Wednesday, Sep 3rd, 2025 ~ Michael Torch

 HEAD START

The Running of the Bulls~?  Or maybe this cartoon~?

This is my first time blogging a Michael Torch puzzle; he has two previous ones for the LA Times, the last when he paired up with constructor Kevin Christian back in March.  We have no circles (yay~!), an even distribution of 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-letter words (~17), barely any names, and a mix of both Across and Down Themers with a centered reveal;

18A. *Extracts dirt from the carpet, maybe: STEAM CLEANS - I saw this on the Dan Aykroyd show "The Unbelievable" while on the elliptical at the gym this past Saturday

Crush, TX, 1896

59A. *California's "Eureka" and New York's "Excelsior": STATE MOTTOS - I knew these two mottos, the second because I lived in NY for most of my life😜.  Connecticut's is "Qui Transtulit Sustinet" - the translation here

3D. *Vidal Sassoon's expertise: HAIR STYLING - his Wiki , name #1

26D. *Low-carb sandwich: LETTUCE WRAP - using lettuce instead of bread

Actually looks quite tasty

39A. Leading, or, when parsed differently, what can lead into the starts of the answers to the starred clues: A/HEAD OF - two parsings; Ahead, and a Head - of; steam, state, hair, and lettuce

And Away We Go~!

ACROSS:

1. Fireplace residue: ASH - AND - 44D. Fireplace residue: SOOT - Thank the maker this past August was colder & drier than I expected, so less A/C; I'm looking forward to the fall, football and a cozy fire

4. Laundry basket: HAMPER

10. Spice made from the husk of a nutmeg: MACE - I knew this; CT is nicknamed the "nutmeg" state due to this tale;  The spice is NOT in the defensive spray - that's a brand name of pepper spray

14. Indian beach destination: GOA - Three letters and Indian~? Ektorp = GOA (name #2)

15. Moon mission program: APOLLO - The memorable 11 and 13; makes me think of HuskerG

16. Subject of a chemistry diagram: ATOM

17. Stat boosted by a home run: RBI - Runs Batted In - a clue for our hostess C.C.

20. Countesses' counterparts: EARLS

22. Adds fuel to: STOKES - this reminds me of steam locomotives, too

23. Old Ford flops: EDSELS - haven't seen this crossword staple in a while (name(ish))

25. Resolved out of court: SETTLED

29. Ensnare: TIE UP

31. Bullfighting figure: TORERO - nailed it - they'll need one in the 10K cartoon

32. Vegetarian frozen-food brand: AMY'S - the website

34. Wells Fargo competitor: CITI - financial institutions; I have two credit cards from WF beause they once held my mortgage - now it's with "Mr. Cooper" - not related to my brother's dog

 

Me 'n Cooper are hangin' at the end of this month

37. Feel a sense of belonging: FIT IN - I have always felt like I have never "fit in" - I'm just a weirdo

38. 8 pts. or 4 qts.: GALLon - I started with AMT; I did not see that they were the same measurement

41. First number in many countdowns: TEN - nine - eight - seven . . . .

42. Japanese art genre: ANIME

45. Source of inspiration: MUSE - if there is a muse of "carpentry", then . . . .

46. Overlook: IGNORE - that Muse has been doing this, lately

48. Light purple: LILAC

50. NFLer who plays at the Meadowlands: NY GIANT - as do the long-suffering NY Jets of the NFL as well; the stadium is in the swamps of New Jersey no less

52. Opt for: SELECT

55. Viewpoint: STANCE

58. Home to the Ninja Turtles: SEWER - My screen-name comes not from Splinter, the TMNT rat "sensei", but from putting lumber away sans gloves at Grossman's Lumber many moons ago . . . 

The senior drafter at the Pipe Organ company started at Grossman's as well

63. Light beam: RAY - I blogged that Dan/C.C. puzzle in July

64. Junior staffer: AIDE

65. Online investment service: eTRADE - had some funny Super Bowl baby ads

Riding the dog like a horse is "frowned upon~!"

66. Beast of burden: ASS

67. "Quick, before we're late!": "C'MON~!"

68. Classroom unit: LESSON - AND - 49D. Decrease: LESSEN - I am sort of 'Meh' about this . . . ?

69. Parakeet or rabbit: PET - I have had the rabbit, not the bird

DOWN:

1. Shake hands (on): AGREE

Great Album Cover Art

2. "Just awful!": "SO BAD~!"

4. Pain in the neck: HASSLE - Lately, all my home projects have turned into huge hassles

5. Perfectly suitable: APT

6. "The Simpsons" bar: MOE'S - according to this site, it's a tavern, not a bar; name(ish)

7. Community developer's map: PLAT - its etymology derived from PLOT

8. Ticklish toys that caused a frenzy at Christmas in 1996: ELMOs - name(ish) -  my "generation" was obsessed with Cabbage Patch Kids, because they were oddly cute/ugly and could  be "legally" adopted 

9. "Guardians of the Galaxy" raccoon: ROCKET - I have not actually seen these movies - had to rely on perps; name #3

10. Opera conductors: MAESTRI - I figured it was the Latin plural, and not maestrOS

11. __ loss for words: AT A

12. Swindle: CON - Ooops, not ROB; 33% correct

13. CPR crew: EMS

19. Excuse from work: LET OFF - meh; I think of fireworks being "let off"

21. Luau loops: LEIS - alliteration

24. "I did no __ thing!": "SUCH~!"

27. Native Pennsylvanians: ERIES - This I should have figured out; Organ Supply Industries is located there - I was part of a road trip that visited the factory in ERIE, PA

28. "Death, be not proud" poet John: DONNE - name #4 - learning moment for me; more here

30. Fruit-filled desserts: PIES

32. Another time: AGAIN - not LATER

33. Unkempt: MANGY

35. Eastern philosophical path: TAO

36. Pop sensation: IDOL

39. Use a SodaStream: AERATE - this thing; I left mine back in NY

40. Big name in elevators: OTIS - crossword staple name #5

43. Lick, as an envelope: MOISTEN

45. Like peacocks: MALE - ah.  I was trying to think of a four-letter word for SHOWY

47. Nail polish, e.g.: ENAMEL

51. Govt. investment option: T-NOTE - I, of course, filled in T-BOND; 40% correct

53. Stop: CEASE

54. Romantic rendezvous: TRYST

56. Middles: Abbr.: CTRs

57. Greek vowels: ETAs

59. Cul-de-__: SAC - It's a dead end....

60. "Beetlejuice" director Burton: TIM - name #6

61. Big commotion: ADO

62. Prefix with meter: ODO - Odometer, the "clock" of your car's distance traveled

Splynter

Sunday March 30, 2025 Michael Torch & Kevin Christian

Theme: "Um, Yeah"- Um sound is added to common phrase, changing spellings as needed.

26. Switching out tedious people?: ROTATING THE TIRESOME. Rotating the tires.

37. Classroom ennui?: SCHOOL BOREDOM. School board.

45. Extremely powerful networking device?: BEAST MODEM. Beast mode.

68. Strange guy at a class reunion?: WEIRD ALUM. Weird Al.

90. "Life is short, don't drink Coke," e.g.?: PEPSI MAXIM. Pepsi Max. 

98. Visual aids for treating snake bites?: VENOM DIAGRAMS. Venn diagrams.

112. Responses to questions at an anglers' conference?: FISHING FORUM ANSWERS. Fishing for answers. 

Noticed the added letters are mostly different. Amazing. This theme requires tons of creativity. Chuckled at the 90A clue.

Michael & Kevin

Another low-word Sunday grid. Only 138 words. Mine is often 144. Our blog labels show that this is the first LAT Sunday for both of them. Somehow I thought Kevin had a Sunday before. Here's another great picture of him. 

Across:

1. Wraps (up): SEWS.

5. Young lady: LASS.

9. Last name of football brothers J.J. and T.J.: WATT. Their brother Derek is a football player also.

13. Cuts with light: LASES.

18. Start to fall?: PRAT. Pratfall.

19. Skip past: OMIT.

20. Complicated: MESSY.

21. College sports channel: ESPNU.

22. "Voyage to India" Grammy winner: ARIE. India.Arie.

23. Actress Rowlands: GENA. She was the old Allie in "The Notebook". Beautiful movie.

24. At hand: ON TAP.

25. Braces (oneself): GIRDS.

30. 1948 presidential election winner: TRUMAN.

31. "Money __": Spanish Netflix crime series: HEIST. Unknown to me.

32. TripTik output: AAA MAP.

34. Egyptian viper: ASP.

35. Body art: INK.

41. Grandma: NANA.

43. Verdi opera: AIDA.

44. Cliched plot device: TROPE.

51. Home of Arizona State: TEMPE. Leon Marchand brought them the NCAA championship last year.

54. Company with brown trucks: UPS.

55. Pet food brand: ALPO.

56. Strikingly strange: EXOTIC. Pets.

58. "Likewise," informally: BACK AT YA. Quite a few nice long fill in this grid.

61. Lots: SLEWS.

63. Makers of top 10 lists: RATERS.

66. Hover (over): LOOM.

67. Obama daughter: SASHA.

70. Roves around: ROAMS.

74. Opera number: ARIA.

76. Use for support: LEAN ON. Thank God for my blogging team, friends and my three Tom's! So happy to see you back, TTP!

 77. Home of the Sherpa people: NEPAL. 120. 77-Across's locale: ASIA.

78. Steeplechase barrier: OBSTACLE.

82. "Drag Race" host: RUPAUL.

85. Lugosi of "Dracula" fame: BELA.

86. After taxes: NET.

87. Shrill cries: YELPS.

92. R&B singer Braxton: TRACI. Ton Braxton's younger sister.

95. Opening course: SOUP.

97. Till stack: TENS.

103. Rust shade: RED.

104. Small batteries: AAS.

107. "Rocky" role: ADRIAN.

108. Overjoy: ELATE.

110. Amp handler: ROADIE.

116. Target Field team: TWINS. Been ages since I was there. 

118. Durable jacket material: DENIM.

119. Prefix with bot: NANO.

121. Carried: BORNE.

122. Linney of "Ozark": LAURA.

123. Shade: TINT.

124. Academic acronym: STEM.

125. Like some enclosed stadiums: DOMED. Metrodome before Target Field.

126. Otherwise: ELSE.

127. Tart fruit used to make gin: SLOE.

128. In this place: HERE.

Down:

1. Peloponnesian city-state that warred with Athens: SPARTA.

 

2. Stat for a bad defense: ERRORS.

3. Call from a slowpoke: WAIT UP.

4. Cook bao, say: STEAM. We don't say bao alone. Always baozi or Cha siu bao.

5. Password partner: LOGIN NAME.

6. Blessing ender: AMEN.

7. Golfer Vijay: SINGH. He was a machine for many years.

8. Utters: STATES.

9. Got started: WENT TO IT.

10. Piedmont wine center: ASTI.

11. Ruler until 1917: TSAR.

12. Rare blood designation: TYPE AB.

13. Creative displays made with toy bricks: LEGO ART.

14. Barely boiling: ASIMMER.

15. Few and far between: SPREAD OUT.

16. "__ of story": END.

17. Fishy, in slang: SUS. Suspicious.

20. Title role for Brandy Norwood: MOESHA.

27. Tarnish: TAINT.

28. Hawaiian Punch rival: HIC.

29. __ Tomé and Príncipe: SAO.

33. State flower of California: POPPY.

36. Kentucky fort: KNOX.

38. Tribute in verse: ODE.

39. Petting zoo cutie: LAMB.

40. Table in the desert: MESA.

42. Love: ADORE.

45. Adam Clayton's instrument: BASS. Bassist for U2.

46. First name in scat: ELLA.

47. "Planet of the __": APES.

48. "Why should I care?": SO WHAT.

49. Cybercommerce: E-TAIL.

50. Bishop's hat: MITRE.

52. __ reader: PALM.

53. Environmentally friendly prefix: ECO.

57. __ chest: CEDAR.

59. "Freak on a Leash" band: KORN.

60. Blob on a microscope slide: AMOEBA.

62. "Born to Fly" singer Evans: SARA.

64. Incurred: RAN UP.

65. Skiing spot: SLOPE.

68. Corduroy ridge: WALE. The higher, the better? I never liked corduroy.

69. Not suitable: UNAPT.

71. Acme: APEX.

72. Senegal neighbor: MALI.

73. Poetry event: SLAM.

75. Frozen over: ICY.

78. "As seen __": ON TV.

79. Liberal arts college in Kentucky: BEREA. Reminds me of Windhover.

80. Refuse to budge: STAND FIRM.

81. "Frozen" sister: ELSA.

83. Type of interface: USER.

84. Factoid in a CD booklet: LINER NOTE.

88. 1990s fad disc: POG.

89. Certain: SUREFIRE.

91. Windows precursor: MS DOS.

93. "Put Your Records On" singer Bailey Rae: CORINNE.

94. "That one didn't hit the target": I MISSED.

96. Cocktail of tequila and grapefruit soda: PALOMA.

99. Morse code unit: DAH.

100. Not going anywhere: IN IDLE.

101. Dent or scratch: MAR.

102. Double takes?: STUNTS. Great clue. Stunt doubles.

104. "__ Fideles": ADESTE.

105. Not as close: AIRIER.

106. Bagel option: SESAME. Hmm, I'm going to make this next.

109. Yahoo! service: EMAIL.

111. Overflowing (with): AWASH.

113. "Snow Crash" novelist Stephenson: NEAL.

114. Wildebeests: GNUS.

115. Part of A.D.: ANNO.

116. Up in the air, for short: TBD.

117. Court: WOO.

C.C.

Friday, May 17, 2024, Michael Torch

Good morning, Cruciverbalists.  Malodorous Manatee here with a recap of today's puzzle by Michael Torch.  The theme of the puzzle is based on the placement of words within four of the responses.  In those places, Michael has taken common expressions that include the word BEFORE and omitted the word BEFORE thereby allowing the order of of the words to speak for itself.  He has "literally" placed certain words before (in front of) others.  Let's take a look at the first example:

17 Across:  Give unappreciated gifts, literally:  CAST PEARLS SWINE.

The expression is, of course, "cast pearls before swine" and it has come to mean to not present a thing of value to those who will fail to understand or appreciate it.  Here, our constructor has physically CAST (placed) the word PEARLS in front of (before) the word SWINE.  As a result we can read the answer as CAST PEARLS (BEFORE) SWINE.  Michael has, literally, cast pearls before swine.

Here is how the gimmick is applied at the other themed clues and answers.

25. Pre-chaos moment, literally: THE CALM (BEFORE) THE STORM.  In the answer, THE CALM, literally, comes before THE STORM.

43. 48 hours ago, literally: THE DAY (BEFORE) YESTERDAY.   You get the idea.

57. Overconfidence is dangerous, literally: PRIDE COMES (BEFORE) A FALL.  Cometh, goeth, who's quibbling!?

Here is the completed grid:

.... and here are the rest of the clues and answers:

Across:

1. Radio format: TALK.  Hand up for first thinking AM FM.  TALK radio as opposed, say, to Top 40 radio or All News radio.

5. Johnny Chase's nickname on "Entourage": DRAMA.  Unknown to this solver.  Thanks, perps.

10. Hunk: SLAB.  Not as in Adonis.  A hunk, for example, of meat or concrete.

14. Land east of the Urals: ASIA.  I sometimes wonder whether we would consider Europe and Asia to be separate continents if the map makers who had the greatest influence were not, themselves, European.

15. Scout's task, briefly: RECON.  Not a reference involving Tonto's horse.  RECONnaisance.

16. Choice: A-ONE.  Used as an adjective.

20. Unsubscribe, with "out": OPT.  Why did the Maharishi Yogi OPT out of Novocaine during his root canal?  Because he wanted to transcend dental medication.

21. Boot: EXPEL.  Not a shoe reference.  Perhaps a shoo reference.

22. Took the top prize for: WON AT.

23. Drink suffix: ADE.  As in lemonade.  Or Gatorade.

24. Emmy nominee Lucy: LIU.  A frequent visitor.

34. "Boléro" composer: RAVEL.

35. Fields: AREAS.  As in AREAS of expertise.  Not as in comedienne Totie.

36. Highlands refusal: NAE.  Scottish.  "No more Glenmorangie for me, thanks" would not fit in  the allowable space.

37. Cupid counterpart: EROS.

38. Snide remarks: SNARK.  An answer that did not end with an S.

39. Orchid garlands: LEIS.  An answer that did end with an S.

40. Set as a price: ASK.

41. Cozy inn, informally: B AND B.  Bed AND Breakfast.

42. Modest hits?: BUNTS.  Not a musical or theatrical reference.  A baseball reference.

46. Scrubs ctrs.: ORS.  Medica personnel wear scrubs in Operating RoomS.  With the leading cap it could be a reference to the TV show.

47. Consumed: ATE.

48. Enjoy every bite of: SAVOR.

51. Leading the league: FIRST.  A possible baseball reference.

54. Place for a mud bath: SPA.  STYE was too long.

60. Middle East capital: RIAL.  Capital in the financial sense.

61. Trim: PRUNE.  What did the gum trees say after I PRUNEd them?  Eu-clipped-us!

62. Alien conveyances: UFOS.

63. Bulldog's home: YALE.

64. Turn off: REPEL.  What did the male magnet say to the female magnet?  He said : When I saw your backside I was repelled....However, after seeing you from the front, I now find you very attractive.

65. Many a tow job: REPO.   REPOsession.

Down:

1. Birria option: TACO.  A Mexican food reference,  Birria is a flavorful stew that originated in Jalisco.

2. Letters of urgency: ASAP.  What do you call very short proverbs?  ASAPs fables.

3. Enumerate: LIST.

4. Dennings of the MCU's "Thor" films: KAT.

5. School that's home to the Dragons: DREXEL.  Known for their women's basketball program.

6. Harvest: REAP.  As ye sow . . .

7. Plot piece: ACRE.  Not a literary reference.  A bit misleading as an ACRE, by itself, can be a fair sized plot.

8. Defoe's "__ Flanders": MOLL.  A literary reference.

9. Y or N, possibly: ANS.  Punt.  Yes    No    ANSwer

10. Showed the door: SAW OUT.

11. Pork cut: LOIN.  CHOP would have fit.

12. Golfer Nordqvist: ANNA.  Winner of the 2009 LPGA Championship and the 2021 Women's British Open.

13. __ red: BEET.   ERIK THE was too long (and red was not capitalized).

18. Elliptical part: PEDAL.  An exercise machine reference.

19. Reuben cheese: SWISS.  A sandwich reference.   For a number of years, the Yamaha FJR motorcycle community put together a Ruben Run to La Pine, OR.

23. Las Vegas team: ACES.  A basketball reference.

24. Security concern: LEAK.  Call the White House Plumbers.

25. Halloween option: TREAT. TRICK was also five letters.  Fill in the T and the R and find a perp.

26. Rather severe: HARSH.

27. Call to mind: EVOKE.

28. Third baseman Machado with two Gold Gloves: MANNY.  Obviously, a baseball reference.

29. Vocation: TRADE.

30. Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme: HERBS.  Once again, Patti and the puzzle setter have teed it up.

31. Upright: ON END.

32. Condiment in Indian cuisine: RAITA.  A creamy yogurt-based sauce.

33. Tough to resolve: MESSY.  As in a MESSY situation.

38. Word with you or who: SAYS.  Before and after.  SAYS you and who SAYS.  Or, Simon.

39. Bass player?: LURE.  Not a music reference.  A fishing reference.

41. Fitness program that incorporates ballet, yoga, and Pilates: BARRE.  Another unknown for this solver.

42. Siamese fighting fish: BETTA.  ... and yet another unknown to this solver.  Thanks, perps.

44. Marginal drawing: DOODLE.

45. Shoe decor: TASSEL.

48. Nimble: SPRY.

49. Covent Garden solo: ARIA.  Covent Garden is a London, England venue used for operas.

50. Glass vessel: VIAL.  I once made the mistake of drinking the liquid from a scientist’s test tube.  It was a VIAL substance.

51. Anterior: FORE.  Most often seen as a golf reference.

52. "My turn!": I'M UP.  Another possible baseball reference.

53. Artist Magritte: RENE.  Another frequent visitor.

54. Jewel box?: SAFE.  A place to store your jewelry.  Jewel box is often used as a CD case reference.

55. Tiny splash: PLOP.

56. Plus: ALSO.

58. Lifeguard skill: Abbr.: CPR.  An abbreviated answer to a non abbreviate clue.

59. Lab coat?: FUR.  Not a reference to what might be worn in a facility used to conduct experiments.

Not too far from my home they have torn down a small retail strip mall and are constructing a medical complex.  Out in front is a sign that reads:

I'll take two.

And, on that note . . .

____________________________________________