Sunday August 19, 2018 Mike Torch

Theme: "Loaf Affair"- Bread puns.

27A. Bread worshipers?: NAAN BELIEVERS. Non-believers. Unusual to see a themer starting in Row 4 rather than the traditional Row 3.

41A. Musical composition about a bread-loving pack animal?: PITA AND THE WOLF. Peter and the Wolf.

51A. Bread joke-teller's trait?: RYE SENSE OF HUMOR. Wry sense of humor.

73A. Celebratory wish over Jewish bread?: HAPPY CHALLAH DAY. Happy holiday.

81A. Ibsen title character's bread?: PEER GYNT'S WHEAT. Peer Gynt Suite.

96A. "Sorry, I meant to give you a plain burger"?: NO BUN INTENDED. No pun intended.

16D. Bread that only appears for a short time?: CAMEO ROLLS. Cameo roles.

66D. Bread with a winelike aroma?: NOSE SCONES. Nose cones.

Great to see Mike Torch back. He's a veteran constructor who has made many puzzles for the New York Times and LA Times.

We've seen food puns, but I don't recall one theme specifically focused on bread. Such a tight set of entries.
 
Across:

1. Breaks off: STOPS. Then 10. Kicks off: OPENS.

6. Window framework: SASH.

15. Cake-finishing artist: ICER. 70. 15-Across co-worker: BAKER. Is there really an ICER in a bakery?

19. Dugout, for one: CANOE. Nice clue.

20. Either of matching words, in a way: Abbr.: ANAG. OK, anagram.

21. Home to the Palazzo della Ragione: PADUA. Gary probably visited this place.

22. Pew area: NAVE.

23. Flopped financially: ATE IT. Tiny clue/answer dupe with  45. Disaster movie?: FLOP.

24. '60s protest slogan: BAN THE BOMB.

26. In: AMID.

29. In a dishonorable manner: BASELY.

31. Makes serious demands on: TAXES.

32. __ Geo: cable channel: NAT.

33. Source of intolerance: LACTOSE. Many Asians are lactose-intolerant, though the percentage shocks me.

34. Frequent savers: GOALIES. Oh, hi, Splynter!

37. Time div.: MIN.

39. "One of Ours" Pulitzer-winning author: CATHER.

40. Kick out: EXPEL.

46. Cooped-up critters: HENS.

47. Arms carriers?: TORSI. Another great clue.

49. Concerns: CARES.

50. Adjective for rapper Kim: LIL.

54. Diet including wild fruit: PALEO. I could not imagine a diet without carbs.

56. Vote in favor: YEA.

57. Music and art genre: FOLK.

58. "Lemme __!": AT 'EM.

59. Confines: PENS UP.

60. Two-time A.L. Manager of the Year Francona, familiarly: TITO.

61. Ballet movements: PLIES.

63. Cougar, e.g., briefly: MERC.

64. Declining due to age: SENILE.

67. Harbor view spot: PIER. Boomer and I were here in 2001.

68. Ore source: SEAM.

69. Easy sequence?: ABC.

72. Norwegian capital: KRONE. And 48. Norwegian capital: OSLO

77. "__ yours": "My gift": IT'S. And 78. Gift recipient: DONEE.

79. Big hits: BELTS.

80. NASA approvals: AOKS.

85. Stop in Québec?: ARRET.

86. Immerses in liquid: SOUSES.

87. Get it wrong: ERR.

88. Insurance company founded for rural workers: FARMERS. Learning moment for me.

90. Takes back: RECANTS.

92. Like some discount mdse.: IRR. Do you have Marshalls in your area? I love browsing there.

94. Left-hand page: VERSO.

95. King in "The Tempest": ALONSO.

102. El __: NINO.

103. Orchestra section: PERCUSSION.

106. Jenna, to Jeb: NIECE.

107. Nerd: GEEK.

108. Folding declaration: I'M OUT.

109. Cosmo rival: ELLE.

110. Europop's __ Base: ACE OF.

111. Besides: ELSE.

112. Bottomless gulf: ABYSS.

113. Passing out at the table?: DEAL. I was picturing something scary.

114. Golf Channel analyst Wadkins: LANNY. Left. He was at 3M last year.

Down:

1. Doctor's order: SCAN. Boomer wants to just deal with this left shoulder pain (rotator cuff problem) rather than having surgery.

2. Part of TTFN: TATA.

3. Most eligible for service: ONE A.

4. Ineffective: POINTLESS.

5. Put a price on freedom?: SET BAIL. Lovely clue.

6. Fine furs: SABLES.

7. Writer Nin: ANAIS.

8. Reasonable: SANE.

9. "Fixer Upper" network: HGTV.

10. Verdi creation: OPERA.

11. L.A.-based brewery: PABST.

12. Tokyo, formerly: EDO. Watched quite a few dramas set in Edo period.

13. O.T. book: NUM.

14. Religious observances: SABBATHS.

15. Fretful: IN A STEW.

17. Harmful aspects: EVILS.

18. Try a new shade on: REDYE. And 25. Salon coloring: HENNA.

28. Program file suffix: EXE. I must have drove D-Otto/TTP out of their mind last week by failing to access the Safe Mode. But I failed forward. I learned something.

30. Masseuse's target: ACHE.

33. "See ya!": LATER.

34. Architect Frank: GEHRY. Guggenheim Museum (Bilbao)

35. Yellow-and-white daisy: OXEYE.

36. Sleep study subject: APNEA.

37. Soybean paste: MISO. Yeah, to natives and those in the know (as Yellowrocks), Miso is just paste, not soup. The soup is always called "Miso soup".

38. "Do __ you must": IT IF.

39. PC insert: CD ROM.

41. Nursery sch.: PRE-K.

42. Sharp: ACUTE.

43. Mentions specifically: NAMES.

44. Place: LIEU.

47. U.S. security: T NOTE.

52. Option for a return: E-FILE.

53. Precarious: HAIRY.

54. Prefix with frost: PERMA.

55. Mandela's org.: ANC. African National Congress.

59. Bell sounds: PEALS.

60. Like the Oz woodsman: TIN.

61. Singing voice, informally: PIPES.

62. Looney Tunes stinker: LE PEW.

63. Soften in feeling: MELT.

64. Hop-jump link: SKIP.

65. Art Deco artist: ERTE. Jazzbumpa is another ERTE (R/T). His real name is Ron Toth.

67. Breathes hard: PANTS.

68. Ocean feature: SALT.

69. Worship: ADORE.

71. Dermatologists' concerns: CYSTS.

73. Refines: HONES.

74. "Good buddy": CBER.

75. Pick up: HEAR.

76. Blues musician's "harp": HARMONICA.

78. Literally, Greek for "bad place": DYSTOPIA. Good to know.

82. Lost Colony's island: ROANOKE. Another learning moment for me.

83. Big biceps, at the gym: GUNS.

84. Chef's supply: HERBS. One more clue/answer dupe.  88. Aromatic herb: FENNEL. Cilantro is the only fresh herb most Chinese use.

85. London football club: ARSENAL.

89. Part of MoMA: ART.

90. Span: RANGE.

91. The senior Saarinen: ELIEL. Father of crossword stalwart EERO.

92. Ear bone: INCUS.

93. Opposites of squeakers, in sports: ROUTS.

94. Davis with an Oscar, Emmy and two Tonys: VIOLA. Classy lady.

97. Employed: USED.

98. Luxor's river: NILE. Luxor is also the avatar name of a bygone poster on our blog. Luxor enjoyed attacking others.

99. Cook Paula: DEEN.

100. B-school course: ECON.

101. Rebel against: DEFY.

104. Diplomatic bldg.: EMB. Here is US Embassy in Beijing.

105. Pop artist Lichtenstein: ROY.

C.C.

Sunday, August 12, 2018 Gary Larson

Theme: "Sounds Like a Snooze" - S sound is changed into Z sound.

23A. Liquor store?: BUZZ DEPOT. Bus depot.

25A. Feeding time for the herd?: GRAZE PERIOD. Grace period.

46A. Caribbean island chain?: CAYS BY CAYS. Case by case.

67A. Make change for a five?: GIVE THE ONES OVER. Give the once over.

93A. Funding for cops?: FUZZ BUDGET. Fussbudget.

115A. "No legumes for me, please"?: KEEP THE PEAS. Keep the peace.

117A. Slept through the alarm?: OVER-DOZED. Overdosed.

16D. Much-admired cooktop?: PRIZE RANGE. Price range.

73D. Withhold enthusiasm?: HARBOR ZEAL. Harbor seal.

No label in our blog for Gary Larson. Must be his LA Times debut. Congrats, Gary!

I learned last year that S after vowels are pronounced like z sound. S after consonants are S, thanks to D-Otto and dear Santa. I always pronounced PEAS the same as PIECE.

Total 9 Z's. This alone makes gridding a bit tougher.

Across:

1. Door feature: KNOB.

5. Butcher shop section: SLAB.  Here is a Chinese butcher shop.

9. Minor: LESSER.

15. Bridge: SPAN.

19. "American Gigolo" star: GERE (Richard). Did not fully under the movie when I watched it years ago.

20. Pocket often filled: PITA. Great clue.

21. Get there: ARRIVE.

22. First name at Woodstock: ARLO.

27. Post-Thanksgiving dinner feeling, for many: FOOD COMA. Boomer made tasty fried chicken with this breading the other day.

28. City near Düsseldorf: ESSEN.

29. Bring down: RAZE.

30. Dante's half-dozen: SEI. Triple due.

31. L.A. Clippers' org.: NBA.

33. Disqualify (oneself), as a judge: RECUSE.

35. One of many on most phones: APP.

38. Second Amendment concern: FIREARMS.

43. Kicks out, in a way: DEPORTS. Sensitive word.

49. Hydroelectric project: DAM.

51. Capital NNW of Albany: OTTAWA.

52. Home subcontractor: TILER. Do you have Plumb Right in your area? Our bathroom tiles leak, but they want us to replace the bathtub as well. We declined. Been using some makeshift measure.

53. Literary tribute: ODE.

54. Gets promoted: RISES.

56. Like neat freaks: ANAL. Glad Rich allows it in grids these days.

57. Ravaged by time: AGE-WORN.

59. Updates, as a reference book: RE-ISSUES.

62. Actress Scala: GIA. Hi, nice to meet you!

63. __ oil: SESAME. We never stir-fry with sesame oil. Always a few drops in salad or soup.

64. Sound file extension: WAV.

65. 2007 Will Smith sci-fi flick: I AM LEGEND.

71. Itemized deductions form: SCHEDULE A.

74. Yellow Sea peninsula: Abbr.: KOR. Korea.

75. Phrase often abbreviated: ET ALIA.

79. Spat suffix: ULA.

80. Paul's letters: EPISTLES.

82. Trash collectors: ASHCANS.

83. Good sound at the garage: PURR.

85. Hodgepodges: OLIOS. I use Olio as part of my Subject Line at times.

86. Flower starter: BUD. I love Katie's True Lilies. So sorry about the fall, TTP! Did you beat last year's champ at the outing?

88. Property owner's income: RENTS.

89. Insurgency troops: REBELS.

92. Back at sea?: AFT.

95. Reclusive: ASOCIAL. I've become one.

97. Rats: STOOLIES.

99. Trains over roads: ELS.

100. Use as support: REST ON.

102. Cartoon collectible: CEL.

103. Some laptops: HPS.

106. "Master of None" star Ansari: AZIZ. He made me laugh. Hope he bounces back soon.

107. Many a Bob Marley fan: RASTA.

110. Toy mentioned in "The Chipmunk Song": HULA HOOP.

119. Phi Delt, e.g.: FRAT.

120. Discomfort: UNEASE.

121. Gather: REAP.

122. Ness' feds: T MEN.

123. News pg. units: COLS. Column.

124. Co-star of TV's "Dr. Kildare": MASSEY. Unfamiliar to me. I just realized I confused Dr. Kildare with Dr. Kimble.

125. Drops off: NAPS.

126. First name in desserts: SARA.

Down:

1. Cold War gp.: KGB.

2. Nice nine?: NEUF. Just French for "nine".

3. Ricelike pasta: ORZO.

4. Amazon founder: BEZOS (Jeff). And 34. 4-Down, e.g.: CEO. His name is not as crossword-friendly as ELON. 

5. Spell out: SPECIFY.

6. Cosmetic surg. option: LIPO.

7. Bit of physics: ATOM.

8. React, barely: BAT AN EYE.

9. California-based shoe company: LA GEAR. Never worn their shoes. You?

10. Bungles it: ERRS.

11. Span. titles: SRAS.

12. Jeweler's fitting tool: SIZER. Learning moment for me.

13. Smoothed: EVENED.

14. Agent: REP.

15. City south of Tampa: SARASOTA.

17. Burn balm: ALOE. My plant died, but I was able to cut one leaf and tested the juice. Made me itch. Will stick with Trader Joe's aloe vera gel.

18. Silent signal: NOD.

24. '50s political monogram: DDE.

26. Blow: ERUPT.

32. __-relief: BAS.

35. Serve in the capacity of: ACT AS.

36. He pitched in the majors at age 59: PAIGE (Satchel). The power of hot shower!

37. Gomer and Goober of old TV: PYLES.

39. Computer symbol: ICON.

40. "Awesome!": RAD.

41. Year Columbus' fourth and last voyage began: MDII. 1502.

42. More impertinent: SASSIER.

44. Clemens, familiarly: TWAIN (Mark). Samuel, not Roger.

45. __ fork: SALAD

47. Waste: SEWAGE.

48. Trite comment: BROMIDE. New word to me also.

50. Small plateaus: MESAS.

54. Takes back: REVOKES.

55. Sport for heavyweights: SUMO. You can't succeed in that sport being a 200-pounder. Double up!

58. Gun, as an engine: REV UP.

59. "Norma __": RAE.

60. Fabled northern workers: ELVES.

61. Transparent, informally: SEE-THRU.

64. Alternative scenarios: WHAT IFS.

66. Favored: GRACED.

68. Former Belgian prime minister Di Rupo: ELIO. Forgot. We had him before. Wiki says he was "Belgium's first Prime Minister of non-Belgian descent, and the world's second openly gay head of government in modern times".

69. Edison contemporary: TESLA. Also 77. Silicon Valley giant: INTEL.

70. Rejections: NOS.

71. Old Toyota: SUPRA.

72. Hints: CLUES.

76. "Tootsie" Oscar winner: LANGE.

78. Staff members: Abbr.: ASSTS.

81. 1990s-2000s Senate majority leader: LOTT (Trent). He resigned due to an insensitive remark.

82. Axlike tool: ADZE.

84. Box office: RECEIPTS.

86. Megaphone kin: BULLHORN.

87. Special forces weapon: UZI.

90. "Mephisto Waltz" composer: LISZT.

91. Idled: SAT.

93. Other side: FOE.

94. C equivalents: B SHARPS.

96. Ochoa who was the top-ranked female golfer when she retired: LORENA. She was at the 2008 US Open held here in MN, but Natalie Gulbis drew the biggest crowd. Natalie always does.

98. Dublin-born playwright: O'CASEY (Sean)

101. Scruffs: NAPES.

104. High deg.: PHD.

105. Blackens, in a way: SOOTS.

106. Flight prefix: AERO.

108. Overwhelming quantities: SEAS. Yeah, I still pronounce the last S as S, not Z. Just can't change the habit.

109. Electrify, in a way: TASE.

111. Eye layer: UVEA.

112. Logical omission: LEAP.

113. Baum princess: OZMA. Princess Ozma. Of Oz.

114. Jury member: PEER.

115. Prominent poultry purveyor: KFC.

116. Run smoothly: HUM.

118. It's in our genes: DNA.

C.C.

Sunday August 5, 2018 Bruce Haight

Theme:"Anabrands"- The brand name is anagrammed in each theme entry.

24A. Company covering the ninth of Salinger's "Nine Stories"?: LAST TALE INSURANCE. Allstate Insurance.

32A. Company providing stimulation before a round?: GOLFER'S COFFEE. Folgers Coffee.

51A. Company for ones who love taking sides?: I ADORE POTATOES. Idaho Potatoes. Surprised to see BOISE IDAHO (74D. Capital south of a panhandle) in the same grid. (Correction: Ore-Ida Potatoes, Thanks, everyone!)

66A. Company that bugs people?: NOSY ELECTRONICS. Sony Electronics

82A. Company that moves a lot of cash?: LARGE FLOWS BANK. Wells Fargo bank. In big trouble.

101A. Company named for its product container?: IN A CARTON MILK. Carnation Milk.

110A. Company dealing "frankly" with campaign issues?: MAYOR'S RACE WIENERS. Oscar Mayer Wieners.

Veteran solvers know that Bruce loves anagram gimmick. Today's puzzle is a great example of his style, sense of humor and high standard in fill.

The puzzle only has 140 words and 66 black squares, but the fill is so sparkly and clean.

No cheater!! 

Across:

1. Muppet chimp __ Minella: SAL.

4. "Patience you must have" speaker: YODA.

8. Text for a promo: AD COPY.

14. Unit of weight: CARAT.

19. Biblical priest: ELI.

20. Steady: EVEN.

21. First name in the 2016 campaign: BERNIE. Feel the Bern!

22. Informed: AWARE.

23. Track circuit: LAP.

27. Spur on: IMPEL.

29. White wine apéritif: KIR.  Flavored with cassis.

30. TRS-80s, e.g.: PCS.

31. __ of interest: PERSON.

36. Belief system: CREDO.

37. Robot arms don't have them: ULNAE. New clue angle.

38. Camera lens feature: IRIS.

39. Like a D, gradewise: POOR.

40. Subway posting: MAP.

43. Madame Bovary: EMMA. Read it at college. Touched me deeply.

45. Bankrolled: STAKED.

47. Acronymic distress about being excluded from the fun: FOMO. Fear of Missing Out.

48. Leery of: ONTO.

49. Opening feature: POP TOP.

54. "__ got it!": I'VE.

55. Fax button: SEND.

57. Toss in: ADD.

58. Look down on, figuratively: SPIT AT.

59. Brain areas: CEREBRA. Plural of cerebrum.

61. Green, in a way: ENVIOUS.

65. Rilke works: POEMS.

69. "Real Time" host: MAHER (Bill). Way too left-leaning.

72. Canadian site of the 1988 Winter Olympics: ALBERTA. Where were you in 1988?

73. Tiny and shapeless: AMOEBIC.

77. Timeless, in verse: ETERNE.

79. '60s chic: MOD.

80. __ page: OPED.

81. Acapulco gold: ORO.

87. Like some surveys: AERIAL.

89. Card sounding like a platter: TREY.

90. Christmas lot selection: FIRS.

91. "Little House" family name: OLESON. Unknown to me.

93. Spent: USED.

94. Shirley MacLaine, to Warren Beatty: SIS.

95. Ump's cry: SAFE.

96. Big heap: SLEW.

97. Cartoon genre: ANIME.

99. Trace of color: TINCT. Odd, spell check does not like this word.

105. Old marketplaces: AGORAE.

107. United: ONE.

108. Moll's limb: GAM.

109. Grammy winner Gorme: EYDIE.

115. Even a little: ANY.

116. Overhead concern?: OZONE. Nice clue.

117. Emotionally out of control: CRAZED. Reminds me of a favorite movie test D-Otto sent me.

118. Runs on: GABS.

119. Laugh starter: HEE.

120. Author Theodor __ Geisel: SEUSS.

121. Helpful holdings: ASSETS.

122. Nobelist Wiesel: ELIE.

123. Not even: ODD. 

Down:

1. Former MLB exec Bud: SELIG. Not liked here. He tried to contract Twins long ago.

2. Dollar rival: ALAMO.

3. Beauty product for kissers: LIP PLUMPER. Kylie Jenner has built an empire over lip-plumping products.

4. First female Fed head Janet: YELLEN.

5. Eggs in a lab: OVA.

6. An in-box might be part of one: DESK SET.

7. Shenanigan: ANTIC.

8. Legal gp.: ABA.

9. Penn. neighbor: DEL.

10. Brunch fare: CREPES. These are Chinese crepes. They're called Jian Bing.

11. In the cooler: ON ICE.

12. Money-dispensing needs: PINS.

13. "Suh-weet!": YES. Here is my Husker T-shirt.

14. More than a job: CAREER.

15. Tony, for one: AWARD. We have an AWARD on our blog!

16. Pasted message, stereotypically: RANSOM NOTE. Great fill.

17. Oil acronym: ARCO.

18. Many a gamer: TEEN.

25. Three-horse carriage: TROIKA.

26. Dislodges: UPROOTS.

28. Key of Beethoven's "Eroica": E FLAT.

33. Silky-voiced crooners they are not: RASPERS.

34. One of the Weasley twins: FRED. Santa would have nailed it.

 

35. Dog tag?: FIDO. Cute.

36. Italy's Lake __: COMO.

39. Wham! or Roxette: POP DUO.

41. Elite crew: A TEAM.

42. Blog series: POSTS. Like our daily blog write-up.

43. Awesome: EPIC.

44. Formally propose: MOVE.

46. Support: AID.

47. Film noir hat: FEDORA.

48. Serving no purpose: OTIOSE. Not a word I use.

50. "Look Back in Anger" playwright John: OSBORNE. New to me also.

52. "Nick of Time" singer: RAITT.

53. Software details: APP CODE. Not a familiar term to me.

56. "Glee" actress Rivera: NAYA.

60. Get-up-and-go: ENERGY.

61. They're rubbed when mingling: ELBOWS. Great clue.

62. Calls for: NEEDS.

63. DVD forerunner: VCR.

64. Piece of cake: SNAP.

67. "Get Shorty" novelist __ Leonard: ELMORE. Not sure why " ___ " is used in the clue. He's quite famous.

68. Unequivocal refusal: I MEAN NO.

69. Softens: MELTS.

70. '70s breakout gaming company: ATARI.

71. Toast for Mrs. Robinson: HERE'S TO YOU.

75. "Dies __": IRAE.

76. How vichyssoise is usually served: COLD. Yellowrocks' specialty.

78. Wipes out: EFFACES.

80. Stamps of approval: OKS.

83. Pilfer: LIFT.

84. Whirled weapon: BOLA.

85. First portrayer of Obi-Wan: ALEC. Guinness.

86. Meditative genre: NEW AGE.

88. Gin __: RUMMY.

92. Kind of cookie: OATMEAL.

95. Catches: SNARES.

96. Cold outburst: SNEEZE.

98. Actually existing: IN ESSE.

100. Most clubs in a pro's bag: IRONS. You can carry 14 clubs in your bag. I only used a 7 iron and a putter in my first few rounds of golf.

101. Andean people: INCAS.

102. Scope: RANGE.

103. Like much loose-leaf paper: LINED.

104. Focused (on): KEYED.

105. Cookie monster?: AMOS. I get the direction, but not sure "monster" is apt.

106. Look steadily: GAZE.

107. Tools in locks: OARS.

111. Early TV maker: RCA.

112. Caught in the rain without an umbrella, say: WET. It rained a lot yesterday at 3M Championship.

113. Bouncer's requests: IDS.

114. Ballpark fig.: RBI.

JD is enjoying her annual family vacation in Kauai. Here are two sweet pictures of her grandsons.

Sunday July 29, 2018 Victor Barocas

Theme: "Make Circles"- The circled letters are all car makes. The clue only refers to the second word in each theme entry.

21A. Coleoptera insect: VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE.

31A. Much of western Queensland: SUBARU OUTBACK.

43A. Gazelle cousin: CHEVROLET IMPALA.

65A. Type of center: HONDA CIVIC.

68A. Spring sign: FORD TAURUS.

84A. Long-distance exploration program: PLYMOUTH VOYAGER.

101A. Musical work: HYUNDAI SONATA.

112A. Scotland native: TOYOTA HIGHLANDER.

Victor gave us another puzzle with a fresh twist. Without the circles and its "Make Circles" title, this would be just another "listy" puzzle.

I wonder why "make" for cars but "brand" for everything else. "What's your favorite make of peanut butter" sounds odd.

Across:

1. Agreed: JIBED.

6. Compressed video format: MPEG. Moving Picture Experts Group.

10. Altar constellation: ARA.

13. Reach 22, in a game: BUST. Blackjack.

17. Features of Byzantine domes: OCULI. Plural of "oculus".

18. Retro diet, to put it mildly: PALEO. Sounds better than the Keto diet quite a few people follow.

19. Keaton role in "The Founder": KROC. Unaware of the film. Michael Keaton. Ray Kroc.

20. Sufficient, to the Bard: ENOW.

24. Stir (up): RILE.

25. Copier copy: Abbr.: ENL. Enlarged.

26. "Queen of Salsa" Cruz: CELIA.

27. Quaker cereal: LIFE.

28. Instrument in George Harrison's "Within You Without You": SITAR.

29. Beats soundly: DRUBS.

35. Select: CHOOSE.

37. Human-beast portmanteau: MANIMAL. Man and animal. New to me.

38. Gaggle members: GEESE. Boomer fed them fresh popcorn last time. The geese seemed to love the treat.

39. Flabbergast: DAZE.

40. Basic shelter: LEAN TO.

42. Blacken: CHAR.

48. Moscow Olympics mascot: MISHA.

 

52. Sage: WISE.

53. One spotted at the zoo: LEOPARD.

55. Highlands headgear: TAM.

56. Theodore Cleaver, casually: BEAV.

58. Like Ophelia, ultimately: MAD.

61. Two-time Conn Smythe Trophy winner: ORR. Wiki says "The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the most valuable player during the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs." Learning moment for me.

62. "We're approved!": IT'S A GO.

70. Activist Davis: ANGELA.

71. Styled after: ALA.

72. Scientist with 19 Emmys: NYE. All with PBS's  "Bill Nye the Science Guy".

73. Sink one's teeth into: BITE. Have any of you tried the Korean cold noodles? I always eat the pear slices first. So good. Asian pears are very juicy.

74. Feel remorse over: RUE.

75. "Jabberwocky" word meaning "evening": BRILLIG. No idea.

79. Pride event abbr.: LGBT.

81. Faith with pillars: ISLAM.

90. Math points: LOCI.

92. Virtual human companion: NEOPET. Wiki said it's "an online cross of Pokémon and Tamagotchi".

93. Joker's prey: BUTT.

94. Ducks with a distinctive blue-green coloring: TEALS.

96. Won't take no for an answer: INSISTS.

99. Ill will: MALICE.

103. Like businesses on Yelp: RATED.

104. Massive hunters: ORCAS.

105. Pilgrim to Mecca: HAJI.

106. When repeated, #5 on Rolling Stone's 2007 list of "40 Songs That Changed the World": LOUIE.

108. Bitter __: END.

111. E-ZPass payment: TOLL.

116. Sooner State city: ENID.

117. "__-daisy!": UPSY.

118. Lloyd or Paul of Cooperstown: WANER. Forgot. We had this name before.

119. River to Lyon: SAONE.

120. Mother of Pollux: LEDA.

121. General on menus: TSO.

122. Border: EDGE.

123. Vandalized, in a way: EGGED.

Down:

1. Roman god of the sky: JOVE. Roman name for Zeus.

2. App symbol: ICON.

3. Level for building, as land: BULLDOZE.

4. Moose kin: ELK.

5. Decathlon event: DISCUS. Decathlon consists of four runs, three jumps and three throws. Who do you think is the greatest athlete ever?

6. Christmas trio: MAGI.

7. Mood-brightening: PLEASANT.

8. Gloaming, in verse: EEN.

9. Hunk: GOB.

10. Like Dickens' Dodger: ARTFUL.

11. Battle on a log: ROLEO. Log-rolling. Sort of combo word of Roll and Rodeo.

12. Low card in a wheel straight: ACE.

13. B-deficiency illness: BERI BERI. Wiki says "Historically, beriberi was associated with a diet including much polished rice (white rice)...."  Yeah, I like Wiki as much as Yellowrocks does.

14. Baltimore NFL great: UNITAS.

15. Comfort: SOLACE.

16. Shake it on the dance floor: TWERK. Associate this word with Miley Cyrus.

18. Buds: PALS.

19. Knightley of "Bend It Like Beckham": KEIRA.

22. Cub Scout badge: WEBELOS. I just learned that this word is an acronym: "We'll Be Loyal Scouts".

23. Ancient pre-Iranian civilization: ELAM. Never heard of it.

28. Engine power source: STEAM.

30. Major 1973 decision: ROE V WADE. Great fill.

32. No later than: UNTIL.

33. Ecological community: BIOME.

34. "Yuck!": UGH.

35. Govt. health org.: CDC.

36. Triumphant laugh: HAH.

37. West in old movies: MAE.

41. Varnish ingredient: ELEMI. The plural form is a luxury skincare brand.

42. Train unit: CAR.

44. Be equivalent to: RIVAL.

45. Magic act sound: POOF.

46. Shirt protector: APRON. Do you wear an apron when cooking?

47. Emmy winner David: LARRY. Notably "Seinfeld" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm"

49. Opening: START.

50. Site of many Dutch embassies, with "The": HAGUE.

51. "Famous" snack guy: AMOS.

54. Morse "E": DIT.

56. Earnings booster: BONUS.

57. Tannenbaum topper: ENGEL. German for "angel". Tannenbaum is German term for fir tree.

59. Use: AVAIL.

60. Humdinger: DILLY.

63. Striped cat: TABBY.

64. Apt: SUITABLE.

65. Big name in WWI espionage: HARI. Mata. Very pretty.

66. Wine lover's word: CAB. Cabernet.

67. Problem for a sloop: CALM. Needs wind.

69. Dig (into): DELVE.

76. Troy, N.Y., school: RPI. Spitzboov & Irish Miss.

77. Ancient region of present-day Turkey: IONIA.

78. Unregistered user: GUEST.

80. Received an AOL message: GOT MAIL.

82. Longtime host of "Scientific American Frontiers": ALAN ALDA.

83. Shapes: MOLDS.

85. Coming to: TOTALING.

86. Some calculators: HPS.

87. Helper with a harness: GUIDE DOG. Another great fill.

88. And the rest: Abbr.: ETC.

89. I-5, e.g.: RTE.

91. NC joined it in 1861: CSA.

94. Power in old films: TYRONE.

95. "Elements" writer: EUCLID.

96. Parental argument ender: I SAY SO. After "Because".

97. "But there is __ in Mudville ... ": NO JOY.

98. Annoyed state: SNIT. Followed by 100. Relaxed: AT EASE.

101. Monopoly miniature: HOTEL.

102. Makers of many links: IHOPS.

103. Essen's river: RUHR.

107. S-shaped molding: OGEE.

109. Hawaii's state bird: NENE. It sounds like "You, You" in Cantonese.

110. 1857 plaintiff Scott: DRED.

112. His relics were the subject of a 1970s Met exhibit: TUT.

113. Niagara Falls reaction: AWE.

114. Suffered from: HAD.

115. Hound: NAG.

C.C.