Thursday, October 23, 2025, Rebecca Goldstein

Theme:  Not the person you expected.

"What did you expect?  You met me on Match.com!"

Notoriously challeging constructor Rebecca Goldstein returns with a true test for MERE mortals.

The theme clues suggest that we are looking for people who adhere to modern cultural movements, but the folks in question turn out to be somewhat simpler and more innocent than we imagined.

The theme answers are neatly placed in symmetrical rows Across:

17-Across. Cancel culture adherent?: CORD CUTTER.  We thought we were looking for a person who calls upon others to shun someone else for their unacceptable behavior or remarks, but it turns out that this person has just cancelled some subscription television services in favor of free or low cost Internet access to programs.

25-Across. Pop culture adherent?: SODA JERK.  We thought we were looking for a person who is keen on the latest music, movies, fashions, and social media trends, but it turns out that this person makes ice cream sodas and milkshakes at an old-fashioned soda fountain.  "Pop" being another word for "soda," of course, and "soda jerk" being an old-fashioned way of referring to the person with that job.

35-Across. Counter culture adherent?: DELI CLERK.  We thought we were looking for a person whose values and behaviors contrast sharply with those of mainstream society, but it turns out that this person serves customers at a delicatessan counter.

50-Across. Hookup culture adherent?: SYS ADMIN.  We thought we were looking for a person who endorses casual sexual encounters and one-night stands, but it turns out that this person is an IT professional who hooks up computers, servers, and networks.

59-Across. Club culture adherent?: GOLF CADDIE.  We thought we were looking for a person who hangs out at nightclubs, but it turns out that this person carries golf clubs for a golfer.  If you're looking for exercise, skip the golfing and sign up to be a golf caddie.

Across:

1. Jazz venue: UTAH.  The Utah Jazz are a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City.  This first clue was my last fill when solving the puzzle.

5. Persian word for "king": SHAH.

9. Bejeweled Blitz icons: GEMS.  Bejeweled Blitz is a video game that started out as a Facebook application.  Who knew?

Bejeweled Blitz

13. Sweat spot: PORE.

14. Get greasy: OIL UP.  This phrase can be used from preparing your frying pan to preparing your privates, but I know it from bodybuilding, where competitors OIL UP to make their muscles look more defined under glaring stage lights.

This competitive bodybuilder has oiled up.

16. Dark cloud, maybe: OMEN.

17. [Theme clue]

19. Purple pet in classic cartoons: DINO.

Fred Flintstone and Dino

20. Ordeals: RIGORS.

21. Solemn pledge: VOW.

23. "That's neither here __ there": NOR.

24. Echo effect: REVERB.

25. [Theme clue]

27. Inverness veto: NAE.  Inverness is a city in the north of Scotland, and "nae" means "no" in the Scots language.

28. Pinkie promises, e.g.: PACTS.

30. Samba or mambo: DANCE.

31. Trader Joe's rival: ALDI.  Trader Joe's and Aldi are owned by the same parent company, but are rivals in that they both offer a limited selection of groceries, mostly private label, at relatively low prices.

33. "Geaux Tigers!" sch.: LSU.  The LSU Tigers represent Louisiana State University in college football.  The cheer "Geaux Tigers," pronounced "Go Tigers," is a play on French words ending in "eaux."  French was the dominant language in Louisiana during the American colonial era, and affects the English spoken there today.

34. Something borrowed: RENTAL.

35. [Theme clue]

38. Rosemary cuttings: SPRIGS.

41. Joke around: KID.

42. The __: manifestation of performance anxiety: YIPS.  The yips are a sudden loss of ability to execute certain skills in experienced performers such as athletes. 

46. Event space: ARENA.

47. Computer clicker: MOUSE.

49. Cleverness: WIT.

50. [Theme clue]

52. Alternative milk source with a high water footprint: ALMOND.  Almonds -- and almond milk -- have become controversial because almond trees consume a significant amount of water, which is in short supply in California.

54. Spicy: HOT.

55. Froot Loops mascot Toucan __: SAM.

Yes, the bird is Toucan Sam.

56. Crown act: RULING.  It's what the Crown does.

57. Screen time device: IPAD.  It's what parents are supposed to limit time on.

59. [Theme clue]

62. __ mortals: MERE.

63. Crochet Away nail polish brand: ESSIE.  Not familiar with this brand or color.

Essie's "Crochet Away" grayish brown polish.

64. Inheritance portion: GENE.

65. Abbr. in some airport names: INTL.  Short for International.

66. Tacks on: ADDS.

67. Thus: ERGO.


Down:

1. Product lines?: UPC.  A Universal Product Code is a scannable barcode that identifies products.  It is composed of parallel lines.

UPC symbol

2. Brutally honest: TOO REAL.

3. Made it: ARRIVED.

4. Target of some clippers: HEDGE.

5. Candies that can cause salivation: SOUR BALLS.  Hard candies with tart flavors.

6. Chart toppers: HITS.

7. Indie prefix: ALT.

8. __ rancheros: HUEVOS.  Spanish for "cowboy eggs," more or less, this is a Mexican mid-morning farm breakfast of fried eggs served on tortillas with tomato salsa and refried beans.  A welcome addition to our crossword menu.

Huevos Rancheros

9. Deity: GOD.

10. Noteworthy: EMINENT.

11. Isla in the Balearic Sea: MENORCA.  The Balearic Sea is part of the Mediterranean Sea between the Balearic Islands and mainland Spain.  Menorca is one of those islands.  "Isla" is Spanish for "island."

Menorca is circled on the map.  It's just above Mallorca.

12. Explore the Balearic Sea, e.g.: SNORKEL.

15. Nudge: PROD.

18. Small business?: CORP.  Small because it's abbreviated.

22. One may be knee-deep: WADER.

This little wader is knee deep.

24. Biological translation template: RNA.  Translation is the process in biological cells in which proteins are produced using RNA molecules as templates.  Obvs.

25. Struggling to get over, say: STUCK ON.

26. Low-quality, in slang: JANKY.  Not in my vocabulary, but the Internet agrees with this definition.

29. Forensic drama franchise: CSI.  CSI: Crime Scene Investigation spun off CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, and CSI: Cyber.

32. Menzel who made her Broadway debut in "Rent": IDINA.  Idina Menzel is an actress and singer, nicknamed the "Queen of Broadway."  She originated the role of Elphaba in the musical Wicked, for which she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, and she has since transitioned into film acting.

Idina Menzel

34. Coats paired with bow ties?: RED SAUCES.  Bow tie pasta can be served with "coats" of red sauce.

Bow tie pasta coated with red sauce.

36. "Crikey!": EGADS.

37. Actor Simu: LIU.  Simu Liu is a Canadian actor with a number of TV credits and the lead role in the 2021 Marvel Cinematic Universe film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

Simu Liu as Chang-Chi

38. Raw fish delicacy: SASHIMI.

39. Pull apart: PRY OPEN.

40. Go back to square one: RESTART.

43. "Now, let's see": I WONDER.  An approximate conversational equivalent.  

44. Trying to reach, in a way: PINGING.  Pinging is sending a signal from one computer to another across a network for diagnostic purposes, such as to determine network speed or the status of the target computer.  Most of us can leave this job to our SYS ADMIN.

45. Norm: Abbr.: STD.  Standard.

47. Boozy brunch beverage: MIMOSA.  Brunch is fun, and ruins the rest of the day.

48. Jazz icon Fitzgerald: ELLA.

51. Spelling expert?: MAGE.  Mage is an archaic word for magician.  Magicians cast spells, which in this "?" clue makes a mage a "spelling" expert.

53. Frog snack: MIDGE.  Frogs eat midges, which are small flies. 

56. Touch-to-pay tech: RFID.  Radio Frequency IDentification uses radio waves to identify and track objects.  RFID tags can be attached to products or implanted in animals and people.  Your dog's microchip is an RFID tag.

58. Fenwick Island St. Park loc.: DEL.  Fenwick Island State Park in Delaware offers three miles of ocean beaches along with access to the Little Assawoman Bay.

Fenwick Island State Park

60. Psychedelics study subj.: LSD.  Lysergic acid diethylamide, called LSD for the German Lysergsäure-diethylamid.

61. Fair-hiring initials: EEO.  Equal Employment Opportunity.

Here's the grid:

Cruciverbalist friends, were you up to the RIGORS of Rebecca's puzzle?

Or did you get STUCK ON some of the more puzzling clues?

I WONDER.  Please comment!

-- NaomiZ

Thursday, September 25, 2025, Rebecca Goldstein

 Theme:  Letters whose names sound like English words.  (G)olly GEE!

Who can help but think of William Steig's 1968 classic CDB!

Today's constructor, Rebecca Goldstein, is a w(o)nder!  OH MY!  I wanted see if I could create further examples of her gimmick today, but it's challenging.  Suffice it to say that the letters in parentheses in the clues appear spelled out in the answers as sound-alike words, and that the answers relate to the concepts of the clue words.  

20-Across. Mer(c)y: SEA OF HUMANITY.

59-Across. (T)yke: KID'S TEE.

25-Down. (B)enefit: BE OF SERVICE.

28-Down. Trajector(y): WHY OF COURSE.

44. Bra(i)n: MIND'S EYE.

Whew!  And it doesn't get much easier ...

Across:

1. Win or lose: VERB.  Right off the bat, we have a "meta" clue.  Win and lose are both verbs.

5. Signs of healing: SCABS.

10. Win or lose alternative: DRAW.  A "draw" is when a contest ends in a tie.

14. Single's bars?: ARIA.  A single person singing a few bars of music might be an opera soloist singing an aria.  Not an obvious answer!

15. "Se __ inglés": HABLA.  "Se habla inglés" is Spanish for "English spoken."  We often see signs in places of business that say "Se habla español" or "Spanish spoken."  "Se habla inglés" might be a welcome sign for English speakers in Spanish speaking countries, but then, it would probably be written in English. 

16. Character: ROLE.

17. Online chortles: LOLZ.  LOL is a texting or online abbreviation for Laughing Out Loud.  LOLZ is a plural, deliberately spelled in a cute way.  You could translate it as "Laughs Out Loud" or just "Laughs."

South Park quote:  "Why do you troll the internet?"
"I do it for the LOLZ."

18. Positive: ASSET.

19. Season celebrated by gifted kids?: YULE.  Kids are "gifted" with gifts at Yuletide.

20. [Theme clue]

23. Supplier of oil pans?: ART CRITIC.  A pan can be an unfavorable review.  An art critic might supply negative reviews of oils, also known as oil paintings.

Everyone's a critic -- even Fido.

24. Incantation syllables: ABRA.  Add the syllables "cadabra" and you've got yourself a magical incantation.

26. Selling points?: ADS.

27. Garter snake prey: NEWT.

30. Great beast: APE.  For a three letter word, this had me stumped for a while.  The great apes or hominids are a taxonomic family of primates whose living members include orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, and Homo sapiens.

31. Soft toss: LOB.

33. Ins. option: HMO.  One health insurance option is a Health Maintenance Organization.  I've been with Kaiser Permanente for 50 (gasp!) years.  All the medical attention you need under one roof.

35. "Open the pod bay doors, __": HAL.

A chilling exchange between an astronaut and a computer
in the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey.

37. Mop alternative: ROOMBA.  Roomba is a brand of robot vacuum cleaner.  These days, most robot vacuums include a wet mop feature.

39. Argument-ending words, perhaps: I SAY SO.

41. Romeo's opening word?: ALFA.  Did this sports car slow you down as it did me?  I was thinking of Juliet's paramour, of course.

Alfa Romeo

42. Mausoleums: TOMBS.

46. Go to the polls: VOTE.

47. Pear variety: BOSC.

48. Dressing on a caterer's table?: SKIRT.  Put a skirt on a folding table to make it more presentable.

49. Hardly any: A FEW.

50. Actress Jewell: GERI.  Geri Jewell is an actress, comedian, writer, and speaker, noted for roles on the 1980s sitcom The Facts of Life and the western Deadwood.  Her success is in spite of having been born with cerebral palsy and ignored or worse by other children.  DNK - Did Not Know.

52. Gasteyer of "Mean Girls": ANA.  Ana Gasteyer is an actress, comedian and singer.  She was a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1996 to 2002, and has since starred in such sitcoms as Suburgatory, People of Earth, American Auto, and the film Mean Girls.  DNK.

Ana Gasteyer

53. Some mechanical pencils: BICS.  BIC does make mechanical pencils.

54. Ada Lovelace's father: BYRON.  Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace, also known as Ada Lovelace, was an English mathematician and writer known for her work on Charles Babbage's proposed mechanical computer, the Analytical Engine. She is sometimes considered to be the first computer programmer.  Ada was the only legitimate child of poet Lord Byron and reformer Anne Isabella Milbanke.  Lord Byron's other children were born out of wedlock to other women.  Lord Byron separated from his wife a month after Ada was born, left England, and died in Greece, fighting in the Greek War of Independence when Ada was eight.  Her education in mathematics was entirely thanks to her mother.  She became a countess through marriage.  DNK.

Daguerreotype of Ada Lovelace circa 1843

55. NFL stats: YDS.  Even I recognize that National Football League statistics include yards.

56. Heavy dancing shoes: CLOGS.

58. Backroads ride, for short: ATV.  All-Terrain Vehicle.

59. [Theme clue]

62. Need for a site visit?: URL.  Uniform Resource Locator.  A web address.

63. Two-time Newbery Medalist Lowry: LOIS.  Lois Lowry is the author of many books for children and young adults, including The Giver Quartet, Number the Stars, the Anastasia series, and Rabble Starkey. She is known for writing about difficult subjects and complex themes in works for young audiences.  DNK.

Lois Lowry

65. Caterpillar rival: DEERE.  Caterpillar and John Deere compete in the manufacture of heavy equipment, although Caterpillar specializes in heavy construction and mining, while John Deere makes mostly agricultural equipment.  There is clearly some overlap, as there are lots of YouTube videos titled "John Deere vs Caterpillar."

66. Grove grower: TREE.  Not the arborist, but the thing growing in the grove.

67. Drink through a straw: SUCK.

68. Travel website with the same name as a boat: KAYAK.  Kayak.com is a travel search engine, comparing prices from other sites for flights, hotels, and cars.  Unlike Expedia or Travelocity, you can't book directly through Kayak, but you may find better price comparisons.  For me, "kayak" conjures up our fearless Monday blogger, sumdaze, paddling on the Pacific.

69. Quickly, quickly: ASAP.  Quickly, stated quickly:  ASAP, or As Soon As Possible.

70. Surroundings: AREA.

71. Someone working around the House: REP.  You will find Representatives working in the House of Representatives.

72. Rocker Joan: JETT.  Joan Jett recorded four albums with the Runaways from 1975 to 1979, and then formed her own record label and performed as Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.  Her 1981 album, I Love Rock 'n Roll, peaked at number two on the Billboard 200. The lead single was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.  Jett has released eleven more albums with the Blackhearts, two of them receiving gold and platinum certifications.  Her single I Hate Myself for Loving You earned Jett her first Grammy Award nomination for Best Rock Performance.  How many of our Corner guitarists have played her songs?

Joan Jett

Down:

1. Actor Kilmer: VAL.  Val Kilmer was an American actor who found fame through films including Top Secret!, Real Genius, and Top Gun. He played Jim Morrison in The Doors and Batman in Batman Forever.  His voice was altered by throat cancer, and had to be digitally modified for the 2022 film, Top Gun: Maverick.  Roger Ebert said of Kilmer in 1992, "If there is an award for the most unsung leading man of his generation, Kilmer should get it."  Kilmer passed away on April 1, 2025.

Val Kilmer at Cannes in 2005

2. God with a quiver: EROS.  Eros carries a quiver of arrows.

I searched for Cupid with arrows and found a bunch of babies with wings.
I searched for Eros with arrows, and well, that's more like it!

3. Really get to: RILE.

4. Middle Eastern market: BAZAAR.

5. Hot rod rod: SHAFT.  Some of our car enthusiasts can tell us all about hot rod drive shafts in the comments.  

6. Game show whose contestants are really driven?: CASH CAB.  This show appeared in the puzzle I blogged on September 11th!  Cash Cab is a game show that premiered in 2005.  A taxi picks up a customer, the host announces that they are on Cash Cab, and they are given the option to play or get out.  If they choose to play, they have to stay in the cab until they reach their destination or get three strikes when answering questions.  They earn cash for correct answers.  Our solvers would do well.

7. Wackadoo: ABSURD.

8. Mark: BLEMISH.

9. Occupied, as a hot desk: SAT AT.  In some offices, workers do not have their own, private work spaces.  There are desks available, and you grab one.  "Hot desking" accommodates various shifts and schedules.  It must assume that all your files and resources are electronic.  I still use filing drawers in my desk.

10. Solid carbon dioxide: DRY ICE.  Useful as a cooling agent, dry ice also makes cool fog effects.

Youngest daughter was married in August
and danced with hubby in a cloud of DRY ICE fog.

11. Drubbing: ROUT.  A resounding defeat.

12. Supporter: ALLY.

13. Microscopic: WEE.

21. Floss brand: ORAL B.

22. Spanish sons: NIÑOS.  No, no, no.  Sons are HIJOS.  Niños are children -- boys, or boys and girls -- but not necessarily sons.  Mis hijos son Isaac y Aaron.  Mis niños son Isaac, Leila, Aaron, y Rachel.  Lucina can correct me if I'm wrong.

24. Accounting record?: APOLOGY TOUR.  A well-known person might make a series of speeches, interviews, or public appearances to express regret for a mistake.  That's an apology tour.  You could say that they're giving an accounting of their misdeeds.

25. [Theme clue]

28. [Theme clue]

29. "My compliments to the chef": TASTES GREAT.

30. Part of UAE: ARAB.  United Arab Emirates.

32. Grains that may be steel-cut: OATS.

34. Produce aisle spray: MIST.

36. German entomologist Hermann: LOEW.  Friedrich Hermann Loew (1807-1879) was a German entomologist who specialised in the study of Diptera, an order of insects including flies, mosquitoes, gnats and midges. He was the first specialist to work on the Diptera of the United States.  His collections are in museums around the world, and more than a dozen insects are named for him.  See, for example, the lovely Albulina loewii that lives in the Middle East and Asia.  DNK, but great entomologists should be as famous as rock stars.

Albulina loewii

38. Large-scale: MACRO.

40. Make use (of): AVAIL.

43. "Yes, honey": OKAY DEAR.

44. [Theme clue]

45. Fashion tape target: BRA STRAP.  If you don't want your bra strap to show, tape your top to the strap.  

Tape those bra straps to your top!

Or, take a cue from the younger ladies, and flaunt them!

51. What a pocket protector protects from: INK.

When I was in college, a pocket protector was
universally acknowledged as the badge of a science nerd.

53. Dating initials: BCE.  Before Common Era, a secular alternative to BC, Before Christ.

54. Wood whose name comes from the Spanish for "raft": BALSA.  This tropical wood is surprisingly buoyant.

57. Rested: SLEPT.

60. "u tell me": IDK.  I Don't Know.  Here in the corner, we more often confess:  DNK.

61. "Yikes!": EEK.

64. Horn-heavy genre: SKA.  Ska originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, combining Caribbean sounds like calypso with American jazz, rhythm and blues.  Ska today is fast paced and features lots of brass instruments.

66. __ Mahal: TAJ.

Here's the grid:

(O)bligation -- I OWE you an explanation of the puzzle theme.

(U)nderstand -- Did YOU get it?

(R)eactions?  ARE you ready to comment?

Wednesday, September 20, 2025 Rebecca Goldstein

Theme:  Geography Lessons, and geography expansions.   As we travel through the locations, each located in the 2nd word of each theme fill, they get increasingly larger

16 A. Stop on a fall foliage tour?: LEAVES TOWN.  Ordinarily, this means departing from a TOWN.  Here, it suggests a TOWN with many colorful leafy trees.

30 A. Stop on a victory tour?: PARTY CITY.  This was a retail chain stocking a wide range of themed party supplies, plus costumes & holiday decorations.  It has gone out of business in the U.S., but is still active in Canada.  Here, though, it is a city full of revelry.  Note also, a city is larger than a town.

44 A. Stop on a wine tour?: DRY COUNTY.  This is a county in the United States where the sale and public consumption of alcohol is prohibited.   It's unclear why anyone on a wine tour would visit there, unless it's a place to stop drinking?  At any rate, a county is generally larger than a city.

58 A. Stop on an apology tour?: SORRY STATE.   This indicates being in a situation or condition that is poor, neglected, or unfortunate, often one that is deserving of pity or regret.  Here,  though, it is a place containing many counties where contrition is prominent.  

Hi, Gang, JazzBumpa here with a puzzling travelogue.  Let's embark, and see where it takes us.

Across:

1. Some cuff links: STUDS.  Formal jewelry worn at the shirt cuff in place of a button.  The stud portion is a short metal bar connecting a decoration to a fastener.

6. Passover mo., often: APR.  April.  Passover is a major Jewish holiday and one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals. It celebrates the Exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.

9. Genesis brother: ABEL.  He was murdered by his twin brother Cain.

13. Number of strands in a simple braid: THREE.  

14. Creative development: IDEA.   The thought before the brainstorm.

15. Proper partner: PRIM.  Stiffly formal and respectable; feeling or showing disapproval of anything regarded as improper.

18. Roman robe: TOGA.  A loose flowing outer garment worn by the citizens of ancient Rome, made of a single piece of cloth and covering the whole body apart from the right arm.

19. The upper crust: ELITES.   A select group that is superior in terms of ability or qualities to the rest of a group or society.   Or so they would have you believe.
 
20. Packers' pts.: TDS.  Touch downs.  The Packers are the team from Green Bay in the National Football League.

22. "Don't know her": WHO?   What or which person or people?

23. Shiny fender material: CHROME.  Chromium plate as a decorative or protective finish on motor-vehicle fittings and other objects.

25. "Critique of Pure Reason" philosopher: KANT.  Immanuel Kant (1724 – 1804) was a German philosopher and one of the central thinkers of the Enlightenment. Born in Königsberg, Kant's comprehensive and systematic works in epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, and aesthetics have made him one of the most influential and highly discussed figures in modern Western philosophy.

27. "Well, shucks": AW, GEE.  Expressing genial self-deprecation or gratified embarrassment.

33. Epic battles: WARS.   A state of armed conflict between different nations or states or different groups within a nation or state.  In a war there may be many distict battles.

34. Section of a race: LEG.   A specific, defined part or section of the race. 

35. Call from a treehouse: UP HERE.  Telling you where to look
 
36. One day __ time: AT A.  To deal with each day's problems as they come instead of worrying about the future.

37. "Restore + Strengthen" shampoo brand: FINESSE.  Finesse shampoo, specifically the Finesse Restore + Strengthen Moisturizing Shampoo, is designed to rejuvenate dry, damaged, or stubborn hair by providing a moisturizing and strengthening treatment. 

39. Announcement makers in HS classrooms: PAS.  Public Address System, a system of microphones, amplifiers, and loudspeakers used to amplify speech or music in a large building or at an outdoor gathering..

40. Criticize harshly: REVILE.   Criticize in an abusive or angrily insulting manner.

42. "Uh-uh": NAH.  Nope, no way, aint gonna happen.

43. Treadmill setting: PACE.  Consistent and continuous speed in walking, running, or moving.

46. Los Angeles restaurant with hot dogs named for celebrities: PINKS.

47. Overnight recipe: STEW.   A stew is a hearty dish that consists of solid food ingredients, such as meat, seafood, and/or vegetables, cooked slowly in liquid and served in the resulting gravy or thickened broth. 

48. Talk and talk and talk: YAMMER.   Talk foolishly or incessantly.

50. Shutterbug's initials: SLR.  Single Lens Reflex, a camera design where the photographer views the scene through the lens itself, using a mirror and prism system to direct the image to the viewfinder. This allows for accurate framing and focus, as you see exactly what the lens sees. 

51. Mule on the Erie Canal: SAL.  A reference to the mule featured in the American folk song, "Low Bridge, Everybody Down," also known as "The Erie Canal Song". The song tells the story of a mule named Sal who works on the Erie Canal, hauling barges filled with various goods. She is portrayed as a reliable and hardworking animal, and the song highlights the close relationship between the mule and its driver.

53. De-lightful time?: OUTAGE.  A time period when electric power is disrupted.  This is often due to storm-related infrastructure damage.  But not always. 

56. One struggling to face facts, maybe: LIAR.   A teller of untruths.  My universal theory of why this happens is that the truth is not compatible with the LIAR's agenda.

61. All-father of the Norse gods: ODIN.   A prominent figure in Norse mythology and Germanic paganism, revered as a god associated with wisdom, magic, death, prophecy, and victory in battle. He is often depicted as an old, one-eyed man with a long beard, wearing a cloak and a wide-brimmed hat, and carrying a spear. Odin is known for his insatiable thirst for knowledge, his role as the leader of the Aesir tribe of gods, and his connection to Valhalla, the hall where fallen warriors reside. 

62. Joint above an ankle: KNEE.   The largest and one of the most complex joints in the human body, connecting the thigh bone (femur) and the shin bone (tibia). It's a hinge joint that allows for bending and straightening of the leg, and it's crucial for weight-bearing and movement. The knee joint is made up of bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and muscles, all working together to enable a wide range of motion and stability. 

63. Pamplona pooch: PERRO.   "Dog" en Español.  Pamplona is a city in Spain.

64. Implements in a lab coat pocket: PENS.  For copious note taking.

65. Vane dir.: SSW.  South, southwest, the compass point or direction midway between south and southwest.

66. Home to the annual Food & Wine Classic: ASPEN.  Aspen, in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, is a ski resort town and year-round destination for outdoor recreation. It's also known for high-end restaurants and boutiques, and landmarks like the Wheeler Opera House, built in 1889 during the area’s silver mining boom.  We missed this year's classic, but can try again next year.

Down:

1. Home of the Blues, for short: ST. L.  St. Louis, Mo. is home to the Blues, a professional hockey team.

2. You, once: THEE.  Archaic or dialect form of you, as the singular object of a verb or preposition.

3. Russian range: URAL.  A mountain range in western Russia that forms a traditional boundary between Europe and Asia. 

4. Tech gadgets: DEVICES.   Things made or adapted for a particular purpose, especially a piece of mechanical or electronic equipment.

5. Stay mad: SEETHE.   Be filled with intense but unexpressed anger, by analogy to a slow boiling liquid..

6. Big fuss: ADO.  A state of agitation or fuss, especially about something unimportant.

7. Alloy in some costume jewelry: PEWTER.   A gray alloy of tin with copper and antimony (formerly, tin and lead).

8. South African currency: RAND.  The basic monetary unit of South Africa, equal to 100 cents.  The rand takes its name from the Witwatersrand ("white waters' ridge" in English, rand being the Afrikaans and Dutch word for 'ridge'), the ridge upon which Johannesburg is built and where most of South Africa's gold deposits were found. 

9. Fitting: APT.  Appropriate or suitable in the circumstances.

10. Dessert tray?: BROWNIE PAN.    A type of baking pan specifically designed for making brownies. It's typically rectangular, with a non-stick surface, and often features a removable bottom or a divider to help with even baking and easy removal of the finished brownies.   The clue is a misdirection, since it usually refers to a collection of sweet treats, typically displayed on a tray or platter, served at the end of a meal as a final course. 

11. Format before cassettes: EIGHT TRACK.    A magnetic tape format popular for music distribution from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. It's characterized by a continuous loop of ¼-inch magnetic tape housed in a rectangular cartridge. Each tape contains eight tracks of audio, arranged in stereo pairs, allowing for four stereo programs on a single tape. 

12. "Ur hilarious!": LMAO.  Laughing My Ahem-buttocks Off, maybe.  Cf. 31D.

14. "Come on in": IT'S OPEN.  Open door invitation to enter.

17. __ and estar: Spanish 101 lesson: SER.  In Spanish, both "ser" and "estar" translate to "to be" in English, but they are used in different contexts. "Ser" is used for permanent or defining characteristics, while "estar" is used for temporary states or conditions, location, and actions. 

21. Service replaced by Microsoft Teams: SKYPE.   An online platform that enables users to make voice and video calls, send instant messages, and share files over the internet. The name "Skype" is derived from "sky" and "peer-to-peer," reflecting its initial design as a peer-to-peer communication tool. 

24. Fuchsia relative: MAGENTA.   A light purplish red that is one of the primary subtractive colors, complementary to green.  Fuchsia is a vivid purplish-red color like that of the sepals of a typical fuchsia flower.

26. "Bah," in Berlin: ACH.  Expressions of contempt or disagreement.

27. Oscar, but not Elmo: AWARD.  The "Oscar" is the common name for the Academy Award of Merit, a golden statuette awarded annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for outstanding achievements in the film industry. It's one of the most prestigious awards in the world of cinema.  Also Oscar and Elmo are Sesame Street muppets.

28. Way to make an entrance at a pool party: WATER SLIDE.  A slide into a swimming pool, typically flowing with water and incorporating a number of twists and turns.

29. Source of easy money: GRAVY TRAIN.   Used to refer to a situation in which someone can make a lot of money for very little effort.

31. Bottom: TUSH.  The buttocks - either of the two round fleshy parts that form the lower rear area of a human trunk.  Cf. 12D.

32. Green lights: YESES.  Grants permission or approval.

34. Stead: LIEU.  The place or role that someone or something should have or fill (used in referring to a substitute).

37. Streams: FLOWS.    Moves along or out steadily and continuously in a current or stream.

38. "I'm listening": SAY MORE.  Yes, I'm interested.  Keep talking.

41. Apply a cold pack to, say: ICE.  Use cold therapy on an injury.

43. Home team at PNC Park: PIRATES.  The Pittsburg team in the National League of Major League Baseball.

45. Pantyhose: NYLONS.  Clothing for women made of thin material that fits closely over the feet and legs and goes up to the waist.  Do they even exist any more?

46. Spot's grooming spot: PET SPA.   A grooming service that offers more than just basic bathing and clipping. It provides a range of specialized treatments designed to pamper and relax pets, promoting their overall well-being. These services often include aromatherapy, calming music, and gentle handling techniques to create a stress-free environment. 

49. Very, in Venezuela: MUY.   Literal translation from English to Español.

50. Unappetizing plateful: SLOP.  A derogatory way to talk about food that doesn't look very tasty.

52. Requests: ASKS.  Says something in order to obtain an answer or some information.

54. Irving character: GARP.   Protagonist in The World According to Garp.  I read this book decades ago and have only vague recollections of a few scenes.

55. 17-Down, in French: ETRE.   To be [or not, I suppose] in any language.

57. Some ER staff: RNS.  Registered Nurses.

59. VCR button: REWind.   It winds a tape or film back to the beginning.

60. Geologic age: EON.   An indefinite and very long period of time.

So, after all that time, we've reached our destination.  Travel broadens one, it's said, and this trip did grow on me  Hope the journey enlarged your enjoyment.  See you in September, a definite and rather short time period way.

Cool regards!

JzB 

Sunday July 13, 2025 Rebecca Goldstein

Theme:  "Sultans of Swing" - The last word of each theme entry is Major League Baseball team player. The first word are all synonyms of "great".

22. Massive, luminous body larger than the sun: SUPER GIANT.

28. Mighty Morphin figure of 1990s television: POWER RANGER.

42. Senior position at a taproom: MASTER BREWER.

68. Pickpocket in "Oliver Twist": THE ARTFUL DODGER.

96. Easy charge for a babysitter: PERFECT ANGEL.

112. High-voltage fish: ELECTRIC RAY.

122. Athlete in the Midsummer Classic, or what can be found six times in this puzzle?: MLB ALL- STAR.

We've seen many baseball themes in the past. None with such tightness, hallmark of Rebecca's puzzles. Three from each league, nicely balanced.

The fill are also outstanding. We don't often see pair of 13s as fill. 

Across:

1. Call back?: ECHO.

5. Fake gems: PASTE. It's a type of glass used to imitate gemstones, especially diamonds. Learning moment for me.

10. Sorts: ILKS.

14. __ white: espresso bar order: FLAT.

18. Lose: DROP.

19. Ramadan faith: ISLAM.

20. Hi-fi sound: MONO.

21. Turn red in the face: BLUSH.

24. Futurist: SEER.

25. Salary bump: RAISE.

26. Eat by candlelight, maybe: DINE.

27. Show that celebrated 50 seasons in 2025, for short: SNL.

30. __ Geo Wild: NAT.

32. Nepal neighbor: TIBET. Momos are popular there. Steamed dumplings.

34. Chemical in pretzel-making: LYE.

35. Evening, in ads: NITE.

36. Colorful pattern: TIE DYE.

39. Tuna roll seaweed: NORI.

40. Wasting time: IDLE.

44. Final stretches of a race: LAST LEGS. Also loved: 94. "Love that!": VERY COOL. 10. Words said with a yawn: I'M SO TIRED. 13. "Well, excu-use me!": SORRY I ASKED 14. Warm button-ups with checkered patterns: FLANNEL SHIRTS. 43. Source of some dirt: RUMOR MILL. 44. Big wheel on the Thames: LONDON EYE. 54. Lucky numbers, maybe: LOTTERY TICKET. 

48. Reddit Q&A: AMA.

49. __ Dhabi: ABU.

50. Six in a million?: ZEROS. 1,000,000.

52. Makeup mogul Lauder: ESTEE.

53. Area: REALM.

56. Urban haze: SMOG.

59. Musty: DANK.

60. Maui's __ Highway: HANA.

61. Selling points?: AD COPY. Ah, OK, selling points of a product.

63. Cincinnati's state: OHIO. 

65. Thought: IDEA.

67. Article: ITEM.

72. Hoist: HEFT.

75. Sneaker brand named for a big cat: PUMA. Loving my Asics Versablast. Light and comfy. 

76. Typical college applicant: TEEN.

77. Groups of eight: OCTETS.

81. Merriness: GLEE.

82. Force: DINT.

84. Double Stuf cookie: OREO.

86. Actor Davis: OSSIE.

87. Princess topper: TIARA.

89. Homeric epic: ILIAD.

91. Decade's 10: Abbr.: YRS.

93. St. known for spuds: IDA.

101. Oven setting, briefly: TEMP.

102. Airline whose name comes from the Book of Hosea: EL AL. Didn't know this trivia. 

103. New York PWHL team: SIRENS. Professional Women's Hockey League. Our team is Minnesota Frost, the champion last year. 

104. __-glace: rich sauce: DEMI.

107. Clicking sound?: AHA. 129. Class struggle?: TEST. Won't mislead our regulars. 

109. Grannies: NANAS.

111. Lip: RIM.

115. Sir McKellen: IAN.

117. Ages and ages: AEON.

120. Common sound at Oktoberfest: POLKA.

121. Main role: LEAD.

125. Decided: OPTED.

126. "You are something __!": ELSE.

127. "__ beaucoup": MERCI.

128. Sports commentator Andrews: ERIN.

130. Depletes: SAPS.

131. "25" and "30" singer: ADELE.

132. Den fixture: SOFA.

Down:

1. MS reviewers: EDS.

2. Gunk: CRUD.

3. Arizona Natives: HOPI.

4. Opportunity to score: OPEN NET.

5. "Some __": message in "Charlotte's Web": PIG. From Wikipedia: When Wilbur is in danger of being slaughtered, Charlotte writes messages in her web praising him, such as "Some Pig", "Terrific", "Radiant", and "Humble", to persuade the farmer to spare his life. Some Pig, Splynter!

6. "Take it or leave it" warning: AS IS.

7. Tilt: SLANT.

8. Beach body feature?: TAN LINE. Another great clue.

9. AED user: EMT.

11. Cinematic surname: LOEW.

12. Use a prayer mat, e.g.: KNEEL.

15. Mario's brother: LUIGI.

16. Plus: ASSET.

17. Word after a final touch: THERE.

21. Wireless support, maybe: BRA.

23. Apt surname for a librarian: READE.

28. Rosie of "The Flight Attendant": PEREZ.

29. Wine menu heading: REDS.

31. Supermodel Banks: TYRA.

33. Acknowledge a standing ovation, maybe: BOW.

36. Under control: TAMED.

37. Designer Mizrahi: ISAAC. He had some great collections with Target for a few years.

38. Falls back: EBBS.

41. Wireless std.: LTE.

42. Rooney of "Carol": MARA.

45. Coup d'__: ETAT.

46. Chromosome unit: GENE.

47. Jeans line: SEAM.

51. Las Vegas athlete: RAIDER.

55. Highway letters: MPH.

57. Two-way player nicknamed "Shotime": OHTANI. Boomer had his rookie card.

58. Many a moving meme: GIF.

62. "Mm-hmm": YEP.

64. One of six in an inning: OUT.

66. A long time __: AGO.

69. Good listeners?: AUDIOPHILES. Great fill/clue also.

70. Virgo preceder: LEO.

71. Prefix with tourism: ECO.

72. "Property Brothers" network: HGTV.

73. Nobelist Wiesel: ELIE.

74. Dread: FEAR.

78. Endorse digitally: E-SIGN.

79. Water ways?: TIDES.

80. Shut tight: SEAL.

83. Some tapas spreads: TAPENADES. Never had this. 

85. Middle-earth monsters: ORCS.

88. King topper: ACE.

90. Hold up: DELAY.

92. Mix: STIR.

95. Actor Epps: OMAR.

97. Took off: RAN.

98. Moved like an inflatable air dancer: FLAILED.

99. Standard font: ARIAL.

100. Sworn rivals: NEMESES.

104. Bus base: DEPOT.

105. Complete a private merger?: ELOPE.

106. Cheesy sandwiches: MELTS.

108. Amtrak option: ACELA.

110. Buffalo skater: SABRE.

113. Skosh: TAD.

114. Croak: RASP.

116. Chemist's salt: NACL.

118. Other, in Spanish: OTRO.

119. Inexperienced sort: NAIF.

122. UFC sport: MMA.

123. Tell tales: LIE.

124. Molecule in some vaccines: RNA.

C.C.