Wednesday, Dec 10th, 2025 ~ Peggy Sue Marlin

 CHiPs Fries

I do believe this is Peggy Sue Marlin's first published puzzle - congratulations~!  I found this link to another crossword site, and her name appears there a few times.  For today's theme, Peggy uses the "UK" term for a 'thing' as an adjective for the "American" 'thing', with a humorous result.  My parents were born and raised in Nottingham, England, so I was familiar with the "other" terms Brits use, e.g. lorry for truck, bonnet for hood, etc.  Standard grid, no circles, just thirteen 3LWs, but a few too many names for my taste.  The themers, all unique; 

20. Rental unit with zero personality?: FLAT APARTMENT

A whole building of FLAT apartments

28. One who forgot insect repellent for a walk in the park?: BUGGY STROLLER - Camelot~!

I have to push the Pram A Lot ~!

45. Five-star frank?: BANGER SAUSAGE

This is a FINE example of sausage~!

52. Salad special at a Cape Canaveral cafe?: ROCKET ARUGULA - new to me, I did not know that arugula, everywhere else, is called "rocket" - you learn something new from crosswords everyday~!

And Away We Loo~!

ACROSS:

1. "Star Wars" villain: VADER - "I find your lack of faith . . . . distubing" - name #1

6. Cartoon supplier of explosive tennis balls: ACME

Wile E Coyote's go-to supply company

10. "I'm __ you asked": "GLAD"

14. BP merger partner: AMOCO

15. Glitzy rock genre: GLAM - ah, such sweet memories....NY Dolls and Kiss may have started it all, but I grew up in the 80s with the likes of Poison, Cinderella, and my personal favorite, Mötley Crüe

Care to see the video for Looks that Kill~? -  I'm GLAM you asked~!

16. Work (up): RILE

17. Emblems on some caps: LOGOS

18. Add to the staff: HIRE

19. Auth. unknown: ANONymous

23. Mai __: rum drink: TAI

25. Día de __ Muertos: LOS - Espaniol, "Day of the Dead" - used as the backdrop for the opening sequence from "Spectre", the penultimate Bond film starring Daniel Craig.  There were NO edits for the first four minutes, and that's an incredible feat; the behind-the-scenes making of - with the one-shot description mentioned at 10:42.  Here's a gratuitous Daniel 007 for C.C.

I need to talk to my trainer Brett about this diet & exercise plan

26. "Lost" actor Daniel __ Kim: DAE - "Dae of the Five-O", too - in fact, I see he had a guest "54D." on Law & Order back in 1994 - his IMDb; name #2

27. Grow older: AGE

32. Host of the 2004 Olympics: ATHENS - I believe they hosted the FIRST games, as well

33. __ cards: INDEX - they come in handy for . . . .

34. Repetitive learning method: ROTE - printing music notes on, so I could learn them by sight, rather than counting lines and spaces

35. Craft beer letters: IPA - crossword staple

36. "Aladdin" parrot named for a Shakespeare villain: IAGO - name #3

40. Brother's daughter: NIECE - my niece-in-law broke her lower leg riding a quad on Thanksgiving

43. Puffy reminder of a scuffle: FAT LIP - FAT TIRE is an Amber Ale

47. Washington airport code: DCA - Dah~!  Not SEA for Seattle / Tacoma, the other Washington - D.C. - and Ronald Reagan Airport

49. Bible book before 1 Cor.: ROM - Romans - ooof; I guess it's a change-up from ROMantic COMedy, but I am not familiar with the Biblical books

Bottom Shelf

50. "Star Trek" series, for short: TNG - The Next Generation, and MY generation.  I could not get into the original series, as I knew Star Wars before I saw William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy, et. al. in their roles as Kirk & Spock, etc.  I did, however, embrace the characters in this series, which began in 1987

Bangers humor

51. Recycle bin item: CAN

56. Repulsive: ICKY

57. Club choice: IRON - not sa'miches, but one of the "niblicks" used at 44D.

58. Big name in plastic wrap: SARAN - says name right in the clue - #4

61. Outside the lines: FOUL - sports lingo, not coloring books

62. Sandy sediment: SILT - Sandy sentiment~?

You're The One That I Want, Grease, 1978

63. Entry on a Spotify playlist: TITLE - music streaming; I use Pandora; Spotify is too much work for me

64. Carton sealer: TAPE - I first read this as cartOON

Wile E "sealed" in glue

65. Low digits: TOES

66. Quite capable: ADEPT

DOWN:

1. Actor Kilmer: VAL - name #5

2. Ti __: Italian "I love you": AMO - how ROMANtic

3. Ace-versus-ace sky battle: DOGFIGHT - George Lucas explains how he used clips of WWII dogfights so his Star Wars special effects team could grasp what he was aiming for with the Death Star battle finale

4. Climate change sci.: ECOLogy

5. Historian Terborg-Penn: ROSALYN - Sheesh.  On Wednesday.  Name #6 - her Wiki

6. Horrified: AGHAST

7. Chip bag closer: CLIP - Not SEAL

8. Argentine soccer legend Diego: MARADONA - I recalled this name - more here - name #7

9. May birthstone: EMERALD 

Definitely not the Grinch . . . .

10. Nana: GRAM - I grew up with "Granny", thus my one goof in the grid - the 'N' to 'M'

11. One-dimensional: LINEAR

12. Word with run or tag: ALONG - run along, tag-along

13. Al __: pasta specification: DENTE

21. Throw in the trash: TOSS

22. Lead-in to prompter: TELE - TelePrompTer - history

23. Ski lift: T-BAR - third "Tee" answer in row

24. Mustang or Pinto: AUTO - FORD worked, as well - two names used by the Ford Motor Co. - and Charlie's Angels, too

An article from Motorbiscuit about the cars here

29. Davis of "A League of Their Own": GEENA - knew it, still a name, #8

30. More edible, perhaps: RIPER

31. Off-ramps: EXITS

35. Video game plumber who freezes enemies: ICE MARIO - I knew Mario, but not the ICE version - name #9

37. Menu phrase: À LA CARTE - good to see the whole phrase in a crossword

38. More than mega-: GIGA - one point twenty-one GIGAwatts~!

Doc Brown, Back to the Future

39. Like a 24-hour diner: OPEN - all day . . . . and night

41. Memo phrase: IN RE

42. Self-centered sort: EGOTIST - Narcissist was too much for this answer

43. Vampire tooth: FANG

44. Masters Tournament host city: AUGUSTA - I like to watch golf 

45. "Wait, what did you just say?": "BACK UP..."

46. Double duty?: STUNTS - Stunt doubles, har-har

47. Deviate: DRIFT

48. __ powder: COCOA

53. Schwarber who led the National League in home runs in 2022 and 2025: KYLE - I don't care much for baseball, so this one was all perps - name #10

54. Actor's assignment: ROLE - I prefer behind-the-scenes work, but I would love to play a twisted bad guy in a movie some day

55. Set, as a table: LAID - meh, but I guess so

59. Swiss peak: ALP

60. March Madness souvenir: NET - college basketball - the winners usually snip the net from the rim

Splynter

Wednesday, Dec 3rd, 2025 ~ John Harrington

  BRAIN CRAMP

I'm a fan of the Canucks, like Bert  - or perhaps you know of this card game

I do the DOWN clues to start, so I quickly discovered that the theme was DOWN, as well - and I know there are a few visitors to the Corner who are not fond of this type of construction, and now, combined with the always admired circles - just like yesterday~!.  Sigh.   John had one other contribution to the LA Times in the past, almost four years ago to the day with a similar theme that Boomer covered.  I have not had the pleasure of blogging one of his puzzles; I am totally impressed with the theme fills, and their clever arrangement, but some of the other clue/answers didn't thrill me.  A handful of names, 24 each of four- and five-letter words - more than the 17 3LWs - a 15x15 grid, and three unique (*) fills; 

5. The Guess Who song covered by Lenny Kravitz: AMERICAN WOMAN* - I never cared for the original, so the remake did nothing for me - sorry.  

10. Principle that anything that can go wrong will go wrong: MURPHY'S LAW - There are more now;

I have proven the Workshop law too many times to count - hardware as well as tools

19. Comedian's self-deprecating assurance: "I'M HERE ALL WEEK.~!"* - Ba-dum-tiss

29. Unseen collective character on "The Office": CAMERA CREW

I so wanted to link the "best of" this phrase, but it's NSF Work - ironically

7. Routine before a race, or what can be found in this puzzle's circled letters: 

WARM UP STRETCHES* - The circles denote the letters W A R M that s-t-r-e-t-c-h "up" the theme answers - one needs to limber up the noggin before working a crossword puzzle . . . .

Grid Flow is 35.2, roughly the average

And Away We Go~!

ACROSS:

1. __ lines: mysterious geoglyphs in Peru: NAZCA - I like watching "Ancient Aliens", and the Lines are a frequent topic on that show - the Wiki; geo name#1

And now A I has discovered 300+ more glyphs - the website

6. Couple: TWO

9. Love, in Spanish: AMOR

13. Geometry class statement: AXIOM - here's an explanation, sort of . . . 

14. Ink pouches: SACS

16. Knockoff version: DUPE - no abbr indicated for "duplicate"

17. Chop finely: MINCE - my AXLE/IRON made this  - L O C - , so I knew something was not right

18. Some Hollywood red-carpet events: PREMIERES - Solid fill

20. Go along with: ESCORT

Air Force One with a fighter "escort"

22. Formal address: MA'AM

23. Con's opposite: PRO - Corrections Officer was too long 😜

24. Celebratory gesture after a success: AIR PUNCH

'tis the season~!

26. "You __ one job!": "HAD~!"

27. TV network based in Central London: BBC - network #1, the "beeb"

30. Complain: CARP

A goldfish carp - get it~?

31. "Claws" actor Jack: KESY - No clue, filled via perps; his IMDb; name #2

33. In the style of, on French menus: À LA

34. Sailor's "Halt!": "AVAST~!"

36. Puts one's feet up: RESTS

39. Instant noodles option: RAMEN - I made my mac N cheese for Thanksgiving, but when I opened this box of Penne, it had Rotini in it

It's an "im-pasta"

41. Ultimate degree: Nth

42. Razzle-dazzle: ÉCLAT - more Frawnche, "burst out"

43. "Sullivan's Crossing" channel: THE CW - network #2 , never watched, filled via perps - name (ish)

44. Caribbean island near Venezuela: ARUBA - geo name #2

46. Blackjack card: ACE - see also 63D.

47. Crucifix: ROOD - My US History teacher in high school was Mr. Rood; he claimed his "rock band" went by the name "Merchants of Death", from the historical WWI pejorative - and he would tell us on Fridays to "make it a better weekend for someone else.", which I always appreciated.

49. Track legend Zátopek: EMIL - name #3

50. __ factor: WOW

51. AIT scanner org.: TSA - three days in a row now; Advanced Imaging Technology, Transportation Security Admin.

53. Spaghetti topper: MEATBALL

Looked so good when I wrote the blog, I went and made more "Ro-Penne" with meatballs

Or is it Pen-tini~?

56. "Monsters, __": INC.

57. With, on French menus: AVEC - more more Frawnche; without = sans

58. Dives like a hawk: SWOOPS

62. Taylor Swift hit that aptly spent two weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100: FORTNIGHT

65. Easy-to-spot jigsaw pieces: EDGES - I had a picture of Cooper made into a jigsaw puzzle as a present for my sister-in-law last year; she and my brother are tackling it now to be done before this Christmas

Me 'n Cooper, loungin' on the couch

66. Release: FREE - messed up my "SPATS" @ 51D.

67. In __ of: LIEU - send donations to the Splynter board game fund in lieu of flowers . . . .

68. Everglades wading bird: EGRET - showed up in Monday's puzzle, too - I lived in Florida for two years, don't  rEGRET moving 😜

69. Threaded together: SEWN

70. Form 1099 fig.: SSN - IRS didn't work

71. Falls (over): KEELS

DOWN:

1. Topic of conversation for parents-to-be: NAME - #. 1. name.  Ha~!

2. Turning point?: AXIS - I put in AXLE, but in retrospect, an axle is not really a "point"

3. Multivitamin element: ZINC - Dah~!  Not IRON

4. Drinkable chocolate: COCOA - I like Ryze mushroom cocoa, but it does not make me as sleepy as advertised

6. Cook's meas.: TSP - a "tisp" is smaller than a tibble-spip, ( TBSP ) amounts I am working with when following a 'ree-sype'

8. One of a geographic quintet: OCEAN - Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic, Antarctic - which is now called Southern

9. Summery drink suffix: ADE - hi Lemonade~!

11. "Tosca," for one: OPERA

12. Fill in, as a bare spot in a yard: RESOD

I think I see a "bare spot" in the yard

15. Noisy kiss: SMACK

21. Chiefs star Kelce, to fans: TRAV - Since I am so NOT a Chiefs fan, I had no clue; this season, no NFL team seems to be the run-away favorite, as far as I can tell - name #4

25. Sanskrit for "life force": PRANA - ooops, not ASANA - that's a hatha yoga posture

27. Oldest Simpson kid: BART - Lisa, & Maggie haven't aged a day in almost 40 years - name #5

28. Ho-hum: "BLAH."

32. Min. fraction: SEC

35. Stick out like a sore __: THUMB

37. Food truck fare: TACO

38. Nurse a grudge, say: STEW - we already had several 'food' clues & answers

40. Green prefix: ECO

45. Slant: BIAS

48. New Jersey NHL player: DEVIL - I lived in Albany, NY, which is home to their farm team, the River Rats

51. Petty quarrels: TIFFS - my answer was Bzzzt~!

52. "Zzz" sound: SNORE - I prefer this ZZ sound

A post-Thanksgiving "TV Dinners", ZZ top

54. Protection: AEGIS - filled via perps; the OE dictionary says it's of Greek origin meaning "shield"

55. Ski resort building: LODGE - A-FRAME didn't fit

59. Fantasy heavy: OGRE

60. Banana skin: PEEL

61. Retired jets, briefly: SSTs - Super-Sonic TransportS - The Concorde, e.g. - this fill has been making a comeback, lately

63. Royal flush card: TEN - had to change my ACE here due to its showing up for Blackjack @ 46A.

64. Winery vat: TUN - filled via perps; etymology here

Splynter

Wednesday, Nov 26th, 2025 ~ Daniel Hrynick

 U HAUL

This is my third installment blogging an LA Times crossword from Daniel - the one I reviewed almost a year ago had a similar symmetry, being mirrored on the Y-axis.  I have a mixed opinion about this one; on the one hand, it's clever, with a meta-clue reveal, but then I seem to think that either the "shape" of the puzzle's symmetry needed to somehow 'reflect' the "U" shape as well - OR - perhaps more than just three "U" entries~?  It feels as though the answers to 22- and 42A., 9- & 11-letter fills, might have been part of the theme as well.  YMMV.  I count eight names, NINE abbrs, with twenty-three 3LWs but no circles in a standard-sized grid.  The themers and reveal; 

17. *Device whose poles are close together: HORSESHOE MAGNET

24. *Polish sausage: KIELBASA

28. *Commuter's cushion: NECK PILLOW

31. Ed Sheeran hit, and a phonetic hint to the answers to the starred clues: SHAPE OF YOU - Not my "thing" - all I know about this artist is that at one time he was the biggest name in music - here in the 21st century - with a #1 album and singles ( his Wiki ), but I can't listen to most of the material coming from "musicians" lately; it all sounds digitized and just lacking depth, IMHO.  Here's the video, which happens to mention "magnet";

the "attraction" @ 0:59

And Away U Go~!

ACROSS:

1. Deep purple berry: ACAI - Deep Purple "Blackmore" berry

Closer to my "thing"

5. Worker with lots to attend to?: VALET - parking lots, har-har

10. Actor Guinness: ALEC - name #1, but "U" know he portrayed "Obi Wan"

14. Primer, e.g.: COAT - paint, not reading

15. "Who gives a hoot?" response: "I CARE."

"What do U think of her~?" - Luke's respone to Princess Leia

16. "De __": "Gracias" response: NADA - Espaniol #1, translates to "Of Nothing" = U R Welcome

20. Rio Grande city: EL PASO - name #2

21. Fusses with feathers: PREENS

22. Find a valuable deposit underground: STRIKE OIL - Great fill, but how 'bout BIKE LOCKS~?

26. Rage: MANIA

29. Actress Long: NIA - name #3, this actress

30. Compact __: DISCS - CDs

34. "You said it!": "AMEN~!" - "U" said it~?

35. Once-__: quick studies: OVERS

37. Spiced tea: CHAI

38. Snap: PIC

39. Lattice for vines: TRELLIS

41. Starter course, informally: APPetizer - not going smart phone this week

42. Chess piece on f1 or f8: KING'S BISHOP - another great fill, just not what U'd expect

45. Home __: DEPOT - HD is like my second home . . . .

47. Khaki kin: TAN

48. The Most Stuf cookies: OREOS - and there U are, in a crossword again

51. Actor/director Ken: OLIN - name #4 

52. Misplaces: LOSES

54. NYSE listing: CORPoration

55. 128 oz.: GALLon - could have saved an abbr here and gone with

a GAL in turkey socks~!

56. Wipe data from: ERASE - Are U sure~?

57. Medication-approving gp.: FDA - Food and Drug Administration

58. Exercise similar to yoga: PILATES

61. Floofy canine breed: SAMOYED - Not sure I would have understood "floofy", but I do the Down clues first, had most of the crossings, and the rest was easy to fill out on this one

I will be seeing my buddy Cooper tomorrow~!

Still no luck with a pet of my own, but I am not giving up

64. Battery terminals: ANODES

65. Spanish title: SENORA - Espaniol #2

66. Cry after a successful team effort: "WE WON~!" - there's no "U" in TEAM . . . 

67. Plain awful: LOUSY - probably how the other team feels . . . .

DOWN:

1. Tooth trouble: ACHE

2. "Sweet!": "COOL~!"

3. Lobby group for seniors: AARP - American Association of Retired Peoples - I qualified in February four years ago, at least in terms of age - but - I am a looooong way from being able to retire.

4. "What a terrible thing to do": IT'S A SIN - It's A Song - from Pet Shop Boys, classic 80s, which is more my "thing" - but even better, here's Ghost doing a metal-style cover

5. Helmet attachment: VISOR - I tried SPIKE - hey, it's attached, too...and it's called a pickelhaube

6. German cry of dismay: ACH - Ach~! I put my helmet on upside down~!

7. Southeast Asian language: LAO - spoken in, uh, Laos . . .name(ish)

8. Before, in ballads: ERE

9. Arrangement speed: TEMPO - not how fast U can deliver flowers . . . .

10. Remarkably well-behaved: ANGELIC - I do not recall being referred to as this when growing up

11. Bowling assignment: LANE

12. Garden that needs no improvement: EDEN - Perhaps the fruit should have been kept out of reach~?

13. Pets with toe beans: CATS - I tried DOGS

18. Spanish pronoun: ESTA - Espaniol #3

19. Very dry: ARID - like my humor

23. Wall Street figures: INVESTORS - I was thinking BROKERS

25. Tendency of an eager beaver, maybe: EARLINESS - I'll get up at 4am on Black Friday for these

26. Poster on a subway wall: MAP - my first thought was ADS

27. Friend who likely celebrates Bastille Day: AMI - that friend would be Frawnche

32. Topper in a Super Mario costume: CAP

33. Taste: SIP - don't overdo the spirits this weekend

35. Alternative to com: ORG - internet domains; COMpany and ORGanization

36. Member of the fam: SIS - based on its location in the grid, I figured it was SISter

39. Blast letters: TNT 

40. Cable TV abbr.: SHOwtime - abbr #10

43. Cyclotron particle: ION

44. Lumbering Tolkien creature: ORC - or ENT~? name(ish) #5

45. Apt tattoo for a lover of pooches: DOG PAW - I see so many twenty- and thirty-something girls at the gym, covered in tats - legs, arms, whole sleeves - looks "dirty" to me . . . . just my humble opinion

Subtle, and more appealing

46. "Seinfeld" role for Julia: ELAINE - yada yada yada name #6

49. Calls for takeout: ORDERS - I caved in and got General Tso's chicken last Friday

50. "Me time" outing: SPA DAY - I figure my gym trainer is gonna let me slide this weekend 😜

52. Winery discard: LEES

53. Sail the seven __: SEAS - Rhyming answers, LEES and SEAS

59. "Without further __ ... ": ADO - "Let us, tomato . . . . "

60. Decimal base: TEN

62. Voice artist Blanc: MEL - name #7 - Pork Pig's history

Well, not quite . . . . ono more clue

63. Singer Yoko: ONO - name #8

Splynter

Today's puzzle has a "Grid Flow" of 41.8 - by comparison, the Holy Grail puzzle two weeks ago was low - only 15.9 - basically, it's the crossings that give you connectivity to a section with more than a single letter . . . .

And the solution with low Flow:

Just a curiosity

HAPPY THANKSGIVING~!

Wednesday, November 19, 2025 Joe Deeney

Theme:  Polish, garnish, embellish - all to make it better.  Let's start with the unifier.

61. Details that make things perfect, and what 18-, 24-, 39-, and 53-Across have: FINISHING TOUCHES.  Final details or actions completing and enhancing a piece of work.   The final word of each theme fill is a type of physical touch - thus, the finishing touch.

18. Wildflower with showy red bracts: INDIAN PAINT BRUSH.  Also, a BRUSH is a a slight and fleeting touch.

The Legend

24. Mockumentary about "one of England's loudest bands": THIS IS SPINAL TAP.  The comedy film satirizes the behavior and musical pretensions of rock bands and the hagiographic tendencies of serious rock documentaries.  It was Rob Reiner's feature directorial debut.  Also, a TAP is a quick light blow,

39. Line in Hamlet's "To sleep, perchance to dream" soliloquy: THERE'S THE RUB.   This means "that's the difficulty" or "that's the obstacle". It comes from the famous "to be or not to be" soliloquy in Hamlet, where Hamlet is contemplating suicide but is held back by the fear of the unknown afterlife.  Also, a RUB is the movement of one's hand, a cloth, or another object back and forth over a surface.

53. Style in a swimming medley: BUTTERFLY STROKE.   A swimming stroke characterized by both arms moving forward over the water simultaneously, while the legs perform a synchronized "dolphin" kick. It is the second-fastest swimming stroke and is known for its difficulty, requiring a rhythmic, wave-like body motion for propulsion and breathing.  Also, a STRoKE is the action of  passing the hand over something with a light, gentle pressure.

Hi gang, JazzBumpa here, fully enjoying the feel of this theme.  Let's move along and see what else touches us.

Across:

1. Debit card feature: CHIP.  A small computer on a card that encrypts transaction data to provide enhanced security against fraud. Unlike a magnetic stripe, which provides static information, the chip generates a unique, one-time code for each transaction, making it much harder for criminals to clone the card

5. Petro-Canada rival: ESSO.  The petroleum brand owned by ExxonMobil, used outside the United States.

9. God, in the Haggadah: ADONAI.  God is called Adonai because it is a Hebrew word meaning "Lord" or "Master," used to signify God's absolute sovereignty and authority over all of creation. 

15. Frost: HOAR.   Grayish white; by analogy to gray or gray-haired with age. [Like me.]

16. Flirty growl: RAWR.   If you say so.

17. Swerve dangerously: CAREEN.

21. Only: MERE.   That is solely or no more or better than what is specified.

22. MIT Sloan deg.: MBA. Master of Business Administration.

23. Photoreceptor cell: ROD.

All About Vision

30. "__ so fast!": NOT.  An informal idiom meaning to slow down, wait, or reconsider something because a conclusion or action is premature, or unwise. 

31. With 1-Down, martial art involving slow movements: TAI.  As described - TAI CHI is a Chinese martial art and system of calisthenics, consisting of sequences of very slow controlled movements.

32. Leaves partway through: BAILS.    Quit, leaves, or cancels plans, often suddenly. For example, someone might say, "I'm going to bail on this party," which means they are leaving.

33. Unexpected turn: TWIST.   As in the plot of a book or movie.

36. French article: LES.  Meaning "the."

38. Fabrication: LIE.   Something made up.

43. Peace activist Yoko: ONO.   A Japanese multimedia artist, singer, songwriter, filmmaker, and peace activist. A prominent figure in the Fluxus movement and avant-garde art scene, Ono's work blends visual and performing arts to explore themes of feminism, violence, joy, and human resilience.

44. Sigma follower: TAU.  Greek letters.

45. Ice cream utensil: SPOON.   An implement consisting of a small, shallow oval or round bowl on a long handle, used for eating, stirring, and serving food.

48. Fairy tale fiends: OGRES.    A hideous giant of fairy tales and folklore that feeds on human beings : monster. 

50. Gravel size: PEA.   Pea gravel is a type of landscaping material made of small, naturally rounded stones about the size of a pea. Its smooth, pea-sized pieces make it a popular choice for decorative purposes like pathways and garden beds, as it is comfortable to walk on and offers good drainage.

52. Mare's meal: HAY.   Grass that has been mown and dried for use as fodder.

58. Boxer Muhammad: ALI.   Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. [1942 – 2016] was an American professional boxer and activist. A global cultural icon, widely known by the nickname "the Greatest", he is often regarded as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time

59. Sweets: BAE.   The acronym "BAE" has several full forms depending on the context, but most commonly it means "before anyone else" and is used as a term of endearment for a significant other.

60. McDonald's magnate Ray: KROC.   Raymond Albert Kroc [1902 - 1984] sometimes called "fast food's founding father", was a businessman who played a key role in McDonald's becoming the world's most successful fast food chain. While not the founder, Kroc was a milkshake mixer salesman who convinced the McDonald brothers to franchise their restaurant nationwide in 1955. He served as CEO from 1967–1973 and developed the McDonald's Corporation franchising program. 

68. Timing of many first steps: AGE ONE.  Development stage for infants.  A somewhat misleading clue, since it could also refer to the first step of a process.

69. Ashram adviser: GURU.  In Hinduism and Buddhism, a spiritual teacher, especially one who imparts initiation.

70. Box __: KITE.    A type of cellular kite with a rigid, three-dimensional structure made of sticks and cloth or plastic, designed to be stable and strong. Unlike simpler flat kites, it uses multiple surfaces to generate lift, often in a box-like or cellular shape, which makes it highly stable in strong winds and typically eliminates the need for a tail. 

71. Good thinking: REASON.   The power of the mind to think, understand, and form judgments by a process of logic.

72. Cranky state: SNIT.   A fit of irritation; a sulk.

73. "Get outta here!": SCAT.   Go away; leave.

Down:

1. See 31-Across: CHI.   TAI CHI is a Chinese martial art and system of calisthenics, consisting of sequences of very slow controlled movements.

2. Sweets: HON.   BAE.

3. Fault line?: I ADMIT IT.  I did it, and I'm glad!  Clever clue about owning up to some action.

4. Gets too personal: PRIES.   Inquires too closely into a person's private affairs.

5. "Ready Player One" author Cline: ERNEST.  Ernest Christy Cline is an American science fiction novelist, slam poet and screenwriter. He wrote the novels Ready Player One, Armada and Ready Player Two, and co-wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation of Ready Player One, directed by Steven Spielberg. 

6. Tree goo: SAP.   The vital, sugary fluid that moves through a tree's internal tissues to transport water, nutrients, and energy. It can be collected for products like maple syrup, used as a natural adhesive or sealant.

7. Most bogged down?: SWAMPIEST.     The most boggy, marshy, miry, mucky, muddy, quaggy, sloppy, sloughy, soggy, squashy, waterlogged.  

8. Savanna grazer: ORIBI.   The oribi is a small antelope found in eastern, southern and western Africa. The sole member of its genus, it was described by the German zoologist Eberhard August Wilhelm von Zimmermann in 1783. While this is the only member in the genus Ourebia, eight subspecies are identified.

9. Do something: ACT.  As defined.

10. Blot: DAB.  To dry or lightly touch with blotting paper or a towel. 

11. NHL great Bobby: ORR.   Robert Gordon Orr OC [b. 1948] is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, widely acknowledged as one of the greatest players of all time. Orr used his skating speed, scoring, and play-making abilities to revolutionize the position of defenceman.

His most famous moment

12. Like brain activity: NEURAL.   Relating to a nerve or the nervous system.

13. __ Fables: AESOP'S.    Aesop [c. 620–564 BCE] was a Greek fabulist and storyteller credited with a number of fables now collectively known as Aesop's Fables. Although his existence remains unclear and no writings by him survive, numerous tales credited to him were gathered across the centuries and in many languages in a storytelling tradition that continues to this day. Many of the tales associated with him are characterized by anthropomorphic animal characters.

14. With crisp resolution: IN HD.  High-Definition, referring to a higher resolution than standard definition for video, audio, and images, resulting in clearer and more detailed content

19. D-backs, on a scoreboard: ARI.  For Arizona, the location of their home field.

20. Photographer Goldin: NAN.  Nancy Goldin [b. 1953]  is an American photographer and activist. Her work explores in snapshot-style the emotions of the individual, in intimate relationships, and the bohemian LGBT subcultural communities, especially dealing with the devastating HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s.

24. Big bang letters?: TNT.  Tri-Nitro Toluene, an explosive compound.  Another clever clue.

25. "That shouldn't have been possible!": HOW?  Inquiry into an extraordinary event.  

26. Holiday weekend retail event, often: SALE.  A period during which a retailer sells goods at reduced prices.

27. In a position (to): ABLE.   Having the power, skill, means, or opportunity to do something.

28. Hideouts: LAIRS.   Secret or private places in which a person, especially a criminal or enemy, takes refuge.

29. Bog down: TIE UP.   Have obstacles or impediments to progress.

34. Curt: SHORT.  Using or expressing in few words, in a way perceived as rude.

35. Article of faith: TENET.   A principle or belief, especially one of the main principles of a religion or philosophy.

37. Roofer's tool: STAPLE GUN.   A handheld mechanical tool for driving staples into a hard surface.

40. Followed a standing order?: ROSE.  Stood up, as requested.  Clever clue.

41. Lewis in the News: HUEY.   Hugh Anthony Cregg III [b. 1950] known professionally as Huey Lewis, is an American actor and former singer-songwriter. Lewis sang lead and played harmonica for his band, Huey Lewis and the News, until being forced into retirement due to hearing loss in 2018; he also wrote or co-wrote many of the band's songs.

42. Fashion style related to luxe grunge: BOHO CHIC.   A style that blends the free-spirited, unconventional elements of "bohemian" with the elegant, fashionable aspect of "chic," resulting in an eclectic look that is both free-spirited and curated.   First I've heard of it.

46. Bourbon barrel wood: OAK.   Bourbon must be aged in new, charred oak barrels. It’s a critical step in developing bourbon’s distinct flavor.  Freshly distilled bourbon doesn’t look anything like what you use to make an Old Fashioned. When it comes out of the still, it’s crystal clear, and smells and tastes like funky raw grain. Most of a bourbon’s character, and all of its color, come from the cask itself.  As the bourbon ages in the barrel, it soaks up flavor, aroma, and pigment from the oak. All barrels used to age beverages are heat-treated in some way, since raw wood has an unpleasantly green and sappy flavor. Wine barrels are usually toasted, while bourbon barrels are always charred, giving them a sweet, smoky tinge. 

47. Dec. 31: NYE.   New Year's Eve, the last day of the calendar year. 

48. Do a kindness for: OBLIGE.    Do as someone asks or desires in order to help or please them.

49. Liberia neighbor: GUINEA.   Guinea is a country in West Africa, bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. It's known for the Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve, in the southeast. The reserve protects a forested mountain range rich in native plants and animals, including chimpanzees and the viviparous toad. On the coast, the capital city, Conakry, is home to the modern Grand Mosque and the National Museum, with its regional artifacts. 

51. Invite to coffee, say: ASK OUT.  Request for someone to accompany you someplace.

54. Slugger's stat: RBI.  Runs Batted In, A statistic credited to a batter for driving in a run for their team. It's a key metric for evaluating offensive performance..

55. Viper teeth: FANGS.  Generally, the biting mouthpart of an animal; more specifically, the tooth of a venomous snake, by which poison is injected.

56. "Ur not wrong": TRU.  Short for true or correct.

57. Is awesome: ROCKS.   As a slang verb, "rocks" means something is very good, enjoyable, or impressive, 

58. In the distance: AFAR.  Over yonder.

62. Apple platform: IOS.   An operating system used for mobile devices manufactured by Apple Inc.

63. Commercial prefix that evokes winter weather: SNO-.  A common abbreviation for "snow" or "snowy". 

64. Female lobster: HEN.   This is the standard term for a female lobster.  When a female lobster is carrying eggs, she is specifically called a "berried hen".

65. Three-legged race, briefly?: TRI.  Generally, a prefix indication for three of anything.  Here, an abbrev.

66. Best guess as to when, initially: ETA.   Estimated Time of Arrival.

67. Matching game with diamonds, squiggles, and ovals: SET.   A real-time pattern-recognition game where players race to identify a "set" of three cards from a layout of 12. 

So this set, and this Wednesday, come to a close.  Thanksgiving day is next week.  Hope yours is joyous and food-full.  We'll have a house full of family members and significant others.

Cool Regards!

JzB