Tuesday October 28, 2025 ~ Samuel A. Donaldson

Ordinary Ordinals

It doesn't take a SIXTH SENSE to figure out this puzzle's theme.

Today, Samuel presents an ordered list of ordinal numbers.

If you're not familiar with number nomenclature, cardinal numbers, such as One, Two, Three, indicate quantity. Ordinals, used in this puzzle, indicate position or rank but not quantity. Numbers such as single, double, and triple are called multipliers. Nominal numbers are used as a name - e.g. Number 42 [Jackie Robinson].

Enough of that. Let's get on with it.

15. Spendy flying option: FIRST CLASS.

23. Dating option not recommended by Madonna in "Express Yourself": SECOND BEST.

In case you forgot the song.

33. Topic to avoid, metaphorically: THIRD RAIL. The third rail is the electrified middle track used in mass transit systems and, like a topic to avoid, you don't touch it.

49. Imaginary barrier that might be broken by a stage actor: FOURTH WALL. The fourth wall is an imaginary barrier between the performers and the audience. The audience sees through this wall to observe the play/movie/show but the performers presumably can't. Breaking the fourth wall is when a performer acknowledges the existence of the audience.

59. Double date tagalong: FIFTH WHEEL. When not speaking of RVs (or trailers in general) pulled by a hitch in the bed of a pickup, fifth wheel means useless or superfluous -- such as a fifth wheel on a wagon [Moby Dick, 1851 (cite)].

Having beat the theme into submission, let's explore how Samuel filled the rest of the grid.

Across:

1. "Later, gang!": SEE YA. Caio.

6. Winter ailment: FLU. I got my vaccine. You?

9. Chats online, briefly: IMS. Instant MessageS.

12. At a distance: APART.

13. Pull a pre-final all-nighter: CRAM.

14. Cabbage-based side: SLAW.

15. [See: Theme]

17. __ to self: NOTE.

18. Ga. airport code: ATL.

19. Arts and crafts, to a grammarian: NOUNS. Cute.

20. "Oppenheimer" or "Anora": MOVIE.

21. Corner chess piece: ROOK.

Chess Humor

23. [See: Theme]

25. "Sheesh, what a day!": I'M BEAT.

27. St. Francis of __: ASSISI. Patron saint of animals and founder of the Franciscan order.

Statue at Xavier University

28. Drips through slowly: SEEPS.

29. Picked up the tab: PAID.

32. Concert souvenir that may list tour stops: TEE.

33. [See: Theme]

37. LLC alternative: INC. Limited Liability Company / INCorporated.

40. Scrap: TOSS.

41. Peony part: PETAL.

45. Danish or Swedish: NORDIC.

48. Vietnamese sandwich: BANH MI.

There's no shortage of good Bahn Mi in Houston!

49. [See: Theme]

53. The "D" of NYPD, for short: DEPT.

54. Start: ONSET.

55. Celebrity's hotel check-in name, perhaps: ALIAS. Checking into hotels, Sir Paul famously used the alias Paul Ramone. The alias was used by the punk band The Ramones as an homage.

57. Sandwich with three key components: BLT. Bacon, Lettuce, & Tomato.

58. Moreno with an EGOT: RITA.

Rita's Wikipedia page.

59. [See: Theme]

61. Like many dorms: CO-ED.

62. Raison d'__: ETRE. French for "Reason to be."

63. Disparage: ABASE.

64. Finish: END.

65. Lingo suffix: ESE.

66. Some dessert wines: PORTS. Why is it called port? Here's what Quora says.

Down:

1. African expeditions: SAFARIS. On your Mac, take a virtual one with your Safari browser.

2. Textbook example: EPITOME.

3. Piercing place: EARLOBE.

4. Soph and jr.: YRS. SECOND and THIRD years of high school or college.

5. Memo header abbr.: ATTN.

6. Swiss currency: FRANC. Sweden has not adopted the euro.

7. Rodeo ring?: LASSO.

8. Gap-filling sounds: UMS.

9. "What a wonderful gift!": I LOVE IT.

10. French painter Henri: MATISSE.

11. Honey bunny: SWEETIE.

13. Board game with weapons, suspects, and rooms: CLUE.

14. Supercilious types: SNOBS.

16. Price to pay: COST.

20. GPs, e.g.: MDS. General Practitioners / Medical Doctors.

22. Retained: KEPT.

24. Zip: NADA.

26. Volcanic residue: ASH.

29. Whiz: PRO.

30. Streaming annoyances: ADS.

31. Org. featured in the book "Many Unhappy Returns": IRS. Internal Revenue Service. The subtitle of the book is "One Man's Quest to Turn Around The Most Unpopular Organization in America." Apparently, it's non-fiction by IRS Commissioner Charles Rossotti.

34. Bug bite symptom: ITCH.

35. Craft beer letters: IPA.

36. Extend credit: LEND.

37. Legally effective: IN FORCE.

38. Request from a diner concerned about bad breath: NO ONION. Took a second for this not to parse as NOON ION.

39. Like many baked goods: CRUSTED.

42. Jeremy Allen White series featuring the oft-repeated line "Yes, chef!": THE BEAR.

I've not seen it but heard it was good.

43. Most bountiful: AMPLEST. Ooof. Any port in a storm, I guess.

44. Children, slangily: LITTLES. Ooof again? Anyone refer to kids that way, ever?

46. Feeling of foreboding: DREAD.

47. Cousin in "The Addams Family": ITT.

Cousin Itt

48. "Borrrring": BLAH.

50. Stays on hold: WAITS.

This American Life tracked down Cisco's hold music composer.

51. Emmy winner Woodard: ALFRE.

Alfre's Wikipedia page

52. Lo-cal label word: LITE.

56. Trade: SWAP.

59. Transaction charge: FEE.

60. "Euphoria" airer: HBO.

The Grid:

The Grid

WOs: Loan -> LEND; EPITOMy [sic]
ESPs: ALFRE
Fav: I'll go with SNOB for the clue - supercilious is just a fun word.

There you have it folks. Were you in SEVENTH HEAVEN after finishing the grid? Did you think Samuel's offering was the EIGHT WONDER?

Me? I thank Samuel for the enjoyable puzzle and I hope y'all enjoyed the NINTH INNING wrap-up.

It's now up to you to provide the TENTH AMENDMENT.

Cheers, -T

Tuesday October 14, 2025 Prasanna Keshava

Lessons in Chemistry.

20-Across. Mug shot souvenir from an Old West tourist town: WANTED POSTER.  Water.

29-Across. Spiritual serenity: INNER PEACE.  Ice.

46-Across. Influencers in a grassroots marketing campaign: STREET TEAM.  Steam.

And the unifier:

56-Across. Geographic neighbors, or what this puzzle's circled letters literally are: BORDER STATES.  In today's puzzle, we learn about the three main states of matter: Solid (ICE), Liquid (WATER), and Vapor (STEAM).  Solids, in this case ICE, have a definite shape and volume, liquids, in this case WATER, have a definite volume but take the shape of their container, and gases, in this case STEAM, have no definite shape or volume.  You will also notice that each of these "States" form the "Border" of the answer to the clue.

Across:

1. Occupied a chair: SAT.

4. Memory aids for shoppers: LISTS.

9. Puff up, as pillows: PLUMP.

14. Chuckle syllable: HEH.

15. Fundamental skateboard jump: OLLIE.  Everything you wanted to know about the Ollie but were afraid to ask.

16. Desert watering holes: OASES.

17. Metal-bearing material: ORE.

18. Nursery purchase: PLANT.

19. Martial art also known as kung fu: WUSHU.  I was not familiar with this alternative name.

23. "So much chaos in there!": IT'S A ZOO.

24. Beginning: ORIGIN.

28. Half-moon tide: NEAP.  A neap tide just after the first or third quarters of the moon when there is least difference between high and low water.

32. Legal pro: Abbr.: ATT.  As in an Attorney.  //  And 43. Exam for a future 32-Across: LSAT.  As in the  Law School Admissions Test.

34. Common crumbled froyo topping: OREO.  A fresh new clue for an old staple.

35. Hanks who played Mr. Rogers: TOM.

The real Mr. Rogers is on the right.

36. Ordinary writing: PROSE.

39. Wacoal undergarment: BRA.  The lingerie company.

40. __ pad: STENO.

42. Totally fine: A-OK.

45. "Told you!": SEE.

49. Labor Day mo.: SEPT.  Labor Day originated in the late 19th century as the American labor movement sought recognition for workers' social and economic achievements.  The first observance was in New York City on September 5, 1882, organized by the Central Labor Union and Knights of Labor.  It became a federal holiday on June 28, 1894, when President Grover Cleveland signed a law making the first Monday in September a national day to honor American workers.  Today it is mostly considered a day off of work.

53. Shrimp dish: SCAMPI.  The term Scampi refers to the preparation of the dish.

54. British beer with a red triangle logo: BASS ALE.

59. Place to say "I do": ALTAR.

62. Coeur d'Alene locale: IDAHO.  The name Coeur d'Alene originated with French-Canadian fur traders in the late 18th or early 19th century.  The traders gave this name to the local Schitsu'umsh people, observing their shrewd and disciplined trading practices.  It was meant as a compliment for their business acumen.

63. Muesli grain: OAT.

64. Push-button word: START.

65. Poet Nash: OGDEN.  Frederic Ogden Nash (Aug. 19, 1902 ~ May 19, 1971) was an American poet well known for his light verse.

66. Put into service: USE.

67. Extra benefits: PERKS.

68. Demanding constant attention, perhaps: NEEDY.

69. "The Good Place" actor Danson: TED.  Ted Danson (né Edward Bridge Danson, III; b. Dec. 29, 1947) began his career as a model for Aramis.

Down:

1. Do a butler's job: SHOW IN.

2. Make fizzy: AERATE.

3. Covert org.: THE NSA.

4. Pop idol Jennifer: LOPEZ.  Is she or isn't she back with Ben Affleck?

5. "Leave this to me!": I'LL DO IT.

6. Apply sloppily: SLAP ON.

7. Former Yankee Martinez who won the Home Run Derby in 1997: TINO.  Constantino "Tino" Martinez (b. Dec. 7.. 1967) is a former professional baseball player.  He played for a number of teams, including the Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

8. Tennis match units: SETS.

9. Confidence-boosting stance: POWER POSE.

10. "Lady Bird" Oscar nominee Metcalf: LAURIE.  Lady Bird is a 2017 American coming-of-age comedy drama about a turbulent relationship between a high school senior, played by Saoirse Ronan (née Saoirse Una Ronan; b. Apr. 12, 1994) and her mother, played by Laurie Metcalf (née Laura Elizabeth Metcalf; b. June 16, 1955).

11. Frigate letters: USS.  As in United States Ship.

12. "Doesn't excite me": MEH.

13. Nittany Lions sch.: PSU. As in Penn(sylvania) State University.

21. Spanish small bites: TAPAS.  Yummers!

22. Went really fast: TORE.

25. Garden entrance: GATE.

26. Tappable image on a touchscreen: ICON.

27. "Finding __": Pixar film about a missing fish: NEMO.

30. Opposite of sur: NORTE.  Spanish directions.

31. Timeline block: ERA.

33. Travels, sci-fi style: TELEPORTS.

36. __ muster: make the grade: PASS.

37. Campus cadet org.: ROTC.  As in Reserve Officers' Training Corps.

38. Cajun pod: OKRA.

Yummers!  Fried Okra.

39. Club made by Louisville Slugger: BAT.  Professional baseball player Pete Browning (né Louis Rogers Browning; June 17, 1861 ~ Sept. 10, 1905), was the original Louisville Slugger.   He played for the Louisville team from 1882 until 1894.  He had a .341 batting average.

41. Thompson of "Passing": TESSA.  Passing is a 2021 film about two Black women, one of whom passes for white.

44. Recipe step: STIR.

45. In pieces: SMASHED.

47. Set out (on): EMBARK.

48. Grate against: ABRADE.

50. Choose not to cook, say: EAT OUT.

51. "I beg of you": PLEASE.

52. Pushed to the limit: TESTED.

55. Poker-faced: STONY.

57. Pop idol Celine: DION.

Céline Marie Claudette Dion; b. Mar. 20, 1968

58. Advantage: EDGE.

59. "Antony and Cleopatra" snake: ASP.

60. Mobile network letters: LTE.  As in Long Term Evolution.

61. Driveway goo: TAR.

חתולה

Tuesday, September 30, 2025 Zhouqin Burnikel

We're in the Money!

17-Across. Documents submitted after a fender bender: CLAIM FORMS.  CLAMS.

24-Across. "I thought you just left!": BACK SO SOON.  BACON.

39-Across. Is a trailblazer: BREAKS NEW GROUND.  BREAD.

50-Across. Six-time "Dancing With the Stars" champion: DEREK HOUGH.  DOUGH.

And the unifier:

62-Across. Wealthy, and what 17-, 24-, 39-, and 50-Across literally are: IN THE MONEY.  The circles spell out slang words for Money.  The rest of the answer is "in" the Money.

What other wealth has out Blog Mistress given us?  Let's find out.

Across:

1. "Power Up" rock band: AC/DC.  AC/DC is an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1973. 

5. Farfalle or fusilli: PASTA.  Farfalle is also known as bow-tie pasta.  Fusilli is corkscrew pasta.

10. Follow a command: OBEY.

14. Bring to a bubble: BOIL.

15. Helps with the dishes: DRIES.

16. Jakarta's island: JAVA.  The 1983 movie The Year of Living Dangerously took place in Jakarta.

19. Mix: STIR.

20. Alabama march city: SELMA.

21. Detectives, briefly: PIs.  As in a Private Investigator.

23. Like antiques: OLD.

29. Includes furtively on an email: BCCs.  As in Blind Carbon Copies.  The "Carbon Copy" is a relic from the days when carbon paper was used to make typewritten copies.

32. Sippy cup user: TOT.

33. The "I" of IV: INTRA-.  As in an IntraVenous line.

35. "I'm so relaxed!": AAH!

36. Fly like a hawk: SOAR.

37. Make reparations: ATONE.  Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, begins at sunset tomorrow.

43. Centipede maker: ATARI.  The video game that first came out over 40 years ago!

44. "Consequently ... ": THUS.

45. "Don't be that __!": GUY.

46. Snooping sorts: SPIES.

48. Gear tooth: COG.

49. Animation frames: CELS.

53. "Ewe talking to me?": BAA.  //  And 18-Down. "Ewe OK?": MAA.

55. __ Lanka: SRI.  In May 1972, Ceylon became known as Sri Lanka.  The official name of the country is the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.  It is the tear-shaped Island country that lies off the southern tip of India.

56. Wear away: ERODE.

60. Crafts partner: ARTS.

66. Hide-and-__: SEEK.

67. Alternative to Midol: ADVIL.  Both are pain relievers.

68. Image reshared for laughs: MEME.

69. "Nothing to it!": EASY.

70. Makes it to the end: LASTS.

71. Spanish "those": ESOS.  Today's Spanish lesson.

Down:

1. Preschool basics: ABCs.  This is becoming a crossword staple.

2. Sprouse of "Riverdale": COLE.  I am not familiar with Riverdale, so did not know Cole Sprouse (né Cole Mitchell Sprouse; b. Aug. 2, 1992).

3. Rotary phone part: DIAL.

4. Tackles a rock face: CLIMBS.

5. File format for some invoices: PDF.  As in Portable Document Format.

6. __/ace: LGBT+ orientation: ARO.  I was not familiar with this term.  It short for aromantic asexual and describes a person who experiences little to no sexual or romantic attraction to others. 

7. Title for the Black Knight: SIR.

8. Pace set by a metronome: TEMPO.

9. Home of St. Francis: ASSISI.  St. Francis of Assisi (1181 ~ 1226) was the founder of the religious order of the Franciscans.  He is also known as the patron saint of animals.

10. Some brunch drinks, for short: OJs.  As in Orange Juice.

11. Mall of Louisiana city: BATON ROUGE.  Let's see.  How many cities in Louisiana are 10 letters?  Lots of choices fit into the spaces provided:  Alexandria; Baton Rouge, Mandeville; Marksville; Morgan City; New Orleans; Plaquemine; Shreveport; West Monroe.  The Mall of Louisiana is a mid-scale shopping mall in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, between I-10 and Bluebonnet Blvd.  It is the largest mall in Louisiana.

12. Rather wicked: EVIL.

13. Place for a swing set: YARD.

22. Acoustic location devices: SONARS.

25. Execs behind R&D breakthroughs: CTOs.  As in the Chief Technology Officer.

26. Zen master's paradox: KOAN.  A Koan is a question or riddle in Buddhism to facilitate spiritual growth and enlightenment by challenging logical thought.  Probably we have all heard this example of a Koan:  What is the sound of one hand clapping.

27. Loosen up before exercising: STRETCH.

28. Uno less than nove: OTTO.  Today's Italian math lesson.

29. Daddy, in Chinese: BABA.

30. Golf course rentals: CARTS.

31. Companions who don't mind fast food: CHEAP DATES.  Fast food isn't so cheap anymore.

34. Void: ANNUL.

36. Racers who make tracks: SKIERS.

38. Ben & Jerry's rival: EDY'S.  Both are brands of ice cream.

40. "Brown Skin" singer India.__: ARIE.  India.Arie (née India Arie Simpson; b. Oct. 3, 1975) is an American singer-songwriter.  She will celebrate her 50th birthday on Friday.

41. "What a thrill!": WHOO.

42. "Loki" actress Mbatha-Raw: GUGU.  I am not familiar with this Gugu Mbatha-Raw (née Gugulethu Sophia Mbatha-Raw; b. Apr. 21, 1983).  She is an English actress.

47. Story told in episodes: SERIAL.  Many of the novels by Charles Dickens were serialized and appeared either in weekly or monthly publications.

49. Safari alternative: CHROME.  Both are internet browsers.

51. In a way, casually: KINDA.

52. Diamond or ruby: GEM.

53. First coat of paint: BASE.

54. __ rug: floor decor: AREA.

57. Tip jar bills: ONES.

58. Showroom model: DEMO.

59. Organs closed during sleep: EYES.

61. Cloud location: SKY.

63. Sets in hotel rooms: TVs.

64. Smashing success: HIT.

65. Golf great Ernie: ELS.  I learned about Ernie Els (né Theodore Ernest Els; b. Oct. 17, 1969), the South African golfer from doing the crossword puzzles.

חתולה