Saturday, November 29, 2025, Joe Marangell

Saturday Themeless by Joe Marangell

Joe Marangell is the social studies instructional leader for East Haven Public Schools in East Haven, Connecticut, where he has worked since 2001 focused on inquiry-based learning, literacy, and student engagement. He has an EdD in Curriculum and Instruction and is a Crossword puzzle constructor!

I made what I think is an intelligent mistake at 64. Across. I thought Melodramatic movie scenes might have LENTO MUSIC and MOIRA ROLE (no idea) and TANS (they end at cuffs and sleeves sometimes), but not so much. Couple that with some "new to me" fill, and it made for some skating around to finish.

Joe was nice enough to tell me this: My name is pronounced with a soft g, like Mare-an-jell. My favorite entries in the puzzle were VIBE CODING and MOIRA ROSE. I was in a meeting about artificial intelligence at school, and the tech director told us about vibe coding, which I had never heard of before at that point. I made a note of the phrase since I thought it was an interesting-sounding one. Moira Rose is the hilarious character portrayed by Catherine O'Hara on the TV show Schitt's Creek, so when I saw that fit in the grid, I had to keep it.

My favorite clues were [Cave man?] for Plato and [Pop of vibrant color?] for ORANGE SODA. (The clues in the actual puzzle may have been changed from these since that happens with some of them during the editing process.) Also, I completely agree with Malaika Handa's advice of "It's a game not a test!"! I look up things all the time when I do crosswords, and I have no shame in doing that!

Across:

1. "Cav/Pag" opera combination, notably: DOUBLE BILL - What a start! 

"Cav/Pag" is the common pairing of two Italian

 operas: Mascagni's Cavallerie Rusticana and Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, presented together as a "double bill". The tradition began in 1893 at the Metropolitan Opera and continues today because the two operas, despite being by different composers, share a similar style of intense, realistic, and often violent, stories about common people. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Going to one opera would be hard enough for me, so two, I don't think so but I did suss this out.

11. Electrical carriers: IONS.

15. Indignant denial: IT'S ALL A LIE.

16. Surface crack: CHAP - Like on your lips

17. App development using A.I. and natural language: VIBE CODING ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

18. New Age singer from Donegal: ENYA - A hit song by an Irish girl that has a South American River in the title. Enjoy:

19. Braying animal: ASS.

20. Cave man?: PLATO - Explanation

21. Designer Hugo: BOSS.

22. Cookie with 90 ridges per wafer: OREO.

24. Title for a fictional rabbit: BRER.

26. Limited offer: PROMO.

29. Way of checking lines after they're cast?: TABLE READ - The cast of Seinfeld goes through a TABLE READ for the next script

34. Two-wheel carriage: HANSOM.

36. Sporting phrase: GOOD GAME.

good game, good game, good game
good game, good game, good game...

37. Loving poem: ODE.

38. Taylor Swift, typically: SOLO ACT - She is a SOLO ACT, but it takes a huge crew and a convoy of semis to set her up.

40. [Error in original]: SIC.

41. Comparatively cozy: TOASTIER.

43. Seijin-shiki garment: KIMONO - Seijin-shiki is a "coming of age" ceremony in Japan

45. Traveling: ON THE ROAD - Didn't you think of this?

47. Generous one: DONOR.

48. Atmosphere: AURA - Not VIBE this time 

49. Steve of "Peacemaker": AGEE ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

51. Power unit: WATT.

53. Expression of probability: RATIO.

56. __ name: PET.

59. Drama honor: OBIE - This is what our frequent cwd award visitor looks like

60. Pop of vibrant color?: ORANGE SODA - My fav drink 70 years ago

63. "Ratatouille" culinary genius: REMY.

64. Like melodramatic movie scenes: SET TO MUSIC.

65. "Twittering Machine" artist: KLEE.

66. "Annie" song that's a counterpoint to "It's the Hard-Knock Life": EASY STREET.

Down:

1. Demanding star: DIVA.

2. Los Angeles Times co-founder Eliza Ann __: OTIS. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

3. Some PC ports: USB'S.

4. Boo: BAE - Not a fan of either term of endearment 

5. Business letters: LLC.

6. Participate in a secret exchange: ELOPE 😀 - I learned that this is the term nursing homes use for residents leaving without permission.

7. Scoundrel: BAD LOT - 

"He's a bad lot" means he is a bad, untrustworthy or unpleasant person. 

The phrase is often used in British English and is considered old-fashioned. It describes someone who is morally bad, a troublemaker, or unreliable. You're Welcome. 

8. Pelvic bones: ILIA.

9. __ roller: LINT - We cat owners have a supply!

10. Construction piece: LEGO BLOCK 😀

11. Wedge salad base: ICEBERG - A crunchy offering made with ICEBERG lettuce

12. "Just curious": OH NO REASON - Yeah, right!

13. Votes against: NAYS.

14. Restorative sites: SPAS.

22. Chanting syllables: OMS.

23. Low-tech alarm: ROOSTER 😀

25. Harmful algal bloom: RED TIDE.

26. Common ID component: PHOTO.

27. Element considered in a home inspection: RADON.

28. Admonishment to waiters: ONE AT A TIME - For people waiting in line

30. Ancient assembly space: AGORA.

31. Drag strip?: BOA 😀

32. __ acids: AMINO.

33. Home magazine topic: DECOR.

35. "Schitt's Creek" character who tells her son to "stop acting like a disgruntled pelican": MOIRA ROSE. We had her in the 11/21/25 puzzle by Emet Ozar. There's even merch! 

39. Summer sign: LEO - Astrology: Leo is a summer sign. Astronomy: Leo is a winter constellation. Guess which one I give the most credence?

42. Rest: SHUT EYE.

44. Springfield barkeep: MOE - Another member of the Simpson cast.

46. Delicate: DAINTY.

50. "Our Lips Are Sealed" band: GOGOS - A hit from 44 years ago.

51. Succeed: WORK.

52. Second son of Adam and Eve: ABEL.

54. Field of study: AREA.

55. Some sleeves and cuffs: TATS - These are $13.95 online

56. Put forward: POSE.

57. Actress/model Sedgwick: EDIE. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

58. Conflict resolution skill: TACT.

61. Defib expert: EMT - Here an EMT is training to use an Automated External Defibrillator

62. Begin to charge?: SUR - Some businesses assess a SURCHARGE for paying by credit card.

 

Friday, November 22, 2024, Joe Marangell

 Theme:  I'm on top of this! 

Puzzling thoughts:  

What an interesting puzzle.  Five 9-letter phrases (four entries and a reveal) and four sets of circles, all containing the letters "n" and "o".  After solving the puzzle, each of the five phrases could stand alone:  BE THE BALL; RIGHT TIME; WHO'S FIRST; GET WITH IT; and MOVIN ON UP

But the reveal (movin' on up) gives the true meaning for the circled "no":  it's not "no", it's "ON".  And since the word "ON" is only discerned if you read it going "up", it adds another dimension to these phrases:

17-across. Stay vigilant: BE [ON] THE BALL.  The word "on" is moved up (above) the phrase "be the ball" to make it fit the clue ... as opposed to this snippet from the movie "Caddyshack": 

21-across. Punctual: RIGHT [ON] TIME.  As opposed to the Beach Boys single:

39-across. Comedy routine with peculiar names: WHO'S [ON] FIRST.  "Who's first" might be a question asked of a clerk to a group of customers - especially when there is no numbered ticket system in place.  But certainly, the only video clip worthy of inserting here is the eponymous comedy routine of Abbott and Costello: 

60-across. "Pick up the pace!": GET [ON] WITH IT.  Once again, I was able to find a song with the title: "Get With It" (before my time ...) 

And of course, the reveal:  

66-across. "The Jeffersons" theme song, and an apt title for this puzzle: MOVIN' ON UP.

Today's constructor, Joe Marangell, could be celebrating his debut puzzle; perhaps not just @ the LA Times, but perhaps @ any major publication.  If so, congratulations are in order!  This one rates a solid, ⭐⭐⭐ + 1/2⭐

The Grid - note my mistakes

Here are the rest of the answers:

Across:

1. "The Raven" opening: ONCE.  Here is the text of the poem by Poe

5. Literary captain who inspired Captain Hook: AHAB.

9. App with pics: INSTA.  Short for Instagram

14. Radish, e.g.: ROOT.  Here is a fun fact about the radish capital of the world

15. Spa treatment, briefly: PEDI.  Did anyone try MANI before pedi?  I did

16. Approaches: NEARS.

  

That's about as NEAR as this guy could get!!

19. "Blonde" writer Joyce Carol __: OATES.  The only "Oates" I knew was this half of a famous performing duo

 

20. Trailing: IN TOW.  This one was kind of a drag ...

23. Balanced states: STASES.  Plural of stasis

25. Co-star of Betty, Rue, and Estelle: BEA.  Bea Arthur of The Golden Girls

26. Spoil: ROT.  Go bad

27. Gp.: ORG. Abbr. 3LW

28. Go the wrong way?: SIN. Nice clue; Joe's or Patti's?  I would guess Patti

30. Some Summer Olympians: DIVERS.  The Chinese divers won all of the gold medals at this year's Paris Olympics

33. Russian refusal: NYET.  Moe-ku #1:

        Broadway musical

        Translated into Russian:

        "Nyet Nyet, Nanette"

 
35. "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" writer Anita: LOOS.  Her biography

38. Uno y uno: DOS. Uno, dos, tres, quattro ...

42. Hyundai rival: KIA.  Hyundai vs Kia

43. Rhetorical question from Caesar: ET TU.  "Really, Brutus?  You, too??"

44. God of love: EROS.

48. Small lifeboat: DINGHY.  "Hey Smails!  My dinghy is bigger than your whole boat!" 

 

 

51. "Let me think ... ": HMM.  Don't overthink this ...

53. Best of "House of the Dragon": EVE.  Ahh ... this is the actor's name, Eve Best - "Game of Thrones"

 

 

54. Altar answer: I DO.  We just attended a Catholic wedding last week, and the bride and groom responded "I will" when asked the questions by the priest ...

55. Corn unit: EAR.  Cob also fit, but I didn't err here

58. Annoy: PESTER.  And a related clue/answer: (65-across. Bother continually): EAT AT.

64. Kurosawa who received an Academy Honorary Award in 1990: AKIRA. These proper names are getting more difficult for me ...  Japanese filmmaker

68. Vessel opener: STENT. This helps to get the blood flowing

69. Slightly open: AJAR.  When is a door not a door? When it is ajar

70. Word with sugar or gold: RUSH.  My "sugar rush" is eating an apple fritter 

 

 

Publix Supermarkets (SE US chain) make the best ones, IMO

71. Stuffed bear: TEDDY. There are other clues/images for this word, but I will refrain from showing an example

72. June honorees: DADS.  And IMO, MOMS should be "honored" all the time; not just on the second Sunday in May

73. Casual tops: TEES.  "Wooden golf pegs" is not a difficult enough clue for a Friday puzzle

Down:

1. Traveling Wilburys member: ORBISON.  "Traveling Wilburys were a supergroup of Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty from 1988 to 1991" [wikipedia]

2. Sign outside a restricted area: NO ENTRY. 

 

 

3. Vrbo category: COTTAGE.  Moe-ku #2:

        In the rental world,

        Vrbo and Air BnB's

        Are COTTAGE industries

 
4. Shared culture: ETHOS.  One of my mistakes ... I tried ETHIC before ethos

5. BOLO kin: APB.  All Points Bulletin / Be On The Lookout

6. Listen to: HEAR.  I think it's time to hear (Listen to) more music! Enjoy

7. Improv technique: ADLIB. For me, I feel like my recaps are totally adlib ... no script for this blogger!!

8. Complete nonsense: BILGE. The Thesaurussaurus agrees

 

9. Playing past the fourth qtr., say: IN OT. In "Overtime"

10. "Cool!": NEAT.  My first thought when I see the word "neat": (CSO to our dear, departed Tinbeni)

 

 

My first "toast" of the evening is to you, sir

11. Some sketches: SATIRES.  Too many to choose from, but this might get a grin or two:

 

 

12. Vibration: TREMOR.  When a tremor was measured at a football game

13. Good qualities: ASSETS.  Moe-ku #3:

        What is it called, when

        Arranging donkeys? Might you

        Say, they are ASSETS?

18. Farm females: EWES.  Cows also fit

22. Possessed: HAD. As in, the devil had me??

24. Farm structure: SILO.  I kept going round and round with this one ... barn fits, too, ya know

29. Bouquet: NOSE.  CSO to yours, truly.  The resident Crossword Corner sommelier whose nose knows the difference between a Cab and a Syrah

31. Cards with pics: IDS.  My Global Entry card has proven to be well worth the $ I spent when I have to go through security at airports

32. Primary action: VOTE.  As a registered "independent", this is one action I cannot take

34. Nest element: TWIG. 

 

36. Frequently found in poems?: OFT.  Here is an example:

37. "Star Wars" antagonists: SITH. All of them

40. "Take that!": HAH.

41. Butcher's cut: RUMP.  Loin and ribs fit

42. Tangled: KNOTTED.  "Tied up", would've been a good clue, too

45. Entourage: RETINUE. Not the most popular word among the major publications

46. Possible reason for a dead phone battery: OVERUSE.  Not my first thought, but the perps helped

47. Highest-order angels: SERAPHS.  Another error as I spelt it incorrectly (had an "e" where the "a" should've been)

48. Process, in a way: DIGEST.  This could apply to both thoughts (brain) and food (stomach)

49. Brainstorm: IDEATE.  What happened when Idy consumed a meal? 

50. As of now: YET.  To date

52. Have in mind: MEAN.  Nary a mean thought in this blogger's mind

56. Sportscaster Rashad: AHMAD.  I am a sports nut, but I like this Ahmad better:

57. Dry Spanish wine: RIOJA. Well ... technically ... Rioja is a wine region in northern Spain

59. Golf garment: SKORT.  A portmanteau of "skirt" and "short".  Not to be confused with a "spork" (combination of a spoon and a fork) This:

61. Mascara applicator: WAND.  I tried "swab" at first, but that gave me a black eye ... 😉

62. __-bitty: ITTY.  It was either itty or itsy

63. Commercial spot: TV AD.  So glad that all of the political tv ads are gone

67. Agcy. that investigates tax fraud: IRS.

And that's a wrap.  But I won't leave before sending a punny shout out to my Friday partner in crime, MalMan, with this groaner:

        I have a pet manatee named Hugh.  

        I built him a house.  

        It's a habitat for Hugh manatee

See you in a couple weeks ... 

Wednesday, March 11, 2026 Joe Marangell

  Soul Searching?

CrossEyedDave here, join me while I try to figure out what's happening. Looking at this one themer at a time, maybe we can connect the dots...

17 Across. Olympic National Park attraction: SOL DUC FALLS. I am torn here, as to what to post. But doing some soul searching, i think it is best to go with both videos, as this has to be one of the most beautiful places to hike that I have never seen.

The legend...

Note that the sign spells this place as Sole Duck Falls.

Or just soak up this beautiful place...

27 Across.  Owner without a partner: SOLE PROPRIETOR. (Brings to mind...)

If Moe had a Partner, he wouldn't have to answer the phone...

45 Across. Benson Lee coming-of-age film set in South Korea: SEOUL SEARCHING. This is as close to a reveal that I can find.

I dunno, 6.7 at IMDB

One review said, 

Think Breakfast Club meets American Pie Meets Korean Drama...

61 Across. Goatee alternatives: SOUL PATCHES.

Now, I've never heard of this...

Is this the puzzle reveal?

(You telling me this whole puzzle was a patch job?)

Across:
1. Initials associated with the pride flag: LGBT. lesbian, Gay, BiSexual, Transgender. Often followed by "Q" which stood for something else. In today's PC world, it is more politely defined as Questioning...

The Imitation Game

( try watching without being moved )

5. Apple download: IOS APP. Short for IPhone Operating System.

11. Round vegetable in a pastizz: PEA. Yummers...

14. Potatoes, in Indian cuisine: ALOO. Becoming a crossword staple. In American cuisine, this 4 letter vowel rich word is pronounced "Oreo." 

15. National flower of Mexico: DAHLIA. Beautiful

16. Video meeting annoyance: LAG.

17. [Theme]

19. L.A.'s Melrose, e.g.: AVE. I'm confused by this. It's not "PLACE," or Drive, Lane, or Alley?

20. Like a comfortable flight: SMOOTH. Hmm, can't find a suitable image for this. But I imagine myself sitting in First Class, sipping a Scotch on the Rocks. (With apologies to TINBENI...)

21. Young lady: GAL. Hmm again, maybe in Brooklyn. But I would only call a young "Lady" a Lass...

22. Tournament advancements: BYES. Preferential Treatment?

23. Writing tip?: NIB. Normally this should not require any explanation. But this is the imagination of CrossEyedDave talking. I think this word derived from the days when people wrote with Goose Quills, and they sharpened them by Nibbling on them... (I hope the ink was tasty... :)

25. Financing figs.: APRS. Annual Percentage Rate...

27 Across. [Theme]

34. Impersonate: APE. (Alas, not copycat...)

35. A bit: SOME. (Please sir, may I have some more...)

36. Cussed: SWORE. (&^$$#&&#$^#@ Spellcheck...)

37. Creative sparks: IDEAS. Strangely, I have no rebuttal for this one...

39. D.C. MLBer: NAT. Sports reference. Meaning Washington Nationals.

40. City on the Nile River: ASWAN. Not Cairo...

41. Hint of color: TINGE.

42. "Queer as Folk" actress Gill: THEA. Not familiar, Her IMDB

44. Flesh and blood: KIN.  Not Lambkin, or napkin, Oy Evay!

45. [Theme]

48. Lean (on): RELY.

49. Fox Sports soccer analyst Holden: STU. A 3 letter name i never heard of...Do you really want to go down this rabbit hole...

50. Faulty fireworks: DUDS. (Like the Clue/Answer above...)

52. "SNL" broadcaster: NBC.

55. "The Creation of Adam," for one: FRESCO.

Oh! I always thought of this as a painting.

Where I come from, painting on walls and ceilings is called Graffiti...

60. "__ you kidding?": ARE.  (In reference to 55A, Yes...)

61. [Theme]

63. Spoil: MAR. ( I hope I didn't ruin this puzzle for true Crossword Aficionados...)

64. Whirlpools: EDDIES. (What you get in a CED puzzle review...)

65. Challenge for a cross-country runner: HILL. Really? I face this challenge just getting out of bed...

66. Thrilling pair?: ELS. I didn't see this before, lucky me...

67. Classify: ASSORT.

68. See 2-Down: ON TO.  OK, This is where TTP's method of starting a puzzle in the middle could really pay off...

Down:
1. Young lady: LASS. Wait, where did I see this before? Wasn't it Gal?

2. With 68-Across, grab and not let go of: GLOM. Reminds me of Cookie Monster eating...

3. Tie with a slide clip: BOLO. Never found in a supermarket, that would be Bogo...

(Actually, if you don't live in Texas, I doubt you would ever see one of these...)

Hmm, maybe I should try one as a fashion statement. You know, YOLO...

4. List heading: TO DO. (The head of my puzzle solving list is TADA...)

5. Pet-tracking implants: ID CHIPS. Or, if you are very into Sci-Fi, a very vague reference to the movie Forbidden Planet?

6. Clumsy person: OAF.  (Ok,ok, i take back the forbidden planet reference...)

7. Fluffy rug: SHAG. (Not once the Dog pees on it...) Why couldn't you clue this as an Austin Powers Movie Line?
8. Word in some trattoria dish names: ALLA.

9. One of 36 surrounding the Lincoln Memorial: PILLAR. Believe it or not... when the Lincoln Memorial was built, the entire Washington DC area was a swamp..

The entire place was landfilled to create what we see today.

I dunno, once a swamp, always a swamp. Kinda explains a lot...

10. Faux __: PAS. ( I hope the above comment was not one...)

11. Seeks victory at all costs: PLAYS TO WIN. Sounds more like War than a game...

12. Roof part: EAVE. Adam part, Eve...

13. Suggested range on a game box: AGES. 

18. Eclectic online digest: UTNE. Deriving ideas, style or taste, from a wide range of sources.

an American magazine/digital digest founded by Eric Utne in 1984. It focuses on covering alternative media, politics, culture, and new ideas. The name, of Norwegian origin, loosely translates to "far out" and is also a place.

22. Cold one: BREWSKI. Now we are talking! I knew there was something I liked about all this...

24. "Wuthering Heights" novelist: BRONTE. Hmm, how many Brewskis would it take to read this whole thing?

26. Tuscan city: PISA. Most believe the hypothesis that the origin of the name Pisa comes from Etruscan and means 'mouth', as Pisa is at the mouth of the Arno river.

There is also a slang meaning, but I don't think I should go there...

27. Sink of "Stranger Things": SADIE.

Strange name from a stranger show...

28. Unexecuted market directives: OPEN ORDERS. (If you say so, sounds like more explanation is needed here. But I don't want to...)

29. Fantasy sports groups: LEAGUES.

30. Nebraska city with North America's largest indoor swamp: OMAHA. I am very confused by this.

According to Google it is referenced as "A Desert." And besides, everyone knows North Americas largest swamp is in Washington DC...

31. Broadway star Bernadette: PETERS. I am tempted to link one of many clips from the movie The Jerk,

But I couldn't do that to you...

32. Red-haired primate: ORANG. Yeah, I know. Get over it...

33. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame rapper MC __: REN. (No Comment)

37. Part of TGIF: IT'S. Hmm, how would you have clued this?

38. Buy alternative: SELL. What happened to trade? Swap? (Sorry, I was playing Monopoly recently...)

43. Infomercial imperative: ACT FAST.  They want you to act so fast that they really should remove the space between these two words...

46. Church councils: SYNODS.

47. Offended, say: HURT. I Apologize  for all the references I made in this review...

50. Sir counterpart: DAME.

51. Eurasian range: URAL. Not Aral, that's a lake...

53. Future flowers: BUDS. Does this explain why relationships grow?

54. Muse of history: CLIO. Also a prestigious award for creative communication. (I doubt I will ever win one...)

56. Reverberate: ECHO. (The above comment echoes in my head...)

57. Protected area in a soccer game: SHIN. ( not when I play, mine starts with a G.)

58. Gaul or Breton: CELT.

59. Nobel Peace Prize city: OSLO.

61. Lighthouse view: SEA. Sadly not always true.

Songs have been written about this sad occurrence...

62. Pay-__-click: PER.

Anywho, I am not sure I will ever finish this review. I need to do some more Soul Searching, as I am sure I must have left something out...

I'll be back...

CE:D

P.S. ( i'm back..)

Here is a link to a Joe Marangell  puzzle reviewed by Husker Gary...

Thank you Husker Gary!

The introduction has a great reveal about this constructor ...