Wednesday, July 22, 2026 Shannon Rap and Will Eisenberg

 ARDHA CHAKRASANA...

Meaning, Standing Backward Bend in Yoga...

Forgive me, but, I would title this, "How to hurt your back, or in crossword form,  find pain somewhere lower...".  I would have thought this puzzle better suited to Thursday Fare, but if you know any Yoga, or obscure people names combined with names of things you might find in trivial pursuit, or Jeopardy, then this puzzle would probably have been a breeze.  I call it, A Learning Experience...  

THE REVEAL:

 63 Across. Vacation for posers?, or what can be found in each set of circled letters: YOGA RETREAT. 

17 Across. Singer known as the "Queen of Christmas": MARIAH CAREY.  Name #1 The name was familiar, the clue was not...  RIAHC is a retreating Chair... (or backwards, if you prefer...)

Utkatasana, or the Chair pose.

24. Oscar won by Jessie Buckley for "Hamnet": BEST ACTRESS. 

Marjaryasana, or Cat Pose.

39 Across. Device that gets the party poppin'?: BUBBLE MACHINE.

Astrasana, or Camel Pose.

54 Across. Academic field for Judith Butler: QUEER THEORY. More info here...

Vrksasana, or Tree Pose.

Take a walk with me, tip toeing around the Yoga mats, as I try to figure out where I went wrong trying to solve this puzzle.

Onward:

Across:

1. Mission by the San Antonio River Walk: ALAMO.

6. Irks: VEXES.

I could have sworn he said "vexes."

But this is like me doing this puzzle...

11. IT dept. array: PCS. IT=Information Technology, PCS=Personal Computers.

(But, in a business department, are they really Personal Computers?)

14. Steel rod: REBAR.

15. Target Center, e.g.: ARENA. It may be Target Center today,  but tomorrow it will be called after who ever pays the most for the name... (Can you recall the original name of your local Arena before some corporation paid to rename it?)

16. "I found it!": AHA. (Then they renamed it, and I lost it again...)

17. [Theme.]

19. Like rubies and garnets: RED.

20. "Anne of Green Gables" setting: AVONLEA. Fictional, & spelling nightmare, Name #2

21. Proactive Health pet food brand: IAMS.

Name #3

Founder, Paul F. Iams.

23. Agcy. concerned with scheduling?: DEA. Drug Enforcement Agency. Agcy indicates abbreviated answer, and since alcohol does not have a D.E.A. schedule, I intend to have an attitude adjustment upon completing this write up...

24. [Theme.]

29. "No ifs, __, or buts": ANDS.

31. "Ambiguous Desire" singer Parks: ARLO. Name #3 (actually name #4, but it's easier to prattle on rather than change it...)

32. Mina Kimes's channel: ESPN. What does ESPN stand for? (And it is name #5) - clued by a name? So 5-1/2?

33. Doofus: OAF. (Insert political picture of your choice here...)

36. Sit next to: ABUT.

38. Feel bad: AIL.

39. [Theme.]

43. Enthusiast: FAN. Short for Fanatic, but has become a kinder, mellower name for some one who is nuts about something.

44. "Beyond the Gates," for one: SOAP. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

45. Protective layer?: HEN.😀

46. With skill: ABLY.

48. Knee parts, for short: ACLS. Anterior Cruciate Ligament 

50. Hertz rentals: CARS. Note that they also rent Vans, so with this hard a puzzle, do you really believe they would go with cars?

54. [Theme.]

58. Change shades: DYE.

59. Pageant wear: SASH.

60. Gives a lecture: TEACHES.

62. Prof's deg., often: PHD. Doctor of Philosophy.

63. [Theme Reveal.]

67. Luau strings, briefly: UKE.

68. Korean dumplings: MANDU. It's still a name, so #4 (correction, 6-1/2)

69. Guitarist Steve: EARLE. Name #5 (correction, 8-1/2)

70. Billie Eilish's "__ Guy": BAD.  Name of a song, so #6. Correction, but also a named clued, so name #10?)

71. Piano exercise: ETUDE.

Practice, Practice, Practice.

72. Like baklava: SWEET.

Down:
1. Fleet: ARMADA. Another name for fleet... hmm, in rereading this, I can see all these names have caused me to lose my mind... (don't say it! I know what your thinking!)

2. Get a rise out of?: LEAVEN.🙃

3. Out of the country: ABROAD.

4. Primary: MAIN.

5. Dental care brand: ORAL-B.

6. Airbnb competitor: VACASA. Name #7 (correction, and since Oral-B is a name, name #12?)

Note: this entry caused me to DNF this puzzle. (Did Not Finish,) Because I had to Google AirBnB competitors, and of the 100 or so so listed, Vacasa was not one of them...

7. Notable time: ERA.

8. '70s baby, e.g.: XER. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯  (I was thinking Beanie Baby...)

9. Opposite of WSW: ENE.  (Finally! A clue I can answer!)

10. "Just tell us!": SAY IT.  Just spit it out!

11. Oft-shaved cheese: PARMESAN. Romano wouldn't fit...

12. Simple Southern dessert: CHESS PIE. This one is hard to explain... if you scroll down to "why is it called  Chess Pie? You will find some curious guesses, but I think the answer is no one really knows. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (And an apt choice for unlucky name #13?)

13. Feeling low: SAD. Too many unknown names make me feel this way...

18. Chuckle noise: HEE. No! Don't try to cheer me up! 

22. "Where the Wild Things __": ARE. Here! This puzzle made me nuts!

25. Run roughshod over: TRAMPLE. Alas, what I have done to this poor puzzle review. My apologies, I'm just cranky it got the best of me. Please state in the comments that you knew everything, and this was a breeze, and an easy puzzle. I'm sure it will make me feel better...

26. "Jane the Virgin" grandmother: ALBA. The 14th name, clued by a name...

27. Spot to veg: COUCH. Believe it or not, Veg is a recognized word! (Plus, in crossword rules, it would be very hard to abbreviate "couch.")

28. Longtime NBC sketch show, casually: SNL. Saturday Night Live, and an abbreviated name, so 14-1/2?

30. Weep loudly: SOB.

34. Crunch muscles: ABS.

35. Ice cream treat: FLOAT. 5 fun float ideas for your next party! 

6 if you include this one!

37. Word that's trademarked in Ohio State University's official name: THE.  (Really?)

39. Headscarf: BABUSHKA. Also, the Russian word for Grandmother, or elderly woman.

40. Gas station choice: UNLEADED. (It's not a choice...)

41. A pop: EACH.

42. Magazine with an annual "Female Founders" list: INC. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (plus a half a name...)

43. Web page that has all the answers: FAQ. Frequently Asked Questions, like, how many names were really in this puzzle?

47. "Absolutely!": YES. There were too many names!

49. "You said it!": SO TRUE. (Even this puzzle agrees with me, too many names!)

51. Stick: ADHERE. 

You try reviewing a puzzle that beat you up, and stole your lunch money, ON A WEDNESDAY!

52. Hearty amber beer: RYE ALE. hmm, reminds me I'm ready for an attitude adjustment...

53. Six-line poem: SESTET. 🤔

55. Sound alike: RHYME. Echo wouldn't fit...

56. Food writer Drummond: REE.  Name #14? ( I thought it was Rhea...)

57. "Revolutionary Road" novelist Richard: YATES. Name #15?

61. Stick in one's __: CRAW. Other than names, I read something recently about Mourning Doves. They come to your feeder and stuff their craw with seeds for consumption later. I learned that they are the messiest nest builders, often having a nest of 2 or 3 sticks, often built on your windshield wiper, and yet it seems to work for them! They also can convert seeds in their craw (or crop) i to a kind of milk they can feed the young! More here if interested...

62. Spot for a pint: PUB. Yes, you don't have to remind me I need an attitude adjustment. Hmm, Rye Ale...

64. Vegan-friendly latte option: OAT.

65. Serengeti antelope: GNU. 

The Gnu Song.

66. Do the math: ADD.

The Grid.

And there you have it!  Did this puzzle beat you up? Just bend you a little? Or smooth out your kinks...

Tell us in the comments, because I hope I am not the only one that was puzzled...

CE:D out...

≽(◉˕ ◉ ≼マ

Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Pam Amick Klawitter

 This is a SHADY CROSSWORD...

Pam Klawitter has done it again, with a solid themed puzzle with (mostly) easy perps that make this a perfect headscratcher for a Tuesday!

3 Down. Omnivorous shark with a distinctive face: BONNETHEAD.

BONNETHEAD (one word) related to the Hammerhead Shark, but smaller, with a distinctive head often called a Shovelhead Shark.

Typical Bonnet

9 Down. Horses awarded garlands of roses, perhaps: DERBY WINNERS.

Typical Derby

21 Down. Course that may be taught by the Coast Guard: BOATER SAFETY.

Typical Boater

31 Down. Collectible stuffed toy of the 1990s: BEANIE BABY.

Typical Beanie

AND THE REVEAL:

25 Down. Places where magicians' rabbits may hide, or what can be found in 3-, 9-, 21-, and 31-Down: TOP HATS.

Since all the Themers are in the downs, the hats can indeed be found "on top" of their theme answers! 

Silly Theme Link.

Reality...

Onward!

Across:
1. Kit prepped by many soon-to-be parents: GO BAG.

6. Hourglass filler: SAND.

10. Cruise ship amenity: SPA.

13. "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" spinoff: RHODA.

(Fictional) Name #1.

14. Arboretum growth: TREE.

15. Massaman curry cuisine: THAI.

16. Declare void: ANNUL.

17. Not seasonal, as an indoor ski resort: YEAR ROUND.

19. Hither and __: YON.

20. Grampa Simpson: ABE.

(Fictional) Name #2.

22. Hearty steaks: T BONES.

23. Petrol pump brand: ESSO.

25. Aromatic herb: THYME.

26. Writer/actor Rogen: SETH.  Name #3

28. "Yo te __": AMO. "I love you" too...

30. Sing with a trill: WARBLE. (Reminds me of John Denver...)

34. Texter's qualifier: IMHO. In My Humble Opinion.

35. Gratuity: TIP.

36. Pants measurement: INSEAM.

37. Alphabet ender: ZEE.

38. Pheasant family members with showy mates: PEAHENS.

The male is a Peacock, the female is a Peahen.

40. Home screen icon: APP.

41. Pencil part: ERASER.

43. Writer Rand: AYN. Name #4

44. Tech review site: CNET. CNET stands for Computer NETwork.

45. Some van rentals: RYDERS. I have not seen a Ryder rental van in recent memory, everything around here is U-Haul. Have you seen any?

46. Caddie's stand: TEE. ( I question this clue, sounds like a stretch. Maybe Caddie's support?)

47. Like some skin: OILY.

48. Stockpile: AMASS.

50. Intense anger: RAGE. Imagine the golf course groundskeeper, upon finding Caddies were standing on tees, and squashing them into the greens...

52. Pass on, as an unwanted present: REGIFT. Did you know that there was only ever one fruit cake? It's been regifted ever since...

54. Forensics letters: CSI. Crime Scene Investigation.

55. Quite popular: BIG. (I wanted hot...)

58. Idaho city named for a Shoshone chief: POCATELLO. Name #5, note: I wanted to search for more info on the Person, a Shoshone Chief. But in scrolling down, was stopped by the trivia that "it is illegal not to smile" in Pocatello. The mayor enacted a tongue in cheek law after a bad 1948 winter, but the law was never repealed, and is still on the books...

60. Fixed gaze: STARE.

62. Make, as a salary: EARN.

63. Sort of blue?: TEAL. 

64. Part of a regular routine: HABIT.

65. "Minions: The Rise of __": GRU. 

(Fictional) Name #6

66. Class with asanas: YOGA. Body Positions, names of which are showing up in x-words more frequently these days... You had better study up...

67. Bottomless pit: ABYSS. (Or the list of asana names...)

Down:
1. Word before scale or whale: GRAY. Heard of Gray Whale, but you don't hear Gray Scale so much...

(Besides, it's a grey area...)

2. "This is really bad!": OH NO.

3. [Theme]

4. Soccer star Freddy who played for D.C. United: ADU.Name #7

5. Fancy parties: GALAS.

6. Lid inflammation: STYE.

7. "You __ My Sunshine": ARE.

8. Under, poetically: NEATH.

9. [Theme]

10. Elisabeth of "Cobra Kai": SHUE. Name #8

11. Chef's vessels: PANS.

12. Assistance: AID.

15. Products often applied before moisturizers: TONERS.

18. "Friends, __, countrymen ... ": ROMANS.

21. [Theme]

24. "The Chi" airer, briefly: SHO. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯  Name #9?

25. [Theme Reveal]

26. Jeweler's gadget: SIZER. 

Methinks this clue/answer should have been plural...

27. Abrasive board: EMERY.

29. The Dolphins, on scoreboards: MIA. Miami.

31. [Theme]

32. Spot for a pin: LAPEL.

33. Meaningless, as a promise: EMPTY.

38. Student driver's document: PERMIT.

39. Spud bud: EYE.

42. One with a plant- and fish-based diet: SEAGAN. If you say so... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
 
44. Small part of a gear: COG. Hmm, this clue/answer appears to be correct. I only question it because I learned about Cogs from The Jetsons, and Spacely's Sprockets, and Cogswell's Cogs were not small parts... (hmm, what is a sprocket anyway...)

49. First pope called "The Great": ST. LEO.

51. Hinds of "9-1-1": AISHA. Ack! The names! I've lost track!

52. Rumble in the jungle: ROAR.

53. Linen shade: ECRU. 

Learning moment...

54. Soda choice: COLA.

56. Purple spring flower: IRIS.

57. Is hip to: GETS.

58. Cribbage piece: PEG.

59. Streaming hitch: LAG.

61. Bar bill: TAB.

The Grid.

Ah, how many Chapeau's could you have added?

You can toss your hat into the ring,  by writing in the comments...

CE:D out...

ฅ≽(•⩊ •マ≼

Hello from Portland Maine!

(Names omitted to protect the innocent....)

The irony of this photo, is that we were walking from one brewery to another.

(How did they know?)

Tuesday, July 7, 2026, Matthew Luter

  The best title for this puzzle would have to simply be the reveal, COME TOGETHER, because the circled letters spell COME as they slowly come together in each theme clue/answer.

20 Across. Question, as the opposing side's witness: CROSS EXAMINE.

34 Across. Settings that reinforce personal biases: ECHO CHAMBERS.

41 Across. Tool for monitoring blood sugar levels: GLUCOSE METER.

55 Across. Classic Beatles song, or an apt description of the progression of this puzzle's circles: COME TOGETHER.

Nothing as dubious as the above raccoon seems to be planning, just a well crafted puzzle from Matthew Luter. You can find his website here.

Across:
1. Baked desserts: PIES.

5. "Shoot!": DRAT.

9. Threaded fastener: SCREW.

14. Kendrick of "Pitch Perfect": ANNA. Name #1

15. Learning by memorization: ROTE.

16. Throw with effort: HEAVE.

17. A little naughty: RACY.

18. Big brass horn: TUBA.

19. Prodded: URGED.

20. [Theme]

23. Location of all but two NATO members: EUROPE.

24. Overly: TOO.

25. Covered in cinders: ASHY.

29. Cell service letters: LTE. LTE stands for Long Term Evolution. It is the standard 4G wireless technology that powers your mobile internet, streaming, and calls when you are not connected to Wi-Fi. It delivers fast, reliable data speeds that are significantly smoother than older 3G networks.

30. List-ending abbr.: ETC. (as long as we are explaining abbreviations:) Etc. stands for the Latin phrase et cetera, which translates literally to "and the rest" or "and other things" in English.

32. Giants legend Mays: WILLIE. Name #2

34. [Theme]

37. Breathe hard: PANT.

39. Language similar to Thai: LAO. I found this to be a rather nasty Natick when crossed with 31 down...

40. Fashioned: MADE.

41. [Theme]

44. Stop working: RETIRE.

45. Icarus, to Daedalus: SON.

46. The first "A" of Reddit's AMA: ASK. (AMA = ask me anything)

49. Landfill output: ODOR.

50. Some short albums: EPS. Extended Play, (I have never seen one...)

53. No longer surprised by: USED TO. (I would be surprised if I saw an EP Album...)

55. [Theme Reveal]

58. Was able to: COULD.

61. Comedian Trevor: NOAH. Name #3

62. "Take this": HERE. 

Used to the extreme in the Goes Wrong Show...

63. Possessed: OWNED.

64. Sushi seaweed: NORI.

65. Zone: AREA.

66. Trudges heavily: PLODS.

67. "What __ is new?": ELSE.

68. Element seen all over Las Vegas: NEON.

Down:
1. Package: PARCEL.

2. Bored by routine: IN A RUT.

3. "Do it again!": ENCORE.

4. Authorization: SAY SO.

5. The Electric Mayhem bandleader: DR. TEETH. Name #4

6. Common sauce base: ROUX.

How to Roux...

7. Facing the pitcher: AT BAT.

8. Spanish "I love you": TE AMO. (Te=you, Amo=I love)

9. Give the cold shoulder: SHUN.

10. Individually wrapped breakfast choice: CEREAL BAR.

11. Cleaning cloth: RAG.

12. Night of anticipation: EVE.

13. Hitched: WED.

21. Ronnie who sang lead on "Be My Baby": SPECTOR.  Name #5

22. Corn Belt state: IOWA.

26. Luge or skeleton: SLED.

27. Add to the staff: HIRE.

28. Desired response to a promposal: YES.

31. Kenneth of fashion: COLE. (The other half of a nasty Natick...)  Name #6

33. Gigantic: IMMENSE.

34. Surrounded: ENCIRCLED. Like today's theme letters...

35. Pic taker: CAM. I call foul on this one, as I wanted SLR... abbreviated picture = abbreviated camera? Meh...

36. Weeding tools: HOES.

37. Claimed no contest, maybe: PLED.

38. Prefix with correct or complete: AUTO.

41. Miracle-__: garden brand: GRO.

42. Appear to be: SEEM.

43. Difficult question: TOUGHIE.

46. Show some stick-to-itiveness?: ADHERE. 😀

47. Audiophile's system: STEREO.

48. Like BTS or bibimbap: KOREAN. (Either you know it, or you don't. Perps to the rescue...)

51. Tubular pasta: PENNE.

52. Perch at a pub: STOOL.

54. Hawke of "Before Sunrise": ETHAN. Name #7

56. Action figures?: ODDS. 😏

57. Rowboat pair: OARS.

58. Many a "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" character: COP.

59. Bird in Tootsie Pop ads: OWL.

60. Game with Reverse cards: UNO.

The Grid

Today's hasty review is brought to you from a hotel room in Bar Harbor, Maine. I am on vacation (sort of) and I spent most of my day here:

Jordan Pond

CE:D out...

ฅᨐฅ

Wednesday July 1, 2026, Emily Biegas

 Anagram Mountains...

19 Across. "Well, not quite ... ": THAT'S A STRETCH (an anagram of Shasta)

Mount Shasta.

28 Across. "The gall!": WHAT NERVE! (An anagram of Etna)

Mount Etna.

43 Across. Move to the country?: LINE DANCE. (Anagram of Denali)

Mount Denali.

This clue/answer is very clever, but may cause a double controversy. It seems this mountain keeps changing its name between Mt. Denali and Mt McKinley. Line dancing is associated with country and western culture, but it is not strictly country. I am sure Yellowrocks could enlighten us to the difference between square dancing and this recent upstart...

And our Theme Reveal:

52 Across. Go to great lengths, or what this puzzle's circled letters do?: MOVE MOUNTAINS. Mountain names can be found in the circles, "if you move the letters around..."

Onward:

Across:
1. "A Christmas Carol" scoff: BAH.

4. Insta posts: PICS.

8. Discomfit: ABASH. I got discombobulated by these words... I am familiar with discomfort: The absence of ease or the presence of mild physical or mental uneasiness. However, Discomfit is a verb that means to make someone feel confused, embarrassed, or uneasy.  It can also mean to thwart or frustrate someone's plans. (Like my solving of this puzzle...) And Abash is a verb that means to cause someone to feel embarrassed, ashamed, or self-conscious. It typically involves breaking someone's poise or self-confidence, often as a result of an unexpected comment, mistake, or realization of inadequacy.

13. County seat of Hawaii County: HILO. 

14. Home of the Mighty Five national parks: UTAH. Everything you ever wanted to know about a 465 mile scenic loop, that will take 7 to 10 days to complete...

15. Bundled software collection: SUITE. A highfalutin word (yes, highfalutin is a word...) for a bunch of old junk software that nobody wants, tied up with a ribbon, in the hopes they can still make money...

16. Disapproving sounds: TSKS. (Sound I make when I see someone trying to sell me the above...)

17. Plumbing part: PIPE. (Oy, so many parts to choose from...)

18. Play a banjo: STRUM. Hmm, maybe a guitar, but...

Banjos require pickin' and a grinnin'...

19. [Theme]

22. Well-mannered: POLITE.

23. IRS form expert: CPA. Certified Public Accountant.

24. Catchy part of a song: HOOK. I asked my Daughters, and Google, to identify an Earworm I could insert here, and they all referenced songs I never heard before... so, if you can name your own personal  earworm, mention it in the comments...

27. Book part: SPINE.

28. [Theme]

30. Persona non __: GRATA. "Persona non grata" is a Latin phrase that translates to "an unwelcome person".

32. Worked for: EARNED.

33. Compass rose dir.: SSW.

36. Portuguese greeting: OLA. 

                              Ola (Spanish & Hawaiian Words)

• Spanish: Ola means a wave in the sea or ocean. It is pronounced just like "Hola" (hello), but the "h" is silent and the meaning is completely different.
• Hawaiian: Ola means life, health, to live, or to thrive.

37. Sch. in the smallest U.S. state: URI. University of Rhode Island. Interesting that the clue uses Sch.=School. Which may make this clue/answer somewhat contentious, because according to Google A.I. The Block island School, located on Block Island in New Shoreham, Rhode Island, is the only K-12 public school serving the state's smallest municipality. It educates roughly 125 to 160 students, making it one of the smallest unified public schools in the state. So, could this answer have two valid answers if you include B.I.S?

38. Some SAT takers: SRS. Seniors. And according to Google AI, In U.S. college admissions, SAT is a standardized test created by the College Board. While it originally stood for Scholastic Aptitude Test and later Scholastic Assessment Test, the College Board officially states that the letters no longer stand for anything.

39. Excuses: ALIBIS.

41. Fashion: STYLE.

43. [Theme]

45. Scope: AMBIT. An ambit is the scope, boundary, or extent of something. It most commonly refers to a sphere of influence, action, or authority.

49. Small whirlpool: EDDY.

50. Murmur: COO.

51. Smooth and suave: URBANE.

52. [Theme Reveal]

55. Share one's thoughts: OPINE.

57. Financing figs.: APRS. Annual Percentage Rates.

58. Skirt feature: SLIT.

59. Sweet, in Italian: DOLCE.

60. "Bro!": DUDE.

61. Goes out with: SEES. (Dates wouldn't fit...)

62. Stella who founded an acting school in New York City: ADLER. Name #1

63. Short railroad branch: SPUR.

64. Fabric store meas.: YDS.

Down:
1. Diagonal mover in chess: BISHOP.

2. High-pH substance: ALKALI.

3. In charge of Thanksgiving dinner, say: HOSTING.

4. Butterflies-to-be: PUPAE.

5. "Yep": IT IS. 

6. Bot blocker: CAPTCHA.

7. Tibetan people: SHERPA.

8. Exec's helper: ASST. Assistant. 

9. Mispronounce horrendously, as a name: BUTCHER.

10. Shock jock's sound effects: AIR HORNS. Technically Air Horn is two words, but is fast becoming simply "Airhorn" in the vernacular...

11. "The Simpsons" disco guy: STU. Fictional Name #2

12. Tailored edge: HEM.

13. Part of an encrypted URL: HTTPS. HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure.

20. Anti-inflammatory choice: STEROID.

21. Restaurant: EATERY.

25. Finito: OVER.

26. "Comfortable. Confident." shoe brand: KEDS.

28. Elena Rybakina's org.: WTA. World Tennis Association. Name #3 - either you know it or you don't...

29. Finger painting?: NAIL ART.

31. Cultural territory in France's Grand Est region: ALSACE. Looks like a nice place to visit...

33. Realtor's success: SALE.

34. Made it home quickly?: SLID. (Baseball reference)

35. Image on Dutch Bros coffee cups: WINDMILL.

37. Sporty truck, briefly: UTE. Short for utility vehicle.

40. "Cowboy Carter" icon: BEYONCE. All you need to know:

41. Grab before anyone else can: SCOOP UP.

42. Diplomatic mission: EMBASSY.

44. Migratory people: NOMADS.

46. Helped (out): BAILED.

47. Concave belly buttons: INNIES.

48. Tries, as patience: TESTS.

51. Auto racing family name: UNSER. Name #4

53. Swerve: VEER.

54. Rawalpindi language: URDU. Rawalpindi is a city in Pakistan, where the national language is Urdu.

55. "Ghost" psychic __ Mae Brown: ODA. 

Whoopi Goldberg portraying fictional name #5

56. Okra or orca unit: POD.

The Grid

Emily Biegas has become quite prolific, publishing quite a few LAT puzzles, in addition to NYT...

Emily is on the left.

Well, did you have to move mountains to finish this puzzle? Or did you just ski around the moguls...

Let us know in the comments how your solving experience went. 

CE:D out

₍^. .^₎⟆