Wednesday, October 14, 2026, Joe Rodini

  Well, the theme is obviously in The Reveal: TAG Lines.

The Reveal:

59. Across.  Marketing slogans, or what the answers to the starred clues are?: TAG LINES.

But, what makes these themers so Tag Worthy?

17. Across. *Black Friday enticement: LOW PRICE.

Hmm, I wonder if C.C. would let me make some money doing these write ups...

(I work cheap...)

Um, CE:D here,, none of the other volunteers would stoop this low...

24. Across. *Words with a WWII-era doodle: KILROY WAS HERE.

If you visit the WWII memorial in Washington D.C.

Be sure to walk around the back,

Where you will find etched into the granite,

"Kilroy Was Here!"

They say there are two, I have yet to find the second one..

39. Across. *Shout on a playground: YOU'RE IT.

50. Across. *Introductory phrase: HELLO MY NAME IS.

I once accompanied DW to her High School reunion,

And everyone had to wear a name tag...

So I wrote on mine, "No One You Need To Know."

As I never attended this school,

And for some reason, people thought it was hilarious...

Hmm, I dunno, I am having trouble describing this theme. 

Perhaps we should let a professional do it...

Um, ok, let's get on with then, shall we...

Across:
1. No-frills supermarket chain: ALDI. There is quite a story about the two brothers quarrel that split Aldi and Lidl into two grocery chains, and then one brother bought Trader Joe's... I will let you Google it as I get enough of this stuff because DW watches Real Wives (of wherever) while I hide in another room...

5. Receipt fig.: AMT. (figure/amount)

8. Puzzle: BEMUSE. (Not enigma...)

14. Weaver's machine: LOOM.

In the coming apocalypse, you may find this useful.

Just try and remember how without Wi-Fi or YouTube...

15. "Pshaw!": HAH.

16. Perfect alignment: UNISON.

Nah! I don't see it happening...

17. [Theme.]

19. Peak with a name from Koyukon: DENALI. This is where I got stuck doing the write up, I mean, we did this before. In a site all about words, what's the point if you keep changing them....?

20. "The Matrix" hero: NEO. Um,, should I post the clip where A.I. glues  his mouth shut?  (Nah, I 'm just trying to censor myself...)

21. Wee bit: A TAD. ( it was just a little Vodka,,, I swear...)

23. Left in a cave, as some cheese: AGED. Jeez, that explains it, I was cheesed...

24. [Theme.]

28. Mardi Gras song originally called "Jock-A-Mo": IKOIKO. Um, ok, i know I'm supposed to explain all this, but WTF is IKOIKO supposed to be? Really? Dang! I have to look this up? (This is going to take more Grey Hairs than I can affford... ) 

Ok, a week later,, I finally got up the courage to look this dang thing up,,, and it's supposed to be IKO IKO. 

I dunno CC, maybe im too old to do this ...

29. Fabled race day napper: HARE. And fabled puzzle reviewer: CE:D...

30. "I'll shake on that!": DEAL. Are we talking about a nap?

31. Berra with a record 10 World Series rings as a player: YOGI. When you come to the fork, take it...

34. Centipede releaser: ATARI. Hmm, it's a good thing this was a game, because I would be tap dancing all over this ala Fred Astaire...

38. Family guy: DAD. Ok, but this could have been anybody...

39. [Theme.]

41. Pod of whales: GAM. Dang! I am still trying to pencil in "Pod" here...

42. "Do the Right Thing" actor Davis: OSSIE. (Did he ever get stuck in a gam of whales?)

44. Stint in office: TERM.  I dunno, lately this could have been "sentence..."

45. Much Duchamp work: DADA. Um, I will let you look this up Here, as when I looked it up, it made me want to go to the bathroom...

46. Pitch setter: CLEF. If you want to know how to draw one... personally, I have a hard time staying in one clef, I guess it's a side affect of being scatterbrained...

48. Superhot, as wing sauce: ATOMIC. Personally, I did not like this clue/answer, As it could have been anything...  now, if the perps were friendly, I could stomach this... (were the perps friendly for you?)

(I need some pepto bismol...)

50. [Theme]

53. Stepped heavily: TROD.

55. Grammy winner India.__: ARIE. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

56. Sudden flight: LAM. Nah, I'm too old for this. Question, what would you call a sudden flight with some one with a walker? 

Ok, I'm ready!

57. Demolish: BUST UP. Look out! I'm walking thru here!!'

59. [Theme Reveal.]

63. Does some tailoring on: ALTERS. Hmm, so many possibilities, ,,

64. "Fearless" or "Lover," for Taylor Swift: ERA. ( why is everything an Era with her...? ) jeez girl, lighten up...

65. Iditarod terminus city: NOME. Um, if you want to be uplifted by a true story, 

May I suggest Balto...

Also,  may I suggest the animated version if you don't want to freeze your toes off...

66. Thrift store transaction: RESALE.

67. Sketch show with celebrity 50-Down, for short: SNL. 

Jeez, what do you have to do to get on this show?

68. Flakes: SNOW. I dunno, I'm partial to Idahoan potato flakes myself, and I hate the cold... so this clue/answer that should have been easy, kind of got me into a, hmm, whattaya call it? Not quicksand, but an oatmeal/ porridgey kind of mess to finish the acrosses...  at least, with Idahoan, you never get Lumps...

Down:
1. __ too soon: ALL. Ack! What a way to start the downs! ( I feel like I'm falling!)

2. Lav: LOO. (Whew! What a relief to land here..,)

3. Gets off the web: DOWNLOADS. Hmm, used to be easy , now It's work... (see George Jetson for intel...)

4. Put at risk: IMPERIL. "Be careful what you download!"

5. Pacific tuna: AHI. Word origin can be found here

6. Large parrot that forms a pair bond: MACAW. 

If you are going to keep birds,

Always get two...

7. Angle symbol, in geometry: THETA. 

Um, I tried to find a definition of the geometric meaning of Theta for you,

But it was  Greek to me...

8. Subject of a 49-foot bronze statue in Nara, Japan: BUDDHA. 

9. WSW opposite: ENE. (I hate it when crosswords get  me all turned around...)

10. Mosque tower: MINARET.

11. Utility bill data: USAGE.

12. Foot part: SOLE. Not inch, arch, or...

13. "Wednesday" werewolf: ENID. Ok, I know nothing about what happened to The Addams Family after  Raul Julia passed away.., But here is more if interested 

18. Chess piece in castling: ROOK. Not King!

22. More pale: ASHIER.

24. Little buddy: KIDDO. Hmm, how would you clue this? (Roo-ey?, goat offspring something or other?) I am lost on this one...

25. Stores with Småland play areas: IKEAS. I dunno, I think the whole place is a giant fire hazard... but I do like the meatballs...  (have you ever tried to navigate thru IKEA?)

26. Fluctuate wildly: YOYO. (Technically, yo-yo is a hyphenated compound word. But can be one word in informal usage...)

27. Basic Latin verb: ERAT. (I dunno, it's Greek to me...)

32. Determined to get: OUT FOR. Hmm, this seems out of place for a Wednesday puzzle. It's almost like the constructor was out to get us...

33. Test for some srs.: GRE. Everything you ever wanted to know...

35. Leader of the Greek army during the Trojan War: AGAMEMNON.

I always liked how he was portrayed by Sean Connery in The Time Bandits.

If you want to be to know more, ask Kevin...

36. Diameter halves: RADII. (Pronounced EeEye... I think I have it half right...)

37. Apple desktops: IMACS. Yes, it's one word, even when plural...

39. Talk over the clamor: YELL.

40. "Ms. Marvel" star Vellani: IMAN. 

43. Pure Leaf beverage: ICED TEA. 

Never heard of it...

45. Realms: DOMAINS.

47. Pass by: ELAPSE.

49. Starbucks size: TALL. If you are willing to pay upwards of 4 bucks for a coffee, you also get A ridiculous size terminology  for your overpayment...

Hmm, I could have sworn he said can you spare a dime for a cup of Joe...

50. Members of 67-Across's Five-Timers Club, e.g.: HOSTS. Arrows and banjo's optional...

51. Tiny arachnids: MITES.

52. Pine (for): YEARN.

53. Type of ski lift: T BAR. They tried a J bar, but it was a pain in the A**.

54. Hold the throne: RULE.

58. Web address: URL.

60. Actress Gadot: GAL. 

61. Angsty rock: EMO.

62. Do some tailoring on: SEW.

The Grid.

P.S. Here is 8 minutes more on Kilroy was here, if interested...

Anywho, that's all I've got.  But  I can't help but think I missed something...

So, now it's up to you, in the comments, to find what I missed!

TAG! Your it!...

CE:D out...

≽^•⩊•^≼ ₊˚⊹♡

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 - Robin Stears

 

Theme:  DAMAGE CONTROL (clued as: Jeopardize Maxwell Smart's organization?)

 

 

Puzzling thoughts:

My good friend and former crossword constructor mentor, Robin Stears, came up with a silly, yet clever way of cluing a quartet of non-related entries; non-related in their meaning but strangely related in their context 

When closely examining each of the four entries you find that not just the answer contains a synonym for the word "DAMAGE" but so does the clue:

17. Ruin the Olympic Games?: SPOIL SPORTS.

27. Destroy casual chitchat?: TRASH TALKING.

46. Wreak havoc on origami supplies?: BUTCHER PAPER. 

60. Lay waste to a dairy product?: CREAM CHEESE. 

To comment any further (on my part) about each of the entries would just be a disservice - you all should be able to figure out Robin's tomfoolery 😜

However ... if I were to nitpick just a little ... the second entry uses a present participle form of the verb "TALK" as opposed to the other three entries which use a noun to support the "theme".  Could Robin have used the word TALKERS instead and maintained the symmetry?  🤷 After checking that part of the grid, the answer is, "yes".  She could change IS SO to ESSO; NAIL to RAIL; and GYRE (not one of my favorite words today) to SYNE (as in Auld Lang); and SIR to SIN.  There! Done!! 😉

(maybe I should apply to one of the publishers as an assistant editor ...??) 

Anyhow, I am happy to provide a recap because honestly, this puzzle scored very high for me.  ⭐⭐⭐⭐ and 1/2⭐!  Congrat's Ms. Stears for a well-done job

 

Here's the grid and then off to the rest of the puzzle!

(Note:  You can see my final entry letter filled in; the red highlight of the letter Y in GYRE ...)  

Across:
1. Built (on): BASED.  As opposed to Spread (on): BASTE

6. Many an A-lister: ACTOR. Somewhat of a clecho to (65-across. A-list): ELITE.

11. Swing's path: ARC.  Moe-ku:

        Paris sports car buff

        Drove his TR-6 under

        The ARC de Triumph [sic]

 

14. Cartoon canine who speaks with an "R" consonant mutation: ASTRO.  George and Judy Jetson's pet dog (surprise ending)

 

 

15. Level: PLANE.  

16. "Argo" org.: CIA.

[theme entry]

19. Every last bit: ALL.

20. Tammy Duckworth's title, briefly: SEN.

21. Merry-go-round music: LILT.  This "rendition" is hardly a "LILT" - and doesn't feature any horses going up and down - I am sure that some of our younger Cornerites who might be Mötley Crüe fans can shed some light on this.  Or not

22. Bas-__: RELIEF.  The word "Bas-" is pronounced "bah" (as in Bah, humbug!) but its meaning is oddly similar (to what those who would mispronounce it) to what's seen in this video!

 

24. Like many dirt roads: ONE LANE.  May I see a hand up for anyone else - like me - who tried UNPAVED first?

26. Home of Hawaii's Merrie Monarch Festival: HILO.  All you need to know about this annual event

[theme entry]

32. Tennis great Andre: AGASSI.  He and his wife (former tennis great Steffi Graf) will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary in a couple of weeks

[per Wikipedia] - Agassi's record as a tennis player includes: 

Career Milestones

Career Grand Slam: He is one of a select group of men to win all four major singles tournaments.
Career Golden Slam: He won the Career Grand Slam plus an Olympic gold medal (1996 Atlanta Olympics).
Finals Record: 8 wins and 7 losses in Grand Slam finals (53.3% win rate) 

35. Georgia airport code: ATL.  Technically, it's the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport

36. "If you ask me ... ": I SAY. Pip, pip and cheerio!

37. Massage: RUB.  Moe-ku:

 

        A massage client

        Refused to leave tip when they

        Were RUBbed the wrong way  

38. Super vision?: ESP.  How did I know that this would be the answer?? Must be psychic

39. Polite title: SIR.  MA'AM was too long to fit

40. A in geometry: AREA.  At first I tried SIDE (as in the sides of a right triangle, e.g.) thinking it was referring to Area = ab/2.  But a capital "A" does mean AREA

42. French wine classification: CRU.  CRU wine refers to a legally defined vineyard, group of vineyards, or village officially recognized for producing wine of superior quality based on its unique terroir (soil, climate, and topography) - Oh, and a Moe-ku:

 

        Heavy-metal band

        Owns a Napa winery

        Called "The Motley CRU" 

         

43. Annette of "Virgin River": O'TOOLE.  A bit of information about her 

[theme entry]

49. Forever and ever: EONS.

50. Repeat for emphasis: ITERATE.

54. "Who __!": DOESN'T.  "Love pizza!!"

57. Burlesque bit: SKIT. One of my all-time favorites!

 

58. Light touch: TAP. Second clecho du jour, with (66-across. Light touch): PAT.

59. Sometimes called, for short: AKA.  I am sometimes called MOE but don't call me short!! 😀

[theme entry]

63. Virginia Woolf's "__ Dalloway": MRS.  This is a 1925 modernist novel that chronicles a single day in the life of Clarissa Dalloway, an upper-class London hostess preparing for an evening party

64. "__ mañana": HASTA. "Until tomorrow"

67. Elizabeth who plays the Scarlet Witch: OLSEN.

For my buddy, Splynter (IYKYK)

68. Trig ratios: SINES.  Geometry AND trigonometry in the same puzzle!  Robin, were you by any chance into mathematics as a high schooler?

Down:
1. Common voice for an opera villain: BASSO.  Nothing villainous about this Christmas carol rendition by one BASSO who is singing all 5 parts

 

 

2. Colorado town near Snowmass: ASPEN.  One of our regular Cornerites (MalMan) is staying in a condo, very close to ASPEN, as we speak (the view he gets to see is pictured below)

3. Curling piece: STONE.  Actually, BROOM fits, too

 

4. "__ tu": Verdi aria: ERI.  A snippet

 

5. Brunei money: DOLLARS. [per Wikipedia] "The Brunei dollar, is the currency of Brunei Darussalam since 1967. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively B$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies. The currency is divided into 100 cents and is issued by the Brunei Darussalam Central Bank"

6. Orchard fruit: APPLES.  PEARS, PEACHES, PLUMS, APRICOTS are also orchard fruits; they unfortunately won't fit into this "bushel basket"  

7. Congeal: CLOT.  Here is a link to a recipe for CLOTted cream

8. Viscous goo: TAR.

9. Having one's day in court?: ON TRIAL.  You don't like this clue and answer?  Then sue me!

10. Deal in, as vintage clothing: RESELL.  Clothing items such as these are found at places like Goodwill and Salvation Army stores, as well as on Etsy

11. Breakfast bowl berry: ACAI.  BLUE was my first thought - that's what Ms Margaret and I have in our morning breakfast bowl

12. Annoy but good: RILE.

13. Baby camel: CALF.  A few fun facts about camels

18. Africa-to-Asia land bridge: SINAI.

23. Trickster in Norse mythology: LOKI.

25. Jr. officers: LTS.  Abbr. for Lieutenants 

26. URL starter: HTTP.

28. Invites to one's apartment, say: HAS UP.  ASK UP fits, too, and is probably the more recognized phrase

29. Childish comeback: IS SO.  This was the area of the puzzle that had me flummoxed for the longest time.  I could have bet money that this was AM SO but then again, it's been a long time since I have been a child ... 

30. Get just right: NAIL.  I did "nail" this one but it looked odd next to AM SO

31. Giant oceanic surface current: GYRE.  Total swing and a miss - I want to say that I had to Google this to finish solving the puzzle

32. Part of UAE: ARAB.

33. Hindu mentor: GURU.

34. Lie for, say: ABET.

38. Goes astray: ERRS.

41. Las Vegas WNBA team: ACES.  Fun Fact:  Former NFL QB Tom Brady is a part owner

42. Primary: CENTRAL.

43. __ nerve: OPTIC.

44. Shows signs of growth?: TEETHES.  Clever enough clue - core definition of TEETHE is: The process of baby teeth pushing through and emerging from the gums.  This occurs, generally, as a baby reaches 6 months of age

45. Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby: ORR.

47. Top dog: HONCHO. Moe-ku:

 

        An alpha male dog

        Sported a slicker. It's called

        A HONCHO poncho  

48. Three-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Troy: AIKMAN.

51. Saved on supper, perhaps: ATE IN.  With today's higher grocery prices, it doesn't always "feel" like we are saving anything when we dine; IN or out.  Remember these days?

52. Sample size?: TASTE.  This term (TASTE) doesn't always mean something that is consumed orally.  Our summer vacation this year was a guided tour called TASTE of Portugal; and it was just that.  We stayed in one hotel for 7 nights and took short bus hops to several touristy areas.  It gave us a good TASTE of the country - we stayed another week, though, as we wanted more than just a "sample"

53. Stage combat props: EPEES.  Huh!  First time I think I've seen THIS clue used for the fencing sword.  "Curses, foiled again!"

54. Not quite dry: DAMP. A rare sighting here in Arizona - although our Monsoon this year provided us with more rain than I recall in the seven years I've lived here

55. Sticky pod: OKRA.  My favorite way to prepare it - and always one of the side dishes I order when eating at a Cracker Barrel

56. From Perth to Sydney: EAST.  Geography lesson.  Perth sits on the far western coast of Australia on the Indian Ocean whilst Sydney is on the east coast (Pacific Ocean).  Visiting Perth is on Moe and Ms. Margaret's bucket list of places, as there is a wine region to the south of Perth that lies along the Margaret River!  Few folks know of how wonderful these wines are.  Here is a link

57. Make full: SATE. Do you feel SATEd from solving today's puzzle and reading Moe's blog?  Hope so

61. Curvy letter: ESS.

62. Yale grad: ELI. 

For those keeping "score":  I think ELI was the 18th 3-letter word used in today's puzzle; I counted just 7 abbr's; and 4 proper names - I know that this statistic has to please many of our solvers!  Please stop by and say "Hi!" Robin

Wednesday, September 30, 2026, Lee Taylor

 

Good Morning, Cruciverbalists.  Malodorous Manatee here (from Crested Butte, Colorado this fine fall day) with the recap of a puzzle by Lee Taylor.

Today, Lee does not give us a reveal / unifier.   Instead he offers us clues in which portions of the answers are hidden in plain sight.  Those clues provide us with the letters comprising both beginning and the end of the sought-after answer.  In the clues, those pieces are combined into a single word.  In the answers, those pieces are split apart and each part is a portion of one of the two words that form the answer.   One way to approach answering the clues is to ignore the second part of each clue.  Another approach is to use the second part of each clue as a source of the beginning and end of each answer.  It's simpler than I have made it sound.  Take a look at the four themers to see:

18 Across:  Slasher flick actress on a split screen?: SCREAM QUEEN.  SCREEN has been split.

25 Across:  Merchant Ivory works featuring split peas?: PERIOD DRAMAS.  Merchant Ivory is a film production company.  PEAS has been split.

44 Across:  Auras around people with split ends?: ENERGY FIELDS.  ENDS has been split.

59 Across:  Lack of recognition for working a split shift?: SHORT SHRIFT.  SHIFT has been split.

This is how everything appears in the grid:

Other than the themed responses above, here are the clues and answers:

Across:

1. Place to retire: BED.  Retire as in go to sleep not as in to stop working.

4. Let gravity do most of the work, perhaps: COAST.  Sled prices are too damn high but you can find a good deal if you're willing toboggan.

9. Estrangements: RIFTS.

14. "Rules __ rules": ARE.  The motto of my gym's Silver Sneakers instructors.

15. Infuriate: ANGER.  ANGER as a verb.

16. Salon abrasive: EMERY.

17. Word often said while holding a treat: SIT.

20. Summer quaff: ICED TEA.

22. Links: COUPLES.  Not links as in golf course.  And not couples as in groups of two people.  Used as a verb.  To link, or COUPLE, things together.  Think, for example, railroad cars.

23. Emmy and Grammy winner Burnett: CAROL.  See also 65 Across.

24. Sandwich shop: DELI.  I went to a deli and said, "I'd like to buy a bagel with cream cheese."  The kid behind the counter replied, "Sorry we only take cash or credit cards."

32. Protective cover: TARP.  A group of bedazzled TARPs and a bunch of poles walk into a restaurant and order some stakes....Things became pretty tents.

35. W.H. Auden's "__ to the Medieval Poets": ODE.  Someone wrote a poem about the sounds made by dogs. It can only be read if you scan it first.  It's a bark ODE.

36. Slowly wear down: ERODE.  Slowly deconstruct.

37. Develops over time: EVOLVES.  Slowly create.  Nice juxtaposition.

39. Dish garnished with peanuts and lime: PAD THAI.

41. Marisa with a cameo in "Spider-Man: Brand New Day": TOMEI.  Perhaps best known for her work in the movie "My Cousin Vinny".

42. Have a cold, say: AIL.

43. Schools of thought: ISMS.  The suffix (pluralized).

48. Close by: NEAR.  "Work until" wouldn't fit the allotted space.

49. Chemistry class models: ATOMS.

53. Willing to wait a long time: PATIENT.

57. Sure thing: SAFE BET.

61. Nest egg letters: IRA.  Individual Retirement Account

62. Camp David Accords figure: SADAT.

Menachem Begin, Jimmy Carter, Anwar Sadat

63. Eight-related: OCTAL.

64. Start of a pencil game: TIC.

65. Oscar and Grammy winner Burnett: T BONE. T BONE Burnett is a legendary music producer and musician.   See also 23 Across.  Nice touch.  Among many other works, T BONE produced the sound track for the film "O Brother Where Art Thou".

66. Tabloid TV host Povich: MAURY.

67. Squalid space: STY.

Down:

1. No-frills: BASIC.

2. "I Luh God" singer Campbell: ERICA.  New to this solver.  Thanks, perps.

3. Prevent: DETER.

4. Neuschwanstein __: CASTLE.  The model for Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty's Castle.

5. As soon as: ONCE.

6. City in India's Golden Triangle: AGRA.  Often visited in our puzzles and often clued with reference to the Taj Mahal.

7. "What'd I tell you?": SEE.  Get it?

8. Copied, in a way: TRACED.  Copied exactly.  Handy for forgery.

9. Not elective: REQUIRED.  Ah, college days !

10. "My turn!": I'M UP.

11. Have a hunch: FEEL.

12. Sequoia, e.g.: TREE.  Also the name of a Toyota SUV.

13. Thesaurus entries: Abbr.: SYNS.  SYNOMYMS

19. Blue part of blue cheese: MOLD.

21. __ radar: DOPPLER.  All You Might Want To Know

24. A deer, a female deer: DOE.

26. School of tomorrow?: ROE.  As in a school of fish - with ROE being fish eggs.

27. Puts a name to: IDS.  IDentifieS

28. Skilled performer: ARTISTE.  An "Artist" creates art, encompassing painters, sculptors, and more. An "ARTISTE" typically refers to a skilled performer, like a singer or dancer.

29. Mineralogist with a hardness scale: MOHS.  Not to be confused with Moe's Hardness Scale.

30. Scott of "Severance": ADAM.  ADAM also played Ben Wyatt in "Parks and Recreation".

31. Cuatro y dos: SEIS.  Lección de español y matemáticas de hoy.

32. Spot for un chapeau: TETE.  Leçon de français du jour.

33. Mary Kay rival: AVON.

34. City on the Tiber: ROME.

38. Brief scene: VIGNETTE.

39. Dessert for Little Jack Horner: PIE.

40. ATV component: ALL.  Not a component of an actual All Terrain Vehicle.  A component of the name ALL Terrain Vehicle.

42. Atmosphere: AIR.

45. Hankerings: YENS.  URGES was too long.

46. Fully grasp: FATHOM.  FATHOM has several meanings.  In this case, to understand.

47. In a senseless way: DAFTLY.  Not to be confused with DEFTLY.

50. Memorial bios: OBITS.  OBITUARIES

51. Warrant: MERIT.  Not a search or arrest warrant.  Earned.

52. London of "What Not To Wear": STACY.  NIMW.  Thanks, perps.

53. Discreet summons: PSST.  A sound often heard in our puzzles.

54. Ishmael's captain: AHAB.  A monomaniacal sea captain who often visits our puzzles.

55. Brouhaha: TO DO.

56. Setting of the graphic novel "Persepolis": IRAN.

57. In __: as found: SITU.  In situ is a Latin phrase meaning 'in the place' or 'on site'.  The term refers to studying or working with something in its natural or original location rather than moving it elsewhere. 

58. Over yonder: AFAR.  Not in the Dickensian sense.

60. Color TV pioneer: RCA.

Well, I guess that it is time to split.  Have a great Wednesday.

__________________________________

M.M. Out

Wednesday, September 23, 2026, Nate McLean

 (Preface, by CrossEyedDave:)

Today's is a very special puzzle, we have a new young and talented Constructor, who's first puzzle has created a  fun (and for me) challenging suss fest. Not only that, I had an even more fun, challenging, and learning experience trying to explain it all! Nate, I look forward to many more "aha" moment experiences from you. Thank you for this submission...

Commenters: please let our new constructor know how he did with feedback on your personal experience in solving this puzzle.

Theme: Phonetic agreement 

They agree, they see eye to eye, but somehow I don't think it's going to end well...

The Reveal:

54 Across. *How like-minded people see, or a phonetic hint for the answers to the starred clues?: EYE TO EYE.

18 Across. *Tablet choice: IPAD MINI.

23 Across. *Silent film based on a Leoncavallo opera: I PAGLIACCI.

Canio is the tragic clown in the Opera PAGLIACCI.

There were two silent films titled "I" PAGLIACCI

One in 1915, and another in 1923.

It might ring a bell around the 2 minute mark...

Should it start with "I"? (Yes.)

36 Across. *Destination for a day trip from Naples: ISLE OF CAPRI.

Take a cruise, it will be fun, they said...

49 Across. *Lionel Messi's MLS team: INTER MIAMI.

MLS = Major League Soccer.

As you can clearly see, the themers go from I to I... you may be an optimist, but after I got tripped up by so many tricky clue/answers, I tend to be a bit disagreeable. (Full list at end...)

Let's see if we agree, onward!

Across:

1. Japanese beer brand: ASAHI.

So many choices...

6. Pet adoption org.: SPCA. Not to be confused with ASPCA. Explanation can be found here.

10. Exec concerned with network security: CTO. Chief Technology Officer.

13. Piccata ingredient: LEMON.

Even better, substitute White Wine for chicken stock!

14. "Celebration" band __ & the Gang: KOOL.

15. Magic spell: HEX. As a noun, it is a curse or a witch's charm meant to cause harm. As a verb (to hex), it means to cast that evil spell on someone. The word comes from the German word Hexe, meaning witch.

16. Inner selves, in Jungian psychology: ANIMAS. Deep dive can be found here: Japanese "Anime" is also (sort of) derived from the Latin Anima, or soul. A deeper dive can be found here... (Be careful Alice, there are rabbit holes ahead...)

18. [Theme.]

20. Friend: ALLY.

22. Poker-faced: STOIC.

23. [Theme.]

27. Overseas greeting?: AHOY. This really got me, I wanted Ciao...

30. Formally turn over: CEDE.

31. Panang curry cuisine: THAI.

32. Summoning contraction: C'MERE. ( not Pssst...)

33. Sweet potato kin: YAM.

34. Filmed: SHOT.

35. Oklahoma athlete: SOONER.

36. [Theme.]

39. DraftKings user, e.g.: BETTOR.

41. Gutter locale: EAVE. I was thinking bowling...

42. Skin pic: TAT.

45. Done (with): FED UP.

46. Architect Saarinen: EERO.

47. Old Testament scribe: EZRA.

48. Pet pest: FLEA.

49. [Theme.]

51. "The Trial" novelist Kafka: FRANZ.

53. Notary imprint: SEAL.

54. [Theme Reveal.]

57. Vin in the "Fast & Furious" franchise: DIESEL.

61. Passing through: VIA.

62. Nautilus captain: NEMO.

63. None too trusting: LEERY.

64. Just right: APT.

65. Garden with forbidden fruit: EDEN.

66. Drum kit drum: SNARE.

Down:
1. Banned Books Week org.: ALA. American Library Association.  Fear not! ALA does not refer to a Southern State!  Banned books week this year is October 4th thru 10th. If you oppose censorship, and support the freedom to read and learn, you can do something about it here!

2. Capitol Hill VIP: SEN. Senator.

3. French friend: AMI.

4. Show of respect: HOMAGE.

5. Entirely: IN ALL.

6. Slalom, say: SKI.

7. Genre for many an Attenborough documentary, in brief: POPSCI. Short for popular science.

8. Raccoon relative: COATI.

9. Canadian shoe brand: ALDO. Half a Natick with a 50% tariff...

10. Home of the Mayan temple El Castillo: CHICHEN ITZA.

11. Decimal base: TEN.

12. Commercial lead-in to Clean: OXI.

17. Move like a snake: SLITHER.

19. Spanish term of endearment: MI AMOR. (My love.)

21. Early search engine: YAHOO.

23. Distant: ICY.

24. Green shade: PEA.

25. Wave the white flag: ADMIT DEFEAT.

26. Where toe beans are found: CAT FEET.

28. Minecraft mineral: ORE.

29. "__ outta here!": YER.

32. Deal (with): COPE.

34. Low-quality A.I.-generated content: SLOP.

35. Reveled in: SAVORED.

37. E.B. White's "__ Little": STUART.

38. Gives a darn: CARES.

39. One to share a matching bracelet with, informally: BFF. Best Friend Forever.

40. Unagi roll fish: EEL.

43. Radius locale: ARM.

44. __ chi: martial art: TAI.

46. Biological catalyst: ENZYME.

47. Fashion designer Fisher: EILEEN. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

49. "__ a nap!": I NEED.

50. Sends: MAILS.

52. First-rate: AONE. Aone is a casual or stylized spelling of A-one, but personally I believe it should be One A, because A1 is a steak sauce...

54. Actress Longoria: EVA.

55. Puppy noise: YIP.

56. Countless lifetimes: EON.

58. __ salt: SEA.

59. Goof up: ERR.

60. Caustic compound: LYE.

The Grid.

I would be very interested to know what you thought of this puzzle, because, while I am a mediocre solver at best, this puzzle kept tripping me up. Was it just wavelength? Wheelhouse? Or very tricky clues.

(Or maybe I need to retire, lost to many brain cells... I dunno.) here is the list of things that tripped me up, but perpage and sussing made this quite the workout for me to finally finish this Wednesday puzzle.

1a Japanese beer asaki/asahi. If I get beer wrong, I need to stop drinking...

12d Commercial lead-in to Clean: oxo/oxi. Hmm, I got sidetracked in the kitchen...

17d Move like a snake: sidles/slither. Ok, ok, I saw snake and I panicked!

22a Poker-faced: stone/stoic. (Guess I was thinking stone faced...)

23d. Distant: far/icy. (Ooh, this left me cold...)

29d. "__ outta here!": get/yer (really? Get outta here!...)

45a. Done (with): FED UP. ( I tentatively penciled an E as in ended here before the perps confirmed I was done with...)

27a. Overseas greeting?: AHOY. This really got me, I wanted Ciao...

So who did this to me? Who is this constructor who kept me busy as a one armed wallpaper hanger?

I checked the L.A Times, nothing... N.Y Times, nothing... Google Crossword Constructors, nothing...

And then, as I was about to 25 down (admit defeat,) I found this:

Nate, I hope you stop by and tell us how you accomplished this suss fest, ( and how do you know Italian Opera? ) and I hope to see many more puzzles from you.  Who knows, maybe one day, we can meet eye to eye!

CE:D out...

≽^- ˕ -^≼