Tuesday, March 15, 2022, John Michael Currie

A Breeze by Any Other Name.

17-Across. Wartime delinquent: DRAFT DODGER.  What's the difference between a Draft and a Breeze?

22-Across. '60s-'70s Chicago Bears running back who is the youngest inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame: GALE SAYERS.  What's the difference between a Gale and a Breeze?

36-Across. Flute and oboe: WIND INSTRUMENTS.  What's the difference between Wind and a Breeze?

46-Across. Flaky baked dough: PUFF PASTRY.

And the unifier:

58-Across. "Piece of cake!" ... and apt description of the starts of 17-, 22-, 36- and 46-Across?: WHAT A BREEZE.  The first word in each theme answer can describe a blast of a breeze.  Some of the "breezes" are stronger than others.  A GALE would be quite strong, while a PUFF might barely cause a stir.

There was also a mini musical theme:

15-Across. Mid-range voice: TENOR.

5-Down. Mid-range voices: ALTI.

6-Down. Without a key: ATONAL.

Is it me, or was this quite a challenge for a Tuesday puzzle?

Across:
1. Rolex rival: OMEGA.  Both are expensive watches.

6. Wow: AMAZE.

A Maze

11. Listing at indeed.com: JOB.  I was not familiar with this website.

14. Halloween costume with pointy ears: DEVIL.

16. One of WD-40's many: USE.  Who knew there were so many ways to use WD-40?

19. Slippery road cause: ICE.

20. Multipart sofa: SECTIONAL.

21. Mufasa's "The Lion King" brother: SCAR.

25. German pastry: STRUDEL.  A strudel is a layered pastry that is usually sweet, but can have a savory filling.  Making one is probably beyond my cooking abilities.

30. Provide money for: FUND.

31. Playground retort: ARE SO!

32. __ sci: POLI.  Political Science, which is the study of dealing with systems of governance and power and the analysis of political activities.

Enough Said.

33. Web access co.: ISP.  Internet Service Provider.

40. Drunkard: SOT.  A crossword staple.

41. Sorority T's: TAUs.  It's the Greek letter that actually looks like a T.

42. Sleep disorder: APNEA.  Last year, one of the companies that makes the CPAP machines had to issue a recall.  The new materials in the machine were causing a hazardous chemical to be released into the breathing apparatus.

43. Sam or Michelle of Georgia politics: NUNN.  Michelle Nunn (née Mary Michelle Nunn; b. Nov. 16, 1966), is the daughter of former Senator Sam Nunn (né Samuel Augustus Nunn, Jr.; b. Sept. 8, 1938)

44. Online marketing technique: E-BLASTS.

50. Human rights lawyer Clooney: AMAL.  Amal Clooney (née Amal Alamuddin; b. Feb. 3, 1978) is the wife of actor George Clooney (né George Timothy Clooney; b. May 6, 1961).

51. Greek "Father of History": HERODOTUS.  Herodotus (484 ~ 425 BCE) is generally considered to have been the first person to systematically write down historical events.  He wrote Histories, which is a detailed account of the Greco-Persian Wars.  I read some of this years ago.

57. Birdie plus one: PAR.  A golfing reference.

60. "Mad Men" network: AMC.  Mad Men was a television drama about a Madison Avenue advertising firm in the 1960s.  The show ran from July 2007 to May 2015.  

61. Hazardous gas: RADON.  //  According to 39-Down. Eco-conscious govt. group: EPA and the CDC, Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, after smoking.

62. Shenanigan: ANTIC.  Appropriate for this time of year.  This year's St. Patrick's Day parade will be on Saturday, March 19.

63. Falsehood: LIE.

64. Surgical tube: STENT.

65. Everycow: BOSSY.

Down:

1. 3:1, e.g.: ODDS.

2. No more than: MERE.

3. Emergency copter op: EVAC.

4. Birthday buy: GIFT.

7. Olympic goal: MEDAL.

8. Artfully seek, as a promotion: ANGLE FOR.

9. Actress Kravitz: ZOË.  Zoë (née Zoë Isabella Kravits; b. Dec. 1, 1988) is the daughter of musician Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet.

10. Make a mistake: ERR.

11. Electricity: JUICE.

12. Letter before Papa: OSCAR.  A reference to the NATO Phonetic Alphabet

13. Coronas and Buds: BEERS.  Both are brands of beers.

18. Venetian elder of yore: DOGE.  The Doge was the highest political position in the Venetian Republic. Here is everything you ever wanted to know about the Doge of Venice, but didn't know to ask.

The Dog of Venice.

21. Australian airport code: SYD.  Flying into Sydney?

23. "Star Trek" helmsman: SULU.

24. __ husbandry: ANIMAL.  Everything you wanted to know about animal husbandry, but didn't know to ask.

25. Logging tools: SAWS.

26. Fairy tale bears, e.g.: TRIO.

27. "Seasons of Love" musical: RENT.

28. Amer. money: USD.  As in the United States Dollar.

29. Wrap a gift, slangily: DO IT UP.  I don't think I have heard this expression in the context of wrapping a gift.

32. Halves of qts.: PTS.  Pints and Quarts.  Mind your Ps and Qs.

33. Holiday and Days: INNS.  Clever.  Both are motels

34. Editor's "Let it be": STET.  A crossword staple.

35. Free TV ads: PSAs.  As in Public Service Announcements.

37. Mom's mom: NANA.

38. Awning, for one: SUN SHADE.

43. Super Bowl org.: NFL.  As in the National Football League.  //  And 58-Down. QB targets: WRs.  The Wide Receiver is the target for the QuarterBack.

44. Roaming, like a knight: ERRANT.

45. Brief invite equivalent of "Drinks are not on me!": BYOB.

46. Like decrees from Francis: PAPAL.

47. Fish sauce taste: UMAMI.

48. Screwball comedy: FARCE.

49. Grand __ National Park: TETON.  Today's French lesson.

52. Just plain plain: DRAB.

53. Napa prefix: OENO-.

54. Asian holidays: TETS.  Another crossword staple.

55. Israeli weapons: UZIs.  Uriel Gal (Dec. 15, 1923 ~ Sept. 7, 2002) was an Israeli gun designer best remembered for designing the submachine gun that bears his name.

56. Cabinet dept. head: SECY.  As in Secretary.

59. Top __: Monopoly piece: HAT.  A history of the Monopoly pieces.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

Beware the Ides of March!

 

Monday February 28, 2022 John Michael Currie

Theme: SECRET SAUCE (55. Subtle element in a success story ... and what's revealed by each set of circles) - Five type of sauces are hidden in the theme answers.

 20A. Like civilizations that antedate written records: PREHISTORIC. Pesto.

 30A. Pop singer's list of recordings, e.g.: DISCOGRAPHY. Soy.

 46A. Sourced locally, as a menu: FARM TO TABLE. Mole.

 11D. Official inspection spot: CHECKPOINT. Hot.

 29D. Diver's rotation: SOMERSAULT. Meat.

Boomer here. 

Well, I have certainly had SOY sauce over the years and I can also say I have enjoyed HOT sauce now and then. PESTO, MOLE, and MEAT are not enjoyed in our house. 

Happy to say so long to February which contributed about a dozen days where the thermometer hit a mark below zero.  Add that to January and we had about a total of 30 minus days.  I think it is a new record of minus for the land of 10,000 lakes.

Across:

1. Taiwanese bubble tea: BOBA.

 

 

5. Yawn-inducing: BANAL.

10. Dull pain: ACHE. Attacks my left leg frequently.

14. Racetrack shape: OVAL.  Kentucky Derby is coming soon.  Place your bets.  Minnesota has "Canterbury Downs" where they show a video of Churchill downs and betting is open.

15. Fruit whose oil is used in cooking: OLIVE.  Popeye's girlfriend.

16. Onetime Ralston cereal now owned by General Mills: CHEX.  My favorites are simple Wheat and Corn Chex.  I see a lot of sugary Chex in the cereal aisle and cinnamon are not too bad.  Most of the others have lots of sugar.  Except Rice which are not a favorite.

17. Wine lover's prefix: OENO. As in "oenophile".

18. Nine-piece combo: NONET.

19. U. of Maryland athlete: TERP.  Short for Terrapin.

23. Pigeon sound: COO.  We do not see many Pigeons.  They are known to make a mess.

24. "SNL" alum Gasteyer: ANA.

25. Armored vehicle: TANK.  We have one that holds about $60.00 worth of gasoline.  Of course that is this week.  Who knows about next week.

27. Tres menos uno: DOS. Three minus one.

36. Traditional piano key wood: EBONY.  Blacker than the Ace of spades.

38. Root for a luau: TARO.

39. Pâté de __ gras: FOIE.

40. Covert ops outfit: CAMO.  I used to have some Camo stuff left over from Uncle Sam.  It's gone now. 

41. "Chopsticks __ fork?": OR A.  Fork for me, sticks for my dear wife.

42. Fey with nine Emmys: TINA.  I could never stay up late enough to watch Saturday Night Live.

43. Part of BSA: Abbr.: AMER. The Boy Scouts of America.

44. Ponder (over): MULL.  I'll think about it.

45. Hunger signs that hurt: PANGS.  Not me.  I always eat before the PANGS show up.

49. Vietnamese New Year: TET.

50. Articulated: SAID.

51. Tiny colonist: ANT.  Driveway is covered with snow right now.  Amazing how these little bugs can dig holes in the tar and create a home in the spring.

53. Reggae relative: SKA.

62. Unseating plan?: COUP.  I don't know.  There is usually enough room in the back.

64. Avoid, as duty: SHIRK.

65. Broadway event: SHOW.  "SHOW me the way to go home.  I'm tired and I wanna go to bed."

66. Adept: ABLE.  I have not been ABLE to bowl for awhile. Working on PT rehab.

67. One of the senses: TASTE.

68. Joint above the ankle: KNEE.

69. Greek B: BETA.  Alpha, BETA, Gamma, Delta.  Only one Airline in the Greek Alphabet.

70. "Oof!": YIKES.

71. Abel and Cain, to Adam and Eve: SONS.  Don't forget SETH. 

Down:

1. Cutesy nose-poke word: BOOP.  Betty's last name.

 

 

2. Mind-matter link: OVER.  "Why don't we stop fooling ourselves.  The game is OVER, OVER, OVER."  Simon and Garfunkel.

3. Scourge: BANE.

4. Hawaiian greeting: ALOHA. Also can be "See you later".

5. Dwarf planting: BONSAI.

6. Very much: A LOT.  Where I park at the grocery store.

7. Barcelona boy: NINO.

8. Declare: AVER.

9. "Time to stop obsessing on this": LET IT GO.  Aaron Rodgers - are you listening?

10. Play a part (in): ACT.

12. One who comes to the rescue: HERO.  A big sandwich.

13. Montreal MLBer before 2005: EXPO.  Montreal left Canada and became the Washington Nationals.  The Minnesota Twins were the Senators that left Washington in 1960.

21. "500" race, familiarly: INDY.  This OVAL track race is also coming soon.  Around Memorial Day.

22. Automobile: CAR.  These Fast, Faster will be at INDY but never in my garage.

26. Tripartite commerce pact acronym: NAFTA.  North America Free Trade.

27. Pre-bedtime coffee, often: DECAF.  I am enjoying this now.  I guess Chemotherapy patients are not supposed to have caffeine.

28. President with degrees from Columbia and Harvard: OBAMA.  I remember him.

31. Dark beer: STOUT.  I have never liked beer.

32. Diane's "Cheers" co-server: CARLA.  Where everybody knows your name.

33. Colgate rival: ORAL B.

34. Depend (on): HINGE.  Depends on keeping your door in place.

35. Brewery need: YEAST.  Also needed for pizza dough.

37. __ Rae, Sally Field role: NORMA.

44. "Aw shucks" quality: MODESTY.

45. Writers' tools: PENS.  Pigs lived in them on my Uncle Bill's farm in Siren, Wisconsin..

47. Apt "it's" anagram: TIS.  The season to feel jolly.

48. Hanukkah pancakes: LATKES.

52. Duties: TASKS.  The physical therapy lady gives me a few tasks.

53. Wound cover: SCAB.  I cover with a Band Aid.  The SCAB comes later.

54. Asian beef city: KOBE.  Mr. BRYANT was a great LA Laker Basketball player, before he went down in a helicopter.

56. Indian spiced tea: CHAI.

57. Take a chance on: RISK.  I think Kramer played RISK with Neuman in Jerry's Apartment.

58. Art Deco artist: ERTE.

59. "Hmm ... doubt it": UH NO.

60. Ethan or Joel of film: COEN.

61. Fleecy females: EWES.

63. Podded plant: PEA.  C.C. likes all kinds of veggies.

Boomer

Tuesday, November 30, 2021 John Michael Currie

Do Opposites Attract?

20-Across. Available workers, statistically: LABOR MARKET.  Labor Day is the first Monday in September.

27-Across. Meteorology, e.g.: EARTH SCIENCE.  Earth Day falls on April 22.

45-Across. Game in which grabbing a piece of cloth replaces tackling: FLAG FOOTBALL.  Flag Day is on June 14. 

And the unifier:

54-Across. Period when everything is backwards ... and where the starts of 20-, 27- and 45-Across might be found?: OPPOSITE DAY.  Hand up if you have heard of Opposite Day.  Apparently it is a real day and is observed on January 25.

This clue indicates that the first word of each theme answer can be placed Opposite word Day to give us a new concept.  Note that each of these "days" is a recognized holiday: Labor Day (1st Monday of September), Earth Day (April 22), and Flag Day (June 14).  It appears to me Market Day and Science Day can also valid "days", albeit not recognized holidays.  I don't believe I have ever heard of a specific Football Day.

Across:

1. Way in the woods: PATH.

5. Japanese cattle breed yielding Kobe beef: WAGYU.  Not a Tuesday word, but I think we have seen it in the puzzles before.  Everything you wanted to know about Wagyu Cattle, but didn't know to ask.

10. Fleecy footwear brand: UGGS.  Supposedly, the owner named his line of footwear Uggs because his wife thought they were ugly.  She was right.

14. Currency named for a continent: EURO.  The money is so colorful.

15. Used for dinner, as dishes: ATE ON.  Did anyone pull out the good china for Thanksgiving?

16. Fit: SUIT.

17. Burnett on CNN: ERIN.  Erin Isabelle Burnett (b. July 2, 1976) is the anchor of OutFront on CNN.

18. Author Dahl: ROALD.  Roald Dahl (Sept. 13, 1916 ~ Nov. 23, 1990) makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles.  He is arguably best known for his children's novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

19. Crib sheet user: BABY.

23. "Oedipus __": REX.

24. Set of TV programs: SERIES.  Law & Order is a long-running series with several spin-offs.

25. First name in civil rights history: ROSA.  Rosa Parks(née Rosa Louise McCauley; Feb. 4, 1913 ~ Oct. 24, 2005) is best know for her role in the Montgomery, Alabama Buss Boycott of December 1955, when she refused to give up her seat, but do you know of Claudette Colvin (b. Sept. 5, 1939), a 15-years old schoolgirl who had refused to give up her seat in March of 1955?

Rosa Parks (left) and Claudette Colvin (right)

32. Gets ready for a selfie: POSES.

 

35. Tried to be like: EMULATED.

36. Before, in poems: ERE.

37. Explosion: BLAST.

39. Rock in a vein: ORE.  This is now a crossword staple.

40. Merchant: RETAILER.  ///  And 9-Down. Go even lower than, pricewise: UNDERCUT.

43. Cling wrap brand: SARAN.

48. Spanish kiss: BESO.  Today's Spanish lesson.  Hi, Lucina!

49. Meteorologist's pressure line: ISOBAR.

52. Do stuff?: GEL.

58. Out of the office: AWAY.

60. Made a boo-boo: ERRED.

61. NFL analyst Tony: ROMO.  Tony Romo (né Antonio Ramiro Romo; b. Apr. 21, 1980) played for the Dallas Cowboys for 14 seasons, from 2003 until 2016.

62. Google-owned navigation app: WAZE.

63. Volleyball great Gabrielle: REECE.  I am not up on professional volleyball players, so the perps helped me out with her name.  Gabrielle Allyse Reece (b. Jan. 6, 1970) played volleyball for Florida State University before she turned pro.

64. Deuce defeater: TREY.

65. Had down pat: KNEW.

66. Dalmatian features: SPOTS.

67. __ Domini: ANNO.  Today's Latin lesson.  The term is translated to mean: the year of the Lord, and is generally abbreviated as AD.

Down:

1. Banana leftover: PEEL.

2. Subtle vibes: AURAS.  Everything you wanted to know about Auras, but didn't know to ask.

3. Wichita or Omaha: TRIBE.

4. Distinguished guest, perhaps: HONOREE.

5. Not so cold: WARMER.

6. "Raise your glass!": A TOAST!

7. Camping equipment: GEAR.  Not a Tent.

8. The "sun" in "sunny side up": YOLK.

10. Thumb drive port: USB.  As in Universal Serial Bus.  One now needs an adapter for the new Apple computers.  The standard USB doesn't fit.

11. Co-signer, e.g.: GUARANTOR.

12. Taunt: GIBE.

13. River in which Achilles was dipped: STYX.  Greek mythology.

21. Narrow inlets: RIAS.

22. Work really hard: TOIL.

26. Caribbean, for one: SEA.  Also the name of a 1989 novel by James Michener.

28. Essence: HEART.

29. Texting format, for short: SMS.  As in Short Message Service.

30. Michael of "Arrested Development": CERA.  Michael Austin Cera (b. June 7, 1988) makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles.

31. Genesis garden: EDEN.  Another crossword staple.

32. Flawless, in slang: PERF.  Because it's just to tiring to say: Perfect.

33. Baseball's Hershiser: OREL.  Orel Hershiser (né Orel Leonard Hershier, IV; b. Sept. 16, 1958) is a former baseball pitcher.  He played in the majors for 18 years.

34. Light on fire: SET ABLAZE.

37. Humorous outtakes: BLOOPERS.

38. Cancer follower: LEO.  As in in signs of the zodiac.

41. Golden __: AGE.

42. "In that case ... ": IF SO.

43. Vending machine opening: SLOT.

44. Calgary's province: ALBERTA.  Hi, CanadianEh!

46. Split equally: BISECT.

47. Comments only for the audience: ASIDES.

50. Decorate: ADORN.  Some people go to extreme measures to adorn their homes this time of year.

51. Asian noodle dish: RAMEN.  Several years ago, one of our regulars (sadly, I don't remember who), provided us with a recipe for a Bird Seed Salad that used Ramen noodles.  I have made that salad many times when I need to bring a dish to a potluck dinner.  It is delicious.

52. Stare stupidly: GAWK.

53. Obi-Wan portrayer McGregor: EWAN.  Ewan Gordon McGregor (b. Mar. 31, 1971) portrayed Obi-Wan in the prequel Star Wars movies.

Ewan McGregor, left, and Alec Guinness, right both played Obi-Wan Kenobi

55. Help the chef: PREP.

56. Black-and-white cookie: OREO.  A crossword staple.

But these are the true Black and White cookies.

57. Toy on a string: YO-YO.

59. Bow wood: YEW.  Everything you wanted to know about the Yew, but didn't know to ask.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

Happy Chanukkah!