Monday October 9, 2023 Amanda Cook and Katie Hale

  

Hello Cornerites!

Theme:  

Today, constructors Amanda Cook and Katie Hale are taking us through the steps to grow a garden. Although it might feel a bit late in the year for this activity, some of us are lucky enough to be able to plant Fall veggies while the soil is still warm. I like to sow lettuce and cilantro seeds in late September to harvest before the new year. Here are planting suggestions for a variety of climates:

12 Best Vegetables and Flowers to Plant in October

Our puzzle has five, themed clues such that all have answers ending in a plant term; however, the full answers are not garden-related. Even though I consider myself to have a green thumb, the full answers were not always at my fingertips. I had to use the theme to fill in the ends then reason out the beginnings. Case in point, 17A.

17 Across. Potential March Madness bracket buster: SIXTEEN SEED.  In basketball (as well as several other sports), a team's SEED is its initial ranking going into a tournament. SEEDs are used to determine the first-round matchups of the tournament and to place the teams in the tournament bracket. A "bracket buster" is a team that upsets a highly-ranked opponent in a tournament, ruining fans' bracket predictions.  I drew red ovals around the SIXTEEN spots on this schedule: 

Please direct any comments/questions to the Cornerites who follow this sport.

25 Across. Hair coloring technique with an ombre effect: SHADOW ROOT.  

See how her ROOTs are darker (SHADOWy) but they blend in,
as opposed to just looking like her dye job grew out?

37 Across. Mind-body connector: BRAINSTEM.  This is the structure that connects the cerebrum (higher functions) of the brain to the spinal cord (brain/body message conduit) and cerebellum (mainly controls muscles).  

51 Across. Electrifying industrial facility: POWERPLANT.  

60 Across. "Black Hole Sun" grunge band: SOUNDGARDEN.  SOUNDGARDEN was an American rock band formed in Seattle in 1984 by singer and drummer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto. The group broke up in 1997 then got back together in 2010. Sadly, Cornell committed suicided in 2017 when he was 52 years old. Here is the song from the clue:

Note:  The official video is creepy. If you are into that, you can watch it here.

Instead, I am embedding a lyrics video. As far as the lyrics go, Chris Cornell has been quoted as saying, "Lyrically it's probably the closest to me just playing with words for words' sake, of anything I've written. I guess it worked for a lot of people who hear it, but I have no idea how you'd begin to take that one literally."

We cruciverbalists enjoy 'playing with words', too!

No reveal was needed today. I like how the plant words progress in the same order they do when growing. We begin with a SEED. It first grows a ROOT then a STEM and, before you know it, leaves emerge on your PLANT. When you group several plants together, you have a GARDEN. Let's take a look at the grid and compare it to a seed germination diagram.

And now on to the remaining 73 clues:

Across:
1. Physical effort: LABOR. a requirement for gardening

6. Girl Scout sash addition: BADGE.  In case you are interested:  Early Girl Scouting and New GS BADGEs for 2023

11. Flamenco cry: OLÉ.  

The word "flamingo" comes from the Latin and Spanish word "flamenco", which means "fire".

14. Unaccompanied: ALONE.  This made me think of the 1990 movie, Home Alone. Here is a Google ad (and its filming) starring Macaulay Culkin made in 2018.  (2:19 min.)

15. Road one-eighty: U-TURN.  utilitarian unabridged U_TURN underpinnings

16. "Industry Baby" rapper Lil __ X: NAS.  "NAS" is my go-to for any "rapper" clue.

19. Egyptian viper: ASP.  A viper is a poisonous snake. I took this viper's picture in Borneo. The image is fuzzy because I did not want to get close! You can click on the pic to enlarge it.

20. Comfort: SOLACE.  

21. Rowboat pair: OARS.  

23. Pilates surface: MAT.

29. "Gossip Girl" steps location: THE MET.  unknown but suss-able

Gossip Girl is a TV show (CW network 2007-2012), based on a novel series by Cecily von Ziegesar, about privileged teens living on the Upper East Side. The METropolitan Museum of Art was a frequent hangout spot.

32. Cooks (up), as grub: RUSTLES.  

"slimy and satisfying"

Timon (Nathan Lane) and Pumbaa teach Simba how to RUSTLE up some grub.

The Lion King (1994)

33. Gaseous water: VAPOR.  refers to a gas-phase material that normally exists as a liquid or solid under a given set of conditions, e.g., temperature

34. Flying formations: VEES.  The geese where I live make a lot of noise while flying. This article explains what all the honking is about.

36. "Frozen" princess: ELSA.  It is easy to get her confused with her younger sister Anna. Both were princesses before becoming queens. Plus, there is the 4-letter-ends-with-"A" aspect....

40. Against: ANTI.

43. JPEG alternatives: PNGS.  Both are formats for digital images.

I thought this graphic was helpful but I cannot think of why it says "weigh" instead of "way".
Can someone explain?

44. Prefix with scope or soft: MICRO-.

48. Floating basketball hoop, e.g.: POOL TOY.  

50. "Leaving already?": SO SOON.

Do you remember the Seinfeld episode where Elaine's friend has overstayed his welcome? Don't tell my family & friends, but I think of it when I drive them back to the airport.  (3:35 min.)

54. Whiskey grain: RYE.  It is a plant so...Easter egg!

55. 1950s sitcom name: DESI.  Tricky clue! It does not say, "the name of a 1950s sitcom".

56. Absorb, as a significant moment: SOAK IN.  

Wouldn't it be wonderful to SOAK IN mountain views while SOAKing IN this hot tub?

59. Like most reruns: OLD.

65. Modernist architect who lived to be 102: PEI.  12 Iconic buildings by I.M. PEI

66. Hebrew prophet: HOSEA.  This 7:35 min. summary of the Book of HOSEA attempts to explain who HOSEA was and what path he walked.

67. Actress Mary Tyler __: MOORE.  and  52 Down. 67-Across co-star: ASNER.  

68. ID on an I-9 form: SSN.  An I-9 is used to verify employment authorization in the U.S. Non-U.S. citizens filling out the form can leave the SSN box blank.

69. Not together: APART.

70. Adolescent emotion: ANGST.  a feeling of anxiety, apprehension, and/or insecurity

The Scream. Edvard Munch (1893)
He painted it when he was 30 but he said he had re-created a vision that had seized him as he walked one evening in his youth with two friends at sunset. Teen ANGST??? 

Down:
1. __ Vegas: LAS.

2. "Moonlight" actor Mahershala: ALI.  

Maershala ALI as Juan in this 2016 indie film

3. Basic foxtrot move: BOX STEP.  

Back in our Jazzercise days, my friend Ang teased me mercilessly for not being able to do this.  #GirlsCanBeDyslexicToo

4. Not fooled by: ONTO.  to have knowledge, be suspicious, or be aware of one's actions, behavior, or intention

5. Fishing rod attachment: REEL.

6. Banana buy: BUNCH.  and  38 Down. Each, informally: A POP.

At 19¢ per banana (Trader Joe's), it's hard to think of a better buy.

7. Completely lost: AT SEA.

8. Invoice word: DUE.

9. Future MBA's exam: GRE.  "Master of Business Administration" is abbreviated, so is the "Graduate Records Exam". It is a standardized test that is an admissions requirement for many graduate schools in the U.S. and Canada, as well as a few other countries. "Master" is an important hint because it points to a post-baccalaureate exam. Try not to confuse it with the GED (General Educational Development test), an option for those who do not graduate from high school.

10. Provides with funds: ENDOWS.

11. Enjoying a hot streak: ON A ROLL.  

12. Ropes at the rodeo: LASSOES.  I am not throwing shade on the clue and perhaps it is a regional thing, moreover, I cannot speak for the rodeo community; but, in my cowboying experience on ranches, neither I nor anyone I worked with ever called it a "lasso". We call it a rope (noun) and it is used to rope (verb) cattle who require medical treatment.

13. Paranormal ability, for short: ESP.  I sensed this would be the answer.

18. Sunrise direction: EAST.

22. Twin sister of Apollo: ARTEMIS.  You can see why ARTEMIS is a good name for the NASA moon missions.

credit

23. "The Hills" airer: MTV.  Unfamiliar to me, this reality TV series began in 2006 and lasted for six seasons. I wonder if Amanda or Katie or Patti is a fan.

24. "Eureka!": AHA.  an exclamation used to express satisfaction, triumph, or surprise  

"Eureka" is also CA's state motto. It means, "I have found it!"
For many years, CA was reached by sea so cartographers were unsure how it attached to the rest of the U.S.

26. Put on clothes: DRESS.  verb

27. Forcibly remove: OUST.

28. PreCheck org.: TSA.

DH has PreCheck but I do not so he kindly waits with me in my line.

 30. Alexander Calder sculptures: MOBILES.  

I have visited his installation at the National Gallery of Art in D.C. many times. Some were huge. Some were small. I marveled at the combination of art and physics. I wonder if the MOBILES are still there.

31. Mix up "their" and "there," e.g.: ERR.  I see this err 😉 alot😉.

34. Pressed music medium: VINYL.  How many grooves are on a VINYL LP? (answer at bottom)

35. 2023 World Cup finalists, briefly: ENG.  Spain beat ENGland in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup final, 1-0.

39. Moody music genre: EMO.

40. Smartphone program: APP.

41. Udon and soba: NOODLES.  I like them both but I mostly cook with soba.

NOODLE note:  Last week Picard and I were discussing NOODLE, nobility, and the song Yankee Doodle. This link fills some of the gaps in our discussion. (It is a long transcript. You might want to skip waaaaaaaaay down to the paragraph which begins, "And then the other thing that was so surprising to me is that 'Yankee Doodle Dandy'".)

42. Taken to the junkyard: TOWED IN.

45. Snack on a stick: CORN DOG.

46. Baseball Hall of Famer Campanella: ROY.  He played for 18 seasons for four teams:  Washington Elite Giants, Baltimore Elite Giants, Philadelphia Stars, and Brooklyn Dodgers. (Boomer could have told us more about him.)

47. Top Billboard spot: ONE.  As of this writing, the #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 is Paint the Town Red by Doja Cat. Didn't we see her in a clue three Mondays ago?

49. Country singer Yearwood: TRISHA.  her website

50. Male deer: STAG.

53. Greet wordlessly: NOD AT.  In The Sting (1973), they 'greeted wordlessly' with a nose touch.  (35 sec.)

57. __ Sutra: KAMA.  Principles of Love

58. Word with Man or Maiden: IRON.  IRON Man is a Marvel character. IRON Maiden is an English heavy medal band. Clever clue!

59. Mil. missions: OPS.  "Military" is abbreviated, so is "OPerationS".

61. Alley-__ pass: OOP.  Another basketball reference I did not know.... Basically, Player #1 throws the ball near the rim then Player #2 catches it and seals the deal in mid-air. Of course there are variations. The timing is spectacularly exciting!  

62. Mex. and Can. neighbor: USA.

63. Triage sites, briefly: ERS.  Emergency RoomS

64. Take-home pay: NET.  I am grateful this is an accounting clue and not another basketball clue.

Answer to my 34D question:  one. There is just one long spiral!  

The wall calendar above my desk is telling me that today is a federal holiday in the U.S. and a statutory holiday in Canada. Whatever your plans, wishing you a lovely day!

Tuesday, August 29, 2023 Amanda Cook

Double Speak:  Each word in the two-word theme answer can be paired with the word Talk, to give us two (Double) new concepts.

18-Across. Java joint: COFFEE SHOP.  Coffee Talk / Shop Talk

Coffee Doublespeak

26-Across. In-demand spot at a busy bistro: EMPTY TABLE.  Empty Talk / Table Talk

Table Talk circa 2023

46-Across. Source of lumbar support: BACK PILLOW.  Back Talk / Pillow Talk

And the unifier:

58-Across. Deliberately ambiguous language, and an apt description of 18-, 26-, and 46-Across: DOUBLE TALK.

Across:

1. Kindergarten basics: ABCs.

5. 1996 film that earned Frances McDormand her first Oscar: FARGO.  Frances Louise McDormand (née Cynthia Ann Smith; b. June 23, 1957) portrayed Marge Gunderson, a pregnant Minnesota police chief investigating a triple homicide in the film.  The movie earned McDormand her first Oscar.  [Name # 1.]

10. Tapped brew: BEER.

14. Ever so: VERY.

15. Cooked at home: ATE IN.

16. Church recess: APSE.

17. Business maj.: ECON.  As in Economics.

20. Snooze: NAP.

21. Cash dispensers: ATMs.  This used to be a crossword staple.  We haven't seen the Automated Teller Machines in a while.

22. Beginnings: ON SETS.

23. Affixes in a scrapbook, say: GLUES.

25. Not too late: IN TIME.

30. Italian evening: SERA.  Today's Latin lesson.

32. __ number: product ID: SERIAL.

33. Activate, as an alarm: TRIP.

34. Resistance unit: OHM.  Everything you wanted to know about the Ohm but didn't know to ask.  It was named in honor of Georg Ohm (né Georg Simon Ohm; Mar. 16, 1789 ~ July 6, 1854), a German physicist and mathematician.  [Name # 2.]

37. Patio: TERRACE.

40. Deed: ACT.

41. Pedicure beneficiaries: TOES.

43. Improper treatment: MISUSE.

45. "Ignore that suggested edit": STET.

50. Muscle injury: STRAIN.

52. Oscar-winning song from "Selma": GLORY.  Selma is the movie about Martin Luther King's 1965 protest march from Selma to Montgomery, Georgia in the fight for Civil Rights.

53. With no markup: AT COST.

54. "How've you __?": BEEN.

57. "His Dark Materials" actor __-Manuel Miranda: LIN.  Lin-Manuel Miranda (b. Jan. 16, 1980) is probably best known for Hamilton.  [Name # 3.]

60. Edinburgh resident: SCOT.  Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland.  [Name adjacent.]

61. Poker pot starter: ANTE.

62. Code with dots and dashes: MORSE.  The Morse Code was/is a method of telecommunication using a series of dots and dashes to encrypt text characters.  The Code is named after Samuel Morse (né Samuel Finley Breese Morse; Apr. 27, 1791 ~ Apr. 2, 1872).  He led a very interesting life and in his early years was a painter.   [Name adjacent.]

63. __ Alto, California: PALO.  Palo Alto considers itself to be the Birthplace of Silicon Valley.

64. Clarinet need: REED.

65. Concluded: ENDED.

66. "... with __-foot pole!": A TEN.

Down:

1. Get even for: AVENGE.

2. "Don't freak out": BE CALM.  The history behind the Keep Calm slogan.

3. Appear unexpectedly: CROP UP.

4. Thesaurus entry: Abbr.: SYN.  As in a synonym.

5. Indisputable point: FACT.

6. Elemental particle: ATOM.

7. Officials who may cry foul: REFs.  As in Referees.

8. Animated pic: GIF. GIF = Graphics Interchange Format.

9. Low-scoring tie: ONE-ONE.

10. Jazz band member: BASSIST.

11. Collectibles such as ticket stubs and matchbooks: EPHEMERA.  Not a Tuesday word.  Probably more of a 12-Down word.  Webster's defines Ephemera as: (1) something of no lasting significance; (2) ephemera plural : paper items (such as posters, broadsides, and tickets) that were originally meant to be discarded after use but have since become collectibles.

12. Understood by a select few: ESOTERIC.

13. Counts at a gym: REPS.  As in Repetitions.

19. Sinusitis doc: ENT.  The Ear, Nose and Throat Doctor has become a crossword staple.

21. Until now: AS YET.

24. Sci-fi film extras, briefly: ETs.

25. "Let me see if that's possible": I'LL ASK.

27. Italian three: TRE.  More of today's Italian lesson.

28. Low-ranking soldier on base: AIRMAN.

29. Relating to element 56: BARIC.  Barium has the atomic number of 56 on the periodic table.  Because of its high chemical reactivity, barium is never found in nature as a free element. 

31. Fitting: APT.

34. Bonus sports periods: OTs.  As in Over Times.

35. Warm element in some massages: HOT STONE.  Everything you ever wanted to know about Hot Stone Message but didn't know to ask.

36. Rom-com encounter: MEET CUTE.

38. Many a sports trophy: CUP.

The Stanley Cup.

39. Endorse digitally: E-SIGN.  During Covid, I found myself having to e-sign many documents.

42. Pulsed, as lights in a light show: STROBED.

44. Bracket shape: ELL.

46. Defiant retort: BITE ME.  Rather impolite.

47. Meme feline: LOL CAT.

48. Baltimore MLB player: ORIOLE.

49. Jazz trumpeter Marsalis: WYNTON.  Wynton Learson Marsalis (b. Oct. 18, 1961) is a New Orleanian Jazz trumpeter and composer.  He is currently the artistic director of Jazz at the Lincoln Center.  Below is a non-Jazz performance.  [Name # 4.]

51. Syst. with hand gestures: ASL.  As in American Sign Language.  As a point of interest, Dorothy Casterline (née Dorothy Chiyoko Sueoka; Apr. 27, 1928 ~ Aug. 8, 2023) lost her hearing as a teenager due to an illness.  She became  an American deaf linguist known for her contribution to A Dictionary of American Sign Language on Linguistic Principles, which considered a foundational work of sign language linguistics.  Dorothy died earlier this month at age 95.

53. Hebrew month before Nisan: ADAR.  Everything you wanted to know about the Hebrew calendar but didn't know to ask.

54. The __ of Avon: BARD.  Also known as Willie the Shakes (William Shakespeare; 1564 ~ 1616).  [Name # 5.]

55. Besides: ELSE.

56. __ out a living: EKED.

59. Immense weight: TON.

60. Galentine's Day destination, perhaps: SPA.  I just recently learned about Galentine's Day, which falls on February 13.  If the first link doesn't work, try this one.

And the Grid:

חתולה