20 A. *Some fruity sandwich spreads: RASPBERRY JAMS. Fruit jam is a spread made by cooking fruit, sugar, and lemon juice (for pectin and acidity) together until thick. It can be made with fresh, frozen, or foraged fruits, providing a concentrated sweet fruit flavor. In music a JAM session is a planned or impromptu event characterized by improvisation, that can exist in a variety of music genres, including those that feature guitars.
27 A. *Criticize harshly: RIP TO SHREDS. This means to severely tear or destroy a physical object, or to harshly criticize a person, argument, or performance. It indicates intense damage or total dismantling of something. It is also commonly used to mean completely refuting someone’s ideas in a harsh way. SHRED also means to play electric guitar with extreme speed, technical precision, and high-intensity, often using techniques like rapid alternate picking, sweep-picking, tapping, and legato.
36 A. *Long-handled, long-toothed combs: AFRO PICKS. Specialized, wide-toothed combs designed to lift, volumize, and shape curly, coily, and afro-textured hair from the roots. They were symbols of black power/excellence, especially in the 70s as a rejection of euro beauty standards and showing acceptance and empowerment for black beauty standards and unity.
27 A. *Criticize harshly: RIP TO SHREDS. This means to severely tear or destroy a physical object, or to harshly criticize a person, argument, or performance. It indicates intense damage or total dismantling of something. It is also commonly used to mean completely refuting someone’s ideas in a harsh way. SHRED also means to play electric guitar with extreme speed, technical precision, and high-intensity, often using techniques like rapid alternate picking, sweep-picking, tapping, and legato.
36 A. *Long-handled, long-toothed combs: AFRO PICKS. Specialized, wide-toothed combs designed to lift, volumize, and shape curly, coily, and afro-textured hair from the roots. They were symbols of black power/excellence, especially in the 70s as a rejection of euro beauty standards and showing acceptance and empowerment for black beauty standards and unity.
Also, a PICK, or plectrum, is a small, typically triangular, flat tool held in the hand to pluck or strum stringed instruments.
49 A. *Hollow floaties: POOL NOODLES. Cylindrical pieces of flexible, buoyant polyethylene foam. Pool noodles are used by people of all ages while swimming.
56 A. Stirs emotions, or how a guitarist might interpret the ends of the answers to the starred clues?: STRIKES A CHORD. As defined - affect or stir someone's emotions, or perhaps invoke a memory. The idiom originated in the early 19th century from music, metaphorically referring to striking a chord on a stringed instrument to produce a resonant, harmonious sound that mirrors human emotions. Here is how you strike 3 basic guitar chords.
Hi Gang - JazzBumpa here - as always, delighted to have a music-related theme to conduct. [Though I must admit the guitar thoroughly defeated me.] So let's tune up and get playing.
Across:
1. Tend the garden: WEED. Here, WEED is a verb, meaning to remove weeds from the garden and reduce the competition for soil nutrients.
5. Wound covers: SCABS. A protective, dried blood clot that forms over a wound within hours, acting as a natural, temporary biological dressing, it keeps out germs and debris while allowing new skin cells to form underneath.
10. Spanish 23-Across: NIÑO. A child - most likely a boy. A girl would be a niña.
14. Sicilian volcano: ETNA. An active stratovolcano found on the east coast of Sicily, Italy, in the Metropolitan City of Catania, between the cities of Messina and Catania, and in many crossword puzzles. It is located above the convergent plate margin between the African Plate and the Eurasian Plate.
15. Crème de __: CACAO. A sweet, cocoa-flavored liqueur commonly used in cocktails, typically containing 20–25% ABV (40–50 proof) and made from cacao beans, vanilla, and sugar. It comes in white (clear) or dark brown varieties,
16. Superstar: IDOL. A person or thing that is greatly admired, loved, or revered.
17. Savoir faire: TACT. The ability to act or speak appropriately in social situations.
18. "Just Mercy" actor __ Jackson Jr.: O'SHEA. O'Shea Jackson Jr., [b. 1991] also known by the stage name OMG, is an American actor, rapper and songwriter. He is the oldest son of Ice Cube and, in his feature film debut, he portrayed his father in the 2015 biopic Straight Outta Compton.
19. Unhip type: NERD. A person passionately devoted to intellectual, technical, or specific niche pursuits, often characterized by high expertise in fields like technology, academics, or gaming. While historically used as an insult for someone socially awkward or unstylish, the term has evolved into a badge of pride for intense, knowledgeable enthusiasm.
23. Lad: BOY. A male child or youth [niño] originating from 14th-century Middle English boy/boye (servant, knave).
25. Pod unit: PEA. A pulse or fodder crop, but the word often refers to the seed or sometimes the pod of this flowering plant species. Peas are eaten as a vegetable.
26. Bother a lot: EAT AT. To gradually destroy, erode, or consume something, or to cause persistent worry and anxiety.
32. WSW opposite: ENE. Compass directions : west-south-west and east-north-east.
33. Informal "but": ALTHO. "Altho" is an informal, simplified spelling of the conjunction although, meaning "in spite of the fact that," "even though," or "though". It is primarily used in informal, casual writing or sometimes in American English, acting as a shortcut for the standard spelling.
34. Hawthorne Heights music genre: EMO. A style of rock music resembling punk but having more complex arrangements and lyrics that deal with more emotional subjects. Hawthorne Heights is an American rock band formed in Dayton, Ohio, in 2001.
35. Cold War initials: USSR. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until its dissolution in 1991. It was the world's third-most populous country, largest by area, and bordered twelve countries. A diverse multinational state, it was organized as a federal union of national republics, the largest and most populous being the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. In practice, its government and economy were highly centralized. As a one-party state governed by its Communist Party, it was the flagship communist state. Its capital and largest city was Moscow.
40. Throw out a line: CAST. To throw, fling, or propel something with force, in this case a baited hook, lure, or fly out over the water using a fishing rod and reel.
43. Number of orbits around the sun Neptune has completed since its discovery: ONE. The eighth and farthest known planet from the Sun, located about 2.8 billion miles (4.5 billion km) away. It is a vibrant blue ice giant with a thick, windy atmosphere composed of hydrogen, helium, and methane, featuring supersonic wind speeds up to 1,200 mph. Discovered in 1846, it was the first planet located through mathematical predictions rather than regular observation. Neptune takes approximately 165 Earth years (about 60,190 days) to complete one revolution around the Sun. It completed its first full orbit since its discovery in 1846 only in 2011.
44. Beer ingredient: YEAST. Yeast is a, if not the, crucial, single-celled microorganism in brewing that converts sugars in wort into ethanol (alcohol), carbon dioxide (carbonation), and aromatic compounds. The two main types are top-fermenting Ale yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) for warmer, faster fermentation and bottom-fermenting Lager yeast (Saccharomyces pastorianus) for cooler, slower, and cleaner fermentation.
48. Not cool: OUT. "Out" can indicate something is no longer in style, in stock, or currently available.
52. Carne option: ASADA. Spanish term meaning "grilled," "roasted," or "barbecued," commonly referring to thinly sliced, marinated beef (carne asada) in Mexican cuisine.
54. Middle-earth denizen: ENT. Ents are a race of ancient, sentient, tree-like beings in fantasy, most notably J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, known as "Shepherds of the Trees". Created to protect forests from dwarves and orcs, they are tall, deliberate, long-lived, and resemble the trees they guard. The name derives from an Anglo-Saxon word for "giant"
55. __ of luxury: LAP. In conditions of great comfort and wealth.
61. Hardy title character: TESS. Tess of the d'Urbervilles is a tragic novel by Thomas Hardy, first published in 1891, about a poor young woman, Tess Durbeyfield, who is victimized by two men, Alec d'Urberville and Angel Clare, and ultimately destroyed by the rigid social and sexual morals of Victorian England.
62. Dwarf planet in the Kuiper belt: PLUTO. Pluto is a cold, distant dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt with a surface of nitrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide ice. It has an average temperature of approximately --56 F. Its surface features a massive heart-shaped glacier (Sputnik Planitia) and mountains. With 5 moons, Pluto's gravity is very low, about 6% of Earth's gravity.
63. "Why the heck not" hashtag: YOLO. You Only Live Once - so why not do something profoundly stupid? It will make a good story when you get out of the hospital.
66. Actor Stoltz: ERIC. Eric Cameron Stoltz [b.1961] is an American actor, director, and producer. He's known for his roles as sensitive misfits in films like Mask, Kicking and Screaming, and The Waterdance. His portrayal of Rocky Dennis in Mask earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
67. Potpourri piece: PETAL. Potpourri is a mixture of dried petals and spices placed in a bowl or small sack to perfume clothing or a room. Petals are each of the segments of the corolla of a flower, which are modified leaves and are typically colored.
68. "The Celts" singer: ENYA. Enya, born Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin, [b. 1961] is a familiar crossword denizen and also an Irish singer and composer who has sold an estimated 80 million albums worldwide. Her distinctive style blends folk melodies, classical motifs, and synthesized backdrops, creating a sound that's closer to new age than her initial folk and Celtic influences. Here is MAY IT BE, from The Fellowship of the Ring.
Down:
1. Burrito option: WET. This is a standard burrito smothered in red or green enchilada sauce and melted cheese, requiring a fork and knife to eat. Often filled with ground beef, rice, and beans, it is baked until the sauce is bubbly, creating a saucy, comfort-food twist on the handheld version.
2. Landing hr.: ETA. Estimated Time of Arrival at the air port.
3. Secure, as 4-Down, perhaps: ENCRYPT. Convert information or data into a cipher or code, especially to prevent unauthorized access.
4. Facts and figures: DATA. Raw, unorganized facts, figures, and symbols (e.g., numbers, text, audio, images) that, when processed, provide meaningful information for decision-making and analysis.
5. Checks (out) in advance: SCOPES. To examine, investigate, or assess something carefully, particularly to gain information, evaluate a situation, or prepare for a task. It is commonly used informally to mean looking over a place or situation to understand it.
6. "Rock the __": hit song for The Clash: CASBAH. A traditional North African fortress, citadel, or fortified quarter within older cities, notably in Algeria and Morocco. Historically, these served as residential and defensive structures, often with labyrinthine, car-free streets. I decided not to link the vid from 1982. You can find it on Youtube if you're interested.
10. Big name in small appliances: NINJA. Ninja products are made by SharkNinja, an independent, publicly traded company that designs and sells innovative kitchen appliances, outdoor cooking gear, and other household items, known for popular brands like the Ninja Foodi and Shark vacuums, with manufacturing primarily in Southeast Asia.
11. Conceptualizes: IDEATES. Forms an idea of something; imagines or conceives.
12. Conquerors of England in 1066: NORMANS. The Normans were a medieval people who originated from Norse (Viking) settlers in Northern France, establishing the Duchy of Normandy in 911 under Rollo. They adopted French language, culture, and Romanesque architecture, becoming fervent Christians. Famous for the 1066 Norman Conquest of England led by William the Conqueror, they also established kingdoms in Southern Italy, Sicily, and fought in the Crusades.
13. Golden-ager: OLDSTER. An older person. Older than what or whom is not specified. At any rate, I qualify.
21. Parody: SPOOF. A humorous imitation of something, typically a film or a particular genre of film, in which its characteristic features are exaggerated for comic effect.
22. "Absolutely!": YES. For sure!
23. Honeylove purchase: BRA. They make several types of clothing and intimate apparel.
24. Substance in the Hanukkah miracle: OIL. The miracle of the oil, central to Hanukkah, tells that when the Maccabees rededicated the Temple, they found only one small jar of pure oil, enough for one day. Miraculously, this oil burned for eight days, allowing enough time to prepare new oil, representing the triumph of light and faith.
28. Yonder thing: THAT. Used to identify a specific person or thing observed by the speaker.
29. Deter: REPEL. Drive or force an attack or attacker to back or away.
30. Queen's record label: EMI. EMI Group/Records was a major British music conglomerate (the "Big Four") that launched the Beatles, Queen, and Pink Floyd. Following its 2012 breakup, its assets are now held by Universal Music Group (recorded music) and Sony Music Publishing.
31. Grumpy friend: DOC. Grumpy and Doc are two of Disney's Seven Dwarves from the Snow White movie. Tolkien hated them, and anything Disney. Still, a nicely misdirecting clue.
35. Like most Facebook Marketplace items: USED. I believe the preferred term is "pre-owned."
37. Piglet pal: ROO. From the Winnie the Pooh stories. More Disney.
38. Subject of the song "Oh Yoko!": ONO. Yoko Ono [b 1933] is a Japanese artist, musician, activist, and filmmaker who has influenced the international art scene since the 1960s. A pioneer in performance and conceptual art, Ono's work often challenges perceptions of beauty, sexuality, and femininity.
39. Former capital of Japan: KYOTO. Kyoto, once the capital of Japan, is a city on the island of Honshu. It's famous for its numerous classical Buddhist temples, as well as gardens, imperial palaces, Shinto shrines and traditional wooden houses. It was founded in 794.
40. Bar mat: COASTER. A small tray or mat placed under a bottle or glass to protect the table underneath.
41. Spartan: AUSTERE. Severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance.
42. Leads the cast of: STARS IN. Said of the skilled performer who has the most prominent roll in a production.
45. "Ta-da!": ALL DONE. The project is finished.
46. Lighthouse view: SEA. The ocean, possibly with ships.
47. Abbr. on a measuring spoon: TSP. Teaspoon.
49. Intl. cricket powerhouse: PAK. Pakistan. Cricket in Pakistan has a history predating the creation of the country in 1947. The first ever international cricket match in Karachi was held on 22 November 1935 between Sindh and Australian cricket teams. The match was seen by 5,000 Karachiites. Following the independence of Pakistan in 1947, cricket in the country developed rapidly and Pakistan was given Test match status at a meeting of the Imperial Cricket Conference at Lord's in England on 28 July 1952 following recommendation by India,[
50. Drink of the gods: NECTAR. This refers to ambrosia and nectar, the fabled food and drink granting immortality in Greek mythology. It is commonly used as a metaphor for an exceptionally delicious drink.
51. Waiting for a representative, say: ON HOLD. The bane of anyone seeking customer service by telephone.
53. __ fries: poutine kin: DISCO. A classic New Jersey diner comfort food, consisting of crispy French fries smothered in melted mozzarella cheese and hot brown gravy. Popularized in the 1970s as a late-night snack for people leaving clubs, this dish is similar to Canadian poutine but uses shredded mozzarella instead of cheese curds.
57. Comedian Mike of "The Upshaws": EPPS. Michael Elliot Epps [b. 1970] is an American actor, stand-up comedian, and philanthropist. He's known for his roles as Day-Day Jones in Next Friday and Friday After Next, and "Black Doug" in The Hangover films. Epps is also a boxing fan who recently partnered with former World Heavyweight Champion Lamon Brewster to open a boxing gym in Indianapolis. The gym aims to use boxing's fierceness and footwork to help young men and teens find new paths.
58. Boatload: SLEW. It is used informally to mean a large quantity, often with "a," e.g., "a slew of issues."
59. Part of an insurance bundle: AUTO. Sometimes bundled with home owner's insurance.
60. Marbled loaves: RYES. Marble rye is a visually striking, artisan-style bread made by twisting or layering light rye and dark pumpernickel doughs together to create a distinctive marbled swirl. Known for its mild, earthy flavor and chewy texture, it typically features caraway seeds and is a favorite for reuben sandwiches, toasted with butter.
64. Soap chemical: LYE. Lye, primarily sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, is a strong, highly caustic alkaline compound crucial for soap making, drain cleaning, and food processing like curing lutefisk, pretzels, and ramen noodles. It is a white, corrosive solid that dissolves fats, requiring strict safety measures, including gloves, goggles, and ventilation.
65. Barrel wood: OAK. Oak is favored for barrels due to its structural strength, ability to bend without snapping, and unique porosity, which allows for controlled micro-oxygenation. It is watertight, durable against warping, and imparts desirable flavor compounds like vanilla, spice, and coconut to wine and spirits. It also mellows tannins over time.
1. Tend the garden: WEED. Here, WEED is a verb, meaning to remove weeds from the garden and reduce the competition for soil nutrients.
5. Wound covers: SCABS. A protective, dried blood clot that forms over a wound within hours, acting as a natural, temporary biological dressing, it keeps out germs and debris while allowing new skin cells to form underneath.
10. Spanish 23-Across: NIÑO. A child - most likely a boy. A girl would be a niña.
14. Sicilian volcano: ETNA. An active stratovolcano found on the east coast of Sicily, Italy, in the Metropolitan City of Catania, between the cities of Messina and Catania, and in many crossword puzzles. It is located above the convergent plate margin between the African Plate and the Eurasian Plate.
15. Crème de __: CACAO. A sweet, cocoa-flavored liqueur commonly used in cocktails, typically containing 20–25% ABV (40–50 proof) and made from cacao beans, vanilla, and sugar. It comes in white (clear) or dark brown varieties,
16. Superstar: IDOL. A person or thing that is greatly admired, loved, or revered.
17. Savoir faire: TACT. The ability to act or speak appropriately in social situations.
18. "Just Mercy" actor __ Jackson Jr.: O'SHEA. O'Shea Jackson Jr., [b. 1991] also known by the stage name OMG, is an American actor, rapper and songwriter. He is the oldest son of Ice Cube and, in his feature film debut, he portrayed his father in the 2015 biopic Straight Outta Compton.
19. Unhip type: NERD. A person passionately devoted to intellectual, technical, or specific niche pursuits, often characterized by high expertise in fields like technology, academics, or gaming. While historically used as an insult for someone socially awkward or unstylish, the term has evolved into a badge of pride for intense, knowledgeable enthusiasm.
23. Lad: BOY. A male child or youth [niño] originating from 14th-century Middle English boy/boye (servant, knave).
25. Pod unit: PEA. A pulse or fodder crop, but the word often refers to the seed or sometimes the pod of this flowering plant species. Peas are eaten as a vegetable.
26. Bother a lot: EAT AT. To gradually destroy, erode, or consume something, or to cause persistent worry and anxiety.
32. WSW opposite: ENE. Compass directions : west-south-west and east-north-east.
33. Informal "but": ALTHO. "Altho" is an informal, simplified spelling of the conjunction although, meaning "in spite of the fact that," "even though," or "though". It is primarily used in informal, casual writing or sometimes in American English, acting as a shortcut for the standard spelling.
34. Hawthorne Heights music genre: EMO. A style of rock music resembling punk but having more complex arrangements and lyrics that deal with more emotional subjects. Hawthorne Heights is an American rock band formed in Dayton, Ohio, in 2001.
35. Cold War initials: USSR. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until its dissolution in 1991. It was the world's third-most populous country, largest by area, and bordered twelve countries. A diverse multinational state, it was organized as a federal union of national republics, the largest and most populous being the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. In practice, its government and economy were highly centralized. As a one-party state governed by its Communist Party, it was the flagship communist state. Its capital and largest city was Moscow.
40. Throw out a line: CAST. To throw, fling, or propel something with force, in this case a baited hook, lure, or fly out over the water using a fishing rod and reel.
43. Number of orbits around the sun Neptune has completed since its discovery: ONE. The eighth and farthest known planet from the Sun, located about 2.8 billion miles (4.5 billion km) away. It is a vibrant blue ice giant with a thick, windy atmosphere composed of hydrogen, helium, and methane, featuring supersonic wind speeds up to 1,200 mph. Discovered in 1846, it was the first planet located through mathematical predictions rather than regular observation. Neptune takes approximately 165 Earth years (about 60,190 days) to complete one revolution around the Sun. It completed its first full orbit since its discovery in 1846 only in 2011.
44. Beer ingredient: YEAST. Yeast is a, if not the, crucial, single-celled microorganism in brewing that converts sugars in wort into ethanol (alcohol), carbon dioxide (carbonation), and aromatic compounds. The two main types are top-fermenting Ale yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) for warmer, faster fermentation and bottom-fermenting Lager yeast (Saccharomyces pastorianus) for cooler, slower, and cleaner fermentation.
48. Not cool: OUT. "Out" can indicate something is no longer in style, in stock, or currently available.
52. Carne option: ASADA. Spanish term meaning "grilled," "roasted," or "barbecued," commonly referring to thinly sliced, marinated beef (carne asada) in Mexican cuisine.
54. Middle-earth denizen: ENT. Ents are a race of ancient, sentient, tree-like beings in fantasy, most notably J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, known as "Shepherds of the Trees". Created to protect forests from dwarves and orcs, they are tall, deliberate, long-lived, and resemble the trees they guard. The name derives from an Anglo-Saxon word for "giant"
55. __ of luxury: LAP. In conditions of great comfort and wealth.
61. Hardy title character: TESS. Tess of the d'Urbervilles is a tragic novel by Thomas Hardy, first published in 1891, about a poor young woman, Tess Durbeyfield, who is victimized by two men, Alec d'Urberville and Angel Clare, and ultimately destroyed by the rigid social and sexual morals of Victorian England.
62. Dwarf planet in the Kuiper belt: PLUTO. Pluto is a cold, distant dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt with a surface of nitrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide ice. It has an average temperature of approximately --56 F. Its surface features a massive heart-shaped glacier (Sputnik Planitia) and mountains. With 5 moons, Pluto's gravity is very low, about 6% of Earth's gravity.
63. "Why the heck not" hashtag: YOLO. You Only Live Once - so why not do something profoundly stupid? It will make a good story when you get out of the hospital.
66. Actor Stoltz: ERIC. Eric Cameron Stoltz [b.1961] is an American actor, director, and producer. He's known for his roles as sensitive misfits in films like Mask, Kicking and Screaming, and The Waterdance. His portrayal of Rocky Dennis in Mask earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
67. Potpourri piece: PETAL. Potpourri is a mixture of dried petals and spices placed in a bowl or small sack to perfume clothing or a room. Petals are each of the segments of the corolla of a flower, which are modified leaves and are typically colored.
68. "The Celts" singer: ENYA. Enya, born Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin, [b. 1961] is a familiar crossword denizen and also an Irish singer and composer who has sold an estimated 80 million albums worldwide. Her distinctive style blends folk melodies, classical motifs, and synthesized backdrops, creating a sound that's closer to new age than her initial folk and Celtic influences. Here is MAY IT BE, from The Fellowship of the Ring.
69. City near Tahoe: RENO. Reno is a city in the northwest section of the U.S. state of Nevada, along the Nevada–California border. It is the county seat and most populous city of Washoe County.
70. Shape of some cocktail picks: SWORD. Swords are bladed weapons designed for cutting or thrusting, historically used for combat, self-defense, and as symbols of status. Cocktail swords usually hold olives or pieces of fruit.
70. Shape of some cocktail picks: SWORD. Swords are bladed weapons designed for cutting or thrusting, historically used for combat, self-defense, and as symbols of status. Cocktail swords usually hold olives or pieces of fruit.
Shards of Narsil
71. Hunt for: SEEK. Attempt to find or obtain something.
Down:
1. Burrito option: WET. This is a standard burrito smothered in red or green enchilada sauce and melted cheese, requiring a fork and knife to eat. Often filled with ground beef, rice, and beans, it is baked until the sauce is bubbly, creating a saucy, comfort-food twist on the handheld version.
2. Landing hr.: ETA. Estimated Time of Arrival at the air port.
3. Secure, as 4-Down, perhaps: ENCRYPT. Convert information or data into a cipher or code, especially to prevent unauthorized access.
4. Facts and figures: DATA. Raw, unorganized facts, figures, and symbols (e.g., numbers, text, audio, images) that, when processed, provide meaningful information for decision-making and analysis.
5. Checks (out) in advance: SCOPES. To examine, investigate, or assess something carefully, particularly to gain information, evaluate a situation, or prepare for a task. It is commonly used informally to mean looking over a place or situation to understand it.
6. "Rock the __": hit song for The Clash: CASBAH. A traditional North African fortress, citadel, or fortified quarter within older cities, notably in Algeria and Morocco. Historically, these served as residential and defensive structures, often with labyrinthine, car-free streets. I decided not to link the vid from 1982. You can find it on Youtube if you're interested.
7. Hurt: ACHE. A continuous or prolonged dull pain in a part of one's body.
8. Boxer Max: BAER. Maximilian Adelbert Baer Sr. [1909 - 1959] was an American professional boxer and the world heavyweight champion from June 14, 1934, to June 13, 1935. He was known in his time as the Livermore Larupper and Madcap Maxie. Two of his fights were rated Fight of the Year by The Ring magazine. He also acted in several movies and made many TV appearances, including his own variety show.
9. Take to the sky: SOAR. Let's fly away.
8. Boxer Max: BAER. Maximilian Adelbert Baer Sr. [1909 - 1959] was an American professional boxer and the world heavyweight champion from June 14, 1934, to June 13, 1935. He was known in his time as the Livermore Larupper and Madcap Maxie. Two of his fights were rated Fight of the Year by The Ring magazine. He also acted in several movies and made many TV appearances, including his own variety show.
9. Take to the sky: SOAR. Let's fly away.
10. Big name in small appliances: NINJA. Ninja products are made by SharkNinja, an independent, publicly traded company that designs and sells innovative kitchen appliances, outdoor cooking gear, and other household items, known for popular brands like the Ninja Foodi and Shark vacuums, with manufacturing primarily in Southeast Asia.
11. Conceptualizes: IDEATES. Forms an idea of something; imagines or conceives.
12. Conquerors of England in 1066: NORMANS. The Normans were a medieval people who originated from Norse (Viking) settlers in Northern France, establishing the Duchy of Normandy in 911 under Rollo. They adopted French language, culture, and Romanesque architecture, becoming fervent Christians. Famous for the 1066 Norman Conquest of England led by William the Conqueror, they also established kingdoms in Southern Italy, Sicily, and fought in the Crusades.
13. Golden-ager: OLDSTER. An older person. Older than what or whom is not specified. At any rate, I qualify.
21. Parody: SPOOF. A humorous imitation of something, typically a film or a particular genre of film, in which its characteristic features are exaggerated for comic effect.
22. "Absolutely!": YES. For sure!
23. Honeylove purchase: BRA. They make several types of clothing and intimate apparel.
24. Substance in the Hanukkah miracle: OIL. The miracle of the oil, central to Hanukkah, tells that when the Maccabees rededicated the Temple, they found only one small jar of pure oil, enough for one day. Miraculously, this oil burned for eight days, allowing enough time to prepare new oil, representing the triumph of light and faith.
28. Yonder thing: THAT. Used to identify a specific person or thing observed by the speaker.
29. Deter: REPEL. Drive or force an attack or attacker to back or away.
30. Queen's record label: EMI. EMI Group/Records was a major British music conglomerate (the "Big Four") that launched the Beatles, Queen, and Pink Floyd. Following its 2012 breakup, its assets are now held by Universal Music Group (recorded music) and Sony Music Publishing.
31. Grumpy friend: DOC. Grumpy and Doc are two of Disney's Seven Dwarves from the Snow White movie. Tolkien hated them, and anything Disney. Still, a nicely misdirecting clue.
35. Like most Facebook Marketplace items: USED. I believe the preferred term is "pre-owned."
37. Piglet pal: ROO. From the Winnie the Pooh stories. More Disney.
38. Subject of the song "Oh Yoko!": ONO. Yoko Ono [b 1933] is a Japanese artist, musician, activist, and filmmaker who has influenced the international art scene since the 1960s. A pioneer in performance and conceptual art, Ono's work often challenges perceptions of beauty, sexuality, and femininity.
39. Former capital of Japan: KYOTO. Kyoto, once the capital of Japan, is a city on the island of Honshu. It's famous for its numerous classical Buddhist temples, as well as gardens, imperial palaces, Shinto shrines and traditional wooden houses. It was founded in 794.
40. Bar mat: COASTER. A small tray or mat placed under a bottle or glass to protect the table underneath.
41. Spartan: AUSTERE. Severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance.
42. Leads the cast of: STARS IN. Said of the skilled performer who has the most prominent roll in a production.
45. "Ta-da!": ALL DONE. The project is finished.
46. Lighthouse view: SEA. The ocean, possibly with ships.
47. Abbr. on a measuring spoon: TSP. Teaspoon.
49. Intl. cricket powerhouse: PAK. Pakistan. Cricket in Pakistan has a history predating the creation of the country in 1947. The first ever international cricket match in Karachi was held on 22 November 1935 between Sindh and Australian cricket teams. The match was seen by 5,000 Karachiites. Following the independence of Pakistan in 1947, cricket in the country developed rapidly and Pakistan was given Test match status at a meeting of the Imperial Cricket Conference at Lord's in England on 28 July 1952 following recommendation by India,[
50. Drink of the gods: NECTAR. This refers to ambrosia and nectar, the fabled food and drink granting immortality in Greek mythology. It is commonly used as a metaphor for an exceptionally delicious drink.
51. Waiting for a representative, say: ON HOLD. The bane of anyone seeking customer service by telephone.
53. __ fries: poutine kin: DISCO. A classic New Jersey diner comfort food, consisting of crispy French fries smothered in melted mozzarella cheese and hot brown gravy. Popularized in the 1970s as a late-night snack for people leaving clubs, this dish is similar to Canadian poutine but uses shredded mozzarella instead of cheese curds.
57. Comedian Mike of "The Upshaws": EPPS. Michael Elliot Epps [b. 1970] is an American actor, stand-up comedian, and philanthropist. He's known for his roles as Day-Day Jones in Next Friday and Friday After Next, and "Black Doug" in The Hangover films. Epps is also a boxing fan who recently partnered with former World Heavyweight Champion Lamon Brewster to open a boxing gym in Indianapolis. The gym aims to use boxing's fierceness and footwork to help young men and teens find new paths.
58. Boatload: SLEW. It is used informally to mean a large quantity, often with "a," e.g., "a slew of issues."
59. Part of an insurance bundle: AUTO. Sometimes bundled with home owner's insurance.
60. Marbled loaves: RYES. Marble rye is a visually striking, artisan-style bread made by twisting or layering light rye and dark pumpernickel doughs together to create a distinctive marbled swirl. Known for its mild, earthy flavor and chewy texture, it typically features caraway seeds and is a favorite for reuben sandwiches, toasted with butter.
64. Soap chemical: LYE. Lye, primarily sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, is a strong, highly caustic alkaline compound crucial for soap making, drain cleaning, and food processing like curing lutefisk, pretzels, and ramen noodles. It is a white, corrosive solid that dissolves fats, requiring strict safety measures, including gloves, goggles, and ventilation.
65. Barrel wood: OAK. Oak is favored for barrels due to its structural strength, ability to bend without snapping, and unique porosity, which allows for controlled micro-oxygenation. It is watertight, durable against warping, and imparts desirable flavor compounds like vanilla, spice, and coconut to wine and spirits. It also mellows tannins over time.
Well, that it's for another Wednesday. This puzzle hit all the right notes, and had both a bit of astronomy and a Tolkien based min-theme. Hope it didn't give you anything to fret about.
Cool regards!
JzB
33 comments:
I had a pretty good
idea of what the reveal was going to be before I got to it, and I was right.
Other than that, I don’t have too much to say about this puzzle. It wasn’t terribly difficult, and it was a lot of fun to solve.
FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
Looked for, but didn't find the theme. Never equated SHRED with a guitar technique. I'm also unfamiliar with a WET burrito. NINJA, as an appliance brand, continued the unfamiliar trend. TACT sounds like something our political leaders should have. There was only a single Wite-Out moment this morning -- potpourri SPRIG to PETAL. Thanx for the amusement, Aaron, and for the detailed expo, JzB.
FIR, but fish->CAST, hot->OUT, and caspah->CASBAH. Waited for eriq/erik/ERIC.
Winston Churchill famously said, "Tact is the ability to tell someone to go to hell in such a way that they look forward to the trip."
DOC didn't fool me - I got it without benefit of perp.
Max BAER's son became Jed Clampett's nephew, whose dimwittedness created the phrase I frequently borrow: "you sure about that, Jethro?"
Thaks to Aaron for the fun humpday special. I'm no musician, but it seems to me that poetic license was required to associate PICKS with CHORD. Don't musicians PICK a single note at a time, while CHORD implies more than one note? Inquiring nitwits want to know. And thanks to JzB for the fun and informative review.
FIR. There were a plethora of unknowns for me. Fortunately the perps helped immensely.
I had a hunch about the theme but there were a few answers like noodle that I didn't know.
Overall a so-so puzzle.
Good Morning:
Completing a crossword puzzle without any outside help is usually satisfying. Completing a crossword puzzle without any outside help and enjoying every minute of it is always satisfying, if not downright delightful. Such was my experience today with this clever, well-executed theme, squeaky-clean grid, and lots of fresh, sparkling fill. Perfect as it was, though, I’m going to voice a minor nit about the inexplicable editorial decision to define a one word answer (43A One) using a 12 word clue.
Thanks, Aaron, come back soon, and thanks, JazzB, for the usual erudite commentary and today’s dissection of such a fitting theme. In addition to your much-appreciated detailed synopsis, those hidden gems of subtle humor and wit add to your unique voice.
Have a great day.
I must agree with D-O and IM about Ron's always detailed comments. The time needed to accomplish this write-up is amazing. Jinx I am no musician either but guitarists clearly pick chords not just a single note. I did not know Hawthone Heights . Aaron thank you for za fun exercise. Congratulations to Venezuela for their first World Baseball Classic title. It is interesting that they won the same year their leader gwas arrested by the US.
I enjoyed Aaron's challenge, a well-crafted and straightforward crossword. I learned a couple things from the reveal: the shredding and the noodling. Jamming and picking I knew.
Putting on my curmudgeon hat, I don't like IDOL serving as a synonym for superstar. "Idol" infers emotional connection, the object of a fan's adoration. "Superstar" is more objective: someone who is broadly and understandably considered famous due to their feats and talents. Aaron Judge is appropriately labelled a baseball superstar, but that doesn't necessarily mean that he is idolized by all.
I understand that the final decision on crossword cluing is in the hands of the editorial staff, not the constructor.
Thanks, Aaron, for providing us with a satisfying and informative solve. And thanks, JzB, for your fun recap.
Silly me, DNF because I never went back to the crossing of ERI_ with DIS_O. I didn’t know those fries, but I should have guessed ERIC. Otherwise between perps and WAGS I was able to tackle the few unknowns like OSHEA and EMO as clued.
Now the theme went over my head since I’m not familiar with the guitar expressions, except JAMS, but easy to figure out.
All in all a fun puzzle. Don’t we all hate being put ON HOLD when calling customer service, and that’s if we’re lucky enough to answer the bot’s questions satisfactorily.
Thank you JzB for that most informative review. Loved it.
Took 6:04 today to rock this one.
I didn't know: EMI, Honeylove, Epps, or Erik/Eric, but "disco" seemed logical -- more logical than "disko". I had "scouts" before "scopes," which slowed me down in the top-middle.
Quick and fun. POOLNOODLE - Puts me in mind of a Houston Parks and Rec offering of a tai chi slash water aerobic program and my participation at a public swimming pool filled with 40 or more Boomers at full boil in some Hieronymous Bosch like crawfish pot accompanied by a by PA system blasting techno/house/latin/dance/... Hmm ... I reckon I could put away half a sack and a couple of pitchers right now.
FLN, was 4pm the last post yesterday? Just want to check, because I'm not sure if the Universe Is messing with me. It seems ever since I complained about a post disappearing before I could publish, whatever my last post was, keeps coming back at the end as unpublished script. Even tho it was published!? I hit refresh, and it is gone, I hit refresh again, and it is back... really weird stuff. I used to think this house was built on an old Indian burial ground. But now I am starting to think I have a "Pooka." (And no, I am not seeing 6 foot tall white rabbits,,, just rabbit holes....)
Anywho, I'm not sure if my disjointed thoughts are going over well, Just tell me if my posts are becoming discordant...
1st thought=Aaaurgh! Why didn't I think of this theme!
2nd thought= ever try to use those metal finger picks for guitars? I mean, which way do they go? Up? Down? (Another Aargh moment...) hmm, bad lead in to thank you Jzb for the "come fly with me" link. Awesome! (Like all the data you included in the write up. Must have taken forever. Well worth doing the puzzle as price of admission to the Blog...) I saved the link for another one of those "I will be a good guitarist some day, if I can play this" to learn later. It looks like a must learn piece...
Anywho, I can't see the beginning of my post, which probably means the Oscar's music is play8ng over my post somewhere... so onto the next post.
(CC, you sure it's ok to post 5?)
Not so "anywho,who..."
Thank you Jzb, for the Enya realization! I had no idea she wrote that LotR music! Which reminds me I have been looking for some music to help me unwind at the end of the day. This is absolutely perfect!
Any, who who (who?) apologies, as I am trying out this IPad feature called quick notes, and it doesn't let me forget anything... so the posts just keep coming. (You can blame Google.)
Cocktail sword reminded me that I used to play with my parent bad drinking decisions...
.
Wet burrito sounds like an enchilada to me..
Tolkien hated Disney? Hmm, more research neeeded...
Marbled loaves=ryes (do you want to see Seinfeld rip off an old lady, again?)
I do, somebody post it for me pls...
And finally, (I hope) for some reason, I typo'd "Marc" in my quick notes...
If you are into puzzles, maybe you can figure out what I was trying to tell myself, and tell me what the hell I was talking about...
Musings
-I’ve done all those things with my guitar
-Our class NERD is now a multi-millionaire living on the Gulf Of California after inventing his own MRI
-For the first time in her life, my DW will not have to WEED as we turned the garden into lawn
-Being ON HOLD is not as annoying as trying to talk someone who is not a native English speaker
-How far away is Uranus? It took Voyager 9 ½ years to get there going 7 miles per second.
-Getting to Pluto would have required another 4 years.
-Our puzzles seem to have a SLEW of ORCS and ENTS
-The Japanese and Germans thought they had ENCRPYTED their messages so they code not be deciphered
-Our NINJA Air Fryer has been a welcome addition to our household
-Our former plumber quit his trade and bought a PAK-Mail franchise
-All right, Irish’s assesement is spot on!
Hmm, Tolkien hated Disney? Im sure there must be reasons, but luckily for me, I grew up (circa 6 or 7) on Sunday nights, knowing that before school tomorrow, at 7pm, I could watch something heartwarming... (before Perry Mason...)
And learn, that happiness is just a little house out in the country... (approx 8 minutes)
Fairly easy for Humpday, (often implies a rough Thursday)
I get JAMS and PICKS for guitar related stuff but not the rest.
Inkovers: imagines/IDEATES, hot/OUT, cradle/CASBAH (“I re-all-y don’t like it”)
On Hold!! 📞 ONO! “Representative! Representative! Representative!!😩😩
Two weeks age bought a NINJA air fryer and used it almost everyday. Oster wouldn’t perp.
New Year’s Eve must be quite a big deal on Neptune. ALTHO PLUTO “dwarfs” that and takes 248 years. BTW Where did DOC get his medical degree ⁉️
STARSIN crossed with CAST . WET burrito? sounds soggy.
Mailer, Rockwell, Schwarzkopf …. NORMANS
Jethro Bodine was as big as a ___ BAER
”Great Celtic singing. We didn’t know you had it ____ ”… ENYA
Have a great day
Interesting and fun puzzle. Thanks JazzB for the recap. Very interesting tidbit about Neptune's orbit. I never gave it much thought. That's a long year.
Pleasant Wednesday puzzle, many thanks, Aaron. And thank you too for your always helpful commentary and pictures, JazzB--also always appreciated.
Well, the early reference to that Spanish boy NINO had us thinking about kids and teenagers. Those groups no doubt contain some NERDS, but possibly also an IDOL or two. Let's hope that all the kids have plenty of TACT, and if so, we'd feed them some RASPBERRY JAM along with some PEAS. And if they're old enough they could even enjoy some beer with a taste of YEAST. But let's make them put away any SWORDS--we don't want them to even think about any violence. Instead they should focus on those AFRO PICKS to give themselves great hair-dos so they can STRIKE A CHORD with all their friends at their party.
Have a pleasant, cheerful, and delightful day, everybody.
Thank you, Aaron and Jazzbumpa.
RustyBrain and Splynter probably liked this guitar theme.
When I read RIPS TO SHREDS, Eddie Van Halen came to mind first. I saw Eddie shred live at a concert in Germany 77 or 78. He started guitar solo that led into Eruption. I was blown away. So many great guitarists with so many signature styles.
The puzzle was fun and quick, but "Shape of some cocktail picks" left me wondering. I got SWORD easily enough, but I had to pause to reread the clue a second and third time to understand why it worked. I got it, but since I don't have much experience drinking cocktails, it took a moment. I think that it may have been a SWORD that speared the olives in a Bloody Mary I had. Or it was a toothpick. I don't recall.
JzB, you are thorough. AFAIC, you hit all of the right notes in your review.
Hola! What a fun puzzle! I know nothing about guitars or the technicalities of music, but this puzzle hit the right CHORD! It was fairly easy to suss out the unknowns once I got into the swing of it.
The term "WET" burrito is new to me! I very well know the concept but never called it that. I agree that it sound more like an enchilada. Ditto about DISCO fries, a new term for me. And the only EPPS I know is Omar.
1066 is probably one of the most famous dates in English history. Not only did the conquest affect the country, but the language as well, in a most profound way.
I have memories of my grandmother making soap in a large vat, using LYE.
Enjoy your day, everyone and thank you, JazzB, for a thorough and engaging narrative.
Wes Montgomery was the only guitarist I know who would pick TWO, not three, notes at the same time
I'm familiar with somebody PICKing or plucking strings but not the other three-JAMS, SHREDS, or NOODLES. And how does one "pick a chord"? That would require some real talent. You can strum one but picking three notes of three strings would be very difficult.
But the puzzle was easy to FIR with the usual few unknowns. O'SHEA, Hawthorne Heights & EMO, OIL, WET burrito, poutine kin DISCO, "The Upshaws" & EPPS.
ENYA was a guess for the song.
A Neptune clue and a PLUTO fill.
Max BAER Sr. never got to see Jr. in "The Beverly Hillbilliesl".
A 15 minute FIR, in spite of 5 DNKs among the 16 names. I liked this CW, got the theme, enjoyed the solve and the fun clues. Tried to somehow jam STRAWBERRYJAMS in there for RASPBERRYJAMS, but it wouldn't squish in there.
W/Os: HOT/OUT, NORSEMEn/NORMANS, SCOUTS/SCOPES.
Thanx AU, as I said, I enjoyed your creation and look forward to more CWs from you.
Thanx too to JzB for this absolutely AMAZING write-up, so full of information and fun stuff. I liked the video about the guitar chords. LOL at your YOLO comment! Sounds about right! "Hollow floaties" = POOLNOODLES and you managed to find a picture of the only pool noodles I've ever seen that are NOT hollow! What a hoot! I keep an AFROPICK in a drawer: it is EXCELLENT for cleaning hair brushes.
All-in-all I can't even guess how many hours you must have put into your extensive, informative and fun write-up for our entertainment. You really outdid it today. Thanx tons!
You strum a chord with the pick, check out any rhythm guitarist in action
You would form the chord and then pick the individual notes of the chord one by one.
Uh, just one more post, if you will. No discussion of guitar chords would be complete without the opening chord of The Beatles "Hard Days Night." The most discussed chord (in what used to be) modern history...
This is what George said. but, of course, he was being cheeky, not telling the whole truth...
However, after much discussion, (years in fact...) it has been agreed that this was what was really going on... until the next opinion anyway...
JAMS and SHREDS as used in the theme are verbs. If the creator meant PICK as a noun, there should have been a hint in the clue. It ain't Saturday.
NOODLES too.
I liked this puzzle and especially liked Jazzb's write-up.
Somewhere around here I have a Wes Montgomery album he recorded with organist Jimmy Smith. Great tunes. I just LIU - "chord" is three or more notes.
Husker Gary at noon, don't let DW throw away her weeding tools! Lawns get lots of weeds. In our neighborhood, quite a few folks have put in those awful plastic lawns, and weeds grow in them, too! The upside of the plastic lawns is that my daughter's dog thinks they are huge hairbrushes. He throws himself down on every plastic lawn and rubs his coat vigorously over the plastic blades of grass.
Aaron's puzzle was fun to do. The only real challenge was at 18-Across and 8-Down, where OSHEA crossed BAER, both of which are unknown to me. I made a WAG at the "E" and everything worked out fine.
Many thanks to Aaron, and to JzB, who graciously explains any bit that may have slipped beyond one's understanding.
After 4: your post @4:43, Jace @ 4:51, and NaomiZ @ 4:56.
Enjoyed this puzzle. I was thought the clue about number of orbits was clever….one! Thanks Aaron and JzB!
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