Thursday, February 13, 2025, Kevin Christian & Drew Schmenner

  

State Raps

It appears to me that our veteran constructors Kevin Christian and Drew Schmenner have given us another "modern lingo" Thursday theme for today's offering.  We'll start with our themers, which are all the titles of songs ...

17. Katy Perry song whose lyrics mention Venice Beach and Palm Springs: CALIFORNIA GURLS.  This song was co-written with rapper Snoop Dogg and served as the lead single for her third studio album, Teenage Dream (2010).  If you want to know why it's spelled that way, read this.   I'd rate the official video an R for all the skin, but this PG-rated video just has the music,  lyrics, and a few suggestive double-entendres ...

23. Stevie Ray Vaughan blues cover with the line "I'm standin' out in the rain": TEXAS FLOOD.  In 1983 Stevie Ray Vaughan recorded this song originally by blues musician Larry Davis ...

54. Title song of a 1961 film featuring a lei-wearing Elvis Presley: BLUE HAWAII.  Blue Hawaii is a 1961 American musical romantic comedy drama film directed by Norman Taurog and starring Elvis Presley.  Here's the title song ...

61. "Just an old sweet song" performed by Ray Charles: GEORGIA ON MY MIND.  Georgia on My Mind is a 1930 song written by Hoagy Carmichael (1899–1981), and Stuart Gorrell (1901–1963), and first recorded that same year by Hoagy Carmichael. The song has been most often associated with soul singer Ray Charles (1930–2004), a native of the U.S. state of Georgia ...

... and the enigmatic reveal ...

37A Regulatory legal associations, and what 17-, 23-, 54-, and 61-Across are?: STATE BARS.  Obviously the literal meaning -- state bar associations has nothing to do with music, so I started by assuming that each of the states named in the songs must have a famous BAR in them named after the song titles -- this sent me down a rabbit hole but all I came back with were some bunnies in a so-called "men's club" called "California Girls" in Anaheim, CA 🙃.

I finally hit pay dirt when I asked the Internet sage if the "word BARS might be slang for the words to a song and got this response ...

'the term "bars" is often used as hip-hop slang to refer to a song or a rapper's lyrics within a song, -- essentially meaning the musical bars of a song that are especially good, e.g. "the hook".

... each themer then associates a name of a state with the "bars" of a song.  Hand up if you've got another explanation!  😀

Here's the grid ...

Here's the rest ...

Across:

 1. Two-time NBA MVP Malone: KARL.  Karl Anthony Malone (born July 24, 1963) is an American former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "the Mailman", he is considered one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history. Malone spent his first 18 seasons (1985–2003) in the NBA with the Utah Jazz.  He was a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, a 14-time NBA All-Star, and a 14-time member of the All-NBA Team, which include 11 consecutive First Team selection. His 36,928 career points scored rank third all-time in NBA history behind LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. 

Karl Malone

5. "Parks and __": REC.  Parks and Recreation (also known as Parks and Rec) is an American political satire mockumentary television sitcom. The series aired on NBC from April 9, 2009, to February 24, 2015, for 125 episodes, over seven seasons.  The series stars Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, a perky, mid-level bureaucrat in the Parks Department of the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana ... 

8. Gray shade: SLATE.  The National Slate Association begs to differ -- consider the nuanced tiles on this slate roof ...

13. Pet peeve?: FLEA.  Pet peeves are all a matter of perspective ...

14. "The Little Mermaid" prince: ERIC.  The Little Mermaid is loosely based on the story by Hans Christian Anderson, but the notion of a water nymph who falls in love with a human dates back at least to ancient Greece and the Myth of the Ondine.  This is an enduring story that has been repeated in such works as Dvorak's opera Rusalka and German author Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué's 1811 novella Undine.  The Disney studios have produced several versions of the myth and the Prince in these stories finally has a name: ERIC.   The original animated version was made in 1989 and a live action version in was released in 2023.  Here's a pic from the second version after Ariel (Halle Bailey) has saved Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King) from drowning ... 

Prince Eric and Ariel

16. Mongolian, e.g.: ASIAN.  Mongolia is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south. It covers an area of 1,564,116 square kilometres (603,909 square miles), with a population of 3.5 million, making it the world's most sparsely populated sovereign state.  Apparently Alexander Borodin was slightly mistaken when he titled this tone poem as In the Steppes of Central Asia.

17. [Theme clue]

20. Like fraternity brothers: MALE. -- And sorority sisters are FEMALE.  Vive la différence!

21. Pantry array: CANS.

22. Seasonal illness: FLU.  Have you had your flu shot?  Rumor has it that they're no longer PC. 🙃

23. [Theme clue]

26. D-rated: POOR.

27. Poem of praise: ODE.  A brief article on ODES by the Poetry Foundation.

28. Hot toddy option: TEA.

29. __ solution: SALINE.  Saline solution is a mixture of water and salt (sodium chloride) that has many different uses for your health.  Normal saline solution is a mixture of water and salt with a salt concentration of 0.9% -- for every 1 liter (1,000 milliliters) of water, there are 9 grams of salt. Normal saline is one type of IV fluid that healthcare providers give people in a hospital. This is because normal saline and human blood have the same balance of water and salt.

31. Zilch: NADA.  Today's Spanish lesson: NOTHING.

33. Writer/actress Fey: TINA.  Elizabeth Stamatina "Tina" Fey (born May 18, 1970) is an American actress, comedian, writer, and producer. She was a cast member and head writer for the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 1997 to 2006. After her departure from SNL, she created the NBC sitcom 30 Rock (2006–2013, 2020) and the Netflix sitcom Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015–2020). Here's a clip from the pilot episode of 30 Rock in which she starred ... 

36. __ in comparison: PALED.

37. [Theme reveal]

40. Wash away suds: RINSE.

43. Cornerstone number: YEAR.  Here is the cornerstone of the Roosevelt Arch at the main entrance to Yellowstone National Park, the first National Park.  The Arch was dedicated by President Theodore Roosevelt on April 24, 1903. Here are some interesting facts about the structure.

Yellowstone National Park
April 24, 1903

44. Cat prey: MICE. BIRD fit but wouldn't fly.

48. Skin care brand: AVEENO.  I don't usually hype products, but I find this lotion to be very helpful in restoring moisture to my hands after a session of throwing pots ...
 

50. Old film channel: TCM.  The channel isn't "old" (as in former), but the movies are.  Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is an American movie-oriented pay-TV network owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Launched in 1994, Turner Classic Movies is headquartered at Ted Turner's Techwood broadcasting campus in the Midtown business district of Atlanta, Georgia.

52. Kraken's realm, briefly: NHL.  Thank you perps.  The Seattle Kraken are a professional ice hockey team based in Seattle. The Kraken compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference.  The Pacific Northwest region has a history of Scandinavian immigrants and ancestry, connecting Seattle to the team name which is derived from a legendary sea monster of Nordic mythology. 

Kraken Logo

53. Spoils: ROTS.

54. [Theme clue].

58. "And so on" abbr.: ETC.

59. With, at le restaurant: AVEC.  Today's French lesson -- AVEC = "with"

60. __ América: quadrennial soccer tournament: COPA.  The Copa America, is the top men's quadrennial football (European for "soccer") tournament contested among national teams from South America. It is the oldest still-running continental football competition. The competition determines the champions of South America. Since the 1990s, teams from North America and Asia have also been invited to compete.

61. [Theme clue]

66. Come next: ENSUE.  A clue about jeans will ENSUE ...

67. Jeans spot that might wear out first: KNEE.  They might wear out before that if they're distressed ... 

68. Type of saxophone: ALTO. Here's Charlie Parker ("The Bird") on alto sax, Hank Jones on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and Shelly Manne on drums at Carnegie Hall in December of 1947 ...

69. Maker of apple products: MOTTS.  Mott's is an American company, founded in 1842 involved primarily in producing apple-based products, particularly juices and sauces.

70. "Stat!": NOW.  When ASAP is not fast enough!!!

71. German "no": NEIN.  Today's German lesson: NEIN = "no" and JA = "yes".

Down:

 1. Fast-food chain owned by Yum! Brands: KFC.  The original recipe for Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) is a closely guarded secret, but a nephew of Colonel Harlan Sanders who used to make it as a kid outed it to the Chicago Tribune.
 
2. San Francisco Bay city: ALAMEDA.  There's a lot to see and do there.

3. Chill: RELAXED.

4. Boxer Ali: LAILA.  Laila Amaria Ali (born December 30, 1977) is an American television personality and retired professional boxer who competed from 1999 to 2007. During her career, from which she retired undefeated, she held the WBC, WIBA, IWBF and IBA female super middleweight titles, and the IWBF light heavyweight title. Ali is widely regarded by many within the sport as one of the greatest female professional boxers of all time. She is the daughter of boxer Muhammad Ali.  Here she is at a charity fashion show for Heart Truth in 2011 ...

Laila Ali

5. __ Speedwagon: REO.  As the clue doesn't have a space between speed and wagon, the preferred spelling of the vehicle created by Ransom E. Olds in 1915, then it must be the name of the band that started in Illinois in the Sixties.  Here's their Roll With the Changes -- timely advice? ...

6. Make a mistake: ERR.

7. Dos y tres: CINCO.  Today's combined math and Spanish lesson: "2 and 3 = 5".

8. Gives in to gravity: SAGS.

9. The Tigers of the SEC: LSU.  Louisiana State University (commonly referred to as LSU) is an American public land-grant research university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States. The university was founded in 1860 near Pineville, Louisiana, under the name Louisiana State Seminary of Learning & Military Academy. The current LSU main campus was dedicated in 1926 and consists of more than 250 buildings constructed in the style of Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio, occupying a 650-acre (260 ha) plateau on the banks of the Mississippi River.  

And a CSO to our favorite Tiger, Hahtoolah!

10. Plane feature with a lift-to-drag ratio: AIRFOIL.  An airfoil is a streamlined body that is capable of generating significantly more lift than drag. Wings, sails and propeller blades are examples of airfoils. Foils of similar function designed with water as the working fluid are called hydrofoils.  When oriented at a suitable angle, a solid body moving through a fluid deflects the oncoming fluid (for fixed-wing aircraft, a downward force), resulting in a force on the airfoil in the direction opposite to the deflection. This force is known as aerodynamic force and can be resolved into two components: lift (perpendicular to the remote freestream velocity) and drag (parallel to the freestream velocity).  The explanation I learned in HS physics was that the upper curve of the airfoil, being longer than the lower curve makes the air thinner on top than on the bottom.   The difference between these air densities  creates a vacuum effect literally "sucking" the wing upward.  The mathematics of airfoils can get pretty complicated and I confess that I don't begin to understand them.  

Airfoil geometry

11. Beer, slangily: TALL ONE.  Here's a pint of lager in a tall one ... 

12. Made certain: ENSURED.

15. Milan farewell: CIAO.  Today's Italian lesson:  CIAO = "Ta Ta!".  Google translate indicates that it's also like ALOHA -- it can be used for "Hi" as well.

18. Celebratory suffix: FEST.  11D's are frequently consumed at these celebrations.

19. "No ifs, __, or buts": ANDS.

23. Boatload: TON.

24. Greek cheese: FETA.  Feta (Greek: φέτα, féta) is a Greek brined white cheese made from sheep milk or from a mixture of sheep and goat milk. It is soft, with small or no holes, and no skin. Crumbly with a slightly grainy texture, it is formed into large blocks and aged in brine.

Feta cheese

25. Parishioners: LAITY.  FLOCK fit but didn't perp. The term LAITY refers to the people in a religious congregation who attend services and may even participate in the services as lectors, acolytes, or sacristans,  but are not ordained, as distinct from the clergy who lead the services and are ordained. 

26. Ecto- or endo- finish: PLASM.  The ectoplasm and endoplasm are components of the cytoplasm -- everything inside a cell membrane except for the nucleus.  Shown circled in this diagram are the cytoplasm and its components, the rough and smooth endoplasmic reticula.  Not labelled is the ectoplasm, which is the space between the plasma membrane and the cytoplasm.

30. Car loan fig.: APR.  Annual Percentage Rate.

32. Donkeys: ASSES.

34. Bridal bio word: NEE.

35. Lessen: ABATE.

38. X, at times: TEN.  -- also the social media company now usually referred to as "X, formerly known as Twitter".   The owner of the company is very interested in efficiency these days, and I'm sure that he intended to shorten the name, but it seems as if he has actually lengthened it. 😀

39. Prefix with enemy: ARCH.  See 43A for an alternate use of this word.

40. Red diamond, e.g.: RARE GEM.  A red diamond is a diamond which displays red color and exhibits the same mineral properties as colorless diamonds. Red diamonds are commonly known as the most expensive and the rarest diamond color in the world, even more so than pink or blue diamonds, as very few red diamonds have been found.  The largest and most perfect in the world is the Moussaieff Red Diamond. 

The Moussaieff Diamond

41. Words of dissension: I VOTE NO.

42. Sales figure: NET COST. 

45. Heaped: IN A PILE.

46. Trattoria red: CHIANTI.  This wine comes with its own Italian lesson -- Chianti is an Italian red wine produced in the Chianti region of central Tuscany, principally from the Sangiovese grape. It was historically associated with a squat bottle enclosed in a straw basket, called a fiasco ("flask"; pl.: fiaschi). However, the fiasco is now only used by a few makers of the wine; most Chianti is bottled in more standard-shaped wine bottles.  

A fiasco of Chianti

Fiasco of course is also a modern term for a "complete, and utter failure" and is apparently somehow related to bottles (flasks) through a long chain of associations.   However my attempts to understand this chain were a complete, and utter failure. 😀

47. Yale student: ELI.  e.g. our constructor for January 9, 2025, Jem Burch.

49. Terse "Of course!": OBVI.  Meh.

51. "Shameless" star William H. __: MACY.  Shameless is an American black comedy drama television series starring William H. Macy and Emmy Rossum. The series is set in the South Side of Chicago, Illinois.  With the premiere of the ninth season on September 9, 2018, Shameless became the longest-running original-scripted series in Showtime's history. In January 2020, the series was renewed for its eleventh and final season. 

55. Faucet problem: LEAK.

56. The NCAA's Huskies: UCONN.  The University of Connecticut (UConn) is a public land-grant research university system with its main campus in Storrs, Connecticut, United States. It was founded in 1881 as the Storrs Agricultural School, named after two benefactors. In 1893, the school became a public land grant college, then took its current name in 1939. Over the following decade, social work, nursing, and graduate programs were established. During the 1960s, UConn Health was established for new medical and dental schools. UConn is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.  I think their name "Huskies" derives from the phonetic similarity between UConn and Yukon, a land of ice and snow. Here's their sports teams' logo ...
 

57. Barnard attendee: WOMAN.  At first this seemed like a simple thing to explain -- but given the nuances of the transgender movement, and the fact that Columbia University, which is coeducational, is just across the street and Barnard students are free to attend classes there, and that Barnard is actually a college of Columbia -- things got complicated pretty quickly.

59. Long time: AGES.

62. Boring routine: RUT.  The social-media company owner that I referred to in 38D has had some success in moving ruts underground, although speculation is that he may have gotten bored with the whole thing. 😀

63. "The Matrix" character who chooses the red pill: NEO.  An adventurous sort who got his start in a different Sci-Fi film.

The red pill and blue pill are metaphorical terms representing a choice between learning an unsettling or life-changing truth by taking the red pill or remaining in the contented experience of ordinary reality with the blue pill. The pills were used as props in the 1999 film The Matrix.

64. Kitten's sound: MEW.

[mew, mew, ...]

65. Actor Cheadle: DON.  Donald Frank Cheadle Jr. (born November 29, 1964) is an American actor. Known for his roles in film and television, he has received multiple accolades including two Golden Globe Awards, two Grammy Awards, and a Tony Award as well as nominations for an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards, and 11 Primetime Emmy Awards. He is one of a few actors to have received nominations for the EGOT.  His performance in Hotel Ruanda got him a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Actor ... 

Cheers, 

Bill

And as always, thanks to Teri for proofreading and for her constructive criticism.

waseeley

February 8, 2023 Drew Schmenner

<>Theme: Vowel Sound Progression - With Z Sounds.  The final syllable of each them entry begins with the sound - though not always the spelling - of the letter "Z," and ends with the sound - though not the spelling - of a long vowel, in alphabetical order: A, E, I, O and U.  Let's check it out.

18 A. Small dog with a French name: BICHON FRISÉ.   From French: bichon à poil frisé, (French pronunciation: ​[biʃɔ̃ fʁize], meaning 'curly haired dog') is a small breed of dog.  Although the Bichon breed type are originally Spanish, used as sailing dogs, also as herding dogs sometimes, the French developed them into a gentle lap-dog variety. 

The ending is pronounced ZĀ, or ZAY, if you prefer.  What are you gonna do - it's French!

23 A. Stopped worrying: RESTED EASY.  When you don't worry you can sleep well.

The ending is pronounced ZĒ, or ZEE.  This is the kind of thing that makes English as a 2nd language so hard.

41 A. Education activist who is the youngest Nobel Prize laureate: MALALA YOUSAFZAI.  (Urdu: ملالہ یوسفزئی, Pashto: ملاله یوسفزۍ, pronunciation: [məˈlaːlə jusəf ˈzəj]; born 12 July 1997), is a Pakistani female education activist and the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Awarded when she was 17, she is the world's youngest Nobel Prize laureate, and the second Pakistani and the first Pashtun to receive a Nobel Prize.

On 9 October 2012, while on a bus in Swat District after taking an exam, Yousafzai and two other girls were shot by a Taliban gunman in an assassination attempt in retaliation for her activism; the gunman fled the scene. Yousafzai was hit in the head with a bullet and remained unconscious and in critical condition at the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology, but her condition later improved enough for her to be transferred to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, UK.  You can read more details here. 

The rendering of here last name into English results in the last syllable as written above, and pronounced ZĪ, or Z-EYE. 

54 A. Leader of the Pink Ladies in "Grease": BETTY RIZZO.  Portrayed in the movie by Stockard Channing, she is a tough and sarcastic leader of the Pink Ladies. She smokes, drinks, and does not care what others think of her. Rizzo is also a girl with a "reputation". 

The ending of her name is pronounced, for a nice change of pace, pretty much like it's spelt: ZŌ. 

64 A. To a great extent, informally: OUT THE WAZOO.  To an excessive degree.

The final syllable is pronounced ZŪ.  The long U is often pronounced "YOO," rather than"OO."  But sometimes not, I guess.

Hi Gang, JazzBumpa on the scene with today's lesson in phonetics.  Let's keep an ai out for what else we can find in tode's grid. Are oo with my?

Across:

1. Derisive cry: BAH.  Sometimes along with its partner, HUMBUG!

4. Open, as a 4-Down app: TAP ON.  Accessing an app on a touch-screen device.

9. Marshmallow treats: PEEPS.  

Read about them here.

14. In the past: AGO.  This was recorded some time ago.

15. Rock's __ in Chains: ALICE.

16. "The Martian" star: DAMON.   Matthew Paige Damon (b. October 8, 1970) is an American actor, film producer, and screenwriter. Ranked among Forbes' most bankable stars, the films in which he has appeared have collectively earned over $3.88 billion at the North American box office, making him one of the highest-grossing actors of all time.He has received various awards and nominations, including an Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards, in addition to nominations for three British Academy Film Awards and seven Primetime Emmy Awards.

In the movie, When astronauts blast off from the planet Mars, they leave behind Mark Watney (Matt Damon), presumed dead after a fierce storm. With only a meager amount of supplies, the stranded visitor must utilize his wits and spirit to find a way to survive on the hostile planet. Meanwhile, back on Earth, members of NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring him home, while his crew mates hatch their own plan for a daring rescue mission.

17. Earth __: DAY.   An annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by EarthDay.org (formerly Earth Day Network) including 1 billion people in more than 193 countries. 

20. Inbox filler: E-MAIL.   On your computer or device.

22. Spending like there's no tomorrow: ON A SPREE.   A spell or sustained period of unrestrained activity of a particular kind.

26. Isr. neighbor: SYR.  Israel and Syria.

27. Wild guess: STAB.   Sort of like a shot in the dark.

28. Tool with teeth: SAW.  I can see that.

31. Blue-green hue: TEAL.   A dark greenish-blue color, named for a duck of similar hue..

34. Pyramid, often: TOMB.   The Egyptian ones are.

37. Canterbury pens: GAOLS.  British spelling of Jail.  As a kid, when I first saw this in a Sherlock Holmes story I was quite confused.

44. Raging mad: IRATE.   Seeing red.

45. Barbecue rod: SPIT.   A slender pointed rod for holding meat over a fire

46. Cough syrup amts.: TSPS.  Teaspoons.

47. Alter __: EGO.  A person's secondary or alternative personality.

49. Chem class rooms: LABS.  A laboratory.  I saw a sign in one stating that here should be more labor and less oratory,

51. Quinceañera attendee, maybe: TIO.  An AUNT might attend the celebration of a girl's 15th birthday. This has cultural roots in Mexico and Europe and is widely celebrated by girls throughout Latin America. 

60. Out early: ON PAROLE.  Parole is the release of a prisoner temporarily (for a special purpose) or permanently before the completion of a sentence, on the promise of good behavior.

63. Tatum of "Paper Moon": O'NEAL.   Tatum Beatrice O'Neal [b. 1963] is an American actress. She is the youngest person ever to win an Academy Award, winning at age 10 for her performance as Addie Loggins in Paper Moon opposite her father, Ryan O'Neal. She also starred as Amanda Wurlitzer in The Bad News Bears, followed by Nickelodeon, and Little Darlings.    

67. Spill preventer: LID.   As on a child's puppy cup.

Kids in their cups

68. Like overly rehearsed comments, probably: TRITE.    Overused and consequently of little import; lacking originality or freshness.  Said of a remark, opinion, or idea.  Overly rehearsed?  I dunno 'bout that.

69. Rework, as text: EMEND.  Make corrections and improvements.

70. Beats by __: DRE.  Brand name for pricey earphones and buds.

71. Dye used in mehndi decoration: HENNA.   A  dye prepared from the plant Lawsonia inermis, also known as the henna tree, the mignonette tree, and the Egyptian privet, the sole species of the genus Lawsonia.   Mehndi is a form of body art and temporary skin decoration from the Indian subcontinent usually drawn on hands or legs.

72. Fizzy drinks: SODAS.

73. __ Lingus: AER.  The flag carrying ail line of Ireland. Founded by the Irish Government, it was privatised between 2006 and 2015 and it is now a wholly owned subsidiary of International Airlines Group. The airline's head office is on the grounds of Dublin Airport in Cloghran, County Dublin. 

Down:

1. The "B" of "Notorious RBG": BADER.   Joan Ruth Bader Ginsburg [b. 1933] was an American lawyer and jurist who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1993 until her death in 2020.

2. Peak performance: A-GAME.   One's best possible performance,

3. Georgetown athletes: HOYAS.   According to Georgetown's Athletic Department Website, many years ago, when all students were required to take Greek and Latin, the athletic teams were nicknamed "The Stonewalls."  Rumor has it that one clever student chanted "Hoya Saxa!" which translates to "What Rocks!"  The cheer grew and students began to consistently yell "Hoya Saxa! Hoya Saxa!" Eventually, the "Saxa" was dropped and the cheer evolved to "Hoya!"

The name proved popular and all Georgetown teams were named "The Hoyas."  No, a Hoya is not a bulldog. It is not any animal, mascot, or creature of any sort. Hoya actually means "what."

So, if you ever ask: What is a Hoya? That's your answer. What? What. A Hoya is what.

4. Device with a touchscreen: TABLET.    A mobile computing device that has a flat, rectangular form like that of a magazine or pad of paper, that is usually controlled by means of a touch screen, and that is typically used for accessing the Internet, watching videos, playing games, reading electronic books, etc.

5. Wong of "Always Be My Maybe": ALI.  Alexandra Dawn "Ali" Wong [b. 1982] is an American stand-up comedian and actress. She is best known for her Netflix stand-up specials Baby Cobra, Hard Knock Wife, and Don Wong. She starred in the film Always Be My Maybe, on which she also served as a writer and producer.

6. Selfie, e.g.: PIC.  Photograph of one's self.

7. Golfer Lorena: OCHOA.   Lorena Ochoa Reyes [b. 1981] is a Mexican former professional golfer who played on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour from 2003 to 2010. She was the top-ranked female golfer in the world for 158 consecutive and total weeks, from 23 April 2007 to her retirement on 2 May 2010, at the age of 28 

8. Highlighter hues: NEONS.    Extremely bright or vivid colors, so named ny analogy to neon lamps.

9. Versatile docs: PDFS.  Documents in Portable Data File format, useable on any platform.

10. Wyatt of the Old West: EARP.   Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp [1848 - 1929] was an American lawman and gambler in the American West, including Dodge City, Deadwood, and Tombstone. Earp was involved in the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral, during which lawmen killed three outlaw Cochise County Cowboys.

11. Dubai rulers: EMIRS.   A title of various Muslim (mainly Arab) rulers.

12. Seven-time MLB All-Star catcher Buster: POSEY.   Gerald Dempsey "Buster" Posey III [b.1987] is an American former professional baseball catcher. Posey spent his entire twelve-year Major League Baseball career with the San Francisco Giants, from 2009 until his retirement at the conclusion of the 2021 season. In September 2022, Posey joined the Giants' ownership group.

13. Snide smile: SNEER.   A contemptuous or mocking smile, remark, or tone.

19. Those opposed: NAYS.  

21. "Oof, look at the time": IT'S LATE.  Time to call it a night.

24. Target of some miners: DATA.  Data mining is the process of extracting and discovering patterns in large data sets involving methods at the intersection of machine learning, statistics, and database systems.

25. Some TikTok teens: E-BOYS.   E-girls and e-boys, sometimes collectively known as e-kids, are a youth subculture of Gen Z that emerged in the late 2010s, notably popularized by the video-sharing app TikTok. It is an evolution of emo, scene and mall goth fashion combined with Japanese street fashion and K-pop fashion.

29. Ottoman title: AGA.    A military or civil officer in the Ottoman Empire

30. Enters, as an aroma: WAFTS IN.  To WAFT is to pass or cause to pass easily or gently through or as if through the air.

31. "You've shared enough!": TMI.  Too Much Information.

32. AirPod holder: EAR.  The organ of hearing and balance in humans and other vertebrates, especially the external part of this.

33. Pie __ mode: ALA.  Literally, fashionable; in the current style or fashion.   Here in the U.S. it means the ice cream has a scoop of ice cream on it.

35. Swiffer product: MOP.   An implement made of absorbent material fastened to a handle and used especially for cleaning floors

36. Constructed: BUILT.  

38. Parts of lbs.: OZS.   Pounds and ounces.  Where does the "z" come from?  

39. Overtake and then some, on a track: LAP.  A LAP is one time around a race track.  To LAP another runner is to get one full LAP ahead of him

40. Family nickname: SIS.   Meaning sister.  I have one.

42. __ of lamb: LEG.   Lamb leg is a large and succulent cut from the hind legs that can be butchered into smaller cuts. Lamb leg is a popular Sunday dinner roasting joint, though, this is not the only way this tasty joint can be prepared.

43. Stick around: STAY.   Remain in a certain place.

48. Wind quintet wind: OBOE.   A woodwind instrument with a double-reed mouthpiece, a slender tubular body, and holes stopped by keys.

50. Stews (over): BROODS.  Thinks deeply about something that makes one unhappy.  Worries.

51. Sweet __: TOOTH.  A affection for confections.

52. Accustom: INURE.  Accustom (someone) to something, especially something unpleasant.

53. Decide to participate: OPT IN.  Choose to participate in something.

55. "As You Wish" memoirist Cary: ELWES.   Ivan Simon Cary Elwes [b. 1962] is an English actor and writer. He is known for his leading film roles as Westley in The Princess Bride, Robin Hood in Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and Dr. Lawrence Gordon in the Saw film series.

56. DÌa de San ValentÌn sentiment: TE AMO.  The Valentine's Day sentiment is, I love you."

57. Nintendo's The Legend of __: ZELDA.  The Legend of Zelda is an action-adventure game franchise created by the Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo, although some portable installments and re-releases have been outsourced to Capcom, Vanpool, and Grezzo.

58. Former name of the Congo: ZAIRE.   Officially the Republic of Zaire (French: République du Zaïre, [ʁepyblik dy zaiʁ]), was a Congolese state from 1971 to 1997 in Central Africa that was previously and is now again known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Zaire was, by area, the third-largest country in Africa (after Sudan and Algeria), and the 11th-largest country in the world. With a population of over 23 million inhabitants, Zaire was the most-populous officially Francophone country in Africa, as well as one of the most populous in Africa.

59. Not as up-to-date: OLDER.  I'm taking this personally.

61. Memo abbreviation: ATTN.   Attention recipient.

62. "Better Call Saul" Emmy nominee Seehorn: RHEA.   Deborah Rhea Seehorn [b. 1972] is an American actress and director. She is best known for playing attorney Kim Wexler in AMC's Better Call Saul, for which she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards

65. Zoo opening in London?: ZED.   The first, i.e. opening, letter of the word in Brit-speak. We just call it Zee.

66. "Based __ true story": ON A.  Said of a fictional account involving real persons and/or events.

That's all, folks.  Hope you were able to pronounce all these words.  Happy Wednesday, everyone.

Cool regards!

JzB

Sunday November 13, 2022 Drew Schmenner

Theme: "It's Working!" - Various job professions are humorously re-interpreted, fitting the position in each clue.

23. Hitching post?: WEDDING OFFICIANT.

33. Fair trade?: CARNIVAL BARKER.

60. Cold calling?: POLAR EXPLORER.

70. Inside job?: INTERIOR DECORATOR.

82. Power station?: PRIME MINISTER.

107. Instrumental role?: CONCERT PIANIST.

121. Scoring position?: BROADWAY COMPOSER.

Congrats to Drew Schmenner on his LAT debut. And a milestone Sunday.

Both the theme entries and the clues are solidly in-the-language. Very consistent and a must for this theme type.

Across:

1. Soccer great Mia: HAMM. Bill G has met with her. They once lived in the same neighborhood.

5. Practical jokers: WAGS.

9. Ankle-related: TARSAL.

15. Kindergarten recitation: ABCS.

19. McFlurry cookie: OREO.

20. Inside scoop: INFO.

21. "The Heart of the Matter" novelist: GREENE (Graham)

22. "Sounds like a __!": PLAN.

26. Pennant __: RACE.

27. Vision correction tools: LASERS. We also have 62. Ophthalmologist, informally: EYE DOC. Anyone had LASIK on our blog?

28. __ Grande: RIO.

29. Like rainforests: LUSH.

31. Revolutionary Guevara: CHE. He visited China in the 1960s. Here with Chairman Mao and Zhou Enlai.

32. Social group: CLUB.

38. "Pipe down!": SHH.

40. Tiny parasites: LICE.

42. Erin of "Happy Days": MORAN.

43. Wax-wrapped cheese: EDAM.

44. Try to win over: WOO.

45. Freud's "The __ and the Id": EGO.

46. Shoulder muscles, briefly: DELTS.

48. Two-syllable foot: IAMB.

51. Cry to a cap'n: AHOY.

53. Not much at all: A TAD.

57. Snooped (around): NOSED.

59. Hankook product: TIRE. Based in South Korea.

64. Some Himalayan residents: NEPALIS.

66. Beam: RAY.

67. Far from port: ASEA.

68. Pigeon coop: COTE.

69. Inexact fig.: EST.

75. World Series mo.: OCT. Here's Boomer's Eucharistic Minister Bill and his wife Margaret. I really like them, so kind and sweet. Bill hopes that I can become a Catholic so they can still see me regularly in the future.

 

77. Genesis locale: EDEN.

78. Hardships: ILLS.

79. Agcy. with a taxing job: IRS.

80. Peanut butter Girl Scout cookies: DO-SI-DOS.

88. Notable times: ERAS.

89. Cuban singer Cruz: CELIA. "Queen of Salsa".

 

 

91. Any second now: SOON.

92. Exude, as charm: OOZE.

93. Actress Ward: SELA.

94. __-turvy: TOPSY.

96. "60 Minutes" network: CBS.

99. Ornate flower pot: URN.

100. Lava __: LAMP.

103. Agree to join: OPT IN.

105. Casual conversation: CHAT. I talk with Carmen almost every day. She's going to be a grandma soon.

106. Purr former: CAT.

111. Maui's scenic __ Highway: HANA.

113. WC: LOO.

114. "Falling Skies" actor Wyle: NOAH.

115. "Life Is Good" rapper: NAS.

116. Poet Gorman who read at President Biden's inauguration: AMANDA.

119. Give off: EMIT.

126. Lhasa __: APSO.

127. Many a profile picture: SELFIE.

128. Mystery novelist Paretsky: SARA.

129. One of the Three Bears: MAMA.

130. "Those people?": THEM.

131. Dangerous African fly: TSETSE.

132. Cash drawer slot: ONES.

133. "Sounds good to me!": I'M IN.

Down:

1. Laugh really hard: HOWL.

2. Field of expertise: AREA.

3. Inst. that features clinical rotations: MED SCHOOL. Partner with 85. Froot Loops mascot: TOUCAN SAM. Brilliant pairs.

4. Prototype: MODEL.

5. Hits the jackpot: WINS BIG. I put in a $10 bill when we went to Mystic Lake for Boomer's birthday. Almost lost all my money, then I got this.

 

6. "Life of Pi" director Lee: ANG.

7. Fighter pilot's sensation: G FORCE.

8. "Lost in Translation" director Coppola: SOFIA. Daughter of Francis Ford Coppola.

9. __ Fridays: TGI.

10. Continuing storyline: ARC.

11. Big name in outdoor gear: REI.

12. Putty, caulk, etc.: SEALANTS.

13. Invalidate: ANNUL.

14. Doesn't bother: LETS BE.

15. Bank loan abbr.: APR.

16. Extortionist: BLACKMAILER. Partnered with 70. "They're not saying anything worth listening to": IT'S ALL NOISE. We don't often see pair of 11's as fill.

17. Secret stash: CACHE.

18. Scornful look: SNEER.

24. "Go, me!": I RULE.

25. 79-Across document: FORM.

30. Possessed: HAD.

34. Agreement from a silent partner?: NOD.

35. "Lost in Yonkers" Tony winner Worth: IRENE.

36. Bravery: VALOR.

37. Yogurt-based condiment served with hot curry dishes: RAITA. Cucumbers are cooling. Yin food.

38. Exchange: SWAP.

39. Hostess cream-filled cake: HO HO.

41. Sweet-talk: COAX.

47. Spanish title: SENOR.

49. 3D diagnostic tools, briefly: MRIS. Also 105. Diagnostic tool, briefly: CT SCAN.

50. Second to none: BEST.

52. Story: YARN.

54. Singer featured on Flo Rida's "Low": T PAIN.

55. Additionally: ALSO.

56. Action figure?: DOER.

58. Hold up: DETAIN.

61. Evaluated: RATED.

63. Diameter halves: RADII.

65. __ dish: PETRI.

68. Pink cocktail, familiarly: COSMO.

71. Start anew: RESET.

72. Majestic trees: ELMS.

73. Geppetto's goldfish: CLEO. In "Pinocchio".

 

74. __ buco: OSSO.

75. "To a ... " poems: ODES.

76. Apple discard: CORE.

81. Sci-fi writer Asimov: ISAAC.

82. Longstocking of kid-lit: PIPPI.

83. Worshipper of Jah: RASTA.

84. Inseam unit: INCH.

86. Political commentator Klein: EZRA. He co-founded Vox.

87. Tenant's expense: RENT.

90. Contract ambiguity that may be exploited: LOOPHOLE.

95. Half a cosmic whole: YIN.

97. Commonwealth off Florida: BAHAMAS.

98. Notary public's device: STAMP.

101. Fellows: MEN.

102. "Survivor" host Jeff: PROBST.

104. "I Put a Spell on You" singer Simone: NINA.

107. Sole mate?: CLEAT. Great clue.

108. Vim and vigor: OOMPH.

109. Shipping weight deductions: TARES.

110. Final word: SAY SO.

112. Two-time Australian Open winner Osaka: NAOMI.

117. __-glace: rich sauce: DEMI.

118. Isles off the Irish coast: ARAN.

120. Hall of Fame pitcher Seaver: TOM.

122. Toward the rudder: AFT.

123. Prefix with content and belief: DIS.

124. Miniature: WEE.

125. Smelter's input: ORE.

 

A few extra notes:

1) Happy birthday to Big Easy (George), husband of Louisiana Tennis Hall of Famer Diane! Guess what, George understands my English.

Big Easy and his wife Diane

2) Boomer has not been feeling great. He sleeps quite a bit and eats little. He also has stomachache whenever he gets up to pee or just moves. He's still adamantly against a hospital bed, so we'll have to continue to struggle with the one set of stairs every day. 

We did have some highlights. On Tuesday, the hospice sent Jeffrey to give Boomer a sponge bath in his life chair. Jeffrey spent two years teaching English in Jiangsu, China. He returned to the US after COVID hit. It was fun speaking some basic Chinese with him.

Then on Friday, the hospice staff sent Boomer a bag of goodies, including this appreciation letter. We were so moved.

 

 

 

3) My book "Sip & Solve Easy Mini Crosswords" will be published on May 9, 2023. It's edited by Francis Heaney. The book is now available for pre-order at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The grids are all 10x10, all themed. I think you'll like it. Very me.

C.C.