignation: RAGE.

37. Actress Rae: ISSA.

38. Fistfuls of dollars: WADS.

41. Accounts on the 'gram: INSTAS. 

42. Palm with chewable nuts: BETEL.

43. "I need a rescue" letters: SOS.

44. Gabs: CHATS.

45. "I've __ with you!": HAD IT.

46. Archrival: ENEMY.

47. Neuter: DESEX.

49. "Take your pick": EITHER.

50. Sweet popcorn coating: CARAMEL.

51. Ringlet, maybe: TRESS. Margaret took me to her favorite stylist Angie on Tuesday. My new do. 

52. Nest egg funds, for short: IRAS.

56. Toe woe: BUNION.

58. Likely will, with "is": APT TO.

59. "Said I Loved You ... But I Lied" singer Michael: BOLTON. He was super popular when I lived in Shanghai. 

60. "The Very Busy Spider" writer/illustrator: CARLE.

62. Seeing red: IRATE.

63. Origami medium: PAPER.

65. PC connections: LANS.

66. Ancient Greek region: IONIA. AI Overview: In ancient Greece, Ionia was the central region of the west coast of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey).

69. Lampoons: DERIDES.

72. Storyteller: NOVELIST.

74. V-up muscles: ABS.

75. "No kidding?": IT IS.

76. Kaput: DONE.

77. Jigsaw puzzle starting point, often: EDGE.

78. Squeezed (out): EKED.

79. Chums: PALS.

81. "Clan of the Cave Bear" author: AUEL.

82. Japanese noodle: UDON.

84. Cracker Jack bonus: TOY.

88. "That's not true!": LIAR.

89. "C'est magnifique!": OO LA LA. Andrea speaks fluent French. 

90. Hunters' hideaways: BLINDS.

91. Winter Palace rulers: TSARS.

92. Arm bones: ULNAE.

93. Quarrel: RUN IN.

94. Collapses, with "over": KEELS.

95. Muppet who is fond of bubble baths: ERNIE.

96. Climb aboard: GET ON.

97. Atmosphere: CLIME.

98. Burn-soothing plants: ALOES.

101. From __: one step: A TO B.

102. Places for napkins: LAPS.

103. Plant-based spread: OLEO.

104. Quick itinerary?: SKED. Schedule.

105. Baking soda amts.: TSPS.

107. Short change?: CTS. Short indicates an Abbr.

108. Resource in Minecraft or Catan: ORE.

109. Male swan: COB.

C.C.

Saturday, September 13, 2025, Jess Rucks

 Saturday Themeless by Jess Rucks

Jess is our former U.S. Air Force Urdu translator who has another fun offering today. Her husband is in the U.S. Space Force and they live in Colorado Springs. This is a lovely picture of Jess and her son, with husband lurking in the background on a recent vacation in Minnesota.       

   

  

Across:

1. Some fancy foot work: PEDIS 😀

6. Stylish confidence: SWAG 

10. Ocean spray: MIST.

14. Villainous superpower: EVIL EMPIRE.

16. Laptop brand: ACER.

17. Foam toy that can be repurposed for childproofing corners and doors: POOL NOODLE.

18. Lion-tailed macaque feature: MANE.

19. Meh: SO SO.

20. "I love the white stuff, baby / In the middle of an __": "Weird Al" lyric: OREO - A parody of You've Got The Right Stuff by New Kids on the Block

21. Cause of insomnia or euphoria: MANIA.

22. Some fountain drinks: MALTS.

24. Mocking bird: PARROT.

25. Ant-Man's partner: THE WASP ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

27. More loyal: TRUER.

28. Ring: PHONE - In the U.K. you might ring up someone

29. Leadership: BRASS.

31. On: LIT.

33. 1975 thriller based on a Peter Benchley novel: JAWS - Benchley was paid a mere $250,00o for the movie rights but got a per cent of the enormous profits which made him a multimillionaire.

34. Poet Jones who wrote the memoir "How We Fight for Our Lives": SAEED.

35. Mousse kin: PATE.

   

 

Mousse

Pate

36. Some Main lines on maps?: Abbr.: STS - There are over 10,000 Main Streets in America.

37. "The Subtle Power of the Red Carpet __": Vogue headline: DURAG ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

38. __ patootie: CUTIE 😀

39. Trouble spot: STAIN.

41. Cracks, in a way: DECODES - The most famous of these was done in Hut 8 in Bletchley Park in WWII led by Alan Turing

43. Pressures: FORCES.

44. Lost color: PALED.

45. Sign into law: ENACT.

46. Window shopper's purchase: PANE 😀

47. [Bor-r-ring!]: YAWN.

51. Actress Daly: TYNE.

52. Piece of art that's cut short: BONSAI TREE 😀

54. Nonchewing teeth: COGS 😀

55. Groups of world travelers?: ALIEN RACES.

56. Paint sample strip blocks: HUES.

57. Mineral in some homemade soap: MICA.

58. Cease and desist?: STOPS - Two synonyms not a single phrase

Down:

1. __ up: PEPS.

2. Dressing acronym: EVOO.

3. "Vaya con __": DIOS - Go with God in Spanish. Also a big hit for Les and Mary.

4. Warning signs: ILL OMENS.

5. Ottawa NHL pro: SEN.

6. Place for a draft pick: SPORTS BAR 😀

7. Jam band that holds the record for sold-out shows at Red Rocks Amphitheatre: WIDE SPREAD PANIC - This is one of Jess's favorite groups and she offered Patti this clue and "Mass hysteria" as options and she was pleased which one was picked.

8. First name in folk: ARLO.

9. "Golly!": GEE.

10. "Drag Race" matriarch, affectionately: MAMA RU - Jess is also a Ru Paul fan

11. "Tell me about it!": I CAN RELATE.

12. Affliction similar to spring fever: SENIORITIS.

13. Reward: TREAT.

15. Scratch: MOOLA - So many euphemisms for money

21. Planet entirely inhabited by robots: MARS - I loved this one!

23. Start for some?: AWE 😀

24. EMDR target: PTSD - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 

25. Fault line?: THAT'S ON YOU.

26. "Hmm, odd": HOW STRANGE.

28. Jammies: PJS.

30. Body of water said to be named for a king of Athens: AEGEAN SEA.

32. Lift for a drive: TEE 😀 Fore!

34. Home team at PHX Arena: SUNS.

35. Looney Tunes toon: PUDDY TAT.

37. Bamboo, for a panda: DIET.

38. Cedar Rapids college: COE.

40. Get into: ACCESS - Remembering passwords to ACCESS sites is sometimes difficult

42. Kid-friendly: CLEAN.

43. Sell for: FETCH -  Louis Vuitton expects this purse to FETCH $4,200

46. __-sci: POLI.

48. West Coast gas brand: ARCO.

49. React to a sad ending: WEEP.

50. Sad ending?: NESS.

52. "That's what I'm talkin' about!": BAM - Emeril's catchphrase

53. Tax org.: IRS.