Wednesday, Mar 5th, 2025 ~ Sala Wanetick & Emily Biegas

  COVER GIRLS

Emily and Sala - more here

Today's puzzle, from veteran constructors Sala and Emily, ( they appeared just last month as a duo as well ), failed to hit the mark for me this time.  The theme is kinda weak, and the 20-something names, including a crossing where I had no choice but to do an alphabet run, just sucked the life out of this one.  We have two 8-letter themers, and yet two Down answers are longer; a whopping 28 4LWs, and yet only 9 TLWs.  On top of that, the one musical entry that I can relate to is the first - the others are just not my thing; sorry 'bout that.  On a positive note, 17A., 40A., and the theme answer are unique fills, so there's that.  The themers;

17. Fleetwood Mac hit with the lyric "I'll settle for one day to believe in you": LITTLE LIES - a LIE can cover the truth . . .?

26. Taylor Swift hit that features a sweater metaphor: CARDIGAN - usually covers a shirt/blouse . . .?

40. Elvis Presley hit about someone who only looks like an angel: DEVIL IN DISGUISE - disguise as a cover up . . .?

50. Rihanna hit about friends who stick together rain or shine: UMBRELLA - under cover from the rain . . .~?

63. Musical remakes, and what 17-, 26-, 40-, and 50-Across all are, in a way: COVER SONGS - "songs" that have something that covers; I guess.  As for an actual cover song, if it's a "tribute" band, then all you do is cover songs.  I feel that if an artist is going to cover someone else's song, then it should have some variation on the original, i.e., Run-DMC covering Aerosmith as a rap song - I couldn't narrow it down to one great choice, but here's an example;

Flamenco Led Zeppelin - Rodrigo Y Gabriela

And Away We Go~!

ACROSS:

1. Update a historic home, say: REHAB - I am in the business of updating "historic", and we would never refer to it as a 'rehab' - rehab is where I spent six weeks after detox.  'nuf said.

6. Quick look: PEEP

10. "Dream on": "AS IF."

14. Enlighten: EDIFY

15. Crooner Paul: ANKA - I know him, but name #1

16. Novela introduction?: TELE - Telenovela, a serialized drama in Latin American TV

19. Jai __: ALAI - this used to appear in lots of puzzles "back in the day" - it's only popped up once or twice in a long, long time

20. Pro vote: YEA - My yeS had to change to yeA

21. Ingrid's "Casablanca" role: ILSA - Oops, I thought it was ELSA - that's the "Frozen" girl - name #2

22. Strenuous: TIRING - Crosswords like this are not enjoyable, just TIRING

24. Prefix with tech: NANO - nanotech

28. Milwaukee team: BREWERS - Great logo - I like it when the letters/name is cleverly embedded in the image - here's another great logo

The m and b in the glove~?  That to me is a well-designed logo

31. "The Daily" podcast producer, briefly: NYT - no clue, but I had _YT already; name(ish)

32. Special glow: AURA

33. Paul of "The Batman": DANO - name #3 - I looked it up; he played the Riddler.  I did not see the movie

35. Venomous snake: ADDER

43. Be of __: help: USE TO

44. __ Point, California: DANA - DANO, DANA - Sheesh - name #4

45. Summer getaway: CAMP - I was never 'enrolled' camp, but from what I hear and read, it was not all that fun for many - SEND away, now that's more like it 

46. Govt. intel org.: NSA - I could explain the abbr., but then I'd have to....

48. Gets to giggle: TICKLES - tickles my fancy

55. For fear that: LEST

57. Quite bright: NEON

59. Alley-__: OOP

62. Actor Alda: ALAN - crossword staple, name #5

66. Rare rocks: GEMS

67. Sinister: EVIL

68. Verdi work: OPERA - name(ish)

69. "Gotcha": "I SEE."

Dr. Venkman, @ 0:50

70. "The Voice" host Carson: DALY - name #6

71. Elevates: RISES - meh.  rAises is a better match, e.g. stress from crossword solving RISES blood pressure~? 

DOWN:

1. Depend (on): RELY

2. Actress Falco: EDIE - name #7

3. Touched on something touchy: HIT A NERVE - let me count the (names) ways . . . .9LW

4. Back of the boat: AFT

5. Author credit: BYLINE

6. Buds: PALS

7. Pioneering computer: ENIAC - I had ATARI until that showed up three answers later; name(ish)

8. Scrape (by): EKE

9. Danish, e.g.: PASTRY

10. Pong platform: ATARI

11. Former baseball commissioner Bud: SELIG - I could not recall this name, # 8

12. Glazer of "Broad City": ILANA - name #9

13. Pretend: FEIGN - I think this "crossname" is pretending to be a crossword

18. "Euphoria" actor Jacob: ELORDI - name # 10, 3 of the 4 previous clues - tho a unique fill

23. Pet collar attachment: ID TAG

25. Stand by for: AWAIT

27. Designate as a successor: ANOINT - meh.  aPPoint fits better.  Anoint to me is religious ceremony

28. Grammy winner Erykah: BADU - even if I DO know this one, ugh; name #11

29. Feels remorse: RUES - he rues the day he said he'd blog Wednesdays . . . . 😜

30. Flip-flop, e.g.: SANDAL

34. Confidentiality contract, for short: NDA - Non-Disclosure Agreement - I am seriously considering spending the money to get my board games produced - I need a patent lawyer - anyone at the Corner who can recommend one~?

36. Dodges: DUCKS - these DODGES are not  DUCKS or ADDERS - they're VIPERS

37. Landline sounds: DIAL TONES - the other 9LW, 'longer than theme' fill

38. "Twilight" vampire Cullen: ESME - name #12

39. Gym count: REPS - now this is a good one - the singular count clue and the plural reps answer

41. Not a people person, say: LONER - I am definitely NOT a "people person"

42. Mariner: SAILOR

47. Prepared to serve, as pie: SLICED

49. Black out: CENSOR

50. With 56-Across, grilled eel dish: UNAGI - AND - 56. See 50-Down: NIGIRI - no clue, and when the clues are circumreferential* like this, it's even worse - and name(ish)

51. Odometer units: MILES - my car allows me to track gas prices when I fill up, but every now and then, the same buttons I use to adjust the price end up changing my MPH to KPH; I look down and I am doing "58" in a 30 - Yikes~!

52. Not one's best effort: B-GAME

53. Flush: RINSE

54. Blacksmith's block: ANVIL

58. Wriggly: EELY

60. Fantasy monster: OGRE

61. Unpaid ads: PSAs - Public Service Announcements

64. Egg cells: OVA

65. Maker of Lincoln Park After Dark nail polish: OPI - I've learned that the answer regarding makeup, etc., is either OPI or EOS these days - and name(ish)

* I made this word up, but you get my meaning, yes~?

Splynter

Wednesday, Feb 26th, 2025 ~ Rebecca Goldstein

 THE ENGINEER COMEDIAN...

...was "technically funny"

Don McMillan - technicallyfunny.com

Another RG puzzle on a Wednesday, a standard 15 x 15 grid with no circles, 18 TLWs, seven of which are abbrs, along with three out of the 28 4LWs in the construction.  Lots of "quoted" clues and answers, too, only three(ish) names, but one still got me; I shoulda known via the crossing theme perp.  Sigh.  That said, the theme is a punny one with the opening line of 

At the amateur comedy night...

17. the omelet chef had the audience __: CRACKING UP - an eggs-cellent joke

24. ... the personal trainer had the audience __: BUSTING A GUT - I ABs-olutley loved this one

38. With 51-Across, ... the professional bowler had the audience __: ROLLING - AND - 51A. See 38-Across: IN THE AISLES - "Aisle" never see bowling the same way again

60. ... the tailor had the audience __: IN STITCHES - this one is SEW funny

And Away We Go~!

ACROSS:

1. Mosque leader: IMAM - Crossword staple

5. Get ready quickly?: PREP - abbr, the "short" version of prepare

9. Tapioca pearls: BOBA

A recipe site

13. Zilch: NADA

14. Sweeping stories: SAGAS - palindromic

16. Russian mountain range: URAL - name(ish)

19. Deli spread: MAYO - I like mayonnaise, even for my fries - like in Pulp Fiction

** Note:34A. F-bomb coming **

20. __ facto: IPSO - Latin, "by the fact itself"

21. Hear about: LEARN OF - Did you hear about Van Halen~?

Hear About it Later - from the album "Fair Warning"

23. Industrious insect: ANT

28. Scented accessory: LEI - trying for some alternate cluing here

29. Oscar winner Stone: EMMA - name #1 - her IMDb

30. Guacamole or baba ghanoush: DIP

31. Vacay: PTO - I am enjoying some Personal Time Off currently, but not quite by choice

32. "And for my __ trick ... ": NEXT

34. Warning letters in a subject line, maybe: NSFW - Not Suitable For Work

37. Part of MYOB: OWN - Mind Your Own Business

40. "It just clicked!": "A HA~!"

42. Org. with ergonomic guidelines: OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration

44. __ Liberty: LADY - La statue de Frawnche

The copper clad Colossus belongs to . . . .NY, or NJ~?

45. Neither/__: NOR - I neither speak Frawnche, NOR write it

46. Little devil: IMP

48. Stinger in a swarm: WASP - this one is NOT an abbr. 😜

50. CBS show with the theme song "Who Are You": CSI - Crime Scene Investigation

55. Pay stub letters: YTD - Year-To-Date

56. Home to the Hockey Hall of Fame: TORONTO

57. Dark side force: SITH - the "anti" Jedi

59. Word with deep or dive: SKIN - Skin deep, Skin dive

65. Silent performer: MIME

66. Edmonton NHL player: OILER - Hockey again

67. "I'm all __!": "EARS~!"

68. "No sweat!": "EASY~!"

69. One of Canada's First Nations: CREE - filled via perps, name(ish), but common in crosswords

70. Recipe that may call for a bay leaf: STEW - I have a crock pot and a bay leaf; I should make me a stew

DOWN:

1. Company abbr.: INC - Ever wonder what it means, exactly~?  More here

2. Helicopter carrying the Vice President: MARINE TWO - I knew it was named something similar to "Air Force One", but waited on perps; I found the history quite fascinating

3. Films that have been formatted to fit a smaller screen, e.g.: ADAPTIONS - this just sounds wrong; adapTAtions seems more common, and better yet, adapted to fit your screen

4. Apples that are inedible: MACS - I figured it was a computer reference

5. Tired initials?: PSI - I knew the gag, but could not think of a three-letter 'radial' tire brand - turns out to be the recommended pressure in Pounds per Square Inch 

6. Aired: RAN

7. Caviar bit: EGG - I tried ROE - Bzzzt~!

8. Theoretical physicist Wolfgang: PAULI - name #2 - I knew we needed a name, so I tried PAULA

9. Negative charges?: BUM RAPS - "I was framed, I tell ya~!"

10. Chimp relative: ORANGutan

This one fits the "stalker" description

11. Boggy biome: BAYOU

12. Floating: ALOFT

15. Toss a coin?: SPEND - you'll need more than just coins these days . . . .

18. Region known for Wagyu: KOBE - took the "K" to remind me; everything Wagyu from Wiki  - name #3

"You're sick, Jerry~!  . . . Sick, sick, sick~!"

22. Growing old: AGING - I am definitely getting old-ER . . . sounds like I'm maturing, but not really

23. Beagle's bowlful: ALPO - I tried CHOW, but we were looking for a brand name(ish)

25. "Yeah, guess again": "UM, NO."

26. Catch a whiff of: SMELL

27. Withholding information?: TAX LAWS - I owe money this year, but I'm still waiting on a mess the IRS created two years ago

33. Current-ly?: TIDAL - Har-har

35. "Well, I'll be!": "FANCY THAT~!"

36. Question from behind a closed door: "WHO'S THERE~?" - AND - 51. Potential reply to 36-Down: "IT'S ME."

38. Japanese broth dish: RAMEN

39. Trading letters: NYSE

41. Dry as the desert: ARID

43. "I'm home, dear": "HI, HONEY~!"

47. Al fresco dining area: PATIO - eating outdoors

49. Soft "Hey, you": "PSST~!"

52. Early mobile phone manufacturer: NOKIA - I think my first cellular phone was a flip-open Nokia, and I had this one, as well

It had the game "Snake" on it

53. Haircuts that may not be noticeable: TRIMS - what's left of my hair takes so long to grow that it's hard to tell I'm into heavy metal

54. Type of chemical bond: IONIC - Such as Sodium and Chlorine = salt

58. Numbs, maybe: ICES - my knee is better, thank you for asking

61. High-end camera initials: SLR - Single Lens Reflex

62. Undershirt, for one: TEE

63. Fury: IRE

64. NNE opposite: SSW

Splynter

Wednesday, February 19, 2025 Brian Callahan

Theme: Dorothy was FLAT OUT WRONG!  There are lots of places like home.

17 A. *Completely and utterly incorrect: FLAT OUT WRONG.  Like the beliefs of flat earthers, I suppose.  A FLAT is also an apartment.  This is more common in British than in American usage, I think.

24 A. *Cheat sheets: CRIB NOTES.  Written notes used as an aid in "remembering' things, sometimes used to cheat on a test.  I vaguely remember a prof allowing us to have a crib sheet in a physics test once upon a time.  I had to google to learn that CRIB could also be ones house of apartment.  I don't recall ever seeing or hearing it use in this way.   Then, within a couple of hours of typing this, I did see it.  Irony strikes again.

 35 A. *Tries to uncover old scandals, say: DIGS UP DIRT.  Searches for negative information in order to damage someone's reputation, or influence public opinion. DIGS also refers to a person's place of residence.

47 A. *Thai dish also called "drunken noodles": PAD KEE MAO.  This is a Thai stir-fried noodle dish.  Anecdotally, its name refers to it being popular among the inebriated; alcohol is not part of the ingredients or preparation.  PAD also refers to someone's home. 

And the unifier -- 56 A. Change for a dollar, and what can be found at the starts of the answers to the starred clues: FOUR QUARTERS.   QUARTERS refers to  rooms or lodgings, especially those allocated to people in military or domestic service.   

So, my homies, the four stared clues all indicate someone's living QUARTERS.  I'd give 25 pennies for your thoughts.

Hi Gang -- Jazzbumpa here, reporting from the cozy comfort of my own living quarters.  We've had lots of cold and snow, so I'm happy to not be anywhere else

Across:

1. Reading while propped up by pillows, say: ABED.  Getting comfy in the coziest part of one's quarters.

5. Peach __: MELBA.   A dessert of peaches and raspberry sauce with vanilla ice cream. It was invented in 1892 or 1893 by the French chef Auguste Escoffier at the Savoy Hotel, London, to honor the Australian soprano Nellie Melba.

10. Casual greetings: HIs.   Hi, and Hi again.  I'm not fond of this.  It's a tortured plural you are very unlikely to ever see or hear in the real world.  And it is spelt like the singular male possessive pronoun.

13. Black bird: RAVEN.  Any large black bird, of which the RAVEN is one example.

15. "It's our time to shine!": WE'RE ON.  It's our turn to perform or present something.

16. German cry: ACH.   An exclamation or interjection. It is similar to the English “Oh.” 

19. Quilting party: BEE.  A gathering of people for a specific purpose

20. Texas city that forms the Petroplex with Midland: ODESSA.   Odessa is a city in western Texas. Downtown, Jack Ben Rabbit is an 8-foot-tall statue of a jackrabbit. Another 37 Jamboree Jackrabbits dot the city. The Presidential Archives and Leadership Library exhibits presidential memorabilia. The University of Texas of the Permian Basin's Stonehenge is a replica of the famous English site. To the southwest, meteorite fragments are on display at the Odessa Meteor Crater.  

21. Activist Yoko: ONO.   Yoko Ono is a Japanese multimedia artist, musician, singer, author, filmmaker, and peace activist. A pioneer of conceptual and participatory art in the 1960s, her work is known for its political messages, feminist themes, and audience participation.

22. Venue: SITE.  A specific location for an event or meeting.

23. Worldwide social welfare org.: UNICEF.   Originally the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, officially United Nations Children's Fund since 1953, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide.

26. Lease: RENT.   Pay someone for the use of (something, typically property, land, or a car).  A lease is a legal contract regarding the details of a rental agreement.

27. Meadow: LEA.   An open area of grassy or arable land.

29. Expression of awe: OOH - AAH.  An informal idiom that means to express pleasure, surprise, or both.

30. NFC East team, on scoreboards: NYG.  The New York Giants are an American Football team competing in the East Division of the National football Conference.

31. Pre-GPS navigation aid: AAA MAP.  A paper map obtained from the American Automobile Association

34. Rugrats: TOTS.  Very young children.  I fondly remember those days.  Most of our grands are adults now.

37. Wineglass part: STEM.  True story -- One time a few years ago we were eating at one of those small plate restaurants when the waitress accidentally dropped a utensil.  It hit my wine glass, breaking the bowl from the stem.  The bowl landed upright on the table and didn't spill a drop.  I felt like I witnessed a miracle.

39. Pricey property: ESTATE.  An extensive area of land in the country, usually with a large house, owned by one person, family, or organization.

40. Gas additive brand: STP.   STP® Gas Treatment claims to improve the quality of gas by adding powerful cleaning agents that help fight the accumulation of harmful deposits in the fuel system that can reduce performance.

43. Like meat rubs: SPICED.  Seasoned with various flavorful spices.

45. Air marshal's org.: TSA.   Transportation Security Administration, a US agency that protects the country's transportation systems. The TSA was created after the 9/11 attacks to prevent future attacks. 

46. Formal address: SIRE.  An archaic form of respectful address for someone of high social status, especially a king.

50. More svelte: LEANER.  More slender and elegant.

52. Midmonth time: IDES.   In the ancient Roman calendar, a day falling roughly in the middle of each month (the 15th day of March, May, July, and October, and the 13th of other months) from which other dates were calculated.

53. As well: TOO.  Also.

54. Groom-to-be: FIANCE.   A man to whom someone is engaged to be married.

55. Knock: RAP.  As knuckles on a door, to gain entrance.

59. "The Bear" Emmy winner Edebiri: AYO.  Ayo Edebiri [b. 1995] is an American actress, comedian, and television writer who has solidified her star status in recent years. Since 2022, she has played chef Sydney Adamu in the comedy-drama series The Bear, winning a Golden Globe Award for her performance.

60. "Sense and Sensibility" novelist Jane: AUSTEN.   Jane Austen [1775-1817] was an English novelist known for her six novels that critique and comment on the English landed gentry in the late 18th century. Her works are celebrated for their social commentary, particularly on class, status, and gender barriers. 

61. __ Lawrence College: SARAH.  Sarah Lawrence College is a private liberal arts college in Yonkers, New York, United States. Founded as a women's college in 1926, Sarah Lawrence College has been coeducational since 1968. The college's campus in Yonkers maintains a Bronxville mailing address and sits roughly 20 miles from New York City.   Founder William van Duzer Lawrence named the college for his wife, who was a bog proponent of higher education for young women

My son went to Lawrence Technological University here in Michigan.  No relation.

62. Acid: LSD.  Lysergic acid diethylamide is a psychedelic drug that can cause hallucinations and alter thoughts and emotions. It's considered a soft drug, which means it's not thought to be as addictive as harder drugs. However, LSD is still considered unsafe. 

63. Dough: BREAD.  Synonyms for money.

64. Actor Rogen: SETH.   Seth Aaron Rogen (b.1982) is a Canadian actor, comedian, and filmmaker. Known primarily for his comedic leading man roles in films, the accolades he has received include nominations for three Golden Globe Awards, five Primetime Emmy Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and an Independent Spirit Award.

Down:

1. Sound in a vet's office: ARF.  Canine utterance.  Perhaps a reaction to a lab test.

2. "My eye!": BALONEY.  Expression of unbelief or disdain.  There are more colorful alternatives.

3. Ducking: EVADING.  Slipping away from, especially by cleverness or trickery,

4. Catch a hint of: DETECT.   Discover or identify the presence or existence of something.

5. Sound in a vet's office: MEW.   Feline utterance, and a clecho.  Perhaps a reaction to a cat scan.

6. Blunder: ERROR.  A blunder is a particularly dumb or careless mistake.

7. Téa of "Madam Secretary": LEONI.  Téa Leoni (b Elizabeth Téa Pantaleoni, 1966) is an American actress. In her early career, she starred in the television sitcoms Flying Blind (1992–93) and The Naked Truth (1995–1998). Her breakthrough role was in the 1995 action comedy film Bad Boys. Leoni had lead roles in films such as Deep Impact (1998), The Family Man (2000), Jurassic Park III (2001), Spanglish (2004), and Fun with Dick and Jane (2005). From 2014 to 2019, she starred as Elizabeth McCord, Secretary of State, in the CBS political drama series Madam Secretary.

8. Chimpanzee kin: BONOBO.   The bonobo (Pan paniscus) is a great ape that lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They are endangered and have experienced a significant population decline in recent years.  Bonobos are distinguished from common chimpanzees by relatively long limbs, pinker lips, a darker face, a tail-tuft through adulthood, and parted, longer hair on their heads.

9. "Sense and Sensibility" director Lee: ANG.   Ang Lee OBS is a Taiwanese filmmaker. His films are known for their emotional charge and exploration of repressed, hidden emotions. During his career, he has received international critical and popular acclaim and numerous accolades including three Academy Awards, five BAFTA Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards.

Since :Sense and Sensibility" is another clecho, here is a little bit about the movie based on the novel.  When Elinor Dashwood's (Emma Thompson) father dies, her family's finances are crippled. After the Dashwoods move to a cottage in Devonshire, Elinor's sister Marianne (Kate Winslet) is torn between the handsome John Willoughby (Greg Wise) and the older Colonel Brandon (Alan Rickman). Meanwhile, Elinor's romantic hopes with Edward Ferrars (Hugh Grant, aka "that annoying British guy") are hindered due to his prior engagement. Both Elinor and Marianne strive for love while the circumstances in their lives constantly change.  But, then, don't we all.

10. Savanna or steppe: HABITAT.   The natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism, like the bonobo. 

11. Lipton offerings: ICE TEAS.   Drinks made by infusing the dried crushed leaves of the tea plant in boiling water, and then chilling.  Shall we revive the ice tea - iced tea controversy?  I vote no. 

12. "Puh-leeze": SHEESH.  Exclamations of disbelief or exasperation.

14. __ ring: NOSE.  A hooplike piece of jewelry worn on the nose, either through a pierced hole or held by a clasp.  

15. Aryna Sabalenka's org.: WTA.   Aryna Siarhiejeŭna Sabalenka (b. 1998) is a Belarusian professional tennis player. She is currently ranked as the world No. 1 in women's singles by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), and is a former world No. 1 in women's doubles. 

18. Pinned item on many a pol's lapel: US FLAG.

22. Übertrendy: SO HOT.  "Very trendy" or "extremely fashionable."   Some of us are too old to care.

23. Continental breakfast vessel: URN.   Coffee reservoir.

24. Literature Nobelist Albert: CAMUS.   Albert Camus(1913 – 1960) was a French philosopher, author, dramatist, journalist, world federalist, and political activist. He was the recipient of the 1957 Nobel Prize in Literature at the age of 44, the second-youngest recipient in history. His works include The Stranger, The Plague, The Myth of Sisyphus, The Fall and The Rebel.

25. __ Dame: NOTRE.   Notre-Dame de Paris, often referred to simply as Notre-Dame, is a medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité, in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, France. The cathedral, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture.  Construction was started in 1163, and the opening was in 1345.

The University of Notre Dame du Lac (known simply as Notre Dame) is a private Catholic research university in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States.  Founded in 1842 by members of the Congregation of Holy Cross, a Catholic religious order of priests and brothers, the main campus of 1,261 acres  has a suburban setting and contains landmarks such as the Golden Dome main building, Sacred Heart basilica, the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, the 134 foot tall Word of Life mosaic mural (nicknamed "Touchdown Jesus" because of the Christ figure's upraised arms), and Notre Dame Stadium.

28. Simplicity: EASE.   Simplicity is the quality or condition of being easy to understand or do.

31. Pop singer Mann: AIMEE.   Aimee Elizabeth Mann [b. 1960]  is an American singer-songwriter. Over the course of four decades, she has released ten studio albums as a solo artist. She is noted for her sardonic and literate lyrics about dark subjects, often describing lost or lonely underdog characters. 

From the comments under the Youtube vid, this song is deeply meaningful to some people who were struggling.

32. Likely will, with "is": APT TO.  Describing a presumed high probability expectation.

33. Old-school organizers, briefly: PDAs.  Personal Data Assistants. Now we can do it all with our phones.

35. Knocks to the canvas: DECKS.  Delivers a punch that knocks an opponent or adversary down.

36. Roma's land: ITALIA.  Both words rendered in their native language: Italiano.

37. Times for pampering: SPA DAYS.  A SPA DAY is a day of pampering and relaxation at a a commercial establishment offering health and beauty treatment through such means as steam baths, exercise equipment, and massage. It's a chance to escape daily stresses and rejuvenate. 

38. Procter & Gamble detergent pack: TIDE POD.   Tide PODS are laundry detergent pacs that contain detergent, stain remover, and color protector. They are designed to work in any washing machine, including high-efficiency machines. 

40. Genuine: SINCERE.   Free from pretense or deceit; proceeding from legitimate feelings.

41. Squirrel, in slang: TREE RAT.  "Tree rat" can refer to a number of rodents that live in trees, including roof rats, spiny rats, and other tree-dwelling rodents -or squirrels. 

42. Each: PER.  Relative to a single unit of something.

43. Feature of a well-thrown football: SPIRAL.  A ball thrown so that it rotates around its axis in flight. 

44. Way out of the way?: DETOUR.   Rerouted travel in order to avoid some obstacle or difficulty. 

46. Seasonal mall workers: SANTAS.  Don't fall for it,  they're impersonators.

48. Menu opener: MOUSE.  A computer accessory used to actuate applications and processes. 

49. Major artery: AORTA.    The main artery of the body, supplying oxygenated blood to the circulatory system. In humans it passes over the heart from the left ventricle and runs down in front of the backbone.

51. Corn units: EARS.  The spiked part of a corn plant that contains kernels.

54. Good times: FUN.   Enjoyment, amusement, or lighthearted pleasure.

56. Terrif: FAB.  Slangy indications of fun or something of high quality.

57. Logician's letters: QED.   QED is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase quod erat demonstrandum, which means "what was to be demonstrated". It's used to indicate that a proof or argument is complete. 

58. [Finger on lips]: SHH.  A plea for silence.

So, on this quiet note we arrive at home.

If you recall from my blog last month, our 18-year-old granddaughter Emily was badly injured when the car she was riding in got struck broadside by a drunk driver on December 16.  She is still in the hospital, and has had some complications to deal with, but has made significant recovery.  She gets 3 hours of physical and occupational therapy every week day.  She was healed enough to stand up - with assistance - a few days ago, and can now pivot while standing.  We are very proud of her for the progress she's making and her determined efforts to fully recover.  This kid has a lot of grit.

Cool regards!

JzB

Wednesday, Feb 12th, 2025 ~ Hoang-Kim Vu

 STRANGE DAYS

1995 Movie starring Ralph Fiennes - the Wiki

I was attempting to find another movie/TV show with seconds, days, weeks or months in the title, and some obvious ones came to mind - e.g., 9-1/2 weeks, Gone in Sixty Seconds, but I wanted to keep with the "half of the theme answer" concept.  I liked Strange Days, saw it when it came out 30 years ago.  Mr. Vu is a prolific constructor with several LA Times puzzles alone.  Today we have no circles, 24 4LWs, and very few names, but I still got done in by one - see the red square in the solution at the bottom - all in a standard 15 x 15 grid.  The themers;

20. Olsen twins teen comedy set in the Big Apple: NEW YORK MINUTE -  The reveal is "half" of the themer, and New York is "one" thing, but it is "two" words, IMHO.  Just sayin'.

35. Jackie Chan/Chris Tucker buddy cop film with two sequels: RUSH HOUR - I have sat through a couple of these movies; Jackie Chan is just amazing, did most of his own stunts; Chris Tucker is just annoying.

42. Amy Adams rom-com about a February 29 tradition: LEAP YEAR - I know nothing about this one, so here's the IMDb

58. Highlights of many bowl games, and an apt description of 20-, 35-, and 42-Across?: HALF-TIME SHOWS - Here is the Wiki on all the halftime performances at the Super Bowl; none of these artists made me want to sit through what was most likely a lip-sync show; I DO know that C.C. was probably most pleased 10 years ago when Bruno Mars was the headliner; and let us not forget the "wardrobe malfunction" 20 years ago . . . .half-time is a rhythmic feel with the beat on 2 and 4; if you want to be more confused, check this drummer's YouTube video.  Here's a song with the half-time feel at the end of the chorus;

The Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive - twice in one week~!

And Away We go~!

ACROSS:

1. Random __ of kindness: ACTS

5. Range for a yodeler: ALPS - not fooled by the mountain range vs. pitch range

9. Instrument in Hindi cinema: SITAR - I like the "sitar-style" solo in the song below - there's a less "sitar-ish" solo in the live performance on YouTube; the only reason I bring it up is that the show aired on my 2nd Birthday - 52 years and three days ago

Steely Dan - Do It Again

14. Engage in costumed gaming, slangily: LARP - Live-Action Role Playing - sort of like this....

My short-lived marriage started with a Medieval Wedding

15. The Big Easy, for short: NOLA - New Orleans, LouisianA - Caesar's Super Dome just hosted the LIX Super Bowl

16. Start with a clean slate?: ERASE

17. Omnia vincit __: AMOR - Love Conquers All - Latin

18. Morose: DOUR

19. Solemn recitations: OATHS

23. Wrath: IRE - AND - 10D. Apoplectic: IRATE - FLW: Lucina, I cashed in my "trial" IRA that I never actually funded - its net worth dropped since it was opened, down to a mere $696.  The one I have with the Pipe Organ company has a 5% match, so that's rocking right now.  And I feel your pain - my mother's bank accounts are proving to be a nightmare to close because they, too, changed ownership right when she died, and NYS is now requiring I "prove" how I distributed the money - why~?  What if I said I built a deck with the money~?  Will they deny me this last account~?  Feel my IRE, I am IRATE

24. Apply crudely: DAUB

25. Some phone notifications: ALERTS

28. Common part of a lunch combo: SALAD - I usually get the SOUP

30. Inca Trail to Machu Picchu locale: PERU - I did not see the word "locale" when I was solving the puzzle, so I thought we were looking for the NAME of the trail|

South America - I could go for a tour of the place

  32. Cal. column: THUrsday

33. Grab a chair: SIT

38. Ice hockey gear: SKATES

41. Absolute gems: BEAUTS

44. Syst. in which "A" is a closed fist: ASL - American Sign Language

45. Ga. capital: ATLanta

46. Has a debt: OWES

48. Hard __ to break: HABIT - Also the title of this Chicago song

Smoking, drinking and sexual overtones; ah, the 80's

52. "Just suppose ... ": "WHAT IF..." - What if I went with "Ten Seconds to Love" for the blog title~?

55. Attention to detail: CARE

57. Single: ONE

61. Animal also called the zebra giraffe: OKAPI

63. Resting on: ATOP

64. Word said while pointing: THAT 👈

65. Concur: AGREE

66. Astronauts' org.: NASA

67. Additional: MORE

68. "Fun, Fun, Fun" car: T-BIRD - The Beach Boys are not normally my musical thing, but I listened and it's "Chuck Berry blues" - the link here - and anything guitar I can learn from is a good thing; I like the Ford Thunderbird - I had one just like the picture, ridiculously quick, but had to let it go because it had some bizarre Teves Swedish ABS system that failed, $1400 plus labor to replace 😟

1986 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe; I paid $1200 for it in 1998

69. Kill it on the runway, say: SLAY - I would not know - I have never attended a fashion show - oh wait - are we talking about a plane crash runway~?

Tenerife, Canary Islands, 1977 - most fatal airplane accident - Air Disasters

70. Ore deposit: LODE


DOWN:

1. "Jagged Little Pill" singer Morissette: ALANIS - this being her third album, it was a huge success, including the single "You Outta Know" - NSFW

2. Kodak innovation: CAMERA - I was today years old when I learned that Kodak is not Polaroid

3. Garden tool: TROWEL - for those 'heavy makeup days'

4. Agile: SPRY

5. "The United States vs. Billie Holiday" Oscar nominee Day: ANDRA - my last crossing, as one can see in the solution below - I had an "E" for the last letter, not knowing who Andra Day is - the WIki

6. "It's right above your head!": "LOOK UP~!" - I started "UP THERE", but it didn't fit

7. Expert at handling snakes?: PLUMBER - ah, yes, the plumber's snake

There's the drill type and the full-on power ones, as well

8. Dress in Hindi cinema: SARI

9. South Korean capital: SEOUL - twice this week

11. Curly fry alternative: TATER TOT

12. Some barbecue remains: ASH

13. Low-__: RES - we had "Hi _" on Monday

21. Quirky thing: ODDITY

22. Queasy feeling: NAUSEA - Quirky & Queasy - but no Q in the fill . . . .

And now there is~! Star Trek: TNG

26. Ergo: THUS

27. __ La Table: cookware retailer: SUR - I have never shopped here

29. "Now!" letters: ASAP - here we go; NOW means STAT, not "as soon as possible"

31. Massage: RUB

34. Begin a round of golf: TEE OFF - also the polite way to say one is "irate"

36. Figures (out): HASHES - I tried SUSSES - that's 50% correct

37. Polynesian dance: HULA

38. MacFarlane of "Family Guy": SETH - I happen to like his creations, not just Family Guy and American Dad~!, but his Star Trek homage "The Orville" was a great show, too

39. Desert that covers much of Botswana: KALAHARI 

40. Adage: SAW

42. Murphy's __: LAW - rhyming sequential answers

43. Solo performance: RECITAL

47. Appetizer before a curry, maybe: SAMOSA - filled via perps; a recipe here

49. "Cry me a river!": "BOO-HOO~!"

50. To the middle: INWARD

51. Proctor's charge: TESTEE - 😝 a test taker

53. Dwindle (down): TAPER

54. "OK, that was untrue": "I LIED."

56. Settle a debt: REPAY 

59. Basks in the sun: TANS - does an iguana "tan"~?

60. Webpage medium: HTML - filled via perps; HyperText Markup Language

61. Muesli morsel: OAT

62. Old CIA foe: KGB - The new Russian intelligence agencies are here

Thank you all for the B-day comments~!

Splynter

Wednesday, Feb 5th, 2025 ~ Paul Coulter

FINAL: ELEVEN  -  ZIP

Now that's a hockey game "blow-out" - sorry, CanadianEh!  Paul Coulter returns, having several LA Times puzzles under his belt - the last one was here back on a Monday in January 2024.  Four 10- & 11-letter themers, no reveal, all definitions of the word/phrase 'blowout'.   We have two bonus 9- and 10-letter fills* in the Down today, too - great fills, but usually frowned upon when two of the themers are the same length.  Too many names, IMHO, a balance of 21 TLW and 22 4LWs, and no circles - they were in yesterday's puzzle, two weeks in a row.  The theme answers;

17. Group that might enjoy a blowout: WINNING TEAM - there's a line about Brooklyn in Billy Joel's song "We Didn't Start the Fire" @1:35

30. Host who might throw a blowout: PARTY GIVER

Bobbi Flekman, the hostess with the mostess

48. Wheel that might experience a blowout: RADIAL TIRE - happened to me in my 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan doing 72mph on I-395 trying to make the Cross Sound Ferry in the summer of 2023 - I limped off the highway into a parking lot, determined not to miss the boat, and installed the spare in 13 minutes - and that's an accomplishment because the spare is on a chain you crank inside the van from the floor center to drop the donut beneath the vehicle  😜

And if it's rusted from non-use . . . .f$%^#@&~!

63. Professional who might provide a blowout: HAIR-STYLIST  - Everything you wanted to know about a HAIR blowout - here

And Away We Go~!

ACROSS:

1. Cry like a baby: BAWL - crossing BOWL

5. First game of a doubleheader: OPENER -  I am sure C.C. can't wait

11. Appear onstage: ACT

14. Sandwich cookie: OREO - two weeks in a row for me

15. Not tricked by: WISE TO - quit cracking wise - I am reading the first book of the Robert Crais detective series - a great read, and there's 19 more in the series - a new one in 2025

16. "The Queen's Gambit" actress Anya Taylor-__: JOY - name #1, more here

at the Council of Fashion Designers of America awards

19. Band's sound booster: AMP - I'm told this is an acceptable "non-abbr" here at the corner

20. Sooner or __: LATER

21. Melancholy: SAD - four syllables :: one syllable

22. Shake hands (on): AGREE

24. Lingering amount: TRACE

26. All alternative: NONE - briefly thought we were looking for a laundry detergent, as in TIDE

28. Spanish "those": ESOS - Español #1

35. Auden's "Musée __ Beaux Arts": DES - filled via perps, the Wiki

36. Video game archaeologist Croft: LARA - name #2 - there was a movie, too - but I am not an Angelina Jolie fan - shocking, but true

37. Place: LOCALE

38. Davis of "Stuart Little": GEENA - name #3 - the IMDb

40. [Not my error]: SIC

42. Some nesting figures: DOLLS - e.g., Russian Matryoshka

Incredible Artwork - sold at 61D. here

  43. "On it, Captain!": "AYE - AYE~!" - Picard~! Picard~!

45. Gym cushions: MATS

47. Gymnast Suni: LEE - name #4 - becoming the common clue for this answer

50. Landlord's income: RENT

51. "Puppy Love" singer Paul: ANKA - name #5

52. "Bad, Bad" Brown of song: LEROY - name #6

54. Head of cabbage?: HARD C - "C"abbage - I know some Cornerites don't much care for these kinds of ( meta ) clues, but I am OK with them

57. __-Wan Kenobi: OBI - name #6

59. Pond buildup: ALGAE

62. Many moons __: AGO - many moons ago, there were no names in a crossword

66. Mojito liquor: RUM

67. Discounted: ON SALE

68. "Battle Cry" novelist Leon: URIS - name #7

69. Atlas page: MAP - AND - 60D. Atlas section: ASIA

70. Far from fresh: ROTTEN

71. Theater production: PLAY

DOWN:

1. Many a New Year's Day football game: BOWL - The Buffalo Bills are out, so I am rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles, but I am not watching the Super Bowl for the second year in a row - I even canceled my live stream TV service to prove it.

2. "Tosca" solo: ARIA - three-vowel crossword staple

3. Became shabby: WENT TO SEED* - from whence we get the phrase - another link here

4. Reclusive sorts: LONERS - HERMITS didn't fit

5. Private: OWN - as in, "it's my _ collection"

6. Pork-based dog treats: PIGS EARS - sorry, Irish Miss, but I am still waiting on my new house mate - but I do have another lead on where to look for a rescue Schnauzer~!

7. "¿Cómo __ usted?": ESTA - Español #2

8. "You __ bother!": NEEDN'T - I am tiring of these kinds of fill-in clues

9. In-flight info, for short: ETA

10. Mercury and Saturn: ROMAN GODS* - name(s) #8, waited to see if we were looking for auto manufacturers

11. Letting in light, as a door: AJAR - Also in yesterday's grid - and Meh.  I have a diamond window in my front door, and three "lites" in my sunroom door - they let in light, but they're not ajar- especially when it's -5° outside . . . .

12. "The best is yet to __": COME

13. Use a keyboard: TYPE

18. 401(k) kin: IRA - I have an IRA that changed banks literally five times since I opened it, and every time it does, I have to jump though hoops to verify it - so I figured it's time to be done with the nonsense....

23. Insurance company with a spokeslizard: GEICO - my choice for car insurance

25. Tax pro: CPA - Certified Public Accountant - busy season is upon them - I just got my W-2

27. Olive in the comics: OYL - name #9

28. "The Dance Class" painter Degas: EDGAR - name #10

Oil, 1874, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC

29. "Bye now": "SEE YA~!"

31. "Spider-Man" trilogy director: RAIMI - name #11, but we had him some time last week

32. Stereotypical Southern California teen of the 1980s: VALLEY GIRL* - Like I totally was going to insert Frank Zappa's "Valley Girl" clip, but I could not take a full five minutes of the dialect

33. Daytime talk show that ended in 2022: ELLEN - name #12, never watched

34. Button clicked by a password forgetter: RESET - ...part of the IRA fiasco was having to RESET my password with each acquiring bank, so I decided to cash out last week, penalties be damned

36. Secure a ship: LAY ANCHOR*

39. Water nymph: NAIAD - I knew this, but could not recall how to spell it; is there a "Y" in there~?

41. "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" singer Belinda: CARLISLE - Ha~! Same here - is there a "Y" in there~?  She is the lead vocalist for the Go-Go's, too - and name #13

44. Antlered animal: ELK - I pondered RAM, but those are more like "horns"

46. Casual top: TEE - T-shirt

49. Disciple of Lao-tzu: TAOIST - name(ish) #14 - Taoism per Nat Geo

50. Prepare to store, as a sleeping bag: ROLL UP

"Sandwiches~!"

53. Beam: RAY

54. Damage: HARM

55. Lago contents: AGUA - Español #3

56. Frolic: ROMP

58. Pesky kid: BRAT

61. Retail site with art and collectibles: ETSY

64. "So that's __?": "A NO~?" - I tried ALL - still don't like this type of fill-in clue

65. Low card in a royal flush: TEN

There's nothing LOW about being a "TEN"

Splynter