Tuesday, October 5, 2021 Craig Stowe

Shuffle the Word.  Rearrange/shuffle the letters of the word Take will give us Alternatives of that word.

16-Across. *   Ground-beef-and-gravy dish: SALISBURY STEAK.

25-Across. *     Penny-pincher: CHEAPSKATE.

36-Across. *     "Ode to a Nightingale" poet: JOHN KEATS.  It's a long poem, but you can read it here.

50-Across. *     Hung in the balance: WAS AT STAKE.

And the unifier:

59-Across. Different points of view ... and a hint to the ends of the answers to starred clues: ALTERNATE TAKES.

Across:

1. Tie named for an annual race venue: ASCOT.  The horse race is also the event where women were very elaborate and outlandish hats.

6. Destroy, as one's hopes: DASH.

10. Spanish hero El __: CID.  El Cid (né Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar; 1043 ~ 1099) was a Castilian knight in medieval Spain.  The Moors referred to him as El Cid, which is the name that has been passed down in history.

13. Land at the water's edge: SHORE.

14. Look at rudely: OGLE.

15. Genetic messenger: RNA.

19. Out of sorts: ILL.

20. Ginormous: HUGE.

21. Actor Eckhart of "Sully": AARON.  Aaron Eckhart (né Aaron Edward Eckhart; b. Mar. 12, 1968) played the First Officer Jeff Skiles in the movie about Sully Sullenberg and the plane rescue on the Hudson.

23. Hefty slice: SLAB.

28. Completely wrecks: TOTALS.

30. Pastry with a crust: PIE.  Yummers!

31. Long-jawed fish: GAR.  Everything you wanted to know about the Gar, but didn't know to ask.  Not to be confused with Picard's crush, Teri.

32. Shorthand crackerjack: STENO.  As in a Stenographer.

33. 2019 comedy "__ It Romantic": ISN'T.

35. Cuban coin: PESO.

39. Numbers game: KENO.

42. Where about one-third of Istanbul residents live: ASIA.  Cross the Bosphorus going east and you leave Europe and enter Asia, without entering a new country..

43. Yellowjackets, e.g.: WASPS.  Are Yellowjackets really Wasps?  I was stung twice by a wasp the other day while working in my garden.  The creatures had built a nest in one of my shrubs as I was trimming it back.  Ouch!  Fortunately, I didn't experience an allergic reaction.

47. George Harrison memoir "__ Mine": I ME.

48. Only partner?: ONE.  But One is the Lonliest Number!

49. "Border" breed: COLLIE.

54. Cat breed from an Irish Sea isle: MANX.

55. 101 course, typically: INTRO.

56. Commanded: BADE.

58. T'ai __: CHI.

63. NFL receivers: TEs.  As in Tight Ends.

64. "Crikey!" is a mild one: OATH.

65. Soccer shoe: CLEAT.

66. Dreyer's partner in ice cream: EDY.  Edy's Ice Cream has become a crossword staple.  It's slow churned.

67. Miss Muffet fare: WHEY.

68. Flocks' relatives: HERDS.

Down:

1. Basketball stats: ASSISTS.  Some of the greatest assists in NBA history?  You be the judge.

2. Bulb in a vinaigrette: SHALLOT.  Sometime an onion can be substituted for a shallot.

3. Collect and put in order, as document pages: COLLATE.

4. "You do it, __ will!": OR I.

5. Radio host John: TESH.  John Frank Tesh (b. July 9, 1952) also tries his hand as singing.

6. Bread-to-be: DOUGH.  I am thinking of trying my hand at making sourdough bread.

7. See eye to eye: AGREE.

8. Wily: SLY.

9. Fellows: HEs.  Meh!

10. Sound from an old staircase: CREAK.

11. Steamed up: IN A RAGE.

12. Montana neighbors, with "the": DAKOTAs.  An interesting history on why there is a North and South Dakota.

17. Tampa NFL team: BUCs.  Hi, Tin!

18. Shock, as a perp: TASE.

22. Emperor after Claudius: NERO.

24. Steve Martin's instrument: BANJO.

26. Sleep clinic study: APNEA.  People with sleep apnea often use a C-PAP to help them sleep.  The new C-PAP model by Philips is being recalled due to the noxious gas that it can produce.

27. Falafel holder: PITA.  Yummers!

29. John in the Albert Hall: LOO.  Cute clue!

33. Atlas enlargement: INSET.

34. Enjoy the slopes: SKI.

35. Song of praise: PSALM.

37. Oscar-winning composer Zimmer: HANS.  Hans Florian Zimmer (b. Sept. 12, 1957) won an Oscar for his score in the 1995 movie The Lion King.

38. Weeks in a fortnight: TWO.  Origin of the word Fortnight.

39. New Zealander: KIWI.  Why New Zealanders are called Kiwis.

40. Flow (from): EMANATE.

41. Cuddled up: NESTLED.

44. One shirking work: SLACKER.

45. "Angels dancing" site, in a theological question: PINHEAD.

46. Gender-biased sorts: SEXISTS.

48. Oklahoma tribe: OTOE.  This is becoming a crossword staple.

49. Formally give up: CEDE.

51. Pretentious: ARTSY.

52. Let up, as a storm: ABATE.

53. "My Life on the D-List" comic Griffin: KATHY.

57. Carve in stone: ETCH.  Or an Etch-A-Sketch.

60. Use oars: ROW.

Oars in a Row

61. "Don't think so": NAH.

62. Microbrewery brew: ALE.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

Congratulations on your debut yesterday, Chairman Moe!

Wednesday, September 22, 2021 Craig Stowe

 Theme:  The Bone Head connected to the Tail Bone. The end of each theme entry can follow the word BONE to yield an in-the-language phrase.

17. *Carrier with a Beijing Capital hub: AIR CHINA.  The Chinese national airline.  BONE CHINA is a ceramic made with BONE ash in its composition.  

25. *One barely awake: SLEEPYHEAD.  A sleepy or distracted person.  A BONE HEAD is a stupid person, or somebody who does a dumb or erratic thing.

36. *Keurig Dr Pepper brand since 2008: CANADA DRY. This is a brand name for a less sweet Ginger Ale. Over time, it expanded to include other soft drinks. Ironically, this company now also owns Vernors. BONE DRY is a descriptor for something that is extremely DRY.

51. *Nutritious intake: SQUARE MEAL.  A repast that is large and satisfying.  BONE MEAL is phosphorus-rich mixture of ground up animal bones used as a plant fertilizer and dietary supplement for animals

The unifier -- 61. Coccyx, familiarly, or what the ends of the answers to starred clues can do?: TAIL BONE.  The TAIL bone is the final segment of the vertebral column in all apes, and certain other animals. It is the remnant of a vestigial tai.  Here, the word BONE is at the end of, or TAILING the fill.  

Hi Gang - JazzBumpa, your resident 'BONE player, here to lead you through today's BONE yard.  Let's see if we can find something to chew on.

Across:

1. Flying fox, e.g.: BAT.  A large fruit eating bat, indigenous to south-east Asia, east Africa, Australia and some near-by island groups.

4. Has the flu, say: AILS.  Suffers from an illness

8. Seed on a bagel: SESAME.  

14. All Hallows' __: EVE.  The night before.

15. Halt: STOP.   Go no farther.

16. More silly: INANER.  It's non common English to paste an -er suffix on polysyllabics.  Should be more INANE, though that doesn't fit the space, and there might be an irony in there.

19. Unemotionally, after "in": STRIDE.  Without feeling to ignoring the effects of some action or even.

20. Reid of "The Big Lebowski": TARA.  Millionaire Jeffrey [the BIG] Lebowski's trophy wife. There is confusion with Jeff [the DUDE] Lebowski, causing the ruination of the rug that tied the whole room together, and much hilarity ensues. 

21. Feudal peasant: SERF.  One in indentured servitude in medieval Europe.

23. "The Travels of Marco Polo" setting: ASIA.  He was born into a family of wealthy merchants, and traveled extensively throughout Asia.

24. "Without delay!": STAT. From the Latin word statin, meaning immediately

28. "Excusez-__!": MOI.  French for me.  This phrase is often used in a satirical way.

29. Nondairy milk ingredient: SOY.  Derived from soy beans.

30. Whopper: LIE.  A big one.  Can you handle it?

31. Automne preceder: ETE.  French seasons not involving tarragon.

32. Banks nicknamed "Mr. Cub": ERNIE.  He played short stop and first base for them from 1955 to 1971, and was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 1977.  HE was an 11 time all star and 2 time MVP.

34. Toxic but fragrant shrub: OLEANDER.   It contains several toxic compounds, but is so bitter that poisoning is rare.

39. Crude conduit: PIPELINE.  Also used for gasoline and natural gas.  It's been a rough few months for PIPELINE stocks.

42. Training line: LEASH.  A strap or cord restraining or guiding an animal.

46. Sean Lennon's mom: ONO.  Yoko.

47. Jodie Foster, in college: ELI.  A Yale student.

48. __ pride: GAY.  Confidence, self-respect, and solidarity as expressed by gay people, associated with openness about one’s own sexual identity, and the celebration of gay culture and history.

50. Teensy: WEE.  Very small.

54. Prefix with tasse: DEMI.  Half sized.

55. Adjust for pitch: TUNE.  Listen to the oboe.

56. Rank above viscount: EARL.  Nobility.

57. "Like that'll happen": AS IF.  Skepticism.

58. Black __: scary spiders: WIDOWS.  Black widow spiders are arachnids that are known for the females' unique appearance and tendency to eat their mates. They are considered the most venomous spiders in North America; however, their bite is rarely fatal to humans.

63. Ain't using proper language?: ARE NOT.  Grammatically correct.

64. Tommie of the Miracle Mets: AGEE.  Tommie Lee Agee (August 9, 1942 – January 22, 2001) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a center fielder from 1962 through 1973.  The two-time Gold Glove Award winner was named the AL Rookie of the Year in 1966 as a member of the Chicago White Sox. 

65. Deface: MAR.  Cause surface damage.

66. Biblical escape obstacle: RED SEA.  From Egypt to the Arabian Peninsula. 

67. Crammer's concern: TEST.   Studying hard at the last minute.  Good luck.

68. Triage ctrs.: ERS. Emergency Rooms.

Down:

1. "I haven't the foggiest": BEATS ME.  I do not know

2. Sunglasses style: AVIATOR.  "The perfect solution to protect a pilot's eyes against the elements."

3. Part of ATV: TERRAIN.  Between "All" and "Vehicle."

4. __-blond: grayish shade: ASH.  Read about it here.

5. Formal affirmation: IT IS SO.  If not, make it so.

6. Needing company: LONELY.  Sad because one has no friends or company.

7. Bowler's pickup: SPARE.   After leaving some pins standing with the first ball, knocking them all down with the 2nd.

8. One in the fam: SIS.  Female sibling.

9. Strep-treating doc: ENT.  Ear, Nose and Throat specialist; not a talking tree.

10. Emmy-winner actress Paulson: SARAH.  Sarah Catharine Paulson (born December 17, 1974) is an American actress. She is the recipient of several accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award. In 2017, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in the artists category.

11. Ouzo flavoring: ANISEED.   A flowering plant in the family Apiaceae native to the eastern Mediterranean region and Southwest Asia. The flavor and aroma of its seeds have similarities with some other spices, such as star anise, fennel, and liquorice.

12. Help to settle: MEDIATE.  Intervene between people in a dispute in order to bring about an agreement or reconciliation.

13. Modern library?: E-READER. A handheld device on which electronic versions of books, newspapers, magazines, etc., can be read.

18. Litter box user: CAT.  Feline house pet.

22. Dude: FELLA.  Just some guy, y' know.

26. Like a noted piper: PIED.  Dressed in multi-colored clothing.

27. How some taxes are paid: YEARLY.  One time, every year.

29. Undercoat: SEALER.  A paint layer applied after the primer and before the topcoat.

33. Crushed __: ICE.  

34. Dedicated poem: ODE.

35. Science guy Bill: NYE.  William Sanford Nye (born November 27, 1955),[3] popularly known as Bill Nye the Science Guy, is an American mechanical engineer, science communicator, and television presenter.

37. Khartoum's river: NILE.  The longest river in Africa.

38. Japanese art genre: ANIME.  Japanese animated art work.

39. Like boomers' birthdays: POST WAR.  The war ended in September, 1945.  Mine is in 1946

40. Ask: INQUIRE.

41. Throbbed, like one's heart: POUNDED.  With excitement or fear.

43. Really cool: AWESOME.  Inspiring great admiration or fear.

44. Advanced college course: SEMINAR. A class at a college or university in which a topic is discussed by a teacher and a small group of students.

45. Some young bovines: HEIFERS.  Young female cows that have not borne calves.

48. Usually unheated home part: GARAGE.  A building for housing a motor vehicle or vehicles.

49. They're on your side: ALLIES.   Persons or groups that provide assistance and support in an ongoing effort, activity, or struggle.

52. Long stretches: AEONS.   Immeasurably or indefinitely long periods of time 

53. Really bother: EAT AT.

54. Tiny bit: DAB.  A small amount. 

59. Misfortune: WOE.  A condition of deep suffering from misfortune, affliction, or grief

60. Greyhound destination: Abbr.: STA.  Station - a regular stopping place in a transportation route.

62. Give permission to: LET.  Allow.

That wraps it up.  A nice adventure, with no bone head plays.

Cool Regards!

JzB

Monday September 6, 2021 Craig Stowe

Theme: Wishy-Washy

16. "Let me consider this for a bit": I'LL THINK ABOUT IT.

22. "Who can predict the future?": YOU NEVER KNOW.

39. "Maybe": PERHAPS.  (Thanks, Owen!)

50. "We'll just have to wait to find out": TIME WILL TELL.

61. "Can't rule anything out": IT'S A POSSIBILITY.

Boomer here.  

This theme is a perfect example of "wishy-washy".  I know that most of you have heard this response to a question of two in your lifetime.  But when I saw this I could not help but stop and think about the weather forecasts that I see on the news nearly every night.  Minnesota is finally receiving a bit of rain and the grass is "thinking about" turning green.  I do have a great deal of sympathy for both the gulf coast and the northeastern seaboard of the USA last week.  So much suffering due to weather. 

Across:

1. Quick snooze: NAP.  This happens to us older folks.  I caught 40 winks while watching the Golf tournament last week.

4. Dangerous snakes: ASPS.  Cleopatra had one of these.

8. Grammar lesson subject: USAGE.

13. Commercial suffix with Cray- or Motor-: OLA.  I had many crayons in my youth.  But our TV's were always RCA

14. Nose (around): SNOOP.  Nickname for Charlie Brown's dog.

15. Catcher's position: SQUAT.  I played a bit of catcher in my youth.  It is extremely difficult.  Later as a teenager I graduated to center field. " Put me in Coach, I'm ready to play, today". John Fogarty.

19. Step on a flight: STAIR.

20. Presidential period: ERA.  I don't think Presidents last an ERA.  However a pitcher won't last if his gets too high.

21. First-rate: A ONE.

26. Mild Dutch cheese: EDAM.

27. Territory that lent its name to two states: DAKOTA.  C.C. and I have been to both.  Teddy Roosevelt state park in NODAK is unbelievable!  We visited Sioux Falls on our honeymoon and got as far as a golf game in Chamberlain and a visit to Pierre.  We did not get to Mount Rushmore (My bad) or Sturgis (My good).

July 2002, on our way to Billings, Montana

31. Partiality: BIAS.

34. Congregational seats: PEWS.  We have them in the church I attend, but they do not smell.

37. Former Russian royals: TSARS.

38. Toronto's prov.: ONT.  There is a big lake named after this.

41. "Hooray team!": RAH.  RAH RAH RAH for Sky U Mah.  It's a Minnesota Gophers cheer.  I have no idea where it comes from.

42. Get one past the goalie: SCORE.  If the same player does this three times in one game, everyone is supposed to toss their hat on the ice.

44. Walk-the-dog toy: YO YO. Yup, I had a Duncan when I was a kid.

45. Catch sight of: ESPY.

46. "Great White North" country: CANADA.  Fits very well with 42 across.  Our neighbor to the north has a plethora of NHL  teams.  I have relatives in Saskatoon.

48. Elaborate ruse: HOAX.

56. Sign of sorrow: TEAR.

59. __ tai: MAI.

60. Folded manuscript sheet: FOLIO.  Reminds me of POLIO virus.  I got it a long time ago with no side effects.  My sister was not so lucky.

65. Singer's asset: VOICE.  Mine was Bass.  Not the fish but the low guy in the glee club.

66. Like things that make your skin crawl: EERIE.

67. Article in some hip-hop titles: THA.

68. Beginning: ONSET.

69. Haul with effort: DRAG.  Quarter mile trip in a hotrod.

70. Sushi fish that must be cooked: EEL.  I still do not think this is a fish.

Down:

1. Hard on the ears: NOISY.  Mostly true of CNN and MSNBC.  Wolf and Reverend Al.

2. For __ see: in plain sight: ALL TO.  We had a State Fair (ending today) in Minnesota.  C.C. and I did not attend this year but they do have exhibits for all to see there.

3. Caroline Islands nation: PALAU.

4. Singer-songwriter DiFranco: ANI.

5. #43, to #41: SON.  It took me awhile to figure H.W. and plain old W.

6. Texas Hold 'em, e.g.: POKER.  A difficult game I never played.  I never had enough money.

7. Engine plug discharge: SPARK.  You should change them about every 60,000 miles.

8. "For the Boys" org.: USO.

9. Parrots a parrot: SQUAWKS.  Parrots are beautiful birds when they keep their beak shut.

10. Car: AUTO.  Our Santa Fe is an SUV.  Sometimes I trip and call it a car.

11. Profit: GAIN.

12. Suffix with novel: ETTE.  CORV - an expensive sports car.  CHEV a cheap compact.

14. Rip to pieces: SHRED.  My bowling score sheet from last Monday.

17. Trident tips: TINES.

18. Radiohead or Motörhead: BAND.

23. Puff on an e-cig: VAPE.  I quit cigs about 20 years ago.  I never got into VAPING at all.

24. 39-Down board: EMERY. 39. Treat for the feet: PEDI. I just use a clipper.

25. "Wild" things to sow: OATS.  Mares eat OATS, and does eat OATS, but little lambs eat IVY.

28. Rowboat pair: OARS.  Years ago, until my dad bought a 5 horse Johnson.  It worked pretty well on our boat.  I think real horses would have drowned.

29. Lobster pot, e.g.: TRAP.  We use them when a mouse invades our house.

30. Like a well-used fireplace: ASHY.  I used to use our fireplace in the basement but it is too much of a hassle.

31. Brown-skinned pear: BOSC.

32. Peruvian empire of old: INCA. "Inka Dinka Do"  (Jimmy Durante.)

33. Lots: A TON.

35. "Which person?": WHO.  Done it?  In the game of Clue?  Professor PLUM?

36. Greet, with "to": SAY HI.

40. Where Marco Polo is played: POOL.  Yes, In an insurance commercial.

43. Daily grind: RAT RACE.

45. Praise to the hilt: EXTOL.

47. Arsenal stockpile: AMMO.

49. 2004 remake starring Jude Law: ALFIE. "What's it all about?"  Dionne Warwick.

51. Let up: EASED.  The rain has EASED up in the Northeast, but left a mess behind.

52. Older partner?: WISER.

53. High society: ELITE.  Not me.  I cannot mingle with that crowd. I am sure they wouldn't let me anyway.

54. Nimble: LITHE.

55. Faithful: LOYAL.

56. Watch-when-you-want gadget: TIVO.

57. Prince Harry's alma mater: ETON.  Is Harry still a Prince?  I thought he gave up his crown when he left England.

58. Like no-returns merchandise: AS IS.

62. Champ, to Biden: PET.

63. Rollover acronym: IRA.  This is a pretty good tool for investments.

64. Huge: BIG.  BIG deal, We made it !!

Boomer