google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Laura Dershewitz

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Showing posts with label Laura Dershewitz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Laura Dershewitz. Show all posts

Oct 23, 2024

Wednesday, October 23, 2024 Laura Dershewitz

Theme:  You're putting me on.  And me, too; where, as we shall soon see, one garment is worn over another garment. 

17 A. Put in the fridge to warm up: DEFROSTED, as from the freezer and --
20 A. Common laundry no-show: SOCK,  a piece of clothing worn on the foot and often covering the ankle or some part of the calf.   Sometimes lost in the wash.


But the target word here is FROCK,  an unfitted, comfortable garment for wear in the house, or (later) a light overdress worn with a slip or underdress. 

19 A. Bistros: CAFES for casual dining, and --
23 A. Lose on purpose: TANK, make no effort to win.

Here we are looking for a CAFTAN,  often worn as a coat or as an overdress, usually having long sleeves and reaching to the ankles.

56 A. Legendary Arthur: ASHE.  Arthur Robert Ashe Jr. [1943-1993] was an American professional tennis player. He won three Grand Slam titles in singles and two in doubles. Ashe was the first black player selected to the United States Davis Cup team, and the only black man ever to win the singles titles at Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open, and --
62 A. Shrubby landscape: HEATH,  an area of open uncultivated land, especially in Britain, with characteristic vegetation of heather, gorse, and coarse grasses.

This item is a SHEATH.  Sheath dresses fit tightly from bodice to hem, and emphasize the shape of an hourglass figure, while shift dresses [vide infra] are shapeless and conceal the body shape.

61 A. Like Puss in Boots: SHOD, wearing shoes, and --
64 A. Delivered by plane, as emergency supplies: AIRLIFTED, as defined.

 A SHIFT is a dress in which the cloth falls straight from the shoulders and has darts around the bust. It frequently features a high scoop or boat neck. 

And the unifier - 39 A. Autumn-weather advice for staying comfortable, or a description of each set of circled letters: DRESS IN LAYERS.  Perhaps wear an undershirt, overshirt, sweater and jacket.  If you get too warm, you can remove a layer. 


 Or just don one of the layerable garments described above.  I suppose for some of these, the layering is implied, or even optional.  But we'll just let that go.

Hi, Gang, it's JazzBumpa here in the dressing room.  Since the theme clues each span a pair of across lines, I had to layer these clues to dress this puzzle up properly.  Hope you got the circles, or this material would be hard to see through.  Let's find out what other fashions Laura has designed for us

Across:

1. Pre-weekend shout: TGIF.  Thank [Deity of your choice] it's Friday.

5. Spot for a hoop: LOBE.  Ear ring location

9. Subsided: EBBED.   Receded or declined.

14. Pro __: gratis: BONO.   Pro bono is a Latin phrase that means "for the public good" and refers to professional work done voluntarily and without payment.

15. Unanswered, as a question: OPEN.   Refers to a matter or problem that is being discussed but to which the answer is not yet known.

16. Eternal City fountain: TREVI.  The Trevi Fountain is an 18th-century fountain in the Trevi district in Rome, Italy, designed by Italian architect Nicola Salvi and completed by Giuseppe Pannini in 1762.




21. Puny pencil: STUB.  Writing remnant.

24. Word with green or silver: SCREEN.  A green screen is a large green backdrop that makes it possible to add any background to the subject of your photo or video.  Cf 10 D. "Silver screen" is a term that refers to the movie industry or to a type of projection screen used in early film:

26. Hall of Fame coach Summitt: PAT.   Patricia Susan Summitt was an American women's college basketball head coach and college basketball player. As a coach at the University of Tennessee, she acquired 1,098 career wins, the most in college basketball history at the time of her retirement.

28. Part of 1-Across: IT'S.   It is.  But, alas,  now it's only Wednesday.  And I have 2 [!] rehearsals tonight.

29. Fluffy dog, familiarly: POM.  The Pomeranian is a breed of dog of the Spitz type that is named for the Pomerania region in north-west Poland and north-east Germany in Central Europe. Classed as a toy dog breed because of its small size, the Pomeranian is descended from larger Spitz-type dogs, specifically the German Spitz.

30. Stag or doe: DEER.   A deer or true deer is a hoofed ruminant ungulate of the family Cervidae. Cervidae is divided into subfamilies Cervinae and Capreolinae. Male deer of almost all species, as well as female reindeer, grow and shed new antlers each year.

33. Burns a bit: CHARS.   Partially burn an object so as to blacken its surface.

35. Rode an enchanted broomstick, maybe: FLEW.  Move or be hurled quickly through the air, no matter witch way.

37. Tow truck: WRECKER.  Slangy mis-application of the word.

43. "Soup's on!": LET'S EAT.  It's meal time. 

44. Scene scenes: SETS.   Arrangements of props and other background items in a segment of a movie or play.

46. D.C. subway: METRO.   Rapid transit or mass rapid transit (MRT) or heavy rail, commonly referred to as metro, is a type of high-capacity public transport that is generally built in urban areas. 

48. "Remixing Since Forever" ice cream brand: EDY'S.   Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, Inc., is an American ice cream company, founded in 1928 in Oakland, California. The company's two signature brands, Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream and Edy's Grand Ice Cream, are named after its founders, William Dreyer and Joseph Edy

50. Blubber: CRY.  Weep, sob.

51. Student carrier: BUS.  A large motor vehicle carrying passengers by road, typically one serving the public on a fixed route and for a fare.

52. French pal: AMI.  Literal

54. Garlicky sauces: AIOLIS.  A mayonnaise flavored with garlic and sometimes other ingredients, such as red pepper.

58. First name in jazz: ETTA.   Jamesetta Hawkins [1938-2012] known professionally as Etta James, was an American singer and songwriter who performed in various genres, including gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, rock and roll, and soul.


67. Luminous vibes: AURAE.  In spiritualism and some forms of alternative medicine, a supposed emanation surrounding the body of a living creature and regarded as an essential part of the individual.

68. "U slay me!": LMAOLaughing My Appendages* Off.  
* So to speak.

69. "Actually, I disagree": UH--NO.  Nope!

70. Hint at: IMPLY.  Strongly suggest the truth or existence of something not expressly stated.

71. Site built with two cents?: YELP.   Yelp Inc. is an American company that develops the Yelp.com website and the Yelp mobile app, which publishes crowd-sourced reviews about businesses. It also operates Yelp Guest Manager, a table reservation service. It is headquartered in San Francisco.  Unless the clue is referring to users putting in their 2 cents worth, I don't know what it means.

72. Ping-Pong table dividers: NETS.  A six inch high mesh barrier that separates a ping pong table into two equal halves: 

Down:

1. Sked abbr.: TBD.  To be determined, referring to an item in a schedule,

2. Offers no more clues, as a trail: GOES COLD.  Becomes ineffective or unproductive,

3. Snitch: INFORMER.  A person who informs on another person to the police or other authority.  Tattle tale.

4. Compel: FORCE.  Oblige someone to do something, regardless of their willingness.

5. __ Angeles Sparks: LOS.   The Los Angeles Sparks are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Sparks compete in the Women's National Basketball Association as a member club of the league's Western Conference. The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began. 

6. Declines, with "out": OPTS.  Chooses not to participate in something.

7. Vegetable used in some red dyes: BEET.    The edible dark red spherical root of a a herbaceous plant, eaten as a vegetable.

8. Become, eventually: END UP.   To reach or come to a place, condition, or situation that was not planned or expected.

9. "And more" abbr.: ETC.  Abbreviation for et cetera: and other similar things. It is used to avoid giving a complete list.

10. 2024 Charli XCX hit album whose cover became a meme: BRAT.    Charlotte Emma Aitchison [b. 1992] known professionally as Charli XCX, is an English singer and songwriter. Born in Cambridge and raised in Start Hill, Essex, she began posting songs on Myspace in 2008, which led to her discovery by a promoter who invited her to perform at warehouse raves.   Charli XCX "Brat" Cover Parodies refers to exploitable edits of English singer and songwriter Charli XCX's sixth studio album cover, known as brat. The cover features a vibrant lime-green background with the title "brat" disproportionately imposed on it, which received some criticism in February 2024 but was later turned into a source for green-screen edits and memes, as the cover could be easily photoshopped and parodied on social media by fans of the singer and also several companies, especially in Brazil.




11. "No playing favorites!": BE FAIR.  Impartial and just, without favoritism or discrimination.

12. Happenings: EVENTS.  Planned public or social occasions.

13. Hockey pucks, e.g.: DISKS. Flat, thin, round objects.

18. Approved: OKED.  As defined

22. "Likewise," informally: BACK AT YA.    Whatever you just said to the person saying it, that person is saying the same thing back to you.

24. Letters on a Coppertone bottle: SPFSolar Protection Factor.  A sunscreen’s SPF is a measure of how many harmful ultraviolet rays it absorbs or reflects away from your skin.  Must be reapplied ever couple of hours.

25. "I had no idea!": NEWS TO ME.  Said of newly received knowledge.

27. Nonbinary pronoun: THEY.   Non-binary pronouns are pronouns that are not gender specific and are often used by people who identify outside of the gender binary. The most common non-binary pronouns are "they/them/their". 

31. Greek goddess of discord: ERIS.   Eris is the goddess of strife, discord, and rivalry. She is known for starting the Trojan War by throwing a golden apple inscribed "For the most beautiful" among the guests at the wedding of Peleus and Thetis. Eris was not invited to the wedding, and her actions led to a quarrel among the goddesses. Her Roman equivalent is Discordia.

32. Soprano Fleming: RENEE.  Renée Lynn Fleming [b. 1959] is an American soprano and actress, known for performances in opera, concerts, recordings, theater, film, and at major public occasions. A recipient of the National Medal of Arts, Fleming has been nominated for 18 Grammy Awards and has won five times. 

34. Greek god of war: ARES.   Ares was the ancient Greek god of war or, more properly, the spirit of battle. He represented the distasteful aspects of brutal warfare and slaughter. Ares was never very popular, and his worship was not extensive in Greece.

36. Allergic reaction, perhaps: WELT.   A raised red mark on the skin where something has hit or rubbed you, or from an allergic reaction.

38. Not naked: CLAD.  Clothed or covered.  Cf 41 A/

40. Lab liquids: SERA.    Liquids that are injected into someone's blood to protect them against a poison or disease, or the the watery, pale yellow part of blood.

41. Provide with a wardrobe change: RECLOTHE.  Provide a change of clothing.

42. Loud and grating: STRIDENT.  Said of a harsh voice or sound.

45. Pt. of GPS: SYStem.  

46. Art house?: MUSEUM.  Typically, a movie theater that specializes in films that are artistic or experimental rather than merely entertaining.  But here - a more literal meaning of a building that houses works of art.

47. F equivalent, in music: E SHARP.  Note that are spelt differently, but sound the same are known as enharmonic equivalents.  

49. "Absolutamente!": SI,SI.  Enthusiastic affirmation.

51. Faith whose oldest standing temple is in Wilmette, Illinois: BAHAI.   A monotheistic religion founded in the 19th century as a development of Babism, emphasizing the essential oneness of humankind and of all religions and seeking world peace. The Baha'i faith was founded by the Persian Baha'ullah (1817–92) and his son Abdul Baha (1844–1921).   Babism isa religion founded in 1844 by the Persian Mirza Ali Muhammad of Shiraz (1819–50) who taught that a new prophet would follow Muhammad.

53. Home of the Eternal City: ITALY.  Rome, of course.

55. "Riveting," sarcastically: OH, FUN.  Might be spoken through gritted teeth.

57. "And others" abbr.: ET. AL.  Like ETC [Cf 9 A] but used when the list is of people, such as co-authors, rather than things.

59. Clock display: TIME.  The current hours and minutes.  Will you come back for seconds?

60. North __ Sea: Kazakh lake: ARAL.  The Aral Sea was an endorheic lake lying between Kazakhstan to its north and Uzbekistan to its south, which began shrinking in the 1960s and largely dried up by the 2010s. 

63. Cry for attention?: HEY.   Pay attention, now!

65. Prune: LOP.  Cut off or prune, as branches.

66. Uno y uno: DOS.  Zwie, kettő, deux, två, two, in any language.

Well, that wraps up [so to speak] another Wednesday.  Hope you are enjoying your autumn.  Don't forget to layer up.

Cool regards!
JzB

Sep 16, 2024

Monday September, 16, 2024 Laura Dershewitz

  

Happy Monday, everyone! sumdaze here with a chosen, golden, and unbeaten puzzle sure to take you straight to your own personal Eden.

Theme:        EN-dive  
Note:  I could not find a pic of a diving endive on the internet
 so I made this image of an endive in scuba gear using Copilot AI.
Is this a first? (using AI to blog on The Corner)

Let's dive right en and take a look at the four themers:

17 Across. *Background for a scene using CGI: GREEN SCREEN.  
A green screen lets filmmakers drop in whatever background images behind the subject they want (e.g., scary alien, historic castle, futuristic planet, or even a real but hard-to-access location). The GREEN SCREEN singles out the selected color and digitally removes it by rendering it transparent, allowing the other image to show through. This is why TV weather forecasters never wear green. They are standing in front of a GREEN SCREEN!
24 Across. *Meditation area with raked sand: ZEN GARDEN.  
The Ryoanji Temple Rock Garden in Kyoto is one of Japan's most famous gardens. The 15 stones are perfectly arranged so that there is always one rock that is hidden from view, regardless of where the viewer stands.
so very ZEN

49 Across. *Broadway star who won a Tony for "Pippin": BEN VEREEN.  
Ben Vereen was born October 10, 1946 in North Carolina. In 1973 he won a Tony award for "Best Actor in a Musical" as the lead in Pippin. These days he teaches classes online and in person. He also makes cameo TV appearances. Here he is performing Simple Joys from Pippin. (2:35 min.)

60. *Circle K competitor: SEVEN ELEVEN.  
Both are convenience stores. This website compares them head-to-head.

Today's reveal is found mid-grid:

38 Across. Involves, or a phonetic feature of the answers to the starred clues?: ENTAILS.
This was a fun reveal! At first I was looking for some sort of rhyming connection but BEN VEREEN does not rhyme. Instead, the answers to the starred clues are all two-word answers such that every word ends with the letters E then N. In this way, E and N are tails (ends).  

Seeing phonetic (Def.: "of or relating to speech sounds") in the clue threw me a bit. Some of these words are pronounced with a long e sound and some with a short e sound.

Fasten your seatbelts, we have more clues which I am keen to explore!

Across:

1. Bus destination: STOP.  Oh, the bus is headed to the 'bus STOP'. Fun start!  

5. Upscale place for a furry friend: PET SPA.  

11. Like some Pride Month celebrants: GAY.  LGBTQIA+

14. Sigh of lament: AH, ME.

15. Cold and unwavering: STEELY.  
Steely Dan   ~   Do It Again   ~   1972

16. "I __ it all to you": OWE.  Thanks, C.C.!!

19. "Pow!": BAM.  
20. Moray trap: EEL POT.  

21. PBS "Science Kid": SID.  Sid the Science Kid was an animated TV show created by Jim Henson of The Muppets fame. It aired from 2008 to 2012.  

22. Steal: TAKE.

23. Like watermelon: SWEET. SWEET, I like watermelon, too.

26. Hip-hop group A __ Called Quest: TRIBE.  Wiki lists their active years as 1985-1998, 2006-2013, and 2015-2017.

28. Hindu spiritual adviser: GURU. I asked my spiritual advisor to help me understand my place in this world. He replied GEE, YOU ARE YOU.

29. Stretches the truth: FIBS.

31. Busy __ bee: AS A.  

33. Val Kilmer's "Top Gun" role: ICEMAN.  Military pilots use call signs as a way to stay anonymous to their enemies while on the radio while flying. "Iceman" was Val Kilmer's call sign in the 1986 movie Top Gun. He reprised the role in Top Gun: Maverick (2022).

37. 1990 civil rights law, briefly: ADA.  Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

40. Pop singer Rita: ORA.  I wonder if she knows that she has become a crossword regular.

41. Pointy-nosed fish: MARLIN.  They use their spear-like "bills" to slash at and stun their prey.
Click to enlarge.
43. Class with crayons: ART.

44. __ pump: SUMP.  It can help protect your basement from flooding. more info

45. Oft-crumbled cookie: OREO.  Through the miracle of co-branding, they are now selling Coca-Cola OREOs for a limited time. Has anyone tried these? 

47. Lew of "Dr. Kildare" films: AYRES.  Lewis Frederick Ayres III (1908-1996)

53. Eagerly took in: ATE UP.  To "eat up" can mean "to listen to with enthusiasm or appreciation" as in "The audience ate up the speaker's every word."
56. Great Lake near Detroit: ERIE.

57. Actor Brynner: YUL.  Yuliy Borishovich Briner (1920-1985) was a Russian-born actor best known for his portrayal of King Mongkut in The King and I. See 6-Down.

58. Champagne cocktail: MIMOSA.  These are usually made with equal parts champagne and orange juice and are served at brunch.  
59. Dog park greeting: ARF.  
"A dog park is like high school for dogs."
Marmaduke   ~   2010   ~   (1:16 min.)

62. Bon __: witticism: MOT.  English borrowed this term from French. It literally means "good word" but is used to mean a clever remark. We see many examples in The Corner's Comments section.

63. Wage recipient: EARNER.

64. Mathlete, to some: NERD.

65. Texter's "Whoops": SRY.  SoRrY

66. Make from scratch: CREATE.

67. Constellation bear: URSA.  

Down:

1. Wise ones: SAGES.  

2. Pitched: THREW.

3. Breakfast buffet station: OMELET BAR.  Perhaps you can pair your omelet with a 58A MIMOSA.

4. Leaf __: fall tourists: PEEPERS.  
5. Hushed "Hey!": PSST.

6. "I could go on" abbr.: ETC.  In The King and I, starring 57-Across YUL Brynner, the King shows off that he has learned the Latin phrase et cetera. (51 sec.) 

7. Like a one-word reply: TERSE.   true

8. Going out with: SEEING.  another way to say "dating"

9. Admitted to charges in court: PLED GUILTY.

10. Author Rand: AYN.

11. Grow mold, maybe: GO BAD.  
If food has mold, is it safe to eat? (USDA website)
12. Tossing and turning: AWAKE.  
Bobby Lewis   ~   Tossin and Turnin   ~   1961

13. Arabian Peninsula country: YEMEN.  Both Yemen and its capital Sana'a make for good fill.

18. Formal denial: NOT I.  If you are talking about something you did not do, "Not I." is correct. (Who ate the last piece of pie? NOT I). On the other hand, if you are talking about something that was not done to you, it is the objective case and "Not me," is correct. (Who had pie thrown in her face? Not me.)

22. __ crime: podcast genre: TRUE.  Vogue recently listed the 39 best True Crime podcasts to listen to right now.

24. Citrus shavings: ZEST.  
25. NBA "logo 3" paths: ARCS.  I had no idea. It turns out, the term "logo 3" refers to a 3-point shot that is taken around the mid-court, near the logo that is painted on the floor. The path a ball follows when thrown is an ARC. (That last part I knew).

27. Particularly successful period: BANNER YEAR.  
29. Relatives, slangily: FAM.  FAMily

30. Journalist Tarbell: IDA.  Ida Minerva Tarbell (1857-1944) was an American writer, investigative journalist, biographer, and lecturer.

32. Level for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp: AAA.  What a fun name for a baseball team! They are a Minor League Baseball (Triple-A) feeder team for the Miami Marlins.

34. Activate an image without clicking, say: MOUSE OVER.  I usually say "hover over". If you MOUSE OVER the image above, you will see a message but if you click on it, it will change your screen.

35. Sleeve: ARM.  Fair enough. A jacket's sleeve can be called an ARM.

36. Preschooler's snooze: NAP.

38. Limerick setting: EIRE.  Not "Nantucket". This clue tries to misdirect us by taking advantage of the leading-cap convention.  
County Limerick in Ireland (Eire)
39. Turkey neighbor: IRAN.  
The Iran-Turkey border is 332 mi. (534 km.) long.

42. Emotion indicated by a heart emoji: LOVE.

44. Predetermined selection of dishes: SET MENU.  These are called teishoku (
定食) in Japan and are very common at (but not limited to) restaurants serving lunch. It is a balanced meal served on a single tray. They are not as popular here in the U.S.; however, several high-end restaurants offer tasting menus.

46. Lifework of a composer: OEUVRE.  Def. (noun) a substantial body of work constituting the lifework of a writer, an artist, or a composer.

48. Commuter option: RAIL.  I thought "computer" for too long.

49. Gymnastics balance testers: BEAMS.  The Olympic balance beam is 4 in. (10 cm.) wide, 16.4 ft. (5 meters) long, and 4.1 ft. (1.25 meters) from the floor.
50. Proofreader's catch: ERROR.  I do'nt has a prooffreader.

51. "Neato!": NIFTY.

52. Ketanji's colleague: ELENA.  Supreme Court Justices Brown Jackson and Kagan

54. Passkey keepers: USERS.  think "computers"

55. Bamboo-loving bear: PANDA.  
58. Paltry: MERE.

60. Moment, briefly: SEC.  SECond

61. Pickleball barrier: NET.  
Here is the grid:

That's the ENd. Have a great week, everyone!


Jul 26, 2024

Friday, July 26, 2024, Katherine Baicker, Laura Dershewitz


Good morning, Cruciverbalists, Malodorous Manatee here with today's recap.  It is morning here but, fortunately, it's 5 o'clock somewhere because today's puzzle by Katherine Baicker and Laura Dershewitz requires a bit of experience with the language and customs of drinking whisky (or whiskey if you prefer potables other than Scotch).  It may have been appropriate to publish this puzzle tomorrow as July 27th is National Scotch Day!

Let's start with the reveal:

61 Across:  "Straight up, please," to match 17-, 25-, 37-, and 51-Across?:  MAKE IT NEAT.  In drinker's jargon, "NEAT" (or straight up) means with no ice.   At four places within the grid our co-constructors have removed the ICE in order to form creative and amusing answers to the clues.

Let's see how this "gimmick" is applied:

17 Across:  Orientation for new senators?: POL ACADEMY.  A learning place for politicians (POLs).  Before the removal:  POLICE ACADEMY




25 Across:  "Margaret won't be in the comedy showcase!"?: YOU HAVE NO CHO.  Comedienne Margaret Cho has scratched from the showcase.  Before the removal: YOU HAVE NO CHOICE

37 Across:  Exclamation when a product lives up to the hype?: THE PR IS RIGHT.  The public relations blitz was not just a lot of hot air.  Before the removal:  THE PRICE IS RIGHT



51 Across:  Tables and chairs that wobble?: OFF FURNITURE.  There is something wrong with the  furniture.  It's a bit OFF.  Before the removal: OFFICE  FURNITURE


Here is what the completed grid looks like:





Here are the rest of the clues/answers:


Across:

1. Light melody: LILT.

5. Singer Del Rey: LANA.  A frequent visitor these days and, yet, someone about whom this solver remain totally ignorant.  However, while walking around Venice,CA with Valerie I did see these posters:

9. Photographer Adams: ANSEL.  Nice shot.



14. Nice companion: AMIE.  Nice as in not mean?  No.  As in the French city.

15. Sister of Castor and Pollux: HELEN.



16. Raises or rises: REARS.  Here, Trigger REARS (rises).  I wonder if Trigger raised his children to do the same.


19. Possessed: OWNED.  Not a demonic reference.

20. "Way cool!": SO DOPE.  Slang.  Why does BITCHEN or GROOVY, or even PHAT, seem okay but not this?  Wait, don't answer that, please.    In an homage to the Seven Dwarfs, DOPEy is now followed by "What's Up, Doc".

21. "Wabbit" hunter: FUDD.  Elmer was too long.



22. AQI monitor: EPA.  Air Quality Index in the clue.



29. New England state: VERMONT.

31. Conclude: END.


32. __ Lingus: AER.  The Irish airline.

33. Theme park serviced by the Disney World monorail: EPCOT.  EPCOT opened on October 01, 1982.

34. Took to court: SUED.  I SUED the airlines for losing my luggage.  I lost my case.

36. IRS IDs: SSNS.  We are often asked to supply this even though we're told to never share it.

41. Pupil's place: IRIS.  Not a schoolhouse reference.  An eyeball reference.

43. Wee bit: IOTA.  A constructor's friend.

44. Needed a sick day: AILED.

47. Boxing Day mo.: DEC.


48. Part of a pod cast?: PEA.  Not a tech reference.  PEAs in a pod.

49. Q-Tip and Ice-T: RAPPERS.  Not the swab and the beverage.  Does Elmer listen to wappers?

55. Circular __: SAW.




56. Scull pair: OARS.  Before a surgery the anesthesiologist asked the patient if she'd like to be knocked out with gas or be hit over the head with a canoe paddle.  It was an ether/oar situation.

57. Reptiles in the logos of some dojos: COBRAS.



59. Muddle: MIXUP.

65. Shampoo brand since 1947: PRELL.

Pam Dawber - 1973


66. Correct spelling, say: EMEND.



67. Beltmaking tools: AWLS.  Not as in the old saying "ALLS well that ends well, I suppose."

68. Source of waste: HASTE.  As in the old saying "HASTE makes waste."

69. Movie night rooms: DENS.  Often clued with an ursine reference.

70. Nerd (out): GEEK.  Used as a verb in the clue although I am not sure why as the noun forms of each would have worked out the same.


Down:

1. Cozy cat seat: LAP.
LAPtop Cats

2. "Sez me": IMO.  IMOpinion

3. Smaller than sm.: LIL.  This one was a bit of a stretch.  Thanks, perps.

4. Bitter brews: TEAS.  Hand up for trying to make ALES work out. . . and it did at 63 Down.

5. Showed the door: LED  OUT.  Don't let it hit you.

6. First Hebrew letter: ALEPH.

7. Mythical lion's home: NEMEA.  The NEMEA lion was a legendary creature in Greek mythology that ravaged the area of Nemea. Its fur was impenetrable by the weapons of humans and hence, was unstoppable. It was considered to be the child of Typhon and Echidna, father and mother of all monsters.

8. "__ minute now ... ": ANY.

9. Word with poke or push: AROUND.

10. Fresh cut: NEW DO.  A hair style reference.

11. Beach homes?: SAND CASTLES.  With a tip of the hat to Jimi Hendrix.



12. Afore: ERE.



13. Acid initials: LSD.  Did you hear about the guy who got LSD and LDS mixed up?  Instead of going on a trip he went on a mission,.

15. Wore: HAD ON.  

18. University of South Dakota athlete: COYOTE.  Something of a universal mascot in SoCAl these days.
 
21. Italian luxury brand: FENDI.  PRADA and GUCCI would also have fit the allotted space.

22. Morn's opposite: EVE.  Morning / EVEning

23. Pizzazz: PEP.

24. Permafrost predators: ARCTIC FOXES.

26. Turn sharply: VEER.

27. __ of the woods mushroom: HEN.  Thanks, perps.



28. Alternatives: ORS.

30. Hardness scale name: MOHS.



34. Prepare for takeoff, maybe: SIT.  Huh?  Okay, no one stands for takeoff but this one is a huge stretch.

35. Katie Ledecky's team: Abbr.: USA.  An American Olympic swim team member.

36. Pickup alternative: SHIP.  A choice familiar to those who use, for example, Target or Walmart's websites.

38. Docking stations?: PIERS.  Not a tech reference.  A ship reference.  Nice placement.

39. Reddish horse: ROAN.

40. Watch in wonder: GAPE AT.

41. "Who wants cake?" response: I DO.  More often clued with a matrimonial reference.

42. Slo-mo reviewer: REF.  REFeree

45. Time worth studying: ERA.  What era is a musician in when she has not money.  The Baroque ERA.

46. Bargain footwear chain: DSW.



48. Red and blue: PURPLE.  Not the colors alone.  The colors together.

49. Flemish painter Peter Paul __: RUBENS.

50. Extra Extra Dry brand: ARRID.  A deodorant reference.



52. Server error?: FAULT.  A tennis reference.

53. Beginning of a famous boast: I CAME.  If Caesar spoke English.



54. Part of NFT: TOKEN.  Non Fungible TOKENs Explained

58. Unexpected hitch: SNAG.

59. Speed letters: MPH.  Miles Per Hour

60. Rollover subj.: IRA.  Individual Retirement Account

61. Larger than sm.: MED.  Small . MEDium / Large  The last of ten abbrevaitions (your criteria may vary) to be found in today's puzzle.

62. Fleece source: EWE.

63. Bitter brew: ALE.  The local bar ran out of ALE.  It was a bitter disappointment.

64. Judgy sound: TSK.  Often, we initially do not know if it'll be TSK or TUT.


Well, it's time now for yours truly to go grab a glass of ju and maybe eat a sl of cold pizza.  Have an n day, everyone.  Slainté !
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