Monday December 3, 2018 Kurt Krauss

Theme: Vowel Movement - A, E, I, O, U between B and GG.

17. Passenger train's suitcase carrier: BAGGAGE CAR.

 

25. Turned down an invitation: BEGGED OFF.

36. Guy acting more maturely: BIGGER MAN.

50. Cross between a Boston terrier or boxer and a beagle: BOGGLE DOG.

60. Carriage outings: BUGGY RIDES.

Boomer here.  

A sad weekend as we say goodbye to our 41st president George H.W. Bush. Although my politics has been directed by John Kennedy and later by Hubert Humphrey, I can honestly say I respected President Bush. At a young age he entered military service and flew 58 combat missions in WWII.  I respected and approved of Operation Desert Storm and I felt the U.S. used the right amount of military muscle to eliminate the aggression caused by the invasion of Kuwait. Thank you for your service, Mr. Bush, and may you rest in peace with your wife, Barbara.

Across:

1. "Agreed!": DEAL. Or No Deal, What happened to Howie Mandel's hair ?

5. Rose from a chair: STOOD.

10. Free ticket: PASS.

14. Sicilian resort city: ENNA.

15. Houston baseballer: ASTRO.  If a Houston trade is made, does the player become an Astro Not.

16. Salon coloring: TINT. Whatever happened to tinted windows on air conditioned cars?

19. "Otello" solo: ARIA.  Of Course! A four letter word with three vowels

20. Single-celled creature: AMOEBA.

21. "Platoon" setting, briefly: NAM.  I was not called to serve there. A nasty war! My VA oncologist asked if I served there. Luckily I was in Germany. I am told that Agent Orange can affect cancer drugs.

23. Texter's soul mate: BFF. Best Friend Forever.

24. Former Yankee manager Joe: TORRE.  Great story!  He managed the Yankees for Mr. (You're Fired) Steinbrenner for 12 years!! In  his major league career as a catcher and infielder he produced over 2300 hits, and is now in Cooperstown.  Gives me hope for Joe Mauer.

28. Victorian, for one: ERA.

29. Puerto Rico, to the U.S.: TERR.  Still suffering from Hurricane Maria.  My former employer, Graybar Electric, has advanced efforts to the recovery there.

31. Harlem Renaissance author Zora __ Hurston: NEALE.

32. Hissing sound: SSS.

33. Jets or Sharks, in "West Side Story": GANG.  Tonight, Tonight, Won't be just any night ...

35. Filled completely: SATED.

39. Some corporate jets: LEARS.

42. Japan is in it: ASIA.

43. Actress Ryan: MEG. Or one of the Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.  What was her last name?

46. Prenatal test, for short: AMNIO.

47. U. of Maryland athlete: TERP.  This is short for Terrapin now in the Big Ten Conference, (Also known as the Bigger 14 by me).  Actually a terrapin is a turtle, an odd nickname for a ferocious team.  Sort of fits in with Gophers, Badgers, and Cornhuskers.

49. Affirmative vote: AYE.  Double that if you're on a ship !

53. In one's stomach: EATEN.

55. French summer: ETE.

56. Pub pint filler: ALE.  Is this just a funny name for beer?

57. America's has 100 seats: SENATE.  53-45-2  Let's hope they can get together on some of the midterm election promises.

58. Euros replaced them in Italy: LIRE.  I once bought a bunch of Euros on eBay.  Not sure why though.

63. Tied, as a game: EVEN.

64. Continental divide?: OCEAN.  I suppose it divides continents, but I always thought a continental divide was like a mountain range that split livable areas.

65. Jazzman Allison: MOSE.

66. Cincinnati team: REDS. Originally named the Redlegs, but they shortened to Reds when they had a Rose.

67. Golfer's "pitching" iron: WEDGE.  I never can get mine to work like those guys on TV.

68. Art Deco icon: ERTE.

Down:

1. Arguments with teams: DEBATES.  In high school and colleges.  But over the previous midterms they were one on one.

2. Captivates: ENAMORS.

3. Some woolen sweaters: ANGORAS.  Not to be confused with Agnes Moorehead who played Endora on "Bewitched",

4. Bar beer: LAGER.  I thought it was Ale .

5. Story spanning generations: SAGA.

6. Mao __-tung: TSE.  That's from the 60s.  I am sure C.C. will tell you that Chairman Mao is known as  Mao Zedong in China.

7. Like stocks not sold on an exch.: OTC.  Over the counter.  Like drugs you don't need to "Ask your doctor if XXXX is right for you."

8. Sumatran ape: ORANG.  This could be short for an Orangutan. It made me think of Maynard G. Krebs (Bob Denver) on Dobie Gillis when he would say "You Rang".

9. Hip-hop headgear: DORAG.

10. "Everychild.onevoice" org.: PTA.  The Harper Valley PTA met one afternoon, and Mrs. Johnson wore a mini skirt and spilled the beans and socked to the sneaky members.

11. Everglades transport: AIRBOAT.

12. Nasal cold symptom: SNIFFLE.  Now that the temp in Minnesota is reaching the 20s, we are hearing a lot of sniffles here.

13. Supplied with personnel: STAFFED.

18. Assist with a heist: ABET.  We are heading to Las Vegas for the Graybar reunion soon.  When I place a bet, I am assisting the Orleans with a heist most of the time.

22. Brainy bunch: MENSA.  I would think people should be smart enough NOT to brag about their IQ.

25. Sonia of "Moon Over Parador": BRAGA.

26. Che Guevara's first name: ERNESTO.

27. Campus bigwig: DEAN.  Mindful of Dean Wormer in "Animal House"

30. It's often broken at breakfast: EGG.  "Which came first, The chicken or the egg?"

34. "Peer Gynt Suite" composer: GRIEG.

36. Naval hoosegow: BRIG.  Do not pass GO, Do not collect $200.

37. Sicily, to Sicilians: ISOLA.

38. Scratch or dent: MAR.

39. Shipping department gizmo: LABELER.  I think normally the Labeler is a person, not a Gizmo.

40. Like tearjerkers: EMOTIVE.

41. Made irate: ANGERED.  If you tried "BUGGED" and it Angered you, too bad.

43. Fighter with a cape: MATADOR.  Superman too long, Batman too short.

44. Exam that involves reading letters: EYE TEST.  I remove my glasses and cannot read the fourth line from the top.  The eye doctor says I need glasses, but I already have them.

45. Rochester brewery or its river: GENESEE.

48. Jury member: PEER.  How did they ever find a peer for Paul Manafort ??

51. Curved macaroni shape: ELBOW.  I prefer Rotini.

52. A trey beats it: DEUCE.  Unless it's wild.

54. Cartoon genre: ANIME.

57. "Auld Lang __": SYNE.  Don't forget your old acquaintances.

59. "Star Trek" rank: Abbr.: ENS.  Remember Tin Conway (Ensign Parker) in McHale's Navy?  Kind of destroyed opinions of the rank.

61. H.S. equivalency exam: GED.

62. Prank: GAG.

Boomer

Monday November 26, 2018 Pam Amick Klawitter

Theme: FORTISSIMO (63. Very loud, musically ... its symbol hints at four puzzle answers) - Each theme entry is in the pattern of F* F*.

17A. Concern after heavy rain: FLASH FLOOD.

 

23A. Like G-rated movies: FAMILY-FRIENDLY.

39A. Shore dinner: FISH FRY.

52A. American Revolution leader: FOUNDING FATHER.

   

Boomer here. 

Yabba Dabba Dooo!  Fred Flintstone would love this puzzle!  And I have to tip my hat to the Minnesota Gophers on Saturday. They played 60 minutes of Fantastic Football at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison Wisconsin and brought Paul Bunyan's Axe home Finally after Fifteen years of Frustration.

Across:

1. Identical: SAME.

5. "Mountain" soft drinks: DEWS.  Diet Pepsi is my favorite.  Dew is too tart.

9. Burn the midnight oil at college: CRAM.  Did you see the Rams vs. Chiefs last week ?

13. Urgent request: PLEA.  Not Guilty

14. Forgo the church ceremony: ELOPE.  Go to Nevada, they have the weakest laws.

16. Lo-cal: LITE.  Diet Pepsi

19. Inflated ones often clash: EGOS.  Lego my EGO,

20. Kinda: SORTA.  This is Sorta Notta Word.

21. Airport near Tel Aviv: LOD.

22. Isn't feeling up to par: AILS.  FRED FUNK has not been up to par for a few years.

27. Natural soother: ALOE.  Aloe, Aloe, Would you like some of my tangerine ?

28. Salon jobs: SETS.  Tennis matches.

29. Singer Jimmy or actor James: DEAN.  I was only 8 years old when James died in a car wreck.  I remember Jimmy selling sausage,  I didn't know he could sing.

32. Litter member or user: CAT.  In the cradle.

34. Sewn connections: SEAMS. 

38. Bruins legend: ORR.  The greatest offensive defenseman who ever played the game.

42. "Not happenin'": NAH.

43. Pace for Paganini: TEMPO.  A Ford in the 1990's.  Never was a popular as the Mustang,

45. Noon on a garden dial: XII.

46. Like Godiva: BARE. Seventeen, a beauty queen, she made a ride, that caused a scene.

47. Choir voice: ALTO.  A bit lower than soprano.

50. Tool for a duel: EPEE.

58. Woman's name often spelled without its "e": ANNE.

59. Progressive spokeswoman: FLO.  There were FLO FLASHBACKS on the final "Alice" episode.

60. Airport concern: DELAY.  George said "Answer the phone 'Van Delay Industries'"

62. Multi-platinum Diamond: NEIL. "Sweet Caroline" was my favorite.  Later in life he said it was about Caroline Kennedy.  I have my doubts.

66. Boarding site: GATE.

67. Cosmologist Carl: SAGAN.

68. Chicago commuter system, familiarly: THE L.  I have not spent a lot of time in Chicago, but I always thought it was called the "EL"  Short for Elevated Railway.  Maybe TTP will know for sure.

69. Snow conveyance: SLED. With a little old driver so lively and quick.  I knew in a moment it must be Saint Nick.

70. Earns after taxes: NETS.

71. Doomed: SUNK.  LeBron has SUNK many rubber balls into those NETS

Down:

1. Sun protection nos.: SPFS.

2. __ a sudden: ALL OF.

3. Stiller's partner: MEARA.  Tiger's buddy MARK O'

4. __ Kodak: EASTMAN.  "I've got a Nikon Camera, Gonna take a photograph, mama don't take my Kodachrome away."

5. Bit of OED info: DEF.

6. Building add-on: ELL.  What might you call the add-on if it is round ??

7. Literary Virginia: WOOLF.  Who's afraid of her?

8. Clues for a bloodhound: SPOORS.

9. Detox diet: CLEANSE.

10. Unbending: RIGID.

11. Coral island: ATOLL.  Price for driving on a busy highway

12. Having lots of loose ends: MESSY.

15. Vedder of Pearl Jam: EDDIE.

18. Flag down, as a cab: HAIL.

24. Focuses of activity: LOCI.

25. Passing words?: YEAS.

26. Website for handmade art: ETSY.  Possible Mississippi Senator?  Find out tomorrow.

29. Morse code unit: DOT.  Hi and Lois' twin daughter.  (Ditto's sister)

30. Palindromic "before": ERE.  And I heard him exclaim ere he drove out of site.

31. Drew Brees' asset: ARM. The LAW has a long one.

33. Texter's gratitude: THX. "Thanks for the Memories"  Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Bing Crosby, you pick.

35. Gasteyer of "SNL": ANA.

36. Draw graffiti on, say: MAR.

37. Noted seashell seller: SHE.  I wonder how many she sold.  You can pick them up for free.

39. Decide not to call, in poker: FOLD.  Aces and Eights are not enough.

40. Feudal holding: FIEF.

41. Seacrest morning co-host: RIPA.  Kelly jumped from "All my Children" soap to morning show host.

44. Like some den walls: PANELED.

46. Directives: BEHESTS.

48. Spats: TIFFS.

49. Borrowed, as a library book: ON LOAN.

51. Predicted takeoff hrs.: ETDS.

52. Dracula's canines: FANGS.

53. Tatum or Ryan: ONEAL.  "Paper Moon."  Tatum was great but is Tatum really a girl's name?

54. Bring together: UNITE.

55. New York's Ausable Chasm, e.g.: GORGE.  I am thinking Colorado has better ones.

56. Yale founder Yale: ELIHU.

57. Budget noodle dish: RAMEN.

61. Egg-white omelet's lack: YOLK.  What did the farmer say when he dropped an egg on a hen.  "That's a yolk on you".

64. Bit of body ink: TAT.  You get these free before your radiation treatment.

65. Shoo-__: easy winners: INS.

Boomer

Note from C.C.:

Belated "Happy Birthday" to Picard (Robert)! I hope it was a day of fun and adventure, Robert.

Picard and Ed Asner

Monday November 19, 2018 Jerry Edelstein

Theme:  HORSE AROUND (59A. Engage in tomfoolery ... and a hint to what goes with each part of the answers to starred clues, but not in the same way) - Horse precedes the first word and follows the second word in each theme entry.

17A. *Kids' recreational garb: PLAY CLOTHES. Horse play. Clotheshorse.

23A. *Two-person log cutter: WHIP SAW. Horsewhip. Saw horse.

36A. *Soar: FLY HIGH. Horsefly. High horse.

49A. *Daytona 500, e.g.: CAR RACE. Horse car. Race horse (Horse race as well).

3D. *Economic conflict often involving tariffs: TRADE WAR. Horse trade. War horse.

38D. *Hiker's carryall: BACK PACK. Horse back. Pack horse.

 

Boomer here.  

A wonderful time of the year.  I just want to wish each and every one of you that frequents this blog, a very Happy Thanksgiving, and a great kickoff to the holiday season.  Please do not call it "Turkey Day", and please do not patronize stores that open on Thursday evening. Trust me, they will all have stuff left on the shelves on Friday. And whoever started the expression "Black Friday"?  Go if you like, but usually, the best deals run from December 23-24. 

Across:

1. Fast plane: JET.  Don't know when I'll be back again.

4. Sultan's group: HAREM.

9. Prickly seedcase: BUR.  Not Perry Mason, and not it's cold outside

12. Organ with a hammer and anvil: EAR.

13. Puts money away, as for retirement: SAVES UP.  Tax season is coming soon.  Time to save down.

15. Opposite of WNW: ESE.  Clue is easy, so easy.

16. Actress Longoria: EVA. He had a girl, Eva Braun, hair as red as flame

- Ah, ja, ja.

He papered walls for many years till his moment came

- Of course!  

Check with Desper-Otto for detail

19. Revolutionary British soldiers: RED COATS. Bill Cosby did a skit about how in the Revolutionary War, American soldiers would hide while British soldiers must wear red and march in a straight line.

21. John of "Fawlty Towers": CLEESE.

22. __ lot: stuffs oneself: EATS A.  Do we need this clue three days before Thanksgiving ?

24. Little chess piece: PAWN.  History channel shows a lot of Pawn Stars reruns.  Still not sure if Chum Lee is still employed there.

26. Genetic initials: RNA.

28. UFO passengers, presumably: ETS.

29. On the house: GRATIS. Yup, Latin for "no charge".  (Does not apply to dead batteries though.)

32. Elicit: EDUCE.

35. Put on TV: AIR.

38. Dickens pen name: BOZ.

41. City hall bigwig: MAYOR. Lots of new ones were elected this month.

42. Opposite of cruel: HUMANE.

44. Artist's deg.: MFA.

46. Moscow's land: Abbr.: RUS.  Fools rush in, where wise men never go.

48. App symbol: ICON.

52. Practical joke: PRANK.

55. Inexact lunch time: ONE-ISH. By one o'clock?? ISH my lunch is cold.

56. Mom's and dad's dads: GRANDPAS.

61. Set a price of: ASK. And you shall receive

62. Miners dig it: ORE.  I've seen this nearly every week, and no clue ever asks for the state where D.B. Cooper bailed out.

63. Sides of an issue: ASPECTS.

64. Michael of "SNL": CHE.

65. Snake's sound: SSS.  I've never heard a hiss.  Maybe a rattle?

66. Bogs: MIRES.

67. London's __ Gardens: KEW.  How much is five Kew Gardens plus five Kew gardens?  "Ten Kew" gardens.  You're welcome!

Down:

1. Boo: JEER.  Sounds like a laundry soap Blue Cheer

2. Roof overhang: EAVE.

4. "Papa Bear" of football: HALAS.  Incredible story.  George was owner AND coach of the Chicago Bears when I was a kid.  I think he won five championships.  (Before the Super Bowl era.) The Bears now display his initials on their uniform sleeve out of respect.  If he knew he would be in this puzzle, he may have named his Chicago team the "Horses."  

5. Gamer's game face: AVATAR.  Featuring faces worse than "The Exorcist".

6. "Curious George" creators Hans and Margret: REYS.

7. Corner PC key: ESC.  Upper left.  (I had to check)

8. Chips in a garden: MULCH.  We use the cedar kind and they tend to fly around.  But C.C. doesn't like the reddish brown and neither do I.

9. Order: BEHEST. So you're at McDonald's and the person at the window says "May I take your behest?"

10. Repurposes to replace, as a tool: USES AS. Sounds like a slogan for Scandinavian Airlines.

11. Stitch again: RESEW.

13. Pick out in a crowd: SPOT. If you're picking out a dog, then you spot Spot.

14. __ sci: college major: POLI.

18. Conical home: TEPEE.  We don't see these much anymore.  But Minnesota was home to many Native Americans.  They had to be tough to live in an unheated tent in these winters.

20. Ray Charles' "I __ Stop Loving You": CAN'T. "I've made up my mind.  To live in memories of these lonesome times."

23. Dry riverbed: WADI.

24. Links gp.: PGA.  I've been watching the Georgia event this weekend. Charles Howell has been on the tour forever with only two wins. C.C. and I remember seeing him at the PGA Championship at Hazeltine in 2002.  Yesterday,  Charles survived three dropped shots on the first two holes in the final round. Congrats to Mr. Howell on his third PGA win !

25. Radio host Shapiro: ARI.  Not familiar with this radio guy. But I do watch Ari Melber on MSNBC

27. India's first prime minister: NEHRU. I wonder if he ever really wore those jackets with funny collars.

30. "__ tree falls ... ": IF A. And no one is around to hear it, does it still make a noise ??

31. Underhanded: SLY. And the family Stones.

33. "Yuck!": UGH.

34. Former Energy secretary Steven: CHU. Nobel Prize winner.  Served under President Obama.

37. Days long gone: YORE.

39. Beatle bride: ONO. Oh No!  She never changed her surname to Lennon?

40. Buddhist discipline: ZEN.

41. Roger who hit 61 in '61: MARIS.  He never got the credit because two new expansion teams

were added so pitching was weaker.  Besides, he was from North Dakota, and Nodakians never get credit for anything.

43. Take care of: MIND. Over matter.

44. Estate homes: MANORS.

45. Bordeaux brothers: FRERES. Frere Jacques, Morning bells are ringing, Ding Dang Dong.

47. Neaten (up): SPRUCE. These will be decorated in homes next month.  Neatening up will need to take place after they have served their purpose.

49. Silver salmon: COHOS.

50. On the ocean: ASEA.

51. Deep depression: CHASM.

53. Raves' companions: RANTS.

54. Added conditions: ANDS. Ifs or Buts.

56. Suffix with movie: GOER. This seems like a made up word to me.

57. 1975 Wimbledon winner Arthur: ASHE.

58. Twist, as facts: SKEW.  you will need a SKEWER to close the Turkey so the stuffing won't fall out

60. Troy, N.Y., school: RPI.

Boomer

Notes from C.C.:

1) Husker Gary and I made today's Puzzle Society Crossword, edited by David Steinberg. Click here to solve our "Golden Words" (great title, Gary!). Click here to see the answer grid and constructor note. 

2) Boomer has been writing a column for MN Bowling since 2007. Turkey of the Year is an annual feature. Read here for his thoughts this year.

Monday November 12, 2018 Matt McKinley

Theme: : INSIDE STORY (54. Facts known to a select few ... and a hint to each set of circled letters) - Three type of stories span across each theme entry.

 

17. Forgetful moment: MENTAL LAPSE. Tall story.

 

26. One arguing for the unpopular side: DEVILS ADVOCATE. Sad story.

41. Education division governed by a board: SCHOOL DISTRICT. Old story.

Boomer here.  

I would like to thank all of the veterans out there for their service to our country. I was also part of the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1970. I did not serve in Vietnam, however I worked in the US Army Hospital in Fort Campbell, KY and then was sent overseas to a Nike Missile battalion in Hardheim Germany. I never was a big fan of beer, and certainly did not care at all for the German version, but many of my friends loved it. 

I also would like to remember the Armistice day blizzard of 1940.  My mother would mention it every year about this time. The day started warmly but then temperatures dropped around 50 degrees F and nearly two feet of snow fell in Minnesota. I believe around 50 people lost their lives that day. Armistice Day was created to honor the end of WWI (Century being honored this week in Paris).  After WWII, Dwight Eisenhower changed it to Veterans Day in 1954. 

Across:

1. Tempo similar to lento: LARGO.  A key in Florida

6. Quacked insurance name: AFLAC.  Known for clever commercials on TV.  Much better than Medicare supplement ads.

11. Film watcher's channel: TMC. There are so many movie channels on cable now, I can't keep up with all of them.

14. Plane, to Pierre: AVION.

15. "Fighting" Notre Dame team: IRISH.  What though the odds be great or small, Old Notre Dame will win over all. Knute is a great Norwegian name.

16. Listening organ: EAR.  I do not consider an ear an organ.  You cannot play church music on it.

19. Falsehood: LIE.

20. Request: ASK.  And you shall receive.  Wear an 80s jersey and you may also receive.

21. Great enthusiasm: GUSTO. Go for Schlitz beer.

22. Revise, as text: EMEND.

24. Indian lentil stew: DAL.  "How 'bout them Cowboys !"

25. Sporty sunroofs: T-TOPS.  Popular in the 70s.  I don't see them much any more. I suppose folks did not want to spend the money on them.

32. Absorb the lesson: LEARN.  PBA Senior member Bob Jr.

33. Applauds: CLAPS.  Roll a 7 against the point and it's CRAPS.

34. Effort: TRY.

35. Rowing tools: OARS.  Gently down the stream.

36. "Cha-__!": register sound: CHING.  That's the way you spell it, but it never makes that sound.

37. Delighted shout from the roller coaster: WHEE.

38. Summer hrs. in Oregon: PDT.  We turned our clocks back last week. 

39. William __, early bathysphere user: BEEBE. Monday word???

40. Exclaimed: CRIED.

44. Peer: EQUAL.

45. Humble dwelling: HUT. I think this is where the first little pig lived.

46. Aleut relative: INUIT.

47. Louvre Pyramid architect: I M PEI. A Frank Lloyd Wright competitor, I think.

50. Govt. agent: FED.

53. Windy City rail initials: CTA.  Not to be confused with the MTA of Boston.  (Poor old Charlie)

57. Funhouse reaction: EEK.  No funhouse ever scared me.  I only eek at snakes.

58. Wafer named for its flavor: NILLA.

59. Like a funhouse: EERIE.  More like the Twilight Zone.  Do do do do

60. Dr. of rap: DRE.

61. Best Buy "squad" members: GEEKS.  We have used the Geek Squad several times. Amazing how they can fix computers.

62. Faked, in hockey: DEKED.  Then, "He shoots, he scooorrres !"

Down:

1. Dalai __: LAMA.

2. NYC's Madison and Lexington: AVES.  Duh … I would think we have Aves in every city.

3. Hockey enclosure: RINK. Most have boards now, but when I was a kid we played hockey on wide open rinks

4. Received: GOT.

5. Rescheduled after being canceled, as a meeting: ON AGAIN. The stock market has been on a gain fairly recently.

6. Afflicts: AILS.

7. House with brothers: FRAT.  In a Fraternity, if you F a class you are a RAT.

8. Slimming surgery, for short: LIPO.  Better to just eat less don'tcha think.

9. Braying beast: ASS.  No comment

10. Frito-Lay corn snacks: CHEETOS.  Delicious, but they might turn your fingers orange.

11. Blessed with ESP: TELEPATHIC.

12. Primary thoroughfare in many towns: MAIN STREET. This was a book by Sinclair Lewis, reflecting on his life in a small town, Sauk Centre MN.

13. Believability, for short: CRED.  I SEE RED when I see half a word.

18. Break in the action: LULL.  Wishing for a lull in the California fires.

23. Soft shoe: MOC.  Another half a word

24. TiVo products: DVRS.  Wanna buy a vowel ??

25. Freq. sitcom rating: TV PG.  See above.

26. Right smack in the middle: DEAD CENTER.

27. Threat from a fault: EARTHQUAKE. Another California dread. My sisters have lived through several.

28. NFL list of games, e.g.: SCHED.  Nothing for my Vikings this week.  The NFL added bye weeks to the schedules a few years ago.

29. Crook's cover: ALIBI.

30. Claire of "Homeland": DANES.

31. Observed closely: EYED.

32. Cuts (off): LOPS.

36. Phone in a purse: CELL. These things are incredible now. I see people reading their email on their phone.

37. Legal document: WRIT.

39. Enjoying the ocean: BOATING.  We have 10,000 lakes to enjoy.  Don't need an ocean.

40. Enjoyed the ocean: CRUISED. ditto

42. Yves' yes: OUI.  One of the three French words I know.  (The others are FRIES and TOAST)

43. Biblical pronoun: THEE.

46. Cooled with cubes: ICED.  That's why it's called ICED Tea, not Ice Tea.

47. Ocean map dot: ISLE.

48. Cereal go-with: MILK.  Every morning.

49. Smooching in a crowded park and such, briefly: PDAS.  Public displays of Affection, but also a personal data something or other, like a cell phone.

50. Road divide: FORK.  As Yogi once said, "If you come to a fork in the road, take it".  Speaking of pretty good all time catchers,  Joe Mauer announced his retirement a couple of days ago.

51. Lake that's a homophone of 59-Across: ERIE. The most common crossword Great Lake by far!

52. Lightened, as hair: DYED.  I think if you lightened it, it's bleached.  Darken it would be dyed.

55. Nietzsche's "never": NIE.

56. Casual shirt: TEE.  I have some of these.  But I also have a few in my golf bag.

Boomer

Notes from C.C.:

Happy birthday to Rich Norris, editor of LA Times Daily Crossword. Often half or more of clues in our daily puzzles are Rich's creations. And he always helps constructors to make the theme tighter and fill cleaner. He's just a quiet and generous soul.

Rich and his wife Kim

Monday November 5, 2018 Frank Virzi

Theme::  BEDSPREAD (66. Quilt, e.g. ... and a hint to the circled letters) - Twin, Queen, Double & King are spread out in theme entries.

  

17. What "bosun" is short for: BOATSWAIN.

24. Necessities: REQUIREMENTS.

40. Maxwell Smart catchphrase: WOULD YOU BELIEVE.

52. October holiday in Canada: THANKSGIVING.

Boomer here.  

October is in the rearview mirror.  I hope we are all looking forward to Thanksgiving.  Let me say this about that. I HATE all the Black Friday ads, almost as much as the Medicare supplement ads.  And I will not shop at stores that ignore the holiday and open their doors on Thanksgiving evening.  Also C.C. and I will be at our polling place early Tuesday morning. I hope all of you will take the time to vote.  Thank you.

Across:

1. Gillette razor introduced several years after the Trac II: ATRA. Not sure where these names for razors come from. Maybe from the same guys that name car models.

5. Sleety road concern: SKID.  "When you go into a skid, turn in the direction of the skid".  Words to live by in Minnesota winters.

9. Spherical: ORBED.  Army cot or bed ?

14. Cook, as cavatelli: BOIL.  Hard or soft egg?

15. Alien-seeking org.: SETI.

16. "SNL" producer Michaels: LORNE.  Bonanza boss Mr. Greene

19. Words to the audience: ASIDE.

20. God of the Quran: ALLAH.

21. Minute part of a min.: NSEC. There are a billion nanoseconds in one second.  I did not count them, I googled it.

23. Voiced: SAID.

27. Town mentioned in "Sloop John B": NASSAU.  "My grandfather and me"  Beach Boys

30. Give permission to: LET.  Allow a new serve without penalty.

31. CPR expert: EMT.  Electrical Metallic tubing.  aka thinwall pipe.

32. Kind of sax: ALTO.

36. When some news shows air: AT TEN.  I remember news at six and ten.  Now CNN and MSNBC have it all day and all night (Marianne)

44. Knee-to-ankle bone: TIBIA.

45. Elevator name: OTIS. Elisha Otis invented the elevator about 150 years ago.  I wonder how many multi-story buildings there were back then.

46. A half-dozen: SIX.

47. Cinnabar or hematite: ORE. Mining is an industry in Northern Minnesota.  That's where 3M got its name" Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing.

49. How dishes are often sold: AS A SET.  How tennis is played also.

58. Draws a bead on, with "at": AIMS. Sign in a public men's room. "We aim to please, you aim too, please".

59. Centers of activity: LOCI.

60. Ventricular outlet: AORTA.

64. Bronze or beige: SHADE.  Golden Gopher helmets are sometimes a shiny shade of gold.

68. Sagal of "8 Simple Rules": KATEY.

69. Vicinity: AREA.

70. First chip in the pot: ANTE. Actually, everyone in the game must toss in a chip to play.

71. "Goosebumps" author R.L.: STINE.

72. U.K. mil. medals: DSOS. Distinguished Service Order,  (plural)

73. "The Americans" FBI agent Beeman: STAN.  I've never heard of Stan Beeman, but who could forget Oliver Hardy's buddy?  "Hard boiled eggs and nuts".

Down:

1. Palindromic Swedish band: ABBA.  "Dancing Queens" from Sweden don'tcha know.

2. Saw, for one: TOOL.

3. Iranian money: RIAL.  I've never been to Iran but it sounds like an odd name for money.

4. Rite sites: ALTARS.

5. Opposite of NNE: SSW.

6. Reeves of "John Wick": KEANU.  Dogstar is an odd name for a band, but so was Beatles and the 5th Dimension

7. Formal answer to "Who's there?": IT IS I.  Is this a knock knock joke ?

8. Home fries server: DINER.  Kind of like French Fries only chunky.

9. Suffix with Cray-: OLA. Crayola no longer sells a color they called "Dandelion".  If you have one, put it on eBay.

10. "Goblin Market" poet Christina: ROSSETTI.

11. "Monty Python's Life of __": BRIAN.

12. Split up: END IT.  Banana's and ice cream in a high dish.

13. Monopoly cards: DEEDS.  "Title Deeds" to be exact.  Take a ride on the Reading.

18. Mr. Met's former stadium: SHEA. When the Mets first appeared in the National League, they played at the Polo Grounds.  Former famous home of the New York Giants.  I think the Mets lost 120 games that first year.

22. Cartoon frame: CEL.

25. Wharf: QUAY.

26. Word after Happy or square: MEAL.  Why do they call it a square meal when hamburgers are round.

27. Politico Gingrich: NEWT.

28. Mine, in Amiens: A MOI.

29. Retained part of a paycheck: STUB.  Or a ticket.  I have five stubs from the 1987 World Series. (Yup, I saw game 5 in St. Louis)

33. Canterbury commode: LOO.  Our Minnesota race track is Canterbury Downs.  Out there they call them "rest rooms".

34. Tsk relative: TUT. I think he was an Egyptian King.

35. Kimono sash: OBI.  Mr. Wan Kinobi of "Star Wars" fame

37. Hardy's "__ of the D'Urbervilles": TESS.

38. Songwriter Sands: EVIE.

39. Bakery call: NEXT.  I don't know about a bakery, but this is the call at the government center when you go to renew a license.  However they don't call it anymore.  There's a video hanging from the ceiling that says "Now Serving".

41. Simba's home: LION'S DEN. I remember being in Cub Scouts and being part of a den.

42. Like the night, usually: DARK. A Star horse in the 1953 Kentucky Derby.  Nipped Native Dancer at the wire.

43. Morales of "La Bamba": ESAI.  Lieutenant Rodriguez on NYPD Blue.

48. Immigrant's subj.: ESL.

50. Easy thing to do: SNAP.  We used to love candy coated licorice rounds called Snaps.

51. Old Greek gathering places: AGORAS.

52. "Honey do" list items: TASKS.  Is there also a "Honey Don't" list ??

53. Drum kit cymbals: HI HAT.

54. Valuable viola: AMATI.

55. Spoil: GO BAD.

56. Cupcake-topping workers: ICERS.  Never knew why people called frosting icing.  I suppose that frost can turn into ice.

57. YouTube clip: VIDEO.  I have plenty of VHS videos, but nothing to play them with.

61. __-a-car: RENT.  We do this in Las Vegas, but never from "Dollar".  Long story.

62. "Later," stylishly: TA TA.

63. Yemeni seaport: ADEN.

65. Watching organ: EYE.  I would not call an eye an organ.  You cannot play church music on an eye.

67. Flier to Oslo: SAS.

Boomer

Note from C.C.:

Here is Boomer ready for the All Saints' Day mass at Benilde St. Margaret's High School where he coaches the kids' bowling team. Click on it to enlarge. He's wearing four different pins.

Boomer, Nov 1, 2018

Monday October 29, 2018 Paul Coulter

Theme: SURPRISE TEST (54. Unexpected classroom announcement ... and, initially, one hiding in each set of puzzle circles) - Three different tests are hidden in each theme entry.

20. Protective net above a cradle: DREAM CATCHER.

34. Government prosecutor: STATE'S ATTORNEY.

40. Reduced responsiveness to medication: DRUG RESISTANCE.

Boomer here.  

Hello everyone, and thank you for all the well wishes and birthday greetings.  C.C. and I  had a great Saturday meeting my son and daughter-in-law at the local Native American casino known as Mystic Lake in a south suburb of Minneapolis. (Shakopee). We enjoyed the buffet and then risked a few bucks in the casino.  (I'm pretty cheap, I play for nickels).  

Across:

1. Autos: CARS.  My mother worked for CARS at the VA.  (Stood for Central Accounts Receivable Service).

5. Cutlass automaker: OLDS.  Yup this is a car.  I never had a Cutlass, but I had a couple of Olds gas hogs in the 60s.

9. Stick-on design: DECAL.

14. Fever with chills: AGUE. Gesundheit!

15. Hide, as a bone: BURY.  I often wondered how the bone tastes when the dog digs it up ?

16. 100 bucks: C NOTE.  Or, 100 male deer in a GEICO commercial.

17. Breadbasket item: ROLL.

18. Read bar codes on: SCAN.  They are amazing!  I have a bar code on my VA ID and checking in to the clinic it reads the bar code and knows more about me than I do.

19. "Wizard of __ Park": Edison: MENLO.  Thomas Edison was a wizard and set up shop in Menlo Park, New Jersey, near Newark.  Since I had a long history with Graybar Electric, I sometimes feel I owe my career to Thomas Edison.

23. __ Paulo, Brazil: SAO.  Huge City !

24. Some tech sch. grads: EES.  I think the puzz is pointing at Electrical Engineers.

25. Type of energy or reactor: ATOMIC.  Don't get too close to this.

29. '60s-'70s quarterback Tarkenton: FRAN.  NFL Vikings Hall of Famer.  Number 10.  I remember some of the magic he worked back in 1961, when the Vikings were an expansion team!

31. Content cat sound: PURR.  PURRfect !

33. Spanish gold: ORO. Our Records Only

37. Philip of "Kung Fu": AHN.

38. Live and breathe: ARE. This are an interesting clue

39. "Ich bin __ Berliner": JFK: EIN. Yes, I am old enough to remember this speech, but I am sure younger folks have heard this line many times.

45. "Casablanca" pianist: SAM.  Play it again !

46. She sheep: EWES.

47. Blues singer James: ETTA.  Also Miss Kett

48. At first, second or third: ON BASE.  I might have guessed UMPIRE

50. Long __ of the law: ARM.

51. Airline to Stockholm: SAS.

58. Gorge: CHASM.

61. Aesop's also-ran: HARE.  I never believed that story about the tortoise .

62. "East of Eden" director Kazan: ELIA.

63. Blender button: PUREE.  Just make sure you have that rubber top on the thing or you will have puree all over your counter.

64. Barely makes, with "out": EKES. We eked out a few dollars on a 2 cent machine at Mystic Lake Saturday.

65. A short distance away: NEAR.

66. Accumulate: AMASS.  We DID NOT amass a fortune at Mystic Lake however.

67. "Wild" frontier place: WEST.  Remember Mr. West who played Batman ?

68. IRS form IDs: SSNS. You may give your last four, but not the whole works.

Down:

1. King and queen: CARDS.  We played Jacks or better Saturday

2. Greek marketplace: AGORA.

3. Hitchhiker's principle?: RULE OF THUMB.  Is there also a rule of finger ?

4. Actress Ward: SELA.

5. Lewd: OBSCENE.

6. "Star Wars" mastermind: LUCAS.  George Lucas created this epic movie.  If you purchased a few of the figures in 1977, you may have a fortune.  however, I bought baseball cards.

7. "Dang!": DRAT.

8. Lip-__: mouth the words: SYNC.  Not allowed at karaoke

9. U.S. capital transit system: DC METRO.  I've never been to DC. Couldn't get the votes.

10. First month of el año: ENERO.

11. Pro's opposite: CON.  Jails are full of these.

12. Braves, on scoreboards: ATL.  They didn't quite make it to the World Series this year, but I remember who beat them in the 1991 Series.

13. DiCaprio, in fan mags: LEO.  Short for Leonardo.  Famous for "Titanic"

21. Potatoes partner: MEAT.  Remember the Wendy's Commercial lady.  "Where's the Beef?"

22. "B.C." cartoonist Johnny: HART.

26. Tennis great with nine Grand Slam singles titles: MONICA SELES.

27. Goodnight woman of song: IRENE.  "I'll see you in my dreams."

28. Coquettish: COY.

30. Tolled like Big Ben: RANG.  The Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback does not toll.

31. Romeo's rival: PARIS.  I never read Shakespeare so I will take the word for this.

32. Salt Lake City team: UTES.

34. Leftovers wrap: SARAN.  I never liked the way it sticks to itself, but it seals better than wax paper.

35. Postage-paid enc.: SASE.  Acronym

36. Cost of living?: RENT.  And any other thing on which you spend money.

40. Brit. military award: DSO.

41. Job applicants' preparations: RESUMES. Rez oo may, not Re zoom

42. Pretty pitcher: EWER.  Not Chris Sale or Clayton Kershaw ??

43. Most concise: TERSEST.  I always thought Terse had a little anger in it too.

44. "Don't look __ like that!": AT ME.

49. Beasts of burden: ASSES.  No comment

50. Buenos __: AIRES.  It took me a while to learn that this is pronounced Ireez.

52. From China, say: ASIAN.

53. Popular performers: STARS. Dallas Hockey Team.  (Formerly Minnesota North Stars).

55. "That was close!": PHEW.

56. Leaves gatherer: RAKE.  A necessary tool this time of year.

57. Addition column: TENS. Gymnastics scores for Nadia.

58. Auditing pro: CPA.

59. Run smoothly: HUM.  Option if you cannot sing.

60. Altar in the sky: ARA.  I know this is Latin, but I could never see the so called pics in any of these constellations, except for the big dipper.  And it did not look like a bear.

Boomer