Thursday, July 10, 2025, Zhou Zhang, Kevin Curry

 Theme:  Automatic replies

When I'm going to be out of the office, I set my work email to send automatic replies to anyone who sends email to me, assuring them that I will return on a given date and attend to their needs.  In today's puzzle, four well known characters craft automatic replies that let you know they're up to their usual behaviors.  The theme clues and answers are:

18-Across. Automatic email reply from Glinda?: GONE FOR GOOD.  If Glinda, the good witch from The Wizard of Oz, is gone, she must be up to something good.

28-Across. Automatic email reply from Lightning McQueen?: OFF TO THE RACES.  If Lightning McQueen, the anthropomorphic stock car from the Disney/Pixar Cars movies, is off, it must be to the races.

45-Across. Automatic email reply from Pigpen?: LEFT IN THE DUST.  If Pigpen has left, you can expect to find this character from Peanuts in a cloud of dust.

60-Across. Automatic email reply from the Tasmanian Devil?: OUT FOR A SPIN.  If Warner Bros.' Tasmanian Devil is out, you'll likely find him spinning like a tornado.

I think this is Zhou Zhang's third appearance as puzzle constructor in the LA Times, and Kevin Curry's second.  I like the symmetry of the theme answers in the grid, and the fact that each of the automatic email replies is a familiar phrase.  Zhou Zhang was co-author on Sunday, June 29, 2025, when C.C. described the News Splash! theme this way:  "One word in each common phrase is replaced by its nautical homophone."  Brevity is the soul of wit!  And yet ... here I go with the rest of the clues and answers.

Across:

1. Place: PUT.  You might place, or put, dishes on the table.

4. Nearly match: RIVAL.  "A photographer whose fame rivaled that of his subjects."

9. Impressive deeds: FEATS.

14. "Or so": ISH.  Let's meet for lunch noonish.

15. Savory food quality: UMAMI.  The tasty je ne sais quoi triggered by glutamate, inosinate, and guanylate.

16. Aptly named cooler brand: IGLOO.

17. Leaves in hot water: TEA.

18. [Theme clue]

20. __ and crafts: ARTS.

22. Rejects: NIXES.

23. Bear necessities?: DENS.

24. Wraps found in Delhi: SARIS.

26. Weep: CRY.

28. [Theme clue]

33. Water nymph of Greek myth: NAIAD.  Not to be confused with Dryads (tree nymphs), Oreads (mountain nymphs) and other specialized nymphs.  They are all female nature spirits.

Hylas and the Nymphs by John William Waterhouse

34. Spiritual glow: AURA.

35. Buddy: PAL.

38. Itty-bitty: TINY.

39. Detests: HATES.

41. Many a Marvel character: HERO.

42. "Let You Love Me" singer Rita: ORA.  If you've been solving LA Times crossword puzzles, you know Rita Ora, at least by name.

43. Had on: WORE.

44. Sources of dates: PALMS.  Date palms are native to the Middle East and North Africa.  They need an arid climate with plenty of water at their roots.  A few species were transplanted to the Palm Springs area, where the fruit is popular with tourists, especially in the form of date shakes.  Yum!

45. [Theme clue]

49. Sound of a lightbulb turning on?: AHA.

50. Become edible: RIPEN.

51. Go at it: SPAR.

54. "In case you didn't hear me ... ": I SAID.

57. Slant: SKEW.

60. [Theme clue]

63. Decorate at a bakery: ICE.

64. Essential at a bakery: FLOUR.

65. Dazzled: SHONE.

66. Org. with up to 23 Senators: NHL.  The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa and competing in the National Hockey League. An NHL team roster has a maximum of 23 players, but only 20 players are allowed to dress for each game. All of this being news to me, of course.

67. McIntosh or Macintosh: APPLE.  McIntosh is a fruit: Macintosh is a computer.  The first is an apple; the second is an Apple.

68. __ fund: HEDGE.  A hedge fund is a pooled investment fund that holds liquid assets and that makes use of complex trading and risk management techniques to improve investment performance and insulate returns from market risk.  In the U.S., only institutions and high net worth individuals are allowed to invest in hedge funds due to the risks involved. 

69. 41-Down, e.g.: GOD.

Down:

1. Wrap found in a deli: PITA.

2. App customer: USER.

3. "End of discussion": THAT'S FINAL.

4. Prayer __: RUG.  Muslims use a prayer rug for cleanliness during the various positions of Islamic prayer. These involve prostration and sitting on the ground.  Orthodox Christians and Baháʼís may also use prayer rugs.

5. "Consider this done!": I'M ON IT.

6. Disappear: VANISH.

7. MC alternative: AMEX.  MasterCard vs. American Express.  The crossing of AMEX with NIXES was a sticking point for me, especially because I did not recognize MC as an abbreviation for MasterCard.  

8. Word with partner or lesson: LIFE.

9. Christmas purchase: FIR.  This is a tree, not what cruciverbalists write in our comments section when they Finish It Right.

10. Easter purchase: EGG DYE.

11. Soothing ingredient: ALOE.

12. Bluey, for one: TOON.  Bluey is an Australian animated television series aimed at preschool children, available for streaming on Disney+.  Both the main character and the series can be called a TOON, short for cartoon.

13. Lays down turf: SODS.

19. Honors given to Walt Disney a record 26 times: OSCARS.

21. Kebab with peanut sauce: SATAY.  Satay is a Southeast Asian dish of skewered and grilled meat, marinated in a blend of spices and served with a peanut dipping sauce.  DH and I enjoy soy "chicken" satay from LA Vegan.

25. Divining __: ROD.

27. Co. that purchased Victor in 1929: RCA.

28. Not fooled by: ONTO.

29. Unbiased: FAIR.

30. Downed: EATEN.

31. Regret: RUE.

32. Cave man's hobby?: SPELUNKING.  Loved this clue and answer.  Spelunking is the exploration of caves, especially as a hobby.  

I took this photo in the caves of Nerja during my recent trip to Spain.

36. Cuttlefish's octet: ARMS.  Cuttlefish are marine molluscs in the class Cephalopoda which also includes squid, octopuses, and nautiluses.  We saw cuttlefish on restaurant menus in Spain.

37. Missing: LOST.

39. Windbag's output: HOT AIR.

40. Cards, to NFL fans: ARI.  The Arizona Cardinals are a professional football team based in Phoenix, ARIzona. The "Cards" compete in the National Football League.

My mom took this photo of a real Arizona Cardinal in her garden north of Phoenix.

41. Brother of Zeus and Poseidon: HADES.  Greek gods.

43. Status of remote employees, for short: WFH.  Work From Home.

44. Pizzazz: PEP.

46. Sharp scolding: EARFUL.

47. Three-footer?: TRIPOD.  One of my best friends adopted a tripod dog.

48. Concealing: HIDING.

51. Nap location: SOFA.

52. Orange juice option: PULP.

53. Perched on: ATOP.

55. Accessory in a homecoming court: SASH.

56. Arthur __ Courage Award: ASHE.  The Arthur Ashe Courage Award, presented by ESPN, is named for tennis player Arthur Ashe. The award is presented annually to individuals whose contributions "transcend sports."

58. Bounce off the walls, say: ECHO.

59. Fuse using heat: WELD.

61. NorCal neighbor: ORE.  Northern California abuts Oregon.

62. Formerly known as: NÉE.  French for "born," feminine.  My NÉE name is a couple of names behind me.

Here's the grid:

That's enough HOT AIR from me!  It's only FAIR that other solvers have a say!

Let us know what you thought about the puzzle in the comments.

-- NaomiZ

Tuesday, January 16, 2024 Kevin Curry

 Remember When We Had Life Without Computers?  The "start-up" of each theme answer is the name of a computer Tech company.

18-Across. South American home of many pink dolphins: AMAZON RIVER.  About 10 years ago we took an expedition in the Peruvian Amazon.  We saw several of these pink dolphins, but I was not able to take any good photos of them.  It was exciting to see these creatures, though.  This year, the Amazon has experienced from a severe drought and water levels are the lowest they have been in over 120 years.

24-Across. Scientific studies of pooled data: META ANALYSES.

40-Across. Diner dessert topped with a scoop: APPLE PIE À LA MODE.

52-Across. Bowlful of letter-shaped pasta: ALPHABET SOUP.  According to Globaldata.com "Alphabet Inc (Alphabet), the holding company of Google, is a global technology company. It offers a wide range of products and platforms including Search, Google Maps, calendar, ads, Gmail, Google Play, Android, Google Cloud, Chrome, and YouTube."

And the unifier:

63-Across. New venture that may collaborate with Y Combinator, and what 18-, 24-, 40-, and 52-Across each literally has?: TECH START-UP.  The "Start" of each theme answer it the name of a Tech company.

Across:

1. Ballplayer's hat: CAP.

4. Bygone Persian rulers: SHAHS.

9. Under: BELOW.

14. Baton Rouge sch.: LSU.  Louisiana State University makes frequent guest appearances in the puzzles.  We saw this school in last Tuesday's puzzle.  Several of our regulars also have ties to this university.  Geaux Tigers!

15. Certain Tuscan: PISAN.  A citizen from Pisa.  Rumor has it that this Tuscan city has a tower that leans.

16. Suspect's excuse: ALIBI.

17. Feel ill: AIL.

20. At one's leisure: IDLY.

22. More current: NEWER.

23. Potato spot: EYE.

28. "Don't believe the __": HYPE.

29. Make a mistake: SLIP UP.

33. Very small: WEE.

35. Healing ointment: SALVE.

39. Top of the line: A-ONE.

44. "Star Wars" heroine: LEIA.  Princess Leia was portrayed by Carrie Fisher (née Carrie Frances Fisher; Oct. 21, 1956 ~ Dec. 27, 2016), who sadly died early at age 60.  [Name # 1, fictional.]

45. Sing the praises of: EXTOL.

46. Snapchat snicker: LOL.  Textspeak for Laughing Out Loud.

47. Court game: TENNIS.

50. "Knives Out" filmmaker Johnson: RIAN.  Knives Out was a very funny movie.  I generally don't keep up with filmmakers, however, so was not familiar with Johnson Rian (né Rian Craig Johnson; b. Dec. 17, 1973).  Apparently, he also directed the 2017 film Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which was the last film of Carrie Fisher.   [Name # 2.]

58. Grampa Simpson: ABE.  His full name is Abraham Jebediah Simpson II, but he usually just goes by Grampa Simpson.  [Name # 3, fictional.]

61. Feudal lord: LIEGE.

62. Fire truck item: HOSE.

67. "With all __ respect ... ": DUE.

68. "West Side Story" role for Rachel Zegler: MARIA.  Rachel Zegler (b. May 2, 2001) starred in the 2021 adaptation of West Side Story, which is essentially an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet.  [Name # 4.]

69. Sierra __, Africa: LEONE.

70. Place for a napkin or a cat: LAP.

71. Hit the books: STUDY.

72. Spanish mister: SEÑOR.  Today's Spanish lesson.

73. Above-the-street rumblers: ELs.

Down:

1. Call one's own: CLAIM.

2. "All kidding __ ... ": ASIDE.

3. End a project due to lack of funding, say: PULL THE PIN.  Pull the Plug seems a more common phrase.  According to Quora: "The phrase 'pull the pin' has its origins in military terminology, specifically in reference to hand grenades. When a soldier is ready to throw a hand grenade, they must first pull the safety pin before releasing the grenade. Over time, the phrase "pull the pin" has been used more broadly to mean taking a decisive action or initiating a process that cannot be easily undone."

4. Place to take it easy: SPA.

5. He/__ pronouns: HIM.

6. Yoga posture: ASANA.

7. Witch __: astringent lotion: HAZEL.  Everything you wanted to know about Witch hazel but didn't know to ask.  [Name adjacent.]

8. Like some winter nights: SNOWY.  I'm glad these snowy days are behind me.  The northeast is getting a lot of snow this month.

9. Wooden wine container: BARREL.

10. Yale student: ELI.

11. Reside (in): LIVE.

12. Follow orders: OBEY.

13. Undercover agent's device: WIRE.  The Wire was also the name of an HBO crime drama that ran in the early 2000s.

19. Loch __ monster: NESS.

21. "Great news!": YAY.

25. Altar area: APSE.

26. Half-moon tide: NEAP.

27. Former name of Thailand: SIAM.

30. Simple flotation device: POOL NOODLE.

31. Reverse: UNDO.

32. Kumquat coat: PEEL.  I have a Kumquat tree in my backyard.  We just eat the fruit, peel and all.

33. Poet Whitman: WALT.  Walt Whitman (né Walter Whitman, Jr.; May 31, 1819 ~ Mar. 26, 1892) is considered by many scholars to be one of the most influential American poets.  He was considered controversial in his time.  He is probably best known for his poetry collection Leaves of Grass.  [Name # 5.]

34. Fencer's blade: ÉPÉE.  A crossword staple.

36. Untruth: LIE.

37. Irk: VEX.

38. Gulp down: EAT.

41. "Blue Banisters" singer-songwriter Del Rey: LANA.  Lana Turner (née Julia Jean Turner; Feb. 8, 1921 ~ June 29, 1995) was the inspiration for this singer's stage name.  Lana Del Rey's given name is Elizabeth Woolridge Grant (b. June 21, 1985).  [Name # 6.]

42. Ancestral stories, e.g.: LORE.

43. Settled on a branch, as a bird: ALIT.

48. "Darn tootin'!": I'LL SAY.

Ever watch Ghosts?  Darn tootin' it's a funny show.

49. Rotisserie rod: SPIT.

51. __-blond: grayish shade: ASH.

53. Recovers: HEALS.

54. Share an opinion: AGREE.

55. Pick to win at the track: BET ON.

56. Regular's order, with "the": USUAL.

57. Marshmallow treats shaped like baby birds: PEEPS.

58. Cash dispensers: ATMs.

59. Score more points than: BEAT.

60. Beige shade: ECRU.

Such a subtle difference.

64. Camouflaged: HID.  Can you find the hidden critters in these photos?

65. Game in which a player may get a red or a yellow card: UNO.  This card game has become a crossword staple.

66. According to: PER.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

 

Notes from C.C.: 

Chairman Moe has today's Universal crossword. Click here to solve. Congrats, Chris!