Tuesday October 27, 2020 Paul Coulter

A Themeless Tuesday?  Where does this LEDE?  LEDE: The opening sentence or paragraph of a news article, summarizing the most important aspects of the story.

Across:

1. Analyze grammatically: PARSE.

6. Comic Silverman: SARAH.

Sarah Kate Silverman (b. Dec. 1, 1970)

11. Atlanta-to-Miami dir.: SSE.  It will take nearly 11 hours to drive South-SouthEast from Atlanta, Georgia to Miami, Florida.

14. At full speed: AMAIN.  This is an archaic usage of the word.

15. Actress De La Garza: ALANA.

16. "Buffy" airer after The WB: UPN.  As in the United Paramount Network.

19. Part of LGBTQ: GAY.

20. Ashtabula's lake: ERIE.  Ashtabula is a city in Ohio.  It's the tiny red dot on the map below.

Seeing Erie reminded me of our dear friend Abejo seen here with Madame DeFarge.

21. Fruity drinks: ADES.  Hi, Lemonade!

22. Master, in Swahili: BWANA.

24. Earthquakes: SEISMS.

26. Cold one at a bar: BEER.

33. Split up: END IT.

36. Aired again: RERAN.  Hubby has recently been watching reruns of Raymond Burr's version of Perry Mason.

37. Immigrants' subj.: ESL.  As in English as a Second Language.

38. Gunk: GOOP.

39. Helen who sang "I Am Woman": REDDY.  Sadly, Helen Reddy (née Helen Maxine Reddy; Oct. 25, 1941 ~ Sept. 29, 2020) died just a month ago.  Last Sunday would have been her 79th birthday.  

40. In good health: WELL.

41. Post-apartheid ruling party: Abbr.: ANC.  As in the African National Congress.  It is the ruling party of the Republic of South Africa.

42. With "en," hot, in sports slang: FUEGO.  Today's Spanish lesson.

43. Spoils, with "on": DOTES.

47. __ center: exact middle: DEAD.

48. Unaffiliated film studios: INDIES.  As in Independent films.

52. Artist's flat hat: BERET.

54. Poker Flat chronicler Harte: BRET.  Bret Harte (Aug. 25, 1836 ~ May 5, 1902) make frequent guest appearances in the puzzles.  He is known for writing short stories of adventure and the California Gold Rush.

57. __-dieu: kneeler: PRIE.

58. Antipollution org.: EPA.  As in the Environmental Protection Agency.  The agency was established in 1970.  William Ruckelshaus (July 24, 1932 ~ Nov. 27, 2019) was its first administrator.

62. Ready-fire link: AIM.

63. Correct, as text: EMEND.

64. Like Olympic pools: LANED.

65. __ Victor: record label: RCA.

66. Broad valleys: DALEs.  Hi, Lucina!

67. Mike who voiced Shrek: MYERS.

Mike Myers (né Michael John Myers; b. May 25, 1963) is on the left.

Down:

1. Treasure map word: PACES.

2. Love, in Rome: AMORE.  Today's Italian lesson.

3. Pie cuts, geometrically: RADII.

4. Lateral skid: SIDE SLIP.

5. Big picture?: Abbr.: ENL.  As in Enlarge.

6. Anti-DWI gp.: SADD.  Formerly known as Students Against Drunk Driving, it is now refers to as Students Against Destructive Decisions.

7. On the safer side, at sea: ALEE.

8. Cleaning cloths: RAGS.

9. Oscar winner Lee: ANG.  Ang Lee (b. Oct. 23, 1954) just celebrated his 66th birthday.  He has been nominated for 9 Academy Awards and has won 3 Oscars: Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon for Best Foreign Language film; Brokeback Mountain and Life of Pi won for Best Director.

10. Washed-up star: HAS BEEN.  I have a friend who calls her ex-husband her Was Been.

11. Sucrose-rich root veggie: SUGAR BEET.  Who know there were so many different kinds of beets?

12. Bridge: SPAN.  When it was built in 1969, the Lake Ponchartrain Causeway, connecting Metairie and Mandeville, Louisiana, was the longest bridge over water.  It spans just under 24 miles.

13. Irish New Ager: ENYA.  Her full name is Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin (b. May 17, 1961).  No wonder she goes by Enya!

18. Steinbeck's "__ of Eden": EAST.  East of Eden is one of my favorite John Steinbeck (Feb. 27, 1902 ~ Dec. 20, 1968) novels.  Steinbeck was the recipient of the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature.

23. World Wide __: WEB.

25. Sch. near Harvard: MIT.    As in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  Many years ago, I worked there.

26. Time for cake with candles, informally: B'DAY.

28. Cornered on a limb: TREED.

29. Flowerpot spot: LEDGE.

30. MD meeting an ambulance: ER DOC.  As in the Emergency Room Doctor.

31. "Cast Away" setting: ISLE.  I never saw this movie, which starred Tom Hanks (b. July 9, 1956).

32. Building additions: ELLs.

33. "Good grief!": EGAD!

34. It's forbidden: NO-NO.

35. Semifictional film genre: DOCUDRAMA.  Sully, the 2016 movie which also starred Tom Hanks, is an example of a docudrama.  It was about Captain Sully Sullenberg (b. Jan. 23, 1951) as he was forced to make an emergency landing in the Hudson River.

39. Felt bad about: RUED.

40. 2006 film about crosswords: WORDPLAY.  A "must see" for crossword lovers.

42. Open-bodied truck: FLATBED.

43. Animal house: DEN.  // And 52-Down:  Den denizen: BEAR.

45. Buzzing flier: BEE.

46. Friends and neighbors: KITH.  According to the Macmillan Dictionary: "Kith comes from a word of Germanic origin meaning ‘known’.  Kin is also of Germanic origin, from an Indo-European root meaning ‘give birth to’.  Your kith are your friends or acquaintances, while your kin are all the people you are related to."

49. "Flashdance...What a Feeling" singer Cara: IRENE.  This song won Irene Cara (née Irene Cara Escalera; b. Mar. 18, 1959) an Oscar for Best Original Song.

50. Down-yielding duck: EIDER.

51. Plants-to-be: SEEDS.

53. "Beowulf," e.g.: EPIC.  When I was a kid, I thought this Old English epic poem was about a wolf.

54. Belgian composer Jacques: BREL.  Jacques Romain Georges Brel (Apr. 8, 1929 ~ Oct. 9, 1978) was also a successful actor.  Sadly, he died at age 49.

55. Hall of Famer Sandberg: RYNE.  Ryne Dee Sandberg (b. Sept. 18, 1959) played for Philadelphia and the Chicago Cubs.

56. Approx. takeoff hours: ETDs.  As in Estimated Time of Departures.

60. Actress Thurman: UMA.  Uma Karuna Thurman (b. Apr. 29, 1970) and John Joseph Travolta (b. Feb. 18, 1954) in their famous dance scene from Pulp Fiction.

61. "Slippery" tree: ELM.

~~~~

Ah, there is a theme after all.  It just got buried!

17-Across. Breakfast dish that sounds spoiled?: CODDLED EGGS.

27-Across. Snack cake brand named for a four-year-old: LITTLE DEBBIE.

44-Across. Two-level bus: DOUBLE DECKER.

And the Unifier:

59-Across. Postpone an article's essential points ... and a hint to 17-, 27- and 44-Across: BURY THE LEDE.  We have had some discussions recently on the word LEDE.  According to Meriam-Webster, "The spelling of lede is allegedly so as to not confuse it with lead which referred to the strip of metal that would separate lines of type. ... In journalism, the lede refers to the introductory section of a news story that is intended to entice the reader to read the full story.

Here's the Grid:

Another hurricane is headed my way!

Notes from C.C.:

1) Ah, such a brilliant approach, Susan!

2) Happy 73rd birthday to Boomer, the absolute center of my world. Boomer goes through each treatment, each pill change, each VA visit with humor and optimism. He does not complain. He just quietly fights against pain, discomfort and the other side effects of those toxic cancer drugs every day. Here's Boomer showing off his 300 plaque.

 

 

 3) Here's another great picture of our California Coven: Chickie, Chris and JD. They met up yesterday for coffee outside. Click here for more pictures of their meetings in the past.

L to R: Chickie (Leah), Garlic Gal (Chris) and JD (Judy)

Monday October 26, 2020 Jeff Stillman

Theme: TRAIL MIX (61. Backpacker's snack, and a hint to the circled letters) - Anagrammed letters of TRAIL span across each theme entry.

17. Astral-shaped wildflower of the American West: STAR LILY.

30. Business sector involving merchandise: RETAIL TRADE.

44. Lionel products: MODEL TRAINS.

Boomer here. Heading down the TRAIL of a Monday crossword.  

We had a little Minnesota problem last week. Eight inches of wet snow clogged our satellite dish, but shoveling used up some of TV time anyway.  Weather person reported that our average temperature this time of year is 56 degrees.  My golf clubs are safe and dry in the garage.

Across:

1. June honorees: PAS.  Some are grand!

4. Hissed "Hey!": PSST.

8. Tool for curved cutting: JIGSAW.  These puzzles are better than crosswords.  I have put together dozens.

14. Devoured, say: ATE.  How many eggs did you have for breakfast, Brute ??  I ATE eight.

15. State bordering Lake Erie: OHIO.  It's a big lake.  I think Michigan and New York are in the mix, but too many letters.

16. Dress like a justice: ENROBE.  "All Rise".

19. Whatsit: DOODAD.  I have thousands of boondoggle and baseball cards.  Will those count?

20. Really impressive, in slang: SICK.

21. Asking for a saucer of milk, maybe: MEOWING.

23. Soft fly ball: BLOOP.  It doesn't get any higher.

25. Utmost degree: NTH.  It doesn't get any higher than that either.

26. Helpful hint: TIP.  Or a few dollars to our newspaper delivery guy.  The news was on our front step around 5:00 AM.  Lot of snow on the ground and driveway at that time.  Plus there is not a lot of traffic on our street.  Low priority for the plows.  

29. Veer off course: YAW.

35. Performing in person: LIVE.  Live from New York, It's Saturday Night!

36. Walking on water, as Jesus did: MIRACLE.  Also a WHIP salad dressing.

37. Take for granted: ASSUME.  Makes an ASS out of U and ME.

40. Speak under one's breath: MUTTER.

41. Heated dispute: RHUBARB. A lot grown in the summer here.  We used to eat the stalks with a little salt.  Moms used to make a pie out of it.

 

43. Clark's coworker: LOIS.  "In Penny LANE there is a barber showing photographs." Beatles.

46. Koothrappali on "The Big Bang Theory": RAJ.

49. "Undoubtedly": YES.  "You say YES, I say NO, you say why, and I say I don't know"  Magical Mystery Tour - The Beatles again.

50. Key next to the space bar: ALT.

51. New Zealand native: MAORI.

53. Cite for speeding: WRITE UP.  I got a couple of these when I was young and stupid.  Now I am old and slow, but still stupid.

57. Advise of danger: WARN.

58. "Love" concoction: POTION.  I took my troubles down to Madame Rue.  You know that Gypsy with the Gold capped tooth.  She sold Love POTION number nine.  The Searchers.

63. First in a playoff series: OPENER.  World Series Tampa Bay Rays cannot sell beer at the ballpark because they lost the OPENER.

64. Biology lab gel: AGAR.

65. Genesis fruit eater: EVE.  The devil made her do it.

66. House speaker Nancy: PELOSI.  Two of my sisters live in her district in SF.

67. Ritual flammable pile: PYRE.

68. Checkers color: RED.  Not enough spaces for BLACK.

Down: 

1. Elapse, as time: PASS BY.

2. Number one Hun: ATTILA.  I don't know much about him but I don't want to either.

3. Underwater herbivore: SEA COW.  I have seen the SEA and I have seen a COW.

4. D.C. insider: POL.  Many many scramblers this week to keep their jobs.

5. Wedge-shaped leveling piece: SHIM.

6. End of Jane or June?: SILENT E. Letter E in Jane or June.

7. RAV4 automaker: TOYOTA.  Sorry, we went with a Santa Fe.

8. "Star Wars" warrior: JEDI.  I think my son, Bret, had the first three movies memorized.

9. A party to: IN ON.  "How do I know, I read it in the Daily News." Tom Paxton.  And you thought I only liked the Chad Mitchell Trio.

10. Pirate's rum drink: GROG.  "Away, away with rum by gum, the song of the temperance union."  Chad Mitchell Trio.

11. Nursery buy: SOD.

12. Lawyer's org.: ABA.  I will say nothing about this.  I don't want to get sued.

13. Exchange marriage vows: WED.  Middle of the week day.

18. Old MGM rival: RKO.  We had an RKO Orpheum movie theater in downtown Minneapolis years ago.

22. Sudden fancy: WHIM.

24. Kind of scream: PRIMAL.

26. Diplomacy: TACT.

27. Not scheduled to play, as a pro team: IDLE.  When the Santa Fe IDLES, it seems like the engine dies.

28. Look intently (at): PEER. I have no PEERS, they are all better than I.

31. Three-time Wimbledon winner Chris: EVERT.  Tennis is kind of a back and forth.  Not my favorite.

32. Spanish citrus fruit: LIMON.  I think this is a lemon spelled wrong.

33. Obvious observation: TRUISM.

34. Stinkers: RATS.  "Good Grief Charlie Brown!"

35. Garage job: LUBE.

37. Football rival of Navy: ARMY.  I thought this used to be a Thanksgiving game.  It has been moved to December 12, 2020.

38. A tree helps it keep its shape: SHOE.  As long as it's not high heeled.

39. Soap bubbles: SUDS.  When you say Budweiser...

42. Obnoxious tyke: BRAT.  Sounds like a sausage to me.

43. Arrangement of church services: LITURGY.  My church still does not want old people with health conditions.  Something about Covid-19.

45. Brewpub fixture: ALE TAP.  I still drink the Canada Dry Ginger type.  It's not on tap.  It comes in cans.

46. Aimless sort: ROAMER.

47. Hit the big time: ARRIVE.  Last Sunday a famous sportswriter for the Minneapolis Star Tribune Sid Hartman (Age 100) passed away and hit the big time.  The Monday paper had about 12 pages of tribute obituary.  The Sports section also had a three page obit on the Vikings.

48. Brought bad luck to: JINXED.

52. Hole-making tool: AWL.

53. Skid row denizen: WINO.  Not me.  When I was allowed to consume, it was a VO Manhattan on the rocks with cherry juice.  After two of them I quit because I could not say that anymore.

54. Some reddish deer: ROES.

55. Crucifix letters: INRI.

56. Jack who preceded Carson on late-night TV: PAAR.  Yes I am old enough to remember Jack.

58. Burst: POP.  Diet Pepsi please.

59. Reveal, in verse: OPE.

60. Business card abbr.: TEL.

62. Embitterment: IRE.

Boomer

Sunday, October 25, 2020 Alan Olschwang

Theme: "A Series of Missteps" - Anagrams of STRIDE span across each theme entry.

27A. Many an investment: CALCULATED RISK.

44A. MTV Video Music Award category: BEST DIRECTION.

69A. Where many scenes are presented: THEATER DISTRICT. And 104. 69-Across presentation: DRAMA.

99A. Used one's clout: PULLED STRINGS.

119A. Freegan's activity: DUMPSTER DIVING.

16D. It's often passed at family meals: BUTTER DISH.

76D. Records: WRITES DOWN.

Wow, I'd be at a big loss at how to title this puzzle.

It's good to see Alan Olschwang back. Still remember those Tribune Daily days? We see him every Thursday. 

We don't often see 6-letter anagrams. Shorter words are easier to scramble. Fortunately the letters here are all quite common.

Across:

1. South American rodent: PACA. With white spots.

5. "Little Man __": 1991 Foster film: TATE.

9. Minor cuts: SNIPS.

14. Blot with a tissue: DAB AT.

19. God with a quiver: EROS.

20. Times often named for music genres: ERAS. Maybe we should call our blog pre-2018 as the "Argyle Era".

21. Refined, as skills: HONED.

22. Seed-to-be: OVULE.

23. One: SOLE.

24. It's rarely paid to a car dealer: LIST. List price. Thanks for the seat suggestions. We have one just like what Dr. Nina uses. I brought it to Vegas last time. It's easier for Boomer to get up from the low chairs.

25. Big game name: ATARI.

26. Richest person in the world before Bezos: GATES.

30. Treats with malice: SPITES.

31. Sr.-supporting component: IRA. Account.

32. Encl. with postage: SASE.

33. i-opening company?: APPLE.

34. Revolutionary War name: HALE. Nathan Hale.

35. Cambodian cash: RIEL. I saw Norodom Sihanouk, who spent his remaining years in Beijing. He was on TV all the time.

37. Flag: TIRE.

39. Slothful sort: IDLER.

41. Some colas: RCS.

48. Invited to the penthouse: ASKED UP.

50. Loss nos., perhaps: ESTS.

51. British Isles tongue: ERSE. "Ciamar a tha thu?"

52. Pride letters: LGBT.

54. Skyline feature: SPIRE.

55. Store: STASH.

57. Rice, e.g.: STAPLE. And 60. Sushi serving: AHI.

62. K2 locale: ASIA.

63. "Wanna bet?": OH YEAH.

65. Southernmost of the Marianas: GUAM. D-Otto & Edward Duarte were both there.

66. Goddess of marriage and family: HERA.

68. LBJ beagle: HER.

74. Cornfield call: CAW.

77. Up start or follower: SIZE. Size up or upsize.

78. For fear that: LEST.

79. Apply forcefully, as the brakes: SLAM ON.

83. Subway fare?: HERO. Does Subway sell torpedo sandwiches in America? I remember my boss Ken (ex-Marine) bought us torpedo tuna sandwiches in Shanghai in 1995. The taste was so foreign to me.

85. West Coast pro: RAM.

86. Newspaper supplement, maybe: INSERT.

89. Fern seed: SPORE.

90. First of 12: ARIES.

92. Zap: LASE.

94. Cab category: REDS.

96. Corporate honcho: SUIT.

97. Meat-curing compound: NITRITE.

103. Summer wear: TEE. Our weather has been winter-like the past two weeks. Lots of snow. A record for October so far.

106. Simplify: EASE.

107. Family reunion attendee: AUNT.

108. Arcade game word: SKEE.

110. Preferred group on the field: A TEAM.

112. Do a rest stop machine's job: VEND.

114. You, in Germany: SIE.

117. Dark-colored cigar: MADURO. Only knew that the Venezuelan Maduro.

122. Cell terminal: ANODE.

123. Anaheim athletes, in local sportscasts: HALOS.

124. Banned orchard spray: ALAR.

125. Kendrick of "Pitch Perfect" films: ANNA.

126. "Holy moly!": YOWZA. Hi there, Lucina!

127. Big name in violins: AMATI.

128. It can smell: NOSE.

129. Announced: SAID.

130. Undo, in a way: ANNUL.

131. It's about 30 kilometers from Düsseldorf: ESSEN.

132. Exude: SPEW.

133. Relationships: TIES.

Down:

1. "Goodfellas" Oscar winner: PESCI.

2. Loudly cheering: AROAR.

3. Formal outfit accessory: COLLAR STAY.  I like "Before".

4. "Just __ ... ": A SEC.

5. Fudge, perhaps: TELL A LIE. And 7. Pepsi Challenge feature: TASTE TEST. 9. Chinese dog breed: SHAR PEI. So many great fill in this area.

6. La Scala solos: ARIAS.

8. Uruguay's Punta del __: ESTE.

10. Waiter's disappointment: NO TIP.

11. Like many an injured arm: IN A SLING.

12. Brewed: PERKED.

13. Star Wars initials: SDI.

14. Places to walk with best friends?: DOG PARKS. Sweet clue.

15. Be of use to: AVAIL.

17. On the protected side: ALEE.

18. Melanie's "Working Girl" role: TESS. OK, I just read the Wiki plot again. The lady in red is mean.

28. Secondhand: USED.

29. Quick movement: DART.

30. "__ the One": 1996 Aniston/Diaz movie: SHE'S.

36. "We're good to go": IT'S SET.

38. Long cold spell: ICE AGE.

40. Tizzy: LATHER.

42. First female Nobelist: CURIE. And the only female to win two!

43. Asparagus unit: SPEAR.

44. Kiss, in Cancún: BESO.

45. Bk. before Job: ESTH.

46. Monopoly props.: RRS.

47. The Rebels of the SEC, familiarly: OLE MISS. Alma mater of Marti's husband, I think.

49. Eco-conscious org.: EPA.

53. Thai dough: BAHT. Thais are finally fed up with their king. Lots of protests in in Oo's homeland.

56. Expressions of skepticism: HAHS.

58. Regular hangout: PURLIEU.

59. Encumbered: LADEN.

61. __ West, wife of DC Comics' Flash: IRIS. Learning moment for me.

64. One who gets what's coming: HEIR.

67. They may be torn on the field: Abbr.: ACLS.

70. Augusta National shrub: AZALEA.

71. Musical motif, to Verdi: TEMA. Theme.

72. Firewood units: STERES.

73. Finishes up on the green: TAPS IN. For a par/bogey.

74. Stands sound: CHANT.

75. Eagle's home: AERIE.

80. Biblical peak: MOUNT SINAI.

81. Not a dup.: ORIG.

82. Takes in and keeps: NETS.

84. Poetic contraction: O'ER.

87. Improve, as an urban area: RE-DEVELOP.

88. NFL "sixes": TDS.

91. Determined by the stars, as time: SIDEREAL. Not a common word.

93. Pancake-making aids: SPATULAS.

95. Brother of Peter, briefly: ST. ANDREW. St. Andrews golf course was named after him, right?

98. Early smartphone: TREO.

100. Doesn't bother to check the water first: LEAPS IN.

101. Hightails it: LAMS.

102. Fashion's Gernreich: RUDI. He invented the monokini.

105. Chair titles: MADAMS.

109. Invasive vine: KUDZU.

111. Ham it up: EMOTE.

113. Rub off: ERASE.

115. Anatomical button type: INNIE.

116. "Yipes!": EGADS.

117. Uxmal denizen: MAYA.

118. Auth. unknown: ANON.

120. Summer shades: TANS.

121. Grand Canyon adjective: VAST.

123. "Scots Wha __": patriotic song: HAE. "Scots Who Have". Wiki says "it's a patriotic song of Scotland written using both words of the Scots language and English, which served for centuries as an unofficial national anthem of the country, but has lately been largely supplanted by "Scotland the Brave" and "Flower of Scotland".

C.C.