Wednesday, July 22, 2026,

 ARDHA CHAKRASANA...

Meaning, Standing Backward Bend in Yoga...

Forgive me, but, I would title this, "How to hurt your back, or in crossword form,  find pain somewhere lower...".  I would have thought this puzzle better suited to Thursday Fare, but if you know any Yoga, or obscure people names combined with names of things you might find in trivial pursuit, or Jeopardy, then this puzzle would probably have been a breeze.  I call it, A Learning Experience...  

THE REVEAL:

 63 Across. Vacation for posers?, or what can be found in each set of circled letters: YOGA RETREAT. 

17 Across. Singer known as the "Queen of Christmas": MARIAH CAREY.  Name #1 The name was familiar, the clue was not...  RIAHC is a retreating Chair... (or backwards, if you prefer...)

Utkatasana, or the Chair pose.

24. Oscar won by Jessie Buckley for "Hamnet": BEST ACTRESS. 

Marjaryasana, or Cat Pose.

39 Across. Device that gets the party poppin'?: BUBBLE MACHINE.

Astrasana, or Camel Pose.

54 Across. Academic field for Judith Butler: QUEER THEORY. More info here...

Vrksasana, or Tree Pose.

Take a walk with me, tip toeing around the Yoga mats, as I try to figure out where I went wrong trying to solve this puzzle.

Onward:

Across:

1. Mission by the San Antonio River Walk: ALAMO.

6. Irks: VEXES.

I could have sworn he said "vexes."

But this is like me doing this puzzle...

11. IT dept. array: PCS. IT=Information Technology, PCS=Personal Computers.

(But, in a business department, are they really Personal Computers?)

14. Steel rod: REBAR.

15. Target Center, e.g.: ARENA. It may be Target Center today,  but tomorrow it will be called after who ever pays the most for the name... (Can you recall the original name of your local Arena before some corporation paid to rename it?)

16. "I found it!": AHA. (Then they renamed it, and I lost it again...)

17. [Theme.]

19. Like rubies and garnets: RED.

20. "Anne of Green Gables" setting: AVONLEA. Fictional, & spelling nightmare, Name #2

21. Proactive Health pet food brand: IAMS.

Name #3

Founder, Paul F. Iams.

23. Agcy. concerned with scheduling?: DEA. Drug Enforcement Agency. Agcy indicates abbreviated answer, and since alcohol does not have a D.E.A. schedule, I intend to have an attitude adjustment upon completing this write up...

24. [Theme.]

29. "No ifs, __, or buts": ANDS.

31. "Ambiguous Desire" singer Parks: ARLO. Name #3 (actually name #4, but it's easier to prattle on rather than change it...)

32. Mina Kimes's channel: ESPN. What does ESPN stand for? (And it is name #5) - clued by a name? So 5-1/2?

33. Doofus: OAF. (Insert political picture of your choice here...)

36. Sit next to: ABUT.

38. Feel bad: AIL.

39. [Theme.]

43. Enthusiast: FAN. Short for Fanatic, but has become a kinder, mellower name for some one who is nuts about something.

44. "Beyond the Gates," for one: SOAP. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

45. Protective layer?: HEN.😀

46. With skill: ABLY.

48. Knee parts, for short: ACLS. Anterior Cruciate Ligament 

50. Hertz rentals: CARS. Note that they also rent Vans, so with this hard a puzzle, do you really believe they would go with cars?

54. [Theme.]

58. Change shades: DYE.

59. Pageant wear: SASH.

60. Gives a lecture: TEACHES.

62. Prof's deg., often: PHD. Doctor of Philosophy.

63. [Theme Reveal.]

67. Luau strings, briefly: UKE.

68. Korean dumplings: MANDU. It's still a name, so #4 (correction, 6-1/2)

69. Guitarist Steve: EARLE. Name #5 (correction, 8-1/2)

70. Billie Eilish's "__ Guy": BAD.  Name of a song, so #6. Correction, but also a named clued, so name #10?)

71. Piano exercise: ETUDE.

Practice, Practice, Practice.

72. Like baklava: SWEET.

Down:
1. Fleet: ARMADA. Another name for fleet... hmm, in rereading this, I can see all these names have caused me to lose my mind... (don't say it! I know what your thinking!)

2. Get a rise out of?: LEAVEN.🙃

3. Out of the country: ABROAD.

4. Primary: MAIN.

5. Dental care brand: ORAL-B.

6. Airbnb competitor: VACASA. Name #7 (correction, and since Oral-B is a name, name #12?)

Note: this entry caused me to DNF this puzzle. (Did Not Finish,) Because I had to Google AirBnB competitors, and of the 100 or so so listed, Vacasa was not one of them...

7. Notable time: ERA.

8. '70s baby, e.g.: XER. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯  (I was thinking Beanie Baby...)

9. Opposite of WSW: ENE.  (Finally! A clue I can answer!)

10. "Just tell us!": SAY IT.  Just spit it out!

11. Oft-shaved cheese: PARMESAN. Romano wouldn't fit...

12. Simple Southern dessert: CHESS PIE. This one is hard to explain... if you scroll down to "why is it called  Chess Pie? You will find some curious guesses, but I think the answer is no one really knows. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (And an apt choice for unlucky name #13?)

13. Feeling low: SAD. Too many unknown names make me feel this way...

18. Chuckle noise: HEE. No! Don't try to cheer me up! 

22. "Where the Wild Things __": ARE. Here! This puzzle made me nuts!

25. Run roughshod over: TRAMPLE. Alas, what I have done to this poor puzzle review. My apologies, I'm just cranky it got the best of me. Please state in the comments that you knew everything, and this was a breeze, and an easy puzzle. I'm sure it will make me feel better...

26. "Jane the Virgin" grandmother: ALBA. The 14th name, clued by a name...

27. Spot to veg: COUCH. Believe it or not, Veg is a recognized word! (Plus, in crossword rules, it would be very hard to abbreviate "couch.")

28. Longtime NBC sketch show, casually: SNL. Saturday Night Live, and an abbreviated name, so 14-1/2?

30. Weep loudly: SOB.

34. Crunch muscles: ABS.

35. Ice cream treat: FLOAT. 5 fun float ideas for your next party! 

6 if you include this one!

37. Word that's trademarked in Ohio State University's official name: THE.  (Really?)

39. Headscarf: BABUSHKA. Also, the Russian word for Grandmother, or elderly woman.

40. Gas station choice: UNLEADED. (It's not a choice...)

41. A pop: EACH.

42. Magazine with an annual "Female Founders" list: INC. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (plus a half a name...)

43. Web page that has all the answers: FAQ. Frequently Asked Questions, like, how many names were really in this puzzle?

47. "Absolutely!": YES. There were too many names!

49. "You said it!": SO TRUE. (Even this puzzle agrees with me, too many names!)

51. Stick: ADHERE. 

You try reviewing a puzzle that beat you up, and stole your lunch money, ON A WEDNESDAY!

52. Hearty amber beer: RYE ALE. hmm, reminds me I'm ready for an attitude adjustment...

53. Six-line poem: SESTET. 🤔

55. Sound alike: RHYME. Echo wouldn't fit...

56. Food writer Drummond: REE.  Name #14? ( I thought it was Rhea...)

57. "Revolutionary Road" novelist Richard: YATES. Name #15?

61. Stick in one's __: CRAW. Other than names, I read something recently about Mourning Doves. They come to your feeder and stuff their craw with seeds for consumption later. I learned that they are the messiest nest builders, often having a nest of 2 or 3 sticks, often built on your windshield wiper, and yet it seems to work for them! They also can convert seeds in their craw (or crop) i to a kind of milk they can feed the young! More here if interested...

62. Spot for a pint: PUB. Yes, you don't have to remind me I need an attitude adjustment. Hmm, Rye Ale...

64. Vegan-friendly latte option: OAT.

65. Serengeti antelope: GNU. 

The Gnu Song.

66. Do the math: ADD.

The Grid.

And there you have it!  Did this puzzle beat you up? Just bend you a little? Or smooth out your kinks...

Tell us in the comments, because I hope I am not the only one that was puzzled...

CE:D out...

≽(◉˕ ◉ ≼マ

Tuesday, July 21, 2026 Kinan Alsheikh

Sounds Like ...   Today we will study Homophones.  Homophones are words that sound exactly the same when pronounced but have different meanings and spellings. The word comes from the Greek homos (meaning same) and phone (meaning sound).

17-Across. Shampoo for horses as well as humans: MANE N TAIL.  This horse shampoo was originally developed in the 1970s for show horses.  It became a cross-over product for humans and is purported to  promote stronger, fuller, and longer-looking hair without stripping natural oils.

24-Across. Meatless Chinese noodle dish: VEGETABLE LO MEIN.  Yummers!

36-Across. "The Theory of Everything" Best Actor Oscar winner: EDDIE REDMAYNE.  Eddie Redmayne (né Edward John David Redmayne; b. Jan. 6, 1982) went to Eton and was a classmate of Prince William (b. June 21, 1982).  The Theory of Everything was a bio-pic about Stephen Hawking (Jan. 8, 1942 ~ Mar. 14, 2018).

52-Across. Tender salad greens: HEARTS OF ROMAINE.

Too soon?

61-Across. Principal draw on fight night, or an apt title for this puzzle: MAIN EVENT.  Also the title of a terrible1979 Barbra Streisand movie.

Here's the Grid:

And now for the true Main Event ~ the rest of the puzzle ...

Across:

1. Prattles on: YAPS.

5. Bay Area sch.: UCSF.  As in the University of California, San Francisco. 

9. Uninspiring: VAPID.

14. Mapa of "Ugly Betty": ALEC.  I never watched Ugly Betty, so was unfamiliar with Alec (né Alejandro Mapa; b. July 10, 1965).

15. "New Rules" and "New Love" singer Dua: LIPA.  Dua Lipa (b. Aug. 22, 1995) is a British-Albanian singer and songwriter.  She makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles.

16. Twisted humor: IRONY.

19. Honeycomb units: CELLS.

20. Neither partner: NOR.  Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night ...

21. Future atty.'s exam: LSAT.  As in the Law School Admission Test.

23. Southeast Asian language: LAO.  Lao is the official language of Laos, however, it is also spoken in some parts of northeastern Thailand.

29. Hullabaloo: ADO.

30. Light __ feather: AS A.

31. Product labels: BRANDS.

32. Private aid gp.: NGO.  As in a Non-Governmental Organization.

33. Sure winner: SHOO IN.

42. Not asea: ON LAND.

43. Poem of praise: ODE.  A crossword staple.

45. Former House Speaker Nancy: PELOSI.  Nancy Pelosi (née Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro; b. Mar. 26, 1940) served as the 52nd speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

48. Due-in hr.: ETA.  As in Estimated Time of Arrival.

51. Crank (up): REV.

56. "The Lord of the Rings" beast: ORC.

57. Move for one's co., say: RE-LO.  As in Relocate.

58. Olive extract: OIL.  Everything you ever wanted to know about Olive Oil, but didn't know to ask.

59. Capone cohort Frank: NITTI.  I learned about Frank Nitti (né Francesco Raffaele Nitto; Jan. 27, 1886 ~ Mar. 19, 1943) from doing the crossword puzzles.  He makes frequent guest appearances in the puzzles.  

66. "OK, that was dishonest": I LIED.

67. Ritz-Carlton competitor: OMNI.  I am not sure I could consider these hotel chains to be competitors.  I view the Ritz-Carlton as a very high-end luxury hotel, whereas Omni is more family-oriented.

68. Tops with frosting: ICES.

69. Ride a bike: CYCLE.

70. "Auld Lang __": SYNE.

71. Every __ and cranny: NOOK.

Down:

1. Thanksgiving tuber: YAM.

2. __ carte menu: À LA.  Today's French lesson.

3. Writing tool: PEN.

4. All-too-public argument: SCENE.

5. Marathons longer than 26.2 miles, familiarly: ULTRAS.  An ultra marathon is a footrace that exceeds the traditional marathon distance of 26.2 miles.  Ultra marathon distances vary greatly but typically range from 31 miles (50 km) to 100 miles (160 km).

6. U.S. intel org.: CIA.

7. Tell all, as gossip: SPILL.

8. Untrue: FALSE.

9. Beckham also known as Posh Spice: VICTORIA.  Victoria, Lady Beckham (née Victoria Caroline Adams; b. Apr. 17, 1974) is probably the best known Spice Girl.  The band was big in the 1990s.

10. "__ we there yet?": ARE.

11. Wind-borne allergen: POLLEN.

12. Embedded, as tiles: INLAID.

13. High-end vacuum cleaners: DYSONS.  Everything you ever wanted to know about the Dyson Vacuum Cleaner.

18. The "N" of N.B.: NOTA.  Today's Latin Lesson.  N.B. is the abbreviation for the Latin phrase nota bene, which which means "note well" or "pay attention." 

22. "Tuesdays With Morrie" writer Mitch: ALBOM.  Mitch Albom (né Mitchell David Albom; b. May 23, 1958) has written many books, but is probably best known for Tuesdays With Morrie.  That book is memoir about a series of interviews and visits Albom made with his former Brandeis University sociology professor, Morrie Schwartz, as Schwartz was dying from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.  I have never read this book.

24. Vehicle for movers: VAN.

25. Microsoft web browser: EDGE.

26. Yummy: GOOD.

27. Iraq port city: BASRA.

28. Plenty of: MANY.

34. __ of the woods mushrooms: HEN.  Hen of the woods is a mushroom that grows at the base of trees, particularly old growth oaks or maples.  It is native to China, Europe, and North America.

35. More quirky: ODDER.

37. Entryway: DOOR.

38. Without losing one's cool: IN STRIDE.

39. Renée __ Goldsberry of "Girls5eva": ELISE.  Renée Elise Goldsberry (b. Jan. 2, 1971) is probably best known for her portrayal of Angelica Schuyler in the Broadway musical Hamilton.  She has also starred in a number of Broadway plays.

40. Sushi seaweed: NORI.

41. Biblical garden: EDEN.  //  And 44-Down:  41-Down woman: EVE.

45. Relating to sound: PHONIC.

46. In a creepy way: EERILY.

47. Acid type built up during high-intensity exercise: LACTIC.

49. Nickname for Canada's $2 coin: TOONIE.  The Canadian $1 coin is called a Loonie.

50. French friend: AMIE.  More of today's French lesson.  This is the female friend.

53. "Battlestar Galactica" actor Edward James __: OLMOS.  Edward James Olmos (b. Feb. 24, 1947) is an American actor who has starred in dozens of films and television shows.

54. Like hand soap: FOAMY.

55. Singing brother of Simon and Theodore: ALVIN.  A reference to The Chipmunks.

60. No. on a resume: TEL.  As in Telephone Number.

62. Airbnb alternative: INN.

63. __-friendly: ECO.

64. Opposite of paleo-: NEO.

65. Sound of disapproval: TSK.

Many thanks to Tony who filled in for me for the past three months.

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