Wednesday, April 15, 2026, Hoang-Kim Vu

 Many Happy Returns... (Hopefully...)

This was a very taxing puzzle! But daughter no. 1 helped me with it, so call her my CPA!

17 Across. Tries something earnestly: HAS A GO AT IT.  The circled SAG backwards = Gas Tax.

25 Across. Uploads again, say: RESUBMITS. The circled ESU backwards = Use Tax.

49 Across. "That's so typical": IT FIGURES. The circled TFIG backwards = Gift Tax.

58 Across. "Just enjoy this victory": A WIN IS A WIN. The circled NIS = Sin Tax

And the reveal:

35 Across. April 15 filing, or what can be found in each set of circled letters in this puzzle: TAX RETURN.           

                           
Across:
1. Sore after a run, say: ACHY.

5. Pastel hue: LILAC.

10. Trident-shaped Greek letters: PSIS. (Looks weird without an apostrophe...)

14. Pump or clog: SHOE.

15. Comic actor Cheri: OTERI.

On the right, (name #1)

16. "Field of Dreams" locale: IOWA.

17. [Theme]

19. Glitzy genre: GLAM.

20. Plumbing fitting under a sink: P TRAP.

21. Two-time Oscar nominee Rooney: MARA.

Name #2

23. Singer Yoko: ONO. (Name #3, every time she sings, I cover my ears and yell "Oh No!")

24. Some spa treatments: PEELS.

They whack you with flat wooden sticks,

Supposed to make your skin look rosy...

25. [Theme]

27. Afro-Caribbean sound: CALYPSO.

29. Soda brand named for a mountain: SHASTA.

30. Fishy, in slang: SUS. I suppose short for "suspect." But it sounds fishy to me...

31. Grains that might be rolled: OATS.

34. Not duped by: ONTO.

35. [Theme Reveal.

38. Text incessantly: SPAM. Yes, the dreaded Spam...

Be sure to read the credits at the end...

40. Salty septet: SEAS. Let's hope Misty can convert this puzzle into a poem for us... ( or at least a good story, it's very taxing when these puzzles don't rhyme...)

41. Org. in 66-Across: CIA.

44. Like a well-earned comeuppance: KARMIC.

46. Films that often end in weddings: ROMCOMS.  (I am not going to link the wedding singer, )

49. [Theme] 

The clue was "that's typical=It figures."

I posted the pic before I moved the Themers,

And now I don't know how to move it, or delete it...

52. Loses one's hair: BALDS.

53. Avril follower: MAI. (Frawnch...) should not be in an English puzzle if you ask me...

54. Since: AS OF.

55. Like beaches: SANDY.

56. Laptop shortcut key: CTRL.

58. [Theme]

61. Laptop shortcut key: HOME.

62. Ariz. neighbor: CALIF.

63. "Well, fudge": DANG.

64. __ facto: IPSO.

65. Prepared to be knighted: KNELT.

66. Best Picture winner set in Iran: ARGO.

Ok, they went undercover as film makers making a movie...

Wait! Which one is the real movie?

Down:
1. Barbecue detritus: ASH.

2. Béret, par exemple: CHAPEAU. (French for hat, how do I know this? Dr. Seuss...)

3. Budget lodgings: HOSTELS. I did not know this... Reasonably priced overnight lodging in NYC?

4. Like birthdays: YEARLY.

5. Roller coaster section: LOOP. (Not to be confused with 4. Down)

6. Winner of four FIFA World Cups, for short: ITA. Italy, I wanted USA, but it was not to be...

7. Phrase during a handover: LET ME. Curious clueing, sounds more like "gimme" during a hold up.

8. Met highlights: ARIAS.

9. Satsuma, e.g.: CITRUS. 

Learning moment.

Specifically, Satsuma Mandarin Orange.

10. Certain truffle hunter: PIG.

One does not live by Aroma alone...

11. Recital performer: SOLOIST.

12. Expression of desire: I WANT TO.

13. Appetizer at an Indian restaurant: SAMOSA.

Yummers! Choose your filling!

18. Sound of shock: GASP. What! We're out of Samosas?

22. Detest: ABHOR.

24. Dells, e.g.: PCS. Personal Computers

25. Bellows: ROARS.

26. "Ferrari" director Michael: MANN.

Name #4

28. Rivals of the Yanks: SOX. Baseball: Boston Red Sox.

32. Merch table buy: TEE. This could be either at a flea market, or a Golf Pro Shop...

33. Marks on some items of note: STARS. ⭐️ 

35. Roman of "Basketball Wives": TAMI.

Tami Roman, name #5

36. Latina chum: AMIGA. Latin"o" chum: Amigo.

37. Mil. morale booster: USO. United Service Organizations.

The face of The USO.

38. Led, as a leaderboard: SAT ATOP.

39. Image-shaping cos.: PR FIRMS. Public Relations Firms.

41. Conflict that may feature proxy battles: COLD WAR.

42. "Too funny!": I'M DYING.

Could also refer to a failed stand up gag...

43. Pack animal: ASS.

44. Bibimbap topping: KIMCHI.

Bibimbap=Korean Rice Bowl

Kimchi=Fermented vegetables, usually cabbage, with a variety of spices.

45. John or Joan of "High Fidelity": CUSACK. Names #5 and 6?

47. Enterprise trainees, for short?: MBA'S. Master of Business Administration Degree for the budding entrepreneur... 

48. Ontario's country: CANADA.

50. Atkinson of "Mr. Bean": ROWAN. Name #7.

Oh, but he has done so much more than just Mr. Bean.

51. Option for a 35-Across: EFILE. File Taxes Electronically.

55. Comb (through): SIFT.

57. Astrological cat: LEO.

59. Naught: NIL. Zip, Nada, Zilch, or just a big fat Goose Egg...

60. WWF, e.g.: NGO. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in 1961 that works in over 100 countries to conserve nature, protect endangered species, and address environmental threats. It is the world's largest independent conservation organization, focusing on forests, oceans, freshwater, wildlife, food, and climate.

Here is the grid:

Here is a link to Saturday April 12, 2025 puzzle write up, where Husker Gary tells us all about our Constructor, Hoang-Kim Vu.

CE:D out.