Wednesday, July 8, 2026 - Jonathon Hales

 Theme:  "Quiet, please!"

 

 

Puzzling thoughts:

Greetings from Chairman Moe; or, as I learned last month when Miss Margaret and I toured the Iberian Peninsula for 3+ weeks, the local expression for greetings are: "Bom Dia" (Portuguese) and "Egun On" (Basque)

 

My crossword solving skills took a hiatus, too, as I did not travel with my laptop, and solving on a cellphone is not very practical.  Solving crossword puzzles was not even on my priority/to do list while on holidays.  Too many amazing things to see and explore.  If you've never visited Portugal or the Basque Country in Spain, do. Thanks, CED, for swapping Wednesdays with me this month as I returned back to the U.S. on 1 July and would not have been able to do my "assigned" day

On to the puzzle du jour:  When I googled the constructor's name, Jonathon Hales, I came up empty; other than a few people with that name (and exact spelling) on Facebook.  I found zero relatable "hits" to any so-named crossword puzzle constructor so my guess is that this is both his LAT and personal debut.  If this is so, congratulations!  If not (and he happens to stop by) please provide us with some more details about yourself and about today's puzzle

Jonathon's work is a combination of word play and factual phrases that one could relate to a (52-across. Community facility for researchers and book lovers) LOCAL LIBRARY.  For example:

17. Suggestion for a 52-Across patron who didn't finish a book by closing time?: CHECK IT OUT.  The word play ("check it out") could refer to examining or analyzing something; the library connection (literal meaning) is taking the book to the desk, showing your library card, and taking it home for a period of time

 

 

 

24. Reminder on a collection that can't leave a 52-Across?: READ ONLY FILE.  The literal and figurative meaning of this is a bit more vague than the other entries, IMO.  But, if you recall the "Reference" section of a library, items such as encyclopedias were "read only in the library"; not to be checked out.  A read only file [as defined by Microsoft Support] is: any computer file that you can open, view, print, or copy, but cannot modify, delete, overwrite, or edit. The operating system blocks any "write" operations to protect the document's content and maintain its original state

 

 

36. Sign near a door slot of a 52-Across?: RETURN TO THE FOLD. Another connection of literal and figurative as the word "return" is what you literally do with a book you've checked out of the library, and return to the fold is an expression that means to rejoin, return, or be welcomed back into a group, community, or organization after a period of absence. I suppose that a book that's been checked out of the library could be "missed" by the other books.  I chose another meaning of the word "fold" with the cartoon below:

 

 

 

 

64. Advice for patrons who borrow materials from a 52-Across?: DON'T BE LATE.  The cartoon below is a bit "dark" but it summarizes the theme! 😏

 

 

 

Perhaps my blogging "skills" took a hiatus, too.  Please add your thoughts to the comment section if you saw anything different than I 

Here is the completed grid.  This "felt" a bit more difficult than a typical Wednesday puzzle but I finished it without help and with very few write-overs ...

 

 

 

Across:

1. Seaweed on tobiko maki: NORI.  Moe-ku:

 

        Question on seaweed

        Sushi wrap: Do you eat it?

        If it's no, NOR I 

5. Trophy winner: CHAMP. 

10. Quaker grains: OATS.  

14. Sing the praises of: LAUD.  As in the lyrics of this hymn:

 

15. Striped Girl Scout Cookie: SAMOA.  Not sure that I agree that a singular cookie would be called a Samoa 

16. Tortilla sandwich: WRAP.  Moe-ku:

        Movie director's

        Comment after having lunch:

        "I think that's a WRAP!" 

[theme entry]

19. The Dalai __: LAMA.

20. Geena's "Thelma & Louise" co-star: SUSAN.  Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon 

That's Susan on the left / Geena on the right

21. Native Canadian: CREE. [from Wikipedia] "The Cree are one of the largest Indigenous groups in North America, with a total population exceeding 350,000. Their traditional territories stretch from Alberta to Quebec in Canada, with a few communities in Montana, USA. They are divided into distinct groups like the Plains, Woodland, and Swampy Cree, each adapting unique traditions to their specific regional environments"

23. Not great: BAD.  I typed in MEH before correcting it

[theme entry]

28. Former South African president Nelson: MANDELA.  

31. Slices and __: DICES.  Ron Popeil's invention of the 1960's: "It slices and dices and makes julienne french fried potatoes ..."

And its commercial was filmed in the Canadian Province that's the answer to (49 across. Home of Canadian curler Marc Kennedy:) ALBERTA. (and a mini-CSO to CanadianEh!)

32. Melber of MS NOW: ARI. [according to Wikipedia] "Ari Naftali Melber is an American attorney and Emmy Award-winning journalist who is the Chief Legal Correspondent for MS NOW and host of The Beat with Ari Melber. Melber won a 2016 Emmy Award for Supreme Court reporting and was nominated for Emmy Awards in 2020 and 2025 in the "Outstanding Live Interview" category"

33. Frequently, in poetry: OFT.

35. March 14 dessert: PIE.  Based on the fact that the mathematical number for "pi" is 3.14 (when rounded to two decimals) and is also a way of expressing March 14 (3/14)

[theme entry]

43. Look at: SEE.  

44. "Gangnam Style" rapper: PSY.  

45. Forever and a day: EON. 

46. Group of lions: PRIDE.  Moe-ku:

        A group of lions

        Who were homosexual

        Held a PRIDE Parade 

        (of course they did!!) 

 

 

[theme reveal]

56. The "A" of IPA: ALE.  As in India Pale ALE

57. __ fountain: SODA.  If the word "fountain" were capitalized, my answer would've been PETE

58. Greek fable writer: AESOP.  My favorite "fables" growing up were featured on the cartoon show "The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle":

 

62. Healthy piece: SLAB.  As opposed to an "unhealthy piece" where I would have inserted the word FLAB

67. Prefix with phone: MEGA.  Anyone else besides me have TELE in this spot?

68. Twinkle: GLEAM.  A different spelling of this word was used as a brand name for toothpaste (that apparently made your teeth "twinkle").  P & G discontinued this brand about 12 years ago as part of a purging of under-performing SKUs

 

 

69. Raison d'__: ETRE. Raison d'être is a French phrase that translates to "reason for existence". It refers to the fundamental purpose, justification, or driving motive behind why a person, organization, or concept exists

70. Greek war god: ARES. Did anyone confuse Ares with MARS?  The Roman war god? Not I

71. County in southeast England: ESSEX.

72. Furniture wood: TEAK.  Moe-ku:

 

        Piece of furniture

        Shaped like Polynesian raft

        Is called: Kon-TEAK-i  

Down:
1. MLB playoff round: NLCS.  Short for: National League Championship Series - won last year by the LA Dodgers.  I'm old enough to remember when there was one "champion" of the NL and one of the AL and they contended for the World Series.  Baseball has expanded greatly since then (double the number of teams) and there are more playoff rounds before the World Series begins.  Now, there is a "Wild Card" round; a "Divisional" round; and a "League Championship" round.  Used to be that the World Series was decided in early October - with all the extra "rounds" it can spill into November

2. Diamond Head's island: OAHU.  A reference to the dormant volcano crater located on Hawaii's most populated island

 

 

3. Wants to take back: RUES.

4. Security checkpoint request: I.D. CARD.  During our Iberian Peninsula trip we had to show our U.S. Passport several times but never an I.D. "card"

5. CBS forensic franchise: CSI.  Short for: Crime Scene Investigation

6. See 34-Down: HAT. (34 down. With 6-Down, part of an Abraham Lincoln costume:) TOP.  This dude wore a top hat of sorts:

 

7. Corporation previously called Standard Oil of Indiana: AMOCO.  [per Wikipedia]: The majority of today’s largest energy corporations trace their roots back to the 1911 breakup:

ExxonMobil: Descends from the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey (Esso) and the Standard Oil Company of New York (Socony).

Chevron: Formed from the Standard Oil Company of California (SoCal), which later acquired Standard Oil of Kentucky.

BP (British Petroleum): Acquired the Standard Oil Company of Ohio (Sohio) and the Standard Oil Company of Indiana (Amoco).

Marathon Petroleum / Marathon Oil: Descends directly from The Ohio Oil Company, an early Standard Oil production subsidiary.

8. Grieve: MOURN.

9. Dev of "Lion": PATEL.  A clecho of sorts as the word "lion" appeared for the answer: PRIDE

10. "Horned" bird: OWL.  We had a Great Horned Owl "family" build a nest in one of our community's Saguaro cacti a few years ago

11. Language of the Quran: ARABIC.

12. Snack steamed in a corn husk: TAMALE.

13. Small shovels: SPADES.  

18. Patella locale: KNEE.

22. Grammy winner Gorme: EYDIE.  Married to fellow singer/comedian Steve Lawrence

 

 

25. Like Kevin McCallister at Christmas: ALONE.  From the movie series "Home Alone"

26. Inane: DAFT. [according to Cambridge Dictionary] "Daft" is an informal adjective meaning foolish, silly, or obviously absurd. Commonly used in British and Scottish English, the term describes actions, ideas, or behavior that lack good sense and judgment

27. Feudal estate: FIEF. Moe-ku:

 

        Notable giant

        Became a vassal. His new 

        Phrase? "FIEF-fi-fo-fum"  

28. Feb. follower: MAR.  Might've preferred this answer to not be an abbreviation 

29. "Odds __ ... ": ARE.  'N' ENDS didn't fit; nor ON

30. Tiny issue: NIT.  See my response to 28 down

35. Kingdom divisions: PHYLA.  [according to Wikipedia] "Phyla" is the plural form of the word phylum. In biology, a phylum is a major taxonomic rank used to classify organisms. It sits below kingdom and above class. Organisms in the same phylum share a fundamental structural framework or a common evolutionary body plan

37. Food safety org.: USDA.  Short for United States Department of Agriculture

38. Film spools: REELS. 

39. Peter the Great, for one: TSAR.  CZAR also fits, but why tsar?  [according to American Heritage Dictionary]  "Tsar" and "czar" are simply two different English spellings of the same Russian title for a monarch or supreme ruler, with both words etymologically derived from the Roman title "Caesar"

40. Not 'neath: OER.

41. Spot with many spots: LOT.  As in a parking lot

42. Genetic material: DNA. So, is RNA a genetic material?  Would it have worked as an answer here? Yes, RNA is genetic material. While DNA is the primary genetic material for humans and most other cellular life, RNA serves as the sole genetic material for many viruses (such as HIV and Influenza). Additionally, all living cells use RNA to translate genetic information (code) from DNA into functional proteins [according to National Human Genome Research Inst]

46. Blood bank supply: PLASMA.  Moe-ku:

 

        What's the screen format

        Of Count Dracula's TV?

        Why, PLASMA, of course!  

47. __ skates: ROLLER.  ICE was too short here, but see the next entry:

48. Worldwide cold spell: ICE AGE.    

50. Scottish hillside: BRAE.  I had CRAG first, but after correcting I learned this about the difference between crag and brae: "Crag and brae both describe natural geographical elevations, but they differ in their appearance, composition, and regional usage. A crag is a steep, rugged, or projecting rock. A brae is a term from Scottish English and Northern English referring specifically to a sloping hillside, typically leading down to a river" [according to Merriam-Webster]

51. Shoelace hole: EYELET.  Whilst I still have shoes that involve tying laces, I really enjoy my Skechers "step-in" shoes.  The pair I wear most often even come with eyelets even though those are unnecessary

53. Mountain hangout: LODGE. Après-ski hangout

54. Role models: IDOLS.  A direct rejection of the second of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:4) "It strictly prohibits creating physical, graven images or idols of anything in heaven, earth, or sea to worship them"

55. Curses: BANES.  My friend the Thesaurussaurus agrees

59. Fill until full: SATE.  This happened far too often when we were on our Iberian Peninsula trip - but I suppose that gaining just 3 pounds over the course of 23 days isn't too bad.  I swore I wasn't going to eat bread again for quite a while and my first "meal" after getting home was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich 

60. Other, in Oaxaca: OTRA.  We probably heard this word a time or two when we were in Spain 

61. Steal a glance: PEEK.  Moe-ku:

        The paparazzi

        Were rated 5 stars.  It was

        Their PEEK performance 

63. Humanities degs.: B.A.s. Another of many abbreviations used today - Bachelor of Arts

65. __ kwon do: TAE. Fun Fact:  "Taekwondo" can be translated as tae ("strike with foot"), kwon ("strike with hand"), and do ("the art or way"). Taekwondo (or Tae Kwon Do) Moe-ku:

        New martial arts course

        Features a "touchless" routine

        Known as TAE Kwon Don't  

66. Extreme sport with bunny hops: BMX. Not sure if this is AI generated or not but if I hadn't googled it I don't know that I could imagine it ...

As I conclude this blog, I am still wondering if there was another meaning to the collective entries, but I won't lose sleep over it.  Please feel free to comment below if you think otherwise or agree.  Obrigado y Eskarikosko (thank you in Portuguese and Basque)

See you again next month - Chairman Moe 

Tuesday, July 7, 2026, Matthew Luter

  The best title for this puzzle would have to simply be the reveal, COME TOGETHER, because the circled letters spell COME as they slowly come together in each theme clue/answer.

20 Across. Question, as the opposing side's witness: CROSS EXAMINE.

34 Across. Settings that reinforce personal biases: ECHO CHAMBERS.

41 Across. Tool for monitoring blood sugar levels: GLUCOSE METER.

55 Across. Classic Beatles song, or an apt description of the progression of this puzzle's circles: COME TOGETHER.

Nothing as dubious as the above raccoon seems to be planning, just a well crafted puzzle from Matthew Luter. You can find his website here.

Across:
1. Baked desserts: PIES.

5. "Shoot!": DRAT.

9. Threaded fastener: SCREW.

14. Kendrick of "Pitch Perfect": ANNA. Name #1

15. Learning by memorization: ROTE.

16. Throw with effort: HEAVE.

17. A little naughty: RACY.

18. Big brass horn: TUBA.

19. Prodded: URGED.

20. [Theme]

23. Location of all but two NATO members: EUROPE.

24. Overly: TOO.

25. Covered in cinders: ASHY.

29. Cell service letters: LTE. LTE stands for Long Term Evolution. It is the standard 4G wireless technology that powers your mobile internet, streaming, and calls when you are not connected to Wi-Fi. It delivers fast, reliable data speeds that are significantly smoother than older 3G networks.

30. List-ending abbr.: ETC. (as long as we are explaining abbreviations:) Etc. stands for the Latin phrase et cetera, which translates literally to "and the rest" or "and other things" in English.

32. Giants legend Mays: WILLIE. Name #2

34. [Theme]

37. Breathe hard: PANT.

39. Language similar to Thai: LAO. I found this to be a rather nasty Natick when crossed with 31 down...

40. Fashioned: MADE.

41. [Theme]

44. Stop working: RETIRE.

45. Icarus, to Daedalus: SON.

46. The first "A" of Reddit's AMA: ASK. (AMA = ask me anything)

49. Landfill output: ODOR.

50. Some short albums: EPS. Extended Play, (I have never seen one...)

53. No longer surprised by: USED TO. (I would be surprised if I saw an EP Album...)

55. [Theme Reveal]

58. Was able to: COULD.

61. Comedian Trevor: NOAH. Name #3

62. "Take this": HERE. 

Used to the extreme in the Goes Wrong Show...

63. Possessed: OWNED.

64. Sushi seaweed: NORI.

65. Zone: AREA.

66. Trudges heavily: PLODS.

67. "What __ is new?": ELSE.

68. Element seen all over Las Vegas: NEON.

Down:
1. Package: PARCEL.

2. Bored by routine: IN A RUT.

3. "Do it again!": ENCORE.

4. Authorization: SAY SO.

5. The Electric Mayhem bandleader: DR. TEETH. Name #4

6. Common sauce base: ROUX.

How to Roux...

7. Facing the pitcher: AT BAT.

8. Spanish "I love you": TE AMO. (Te=you, Amo=I love)

9. Give the cold shoulder: SHUN.

10. Individually wrapped breakfast choice: CEREAL BAR.

11. Cleaning cloth: RAG.

12. Night of anticipation: EVE.

13. Hitched: WED.

21. Ronnie who sang lead on "Be My Baby": SPECTOR.  Name #5

22. Corn Belt state: IOWA.

26. Luge or skeleton: SLED.

27. Add to the staff: HIRE.

28. Desired response to a promposal: YES.

31. Kenneth of fashion: COLE. (The other half of a nasty Natick...)  Name #6

33. Gigantic: IMMENSE.

34. Surrounded: ENCIRCLED. Like today's theme letters...

35. Pic taker: CAM. I call foul on this one, as I wanted SLR... abbreviated picture = abbreviated camera? Meh...

36. Weeding tools: HOES.

37. Claimed no contest, maybe: PLED.

38. Prefix with correct or complete: AUTO.

41. Miracle-__: garden brand: GRO.

42. Appear to be: SEEM.

43. Difficult question: TOUGHIE.

46. Show some stick-to-itiveness?: ADHERE. 😀

47. Audiophile's system: STEREO.

48. Like BTS or bibimbap: KOREAN. (Either you know it, or you don't. Perps to the rescue...)

51. Tubular pasta: PENNE.

52. Perch at a pub: STOOL.

54. Hawke of "Before Sunrise": ETHAN. Name #7

56. Action figures?: ODDS. 😏

57. Rowboat pair: OARS.

58. Many a "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" character: COP.

59. Bird in Tootsie Pop ads: OWL.

60. Game with Reverse cards: UNO.

The Grid

Today's hasty review is brought to you from a hotel room in Bar Harbor, Maine. I am on vacation (sort of) and I spent most of my day here:

Jordan Pond

CE:D out...

ฅᨐฅ

Monday, July 6, 2026, Katie Hale

Theme:  Gravity brings me down!

Katie Hale, assistant crossword editor of the Los Angeles Times and today's constructor, starts the week on a grounded note, with a very down-to-earth puzzle.  The big reveal of the theme occurs here:

54-Across. Fashion house release with autumnal colors, or what the ends of 20-, 34-, and 41-Across are: FALL COLLECTION.  This reviewer is familiar with the cycle of seasonal fashion collections, but the answers referenced here contain a collection of synonyms for a different kind of FALL -- the kind where you plummet to earth.

20-Across. Official clearance to miss class: PERMISSION SLIP.  I remember needing this type of note from the teacher if I had to be in the hallway after the bell rang.  But like so many words in English, SLIP has another meaning -- it's a synonym for FALL.

34-Across. Perform dramatic flips down a sprung track: POWER TUMBLE.  A sprung track is an elevated runway with flexible fiberglass rods or steel springs beneath a padded surface to provide the rebound necessary for the multiple high-speed flips and twists of power tumbling.  (Congrats if you knew this!)  And TUMBLE is another synonym for FALL.

41-Across. Outdoor family getaway: CAMPING TRIP.  I don't go camping with my mom anymore, but I did make a TRIP to the ER with her a couple of weeks ago when she TRIPped.  You will have noticed that TRIP is another synonym for FALL.

As we get older, FALLing is our Kryptonite.  Steady on your feet, there, Solvers!  Let's make our way carefully through the rest of the clues and answers.

Across:

1. Stylish and classy: CHIC.

5. Olivia Rodrigo album with the hit "Vampire": GUTS.  If you say so!  Solved with perps (perpendicular entries).  Here's the official video (with some language not for kids):

9. PD boss: SARGE.  A Sergeant (SARGE) supervises Detectives and Uniformed Officers, but ranks beneath a Lieutenant, Captain, Commander, Deputy Chief (or Assistant Chief), and the Chief of Police.  Your Police Department may vary.

14. Nike's Swoosh, for one: LOGO.

15. Fairy tale brute: OGRE.

16. "Stop the launch!": ABORT.

17. Wall St. investment opportunities: IPOS.  Initial Public Offerings.  These are the moments when private companies transition to publicly traded entities by selling shares on a public stock exchange.  This is also when early investors in the private companies can recoup their money and get out.

18. "The Keep" novelist Jennifer: EGAN.  Ms Egan's 2006 gothic horror thriller was a national bestseller.

19. Makers of mysterious footprints in the Himalayas: YETIS.  You remember Yeti; he's the Himalyan counterpart of our North American Bigfoot (AKA Sasquatch).

Yeti and Bigfoot

20. [Theme clue]

23. Little hellion: IMP.

24. Basketball three-pointer: TREY.  "Trey" is basketball slang for a three-point shot.

25. Happens: OCCURS.  Stuff occurs.

28. "As you wish": SO BE IT.

33. NHL great Bobby: ORR.  A retired champion of the National Hockey League, who is still a favorite in crossword grids.

Bobby Orr, 1970

34. [Theme clue]

37. CBS military law drama: NCIS.   This series portrays a fictional team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.  I delegate the watching thereof to DH.

39. Small battery size: AAA.

40. Nintendo consoles with balance boards: WIIS.

Life is but a dream ... or a video game.

41. [Theme clue]

46. Actress Dennings: KAT.  Kat Dennings is an American actress known for her starring roles as Max Black in the CBS sitcom 2 Broke Girls (2011–2017) and as Darcy Lewis in the Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero film and television franchise beginning with Thor (2011).

Kat Dennings in 2 Broke Girls

47. Madrid's nación: ESPAÑA.

Madrid is magnificent.

48. Happened after: ENSUED.

50. Boast: BRAG.

53. Bowling pin count: TEN.

54. [Theme clue]

61. Amazon basin bean: CACAO.

Cacao pods and beans

62. Trash: RUIN.  As a verb, "trash" means to throw away, destroy, or severely criticize something.  DH and I once suffered through a night in Reno when the hotel guests in the room next to ours trashed the place, and security personnel seemed loathe to interfere.  Staff members were removing broken furniture from that room when we ventured out in the morning.

63. Org. with a "Know Your Rights" handbook: ACLU.  The American Civil Liberties Union was founded in 1920 to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the U.S. constitution.

64. Opener: INTRO.

65. __ off: angry: TEED.  Everyone seems to agree that this expression came from golf, but it's hard to understand how.  The nearest I can come is that when you take a hard swing at someone or something -- even if you use your words! -- you're pretty angy.

66. Bog material: PEAT.  A bog is a wetland where partially decayed plant matter accumulates over thousands of years, forming PEAT.  The water in a bog comes almost entirely from rainfall, and is acidic.  Specialized plants thrive in the low oxygen bog, and their remains trap vast amounts of carbon, helping to regulate the global climate.  Ireland has famously harvested peat for centuries as an energy source, but is now closing its commercial peat bog operations to slow climate change.

Soaring oil prices have contributed to individuals harvesting peat, 
even while commercial operations are closed by the government.

67. Black tea variety: ASSAM.

68. Puts in: ADDS.

69. Ice cream brand: EDY'S.  We never see EDY'S in L.A.  The same company is called Dreyer's here.

Down:

1. Trim, as fingernails: CLIP.

2. "Fingers crossed" feeling: HOPE.

3. "The Rite of Spring" composer Stravinsky: IGOR.  Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) was a composer and conductor.  His ballet "The Rite of Spring" caused a near-riot at its Paris premiere in 1913 due to its modernist music and choreography.

Igor Stravinsky

4. Astronomical: COSMIC.

5. Becomes a paid athlete: GOES PRO.

6. Fluffy winter boots: UGGS.  "Ugg boots" have a long history in Australia, and have been commercially manufactured there since the 1930s, but the UGG brand was founded in Santa Monica, California in 1978 and primarily marketed to surfers, who were the main users of ugg boots in Australia. I bought Darling Daughter's first pair in a surf shop in L.A. -- but I did once visit New Jersey and see groups of tween girls wearing them in the mall in the winter.

UGG boots in their natural habitat

7. Characteristic: TRAIT.

8. Mister, in 47-Across: SEÑOR.

9. "Well, that's not what I think": SAYS YOU.

10. Eve's second son: ABEL.  

Abel and Cain

11. Indian flatbread: ROTI.

12. Customizable part of a tennis racket: GRIP.

13. Non-earthlings, for short: ETS.  Extraterrestrials.

21. Post-alarm utterance: I'M UP.

22. Wasp's home: NEST.

25. Two-tone ocean predators: ORCAS.

26. Pinch closed, as pie crust: CRIMP.

Basic crimping technique

27. __ bag: party favors: SWAG.

29. Audi competitor: BMW.

30. Chargeable transport: E-BIKE.

31. Homeric saga about the Trojan War: ILIAD.

32. Evaluate: TEST.

33. "In the past ... ": ONCE.

35. Have dinner: EAT.

36. Not often seen: RARE.

38. Mud wrap venue: SPA.

42. Like a flower garden during spring: IN BLOOM.

43. Drug cop: NARC.  Narcotics officer.  Baby boomers also used NARC as a verb meaning to snitch on someone, especially in regard to drug use.

The tee shirt says "Don't be a narc."

44. Means (to): INTENDS.

45. Fraction of a min.: PSEC.  A picosecond is a unit of time equal to one trillionth of a second.  

49. Take off a certain adhesive: UNTAPE.

51. Major artery: AORTA.

52. Put on a certain adhesive: GLUED.

54. Ardent supporters: FANS.

55. Performs in a play: ACTS.

56. Video game archaeologist Croft: LARA.  Lara Croft is the main protagonist of the video game franchise Tomb Raider.  She made the leap to film in 2001, portrayed by Angelina Jolie.

Lara Croft as she appears in the video games

57. Wasn't honest: LIED.

58. Frosted, as a cake: ICED.

59. Regenerist brand: OLAY.

Being a woman requires specialized lotions for various body parts.

60. Snack bowl filler: NUTS.

61. Spy org.: CIA.

Here's the grid:

Solvers,

I DNK (did not know) "The Keep" novelist Jennifer EGAN, the basketball three-pointer TREY, what a sprung track is or the POWER TUMBLE that takes place thereon, or actress KAT Dennings, even though I've covered her in a previous blog post.  I found the middle east block pretty tough, where TUMBLE and KAT both lived.  I'd say that Katie's puzzle was challenging for a Monday!  On the other hand, I FIR (finished it right), thanks to perps (perpendicular entries) and the occasional WAG (wild ass guess). 

How about you?  Were you FANS of this puzzle?  Were you NUTS about it?

Or did you go down to RUIN and defeat, and get TEED off by the exercise?

BRAG about it in the comments!

-- NaomiZ

Sunday July 5, 2026 Sheldon Polonsky

Theme:  "EXTRAVEHICULAR ACTIVITIES" - A mode of transportation if added to each common phrase.

23. Most popular member of a 1960s television family?: FAVORITE JETSON. Favorite son.

38. "People walk all over me," "No one appreciates my rugged good looks," etc.?: CARPET PEEVES. Pet peeves.

41. Just a hint of flavor in some ice cream?: VANILLA TEASE. Ill at lease.

66. With 71-Across, terse rejection note?: SUBMISSION. 71. See 66-Across: IMPOSSIBLE. Mission Impossible.

95. Part-time gig at a summer camp?: CABINSIDE JOB. Inside job.

98. Perfect nursery gift for a future astronomer?: PLANET MOBILE. T-Mobile.

117. Sign of overwork for a bird of prey?: EAGLE EYESTRAIN. Eagle eyes.

Congrats to Sheldon on his LAT debut! 

What a creative take on a common addition theme. So inventive. Great title also.

Across:

1. Does some chiropractic work: ADJUSTS.

8. Story links: STAIRS.

14. Southeast Africa's "Sunshine City": HARARE. Zimbabwe's capital city.

20. __ suit: LEISURE. Popular in the 1970s. Learning moment for me.

21. Move quietly: TIPTOE.

22. Takes a hand in Vegas, perhaps: ELOPES.

25. Keep time with rhythmically: CLAP TO.

26. Actor Guinness: ALEC.

27. Shields on some helmets: VISORS.

28. Clock sound: TOCK. Tick-tock.

30. Pinch: DRIB.

31. "I won't __ words ... ": MINCE.

32. Reading with medium comprehension?: AURA. OK, psychic reading.

33. Pore strip brand: BIORE.

34. National park in Maine: ACADIA.

45. Read quickly: SCAN.

46. Antidiscrimination in the workplace inits.: EEO.

47. Hold firmly: GRIP.

48. Party planners: HOSTS.

49. Den fixture: HDTV.

51. Display an unfair lack of confidence in: SELL SHORT.

54. Great pain: AGONY. Had more intense reaction to my second Shingles shot. 

58. Cornstarch brand: ARGO.

62. Acceptable: OKAY.

63. Nebraska city: OMAHA.

64. Less substantial: AIRIER.

73. Expressway entrance: ON RAMP.

74. Smock stain: PAINT.

76. Grilled fruta on some tacos: PINA. Tacos al pastor.

77. "Get outta here!": SCAT.

78. Panna __: Italian dessert: COTTA.

79. High-fiber cereal ingredient: WHEAT BRAN.

84. Heath bar alternative: SKOR.

87. Cut: SAWED.

89. Anderson of "WKRP in Cincinnati": LONI. Born in St. Paul.

90. BOLO kin: APB.

93. __ Games: Fortnite company: EPIC.

101. Brick-and-mortar workers: MASONS.

102. Apply (for): PUTIN.

103. Digital read: E MAG. 

104. Bypasses: SKIPS.

107. Pt. of YMCA: ASSN.

108. Spellbound: RAPT.

109. Naval fleet: ARMADA.

111. Sticky stuff: GLUE.

115. Cesar who played the Joker: ROMERO.

120. Summer months in Argentina: ENEROS.

121. Ankle-related: TARSAL.

122. Taken for granted: ASSUMED.

123. Focus group?: LENSES. Camera focus.

124. Register: ENROLL.

125. Catch of the day choice: SEA BASS. Huge.

Down:

1. Italian auto, familiarly: ALFA.

2. "Agreed!": DEAL.

3. "__ Talkin'": 1975 Bee Gees hit: JIVE.

4. Games org. that added a "P" to its initials in 2019: USOC. United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee.

5. California's Big __: SUR.

6. Not even a little important: TRIVIAL.

7. Took hold: SET IN.

8. Missouri city nickname: ST JOE.  Jesse James was killed in St. Joseph on April 3, 1882.

9. Subscription level: TIER.

10. Bldg. units: APTS.

11. Part of FWIW: IT'S.

12. Unearth: ROOT UP.

13. Spanish gentlemen: SENORES.

14. "Darn it all to __!": HECK. Do you use this in your daily conversation?

15. Everyone: ALL.

16. Band aide: ROADIE.

17. Rubber-stamp: APPROVE.

18. Pensioner: RETIREE.

19. Anka song with a Spanish title: ESO BESO.

24. Key near F1: ESC.

29. Like a good advertising jingle: CATCHY.

31. Thou squared: MIL.

32. Amount to: ARE.

33. Inclination: BENT.

34. Many sports nos.: AVGS. 44. Inexact fig.: EST.

35. Give a darn: CARE.

36. Source of indigo: ANIL.

37. Tact-ical experts?: DIPLOMATS. Great clue. 

38. Purr former: CAT.

39. Breakfast tea variety: ASSAM.

40. Cushion: PAD.

42. Nautical greetings: AHOYS.

43. The Raptors, on schedules: TOR. Toronto Raptors. 

50. Unknown qualities: VARIABLES.

52. __ milk: SKIM.

53. Locking device: HASP.

55. Trot or canter: GAIT.

56. Omega, in physics: OHM. Ω (omega) is the symbol for the ohm, the SI unit of electrical resistance.

57. Snooze: NAP.

59. Barbecue bone: RIB.

60. Take shape: GEL.

61. Mine deposit: ORE.

63. "Got this, boss": ON IT.

64. Java's home: ASIA. Java is the 13th largest island in the world.

65. Ain't right?: ISN'T.

66. Brillo rival: SOS. Been loving Scrub Mommy. Prettier than Scrub Daddy.

67. Mom's bro: UNC.

68. Bali garment: BRA.

69. Big day for a co.: IPO.

70. Protein bar grain: OAT.

72. News stands?: OP-EDS. Fresh clue!

75. Sounding congested: NASAL.

78. Black Sea peninsula: CRIMEA.

79. "Wonder Woman" backdrop, briefly: WWI.

80. Lady bird: HEN.

81. Spanish red: ROJO.

82. Soon, quaintly: ANON.

83. Pen tips: NIBS.

85. Eager: KEEN.

86. Take one's pick: OPT.

88. 1860s prez: ABE.

90. Outfits: APPAREL.

91. Guest's guest: PLUS ONE.

92. Some cricket players: BATSMEN.

94. Try for the title: COMPETE.

95. Smoke, briefly: CIG.

96. Deadlock: IMPASSE.

97. Some govt. lawyers: DAS.

99. SF NFL team: NINERS.

100. Luzon peninsula on Manila Bay: BATAAN. Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. 

104. Olfaction: SMELL.

105. "Funny Face" actress Thompson who wrote the "Eloise" books: KAY.

106. Think tank output: IDEAS.

108. Dress for Less discount store: ROSS. Never been to a Ross store.

109. To boot: ALSO.

110. "It's been __!": REAL.

111. Vittles: GRUB.

112. Tibetan monk: LAMA.

113. Informal reversals: UIES.

114. Winds down: ENDS.

116. Fish-to-be: ROE.

118. "So frustrating!": GRR.

119. PreCheck org.: TSA.

Belated "Happy Birthday" to Barry G, hope all's well in your world. Thanks for remembering my birthday. 

July 2, 2016

Thank you to everyone for your sweet birthday wishes. 

C.C.