Tuesday, November 2, 2021 Daniel Bodily

Under the Weather.  Notice that each of the starred theme answers is in the Down position.  The first word of each theme answer describes a weather condition.  The second word, thus, is "under the weather." 

3-Down. *   1956 Burt Lancaster film, with "The": RAINMAKER.  The Rainmaker was a 1956 movie that starred Burt Lancaster (Nov. 2, 1913 ~ Oct. 20, 1994) and Katherine Hepburn (1907 ~ 2003).  The story took place during the Great Depression in a farming town in the mid-west that was suffering from a draught.  Burt Lancaster played a con man who promised he could make it rain.  It is appropriate that this clue and answer appeared in today's puzzle because today would have been Burt Lancaster's 108th birthday.

6-Down. *   Desperation gridiron pass: HAIL MARY.

8-Down. *   Big name in film festivals: SUNDANCE.  The Sundance Film Festival is the largest independent film festival in the United States.  It has been showing films since 1978.  The next festival will take place from January 20 through 30, 2022.

11-Down. *   Seven Dwarfs' housekeeper: SNOW WHITE.  The version the Brothers Grimm tells of Snow White is a tad darker than Disney's version.

Here's the unifier:

62. Out of sorts ... or where four answer-ending words (see starred clues) can be found?: UNDER THE WEATHER.

Across:
1. Fabled runner-up: HARE.  //  And 47. Like the 1-Across vis-à-vis the tortoise, ironically: SLOWER.

5. Deep cleft: CHASM.

10. "Tell me if you're coming" letters: RSVP.  Technically, this is today's French lesson as well as a lesson in manners.  Répondez s'il vous plaît, which translates into English as Please respond.

14. Pacific island ceded by Spain to the U.S. in 1899: GUAM.

15. The __: Europol headquarters: HAGUE.  Europol is the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement.

16. Meticulous to a fault: ANAL.  This word appears with some frequency in the puzzles.

17. Jazz club group: TRIO.  Everything you wanted to know about Jazz Trios, but didn't know to ask.

18. Detroit NFL team: LIONS.

19. Party hat shape: CONE.

20. Large-scale ride-sharing option: VANPOOL.  It's like a carpool, but bigger.

22. Limited-access internet area: DARK WEB.  Everything you wanted to know about the Dark Web, but didn't know to ask.

24. Surfing connection: MODEM.  Web surfing.

25. A bit off: ASKEW.

26. Hogwarts potions master: SNAPE.  Professor Severus Snape was played by Alan Rickman (February 21, 1946 ~ January 14, 2016) in the Harry Potter movies.

28. Raggedy doll: ANN.  I had a Raggedy Andy when I was a kid.

30. Significant __: partner: OTHER.

33. Acorn dropper: OAK.

34. How much it costs: PRICE.

36. Prez before JFK: IKE.  Dwight David Eisenhower, aka Ike (Oct. 14, 1890 ~ Mar. 28, 1969) was President  from 1953 until 1961.  John Fitzgerald Kennedy, aka Jack (May 29, 1917 ~ Nov. 22, 1963) was President from January 1961 until his assassination in November 1963.

37. Monopoly's Atlantic or Pacific: Abbr.: AVE.  As in Atlantic and Pacific Avenues.

38. __ ignition system: hi-tech car starter: KEYLESS.  I love having a keyless ignition system.

40. October's number: TEN.  Because October is now the 10th month on the calendar.  In the old Roman calendar, however, it was the 8th month, hence, the OCT in its name.

41. Fozzie Bear's frog pal: KERMIT.  //  Not to be confused with 53-Across. Claymation green guy: GUMBY.

43. If all goes right: AT BEST.

45. Sign of healing: SCAB.

47. Diamonds or clubs: SUIT.

48. Backbone: SPUNK.

51. "You've got mail" ISP: AOL.  As in America On Line.  //  And 42-Down. 51-Across alternative: MSN.  As in Microsoft Network.

57. "Proven," in proofs: QED.  Today's Latin lesson.  QED is an abbreviation for quod erat demonstrandum, which means "which was to be demonstrated".

58. Tune that stays in your head too long: EARWORM.

61. Huntsville's st.: ALA.  As in Alabama.  NASA's George C. Marshall Space Flight Center is located in Huntsville, Alabama.

65. Tops, as a cake: ICES.  My mother used frosting on a cake.

66. November tally: VOTES.

67. "Magic" prop: WAND.

68. Lahr of "The Wizard of Oz": BERT.  Bert Lahr (né Irving Lahrheim; Aug. 13, 1895 ~ Dec. 4, 1967), is best known for his role as the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz.

69. Golf or tennis: SPORT.

70. Ransom of auto fame: OLDS.

Ransom Eil Olds (June 3, 1864 ~ Aug. 26, 1950)

Down:

1. Channel for home flippers: HGTV.

2. General feel: AURA.

4. Expressive music genre: EMO-POP.  The best Emo Pop songs?  You be the judge.

5. Techie on "24": CHLOE.  The actress who played Chloe is Mary Lynn Rajskub (b. June 22, 1971), and she appeared recently in another puzzle I wrote up on recently.

7. In the past: AGO.

9. Western plateaus: MESAS.  Hi, Lucina!

10. Tennis need: RACKET.

12. Wind indicator: VANE.

13. Roman commoner: PLEB.

21. Poet's tribute: ODE.  A crossword staple.

23. "It's a Wonderful Life" studio: RKO.  The initials stand for Radio-Keith-Orpheum.

26. Enjoy a Jacuzzi: SOAK.

27. Central church part: NAVE.

Anatomy of a Church

29. Zero, in soccer: NIL.

31. Barely gets (by): EKEs.

32. Tenant's expense: RENT.

34. Fur-protesting org.: PETA.  People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

35. Jacob's twin: ESAU.  A Biblical reference.  These brothers appear with some frequency in the puzzles.

38. Field goal expert, e.g.: KICKER.

39. Mark of shame: STIGMA.

44. A/C measure: BTU.  As in British Thermal Units.

46. Hit a bunch of pubs in one night: BARHOP.

48. News filler: SQUIB.  This was my last fill.

49. Trump's VP: PENCE.  Mike Pence (né Michael Richard Pence; b. June 7, 1959) also served as the Governor of Indiana.

50. Milker's handful: UDDER.  Not exactly.  If the milker is handling the Udder, he's not doing it right.

52. Be a debtor of: OWE TO.

54. Taj __: MAHAL.  India's most famous monument.

55. Button on a mixer: BLEND.

56. Football measures: YARDS.

59. Off-rd. transports: ATVs.

60. Catnap, e.g.: REST.

63. Ballpark fig.: EST.  As in an Estimate.

64. "Squared" power: TWO.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

Monday November 1, 2021 Susan Gelfand

Theme: SEESAWS (39. Vacillates ... or what you can do when you look at the starts of the answers to starred clues?)

17A. *Trendy terms: BUZZWORDS. Buzzsaw.

60A. *Popular cause to jump on: BANDWAGON. Band saw.

11D. *Mall anchors: CHAIN STORES. Chainsaw.

25D. *Game with paddles: TABLE TENNIS. Table saw.

Boomer here.  

Hello everyone. Last week we ventured into Western Wisconsin for a birthday trip and to SEE a casino.  Instead we SAW beautiful landscape and fall colors as we crossed the St. Croix river.  The St. Croix Casino was nothing that we have not SEEn before, but we had a good time.

Boomer, St Croix Casino Turtle Lake, 10/26/2021

Across:

1. Kid around with: JOSH.  The Twins have a player named JOSH Donaldson.

 

 

5. Wind with two reeds: OBOE.

9. Young fellow, in Ireland: BUCKO. The casino machines accepted a BUCK. Sometimes it paid back 50 cents.

14. Square footage, say: AREA.  I watch a bit of NFL football,  I am amazed at the AREA taken up by some of these stadiums. The playing field, then the seating for the ticket holders, and the parking AREA.   

15. Mama's mate: DADA.

16. Rapper Ice Cube's first name: O'SHEA. Jackson.

19. Cardinals and Orioles: TEAMS.  Talkin' baseball.  The Washington Football team does not have a name.

20. Runs in, cop-style: ARRESTS.  George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis.  Two of the cops involved are still awaiting trial

22. Ready for picking: RIPE.  A great time of year for apples and other fruit. 

23. Passage in a personal journal: ENTRY.  I have never used a journal.  Now at my age I do not remember everything.

26. Runs at full speed: SPRINTS.  I certainly do not do this anymore.

28. College courtyard: QUAD.

29. Guerrilla Guevara: CHE.

32. Curtain holders: RODS.  I remember installing in our home twenty or more years ago.  They are still up so I must have done something right.

33. Cities, informally: URBS.  I don't know about this.  I thought they were called "BURBS". 

34. "(Marie's the Name) __ Latest Flame": Elvis hit: HIS.

35. Dutch beer brand: AMSTEL.  When you say BUD you've said a lot of things nobody else can say.

38. Silent communication syst.: ASL.

41. Mine find: ORE. Or a state south of Washington.

42. Eyed lecherously: LEERED.

44. Rose of Guns N' Roses: AXL.

45. Not kosher: TREF.

46. Elevated on a peg, as a golf ball: TEED.  TEED off when you hit it, and TEED off when you miss the putt.

47. Hoped-for response to a marriage proposal: YES.

48. Splinter group: SECT.

49. Mongoose family member: MEERKAT.

52. Needing practice: RUSTY.  My bowling has been a bit RUSTY but I am working on it.  Time off for Covid was brutal.

53. Luxury hotel: OMNI.  Tiny Dodge in the 1980s

54. Ketchup-and-mayo dressing: RUSSIAN. I've never heard of Russian dressing.

58. Title film cousin: VINNY.  Gambini with Joe Pesci

64. Formal "Just me": IT IS I.  IT IS what it is.

65. Lake with the same first and last letter: ERIE.

66. Long skirt: MAXI.

67. German steel city: ESSEN.  Population over half a million.

68. Pro __: in proportion: RATA.

69. Fan favorite: IDOL.  Pop singer Billy with punk rock hair.

Down:

1. Boxer's quick punch: JAB.  I would not like to be on the receiving end of a George Foreman JAB.  I don't like his commercials either.

 

2. Christian sch. in Tulsa: ORU. Oral Roberts University.

3. States, slangily: SEZ.  Just SAYS spelled wrong. 

4. Ventures, as a guess: HAZARDS.  Ponds and Sand Traps.

5. Skunk's defense: ODOR.  I consider to be lucky to have never encountered a SKUNK.

6. Naked: BARE.

7. Betting ratios: ODDS.  I believe the ODDS at the Casino we visited were are quite a bit in the casino's favor.

8. Divisions for the Yanks and Mets: EASTS.

9. Automated spam sender: BOT.

10. Log-in needs: USER IDS.  I tried to develop passwords that were easy to remember but I cannot remember everything!!

12. Well-groomed: KEMPT.

13. Desert havens: OASES.

18. Dryly humorous: WRY.  A crossword talking about me ??

21. Spreads out one's arms and legs: SPRAWLS.  Great activity on a beach of one of Minnesota lakes.  Not too much fun in the winter though.

23. Math sign: EQUAL.  I used to always say it with an "S".

24. Hospital worker: NURSE. A thankless job, especially with the pandemic going on.

27. CD-__: data holders: ROMS.

29. Cracker cheese: CHEDDAR.  I always need a little on top of the Mozzarella on a pizza. 

30. Rush, old-style: HIE.

31. Op-ed piece, e.g.: ESSAY.  I always skip the Op-eds in the Minneapolis paper.  Not interested in others' opinion.

36. Upright: ERECT.

37. Southpaw: LEFTY.  Great reference which never made any sense.

39. Search for: SEEK.

40. Chopping tool: AXE.

43. Get the rest of the soap out of: RE-RINSE.  I need to perform this task because I still have real hair.

45. Tidal wave cousin: TSUNAMI.

49. Theater feature: MOVIE.  It's been a long time since C.C. and I have attended a movie.  Normally you can wait a few months and it's on TV.

50. Radiates: EMITS.

51. Potato or yam: TUBER.  Odd name for a vegetable.

52. Uncooked: RAW.

55. __ Lee: dessert brand: SARA.  Everybody doesn't like something, but nobody doesn't like Sara Lee.

56. Sulky state: SNIT.  I will not mention politics.

57. "Good thinking!" thought: IDEA.

59. Yang's partner: YIN.

61. Wander (about): GAD.

62. Kitchen tool brand: OXO.  A line in a tic tac toe puzzle.

63. Naught: NIL.

Boomer

Sunday October 31, 2021 Paul Coulter

Theme: "A&E Network" - A and E change position in each theme entry.

23A. Govern in Austin?: DIRECT TEXAS. Direct taxes.

25A. Set of rules for a jury?: PANEL CODE. Penal code.

38A. Volume subtitled "100 Good Excuses"?: BOOK OF DENIAL. Book of Daniel.

60A. Party garb for one going as a pollution inspector?: EPA COSTUME. Ape costume.

65A. Historic period with a lot of risks?: CHANCES ERA. Chances are.

90A. Cube-shaped stones for a fireplace shelf?: MANTEL BLOCKS. Mental blocks.

105A. Wizard's communications device?: MAGE PHONE. Megaphone.

107A. Braided Greek cheese?: TWIST OF FETA. Twist of fate.

This is more complicated than our normal change a letter gimmick, as it involves two letter changes. Is it hard brainstorming or did you write a script for the word search, Paul?

Across:

1. Leader who succeeded Muhammad: CALIPH. The state is called Caliphate. Muhammad founded Islam.

7. Tried to get home, say: SLID. Baseball.

11. Boiling state: IRE.

14. Beliefs: ISMS. My pal Lesley copies "Heart Sutra" every day to find inner peace.  Any of you familiar with the term? Vidwan? Not a lot of characters, so she can complete the whole text every day.

18. Keys on a piano: ALICIA. The singer.

19. 100 cents: EURO.

20. "I, Claudius" role: NERO.

22. Texter's "Then again ... ": OTOH. On the other hand.

27. Sault __ Marie: STE.

28. Throttle: CHOKE.

29. Pretentious: LA- DI-DA.

30. Anthem contraction: O'ER.

31. Group name derived from the Dutch for "farmer": BOERS. They lost to the British in 1902. The Boer War. China also lost the two Opium Wars to the British Empire mid-19th century.

 

 32. __ blanche: CARTE.

33. Like crazy: MADLY.

35. Graceful antelopes: IMPALAS.

40. Car bar: TIE ROD.

41. Bodies usually bigger than bays: GULFS.

43. Mercury Theatre co-founder Welles: ORSON.

44. Farm units: ACRES.

45. Lawyer's filing: BRIEF.

46. "The Texan" star Calhoun: RORY. Unknown to me.

48. The Eagle, e.g.: LEM. Lunar Excursion Module.

51. Eric the Red's son: LEIF.

52. Comedian Shecky: GREENE. Wikipedia says "He is known for his nightclub performances in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he became a headliner in the 1950s and '60s."

53. Currency exchange abbr.: USD.

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

55. 17.2-million-square-mile area: ASIA.

57. __ metal: dark '80s-'90s music genre: DEATH.

59. Snakes' weapons: FANGS.

68. Bob of "Fuller House": SAGET.

69. Explode: BURST.

71. Full of slime: OOZY.

72. Breezed through: ACED.

73. Animation frame: CEL.

74. Family reunion attendee: NEPHEW. Looks like we can have a somewhat normal Thanksgiving this year.

77. Botch: MUFF.

81. "__ so you!": IT'S.

82. "No problem!": SURE.

83. Name of two presidents: ADAMS.

84. Privilege: HONOR.

85. Broadcaster: AIRER.

88. A lot: SCADS.

89. State bordering Baja: SONORA.

94. Overly optimistic: BLUE SKY.

95. "Chicago Med" pro: ER DOC.  Also 111. Blood type, briefly: O NEG.

96. Location: SITUS. Not a word I use.

97. Clamorous: NOISY.

98. Color TV pioneer: RCA.

99. H.S. exam for college credit: AP TEST.

101. Brownish gray: TAUPE.

102. Cacophony: DIN.

110. Biblical plot: EDEN. Also an organic food brand. Their umeboshi paste is pretty good.

112. Lash mark: WELT.

113. Shade: NUANCE.

114. Fit together compactly: NEST.

115. Classified ad abbr.: EEO.

116. Comply with: OBEY.

117. Slow-moving mammals: SLOTHS.

Down:

1. Bounders: CADS.

2. Settled (on): ALIT.

3. Euros replaced them: LIRE. Italian currency.

4. Coolers?: ICE.

5. Winds also called ottavinos: PICCOLOS.

6. Result of keeping a cap on too long: HAT HEAD.

7. Goes after: SEEKS.

8. Elegance: LUXE.

9. 401(k) alternative: IRA.

10. Big affairs: DOS.

11. Out of gear: IN PARK.

12. Entertain at bedtime, as a tot: READ TO.

13. "Sixteen Tons" singer whose nickname is his birth state: ERNIE FORD. Tennessee

14. Games gp.: IOC.

15. Waited, not always patiently: STOOD IN LINE. We used to stand in lines for hours to get Twin's bobbleheads.

16. Roadster in the Henry Ford Museum: MODEL A.

17. Crow with Grammys: SHERYL. Here with Lance Armstrong.

21. Brit. lexicon: OED. The Oxford English Dictionary.

24. High spots: TORS.

26. Metal-threaded fabrics: LAMES.

29. Golden Triangle country: LAOS.

31. Shameless: BAREFACED. Lie.

32. Eye-opening cupful: COFFEE.

34. Spanish span: ANO. Year.

35. Emphatic type: Abbr.: ITAL. Italic.

36. They actually prefer fruit and grains to cheese: MICE. Really? Maybe I should put ripe banana on the mouse trap then.

37. "Frasier" actress Gilpin: PERI.

38. Kitchen counter staple: BLENDER.

39. Cocktail order: DRY.

41. Coll. senior's test: GRE.

42. One-eighty: UIE.

45. Cookout choice: BRAT.

46. Babe with a bat: RUTH. Babe Ruth.

47. Dept. of Labor arm: OSHA.

49. Tech sch. alumnus: ENGR.

50. Big butte: MESA.

52. Base figs.: GIS. Military base.

54. Fast bucks: EASY MONEY. 62. Seemingly forever: AGES AND AGES. Great fill.

56. Barfly: SOT.

58. Represented oneself to be: ACTED AS.

59. Casbah headgear: FEZ.

60. Morales of "NYPD Blue": ESAI. Tony Rodriguez. All went weird after he his ex-wife came back.

61. Agreement: PACT.

63. Lyft rival: UBER.

64. Paragon of stubbornness: MULE.

66. Denials: NOES. Also 104. Dundee disagreements: NAES.

67. Dairy grazer: COW.

70. Light fare: SNACKS.

73. Street edging piece: CURBSTONE.

75. Crash site?: PAD. 91. Game keeper?: ARCADE. Nice clues.

76. Royal Navy initials: HMS.

78. Pizzeria chain, familiarly: UNOS.

79. Motorist's decision point: FORK.

80. Donnybrook: FRAY.

82. Frites seasoning: SEL. And poivre.

84. Holiday guests, maybe: HOUSEFUL.

86. 1995 court VIP: ITO.

87. Go over: RECAP.

88. Cottontail's tail: SCUT. Learned from doing crosswords.

89. They usually don't have laces: SLIP-ONS.

90. Mythical males with tails: MERMEN.

92. Homeowner, vis-à-vis the bank: LIENEE.

93. Cooperstown's lake: OTSEGO. How many of you have been to Cooperstown?

94. Attack, as of an illness: BOUT.

97. Foul: NASTY.

100. Saigon soup: PHO. Very similar to Cantonese rice noodle soup.

101. Word game piece: TILE.

102. Bit of progress: DENT.

103. Allergic reaction: ITCH.

106. Tolkien creature: ENT.

107. Wee hour: TWO.

108. Information source, with "the": WEB.

109. __ Schwarz: FAO.

Extra notes:

1) Agnes continues to improve. She enjoyed some lobster rolls last week. I think she has her appetite back! She also got her booster shot and flu shot last Friday. Thanks again to those who continue to think of her, send her emails and cards.

 2) Lemonade's youngest son Devin got married last Friday. Here are a few pictures. See here for more here. His oldest granddaughter Charlotte also turned nine yesterday.

 

C.C.