30. Biles with five eponymous gymnastics skills: SIMONE.
32. Constant figure in quantum theory?: PLANCK - This physics guy knows both of these scientists
34. Ties: LACES - None for me any more.
35. "That really grinds my __": GEARS 😀
36. Egg foo young, e.g.: OMELET.
38. Davis canine: ODIE - Garfield's pal and foil
39. Dennings of "WandaVision": KAT ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
42. Fling: CAST.
43. Picked one: OPTED.
45. Robe part: SASH.
46. Durham sch.: UNH - A little misdirection as more well-known Duke University is in Durham, N.C.
47. Portions (out): DOLES.
48. Folk legend Griffith: NANCI - ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ This folk music lover is not familiar with her work
49. Yellowstone's less predictable attraction: STEAMBOAT GEYSER.
52. Black aces and black eights: THE DEAD MAN'S HAND - The poker hand that is said to be what Wild Bill Hickock was holding when Jack McCall shot him in Deadwood, S.D. in 1876.
53. Locking horns: AT ODDS - A common state in D.C.
54. Plucky Renaissance faire performers?: LUTISTS.
4. Elizabeth of "WandaVision": OLSEN ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Another cast member of a show I was not aware of
5. Nurses: SIPS. 6. City with more than 70 sts. named Peachtree: ATL - These variations include Peachtree Circle, Peachtree Lane, Peachtree Battle Avenue, and Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, among others, causing significant navigation challenges for visitors and locals alike in ATLANTA
7. Initial phase: STAGE ONE - The fuel in STAGE ONE of the Apollo Moon Rockets got the astronauts about 40 miles above Earth.
8. Temple dedicatee, often: DEITY.
9. To boot: AT THAT - "The meal wasn't very good and was pretty expensive AT THAT"
10. Fly catchers: WEBS 😀
11. Silly response to "Is that your horse?": NAY. 😀
12. Like many Bolshoi performances: OPERATIC - Bolshoi is Russian for big or grand.
13. Seafaring retreat for couples?: NOAH'S ARK 😀 - Two by two...
15. "Poker Face" star Natasha: LYONNE ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
16. Scouting units: TROOPS.
22. Zen paradox: KOAN - KOH ahn. A paradoxical anecdote or riddle, used in Zen Buddhism to demonstrate the inadequacy of logical reasoning and to provoke enlightenment. You're welcome.
23. Ends used for shaping: PEENS.
25. The ones over there: THOSE.
27. Midway alternative: O'HARE.
28. Extract metal using heat: SMELT.
30. "Sex and the City" role: SAMANTHA - ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ The lady in red
31. Arctic mass: ICE SHEET.
32. Setting for worship?: PEDESTAL - Works in our house even though this is not our Lily in the picture! 😊
33. Like bricks and eggs: LAID 😀 - I've done the first and have collected the latter
34. Plague pest: LOCUST.
35. Cry from the stands: GO TEAM.
37. "Well, boo-hoo!": TOO BAD.
39. "Dust in the Wind" band: KANSAS - A song that where I might tell others in the car, "Please quiet down, I love his song!"
40. Uphill climb: ASCENT - 62% of deaths on Everest occur on the ASCENT and 38% on the descent.
41. Helping for the hungry: THIRDS - Hey, if it's for tater tots...
44. Moves with effort: PLODS.
45. Wave, maybe: SAY HI.
47. Contacted on the 'gram: D-MED - Some FaceBook posts might ask to be D-MED (Direct MessagED) to discuss more privately.
I always enjoy solving a Doug Peterson puzzle and I was not disappointed with this effort. However, as I was solving, Inspector Gadget kept playing in my head so, I wasn't quite expecting the reveal:
117. Make it big, or a hint to the pairs found in the answers to the starred clues: GO PLACES.
22. *American Samoa's capital: PAGO PAGO. Capital of American Samoa.
29. *Dramatic ending for a tied hockey game: GOLDEN GOAL.
35. *Mohair source: ANGORA GOAT.
55. *"Stranger Things" monster: DEMOGORGON. Clickat your own risk.
79. *Symbol often adorned with a "Doodle": GOOGLE LOGO.
Apropos for next Sunday
100. *Smugly sanctimonious sort: GOODY GOODY.
107. *Wasting time: GOOFING OFF.
15. *Martial arts-themed toy line: LEGO NINJAGO.
66. *Band with the 1998 hit "Iris": GOO GOO DOLLS. I have this CD but, post-solve, I had to Google to know the title of the song I've heard >100 times.
Iris
A fun theme, I think. Now let's get on to the rest of the fill before we get on with our day.
19. "Ni __": Chinese greeting: HAO. Hello in English. Mr. Di, who was the night supervisor at the lab where I worked in college, taught me that. //How am I doin' C.C.? :-)
20. __ Doone cookies: LORNA. This cookie is slowly replacing OREO :-)
21. Will of "BoJack Horseman": ARNETT. This was a Netflix animated series for adults that "aired" from 2014 to 2018.
BoJack Horseman
22. [See: Theme]
24. Pipsqueak: TWERP.
25. Half-baked?: DOUGHY.
If you've seen this movie, you weren't thinking DOUGHY
40. Preppy brand: POLO. POLO & IZOD make me think of the '80's.
41. Doomscrolling, perhaps: ONLINE. This stackexchange has arguments for and against online being one word or hyphenated. Oh, and as for Doomscrolling, that's the act of watching headline after headline (of usually bad news) in short-form media such as TikTok, Meta's Reels, or YouTube Shorts.
43. "Oh, rats!": AW DARN.
46. Program for aspiring docs: PREMED. Does this get a hyphen? ;-)
49. Readily apparent: OVERT.
51. Basic garage service: LUBE JOB. This is not hyphenated.
54. Texting tech: SMS. Short Message Service.
55. [See: Theme]
59. Sub meat: SALAMI. Add some pepperoni, mortadella, provolone - I'm getting peckish.
60. Inconsequential: MINOR.
61. Hate with a passion: DETEST. Or what Tattoo exclaims to Roarke at exam time? //Sorry for stealing your job, RayO :-).
63. Dry-__ beef: AGED.
64. Striped 96-Down, in Spanish: TIGRE. These kinda cross-reference clues can be fun. However, this one made me fast-forward to a corner I wasn't playing in and I got distracted from what I was there for.
67. Doorway piece: JAMB.
70. Plastic Clue weapon: ROPE. I thought all of the weapons in Clue were made with plastic.
Then
Now
71. Preppy jackets: ETONS. Back to the preppies again.
72. __ appeal: SNOB. Now we're really getting preppy :-)
73. Arizona neighbor: SONORA. To the south of AZ.
75. Tequila plant: AGAVE. Drink in 73a (and pretty much everywhere else).
77. In the area: AROUND. Tequila all around!
79. [See: Theme]
82. Electric jolt: ZAP.
85. Backslide: REGRESS.
87. Slight adjustment: TWEAK.
88. Gazpacho need: TOMATO. Yummers! More Italian food. Ok, we kinda appropriated [Read: stole] it from Spain but... Gazpacho is a wonderful cold "soup" for summer.
90. Does better than: ONE UPS.
92. Haudenosaunee Confederacy people: SENECA. One of the Six Nations' tribes.
95. Birthstone for some Scorpios: OPAL.
96. __ and hisses: BOOS.
98. Home of tennis's Italian Open: ROME. Four letter Italian city? The pen works itself.
100. [See: Theme]
103. "__ be nice if ... ": IT'D.
104. Canonized one: SAINT.
Father Guido Sarducci on March Saints
106. Not intended: UNMEANT. This feels like it needs a hyphen.
107. [See: Theme]
110. NYC subway org.: MTA. New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
111. Poet Amy who won a Pulitzer Prize posthumously: LOWELL.
114. Piña __: COLADA. If you like 'em (and getting caught in the rain), Escape.
Who knows any other songs by Rupert Holmes?
115. Engine booster, for short: TURBO. Wife's Alfa is a turbo, mine is five on the floor.
117. [See: Theme]
119. Geopolitical partners: ALLIES.
120. Pioneers in Philly soul, with "The": O'JAYS. For the younger solvers who've joined The Corner and weren't around in the '70's...
The O'Jays
121. Feel bad about: RUE.
122. Mauna Loa flow: LAVA.
123. Electricity pioneer Nikola: TESLA.
124. High-flying toys: KITES.
125. Assist: AID.
126. Make a shawl, maybe: KNIT. Young'uns seem to be getting into this "grandma" skill. Eldest started the craft at 12 yrs old and still does it when procrastinating her dissertation :-)
Down:
1. Performs like Kendrick Lamar: RAPS.
2. Flight assignment: SEAT. Are you aisle or window?
3. Immersive gaming gear, briefly: VR GOGGLES. There's only one (1) GO in this fill.
4. Spot for table games: POOL ROOM. Feels a bit forced(?) I call 'em a POOL hall (or just a dive bar). You?
5. California peak: SHASTA. Also the brand name of a diet soda my maternal grandfather drank.
6. Silly prank: GAG.
7. "I didn't wait long enough?": TOO SOON. Can we make Millard Filmore jokes yet?
8. Voice above tenor: ALTO. Eldest is a soprano but can do a great alto falsetto. One time, when she was 12 (or 13?), she blew away our local TexMex joint singing karaoke to Bohemian Rhapsody. On the "from me" high bit, the whole place went quiet and looked where it was coming from. Just my little shy kid belting out her voice. #ProudDad
9. This very second: NOW. STAT didn't fit.
10. Hall of Fame pitcher Maddux: GREG. I know he was with the Braves longer (where he secured a WS ring), but he'll always be a Cub to me.
11. Dress for a graduation ceremony: ENROBE. Not the dress you wear but the verb dress. Cute, Doug, cute.
12. City near Buenos Aires: LA PLATA. ?!? Is Buenos Aires also in the Texas panhandle? I'm kidding, it's the capital city of Buenos Aires province of Argentina.
13. Clubs with metal heads: IRONS. Oh, again not dive bars (with crank'd up music).
14. Tight-fitting: SNUG.
15. [See: Theme]
16. Compound in natural gas: ETHANE. A hydrocarbon which just got more expensive.
17. Does salon work: STYLES.
21. Yemeni port: ADEN. For the life of me, I can never remember this crossword staple.
23. Fruit in fruit cocktail: PEAR.
28. Like some watches: ANALOG. I made sure my kids could read a proper clock (with Roman Numerals too! :-))
30. Southern sound: DRAWL. Over 40 years in the south, I've developed a bit of one.
32. Freudian concept: EGO.
35. Slack and Signal: APPS. APPlications for you pocket communicator. Signal is actually pretty nifty if you're into privacy & security.
36. "Cheers" regular: NORM.
Best of Norm Peterson
37. Early DVR brand: TIVO. Two college buddies of mine worked for TiVo.
38. Corporate combination: MERGER.
39. Senior clergyman: PRELATE.
42. Square one?: NERD.
44. Coating on knickknacks: DUST. That's why DW & I have few.
45. Litigators' org.: ABA. American Bar Association.
47. Falco of "Avatar: Fire and Ash": EDIE.
48. Lair: DEN.
50. "Rosanna" band: TOTO.
According to popular myth, at the first recording sessions, in order to distinguish their own demo tapes from other bands' in the studio, Jeff Porcaro wrote the word "Toto" on them. In the early 1980s, band members told the press that the band was named after Toto the dog from The Wizard of Oz. After the completion of the first album, the band and record were still unnamed. David Hungate, after viewing the name on the demo tapes, explained to the group that the Latin words "in toto" translated to "all-encompassing". Another explanation was that singer Bobby Kimball's "real" name was Robert Toteaux, pronounced "toto". Because the band members played on so many records and so many musical genres, they adopted the name "Toto" as their own. - WikiP
Toto's Africa
52. Warning sign: OMEN.
53. Says "two no trump," e.g.: BIDS. I'm guessing the card game of Bridge ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
56. Magic charm: MOJO.
57. Sumatran primate, informally: ORANG.
58. Himalayan nation: NEPAL.
60. Owner of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant: MR. BURNS. The Simpsons.
62. Lily variety: SEGO. It's the State Flower of Utah.
64. Bygone Russian title: TSAR.
65. Memo heading: INRE. IN REgards to:
66. [See: Theme]
68. Not worth debating: MOOT.
69. Look through casually: BROWSE. Leaf, skim, etc.
71. Acronym for a dressing base: EVOO. Extra Virgin Olive Oil. It's all I use.
73. Aztecs' sch.: SDSU. San Diego State University - Home of the Fightin' Aztecs.
74. "Peacemaker" actor Steve: AGEE.
76. Reality show hosted by Terry Crews, for short: AGT. I'm guessing America's Got Talent ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
78. Once known as: NEE.
80. "Auld __ Syne": LANG.
81. Barely manage: EKE OUT.
82. Mesoamerican language family common in Oaxaca: ZAPOTECAN. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Read all about it here.
89. Dance move also known as a backslide: MOONWALK. You can't not think of Michael Jackson here.
This looks AI he's that good
91. Majorly unacceptable: SO NOT OK. An HR violation, I'm thinkin'.
93. Packaged foods giant: CONAGRA. You may not know the company (I'm sure HG does), but you probably eat their food. I know I do.
Their Brands
94. USN VIP: ADM. Naval Admirals are Very Important People.
96. Jaguar or leopard: BIG CAT. Just like a TIGRE.
97. Peter of "The Lion in Winter": O'TOOLE.
99. "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" peak: Abbr.: MT FUJI.
101. Gave a sudden squeal: YELPED.
102. Hastings hoosegow: GAOL. Hastings is an English town (Battle Of in 1066) and GAOL is Old Norman French. The G in GAOL is soft like in gentle; so, aloud GAOL sounds like jail -- which is what the word means.
104. Better half?: SIDE A. Cute. But is Hey Jude really better than Revolution?
The Fab Four
105. Santa __: dry California winds: ANAs.
108. Blunder that might be epic: FAIL. #EpicFail
109. Greek house: FRAT.
Obligatory
110. Green trunk growth: MOSS.
112. Strauss of jeans: LEVI.
113. Future atty.'s exam: LSAT. Youngest passed and is nearly done with her OneL.
116. "So long!": BYE.
118. Arles agreement: OUI. We started with French and we end with French, YES?
Well, that was fun. Now, here's the Grid:
The Grid
WO: laura -> LORNA
ESPs: ANGEL, LAPLATA (making that whole area a mess o' ink), ADEN, SAO, SENECA, LOWELL, ZAPOTECAN Fav: MOJO
Dr. Evil steals Austin Powers' Mojo
I've missed playing with y'all the last few weeks. I've been busy catching up from my short vacation in DC to visit my daughters at school. These next few weeks, my attendance will also be sporadic as I'm attending a couple of cybersecurity conferences.
Theme: "SUPPLIES ARE LIMITED" - Familiar phrases are re-imagined as literal office supply items in the specific setting described in each clue.
23. Writing tablet at a cleaning service?: SCOURING PAD.
29. Copier sheets at a French restaurant?: CREPE PAPER.
45. Writing implements at a biotech lab?: GENETIC MARKERS.
66. File holder at a music store?: ACCORDION FOLDER.
93. Metal fasteners at a culinary school?: KITCHEN STAPLES.
107. Adhesive roll at a watch factory?: TICKER TAPE.
117. Measuring device at a toy store?: PUPPET RULER.
Six
entries follow a consistent pattern in which the final word is a common
office supply item (PAD, PAPER, MARKERS, STAPLES, TAPE, RULER). ACCORDION FOLDER
differs slightly in structure: instead of ending with the supply, the
entire phrase is itself the office item. Does it also have a non-office
meaning I'm not aware of?
Across:
1. Commotion: FUSS. And 25. Commotions: ADOS.
5. Hat for Carmen Sandiego: FEDORA.
11. "A Boy Named Sue" singer: CASH (Johnny)
15. Peppa and Petunia: PIGS.
19. Break __ song: INTO.
20. Resume business: RE-OPEN.
21. City northeast of Mauna Loa: HILO. 26. Coffee district west of 21-Across: KONA.
22. "I think I goofed": UH OH.
27. Castle tower: TURRET.
28. Highest part: TOP.
31. Foul territory?: STY. OK, disgusting "foul".
32. Unspecified amount: SOME.
34. Self-satisfied: SMUG.
36. Spots for daith piercings: EARS. I didn't know the meaning of "daith": an ear piercing in the inner cartilage just above the earhole.
37. Antique photos: SEPIAS.
39. Research specialties: AREAS.
41. Catherine of "The Studio": O'HARA. A wonderful actress who passed away last month.
49. Fight show for more than 30 years: WWE RAW.
50. Keep an eye on: OVERSEE.
51. New Mexico art hub: TAOS.
52. However, briefly: THO.
54. Succotash bean: LIMA. I grew some on our deck years ago. I had a small harvest.
55. Fishhook projection: BARB.
56. Buster: BUB.
57. Does in a forest: DEER.
58. Dragon's retreat: LAIR.
59. __ pale ale: INDIA.
61. "Grand Hotel" star Greta: GARBO.
63. Eurasian range: URALS.
65. Counterculture drug: LSD.
70. Bit of hair gel: DAB.
73. American Red Cross founder Barton: CLARA.
74. Old record players: HIFIS.
75. Blubbers: WEEPS.
79. "The Young and the Restless" actor Braeden: ERIC.
81. Beauty brand: OLAY.
82. "Don't lose any sleep over it," in a text: NBD. No Big Deal.
83. Colombian metropolis: CALI.
84. Overdo the praise: GUSH.
85. Sch. that retired Caleb Williams' No. 13: USC. He won the Heisman Trophy in 2022.
86. Fill completely: SATE.
88. Advil alternative: ASPIRIN.
91. "All __!": ABOARD.
96. Decaf brand: SANKA.
97. Part of an EGOT: OSCAR. 44. 97-Across, e.g.: AWARD.
98. Call it a day: RETIRE.
99. "Thunderstruck" band: AC/DC.
101. Nights of anticipation: EVES.
103. Have a chat: TALK.
104. "Groovy!": FAB.
111. French affirmation: OUI.
113. Gloomy Milne character: EEYORE.
115. Home of the NHL's Mammoth: UTAH. The Utah Mammoth and the Utah Jazz have the same owner.
116. Jedi who becomes a Force ghost in "Return of the Jedi": YODA.
119. Software test version: BETA.
120. __ fail: EPIC.
121. Chaperone: ESCORT.
122. "Mulan" voice actress __-Na Wen: MING. Mulan means "magnolia".
123. "Praise be!": AMEN.
124. Place for curlers: RINK.
125. Texas congressman Joaquin: CASTRO.
126. Circus routines: ACTS.
Down:
1. Clenched hands: FISTS.
2. Not censored at all: UNCUT.
3. "Likely __!": STORY.
4. Whiskey cocktail: SOUR.
5. Chili-and-chips dish: FRITO PIE.
6. Nightfall, poetically: EEN.
7. Iditarod crew: DOG TEAM.
8. Dirt on a campaign rival, briefly: OPPO. Opposition research.
9. Brings in: REAPS.
10. "... __ a bottle of rum": AND.
11. Juice box?: CHARGER. Power "juice".
12. Assistant: AIDE.
13. Spots for sledding: SLOPES.
14. Book before Joel: HOSEA.
15. Beadlike piece on a Hawaiian necklace: PUKA SHELL. Puka is "hole" in Hawaiian.
16. Denny's rival: IHOP.
17. Vanished: GONE.
18. __-pei: wrinkly dog from China: SHAR.
24. Moves back to zero: RESETS.
29. Preserves in salt: CURES.
30. Clipper's front: PROW. Opposite STERN.
33. Attic pests: MICE.
35. Powerful shark: MAKO.
37. Novak Djokovic's nation: SERBIA.
38. Middle of some long weekends: SATURDAY.
40. Orbiter smaller than a planet: ASTEROID. Also 49. Planet: WORLD.
42. Common typeface: ARIAL.
43. Director Harold: RAMIS. He directed "Caddyshack".
45. Mongolian desert: GOBI. Across northern China also. Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region in China.
