Monday July 12, 2021 George Jasper

Theme: ESPYS (69. Annual athletic achievement awards, and a phonetic hint to 17-, 27-, 47- and 61-Across) - Each theme answer has a S* P* pattern.

17. The orange one is often called a yam: SWEET POTATO.

27. Hidden Hogwarts corridor: SECRET PASSAGE.

47. Behind-the-scenes investor: SILENT PARTNER.

61. Group looking for a missing person: SEARCH PARTY.

Boomer here.  This looks like a Swell Puzzle.  I am sure that our neighbors in Saint Paul will like it.

Across:

1. Jigsaw puzzle unit: PIECE.  Sorry to admit how many hours I spent putting these things together. 

6. Rome's Fontana di __: TREVI.

11. Baseball's Ripken: CAL.  I have dozens and dozens of his baseball cards.  I put together a stack of ten for eBay.

14. Fizzy mixers: SODAS.  I am sold on Diet Pepsi and Canada Dry Ginger ale.  But I do not mix it with anything anymore.

15. Whirlybird part: ROTOR.

16. Ike's WWII arena: ETO.  Yup, the European Theater of Operations - Dwight Eisenhower's command.  He did so well we elected him President for eight years.

19. Court of __: LAW.  Where Jack McCoy takes over.  I watch too much TV.

20. Beach souvenirs: TANS.  We used to get these on the golf course.

21. Golf ball position: LIE.  Also a way to lower your golf score.

22. Complete: ENTIRE.

24. Words with mode or carte: A LA.  Southern state with a low percentage of vaccinations.

26. Stylish suits: ARMANIS.

32. Many a stray pooch: CUR.

33. Nonetheless: STILL.  "Though you broke my heart, STILL, though we're far apart." Bill Anderson.

34. Art class subjects: NUDES.

37. "T" on a test: TRUE.  Some of my tests were "F".

39. Blunted fencing blades: EPEES.

41. Carpet thickness: PILE.  I have been going through PILES of Baseball cards.

42. "There you have it!": VOILA.  Always reminds me of Frank Viola of the Twins.  I think I have some of his cards.

44. "Fame" singer Cara: IRENE.  "Good night IRENE, Good night IRENE, I'll see you in my dreams." 

46. World Cup cheer: OLE.  Sven's buddy and boy do I have those jokes.

50. Business event using Zoom, perhaps: MEETING.  I had a lot of MEETINGS, but never on ZOOM.

52. La Brea goo: TAR.  We had a MEETING with the Association last month and it sounds like we may be getting a new driveway soon, also a big bill.

53. Trouser measure: INSEAM.  I think I am still a 34.  I've been wearing shorts all summer.

54. D.C. fundraising group: PAC.

56. Like much tea in summer: ICED.  It's pretty good but I'll stick with Diet Pepsi for now.

60. Cry from Homer: DOH.  I never got into the Simpsons.

64. MSNBC co-anchor __ Velshi: ALI.  I cannot know if he shaved his head or just lost his hair.

65. German industrial city: ESSEN.

66. Words of defeat: I LOSE.

67. Syrup source: SAP.

68. Tremble: SHAKE.  Rattle and Roll!

Down:

1. Attention-getting hiss: PSST.  Do you want to know a secret.

2. Des Moines' state: IOWA.  Our neighbor to the south.  C.C. and I traveled there while I was working as I had to visit Graybar in Des Moines. 

3. Starter home for Adam and Eve?: EDEN.  Minnesota has an EDEN Prairie.  Adam and Eve never lived there but Vikings' Bud Grant does. 

4. Salad variety: CAESAR.  "How many eggs did you have for breakfast CAESAR ??"
"Et Tu Brute"

5. Superlative ending: EST.

6. Picard's counselor: TROI.

7. Mechanical learning method: ROTE.  I remember we used to learn music by ROTE.

8. LAX posting: ETA.  Estimated Time of Arrival, and they do mean Estimated.

9. People filling out ballots: VOTERS.  C.C. and I voted by mail last year. It seemed better than standing in line for two hours at a local church.

10. Ripken nickname based on his durability: IRON MAN.  He played in 2632 games in a row.  The previous record was held by Lou Gehrig at 2130.  I have many Cal Ripken baseball cards but only one of Lou Gehrig, and it's not an original.

 

11. Canadian-born singer with the 2019 album "Courage": CELINE DION.

12. Gaming pioneer: ATARI.  Played these games many times.

13. The Home Depot competitor: LOWE'S.  We have both stores in our area.  I have to admit that Home Depot has gotten more money from us than Lowe's.

18. Nebraska river: PLATTE.

23. Prepare to score from third, say: TAG UP.  Only on a long fly ball.

25. French article: LES.

26. Out for the night: ASLEEP.  Happens every night.

27. Old Canadian skit show: SCTV.

28. Italian money: EURO.  I purchased some EUROs on eBay once but I think I sold them at a flea market for a loss.

29. Vacation vessel: CRUISESHIP.  We have never taken a cruise on one of these monsters.  It seems they were Covid carriers a couple of years ago.  

30. __ hot: steaming: PIPING.

31. On the lookout: ALERT.

35. Fashion monthly: ELLE.

36. Visionary: SEER.

38. Cream of the crop: ELITE.  I used to be an ELITE bowler, Now I am only LITE.

40. Grab quickly: SNATCH.

43. Assumed names: ALIASES.  Smith and Jones?

45. Pitcher's stat: ERA.  Most of our Twins are over 6.00.

48. Catch in a net: ENMESH.

49. "All Rise" procedures: TRIALS.  "All my TRIALS Lord, Soon be over".  Peter, Paul, and Mary and others. 

50. Golden-touch king: MIDAS.  I went there once for a brake job.  Never again. 

51. __ Gay: WWII bomber: ENOLA.  A famous WWII bomber.  The name came from the pilot's Mother.

54. Educ. for tots: PRE-K.

55. Teen's bane: ACNE.

57. Field yield: CROP.  We have some beans and cucumbers planted.  I guess we might get what the squirrels did not ruin.

58. Craftsy etailer: ETSY.

59. Hair salon colors: DYES.  I am a natural Minnesota Swede Blonde.  Maybe it has a little gray mixed in but I'll never tell.

62. Clean __ whistle: AS A.  My Great, Great grandfather is ASA Hutchinson of the Hutchinson family singers.  They founded Hutchinson Minnesota about 150 years ago.  I once wrote to ASA Hutchinson, the governor of Arkansas with the story.  I thought we might be related but he said no.  However he once visited Minnesota and Congressman Eric Paulsen took him out to Hutchinson.  ASA wrote me a nice letter in response.  

63. Dessert pastry: PIE.

Boomer

Thursday, April 29, 2021 George Jasper

I reckon' that George Jasper has been ramblin' thru these parts at least since July 10, 2017 (blogged by our beloved Argyle) and today George treats us to a word scramble about Western drifters.
 

Tumbling Tumbleweed
By The Sons of the Pioneers

 We'll start with the reveal ...

58. Drifters in some Western scenes ... and a hint to what's hidden in the three other longest puzzle answers: TUMBLEWEEDS.  And here are the scrambled answers

17. Wrongly-named winner in a 1948 headline: THOMAS DEWEY.  I remember it well - I was 17 months old at the time. And the real winner was HARRY S TRUMAN, and as we all know, the S doesn't stand for anything:
 

28. To the point: SHORT AND SWEET.  For example

Scottish Shortbread

44. Teamwork-inspiring motto: UNITED WE STAND.  This timely phrase has been used by countless statesmen and leaders throughout US history.  It originally dates back to AESOP's fable of the The Four Oxen and the Lion.

Across:
1. Yanks' NL counterparts, on scoreboards: NYM.  The New York Mets play in Citi Field:

4. Looks at phone pics, say: SCROLLS.  Technology has appropriated this term from the period dating back to Biblical times.  Its most iconic usage was in the scrolls used to record the PENTATEUCH, the Jewish Old Testament.  But it is much more than that.

11. Stew ingredient: PEA.

14. Remote battery size: AAA.  This is the rest of them ...

15. Pedicure focus: TOENAIL.  Commonly thought of as a purely cosmetic procedure, but they are also an important aspect of healthy foot care.  They even rate their own entry in WebMd.

16. Burning: LIT.

19. MD treating canals: ENT.  Ear Nose and Throat.  A clecho with 35D.

20. Rival of ancient Athens: CORINTH.  The city dates back to the Neolithic era and has been a center of East-West trade since the historical era.  St. Paul taught there, and the city was invaded by the Turks in 1715, an event depicted in Rossini's tragic opera, The Siege of Corinth.  Here's the overture led by Georg Solti (10 min):

21. Remove from its box: UNCASE.  Not exactly common usage.

23. Use a block and tackle on: HOIST. My first ceramic studio was on the back porch on the 3rd story of a big frame house.  I used one of these to haul several tons of clay and supplies up to it:
 

Block and tackle

24. Egg head?: OVI.  Plural of eggs?  I don't get it.  A CSO to someone who does.

27. Bridge positions: EASTS.  Hands up from those who had HANDS first.

31. "That's __-brainer!": A NO. 

32. "Exodus" novelist: URIS.  This the modern EXODUS of Holocaust survivors to found the modern state of Israel.  But it has obvious parallels to the 2nd Book of the PENTATEUCH (see 4A).

33. Common game piece: DIE.  Plural DICE:

Snake Eyes!

34. Floppy: LIMP.  Remember these?
 

Floppy Disks (8", 5.25", 3.5"

37. Felt under the weather: AILED.

39. Spy in "Spectre" (2015): BOND.  Daniel Craig and co-star Léa Seydoux.

40. "Skylanding" artist: ONO.   Yoko installed this sculpture in Jackson Park, Chicago in 2016 to promote World Peace and US-Japanese relations:
 

41. Record concern: BLOT.

42. Pique condition?: IRE.

48. Plant anew: RESOW.  While this won't work for all vegetables, early spring crops like lettuce, spinach, and radishes can be RESOWN in the Fall.  All of this depends on the vegetable and what US "hardiness zone" you're in. For those interested, I have Word file with an extensive chart of veggies with Spring/Fall planting dates for Maryland (zones 5b-8a) plus lots of other info from Mel Bartholomew's Square Foot Gardening.  If you'd like a copy, send me an email to the address in my profile.

49. Fleet VIP: ADM.

50. Cutlass model: CIERA.

53. Stella __: Belgian brew: ARTOIS.  I would have taken you to their website, but under-aged Cornerites would not be admitted. 
 

55. College member: ELECTOR. Nice misdirection.  George is talking about this college, much in the news the past year.

57. Minute: WEE.  WEE was the clue for SMA (Scots' slang) in the last puzzle I blogged.

61. PC linkup: LAN.  Local Area Network.  Used for PC communications confined to a "local area", e.g. a single building.  They use either ETHERNET (connected via wires) or WIFI (connected via "radio waves").  The former is faster and more reliable, but the latter is much more flexible and easier to set up. 

62. Zagreb's country: CROATIA.  Croatia is just across the Adriatic from Italy:
 

63. Musk of Tesla, e.g.: CEO.  A visionary and one of the richest men in the world.  However IMHO he has far too much unchecked power.  For example the world-wide STARLINK data network he is building using fast moving low-level satellites is ruining the night sky for astronomers; and his plan to "terraform" Mars to make it suitable for colonization is pure science fiction fantasy.  I'd welcome it if he goes on the first trip!

64. Yearbook sect.: SRS.

65. It's usually inadmissible: HEARSAY.

66. Truck weight unit: TON.

Down:
1. "You betcha!": NATCH.  Naturally!

2. Google rival: YAHOO.  The creators of this site were apparently unaware that the term was originally the name of  'the crude, dirty “brutes” of the land of the Houyhnhnms' ('win ims') in Gulliver's Travels, by JONATHAN SWIFT: "The YAHOOS are irrational people and represent the worst side of humanity. By contrast, the wise and gentle Houyhnhnms, their masters, are rational horses and represent humanity at its best."

3. New Zealand natives: MAORIS.  Polynesian settlers to New Zealand in the first half of the 14th Century.

4. Two-time NL home run leader Giancarlo: STANTON.  Formerly known as Mike Stanton, here's Giancarlo in action.

5. Damage, so to speak: COST.

6. On a big streak: RED HOT.

7. Capital __: ONE.

8. Saul's field in "Better Call Saul": LAW.

9. Stead: LIEU.  All those luscious vowels!

10. Cunning: SLYNESS.  The legendary slyness of the fox goes all the way back to several fables of  AESOP (see 22D below).  My favorite treatment of the wily fox is a fairy tale opera by Leoš Janáček about a fox named "Sharp-Ears" in The Cunning Little Vixen.  We saw a CGI enhanced performance of this in Cleveland a few years back and it was absolutely stunning:
 

 
11. "Be my guest!": PLEASE DO.

12. Relatively famous physicist?: EINSTEIN.  Nice misdirection.

13. Bore witness: ATTESTED.

18. Minor accident: MISHAP.

22. Cornfield cry: CAW.  One of them must have dropped her cheese:
 

25. Leapt: VAULTED.

26. Legal memo opener: IN RE.

29. "Fantastic Mr. Fox" author Dahl: ROALD.  A children's story, made into a stop motion animated feature film with an all star cast (George Clooney, Merrill Streep, etc.), directed by Wes Anderson in 2009. 

30. "Ta-da!": DID IT.

34. "Love Is a Hurtin' Thing" crooner: LOU RAWLS.  (December 1, 1933 – January 6, 2006) was an American record producer, singer, composer and actor.  The song was released in 1966 on the album, The Legendary Lou Rawls: 
 

35. Where peripheral vertigo originates: INNER EAR.  A popular place.  This answer was in the last puzzle I blogged, clued with "Cochlea site".  See also 19A. 

36. Bastes, as turkey: MOISTENS.

38. Original site of golf's John Deere Classic: IOWA.  The John Deere Classic is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour. It is now played annually in July, the week before the British Open, at TPC Deere Run in the Quad Cities community of Silvis, Illinois.
 

39. "No arguing!": BE NICE.

41. Cast a spell on: BEWITCH.

43. IndyCar venue: RACEWAY.

45. In addition: TOO.

46. Silvery food fish: SMELTS.  A tiny fish which is reportedly good eating:
 

47. Learn about: DETECT.

51. "Not my first __!": RODEO.  Surprisingly this meme allegedly originated in the 1981 bio-pic "Mommie Dearest" about the life of Joan Crawford, starring Faye Dunaway.  The scene actually takes place in a Pepsi-cola board room meeting, where  Crawford has replaced her recently deceased husband.  The Board is trying to  remove Crawford, who is proving difficult, but she stands her ground in a profanity laced rant that ends with "This ain’t my first time at the rodeo!".  This scene is likely fictional, but the meme stuck and later became the basis for a CW song by Vern Godin:
 

52. Burning desire?: ARSON.

54. "Fine with me": SURE.

56. "Star Wars" princess: LEIA.  I think this is the one that started it all: a hologram projected by the Droid R2D2.  As this is a family blog I couldn't use a lot of the newer ones.

59. Extinct emu-like bird: MOA.  The inclusion of this clue must have been intentional, as these birds became extinct within a few hundred years of the arrival of the first MAORI settlers in New Zealand (see 3D above).  Prior to their arrival, the MOA's only natural enemy was the HAASTS EAGLE, shown here attacking a pair of the birds:
 

60. Stout server: BAR.  They really know how to serve it here:
 

Here's the grid:

waseeley

Cheers,
Bill

Monday November 2, 2020 George Jasper

 

Theme: YOU SEE (50. "It's like this," and a phonetic hint to the five longest Across answers) - Each theme pattern is in the pattern of U* C*:

18. 1980 Travolta/Winger film set in Texas: URBAN COWBOY

23. Aristocracy: UPPER CLASS.

39. Previously owned auto: USED CAR.

53. Pandemonium: UTTER CHAOS.

59. Where a quarterback may line up: UNDER CENTER.

Boomer here. UNDER COVER from Minnesota. You see, we had a problem with our DirecTV. After the snow cancelled everything for a day, when we got it back, we could not receive about half of the channels.  DirecTV sent out a technician and installed a new satellite dish, a new receiver box and a new remote.  The cost was 0.00!  I guess our monthly bill will cover it in a few months.

Bad news from Big Easy.  At least the tree did not fall on your house, but these storms are ravaging Southeastern U.S. like crazy this year.

Across:

1. Brutus' 300: CCC.  Boomer's 300 - X X X X  X X X X X X X X. The first four are all 300 rings from different years. The fifth one (blue color) is a 299 ring. The next one is another 300 ring. Next to it is an 800 Series ring. The last one is 1987 Twins World Series replica ring

4. Florida city on its own bay: TAMPA.  Tampa's MLB team still has a mascot RAY swimming outside the outfield fence.

9. Actor Charlie or his dad Martin: SHEEN.  Martin is now in some goofy RX commercials.  You would think he could retire and does not need a new job.

14. "Oh, I get it now!": AHA.

15. Schoolbag measuring stick: RULER.  Measuring stick ???  I was hit once or twice by the Christian Brothers.

16. Overly theatrical: HAMMY.  Not for Thanksgiving.  You need a TURKEY.

17. "Frozen" collectible: CEL.  Happens here in Minnesota.  I have baseball cards in the garage.

20. Asian island capital: TAIPEI.

22. Bring to mind: EVOKE.

26. Fateful March day: IDES.  Julius Caesar was assassinated Mar 15, 44 B.C.

29. London district: SOHO.

30. NBA tiebreakers: OTS. Our "Row the Boat" Gophers played one of them last Friday in a 45-44 loss to Maryland.  I guess they are competing with the Vikings for the worst record this year.

31. Agassi of tennis: ANDRE.  I remember "Andre the Giant" - a professional wrestler.  He seemed to be tough and a bit overweight.  He died at age 47.

32. Cat burglar's undoing: NOISE.  WHAT!!

35. Con artist's target: PIGEON.

36. Fond du __, Wisconsin: LAC.  A bit south of Green Bay and Oshkosh B'Gosh on Lake Winnebago

41. Fla. summer hrs.: DST.  Did Y'all turn your clocks back last Saturday?

42. Top NFL player: ALL PRO.  I don't think any Vikings will make the list this year.

44. More out of sorts: ILLER.  Beware of Covid-19.

46. Smelly emanations: ODORS.  Or Rangers Roughned's family.

47. Tulsa sch. named for an evangelist: ORU.  Named for Oral Roberts.  I don't know what position he played though.

48. "Avalon" author Seton: ANYA. And more: 66. Novelist Deighton: LEN. 10. "A Brief History of Time" author Stephen: HAWKING.

52. Freelancer's encl.: SASE. Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope.

56. Cybermoney: E CASH.  Heard about it, never used it.  I prefer green paper with pictures of Presidents on it.

58. Chickpea dip: HUMMUS.

63. Language suffix: ESE.

64. Like a nasty remark: SNIDE.  Remember Rocky and Bullwinkle?  Snidely Whiplash was 
Dudley Do Right's arch enemy.

65. Waze suggestion: ROUTE.  Get your fix, on ROUTE 66

67. Trait carriers: GENES.  Then there are leg carriers called JEANS.

68. Editorial second thoughts: STETS.

69. Up until now: YET.  Not YET!

Down:

1. Plant seen in Road Runner cartoons: CACTUS.  Did the coyote ever catch him?  meep, meep.

2. Bargain-basement: CHEAPO.  We have three CHEAPO Records stores in the Metro.  I have a few CDs and LP Records but they are heirlooms for me.  Not for sale.

3. Islamic leader: CALIPH.

4. More factual: TRUER.  TRUER words were never spoken.

5. Bond foe Goldfinger: AURIC.  James Bond (Sean Connery) Rest in Peace, Age 90, October 31.

6. Org. with A's and O's: MLB.  I get it, but TWINS does not have an A or O.

7. Veggie in a pod: PEA.

8. James of "Gunsmoke": ARNESS.  James, "Marshall Dillon" was born in Minneapolis in 1926.

9. "Beat it!": SHOO.  Did you know that there is a SHOO SHOE Store in Milwaukee, WI.

11. Attached to a military unit, as a journalist: EMBEDDED.  Normally pests. They should SHOO them.

12. Angsty music genre: EMO.

13. Bronx team, initially: NYY.  I hear they had someone named Ruth playing for them.

19. Walgreens rival: CVS. I get my prescription meds in the mail.  Over- the-counter stuff is usually a bit high priced at the drug stores.  We go to Target or Walmart.

21. Low-level laborer: PEON.  I do not like that clue or word.  I was a caddie at the Country Club, A counter guy at a 15 cent hamburger place, and a pizza delivery guy.  It paid for my 1955 Olds.

24. Drop, as weight: LOSE.

25. Was humbled: ATE DIRT.

27. Bow-wielding god: EROS.

28. Mailed: SENT.  We sent our absentee ballots to the state over three weeks ago.  Minnesota laws were generous.  I feel sorry for those in the TV reports standing in line for hours.

31. Billion suffix: AIRE.

33. Yours and mine: OURS.  In our home, everything is OURS.  Except C.C. doesn't use my bowling balls.

34. Personal ad "looking for": ISO. In Search Of.

35. Good buddy: PAL. First name PAY?

36. East Asian country: LAOS.

37. Alan of "M*A*S*H": ALDA.  "The game of life is hard to play, You're gonna lose it anyway."

38. Approached for a raid: CLOSED IN.

40. Board game with a candlestick: CLUE.  I think it was done in the hall, by Miss Scarlet, with the rope.

43. Lead up to: PRECEDE.

45. Former Chicago mayor Emanuel: RAHM.  Or really good golfer on the PGA Jon.

47. "Plays well with __": OTHERS.  My Monday golf league was excellent and I enjoyed many different old duffers like myself.  Looking forward to April.

49. For instance: NAMELY.

51. Agree: ASSENT.  I usually just nod my head.

53. Sch. near Hollywood: USC. University of Southern California .

54. Scarlett's Butler: RHETT.  I've heard of him but I think it was before my time.  I think he's Gone with the Wind.

55. Heals: CURES.

57. Greek war god: ARES.

59. Post-Civil War pres.: USG.  I used to think President Grant's first names were United States until about the fifth grade.

60. SSW's opposite: NNE.

61. "__ on my watch!": NOT.

62. U.S. Election Day: Abbr.: TUE.  The Sun'll come out TOMORROW,   Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, There'll be sun. Andrea McCardle.

Boomer

Tuesday, September 22, 2020 George Jasper

Give me Space!  The circles spell out a word that can follow the word Space to give us a new concept

20-Across. Top line of a lawyer's solicitation ad: NEED LEGAL HELP.  Space Needle.  The Space Needle in Seattle, Washington was built for the 1962 World's Fair.

31-Across. Gamer's coin: ARCADE TOKEN.  Space Cadet

39-Across. Pesky V-formation fliers: CANADA GEESE.  Space Age.  They make a pit-stop in Louisiana during their migration.  I see them often in the park near my house.

51-Across. Iconic video game since 1978, and a hint to the circled letters: SPACE INVADERS.

62-Across. Developer of 51-Across: ATARI.

Across:
1. Web site?: ATTIC.  Cute clue!

6. Guitarist Atkins: CHET.  Chester Burton Atkins (June 20, 1924 ~ June 30, 2001) was a country music musician and was known as Mr. Guitar.

10. Director Preminger: OTTO.  Otto Preminger (né Otto Ludwig Preminger; Dec. 5, 1905 ~ Apr. 23, 1986) directed over 35 movies, including Exodus.

14. Composer called "The March King": SOUSA.  John Philip Sousa (Nov. 6, 1854 ~ Mar. 6, 1932) is known for composing numerous military marches.  He is appropriately named, as USA appears in his surname.  He is probably best known for Stars and Stripes Forever.  I'd include a video of the march, but it kept appearing in random locations, so you'll just have to image the piece.

15. Per person: EACH.

16. Brunch, for one: MEAL.

17. Madison Ave. pro: AD REP.

18. "Night" author Wiesel: ELIE.  Elie Wiesel (né Elizer Wiesel; Sept. 30, 1928 ~ July 2, 2016) is a frequent guest in our puzzles.  He made an appearance last Tuesday.

19. Saharan: ARID.

23. Seafood platter accessory: BIB.

25. AFL partner: CIO.  The AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations) is the largest federations of unions in the United States.

26. Advertising come-on: TEASER.

27. Make beloved: ENAMOR.

29. Olds luxury car: TORONADO.

1967 Model

33. Bit of ice hockey deception: DEKE.  DEKE:  A deceptive movement or feint that induces an opponent to move out of position.

34. SUV's "U," briefly: UTE.

35. Leveling device: SHIM.  SHIM:  A thin strip of metal, wood, or other material used to align parts, make them fit, or reduce wear.

43. Thumbs-up: APPROVAL.

47. Gold and silver: METALS.

48. Rhythmic Ravel classic: BOLERO.  Also, the type of a short jacket.

49. Its symbol is Sn: TIN.  Hi, Tin!

50. "Breaking Bad" org.: DEA.  As in the Drug Enforement Administration.  I never watched Breaking Bad.

55. "Garfield" dog: ODIE.

56. Executes: DOES.

57. Hot under the collar: RILED.

60. "Ant-Man" star Paul: RUDD.  Paul Stephen Rudd (b. Apr. 6, 1969) was the superhero Ant-Man in the 2015 film of the same name.  Three years later, he made a movie with the Wasp.

61. Let off, as steam: EMIT.

63. Big name in speakers: BOSE.  We had these speakers in Sunday's puzzle.

64. Reject as false: DENY.

65. Highest world capital city: LA PAZ.  Here's a good geography question.  Hand up if you immediately knew that La Paz, which is the capital of Bolivia, is the world's highest capital city.  It is almost 12,000 feet above sea level.  Bolivia is one of 2 land-locked countries in South America.

Down:

1. "__ matter of fact ... ": AS A.

2. "The Fox and the Hound" fox: TOD.  A reference to a Disney movie.  Who knew?

3. Retrace one's steps: TURN BACK.

4. "Aha!": I SEE!

5. Provincetown's peninsula: CAPE COD.  It is a part of Massachusetts.

6. R&B singer Green: CEE LO.  His given name is Thomas DeCarlo Callaway (b. May 30, 1975).  His most well-know song is not suitable for this blog.

7. In good shape: HALE.

8. Vaper's smoke, for short: E-CIG.  As in a E-Cigarette.

9. Shakespeare's Globe, e.g.: THEATRE.  Notice the British spelling of the theater.  It's an open-air theater in the round.  We saw a play in this theatre years ago.

10. Certain Nebraskan: OMAHAN.

11. Mother in Calcutta: TERESA.

12. Followed, as a suspect: TAILED.

13. Grizzled veteran: OLD PRO.

21. Desperate, as straits: DIRE.  The Sultans of Swing!

22. Storied "Fountain of Youth" seeker Ponce de ___: LEON.

23. Rosary sphere: BEAD.

24. With respect to, in a memo: IN RE.

28. Fannie __: mortgage nickname: MAE.

29. Wreck completely: TOTAL.

30. Signed off on: OK'ED.

32. Casserole fish: TUNA.  Sometimes nothing beats the comfort food of a nice tuna casserole.

35. Ready-go link: SET.  Ready, Set, Go!

36. "D'oh!" gesture: HEAD SLAP.

37. __ of Man: ISLE.  A small island found between England and Ireland.  Everything you wanted to know about the Isle of Man, but didn't know to ask.

38. Arizona city or landform: MESA.  Hi, Lucina!

39. Apple center: CORE.

40. Steered clear of: AVOIDED.

41. In the center of: AMID.

42. Colonel's aspiration, perhaps: GENERAL.

43. Soak up: ABSORB.

44. Sonny & Cher, e.g.: POP DUO.  Tragically, Sonny Bono (né Salvatore Philip Bono; Feb. 16, 1935 ~ Jan. 5, 1998) was killed in a skiing accident at age 62.  Cher (née Cherilyn Sarkisian; b. May 20, 1946) still makes occasional musical appearances.

45. Grunge fashion staples: PLAIDS.

Kurt Colbain (Feb. 20, 1967 ~ Apr. 5, 1994), the ultimate Grunge musician

46. Ebb: RECEDE.

49. Evoking a "Yum!": TASTY.

52. Alaskan gold rush town: NOME.  

53. Blood conduit: VEIN.

54. British singer __ Ora: RITA.  I think Rita Sahatçiu Ora (b. Nov. 26, 1990) has appeared in our puzzles before.

58. __ of Good Feelings: ERA.  I never learned of the Era of Good Feelings in school.  Apparently it was a 10-year period following the War of 1812 when there was a sense of unity among the American people.

59. Jazz trumpeter Gillespie, familiarly: DIZ.  John Birks Gillespie (Oct. 21, 1917 ~ Jan. 6, 1993) is more commonly known as Dizzy.  He got his Nickname for his amusing antics on stage.

Here's the Grid: