Tuesday, November 12, 2019 Kurt Krauss

Think First, then Act:  The first word of each theme answer can appear before the word ACT to give us a common phrase.

17-Across. *   Big top: CIRCUS TENT.  Think of the Circus Act.

26-Across. *   School keepsake: CLASS RING.  Think of a person who is a Class Act.

37-Across. *   "The Daily Show" network: COMEDY CENTRAL.  Think of a Comedy Act.

50-Across. *   2012 Channing Tatum film: MAGIC MIKE.  Think of a Magic Act.  This is the odd man out, as it were, since Magic begins with the letter M and not a C, like Circus, Class, and Comedy.

And the Unifier:

60-Across. Show starter ... and a hint to the answers to starred clues: OPENING ACT.   An Opening Act is often the warm-up band for a headliner.  Did you know that in 1963 The Beatles were the Opening Act for Roy Orbison?

Across:

1. Sports agent, briefly: REP. As in Representative.

4. Lavish meal: FEAST.  It's almost time for the Thanksgiving Feast.

9. Behold, to Brutus: ECCE.  Today's Latin lesson.

13. "Another Green World" musician Brian: ENO.  Brian Eno (né Brian Peter George Eno; b. May 15, 1948) makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles.

14. Foamy coffee drinks: LATTES.  A Latte is made with espresso and steamed milk.  The barista often makes a fancy decoration on top of the final product.

16. Bar measure: SHOT.

19. "The Handmaid's __": Atwood novel: TALE.  The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood, was first published in 1985.  It is a dystopian novel set in a totalitarian society in which women are considered property of the state.  It recently became a television series.  I read the book when it first came out, but haven't seen the television version.

20. This, in Spain: ESTO.  Today's Spanish lesson.

21. Acapulco aunt: TIA.  More of today's Spanish lesson.

22. Final Olds produced: ALERO.  Production on this car ceased in April 2004.

24. Injured-arm support: SLING.

29. "Under Siege" star Steven: SEAGAL.  Steven Frederick Seagal (b. Apr. 10, 1952), is an American actor who also holds Russian and Serbian citizenship.  He has led a rather controversial life.  Enough said.

31. Prof.'s degree: Ph.D.  As in the Doctor of Philosophy.  What is the difference between an M.D and a Ph.D.?    * Answer below.

32. See 38-Down: SIN.  //  And 38-Down:  38. With 32-Across, Adam and Eve's transgression: ORIGINAL.  Together we get Original Sin, which is a theological concept that everyone is born sinful.  The concept was developed in the writings of St. Augustine.  Enough said.

33. Restaurant Arlo Guthrie sang about: ALICE'S.  A place where you can get anything you want, excepting Alice.

36. Early 2000s Apple product: EMAC.  The eMac was the Education Mac, an all-in-one desktop Macintosh, designed for schools.  Production of the eMac began in 2002 and was discontinued in 2006.  Now it is a dinosaur.

41. Hard to find: RARE.

42. Cosa __: NOSTRA.  Today's Italian lesson.  The FBI's history of the Cosa Nostra in the United States.

43. Trident-shaped Greek letter: PSI.

44. Angry: MAD.

46. Pick up the pace: HASTEN.

54. Around, in dates: CIRCA.

55. Try to bite, puppy-style: NIP AT.

56. Triage ctrs.: ERs.  As in Emergency Rooms.

58. Broadway brightener: NEON.

59. Hawaiian coffee region: KONA.  Everything you wanted to down about Kona Coffee, but were afraid to ask.

63. Nobelist Pavlov: IVAN.  Does his name ring a bell?

Ivan Petrovich Pavlov (Sept. 26, 1849 ~ Feb. 27, 1936)

64. Cantankerous: ORNERY.

65. __ Bo: fitness system: TAE.  Tae Bo was quite popular in the 1980s, but I haven't heard much about it since.

66. "The Lion King" lioness: NALA.

67. Davis of "Do the Right Thing": OSSIE.  Ossie Davis (né Raiford Chatman Davis; Dec. 18, 1917 ~ Feb. 4, 2005) was married to actress Ruby Dee.  I saw Do the Right Thing when I was living in France.  The movie is about racial tension in a New York neighborhood.  The movie didn't translate well in French culture.

Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee

68. Cal. spans: YRs.  Calendar spans are Years.

Down:

1. School day interlude: RECESS.

2. Maroon, at sea: ENISLE.  Interesting word that I will probably never have cause to use.  It means to be isolated on an island.

3. "The Merchant of Venice" heiress: PORTIA.  The Merchant of Venice is one of the plays by Willie the Shakes.

4. Winter bug: FLU.

5. Down __: Maine nickname: EAST.  You can't get theya from heya.

6. Room at the top?: ATTIC.

7. Pilfer: STEAL.

8. Olympic diver's goal: TEN.  With enough scores of 10, the diver may get a Gold.

9. Aromatic compound: ESTER.  Organic Chemistry.

10. Personal magnetism: CHARISMA.

11. Pre-Revolutionary furniture style: COLONIAL.

12. French summer: ÉTÉ.  Today's French lesson.

15. Secret supply: STASH.

18. Scam: CON-GAME.

23. "Dropped" '60s drug: LSD.  Short for Lysergic Acid Diethylamide.  In case you were wondering, its chemical formula is:

25. Battering wind: GALE.  Dorothy Gale was swept up in a Gale, but in her case, it was known as a tornado.

27. Cathedral areas: APSES.

The Apse at the Cathedral in Chartes.

28. Nutritional supplements co.: GNC.  As in General Nutrition Center.  These stores are often found in malls.

30. Pot top: LID.

34. Pop singer Lauper: CYNDI.  As in Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper (b. June 22, 1953).

35. Novelist Umberto: ECO.  Umberto Eco (Jan. 5, 1932 ~ Feb. 19, 2016) was an Italian novelist, best known for his 1980 historical novel, Name of the Rose.  He makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles.

36. Blackboard chore: ERASING.

37. Legendary lover: CASANOVA.  Giacomo Girolamo Casanova (Apr. 2, 1725 ~ June 4, 1798) was a cad.

39. To the __ degree: NTH.

40. Gillette's __ II razor: TRAC.

41. Turntable speed, for short: RPM.  As in Revolutions Per Minute.

44. Longtime Tom Petty label: MCA.  Tom Petty (né Thomas Earl Petty; Oct. 20, 1950 ~ Oct. 2, 2017) had an infamous feud with MCA.

45. Defensive retort: AM TOO!

47. The "T" in NATO: TREATY.  As in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.  It is an intergovernmental military alliance between 29 North American and European Countries.  The Treaty was signed on April 4, 1949.

48. Toyota Prius, e.g.: ECO-CAR.

49. Loire Valley city: NANTES.

51. Bucky Beaver's toothpaste: IPANA.

52. Wails with grief: KEENS.

53. Shore birds: ERNES.

57. Apple Watch assistant: SIRI.

59. Family reunion attendees: KIN.

61. Ace: PRO.

62. "Science Guy" Bill: NYE.  William Sanford Nye (b. Nov. 27, 1955) makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles.

Here's the Grid:

*  The Ph.D. must live with his mistakes, whereas the M.D. buries them.

QOD:  You should appreciate the goodness around you, and surround yourself with positive people.  ~  Nadia Comӑneci (née Nadia Elena Comӑneci; Nov. 12, 1961)


Notes from C.C.:

1) Happy birthday to Rich Norris, editor of LA Times Daily Crossword. I've mentioned before, often half of clues in our daily puzzles are Rich's creations. Thanks for the daily entertainment, Rich!

Rich and his wife Kim

2) Happy birthday also to Lemonade's lovely wife Oo. This is a picture from their 2017 trip to Thailand.

Monday November 11, 2019 Kevin Christian

Theme: The middle word in each 3-word theme entry is ?O.

20. Sheepless nursery rhyme character: LITTLE BO PEEP.

34. Irish allegiance shout: ERIN GO BRAGH.

41. End of a proverb embodied by three monkeys: SPEAK NO EVIL.

51. "Why are you laughing?": WHAT'S SO FUNNY.

Boomer here.  

Happy to salute all veterans out there on this Veteran's day!  My Dad served in the Pacific in the Big War, and my son served in the Navy in the Persian Gulf (Iraq) scuffle. Yes I am in your group in a small way. Entered the Army in 1968 at the height of the Vietnam war. Suffered an improbable injury on the final day of basic training and ended up as a corpsman in the US Army hospital at Fort Campbell. Served there for about 18 months, then completed my service in Hardheim, Germany in a battalion owning a Nike Herc missile. I never got to see it, but I assume it was pointed at the Kremlin. 

Happy Veteran's Day to all who served, and a kudos to all family members who continue to support troops while they are away.
 

Across:

1. Craftsy website: ETSY.  Etsy Betsy, teenie weenie, yellow polka dot bikini?

5. Regarding: ABOUT.  Veteran's Day  "ABOUT FACE !"

10. Like a bug in a rug: SNUG.

14. "I understand now": AH SO.

15. Crime boss John known as "The Teflon Don": GOTTI.  He comes up now and then on "Law and Order".  I watch all the reruns - almost have them memorized.

16. Letter before kappa: IOTA.  This is NOT the state south of Minnesota.  Primary coming soon.

17. Spaghetti sauce brand: RAGU.  My favorite.

18. Composer Ned: ROREM.

19. Inside look at a hospital?: X-RAY.

23. Clod chopper: HOE.  Interesting clue. I was thinking of a three letter helicopter ?

24. Letter after kappa: LAMBDA. Times three - sorority house in "Revenge of the Nerds".

28. Usain Bolt race pace: SPRINT.  Usain owns enough world records to fill his bric-a-brac bag!

31. Bric-a-__: BRAC.

33. Tokyo dough: YEN.  One yen is almost worth a U.S. Cent.

36. British sports car, familiarly: JAG. The General Mills retired guy I mentioned last week (from my bowling team) drives a Jaguar.

37. Cold and damp: DANK.

38. Many millennia: EON.

39. Auditioner's goal: ROLE.

40. Over-easy item: EGG.  Keep it off your face.

45. Regret: RUE.  Rue McClanahan was Blanche on the Golden Girls.  Left us on 2010 - RIP.

46. __ legs: rear pair: HIND.

47. Twins Ashley and Mary-Kate: OLSENS.  Rich and famous.

48. Episodic story: SERIAL. A number on your folding money.

50. WWII female: WAC.  Happy Veteran's day to every WAC member also.

58. Apple's virtual assistant: SIRI.

61. Refill, as a partly drunk drink: TOP UP.  Tom and Jerry season is coming soon. Unfortunately I have to leave out the best part. Doctor's orders.

62. Actress Falco: EDIE.  Lou Grant's wife on the Mary Tyler Moore show.

63. Day to beware: IDES.  Julius Caesar did not listen.

64. Make used (to): ENURE.

65. Spy __ Hari: MATA.

66. Milne's "The House at __ Corner": POOH.  Where Christopher met Winnie.

67. Police car warning: SIREN. A small town in Western Wisconsin where my Dad grew up.  There's a "Burnikel Road" there off Highway 35. Named for my great uncle Bill.

Boomer, Burnikel Road

68. Scratches (out): EKES.

Down:

1. Jimmy Carter's middle name: EARL. Incredible man!  Building houses for "Habitat for Humanity" at age 95.

2. Bangkok native: THAI.

3. USAF NCO: SSGT.  Happy Veteran's Day to all SSGT's out there.

4. Sarcastic "Could that be more obvious?": YOU THINK.  I always pronounced it "Ya Think?"

5. Go along with: AGREE TO.

6. __ tube: TV: BOOB.

7. Mexican "other": OTRO.  I thought Mexicans spoke Spanish.

8. Sch. near the Rio Grande: UTEP.  Near where the disastrous shooting at Walmart occurred a few months ago.  I have a friend whose son-in-law was shot there.  He survived the injury.

9. Streaming delay: TIME LAG.

10. Typical dinner hr.: SIX PM.  Four PM for me.

11. Country with fjords: Abbr.: NOR.  Yah Sure !

12. Actress Hagen: UTA.

13. Carefree: GAY.

21. Like 1,225-page "War and Peace": LONG.  Another tip of the hat to veterans.

22. Apiece: EACH.

25. Quaint exclamation: BY JOVE. "I think I've got it!!"

26. Add (a player) to the poker game: DEAL IN.

27. Mike Trout's team: ANGELS.  Trout is a special player. 

28. Passover meals: SEDERS.

29. Czech capital city: PRAGUE.  We have a small town in Minnesota called New Prague.  Not too small, it has a bowling center.

30. Dead __: look-alike: RINGER.

31. __-shouldered: BROAD.

32. Captain, e.g.: RANK.  SSGT's are E-6.  I only made it to E-5.  Not a buck Sergeant.  My rank was "Specialist 5".

35. "Where have you __?": BEEN.  Billy Boy, Billy Boy.

39. 2004-2011 TV series about firefighters: RESCUE ME.

41. Ousted Iranian leader: SHAH.  I am not sure I would like the title of SHAH.  Sounds too much like Pshaw.

42. Core exercise system: PILATES.  C.C. has a core exercise system for me.

43. Sign on a new store: NOW OPEN.  In the evening do they have a "NOW CLOSED" sign?

44. Norwegian saint: OLAF.  He has a college named for him in Northfield, MN.  The city that Jesse James wishes he never visited.

49. "If only": I WISH.  "When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are."  Jiminy Cricket.

52. Author Morrison: TONI.

53. Egg on: SPUR.  Roy Rogers did not have egg on his spurs.

54. "No prob": SURE.

55. Minn. neighbor: N DAK.  Yup, Our neighbor to the northwest.  Home of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.  I hit a golf ball off a hill there once.

C.C. & Boomer, April 2002

56. Nick at __: NITE.

57. Nays' opposites: YEAS.  Sometimes, some just say "Present".

58. Drink sampling: SIP.

59. Altar affirmative: I DO.

60. Rock's __ Speedwagon: REO.

Boomer

Notes from C.C.:

Here are two pictures from Boomer's Army days.

Sunday November 10, 2019 Ed Sessa

Theme: "Fowl Play" - Punning on various fowl-related words.

23. Action at a coop dance?: POULTRY IN MOTION. Poetry in motion.

39. Nestling tossed out of a bar?: BOUNCED CHICK. Bounced check. Vivid image.

47. Story subtitled "Murder Most Fowl"?: THE FRYER'S TALE. The Friar's Tale.

66. Rooster's wake-up call?: ALARM CLUCK. Alarm clock.

69. Tiny hatchling group?: MICRO BROOD. Microbrew.

88. What fussy hens do?: PECK AND CHOOSE. Pick and choose.

97. Fowl haulin' a semi?: CAPON TRUCKIN'. Keep on truckin'.

117. "Rooster Wars" sequel in which Hen Solo rescues Princess Layer?: THE BANTAM MENACE. The Phantom Menace (Star Wars)

I don't recall such a fowl play theme before. Ed always comes up with original & fun themes. Ed is also a very accomplished themeless constructor, so his Sunday grids are often filled with sparkly long-fill. The paralleled 2/3-Down & 83/84-Down are good examples.

I never quite get a handle of punning them. It's D-Otto's domain. Mine often lacks "surface sense".

Across:

1. Alerts that may lead to roadblocks, briefly: APBS.

5. Bela Lugosi was buried in one: CAPE. IMDb says "He was buried in a Dracula costume, including a cape, but not the ones used in the 1931 film...".

9. Orkney components: ISLES.

14. Egg boiler's aid: TIMER.

19. Ball game: POLO. Can you clue GOLF as [Ball game] also?

20. "You said it!": AMEN.

21. Steel plow pioneer: DEERE.

22. Ask for "fish 'n' chips," say: ELIDE.

26. Catkin producer: ALDER. There's a Green Alder in our neighbor's yard that has lots of catkins.

27. Make a bundle farming?: SHEAVE. Nice clue. Spitzboov made lots of bundle farming.

28. Fella: GUY.

29. The Tempter: SATAN.

31. __ fide: BONA.

32. D.C. fundraisers: PACS.

33. Confederacy foe: UNION.

35. See 16-Down: ITO. 16. With 35-Across, Japanese Olympian: MIDORI.

36. Guitarist Clapton: ERIC.

37. Primo: A ONE.

38. Car in a '60s hit: GTO.

43. Eggy quaff: NOG. Boomer likes Tom and Jerry. It has eggnog. Now he can't have alcohol due to the oral chemo.

44. Mad fad: MANIA.

46. Silver, to Long John: TREASURE.

50. Cotton Club site: HARLEM. Unfamiliar with the club.

54. Imam's faith: ISLAM.

55. Towels off gently: PATS DRY.

58. Neutral tone: BEIGE.

59. Part of a house profile: ROOFLINE. OK, this edge.

63. Puffin relative: AUK. Are these puffins or auks? So cute.

65. Gp. with many sub-par members: PGA. Another great clue.

73. Promgoer's concern: ZIT.

74. Television station?: DEN. Where TV is stationed.

75. One of two on a three-speed: BIKE TIRE.

76. Inuit transport: UMIAK.

79. Income for Inc., say: AD SPACE.

82. Tailor: ALTER.

86. Unleash a tirade: LET RIP.

92. Intermittent drip cause: SLOW LEAK. So glad our garage ceiling leak is fixed.

95. Ristorante potful: SAUCE.

96. Home-school link: Abbr.: PTA.

101. Some boxing wins: KOS.

102. Disappearing ski resort feature: T BAR.

103. Saudi Arabia neighbor: OMAN.

104. 42-Down's leg count: TEN. 42. Seabed sidler: CRAB.

105. Breathers?: NOSES.

107. Smack, as a mosquito: SWAT.

108. Start to meter or liter: DECI. Tenth.

109. Anarchist in 1921 news: SACCO. Forgot. We had this guy before.

112. Voluminous ref. work: OED.

113. Canine complaints: WHINES.

115. Wes Craven film locale: Abbr.: ELM ST.

120. Herder's rope: RIATA.

121. Sun: Pref.: HELIO.

122. Sentiment-al piece?: OPED.

123. What beavers do: GNAW.

124. Have a feeling: SENSE.

125. Auto bust: EDSEL. Collectible for some.

126. What's going on: NEWS.

127. Deserve: EARN.

Down:

1. Phone programs: APPS.

2. Plays down: POOH-POOHS. 3. Navy aerobatic team member: BLUE ANGEL. Gorgeous pairs. See also 83. Head honcho: TOP BANANA. And 84. London station wagon: ESTATE CAR.

4. Pain relief: SOLACE.

5. Give a hoot: CARE.

6. "Clueless" director Heckerling: AMY.

7. Loose dressing gown: PEIGNOIR.

8. Same old same old feeling: ENNUI.

9. Promise sealed with a kiss: I DO.

10. Board-and-pieces units: SETS.

11. Sister of Luke: LEIA.

12. X-rated works: EROTICA.

13. Legislative councils: SENATES.

14. Leaves in a cup: TEA.

15. "You know where to find me": I'LL BE HERE. So grateful for my blog friends, who are always an email away for me.

17. Like paradise: EDENIC.

18. Start another eight-ball game: RE-RACK.

24. Controversial "babysitters": TVS.

25. Brief warning to a busybody: MYOB.

30. "Like, obviously!": NO DUH.

33. Eclectic magazine: UTNE. Don't think I want to read it with this cover.

34. Write, as music: NOTATE.

37. Naysayer: ANTI.

38. Part of LGBTQ: GAY.

40. Online addresses: URLS.

41. Scholarship consideration: NEED.

44. 1983 Keaton film: MR MOM. Michael Keaton.

45. Jelly garnish: ASPIC.

48. "M*A*S*H" actor Jamie: FARR.

49. Go south: TANK.

51. Fat-reducing procedure, briefly: LIPO.

52. Thick & Fluffy waffle brand: EGGO.

53. Beverage that goes back millennia: MEAD.

56. Speed competition: RACE.

57. Mongolian tent: YURT. Modern yurt.

60. Monk's condition, in the TV show: OCD.

61. No friend of Fido: FLEA.

62. Swedish university city: LUND. Never heard of it.

64. Colorful pond fish: KOI.

66. Color of el mar: AZUL. Color of the sea.

67. Mojito component: LIME.

68. Having a spat: AT IT.

69. "The __": classic Yankee nickname: MICK. Mantle.

70. Furniture stores that sell meatballs: IKEAS.

71. Astronomer Tycho __: BRAHE.

72. Move, in real estate lingo: RELO.

75. Start to parallel park: BACK IN.

77. Torchbearers?: ARSONISTS. Nice clue also.

78. Firing site: KILN.

80. Blueprint detail: SPEC.

81. Crowning point: PEAK.

85. End of the line: REAR.

87. Annie who voiced Bo Peep in "Toy Story": POTTS.

89. Man, in a Desmond Morris best-seller: NAKED APE.

90. Tango groups: DUOS.

91. Emails a dupe to: CCS. For past tense, do you use CC'd or CC'ed?

93. Encircle, as with a lei: WREATHE.

94. Had a midday meal: LUNCHED.

97. Video game makers: CODERS.

98. 2001 Audrey Tautou title role: AMELIE. Cute film.

99. Game with ghosts: PAC MAN.

100. High time?: NOON.

102. Minor pain: TWINGE.

106. __ Hall: SETON.

107. Mae West's "__ Done Him Wrong": SHE. Learning moment for me also.

110. Disney collectibles: CELS.

111. Tony relative: OBIE.

113. Iraq War concerns, briefly: WMDS.

114. In stitches: SEWN.

116. __ kwon do: TAE.

118. 2015 Verizon acquisition: AOL.

119. Feline call: MEW.

Happy 73rd birthday to dear Husker Gary's wife Joann and her twin sister Joyce. Here they're with their mom Martha. Joann is truly special. She takes great care of all her loved ones. I'll never forget her strength and devotion last time when Gary was in trouble.