Monday August 28, 2023 Amie Walker

Hello Cornerites!

Constructor Amie Walker is back to play, bringing another challenge for us. She gave us a Drop The MIC puzzle two Sundays ago. Today's puzzle features a different type of electronic equipment:  gaming CONSOLEs. I will say upfront that this theme is not in my wheelhouse. I only know a few terms from solving XWDs. I welcome any corrections or additions you might have to my recap. Nevertheless, I do need to come up with a theme. How about this one?

FUN & GAMES

Solving XWD puzzles is fun and the circled letters are gaming systems.

The grid has 4 long answers. The circled letters in each spell out a gaming console that can be hooked up to your TV or monitor so you can play video games.

17 Across. Frozen drink sometimes made with rosé: WINE SLUSHIE.  NES

24 Across. Inadvertently reveals a secret advantage: TIPS ONE'S HAND.  PS ONE

48 Across. Some tissue dispensers: KLEENEX BOXES.  XBOX

58 Across. "SNL" alum known for her Target Lady sketches: KRISTEN WIIG.  WII

We find the gimmick revealed at 

37 Across. Car's storage compartment, or a feature of 17-, 24-, 48-, and 58-Across?: CENTER CONSOLE.

Though not precisely in the CENTER, I think this works because the gaming CONSOLEs do not use the first or last letters of the long fills. The CONSOLE is (sort of) in the CENTER of the long fill. Close enough! Whether or not the circles are necessary is a matter of opinion. Veteran solvers probably did not need them. Noobs probably appreciated the extra hints. Today is Monday....

Because I solve top to bottom, I usually prefer to have the reveal near the bottom. In this case, it was fun to see CENTER CONSOLE in the center of the grid.

Oh, and if you are curious about Target Lady, here is a 6:14 min. skit. That's Justin Timberlake playing her friend Peg.  

Let's move on to the other 73 clues....

Across:

1. __ pitcher: bullpen figure: RELIEF.  and  34 Down. Yankee Stadium's borough: BRONX.  and  49 Down. Wrigley corners: BASES.

All three are baseball references. Wrigley Field is the home of the Chicago Cubs.

7. South Pacific resort island: BALI.

11. Agt.: REP.  "Agent" is abbreviated. So is "REPresentative".

14. Source of prophecies: ORACLE.

15. "Beg pardon": AHEM.

16. Sculling blade: OAR.  Sculling is a form of rowing, a competitive sport in which a person uses OARs, one in each hand, to propel a boat.  

19. Get weepy: CRY.  I was working on this blog when I read Picard's message about Wilbur Charles. This past February he wrote, "enjoying sumdaze Mondays." He had a way of coining phrases. Sadly, we have lost a good one.

20. Salty expanse: SEA.  Saltwater, aka the ocean, covers about 71% of the Earth.

21. Exchanges on WhatsApp, for short: IMS.  Instant MessageS

Facebook Inc. (now Meta Platforms) purchased WhatsApp in 2014 for $19 billion. I mostly use WhatsApp with friends who live outside of the U.S. because it is IP-based as opposed to cellular-service-based.

22. Totally fine: A-OK.

30. Slangy "reckon": S'POSE.

32. Washington's capital: OLYMPIA.  Clever misdirection! Why Olympia and not Seattle

Cherry blossoms (lower left) also bloom outside of the OLYMPIA capitol building.

33. "East of Eden" son: ARON.

34. "Hulk" star Eric: BANA.  Last Monday we had Bill Bixby. In 2003 Universal Pictures released a new movie where, thanks to CGI, Eric played both Bruce Banner and Hulk.

36. Heart test, briefly: ECG.  I get these mixed up:

ECG is an ElectroCardioGram. This one checks your heart's rhythm and electrical activity.

EKG is also an ElectrocardioGram.  No wonder I get confused!

EEC is an ElectroEncephaloGram. This one records brain activity.

EGG (Just kidding! I know that one.)

41. Hesitant sounds: ERS.  and  18 Down. Hesitant sounds: UMS.

I see the former mostly in subtitles for British TV shows. Have we had them both in the same puzzle before?

I recently heard Grammar Girl talk about this with Lynne Murphy (an American linguist living in the UK) Episode 928. According to Lynne, "It's not that the British put different sounds into their filled pauses, it's just that they typically spell those pauses er and erm instead of uh and um. Since many British English dialects do not pronounce the /r/ after vowels in such contexts, the /r/ here is just to indicate that the vowel is not a proper 'e' but a long schwa-like vowel." Basically, the spellings are not yet standardized. Read Lynne's article at her website.

We should have suspected that the tricky schwa sound was behind all of this!!

42. "Just keeping you on your __": TOES.

43. Misfortunes: ILLS.

44. Connecticut's time zone: EASTERN.

47. Conclude by: END AT.  Think "time".

51. Opposite of paleo-: NEO.  

12,000 BC Paleo vs. 2090 AD Neo

52. Smartphone download: APP.  for example, WhatsApp in 21A

53. Commotion: ADO.

56. Fake user: BOT.  Lots about BOTs

63. Regret: RUE.

64. Not in use: IDLE.  

I saw these signs while on my recent trip to British Columbia. I hope they catch on.
Please do not let your car puff while you check your cell phone.

65. Boss: LEADER.

66. Shiverer's sound: BRR.  

67. Fifth Avenue store: SAKS.

68. Key tahini ingredient: SESAME.  SESAME seeds are to tahini like peanuts are to peanut butter.

Down:
1. Google Sheets lines: ROWS.  Google Sheets is an online spreadsheet editor. Would you have penned it more confidently if the clue were "Excel lines"?

2. Cleveland's lake: ERIE.  

3. "Mariners Apartment Complex" singer Del Rey: LANA.  While this 2019 song is likely unknown to most, regular solvers are familiar with "4-letter singer Del Rey" much the same way we would write ORR for "3-letter hockey player whose 2nd cousin twice removed is Joe Bloggs".

Here is the video followed by what the song means. Warning:  There are a couple of impolite words.

Click to enlarge.

4. Freezer cubes: ICE.  

"Liquidation Sale" Ha!Ha!

5. High rumblers: ELS.  and  7 Down. Low rumbler: BASSO.

ELevated trainS and a person who sings bass (especially in opera)

6. King of Spain: FELIPE.  King FELIPE VI was born January 30, 1968 in Madrid. In 2014, King Juan Carlos I announced his abdication after almost four decades. His only son FELIPE took the Spanish throne on June 19 of that year, becoming the youngest of contemporary European monarchs at the age of 46.  

In June 2018 he visited the U.S. with his wife, Queen Letizia.

8. Spa sigh: AHH.

9. Floral garland: LEI.  The Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) baggage claim area has a wonderful floral aroma due to of all the LEIs given to arriving guests.

10. "Either way works for me": I'M EASY.

11. Vocal group that sings the "Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?" theme song: ROCKAPELLA.  

Here's the song. The play on a cappella took it from ESP to AESP (Almost Every Single Perp).

12. Spot for an AirPod: EAR.  

I still use wires.  #OldSchool

13. Get too personal: PRY.

23. Unit of resistance: OHM.  electricity

24. Animated character: TOON.  slang for carTOON  

Disney has a Toontown area at its parks.

25. "That __ fair!": ISN'T.

26. Taboos: NO-NOS.

27. Flair: ELAN.

28. Most warm: NICEST.

29. Former U.N. head Hammarskjöld: DAG.  (b. July 29, 1905 in Sweden. d. Sept. 18, 1961 in Rhodesia (now Zambia).) He was the 2nd Secretary-General of the United Nations, serving from April 1953 until he perished in an airplane crash.

30. Related to the lower back: SACRAL.  My first guess was "lumbAr" but I needed to guess a little lower.

31. On-screen command after typing one's PIN: PRESS ENTER.

35. Expert serve: ACE.

38. To be, in Paris: ETRE.  French verb

39. Trig ratio: SINE.  Watch this 27 sec. video to see how a SINE curve is rolled out using a unit circle. Cool beans!  

40. Pulitzer-winning poet Sharon: OLDS.  Poetry Foundation website

41. Shrill shriek: EEK.

45. Concert keepsake: TEE.

OK, -T. This one is for you. I haven't mentioned this before. Bro #2 saw Rush in '81 in Oakland. I wore his 'concert keepsake' until it looked even rattier than the one in this pic I found on ebay. (I'm fairly sure this is the one.) I cannot say I was a fan so much as I listened to whatever music he played (read: blasted through the adjoining bedroom wall) and I definitely thought I was too cool for school when I wore the shirt.

46. Long mushrooms: ENOKIS.  What are your thoughts on using English pluralization conventions (in this case, add "s") for foreign words? I'm conflicted.

47. Throws out: EXPELS.  Think "School Board decision".

50. Make a choice: OPT.

53. Opera set in Egypt: AIDA.  What do Clint Eastwood and AIDA have in common?

Answer:  Ennio Morricone (b. Nov. 10, 1928. d. Jul. 6, 2020). He was an Italian composer who wrote music in a wide range of styles, including soundtracks for Clint's Spaghetti Westerns and the 2001 Italian animated film, Aida of the Trees.  

L'Alba Verra (Dawn Will Come) from Aida of the Trees

Ennio Morricone Composer, Arranger, and Conductor;

Filippa Giordano Vocals; Alberto Salerno Lyrics; and Peppe Servillo Vocals

54. Carpe __: seize the day: DIEM.  

55. Shrek, for one: OGRE.

56. "Putting my phone down a sec": BRB.  Be Right Back

57. Taylor Swift's "__ Song": OUR.

59. Nutritional amt.: RDA.  "Amount" is abbreviated, so is "Recommended Dietary Allowance".

60. Kind: ILK.

61. Alumna bio word: NÉE.  It comes from the French feminine past participle of naitre, "to be born".

62. "What __ I thinking?": WAS.  

Oh, I remember. I was thinking that I hope everyone has a good day!

Sunday, Aug 20, 2023, Amie Walker

"I'm out"

This is my first time blogging a Sunday, and thank you to C.C. for the opportunity.  A clever puzzle idea, not that we haven't seen this "bending" part of the answer before, though I don't recall circles.  Circles on a Sunday, no less.  I got the theme quick because I do the DOWN fill first, and noticed TONS (97D.) of MIC fill.  The MIC part "drops" down from the Across fill.  I like the fact that the theme answers spread the M, I, and C in various ways.  The only one I see missing is "M [space] IC".  Overall I enjoyed the challenge, but there were just too many names ( I stopped counting at 20 ), and some clue/answers that I *questioned*....

22. *Wide-angle lens output: PANORAM - - VIEW - panoraMIC view

24. *Deep-fried burrito: CHIM - - HANGA - chiMIChanga

46. *Woman who was the first Black model to appear on the cover of Time: NAOM - - AMPBELL - naoMI Campbell

59. *"Why won't anyone notice me!?": "WHAT AM - - HOPPED LIVER~?" what aM I Choppped liver

79. *Paper birds in the Japanese tradition of senbazuru: ORIGAM - - RANES - origaMI Cranes

102. *Pedicure tool: PUM - - ESTONE - puMICe stone ( I used pumice to clean the soot off my fireplace stone - worked like magic )

104. Dramatically ends a performance, and what the answer to each starred clue does?: DROPS THE MIC


               

Physics is fun~!

And DOWN We Go~!

ACROSS:

1. 2026 Winter Olympics range: ALPS - The next Olympics is in Milano-Cortina of Italy

5. "Love your work!": I'M A FAN

11. Currency featuring activist Viola Desmond on one of its notes: Abbr.: CAD - CAnadian Dollar.  The puzzle doesn't really have any "weak" fill, but it felt like too many clues-to-answers were a bit much of a stretch, like this one - I will refer to them as *cringe*

14. Peddle: SELL - One CAD = .74 US$

18. Average: MEAN

19. Widen, as a pupil: DILATE

20. "Total lies!": "SO NOT TRUE~!"

25. Tower topper: SPIRE

26. Prudent ending?: IAL - PrudentIAL

27. With 81-Across, fruity liqueur: SLOE - and; 81. See 27-Across: GIN

29. Van Gogh vaseful: IRISES

30. Comedian Wyatt: CENAC - name.  Never heard of him - more here

32. Snuggle, in a way: SPOON

33. Onetime Altoids rival: CERTS - with retsyn~! 

34. Javier of "The Little Mermaid": BARDEM - name.  also the "bad guy" in  "Skyfall", which I believe may be the best Bond film; tied with "88 Across" Royale

36. Kelly Ripa, e.g.: TV HOST

38. Partisanship: BIAS

39. Fuel efficiency mode: ECO - My Prius C has three modes; normal, ECO, and "EV" - which shuts down at 25MPH

40. Treatment that may include a mask: FACIAL

42. Embrace: HOLD

43. Fuel efficiency stat: MPG - and even when I drive like a pig, I still get 40+ MPG in my Prius

49. Double Dutch implement: ROPE - Shouldn't it be ropeS~? 

50. Get closer: NEAR

51. Hesitant: TIMID

52. Big Board initials: NYSE - New York Stock Exchange

53. Soup aisle stacks: CANS

54. Adorable one: CUTIE

55. Saskatchewan people: CREE

57. "For all I __ ... ": CARE

58. Nowadays: LATELY - now this one is the opposite of *cringe*

64. Doesn't sink: FLOATS

66. Smidgen: IOTA

67. Villainous: EVIL

68. New Orleans structure: LEVEE - A musical interlude

Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks

69. Pre-TiVo devices: VCRs - I still have one, and it still works

70. Actor Kinnear: GREG - name.

73. Classic skirt silhouette: A-LINE

77. Figure skating feat: AXEL

78. Actress Sorvino: MIRA - name.

82. Paul of "The Fabelmans": DANO - Ugh.  name.  Crossing a 'foreign' word, too

83. Coastal city in Italia: NAPOLI - the opposite of the ALPS

84. Message in a bottle, maybe: S.O.S.

85. Scary St. Bernard of fiction: CUJO - Read the book, did not see the movie; see below

86. Sound effects: NOISES - *cringe*

88. Monaco attraction: CASINO - Gratuitous Daniel Craig for C.C.

91. Give a fright: SCARE

93. Golf shirts: POLOS

94. Like an angry dog's teeth: BARED

Might be a little too gratuitous for a St. Bernard

95. Common allergens: SPORES

96. Genesis locale: EDEN 

97. Air marshal's org.: TSA

99. "Barbie" director Gerwig: GRETA - name.

107. Gaps: OMISSIONS - Saturday clue/answer

108. Inherent: INNATE - *cringe* - I don't like to see an IN- clue for an IN- answer

109. Kid-lit boy detective __ the Great: NATE - name.  The Wiki

110. Noir sleuths: TECS - I am just plowing my way through Rex Stout's "Nero Wolfe" detective books, they're so good - I love the Archie character

111. "Evita" narrator: CHE - narrator~? *cringe*  and name.

112. Preserved in a scrapbook, say: PASTED

113. Mireille of "Hanna": ENOS - name.

DOWN:

1. Cranks (up): AMPS - "These go to eleven."

2. Big jump: LEAP

3. 2002 Jodie Foster film about a robbery: PANIC ROOM - Good movie - saw it when it came out

4. Suffered from 41-Down, perhaps: SNORED - 41. Sleep disorder: APNEA

5. Snake River Canyon st.: IDA - meh.  Don't like three-letter state abbrs

6. Copy: MIMIC - the MIC part of 22A

7. Thomas __ Edison: ALVA - name. Have not seen this fill in a while; if a Tesla is "stolen", is it then called an "Edison"~?

8. Be unsuccessful: FAIL

9. Snacked: ATE

10. Survey by a media outlet, e.g.: NEWS POLL

11. "Hallelujah" songwriter Leonard: COHEN - name.

12. Young Skywalker's nickname: ANI - Short for Anakin, pre-Darth Vader.  and name.

13. Home: DOMICILE - the MIC part of 24A

14. Flight segments: STAIRS

15. Dadaist Max: ERNST - name.  if the clue were Blofeld, we'd be at James Bond again.

16. Olympic sleds: LUGES - see you in Italy

17. Grassy meadows: LEAS

20. "Move over!": "SCOOT~!"

21. Series of related emails: THREAD - *cringe* - a series of texts, maybe

23. Actress Russo: RENE - name.

28. The "L" of UCLA: LOS - University (of) California - - - Angeles

31. Radio letters: AM/FM

32. Layered rock: SHALE

34. Warped: BENT - like my mind

35. Berry from the Amazon: ACAI

36. Froyo franchise: TCBY - The Country's Best Yogurt; uh, well, the closest one to me is in Yonkers, in a different state - I guess you have to travel the country....

37. Competes (for): VIES

38. Great songs, slangily: BOPS - *cringe*

42. Fine-tuned: HONED - like my blogging skills....mic drop

43. Water usage measurer: METER

44. Sand bucket: PAIL

45. __ Goose vodka: GREY

47. NBA great Jordan: MICHAEL - the MIC part of 46A.  and name.

48. Commercial figure?: AD RATE

49. Chophouse specification: RARE

50. Chocolate-hazelnut spread: NUTELLA - oh so good

53. Spending limit: CAP - a perpetual problem for the NY Rangers

54. Cowboy __: bean salad: CAVIAR - never heard this

56. Non-earthlings, for short: ETs

57. Licensed tax pro: CPA

58. "The Leftovers" actress Tyler: LIV - name.

59. Like fruit of the loom?: WOVEN

60. Prefix with climate or greens: MICRO - the MIC part of 59A

61. Dance set to klezmer music: HORA - Ah, Hebrew; looked German to me

62. Extra NHL periods: OTs - oh, we are so close to the start of the hockey season

63. Paper size: LEGAL

64. Mark for attention: FLAG

65. LPGA golfer Thompson: LEXI - name.

69. Trattoria menu heading: VINO - The "N" was my last fill, a Natick crossing; BTW, I now live closer to the place we get the term from....

70. Sod: GRASS - Meh.  almost *cringe*

71. Like yellow bananas: RIPE

72. Targets of some trash talk: EGOS
 
74. 2006 Jodie Foster film about a robbery: INSIDE MAN - now this movie, I did not see

75. Sign gas: NEON

76. "Put a tiger in your tank" brand: ESSO - gas sign

78. Regal: MAJESTIC

79. Party bowlful: ONION DIP

80. Layered rock: MICA - the MIC part of 79A

82. Undue pressure: DURESS - Bzzzt; I had STRESS

85. Tender touch: CARESS

86. Points of connection: NODES

87. Flamenco shout: OLE

89. "So frustrating!": "ARGH~!"

90. At peace: SERENE - I like the Serenity Prayer

91. Ocean foam: SPUME - I had SPRAY

92. "Nancy" or "Cathy": COMIC - Strip, actually - and the MIC part of 102A

93. Pasta choice: PENNE

94. Butter up, in a way: BASTE - now this is clever clue misdirection

95. Leopard's mark: SPOT

97. Loads (of): TONS -  I can never tell if it's going to be TONS or ALOT

98. Minor dispute: SPAT

100. Mambo legend Puente: TITO - name.

101. Solitaire foundation cards: ACES

103. "How lovely!": "OOH~!"

105. Genetic messenger: RNA

106. Keanu title role: TED - Dah~!   I had NEO - but once I read the clue, I see it says "title".

        and name.

 

Splynter

 

Sunday July 2, 2023 Amie Walker

Theme: "Film Adaptations" - The first words and last words of 6 films are switched.

22. Film about double agents at the card table?: SPIES OF BRIDGE. Bridge of Spies.

38. Film about college kids trying to clean up the dorm before parents weekend?: ROOM PANIC. Panic Room.

48. Film about an out-of-this-world job?: SPACE OFFICE. Office Space.

61. Film about the morning meals of a 1980s pop star?: TIFFANY'S AT BREAKFAST. Breakfast At Tiffany's.

82. Film about the installation of red carpets?: LINE THE WALK. Walk the Line.

88. Film about a bird on a Firebird?: HOOD ROBIN. Robin Hood.

Reveal:

109. Reverse course dramatically, or an alternate title for this puzzle: FLIP THE SCRIPT.

Is there a further layer to cohere the set? I fear I'm missing something here. 

I don't recall seeing so many great long fill in a Sunday puzzle. Stunning grid work.

Across:

1. Present inaccurately: SKEW.

5. Pen __: PAL. Oh I have an incredible pen pal: Janice Leavitt from Ohio, who sent me these sweet Malley's Buckeyes. Janice reads our blog faithfully. She just does not comment. Thank you, Janice!

8. Challah unit: LOAF. More food: 21. Polish dumplings: PIEROGI. 53. Khao kha mu meat: PORK. 104. Sandwich selection: ROAST BEEF.  Steve probably knows khao kha mu. From Wikipedia: "hao kha mu is an individual dish consisting of stewed pig's trotter in seasoning condensed hot pottage (some recipes are mixed with cocoa powder or boiled peanuts), then it will be cut into thin slices and topped on steamed rice."

12. Two-dimensional: PLANAR.

18. Dialect that may be part of code-switching, for short: AAVE. African-American Vernacular English.

19. "Notorious" SCOTUS justice: RBG.

20. Model Macpherson: ELLE.

25. Truly enjoy something: EAT IT UP. More great long fill: 26. Controversial topic: HOT POTATO.
9D. The one that got away, maybe: OLD FLAME.15D. Lead-in to a potentially hurtful comment: NOTHING PERSONAL.28D. Hive inhabitant: DRONE BEE. 44D. Some barkers: CARNIVAL WORKERS. 81D. Bargain hunter's aim: GOOD DEAL. 82D. Fancy way to the airport: LIMO RIDE. What I said earlier. Stunning.

27. Gently add, as egg whites to batter: FOLD IN.

29. Cries of comprehension: AHAS.

30. Really wow: AWE.

31. Corn throwaway: COB. And  32. Melon __: BALLER. Both made me think of Agnes.

34. Old Dodge: OMNI.

36. Train for a relay, say: RUN.

37. Granada greeting: HOLA.

42. Jaunty neckwear: ASCOT.

45. Agenda unit: ITEM.

46. Short, secret passages?: NDAS. Non-Disclosure Agreements.

47. "Minions: The Rise of __": GRU.

51. Like ground turkey: LEAN.

52. Mimics: APES.

54. Mouse sound: CLICK.

55. Coddle: BABY. How do you call your loved ones? I hear "Honey" a lot in Minnesota. In Xi'an, it's simple: "Bao Bei" (Baby) for "boyfriend", "Lao Gong" for "husband".

56. Shift or sheath: DRESS.

57. Source of UV rays: SUN.

58. Tony-winning actress Hagen: UTA. 71. Pop singer Rita: ORA. 79. Actress Mireille: ENOS. 21D. Louvre Pyramid architect: PEI.Vowel-friendly 3-letter names. This one is heavy in vowel also: 14. "7 Rings" singer Grande: ARIANA.

59. Great Lake that touches four states: ERIE.

60. Clairvoyant: SEER.

68. Cello kin: VIOL.

69. Smartphone array: APPS.

70. Young man: BOY.

73. Faculty leaders: DEANS.

75. Sebastian of "The Little Mermaid," for one: CRAB.

76. Firefighting equipment: HOSES.

80. Scotland's __ of Skye: ISLE.

81. Shiva and Brahma: GODS.

84. NNE opposite: SSW.

85. Comedian Mabley: MOMS.  First female comedian to perform at the Apollo Theater.

86. Farsi-speaking land: IRAN.

87. Spills: TELLS.

91. Beer ingredient: MALT. And 115. Dutch beer: AMSTEL.

92. Variety show hosts, briefly: MCS.

93. Joy of MSNBC: REID. Boomer kept asking me to check on her hairstyle.

94. Call it a night: GO HOME.

96. Neither win nor lose: TIE.

97. Intel org.: NSA.

100. Thousand __, California: OAKS.

102. Actress Blythe: DANNER. Gwyneth Paltrow's mom.

107. Full arm tattoos: SLEEVES.

111. Dreamlike: SURREAL. 

112. "M*A*S*H" star: ALDA.

113. Deg. for many a CEO: MBA.

114. Upfront bet: ANTE.

116. Ballet supporters?: TOES. 8. Pacific ring?: LEI. Nice clues.

117. Madrid's Puerta del __: SOL.

118. Russian ruler until 1917: TSAR.

Down:

1. Malia Obama's sister: SASHA.

2. "Wham!": KAPOW.

3. Paperless party announcement: EVITE.

4. "Read 'em and __!": WEEP.

5. Three-quark particle: PROTON.

6. Britcom based on a "French and Saunders" sketch: AB FAB.

7. Pride initials: LGBT.

10. Early computer language: ALGOL.

11. Subtle inquiry: FEELER.

12. Semi-autobiographical Billy Joel song: PIANO MAN.

13. Permit: LET.

16. __ fresca: AGUA.

17. Scams, with "off": RIPS.

23. "How precious!": SO CUTE.

24. Unemotional: ROBOTIC.

33. Smart __: ALECK.
 
35. Westminster reps.: MPS. Members of Parliament.

36. Genre with many subgenres: ROCK.

37. Classic LP player: HIFI.

39. Jazz singer Anita: ODAY.

40. Riles up: IRES.

41. Swear: CUSS.

42. Egyptian cobras: ASPS.

43. Teapot feature: SPOUT.

49. In base eight: OCTAL.

50. Custard dessert: FLAN. Durians are custardy. High in fat, high in sugar, the smell offends many, but I love them so much. Just wish they were cheaper.

51. Hibernation station: LAIR.

52. Neck of the woods: AREA.

55. Texter's "Hold that thought": BRB.

56. Stand up to: DEFY.

58. 59-Down carriers: UFOS. 59. 58-Down passengers: ETS.

60. Little bit: SKOSH.

62. "Whatever": FINE.

63. Show of political support: YARD SIGN.

64. Me-time spots: SPAS.

65. Urgent PD call: APB.

66. Provide a fake alibi for, say: ABET.

67. Doll with fluffy hair: TROLL. Lots of trolls at our local flea market. I just don't see the appeal.

72. Seeks answers: ASKS. Please can you leave an Amazon review once you complete my puzzles?
You'll make me very happy!

73. Course component: DISH.

74. Canadian fuel giant: ESSO.

75. Rooster topper: COMB.

76. Whisky-maker Walker: HIRAM.

77. Vigilant: ON ALERT.

78. Text status: SENT.

79. Flock females: EWES.

83. "Yada, yada, yada": ETC ETC.

85. CT scan kin: MRI.

89. Mojave, for one: DESERT.

90. Like some yogurt: NON-FAT. Been loving my own soy yogurt.

92. Liturgical text: MISSAL.

95. "You there?": HELLO.

96. Martial arts-based fitness system: TAE BO.

97. German dissents: NEINS.

98. Way around Philly: SEPTA. OK, stands for Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority.

99. Following: AFTER.

100. Thessaly peak: OSSA.

101. Homecoming guest: ALUM.

103. Comm. system in the film "CODA": ASL.

105. __ Law: electrical principle: OHM'S.

106. German sausage, for short: BRAT.

108. Valiant leader?: VEE. Valiant.

110. Ballet step: PAS.

Thank you so much for the sweet posts, emails and cards for my birthday. I hiked the outside loop at Springbrook, then had a few long calls with my close friends. Will meet with the nice Church couple Bill and Margaret for a birthday lunch once I get this cough out of my system. They really love me despite the fact that I'm still not ready to be a Catholic (yet). I like being a lost lamb.

Congrats to Dennis and his wife Linda who just celebrated their 35-year wedding anniversary! Dennis was always the first to comment on our blog in the earlier days. Come back, Dennis!

Dennis & Linda, Wedding Day

Dennis & Linda, 35 Years Later

C.C.

Tuesday, May 30, 2023 Amie Walker

It's the Small Things in Life that Count.

18-Across. One in a snuggly pair: LITTLE SPOON.

23-Across. Office fund for odds and ends: PETTY CASH.  I had a co-worker who complained that he caught his niece in an act of Petty theft.  It seems she had gotten up in the night and eaten a donut that was for breakfast.

53-Across. Insignificant weakness: MINOR FLAW.

59-Across. Without much warning, with "on": SHORT NOTICE.

And the Unifier:

34. With 36-Down and 38-Across, Blink-182 hit song, and a description of four long answers in this puzzle: ALL.  //  34-Down.  36. See 34-Down: THE.  38-Down. See 34-Down: SMALL THINGS.  Together we get the song:  ALL THE SMALL THINGS.  The first word of each theme answer describes something that can be small.

Across:

1. Fiat or Ferrari: CAR.  Both are Italian vehicles.  This article is 10 years old, but it explains a "weird" relationship between Fiat and Ferrari.

4. Greek letter after alpha: BETA.  The Greek alphabet often sneaks into the crossword puzzles.

8. Horrified: AGHAST.

14. "Should I take that as __?": A NO.

15. Lead off: OPEN.

16. Focus of a historic New Orleans museum: VOODOO.  The New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum is a small museum located in the French Quarter.

17. Cold War gp.: KGB.  As in the Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti.  It officially ceased operations in December 1991.  //  63. Hush-hush org.: CIA.  As in the Central Intelligence Agency.

20. Marry in secret: ELOPE.

22. Arrive at: REACH.

25. Ties up at a pier: DOCKS.

30. Grammy-winning Grande: ARIANA.  Whenever I hear her name, I think of her donut-licking incident.  [Name # 1.]

31. Soccer great Long or basketball great Quigley: ALLIE.  Allie Long (née Alexandra Linsley Long; b. Aug. 13, 1987) plays as a midfielder for NJ/NY Gotham Football (soccer) Club. Allie Quigley (née Alexandria Quigley; b. June 20, 1986) plays for the Chicago Sky.  [Name # 2.]

Allie Long

Allie Quigley

32. Military advisory gp.: NSC.  As in the National Security Council.

33. Ultimate: LAST.

37. Duane __: NYC drugstore chain: READE.  I was not familiar with the Duane Reade drugstore chain, but then, I don't live in New York.  You can Read(e) [get it?] all about it here.

42. Sovereign: RULER.

44. Caustic cleaners: LYES.

45. Loan application ID: SSN.  As in Social Security Number.  A crossword staple.

48. Clog-busting brand: DRANO.

49. Sheepish "Good point": TOUCHÉ.

52. Picture book?: ALBUM.  Great clue.

56. Cobra pose, e.g.: ASANA.  Think yoga.  I practice yoga, but this pose is too much for me.

58. Area with trees: WOODS.

64. Game console with a Mii Parade: WII.  If you say so.

65. Culture of cuteness, in Japan: KAWAII.  Not a Tuesday word.

66. Bad to the bone: EVIL.

67. French word that indicates a name change: NÉE.  This French word has been making frequent appearances in puzzles recently.

68. Bug: INSECT.

69. Legit: REAL.

70. Prom gp.: SRS.  As in Seniors in High School.

Down:

1. Piece of bakeware: CAKE PAN.  They can come in all shapes and sizes.

2. Some folks who fish: ANGLERS.  Cute clue.

3. Place where engineers can do some machine learning?: ROBOTICS LAB.

4. Anne who was the mother of Elizabeth I: BOLEYN.  Everything you wanted to known about Anne Boleyn but didn't know to ask.  [Name # 3.]

5. Prefix with gram: EPI-.  As in Epigram.

6. Aquarium fish: TETRA.

7. Initial bets: ANTES.

8. "Sans" opposite: AVEC.  More of today's French lesson.

9. Dad-blasted: GOSH DARN.  Mild swears.

10. Move like a bunny: HOP.

11. Hubbub: ADO.

12. "Hamilton" Tony nominee Phillipa: SOO.  Phillipa Ann Soo (b. May 31, 1990) appeared in last Tuesday's puzzle.  She portrayed Eliza Hamilton in the musical Hamilton.  [Name # 4.]

13. Load: TON.

19. "Well, __-di-dah!": LAH.

21. Sch. group: PTA.  As in the Parent Teacher Association.  A crossword staple.

24. Summon: CALL.

26. Cassini of couture: OLEG.  Oleg Cassini (né Oleg Aleksandrovich Loiewski; Apr. 11, 1913 ~ Mar. 17, 2006) became well known as being Jackie Kennedy's favorite designer.  If I remember correctly, there was a connection between Cassini and our Lemonade.  [Name # 5.]

27. Some attention-seeking students: CLASS CLOWNS.

28. Tease: KID.

29. "Understand?": SEE.

35. Farm pen: STY.

39. List of options: MENU.

40. Fragrant: AROMATIC.

41. Analogy words: IS TO.  I erroneously filled this in as As To, which gave me the theme song as All the Small Thangs, which could make sense.

42. Suggested intake, on some labels: RDA.  As in Recommended Daily Allowance.  More that you ever wanted to know about Dietary guidelines and are sorry you asked.

43. Clickable link: URL.  As in the Uniform Resource Locator.  A crossword staple.

46. Less reputable: SHADIER.

47. Musical with the songs "Carrying the Banner" and "The World Will Know": NEWSIES.  Newsies is a musical that is based on the true story of the 1899 Newsboys Strike in New York City.

50. "Animal Farm" writer George: ORWELL.  His given name was Eric Arthur Blair (June 25, 1903 ~ Jan. 21, 1950).  Much of his work can be categorized is being social criticism, opposition to totalitarianism, and support of democratic socialism.  We all probably had to read Animal Farm and 1984 when we were in high school.  I wonder if these books are now on the banned list.  [Name # 6.]

51. Blurry craft in tabloid pics: UFO.

53. Eponym of a Chinese tunic suit: MAO.  Andy Warhol depicted Mao in many renditions.  [Name # 7.]

54. Bury: INTER.

55. Easily duped: NAÏVE.

57. Sour mood: SNIT.

59. Winter runner: SKI.

60. __ Solo of "The Force Awakens": HAN.  [Name # 8.]

61. Cries of pain: OWS!

62. Singer Carly __ Jepsen: RAE.  [Name # 9.]

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

In memory of Tina Turner (Nov. 26, 1939 ~ May 24, 2023), I'll leave you with this video.