Sunday, March 31, 2024 ~ Rebecca Goldstein

Title: "Funny Business"

For those who celebrate, Happy Easter!

Today, Rebecca put some Funny (peculiar, not ha-ha) Business in our (circular) Easter baskets. In this Easter Egg hunt I did my best, but may(?) need some help parsing out these companies:

23. Composite image where stars appear as streaks: TIME LAPSE PICTURE. PEPSI.

39. Flurry of emotions: MIXED FEELINGS. FEDEX.

47. Vehicle that may address the "last mile" problem: ELECTRIC SCOOTER. COST CO.

63. "Don't forget your umbrella and galoshes!": ITS RAINING CATS AND DOGS. GIN'CA Peruvian Gin(?)

83. As the situation warrants: WHERE APPLICABLE. APPLE

92. Phryge, for Paris 2024, e.g.: OLYMPIC MASCOT. COMCAST - a cable / ISP company.

Olympic and Paralympic Mascots

110. Period that included the storming of the Bastille: FRENCH REVOLUTION.
  

And the reveal:

102. Corporate shake-up affecting the companies in the circled letters?: RE-ORG.  Nice, Rebecca.  Very Nice.

Across:

1. Cymbals played with a pedal: HI-HAT.

Hi Hat

6. Doofus: TWIT.

10. Snack or stack at the poker table: CHIPS.

15. Hushed summons: PSST. Yo' over here.

19. Sun-dried brick: ADOBE.

20. Hardwood trees: OAKS.

21. 32-foot pastry visible from the 405 in Los Angeles: DONUT.

Mmm Donuts

22. "Sex Education" protagonist: OTIS. Sex Education is a series on Netflix.

23. [See: Theme]

26. Key turning point?: LOCK.

Or if you're Keyless

27. Landscaping tool: HOE.

28. Title role for Madonna: EVITA.

29. Chihuahua's alert: BARK.

30. Sinister: EVIL.

32. Early social networking site: MYSPACE. MySpace was before Facebook.

34. Cartagena kiss: BESO.

35. Flat formation: PLATEAU.

Flat formations

38. Kitchen containers: POTS.

39. [See: Theme]

41. GoPro device: CAMERA.

44. Musical ability: EAR.

45. Ref. that added "adultification" in 2023: OED. Oxford English Dictionary: "Adultification is originally a psychology term describing children who act more mature than their peers as a result of being handed adult responsibilities from a young age."

46. Rattan: CANE.

47. [See: Theme]

52. Used a peeler: PARED.

53. Comedian DeLaria: LEA.

54. Like last-minute tix, maybe: SRO. Standing Room Only at a sold-out show.

55. "Stop talking": HUSH.

56. Sudden shocks: JOLTS.

57. Air space?: LUNG. Cute.

59. Rio hello: OLA.

61. Bag-checking org.: TSA. Transportation Security Administration.

62. __ fide: BONA.

63. [See: Theme]

71. Bavarian range: ALPS.

72. Prefix with cache: GEO. "Geocaching is an outdoor recreational activity, in which participants use a Global Positioning System receiver or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called geocaches or caches, at specific locations marked by coordinates all over the world." [Cite]

73. Get loose, in a way: SAG.

74. Ginger __: SNAP.

Cookies!

75. Italian seaport: GENOA. Or salami!

77. Flock infant: LAMB.

79. Brio: PEP.

81. Word with bird's or bull's: EYE.

82. 75-Down [GRILL] accessory: GRATE.

83. [See: Theme]

88. Simpson who plays the sax: LISA.

Lisa on the Sax

89. "Mr. Robot" creator Esmail: SAM.

I enjoyed the first two seasons.

90. Beam: RAY.

91. Said aloud: VOICED.

92. [See: Theme]

97. Cable: CORD. Not Comcast but just a line.

98. Has on the calendar: PLANS TO.

99. "American Dad" dad: STAN. American Dad is another Seth MacFarlane cartoon.

Stan

100. Inched closer: GOT NEAR.

103. Match makeup: SETS. Tennis anyone?

104. Petting zoo chorus: BAAS.

105. Base for many Italian fashion labels: MILAN.

106. Ginger blossom garland: LEI.

108. Tends to spilled milk: MOPS. Cute.

110. [See: Theme]

114. Dressy attire: SUIT.

115. "The Color Purple" producer: OPRAH.

116. "You said it!": AMEN.

117. Do some dirty dancing: TWERK.

118. Jennifer of "Dirty Dancing": GREY. Nice clecho.

119. Dishwasher cycle: RINSE.

120. Petting zoo ride: PONY.

121. Music League submissions: SONGS.

Down:
1. "Hell __ no fury ... ": HATH.

2. Figurative expression: IDIOM.

3. Comfy cozy: HOMEY.

4. First pres. born outside the Thirteen Colonies: ABE. Lincoln was born in KY before moving to IL.

5. Power trip?: TELEPORT. Cute.

6. Debate issues: TOPICS.

7. Trash: WASTE.

8. HEMNES retailer: IKEA.

9. Vanilla meas.: TSP. Teaspoon.

10. 1990s media coverage?: CD CASE. Cute.

11. Souped-up car: HOT ROD.

12. Indigenous Alaskan: INUK.

13. Water filter brand: PUR.

14. Mentally prepared: STEELED.

15. " ... and I approve this message" spots: POLITICAL ADS.

16. Lifted prints?: STOLEN ART.

17. [Not my error]: SIC.

18. Disappointed click: TSK.

24. Digital images?: AVATARS.

25. Wild goat: IBEX.

31. Actor Kilmer: VAL.

33. Blueprint bit: SPEC.

34. Hardwood tree: BIRCH.

35. House of Lords member: PEER.

36. St. __ of Assisi: AGNES. A CSO to IM!. In Doug Peterson's March 17, 2024 puzzle, CLARE was the Assisi St.

37. Employed: USED.

39. Madrid "more": MAS.

40. Adversary: FOE.

41. Pegged instruments: CELLI. Plural cello.

42. Indigenous Alaskan: ALEUT. Nice clecho.

43. Denotes: MEANS.

44. Biotech bacteria: ECOLI.

48. Makes a flat sheet flatter: IRONS. Nice clue.

49. Resolution: OUTCOME.

50. Peak between Pelion and Olympus: OSSA.

51. "__ a big if!": THATS.

52. Duck habitat: POND.

56. Musician Batiste: JON.

58. Provide pardon: GRANT AMNESTY.

60. Acute thing: ANGLE.

62. Bread shaped like a 21-Across: BAGEL.

64. Plant with a tiger tooth variety: ALOE.

65. Brewery letters: IPA.

66. One on a fixie, say: GEAR.

67. Like some tear-jerkers: SAPPY.

68. Yr. before a historic time change: ONE BC.

69. Journalist King: GAYLE.

70. Dashboard display: SPEED.

75. Outdoor kitchen fixture: GRILL.

76. Simple: EASY AS PIE.

78. Lowest rank for a 35-Down [not PEER but House of Lords member]: BARON.

80. Crucially important: PIVOTAL.

82. Unappealing plateful: GLOP.

83. Baylor University city: WACO.

84. "I dunno ... ": HMM.

85. "Postman __": BBC stop-motion animation series: PAT.

Postman Pat

86. Crunchy snack: CORN NUTS.

Original Corn Nuts

87. Helper: AIDE.

89. Accepts an invitation to pose: SITS FOR. Or watching the neighbor's children.

93. Calif. Christmas hrs.: PST. Pacific Standard Time

94. Poses in a yoga studio: ASANAS.

95. Lazy walrus, e.g., for short: STACHE.

How to Style [7:24]

96. Paper money: CASH.

97. Coral community: COLONY.

100. Assumed: GIVEN.

101. Marvin the Martian, e.g.: ALIEN.

Best of [6m]

104. Switzerland's capital: BERN.

105. Brief brief: MEMO. Memorandum in case we all forgot what memo is short for.

107. Signs: INKS.

108. NYC arena: MSG.

109. Possessive word: OUR.

111. Troy research univ.: RPI.

112. Missy Elliott genre: RAP.

113. Number of players in Battleship: TWO.

The Grid:

The Grid

My synopsis:
WOs: Larch -> BIRCH
ESPs: OTIS, LEA DeLaria, SAM Esmail, OSSA
Fav: Teleport was cute.

There you have it folks.
I hope you found all the Easter Eggs and don't find one with the mower in June :-)

Cheers, -T

Wednesday, Mar 6th, 2024 Rebecca Goldstein

  SOMETHIN' FISHY

A pretty straight-forward puzzle, although I fumbled in the SW corner with a "bad name" - at least there were just a few to contend with today.  Lots of clues that were merely clever definitions*, I thought - YMMV.  At first I surmised that the theme may have something to do with the "I" situated in the center(ish) of the theme fills - but no, it's three things that can be found "in the tank" - and I have added a fourth at the end of the theme answers.  I do not have the crossword comparison tools, but I recognize the constructor from previous grids.  The theme answers;

17. Family member with a heat lamp: PET IGUANA - I had a pet iguana - his name was Zeus, and he did NOT have a tank - he roamed my apartment freely, but due to some personal changes, he had to go to a zoo in Texas

The black thingy is his heat lamp

28. Military unit with mechanized forces: ARMORED DIVISION - this doesn't quite jibe for me - I suppose the personnel would be "in the tank"

47. Fuel that typically has an octane of 91 or higher: PREMIUM GASOLINE

63. On a losing streak, or where to find 17-, 28-, and 47-Across: IN THE TANK

Just add soothing music

And Away We Go~!

ACROSS:

1. Subject with angles and equations: MATH - the only thing I studied in "math" was the teacher....

Van Halen - "Hot For Teacher" - OK, maybe not soothing....

5. Proofreader's catch: TYPO

9. Cork citizens: IRISH - and - 42A. __ Lingus: AER - their local airplane people

14. Juárez water: AGUA

15*. Collect crops: REAP

16. Accordion-heavy genre: POLKA

19. Got the fire going again: RELIT

20. "Indeed": "SURE" - One of Nero Wolfe's frequent comments is "Indeed"

21. "Greetings!": "HELLO~!"

23. Bring into play: USE

24. Beaver's building: DAM

26. Mosque leader: IMAM

36. Small touches: DABS

37. Like most highlighters: NEON

38. PBJ or BLT: SANDO - This must be regional, as no one I know refers to a sandwich as a sando - I have been known to call it a "sa'mich"

39. Double helix molecule: DNA

40. "Show me!": "CAN I SEE~!?"

43*. Milk source: UDDER

45. Like some JFK flights: INTernationaL

46. Classic Pontiacs: GTOs - I was more of a Mercury Cougar fan

They had rotating headlight doors and sequential tail-lights

50*. Inner workings: GUTS

51*. Sense of self: EGO

52. Golfer's goal: PAR

54. Tuesday fare: TACOS - I like tacos any day of the week~!

58. __ and file: RANK - us paycheck-to-paycheck types

61. Public meltdown, maybe: SCENE - as in to "make a ___"

66. Smudge: SMEAR

67. Pajama tops: TEES - that's what I wear

68. Pentathlon blade: EPEE

69. Trying times?: TESTS

70. "SportsCenter" channel: ESPN

71. First light: DAWN

DOWN:

1*. Travel guide: MAP

2. Forever and ever: AGES - EONS, AEON, nope.

3*. Ballet costume: TUTU

4. Side braids or side shaves: HAIRDOs

5. "Ur not wrong": TRU - text-speak

6. "Uh-huh": "YEAH."

7. Cut glass: PANE - an intended glass piece - unintentional, and it's a "shard"

8. Gem with a honey variety: OPAL - my first thought, but I waited for perps

Not so different from Amber

9. "Scout's honor!": "I PROMISE~!"

10. Ikura at the sushi bar: ROE - perps

11. Enlightenment-era secret society: ILLUMINATI - Part of the plot in the movie "Angels & Demons", and the first 10-letter non-theme Down fill

12. Travels cross-country?: SKIS - on my first pass, I missed the "s" at the end of travelS

13*. Abhor: HATE

18. Backpack contents: GEAR - uh, well, yeah - kinda vague

22. Tyler of "Empire Records": LIV

25. Actress Suvari: MENA -this actress - I had her confused with Mira Sorvino

27. Cute __ button: AS A

28. Make sense: ADD UP - if you saw my math teacher, it would "add up"

29. Short time off?: R AND R - clever; I like this one - Rest & Relaxation

30. C-suite qualifications: MBA DEGREES - the other 10-letter non-theme Down fill

31. Jorts fabric: DENIM - learning moment - I did not 60D what Jorts are - but in retrospect, it's pretty obvious now - Jean Shorts, and from what I read, sort of derogatory if men wear them - but on women, they're "Daisy Dukes"

The Dukes of Hazzard - and I loved the theme song

32. Word before or after nothing: DOING - doing nothing, or "nothin' doin'"

33. App with stories, familiarly: INSTAgram - I keep planning to do one for the Pipe Organ company, but I can never seem to get started

34. Ancient Greek theater: ODEON

35. Language on a longship: NORSE

Truth is, I'd really like to do a Viking Cruise

40. Beasties: CRITTERS

41. Ultimate word of an ultimatum: ELSE

44. Australian avian: EMU - I had to cheat on Saturday, and look up the word "Ratite"

46. Was a poor winner: GLOATED

48. Suni Lee's Olympic team: USA - her Wiki - born in our blog host's state of Minnesota~!

49. Brute: OGRE

52. Hissed summons: PSST

53. Top: ACME - had to wait on perps - this or APEX, for one

55*. Offer as proof: CITE

56. Individuals: ONES

57. Put one foot in front of the other?: STEP - I started with "WALK" - Bzzzt~!

59. Auto parts chain that shares a name with a California valley: NAPA

60. Didn't need to guess: KNEW

62. William Styron's "The Confessions of __ Turner": NAT - oops, not IKE

64. Where to watch for deals?: HSN - Home Shopping Network - never watched it myself

65. "I'm Just __": song sung by Ryan Gosling in "Barbie": KEN

Splynter

Wednesday, January 10, 2014 ~ Rebecca Goldstein

Hey Bartender!

19. "New Miserable Experience" pop band: GIN BLOSSOMS. I nailed it sans perps - I have the CD.

Hey Jealousy

25. Pepper named for its resemblance to a tam-o'-shanter: SCOTCH BONNET.

Recipe

52. Role for Jason Derulo in 2019's "Cats": RUM TUM TUGGER.

63. British desserts similar to cannoli: BRANDY SNAPS.

41. "Now you're talking!," and what can be said about the ts of 19-, 25-, 52-, and 63-Across: THATS THE SPIRIT.

That was (hic!) a bit (hic!) of fun, no? (hic!) Let's check the fill...

Across:
1. Range across eight European countries: ALPS. Those countries being France, Switzerland, Monaco, Italy, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, and Slovenia.

5. Plays the kazoo, say: HUMS.

9. Pet also called a rainbow fish: GUPPY. I was thinking a tetra.

14. Look at: VIEW.

15. Best: ONE UP.

17. Really loud: AROAR.

18. "You are something __!": ELSE. The nerve!

19. [See: Theme]

21. Yelp user, e.g.: RATER. Yelp lets users RATE a service. Look at the 3 & 2-star comments to get a better idea. //my $0.02

23. Actor Hemsworth: LIAM.

LIAM

24. "Pagoda Fruit" artist Jean: ARP.

That's a "fruit?"

25. [See: Theme]

29. UPS alternative: DHL. German company founded in 1969 by Americans Adrian Dalsey, Larry Hillblom, and Robert Lynn.

31. Bangs on the head?: HAIR. In the UK, it's called a fringe.

32. Annual awards: NOBELS. I prefer the Ig Nobels.

34. NNW opposite: SSE. North-northwest is opposite south-southeast.

36. Soda brand that turned 125 in 2023: PEPSI.

40. Ranted and __: RAVED.

41. [See: Theme]

44. Boscs and Bartletts: PEARS. Learned this years ago from crosswords.

45. Book list entry: TITLE.

46. San Jose Earthquakes org.: MLS. The Earthquakes are a Major League Soccer team.

47. Some mattresses: SERTAS.
 

49. Pond organism: ALGA.

51. Variety: ILK.

52. [See: Theme]

59. "More info soon" letters: TBA.

61. FaceTime alternative: ZOOM. Covid put this company on the map.

62. Drum kit component: SNARE.
 

A drum kit.  Wanna hear Neil Peart? [Letterman]

63. [See: Theme]

67. Actress __ Rachel Wood: EVAN.
 

Evan Rachel Wood

68. Yogurt-based dip: RAITA.
 

Recipe

69. Microwave feature: TIMER.

70. French head: TETE. Today's French lesson.

71. Made a choice: OPTED.

72. "Arrivederci!": CIAO. Today's Italian lesson.

73. Sluggish: SLOW.

Down:
1. Swears up and down: AVERS.

2. Purple hue: LILAC.

3. Herbaceous sauce: PESTO. Herbaceous? That's a new word on me.
 

I do love me some basil pesto

4. Honey: SWEET HEART. I had SWEETie pie.

5. Biker's ride: HOG. Did you know that's the stock-ticker symbol for Harley Davidson?

6. Singular prefix: UNI.

7. __ Park, California: MENLO.

8. Join the game as a replacement: SUB IN.

9. 5-Down fuel: GAS.

10. Major in astronomy?: URSA. Cute - the Great Bear constellation.
 

There must not have been much light pollution
 for them to get a bear out of this

11. Pitiable person: POOR DEVIL.

12. Printed handouts: PAMPHLETS.

13. Jr. and sr.: YRS. Not son & father but 3rd & 4th years of high-school or collage (aka UNI).

16. Scheme: PLAN.

20. Sign of things to come: OMEN.

22. Classic TV brand: RCA. Hi Misty!

26. Hula Hoop movers: HIPS.

27. "Ted Lasso" actor Goldstein: BRETT.
 

He played SWEET HEART foul-mouthed Roy Kent on Ted Lasso
and his stand-up is funny but NSFW / this Blog.

28. Pop singer Amos: TORI.

30. Psychopharmacology initials: LSD. Lysergic acid diethylamide - ask your parents about Timothy Leary.

33. Objects that attract iron filings: BAR MAGNETS. How is this not part of the theme? :-)

34. Good memory, metaphorically: STEEL TRAP. My mind is a steel trap... rusted shut.

35. Nickname given to Nemo by the Tank Gang: SHARK BAIT.
 

37. __ Beta Kappa: PHI.

38. Cohesive group: SET.

39. Imam's faith: ISLAM.

42. Russian ruler, once: TSAR.

43. Attack with water balloons, say: PELT.

44. Inflation letters: PSI. Pounds per Square Inch. And here I was thinking Consumer Price Index until, with ESP, the V-8 can hit.

48. __ Sheep: Peppa Pig's best friend: SUZY. A buddy of mine is trying to learn Mandarin by watching the Chinese version of Peppa Pig. Also, fun bit, Peppa Pig is giving American toddlers British Accents.

50. Gloomy guy: GUS.

53. More than half: MOST.

54. Elixir: TONIC. Add a lime & GIN for a G&T //theme adjacent?

55. Savory flavor: UMAMI. Added to tastes sweet, salty, sour, & bitter in 1907 by Dr. Kikunae Ikeda of Japan after an especially good bowl of miso (er, kombu dashi - aka, seaweed & tofu to us 'Mericans).

56. Judge's hammer: GAVEL.

57. Muse of poetry: ERATO.

58. Sign up for another season: RENEW. I can't tell you how many streaming services we have (no really, I don't know!) and they magically renew.

60. Two chips, say: ANTE. Do Brits sweeten the pot with crisps? ;-)

63. Certain sib: BRO. I have two. And two SISes.

64. Papa: DAD. Pop is the DAD of all five (5) of us.

65. Wasabi-coated snack: PEA.

66. Sellout letters: SRO. Standing Room Only. I've been to a few SRO games; tell you what - even if you had a seat, you'd be standing out of excitement at every pitch.

The Grid:
 

The Grid

WOs: SWEETie pie
ESPs: SCOTCH BONNET, RUM TUM TUGGER, EVAN
Fav: BAR MAGNETS and TONIC are other Easter Eggs.

That was a lot to swill. But, S.O.B., gimme a drink before I get the Night Sweats.

Cheers, -T

Tuesday, December 26th, 2023, Rebecca Goldstein

 PHYSICS 101

Hi there~! - A quick solve for me today, only four proper names, three of which I had no clue about, and a 'simple' theme/reveal.  Two each of 13- and 9-letter theme answers, with some chunky 8-, 9-, and 10-letter DOWN answers in the mix, again leading to several three-letter fills.  BTW, this puzzle featured many of what I think are 'typical' 4- and 5-letter answers, but with too many choices that potentially "fit".  The clues are marked "*", so you can see what I mean....

18. Make a real mess: SCREW THINGS UP

oops

33. Gymnastics rings position held with the body parallel to the ground: LEVER HANG - I will be able to do this by the end of 2024 - NOT~!

39. Feature of some espadrilles: WEDGE HEEL - I did not know an espadrille was a shoe; but I recognize them now~!

53. Force-multiplying device that can be found at the beginning of 18-, 33-, and 39-Across:

SIMPLE MACHINE - see the links in blue for examples

 
And Away We Go~!

ACROSS:

1. Finishes: ENDS

5. Spill the beans: BLAB

9. Chest muscle, for short: PECtoral - doesn't help with the lever hang....

12. In __ of: LIEU

13. Credit card user: PAYER - uh, well, not necessarily....

14*. "It follows logically that ... ": ERGO - THUS, too

15. Maintain: KEEP - I like this kind of KEEP

16. "Me too," more formally: "AS DO I"

17. State of mind: MOOD

21. Chillingly strange: EERIE

22*. "Pronto!": ASAP - or STAT~?

23. Many moons __: AGO

26*. Rightmost computer menu, often: HELP - HOME, FILE, EDIT, VIEW, DRAW - a great clue for a 'common' word - I had to think about the software I use before I could pick the correct one

 

AutoCAD

28. Cloak and __: DAGGER

30. Tortoise's fabled competitor: HARE

36. Norse god of war: ODIN

37. Collaborative sites: WIKIs

38. Another, in Spanish: OTRA

41. Witnessed: SEEN - I have SEEN images of guys wearing the next answer....

42. Swim team swimwear: SPEEDO - which brings to mind the word "UNSEE"....

43. Toward sunrise: EAST

46. Extra sports periods, briefly: OTs

47*. Per person: A POP - EACH, too

50. Chops, as an onion: DICES

57. Japanese noodle: UDON

59. Dog collar dangler: ID TAG

60. Notion: IDEA

61. Come to a stop: HALT

62. "You've got some __!": "NERVE~!"

 63. Shakespeare's mad king: LEAR

64. "Yellowjackets" network, briefly: SHO - No clue, but I had two-thirds via crossings

65. Mardi __: pre-Lenten festival: GRAS

66. Annoys: IRKS

DOWN:

1. Part of BPOE: ELKS - as usual, I started with the DOWNS clues first, and was on a roll quickly....

2. Nephew's sister: NIECE - check

3. Brand of riding mowers: DEERE - check

4. Ruins at Durrington Walls that once consisted of wooden posts, not stones: SUPERHENGE - ....but here I was denied STONE henge, so it had to be something else

5*. Giant party: BASH - FETE, GALA~?

6. Winona's "Beetlejuice" role: LYDIA - ya know, I have never seen this movie....and I don't plan to

7. Very long time: AEONS

8. Units led by colonels: BRIGADES - I'm not military, nor anyone in my family, but PLATOONS fit, as well; the Charge of the Light Brigade gives me a gratuitous opportunity to link Iron Maiden

 

The Trooper

9. Grow cuttings from a succulent, say: PROPAGATE - succulent~?

10. Alter __: EGO

11. Fish that may be black or blue: COD

13. Dev of "Lion": PATEL - perps

14. Down Under bird: EMU

19. Golfer Michelle __ West: WIE - perps

20. Practice in the ring: SPAR

24*. Bookstore section: GENRE - HOW TO was my first thought

 25. Liver, for one: ORGAN - I do have a "liver", but I deal with a different kind of "ORGAN"

Reinstalled six reed pipes, buried in a corner behind the chamber in the shot;

my 'boss' is packing up on the right

A pain in the a** to get to, I might add

 27. Ballet barre bend: PLIÉ

29. Pepper in extremely hot curry dishes: GHOST CHILI - no clue; the CHILI part filled in, but I WAGed the GHOST half

30. "Can you explain?": "HOW SO~?"

31. Skilled (at): ADEPT

32. Works alone: RIDES SOLO - meh.  Unless you're a cowboy~?

34. __ out a win: almost lose: EKE

35. Disgusting: VILE

37. Extraordinarily large: WHOPPING

40. Dutch cheese: EDAM

44*. "Better late than never," e.g.: ADAGE - AXIOM, IDIOM~?  I always forget which

45. [as per the original]: SIC

48. More mature: OLDER

49. Historic site in Jordan known as the Rose City: PETRA - Dah~! ( see 58D., below ) I shoulda known this from "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade"

51*. Duck down: EIDER -ha~! I read this clue as 'heads up'; AVOID, EVADE, ELUDE~? - Bzzzt~!

52. Go on tiptoe: SNEAK

54. Picked-off pass, for short: INTerception - football, which is a sport I do like....

55. Big D NBA squad: MAVs -  Thought it was the NUGgetS - but they're DENVER, not DALLAS - I am a total NON-basketball guy

56. Prominent feature of a fennec fox: EARS - I tried TAIL first

na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-NA - BATMAN~!

57*. Hesitation syllables: UHs - ERs, UMs~?

58. Lah-di-__: DAH - or, my clue, the "I shoulda got that" noise, like "D'Oh~!"


Splynter

Sunday December 17, 2023 Rebecca Goldstein & Rachel Fabi

Theme:  "Creatures of Habit" - Each common phrase, in the pattern of *ING + creature, is humorously rephrased.

22. Canine that thinks it's an old-timey news announcer?: CRYING WOLF.

32. Bird that thinks it's a television show host?: TALKING TURKEY.

48. Marsupial that thinks it's an actor?: PLAYING POSSUM.

67. Tabbies that think they're collies?: HERDING CATS.

86. Insects that think they're outfielders?: CATCHING FLIES.

99. Lambs that think they're census takers?: COUNTING SHEEP.

115. Bird that thinks it's a restaurant critic?: EATING CROW.

I wonder who came up with the title. So perfectly captures the theme/clue approach of this puzzle.

Here is a short bio of Rebecca. Here is Rachel's website. Both are amazing constructors.

Across:

1. Squirrel's cheekful: ACORN.

6. Whole bunch: SCAD.

10. "I did it!": TA DA.

14. Spumante specification: BRUT.

18. Faith with a shrine in the Hanging Gardens of Haifa: BAHAI. I bet Hahtoolah has been here.

19. Healing succulent: ALOE.

20. Silent stars?: MIMES. Lovely clue.

21. "The Chi" creator Waithe: LENA.

24. Bikini in the Pacific, e.g.: ATOLL.

25. Eager: AVID.

26. Any minute now: SOON.

27. Corvallis sch.: OSU. Oregon State University. The Beavers. Tom Pepper graduated from University of Oregon. The Ducks. This picture was taken on Nov 1, 2013. He likes that hat.

(Left to Right: George Barany, David Liben-Nowell, Matt Ginsberg, C.C. & Tom Pepper)

28. Ridiculous: INANE.

29. Flanged fasteners: T NUTS. Also 74. Minor in Hollywood: D LIST. 81. Cable network that's a nonprofit: C SPAN.

30. Willingness to support: BUY IN.

36. Contacted privately, in a way: DM'ED.

38. Craps cube: DIE.

39. Egyptian peninsula: SINAI.

40. Ingredient in some vegan marshmallows: AGAR.

42. "The curl experts" hair care brand: OUIDAD. Unfamiliar to me. What does the word mean?

45. Tourney favorite: TOP SEED.

51. Agcy. that oversees PubMed: NIH.

52. Snare: NET.

54. Cambridgeshire cathedral city: ELY.

55. Brewery shipments: CASES.

56. Cheer syllable: RAH.

58. Snapple rival: NESTEA.

60. "Homeland" org.: CIA.

61. Opposite of 33-Down: HOLA. 33. Opposite of 61-Across: ADIOS.

62. Sets to zero, as a scale: TARES. Learned from doing crosswords.

64. Runs very slowly: SEEPS.

65. Alight: LAND.

71. Pound sounds: ARFS.

72. Pot payments: ANTES.

75. Inflict upon: DO TO.

77. Italian three: TRE.

78. Big name in financial services: SCHWAB. They bought TD Ameritrade last year.

80. Fashion monogram: YSL.

82. Trouble: AIL.

83. Observe: SEE.

84. Cozy room: DEN.

 90. Teensy bit: SMIDGEN.

93. Wool type: MERINO.

94. Olympic swimmers Crocker and Thorpe: IANS. Ian Thorpe is known for his powerful 6-beat kicks. We also have 104. Swim events: MEETS.

95. "Groovy": NEATO.

96. Picture of Pluto?: CEL. Pluto the dog.

97. "Star __": WARS.

107. Takes a victory lap, maybe: TROTS.

108. Reads (over): PORES.

109. Frozen solid?: ICE.

111. Caramel candy sold in a tube: ROLO.

113. Word after "Lavender" and "Purple," in song titles: HAZE.

114. Red Monopoly piece: HOTEL.

118. Finished: OVER.

119. __ City: Pittsburgh: STEEL.

120. "__ did I just watch?": WHAT.

121. Don: PUT ON.

122. Try again: REDO.

123. Little helper?: ASST. Little hints at Abbr.

124. Simplicity: EASE.

125. Pedometer units: STEPS.

Down:

1. Basics: ABCS.

2. Pod used as a chocolate substitute: CAROB.

3. "Such a flirt!": OH YOU.

4. Occasion to carry an umbrella: RAINY DAY. Cloudy, rainy here, but not cold.

5. Diarist Anaïs: NIN.

6. Carpentry tools: SAWS.

7. Social capital: CLOUT.

8. Pioneering ISP: AOL.

9. Pt. of HDTV: DEF.

10. Phoebe or Cronus: TITAN.

11. Surrounded by: AMONGST.

12. Mutation that removes a DNA sequence: DELETION. Might be Rachel's clue.

13. Interpretation first provided for a SOTU address in 2021: ASL.

14. Comfort item for some tots: BLANKIE.

15. Light show?: REVUE.

16. Principle celebrated on the first night of Kwanzaa: UNITY.

17. Iotas: TADS.

20. __-pedi: MANI. Someone asked about my hand cream last week. This saved me.

23. Used up: GONE.

28. Stores with Småland play areas: IKEAS.

29. Gives a zero-star review, say: TRASHES.

31. Cry from a Mega Millions winner: I'M RICH.

34. Ball caps or bottle caps: LIDS.

35. Remove from the top of an inbox, say: UNPIN.

37. Musher's conveyance: DOGSLED.

40. Partnerships: ALLIANCES.

41. Jam at a Pride Parade: GAY ANTHEM.

43. Awake before the alarm: UP EARLY.

44. Headwear sported by Rihanna on the cover of British Vogue: DURAG. Preferred over DORAG

46. Consider, as an idea: ENTERTAIN.

47. Prepares at a state fair, perhaps: DEEP-FRIES. Come here and try our fried pickles.

48. Gym: PE CLASS.

49. Lye, in a lab: NAOH.

50. Syst. between Baltimore and D.C.: MARC. OK, Maryland Area Rail Commuter. Unknown to me.

53. Fez danglers: TASSELS.

57. Enters: HEADS IN.

59. __ cucumber: SEA.

62. Blast letters: TNT.

63. "This is your last warning!": STOP NOW.

66. Droplets on a cobweb: DEW.

68. LP or EP, e.g.: DISC.

69. Official religion of Djibouti: ISLAM.

70. Deer sir: STAG.

73. Turns blue?: SADDENS.

76. Burning: ON FIRE.

79. Sired: BEGAT.

81. Easter Island's country: CHILE.

85. Nasal irrigation vessels: NETI POTS. Looks uncomfortable.

87. Backstage crew: TECHS.

88. First Nations people: CREE.

89. Like some intricate designs: LASER CUT.

91. Before birth: IN UTERO.

92. "I love everything you've done here": NO NOTES.  Just perfect.

98. "I'll drink to that": AMEN.

99. Hunger for: CRAVE.

100. Ran very slowly: OOZED.

101. Receive: GREET. I mentioned last time that I bumped into Boomer's old colleague Steve at the pool last month. He kindly invited me as his guest to the annual Graybar Retiree Luncheon. The couple in the second picture told me about their granddaughter, who received the very last Debra Burnikel Scholarship.

C.C. & Steve Bauer, 12/14/2023

 

Joan, Allen Silver & C.C.

102. Put on the market: SELL.

103. Breads with pockets: PITAS.

105. Rich cake: TORTE. Graybar had this and carrot cake on their menu.

106. Single-masted sailboat: SLOOP.

107. Mjölnir wielder: THOR.

110. Give credit to: CITE.

112. Possesses: OWNS.

114. Employee benefit option, for short: HSA. Health Savings Account.

115. Manchego source: EWE.

116. Cry of recognition: AHA.

117. Path finder in a Pathfinder, briefly: GPS.

C.C.