Tuesday, May 18, 2021 Jesse Goldberg

Stretched Thin.

20-Across. Go ballistic: HIT THE CEILING.

35-Across. 2002 biopic about con man Frank Abagnale: CATCH ME IF YOU CAN.

41-Across. Cleaner of teeth: DENTAL HYGIENIST.

And the Unifier:

53-Across. Overextended ... and what's literally in each set of circles: STRETCHED THIN.  The word THIN is Stretched out in each of the theme answers.

Across:

1. Sousa specialty: MARCH.  John Philip Sousa (Nov. 6, 1854 ~ Mar. 6, 1932) was know as the American March King.  USA is even in his name.

6. Show appreciation for the performance: CLAP.

10. __ 67: Montreal World's Fair: EXPO.   I went to Expo 67.  I don't remember anything about it other than Buckminister Fuller's geodesic dome pavilion that housed the United States exhibit.

14. Amtrak speedster: ACELA.  I learned of the Acela from doing the crossword puzzles.

15. Hand-up command: HALT.

16. Really funny sort: RIOT.

17. Food truck fare: TACOS.  There is a taco truck that can be found downtown in Louisiana's capital city near the government buildings.

18. McDonald's slogan since 2003: I'M LOVIN' IT.  The story behind the slogan.

22. Bogey on a par 5: SIX.  A golfing reference.

23. Homer's TV neighbor: NED.

24. Tough H.S. exams: APs.  As in the Advanced Placement exams.

27. Take the sloop out: SAIL.  A sloop is a single mast sailboat.

30. Self-indulgent period: ME TIME.

38. Opera highlight: ARIA.  An Aria from Carmen, one of my favorite operas.

39. Kimono sash: OBI.  Not to be confused with Obi-Wan Kenobi.

40. First female attorney general: RENO.  Janet Wood Reno (July 21, 1938 ~ Nov. 7, 2016) served as the United States Attorney General from 1993 until 2001 during the Clinton administration.

46. Takes care of: SEES TO.

47. Hammett pooch: ASTA.  Asta was the Wirehaired Fox Terrier from Dashiell Hammett's 1934 novel, The Thin Man.

48. Kickoff aid: TEE.

49. Balaam's mount: ASS.  The story of Balaam and his Ass can be found in the Biblical book of Numbers (22:21-39).  The story has been the depicted in many paintings, including this one by Rembrandt.

51. Unit of heat: Abbr.: BTU.  As in a British Thermal Unit.

60. In exact terms: PRECISELY.

62. Optimist's phrase: I HOPE.

63. Chef's flavoring: HERB.

64. Ensnare: TRAP.

65. "Take a load off": RELAX.

66. Uncertain: IFFY.

67. "This round's __": ON ME.

68. Romantic rendezvous: TRYST.

Down:

1. Course with operations: MATH.

2. Trendy berry: AÇAI.  These berries have become a crossword staple.  They look a bit like blueberries.

3. Four-sided fig.: RECT.  As in a Rectangle.

4. Stops bleeding: CLOTS.

5. Cannabis concentrate: HASHISH.

6. Stylish: CHIC.

7. Poor, as an excuse: LAME.

8. Make-or-break poker bet: ALL IN.

9. Ancient Greek astronomer: PTOLEMY.  Everything you wanted to know about Claudius Ptolemy (circa 85 ~ 165 CE), but didn't know to ask.

10. Activist Brockovich: ERIN.  Erin Brockovich (b. June 22, 1960) is an environmental activist who was instrumental in building the case against the Pacific Gas and Electric Company for contaminating the drinking water.  Her story was made into a movie that starred Julia Roberts.

11. Ped __: street sign: XING.

12. Hawaiian staple: POI.  It's not as good as it looks.

13. MLB Hall of Famer Mel: OTT.  Mel Ott (né Melvin Thomas Ott; Mar. 2, 1909 ~ Nov. 21, 1958) was a Louisiana native.  He makes frequent guest appearances in the puzzles.  Sadly, he was killed from injuries sustained in a car accident at age 49.

19. The "v" in vlog: VIDEO.

21. Midterm, e.g.: EXAM.

24. USMA and USNA: Abbr.: ACADS.  Both are Academies.

25. "Gay" capital of song: PAREE.

26. "Mostly Ghostly" series writer R.L. __: STINE.  R.L. Stein (né Robert Lawrence Stine; b. Oct. 8, 1943) also makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles.  He is best know for his young adult horror fiction novels.

28. The "I" in I.M. Pei: IEOH.  I.M. Pei (né Ieoh Ming Pei; Apr. 26, 1917 ~ May 16, 2019) was a Chinese-born American architect and had a long career designing very unique buildings.  He died 2 years ago shortly after his 102nd birthday.  One of his most famous designes is the pyramid outside the Louvre.

29. Niger neighbor: LIBYA.

31. Chance to play: TURN.

32. Ensure the win: ICE IT.

33. Minister's house: MANSE.

34. Cybermessage: E-NOTE.

36. Musical with the song "Memory": CATS.  I saw the musical Cats years ago.  I don't understand why it was so popular.

37. Newton fruit: FIGS.  Yummers!  If you are feeling ambitious, you can make your own.  Nabisco's Newtons now come in several flavors, including blueberry, strawberry and apple cinnamon.

42. Gaming brand since 1972: ATARI.

43. Is bested by: LOSES TO.

44. The Beatles' "Let __": IT BE.

45. Offer a humble retraction: EAT DIRT.

50. Back of the boat: STERN.

52. __ Pendragon, King Arthur's father: UTHER.  He doesn't look very happy.

53. Medieval laborer: SERF.

54. Frozen dessert chain: TCBY.  The Country's Best Yogurt.  Another big yogurt chain is I Can't Believe It's Yogurt!  If the two companies merged, would the merger be known as I Can't Believe It's the Country's Best Yogurt?

55. Dig for quahogs, say: CLAM.  A quahog is a hard-shelled clam found in the mud flats along the Atlantic Coast.

56. Flashy promotion: HYPE.

57. Sacred: HOLY.

58. Hoppy brews, briefly: IPAs.  As in India Pale Ales.  Here is an article about the origin of the IPA.

59. "Whose turn is it?" shout: NEXT.

60. Letter before chi: PHI.

61. Ump's NBA counterpart: REF.  As in a Referee at the Basketball game.

Here's the Grid.

חתולה

Monday, May 17, 2021 Kurt Krauss

Theme: FORTIES (39. Decade in which the Slinky debuted ... and a phonetic hint to the answers to starred clues) - Each theme entry has Four T's.

20A. *Inside scoop: SCUTTLEBUTT.

55A. *End-of-broadcasting image on old late-night TV: TEST PATTERN.

11D. *Minor shoplifting crime, say: PETTY THEFT.

29D. *Snitch: TATTLETALE

Boomer here.  

This theme is right up my alley. I mean lane. I was born in the FORTIES of the Truman administration.  After WWII I was part of the "Baby Boomer" Generation.  I dropped the baby adjective when I started bowling and playing golf.  Speaking of which, there are many upscale golf courses that have FOUR TEES. They generally mark them with different color markers. Back tees are blue for Pros and club tournaments.  White tees are for mediocre players like me.  Red tees are usually for the ladies and the shortest distance to the green are yellow, for the younger crowd and beginners.  FORE!

Across:

1. Mineral used in much tailor's chalk: TALC.

5. Bridge feat: SLAM.  I played bridge during lunch with some coworkers, now I have found a website where I can play against three other robots.

9. March parade VIP: ST PAT.  My cousins grew up in St. Patrick's Parish in Hudson Wisconsin and March 17 was celebrated famously.

14. Hipbones: ILIA. Plural of ilium.

15. Ripped into pieces, with "up": TORE.  "Oh, she ripped and she TORE and she ran through the door".

16. Football venue: ARENA.  I really do not think football is played in an ARENA.  Most stadiums are open air, and even the Vikings in an enclosed facility is called U.S. Bank Stadium.

17. Rind: PEEL.

18. "Terrible" Russian ruler: IVAN.  Russian? I thought he was a WWE Wrestler.

19. Subsequently: LATER.  See you LATER Alligator, After while Crocodile!

23. Couple: TWO.

24. Civil rights leader Medgar: EVERS.  "Civil Rights leaders are a pain in the neck, can't hold a candle to Chiang Kai-Shek.  How do I know, I read it in the Daily News"." Tom Paxton.

25. Greasy: OILY.

27. Feline metaphor for a wealthy donor: FAT CAT.

30. Actress Bening: ANNETTE.  Never paid a lot of attention until she appeared as Virginia Hill in the Movie "Bugsy".  Mr. Segal hated that name.

33. Brightly colored fish: OPAH.

34. Bathroom fixtures: TUBS.  We only have one TUB in our home.

37. Lucy's best friend in old TV: ETHEL.  Unforgettable Vivian Vance, with Fred Mertz was a favorite for Baby Boomers. 

38. Not dis?: DAT.

41. Part of ESL: Abbr.: ENG.

42. Eight-related: OCTAL.  I'll remember OCTAL the next time I get an 8 on the golf course.

44. Soccer score: GOAL. Yes but do not forget about that other game called hockey.

45. Shaving lotion brand: AFTA.  Use it "AFTA" you shave.

46. Let go: RELEASE.  RELEASE the ball behind behind the foul line. Start by trying to hit the second arrow from the gutter. Right for righties and left for southpaws.  If you miss the head pin move a bit toward the gutter.  If your shot goes high on the head pin or crosses over righthanders start more to the left and vice versa for lefties. 

48. Newspaper chief: EDITOR.

50. Art Deco master: ERTE.

51. More wise: SAGER.

53. Proactiv target: ZIT.  There is no cure, just put something on it and hope it goes away.

60. Farsi speaker: IRANI.

62. Beach bird: TERN.

63. "I had no __!": "What a surprise!": IDEA.

64. Frigid: POLAR.

65. Clapton who sang "Layla": ERIC.  A fellow Baby Boomer who toured with the "Yarbirds".

66. Sail support: MAST.

67. Public to-do: SCENE.

68. Brazilian soccer legend: PELE.  I was never a soccer fan but this guy was the Mickey Mantle of soccer.

69. CPR pros: EMTS.

Down:

1. Waitstaff rewards: TIPS.  Also a guy at the racetrack who sells a paper with which horse to bet.

2. Actor Baldwin: ALEC.  There was a different ALEC who played Obi Wan Kenobi.

3. "In __ of gifts ... ": LIEU.

4. Pasadena institute where most of "The Big Bang Theory" characters work: CAL TECH.

5. High, thin heel: STILETTO.  I never knew how ladies could walk in these things.

6. Aficionado: LOVER.

7. Many Yemenis: ARABS.

8. Software options list: MENU.  Or a restaurant list of what kind of pizza to order.

9. Soup crackers: SALTINES.  Oyster Crackers are better.

10. Singer's syllable before la-la: TRA.  "Oh the flowers that bloom in the Spring, Tra La."  The Mikado.

12. Again: ANEW.  No just keep going.

13. Hawaiian tuber: TARO.

21. FDR power project: TVA.  Every old Graybar guy has heard of the Tennessee Valley Authority.

22. Freight weight: TON.  "You load 16 Tons and whatta you get.  Another day older and deeper in debt."  Tennessee Ernie Ford.

26. Allow: LET.

27. Big name in travel guides: FODOR.

28. Lickety-split: APACE.  Medina spirit?

30. Largest continent: ASIA.  No doubt here. It is huge.

31. __-one: long odds: TEN TO.

32. "Pomp and Circumstance" composer: ELGAR.

35. Strong desire: URGE.  I do not have the URGE to leave the mask at home, no matter what the CDC and governor says.

36. "Takin' Care of Business" rockers, initially: BTO. Bachman Turner Overdrive.

39. What a spare replaces: FLAT TIRE.  My Dodge van never had a spare, just a phone number to call for roadside assistance.  The Santa Fe has a spare, but I hope I never need to use it.  

40. Refinement: ELEGANCE.

43. __ Lingus: AER.

45. When the show must go on: AIR TIME.

47. "Comprende?": SEE.

49. MLB's Tigers, on scoreboards: DET.  They passed the Twins in the standings last week.  It could be a season-long battle for last place in the A.L. Central.

51. Cubic meter: STERE.

52. Month of showers: APRIL.  Minnesota had showers we had to shovel.

53. Postal codes: ZIPS. The mail seems to becoming less ZIPpy,

54. Classic Camaro: IROC.  By 1985, I was WAY to OLD to own one of these.

56. Big first for a baby: STEP.  I guess mine was sometime in 1948.

57. Mild Dutch cheese: EDAM.

58. Take it easy: REST.  We went to Las Vegas for a change and a rest.  The slot machine got the change and the bartender got the rest.

59. D.C. MLB team: NATS.  Since we already have the state of Washington. I wonder what they might call the 51st state ??

61. Tandoori bread: NAN.

Boomer

Sunday May 16, 2021 Roland Huget

Theme: "Extra Bedrooms" - BR is added to each familiar phrase.

23A. Toaster oven user?: BROWNER OPERATOR. Owner operator.

34A. Barbecue guests?: BROIL COMPANY. Oil company.

52A Fraternity news contacts?: BROTHER SOURCES. Other sources.

76A. Really dangerous edge?: INVISIBLE BRINK. Invisible ink.

93A. Structural pieces for a tiny Christmas village?: POCKET BRACES. Pocket aces.

110A. Ship's rope?: NAVIGATION BRAID. Navigation aid.

16D. Dirt at the stable?: BRIDLE GOSSIP. Idle gossip.

58D. Fight among poor pool players?: SCRATCH BRAWL. Scratch awl.

I bet many of you immediately guessed the theme after scanning at the title. 

Amazing grid work today. Heavy themage, but only 140 words and 69 black squares. No cheater squares. No surprises, since Roland Huget is also an accomplished themeless constructor.

Across:

1. Bleak genre: NOIR. Film noir. Dark crime dramas.

5. Monthly bill: CABLE.

10. Keep time, in a way: CLAP. Had to ask D-Otto. He said "You clap along to the music."

14. Mosey: AMBLE.

19. Locale of the Tomb of Akbar the Great: AGRA. Akbar the Great was the third Mughal emperor (1556 to 1605). He was the grandfather of Shah Jahan, the guy who commissioned Taj Mahal. Shah Jahan was the fifth Mughal emperor (1628 to 1658). So ornate.

20. Set boundaries for: LIMIT.

21. Tanning target: HIDE.

22. "The Sound of Music" matriarch: MARIA.

26. Steinbeck migrants: OKIES.

27. Mounted security system component: SENSOR.

28. Dr. Al Robbins on "CSI," e.g.: CORONER.

29. Stressed out: ON EDGE.

30. Coil of yarn: SKEIN.

32. Pearly coating: NACRE.

33. "1984" working class: PROLES.

38. Milwaukee MLBer through 1965: BRAVE. And 90. Red or Card: NLER. National Leaguer. Cardinal.

39. Student in English class?: NOUN. OK, "student" is a noun.

40. Shed item: TOOL.

41. Certain hip-hop dancer: B BOY.

43. Breakfast choice: EGGS. Not for me. I just need carbs.

46. "Wanna __?": BET.

47. Section that doesn't include the sax, surprisingly: BRASS. There are three straying BR's. Can you locate the other two?

49. Looks rudely at: OGLES.

51. Team golf event: PRO-AM.

55. Hindu title: SRI.

56. Fred Flintstone's boss: MR SLATE.

59. Geeked, so to speak: EAGER.

60. Rachel Brosnahan's "Marvelous Mrs.": MAISEL. "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel".

62. First name in design: COCO. Chanel.

63. Winter Palace rulers: TSARS.

66. Really ticked: IRATE.

68. Little bit: MITE.

69. Use Listerine, say: GARGLE. I use Scope. Listerine is so strong.

71. Deep sleep: SOPOR.

73. Progressive decline: ATROPHY.

75. It shares a small border with BC: IDA. British Columbia.

80. Abate: LET UP.

82. Idyllic places: EDENS.

83. Drake production: RAP CD. Drake also has an impressive Birkin bag collection.

84. Pre-holiday time: EVE.

87. It might be picked: LOCK.

88. Holiday desserts: PIES.

89. iPad assistant: SIRI.

91. Tribe also called the Wyandot: HURON. Here's the Wiki info: "In the early 17th century, this Iroquoian people called themselves the Wendat, an autonym which means "Dwellers of the Peninsula" or "Islanders". The Wendat historic territory was bordered on three sides by the waters of Georgian Bay and Lake Simcoe. Early French explorers referred to these natives as the Huron, either from the French huron ("ruffian", "rustic"), or from hure ("boar's head"). According to tradition, French sailors thought that the bristly hairstyle of Wendat warriors resembled that of a boar."

97. Storied: FABLED.

99. Writer __ Rogers St. Johns: ADELA.

101. Slow-moving tree dweller: SLOTH.

102. Words on some Québec road signs: ARRETS. Stops.

103. Creative kind of thinking: LATERAL.

106. Tía's mom: ABUELA. Grandma.

109. Author Calvino: ITALO. Hahtoolah might have dived into his books.

112. Pisa landmark: TOWER. Hi Gary & Picard!

113. Neglect: OMIT.

114. The "five" in "take five," e.g.: BREAK.

115. Impressed?: APED. Did an impression.

116. "The Planets" composer: HOLST. Gustav Holst.

117. Spoil, with "on": DOTE.

118. Taps feed them: SINKS.

119. Red ink: LOSS.

Down:

1. Collars: NABS.

2. Fairy tale baddie: OGRE.

3. Removes, as wrinkles: IRONS OUT. I have not ironed anything for ages.

4. Abrasion result: RAW SKIN.

5. Service leader: CLERIC.

6. Half of a vacation rental app: AIR. 34. The other half of 6-Down: BNB. Airbnb.

7. Admired coll. guy: BMOC. Big Man on Campus.

8. Slimming surg. procedure: LIPO.

9. Timeless: ETERNAL. So excited that J-Lo and Ben Affleck are back again.

10. Uncertain: CHANCY.

11. Soda bottle size: LITER.

12. Cherish: ADORE.

13. Word in many rates: PER.

14. Supreme Egyptian god: AMON RA. Sometimes it's AMEN RA.

15. Create a new look for: MAKE OVER.

17. Feudal subject: LIEGE.

18. Relaxes: EASES.

24. Yule tune: NOEL.

25. Color at the stable: ROAN.

29. Nashville attraction: OPRY.

31. Jots down: NOTATES.

35. Future fish: ROE.

36. Dance in a pit: MOSH.

37. Mug for a selfie: POSE.

38. Winter pear: BOSC. Pretty sweet. My favorites are still Korean pears.

41. Like a darker purple: BLUER.

42. Immortal catcher with "-ism" associated with his first name: BERRA. Yogi.

44. Nephew of King Arthur: GARETH. Sir Gareth. Shout-out to constructor Gareth Bain.

45. The __ Company: Walmart foe in 2000s lawsuits: SMILEY. Wiki says It holds the rights to the smiley face in over 100 countries". Wow.

47. Maidenform purchase: BRA.

48. No-good: ROTTEN.

49. Mexican mama bear: OSA.

50. "Make it happen, sister!": GO GIRL. Need "you".

51. Free TV spot: PSA.

52. Place for a post: BLOG.

53. "Wheel of Fortune" action: RE-SPIN.

54. Ipecac, for one: EMETIC.

56. Jimmy __, Saul's real name on "Better Call Saul": MCGILL.

57. Truckers' competition: ROADEO.

61. "No harm done": I'M OK.

64. Remark to the audience: ASIDE.

65. Gift to a Valentine: ROSES.

67. La Brea formations: TAR PITS.

70. Backtalk: LIP.

72. Delivery room docs: OBS.

74. Boxing match unit: Abbr.: RND. Round.

77. Style of expression: VEIN.

78. Composer Satie: ERIK. Or "Crossword editor Agard". MM solves USA Today every day. TTP occasionally. You won't find grids cleaner than USA Today.

79. Unfurnished: BARE.

81. Luau instruments: UKULELES.  And 89. Hieroglyphic beetles: SCARABS. Great fill.

84. One who finesses the tab, facetiously: EL CHEAPO.

85. Notch shape: VEE.

86. Hesitant sounds: ERS.

88. Whale groups: PODS.

90. One with inborn talent: NATURAL.

92. One might begin, "Oh, yeah?": RETORT.

93. Small dress size: PETITE.

94. Couturier Cassini: OLEG.

95. Shuts out, in baseball: BLANKS.

96. Stark heir on "Game of Thrones": ROBB.  Robb Stark is played by Richard Madden.

97. Religious belief: FAITH. Two of Boomer's aunts are Faith and Charity. His mom is Hope.

98. Threepio's pal: ARTOO.

99. Enterprise competitor: ALAMO.

100. Lifeboat crane: DAVIT. Like this.

104. Bell town in a Longfellow poem: ATRI. Have not seen entry for a long while.

105. Property claim: LIEN.

107. "None of it is true!": LIES.

108. Puts in: ADDS.

110. Auction gesture: NOD.

111. Furniture wood: OAK.

C.C.