Wednesday, November 23, 2022 Lance Enfinger and Jeff Chen

Theme: A watch with nothing to watch.  Each theme answer is an in-the-language phrase that is repurposed to remove a feature from a timepiece. 

20. "Only a fool would want a little calendar on their timepiece!": DROP DEAD DATE.  A provision added to a legal or trade act, such as a contract or a court order that sets a last-delay date past which certain consequences will automatically follow, such as cancelling the contract, taking property or entering a judgment.  Here, it removes a date indication from the clock face.

26. With 45-Across, "I don't need two silly sticks that rotate on my timepiece!": HANDS OFF THE.     45. See 26-Across: MERCHANDISE.  A phrase used to indicate that someone does not want to be touched or - even worse - groped.  Haven't heard it in a few decades.  Here, it removes the hands from the clock.

37. "Digits on a timepiece? That's ridiculous!": FUDGE THE NUMBERS.  A dishonest process of altering data to fit a pre-conceived concept or theory, or for some nefarious purpose.  Here, it removes the numbers from the clock face - I think.  Not familiar with "FUDGE" used in this way. 

55. "Won't happen as long as I'm around," and a summary of 20-, 26-/45-, and 37-Across?: NOT ON MY WATCH.  The clue explains it perfectly.  Here, all the features indicated in the previous theme answers have been removed from the timepiece, now revealed as a wristwatch.  This leaves it featureless and useless.

What time is it?

I don't care!

Hi, Gang, JazzBumpa on hand [unlike the watch in the theme] and rather pressed for time before the Thanksgiving holiday. We're having a crowd at our house tomorrow, so I'm looking forward to eats, drinks, football and merriment.  Let's see what interesting tid-bits we can find in this timeless puzzle.  Looks like this is Lance's first entry in the L.A. Times. So -- congrats!

Across:

1. Brother in "Am I my brother's keeper?": ABEL.  From the story of brotherly non-love in the book of Genesis.

5. Seize: TAKE.  Grab suddenly and forcefully. 

9. Decides not to go to: SKIPS.  Opts out of an event.

14. __ reversal: ROLE.  I swapped a crescent roll for an orange scone.  No - wait.  This is a situation in which someone adopts a role the reverse of that which they normally assume in relation to someone else, who typically assumes their role in exchange. 

15. Train travel: RAIL.  By Rail, actually. 

16. Book review?: AUDIT.  Clever clue.  An official inspection of an individual's or organization's accounts, typically by an independent body. Just in case somebody fudged the numbers.

17. Egg warmers: MAMA BIRDS.  Hens.

19. "Fame" star Cara: IRENE.   Irene Cara Escalera (b. 1959) is an American singer and actress. Cara sang and co-wrote the song "Flashdance... What a Feeling" for which she won an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1984. Cara is also known for playing the role of Coco Hernandez in the 1980 film FAME, and for recording the film's title song. Prior to her success with Fame, Cara portrayed the title character Sparkle Williams in the original 1976 musical drama film Sparkle.

 

 22. Chase off: SHOO.   

24. Golden yrs. fund: IRA.  Individual Retirement Account.

25. Twitter titter: LOL.  Laughing Out Loud

31. Garage occupant: CAR.

Oops -- wrong CAR

32. Rangers goalie Shesterkin: IGOR.  Igor Olegovich Shestyorkin [b. 1985] is a Russian professional ice hockey goaltender for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League. He was selected by the Rangers in the fourth round, 118th overall, of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

33. Veal cordon __: BLEU.   Thin slices of veal stuffed with cheese and ham and then sauteed. 

42. In years past: ONCE.  - upon a time.

43. Stud farm stud: SIRE.   The male parent of an animal, especially a stallion or bull kept for breeding.

44. "You __ here": ARE.   Signage to indicate your location.

50. Singer DiFranco: ANI.   Angela Maria "Ani" DiFranco [b. 1970] is an American-Canadian singer-songwriter. She has released more than 20 albums. DiFranco's music has been classified as folk rock and alternative rock, although it has additional influences from punk, funk, hip hop and jazz.

 

 53. Nice street: RUE.   Ha!  A street in that French city, irrespective of its nicety.

54. In very sharp resolution: IN HD.  Hi Definition.

60. Move effortlessly: GLIDE.   Move with a smooth continuous motion, typically with little noise.

61. Keeps safe: LOCKS AWAY.   Secures

65. Tangerine coats: RINDS.  The tough outer skin of certain fruit, especially citrus fruit.

66. Crumbled froyo topping: OREO.   FroYo is premium self-serve frozen yogurt, available in low fat, dairy-free, or no sugar added options.  OREO  is a brand of sandwich cookie consisting of two chocolate wafers with a sweet creme filling. It was introduced by Nabisco on March 6, 1912,

67. Tardy: LATE.  What do you expect, with this watch?!?

68. Baker's supply: YEAST.   Yeasts are eukaryotic, single-celled microorganisms classified as members of the fungus kingdom. The first yeast originated hundreds of millions of years ago, and at least 1,500 species are currently recognized. They are estimated to constitute 1% of all described fungal species.   Bakers get a rise out of them.

69. Loch __ monster: NESS.   The Loch Ness Monster, affectionately known as Nessie, is a creature in Scottish folklore that is said to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. It is often described as large, long-necked, and with one or more humps protruding from the water. 

70. Former partners: EXES.  I have one.  Which means I don't have . . . OK, this is confusing.

Down:

1. Upper limb: ARM.  A human upper limb, especially the part between the shoulder and the wrist

2. Fluffy scarf: BOA.

3. Tree on the Great Seal of North Dakota: ELM.   Elms are deciduous and semi-deciduous trees comprising the flowering plant genus Ulmus in the plant family Ulmaceae. 

4. String along: LEAD ON.   Mislead or deceive someone, especially into believing that one is in love with or attracted to them.

5. The Schuyler sisters in "Hamilton," e.g.: TRIO.  We saw Hamilton on Sunday.  It was amazing.

6. 50+ group: AARP.   American Association of Retired People.  Like me.

7. "The Secret Life of Bees" novelist Sue Monk __: KIDD.  Sue Monk Kidd [b. 1948] is an American writer from Sylvester, Georgia best known for her novels The Secret Life of Bees and The Invention of Wings

8. Conditional programming statement: ELSE-IF.  Use the else if statement to specify a new condition if the first condition is false.  For example: if time is less than 10:00, create a "Good morning" greeting, if not, but time is less than 20:00, create a "Good day" greeting, otherwise a "Good evening".  The programed device evidently is a better time keeper than our dysfunctional watch.

9. Anticipated a tongue depressor, perhaps: SAID AH.  When opened wide with tongue stuck out, what else can you say? 

10. Southeastern Turkey native: KURD.   Kurds or Kurdish people are an Iranian ethnic group native to the mountainous region of Kurdistan in Western Asia, which spans southeastern Turkey, northwestern Iran, northern Iraq, and northern Syria.  As I understand it, when Winston Churchill invented Iraq with a pen stroke in 1921, he deliberately set the boundaries so that the Kurds would not have a home land.

11. Worth emulating: IDEAL.   This scone is a good roll model.

12. __ bean: PINTO.  A variety of common bean. In Spanish they are called frijoles pintos, literally "painted bean". It is the most popular bean by crop production in Northern Mexico and the Southwestern United States, and is most often eaten whole, or mashed and then refried.

13. Construction alloy: STEEL.   Steel is an alloy made up of iron with typically a few tenths of a percent of carbon to improve its strength and fracture resistance compared to other forms of iron. Many other elements may be present or added. Stainless steels that are corrosion- and oxidation-resistant typically need an additional 11% chromium.

18. "The Prime of Miss Jean __": BRODIE.   A novel by Muriel Spark, the best known of her works. It was first published in The New Yorker magazine and was published as a book by Macmillan in 1961.  The movie version, starring Maggie Smith, was released in 1969.

21. Fine print, say: ART.  Continuing the theme idea of repurposing common phrases, this indicates an item of fine art rather then small print I need a magnifying glass to read.

22. Snowboarder White: SHAUN.  Shaun Roger White [b. 1986] is an American former professional snowboarder and skateboarder. He is a five-time Olympian and a three-time Olympic gold medalist in half-pipe snowboarding. He holds the world record for the most X Games gold medals and most Olympic gold medals by a snowboarder.

23. Head of cauliflower?: HARD C.  The initial letter of the word is here considered to be the "head."  Kind of a meh! clue.

27. Mil. rank: SGT.  Sergeant - a noncommissioned officer in the armed forces, in particular (in the US Army or Marine Corps) an NCO ranking above corporal and below staff sergeant, or (in the US Air Force) an NCO ranking above airman and below staff sergeant.

28. "Look at THAT!": OOH.  Gee-whiz, golly, gosh!

29. Hot out of the oven: FRESH.   Don't burn your fingers.

30. Recede: EBB.   Like ocean tide or my hair line.

31. Corp. money manager: CFO.   Chief Financial Officer.  It's not good news when one is in the news.

34. Boxer's restraint: LEASH.  The refers to a type of canine pet, rather than a pugilist. 

35. Goofed up: ERRED.  Made a mistake.

36. Put into play: USE.   Deploy (something) as a means of accomplishing a purpose or achieving a result; employ.

38. Jewel: GEM.   A precious or semiprecious stone, especially when cut and polished or engraved.  Figuratively, a person or thing of value.

39. Peeples of "The Fosters": NIA.  Virenia "Nia" Peeples [b. 1961] is an American R&B and dance music singer and actress. Peeples is known for playing Nicole Chapman on the hit TV series Fame; Pam Fields on the drama Pretty Little Liars; Karen Taylor Winters on The Young and the Restless and Sydney Cooke on Walker, Texas Ranger.  Not to mention whatever her role was in The Fosters.

40. Caterer's vessel: URN.   For your coffee.  Because you deserve it.

41. Combat doctors: MEDICS.   Military jargon.

46. Author Hemingway: ERNEST.   Ernest Miller Hemingway [1899 - 1961]was an American novelist, short-story writer, and journalist. His economical and understated style—which he termed the iceberg theory—had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his adventurous lifestyle and public image brought him admiration from later generations.

47. Alcohol in a Dark 'n' Stormy: RUM.   With ginger beer and lime.  Sounds interesting.

48. Sri Lanka, formerly: CEYLON.  Officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, and southeast of the Arabian Sea; it is separated from the Indian subcontinent by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait. 

49. Breathing exercise direction: INHALE.  Breath in.

50. Hopping mad: ANGRY.   Furious.

51. "For real!": NO LIE.  Not joking.

52. Turner memoir: I TINA.   -- My Life Story is a 1986 autobiography by Tina Turner, co-written by MTV news correspondent and music critic Kurt Loder. The book was reissued by Dey Street Books in 2010

56. Sportsbook offering: ODDS.  Betting features.  That's all I know about it.

57. Became frayed, say: WORE.  The past tense of wear.  Here it means deteriorating.

58. Top poker cards: ACES.   Higher than kings.

59. Ring stats: TKOS.   Technical Knock-Outs.   A boxing term describing a situation where one boxer is judged the winner after knocking the other down three times.

62. Surfboard application: WAX.   Surfboard wax is essential as it gives you a tight grip and creates traction for your feet on your board. The wax also stops you from slipping off when you're paddling out to the waves.

63. Polished off: ATE.   Common crosswordese.

64. "Certainly": YES.  I agree.

Well, this wraps up another Wednesday, I think.  There is no calendar on my watch, so I'm not sure.  Nor do I know what time it is.  Tomorrow is probably Thanksgiving, so have a great one, don't eat too much, and don't argue politics.

Cool regards!

JzB

Wednesday, November 9, 2022 Will Eisenberg and Shannon Rapp

div>Theme: Get It In Gear!  The first word of each theme fill entry is a choice from the gear selector in an automobile.  In the industry, we call it the PRNDL.  Kudos to the construction crew for getting them in this order.

17 A. Actor who plays Cho Sang-woo on "Squid Game": PARK HAE-SOO.  [Park Pyeong-ho b. 1978] is a South Korean actor who has appeared in many movies and TV shows in his homeland.  But - have any of you ever heard of him?   PARK is the gear selection when you don't want the vehicle to move.

24 A. Travel that largely avoids rush-hour traffic: REVERSE COMMUTE.  This is typically a round trip from a home in the city to a job in the suburbs, the opposite of the more common route.  REVERSE is used to go backwards. Look out behind!

35. Cult-favorite indie band formed by Jeff Mangum: NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL.  An American band formed in Ruston, Louisiana, by musician Jeff Mangum. They were active from 1989 to 1998, and again from 2013 to 2015. The band's music featured a deliberately low-quality sound, influenced by indie rock and psychedelic folk. Mangum wrote surreal and opaque lyrics that covered a wide range of topics, including love, spirituality, nostalgia, sex, and loneliness.   I am usually quite circumspect in my critiques on this blog.  But having two theme entries that I have to characterize as gratuitous obscurity is, in my humble opinion, beyond the pale.   NEUTRAL is used when the vehicle is idling.

51. Infuriate: DRIVE UP THE WALL.  Make someone irritated, angry or crazy.  I haven't heard this expression in recent decades.  DRIVE is the gear selection for making forward progress.

59. "Plug me in soon!" warning: LOW BATTERY.  Notification from your electronic device.  LOW gear is used for slow progress - to avoid sliding or digging the tires into mud or sand

Hi Gang - JazzBupma here in the driver's seat today.  Let's see where today's journey takes us.  Looks like this is Will's first entry in the L.A. Times, so congrats!

Across:

1. "You crack me up": HA-HA.  Funny.

5. Print sources?: PAWS.  From your pet doggo.

9. Cookie quantity: BATCH.  Often some number of dozens.

14. Bake-off appliance: OVEN.  Sometimes full of cookies.

15. Unseen Beckett character: GODOT.  From the play "Waiting For Godot," who never arrives.

16. Bugler's blast: BLARE.  Sadly, I couldn't find an actual BLARE, so here is some pretty good bugle playing.

19. Ingredient in piccata dishes: CAPER.   Capparis spinosa, the caper bush, also called Flinders rose, is a perennial plant that bears rounded, fleshy leaves and large white to pinkish-white flowers.

The plant is best known for the edible flower buds (capers), used as a seasoning or garnish, and the fruit (caper berries), both of which are usually consumed salted or, alternatively, pickled.

20. "Exile in Guyville" singer Phair: LIZ.   Elizabeth Clark Phair (b. 1967) is an American singer-songwriter. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Phair was raised primarily in the Chicago area.  Phair's 1993 debut studio album, Exile in Guyville, was released to acclaim; it has been ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

21. Clamor: DIN.   A loud, unpleasant, and prolonged noise.

23. Way to go: ROAD.   A place to get your vehicle in gear.

28. Alcorn __: HBCU in Mississippi: STATE.   Alcorn State University is a public historically black land-grant university adjacent to Lorman, Mississippi. It was founded in 1871 and was the first black land grant college established in the United States. 

30. Personal: OWN.  I guess you have to consider a phrase like, "This is my OWN thing."

31. Court clown: JESTER.  AKA: fool.

32. Arcade giant: SEGA.   A Japanese multinational video game and entertainment company headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo.

33. Culture essayist Tolentino: JIA.   Jia Angeli Carla Tolentino (b. 1988) is an American writer and editor.  A staff writer for The New Yorker, she previously worked as deputy editor of Jezebel and a contributing editor at The Hairpin. Her writing has also appeared in The New York Times Magazine and Pitchfork. In 2019, her collected essays were published as Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion.

34. Letters of urgency: SOS.  Derives from Morse code dot dot dot dash dash dash dot dot dot.  More here.

42. Window boxes?: ACS.  Air Conditioners.   Clever clue.

43. __ kwon do: TAE.   a Korean form of martial arts characterized by punching and kicking techniques, with emphasis on head-height kicks, spinning jump kicks, and fast kicking techniques. The literal translation for tae kwon do is "kicking", "punching", and "the art or way of".

44. Sad Keanu or Grumpy Cat: MEME.   A humorous image, video, piece of text, etc., that is copied (often with slight variations) and spread rapidly by internet users.

45. Toiling away: AT WORK.  

49. Thanksgiving mo. in Canada: OCTober.

50. Needle: TEASE.  Drive up the wall?

54. Copenhagen resident: DANE.  Citizen of Denmark.

55. Kung __ chicken: PAO.    A spicy, stir-fried Chinese dish made with cubes of chicken, peanuts, vegetables, and chili peppers. The classic dish in Sichuan cuisine originated in the Sichuan province of south-western China and includes Sichuan peppercorns. 

56. Orange or peach: HUE.  Colors.

57. Antique mall?: AGORA.   In ancient Greece, a public open space used for assemblies and markets.  Clever clue.

65. Countryman and Clubman: MINIS.  Mini (stylised as MINI) is a British automotive marque founded in 1969, owned by German automotive company BMW since 2000, and used by them for a range of small cars assembled in the United Kingdom, Austria and the Netherlands. The word Mini has been used in car model names since 1959, and in 1969 it became a marque in its own right when the name "Mini" replaced the separate "Austin Mini" and "Morris Mini" car model names

66. "Silas Marner" novelist: ELIOT.  Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe is the third novel by George Eliot. It was published in 1861. An outwardly simple tale of a linen weaver, the novel is notable for its strong realism and its sophisticated treatment of a variety of issues ranging from religion to industrialisation to community.  Mary Ann Evans (1819 – 1880 known by her pen name George Eliot, was an English novelist, poet, journalist, translator, and one of the leading writers of the Victorian era. 

67. Loyal: TRUE.   Giving or showing firm and constant support or allegiance to a person or institution.

68. Does some onstage improv: SCATS.  To improvise nonsense syllables usually to an instrumental accompaniment : sing scat.

69. Reject: DENY.

70. 38-Down ingredients: EGGS.  Primary component of an omelet. 

Down:

1. Bounce: HOP.

2. "When They See Us" creator DuVernay: AVA.  Ava Marie DuVernay [b. 1972] is an American filmmaker, television producer and former film publicist. She is a recipient of a Primetime Emmy Award, a NAACP Image Award, a BAFTA Film Award and a BAFTA TV Award, as well as a nominee of an Academy Award and Golden Globe. 

3. Feminine pronoun: HER.  In objective case.

4. Art that may be covered by a boot: ANKLE TAT.  Skin art.

Many more here

5. "The Purloined Letter" writer Edgar Allan __: POE.  Edgar Allan Poe’s stature as a major figure in world literature is primarily based on his ingenious and profound short stories, poems, and critical theories, which established a highly influential rationale for the short form in both poetry and fiction.   More here.

6. Promos: ADS.  Advertisements.

7. Like heavy clogs: WOODEN.  Made of wood.

8. Showing little emotion: STOIC.  not affected by or showing passion or feeling.  Having a wooden heart.

9. "EastEnders" network: BBC.  British Broadcasting Corporation, the national broadcaster of the United Kingdom, based at Broadcasting House in London, England.

10. Startles: ALARMS. 

11. Submit, in an MMA match: TAP OUT.    Submit to an opponent by tapping one's hand repeatedly either on the arena or the opponent's body.

12. Generate: CREATE.  Produce

13. Sheepdog, e.g.: HERDER.   A type of pastoral dog that either has been trained in herding or belongs to breeds developed for herding. Their ability to be trained to act on the sound of a whistle or word of command is renowned throughout the world.

15. Steady look: GAZE.   Look steadily and intently, especially in admiration, surprise, or thought.

18. Bee complex: HIVE.    A structure where bees live, either built by people or made by the bees themselves :

22. "Seriously!": NO JOKE.  For realz.

24. Barilla rival: RAGU.   Makers of Italian style sauces.

25. Churns: ROILS.   Disturbs. physically or literally.

26. Paddled, say: SWAM. 

27. Get along well: MESH.   Like gears.

28. W-2 fig.: SSN.   Social Security Number

29. Merch table buy: TEE.  I suppose this is a shirt.  Or possibly a golf accessory, depending on the type of merch.

33. Raise dramatically, as prices: JACK UP.  

34. Bluish gray: SLATE.  Slate is a dark shade of grey that has been mixed with a hint of azure for a cool tone, modern shade. 

36. Steak order: RARE.  Cooked so that the inside is still red

37. Nagging desire: ITCH.  A strong desire to do something

38. Brunch choice: OMELETTE.    A dish made by mixing eggs together and frying them, often with small pieces of other food such as cheese or vegetables; here spelt pretentiously.

39. Aqua kin: TEAL.  Blue-green colors.

40. Two-fifths of Miami?: EMS.  Letters in the word.  Meh!

41. Gymnast Suni: LEE.   Sunisa "Suni" Lee [b. 2003] is a Hmong American artistic gymnast. She is the 2020 Olympic all-around champion and uneven bars bronze medalist. She was a member of the teams that won gold at the 2019 World Championships and silver at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Gold Medal Flower

45. "Altogether ooky" family: ADDAMS.  

46. Woeful: TRAGIC.   Characterized by, expressive of, or causing sorrow or misery.

47. Actress Ryder: WINONA.   Winona Laura Horowitz [b. 1971] professionally known as Winona Ryder, is an American actress. Originally playing quirky roles, in the 1990s, she rose to prominence for her more varying roles in productions of diverse genres.   Numerous views.

48. Ready to move on: OVER IT.

49. Annette of "Virgin River": O'TOOLE.   Annette O'Toole [b. 1952} is an American actress. She is known for portraying Lisa Bridges in the television series Nash Bridges, Beverly Marsh in the 1990 television mini-series adaptation of Stephen King's epic horror novel It, Lana Lang in Superman III, Kathy in the romantic-comedy film Cross My Heart and Martha Kent (the mother of Clark Kent) on the television series Smallville.

50. Pulled tight: TAUT.   Stretched or pulled tight; not slack.

52. Lost color: PALED.  Looked more wan.

53. "Come again?": WHAT?   Please repeat.

58. Burro: ASS.  Beast of burden.

60. Come in first: WIN.  Be victorious.

61. Lad: BOY.   Young boy.

62. Rowing machine, familiarly: ERG.  Is it the Ergatta or the Concept Two RowErg?  Beats me.

63. Hallway runner: RUG.   A long, narrow rug meant to be used in a hallway, galley kitchen, or other area of the home where space is narrow, but long.

64. "You got it": YES.  Correct.

So we arrive at our Wednesday destination.  I was able to say something good about the puzzle and something bad about the puzzle.  Overall, the journey was OK.  Hope you made it to the end with no accidents.

Cool regards!

JzB

Wednesday, October 26, 2022 Baylee Devereaux

 Theme: Working a second job.  The wording of regular jobs is repurposed to identify alternative activities that might or might not exist in the real world.  Moonlighting, one might say. 

16 A. Receptionist at a high-rise hotel, one might say: STORY TELLER.  One who spins a yarn, or, in this case, who tells you where to go.  Or at least what floor to arrive at.

22 A. Instagram influencer, one might say: SOCIAL WORKER.  One who helps individuals, groups, and families prevent and cope with problems in their everyday lives.  In the not so every day world, one who is a trend setter on social media.

37. Bartender pouring a selection of craft beers for tasting, one might say: FLIGHT ATTENDANT.  Up in the air, a person on a commercial air pane who serves drinks and otherwise takes care of the passengers.  Back here on earth, one who serves an array of various pre-selected beers - aka a flight..

48. Pathological liar, one might say: MAKE UP ARTIST.  One who prepares a performer's face and other features prior to their appearance on stage or set.  Alternatively, someone who generates falsehoods.  Can you believe it?

59. Audiophile with an extensive collection of club mixes, one might say: HOUSE KEEPER.  A person employed to perform cleaning and other domestic tasks in a hotel or institution.  Or a  "House Music" enthusiast.  This is named after The Warehouse club in Chicago where it originated in the early 1980's.  It is a style of electronic dance music that was developed by dance club DJs in Chicago that were influenced by early to mid-1970s dance music as spun by DJs in New York, and spread to Detroit, New York, and eventually Europe. 

Hi Gang, Jazzbumpa here, working the blog for you today. The puzzle is thematically rich, and the theme is clever and straightforward.  A couple of the entries might be a bit of a stretch, but let's bend with it.  Now we'll delve into the puzzle and hope it doesn't take us into the second shift.  Baylee's name wasn't in the post labels list, so this might be her first LAT entry.  Congrats!

Across:

1. Homes in Honduras: CASAS.  Houses in Spanish

6. "Let's put a smile on your plate" breakfast chain: IHOP.  International House of Pancakes.

10. Chop (off): LOP.

13. Like a brand-new candle: UNLIT.  Better to light one, though.

14. __ drum: SNARE.

 

 15. Mimic: APE.  Imitate.

18. Pothole filler: TAR.   A dark, thick, flammable liquid distilled from wood or coal, consisting of a mixture of hydrocarbons, resins, alcohols, and other compounds. It is used in roadmaking and for coating and preserving timber.

19. __ card: SIM.    An integrated circuit intended to securely store the international mobile subscriber identity number and its related key, which are used to identify and authenticate subscribers on mobile telephony devices

20. Kunis of "Black Swan": MILA.   Milena Markovna "Mila" Kunis [b. 1983] is an American actress. She began playing Jackie Burkhart on the Fox television series That '70s Show (1998–2006) at the age of 14. Since 1999, Kunis has voiced Meg Griffin on the Fox animated series Family Guy.

At the 2022 Oscars

21. Sharp cry: YELP.   Especially of pain or alarm.

27. French article: LES.  Meaning "THE."

28. Orchestra leader: MAESTRO.    A distinguished musician, especially a conductor of classical music.  My friend Adam, who conducts a local Symphony Orchestra, named his dog MAESTRO.

31. Capital city on a fjord: OSLO.  In Norway

34. Give up, as a right: WAIVE.  As stated.

36. In the know: HIP.    Trendy or cool, up on the latest thing.   "I'm so hip, I can barely see over my pelvis." -- Zaphod Beeblebrox

37. Bartender pouring a selection of craft beers for tasting, one might say: FLIGHT ATTENDANT.

41. Black Mission fruit: FIG.   Despite being called a fruit, a fig is technically a syconium—a tiny group of inverted flowers growing inside a pod. Each pod contains hundreds of flowers, and each flower produces a small seed, which is the actual fruit of the fig plant. An achene contains each seed.   The Mission fig (also known as Black Mission or Franciscana) is a popular variety of the edible fig (Ficus carica). It was first introduced to the United States in 1768 when Franciscan missionaries planted it in San Diego.

42. Eggs on: URGES.   Encourage (someone) to do something that is usually foolish or dangerous 

43. Rolls the credits: ENDS.   Figuratively finishes something (off.)

44. "The Office" sales rep who solves crosswords during meetings: STANLEY.    Leslie David Baker [b. 1958] is an American actor. He is known for playing disgruntled paper salesman Stanley Hudson in The Office for nine seasons (2005–2013).

46. Actor Meadows: TIM.   Timothy Meadows is an American actor and comedian who was one of the longest-running cast members on Saturday Night Live, where he appeared for ten seasons and for which he received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series in 1993.

53. "Take a __ breath": DEEP.   Calm down.

55. Futbol cheers: OLÉS.  Used as a shout of approval, triumph, or encouragement.

56. Female sheep: EWE.   As defined

58. Part of BYOB: OWN.  Bring Your Own Bottle.

63. Top of a semicolon: DOT.  Can be seen here -- ;

64. Place of refuge: OASIS.    Figuratively. More literally,  a fertile spot in a desert, where water is found.

65. Unleash upon: LET AT.   To allow one to attack someone or something.

66. Approves: OKS.  

67. Bring (out): TROT.   To bring forward for display or use

68. Cereal tidbit: FLAKE.   A small, flat, thin piece of something, typically one that has broken away or been peeled off from a larger piece.

Down:

1. Talk a blue streak?: CUSS.  Another alternate meaning.  Instead of being verbose, using cruse language.

2. Those opposed: ANTIS.  The PROS are those in favor.

3. Replay tech: SLO-MO.  Abbrv for Slow Motion.

4. __ guitar: AIR.  An imaginary guitar one pretends to play.  Air trombone, on the other hand, is the real thing.

5. Completely stump: STYMIE.    Figurative.  Literally, to prevent or hinder the progress of.

6. Kin by marriage: IN-LAW.   If you get divorced, they become out-laws.

7. "2001" supercomputer: HAL.  Each letter off one from IBM.  A mere coincidence.

 

8. Some underground rock bands?: ORE.  We are deep [so to speak] into second meanings today.  This band is not musicians, but rather a stratum of a mineral that is economically viable; a bed or a distinct layer of vein of rock in other layers of rock.

9. According to: PER.  Literal.

10. After: LATER THAN.  As stated

11. Birthstone for some Libras: OPAL.

12. BOLO target: PERP.  Be On The LookOut for a one who has committed a crime.

14. Advice from a nervous stockbroker: SELL.  About 10 1/2 months late.  This year has been brutal.

17. Spanish aunts: TIAS.  En la familia.

21. "Be glad to": YES.  I will do that.

23. Heavy shoe: CLOG.   A shoe, sandal, or overshoe having a thick typically wooden sole.

24. Fails to mention: OMITS.   Leaves out.

25. Carry on: RAVE.  Not continue, but to behave or speak in a foolish, excited, or improper manner.  Generally used in the phrase, "rant and rave."

26. Sharp: KEEN.  As of a blade or someone's mind.

29. Cocktail garnish: RIND.  Of a lemon or lime.

30. Chooses: OPTS.  Picks one thing as opposed to another.

31. Send-__: farewells: OFFS.  A demonstration of goodwill and enthusiasm for the beginning of something new (as a trip.)

32. Buttonhole, e.g.: SLIT.  A long, narrow cut in something.

33. Bone-connecting tissues: LIGAMENTS.  Short bands of tough, flexible fibrous connective tissue which connect two bones or cartilages or hold together a joint.

34. Japanese cattle breed used for Kobe beef: WAGYU.  Now you know.

35. Had a bite: ATE.  

38. She-__: Marvel role for Tatiana Maslany: HULK.  Tatiana Gabriele Maslany [b1987] is a Canadian actress. She rose to prominence for playing multiple characters in the science fiction thriller television series Orphan Black, which won her a Primetime Emmy Award, two Critics' Choice Awards, and five Canadian Screen Awards.

39. Ancestry.com printout: TREE.  Family representation in a diagram.

40. Singer Lovato: DEMI.   Demetria Devonne Lovato [b. 1992] known as Demi Lovato, is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. After appearing on the children's television series Barney & Friends, Lovato rose to prominence for playing Mitchie Torres in the musical television film Camp Rock and its sequel Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam.

You probably haven't heard this recently.

45. Short snooze: NAP.  About mid-afternoon for me.

46. Taxing trip: TREK.   A long arduous journey, especially one made on foot or in a star ship.

47. In and of __: ITSELF.  Intrinsically, or considered alone

49. Hypothesize: POSIT.   Put forward as a basis of argument.

50. Stout and porter: ALES.   types of beer with a bitter flavor and higher alcoholic content.

51. Nasal partitions: SEPTA.   A partition separating two chambers, such as that between the nostrils or the chambers of the heart.

52. Tinker with: TWEAK.   Make a fine adjustment to a mechanism or system.

53. Long-extinct bird: DODO.   An extinct flightless bird with a stout body, stumpy wings, a large head, and a heavy hooked bill. It was found on Mauritius until the end of the 17th century.

54. "Star Wars" critter that looks like a teddy bear: EWOK.   The Ewok is a fictional species of small, furry, mammaloid, bipeds in the Star Wars universe. They inhabit the forest moon of Endor and live in arboreal huts and other simple dwellings, being seen as primitive in comparison with other sentient species.   Ewoks debuted in the 1983 film Return of the Jedi and have since appeared in two made-for-television films.

57. Art Deco icon: ERTE.  Romain de Tirtoff [1892 – 1990] was a Russian-born French artist and designer known by the pseudonym Erté, from the French pronunciation of his initials (pronounced [ɛʁ.te], AIR TAY) which he shares with me. He was a 20th-century artist and designer in an array of fields, including fashion, jewellery, graphic arts, costume and set design for film, theatre, and opera, and interior decor.

59. Spicy: HOT.  Literally, the last sensation of spicy foods, such as peppers.  Figuratively, overtly sexual.

60. Lifeboat blade: OAR.   For rowing to safety

61. GI morale booster: USO.   The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) is an American nonprofit-charitable corporation that provides live entertainment, such as comedians, actors and musicians, social facilities, and other programs to members of the United States Armed Forces and their families. 

62. Electric __: EEL.   The electric eels are a genus, Electrophorus, of neotropical freshwater fish from South America in the family Gymnotidae. They are known for their ability to stun their prey by generating electricity, delivering shocks at up to 860 volts. Their electrical capabilities were first studied in 1775, contributing to the invention in 1800 of the electric battery.  

That wasn't too much hard work, and there were some clever moments.  Hope you enjoyed it. See you next month.

Cool Regards!

JzB

Wednesday, October 12, 2022. Amie Walker

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

55. Revived game show hosted by Jane Krakowski that's also an apt title for this puzzle: NAME THAT TUNE.  This is a game show in which contestants attempt to identify a tune played by an on-stage orchestra in a minimum number of notes.  It started on radio in 1952, and then appeared on TV from 1943 to 1959.  Over the decades it has had several reincarnations, most recently in January, 2020.  In the puzzle, theme fill are song titles.  Let's see how it works.

18. Protest song?: COME ON EILEEN.  A 1982 hit by Dexys Midnight Runners.  "Come on" is plaintive plea for someone to be more compliant or stop being annoying.

 

33. Backing track?:  HELP ME RHONDA.  A 1965 hit by The Beach Boys.  To back someone is to help out in some sort of way.

41. Opening number?:  DEAR PRUDENCE.  From the Beatles White Album, released in 1968.  "Dear Someone" is the typical opening of a snail mail letter, if anyone sends them anymore.

Hi,  Gang - JazzBumba here to fill your day with song.  Don't feel bad it you found the theme to be a bit opaque.  I had to appeal to the Corner blogger team to help figure it out.  Special thanks to Husker Gary who saw the deepest.  Some added layers here are that song, track and number are all synonyms for a tune, with each in a different context; and that each theme entry contains a girl's or woman's name, for an added touch of elegance.

Across:  

1. "We can seat you now" gadget: PAGER.  It beeps and flashes in a restaurant.

6. Italian wine used in cooking: MARSALA.   A fortified wine made in Sicily. Marsala is most commonly used in cooking to create nutty, rich caramelized sauces. 

13. Puts in a row: LINES UP.  Puts things in order.

15. "So it would appear": I GATHER.  I guess so.

16. Spoon, for one: UTENSIL. A tool or implement.

17. The 4,080-piece Disney Castle, e.g.: LEGO SET. 

It's expensive

20. Boy in the "Star Wars" prequel films: ANI.   Anakin Skywalker was a legendary Force-sensitive human male who was a Jedi Knight of the Galactic Republic and the prophesied Chosen One of the Jedi Order, destined to bring balance to the Force. Also known as "Ani" during his childhood, Skywalker earned the moniker "Hero With No Fear" from his accomplishments in the Clone Wars. His alter ego, Darth Vader, the Dark Lord of the Sith, was created when Skywalker turned to the dark side of the Force, pledging his allegiance to the Sith Lord Darth Sidious at the end of the Republic Era.

21. "What __, your maid?": AM I.  Sarcasm.  But clean up after yourself - OK?.

22. Short mission?: RECON.  An abbreviated form of reconnaissance - an exploratory military survey of enemy territory

26. Alexander of "Rizzoli & Isles": SASHA.  Suzana Drobnjakovic [b 1973,] known by her stage name Sasha Alexander, is an American actress and TV director. She played Gretchen Witter on Dawson's Creek and has acted in films including Yes Man and He's Just Not That Into You. Alexander played Caitlin Todd for the first two seasons of NCIS.

30. Msg. to the whole squad: APB.   All Points Bulletin.  An electronic information broadcast sent from one sender to a group of recipients, to rapidly communicate an important message.

32. Drink suffix: -ADE.  Generally used with drinks made from citrus fruits.

37. Twix ingredient: CARAMEL.  Along with chocolate and a cookie.

40. Directly toward the sunset: DUE WEST.   The cardinal compass point that is a 270 degrees. westward.

43. Go bad: ROT.   Decay.

44. "Hey, that's enough!": T M I.   Too Much Information.  Please tell me less.

45. "Hey, that's enough!": OK NOW.  Stop it already.

48. Derisive look: SNEER.  often with a curled lip.

51. Virginia Woolf's "__ Dalloway": MRS.  Social commentary on upper class life in England after WW I.

53. Gear tooth: COG.   As defined.

60. Prodded: POKED AT.   Jabbed with a finger or other object

63. Rely on excessively: USE A LOT.  

64. Buttercup family member: ANEMONE.   Anemone is a genus of flowering plants in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. Plants of the genus are commonly called windflowers. They are native to the temperate and subtropical regions of all continents except Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica.

Grown from bulbs

65. Array for BB gun target practice, perhaps: TIN CANS.  Cheap targets.

66. Broadway props?: TONY NOD.  Props as praise rather than accessory items - clever clue

67. Really love: ADORE.

Down:

1. Climbing spikes: PITONS.   Pegs driven into a rock or crack to support a climber or a rope.

2. Low-hemoglobin condition: ANEMIA.   A low number of red blood cells.

3. __ therapy: GENE.   The transplantation of normal genes into cells in place of missing or defective ones in order to correct genetic disorders.

4. Exxon, in Canada and Europe: ESSO.   Brand name for auto fuel.

5. Damage beyond repair: RUIN.   Destroy

6. Many-legged arthropod: MILLIPEDE.  Any of a group of arthropods that are characterised by having two pairs of jointed legs on most body segments; they are known scientifically as the class Diplopoda, 

7. Outfielder Tommie in the NY Mets Hall of Fame: AGEE.  Tommie Lee Agee [1942 - 2001] was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a center fielder from 1962 through 1973, most notably as a member of the New York Mets.  He was the American League rookie of the year in 1966 and a two time gold glove winner. 

8. Wild party: RAGER.   A larger gathering usually of highschool or college students where massive amounts of alcohol are consumed.

9. "La La Land" Oscar winner Emma: STONE.   Emily Jean Stone [b 1988,] known professionally as Emma Stone, is an American actress. She is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and a Golden Globe Award.

10. Relieved sounds: AHS.  An exhaled exclamation used to express a range of emotions including surprise, pleasure, sympathy, and realization.

11. Novelist Harper: LEE.   Nelle Harper Lee [1926 - 1916] was an American novelist best known for her 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird. It won the 1961 Pulitzer Prize and has become a classic of modern American literature. 

12. Class with smocks: ART.  To protect from paint spatters.

13. Pixar film that lost to "Encanto" for a Best Animated Feature Oscar: LUCA. A 2021 American computer-animated coming-of-age fantasy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Set on the Italian Riviera, the film centers on Luca Paguro, a young sea monster boy with the ability to assume human form while on land, who explores the town of Portorosso with his new best friends,

14. Urgent request: PLEA.

19. Mosque authority: IMAM.  A title of various Muslim leaders, especially of one succeeding Muhammad as leader of Shiite Islam.

23. Word with candy or sugar: CANE.  Works either way.

24. Track figures: ODDS.   The probability that one thing is so, or will happen rather than another thing.

25. Tidy: NEAT.   Orderly.

27. __-Pei: dog breed from China: SHAR.   The Shar Pei is a dog breed from southern China. Traditionally kept as a chicken eating dog and property guardian, the Shar Pei was driven to the brink of extinction in the 20th century. The breed is known in the West for its deep wrinkles, whilst a traditional less wrinkled form is maintained in Hong Kong. 

28. Natural rope fiber: HEMP.   Hemp, or industrial hemp, is a botanical class of Cannabis sativa cultivars grown specifically for industrial or medicinal use.  It is used to make a variety of commercial and industrial products, including rope, textiles, clothing, shoes, food, paper, bioplastics, insulation, and biofuel.

29. 30-Across, for one: ALERT.  Warn someone of a danger, threat, or problem, typically with the intention of having it avoided or dealt with.

31. "24K Magic" singer Mars: BRUNO.   Peter Gene Hernandez (born October 8, 1985), known professionally as Bruno Mars, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, dancer, and music video director. He is known for his stage performances, retro showmanship, and for performing in a wide range of musical styles, including pop, R&B, funk, soul, reggae, disco, and rock. 

I like this one more

34. Took a nosedive: PLUMMETED.  Like the stock market this year.

35. "Darn it all to __!": HECK.   Bowdlerized exclamation of anger or dismay.

36. John Irving's "A Prayer for __ Meany": OWEN.   A Prayer for Owen Meany is the seventh novel by American writer John Irving. Published in 1989, it tells the story of John Wheelwright and his best friend Owen Meany growing up together in a small New Hampshire town during the 1950s and 1960s. According to John's narration, Owen is a remarkable boy in many ways; he believes himself to be God's instrument and sets out to fulfill the fate he has prophesied for himself.

37. USN officers: CDRS.  The written abbreviation for Commanders when it is used as a title.

38. Many millennia: AEON.  An indefinite and very long period of time, often a period exaggerated for humorous or rhetorical effect.

39. Matter of interest?: RATE.  Referring to the annual charge per year on a borrowed amount of money.

42. Gossip: DIRT.   Casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, usually negative, and typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true.

46. Eye-related: OCULAR.

47. Had meager success in a series of games: WON ONE.  Like, frex., the 1-4 Lions.

49. Foe: ENEMY.  Adversary.

50. Home detector target: RADON.  Radon is a chemical element with the symbol Rn and atomic number 86. It is a radioactive, colourless, odourless, tasteless noble gas.

52. Boarded up: SHUT.  Closed for business.

54. Understands: GETS. Comprehends.

56. Spanish hand: MANO.  Literal.

57. __ Kate Dillon of "Billions": ASIA.   Asia Kate Dillon [b.1984] is an American actor, best known for their roles as Brandy Epps in Orange Is the New Black and Taylor Mason in Billions. Dillon is non-binary and uses singular they pronouns.

58. Look after: TEND.   Take care of.

59. Folded snack: TACO.  In the U.S. this is a Mexican dish consisting of a fried tortilla, typically folded, filled with various mixtures, such as seasoned meat, beans, lettuce, and tomatoes.  It is the Spanish word for sandwich.  Once in Mexico I ordered a jamon con queso taco and got a ham and cheese sandwich on white bread.  True story.

60. "The Women of Troy" novelist Barker: PAT.   Patricia Mary W. Barker  [née Drake; b. 1943] is an English writer and novelist. She has won many awards for her fiction, which centres on themes of memory, trauma, survival and recovery. Her work is described as direct, blunt and plainspoken

61. "Woman Power" singer Yoko: ONO.  Yoko Ono [b. 1933] is a Japanese multimedia artist, singer, songwriter, and peace activist. Her work also encompasses performance art and filmmaking. Ono grew up in Tokyo and moved to New York City in 1953 with her family.   In 1969 she married English musician John Lennon of the Beatles. 

62. "__ Burns: America": KEN.   Kenneth Lauren Burns [b. 1953] is an American filmmaker known for his documentary films and television series, many of which chronicle American history and culture. His work is often produced in association with WETA-TV and/or the National Endowment for the Humanities and distributed by PBS.

That's all folks.  Hope you enjoyed the music.

Cool regards!

JzB

Wednesday, September 7, 2022. Susan Gelfand

Theme: Music with Dinner.  Though, I might have that backwards.  Either way, it's both tasty and notable.  And maybe I'll have to sing for my supper.  Let's hope not.  So let's dive in.

20 A.   Favorite vegetable side dish of singer Donna?: SUMMER SQUASH.  This is a squash that is harvested when immature, while the rind is still tender and edible.  LaDonna Adrian Gaines (1948 –  2012), known professionally as Donna SUMMER, was an American singer and songwriter. She gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s and became known as the "Queen of Disco", while her music gained a global following.

31. Favorite leafy course of singer Al?: GREEN SALAD .    A SALAD is a dish consisting of mixed, mostly natural ingredients with at least one raw ingredient.  A GREEN SALAD consists of lettuce and other uncooked green vegetables.

Albert Leornes Greene (b. 1946), better known as Al GREEN, is an American singer, songwriter, pastor and record producer best known for recording a series of soul hit singles in the early 1970s.  

42. Favorite fish entree of singer Carole?: KING SALMON.  The Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) is the largest and most valuable species of Pacific salmon in North America, as well as the largest in the genus Oncorhynchus.  Its common name is derived from the Chinookan peoples. Other vernacular names for the species include KING SALMON, Quinnat salmon, Tsumen, spring salmon, chrome hog, Blackmouth, and Tyee salmon.

Carole KING Klein (born Carol Joan Klein; February 9, 1942) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who has been active since 1958, initially as one of the staff songwriters at 1650 Broadway, and later as a solo artist. Regarded as one of the most significant and influential musicians of all time, King is the most successful female songwriter of the latter half of the 20th century in the US, having written or co-written 118 pop hits on the Billboard Hot 100.

 

53. Favorite fruity dessert of singer Fiona?: APPLE STRUDEL.  A STRUDEL is a type of layered pastry with a filling that is usually sweet, in this case sliced APPLES,  spices, and other optional ingredients.

Fiona APPLE McAfee-Maggart (b. 1977) is an American singer-songwriter. She has released five albums from 1996 to 2020, which have all reached the top 20 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. APPLE has received numerous awards and nominations, including three Grammy Awards, two MTV Video Music Awards, and a Billboard Music Award

   

Hi Gang, it's JazzBumpa here, today's maitre'd cum impresario.  Hope you enjoy the savory offerings from Chef Susan.  Let's see what other delights are on the menu.

 1. Truism: AXIOM.   A statement or proposition which is regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true.

6. Scrape cover: SCAB.   A dry, rough protective crust that forms over a cut or wound during healing.

10. Runs or walks, e.g.: STAT.  Baseball statistics.

14. Subway to the Louvre: METRO.   A rapid transit system in the Paris metropolitan area, France. A symbol of the city, it is known for its density within the capital's territorial limits, uniform architecture and unique entrances influenced by Art Nouveau. It is mostly underground and 226.9 kilometres long.

15. Spanish lake: LAGO.  Literal translation.

16. One and only: LONE.  Having no companions; solitary or single.

17. Fuss at the mirror: PREEN.   Devote effort to making oneself look attractive and then admire one's appearance.

18. Many an Omani: ARAB.  Oman, officially the Sultanate of Oman, is an Arabian country located in southwestern Asia. It is situated on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and spans the mouth of the Persian Gulf. 

19. Legendary: EPIC.  Of extraordinary scope or magnitude.

23. Go out, as the tide: EBB.  Recede, diminish.

26. Sail support: MAST.  A tall upright post, spar, or other structure on a ship or boat, in sailing vessels generally carrying a sail or sails.

27. Toepick-assisted skating leaps: LUTZES.

 

 28. More gloomy: DARKER.  As in some fiction or weather phenomena.

30. "Okey-dokey": YEAH.   Agreement or approval

34. Decide (to): OPT.  Make a choice to do something, or not

37. Contract negotiator: AGENT.  A person who acts on behalf of another person or group.

38. Family boy: SON.  Male offspring.
 
39. Bub: FELLA.   Some guy.

41. Crayola eight-pack choice: RED.  One of the primary colors.

44. Speaker's platform: DAIS.  A low platform for a lectern, seats of honor, or a throne.

46. Candy bar nut: ALMOND.  The oval edible nutlike seed (kernel) of the almond tree, growing in a woody shell, widely used as food.

47. Saunters: MOSEYS.  Walks or moves in a leisurely manner.

50. Some ceiling fixtures: FANS.   Twirly thing that moves air.

52. Big __ Conference: NCAA division that includes Montana: SKY.  A collegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision.

56. Shoe inserts: FEET.  I wanted orthotics.  Oh, well.  If it fits, wear it.

57. Curling __: IRON.  Device for unstraightening hair.

58. Post-swim wrap: TOWEL.  A piece of thick absorbent cloth  used for drying oneself or wiping things dry.

62. Quechua speaker: INCA.     South American Indians who, at the time of the Spanish conquest in 1532, ruled an empire that extended along the Pacific coast and Andean highlands from the northern border of modern Ecuador to the Maule River in central Chile. 

63. Raven's retreat: NEST.   Bird's home.

64. Connect with: TIE TO.   Make a connection or relationship between two or more persons or things.

65. Queries: ASKS.  Requests an answer or some information.

66. Picks up on: GETS.  Understands.

67. Like draft beer: ON TAP.

Down:

1. Concert piece: AMP.  Sound amplifier.  Not a musical selection.

2. Gen __: XER.  the demographic cohort following the baby boomers and preceding the millennials, generally defined as people born from 1965 to 1980.  My kids are from 1970 and 1972.

3. Meteor follower: -ITE.   Cutesy clue for a suffix.   When meteoroids enter Earth's atmosphere (or that of another planet, like Mars) at high speed and burn up, the fireballs or “shooting stars” are called meteors. When a meteoroid survives a trip through the atmosphere and hits the ground, it's called a meteorite.

4. Raw metals: ORES.    Naturally occurring solid materials from which metals or valuable minerals can be profitably extracted.

5. __ Valley: puzzle game with optical illusions: MONUMENT.  Interesting game.  I played it a few years ago, then forgot about it more recently.

6. Closes with force: SLAMS.  As if in anger.

7. Keyboard symbol above 6: CARET.   This thing: ^

8. Food thickener: AGAR.   A jelly-like substance consisting of polysaccharides obtained from the cell walls of some species of red algae, primarily from ogonori and "tengusa". 

9. Winter Olympics racer: BOBSLED.   A team winter sport that involves making timed runs down narrow, twisting, banked, iced tracks in a gravity-powered sleigh.

10. Nancy Drew, e.g.: SLEUTH.   A person who investigates crimes.

11. Birthstone after opal: TOPAZ.  For the months of October and November, respectively.

12. Pernod flavor: ANISE.  A Mediterranean plant of the parsley family, cultivated for its aromatic seeds which are used in cooking and herbal medicine.

13. Help desk pros: TECHS.  AKA nerds.

21. Red planet: MARS.   The 4th planet in our solar system.

22. Sine __ non: essential: QUA.  QUA means "in the capacity of."  The phrase refers to something that is absolutely necessary.

23. Mystery writers' award: EDGAR.   Named for Mr. Poe.

24. River transport: BARGE.   A flat-bottomed boat for carrying freight

25. Kennel club designation: BREED.   A stock of animals within a species having a distinctive appearance and typically having been developed by deliberate selection.

29. Fox Sports MLB reporter Rosenthal: KEN.   Ken Rosenthal (b. 1962) is an American sportswriter and reporter. He serves as a field reporter for Fox Major League Baseball since 2005, and was an in-studio reporter for MLB Network from 2009 to 2022. Since August 2017, he is a senior baseball writer for The Athletic.

30. Yin and __: YANG.  Yin and yang is a Chinese philosophical concept that describes interconnected opposite forces. In Chinese cosmology, the universe creates itself out of a primary chaos of material energy, organized into the cycles of yin and yang and formed into objects and lives.

I used this idea in a sonnet I wrote many years ago.

THE SUBSTITUTE

There are those whose lives are meant to be entwined,

Lovers thrust together by the force of destiny,

When choice and fate converge, that they may be

Connected at the soul, the heart, the mind.

Within their closed circumference one can find

Two curves in perfect fit -- his yang, her yin,

That in each cycle once again begin

To cluster into love's sweet spiral bind.

But consider -- if in the vast span of infinity

One of them becomes displaced in small degree;

Is born a decade late, perhaps is sent

To the farthest corner of the continent --

The distant echo of an unfelt touch, an unseen face.

Who will be the one who comes to take his place?

32. Seller's caveat: AS IS.  What you see is what you get.

33. Chaney of classic horror: LON.   Leonidas Frank "Lon" Chaney (1883 –1930) was an American actor, director, screenwriter and makeup artist. He is regarded as one of the most versatile and powerful actors of cinema, renowned for his characterizations of tortured, often grotesque and afflicted characters, and his groundbreaking artistry with makeup.  Chaney was known for his starring roles in such silent horror films as The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) and The Phantom of the Opera (1925). His ability to transform himself using makeup techniques that he developed earned him the nickname "The Man of a Thousand Faces".

34. "Mayans M.C." star Edward James __: OLMOS.   Edward James Olmos (b. 1947) is an American actor, director, producer, and activist. He is best known for his roles as Lieutenant Martin "Marty" Castillo in Miami Vice (1984–1989), actor in and director of American Me (1992), William Adama in the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica (2004–2009), teacher Jaime Escalante in Stand and Deliver (1988), for which he received an Academy Award nomination, and Detective Gaff in Blade Runner (1982) and its sequel Blade Runner 2049 (2017). In 2018 through 2022, he has played the father of two members of an outlaw motorcycle club in the FX series Mayans MC.

35. Cheap wine, in British slang: PLONK.   Who knew?

36. Jessica of "Cocoon": TANDY.   Jessie Alice Tandy (1909 – 1994) was a British-American actress. Tandy appeared in over 100 stage productions and had more than 60 roles in film and TV, receiving an Academy Award, four Tony Awards, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award. She acted as Blanche DuBois in the original Broadway production of A Streetcar Named Desire in 1948. Her films included Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds and The Gin Game. At 80, she became the oldest actress to receive the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Driving Miss Daisy.

39. Artificially high voice: FALSETTO.

 

 40. West __: high-end design retailer: ELM.   One of many brands owned by the Williams-Sonoma Co.

42. Smooching: KISSING.  Touching with the lips as a sign of love, sexual desire, reverence, or greeting.

43. Temporary castle material: SAND.   For when you're at the beach.

I especially like the arch

44. River mouth formations: DELTAS.    Landforms shaped like triangles, created by deposition of sediment that is carried by a river and enters slower-moving or stagnant water. This occurs where a river enters an ocean, sea, estuary, lake, reservoir, or another river that cannot carry away the supplied sediment. 

45. Affirmative vote: AYE.  I see.

47. Criminal group: MAFIA.   An organized international body of criminals, operating originally in Sicily and now especially in Italy and the US and having a complex and ruthless behavioral code.

48. Debuts: OPENS.   As, frex., a play or movie

49. Tiny bit: SPECK.   Mote

50. Cold coat: FROST.  a deposit of small white ice crystals formed on the ground or other surfaces when the temperature falls below freezing.

51. Many godmothers: AUNTS.  Moms' sisters.  Or dads'.

54. Genealogy diagram: TREE.  A diagram showing the relationships between people in several generations of a family; a genealogical tree.

55. Meat cut: LOIN.  a cut from the part of the body on either side of the spine between the lowest ribs and the hipbones.

59. In need of a 58-Across: WET.  From swimming or getting caught in the rain.

60. Due-in hr.: ETA.   Estimated Time of Arrival

61. Cut (off): LOP.   To cut off (a branch, limb, or other protrusion) from the main body of a tree.  Can one lop a loin?

After today's tasty adventure, I will leave you to ponder that meaty question at your leisure.

Cool regards!

JzB

Wednesday, August 24, 2022 David Alfred Bywaters

Theme:  Double or NO thing.  Each theme answer is a unique phrase that you might never see anywhere else; and it contains a duplicated word.  But you have to surgically remove a certain letter combination: that NO thing, in order to see it.  Let's start with the unifier.

69 A. "Find another way out" sign and a feature of four answers in this puzzle: NO EXIT.  The type of wording you might see over an entrance-only doorway.  And here it indicates that the "NO" letter combo must be excised from the answer.

20 A. Teatime treat topped with shaved ice?: SNO-CONE SCONE.  This is a frosty treat you're not liable to find any time soon.  But it might be good.  Let me know.  Maybe have two, for a SCONE SCONE

33 A. Feature of King Arthur's court?: NOTABLE TABLE.  The notable thing about King Arthur's table was that it was round.  So nobody was seated at the head nor the foot; and all were equal.  So anyone at the TABLE could TABLE the discussion.

41 A. Gaggle native to northern Italy?: GENOESE GEESE.  Genoa is the northern-most city on the western shore of the Italian peninsula.  Do GEESE there mate for life?  Maybe I'm thinking of swans.  Anyway, you get a pair of gaggles here.  And maybe a giggle or two.

54 A. Trainee's bad habits?: NOVICES' VICES.  A NOVICE is a person new to or inexperienced in a field or situation.  I've been playing the trombone for decades and, sadly, still have bad habits.  Perhaps the novice can overcome hers.  Or she might double down and Get caught in the VICE'S Jaws.

Hi, gang. JazzBumpa, your humble blogger for the day, is in awe of this theme.  It combines the duplicated word idea with the removable syllable technique, with a resulting variable degree of silliness.  I can't imagine how David found these examples.  Seriously -- Wow!

Let's move on and see what else is notable.

Across:

1. State with conviction: ASSERT.  AVER and AVOW are both too short.

7. Adventurous: BOLD.  Willing to take risks and do new things.

11. Hit the slopes: SKI.  Slide down a hill side on wooden slats attached to your feet.  I tried this once. The slope hit back.

14. Less abundant: SPARER.  A condition of having no excess.  Not sure there can be degrees of spareness.  A comparative based on a root ending in -R always seems awkward.

15. Purple berry from Brazilian palms: ACAI.  The açaí palm, Euterpe oleracea, is a species of palm tree cultivated for its fruit, hearts of palm, leaves, and trunk wood. Global demand for the fruit has expanded rapidly in the 21st century, and the tree is cultivated for that purpose primarily.

16. Midmorning hour: TEN.  That's when I like to be on the treadmill; though the word "like" is used rather ironically here.

17. State that's an archipelago: HAWAII.  Located about 2000 miles from the U.S. mainland, the Hawaiian archipelago contains 137 volcanic islands spanning 1,500 miles. 

18. Went on and on: YAMMERED.  Yadda, yada, yada . . .

22. Bistro: CAFE.  A small restaurant.

25. Spanish article: UNA.  Meaning "one," or the English article "a."

26. Wind quintet wind: OBOE.  A woodwind instrument with a double-reed mouthpiece, a slender tubular body, and holes stopped by keys.  Can also be used as a drumstick -- at least once.

27. Pub order: ALE.  Bottoms up.

28. Played the part of: ACTED AS.  Either in a play, or some real life situation.

32. Put a stop to: END.  Make it quit.

36. Buffet fuel: STERNO.  Flammable hydrocarbon jelly supplied in cans for use as fuel for cooking stoves or chafing dishes.

37. Farfalle shape: BOWTIE.  Small pieces of pasta shaped like bows or butterflies' wings.

45. Augment with superfluous verbiage: PAD.  Lengthen a speech, piece of writing, etc. with unnecessary material.  Hence the admonition to write tight.

48. Runs again: REPLAYS.  As a TV program or sports highlight.

49. "It's __ good": ALL.  Phrase used to express a sense of general approval, despite a perceived slight, sometimes used ironically.

50. Biblical land west of Nod: EDEN.   EDEN is the biblical earthly paradise inhabited by the first created man and woman, Adam and Eve, prior to their expulsion for disobeying the commandments of God.  After killing his brother, Cain was exiled to the land of Nod.  "Nod" (נוד‎) is the Hebrew root of the verb "to wander" (לנדוד‎). Therefore, to dwell in the land of Nod can mean to live a wandering life. Perhaps this suggests that Cain would not know peace.

52. Part of t.i.d., on an Rx: TER.  Three.  T.I. D. is short for ter in die. three times a day.

53. Lover of Aphrodite: ARES.  It's complicated.  Aphrodite was the wife of Hephaestus.  It did not go well.

59. Microscope blobs: PROTOZOA. An informal term for a group of single-celled eukaryotes, either free-living or parasitic, that feed on organic matter such as other microorganisms or organic tissues and debris.

60. Excuses: ALIBIS.  An ALIBI is a claim or piece of evidence that one was elsewhere when an act, typically a criminal one, is alleged to have taken place.  An excuse is an attempt to lessen the blame attaching to (a fault or offense); seek to defend or justify.  These are not even close equivalents.

64. Folk singer DiFranco: ANI.  Angela Maria "Ani" DiFranco (b. 1970) is an American singer-songwriter. She has released more than 20 albums. DiFranco's music has been classified as folk rock and alternative rock, although it has additional influences from punk, funk, hip hop and jazz. She has released all her albums on her own record label, Righteous Babe.

65. Champagne designation: BRUT.  The word Brut is French for “dry” which means that Brut Champagne is a dry, sparkling wine. 

66. "That's it for me!": I'M DONE.  Can be literal, meaning some task is finished, or as an expression of  anger or exasperation. 

67. Drug in Michael Pollan's "How to Change Your Mind": LSD.  A synthetic crystalline compound,  Lysergic Acid Diethyl amide, that is a potent hallucinogenic drug.

68. Feed adequately: SATE.  Satisfy (a desire or an appetite) to the full.

Down:

1. Tennis star Barty who announced her retirement in 2022, familiarly: ASH.   Ashleigh Barty (b. 1996) is an Australian retired professional tennis player and cricketer. She was the second Australian tennis player to be ranked No. 1 in the world in singles by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) after fellow Aboriginal Australian Evonne Goolagong Cawley, holding the ranking for 121 weeks overall. 

2. Day __: SPA.   A business that provides a variety of services for the purpose of improving health, beauty, and relaxation through personal care treatments.

3. Adage: SAW.  A proverb or short statement expressing a general truth.

4. Wipe out: ERASE.  Remove or eliminate.

5. Halter attachment: REIN.  A long, narrow strap attached at one end to a horse's bit, typically used in pairs to guide or check a horse while riding or driving.

6. Half a sextet: TRIO.  A group of three individuals engaged in a collective activity.

7. Rifle attachment: BAYONET.  A blade that may be fixed to the muzzle of a rifle and used to stab an opponent in hand-to-hand fighting.

8. Anthem with the line "The True North strong and free": O CANADA.   A genuinely great anthem.

  

 9. Fabric with metallic threads: LAMÉ.  Fabric with interwoven gold or silver threads.

10. Turns down: DIMS.  As, frex., a lamp.

11. Flashing light: STROBE.   A type of specialized lamp that produces a continuous series of short, bright flashes of light.

12. Heavily into: KEEN ON.  Very enthusiastic or excited about. 

13. "No doubt": INDEED.   Used to emphasize a statement or response confirming something already suggested.

19. Prefix with friendly: ECO-.    Not harmful to the environment.

21. Adorable: CUTE.   Attractive in a pretty or endearing way.

22. Some recyclables: CANS.  Along with bottles and paper.

23. Much: A LOT.   An indefinite large quantity

24. Big party: FETE.   A celebration or festival.

28. Doubleday incorrectly credited with inventing baseball: ABNER.  Abner Doubleday (1819 – 1893) was a career United States Army officer and Union major general in the American Civil War. He fired the first shot in defense of Fort Sumter, the opening battle of the war, and had a pivotal role in the early fighting at the Battle of Gettysburg.  In San Francisco, after the war, he obtained a patent on the cable car railway that still runs there.   In 1908, 15 years after his death, Doubleday was declared by the Mills Commission to have invented the game of baseball (a claim never made by Doubleday during his lifetime). This claim has been thoroughly debunked by baseball historians.

29. Knockoff: CLONE.    A product that is very similar to another one that it was copied from.

30. Westminster landmark: ABBEY.   Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is a large, mainly Gothic abbey church in the City of Westminster, London, England, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is one of the United Kingdom's most notable religious buildings and the traditional place of coronation and a burial site for English and, later, British monarchs.   Construction of the present church began in 1245 on the orders of King Henry III.

31. Tedious journeys: SLOGS.   A spell of difficult, tiring work or travelling.

34. Bol. neighbor: ARG.  South American countries Bolivia and Argentina.

35. Short-horned bighorn: EWE.  The female of any ovine species.

38. Hot streak: TEAR.  Having great success over a period of time 

39. Land in the water: ISLE.  Not making a splash [a verb], but instead, a part of the earth's surface [a noun] extended above the surface of a body of water.

40. Slithery fish: EELS.  A snake-like fish with a slender elongated body and poorly developed fins, proverbial for its slipperiness.

42. Chooses not to participate: OPTS OUT.  Just so.

43. Raise: ELEVATE.  Move to a higher level, either literally or figuratively.

44. South Asian garb: SARI.   A garment consisting of a length of cotton or silk elaborately draped around the body, traditionally worn by women from South Asia.

Instruction on how to do it

45. Epistolary friend: PEN PAL.   A person with whom one becomes friendly by exchanging letters, especially someone in a foreign country whom one has never met.

46. Festoons: ADORNS.  Decorates.

47. Without, with "of": DEVOID.  Entirely lacking or free from.

51. Minor issue: NIT.   A small imperfection or a minor glitch in a system or piece of software.

53. Out of the way: ASIDE.  Literal.

55. Picnic discards: COBS.  From ears of corn.

56. "The Snowy Day" Caldecott winner __ Jack Keats: EZRA.  Ezra Jack Keats (né Jacob Ezra Katz; 1916 – 1983) was an American writer and illustrator of children's books. He won the 1963 Caldecott Medal for illustrating The Snowy Day, which he also wrote. 

57. Adam's eldest: CAIN.  In Genesis, Cain was the first human offspring.  He murdered his younger brother, Abel.  Cf also 50 A.

58. Red Muppet with a pet goldfish named Dorothy: ELMO.

61. Amazon.com delivery: BOX.  A container full of stuff, used for transporting said stuff.

62. Suffix on some pasta names: -INI.  As in rotini, linguini, etc.

63. Good to go: SET.  Prepared to do something.

That wraps up another Wednesday.  Let's get set for whatever the next adventure might be.

Cool regards!

JzB