Theme: Yada yada yada.
Today's crossword puzzle comes to us from Katie Hale, assistant crossword editor of the Los Angeles Times. Although she is clearly a sparkling wit and wordsmith, today Katie is concerned with conversation that lacks spark. The theme answers are:
20-Across. Warning on delicate garments: DRY CLEAN ONLY. A DRY conversation is lifeless, humorless, or matter-of-fact.
34-Across. Feature of nonglossy countertops: DULL FINISH. A DULL conversation is boring, tedious, or uninteresting.
44-Across. Espressos with steamed milk: FLAT WHITES. A FLAT conversation lacks energy, emotion, or enthusiasm.
56-Across. "... and other meaningless drivel," or what can be found at the start of 20-, 34-, and 44-Across: BLAH BLAH BLAH. All of these conversations are BLAH and sound to at least one of the participants like BLAH BLAH BLAH (or yada yada yada) -- in other words, meaningless drivel. Katie has clued us in to look for something BLAH at the start (or beginning) of the answers cited.
Let's not put you to sleep with all this blather. On to the rest of the clues and answers!
Across:1. Timelessly stylish: CHIC.
5. Many a robocall: SCAM.
9. Brewery tour pours, for short: IPAS. India Pale Ales.
13. Polo ground chunk: DIVOT. A divot is a small chunk of grass and soil dug out of the ground, most commonly the result of swinging a golf iron. In polo, divots are torn up by the horses' hooves as they gallop, stop or turn. Polo matches feature a halftime break during which spectators stomp the upturned chunks of turf back into place, making the field safer for the horses.
 |
| The divot stomp is even more fun if you're drinking. |
15. __ stick: POGO. The pogo stick's name comes from the surnames of two German inventors, Max Pohlig and Ernst Gotschall, who registered a German patent for a "spring end hopping stilt" in 1920.
 |
| Pogo stick |
16. French peak, to locals: ALPE. The French Alps are located in southeastern France, along the borders with Switzerland and Italy. The French language loves unpronounced letters, so of course Alp is Alpe in French.
17. Public tantrum: SCENE. As in, "Don't make a scene!"
18. Bring in: EARN.
19. Stare open-mouthed: GAPE.
20. [Theme clue]
23. On land: ASHORE. As a landlubber, I don't generally think of myself as being ashore, but my late sister's husband lives on a little sailboat and is usually out at sea, so his time ashore is a distinct experience.
26. Verbal hesitations: ERS.
27. Lipton drink: TEA.
28. The Jazz of the NBA, on scoreboards: UTA. The Utah Jazz are a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City.
29. "Most definitely": IT IS. Is the weather getting weirder every year? IT IS.
32. Vlogger devices, informally: CAMS. A vlogger (or video blogger) produces video content to share online. CAMeraS are essential.
34. [Theme clue]
37. Like a room with open windows: AIRY.
40. Parquet floor feature: INLAY. Parquet is a geometric mosaic of wood pieces used for decorative flooring. Inlay is a technique of setting wood or other materials into shallow recesses carved in a base surface so that the inserted pieces are flush with the surrounding surface.
 |
| Parquet floor. |
41. Airport entry org.: TSA. The Transportation Security Administration was established in 2001, in direct response to the September 11 terrorist attacks. Originally under the Department of Transportation, the agency was moved to the Department of Homeland Security in 2003.
42. Mentor's pupil: TUTEE.
43. "You told me a thousand times already!": OK OK. But is that enough? IT IS!
44. [Theme clue]
46. Glam gala: FETE.
48. Elderly Shakespearean king: LEAR.
49. All Hallows' __: EVE.
50. 1980s sitcom ET: ALF. ALF was a television sitcom that aired on NBC from 1986 to 1990. The title character, ALF (an acronym for Alien Life Form), crash-lands in the garage of a suburban California family. ALF ran for four seasons, with a total of 97 episodes. Did anyone here watch it?
42. Mentor's pupil: TUTEE.
43. "You told me a thousand times already!": OK OK. But is that enough? IT IS!
44. [Theme clue]
46. Glam gala: FETE.
48. Elderly Shakespearean king: LEAR.
49. All Hallows' __: EVE.
50. 1980s sitcom ET: ALF. ALF was a television sitcom that aired on NBC from 1986 to 1990. The title character, ALF (an acronym for Alien Life Form), crash-lands in the garage of a suburban California family. ALF ran for four seasons, with a total of 97 episodes. Did anyone here watch it?
52. Each and every one: ALL.
54. Not top quality, screenwise: LOW RES. A LOW RESolution display lacks sharpness and fine detail.
56. [Theme clue]
60. Crimson Tide team, familiarly: BAMA. The Alabama Crimson Tide (known as "Bama") represents the University of Alabama in NCAA Division I athletics.
61. October birthstone: OPAL. My sister and I used to speculate about who would inherit Mom's incredible antique opal necklace. Mom had no idea we were interested. She sold it.
 |
| Opal |
62. Baby shower bear: TEDDY.
66. Bad news bringer: OMEN.
67. "Now __ talking!": WE'RE.
68. "I'm so great!": YAY ME.
69. Fixes, as potholes: TARS.
70. Snow glider: SLED.
71. Assessment: TEST.
Down:
1. Record store section: CDS. Compact discs -- the format between vinyl records and online digital music. Except there were a lot of tape formats, too! And audio DVDs. Audiophiles, your comments are welcome.
 |
| CDs |
2. Sound of a diaphragm spasm: HIC. The sound of a hiccup.
3. "__ been meaning to tell you ... ": I'VE.
4. Unit in a complex: CONDO.
5. Hardware detail, for short: SPEC. Hardware SPECifications are the technical details of a computer’s hardware -- such as the processor, memory, storage, graphics card, and operating system -- that define its performance and capabilities. I suppose there are SPECs for other kinds of hardware, too, like nuts, bolts, and hinges.
6. Snowman's eyes, sometimes: COAL.
7. Be in harmony: AGREE.
8. Charles III, e.g.: MONARCH. Ever heard of Charles III? He's the reigning MONARCH in the UK.
9. "Othello" villain: IAGO. Iago is a fictional character in Shakespeare's Othello.
10. Friend who maintains one's watering schedule, say: PLANT SITTER. Or hire a professional!
11. Orchard pick: APPLE.
12. "Bye now": SEE YA.
14. Fill with fear: TERRIFY.
21. Hairy cryptid: YETI. A cryptid is a creature whose existence has been suggested by legends or eyewitness accounts, but whose existence remains unproven or unrecognized by scientific consensus. A prime example is the North American Bigfoot AKA "Sasquatch." The Himalyan Yeti AKA "Abominable Snowman" is another.
22. Govt. intel org.: NSA. The National Security Agency is a U.S. Department of Defense intelligence agency tasked with global monitoring of information, and protecting U.S. government communications networks and information systems.
23. Broadcast's sound component: AUDIO.
24. Didn't do well: STUNK.
25. Cooperstown honoree: HALL OF FAMER. Cooperstown is a village in central New York State, known for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
30. Abbr. in some airport names: INTL. Abbreviation for "international."
31. Doormat fiber: SISAL.
33. "You're Welcome" singer in "Moana": MAUI.
 |
| Moana and Maui |
35. Waterskiing spot: LAKE.
36. Fully gratify: SATE.
38. Superman player Christopher: REEVE. Christopher Reeve (1952-2004) played Superman in the 1978 film and three sequels (1980-1987), along with a number of other fine film performances.
 |
| Christopher Reeve as Superman |
39. Affirmative replies: YESES.
42. Husky, as a voice: THROATY.
44. Guys: FELLOWS.
45. Barrier: WALL.
47. Tavern tally: TAB.
50. Religious brotherhood leader: ABBOT.
51. Vicuña kin: LLAMA. The vicuña is a wild South American camelid which lives in the high alpine areas of the Andes. Vicuñas are relatives of the llama, and are the ancestors of domesticated alpacas. The vicuña is the national animal of Peru and appears on the Peruvian coat of arms.
 |
| Vicuñas |
53. Jacket flap: LAPEL.
55. Flour source: WHEAT.
57. "Dune" film score composer Zimmer: HANS. Hans Zimmer is a German composer who has scored over 150 films. He won two Academy Awards for Best Original Score, for The Lion King (1994) and for Dune (2021).
 |
| Hans Zimmer |
58. Fabled race loser: HARE.
59. Turned light laundry pink accidentally, perhaps: BLED. Who hasn't washed a red shirt and gotten pink socks by accident?
63. Turn light laundry pink intentionally, perhaps: DYE. Cute follow-up to the previous clue.
64. Private app convos: DMS. A DM is a Direct Message, sent privately between social media or app users.
65. As of now: YET. Is it over ... as of now?
Here's the grid:
Do we all AGREE that this was a nifty puzzle? Do I hear YESES?
Or do you think it STUNK?
SEE YA in the comments section!
-- NaomiZ
42 comments:
Once again, we have a
Monday-easy puzzle on a Monday.
The start of a trend?
One could hope so.
Anyway, FIR, so I’m happy.
Agree with SG: glad to see an actual Monday CW on a Monday. 11 names, but only DNK 2. FIR in 10, typical for my true Monday time for me.
I did not get the theme until the reveal, but then got it. Too late to help with the CW, but that's the way it should be.
Coulda been ERS, UMS, EHS....needed the perps.
Thanx KH for a true Monday CW. Clever theme, too.
Thanx NaomiZ for the terrific write-up, and for the POGO info.
Christopher Reeve is why I won't go horseback riding. I mean, if it can kill Superman.....
Good morning!
This one was Monday-friendly. I liked it. Finished in good time, Wite-Out-free. Thanx, Katie and NaomiZ.
FIR, but leer->LEAR.
A hiRES screen can be set to a LOWRES level, usually to make things larger on the screen, at the cost of the quality of the displayed images. HiRES and LOWRES descriptors of the actual screen itself are specifications of grade, not quality.
Off on another leg of life's journey today. The movers are coming this afternoon to load my rental truck, and by dark I should be in my North Carolina motel room. I'm not taking a printer along on this trip, so we'll see how I fare with solving online tomorrow morning.
Thanks to Katie for the fun Manday puzzle, and to NaomiZ for another fine review.
Jinx, is this going to be a permanent move?
Good luck with the move Jinx . I too appreciated learning about POGO sticks history didn't know HANS but didn't need to. Thanks Katie and Naomi. Welcome to June and hurricane season
Took 4:53 today to finish this tiresome, boring puzzle....
I didn't know: "flat whites", what a vicuna was, the French, or which "hesitations" to chose. Otherwise, smooth sailing.
I recall watching "Alf" once or twice. That was enough.
FIR. An easy puzzle and it's Monday. All is right with the crossword world.
I had no trouble zipping through today's presentation.
The theme was clever but wasn't needed for the solve.
Overall a most enjoyable puzzle.
Liked the juxtaposition of chic with hic. Reminded this hick of how he once pronounced chic. Didn't know alpe - thanks for the pronunciation guide, NaomiZ, to keep me from another faux pas (2 French words I do know). Fun puzzle and review. Thanks to each.
I too needed the reveal to understand the theme. My big faux pas was entering latte for WHITE but THROATY and MAUI rectified that. I know STUNK is correct, but I would use STaNK.
So, nice puzzle, fine theme. YAY.
Thank you NaomiZ for the informative review. I too enjoyed learning the origin of the word POGO stick.
Fun puzzle. FIR with no white out, no WNBA names, very few foreign references and other obscure names.. A nice start to the week.
I vaguely remember Alf -- it was sort of a Mr. Ed with a fuzzy alien playing the horse.
Lemonade reminded me I meant to wish everyone a Happy June the oneth, and welcome to hurricane season. The forecast is fewer than usual number of hurricanes, but this is gonna be a brutally hot summer. Yesterday it was 94* here in SOFLO. Real temp, not feels-like. Being an old man (81...jeez, rather be 18; what happened?) I don't tolerate the heat at all, and am gonna hafta hide in the A.C. now for almost six months. Oy.
”June is bustin’ out all over” 🎶 … but you wouldn’t think so it from our weather and temperatures in Central NY.😟
Not a DRY, DULL, or FLAT puzzle but like many CWs got crunchier as I went south. I hit a WALL with THROATY, MAUI, and FLATWHITES for a while . Never heard of the last as I ironically sip on my morning cappuccino while puzzling. Looked it up. The main difference between a flat white and a cappuccino is the milk texture and coffee-to-milk ratio. FLATWHITES use silky microfoam and are more espresso-forward. A cappuccino is layered with stiff, airy foam and often dusted with cocoa powder. … BLAHBLAHBLAH… 🙄
With just one flight to Canada any US airport becomes INTL. ✈️
You may not believe, ____have no doubt Bigfoot exists…. YETI
When rain threatens: Golfers dilemma: _____ or not _____ … TUTEE
Impose fees for imported goods … TERRIFY
Happy week 😊
A Katie Hale offering that could be nominated as a Monday hall of famer.
No dreck, fresh fill “ plant sitter” and “flat whites”
My Wite-Out got the day off .
A fun and clever puzzle.
Thanks Naomi for the informative and interesting recap.
Yesterday I watched “Pretty Women” There is an iconic scene at a polo match where Richard Gere and Julia Robert’s go on the field to replace grass known as the “divot stomp.”
Katie is quite versatile as a constructor, she can offer an extremely difficult Saturday themeless, or a relatively easy themed one such as today’s. DNK MAUI or LLAMA as clued, not familiar with a lacuna. FLAT WHITES was also unknown, sounds a lot like a latte to me. UTA is usually clued as ‘actress Hagen’. Thanks Katie for the enjoyable solve to start the CW week, and to NaomiZ for the follow up report. Interesting trivia about the origin of the POGO stick name, and also the “divot stomp”, never knew there was such a thing in polo, but I’ve stomped a few on the golf course.
Hola! WEES. I agree with what you all have said about this puzzle. It was perfect for a Monday and interesting as well. CHIC, SCAM, OPAL, etc. are very nice fill.
I have very few clothes that are DRY CLEAN ONLY but when I was working, my closet was full of them. I like nice, serge slacks but now I mostly wear jeans in winter and shorts in summer.
Thank you for that information about POGO; it's good to know.
TEDDY also has an interesting derivation; it was named for Pres. Theodore Roosevelt. And, YES, I watched ALF when it aired.
Have a very nice day, everyone!
This move is enough stuff to equip a 3 bedroom house. It's going to a storage facility in Ocala. The next task is removing the remaining items, then do light rehab (new kitchen counter, ongoing plumbing issues, rehab hardwood floors, paint inside and out.) I imagine that'll take 2 or 3 months, then I'll list it. I'll live in my motor home while the rehab's in progress, then I have reservations in an RV park starting in September. At that point I'll be a Florida resident. When the house sells, I'll start looking to buy in earnest. Won't hurt my feelings if I don't find the right place to buy until early next year.
Zhouqin authored USA Today’s puzzle.
Interesting Monday puzzle, many thanks, Katie. And your commentary and pictures are always a help, Naomi--thanks for those too.
Well, reading this puzzle it's hard not to wonder if that CHIC woman's experience was maybe a SCAM, with all that DIVOT and POLO equipment just made to EARN money for people who liked to GAPE on that SCENE in the CONDO. Wonder if she has a MONARCH butterfly as a pet, or maybe a YETI (whatever that is)? Well, she probably works as a PLANT SITTER--a pretty quiet job--and enjoys listening to those THROATY voices of singers on her AUDIO, who are probably pretty BLAH BLAH BLAH. Little chance she'll become a HALL OF FAMER, but let's hope she EARNS enough funds to be able to live in a CONDO and have a reasonably comfortable life. If that works, we'll congratulate her and encourage her to throw a party (and we'll attend).
Have a healthy and happy week coming up.
Seems like a well considered plan, Jinx. And a lot of hard work before you get your place in the sun!
Speaking of hesitations: Last night I watched a 1-1/2 hour mystery on Britbox and counted 9 uses of “ERM.”
SOFLO, SOCAL. I'm going to begin describing Tucson as being in SOAZ.
Late again due to a doctor’s appointment, opening a barrage of mail, and a late lunch. I’m really in the minority today as I thought this was a weak theme (a trend that is becoming noticeable of late, IMO,) and more unknowns needing perps than the usual easy-peasy Monday offering. OTOH, maybe I’m just in a grumpy mood.
Thanks, Katie, (😔), and thanks, Naomi, for the usual fact-filled review. Your commentary was appreciated much more than the puzzle itself, more interesting, too.
Maybe tomorrow’s puzzle will elicit a more positive reaction.
Musings
-Home after a hot 18! Summer has reached the Great Plains.
-Some of my shots were not BLAH!
-Repairing DIVOTS is expected on a golf course.
-The Husker SB women were eliminated in the National Tournament by one swing of a BAMA bat
-No matter what SPECS I bring with me, every project requires at least two trips to Menards
Mundane Monday. Thanks for the fun, Katie and NaomiZ.
I FIRed and got the BLAH theme in good Monday time.
Several inkblots to change OKay to OKOK, bash to FETE (more glamorous and CHIC), and FLAT laTTES to WHITES (my knowledge of coffee names is limited).
I smiled at those linked clues for BLED and DYE.
We had YET and YETI.
Katie gives us Shakespeare with LEAR and IAGO.
Wishing you all a great day.
Best wishes on your move Jinx.
“What is so rare as a day in June; then if ever come perfect days.”
We are 80F in the Great White North today, Ray-o. Better get on one of those INTL flights. LOL.
Ojai Guy. Thanks Katie for a sane Monday. Nothing "cutesy", just a fun way to start the week.
I enjoyed solving this puzzle, although I patted myself on the back a little too soon when I answered BLURRY to "Not top quality, screenwise".
All right, I confess. I wrinkled my nose and shook my head at ERS and TUTEE.
I also confess I admire such words as MONARCH, TERRIFY, STUNK, THROATY, and FELLOWS in a crossword puzzle.
So I AGREE that this was a nifty puzzle.
Has anybody figured out why Ludwig Van Beethoven isn't called Van Beethoven instead of just Beethoven?
Best wishes to you, Jinx.
Jayce, I did a little research and it seems that because "van" means "of" or "from" in German, it is not considered a necessary part of the name, just as we would not use of or from in English names.
What Naomiz @2:09 said. Good luck to you, Jinx!
Good luck and safe travels with your move to FLA. You might want to wait until November to buy a house there as Hurricane season will be over and you'll know NOT where to buy, perhaps ...
Thanks to Katie and NaomiZ for the fun!
Learning moment: cryptid.
Gary, you are correct about DIVOTs being repaired and/or sanded in at a golf course. In places where zoysia or Bermuda grass is present, sand is the only acceptable means of filling the divot. Another "expected" repair job at a golf course (by the player[s]) is to fix a ball mark on the green. Why the majority of those who play DON'T do this is a mystery
IM, I agree with you; today's puzzle was rather "meh" (another word for "blah")
I was hoping “flat whites” would be correct. I’m not familiar with coffee names. But I FIR. I liked this puzzle and the review was fun. It was interesting to learn the origin of the name pogo.
Good luck with your move, Jinx! And of course there are some names that include the Van when using just the last name….Van Gogh, Van Dyke. Thanks Katie and NaomiZ!
Tried YADA YADA YADA first. Anyone else?
No.
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