Theme: "Will it go round in Circles"
Puzzling thoughts:
First off, a big thank you to RustyBrain for taking my turns (pun intended, given today's puzzle) while Ms Margaret and I took a spin around the state of California and part of southern Oregon. 3,600 miles in 28 days. We got to check off four more National Parks (Channel Islands, Lassen Volcanic, Crater Lake, and Redwoods) and also see some of the California State Parks (Humboldt, Burney Falls, et al) during our trip. Throw in some wine tastings and a lunch visit with a smelly sea cow (aka Malodorous Manatee), and we had a glorious vacation. Every day was at least 15 degrees cooler than where we live, and when we were admiring the view from Mendocino, it was 55 degrees cooler!
But enough about my absence ... back to blogging. And, as one of the many Anonymous posters likes to say, "Oh, joy; circles!!" Yup, first puzzle back and I have to make sense out of every circled word in today's entries; of which, there were 7
Normally the circled letters in a crossword puzzle will be anagrams or maybe hints to a revealed phrase. Not today. Today they were, literally, circles and/or synonyms for a circle that helped the clue make sense. How? Let's explore:
16-across. Programming sequences that don't end, literally: INFINITE. As in infinite "LOOPS". And if you can imagine a circle as a loop, you'll "get" today's theme (the word infinite is contained within "loops"/circles on the grid)
In computer programming, an infinite loop (or endless loop) is a sequence of instructions that, as written, will continue endlessly, unless an external intervention occurs, such as turning off power via a switch or pulling a plug. It may be intentional [per Wikipedia]
22-across. Puzzling field formations, literally: CROP. As in, crop "CIRCLES" [According to Wikipedia] "The term (crop circles) was first coined in the early 1980s". Further into the article it also said that while many people (fringe theorists) believe crop circles to be linked to aliens, "there is no scientific evidence for such explanations, and all crop circles are consistent with human causation"
30-across. Containers for a comic character's internal monologue, literally: THOUGHT. As in thought "BUBBLES" - look at the cel where Charlie Brown is thinking "I'll kick it out of sight" to see the thought bubbles connecting from his brain to the statement ...
35-across. Bling for successful MLB teams, literally: WORLD SERIES. As in World Series "RINGS". Yogi Berra was the MLB player who sported the largest number of world series rings, 10
42-across. Exercise devices for pet rodents, literally: HAMSTER. As in hamster "WHEELS"
51-across. Toys that are quite hip, literally: HULA. As in hula "HOOPS". This is not an "exercise" that the Chairman can do
59-across. Weights used for strength training, literally: MEDICINE. As in medicine "BALLS".
Moe-ku #1:
You literally
Need courage to work these. Takes
A big set of balls ...
LOOPS, CIRCLES, BUBBLES, RINGS, WHEELS, HOOPS, and BALLS became the round objects that completed the clues connected to the entry words. I'm thinking, though, if Jeffrey and Patti really wanted to avoid using a phrase that contained the word "circle", could they not have used this, instead for 22-across:
22-across. "Decorative objects that depict winter scenes, literally?" SNOW
Maybe Jeffrey thought of this, or couldn't make it fit, but I digress ...
Here is the grid and then we are off to the other clues/entries:
 |
| The Grid |
1. Celebrate emphatically: DO A JIG. It's been a while since C-Moe has worked an LA Times crossword puzzle. For the record, today's puzzle took me 15:15 to solve. And it took me about 4:15:00 to write the blog. 1-across slowed me down at the start. I ultimately finished but I don't recall celebrating the way the dog in the image below did:
7. Root with red skin: RADISH. They also come in other colors
13. Gum choice: CINNAMON. Hmm - odd clue but it ended up being "Friday tough"
15. Invitation on a sealed envelope: OPEN ME.
[theme entry]
17. Moral of the story: LESSON.
18. "The Matrix" protagonist: NEO. And the first of 19 three-letter words
19. Crown material: ENAMEL. As in a tooth crown. I have both gold and enamel crowns in my mush
21. Skater Midori: ITO.
[theme entry]
24. __ sequitur: NON. Non sequitur is from the Latin: "it does not follow". One might refer to my "Moe-kus" as non sequiturs
25. Chelsea apartments: FLATS.
27. Exercise in a heated studio: HOT YOGA. The history of hot yoga
[theme entry]
32. Sigma preceder: RHO. From the Greek alphabet - more on this, later
33. Eurasian border river: URAL. Why do I always have to wait to enter the A or the U? You'd think by now that I would know the difference between ARAL and URAL ... ARAL is the dry sea; URAL is the name of the mountain range and/or river
34. Ability to see what others can't: ESP. Could those of us who solved the theme today claim to have ESP?
[theme entry]
38. Ante-: PRE. I misread the clue (thought it said "anti") and entered PRO - which really doesn't make sense
40. Together, in music: A DUE.
41. Little one: TOT.
[theme entry]
44. Instant coffee brand: NESCAFE. I entered FOLGERS first before correcting
48. Cameo shapes: OVALS. This entry would not have made sense in today's puzzle to be circled 😁
49. Many moons __: AGO. As a septuagenarian I am legally allowed to use this phrase
[theme entry]
52. NAACP co-founder __ B. Wells: IDA.
53. Tequila plants: AGAVES. One of the restaurants we dined at during our trip (in Santa Barbara) was called "Los Agaves". It was "muy bueno"
56. 'Twas, now: TIS. Somehow the line "My country, 'twas of thee ... " just doesn't sound right
57. Word with license or justice: POETIC. Moe-ku #2:
My non sequiturs
Exist because I have a
MOE-tic license
[theme entry]
61. Paying customer: CLIENT.
62. Holier-than-thou sorts: ELITISTS. SNOBS fits the clue but not the number of grid squares ...
63. Winter Paralympian apparatus: SIT SKI. Some information on this device
64. Cooks dim sum, say: STEAMS. Friday-ish clue
Down:
1. Moola: DINERO. Moe-ku #3:
8. Copycat: APE.
9. Original "Star Trek" studio: DESILU. Learning moe-ment today. I did not know this before solving the puzzle. There was even a video I found about this (FTR, Ms. Margaret knew this, but she's a Trekkie)
10. Step-by-step: IN STAGES.
11. Evens (out): SMOOTHS.
12. Barnyard mother: HEN. I tried COW. EWE, too?
13. Guaranteed victory: CINCH.
14. Verne captain: NEMO. Moe-ku #4:
29. "Fiddler on the Roof" wife: GOLDE. Chaim Topol as Tevye and Norma Crane as GOLDE [copyright United Artists]
31. Gold rush storyteller Bret: HARTE.
33. Take advantage of: USE.
35. "Success!": WE MADE IT.
36. Tight-fitting lid: DURAG. Is this the correct spelling of the tight-fitting lid? Turns out, it is
37. Scratch the surface?: ETCH. Not to be confused with "scratch the serf" which would be ITCH
38. Soup with rice noodles: PHO. Moe-ku #6:
47. Alleviates: EASES. Moe's hope is to ease/alleviate your concerns about the puzzle
50. Clue, e.g.: GAME. The name of a board game from Hasbro. "Colonel Mustard - in the Library - with a Rope"
53. Dramatic beginning: ACT I. The first lines in a dramatic play begin in Act I, Scene I
54. Revise: EDIT. As I look back to my preamble, I really wish that Patti had edited Jeffrey's 22-across entry to use a reference to GLOBES and not actually used a reference to CIRCLES. But that's why she has a paying job in the crossword business, and I am just a blogger who does this for free ...
55. Location: SITE.
57. Mac alternatives: PCS. I have always used PCS for my desktop and/or laptop computers, but I use an iPhone for my mobile device. Go figure
58. HP supply: INK. HP = Hewlett Packard. Why would it be abbreviated in the clue when the word INK is not an abbreviation?
60. Langley org.: CIA. NSA and OSS fit; fitting that this puzzle ends on a 3-letter word
[theme entry]
61. Paying customer: CLIENT.
62. Holier-than-thou sorts: ELITISTS. SNOBS fits the clue but not the number of grid squares ...
63. Winter Paralympian apparatus: SIT SKI. Some information on this device
64. Cooks dim sum, say: STEAMS. Friday-ish clue
Down:
1. Moola: DINERO. Moe-ku #3:
There's no difference
Between Robert and moola:
They're both "money"
[used Moe-tic license here ... Robert De Niro vs dinero ... get it?!]
2. Walking or running: ON FOOT.
3. Darth Vader's childhood nickname: ANI.
4. __ Doe: JANE. Why are unidentified people called John or Jane Doe?
5. "Let's do it!": I'M IN. I entered C'MON instead
6. Passed with flying colors: GOT AN A. My personal grade for solving today's puzzle was an A minus. Made a couple of errors. My grade for solving today's puzzle theme was a solid A
7. Take a turn in Yahtzee: ROLL. This has nothing to do with Yahtzee, but I thought it a worthy video when it comes to a roll of the dice ...
2. Walking or running: ON FOOT.
3. Darth Vader's childhood nickname: ANI.
4. __ Doe: JANE. Why are unidentified people called John or Jane Doe?
5. "Let's do it!": I'M IN. I entered C'MON instead
6. Passed with flying colors: GOT AN A. My personal grade for solving today's puzzle was an A minus. Made a couple of errors. My grade for solving today's puzzle theme was a solid A
7. Take a turn in Yahtzee: ROLL. This has nothing to do with Yahtzee, but I thought it a worthy video when it comes to a roll of the dice ...
8. Copycat: APE.
9. Original "Star Trek" studio: DESILU. Learning moe-ment today. I did not know this before solving the puzzle. There was even a video I found about this (FTR, Ms. Margaret knew this, but she's a Trekkie)
10. Step-by-step: IN STAGES.
11. Evens (out): SMOOTHS.
12. Barnyard mother: HEN. I tried COW. EWE, too?
13. Guaranteed victory: CINCH.
14. Verne captain: NEMO. Moe-ku #4:
Three Stooges were cast
In a Jules Verne film. Curly's
Role was to NEMO
20. Between, in Spanish: ENTRE. Two doses of Spanish today: DINERO and ENTRE
23. Fireworks prefix: PYRO. Moe-ku #5:
20. Between, in Spanish: ENTRE. Two doses of Spanish today: DINERO and ENTRE
23. Fireworks prefix: PYRO. Moe-ku #5:
Fireworks in Greece
Are set off by folks known as:
Pi-RHO maniacs
25. Large books: FOLIOS. TOMES did not fit
26. Pit stop brand: STP. I want to believe that my last blog also had the word "STP" in the grid. I asked it then, and will ask it now: does anyone other than a racecar driver use this stuff??
28. "Nuts!": OH RATS. Seems to be a "Peanuts" theme in here - one of Charlie Brown and Snoopy's favorite phrases. And this cartoon also features a reference to 23 down:
25. Large books: FOLIOS. TOMES did not fit
26. Pit stop brand: STP. I want to believe that my last blog also had the word "STP" in the grid. I asked it then, and will ask it now: does anyone other than a racecar driver use this stuff??
28. "Nuts!": OH RATS. Seems to be a "Peanuts" theme in here - one of Charlie Brown and Snoopy's favorite phrases. And this cartoon also features a reference to 23 down:
29. "Fiddler on the Roof" wife: GOLDE. Chaim Topol as Tevye and Norma Crane as GOLDE [copyright United Artists]
31. Gold rush storyteller Bret: HARTE.
33. Take advantage of: USE.
35. "Success!": WE MADE IT.
36. Tight-fitting lid: DURAG. Is this the correct spelling of the tight-fitting lid? Turns out, it is
37. Scratch the surface?: ETCH. Not to be confused with "scratch the serf" which would be ITCH
38. Soup with rice noodles: PHO. Moe-ku #6:
Vietnamese moms
Say this to their whining kids:
"PHO crying out loud!!"
39. Filled pasta: RAVIOLI.
43. Roof tiles: SLATES. Our roof has these. Very common here in the Valley of the Sun
44. Storied works: NOVELS. NOVELS tell a story
45. Condition measured on a spectrum: AUTISM. Information on this from the Mayo Clinic
46. Spark producers: FLINTS. Making fire is a critical skill for those who participate in the reality show, Survivor. Heidi was un fuego
39. Filled pasta: RAVIOLI.
43. Roof tiles: SLATES. Our roof has these. Very common here in the Valley of the Sun
44. Storied works: NOVELS. NOVELS tell a story
45. Condition measured on a spectrum: AUTISM. Information on this from the Mayo Clinic
46. Spark producers: FLINTS. Making fire is a critical skill for those who participate in the reality show, Survivor. Heidi was un fuego
47. Alleviates: EASES. Moe's hope is to ease/alleviate your concerns about the puzzle
50. Clue, e.g.: GAME. The name of a board game from Hasbro. "Colonel Mustard - in the Library - with a Rope"
53. Dramatic beginning: ACT I. The first lines in a dramatic play begin in Act I, Scene I
54. Revise: EDIT. As I look back to my preamble, I really wish that Patti had edited Jeffrey's 22-across entry to use a reference to GLOBES and not actually used a reference to CIRCLES. But that's why she has a paying job in the crossword business, and I am just a blogger who does this for free ...
55. Location: SITE.
57. Mac alternatives: PCS. I have always used PCS for my desktop and/or laptop computers, but I use an iPhone for my mobile device. Go figure
58. HP supply: INK. HP = Hewlett Packard. Why would it be abbreviated in the clue when the word INK is not an abbreviation?
60. Langley org.: CIA. NSA and OSS fit; fitting that this puzzle ends on a 3-letter word
So, how did you all manage to circumnavigate the entries? Comment below if you like ...
***A post-script from earlier in the week ... Lucina mentioned on Tuesday's blog about the haboob that engulfed much of the Phoenix valley area. I captured just a brief video of it as it approached my place (from the ESE) - in this century, Phoenix is now on a 7-year cycle of having severe haboobs (2011, 2018, and now 2025). I hope it loads properly ...
