google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Amie Walker

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Showing posts with label Amie Walker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amie Walker. Show all posts

Dec 5, 2024

Thursday, December 5, 2024, Amie Walker

 Lido Shuffle

Today's constructor Amie Walker treats us to a sans circles, embedded, scrambled word theme.  We'll start with the reveal ...

58. Boz Scaggs hit with the lyric "One more for the road," and what can be found in 17-, 23-, 37-, and 48-Across?: LIDO SHUFFLE.  The song was co-written by David Paich and was released on Scaggs' 1976 album Silk Degrees ...
 
Scaggs describes the origins of the work: "'Lido Shuffle was a song that I'd been banging around and I took the idea of the shuffle from a song that Fats Domino did called 'The Fat Man' that had a kind of driving shuffle beat that I used to play on the piano, and I just started kind of singing along with it. Then I showed it to David Paich and he helped me fill it out. It ended up being 'Lido Shuffle.'"  Among other things the title is a play on card shuffling or life on the road, but the word Lido has many meanings.

Here are the themers ...

17A. Petroleum giant co-founded by John D. Rockefeller: STANDARD OIL.  Not only was he the founder of Standard Oil, but he was also the founder the crosswordese ESSO, and a CSO to CanadianEh!
John D. Rockefeller
July 8, 1839 – May 23, 1937
23A. Ambience setter, often: MOOD LIGHTING.  Back in the 60's we used Lava Lamps for mood lighting.  This clip lasts for 4 hours & 23 minutes ... 
... feel free to shut it off when you're finally in the mood😀

37A. Line for product placement?: NOT SOLD IN STORES.  Here is one of the original Not Sold in Stores products ...
48A. Martini garnish with blue cheese or red pepper: STUFFED OLIVE.  I'm not sure how I feel about blue cheese in my martinis ...
Stuffed Olives
Here's the grid ...
  

Here's the rest ...

Across:

 1. Strongly advised: URGED.

6. Slangy "Just say ... ": SPOSE.  I 'SPOSE that many Cornerites are not big fans of quote clues.

11. Sudden pull: TUG.

14. "Same!": SO DO I.

15. Ergo: HENCE.  Today's Latin lesson: "Therefore"

16. Prefix with tourism: ECO.  There's even a society for ecotourism.  It's okay with me, as long as they take hang gliders to get there. 😀

17. [Theme clue]

19. Noodle: NOB.  At NOB HILL I'm sure you have your choice of crosswordese UDON or SOBA.

20. Marina del __, California: REY.  Marina del Rey (Spanish for "Marina of the King") is an unincorporated seaside community in Los Angeles County, California, with an eponymous harbor that is a major boating and water recreation destination of the Greater Los Angeles area. The port is North America's largest man-made small-craft harbor and is home to approximately 5,000 boats. 
Marina del Rey
21. "Here's an __ ... ": IDEA.

22. Actress Kendrick: ANNA.  Anna Cooke Kendrick (born August 9, 1985) is an American actress. Known for playing upbeat and endearing characters in comedies and musicals, her accolades include nominations for an Academy Award, a Tony Award and a Primetime Emmy Award.
Anna Kendrick
23. [Theme clue]

27. Wood finishes: STAINS.  What's the difference between a wood stain and paint?

30. Puts on ice: COOLS.

31. Rainbow shapes: ARCS.

32. Vinegary marinade: ADOBO.  Adobo is a marinade, sauce, or seasoning composed variously of paprika, oregano, salt, garlic, and vinegar to preserve and enhance meats, poultry, and seafoods.  Here's a recipe for Filipino Chicken Adobo.
Filipino Chicken Adobo
34. Kissing in the open, for short: PDA.  Here's a PDA from Dawson's Creek ...
 


37. [Theme clue].

41. Farm pen: STY.

42. Laden deposits: LODES.  ORES was too short.

43. Cold desert in northern China: GOBI.  It's in the Steppes of Central Asia (Alexander Borodin) ...

44. "Killers of the Flower Moon" people: OSAGE.  Killers of the Flower Moon is a 2023 American epic Western crime drama film co-produced and directed by Martin Scorsese.  Set in 1920s Oklahoma, it focuses on a series of murders of Osage members and relations in the Osage Nation after oil was discovered on tribal land. It is based on true events as documented in the 2017 book of the same name by David Grann.  It was also the FBI's first big case ...

46. Historic events: FIRSTS.

48. [Theme clue]

52. "My __!": HERO.

53. Sneeze trigger, often: DUST.

54. "Eh, kinda": ISH.

57. Unit on a Taylor Swift tour: ERA.  The Eras Tour is the ongoing sixth concert tour by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It began in Glendale, Arizona, on March 17, 2023, and is set to conclude in Vancouver on December 8, 2024.  Running over 3.5 hours, the set list of the Eras Tour comprises over 40 songs grouped into 10 distinct acts that portray Swift's studio albums conceptually.  The first ERA was Country music, and here is her first big hit, written when she was 15 years old -- a story about her boyfriend, and a paeon to Country music star Tim  McGraw ... 

58. [Theme reveal]

62. Uru. neighbor: ARG.  Argentina is a neighbor to Uruguay

63. Like a good watchdog: ALERT.

64. American buffalo: BISON.  The American Bison and the Native Americans of the Western plains had a symbiotic relationship.  When the California gold rush began in 1848, Native American tribes were seen as an obstacle to America's "Manifest Destiny", the inevitable Western expansion of European settlers.  The latter adopted a policy of the genocide of the American Bison as a way to bring Native Americans under control.  This story has a lot in common with the one recounted above in 44A.
65. Slice with caraway seeds: RYE.  RYE bread without caraway seeds doesn't taste like RYE bread.

66. Make holy: BLESS.

67. Four-award achievements, casually: EGOTS.

Down:

 1. USA rival in the space drama "For All Mankind": USSR.  For All Mankind is an American science fiction drama television series created by Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert, and Ben Nedivi. The series dramatizes an alternate history depicting "what would have happened if the global space race had never ended" after the Soviet Union succeeds in the first crewed Moon landing ahead of the United States. The title is inspired by the lunar plaque left on the Moon by the crew of Apollo 11, which reads, in part, "We Came in Peace for All Mankind".

2. Learning by repetition: ROTE.

3. Greeting to an Aussie pal: G'DAY.

4. Long stretch: EON.

5. "The Year of Magical Thinking" memoirist Joan: DIDION.  The Year of Magical Thinking is a memoir by Joan Didion, an account of the year following the death of her husband John Gregory Dunne in 2003. Published by Knopf in October 2005, The Year of Magical Thinking was immediately acclaimed as a classic book about mourning. It won the 2005 National Book Award for Nonfiction and was a finalist for both the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography. In 2024, The New York Times Book Review ranked it as the 12th best book of the 21st century.
6. Whit: SHRED.  Let's see ...
7. Ride a Peloton: PEDAL.  Actually, as of this past Summer Peloton appeared to be back pedaling.

8. Musician Yoko: ONO.

9. Chem or bio: SCI.

10. Long swimmer: EEL.

11. Ones who may give backhanded compliments?: TENNIS PROS.  Har, har. 😀

12. The Huskies of the NCAA: UCONN.  The UConn Huskies (or Connecticut Huskies) are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Connecticut, with its main campus located in Storrs, Connecticut. The school is a member of the NCAA's Division I and the Big East Conference.
13. Emergency kit: GO BAG.  You can buy one, or build your own with these comprehensive instructions developed by the public service campaign ready.gov.

18. Big fusses: ADOS.  Shakespeare wrote about one of biggest fusses in all of literature ...
22. NL East city: ATL.  The home of the Braves.

23. Fail to see: MISS.

24. Clickable images: ICONS.  Here's the ICON on the Blogger menu that I clicked to insert this image ...
25. Tons: GOBS.

26. "Give a __! Don't pollute!": HOOT.

27. Without: SANS.  Today's French lesson. "SANS = without", as the scrambled word in today's theme is SANS circles.

28. Leisurely gait: TROT.

29. "Be a grown-up about it!": ACT YOUR AGE.  I'm trying!  I'm trying! Sheesh! 😀

32. Chimed in with: ADDED.

33. Game cube: DIE.
Die
35. Money owed: DEBT.

36. Seller's caveat: AS IS.  This review is provided AS IS.

38. "Frozen" snowman: OLAF.  Meet OLAF ...

39. Seating level: LOGE.  A private box or enclosure in a theater -- the front section of the first balcony in a theater, or the boxes to the left or right of the stage.
Loge Box Seats

40. Fantasy monster: OGRE.  Not all OGRES are monsters ...
Shrek
45. NorCal airport: SFO.

46. __ and chips: FISH.  Today's English lesson: "chips" are Brit for French Fries.

47. Hosp. room hookup: IV TUBE.
Traditional intravenous (IV) infusion therapy set:
1-pole/stand,2-IV bottle/bag,3-spike, 4-air valve,
5-drip chamber, 6-piggyback port,
 7-IV tubing, 8-roller clamp, and 9-cannula.

48. Gather wool from: SHEAR.  This is how they do it in New Zealand ...

49. "America's Got Talent" host Crews: TERRY.  Terry Alan Crews (born July 30, 1968) is an American actor, television host, and former football player.  Crews played as a defensive end and linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, and Washington Redskins.   He began hosting America's Got Talent in 2019, following his involvement in the same role for the program's spin-off series America's Got Talent: The Champions.
Terry Crews
50. Lingering scents: ODORS.

51. Yearns (for): LUSTS.  LONGS fit but didn't perp.  IMHO LUSTS is on the infrared side of the YEARNS spectrum.

54. "In that event ... ": IF SOERGO fit but didn't perp.

55. Card receiver: SLOT.  Nowadays you can TAP cards, but I still haven't got the hang of that yet ...

Universal Contactless
Payment Symbol
56. Female birds: HENS.

58. 9-Down class setting: LAB.  Science Lab.  I have some stories about adventures in our HS science lab, but I'm not sure the statute of limitations has expired yet. 😯

59. Under the weather: ILL.

60. Actor Billy __ Williams: DEE.  William December Williams Jr. (born April 6, 1937) is an American actornovelist and painter.  He is best known for portraying Lando Calrissian in the Star Wars franchise, but he has appeared in over 100 films and television roles over six decades.
Billy Dee Williams
 GalaxyCon Raleigh in 2023
61. Cookie fruit: FIG.  "If you don't care a feather or a FIG, you may grow up to be a PIG!" -- see last Thursday's puzzle -- 49A.

Cheers, 
Bill

And as always, thanks to Teri for proof reading and for her constructive criticism.

waseeley

Nov 12, 2024

Tuesday, November 12, 2024 Darby Ratliff and Amie Walker

Anatomy of a Big Cat.  The first and last letters of each theme answer spell out a characteristic of a Lion.

17-Across. Embarrass one's friends in public, say: MAKE A SCENE.  Mane.


26-Across. Resort to desperate measures: CLUTCH AT STRAWS.  Claws.


42-Across. Cartoon character often depicted as a spinning tornado: TASMANIAN DEVIL.  Tail.

And the Unifier:

56-Across. Answer to the joke "What is the lazy pride member known for?," and an apt title for this puzzle?: LION AROUND.

Across:
1. Misbehave in class, say: ACT UP.

6. Little dickens: IMP.

9. Loops in on the sly: BCCs.  As in Blind Carbon Copies.  The "carbon copy" is a relic from the olden days when everything was actually typewritten on a typewriter.

13. Trusty: LOYAL.


14. Christmas song: NOEL.

16. Burn soother: ALOE.

19. Vocal quality: TONE.

20. Had a snack: ATE.

21. Tax pros: CPAs.  As in Certified Public Accountants.

22. "What's __ into you?": GOTTEN.

24. Sweeties: BAES.  The term "bae" is a slang term of endearment that is a shortened version of the words "baby" or "babe".

25. Nope __: facetious term for a snake: ROPE.  I have never referred to a snake as a Nope Rope.




32. Idaho's capital: BOISE.  The name of Boise, Idaho comes from the French word boisée, which means "wooded". The name originated in the early 19th century when French-Canadian fur trappers explored the region.  The trappers to a river and were amazed by the cottonwood trees lining the riverbanks. They called the river "boisé" and the area "la rivière boisée", which means "the wooded river".



33. Some jeans: LEEs.  We had both Lees and Levi's last week.

34. "Love __ neighbor": THY.

35. The "E" of an EGOT: EMMY.  The acronym stands for: Emmy Grammy, Oscar and Tony.   All are entertainment awards.  For a list of EGOT recipients, check out this site.  

36. Inn patron: GUEST.  Hotel guests do not always get what they want.


38. Many a child in Dickens: WAIF.  Think of Oliver Twist.


39. Punk subgenre: EMO.  A crossword staple.

40. Tailless cat: MANX.

41. "The Natural" director Levinson: BARRY.  Barry Levinson (né Barry Lee Levinson; b. Apr. 6, 1942) won an Oscar for the 1988 film, Rain Man, but he isn't an EGOT.

Levinson and Redford.

46. Odds and __: ENDS.

47. New Haven school: YALE.



48. "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" singer Twain: SHANIA.  Shania Twain (née Eilleen Regina "Shania" Twain; b. Aug. 28, 1965) is a Canadian country music singer-songwriter.


51. __ bene: NOTA.  Today's Latin lesson.  The term means note well, observe carefully, take notice.  It is used in manuscripts to alert the reader to pay attention to what follows.

52. Govt. intel org.: NSA.  As in National Security Agency.


55. Call alternative: TEXT.

59. The "dirt" in a pudding-based dessert: OREO.


60. Lily pad squatter: FROG.


61. Loosened, as shoelaces: UNDID.

62. Pea holders: PODS.


63. "It's __-win situation": A NO.

64. Oozes: SEEPS.

Down:
1. __ mater: ALMA.  More of today's Latin lesson.  The term literally means Nourishing Mother.  The term is used to refer to one's college.

2. Paint layer: COAT.

3. Likely "Bluey" and "Blue's Clues" watcher: TYKE.

4. Abu Dhabi's fed.: UAE.  As in the United Arab Emirates.  The UAE was formed in 1971 and is comprised of 7 Emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.



5. Appease: PLACATE.

6. How some tips are paid: IN CASH.

7. "The Simpsons" watering hole: MOE'S.


8. Writing tool: PEN.

9. Baker's mixture: BATTER.

10. Thicken, as cream: CLOT.  Although it sounds rather icky to American ears, in England, clotted simply describes the look of the cream as it clings together.    It goes will with scones and tea.


11. Ice cream holder: CONE.



12. "As __ on TV": SEEN.

15. Blocked content?: LEGO SET.  My first Lego Set was similar to the one shown below.


18. Detail, briefly: SPEC.

23. Chooses: OPTS.

24. Overly adorned: BUSY.


25. Some GPS suggestions: RTES.  As in Routes.

26. Punctuation in many lists: COMMA.  The Oxford comma is the comma that comes before “and” in a series of three or more items.  In the case of O'Connor v. Oakhurst Dairy, a missing Oxford comma cost a Maine dairy company $5M.


27. Prom rides: LIMOS.

28. "__, tell me a joke": request made in a smart home, perhaps: ALEXA.  Alexa listens to everything you say!

29. Nintendo rival: ATARI.

30. Spin fast: WHIRL.



31. "Resident Alien" network: SYFY.  Formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel.


32. Red root vegetable: BEET.

36. "The Lord of the Rings" wizard: GANDALF.  Gandalf was portrayed in the movies by Sir Ian McKellen (b. May 25, 1939).  


37. Colleges, to a Brit: UNIS.  As in Universities.

38. Swell for a surfer: WAVE.


40. __-pedi: MANI.


41. Birthplace of Olympic gymnast Olga Korbut: BELARUS.  Olga Valentinovna Korbut (b. May 16, 1955) was known as the Sparrow from Minsk.  She competed for the Soviet Union in the 1972 and 1976 Olympics.  She emigrated to the United States in 1991 and became a naturalized American citizen in 2000.


43. Candy that can create a soda geyser: MENTOS.  I have never tried this trick.  There is a scientific reason for this chemical reaction.



44. "Us" star Lupita: NYONG'O.  Lupita Amondi Nyong'o (b. Mar. 1, 1983) is another naturalized American citizenship.  She is also Mexican by birth and Kenyan through her parents.  She has an Oscar for her role in 12 Years a Slave and an Emmy.  She is half-way to the EGOT.


45. Spreadsheet input: DATA.

48. "Halt!": STOP.

49. Caped crusader: HERO.


50. Used a hatchet on: AXED.

51. Midday: NOON.


52. Bare: NUDE.

53. Scissors sound: SNIP.

54. Puts in: ADDS.

57. Savings plan letters: IRA.  As in Individual Retirement Account.

58. United: ONE.

Here's the Grid:



חתולה



Nailed it!