Wednesday, January 24th, 2024, Michael Schlossberg

 FLAME ON~!

A Marvel Comics theme with the long(ish) Across fills referring to the "super-powers" of the four members of the reveal "Fantastic" group - here's the Wiki.  I must apologize in advance to everyone here at the blog who is a massive comic book and/or Marvel / DC Comics movies fan - it's just not my "THING" (get it~?)  I grew up with Star Wars, and those movies, toys & action figures.  I did actually see the Fantastic Four movie released in 2005 , but the "THING" I don't much care for is the never-ending "remakes" and rebranding of comic book superheroes - including Batman, Iron Man, Spiderman, etc. - Fantastic Four came out again in 2015 ( and for the truly hard-core, there was a 1994 movie as well ).  The "THING" is, part of the reason for my apathy - and this is a consequence of Star Wars - is that the movies are SO overdone with CGI that it's all just a blur to me....

19. Economic metaphor coined by Adam Smith: INVISIBLE HAND - Sue Storm-Richards, who can turn invisible and generate force fields

28. Gawk: RUBBERNECK - Reed Richards, able to 'stretch' to incredible proportions

38. Hurry, with "it": HOTFOOT - Johnny Storm, who has the ability to become the "Human Torch"

46. Lowest of lows: ROCK BOTTOM - Ben Grimm, with skin of stone

54. Superhero team with the physical features of 19-, 28-, 38-, and 46-Across: FANTASTIC FOUR

And Aflame We Go~!


ACROSS:

1. Halts: CEASES

7. Loops in via email: CCs - a subtle shout-out to our blog creator - as to our "challenge", I had my first personal training session last Friday, and another on Sunday - ooof....

10. Muslim cleric: IMAM

14. "Dear Prudence" offering: ADVICE

15. Circle of life?: TREE RING

17. __ Marcus: NEIMAN

18. New word for something old: RETRONYM - Spell-check doesn't like it, but it makes sense to me

21. Crow's-nest call: "AHOY~!" - I had "LAND" to start; crossing LDS at 20D. - Bzzzt~!

22. Tolkien villains: ORCS - another series of movies I was not really interested in, until I read The Lord of the Rings - which, surprisingly, I only recently picked up, back in 2022; I did like the book, so I ended up watching the movies.

25. Cryptographer Turing: ALAN - if you get the chance, read Cryptonomicon, by Neal Stevenson, a great story beginning before WWII and running through the 1990s; it's a well-developed narrative based on secret codes and a little bit about the NFT coins of the stock market today

33. Cantina dip: SALSA - Star Wars had a cantina

35. Hence: ERGO - THUS fit too, but didn't gibe

36. "Leave the World Behind" actor Mahershala: ALI - filled via perps; never read the clue until I wrote the blog

37. Very softly, in music: ppp - meh.  Technically correct, but it's an abbreviation for one step past pianissimo, 'very quiet' - as opposed to fff, forte, 'loud' - but there's no 'abbr.' in the clue; filled via perps anyway...

41. Hydroelectric facility: DAM

42. Ore-__ Tater Tots: IDA

43. Years during Caesar's reign: ANNI

44. One of the Stooges: SHEMP

50. Some Dada works: ARPS - learned from doing crosswords; Jean Arp, artist of the Dada movement

51. "Manhattan Beach" novelist Jennifer: EGAN - no clue, filled via perps

52. Ranch newborn: FOAL

62. Hawaiian treat similar to a snow cone: SHAVE ICE

64. Mellow: SEDATE

65. "Until we meet again": "FAREWELL"

Welcome To My Morning (Farewell Andromeda)

66. Beyond thrilled: ELATED

67. Pieces de resistance?: OHMS - har-har

68. "Levitating" singer __ Lipa: DUA - a recent addition to crosswords, from my perspective - my cable provider offers VEVO music video channels, and I managed to watch a whole clip from her - just not my "THING"

69. States definitively: SAYS SO -  "sand" being a problem for the Fantastic Four and Darth Vader - this article "says so"

DOWN:

1. "Pretty please?": "CAN I~?"

2. Genesis paradise: EDEN

3. Tel __, Israel: AVIV - crossword staple

4. Gorillas, e.g.: SIMIANS

5. Net funds: eCASH - as in interNET

6. Ranking: SENIOR

7. Corner PC key: CTRL

8. One of Canada's First Nations: CREE

9. "An American Pickle" star Rogen: SETH - about the only proper name I did know

10. Like some transfers: IRON-ON

11. Telepath: MIND READER - how 'bout a Blue Öyster Cult interlude~? - the "THING" is, it's got a bit of a 'superhero' flair to it....

FLAMING Telepaths

12. Whichever: ANY

13. James Bond film studio: MGM - which bought out the original studio, United Artists - but "UA" was not long enough.  The story of two Bonds in one year

16. Big Band __: ERA

20. Mormon sch.: BYU - Dah~!  Brigham Young University.  For some reason, I went with Latter Day Saints

23. Letter-shaped vise: C-CLAMP - I like answers like this, with the opening "C-C" ( shout out ) as sort of misleading; I thought I had something wrong

24. Pinches pennies: SKIMP

25. Seek (to): ASPIRE - I do not "ASPIRE" to be in the spotlight, but the "THING" is, I managed to get my picture in the Washington National Cathedral newsletter; that's me in the lead with a chest that we just removed from the gallery division of the pipe organ

26. Cuddly companion: LAPDOG

27. Source of some wool: ALPACA FARM

29. Suit: BEFIT - ah, the verb

30. "Dude!": "BRO~!"

31. Self-importance: EGO

32. Decomposes: ROTS

34. Literary captain obsessed with a whale: AHAB - believe it or not, I was not obligated to read this book/novel in high school, but I did actually read it by choice about 5 years ago; a bit of a slog; the "THING" is, much of the book came across more like a whale encyclopedia

39. Artist Yoko: ONO

40. Minecraft explosive: TNT

45. Part-timer's work period, perhaps: HALF-DAY - ah, but which half~?

47. Rapscallions: KNAVES

48. Many times, poetically: OFT

49. Felipe Alou's outfielder son: MOISES - learned by doing crosswords

53. Amtrak express: ACELA - I pondered a visit to my good buddy down in Georgia by taking a sleeper bunk on Amtrak to get there - but round trip was somewhere around $1400; not likely, since a Southwest flight is about $250, and about 4hours, not 24hours.  The "THING" is, I did take the "Empire Builder" from NYC all the way to Seattle back in 2003, and it was a great trip.

55. State-of-the-art: NEW

56. Deadlocked: TIED

57. Women's Rights Project org.: ACLU

58. Actress Ward: SELA - I know her from the movie "The Fugitive", and TV's "House, M.D."

59. Feedbag grains: OATS

60. Versatile vehicles, for short: UTES - crossword staple

61. Start afresh: REDO

62. Bay Area airport letters: SFO - I went looking for an explanation for the "O" at the end, but no revelations there; I did, however, see that a plane crashed on my birthday in 1937 - the Wiki

63. "As if!": "HAH~!"

Splynter

24 Jan 24

Wednesday, January 17, 2024 Katie Hale

Theme: This is a rank puzzle.  or  We're in the Army now.

Hidden in the theme fill are the names of military ranks, indicated by the circled letters.  If you didn't have the circles, this would be a tough one to suss.  Let's check it out.

18 A. "I luv u" message holder: CANDY HEART.   These Valentine treats.

Available at Amazon

A CADET is a young trainee in the military

25 A. Textbook dividers: CHAPTER HEADINGS.   Printed matter (as the chapter number or title, quotations, illustrations, or decorative letters) preceding the text at the beginning of a chapter.

In most armies and in some air forces, a CAPTAIN is the commander of the largest group of soldiers that an officer can be expected to know personally—a company in the infantry, a battery in the artillery, a flight in the air force.

40 A. Hybrid interactive experience: AUGMENTED REALITY.  A technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user's view of the real world, thus providing a composite view.

GENERAL is the title and rank of a senior army officer, usually one who commands units larger than a regiment or its equivalent or units consisting of more than one arm of the service. Frequently, however, a general is a staff officer who does not command troops but who plans their operations in the field.

53 A. "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" actress: MELISSA JOAN HART.   Melissa Joan Hart [b. 1976] is an American actress, producer, and director. She had starring roles as the title characters in the sitcoms Clarissa Explains It All, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and Melissa & Joey. She appeared as Liz in No Good Nick.

Sabrina

A MAJOR serves as the primary staff officer for brigade and task force command regarding personnel, logistical and operational missions.

And the unifier --  63 A. Asserted one's authority, and what can be found in this puzzle's circled letters: PULLED RANK.   To use one's high position in a society, organization, group, etc., to order someone to do something or to get special treatment or privileges.  In puzzle context, I guess this means you have to pull out the circled letters to reveal the target words.

Hi Gang.  JazzBumpa here to lead this drill, and I promise not to pull rank.   I'm not a big fan of circled letter themes.  This one might have had a touch of elegance if the military ranks presented were in rank order, but, alas, 'twas not to be.  As much as I appreciate how difficult it must have been to find fitting theme fill entries, I am not delighted with the result.   But that is mere personal preference.  YMMV.

Let's put on our parching boots then, and see if we can have a successful mission.

 

Across

 1. Snack in a hard or soft shell: TACO.  My first thought was crab. Oh, well. Taco is the Spanish word for sandwich.  Once in Mexico I ordered a jamón con queso taco, not knowing what jamón was.  I was surprised to get a ham and cheese sandwich on white bread.

5. Mega-excited, with "up": TURNT.  It never occurred to me that turned could be spelt this way.  This was a stumbling block for me. 

10. Pattern: MOTIF.  A bit of a stretch, but OK, I guess

15. Big star: IDOL.   A person or thing that is greatly admired, loved, or revered.

16. Formal "Same here": AS DO I.  Informally -- "Me too."

17. Initiative: DRIVE.  Urge or force (animals or people) to move in a specified direction.  In this usage, the one being urged is yourself, and the direction is metaphoric for some goal or achievement.

20. "The Lion King" lion: SIMBA.    This Disney animated feature follows the adventures of the young lion Simba, the heir of his father, Mufasa.     Images here.

21. Nintendo avatar: MII.  A Mii is a customizable avatar used on several Nintendo video game consoles and mobile apps. The name Mii is a portmanteau of "Wii" and "me", referring to them typically being avatars of the players. 

22. Prefix added to some music genres: ALT.   Short for alternative, a category of rock music that evolved from the independent music underground of the 1970s. Alternative rock acts achieved mainstream success in the 1990s with the likes of the grunge, shoegaze, and Britpop subgenres in the United States and United Kingdom, respectively. 

24. Kid's elder: GOAT.  Of the species Capra hircus.

30. Snippet: CLIP.  A small piece or brief extract from a video or audio recording.

31. Extreme anger: IRE.  Derived from Latin.

32. __ guard: SHIN.  A shin guard is a thick piece of material that you wear inside your socks to protect the lower part of your leg when you are playing a game such as soccer.

33. Glutton: HOG.  One who wants both his share and yours. 

34. "Ooohhh": AHA.  Expressions of surprise or delight.

36. Equal (with): ON A PAR.  Equivalent to.

45. "The plan's been approved": ITS A GO.   Used to say that things are working correctly or that you have permission to do something 

46. "Who, me?": MOI.  Pretentious French usage.

47. Split __ soup: PEA.  Soup made typically from dried peas, such as the split pea. It is, with variations, a part of the cuisine of many cultures. It is most often greyish-green or yellow in color depending on the regional variety of peas used; all are cultivars of Pisum sativum.

48. Hiker's mix: GORP.   An acronym for "good ol' raisins and peanuts", although the mix may contain M&M's and other nuts.   AKA trail mix.

50. Cooling syst. meas.: BTU.  British Thermal Unit.

52. "__ Green": Kermit's song: BEIN'.

Alternatively --

Urbie was also Green

58. CIO or CTO: EXEC.  Executive - a corporate officer.

59. Good Charlotte genre: EMO.  Good Charlotte is an American rock band from Waldorf, Maryland, formed in 1995, that I never heard of.  EMO is a rock music genre characterized by emotional, often confessional lyrics. 

60. Kitchen cover: LID.  For a pot or pan.

61. __ basin: TIDAL.  The Tidal Basin is a man-made reservoir located between the Potomac River and the Washington Channel in Washington, D.C. It is part of West Potomac Park near the National Mall and is a focal point of the National Cherry Blossom Festival held each spring.  Generically, a basin for boats which is accessible or navigable only at high tide.

69. "__ in Borderland": manga series: ALICE.  a Japanese science fiction thriller drama streaming television series [that I never heard of] based on the manga by Haro Aso. The series was directed by Shinsuke Sato. It stars Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya as allies trapped in an abandoned Tokyo forced to compete in dangerous games, the type and difficulty represented by playing cards, to extend "visas" that, if expired, result in the player's execution by lasers being shot from the sky.

70. Inventor Howe: ELIAS.  Elias Howe Jr. [1819 – 1867] was an American inventor best known for his creation of the modern lockstitch sewing machine.

71. Gel often kept in the fridge: ALOE.  A preparation of leaf pulp from the parenchymal tissue of the plant Aloe vera (Liliaceae). Aloe vera gel contains carbohydrate polymers, such as glucomannans or pectic acid, and various vitamins and essential amino acids, as well as other organic and inorganic compounds.  Not sure why it would need to be refrigerated.

72. Slowly, in music: LENTO.  I was thinking LARGO.  Either is correct.

73. Wetland plants: REEDS.   A woody plant with long, slender leaves. Reeds need a lot of moisture, and they usually grow in or near a marsh. The stalk of a reed plant is also called a reed, and it's from this stiff, wood-like material that reeds for certain musical instruments were first made.

74. Big name in golf equipment: PING.  Ping Inc. designs and manufactures golf equipment. The Company's products include golf clubs, club bags, headwear, gloves, travel gear, and accessories. Ping operates worldwide as a subsidiary of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation.

Down:

1. Twitch: TIC.   A repetitive movement that is difficult, if not impossible to voluntarily control. Tics can affect any group of muscles. The most common are facial tics, such as eye- blinking, nose-twitching, or grimacing.

2. Orthodontist's org.: ADA.  American Dental Association.   Orthodontics is a dentistry specialty that addresses the diagnosis, prevention, management, and correction of mal-positioned teeth and jaws, as well as misaligned bite patterns. 

3. Pro opposite: CON.  In favor of vs. against.

4. Wall hanging showing 48 states, perhaps: OLD MAP.  Makes sense - there have been 50 since 1959.

5. Largest island in French Polynesia: TAHITI.  Tahiti is the largest island in French Polynesia, the South Pacific archipelago. Shaped like a figure-8, it's divided into Tahiti Nui (the larger, western section) and Tahiti Iti (the eastern peninsula). With black-sand beaches, lagoons, waterfalls and 2 extinct volcanoes, it's a popular vacation destination.

6. "__ your words": toddler parent's phrase: USE.  Encouraging a toddler to talk - a decision one may come to regret.

7. Nutritionist's no.: RDA.   Recommended Daily Allowance - the average daily dietary intake level that is sufficient to meet the nutrient requirement of nearly all (97 to 98 percent) healthy individuals in a group. 

8. "Sunrise" singer Jones: NORAH.   Norah Jones [b. 1979] is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. She has won several awards for her music and, as of 2023, had sold more than 50 million records worldwide. Billboard named her the top jazz artist of the 2000s decade.  She is the daughter of musician Ravi Shankar and concert producer Sue Jones.

9. Lord and Lady: TITLES.  A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify either generation, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification.  And, in the plural, the title of this excellent Discworld novel.

10. Physical pros: MDS.  Medical Doctors.  Rather an odd clue.

11. Never seen before: ORIGINAL.  In this usage, something that is the first of its kind.

12. "The Lion King" meerkat: TIMON.  Featured on a non-shareable video.  You can watch it here.

13. Hosp. attachment: IV BAG.   IV bags contain a solution of fluids that is administered directly into the patient's bloodstream through a needle or catheter, with the composition of the IV solution varying based on the type of fluid used and the patient's medical condition.  They attach to the patient, not the building.

14. Great deeds: FEATS.  Achievements that requires great courage, skill, or strength.

19. Puppy plaint: YIP.  Sound made by a small dog.

23. Chevy SUV: TAHOE.  The Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon are part of General Motors' full-size SUV family and are differentiated from the similar Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL primarily by the length of the passenger and cargo area behind the C-pillar. 

25. Influence: CLOUT.  Influence or power, especially in politics or business.

26. __ boson: elementary particle: HIGGS.   An elementary particle in the Standard Model of particle physics produced by the quantum excitation of the Higgs field, one of the fields in particle physics theory.  The Higgs field is a field of energy that is thought to exist in every region of the universe. The field is accompanied by a fundamental particle known as the Higgs boson, which is used by the field to continuously interact with other particles, such as the electron.  Now you know.

27. Q.E.D. center: ERAT.  Q.E.D. is the Latin abbreviation for quod erat demonstrandum: "Which was to be demonstrated." Q.E.D. may appear at the conclusion of a text to signify that the author's overall argument has just been proven.

28. Shorten, as a skirt: RE-HEM.  A hem is the edge of a piece of cloth or clothing that has been turned under and sewn.  To re-hem a garment is to fold over a greater length of cloth, thus shortening the garment.

29. Meyer of "Line of Duty": DINA.  Dina Meyer [b. 1968] is an American actress. She began her career appearing in a recurring role on the Fox teen drama series Beverly Hills, 90210, before landing a leading role opposite Keanu Reeves in the 1995 film Johnny Mnemonic.

30. Fragrant latte: CHAI.  In America, "chai" has become known as a flavor of tea with predominantly cinnamon or cardamom notes. But in India, chai is not a flavor of tea; it is tea—chai literally translates to "tea" in Hindi.  Latte is a coffee drink of Italian origin made with espresso and steamed milk. I don't how to make this fit.

35. Marinade in Spanish cooking: ADOBO.   This is a condiment or cooking sauce with a base containing chillies, particularly Chipotle and Ancho peppers. An Ancho pepper is a Poblano chili that is dried after it turns red. These sauces are used as a marinade and to add a smoky, spicy flavor.

37. Laurie of "Twin Peaks": PIPER.   Piper Laurie [1932-1923] was an American actress. She is known for her roles in the films The Hustler, Carrie, and Children of a Lesser God, and the miniseries The Thorn Birds.

38. Bit the dust: ATE IT.  Died, or less extremely, experience a severe failure.

39. Director Coogler: RYAN.  Ryan Kyle Coogler [b. 1986] is an American filmmaker. He is a recipient of four NAACP Image Awards and four Black Reel Awards, and has been nominated for two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and a Grammy Award.

41. Tricks that are also a treat?: MAGIC ACT.  Performances usually compounded of verbal utterance and object manipulation, that constitute “performative” acts by which a property is imperatively transferred to a recipient object or person on an analogical basis.  Happy to clear that up.

42. Self-images: EGOS.  One's self, especially as contrasted with another self or the world.  Similarly, one's sense of self -worth.

43. Like Odin and Thor: NORSE.  Relating to medieval Norway or Scandinavia, or their inhabitants or language.  Odin and Thor are members of the Norse pantheon.

44. Actress Wilson: RITA.  Rita Wilson [b.1957] is an American actress, singer, and producer. Her film appearances include Volunteers, Sleepless in Seattle, Now and Then, That Thing You Do!, Jingle All the Way, The Story of Us, Runaway Bride, It's Complicated, and Larry Crowne, and she appeared in the television series The Good Wife and Girls.

49. Overindulge: PAMPER.  Indulge with every attention, comfort, and kindness; spoil.

51. "Except maybe ... ": UNLESS.  Used to introduce the case in which a statement being made is not true or valid

52. Undeserved notoriety: BAD RAP.  An unfairly bad reputation

53. Key material?: METAL.  Keys are made of metal.  I suppose the intended misdirection indicates a vital material.  I'm unimpressed.

54. Cast out: EXILE.  The state of being barred from one's native country, typically for political or punitive reasons.

55. Escorted: LED IN. Accompanied by someone who assures you arrive safely or with proper respect
and acknowledgment

56. Unit of energy: JOULE.  A unit of work or energy in the International System of Units (SI); it is equal to the work done by a force of one newton acting through one metre. Named in honour of the English physicist James Prescott Joule, it equals 107 ergs, or approximately 0.7377 foot-pounds.

57. Kept out of sight: HID.  Concealed.

62. August baby, maybe: LEO.  The fifth sign of the zodiac. It corresponds to the constellation Leo and comes after Cancer and before Virgo. The traditional Western zodiac associates Leo with the period between about July 23 and August 22, and the sign spans the 120th to 150th degree of celestial longitude.

64. Fib: LIE.  An untruth, spoken with the intent to deceive.

65. Young man: LAD. 

66. Comedian Wong: ALI.  Alexandra Dawn Wong [b. 1982] is an American stand-up comedian, actress, writer, producer, and director. She is best known for her Netflix stand-up specials Baby Cobra, Hard Knock Wife, and Don Wong. She has also starred in the romantic comedy film Always Be My Maybe, on which she also served as a writer and producer.

67. Persona __ grata: NON.  A Latin phrase meaning “unwelcome person.” As a legal term, it refers to the practice of a state prohibiting a diplomat from entering the country as a diplomat, or censuring a diplomat already resident in the country for conduct unbecoming of the status of a diplomat.

68. Pub delivery: KEG.  A metal container holding 36 U.S. gallons of beer.

That ending sounds like a visit to the officers club.  I had my nits, but this puzzle was OK, so lets raise a cold one.

While were having a toast, today is our 33rd wedding anniversary.  The best years of my life!

Cheers!

JzB

Wednesday, January 10, 2014 ~ Rebecca Goldstein

Hey Bartender!

19. "New Miserable Experience" pop band: GIN BLOSSOMS. I nailed it sans perps - I have the CD.

Hey Jealousy

25. Pepper named for its resemblance to a tam-o'-shanter: SCOTCH BONNET.

Recipe

52. Role for Jason Derulo in 2019's "Cats": RUM TUM TUGGER.

63. British desserts similar to cannoli: BRANDY SNAPS.

41. "Now you're talking!," and what can be said about the ts of 19-, 25-, 52-, and 63-Across: THATS THE SPIRIT.

That was (hic!) a bit (hic!) of fun, no? (hic!) Let's check the fill...

Across:
1. Range across eight European countries: ALPS. Those countries being France, Switzerland, Monaco, Italy, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, and Slovenia.

5. Plays the kazoo, say: HUMS.

9. Pet also called a rainbow fish: GUPPY. I was thinking a tetra.

14. Look at: VIEW.

15. Best: ONE UP.

17. Really loud: AROAR.

18. "You are something __!": ELSE. The nerve!

19. [See: Theme]

21. Yelp user, e.g.: RATER. Yelp lets users RATE a service. Look at the 3 & 2-star comments to get a better idea. //my $0.02

23. Actor Hemsworth: LIAM.

LIAM

24. "Pagoda Fruit" artist Jean: ARP.

That's a "fruit?"

25. [See: Theme]

29. UPS alternative: DHL. German company founded in 1969 by Americans Adrian Dalsey, Larry Hillblom, and Robert Lynn.

31. Bangs on the head?: HAIR. In the UK, it's called a fringe.

32. Annual awards: NOBELS. I prefer the Ig Nobels.

34. NNW opposite: SSE. North-northwest is opposite south-southeast.

36. Soda brand that turned 125 in 2023: PEPSI.

40. Ranted and __: RAVED.

41. [See: Theme]

44. Boscs and Bartletts: PEARS. Learned this years ago from crosswords.

45. Book list entry: TITLE.

46. San Jose Earthquakes org.: MLS. The Earthquakes are a Major League Soccer team.

47. Some mattresses: SERTAS.
 

49. Pond organism: ALGA.

51. Variety: ILK.

52. [See: Theme]

59. "More info soon" letters: TBA.

61. FaceTime alternative: ZOOM. Covid put this company on the map.

62. Drum kit component: SNARE.
 

A drum kit.  Wanna hear Neil Peart? [Letterman]

63. [See: Theme]

67. Actress __ Rachel Wood: EVAN.
 

Evan Rachel Wood

68. Yogurt-based dip: RAITA.
 

Recipe

69. Microwave feature: TIMER.

70. French head: TETE. Today's French lesson.

71. Made a choice: OPTED.

72. "Arrivederci!": CIAO. Today's Italian lesson.

73. Sluggish: SLOW.

Down:
1. Swears up and down: AVERS.

2. Purple hue: LILAC.

3. Herbaceous sauce: PESTO. Herbaceous? That's a new word on me.
 

I do love me some basil pesto

4. Honey: SWEET HEART. I had SWEETie pie.

5. Biker's ride: HOG. Did you know that's the stock-ticker symbol for Harley Davidson?

6. Singular prefix: UNI.

7. __ Park, California: MENLO.

8. Join the game as a replacement: SUB IN.

9. 5-Down fuel: GAS.

10. Major in astronomy?: URSA. Cute - the Great Bear constellation.
 

There must not have been much light pollution
 for them to get a bear out of this

11. Pitiable person: POOR DEVIL.

12. Printed handouts: PAMPHLETS.

13. Jr. and sr.: YRS. Not son & father but 3rd & 4th years of high-school or collage (aka UNI).

16. Scheme: PLAN.

20. Sign of things to come: OMEN.

22. Classic TV brand: RCA. Hi Misty!

26. Hula Hoop movers: HIPS.

27. "Ted Lasso" actor Goldstein: BRETT.
 

He played SWEET HEART foul-mouthed Roy Kent on Ted Lasso
and his stand-up is funny but NSFW / this Blog.

28. Pop singer Amos: TORI.

30. Psychopharmacology initials: LSD. Lysergic acid diethylamide - ask your parents about Timothy Leary.

33. Objects that attract iron filings: BAR MAGNETS. How is this not part of the theme? :-)

34. Good memory, metaphorically: STEEL TRAP. My mind is a steel trap... rusted shut.

35. Nickname given to Nemo by the Tank Gang: SHARK BAIT.
 

37. __ Beta Kappa: PHI.

38. Cohesive group: SET.

39. Imam's faith: ISLAM.

42. Russian ruler, once: TSAR.

43. Attack with water balloons, say: PELT.

44. Inflation letters: PSI. Pounds per Square Inch. And here I was thinking Consumer Price Index until, with ESP, the V-8 can hit.

48. __ Sheep: Peppa Pig's best friend: SUZY. A buddy of mine is trying to learn Mandarin by watching the Chinese version of Peppa Pig. Also, fun bit, Peppa Pig is giving American toddlers British Accents.

50. Gloomy guy: GUS.

53. More than half: MOST.

54. Elixir: TONIC. Add a lime & GIN for a G&T //theme adjacent?

55. Savory flavor: UMAMI. Added to tastes sweet, salty, sour, & bitter in 1907 by Dr. Kikunae Ikeda of Japan after an especially good bowl of miso (er, kombu dashi - aka, seaweed & tofu to us 'Mericans).

56. Judge's hammer: GAVEL.

57. Muse of poetry: ERATO.

58. Sign up for another season: RENEW. I can't tell you how many streaming services we have (no really, I don't know!) and they magically renew.

60. Two chips, say: ANTE. Do Brits sweeten the pot with crisps? ;-)

63. Certain sib: BRO. I have two. And two SISes.

64. Papa: DAD. Pop is the DAD of all five (5) of us.

65. Wasabi-coated snack: PEA.

66. Sellout letters: SRO. Standing Room Only. I've been to a few SRO games; tell you what - even if you had a seat, you'd be standing out of excitement at every pitch.

The Grid:
 

The Grid

WOs: SWEETie pie
ESPs: SCOTCH BONNET, RUM TUM TUGGER, EVAN
Fav: BAR MAGNETS and TONIC are other Easter Eggs.

That was a lot to swill. But, S.O.B., gimme a drink before I get the Night Sweats.

Cheers, -T

Wednesday, January 3, 2024, Emma Oxford

PLAGIARISM

Happy Hump Day~!  Today's puzzle was relatively easy, but loaded with names; I find too many to be somewhat icky, and with two unknowns crossing, even more so.  And then there was the reveal - maybe I was digging too deep, but I just did not see the connection until "CLONE" popped out, and when I reviewed the other theme answers, I finally saw the 'hidden' synonyms for COPY, both verb and noun, at the RIGHT end.  Phew~! 

18. *Bureaucratic obstacle to environmental projects: GREEN TAPE (vb) - a playful take on the classic "red" tape of governmental hassles

24. *Extreme winter-weather event: BOMB CYCLONE (vb) - never heard of this phenomenon

40. *Nickname for a Mozart work in C major: JUPITER SYMPHONY (n) - name #1/2

49. *Writer of the 2023 legal thriller "The Exchange": JOHN GRISHAM (n) - name #1

61. Protection of intellectual property, and what the answer to each

      starred clue literally has: COPYRIGHT - parsed accordingly, COPY, RIGHT

EXIT, Stage LEFT

And Away We Go~!


ACROSS:

1. Mediterranean isle for which a style of pants is named: CAPRI

6. Periodic table's Pb: LEAD - from the Latin Plumbum, frequently used, in combination with other elements, to make organ pipes; due to its density and malleability, over the years, some pipes will actually 'sag'

Note how the pipe 'curves' towards the bottom

10. Female lobsters: HENS - I knew this, but it filled via perps - and - 16A. Lobster catcher: TRAP

14. Butcher's garment: APRON

15. Killer whale: ORCA - oddly, my 'spellcheck' doesn't like this word....

17. Takes hold: ROOTS - verb

20. Portuguese greeting: OLA

21. "Call Me by Your Name" name: ELIO - Even after I looked this one up, I don't recall anything about this movie; name #2, and a Natick

23. Declined, with "out": OPTED

28. Before, in verse: ERE

29. Dolly Parton hit: JOLENE - You'll excuse me if I don't provide a link to this one....name #3

33. Nonpoetic writing: PROSE

36. Phobia: FEAR - Gephyrophobia - do you know this one~?  ( Answer below * )

38. Daffy or Bugs: 'TOON

43. Pit: SEED - ah, that kind of pit

44. Tons: LOTS

45. Lather, __, repeat: RINSE

46. Aspirations: DREAMS

48. PC alternative: MAC

55. Tyler of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?": AISHA - I have seen the show, but I had no clue of the host's name, filled via perps - name #4

59. Cereal grain: OATS

60. Prefix with tourism: ECO

64. Boise's state: IDAHO - name~?

66. Couple of magazines?: ITEM - the juicy details of a romance between stars

67. Mayberry boy: OPIE - hey, I knew this one....name #5

68. When the sun rises in the west: NEVER - that'll be a cold day in hell....

69. Dishwashing brand used to clean animals after oil spills: DAWN - name~?

70. D.C. MLB team: NATionalS - name~?

71. Honking birds: GEESE


DOWN:

1. Chocolate substitute: CAROB - Dah~!  I entered COCOA to start

2. Speed skater Ohno: APOLO - knew from doing crosswords - name #6

3. Many a charity tournament: PRO/AM - professional / amateur

4. Go bad: ROT

5. Behind closed doors: IN SECRET - I tried SECRETLY first

6. Puzzle solver's skill: LOGIC - and sussing

7. Former "CNN Newsroom" anchor Barnett: ERROL - my last WAG, and disappointing for me, two proper names crossing - #7

8. Blackjack card: ACE

- and a gratuitous Daniel Craig to boot~!

9. Actor Daniel __ Kim: DAE - I did know name #8 - he appeared in "Lost", and the "Hawaii Five-O" remake; truly dismayed by the number of "remake" shows on TV - now I see "Frazier" is back  :7P

10. URL intro: HTTP

11. Q.E.D. part: ERAT - I just read "Death of a Doxy" ( see 54D. ) - one of the characters uses the alias "Thales" but that did not fool Nero Wolfe - and it made me look the man up on Wiki, and then further to his mathematical proof - and there in the middle of the page, Q.E.D.

12. Travel pillow spot: NAPE - I had NECK to start

13. Raced: SPED

19. Fielding of "The Great British Bake Off": NOEL - name #9

22. Caustic chemical: LYE  - and -  55D. Caustic chemical: ACID - pure clecho

25. Next to: BESIDE - not "B side"

26. "Love Train" group, with "The": O'JAYS - name #10

27. Convention: NORM - a collection of entries by "Norm" from "Cheers"

30. Law school course: ETHICS

31. Midday: NOON

32. Geological spans: EONS

33. Comfy attire that's rarely worn out?: PJs - I have 'worn out' my PJs, when I go to check the mailbox sometimes....

34. Regretted: RUED

35. Abbr. on old phones: OPERator

36. Future soph: FROSH - Sophomore, Freshman

37. Contractor's fig.: ESTimate

39. "Science Guy" Bill: NYE - name #11

41. Red "Sesame Street" resident: ELMO - name #12

42. Lauding: PRAISING

47. Somewhat open: AJAR

48. "Rocky III" actor with a mohawk: MR. T - I pity the fool~!  - name #13

50. Like three Justin Verlander games: NO HIT - no clue, but it sounded baseball - name #14

51. Stadium entries: GATES - or, say, airports....

52. Throw: HEAVE

53. __ and pains: ACHES

54. Boxing legend Archie: MOORE - not familiar with the boxer, but I am currently reading Rex Stout's "Nero Wolfe" series, narrated by "Archie Goodwin" - I even bought 43 books from eBay to proudly display on my future office shelves - and name #15

56. Little bit: IOTA

57. Gush: SPEW

58. Church song: HYMN - not quite a "hymn", but it made me think of this

 

Monty Python's Holy Grail

62. Charged particle: ION

63. Transcript fig.: GPA

65. Dead end?: DEE - DeaD, correct on two counts~!

Splynter

* Fear of Bridges and Tunnels

Wednesday, December 27, 2023 ~ Amanda Cook and Katie Hale

Department of Transportation

Happy Wednesday, Cornerites. Today Amanda and Katie give us some common words/phrases where the last part in each is also a mode of transportation.

17. Transport for loudmouths?: VOCAL COACH. A vocal coach is someone who helps/coaches singers. Eldest, the opera major, had a vocal coach for years; DW & I would to drive her by motor-coach [car] to lessons.

26. Transport for nanobots?: MICROPLANE. A microplane is a grater with finer teeth.
 

Lemon zest for the win!

36. Transport for the army's best poker players?: SHARK TANK. A card sharp or card shark is a deft poker player; a military one would likely motor about in a TANK. //Or, if caught cheating, sleeps with the fishes in the TANK ;-)

51. Transport for rural golf instructors?: PROTRACTOR. This themer made me LOL; the image of the golf Pro out on his Tractor.

Hand-up: You had one in your pencil box.

60. Transport for seminary students?: CROSS-TRAIN. You cross-train staff so they can do each others' major functions. A seminary student probably doesn't need much training with the Cross but, if new to the city, would need commuter-rail train training.

A fun play on transports, I thought. Let's see how Cook & Hale round out the 15x15.

Across:
1. Parakeet's pole: PERCH. Roost fit but perps disagreed. //Perch is better fill anyway.

6. Margarita flavor: LIME. And tequila!

10. Roughly: OR SO.

14. Nebraska city: OMAHA. Hi HG!

15. "Make it snappy" letters: ASAP. As Soon As Possible.

16. 29-Across, for one: JOEY.

Kanga and Roo

17. [See: Theme]

19. Many 4WD autos: SUVS. Sport Utility Vehicles.

20. Fizzy fountain drink: COLA.

C-O-L-A Cola [The Kinks' Lola live]

21. Car loan figs.: APRS. Annual Percentage RateS.

23. Allow: LET.

24. Singer-songwriter Tori: AMOS.

26. [See: Theme]

29. Young character in Milne stories: ROO. The joey in 16a's image.

30. Not pos.: NEG. Negative.

31. Being tracked, in a way: ON RADAR. e.g. Santa by NORAD Sunday night.

32. Little sandwich treat: MINI OREO.

35. Express checkout units: ITEMS.

36. [See: Theme]

39. __-knit sweater: CABLE.

42. "Barefoot __": Ina Garten cooking show: CONTESSA.

46. Overdue debt: ARREARS.

49. QB stats: TDS. Quarterbacks stats: Touchdowns.

50. Beach ball filler: AIR.

51. [See: Theme]

53. Doomed: SUNK.

54. Rocker Vicious portrayed by Gary Oldman: SID.

Sid And Nancy [Trailer]

55. Bygone Russian ruler: TSAR.

56. Has a meal: EATS.

58. Hall of Fame catcher Rodriguez nicknamed "Pudge": IVAN.

60. [See: Theme]

64. Letter after epsilon: ZETA. It's all Greek to me.

65. Overture follower: ACT-I.

66. __ Carta: MAGNA.

67. Utopia: EDEN.

68. For fear that: LEST.

69. Exhausted: SPENT. Not yet, we've the downs to go...

Down:
1. Perspective, for short: POV. Point of View.

2. My Chemical Romance genre: EMO.

Watch 60 seconds and you won't forget MCR is EMO.

3. Critter also called a trash panda: RACCOON.

4. Complete disorder: CHAOS. Not KAOS.

We don't do za Holiday Partiez?

5. Edvard Grieg's "In the __ of the Mountain King": HALL.

6. Asian language: LAO.

7. "Foundation" series writer Asimov: ISAAC. In HS, I read everything I could find from Asimov.

8. Powerful Apple: MAC PRO. Apple Computers.

9. Filmmaker Nora: EPHRON.

10. Citrus drinks, for short: OJS. Orange JuiceS

11. French meat dish: ROULADE. Food. Specifically, rolled food.

Beef Roulade

12. Start time for some morning shows: SEVEN AM.

13. Shellfish served with mignonette sauce: OYSTERS. More Food!

Center red sauce: shallots, red wine vinegar, and pepper pickled for about 2 hours.

18. GoPro product: CAMERA.

22. Legs it: SPRINTS.

24. Common injection site: ARM.

25. Me, in Marseille: MOI.

27. Disney CEO Bob: IGER.

28. Hanukkah pancake: LATKE. Food!

30. Problem for the Tin Man: NO HEART.

Oz never did give nothin' to the Tin Man that he didn't already have.

33. Dot in the ocean: ISLET.

34. Thunder's city, for short: OKC. Oklahoma City Thunder is an NBA team.

37. "Africa" rock band: TOTO. If you listend to Monday's "Straight No Chaser" 12-Days of Christmas that sumdaze linked, you may have noticed at 1:57 they break into Toto's Africa rhythm .

[the "not from Kansas"] Toto - Africa

38. "We Feed People" chef Jose : ANDRES. He's a (burgeoning) Thanksgiving Tradition on Colbert.

A take on [6a's] Margarita

39. Flip over at sea: CAPSIZE. Not to be confused with your head's circumference.

40. Got somewhere: ARRIVED.

41. Night out for straight guys: BRODATE. Since our wives had no interest, BIL & I went on a brodate to see Facing Nolan #Baseball

43. Bangers and mash protein: SAUSAGE. Food!

Traditional(?)

44. Serious misdeed: SIN.

45. Biblical evacuation vessel: ARK.

47. Scamp: RASCAL. Imp.

48. Hardly plentiful: SCARCE.

52. Dressage paces: TROTS.

53. Interchangeable watch component: STRAP.

57. PIN points: ATMS. Personal Identification Number; Automatic Teller Machine.

59. Brit's grandma: NAN.

61. Command to a collie: SIT.

62. Travel stop: INN.

63. __ Geo Wild: NAT.

The Grid:

The Grid

WOs: ade->OJS but not before inking evaS(?) at 19a; ISLan -> ISLET
ESPs: HALL (as clued), ROULADE(sp)
Fav: ISAAC Asimov.

If I don't post before the 1st (we leave for SFO tomorrow), Happy New Year!

Cheers, -T

Wednesday, December 20, 2023 ~ August Miller

Uncanny Valleys

An uncanny valley is a robot eerily too close to human likeness. Masahiro Mori (of Tokyo Institute of Tech) coined the phrase in the early '70's but I think The Twilight Zone (the one w/ a Robot Mom [that's your cue CED - find us the episode if you're over Covid]) beat him to the punch by 20(ish) years.

Todays' offering by August contains three (3) four-letter synonyms for valleys. But, with circles in the grid, they are not terribly hidden. The only thing uncanny is WADI - I don't recall hearing that word [see: 47a - not a good Bible reader, me].

Let's check out the Themers...

19. High price to pay, metaphorically: AN ARM AND A LEG.

29. Star cluster that resembles a bird of prey: EAGLE NEBULA. Messier-16 (who'd love to see crosswords expand to include numbers?) didn't fit.

Looks like a Klingon Bird of Prey decloaking.
Source

47. Health regimen modeled on the cuisine of Japan's Ryukyu Islands: OKINAWA DIET. New to me: "The Okinawa diet gets its name from the traditional eating style of those living on Japan’s Okinawa island. The diet is low-calorie and carb-based typically, but today consists of more protein and fat." Also new to me, WADI: "a valley that is dry except in the rainy season" It's Arabic and (according to the internet) in the Bible 11 times.

A wadi

And the reveal:
53. Salad dressing brand, and a feature of 19-, 29-, and 47-Across?: HIDDEN VALLEY.

Across:
1. Athletic brand that shares its name with a big cat: PUMA. My ankle-socks are Pumas. Get 6 pair for ~25 bucks at Amazon.

Over the ankle socks.

5. Cold desert in Asia: GOBI.

9. "Shucks!": DARN.

13. Asked for proof of age, say: IDED. "Papers Please," said the bouncer.

14. Admissions hurdle: EXAM.

15. "Let's Dance" singer David: BOWIE. Musical interlude.

R.I.P David Bowie

16. Like 9-Downs: TO GO. We'll get to DOGGY BAG in a bit.

17. Semester: TERM.

18. Super cool digs?: IGLOO.

19. [See: Theme]

22. Bell bottoms option: LEES. Lee brand jeans. I think Mom dressed me in bell bottoms when I was 6yrs old #Bicentenial #'76.

23. Pudge on an infant: BABY FAT. I was a little FAT spaghetti eatin' BABY.
//Mom has a picture of me fast asleep in my spaghetti.

27. Eclectic musician Brian: ENO.

29. [See: Theme]

32. Oscar nod, briefly: NOM. NOMination.

33. Key mistake?: TYPO. Cute.

34. "Shucks!": DRAT IT. Um, yeah, not what I exclaim.

35. Letting in a draft, maybe: AJAR.

37. Part of the "Law & Order" franchise, familiarly: SVU. Special Victim's Unit. IIRC, we had this last Wednesday.

39. Blow hard: GUST. Cute.

40. Mediterranean microstate: MONACO.

43. One-named Irish singer: ENYA.

46. Tuna roll topping: ROE. Wait for 55d...

47. [See: Theme]

49. Cease: END.

50. Screamed, perhaps: REACTED. Eek!

51. "One __ at a time": STEP. "Day" was too short.

53. [See: Theme]

58. Guiding belief: CREDO.

61. "Out! Out!": SHOO.

62. Made it: CAME. Do I link Barry Manilow's "Looks Like We Made It"?  Um, no :-)
//Did you know he wrote the "Like a Good Neighbor" jingle for State Farm? I heard that on NPR's Fresh Air last week.

63. "Hadestown" playwright Mitchell: ANAIS.
//Youngest knows the musical.

64. Lawsuit basis: TORT.

65. Cash for cards: ANTE. Deal me in.

66. Bend out of shape: WARP. Or what you have to do to space-time to go WARP Factor 8. #StarTrek

67. Boo-boo: OWIE. A "B" short of 15a.

68. Covert convo start: PSST.

Down:
1. Bread with tzatziki: PITA. Food!

2. Japanese soup noodle: UDON. More food!

3. Grandiose delusions: MEGALOMANIA.

4. Really dig: ADORE.

5. Have one's voice heard: GET A SAY.

6. Beasts that pulled covered wagons: OXEN.

(people of a certain age get it)

7. Avon product?: BARD. Cute Shakespeare reference.

8. Third No. 1 hit for the Black Eyed Peas: IMMA BE. Do I offend your (and my) auditory sense? No, HG did that Saturday with his link when it appeared in Ryan's grid.

9. Stuffed diner's request: DOGGY BAG. 16a - TO GO.

10. Piercing tool: AWL.

Pokie tools

11. Kia model: RIO.

12. Recent prefix: NEO.

15. "Sorry" singer Justin: BIEBER. Oy! I know he's Canadian so probably a nice kid but... #noLink

20. __ and greet: MEET. #CorpHappyHour (I'm awful at these things until a 2nd beer)

21. Get, as a job: LAND. And then you have to go to [see: above]

24. "Where do you see yourself in five years" subject: FUTURE PLANS. Oy! That's an interview question before LANDing a gig. I must be a drifter 'cuz I can mostly plan for ~6 months ahead but life seems to take me where it goes. //Tell God your plans and s/he'll giggle (or something like that).

25. Brie of "Community": ALISON. This fill made me think of The Lemonheads who I saw at Bricktown Brewery in OKC in the '90s .

Alice is Starting to Happen

26. Heavily inked: TATTED. My (Army) Bro is tat'd up chest, shoulders, & back. Peed himself on his first tat, he did :-)

27. Utterly charm: ENAMOR.

28. "I swear!": NO JOKE. Anyone else hear Joe Biden's voice in the fill?... "No joke, folks. This is for real." :-)

30. Apple Maps tech: GPS. Global Positioning System. A group of satellites orbiting in Medium Earth Orbit. Read more.

31. Really dug: LOVED. If you missed last Wednesday (or many of my posts), I really dig RUSH.

36. Party bowlful from 53-Across: RANCH DIP. Hidden Valley makes a decent RANCH DIP but I like my crudités bare or with hummus.

38. College, to Brits: UNI. I learned this from BBC programmes.

41. Open-air enclosures for some pets: CATIOS. Portmanteau of Cat & Patio (I assume(?))

42. Had to pay: OWED. Oy! I just got my Christmas Amex bill. I guess I'll be back in the office come January.

44. Political endorsement: YES VOTE.

45. Poori flour: ATTA. We've had it enough in the fill, I should remember it by now.

48. Lengthens: ADDS TO.

52. Yosemite peak, familiarly: EL CAP. El Capitan - a big rock in Yosemite. I've seen it IRL and have no clue why folks would try to free-solo it.

Totally Mental!

54. DIY site: E-HOW.

55. Tuna roll wrap: NORI. Basically, seaweed. Nori is red alga (green when dried); Wakame (why am I giving constructors ideas?!?)/kelp is brown. Nori provides a wonderful chew in a sushi roll or around unagi (eel).

56. 911 responders: Abbr.: EMTS. Did we need Abbr. after 911? Emergency Medical Technicians.
//Story: In the Army Reserves, I was with a field medical unit. Many of the nurses worked their day-job as EMTs. Being a 92B (medical lab tech), during training exercises, I oft played the victim that needed care. I learned more about first aid than I ever did in Boy Scouts.
Oooh, wait... More story: One of our Scout Masters tried to show us how to fell a tree. We'd already notch'd it pretty good. His first axe swing bounced out of the notch and straight into his ankle; I took a woodchip out of his wound (I knew I really wasn't supposed to do that but it seemed the right thing at the time).
We used our cravats to stop the beading, built a stretcher out of branches and our shirts, and hiked his butt out of the woods. Later that night we had to treat him (again) for shock and send him back to the (remote-a**) hospital.
////Too graphic? -- imagine if you were 11yrs old!

57. Chuck, slangily: YEET. Someone under 30yrs-old, please explain. I only know YEET as excitement or Whoot!
//Youngest (first-read editor) knew this as "to throw." She said it is a thing and then giggled at me.
Then, my Angel Editor let me know that Merriam-Webster added it to the dictionary in 2022 as toss forcefully with the usage: "We just don't yeet it into the dictionary the first time we encounter it." [Cite]

58. Cry from a crow: CAW.

59. Molecule in some vaccines: RNA. mRNA technology is pretty magic, what, with telling your cells how to identify bad proteins. I just hope the tech doesn't go all I Am Legend on us.

Spoiler: a vaccine turns people into night stalking Zombies and Will Smith
hunts for the antidote while trying to stay alive.

60. Unit of corn: EAR.

The Grid:

The Grid

WO: open->AJAR
ESPs: IMMA BE (I did this puzzle b/f Sat's), ANAIS, ALISON, ATTA, and YEET as clued.
Fav: I'll go with David BOWIE and leave you with him & Mick.

Dancing in the Streets

Well, that was fun. You now have 4 days to bake cookies & pour milk for Santa and get some carrots* (with hummus) for the reindeer.

Cheers, -T
*nibble 'em like a squirrel might to mess with your (grand?)children's little brains come Christmas morning :-)