Wednesday, May 20, 2026 Steve Jopek

Theme: The Pressure Is On!   Here we have an unusual theme where the entries are united by something that happens to them.  Let's start with the unifier.

59 A. Feeling the squeeze, or what 17-, 23-, 37-, and 48-Across may be: HARD PRESSED.   This means to face a lot of difficulty, distress, or burden—usually because you are lacking time, money, or resources. It is also frequently used in the phrase "hard-pressed to do something," which means you would find it very difficult or unlikely to achieve a specific task.  More literally, it means to be subjected to physical pressure.

17 A. LP or 45: VINYL RECORD.  These are old-style phonograph records that have recently made a comeback.  My youngest granddaughter has some featuring her favorite modern artists.  

This is how it is done

23 A. Emergency feature on a car's key fob: PANIC BUTTON.   A key fob panic button is a safety feature, often labeled in red, that triggers a vehicle's horn and lights to blare continuously to attract attention during emergencies.  You have to press it.  I'm not sure how hard.

37 A. Ham-and-cheese concoctions with Florida origins: CUBAN SANDWICHES.   Warm, pressed ham and cheese sandwiches featuring roast pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard on crusty Cuban bread. Popularized by Cuban immigrants in Florida, it is typically grilled in a plancha (panini press) until the bread is crisp and the cheese melts.

48 A. Waterless treatment for some clothes: DRY CLEANING.  Dry cleaning is a professional cleaning process that uses special liquid chemical solvents instead of water to remove dirt, stains, and oils from fabric. Despite the name, clothes do get wet, but they are never submerged in water, which prevents delicate fabrics from shrinking, swelling, or losing their shape.   To finish the process, garments are expertly steamed and pressed using automated machinery or hand irons for a crisp, wrinkle-free finish.

Hi, Gang, JazzBunpa here to push us through this puzzle.  The pressure is on, so let us press on.

Here is today's theme song, once available on a Vinyl Record.

Across:

1. Pesters: NAGS.   Annoys, bothers, or persistently urges someone by constantly finding fault or making complaints.   What is it called if you annoy an old and overworked horse?

5. "Break a leg" addressee: ACTOR.  An actor is a performer in a play or movie.  "Break a leg" is a theatrical idiom used to wish performers good luck before a show. Because actors are notoriously superstitious and believe wishing good luck directly will cause the opposite, they use this phrase instead.

10. Minor quibble: NIT.  A minor or trivial complaint.  Not to be confused with an insect's egg.

13. Regions: AREAS.   Broad geographical, spatial, or conceptual areas defined by shared characteristics. 

15. Sulu portrayer on "Star Trek": TAKEI.   George Takei [b. 1937] is an American actor, author, activist, and director. He's best known for his role as Hikaru Sulu, the USS Enterprise's helmsman in the original Star Trek series and several films.

16. Prior to today: AGO.  Once upon a time.

19. Category: ILK.  Type.  Moose are not elks, but they are of the elk ilk.  Oh, deer!

20. "From my point of view ... ": AS I SEE IT.   IMHO.

21. Gin infusion berry: SLOE.   A small, sour, bluish-black fruit that grows on the blackthorn bush (Prunus spinosa). Because the raw fruit is highly astringently bitter, it is rarely eaten fresh but is famously used to make jams, preserves, and liqueurs like sloe gin.

22. Filmmaker Spike: LEE.   Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee is an American filmmaker, actor, and tenured professor at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1957, Lee is known for his provocative and uncompromising approach to controversial topics. His films often explore themes of race relations, urban discontent, and diversity within Black communities. 

27. The Falcons, on scoreboards: ATL.  Atlanta, GA is home to the Falcons of the National Football League..  They also have a pretty good baseball team

28. Squabble: ARGUE.  Quibble, perhaps pick nits.

29. Sandler of "Uncut Gems": ADAM.  Adam Richard Sandler [b. 1966] is an American actor, comedian, producer, musician, and screenwriter. He's known for his comedic roles in movies like Happy Gilmore, The Wedding Singer, and Little Nicky, but has also taken on dramatic roles like in Reign Over Me. His films often explore themes related to his Jewish heritage and range from romantic comedies to animated features like the Hotel Transylvania series. 

32. Plywood sheet: PANEL.    A flat, rectangular piece of building material (like plywood or sheet metal) used to form a surface or structure.

34. PC core: CPU.  Central Processing Unit.  The primary "brain" of a computer or smart device. It processes instructions, performs calculations, and manages the flow of data across all hardware and software.

41. Partner of flow: EBB.   The movement of the tide going out or retreating from the shore. Metaphorically, it is used to describe a gradual decline, lessening, or weakening of something over time (such as energy, morale, or emotion).

42. Wee: EENSY.  Teeny, itsey-bitsy.  A non-word meaning tiny.

43. Most populous continent: ASIA.  Asia is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area.

44. Online birthday greeting: E-CARD.    A digital version of a traditional greeting card. Sent via email, text, or messaging app,

46. A billion years: EON.   A unit of time representing an indefinitely long, immeasurable period. Might be a billion.  But who counts?

52. Bullpen stat: ERA.  Earned Run Average, representing the average number of runs an opposing team scores against them per nine innings .  

55. Jam-packed containers?: JARS.  Cylindrical glass or ceramic containers with wide openings, used for storing items like food, or food-like substances.  Jam is a fruit spread that can be packed into a jar. 

56. Like some work in a teacher's stack: UNGRADED.  Refers to something has not been assigned a grade, score, or classification level.  Alternatively,  dirt or gravel roads that have not been leveled, smoothed, or paved.

58. Vow renewal vow: I DO.  For marriage renewal.  Did it not take the first time?

62. Actress Peeples: NIA.   Virenia Gwendolyn Peeples [b. 1961], known professionally as Nia Peeples, is an American actress, singer, and producer. Peeples transitioned to acting in the early 1980s, gaining recognition for her role as Nicole Chapman on the TV show Fame. She's also known for her roles as Pam Fields on Pretty Little Liars, Karen Taylor Winters on The Young and the Restless, and Sydney Cooke on Walker, Texas Ranger. 

63. Proverb: ADAGE.   A short, memorable saying that expresses a well-known truth or common observation about life.  Frex: A bird in the hand saves nine.

64. Conchiglie pasta shape: SHELL.  A conch is a marine snail with a spiral shell.  I assume it is the eponym for this style of pasta, which comes in various sizes.

65. Zeus or Poseidon: GOD.  Zeus was the chief god of the Greek pantheon.  Poseidon, god of the sea, was his brother.

66. Saudi Arabia neighbor: YEMEN.   Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a country in West Asia. Including the Socotra Archipelago, mainland Yemen is located in southern Arabia; bordering Saudi Arabia to the north, and Oman to the northeast.  Yemen is the second largest country on the Arabian Peninsula by area, and the largest by population.

67. "If all __ fails ... ": ELSE.   This means that if every other planned action, preferred solution, or attempt you have tried is unsuccessful, you will move to your final fallback option or backup plan.

Down:

1. Part of USNA: NAVAL.  United States Naval Acadamy.

2. Respond to reveille: ARISE.  Wake up, Sad Sack.

3. "Aladdin" role for Robin Williams: GENIE.  Spirit in a bottle.   Don't rub it the wrong way.

4. Simon __: SAYS.  "Simon Says" is a classic listening game where players follow the leader's physical commands only if the phrase begins with the words "Simon says".

5. Used Grubhub, say: ATE IN.  Had a meal at home, in this case delivered from somewhere.

6. Some succulents: CACTI.   Succulents are drought-resistant plants that store water in their fleshy leaves, stems, or roots. The term comes from the Latin word sucus, meaning "juice" or "sap". They are not one specific family of plants, but rather a survival adaptation shared across roughly 60 different plant families.  Cactus plants are members of the succulent plant family Cactaceae, native primarily to the Americas. They are uniquely adapted to hot, arid environments, featuring thick, fleshy stems that store water, and sharp spines instead of traditional leaves to conserve moisture and deter animals

7. Ref's ring call, for short: TKO.  Technical Knock Out, a term used in combat sports like boxing, MMA, and wrestling to describe the end of a match when a referee, ringside physician, or a fighter's corner stops the fight because a competitor can no longer safely defend themselves

8. Opposite of 'neath: O'ER. Beneath and over - realtive p'sit'ns.

9. Divest (of): RID.  to strip, rid, or deprive someone or something of a possession, right, or quality. In business and finance, it specifically refers to the act of selling off assets, investments, or subsidiary companies, often for financial restructuring, ethical reasons, or to refocus on core operations

10. Mani-pedi pros: NAIL TECHS.     Licensed beauty professionals who specialize in the cosmetic care, grooming, and beautification of fingernails and toenails. 

11. Yeti rival: IGLOO.  Brands of coolers - cases for keeping food and drinks cold.

12. Game piece: TOKEN.    A physical or digital object used in games to represent value, assets, currency, or a player's standing.

14. Got some shut-eye: SLEPT.  Cut a few Z's

18. Honest-to-goodness: REAL.  Actual or truthful.

21. "Rugrats" dad: STU.  Never watched it, and couldn't find a clip worth sharing.

24. Smarties and Nerds: CANDY.  Not types of people.  In the US, Smarties are a tart, sweet, and powdery tablet candy pressed into small, colorful rolls.   Nerds are a popular American candy consisting of tiny, tangy, crunchy pebbles. Each piece is essentially a shaped sugar crystal coated in a thin, fruit-flavored layer. 

25. Make, as beer: BREW.    Make beverages like beer, ale, coffee, or tea by steeping, boiling, or fermenting. 

26. Wrinkly citrus fruit: UGLI.    A natural hybrid citrus native to Jamaica, made from a cross between a tangerine, a grapefruit, and an orange. The name is a play on the word "ugly," referring to its rough, wrinkled, and misshapen rind.

27. Org. whose symbol is a snake around a pole: AMA.  American Medical Assosiation.  It is the largest professional association and lobbying group for physicians and medical students in the U.S. Founded in 1847 and headquartered in Chicago, its core mission is to promote the art and science of medicine and improve public health.

29. Unreturned tennis serve: ACE.  Like this.

30. Add new audio to: DUB.    To add or replace the dialogue, music or sound effects in a video, movie, or broadcast. 

31. Street on a 1969 Beatles album: ABBEY ROAD.   The real Abbey Road is a famous thoroughfare located in St John's Wood, North London, UK. It runs through the City of Westminster and the borough of Camden.   The street is universally famous for two main landmarks, which sit right next to each other:  The Zebra Crossing: This is the exact crossing featured on the iconic 1969 Beatles album cover, Abbey Road. It has since been granted Grade II listed status for its cultural and historical importance.

Abbey Road Studios: Located at 3 Abbey Road, this legendary recording studio is where The Beatles and many other musical icons recorded their work.

You can listen to the entire album.  It was originally available as a vinyl record.

32. Bamboo eater: PANDA.   The giant panda, also known as the panda bear or simply panda, is a bear species endemic to China. It is characterised by its white coat with black patches around the eyes, ears, legs and shoulders. Its body is rotund; adult individuals weigh 100 to 115 kg and are typically 1.2 to 1.9 m long.

33. Ques. response: ANS.   Question and answer, abbrvd.

35. Architect I.M. __: PEI.  Ieoh Ming Pei [1917 - 2019] was a Chinese-American architect. Born in Guangzhou into a Chinese family, Pei drew inspiration at an early age from the garden villas at Suzhou, the traditional retreat of the scholar-gentry to which his family belonged.

36. Can. neighbor: USA. North American countries and hickey rivals.

38. Sci-fi author Stephenson: NEAL.  Neal Town Stephenson [b. 1959] is an American writer known for his works of speculative fiction. His novels have been categorized as science fiction, historical fiction, cyberpunk, and baroque. Stephenson's work explores mathematics, cryptography, linguistics, philosophy, currency, and the history of science.

39. Withered from drought: SERE.   Dry, withered, or parched, typically used to describe landscapes, climates, or vegetation lacking moisture.

40. Is able to: CAN.   Have the ability, right or permission to do something.

45. Shares an email with: CCS.  Carbon Copies.  Though the technology has moved on, the vocabulary hasn't.

46. Many a tech school grad: ENGR.  Engineer.

47. Fairy tale monsters: OGRES.  They're like onions.

48. Working a dance party, say: DJ - ING.  Working as a disc jockey, spinning vinyl records, maybe.

49. Marconi medium: RADIO.   A technology that uses electromagnetic waves (radio waves) to transmit and receive signals through the air without connecting wires. It can refer to the underlying communication technology, the broadcasting industry, or the electronic device used to receive and play audio.   Guglielmo Giovanni Maria Marconi [1874-1937], 1st Marquess, was an Italian radio-frequency engineer, inventor, and politician known for his creation of a practical radio wave-based wireless telegraph system.

50. Elbow gently: NUDGE.   A gentle touch, push, or subtle prompting used to attract attention or encourage someone toward a specific action.  Less intense than a prod.

51. Confident way to solve a crossword: IN PEN.  I had IN INK.  Didn't work.

52. Famous Ford flop: EDSEL.  The Edsel was an automobile marque produced by the Ford Motor Company for the 1958 through 1960 model years. Named after Henry Ford's son, Edsel Ford, it is infamous for being a massive corporate failure and a textbook case of ill-timed marketing and product design.  But all these years later, it is a valued collector's item.

53. Highland dances: REELS.  

They're reel good

54. Bewilder: ADDLE.   To make someone feel confused, disoriented, or unable to think clearly. 

57. Court legend Arthur: ASHE.   Arthur Robert Ashe Jr. [1943 - 1993] was an American professional tennis player. He won three Grand Slam titles in singles and two in doubles. Ashe was the first Black player selected to the United States Davis Cup team, and the only Black man ever to win the singles titles at Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open.

59. Stable staple: HAY.   Hay typically refers to grass, clover, or alfalfa that has been cut and dried. It is primarily used as stored fodder (animal food) for livestock like cattle, horses, and sheep, or as nibble and bedding for smaller pets like rabbits and guinea pigs.   I had OAT.  That was not helpful.

60. Summer refresher suffix: -ADE.  As in, frex., lemonede.

61. SoFi Stadium NFL player: RAM.   The Los Angeles Rams are a professional American football team based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The Rams compete in the National Football League as a member of the National Football Conference West division.

This wraps up today's puzzle.    I hope it made a good impression.

Steve Jopek has had puzzles accepted elsewhere but this is his first at the L.A. Times.  Congrats, Steve!

Cool regards!

JzB

Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Zhouqin Burnikel

Theme: Try 4-7-8 breathing.

Today we have a clever and unusually constructed puzzle by our own dear C.C., with a split unifier, and vertical theme entries. This suggests the likelihood of a certain kind of gimmick, in which a target word is contained in the theme fill, and oriented as the unifier indicated.  Let's check it out.

The unifier -- 9A. With 64-Across, "Chill!," or what can be found four times in this puzzle: CALM.

64A. See 9-Across: DOWN.  Together these words form an exhortation spoken to someone in an angry or agitated state.  It is well known that reciting this magic formula will immediately cause that person to become placid and serene.  In the theme fill, the hidden word CALM is spelt in the DOWN orientation.  Nice.

3 D.  Neighborhood spot for fresh produce: LOCAL MARKET.  It centers on local production, immediate demand, and community-focused marketing strategies aimed at customers living or working nearby.

8 D. Make-or-break point: CRITICAL MOMENT.    A pivotal, high-stakes juncture in a conversation, project, or life event that determines future outcomes, often acting as a turning point. 

14 D.  Genre with symphonies and sonatas: CLASSICAL MUSIC.    A broad, formal tradition of Western art music spanning roughly the 11th century to the present, rooted in written notation, complex structures, and lasting value.  Often this phrase refers to a more narrow time slice containing the 17th to 19th centuries.

25 D. Accessories favored by serious gamers: OPTICAL MICE.    Computer pointing devices that use a light source—typically a light-emitting diode (LED)—and a photodiode sensor to detect movement relative to a surface. 

Construction details -- Perfect rotational symmetry is maintained in the grid with the positions of the unifier fragments and the themers.  For an extra, elegant touch, the CAL M is split between the L and M in each two-word theme entry. 

Also note that this theme is like a soft pillow.

It's down filled.

Hi, Gang, JazzBumpa here, feeling very mellow, and hoping we all get through this puzzle peacefully and untroubled.

Here is today's theme song.

Across:

1. Embrace: HOLD.   Put your arms around someone.    Huge hug.

 5. Voting alliance: BLOC.   A combination of people or groups sharing a common purpose.

13. "Hi there, matey!": AHOY.   A nautical interjection used to hail a ship, attract attention, or greet others, 

14. Like the top coat of nail polish: CLEAR.  A transparent, durable paint layer applied as the final step over colored (basecoat) paint on vehicles, or, in this case, toenails.

15. Toll unit: AXLE.  A central shaft or rod that connects a pair of wheels to a vehicle, rotating with them or allowing them to rotate around it. Axles support the vehicle's weight, manage braking and acceleration forces, and in powered vehicles, transmit torque from the transmission to the wheels.  Tolls can be based on the number of them.

16. Sprint or marathon: RACE.   A competition between runners, horses, vehicles, boats, etc., to see which is the fastest in covering a set course.

17. Green bug named for its camouflaging ability: LEAF INSECT.   A large slow-moving tropical insect related to the stick insects, with a flattened body that resembles a leaf in shape and color.

Wikipedia

19. Mrs. in Mallorca: SRA.  Señora, a married woman.

20. First light: DAWN.  Day break.

21. Tip of a sock: TOE.   Where the human toes reside.

22. "We need assistance!": HELP US.   

24. Go kaput: DIE.  Pass away, get used up.

25. Aveeno grain: OAT.    A highly nutritious whole grain, specifically Avena sativa, packed with fiber (beta-glucan) that aids heart health, reduces cholesterol, and promotes fullness for weight management. 

Aveeno is an American brand of skin care and hair care products owned by American consumer health company Kenvue.

28. Largest deer species: MOOSE.   The moose or elk is the world's tallest, largest and heaviest extant species of deer and the only extant species in the genus Alces. It is also the tallest, and the second-largest, land animal in North America, falling short only to the American bison in body mass.

30. Solar event: ECLIPSE.   A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, casting a shadow on Earth and fully or partially obscuring the Sun. 

32. Wild guess: STAB.   Aka, swag.

34. "Broad City" star Glazer: ILANA.   Ilana Glazer (b. 1987) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, producer, director, and activist. 

36. "C u l8r": TTFN.   An acronym for "Ta-ta for now," a playful, informal British phrase meaning "goodbye for now".

37. Sub in a deli: HERO.  A New York-origin, large submarine-style sandwich made on a long, crusty Italian roll, filled with layers of Italian cold cuts (salami, pepperoni, capicola), provolone cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and oil/vinegar.

38. Part of ACLU: CIVIL.   The American Civil Liberties Union.

39. "About the Author" sections: BIOS.   Short biographies (personal profiles or sketches of a person's life.) 

40. Like some bourbons: OAKY.  Aged in oak barrels.  I prefer rye or a single malt scotch.

41. Starting squad: A-TEAM.   An elite or expert group comprising those who are most pre-eminent in an organization, profession, or activity.

42. Decent size for a meadow: ACRE.  A unit of land area equal to 4,840 square yards (0.405 hectare).

43. Grapple in a ring: WRESTLE.   Engage in close, hand-to-hand combat by gripping an opponent to throw or immobilize them, often as a sport. 

45. Stage presence?: LONG A.  The letter "A" present in the word "stage" is of the long variety.  In "stag' it is of the short variety. 

47. Big Apple newspaper, for short: NYT. The New York Times.  

48. Meditation chants: OMS.  In the singular,  a sacred syllable and the primordial sound of the universe, often chanted to reduce stress, improve mental clarity, and connect with spiritual consciousness.   Might even help one to calm down.

49. Took for a ride: MISLED.  Engaged in cheating or deceiving someone.  

52. Shiba __: INU.  The Shiba Inu is a breed of hunting dog from Japan. A small-to-medium breed, it is the smallest of the six original dog breeds native to Japan. The Shiba Inu was originally bred for hunting. Its name literally translates to "brushwood dog", as it is used to flush game.

Wikipedia

53. Partner in crime?: ABET.  Here, "partner" is used as a verb, meaning to act along with someone in an activity - in this case of the nefarious variety.

55. NCAA sch. with the mascot Sparty: MSU.   Michigan State University, located in East Lansing, with The Spartans as their nick-name.  My Michigan-educated grands went to Eastern, Western, Central, and Wayne State.

56. Gives only perfunctory effort: PHONES IT IN.  As in the Red Wings last sorry game of this dismal season.

60. Is just the right size for: FITS.  Having the proper size and shape.

61. Nerf darts, e.g.: AMMO.  Short for ammunition, generally combat supplies.  Nerf darts are for less serious combat, I assume.   The come in a surprisingly large variety of shapes and sizes.

62. Shocking response at the altar: I DON'T.   That could ruin somebody's whole day.

63. Rapper born Tracy Marrow: ICE T.   Tracy Lauren Marrow (b.1958), known professionally as Ice-T (or Ice T), is an American rapper and actor. He is active in both hip-hop and heavy metal. 

65. Tube tops: CAPS.  The tops of, frex., tooth paste tubes.  Clever.

66. Flower-visiting buzzers: BEES.  Oh, honey.

Down:

1. Tough to endure: HARSH.   Severely unpleasant, rough, cruel, or strident to the senses.

2. Busiest airport in the Midwest: O'HARE.  In Chicago.

4. Turn red, perhaps: DYE.  You can change the color of something without being enbarassed.

5. Made bubbles, say: BLEW.  Expelled air, in this case through a soapy loop.

Watch and Learn

6. Tilt: LEAN.   Be slanted in a certain direction.

7. Galoot: OAF.   A clumsy, stupid, or awkward person, typically a man.   Not all men.

9. Violin carrier: CASE.   A box for holding something, in this case [so to speak] a padded, form-fitting protective box. 

10. Log chopper: AXE.   A cutting tool with a heavy-bladed head attached to a handle, used for thousands of years to chop, split, and harvest wood. 

11. Inc. alternative: LLC.   A Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a flexible, hybrid business structure combining the personal liability protection of a corporation with the pass-through taxation of a partnership or sole proprietorship.

12. Crossed paths: MET.  Encountered someone.

18. French holiday: NOËL.   Christmas.  Joyeux Noël.

20. Key and Peele, e.g.: DUO.  Two people doing something together.  K and P were a sketch comedy DOU with a self-named TV show that ran from 2012 to 2015 on Comedy Central.

23. N'awlins sandwiches: PO'BOYS.    Traditional Louisiana sandwiches served on crispy, flaky French bread, often filled with fried seafood (shrimp, oysters, catfish) or roast beef with gravy. 

24. "Wasn't me," e.g.: DENIAL.   The refusal to accept truth, reality, an accusation, or a request, 

26. Regarding: AS FOR.   Concerning a certain topic.

27. On pins and needles: TENSE.   Nervous and worried and unable to relax: needing to calm down.

29. Privileged groups: ELITES.    Small, privileged groups of people who are superior in ability, wealth, or social status within societies or organizations. 

31. Must-have purses: IT BAGS.   High-priced, luxury designer handbags that becomes a season's must-have item, defined by immense popularity, celebrity endorsement, and high demand. 

32. Aired: SHOWN.  Broadcast on TV, or another visual medium

33. All choked up: TEARY.  Almost crying.  Pass me a Kleenex.

35. Blvd. kin: AVE.  Boulevard and Avenue - streets by any other name, often wide, tree lined, and possibly divided..

44. Mood: TONE.   A temporary, subjective emotional state or frame of mind, often lasting hours or days, which influences how a person perceives the world.  Leave me alone.  I'm in a bad tone today.  A mood is how one feels.  The tone is how it may be expressed through voice, writing or art.

46. Trivial complaint: NIT.  Relating to some small or insignificant detail.  Did I pick one in 44 A?

50. Lauder of cosmetics: ESTĖE.  Estée Lauder (nee Josephine Esther Mentzer, 1908 –2004) was an American businesswoman. She co-founded her eponymous cosmetics company with her husband, Joseph Lauter (later Lauder). She was the only woman on Time magazine's 1998 list of the 20 most influential business geniuses of the 20th century.

51. Uses a Swiffer: DUSTS.   Swiffer is an American brand of cleaning products, manufactured by Procter & Gamble. Since its launch in 1999, Swiffer has achieved widespread popularity and become one of Procter & Gamble's most successful brands in the household cleaning products market, with its core product line centered around disposable towels and cleaning parts.

52. Privy to: IN ON.  Knowledgable about something, often something not widely known. 

53. Perched upon: ATOP.  "On top of," "at the top," or "situated on the summit" of something.

54. Storage boxes: BINS.   Containers or enclosed spaces used for storing, holding, or collecting items. 

56. Writer's block?: PAD.   A writing tablet or note pad.  Calling it a block is a stretch too far, IMHO.

57. Med. insurance option: HMO.  Health Maintenance Organization, a type of health insurance plan that limits coverage to doctors or facilities within a specific network. It offers lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs but requires selecting a Primary Care Physician (PCP) and obtaining referrals to see specialists.

58. Texter's "Be there soon": OMW.   On My Way.

59. St. known for spuds: IDA.  Here, "St." indicates state, not street, and IDAHO is known for it's potatoes.

60. Lie to spare someone's feelings, perhaps: FIB.  Also known as a white lie. 

C.C. served us up a fine puzzle today, and I had fun blogging it.   Would I fib to you?

Chill regards!

JzB

Wednesday, March 18, 2026 Aaron Ullman

heme: STRINGING ALONG or FACING THE MUSIC, or FEELING PLUCKY.  The last word of in the language phrases is repurposed to suggest a guitar players activities.

 

 20 A. *Some fruity sandwich spreads: RASPBERRY JAMS.  Fruit jam is a spread made by cooking fruit, sugar, and lemon juice (for pectin and acidity) together until thick. It can be made with fresh, frozen, or foraged fruits, providing a concentrated sweet fruit flavor.  In music a JAM session is a planned or impromptu event characterized by improvisation, that can exist in a variety of music genres, including those that feature guitars.   

27 A. *Criticize harshly: RIP TO SHREDS.   This means to severely tear or destroy a physical object, or to harshly criticize a person, argument, or performance. It indicates intense damage or total dismantling of something. It is also commonly used to mean completely refuting someone’s ideas in a harsh way.  SHRED also means to play electric guitar with extreme speed, technical precision, and high-intensity, often using techniques like rapid alternate picking, sweep-picking, tapping, and legato. 

36 A. *Long-handled, long-toothed combs: AFRO PICKS.  Specialized, wide-toothed combs designed to lift, volumize, and shape curly, coily, and afro-textured hair from the roots.  They were symbols of black power/excellence, especially in the 70s as a rejection of euro beauty standards and showing acceptance and empowerment for black beauty standards and unity.  

 

Also, a PICK, or plectrum, is a small, typically triangular, flat tool held in the hand to pluck or strum stringed instruments.  

49 A. *Hollow floaties: POOL NOODLES.    Cylindrical pieces of flexible, buoyant polyethylene foam. Pool noodles are used by people of all ages while swimming.

NOODLING on guitar [or trombone, c'mon] is the act of playing aimlessly, improvising, or messing around on the instrument without a specific goal, structure, or song in mind. 

56 A. Stirs emotions, or how a guitarist might interpret the ends of the answers to the starred clues?: STRIKES A CHORD.   As defined - affect or stir someone's emotions, or perhaps invoke a memory.  The idiom originated in the early 19th century from music, metaphorically referring to striking a chord on a stringed instrument to produce a resonant, harmonious sound that mirrors human emotions.  Here is how you strike 3 basic guitar chords.

Hi Gang - JazzBumpa here - as always, delighted to have a music-related theme to conduct. [Though I must admit the guitar thoroughly defeated me.]  So let's tune up and get playing.

Across:

1. Tend the garden: WEED.  Here, WEED is a verb, meaning to remove weeds from the garden and reduce the competition for soil nutrients.

5. Wound covers: SCABS.  A protective, dried blood clot that forms over a wound within hours, acting as a natural, temporary biological dressing, it keeps out germs and debris while allowing new skin cells to form underneath.

10. Spanish 23-Across: NIÑO.  A child - most likely a boy.  A girl would be a niña.

14. Sicilian volcano: ETNA.  An active stratovolcano found on the east coast of Sicily, Italy, in the Metropolitan City of Catania, between the cities of Messina and Catania, and in many crossword puzzles. It is located above the convergent plate margin between the African Plate and the Eurasian Plate. 

15. Crème de __: CACAO.  A sweet, cocoa-flavored liqueur commonly used in cocktails, typically containing 20–25% ABV (40–50 proof) and made from cacao beans, vanilla, and sugar. It comes in white (clear) or dark brown varieties, 

16. Superstar: IDOL.   A person or thing that is greatly admired, loved, or revered.

17. Savoir faire: TACT.  The ability to act or speak appropriately in social situations.

18. "Just Mercy" actor __ Jackson Jr.: O'SHEA. O'Shea Jackson Jr., [b. 1991] also known by the stage name OMG, is an American actor, rapper and songwriter. He is the oldest son of Ice Cube and, in his feature film debut, he portrayed his father in the 2015 biopic Straight Outta Compton.

19. Unhip type: NERD.   A person passionately devoted to intellectual, technical, or specific niche pursuits, often characterized by high expertise in fields like technology, academics, or gaming. While historically used as an insult for someone socially awkward or unstylish, the term has evolved into a badge of pride for intense, knowledgeable enthusiasm.

23. Lad: BOY.    A male child or youth [niño] originating from 14th-century Middle English boy/boye (servant, knave). 

25. Pod unit: PEA.   A pulse or fodder crop, but the word often refers to the seed or sometimes the pod of this flowering plant species. Peas are eaten as a vegetable. 

26. Bother a lot: EAT AT.    To gradually destroy, erode, or consume something, or to cause persistent worry and anxiety. 

32. WSW opposite: ENE.  Compass directions : west-south-west and east-north-east.

33. Informal "but": ALTHO.  "Altho" is an informal, simplified spelling of the conjunction although, meaning "in spite of the fact that," "even though," or "though". It is primarily used in informal, casual writing or sometimes in American English, acting as a shortcut for the standard spelling.

34. Hawthorne Heights music genre: EMO.   A style of rock music resembling punk but having more complex arrangements and lyrics that deal with more emotional subjects.   Hawthorne Heights is an American rock band formed in Dayton, Ohio, in 2001. 

35. Cold War initials: USSR.  The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until its dissolution in 1991. It was the world's third-most populous country, largest by area, and bordered twelve countries.  A diverse multinational state, it was organized as a federal union of national republics, the largest and most populous being the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. In practice, its government and economy were highly centralized. As a one-party state governed by its Communist Party, it was the flagship communist state. Its capital and largest city was Moscow.

40. Throw out a line: CAST.  To throw, fling, or propel something with force, in this case a baited hook, lure, or fly out over the water using a fishing rod and reel.

43. Number of orbits around the sun Neptune has completed since its discovery: ONE.  The eighth and farthest known planet from the Sun, located about 2.8 billion miles (4.5 billion km) away. It is a vibrant blue ice giant with a thick, windy atmosphere composed of hydrogen, helium, and methane, featuring supersonic wind speeds up to 1,200 mph.  Discovered in 1846, it was the first planet located through mathematical predictions rather than regular observation.  Neptune takes approximately 165 Earth years (about 60,190 days) to complete one revolution around the Sun.  It completed its first full orbit since its discovery in 1846 only in 2011. 

44. Beer ingredient: YEAST.   Yeast is a, if not the, crucial, single-celled microorganism in brewing that converts sugars in wort into ethanol (alcohol), carbon dioxide (carbonation), and aromatic compounds. The two main types are top-fermenting Ale yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) for warmer, faster fermentation and bottom-fermenting Lager yeast (Saccharomyces pastorianus) for cooler, slower, and cleaner fermentation.

48. Not cool: OUT.   "Out" can indicate something is no longer in style, in stock, or currently available.

52. Carne option: ASADA.   Spanish term meaning "grilled," "roasted," or "barbecued," commonly referring to thinly sliced, marinated beef (carne asada) in Mexican cuisine. 

54. Middle-earth denizen: ENT.  Ents are a race of ancient, sentient, tree-like beings in fantasy, most notably J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, known as "Shepherds of the Trees". Created to protect forests from dwarves and orcs, they are tall, deliberate, long-lived, and resemble the trees they guard. The name derives from an Anglo-Saxon word for "giant"

55. __ of luxury: LAP.   In conditions of great comfort and wealth.

61. Hardy title character: TESS.   Tess of the d'Urbervilles is a tragic novel by Thomas Hardy, first published in 1891, about a poor young woman, Tess Durbeyfield, who is victimized by two men, Alec d'Urberville and Angel Clare, and ultimately destroyed by the rigid social and sexual morals of Victorian England.

62. Dwarf planet in the Kuiper belt: PLUTO.  Pluto is a cold, distant dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt with a surface of nitrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide ice. It has an average temperature of approximately --56 F.  Its surface features a massive heart-shaped glacier (Sputnik Planitia) and mountains. With 5 moons, Pluto's gravity is very low, about 6% of Earth's gravity.

63. "Why the heck not" hashtag: YOLO.   You Only Live Once - so why not do something profoundly stupid?  It will make a good story when you get out of the hospital.

66. Actor Stoltz: ERIC.   Eric Cameron Stoltz [b.1961] is an American actor, director, and producer. He's known for his roles as sensitive misfits in films like Mask, Kicking and Screaming, and The Waterdance. His portrayal of Rocky Dennis in Mask earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

67. Potpourri piece: PETAL.   Potpourri is a mixture of dried petals and spices placed in a bowl or small sack to perfume clothing or a room.   Petals are each of the segments of the corolla of a flower, which are modified leaves and are typically colored.

68. "The Celts" singer: ENYA.  Enya, born Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin, [b. 1961] is a familiar crossword denizen and also an Irish singer and composer who has sold an estimated 80 million albums worldwide. Her distinctive style blends folk melodies, classical motifs, and synthesized backdrops, creating a sound that's closer to new age than her initial folk and Celtic influences.   Here is MAY IT BE, from The Fellowship of the Ring.

The story behind it.

69. City near Tahoe: RENO.   Reno is a city in the northwest section of the U.S. state of Nevada, along the Nevada–California border. It is the county seat and most populous city of Washoe County. 

70. Shape of some cocktail picks: SWORD.   Swords are bladed weapons designed for cutting or thrusting, historically used for combat, self-defense, and as symbols of status.   Cocktail swords usually hold olives or pieces of fruit.

Bar Products

 

Shards of Narsil

 71. Hunt for: SEEK.   Attempt to find or obtain something.

Down:

1. Burrito option: WET.  This is a standard burrito smothered in red or green enchilada sauce and melted cheese, requiring a fork and knife to eat. Often filled with ground beef, rice, and beans, it is baked until the sauce is bubbly, creating a saucy, comfort-food twist on the handheld version. 

2. Landing hr.: ETA.   Estimated Time of Arrival at the air port.

3. Secure, as 4-Down, perhaps: ENCRYPT.   Convert information or data into a cipher or code, especially to prevent unauthorized access.

4. Facts and figures: DATA.  Raw, unorganized facts, figures, and symbols (e.g., numbers, text, audio, images) that, when processed, provide meaningful information for decision-making and analysis. 

5. Checks (out) in advance: SCOPES.    To examine, investigate, or assess something carefully, particularly to gain information, evaluate a situation, or prepare for a task. It is commonly used informally to mean looking over a place or situation to understand it.

6. "Rock the __": hit song for The Clash: CASBAH.    A traditional North African fortress, citadel, or fortified quarter within older cities, notably in Algeria and Morocco. Historically, these served as residential and defensive structures, often with labyrinthine, car-free streets.   I decided not to link the vid from 1982.  You can find it on Youtube if you're interested.

7. Hurt: ACHE.   A continuous or prolonged dull pain in a part of one's body.

8. Boxer Max: BAER.   Maximilian Adelbert Baer Sr. [1909 - 1959] was an American professional boxer and the world heavyweight champion from June 14, 1934, to June 13, 1935. He was known in his time as the Livermore Larupper and Madcap Maxie. Two of his fights were rated Fight of the Year by The Ring magazine.  He also acted in several movies and made many TV appearances, including his own variety show.

9. Take to the sky: SOAR.  Let's fly away.

10. Big name in small appliances: NINJA.  Ninja products are made by SharkNinja, an independent, publicly traded company that designs and sells innovative kitchen appliances, outdoor cooking gear, and other household items, known for popular brands like the Ninja Foodi and Shark vacuums, with manufacturing primarily in Southeast Asia. 

11. Conceptualizes: IDEATES.   Forms an idea of something; imagines or conceives.

12. Conquerors of England in 1066: NORMANS.   The Normans were a medieval people who originated from Norse (Viking) settlers in Northern France, establishing the Duchy of Normandy in 911 under Rollo. They adopted French language, culture, and Romanesque architecture, becoming fervent Christians. Famous for the 1066 Norman Conquest of England led by William the Conqueror, they also established kingdoms in Southern Italy, Sicily, and fought in the Crusades.

13. Golden-ager: OLDSTER.   An older person.  Older than what or whom is not specified.  At any rate, I qualify.

21. Parody: SPOOF.   A humorous imitation of something, typically a film or a particular genre of film, in which its characteristic features are exaggerated for comic effect.

22. "Absolutely!": YES.  For sure!

23. Honeylove purchase: BRA. They make several types of clothing and intimate apparel.

24. Substance in the Hanukkah miracle: OIL.   The miracle of the oil, central to Hanukkah, tells that when the Maccabees rededicated the Temple, they found only one small jar of pure oil, enough for one day. Miraculously, this oil burned for eight days, allowing enough time to prepare new oil, representing the triumph of light and faith.

28. Yonder thing: THAT.  Used to identify a specific person or thing observed by the speaker.

29. Deter: REPEL.  Drive or force an attack or attacker to back or away.

30. Queen's record label: EMI.    EMI Group/Records was a major British music conglomerate (the "Big Four") that launched the Beatles, Queen, and Pink Floyd. Following its 2012 breakup, its assets are now held by Universal Music Group (recorded music) and Sony Music Publishing.

31. Grumpy friend: DOC.  Grumpy and Doc are two of Disney's Seven Dwarves from the Snow White movie.  Tolkien hated them, and anything Disney.  Still, a nicely misdirecting clue.

35. Like most Facebook Marketplace items: USED.   I believe the preferred term is "pre-owned."

37. Piglet pal: ROO.   From the Winnie the Pooh stories.   More Disney.

38. Subject of the song "Oh Yoko!": ONO.  Yoko Ono [b 1933] is a Japanese artist, musician, activist, and filmmaker who has influenced the international art scene since the 1960s. A pioneer in performance and conceptual art, Ono's work often challenges perceptions of beauty, sexuality, and femininity. 

39. Former capital of Japan: KYOTO.   Kyoto, once the capital of Japan, is a city on the island of Honshu. It's famous for its numerous classical Buddhist temples, as well as gardens, imperial palaces, Shinto shrines and traditional wooden houses. It was founded in 794.

40. Bar mat: COASTER.  A small tray or mat placed under a bottle or glass to protect the table underneath.

41. Spartan: AUSTERE.  Severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance.

42. Leads the cast of: STARS IN.  Said of the skilled performer who has the most prominent roll in a production.

45. "Ta-da!": ALL DONE.  The project is finished.

46. Lighthouse view: SEA.   The ocean, possibly with ships.

47. Abbr. on a measuring spoon: TSP.  Teaspoon.

49. Intl. cricket powerhouse: PAK.   Pakistan.  Cricket in Pakistan has a history predating the creation of the country in 1947. The first ever international cricket match in Karachi was held on 22 November 1935 between Sindh and Australian cricket teams. The match was seen by 5,000 Karachiites. Following the independence of Pakistan in 1947, cricket in the country developed rapidly and Pakistan was given Test match status at a meeting of the Imperial Cricket Conference at Lord's in England on 28 July 1952 following recommendation by India,[

50. Drink of the gods: NECTAR.   This refers to ambrosia and nectar, the fabled food and drink granting immortality in Greek mythology. It is commonly used as a metaphor for an exceptionally delicious drink.

51. Waiting for a representative, say: ON HOLD.   The bane of anyone seeking customer service by telephone.

53. __ fries: poutine kin: DISCO.   A classic New Jersey diner comfort food, consisting of crispy French fries smothered in melted mozzarella cheese and hot brown gravy. Popularized in the 1970s as a late-night snack for people leaving clubs, this dish is similar to Canadian poutine but uses shredded mozzarella instead of cheese curds.

57. Comedian Mike of "The Upshaws": EPPS.   Michael Elliot Epps [b. 1970] is an American actor, stand-up comedian, and philanthropist. He's known for his roles as Day-Day Jones in Next Friday and Friday After Next, and "Black Doug" in The Hangover films. Epps is also a boxing fan who recently partnered with former World Heavyweight Champion Lamon Brewster to open a boxing gym in Indianapolis. The gym aims to use boxing's fierceness and footwork to help young men and teens find new paths. 

58. Boatload: SLEW.  It is used informally to mean a large quantity, often with "a," e.g., "a slew of issues."

59. Part of an insurance bundle: AUTO.  Sometimes bundled with home owner's insurance.

60. Marbled loaves: RYES.  Marble rye is a visually striking, artisan-style bread made by twisting or layering light rye and dark pumpernickel doughs together to create a distinctive marbled swirl. Known for its mild, earthy flavor and chewy texture, it typically features caraway seeds and is a favorite for reuben sandwiches, toasted with butter.

64. Soap chemical: LYE.   Lye, primarily sodium hydroxide  or potassium hydroxide, is a strong, highly caustic alkaline compound crucial for soap making, drain cleaning, and food processing like curing lutefisk, pretzels, and ramen noodles. It is a white, corrosive solid that dissolves fats, requiring strict safety measures, including gloves, goggles, and ventilation.

65. Barrel wood: OAK.   Oak is favored for barrels due to its structural strength, ability to bend without snapping, and unique porosity, which allows for controlled micro-oxygenation. It is watertight, durable against warping, and imparts desirable flavor compounds like vanilla, spice, and coconut to wine and spirits. It also mellows tannins over time.

Well, that it's for another Wednesday.  This puzzle hit all the right notes, and had  both a bit of astronomy and a Tolkien based min-theme.  Hope it didn't give you anything to fret about.

Cool regards!

JzB

Wednesday.February 18, 2026 Craig Stowe

Theme:  Conductor's Conduct or Overbearing at the Opera or Tyranny from the Pit.   In-the-language phrases are repurposed as harsh instructions from the conductor to members of a musical ensemble.  

20. "Second oboe, play the right notes this time!," e.g.: WIND DIRECTION.  This normally refers to the compass point from which the wind originates, rather than where it is blowing towards.   But here it is a rather rude instruction given to one of the wind instrument players.  There are generally considered to be the woodwinds.

26. "Sing your solo correctly for once!," e.g.: VOICE COMMAND.  This usually indicates a spoken word or phrase used to control devices, software, or applications, enabling hands-free operation via speech recognition technology.  But here it is another rude correction of a poor singer, probably feeling a bit intimidated.

45. "Perform the music as written! No sharps or flats!," e.g.: NATURAL ORDER.  This typically refers to the inherent, logical, or spontaneous arrangement of things in the universe, operating according to natural laws rather than human design - perhaps the music of the spheres. Or maybe not.   This one is a bit of a stretch, but yes, one should play the notes on the page and not add in any vagrant accidentals [written sharps of flats that are foreign to the key signature.]

54. "You must!," or how a demanding conductor would interpret 20-, 26-, and 45-Across: IT'S IMPERATIVE.  Disobedience is not an option, so get it right.

Hi, Gang, JazzBumpa here to conduct us on our way through this musical composition.  I promise not to be over bearing. 

Fortunately, I never had to deal with that kind of conductor - though there are many of them out there.  Once, when I was playing in an amateur symphony orchestra, due to a copyists error - so, totally not my fault - I wound up playing a note that clashed with the music.  IIRC, this was in Howard Hanson's 2nd Symphony - an absolutely gorgeous piece of music. The conductor looked a me and said, "Just play any note in the chord."  I asked, "What is the chord?"  "D Major," he replied.  I was playing a G.  Probably the worst possible note in that context. 

Across:

1. "__ Secretary": Téa Leoni drama: MADAM.    Madam Secretary explored Elizabeth McCord's life as the reluctant but determined United States Secretary of State. She drives international diplomacy, battles office politics, and circumvents protocol, if needed, as she navigates global conflicts. The show also focuses on McCord's personal life and family, and their relationship with her work; she is married and has three children.  Elizabeth Téa Pantaleoni [b. 1966] known professionally as Téa Leoni, is an American actress and producer. Leoni also starred in the short-lived 1992 sitcom Flying Blind and The Naked Truth. She's been married to both Tim Daly and David Duchovny, with whom she has a child named West. Leoni is also a dedicated supporter of UNICEF, traveling to see their programs in action and serving on their National Board. 

From Entertainment Weekly

6. Sound effect made with coconut shells: CLOP.

10. Toy with a tail: KITE.

14. Horace composition: EPODE.  Horace's Epodes is a collection of 17 early Roman poems, published around 30-29 BCE, that imitate the iambic verse of the Greek poet Archilochus, featuring themes of love, nature, politics, and social commentary with a tone ranging from witty to vitriolic. The poems, written in a mix of meters, often use a longer first line followed by a shorter second line (the "epode"), and explore topics like loyalty to his patron Maecenas, the contrast between rural and urban life, and sharp invective against enemies, showcasing a more aggressive style than his later Odes. 

15. "Houdini" singer Dua: LIPA.   Dua Lipa [b. 1995] is an English singer, songwriter, and model known for her dance-infused pop anthems and husky vocals. Her music blends influences from pop, dance, and electronic genres, with retro-inspired disco and pop rhythms. Lipa has won seven Brit Awards and three Grammys.   The name Dua was her grandmother's suggestion, and means "love" in Albanian.

16. 2017 Tony winner "Come From __": AWAY.  Come From Away is a Tony Award-winning musical by Irene Sankoff and David Hein that tells the true story of the 7,000 airline passengers stranded in Gander, Newfoundland, after the 9/11 attacks, and the small town that welcomed them with open hearts and homes. 

17. "... and anything else that might come up": OR WHATEVER.  

19. Hon: BABE.  Terms of endearment.

22. Sneaky: SLY.  Having or showing a cunning and deceitful nature.

23. Blood: KIN.   Those in a familial relationship.

24. Ashram figure: MONK.   An Ashram is a hermitage, monastic community, or other place of religious retreat.  A MONK isa member of a religious community of men typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

31. "Gnossiennes" composer: SATIE.  Eric Alfred Leslie Satie (1866 – 1925), better known as Erik Satie, was a French composer and pianist. "Gnossienne," a word he invented, refers to a set of seven piano pieces composed by Erik Satie around 1890, characterized by a unique, unconventional style without traditional bar lines or structure.  They are fabulously experimental pieces in which the form consists of haunting melodic fragments which circle around without any specific direction or goal. In their circularity and stasis they seem to lay down a challenge to German 19th century dominance: music does not have to be developmental; neither does it have to be goal-directed or hierarchical. It can simply float along and be an evocative mystery.  

34. Take a chance: DARE.

35. Online marketing strategy, for short: SEO.  Search Engine Optimization is the practice of improving a website to increase its visibility in organic (unpaid) search engine results. By optimizing content, technical structure, and authority, SEO helps search engines like Google understand and rank pages higher, driving more targeted traffic to a website. 

36. Count in the cereal aisle: CHOCULA.  A chocolate-flavored, marshmallow-filled breakfast cereal introduced by General Mills in March 1971, featuring a friendly vampire mascot. Primarily sold during the Halloween season, it is part of the "Monster Cereals" line alongside Franken Berry and Boo Berry.

39. "Girl With a Pearl Earring" painter: VERMEER.  Johannes Vermeer (1632–1675) was a renowned Dutch Baroque painter specializing in intimate, meticulously detailed domestic interior scenes.   He worked slowly, producing only about 35 known paintings, often using expensive pigments to masterfully depict light and calm, quiet atmospheres. Despite his talent, he was not wealthy and left his wife and many children in debt upon his sudden death, leading to centuries of obscurity before his rediscovery.

41. __ Lingus: AER.   Aer Lingus, the flag carrier airline of the Republic of Ireland, was founded in 1936. Headquartered at Dublin Airport, it operates a hybrid business model providing both low-cost European and full-service transatlantic flights to over 100 destinations across Europe and North America. 

42. Invalidate: VOID.   To cancel, invalidate, or nullify something, such as a contract, check, or warranty, rendering it legally ineffective. 

44. Like a dive bar: SEEDY.   Said of a person, place, or thing that is disreputable, shabby, or in poor condition, often implying a sense of moral decay or dishonesty. It can also mean run-down or dirty.

49. Lavish love (on): DOTE.   Be extremely and uncritically fond of.

50. Graphic opening?: GEO-.   The prefix geo- means earth, ground, or land.   It is used in English to form words relating to physical, geographical, or geological aspects of our planet.  Some people think this kind of clue is clever.  To me, it is self-referential and misleadingly annoying.

51. Check out: VET.   To thoroughly investigate, examine, or check someone or something for accuracy, authenticity, or suitability. It is commonly used in professional contexts to screen candidates, check documents, or evaluate potential risks before approval.  It is a 19th-century back-formation from the abbreviation of "veterinarian," originating in the 1890s. It initially meant to submit a horse to a physical examination by a vet before a race, and by the early 1900s, it broadened to mean examining anyone or anything for flaws. 

59. Coil in a garden: HOSE.  A coil is a length of something wound or arranged in a spiral or sequence of rings.  This is a typical arrangement for a garden hose.  Or, perhaps, a snake.  Be careful.

61. Worker who tracks transactions: BOOKKEEPER.  A person whose job is to keep records of the financial affairs of a business.  I don't know of another English word with either a double K, or a sequence of three consecutive double letters.

62. The America's Cup, for one: EWER.  The America's Cup is a sailing competition and the oldest international competition still operating in any sport. Or, as here, the relvant trophy. America's Cup match races are held between two sailing yachts: one from the yacht club that currently holds the trophy and the other from the yacht club that is challenging for the cup.  A EWER is a large jug with a wide mouth.

Rather Elaborate

63. Sea eagle: ERNE.    An older, traditional name for a large sea eagle, specifically the White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), a massive bird of prey found across Eurasia, closely related to North America's Bald Eagle.  This used to be a frequent flier in crosswords.  Now it is a rare bit of nostalgia.  

64. Signals from space, perhaps: OMENS.   Omens are events regarded as portents of good or evil.  I am not getting the connection to the clue.

65. Dumpster fire: MESS.  A chaotic or disastrously mishandled situation.  Mess hardly seems adequate.

66. Mary __ Lincoln: TODD.   Mary Ann Todd Lincoln [1818 - 1882] was First Lady of the United States from 1861 until the assassination of her husband, President Abraham Lincoln, in 1865. Mary Todd was born into a large and wealthy slave-owning family in Kentucky, although Mary never owned slaves and in her adulthood came to oppose slavery. 

67. Hospital employee: NURSE.   Registered nurses (RNs) provide direct patient care, acting as health educators and advocates in hospitals, clinics, and homes. 

Down:

1. Feline chorus: MEOWS.  Stylized cat sounds.

2. National Scrabble Day month: APRIL.   National Scrabble Day is celebrated annually on April 13th to honor the birth of the game's inventor, Alfred Mosher Butts, born on this day in 1899. The day promotes playing the iconic word game, which was originally developed during the Great Depression and is now enjoyed globally in over 120 countries. 

3. Soft and fluffy: DOWNY.  Covered [or filled] with fine soft hair or feathers.  By extension, anything with a similar feeling.

4. Med. condition treated with Ritalin: ADHD.   Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity that interfere with daily functioning. It typically starts in childhood and can continue into adulthood, affecting how the brain manages focus, organization, and behavioral control. 

5. Medieval fair quaff: MEAD.   Mead, or honey wine, is an ancient alcoholic beverage created by fermenting honey with water, often with fruits, spices, or hops. It ranges from dry to sweet and 3.5% to >20% ABV. Best served chilled (white wine temp) or slightly warmer for spiced versions, it offers a versatile flavor profile reflecting the honey source, ranging from floral to fruity or spicy. 

6. Healing character class in D&D: CLERIC.   Dungeons and Dragons features 13 core character classes.  Each has a different set of strengths and weaknesses.  Clerics have a special relationship with a specific god and can function as versatile divine spellcasters and armored front-line support, serving as armored healers, protectors, and undead hunters who draw power from a deity or divine domain. 

7. Pepped (up): LIVENED.  Made something more lively, exciting, energetic or intereresting.

8. Gp. founded in Baghdad: OPEC.  Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

9. Hair line?: PART.   The line on the scalp where hair is divided and brushed in different directions, often dictated by natural growth patterns, cowlicks, or styling preferences.   The other hair line is the edge or border where hair growth begins on the human head, particularly along the forehead.   In recent years I have experienced significant forehead growth.

10. Explosive sound: KABOOM.   Used to represent the sound of a loud explosion.

11. "Lemme look!": I WANNA SEE.  A couple of colloquial contractions expressing a desire to observe something.  

12. Open page on a web browser: TAB.   A user interface element located at the top of the window that allows you to open and switch between multiple websites within a single browser window.   At the moment, I have 13 open in Chrome.

13. Cornea locale: EYE.   The cornea is the transparent, dome-shaped outermost layer at the front of the eye, covering the iris and pupil.

Eye Anatomy

18. Polynesian carving: TIKI.    A carved human-like figure representing Polynesian deities or the first man in Māori mythology, embodying a deep spiritual connection to nature. 

21. Plunge into liquid: IMMERSE.  Dip or submerge in a liquid.

25. Gave a leg up to?: KNEED.  Hit someone with the knee.

26. The Old __: London venue: VIC.    A historic, independent theatre in Lambeth, South London, founded in 1818 and famously nicknamed for its 1833 renaming to the Royal Victoria Theatre. Renowned for Shakespearean productions, it served as the original home of the National Theatre from 1963 to 1976 and is a major cultural landmark. 

27. Bodies of work: OEUVRES.  The works of a painter, composer, or author regarded collectively.

28. CLE player: CAV.  The Cleveland Cavaliers, often referred to as the Cavs, are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland. The Cavaliers compete in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference.  They are currently in 4th place.

29. Mine deposit: ORE.  A naturally occurring solid material from which a metal or valuable mineral can be profitably extracted.

30. Flat-bottomed fishing boat: DORY.   A small flat-bottomed rowboat with a high bow and stern, of a kind originally used for fishing in New England.

31. Airport security check: SCAN.   A safety screening process using technology like millimeter-wave imaging or X-ray systems to detect metallic and non-metallic, prohibited items (weapons, explosives) on passengers or in luggage. 

32. Up, in a way: AHEAD.  A team or individual that is leading - or ahead- of their opponent is said to be "up" on them.

33. Giant Galapagos natives: TORTOISES.   The Galápagos tortoise (Chelonoidis niger), also called the Galápagos giant tortoise, is a very large species of tortoise in the genus Chelonoidis (which also contains three smaller species from mainland South America). The species comprises 15 subspecies (12 extant and 3 extinct). It is the largest living species of tortoise, and can weigh up to 417 kg (919 lb). They are also the largest extant terrestrial cold-blooded animals (ectotherms).

37. Hawaiian for "long": LOA.  Distant, long, tall, far or permanent.

38. Feel bad: AIL.  Troubled or afflicted in mind or body.

40. Large body of eau: MER.   French for water and sea.

43. Backyard feature for a water-loving pup: DOG POND.   A specific body of water, a designated area within a park, or a business dedicated to dogs swimming, playing, or training.  I suppose there could be one in a backyard somewhere.

46. Says out loud: UTTERS.  Makes a sound with one's voice.

47. Stunk: REEKED. Emitted a strong and unpleasant odor.

48. "How To __ Your Diary": interactive edition in a YA series: DORK.    An interactive, DIY companion book to Rachel Renée Russell's popular Dork Diaries series, offering tips, prompts, and space for readers to create their own secret journals, inspired by Nikki Maxwell's experiences with diary-keeping, code words, and the importance of privacy. 

51. Bygone Dodge two-seater: VIPER.   A sports car manufactured for most years between 1992 and 2017.

52. Levels: EVENS.  Gives something a flat and even surface.

53. Hardly rambling: TERSE.   Sparing in the use of words; abrupt.

55. Skeptical scoff: I BET.   A phrase used sarcastically to mean the opposite of it's literal meaning, hence indicating severe doubt or disbelief.

56. __ reflex: infant's instinctive protective response: MORO.   An involuntary, protective, two-phase reaction in newborns triggered by a sensation of falling, sudden movement, or loud noise. When startled, a baby throws back their head, extends arms and legs, cries, and then pulls limbs back inward. It typically appears at birth and disappears by 5–6 months. 

57. Millennia upon millennia: AEON.  A very long indefinite time period.

58. Online discount marketplace: TEMU.   Temu is an online marketplace operated by e-commerce company PDD Holdings, which is owned by Colin Huang. It offers heavily discounted consumer goods, mostly shipped to consumers directly from China.

59. Haw counterpart: HEM.   To hem and haw is to be uncertain and take a long time deciding something.  The phrase originated in the 16th and 17th centuries as an imitative phrase for hesitant, indecisive, or evasive speech.

60. Be outstanding: OWE.  Any unpaid debt is said to be outstanding.

So ends our more or less musical excursion.  Hope it hit the right notes for you.

Cool regards!

Ron