Sunday, December 18, 2022, Brad Wiegmann

 "It's a Mouse!"

CC's had a bit of a busy week, so she asked me if I would step up and take this chore off her to-do list. TTP ​had the tougher task -- trying to put my mess into publishable shape.   Super job, TTP, you pulled the wool over their eyes, making me look like I knew what I was doing.

Brad Wiegmann is no stranger to crosswords, though he shows up more frequently at "that other newspaper" than in the L.A.T.   From what I can tell, he last showed up here on September 5th, 2021.

It's a mouse! (Eek!) The theme entries end in different spellings, but each has a distinctive "EEK" sound. Your task is to strip the K sound away to discover the in-the-language seed phrases.

22. One who's a really big fan of promos and trailers?: COMMERCIAL FREAK. Commercial-free

39. Go along with harsh criticism of an ancient Athenian?: AGREE TO DIS A GREEK. Agree to Disgree -- my favorite themer.

46. Annual stint at a Buckingham Palace timeshare?: THE ROYAL WEEK. The Royal We

66. Story about a Disney girl who climbs Mount Everest?: THE PRINCESS AND THE PEAK. The Princess and the Pea

86. Expensive block for a woodworking apprentice?: PRACTICE TEAK.

 

93. Poultry dish served in a Punjabi restaurant?: CHICKEN OF THE SIKH. Chicken of the Sea. Second favorite themer. 

117. Shop selling gold earrings and bandanas?: PIRATE'S BOUTIQUE. Pirate's Booty

The long themers didn't leave a lot of room for lengthy non-theme answers. Still, there's some nice stuff here.  

Across:

1. Unwelcome omens: BAD SIGNS.

9. Sussed (out): DOPED.

14. WWII sea threat: U-BOAT.

19. Pollution legislation goal: CLEAN AIR.

20. NutraSweet developer: SEARLE. 

              There was quite a controversy about Searle's Aspartame (NutraSweet) product

21. Bankrolls: FUNDS.

22. [Theme answer]

24. Store employee: CLERK.  My first gainful employment was CLERKing at the only drug store in our small town.

25. Walk heavily: STOMP.  Reminds me of this old New Christy Minstrels song.  STOMP appears at the one-minute mark.

26. Untruth: LIE.

27. "Your guide to a better future" site: CNET.

29. Best of the best, initially: GOAT. Greatest of all time.

30. Balance sheet abbr.: YTD. Year-to-Date

32. Styling aid: POMADE. Did you also think of George Clooney in O Brother, Where Art Thou? Warning: Strong language.

34. Weighs on: HAUNTS.

36. Main squeeze: BAE. I was surprised to find that this entry has made it into Merriam-Webster. "US Slang: Sweetheart, baby."

39. [Theme answer]

43. Like granita and 42-Down: ICY. Or Icee

44. Plum kin: SLOE.

  Because the berries are added prior to distilling, Sloe Gin can be a perfectly clear liquid.

45. Completely overhauled: REDONE.

46. [Theme answer]

51. Attributed: CREDITED.

56. Leaf under a petal: SEPAL. If you say so. D-o only attended one day of H.S. Biology class.

57. Fat used in baking: LARD.

58. Lyft alternative: CAB.

59. Lyft offer: RIDE.

60. Apple device that might have a Smart Cover: IPAD.

62. Mauna __: LOA. Still erupting. It's the largest active volcano on earth.

63. Minecraft resources: ORES.

65. Sea eagles: ERNS. Hello again, old cw friend.

66. [Theme answer]

72. Brazos River city: WACO. Made famous by David Koresh as well as Chip and Joanna Gaines.

73. Fellows: GUYS.

74. Trail mix morsel: NUT. Was thinking OAT.

75. Harbor, perhaps: ABET. Verb, not noun.

76. Hardly __: rarely: EVER.

77. Lily of France garment: BRA. Was not familiar with this brand, but Wal-Mart sells 'em.

78. Periods often named for leaders: ERAS.

80. Seal sounds: BARKS. Not root beer.

83. "1984" superstate: EAST ASIA.

86. [Theme answer]

89. Gershwin classic: SWANEE. Seems like a good excuse to link another Gershwin classic: Rhapsody in Blue performed by Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic.

91. "Sunday Night Baseball" analyst, familiarly: A-ROD. Alex Rodriguez, so I'm told.

92. Oscar winner Mahershala: ALI.    According to Britannica.com, "American actor who rose to prominence in the 2010s and won an Academy Award for his moving and nuanced performance as the fatherly drug dealer Juan in the film Moonlight (2016)." 

93. [Theme answer]

100. Study: DEN.

101. State of rest: REPOSE. Immediately evoked this track from the Chad Mitchell Trio.  REPOSE appears at about the 40 second mark.

102. Didn't work out: FAILED.

103. "Not buying it": NAH.

106. Aloha Tower island: OAHU. With 4 letters, it's gotta be either MAUI or OAHU.

107. Dog who visits Oz: TOTO.
 

110. NFL scores: TDs.

111. Springs: LEAPS. Verb, not noun.

115. Embellish: ADORN. When the truth is embellished, it becomes a 26a.

117. [Theme answer]

122. Mozart's "Così fan __": TUTTE. Opera. According to classicfm.com, "Two soldiers, Ferrando and Guglielmo, bet that their girlfriends will always be faithful; philosopher Don Alfonso persuades them he can prove otherwise. So, in ridiculous disguises, the military men seek to trick Fiordiligi and Dorabella..."

123. Buck horn: ANTLER. Yes, deer.

124. Words said with an eyeroll: I'M SO SURE. Got it, but don't understand it.

125. Informal "What if ... ": S'POSE. D-o's speech tends to be informal. You've probably never noticed.

126. Surgical beam: LASER.

127. Jazz headliners?: NBA STARS. Utah Jazz.

Down:

1. Confidentially informs: BCCS. Blind carbon copy -- archaic, but still used for email.

2. Often: A LOT.

3. Trial version: DEMO. Could'a been BETA.

4. Hagar of Van Halen: SAMMY.
 

5. Bumbling: INEPT.

6. Needlefish: GAR. Old-timey cw c/a.

7. Actor Cage, informally: NIC.  

            It's spelled Nicolas. He's the nephew of movie director Francis Ford Coppola.

8. __ Lanka: SRI. Formerly Ceylon.

9. Take down: DEFEAT. Not to write.

10. Lock insert: OAR.  Had to Wite-Out my KEY.

11. Pave the way for: PRECEDE.

12. Panache: ELAN. Another cw oldie goldie.

13. Feint on the ice: DEKE.

14. Mixed martial arts org.: UFC.  Ultimate Fighting Championship.

15. Tabbouleh wheat: BULGUR.  I would've bet it was spelled with an A.  D'oh.

16. Low tie: ONE-ONE.  About as low as you can get.

17. Cost for an online pop-up, e.g.: AD RATE.

18. "Shame on you!": TSK, TSK.

20. Goo made at home with glue, food coloring, and saline solution: SLIME.
 

23. Lotion additive: ALOE.

28. Scottish feudal lord: THANE.  That was the middle name of one of my college roomies.   His last name was Scottish, too.

31. "The Voice" host Carson: DALY. I've never imbibed.

32. Green shampoo: PRELL.
 

33. Nerdy sort: DORK.  Raj of TBBT comes to mind. Howard, too.   Also, Leonard. And Sheldon.  Not Penny.

35. Like much brandy: AGED. Have you ever heard of un-aged brandy?

36. Routine parts: BITS.

37. Tylenol target: ACHE.

38. See-through devices?: EYEPIECES.

40. Smallest state in India: GOA.
 

                                                 And there's 8d at the bottom of the map.

41. Security checkpoint request: ID CARD.

42. Granita kin: SORBET. When is it SORBET and when is it SHERBET?

44. Pool-heating option: SOLAR.

47. Bond that promotes easy communication: RAPPORT.  Not James.

48. Polish Solidarity hero Lech: WALESA.   Anyone else try to spell it with a V?

49. Mythical matchmaker: EROS.

50. Lou Grant player: ED ASNER.  Do you remember him as the morally conflicted ship captain in Roots?  He won an Emmy for the role

52. "To reiterate ... ": I REPEAT.  As I said...

53. Goodyear surface: TIRE TREAD.

54. Novelist O'Brien: EDNA.

55. Workstation: DESK.

58. Claritin rival: CONTAC  Didn't realize it was still around.

61. Archaeological site: DIG.

64. __ cha beef: stir-fry dish: SHA.  The only SHA d-o knows is Sha Na Na.

66. Oh-so-precious: TWEE. British.

67. "__ Nagila": HAVA. Hava Nagila. Have two nagilas, they're very small.

68. Africa's __ Desert: eastern region of the Sahara: NUBIAN.

69. 2021 title role for Peter Dinklage: CYRANO.  
 

                                                     
                                                       He played it without the nose.

70. Vibe: AURA.

71. Died down: EBBED.

79. Unflappable: STAID.   I wanted STOIC here.

81. Leaves in smoothies: KALE.  You're free to enjoy my share.

82. Hide: SKIN.  Noun, not verb.

84. Makes a request: ASKS.

85. Like dessert wines: SWEET.

86. Fur-protesting gp.: PETA.  People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.  Who could be opposed to that?

87. Irritate: IRK.

88. Sportscaster Linda: COHN.
  

90. Sincere attempts: EFFORTS.

93. Dalmatians, e.g.: CROATS.  Dalmatia is on the Adriatic coast of Croatia.

94. Be in charge of: HEAD UP.

95. Old Apple app for pics:  iPHOTO.

96. Woos: COURTS.

97. Player who doesn't mind making bloopers?: HITTER.  Baseball talk, methinks.

98. Church leader: ELDER.

99. Brief meeting?: SESS. Session.

104. Singers below mezzo-sopranos: ALTOS.

105. "Money __": Spanish TV drama: HEIST. 

108. Fall birthstone: OPAL.

109. Fey of "Mean Girls": TINA. 

112. Bluish hue: AQUA.

113. Copy cats?: PURR.  You need to think about this one.

114. Spots: SEES.

116. Once named: NEE.

118. Blonde __: ALE.

119. Recycling __: BIN.

120. Govt. fiscal monitor: OMB.  Office of Management and Budget

121. Mex. neighbor: USA.  Duh.

Here's the grid:

We're all missing Boomer. C.C. is undoubtedly exhausted after this week. Here's hoping she can get in some relax time this coming week and will be ready to emcee next week's Sunday puzzle.

Desper-otto out.

Saturday, December 17, 2022, Erica Hsiung Wojcik and Brooke Husic

 Themeless Saturday by Erica Hsiung Wojcik and Brooke Husic

Erica is an Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department at Skidmore College. I plan on looking up some of her fascinating research topics such as: How do infants and toddlers learn the sounds, words, and grammar of their native language(s)? How do infants, toddlers and adults use patterns in the world around them to learn about language, objects, and events?

I have reviewed several of Brooke's collaborative puzzles, the one previous was with our friend Mary Lou Guizzo. Brooke received her Ph.D. in Chemistry in 2019 from Stanford University and worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the Department Of Mathematics And Computer Science at the Free University Berlin until 2021. Postdoc (2021-): Lewis-Sigler Institute / Center for Theoretical Science / Center for the Physics of Biological Function, Princeton University

On personal note, today marks the end of my 5th year of blogging Saturday puzzles on C.C.'s Crossword Corner. I have learned a lot and interacted with so many very smart and clever bloggers, commenters and constructors. 19. Starting from: SINCE 2017!

Now on we go to my 6th year and 261st Saturday write-up!

Across:

1. Ceremonial champagne opener: SABER.

6. Rich brown shade: MOCHA.

11. Brazen personal ad?: SHAMELESS PLUG - Many talk show guests are there to simply promote their latest project and work it into the conversation.

14. Gains star power: HITS THE BIG TIME - They credit appearing on Johnny Carson's Tonight show to HIT THE BIG TIME

15. Attacks, as a snow fort: PELTS.

16. First name in jumps: EVEL - In some of attempts, the jump was fine but the landing not so much. 

17. Hub served by BART: SFO - This Bay Area Rapid Transit map shows you can take the red or yellow line out to The San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

18. Initial request for an answer?: RSVP.

19. "You're killing me, __!": SMALLS - I have this 1993 video of Sandlot but forgot this line. It is now slang for telling someone that they are disappointing you. The origin of the line

21. Something clasped for support: BRA.

23. Legal conclusion?: ESE -LEGALESE - Here they are essentially saying "today": In witness whereof, the parties hereunto have set their hands to these presents as a deed on the day month and year hereinbefore mentioned.

24. Knee-slappers: RIOTS.

25. Workshop device: CLAMP.

27. Mystery-shrouded novelist Elena: FERRANTE - Did anyone else think of the piano duet of Ferrante and Teicher?

29. Fancy affair: SOIREE - SOIR is French for night and so SOIREE is an elegant evening party

30. Restless desire: ITCH.

31. Symbol held aloft in an Emmy statuette: ATOM - One of our favorite people with his Emmy

32. Indigenous Arizona people: APACHE - I'd thought I'd throw in a 1960 classic named for this tribe in Eastern Arizona with great pictures too.

35. Minibar tool: ICE TONGS.

39. Number of World Series wins for each of Chicago's teams: THREE - Cubs 1907, 1908 & 2016. White Sox - 1906, 1917 & 2005

40. Draws (away): SHIES.

41. Continuity problem: GAP - Many students suffered a continuity GAP during the Covid pandemic

42. See 45-Down: MAT and 45. With 42-Across, surface for shavasana: YOGA.

43. Having sex, perhaps: RATED-R - The wonderful movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles would have been easily rated PG-13 but the rental car scene between Steve Martin and the delightful Edie McClurg used the "f-word" eighteen times and thus received an R rating.

45. City in the Sonoran Desert: YUMA - They bill themselves as the hottest city in America. 

46. Chest bone: RIB.

48. "Phooey!": DRAT.

49. Entrance hall: FOYER.

50. "Calm down, sport": EASY THERE TIGER - Slow your roll...

53. Triumphant declaration: NOT TODAY SATAN - You're not getting me today, Satan.

54. Animals in Serta ads: SHEEP.

55. A couple: MATES.

Down:

1. Chutzpah: SASS - Don't use "chutzpah" unless. you know how to pronounce it

2. Invoice no.: AMT.

3. Colossus: BEHEMOTH - Two beasts from the book of Job

4. Give a lift: ELEVATE.

5. Defies authority: REBELS - Make sure it's worth it.

6. Food additive: MSG - The Monosoduim Glutamate myth

7. Picks: OPTS.

8. Snack with a rock climber on its wrapper: CLIF BAR.

9. "Just play along": HUMOR ME.

10. Number that's always positive: AGE.

11. Second place: SILVER.

12. Letters in a tab: HTTP - Where we are right now: HTTPs://crosswordcorner.blogspot.com/

13. Place for a plant: SILL.

14. Sculptor Eva who pioneered postminimalism in the 1960s: HESSE - All about Eva

One of her pieces

15. Fave option: PREF.

20. Hustles out: SCOOTS.

22. King Kong or Kanzi: APE - Kanzi is a bonobo APE who is said to be the first ape to be able to recognize spoken language 

24. "__ Outspoken: My Life in the News": 2012 memoir: RATHER.

26. Long ride: LIMO - I'm getting used to this reference being to the vehicle and not the trip

28. Main ingredient of zongzi: RICE - A recipe

29. Use a joystick, perhaps: STEER - A common sight in nursing homes

31. Quality assurance: ACID TEST - I have spent hours making a lesson plan but the ACID TEST is putting it in front of teenagers.

32. Bread machine: ATM.

33. Title derived from the ancient Egyptian for "great house": PHARAOH - Interesting to learn

34. Skilled performer: ARTISTE.

35. "Word": I HEAR YA - "Word Up" became "Word" and is slang for I HEAR YA!

36. Illustrator Dustin who won an Eisner Award for "Descender": NGUYEN - The illustrator for this "Science fiction/Space opera" comic book. 

37. One gaining star power, perhaps: GAMER - They can get college scholarships as well.

38. Go at it: SPAR - What boxers do in the ring and politicians do in a debate

40. Water under the bridge: STREAM.

44. Diagnosis that may be accommodated with an IEP: ADHD.

47. Gig fraction: BYTE.

49. Makes sense: FITS and 52. Korean for "kick": TAE - TAEkwando is familiar in Crosswordville and it FITS

50. Two out of nine?: ENS - Gotta love meta clues: Two of the letters in "nine" are ENS. Half of nine would work too.

51. Polo, e.g.: TOP - Polo shirts are standard wear for boys and girls high school golfers at the school where I sub.  

Erica has a great article about her philosophy of cross wording:

https://www.skidmore.edu/news/2022/0726-power-of-words.php