Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Sam Cordes

 Theme: A Tale of Tails. The circled letters combine to make a 4 letter word that can follow TAIL and make a new in -the-language word or phrase.  

18A. New Jersey nickname: GARDEN STATE.  New Jersey is nicknamed the "Garden State" due to its long history of agriculture and fertile land. The nickname was popularized in the late 19th century and has been associated with the state ever since.  

The highlighted letters following TAIL refer to TAIL GATE, a phrase with several meanings: a hinged flap at the back of a truck that can be lowered or removed when loading or unloading the vehicle; to drive too closely behind another vehicle; a style of jazz trombone playing characterized by improvisation in the manner of the early New Orleans musicians; or social gathering at which an informal meal is served from the back of a parked vehicle, typically in the parking lot of a sports stadium.

30A. Vino that doesn't require a corkscrew: BOXED WINE.   

The TAIL BONE is the small bone at the bottom of the spine. It is made up of 3-5 fused bones. Also called coccyx.

45A. Headwear at a 29-Down: COWBOY HAT.   A hat with a broad, often curled brim and a high crown, typically made of felt.  I understand that in Texas, this is just called a hat.  

A TAIL COAT is a man's formal morning or evening coat, with a long skirt divided at the back into tails and cut away in front.

You could really be a Beau Brumell, baby, if you just gave it half a chance.

59A. Full house, at times: WINNING HAND.   In poker, a full house is a 5-card hand containing three of a kind plus a pair.  This powerful hand can only be beaten by a royal flush, a straight flush or four of a kind.

A TAIL WIND is literally a wind blowing from behind that can aid in forward motion. Figuratively, it means positive trends and developments that have the potential to support a company's progress toward growth and profitability.

2 D. Lifting a beer bottle with just a straw, e.g.: BAR TRICK.   A "bar trick" typically refers to a trick or illusion performed by a bartender or someone behind a bar, often using items found in a bar environment like napkins, bottles, or glasses. These tricks are used for entertainment, to impress guests, or as a way to engage with customers and enhance the bar experience. 

In American football, a TAILBACK is a type of running back who typically lines up furthest from the line of scrimmage, often behind the quarterback and fullback in a "T" or "I" formation. Tailbacks are known for their speed, agility, and ability to make explosive plays, often acting as the primary ball carrier on rushing plays. 

And the unifier 40D. Final parts, and what this puzzle's circled letters create: TAIL ENDS.  The last or hindmost part of something.  Note that each TAIL END in this puzzle is made up from the first two and last two letters of each theme entry.

Hi Gang, JazzBumpa here to take the lead and follow up on this excellent puzzle.  Note also, the unusual symmetry, with 4 (!) of the theme fill in their normal horizontal positions, and the one remaining theme fill and unifier symmetrically vertical.  That also makes this an extremely theme rich puzzle.    Let's dig in.

Across:

1. "The Graham Norton Show" airer: BBC.  British Broadcasting Company.  Graham William Walker (b. 1963), known professionally as Graham Norton, is an Irish comedian, broadcaster, actor, and writer. He is a five-time BAFTA TV Award winner for the comedy chat show The Graham Norton Show (2007–present). 

4. Owner of a bed deemed too hard: PAPA.   Bear, to be complete.

8. Puccini opera set in Rome: TOSCA.  Not knowing opera, I took a guess.  The work, based on Victorien Sardou's 1887 French-language dramatic play, La Tosca, is a melodramatic piece set in Rome in June 1800, with the Kingdom of Naples's control of Rome threatened by Napoleon's invasion of Italy. It contains depictions of torture, murder, and suicide, as well as some of Puccini's best-known lyrical arias.  Fun?  You decide.

13. "Homemade" pasta sauce maker: RAO.  Tasty - also, relatively low carb.  It's all we use.

14. __-garde: AVANT.  Something that is innovative, experimental, and pushing the boundaries of what is considered acceptable or mainstream, particularly in art, culture, and fashion

16. Theme park with a geodesic dome: EPCOT.  Adjacent to Disney World.  Once I was examining  windshields in the bus garage there.  True story.

17. Globe: ORB.  Figuratively, any spherical object.

20. Most faithful: TRUEST.  Most loyal and faithful, as a friend.

22. Parking area: LOT.  A flat surface.  Sometimes it will be paved.

23. NYC bus org.: MTA. Metropolitan Transit Authority.  Or, in Boston, maybe.

24. Many a Qatari: ARAB.  Qatar is a country located on a peninsula jutting east from Saudi Arabia into the Persian Sea. 

25. Young'uns: TYKES.  Little children.

27. Mail ctrs.: GPOS.  These are General Post Offices. The term is historical, and used more in Britain than America.

28. Trail sighting: HIKER.  A trial walker.  Som people would prefer a bear.

32. Health law since 2010, initially: ACA.  Affordable Care Act.

33. Major work: OPUS.  Of a major composer.

35. Diner pour: JOE.   Slang for coffee.  This likely comes from the term "jamoke," a slang word for coffee that was popular in the 1930s. 

36. Young'uns: KIDDOS.  Tykes.  Moppets, maybe.

38. Yellowjacket kin: HORNET.  Flying insects that hurt you, because they can.

41. Fish that can shock its prey: EEL.  Eels are ray-finned fish belonging to the order Anguilliformes,  Electric eels, are not Anguilliformes, which are 'true' eels. Instead, electric eels belong to the genus, Electrophorus, in the family Gymnotidae of the order Gymnotiformes, also known as knifefishes, and are more closely related to catfishes and carp.  They are known for their ability to stun their prey by generating electricity, delivering shocks at up to 860 volts.

42. Desert that's home to the world's rarest bear: GOBI.  The Gobi Desert is a vast, arid region in northern China and southern Mongolia. It's known for its dunes, mountains and rare animals such as snow leopards and Bactrian camels.  The Gobi bear (Ursus arctos gobiensis), known in Mongolian as the Mazaalai (Мазаалай), is a subspecies of the brown bear (Ursus arctos) that is found in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia. It is listed as critically endangered by the Mongolian Redbook of Endangered Species and by IUCN standards. Currently, there are only 51 bears left in the Mongolian Gobi Desert;

43. Grab: NAB.  Grasp or capture.

49. Bounce: SPLIT.  In slang, both of these words refer to leaving.

51. "I've got this!": ON IT.  You can count on me.

52. Reacts to a tell-all, maybe: GASPS.  Inhales suddenly with the mouth open, out of pain or astonishment.

54. Some fine art: OILS.  Oil paintings.

55. Buzzing insect: BEE.  More useful than hornets.

56. Dearie: HON.  Sweetie.

57. Act as an intermediary: LIAISE.  This uncommon verb means  toestablish a working relationship, typically in order to cooperate on a matter of mutual concern.

62. Explosive stuff: TNT.  TriNitroToluene is a chemical compound with the formula C6H2(NO2)3CH3. TNT is occasionally used as a reagent in chemical synthesis, but it is best known as an explosive material with convenient handling properties. The explosive yield of TNT is considered to be the standard comparative convention of bombs and asteroid impacts.

64. Utopias: EDENS.  Hypothetical idyllic places.

65. Stuffed to the gills: SATED.  Fully satisfied.

66. Princeton URL suffix: EDU.  The ".edu" suffix in a web address signifies that the site belongs to an educational institution, typically a university or college.

67. Exposes, as fangs: BARES.  "Baring fangs" refers to an animal displaying its teeth aggressively, often in a threatening or hostile manner. It can also be used metaphorically to describe a person showing aggression or hostility. 

68. Trees used for longbows: YEWS.  Coniferous trees which have red berrylike fruits, and most parts of which are highly poisonous. Yews are linked with folklore and superstition and can live to a great age; the timber is used in cabinetmaking and (formerly) to make longbows.

69. Mar.-to-Nov. hrs.: DST.  Daylight Saving Time, the period during which the time is adjusted in order to gain an extra hour of daylight in the evening during part of the year. Daylight-saving time begins in the spring, when clocks are set one hour ahead.

Down:

1. Certain sib: BRO.  Brother.

3. "Karate Kid" spinoff series: COBRA KAI.    An American martial arts comedy drama television series created by Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg, and distributed by Sony Pictures Television. It serves as a sequel to the first three The Karate Kid films created by Robert Mark Kamen. Cobra Kai premiered on May 2, 2018, and concluded on February 13, 2025, after six seasons consisting of 65 episodes.

4. Diary sheet: PAGE.  One side of a sheet of paper in a collection of sheets bound together, especially as a book, magazine, or newspaper.

5. Mariner's shout: AVAST.   A command to stop or cease used by sailors.

6. Rental for a night of revelry: PARTY BUS.   A large vehicle, often a converted bus or coach, designed to transport and entertain groups of people for recreational purposes, typically for celebrations or events. 

7. "Then what happened?": AND.  Do tell me more.

8. Lab procedure: TEST.   A procedure intended to establish the quality, performance, or reliability of something, especially before it is taken into widespread use.

9. Decline, with "out": OPT.  To choose not to participate in something

10. Garlicky shrimp dish: SCAMPI.   Large shrimp or prawns, especially when prepared or cooked.

11. Tee fabric: COTTON.  A soft white fibrous substance that surrounds the seeds of a tropical and subtropical plant and is used as textile fiber and thread for sewing.

12. Not on edge: AT EASE.   Free from worry, awkwardness, or problems; relaxed.

15. Fax forerunner: TELEX.   An international system of telegraphy with printed messages transmitted and received by teleprinters using the public telecommunications network.

19. Rhinoplasty, informally: NOSE JOB.   Cosmetic surgery focused on reshaping the nose for aesthetic or functional reasons. 

21. Purple yam: UBE.  A kind of bright purple yam used as a flavoring and coloring in sweet dishes.

More info here.

24. "Oh, that's what you mean": AHA.  Expression of sudden recognition.

26. Cris Cyborg stat: KOS.   Cristiane Justino Venâncio (b.1985), known professionally as Cris Cyborg and formerly by her married name Cristiane Santos, is a Brazilian-American professional mixed martial artist and professional boxer.  "KO" means knockout, often used in sports like boxing to describe a situation where one fighter is rendered unable to continue due to a blow.

27. Longtime "Washington Week" journalist Ifill: GWEN.   Gwendolyn L. Ifill  (1955 – 2016) was an American journalist, television newscaster, and author. In 1999, she became the first African-American woman to host a nationally televised U.S. public affairs program with Washington Week in Review. She was the moderator and managing editor of Washington Week and co-anchor and co-managing editor, with Judy Woodruff, of the PBS NewsHour, both of which air on PBS. Ifill was a political analyst and moderated the 2004 and 2008 vice-presidential debates. She authored the best-selling book The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama.

29. Sport with roping and riding: RODEO.    A competitive equestrian sport and public event that showcases the skills of cowboys and cowgirls, particularly in events like bull riding, bareback riding, barrel racing, and roping. 

31. Historian __ Kearns Goodwin: DORIS.  Doris Helen Kearns Goodwin (b.1943) is an American biographer, historian, former sports journalist, and political commentator. She has written biographies of numerous U.S. presidents. Goodwin's book No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II won the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1995. 

34. Square, e.g.: POLYGON.   A closed, two-dimensional shape formed by three or more straight line segments (sides) that connect to form a closed figure. 

37. Tech __: coder's concern: DEBT.   A concept in software development where choosing quicker, easier solutions over more robust, long-term solutions results in future rework and increased costs.   Hence the aphorism: There's never time to do it right, but always time to do it over.

38. Camping appliance: HOT PLATE. A flat heated surface, typically portable, used for cooking food or keeping it hot.

39. Joined the military: ENLISTED.  Enrolled or was enrolled in the armed services.

42. Shell product: GAS.  Shell Oil is the US-based subsidiary of Shell plc, a global energy and petrochemical company. It's a major player in oil and gas exploration, production, refining, and marketing, as well as petrochemical manufacturing. Shell USA, also known as Shell Oil Company, has its headquarters in Houston, Texas. 

44. "Butter" K-pop group: BTS.   BTS, also known as the Bangtan Boys, is a South Korean boy band formed in 2010. The band consists of Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook, who co-write or co-produce much of their material.  K-pop is a form of popular music originating in South Korea. It emerged in the 1990s as a form of youth subculture, with Korean musicians taking influence from Western dance music, hip-hop, R&B and rock.

I guess I'm too old.

45. Spooky decoration: COBWEB.   A spider's web, especially when old and covered with dust.  That 'cob' in cobweb is a very old, and now forgotten, spider. The Old English word for spider was atorcoppe, with ator meaning 'poison' and coppe meaning 'head' – that's the same 'coppe' that probably gave us the word corncob 

46. Upstate New York lake: ONEIDA.  It's just a bit North-east of Syracuse.

47. __ dog: dachshund: WIENER.  The term "weiner dog" is an informal, often humorous name for the Dachshund breed.

How do you pronounce it

48. Puts up, as a painting: HANGS.  Suspends something from above with the lower part dangling free.

50. Polynesian taro dish: POI.   A Hawaiian dish made from the fermented root of the taro which has been baked and pounded to a paste.

53. Strength: SINEW.   A piece of tough fibrous tissue uniting muscle to bone or bone to bone; a tendon or ligament.   Hence, strength, power or resilience.

56. Cobra's warning: HISS.   A sharp sibilant sound.

58. Does sums: ADDS.   Performs the mathematical process of addition.

60. Coos Bay-to-Portland dir.: NNE.  North-northeast.   Refers to the compass direction that is halfway between north and north east, or NNE. It's 22.5 degrees east of north, and therefore 45 degrees away from an Alfred Hitchcock movie. 

61. Stable fare: HAY.  A stable is secure structure for housing horses or other livestock.  HAY is livestock feed.  Does that seem fair?

63. "Tsk!": TUT.  Sounds expressing disapproval or annoyance.  Less intense than "humbug."  Maybe.

And that wraps it up for today.  Hope you didn't end up too far behind.

Congrats to Sam Cordes for his L. A. Times debut.  He has 3 published puzzles elsewhere, this this is his first here.  Well done, Sam!  Hope to see you again.

Cool regards!
JzB

Thursday, June 19, 2025 Joe Rodini

 Theme: I GET A ROUND.  The first word of each theme entry homophonically represents a factor in the formula for the circumference of a circle.

And, in honor of Brian Wilson, who left us a few days ago, here is today's theme song.

17 A. Annoyingly shrewd: TOO CLEVER BY HALF.  A bit of smart-assery, perhaps.  Note the first word.

37 A. Unrealistic enterprise: PIE IN THE SKY.   Something that is pleasant to contemplate but is very unlikely to be realized.  Note the first word.

I hated this song when it came out in 1959, but it was very popular, so I must be wrong.

Yeah - I still hate it.

42 A. "Hello?": ARE YOU THERE?    A common phrase used to check if someone is present, listening, or available to respond.  Note the first word.

58 A. Returns to the beginning, as suggested by the phonetic formula found at the starts of 17-, 37-, and 42-Across: COMES FULL CIRCLE.  Returns to a past position or situation, especially in a way considered to be inevitable.  Or more literally, scopes the circumference.

OK.  Let's put this together [Nobody promised there wouldn't be any math.]. And I won't give you the run around. The formula for the circumference of a circle is 2*π*r, phonetically represented here by TOO, PIE and ARE.  The value of π  is 3.14159 and r is the radius.  Thus, we COME FULL CIRCLE.  But wait -- there's more!

24 D. Sundial three, and a loose depiction of the last part of the geometry formula hinted at in this puzzle: III.  To understand this subtle clue, you have to think about the center of the grid in a way that is literally figurative.  Note that the black squares inscribe a circle about as perfectly as can be done in this medium.  The vertical I-I-I then represents a radius [r] of that circle.  I have seldom been this impressed by a puzzle feature.  Bravo!

Hi Gang, JazzBumpa here to lead us on this circuitous route.  

Across:

1. Package closer: TAPE.   Sticky ribbon that seals the box shut.

5. Closed, as drapes: DREW.  I drew my drapes, then drew my bath, then put away my colored pencils.

9. Skilled: ABLE.   Having a certain skill set.

13. "You beat me": I LOSE. Concession of defeat.

15. Second helping: MORE.  If the first wasn't enough.

16. Place for some finger painting?: NAIL.  Clever clue, leading us to a nail salon. 

20. "Well, aren't you fancy!": OO-LA-LA.  An interjection that expresses surprise, admiration, or excitement, often with a playful or suggestive connotation. It's a French-derived expression, though it's not a direct translation of a common French phrase.  In my experience, there is always a suggestion of something at least risqué, and probably inappropriate.

21. Understand: SEE.   I got it.

22. Basketball Hall of Famer Bob: PETTIT.   Robert Lee Pettit Jr. [b. 1932] is an American former professional basketball player. He played 11 seasons in the NBA, all with the Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks. In 1956, he became the first recipient of the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award and he won the award again in 1959. He also won the NBA All-Star Game MVP award four times.

26. Reunion attendees: AUNTS.  Mom's or dad's sisters.

30. Wine shop order: CASE.  A box, usually of 12 bottles.

33. __ away from: SHIES.  Avoids something because of fear, nervousness, or dislike.

35. SeaWorld performer: SEAL.   Any of numerous carnivorous marine mammals (families Phocidae and Otariidae) that live chiefly in cold regions and have limbs modified into webbed flippers adapted primarily to swimming.

36. Invoice no.: AMT.  Amount, per item, and total due.

39. Singer Flack: ROBERTA.  Roberta Cleopatra Flack [1937-2025] was an American singer and pianist known for her emotive, genre-blending ballads that spanned R&B, jazz, folk, and pop and contributed to the birth of the quiet storm radio format.  She also won record of the year for 1973 and '74.  Sadly, she left us in February.

This might be her most famous song.

41. Tried to win over: COURTED.   Attempted to win someone's favor, affection, or attention, often with the intent of forming a romantic or committed relationship. It can also mean to try to please or improve relations with someone, often to achieve a specific goal. 

44. London facilities: LOO.   What we politely call the rest room or comfort station.  I would have clued this as "John in London."

45. Grow dim: FADE.  Lose luster, strength or brightness.

46. Pink perennial: PEONY.  Peonies are a genus of flowering plants, belonging to the family Paeoniaceae, and are known for their large, showy flowers. They are popular garden plants, especially in temperate regions, and are also widely cultivated as cut flowers.  They come in a wide range of colors, including red, pink, purple, white, and yellow. 

47. __ shui: FENG.   An ancient Chinese practice focusing on aligning environments with the natural world to promote harmony and balance. It involves arranging objects and spaces to optimize the flow of qi (vital energy). The practice aims to create a positive and beneficial environment for occupants. 

48. To-be: ELECT.  In politics, a candidate who hs been elected, but not yet inaugurated.

50. Not wholesale: RETAIL.  Wholesale is the pricing level used between suppliers and commercial sellers.  The sellers' pricing is retail.

52. Chest bone: RIB.   Each of a series of slender curved bones articulated in pairs to the spine (twelve pairs in humans), protecting the thoracic cavity and its organs.

54. MLB sluggers: RBI MEN.  Batters who generate RBIs [runs batted in] This is accurately descriptive, but I'm not aware of this as an in-the-language phrase.

64. Mystique: AURA.   The distinctive atmosphere or quality that seems to surround and be generated by a person, thing, or place.

65. Like the center space on a bingo card: FREE.   Purpose: The free space acts like a "wild" square or a "joker". It doesn't have a number, but it's automatically considered marked for all players from the start of the game.  It's free in the sense that player did nothing to earn it

66. Wild guesses: STABS.   Making attempts or tries, especially when you might not be very confident about succeeding. It implies a willingness to try despite potential challenges or lack of certainty.   This describes me playing Wordle.

67. Hat part: BRIM.    The projecting edge at the bottom of a hat.

68. __ machine: SLOT.  A coin-operated gaming machine that generates random combinations of symbols on a dial, certain combinations winning varying amounts of money for the player.

69. "Make it snappy!": STAT.   Without delay : immediately — used chiefly in medicine. Get this patient to the operating room, stat!

Down:

1. Salsa star Nieves: TITO.   Humberto "Tito" Nieves [b. 1958] is a Puerto Rican-born, bilingual salsa singer and actor with a career spanning over four decades. Born in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico, Nieves started his professional career in 1975 with Orquesta Cimarrón, replacing Rafael De Jesus. 

2. Saag __: spinach and potatoes dish: ALOO.  Saag aloo is a popular Indian and Pakistani side dish made with saag (a variety of greens, including mustard greens), potatoes and spices.

3. Hotel amenity: POOL.   For swiming.

4. Slip away: ESCAPE.   Break free from confinement or control.

5. Real ID issuer: DMV.  Department of Motor Vehicles.

6. Caviar: ROE.  Processed eggs from a large fish, such as a sturgeon, considered a delicacy.  I had shad roe once.  Once.

7. Drop the ball: ERR.  Fail to complete something, or live up to expectations.

8. Halloween decor: WEBS.  Suggestive of spiders.

9. Busch brewing partner: ANHEUSER.  Famous for their horses.

10. Call to Bo Peep: BAA. They cried out, sheepishly.

11. Short, for short: LI'L.   So to speak

12. One with a pole position?: ELF.   North pole laborer.  Well played!

14. Allure competitor: ELLE.  Fashion magazines

18. Falls for something hook, line, and sinker: EATS IT UP.  Something fishy here.  Still - going for something in a big way.  Alternatively, enjoying something immensely, like attention or entertainment 

19. Favorable vote: YEA.  As opposed to neigh - the usual response from horses.

23. Staging area: THEATER.   Usually this means a location in which people, vehicles, equipment, or material are assembled before use.  Here it a place where plays are produced.  Clever mis-direction.

25. Like paperback novels, once: TEN CENT.  Once, long, long ago, they cost one thin dime.  But not any time in my memory, and I'm old.

27. Toll House chocolate chips maker: NESTLE.    A Swiss multinational food and drink processing conglomerate corporation headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland. It has been the largest publicly held food company in the world, measured by revenue and other metrics, since 2014

28. Acquire: TAKE ON.  Take on has many meanings, from hire an employee to accept a task or meet an adversary, to accept a thing or responsibility.

Marginally relevant.  Maybe.

29. Foxy one: SLY DOG.  A person who is very secretive and sly about their activities, though the creatures in the clue and fill are both canines.

30. Wine bar order: CARAFE.   An open-topped glass flask typically used for serving wine or water.

31. Unprincipled: AMORAL.  Lacking a moral sense; unconcerned with the rightness or wrongness of something.

32. "Venerable" monk of Eng. history: ST. BEDE.  Bede [672-735] was an English monk, author and scholar. He was one of the most known writers during the Early Middle Ages, 

34. Multiepisode narrative: STORY ARC.  This is inexact.  It is the overarching structure and progression of a story, guiding the sequence of events and plot progression.  It can also relate to a single episode of a TV series, a movie, novel or even a short story. 

37. Maven: PRO.  One with expertise in a certain field.

38. Tinge: HUE.  Tinge refers to a slight degree of coloration in something, while hue is a specific color or shade.  They don't seem equivalent.

40. Application for crow's-feet: EYE CREAM.  A specialized skincare product formulated to target the delicate skin around the eyes.

43. Turn the soil: HOE.  To labor with a long-handled gardening tool having a thin metal blade, used mainly for weeding and breaking up soil.  Careful, though - Santa might laugh at you.

47. Toys (with): FLIRTS.  Behaves as though attracted to or trying to attract someone, but for amusement rather than with serious intentions.  Seems rather heartless.

49. Poetic contraction: 'TIS.  Meaning "It is."

51. Everglades bird: IBIS.  A large wading bird with a long down-curved bill, long neck, and long legs.

53. Lifetime pals, briefly: BFFS. Best Friends Forever

55. Future doc's exam: MCAT.  The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a standardized, computer-based exam used by medical schools in the United States and Canada to assess applicants' problem-solving, critical thinking, and scientific knowledge. 

56. Idris of "The Wire": ELBA.   Idrissa Akuna Elba OBE  [b. 1972] is an English actor and musician. He has received a Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for three BAFTA Awards and six Emmy Awards. He was named in the Time 100 list of the Most Influential People in the World in 2016. His films have grossed over $9.8 billion at the global box office, making him one of the top 20 highest-grossing actors.

57. Twigs digs: NEST.  A domicile constructed from small tree parts?  It's for the birds!

58. Uber alternative: CAB.  Modes of urban vehicular transportation - the modern and the traditional.  Either way, you pay.

59. First word of the Lord's Prayer: OUR.  I think we all know this.

60. Source of inside info?: MRI.  An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan is a non-invasive medical imaging technique that uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed pictures of the body's organs and tissues - the "inside information."   

61. Dot-com address: URL.   Universal Resource Locator.

62. Sign for most of August: LEO.  The fifth sign of the zodiac, typically spans from July 23rd to August 22nd. It's associated with the constellation Leo and is symbolized by the lion. Leos are known for their confidence, charisma, and natural leadership abilities. They are often described as passionate, loyal, and creative individuals. 

63. Tennis call: LET.   A "let" occurs when a serve hits the net but still lands within the service box. This results in the serve being replayed, according to various tennis resources. Essentially, a let means the point is replayed, offering the server a second chance at serving. 

And with that, we have come FULL CIRCLE.

As usual, I had my nits, but overall, this is a superb puzzle.

Special thanks to those gave me technical and temporal assistance.  You know who you are.

If you're in Plymouth, MI this evening, come to the Concert Band Performance at 7:00 pm in Kellogg Park.  Say hi to me before or after, and I'll buy you an ice cream.

The weekend is almost upon us.  Hope we all get around to having some fun.

Cool regards, 

JzB

Wednesday, May 21, 2025 Prasanna Keshiva

 Theme: Measure Four Measure.  The circled letters in the answers to the starred clues spell various units of measurement.  But, as we shall see, there's a bit more to it than that.

17. *Calling the shots: IN CHARGE.  This indicates being in control with overall responsibility.  An INCH is a unit of linear measure equal to 1/12 foot, or 2.54 cm.

25. *Tear apart: RIP IN TWO.  Forcefully break or tear something into two separate pieces.  A PINT is a unit of liquid or dry volume equal to half a quart.

49. *In the soup: UP A CREEK.  To be in severe difficulty or trouble, especially with no clear means of escape.  An ACRE a unit of land area equal to 4,840 square yards, or 1/640 square mile. 

61. *Request from a photographer: BIG SMILE.  Say "Cheese" or in some other way look happy.  A MILE is a unit of distance equal to 1760 yards or 5280 feet. 

37. Paltry effort, or a literal description of the answer to each starred clue: HALF MEASURE.  An action or policy that is not forceful or decisive enough.  Like the Maple Leafs against the Panthers. <sigh>. But how does this relate to the theme fill?  I had to stare at if for a while until I realized that each fill is 8 letters, and each unit of measurement is 4.  So each MEASURE is HALF of the answer.  I'm impressed by the ability to first conceive of this theme, and then find the elements that fit.  Very well played!

Hi Gang, JazzBumpa here to give a measured presentation of today's puzzle.  Let's dig in.

1. Book after the Gospels: ACTS.  Of the Apostles.   It is the fifth book of the New Testament; and tells of the founding of the Christian Church and the spread of its message to the Roman Empire. 

5. "__ the season ... ": TIS.  It is.

8. Lawyer Clarence who inspired a character in "Inherit the Wind": DARROW.  Clarence Seward Darrow [1857 - 1938] was an American lawyer who became famous in the 19th century for high-profile representations of trade union causes, and in the 20th century for several criminal matters, including the Leopold and Loeb murder trial, the Scopes "monkey" trial, and the Ossian Sweet defense.  "Inherit the Wind" is a parable that fictionalizes the 1925 Scopes "Monkey" Trial as a means to discuss McCarthyism. Written in response to the chilling effect of the McCarthy era investigations on intellectual discourse, the film is critical of creationism.

14. Consider to be: DEEM.  To hold something as an opinion or to regard it as a certain way. 

15. "That's awful!": UGH.  Expression of disgust.

16. Golden Crinkles maker: ORE-IDA.   Ore-Ida is a brand of potato-based frozen foods owned by Kraft Heinz's, H.J. Heinz Company Brands LLC. based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Ore-Ida's primary production facility is located in Ontario, Oregon, near the Idaho border where the company was originally founded in 1949.

19. __-than-life: LARGER.    Attracting special attention because of unusual and flamboyant appearance or behavior.

20. Start of a kids clothing line name: OSH.  OshKosh B'gosh is an American children's apparel company founded in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It is a subsidiary of Carter's. OshKosh B'gosh has become best known for its children's clothing, especially bibbed overalls.

21. Actress Taylor-Joy of "The Queen's Gambit": ANYA.   Anya-Josephine Marie Taylor-Joy [ b. 1996] is an award-winning actress born in Miami and raised in London and Buenos Aires. After studying ballet and modeling, she left school at 16 to pursue acting. Her breakthrough role came in 2015 as Thomasin in the horror film "The Witch", which earned her an Empire Award and a Saturn Award nomination.  She starred in the fictional Netflix miniseries "The Queen's Gambit" as Beth Harmon, an orphaned chess prodigy on her rise to the top of the chess world while struggling with drug and alcohol dependency. The series and her performance received widespread critical acclaim.

22. Atty.'s group: ABA.  American Bar Association.

23. Former Seattle team, familiarly: SONICS.  The Seattle SuperSonics (commonly shortened to Sonics) were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle. The SuperSonics competed in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Western Division (1967–1970), and later as a member of the Western Conference's Pacific (1970–2004) and Northwest (2004–2008) divisions. After the 2007–08 season ended, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, where it now plays as the Oklahoma City Thunder.   The Thunder are now facing the Timberwolves in the Weseren Conference Final

30. Roping and riding contests: RODEOS.   A sport involving a series of riding and roping contests, showcasing the skills of cowboys and cowgirls [cow persons? bovine folk?] It originated from the working practices of cattle herding and evolved into a popular public performance. Rodeos typically feature events like bull riding, bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, team roping, and barrel racing. 

32. Bag-checking org.: TSA.   TSA stands for the Transportation Security Administration, an agency within the United States Department of Homeland Security responsible for securing the nation's transportation systems, particularly airports. 

33. Charged atomic particle: ION.  Scientific Term: In chemistry, an ion is an atom or molecule that has a net electrical charge due to the loss or gain of electrons. 

34. Spritelike: ELFISH.   Charmingly mischievous or sprightly; impish.  Not sure Tolkien would agree. 

36. "Uh, I doubt it": UM - NO.   A response indicating hesitation and a refusal or disagreement.
 
40. Potato spots: EYES.   Potato "eyes" are actually small sprouts that develop on potatoes when they are stored for too long. These sprouts are not harmful to eat, but they do contain a higher concentration of a natural toxin called solanine, which can cause digestive issues if eaten in large quantities. If the sprouts are small, they can be removed before cooking, and the potato is still safe to eat. If the sprouting is extensive, it's best to discard the potato. 

42. Walking back and forth: PACING.   Walking at a steady and consistent speed, especially back and forth and as an expression of one's anxiety or annoyance.

43. Mo. of "Madness": MAR.   March Madness is a period during the month of March when the annual NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) basketball tournament takes place.

44. Ga. capital: ATL.  Atlanta, the capital of the U.S. state of Georgia. It played an important part in both the Civil War and the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. Atlanta History Center chronicles the city's past, and the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site is dedicated to the African-American leader’s life and times.

46. Shoelace tips: AGLETS.  A metal or plastic tube fixed tightly around each end of a shoelace.  The hole it passes through is an eyelet. The space between the eyebrows is the glabella; the space between the toes is called the interdigital space.  Everything has a name.

52. Umpire's cry: HE'S OUT.

54. Reddit tell-all sesh: AMA.   Ask Me Anything session.

55. Has: EATS.  Frex, for breakfast.

57. SSW's opposite: NNE.  North-northeast.

58. Extemporizes: AD LIBS.   Speaks without previous preperation.

63. We Are Toonz dance style: NAE NAE.  The Nae Nae is a hip-hop dance move that involves placing one arm in the air and swaying from side to side. The Atlanta hip hop group We Are Toonz is credited for inventing the phrase with their hit song "Drop That NaeNae" in 2013.

64. Computing pioneer Lovelace: ADA.  Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace, [1815 - 1852] also known as Ada Lovelace, was an English mathematician and writer chiefly known for her work on Charles Babbage's proposed mechanical general-purpose computer, the Analytical Engine. She was the first to recognize that the machine had applications beyond pure calculation.

65. Working hard: AT IT.  Deeply involved in something.

66. Oasis site: DESERT.  An oasis is a fertile spot in a desert, where water is found.  A desert is defined by its aridity: receiving less than 25 centimeters (10 inches) of precipitation per year. This lack of rainfall, along with high evaporation rates, results in a dry, barren environment with little plant life. 

67. Implore: BEG.  Ask someone earnestly or desperately to do something.

68. "The Studio" creator/star Rogen: SETH.  Seth Aaron Rogen [ b. 1982] is a Canadian actor, comedian, and filmmaker who has received nominations for three Golden Globes and five Primetime Emmys. He's known for his comedic leading roles in films. 

Down:

1. "Sayonara!": ADIOS.  Farewell.

2. One who refuses to take an oath?: CENSOR.  An official who examines material that is about to be released, such as books, movies, news, and art, and suppresses any parts that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security.  I guess refusing to take an oath refers to suppressing obscene language, but that's a stretch.

3. Music genre related to trance: TECHNO.  A style of fast, heavy electronic dance music, typically with few or no vocals.

4. Texter's "What a mess": SMH.  "Shaking My Head," expressing  dismay or disapproval.  Reaction to the Maple Leafs loss.

5. Alienates: TURNS OFF.  Eliminates interest, desire or approval; perhaps eading to a head shake.

6. "The End of an Era" artist Azalea: IGGY.  Amethyst Amelia Kelly [b. 1990], known professionally as Iggy Azalea, is an Australian rapper, songwriter, model and businesswoman. Born in Sydney, Australia, Azalea moved to the United States at the age of 16 in order to pursue a career in music

7. Shave wool from, as sheep: SHEAR. Ovine trip to the baa-baa shop.

8. Work out in a pool: DO LAPS. "Laps" refers to one complete trip around a track or course, or from one end of a pool to the other and back again

9. Saudi __: ARABIA.   Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is a country in West Asia. Located in the centre of the Middle East, it covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula and has a land area of about 2,150,000 km2 (830,000 sq mi), making it the fifth-largest country in Asia, the largest in the Middle East, and the 12th-largest in the world

10. Played over: RERAN.  As, frex. a show or movie on TV.

11. Semi: RIG.   A large commercial truck, typically a tractor-trailer combination, used for hauling freight over long distances. The term "semi" comes from the trailer being partially supported by the tractor unit. 

12. Many a poem by Shelley: ODE.   A lyric poem in the form of an address to a particular subject, often elevated in style or manner and written in varied or irregular meter.

13. Tolstoy's "__ and Peace": WAR.   A literary work published in 1867 by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy. Set during the Napoleonic Wars, the work comprises both a fictional narrative and chapters in which Tolstoy discusses history and philosophy. 

18. Small power source: AA CELL.  A standard size battery widely used in electronic devices. It measures approximately 51 mm in length and 14 mm in diameter. AA cells come in various chemistries like alkaline, lithium, and rechargeable Ni-MH. 

24. Notions: IDEAS.  Conceptions of or beliefs about something.  Or maybe concepts of plans.

26. Home of Cornell: ITHACA.  Cornell University is a private Ivy League land-grant research university based in Ithaca, New York, United States. The university was co-founded by American academic and philanthropist Ezra Cornell and historian and educator Andrew Dickson White in 1865.  Ithaca is a city on Cayuga Lake, in New York’s Finger Lakes region. 

27. Person of the Year magazine: TIME.   Time is an American news magazine based in New York City. It was published weekly for nearly a century. Starting in March 2020, it transitioned to a biweekly publication. It was first published in New York City on March 3, 1923, and for many years it was run by its influential co-founder, Henry Luce.

28. Came out on top: WON.   Was successful or victorious in a contest or conflict.  Unlike the Maple Leafs, alas.

29. Artist Yoko: ONO.   Yoko Ono is a Japanese artist, musician, filmmaker, and peace activist who has been a prominent figure in the art world for almost 60 years. Born in Tokyo in 1933, Ono was classically trained in voice and piano as a child. She became a pioneer of multimedia art and a key figure in the 1960s New York avant-garde scene.

31. Easy-peasy: SIMPLE.  Easily accomplished.

35. __ urchin: SEA.    A marine invertebrate belonging to the Echinodermata phylum, characterized by  spiny, globular bodies. They are found in various ocean depths and habitats, from intertidal zones to deep seas. Sea urchins are omnivorous, feeding on algae and other marine organisms. 

36. Yens: URGES.  Desires.  

37. Mother of Hephaestus: HERA.   Hephaestus, in Greek mythology, was the god of fire, blacksmiths, metalworking, and sculpture. He was also the blacksmith of the gods, crafting their weapons and armor. He was known for his skills and was often depicted as a master craftsman with a lame foot.    Hera is a central figure in Greek mythology, revered as the goddess of marriage, family, and childbirth, and the queen of the gods. She is also known as the sister and wife of Zeus, the king of the gods. Hera is often depicted as a powerful and jealous figure, fiercely protective of her position and known for punishing those who wronged her, especially Zeus's lovers and illegitimate children. The Greeks created their gods in man's own image.

38. Common element of vaudeville: SIGHT GAG.    Anything which conveys its humor visually, often without words being used at all. The gag may involve a physical impossibility or an unexpected occurrence. The humor is caused by alternative interpretations of the goings-on. Visual gags are used in magic, plays, and acting on television or movies.   Types.

39. "Wait, what if ... ": UNLESS.  Consider another contingency.

40. Flightless Down Under bird: EMU.  The emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) is a species of flightless bird endemic to Australia and horrible Liberty Mutual ads, where it is the tallest native bird, dwarfing the absurd Aflac duck. It is the only extant member of the genus Dromaius and the third-tallest living bird after its African ratite relatives, the common ostrich and Somali ostrich. 

41. Shrill bark: YAP.  

44. Cross pin, in martial arts: ARM BAR.   An arm bar hold, or arm lock, is a grappling technique where the elbow joint is forced into hyperextension, potentially causing a tap-out or injury. It's commonly used in sports like Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu, mixed martial arts, and wrestling, and can be applied from various positions. 

45. Collection that includes cups and saucers: TEA SET.  They're fragile.  Don't ruin the set.

47. This evening, in adspeak: TONITE.   Creative spelling.

48. Bathed in rays: SUNLIT.   Not under clouds.

50. "The Cider House Rules" Oscar winner Michael: CAINE.  Sir Michael Caine (born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite; 14 March 1933) is an English retired actor. Known for his distinct Cockney accent, he has appeared in more than 160 films over a career that spanned eight decades and is considered a British cultural icon. He has received numerous awards including two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. As of 2017, the films in which Caine has appeared have grossed over $7.8 billion worldwide.

51. Shish __: KEBAB.  Shish kebab or shish kebap is a popular meal of skewered and grilled cubes of meat. It can be found in Mediterranean cuisine.  It is traditionally made of lamb, but there are also versions with various kinds of meat, poultry, or fish.

53. Pearly whites: TEETH.  Metaphorically speaking.

56. Staffer: AIDE.  Assistant.

58. "Then what?": AND.  How does this continue?

59. Daniel __ Kim of "Lost": DAE.   Daniel Dae Kim (b. 1968) is an American actor. He is known for his starring roles in a variety of roles in network television and theater. In 2025, Time magazine listed him as one of the world's 100 most influential people.

60. French article: LES.  Meaning "the."

62. More, in Spanish: MAS.  Literal.

Sorry, no mas!  Lo Siento.  Así termina otro miércoles.  I liked this puzzle.  What do you think?  Did it measure up?

If anyone is interested, here is a vid of our performance from April 27.  I introduce my original song Blues For Nate at 1:17.

Cool regards!

JzB

Wednesday, April 23, 2025 Katherine Simonson

Theme: It's the unifier - FAILURE TO LAUNCH.   At my age, I think of this as an unsuccessful attempt in rocketry.  But the modern usage refers to young adults who struggle to achieve expected milestones of independence and self-sufficiency.  This seems to be Google's preference.  More generally, it can be any unsuccessful venture.  Here, we have an imbedded word or phrase in each theme fill that represents the concept.  Ironically, it seems like a success.

17 A. *Call to Rapunzel: LET DOWN YOUR HAIR.  Rapunzel is the main character in a German folk tale recorded by the Brothers Grimm in 1812.   She is trapped in a tower with a window and no other entrance.  Her long, golden hair, when dropped down from the window, becomes a type of ladder.  A LET DOWN is a failure to provide some expected assistance.

Wikipedia

22 A. *Outmoded forms of payment for some commuters: BUS TOKENS.    Physical or digital tickets that allow passengers to ride a bus or other public transport service.  A BUST is a failed endeavor of almost any variety. 

33 A. * Like a beagle but not a corgi: FLOPPY EARED.  A description of an animal's ears that hang down the sides of the head, rather than standing upright.  A FLOP is an unexpected failure of some activity.  Our oldest granddaughter just returned from 15 months in Japan, where she was dancing at Tokyo Disney.  When she returned, I called her "cookie," because she was away fer so long.  As you can imagine this joke was a complete FLOP.  But I was amused.

Not Snoopy, probably

49 A. *Western vacation destination: DUDE RANCH.  This is a vacation site where city dwellers can experience some aspects of cowboy or old west living.  A DUD is an object that doesn't work, like a fire cracker that doesn't crack.

 55. Rocket mishap, or what can be found at the start of the answer to each starred clue: FAILURE TO LAUNCH.  Still, this gets the puzzle off to a good start.

Hi Gang, JazzBumpa here, hoping to continue with success in this puzzle journey.  

Across:

1. Fish tacos fish, familiarly: MAHI.  More formally, mahi-mahi, a tropical fish also known as dolphinfish. 

5. Give a ring: PHONE.  Call someone on a telephone.  They don't necessarily ring any more, though that alert sound setting is usually an option.

10. Portland-to-Boise dir.: ESE.  East-south-east.

13. Revered figures: ICONS.  Originally depiction of religious figures, now often referring to famous athletes or entertainers.

15. Ingested: EATEN.  Consumed.

16. Bolt: RUN.  Run away suddenly.

20. Largest African antelope: ELAND.   A spiral-horned African antelope that lives in open woodland and grassland. 

Built like a cow

21. Party with a piñata: FIESTA.  A Latin-American party.  The piñata is a decorated vessel (such as of papier-mâché) filled with candies, fruits, and gifts and hung up to be broken with sticks by blindfolded persons as part of especially Latin American festivities 

26. Move stealthily: CREEP.  Move slowly and carefully in order to avoid being heard or noticed.

27. Tension: UNEASE.  Mental or emotional strain.

28. Home to three of Massachusetts' Five Colleges: AMHERST.  Actually, there are five colleges there:  Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.  The greater Boston area has dozens more.

30. Bagel shop: DELI.  A store where ready-to-eat food products (such as cooked meats and prepared salads) are sold; short for delicatessen.

31. Free, in a way: UNTIE.  Remove a restraining rope or cord.

38. Puffed on an e-cigarette: VAPED.  Inhaled and exhaled vapor containing nicotine and flavoring produced by a device designed for this purpose.

39. Honey liquor: MEAD.   An alcoholic drink of fermented honey and water.

42. Innocence: NAIVETE.   Lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment.  Is this innocence?  You decide.

46. NPR White House correspondent __ Keith: TAMARA.  Tamara Dawnell Keith [b. 1979] is an American journalist. She is the White House correspondent for NPR and co-hosts the NPR Politics Podcast with Scott Detrow. She regularly appears on the PBS NewsHour weekly segment "Politics Monday". Keith is on the board of the White House Correspondents' Association, of which she served as president from 2022 to 2023

48. Big name in kitchen appliances: OSTER.  Oster is an American manufacturing company specializing in small kitchen appliances, known for its blenders, toasters, and roaster ovens. 

52. Vitriolic rant: TIRADE.  A long, angry speech of criticism or accusation.

54. Get fit for competition: TRAIN.  Prepare someone or yourself for a job, activity, or sport, by learning skills and/or by mental or physical exercise.

60. Stone or ice follower: AGE.  These are notable periods on planet earth.  The Stone Age is a prehistoric period characterized by the use of stone tools and weapons. It spans roughly 3.3 million years, from the first evidence of stone tools to the introduction of metalworking, marking the beginning of the Bronze Age.  An ice age is any geologic period during which thick ice sheets cover vast areas of land. Such periods of large-scale glaciation may last several million years and drastically reshape surface features of entire continents. A number of major ice ages have occurred throughout Earth history.  The last major ice age, also known as the Last Glacial Period, occurred between approximately 115,000 and 11,700 years ago. 

61. Eco-friendly vehicles: BIKES.  A two-wheeled vehicle powered by peddling.

62. Smooth change in topics: SEGUE.  A movement without interruption from one piece of music, part of a story, subject, or situation to another:

63. K'Nex connector: ROD.  K'Nex is a building toy with a variety of interlocking shapes.

64. Clairvoyants: SEERS.  Persons who claim to have a supernatural ability to perceive events in the future or beyond normal sensory contact.

65. "So many!": LOTS.  An unspecified large quantity.

Down:

1. Domain suffix for a private employer: MIL.  You expect this to be COM, for a private company, but it's MILitary, the employer of privates.  Clever clue.

2. Star pitcher: ACE.   A person who excels at a particular sport or other activity.

3. Like cayenne: HOT.  Spicy! 

4. With painstaking precision: IN DETAIL.  With close attention to particulars; thoroughly.

5. Tubular pasta: PENNE. Penne pasta, a popular Italian pasta shape, derives its name from the Italian word "penna," which translates to "pen" or "quill" in English. The name reflects the pasta's shape, a short, cylinder-shaped pasta with diagonally cut ends, reminiscent of a quill or writing pen. 

6. Composer Joseph who mentored Mozart and Beethoven: HAYDN.  Franz Joseph Haydn [1732 - 1809] was an Austrian composer and a central figure in the development of Classical music. He's often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" for his contributions to establishing their forms and styles. 

7. Great Plains Native: OTO.   A Native American people of the Midwestern United States. The Otoe language, Chiwere, is part of the Siouan family and closely related to that of the related Iowa, Missouria, and Ho-Chunk tribes.

Historically, the Otoe tribe lived as a semi-nomadic people on the Central Plains along the bank of the Missouri River in Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, and Missouri. They lived in elm-bark lodges while they farmed, and used tipis while traveling, like many other Plains tribes. They often left their villages to hunt buffalo.

8. Nine, in Normandy: NEUF.  9

9. Agent that gets good results: ENRICHER.  A component or entity that improves or adds to the quality, value, or richness of something.  This generally refers to things, not persons.

10. Soft end of a pencil: ERASER.  It's soft because it made of rubber; and it's called rubber because it erases pencil marks by rubbing them out.

11. Multiroom accommodations: SUITES.  A set of rooms designated for one person's or family's use or for a particular purpose.

12. Mesmerized: ENRAPT.  Fascinated, enthralled.

14. Pilots' milestones: SOLOS.   The experience of flying an aircraft alone, without an instructor or other pilot in the flight crew. It's a significant milestone in flight training, signifying a student pilot's proficiency and readiness to operate an aircraft independently. 

18. Ship follower: WAKE.  The track left by a moving body (such as a ship) in a fluid (such as water)

19. Present: HERE.  In or at this place or position.

22. Sign of spring: BUD.   A compact growth on a plant that develops into a leaf, flower, or shoot.

23. Half of deux: UNE. 1/2 * 2 = 1.

24. Subject of an autobiography: SELF.  A person's essential being that distinguishes them from others, especially considered as the object of introspection or reflexive action.

25. Quenched: SATED.   Satisfied fully, regarding drink or food.  Truly equivalent?  You decide.

29. Soccer star Hamm: MIA.  Mariel Margaret "Mia" Hamm [b. 1972] is an American former professional soccer player, two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion. Hailed as a soccer icon, she played as a forward for the United States national team from 1987 to 2004.

31. Boosted: UPPED.  Augmented of amplified.

32. "Science Guy" Bill: NYE.  William Sanford Nye [b. 1955] also known as "Bill Nye the Science Guy", is a scientist, comedian, inventor, author, and television personality. He's best known for hosting the Emmy award-winning PBS show Bill Nye the Science Guy, which first aired in 1993 and educated millions about basic science. 

34. Layers audio tracks: OVERDUBS.   Overdubbing is a technique used in audio recording in which audio tracks that have been pre-recorded are then played back and monitored, while simultaneously recording new, doubled, or augmented tracks onto one or more available tracks of a digital audio workstation or tape recorder.

35. Gentle touch: PAT.  Touch quickly and gently with the flat of the hand.  With the back of the hand, it's a TAP.

36. President of France Macron: EMMANUEL.  Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron [b 1977] is a French politician who has served as President of France and Co-Prince of Andorra since 2017. He was Minister of Economics, Industry and Digital Affairs under President François Hollande between 2014-16. He has been a member of Renaissance since he founded it in 2016.

37. College bigwig: DEAN.  a senior administrator who oversees a specific academic unit, such as a college or department. They are responsible for academic, programmatic, managerial, and fiscal responsibilities within that unit. Deans typically ensure the adequacy of instruction, monitor academic integrity, and are involved in student recruitment, admission, and academic progress. 

40. Path of a fly ball: ARC.   A continuous portion of a curved line, as part of the circumference of a circle.  Sometimes the result of a launch.

41. "Well, lah-di-__!": DAH.  Describes someone who behaves in an affectedly elegant or refined way, often in a way that seems unnatural and intended to impress others. It implies a pretentious or upper-class manner that is considered to be an over-the-top show of sophistication. 

42. In the vicinity: NOT FAR.  Near by.

43. Italian cheese with a nutty flavor: ASIAGO.  A cow's milk cheese, first produced in Asiago in Italy, that can assume different textures according to its aging, from smooth for the fresh Asiago (called Asiago pressato, which means "pressed Asiago") to a crumbly texture for the aged cheese (Asiago d'allevo, which means "breeding farm Asiago"). 

44. "Did my best": I TRIED.  Sometimes one's best u=isn't good enough.

45. Scaloppine meat: VEAL.  Veal is the meat from young cattle, typically those under one year old. It's a lighter, more tender meat than beef and is often pale pink in color. Veal production involves raising calves, many of whom are male calves from dairy breeds that are not needed for milk production. 

46. Blue-green hue: TEAL.  Or aqua.  Always need perps.

47. Prima donnas' songs: ARIAS.  Accompanied, elaborate melodies sung (as in an opera) by a single voice. 

50. Vocalize: UTTER.  Speak.

51. Trivial matter: DROSS.  The scum or unwanted material that forms on the surface of molten metal, hence something useless or worthless.

53. Great Lake that drains into the Niagara River: ERIE.  Lake Erie is the fourth-largest lake by surface area of the five Great Lakes in North America and the eleventh-largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and also has the shortest average water residence time. At its deepest point, Lake Erie is 210 feet (64 m) deep, making it the only Great Lake whose deepest point is above sea level.

56. __ out a living: EKE.  Manage to support oneself or make a living with difficulty.

57. Private aid gp.: NGO.  Non-Governmental Organization.
 
58. Trim: CUT.  Make something smaller by cutting away or otherwise removing a portion.

59. "__ making a list ... ": HE'S.  Keeping a record, to use for cataloging or decision making,   Sung of Mr. Claus.

And here we land after today's successful launch.  Hope you enjoyed the ride.

If you're in the Dearborn area on Sunday, come on down to the Michael Guido Theater in the Civic Center on Michigan Ave.  The Dearborn Big Band is playing a free concert at 3:00.  You can hear a song I wrote.

Cool regards!

JzB

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2025 Tara Holland

div>Theme:  Each theme clue today is the same word, in search of different ways of expressing its meaning.  This is called a definition theme, or, in Corner parlance, a clecho [clue echo.]. The theme word here is MOLE.  Let's dig into it.

17. Mole: BEAUTY MARK.  A benign (non-cancerous) growth on the skin, often appearing as a small, dark spot. It is formed by clusters of pigment-producing cells called melanocytes, and can be brown, tan, black, blue, red, or pink.  I've had one on my left cheek forever.  It does not make me feel pretty.

23. Mole: SLEEPER AGENT.  A sleeper agent is a spy or operative who infiltrates a target country or organization, living undercover for an extended period, often years, to act as a potential asset if activated in the future.  A mole is a person who works for an organization or government and secretly gives information to its competitor or enemy.  These are related ideas of someone working under cover, but not really identical.

37. Mole: UNIT OF SUBSTANCE.   It's the base unit in the International System of Units (SI) for the amount of a substance, representing 6.022 × 10²³  of elementary entities (atoms, molecules, etc.). of that substance (Avogadro's number).  It is used to express the concentration of substances in solutions (moles per liter).   The molecular weight of a substance is the weight of one mole of molecules.

59. Mole: GARDEN PEST.  A small, burrowing mammal with velvety fur, small eyes and ears, and powerful forelimbs adapted for digging.   Moles live in tunnels underground, primarily in North America, Europe, and Asia.  They are insectivores, feeding on earthworms and other small invertebrates.   They aerate the soil and help control insect populations, while messing up your lawn.

48. Mole: MEXICAN SAUCE.   In contemporary Mexico the term is used for a number of sauces, some quite dissimilar.  They can contain fruits, nuts, chili peppers, and spices like black pepper, cinnamon, or cumin.

Hi Gang, JazzBumpa here to disambiguate the various meanings of today's repeated theme clue.  Let's see what else we can uncover.

Across:

1. Maker of the first graphing calculator: CASIO.  This was the model FX-7000G, introduced in 1985.  

6. Mediterranean volcano: ETNA.  This is an active volcano that erupted just last month.

10. Tournament passes: BYES.  In a tournament, a "bye" means a player or team advances to the next round without playing a match in the current round, often awarded to top-seeded participants or when there's an uneven number of competitors. 

14. Acrylic fiber: ORLON.  My first thought was Nylon, but that's a polyamid.   Orlon is known for it's  known for its softness, durability, and resistance to sunlight, chemicals, and mildew.  Alternatively, an R&B group that formed in 1960.

Probably not 1960

 
15. Blistex targets: LIPS.  Blistex Medicated Lip Balm helps prevent dryness and chapping. They tell us that its easy glide formula also soothes irritated lips.

16. Goddess born to the Titans Coeus and Phoebe: LETO.  In Greek mythology, Leto is the Titan goddess of motherhood, childbirth, and modesty. She is the mother of Artemis and Apollo, 

19. Lots and lots: A TON.  A non-specific large quantity.

20. Wager: BET.  Risk something, usually a sum of money, against someone else's on the basis of the outcome of a future event, such as the result of a race or game.

21. Declare with confidence: AVER.  Assert that something is true.

22. Pressing into service: USING.   Taking, holding, or deploying something as a means of accomplishing a purpose or achieving a result;

27. Not as expensive: LESS.  Not costing as much.

28. "U slay me!": LOL. Expressions of mirth.

29. Ornamental pond fish: KOI.   In Japan, the koi is a symbol of luck, prosperity, and good fortune, and also of perseverance in the face of adversity. Ornamental koi are symbolic of Japanese culture and are closely associated with the country's national identity.

32. 6-Across output: LAVA.  Molten rock.  Refer to the video above.

35. Pines, e.g.: CONIFERS.   Trees that bear cones and needle-like or scale-like leaves that are typically evergreen. Conifers are of major importance as the source of softwood, and also supply resins and turpentine.

41. Rose up: REBELLED.  Rose in opposition or armed resistance to an established government or ruler.

42. Wine quality: NOSE.  The "nose" of a wine is the wine's aroma or smell. It's a term used by wine experts and enthusiasts to describe the scents that come from the wine. 

43. Wool producer: EWE.  A female sheep.

44. Not exactly talkative: MUM.  "Be silent," 1560s, from a verb mum (Middle English mommen) "make silent" (c. 1400); "be silent" (mid-15c.), from mum, mom (late 14c.), "an inarticulate closed-mouth sound" indicative of unwillingness or inability to speak, probably imitative. As an adjective meaning "secret" or "silent" from 1520s. Phrase mum's the word is recorded by 1704.

45. "Hold on!": WAIT.  I'll be right there.

53. Open mic night figure: COMIC.  Stand up comedian.

56. Palo __, California: ALTO.   Palo Alto (Spanish for 'tall stick') is a charter city in the northwestern corner of Santa Clara County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area, named after a coastal redwood tree known as El Palo Alto.  The city of Palo Alto was incorporated in 1894 by the American industrialist Leland Stanford and his wife, Jane Stanford, when they founded Stanford University in memory of their only child, Leland Stanford Jr. 

57. Skillet: PAN.  A skillet is a type of pan, often called a frying pan, characterized by a flat bottom, slightly sloped or flared sides, and a long handle, making it suitable for various cooking methods like frying, sautéing, and searing. 

58. North __ Sea: Central Asian lake: ARAL.  The Aral Sea was an endorheic [has no outflow to the sea or ocean, instead, water is lost primarily through evaporation or seepage into the ground] lake lying between Kazakhstan to its north and Uzbekistan to its south, which began shrinking in the 1960s and had largely dried up into desert by the 2010s. It was in the Aktobe and Kyzylorda regions of Kazakhstan and the Karakalpakstan autonomous region of Uzbekistan.   The North Aral Sea is the portion of the former Aral Sea that is fed by the Syr Darya River. It split from the South Aral Sea in 1987–1988 as water levels dropped due to river diversion for agriculture.

62. Demolish: RAZE.  Completely destroy a building, town, or other site.   Etymologically "to scratch, slash, scrape, erase," from Old French raser "to scrape, shave," from Medieval Latin rasare.

63. Advantage: EDGE.  An improved position or advantage in some sort of competition.

64. Soeur de la mére: TANTE.  The clue indicates the mother's sister.  The fill indicates a mature or elderly woman who is related or well known to the speaker (often used as a respectful form of address).  None of tis was known to me.

65. Cold drafts: ALES.  Move away from the window and enjoy one sitting by the fire.

66. Once in a blue __: MOON.  Rarely.  Alternatively,  a wheat beer brewed with tangerine peel. Not an ale.

67. General delivery?: ORDER.  Hmmm.  An authoritative command issued by a high ranking military officer. 

Down:

1. Some hearty salads: COBBS.  An American garden salad typically made with chopped salad greens (authentically romaine lettuce), tomato, bacon, chicken breast, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, chives, blue cheese or other cheeses and red wine vinaigrette.

2. Staggering: AREEL.  Walking unsteadily - perhaps from too many ales.

3. Roof option: SLATE.  A roof made of natural stone tiles

4. Letters for debtors: IOU.  A phonetic acronym of the words "I owe you," that is a document that acknowledges the existence of a debt. 

5. Recorded: ON TAPE.  In the language, but probably anachronistic by now.  Does anybody actually record on tape these days?

6. Big name in glue: ELMER'S.  Elmer's Products, Inc. or simply Elmer's, is an American-based company that has a line of adhesive, craft, home repair, and office supply products. 

7. Diadem: TIARA.  Each is jeweled head band.  A diadem can also be more crown- like, symbolizing royalty. 

8. "Fresh Air" airer: NPR.  National Public Radio.

9. "That's a pretty big __": ASK.  Something you request someone to do that will be difficult for them.

10. Really fun time: BLAST. An enjoyable experience or lively party.

11. Himalayan recluse: YETI.    A mythical creature that's said to live in the Himalayan mountains.

12. Historic English school: ETON.   Eton College is a public school providing boarding education for boys aged 13–18, in the small town of Eton, in Berkshire, in the United Kingdom. It has educated prime ministers, world leaders, Nobel laureates, Academy Award and BAFTA award-winning actors, and generations of the aristocracy, and has been referred to as "the nurse of England's statesmen"

13. "Call Me" or "Call Me Maybe": SONG.  

18. __ Saint Laurent: YVES.   Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-Laurent 1936 – 2008)better known as Yves Saint Laurent or YSL, was a French fashion designer who, in 1962, founded his eponymous fashion label. He is regarded as being among the foremost fashion designers of the twentieth century.

22. Like birthday candles during dinner: UNLIT.  This assumes the dinner precedes the dessert, which the natural order of things.  But somebody once said - life is uncertain, eat dessert first.

24. Absolutely delight: ELATE.  Make someone ecstatically happy.

25. Goopy lump: GLOB.  An amorphous and possibly sticky mass.

26. Ages and ages: EONS.  A long, non-specific time period.

29. Lotto game: KENO.   Keno is a lottery-like gambling game often played at modern casinos, and also offered as a game in some lotteries.

30. Middle-earth menaces: ORCS.   

31. "Understood": I SEE.  Got it.

32. Fishing aid: LURE.   An artificial bait, often made of plastic or metal, designed to attract fish by mimicking prey or triggering their instincts, and is used to catch fish during angling

33. Once more: ANEW.  Starting over.

34. General feeling: VIBE.  The overall feeling, atmosphere, or energy of a place, person, or situation, often used to describe a positive or negative feeling or mood. 

35. Bovine mouthful: CUD.   Partly digested food returned from the first stomach of ruminants to the mouth for further chewing.

36. Crush alternative: FANTA.  Fanta is an American-owned brand of fruit-flavored carbonated soft drinks.  Crush is a brand of carbonated soft drinks owned and marketed internationally by Keurig Dr Pepper, originally created as an orange soda, Orange Crush. Crush competes with Coca-Cola's Fanta.

38. Early Mesoamerican civilization: OLMEC.   he Olmec were an ancient Mesoamerican civilization that flourished in the Gulf Coast states of Veracruz and Tabasco, modern-day Mexico, between roughly 1200 and 400 BCE.  The Olmec are often considered the "mother culture" of Mesoamerica because their practices and beliefs influenced later civilizations like the Maya and Aztec. 

39. __ capacitor: "Back to the Future" device: FLUX.   A piece of technology in the 1985 time-travel film Back to the Future and its sequels. Although it's described as the thing that makes time travel possible, the precise mechanism it works by isn't ever explained.  It's a bit of fun sci-fi technobabble made up of two pieces of genuine scientific terminology. In physics, flux is the amount of something (like electricity) that’s passing through a given object’s surface and a capacitor is a device that stores electronic charge.

40. Final Four game: SEMI.  The two winners advance to the final, to determine the champion.

45. Thoreau work subtitled "Life in the Woods": WALDEN.  An 1854 book by American transcendentalist writer Henry David Thoreau. The text is a reflection upon the author's simple living in natural surroundings. The work is part personal declaration of independence, social experiment, voyage of spiritual discovery, satire, and—to some degree—a manual for self-reliance

46. Stake: ANTE.   The initial wager in a poker game.

47. Can't be fooled by: IS ON TO.  Has it figured out.

48. Marathon units: MILES.  A unit of linear measure equal to 1,760 yards (approximately 1.609 kilometres).

49. __ pants: CARGO.  Loosely cut pants originally designed for rough work environments and outdoor activities, distinguished by numerous large utility pockets for carrying tools.

50. Overturn: UPEND.  Turn something over so that it ends up upside down; alternatively, to abolish, invalidate, or reverse a previous system, decision, situation, etc.

51. Isabel Wilkerson book that inspired the Ava DuVernay film "Origin": CASTE.   A nonfiction book by the American journalist Isabel Wilkerson, published in August 2020 by Random House. The book describes racism in the United States as an aspect of a caste system—a society-wide system of social stratification characterized by notions such as hierarchy, inclusion and exclusion, and purity. 

52. "Come in!": ENTER.  Go into a building or other structure.

53. "Scars to Your Beautiful" singer Alessia: CARA.  Alessia Caracciolo, known professionally as Alessia Cara, is a Canadian singer and songwriter who was discovered on YouTube at age 13 for her covers and impressions of artists like Lorde and Alanis Morissette. She has won 25 awards out of 74 nominations, including being Canada's first Grammy winner for Best New Artist. Cara is known for encouraging support for real music and artists. 

54. Spoken: ORAL.  As opposed to written.

55. Puzzle with paths: MAZE.  a network of paths and hedges designed as a puzzle through which one has to find a way.

59. Peridot, for one: GEM.   A precious or sometimes semiprecious stone cut and polished for ornament

60. Fuss: ADO.  And now, without further ----

61. __ for the course: PAR.  An average or normal amount or result; just what one might expect.  This term comes from golf, where it refers to the number of strokes needed by an expert golfer to finish the entire course.

That finishes another Wednesday.  Hope you enjoyed the adventure.

Cool Regards!

JzB