Sunday November 8, 2020 Daniel A. Finan & Brian Herrick

Theme:  "Did You Get the Part?" - Each theme clue is part of the first/second word of each theme entry. The other part of each theme entry hints at the "part" gimmick.

23A. PROP: IMPROPER FRACTION. Prop is a fraction of IMPROPER. Same logic applies to all the theme entries.

31A. OUT: MOUTHPIECE.

48A. VIE: MOVIE CLIP.

81A. GET: BUDGET CUT.

98A. ORE: CORE SAMPLE.

107A. TEN: SENTENCE FRAGMENT.

12D. ARE: RARE ELEMENT.

15D. VAT: PRIVATE SECTOR.

55D. HANG: CHUNK OF CHANGE.

66D. CON: SLAB OF BACON.

Eight of the entries have the parts in first words. Two entries in second words with the "of" structures. All clues are solid words. Super consistent and creative.

So nice to see Daniel A. Finan back. He was very active when I started blogging crosswords. Congratulations on your first Sunday, Brian!

Across:

1. Ones found on saucers, briefly?: ETS. Great clue.

4. Max: AT MOST.

10. Undercover agent's device: WIRE.

14. Many downloads: APPS. What are your favorite apps?

18. Oz creator: BAUM.

19. Corrupting atmosphere: MIASMA. This word just looks and sounds unpleasant.

20. Organized to a fault: ANAL.

21. Having no meetings, say: FREE.

22. Florentine flower?: ARNO. Flow-er. This gimmick was used a lot years ago
 
26. 2000s Cal.-based teen drama: THE OC. Starring Mischa Barton & Rachel Bilson.

28. Equate: LIKEN.

29. Longtime late-night host: LENO.

30. Iran has multiple ones: Abbr.: VPS. I did not know.

34. You, once: THEE.

36. Big, strong swimmer: WHALE. And 25. Female 36-Across: COW.

38. Ricola ad instrument: ALPHORN.

39. Database systems giant: ORACLE.

41. Pac-12 squad: UTES.

42. Nintendo's Super __: NES.

43. Winter fuel units: CORDS.

46. Dawdle: WASTE TIME. Great fill.

50. Lewd material: SMUT.

51. "How you doin'?": SUP.

54. Basic digital exercise: SCALE.

56. Chile relleno stuffing: CHEESE. Never had it.

58. Many readers of "Dreyer's English," for short: EDS. OK, editors.

59. Brian of electronica: ENO.

60. Home of the Milad Tower: TEHRAN. Wiki says Milad Tower (also known as the Tehran Tower) is a multi-purpose tower in Tehran, Iran. It is the sixth-tallest tower and the 24th-tallest freestanding structure in the world."

61. Cone counterparts: RODS.

62. Corn bread: PONE.

64. Icy Hot target: ACHE.

65. Short notice?: I QUIT.

66. Ward in Hollywood: SELA. Know for her "Once and Again".

67. Big break: RIFT.

68. Gyro holders: PITAS.

 

69. Desert formation: DUNE.

70. Lab coat discovery?: FLEA. Cute clue also.

71. Subject of many Instagram posts: SELF.

72. Snicket of kids' books: LEMONY.

73. Shocked cry: EEK.

74. Culinary lead-in to king: A LA.

75. Odds, etc.: RATIOS.

77. Hallmark of a procrastinator?: E-CARD. And 93. Like activity that can move mountains: SEISMIC. Just amazing clues.

78. __-mo: SLO.

79. Adds a soundtrack to: DUBS.

83. Decorated: FESTOONED.

86. Longtime "60 Minutes" reporter: STAHL (Lesley)

87. Hoppy brew, for short: IPA.

90. Disagreement ender: PACT.

92. Notes in C minor scales: E FLATS.

95. Allergic reaction: ACHOO.

97. Outdo: BEST.

101. Early TV maker: RCA.

102. Builder concerned with pairs: NOAH.

104. Midway alternative: O'HARE.

106. Bugs: RILES.

112. Creedence song named for a California city: LODI. Anyone from there?

113. Beat by a run, say: EDGE.

114. Slinky shape: COIL.

115. Metaphor for extreme pleasure: HEAVEN.

116. Make read better: EDIT.

117. No good one goes unpunished, it's said: DEED.

118. Professor 'iggins: ENRY.

119. Will of "BoJack Horseman": ARNETT.

120. Craving: YEN.

Down:

1. Batting helmet feature: EAR HOLE.

2. Jobs in which plugs are replaced: TUNE-UPS.

3. Slick: SMOOTH.

4. Pal in Provence: AMI. That's so gratifying that you noticed the total 3-letter words in my last puzzle, Agnes/Jayce!

5. "The Things They Carried" author O'Brien: TIM.

6. Syrup source: MAPLE.

7. "Hamlet" courtier: OSRIC.

8. Cook, in a way: SMOKE. Not fond of smoked food.

9. Compelling evidence: TAPE.

10. __ on Drugs: WAR.

11. Changes tonally: INFLECTS. Chinese can be complicated. Same MA has 5 different meanings depending on the tone.

13. Flair: ELAN.

14. To the rear, at sea: AFT.

16. Kind of person?: PEOPLE. People person. Boomer is one.

17. Taste and touch: SENSES.

18. Member of the Justice League: BATMAN.

24. Snares: ENTRAPS.

27. 2000 film set in a French confectionery: CHOCOLAT. I like Juliette Binoche.

32. Verified: PROVEN.

33. Cross inscription: INRI.

35. Possesses: HAS.

37. Fire on all cylinders: HUM.

39. Boo-boos: OWIES.

40. Usually challenging piece: ETUDE.

44. Official order: DECREE.

45. Authority: SCHOLAR.

47. "__ alive!": IT'S.

48. Tussaud of wax museum fame: MARIE.

49. Spartan queen of Greek myth: LEDA.

52. "__ me, you cad!": UNHAND.

53. Neruda's oeuvre: POESY.

54. "Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo," for example: SEQUEL.

57. Concluding sections: EPILOGS.

60. Oceans' motions: TIDES.

63. Compensate for: OFFSET.

64. Get in the crosshairs: AIM AT.

67. Chiefs coach Andy: REID.

68. Odd: PECULIAR. Oh oh, try white miso & avocado combo on your toast.

70. One may be raised at a wedding: FLUTE.

71. Ear ornaments: STUDS.

72. Tres __ cake: dessert soaked in dairy liquids: LECHES.

74. Billboard displays: ADS.

76. Driver in a heist, say: ABETTOR.

80. Lisa Marie as of 1980, vis-à-vis Elvis: SOLE HEIR. Lisa Marie just lost her son.

82. Shock, as a perp: TASE.

84. Ike's WWII command: ETO. European Theater of Operations.

85. "Illmatic" rapper: NAS.

87. Self-destruct: IMPLODE.

88. Boarded, like clowns entering a clown car: PILED IN.

89. Nails that test: ACES IT.

90. Analyzed in English class: PARSED.

91. Say yes (to): ACCEDE.

94. :-): SMILEY.

96. Air Force __: ONE.

98. Heat player, say: CAGER.

99. Finance guru Suze: ORMAN.

100. "The Canterbury Tales" pilgrim: REEVE.

103. In the old days: ONCE.

105. "That's hilarious ... not": HA HA.

108. "Chopped" host Allen: TED.

109. Sac __: FLY.

110. Take home: NET.

111. Where to see a Heat player: TNT.

Does anyone know what these roots are?

C.C.

Friday, March 27, 2020 Brian Herrick

"Wind Engineering"   "Blowin' In The Wind"    "Wind Shear"

I couldn't pick a title.  Should have stuck with "Windfall"

To get the answers to 1, 5, 36, and 51 across,  you need part of the down answer.  To get the theme, you need part of that same down answer.

1. June event that highlighted Zion in 2019: NBAD. 
4. (down) It's on tap: DRAFT BEER.

NBA DRAFT  - The consensus # 1 pick in the June 2019 NBA Draft was Zion Williamson.  He was selected by the New Orleans Pelicans.

5. Revolt: DISG.
8. (down) "The Planets" composer Holst: GUSTAV. -  Gustav Holst

DISGUST

36. Result of a lost feed: DEAD A.
38. (down) Shoe brand first made for an NBA star: AIR JORDAN.  - NBA star Michael Jordan.

DEAD AIR

51. Deep-fried seafood appetizer: CRAB P.
53. (down) Northern seabird: PUFFIN.

CRAB PUFF  -   Martha Stewart's recipe for 2 dozen.  Any readers have their own recipes ?
 

The reveal:  24. Jackpot, e.g., and a hint to completing four puzzle answers: WINDFALL.

My immediate reaction to the reveal was "What ?"   Windfall means unexpected good fortune.  I got how the down answers fall.  But what about the wind part ?   Then the V8 can that was absent last Friday showed up.  Each of the highlighted answers in red (above) or in yellow (below)... and they all fall.   All winds, of a sort.  Air seems to be the outlier.



Across:

9. Questlove's do: FRO.  If you watch The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, then you would probably know of the musician that leads the house band.

12. "__ is human ... ": TO ERR. 

but to really mess things up you need a computer.  Did I link that .gif  before ?  

14. Asian gambling mecca: MACAU.   We also see it spelled as Macao. 

15. Pasture: LEA.

16. Greek goddesses of the seasons: HORAE.   It's all ? to me.  What is that word I'm missing ?

17. Anglicized name for Australia's Uluru: AYERS ROCK.   Uluru is new to me, but the perps were very generous.    Uluru is the traditional Aboriginal name.   The local Anangu, the Pitjantjatjara people, call the landmark Uluṟu (Pitjantjatjara [ʊlʊɻʊ]).     - Wikipedia

19. Game response that means no: GO FISH.   The card game for children aged 4 to 10.

21. Like mockumentaries: SATIRIC.   The Beatles 1964 feature film debut, A Hard Day's Night, was filmed in mockumentary style: it ostensibly documents a few typical (and highly fictionalized) days in the life of the band as they travel from Liverpool to London for a television appearance.

In television, popular examples in the US include sitcoms Trailer Park Boys and its films (1998–present), Parks and Recreation (2009–2015), The Office (2005-2013), and Modern Family (2009–present); the American improv comedy Reno 911! (2003–2009)   - Wikipedia

22. Sailboat staff: MAST.

23. Sell: HAWK.

25. Disquiet: AGITA.  I would normally first think of agita as indigestion, but it also means anxiety, apprehension, worry, nervousness, etc.  So it can be both a physical and emotional condition.  Disquiet is a synonym.

26. Messy roommate: SLOB.   Oscar Madison ?

27. Oscar winner Kazan: ELIA.

28. Valentine's Day buys: VASES.

29. Parts: ROLES.    For thespians (Hi, OMK !), the character(s) they play.   In business, slang for areas of responsibility (i.e. the different hats one wears).   In reality, no one has more roles to play than women. 

31. Seeing right through: ON TO.

33. "Shame!": TSK.

34. Wannabe: POSEUR.

39. Free from: RID OF.

41. Get ready to play: SUIT UP.   Typically as a sports metaphor. 

45. Tests graded on a scale of 1 to 5: Abbr.: APs. 

48. "Oh __!": insult reaction: SNAP.   Not in my vernacular. 

50. Maine college town: ORONO.   I believe that Hahtoolah mentioned that she went to the University of Maine in Orono.   She graces this blog every Tuesday.

54. Thin opening: SLOT.  I tried slit. 

56. Winnipeg NHLers: JETs.  The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg.  They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division of the Western Conference

57. End of a toast: TO YOU.

58. This is one: CLUE.   Self referential.  Should have been easy for regular solvers. 

59. Texter's "But ... ": OTOH.    Randy Travis was awarded the 1986 Country Music Song of the Year for this song.    Ah, play that steel guitar...


60. To such an extent (as): IN SO FAR. 

62. Thin: NARROW.

64. Connecticut college town: FAIRFIELD.   Fairfield College.  New to me. 

66. "My name is ... " site: ID TAG.   Earl was too short.  Then saw site.  In the sitcom, Earl was always trying to atone for his behavior in years past.  

68. LAX abbr.: ETD. Estimated Time of Delay.  

69. Brainstorms: IDEAs.

70. Disney's "Moana" was translated into it: MAORI.   The language of the indigenous people of New Zealand. 

71. __ gratias: DEO.   Thanks be to God.

72. Second opening?: NANO. 

73. Flanders et al.: NEDs.   "Hi-Diddily-Ho neighborino! What can I ding-dong-diddily-do for you?" 

Down:

1. Utmost degree: NTH.

2. "Electric __": 1984 dance-pop song: BOOGALOO.   Did not know.  But learned that the Boogaloo was a street dance that originated in Oakland, CA in the 1960s.  Then in the late '70s, a dance team developed the "Electric Boogaloo" dance style and called themselves by the same name.   Then in 1984, the music duo of Ollie and Jerry released the song.  Here's a 1980 clip from Soul Train showing the dance team doing Electric Boogaloo style of dancing.   I could not find a video that featured them dancing to the 1984 song. 


3. Sprays from cans: AEROSOLS.

5. __ trip: DAY.

6. Salchow support: ICE SKATE.

7. "Waitress" composer Bareilles: SARA.   I may not understand the clues, but the perps and logic usually work out these answers.

9. User of 28-Across: FLORIST.

10. Speaks from memory: RECITEs. 

11. Winery fixture: OAK CASK.

13. Outdoorsy retailer: REI.   Recreational Equipment, Inc.

14. Island thanks: MAHALO.   "Mahalo for your patience and aloha as we harness our resilience to get through this health crisis together."   In this context, aloha means greetings, rather than the typical hello or goodbye.

18. Baltic capital: RIGA.   A crossword regular.

20. "__ Walks in Beauty": Byron poem: SHE.   Didn't know of the poem.  Knew that Lord Byron was Ada Lovelace's father. 

22. Car ad fig.: MSRP.   The list price.

30. __ generis: SUI.   Along the lines of unique.   In a class by itself.

32. Western treaty gp.: OAS.   Organization of American States.    And a CSO to our regular reader who has been experimenting in the kitchen.

35. Hwys.: RDs.

37. Daft Punk, for one: DUO.    Didn't know, but vaguely recalled a pop or a rap group.  They were French electronic synthopop musicians in the 1990s.   

40. Happening in film: ONSCREEN.

42. In close combat: TOE TO TOE.

43. Hard to work with: UNTOWARD.  Some are advances.

44. Sumptuous: POSH.  One Spice is Posh,  AKA, Victoria Beckham. 

45. Allergy medicine discontinued in the U.S.: ACTIFED.    The druggies were making something out of it to get high. 

46. Rotate inward while walking, as one's foot: PRONATE.   Contrast with supinate.

47. Gets married: SAYS I DO.  Too many blanks for weds.

49. Money symbolized by a stylized L: POUNDS.    £

52. Crude dude: BOOR.   First thought was a roughneck.   An oilfield worker.

55. Afternoon __: TEA.

61. John/Rice musical: AIDA.   Crosswords taught me that Aida usually has a Verdi clue.  But in this case, it's Elton John and Tim Rice.  Who knew ?

63. Edge: RIM.   I use Edge shaving cream.  The rim of the can often starts to rust before the cream is all gone.  Maybe I should go back to that "no-eczema" brand that Joe Namath used to tout. 

65. Southeast Asian language: LAO. 

67. PFCs, e.g.: GIs.

Friday, January 4, 2019, Brian Herrick

Title: This debut is his BEST effort.

Happy New year from Friday and we begin 2019 with a new constructor. We are back to themes with the maiden effort from our fourth constructor named Brian. I guess I should welcome him with this Link. Welcome, Brian. Today we have three themers and a two-part reveal. It is another missing word puzzle, as close to a rebus as Rich Norris allows -so far. With 49 theme squares, we are given lots of longer fill. ADD ONTO, AMOROUS, ASSUMES, DRUNKEN, EGOLESS, EMERALD, LEONARD, MAGENTA, PIE SHOP, RIHANNA, SENDERS, SORROWS, and STRIPES which I like better than Sunday's stipes. Nice triple-stacked 7s in each corner, but some very challenging fill. I await your reaction.

17A. Give it the old college try: DO ONE'S LEVEL BEST (11).

27A. Benchmarks on the way to mastery: GOOD BETTER BEST. (10).

41A. "Please don't expect any more from me": I'M TRYING MY BEST. (10).

40D. With 51-Across, Sinatra classic, and a hint to completing three puzzle answers: THE BEST. (7)

51A. See 40-Down: IS YET TO COME (11). Time to let Frank sing us into the solve. 

Across:

1. Logician Turing: ALAN. A very important figure in the birth of computers and computers science who sadly was driven to suicide for the way he was treated as a gay. LINK.

5. 15-Across protagonist: RIPLEY. Sigourney Weaver was this character in  15A. 1986 sci-fi sequel: ALIENS.

11. HMO group: MDS.

14. Try out, briefly: DEMO.

16. Exist: ARE.

19. Spray __: GUN. Not my first or second thought but real. They have changed from when I was spraying the roses in my father's garden to keep the aphids away.

20. It's no exit: ON RAMP.

21. Start of a cheer: SIS. Boom bah- cheerleading chant, originally (1867) an echoic phrase imitating the sound of a skyrocket flight ( sis ), the burst of the fireworks ( boom ), and the reaction of the crowd (bah). Dictionary.com.


22. Await judgment: PEND. Judges wait all the time.

23. Woman in the Book of Ruth: NAOMI. She was the mother-in-law to whom Ruth, the Moabite,  pledged her life after her husband died. "And Ruth said: 'Entreat me not to leave thee and to return from following after thee; for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God." Another puzzle coincidence after early week comments.

24. Sailing pronoun: SHE.

25. "Much appreciated," in Munich: DANKE. Thanks in German.

26. Aligned: TRUE. Carpentry term.

29. Pigs out (on): ODS.

30. One may be rolled out in a stadium: TARP.

31. Plenty: OCEANS. Very vague, if ultimately correct. I was oodles for tow long.

32. Lip-thrusting look: POUT.

33. N.Y.C. part: YORK.

34. Make even smoother: RESAND.

37. N.W.A rapper __-E: EAZY. This PERFORMER died young, after starting out with ICE CUBE and Dr. Dre, from Compton, California.

38. Posed: SAT.

43. Comedian Daniel: TOSH.

44. Start of an old late-night intro: HERE'S.

45. Daybreak deity: EOS. I used to get this fill regularly.

46. "It's __ than I thought": WORSE.

47. Nothing like wetlands: ARID.

48. Screech __: OWL.

49. Garden of Eden protector: CHERUB. The first mention of cherubs is found in Genesis 3:24: "He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life." Var.

50. Carpet feature: NAP.

53. Phillies' div.: NLE. What a convenient set of letters.

54. Effective deal maker: CLOSER. No politics.

55. Amazes: AWES.

56. Eight minutes of the average sitcom: ADS. Out of a 30-minute show.

57. Puts up: HOUSES.

58. "Hey, you!": PSST.

Down:

1. Expand, as a residence: ADD ON TO. My father built an addition to our house in the late 50s to have a larger kitchen and a family room with a pool table.

2. Conductor Bernstein: LEONARD. One of the first American born conductors to achieve worldwide fame, 2018 was his centennial year.

                                                                 LINK

3. Lovey-dovey: AMOROUS.

4. Generic: NONAME.

5. Filing aid: RASP. A coarse file, or a hoarse voice, which could mean you are...

6. Down with something: ILL.

7. Mrs. Lovett's business in Broadway's "Sweeney Todd": PIE SHOP. It was the filling that was so filling. The PLOT.

8. Imposed: LEVIED. Like a fine or taxes.

9. NBA center __ Kanter: ENES. I understand liking the letters but a  center for a bad team who is no longer a STARTER?

10. Fashion initials: YSL. Yves is back.

11. Purple shade: MAGENTA. The queen wears this color.

12. Like a bar free-for-all: DRUNKEN. Or noodles.

13. Emailers: SENDERS.

18. Old U.K. record label: EMI.

22. Luxury watch brand __ Philippe: PATEK.

24. Database function: SORT.

25. Rail against: DECRY.

27. Catalonian architect Antoni __: GAUDI. Catalan architect, whose distinctive style is characterized by freedom of form, voluptuous color and texture, and organic unity. Gaudí worked almost entirely in or near Barcelona.  LINK. A total learning moment.

28. See 12-Down: BOOZY.

30. "Hamilton" got 11: TONYS.

32. Trimmed: PARED.

33. Orange tubers: YAMS.

34. "Rude Boy" singer: RIHANNA. Performed at a concert in RIO one of my old law partners is involved in setting up. LINK. Some profanity.

35. May birthstone: EMERALD.

36. 1981 Bill Murray military comedy: STRIPES. One of the many hilarious comedies which Harold Ramis wrote in which Bill Murray appeared. How many can you name?

37. Small-headed?: EGOLESS. An odd clue/fill combination.

38. Sad subjects: SORROWS.

39. Takes over the duties of: ASSUMES. Responsibility.

42. What diets and beauticians may promise, with "a": NEW YOU.

43. It covers the end of the foot: TOE CAP. I guess you can buy a piece of material (such as leather) covering the toe of a shoe and reinforcing or decorating it

46. "__ cares!": WHO. I do.

48. Nobel Peace Prize city: OSLO.

49. Hubs: Abbr.: CTRS. Centers.

51. German I: ICH. An excuse to link the outrageous EDDIE IZZARD. The link is obscene and filled with controversy but damn funny.

52. Fore site?: TEE. A golfing pun to end our journey.


A new year, a new constructor and your same old Friday sherpa. It was a challenging puzzle; the theme was easy but it was still lots of work. I hope you enjoyed the puzzling puzzle. Lemonade out.