Or, if you want to get in touch with the Dread Pirate Roberts: Elwes, CARY@ID.com
I did a cursory Google search for Elizabeth Duker-Gold, and found her on LinkedIn and Facebook, but with no clear indication that I had the correct person; I can tell it's her LA Times debut, and if this is her overall first publication, then double congrats~! I loved the clever theme of this puzzle - varied common words/phrases with a & t, or "@", in the middle, restructured to resemble an email address, and nothing related to today's bank holiday. Very cool, but some of the people may not be that common - I did know all five of them, partly from doing crosswords. There was some Friday fill, to be expected, and a few that had alternate answers - see below - plus one or two "meh" ones, maybe~? Standard grid, no circles, 19 3LWs, just 6 names - excluding the ones intended for the theme. The five themer email "addresses", no reveal [ BTW, the text format of the crossword screwed up my blogging due to the use of < and >, which are html code separators ];
18. To: Comedian Michael, bedding salesman [.com] - CHE(AT)SHEETS - Michael Che @sheets.com, which I think is a valid website . . . yup
24. To: Athlete Jackson, lawn products salesman [.com] - BO(AT)YARDS - Bo Jackson @yards.com - Bo of both major league baseball and football fame, and 'yards' would be a good website/email address for lawn products - it does come up as a website, but no content
36. To: Broadcast journalist Anderson, surgical supply salesman [.com] - COOPER(AT)ORS - Anderson Cooper @ors.com - "Operating RoomS" but not a real site - and not my buddy Cooper the Australian Shepherd - see 58D. Here's Anderson being interviewed by Triumph the Insult Comic Dog
I'd play the segment, but NSFW
50. To: Actor Cheadle, chemistry lab supply salesman [.com] - DON(AT)IONS - Don Cheadle @ions.com - I know Don from his role as "Basher" in the Ocean's Eleven, et. al. heist movies - and a valid website for the TV channel Ion
57. To: Singer Bruno, bulletin board salesman [.com] - MARS(AT)TACKS - my favorite break out ( if not my personal choice in music artists, but our host likes him 😁) - Bruno Mars @tacks.com - and this one led to a "non-secure" go back~! link ( I wrote this while still down on LI, so I was on my brother's network )
Hey Tom, it's "not unusual" to find Martians invading Earth . . .
1. Jaguar or Charger: CAR - I do the Downs first, had two wrong fills to start; I knew this was either NFL - two teams in the national football league - or two automobiles
Trevor Lawrence, and, uh, well, that's not Justin Herbert, and #19 ( on the helmet ) was retired
. . . thanks, A i ~!
4. Orchard basket: BUSHEL - so my "AMASS" at 7D was wrong . . .
10. Gillette brand: ATRA
14. Bullpen stat: ERA
15. "Reckon maybe, yeah": "IS'POSE..." - slang for "I suppose" - I am feeling ambivalent about this fill; it's valid, but is it a Twurd~? Is it 'meh'~?
16. Urge on: GOAD
17. Part of a journey: LEG
part of a "legs" journey
20. Jazz great James: ETTA - Crossword staple, name #1
22. Cropped up: AROSE
23. ThirdLove purchase: BRA - not that I "knew" this, but I had _R_, and it sounded like a lingerie website - so what are the first Two Loves~? I could take a guess . . .
27. Like a best-case scenario: IDEAL
29. "Love it!": "SOGOOD~!"
30. Queerplatonic orientation, briefly: AROACE - short for aromantic asexual - the Wiki, if you care to know more - aah, Friday . . .
31. Dirge: LAMENT - ELEGY did not fit
35. Bills replaced by coins in Canada and Australia: ONES - tell us more, CanadianEh!
39. Mil. no-show: AWOL - Absent WithOut Leave - oh, SNAFU - now that's FUBAR . . .
41. Haberdashery purchase: TIE PIN
42. People in the background of a selfie, perhaps: RANDOS - Ah. Right. "random person" in 21st century-speak; I had the last two letters, so I went with WALDOS - hey, I could see that working . . .
I found him~!
44. Dillydally: LINGER
49. Juvenile eel: ELVER - Learning moment for me; more here
53. Pub pour: ALE
54. Beloved, in Bordeaux: CHERI - Frawnche
56. Set that might have an OLED screen: HDTV - Organic Light-Emitting Diode, and High Definition; 'Set' threw me at first - a TeleVision set, which, now that I think of it, is kinda weird . . . it's a set of electronic tubes, circuits~? And I did not know what the "O" stood for, even knowing what an LED was
61. Taste: SIP
62. Show opener: ACTI - Ha~! Had this last Friday, too
63. Leash: TETHER
64. Part of a rock band?: ORE - Clever - new way to clue the old fill - a 'band', or stratum in geology
65. Smart home system by Google: NEST - I bought a "smart" thermostat for my house, but the furnace uses just two wire leads - so it's useless; the furnace tech I needed to call two weeks ago told me not to bother with a smart device - he is if the mindset that the most efficient way to heat/cool one's house is to "set it and forget it" - thanks Ron Popeil~!
66. Grooms, as feathers: PREENS
67. Homer's neighbor: NED - Pffft - Ned . . . Name #2
DOWN:
1. Red carpet VIPs: CELEBS - Dah~! Not A LISTS
2. Defiant reply: "ARETOO~!" - Dah~!! Not I AM NOT
3. Motley: RAGTAG - I toyed with CALICO, which we had last Saturday
Definitely "ragtag" - Mötley Crüe
4. Pen name: BIC - another clever clue - literally, the 'name' of a pen maker, ergo, name #3
5. See to a seat, casually: USH - more 21st century-speak for "ushering"
6. Pickle serving: SPEAR - I guess in the 21st century, it's 'one syllable easier' than to ask for a pick-le
7. Stockpile: HOARD - Dah~!!! Not AMASS
8. These, in Spanish: ESTOS - and yet I nailed the Español word . . .
9. "__ is more": LESS - well, more or less, I guess . . . 🙄
10. Number that's always positive: AGE - Ah. True. Mine is getting further along on the spinny-wheel thing on websites these days
11. Cutesy name for paw pads: TOE BEANS
12. Unpleasant routine: RAT RACE
13. Media revenue source: AD SALES
19. Trust-worthy figure?: HEIR
21. From __ Z: A TO - three out of four two-word answers in a row
25. Texter's encouragement to try something new: YOLO - You Only Live Once - but maybe in multiple universes~? - ooooh . . . trippy
26. Assimilates: ADAPTS - I wanted adOpts
28. Portal: DOOR - into another plane of the multi-verse . . .
30. __ the Hun: ATTILA - he lived an "active, outdoor lifestyle", per George Carlin; name #4
32. __ fun: noodle dish: MEI - never heard of this - the "E" came from knowing the themer that crossed
33. Bard's before: ERE - poetic
34. Suede quality: NAP - Sleep quality; NAP time
36. New fans: CONVERTS - CON-verts, the noun, not the verb
37. Like a quaint shoppe: OLDE - ye olde quaynte shoppe
38. "I got this!": "ONIT~! - Dah~! I had ON ME, like the check/tab
39. Local guy in The Onion headlines: AREA MAN - this was a total unknown for me - an example
40. "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird" poet Stevens: WALLACE - name #5, no clue - the poem, sort of a Zen-like "what is the sound of one hand clapping" mental exercise
43. Antarctic predator: ORCA
SE(ri)AL killer
45. Research org. with facilities in Bethesda: NIH - National Institutes of Health - filled via perps on my second pass - the website, if you care
46. Jake Gyllenhaal, to Jamie Lee Curtis: GODSON - huh. I tried COUSIN, which sort of helped, as the "O", "S" and the "N" actually worked; name(ish)
47. Complete: ENTIRE
48. Answered, in a way: RSVP'ed - I like it, but YMMV
50. Put off: DETER - Not DELAY, and not DEFER, so I didn't understand the crossing themer at first
51. Provide an address: ORATE - the "speechify" version of address, like Lincoln's Gettysburg
52. Not wide-ranging: NICHE - ah. Good one. I knew what we were looking for, but needed perps
55. URL intro: HTTP - the "other" kind of address; http//www.crosswordcorner.blogspot.com
58. Gather dust: SIT - gather pet fur; dog-sit - Cooper is so bad in the summer, my clothes were covered
we stopped to "smell the flowers"
59. "KPop Demon Hunters" voice actor Jeong: KEN - no clue, name #6 - his Wiki
The prolific ZDL strikes again! This time, he's imparting some of his hard-won knowledge for our solving pleasure.
60A. "Say 'aye' forcefully and project confidence," e.g.: PRO TIPS. I didn't notice that this was the revealer at first. PRO TIPS are useful pieces of advice, supposedly from someone with experience in the matter. They are often called "life hacks" on the internet, so you know they must be true.
Don't believe everything you read!
7D. "Hug the shore until you reach the ocean," e.g.: SOUND ADVICE. The clued directions tell how to go around an inlet, i.e. ADVICE to walk along a SOUND.
29D. "Pair it with thyme or rosemary," e.g.: SAGE WISDOM. Just add parsley to the mix and the SAGE WISDOM would be like Paul Simon's "Scarborough Fair."
31D. "The cinnamon version tastes better than the original," e.g.: LIFE LESSON. LIFE cereal comes in several varieties, but the LESSON I've learned is that the original always tastes best.
A TIP of the hat to Mr. Levy
I liked this puzzle. All three of the phrases work in place of PRO TIPS as they stand (vertically!). But their TIPS (the bottom ends: ADVICE, WISDOM and LESSON) are also synonyms of TIPS by themselves. A double dipper! That all the themers were puns was icing on the cake.
And that was just the TIP of the iceberg!
Across:
1. Completely smitten: GAGA. Just like Lady GAGA's fans - the Little Monsters.
5. Iraq port city: BASRA.
10. Policy chief: CZAR. Thought WONK, at first.
14. Like some history and hygiene: ORAL. Thought words that start with "H" ?
15. Cacophonous: AROAR. Thought NOISY, at first. I'm doing a lot a thinking on this puzzle...most of it wrong.
16. Sharpen: HONE.
17. Kiss, in Cancún: BESO. A Spanish kiss!
18. Piano composition: ETUDE. Not EBONY or IVORY which are the composition of the piano keys. An ETUDE is a short piece designed as a practice exercise.
19. Tiny amount: IOTA. The ninth letter of the Greek alphabet is the smallest one to write, just one little stroke of a pen, thus it eventually came to reference tiny things.
24. Exercise that may wind up in a playground: FIRE DRILL. When I saw "wind up," my first thought (oh boy, here we go again) was how I used to twist and spin on a swing.
27. Core muscles: ABS. Body anatomy, part 1.
30. Longtime Buick model: LE SABRE.
31. Acid rock's acid: LSD. It's how you get far out, man.
34. Neck wrap: BOA. He probably meant a feather BOA.
35. Share an office workstation: HOT DESK. I guess it's HOT because whoever arrives first gets to sit there in the accompanying HOT seat. Or is that in the boss's office?
36. Debt letters: IOU. This means I. O. U. which is shorthand for, "I'll gladly pay you Tuesday..."
37. "Casablanca" star, affectionately: BOGIE. Humphrey Bogart was above par as an actor, but below par as a golfer. Just kidding. He was single-digit handicap player, and was considered one of the best golfers in Hollywood's Golden Age.
39. Egg cells: OVA.
40. Minor disagreements: TIFFS.
42. Realm: ARENA.
43. Cars singer Ocasek: RIC. RIC Ocasek, lead singer, songwriter and oldest member of the Cars was over 30 (ancient in pop music terms) when the band struck it big. He wore a wig to fit in.
44. "What's Your Country Song" singer Thomas: RHETT. Thomas Rhett is a Grammy-nominated country music singer and songwriter who blends contemporary country with rock & roll.
45. In need of a towel: WET.
46. Tourism prefix: ECO.
47. 20-Across alternative: AOL. I haven't used WAHOO or AOL this century.
48. Gymnast's move: FLIP. They do this to see who goes first.
50. Current fashion: TREND.
52. Chest muscles: PECS. Body anatomy, part 2.
55. Exactly: JUST SO.
57. Winter fishing tool: ICE SAW. I saw you fishing on a frozen lake.
59. Anxiety-related med. condition: OCD. Amongst other letters, I have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder tendencies. I used great restraint in not fixing this problem:
How could someone leave it this way?
60. [theme]
64. "Chandelier" singer: SIA. SIA is an Australian singer and songwriter known for her powerful voice...and bizarre wigs.
65. Ipanema's city: RIO. Ipanema is a neighborhood in RIO de Janeiro, Brazil.
66. Medicine derived from the bark of the willow tree: ASPIRIN.
67. Sphere: ORB.
68. Flow stopper: DAM.
69. A few: NOT MANY. I figure this is the number of you crossword solvers who also do Sudoku.
70. Sudoku figs.: NOS. Figures are numbers. So, how many of you also solve the Sudoku?
Down:
1. Prefer to be called: GO BY. The great Asian desert prefers to be called Gobi.
2. Region: AREA.
3. Nasty wound: GASH.
4. Cool and distant: ALOOF.
5. Sweetie: BAE.
6. Professional who specializes in oil cleanups?: ART RESTORER. Winner: Best Clue.
7. [theme]
8. Blip producer: RADAR BEACON. The government recently declassified sealed UFO files, and now we can all see fuzzy pics of blurry objects.
9. "__ you sure?": ARE.
10. Put on ice: CHILL.
11. Google Meet alternative: ZOOM.
12. Opening payment: ANTE.
13. Backup camera's view: REAR.
21. Output of some furnaces: OIL HEAT. The output is just HEAT, regardless of the fuel source.
23. Marvel assassin played by Jennifer Garner: ELEKTRA. In spite of her 2005 movie getting a dismal 11% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, she reprised her role in other Marvel Cinematic Universe films.
25. __ Speedwagon: REO. The most popular classic band car in crosswords. It is an ancestor of the pickup truck.
This 1926 Model G is 100 years old!
26. E-file org.: IRS. Internal Revenue Service.
27. "Mamma Mia!" band: ABBA. ABBA is also common crossword fodder. "Here we go again..."
28. Obnoxious one: BOOR.
29. [theme]
31. [theme]
32. Out of shape, say: SOFT.
33. Sign of disuse: DUST.
38. Lacking skill: INEPT.
41. "Wouldn't that be nice!": I HOPE.
48. Scandinavian inlet: FJORD. Before I looked at this clue, I had FJ_R_ and my rusty brain immediately went to "F-JARS." Anyone got change for a $5?
49. Saint __: Lesser Antilles island: LUCIA.
50. Body part with 27- and 52-Across: TORSO. Body anatomy, part 3.
51. Use, as a ladle: DIP IN.
53. City southeast of Alexandria: CAIRO. It looks nearly due east to me.
Oh, that Alexandria.
54. Ear cleaners: SWABS. Ear cleaners: Q-TIPS.
56. Spread: SPAN.
58. "Teach Your Children" gp.: CSNY. In only their second live show ever, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young delivered a legendary performance at Woodstock in 1969.
"This is the second time we've ever played in front of people, man. We're scared s—less!"
61. Choose: OPT.
62. Actor Meadows: TIM. TIM logged ten seasons at SNL before branching out into movies.
Theme: Placee your bets. That's what it mens to ANTE UP. But to UP THE ANTE means something quite different, as we shall soon see.
This time the theme fill are in the down columns. This usually indicates that there is a relevant gimmick in play. This theme has a hidden word, and it is spelt in the reverse direction, oriented up rather than down. Did you find it?
3. Cold War force that included the Baltic Fleet and the Caspian Flotilla: SOVIET NAVY. The Soviet Navy played a large role during the Cold War, either confronting the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in western Europe or power projection to maintain its sphere of influence in eastern Europe.
9. Terms of endearment: PET NAMES. Things like "dear, sweetheart, or honey. "Fido" and "Spot" are not recommended.
38. Parental control software: NET NANNY. A popular parental control software designed to help parents monitor, filter, and manage their children's digital device usage.
31. Increases both risk and reward, or what 3-, 9-, or 38-Down does?: UPS THEANTE. Increase the demands, risks, or stakes in a situation to achieve a greater potential reward. It implies raising the level of intensity, whether you are negotiating a deal, raising a standard, or taking a bigger gamble.
The word ANTE is spelt up and split across each two-word theme entry. For an extra elegant touch, in each case the split is between the N and the T. Nicely done.
HI Gang - Jazzbumpa here. I'm not a gambler, but I'll bet you spotted this one. Now that we're in the game, let's see what we can do.
Across:
1. Ctrl+V action: PASTE. Computer command to insert a bit of copied text.
6. Stage accessory: PROP. [Short for property] any movable object used by actors on stage to support storytelling, distinct from scenery, costumes, or electrical equipment.
10. Spring bloom: IRIS. Iris is a flowering plant genus of 310 accepted species with showy flowers. As well as being the scientific name, iris is also widely used as a common name for all Iris species,
14. Affirms: AVOWS. Declares, states, or admits something openly, boldly, and unashamedly
15. __ and hearty: HALE. Being in robust good health, strong, and active, particularly when referring to an elderly person. Hrumpf!
16. List that may drop with a click: MENU. A user interface element that displays a list of options, commands, or tools.
17. Golfer's gouge: DIVOT. A small chunk of grass and dirt that is dug out of the ground while executing a golf shot..
18. Leave out: OMIT. To leave out, exclude, or fail to include something, whether intentionally or by accident.
19. Bus charge: FARE. The money you pay to ride a bus, train, taxi, airplane, or other transit vehicle. If it's en electric bus, this couold mean something entirely different.
20. Govt. support program: SSI. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a U.S. federal program that provides monthly cash payments to adults and children with disabilities, blindness, or those aged 65 and older who have limited income and resources. It is funded by general tax revenues, not Social Security taxes.
21. Summons one's last bits of energy: RUNS ON FUMES. Just about used up.
24. Wipe clean: ERASE. Delete, remove, wipe out.
26. Feel unwell: AIL. To experience physical or emotional pain, to be unwell, or distress.
27. Sets of eight: OCTADS. A group, sequence, or arrangement of exactly eight.
29. Complete fluke: DUMB LUCK. Refers to pure, unearned chance. It describes a situation where a positive outcome happens completely by accident, rather than through careful planning, strategy, or skill
34. Italian grandma: NONNA. Nagymama in Hungarian.
35. Lung sections: LOBES. Lobes are the distinct, sponge-like sections that make up your lungs. The right lung has three, the left lung has two.
36. Vietnamese soup: PHO. A traditional Vietnamese soup consisting of a rich, aromatic broth, flat rice noodles, fresh herbs, and thinly sliced meats
37. Division d'une nation: ETAT. A French State.
38. Congregation areas: NAVES. The main area of a Christian Church, exclusive of the alter section.
39. Mallorca, por ejemplo: ISLA. A Spanish Island, for example. It's off the east coast of the mainland.
40. Off-rd. ride: ATV. All terrain vehicle.
41. Meal with charoset and maror: SEDER. The Jewish Passover dinner, including a sweet, dark-colored mixture of finely chopped fruits and nuts, and bitter herbs.
42. Drum major's stick: BATON. A tall, weighted prop used to lead marching bands, command attention, and execute visual routines.
43. Nursery outfits: LAYETTES. Complete sets of clothing, bedding, and accessories prepared for a newborn baby.
45. Poet Langston: HUGHES. James Mercer Langston Hughes [1901 - 1967] was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist from Joplin, Missouri. An early innovator of jazz poetry, Hughes is best known as a leader of the Harlem Renaissance.
46. Japanese honorific: SAN. A polite, gender-neutral honorific suffix attached to the end of a person's name.
47. River rental: CANOE. A canoe is a lightweight, narrow watercraft, typically pointed at both ends and open on top, propelled by one or more seated or kneeling paddlers facing the direction of travel and using paddles.
48. Feature of a prestige miniseries, perhaps: ALL STAR CAST. A group of actors in a movie, play, or television show where everyone (or almost everyone) is a highly famous, celebrated, or award-winning performer.
53. Easter mo., often: APR. April. But next year it will fall on March 28.
56. Luke's twin: LEIA. Principle roles in the Star Wars franchise.
57. Lofgren of the E Street Band: NILS. Nils Hilmer Lofgren [b. 1951] is an American rock musician, recording artist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Along with his work as a solo artist, he has been a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band since 1984, a member of Crazy Horse, and the founder and frontman of the band Grin.
58. "Same old same old" feeling: ENNUI. A feeling of listlessness, weariness, and dissatisfaction caused by a lack of excitement, occupation, or meaningful engagement. Its pronunciation does not match its spelling.
60. Like some energy bars: OATY. Made of or containing oats.
61. Campus sports gp.: NCAA. National Collegiate Athletic Commission, the primary governing body for intercollegiate sports in the United States.
62. Back in fashion: RETRO. describing modern items—like clothing, furniture, or design—that are consciously designed to mimic the aesthetics, styles, or trends of the past. What was once old is now new again.
63. Squeezes (out): EKES. Obtain, produces, or achieves something with great difficulty, effort, or by a very narrow margin.
64. Longings: YENS. Has two completely different meanings. It can either refer to the official currency of Japan or be used informally as a noun or verb to describe a strong craving or desire. I thoughy about going to Japan, but didn't have the Yen to travel
65. Like some energy bars: SWEET. Not just oaty, but sugary to boot. Also, a clecho.
Down:
1. Removable parts of some bras: PADS. Torso enhancers? Bosom buddies? Breastwork reinforcements? I would probably have come at this in a different way. Anyway, you can buy them here.
5. Erik who played Poncherello on "CHiPs": ESTRADA. See him here.
6. Give a buzz: PHONE. Call a person on your PHONE.
7. Los Angeles team: RAMS. American football team.
8. Hodgepodge: OLIO. A collection of varied or random items.
9. Terms of endearment: PET NAMES. Things like "sweetheart" or "honey." "Fido" or "Spot" are not recommended.
10. "No more for me, thanks": I'M FULL. I've eaten all I want.
11. 500 sheets: REAM. Standard quantity of sheets of paper.
12. Memo header: IN RE. "In re" is a Latin phrase that translates to "in the matter of" or "concerning".
13. Takes legal action: SUES. To "sue" means to take legal action against a person or organization in a civil court, usually to seek financial compensation or damages for harm, injury, or a breach of contract.
22. Aircraft carrier letters: USS. United States Ship. It is the official identifying prefix used before the names of commissioned vessels in the United States Navy
23. Bits of baloney: FIBS. Small untruths, typically not of great consequence.
25. Deliver a tirade: RANT. A passionate, loud, or angry speech in which someone complains about something at length.
27. Oscar winner Tatum: O'NEAL. Tatum O'Neal won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1974 for her debut film role as Addie Loggins in Paper Moon (1973). At just 10 years old, she set a record that remains unbroken as the youngest person ever to win a competitive Oscar.
28. Terra-__ flowerpot: COTTA. Terra cotta (literally Italian for "baked earth") is a type of porous, unglazed, or glazed clay-based ceramic fired at relatively low temperatures.
29. Cooing birds: DOVES. Doves are stout-bodied birds belonging to the family Columbidae. They are highly adaptable, commonly found across North and Central America. They are known for their soft, melancholy calls and typically forage on the ground for seeds and grains. Doves are widely recognized as universal symbols of peace and new beginnings.
30. Get a lift, but not a Lyft: UBER. These are the primary ride-hailing services connecting riders with on-demand drivers.
32. Olympic snowboarder Kim: CHLOE. Chloe Kim is an American professional snowboarder and two-time Olympic gold medalist. At the 2018 Winter Olympics, she became the youngest woman to win an Olympic snowboarding gold medal when she won gold in the women's snowboard halfpipe at age 17.
33. Zen paradoxes: KOANS. Paradoxical stories, dialogues, questions, or statements used in Zen Buddhism. They are designed to bypass logical reasoning and force the student into an intuitive, enlightened state of awareness. "If you have ice cream, I will give it to you. If you do not have ice cream, I will take it from you" is the ice dream koan.
35. Stow, as cargo: LADE. To put a load or cargo on or in, as in loading a ship.
39. Othello's false friend: IAGO. Iago is a fictional character in Shakespeare's Othello. Iago is the play's main antagonist and Othello's standard-bearer.
41. "Right now!": STAT. In the medical field, STAT means immediately or without delay. It is derived from the Latin word statim.
42. Players known to make sacrifices: BUNTERS. Bunting is a technique where a batter intentionally meets the pitch with a loosely held bat to tap the ball slowly into the infield. Instead of taking a full swing, the batter gives up their chance for a big hit to strategically advance base runners or reach base on a surprise.
44. Op-ed pieces, e.g.: ESSAYS. Focused, structured pieces of writing that explore a specific topic, idea, or argument.
45. __-been: HAS. An informal slang term for a person whose best days, popularity, or success are in the past.
47. Durango dwellings: CASAS. Durango is the capital city of the state of Durango, in Mexico. It’s known for its historic center, with important colonial and Mexican baroque buildings. Begun in 1695, the ornate Cathedral Basilica has sacred art and carved wooden interiors. There are houses there.
48. Succulent with medicinal uses: ALOE. A genus of over 500 species of succulent plants, best known for Aloe vera. Native to arid regions of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, its thick, fleshy leaves contain a clear, soothing gel highly valued in traditional medicine, cosmetics, and skincare
49. Showerhead problem: LEAK. A physical problem in the structure of the item that allow liquid to escape in an unintended manner.
50. Miller option: LITE. One could have regular or LITE beer.
51. Texas school with an owl mascot: RICE. William Marsh Rice University, also known as Rice University, is a private research university in Houston, Texas, United States. Established in 1912.
52. Tight-knit group: CLAN. A traditional social unit comprised of multiple families or households that claim a common ancestor, mores and interests.
54. Undiluted: PURE. Something is pure, unmixed, and at maximum strength. This is a neat definition.
55. Laugh-a-minute type: RIOT. Someone extremely funny, hilarious, or highly entertaining. It describes a person whose jokes or antics make you laugh uncontrollably.
59. Green, in a way: NEW. Inexperienced, naive, or new to a subject.
Well, it's time to fold for another Wednesday. I'm betting you had a good time. See you next month.
19 Across. Build a snow fort or catch frogs: PLAY OUTSIDE. (Play)
27 Across. What a deeply regretful person may wish to do: REWIND THE CLOCK. (Rewind)
44 Across. Stop mid-story to add suspense, say: PAUSE FOR EFFECT. (Pause)
55 Across. Convenient car feature on a cold winter morning, or a feature of 19-, 27-, and 44-Across?: REMOTE START.
And... We're off!
CrossEyedDave here, filling in again. Starting out, this easy Tuesday puzzle seemed so straightforward, that I was beginning to think there was nothing to explain, or provide silly links for... but given enough time, there wasn't a remote chance I wouldn't come up with anything...Across: 1. Pizza crust option: THIN.
I wanted Doctor, but you need a good imagination for role playing games...
3. Amount of food consumed: INTAKE.
4. Likely to snoop: NOSY.
5. Tried to reduce one's 3-Down: DIETED.
6. "No ifs, __, or buts": ANDS.
7. Bigfoot cousin: YETI.
8. Dog kennel greeting: ARF.
9. Fuel that can be stacked: FIREWOOD.
10. Perfect place: EDEN.
11. Invasive plant: WEED.
13. Able to speak a language with ease: FLUENT.
14. Movie franchise package, perhaps: DVD SET.
20. Bagel flavor: ONION.
21. "And more of the same" abbr.: ETC.
26. Golden years: OLD AGE.
28. Blow (by): WHOOSH.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
29. More realistic: TRUER.
30. One who isn't good at sharing: HOG.
31. The Blackhawks, on scoreboards: CHI. Chicago.
32. Actress Dennings: KAT.
Name #1
36. Unfortunate sound to hear while bending: RIP.
Not always unfortunate...
37. Landing hr. guess: ETA.
I wanted to post a different pic of this,
But the language didn't pass the breakfast crowd test...
38. Long-running joke in the opening credits of "The Simpsons": COUCH GAG. For some reason, my YouTube App is refusing to let me share videos. In the meantime, search YouTube for 30 best Simpson couch gags. Very funny...
39. Seasoned vet: PRO.
40. Old audio systems: HI FI'S. hi Fidelity.
42. Cause resentment: OFFEND.
43. From the top: AFRESH.
45. Eternally, in poetry: E'ER. In poetry, e'er (pronounced "air") is a poetic and archaic contraction of the word ever. Poets use it to remove a syllable, making it easier to fit the rhythmic meter (such as iambic pentameter) of a line.
60. Target of ID thieves: SSN. Social Security Number.
The Grid.
A puzzle with only one name? This is very remote!
Is there a remote chance something on this puzzle tripped you up? If so, please tell us in the comments... of not, come anyway! Maybe by then my YouTube share button problems will be fixed, and we can commiserate on sticky remote buttons that don't work. (Isopropyl Alcohol is a solution!) and there is a way to use tiny bits of aluminum foil for when they really go kerblooey...
Our marvelous Monday maven, Janice Luttrell, has constructed a puzzle that is quite ordinary -- just your normal, basic, garden variety Monday grid. I kid, of course. Her theme entries end with words that are run-of-the-mill.
20-Across. Central green in a small town: VILLAGE COMMON.
27-Across. Plateau in England that's home to Stonehenge: SALISBURY PLAIN.
56-Across. Tom Jones hit, and what can be said about the end of 20-, 27-, or 49-Across: IT'S NOTUNUSUAL.
Our blogmistress, C.C., has explained that it's easier to write a difficult puzzle than an easy one. If today's puzzle seems simple, that's the result of exacting effort. Let's waltz through the rest!
Across:
1. Actors in a sitcom: CAST.
5. Super Bowl org.: NFL. National Football League. An abbreviation in the clue suggests that there will be an abbreviation in the answer.
8. Combo pattern for mil. garb: CAMO. "Camo" is short for "camouflage," a pattern featuring a combination of shapes and colors, often used for military garments.
Camo patterns vary to match the environment. Here, an Australian soldier blends into the bush.
12. "Stuff and nonsense!": PSHAW. A scoffing sound, pronounced puh-shaw or pshh.
14. Soothing lotion ingredient: ALOE.
16. Country singer Jackson: ALAN. Alan Jackson sings traditional country songs as well as many he's written himself. He has earned Grammy Awards, CMA Awards, and ACM Awards, and is one of the best-selling musical artists of all time. Because he suffers from an inherited degenerative disease, he has scheduled a final concert on June 27, 2026. Here he is performing his original song, Five O'Clock Somewhere, with special guest Jimmy Buffet appearing near the end.
17. Hawaiian greeting: ALOHA.
18. Slips into, as clothes: DONS.
19. Fishhook attachment: LURE.
20. [Theme clue]
23. Summer beverage: ICE TEA.
25. __ Vegas Aces: LAS. A team in the Women's National Basketball Association.
26. Silent assent: NOD.
27. [Theme clue]
31. Bio information: AGE. "Bio" is not an abbreviation, but just a shortened version of "biography." Therefore, the answer is not an abbreviation.
32. Italian sparkling wine: ASTI. The Piedmont region of Italy produces Asti Spumante and Moscato d'Asti. Asti Spumante is more bubbly; Moscato d'Asti is less bubbly, sweeter, and lower in alcohol.
33. Many, many moons: EON.
34. Says "I do" to: WEDS.
36. Brief albums, briefly: EPS. Extended Play records are longer than a single, but not as long as a full length album.
38. Cash dispensers: ATMS.
42. Luau bowlful: POI. Steamed and pounded taro root, mixed with water.
Poi
45. Beauty store chain: ULTA.
48. Kendrick Lamar genre: RAP.
49. [Theme clue]
53. Ewe said it: BAA.
54. Little tyke: TOT.
55. Stray hair: STRAND.
56. [Theme clue]
60. Windy day toy: KITE.
61. Minerals in mines: ORES.
62. Fast-food pork sandwich: MCRIB. McDonald's offers the McRib sandwich sporadically, for limited time periods. It features a minced pork patty shaped like a rack of ribs, covered in barbecue sauce. Availability corresponds to periods of low prices on bulk pork. Travel to Germany if you simply must have one; it's a permanent menu item at McDonald's there.
German McRib -- all year round
65. You are, in Spanish: ERES. Eres un gran traductor! (You are a great translator!) One of the problems I have with Google translate is that it provides only familiar speech in Spanish. That might work in Spain, but in Mexico, it's important to use formal pronouns and verbs with people who are not your family or inferiors. "Usted es un gran traductor!" is more polite in most situations.
66. "Drinks are __!": ON ME.
67. Brain prefix: NEURO. Neuro- is from the Greek for "nerve," and is used to refer to nerves, the brain, or the nervous system as a whole.
68. Put one's feet up: REST.
69. Patch of lawn: SOD.
70. Hitch: SNAG.
Down:
1. Tax prep expert: CPA. Certified Public Accountant, of course.
2. Silent communication syst.: ASL. American Sign Language.
3. Did a snow day chore: SHOVELED.
4. Most populous island in French Polynesia: TAHITI. Most populous? Still seems like a dream destination.
This is Tahiti. The blue lagoon and white sand beaches that show up in searches for Tahiti are really the nearby island of Bora Bora.
5. Zilch: NADA.
6. Promote aggressively: FLOG. I'm familiar with flog meaning to beat or whip someone severely, but Google tells me it also means to sell something quickly or aggressively.
7. Needing a companion: LONELY.
8. Tranquil: CALM. Bora Bora, anyone?
Bora Bora. I like the idea of a lazy vacation, but in truth, I cannot sit still. Kayaking, though ... !
9. Reunion attendees: ALUMNI.
10. Dark red: MAROON.
11. Continuously: ON END. "It rained for days ON END." "The power was out for weeks ON END."
13. Polish Solidarity leader Lech: WALESA. Lech Wałęsa was president of Poland from 1990 to 1995. The first democratically elected president of Poland since 1926, he was also the first-ever Polish president elected by popular vote. An electrician, Wałęsa led the opposition Solidarity movement which ended Communist rule in Poland in 1989.
Lech Wałęsa
15. Break free: ESCAPE.
21. Chem class rooms: LABS.
22. Scandinavian capital near the North Sea: OSLO.
23. "You don't have to tell me!": I SAW.
24. Pet canary's home: CAGE.
28. Sport-__: off-road auto: UTE.
29. Tear to pieces: RIP UP.
30. Actress de Armas: ANA. Ana de Armas grew up in Cuba, moved to Spain, and then moved to Los Angeles, playing leading film and TV roles along the way. She was the holographic AI Joi in Blade Runner 2049 (2017), Paloma in the James Bond film No Time to Die (2021) and Marilyn Monroe in Blonde (2022), for which she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress.
Ana de Armas
35. Health resort: SPA.
37. Camera option, initially: SLR. Per Wikipedia, "a single-lens reflex camera (SLR) is a type of camera that uses a mirror and prism system to allow photographers to view through the lens and see exactly what will be captured. ... When the shutter button is pressed on most SLRs, the mirror flips out of the light path and allows light to pass through to the light receptor and the image to be captured."
39. Dress rehearsal: TRIAL RUN.
40. "Save Me" singer Aimee: MANN. You may remember Aimee Mann from her 1980s band "Til Tuesday." She wrote their top-ten single Voices Carry. She's been solo since 1990, and has also acted on TV and in films. She wrote "Save Me" for the 1999 film Magnolia; the song was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
Aimee Mann -- now and then
41. Floored it: SPED.
43. Not duped by: ONTO. As in, "I'm onto you, buster!"
44. "Same for me!": I DO TOO.
46. Soft throw: TOSS.
47. Leaf-peeping season: AUTUMN. DH and I visited New England in October 2019. It was spectacular.
"Height of Land" in Maine -- my photo
49. Much political humor: SATIRE.
50. Tries a bite of: TASTES.
51. About-faces on the road: U-TURNS.
52. Tiny amounts: TRACES.
53. Harley-Davidson customer: BIKER.
57. Wild canary's home: NEST. As opposed to 24-Down. Pet canary's home: CAGE.
58. Pixar clownfish: NEMO.
59. Preowned: USED.
63. Savings plan letters: IRA. Individual Retirement Account.
64. Cranberry-growing area: BOG.
Here's the grid:
Solvers,
Which of you SPED through this puzzle?
Did it BOG you down anywhere? Did it take hours ON END?
IT'S NOT UNUSUAL to hit a SNAG. Hope you didn't RIP UP the puzzle!
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