Monday January 28, 2019 Susan Gelfand

Theme: COOL CAT (38. Hipster, and based on their initials, what each of 16-, 22-, 52- and 61-Across is?) - Each well-known person has a AC initial.

16. "360°" CNN anchor: ANDERSON COOPER.

 22. "Uncle Vanya" playwright: ANTON CHEKHOV.

 

52. "Appalachian Spring" composer: AARON COPLAND.

61. 19th-century steel industry philanthropist who built an eponymous concert hall: ANDREW CARNEGIE.

Boomer here.  

Excuse me, I am an electric guy. When I see "A C" I think of alternating current. Good morning and enjoy the weekend off with no meaningful football. Bowling has been a little tough this past week.  I will keep you all informed.

Across:

1. Take it easy: LAZE.  That was a pretty easy clue.

5. Cabo's peninsula: BAJA.

9. Sheepish smile: GRIN.  I really never saw a sheep show its teeth.

13. Cabinet dept. with an oil derrick on its seal: ENER.

14. Immortal racehorse Man __: O WAR.  Man O'War lived to the ripe old age of 30, which I suppose is about 150 in people years. The horse was a legend when I was young, however he was superseded by Secretariat in the early to mid seventies. The interesting thing is the gambling. I wonder how many fans would show up at the Kentucky Derby if no wagering was allowed.

15. What kneaded dough should do: RISE.  Aaron Judge "All Rise"

19. Bud: BRO.  I thought Bud was a beer.

20. "How disgusting!": ICK.

21. Gave medicine to: DOSED.  So THAT'S what it's called. I am getting dosed several times every day. Sometimes when I have DOZED I have to get DOSED.

27. Yoga posture: ASANA.

28. Krypton or xenon: RARE GAS.  The real rare gas is the stuff under $2.00 per gallon.

32. Semester: TERM.

34. Pea surrounder: POD.  I remember Ollie telling Stan that they were like two peas in a pod uh.

35. One of about 268,600 in Tex.: SQ MI.  Republican did not fit.

36. You, to Yves: TOI.

41. Blender setting: MIX.  I just have 1 through 9 on my blender.  But I have heard of Tom, a silent movie Western star.  He's buried at Forest Lawn.

42. Hubbubs: ADOS.  Not to be confused with Adieus which mean good by - see you later.

44. Like Letterman's humor: WRY. Sorry, I liked Johnny Carson better.  Cast your vote in the Comments section.

45. "See ya later": TA TA.  Adieu sounds much better.

47. Dugout seats: BENCHES.  Yup, and in Cincinnati, one of them belonged to Johnny. 

49. Put together, as equipment: RIG UP.

56. Lustrous bit of wisdom: PEARL.  Has anyone ever found one of these in an oyster?

59. Tokyo's former name: EDO.

60. When repeated, a Gabor: ZSA.  Don't confuse her with Eva of Green Acres.

66. Nod off: DOZE.  Careful if someone tries to DOSE you.

67. Prefix with correct: AUTO.  They are selling these on Carvana now. The next McDonald's of car dealerships.

68. Dunham of "Girls": LENA.  I know her, Ole's wife.  I have plenty of stories about them.

69. Snow transport: SLED.  I had an American Flyer.  Friends and I would fly down the hill below the ball field at Burnes Park, Hopkins, MN.

70. H.S. math subject: GEOM.

71. Clog fillers: FEET.

Down:

1. Becomes aware of: LEARNS.

2. Explanatory comment written in the margin, say: ANNOTATION.  Don't scribble on my homework.

3. British alphabet ender: ZED.  Here's a story for Canadian Eh.  I have relatives in Saskatoon. Their surname is Grayczyk.  My cousins visited one time many years ago, and there came a time when the guy my age was asked to spell his name. When he got to "Z" I had no idea what he was talking about.

4. Bard's "before": ERE.

5. Title cop played by Titus Welliver: BOSCH.

6. Came to: AWOKE.  In China, after you AWOKE you make breakfast in A WOK.

7. First mo.: JAN.  Pretty easy. I was thinking of one of the three stooges.

8. Rainbow shape: ARC. Somewhere over it, Birds fly. Why oh why can't I.

9. Slots cut with a chisel: GROOVES.  Lookin' for fun and feeling groovy. (I like Simon and Garfunkel, almost as much as the Chad Mitchell Trio.)

10. Fabric flaws: RIPS.

11. "Got it": I SEE. "I See" said the blind man, but he really didn't.

12. Bookish type: NERD. I don't think we had "Nerds" when I was young. Were they invented in  "Animal House" ??

17. Rock's Ocasek: RIC.

18. Dumpster emanation: ODOR.  We have had this before.  I always think of Rougned of the Texas Rangers.

19. Sheep bleat: BAA.

23. Half and half: ONE. That's interesting.  I was trying to think how I could get Coffee lightener into three letters. 

24. Agent on a bust: NARC.

25. McDonald's founder Ray: KROC.  This is debatable.  There were actually six fast food places franchised by the McDonald brothers in California in the forties.  Ray Kroc got involved around 1954 and opened McDonald's restaurants everywhere.  I guess it's not there anymore, but the golden arches in Des Plaines, Illinois is questionably the first McDonald's. Kroc owned the San Diego Padres for about ten years, until his death in 1984.  He was rumored to have 600 million dollars at the time of his death.    

26. Dove into vigorously, as work: HAD AT.

29. Stylish men's monthly: GQ MAGAZINE.

30. Parisian pal: AMI.

31. Common dinner hour: SIX.  Mine is FOUR. I get hungry early.

33. Grass cutter: MOWER. I am so old that when I grew up I mowed the lawn with a push mower.  You know, the kind with two wheels and a long handle, and you never had to put gas in it.

34. Two-__ tissue: PLY.  Have you ever tried to pull apart a Kleenex ?

36. Restaurant bill: TAB.  Coca Cola's first shot at a sugar free soda.  The diet drinks of today taste a little better.

37. Poem of praise: ODE.  "It was the 3rd of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta day."  For Billie Joe.

39. Approximately: OR SO.

40. Baseball rain delay cover: TARP.  Sometimes used at Target Field for a snow delay.

43. Like Capone's face: SCARRED.

46. Up to, informally: TIL.

48. Partner of hearty: HALE. Revolutionary War hero Nathan, or Golfer Mr. Irwin.

50. Vote out of office: UNSEAT.  Lots of legislators are concerned about 2020. 

51. Kiss in a busy store, for short: PDA. Public Displays of Affection.

53. "Sweet!": NEATO.  I haven't heard this since Haight-Ashbury was a busy intersection.

54. PC drive insert: CD-ROM.

55. Buff suffix: OON.  I was thinking of that rich guy in Omaha (ETT) because the places where I love to eat only have one "ET"

56. Footballer's shoulder protection: PADS.

57. Hydroxyl compound: ENOL.  This stuff and the ADZE sound like something you need to "Ask your doctor if they are right for you".

58. Axe relative: ADZE. See above.

62. Happy tail movement: WAG.

63. Billiards stick: CUE.

64. Legendary seasonal helper: ELF.  only 331 days until Christmas.

65. "Holy cow": GEE.  That's a WHIZ of  CLUE 

Boomer

Sunday January 27, 2019 C.C. Burnikel

Theme: "Extreme Weather" - Each themer is bookended by a bad weather term.

23. Many a character in "The Americans": SLEEPER AGENT. Sleet.

29A. Jenna, to Barbara: TWIN-SISTER. Twister.

55A. Amtrak service: HIGH-SPEED RAIL. Hail.

91A. Elegant carousel rider?: DELUXE LUGGAGE. Deluge.

112A. Bit of racket sport equipment: SQUASH BALL. Squall.

124A. "Enough already!": STOP RIGHT NOW. Snow. (Thanks, Paul!)

38D. Place to keep things: STORAGE ROOM. Storm.

45D. PlayStation 4, for one: GAME CONSOLE. Gale.

Rich helped me with the deluge entry. I originally had another 13-entry FLESH AND BLOOD (Flood). Rich said "Flood isn't weather, it's a consequence of weather". 

Would be cool to have tornado, monsoon, cyclone or blizzard, but I just could not find solid in-the-language phrases.

Across:

1. Navajo relative: APACHE.

7. Main points: GISTS.

12. They're thrown in anger: FITS.

16. Germany-based shipper: DHL. Last time when I talked to Splynter, he was expecting a new job offer.

19. Tank-emptying gadget: SIPHON.

20. According to script: ON CUE.

21. Burger King beverage option: ICEE.

22. Dinner order?: EAT. There was no black square between 21A and 22A when I started. Added it later as I just could not get clean fill.

25. "Seriously!": NO REALLY. 60. "My bad": PARDON ME. 73. "By all means!": PLEASE DO. 88. "Methinks ... ": I DARE SAY. And 94. "Pay attention": LOOK AT ME. I like spoken phrases.

27. Four years, in some cases: TERM.

28. Out of the sack: RISEN.

31. Teen heartthrob: IDOL.

33. Author Zora __ Hurston: NEALE.

35. DDE's wartime command: ETO. European Theater of Operations.

36. Martini go-with?: ROSSI. Rich's great clue. Lots of clues in my puzzles are Rich's creation. I had a straightforward "Martini's partner".

39. Flower in la Seine: EAU. Rich's "flow-er" as well.

41. Almost-ready software products: BETAS.

44. Premium beef: ANGUS.

48. Most likely: APTEST.

50. Today's fortysomethings, e.g.: XERS.

52. Empty storefront sign: FOR LEASE. And 54. Sellout sign: SRO.

59. Pin cushion?: MAT.

62. "To sum up ... ": IN A WORD.

63. Photo sources: NEGS. Negatives.

64. Snowboarder White: SHAUN. Very successful. A la Wik: He is a three-time Olympic gold medalist. He holds the record for the most X-Games gold medals and most Olympic gold medals by a snowboarder, and has won 10 ESPY Awards.

65. Stud location: EAR.

67. Green Day drummer __ Cool: TRE.

68. Draw forth: EDUCE.

70. Punished, as a teen: GROUNDED.

76. Discover: LEARN.

77. Online forum VIP: MOD. Moderator.

79. Original "Nashville Now" airer: TNN.

80. Snap: CINCH.

83. Animal house: BARN.

84. University of Wisconsin city: MADISON. D-Otto's alma mater.

90. Blood system letters: ABO.

93. Eggs, to a biologist: OVA.

96. Neeson of "Silence": LIAM.

97. Tablet download: APPLET.

99. 1983 Michael Keaton role-reversal movie: MR. MOM.

100. 1836 battle site: ALAMO.

103. Delta rival: Abbr.: UAL.

105. "Here will __ me till the break of day": Shak.: I REST. Rich's clue, of course.

106. Common practice: LAW.

108. November birthstone: TOPAZ.

110. Due cubed: OTTO. Oh hi, how's the new TV? (Added later: Due is Italian for "two".)

117. Vacation twosome, perhaps: WEEKS. Also Rich's misdirect.

119. Acquired, with "by": CAME.

123. Get more points than: OUTSCORE.

127. Untruth: LIE.

128. Backup military org.: USAR. U.S. Army Reserve.

129. Heroic Schindler: OSKAR.

130. Play the piccolo: TOOTLE.

131. Covert __: OPS.

132. Lily variety: SEGO.

133. Can't do without: NEEDS.

134. World __: SERIES.

Down:

1. Part of ADA: Abbr.: ASST.

2. Tidy sum: PILE.

3. Copycat: APER. Gluey fill.

4. Lingerie top with spaghetti straps: CHEMISE.

5. Triple-jump element: HOP.

6. Calendario starter: ENERO. Calendar.

7. Dress like: GO AS.

8. Roles for young women: INGENUES.

9. Movie clip: SCENE.

10. Large wine cask: TUN.

11. Not get everything you want: SETTLE. Rich's clue as well. I tend to be confused with this type of "Not..." clue.

12. Done, in Dijon: FINI.

13. Desktop image: ICON.

14. Far from talkative: TERSE.

15. Get everything you want: SEE IT ALL.

16. Pec neighbor: DELT.

17. Robust: HALE.

18. Approx. 5.88 trillion miles: LT-YR. Light year.

24. Really peeve: RILE.

26. In unison: AS ONE.

30. Like nail polish being blown on: WET.

32. Shame: DISHONOR.

34. Playing hooky, say: ABSENT.

36. Carpentry files: RASPS.

37. "Queen Sugar" co-producer: OPRAH. The other producer is Ava DuVernay,

40. Business end of a cutting tool: AX HEAD.

42. "The Mod Squad" hairdo: AFRO.

43. Rise dramatically: SOAR.

46. Lexicographer's concern: USAGE.

47. Venn diagram regions: SETS.

49. Pewter metal: TIN.

51. N.Y. tech school: RPI. Spitzboov had a great suggestion for me: DREADNOUGHT.

53. Travels: RIDES.

56. Fed. agents: G MEN.

57. Tombstone lawman: EARP.

58. Resided: DWELT.

61. When repeated, rock group named for the villain in "Barbarella": DURAN. Learning moment for me. Rich's clue of course.

63. Skin flick: NUDIE.

66. Dance track, often: REMIX.

69. Falling apart: DECREPIT.

71. Like goals not attained: UNMET.

72. Doctor's order: DOSE. That Zytiga is sure toxic. It makes Boomer light-headed at times.

74. Real puzzle: ENIGMA.

75. Arm-leg connector: AND A. Gluey partial.

76. Delivery process: LABOR.

78. Sour cream blob: DOLLOP.

81. Stalagmite sites: CAVES.

82. Ritz-Carlton alternative: HYATT.

83. Soothing ointment: BALM.

85. __ mater: ALMA.

86. Fight with seconds: DUEL. Again, Rich's misdirecting "seconds".  Thanks, Rich!

87. Rapa __: Easter Island: NUI.

89. Turkish dignitary: AGA. Also 91. West Asian capital: DAMASCUS.

92. Wound cover: GAUZE PAD.

95. Caffeine-rich nuts: KOLAS.

98. Exam monitor: PROCTOR.

101. The NBA's Hawks: ATL.

102. It merged with Coors in 2005: MOLSON. Their stock symbol is TAP.

104. Norse prankster: LOKI.

107. "__ fault is that?!": WHOSE.

109. Got up: AWOKE.

111. Some USAF NCOs: TSGTS. Technical sergeants.

112. Tune sung alone: SOLO.

113. One-liner: QUIP.

114. Western natives: UTES.

115. Act the blowhard: BRAG.

116. Sleek, in car talk: AERO.

118. Goofs: ERRS.

120. Opponent: ANTI.

121. Lawn problem: MOLE.

122. Woolly mamas: EWES.

125. "The Waste Land" monogram: TSE.

126. Plot device?: HOE.

Not much updates on Boomer this week. No doctor visit or blood draw. He's been busy sorting and moving various baseball cards, books and other sports collectibles. Now I have my own dedicated bookshelves.

C.C.

Saturday, January 26, 2019, Andy Kravis and Erik Agard

Themeless Saturday Puzzle by Andy Kravis and Erik Agard

Today's holiday takes me back to a candy treat we always had during Christmas at Grandma's house. She had a bowl of assorted nuts (plus a houseful of the same) and a plate of peanut brittle. 

It was much darker and thicker than this shown here but I remember it very fondly. Now that my teeth are much older and not likely to be replaced as they were when I was 10, I don't indulge any more but I fondly remember the taste!

Today's constructors have made a mark on TV gaming as well. Andy became a millionaire on Million Second Quiz with Ryan Seacrest. As you can see below, Erik was threatened with a pie by Alex Trebek because Alex, a dedicated crossword solver, was frustrated by this puzzle Erik created with Tracy Bennett and I blogged here. Did you do better than Mr. Trebek on that August 18th exercise? In our gmail exchange, Erik told me that he and Tracy started with the middle stack on that puzzle and worked out from there. Erik also told me he won on Jeopardy that day!

Andy Kravis                             Erik Agard 

Across:

1. Selection process including the Sky and the Sun: WNBA DRAFT  - I didn't look up who the Connecticut Sun drafted in the Women's National Basketball Association 2018 draft but here's who the Chicago Sky took

10. Anna of "The Emoji Movie": FARIS - She was the voice of Jailbreak

15. Lip-syncing accompaniment?: AIR GUITAR - Is Hugo Chavez also Lip-synching at the U.N.?

16. "Me too": AS AM I.

17. Bingo center square: FREE SPACE.

18. Hasbro game that requires twisting and pulling: BOP IT - If you're interested

19. Spacewalk initials: EVA - NASA's first Extra Vehicular Activity was a space walk in 1965 by Ed White. NASA's most famous EVA occurred on July 20, 1969

20. Ready for fumigation: TENTED - Tenting by Termite Terry

22. Metaphorical low area, with "the": PITS - Also very active place during the Indy 500 😏

23. Gathering tools: RAKES.

25. Film dialect that uses subject-object inversion: YODA SPEAK.

27. 1990s gaming release, initially: SNES - Super Nintendo Entertainment System


28. "LOTR" initials: JRR - Here 'ya go:

29. Visitor center: SHORT I - The center of the word Visitor is a SHORT I

30. Course with fruit, perhaps: ART CLASS - Heads we do fruit, tails we do nudes

33. Sure-footed critters: ASSES - 'Nuff said

34. Licorice, e.g.: ROOT - Here's a bunch of licorice herb roots

35. Increase: HIKE - A tax HIKE in gov't speak is a "revenue enhancement"

37. Commented on EweTube?: BAAED.

40. Ironically, designation for the fourth film release in a classic sequence: EPISODE I - George Lucas made the first Star Wars movie in 1977. He later labelled it IV so he could make assorted prequels and sequels.

44. Remove the zest from: UNPEEL - "Hey, don't throw that lemon peel away, I need zest for my martini!"

46. Record no.: RPM - David Seville recorded the Chipmunks at half the RPM's and then played them back at normal RPM's

47. Tablets brand ... or, cutely, what they treat: TUMS - Tums for your tummy

49. Saves for the future: SALTS AWAY

51. Hardly taciturn: VOCAL - "Where's my dinner?"

52. Whack: STAB - Every Saturday I take a whack/STAB at blogging 

53. Andalusian city on the Costa del Sol: MALAGA- MALAGA is a city in the province of MALAGA on Spain's Costa del Sol. 

55. One in a conflict, maybe: EGO - Conflicts involving EGO's can result in a 56. Utter: TOTAL disaster

58. 2017 hit comedy about a women's weekend getaway: GIRL'S TRIP -  Rated R (for crude and sexual content throughout, pervasive language, brief graphic nudity and drug material). Rotten Tomatoes assessment

60. QB's protection, in football lingo: O-LINE - Offensive LINE

61. Type of gland: ENDOCRINE All you want to know

62. Hangs: PENDS - Any decision in this house PENDS until there is a mutual decision 

63. Where I-35 and I-80 intersect: DES MOINES - The last time I was here, I turned left and met Boomer and C.C.

Down:

1. Symbols of thinness: WAFERS - WAFER THIN = Twiggy to me

2. End point of the Noble Eightfold Path: NIRVANA Here 'ya go

3. CBer's opening word: BREAKER - BREAKER 19 is a request to use channel 19 on a CB radio. The CB craze during the 55mph oil embargo days had many people talking like they were all "good ole boys". Play as much of this song that starts with BREAKER 19 and you will hear as much of the lingo anyone should want

4. Golden __: AGE - Many modern TV sitcoms seem to be rehashing I Love Lucy plots that were from what some say was TV's Golden AGE

5. Decisively outraces: DUSTS - Usain Bolt has DUSTED about everyone

6. Begging to be picked: RIPE 7. Nonetheless: AT ANY RATE - this is one person's opinion

8. Two and one, for two: FACTORS - Yes, 2 and 1 are the FACTORS of 2 because 2 x 1 = 2

9. Trapped, in a way: TREED.

10. Old-style dope?: FAB - Dope is current slang for "cool" 11. In contrast with: AS OPPOSED TO FAB which is so yesterday!

12. Narrow-bladed swords: RAPIERS - A guide to foils, epees swords and RAPIERS

13. Do in a bit: IMITATE - Will Jordan had a famous "comedy bit" where he "did" Ed Sullivan

14. Winter Paralympians' equipment: SIT SKIS that can negotiate the 48. Inclines: SLOPES.

21. Legal pros: DAS - District AttorneyS

24. Jersey Shore rockers since the '70s: E STREET BAND - Bruce Springsteen's backup band

26. Visored military cap: SHAKO - A French-made Shako for those who 50. Engaged in: WAGED war in the American Civil War

28. Companion of A-Rod: J-LO - A portmanteau of Jennifer Lopez

31. Works on programs: CODES - I don't think I could sit all day and produce CODES

32. Where some subs are fixed: SHIP YARDS - Hitler fixed his subs in his nearly impregnable submarine pens. I tried to get my subs fixed in a Deli here at first

36. Belief: ISM.

37. No-parking area: BUS STOP.

38. Literary France: ANATOLE - ANATOLE - A Nobel-winning Frenchman of letters

39. Lang. test for top students: AP LATIN - Advanced Placement LATIN. Good Luck with this sample question: 

41. Cajun confection: PRALINE - Billboards used to tell you to get one here

42. Skincare brand from the Greek for "beautiful wax": EUCERIN.

43. Envision: IMAGINE 

45. Fast flight: LAM - In this TV series of my ute, David Janssen as Dr. Richard Kimble was on the LAM every week

51. Explorer da Gama: VASCO - VASCO's voyage can be compared to America's moonshot. The spice trade he started made Portugal a very wealthy nation. Who knew 54. Latch (onto): GLOMming onto black pepper, etc. could be so profitable?

57. Arles article: LES - LES blogueurs ici sont très intelligents! (The bloggers here are very smart)

59. Piece of TNT?: TRI - TRI Nitro Toluene - BOOM!

A very nice and hardly brittle puzzle by our TV stars today. Comment away:

Friday, January 25, 2019, Jeffrey Wechsler

Title: Google photos are dandy, but Flikr is quicker.A quick update; my son just sent me this picture of my grandson who is growing so fast


Jeffrey returns with a combination of two of his specialties - add a letter and fun puns.  "F" is the letter, which is added to a word beginning with "L." However, he really goes out there to get his sound-alike puns. Every one of the sound words is changed when the "F is added but retain the same sound. Consistent as is all of his work, the F is added to the last word in themers 1/4 and the first word in 2/3. 58 squares of theme fill, aided by four cheater squares, still left room for CULPRIT, HAPLESS, STACK UP, SYNDICS, ANOTHER'S and PURE EVIL. To solve one needs to open one's mind and close one's eyes to "hear" what he is saying. I loved FLORAL AND HARDY and BAGELS AND FLOCKS. YMMV. Let's see what he created.

16A. Feature of frequently sheared sheep?: SHORT TERM FLEECE (15). Animals really do not care about a short term LEASE.

23A. Like aromatic, weather-resistant plants?: FLORAL AND HARDY (14). I used to love watching LAUREL and Hardy. LINK.

42A. Skills acquired manufacturing linens?: FLAX EXPERIENCE (14). The conundrum of needing some experience to get a job, but how do you start when one LACKS experience.

56A. Shepherds' view during breakfast?: BAGELS AND FLOCKS (15). More sheep, but not haggis for the meal, the choice is smoked salmon, known as LOX.

Across:

1. Court player: JESTER. So nice to see a J word to begin even if it made me think of basketball and tennis.

7. Accident-prone: HAPLESS. To me, they are not the same.

14. Fuel calculation: OCTANE. An octane rating, or octane number, is a standard measure of the performance of an engine or aviation fuel. The higher the octane number, the more compression the fuel can withstand before detonating (igniting).

15. Satanic attribute: PURE EVIL. I am not sure that is true, but that would be talking religion. Verboten.

18. "__ everything?": HOW'S.

19. Orioles' div.: AL EAST. Baseball.

20. Chill in the air: NIP. The Cambridge Dictionary says a nip in the air is a feeling of cold.

21. Miss equivalent, in some cases: MILE. A miss is as good as mile probably comes from the 17th century this piece from William Camden's Remaines of a Greater Worke Concerning Britaine, 1614: An ynche in a misse is as good as an ell. An ell is a now obsolete English measure of length, equalling about 45 inches.

22. Player under Auerbach, familiarly: CELT. Nobody quite like RED AUERBACH 

30. Namely: TO WIT. That is to say.

31. Turn heads during the audition: SHINE. Anyone else watching AGOT the Champions?

32. Whodunit revelation: CULPRIT. I love this word. Of course, I read 3 or 4 whodunits ever week.

35. Compare to, with "against": STACK UP.

39. Fathers: SIRES. Verb.

41. Twill fabric: CHINO. It is defined as a tough, twilled cotton cloth used for uniforms, sports clothes, etc. Usually chinos, trousers made of this material.

46. Pennywhistle sound: TOOT.  They can be expensive.

47. Take __ empty stomach: ON AN.
Part of your doctor's orders.




48. Coffee hour vessel: URN.
Do they earn when they hang at the urn?

49. Prohibit: ENJOIN. It stems from an injunction; English is so hard.

52. It might be used before sandpapering: RASP.

59. "__ Arms": Coldplay song: ANOTHER'S.

60. Brother of Isis: OSIRIS.              LINK.

61. Business representatives: SYNDICS. One appointed to represent a corporation, university, or other organization in business transactions; a business agent. A Friday word?

62. Least courteous: RUDEST.


Down:

1. Kid: JOSH. The etymology "to make fun of, to banter," 1845 (intransitive), 1852 (transitive), American English; according to "Dictionary of American Slang," the earliest example is capitalized, hence it is probably from the familiar version of the proper name Joshua. Perhaps it was taken as a typical name of an old farmer

2. Repeat: ECHO.

3. Put away: STOW.

4. Works on a route: TARS. Not a paperboy but a worker on a roadway.

5. Rhinitis-treating MD: ENT. Ear Nose and Throat.

6. Target field: RETAIL.

7. "__ few bars and I'll play it for you": HUM A.

8. Pound sounds: ARFS.

9. Bearskin rug, e.g.: PELT.

10. "Fever" singer Peggy: LEE.

11. Tied: EVENED.

12. Mediterranean island: SICILY. Sicily (Italian: Sicilia [siˈtʃiːlja]; Sicilian: Sicilia) is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the 20 regions of Italy. It is one of the five Italian autonomous regions, in Southern Italy along with surrounding minor islands, officially referred to as Regione Siciliana.

13. Was out all night, maybe: SLEPT. Love the misdirection. Where were you? I was out all night!

15. Works on one's image, in a way: PREENS.

17. "First Lady of Song": ELLA. Ms. Fitzgerald.

21. 1999 Best Visual Effects Oscar winner, with "The": MATRIX.

22. December display: CRÈCHE. No religion but a model or tableau representing the scene of Jesus Christ's birth, displayed in homes or public places at Christmas.

23. Fraud watchdog org.: FTC. Federal Trade Commission.

24. Comedic Costello: LOU. Louis Francis Cristillo, professionally known as Lou Costello was an American actor, best known for his film comedy double act with straight man Bud Abbott. Costello had started as an athlete, before working in burlesque on Broadway, where he stood-in for Abbott’s partner who had failed to show up. Fun to see Lou along with Laurel and Hardy.

25. Big-eyed flier: OWL.

26. Excitedly tries to open, as a gift: RIPS AT.

27. Cabinet agcy. founded under Bush 43: DHS. Department of Homeland Security.

28. Broadway success: HIT.

29. Pain relief brand: ANACIN.

33. North Atl. country: IRE.

34. "Oedipus __" : P.D.Q. Bach western-themed parody: TEX. The long VERSION?

36. Many bar mitzvah guests: KIN.

37. Chapel Hill sch.: UNC. The University of North Carolina.

38. "MS. Found in a Bottle" author: POE. “MS. Found in a Bottle” The manuscript initially appeared in the October 19, 1833 edition of a Baltimore newspaper, the Saturday Visiter, as the winner of a literary contest for the best short tale. Edgar Allan Poe submitted six stories.

40. Jug band percussionist's tools: SPOONS. Couldn't find a link with spoons.

42. To fit every possible: FOR ANY. Shouldn't it be "possibility?"

43. Well-supplied with: LONG ON.

44. Oklahoma city: ENID.

45. Tried to be elected: RAN FOR.

46. Marching band section: TUBAS. Tuba or not tuba...

49. K-12: ELHI. Ooh, JW, we know it is glue.

50. Very short time pd.: NSEC.  Pd? Full stop (or period, in American English), used in coded military communications.

51. Unsettles: JARS. Jarring I know.

52. Source of rage, briefly: ROID. Roid rage is a term given to people who act in a very aggressive or hostile manner after taking large doses, usually on a regular basis, of anabolic steroids, sometimes nicknamed as roids.

53. Farm unit: ACRE.

54. Downhill runners: SKIS.

55. Restrained "Hey!": PSST.

57. LAX stat: ETD.

58. SEC school: LSU. We finish with a CSO shout to all of our Louisiana cornerites.

I once again finish a month blogging a Wechsler masterpiece. I found it quite fun, and I hope you all did. I look forward to seeing your thoughts. Lemonade out.

Thursday, January 24th 2019 Roger & Kathy Wienberg

Theme:

62A. Clothing accessory, perhaps ... or what you can see in each of four groups of circles?: BELT BUCKLE

No getting around this one - you need the circles to see the theme. We have four belts - conveyor belt, Orion's belt, money belt and asteroid belt, all of which are "buckled" down, across and then back up in the grid.

I take my hat off to constructors who pull off this kind of puzzle - it's not just a question of fitting your theme entries into the grid and then filling around them, it's a whole step up in the craft. Roger & Kathy nailed it today.

Orion's Belt:

After Orion, and this week's blood super wolf moon, let's go hunt down to what else we've got:

Across:

1. It can cause a bad trip: LSD

4. Renders speechless: AWES

8. Late-night host with an orange-blimp running gag: CONAN. In the "industry" news this week for announcing a 30-minute slot of his show, rather than the full hour.

13. Show of hands: VOTE

14. Some Pequod crewmen: HARPOONERS. What a great word to find early on the journey today.

16. Tapped pic: ICON. Only if you've got a touchscreen of some kind.

17. Many Bach compositions: ORGAN MUSIC. Quick! Think of a J.S.Bach fugue! I betcha a dollar to a donut it was this one here

18. Sources of "Family Feud" answers: SURVEYS. "And the survey said ......"

20. Soccer officials: REFS. Much-maligned around the world. Not as maligned as the NFL official who didn't throw the flag for pass in the Rams - Saints game on Sunday. I don't think he should plan a trip to New Orleans for a while.

21. Till this moment: AS YET

22. Utah lily: SEGO

23. Hush-hush org.: NSA. There's a few "orgs" today. Shout 'em out as you see 'em.

26. Rebuffed, with "off": BRUSHED

29. Mob scenes: RIOTS

31. In bygone days: AGO

33. Retailer with blue-and-yellow megastores: IKEA

34. Does penance (for): ATONES

35. Clothing line: SEAM

37. Go-aheads: YESES. Could be YESSES, but two esses won out here over three.

39. Eye layer: UVEA

40. Say: FOR ONE. Might be hard to see this - when you're explaining something - "Take that crossword, say - it's a good theme" - "Take that crossword, for one, it's a good theme". I found it harder to explain than to solve. I probably made a complete mess of it.

42. Hops hot spot: OAST

44. "Things Are Fine in Mount __": Charley Weaver book: IDY. My last fill. Thank you, stab-in-the-dark gods.

45. Augment: ADD TO

46. Unborn: IN UTERO

48. Scale members: RE'S. Yuck, sorry. Do's, Re's, Me's, Sol's .... Nope. Not having it.

49. Preserves, in a way: CANS

51. Baton-passing event: RELAY, Baton-dropping, most embarassingly.

54. Switch partner: BAIT. and Switch.

55. Makes moist: DAMPENS

57. Electrical generator: ALTERNATOR

61. "The Matrix" actress Carrie-__ Moss: ANNE. Anyone called Carrie Anne cannot match up to my criush - Carrie Anne Inaba

63. Cupcake decorator: ICER

64. Andean shrubs: COCAS

65. Little piggies: TOES

66. Nero Wolfe creator Stout: REX. Who? What?

Down:

1. Center of power: LOCUS

2. Panels illustrating film scripts: STORY BOARDS. I loved the long downs. This was a cracker to start.

3. High capital: DENVER. A mile, plus or minus, high. I stayed in a hotel there (shame on me, the name escapes me) who had the one-mile marker next to the elevators on the ground floor.

4. "Hey, sailor!": AHOY

5. General concerns?: WARS

6. Unit of work: ERG

7. Let off: SPARED

8. Solace: COMFORT

9. Responsibility: ONUS

10. Wii forerunner, briefly: NES

11. Onassis nickname: ARI. stotle.

12. Foreign policy advisory gp.: NSC

13. Plastic choice: VISA. Mastercard,, Discover and Amex could have fit, but only AMEX might have snuck in there.

15. 100 sawbucks: ONE G. One Grand = 100 tens.

19. Place for pins and needles: ETUI

22. Salts, say: SEASONS

23. King's philosophy: NON-VIOLENCE

24. Jousting mount: STEED. Poor buggers. They already weigh two tons and then there's armor plate and a knight who matches them for mass on top. A long day for a horse at the jousting. Footnote - the terms of my 99-year leasehold flat in London explicitly forbade me from organizing jousting tournaments. I also was not allowed to keep coal in the bath. I was on the second floor. What the coal restriction was about, I have no idea. The Duchess of Camden was the freehold owner, bless her.

25. Test for purity: ASSAY

27. Scottish isle: SKYE. 

Sail, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing, 

"Onward" the sailors cry. 

Carry the man who's born to be king, 

over the sea to Skye"

28. Half a giggle: HEE

30. Letters for short people?: IOU

31. Equidistant: AS FAR. I was back and forth on this one. Quite aptly, I suppose - I was back one way, forth the other way, as far from the middle each trip

32. Sparkly stone: GEODE. I remember this thinking of a battery shorting out in a shower of sparks - Anode, Cathode .... yay Geode!!!!

34. Boss' backup: Abbr.: ASST. 

36. Witty remark: MOT. Can it be witty just being a mot? I think bon mot.

38. __ de toilette: EAU

41. Strict diet restriction: NO CARBS

43. __ paper: TERM

46. Whole: INTACT

47. Get to work again: REPAIR

50. Japanese aborigine: AINU. Or Did I say I got my DNA results last week? 77% Irish, 19% English/Welsh and 2% each French and Norwegian. My friend was 100% 蝦夷.

52. Subsidiary structure: ANNEX. Attached to the ell? We should be told.

53. Belgian river: YSER

54. Phi __ Kappa: BETA

55. Dish (out): DOLE

56. Son of Zeus and Hera: ARES

57. TV network with much Shondaland programming: ABC. Shondaland is the production company that co-produces shows such as Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice.

58. Summer sign: LEO. I'm either a Virgo or a Libra, depending on which version of my birth certificate you believe.

59. Solace for a sad BFF: TLC. This was weird. TLC was a lot earlier than BFF-speak. 60's - two-thousand-teens mash-up. I liked it.

60. Ref's ruling: TKO. Technically, a Technical Knock-Out.

Power to the People!

Steve