Sunday, July 19, 2020 Yaakov Bendavid & Yoni Glatt

Theme: "Fast x Furious IV" - Four definitions of "Fast" and "Furious".
 
23A. Fast: IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.

53A. Furious: BLOWING A FUSE.

87A. Fast: LICKETY-SPLIT.

120A. Furious: FOAMING AT THE MOUTH.
 
3D. Furious: ON THE WAR PATH.

35D. Fast: AT A GOOD CLIP.
 
 47D. Furious: FIT TO BE TIED.

 67D. Fast: A MILE A MINUTE.

The duo is back. I just blogged the Yaakov Bendavid & Yoni Glatt puzzle last month.

The theme is simpler than last time. Basic definition puzzle. But all the theme entries are in the language. 

Across:

1. Bring up, as a subject: BROACH. Consonant-rich.

7. Longtime Syrian ruling family name: ASSAD. Quite a few names in this grid.

12. Rat on: NAME.

16. Passover mo., usually: APR.

19. Vaquero's home: RANCHO.

20. Ethiopia's Selassie: HAILE. Emperor of Ethiopia (1930 to 1974). Wiki says "The 1973 famine in Ethiopia led to Selassie's removal from the throne. He died on 27 August 1975 at age 83 following a coup d'état".

21. Puritan's conclusion?: ICAL. Puritanical.

22. Sulu portrayer John: CHO.

26. Vehicle in a queue: CAB.

27. Computer connection method: ETHERNET.

28. "Die Lorelei" poet: HEINE (Heinrich). Wiki says "He is best known outside Germany for his early lyric poetry, which was set to music in the form of lieder (art songs) by composers such as Robert Schumann and Franz Schubert."

29. Wound: INJURE. Wish you speedy recovery, Wendybird and Gary! Last time Boomer fell from our stairs and bumped his head into the edge of our bookshelf. Quite scary. He loses his balance easily these days. Side effects from those cancer treatments and oral chemo.

31. Doctor Octopus, to Spidey: FOE.

32. Load: ONUS.

34. "The Flying Dutchman" soprano: SENTA. No idea.

36. Norse pantheon: AESIR.

37. Development site: WOMB.

40. "Groundhog Day" insurance salesman: NED.

42. Specifics, informally: DEETS. Details.

44. Rope fiber: BAST.

45. Carne __: steak dish: ASADA. And 49. Food: EATABLES.

47. Paying passengers: FARES.

51. Based on deduction as opposed to experience: A PRIORI.

56. Gentle attention-getters: TAPS.

57. Series-ending abbr.: ETC.

59. Radiate: EMIT.

60. "Nor to their idle __ doth sight appear": Milton: ORBS.

61. Part of Q.E.D.: ERAT.

62. Groups that get busy in Sept.: PTAS.

64. Charm: ENAMOR.

66. Fairy tale figures: HAGS.

70. T, on the NYSE: ATT.  & T.

71. Rootless sort: ROVER.

73. Hit the dirt on a diamond: SLIDE.

74. "So exciting--not": MEH.

75. Half of an alternative to 7-Down: MAHI. And 7. Sashimi staple: AHI TUNA.

77. Former White House family: OBAMAS.

79. Digitally stored: ON CD.

80. Stack: PILE.

81. Cathedral part: NAVE.

83. "No damage": I'M OK.

85. Actor Wallach: ELI.

86. Palindromic magazine: ELLE.

91. As an alternative: INSTEAD.

93. Philanderer first seen in Cervantes: LOTHARIO. In Don Quixote

94. Banjoist's aid: STRAP.

96. Choking up: TEARY.

97. Peak in Thessaly: OSSA.

98. Creator of Horton the Elephant: SEUSS.

101. Gardener's buy: SOD.

102. Rural spread: FARM.

103. Columbus' birthplace: GENOA.

105. Critical times, military-style: D-DAYS.

107. Author Morrison: TONI.

109. Dispassionate: ICY.

112. Vibrant photo: GLOSSY.

114. Region bordering the River Avon: ARDEN.

116. Showman named Phineas: P T BARNUM. He originated "There's a sucker born every minute".

119. Letters on a note: IOU.

123. Balaam's mount: ASS.

124. Cajun mainstay: OKRA.

125. Blake of ragtime: EUBIE. Quite a few names in this grid.

126. Herbal brew: RED TEA. I drink jasmine tea most of the time.

127. Understand: SEE.

128. Hold back: REIN.

129. __-no question: YES OR.

130. Nasty looks: SNEERS.


Down:

1. Bring up to speed: BRIEF.

2. Totaled, as a bill: RAN TO.

4. Have a hankering (for): ACHE.

5. "The Witches of Eastwick" co-star: CHER. Never saw it. Powerful cast.

6. Schmooze (with): HOBNOB.

8. Word in many California city names: SAN.

9. Many a Punjabi: SIKH.

10. Skin cream ingredients: ALOES.

11. Treated like it didn't exist, as gravity: DEFIED.

12. Tony Gwynn's uniform number: NINETEEN. Mr. Padre.

13. Frequent winner: ACE.

14. Polite question opener: MAY I.

15. Kagan on the bench: ELENA. She and ALITO has very crossword-friendly names.

16. Some finger-pointing: ACCUSALS.

17. One in an ancient Jewish sect: PHARISEE.

18. Rehnquist's successor: ROBERTS. John Roberts once clerked for Rehnquist.

24. "Total Recall" director Wiseman: LEN.

25. Klein of fashion: ANNE.

30. Son and brother of George: JEB BUSH.

33. Tennis' Novak Djokovic, for one: SERB.

38. Source of praise in verse: ODIST.

39. Red Guard leader: MAO. The crazy time. Chairman Mao died in Sept 1976. His wife, one of the Gang of Four, was then arrested. The Cultural Revolution slowly drew to a close, theoretically. In Xi'an, things did not return normal until 1984.

41. Editor's "Lose it": DELE.

43. Headed the cast of: STARRED IN.

45. The Binghamton Rumble Ponies, e.g.: AA TEAM.

46. Ancient Greek military power: SPARTA.

48. A little: SOME.

50. Andrews or Vandenberg: Abbr.: AFB.

52. "Tsk tsk" sayers: REPROVERS.

54. Pitching stat: WINS.

55. "Cosmicomics" author Calvino: ITALO.

58. Vena __: CAVA.

63. Big rollers: SEMIS.

65. __ shaft: MINE.

68. Buffy player Sarah Michelle __: GELLAR.

69. Ally of "The Breakfast Club": SHEEDY.

72. Stadium access: RAMP.

76. Like a supermarket before a major storm, perhaps: IN CHAOS. Now you can easily find toilet paper and hand sanitizers in our grocery stores. They also sell masks, 10 in a box. $14/box.

78. Musical fifths: SOLS.

80. Saint at a gate: PETER.

82. Name-linking trio: AKA.

84. LEGO buys: KITS.

87. Kind of situation to avoid: LOSE LOSE.  And 88. "What's the point?!": IT'S NO USE. And 89. "Way to go, bro!": YOU DA MAN. Three great fill.

90. Gentle gait: TROT.

92. __-puf: old laundry product: STA. Unfamiliar to me. Oh, I recently read an article on Buf-Puf sponge. Have any of you used it before?

93. Open galleries: LOGGIAS. New word to me.

95. Pet shelter visitor, maybe: ADOPTER.

99. Draped dress: SARI.

100. Bondi Beach city: SYDNEY.

102. Forensic evidence bits: FIBERS.

104. "Now, about ... ": AS FOR.

106. Seamless flow: SEGUE.

108. Large power: NTH.

110. More cuddly: CUTER.

111. Jewish community orgs.: YMHAS.

113. It helps a team pull together: YOKE.

115. Snatches: NABS.

117. Blessing follower: AMEN.

118. Went by car: RODE.

121. Actress Graynor: ARI.

122. Muchacho's uncle: TIO.

C.C.

Sunday June 14, 2020 Yaakov Bendavid & Yoni Glatt

Theme: "Exchangeable Parts" - Familiar A THE B phrases are changed into B THE A.

23A. Fault a rearrangement of infielders?: BLAME THE SHIFT. Shift the blame.

35A. Gives surf ratings?: RANKS THE SWELLS. Swells the ranks. New phrase to me.

55A. Arranges for party chefs?: BOOKS THE COOKS. Cooks the books.

78A. Masters yoga?: RULES THE BENDS. Bends the rules.

97A. Ask, "You sure this is diet?"?: QUESTION THE POP. Pop the question.

114A. Emulate a Jedi?: ISSUE THE FORCE. Force the issue.

22D. What a nervous director may do?: PACE THE SET. Set the pace.

66D. Block an access road between hills?: BAR THE PASS. Pass the par.

Great to see Yaakov Bendavid back. Our blog shows that this is Yoni Glatt's debut. Amazon shows that he's "the former editor of the Jerusalem Post crossword and was a writer of The Movie Channel Trivia Game."

Plenty of A THE B phrases to choose from, but both A and B have to be a verb and a noun.  

Across:

1. Brings from novel to screen: ADAPTS.

7. Like some captioning: CLOSED.

13. Energy bill letters: KWH.

16. See 117-Across: RUG. And 117. With 16-Across, elaborately designed decoration: PERSIAN.

19. Victim of Perseus: MEDUSA.Versace's logo.

20. MLB call-up, often: ROOKIE.

21. "With any luck": I HOPE SO.

25. "Mean Girls" writer and co-star: TINA FEY.

26. McCann of country: LILA.

27. Sahara respites: OASES.

28. Mixer knob: FADER.

30. Michael who played Juno's love interest in "Juno": CERA.

31. Priest who reared Samuel: ELI.

32. Swear: CUSS.

33. Like the Sisters in "Macbeth": WEIRD.

34. "__ cryin' out loud!": FER.

39. Way to one's heart?: ARTERY.

42. "Lucas" co-star: SHEEN (Charlie)

43. Former Arthur Ashe Stadium neighbor: SHEA.

44. Ready, as a range: PREHEAT.

45. Uber alternative: LYFT.

48. Collection of maps: ATLAS.

51. Withdrew: RECEDED.

52. Have trouble with Sisyphus?: LISP.

58. Friend of Genie in "Aladdin": ABU. The monkey.

59. Dobrev of "The Vampire Diaries": NINA. Wiki says "She was born in Bulgaria but immigrated with her family to Canada at age two and grew up in Toronto".

60. Chaos: HAVOC.

61. "__ in!": LET ME.

65. Celtics star Walker: KEMBA. Learning moment for me.

67. Crafty site?: ETSY.

70. Vision starter: TELE. Prefix.

71. Lucy's sitcom pal: ETHEL.

72. Henry James, for much of his life: EX-PAT.

73. Inside job: DECOR. Nice clue.

75. Big ref. volumes: OEDS.

77. Link letters: URL.

82. Cruising: ASEA.

83. Freud's homeland: AUSTRIA. Misty was born here.

86. __ cords: VOCAL.

87. Brutal act of Brutus: STAB.

89. Equal share, maybe: ONE HALF. Our address is 84 1/2 Ave. North. Often problematic when filling in some on line forms.

90. Cupid counterpart: EROS.

92. "The __ Kid": 1950s TV Western: CISCO.

96. In need of companionship: LONELY.

102. Some H.S. classes: APS.

103. Sushi fillings: TUNAS.

104. "__ as good a time ... ": NOW'S.

105. Big name in Marvel Comics history: LEE.

106. "Toodles": TA TA.

108. Butler in literature: RHETT. "Gone With The Wind" was just removed from HBO.

109. Pursue: CHASE.

111. "Sick" insult: BURN. Sick burn.

112. Inability to smell: ANOSMIA. New word to me.

118. SoCal locale in a 1987 Cheech Marin title: EAST LA.

119. Harm's way: DANGER.

120. Sounds of disgust: EWS.

121. NBA's Cavs, on scoreboards: CLE.

122. Prepares (oneself), as for a crisis: STEELS.

123. Stable animals: STEEDS.

Down:

1. Unhurried bunch: AMBLERS.

2. Biblical betrayer: DELILAH. She betrayed Samson.

3. 2015 romantic fantasy role for Blake Lively: ADALINE. "The Age of Adaline".

4. Yellowstone predator: PUMA.

5. "Old Possum" monogram: TSE.

6. Took a pass: SAT OUT.

7. Pungent greens: CRESSES. Did not know it's plurable.

8. Give the slip to: LOSE.

9. Impressed crowd sounds: OOHS.

10. Emulate Olympians Miller and Vonn: SKI.

11. Statue of Liberty architect: EIFFEL.

12. Fine point: DETAIL.

13. Passed, as bad checks: KITED.

14. Machinery noise: WHIR.

15. Boo: HON.

16. Called the game: REFEREED.

17. App buyer: USER.

18. "Creations from la cocina" brand: GOYA. "Cocina" is kitchen. I buy Goya black-eyed peas from time to time. Just want to taste my childhood. My grandma made black-eyed pea soup often.

24. __ browns: HASH.

29. Many profs.: DRS.

32. "Woodstock" quartet, initially: CSNY.

33. Plentiful supply: WEALTH.

34. Rashida Jones facial feature: FRECKLES. See closer.

36. Iodine source: KELP.

37. Source of many dramatic quotes: Abbr.: SHAK.

38. Licks: WETS.

39. Mars: Pref.: AREO.

40. Issa of "Insecure": RAE.

41. Since Jan. 1, to CPAs: YTD.

44. Take from a sale: PROCEEDS.

46. "Criminal Minds" org.: FBI.

47. Tin-eared: TONE-DEAF.

49. At the drop of __: A HAT.

50. Golfer Ballesteros: SEVE. So good with his short game.

52. Canoeing venue: LAKE.

53. Curly-horned goat: IBEX.

54. Cesspool: SUMP.

56. Author with three 5-letter names: OATES. Joyce Carol Oates.

57. Dash alternative, perhaps: COLON.

59. Seven and eleven, in craps: NATURALS.

62. Like so: THUS.

63. Simply: MERE.

64. First name in jazz: ELLA.

68. "SNL"-like show that spawned many comedic careers: SCTV.

69. Start of a pirate chant: YO HO.

74. Intermission: RECESS.

76. Once-a-yr. reason for oversleeping?: DST. Ends on Nov 1.

79. __ pad: LILY.

80. Bane of Sideshow Bob: BART. "The Simpsons". Read more here.

81. Wells' fruit eaters: ELOI.  "The Time Machine".

82. Rose's Broadway beau: ABIE.

83. Verizon subsidiary: AOL.

84. Game with Skip cards: UNO.

85. Lawmaking century: SENATORS. Not the time period "century". Just "a hundred".

88. Frankfurter's exclamations: ACHS.

91. Beethoven's 32 for piano: SONATAS.

93. Spare no expense: SPLURGE.

94. Strong-armed: COERCED.

95. Some operate remotely: OPENERS.

97. Montreal's prov.: QUE.

98. Lets loose: UNTIES.

99. Patronizes, as a diner: EATS AT. And 100. Snack: NOSH.

101. Suit fabrics: TWEEDS.

103. Honorific for Macbeth: THANE.

106. Bygone recording medium: TAPE. D-Otto told me about this tape. Solved my problem with the dryer vent leak.

107. One way to start: ANEW.

108. Dough in Tehran: RIAL.

109. A step down from "Funny!": CUTE.

110. Setting of many a "Far Side" comic: HELL.

111. __-tired: BONE.

113. Karaoke aid: MIC.

115. Leeds-to-London dir.: SSE.

116. "__ chance!": FAT.

Please continue keeping Abejo in your thoughts and prayers. He's going through some serious health issues and has a very important doctor visit tomorrow. 


C.C.

Abejo and His Tuba

Sunday February 9, 2020 Yaakov Bendavid

Theme: "No More Tears" - Different forms of "cry" are replaced by words with the same vowel sound but different starting consonants.

23. Chicken lover's comment?: NOTHING LIKE A GOOD THIGH. Nothing like a good cry.

43. Denial from one with a very recent white mustache?: LIE OVER SPILT MILK. Cry over split milk.

62. Local monastery VIP?: THE TOWN PRIOR. The town crier.

67. Bad do result?: A DYEING SHAME. A crying shame.

85. Young shepherd resigned to losing his flock?: BOY WHO SIGHED WOLF. Boy who cried wolf.

108. Evita's exhortation to use sunscreen?: DON'T FRY FOR ME, ARGENTINA. Don't Cry for Me, Argentina.

Our blog labels show that this is the LAT debut for Yaakov Bendavid, who has had 6 puzzles published by the New York Times. Congratulations, Yaakov!

I've mentioned before, sound deletion/addition/replacements are very difficult for me. I admire constructors who can pull this off.

Across:

1. Stand array: ZINES. Magazines.

6. Exams for aspiring MBAs: GMATS. GRES too, right?

11. Border: ABUT.

15. Word with dance or union: HALL.

19. Work as a team: UNITE.

20. Draw a bead on: AIM AT.

21. Old alphabet character: RUNE.  Old Germanic.

22. Inter __: among others: ALIA.

27. Most exceptional, in recent lingo: INSANEST.

28. Relish: ENJOY.

29. Afternoon service: TEA SET. Afternoon tea (Yum Cha) is a daily social activity for many retired people in Guangzhou. The dim sum plates are quite cheap. People just split the plates then chitchat.   Not now though. People all stay at home.

30. Not cluttered: NEAT.

31. Race: GUN.

32. Tannery tub: VAT.

33. Cycle starter: TRI.

34. What many writers work on: SPEC. Same for many crossword constructors.

37. Attains: REACHES.

41. Gondoliers' tools: POLES.

46. Ant or Arkin: ADAM.

50. Like much junk mail: UNREAD.

51. Title words before Legend or Woman: I AM.

52. Consume: EAT. Traditional Japanese breakfast. Freshly cooked rice, natto, green onions and raw egg.

53. "You __ Beautiful": Joe Cocker hit: ARE SO.

54. Roast job: MCING.

55. Some notebooks: PCS.

56. Reporter's query: WHEN.

58. Decides one will: OPTS TO.

59. Ewe, for one: SHE.

60. Biblical prophet: AMOS.

64. Air__, 2011 Southwest acquisition: TRAN.

65. Chicago's __ Tower: SEARS.

66. "Now, where __ we?": WERE.

71. Italian actress Virna: LISI. Learned from doing crosswords. Beautiful.

72. Submissions to an ed.: MSS.

75. Big name in plastic explosives: SEMTEX. New to me. What's it used for?

76. First name in folk: ARLO.

77. Hwy. crime: DUI.

78. Hogwarts potions master: SNAPE. "Harry Potter" films.

80. Word before county, river or Bill: PECOS.

81. Cincinnati-to-Detroit dir.: NNE.

82. Japanese assent: HAI.

83. "Turn! Turn! Turn!" songwriter: SEEGER (Pete)

84. Hand measure: SPAN.

89. Resignee before Richard: SPIRO (Agnew)

91. More jumpy: ANTSIER.

92. Camp equipment: COTS.

93. Soccer star Hamm: MIA. Bill G met him a few times.

96. N. American land: USA.

97. 82-Down's predecessor: FDR. 82. DDE's predecessor: HST.

98. Lawless role: XENA. Lucy Lawless.

100. Short __: little or no consideration: SHRIFT.

102. Environs: AREAS.

104. Drives out: BANISHES.

111. Aunt Bee's charge: OPIE.

112. Boathouse items: OARS.

113. Ancient: Pref.: PALEO.

114. Rock-'n'-roller whom Forrest Gump supposedly met: ELVIS. Did he? I can't remember clearly.

115. Look as though: SEEM.

116. Small amount: SPOT. My brother updates me often on the Coronavirus in Xi'an. Early last week it's 20 cases, then 70 cases a day later. One guy in his neighborhood went to Wuhan before Chinese Spring Festival. He then infected mom, who then lost her life. He also infected his two sisters.

117. Strict: STERN.

118. Saxes, e.g.: REEDS.

Down:

1. New Mexico native: ZUNI.

2. Aware of: IN ON.

3. Petty peeves: NITS.

4. "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs" co-director: ETHAN COEN. Born and raised here in Minnesota.

5. Paris divider: SEINE.

6. Comic: GAGSTER. Spell check does not like this word.

7. Jazz legend Jackson: MILT. I googled him before.

8. Friend of Paris: AMI.

9. Personal point of view: TAKE.

10. "Casey at the Bat" autobiographer: STENGEL. Casey of course.

11. Gas in some lasers: ARGON.

12. Cheer (up): BUOY.

13. 108-card game: UNO.

14. Roger Ebert gave one entitled "Remaking My Voice" in 2011: TED TALK. What's your favorite Ted Talk?

15. "Funny not funny": HA HA.

16. Sought-after guests: A LIST.

17. Hybrid big cat: LIGER. Quite majestic.

18. "Swing Shift" actress Christine: LAHTI.

24. Got warmer while searching for: NEARED.

25. "... __, and a lasting peace": Lincoln: A JUST.

26. Head of Québec: TETE.

32. Electrical unit: VOLT.

34. Jacob Riis concerns: SLUMS.

35. Skosh: PINCH.

36. Like typical King novels: EERIE.

38. Reebok rival: ASICS. Are they good? I heard a guy raving about Brooks shoes at Dick's Sporting Goods a few weeks ago.

39. Pros with schedules: CPAS.

40. That guy: HIM.

41. Liszt's instrument: PIANO.

42. "Being and Nothingness" philosopher: SARTRE. Whatever between them, it worked. 

44. Unpredictable events: VAGARIES.

45. Tournaments: MEETS.

47. Bandleader Arnaz: DESI. Lots of "I Love Lucy" items at our local flea market.

48. Regarding: AS TO.

49. Peaty land: MOOR.

53. Kept in the know: APPRISED.

55. Pioneering video game: PONG.

56. Hacky Sack maker: WHAM-O. This is Chinese Hacky Sack. We call it Jianzi.

57. Present: HERE.

58. Change for a five: ONES.

61. Tailless feline: MANX.

62. Color named for a duck: TEAL.

63. D-Day conflict: WW II.

64. Jackson Hole backdrop: TETONS.

65. Kate, pre-taming: SHREW. "The Taming of the Shrew".

67. Dangerous biters: ASPS.

68. Insightful: DEEP.

69. Community pool site: YMCA.

70. 2009 Panasonic purchase: SANYO.

71. Mario's brother: LUIGI.

72. Myopic Mr.: MAGOO.

73. Competed in a British bee: SPELT.

74. Feudal workers: SERFS.

77. Roast site: DAIS. Good-natured roast.

79. English coal mining city: NEWCASTLE.

81. Filmmaker Ephron: NORA. I like "Sleepless in Seattle".

83. Unruffled: SERENE.

85. Small bars: BISTROS.

86. "Barry" star Bill: HADER. Read more details here.

87. Merging places: ON RAMPS.

88. Common nut shape: HEXAGON. Not the edible nut.

90. Musical dragon loved by Little Jackie Paper: PUFF.

93. Windows precursor: MS-DOS.

94. "That's my dream": I HOPE.

95. Memorable links nickname: ARNIE.  Palmer. He co-founded the Golf Channel.

97. Put icing on: FROST.

99. Bay Area NFLer: NINER.

101. Bullet point, e.g.: ITEM.

102. Curly do: AFRO.

103. Dodge City, to Ford County: SEAT.

104. Storied fox title: BR'ER.

105. Honey site: HIVE.

106. Writer Bagnold: ENID.

107. Cause for a kid's grounding: SASS.

109. Babble: YAP.

110. Belgian or brown: ALE.

Happy birthday to our Splynter (Richard), who turns 49 years old today. Splynter faithfully guided us on Saturdays for many years.

Splynter told me that Jan 8, 2020 was his 15-year anniversary in AA. He's still taking care of his mom, who might need to move to a nursing home soon. He's still looking for that perfect job. Wish all your dreams come true this year, Splynter!