Monday October 19, 2020 Craig Stowe

Theme: TWIST TOPS (64. Easy-to-remove caps ... or one way to get the starts of the answers to starred clues?)  - The first words are all anagrams of TOPS.

17. *Chooses not to partake in: OPTS OUT OF.

25. *Random quality-control measure: SPOT CHECK.

30. *Often herky-jerky animation technique: STOP MOTION.

45. *Rainbow-end rewards: POTS OF GOLD.

Boomer here. This is a TOPS of a puzzle.                                                                     

I have been hinting for a while, and we finally pulled the trigger on a new Hyundai Santa Fe.  We were looking at a white one, but when I sat behind the wheel, I could not resist shouting "Hi Oh Silver!"  I also called the sales person Tonto. So C.C. decided that Navy Blue might be a better choice. The vehicle has all wheel drive which may come in handy after a Minnesota snowfall.  

Speaking of Minnesota weather, it is 34 degrees this morning so I am giving my golf clubs a rest.

 

Across:

1. "I get it!": AHA.

4. Swamp, briefly: QUAG.  Is this not a MIRE??

8. Trails through the woods: PATHS.  Not sure if golf carts have all wheel drive.  Maybe "Carts on paths only" is the rule of the day.

13. Zero, in soccer: NIL.  I think NIL is between SLIM and less than NONE

14. "Star Trek" communications officer: UHURA.

16. Crosswise, shipwise: ABEAM.  Only drove in the daytime so far so I have not used the ABEAM.

19. Cocoon occupant: LARVA.

20. Six-sided state: UTAH.  I've driven through on I-80.  Nice lake to the north.

21. What the big hand indicates: HOUR.  TV news show "60 Minutes."

22. Part of PTA: Abbr.: ASSOC.  Also part of our townhome management company.

23. North or South Asian country: KOREA.  I think our vehicle is made in the good old USA, but the parent company is in South Korea.

27. Actress Behrs of "2 Broke Girls": BETH.

29. Wide shoe size: EEE.  A Duck foot??

35. DNA test kit item: SWAB.  Also used to test for the nasty virus.

39. Scarecrow material: HAY.  "I could while away the hours, conferring with the flowers, consulting with the rain.  And my head I'd be scratchin' while my thoughts they'd be hatchin' if I only had a brain". "Somewhere Over the Rainbow".

40. Stinker: SO AND SO.

42. Hurry, to Shakespeare: HIE.

43. Angry cat's warning: HISS.  I may have heard a snake say this once or twice.

47. Cobbler's punch: AWL.

49. Small stream: RILL.

50. *Lickety-split: POSTHASTE.  Sounds like a brand of toothpaste.

56. Front-end wheel alignment: TOE IN.  Instruction on a pair of boots??

59. Second half of most musicals: ACT II.  I learned "Sound of Music" only had 2 acts.

60. Kansas city: IOLA.  Right off U.S Highway 169 which happens to run North South about a mile west of our home.

 

 

62. Youngest Brontë sister: ANNE.

63. Showed again: RERAN.  I watch a lot of "Law and Order" reruns during the afternoon. 

66. Panfry: SAUTE.

67. Cocktail garnishes: ZESTS.  Two or more bars of soap.

68. Boy king: TUT.

69. Key above Shift: ENTER.  Only on the right side.  I checked and "Caps Lock" is on the left. 

70. Roof problem: LEAK.

71. UFO crew, they say: ETS.

Down:

1. Aimée of "8 1/2": ANOUK.

2. Aware of: HIP TO.  "For a long time now I've been aware, that I'm so HIP the rest of the world is square." Chad Mitchell Trio.

3. Young acolytes: ALTAR BOYS.  I never signed up for this job.  I had many friends who did.

4. Quid pro __: QUO.

5. "Not a chance": UH UH.

6. Parking lot occupants: AUTOS.  Lots of shiny new Hyundais on the dealer lot we visited.

7. Word after study or social: GROUP.

8. Royal residence: PALACE.

9. Embarrasses: ABASHES.  You may get these if someone burns your ABS.

10. To the point: TERSE.

11. Wreak __: cause mayhem: HAVOC.  Like a Viking's game.

12. Hit hard: SMACK.

15. Curly hairdo: AFRO.  I do not have enough hair.  Erik Agard and Kyle Troup (PBA Bowler) are very close.

18. Animal sheared for wool: SHEEP.  Wake up!  Little boy Blue!

24. Casino cash dispensers: ATMS.  Gosh, who would have to use an ATM in a casino??

26. Stretching muscle: TENSOR.

28. Flashy publicity: HOOPLA.  "Though it never made the New York Times, in the Daily News the caption read."  Simon and Garfunkel.

30. "Button it!": SHH.

31. Mai __: cocktail: TAI.

32. Confucian path: TAO.

33. Loan pmt. part: INT.  I have no interest in loans with interest.  I have paid enough.

34. Pigs out (on): ODS.

36. Musical symbol with no stem: WHOLE NOTE.

37. Feel sick: AIL.  Luckily with all my AILments, I only felt sick once all summer.

38. Word with room or board: BED.

41. "Think nothing __": OF IT.

44. Quench: SATIATE.

46. Be a bad winner: GLOAT.  No worries for me on the golf course.  I never won anything.

48. Crybaby: WHINER.  I never WHINED about not winning.

50. Break down, as a sentence: PARSE.

51. Arctic or Atlantic: OCEAN.  Who might remember the first "Ocean's 11" with the Las Vegas "Rat Pack"??

52. Walk proudly: STRUT.  Not me, I use a cart.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              53. __ bath: therapy treatment: SITZ.  Not a bath, but on a recent visit to the doctor I have been complaining about leg weakness.  The doctor had me sit on the edge of a bed and he held my legs and asked me to push.  I nearly knocked him off his chair, so he decided my legs were okay.  

54. Sauna wrap, often: TOWEL.

55. Beethoven's "Für __": ELISE.

57. Contribution to the discussion: INPUT.

58. Egg holders: NESTS.

61. Whodunit pooch: ASTA.  The Thin Man's dog.

65. Disapproving sound: TSK.  You need three of these.

Boomer

Monday October 12, 2020 Bruce Venzke & Gail Grabowski

Theme: TOOL BOX (39. Carpenter's accessory that might hold the ends of the answers to starred clues) - The last word is a type of tool.

 17. *Party drink in a bowl: FRUIT PUNCH.

 62. *Software help text: README FILE.

 11. *School evacuation exercise: FIRE DRILL.

 32. *Pre-WWII aircraft used for postal deliveries: MAIL PLANE.

Boomer here. 

Looks like I am going DRILL down, FILE my nails, have some Hawaiian PUNCH and grab a PLANE outta here.

Across:

1. Hyundai sedan: AZERA. I thought Hyundai names their models after Southwestern US. Cities.

6. Meet in competition: FACE. "FACE the Nation."  Sorry, no politics.

10. Maker of nonstick cookware: TFAL. Like Teflon. Works great new, but wears out after a while.

14. French red wine with a physician in its spelling: MEDOC.

15. Black gem: ONYX.

16. Home for bees: HIVE.  "A home for the fleas, a HIVE for the buzzin' Bees ... There ain't no words for the beauty and the splendor and the wonder of my HAIR. (Cowsills) 

19. Spring flower: IRIS.

20. Soft slip-on: MOC.  I have some, but I always have to use my finger to get the back of the slipper over my heel.

21. "Très sexy!": OO LA LA.

22. Source of some tweets: NEST.  I do not tweet. I have heard birds that do.

23. Costumes: GETUPS.  I used to GET UP on Mondays and put on a bowling costume. Not this year, waiting for the vaccine. 

25. Spiral-horned antelope: ELAND.

27. Approx. takeoff hr.: ETD.

28. Owner of the restaurant NOLA: EMERIL.  The one in New Orleans is closed for a bit.  Nasty virus.

31. Biker's stunt bike, briefly: BMX.  Never owned one of these.  I think you had to be rich and not too bright.

33. State with a three-word capital: UTAH.  And the SALT LAKE is really something to see!!

37. Novelist Jong: ERICA.

38. Burlesque wrap: BOA.  Otherwise known as a snake.

41. Haul with effort: LUG.  Also a nut to hold your tire on your car.

42. Kicking partner?: ALIVE.  ALIVE and well and living in Minnesota!

44. Lowly worker: PEON.  I suspect these folks would rather be a PEON than unemployed.

45. Jolson and Jarreau: ALS.  I prefer Kaline and Leiter.

46. Depends (on): RELIES.

48. Space-saving abbr.: ETC.

50. "My Cousin Vinny" star: PESCI.  I really, really liked him in "CASINO".

52. Underground chamber: CAVERN.  "There is a CAVERN in the town".  Oops, I hate it when I get the words wrong.

55. Shed feathers: MOLT.

57. Earthy pigments: OCHERS.  I googled this stuff and it looks like you could put it in a pipe and smoke it.

59. Verizon ISP: AOL.

61. Israeli diplomat Abba: EBAN.  How in the world could we make a puzzle with a BAN on "E"

64. Actress Meyer of "Dragonheart": DINA

65. Gardner who created Perry Mason: ERLE.  Middle name Stanley,  I was a big fan of Raymond Burr.  Reruns are on the rerun channel but now I hardly ever watch.

66. Sampler's sip: TASTE.

67. Apple topper: STEM.  Keeps them on the tree.

68. British mil. honors: DSOS. DSO is Distinguished Service Order.

69. Villain's look: SNEER.  Also the look of my fourth grade teacher.

Down: 

1. Car radio letters: AM FM.  Normally I listen to CDs.  Who can remember when cars had NO CD player.  Yup, that's when there were No CDs and you listened to those little tapes 

2. State in which astronauts float: ZERO G.

3. Elicit: EDUCE.

4. French monarch: ROI.

5. Pantomime: ACT OUT.

6. Hoops offenses: FOULS.  Go to that line where throws are FREE. 

7. Actress Gunn of "Breaking Bad": ANNA.  Reminded me of Frances GUMM.  "Somewhere over the Rainbow".  From Grand Rapids, Minnesota. 

8. Rinse or spin: CYCLE.  Ours is a little loud.

9. Breathe out: EXHALE.

10. More like a wafer: THINNER.  Smelly liquid we used to make paint more workable.

12. Hertz rival: AVIS.  The most expensive rentals in Las Vegas.  We never used them.

13. Out of concern that: LEST.

18. Hall & Oates or Sonny & Cher: POP DUO.  I liked Simon and Garfunkel.

24. Second-largest U.S. state: TEX.  It was THE largest before 1959.

26. Rival co. of Visa: AMEX.  Not my brand. Sorry.

29. Post-op areas: ICUS.

30. Fall behind: LAG.  Kind of describes my golf shots.

31. Tree trunk: BOLE.

34. T-shirt or polo: TOP.  "Old Smoky" Destination

35. Brewery output: ALE.  Well it's not a brewery product, but I enjoy Canada Dry Ginger Ale eh.

36. "Perry Mason" network: HBO.  This surprised me.  I can get Perry Mason shows on a free channel.  Well it's not actually free.  It's in a package I get from Direct TV.

38. 35-Down seller: BAR.  I get mine from a grocery store.

39. Golf ball supports: TEES.  They only support the ball until you whack it.

40. Like challenging push-ups: ONE-ARM.  There are not a lot of one arm bandits in casinos any more.  I guess they did not take your money fast enough.  Now it's mostly push a button.  

43. Mekong River country: VIETNAM.  I was never there, but I respect and salute those who were.

45. Royal flush card: ACE.  Robert de Niro  Who was Ace Rothstein in "Casino".

47. Put points on the board: SCORED.  A problem for our Twins AND Vikings.

49. Sports bar fixtures: TV SETS.  Back in younger days when I could go to those "Sports Bars" I hated them because the bars were so loud you could not hear the TVs.

51. Cake finishers: ICERS.  Hockey players who shoot the puck wildly down the rink to avoid trouble.

52. Relinquishes formally: CEDES.

53. Salary increase: RAISE.  Social Security is not really salary, but once in awhile we get a raise. 

54. Actor Nick: NOLTE.  Born in Omaha, Nebraska, I enjoyed him in a TV Series "Rich Man, Poor Man." Career was interrupted by a love for that bad stuff in a bottle.  

55. What docs prescribe: MEDS.  Looks like I will be getting a new MED later this month.

56. Last bio: OBIT.

58. Saintly aura: HALO.  I have some great HALO track lighting in a hall shining on my USBC Awards hanging on the wall.

60. Villain's look: LEER.

63. Breeze creator: FAN.  Not allowed at sporting events this summer and fall.  This has to change soon.

Boomer

Monday October 5, 2020 Tyler Burnett

Theme: Rivalry

17A. Big Ten school with eight national football titles: OHIO STATE. 46. Rival of 17-Across: MICHIGAN.

 

28A. AP's Co-driver of the Century Mario: ANDRETTI. 52. Rival of 28-Across: FOYT.

60A. Rival of 12-Down: LETTERMAN. 12D. Car-collecting comic Jay: LENO.

Boomer here. Congrats to Tyler Burnett on his LAT debut!

Of course my thoughts went to Big Ten rivals Minnesota and Iowa.  I never was much of an auto racing fan but I chuckled when I saw car-collecting comic LENO. I thought it might be a card-collecting comic Boomer.

SKOL! Holy Helmet Horns, my Vikings finally won a game. Although it was against winless Houston.  But I am taking back 25% of the bad things I said about the Vikes. 

Across:

1. Grocery store sack: BAG.  Paper or plastic?  We still receive bags for our groceries at no charge.  There are stores in Minneapolis that are charging 5 cents or more.

4. Outdoor dining spot: PATIO.  We have a nice outdoor deck, but we don't eat on it.  Sometimes squirrels do though.

9. Sauce fruit: APPLE. 13. Garden with a taboo 9-Across: EDEN.  APPLE is a high tech computer company.  Maybe do not mention Eve.

14. Secluded plight on a desert island, say: ISOLATION.  Sorry, reminds me of a secluded spot on a hill in Hardheim Germany.  With a missal buried in a silo that I never saw.

 

16. Stacked: PILED.

18. Stretched out like a sharpshooter: PRONE.  Or like a Vikings running back.

19. Good thing for a film's audio and video to be in: SYNC.

20. Presidential period, say: ERA.

21. Dueler's choice: WEAPON.

22. Tolstoy's Karenina: ANNA.

24. Enjoy dinner: EAT.  "EAT, EAT, EAT said the privates, happy men are we.  There's none so fair as can compare with the fighting infantry. "

25. Contacted on a cellphone: CALLED.  "I just CALLED to say I love you." Stevie Wonder.

33. Burn-soothing creams: ALOES.  Summer in Minnesota does not produce sunburns.

34. Socket insert: PLUG.  A PLUG is a PLUG, but a socket is a receptacle.  You need to screw a light bulb into a socket.

35. Small amount: DRIB.

36. Fix, as a fight: RIG.  I think a semi-truck is better known as a RIG.

37. Mickey, to Rocky: TRAINER.  "Gonna Fly Now!"

40. Pair in London?: ENS.

41. Somber news item: OBIT.  Abejo obit.

43. Mining finds: ORES.  Many mines in northern Minnesota are producing taconite.

44. Water bill basis: USAGE.  We pay about $40.00 per month.  How about you?

48. Defeated: BEATEN.  Apollo Creed?

49. Before, in poetry: ERE.  "And I heard him exclaim ERE he drove out of sight"

50. Santa's naughty-and-nice record, e.g.: LIST.  "You better watch out, you better not cry !"

51. Illicit romance: AFFAIR.

54. "Psych!": NOT.

55. Protein-rich egg part: YOLK.  What Stan said to Ollie when he brought him hard boiled eggs in the hospital,  "That's a YOLK on you".

59. Ransacks: LOOTS.

62. French school: LYCEE.

63. Far-reaching: EXTENSIVE.  I think my drives need to be a little more EXTENSIVE on the golf course.

64. Displeases James Bond, at the bar?: STIRS.  What's the difference between SHAKE and STIR?  McDonald's sells shakes. 

65. When "the mouse ran down": ATONE.

66. Fancy marble: TAW.  I had Shooters, Steelies, Agates, Cat's eyes, and Peeries.  I never SAW a TAW.

Down:

1. Playbill listings: BIOS.  I yak so much about Minnesota and myself, I suppose any of you could BIO me.

2. Like an unswept fireplace: ASHY.  Our fireplace is clean.  We do not use it anymore because it gets too ASHY.

3. Enter: GO IN.  "Not by the hair on my chinny chin chin"

4. Partners for mas: PAS.

5. Show up at: ATTEND. Church still tells me not to ATTEND.  Too old and too much Covid going around.

6. Headpiece at the Miss America website: TIARA.  What ever happened to Bert Parks.

7. Greek "i": IOTA.

8. Free throw value: ONE.  But the guy shooting it is probably a millionaire

9. Show up: APPEAR. I will APPEAR on the golf course today. Might be the last time.  Minnesota golf weather is spotty in October..

10. Robbed at sea: PIRATED.  From the Caribbean? Or from Disneyland?

11. Alka-Seltzer sound: PLOP.  Fizz, Fizz, Oh what a relief it is.

15. Site: LOCALE.

21. Lettuce serving: WEDGE.  C.C. found a coop store in Minneapolis called WEDGE.  They had some neat stuff that no one else has, like South River Sweet White Miso. But the traffic to get there was ..... never mind. 

23. Egg-laying spot: NEST.

25. Billiards bounce: CAROM.  Many bowling centers have billiards tables.  I spent all my money on bowling however. 

26. Suspect's story: ALIBI.  Really!  I was at the bowling center.

27. Science that involves reasoning: LOGIC.

28. Out of this world: ALIEN.

29. "Finale Ultimo" chorus in "The Sound of Music": NUNS.  Doe, a deer, a female deer, Re, a drop of golden sun. ME a name, I call myself, FA a long, long way to run.

30. Word that excites a dog: TREAT.  Especially if there is a little meat on the bone.

31. Trace of color: TINGE.

32. "Peer Gynt" playwright Henrik: IBSEN.

34. Prefix with trooper or legal: PARA.  Graph, Chute.

38. Federer of tennis: ROGER.  "Over and out".

39. Regrets: RUES.  I often thought RUE McClanahan of the Golden Girls was an odd name.

42. Broadway destination: THEATER.  I have never been to New York but I'll bet every city has a BROADWAY.

45. Lecherous man-goats: SATYRS.

47. Flowers in a van Gogh masterpiece: IRISES.  He painted them blue.  I prefer "Sunflowers"  and of course "Starry Night".  "This world was never meant for one as beautiful as you."  Don MClean.

48. Like a mosquito victim: BITTEN.  Minnesota mosquitoes have not been too bad this year.

50. Powerball, e.g.: LOTTO.  We have played this only once or twice.  The prizes are huge but of course the odds of winning are about the same as the Twins in a playoff game.  

51. "__ well that ends well": ALL'S.

53. Central points: FOCI.

54. Ariana Grande album "thank u, __": NEXT.  What you do not want to hear while waiting in the dentist's waiting room.

56. Fail to put in: OMIT.

57. Volcanic output: LAVA.  A great bar of soap - it has grits.

58. Had down pat: KNEW.  "I KNEW it, we are almost done.

60. Pasture: LEA.

61. Opposite of WSW: ENE.

 

Boomer

Monday September 28, 2020 Gail Grabowski & Bruce Venzke

Theme: BREAK IT UP (60. Stop a fight ... and a hint to a literal feature of the answers to starred clues) IT spans across each theme entry.

17A. *Half of a two-piece suit: BIKINI TOP.

31A. *Indian spiced drink: CHAI TEA.

44A. *Winter Olympics squad: SKI TEAM.

10D. *Miniature garden grower: BONSAI TREE.

30D. *"American Crime" actress: LILI TAYLOR.

Boomer here. 

IT's Monday and you know what IT means. Time to go to the golf course and play IT. IT looks like IT's going to be a pleasant day.  The weatherman says IT's going to be around 60 with no rain.  Of course he lies a lot.

Across:

1. Sampras of tennis: PETE.  Also Mr. PETE Weber who is a decent bowler on the senior PBA tour.

5. Biological pouches: SACS.  Is this on 5th Avenue ??

9. Monastery leader: ABBOT.  I believe I saw him doing "Who's on First" with Lou Costello.

14. Door-to-door cosmetics company: AVON.  I think it was door-to-door before computers, or at least before the nasty virus.  I seem to remember cologne for men.  I bought once or twice but it was kind of spendy.

15. Folksy Guthrie: ARLO.  "You can get anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant".

16. Lose one's cool completely: GO APE.  Maybe when I miss a two-foot putt?

19. Tossed in a chip: ANTED.  I've done it.         

20. Devious sort: SLY DOG.  "You ain't nothin' but a sly dog."  Elvis got the words wrong. 

21. "__ the matter?": WHAT'S.  "Up Doc?"

23. General with a Chinese dish named for him: TSO.  I thought it was spelled "Chew".

24. Village cousin: TOWN.  "It's not that the colors aren't there, it's just imagination they lack.  Everything's the same back in my little TOWN."  Simon and Garfunkel.

26. Beer after a shot: CHASER.  I used to like a Manhattan but I cannot imagine following that with beer.

30. Actress Anderson: LONI.  Born in St. Paul, MN in 1945, she is two years older than I.  She is also still better looking than me.

 

 
32. Mental giant: BRAIN.  If only the scarecrow had one.

35. Like gloomy skies: GRAY.

37. Garr of "Tootsie": TERI.

38. Cotton thread: LISLE.

39. In need of a towel: WET.  I believe someone may have tossed a WET TOWEL over my Vikings to start the season.

40. Blue eyes, e.g.: TRAIT.

41. Italian sparkling wine: ASTI.  Martini and Rossi, I am not a fan of wine.

42. Dolts: OAFS.  Minnesota Vikings??    

43. Get a new tenant for: RE-LET.  Sadly, many are facing homelessness at this time.

46. "So that's it!": I SEE.  "I SEE," said the blind man, but he really didn't.

48. Oppressive ruler: TYRANT.

49. Grab with a toothpick: STAB.

50. Old ultrafast plane, briefly: SST.  Super Sonic Transport.  I guess the Concorde is no longer making the trip.

53. Popular search engine: YAHOO.

55. Light humor: LEVITY.  I always try on this blog.

57. Colgate rival: ORAL-B.

62. Burnett with a namesake Golden Globe: CAROL.  Born in 1933 and still kicking.  My favorite was when Tim Conway called her Mrs. Wiggins.

 

 

63. Checklist component: ITEM.

64. Barn topper: VANE.  Do farmers really need to know which way the wind is blowing?

65. At that place: THERE.  "Hey THERE Georgy Girl". The Seekers.

66. Anklebones: TALI.  "Connected to the shin bones"

67. Cogito-sum link: ERGO.

Down:
 

1. Blue Ribbon brewer: PABST.  What'll you have ??

2. Lesser of two __: EVILS.  ELVIS spelled wrong.

3. Planned 2020 Olympics city: TOKYO.  Not any more, maybe 2021?

4. Oklahoma city NNW of Oklahoma City: ENID.

5. Ho Chi Minh City, formerly: SAIGON.  Never been there, thankfully.

6. Museum display: ART.  Or ART Carney of Jackie Gleason Fame.

 

 
7. Class cutup: CLOWN.  I was accused of that, now I am just a blog CLOWN.

8. Last year's frosh: SOPH.  Always disliked being called frosh.  Junior and Senior was better.

9. Mystery award named for a British writer: AGATHA.  Famous for Miss Marple.

11. Flier that sleeps upside-down: BAT.  "Take me out to the Ballgame."

12. Reveal, to a poet: OPE.

13. Danson of TV: TED.  Two months younger than I but he looks a lot older.  "Where everybody knows your name."  Cheers !!

18. Nary a soul: NOT ONE.

22. Needing a rubdown: ACHY.  I have lots of over- the- counter rubs on my dresser.  Nothing seems to work.

25. Domed Native American dwelling: WIGWAM.  This is very sad,  We have many Native Americans in Minneapolis who have lost their homes.  They pitch their tents in a field just South of downtown Minneapolis.  They are not WIGWAMS.

27. Make off with: STEAL.

28. Like a wolf's howl: EERIE.  Remember Matt Wolfe in the U.S. Open?  When he hit a great shot or made a long putt, the very small group of spectators would holler WOOO.  I am not looking forward to watching him when crowds are admitted.

29. Singer Bonnie: RAITT.

31. Keep tabs on a tabby: CAT-SIT.  Does it pay more than .35 per hour?

32. Leave the launching pad, with "off": BLAST.

33. Foolhardy: RISKY.  It's a bit RISKY to play golf with some of the guys in my league.  But no one hollers WOOO.

34. Up and about: ASTIR.  "Not a creature was A STIRring, not even a mouse.  Christmas is coming.

36. Slo-mo reviewer: REF.  Otherwise known as UMP.

40. "Jeopardy!" host: TREBEK. I watch frequently. I usually manage to get a few right.  TREBEK is a hero continuing to put in his time while battling cancer. 

42. Sworn statement: OATH.  "I cannot tell a lie".

45. Make possible: ENABLE.  Eve's two kids - CAIN EN ABLE.

47. Italian sub meat: SALAMI.  SALAMI, SALAMI, Baloney.

49. Not exactly, informally: SORTA.

50. Shankar's strings: SITAR.

51. Bitten by bees: STUNG.  When I was a kid, I got STUNG several times.  It really hurt me, but not as much as the bee got hurt when I took care of business.

52. Versatile blood donor: TYPE O.  That would be me.  I have donated a few times.  When I was in the Army I got two days off for every pint.

54. "In memoriam" bio: OBIT.

56. "__ le roi!": VIVE.

57. Costume-buying mo.: OCT.  Also a birthday month for Boomer.

58. Cheer word: RAH.

59. "All bets __ off": ARE.

61. Fish that swims backwards: EEL.  How does one know it is swimming backwards.  I cannot tell front from back on an eel.

 

Boomer

Notes from C.C.:

Abejo's wife Linda informed me that he was taken off the ventilator last night. She said he was shutting down and most likely not make it through the night even with support. 

As we've learned from his regular posts over the years, he had a very active life. Always on the move. Always volunteering and giving. He donated blood for many years until cancer hit him. He actually had two donor cards. One for Chicago. One for Pennsylvania. That's how dedicated he was about whatever he did.

He also had such childlike curiosity. He noticed a MME DFRG license plate outside a restaurant on his way to the post office. He asked the driver what it meant and was told "Madame DeFarge". He then went inside the restaurant and located our own Madame DeFarge (Janice). Then we had this precious picture. 

 

Brad, I'll miss your daily presence and fine reviews about our blogging team's "fine reviews".

 

Monday September 21, 2020 David Distenfeld

Theme: Three's Company - 

17. Red bonus square on the Scrabble board: TRIPLE WORD SCORE.

26. Serious injury for a firefighter: THIRD-DEGREE BURN.

47. 1975 made-for-TV horror anthology starring Karen Black: TRILOGY OF TERROR.

61. Appetizer-entrée-dessert serving: THREE- COURSE MEAL.

Boomer here. Congratulations on David Distenfeld's LA Times debut.

As you read this, I am probably playing in my golf league. It is a nine hole par THREE course and I occasional score a par THREE on one of the holes. Two weeks ago I had a THIRD par by the fourth hole.  Bur last week I suffered two TRIPLE bogeys.  There were a few TRIPLE bogeys at Winged Foot over the weekend at the 2020 U.S. Open.

Across:

 

1. New York deli namesake Willy: KATZ.

 

 

5. Nobel __: PRIZE.  I believe the PRIZE fund for the above mentioned U.S. Open was 53 Million Dollars with Three Million to the winner. 

10. Pack of cards: DECK.  I played many games of bridge with my co-workers years ago.  We changed to a fresh deck several times per month.

14. Wind instrument: OBOE.  I have heard of them but they don't seem to fit in with piano or guitars.

15. "Superbad" co-screenwriter Seth: ROGEN.

16. Pulitzer author Jennifer: EGAN.  Reminds me of the city of Eagan, MN just south of St, Paul near the Minnesota River. 

20. Soak in the tub: BATHE.  I fear that our friends in the Gulf Coast are not needing a tub.

21. Casino wheel: ROULETTE.  I have never liked ROULETTE.  Craps is my favorite table game.

22. Michelle of "Crazy Rich Asians": YEOH.

25. Sleep acronym: REM.  Sorry, I generally have to get up and use the toilet before the Rapid Eye Movement takes over.

34. Go bad: ROT.

35. Brazilian mountain chain: SERRA.  Huge mountains.  I do not think they are populated however.  No Covid risk there.

36. Pop star whose name used to be spelled with a dollar sign: KESHA.  Singer who had a contract with Kemosabe records.  Do people buy records anymore ?? 

37. Army outfit: UNIT.  We generally referred to our Army UNITS as Companies. 

39. Particulars, informally: DEETS.

41. DEA bust: RAID.  Target has roach killer by the same name.

42. "What a shame": SO SAD.  Prayers for Abejo from me and all of us.

44. Descendant: SCION.

46. Ending with hero or alp: INE.  Half of a word ?

50. Online guffaw: LOL.  A lot of on line acronyms are pretty tired.

51. "Seize the day" acronym: YOLO.  "You Only Live Once'"

52. Dual-purpose: TWO-IN-ONE.  In golf, you cannot get a TWO in ONE shot.

57. Royally named singer with the #1 album "Melodrama": LORDE.

64. Wine bottle date: YEAR.  I do not drink wine.  There does not seem to be a date on my Pepsi can.

65. Divided Asian peninsula: KOREA.  We have been looking at a Hyundai Santa Fe.  I've bought American for over 50 years, but we rented a Santa Fe in Vegas a few years ago and I liked it.  Comments??

66. Happy hour places: BARS.  Sorry but I think the Covid dangers are still too high.

67. Camera part: LENS.

68. Wintry and white: SNOWY.  Yup, I live in Minnesota and in a few months, we will put up with SNOWY.  However it certainly is not as dangerous as the West Coast and the Gulf Coast over the past few weeks. 

69. Geometry class calculation: AREA.  Length times Width.

Down: 

1. "Today" co-anchor Hoda: KOTB.

2. Incantation opener: ABRA.  Kadabra

3. "Nothing __!": "Easy!": TO IT.  Making a par by Rory Mcllroy

4. Gentle breeze: ZEPHYR.

5. Start to fix?: PRE. Prefix.

6. Use oars: ROW.  You would not believe the ROWS of baseball cards that I have sorted.

7. Hunchbacked lab assistant: IGOR.

8. Love, in tennis: ZERO.  Also a private in "Beetle Bailey"

9. Last a long time: ENDURE.

10. Month in which Kwanzaa starts: DECEMBER.  Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat.  Please put a penny in the old man's hat.

11. Four-award acronym: EGOT.  An on deck batter to a strikeout victim.  "What's EGOT"?

12. Golfer's transport: CART.  Yup, every round I play because of the meds I take.  Interesting, this year, every golfer gets his/her own cart because of Covid.  Unless family players.

13. Leg joint: KNEE.  Rah, Rah, Ree, kick 'em in the KNEE.  Rah Rah Rass, Kick 'em in the other knee.

18. __ United: English soccer team: LEEDS.

19. Smooth and glossy: SLEEK.  Chevrolet Corvette.  I cannot afford one.

23. Had too much, briefly: OD'ED.

24. Joan of Arc's crime: HERESY.

26. Put faith in: TRUST. I usually hear it in names of financial institutions.

27. "It's an __ just to be nominated": HONOR.  Lots of HONOR on ballots in every state.  Some old, some new, some red and some blue.

28. Formal "Who's there?" reply: IT IS I.  "IT IS ME" did not fit.

29. Spanish artist El __: GRECO.

30. Okay, as a treaty: RATIFY.

31. Delta rival renamed in 1997: US AIR.  We have not visited an airport since the virus was hatched.  I hope the airlines survive though, we might need them again.

32. Safari beast: RHINO.  RHINO Page is an excellent left handed PBA Bowler.

33. Consumerist Ralph: NADER.  Harvard-educated.  Appeared in the movie "Fun with Dick and Jane".

38. Scorekeepers, at times: TALLIERS.  In bowling the scores are all kept by computers.  

40. Explorer Hernando de ___: SOTO.  I am so old I remember De SOTOs.  A Chrysler product, but I never owned one.

43. Lorna of literature: DOONE.  "I'd fly to the moon, for a Lorna DOONE" !! 

45. Portia de Rossi's "Ally McBeal" role: NELLE.

48. Austrian pistols: GLOCKS.

49. Self-moving vacuum: ROOMBA.  C.C. uses the push style vacuum.  When you live in a four-level townhome, a ROOMBA is not a good idea, unless it can climb stairs.

52. Texter's "Chat soon": TTYL.  "Talk to you Later, Alligator"!!

53. Roller coaster cry: WHEE.  We have a Roller Coaster at our Valley Fair Amusement park.  It's very old and not worth a WHEE.

54. Algerian seaport: ORAN.

55. Midday: NOON.

56. French franc successor: EURO.  Once I bought a bunch on eBay,  I thought they might be worth something someday.  But I think I resold them at face value.

58. Fanny: REAR.

59. Have the nerve: DARE.  My favorite DARE devil was Evel Knievel

60. Lioness of film: ELSA.

62. VCR go-back button: REW.

63. Come out with: SAY.  PLEEZE !!

Boomer

Monday September 14, 2020 Craig Stowe

Theme: AUTOMATES (63. Streamlines, as a factory ... or, when read as two words, what the beginnings of the answers to starred clues are) - Auto can precede the first word of each theme entry.

17. *Smartphone download: MOBILE APP. Automobile.

25. *Sheet for plotting: GRAPH PAPER. Autograph.

39. *Mr. Lube service jobs: TUNE UPS. Auto-tune.

50. *Sample set of buyers used in market research: FOCUS GROUP. Autofocus.

Boomer here. 

I always call my vehicle a van or car.  but carmobile, cargraph don't make sense.  Sometimes I watch cartunes.  Rocky squirrel and Porky Pig are favorites.

Across: 

1. Old Hollywood sex symbol West: MAE.  "Why don't you come up and see me sometime"

4. Hooded winter coat: PARKA.  I have gone through about ten of these over the years.  There is still one in our hall closet.

9. Flinch or gasp, say: REACT.

14. Computer giant whose motto is "THINK": IBM.  There was just a question on a quiz show "What does IBM stand for."  None of the contestants knew International Business Machines.

15. Go-to crew: A TEAM.  The show made Mr. T Famous; and he made the term "Sucka" famous. 

16. One-named "Hello" singer: ADELE.

19. Bricklayer: MASON.

20. Chris of "The Avengers" (2012): EVANS.  I am also old enough to remember Roy Rogers sidekick Dale.

21. "... to __ it mildly": PUT.  Add a "T" and leave it short.

23. Prefix meaning "one": MONO.

24. Feudal worker: SERF.

28. Variety show: REVUE.

30. "Delish!": YUM.

31. Barbecued pork snack: SPARE RIB.  I think Adam had one of these.

34. Rain more gently: LET UP.  Actually I am sure the west coast would prefer a downpour.

38. Platform for Siri: IOS.

42. "If you ask me," to a texter: IMO.  In My Opinion I am proud to say I have never texted.

43. Basil-and-pine-nuts sauce: PESTO.

45. Ideal wheels: DREAM CAR.  Take your pick.  Corvette, Thunderbird. Jaguar XKE

47. Observe: SEE.  My sister works for See's Candies.  Once you see it you eat it.

49. Rid of vermin: DERAT.  "You dirty RAT" !! James Cagney.

55. Deep cut: GASH.

58. Persian Gulf sultanate: OMAN.

59. Statehouse VIP: GOV.  Every state has one battling the virus.

60. Roast host: EMCEE.

61. Part of USNA: NAVAL.  Our guy Spitzboov did his part.

Spitzboov

66. Recurring motif: THEME.  I sometimes have trouble finding the puzzle THEME.  Need help from C.C.

67. Soccer shoe gripper: CLEAT.  I never had soccer shoes.  Baseball and football shoes were called spikes. My golf shoes used to have metal spikes, but now they are plastic. Maybe that's why my handicap is 36.

68. Has too much, briefly: ODS.  Not me, I drove home and never threw up.

69. __ Hawkins Day: SADIE.  Coming soon on November 13 this year.  Al Capp would be proud.  Not me, no girl ever asked me for a date on this day.

70. Learns (of): HEARS.

71. Eagle or evil organ: EYE.  Or the EYE of a needle, which I could never get the thread through.

Down:

1. Performers often "trapped" in imaginary boxes: MIMES.

2. Overhead: ABOVE.  I looked over my head and I did not see a BOVE.

3. Humiliate: EMBARRASS. Wondering if the KC Chiefs will EMBARRASS the NFL again this season.

4. Close friends: PALS.

5. Dug in, at dinner: ATE.  I had fish, pasta salad, Tater Tots, and fruit salad.

6. Irish actor Stephen: REA.

7. Phi Beta __: KAPPA.

8. Increase the intensity of: AMP UP.  AMP is an electrical word (Ampere) and if you Amp up you might burn your house down. 

9. Ewe's beau: RAM.  "Once there was a silly old RAM, thought he could bust a hole in a dam.  He had high hopes.

10. Sushi soybean side dish: EDAMAME.

11. "The Frog and the Fox" fabulist: AESOP. The turtle beat the fox because the FOX was stupid.

12. Replicate genetically: CLONE.

13. Barbershop quartet voice: TENOR.  I was in one, however I was a Bass.  Pronounced Base, not a fish.

18. Deduce: INFER.

22. Biblical "your": THY.  "THY kingdom come, THY will be done."

25. Expert: GURU.

26. Harness strap: REIN.  "Rudolph the red nose REINdeer" 

27. Star that's also a source of radio waves: PULSAR.

29. Presidential rejections: VETOES.

31. Nurse, as a drink: SIP.  Then "Down the Hatch".

32. "The Raven" poet: POE.

33. B and B's first B: BED.  second one may be bath, breakfast, or bill.

35. Game with x's and o's: TIC- TAC- TOE.  Always ends in a tie.

36. Thurman of "The Avengers" (1998): UMA.  Famous for many movies and a strange name. 

37. __ favor: POR.

40. Pakistani language: URDU.

41. "Not a __ out of you!": PEEP.  Okay, then I'll HOLLER !!

44. Tidal wave cousin: TSUNAMI.  These are destructive, but not as bad as the terrible West Coast fires.

46. Igneous rock, once: MAGMA.  I cannot imagine how hot is a burning rock.

48. Omelet ingredient: EGG.  Don't forget the ham and cheese.

50. Roman and Comic Sans: FONTS.

51. Nebraska city near Boys Town: OMAHA.  I've been through OMAHA once or twice on my way to Reno or San Francisco.  I remember years ago when OMAHA had a minor league baseball team in the American Association that played the Minneapolis Millers in the 50s.

52. Gave in: CAVED.  Twins have an outfielder, Jake CAVE, who CAVED a few pitches over the fence.

53. Exterminator's target: ROACH.

54. Reproductive cell: OVULE.

56. Like dive bars: SEEDY.  Never been to one.  The Bar I used to go to was part of a bowling center and very clean.  No more though, I stay away from Covid 19 factories.

57. "Siddhartha" author: HESSE.

60. CPR pros: EMTS.  I get confused.  I know that this means emergency medical tech, but I always see it as electrical metallic tubing. 

62. Jeans label: LEE.

64. Leaves in hot water?: TEA.  "Tea for Two" - C.C.'s thirst quencher.  I like it ICED.

65. Rowboat rower: OAR.  I think I had this last week.  Replaced with a 5 HP Johnson.

Boomer

Notes from C.C.:

Questions for iPhone/iPad users, can you tell us in the Comments section whether you can play below video clip on your mobile device. Please also let us know what browser you're using. Safari or Chrome? 

We presume Android users have no problem watching the clip. If you do, let us know also.

 

Monday September 7, 2020 John Guzzetta

Theme: RNS (69. Hosp. staffers, or an initial feature of the answers to starred clues) - Each theme entry is in the pattern of R* N*:

16. *Glowing circular phenomenon in the constellation Lyra: RING NEBULA.

19. *Harlequin publication, e.g.: ROMANCE NOVEL.

35. *Sound of tires on a highway, say: ROAD NOISE.

55. *Budget college meal: RAMEN NOODLES.

60. *Letter stereotypically created from cut-and-paste newsprint: RANSOM NOTE.

Boomer here.  

 

In these days of Covid-19, my heart goes out to the thousands of RNs in our country who are working overtime to help bring health back to the millions of victims. 

Across:

 
1. Hit the slopes: SKI.  It's a bit early, but Minnesota has many ski slopes for enthusiasts.  All they need is that white stuff, and I am sure it will be here soon. 

4. Divide according to delivery area, as mail: SORT.  In the past I used to SORT thousands of Topps baseball cards into complete sets of 792 different players.

8. Pleasant vocal cadence: LILT.

12. Charged particle: ION.  I watch "Law and Order" on ION television.  "Positively Entertaining".

13. Nairobi resident: KENYAN.

15. Sheltered from the wind: ALEE.

18. Cranberry sites: BOGS.  Add a "G" and you have Wade BOGGS of the Boston Red Sox.  His 1983 rookie card is worth quite a bit.  I am sold out, sigh.

 

21. "The Time Machine" author: H G WELLS.

24. Big sports venue: ARENA.  These are mostly basketball ARENAS.  A bigger sports venue might be a football stadium.

25. Dollar bill: ONE.  Bill Bradley of the NBA's New York Knicks was also known as "Dollar Bill".  I am not sure why, I am sure he made more than that.

 

 

26. Strong old-time cleanser: LYE SOAP.  Never used it.  I like Irish Spring.

30. TSA agents' requests: IDS.  The Minneapolis' IDS Center is a 57 story building towering over downtown Minneapolis.  I've been to the top lookout area.  Just to look, not to jump.  Interesting that the IDS was built in 1970 and people joked about the Minneapolis skyline.  Now about a dozen tall buildings have been built, but tradition is that no building can be higher than the IDS. 

31. Toothpaste holder: TUBE.  Not needed but my Fixodent comes in a TUBE.

33. Entomologists' subjects: INSECTS. Our mosquito crop has been fairly limited this year.  Thanks for small favors.

39. Manner of behavior: BEARING.  I believe older cars had BEARINGS in the wheels.  Just another thing to go wrong.

41. Tolkien brutes: ORCS.

45. Friend: PAL.  All of you out there are my Crossword PALs.

46. Golden __: General Mills crackers: GRAHAMS.  Delicious!  I think we used to use GRAHAM crackers to make SMORES,  If you had one, you always wanted SMORE.

50. It can be bruised: EGO.

51. "Laughing" critter: HYENA.

53. Find suitable: DEEM FIT.  I have not yet found a suitable golf course.  They are all too hard.

59. Greek god of war: ARES.

64. Mailed: SENT. We have had our cluster mailbox removed last week.  We still do not have all of our mail.  However, I watch the news and it seems the Post Office is going through some unwanted changes.

65. Harmonize: ATTUNE.  "Oh how we could harmonize" (Heart of my heart).

66. Feel crummy: AIL.

67. Consumes: EATS.  Hershey chocolate, marshmallow, and graham crackers.  Do you want  S'MORE ??

68. Jumps on one leg: HOPS.  Gather a few and brew some Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Down:

 
1. Knighted one: SIR. Or in Uncle Sam's Army, a Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Colonel, and or General.

2. Zen garden fish: KOI.

3. The Boar's Head in "Henry IV," e.g.: INN.  I've mentioned it a few times.  The C'Mon INN in Billings, Montana.  One of my favorite stops.  The last time I was there however was the National Bowling tournament in 2002.  

4. Fitting: SEEMLY.

5. Hoping to score a run: ON BASE.  My Twins are having trouble getting there.

6. Olympic miler Jim: RYUN.  From Kansas, he won a silver medal in the 1500 meter run at the 1968 Olympics.

 

7. Barber's powder: TALC.  There are a lot of commercials around that this stuff may be bad for you.

8. Hard work: LABOR.  And a Happy LABOR Day to all of you.  Why do they call it "LABOR DAY" and then millions of people take the day off work.

9. "Couldn't be happier!": I LOVE IT.  Bowling, Golf, and food.

10. Arthurian tales: LEGENDS.

11. Some electric cars: TESLAS.  I hardly ever see an electric car.  I know TESLA stock is doing well, but I have my doubts.

13. Small hill: KNOLL.

14. Scottish denial: NAE.

17. College sr.'s test: GRE.

20. Parts of necks: NAPES.

21. Sizzling: HOT.  "When you're hot, you're not you're not."  Jerry Reed.

22. Wildebeest: GNU.

23. Spider's creation: WEB.  I was wondering which insect created this world wide WEB.

27. Three-time PGA leading money winner Vijay __: SINGH.  He won over 50 PGA events, but now, at age 57, I think he has moved over to the Champions Tour.

28. Tokyo's Yoko: ONO.  Very news worthy when she became the wife of John Lennon.

29. "__ see it ... ": AS I.

32. Disco or jazz: ERA.  Also a pitching stat.

34. Title for Amazon's Jeff Bezos: CEO.  All that money and he can't even afford hair. He is incredible.  Started by selling books and CDs out of his garage.  Now he sells almost everything.  And he sells it to almost everybody who might be afraid to leave their home due to Covid-19.

36. Wurlitzer product: ORGAN.  Great for Church music.

37. Broadcast: AIR.  We need it to blow up footballs and volleyballs and basketballs. Bill Cosby.

38. Target of a cheek swab: DNA.

39. San Francisco vicinity: BAY AREA.  I have a couple of sisters out there.  The fires are causing bad air.  I guess you do not need to spend money on cigarettes.  Just go outside and inhale.

40. H or O, in H2O: ELEMENT.  Interesting how if you mix the two, you get water.

42. NFL official: REF.  Sometimes they are called Zebras.

43. Technique used for many film explosions: Abbr.: CGI.

44. Boozer: SOT.  Years ago, I would stop after work at the Stardust for one quick one.  But I was never a SOT.  I had to drive home 15 miles and did not take chances.

45. Sentence segment: PHRASE.

47. Makes sense: ADDS UP.

48. Cantaloupes and honeydews: MELONS.  Our favorite are watermelons.  They are pretty heavy but they taste sooooo gooood,

49. Terse summons about an exam grade: SEE ME. I never got a SEE ME.  I think I was teacher's pet.

52. They're built in birdhouses: NESTS.

54. AOL rival: MSN.  I use MSN.  Not sure what it stands for.

56. New Deal prog.: NRA.

57. Sworn promise: OATH.  You are not allowed to LIE under OATH.  Also I've heard that your nose will grow.

58. Leery of: ONTO.

61. Rowboat mover: OAR.  I used two of them many times at North Star Lake, North of Grand Rapids MN.  Then my Dad bought a five horse motor.

62. Metal in bronze: TIN.  Speaking of Grand Rapids, MN the original home of Judy Garland. NOT. Michigan. TIN reminds me of Jack Haley, the Tin Man who needed some oil to get moving on the way to OZ to ask the Wizard for a heart. 

 

63. Raised urban trains: ELS.  Golfer ERNIE.

 

Boomer