Wednesday, March 1 2021, Ed Sessa

Theme: PENULTIMATE

 

17A. Once-common childhood ailment: CHICKEN POX.

 27A. Reporting live: IN PERSON.

45A. Hereditary information for a species: GENE POOL.

11D. Blended family relative: STEP-NIECE.

35D. Somewhat revealing T-shirt option: SCOOP NECK.

59. Five-pointed stars ... or, in two words, what the sets of circles represent?: PEN TANGLES.

 

That is some clever wordplay. While the clue says "two words," PENTANGLE is a word - apparently another word for pentagram. See what Ed did here? PEN is tangled up in five answers, and each crosses two words. I also dig the placement of 67A: TADA.

 

 Across:

1. Aussie birds with drumbeat-like mating calls: EMUS.

5. Get in a row: ALIGN.

10. Regarding: AS TO.

14. Lucy Lawless title role: XENA. Warrior Princess.

15. "Take a look": GO SEE.

16. Hit the brakes: STOP.

19. Nomadic quarters: TENT. Has anyone seen the movie Nomadland with Frances McDormand? Getting great reviews.

20. Giant whose #4 was retired: OTT. Melvin Ott. Played for the NY Giants from 1926 through 1947. Batted left-handed and threw right-handed.

 21. Rock's Pop: IGGY.

22. Figures of speech: TROPES.

24. Saffron-flavored Spanish dish: PAELLA.

26. Embellish: ADORN.

30. The eastern half of a frozen food brand: IDA. Ore-Ida. From Wikipedia: The company's name is a syllabic abbreviation of the first few letters of Oregon and Idaho and the original logo consisted of the outlines of Oregon and Idaho with Ore-Ida superimposed in italicized letters. 

 

33. Writers' workplaces: DESKS.

36. Move, in realty ads: RELO.

37. Anjou, e.g.: PEAR.

38. 24-Across ingredient: RICE.

39. Garson of "Mrs. Miniver": GREER. Wikipedia.

40. Summit: ACME. Also Wile E. Coyote's favorite company.

41. A lot of time, in Spain: ANOS. Spanish for years.

42. Wild party: RAVE. Are these still a thing?

43. Speculate: GUESS.

44. Corporate VIP: CEO. Chief Executive Officer.

47. Having glass sections: PANED.

 49. Incan wool sources: LLAMAS.

53. Race with no real losers: FUN RUN. Usually run for charity, rather than competition.

55. Cruising the Arctic, say: ASEA.

57. Fish served in poke: AHI. Yellowfin tuna.

58. Butter substitute: OLEO.

62. Family nicknames: UNCS. Short for uncles.

63. Tribal leader: ELDER.

64. Maine, to Macron: ETAT. Etat is French for state. Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron is the president of France.

 65. The Dead Sea, actually: LAKE. Seven intriguing things you didn't know about the Dead Sea.

66. Cordial dealings: AMITY. Don't usually see/hear this word in noun form.

67. "I did it!": TADA. Outstanding.

Down:

1. Many a bodyguard: EX-COP.

2. Maestro Zubin: MEHTA. Indian conductor.

3. Make one out of many: UNITE.

4. __ fly: RBI producer: SAC. Sacrifice fly.

5. What separates the men from the boys?: AGE GAP. Not the only thing.

6. Like the mind's "i": LONG.

7. Guessing game: I SPY. I spy, with my little eye ...

8. Former Prizm maker: GEO. Automobile.

9. Living very close by: NEXT DOOR.

10. Big name in furs: ASTOR. American Fur Company, founded by John Jacob Astor.

12. Vocal quality: TONE.

13. Gets involved, with "in": OPTS.

18. Potters' needs: KILNS.

23. Oscar-winning director Howard: RON. Actor, director, producer, and writer.

25. YouTube clicks: LIKES.

26. Like Van Winkle, for 20 years: ASLEEP. Short story.

28. Trip to the market, say: ERRAND. Hardly a day goes by that I don't run this errand.

29. "Still Me" memoirist: REEVE. Christopher.

31. Water containers?: DAMS.

32. Greek war god: ARES.

33. Storied bloodsucker, for short: DRAC. Dracula. Never seen it shortened like that.

34. Mozart's "__ Kleine Nachtmusik": EINE.

37. Journalist Zahn: PAULA.

39. Pot pie veggie: GREEN PEA.

43. __ Heights: Mideast region: GOLAN. Interesting. The Golan Heights are a rocky plateau in Western Asia that was captured by Israel from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War. The international community recognizes the Golan Heights to be official Syrian territory and widely rejects Israeli military occupation. In addition to its strategic military importance, the Golan Heights is an important water resource, especially at the higher elevations, which are snow-covered in the winter and help sustain baseflow for rivers and springs during the dry season.

 45. Wildebeest: GNU.

46. Cate with a falsely accused cow: O'LEARY. The myth.

48. Sprang up: AROSE.

50. Island near Sicily: MALTA. Following 150 years as a British colony, Malta gained state independency in 1964, became a republic in 1974 and later part of the European Union in 2004. 

51. Winning: AHEAD.

52. Slangy sibling: SISTA.

53. Ump's call: FOUL.

54. Forearm bone: ULNA.

55. The Beatles' "__ Love Her": AND I.

56. Editor's "Let it be": STET.

60. Title tree in six horror films: ELM. Nightmare on Elm Street.

61. Understand: GET.

Tuesday, March 2, 2021 Jeffrey Wechsler

Decisions, Decisions:  What type of computer should I use?

19-Across. *   Tour de France participant: BICYCLE RACER.

34-Across. *   Lo-cal tea brand: DIET SNAPPLE.

Evolution of the Apple

41-Across. *   Singer who's the namesake of the high school in "Grease": BOBBY RYDELL.

And the unifier:

54-Across. One who might use one of the ends of the answers to starred clues: COMPUTER NERD.  The last part of the last word in each theme answer is the brand of a computer.

And a bonus clue:  55-Down. Field for this puzzle's theme: TECH.

Across:

1. Arthur with Emmys: BEA.  Bea Arthur (née Bernice Frankel; May 13, 1922 ~ Apr. 25, 2009) won an Emmy for her role as Maude Findlay in Maude and as Dorothy Zbornak in The Golden Girls.  I never watched either show.  She also served in the Marine Corps.

4. DVR copying button: REC.  The Digital Video Recorder had a Record button.

7. Futuristic TV family: JETSONS.  The Jetsons first aired in 1962.

14. Reply to "Excuse me, you're in my seat": I'LL MOVE.  This would be the polite response.

16. Modified to fit: ADAPTED.

17. Reacted to shearing: BLEATED.  This sheep was probably delighted to be shorn of over 75 pounds of wool!

18. Fitness regimen: PILATES.  Pilates is a physical fitness system developed by Joseph Pilates (né Joseph Hubertus Pilates; Dec. 9, 1883 ~ Oct. 9, 1967).  The exercises focuses on the body's core.  

21. Manage moguls: SKI.

22. Rhinitis docs: ENTs.

23. Thumb drive port: USB.  As in Universal Serial Bus.

26. Pinochle combos: MELDS.  Everything you wanted to know about the game of Pinochle, but didn't know to ask.

30. Meticulous to a fault: ANAL.  This is becoming a crossword staple.

31. __ vez: Rosa's "once": UNA.  Today's Spanish lesson.

38. Islamic holy month: RAMADAN.  Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar.  It is a month of fasting, pray and reflection.  Because the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, there are only 354 days in the year, hence, the holiday of Ramadan falls at different times of year each on the Gregorian calendar.  This year, Ramadan begins on April 12.

40. Scam targets: VICTIMS.

43. Rapper Lil __ X: NAS.  The background story of Old Town Road by Lil Nas X (né Montero Lamar Hill; b. Apr. 9, 1999).

44. Poirot's pals: AMIs.  More of today's French lesson.  Hercule Poirot is the fictional French-speaking Belgian detective created by Agatha Christie.

45. "To recap ... ": IN SUM.

47. Small point: NIT.

48. Pedestal or plinth: BASE.

51. Wedding vow: I DO.  For Better or Worse ...

59. SeaWorld tanks: AQUARIA.  You can even walk through one of the aquaria.

62. Collectibles from afar: EXOTICA.

63. Happening now: CURRENT.

64. Med. imaging procedure: CAT SCAN.

65. Bob and weave: HAIR DOs.

66. Medical ins. plan: HMO.  As in Health Maintenance Organization.

67. Denver-to-Wichita dir.: ESE.  East-South-East.  It will take about 7 hours to make this drive.

Down:

1. Lettuce variety: BIBB.  This lettuce is named after its developer, John Bibb (Oct. 27, 1789 ~ Apr. 12, 1840).  The lettuce didn't become commercially available, however, until the 1850s, after Bibb's death.

2. "The Name Game" singer Shirley: ELLIS.  I knew the song, but was not familiar with Shirley Ellis (née Shirley Marie O'Garra; Jan. 19, 1929 ~ Oct. 5, 2005).

3. Smart __: wiseacre: ALECK.

4. Campus mil. group: ROTC.  As in the Reserve Officer Training Corps.

5. First name in stunt driving: EVEL.  Evel Knievel (né Robert Craig Kneivel; Oct. 17, 1938 ~ Nov. 30, 2007) attempted over 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps.  He makes frequent guest appearances in the puzzles.

6. Formally transfer: CEDE.

7. "Shogun" setting: JAPAN.  Shōgun is the first historical fiction novel in James Clavell's Asian Saga.  It was made into a miniseries, which starred Richard Chamberlain.

8. Decree: EDICT.

9. Stories: TALES.

10. Practice boxing: SPAR.

11. Giants legend Mel: OTT.  Today would have been Mel Ott's (né Melvin Thomas Ott; Mar. 2, 1909 ~ Nov. 21, 1958) 112nd Birthday.  He played baseball for the New York Giants.  He was born in Gretna, Louisiana.  Sadly, he was killed in a car accident at age 49.  He does, however, make frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles.

12. Bridal bio word: NÉE.

13. '60s antiwar gp.: SDS. As in Students for a Democratic Society.

15. "The Big Bang Theory" actress __ Bialik who is also a scheduled 2021 "Jeopardy!" guest host: MAYIM.  Mayim Bialik (née Mayim Chaya Bialik; b. Dec. 12, 1975) also earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience from UCLA.

20. Remainder: REST.

23. Remove, as a brooch: UNPIN.  Queen Elizabeth often wears a brooch.  Do you think she unpins it herself?

24. Actress Hayek: SALMA.  Salma Hayek (née Salma Valgarma Hayek Jiménez; b. Sept. 2, 1966) is a Mexican-American actress with a long list of movie credits.

25. Grace verb: BLESS.

27. Stream swirl: EDDY.

28. "You made that up!": LIAR.

29. Claim to be untrue: DENY.

30. Well-suited: APT.

31. Not at all bucolic: URBAN.

32. Judd of country: NAOMI.  Naomi Judd (née Diana Ellen Judd; b. Jan. 11, 1946) is a country music singer.  She is the mother of Wyonna Judd, also a country music singer, and actress Ashley Judd.

33. Scope: AMBIT.

35. "Frozen" reindeer: SVEN.

36. Guitarist Lofgren: NILS.  Nils Lofgren (né Nils Hilmer Lofgren, b. June 21, 1951) is an American guitarist.  In addition to performing solo, he has also been a part of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band.

37. Org. in many civil rights cases: ACLU.  As in the American Civil Liberties Union.  The ACLU was founded on January 19, 1920

39. Short muscles?: ABs.  Short for the Abdominal muscles.

42. God, in Grenoble: DIEU.  Today's French lesson.

46. Tic Tacs, e.g.: MINTS.  These Tic Tacs are not found in Tins, but they do come in all sorts of flavors.

48. Yawning, perhaps: BORED.

49. Essential acid: AMINO.  Everything you wanted to known about Amino Acids, but were afraid to ask.

50. Minor arguments: SPATS.

52. Prepare for takeoff, as a frosty windshield: DE-ICE.  I am flying next week up to the Frozen North.  It will be my first flight since the pandemic began.  The plane won't need de-icing on the way out, but  hope the plane doesn't need de-icing on my return flight.  This is how De-icing works.

53. Aquatic predators: ORCAS.

54. "The Alienist" author Caleb: CARR.  Caleb Carr  (b. Aug. 2, 1955) makes frequent guest appearances in the crosswords.  The Alienist was published back in 1994.  I read it when it first came out and remember that I really enjoyed it.  It is a historical mystery that is essentially about the beginning of the modern era of forensic science.

56. Possible cause of student nervousness: EXAM.

57. Revolution prefix: ROTO.

58. Hamlet, by birth: DANE.  To be, or not to be ...  In the play by Willie the Shakes, Hamlet contemplates suicide in Act 3, Scene 1.

59. Allentown : "Alas!" :: Altenburg : "__!": ACH.  Today's German lesson.

60. Sine __ non: QUA.  Today's Latin lesson.  It literally means "without which, not", but in common usage, it it means something that is absolutely essential.

61. Ocean State sch.: URI.  As in the University of Rhode Island.  My sister is a graduate of URI.  We used to tease her that the full name of the school is University of Rhode Island in New England.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

Monday March 1, 2021 Catherine Cetta

Theme: FALSE STARTS (64. Track meet infractions ... or short words hiding at the beginning of the answers to starred clues) 

17. *Data transmission science: FIBER OPTICS.

24. *Elementary school fundraiser: TALENT SHOW.

51. *Rank for TV's Columbo: LIEUTENANT.

Boomer here. Years ago playing golf, sometimes I would take a mulligan. I think that counts as a FIB.  Speaking of golf, around 1964 my friend and I sold tickets to the St. Paul Open, and we won a spot to caddie.  Our golfer was Miller Barber and we only carried clubs and did not give advice.  He selected to use a driver on the longer holes. Maybe Tiger should have used a different driver to negotiate the tricky California highway.

In other news from Minnesota, we received a memo from CenterPoint Energy which is our natural gas provider. We have a gas furnace. The memo said that due to the problems last month in Texas we will receive a surcharge of $400.00.  They will bill it over 10-12 months beginning in September.  Sounds like a Greedy Griddy thing to me.

Across:

1. Nannies and billies: GOATS.  "There's a winding road, and a tall pine tree.  Near the tall pine tree she waits for me, oh yes she waits , in the little green house, that sits on top, of BILLIE GOAT HILL.

The Kingston Trio in San Francisco, California, USA!!

6. Skylit courtyards: ATRIA.  That's a hotel feature that The Orleans in Las Vegas does not have.

11. Toyota Prius, e.g.: CAR.  Santa Fe, e.g.

14. Tin Pan __: ALLEY.  Many people think this is a bowling venue. I ignore them.

15. Transactions with interest: LOANS.

16. Pub pour: ALE.  I only drink zero sugar Ginger Ale from my up north friends Canada Dry.

19. Khaki-colored: TAN.  Temperatures up north got above freezing last week.  Not enough for a TAN, but golf season is coming soon to a course near you.

20. Pedal pusher: FOOT. Pants that show ankles?

21. Full moon, e.g.: PHASE.  Three PHASE power may have helped Texas last month.

22. Cartoon maker of iron bird seed: ACME.

23. Salinger teen who says, "I prefer stories about squalor": ESME.

26. Whistle blower: REF.  Lots of whistles on the basketball court last month in Minneapolis.  The Timberwolves fired Coach Saunders but you can't fire the players.

28. Piece for three instruments: TRIO.  Chad Mitchell and Kingston are my favorites.  I suppose you already knew that.  

29. They're often pop-ups: ADS.

32. Major artery: AORTA.  Regardless of other health issues, you need the AORTA to work.

36. Irritate: ANNOY.

39. Quick swim: DIP.  I have some sour Cream and Onion soup powder dip! Great for taco chips.

40. Fell behind: TRAILED.  In our sports section in the paper, the word TRAILED comes after Twins Vikings, Wolves, and Wild.

42. Golf ball holder: TEE.  I have the kind that produce the same height for every shot. I use different ones for the par three holes.

43. Stockpile: AMASS.  Since I get the second shot of vaccine this Wednesday and hopefully start bowling, I suppose I will also be returning to A MASS on Sunday.  I am not a sinner, the Archbishop basically told those of us over 65 with health issues to stay home last March.

45. Dig deeply (into): DELVE.

46. Pigs out (on), briefly: ODS.  C.C. and I are waiting to O.D. on watermelon soon.

47. Blacken in a pan: CHAR.

49. Dictator Amin: IDI.

56. "Shoo!": SCAT.

60. The "I" in MIT: Abbr.: INST.

61. Ceremonial conical structure: TEPEE.

62. Tra-__: refrain syllables: LA LA.  We had this last week.  Home of the original McDonald's Museum, before Ray Kroc.

63. "__, humbug!": BAH.

66. Musician Brian: ENO.

67. Had the flu, say: AILED.  I have not had the flu for years.  But I ail from other stuff. And it's not watermelon.

68. Cove, e.g.: INLET.

69. Tennis do-over: LET.

70. Sanctify: BLESS.  Does God really BLESS you when you sneeze?  Did you give up something for Lent? I gave up broccoli.

71. Love to pieces: ADORE.  I adore C.C., but so far she has stayed in one piece.

Down:

1. Faux pas: GAFFE.  Kind of a strange way to spell GOOF.

2. Mixed bags: OLIOS.  We used to call Margarine OLEO.  I don't think it's sold in Minnesota or Wisconsin anymore, to support the dairy industry.

3. "Tuesdays With Morrie" author Mitch: ALBOM.

4. Wobble: TEETER.  Join TWITTER and become a TWEETER. 

5. Leb. neighbor: SYR.

6. A, as in Athens: ALPHA.  In the military, we used Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta.  That's all I remember.

7. Invoice word: TOTAL.

8. Employee's reward: RAISE.  Also a poker move that could make you richer or cost you a bit.

9. Motivate: INCENT.

10. Biblical beast of burden: ASS.

11. Not be fooled by: CATCH ONTO.  When C.C. came over from her homeland, you would not believe how quickly she was able to CATCH ONTO golf,

12. San Antonio mission: ALAMO.  "We're killing your soldiers below, so the rest of Texas will know, and remember the ALAMO.  Johnny Cash.

13. Continue to subscribe: RENEW.  I just RENEWED our car insurance.  They knocked a bit off the price.  I have a good driving record.  I don't speed or drink. And now I have a car that bongs at me when I sneak over the lane markers.

18. Decide on: OPT FOR.  Hyundai, That's what I OPTED FOR.

22. Z __ zebra: AS IN.

25. Swapped: TRADED.  I TRADED in a decent Dodge Grand Caravan, but it never tweeted me how to drive.

27. Patronizes, as a restaurant: EATS AT.  Minneapolis restaurants are having problems.  Of course the outdoor option is out of the question this month, and potential customers are walking out because seated customers are not wearing masks.  Then of course there are cautious people like C.C. and I who have not seen the inside of a restaurant in over a year.  We don't use drive ins either.

29. Oral health org.: ADA.

30. Not bright, as a light: DIM.

31. Many a NASA mission: SPACE SHOT.  I wonder how things are on Mars?

33. "Far out, dude!": RAD.  I never talked like that, I wonder if kids still do?

34. White-__: formal: TIE.  The last white TIE I had was first communion in 1953.

35. Every one: ALL.

37. Ref. work that added "YOLO" in 2016: OED. Oxford English Dictionary.

38. Proposer's preferred response: YES.  If you're getting married, I suppose.  But when I get those proposal phone calls the answer is NO.

41. Paperless party announcements: E-VITES.

44. "__ up!": "Quiet!": SHUT.

48. Sell directly to the consumer: RETAIL.  We have been giving retailers a bit of business but they are all hurting due to Covid.  Target headquarters in Downtown Minneapolis is delaying return of many employees until September.

50. Manhattan or Staten: ISLAND. or Treasure! Next to Fashion Show Mall on the Strip.

51. Defame in print: LIBEL.

52. Foolish: INANE.

53. Woman's name backward or forward: NELLE.  "The scene was in the Jailhouse and if curfew rang that night, NELL's dad in number thirteen cell would go out like a light. (Chad Mitchell Trio.)

54. Vaulted alcoves: APSES.

55. Requirements: NEEDS.  "As long as she NEEDS me"  Sammie Davis Jr.

57. Monte __: CARLO.

58. Raise a hemline on, say: ALTER.

59. Sample, as food: TASTE.

64. Tide alternative: FAB.  I remember this,  I have not seen it stores for awhile.  Maybe I just have not looked.

65. Spanish aunt: TIA.

Boomer

Notes from C.C.:

"Who will buy my sweet red roses? Two blooms for a penny." Here is a picture of Boomer with his glee club in 1965.  He's on the most right.