Tuesday, January 28, 2020 Gail Grabowski and Bruce Venzke

Take Me Out to the Ball Game!  Who gets the most Runs Batted In?  The POWER HITTER!

17-Across. Corporate acquisition offer: TAKEOVER BID.

24-Across. Unfair hiring practice: GENDER BIAS.

34-Across. Marquee actor's honor: STAR BILLING.

48-Across. Life-changing incident for Peter Parker: SPIDER BITE.

And the Unifier:
57-Across. One batting cleanup who gets a lot of the stat hidden in 17-, 24-, 34- and 48-Across: POWER HITTER.

Across:

1. Sister's attire: HABIT.  Religious garb.

6. Transmits, as a text: SENDS.

11. Young guy: LAD.

14. 2019 Australian Open winner Naomi: OSAKA.  Naomi OSAKA (b. Oct. 16, 1997) represents Japan on the world tennis circuit.  She was born in Japan to a Japanese mother and a Haitian father.  She won the 2019 Australian Open, however, sadly she was eliminated from play in the 2020 Australian Open just last week.  American Coco Gauff (b. Mar. 13, 2004) beat her.  Look how young these professional tennis players are!

Naomi Osaka, age 22

Coco Gauff, age 15

15. Get used (to): INURE.

16. King Kong or Donkey Kong: APE.

King Kong

Donkey Kong

19. Pampering place: SPA.

20. "You should leave now": PLEASE GO!

21. Studio stand: EASEL.

23. Crew team's blade: OAR.

27. Nixon's older daughter: TRICIA.  Tricia Nixon (b. Feb. 21, 1946) was married to Edward Cox (b. Oct. 2, 1946) in 1971 in the White House Rose Garden while her father was still President.

30. Belfast's province: ULSTER.  Ulster is the green area on the map of Ireland.

31. Coil of yarn: SKEIN.  A CSO to our resident knitters.

32. Geometry product: AREA.

39. "Close Encounters" hoverers, briefly: UFOs.  As in Unidentified Flying Objects.

40. Arrange loosely: DRAPE.

43. Christie of mystery: AGATHA.  Dame Agatha Christie (née Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller; Sept. 15, 1890 ~ Jan. 12, 1976) wrote over 60 detective/mystery novels.  Her best known recurring detectives/sleuths are Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple.  Christie herself was involved in a personal mystery in 1926 when she disappeared for 11 days after a quarrel with her first husband.

47. Without exception: TO A MAN.

51. "Yada, yada, yada" letters: ETC.

52. Link to the internet: MODEM.

53. Has an easy catch with: TOSSES TO.

56. Soufflé need: EGG.

60. Big name in jeans: LEE.

61. Airport shuttles: TRAMS.  An airport tram in needed to get from one terminal to another at the big airports.  The Atlanta airport calls it the Plane Train.  I use this one a lot because I nearly always have to go through Atlanta when I fly.

62. "__ Jacques": FRÈRE.

63. Give permission to: LET.

64. Final authority: SAY SO.

65. Fork-tailed seabirds: TERNS.

Down:

1. Family-style Asian dishes: HOT POTS.  We found a fabulous Hot Pot restaurant in Houston that made hot pot just like we had in Chengdu.

2. Just for fun: AS A LARK.  After getting the Lark, I wanted On A Lark, but the Sister's HABIT told me that was not the correct answer.

3. Bear claw makers: BAKERIES.  Clever clue.

4. DIY furniture store: IKEA.  This store has become a crossword staple.  The company was founded by Ingvar Kamprad (né Feodor Ingvar Kamprad; Mar. 30, 1926 ~ Jan. 27, 2018).

5. Art community NNE of Santa Fe: TAOS.

6. Prolonged battle: SIEGE.

7. Scandal-plagued energy giant: ENRON.

8. Well-worn pencil: NUB.

9. Soft & __: deodorant: DRI.

10. Matzo meals: SEDERS.

11. Collie of old TV: LASSIE.

12. Become visible: APPEAR.

13. Handshake events: DEALS.

18. "Tom's Diner" singer Suzanne: VEGA.  I knew the song, just didn't known its name.

22. NYC dance company: ABT.

25. Dramatic one-on-ones: DUELS.

26. Airline that doesn't fly on Shabbat: EL AL.  A crossword staple.

28. Op. __: footnote abbr.: CIT.  Today's Latin lesson.  Op. cit. is an abbreviation fo Opus citatum, which means "the work cited".

29. __ flash: quickly: IN A.

32. Britcom starring Jennifer Saunders: AB FAB.  Jennifer Jane Saunders (b. July 6, 1958) is one of the stars of the British comedy Absolutely Fabulous.

33. __ Grande: RIO.

35. Industrial area of western Germany: RUHR.

36. Words of commitment: I DO.

37. Agency under FDR: NRA.  As in the National Recovery Administration.  This agency was established on June 20, 1933.

38. Casino regular: GAMESTER.

41. Dressmaker's guide: PATTERN.

42. Concert extras: ENCORES.

43. Orbital high point: APOGEE.

44. 1959 Sandra Dee title role: GIDGET.  The movie was before my time.  Sally Field played the Gidget on the television show.

45. Drink suffix: -ADE.  A partial CSO to the blog's Lemonade.

46. Dangles a carrot in front of: TEMPTS.

47. New Age pianist John: TESH.  He probably doesn't like this picture anymore.

John Frank Tesh (b. July 9, 1952)

48. Get a whiff of: SMELL.

49. Market express lane units: ITEMS.

50. Sculpted form: TORSO.

54. Sort (through): SIFT.

55. Basic French verb: ÊTRE.  This ver has become a crossword staple.  I have conjugated it here in the past.

58. Man-mouse connector: OR A.  Are you a Man OR A Mouse?

59. Method: WAY.

Here's the Grid:

QOD:  Listening is being able to be changed by the other person.  ~  Alan Alda (né Alphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo, b. Jan. 28, 1936), American actor

Monday January 27, 2020 Frank Virzi

Theme:  TAILLIGHT (35D. Rear warning lamp, and what can go with the end of each answer to a starred clue) - Last word in each theme entry can precede "light".

17A. *Mystery/soap (1956-'84) that ultimately dropped "The" from its title: EDGE OF NIGHT. Night light.

37A. *One of the four Seven Sisters magazines that are still in print: WOMAN'S DAY. Daylight.

 63A. *Televised panelist shown from the shoulders up: TALKING HEAD. Headlight.

 

5D. *Infielder typically between second and third: SHORTSTOP. Stoplight.

Boomer here.  Welcome to all of you crossword enthusiasts. I heard that you have company. Word is that some of our U.S. Senators were doing crossword puzzles during the impeachment talks. I can't say I blame them. I watch MSNBC for an hour or so and then I have to change the channel.

I have bowling news this week.  In my Thursday league, the bowling center was giving me trouble with sparse oil conditions on the lanes.  Since the oil pattern was similar to 1970s I pulled a 45 year old plastic ball out of the garage.   It took me a game to figure out how to work it, but my scores were 155 - 257 - 220 - for a 632 set.  My second 600 since my diagnosis, but guess which ball I will be using there next week.

Across:

1. Tibetan monks: LAMAS.  I have a story about a Tibetan monk.  He entered a monastery where the head monk could speak freely but the members were only allowed 2 words every five years. After 5 years the monk was called to a meeting. "I'm hungry," he said. The superior responded that a larger portion of food would be given.  After 5 more years, "I'm cold," he said.  The superior answered that he would be issued more blankets.  After five more years he said "I Quit".  The head monk replied, "Well that does not surprise me brother. You have done nothing but complain since you got here!"

6. Rise up against authority: REBEL.  Johnny Yuma was one,

11. U.S. interstate, e.g.: RTE.  I have always been appreciative of the Interstates.

14. Grind, as teeth: GNASH.  My family once had a 1952 Nash - without the G.

15. Amazon Echo Dot's voice service: ALEXA.  Siri's competitor.

16. West end?: ERN. Western.

19. Pilot-licensing org.: FAA.

20. "Grrr!" is one: SNARL.  If you hear one in the woods, change direction.

21. Understood by a select few: ESOTERIC.  Proceed to left field to understand some of this stuff.

23. Garden shed tool: HOE.  I only have a shovel.  We will prepare the garden when the snow melts.  I was going to grow seedless watermelon, but I don't know what to plant.

24. Smidge: TAD.  We'll plant a TAD of tomatoes.

26. Give in: RELENT.  Bowlers never relent, we just change balls.

27. Light-circling insects: MOTHS.

29. Send out: EMIT.  Won't be long and we will be EMITTING golf balls.

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

33. Start, as of symptoms: ONSET.I hope there is no ONSET of the coronavirus in your area. Our news paper says odds are slim in Minnesota.

34. John Brown's eulogist Stephen Vincent __: BENET.  John Brown was notable in our history.  He was an abolitionist and his raid at Harper's Ferry is linked to the Civil War.  He was hanged in 1859 and his eulogy was attended by John Wilkes Booth.  I cannot imagine what it was like to live in the USA 160 years ago.

36. "If only __ listened": HE'D.

40. H.S. equivalency test: GED.  I doubt if it is equivalent to four years of Christian Brothers.  (Sorry Brother Albert - just kidding). 

43. Hopscotch: POTSY.  How about Richie Cunningham's pal Potsie Weber.

44. Sonnet line quintet: IAMBS.

48. Chrysler Building architect William Van ___: ALEN.  You would probably have to be Lee Iacocca to know this.

50. Campus official: DEAN.  Angel's Pitcher Dean Chance.

51. Longest river in France: LOIRE.

52. As found: IN SITU.

54. Cartoon frame: CEL.  I think that is short for cellophane so they could make a movie.

56. Prefix with gender: CIS.

57. Christmas saint: NICHOLAS.  Jolly old St. Nicholas, lean your ear this way!

60. Quarterfinalists' count: EIGHT.  Not sure about this but EIGHT is enough.

62. Suffix with alp: INE.

66. Opposite of oui: NON.  If you are French

67. Under-the-roof room: ATTIC.  We don't have a room in ours. Just some insulation and a lot of dust. I did look up there once after an original Honus Wagner card was found in an attic out east somewhere.  I think it was sold by Sotheby's for a lot of money.

68. Prefix for sun: HELIO.

69. Clock-setting std.: GST.

70. Sierra __, Africa: LEONE.

71. Prom attendees: TEENS.  "Sarge I'm just Eighteen, I gotta ruptured spleen and I always carry a purse."  (Who else but the Chad Mitchell Trio - "Draft Dodger Blues")

Down:

1. Tee size: Abbr.: LGE.  I go through a few tees when playing golf.  None are large.

2. "... et cetera": AND SOON.

3. Fridge stickers: MAGNETS.  I have a lot of these.  Most are souvenirs of places I have been.

4. On the briny: ASEA.

6. Campaigned: RAN.  It's leap year.  We'll be hearing a lot this year.

7. Nobelist Wiesel: ELIE.

8. Pleads: BEGS.

9. Urged strongly: EXHORTED.

10. Barista's creation: LATTE.  Fancy coffee.  I've never tried it. I am too cheap and lattes are overpriced.  My best part of waking up, is Folger's in my cup.

11. Browser update button: REFRESH.  You may also REFRESH  Folger's with a little fake sugar and a spoonful of milk.

12. New employee: TRAINEE.  Richard Gere to Louis Gossett in "An Officer and a Gentlemen".

13. Passed, as a bill: ENACTED.  or touchdown as a football.

18. Miami's st.: FLA.  I've been there twice to play golf in February.  Went to Epcot and Disney World.  Nice place to visit but I would not want to live there. No hurricanes in MN.

22. Yale student: ELI. I thought they were Little Lambs.

23. Med. care plan: HMO.  These are getting a bit expensive.  I am sure we will be promised better before the election.  I receive health care from the VA.  Stay healthy C.C.

25. Campaign face-off: DEBATE.  We have already lived through a number of DFL debates. Can't wait until this summer when the going gets tough.

28. Use an axe on: HEW.  Or Chop.

30. High-IQ group: MENSA.

31. Simpatico (like Justin Timberlake's band?): IN SYNC.

38. Soften, as one's voice level: MODULATE.

39. Ex-NBA star Ming: YAO.  An impressive 7ft 6" Chinese ballplayer.  His career began in China but he was signed by the Houston Rockets.  I believe he looked down on Shaq.

40. Opposite of losing, weightwise: GAINING. Not me. When I turn sideways you can hardly see me.

41. Weather-changing currents: EL NINOS.  "The answer my friend, is blowin' in the wind."  Peter, Paul and Mary 

42. Climber's downward journey: DESCENT.  The DESCENT speed is greater than ASCENT.

45. "Glee" star Lea __: MICHELE.  Michelle Wie has an extra L.  We saw her a couple of times in Minnesota tournaments.  She was touted to be the next Annika.  Never happened.

46. Great __: London's island: BRITAIN.  No longer home to Harry and Meghan.

47. French possessive: SES.

49. Medical research org.: NIH.

53. Bottom line: TOTAL.  Before or after taxes?

55. Dusk, in poetry: EEN.

58. Choral part: ALTO.

59. Organ that may itch: SKIN.  We get mosquito bites in the summer here.

61. Indian butter: GHEE.

64. __ cream soda: ICE.  We get plenty of ICE in the winter.  Sometimes guys play hockey on it.

65. Spanish two: DOS.

Boomer

Sunday Janaury 26, 2020 Blake Slonecker

Theme:  "Em Dash" - EM is removed from each familiar phrase.

23. Tales of woe?: AIL ACCOUNTS. Email accounts.

25. Piggy bank?: CENT MIXER. Cement mixer.

39. Leave politics to wander?: ROVE FROM OFFICE. Remove from office.

48. App for getting a hip escort?: DIAL-UP MOD. Dial-up modem. Quite a few Ups in this grid: 54. Plug: STOP UP. 79. Ties: EVENS UP. 88. Really dug: ATE UP.

67. Precipitation not yet visible?: RAINS TO BE SEEN. Remains to be seen.

85. Mafia hopefuls' repressed personas?: INNER DONS. Inner demons.

92. Musty sheets?: OFFENSIVE LINEN. Offensive linemen.

108. Libertine on screen?: MOVIE RAKE. Movie remake. "libertine" always reminds me of Alec from "Tess of the d'Urbervilles". That's where I first learned the word.

111. Musical works for deep voices?: BASSY SUITES. Embassy suites.

I think this is Blake's first Sunday. And a nicely filled 140-worder. Congratulations!

I enjoyed this theme. The EM's are dropped in various spots. Fun phrases.

  

Across:

1. Sent regrets, say, briefly: RSVP'D.  Sometimes it's RSVP'ed.

6. Tank to go under: SCUBA.

11. Sweater predator: MOTH.

15. Morsel in a linguine sauce: CLAM. Easy to make.

19. Get around: ELUDE.

20. Upstanding: MORAL. Heard from Dennis the other day. He's doing fantastic.

21. Twistable treat: OREO.

22. "The Godfather" enforcer __ Brasi: LUCA. Sleeps with the fishes.

27. High hybrid stat.: MPG.

28. Organization for the 50+ crowd: AARP.

29. Train units: CARS.

31. Musical corps members: FIFERS.

32. Feminist poet Lorde: AUDRE. Read more here.  We also have 99. Writer Sontag: SUSAN.

34. Delicate fabric: LACE.

35. Explode: GO OFF.

37. Inflated accommodation: AIRBED.

44. Historian's Muse: CLIO.

45. The Emerald Isle: EIRE.

46. Attack: SET AT.

47. Yemeni port: ADEN.

51. __ Diego: SAN.

52. What some hounds follow: SCENT.

53. Fails to understand: CAN'T SEE.

58. Car dealer's offering: LEASE.

59. Kama __: SUTRA.

61. Illinois-to-Washington family: OBAMAS.

63. Early fur trader: ASTOR.

64. Tired routine: RUT.

70. Busy hosp. areas: ERS. They're building a new hospital in Wuhan in 10 days. During 2003 SARS pandemic, a basic emergency hospital was completed within a week.

71. Absinthe flavoring: ANISE. Star anise is a key ingredient in Five Spice powder.

73. Sarges' superiors: LOOIES.

74. English glam rockers since the '70s: SLADE.

76. Someone to pay?: PIPER. Oh, pay the piper.

77. Big bomb trials: N TESTS.

83. Cher and Che: ICONS.

84. Big __: SUR.

87. Artful: DEFT.

90. Sarah McLachlan hit: ADIA. Gimme for regulars.

91. Basic diamond trio: OUTS.

95. Metaphorical incentive: CARROT.

97. Part of TNT: NITRO.

98. Crimson rivals: ELIS.

100. Winter hanger: ICICLE. Look at the icy road in our mail box area.

103. Burt's Bees product: BALM.

104. Tap lineup: ALES.

105. Neruda wrote one to "things": ODE.

114. Scheme: PLAN.

115. Novelist Murdoch: IRIS.

116. Cyber Monday sector: E TAIL.

117. Tiptoe, say: CREEP. I walk like a penguin when I'm out.

118. Performed on karaoke night: SANG.

119. 'Tis the season: XMAS.

120. Currently: TODAY.

121. Quicker than is prudent: HASTY.

Down:

1. Copier supply unit: REAM.

2. Freudian __: SLIP.

3. One with unrefined tastes: VULGARIAN.

4. Peck in the park, briefly: PDA.

5. An era may be confined to one: DECADE.

6. Camping treat: S'MORE. Never had this.

7. Brilliant stroke: COUP.

8. One may be measured in cups: URN.

9. It's under Wayne Manor: BAT CAVE.

10. French border region: ALSACE.

11. Oft-beaded footwear: MOCS.

12. W. state whose largest city is named for a New England city: ORE. Named after Portland, Maine.

13. Perfect score, often: TEN.

14. Hurry, with "it": HOTFOOT.

15. Challenges for climbers: CLIFF FACES. Three F in a row.

16. Swanky: LUXE.

17. Taiwanese tech giant: ACER. Our monitor.

18. Rover's destination: MARS.

24. ID __: CARD.

26. Tick off: MIFF.

30. Ones crying foul?: REFS.

33. Curved fasteners: U BOLTS.

34. Leapers in a carol: LORDS.

35. Avoided unhappy consequences: GOT A PASS.

36. Muscat's land: OMAN.

37. "Back in Black" band: AC/DC.

38. Pelvic bones: ILIA.

39. Cristo Redentor city: RIO.

40. Job application component: RESUME.

41. Brainstorm: IDEATE.

42. Bleeping official: CENSOR.

43. Joins, as a club: ENTERS.

45. TV chef Lagasse: EMERIL."Kick it up a notch!"

49. Ones taking a lot of interest in their work?: USURERS. Real interest.

50. Org. that sued SeaWorld on behalf of orcas: PETA.

52. Libel, in speech: SLANDER.

55. Comedian Fields: TOTIE.

56. Orchestral winds: OBOES.

57. Milwaukee theater named for a brewer, with "the": PABST.

60. Spanish New Year: ANO NUEVO. Ours is Spring Festival. Tet for the Vietnamese. Seollal for Koreans. All in the same day.

62. One-named Tejano singer: SELENA.

64. Quick, in Quito: RAPIDO. And 90. Lively movement: ANIMATO.

65. Peace Prize-winning relief org.: UNICEF.

66. Hoops jump ball: TIP OFF.

68. "Couldn't agree more": SO TRUE.

69. Roof edge: EAVE.

72. It follows a guilty verdict: SENTENCING.

75. "Bewitched" witch: ENDORA.

78. A and B, on LPs: SIDES.

80. Harmony ruiners: SOUR NOTES. Great fill.

81. "Do __ others ... ": UNTO.

82. Sibilant attention-getter: PSST.

84. Soup step: STIR.

86. "Henry & June" diarist: NIN (Anais)

88. French comics series set in Gaul in 50 BC: ASTERIX. Learning moment for me.

89. Entreaty: PLEA.

93. River where down means north: NILE.

94. "Doubt it": I'LL BET.

95. Sticks by the pool table: CUES.

96. Per se: AS SUCH.

99. In a wily way: SLYLY.

100. Little handfuls: IMPS.

101. Royal Crown, for one: COLA.

102. "Terrible" leader: IVAN.

103. Téa's "Madam Secretary" role: BESS.

104. Home to most of the Silk Road: ASIA.

106. Ingredient in OFF!: DEET.

107. Best Upset, e.g.: ESPY.

109. Shot spot: ARM.

110. Soul supplier: KIA.

112. Blue: SAD.

113. Glass of NPR: IRA.

As Jayce mentioned, yesterday was Chinese Spring Festival. People in Guangzhou like to buy special flowers and golden orange trees for Spring Festival. Supposed to bring good luck. 

The big flower markets were closed earlier this year due to the coronavirus. People wear face masks wherever they go. And the face masks are in short supply.  

My friend Carmen sent me this picture. Very pretty, right? All her family gatherings and outings have been canceled.

蝴蝶兰 (Empress Orchids) & Golden Oranges