February 8, 2023 Drew Schmenner

<>Theme: Vowel Sound Progression - With Z Sounds.  The final syllable of each them entry begins with the sound - though not always the spelling - of the letter "Z," and ends with the sound - though not the spelling - of a long vowel, in alphabetical order: A, E, I, O and U.  Let's check it out.

18 A. Small dog with a French name: BICHON FRISÉ.   From French: bichon à poil frisé, (French pronunciation: ​[biʃɔ̃ fʁize], meaning 'curly haired dog') is a small breed of dog.  Although the Bichon breed type are originally Spanish, used as sailing dogs, also as herding dogs sometimes, the French developed them into a gentle lap-dog variety. 

The ending is pronounced ZĀ, or ZAY, if you prefer.  What are you gonna do - it's French!

23 A. Stopped worrying: RESTED EASY.  When you don't worry you can sleep well.

The ending is pronounced ZĒ, or ZEE.  This is the kind of thing that makes English as a 2nd language so hard.

41 A. Education activist who is the youngest Nobel Prize laureate: MALALA YOUSAFZAI.  (Urdu: ملالہ یوسفزئی, Pashto: ملاله یوسفزۍ, pronunciation: [məˈlaːlə jusəf ˈzəj]; born 12 July 1997), is a Pakistani female education activist and the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Awarded when she was 17, she is the world's youngest Nobel Prize laureate, and the second Pakistani and the first Pashtun to receive a Nobel Prize.

On 9 October 2012, while on a bus in Swat District after taking an exam, Yousafzai and two other girls were shot by a Taliban gunman in an assassination attempt in retaliation for her activism; the gunman fled the scene. Yousafzai was hit in the head with a bullet and remained unconscious and in critical condition at the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology, but her condition later improved enough for her to be transferred to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, UK.  You can read more details here. 

The rendering of here last name into English results in the last syllable as written above, and pronounced ZĪ, or Z-EYE. 

54 A. Leader of the Pink Ladies in "Grease": BETTY RIZZO.  Portrayed in the movie by Stockard Channing, she is a tough and sarcastic leader of the Pink Ladies. She smokes, drinks, and does not care what others think of her. Rizzo is also a girl with a "reputation". 

The ending of her name is pronounced, for a nice change of pace, pretty much like it's spelt: ZŌ. 

64 A. To a great extent, informally: OUT THE WAZOO.  To an excessive degree.

The final syllable is pronounced ZŪ.  The long U is often pronounced "YOO," rather than"OO."  But sometimes not, I guess.

Hi Gang, JazzBumpa on the scene with today's lesson in phonetics.  Let's keep an ai out for what else we can find in tode's grid. Are oo with my?

Across:

1. Derisive cry: BAH.  Sometimes along with its partner, HUMBUG!

4. Open, as a 4-Down app: TAP ON.  Accessing an app on a touch-screen device.

9. Marshmallow treats: PEEPS.  

Read about them here.

14. In the past: AGO.  This was recorded some time ago.

15. Rock's __ in Chains: ALICE.

16. "The Martian" star: DAMON.   Matthew Paige Damon (b. October 8, 1970) is an American actor, film producer, and screenwriter. Ranked among Forbes' most bankable stars, the films in which he has appeared have collectively earned over $3.88 billion at the North American box office, making him one of the highest-grossing actors of all time.He has received various awards and nominations, including an Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards, in addition to nominations for three British Academy Film Awards and seven Primetime Emmy Awards.

In the movie, When astronauts blast off from the planet Mars, they leave behind Mark Watney (Matt Damon), presumed dead after a fierce storm. With only a meager amount of supplies, the stranded visitor must utilize his wits and spirit to find a way to survive on the hostile planet. Meanwhile, back on Earth, members of NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring him home, while his crew mates hatch their own plan for a daring rescue mission.

17. Earth __: DAY.   An annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by EarthDay.org (formerly Earth Day Network) including 1 billion people in more than 193 countries. 

20. Inbox filler: E-MAIL.   On your computer or device.

22. Spending like there's no tomorrow: ON A SPREE.   A spell or sustained period of unrestrained activity of a particular kind.

26. Isr. neighbor: SYR.  Israel and Syria.

27. Wild guess: STAB.   Sort of like a shot in the dark.

28. Tool with teeth: SAW.  I can see that.

31. Blue-green hue: TEAL.   A dark greenish-blue color, named for a duck of similar hue..

34. Pyramid, often: TOMB.   The Egyptian ones are.

37. Canterbury pens: GAOLS.  British spelling of Jail.  As a kid, when I first saw this in a Sherlock Holmes story I was quite confused.

44. Raging mad: IRATE.   Seeing red.

45. Barbecue rod: SPIT.   A slender pointed rod for holding meat over a fire

46. Cough syrup amts.: TSPS.  Teaspoons.

47. Alter __: EGO.  A person's secondary or alternative personality.

49. Chem class rooms: LABS.  A laboratory.  I saw a sign in one stating that here should be more labor and less oratory,

51. Quinceañera attendee, maybe: TIO.  An AUNT might attend the celebration of a girl's 15th birthday. This has cultural roots in Mexico and Europe and is widely celebrated by girls throughout Latin America. 

60. Out early: ON PAROLE.  Parole is the release of a prisoner temporarily (for a special purpose) or permanently before the completion of a sentence, on the promise of good behavior.

63. Tatum of "Paper Moon": O'NEAL.   Tatum Beatrice O'Neal [b. 1963] is an American actress. She is the youngest person ever to win an Academy Award, winning at age 10 for her performance as Addie Loggins in Paper Moon opposite her father, Ryan O'Neal. She also starred as Amanda Wurlitzer in The Bad News Bears, followed by Nickelodeon, and Little Darlings.    

67. Spill preventer: LID.   As on a child's puppy cup.

Kids in their cups

68. Like overly rehearsed comments, probably: TRITE.    Overused and consequently of little import; lacking originality or freshness.  Said of a remark, opinion, or idea.  Overly rehearsed?  I dunno 'bout that.

69. Rework, as text: EMEND.  Make corrections and improvements.

70. Beats by __: DRE.  Brand name for pricey earphones and buds.

71. Dye used in mehndi decoration: HENNA.   A  dye prepared from the plant Lawsonia inermis, also known as the henna tree, the mignonette tree, and the Egyptian privet, the sole species of the genus Lawsonia.   Mehndi is a form of body art and temporary skin decoration from the Indian subcontinent usually drawn on hands or legs.

72. Fizzy drinks: SODAS.

73. __ Lingus: AER.  The flag carrying ail line of Ireland. Founded by the Irish Government, it was privatised between 2006 and 2015 and it is now a wholly owned subsidiary of International Airlines Group. The airline's head office is on the grounds of Dublin Airport in Cloghran, County Dublin. 

Down:

1. The "B" of "Notorious RBG": BADER.   Joan Ruth Bader Ginsburg [b. 1933] was an American lawyer and jurist who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1993 until her death in 2020.

2. Peak performance: A-GAME.   One's best possible performance,

3. Georgetown athletes: HOYAS.   According to Georgetown's Athletic Department Website, many years ago, when all students were required to take Greek and Latin, the athletic teams were nicknamed "The Stonewalls."  Rumor has it that one clever student chanted "Hoya Saxa!" which translates to "What Rocks!"  The cheer grew and students began to consistently yell "Hoya Saxa! Hoya Saxa!" Eventually, the "Saxa" was dropped and the cheer evolved to "Hoya!"

The name proved popular and all Georgetown teams were named "The Hoyas."  No, a Hoya is not a bulldog. It is not any animal, mascot, or creature of any sort. Hoya actually means "what."

So, if you ever ask: What is a Hoya? That's your answer. What? What. A Hoya is what.

4. Device with a touchscreen: TABLET.    A mobile computing device that has a flat, rectangular form like that of a magazine or pad of paper, that is usually controlled by means of a touch screen, and that is typically used for accessing the Internet, watching videos, playing games, reading electronic books, etc.

5. Wong of "Always Be My Maybe": ALI.  Alexandra Dawn "Ali" Wong [b. 1982] is an American stand-up comedian and actress. She is best known for her Netflix stand-up specials Baby Cobra, Hard Knock Wife, and Don Wong. She starred in the film Always Be My Maybe, on which she also served as a writer and producer.

6. Selfie, e.g.: PIC.  Photograph of one's self.

7. Golfer Lorena: OCHOA.   Lorena Ochoa Reyes [b. 1981] is a Mexican former professional golfer who played on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour from 2003 to 2010. She was the top-ranked female golfer in the world for 158 consecutive and total weeks, from 23 April 2007 to her retirement on 2 May 2010, at the age of 28 

8. Highlighter hues: NEONS.    Extremely bright or vivid colors, so named ny analogy to neon lamps.

9. Versatile docs: PDFS.  Documents in Portable Data File format, useable on any platform.

10. Wyatt of the Old West: EARP.   Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp [1848 - 1929] was an American lawman and gambler in the American West, including Dodge City, Deadwood, and Tombstone. Earp was involved in the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral, during which lawmen killed three outlaw Cochise County Cowboys.

11. Dubai rulers: EMIRS.   A title of various Muslim (mainly Arab) rulers.

12. Seven-time MLB All-Star catcher Buster: POSEY.   Gerald Dempsey "Buster" Posey III [b.1987] is an American former professional baseball catcher. Posey spent his entire twelve-year Major League Baseball career with the San Francisco Giants, from 2009 until his retirement at the conclusion of the 2021 season. In September 2022, Posey joined the Giants' ownership group.

13. Snide smile: SNEER.   A contemptuous or mocking smile, remark, or tone.

19. Those opposed: NAYS.  

21. "Oof, look at the time": IT'S LATE.  Time to call it a night.

24. Target of some miners: DATA.  Data mining is the process of extracting and discovering patterns in large data sets involving methods at the intersection of machine learning, statistics, and database systems.

25. Some TikTok teens: E-BOYS.   E-girls and e-boys, sometimes collectively known as e-kids, are a youth subculture of Gen Z that emerged in the late 2010s, notably popularized by the video-sharing app TikTok. It is an evolution of emo, scene and mall goth fashion combined with Japanese street fashion and K-pop fashion.

29. Ottoman title: AGA.    A military or civil officer in the Ottoman Empire

30. Enters, as an aroma: WAFTS IN.  To WAFT is to pass or cause to pass easily or gently through or as if through the air.

31. "You've shared enough!": TMI.  Too Much Information.

32. AirPod holder: EAR.  The organ of hearing and balance in humans and other vertebrates, especially the external part of this.

33. Pie __ mode: ALA.  Literally, fashionable; in the current style or fashion.   Here in the U.S. it means the ice cream has a scoop of ice cream on it.

35. Swiffer product: MOP.   An implement made of absorbent material fastened to a handle and used especially for cleaning floors

36. Constructed: BUILT.  

38. Parts of lbs.: OZS.   Pounds and ounces.  Where does the "z" come from?  

39. Overtake and then some, on a track: LAP.  A LAP is one time around a race track.  To LAP another runner is to get one full LAP ahead of him

40. Family nickname: SIS.   Meaning sister.  I have one.

42. __ of lamb: LEG.   Lamb leg is a large and succulent cut from the hind legs that can be butchered into smaller cuts. Lamb leg is a popular Sunday dinner roasting joint, though, this is not the only way this tasty joint can be prepared.

43. Stick around: STAY.   Remain in a certain place.

48. Wind quintet wind: OBOE.   A woodwind instrument with a double-reed mouthpiece, a slender tubular body, and holes stopped by keys.

50. Stews (over): BROODS.  Thinks deeply about something that makes one unhappy.  Worries.

51. Sweet __: TOOTH.  A affection for confections.

52. Accustom: INURE.  Accustom (someone) to something, especially something unpleasant.

53. Decide to participate: OPT IN.  Choose to participate in something.

55. "As You Wish" memoirist Cary: ELWES.   Ivan Simon Cary Elwes [b. 1962] is an English actor and writer. He is known for his leading film roles as Westley in The Princess Bride, Robin Hood in Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and Dr. Lawrence Gordon in the Saw film series.

56. DÌa de San ValentÌn sentiment: TE AMO.  The Valentine's Day sentiment is, I love you."

57. Nintendo's The Legend of __: ZELDA.  The Legend of Zelda is an action-adventure game franchise created by the Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo, although some portable installments and re-releases have been outsourced to Capcom, Vanpool, and Grezzo.

58. Former name of the Congo: ZAIRE.   Officially the Republic of Zaire (French: République du Zaïre, [ʁepyblik dy zaiʁ]), was a Congolese state from 1971 to 1997 in Central Africa that was previously and is now again known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Zaire was, by area, the third-largest country in Africa (after Sudan and Algeria), and the 11th-largest country in the world. With a population of over 23 million inhabitants, Zaire was the most-populous officially Francophone country in Africa, as well as one of the most populous in Africa.

59. Not as up-to-date: OLDER.  I'm taking this personally.

61. Memo abbreviation: ATTN.   Attention recipient.

62. "Better Call Saul" Emmy nominee Seehorn: RHEA.   Deborah Rhea Seehorn [b. 1972] is an American actress and director. She is best known for playing attorney Kim Wexler in AMC's Better Call Saul, for which she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards

65. Zoo opening in London?: ZED.   The first, i.e. opening, letter of the word in Brit-speak. We just call it Zee.

66. "Based __ true story": ON A.  Said of a fictional account involving real persons and/or events.

That's all, folks.  Hope you were able to pronounce all these words.  Happy Wednesday, everyone.

Cool regards!

JzB

Wednesday, January 25, 2023 Emma Lawson

Theme: I can't do any better than the unifier.

61 A. Make waves, and a hint to this puzzle's circles: ROCK THE BOAT.  As we'll soon see, various boats have been rocked by having the letters of their names mixed up, thus "rocked."  This is indicated by the circles in the grid.

17 A. Charitable undertaking that deserves support: WORTHY CAUSE.  Someone or something deserving support because they have the qualities or abilities required.  The hidden mixed-up word is YACHT - a sailing or power vessel used for pleasure, cruising, or racing. There is no standard definition, though the term generally applies to vessels with a cabin intended for overnight use.   Often a rich person't toy.

31 A. Bit of false modesty: HUMBLE BRAG.  An ostensibly modest or self-deprecating statement whose actual purpose is to draw attention to something of which one is proud.  We go from a potentially elegant YACHT to the fittingly humble BARGE -  a flat-bottomed inland waterway vessel which does not have its own means of mechanical propulsion.  It is typically either pushed or pulled by another vessel.

42. "Ugh, shut up already": NO ONE CARES.  A blunt statement of disinterest.   Of greater interest is the CANOE - a lightweight, narrow water vessel, typically pointed at both ends and open on top, propelled by one or more seated or kneeling paddlers facing the direction of travel and using a single-bladed paddle.

Hi, Gang.  Emma was not able to fit CRUISE SHIP into the mix.  Still, we can enjoy our aquatic excursion with a variety of mixed up vessels.  Let's sail into the rest of the puzzle and see what else we can discover.

Across:

1. __ Sutra: KAMA.   "Principles of Love" is an ancient Indian Sanskrit text on sexuality, eroticism and emotional fulfillment in life. It was written as a guide to the art of living well, the nature of love, finding a life partner, maintaining one's love life, and other aspects pertaining to pleasure-oriented faculties of human life.

5. Charlatans: FRAUDS.  Those falsely claiming to have a special knowledge or skill;

11. Smidgen: TAD.  A tiny quantity.

14. Classic Camaro: IROC.   IROC stands for International Race of Champions, a competition similar to Nascar. IROC began in 1974 by racing Porsches, but the cost of maintaining them was prohibitive, so the series turned to the Chevy Camaro in 1975.

15. Breaks things off: ENDS IT.  Brings something to a close, such as a relationship.

16. Tankard filler: ALE.  a type of beer with a bitter flavor and higher alcoholic content.

19. Right Guard alternative: BAN.  Under arm deodorants.

20. Feedback: INPUT.  Information provided in response to something.

21. Bullfighters: MATADORS.  Their job is to kill the bulls.

23. "Go for the Goal" memoirist Mia: HAMM.   Mariel Margaret Hamm-Garciaparra [b. 1972] is an American retired 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 women's national soccer team from 1987 to 2004. 

25. Tried to avoid the catcher's tag: SLID HOME.  Like this.

26. Pan: SKILLET.   A shallow metal cooking pot with a long handle, used for frying.

29. "Weetzie Bat" series writer Francesca __ Block: LIA.  Francesca Lia Block [b.1960] is an American writer of adult and young-adult literature. She is known for the Weetzie Bat series, which she began while a student at UC Berkeley. 

30. Break the tape: WIN.  Getting to the finish line first in a race.

37. Religious platform: ALTAR.   A table or flat-topped block used as the focus for a religious ritual, especially for making sacrifices or offerings to a deity.

40. Scottish refusal: NAE.

41. Tuscan city whose university was founded in 1240: SIENA.  A city in central Italy’s Tuscany region,  distinguished by its medieval brick buildings. The fan-shaped central square, Piazza del Campo, is the site of the Palazzo Pubblico, the Gothic town hall, and Torre del Mangia, a slender 14th-century tower with sweeping views from its distinctive white crown. 

45. 2016 Super Bowl MVP __ Miller: VON.   Vonnie B'VSean Miller [b. 1989] is an American football outside linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. Miller played college football at Texas A&M, where he earned consensus All-American honors and the Butkus Award. He was selected by the Denver Broncos second overall in the 2011 NFL Draft.  He tore his ACL vs the Lions on Thanksgiving day, 2022.  The Bills went on to win that game 28-25 on a field goal as time expired.  The Bills could have used him this week as the Bengals shredded their defense.

46. "I've got it!": AHA.  That moment of realization.

47. Talking back to: SASSING.   Unwelcome feedback.

50. Temporada con nieve: INVIERNO.   The snowy season in Spain is WINTER.

55. Connections: TIES.  

56. Jazz trumpeter Wynton: MARSALIS.   Wynton Learson Marsalis [b. 1961] is an American trumpeter, composer, teacher, and artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. He has promoted classical and jazz music, often to young audiences. Marsalis has won nine Grammy Awards, and his Blood on the Fields was the first jazz composition to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music. 

57. Cuts: TRIMS.   Removes excess.

60. Big fuss: ADO.

64. Tech exec: CIO.  Chief Information Officer.   Probably a nerd.

65. Much of North Africa: SAHARA.  Large desert.

66. Memo phrase: IN RE.   A Latin phrase meaning “in the matter of.” The term “In re” is used in legal documents to refer to a case, particularly a case without an opposing party. For example, "In re Estate of Ruth Bentley" might be used to refer to a probate case about the estate of Ruth Bentley.

67. "Grace and Frankie" actor Waterston: SAM.   Samuel Atkinson Waterston (b.1940) is an American actor. Waterston is known for his work in theater, television and film.  He has received many awards.   

68. Lure into wrongdoing: ENTRAP.  Do this in order to achieve arrest and prosecution.

69. "On the double!" abbr.: ASAP.   As Soon As Possible.

Down:

1. New Zealand bird: KIWI.   Kiwi are flightless birds endemic to New Zealand of the order Apterygiformes. The five extant species fall into the family Apterygidae and genus Apteryx. Approximately the size of a domestic chicken, kiwi are the smallest living ratites.

Seven Kiwi Facts

2. "East of Eden" brother based on Abel: ARON.  Although Aron is likable and kind, his innate moral sensitivity is extreme, and it makes him fragile and easily susceptible to hurt. The sheltered Aron has a great deal of trouble facing the reality of human evil in the world, and Steinbeck builds a great deal of suspense in the second half of East of Eden regarding whether or not Aron will ever meet his mother, Cathy, and whether or not he will survive such an encounter.

3. Completely become: MORPH INTO.    Change very gradually from one thing into another.

4. Real: ACTUAL.   Existing in fact; typically as contrasted with what was intended, expected, or believed.

5. Tina with a recurring role on "Only Murders in the Building": FEY.   Elizabeth Stamatina "Tina" Fey [b.1970] is an American actress, comedian, writer, producer, and playwright. Fey is best known for her tenure as a cast member and head writer for the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 1997 to 2006. 

6. GOP org.: RNC.   Republican National Committee.

7. "Run to You" singer Bryan: ADAMS.   Bryan Guy Adams [b 1959] OC OBC FRPS is a Canadian musician, singer, songwriter, composer, and photographer. He has been cited as one of the best-selling music artists of all time, and is estimated to have sold between 75 million and more than 100 million records and singles worldwide. 

8. Typical: USUAL.  Expected.

9. Purify, in a way: DISTILL.   Purify (a liquid) by vaporizing it, then condensing it by cooling the vapor, and collecting the resulting liquid.

10. Makes less wobbly: STEADIES.  Stabilizes the position of something.

11. Simply not done: TABOO.   A social or religious custom prohibiting or forbidding discussion of a particular practice or forbidding association with a particular person, place, or thing.

12. Wake-up call?: ALARM.   Something that alerts a person to a situation

13. Pretty thick: DENSE.   Closely compacted in substance.  Figuratively, of a person - stupid.

18. Webmaster's code: HTML.   HyperText Markup Language.

22. Abu __: DHABI.   The capital and second-most populous city (after Dubai) of the United Arab Emirates.  The city of Abu Dhabi is located on an island in the Persian Gulf, off the Central West Coast. Most of the city and the Emirate reside on the mainland connected to the rest of the country. 

24. Just okay: MEH.   Expressing a lack of interest or enthusiasm.

26. Ugly duckling's true self: SWAN.  A Danish literary fairy tale by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen (1805–1875), published in 1843.  A swan's egg is misplaced in a clutch of duck eggs, and the resulting cygnet becomes an outcast.  Eventually he discovers is true self and flies away.

27. Approximately 2.2 lbs.: KILO.  The kilogram is the unit of mass in the International System of Units, having the unit symbol kg. It is a widely used measure in science, engineering and commerce worldwide, and is often simply called a kilo colloquially. It means "one thousand grams."

28. Fish in a negitoro roll: TUNA.  Negitoro is diced tuna with green onion. You'll most often find it served as a sushi roll. The tuna is sourced from scraping near the bones and from scrap pieces.  Yum!

32. Mo. after Leap Day: MAR. Leap day is Feb.29, occurring every 4th year not divisible by 100.  The following month is March.

33. Orchard pollinators: BEES.

34. Subsequent drafts: REVISIONS.  Of a text.

35. Quote book abbr.: ANON.  Anonymous.

36. Crew: GANG.  A group of people who work closely together.

38. Diarist Nin: ANAIS.  Angela Anaïs Juana Antolina Rosa Edelmira Nin y Culmell  [1903 – 1977] was a French-born American diarist, essayist, novelist, and writer of short stories and erotica. Born to Cuban parents in France, Nin was the daughter of the composer Joaquín Nin and the classically trained singer Rosa Culmell. Nin spent her early years in Spain and Cuba, about sixteen years in Paris (1924–1940), and the remaining half of her life in the United States, where she became an established author.

39. Prepare for a show: REHEARSE.   Practice (a play, piece of music, or other work) for later public performance.  I usually do this on Monday and Wednesday evenings.  Speaking of boats - granddaughter Amanda is in Toronto REHEARSING for her 3rd gig as a cast member on a Disney cruise ship.

43. Assistance in getting a ride?: CAR LOAN.  Money borrowed to purchase a vehicle.  Clever clue.

44. Plopped down in a chair: SAT.

48. Location: SITE.   

49. Croatia neighbor: SERBIA.  A landlocked country in Southeastern and Central Europe.  The two countries have similar spoken languages, but different written languages, as Serbia uses the Cyrillic alphabet.

50. Apple desktops: I-MACS.  Brand designation for lines of personal computers.

51. Gymnast Comaneci: NADIA.   Nadia Elena Comăneci Conner [b. 1961] is a Romanian retired gymnast and a five-time Olympic gold medalist, all in individual events. In 1976, at the age of 14, Comăneci was the first gymnast to be awarded a perfect score of 10.0 at the Olympic Games.

The IOC has blocked the video from sharing{?!?)  You can see it HERE

52. Revving sound: VROOM.

53. Not, in German: NICHT.   Literal.

54. Liam's "Schindler's List" role: OSKAR.  Oskar Schindler [1908 - 1974] was a German industrialist, humanitarian and a member of the Nazi Party who is credited with saving the lives of 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust by employing them in his enamelware and ammunitions factories in occupied Poland and the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. 

58. "Where Am I Now?" memoirist Wilson: MARA.   Mara Elizabeth Wilson (b. 1987) is an American actress and writer. She rose to prominence as a child for playing Natalie Hillard in the film Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) and went on to play Susan Walker in Miracle on 34th Street (1994), the title character in Matilda (1996), Annabel Greening in A Simple Wish (1997), and Lily Stone in Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000). Wilson took a 12-year hiatus following the last film to focus on writing. She returned to acting in 2012, and has predominantly worked in web series.

59. Pedometer unit: STEP.   An act or movement of putting one leg in front of the other in walking or running.

62. La-la lead-in: TRA.   Nonsense syllables sometimes occurring in songs, sometimes used to suggest gaiety, lightheartedness, or playful derision.

63. Luck, to Shakespeare: HAP.   Obsolete term for luck or good fortune, from Middle English "happe."  This is the root of our modern word "happy."

Now we bring this ship into port.  Hope you had a HAP voyage, and keep on rowing.

This popped up on FaceBook recently.

Cool regards!

JzB

Wednesday, January 11, 2023 Tom Pepper and C. C. Burnikel

 Theme: Bad Beginnings.  Two-word in-the-language phrases are given new meanings by adding the prefix MAL- to the first word.  This prefix ordinarily indicates a bad or evil version of the root word, but here it results in a totally new, unrelated word.  Very clever, and I don't know how Tom and C. C. were able to find them.

17 A. Soft feathers on a croquet implement?: MALLET DOWN.   This is a silly image, so - right up my ally.  Maybe wielded by an iron fist in a velvet glove?  A LET DOWN is a disappointment.  None here, though.

30 A. Negotiations over the ingredients of a milkshake?: MALTED TALKS.  The silliness continues.  Here is a recipe to TALK about.  I got a 100 point glucose spike just looking at the nutrition facts. "TALKS" often refers to serious negotiation over treaties or arms limitation  A TED TALK is a recorded public-speaking presentation that was originally given at the main TED (technology, entertainment and design) annual event or one of its many satellite events around the world. TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks, often called "TED talks."

47. Place to park one's spiteful feelings?: MALICE SHELF.  Are you on silliness overload yet?  I'm enjoying it.  Malice is ill will or the intention or desire to do evil.  A bit abstract to be stored anywhere other than the depth of your psyche.  An ICE SHELF is a floating sheet of ice permanently attached to a landmass.  Until it collapses, that is.  This is not good.   You can learn more here.

64. Karl's years with the Utah Jazz?: MALONE TIME.  Karl Anthony Malone [b. 1963] is an American former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "the Mailman", he is considered one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history.  He spent his first 18 seasons (1985–2003) in the NBA with the Utah Jazz.  He was a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, a 14-time NBA All-Star, and an 11-time member of the All-NBA first team.  Malone Time was a good time. ONE TIME can refer to some one or some thing from the past, or it can relate to a single, unique occurrence or event.

Hi, Gang - JazzBumpa here to assure we don't have a bad beginning, middle or end.  Let's dive into today's puzzle and see what we can find.

.Across:

1. Bit of pond growth: ALGA.   A simple, nonflowering, and typically aquatic plant of a large group that includes the seaweeds and many single-celled forms. Algae contain chlorophyll but lack true stems, roots, leaves, and vascular tissue.

5. Snatches: GRABS.   Grasps or seizes suddenly and roughly.

10. Map out: PLAN.   As indicated, plan out the details of program or course of action.

14. Earsplitting: LOUD.  Extremely loud.

15. Anti-harassment movement: ME TOO.   A global social movement that seeks to expose and prevent sexual harassment and assault, especially against women, by raising awareness and holding perpetrators to account publicly.

16. Perfect gradually: HONE.   By analogy to sharpening a knife.

19. Billions of years: EONS.  Indefinite and very long periods of time.

20. Stick on: AFFIX.  Stick, attach, or fasten (something) to something else.

21. Bow (out): OPT.   Make a choice from a range of possibilities.   One could also opt in.

22. Judi Dench and Helen Mirren, for two: DAMES.   DAME is an honorific title and the feminine form of address.  Originally this was the female equivalent of knighthood, but now is extended to recognize accomplishment in other endeavors.  The two mentioned DAMES are film actresses.

23. Emeril catchword: BAM.   

25. "No thanks": I PASS.  I'll opt out of whatever this is.

27. Proverb: SAW.   An old saying, often repeated; maxim; proverb.

35. CBS forensic franchise: CSI.   Crime Scene Investigation.

36. Animated film about a bird from Brazil: RIO.  

37. Some unauthorized creations: FAN ART.   Artwork created unofficially by fans of a book, film, etc., and based on that work.

38. All the __: RAGE.    Very popular at a particular place and time.

40. Font flourish: SERIF.   A slight projection finishing off a stroke of a letter in certain typefaces.

42. Rascal Flatts, e.g.: TRIO.   Rascal Flatts was an American country music band founded in 1999. The band members were Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus, and Joe Don Rooney. DeMarcus is LeVox's second cousin, a brother-in-law of country music singer James Otto, and a former member of the contemporary Christian music duo East to West. 

43. Casting director?: ANGLER.   Nice misdirection here.   Casting is the act of the angler throwing the bait and hook (or a lure) out over the water, typically by slinging a fishing line manipulated by a long, elastic fishing rod.   Angling is a fishing technique that uses a fish hook or "angle" attached to a fishing line to tether individual fish in the mouth. 

45. "Shea Butter Baby" singer-songwriter Lennox: ARI.   Courtney Shanade Salter [b. 1991] known professionally as Ari Lennox, is an American R&B singer from Washington, D.C.  She is the first female artist to be signed to J. Cole's record label, Dreamville Records. 

46. Day-__ paint: GLO.   The Day-Glo Color Corp. (also styled as DayGlo) is a privately held American paint and pigments manufacturer based in Cleveland, Ohio. It was founded in 1946 by brothers Joseph and Robert Switzer and is currently owned by RPM International. It specializes in fluorescent paint and pigments, such as those used in safety applications, artwork and signage. It invented black-light fluorescent and daylight fluorescent paints and nondestructive testing methods using fluorescent dyes.

50. Bracket shape: ELL.  Same shape as the letter "L".

51. Drop out of the conversation?: ELIDE.   Omit (a sound or syllable) when speaking.  Misleading clue.

52. Stately tree: ELM.   A tall deciduous tree that typically has rough serrated leaves and propagates from root suckers.

54. Herb piece: SPRIG.   A small stem bearing leaves or flowers, taken from a bush or plant.

56. SoFi Stadium NFL player: RAM.   Member of the L.A. Rams professional football team.  They were the victims of horrendous officiating on Sunday that gave a playoff spot to the Seahawks.  If they had lost or tied, that spot wold have gone to the Lions.  Wait until next year.

59. Psyched: EAGER.  Slang term for being highly enthusiastic about some activity.

63. Landing spot for a cannonball: POOL.   A cannonball is a diving style where the diver hugs their knees and attempts to enter the water with their body shaped as much like a sphere as possible. The goal is to create a large splash.

66. Unflappable: COOL.   Calm and composed, especially in a potentially tense situation.

67. Honeycrisp, for one: APPLE.   The round fruit of a tree of the rose family, which typically has thin red or green skin and crisp flesh. Many varieties have been developed as dessert or cooking fruit or for making cider.

68. Video snippet: CLIP.    Video clips are short sections of video, usually parts of a longer recording. The term is also more loosely used to mean any short video less than the length of a traditional television program.

69. Private employer?: ARMY.  Also a Major employer and a General employer. 

70. Sauce for gnocchi: PESTO.   Pesto is a sauce that traditionally consists of crushed garlic, European pine nuts, coarse salt, basil leaves, and hard cheese such as Parmigiano-Reggiano.

71. Sandogasa, beanie, etc.: HATS.  Various head coverings, some rather obscure..

Down:

1. __ mater: ALMA.  Literally, "nourishing mother;" an allegorical Latin phrase used to identify a school, college or university that one formerly attended or/and graduated from.

2. Be a couch potato: LOAF.  Be lazy.

3. View from Florida's west coast: GULF.   A large inlet from the ocean into the landmass, typically with a narrower opening than a bay, but that is not observable in all geographic areas so named. The term gulf was traditionally used for large highly-indented navigable bodies of salt water that are enclosed by the coastline.

4. Embrace spontaneity, in a way: AD LIB.   In music and other performing arts, the phrase ad libitum, often shortened to "ad lib" or "ad-lib", refers to various forms of improvisation. 

5. Clock-setting std.: GMT.   Greenwich Mean Time is the mean solar time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, counted from midnight. 

6. Give the decor a face-lift: RE-DO.   Redecorate.

7. Resting on: ATOP.   On the top of.

8. Neckwear worn by Matt Smith on "Doctor Who": BOW TIE.   The bow tie is a type of necktie. A modern bow tie is tied using a common shoelace knot, which is also called the bow knot for that reason. It consists of a ribbon of fabric tied around the collar of a shirt in a symmetrical manner so that the two opposite ends form loops.

She forgot the shirt

9. Male offspring: SON.   A boy or man in relation to either or both of his parents.

10. Ring-necked state bird of South Dakota: PHEASANT.   Birds of several genera within the family Phasianidae in the order Galliformes. Although they can be found all over the world in introduced (and captive) populations, the pheasant genera native range is restricted to Eurasia. 

Wikipedia

11. Has tremendous influence: LOOMS LARGE.    Becomes or seems highly important and often causes worry.

12. Baby photographer Geddes: ANNE.   Anne Elizabeth Geddes [b 1956] MNZM [New Zealand Order of Merit] is an Australian-born, New York City-based portrait photographer known primarily for her elaborately-staged photographs of infants. Geddes's books have been published in 83 countries. 

13. Loch in tabloid photos: NESS.   Home of the Monster.

18. Final, e.g.: EXAM.   A test given to students at the end of a course of study or training.

22. Spreadsheet contents: DATA.  Facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis.

24. Color akin to brick: MARS RED.   A Fine Arts red pigment used in painting, artificially made from an iron oxide base and characterized by strong film-forming properties and permanence. 

26. Common email attachment: PDF FILE.   Portable Document Format - a file format that provides an electronic image of text or text and graphics that looks like a printed document and can be viewed, printed, and electronically transmitted.

27. "Buzz off!": SCRAM.   Go away.

28. Yoga position: ASANA.   An asana is a body posture, originally and still a general term for a sitting meditation pose, and later extended in hatha yoga and modern yoga as exercise, to any type of position, adding reclining, standing, inverted, twisting, and balancing poses.

29. Leeway in a negotiation, say: WIGGLE ROOM.   Capacity or scope for negotiation or operation, especially in order to modify a previous statement or decision.

31. Falsehood: LIE.   Dishonest statement intended to mislead.

32. Text at a bat mitzvah: TORAH.   The compilation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, namely the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

33. Whale food: KRILL.   Small crustaceans of the order Euphausiacea, found in all the world's oceans. The name "krill" comes from the Norwegian word krill, meaning "small fry of fish", 

34. Seat at the bar: STOOL.   A seat usually without back or arms supported by three or four legs or by a central pedestal. 

39. Prozac maker: ELI LILLY.   Eli Lilly and Company is an American pharmaceutical company headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, with offices in 18 countries. Its products are sold in approximately 125 countries. The company was founded in 1876 by, and named after, Colonel Eli Lilly, a pharmaceutical chemist and veteran of the American Civil War. 

41. Ring of Kerry's isl.: IRE.   Ireland.  The Ring of Kerry is a scenic drive around the Iveragh Peninsula in southwest Ireland’s County Kerry. Its 179 km-long, circular route takes in rugged and verdant coastal landscapes and rural seaside villages. 

44. Vaping device: E-CIG.   E-cigarettes produce an aerosol by heating a liquid that usually contains nicotine—the addictive drug in regular cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products—flavorings, and other chemicals that help to make the aerosol. Users inhale this aerosol into their lungs. Bystanders can also breathe in this aerosol when the user exhales into the air.

48. Brightly colored wrap: SERAPE.   A long blanket-like shawl/cloak, often brightly colored and fringed at the ends, worn in Mexico, especially by men. 

49. Escape in a hurry: FLEE.  Scram.

53. Stick in a book: MATCH.   A short, thin piece of wood or cardboard used to light a fire, being tipped with a composition that ignites when rubbed against a rough surface.

54. Animal rescue org.: SPCA.   Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

55. Not great: POOR.   Worse than is usual, expected, or desirable; of a low or inferior standard or quality.

57. Austrian peaks: ALPS.   The Alps are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe,[b][2] stretching approximately 1,200 km (750 mi) across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, and Slovenia.

58. Lose feathers: MOLT.   The process of an animal to shed old feathers, hair, or skin, or an old shell, to make way for a new growth.

60. __ monster: GILA.   A species of venomous lizard native to the Southwestern United States and the northwestern Mexican state of Sonora. It is a heavy, typically slow-moving reptile, up to 56 centimetres long, and it is the only venomous lizard native to the United States.

61. Give off: EMIT.   Produce and discharge something, especially gas or radiation.

62. Counts at a gym: REPS.  Repetitions of an exercise or action. 

64. Diagram at a visitor center: MAP.  Floor plan of the building.

65. Opposite of paleo-: NEO.    A new and different form of something that existed in the past, such as a theory, style, language, or philosophy.

There goes another Wednesday.  Hope you enjoyed it from the beginning to the ending.

Cool regards!

JzB

Wednesday, December 21, 2022 Susan Gelfand

p>Theme: A Sporting Chance.  In the language phrases are repurposed to indicate an action involving professional sport team players.  In each case, the first word of the phrase is transformed from a modifier to a verb; a clever and unusual kind of word play.   The major U.S. sports, hockey, football, baseball and basketball are all represented.

17 A. Lend San Jose NHL players?: LOAN SHARKS.  A loan shark is a person who offers loans at extremely high interest rates, has strict terms of collection upon failure, and generally operates outside the law.  The San Jose Sharks are currently in 8th place in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League.  Would your team like to borrow one?

23 A. Ring up Los Angeles NFL players?: PHONE CHARGERS.  A phone charger is the accessory you plug into your phone when the battery power is low.  The L.A. Chargers are in 2nd place in the AFC West, behind the Kansas City Chiefs.  Give them a call.

47 A. Improve Los Angeles MLB players?: PERFECT ANGELS.  A perfect angel is an adorable and well behaved child. I cold not find a suitable definition on line, so I made this one up.  The L.A. Angels finished the 1922 season in 3rd place in the Al West division, 33 games behind the 1st place Astros.  There are certainly some opportunities for perfecting their play.

57 A. Videotape Miami NBA players?: RECORD HEAT.  Record heat is the highest temperature reached on a given calendar day at a specific location.  One could record the Miami basketball team with a camera or cell phone - if it's charged.  They are currently in 3rd place in the Eastern conference of the National Basketball Association.

Hi, Gang - JazzBumpa on hand to announce today's game.  I'm quite taken with today's theme. Sadly, though my local Detroit teams are all mired in mediocrity, but the Lions are showing signs of life, and have a slim chance of making the play-offs. On the other hand, I think we all have a sporting chance to get a good solve today.  Let's check it out

Across:

1. Peony part: PETAL.  Each of the segments of the corolla of a flower, which are modified leaves and are typically colored.

6. Tools that can be musical instruments: SAWS.  Here is one.

10. Huge tubs: VATS.  Large tanks or tubs used to hold liquid, especially in industry.

14. Venue for big concerts: ARENA.   A level area surrounded by seats for spectators, in which sports, entertainments, and other public events are held.

15. Discontinued Apple gadget: I-POD.   A portable electronic device for playing and storing digital audio and video files.

16. Cut covered by a SpongeBob bandage, e.g.: OWIE.  Kid's name for a small injury, aka booboo.

19. Bridge pose discipline: YOGA.  A Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline, a part of which, including breath control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures, is widely practiced for health and relaxation.

20. Twisty curve: ESS.  Shaped similar to the letter.

21. Late tourney game: SEMI.  Short for semi-final.  The winner advances to the final game.

22. Gingerbread person?: BAKER.  Also the cookie person and the cake person, unless I'm misunderstanding.

27. Soothing succulents: ALOES.   Any of several succulent plants, typically having a rosette of toothed fleshy leaves and bell-shaped or tubular flowers on long stems. Native to the Old World tropics, several species are cultivated commercially or as ornamentals.

29. Foray: SORTIE.   An attack made by troops coming out from a position of defense.

30. Like much fall weather: COOL.  At a fairly low temperature.

31. Admits as much: LETS ON.   Reveal or divulges information to someone.

32. Stick (out): JUT.   Extend out, over, or beyond the main body or line of something.

35. Workweek starter, for some: MONDAY.   The day between Sunday and Tuesday. 

37. Minnesota mining range: MESABI.    A mining district in northeastern Minnesota following an elongate trend containing large deposits of iron ore. It is the largest of four major iron ranges in the region collectively known as the Iron Range of Minnesota.

39. First responder's group, for short: EMS.   Emergency Medical Services.

40. Write-ups that still need some work: DRAFTS.   Preliminary versions of pieces of writing.
 
44. "You can say that again!": AMEN.   An Abrahamic declaration of affirmation which is first found in the Hebrew Bible, and subsequently found in the New Testament. It is used in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim practices as a concluding word, or as a response to a prayer.

45. Safe to put away?: EDIBLE.   Suitable to be eaten.

46. Elaborate cake layers: TIERS.   A tiered cake is multiple, differently sized cakes, stacked atop one another to create height and drama that lends itself to becoming a focal point of the party.

51. Steer clear of: AVOID.   Keep away from or stop oneself from doing something.

52. Chance to roll the dice, say: TURN.   An opportunity or responsibility to do or use something before or after other people

53. __ Moines, Iowa: DES.  The capitol city of Iowa.

56. Ancient France: GAUL.   Gaul was a region of Western Europe first described by the Romans. It was inhabited by Celtic and Aquitani tribes, encompassing present-day France, Belgium, Luxembourg, most of Switzerland, parts of Northern Italy, and Germany west of the Rhine. 

60. Slight advantage: EDGE.    

61. Jacob's twin in the Book of Genesis: ESAU.   Esau is the elder son of Isaac in the Hebrew Bible.  He was the progenitor of the Edomites and the elder brother of Jacob, the patriarch of the Israelites. Jacob and Esau were the sons of Isaac and Rebecca, and the grandsons of Abraham and Sarah. Of the twins, Esau was the first to be born with Jacob following, holding his heel. Isaac was sixty years old when the boys were born.

62. Give body to, as hair: TEASE.   Teasing, also known as backcombing or ratting, is a combing technique used to create volume at the root of your hair. The technique involves using a fine tooth comb to gently comb the hair downward toward your scalp, causing the hair to slightly tangle and create a voluminous final look.

63. Closing document: DEED.   A legal document by which one person transfers land or buildings to another. 

64. Gen-__: post-boomers: X-ERS.   Generation X is the Western demographic cohort following the baby boomers and preceding the millennials. Researchers and popular media use the mid-to-late 1960s as starting birth years and the late 1970s to early 1980s as ending birth years, with the generation being generally defined as people born from 1965 to 1980. 

65. 63-Across holder: OWNER.   A person who has legal possession of something.

Down:

1. Lacking color: PALE.  Light in color or having little color.

2. Amorous archer: EROS.  The ancient Greek god of love, identified by the Romans with Cupid.

3. Recipe measures: TEASPOONS.   The teaspoon a unit of measure especially in cookery equal to ¹/₆ fluid ounce or ¹/₃ tablespoon (5 milliliters)

4. "The Dutch House" novelist Patchett: ANN.  Ann Patchett [b. 1963] is an American author. She received the 2002 PEN/Faulkner Award and the Orange Prize for Fiction in the same year, for her novel Bel Canto. Patchett's other novels include The Patron Saint of Liars, Taft, The Magician's Assistant, Run, State of Wonder, Commonwealth, and The Dutch House.

5. Rodeo ropes: LASSOS.   A lasso, also called lariat, riata, or reata (all from Castilian, la reata 're-tied rope'), is a loop of rope designed as a restraint to be thrown around a target and tightened when pulled. It is a well-known tool of the Spanish and Mexican cowboy, then adopted by the cowboys of the United States. 

6. Blue-eyed cat: SIAMESE.   One of the first distinctly recognized breeds of Asian cat. Derived from the Wichianmat landrace, one of several varieties of cat native to Thailand, the original Siamese became one of the most popular breeds in Europe and North America in the 19th century.

7. Yellow-orange fruit: APRICOT.   A fruit, or the tree that bears the fruit, of several species in the genus Prunus. Usually, an apricot is from the species P. armeniaca, but the fruits of the other species in Prunus sect. Armeniaca are also called apricots. 

8. Stir-fry pan: WOK.   A large, bowl-shaped Chinese pan used for frying food quickly in hot oil:

9. '60s "New Left" gp.: SDS.   Students for a Democratic Society

10. Long journey: VOYAGE.    As defined.

11. Stopped snoozing: AWOKE.   Roused from sleeping.

12. Detroit ballplayer: TIGER.  The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, established in 1901, they are also the oldest continuous one name, one city franchise in the AL

13. Mail-order pioneer: SEARS.   Sears, Roebuck and Co., commonly known as Sears, is an American chain of department stores founded in 1892 by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck and reincorporated in 1906 by Richard Sears and Julius Rosenwald, with what began as a mail ordering catalog company migrating to opening retail locations in 1925, the first in Chicago.

18. Barnyard layer: HEN.   An egg-laying chicken.

22. Corned beef solution: BRINE.   Water with a high concentration of table salt.

24. Gripped: HELD.   

25. Timecard abbr.: HRS.   Hours

26. Molecule makeup: ATOMS.   An atom is the smallest component of an element having the chemical properties of the element, consisting of a nucleus containing combinations of neutrons and protons and one or more electrons bound to the nucleus by electrical attraction; the number of protons determines the identity of the element.

27. Tippy top: ACME.   Apex, peak, summit

28. Weaver's machine: LOOM.    A machine for interlacing at right angles two or more sets of threads or yarns to form a cloth.

31. Line of a song: LYRIC.   The words

32. "Rebel Without a Cause" star: JAMES DEAN.   James Byron Dean [1931 – 1955] was an American actor. He is remembered as a cultural icon of teenage disillusionment and social estrangement, as expressed in the title of his most celebrated film, Rebel Without a Cause (1955), in which he starred as troubled teenager Jim Stark. The other two roles that defined his stardom were loner Cal Trask in East of Eden (1955) and surly ranch hand Jett Rink in Giant (1956).

After his death in a car crash on September 30, 1955, Dean became the first actor to receive a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his role in East of Eden. 

33. App-based car service: UBER.  A platform where those who drive and deliver can connect with riders, eaters, and restaurants. In cities where Uber is available, you can use the Uber app to request a ride. When a nearby driver accepts your request, the app displays an estimated time of arrival for the driver heading to your pickup location.

34. Altoids containers: TINS.  Rectangular hinged metal boxes.

36. Chimed in with: ADDED.  Contributed to the discussion.

38. Move effortlessly (through): SAIL.   Glide.

41. Misty Copeland's dance troupe: Abbr.: ABT.   American Ballet Theater, a classical ballet company based in New York City. Founded in 1939 by Lucia Chase and Richard Pleasant, it is recognized as one of the world's leading classical ballet companies. Through 2019, it had an annual eight-week season at the Metropolitan Opera House (Lincoln Center) in the spring and a shorter season at the David H. Koch Theater in the fall; the company tours around the world the rest of the year. 

42. Open freight train unit: FLATCAR.   A flatcar is a piece of rolling stock that consists of an open, flat deck mounted on a pair of trucks or bogies, one at each end containing four or six wheels. Occasionally, flat cars designed to carry extra heavy or extra large loads are mounted on a pair of bogies under each end.

43. Flimsy: TENUOUS.   Very weak or slight.

45. Submitted tax returns online: E-FILED.

46. Take care of: TEND TO.   Pay attention, apply oneself. 

47. Flipped (through): PAGED.   Turned the pages of (a book, magazine, etc.) especially in a quick, steady manner. 

48. Steer clear of: EVADE.  Escape or avoid, especially by cleverness or trickery.

49. Color for cheeks: ROUGE.   A red powder or cream used as a cosmetic for coloring the cheeks or lips.

50. Watchdog's warning: GRR.  Growling sound.

54. Simplicity: EASE.   The quality or condition of being easy to understand or do.

55. Hip or tip ender: -STER.  A suffix denoting a person engaged in or associated with a particular activity or thing.

57. Dinosaur voiced by Wallace Shawn in the "Toy Story" films: REX.

58. Opposite of WNW: ESE.  West-north-west and East-south-east.  The latter is the direction or compass point midway between east and southeast.

59. Chop down: HEW.   Chop or cut something, especially wood or coal, with an axe, pick, or other tool.

That wraps up our sports outing.  Hope you enjoyed the game, and that your team wins - unless they are playing mine, of course.

Below the puzzle are some bonus tracks from our Winter Wonders Concert on Monday.

Cool regards!

JzB

Jingle Bells, ala Count Basie

Sleigh Ride, a la Glenn Miller

Christmas Time Is Here

The Jody Grind

That's me with the stop time trombone solo at 3:15

Wednesday, December 7, 2022 Rich Norris

 Theme - I can't do any better than the unifier, and it will make things easier to present it first.

14 D. Food named for how it's baked, and a hint to each set of circles: UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE.    A cake that is baked "upside-down" in a single pan, with its toppings at the bottom of the pan. When removed from the oven, the finished upside-down preparation is flipped over and de-panned onto a serving plate, thus "righting" it, and serving it right-side up.

In this theme, the relevant answers, with circled letters, are fragments of down fill, read from the bottom up, indicating types of cakes spelt in reverse.  Hope you got the circles.  Otherwise this would be extremely opaque.  It is an uncommon gimmick, but it is not unheard of, and requires the theme entries to be in the down orientation.  Let's have some cake.

4. Itinerary for touring speakers: LECTURE CIRCUIT.   A euphemistic reference to a planned schedule of regular lectures and keynote speeches given by celebrities, often ex-politicians, for which they receive an appearance fee.   

A rice cake may be any kind of food item made from rice that has been shaped, condensed, or otherwise combined into a single object. A wide variety of rice cakes exist in many different cultures in which rice is eaten and are particularly prevalent in Asia.

8 D. Brunch dish with ham and peppers: WESTERN OMELET.  Beaten eggs cooked without stirring until set and served folded in half, containing other flavor elements as described.   Now you're just egging me on.   

Lemon cake is a dense, flavorful and very popular cake. Lemon is used to provide its unique flavor to a variety of cakes, including bundt, angel food or white cakes. However, lemon cake commonly refers to loaf cake with a tighter grain and more elastic crumb, much like a pound cake.

16. Flatbed scanner relative: BAR-CODE READER.   An optical scanner that can read printed barcodes and decode the data contained in the barcode to a computer.

A crab cake is a variety of fishcake that is popular in the United States. It is composed of crab meat and various other ingredients, such as bread crumbs, mayonnaise, mustard, eggs, and seasonings. The cake is then sautéed, baked, grilled, deep fried, or broiled. 

Our constructor, Rick Norris, has provided a variety of unrelated cake types, along with an omelet, to fulfill all our culinary desires.  We recognize Rich as the recently retired editor of the L.A.Times Crossword, returning now as a constructor.  Here is a link to C. C.'s interview with him, back in 2009.

Across:

1. GI on the lam: AWOL.  A military person Absent Without Official Leave.

5. Annual festival in Austin, TX: SXSW.  South by Southwest, an annual conglomeration of parallel film, interactive media, and music festivals and conferences organized jointly that take place in mid-March in Austin, Texas, 

9. Tot's crumb catcher: BIB.  

12. Rural strolling spot: LANE.  A narrow road, especially in a rural area.

13. Short dog, for short: PEKE.   The Pekingese is a breed of toy dog, originating in China. The breed was favored by royalty of the Chinese Imperial court as a companion dog, and its name refers to the city of Peking where the Forbidden City is located. The breed has several characteristics and health issues related to its unique appearance.

14. Forearm bone: ULNA.    The bone spans from the elbow to the wrist on the medial side of the forearm when in anatomical position. In comparison to the radius, the ulna is described to be larger and longer.

15. French preposition: AVEC.   It means "with."

16. Rationale: BASIS.  A set of reasons or a logical basis for a course of action or a particular belief.

17. Gloomy aura: PALL.  Literally, a dark cloud or covering of smoke, dust, or similar matter.

18. Nissan sedans since 1982: SENTRAS.  A series of automobiles manufactured by the Japanese automaker Nissan since 1982. Since 1999, the Sentra has been categorized as a compact car, while previously it occupied the subcompact class. Until 2006, Sentra was a rebadged export version of the Japanese Nissan Sunny, but since the 2013 model year, Sentra is a rebadged export version of the Sylphy. The Sentra nameplate is not used in Japan. 

20. Put away, as loot: STASHED.  Stored safely and secretly in a specified place.

22. "Blade Runner" actor Rutger __: HAUER.   Rutger Oelsen Hauer [1944 - 2019] was a Dutch actor.  In 1999, he was named by the Dutch public as the Best Dutch Actor of the Century. 

23. Lives: EXISTS.  Survives, perhaps.

24. Take away: DETRACT.   Diminish the worth or value of something. 

26. Brought up: BRED.    Reared in a specified environment or way.

27. "Night" author Wiesel: ELIE.   Elie Wiesel [1928 - 1916] was a Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor. He authored 57 books, written mostly in French and English, including Night, a work based on his experiences as a Jewish prisoner in the Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps.

28. Finance guru Suze: ORMAN.   Susan Lynn "Suze" Orman [b. 1951] is an American financial advisor, author, and podcast host. In 1987, she founded the Suze Orman Financial Group. Her work as a financial advisor gained notability with The Suze Orman Show, which ran on CNBC from 2002 to 2015.

30. 1815 classic whose title character is played by Anya Taylor-Joy in a 2020 film: EMMA.  A novel about youthful hubris and romantic misunderstandings, written by Jane Austen. It is set in the fictional country village of Highbury and the surrounding estates of Hartfield, Randalls and Donwell Abbey, and involves the relationships among people from a small number of families.

a decadent update

34. Common interest group: BLOC.   A combination of countries, parties, or groups sharing a common purpose.

35. "Same": DITTO.   Used to say that whatever you have said about one person or thing is also true of another person or thing.

36. Campus bigwig: DEAN.   The head of a college or university faculty or department.

37. Novelist Morrison: TONI.   Chloe Anthony Wofford Morrison [1931 - 2019], known as Toni Morrison, was an American novelist. Her first novel, The Bluest Eye, was published in 1970. The critically acclaimed Song of Solomon brought her national attention and won the National Book Critics Circle Award

38. Derby town in Surrey, England: EPSOM.  The principal town of the Borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England, about 13.5 miles south of central London. The town is first recorded as Ebesham in the 10th century and its name probably derives from that of a Saxon landowner. 

39. Frigg's husband: ODIN.  A widely revered god in Germanic paganism. Norse mythology, the source of most surviving information about him, associates him with wisdom, healing, death, royalty, the gallows, knowledge, war, battle, victory, sorcery, poetry, frenzy, and the runic alphabet, and depicts him as the husband of the goddess Frigg.  His name is rendered in several, loosely phonetically related ways in various germanic languages,  all ultimately stemming from the Proto-Germanic theonym *Wōðanaz, meaning 'lord of frenzy', or 'leader of the possessed'.

40. Steakhouse order: RARE.  the lowest level of doneness when it comes to steaks and burgers. Diners who like extremely tender, flavorful cuts of meat will choose this option. Rare meat has an internal temperature of 125 degrees Fahrenheit. If you order your food rare, the central portion of the meat will be a bright red color.

42. Steakhouse order: RED WINE.  To compliment your RARE steak.

44. Database systems giant: ORACLE.   An American multinational computer technology corporation headquartered in Austin, Texas. In 2020, Oracle was the third-largest software company in the world by revenue and market capitalization.

47. Jousting weapon: LANCE.   A long weapon for thrusting, having a wooden shaft and a pointed steel head, formerly used by a horseman in charging.

48. Revenue source in many a free app: POP-UP AD.   A form of online advertising on the World Wide Web. A pop-up is a graphical user interface display area, usually a small window, that suddenly appears in the foreground of the visual interface.

50. Counterpoint melody: DESCANT.  This is the most common usage of this term whose meaning has shifted over the centuries.  Typically, this melody is in the highest pitched voice, and sounded as a harmony line above the main melody of the song.

52. Kid's plea for permission: CAN I?  Should properly be "May I?"  But, eh -- kids!

53. Fairway chunk: DIVOT.  A piece of turf cut out of the ground by a golf club in making a stroke.

55. "__ girl!": ATTA.   An informal expression of encouragement or admiration to a woman or girl.  Kinda like: Ya done good, kid!

56. "Law & Order: SVU" co-star: ICE-T.  Tracy Lauren Marrow [b.1958], better known by his stage name Ice-T, is an American rapper, songwriter, actor, and producer. He began his career as an underground rapper in the 1980s. 

57. Storm rescue op: EVAC. Short for evacuation.

58. 2007 U.S. Women's Open winner Cristie: KERR.  Cristie Kerr (b.1977) is an American professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour. She has 20 wins on the LPGA Tour, including two major championships, and over $19 million in career earnings. Kerr was the number one-ranked golfer in the Women's World Golf Rankings for three time periods in 2010. She is naturally left handed but plays golf right handed.

59. Lil Wayne's "__ Carter V": THA.   The twelfth studio album by American rapper Lil Wayne. It was released on September 28, 2018, by Young Money Entertainment and Republic Records.

60. File partner: RANK.  Rank and file is military term relating to the horizontal "ranks" (rows) and vertical "files" (columns) of individual foot-soldiers, exclusive of the officers.

61. "Grand" ice cream brand: EDY'S.   Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, Inc., is an American ice cream company, founded in 1928 in Oakland, California, where its present-day headquarters office remains. The company's two signature brands, Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream and Edy's Grand Ice Cream, are named after its founders, William Dreyer and Joseph Edy

Down:

1. "Sad to say ... ": ALAS.   An expression of grief, pity, or concern.

2. Greet from across the street, say: WAVE HELLO. 

Hi, there.

3. Phrase of unity in the Pledge of Allegiance: ONE NATION.  Indivisible?  You decide.

5. Health club amenities: SPAS.   Commercial establishments offering health and beauty treatment through such means as steam baths, exercise equipment, and massage.

6. Crosses (out): XES.  Deletes.

7. Winter getaway need, maybe: SKIS.  Things are going down hill.

9. Malaise, with "the": BLAHS.  I had Blues, which messed up the perps.

10. Cove, e.g.: INLET.   A small, sheltered bay.

11. Gets thinner, in a way: BALDS.  A condition of hair loss.  Relatable.

19. Blues-rocker Chris: REA.  Christopher Anton Rea is an English rock and blues singer and guitarist from Middlesbrough. A "gravel-voiced guitar stalwart" known for his slide guitar playing, Rea has recorded twenty five solo albums, two of which topped the UK Albums Chart.

21. Lumberjack competition projectile: AXE.  

24. Mortgage balance, e.g.: DEBT.   Amount of money owed.

25. Nonsense: TRIPE.   Figuratively, something poor, worthless, or offensive. 

26. Ulan __: former Anglicization of Mongolia's capital: BATOR.   Ulaanbaatar is the capital of Mongolia. It’s in the Tuul River valley, bordering the Bogd Khan Uul National Park. Originally a nomadic Buddhist center, it became a permanent site in the 18th century. Soviet control in the 20th century led to a religious purge. Soviet-era buildings, museums within surviving monasteries, and a vibrant conjunction of traditional and 21st-century lifestyles typify the modern city.

29. Matterhorn and Weisshorn: Abbr.: MTS.   Mountains.  See 33 A. for location.

31. Treated, in a way: MEDICATED.  Treated for a sickness or injury.

32. Primary way in: MAIN ENTRY.   The entrance from outdoors into a primary building through which most customers or other visitors pass or are expected to pass.

33. Dudek of "Mad Men": ANNE.   Anne Louise Dudek [b. 1975] is an American actress. She is known for portraying Tiffany Wilson in the 2004 film White Chicks, Danielle Brookson in the USA Network television series Covert Affairs, Dr. Amber Volakis on the Fox series House, Lura Grant on the HBO series Big Love, and Francine Hanson on the AMC series Mad Men.

At the Bruce Willis roast in 2018

41. Matterhorn or Weisshorn: ALP.  Named peaks in the Alp mountain range.  The Weisshorn in in Switzerland. the Matterhorn straddles the border between Switzerland and Italy.

43. Courtroom VIPs: DAs.  District Attorneys.  They are public officials who acts as prosecutors for the state or the federal government in court in a particular district.

44. Footnote abbr.: OP CIT.   In the work already cited.

45. Jazz drummer Max: ROACH.   Maxwell Lemuel Roach [1924 – 2007] was an American jazz drummer and composer. A pioneer of bebop, he worked in many other styles of music, and is generally considered one of the most important drummers in history.  He was inducted into the DownBeat Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1992.   

46. Sleep disturbance: APNEA.   Temporary cessation of breathing, especially during sleep.

49. Operatic icon: DIVA.   Diva is the Latin word for a goddess. It has often been used to refer to a celebrated woman of outstanding talent in the world of opera, theatre, cinema, fashion and popular music. 

50. Tie up at the pier: DOCK.  Literal.  Tie up at a dock, especially in order to load or unload passengers or cargo.  I'd say moor, but that's all I have.

51. Patches, as a driveway: TARS.  Covers a surface with tar, a viscous mixture of organic materials.

54. Part of a moving story: VAN.  If you can get emotional about a truck-load of possessions being transported to a new location.

That wraps up another Wednesday.  

Cool regards!

JzB