Friday October 31, 2025 Wendy L. Brandes

BOO! MalMan here...not! That's your trick. It's actually RustyBrain and I hope the rest of this review is a treat!

In between constructing crosswords, Wendy L. Brandes uses her words to make sentences, them into whole books! But today she has offered us a Human Resources job. Wait a minute (or an hour), it's not that HR. It's the Halloween witching hour, in which we add "HR" to each answer to create a Humorous Result. 

20. Tees off closer to the hole in mini golf?: SHRINKS A PUTT. Sinks a Putt. I'd be teed off if I missed this tap-in. Since it's teed up, I probably should call it a drive-in.

28. Place to get rid of broken furniture and pictures of exes?: THROW AWAY ZONE. Tow Away Zone. This place is a dump.

42. Cars used to transport boxwoods and hydrangeas?: SHRUB COMPACTS. Sub Compacts. I think this used to be a Nissan Leaf.

48. Benefited from the end of daylight saving time, or a hint to 20-, 28-, and 42-Across: GAINED AN HOUR. Spring ahead; fall back. When you turn back the clocks in the fall, you get an extra hour's sleep. You're welcome. Don't forget to reset them this weekend! It's embarrassing to show up an hour late for church. (Don't ask me how I know.)

This puzzle has been haunting me into the wee hours of the night...

Across:

1. Oscar winner Sorvino: MIRA. MIRA Sorvino is an American actress, activist, and U.N. Goodwill Ambassador. She is best known for her Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning role in Mighty Aphrodite.

5. Tanqueray, Bombay, et al.: GINS. 

9. Rugby formation: SCRUM. Soap formation: SCUM. Here's where soap scrum comes from:

14. Scott Turow work: ONE L.

15. "Let me do it": I CAN. These aren't exactly equals. 

16. Word with party or guest: HOUSE. "Look, honey, there's light on. Maybe they have some gas. I'll be right back..."

17. Phishing line?: SCAM. What's your mother's maiden name? Just curious.

18. "99 Luftballons" singer: NENA. Lufballons are Air Balloons in English, but it was changed to Red Balloons since we simply call them "balloons" and an extra syllable was needed.

19. Country singer Keith: URBAN. 

20. [theme]

23. "Bad Romance" singer Lady __: GAGA.

24. Land on the sea?: REEL IN. Winner of "Best Clue" today...and 4th album in a row. It's a record!

28. [theme]

31. Borders on: ABUTS. 

33. Bedtime story, e.g.: TALE. I'm creating my own sub-theme for All Hallowed Eve. 

34. Catch: SEE. As in catch a movie.

35. More than a few: MANY.

36. Food for finches: SEEDS. This guy got dressed up but took his date to a seedy place and she's not impressed.

38. Cohort of cows: HERD. Or so I've heard.

39. "__ be an honor!": IT'D.

40. Actress Chaplin: OONA. I like the name OONA, it's fun and different.

41. Puts in order: SORTS. Better than being out of SORTS.

42. [theme]

46. Area around a fireplace: HEARTH.

oo
47. Woeful sigh: ALAS.

48. [theme]

54. "Is it too risky for me?": DARE I. Famous last words. Right up there with, "Watch this!"

57. Rowboat set: OARS. 

58. Ish: OR SO. 

59. Sue Bird's alma mater, for short: UCONN. The University of Connecticut Huskies are a perennial powerhouse in women's basketball. Although UCONN sounds like the Yukon where you find huskies, the mascot was chosen while the school was still named the Connecticut Agricultural College, so it's just a coincidence.

60. Arduous hike: TREK. 

61. Overflow (with): TEEM.

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62. Loo door sign: GENTS. 

63. Ice queen with more than 400,000 computer-generated strands of hair: ELSA. Amazing, considering the average person only has between 80,000 and 150,000 hairs on their head. Lament of the animator: "That's all I can't strand; I can't strand anymore!" 

64. Achy: SORE.

Down:

1. Rootless plant used in some street art: MOSS. Here's some appropriate "street moss."

2. Approximate diameter of a quarter: INCH. That's larger than a quarter-inch.

3. __ admiral: REAR. The term derived from the lowest-ranking junior admirals. They were assigned command of the REAR of the fleet, farthest from the action.

4. Omnipotent: ALMIGHTY.

5. Tree with fan-shaped leaves: GINKGO.

6. Arctic fishing tool: ICE SAW. ICE SAW one once.

7. Another name for Grandma: NANA. 

8. Insta post: SNAP. Just a quick pic on Instagram.

9. Z's: SHUTEYE. 

10. Nevada senator Catherine __ Masto: CORTEZ.

11. Barbecue blend: RUB. 

12. Letters on Katie Ledecky's suit: USA. Katie is the most decorated female swimmer in history. At the request of her competitors, the Olympic Committee keeps awarding her gold medals hoping to slow her down in the water. 

13. R&B's Boyz II __: MEN.

21. Luxury cosmetics brand: NARS. It's so exclusive that you can't even read their logo.

22. Eurasian mountain range: URALS.

25. Also-rans: LOSERS. First LOSERS try harder!

26. Like helium and xenon: INERT.

27. Has to have: NEEDS. Such as an occasional sip of blood!

drc
28. Arctic expanse: TUNDRA.

29. Starting five in basketball, e.g.: A TEAM.

30. Blob of gum: WAD. Most people hate when they step on a WAD on the sidewalk, but I don't mind.

31. Pennsylvania sect that embraces simple living: AMISH.

32. Take a dip: BATHE.

36. 2014 Winter Olympics city: SOCHI.

37. Ambient musician Brian: ENO. ENO's Music for Airports is recognized as the a seminal and influential release that defined the ambient aesthetic while providing a name for the genre. AKA background music.

38. Phenoms: HOTSHOTS. 

40. Procures: OBTAINS.

41. Read: SCAN. 

43. Requiring immediate attention: URGENT. I hope you have good insurance...

44. San Diego squad: PADRES.

45. State with no native snakes or lizards: ALASKA. Here's St. Patrick driving the snakes away during his visit to ALASKA.

49. Scribbled reminder: NOTE. That reminds me...

50. __ Grey tea: EARL. Charlie Grey became an EARL for inventing the tea bag. Later generations made them smaller.

51. Crumbled cheesecake topping: OREO. Seems like an OREO goes with anything nowadays. 

52. __ error: USER. 

53. City on the Tiber: ROME.

54. Was into: DUG. 

55. Good draw in blackjack: ACE. Just don't let the dealer catch you.

56. Pitcher Guidry who won a Cy Young in 1978: RON. RON Guidry, nicknamed "Louisiana Lightning" and "Gator," played 14 seasons for the New York Yankees.

Happy Halloween!

Sunday August 31 , 2025 Amie Walker & Wendy L. Brandes

Theme:  "GET THE BALL ROLLING" - From left to the right, the letters spell out BINGO.

4. *Request for greater detail: BE A LITTLE MORE SPECIFIC.

9. *"Really, Captain Obvious?": GEE YA THINK.

12. *"C'mon, quit pretending to be confused!": OH YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING.

50. *"Free Your Mind" group: EN VOGUE.

74. *Visionary physicians?: EYE DOCTORS.

Reveal: 

3. With 70-Down, "Never would've predicted this scenario," and what can be said about the first word of the answer to each starred clue?: THAT WASN'T ON.

70. See 3-Down: MY BINGO CARD.

Did I miss anything extra? I had to google "How to play Bingo". So a Bingo card has the letters BINGO on top. This 14, 27, Free, 56, 66 doesn't make any winning sense to me. 

 

Amie and Wendy have collaborated on a few puzzles for the LAT. This is their first Sunday together. 

Across:

1. Rollaway bed: COT. 

4. Sweetie: BABE.

8. "Totally ready for the weekend!": TGIF.

12. Muppet who lives in a recycling zone: OSCAR.

17. Letters for a monarch: HRH. His/Her Royal Highness.

18. Nook's format, e.g.: E TEXT.

20. Incessantly: NO END.

21. "Hungry hungry" animal in a kids game: HIPPO.

22. Porto greeting: OLA. Porto is the Portuguese wine capital. 

23. Religious platform: ALTAR.

24. Where Penguins play on ice?: ARENA. Pittsburgh Penguins.

25. Raising agent: YEAST.

26. Lotus part: PETAL.

28. Hotel gym, e.g.: AMENITY.

30. Groups of friends: POSSES.

31. Deemed suitable: SAW FIT.

33. Rice dish cooked in a wide pan: PAELLA. Looks delicious.

34. [I didn't get my way!]: POUT.

35. 1990s treaty acronym: NAFTA.

36. Inc., in Britain: LTD.

37. Spots that might smear: ATTACK ADS. Amazing clue.

41. Some send-ups: SATIRES.

43. Question after a photo finish: WHO WON?

44. "The penny drops!": AHA.

46. Dull, figuratively: VANILLA.

48. __ kwon do: TAE.

51. Wash. neighbor: IDA.

52. Exudes: OOZES.

54. __ nous: ENTRE.

55. Disdain: SCORN.

57. Small complaint: NIT.

58. Bring about, as mayhem: WREAK. Only Havoc.

59. Classic muscle car: GTO.

60. Partner: MATE.

62. Conjure up: EVOKE.

64. Fin. neighbor: SWE.

65. Taken together: IN TOTAL.

67. KenKen figs.: NOS.

68. Return from vacation: FLY HOME. Someday I will. 

72. Before, in poems: ERE.

73. "Stop hogging it!": LET GO.

75. Mount also known as Kissavos: OSSA.

76. Peruvian singer Sumac: YMA. Have not seen her in our grid for a long while.

78. Accept terms: AGREE.

81. "I don't __ it": BUY.

82. Très très: ULTRA.

84. Soccer star __ Heath: TOBIN.

86. Pure joy: BLISS.

87. Pub brew: ALE.

88. Fair-hiring inits.: EEO.

89. College in Dublin: TRINITY. Ireland's oldest university.

91. "Stop filming!": CUT.

92. Pride event: PARADE.

95. Epiphany figures: WISE MEN.

97. Listen clandestinely: EAVESDROP.

99. Autograph seeker's tool: PEN.

100. Utility bill data: USAGE. Did you know that they charge you a higher rate for your power usage between 5:00pm to 7:00pm?

102. Coats with ganache, e.g.: ICES.

103. Baseless rumor: CANARD.

105. Conditional release: PAROLE.

107. "Good 4 U" singer Rodrigo: OLIVIA.

110. Culinary school dough?: TUITION. Another fun clue.

112. Orgs. that may serve as alternatives to hostels: YMCAS.

113. Recurring theme: MOTIF.

114. Ring around a lagoon: ATOLL.
 
116. Rapace of "Prometheus": NOOMI. She was also in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo".

118. First words of many an alphabet book: A IS.

119. Central Asian mountain range: ALTAI. Extends to China where Xinjiang is.

120. "No __!": SIREE.

121. React to a bad joke: GROAN.

122. Vaccine molecule: RNA.

123. "It's Gonna Be Me" band: NSYNC.

124. Ramona, per Beezus: PEST.

125. Unexpected problem: SNAG.

126. Susan of "The Partridge Family": DEY.

Down:

1. Slices and dices: CHOPS.

2. "The Library Book" writer Susan: ORLEAN.

5. Georgia airport code: ATL.

6. Early app edition: BETA.

7. Lead by __: EXAMPLE.

8. Field where accidents are common?: TORT LAW.

10. Cozy lodging: INN.

11. Rx regulator: FDA.

13. Afternoon snooze: SIESTA.

14. Pros who try to stay balanced?: CPAS. Nothing athletic. Pros indicates an abbreviated answer.
 
15. Abbey space: APSE.

16. Goes bad: ROTS.

19. Buys for, as a birthday dinner: TREATS TO. The nice church couple treated me for a papaya salad. Mild. Still hot for me. 

20. Ace: NAIL.

27. Romance: AFFAIR.

29. Nancy Drew's boyfriend: NED.

30. "Un __ Loco": "Coco" song: POCO.

32. Shadow: TAIL.

34. Try to hit, as a cat might a laser beam: PAW AT.

38. Exquisite: TO DIE FOR. Cantonese soup. That red thing is goji berry. Not anything hot. 

39. Groggy state: DAZE.

40. Citi Field predecessor: SHEA.

42. Follower of Jah: RASTA.

45. "Fire away": ASK.

46. Relax on the sofa: VEG.

47. Not backing: ANTI.

49. "__ we all?": AREN'T.

53. Brand with a Selena Gomez limited edition version: OREO.

56. __ phone: CELLULAR.

61. Swallowed: ATE.

63. "__ mio": O SOLE.

64. Lead-in to "op": SYS.

66. Some concert merch: TEES.

69. Aspiring J.D.s' exams: LSATS.

71. Give off: EMIT.

77. In __ event: ANY.

78. "Shark Tank" network: ABC.

79. Cause of a sticky situation: GLUE. I've learned to wear a glove every time I use Super Glue.

80. "Poison" singer Ora: RITA.

81. Poetic performers: BARDS.

83. Reaching great heights: TOWERING.

85. Like show-offy pushups: ONE-ARM.

90. Enlist again: RE-UP.

93. Cruising the Caribbean, maybe: ASEA.

94. Uniform adornment: EPAULET.

96. Not alfresco: INDOORS.

98. Vance of "I Love Lucy": VIVIAN.

99. Butter portion: PAT.

101. Stritch of Broadway: ELAINE.

104. Egyptian river: NILE.

106. Input for some plagiarism detectors: ESSAY.

107. Saudi Arabia neighbor: OMAN.

108. Haha alternatives: LOLS.

109. Wee: ITTY.

111. End of a.m.: NOON.

114. Egyptian viper: ASP.

115. Connection: TIE.

117. Goat's bleat: MAA.

C.C.

Wednesday, Jul 23rd, 2025 ~ Wendy L. Brandes

 TALENT

Australian B-double, backing into Shed "B"

Alright, let's see if I can get this straight - today's puzzle is from veteran author Wendy L. Brandes, who has at least sixteen LA Times crosswords, and I have personally blogged (just shy of a year ago) one of HER constructions.  Phew.  Middle of the week, middle of the road theme & grid; some good clues / answers, but some were Meh in my opinion.  Three out of four unique theme fills, 36 4LWs, over 4x the # of 3LWs, a handful of names, and the dreaded circles.  The themers and 'reversed' reveal:

20. "Hmm, is it possible for me?": WONDER IF I COULD - FIRE truck, backwards

Existential ponderings

25. Slow-moving forest-dweller: TWO-TOED SLOTH - TOW truck, backwards

42. Tale spun before lights-out: BEDTIME STORY - SEMI truck, backwards - Strangely, I was musing over the weekend WHY it's called a "semi" when it's typically more than half a vehicle ....😜 Read more here

It's a "semi" truck

50. "Wait, what did you just say?," or a hint to the circled letters in this puzzle:

"BACK UP THE TRUCK..." - This driver has some talent - I can't get my single boat trailer done right on the first try - but then again, they do this for a living - I hope you can watch the video, it's impressive

And Away We Go~!

ACROSS:

1. Milk choice: SKIM - I start with the Down clues, had 2 & 3D. wrong, so my NW corner was a mess

5. Bra part: STRAP

10. Three-person card game: SKAT

14. Actress Kendrick: ANNA - name #1; her IMDb

You can't see her bra strap

15. Clamor: NOISE

16. Crafted: MADE - there's an "Art Box" on my walk in front of a home, and I would like to contribute something - I have decided to do some origami

Going with a sloth theme today

17. Bigfoot kin: YETI

18. "E," at Fenway: ERROR - a C.C. clue - baseball box score

No "E"s, but still a blowout

19. Like the NYSE at 9:30 a.m. Eastern on most weekdays: OPEN - the NY Stock Exchange; see 42D.

23. Rocker Quatro: SUZI - name #2 - her website

24. Drinks made with steamed milk: LATTES

30. "You're a riot": "HA-HA."

31. Not slack: TAUT

32. Fishing pole: ROD - could have been a name - I see ROD Stewart is on AARP magazine - Jeez, I am old . . . .

Still rockin' it at 80 yrs old

35. In need of a heating pad, say: ACHY - like me, about 1pm last Saturday

36. Online diaries: BLOGS - or crossword Corners~!

38. Run into a closet, say: HIDE - Then at some point, you'll have to come out of the closet

39. French pronoun: TOI - Frawnche for "You~!"

40. P.O. Box filler: MAIL

41. Box on a touchscreen: ICON - the icons of my touchscreen laptop

46. Prepares to run a marathon, say: TRAINS - I am not running any distance, any time soon, but I do like to walk my neighborhood every other day at 5am.  Here's me trying to show up my trainer at the gym; he was brutal this past Saturday 😜

That's me on the left - er, right - the other dude is Brett from Big Sky

49. Go offstage: EXIT

55. Fairy tale meanie: OGRE

56. Speak from a podium: ORATE

57. Gram, to some: NANA - it was Granny for me

59. Dark film genre: NOIR

60. Show, as an old show: RERUN

61. Always and always: EVER - My brother got married Saturday, July 12th - got to hang briefly with Cooper - I am going to pet-sit the last week of September when they honeymoon

bother Kevin, new wife Jacquie, her sister and husband

62. Odds and __: ENDS

63. Entice: TEMPT

64. Appear to be: SEEM

DOWN:

1. "You __ 'goodbye,' and I __ 'hello'": SAY - not overly complicated lyrically, but one of my personal favorite Beatles songs

The Beatles - Hello, Goodbye - Paul the Lefty bassist

2. Was aware of: KNEW - I had ON TO

3. Digging: INTO - wrong kind of digging, I had "AT IT"

4. Backbone: MAINSTAY - good clue/answer, sort of Saturday-ish

5. React to pepper, perhaps: SNEEZE

6. Hot and heavy: TORRID

7. "Diamonds" singer, to fans: RI RI - HA~!  I got burned by this in the May 28th 2025 puzzle at 11D. - I will not miss it again; Rhianna, more here - name #3

8. Since: AS OF - I tried FROM

9. Dangerous: PERILOUS - "I must face the peril~!  NO~!  It's too perilous~!" - Wendy had "PERIL" in the puzzle I blogged, and I posted this link then as well.

Monty Python & the Holy Grail

10. Like hair that's been flat-ironed: SMOOTH

11. No longer working: KAPUT

12. "Someone Like You" singer: ADELE - The constructor likes her; Adele appeared in Wendy's last LA Times construction; personally, I prefer "NO ONE Like You" . . . .name #4

Scorpions - No One Like You

13. Looks after: TENDS

21. The Bryan brothers of tennis, e.g.: DUO - name (ish)

22. Women's suffrage leader Carrie Chapman __: CATT  name #5

25. "All __ and a bag of chips": THAT

Yup, she's "All THAT and a bag of chips~!"

26. Texas city between Dallas and Austin: WACO - TX shoutout to Anon and D-Otto

27. "Didn't expect to see you here!": "OH, HI~!"

28. Vodka brand whose label features a sketch of a Moscow hotel: STOLI - I expected an "abbr" in the clue, as the brand is actually Stolichnaya - but it makes no difference - they filed for bankruptcy . . . .

29. Zoom delay: LAG - Zoom, the online meeting format/app

32. Puerto __: RICO - name, but easy enough

33. Emission from rotting fruit: ODOR

34. Say no to: DENY

36. Sore loser, for one: BAD SPORT

37. Like a fun party: LIT

38. Pop favorites: HIT TUNES - Dah~! - I had HIT SONGS; 62.5% correct

40. Grubhub link: MENU

42. Hog enthusiasts: BIKERS - HOG as in Harley Davidson - the company's NYSE stock symbol

43. Get together: MEET UP

44. Scope: EXTENT

45. Title for London's mayor: SIR

46. Steakhouse order: T-BONE

47. Tease mercilessly: RAG ON - not TAUNT - but we already had Monty Python

48. Bitter-tasting: ACRID

51. Yoga pose that requires good balance: TREE - My balance is horrible - Brett gives me one-legged exercises that strain muscles I didn't know I had, and need to improve

52. Damage: HARM

53. Batman's lair: CAVE - Wayne Manor didn't fit 😜

54. ACL joint: KNEE - I knew where the Anterior Cruciate Ligament was located . . . .

58. UCL limb: ARM - but learned today about the Ulnar Collateral Ligament

Splynter