Sunday, Oct 19th, 2025 Zhouqin Burnikel

• "EASY DOES IT" 

x x  TIMES Crossword Puzzle

The _os  _ngles Times building 

Splnyter stepping for our Sunday Bloggess C.C., who takes the honor of being today's constructor.  I usually skip Sunday's puzzle and work on my Wed blog, but it was a JazzB week, so here we are.  My solve had lots of "well, it fits, but it's wrong" answers ⁽⁺⁾ today.  No circles, a fair number of  names, a balanced spread of 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-letter words, 88 squares ( if my math is correct ) of theme fill - but - they're 'missing' the "L" and "A" from in-the-vernacular phrases, leading to some humorous, unique fill.  The themers, and the reveal in the final Across;

23A. *Ensemble for finals week?: (LA)TEST FASHION

28A. *Slug made from an old can?: (LA)TIN QUARTER

58A. *Christmas tree in an atelier?: ARTISTIC F(LA)IR

83A. *Courses full of twists and turns?: (LA)MAZE CLASSES - birthing technique

110A. *Organizer for a nail tech?: MANI(LA) FOLDER

119A. *Treadmill setting for a Roman emperor?: CAESARS PA(LA)CE

32D. *Pride of a jacked security guard?: ANTI-THEFT A(LA)RM

43D. *Thanksgiving stuffing dishes that aren't up to snuff?: SA(LA)D DRESSINGS

130. Mardi Gras city nickname, and an apt description of the answers to the starred clues: NOLA - New Orleans, LouisianA, "The Big Easy" ( the 'other' theme title ) or, parsed for the theme, "No L A"

And "L A" We Go~!

ACROSS:

1. Layer outside the germ: BRAN - I do the DOWN clues first; I had B - - N to start

5. Like a perennial: HARDY - durable - they keep coming back~!

10. LAPD alerts: APBs - No LA~! #1

14. No. 1 pals: BFFs - Text-speak, Best Friends Forever

18. Sacred flower in Buddhism: LOTUS

I'll take this Lotus - the Turbo Esprit

20. In the know: AWARE - toyed with ALERT⁽⁺⁾ because this cluster was a bit messy with wrong fill

21. Helpful hint: CLUE

22. Ontario lake: ERIE

25. Purple boba tea flavor: TARO

26. Roof overhang: EAVE

27. Hit lists: TOP TENS

30. Playing surface that favors topspin: CLAY - I so wanted FELT here, as in pool tables

33. Video camera button: RECord - I am making a table for my brother for Christmas, and I am thinking about shooting a video of the process - I bought this thing for holding my phone:

34. Bro or stepbro: SIBling

36. Total score: TALLY

37. "Mulan" invader: HUN

38. Maker of off-road vehicles: TONKA - HONDA⁽⁺⁾ fit, and a good 60% correct, but Bzzzt 

40. Guitar licks: RIFFS - I am very familiar with this concept - it's good to go back to songs that were once difficult for me to play and now find easier from practice and learning scales

42. Runner-up: LOSER

46. Visiting the area: IN TOWN - I had planned to drive to Cincinnati, OH at the end of the month for the 25th anniversary of "The Golem", the made-for-TV movie I worked on, but now I'm told it's just a showing in a theater - no cast or crew were invited to attend - 12hrs is a long way to drive to sit in a cinema.

48. Mall pizza chain: SBARRO

50. Striped stone: AGATE

51. Egyptair hub city: CAIRO

52. David of "ABC World News Tonight": MUIR - filled via perps

54. LED component: DIODE - Light-Emitting, that is

57. Focalin target, briefly: ADHD - no clue, had ADHG via crossings

61. Greeting to a mate: G'DAY - an Aussie, mate~!

62. Genetic material: DNA

63. Application in some massages: HOT OIL - the subject of massages came up at the gym last week; they are offered in my club, but I have never actually HAD a massage - perhaps I should treat myself this Christmas

64. Creole chef Chase: LEAH - again, filled via perps; more here

66. Holds nothing back: LETS RIP

69. Course track for a future JD: PRE-LAW - "JD" being a learning moment for me - the Wiki

71. Falcons city: ATLANTA - their NFL team

74. Marathon setting: GREECE - I had AVENUE - but this is the city, not the run

75. Person who calls the shots: REFEREE - meh~?

77. Quindim ingredient: YOLK - with YOL -, I WAGed the "K"

78. Kale and cabbage: GREENS

80. Traditional mo. for a Bavarian beer festival: OCTober - happening NOW

81. Sultry growl: RAWR - I recall having this fill just recently, and not too many people cared for it

87. Make airtight: SEAL

89. Strip in the kitchen: STEAK - with - 24D. Cook wear?: APRON - cute misdirections

How's that for an apron - care for some (un)dressing with that salad~?

91. Parks of Alabama: ROSA

92. Crocheted mat: DOILY

93. "Snowfall" actor Damson __: IDRIS - my final fill; good to see an alternative to "ELBA"

95. Like most awards: ANNUAL

97. Mount __: Washington estate: VERNON - my gym is located in Vernon, CT . . .

98. Arizona State's city: TEMPE - my ex is located in Arizona . . .

99. Some choral singers: ALTOs - and my voice is located in the baritone range.

100. Harsh: ACRID

103. Classic muscle car: GTO - "Goat" - here's where the name G T O comes from

104. Doll with neon hair: TROLL

106. Dorm VIPs: RAs - Resident Assistants

108. Hack (off): LOP

109. Secondhand: USED

114. Tofu nutrient: PROTEIN - I have "plateaued" at the gym; my trainer has now dropped my calorie intake to 1900/day, with 30-35% Protein, 30-40% Carbs, and 25-35% Fat

117. 50-50: EVEN

118. Persian greeting?: MEOW - Persian, the cat, that is

123. Religious subgroup: SECT

124. Bend at a barre: PLIE

125. Minor key?: ISLET - Minor = small :: Key = island

126. Underground worker: MINER - the "other" MINOR

It's the key of  "B sharp"

127. Inquires: ASKS

128. Straight people, casually: HETS - Clunky, sorta meh; Heterosexuals - don't usually hear it spoken

129. Love, in arias: AMORE

DOWN:

1. Club alternative: BLT - sa'miches

2. Eggs in ikura sushi: ROE

3. Tags on social media: ATS - more commonly "@"s 

4. Like some brownies: NUTTY - I like my PB chunky, but not my brownies

5. Light a fire under: HASTEN - ah. Not IGNITE⁽⁺⁾

6. "Doggone it!": "AW HECK~!"

7. Desert rarity: RAIN

8. Smeltery waste: DROSS - SLAG was too short

9. Currency at pachinko parlors: YEN - in retrospect, this makes sense

More here

10. Start of a show: ACT I

11. Nursery nutrients: PLANT FOOD; the set of 8- & 9-letter down fills; 14D. Poses done in a taproom: BEER YOGA; 82D. "Happens to everyone": "WE ALL DO IT"; 88D. Some light cosmetics: LIP TINTS

12. Head-to-toe garments: BURQAS - I had the "K", not the "Q" at first

13. Han River capital: SEOUL 

15. Campus group: FRAT - Not ROTC⁽⁺⁾

16. __-second rule: FIVE - I frequently adhere to this phenomenon, despite what Mythbusters proved

The Five-Second Rule tested

17. Oracle: SEER

19. OAK alternative: SFO - I was stumped by this - I am not West coast, so I did not recognize the airport codes of California's Bay Area tarmacs - and now there's controversy . . . 

28. Classic Ford: T-BIRD - I had the less-than-classic, but still way-cool, 1986 Turbo Coupe

29. Ristorante menu preposition: ALLA - penne ALLA vodka, e.g.

30. Spanish girl: CHICA

31. Like some eclipses: LUNAR - Not TOTAL⁽⁺⁾

35. Fund that might grow for decades: IRA

38. Like some rear admirals: TWO-STAR

39. "Yeah, right!": "AS IF~!"

Wayne's World

41. Heebie-jeebies: FRIGHT - not CREEPS⁽⁺⁾

44. Sharing a cultural identity: ETHNIC

45. Orangutan: RED APE - I tried BIG APE⁽⁺⁾

47. Warbler lookalike: ORIOLE

49. Scouring brand: BRILLO

52. Wii Sports avatar: Mii - how you appear in the game; this is my Facebook Avatar

53. Golden State sch.: UCLA - No LA~! #2

55. Lentil dish: DAL

56. Product that may reduce dark circles: EYE GEL

59. Castle structures: TOWERS - I loves me a castle, especially with towers

60. Domain: REALM - Not ARENA⁽⁺⁾

65. Capital city in Anatolia: ANKARA

67. Like new tires: TREADED - But what about F1 racing~?

68. Motion detector, e.g.: SENSOR

69. Toast at a Bavarian beer festival: PROSIT - ¯\_(ツ)_/¯  - crossing IDRIS, a bit of a Natick

70. Go back: RECEDE - Not RETURN⁽⁺⁾

72. Ruthless ruler: TYRANT - Not DESPOT⁽⁺⁾

73. Forever and a day: AGES - Not EONS⁽⁺⁾

76. Put away: EAT

79. TV pioneer: RCA

84. French novelist Émile: ZOLA - seen this name in Crosswords before

85. Cotija-covered corn: ELOTE - ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

86. Council of clerics: SYNOD

90. Bouillon brand: KNORR - they make sides dishes in bags, too

94. Feudal laborer: SERF

96. Miss. home: USA - I was not fooled by this, but I did hesitate - Mississippi is in the US of  A

97. Deadly snake: VIPER - not ADDER⁽⁺⁾

99. Gene arising from mutation: ALLELE

101. End-of-game pitcher: CLOSER - Not RELIEF⁽⁺⁾

102. Revolve: ROTATE

105. Extra pep: OOMPH

107. Twitch: SPASM - I had a SPASM in my last puzzle blog

109. Let fall, as hair: UNPIN

That's a BIG PIN

110. Steep-sided plateau: MESA

111. Urban rtes.: AVEs

112. Giraffe feature: NECK

They're "necking"

113. Fleecy mamas: EWES

"Youse" got to check out this mama in fleece-lined tights~!

115. Move quickly?: RELO - move = relocate :: quickly = abbr 

116. Magnet end?: ISM - magnetISM - the beginning of Monster Magnet's album Last Patrol, but the link didn't hold up . . . .oh well

119. "Spy Game" org.: CIA

120. "So I should take that as __?": "A NO~?"

121. Cartoon frame: CEL

122. Dynastic period, e.g.: ERA

Splynter

Sunday October 12, 2025 Doug Peterson

Theme: "BUILT TO SCALE" - Different shoes climb up in the grid.

3. "Boom Boom" blues legend: JOHN LEE HOOKER. Heel.

7. Approach that emphasizes fundamentals: BACK TO BASICS. Sabot.

9. Group that can play a symphony: PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA. Croc.

21. "What a shame": THAT'S TOO BAD. Boot.

62. Hygiene tool on a spool: DENTAL FLOSS. Flat.

65. "How many sugars?," quaintly: ONE LUMP OR TWO. Mule.

Reveal:

58. Footwear for boulderers, and what can be found in this puzzle's circled letters: CLIMBING SHOES.

We've seen quite a few shoes in the past, but never the climbing angle. Love this fresh approach from Doug. Notice all the shoe words span across two words? 

Doug is a brilliant constructor. He's also a super fast solver. This pic is from ACPT 2008.

Doug Peterson & Will Shortz

Across:

1. Sandos with two spreads: PBJS. Sando is Japanese for sandwich. White bread with no crust. 

5. Restaurant chain co-founded by chef Matsuhisa: NOBU. It's his given name.

9. Star's entourage: POSSE.

14. "You know you want to!": C'MON.

18. Floor plan unit: ROOM.

19. Country with a Persian-speaking majority: IRAN.

20. Operational launch time: H HOUR. And 24. Flanged support pieces: I BARS. 66. Govt. securities: T BILLS. 70. Powerful engine named for its shape: V TEN. 121. Sporty car roof: T TOP. 

21. Yours, in hymns: THINE. Next Thursday our class is "Seeking the Face of God".

22. Unoriginal reply: ECHO.

23. Checkbook no.: ACCT.

25. Actress Bailey: HALLE.

26. Big Apple team: YANKS.

28. Alpine course: SKI SLOPE.

30. Spoke like a boxer: BARKED. Not the boxer in the ring.

31. Explorer Erikson: LEIF.

33. Into the latest gadgets: TECHY.

34. Call made behind one's back?: BUTT DIAL. Lock your screen.

36. Stayed in line: OBEYED.

38. Div. of Labor: OSHA.

39. Williams with four Olympic gold medals: VENUS.

40. Holiday cusp: EVE.

41. Hoppy beer: ALE.

42. Snatch quickly: GRAB.

44. Specter: WRAITH.

46. Ready for a break: TIRED.

48. Lake near Carson City: TAHOE.

50. Charcuterie board selections: SALAMIS.

52. Retired record holder?: IPOD. Fun clue.

54. Production: SHOW.

55. Omega preceder: PSI.

56. Activist Yoko: ONO.

57. Stick on a pub wall: POOL CUE.

61. Multivolume ref.: OED. Oxford English Dictionary.

63. Herb on a bánh mì sandwich: CILANTRO. I love the pickled daikon and carrots. 

67. Capacious craft: ARK.

69. Rescue op: EVAC. Evacuation. 

71. Knock, in slang: DIS.

72. Artemis org.: NASA.

74. "__ complicated": IT'S.

75. Can refuse to: NEEDN'T.

77. Treats flavored with syrup: SNO-CONES. 

80. River project: DAM.

82. Went in circles: GYRATED.

84. Siglo de __: era of El Greco and Cervantes: ORO.  Siglo de Oro means "Golden Century".  Spanish Golden Age. Learning moment for me.

85. Patterned after: ALA.

86. Long-legged wader: IBIS.
 
89. Billy of "Titanic": ZANE. He played the snobbish fiancé of Rose.

90. Fortnite Frenz 4 Ever Blaster, for one: NERF GUN. 

92. Select with a mouse: CLICK.

93. Milk source in the Sahara: CAMEL.

96. Mural on plaster: FRESCO.

98. Subject that includes set theory: MATH. And 108. Subject that includes gender theory: SEXOLOGY.

100. Prefix with natal: NEO.

101. USPS abbr.: AVE.

102. __ Loops: FROOT.

104. Court target: HOOP.

106. Barely sufficient: MEAGER.

110. Islanders' NHL division, familiarly: METRO. New York Islanders is one of the teams in the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The others are the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers.
 
111. Animation collectibles: CELS.

112. Stumble over: TRIP ON.

113. List of specialized terms: GLOSSARY.

116. "Dos Mujeres" painter: KAHLO. "Two Women",

119. Football features: LACES. On a baseball, the equivalent raised stitching is called seams.

120. Scrub, as a mission: ABORT.

123. Dish in a bowl: SOUP.

124. "My stars!": EGADS.

125. Episcopal figure: VICAR.

126. Stealthy flyers: OWLS.

127. Clark from Smallville: KENT.

128. Wildlife refuges: DENS.

129. Walled Spanish city: AVILA.

130. Dig like a pig: ROOT.

131. Seeks information: ASKS.

Down:

1. Salmon, to bears: PREY.

2. __ Raton: BOCA.

4. "__ and the Bandit": SMOKEY.

5. "Candyman" director DaCosta: NIA. She also directed "The Marvels".

6. Brutish Tolkien characters: ORCS.

8. Disentangles: UNTIES.

10. "I can't wait!": OH BOY.

11. Stuff in a pump bottle: SOAP.

12. Guaranteed winner: SURE BET.

13. Workplaces for triage nurses: Abbr.: ERS.

14. Leafy vegetable: CHARD. I just had stir-fried cabbage every day for the past 5 days.

15. More opalescent: MILKIER.

16. Ashore, perhaps: ON LEAVE.

17. Mocked playfully: NEEDLED.

27. Sustained attack: SIEGE.

29. Phonetic symbol: SCHWA.

30. Furnace meas.: BTU.

32. Pres. who created the "alphabet agencies": FDR.

35. Not cool: UNHIP.

36. Breakfast sometimes prepared overnight: OATS. So good in summer. 

37. Ho-hum: BLAH.

39. Helmet feature: VISOR.

43. Pet welfare org.: ASPCA.

45. "Yer lyin'!": AIN'T SO.

47. South Indian rice cake: IDLI.

49. "You __ it to yourself ... ": OWE.

51. Word rapper Bow Wow dropped from his stage name: LIL

53. Nursery containers: POTS.

59. Final: Abbr.: ULT.

60. Squiggly letter: ESS.

64. Loves to bits: ADORES.

67. Lee with two Best Director Oscars: ANG.

68. "West Coast" singer Lana Del __: REY. Stunning singer.

73. Mountain pose, for one: ASANA.

76. Stunned state: DAZE.

78. Baseball team's starting lineup, e.g.: NONET.

79. Pester: NAG.

81. Feel rotten: AIL.

83. Clear of condensation: DEFOG.

87. Drink with a domed lid: ICEE.

88. Toffee candy bar: SKOR.

91. __ the bill: FOOTS.

92. Sass: CHEEK.

93. Made a two-piece chess move: CASTLED.

94. Just OK: AVERAGE.

95. Like axolotls: MEXICAN. Salamander.

97. Colorful character?: ROY G. BIV.

99. Flix sister station: TMC.

103. Actor Funches of Apple TV+'s "Loot": RON.

105. One on the stump: ORATOR.

107. "North to the Future" state: ALASKA.

109. Persuasive columns: OP-EDS.

110. __ compass: MORAL.

114. Focal points: LOCI.

115. "Let's do it!" hashtag: YOLO.

117. Knucklehead: LUNK.

118. Decides: OPTS.

120. Gardner of "Show Boat": AVA.

122. LAX clock setting: PST.

C.C.

Sunday October 5, 2025 Zachary David Levy

Theme: "IT'S NOT LIKE THAT"  - Each common phrase is re-imagined as description of two things being contrasted.

22. Ice versus Stone?: AGE DISPARITY.

30. Cotton versus silk?: MATERIAL DIFFERENCE.

46. Dibbling versus broadcasting?: SOWING DISSENT.

67. Stilton versus cheddar?: SHARP CONTRAST.

90. Octopus versus starfish?: ARMED CONFLICT.

105. Foil versus saber?: POINTS OF CONTENTION. Both have pointed tips.

118. Agar versus broth?: CULTURE CLASH.

I got a chuckle out of ARMED CONFLICT clue. I didn't know "dibbling" is a planting method or that "broadcasting" can mean scattering seeds.

In each theme entry, the first word is taken literally instead of in its usual figurative sense. That shift lets the phrases capture the "verse" setup in the clues.

Across:

1. Be a nuisance: IMPOSE. For 3 or 4 days last week, I didn't get any of your comments in my email box due to a blog glitch.

7. Natters: GABS.

11. Places to kick back: SPAS.

15. Reservoir structure: DAM.

18. Xylophone tool: MALLET.

19. Comic strip unit: PANEL.

20. __ in a blanket: PIGS.

21. JFK fig.: ETA.

24. Lena of "Romeo Is Bleeding": OLIN. Don't know the movie.

25. Good bit of French?: BON. "Good" in French. 

26. Brewer's supply: YEAST.

27. Date tree: PALM. Chinese dates just grow on trees.

28. Penalty kick target: GOAL.

29. Common sacrifice: BUNT.

35. Italian beer brand: PERONI. Named after the founder Francesco Peroni.

38. Sticks together: CLEAVES. Or Splits apart.

39. "Family Matters" nerd: URKEL.

40. Pequod captain: AHAB.

41. Zilch: NIL.

44. Talked privately, for short: DM'e

45. __ Arbor, Michigan: ANN.

50. Inheritance law subjects: ESTATES.

54. Jacked, slangily: SWOLE.

55. With great skill: ABLY.

56. Lower leg fronts: SHINS.

58. Have another go: REDO.

59. Pet in a 51-Down: NEWT. 51. Home for a pet skink: TERRARIUM.

61. Impossibly long stretches: EONS.

63. Dec. 31: NYE.

64. Tiny amount: DRIB.

65. __ tai: MAI.

72. "The Crying Game" actor Stephen: REA. He was married to an IRA bomber. 

73. Cupid counterpart: EROS.

75. Finish off: EAT.

76. Unadorned: BARE.

77. Hindu god: SIVA.

79. Port, e.g.: WINE.

80. __ Canyon National Park: BRYCE. 83. Utah city northeast of 80-Across: MOAB.

85. Pumps (up): FIRES.

88. Final leg: LAST LAP.

93. Bygone space station: MIR. In operation from 1986 to 2001. 

94. Director Kazan: ELIA. Saw his "East of Eden".

95. __ polloi: HOI.

96. Pixar film set by the Ligurian Sea: LUCA. 2021 movie.

97. Massage targets: ACHES.

100. Five-time Emmy winner Laurence: OLIVIER.

103. Seinfeld neighbor: KRAMER.

109. Country where the Amazon originates: PERU.

110. __ tikki: potato patties: ALOO.

111. Taylor-Joy of "Emma": ANYA.

112. Got together: MET UP.

116. Poetic preposition: ERE.

117. Deli side: SLAW.

121. "The Late Great Johnny __": Paul Simon tune: ACE.

122. "That's a __ order": TALL.

123. Inuit craft: UMIAK. They also gave us Kayak.

124. Worked, as clay: MOLDED.

125. Article in a French paper?: LES. Definite article.

126. Bygone organizers, for short: PDAS.

127. Abandon ship: BAIL.

128. Smudges: SMEARS.

Down:

1. "It's possible": I MAY.

2. Sorcerer: MAGE.

3. Court response: PLEA.

4. Carmaker whose last new model was the Alero: OLDSMOBILE.

5. Meat substitute: SEITAN. Made from gluten. We call it mianjin in Chinese.

6. Sci-fi figures: ETS.

7. Cook's clove: GARLIC. And 37. Sliced burger toppings: RAW ONIONS.

8. Cracker shape: ANIMAL.

9. Casino action: BET.

10. Foxy: SLY.

11. Lampooned: SPOOFED.

12. Rice sides: PILAFS.

13. Light on one's feet: AGILE.

14. 1040 fig.: SSN.

15. Put to bed, as a rumor: DEBUNK.

16. En masse: AT ONCE.

17. "The Mirror & the Light" novelist Hilary: MANTEL. The last of the Cromwell trilogy. This is the first one. 

 

19. Pre-Carson host of "The Tonight Show": PAAR.

23. 120-Down's face shields, masks, etc.: Abbr.: PPE. Personal Protective Equipment. And 120. Ambulance crew, briefly: EMS.

28. Hand out, long ago: GIVETH.

29. Saint __: dog breed: BERNARD.

31. Sound that may ring a bell?: TING. Bell sound.

32. Intro, in journalism jargon: LEDE.

33. Curses: DAMNS.

34. Smallest of a litter: RUNT.

35. "No thanks": PASS.

36. DIY help site: eHOW.

42. Nev. neighbor: IDA.

43. New York WNBA team: LIBERTY.

45. Put a value on: ASSESS.

47. Ticker info: NEWS.

48. Food in a trough: SLOP.

49. Bring into alignment: SYNC.

50. Singer born Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin: ENYA.  Seal even has a longer name.

52. Falco of "Nurse Jackie": EDIE.

53. Noodles in dashi: SOBA. I like cold soba.

57. At hand: IN REACH.

60. Future lawyer's hurdle, colloquially: THE BAR.

62. Cry loudly: SOB. And 65. Cry softly: MEWL.

66. Opera highlight: ARIA.

68. Senior advocacy group: AARP.

69. Driver's license line: NAME.

70. Walked over: TROD.

71. Little disagreement: TIFF.

74. Prix fixe feature: SET MENU.

78. "Killing Eve" assassin played by Jodie Comer: VILLANELLE. Learning moment for me. This image looks like AI-generated.

81. Patchy cat: CALICO.

82. "Wicked" actress Cynthia: ERIVO.

84. "You stink, ump!": BOO.

86. __ homo: ECCE.

87. Headliner: STAR.

89. Planning aid: LIST.

91. Water source: MAIN.

92. Director Caro of 2020's "Mulan": NIKI. New Zealander. 

94. Tiny predatory birds: ELF OWLS.

97. Post-verdict challenge: APPEAL.

98. Strong-arm: COERCE.

99. People brought on board: HIREES.

100. "Well, look at you!": OO LA LA.

101. Latin "and others": ET ALII.

102. Many a prom tux: RENTAL.

104. "The Hating Game" genre: ROM COM.

106. Food from a bar: SALAD.

107. Stooge's signature laugh: NYUK.

108. Paving gunk: TAR.

113. "That was my trick!": TA DA.

114. __ interface: USER.

115. Advanced postgrad degs.: PHDS.

117. Oil treatment brand: STP.

118. Ursa minor?: CUB. Cute.

119. Thurman of Hollywood: UMA.

C.C.

 

Sunday September 28, 2025 Gary Larson & Amy Ensz

Theme: "GAME CHANGERS" - Each common phrase is reinterpreted as a customized edition of a board or card game.

23A. Genius edition of a popular word game?: HARD SCRABBLE.

29A. Extended-family edition of a popular conquest game?: RELATIVE RISK.

70A. Solitaire edition of a popular board game?: SORRY FOR ONESELF.

113A. Trivia edition of a popular strategy game?: FACT CHECKERS.

124A. Bodybuilding edition of a popular card game?: MUSCLE MEMORY.

33D. Personalized edition of a popular strategy game?: GO YOUR OWN WAY.

43D. Easy edition of a popular board game?: TROUBLE LIGHT.

Two of the Down theme entries intersect SORRY FOR ONESELF. I love when this happens. I can picture the glee on Gary's face. 

Intersection often makes the filling easier, but it also creates its constraints. Like today's placement of  23/29 and 113/124. Thankfully there are only 3 letters overlap and the fill doesn't suffer at all.

Across:

1. Everypooch: BOWSER.

7. Sudden burst: SALVO.

12. David of "Starsky & Hutch": SOUL. Wikipedia says he had a daughter named China Soul.

16. __ race: RAT.

19. Colorful songbird: ORIOLE.

20. Former: PRIOR.

21. __ Domini: ANNO.

22. Egg cells: OVA.

25. Rheinland refusal: NEIN. German for Rhineland.

26. Karate level: DAN.

27. Nondairy spread: OLEO.

28. __ Lingus: AER.

32. Baseball player Jose with the hit song "OMG": IGLESIAS. Chart-topping Latin pop hit. I think this is Patti's clue. She's a diehard Mets fan.

35. Bummed: SAD.

36. Picnic pests: ANTS.

37. Jon Favreau holiday film: ELF.

40. Bygone: OLDEN.

41. Some volcanic rocks: BASALTS.

44. Like some jokes: CORNY.

46. Spanish home: CASA.

49. Place to work on Wikipedia drafts: USER PAGE. Read more here.

53. Chocolaty cereal brand: OREO OS.

55. "South Pacific" song: BALI HAI. Sung by Bloody Mary.

57. "Are you sure you're right about that?": DOES IT?

58. Batting in the bottom of the ninth: LAST UP.

59. Complex dwelling: UNIT.

60. Channel launched in 1981: MTV. 1981 is also the first time we had light bulbs. 

62. Intercontinental mountain range: URALS.

63. Gets: INHERITS.

65. Spot for valuables: SAFE.

67. BOLO alternative: APB.

69. Foot the bill: PAY.

74. Street of nightmares: ELM.

77. Very small: WEE.

78. Les États-__: UNIS.

79. Like the 18th Amendment: REPEALED. The 18th Amendment prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages for beverage purposes, launching the Prohibition Era. Learning moment for me. 

83. Take in: LEARN.

85. Bro's counterpart: SIS.

87. Luminous ball of plasma: STAR.

89. In the previous month: ULTIMO.

90. Tropical birds: MACAWS.

92. Tidies: NEATENS.

94. Keyed instruments: PIANOS.

95. Met topper: OPERA HAT.

97. Cold War satellites, briefly: SSRS. Soviet Socialist Republics

98. Squat target, for short: GLUTE.

99. Artificial tear: EYE DROP.

101. O Magazine mogul: OPRAH.

105. Struck (out): X'ED.

106. Brief December celebration: XMAS. And 12. December costume: SANTA SUIT. Missing our own Santa. 

109. By way of: VIA.

110. Agrees (to): CONSENTS.

117. Vader, as a boy: ANI.

118. Turn over __ leaf: A NEW.

122. Shiba __: INU.

123. Daughter of Cronus: HERA.

127. "That is a __ to take in": LOT.

128. Right on the map: EAST.

129. Manner of speaking: IDIOM.

130. Indifferent to right and wrong: AMORAL.

131. Before, in old odes: ERE.

132. Unleash: FREE.

133. Swarms (with): TEEMS.

134. Act as a go-between: LIAISE. I always associate this word with Kissinger. 

Down:

1. __ chic: BOHO.

2. Not written down: ORAL.

3. Electrician's supply: WIRE.

4. "Me too": SO DO I.

5. Raised trains: ELS.

6. Take back: RECALL.

7. Scant: SPARSE.

8. Wall St. figure: ARB. Arbitrator. 

9. First sign of fall: LIBRA.

10. Field mice: VOLES.

11. Former pitcher Hershiser: OREL.

13. Five Nations members: ONEIDAS.

14. Pt. of NYU: UNIV.

15. Set apart: LONE.

16. The Thinker's sculptor: RODIN.

17. Nautical "Halt!": AVAST.

18. Loses on purpose: TANKS.

24. Saxophone insert: REED.

30. Butterfield of "Sex Education": ASA.

31. One with a gravelly voice: RASPER.

34. Ancient Andean: INCAN.

37. Gut bacteria: E COLI.

38. Navigation acronym: LORAN. Long Range Navigation.

39. Field-to-table, say: FRESH.

41. "Poppycock!": BAH.

42. Had an edge: LED.

45. Staff members: NOTES.

47. Brie of "GLOW": ALISON.

48. Musicians who may be accompanied by tabla and tambura players: SITARISTS. Left to right: sitar, tabla and tambura.

50. Pronto: ASAP.

51. __ monster: GILA.

52. Site for artisans: ETSY.

54. Steeple: SPIRE.

55. In use: BUSY.

56. Sound from a flock: AMEN. Now I just cross my arms for a blessing (rather than receiving the Eucharist) and say "Amen". In my innocent days while accompanying Boomer, I'd eat the host and said "Thank you" to Father Charlie. 

61. Flower holder: VASE.

64. "__ chic!": TRES.

66. Encourage: FOSTER.

68. Make perky: PEP UP.

71. Melt together: FUSE.

72. Transgresses: ERRS. Father Charlie never corrected me though. 

73. Like some flaws: FATAL.

74. Toy that's more than tickled pink: ELMO.

75. Spring: LEAP.

76. Nutmeg spice: MACE.

80. PC OS choice: LINUX.

81. Chew the scenery: EMOTE.

82. Given medicine: DOSED. Need to see the RA doctor again soon. And my regular infusion. 

84. Least cooked: RAREST.

86. Rather complicated: INTRICATE.

88. "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" actor Mount: ANSON.

91. "That's all __ wrote": SHE.

93. Cleopatra biter: ASP.

96. Unfavorable: ADVERSE.

100. Wine cask wood: OAK.

102. Old Testament book: PSALMS.

103. Actress Russo: RENE.

104. Bear or hare: ANIMAL.

106. Case for Scully and Mulder: X FILE.

107. Grand estate: MANOR.

108. Not quite right?: ACUTE. Angle-wise.

110. Unrefined: CRUDE.

111. Actor/activist Davis: OSSIE.

112. Pago Pago's land: SAMOA.

114. Many a cookbook author: CHEF.

115. When repeated, cry of approval: HEAR.

116. Radiate: EMIT.

119. Onigiri seaweed: NORI. This is Chinese nori. We call zi cai. 

120. Noted times: ERAS.

121. "The Pitt" actor Noah: WYLE.

125. URL ending: COM.

126. Classic record label: EMI.

C.C.