Tuesday, May 10, 2022 Julian Lim

Having Your Day in Court.  The word Witness can follow the last word of each theme answer.

17-Across. *  "In my uninformed opinion ... ": I'M NO EXPERT.  Expert Witness.  Well, I hope that the Expert Witness is an Expert!

23-Across. *   Challenge to someone suspected of lying: LOOK ME IN THE EYE.  Eye Witness.

50-Across. *   Become a better person, say: BUILD CHARACTER.  Character Witness.

62-Across. *   Thoroughly refute: PROVE FALSE.  False Witness.

And the unifier:

39-Across. Marvin Gaye classic, and a hint to the last words of the answers to the starred clues: CAN I GET A WITNESS.

Across:

1. "High Voltage" band: ACϟDC.

5. Sprang: LEAPT.

10. Neaten (up): TIDY.

14. Cry out loud: WAIL.

15. Lauder of makeup: ESTÉE.  Estée Lauder (née Josephine Esther Mentzer; July 1, 1908 ~ Apr. 24, 2004) makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles.

16. Inkling: IDEA.

19. Russian dynast: TSAR.

The last Russian Tsar and family.

20. Not prohibited: LEGAL.

21. Biennial games gp.: IOC.  As in the International Olympic Committee.

22. Word with fall or fill: LAND.  Landfall or Landfill.

27. Western defense gp.: OAS.  As in the Organization of American States.

28. "__ queen!": "Work it!": YAS.  I am not familiar with this expression.

29. Nowhere to be found: AWOL.  As in Absent WithOut Leave.

33. Member of the fam: SIB.  Not a Sister but a Sibling.

35. Absorb with bread, as gravy: SOP UP.

43. Long-stemmed mushroom: ENOKI.

44. Director Lee: ANG.  Lee Ann (b. Oct. 23, 1954) makes frequent guest appearances in the puzzles.  He directed such movies as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Life of Pi.

45. Like gloomy skies: GRAY.

46. Monarch's reign, e.g.: ERA.  The ERA of Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom (b. Apr. 21, 1926), has been 70 years.  She ascended to the throne in February 1952.  Her platinum jubilee is this year.

48. Cellist's need: BOW.

58. __ jockey: DISC.

59. Satisfied sigh: AAH!

60. "You win": I LOSE.

61. On the ocean: ASEA.  This has become a crossword staple.

65. Entry point: DOOR.  When is a door not a door?

66. More loyal: TRUER.

67. Black-eyed __: PEAS.

68. Celebrity chef Burrell: ANNE.  I don't watch cooking shows, so am not familiar with Anne Burrell (b. Sept. 21, 1969).

69. Twilled fabric: SERGE.  Everything you wanted to know about Serge, but didn't know to ask.

70. Eyelid bump: STYE.

Down:

1. "Where there's __ ... ": A WILL.  Where there's a will, there's a way.

2. Typical Stan Lee role: CAMEO.  Stan Lee (né Stanley Martin Lieber; Dec. 28, 1922 ~ Nov. 12, 2018) was a comic book writer and creator of numerous superheroes.

3. Wild dog of Australia: DINGO.

5. Supervillain Luthor: LEX.

6. Second sight, for short: ESP.

7. Dined at home: ATE IN.

8. 1990s presidential candidate: PEROT.  H. Ross Perot (né Henry Ross Perot; June 27, 1930 ~ July 9, 2019) ran for president in 1992 and again in 1996.  Just in case you weren't following the presidential races in the last century, Perot's campaigns were unsuccessful.

9. Easy to set off: TETCHY.  Don't think I have ever used this word.

10. "Grease," for one: TITLE SONG.

11. "My take is ... ": I'D SAY.

12. "Reading in the Dark" Booker Prize nominee Seamus: DEANE.  I am not familiar with Seamus Deane (né Seamus Francis Dean; Feb. 9, 1940 ~ May 12, 2021).  He is an Irish poet and novelist.  Reading in the Dark was his first novel.  

13. Three feet: YARD.

18. Baby-voiced red Muppet: ELMO.

24. Lack of difficulty: EASE.

25. "__ just me ... ?": IS IT.  Is it just me, or is this a Tuesday level puzzle?

26. Sunup direction: EAST.

29. Elastic bandage brand: ACE.

30. Looking sickly: WAN.

31. Artist Yoko: ONO.  Yoko Ono (b. Feb. 18, 1933) makes frequent guest appearances in the puzzles.  She will be 90 years old next year.

32. "Whatever!": LIKE I CARE.

34. Barnyard bleat: BAA.

36. Part of wpm: PER.  As in Words Per Minute, which is a measure of one's typing skills.

37. Can. neighbor: USA.  Hi, CanadianEh!

38. Future analyst's maj.: PSY.

40. Lass: GIRL.

41. Elena Delle Donne's org.: WNBA.  Elena Delle Donne (b. Sept. 9. 1989) is a professional basketball player.  She plays for the Washington Mystics.

42. Aviation pioneer Sikorsky: IGOR.  I was not familiar with Igor Sikorsky (May 25, 1889 ~ Oct. 26, 1972).  He was born in what is today known as Kyiv, Ukraine, but immigrated to the United States in 1919.  He is known for designing the first viable mass-produced American helicopter.

47. Moves with the times: ADAPTS.

49. Forsaken child: WAIF.

50. American buffalo: BISON.

51. Apply to: USE ON.

52. Spy-fi great John le __: CARRÉ.  John le Carré is the pen name of David John Moore Cornwell (Oct. 19, 1931 ~ Dec. 12, 2020).  He wrote many, many espionage novels, but is probably best known for The Spy Who Came in From the Cold.

53. Go time, in military slang: H-HOUR.

54. Applauds: CLAPS.

55. Apartment window sign: TO LET.

56. Op-ed piece, e.g.: ESSAY.  

57. Witherspoon of "Wild": REESE.  Reese Witherspoon (née Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon; b. Mar. 22, 1976) has starred in many movies, often rom-coms, but Wild was a 2014 biographical drama based on Cheryl Strayed's memoir of the same name.

58. Tot's first word, maybe: DA DA.  One word or two?

63. Act like a couch potato, with "out": VEG.

64. Poetic "before": ERE.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

To the Houston contingency:  If you haven't seen the Esher exhibit, go directly to the Fine Arts Museum,!  There are over 700 pieces in this fabulous exhibit, including an optical illusion room!

Monday May 9, 2022 David Alfred Bywaters

Theme: More to Follow - Last word, a synonym of "follower",  dupes the starting part of the first word. 

17. All-you-can-eat restaurant regular?: BUFFET BUFF.

28. Cemetery connoisseur?: HEADSTONE HEAD.

41. Obsessive Christmas-season ballet attendee?: NUTCRACKER NUT.

54. Trumpet flourish aficionado?: FANFARE FAN.

Boomer here again.  

I admit to being a BUFFET BUFF.  It's my second favorite activity in Las Vegas. (Of course the first would be the craps game).  C. C. and I have not been out there for over two years.  COVID sort of shut down the Graybar retirees reunion.

Across:

1. Got out of bed: AROSE. By any other name still smells the same, unless his name is Pete. 

 

 

6. "I double-dog __ you!": DARE.  To be great!

10. Inventor's need: IDEA. Alexander Bell invented a telephone and arrived at the patent office minutes before Elisha Gray. But, I wonder whom he called?

14. Off-the-wall: LOOPY.

15. Ill-fated biblical brother: ABEL.

16. Front page material: NEWS.  I read in the NEWS she buys booze by the vat.  What kind of life is that?

19. Discovery Channel's "Shark __": WEEK.

20. Water and Wall in NYC: STS.  Never thought much about abbreviations in crosswords.

21. Sunset locale: WEST.  Most of America is either west or east of the Mississippi.  C.C. and I are actually south of it.

22. Bit of advice: TIP.  Bit of pocket change.

23. Urge: YEN.  Still thinking of Las Vegas.

24. "I like it!": SUITS ME.

31. Asparagus unit: SPEAR.  Eat your green veggies.

33. IOUs: CHITS.

34. Software-made FX: CGI.

35. Late-night TV pioneer Jack: PAAR.  I never stayed up late enough to watch.

36. Capital city near the Sphinx: CAIRO.

37. __-a-brac: BRIC.

38. Earth Day mo.: APR.  Easter and Spring, normally.

39. Carried: BORNE.

40. Campaign poster imperative: ELECT.  Lots of voting is coming soon to a booth near you.

44. Fill to the brim: SATIATE.  And I have a large coffee cup.

45. The "A" of IPA: ALE.  I prefer Canada Dry.  It's not too sweet.

46. Elev.: HGT.

47. Epic story: SAGA.

49. In the past: AGO.  I can still remember how the music used to make me smile.  American Pie.

52. Greek queen of heaven: HERA.

57. Baking soda target: ODOR.  Orioles second baseman.

58. Deceitful sort: LIAR.  Pants on fire.

59. "Monty Python and the Holy __": GRAIL.

60. Taverns: PUBS.

61. Former constellation named for a mythological ship: ARGO.  Corn starch also.

62. Before the deadline: EARLY. We get up EARLY. Our paper usually arrives around 4:00 AM.  The L.A. Times has the largest circulation west of the Mississippi.  Our Minneapolis Star Tribune comes in second however.

Down:

1. Priestly robes: ALBS.  I do not see them wearing them anymore.

2. Embarrassing loss: ROUT.  Twins at Baltimore last Wednesday.

3. Punch-in-the-gut reactions: OOFS.

4. Sunscreen letters: SPF.

5. Glasses, monocles, etc.: EYEWEAR.  I only need mine to read.

6. Applies gently: DABS.

7. Be next to: ABUT.  Look behind you.

8. NFL arbiter: REF.

9. Will Ferrell Christmas film: ELF.

10. A crony of: IN WITH. The IN CROWD. 

11. Closely held confidence: DEEP SECRET.

12. Lamb nurser: EWE.

13. "That's a pretty big __": ASK.  And you shall receive.

18. Be inclined (to): TEND.

22. Bolos and ascots: TIES. I never wore either

23. 52 19-Acrosses: YEAR. 52 weeks.  In China, 2022 is the YEAR of the Tiger.  Not Detroit baseball nor Mr. Woods.

24. Evening party: SOIREE.

25. "Do __ others ... ": UNTO.  And they might do you back.

26. Marie Kondo's "The Life-Changing __ of Tidying Up": MAGIC.

27. Official order: EDICT.

28. Hunk on a magazine cover, e.g.: HEARTTHROB.  I never had one on Sports Illustrated.

29. Hard to find: SCARCE.  An Albert Pujols rookie card.

30. Rack one's brains: THINK.  I am convinced that a brain needs racking to finish a crossword.

31. Extends across: SPANS.  We have walked many times across the Mississippi.  Our northern bridge SPANS about a quarter mile.

32. __ New Guinea: PAPUA.

36. Dredge in flour before cooking, e.g.: COAT.  Chicken drumsticks work well.

37. Cookie Monster's color: BLUE.

39. Ill-behaved child: BRAT.

40. Make bigger: ENLARGE.  Portfolios were not ENLARGED last week.

42. Stogies: CIGARS.  Not bad, as long as you do not light 'em up!

43. Anoushka Shankar's music genre: RAGA.

47. Minor impediment: SNAG.  Bad news while fishing.

48. Frequent hairstyle for Diana Ross and Tracee Ellis Ross: AFRO.  I could never make my hair do this.  Now I don't have much hair left.

49. Off in the distance: AFAR.

50. "Wonder Woman" comic book writer Simone: GAIL.

51. Mere: ONLY.

52. Imitate a bunny: HOP.  House of Pancakes.

53. Academic address ending: EDU.

54. Ga. neighbor: FLA.  Played golf and visited Disney once in the 80s.  Fun vacation.

55. Balloon filler: AIR.

56. Stat for a pitcher: ERA.  Over 4.00 is not too good.

Boomer

 

Sunday May 8, 2022 Matthew Stock

Theme: "Monsters Incorporated" - Seven different monsters are hidden the theme entries.

22A. Just okay: NO GREAT SHAKES. Ogre.

36A. Hitting the market soon: NOT YET IN STORES. Yeti.

66A. Style maven: FASHION ICON. Oni. The character of Oni can also mean ghost. Same as in Chinese.

 96A. Bread options in morning buffets: BREAKFAST ROLLS. Troll

112A. Strong ale brewed by Trappists in the Low Countries: BELGIAN TRIPEL. Giant. From "Jack and the Beanstalk

16D. Take longer than necessary: DRAG ONE'S FEET. Dragon.

60D. Genghis Khan's realm: MONGOL EMPIRE. Golem.

Monster Sandwich! Congrats to Matthew Stock on his first LAT Sunday. Very smooth 140-worder.

Matthew Stock

The last few weeks of comments have been quite interesting. Different editors and constructors bring different voices, so naturally there will be some changes in our puzzles, esp clue angles. 

Across:

1. Movie that may feature a meet-cute scene: ROM COM.

7. Components: FACETS.

13. Odysseys, e.g.: HONDAS. Minivans.

19. "God Is a Woman" singer Grande: ARIANA. My grandma believed in Ya Ya, who's genderless.

20. Inviting call from a treehouse: UP HERE.

21. Sicilian seaport: PALERMO. Mafia stronghold.

24. Generational divides: AGE GAPS.

25. One of the Big Five in Hollywood's Golden Age: RKO.

26. Name in a will: HEIR.

27. Befuddled gesture: SHRUG.

29. Golfo contents: AGUA.

30. Hip hop dance move: NAE NAE.

32. Poorly lit: DIM.

34. "Okay, that's enough from me": I'LL STOP.

40. North Carolina university: ELON. No Musk!

41. Nights of anticipation: EVES.

42. Lines from an admirer: ODE.

43. "Aaaand that's mine now!": YOINK. Originated in "The Simpsons", I think.

44. Challenges: DARES.

46. Smidge: TAD.

47. Boatloads: SLEWS.

49. Horde: HOST.

51. Wet wipes brand: LYSOL.

53. Historian Cobb who writes for The New Yorker: JELANI. Unfamiliar to me.

54. __ guzzler: GAS.

55. The Yoko of "Dear Yoko" and "Oh Yoko!": ONO.

57. Egg __ yung: FOO. Tiny clue/answer dupe: 61. Spur to action: EGG ON.

58. Madagascar primate: LEMUR.

63. Proclaims: TRUMPETS.

65. "That's my cue!": I'M ON.

69. "v funny": HE HE.

70. Film versions made by devotees: FAN EDITS.

72. Line of work for a dog walker?: LEASH. Fun clue.

73. "Misery" Oscar winner: BATES (Kathy)

74. Comedian Notaro: TIG. Right. Left is her wife.

75. __-ball pens: UNI.

76. Novelist Tan: AMY.

77. Didn't play: SAT OUT.

80. Keycard receivers: SLOTS.

82. Maker of Berryblossom White tea: TAZO. Not fond of white tea.

 84. Balm additives: ALOES.

85. Nintendo console: WII.

88. "Political Gabfest" podcast producer: SLATE.

90. Supercharged: TURBO.

93. Vinyl records, briefly: LPS.

94. "I'd rather not": PASS.

95. __ out a win (almost lost): EKED.

99. Ferrera of "Superstore": AMERICA.

101. Philosophy: ISM.

102. __ skills: PEOPLE.

103. Some political campaign research, for short: OPPO. Opposition research.

104. Ashtray debris: BUTTS.

107. South Asian rice cake: IDLI. Do you make this at home, Vidwan?

109. Ballyhoo: ADO.

110. Snag in a plan: WRINKLE.

117. Counter-counterculture folks: NORMIES. New term to me.

118. Sports venues: ARENAS.

119. Painter Diego: RIVERA.  Frida Kahlo's husband.

120. Contemptuous looks: SNEERS.

121. Fight like a country kid: RASSLE.

122. Tomorrow: IN A DAY.

Down:

1. Competed in a track meet: RAN.

2. Spanish gold: ORO.

3. Flew south for the winter, say: MIGRATED. Hope next winter is milder.

4. Valet's array: CAR KEYS.

5. Low-scoring tie: ONE ONE.

6. [I'm a goat!]: MAA. Not BAA.

7. __ box: FUSE.

8. Leaf-eating pests: APHIDS.

9. Many a tax-exempt organization: CHARITY.

10. "Jeepers!": EEK.

11. Uno y dos: TRES.

12. Brief meeting?: SESH. Sessions.

13. Argued over prices: HAGGLED. I've seen it all during our years of flea market dealings.

14. La Liga cheer: OLE.

15. "No siree": NEGATORY. Not a word I use.

17. Energize: AMP UP.

18. Argentine singer Mercedes known for "Gracias a la Vida": SOSA. Another learning moment for me. From Wikipedia: "Sosa performed in venues such as the Lincoln Center in New York City, the Théâtre Mogador in Paris and the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, as well as sell-out shows in New York's Carnegie Hall and the Roman Colosseum during her final decade of life."

21. See 113-Down: PAUL. 113. With 21-Down, guitarist in the National Inventors Hall of Fame: LES.

23. "How could you even sugGEST that?": THE IDEA.

28. Puts on the line: RISKS.

30. Bossa __: NOVA.

31. Bikini, e.g.: ATOLL.

33. __ juice: MOO.

35. Sinuous ski race: SLALOM.

36. After taxes: NET.

37. Currency: NEWNESS.

38. Musician honored as a National Hero of Barbados: RIHANNA. And 94. 38-Down, notably: POP DIVA.

39. Mireille of "Big Love": ENOS.

45. Console: SOOTHE.

47. Spanish 101 verb: SER. To be.

48. [What a relief!]: SIGH.

50. Fatty tuna, to a sushi chef: TORO. Gimme!

52. Topples the Jenga tower, say: LOSES.

53. Summer month: JUNE.

54. Like undercooked brownies: GOOEY. Got Boomer a few more Bismarcks with pudding in the middle.

56. Many a "Call the Midwife" character: NUN.

58. Brings up: LIFTS.

59. Inbox fillers: EMAILS.

62. Surname well known in Stars Hollow: GILMORE. "Gilmore Girls".

63. "Black Panther" role for Chadwick Boseman: TCHALLA.

64. "Cool," in dated slang: PHAT.

66. Fiver: FIN.

67. Quarreling: AT IT.

68. "Insecure" star Rae: ISSA.

71. Feather __: DUSTER.

73. Mass-transit option: BUS.

76. Bleu hue: AZUR.

78. Curveball element: TOPSPIN.

79. Sunset dirección: OESTE.

81. Big A-ha moment?: TAKE ON ME. From the band A-ha.

83. Trip to the plate: AT BAT.

85. Clobbered: WALLOPED.

86. __ of Wight: ISLE.

87. Mag. unit: ISS.

89. Food: EDIBLES.

91. Antioxidant beverage brand: BAI. Chinese for "white".

92. Thumbs-up gestures: OK SIGNS.

97. Radio knob: FM DIAL.

98. Make quite an entrance: ROAR IN.

99. Splatter guard: APRON.

100. Sticks by the pool table: CUES.

103. Possesses: OWNS.

105. Retro ski lift: T BAR.

106. Blood fluids: SERA. I'd be so lost without Nina's feedback and guidance.

108. Cut with a surgical beam: LASE.

111. Cassis apéritif: KIR.

114. TNT part: TRI.

115. Time period often named for an art movement: ERA.

116. __ down the law: LAY.

Boomer had another blood draw last Monday. His white blood count was good, unfortunately his PSA spiked to 531 (0-4 is normal). It was 445 on April 5th. So the 4th chemo infusion did not work either. His new oncologist canceled the 5th infusion scheduled for May 5th.

Tomorrow morning Boomer is having more x-rays at the VA hospital in Minneapolis, then we'll meet with the orthopedic doctor to see if a surgery is needed for his broken left shoulder. After that, we'll meet with the new oncologist to discuss the next steps.

Thanks for continuing to keep Boomer in your thoughts and prayers.

C.C.