Wednesday, February 23, 2022 Judy Hughes

Theme: Do you have the will to win? Let's see what it takes, starting with the unifier.

54 A. Work really hard for victory ... and a hint to the start of 20-, 31- and 39-Across: HAMMER OUT A WIN.  Not sure that this is an in-the-language phrase, but the meaning is clear enough.  I associate HAMMERING OUT with completing a difficult negotiation.  Presumably that is win-win.  Anyway, it does set the stage for for some dramatic winning situations.

20 A. Train vigorously: WHIP INTO SHAPE.  I've been exercising religiously for the past few months; so I guess I am doing that to this old body.  To WHIP an opponent is to decisively win the competition.

31. Show eager anticipation: LICK ONES CHOPS.  As if in anticipation of a hearty meal - or anything else earnestly desired.   To LICK an opponent is to soundly thrash them.

39. Search everywhere: BEAT THE BUSHES. To conduct an exhaustive search.  This term originally alluded to hunting, when beaters were hired to flush birds out of the brush. [1400s] Also see beat around the bush.

To BEAT an opponent all you have to do is score more points.  Unless you're playing golf.

Hi Gang, JazzBumpa here.  Let's dive into the puzzle and see if we can emerge victorious.

Across:

1. Pierre's st.: S. DAK.  This city is the capital of South DAKota.

5. Retro ski area sight: T-BAR.  A type of ski lift named for its shape

9. Sounding amazed: AGASP.  In a state of gasping for breath.

14. Dance at Jewish weddings: HORA.

15. Slippery: EELY.  

16. Not exactly a company person: LONER.  A person who prefers not to associate with others.

17. Like a GI doing dishes: ON KP. Kitchen Police - enlisted personnel detailed to help the cook by washing dishes, peeling vegetables, and performing other kitchen duties..

18. It starts the pot: ANTE.  A stake put up by a player in poker and similar games before receiving cards.

19. Former Portuguese territory in China: MACAO.  Macau is an autonomous region on the south coast of China, across the Pearl River Delta from Hong Kong. A Portuguese territory until 1999, it reflects a mix of cultural influences. 

23. Obscure: NO NAME.

24. Worldwide cultural org.: UNESCO.  The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialised agency of the United Nations aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences, and culture.

27. Part of a play: ACT.

29. Like wee bairns: SMA.  Spelling the Scottish dialect for small.

30. Street-paving goop: TAR.  

35. Citrus drinks: -ADES.  A CSO to our own Lemonade?

37. Brazil __: NUT.  Someone who is crazy about Brazil.  Or, alternatively, the edible seed from a large, long-lived tree in the Amazon valley.

38. Cookies-and-cream ingredient: OREO.  The crossword world's favorite cookie

44. Timeworn: OLD.

45. Paddle relative: OAR. Canoe mover.

46. Honor society starter: PHI. Then Beta, then Cf 4 d.

47. Subject of the Book of Proverbs: WISDOM.  The Bible says in Proverbs 4:6-7, "Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding."

49. Neither early nor late: ON TIME.

58. Classic mother-and-son statue: PIETA.  a work of Renaissance sculpture by Michelangelo Buonarroti, housed in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City. 

Wikipedia

60. Pub projectile: DART.

 

61. Yellowish green: LIME.  the color, not the fruit.

62. Primp: PREEN.  Spend time making minor adjustments to one's hair, makeup, or clothes.

63. Geometry product: AREA.  Calculation of the space enclosed by a given shape.

64. Techie, say: USER.  I think of a Techie as someone who helps a typical user of computers or apps.

65. Cline of country: PATSY. (born Virginia Patterson Hensley; 1932 – 1963) was an American singer. She is considered one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century and was one of the first country music artists to successfully cross over into pop music.  She died tragically in a plane crash in bad weather near Camden, Tennessee.  

66. Sail support: MAST.  Big pole in a ship

67. "Get lost!": SHOO.  Go away.

Down:

1. Exhibited, as a home for sale: SHOWN.  

2. Hawaiian singing legend: DON HO.  Donald Tai Loy Ho (1930 – 2007) was an American traditional pop musician, singer and entertainer.

 

 3. Alan of "Argo": ARKIN.  Alan Wolf Arkin [b 1934] is an American actor, director and screenwriter. Throughout his career spanning over six decades, he has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and a Golden Globe Award.

4. Honor society ender: KAPPA.   Completing 46 a.

5. Town where the New Jersey (now Brooklyn) Nets played home games for their first year: TEANECK.  A township in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States, and a suburb in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 39,776

6. Twisted: BENT.  Crooked.

7. The "A" in SATB: ALTO.  Along with soprano, tenor and bass.

8. Bar shelf lineup: RYES.  American Whisky made from a mash containing at least 51% rye grain.

9. Annual fact book: ALMANAC.

10. Act bonkers: GO APE.  Melt down, lose it.

11. Family tree members: ANCESTORS. Your grand parents' grandparents, free.

12. North __: SEA.   A sea of the Atlantic Ocean lying on the European continental shelf between Great Britain and the continent.

13. Play-for-pay: PRO.  A PRO is anyone who makes a livelihood performing an activity.  As an adjective, which is what I take to be the intent here, it describes such an individual, typically involved in sports.  But the clue makes it look like a verb, so maybe I'm missing something.

21. Apple desktop: iMAC.  

22. Sings without lyrics: HUMS.  The Black Eyed Peas can sing us a song.  The chick peas can only humus one.

25. Common superhero garb: CAPE.  Though not always.

26. Estimate qualifier: OR SO.  Circa, more or less.

28. Printer supply: TONER.  A substance (such as a thermoplastic powder) used especially to develop an image (such as a latent xerographic image) on a piece of paper

29. Prep: SET UP.  Get ready

31. Bare bones musical notation: LEAD SHEET.  The manuscript of a song consisting of the melody, words, and indication of the basic harmony written in simple form.

32. Loyal end?: IST.   Cutsey suffix clue.  Meh!  A loyalist is one who is or remains loyal especially to a political cause, party, government, or sovereign.

33. Heart: NUB.  As, free., of a matter.

34. Garden tool: HOE.  A tool with a thin flat blade on a long handle used especially for cultivating, weeding, or loosening the earth around plants.

35. Take __: acknowledge applause: A BOW.  

36. Business with a slicer: DELI.   A store where ready-to-eat food products (such as cooked meats and prepared salads) are sold.

 
40. More than needed: TOO MANY.  An unnecessary surplus.

41. Soccer great Mia: HAMM.    Mariel Margaret Hamm, (b. 1972, Selma, Alabama, U.S.), American football (soccer) player who became the first international star of the women’s game. Playing forward, she starred on the U.S. national team that won World Cup championships in 1991 and 1999 and Olympic gold medals in 1996 and 2004. 

Britannica

42. Call to from a distance: SHOUT AT.  In my experience, this was mainly an expression of anger, but as indicated also works.

43. Clue: HINT.  

48. Sources of high school jitters: DATES.  Agreements to go somewhere and do something as a couple.

50. Anklebone: TALUS.

Wikipedia

51. "If only": I WISH.  

52. Old copy machine: MIMEO.

53. Four before mayo: ENERO.  January and May en Español.

55. Dutch cheese: EDAM.  Cross words favorite cheese.

56. __ avis: RARA. Literally, a rare bird; used to describe someone outstanding of unusual. 

57. Mining targets: ORES.  Pay dirt.

58. Very softly, in music: PPP.  Abbreviation of pianississimo meaning "very, very soft."  A trombonist in this aural region would be a RARA AVIS.

59. Sr.'s nest egg: IRA.  Individual Retirement Account.

That's all, folks.  Hope this puzzle didn't beat you up.

Cool regards!

JzB

Tuesday, February 22, 2022 Seth Bisen-Hersh

Thomas Paine revisited.  Did you see the Common thread?

17-Across. *  Chic runway event: FASHION SHOW.  Fashion Sense dos and don'ts.

Not sure I'd go with either one.

29-Across. *  Popular betting sport: HORSE RACING.  Horse Sense.

45-Across. *  Uptown New York City thoroughfare west of Madison: SIXTH AVENUE.  Sixth Sense.  Also the name of a movie starring Bruce Willis.

And the Unifier:

57-Across. Practical judgment ... and a hint to the starts of the answers to starred clues: COMMON SENSE.  The word can follow the first word of each theme answer to give us a new concept.

Across:

1. TV host with her "OWN" network: OPRAH.  As in Oprah Winfrey Network.

6. Avoider of foods from animals: VEGAN.  When my mother-in-law turned 90, hubby and I planned a big party for her.  Foodwise, it was a challenge, as I had to have a kosher menu to accommodate various family members whose diets include vegan, gluten-free, and sugar-free (diabetes). 

11. Weep: SOB.  Hand up if your initial thought was 27-Down. Weep: CRY.

14. "A penny saved ... " is one: ADAGE.

15. Thrill: ELATE.

16. "Into __ Woods": THE.  Into the Woods was a musical with music and lyrics by the late Stephen Sondheim (Mar. 22, 1930 ~ Nov. 26, 2021).

19. Actress de Armas: ANA.  Ana de Armas (b. Apr. 30, 1988) is a Cuban actress.  She portrayed the nurse Marta Cabrera in the movie Knives Out.

20. Not clash: AGREE.

21. Zac of "High School Musical" films: EFRON.  

Zackary David Alexander Efron (b. Oct. 18, 1987)

23. Mex. neighbor: USA.

26. Part of a snicker: HEE.  Tee-Hee-Hee!

27. Seafood found in cakes: CRAB.  You can order a half dozen Maryland Jumbo Lump crab cakes for only $129.99 plus shipping.

28. Short rest: NAP.

34. PC problem solvers: IT PROS.  As in Information Technology Professionals.

36. Harvard or Yale, e.g.: IVY.  The mysterious origin of the term Ivy League.

37. Robert of "The Sopranos": ILER.  Robert Michael Iler (b. Mar. 2, 1985) portrayed A.J. Soprano, Tony Soprano's son.  We watched the series in the first year of the Covid shutdown.

38. Spanish bull: TORO.  Today's Spanish lesson.

39. Director Ang: LEE.  And Lee (b. Oct. 23, 1954) is a Taiwanese filmmaker who has won numerous awards.

40. As well: ALSO.

41. Greek Cupid: EROS.

42. Lively dance: JIG.

43. Bowling woes: SPLITS.  Hi, Boomer!  Hope you are feeling better.

48. Game console letters: NES.  As in Nintendo Entertainment System.

49. Its symbol is Fe: IRON.  Iron is number 26 on the Periodic Table.  It's chemical symbol is Fe, which comes from the Latin, Ferrum.

50. Dedicated poem: ODE.  A crossword staple.

51. Test for M.A. hopefuls: GRE.  As in a Graduate Record Examination.

52. Masters of the Universe superhero: HE-MAN.

54. With 55-Down, superhero alter ego: CLARK.  //  And 55-Down:  See 54-Across: KENT.  Together we get Clark Kent, who is the mild-mannered reporter and Superman's alter ego.

56. Señora Perón: EVA.

63. Tennis call: LET.

64. Coin flip call: HEADS.

65. Baseball's Shohei Ohtani, notably: ANGEL.  Shoehi Ohtani (b. July 5, 1994) plays baseball for the Los Angeles Angels.

66. "Black-ish" patriarch: DRE.  Anthony Anderson (b. Aug. 15, 1970) portrays the father, Dre Johnson on the sit-com Black-ish.

67. Scents: ODORS.

68. Sporty car roofs: T-TOPS.

Down:

1. Dolt: OAF.

2. Romantic kiss in a crowd, for short: PDA.  As in Public Display of Affection.  Not to be confused with a Personal Digital Assistant.

3. Univ. aides: RAs.  As in the Resident Assistant, which also appeared in last Tuesday's puzzle.

4. Turkish title: AGHA.

5. Song sung by a toon mining septet: HEIGH-HO.  And off to work we go ...

6. Facade: VENEER.

 

7. Otherwise: ELSE.

8. "Dilbert" cry: GAH.

9. From __ B: basic step: A TO.  From A to B ... pretty basic, indeed.

10. Period of change that's "ushered in": NEW ERA.

11. Diva's goal: STAR BILLING.

12. "That's awful!": OH, NO!

13. Coffee source: BEAN.

18. The first of them was sold March 6, 1912: OREOS.  Good to know!  The Cookie will soon be 110 years old.

22. Spa treatment: FACIAL.

23. Brings together: UNITES.

24. Zen enlightenment: SATORI.  Zen Philosophy.

25. Close, but not precise: APPROXIMATE.

30. Prolonged battle: SIEGE.

31. Holiday lead-in: EVE.

32. Empty __: parent whose kids have grown and moved: NESTER.

33. __ Pointe, Michigan: GROSSE.  Everything you wanted to know about Grosse Pointe, but didn't know to ask.

35. Speech platforms: ROSTRA.  Plural of Rostrum.

39. 2020 Super Bowl number: LIV.  Not to be confused with LIV Ullmann (b. Dec. 16, 1938).

42. Yr. starter: JAN.  The first month of the YR is January.

43. Khartoum's land: SUDAN.

44. Eyes closely: PEERS AT.

46. Bigwig: HONCHO.

47. "We can do without him": NO LOSS.

52. Conducted, as a meeting: HELD.

53. Eternally: EVER.

54. Starfleet rank: Abbr.: CMDR.  As in Commander.

58. 20-vol. reference: OED.  Here's the history of the Oxford English Dictionary.

59. Red Guard leader: MAO.

Andy Warhol's rendition

60. Nonprofit aid gp.: NGO.  As in a Non-Governmental Organization.

61. Labor Day mo.: SEP.  Labor Day is the first Monday of September.

62. Golfer Ernie: ELS.  I learned about Ernie Els (né Theodore Ernest Els; b. Oct. 17, 1969) from doing the crossword puzzles.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

Not only is today 2/22/22, it is also a milestone birthday for hubby.  

Monday February 21, 2022 Timothy Schenck

Theme: BODY DOUBLE (63. 1984 De Palma film, and a hint to five puzzle answers)

17. How a boat may rock: SIDE TO SIDE.

21. How boxers square off: TOE TO TOE.

27. How Fred and Ginger sometimes danced: CHEEK TO CHEEK.

48. How BFFs converse: HEART TO HEART.

55. How people may agreeably see: EYE TO EYE

Boomer here. 

Well the Rams fought the Bengals TOE to TOE last week, however it seems that Minnesota won also when the Rams offensive coordinator was hired as the Vikings head coach.  Kevin O' Connell was announced as the new coach of the Purple. He presented himself very well in a speech in front of several retired players and a guy named Bud Grant.

Across:

1. Skin growth: WART.  Oh I hate these.  They are a mess to get rid of. 

5. Learns via word of mouth: HEARS.  What?

10. Riot spray: MACE.  This will take your breath away!

14. Camera or eye part: IRIS.

15. Bates __: "Psycho" setting: MOTEL.  Alfred Hitchcock used to come up with really spine-tingling movies!!

16. Muslim holy man: IMAM.

19. Busting agent: NARC.  The only drugs I take are prescribed by a doctor.  But I see guys standing in the sidewalk of Lake Street that might as well have a "Drugs for Sale" sign on their shirt.

20. Ziti or rigatoni: PASTA.  All are yummy.  I really like "Angel Hair".

23. Generous slice: SLAB.  I could use a SLAB of cheese but I am not sure if my health allows.

26. Macho: VIRILE.  Not me anymore,  Maybe I ate too much cheese.

32. "The guy over there": HIM.

33. Stadium attendance counter: STILE.  It's amazing for the new football stadiums.  The Super Bowl packed SoFi in Los Angeles.  Vikings have a huge indoor facility.  Green Bay is still playing in the cold. 

34. Sports show rundown: RECAP.  About 40 of these in the day after the big bowl.

38. Not fer: AGIN.

40. Assumed name: ALIAS.  Smith and Jones?

42. Lotus position discipline: YOGA.  Not a Yankee Catcher.

43. Pulsate: THROB.

45. Furnish with a fund: ENDOW.

47. Fond du __, Wisconsin: LAC. A great Wisconsin suburb a few miles north of Milwaukee and near Lake Michigan.

51. Division in a church: SCHISM.

54. Black gemstone: ONYX.  Who would have thought a black rock could be a gem.

58. Use elbow grease on: SCOUR.

62. Take __ the waist: alter: IN AT.  I just tighten my belt.  I could get fat again.

66. "__ Talkin'": Bee Gees #1 hit: JIVE.

67. Birch relative: ALDER.  Sometimes used in furniture.

68. Cosecant's reciprocal: SINE.

69. Cake decorator: ICER.  There's a job I would not mind having.  Or could it be a hockey player?

70. Video chat choice: SKYPE.

71. Abbr. at the end of a list: ET AL.  A good place for 71-Across. 

Down:

1. Thin trail of smoke: WISP.  Sorry, I do not see anyone smoking anywhere near the VA hospital.  It is just not allowed.

2. Mozart's "Il mio tesoro," e.g.: ARIA.

3. Frees (of): RIDS.

4. Scary African fly: TSETSE.  A real ugly bug.  Do NOT let it bite you!!

5. Managed care gp.: HMO.  Health Maintenance Organization.  Not the best plan.

6. Camera named for a Greek goddess: EOS.

7. Going __: bickering: AT IT.  My favorite was Billy Martin with any umpire.

8. Second effort: REDO.  Okay, They are going to REDO my chemo in two weeks.  I hope it works.

9. Place to hide a metaphorical ace: SLEEVE.  I will put a golf ball up my sleeve if I ever get a Hole in One !

10. Beethoven's Ninth is written in one: MINOR KEY.

11. Stradivari's tutor: AMATI.  Italian violin masters.

12. Christmas song: CAROL.  I like "Silver Bells".

13. Roast host: EMCEE.  They don't seem to have Roasts any longer.  But the Game Show Channel has a lot of EMCEEs.

18. Conversations: TALKS.  You can talk all you wanna but it's different than it was.  "No IT Ain't" but you gotta know the territory.

22. Bleacher feature: TIER.  There weren't bleachers but how about that SoFi Stadium!

24. "__ boy!": ATTA.

25. Water heater: BOILER.  Ours works well but it only heats water.  Never boils.

27. Chew the fat: CHAT.  I like Billy Martin with any umpire.

28. Tipsy from wine, say: HIGH.  HIGH apple pie in the SKY hopes.

29. Kuwaiti ruler: EMIR.

30. "Cry Macho" (2021) star Eastwood: CLINT.  I remember "Rawhide".

31. Set out for, as a destination: HEAD TO.  We "SET OUT FOR" a casino in Wisconsin last October.  For now I need to get my legs back in shape.

35. Pepsi, for one: COLA.  I like Diet Pepsi - especially the "No Caffeine" version now.

36. Food thickener: AGAR.

37. Agreement: PACT.

39. One of Nolan Ryan's seven: NO HITTER.  Nolan was a whiz.

41. "Any day now": SOON.

44. Kiss from Consuela: BESO.

46. "And your reason?": WHY SO.  WHY NOT?

49. One-celled pond dwellers: AMEBAS.

50. "The dog ate my homework" is a sad one: EXCUSE.  Nick Knack Paddy Whack, Give the dog a bone.

51. Conductor Ozawa: SEIJI.

52. Pessimist: CYNIC.  One thing I like about the VA - There are no cynics.  They pretty much tell it like it is with a little cream. 

53. Throw with effort: HEAVE.  Shot Put

56. Egg yellow: YOLK.  That's a YOLK on you !!

57. Drain swirl: EDDY.

59. Passing words?: OBIT.

60. Arm bone: ULNA.  Connected to the wrist bone.

61. Fishing rod attachment: REEL.  I sort of gave up fishing.  Spent a lot of time at North Star Lake in Northern Minnesota when I was a kid.

64. "You betcha": YEP.

65. Dr. of hip-hop: DRE.

Boomer