Monday, September 7, 2026, Michael Hobin

 Theme:  Good stuff!

Michael Hobin

Michael Hobin is a real estate broker in Chicago, who passed some quiet hours during the COVID-19 pandemic trying to construct his own crossword puzzles.  He garnered a few rejections from the New York Times, and then some encouraging words from that quarter, and then a request for a few specific revisions, which led to his first published puzzle.  Mr. Hobin is becoming a regular at the NYT and in the pages of our own Los Angeles Times.  Based on the fun I had with this one, I'd say Michael has mastered the medium.

The theme of today's puzzle is revealed here:

35-Across. Tom Wolfe book about Project Mercury, or an apt description of the ends of 16-, 24-, 47-, and 56-Across: THE RIGHT STUFF.  Tom Wolfe's 1979 book describes the mental and physical characteristics required of the first astronauts.  They had to have the right STUFF.

16-Across. Citrus garnish for many a cocktail: LEMON WEDGE.  WEDGE as a verb means to squeeze or force something tightly into a narrow space -- to STUFF it, so to speak.

24-Across. Driver's rush-hour headache: TRAFFIC JAM.  JAM as a verb means to push something into a space so tightly that it becomes stuck -- to STUFF it, if you will.

47-Across. Budget chain owned by Choice Hotels: ECONO LODGE.  One meaning of LODGE as a verb is to become stuck in a place, like a coin that manages to lodge in the parking meter's coin slot -- to STUFF the slot, as it were.

56-Across. Average guy: JOE SIX-PACK.  An ordinary blue-collar worker, whose after hours libation may be a six-pack of beer, can really PACK it in.  He might go to the game on the weekend with other fans and PACK the stadium.  In other words, he can STUFF it in.

This fellow is WEDGED, JAMMED, LODGED, and PACKED into a tight space --
really STUFFED in there.

Talk about a tight theme -- this one is crammed in there!  Let's expand our evaluation to the rest of the clues and answers.

Across:

1. Owl sound: HOOT.

5. Blue-green hue used in color printing: CYAN.

9. Pet that can be laser-focused?: CAT.  There are a variety of laser toys made for cats.

12. __ committee: AD HOC.  In Latin ad hoc means "for this," and in English the term describes anything that can be thought of as existing "for this purpose only."

14. Volcano's output: LAVA.

15. Task list heading: TO DO.

16. [Theme clue]

18. Toiling away: AT IT.

19. Manipulate, as bread dough: KNEAD.

20. Playground fixture with a ladder: SLIDE.

21. "SportsCenter" network: ESPN.

24. [Theme clue]

27. Ice cream servings: SCOOPS.

29. Cut (off): LOP.

30. Donkey: ASS.

31. Little bite: TASTE.

32. Least hospitable: ICIEST.

35. [Theme clue]

39. Moves like a crab: SIDLES.  To sidle is to move with one side forward.

40. Mistake: ERROR.

42. Canyon edge: RIM.

45. Scooby-__: DOO.  Scooby-Doo is a cartoon dog and media franchise created by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears in 1969.  Scooby and his teenage human friends solve mysteries that seem supernatural until our heroes unmask the villains behind the hoax.

Scooby-Doo and friends

46. Fast-casual bakery franchise: PANERA.  The menu has improved!  There are certainly more options for vegetarians.

47. [Theme clue]

51. Genesis garden: EDEN.

52. West Point student: CADET.

53. Sloshed through water: WADED.

55. Field of study: AREA.

56. [Theme clue]

61. Sound like a 9-Across: PURR.  Here's your reminder that 9-Across was CAT.

62. Fencing sword: ÉPÉE.  Modern fencing uses three types of sword:  épée, foil, and sabre.  This is the fourth Monday with ÉPÉE as a clue this year!

Mind where you poke that thing!

63. Familiar theme: TROPE.  A trope is a recurring literary device, theme, or figure of speech.  It also refers to Hebrew cantillation, the system of musical chant used for reading the Hebrew scriptures during religious services, which is a service I occasionally perform.

NaomiZ chanting Torah with trope

64. Oft-redacted ID: SSN.  A Social Security Number is issued to U.S. citizens, permanent residents,  temporary residents who have work authorization, or a valid nonwork reason to be in the United States.  It is often redacted from shared documents to avoid having it misused.

65. Pen points: NIBS.

66. Moisturizer brand: OLAY.

Down:

1. Actor Holbrook: HAL.  Hal Holbrook (1925-2021) was an American actor who made his reputation with a 1954 one-man stage show titled Mark Twain Tonight!  He played Deep Throat in the 1976 film All the President's Men, Abraham Lincoln in two TV miniseries, and many other roles in dozens of films and TV shows.  He was honored with the National Humanities Medal by President George W. Bush in 2003.

2. Tribute poem: ODE.

3. Unit of resistance: OHM.  An ohm is the standard unit of electrical resistance, named after the German physicist Georg Ohm.  Its symbol is an uppercase Greek letter omega (Ω).

4. Didn't count on one's memory in class: TOOK NOTES.  Loved this clue.  

5. See-through: CLEAR.

6. When repeated, "and so on": YADDA.  About this time last month, I wrote:  "This expression was popularized by the 153rd episode of Seinfeld, in which George's new girlfriend said "yada yada yada" to shorten her stories.  That episode was titled "The Yada Yada."  YADDA is an alternate, less used spelling."  And I offered this illustration:

7. The "A" of GPA: Abbr.: AVG.  Grade Point Average.

8. Scottish "no": NAE.

9. Crumbly Mexican cheese: COTIJA.  An aged Mexican cheese made from cow's milk and named after the town of Cotija, Michoacán, cotija is often crumbled over burritos, soups, salads, beans, tostadas, tacos, and corn on the cob.

Elote -- grilled corn topped with crema, cotija, chili powder, and lime juice.

10. Nike rival: ADIDAS.

11. Sacred tribal carvings: TOTEMS.

13. "Erin Burnett OutFront" channel: CNN.  Erin Burnett OutFront is an hour-long weekday evening television news program on CNN.  News to me.

15. Very soft mineral: TALC.  Talc is a natural clay mineral made of hydrated magnesium silicate that ranks as the softest solid on the Mohs hardness scale.  Once popular in cosmetics and baby powders, it is no longer recommended because it tends to occur naturally with asbestos, and because breathing in fine powders is bad for the lungs.  Its association with ovarian cancer is debated, but has resulted in billions of dollars in legal settlements.

17. Moistens: WETS.

20. Enjoys gossip without adding to it, in slang: SIPS TEA.  We've encountered "spills the tea" in the LAT crossword as a phrase that means shares gossip, reveals a secret, or talks about juicy personal news.  This is my first encounter with SIPS TEA.  Cute!

21. "C'__ la vie!": EST.  "C'est la vie" is French for "that's life."  Coincidentally, this old song popped into my head out of nowhere recently:

22. "Buzz off!": SCAT.

23. Swanky: POSH.

25. Darts around: FLITS.

26. Rivals: FOES.

28. August birthstone: PERIDOT.  Peridot is a yellowish-green gemstone, the shade being influenced by iron content.  It is considered too soft to survive as an engagement ring stone; it chips easily.

This genuine peridot ring with little zircon accents is on sale for $149.00 at www.stauer.com.

32. Shelter made of compressed snow: IGLOO.

33. "Weekend Update" comic Michael: CHE.  Michael Che is a stand-up comedian best known for his work on NBC's Saturday Night Live, where he has been co-anchor of the Weekend Update news sketch since 2014.

Colin Jost and Michael Che host Weekend Update on SNL

34. Gave up one's amateur status, perhaps: TURNED PRO.

36. Pop sensation: IDOL.

37. Mister Rogers: FRED.

38. Golfer's warning shout: FORE.

41. Hightailed it: RAN.

42. "Previously on ... " segments: RECAPS.

43. Son of Daedalus: ICARUS.  In Greek mythology, Daedalus built a labyrinth for King Minos of Crete to imprison the Minotaur.  When the hero Theseus killed the Minotaur and escaped the labyrinth, King Minos suspected Daedalus of revealing the labyrinth's secrets, and imprisoned Daedalus there with his son Icarus.  Daedalus fashioned wings for himself and his son, made of items collected in the labyrinth:  beeswax, leather straps from their sandals, threads from blankets, and birds' molted feathers.  Before escaping the island, Daedalus warned Icarus not to fly too high nor too low, but youth is impetuous;  Icarus flew too close to the sun, his wax wings melted, he fell into the sea, and he drowned.

Daedalus and Icarus

44. Contemporary: MODERN.

46. Spa treatment for feet, briefly: PEDI.  Pedicure.

48. At hand: NEAR.

49. Dorky one: DWEEB.

50. Elements that make up most of the atmosphere: GASES.

54. Telephone no. addition: EXT.  "Extensions" are frequently seen in business telephone numbers.

56. MS NOW's "The Briefing With __ Psaki": JEN.  The woman formerly known as White House Press Secretary to President Joe Biden hosts this political news program on the cable channel formerly known as MSNBC.  Again, news to me.  

57. Nail polish brand: OPI.  OPI and Essie are tops in the market and in crossword puzzles.

58. Pioneering ISP: AOL.  AOL (American Online) is considered a pioneering Internet Service Provider because it made a curated portion of the internet available to folks without technical knowledge through a simple graphical user interface.  At its peak in the late 1990s and early 2000s, AOL accounted for nearly half of all internet traffic in the United States.

59. Fig. figuring figures: CPA.  A certified public accountant is a figure (person) who figures (calculates) figures (numbers).

60. __ lime pie: KEY.  Michael saved the best for last!  A refreshing dessert!  Small, thin-skinned Key limes are named for their association with the Florida Keys, although they are native to Southeast Asia.  Spanish explorers brought them to the West Indies, and Dr. Henry Perrine (1797-1840) introduced them to the Keys.

Key lime pie

Here's the grid:

Solvers,

I am reveling in the very low Arts & Entertainment content of this puzzle, and the complete absence of professional or collegiate team sports.  Wow!

An ODE to Michael Hobin!

We’re glad he TURNED PRO!

He gave us a nice puzzle

With words we’re sure to know.

Did this puzzle give you THE RIGHT STUFF as well?  Please comment.

-- NaomiZ

P.S.  Many thanks in advance to Dave and Tony for taking the next three Mondays, while I have something else TO DO.

Tuesday, April 7, 2026 Michael Hobin

Chop, Chop.  The first word of each theme answer describes a form of cutting.

3-Down. Yahtzee, craps, et al.: DICE GAMES.

9-Down. Mysterious designs in fields: CROP CIRCLES.

20-Down. Portable writing surface: CLIP BOARD.

23-Down. Fruit-filled breakfast treat: PRUNE DANISH.

And the unifier:

34-Down. On the next level, or what 3-, 9-, 20-, and 23-Down literally have: A CUT ABOVE.  Notice that each theme answer is in the Down position, thereby allowing that the "Cutting" word is "Above" the rest of the answer.

Here's the Grid:

Across:

1. "One last thing ... ": AND, ALSO ...

8. Gadget for a seafood chef: SCALER.  A fish scaler is a tool designed to remove inedible scales from fish while keeping the skin intact.  A good one will have a lid to contain the scales instead of making a mess on the table.

14. Chewy bits in some oatmeal cookies: RAISINS.  I would prefer chocolate chips in my cookies.

15. Estrogen, e.g.: HORMONE.

16. Noisy insects that emerge in summer: CICADAS.  There is a species of cicadas, known as periodical cicadas, that live underground for years, only to appear every 17-years, make loud noises, mate, then die.

17. Small crustaceans: ISOPODS.  Isopods are a diverse group of crustaceans, related to crabs and shrimp.  They have segmented bodies, a hard exoskeleton, and seven pairs of legs.  Some species can to roll into a ball for defense.  Not all isopods are small.  They can range in size from tiny to the giant deep-sea isopods, which can be over a foot long, and play important roles as scavengers in their ecosystems.

18. Luge, for one: SLED.

19. Get stuff ready for vacation: PACK UP.

21. Series of reps in the gym: SET.

22. Empty spaces: GAPS.

24. Sponged (off): LEECHED.

26. "__-ching!": CHA.

28. "Bohemian Rhapsody" Oscar winner Malek: RAMI.  Rami Said Malek (b. May 12, 1981) portrayed Queen lead singer, Freddie Mercury (né Farrokh Bulsara; Sept. 5, 1946 ~ Nov. 24, 1991), in the movie Bohemian Rhapsody.

30. "O Sole __": MIO.

31. Target: AIM.

32. Sch. that hosts the Sun Bowl: UTEP.  As in the University of Texas, El Paso.  Before becoming a part of the University of Texas System, the school, which was founded in 1913, was known as the   State School of Mines and Metallurgy.  Hence, the they are the Miners.

33. To-do list trip: ERRAND.

37. Fuss at the mirror: PREEN.

39. "Euphoria" cable network: HBO.  Home BoxOffice.

41. Chocolate source: CACAO.  Everything you ever wanted to know about cacao and chocolate but didn't know to ask.

42. Made a cozy home: NESTED.

44. Not written down, as a contract: ORAL.

46. Official who calls balls and strikes: UMP.

47. Laudatory poem: ODE.  These poems are crossword staples.

48. Ready, willing, and __: ABLE.

49. Driver's seat?: TEE.  Think golf.

50. Snack brand named for a Roman moon goddess: LUNA BAR.

53. Dept. of Labor div.: OSHA.  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is a federal agency that ensures safe working conditions by setting standards and enforcing them.

55. Equinox mo.: SEP.  Equinoxes occur twice a year, in March (around the 20th–21st) and September (around the 22nd–23rd).  The equinox marks when the sun crosses the celestial equator, resulting in nearly equal day and night lengths all around the world.

56. Fool around (with): NOODLE.

58. Kimono sashes: OBIs.

61. Consider anew: RE-THINK.

63. Seasonal quaffs: EGG NOGS.

65. Awakens: AROUSES.

66. Take revenge: GET EVEN.

67. Electronic keyboards, informally: SYNTHS.

68. Appetizer-size burgers: SLIDERS.

Down:

1. Rainbow shapes: ARCS.

2. Get just right: NAIL.

4. Carne __ tacos: steak dish: ASADA.  Yummers!  Carne asada is a Mexican dish of marinated, grilled, and thinly sliced beef.

5. Tupperware top: LID.  In the mid-1940s, Earl Tupper (July 28, 1907 ~ October. 5, 1983) came up with a flexible and airtight polyethylene plastic containers, famously featuring a "burping" lid. In the 1950s, Tupperware parties were all the vogue.  It was a kitchen staple when I was growing up.  I may still have some my mother's Tupperware pieces/

6. Gets short with: SNAPS AT.

7. Mount of Greek myth: OSSA.  While it may be associated with Greek mythology, Mount Ossa, is a real mountain in Thessaly, Greece. 

8. Offender's defiant challenge: SO SUE ME.

10. Concert device: AMP.

11. Start to change?: LOOSE.

12. Came to a stop: ENDED.

13. Sit for a spell: REST.

15. Long walk: HIKE.

25. Jewish wedding dance: HORA.

26. Crunch's rank in the cereal aisle: CAP'N.  Cap'n Crunch has been around since the early 1960s.

27. Fill a job opening: HIRE.

29. "It's alright, I suppose": MEH.

35. First entry on many a form: NAME.

36. Suss (out), informally: DOPE.

38. School attended by many English statesmen: ETON.  Prince William (b. June 21, 1982) and Eddie Redmayne (b. Jan. 6, 1982) were classmates at Eaton.

40. Poetic sphere: ORB.

43. Fillets, as a flounder: DEBONES.

45. Soothing balm for a sunburn: ALOE GEL.

50. Suspicious (of): LEERY.

51. "The Jungle" writer Sinclair: UPTON.  The Jungle is a novel that exposed the harsh realities of immigrant life and labor in Chicago's meatpacking industry.  The 1906 novel was instrumental in Congress passing the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act of 1906.  Many books by Upton Sinclair (né Upton Beall Sinclair Jr.; b. Sept. 20, 1878 ~ Nov. 25, 1968) focused on social reform literature.  He was considered a muckraker journalist and political activist.  His novel Oil! is as relevant today as it was when it was first published in 1926.

52. NASA go-aheads: A-OKs.  NASA gave Artemis II the go-ahead just last week.

54. Made sharper: HONED.

55. Sp. titles: SRAs.  Today's Spanish lesson.

57. Staying power: LEGS.

59. Disney CEO before D'Amaro: IGER.  Just last month, Josh D'Amaro (b. Feb. 10, 1971) became the CEO of Disney.  His predecessor was Robert Alan Iger (b. Feb. 10, 1951).  Interestingly, Bob Iger is exactly 20 years older than Josh D'Amaro.

60. Hyphenated personal IDs: SSNs.  As in Social Security Numbers.

62. Crude dwelling: HUT.

64. VW hatchback: GTI.  GTI stands Grand Touring Injection.  It refers to a performance-oriented, fuel-injected car, famously utilized by Volkswagen since the to signify a fast, practical "hot hatch" suitable for long-distance driving.

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