Happy Monday, everyone! sumdaze here. Today's theme is: 
This is constructor Brian Gubin's third LAT puzzle. We'll begin with the three themed clues and answers:
18 Across. Sleuth for hire: PRIVATE EYE. 
28 Across. Important tool in weather prediction: DOPPLER RADAR. This was my favorite of the three themers. DOPPLER RADAR is named for the DOPPLER effect, which is named for Austrian physicist Christian Doppler [1803-1853]. He was "the first to describe how the observed frequency of light and sound waves is affected by the relative motion of the the source and the detector."
49 Across. Tour guide off the coast of Washington or Maine, e.g.: WHALE WATCHER. 
And now for the reveal:
62 Across. "Sounds about right," and what can be said about 18-, 28-, and 49-Across: THAT TRACKS. This phrase means that something matches what one would expect it to be.
Also, the three themed answers all TRACK something. That is, they follow the trail of something with the intention of making a discovery. Works for me!
Next we'll follow the remaining clues:
1. Advertising award named for a Greek goddess: CLIO. Clio was one of the nine muses. She was known as "the proclaimer, glorifier, and celebrator of history, great deeds, and accomplishments."
5. "It __ me to say ... ": PAINS. 
10. Apex: ACME.
14. Rather wealthy: RICH.
 |
| Clio on an antique fresco from Pompeii. |
10. Apex: ACME.
14. Rather wealthy: RICH.
Pink Floyd ~ Money ~ 1973
Hi unclefred!
15. Sound that clears a path in traffic: SIREN. This made me think of carriage dogs. They were bred to trot alongside the horses pulling a carriage, both for protection and to help clear the path with their barking -- like a SIREN. Dalmatians were good at this so they were used for fire carriages. 
16. Alum: GRAD. alumnus and GRADuate
17. Reddit Q&As: AMAS. Ask Me Anythings
16. Alum: GRAD. alumnus and GRADuate
17. Reddit Q&As: AMAS. Ask Me Anythings
From the reddit website: It is an event where creators, celebrities, public figures, or regular folk with interesting experiences or specific knowledge, and the like can answer any questions the general public has within a certain timeframe.
20. Heaven-sent food: MANNA. and 22-Across. "For heaven's __!": SAKE.
23. Cargo weight: TON.
24. Binder flaps: TABS.
26. Michael C. Hall crime drama with a "Resurrection" sequel series: DEXTER. The original Dexter series consisted of 8 seasons on Showtime (2006-2013). The Resurrection sequel series premiered on July 11, 2025.
32. Tech sch. in upstate New York: RPI. Technical school and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. It is a private research university in Troy, New York. Founded in 1824, it is the oldest technological university in the English-speaking world and the Western Hemisphere.
33. Sicilian volcano: ETNA. and 64-Down. Hawaii's Mauna __: KEA.
34. Rests one inside another: NESTS.
38. Curved paths: ARCS.
40. Like the bottoms of beach house pools, often: SANDY.
43. Aching: SORE.
44. Youngsters: TYKES.
46. "Pop! __ the Weasel": GOES.
48. Teeny-tiny: WEE.
53. Upload a new version to the cloud, say: RESAVE. to SAVE again, often in the same location
55. __ Lee desserts: SARA.
56. Long, slithery fish: EEL. How long? This spotted moray EEL can grow up to 6.6 ft. (2 meters).
57. Storm relief org.: FEMA. organization and Federal Emergency Management Agency
20. Heaven-sent food: MANNA. and 22-Across. "For heaven's __!": SAKE.
23. Cargo weight: TON.
24. Binder flaps: TABS.
33. Sicilian volcano: ETNA. and 64-Down. Hawaii's Mauna __: KEA.
34. Rests one inside another: NESTS.
38. Curved paths: ARCS.
43. Aching: SORE.
44. Youngsters: TYKES.
46. "Pop! __ the Weasel": GOES.
48. Teeny-tiny: WEE.
53. Upload a new version to the cloud, say: RESAVE. to SAVE again, often in the same location
55. __ Lee desserts: SARA.
56. Long, slithery fish: EEL. How long? This spotted moray EEL can grow up to 6.6 ft. (2 meters).
 |
| I like how the inside of its mouth matches the outside. |
57. Storm relief org.: FEMA. organization and Federal Emergency Management Agency
The FEMA website has some good winter weather preparedness tips.
59. "And yet ... ": BUT NO. Thank you, perps!
66. Salon sound: SNIP. ✂
59. "And yet ... ": BUT NO. Thank you, perps!
66. Salon sound: SNIP. ✂
Now, if the clue had been "Barbershop sound", we might have something like this video:
67. "Toodles": TA-TA. Both are casual ways of saying 'goodbye'.
68. Unkind smile: SNEER.
69. Vocal quality: TONE. and 31-Down1. Singer's span: RANGE.
70. Aid and __: ABET.
71. Writing class writing assignment: ESSAY. I recently came across this newspaper clipping from when I won a writing class assignment (but not for an ESSAY). I was in the 6th grade. My teacher was proud that my handwriting was so neat that they did not re-type it for the newspaper. (Taking notes in college later destroyed my handwriting.)
72. Graceful long-necked bird: SWAN. SWANs are large birds. Just how large are they? The trumpeter swan is tenth on this list of 55 bird species ranked by size. They are about the same size as a Great Blue Heron but weigh 20 pounds (9 kg.) more. Mute swans are about a foot shorter than trumpeter swans. BTW, the collective nouns for SWANs is bevy, flock, game, lamentation, or wedge.
Down:
67. "Toodles": TA-TA. Both are casual ways of saying 'goodbye'.
68. Unkind smile: SNEER.
69. Vocal quality: TONE. and 31-Down1. Singer's span: RANGE.
70. Aid and __: ABET.
71. Writing class writing assignment: ESSAY. I recently came across this newspaper clipping from when I won a writing class assignment (but not for an ESSAY). I was in the 6th grade. My teacher was proud that my handwriting was so neat that they did not re-type it for the newspaper. (Taking notes in college later destroyed my handwriting.)
72. Graceful long-necked bird: SWAN. SWANs are large birds. Just how large are they? The trumpeter swan is tenth on this list of 55 bird species ranked by size. They are about the same size as a Great Blue Heron but weigh 20 pounds (9 kg.) more. Mute swans are about a foot shorter than trumpeter swans. BTW, the collective nouns for SWANs is bevy, flock, game, lamentation, or wedge.
 |
| comparing a trumpeter swan (l.) to a mute swan (r.) |
1. Hit the books hard: CRAM. Think, "CRAM for a test".
2. Peruvian city founded as Ciudad de los Reyes: LIMA. Translation: City of the Kings
2. Peruvian city founded as Ciudad de los Reyes: LIMA. Translation: City of the Kings
Last Monday we learned that LIMA is the eponymous city for the beans.
3. "Both options are too good to take just one": I CAN'T PICK.
3. "Both options are too good to take just one": I CAN'T PICK.
Watch this 18 sec. video to see how a family's dog helped to PICK their baby's name.
4. "Sick burn!": OH SNAP. an ESSAY on the origin of OH SNAP 5. Bygone handheld game console, for short: PSP. Handheld is supposed to be a hint that the answer is PlayStation Portable ... but I was still clueless. Sony released PSP in N. America in 2005. The introductory price was $250.@beaunosebones Who knew choosing a tennis ball could be this hard! #fyp #foryoupage #dogsoftiktok #namereveal ♬ Until I Found You - Stephen Sanchez
6. Balloon filler: AIR. "Helium" is too long.
7. Early spring flower: IRIS.
8. The Silver State: NEVADA. This nickname is a reflection of silver's importance to Nevada's history and economy. In 1859, two miners Peter O'Riley and Patrick McLaughlin discovered silver near Virginia City. Twenty thousand people followed, hoping to strike it rich. Nevada became the 36th state on October 31, 1864.
 |
| Do we have any Cornerites from Nevada? |
9. Created a serpentine path: SNAKED.
10. Sit in the cellar, perhaps: AGE. Speaking of AGE, our part-time Wednesday blogger JazzBumpa has a new one today. Happy birthday, JzB!!
11. Most populous Greek island: CRETE. It is also the largest Greek island. As of this writing, the weather forecast for CRETE for today is 55-65°F with rain showers.
12. Big city bigwig: MAYOR. When I was growing up, my dentist was our MAYOR. Yes, we had fluoridated water.
13. Genesis garden: EDEN.
21. Up to the challenge: ABLE.
25. Tennis match units: SETS. Ah yes, the bewildering world of tennis scoring! A SET consists of at least six games, but it can be more than six because the winner has to win by at least two games. For example a win of 6 to 0 means they played six games; a win of 6 to 4 means they played ten games; and a win of 7 to 5 means they played 12 games. In the last example, they were probably at 6 to 5 but they had to play another game so someone could win by two games. A match is usually the best out of three SETS.
Did I say that right, Big Easy?
27. Uno, dos, __: TRES.
28. "Fiddlesticks!": DRAT. These two expressions of frustration share the same vibe.
29. The Grand Ole __: OPRY.
30. Molecule in some vaccines: RNA.
35. "Where do we go from here?": SO WHAT NOW.
36. __ frog: TREE. Tree frogs are a diverse family of amphibians that includes over 800 species. Not all tree frogs live in trees. Rather, the feature that unites them has to do with their feet—the last bone in their toes (called the terminal phalanx) is shaped like a claw. Tree frogs also have toe pads to help them climb and many have extra skeletal structures in their toes. Tree frogs can be a variety of colors, but most of the species found in the United States are green, gray, or brown. Some of them, like the squirrel tree frog (Hyla squirella), are chameleon-like in their ability to change color. <source>
27. Uno, dos, __: TRES.
28. "Fiddlesticks!": DRAT. These two expressions of frustration share the same vibe.
Dick Dastardly and Muttley (8 sec.)
"Drat! Drat! Drat! and a double drat!"
29. The Grand Ole __: OPRY.
30. Molecule in some vaccines: RNA.
35. "Where do we go from here?": SO WHAT NOW.
36. __ frog: TREE. Tree frogs are a diverse family of amphibians that includes over 800 species. Not all tree frogs live in trees. Rather, the feature that unites them has to do with their feet—the last bone in their toes (called the terminal phalanx) is shaped like a claw. Tree frogs also have toe pads to help them climb and many have extra skeletal structures in their toes. Tree frogs can be a variety of colors, but most of the species found in the United States are green, gray, or brown. Some of them, like the squirrel tree frog (Hyla squirella), are chameleon-like in their ability to change color. <source>
 |
| red-eyed tree frog |
37. Visionary: SEER. Hear, hear! Steer clear if your SEER SNEERs!
39. Uses needle and thread: SEWS.
41. The "D" of DJIA: DOW. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) tracks thirty of America's biggest and most established companies, acting like a quick temperature check of the U.S. economy. more from Investopedia
42. Pro votes: YEAS.
45. Elevator passage: SHAFT.
50. Opposed (to): AVERSE. Do not vote YEA if you are AVERSE to the proposal.
51. French city known for a 24-hour car race: LE MANS. While I'm not the sort of person who would know about car races, this one was in the punchbowl.
The Le mans 24h race takes place on a ~8.5 m. (13.6 km) circuit. All teams must rotate three drivers through the car during the race, with no single driver behind the wheel for more than 14 hours in total. They cleverly schedule it in June on one of the shortest nights during the year. The winner is the car that covers the greatest distance in 24 hours. There are different categories, but just to give you a rough idea, one of this year's winners managed 387 laps.
52. Sandwich leftovers on many a kid's plate: CRUSTS. Were you ever told by an adult that the CRUSTS are the healthiest part of your sandwich? The jury is still out on this one. A 2002 study found that bread CRUST contained more cancer-fighting antioxidants than bread crumbs. Then another report said the extra heat that forms the CRUST may form a carcinogenic chemical. Read more here.
52. Sandwich leftovers on many a kid's plate: CRUSTS. Were you ever told by an adult that the CRUSTS are the healthiest part of your sandwich? The jury is still out on this one. A 2002 study found that bread CRUST contained more cancer-fighting antioxidants than bread crumbs. Then another report said the extra heat that forms the CRUST may form a carcinogenic chemical. Read more here.
 |
| crusty bread |
53. Postop therapy: REHAB.
54. Make happy: ELATE.
56. Jazz great James: ETTA.
58. Las Vegas WNBA team: ACES.
60. Singer Simone: NINA. [1933-2003] She was known as "the high priestess of soul". National Women's History Museum page
61. "__ sesame!": OPEN.
63. Skin pic: TAT. If you are thinking of getting a TATtoo, you might want to consult this picture showing the areas of the body that will hurt the most.
65. Texter's "My bad": SRY. sorry
54. Make happy: ELATE.
56. Jazz great James: ETTA.
58. Las Vegas WNBA team: ACES.
61. "__ sesame!": OPEN.
63. Skin pic: TAT. If you are thinking of getting a TATtoo, you might want to consult this picture showing the areas of the body that will hurt the most.
65. Texter's "My bad": SRY. sorry
The grid: 
That's all for today. I gotta go catch a train! 
Note from C.C.:
As Renee mentioned earlier. today is the birthday of dear Jazzbumpa (Ron), our faithful and cool Wednesday Sherpa. Ron never fails to entertain us with his humor and wits.
As Renee mentioned earlier. today is the birthday of dear Jazzbumpa (Ron), our faithful and cool Wednesday Sherpa. Ron never fails to entertain us with his humor and wits.
3 comments:
(FLN - repeat)
To my Crossword
Corner friends:
I am giving up contributing to the Crossword Corner, and will no longer participate.
Now, to explain myself, I’ll have to go into the “taboo” area of religion. I hope you will indulge me.
Most of you don’t know this about me, but I love the Lord, and I am a committed disciple of Jesus Christ.
I don’t want the Crossword Corner puzzle and comments to be the “first thing I think of” in the morning any more, as it has been for about the last three years. I want THE LORD to be the first thing on my mind in the morning!
To those who say , “Why don’t you just post later in the day?” I must tell you that I’m not interested in doing ANY crossword puzzles anymore. I’m going to devote my time to what are to me, more important things!
So, therefore, I am giving up the Crossword Corner, and will no longer participate.
Goodbye, folks. It’s been fun.
God bless you all!
Always enjoyed reading your first comments. Go with grace.
Good morning!
Sorry to see you go, Sub-G.
As usual, d-o solved this one as a themeless. Along the way, this kid had to brush away the CRUMBS to make way for the CRUSTS. Otherwise, the Wite-Out got a rest. Thanx, Brian and sumdaze. (Loved the "Oh Snap!" cartoon. Where are you headed on that train today?)
SWAN: Yes, they're beautiful, but they're really mean. A couple bought a swan pair for one of the ponds in our little town. They ultimately had to get rid of them when several residents were attacked after getting too close.
OPEN Sesame: Have you tried to log onto socialsecurity.gov lately? You'll need to upload photos of your driver's license, social security card, and a selfie, plus a phone number that the bot can recognize as yours. As a bonus, you made need to wait in a queue for a video chat with an identity specialist. Dw finally managed to log on...only took three hours total.
Happy birthday, JzB. Are you still doing Christmas concerts?
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