Sunday, Jun 23, 2019 Mark McClain

Theme:  "Cruise Control" - Last word in each theme entry is part of a ship.

  

23A. Interface on old computers: SERIAL PORT.

25A. Crossing with a charge: TOLL BRIDGE.

48A. Violinist awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992: ISAAC STERN.

70A. Longest serving Secretary of State, 1933-'44: CORDELL HULL. Never heard of him. Wiki says he was "best known as the longest-serving U.S. Secretary of State, holding the position for 11 years (1933–1944) in the administration of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt during most of World War II. Hull received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1945 for his role in establishing the United Nations, and was referred to by President Roosevelt as the "Father of the United Nations"

96A. Longest-serving Republican senator, 1977-2019: ORRIN HATCH.

119A. TV reporting VIP: NEWS ANCHOR.

121A. Gesture of respect to a monarch: COURTLY BOW.
   
37D. Metaphor for an unfair advantage: STACKED DECK.

43D. Simple home in the woods: RUSTIC CABIN.

I hope Commander Spitzboov solves this puzzles. His local paper does not carry the Sunday LAT.

Notice the last word in each theme entry has a distinctive non-ship meaning. That's key to this type of theme.

Mark used a classic pinwheel design. Terrific model for a 9-themer 93 theme square grid. The grid is also typical Mark. No weird names or obscure abbreviations.

Across:

1. Friend of d'Artagnan: ATHOS. The other is Aramis. And 21. Parting from 1-Across: ADIEU.

6. Turning point: CUSP.

10. Organ array: PIPES.

15. Cunning: WILY.

19. Didn't lose a game: SWEPT.

20. Site of Italy's Festival of Festivals, featuring local food and wine: ASTI. Informative clue.

22. Managed care gps.: HMOS.

27. Crab in space: NEBULA. Crab Nebula.

28. Whenever you want: AT WILL.

30. Carpenter's supply: LUMBER.

31. Herbie of jazz: MANN.

33. Cuts back: PARES.

34. Debatable claim: ESP.

35. Repeated word in the Stones' "Jumpin' Jack Flash": GAS. It's a gas, gas, gas.

38. Suffolk slammer: GAOL. This is a picture of a few Chinese prisoners in 1900.

40. Diarist Anaïs: NIN.

41. Landing flight paths: PATTERNS.

46. Camera setting: AUTO.

51. TD Garden skater: BRUIN. Boston Celtics play there also.

52. Southern accent feature: DRAWL.

54. Long-necked wader: EGRET.

55. 128-Across' __ Vecchio: PONTE. And 128. See 55-Across: ARNO. My sister-in-law Connie plans to use "Monastery Stay" when she vacations there in a few months. Sounds very meditative and calming.

57. __-Caps: candy: SNO.

58. Rights advocacy gp.: ACLU.

59. German article: DER.

60. 18th-century lexicographer Johnson: SAMUEL.

61. Thrice, in Rx's: TER.

62. Taproom containers: KEGS.

64. Intend that one will: AIM TO.

67. "Top Hat" star: ASTAIRE (Fred)

69. Procure: GET.

74. Many desktops: PCS.

75. One getting on in years: OLDSTER.

77. Ice cream serving: SCOOP.

78. Actor Baldwin: ALEC.

80. Okra unit: POD. Our local farmers' market has fresh okra in August.

81. Puts on the books: ENACTS.

84. Fed. benefits agency: SSA.

86. Student stressor: EXAM. One of my frequent dreams is not to be able to finish the exam. Too much pressure in my school days.

88. "__ we good?": ARE.

89. "Ditto": ME TOO.

90. Summer refreshers: ICEES.

92. Start of an acting career, ideally: DEBUT.

94. Nouveau __: RICHE.

99. Location: SITE.

100. Parting words: TAKE CARE.

102. The first of two T's, in a familiar sequence: TUE. Oh. Our blog has three T's.

103. Flue residue: SOOT.

105. Trawler's tool: NET.

106. Caribbean export: RUM.

107. Wet dips: SWIMS.

109. Secured, in a way: TIED.

111. Actress Lansbury: ANGELA. 93 years old now.

114. Nova __: SCOTIA.

115. Single-masted ships: SLOOPS. Bonus fill.

124. Piece for two: DUET.

125. Nursed, say: DRANK.

126. Tolstoy's Karenina: ANNA.

127. Get hitched in haste: ELOPE.

129. Lew in old films: AYRES.

130. Foucault with a pendulum: LEON. Learning moment for me.

131. Candy mogul H.B. __: REESE.

Down:

1. PGA part: Abbr.: ASSN.

2. So precious, in Penzance: TWEE.

3. Oregano, for one: HERB.

4. Old den indulgence: OPIUM. When I was a kid, this TV series "The Legendary Fok" was very popular. Opium War was part of the background. Love, betrayal, kung fu, just amazing.

5. "The Great Escape" setting: STALAG.

6. Limit: CAP.

7. "Operation Phone Home" gp.: USO.

8. Sundress part: STRAP.

9. "Mere" amount: PITTANCE.

10. Like a good waiter: PATIENT. You in the waiting room.

11. Beloved stars: IDOLS.

12. Vitamin __: PILL.

13. Slender swimmer: EEL.

14. Rental from a renter: SUBLET.

15. Petulant complaint: WHIMPER.

16. Source of film trivia: IMDB.

17. Opera house section: LOGE.

18. River of Flanders: YSER.

24. Tropical veranda: LANAI. Dream place.

26. Region of industrial decline: RUST BELT.

29. Watch holder: WRIST.

32. Poked (around): NOSED.

35. Wander (about): GAD.

36. 2000s Saturn midsize model: AURA.

39. Athletic shoe once endorsed by Paula Abdul: LA GEAR. Look a bit uncomfortable.

41. Limo destination: PROM.

42. Like yearbooks: ANNUAL.

44. NorCal NFL team: NINERS.

45. Keep a roomie awake, maybe: SNORE.

47. Hooting young: OWLETS.

49. Sure competitor: ARRID.

50. Greener Living org.: EPA.

53. Haul: LUG.

56. Electric wheels: TESLA.

60. Unassisted: SOLO.

63. One of 20 in "Hamlet": SCENE.

65. Military meal: MESS.

66. Help for a sad BFF: TLC. Here is my BFF Carmen with her husband Lao Pan. How I miss Guangzhou and the food there!

68. High points: APEXES.

69. Latin carol word: GLORIA.

71. Figure of speech?: ORATOR. Great clue.

72. Biblical prophet: HOSEA.

73. Sports shockers: UPSETS.

75. Eye-catching display: OP-ART.

76. SoCal wine valley: TEMECULA. Another learning moment for me.

79. Set the pace: LED.

82. Center: CORE.

83. Rocky peak: TOR.

85. Knotted neckwear: ASCOT.

87. Tone down, as a color: MUTE.

90. Arctic people: INUIT.

91. Like many reactions: CHEMICAL.

93. Vietnam New Year: TET.

95. Opening words eventually followed by clinking: HERE'S TO.

97. Inventor's jubilant shout: IT WORKS. My reaction to various tips D-Otto gives me also: "Oh wow, it works, the rugs stay down." I'm a budding handywoman.

98. Raise aloft: HOIST.

101. Seyfried of "Mean Girls": AMANDA.

104. Employee in a cage: TELLER.

107. Tea go-with: SCONE.

108. Rhône tributary: SAONE.

110. Professor Challenger's creator: DOYLE. Not familiar with the character.

111. Forever __ day: AND A.

112. Nerve: Pref.: NEUR.

113. Tony-winning Verdon of "Damn Yankees": GWEN.

114. __-Pei: dog breed: SHAR.

116. Wind ensemble member: OBOE.

117. Bursts: POPS.

118. Popeye's __'Pea: SWEE.

120. Shed a tear: CRY.

122. Card game shout: UNO.

123. Got into the race: RAN.

C.C.

Tuesday, May 7, 2019 Mark McClain

B.C.

16. *Privates' training site: BOOT CAMP.

5. *Unlimited budget, figuratively: BLANK CHECK.

10. *Uris WWII novel: BATTLE CRY.

29. *System with only ones and zeros: BINARY CODE.

35. *Picture-taking Brownie: BOX CAMERA.

63. Apparent setting for a two-letter comic strip suggested by the answers to starred clues: STONE AGE.

Across:

1. Part of an urban fleet: CAB.

4. Recipe amt.: TBSP.  More or less, to (your personal) taste.   Except in most baking, where measurements should be precise. 

8. Eva of "Green Acres": GABOR.

13. Tire filler: AIR.

14. Part of a Basque ball game name: ALAI.   We saw Basque last Thursday with 20A clue/answer:  San Sebastián beachgoer?: BASQUE IN THE SUN,  followed in the comments by:
  
 Haiku Harry said...
     Tall Jai Alai guy sucked.
     Teammates suggested, he play
     BASQUEtball, instead ...

As OKL would say, "The prescience of the blog..."

15. Deli counter staple: SALAMI.

A Guide to Italian Salami, Charcuterie and Cold Cuts

18. Very cold: ARCTIC.

19. Soothing succulent: ALOE.

20. Forever, it seems: NO END.


22. Aptly named autopilot in "Airplane!": OTTO. Crossword Shout Out !

23. Similar to: LIKE. Akin.

24. Oscar winner Winslet of "The Reader": KATE. Saw Winslet and 4 letters, entered Kate.

25. Chum: PAL.

26. Fourth quarter mo.: DEC. December. diciembre in Spanish. décembre in French.

28. Big brass: TUBA. High ranking military officers would not fit. 

30. MPG-testing org.: EPA.  Standard MPG disclaimer: "Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle."  

33. Surprise attack: AMBUSH.

36. "__ Brockovich": ERIN.

37. Swindle: CON. Cheat.

38. Framed in the darkroom for artistic effect: CROPPED.  Crossword constructor, pianist, composer, naturalist and photog extraordinaire John Lampkin has contributed over 1000 images to BugGuide.Net.   He caught this Fungus Beetle crawling over another one:

40. Nearly obsolete golf club: ONE IRON.    It's really tough to hit this club consistently.   The one iron, along with the two iron, three iron, four iron and sometimes even the five iron, are increasingly being replaced by hybrid golf clubs, especially among amateur players.   It's becoming increasingly rare for even the best players in the world to carry a one iron in the bag.

42. Word after trail or party: MIX.

43. On the rocks: ICED.  "What is, How Tinbeni never orders his drinks ?" said James Holzhauer to Alex Trebek.

45. Diamond-shaped pattern: ARGYLE.   Scott, you are dearly missed.

46. "Outta here!" PC key: ESC.

47. Kitchen gadget brand: EKCO.   Kitchamagigs.   Founded in Chicago in 1880, the Edward Katzinger Co was one of the earliest manufacturers of kitchen utensils and products.   The name change to EKCO Products Co. was in 1945, and by the 1950's was producing every conceivable pan, gadget and utensil. - WIKICONIC and The Encyclopedia of Chicago.

48. Campaigned: RAN.

49. Throw in: ADD.

51. Courtroom fig.: ATTY.  Figure / Attorney.

53. Santa Anita data: ODDS.   

57. Prefix for half of Earth: HEMI.   Northern and Southern, as determined by the Equator,   or Eastern and Western,  defined by the Prime Meridian.   I guess it depends on how you want to divide it.   So much divisiveness in the world today. 

59. Acid used in cooking oil: OLEIC.

60. Hilarious routine: RIOT.

61. Removed the pull tab from: OPENED.

65. Calm: SERENE.   25 minutes outside of Lake Tahoe is a place called Serene Lakes

"Serene Lakes, a time warp of a Sierra mountain resort..."

66. Ye __ Shoppe: OLDE.

67. Hoops net holder: RIM.

68. Mail-order pioneer: SEARS.  Sears was a mail-order watch business starting in 1886,  but Montgomery Ward was the mail-order pioneer 14 years earlier in 1872,  offering a varied 163 items in his first mail-order catalog. 

69. Have to have: NEED.

70. "I did it!": YES.    Yes, I mowed the wet lawn between rainstorms last Wednesday.  It had to be done.  Then had to mow again Sunday afternoon.

Down:

1. Conspiratorial group: CABAL.

2. Garlicky sauce: AIOLI.

3. Trout's home: BROOK.

4. Tic-__-toe: TAC.

6. Popular Girl Scout cookie: SAMOA.  According to girlscouts.org:

• Thin Mints. ^®
• Caramel deLites^®/Samoas. ^®
• Peanut Butter Patties^®/Tagalongs. ^®
• Girl Scout S'mores. ^®
• Do-si-dos^®/Peanut Butter Sandwich.

7. Lab tube: PIPETTE.  A slideshow: From Beakers to Volumetric Flasks

8. Narrow, bony fish: GAR.

9. Metal industry giant: ALCOA.

11. Drop from a list: OMIT.

12. Puerto __: RICO. 

15. Down in the dumps: SAD.

17. Prepared to drive, in golf: TEED UP.   Better to be teed up than teed off.

21. Prefix with surgery: NEURO.

25. Bakery-café chain: PANERA.    Pane (Italian for bread) and era (time).    Panera = Bread time.

27. Spotted: ESPIED.

31. Health club amenity: POOL.

32. Green Gables lass: ANNE.  The classic children's novel.

33. Wile E. Coyote vendor: ACME. 

34. Open __: scans for the claustrophobic: MRIs.

39. Window sticker: DECAL.  I'd pay the full MRSP shown on this sticker for a Gran Turismo Omologoto.

 See the full sticker here

41. Pay no heed to: IGNORE.

44. Loves to a fault: DOTES ON.

50. Informal eatery: DINER.

52. Book cover info: TITLE.

54. Personal journal: DIARY.

55. Wayward calf: DOGIE. 


56. Flower supporters: STEMS.

57. Hefty Cartwright brother: HOSS.  Played by Dan Blocker.   At 6'4" and weighing 300 pounds, hefty seems an apt physical description.   14 pounds at birth. 

 Bonanza Cast Trivia Facts 

58. Olympic weapon: EPEE.

 Merriam-Webster Visual Dictionary Online 

59. Tribute in verse: ODE.

62. Nav. rank: ENS.  Naval / Ensign.   I learned that a naval flag is also known as an ensign.

64. Actor Beatty: NED.

Note from C.C.:

Say hello to Melissa's granddaughter Harper Rose! Look how excited her bigger sister Jaelyn is! 

Melissa's brother Rick is also coming home this coming Friday. What an ordeal for him and his family, esp Melissa.

Wednesday, March 20 2019, Mark McClain

Theme: Homonyms.

Each theme answer contains a word or syllable, each with a different spelling, pronounced the same: "PEEK." The above image is of Pikachu - a species of Pokémon. His cheeks store electricity.

18. Breed also known as a Lion Dog: PEKINGESE. Tricky spelling. From akc.com: "A compact toy companion of regal bearing and a distinctive rolling gait, is one of several breeds created for the ruling classes of ancient China."

26. Angry display: FIT OF PIQUE.

49. When the volume is the highest: PEAK SEASON.

62. Survey surreptitiously: TAKE A PEEK.

Melissa here. There were some clever and sneaky clues in this one. Theme was easy to spot as soon as two theme answers were filled in.
 

Across:

1. About, in dates: CIRCA.

6. Words With Friends and such: APPS. I bet there are lots of cornerites who play that one. I prefer Draw Something. As much as I enjoy crosswords, Scrabble is too slow for me. It is quite popular in prison visiting rooms, as is dominoes.

10. They form a "cage": RIBS. Nice.

14. Bee-related: APIAN. Hee.

15. Cry while pointing a finger: LOOK. The "cry" tripped me up.

16. Rebecca's firstborn: ESAU.

17. General opening?: SOFT G. I still get tricked by this.

20. High regard: ESTEEM.

22. Nasty types: MEANIES.

23. Warm feeling: GLOW.

25. Gridiron official: REF. I wasn't aware that Gridiron Football was the term for American football.

31. Skill useful in delicate situations: TACT.

35. Big name in gaming: ATARI.

36. Like the Javanese calendar: LUNAR. Java is an island of Indonesia. Something tells me there may be a regular who has some pictures to share. See it at the bottom left? Things to see in Java.

38. Swear: VOW. I do.

39. Catholic univ. in San Antonio: MARYS.

40. Facebook titter: LOL.

41. Kagan on the bench: ELENA.

43. Symphonic rock gp.: ELO.

44. Port-au-Prince locale: HAITI.

46. "Otello" composer: VERDI.

47. Towns on some maps: DOTS.

51. Guffaw syllable: HAR.

53. Prominent fox features: EARS.

54. Alters to fit: TAILORS.

58. Souvenir with a slogan: T-SHIRT. Vote for Pedro.

64. Sanction: ALLOW.

65. Graph line: AXIS.

66. Westin competitor: OMNI. Hotels.

67. Rope often coiled: LASSO. Not noose.

68. Beer order: PINT.

69. Pop: SODA.

70. Moves rhythmically: SWAYS.

Down:

1. Detective's job: CASE.

2. Nasdaq debuts: IPOS.

3. Breach: RIFT.

4. Hurricane strength term: CATEGORY.

5. Colorful reef denizen: ANGEL FISH. So many different kinds.

6. The Eiger, for one: ALP. Impressive. Famous for cheese-making.

7. Work often recited: POEM.

8. Sack holding a pig, in an old idiom: POKE.

9. Winter sports mecca: SKI AREA.

10. Pass along, with dubious etiquette: RE-GIFT.

11. "It's clear now!": I SEE.

12. Barbershop member: BASS.

13. "X" author Grafton: SUE.

19. Austin-to-Dallas dir.: NNE.

21. Do some floor work: MOP. My mind went to dancing.

24. Singer Nelson: WILLIE.

26. Well-known: FAMED.

27. Writer Calvino: ITALO.

28. Seer's deck: TAROT.

29. Prescribed goal: QUOTA.

30. "A tradition __ any other": trademarked catchphrase for The Masters: UNLIKE.

32. Declares: AVERS.

33. Housing choice: CONDO.

34. Huck Finn creator: TWAIN.

37. Setbacks: REVERSALS.

42. Pet control ordinance: LEASH LAW.

45. Fitting: APROPOS.

48. Least forward: SHIEST. Superlative of shy. Have never seen that spelling. Collins dictionary says it is British spelling.

50. Didn't play: SAT.

52. In the manner of: ALA.

54. Bus alternative: TAXI.

55. Similar (to): AKIN.

56. San __: Riviera resort: REMO. Wikipedia has it as one word.

57. Transmit: SEND.

59. Ingrid's "Casablanca" role: ILSA.

60. Optimistic: ROSY.

61. There are five in ten: TWOS.

62. Word with dance or root: TAP.

63. Sedona, for one: KIA. Car model, not city.

Notes from C.C.:

1) Happy 81st birthday to Commander Al (Spitzboov), who has generously helped me with many problems over the years. Al served in the Navy Reserve for over 20 years and continues to be involved in various navy activities. Because of Spitzboov, Boomer and I have the best flag in the neighborhood. 

Argyle and Spitzboov

(August 23, 2014, Washington County Fair)

3) Happy 83rd Birthday to John28man! So happy that all your medical problems are under control and you continue to enjoy an active life, John!

Tuesday, January 8, 2019 Mark McClain

A M Words

17. National Portrait Gallery, e.g.: ART MUSEUM.

24. Freebies for tourists: AREA MAPS.

49. Rosary recital: AVE MARIA.

61. Puzzle solver's breakthrough, e.g.: AHA MOMENT.

3. Film often with chase scenes: ACTION MOVIE.

25. Inflatable bed for a guest: AIR MATTRESS.

38. Medium for many talk shows ... and an apt place to discuss six puzzle answers?: AM RADIO.

Mark is back to get some airtime with these A&M words.  The AM in AM RADIO is for Amplitude Modulation.  Talk radio is full of words and fills many of the AM frequencies.

My favorite is Aha Moment. 

Across:

1. Winter warm spell: THAW.

5. Simon & Garfunkel's "El Condor __": PASA.


9. Sneer (at): SCOFF.

14. Texas home of Baylor University: WACO.   In case you missed it, the # 8 Baylor Lady Bears knocked off the # 1 Connecticut Huskies on Jan 3rd in Waco by a score of 68 to 57.  It was the first regular season loss by the Huskies in 4 years and ended a 126 game winning streak.   Hondo Hurricane is a huge fan of the Huskies.  Please be sure to send your condolences. 

15. CPR pros: EMTs.

16. Jazz clarinetist Shaw: ARTIE.   54 Minutes of Swing and Jazz.


19. Ugh-inducing: NASTY.

20. Observes secretly: SPIES ON.

21. 67-Across exile: ADAM.
67. Genesis paradise: EDEN.

23. Dollar bills: ONEs.

28. Soda container: CAN.

30. List-shortening abbr.: ET AL.

31. The Emerald Isle: EIRE.

32. Ideology suffix: ISM.

33. Little fluid holder: VIAL.

35. Altered, as voting districts: REDREW.   Possibly gerrymandered.

37. Merged labor org.: CIO.   Congress of Industrial Organizations.  Created in 1935 under a slightly different name, broke away from and became a rival to the American Federation of Labor in 1938, and rejoined again in 1955 to form the AFL-CIO.

40. "Give __ break": ME A.  of that KitKat bar.

41. Soldiers' support gp. since 1944: AMVETS.  We donate.

43. Sign gas: NEON.

44. "Life of Pi" director Lee: ANG.

45. "How ya __?": DOIN.   Joey on Friends: "How YOU doin'?"

46. Not __ snuff: unsatisfactory: UP TO. 

48. "Cats" poet's monogram: TSE.  The poet, Thomas Stearns Eliot, more commonly as T.S. Eliot.    Also, an abbrv for transmissible spongiform encephalopathy.  One example would be mad cow disease.

51. Conveyer of tears: DUCT.  You say conveyer,  I say conveyor.  

54. Taiwan-based laptop giant: ACER.

55. Spanish island, to locals: MENORCA.  The four largest islands in the Islas Baleras archipelago east of Spain in the western Mediterranean are Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera.   Many minor islands and islets are close to the larger islands, including Cabrera, Dragonera, and S'Espalmador

58. Deep cleft: CHASM.

63. Tickle: AMUSE.

64. Dorothy's dog: TOTO.

Dorothy and Toto:

Also, a group of session musicians that gathered together and recorded prior to having a band name. According to legend, the drummer wrote "Toto" on their demo tapes only to differentiate them from other bands recording in the studio.  They decided to stay with the name. 


65. Tiny fraction of a min.: MSEC.  Millisecond.   One thousandth of a second.  Much much longer than a nanosecond. 

66. Jabs with a finger: POKES.

68. Concerning: AS TO.

Down:

1. First word of "A Visit From St. Nicholas": TWAS.

2. Large plucked instrument: HARP.  Our friend Laura playing one of her harps. 

4. Alumnae, e.g.: WOMEN.

5. Cuban coins: PESOS.

6. Blessing conclusion: AMEN.

7. Good name for a cook: STU.  Homophone of stew.

8. Eritrea's capital: ASMARA.

 Country Profile - BBC News

9. Yemen's capital: SANAA.

 Country Profile - BBC News

10. Hit the books at the last minute: CRAMMED.

11. Extra NBA periods: OTS.  Overtimes.

12. In top form: FIT.

13. "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot" actress Tina: FEY.

18. Put in the game: USE.

22. Texas border city: DEL RIO.  Went to school with a guy from Del Rio.

24. Home of the Braves: ATLANTA.   The Atlanta Braves of MLB.

26. Grooms, bird-style: PREENS. 

27. Municipal waste: SEWAGE.

28. Noisy summer insect: CICADA.

29. "I, Robot" author: ASIMOV. Isaac.

30. Organ with a lobe: EAR.

33. Napa Valley vessel: VAT.

34. "There's no doubt!": I'M SURE.   Lisa: I'm positive.  Vinny: How can you be so sure ? Lisa: Because there is no way that these tire marks were made by a '64 Buick Skylark convertible. These marks were made by a 1963 Pontiac Tempest.

36. Long, long time: EON.

39. "Gloria in Excelsis __": DEO.

42. All together: EN MASSE.   En bloc.   In toto. 

47. Illicit video producer: PIRATE. 

50. High points: ACMES.

51. Evil spirit: DEMON.

52. Card game inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame in 2018: UNO.

53. Pause-causing punctuation: COMMA.  Commas are important people.

55. Hand on deck: MATE.

56. Tech news site: CNET.

57. "I Got You Babe" label: ATCO.

 Link to a video of Sonny and Cher singing it for Big Easy

58. Ballplayer's hat: CAP.  These New Era baseball caps are in order.  Baseball fans will see it.

59. Managed care gp.: HMO.

60. Arctic seabird: AUK.

62. Coal scuttle: HOD.

Note from C.C.:

Happy Birthday to Patti Varol, editor for the Crosswords Club and Daily POP and Rich's assistant at LA Times. Whether a puzzle is accepted or rejected, Patti always gives constructive feedback. She's also a super crossword constructor and solver.

Tuesday, December 25, 2018 Mark McClain

"A CHRISTMAS CAROL"


17. Film character #1 (played by George C. Scott in 1984): EBENEZER SCROOGE.


25. Film character #2 (played by Leo G. Carroll in 1938): JACOB MARLEY.

43. Film character #3 (played by Kermit the Frog in 1992): BOB CRATCHIT.


55. Novella that introduced the three film characters: A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Why Does Charles Dickens Use Staves Instead of Chapters in A Christmas Carol ?

An appropriate puzzle for the day. 

Across:

1. Clever or stylish: SMART. 

6. October gem: OPAL.

10. Most eligible, draftwise: ONE A in crossword puzzle answers.  1-A in the Selective Service classification system that was used from 1948 - 1976.  

14. Temple scroll: TORAH.

15. "The X-Files" agent Scully: DANA.

Dana Scully at FANDOM

16. Gym specimens: BODS.

20. Non-commercial TV commercial: PSA. Public Service Announcement


21. Order (around): BOSS.

22. Canadian province with a French motto: QUEBEC.  Figured Quebec, but didn't know the motto.  It is "Je me souviens" which translates to "I remember."

23. New Mexico art hub: TAOS.

24. Little bears: CUBS.

29. Polished off: ATE.

32. Go along (with): AGREE.

33. Spot for an AirPod: EAR.

 An audiophile review

34. The Grinch's dog: MAX.

35. Meadow bleats: BAAS.

36. Fronts of hands: PALMS.

38. __ torch: party light: TIKI.

 Mele Kalikimaka

39. Commercial URL suffix: BIZ.  Phonetic abbreviation for business.  This Top Level Domain ( TLD. e.g. .com, .edu, .gov, .net etc), was introduced in 2001 to relieve some of the demand for the .com (commercial) TLD. 

40. Sac fly result: RBI.

41. Makes simpler: EASES.

42. No particular one: ANY.

46. Like many breakfast bars: OATY.

47. Resound: ECHO.

48. Long-eared dog: BEAGLE.  "Large dogs in small packages"


51. Height: Pref.: ALTI. Altitude

52. Fed. law known as Obamacare: ACA. Affordable Care Act.

58. Shade provider: TREE.

59. Jog: TROT.

60. Geometric truth: AXIOM.

61. Totals: SUMS.

62. Drink with sushi: SAKE.

63. Plumbing issues: LEAKS.

Down:

1. How-to instruction: STEP.

2. Unruly crowds: MOBs.

3. Geometric product: AREA.

4. Sought office: RAN.

5. George Herman Ruth's nickname: THE BABE.

6. Ukrainian city: ODESSA.

7. Golf scorecard numbers: PARs.

8. Q&A part: Abbr.: ANS.

9. Glossy coatings: LACQUERs.

10. Orchestral reeds: OBOEs.

11. Rookie, in gaming: NOOB.

12. Sharp part of a sheet of paper: EDGE.

Why Paper Cuts Are the Worst

13. "Just __!": A SEC.

18. Repeated Mazda ad word: ZOOM.

19. Shade of red: RUBY.

23. Wiggled digits: TOES.

24. Chowder morsel: CLAM.

25. Hutt in "Star Wars": JABBA.

26. "Time and __": illustrated Jack Finney novel: AGAIN.

27. Outlandish, as an idea: CRAZY.

28. Artifact: RELIC.

29. Barn-raising sect: AMISH.


30. "Oh Myyy!" memoirist George: TAKEI.

31. Be real: EXIST.

36. Some public demonstrations: PROTESTS.

37. First name in advice: ABBY. "Dear Abby..."  Syndicated advice column started in 1956.  

38. Tex-Mex snack: TACO.

41. Principled: ETHICAL.

43. Indonesian resort island: BALI.

44. "I can __": words of empathy: RELATE.

45. Doesn't just sit there: ACTS.

46. Fairy tale beasts: OGRES.

48. Dugout rack items: BATS.

49. Earth tone: ECRU.

50. "Excuse me ... ": AHEM.

51. Run __: go wild: AMOK.

52. Puccini solo: ARIA. Let's have some Bach instead


53. Kitchen worker: COOK.

54. Help for the poor: ALMS.

56. Refrain syllable: TRA.

57. Firefighter's tool: AXE.

Notes from C.C.:

1) Happy Birthday to dear Yellowrocks (Kathy), whose strength and persistence have been a source of inspiration for me over the years. Thanks for being here for us, Kathy!

Yellowrocks and son David, Sept 2016

2) Happy 80th Birthday also to Lorraine (Fermatprime), who's been with the blog since Nov 2009. 

Thanksgiving, 2015

3) Have to share with you this sweet picture JD sent me last night. JD lost her Blogger password and could not get back to the blog. If any of you know how, please let us know in the Comments section.

Brothers and Cousins: Truman, 11, Dylan, 5, Cameron, 8, Grady, 9