Good Morning, Cruciverbalists. Malodorous Manatee here with the recap of a Wednesday puzzle constructed by Zachary Gallardo. Zachary recently had another LAT puzzle recapped here (on 24 May 20226).
In today's puzzle, Zachary stacks the names of bands on top of types of seagoing ships. In each case, the name of the band stands alone while the letters forming the type of vessel are consecutive parts of longer answers. The reveal is both clever and playful:
59 Across: "Everyone in the water!," or when parsed differently, what can be found in each set of circled words: ABANDON SHIP. Or, in this instance, A BAND ON SHIP. To help us recognize what the constructor and editor are up to, the grid contains those ever-polarizing circles.
It is also worth noting that the reveal does double duty as part of one of the four themed (pairs of) answers.
Here are the four places where the gimmick is employed:
15 Across: Camel's watering hole: OASIS (a British rock band) and 17 Across: Programming problem: ENDLESS LOOP. SLOOP(A sloop is a single-masted sailing vesseltypically rigged with a fore-and-aft configuration)
25 Across: Enclosed rhyme scheme in Petrarchan sonnets: ABBA (the Swedish pop quartet) and 30 Across: Clinton secretary of state: ALBRIGHT. BRIG (a ship with two square-rigged masts)
Madeline Albright
41 Across: "Exactly right!": YES, (an English band perhaps best known for the song "Owner of A Lonely Heart) and 45 Across: Bible Belt state: ARKANSAS. ARK Ahoy, Noah!
54 Across: Yellow brick road terrier: TOTO (formed in Los Angeles in 1977) and 59 Across: "Everyone in the water!," or when parsed differently, what can be found in each set of circled words: ABANDON SHIP. SHIP (in this case, generic)
The completed grid looks like this:
Here are the other clues and answers:
Across:
1. Emerged: AROSE. Emerged not from an eggshell or from hiding. More like an issue that came up.
6. Korean-American grocery store: H MART. Per Wikipedia, the chain was founded in 1982 and there are now 98 locations.
11. Dim sum brew: CHA. IIRC, Dim Sum being Chinese dumplings and CHA being tea.
14. Little solo break: ME DAY. Hand up for first trying to think of something music-related.
16. "That'll leave a mark!": OOF. Meh.
19. Scand. country: NOR. Abbreviated. Had to be NOR, DEN, SWE, or FIN.
20. Proboscis: NOSE. By definition.
21. Feature of Canada's flag: LEAF.
22. Nove minus uno: OTTO. Lezione di italiano di oggi.
23. Suspicious: SHADY. Suspicious is used, here, as an adjective.
27. Turkish peak: ARARAT. Often visited in our puzzles . . . and where the ARK came to rest.
34. Olympic gymnast with five moves named for her: BILES.
Simone Biles
35. 2025 Best Picture Oscar winner: ANORA.
36. Letters of liability?: IOU. Liability as in a debt to repay.
37. Dongle, e.g.: ADAPTER. A computer hardware reference.
39. Synagogue singers: CANTORS. CANTORS lead the congregation in singing.
42. __ Sports Bureau: stats giant: ELIAS. IIRC, I learned about this one from Vin Scully
44. "Punch-__ Love": Paul Thomas Anderson film: DRUNK.
47. Shelters: HOUSES. From the general to the more specific.
48. Altar site: APSE.
49. Change: COINS. Used as a noun. Not as in the verb "to alter". Loose, or spare change.
51. Prometheus's gift: FIRE.
53. "See ... ": WELL. Something someone might say . . . and mean.
58. Aussie hopper: ROO.
62. Nocturnal bird of prey: OWL.
63. __ Gras: MARDI.
64. Unlike the rest: OTHER. With your kind indulgence, I will pass on a Kendrick Lamar video at this point.
65. Young lady: GAL.
66. Clique: POSSE. POSSE has expanded from its context in old westerns to now indicate with whom one hangs out.
67. Vociferous: NOISY. Due to noise complaints, they passed a law in Hawaii that you are no longer allowed to laugh above a certain decibel. Now you can only use a low hah.
Down:
1. "Exactly right!": AMEN. Why do they say AMEN instead of awomen in church? Because they sing hymns instead of hers.
2. City north of Carson City: RENO.
3. Probabilities: ODDS.
4. Service promoter: SALES REP.
5. Cyclone center: EYE.
6. Swindled: HOSED. Either way we've been had.
7. __ bear: Southeast Asian forest dweller: MALAYAN.
Photo by MM
8. Since: AS OF. A time reference. Not "because".
9. Animated film about Spix's macaws: RIO.
10. Baker's shortening?: TSP. Shortened as in TSP for teaspoon.
11. Like laughter, sometimes: CONTAGIOUS.
12. 62-Across call: HOOT.
Me: I don't wanna alarm anyone, but I think someone in this room might be an owl.
Grandkid: Who? WHO?
Me: gasp Oh no, it's worse than I thought!
13. Curly hairstyle: AFRO.
18. Bed frame board: SLAT.
22. Japanese sash: OBI. Frequently worn in our puzzles.
24. Picks up the pace: HASTENS.
25. Pokémon that ultimately evolves into Alakazam: ABRA.
26. Jason's "Beverly Hills, 90210" role: BRANDON.
27. Modest Muslim robe: ABAYA.
28. Bus passenger: RIDER.
29. Sushi bite topped with salmon: ALASKA ROLL.
31. Hairstyle that may begin with comb coils: LOCS. New to this solver. Thanks, perps. Seems to be a form of the word Dreadlocks.
32. "Stormy Weather" singer Lena: HORNE.
1943
33. Elephant pair: TUSKS.
35. Operatic solo: ARIA.
38. If-then-__ statement: ELSE.
40. Leaves in the care of: TRUSTS TO. Often, ENTRUSTS
43. Climbs: ASCENDS. What was it called when all the good dinosaurs ASCENDED to Heaven before the meteor struck. The veloci-rapture
46. Big galoot: APE.
47. Big Island county seat: HILO. A bit of Hawaiian geography.
50. Throwback hit: OLDIE.
51. Amphibious hopper: FROG.
52. Corn Belt state: IOWA.
53. Major conflicts: WARS.
55. "Didn't see you there!": OH HI.
56. Knots: TIES. Which country is known for manufacturing TIES? Tieland.
57. The Grand Ole __: OPRY.
59. Metal box?: AMP. A reference to "Heavy Metal" music.
60. Dim sum bun: BAO. See also 11 Across.
61. Persona __ grata: NON.
Well, perhaps, this reviewer has overstayed his welcome and become a Persona Non Grata (unwelcome). So, this Manatee will now abandon ship. One parting comment, however: It was interesting to travel the world (sail the seven seas?) with this puzzle's references to Sweden, Arkansas, Korea, Africa, Norway, China, Japan, Canada, Turkiye, Australia, New Orleans, Malaysia, Reno, Hawaii, Alaska, and other places.
Theme: What An Earthquake Might Do. Here we have a jumbled hidden word theme. Let's see what's going on inside this quivvering humble abode.
17. Social pariah:. One who does not fit in. BLACK SHEEP. Our jumbled word fits nicely into the fill.
25. "All Eyez on Me" rapper: TUPAC SHAKUR. Tupac Amaru Shakur [1971 - 1996] also known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. He was one of the most influential musical artists of the 20th century, and a prominent political activist for Black America. On September 7, 1996, Shakur was murdered by an unidentified assailant in a drive-by shooting in Paradise, Nevada; he died six days later. His name also includes our hidden word.
35. Laughs during an "SNL" appearance, say: BREAKS CHARACTER. To break character means to stop acting like the person or role you are playing and act like your real self. This happens when an actor laughs, smiles, or loses focus during a play, movie, or show. Have you deciphered the hidden word yet?
51. Drawing toy that uses aluminum powder: ETCH A SKETCH. A classic mechanical drawing toy invented in 1959. It has a red plastic frame, a gray screen, and two white knobs. Turning the left knob moves the stylus left and right. Turning the right knob moves it up and down. Shaking the toy erases the picture. By now, we've pretty thoroughly sketched out our hidden word. What is left for the reveal to reveal?
59. Fast-food chain that began as a hot dog cart, and what this puzzle's circled letters do?: SHAKESHACK. An American multinational fast casual restaurant chain based in New York City. It started out asa hot dog cart inside Madison Square Park in 2001, and its popularity steadily grew. In 2004, it received a permit to open a permanent kiosk within the park, expanding its menu from New York–style hot dogs to one with hamburgers, hot dogs, fries and its namesake milkshakes. Shake Shack Inc. owns and operates over 400 locations globally. And it now shows us what has been going on, shaking up a simple hovel.
So, here we have the work SHACKshakenin each of the theme fill entries, with its letters in the circles. This is a cleverly done, thematically rich puzzle. Let's see what else we can shake out if it.
Hi Gang - JazzBumpa here. All is calm in my home, and I hope nothing is shaking in yours.
Across:
1. Cherubic god: CUPID. Often pictured as a chubby winged infant, carrying a bow and arrows that inspire uncontrollable passion or repulsion in his targets. His name comes from the Latin word cupido, meaning "passionate desire".
6. Spot for pore strips: NOSE. A place for deep cleansing adhesive strips. Your nose gets there before the rest of your face, and you want to make a good impression.
10. Jumbled mess: HEAP. A disarrayed stack of things.
14. Stunt show setting: ARENA. An enclosed space designed for sports, entertainment and public events.
15. Significant work: OPUS. Generally said of the works of major composers.
16. Syllables for a stage magician: ABRA-. -cadabra, to complete the phrase.
19. Social media spammers: BOTS. Automated software programs that run tasks over the internet. They do repetitive jobs much faster than a person can. Bots can be helpful tools like search helpers, or bad programs like spammers.
20. Rectitude: HONOR. Unshaken moral integrity, strict honesty, and righteousness.
21. In flight: ALOFT. Up in the air.
22. Union agreement?: I DO. The marriage union vow. Do people nervously shake while saying this?
28. Film technique derived from the French for "to assemble": MONTAGE. A montage is an artistic technique that combines multiple separate images, video clips, or musical pieces into a single unified composition. In film and video, it is used to compress time, show the passage of days, or express a character's complex inner emotional state through a rapid sequence of shots.
30. "Not answering email," briefly: OOO. Out Of Office [I assume.]
31. Foxy: SLY. Clever in a sneaky, hidden, or quiet way. Artful, maybe.
32. Capitol canvas for "The Apotheosis of Washington": DOME. The Apotheosis of Washington is the fresco painted by Greek-Italian artist Constantino Brumidi in 1865 and visible through the oculus of the dome in the rotunda of the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. The fresco is suspended 180 feet above the rotunda floor and covers an area of 4,664 square feet.
33. Jilt: SPURN. To jilt is to suddenly and unkindly reject or abandon a romantic partner after having encouraged their love or commitment. To spurn means to reject someone or something with hatred, pride, or deep dislike. It is a harsh way to say no because you feel the other person or offer is not good enough for you. I don't see these as equivalent.
42. Settle, as a debt: REPAY. Pay back what is owed.
43. Vibe: AURA. A distinct atmosphere, feeling, or quality that seems to surround a person, place, or thing.
44. "Future Nostalgia" singer Lipa: DUA. Dua Lipa is a Grammy-winning English singer and songwriter known for her dance-pop hits like "Levitating", "Don't Start Now", and "New Rules". Her music blends pop, R&B, and disco, and she's known for her deep voice and confident persona. Lipa has won seven Brit Awards, including best British female solo artist and British breakthrough act. She's also known for her fashion sense, feminist views, and advocacy for refugee issues and women's rights.
47. Some Eng. degrees: BAS. Bachelors of Arts, undergraduate university degrees focused on arts, humanities, or social sciences. "Eng." here must mean English, and not Emgineering.
48. Truly fiendish: SATANIC. An adjective meaning relating to Satan, extremely wicked, or tied to modern religious and philosophical groups known as Satanism
54. Opening day pitcher, typically: ACE. A team's premier starting pitcher, typically the number-one starter on their pitching staff. Aces are elite hurlers expected to consistently deliver dominant, high-quality performances, control games, and start on Opening Day or during crucial postseason matchups
55. SAT prep subj.: VOCAB. The SAT is a digital standardized college admission test created and managed by the College Board. "Vocab" is a short, informal word for vocabulary. It means all the words a person knows, uses, or learns in a language. It would be relevant to the reading and writing modules of the test.
56. "Thus with a kiss I die" hero: ROMEO. From Shakespeare's play. Romeo was badly shaken by Juliet's death.
58. Tirade in the Times, say: OP-ED. An op-ed is a short essay published by a newspaper, magazine, or news website that shares the personal opinion of a writer. The term is short for "opposite the editorial page," because print newspapers traditionally place these guest essays on the page facing the publisher's official editorials. Until I learned this, I thought it meant opinion-editorial.
64. Antler point: TINE. A slender, sharp-pointed prong or spike on a tool, implement, or animal horn.
65. FX drama about New York City's ball culture: POSE. Set in the 1980s, `Pose' is a dance musical that explores the juxtaposition of several segments of life and society in New York: the ball culture world, the rise of the luxury Trump-era universe, and the downtown social and literary scene.
66. Magazine release: ISSUE. One copy of a magazine or newspaper from a specific day or month.
67. Has a meal: EATS. Ingests victuals.
68. Serve a meal to: FEED. Provide the victuals.
69. Like a toddler mid-bath: SOAPY. Covered with suds, maybe.
Down:
1. Zin alternative: CAB. Zinfandel and Cabernet are red wines.
2. Link destination: URL. Universal Resource Locator - a web site's unique address.
3. Storied cause of royal insomnia: PEA. From the Princess and Pea story by Hans Christian Anderson. There's a PEA the bed joke in there somewhere, but I'm avoiding it.
4. Progress slowly: INCH. Make progress in small increments.
5. Actress Fanning: DAKOTA. Hannah Dakota Fanning [b. 1994] is an American actress and model known for her roles in both blockbuster and independent films. Born in Conyers, Georgia, she started her career in local productions at the Towne Lake Arts Center. Fanning has received critical acclaim for her performances, earning nominations for four Emmys, a Golden Globe, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
6. Pessimist's words: NO HOPE. All is lost.
7. "Fire Shut Up in My Bones," e.g.: OPERA. Composer Terence Blanchard turned Charles M. Blow's memoir of the same name into an opera with a libretto by Kasi Lemmons. It made history in 2021 as the first opera by a Black composer ever performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Fire shut up in my bones" is a famous Bible phrase from the Book of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:9). It describes an unstoppable, burning urge to share a message or truth.
8. Litigate: SUE. Initiate a legal proceeding.
9. Ability to see what others can't: ESP. Extra Sensory Perception. A claimed paranormal ability pertaining to reception of information not gained through the recognized physical senses, but sensed with the mind. I experienced this at a pivotal moment in my life.
10. "Se __ español": HABLA. "I speak Spanish," in Spanish.
11. Paperless reads: E-BOOKS. Digital books that you can read on a screen like a phone, tablet, computer, or e-reader.
12. Foxy: ARTFUL. Being clever and skillful, often in a crafty, cunning, or sneaky way to get what you want. Possibly sly.
13. Bakery offering: PASTRY. A baked food made from a dough of flour, water, and a high amount of fat like butter or shortening.
18. Nesting cozily: SNUG. Fitting closely and comfortably, or feeling warm, safe, and cozy in a protected space.
21. Now, in Nicaragua: AHORA. Mas Español.
22. Cinephile's site: IMDB. The Internet Movie Data Base - a popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content.
24. "I'll pay this time": ON ME. An offer to buy something, like a round of drinks.
26. Manilow's "hottest spot north of Havana," familiarly: COPA. Reference in his 1978 song to the Copacabana night club in New York City.
27. Like a gooseberry: SOUR. Having a sharp acidic taste.
29. Feature of some happy and sad emoji: TEAR. Crying, either way.
33. Slow to open up: SHY. Being timid, bashful, or uncomfortable when meeting new people or talking in groups.
34. Org. for Sarah Strong and Hannah Hidalgo: NCAA. These ladies are college basketball players for Connecticut and Notre Dame, respectively. College sports are under the auspices of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
36. Shish __: KEBAB. Skewered and grilled cubes of meat.
37. Ice bath spots: SPAS. Business offering health, beauty, and relaxation treatments like massages, facials, and baths.
38. Bourbon barrel: CASK. A large, strong, barrel-shaped container made to hold liquids, especially alcoholic drinks like wine, beer, or whiskey.
39. Protein in some melts: TUNA. A grilled sandwich containing tuna, condiments and cheese.
40. Comedian Andrè: ERIC. Eric Samuel André [ b. 1983] is an Emmy Award-winning comedian, actor, writer, producer, musician, and television host. He's best known for creating, hosting, and co-writing the surreal Adult Swim comedy series The Eric Andre Show, which blends stand-up, live events, and controlled chaos. The show opens with André destroying the set and often features celebrity impersonators.
41. "RuPaul's Drag __": RACE. "RuPaul's Drag Race" is a reality show in which a group of talented drag queens compete in challenges to impress host RuPaul, the world's most famous drag queen, to win a cash prize along with a crown and the title of America's Next Drag Superstar.
44. Dedicate, as time: DEVOTE. To give your time, money, energy, or love completely to a specific person, activity, or cause.
45. Harmonious society: UTOPIA. An imaginary place or state where the government, laws, and social conditions are completely perfect. The word, made up by Sir Thomas More in 1516, comes from Greek roots meaning "no place."
46. Brogue, for one: ACCENT. A distinct way of pronouncing a language that shows where a person comes from, their social group, or their background.
48. Amped up: STOKED. Feeling very excited, happy, or thrilled about something.
49. Peak: ACME. Apex, zenith, pinnacle, summit.
50. Grad school hurdle: THESIS. An academic research paper - a long, formal written project required for a university degree.
52. Disney villain with hair of blue flame: HADES. Hades is the main antagonist of Disney's 1997 animated feature film Hercules. He is the fast-talking god of the Underworld, known for having a fiery temper and a vendetta against his oldest brother, Zeus.
53. Wipe: ERASE. To rub out, remove, or delete something written, recorded, or stored.
57. Quite a bit: OH SO. A phrase that acts as an intensifier meaning very or extremely, usually placed right before an adjective to add strong feeling or emphasis.
59. Tanning oil letters: SPF. Solar Protection Factor. A measure of how well a sunscreen blocks UVB rays, which cause sunburn and skin cancer.
60. Weeding tool: HOE. an ancient and versatile hand tool used in farming and gardening to shape soil, clear dirt, and remove weeds. It features a long handle with a flat metal blade set at a right angle to the end.
61. Red __ beet: AS A. "Red as a beet" is a common English idiom used to describe someone whose face has become bright red because of strong emotions like embarrassment, anger, shyness, or extreme physical exertion. Or of any body part exposed to strong sunlight with insufficient SPF.
62. Chalice, e.g.: CUP. A large drinking cup or goblet raised on a stem with a base. It is used most often in Christian religious services to hold the sacramental wine for the Eucharist, but it also appears in other traditions and everyday language.
63. Decryption need: KEY. A piece of digital information or a string of characters used in an algorithm to turn scrambled text, or ciphertext, back into readable data. Today's reveal provided one.
So ends another Wednesday. Hope you were able to shake some enjoyment out of today's offering.
While "hat trick" is not used, basketball has other milestones based on the number three or achieving three feats:
The Triple-Double: Getting double-digit numbers in three out of five categories (points, rebounds, assists, blocks, steals) in a single game.
Three-Peat: Winning three championship titles in a row.
Three-Pointer: Scoring a field goal from beyond the three-point arc.
The Reveal:
53 Across. Distance shot in basketball, or what 16-, 26-, and 39-Across are altogether?: LOGO THREE.
A logo 3 in basketball is a three-pointer shot taken from extreme range, specifically at or near the mid-court center circle where the teams floor logo is painted.
How is this represented in the 3 themers you ask? Why, it's simple! The first word of each begins with LO, and the last word begins with GO. Coming up with a new and fresh theme after more than 100 years of crossword puzzles is a long shot, I just didn't expect Erik to do it literally!
16 Across. "I like it!": LOOKS GOOD. (Like a long shot that goes "swish.")
26 Across. Bucket list item, perhaps: LONG TIME GOAL. (Long air time that is...)
39 Across. Not rigid: LOOSEY-GOOSEY. (Absolutely necessary to make those long shots....)
Let's see if there is anything in the fill that could block our shot at this theme...
Across: 1. Succeed in a class: PASS. (Or succeed in basketball, don't hog the ball...)
5. With 47-Down, tropical shade providers: PALM.
9. Content warning letters: NSFW. Not Suitable For Work.
13. Two-tone apex predator: ORCA.
Pass me the ball!
14. Inventor's jumping-off point: IDEA.
15. Underwater detector: SONAR.
16. [Theme]
18. Location: PLACE.
19. Out like a light: ASLEEP.
20. Vintner's harvest: GRAPES.
21. Top stripe of a pride flag: RED.
Hmm, not always red...
22. Lousy grade: DEE. (I always wait, could be C or F...)
24. "Gosh!": GEE.
25. Channel with music videos and "Reba" reruns: CMT. Country Music Television.
26. [Theme]
29. Statistical average: MEAN.
There ya go, now it's about s clear as mud...
31. Jokes: GAGS. (I never joke about statistical averages...)
32. Cunning plan: RUSE.
Not really a ruse, but I couldn't resist..
33. "A Change Is __ Come": GONNA. The sad history behind this song can be found here.
34. Victor Wembanyama's org.: NBA. (Is this a Clecho?)
43. Some undergrad degs.: BAS. Bachelor of Arts degrees.
44. Fleeting snooze: NAP.
45. Pvt. trainer: SGT.
48. Chicken __ bleu: CORDON. If you ever get tired of making chicken salad from your leftover chicken:
TRY THIS!
50. Throw trash away, but not in a trash can: LITTER. (Please dont...)
52. An additional time: AGAIN.
53. [Theme Reveal.]
56. Sport with scrums: RUGBY. This may be difficult for Americans unfamiliar with the game to comprehend, but it is a way to restart play fairly after a minor infraction.
Can you predict what side will regain control of the ball?
Down: 1. Big name in seltzer water: POLAR. Tough one, as not really seen in my area. And now with the hard seltzer market, Polar gets lost in the crowd.
Clue: First Lesson in "How to Create a Crossword Puzzle"?
Answer: GET YOUR POINT ACROSS
Puzzling thoughts:
Chairman Moe here - fulfilling my monthlycommitment to my fellow
Crossword "Corner-ites" with a recap of today's collaborative puzzle from
Avery (Gee) Katz and Aaron Gee
A Google search for Avery provided this snippet from The New York
Times: “Avery Gee Katz, of Santa Clara, Calif., is a user
experience designer at a software company. She comes from a puzzle-loving
family — the first crossword she ever made was a Father’s Day present for her
dad ..."
A Google search for Aaron resulted in a related comment from The New York
Times indicating that he is Avery's brother. They collaborated on a
puzzle there in November of 2024. My guess is that this is their first
appearance @ LAT - if so, congrat's on your debut. Please stop by to say
hello and comment if you like
Today's puzzle - while seemingly straight-forward - uses a bit of wordplay to
provide an alternate clue for a common phrase/expression. For example:
18 across. First lesson in "How To DJ"?:
START FROM SCRATCH. Right off the bat, Avery and Aaron use an
idiomatic phrase meaning "to begin" and tie it to how one might become a disc
jockey (DJ)
For those of us who recall DJ's such as Casey Kasem or Wolfman Jack, who
"spun" records on a turntable for radio air play, many of today's DJ's use the
record on a turntable to create a background sound effect. They do this
by "scratching" the record surface - see video below
26 across. First lesson in "Plumbing: A Beginner's Guide"?:
TAKE THE PLUNGE. The idiomatic phrase "take the plunge" is
associated with being "all in", and making a bold decision to do something
with an uncertain outcome. The playful clue description might be a
lesson for all would-be plumbers in how to unclog a toilet, perhaps?
47 across. First lesson in "Sport Climbing and You"?:
LEARN THE ROPES. Once again Avery and Aaron become "Ms. and Mr.
Obvious" by suggesting that learning how to use ropes when climbing up the
face of a mountain is a necessary, first lesson. Or in this case, how to
engage in Sport Skateboarding!
61 across. First lesson in "A Handbook of Competitive Eating"?:
STEP UP TO THE PLATE. The idiomatic phrase refers - literally - to a
baseball player taking his stance in the batter's box and facing the
pitcher. It suggests that by doing so, you've committed to the task at
hand. The "plate" in this case is home plate. Avery and Aaron find
another "plate" to provide the wordplay: a pie plate, perhaps
In this episode of "The Big Bang Theory", Penny and Amy take on Leonard and
Sheldon in a series of competitive contests, including this one:
The grid size today is 15x16 to accommodate the two spanners (18 and 61
across). I'm guessing that Avery and Aaron didn't consider my
clue/answer in their choices as the answer contained 18 letters! 😉
Let's move on to the rest of the answers/fill as we admire, first, the solved
grid:
Across:
1. Mess up: BOTCH. I almost messed up the puzzle from the get go
when I tried the word ERROR
6. Beer foam: HEAD. Another mess up when I tried SUDS
10. Golden Arches sandwich: MC RIB. This was filled in correctly
as the McRib, oddly enough, was my erstwhile favorite McDonald's
sandwich. I can count on one hand the number of times I've been to a
McDonald's in the past year and have fingers left over
15. Sneeze sound: ACHOO. "Gesundheit!"
16. Upfront stake: ANTE. I hope no one was thinking that the
stake in question was associated with camping
17. Family, in Hawaiian: OHANA. Totally solved with perps as I
knew not of this word. Perhaps if I had seen the Disney movie
"Lilo and Stitch" I'd have known of it [according to Reddit]
[Hawaii-Guide dot com] "Ohana is a Hawaiian word that means family, community, and deep connection. It goes beyond blood relatives to include chosen friends and neighbors,
meaning that nobody gets left behind or forgotten"
[theme entry]
21. Summer shirts: TANK TOPS. Question: is it objectifying to
show a picture of a woman sporting a tank top? How about a
guy? How about both, together? Let's go with the latter and see if
anyone comments ...
And here, you thought I was going to be objectifying! 🤣
22. "Let me say it again ... ": I REPEAT. Moe-ku:
The Who's Townshend helped
Me fertilize the garden.
Pete, and I, re-peat
23. Antlered grazer: ELK.
24. Trauma ctrs.: E.R.S. I last visited one of these when I was
on holiday in Portugal. The tour I was on insisted that I get seen by a
doctor as I had symptoms of a head cold. Went there on a Saturday around
5:30 pm. Got seen at 9:00. Yup, it was a head cold. No
"trauma" other than the 3-1/2 hour wait to be seen
25. Vocalized: ORAL. And its semi-clecho: (35 across. Uttered):
SAID.
[theme entry]
32. Rights org.: ACLU. Somewhat of an oxymoron;
the American Civil Liberties Union
is indeed a "rights" organization, but its adherents are generally
"left"-leaning
36. Mexican state on the Gulf of California: SONORA. CSO to all
of our Crossword Cornerites with Mexican
heritage. Sonora borders my state (Arizona) though I
have yet to visit it. One of its many attractions is a place called
Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point); a highly popular beach resort town just south of the Arizona border,
famous for its beaches, water sports, and nightlife. It's located on
the Sea of Cortez
37. Leap happily: BOUND. As in, "leaps and bounds"
39. Some jeans: LEES. A brand name, of course. Another clue
for lees is "dead yeast cells used in the fermentation of
wine". Lees are what gives some white wines a bit of a
creamy texture/mouth feel, and they add complexity to the finished "product"
41. Lute in Hindi cinema: SITAR. Moe-ku: (there's a lot to
unravel in this one!)
Actor Harrison,
Not George, played the SITAR
In some
"Indy" films
42. Hosts: EMCEES. A look back in time when Dean Martin hosted a
roast
44. 2022 Super Bowl winners: RAMS. One of their stars was a
former DT for my alma mater - and will undoubtedly be a Hall of Fame inductee
- though there is a rumor that he might end his retirement and come back to
play this year or next
Another Aaron
46. Forecast no.: TEMP. As I typed this recap, our forecast # for
today, in the Greater Phoenix area, was 109. Yesterday (July 24)
the temp set a record for the date: 117!!
[theme
entry]
50. Like Death Valley: ARID. Also, like Sonora; also, like
Phoenix. Our rainfall (year-to-date) is less than 3"; total
51. Coconut __: OIL. Couldn't figure out where this one was
going. I do a fair amount of cooking but do not use
coconut oil - but then I realized that coconut oil is used
primarily in skin moisturizers; as is this: (64 across. Ingredient in a
cooling lotion:) ALOE.
52. Poke bowl protein: AHI. Given the usage of a few
Hawaiian-related clues and answers in today's puzzle, I wonder if the Gee
siblings are from the 50th state?
55. Home exercise bike brand: PELOTON. This answer was my first
guess
59. Natural disaster, legally: ACT OF GOD. I can't recall ever
seeing this phrase used in a crossword puzzle before. The clue is quite
accurate as many insurance carriers will not cover items that were destroyed
or damaged from a natural disaster. [from Wikipedia] "Yes, "act of God" is a recognized legal term
used in contract law, tort law, and insurance. It describes an overwhelming,
unpreventable natural event—such as an earthquake, hurricane, or flood—caused
exclusively by natural forces without human intervention"
[theme
entry]
63. More frigid: ICIER. The synonym for this used to be
"frigider" until a certain appliance mfr said that it sounded too much like
its brand name ...
65. Locations for Christmas lights: EAVES. If you look closely,
Clark Griswold actually put some of his 25,000 Christmas lights under
the eaves
66. Welcome relief on a hot day: SHADE. Well, I can say that I am one
(here in AZ) who looks for a spot of shade in a parking lot,
but that barely helps when it's 117 degrees out
67. Scottish lids: TAMS. "Lids", as in the slang term for hats
68. High-protein grain: SPELT. Moe-ku:
Kellogg's proofreader
Skipped right past the word "ote". They
Thought, that's how it's spelt
Down:
1. Slather with butter, perhaps: BASTE. Watch most any French
cooking video and you'll see how frequently they baste - but
that doesn't mean you HAVE to be French to baste
2. In base eight: OCTAL. A tutorial for those who are unfamiliar
with base eight:
Not sure that I still totally understand it, but as a retiree I doubt I
will ever have to consider its use
3. "You'll __ me someday": THANK. For the tutorial above, perhaps??
😜
4. Winery keepsake: CORK. As your resident sommelier, I can attest
to keeping corks. One of these days I will endeavor to use
them for trivets, perhaps. When we were in Portugal we saw the source
of cork - it's harvested from the bark of a certain oak tree
that grows in the Alentejo region of Portugal. As this image shows, a portion of
the bark has been stripped from the tree. This is where the cork comes
from. The number (6) indicates the year in which it was harvested (2026).
The tree will regrow its bark and be ready for another harvest in 2035 (9 years)
5. Throat-soothing brew: HOT TEA. Another clip from
"TBBT". For Sheldon, offering a hot beverage was not
optional to someone who was feeling down-in-the-dumps. We can only
imagine that it was also throat-soothing
6. Ice dweller off the coast of Greenland: HARP SEAL. As opposed to
a monsoon dweller off the coast of India known as the Sitar Seal ... 😀
Happy Harp Seal
7. Actress Mireille: ENOS. Complete unknown, as clued. Oh,
how we have evolved in crossword clues! Back in the day this would have
been clued as "Baseball slugger Slaughter"
8. Self-serve bank device: ATM. At least today's description of
it was not what was clued back on July 24 when it (the ATM) was consigned to a
7-11 store
9. "You are my fire / The one __": "I Want It That Way" opening lyrics:
DESIRE. A "Backstreet Boys" classic
10. Cherries atop Black Forest cake: MORELLOS. I prefer
my Morello cherries in a Manhattan Cocktail. [from AI] "A
Manhattan pairs rye whiskey or bourbon, sweet vermouth, and bitters, garnished
with rich, tart Morello or Amarena cocktail cherries"
11. Crack, as lips: CHAP. [Merriam-Webster] Defined 5 ways: (1)
noun: a crack in or a sore roughening of the skin caused
by exposure to wind or cold; (2) intransitive verb: to open in cracks, slits, or chinks; (3) noun: the fleshy covering of a jaw; (4) noun: {mostly
British} fellow; (5) abbreviation: chapter
But my definition involves something different which is captured in this
Moe-ku:
Cowboy dismounted.
Walked
in brush to pee. Later,
He
found a chaps tick
12. Assign stars to: RATE. Over the course of my blogging I have
used many different RATE-ing scales to "grade" the puzzles.
My "Moes" [sic] Hardness Scale" is perhaps my favorite, but the current 5 star
system of grading has become the standard. Today's puzzle gets a solid,
⭐⭐⭐⭐s. Unlike this celestial body (Moe-l'ick):
At Lover's Lane there were parked many cars, With nighttime view of the planets, like
Mars. When her date, Roosevelt, Showed her Orion's Belt,
She uttered, "meh, I'll just rate it 3
Stars."
13. Cuzco civilization: INCA.
14. Thai currency whose symbol was once used to represent Bitcoin:
BAHT. Read this article
19. Tined flatware: FORKS. And this clecho-like clue/answer: (55
down. Trident-shaped letters:) PSIS. The image of the
letter Psi kinda looks like a fork
20. Dice game: CRAPS. I am on a "The Big Bang Theory" kick
today ... CRAPS mentioned @ 0:58
25. "Heavens!": OH DEAR.
26. Guitar peg, e.g.: TUNER.
27. Like the rice terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras: TIERED.
This is actually in Vietnam
28. Bushels and pecks: UNITS. Or, for those here old enough to
remember, some song lyrics:
29. Scribbled reminder: NOTE. I am still pretty much "old school"
when it comes to note taking. I have lots
of note paper close at hand. Only time I use my
"Notes" app on my phone is when I am not close by my pen and paper
30. Family nickname: GRAM. My grandson calls me "GRAMPS"
31. Wyatt of Tombstone: EARP. Another CSO to we Arizonans.
Tombstone is ESE of Tucson and provides the tourists with several period
places to see what life was like in the 1800's. The top things to do
there include:
O.K. Corral:Watch daily live reenactments of the famous 1881 gunfight involving Wyatt
Earp, Doc Holliday, and the Clanton gang.
Bird Cage Theatre:
Tour the preserved 1880s saloon and gambling hall featuring original
fixtures and over 100 bullet holes.
Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park:
View Victorian-era exhibits, courtrooms, and the authentic outdoor gallows
from 1882.
Boothill Graveyard:
Walk through the historic pioneer cemetery where early outlaws and
townspeople are buried
32. Biblical brother: ABEL. Younger brother of Cain and the first
person murdered, according to The Bible
33. "Follow me": COME. "Psst! Follow me!!"
34. Pixar film about a young sea monster: LUCA. Here is the trailer:
38. Unfold, as a protein: DENATURE. [Merriam-Webster] "To denature
means
to change or ruin the natural qualities or shape of something. In science, it most often means changing proteins, DNA, or alcohol using
heat, acids, or chemicals." I seem to remember the term "denatured
alcohol" which loosely translated means, "don't drink it"!
40. Makes out: SMOOCHES. Symbolized by the letter "X" or the emoji
"😘"
43. Sharpen on a leather belt: STROP. My first memory of going to
the barbershop with my dad was watching a man getting a shave - the barber made
the razor sharp by using a leather strop
45. Ill will: SPITE. As opposed to "ill swill": SPRITE
48. Suggest: HINT AT. I tend to be pretty straight-forward - no
beating around the bush for this guy. Although some of my blog comments
may belie that
49. Gets married by Elvis, perhaps: ELOPES. Know anyone who's
been married by an Elvis impersonator in Las Vegas?
52. Tequila plant: AGAVE. [from AI] "Blue agave (Agave tequilana) is special because it is the only plant legally permitted to produce
authentic tequila. Its massive, starchy core (the piña) is rich in complex
carbohydrates and fructose, making it uniquely suited for fermentation and the
creation of a deeply complex, terroir-driven spirit". Moe enjoys
drinking tequila "neat"; Miss Margaret enjoys hers in a Margarita (go
figure!!)
53. Guest spot?: HOTEL. Not the guest spot on a TV talk
show
54. Namely: ID EST. Commonly seen as its abbreviation: i.e., - as
in, "Wyatt Earp is best known as a lawman from the wild west, i.e., one
of the ones who fought at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone". It's commonly
confused with its cousin, e.g., which means "for example" and comes from the
Latin "exempli gratia"
56. __ A Sketch: ETCH.
57. Skywalker raised on Alderaan: LEIA. Process of
elimination? Had to be either LEIA or Luke
58. Pointed column: OP ED. Speaking of getting your point across
...
59. Chemistry class model: ATOM. Is a molecule close enough? My
final "The Big Bang Theory" video, promise!
60. Try to fly: FLAP. Cute clue. Cute cartoon:
62. Lisbon greeting: OLA. First off, in Portugal they call it
Lisboa; and most use the greeting "Bom Dia" especially in the hours between
dawn and early afternoon. I found that if you said "Obrigado" a lot it
was well-received by the Portuguese people
OK, that wraps up another blog from the Chairman. I'll see y'all in
early September. Between now and then I am having surgery on both hands
(Carpal Tunnel) so hopefully I will be able to type up my blog before
September 2
[a postscript] - on Monday Aug 2 there was an entry in the puzzle: "B
SIDE". In the comments that day, both Husker Gary and
Jinx in Norfolk referenced 45 RPM records. I recalled that in
addition to 45 RPM "singles", a few magazines experimented with enclosing a
cardboard record (about the size of a 45) in their publications. One
that apparently made me laugh (I was a young teenager at the time) was in Mad
Magazine. The "record's" title was "It's a Gas!" The video below
confirms that you can find most anything on YouTube!
