Sunday, April 5, 2026, Zhouqin Burnikel

  "MAKE SOME NOISE"

Well, let me be the first to "make some noise" by applauding our "Fearless Leader" for this Sunday contribution!  I only wish my Across Lite App highlighted the acrosses that corresponded with the reveal, because I actually had some trouble figuring what went where...  I can't say I DNF'd, because, obviously, I did finish (or this write up would not be making any noise at all...) but, here is my "almost" completed grid, with what got me to WAG mercilessly right at the end...

CE:D "Almost Crash and Burn..."

In hindsight, it should have occurred to me that the clues with the question marks were trying to make some noise...

22 Across. Corn?: KITCHEN EARS (Kitchen SHears) This is what started me off not knowing what the heck was going on without the reveal...

39 Across. Bailing out of a storied couples' cruise?: JUMPING THE SHARK. Very Clever, Couples Cruise... But when you add the missing "SH" it becomes:

How to bail out of a SitCom when you run out of plots...

54 Across. Toymakers who really help with the holiday rush?: STORE ELVES. Now, this is where i really got confused. Because this statement stands by itself... I would not have even thought this part of the Theme, but if you add SH, it becomes Store Shelves... Which makes me think I should type less, because some one out there is shouting Shhh! Like this is some kind of Library...

Well, I will not be silent!

Here's the full episode!

(Um, the excessive scotch consumption was an accident, i swear!)

81 Across. King Kong after his glow-up?: CHANGED APE.  Ack!  How can I splain this? I don't know what a "glow up" is...  Hmm, Google says: A significant, positive transformation in a persons appearance, confidence, or lifestyle...  Hmm, the only glow up I've ever had was after the excessive scotch consumption incident...

Oh, I forgot to add, "Changed SHape"...  (hmm, makes me wonder what King Kong looked like after losing 200 pounds on that diet...)

94 Across. Unwilling to lace up skates?: RINK RESISTANT (reimagined SHrink resistant...) OK, I get it, but do we really want to be assaulted with this image again?

I think not...

112 Across. Material used to make Nuggets uniform tops?: JERSEY ORE. I had to take a break here, and come back, because this was confusing until I separated the twurds...  Uniform Tops = Jersey.  Nuggets come from Ore. Denver Nuggets are a team. I still am not sure why they would be at the Jersey SHore...

114 Across. Missions to obtain keepsakes?: SOUVENIR OPS. Ah! Of course! It is starting to make sense! Souvenir Ops! Excellent! I think I'm starting to see a Theme here... =Souvenir SHops!

(See, you didn't have to yell... I would have figured it out eventually...)

102 Down. Holler, or when parsed differently, an alternate title for this puzzle: SHOUT.

Ah! Here it is, hidden way down in the Downs! The Reveal that makes it all make sense! SH-out!

Ops become Shops, Ore becomes Shore, Rink becomes Shrink, Ape becomes Shape, Elves become Shelves, Ark becomes Shark, and Ears become Shears! So that's what all the shouting was about!

Unless your CrossEyed like me, and mix up a puzzle from a couple of days ago, that had "Hollar" instead of "Holler," and your shouts become hoots, and you have to WAG (Wild A** Guess) your way through...

Anywho! Onward!

Across:
1. Buckled accessories: BELTS. (I could have used a couple of these under my belt...)

6. Talk a big game: BRAG. (The above is not one...)

10. "Macbeth" quintet: ACTS. I wanted "Hags" getting confused with the trio of  fates, Lachesis, Clotho, and Atropos. Of course, if I had read the clue correctly, I would have been in a different play...

14. Pet rescue org.: S.P.C.A.  I always wonder if it is A.S.P.C.A. or just S.P.C.A... I was this many years old when I discovered: The Difference: The ASPCA is a national charity with high-profile advertising, while your local SPCA is the shelter in your community helping local pets.

18. Dollar alternative: ALAMO. Rent A Car options...

19. Stuffed cornmeal snack: AREPA. Why have I never seen one of these?

20. Seasonal song: NOEL. I don't mean to opine, but I always wondered about this, so I Googled.

"Noel" is derived from the Latin word Natalis, meaning "birth" or "birthday." It specifically refers to the birth of Jesus Christ (the nativity,) evolving into the old French word Noel (or Nael) which became a standard French term for Xmas...  Apparently, even Google does not know why Noel became a name for a seasonal song...

Um, er,, apologies... I blame Daughter #1, who said, "I should stop being so lazy, and research more for the benefit of others."  So, here is what Google said when I "re-asked" :)

"The First Noel" is a traditional English Christmas carol from the 13th-14th century that tells the story of the Nativity, specifically the announcement of Jesus’ birth to shepherds and the journey of the Wise Men

. "Noel" comes from Latin/French roots meaning "birth" or "news," functioning as a shout of joy. 

21. Give a ring: CALL.

22. [ Theme ]

24. "Naked Lunch" in a lunchroom, say?: TRAY NOVEL. This was my downfall... immediately after Kitchen Ears, and not yet having a clue, I left this for the end, and wound up trying to turn it into an aSHtray...  Luckily, like the Phoenix, I arose from this mess....

26. Part of i.e.: EST. I.E. is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase id est, meaning "that is," "in other words," or "namely." Used to define or restate a preceding statement, kind of like trying to make whole the explanation of my ashtray of a puzzle solving attempt...

27. More mature: OLDER. (Not today...)

28. "Happy __!": June greeting: PRIDE. I wanted Fathers Day, but, to each their own...

30. Cookie invented in Manhattan: OREO.  What? This is another one of those Clue/Answers I never saw till the write up! More Research Needed! In a nut(sh)ell, the Chelsea Factory located at Ninth Avenue and 15th Street in NYC is on a Block now called "Oreo Way." (Who Knew?)

31. Instagram video: REEL. (I sincerely doubt there has ever been an Instagram video that was "ever" on a reel...)

33. __ school: MED. Actually, this 4 years is just a prerequisite. It takes 11 to 16 years to become a Doctor, depending on your specialty... For instance, it took me almost 70 years to learn how to post this kind of silliness on this venue...

34. Indigo Girls, e.g.: DUO.

35. Showbiz quartets: EGOTS. A rare achievement of winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award.

37. Winged archer: EROS. I dunno, it's Greek to me.... (you might be more familiar with the Roman "Cupid.")

39. [ Theme ]

44. Scotland's national dish: HAGGIS. (Do you really want an image?)

Seeing is better than knowing what's really inside it...

47. Planned (out): MAPPED. No! I am not linking a recipe for Haggis! (I would rather jump a shark...)

48. Victim of Iago in "Othello": CASSIO. I am led to believe that "Cassio" is the definition of "Unwitting Pawn," but. To explain further would require more time, and tickets to The Globe Theatre...

49. Latish lunch hr.: ONE PM. 

Nonsense!

I am sorry, but I can't let this go! Some one must teach you Americans why The Shire was The Happiest Place In Middle Earth!  Late-ish Lunch? One PM? Gore BeGoren! I'm stewing in my Haggis!

Would you be a fine Gentleman, and pass the pitcher of Guinness...

50. Out of sight: GONE.  Hmm, what happened to Lunch?

51. Noche's opposite: DIA. I would have thought this to be Italian, but Google says its Spanish... Idunno, it's all Latin to me...    (or is it Night and Day...). Hmm, more research needed...

53. "Groovy!": NEATO. Nope, not going there...

54. [Theme?]

56. Offhand comment: REMARK. (Excuse me...)

59. Chum: PAL.

60. Sandcastle destroyer: TIDE. ( I really liked this one;)

61. Fragrant ring: LEI.

62. "Best wishes": GODBLESS. Now, I know I going to get reprimanded for not separating this into twurds, but where I come from, this is One Word!

64. Pros: ACES.

65. Mayflower vehicle: VAN. (As in "moving.")  (surely, no pic needed...)

66. Catchy tune: BOP. (There has got to be a better 3 letter word for a catchy tune? A little help here?)

67. Silence a growling belly: EAT. (Pls see elevenses, above...)

68. Cheryl of "Charlie's Angels": LADD. Unlike Mayflower Vehicle, this one needs a pic...

This one's for you Splynter!

72. Tries to hit: SWINGS AT. Hmm, is this a twurd? I'm not sure... I tried to Splain it, but I missed...

75. Narrow inlet: RIA. Now, this one has bugged me for years. I always wanted somebody to post a picture of a Ria. I'm sure it would be beautiful...  So I tried,

But they wanted Money...

76. At any point: EVER. 

Jeepers! I thought I would never. See a Ria!

Hmm, but now I want to see what it looks like from that point...

77. In the style of: ALA. (The above is brought to you in the style of CE:D)

80. Debit card provider: ISSUER.

81. [Theme]...

84. Gold __ flour: MEDAL.  This seems a little strained as a clue, surely there could have been something better. Maybe "King Biscuit Flour Hour..." in my opinion, award winning concerts back in the day...

86. Part of mph: PER.  Lessee, what fits, Mile? Hour? 

87. President of Brazil since 2023, familiarly: LULA. OK, this freaked me out,,, because I thought He was a girl... full name: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva And no, you do not want a pic...

88. Small combos: TRIOS.  Smaller combos: Duo's... I wanted to post a clip from Yellow Submarine, where the Blue Meanies Bonk the band with apples, and our guide announces, the quartet is now a trio, then a Duo... But when I went to look for the pic, I was presented with THE ENTIRE MOVIE!... 

Oh My Gosh! This has not been available for years!

Catch it while you can!

89. Take too far: OVERDO. I hope I didn't above, and overdo is not a twurd...

91. Pre-election event: DEBATE. (Oh please, Not again...)

93. Props for hillside homes: STILTS. Doesn't work, i have videos...

94. [Theme]

97. Go first: LEAD. (Not Lead, that would be the first to sink...)

98. Vital artery: AORTA. 

99. Click of disapproval: TSK.

100. __ al-Adha: EID. Um, needs more space than I can provide here...

101. Best Play, for one: ESPY.  I could use some help with this one, because, when I Google Espy, I get this...  Um, Play? (You sure the "S" isn't for Shakespeare...?)

105. Zero-star reviews: PANS. My take on above...

107. Heartless monsters: OGRES.  No I am not,, I just don't understand...

109. Record of the year?: ANNAL. Derived from the Latin, Annus. (Year) A historical record of events, listed in chronological order, by year...

111. Bit of a chuckle: HEE. (I'm not sure if this will transpose to the 3/22/26 Luann comic, but here goes...) La,La,,La...

112. [ Theme ]

114. [ Theme ]

117. Diva's time to shine: ARIA.

118. Such a long time: AGES.

119. Noted New York Judge: AARON. Oooh,,, I see what you did here! Very Sneaky! IT'S A BASEBALL REFERENCE!

120. Botch (up): LOUSE. ( I believe I apologized already...)

121. Signs of spring: BUDS. Ah, relationships grow from Best Buds, to Summer, Fall, Winter, Compost...

(Note, come back and fix this...)

122. Event for swimmers: MEET. Hmm, in retrospect, this should be obvious... But in trying to take Daughter #1's advice, I Googled, and Autocorrect changed my "meet" to "How did Meat become a name for a swimming contest..."  The little A.I. Wheel is still spinning,,, I think I broke the Internet...

123. Dental exam picture: X-RAY. OK, OCD time out for a sec, but does anyone like those new fangled gizmos that they re-use, and have been in dozens of other peoples mouths before you? I dont' care how many times you sterilize the Dang Thingie, you could run that thingie thru the Fires of Hell, and you still would not be able to put it in my mouth...  (and yes, my Dentist loves me, he works very well with children. And yes, I do get a toy, but these days its a toothbrush and floss in a baggie...)

124. Himalayan cryptids: YETIS. Learning moment: Cryptids. You will have to Google this yourself, because when I went to link the explanation, the internet went Kerflooie... (It might have something to do with Swimming Meat above...)

Down: (Finally!)
1. One who typically kneads the job?: BAKER. (Haha!)

2. Beethoven dedicatee: ELISE. (Bagatelle No.25 in A minor)

3. Milky espresso drink: LATTE. (Phooey! I like my espresso strong! With 3 coffee beans...)

{oh wait! Sorry! That's my Sambuca...}

4. Cinemax alternative: TMC. (Or TCM, or TNT,,, no wait,,, that's an explosive blockbuster...)

5. Gallery-rich area near Tribeca: SOHO.  New Yorkers are well aware this refers to "South" of "Houston" street... However, since the growth of NYC over the years, there is now a NOHO, And a WOHO (if you like swimming in the Hudson,,, I hear they are having a "meat" there...) And, a soon to be new development, the EOHO... (right now a landfill in the East River, the "E" stands for "Eeeeuw...!)

6. Beagle or bulldog: BREED. 

7. Back end: REAR. (Nope, not hoping there...)

8. Earth Day mo.: APR. Short for April, Lovely Girl,,, You should meet her Sister "Dawn..."

9. Premium location?: GASPUMP. Ack?!? There's a (?) Could this be a Themer? Lessee, Gas(space)pump... Hmm, Where would you put an SH here? (I swear, Ocifer,, I did'nt haves drink... it's this puzzle just got me confused...)

10. Counter: ANTI. No. Ante, and then counter with a raise...

11. "Carpool Karaoke" co-creator: CORDEN. Hmm, not sure about this one (and the internet went Kerflooie...)

12. Savory snack with a cracked shell: TEA EGG. (OMG! I wouldn't eat this, let alone Parse it...)

Image deleted due to breakfast rules...

13. Cunning: SLY. Just try to sneak in a Tea Egg pic, I dare You!

14. "Casino" director: SCORSESE.

15. Improve, as a dirt road: PAVE.

16. Geppetto's goldfish: CLEO. (See Pinocchio.)

17. "It's __ good": ALL.

19. Mountain range that's home to Aconcagua: ANDES.  Ok, This one kinda P'd me off, because I thought the Aconcagua were a people that lived in the Andes...  A Google Search reveals It is just a mountain. 

But, what a Mountain...

23. Saint __ fire: ELMOS. OK, this goes back to the early Seafaring Days,  when masts would light up with electrical energy. Freaked Sailors out! (Understandable) In today's modern explanation of things, it is really just a bigger version of rubbing a balloon, and making it stick on the wall... Static Electricity...

Except, Yikes! Whataya rubbing? The Hindenburg!

25. "Hard pass": NO THANKS. (Obligatory space between twurds...)

29. Theme park opening ritual: ROPE DROP. Now, this really P'd me off... I had to ask DW for help, and she was like, "oh, of course...".  ( all I can think, is how much you wanted for admission to this freakin' thing...)  

Apparently, this is a "thing."

I'm sorry, I just dont get it... Now "if" they had a rope drop to get into "The Budweiser School of Beers,"

I would be first in line...

32. Exercise that targets quads and glutes: LEG PRESS.

34. Hoodwinks: DUPES.

36. Available without an Rx: OTC. (Over The Counter...) What I wanted to do recently at CVS, when they wanted me to type into a giant screen, all my personal info, on a skeevey thingie that God Knows how many sick people had touched before me,...  Yes, I will be that guy on the news, who jumped over the counter, to grab my meds, which belong to me anyway, before they tried to make me touch all their skeevey crap! (Dont get me started on $4-off over priced crap that doesnt apply because its on sale...)

38. Winter coat: RIME. Spring is here! Forget this clue/answer...

39. Primatologist Goodall: JANE.

40. "That was mortifying": IDIED. Ok, in our current political climate, this requires more "apostrophe" placement... Was it "I'Died", or was it, ID'ied. Either way, scary stuff...

A second look at this clue/answer begs the question of what was meant here. Mortifying describes something causes extreme shame, embarrassment, or humiliation. Or was it meant in the sense of a mortuary, (or funeral home.) that specializes in the storage, preparation, and care of human bodies before burial or cremation...  in either case, I guess you could say, "I Died..."

41. "Quickly!" letters: ASAP.

42. Hayworth of the silver screen: RITA. 

She was the first Poster, but got replaced by Racquel Welch when the hammer wore out...

(A Shawshank Redemption Reference...)

43. __ & the Gang: KOOL. Hmm,,, 

44. Shade-loving plant: HOSTA.

45. Shenanigan: ANTIC. 

46. Crystal-lined rock: GEODE. 

Did you know you can buy and break open your own at Walmart?

47. Going places: MOVING UP.

50. Picks up bit by bit: GLEANS. (My CC puzzle solving strategy...)

52. Light suds: AMBER ALE. (I still prefer Lager...)

55. Graceland icon: ELVIS.

57. "Sitting Pretty on Top of the World" country singer Lauren __: ALAINA. 

I have no idea what this even sounded like,

Because DW decided to Vacuum around me while I was working...

58. Put a new label on: RETAG.

62. Figured out: GOT.

63. Snowy day activity: SLED RIDE.

It's a Rite of Passage...

66. Hair clip: BARRETTE. 

I had no idea...

69. To no __: in vain: AVAIL. 

70. Train station: DEPOT.

71. Gown: DRESS.

73. Iowa's state flower: WILD ROSE. (A state Flower can be a Twurd?  Who Knew?)

74. Core group?: SEEDS.

77. Love, to Bad Bunny: AMOR.

78. Denim pioneer Strauss: LEVI.

79. Yemen's Gulf of __: ADEN.

81. Clash heard in a swordfight: CLANK. Even more so if you get struck by lightning, and your Armor becomes magnetic...

But who has time for clanking when the poisons in the...

82. Jabba the __: HUTT.

OOPS! Sorry, wrong link...

83. "At Last" singer James: ETTA. (Crosswordese staple, over linked...)

85. The Natural State: ARKANSAS.  Just try to say it, an spell it, there's nothing NAtural about it!

90. Contraction in some hymns: O'ER.  A contraction of Over, but then they got even lazier, and left out the apostrophe. So now Oer is even more incomprehensible...  (hmm, i wonder what a contraction of incomprehensible would be?)

92. Very low woodwind: BASS SAX.  (Although, as one word, would be Basssax, hmm, kinda Bad A**...)

93. Car rental choice: SEDAN.

95. Curly, for one: STOOGE.

96. "So true!": I AGREE! (Needs an exclamation mark, so I added one...)

97. Wrinkle-prone fabric: LINEN. What irons were invented for...

100. Embassy go-between: ENVOY.

102. [ Theme ]

103. Sister brand of Aquafina: PEPSI.

104. Positive replies: YESES. Well, I can't be positive about this! You can't expect CrossEyedDave, who has trouble seperating twurds, to know if this needs an apostrophe... I mean, Even Google is conflicted...

105. Country where Inca Kola originated: PERU. What? I thought this was The Kola Nut in 7UP...

106. Like a vast, rainless plateau: ARID. (Or my mind, after learning Inca Kola...)

108. Take it easy: REST. (Yes, good idea...)

109. Radiant vibe: AURA.

110. Flower on a floating pad: LILY.

112. Poke: JAB.

113. Tuber in the Nigerian dish asaro: YAM. I would have clued this as "what Popeye is." (I yam what I yam,)  but it probably would not make it past the editorial process...

115. Paddle kin: OAR.

116. Masago or tobiko: ROE. This was under the belt, (where most Sushi and Sashimi wind up...) Which begets the question, Is this Sushi, or Sashimi?

Anywho, you can all give CC a shout out in the comments for this Sunday Marathon.

(I, for one, yell "Thank You." And maybe throw in a Hoot and Hollar too...)

Ah yes, 

The Completed Grid

CE:D (Quietly slipping out...)

 

Notes from C.C.:

Happy 85th birthday to dear Irish Miss (Agnes), who has brought so much joy and meaning to our lives. I'm deeply grateful for all the guidance and care she's given me through the years.

L-R: Anne, Agnes, Eileen, Mary, and Peggy. 3/17/2019

 

Wednesday, March 11, 2026 Joe Marangell

  Soul Searching?

CrossEyedDave here, join me while I try to figure out what's happening. Looking at this one themer at a time, maybe we can connect the dots...

17 Across. Olympic National Park attraction: SOL DUC FALLS. I am torn here, as to what to post. But doing some soul searching, i think it is best to go with both videos, as this has to be one of the most beautiful places to hike that I have never seen.

The legend...

Note that the sign spells this place as Sole Duck Falls.

Or just soak up this beautiful place...

27 Across.  Owner without a partner: SOLE PROPRIETOR. (Brings to mind...)

If Moe had a Partner, he wouldn't have to answer the phone...

45 Across. Benson Lee coming-of-age film set in South Korea: SEOUL SEARCHING. This is as close to a reveal that I can find.

I dunno, 6.7 at IMDB

One review said, 

Think Breakfast Club meets American Pie Meets Korean Drama...

61 Across. Goatee alternatives: SOUL PATCHES.

Now, I've never heard of this...

Is this the puzzle reveal?

(You telling me this whole puzzle was a patch job?)

Across:
1. Initials associated with the pride flag: LGBT. lesbian, Gay, BiSexual, Transgender. Often followed by "Q" which stood for something else. In today's PC world, it is more politely defined as Questioning...

The Imitation Game

( try watching without being moved )

5. Apple download: IOS APP. Short for IPhone Operating System.

11. Round vegetable in a pastizz: PEA. Yummers...

14. Potatoes, in Indian cuisine: ALOO. Becoming a crossword staple. In American cuisine, this 4 letter vowel rich word is pronounced "Oreo." 

15. National flower of Mexico: DAHLIA. Beautiful

16. Video meeting annoyance: LAG.

17. [Theme]

19. L.A.'s Melrose, e.g.: AVE. I'm confused by this. It's not "PLACE," or Drive, Lane, or Alley?

20. Like a comfortable flight: SMOOTH. Hmm, can't find a suitable image for this. But I imagine myself sitting in First Class, sipping a Scotch on the Rocks. (With apologies to TINBENI...)

21. Young lady: GAL. Hmm again, maybe in Brooklyn. But I would only call a young "Lady" a Lass...

22. Tournament advancements: BYES. Preferential Treatment?

23. Writing tip?: NIB. Normally this should not require any explanation. But this is the imagination of CrossEyedDave talking. I think this word derived from the days when people wrote with Goose Quills, and they sharpened them by Nibbling on them... (I hope the ink was tasty... :)

25. Financing figs.: APRS. Annual Percentage Rate...

27 Across. [Theme]

34. Impersonate: APE. (Alas, not copycat...)

35. A bit: SOME. (Please sir, may I have some more...)

36. Cussed: SWORE. (&^$$#&&#$^#@ Spellcheck...)

37. Creative sparks: IDEAS. Strangely, I have no rebuttal for this one...

39. D.C. MLBer: NAT. Sports reference. Meaning Washington Nationals.

40. City on the Nile River: ASWAN. Not Cairo...

41. Hint of color: TINGE.

42. "Queer as Folk" actress Gill: THEA. Not familiar, Her IMDB

44. Flesh and blood: KIN.  Not Lambkin, or napkin, Oy Evay!

45. [Theme]

48. Lean (on): RELY.

49. Fox Sports soccer analyst Holden: STU. A 3 letter name i never heard of...Do you really want to go down this rabbit hole...

50. Faulty fireworks: DUDS. (Like the Clue/Answer above...)

52. "SNL" broadcaster: NBC.

55. "The Creation of Adam," for one: FRESCO.

Oh! I always thought of this as a painting.

Where I come from, painting on walls and ceilings is called Graffiti...

60. "__ you kidding?": ARE.  (In reference to 55A, Yes...)

61. [Theme]

63. Spoil: MAR. ( I hope I didn't ruin this puzzle for true Crossword Aficionados...)

64. Whirlpools: EDDIES. (What you get in a CED puzzle review...)

65. Challenge for a cross-country runner: HILL. Really? I face this challenge just getting out of bed...

66. Thrilling pair?: ELS. I didn't see this before, lucky me...

67. Classify: ASSORT.

68. See 2-Down: ON TO.  OK, This is where TTP's method of starting a puzzle in the middle could really pay off...

Down:
1. Young lady: LASS. Wait, where did I see this before? Wasn't it Gal?

2. With 68-Across, grab and not let go of: GLOM. Reminds me of Cookie Monster eating...

3. Tie with a slide clip: BOLO. Never found in a supermarket, that would be Bogo...

(Actually, if you don't live in Texas, I doubt you would ever see one of these...)

Hmm, maybe I should try one as a fashion statement. You know, YOLO...

4. List heading: TO DO. (The head of my puzzle solving list is TADA...)

5. Pet-tracking implants: ID CHIPS. Or, if you are very into Sci-Fi, a very vague reference to the movie Forbidden Planet?

6. Clumsy person: OAF.  (Ok,ok, i take back the forbidden planet reference...)

7. Fluffy rug: SHAG. (Not once the Dog pees on it...) Why couldn't you clue this as an Austin Powers Movie Line?
8. Word in some trattoria dish names: ALLA.

9. One of 36 surrounding the Lincoln Memorial: PILLAR. Believe it or not... when the Lincoln Memorial was built, the entire Washington DC area was a swamp..

The entire place was landfilled to create what we see today.

I dunno, once a swamp, always a swamp. Kinda explains a lot...

10. Faux __: PAS. ( I hope the above comment was not one...)

11. Seeks victory at all costs: PLAYS TO WIN. Sounds more like War than a game...

12. Roof part: EAVE. Adam part, Eve...

13. Suggested range on a game box: AGES. 

18. Eclectic online digest: UTNE. Deriving ideas, style or taste, from a wide range of sources.

an American magazine/digital digest founded by Eric Utne in 1984. It focuses on covering alternative media, politics, culture, and new ideas. The name, of Norwegian origin, loosely translates to "far out" and is also a place.

22. Cold one: BREWSKI. Now we are talking! I knew there was something I liked about all this...

24. "Wuthering Heights" novelist: BRONTE. Hmm, how many Brewskis would it take to read this whole thing?

26. Tuscan city: PISA. Most believe the hypothesis that the origin of the name Pisa comes from Etruscan and means 'mouth', as Pisa is at the mouth of the Arno river.

There is also a slang meaning, but I don't think I should go there...

27. Sink of "Stranger Things": SADIE.

Strange name from a stranger show...

28. Unexecuted market directives: OPEN ORDERS. (If you say so, sounds like more explanation is needed here. But I don't want to...)

29. Fantasy sports groups: LEAGUES.

30. Nebraska city with North America's largest indoor swamp: OMAHA. I am very confused by this.

According to Google it is referenced as "A Desert." And besides, everyone knows North Americas largest swamp is in Washington DC...

31. Broadway star Bernadette: PETERS. I am tempted to link one of many clips from the movie The Jerk,

But I couldn't do that to you...

32. Red-haired primate: ORANG. Yeah, I know. Get over it...

33. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame rapper MC __: REN. (No Comment)

37. Part of TGIF: IT'S. Hmm, how would you have clued this?

38. Buy alternative: SELL. What happened to trade? Swap? (Sorry, I was playing Monopoly recently...)

43. Infomercial imperative: ACT FAST.  They want you to act so fast that they really should remove the space between these two words...

46. Church councils: SYNODS.

47. Offended, say: HURT. I Apologize  for all the references I made in this review...

50. Sir counterpart: DAME.

51. Eurasian range: URAL. Not Aral, that's a lake...

53. Future flowers: BUDS. Does this explain why relationships grow?

54. Muse of history: CLIO. Also a prestigious award for creative communication. (I doubt I will ever win one...)

56. Reverberate: ECHO. (The above comment echoes in my head...)

57. Protected area in a soccer game: SHIN. ( not when I play, mine starts with a G.)

58. Gaul or Breton: CELT.

59. Nobel Peace Prize city: OSLO.

61. Lighthouse view: SEA. Sadly not always true.

Songs have been written about this sad occurrence...

62. Pay-__-click: PER.

Anywho, I am not sure I will ever finish this review. I need to do some more Soul Searching, as I am sure I must have left something out...

I'll be back...

CE:D

P.S. ( i'm back..)

Here is a link to a Joe Marangell  puzzle reviewed by Husker Gary...

Thank you Husker Gary!

The introduction has a great reveal about this constructor ...

Sunday, February 15, 2026, Tom Pepper and Zhouqin Burnikel

 Gift ideas

Here is a thoughtful gift from the Dream Team of Tom Pepper, and Zhouqin Burnikel. (Dynamic Duo was already taken.) For any newbies here, Zhouqin Burnikel is "CC," our "BFL" (Beloved Fearless Leader...) Of course, the dream team is incomplete without an Editor, but I am leaving her name out of this, because I am mad that she didn't publish this before Christmas, when I could have really used the Gift ideas...

22A. Shower gift?: RAIN JACKET.

24A. Money gift?: BREAD DOUGH.  Why do Bakers work so hard? Because the need the dough...

30A. Housewarming gift?: SPACE HEATER.

54A. Seasonal gift?: SPICE GRINDER. (Love this wordplay!)

68A. Thank-you gift?: GRATITUDE JOURNALS.

I really need one of these...

85A. Cheap gift?: PENNY LOAFERS. Sorry, the cheapest you can get these days are Nickel Loafers...

105A. Parting gift?: RAT-TAIL COMB.

Just one of many uses...

116A. Wedding gift?: RING BINDER. Yes, it's a thing! A.I. Overview

119A. Group gift?: BAND T SHIRT. 

I just listen to the music in my head...

Let's see how they fit "all' these theme answers into this grid!

Across:
1. Flyer with a stinger: WASP.

5. Punch sound: KAPOW.

It's louder in color...

10. Gather over time: AMASS.

15. __-mo: SLO.

18. Diez menos dos: OCHO. Spanish: ten minus two = eight

19. Red Velvet leader: IRENE. This was a tough one for anyone over 21.

Irene Bae Joon-Hyun 

Leader of the South Korean Girl Group

Red Velvet

(extra points if you can tell which one is Irene....)

20. Book with Judges: BIBLE. The Bible lists several leaders as judges of Israel, primarily the twelve mentioned in the Book of Judges...  hmm, no politics, no religion, trying to keep it lite here. For further information, consult your local Rabbi, (or spiritual leader of choice) for a pamphlet, on the Book of Judges, found within The Bible.

21. Shoe designer Jimmy: CHOO. (I wonder if his middle initial is "A.")

22. [Theme]

24. [Theme]

26. "Maybe a bit": KINDA. (Not sorta...)

27. Bone head?: OSTEO. Prefix from the Greek Osteon, meaning Bone. Follow link for examples...

29. Enjoys a trampoline: BOUNCES.

30. [Theme]

35. Head turners?: NECKS. This could have been clued differently, but still would have been a head turner...

36. ID sought by some hackers: SSN. Social Security Number.

39. "Origin" director DuVernay: AVA.

40. Bruins legend Bobby: ORR.

41. Commercial offer: REBATE.

43. Tailless primate: APE.

44. Trio of trios: NONET. A group of nine, like how many lives a cat has, or a musical group of 3 trios...

46. Knee-baring skirt: MINI. (They keep getting shorter, so MIDI might fit here now...)

47. Wrath: RAGE.

51. Park expanse: LAWN.

53. "How did they do that!?": WOW.

54. [Theme]

58. Risk getting bleeped: SWEAR.

60. "Sugar Walls" singer Sheena: EASTON.

Sheena Easton

62. Picking up on: SENSING.

63. Potts of "Young Sheldon": ANNIE.

The Best of MeeMaw.

64. Genre rooted in gospel: SOUL.

65. Pressurized garb: GSUIT. Yes, a G-suit is pressurized, but only when needed. It contains inflatable bladders that automatically fill with air, compressing the pilot's legs and abdomen during high-g maneuvers to prevent blood from pooling in the lower body, which keeps blood in the brain and prevents blackouts. 

67. Maker of POP kitchen storage containers: OXO. A brand name since 1990.

68. [Theme]

73. Focus of a skier's MRI, perhaps: ACL. Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Anterior Cruciate Ligament connects the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia). 

And, the reason an MRI might focus on one...

75. Solitary person: LONER.

76. Slugger Ty who holds the record for most career steals of home plate: COBB.

77. Critter in a eucalyptus forest: KOALA.

80. Paper alternative: PLASTIC.

82. Old __ die hard: HABITS.

84. Fudd who bugs Bugs: ELMER.

Can you tell which one is Bugs?

85. [Theme]

88. Soft toss: LOB.

90. Diet-friendly, in ads: LITE.

91. Pop in a glass: SODA.

92. Degs. for some composers: MFAS. Master of Fine Arts.

93. Italian city known for salami: GENOA.

95. Supermodel Carangi: GIA.

96. Cover image on an Amer. passport: U.S. SEAL.

99. __ Dhabi: ABU. Capital City of The United Arab Emirates.

101. Business letters: INC. (meaning Incorporated...)

102. Slip-__: comfy shoes: ONS.

103. Bamboozled: AT SEA.

105. [Theme]

109. Mrs. __ cow: O'LEARYS. Stop blaming the poor cow for the Chicago Fire. A.I. Overview

111. Egg-shaped: OVATE.

112. Adds slack, perhaps: EASES.

116. [Theme]

119.[Theme]

122. Oscar winner Blanchett: CATE. Incredibly prolific actress, you may know her as "Galadriel" from The Lord of the Rings. But she could be almost anyone... Her IMDB

In the Movie Hannah, she uses a body double to escape a teenaged assassin.

123. Intimidate: DAUNT.

124. Beauty mogul Elizabeth: ARDEN.

125. Solo with orchestral backing: ARIA.

126. Residue in an incense burner: ASH.

127. Columns with angles: OP EDS. 😀 An essay in a newspaper or magazine that gives the opinion of the writer and that is written by someone who is not employed by the newspaper or magazine.

128. Intel source: ASSET.

129. "That __ fair!": ISN'T.

Down:
1. Function: WORK. You have to scroll way down the list of definitions under the word "function" to find "work."  Perhaps it would be easier to look at it backwards, (or CrossEyed) and think of this as the definition for work. (=function)

2. Superfruit in a yogurt bowl: ACAI.

3. Leg part: SHIN. A favorite skier MRI focus as the ACL connects it to the thigh bone...

4. Lily pads' places: PONDS.

5. Carnival creator: KIA. Ever play the car name game on a long trip? Try to make it through the alphabet.  See an Audi or an Accura, and claim an A! A Honda for H, a Ford for F. If you can't find a Buick for B, a Bronco will suffice! A javelin may be hard to find, but I have been saved by a Jetta... (you may have to cheat if you make it to U, U-haul etc...)

6. Parenthesis shape: ARC.

7. Tea grade: PEKOE.

8. Happening a single time: ONE SHOT. (Never happens in bars...)

9. Holding more water: WETTER.

See 8 down above

10. Big brother?: ABBOT.😀

11. Orbiter until 2001: MIR.

12. Honest pres.: ABE.

13. Concrete section: SLAB.

14. Arizona city known for sandstone formations: SEDONA.

15. Prepare, as oysters: SHUCK.

16. Pricey theater boxes: LOGES.

17. Sounds of wonder: OOHS.

21. Worries: CONCERNS.

23. Only Asian member of the G7: JAPAN.

25. Piece for two: DUET.

28. Sweet corn serving: EAR.

31. Profess: AVOW.

32. Tippy transport: CANOE.🙃

33. NFL Hall of Famer Dickerson: ERIC.

34. Philosopher Descartes: RENE "I think, therefore I am." (Cogito, ergo sum)

36. Taco topping: SALSA.

37. Produce young: SPAWN.

38. Clam chowder style: NEW ENGLAND. (Manhattan wouldn't fit.)

42. Scenic region between Carmel and San Simeon: BIG SUR.

45. Discarded PCs, printers, etc.: E WASTE.

46. Hour pt.: MIN. (Or sec, or...)

Decisecond: One-tenth of a second (

$0.1$

 s).

Centisecond: One-hundredth of a second (

$0.01$

 s).

Millisecond (ms): One-thousandth of a second (

$0.001$

 s).

Microsecond (

$\mu$

s): One-millionth of a second (

$0.000001$

 s).

Nanosecond (ns): One-billionth of a second (

${10}^{-9}$

 s).

Shake: 10 nanoseconds (

${10}^{-8}$

 s).

Picosecond (ps): One-trillionth of a second (

${10}^{-12}$

 s).

Femtosecond (fs): One-quadrillionth of a second (

${10}^{-15}$

 s).

Attosecond (as): One-quintillionth of a second (

${10}^{-18}$

 s).

Zeptosecond (zs): One-sextillionth of a second (

${10}^{-21}$

 s).

Planck time: Approximately 

$5.39\times {10}^{-44}$

 seconds. 

48. "Later, gator!": ADIOS AMIGO. Could also be clued: Hasta LaVista! Or, Vaya Con Dios...

49. Group before millennials: GEN X.

50. "By that logic ... ": ERGO.

52. Depilatory brand: NAIR.

54. __ muffin: STUD.

Now Ladies, remember your diet...

55. Racer with an edge: POLE CAR.

Normally the car in 1st starting position,

but there have been accidents...

56. Bridle strap: REIN.

57. Output opposite: INTAKE.

59. Business with lots to offer: REALTY.😆

61. Like kimchi and umeboshi: SOUR.

65. Silk Road desert: GOBI.

66. Nuanced: SUBTLE.

69. "Double, double __ and trouble": TOIL.

70. Revenue: INCOME.

71. Positions: JOBS.

72. Emulate a couch potato: LOLL.

73. Snapchat and ChatGPT: APPS.

74. Egyptian queen, familiarly: CLEO.

What the real Cleopatra is believed to look like.

78. Grant admission to: LET IN.

79. Some geometry calculations: AREAS.

81. Dog treat portmanteau: SNAUSAGE. Supposedly Snack and Sausage...

82. Cock and bull: HE'S. (A likely story...)

83. __ boom: SONIC.

86. "... we traverse __": AFAR.

87. FDR pet honored with a statue in D.C.: FALA.

FDR and Fala remembered.

89. Pro __: gratis: BONO. 

(from 

pro bono publico, "for the public good") refers to free, voluntary legal services, whereas gratis means without charge;free.

93. Rock instruments: GUITARS.

94. High points: ACMES.

97. Belgrade native: SERB.

98. Get hitched: SAY I DO. Before adding the spaces, Sayido sounded like a thing. So I tried to look it up

99. Off-rd. rig: ATV. All Terrain Vehicle

100. [We're sheep!]: BAA BAA.

What they're really saying...

103. Misleading handle: ALIAS.😗

104. Final bowling frame: TENTH.

106. Legal wrongs: TORTS.

107. Gives temporarily: LENDS.

108. Faith founded in Persia: BAHA'I.

109. Black-and-white predator: ORCA.

110. Rice Krispies mascot in a chef's hat: SNAP. Pop quiz! What kind of hat did Pop wear? (Or Crackle for that matter...)

113. Gentlemen: SIRS.

114. "__ Brockovich": ERIN. A famous environmental activist.

115. "On the double!": STAT.

117. __ date: DUE.

118. Baseball : inning :: curling : __: END. Yes End,,, Here's the A.I. Overview

120. Barely passing grade: DEE.

121. Big bang abbr.: TNT. Also, Raj was short for Rajesh Ramayan Koothrappali.

Here's the grid:

CE:D out.