Monday September 29, 2015 Taylor Johnson

Howdy! It''s RustyBrain and we've made it halfway through sumdaze's absence. I sure miss her!

Taylor Johnson is playing with his food today, despite his mom's scolding.

16A. *"Neato!": COOL BEANS.

38A. *Mensch: GOOD EGG.

9D. *Head honcho: TOP BANANA.

33D. *Influential person: BIG CHEESE.

63A. Marketing term for nutrient-rich fare, or what the answers to the starred clues are: SUPERFOOD. SUPERFOODs are nutrient-dense foods such as berries, leafy greens, nuts, whole grains and legumes. It's the good stuff we should eat more of. 

AWESOME theme; BAD fill. Too many proper names are a DRAG, and one of them sank me. I had "Wiener" instead of WEENIE and fixed the ending to IE, but left the I in place for iLIA. Grrr. Another possible Natick (in red on grid) was at the cross of KENDI and TALENTI, but I guessed right with an N. It didn't feel like Monday material.

On the plus side, I really liked the theme. Five common phrases, and they went in all directions. No wonder the rest relied on [im]proper answers. As I went through, I thought the reveal would have something to do with paleo. Many SUPERFOODS are part of a paleo diet, and all these happen to be ones in common.

So, it's a mixed grocery bag. Let's continue shopping:

Across:

1. Hushed "Hey, over here!": PSST. Be quiet! I'm getting PSST!

5. "What __ I supposed to do?": WAS. Past tense of my first try: AM I.

8. The Beehive State: UTAH. Here's how you can tell if a girl is from UTAH:

12. Flour for chapati and roti: ATTA. 

13. Director Kazan: ELIA. Name #1 (using the "Splynter Convention"). 

15. Love, in Italian: AMORE.

16. [theme]

18. Tangy bud in a piccata recipe: CAPER. Yummers!

19. Multiplex array: SCREENS. Multiplex array: CANDIES. Fun Fact: Movie candies often come in small boxes because they are quieter and make sharing easier, reducing spillage.

20. "Sorta": ISH.

22. Spoiled: BAD.

23. "How To Be an Antiracist" author Ibram X. __: KENDI. Name #2. Unknown, but he's a National Book Award winner and an important voice in anti-racism.

24. Indigenous name of Mount Rainier: TAHOMA. Name #3. "Sorta" knew.

26. Those people's: THEIR.

28. Bar purchases: ROUNDS. 

31. Italian model on the cover of many romance novels: FABIO. Name #4. Here he is about to be smacked in the face by a goose while riding a roller coaster at my old haunt, Busch Gardens Williamsburg. He should have honked.

34. Spiritual guide: GURU.

36. Move suddenly: DART. Was FABIO quicker than a goose? Alas, no. He required a few stitches on his nose.

37. Comedian Wong: ALI. Name #5. There's something funny about this one.

38. [theme].

41. Opposing vote: NAY.

42. Fireplace stack: LOGS.

44. Hankering: URGE.

45. Utility bill info: USAGE.

47. Pendant with a photo: LOCKET.

49. "Hamilton" actress Renée __ Goldsberry: ELISE. Name #6. NAY. Another unknown. I need to get out more.

51. Zedonk or zorse: HYBRID. A zedonk is a sterile hybrid offspring of a female donkey and a male zebra. The much rarer reverse cross—a male donkey and a female zebra—is called a "zonkey." Even though they look alike, please don't confuse them. They are very sensitive.

53. Loses, as fur: SHEDS.  Zebroids (the general term for HYBRIDs above) shed their thin summer coats in the fall and grow a thicker, shaggier winter coat. When spring arrives and daylight hours increase, they shed their striped pajamas to prepare for warmer weather.

56. "__ willikers!": GEE.

58. Spanish sun: SOL. That's odd. I always thought we shared the same sun. 

59. "Gnarly!": AWESOME. 

61. One-named "Skyfall" singer: ADELE. Name #7. I knew this because she only has one name to remember. 

63. [theme]

65. Yellowstone grazer: BISON. Yellowstone gazer: TOURIST.

66. Sailing: ASEA.

67. Like water surrounding a startled cuttlefish, maybe: INKY. This one's very scared.

68. Slow-cooker dish: STEW.

69. Burnable data-storage medium, for short: CD-R. CD-R stands for Compact Disc Recordable, and they can only be written on once. CD-RW is the Read/Write version that allows multiple recordings.

70. Golf pegs: TEES. 

Down:

1. Campaign support gps.: PACS. Political Action CommitteeS. 

2. Soup base: STOCK.

3. One of 500+ in the Mall of America: STORE. Because "screaming kids" didn't fit.

4. Gelato brand in clear jars with brown screw-top lids: TALENTI. Name #8. I don't STOCK up on this.

5. Hot dog, casually: WEENIE. 

6. "Sadly ... ": ALAS.

7. Sloth, for one: SIN. "What did I do to deserve this distinction?"

8. Actress Thurman: UMA. Name #9. She's tall, but famous around here for her short fill.

9. [theme]

10. Vicinity: AREA.

11. Group of buffalo: HERD. Unlike BISON who are seen but not HERD.

14. Nepal's continent: ASIA.

15. "Gesundheit" elicitor: ACHOO. Technically, the answer should be "hatschi," which is German onomatopoeia for the sneezing sound.

17. Sleeper who takes all the blankets: BED HOG. Here's double trouble; a bunk BED HOG!

21. "I dunno" gesture: SHRUG. 

24. Plodded: TRUDGED.

25. Coffee, slangily: MUD. Of all the slang expressions for coffee, MUD is the worst. It evokes stale coffee at work that's been sitting in the pot all day. 

27. "Young Frankenstein" assistant: IGOR. Name #10. Finally a fun one!

29. "What a __!": DRAG. Not sure why this has an exclamation point. I doubt anyone gets very excited about something that is tiresome. Unless, of course, they mean you're racing in a Top Fuel Funny Car!

30. Eyelid affliction: STYE.

31. Autumn: FALL.

32. Potatoes, in Indian cuisine: ALOO. Bench warmer "Potatoes" ALOO is the black sheep of the famous baseball family. 

33. [theme]

35. Instagram video: REEL.

39. Closing section of a song: OUTRO. As you suspected, it's at the opposite end of the intro.

40. Productive oil well: GUSHER.

43. Pie in the __: SKY. Pie in the FACE - because it's funnier!

46. Deems appropriate: SEES FIT.

48. "Breakfast at Tiffany's" actor Buddy: EBSEN. Name #11. Well known actor, but not from this 1961 film. "Let's see, it's Monday so I'll clue a minor role for a famous actor." I remember the movie, but not his immortal turn as Doc Golightly.

50. "Cross my heart!": I SWEAR.

52. "Casablanca" heroine: ILSA. Name #12. Common crossword fill, but still...

54. Lorna __ cookies: DOONE. Name #13. The cookies are named after the protagonist in the romance novel from 1869 because she loved shortbread cookies. I think. I confess I haven't read it.

55. Chimney output: SMOKE.

56. Chats on and on: GABS.It's a gift.

57. Revise a manuscript: EDIT.

59. Mimicked: APED.

60. "Grand" ice cream: EDY'S. Name #14. It's delicious but still a proper name.

62. Burner setting: LOW.

64. L.A. school: USC. University of Southern California. 

Tuesday, December 24th, 2024 ~ Taylor Johnson

Gifts for Girls and Boys!

When the girls were little, they'd get to OPEN one present from us on Christmas Eve.  On Christmas morning, they'd see what Santa brought (mostly unwrapped and built the night before).

In this Christmas Eve offering, Taylor gives us gifts that a trained eye will spot at the beginning of four answers.  Let's see what they are:

17a. Asset of a highly skilled individual: TRAINED EYE.

25a. Lizard with a misleading name: HORNY TOAD.

Cute little fella

47a. "The Nutcracker" performer: BALLERINA. Both Girls took ballet. For years, we schlepped -- at least one girl -- to four performances in December.

Source: Houston Ballet

61a. List of cheap eats: DOLLAR MENU.

And the reveal:
38a. Christmas morning activity, and what 17-, 25-, 47-, and 61-Across all have?: OPENING PRESENTS.

Each themer Opens with a Present!  Let's unwrap the rest of Taylor's gifts...

Across:

1. Casino ratios that favor the house: ODDS. The house always wins.

5. Button alternatives: SNAPS.

10. Sir equivalent: DAME. Sir Elton John [Colbert 18+m]; DAME Judi Dench. [Tracey Ullman 2:25]

14. Schnitzel meat option: PORK.

15. Holy scroll of Judaism: TORAH.

16. Gulf nation bordering Yemen: OMAN.

17. [See: theme]

19. Orange skin: RIND. I had peel 'cuz that's what I zest ;-)

20. Bend under pressure: SAG.

21. Provide a welcome distraction: AMUSE. I wonder if Dame Judi was AMUSEd by Tracey's sketch.

22. Door joint: HINGE.

23. Key NFL players: QBS. QuarterbackS

25. [See: theme]

27. Personal energy fields: AURAS.

29. Early investor's opportunity, briefly: IPO. Initial Public Offering.

30. Urgent entreaty: PLEA.

31. Home of the University of Oregon: EUGENE.

35. Settle on a chair: SIT.

38. [See: theme]

41. Large amount: TON.

42. Half step down from D natural: C SHARP.

Both Java and C# are programming languages (yes, I am a nerd)

43. Twilight time: DUSK.

44. Nat __: documentary channel: GEO.

45. Sticky, as the weather: MUGGY.

47. [See: theme]

53. Implore: BEG.

54. Opera soliloquies: ARIAS.

55. Like Thor and Odin: NORSE. Thems NORSE gods.

57. Tupperware topper: LID. Mom was a Tupperware lady for a while. I learned how to burp the lid at parties :-).

Mom was no Brownie Wise

60. Mercedes-__: BENZ. Janis Joplin* sang about this German auto maker.

61. [See: theme]

63. Olympic blade: EPEE.

64. Bit of inside info: INTEL.

65. Adorable: CUTE.

66. Shore thing?: SAND.

67. Gaggle members: GEESE.

68. Television ad: SPOT.

Down:

1. Votes (for): OPTS.

2. Cartoon explorer with a talking backpack: DORA. The Girls loved Dora cartoons.

3. Adore Delano or Plastique Tiara: DRAG QUEEN. Perps half filled this before it became obvi.

4. Traverse a black diamond slope, say: SKI.

Movie: Better Off Dead

5. Thorny rose part: STEM.

6. "Obviously!": NO DUH. Obvi.

7. "You __ welcome!": ARE SO.

8. Venmo user, maybe: PAYER. Venmo is an app to pay folks. My paper deliver put her Venmo on her tip request insert.

9. Pronoun option: SHE.

10. Cool Ranch chip: DORITO.

11. __ acid: AMINO.

12. Japanese comic style: MANGA.

L337 Translation:
Panel 1: "The Pain!"
Panel 2: "I need help!" and
"I need you to get the doctor. I got some bad pain in my chest.  I need my pills."
Panel 3:  Does anyone here speak "eleet"?
Panel 4: "Yes"
//told you I was a nerd ;-)

13. Stopped: ENDED.

18. Mars rover org.: NASA. The history of NASA's logos.

22. Amps (up): HYPES.

24. Muffin fiber: BRAN.
 

R.I.P. Phil Hartman

26. Prime-time hour: NINE PM. The SNL Players were not ready for Prime-time.

27. Pet aisle brand: ALPO.

28. Motion detector, e.g.: SENSOR.

30. Planter: POT.

32. Groaning sound: UGH.

33. College application fig.: GPA. Grade Point Average.

34. Go off course: ERR.

35. Get cozy together: SNUGGLE UP.

36. Teeny: ITSY.

37. "How naughty!": TSK.

39. Some slushies: ICEES.

40. Rim: EDGE.

44. Sticky, as a doughnut: GLAZED.

46. Cab alternative: UBER.

47. "__ in Toyland": Christmas classic: BABES.

48. Venezuelan snack: AREPA.

Yummers!

49. Summery material: LINEN.

50. Hole-__: golf feat: IN ONE.

51. Nick of "Affliction": NOLTE.

52. French city in many van Gogh paintings: ARLES.

56. Garage event: SALE.

58. "__ the Woods": Sondheim musical: INTO.

59. Couple's karaoke request: DUET.

61. Use a spade: DIG.

62. Hosts, for short: MCS. Emcees.

The Grid:

The Grid

Taylor gifted us a nice Tuesday puzzle fit for the holidays, Oui?

The skinny: WO: peel -> RIND
ESPs: N/A
Fav: A Mercedes-BENZ for Janis.*

Merry Christmas & Happy (start of) Hanukkah!
//If that's not your thing... Happy Festivus!

Cheers!, -T
*Story: Last New Year's, we visited DW's aunt in Tiburon, CA. We, however stayed in nearby Sausalito.
DW found this wonderful Air B&B.  During our stay, we learned that it was a house Janis Joplin had lived in.
One afternoon for lunch, we met up with DW's cousin (who lives in LA, CA) at The Trident (opened by the Kingston Trio!) that had a few pictures of Janis (and her car) on the walls... We even got to sit at Janis' regular table. How cool is that?

Wednesday, September 11th, 2024, Taylor Johnson

 FOOT PRINT

It is 7D. "fitting" that I be the blogger for September 11th - I was in Long Island, a mere 65 miles from the Word Trade Center during the attacks in 2001.  Taylor Johnson, last seen here at the corner with two Saturday themeless grids, has given us a grid with left-right "mirror" symmetry only, and I wonder if it was intentional that there are two "towers" of  10-letter Down fills on each side of the theme reveal.  No circles, more four-letter words than TLWs, and a lot of proper names, again.  Careful when you put your FOOT down on the themers;

19. *Withings product: BATHROOM SCALE -  I did not know what "Withings" was, but the theme reveal helped with the fill - and one item you may NOT care to acknowledge when you "step on it"

Sadly, this is me

22. *Construction toy piece: LEGO BLOCK - I had plenty of Lego growing up - the other item you may NOT care to feel when you "step on it"

YEEEOW~!

25. *Entryway rug: WELCOME MAT - I want this one for my front door 

Dare you 'step on it' ~?

28. *One of three under a baby grand: PIANO PEDAL - What the three pedals effect when played

she can walk all over me

37. "Go, go, go!," or an instruction one *may or may not* want to follow for

    the answers to the starred clues: STEP ON IT


And Away We Go~!

ACROSS:

1. Swear words: OATH  - my favorite is "d#f^j*k$@l&pf%ht"

5. Post-WWII alliance: OAS - Organization of American States - their website

8. Q-tip, e.g.: SWAB

12. Spanish : señora :: German : __: FRAU - When "Frau" appears in a puzzle, I must add this link

Blucher~!

13. Fold animals: SHEEP - not origami-related, had the "P" already, so a WAG on the animal "group"

more animal group names found here

15. Ponytail place: NAPE

16. Small amounts: TADS

17. Concur: AGREE

18. "Who __?": "ELSE~?"

23. Beach bag item: TOWEL - Douglas Adam's explanation on Towels

I have this towel

26. Susan of "The Partridge Family": DEY - name #1

27. Fatty acid, e.g.: LIPID

31. Made to resemble soft leather: SUEDED - check out my latest leather furniture addition

I now own a rocking/swivel/heat & massage RECLINER - It's official: I am "old"

33. "Make kind choices": "BE NICE."

34. Southern city where Cartoon Network has its HQ: ATLanta - name(ish)

35. Go from site to site, say: NET-SURF  - web browsing

39. Small batteries: AAs

40. Arena concert genre: ROCK - see 53A.

42. The first "M" of MGM: METRO - Goldwyn - Mayer; name(ish)

43. Latin years: ANNI - plural of anno

44. Fencing blade: FOIL - not ÉPÉE this time

46. Hoops stat: REBound

47. Scent: ODOR

48. "Hand it over!": "GIMME~!"

49. Tavern initials: IPA

50. Construction __: PAPER - used for origami~?

52. Keats piece: ODE - name(ish)

53. Musket attachment: BAYONET - Iron Maiden, arena rockers still going at 50yrs

The Trooper - You'll fire your musket / but I'll run you through

56. Quarterback Manning: ELI - name #2

57. Missing clownfish in a Pixar film: NEMO - name #3

59. Charged toward: RAN AT - see 53A.

60. Some handheld organizers, briefly: PDAs - Public Display of Assistant~?

Bell and WATSON~!

61. Bread served with saag paneer: NAAN

62. "Seven Samurai" and "Rashomon" director Kurosawa: AKIRA - George Lucas drew inspiration for Star Wars from him; his Wiki; name #4

63. Give five stars, say: RATE

64. Referencing: AS TO

65. Fly catchers?: MITTS - baseball reference, fly balls and gloves

66. Fútbol cheers: OLÉs


DOWN:

1. Much more than ne'er: OFT - more often than never

2. Many a Yemeni: ARAB - name(ish)

3. "Voilà!": "ta-DA~!"

4. Picked up the pace: HUSTLED

5. "What a relief!": "OH GOOD~!"

6. Oxygen-dependent organism: AEROBE - ah. a generic organism; good fill

7. Fitting: SEEMLY

8. Attend a movie without a ticket, say: SNEAK IN

9. Fenway's Green Monster, for one: WALL - I drove past the Green Monster last week on my way to doing field work; had to cut a new hatch into a chamber floor for a new set of pipes - here's the organ façade, seen from below

Trinity Church, Boston

10. Basilica area: APSE - speaking of churches....

11. Drone, e.g.: BEE - think "rank"

13. Puppeteer Tony: SARG - Never heard of him, name #5 - his Wiki

14. Mexican money: PESO

20. Hunt of "Twister": HELEN - name #6; I liked her in Mad About You and Cast Away, too

21. Symbol seen on viola sheet music: C CLEF

23. Old Russian leader: TSAR

24. Lacking inspiration: OUT OF IDEAS

29. "Same for me": "I CAN RELATE."

30. From South Asia, perhaps: DESI - I had to look this up - a new definition for me

32. Many a blue state sen.: DEMocrat

33. "Dude!": BRO~!

36. Glaze made with soy sauce and mirin: TERIYAKI -soy I know, and I have bought rice wine to make my General Tso's, did not know it was called "mirin"

38. Murals, park statues, etc.: URBAN ART - I tried ARTWORKS first

41. First name of bassists Gordon and Deal: KIM - Cool clue; Gordon from Sonic Youth, and Deal from the Pixies/Breeder; two other female bass players - Tal Wilkenfeld and Sean Yseult - name(s) #7

43. Poet laureate Limón: ADA - name #8

45. Syr. neighbor: LEBanon - name(ish)

47. Choose: OPT

48. Plannin' to: GONNA

51. Elevates: RISES - meh.  rAises sounds better

54. Composer Khachaturian: ARAM - no clue - more here; name #8

55. Car service predictions, for short: ETAs

58. Singer Yoko: ONO - name #9

60. For: PRO

Splynter

 

Notes from C.C.:

 

Happy birthday to dear Husker Gary, our creative Saturday guide, and my caring and generous friend. I look at this picture often. It was taken in August 2014 when Gary and his wife Joann visited Minneapolis for a wedding. I'll never forget the first time I heard his voice.

Left to Right: Boomer, Gary, C.C. & Joann

Tuesday, June 4, 2024 ~ Taylor Johnson

Party On!

Aurora, IL Party Animals

It took me a second for the party-penny to drop but each creature is proceeded by a type of party.

17. Vegetable patch pest: GARDEN SNAIL. Garden Party.

25. Feline who lives indoors: HOUSE CAT. House Party.

37. Workplace companion: OFFICE DOG. Office Party.

52. New York City rodent that went viral in 2015: PIZZA RAT. Pizza Party.

In case you missed the viral video

62. Really fun person, or an apt descriptor of 17-, 25-, 37-, and 52-Across?: PARTY ANIMAL.

My kids loved this book.

Across:
1. Pool or polo: GAME. Pool as in billiards not swimming.

5. Groups of troops: ARMIES.

11. Understood, as a joke: GOT.

14. Persian Gulf country that borders Armenia: IRAN.

15. Noggin: NOODLE. Brain.

16. NPR host Shapiro: ARI. He also plays with Pink Martini.

17. [See: Theme]

19. "Mm-hmm": YEP.

20. Lawyer's org.: ABA. American Bar Association (the antithesis of AA ;-))

21. Unwilling (to): LOATH.

22. Band bookings: GIGS.

23. Native Costa Ricans, informally: TICOS.

25. [See: Theme]

28. Anthem heard in Nova Scotia: O CANADA. (Hi C, Eh!)

31. Olympic gymnast Biles: SIMONE. She grew up in Spring, TX.

And is Amazing!

32. Vanity Fair publisher Condé __: NAST. Publisher of The New Yorker, GQ, Wired, [see: clue], Vogue, etc.

33. Tooth's outer layer: ENAMEL.

36. Neither's partner: NOR.

37. [See: Theme]

40. Cable network with many reruns: TBS. Turner Broadcasting System.

43. "Good enough": IT'LL DO.

44. Job inspection org.: OSHA. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

48. Baltimore ballplayer: ORIOLE.

You know #8

50. Walked stealthily: SNEAKED.

52. [See: Theme]

55. Mixes: STIRS.

56. School support orgs.: PTAS.

57. Coral producer: POLYP.

60. Combat sport, briefly: MMA. Mixed Martial Arts.

61. Ad-__: improvise: LIB.

Two of the best at Ad-libbing.

62. [See: Theme]

65. Subj. for some new immigrants: ESL. English as a Second Language.

66. Zoo section with birds: AVIARY.

67. Actress Russo: RENE.

68. __/her pronouns: SHE.

69. Prime-time soap opera set in Texas: DALLAS.

70. Commotions: ADOS.

Down:
1. Unit of explosive force: GIGATON. ~50 megatons is biggest nuclear bomb tested; a gigaton is on the order of a mile-wide asteroid's impact.

2. Coffee bean variety: ARABICA. Arabica beans are grown in high-altitudes and have a smoother, sweeter, and more complex flavor than other coffees.

3. Seed-filled percussion pair: MARACAS.

I read these are not found in Spain but in
Mexico / S.A. because of the African slave trade.

4. Stop: END.

5. __ Domini: ANNO.

6. Civil rights activist Parks: ROSA.

7. Calendar viewing option: MONTH.

8. Washington neighbor: IDAHO.

9. Former quarterback Manning: ELI.

10. Salt, in French: SEL.

11. Judy Garland or Cher: GAY ICON.

12. Herb in Italian seasoning: OREGANO.

13. Bettor's adviser: TIPSTER.

18. Anna's sister in "Frozen": ELSA.

22. Precious stone: GEM.

24. Not fooled by: ONTO.

26. Applied to: USED ON.

27. Storage tower: SILO.

29. More adroit: DEFTER. ? I'd say more deft.

30. Deep blue dye: ANIL.

34. Oft-torn knee pt.: ACL. Austin City Limits, er... anterior cruciate ligament.

35. Rx items: MEDS.

38. Seoul-based athleisure brand: FILA.

39. Billy __: GOAT.

40. Brings down: TOPPLES.

41. "The Great __ Baking Show": BRITISH.

42. Quite large: SIZABLE.

45. Read quickly: SKIMMED. Cute - past tense.

46. Spanish brother: HERMANO. Just learned this on Duolingo.

47. Revenue source for magazines: AD SALES.

49. Parts of lbs.: OZS. Pounds / Ounces.

51. "SportsCenter" network: ESPN.

53. Earth Day time: APRIL.

54. Add up to: TOTAL.

58. Harp-shaped constellation: LYRA.

If you say that's a harp, um, OK.

59. Celebratory shouts: YAYS.

62. Cushion: PAD.

63. Filmmaker DuVernay: AVA.

64. Nest egg letters: IRA.

The Grid

The Grid

The WOs, ESPs, etc. will have to wait; I left my original grid at the office.

Cheers, -T