Saturday, July 22, 2023, Ed Sessa

 Saturday Themeless by Dr. Ed Sessa

It has been over two years since I have had the privilege blogging one of Dr. Sessa's Saturday themeless puzzles. He is a master constructor and even the obscure fill of today had plenty of help to complete. Here we see him with his late puppy Tug. 

As you know, Dr. Ed was displaced from his idyllic Sanibel Island by Hurricane Ian and after searching for new quarters wound up on the Florida mainland just across from his old digs on Sanibel. 

Across:

1. Bee team: SWARM 😀

6. One who handles liner notes?: 😀 PURSER  - One of many jobs a PURSER handles on a cruise liner.

            

12. Gorillagram get-up: APE SUIT.

14. Individually: APIECE.

15. [yawn]: BLAH BLAH - Read the room!

17. Northernmost capital on the Mississippi: ST. PAUL - Just across the river from C.C.

 
18. Need for some kiddie pools: AIR.

19. Bit of Springfield graffiti: EL BARTO.

21. Actress Wray: FAY - She'll always be remembered for this role

22. Orhan Pamuk novel featuring a blizzard in Turkey: SNOW - All you'd ever want to know

24. Choir section: ALTOS.

25. Carpentry joint: DADO.

26. Lab burners of old: ETNAS - I wasn't teaching when they were called this: in my lab we called them Bunsen burners

28. When day is done, to Donne: EEN - Poetic contraction for evening

29. "The Newsroom" creator Sorkin: AARON - AARON is on the front right

30. Wielder of a Neutrona Wand: GHOSTBUSTER - A model of Peter Venkman with one. "Who ya gonna call?"

33. Number cruncher: BEAN COUNTER.    

34. Fine and dandy: RIGHT AS RAIN - A very appropriate sentiment for summer in Nebraska

35. Some consoles: SEGAS.

36. Tent stake: PEG.

37. Lives like a queen?: RULES - We have one at our house.

41. Footlocker clasp: HASP.

42. Get ready, in a way: TEE UP - Fore!

44. Slow roller from first to third?: TARP - Yes, it rolls out slowly and covers first base to third base, but don't be too slow and get caught under it.

45. High point of a Ricola commercial: ALP.

46. Places with some good deals: CASINOS - 😀 After years of resistance, Nebraska has finally legalized CASINOS.  Temporary ones have already generated millions in tax revenues while big new facilities are being constructed like this one in Lincoln.

48. Orange County airport, on luggage tags: SNA - SNA is the airport code for this airport in Santa Ana, CA.

49. Plug: STOP UP 

51. QB stat: TD PASSES.

53. Blow one's horn: TOOTLE - This sounds like something Jeffrey Wechsler might author.

54. "Baseball is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical," for one: YOGIISM - Ya gotta love #8, YOGI Berra!

55. Name of the pig on "Green Acres": ARNOLD - ARNOLD Ziffel to be exact

56. Parking ticket issuer: VALET - 😀 You get a ticket so your VALET can retrieve your car

Down:

1. Support after a break, perhaps: SPLINT 😀

2. Start to aggravate: WEAR ON.

3. Volcanic fallout: ASH - From the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens

4. Unsophisticated sort: RUBE - Lil Abner leapt to my mind

5. Jovovich of the "Resident Evil" films: MILLA - Hollywood has a penchant for scantily attired, young women toting weapons

6. Personal histories: PASTS.

7. Until: UP TO.

8. Letters set in stone: RIP - Rest In Peace

9. Plymouth voyager?: SEAFARER - Puritan was one letter short. Those who did make the 66-day trip in 1620 were indeed SEAFARERS.

10. Country named for its location: ECUADOR - ECUADOR is Spanish for equator. ECUADOR is one of the few places on Earth where the 0^o line of latitude goes through Ciuad Mitad del Mundo, which is a few miles north of Quito.  Some say it is off by 250 yds but on March 21 and September 21 they have no shadow there.

11. Need: RELY ON.

12. Put down: ABASE.

13. Artistic settings?: TABLESCAPES - Probably too fancy for a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup.

16. "Such a shame": HATE TO SEE IT - An instate boy was a huge disappointment!

20. Fictional news anchor who ended broadcasts with "You stay classy, San Diego!": RON BURGUNDY.

23. Equal Pay Day issue: WAGE GAP - I've never taught at a school where there was a WAGE GAP between men and women teachers. Nor was there one between great and mediocre ones. 

25. Bread sold in cans: DATE NUT.

27. Pahlavi dynasts: SHAHS - The SHAH had his shortcomings but after he left...

29. Up: ASTIR.

31. Maple Leafs prov.: ONT - The Maple Leafs play in the Scotiabank Arena, 40 Bay St., Toronto, ONT M5J 2X2, Canada

32. "__ cerveza, por favor": UNA - One beer please in Español 

33. Hip hugger?: BIG SPOON - 😀

34. One who moves a lot?: REALTOR - REALTORS in our neighborhood are trying to move building lots for $75,000 apiece

35. Peak in the Cascade Range: SHASTA - C.C. and I did a puzzle 9 years ago that had the names of peaks in The Cascade Range differently clued.

38. Dog star: LASSIE.  Not Sirius

39. "A Lesson Before Dying" writer __ J. Gaines: ERNEST.

40. Unavoidable jerk: SPASM - We have an unavoidable jerk in our golf league. 

42. Cordoned (off): TAPED.

43. American vodka brand with a Russian name: POPOV.

46. Gather selectively: CULL - My MIL had to periodically CULL the non-laying hens out of her flock 

47. Extensive account: SAGA.

50. Sick days, personal days, etc.: Abbr.: PTO - Paid Time Off

52. Part of RSVP: SIL - Voulez-vous S'IL vous plaît commenter l'énigme du Docteur Sessa? (Will you please comment on Doctor Sessa's puzzle?)

 

Thursday, July 6, 2023 Ed Sessa

  Forever Blowing Bubbles

Today marks the 140th puzzle that Dr. Ed Sessa has constructed for us.  Here's an email that Husker received from him on June 1, 2023 re his current plans ...

Hi Gary,
Thanks for asking. Penny and I traveled through northern Virginia trying to find a place, home or apartment that was somehow equidistant and closer to our kids but it was not to be for various reasons. All things considered we decided to stay in SW Florida, and will soon close on a home in Fort Myers. It's about 45 minutes from Sanibel so we can still maintain some friendships and connections from the past 20+ years and watch the island heal. We were very lucky that someone (turned out to be an ex-football player and contractor) bought what was left of our home, with plans to build an elevated home on the site. I appreciate all the work you and the whole crew do on the blog site - it must be a labor of love. If you are ever in the neighborhood let me know!
Regards,
Ed

As for today's construction, I think Dr. Ed must have gotten wind of the controversy that occasionally arises on the Corner, the one about whether or not circles are actually ever needed in theme puzzles.  Today he rises to the occasion, and presents a puzzle which not only uses circles, but absolutely requires circles, as they are a part of the theme.  Here are the themers, which are all DOWN clues, listed from WEST to EAST (use your imagination to circle the RED letters) ...

3D. Snooze: CATCH SOME ZS.   It's time for my afternoon nap ...

34D. Act as a matchmaker: PLAY CUPID.

14D. Got carried away: WENT OVER BOARD.  Goldie meets Kurt and mayhem ensues ...

8D. Whoopi Goldberg comedy with a "Back in the Habit" sequel: SISTER ACT.   Co-starring the Dowager Countess of Grantham from Downton Abbey ...

Time to burst the bubble on  what the circles reveal (when read from BOTTOM UP of course) ...

25D. Products of a child's wand, and what are literally rising in this puzzle's circles: SOAP BUBBLES.

Here are the SOAPS ...

ZEST
DIAL
DOVE
CARESS

Here's the grid ...
 

And here's the rest ...

Across:

1. Indy 500 leader: PACE CAR.  After 1911 the Indianapolis 500 auto PACE CAR led the assembled starting racers around the track for a predetermined number of unscored warm-up laps. Then if the officials deem appropriate, they'd release the field at a purposeful speed to start the race proper.  Prior to this date the cars began from a standing start.

The PACE CAR (a Chevrolet Corvette) leads the field past
an accident site at the 2007 Indianapolis 500.

8. "More or less": SORTA.  KINDA.

13. Regional measure: STATE LAW. 

15. One-dimensional: LINEAR.  À la A______________________________B

16. Make future plans: SET A DATE.

17. Not on the level: ASLANT.

18. Gumshoe: TEC.  My favorite TEC ...

19. "So be it!": AMEN.

20. Trough location: STY.

21. Prefix with scope: HORO.  A HOROSCOPE is an astrological chart or diagram representing the positions of the Sun, Moon, planets, astrological aspects and sensitive angles at the time of an event, such as the moment of a person's birth. The word horoscope is derived from the Greek words ōra and scopos meaning "time" and "observer".

A horoscope calculated for January 1, 2000
at 12:01:00 A.M. EST
in New York, NY, US
(Long: 074W00'23" – Lat: 40N42'51")
Hand up if you're an astrologer --
does this horoscope predict the end of the World?

23. Actress Catherine who played Donna Noble on "Doctor Who":TATE.   Dr. Who has been adventuring through time and space since November 23, 1963, always accompanied by one or more companions. Donna Noble was a companion of the 10th Doctor (David Tenant).  In this episode, called Partners in Crime, she has been re-united with the Doctor as they attempt to foil the evil machinations of Adipose Industries, led by the shady Miss Foster (Sarah Lancashire of Happy Valley).  Hand up if you know how to lip-read -- perhaps you can help us with some of the silent dialogue in this clip ...

25. Blue: SAD.

28. Reckless: RASH. 
 
30. Candymaker Russell: STOVER.  Russell Stover Chocolates, Inc. is an American manufacturer of candy, chocolate, and confections. Founded by Russell Stover, an American chemist and entrepreneur, and his wife Clara Stover in 1923, it is an independent subsidiary of Swiss chocolatier Lindt & Sprüngli.

32. Poem of praise: ODE.  Hand up if you can name another 3 letter poem type?

33. Tread heavily: CLOMP.

35. Vegan brand owned by Estée Lauder: AVEDA.  Funny I'd never heard of this before, but the other day I turned around in the shower and there was a bottle of AVEDA shampoo on the shelf.  I use the 2 in 1 Goo on the shower rack.

36. Instant messaging pioneer: AOL.

37. Desert mount: CAMEL. 

"The camel has a single hump;

The dromedary, two;

Or else the other way around.

I’m never sure. Are you?"  -- Ogden Nash

38. Part of mph: PER.

39. __ pants: CAPRI.  They're back!

41. Pacific Coast Highway's route number: ONE.

42. Golden __: AGERS.

44. Squeezable containers: TUBES.

45. "Supernova" singer Phair: LIZ.  Elizabeth Clark Phair (born April 17, 1967) is an American rock singer-songwriter. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Phair was raised primarily in the Chicago area. After graduating from Oberlin College in 1990, she attempted to start a musical career in San Francisco, California, but returned to her home in Chicago, where she began self-releasing audio cassettes under the name Girly-Sound. The tapes led to a recording contract with the independent record label Matador Records.  Here's her Supernova ...

46. "Count on it!": YOU BET.

48. Word with order or hour: RUSH.  Or this BAND (with thanks to -T for this inspiring recommendation!) ...

49. Donkey: ASS.

50. Guitarist's gadget: CAPO.  What's a capo and why you need it (if you're a guitarist that is)?

51. Uneducated guess: STAB.

53. Director's cry: CUT. 

54. Declare: AVER.

56. Pal to text emoji hearts to: BFF.  Best Friends Forever.

59. Party app: CANAPE.  SORTA synonymous with hor d’oeuvre.  Here are some recipes for easy Canapés.

Canapés

62. Merchant: RETAILER.

64. Unlikely Best Picture nominee: B MOVIE. How to see B-MOVIES with Dave Kehr of MOMA (and no Casablanca is not a B Movie) ...

65. Separate: DISCRETE.

66. Scattered, as seed: SOWED.

67. Thoughtful words: LETS SEE.

Down:

1. Furtive summons: PSST.

2. Suit to __: A TEE.
.
3. [Theme clue]

4. Greek vowel: ETA.

5. Wood for some dressers: CEDAR.  CEDAR oil is a moth repellent.  My father made CEDAR chests for each of his children.

6. Los __, New Mexico: ALAMOS.  The film Oppenheimer is set there.  It's opening in theaters beginning 7/21/23 and the buzz is that it's pretty scary ...

7. Charge per day, e.g.: RATE.

8. [Theme clue]

9. Rihanna's "__ Girl (In the World)": ONLY.  I wonder if this was the ONLY clue for ONLY that Dr. Ed could think of? 😀

Robyn Rihanna Fenty, NH (Order of National Heroes) born February 20, 1988) is a Barbadian singer, actress, and businesswoman. Known as a hitmaker, she is widely considered one of the most prominent singers of the 21st century.  

10. Belfast-born actor Stephen: REA.  Stephen REA (born 31 October 1946) is an Irish film and stage actor.  Rea has appeared in films such as V for Vendetta, Michael Collins, Interview with the Vampire and Breakfast on Pluto. Rea was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for Neil Jordan's thriller The Crying Game (1992) ,,,

11. Shade at the beach: TAN.

12. Painting, sculpture, etc.: ART.

14. [Theme clue]

15. Stood the test of time: LASTED.  Here are some things that have stood the test of time ...

22. "Heavens to Betsy!": OH ME.

24. Ill-disposed: AVERSE.

25. [Theme reveal]

26. Loves loads: ADORES.

27. "Yummy!": DELISH.

28. Dr Pepper alternative: RC COLA.

29. Seven-time Grammy winner Morissette: ALANIS.  ALANIS Nadine Morissette (born June 1, 1974) is a Canadian-American singer and songwriter. Known for her emotive mezzo-soprano voice and confessional songwriting, Morissette began her career in Canada in the early 1990s with two dance-pop albums. In 1995, she released Jagged Little Pill, an alternative rock-oriented album with elements of post-grunge, which sold more than 33 million copies globally and made her a cultural phenomenon.  

Alanis seems to have mellowed a bit since the early days.  Here's her song Missing the Miracle from her 2017 album Such Pretty Forks in the Road ...

31. Attend to, as a sprain, e.g.: TAPE UP.

34. [Theme clue]

40. Otherworldly glow: AURA.

43. Doodled beard on some pictures: GOATEE.  I resemble that remark!

47. __ fly: TSETSE.  TSETSE, are large, biting flies that inhabit much of tropical Africa. The tsetse is an obligate parasite, which lives by feeding on the blood of vertebrate animals. Tsetse has been extensively studied, because of their role in transmitting disease. They have a prominent economic impact in sub-Saharan Africa, as the biological vectors of trypanosomes, causing human and animal trypanosomiasis ("sleeping sickness"). Scary looking ...

Tsetse Fly

52. Parcel of land: TRACT.

53. Totally give in: CAVE.

55. Concealing garb: VEIL.  Something we all wear, and a theme explored in W. Somerset Maugham's 1925 novel The Painted Veil, the basis for this movie starring Edward Norton and Naomi Watts ... 

57. Big ball: FETE.

58. Unfettered: FREE.

59. "Young Sheldon" network: CBS.  Full disclosure: I've never seen TBBT.  But, just like The Simpsons, it's a learnable skill if you do crosswords ...

60. Latin primer word: AMO.  "I love".  Today's Latin lesson.  Also short for BBs.

61. Today: NOW.

63. Org. that takes many forms: IRS.  Or "Org. that doesn't have many fans".

Cheers,
Bill

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

waseeley 

 

Notes from C.C.:

Happy 76th birthday to dear Bill, our most kind, caring and thoughtful Thursday Sherpa. Bill and Teri's cards and emails provided me great comfort and love in the final year of Boomer's life. Thank you for being in my life, Bill!