Tuesday, April 9, 2024 Zachary David Levy

On the Book Shelf.  Today we get both books and the supports that hold the books upright.

These bookends are for people who read between the lions.

17-Across. Garlic bread option: TEXAS TOAST.  Text.

22-Across. Column of super-heated ash and sulfur dioxide during an eruption: VOLCANIC PLUME.  Volume.

44-Across. Nightshade relish: TOMATO COMPOTE.  Tome.

51-Across. Reading on a decibel meter: NOISE LEVEL.  Novel.

And the unifier:

33-Across. One of a pair on a library shelf, as well as one of a pair in each set of circled letters: BOOK END.

The circles spell out another name for a book:  Text / Volume / Tome / Novel.  The other portion of today's theme was a bit tricky, for me at least.  {Many thanks to my fellow commentators for seeing the second portion of the theme.}  Note that the circles are at the beginning and the end of each theme clue, thus the circles form a sort of "bookend" for the clue.  Unlike many puzzles that have circles, in this puzzle circles are integral to the theme.

Across:

1. Use for support: RELY ON.

7. PC key below ~: TAB.  The Tab Key is also found under the Tilda on the Mac keyboard, too.

10. Distort, as data: SKEW.

14. Calm and Restore skin care brand: AVEENO.  [Name adjacent.]

15. MLB stat: RBI.  Runs Batted In in Major League Baseball.

16. Valley west of Sacramento: NAPA.  Known for its wineries.

19. Site with a Craft Supplies section: ETSY.  [Name adjacent.]

20. "Spider-Man" trilogy director Sam: RAIMI.  Sam Raimi (né Samuel M Raimi; b. Oct. 23, 1959) has directed a number of films, including the Spider-Man trilogy, which has such original names as Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, and Spider-Man 3.  [Name # 1.]

21. "Come on down!" announcer Johnny: OLSON.  Johnny Olson (né John Leonard Olson; b. May 22, 1910 ~ Oct. 12, 1985) was an American radio personality and television announcer.  Olson is best known for his work as an announcer for game shows, including To Tell the Truth the Match Game and the iconic The Price Is Right where he shouted out "Come on down!"  Hard to believe that he died nearly 40 years ago.  [Name # 2.]

25. Superficial layer: VENEER.

26. Statistician Silver: NATE.  In 2009, Nate Silver (né Nathaniel Read Silver; b. Jan. 13, 1978) was named one of the world's 100 most influential people by Time.  He is an American statistician, writer, and poker player who analyzes baseball, basketball, and elections.  [Name # 3.]

27. Not here anymore: GONE.  All I could think of was Away, but that was too many letters.

28. Word that can follow goal or detail: ORIENTED.  As in someone may be Goal-Oriented, or Detail Oriented.

32. __-country music: ALT.  As in Alternative Country Music.

36. Joey pal of Piglet: ROO.  Think of Winnie the Pooh.  A baby kangaroo is called a Joey.  And Roo is the baby kangaroo friend of Piglet.  [Name # 4, Fictional.]

37. Saddle attachments: STIRRUPS.

39. "Can't you take a __!?": HINT.

40. Flow slowly: OOZE.

41. Broad neckties: ASCOTS.

48. Geological period: EPOCH.

49. Cries miserably: WAILS.

50. Casual get-together: SESH.  Short for Session.

56. Elm or ash: TREE.

57. "Noah kept bees in the ark hive," e.g.: PUN.  Cute clue.

58. Act as a go-between: LIAISE.  A fun word with lots of vowels.

59. Utters: SAYS.

60. 18-wheeler: RIG.

61. Begins, as a project: SETS TO.

Down:

1. Lab animal in a maze: RAT.

2. Night before: EVE.

3. Superman foe Luthor: LEX.  This supervillain makes frequent appearances in the crossword puzzles.  [Name # 5, Fictional]

4. Jack Black film with the tagline "Meet your ancestors": YEAR ONE.  I must have missed this 2009 movie.

5. Available for purchase: ON SALE.

6. Recognize: NOTICE.

7. Rail rider: TRAIN.

The Caption reads: Ted did you know there's a miniature woman tied to the train tracks who looks remarkably like me?

8. Core group?: ABs.  As in the Abdominal muscles that make up one's body core.

9. Drill insert: BIT.

10. Herman whose chart is topped with a giant "E": SNELLEN.  I never thought about who came up with the Eye Chart before, so this was my learning moment.  In 1862, Herman Snellen (Feb. 19, 1834 ~ Jan. 18, 1908) a Dutch ophthalmologist, introduced the Snellen chart to study visual acuity.  [Name # 6.]

11. Panko-breaded chicken dish: KATSU.  Katsu is not a Tuesday word.  Panko in the clue should have led you to Japan.  Chicken Katsu is Japanese-style fried chicken.

12. __ salts: bathwater additive: EPSOM.  The name Epsom salt came from the town of Epsom, England where in 1618 a farmer's cows refused to drink the local water because of its bitter taste.

13. Hockey Hall of Famer Gretzky: WAYNE.  Wayne Douglas Gretzky (b. Jan. 26, 1961) is a former professional hockey player.  He played in the NHL for 20 seasons with 4 different teams.  He is considered one of the greatest hockey players of all times.  [Name # 7.]

18. Actor Sharif: OMAR.  Most of the movies that starred Omar Sharif (né Michel Yusef Dimitri Chaloub; Apr. 10, 1932 ~ July 10, 2015) were before my movie-going time, but I have seen Doctor Zhivago.  Tomorrow would have been his 92nd birthday.  [Name # 8.]

21. Chose: OPTED.

22. Starbucks size: VENTI.

23. Memo phrase: IN RE.  Today's Latin lesson.  It is a Latin phrase meaning in the matter of.

24. Abel's brother: CAIN.  A Biblical reference.  In Genesis 4: Cain slew Abel.  East of Eden by John Steinbeck (Feb. 27, 1902 ~ Dec. 20, 1968) is recreation of the biblical Cain and Abel story as told through two generations of brothers who betray one another.  [Names 9 and 10, Biblical.]

25. Battery unit: VOLT.  In 1881, the Volt was named in honor of Alessandro Volta (né Alessandro Giuseppe Antonio Anastasio Volta; Feb. 18, 1745 ~ Mar. 5, 1827).  Alessandro Volta was an Italian physicist and chemist who was a pioneer of electricity and power.  He is credited as the inventor of the electric battery and the discoverer of methane.  [I originally stated that the Volt is a unit of measurement regarding the strength of an electric current, however, in the comments, Jinx informed me that this is incorrect.]

27. Need for some hybrids: GAS.  Best Hybrid cars of 2024 - 2025 according to Edmunds.

28. Approves: OKs.

29. Like stale expressions: TRITE.

30. Ages: EONS.

31. Ellipsis element: DOT. ... 

33. Liquid diet component: BROTH.

34. Anise-flavored aperitif: OUZO.  Ouzo is a dry anise-flavored aperitif that is commonly drunk in Greece.

35. Cartel whose "O" does not stand for "oil": OPEC.  Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.  Everything you wanted to know about OPEC but didn't know to ask.  It came into being September 10–14, 1960, and the first countries in OPEC were Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.

38. Kitchen invaders: ROACHES.

39. "On the spot" spot: HOT SEAT.

41. Part of a basic Latin conjugation: AMAS.  More of today's Latin lesson.

42. Showroom pitches: SPIELS.

43. Dog with a strong herding instinct: COLLIE.

44. Battery units?: TESTS.  As in a battery of medical tests.

45. Verdi composition: OPERA.  Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi (Oct. 10, 1813 ~ Jan. 27, 1901) was an Italian composer best known for his operas.  The Houston Grand Opera will be performing his 1853 opera Il Trovatore next season.  [Name #11.]

46. Amble: MOSEY.

47. Yet to be paid: OWING.

51. Steve Inskeep's network: NPR.  Steven Alan Inskeep (b. June 16, 1968) is a radio journalist for National Public Radio.  [Name # 12.]

52. French yes: OUI.  Today's French lesson.

53. Sue Grafton's "__ for Vengeance": V IS.  Sue Taylor Grafton (Apr. 24, 1940 ~ Dec. 28, 2017) wrote a detective series that featured private investigator Kinsey Millhone.  This was an "alphabet" series, with each book beginning with a letter of the alphabet.  The series started with A is for Alibi, which was published in 1982.  Her final book in the series was Y is for Yesterday.  Sadly, she died before she could finish/publish the last letter of the alphabet.   [Name # 13.]

54. Superlative suffix: -EST.

55. Sign between Cancer and Virgo: LEO.  And a shout-out to our very own Leo III.  We miss you, Leo.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

For those in the path of the eclipse yesterday, I hope you got to enjoy the full experience.  There won't be another total eclipse that crosses the United States for another 21 years.  If you weren't in the path, this is what it looked like:

Tuesday, April 2, 2024 David Tuffs

O Captain! My Captain!  The circles spell out a very well known (Obvious) Captain, some fictional, some real. 

16-Across. Give up vaping, say: KICK A HABIT.  Captain Ahab.  Think Moby Dick, the whaling novel by Herman Melville (Aug. 1, 1819 ~ Sept. 28, 1891).  Captain Ahab is the monomaniacal captain of the whaling ship Pequod.  On a previous voyage, the white whale Moby Dick bit off Ahab's leg, and he (Captain Ahab) now wears a prosthetic leg made out of whalebone.  The book was inspired by an actual event.   [Name # 1, Fictional.]

23-Across. Low-cal beer option: MICHELOB LIGHT.  Captain Bligh.  Vice-Admiral William Bligh (Sept. 9, 1754 ~ Dec. 7, 1817) was a British officer in the Royal Navy. He is best known for the mutiny on HMS Bounty.  He was known for his volatile temper and in 1789, his crew mutinied.  Captain Bligh and some of his loyal followers were set adrift by the mutineers.  Amazingly, he survived and his crew survived.  [Name # 2, Real.]

46-Across. "Still Alice" Best Actress Oscar winner: JULIANNE MOORE.  Captain Nemo.  [Names # 3, Fictional,  and # 4, Real.]  Captain Nemo is a fictional character created by the French novelist Jules Verne (né Jules Gabriel Verne; Feb. 8, 1828 ~ Mar. 24, 1905).  You can read about Captain Nemo two of Verne's science-fiction books: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas and The Mysterious Island.

58-Across. Musical instrument also called a calliope: STEAM ORGAN.  Captain Morgan.  Captain Morgan (circa 1635 ~ Aug. 25, 1688) was a Welch pirate who later became the Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica.  He was also a sugar plantation owner, which is probably why his name today is associated with spiced rum.  [Name # 4, real.]

And the unifier:

35. With 37-Across, title for the hidden individuals in 16-, 23-, 46-, and 58-Across, thanks to the circles in each answer?: CAPTAIN.

37. See 35-Across: OBVIOUS.  Together these clues give us Captain Obvious.  Captain Obvious is a pejorative nickname given to a person who insists on stating things that are patently clear.

What other Obvious Captains can you think of?  I thought of Captain Kangaroo, Captain Kirk, Captain Marvel, Captain Underpants, Captain America, Captain Jack Sparrow, and Captain Hook.

Across:

1. Settle, as a debt: REPAY.

6. "Leaving the chat for a sec": BRB.  Textspeak for Be Right Back.

9. Puerto __: RICO.  Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island and unincorporated U.S. territory.

13. Get out of bed: ARISE.

14. Bubble tea pearls: BOBA.  Boba are the chewy tapioca pearls that are found in milk tea.  Everything you wanted to know about Boba Tea but didn't know to ask.

15. Wet dog emanation: ODOR.

18. Amaze: STUN.

19. Startled cry: EEK!

20. Muscles worked by crunches: ABs.  As in the Abdominal muscles.

21. Tries, with "at": HAS A GO.

27. Justice Kagan: ELENA.  Elena Kagan (b. Apr. 28, 1960) makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles.  [Name # 5.]

29. Greek Cupid: EROS.  Eros is the Greek god of love and sex.  His Roman counterpart is Cupid.  [Name # 6, Mythological.]

30. Kid-lit "Dr.": SEUSS.  Dr. Seuss is best known for writing children's books.  He write and illustrated over 60 books for children.  Dr. Suess is actually the pen name of Theodor Seuss Geisel (Mar. 2, 1904 ~ Sept. 24, 1991).  [Name # 7, Pseudonym.]

31. As above, in footnotes: IDEM.  Today's Latin lesson.  The word means meaning "the same".  It is commonly abbreviated as id., because adding the "ed" takes too long.  The word is generally used in legal citations to denote the previously cited source.

32. Roaring-lion studio: MGM.  The studio is the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

40. Surveillance org.: NSA.  As in the National Security Agency.

41. Chicago MLB team: CUBS.  One of two Major League Baseball teams in Chicago.

43. "You win": I LOSE.

44. Rib-eye request: RARE.

45. "Thor: Ragnarok" actress Thompson: TESSA.  Tessa Lynne Thompson (b. Oct. 3, 1983) is an American actress.  She starred as Valkyrie in Thor: Ragnarok.  [Name # 8.]

52. Shorebird with a curved bill: AVOCET.  Everything you wanted to know about the American Avocet but didn't know to ask.  They do have cute curved bills.

53. "Ugh": GAH.

54. Punk subgenre: EMO.

57. Phone-silencing button: MUTE.

62. Down or dirty: BLUE.  Think sad.  He was feeling blue when he learned she was moving away.  Blue is also associated with dirty words.

63. Attention-getting sound: AHEM.

64. Furious: ANGRY.

65. Pert reply: SASS.

66. Hoped-for proposal answer: YES.  //  And 4-Down. Inquire: ASK.

67. 2023 installment in a Vin Diesel film franchise: FAST X.  Movie number 10 in the Fast and Furious series.  Also known as Fast 10: Your Seatbelts.  Vin Diesel's given name is Mark Sinclair (b. July 18, 1967).  [Name # 9, Pseudonym.]

Down:

1. Tool for tidying a golf bunker: RAKE.

2. Ohio border lake: ERIE.  A shout-out to our dear friend Abejo.

3. Mood lifters: PICK-ME-UPS.

5. "Oh, about __ high": YEA.

6. Gravity-powered winter racer: BOBSLED.

7. Slugger's stat: RBI.  Runs Batted In.

8. Product for a scented soak: BATH BOMB.  Everything you wanted to know about a bath bomb but didn't know to ask.

9. Martini & __ vermouth: ROSSI.  Martini & Rossi is an Italian multinational alcoholic beverage company primarily associated with the Martini brand of vermouth and also with sparkling wine.  [Name adjacent.]

10. Bone on a dog collar, perhaps: ID TAG.

11. Lozenge target: COUGH.

12. " ... but perhaps I'm mistaken": OR NOT.  Generally said sarcastically.

14. Sweetie: BABE.

17. Triumphant laugh: HAH!

22. "Happy Days" diner: AL'S.  Formerly Arnold's diner until Al Delvecchio took over Arnold's after Arnold got married and moved away.  [Name # 10, Fictional.]

24. App with Reels, familiarly: INSTA.

25. Castle in Spain, e.g.?: CASA.  Today's Spanish lesson.  My home is my castle.

26. Sandwich treats: OREOs.  A crossword staple.

27. Corner PC key: ESC.

28. Not fatty: LEAN.

31. Store, after cremation: INURN.  To place or bury in an urn.

32. Distance runner: MILER.

33. Plenty of nothing: GOOSE EGGS.

34. Rumple, with "up": MUSS.

36. "Your guess is as good as mine": I CAN'T SAY.

38. Don Corleone: VITO.  Vito Corleone was the fictional in The Godfather.  He was portrayed by Marlon Brando (Apr. 3, 1924 ~ July 1, 2004) in the original movie.  [Name # 11, Fictional.]

39. Word after Red or before robin: SEA.  As in Red Sea or Sea Robin.  A Sea Robin is not a bird, but a fish.  Who knew?

42. See 59-Down: BEE GEES.  //  59-Down. With 42-Down, "Stayin' Alive" disco trio: THE.  Together we get The Bee Gee, named for Brothers' Gibb.  I'll spare your ears.

44. Issa of "The Hate U Give": RAE.  Issa Rae (née Jo-Issa Rae Diop; b. Jan. 12, 1985) visited us just last Tuesday.

46. Door frame parts: JAMBS.

Anatomy of a Door Frame.

47. Soft palate dangler: UVULA.

48. Floating flower: LOTUS.

49. Slurpee-like drinks: ICEEs.

50. Polite title: MA'AM.

51. Resistance unit: OHM.  The ohm is the unit of electrical resistance in the International System of Units. It is named after German physicist and mathematician Georg Simon Ohm (Mar. 16, 1789 ~ July 6, 1854)

55. Small shop: MART.

56. Black gem in a cameo: ONYX.  The Onyx is one of the birthstones of July.

60. Clumsy one: OAF.

61. Genetic messenger: RNA.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

Tuesday, March 26, 2024 Ed Sessa

Slo-MO.  The Modus Operandi of today's puzzle was to have each theme answer be a two-word phrase where the first word begins with M and the second word begins with O.  Working this puzzle, however, was anything but Slow.

17-Across. *  Consider carefully: MEDITATE ON.

21-Across. *  Transformative beauty treatment: MAKE OVER.

54-Across. *  Talk back (to): MOUTH OFF

59-Across. *  Divvy up: MEASURE OUT.

And the unifier:

36-Across. Plan of action, as "initially" found in the answers to the starred clues?: MODUS OPERANDI.  The phrase Modus Operandi is a Latin phrase meaning Method of Operation.  I would narrow the definition provided in the clue to mean an established habit of working.  It is frequently in the context of a business or criminal endeavor.  Modus Operandi, or MO, is often used in detective/cop television shows.

Across:

1. Goal of much medical research: CURE.

5. Like a baby with pudding, probably: MESSY.

10. Floor model, e.g.: DEMO.

14. "That'll be the day!": AS IF.

15. Jazz great Earl "__" Hines: FATHA.  Earl Kenneth Hines (Dec. 28, 1903 ~ Apr. 22, 1983) was an American jazz pianist and bandleader. He was considered one of the most influential figures in the development of jazz piano.  He apparently earned his nickname "fatha" after giving a drunken announcer some "fatherly" advice to limit his drinking.  [Name # 1.]

16. Woeful word: ALAS.

19. Home in the sticks: NEST.  Cute clue.

20. Fluster: ADDLE.

23. Fancy timepieces: ROLEXES.

26. Luthor of DC Comics: LEX.  He is the supervillain and archival of Superman.  His full name is Alexander Joseph Luther.  [Name # 2, fictional.]

27. Stand-up comedian Shaffir: ARI.  I am not familiar with Ari David Shaffir (b. Feb. 12, 1974).  [Name # 3.]

28. Undivided: ONE.

29. Removes soap from: RINSES.

31. Tic-__-toe: TAC.

32. Maytag sister brand: AMANA.  How the two companies are related.  [Name adjacent.]

34. Tusks, e.g.: TEETH.

40. Writer Sir Arthur __ Doyle: CONAN.  Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (May 22, 1859 ~ July 7, 1930) is best known for being the creator of Sherlock Holmes.  Doyle tried to kill Sherlock Holmes, but his readers protested so much that Holmes was resurrected.   [Name # 4.]

41. Still-life pitchers: EWERs.

42. GOP gp.: RNC.

43. Bearded spring blooms: IRISES.  Vincent van Gogh (Mar. 30, 1853 ~ July 29, 1890) was known for his numerous paintings of Irises.  If you are ever in Amsterdam, a visit to the Van Gogh Museum is well worth a visit.

46. Many an email attachment: PDF.  Portable Document Format.

49. Earlier: AGO.

50. Intentionally mislead: CON.

51. "Don't let that woman get away!": STOP HER!

57. Garlicky mayonnaise: AIOLI.  This vowel-rich condiment is fast becoming a crossword staple.

58. Angry: SORE.

62. Rae of "Insecure": ISSA.  Issa Rae (née Jo-Issa Rae Diop; b. Jan. 12, 1985) makes frequent appearances in the crossword puzzles.  She had her own television show, Insecure, which ran from 2026 until 2021.  [Name # 5.]

63. Industry honcho: BARON.

64. Surrender, as territory: CEDE.

65. __-do-well: NE'ER.

66. "You __ sweet!": ARE SO.

67. Potato buds: EYES.

Down:

1. Chevrolet that will be discontinued in 2024: CAMARO.  The Camaro was first sold in 1966.  It had a long run.  [Name adjacent.]

2. Applied to: USED ON.

3. Brain-breaking question: RIDDLE.  Here's an ancient riddle that dates back to 18th Century BCE in Samaria:  There is a house.  One enters blind and comes out seeing.  What is it?  For the answer, you must read this article.  

4. Paperless option for taxpayers: E-FILE.  We just had our annual visit with our CPA.

5. Curator's deg.: MFA.  Master of Fine Arts.

6. Take in: EAT.

7. Women in __: educational advocacy org.: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.  

8. Sandbars: SHOALS.  This makes me think of the Isle of Shoals, which are a group of small islands and tidal ledges situated approximately 6 miles off the east coast of the United States that straddle the border of the states of Maine and New Hampshire.  Writer Anita Shreve (Oct. 7, 1946 ~ Mar. 29, 2018) wrote The Weight of Water, a historical novel about a murder that takes place on the Isle of Shoals

9. Big Apple MLB player: YANKEE.

10. Paul of "The Batman": DANO.  Paul Dano (né Paul Franklin Dano; June 19, 1984) portrayed the Riddler in the 2022 version of Batman.  [Name # 6.]

11. Like some beachside homes: ELEVATED.

12. GranTurismo automaker: MASERATI.  Maserati is an Italian manufacturer. The company was established in December 1914 in Bologna, Italy.  [Name adjacent.]

13. Bird with a powerful kick: OSTRICH.

18. __-Mex cuisine: TEX.

22. Celeb who's no longer in the limelight: EX-STAR.

24. Important ages: ERAs.  Taylor Swift (née Taylor Alison Swift; b. Dec. 13, 1989) is on her Eras Tour.

25. Chinese: Pref.: SINO-.

30. Kitten-lifting spots: NAPES.

32. Oral health org.: ADA.  American Dental Association.

33. German city that hosted the 1972 Summer Olympics: MUNICH.  The 1972 summer Olympics were overshadowed by the massacre of 11 Israeli athletes.  

35. Napkin corners?: ENs.  I suppose this means that the word Napkin begins and ends with the letter "N".  Rather like last Friday's clue about Label Edges = ELs.  I didn't care for that clue, either.

36. Ferretlike carnivore: MONGOOSE.

37. Proceeding as planned: ON COURSE.

38. Lambs' moms: EWEs.

39. Take a break: REST.

40. Adds to an already full suitcase, say: CRAMS IN.

44. Saucer-shaped vacuum: ROOMBA.

45. With trepidation: IN FEAR.

46. "Nuts!": PHOOEY.

47. Intentionally mislead: DELUDE.

48. Steak __: bistro dish: FRITES.

52. Rowboat blade: OAR.

53. Component: PIECE.

55. Run like heck: TEAR.

56. Cab charge: FARE.

60. Letters sent in emergencies: SOS.

61. Game with colorful cards: UNO.  This game has become a crossword staple.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה