Happy Monday, everyone! sumdaze here. Jess Shulman and Amie Walker threw out a fun, early-in-the-week solve for our entertainment. The theme is:
Take Out the Trash ~ They Might Be Giants ~ (2007)
These are the three themers:
16 Across. Collection of personal clippings: SCRAPBOOK. 
29 Across. Puppies born together: LITTERMATES.
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| Ahhhh..... |
48 Across. Last minutes of a blowout game: GARBAGE TIME.
Def.: (noun) the final moments or minutes of a game in which one side has an insurmountable lead, substitutes often enter the game in place of starting players, and scoring is typically easier because of looser defensive play. 
64 Across. Taunts between teams, or an apt description of 16-, 29-, and 48-Across?: TRASH TALK.
Def.: (noun) disparaging, taunting, or boastful comments especially between opponents trying to intimidate each other.
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| Click to enlarge. |
SCRAP, LITTER, and GARBAGE are all synonyms for TRASH.
Works for me -- although I am a bit surprised to see that two of the themers are one-word answers.
Well, let's not waste any more time. We need to sort out the other clues....
1. NFL team that shares SoFi Stadium with the Chargers: RAMS.
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| SoFi Stadium is in Inglewood, CA (about 4 miles from LAX airport). It is the home of the Los Angles Chargers and the Los Angeles Rams. The opening and closing ceremonies for the 2028 Summer Olympics will be held there, as well as the swimming events. |
5. "We __ to please": AIM.
8. Photograph holder: FRAME.
14. Black-and-white ocean predator: ORCA.
15. Blood drive participant: DONOR. Want to lose one pound in ten minutes? Donate a pint of blood.
18. Person on a role?: ACTOR. On a role or IN a role?
19. Walk confidently: STRUT.
John Travolta STRUTs though the opening credits of
Saturday Night Fever (1977).
<H-Gary: I hope this makes up for not including a "good" Disco song last Monday!>
20. "The Matrix" protagonist: NEO. Morpheus (Lawrence Fishburne) STRUTs through the crowd in this scene from The Matrix while Neo (Keanu Reeves) tries to keep up.
22. Smooch: KISS.
23. Puerto Rico y Cuba: ISLAS. Spanish is an official language on both of these islands.
25. Cat's noise: MEOW.
27. Actor Aykroyd: DAN. (b. July 1, 1952) Dan was an original Not Ready for Prime Time Player on SNL (1075-1979). He also starred with John Belushi in The Blues Brothers (1980).
Everybody Needs Somebody to Love scene
34. Yale alum: ELI.
35. Winter forecast, often: SNOW.
36. Crow "In your face!," say: GLOAT. today's Easter egg (if C-Eh! agrees)
37. Short hairstyles: BOBS.
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| four Bobs (l to r: Ross, Sponge, Newhart, & Marley) |
39. Body part that's a metaphor for courage: SPINE.
43. Self-mover's van: U-HAUL.
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| This one is for our Florida Cornerites. Ghost Orchids of the Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve |
45. Didn't float: SANK.
47. Mauna __: only Hawaiian volcano taller than Mauna Loa: KEA. Mauna Kea on Hawaii's Big Island is the highest mountain on Earth -- if you measure from its base on the ocean floor.
51. "__ away": "I have nothing to hide": ASK.
52. Preworn, say: USED. I USED to love getting hand-me-downs because I wanted to be just like my older siblings and cousins.
53. Subway tracks: RAILS.
55. Permanent mark: SCAR.
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| another reason to NOT use your phone while driving |
58. Pen point: NIB. Yeah, despite years of doing crossword puzzles, I still do not say NIB.
60. Census figures: STATS.
62. Excuse: ALIBI.
67. Walkie-talkie, e.g.: RADIO.
68. Roof overhang: EAVE.
69. Leg bender: KNEE.
70. Brain waves: IDEAS.
71. Genetic material: DNA.
72. Small whirlpool: EDDY. A large whirlpool is an Edward. 😜
Down:
60. Census figures: STATS.
62. Excuse: ALIBI.
67. Walkie-talkie, e.g.: RADIO.
68. Roof overhang: EAVE.
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| EAVE on a house on E AVE., perhaps??? |
69. Leg bender: KNEE.
70. Brain waves: IDEAS.
71. Genetic material: DNA.
72. Small whirlpool: EDDY. A large whirlpool is an Edward. 😜
Down:
1. Some QB protectors: RTS. QuarterBacks and Right Tackles
Remember when Dan Marino (former Miami Dolphins QB) used to make Isotoner gloves commercials? (30 sec.) 
3. Spot where cocktails may be shaken or stirred: MARTINI BAR.
4. Practices in the boxing ring: SPARS.
5. Preferring platonic relationships, informally: ARO. An AROmantic has little to no interest in romantic relationships. They may or may not have sexual feelings toward others.
6. Desktop image: ICON.
7. Stubborn reply to a direct order: MAKE ME.
8. Govt. org. that regulates vaccines: FDA. The Food and Drug Administration is a government organization.
9. Gym feature for indoor climbers: ROCK WALL. This video teaches us five fundamentals (2:53 min.).
10. Pro's opposite: ANTI. for & against
11. Cattle sounds: MOOS. Have a laugh at this 1:30 min. video about cow sounds in other languages: 12. Is off the mark: ERRS.
14. Gets: OBTAINS.
17. Yanks: PULLS.
21. Poetic "above": O'ER.
24. Put an end to: STOP.
26. "Srsly!?": OMG. texting shortcuts
"I take care of the hands that take care of me."
2. Eyebrow shapes: ARCS. 
4. Practices in the boxing ring: SPARS.
5. Preferring platonic relationships, informally: ARO. An AROmantic has little to no interest in romantic relationships. They may or may not have sexual feelings toward others.
6. Desktop image: ICON.
7. Stubborn reply to a direct order: MAKE ME.
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| Clint came to mind on this one. |
8. Govt. org. that regulates vaccines: FDA. The Food and Drug Administration is a government organization.
9. Gym feature for indoor climbers: ROCK WALL. This video teaches us five fundamentals (2:53 min.).
10. Pro's opposite: ANTI. for & against
11. Cattle sounds: MOOS. Have a laugh at this 1:30 min. video about cow sounds in other languages: 12. Is off the mark: ERRS.
14. Gets: OBTAINS.
17. Yanks: PULLS.
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| This one never gets old. |
24. Put an end to: STOP.
26. "Srsly!?": OMG. texting shortcuts
27. Fix, as computer code: DEBUG. DEBUG can refer to removing insects, malfunctions, or listening devices.
28. Hawaiian hello: ALOHA. Today's tranquil moment:
Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole ~ White Sandy Beach of Hawai'i ~ (1993)
<Picard, I hope this helps.>
30. Surprise in a plot: TWIST. Gotta love a good plot TWIST!
31. Defended one's point of view: TOOK A STAND.
32. Makes less difficult: EASES.
33. Cut of beef, tuna, or cauliflower: STEAK. In the case of cauliflower, we are using this definition of STEAK: a thick slice or piece of a non-meat food especially when prepared or served in the manner of a beef steak.
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| cauliflower STEAK w/ arugula & radish slices recipe |
Opening credits for The Wonder Years ~ (1988-1993) ~ (1 min.)
40. Hair removal brand: NAIR. Apparently NAIR is still in business.
41. All together: EN MASSE. If you had to guess, you would probably say we got this word from French...and you would be correct.
44. __ Vegas: LAS. Their weather forecast for today is partly cloudy with a high of 71°F and a low of 51°F.
46. Country singer Urban: KEITH. (b. Oct. 26, 1967) He was born in New Zealand but grew up in Australia. He has citizenship in New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.
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| Keith with wife Nicole Kidman at this year's Golden Globes. |
49. Intro to Xer, Yer, and Zer: GEN.
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| It seems the more we label people, the more we focus on differences. |
54. Potato pancake: LATKE. LATKEs are a traditional food during Hanukkah, often referred to as the Festival of Lights.
55. Diwali dress: SARI. SARIs are a traditional dress worn during Diwali, often referred to as the Festival of Lights.
56. Dressed (in): CLAD.
57. Assistant: AIDE.
59. Dietary fiber source: BRAN. A wheat kernal is made up of three parts: The BRAN, endosperm, and germ. Wheat BRAN is the hard outer layer of the wheat kernel. During the milling process, the BRAN is stripped away from the wheat kernel and becomes a beneficial byproduct.
61. Winter conveyance: SLED. As it turns out, a famous SLED dog race is happening right now! The 2025 Iditarod started on March 1 and will end on March 16. Find updates about the race, mushers, and dogs here.
63. Apple platform: iOS. iOS is the operating system that runs Apple's mobile devices. It stands for iPhone Operating System.
65. Hannah Einbinder's "Hacks" role: AVA. Hacks is a dramady in its third season on HBO Max. I have not seen it; but, IIRC, SS told us he liked Jean Smart in this show.
66. __ lime pie: KEY.
The grid: 
Today's puzzle might have been about refuse, but I refuse to end without first wishing everyone a wonderful day!
56. Dressed (in): CLAD.
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| This family is CLAD in traditional Diwali outfits. |
59. Dietary fiber source: BRAN. A wheat kernal is made up of three parts: The BRAN, endosperm, and germ. Wheat BRAN is the hard outer layer of the wheat kernel. During the milling process, the BRAN is stripped away from the wheat kernel and becomes a beneficial byproduct.
61. Winter conveyance: SLED. As it turns out, a famous SLED dog race is happening right now! The 2025 Iditarod started on March 1 and will end on March 16. Find updates about the race, mushers, and dogs here.
65. Hannah Einbinder's "Hacks" role: AVA. Hacks is a dramady in its third season on HBO Max. I have not seen it; but, IIRC, SS told us he liked Jean Smart in this show.
66. __ lime pie: KEY.
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| It is the official state pie of Florida. |
9 comments:
Not the most pleasant puzzle, in terms of a theme. But “a walk in the park,” nonetheless. FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
Zip, zip, done. Doesn't "celebrating Diwali on Denali" sound better than "celebrating Diwali on Mount McKinley?" Weird that the non-theme vertical 10s are longer than the horizontal themers. Only noticed after the fact. Thanx, Jess, Amie, and sumdaze.
Monday (and usually Tuesday) puzzles are too easy.
Contrary to the theme, there is no junk in this puzzle, straightforward clues and fill made for a quick Monday solve of 6:47. Thank you Jess and Amie for the pleasant start to the week, I’ll never complain about a CW being too easy cuz I know the alternative. sumdaze ~ I always enjoy your bright and cheerful write-ups, thanks for your time putting them together!
FIR, but heart->SPINE.
I knew KEITH, but not that he was married to Tom's ex.
I was a frequent blood DONOR, but since I started blood thinners for afib, they don't want mine anymore.
Bob Seger sang about Her STRUT.
Me: Hi honey. Guess what? I bought a new putter at the course today!
She: Nice one. But what was wrong with the old one?
Me: It didn't float.
Okay boomers - in yesterday's Zits comic strip, in response to his girlfriend's question, Jeramy texts "homework, snack, tiktok, the yoozh." And I thought I hated "totes adorbs" and "srsly."
Reading "cauliflower steak" makes me want to punch someone in the nose.
I just watched a program on Mauna KEA. They have a SNOW sports facility there.
Today I will be exposed to iOS for the first time. Until today my smart phones used the Android platform. There's nothing wrong with my old phone, but OS updates ended a couple of versions ago. Apple supports their phones with OS updates much longer.
Thanks to Jess and Amie for the fun, fast Monday. And thanks to sumdaze for another fine review. My favorite part of today's outing was the caption "It seems the more we label people, the more we focus on differences."
Reminds me of the old gag: "there are two types of people - those who categorize people, and those who don't."
Took 3:32 today to take out the trash.
Why yes, I do think "Hacks" is a great show. It's very well written, and Jean Smart and today's actress (Hannah) are both great.
Today was a SubG endorsed WITP.
FIR. Nothing too difficult and yet one or two curveballs. Aro, OMG, and Ava for example, but the perps were fair.
The theme was lackluster to me and not helpful for the solve.
Overall not my most favorite puzzle.
I saw the trash connection with the second themer. Easy. I think easy Monday and Tuesday puzzles are a good way to attract new solvers. Also they are good for longtime solvers who are developing shaky memories.
Aw! Cute litter mates.
I didn't post yesterday. I thought the big white space in the comments around noon was a failure in the blog and didn't realize I just had to scroll down more.
I had a few red letters so I count it a DNF.
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