Monday October 23, 2023 Steve Faiella

  

Hello Cornerites!

sumdaze here. Today's theme is                     Hot Stuff

Donna Summer sang about Hot Stuff in 1979. Today constructor Steve Faiella takes a different approach. He gave us five starred clues (three horizontal and two vertical). Each is composed of two words such that the first word can follow the word "hot" to make an in-the-language phrase.

17 Across. *Holders of small liquor servings: SHOT GLASSES.  HOT SHOT has a few different meanings, including this one from the American Heritage Dictionary:  a person of impressive skill and daring, especially one who is highly successful and self-assured.

29 Across. *Facial feature of Frosty the Snowman: BUTTON NOSE.  A HOT BUTTON is a topic or issue that is highly charged emotionally or politically.

48 Across. *Theater buff's memento: TICKET STUB.  A HOT TICKET is someone or something that is very popular, the current rage.

11 Down. *Top dog: HEAD HONCHO.  A HOT HEAD is quick to anger.

28 Down. *Upholstery protectors: SEAT COVERS. The person in the HOT SEAT carries full responsibility for something, including facing criticism or being answerable for decisions or actions.

The reveal is at 62A:

62. Arriving with great speed, and what the first words of the answers to the starred clues are doing?: COMING IN HOT.  

Shadow the Hedgehog

Most of the sources I looked at say this phrase has military origins but is now also used metaphorically in business and entertainment promotions. We hear it often in films to mean approaching (too) fast or about to arrive and prepared to begin immediately firing one's weapons. You can probably think of other examples.

For this puzzle, "COMING IN HOT" means that HOT will be the intro to the first word of the starred clue. You might not want to overthink it.

Across:
1. Circle dance at a Jewish wedding: HORA.

5. Asparagus units: SPEARS.  

Advice from Bonnie Plants:  Plant asparagus in Spring or Fall in a sunny spot with nutrient-rich, well-drained soil. Asparagus takes a few seasons to mature but will reap a harvest for 15 to 30 years, so choose a planting location that will go undisturbed for a long time.

11. Over-the-top actor: HAM.  

Actor Jon Hamm's John Ham SNL skit (2 min.)

14. Not worth debating: MOOT.  A MOOT point is a topic where there is no practical reason to continue discussing it because it no longer matters or you will not reach a satisfactory resolution. OTOH, "mute" means without sound.  

15. "That may be true. However ... ": YES, BUT.  Good one!

16. CNN's "__ Longoria: Searching for Mexico": EVA.  Her mother's name is Ella, her father's name is Enrique, and her sisters' names are Esmeralda, Elizabeth, and Emily.

19. Put on TV: AIR.  An 'anachronym' is a word or phrase that remains in usage even as behaviors change. One example is "hang up the phone". I suspect "AIR" is an anachronym from the days when the three major networks broadcast television shows to rooftop antennas.

20. Protective feature of a work boot: STEEL TOE.

21. Tosses in: ADDS.

22. Large body of water: SEA.  Did you read about the discovery of a deep-SEA Octopus Garden off the coast of California?

23. Filly sound: NEIGH.  Generally speaking, a filly is a female horse who has not yet been bred.

26. Sit a spell: REST.

34. Suffix with prop-: -ANE.  PropANE is a three-carbon alkane with the molecular formula C3H8. It is a gas at standard temperature and pressure, but compressible to a transportable liquid. Perhaps that is why these containers are sometimes called "bottles".  

35. "Barefoot Contessa" host Garten: INA.

36. Play divisions: SCENES.  theater clue

37. Ill-suited: INAPT.  

40. Charity URL ending: ORG.  Before donating money to a charity, you might want to first do some research here.

42. Natty necktie: ASCOT.  The Cambridge Dictionary defines "natty" as "stylish and tidy in every detail".  

Princess Kate always appears "stylish and tidy in every detail"
-- especially when she wears royal jewels.

43. Private pupils: TUTEES.  One being tutored is a TUTEE.

45. Singer Yoko: ONO.

47. Tint: HUE.

50. Shoe bottom: SOLE.  intersects with  32 Down. South Korean capital: SEOUL.

When I was in SEOUL, every public bathroom I used had these blue bars of soap. They are attached to metal rods so you just rub your wet hands on them to lather up.

51. Vim and vigor: OOMPH.  I thought for sure I had an error when I saw the two O's.

Yesterday we learned that Yorkshire Terriers weigh less than seven pounds (3.18 kgs).

52. "To Kill a Mockingbird" novelist Harper: LEE.

54. Gaga review: RAVE.  Not "Lady GAGA", although I am sure she gets many RAVE reviews.

56. Pop star Christina known as the "Voice of a Generation": AGUILERA.  

She was born on Dec. 18, 1980, is 5'2",
 and was a coach on The Voice for seasons 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, & 10.

61. Valuable rock: ORE.  

Identifying Valuable Rocks (1 min.)

65. Respectful title: SIR.  and  69 Down. Polite titles: MADAMS.

66. Street crosser: AVENUE.  Where I live now, avenues run north-south and streets run east-west, but I have also lived in cities where it is the opposite. Which direction do they run in your city?

67. Tot: TYKE.  Def.:  a small child.

68. Billboards, e.g.: ADS.  

70. Mount of Greek myth: OSSA.  If you have not done so already, I recommend memorizing this one, as well as 53D, for future solves.  

Mount OSSA (a.k.a. Kissavos)
It is 6,490 ft. (1,978 meters) high.

Down:
1. Letters on a British ocean liner: HMS.  His (or Her) Majesty's Ship

2. __ and aahs: OOHS.  

3. Tooth anchor: ROOT.  I've often thought it would be good if humans got a third set of new teeth when they turn 45 years old. If it happened to everyone, it would not seem weird.

4. Bear witness (to): ATTEST.

5. College course outlines: SYLLABI.  A syllabus is a document that communicates information about an academic course and defines expectations and responsibilities. Its plural form is not "silly busses".

6. __ moss: gardening material: PEAT.  Most gardening gurus now recommend a "PEAT-free" approach. Monty Don's recommendations

7. Canadian fuel giant: ESSO.  

I took this pic in Nakusp, BC, Canada while on my cycling trip this past summer.
I have been waiting for ESSO to pop up on a Monday ever since!
Note: The price is cents per litre.

8. Not in class: ABSENT.

9. Deeply regret: RUE.

10. MN and NM: STS.  Minnesota and New Mexico are STateS.  Great clue!

12. Enthusiastic: AVID.

13. "The War of the Worlds" planet: MARS.  H.G. Wells authored this book in 1898. Prior to that, he had already published The Time Machine, The Island of Doctor Moreau, and The Invisible Man.  goodreads link

18. "Gosh!": GEE.

21. Choreographer de Mille: AGNES.  A CSO to a sweet & savvy Cornerite.  

Agnes George de Mille
(September 18, 1905 - October 7, 1993)

24. Dawn goddess: EOS.  Greek mythology

25. Native of ancient Peru: INCA.

26. "Something To Talk About" singer Bonnie: RAITT.  I like her music but I always forget how to spell her name. Here's the song:  

27. Listless feeling: ENNUI.  

"Ennui" by Walter Richard Sickert (c.1914)
learn more about this painting

30. Card game with an edition for colorblind players: UNO.  According to Mattel, each colorful card also has a symbol (see below) designed to represent that color so color blind and color sighted players can "compete on equal footing".  Does Twister do this, too? ("Footing", get it?)

31. Fortuneteller's card: TAROT.

33. Lauder of makeup: ESTÉE.

38. Grade of black 64-Down: PEKOE.  and  64 Down. Steeped beverage: TEA.

39. Overflow (with): TEEM.

41. Stocky antelope: GNU.  Apparently there is a GNU Muppet. Who GNU?  

44. Fuel additive brand: STP.  Yesterday it was 99A. Gas additive brand.

46. Does a favor for: OBLIGES.

49. Disgraced: SHAMED.

50. Taken care of: SEEN TO.

53. Yalie: ELI.  Yale University was founded in 1701 in Saybrook, CT as the Collegiate School. In 1718 it was renamed after the Welsh merchant Elihu Yale as a gesture of gratitude for a donation. Henceforth, "ELI" and "Yalie" became nicknames for Yale students.

54. "Alita: Battle Angel" star Salazar: ROSA.  IMDb page

55. Extremely dry: ARID.  To make an 'extremely dry' martini, pick up the vermouth bottle, consider it, then set the bottle back down.

57. Actress Gershon: GINA.  IMDb page

58. E pluribus __: UNUM.  "out of many, one"; the motto of the United States of America

59. "The Americans" actor Matthew: RHYS.  Matthew Rhys Evans is a Welsh actor. He is also the new Perry Mason.

His partner on The Americans, Keri Russel, is his partner in real life, too.

60. NASA go-aheads: A-OKS.  

62. Pic taker: CAM.  "Picture" is shortened, so is "CAMera". "Smart phone" does not fit.

63. Reproductive cells: OVA.  plural for "ovum"

Here's the grid, HOT off the presses:

I liked Steve's HOT idea; however, I wish there was more of a transformation for SEAT and TICKET. I also liked that we had both vertical and horizontal themers today. What do you think? It is difficult to please everyone -- only Some Like it Hot.  

"Nobody's Perfect", the final scene from Some Like it Hot (1959)

starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon (2 min.)

Tuesday, May 2, 2023 Steve Faiella

It's Party Time!  This puzzle is just in time for the Coronation this weekend, where I'm sure there will be a big FÊTE, BALL, GALA and BASH.  I'll need to polish my tiara.

17-Across. Term of office for Supreme Court justices, e.g.: LIFE TENURE.  FÊTE.  The life tenure of the Supreme Court Justices has come under fire recently.  Enough said.

24-Across. "The Silence of the Lambs" villain: HANNIBAL LECTER.  BALL.

Fancy Balls.

52-Across. Member of an attorney's support staff: LEGAL ASSISTANT.  GALA

64-Across. Places to pick up diving gear: SCUBA SHOPS.

 

And the unifier:

41-Across. Investigative department, and what 17-, 24-, 52-, and 64-Across have?: INTERNAL AFFAIRS.  Also the name of a 1990 Richard Gere film.

Did you get your invitation for this AFFAIR? 

Across:

1. Unlikely election win, say: UPSET.  Probably the most famous upset election victory was on November 3, 1948, when the Chicago Daily Tribute erroneously declared Thomas Dewey (Mar. 24, 1902 ~ Mar. 16, 1971) defeated Harry Truman (May 8, 1884 ~ Dec. 26, 1972) in the Presidential election.

6. Tidbit in a coffee grinder: BEAN.  I just got my hubby an espresso machine, so the coffee grinder is getting a workout.

10. __-washed jeans: ACID.  Contrary to its name, Acid-washed jeans are not actually washed in acid.  

14. Housework task: CHORE.

15. French friend: AMIE.  Today's French lesson.  This is your French girlfriend.

16. Medicine amount: DOSE.  //  And 66-Down. "__ as directed": USE.

19. Choir song: HYMN.

20. "__ was saying ... ": AS I.

21. Quirky: ODD.

22. U.K. mil. award: DSO.  As in the Distinguished Service Order.  It is a British military decoration awarded to officers who have performed meritorious or distinguished service in war. The decoration was instituted by Queen Victoria in 1886.  Awardees can add the initials D.S.O. after their names. 

31. Donkey: ASS.

32. Part of a tall cake: TIER.

33. "Selma" director DuVernay: AVA.  Ava DuVernay (né Ava Marie DuVernay; b. Aug. 24, 1972) directed Selma in 2004, which is a biopic about Martin Luther King, Jr.   [Name # 1.]

34. Dry shell: HUSK.  I would say this is a nod to our Husker Gary, but Gary is clearly not a dry shell.

37. Milky gem: OPAL.  Australia is known for its Opals.  They remind me of Kazie, who used to comment regularly, because she was from Australia.

39. Archipelago unit: ISLET.  The word “archipelago” comes from the medieval Italian word archi, meaning chief or principal, and the Greek word pelagus, meaning gulf, pool, or pond.  The Aleutian Islands are probably the most well known archipelago to Americans.  They are a chain of 14 large volcanic islands off the cost of Alaska.  Most of the Islands are a part of Alaska, but some belong to Russia.

44. Brief digression: ASIDE.

45. Point sets, in math: LOCI.

46. Post-WWII alliance: NATO.  As in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

47. Actor Cariou: LEN.  Although the name, Len Cariou (né Leonard Joseph Cariou; b. Sept. 30, 1939), did not ring a bell, I have certainly seen this actor in such television shows as The West Wing and Law & Order.  He got is start as a stage actor, and is best known for his portrayal of Sweeney Todd in the stage play of the same name.  [Name # 2.]

48. Tall shade trees: ELMS.

50. "Unforgettable" singer __ King Cole: NAT.  Nat King Cole (né Nathaniel Adams Cole; Mar. 17, 1919 ~ Feb. 15, 1965) was an American jazz singer.  In 2000, 35 years after this death, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (see 65-Down).  In the early 1990s, Natalie Cole (née Natalie Maria Cole; Feb. 6, 1950 ~ Dec. 31,  2015), created a version of Unforgettable where, through the magic of technology, she sang with her father [Name # 3.]

57. Desert viper: ASP.

58. NYC subway org.: MTA.  As in the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

59. Post-WWII alliance: OAS.  As in the Organization of American States.  The OAS is an international organization that was founded 75 years ago, on April 1948.  It was designed for the purpose of solidarity and cooperation among its member states within North and South America.  Its headquarters are in Washington, D.C.

61. Open just a crack: AJAR.  When is a door not a door ...

68. Glacier fragment: BERG.

69. Anna's "Frozen" sister: ELSA.  Frozen was first a Disney film, and now a musical on Broadway.  [Name # 4.]

70. Core belief: TENET.

71. __ A Sketch: ETCH.  Everything you wanted to know about the Etch-A-Sketch, but didn't know to ask.

72. Monopoly card: DEED.

73. Vase-shaped jugs: EWERS.

Down:

1. Sch. near Hollywood: UCLA.  As in the University of California, Los Angeles.

2. Jam band with a namesake Ben & Jerry's flavor: PHISH.  It's a chocolate-based ice cream with gooey marshmallow swirls, caramel swirls, and gummy chocolate fish.  [Name # 5.]

3. Bulgaria's capital: SOFIA.  Sofia, Bulgaria is one of the oldest cities in Europe.

4. Before, poetically: ERE.

5. "Grand" Wyoming range: TETONS.  More of today's French lesson?

6. Inn offering a morning meal, briefly: B AND B.  As in a Bed and Breakfast.

7. Ostrichlike bird: EMU.  What's the difference?

8. Football filler: AIR.

9. Tease: NEEDLE.

10. Like some committees: AD HOC.  Today's Latin lesson.  It literally means: for this.  An ad hoc committee is generally created to look into a single matter of limited scope, not to pursue any issue of interest.

11. Artfully shy: COY.

12. School-of-thought suffix: -ISM.  As in Darwinism.

13. Work-from-home space, perhaps: DEN.  During the first months of the pandemic, I worked in my outdoor den.

18. Inventor Thomas: EDISON.  We often see Thomas Alva Edison (Feb. 11, 1847 ~ Oct. 18, 1931) in the puzzles.  Some electric companies are named after him.  [Name # 6.]

23. Printing flourish: SERIF.

25. Nude: NAKED.

26. Completely flummoxed: AT A LOSS.

27. Fragrant spring shrub: LILAC.  We had Lilac bushes in our yard when I was growing up.  I love the smell of the flowers.

28. Actress Shire: TALIA.  Talia Shire (née Talia Rose Coppola; b. Apr. 25, 1946) and film director Francis Ford Coppola (b. 1939) are sister and brother.  She is probably best known for her role as Adrian Balboa in the Rocky films.  She also portrayed Connie Corleone in the Godfather movie.  [Name # 7.]

29. Tennis great Chris: EVERT.  Chris Evert (née Christine Marie Evert; b. Dec. 21, 1954) also makes frequent guest appearances in the puzzles.  [Name # 8.]

30. "Midnight Cowboy" role: RATSO.  Dustin Hoffman (né Dustin Lee Hoffman; born Aug. 8, 1937) portrayed Ratso Rizzo in the movie.  [Name # 9.]

34. Group email starter: HI, ALL.  

35. "I wish I could __ that!": "So gross!": UNSEE.

36. Wasp's defense: STING.

38. Tropical trees: PALMS.

40. Jolly December visitor: SANTA.  The history of Santa.  And a nod to our own dear Santa.  [Name # 10.]

42. Film spools: REELS.

43. Social media account that may provide anonymity: FINSTA.  A Fake Instagram.  Who knew?

49. Ended, as a subscription: LAPSED.

51. One small bite: A TASTE.

53. Cry of frustration: AARGH!

54. Tough character's claim: I'M BAD.

55. "... said __ ever": NO ONE.

56. Slender candle: TAPER.

60. Ultrafast 62-Downs: SSTs.  //  And 62-Down. Fast plane: JET.  Although you'll no longer see the SST in the sky, you will see them in the puzzles.

61. Actor Vigoda: ABE.  Abe Vigoda (né Abraham Charles Vigoda; Feb. 1921 ~ Jan. 26, 2016) was also in the Godfather films with 28-Down.  [Name # 11.]

63. __ de Triomphe: ARC.  More of today's French lesson.  Its full name is Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile and it is probably the most famous monument in Paris.  It is the Étoile, or Star, from which 12 avenues radiate.

65. Rock & Roll HoF city: CLE.  The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is found in Cleveland, Ohio.  Why Cleveland, you ask ...  The building was designed by the famous architect I.M. Pei (né Ieoh Ming Pei; Apr. 27, 1917 ~ May 16, 20019) and is an absolute beautiful building.  It's designed to look a bit like a turntable.

66. "__ as directed": USE.

Not being Used as Directed.

67. Cut down: HEW.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה