Wednesday, September 17, 2025 Zachary David Levy

div>Theme: Getting Away.  The last word of each two word theme entry is a synonym for departure.

17 A. *Ice cream sundae traditionally served in a boat: BANANA SPLIT.   A classic American ice cream dessert made with a peeled banana split lengthwise, a trio of ice cream scoops, and a variety of toppings, including syrups, nuts, whipped cream, and cherries.   SPLIT also means  to leave a place, or to depart quickly. 

 

40 A. *Salt-free seasoning introduced in 1983: MRS DASH.    A brand of salt-free seasonings introduced in 1983 and marketed by B&G Foods, offering various herb and spice blends to add flavor to food without sodium. The brand dropped the "Mrs." to create a modern identity and emphasize its ability to provide a quick, salt-free flavor boost.  DASH also means to move or run very quickly.

65 A. *Rehearsal: PRACTICE RUN.    A trial, test, or rehearsal performed before a real event, performance, or deployment to ensure it is prepared and functions correctly.   To RUN is to move at a speed faster than a walk, never having both or all the feet on the ground at the same time.

11 D. *Inflatable structure at a kids party: MOON BOUNCE.    An inflatable structure (also known as a bounce house) that children play in at events, named for the bouncing motion that resembles astronauts walking on the moon.   I had BOUNCE HOUSE, which set me back.  In slang, to BOUNCE means to leave or depart from a place, often quickly or abruptly. 

30 D. *Listing of all-time accomplishments: RECORD BOOK.   A compilation of outstanding achievements or best results in a specific field.  In slang,  BOOK means to leave or depart suddenly and quickly, often to hurry or flee.

And the unifier: 73 A. Have the final turn, and what can be found in the answers to the starred clues?: GO LAST.    This is clever construction, a synonym for "go" is in the last part of the fill.  Well played!

Since many of these departures suggest getting away or escaping, here is today's theme song.

Across:

1. Premolar neighbor: CANINE.  A pointed tooth between the incisors and premolars of a mammal, often greatly enlarged in carnivores.

7. Opposite of sans: AVEC.  Without, and with, in French.

11. Bub: MAC.  Dude, bro, bud, guy.

14. Handy: USEFUL.  Able to be used for a practical purpose or in several ways.

15. Indistinct number: SOME.  More than a few, maybe.

16. Lone: ONE.   Alone, solitary, or the only one of its kind.

19. Fertility clinic cells: OVA.   The mature female reproductive cells, or egg cells, which are the gametes produced by a female organism that, upon fertilization by a male gamete (sperm), can develop into a new individual. 

20. Minor dustup: SPAT.   A brief petty quarrel or angry outburst; 

21. Masks and gowns in the OR, e.g.: PPE.  Personal Protective Equipment, worn to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses.

22. Game featuring matches and love: TENNIS.  In tennis, "love" means zero. When a player or team has scored no points, their score is "love," such as "15-love" for 15 points to 0.

24. Organize: ASSORT.  Arrange or order by classes or categories.

27. Money with a double-headed eagle: RUBLE.   The basic monetary unit of Russia and some other former republics of the Soviet Union, equal to 100 kopeks.

28. Before now: EARLIER.  In the recent past.

31. San Antonio landmark: ALAMO.   A fort in San Antonio, Texas, the site of a pivotal siege and massacre in 1836 during the Texas Revolution. 

33. Fast Amtrak train: ACELA.    Amtrak's flagship passenger train service along the Northeast Corridor (NEC) in the Northeastern United States between Washington, D.C. and Boston via 13 intermediate stops, including Baltimore, New York City and Philadelphia. 

34. Pledge drive gift: TOTE.   A large, roomy bag, often open-topped, with parallel handles, used to carry many items. 

36. __ mail: BULK.    A method of sending large volumes of mail at reduced rates, either as part of a marketing or communication campaign or as physical mail sent by an organization. 

39. Brief moment in time?: SEC.  One second, a 60th on a minute.

43. Highland rejection: NAE.    The Scottish word for "no" or "not", 

44. Walked heavily: TROD.  Stomped.

46. "I'm standing right here": AHEM.  The clearing of one's throat.  I can see the connection to the clue, but am not fond of it in a puzzle.

47. Footnote abbr.: OP CIT.  An abbreviation of the Latin phrase opus citatum or opere citato, meaning "the work cited" or in the cited work, respectively.

49. Riding event: RODEO.    An exhibition or contest in which cowboys show their skill at riding broncos, roping calves, wrestling steers, etc.

51. Become familiar with: INURE TO.  Accustom someone to something, especially something unpleasant.

53. "The Princess Bride" co-star __ the Giant: ANDRE.   André René Roussimoff (19 May 1946 – 28 January 1993), better known by his ring name André the Giant, was a French professional wrestler and actor. Dubbed "the Eighth Wonder of the World", Roussimoff was known for his great size, which was a result of gigantism caused by excess human growth hormone.

55. Leonard who wrote "Get Shorty": ELMORE.  Elmore John Leonard Jr. (October 11, 1925 – August 20, 2013) was an American novelist, short story author and screenwriter. He was, according to British journalist Anthony Lane, "hailed as one of the best crime writers in the land". His earliest novels, published in the 1950s, were Westerns, but he went on to specialize in crime fiction and suspense thrillers, many of which have been adapted into motion pictures. 

57. Jewish mystical doctrine: CABALA.   The ancient Jewish tradition of mystical interpretation of the Bible, first transmitted orally and using esoteric methods (including ciphers). It reached the height of its influence in the later Middle Ages and remains significant in Hasidism.

59. Energy bar grain: OAT.   A species of cereal grain grown for its seed, which is known by the same name (usually in the plural). Oats appear to have been domesticated as a secondary crop, as their seeds resembled those of other cereals closely enough for them to be included by early cultivators. 

60. Named names: SANG.    Confessed, especially under interrogation, or acted as an informer.   Here, the latter is indicated.

64. GI show gp.: USO.   The United Service Organizations (USO) show, a popular form of entertainment for troops.

68. Eastern "way": TAO.  In Chinese philosophy, the absolute principle underlying the universe, combining within itself the principles of yin and yang and signifying the way, or code of behavior, that is in harmony with the natural order. 

69. Above the strike zone: HIGH. The baseball strike zone is an invisible area over home plate, extending from the midpoint between a batter's shoulders and the top of their uniform pants, down to just below the kneecaps, when the batter is in their stance and ready to swing. A pitch outside the strike zone is called a ball.  

70. Nabe in lower Manhattan: NOLITA.   Derived from "Northern Little Italy", Nolita is situated in Lower Manhattan, bounded on the north by Houston Street, on the east by the Bowery, on the south roughly by Broome Street, and on the west by Lafayette Street.[4] It lies east of SoHo, south of NoHo, west of the Lower East Side, and north of Little Italy and Chinatown.

71. Antlered buglers: ELK.    The second largest species within the deer family, Cervidae, and one of the largest terrestrial mammals in its native range of North America and Central and East Asia. The word "elk" originally referred to the European variety of the moose, Alces alces, but was transferred to Cervus canadensis by North American colonists.

72. Pi Day follower: IDES.  Pi day is 3/14, representing the first 3 digits of the number π, 3.14; and the IDES is 3/15, a day falling roughly in the middle of each month.

Down:

1. Windy City team: CUBS.  The Chicago Cubs are currently in 2nd place in the National League Central Division of Major League Baseball.

2. Urgent letters: ASAP.  As Soon As Possible.

3. "99 Luftballons" singer: NENA.  Gabriele Susanne Kerner (born 24 March 1960), better known by her stage name Nena, is a German singer who rose to international fame in 1983 as the lead vocalist of the band Nena with the Neue Deutsche Welle song "99 Luftballons". In that same year, the band re-recorded this song in English as "99 Red Balloons".

And here is the English language version.

4. "Maybe not even that": IF AT ALL.    It indicates that something is unlikely to happen, or rarely happens, and that it will occur in a negative or restricted way if it does happen. 

5. Convent member: NUN.   A member of a religious community of women, especially a cloistered one, living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

6. Go by: ELAPSE.    Of time: to slip or pass by. 

7. In accordance with: AS PER.   A formal phrase that means "in accordance with" or "according to". 

8. Up/down arrows on a remote: Abbr.: VOLume.  Controlling the loudness of the broadcast medium.

9. Send off: EMIT.   Produce and discharge something, especially a sound, gas or radiation.

10. Peter of Chicago: CETERA.   Peter Paul Cetera Jr. is a retired American singer, songwriter, bassist, and producer. He's best known as a founding member of the rock band Chicago, where he played bass and sang lead vocals from 1967 to 1985. Cetera recorded 17 albums with Chicago and launched a successful solo career with eight studio albums. 

12. Middle ear bone: ANVIL.  The middle ear contains three small bones called the ossicles. These bones are: Malleus (hammer): Attached to the eardrum.  Incus (anvil): Connected to the malleus and stapes.  Stapes (stirrup): Attached to the oval window, which leads to the inner ear.   The ossicles amplify and transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear. They play a crucial role in hearing.

13. Discontinue: CEASE.  Stop!

18. Adidas offering: SPORT SHOE.    Footwear designed for physical activity, such as running, playing basketball, or exercising, and comes in various types like running shoes, tennis shoes, and cross-trainers. 

23. Not really feeling it?: NUMB.   Deprived of the power of sensation.

25. Thailand, once: SIAM.  A country in Southeast Asia that was known as Siam for centuries before being renamed Thailand in the late 1930s. The name Siam is an exonym, a term used by outsiders, and also refers to several historical kingdoms and the ethnic group that later became known as the Thais. 

26. Flooring in a ryokan: TATAMI MAT.   A traditional Japanese flooring or sleeping surface made of woven rush grass over a compressed rice straw core, known for its natural insulation, moisture-absorbing properties, and a firm yet yielding surface. 

28. Sunrise locale: EAST.   The direction toward the point of the horizon where the sun rises at the equinoxes, on the right-hand side of a person facing north, or the point on the horizon itself.

29. Taiwanese tech giant: ACER.    A Taiwanese multinational computer hardware and electronics company known for its laptops, desktops, monitors, and gaming systems like the Predator brand.

32. French article: LES.   A plural form of the definite article "the" with any plural noun, regardless of gender, when referring to specific or general items.

35. "__ of Girls' Things": poem by Sharon Olds: ODE.   Sharon Olds (born November 19, 1942) is an American poet. She won the first San Francisco Poetry Center Award in 1980, the 1984 National Book Critics Circle Award, and the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.She teaches creative writing at New York University and is a previous director of the Creative Writing Program at NYU.  Her poem can be found here.

37. Café addition: LAIT.   French milk.

38. Fat-heavy diet: KETO.   A high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that aims to put the body into a metabolic state called ketosis. In ketosis, the body burns fat for energy instead of carbohydrates. 

41. Issa of "Insecure": RAE.  Jo-Issa Rae Diop is an award-winning actress, writer, producer, director, and web series creator. She first gained recognition for her 2011 YouTube series Awkward Black Girl, which she also wrote and starred in. Rae is perhaps best known for her role in the HBO show Insecure, which she co-created, co-wrote, and starred in from 2016 to 2021. She has received multiple Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for her work on the show. 

42. Time division: HOUR.  A unit of time equal to 60 minutes or 3,600 seconds, representing one-twenty-fourth of a day. 

45. Cartoon explorer: DORA.  Dora the Explorer is an American children's animated television series in the Dora the Explorer franchise, created by Chris Gifford, Valerie Walsh Valdes, and Eric Weiner that premiered on Nickelodeon on August 14, 2000, and ended on August 9, 2019. The series was produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio.

48. Make available ahead of time: PRE-SELL.    To market and sell a product or service before it is fully manufactured, constructed, or completed, allowing businesses to validate demand, fund production, and build excitement with customers who commit to buying in advance. 

50. Oracle site: DELPHI.   The Oracle at Delphi was the most renowned prophetic institution in ancient Greece, featuring a priestess known as the Pythia who delivered prophecies from the god Apollo, often through ambiguous answers to questions from seekers across the Greek world. 

52. Observing: NOTING.   Noticing or perceiving something and registering it as being significant.

53. Between zero and 90 degrees: ACUTE.  Said of any angle so described.

Angling

54. Congested, perhaps: NASAL.  Said of a condition possibly affecting one's voice or breathing.

56. Scottish bodies of water: LOCHS.  Lakes or sea inlets.

58. Extremely dry: ARID.  Long time no sea.

61. Solo at the Met: ARIA.  A long accompanied song for a solo voice, typically one in an opera or oratorio.

62. 17-Across topper: NUTS.   A nut is a fruit consisting of hard or tough shell around an edible kernel.  The kernel is sometimes crushed and used as desert garnish.

63. Buzzer in a cloud: GNAT.   A small two-winged fly that resembles a mosquito. Gnats include both biting and nonbiting forms, and they typically form large swarms.

66. Mature: AGE.    Develop a desirable quality through a period of time,

67. Talk sweetly: COO.    To make a soft, murmuring sound, like that of a dove or pigeon, or to speak in a soft, quiet voice to express affection. 

And so we bring another Wednesday to an affectionate close.  Now it's time to get away.

Coo regards!

JzB

Wednesday, September 20, 2025 Rebecca Goldstein

Theme:  Geography Lessons, and geography expansions.   As we travel through the locations, each located in the 2nd word of each theme fill, they get increasingly larger

16 A. Stop on a fall foliage tour?: LEAVES TOWN.  Ordinarily, this means departing from a TOWN.  Here, it suggests a TOWN with many colorful leafy trees.

30 A. Stop on a victory tour?: PARTY CITY.  This was a retail chain stocking a wide range of themed party supplies, plus costumes & holiday decorations.  It has gone out of business in the U.S., but is still active in Canada.  Here, though, it is a city full of revelry.  Note also, a city is larger than a town.

44 A. Stop on a wine tour?: DRY COUNTY.  This is a county in the United States where the sale and public consumption of alcohol is prohibited.   It's unclear why anyone on a wine tour would visit there, unless it's a place to stop drinking?  At any rate, a county is generally larger than a city.

58 A. Stop on an apology tour?: SORRY STATE.   This indicates being in a situation or condition that is poor, neglected, or unfortunate, often one that is deserving of pity or regret.  Here,  though, it is a place containing many counties where contrition is prominent.  

Hi, Gang, JazzBumpa here with a puzzling travelogue.  Let's embark, and see where it takes us.

Across:

1. Some cuff links: STUDS.  Formal jewelry worn at the shirt cuff in place of a button.  The stud portion is a short metal bar connecting a decoration to a fastener.

6. Passover mo., often: APR.  April.  Passover is a major Jewish holiday and one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals. It celebrates the Exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.

9. Genesis brother: ABEL.  He was murdered by his twin brother Cain.

13. Number of strands in a simple braid: THREE.  

14. Creative development: IDEA.   The thought before the brainstorm.

15. Proper partner: PRIM.  Stiffly formal and respectable; feeling or showing disapproval of anything regarded as improper.

18. Roman robe: TOGA.  A loose flowing outer garment worn by the citizens of ancient Rome, made of a single piece of cloth and covering the whole body apart from the right arm.

19. The upper crust: ELITES.   A select group that is superior in terms of ability or qualities to the rest of a group or society.   Or so they would have you believe.
 
20. Packers' pts.: TDS.  Touch downs.  The Packers are the team from Green Bay in the National Football League.

22. "Don't know her": WHO?   What or which person or people?

23. Shiny fender material: CHROME.  Chromium plate as a decorative or protective finish on motor-vehicle fittings and other objects.

25. "Critique of Pure Reason" philosopher: KANT.  Immanuel Kant (1724 – 1804) was a German philosopher and one of the central thinkers of the Enlightenment. Born in Königsberg, Kant's comprehensive and systematic works in epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, and aesthetics have made him one of the most influential and highly discussed figures in modern Western philosophy.

27. "Well, shucks": AW, GEE.  Expressing genial self-deprecation or gratified embarrassment.

33. Epic battles: WARS.   A state of armed conflict between different nations or states or different groups within a nation or state.  In a war there may be many distict battles.

34. Section of a race: LEG.   A specific, defined part or section of the race. 

35. Call from a treehouse: UP HERE.  Telling you where to look
 
36. One day __ time: AT A.  To deal with each day's problems as they come instead of worrying about the future.

37. "Restore + Strengthen" shampoo brand: FINESSE.  Finesse shampoo, specifically the Finesse Restore + Strengthen Moisturizing Shampoo, is designed to rejuvenate dry, damaged, or stubborn hair by providing a moisturizing and strengthening treatment. 

39. Announcement makers in HS classrooms: PAS.  Public Address System, a system of microphones, amplifiers, and loudspeakers used to amplify speech or music in a large building or at an outdoor gathering..

40. Criticize harshly: REVILE.   Criticize in an abusive or angrily insulting manner.

42. "Uh-uh": NAH.  Nope, no way, aint gonna happen.

43. Treadmill setting: PACE.  Consistent and continuous speed in walking, running, or moving.

46. Los Angeles restaurant with hot dogs named for celebrities: PINKS.

47. Overnight recipe: STEW.   A stew is a hearty dish that consists of solid food ingredients, such as meat, seafood, and/or vegetables, cooked slowly in liquid and served in the resulting gravy or thickened broth. 

48. Talk and talk and talk: YAMMER.   Talk foolishly or incessantly.

50. Shutterbug's initials: SLR.  Single Lens Reflex, a camera design where the photographer views the scene through the lens itself, using a mirror and prism system to direct the image to the viewfinder. This allows for accurate framing and focus, as you see exactly what the lens sees. 

51. Mule on the Erie Canal: SAL.  A reference to the mule featured in the American folk song, "Low Bridge, Everybody Down," also known as "The Erie Canal Song". The song tells the story of a mule named Sal who works on the Erie Canal, hauling barges filled with various goods. She is portrayed as a reliable and hardworking animal, and the song highlights the close relationship between the mule and its driver.

53. De-lightful time?: OUTAGE.  A time period when electric power is disrupted.  This is often due to storm-related infrastructure damage.  But not always. 

56. One struggling to face facts, maybe: LIAR.   A teller of untruths.  My universal theory of why this happens is that the truth is not compatible with the LIAR's agenda.

61. All-father of the Norse gods: ODIN.   A prominent figure in Norse mythology and Germanic paganism, revered as a god associated with wisdom, magic, death, prophecy, and victory in battle. He is often depicted as an old, one-eyed man with a long beard, wearing a cloak and a wide-brimmed hat, and carrying a spear. Odin is known for his insatiable thirst for knowledge, his role as the leader of the Aesir tribe of gods, and his connection to Valhalla, the hall where fallen warriors reside. 

62. Joint above an ankle: KNEE.   The largest and one of the most complex joints in the human body, connecting the thigh bone (femur) and the shin bone (tibia). It's a hinge joint that allows for bending and straightening of the leg, and it's crucial for weight-bearing and movement. The knee joint is made up of bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and muscles, all working together to enable a wide range of motion and stability. 

63. Pamplona pooch: PERRO.   "Dog" en Español.  Pamplona is a city in Spain.

64. Implements in a lab coat pocket: PENS.  For copious note taking.

65. Vane dir.: SSW.  South, southwest, the compass point or direction midway between south and southwest.

66. Home to the annual Food & Wine Classic: ASPEN.  Aspen, in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, is a ski resort town and year-round destination for outdoor recreation. It's also known for high-end restaurants and boutiques, and landmarks like the Wheeler Opera House, built in 1889 during the area’s silver mining boom.  We missed this year's classic, but can try again next year.

Down:

1. Home of the Blues, for short: ST. L.  St. Louis, Mo. is home to the Blues, a professional hockey team.

2. You, once: THEE.  Archaic or dialect form of you, as the singular object of a verb or preposition.

3. Russian range: URAL.  A mountain range in western Russia that forms a traditional boundary between Europe and Asia. 

4. Tech gadgets: DEVICES.   Things made or adapted for a particular purpose, especially a piece of mechanical or electronic equipment.

5. Stay mad: SEETHE.   Be filled with intense but unexpressed anger, by analogy to a slow boiling liquid..

6. Big fuss: ADO.  A state of agitation or fuss, especially about something unimportant.

7. Alloy in some costume jewelry: PEWTER.   A gray alloy of tin with copper and antimony (formerly, tin and lead).

8. South African currency: RAND.  The basic monetary unit of South Africa, equal to 100 cents.  The rand takes its name from the Witwatersrand ("white waters' ridge" in English, rand being the Afrikaans and Dutch word for 'ridge'), the ridge upon which Johannesburg is built and where most of South Africa's gold deposits were found. 

9. Fitting: APT.  Appropriate or suitable in the circumstances.

10. Dessert tray?: BROWNIE PAN.    A type of baking pan specifically designed for making brownies. It's typically rectangular, with a non-stick surface, and often features a removable bottom or a divider to help with even baking and easy removal of the finished brownies.   The clue is a misdirection, since it usually refers to a collection of sweet treats, typically displayed on a tray or platter, served at the end of a meal as a final course. 

11. Format before cassettes: EIGHT TRACK.    A magnetic tape format popular for music distribution from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. It's characterized by a continuous loop of ¼-inch magnetic tape housed in a rectangular cartridge. Each tape contains eight tracks of audio, arranged in stereo pairs, allowing for four stereo programs on a single tape. 

12. "Ur hilarious!": LMAO.  Laughing My Ahem-buttocks Off, maybe.  Cf. 31D.

14. "Come on in": IT'S OPEN.  Open door invitation to enter.

17. __ and estar: Spanish 101 lesson: SER.  In Spanish, both "ser" and "estar" translate to "to be" in English, but they are used in different contexts. "Ser" is used for permanent or defining characteristics, while "estar" is used for temporary states or conditions, location, and actions. 

21. Service replaced by Microsoft Teams: SKYPE.   An online platform that enables users to make voice and video calls, send instant messages, and share files over the internet. The name "Skype" is derived from "sky" and "peer-to-peer," reflecting its initial design as a peer-to-peer communication tool. 

24. Fuchsia relative: MAGENTA.   A light purplish red that is one of the primary subtractive colors, complementary to green.  Fuchsia is a vivid purplish-red color like that of the sepals of a typical fuchsia flower.

26. "Bah," in Berlin: ACH.  Expressions of contempt or disagreement.

27. Oscar, but not Elmo: AWARD.  The "Oscar" is the common name for the Academy Award of Merit, a golden statuette awarded annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for outstanding achievements in the film industry. It's one of the most prestigious awards in the world of cinema.  Also Oscar and Elmo are Sesame Street muppets.

28. Way to make an entrance at a pool party: WATER SLIDE.  A slide into a swimming pool, typically flowing with water and incorporating a number of twists and turns.

29. Source of easy money: GRAVY TRAIN.   Used to refer to a situation in which someone can make a lot of money for very little effort.

31. Bottom: TUSH.  The buttocks - either of the two round fleshy parts that form the lower rear area of a human trunk.  Cf. 12D.

32. Green lights: YESES.  Grants permission or approval.

34. Stead: LIEU.  The place or role that someone or something should have or fill (used in referring to a substitute).

37. Streams: FLOWS.    Moves along or out steadily and continuously in a current or stream.

38. "I'm listening": SAY MORE.  Yes, I'm interested.  Keep talking.

41. Apply a cold pack to, say: ICE.  Use cold therapy on an injury.

43. Home team at PNC Park: PIRATES.  The Pittsburg team in the National League of Major League Baseball.

45. Pantyhose: NYLONS.  Clothing for women made of thin material that fits closely over the feet and legs and goes up to the waist.  Do they even exist any more?

46. Spot's grooming spot: PET SPA.   A grooming service that offers more than just basic bathing and clipping. It provides a range of specialized treatments designed to pamper and relax pets, promoting their overall well-being. These services often include aromatherapy, calming music, and gentle handling techniques to create a stress-free environment. 

49. Very, in Venezuela: MUY.   Literal translation from English to Español.

50. Unappetizing plateful: SLOP.  A derogatory way to talk about food that doesn't look very tasty.

52. Requests: ASKS.  Says something in order to obtain an answer or some information.

54. Irving character: GARP.   Protagonist in The World According to Garp.  I read this book decades ago and have only vague recollections of a few scenes.

55. 17-Down, in French: ETRE.   To be [or not, I suppose] in any language.

57. Some ER staff: RNS.  Registered Nurses.

59. VCR button: REWind.   It winds a tape or film back to the beginning.

60. Geologic age: EON.   An indefinite and very long period of time.

So, after all that time, we've reached our destination.  Travel broadens one, it's said, and this trip did grow on me  Hope the journey enlarged your enjoyment.  See you in September, a definite and rather short time period way.

Cool regards!

JzB 

Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Sam Cordes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Across:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

25. Young'uns: TYKES.  Little children.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

43. Grab: NAB.  Grasp or capture.

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

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

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

54. Some fine art: OILS.  Oil paintings.

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

56. Dearie: HON.  Sweetie.

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

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

64. Utopias: EDENS.  Hypothetical idyllic places.

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

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

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

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

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

Down:

1. Certain sib: BRO.  Brother.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More info here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I guess I'm too old.

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

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

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

How do you pronounce it

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cool regards!
JzB

Thursday, June 19, 2025 Joe Rodini

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

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

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

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

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

Yeah - I still hate it.

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

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

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

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

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

Across:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

21. Understand: SEE.   I got it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This might be her most famous song.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Down:

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

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

3. Hotel amenity: POOL.   For swiming.

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

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

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

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

8. Halloween decor: WEBS.  Suggestive of spiders.

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

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

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

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

14. Allure competitor: ELLE.  Fashion magazines

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

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

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

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

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

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

Marginally relevant.  Maybe.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And with that, we have come FULL CIRCLE.

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

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

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

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

Cool regards, 

JzB

Wednesday, May 21, 2025 Prasanna Keshiva

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5. "__ the season ... ": TIS.  It is.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

55. Has: EATS.  Frex, for breakfast.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Down:

1. "Sayonara!": ADIOS.  Farewell.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

31. Easy-peasy: SIMPLE.  Easily accomplished.

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

36. Yens: URGES.  Desires.  

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

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

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

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

41. Shrill bark: YAP.  

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

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

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

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

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

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

53. Pearly whites: TEETH.  Metaphorically speaking.

56. Staffer: AIDE.  Assistant.

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

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

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

62. More, in Spanish: MAS.  Literal.

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

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

Cool regards!

JzB