Monday February 19, 2024 Janice Luttrell

  

Theme:                                                 Put a RING on it! 

I

Beyoncé  (2008)

Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)

"If you liked it then you should have put a ring on it" 🎵

Happy Presidents' Day, everyone! sumdaze here with a puzzle from the prolific constructor, Janice Luttrell. It might be fair to say that Janice liked putting a RING on four words to create a fun puzzle theme.

Let's round up the themed clues:

16. Disruptive student: CLASS CLOWN.  

A CLASS RING is a ring worn by students and alumni to commemorate their year of graduation from a certain school/program.

Sidebar:  waseeley got me watching Northern Exposure again. I notice Maurice the NASA guy and Dr. Joel both wear one. Perhaps the director is saying these two men aren't that different??

23. Cocktail with rum and vodka: BRASS MONKEY.  The third ingredient is orange juice. These alcoholic beverages were sold pre-mixed in the '70s and '80s by the Heublein Company.

A BRASS RING is something you could reach out to grab while riding a carousel. I grew up reaching for the one at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. You had to be on the outside horse to be in position. Then you had to quickly throw it at a mural of a clown and hit it in its mouth. If you did, the nose lit up and you got a free ride. "Reaching for the BRASS RING" came to mean "trying for the big prize".

Note:  This one was my FIW today. Being unfamiliar with the cocktail, I guessed BRASSdONKEY (after a lot of perps), which seemed to go fine with the name of an actress in 25-D. dARA is as reasonable as MARA. IMHO, the clue would have been improved with some sort of clever hint to a monkey.

35. Wilson/Vaughn comedy with the tagline "Hide Your Bridesmaids": WEDDING CRASHERS.  Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn starred in this popular 2005 film.

A WEDDING RING is a symbol of timeless love and commitment.

45. Time for a final bow: CURTAIN CALL. The cast comes back onstage at the end of a live show.

A CURTAIN RING  attaches the curtain to a rod.  

55. Mastermind, and what the first word of 16-, 23-, 35-, or 45-Across can be: RING LEADER.  This is a person leading a group of people engaging in (usually) improper or unlawful activities.

CLASS, BRASS, WEDDING, and CURTAIN can all precede the word RING to create in the language phrases.

Here are the other clues:

Across:
1. Island northwest of Molokai: OAHU.  This one was a gimme for me. The Na Wahini O Ke Kai is a women's outrigger canoe race from Molokai to Oahu. The first year I did it, it took my team 6.5 hrs. The second year, it took us 7 hrs. (Wind and water currents make a big difference.) The year after that I moved away but it was a bad year for my team. The breakers at Molokai were so strong they broke my team's canoe in half.

5. Inseparable pals, briefly: BFFS.  Best Friends Forever and yesterday's 1-Down

9. Grizzly, for one: BEAR.  

13. Fastens, as shoelaces: TIES.

14. Monica who won nine Grand Slam singles titles: SELES.  International Tennis Hall of Fame link

15. Not all thumbs: ABLE.  Someone who is "all thumbs" lacks nimbleness with their hands.

18. Garden dirt: SOIL.  Why Soil Matters article

19. Slobbers: DROOLS.  

20. "Killing Eve" actress Shaw: FIONA.  IMDb link

21. Short "I need a short break": BRB.  Be Right Back

26. Carter's successor: REAGAN.  It's a Presidents' Day clue!

President Ronald Reagan was born February 6, 1911 in Tampico, IL. He became the 40th President of the U.S. on January 20, 1981, succeeding President James "Jimmy" Carter. Reagan's inauguration ceremony was the first to be held on the west side of the Capitol -- an homage to his time as California's governor.

28. Body parts studied by otologists: EARS.  Do the ENT's know about this??

29. Actress Chlumsky: ANNA.  I know Anna from Veep. Here's a 30 sec. clip and her IMDb link .

30. Turn away: AVERT.     and     32 Across. Sheep bleat: BAA.

39. "__ Misérables": LES.  I saw this with my friend Gina at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts.

40. Flies like an eagle: SOARS.  OK, so ... I had the Steve Miller Band song here but waseely just used it last Thursday so I removed it. What do you think of this cover by The Neville Brothers?  

41. Most of the time: A LOT.

42. Apple's virtual assistant: SIRI.

43. Italian sub meat: SALAMI.

50. Roofing stuff: TAR.

51. "Ok, sure": UH HUH.

52. Nobody in particular: ANYONE.  

54. Ibuprofen target: PAIN.     and     1 Down. Available sans Rx: OTC.  Over The Counter

This time of year, you might be wondering which medical expenses are deductible. IRS website  

New for 2023, the cost of OTC drugs may be paid or reimbursed by an HSA.  See Q13 for more details.

59. "Three and out" football play: PUNT.  I've not heard it called this before but teams usually PUNT on the 4th down if they do not think they can get a first down.

60. Country shaped like a boot: ITALY.  

61. Clever tactic: PLOY.  Def.:  a cunning plan or action designed to turn a situation to one's own advantage.

62. Hoppy brews: ALES.

63. Mexican sauce made with chocolate: MOLE.  It's so deliciosa and complex that it's difficult to find a restaurant that makes it on site.

64. "Auld Lang __": SYNE.  It's often played when people RING in the New Year.

Down:

2. Feel awful: AIL.

3. Workout accessories that keep sweat out of the eyes: HEAD BANDS.  Olivia Newton-John wore one in her Physical video. How '80s is this??!! It won a Grammy for Video of the Year in 1983.

4. Space race initials: USSR.  Speaking of President Reagan....  

Popular Science July 1984 issue
Many of these ideas are a reality today.

5. Heroine in Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" novels: BELLA.  She was the angsty teen trying to choose between Edward the Vampire and Jacob the werewolf.

6. Word after dental or Mental: FLOSS.  

7. Just a handful of: FEW. not A LOT

8. Nine-digit ID: SSN.

9. Sinks: BASINS.  "Sinks" is a plural noun this time.

10. Kindle download: E-BOOK.

11. Dress with a triangular silhouette: A-LINE.

12. Electrical circuit component: RELAY.  Here's a 2 min. video on how they work.  

14. Contempt: SCORN.  

generally not nice things

17. Buckwheat noodle similar to udon: SOBA.  

I thought this yin-yang arrangement was clever.
(The dark noodles are SOBA noodles.)

20. Old West outposts: FORTS.  

John Wayne in Fort Apache (1948)  (48 sec.)

21. Free-for-all fight: BRAWL.  

Wes Anderson's Isle of Dogs  (2018)

22. "Judy" Oscar winner Zellweger: RENÉE.  

(We're back to the RING theme.)

24. Clairvoyants: SEERS.

25. "House of Cards" actress Kate: MARA.  definitely not Kate dARA

27. Roam (about): GAD.

30. "Oh no, not __!": AGAIN.

31. TiVo precursor: VCR.  VideoCassette Recorder

32. Not in time to be useful: BELATEDLY.  This was the symmetrical fill to 3-Down, HEADBANDS.

33. Fragrance: AROMA.

34. Up and about: ASTIR.

36. Whitlock Jr. of "Da 5 Bloods": ISIAH.  We've had this name a few times now.

37. Sushi seaweed: NORI.  Here you can see that the NORI is on the outside of the rice for hosomaki and inside the rice for uramaki.

38. Linden who played Barney Miller: HAL.  Hal also played the clarinet. I think JzB will like this one. Do you recognize those two at the beginning?  

42. Daredevil's feats: STUNTS.

43. In a wily way: SLYLY.

44. Succulent with soothing gel: ALOE.  I finally got around to repotting mine. It's happier now.  

45. Brit's spot of tea: CUPPA.  I picked up this lingo from my Aussie friends. They use it for any hot beverage ... "Wanna grab a CUPPA?"

46. Company with orange-and-white trucks: U-HAUL.

47. River through western Germany: RHINE.  

48. Panama waterway: CANAL.  

49. Point of view: ANGLE.  This was my favorite clue because both "point" and "ANGLE" can also be Geometry terms.

53. Siestas: NAPS.

55. Lip of a glass: RIM.  It's where you stick the salt for your margarita.  

56. "Who am __ argue?": I TO.

57. Countless lifetimes: EON.

58. Manhattan liquor: RYE.  the cocktail -- not the NYC borough  

How to Make a Manhattan

This week's grid:  

Thanks for stopping by! Please RING us again tomorrow!

 

Notes from C.C.:

 

We made today's Atlas Obscura puzzle. It's edited by Samir Patel. Give it a whirl.

Monday November 28, 2022 Janice Luttrell

Theme: COATTAILS (61. Features of some formal jackets, and what the ends of the answers to the starred clues literally are) - The last word can follow "coat".

17. *Source of endless funds: MONEY TREE. Coat tree.

23. *"Peter Pan" pirate: CAPTAIN HOOK. Coat hook.

39. *Pre-employment screening process: BACKGROUND CHECK. Coat check.

49. *Suspenseful ending to a series: CLIFF HANGER. Coat hanger.

Boomer here. We don't need a coat in Minnesota yet.

I hope you all enjoyed Thanksgiving and had a happy Black Friday. I enjoyed the Vikings' victory over the Patriots. 

 

Across: 

1. "The Fox and the __": HOUND. Red fox.

6. "My gal" of song: SAL. Old time song.

9. Sharply bitter: ACRID.

14. Former anesthetic: ETHER.

15. Weep: CRY.

16. Overused, as an expression: TRITE. "In this day and age ..."

19. Moon-related: LUNAR. It's a bird. It's a plane. It's a moon.

20. Vietnamese soup: PHO.

21. Tehran's country: IRAN.

22. Irritating inconvenience: HASSLE. Black Friday. Not worth the hassle.

25. Thumbed (through), as a book: LEAFED.

29. Catch on to: GET.

30. Spanish "other": OTRA.

31. "What __ can I say?": ELSE.

34. Newsletter edition: ISSUE.

42. "Straight Outta Compton" actor __ Jackson Jr.: O'SHEA. Son of Ice Cube.

43. French head: TETE.

44. French fashion magazine: ELLE.

45. "I smell a __!": RAT.

47. Some electric cars: TESLAS.

55. Noodle dish: LO MEIN.

56. West Coast gas brand: ARCO.

57. Atlas page: MAP.

60. Tequila plant: AGAVE.

63. Spinal Tap guitarist Tufnel: NIGEL.

64. Energize, with "up": AMP. Minimum of 100 in your house.

65. Cruise stopovers: ISLES.

66. Bergen's dummy Mortimer: SNERD.

67. Dessert choice: PIE. We had pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving.

68. Toy holder: CHEST. Need one for Christmas.

Down:

1. Natural rope fiber: HEMP.

 

2. Texter's "Although ... ": OTOH.

3. "Yeah, I'll pass": UH NO.

4. Word before a maiden name: NEE.

5. Cold packing material for shipping fish: DRY ICE.  Don't touch it.

6. Part of a quilter's fabric supply: SCRAP.

7. "__ you clever!": AREN'T.

8. Strong cleanser: LYE.

9. __ City: New Jersey resort town: ATLANTIC. Gambling mecca.

10. Puppy love: CRUSH.

11. Classic detergent brand: RINSO. Not DOWNY.

12. Author Calvino: ITALO.

13. Hall of Fame shortstop Jeter: DEREK.  #2.

18. __ Joe's: food store chain: TRADER. Great place to buy nuts.

22. Quaint "Shake a leg": HIE.

24. Writer's representative: AGENT.

25. Rebecca in the Basketball Hall of Fame: LOBO.

26. Flight sked info: ETAS.

27. St. Louis landmark: ARCH. Been there but did not go up.

28. Counterfeit: FAKE.

32. Great deal of, slangily: LOTTA.

33. Mystery novelist Grafton: SUE.

35. Tom Jones's "__ a Lady": SHE'S.

36. Exchange for cash: SELL. on eBay.

37. Golden State sch.: UCLA. Great basketball team.

38. Barely gets (by): EKES.

40. Comic strip cat: GARFIELD.

41. Catch a scent of: DETECT.

46. "Kung Fu" actor Philip: AHN.

48. Like some R-rated films: EROTIC.

49. Families: CLANS.

50. Enter a password, say: LOG IN. Tough to remember them.

51. Picture: IMAGE.

52. High temperature: FEVER.

53. Actress Watts: NAOMI.

54. Wine fruit: GRAPE. We like the green ones.

57. Odometer unit: MILE.

58. Pub orders: ALES.

59. Discreet summons: PSST.

61. Ballplayer's hat: CAP. This is too easy

62. Firepit residue: ASH. We don't use our fireplace any more.

Boomer

Notes from C.C.:

This will be Boomer's 281st (Thanks, TTP) and last Monday write-up for our blog. The brilliant Sumdaze (Renee) will take over the Monday blog starting December 5th. 

Thanks for the love and attention you've given to Boomer over the years. He really enjoyed blogging and reading your comments. For the past month, he did not play any computer game or take part in Facebook bantering. He spent all his extra energy on his Monday blog, tackling it bit by bit.

Monday March 21, 2022 Janice Luttrell

Theme: WASHINGTON (61. U.S. capital whose location is a hint to 17-, 25-, 37- and 52-Across) - D.C. starts each theme answer.

 17. Bull's-eye location: DEAD CENTER.

 25. Result of a weak phone signal: DROPPED CALL.

 37. Maximum a country can borrow: DEBT CEILING.

 52. Pro team's selection from a pool of college players, say: DRAFT CHOICE.

Boomer here.  District of Columbia.  I don't think those residents have a representative in Congress.  They should fix that one of these years.  

Hope you all had a fine St. Patrick's Day. I was humbled last week at Benilde-St. Margaret's bowling party when the school bowling coach named a "Coach's Award" the Burnikel Award.  C.C. took a video of the presentation here.

Across:

1. Caribbean resort island: ARUBA.

6. __-centered: vain: SELF.

10. Walmart warehouse club: SAM'S.  Only been there once or twice.  Seems too large to find anything.

14. Blood drive participant: DONOR.  Lots of this going on at the VA.  They did not ask me, I think my blood may be full of cancer.

15. One-named New Age singer: ENYA.

16. Coagulate, as blood: CLOT.  To stop the bleeding is okay.  If it forms inside you get help.

19. "M*A*S*H" star Alan: ALDA.  Hawkeye.

 

20. "Wayne's World" co-star Mike: MYERS.

21. California city __-by-the-Sea: CARMEL.  On the Pacific Ocean.  There is also a Carmel in Indiana.

23. Sch. with a Phoenix campus: ASU.  Sun Devils in Tempe.

28. Sushi bar soup: MISO.  C.C loves it.  Sometimes we drive 20 miles downtown to get it.  

30. "Norma __": Sally Field film: RAE.

31. Payments to landlords: RENTS.  We own our home but we still pay a fee for maintenance and insurance in our association.  Okay with me because one day I woke up and realized I was too old to mow the lawn and shovel snow.

32. Future attorney's study: PRE-LAW.

35. Threesome: TRIO.  Chad Mitchell was my favorite.

41. Wild hog: BOAR.

42. "Blah, blah, blah," briefly: ETC ETC.  "The force can't do a decent job cuz the kids have no respect for the law today - and blah blah blah.  "Save the Life of my Child"  Simon and Garfunkel.

45. Allergic reaction: ACHOO.  Kazoonthight.

49. March Madness network: TNT.  I used to do a bracket at work years ago.  I never won.

51. Inviting store sign: OPEN.

56. Frying __: kitchen tool: PAN.  Peter's surname.

57. Unwilling to hear, as criticism: DEAF TO.  What ????

58. Fairy tale bears count: THREE.

60. Chair parts: LEGS.  I only have two, but these are also my parts.

66. Fencing sword: EPEE.

67. New York canal: ERIE.  Great Lake with a short name.

68. Prince of Darkness: SATAN.  We had our own PRINCE who was not a devil.  He sang "Purple Rain".

69. "I'm warning you": DON'T.  This must be an abbreviation for DONUT.

70. Tear to shreds: REND.

71. Govt. security: T NOTE.  You don't want to tear these to shreds.

Down:

1. Total up: ADD.  "What did you learn in school today, dear little boys of mine ??" Tom Paxton.

2. Caviar: ROE. 

3. Not entertained in the least: UNAMUSED.  NCAA basketball is a bit too much for me,

4. __ shop: auto repair site: BODY.  Only cars??? Can they fix my body??

5. Rainbow-shaped: ARCED.

6. Motion detector, e.g.: SENSOR.  Many used at airport these days.

7. Strep-treating doc: ENT.

8. Soap-making need: LYE.  I do not need this.  I buy soap at the drug store.

9. Travesty: FARCE.

10. In short supply: SCARCE.

11. Brothers Duane and Gregg of rock: ALLMAN.

12. Classic Ford auto: MODEL T.  Don't see them much anymore.

13. Delays on purpose: STALLS.  Restroom features.

18. Goof up: ERR.  Baseball season start April 7.

22. Cleverly skillful: ADROIT.

23. Sound system part: AMP.  Also a measure of electricity.  Most of your homes circuits are 15 amps.

24. Knight's title: SIR.

26. Longtime Penn State football coach Joe: PATERNO.  Nittany Lions hero. 

27. Prefix with scope: PERI.

29. Grand __ Opry: OLE.  Although I was stationed 50 miles north of Nashville, I never made the trip to the Opry. 

33. "Who's on First?" straight man: ABBOTT.  What's on second, I don't know is on third.

34. Geneva-based commerce gp.: WTO.

36. Land in l'eau: ILE.

38. Pope's relig.: CATH.  My Mom, plus 12 years of catholic school convinced me.

39. Sgt. or cpl.: NCO.   Non-commisioned officer.

40. Pinocchio's creator: GEPPETTO.

43. Drink from leaves: TEA.  I like iced tea in the summer, CC likes hot tea.

44. Wolf Blitzer's channel: CNN.  Really full of too many commercials.

45. Discombobulated: ADDLED.

46. Obnoxious sort, in slang: CREEPO.

47. __-Dazs ice cream: HAAGEN.

48. Counterbalance: OFFSET.

50. Gave 10% in church: TITHED.  Sorry church. 10% is what we give to the government this time of year.

53. Shrink in fear: COWER.

54. White Sox, in line scores: CHI.  Season starts April 7th.

55. Physicist __ Mach: ERNST.

59. "A Visit from the Goon Squad" writer Jennifer: EGAN.

62. "__ you okay?": ARE.

63. Sermon subject: SIN.  Our priest likes to tell funny stories in his sermons.  He's a Green Bay Packer fan.

64. Cheerios grain: OAT.  These are baked about 10 miles from our home at the General Mills factory.

65. Opposite of SSW: NNE.

Boomer

 

Monday March 7, 2022 Janice Luttrell

Theme: GIMME A BREAK (53. Kit Kat bar slogan ... and hint to the starts of the answers to starred clues)

 20A. *"Come to your senses!": SNAP OUT OF IT.

 11D. *Do some stand-up: CRACK A JOKE.

 28D. *Debate tiny details: SPLIT HAIRS.

Boomer here.  

Finished a busy week of 8 or 9 appointments at the hospital last week. I received chemo, physical and occupational therapy there, as well as consultation from the oncologist and neurosurgeon who removed my tumor two months ago. Also met with my primary care doctor on Friday. Most of the reviews were good so life goes on.

Across:

1. Book of maps: ATLAS.  I think most folks just use their cellphone and internet now.

6. Pots' cookware partners: PANS.  Even though PANS comes alphabetically first, people never say "PANS and POTS".

10. Read, as a bar code: SCAN.  Or - how to find a map on the internet.

14. Not dry, as a cake: MOIST.  April showers bring May flowers.

15. Rectangle calculation: AREA.

16. "Alice's Restaurant" singer Guthrie: ARLO.  "You can get anything you want" there.

17. Word with bear or vortex: POLAR.  We have had an experience dealing with POLAR weather all across the country this year.

18. Put in order: SORT.  I have been trying forever to put baseball cards in order.  They are manufactured in sets, but sold randomly in packs.

19. Single __ whisky: MALT.  I prefer a chocolate one.

23. So-so grade: CEE.

24. Chicago Bulls' org.: NBA.  Not much a fan here.  I am disgusted with the MLB.  Most owners are billionaires.  Average player salary is a half million.  Who do they think they are?

25. Stallone's boxer: ROCKY.

27. Cellphone bill statistic: USAGE.  I think we pay monthly, not by use.

30. __ Artois: Belgian beer: STELLA.

32. Dadaist collection: ARPS. Jean Arp.

33. Hourly charge, e.g.: RATE.

35. Mustard named for a French city: DIJON.  Pass the hot dogs.

38. Pitcher's goof: BALK.  Runner gets a free base.

39. Hunting dog's pickup: SCENT.  We had a German shorthair when I was young.  I don't think he had the nose needed.

41. Response to "Marco!" in a pool game: POLO.  TV commercial.

42. "Ghostbusters" goo: SLIME.  "Who you gonna call ??"

44. Raggedy doll: ANDY.  Also Amos' buddy in old sitcoms.

45. Rubber-stamped: OKED.

46. Popular Campbell's soup: TOMATO.  Popular garden crop in Minnesota.

48. Window sections: PANES.  A broken one could be a PAIN.

50. "You've got to be kidding": OH MAN.

51. Ruby or emerald: GEM.  Diamonds are a girl's best friend.

52. Airport safety org.: TSA.  There is a real mess at the Minneapolis Airport.  If you expect to travel it takes about 30-40 minutes to park your car (use Uber) then another half hour or more just to get through the TSA inspection.  Oh - and wear a mask.

60. Corrosive stuff: ACID.

62. Small-town parade street: MAIN.  When I grew up, our street was called Excelsior Boulevard.  Later, when I had Boomer's Ballcards on the street it was changed to Mainstreet.

63. "__ no choice": I HAVE.  Sorry, you might choose a different 5 letter word.

64. Farm building: BARN.  My great uncle Bill's farm BARN in Siren, WI is in bad shape.  I remember it being there when I was four years old!!

65. Voting against: ANTI.

66. Spooky: EERIE.  Double letter Great Lake.

67. Bear in two constellation names: URSA.  Baseball -- Majors and Minors.

68. Dieter's beer choice: LITE.  I think Miller started this.  But they spelled it wrong.

69. Stuffy-sounding: NASAL.

Down:

1. Concert blasters: AMPS.  Yes a blaster.  But also a term for the flow of electricity.

2. Bart Simpson, e.g.: TOON.

3. Country singer McCann: LILA.

4. "I need it now!" letters: ASAP.  As sweet as pie ??

5. Stiff, as a drink: STRONG.  Aaron Judge?

6. Ziti, for example: PASTA.  I like angel hair.

7. Suffix with buck: AROO.  Also works with Captain Kang--  Right Mr. Green Jeans ??  

8. Spongy ball brand: NERF. Too soft for golf.

9. Stephen Colbert device: SATIRE.

10. "Cheers" bartender: SAM.  Where everybody knows your name.

 

12. Bowling venue: ALLEY.  NEVER! NEVER! NEVER!  It's called a LANE! The ALLEY takes you into the parking lot behind the building.

13. Musical scale part: NOTE.  Do, a deer, a female deer.

21. Taxi alternatives: UBERS.  We have used them a time or two.

22. Let the cat out of the bag, so to speak: TOLD.

26. Pre-tied tie, e.g.: CLIP-ON.  I have never used one.  I tie one on, then go to a party and TIE ONE ON.

27. Eurasian range: URAL.

29. Dad's punting words: ASK MOM.

30. Shorthand ace: STENO.  I do not think STENOs are used anymore. Past history talent.

31. Work the bar: TEND.  My friends and I used to work the bar from the patron side.

32. Core muscles: ABS.

34. "Never try to outstubborn __": Heinlein: A CAT.  Especially Felix.

36. World Cup cheers: OLES.  Couple of guys from Sweden.

37. Wordless consent: NOD.

40. Ultracompetitive personality: TYPE A.

43. Online periodical: E MAG.  Seems like everything is online now.

47. Zoo inhabitant: ANIMAL.  "Something told me it's all happening at the zoo."  Simon and Garfunkel. 

49. Sleep aid brand: AMBIEN.

50. Hollywood award: OSCAR.  After "Best Picture" I don't pay much attention.

51. Fabled lamp occupant: GENIE.

52. "Forbidden" perfume: TABU.

54. __-pedi: MANI.

55. Catcher's glove: MITT.  Romney.

56. Actress Seehorn: RHEA.

57. Corn units: EARS.  I have two big ones.

58. Reebok rival: AVIA.

59. Boat backbone: KEEL.

61. Forensic evidence: DNA.  Darn Nasty Attitude ??

Boomer