google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Shannon Rapp

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Showing posts with label Shannon Rapp. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shannon Rapp. Show all posts

Jan 11, 2024

Thursday, January 11, 2024, Shannon Rapp, Will Eisenberg

 

 

 Protein Deficiency

Today's constructors, Shannon Rapp and Will Eisenberg, remind us that proper diet after vigorous exercise is very important  And they point out that protein, one of the key nutrients, will need to be replenished afterwards.  And as AMINO ACIDS, a cruciverbalist's favorite, are the raw material that comprise proteins I've included a very brief video about the extraordinary process by which our cells converts them into this essential nutrient ...

Shannon and Will Eisenberg now proceed to use these 4 themers to teach us a little protein metabolism ...

18A. Forward-looking aesthetic of Janelle Monáe and "Black Panther": AFROFUTURISMAfrofuturism is a cultural aesthetic, philosophy of science, and history that explores the intersection of the African diaspora culture with science and technology. It addresses themes and concerns of the African diaspora through techno-culture and speculative fiction, encompassing a range of media and artists with a shared interest in envisioning black futures that stem from Afro-diasporic experiences.  Here's Janelle Monáe's Electric Lady ...


30A. Part of the digestive system: SMALL INTESTINE.  It's not as big as the Large intestine, but it's a lot longer ...
37A. Job requirement for some visa holders: WORK PERMITIn order to be able to work in the U.S. individuals from other countries need to seek employment authorization. Put another way, foreign nationals need to obtain permission from the federal government to legally participate in the American economy.  Work authorization refers to a card that authorizes someone who is not a citizen or a green card holder to lawfully hold a job in the United States. This is also known as a WORK PERMIT or an employment authorization document (EAD)

48. Plant-based remedies, e.g.: HERBAL MEDICINE.  Everything you need to know about herbal medicine.

Now I hear you saying "what does that fill have to do with proteins?", but the next clue reveals all ...

64. Post-workout nourishment, and a hint to what can be found in each set of circled letters: PROTEIN SHAKE.  Oh! I forgot to mention the circles (but you probably knew that already 😀).   And when we light them up we see ...

Since a good workout consumes a lot of protein, we need to replenish it.  But we can see that Shannon and Will have SHAKEN the proteins in the circles and so we UN SHAKE them to find ...

TOFU
LENTILS
PORK
LAMB.

Personally I can see TOFU and LENTILS in my shakes, but PORK and LAMB would be a bit too UMAMI for me.  Here's a list of a lot of other protein rich foods.

And here are the rest of the clues ...

Across:

1. Outlook alternative: GMAIL.  Hand up if you don't use GMAIL?

6. Drum that may accompany a sitar: TABLAThe TABLA is also a solo instrument.  Here tabla virtuoso Bickram Ghosh gives us a brief introduction to this remarkable instrument ...

This video is part of ‘Musical Wonders of India’ in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

11. Little taste: SIP.

14. "America's Got Talent" judge Klum: HEIDIHeidi Klum (pronounced [ˈhaɪdiː ˈklʊm]; born 1 June 1973) is a German and American model, television host, producer, and businesswoman. She appeared on the cover of the 1998 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and was the first German model to become a Victoria's Secret Angel.
Heidi Klum
15. Like this answer: ACROSS.  Meta clue.

17. Texter's "Didn't need to hear that": TMI.

18. [Theme clue]

20. Siamang or orangutan: APE.

21. Trivial complaint: NIT.

22. Streetcar: TRAM.

23. Speak while flustered, say: STAMMER.

25. Singer India.__: ARIEIndia Arie Simpson (born October 3, 1975), also known as India Arie (sometimes styled as india.arie), is an American singer and songwriter. Her debut album, Acoustic Soul, was released in 2001, and she has since released six more studio albums. Arie has sold over five million records in the US and ten million worldwide, and has won four Grammy Awards from 23 nominations, including Best R&B Album.  Here's Video from her first album ...

27. Home of the Big 12's Cyclones: AMES.  The Iowa State Cyclones are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Iowa State University, located in AMES. The university is a member of the Big 12 Conference and competes in NCAA Division I, fielding 16 varsity teams (6 men's and 10 women's teams) in 12 sports.
29. Military incursions: RAIDS.

30. [Theme clue]

34. Mega- times mega-: TERA.  A trillion.

35. Passing comment?: YEA.

36. "Illmatic" rapper: NAS.  You can find this album on YouTube.
 
37. [Theme clue]

42. Dashboard prefix with meter: ODO.  Your car's ODOMETER tells you how far you've gone.  It usually sits below the SPEEDOMETER, which tells you you're going to fast ...

44. Repeat role for Keanu Reeves: NEOThe Matrix franchise.

45. Hair removal brand: NAIR.

48. [Theme clue].

53. Tell time?: CHIME.

54. Big suit?: EXEC.

55. Gets one's hands on: NABS.

57. "Dig in, all!": LETS EAT.

60. Tux rental occasion: PROM.

62. "Anyone can see that": DUH.

63. Righteous Babe Records founder DiFranco: ANI.  Here's ANI's remarkable cover of the John Newton song Amazing Grace ...

64. [Theme reveal]

67. Start to bake?: PRE.

68. Single hair: STRAND.

69. Took down: RAZED.

70. DOS pt.: SYSDisk Operating System.

71. Practice room fodder: ETUDE.  Here's Mendelssohn's Etude op. 104b n. 3 played by the great Vladimir Horowitz


72. Cider mill fixture: PRESS.

Down:

1. Accra's land: GHANAAccra is the Capital of GHANA situated on the Atlantic Coast of West Africa between The Ivory Coast and Togo.
2. "I'll start!": ME FIRST.

3. TV slot: AIR TIME.

4. Sworn statement?: I DO.

5. Use gym weights: LIFT.  Or SING with her friends in the choir.  While it might not surprise you that Stella Zawistowski is a chorister, you probably wouldn't pick her out of a crowd as a weight lifter ...
Stella Zawistowski
and fellow chorister
Stella is the lady on the right

Of course most of us know her as a cracker jack crossword solver and constructor

6. Japanese mat: TATAMI.  A tatami (畳) is a type of mat used as a flooring material in traditional Japanese-style rooms. Tatami are made in standard sizes, twice as long as wide, about 0.9 metres (3') by 1.8 metres (6') depending on the region.

Tatami Mats
7. Keen judgment: ACUMEN.

8. "So cold!": BRR.

9. Lane near Kent?: LOIS.  In this clip LOIS outsmarts Kent and finds out who he really is ...


10. Aide, for short: ASST.

11. Energizer Bunny's asset: STAMINA.

12. Gets in the way of: IMPEDES.

13. Yacht spots: PIERS.

16. Dapper: SMART.

19. River dividing Eurasia: URAL.  This map is a bit dated as the ARAL SEA in the Southeast appears only in crossword puzzles these days ...
Ural River
24. Keep up: MAINTAIN.

26. Far-too-memorable songs: EAR WORMS. One way to get rid of an EAR WORM is to listen to anoher one.

28. Ophthalmologist's concern: STYECATARACT wouldn't fit.

31. Part of the Kra-Dai language family: LAO. Three letter fill for a language with no indication of an abbreviation?  Perps.

32. Always, in verse: EER.

33. "Veep" actor Richardson: SAMSAM plays Richard in Veep.  Here he gets a promotion ...

38. Molecule preceded by m-, r-, or t-: RNA.  An Easter Egg? - the various  types of RNA involved in the synthesis of proteins described in the splash screen video above - messenger RNA, ribosomal RNA, and transfer RNA are  described in detail

39. Kenan's "Good Burger 2" co-star: KELBack by popular demand ...

40. Apple or pear: POME.  A POME is a type of fruit produced by flowering plants in the subtribe Malinae of the family Rosaceae. Pome fruits consist of a central "core" containing multiple small seeds, which is enveloped by a tough membrane and surrounded by an edible layer of flesh.
 
Pome Fruits
41. Close of business?: INC.

42. Candy bar with an exclamation point: OH HENRY!.  I wonder if YAHOO! has ever approached them about becoming a sponsor?
43. Pantheon group: DEITIES.  The word, pantheon, derives from Greek πάνθεον pantheon, literally "(a temple) of all gods", "of or common to all gods" from πᾶν pan- "all" and θεός theos "god".  The Pantheon is also the name of a former temple in Rome, now the Basilica of St. Mary and the Martyrs.
 
Pantheon Front Entrance
 
Pantheon Interior
An interesting feature of the Pantheon is the large hole or oculus in the center of the ceiling for ventilation.

46. Out of it: IN A DAZE.  A CSO to our Monday blogger. 😁

47. Censures: REBUKES.

49. Checkout sounds: BEEPS.

50. Use up: EXPEND.

51. Put down: DERIDE.

52. Tapped pic: ICON.

53. Shows appreciation: CLAPS.

56. Loses, as hair: SHEDS.

58. Museo del Prado contents: ARTE. Today's Spanish lesson:  This is one of the most famous paintings in the El Museo del Prado in Madrid ...
La Maja Vestida
"The Clothed Maja"

Probably even more famous is La Maja Desnuda  ("The Nude Maja").

59. Material for a suit: TORTGABARDINE wouldn't fit. 😁

61. "Sticker shock" no.: MSRP.  Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price.  Nowadays it's not just a suggestion.

65. Letter after sigma: TAU.  The 19th letter in the Greek alphabet ...
66. Laugh syllable: HAR.  Very funny! 😁

Cheers,
Bill

And as always, thanks to Teri for proof reading and for her constructive criticism.

waseeley



Jul 21, 2023

Friday, July 21, 2023, Jess Schulman, Shannon Rapp

 




Good Morning, Cruciverbalists.  Malodorous Manatee here with today's recap of a puzzle by Jess Shulman and Shannon Rapp.

Let us begin with the reveal:

57 Across:  Business retreat, and an apt title for this puzzle?: COMPANY OUTING.

OUTING is used here as a stand-in for take out.  No, not like in take-out food but as in to remove something. The removal is employed at three places within the grid where our puzzle setters delete the abbreviation for COMPANY (CO) from recognizable names and phrases.  

20 Across:  Melt down in response to some trash talk?: PANIC AT THE DIS.  Before the "outing" PANIC AT THE DISCO.  DIS as in to criticize.  Panic at the Disco was an American pop rock band.

36 Across:  Talent for sliding into someone's DMs?: PING SKILLS.  DM is contemporary talk  for Direct Messaging.  Before the "outing" COPING SKILLS.  PING is a network utility used to test reachability of a host.  Alternatively, PING me."



43 Across:  Little cat with a beachy vibe?: CALI KITTEN.  CALI as in California.  I wish they all could be California cats, I suppose.  Before the "outing" CALICO KITTEN.



Here is how this looks in the completed grid.  It proved impossible to highlight the letters that were not there:




The remaining clues and answers are:


Across:

1. History: PAST.

5. Dreamcast maker: SEGA.  A home video game console.

9. Blessing preceder: ACHOO.  Gezuntheit.

14. "__, Brute?": ET TU.  A Shakespearean reference.

15. God attended by Valkyries: ODIN.



16. Intact: WHOLE.

17. Instagram video: REEL.  A contemporary usage of the word REEL.

18. Compact __: DISC.  They replaced LPs

19. Like some seals: EARED.  Most often fur seals and sea lions.

23. Refill: TOP UP.  As in a cocktail or fuel tank.  Do we TOP UP electric vehicles?

24. Costa del __: SOL.



25. AED pro: EMT.  Automated External Defibrillator was new to this solver but the perps quickly led to Emergency Medical Technician because EMTs appear here frequently.

28. Copy cats?: MEOW.  Not exactly copycats as in persons who imitate.   Literally, copy a cat.

30. Noisy bird: MAGPIE.  See also 33 Down.

33. Colorado's __ Verde National Park: MESA.  Cliff dwellings.



39. Haim of "Licorice Pizza": ALANA.  Unknown to this solver.  As the puzzles get more contemporary I find myself becoming less enthusiastic about some of them.  I also know that time marches on and a puzzle full of references to prior generations of entertainers won't do either.

41. Zodiac lion: LEO.

42. __-garde: AVANT.

46. Peepers: EYES.  If one goes looking online for the old song one is "rewarded" with many references to the horror movies.  The phrase predates both.  Louis Armstrong sang it to an eponymous horse.

Jeepers Creepers


47. Connect: ATTACH.   What can you ATTACH to a ball, a cart or a harp to make it something completely different.  OON.

48. "Star Wars" family name of Han and Ben: SOLO.

50. Bentley of "Yellowstone": WES.

51. Substance that lacks refinement?: ORE.  Nice word play.   No, not the French city.

54. Benchmarks: NORMS.  If Weird Al Yankovic wasn't weird he'd be called NORM Al.

62. Language of Iran: FARSI.   . . . and portions of Los Angeles.

64. Exam with a max score of 180: LSAT.  The law school aptitude test.

65. Sunburn salve: ALOE.  Often applied in crossword puzzles.

66. __ beverage: ADULT.  Alcohol.

67. Entice: LURE.

68. Mario __: game with a Rainbow Road: KART.



69. Captcha target: ROBOT.    A contrived acronym for "Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart".  It is a type of challenge-response test used in computing to determine whether the user is human.


70. Itches: YENS.  As in desires not allergic reactios.

71. Docs who insert tympanostomy tubes: ENTS.  Our second medical reference with an abbreviated clue (Docs) and answer.  Ear Nose and Throat specialistS



Down:

1. BOLO target: PERP.  Be On The Alert.  PERPetrator not a crossing word in a puzzle.

2. Patronized, as a restaurant: ATE AT.

3. Shorthand pro: STENO.  A somewhat obsolete profession.

4. Dutch market craze of the late 1630s: TULIP MANIA.  Perhaps not what we have been led to believe,



5. Soft drink: SODA POP.



6. Address plot holes, perhaps: EDIT.

7. General ideas: GISTS.  What do biologists, archaeologists and meteorologists all have in common?  They all get the GIST of their fields.

8. Dried poblano: ANCHO.

9. Amazed: AWED.  A truck loaded with thousands of copies of Roget's Thesaurus crashed yesterday losing its entire load.  Witnesses were stunned, startled, aghast, taken aback, stupefied, confused, shocked, rattled, paralyzed, dazed, bewildered, mixed up, surprised, awed, dumbfounded, nonplussed, flabbergasted, astounded, amazed, confounded, astonished, overwhelmed, horrified, numbed, speechless, and perplexed.

10. Milky spiced tea: CHAI.

11. Tomfoolery: HORSEPLAY.



12. La Liga cheer: OLE.  A soccer reference.

13. Ref. work that once employed J.R.R. Tolkien: OED.  Oxford English Dictionary.  Tolkien was an English author best known for the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

21. Snooker stick: CUE.



22. Long-lived trees: ELMS.  Neither Sequoias nor Bristle Cone Pines would fit.

26. Eeyore creator: MILNE.  A Winnie The Pooh reference.



27. Challenges: TESTS.  Both can be used as nouns or verbs so that wasn't at issue.

29. Go limp: WILT.

31. Pseudonym indicator: AKA.  Also Known As



32. "Ish": GIVE OR TAKE.

33. Noisy bird: MACAW.  The second noisy bird today.

34. Thrill: ELATE.

35. Element of a margarita pedicure: SALT SCRUB.  Margarita pedicures are not within my ken.  SALT, however, was not surprising as part of the answer.

37. Aquarium scoop: NET.



38. "So It __ ... ": song on Taylor Swift's "Reputation": GOES.  Is Taylor Swift now channeling Kurt Vonnegut?

40. "For the love of all things dog" org.: AKC.


44. Eatery with a "Happy Face" combo on the kids menu: 
IHOP.



45. "Don't change a thing": NO NOTES.

49. "Mambo No. 5" singer Bega: LOU.

52. Comeback: RALLY.

53. Follow: ENSUE.

55. "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" novelist Kundera: 
MILAN.  MILAN Kundera passed away on July 11, 2023.

56. Stifled laugh: SNORT.

58. Norse city name that can be translated as "meadow of the gods": OSLO.  Frequently visited in our puzzles.

59. Fly catcher?: MITT.  A baseball reference.

"I Got It"

60. Crocheter's supply: YARN.

61. Understands: GETS.  Can you dig it?

62. Way off: FAR.

63. Fuss: ADO.


Well, coworkers, that will wrap things up for today.  For those of you entertaining guests this weekend, enjoy your COMPANY.
__________________________________________



Jul 16, 2023

Sunday July 16, 2023 Zachary Schiff & Shannon Rapp

Theme: "You Don't Belong Here" - U is added to each famliar phrase.

21. Paid one's respects to Charlie Brown and Snoopy?: SALUTED PEANUTS. Salted peanuts.

31. Good name for a salon offering a sweet treat with every haircut?: DOS AND DONUTS. Dos and don'ts.

45. Tech for toddlers to play with?: FAUX MACHINES. Fax machine.

62. TV pilots that soar?: OUTSTANDING DEBUTS. Outstanding debts.

81. Like the birthday money from Grandma to a responsible kid?: SAVINGS BOUND. Savings bond.

96. Nice vengeful spirits?: FRENCH FURIES. French fries.

108. Discussion board with topics like "How to get back to your home planet"?: ALIEN LIFE FORUM. Alien life form.

To me, "You Don't Belong Here" suggests that "U" is removed from each phrase. Plus, we also have "Dos and Don'ts" as a theme entry. 

This might be our constructor. Congrats on your LAT debut, Zach!

Across:

1. Paintball garb: CAMO.

5. Mason jar, in a pinch: VASE.

9. Cape __: COD.

12. Pink quaff, informally: COSMO. Cocktail. And 17. Blonde brews: ALES.

18. Tightwad: MISER.

19. "Absolument!": OUI.

20. Playful back-and-forth: BANTER.

24. DeBose of "West Side Story": ARIANA. In yellow skirt. Also a talented singer.


25. Confessional music genre: EMO.

26. Low-power mode: SLEEP.

27. Bruins great Bobby: ORR.

28. Mete out: ALLOT.

29. Sack of old clothes, perhaps: DONATION. The mantra: Does It Spark Joy?

35. Profit opposite: LOSS.

36. Dakar's locale: SENEGAL.

37. "Save me __": A SEAT.

38. Trees used to make some Fender guitars: ALDERS.

41. Reggae kin: SKA.

42. Complete, as a PDF contract: E-SIGN.

44. General with a chicken dish: TSO. Try "lo mai gai". It's wrapped in lotus leaf. So good. Gai is Cantonese for "chicken".



49. Lawyer's gp.: ABA.

50. Link letters: HTTP.

51. Disney role for Kristen Bell: ANNA.

52. Loophole: OUT.

53. Select with care: CULL.

55. "Elf" actress Deschanel: ZOOEY.

57. Rapper MC __: REN. N.W.A (gangsta rap). "Straight Outta Compton". Dr. Dre and Ice Cube were in that group also.


58. "Better Call __": AMC drama: SAUL.

60. "I smell trouble": OH NO.

61. Goes "vroom": REVS.

67. "The Five Second Rule," e.g.: MYTH.

68. Fullness of flavor: BODY.

69. Dorm unit: ROOM. And 77. Not single-sex: CO-ED.

70. Balancing pro: CPA.

73. Exceptional: SUPER.

75. Cow house: BARN.

76. Calico coat: FUR.

78. "Language!" elicitor: CUSS.

79. Insurance market reform law, initially: ACA.

85. "Ready when you __!": ARE.

86. Is too sweet: CLOYS.

88. Sumi-e medium: INK. Sumi-e  is Japanese ink painting.


89. Takes in: LEARNS.

90. Soul singer Hutson: LEROY. Learning moment for me.

92. Blotchy: MOTTLED.

95. Journeys home?: MALL. Never visited this store.

98. Monty Python's "The __ of Silly Walks": MINISTRY.

102. Team race: RELAY.

103. "How bizarre": ODD.

104. Glue: PASTE.

105. Break ground?: HOE. OK, verb.

106. Cream container: CARTON.

111. Wilts: DROOPS.

112. The Guardians of the MLB, on scoreboards: CLE. Hi there, Janice! We also have 4. Brutus Buckeye's sch.: OSU. Also 63. Diamond experts: UMPS.

113. Sturdy: SOLID.

114. Glam gala: FETE.

115. Preserves, as beef: CORNS.

116. Slow start?: ESS. Slow.

117. Skin concern: CYST.

118. Many a new driver: TEEN.

Down:

1. Scoped out for a heist: CASED.

2. Budget rival: ALAMO.

3. Fruit served with prosciutto: MELON. Never had this. Cantaloupe?


5. TikTok uploads: VIDEOS.

6. Roaring Fork River city: ASPEN.

7. Ooze: SEEP.

8. Bullpen stat: ERA.

9. Tasting menu unit: COURSE.

10. "This is an __!": OUTRAGE.

11. Put down: DIS.

12. Aid in obtaining a Passport?: CAR LOAN. Honda Passport.

13. Soffritto ingredient: ONIONS. From Google: "Soffritto is an aromatic mix of diced onions, carrots, and celery gently cooked in olive oil or butter. In fact, the Italian word soffritto means “slightly-fried”. Sounds like the Louisiana holy trinity.


14. Oscar, for one: STATUETTE.

15. All eleven of "Ocean's Eleven": MEN.

16. British singer Rita: ORA.

18. Actress McCarthy: MELISSA.

20. Like worn-out tires: BALD.

22. Noisy weather event, briefly: T-STORM. If not for the Canadian wildfires, our weather here would have been perfect. Hazy at times.

23. Hands-up time: NOON.

28. Respond in an improv class: AD LIB.

30. Amazon Echo assistant: ALEXA.

31. Academic VIP: DEAN.

32. __ spray: NASAL.

33. Delicious: TASTY. I still dream of Liang Pi from time to time. Have not had it for over 21 years. Popular street food in my hometown Xi'an.

34. "Enough!": STOP.

36. Burlesque bit: SKIT.

38. Not even close: AFAR.

39. Road division: LANE.

40. "Beats me": DUNNO.

41. Only NFL coach with a perfect season: SHULA (Don)

43. Garden structure: GAZEBO. My neighbor has a gazebo in his yard.

46. Well-mannered: COUTH. Uncouth is more common.

47. Egg-laying mammal: ECHIDNA.

48. Like a beach-friendly day: SUNNY.

50. Podcast presenter: HOST. Don't always agree with Sam Harris, but I like him.


54. Roleo surface: LOG.

56. Egg cell: OVUM.

58. Eye sore: STYE.

59. Celestial: ASTRAL.

60. Stenches: ODORS.

61. Result of a corp. audit, perhaps: RE-ORG.

64. Org. that pits Grizzlies against Pelicans: NBA.

65. "__ on You": Luke Bryan hit: DRUNK.

66. Use a Brillo pad, say: SCOUR.

71. Ivy in Philly: PENN.

72. Puts into the mix: ADDS.

73. More reliable: SURER.

74. Problem not caused by the computer: USER ERROR. Nice fill.

75. Catfish habitat: BAYOU.

76. Discover: FIND.

77. Fire-walking materials: COALS. I just don't get this. Crazy.


78. Soleus muscle location: CALF.

80. Like jammies: COMFY.

82. Strives (for): VIES.

83. Not on the level: SLANTED.

84. Conviction: BELIEF.

86. One-eyed monster: CYCLOPS.

87. Goes for a walk: STROLLS. Windhover might visit me next year. He's 77 now. He and his wife Irish are still farming. Incredible!

91. Pickup capacity: ONE TON.

93. Straightens (up): TIDIES.

94. Journo's article opening: LEDE.

95. Fish out of water: MISFIT.

97. Composer Zimmer: HANS.  From Wikipedia: "Since the 1980s, Zimmer has composed music for over 150 films. He has won two Academy Awards for Best Original Score for The Lion King (1994), and Dune (2021). His works include Gladiator, The Last Samurai, the Pirates of the Caribbean series, The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception, Man of Steel, Interstellar, Dunkirk, and No Time To Die."

98. Sends off: MAILS.

99. Midafternoon: THREE.

100. Waze suggestion: ROUTE.

101. Red Sea country: YEMEN.

104. Cunning ruse: PLOY.

106. Yellow Book org.: CDC.

107. Like one in a queerplatonic relationship, for short: ARO. Short for "aromantic". The short form of "asexual" is ACE.  OK, from Google: Queerplatonic relationships may involve some forms of physical affection such as hand-holding, cuddling, kissing, or occasionally having sex. Sounds romantic to me.

108. Big name in bandages: ACE.

109. Foreign policy gp.: NSC.

110. Many a time, in verse: OFT.

C. C.


Jun 25, 2023

Sunday June 25, 2023 Dan Schwartz & Shannon Rapp

Theme: "State of Disrepair" - Seven states are scrambled and hidden inside the theme entries.

 22. Natural wonder that's roughly 1,100 times bigger than the Grand Canyon?: AMAZON RAINFOREST. Arizona.

33. "Show Me where I went wrong!?" elicitor, maybe?: SERIOUS MISTAKE. Missouri.

52. Hawkeyed writer of "To the Lighthouse"?: VIRGINIA WOOLF. Iowa.

69. Question before making a Pine Tree disappear?: DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC. Maine.

93. The NHL's North Stars in 1967, for one?: EXPANSION TEAM. Minnesota. The North Stars left MN in 1993. Now the Dallas Stars.

109. Wolverine's snack dispenser?: VENDING MACHINE. Michigan.

124. Secluded place in Lhasa to think about Treasure?: TIBETAN MONASTERY. Montana.

I really like this puzzle. Perfect title. Very consistent theme set, which includes a long Minnesota! The extra state hint in the clue is probably Patti's idea.

Also so happy with the clue for TERESA (5. Teng known as the "Eternal Queen of Asian Pop"). I know this might stump you, but it made my day.



Across:

1. Landlocked African nation: CHAD. MALI is also landlocked.

11. Broker's charge: FEE.

14. Shadow: TAIL. Verb.

18. Basketball Hall of Famer Leslie: LISA.

19. Spotted cat: OCELOT.

20. Spanakopita cheese: FETA. Also 57. Mild Dutch cheese: EDAM.


21. Jasmine __: RICE. Long-grained. Chinese prefer short-grained.

25. Neighborhood: AREA.

26. __ scheme: PONZI.

27. Afro puff, for one: UPDO.

28. Actor Holbrook: HAL.

29. Post-breakup parties?: SECTS. Nice clue.

31. Front-of-the-rack sizes, often: SMALLS.

37. "__ it first!": I SAW. My sister-in-law Connie and I went to the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and saw these gorgeous Lady Slippers, our state flowers.



39. Reservoir creator: DAM.

40. Family member: AUNT.

41. "You __ one job!": HAD.

42. Muscat's land: OMAN.

45. Speech fillers: UHS.

47. Good at repairs: HANDY.

50. "Too bad": A PITY.

56. Scolds harshly: BERATES.

58. Deux halved: UNE.

59. Large chau gong: TAM TAM. Do you all know chau gong?



60. Tartan pattern: PLAID.

62. Title of honor: SIR.

63. Tablelands: MESAS.

65. Body art: INK.

67. Listens to: HEARS.

77. Finish (as): END UP.

78. Pro vote: YEA.

79. "Metropolis: The Chase Suite" artist Janelle: MONAE. And 86. "Thank U, Next" singer Ariana: GRANDE. Also 101. Writer/activist __ B. Wells: IDA. And 102. Actress Fey: TINA. 123. "Smooth Operator" singer: SADE. Girl power.


81. Bigelow product: TEA.

83. "August: __ County": OSAGE.

90. Tiny ammo: BBS.

91. Insect marching in a column: ARMY ANT.

96. Draws from a Juul, say: VAPES.

97. Heavy-duty cooler brand: IGLOO.

99. Big name in cheese balls: UTZ.


100. Inactive: IDLE.

104. Place for a mineral scrub: SPA.

107. Stitched: SEWN.

114. California wine valley: SONOMA.

118. Woodland deities: FAUNS.

119. Prefix with tourism: ECO.

120. Broadcasts: AIRS.

122. Some spouses: WIVES. Feels strange to be called "Doug's widow".

128. Italian automaker since 1899: FIAT.

129. Big personalities: EGOS.

130. "Turn it up!": LOUDER. The House of Kiran played Michael Learns to Rock when I was there. I suspect the owner lived in Guangzhou in the late 1990s also.

 

131. Encourage: URGE.

132. Ish: OR SO.

133. Wages: PAY.

134. Size up: ASSESS.

135. "Don't dele": STET.

Down:

1. Applauds: CLAPS.

2. Start of a call home, perhaps: HI MOM.

3. Yoga position: ASANA.

4. Truly brilliant: DAZZLING. Boomer loved these Asiatic lilies. So relieved that they're thriving.



5. Unit of measure for elephants or cargo: TON.

6. Neutral shade: ECRU.

7. Harvests: REAPS.

8. Skipped over: ELIDED.

9. Chihuahua neighbor: SONORA.

10. DOJ arm concerned with explosives: ATF.

11. Are blue: FEEL SAD.

12. UFO pilots, probably: ETS.

13. Uses Blue Apron, say: EATS IN.

14. Land parcel: TRACT.

15. Carrier in French Polynesia: AIR TAHITI. Most of the plane images have Air Tahiti Nui when I googled. Must be more popular than Air Tahiti.



16. Olympian Nathan Chen, notably: ICE SKATER. His parents are from China.


17. Grazing ground: LEA.

20. German woman: FRAU.

23. Aromatherapy array: OILS.

24. "Lookee here!": OHO.

30. Counterpart of "ser," in Spanish: ESTAR. Also 35. Spanish "Very good!": MUY BIEN.

32. Steamy spot: SAUNA.

34. "If u ask me": IMHO.

36. Slow Churned brand: EDY'S.

38. Caprice: WHIM.

42. Egg cell: OVUM.

43. Went for the gold?: MINED. Good old clue.

44. Playground retort: ARE SO.

46. Convened: SAT.

48. Swiss peak: ALP.

49. Super Bowl org.: NFL.

51. Complete a Monopoly circuit: PASS GO.

53. "Showtime!": IT'S ON.

54. Cry miserably: WAIL.

55. Luxury hotel chain: OMNI.

61. Pacific tuna: AHI.

64. Lemur with long fingers and ratlike teeth: AYE-AYE. Learning moment for me. His fingers are sure long.



66. Tab, for one: KEY.

68. Shio or shoyu dish: RAMEN. Shio = Salt. And 70. Noodles served in dashi: UDON.

71. Lowering in rank: BUSTING.

72. Clean air agcy.: EPA.

73. Star in Lyra: VEGA.

74. Deserve: EARN.

75. Retired, maybe: IN BED.

76. Group of schemers: CABAL.

80. "Twilight" vampire: ESME.

81. Industry-wide expo: TRADE FAIR.

82. Latin American pastries: EMPANADAS. Never had these.



84. Ultrasound goop: GEL.

85. Outer: Pref.: EXO.

87. Sparky the Sun Devil's sch.: ASU.

88. Minor criticisms: NITS.

89. Naps: DOZES.

91. Tel __, Israel: AVIV.

92. Sean of "Stranger Things": ASTIN.

94. Swanky: POSH.

95. Condition sometimes treated with hearing aids: TINNITUS.

98. Handheld Nintendo system: GAME BOY. Also 121. Mario Kart console, for short: SNES.

103. Arched foot part: INSTEP.

105. Duelers at some bars?: PIANOS. Another nice clue.

106. Ill will: ANIMUS.

108. Amazes: WOWS. Started a second bottle of Robitussin. This cough is something else. Gets violent in the evening.

110. Because of: DUE TO.

111. Scores 100% on: ACES.

112. Foldable bed: COT.

113. Wear with time: ERODE.

115. In the open: OVERT.

116. On-ramp sign: MERGE.

117. So far: AS YET.

123. NorCal hub: SFO.

125. Two-time French Open winner Swiatek: IGA. From Poland.


126. In the style of: ALA.

127. __ Technica: tech news website: ARS.


C.C.