Tuesday, October 25, 2022 Julian Lim

The Devil Made Me Do It.

17-Across.  *   Equally disagreeable choices: HORNS OF A DILEMMA.

23-Across.  *   Easy to cut, as meat: FORK TENDER.

40-Across.  *   Improvises: WINGS IT.

51-Across.  *   Braking signals: TAIL LIGHTS.

And the unifier:

62-Across.  "We were just talking about you!" and a hint to the first words of the answers to the starred clues: SPEAK OF THE DEVIL.

Across:

1. Brief email sign-off: BEST.

5. Baby horse: FOAL.

9. Utterly detest: ABHOR.

14. __ rug: floor decor: AREA.

15. Extreme anger: RAGE.

16. Director Sergio: LEONE.  Not a Tuesday name.  Sergio Leone (Jan. 3, 1929 ~ Apr. 30, 1989) was an Italian film director best know for producing the so-called Spaghetti Westerns.  Clint Eastwood starred in many of his films, including A Fist Full of Dollars and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.   [Name #1.]

20. Line spoken to the audience: ASIDE.

21. Boo-boo kisser: MOM.

22. Serve dinner to: FEED.

27. Be a good dog, say: OBEY.

28. Grade just above C: B MINUS.

32. Mideast title: EMIR.

35. Org. that certifies albums as gold or platinum: RIAA.  As in the Recording Industry Association of America.

38. Pronoun-shaped girders: I-BARS.

39. __ Vegas Raiders: LAS.  The professional football team.

42. Gym cushion: MAT.

43. "Erin go __": BRAGH.  Roughly translated to mean Ireland Forever.

45. Prod: GOAD.

46. Snaky swimmers: EELS.

47. "The Handmaid's Tale" novelist Margaret: ATWOOD.  Margaret Eleanor Atwood (b. Nov. 18, 1939) is a Canadian novelist.  [Name # 2.]

49. Tire leak sound: HISS.  

55. Admin. aide: ASS'T.  As in an Assistant.

58. Alumna bio word: NÉE.  Today's French lesson.

59. Deliver a speech: ORATE.

66. Depend (on): HINGE.

67. Oompah instrument: TUBA.  Hi, JazzB!

68. 12/24 and 12/31: EVEs.  Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

69. Provide with funding: ENDOW.

Well-Endowed.

70. "You missed a __": SPOT.

71. Whitehall whitewall: TYRE.  Whitehall is the name of a street in London, England where many government offices are located, hence, the cars parked on the street would be "misspelled" as Tyres.  Does a Tyre 49-Across in London?

Down:

1. "Who Let the Dogs Out" group __ Men: BAHA.  It was over a decade ago since this song was released.

2. Greek Cupid: EROS.

3. Calligraphy stroke: SERIF.

4. Clay oven for baking naan: TANDOOR.  Everything you wanted to know about Tandoor, but didn't know to ask.

5. To and __: FRO.  More information than you wanted to know about a pendulum going to and fro.

6. Bumbling fool: OAF.

7. Athlete's peak performance: A-GAME.

8. Gave false hope to: LED ON.

9. Every last one: ALL.

10. Barbecue cut: BEEF RIB.

11. House-shaped browser button: HOME.  I misread this clue as Horse-shaped browser button.

12. "Looks like the joke's __": ON ME.

13. Get lost in a book: READ.

18. Balkan native: SERB.

19. Film research website: IMDb.  As in the Internet Movie Database.

24. "The Americans" star Russell: KERI.  Keri Lynn Russell (b. Mar. 23, 1976) portrayed Elizabeth Jennings, a Russian spy, pretending to be an American on the spy drama The Americans.  The show ran for about 5 years.  [Name # 3.]

25. Making, as a knot: TYING.

26. Radiate: EMIT.

29. Birth certificate information: NAME.

30. Eurasian border river: URAL.  We often see URAL in the puzzles, but it usually refers to the mountains, not the river.

31. Phased-out fast planes, for short: SSTs.  As in the Super Sonic Transport planes.  The last commercial Concorde SST flight was on October 24, 2003.  Exactly 19 years and 1 day ago!

32. Actor Idris: ELBA.  Idris Elba (né Idrissa Akuna Elba; b. Sept. 6, 1972) is an English actor.  He portrayed Stringer Bell on the HBO series, The Wire.  Hi, Lucina!  [Name #4.]

33. Small store: MART.

34. "No need to describe what happened": I SAW.

36. "Four score and seven years __ ... ": AGO.  The opening line from the Gettysburg Address.

37. Japanese beer brand: ASAHI.

40. "Not so fast!": WHOA.

41. "With ya so far": I DIG.

44. "Adios!": GOTTA GO.

46. Springsteen's __ Band: E STREET.  How the band got its name.  [Name adjacent.]

48. Flintstone family pet: DINO.  [Name # 5.]

50. Wearing kicks: SHOD.

52. Some boxing jabs: LEFTS.

53. Ease off, as rain: LET UP.

54. Expertise: SAVVY.

55. Tennis legend Arthur: ASHE.  Arthur Ashe (né Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr.; July 10, 1943 ~ Feb. 6, 1993) makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles.   [Name #6.]

56. Laundry cycle: SPIN.

57. Ship: SEND.

60. Cake layer: TIER.

61. "You are something __!": ELSE.

63. London's __ Gardens: KEW.  Everything you wanted to know about the Royal Botanical Kew Gardens but didn't know to ask.

64. "House of the Dragon" cable network: HBO.

65. "Dig in!": EAT.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

Happy Halloween!

Monday October 24, 2022 Kyle Dolan

Theme: RAINCOATS (61. Wet-weather gear, and what this puzzle's circled letters literally are?) - RAIN is broken up in three different ways.

17. Major annoyance: ROYAL PAIN.

29. Utter destruction: RACK AND RUIN.

45. Train depot: RAIL STATION.

Boomer here.  

Not much RAIN is predicted here this fall. We  hope it stays true for snow predictions. 

This Thursday I will make it to three quarters of a century.  I think we might celebrate at a casino, and the shysters better let me win. Thanks to all for the many cards.  I got older just reading them all.

Across: 

1. Thumbs-down votes: NAYS.  Lots of campaign ads on TV.  I dislike them- three weeks to go.

5. "Save me a __!": SEAT.  On a golf cart.

9. Laundry day challenge: STAIN.

14. Soil-turning farm machine: PLOW.  Did I mention SNOW.  It's coming, we already had an inch or two. Not enough to PLOW.

15. Approximation words: OR SO.

16. Supermodel Klum: HEIDI.

19. Dangerous household gas: RADON.

20. Synagogue scroll: TORAH.

21. "Everything must go" event: FIRE SALE.  This is a misnomer.  The store did not have a FIRE.  They have too much inventory.

23. ABC News anchor David: MUIR.

25. Amazement: AWE.

26. Kiss __: PDA capturer at a stadium: CAM.

35. "Clueless" actress Donovan: ELISA.

37. Mailed holiday greeting: CARD. About ten weeks away.

38. Lhasa __: APSO.

39. Shower bar: SOAP.  Creamy shampoo works also.

40. Sudden raid: FORAY.

41. Nincompoop: DOLT.  Don't call me names!

42. "Alas, whatever shall I do?": AH ME.

43. Thick slice: SLAB.  Ham is good.

44. Ed of "Elf": ASNER.  A favorite on the Mary Tyler Moore show (From Minneapolis).

48. WNW's opposite: ESE.  East is East and West is West. 

49. Language of Southeast Asia: LAO.  C.C. calla me LAO Gong.

50. Performing __: ARTS.

52. Slow-cooked meat at a luau: ROAST PIG.  Maybe for New Years Day - Not Thanksgiving.

57. "We __ please": AIM TO.  You Aim too please. Sign in the men's bathroom.

60. Diplomatic agent: ENVOY.

64. Scrub with steel wool, say: SCOUR.  Brillo.

65. On pins and needles: AGOG.

66. "Let's go!": C'MON.

67. Camp shelters: TENTS.  I slept in one at bivouac.

68. Rational: SANE.  Yes I am. Really!

69. On an even __: steady: KEEL.

Down:

1. Listener-supported broadcaster: NPR.  I never listen to public radio.

2. "That's __ to ask": A LOT.

3. Toy that exercises the wrist: YO-YO.  I have owned many.  Fun to play.  Right now it's an adjective for the stock market.

4. Bees on the move: SWARM.

5. "The Golden Girls" character born in Sicily: SOPHIA.  Many reruns on cable.

6. Chapter in history: ERA.  Pitcher's stat.

7. "In your dreams!": AS IF.

8. "Song of Solomon" novelist Morrison: TONI.

9. Canny: SHREWD.

10. Product promos with few details: TEASER ADS.  Not like the election ads.

11. Verdi opera set in ancient Egypt: AIDA.

12. Adored one: IDOL.  Aaron Judge.

13. Highest sudoku digit: NINE.  Easy clue.  I play these squares a lot.

18. "Marriage Story" Oscar winner Dern: LAURA.  Tommy loved her but his car flipped and he died.

22. Country star Travis: RANDY.

24. Pioneer in canned soft drinks: RC COLA.  It never took the place of Pepsi or Coke.

26. Labor leader Chavez: CESAR.

27. Greeting at a luau: ALOHA.

28. South Beach city: MIAMI.  Vikings took a win out of there last week.

30. Gold unit: KARAT.  I think 24 is pure,

31. Saudi __: ARABIA.

32. Winning by a very small margin: UP ONE.  MLB playoffs are getting there,

33. The Hebrides, e.g.: ISLES.  Mary Tyler Moore jogged around our Lake of the Isles.

34. __ Dame: South Bend school: NOTRE.

36. Explains in great detail: SPELLS OUT.  Car dealers never do.

40. Photographer's setting that affects depth: F STOP.

44. Bit of silliness: ANTIC.

46. Mythical man-goats: SATYRS.

47. Marmalade fruit: ORANGE.  Great all by itself.

51. Garb for a finger-painting project, say: SMOCK.  I never wore one.

52. Take five: REST.  I usually take a lot more than five.

53. __ in a while: ONCE.  Upon a time.

54. Stratford-upon-__: AVON.  My mother used to sell this stuff at parties.

55. Some savings plans, briefly: IRAS.  We have one of these.

56. Pop star Lady __: GAGA.

58. Gentle: TAME.

59. Nebraska native: OTOE.  I have never heard of this slang.

62. Charged particle: ION.

63. "Weekend Update" show, for short: SNL.  Usually I am sleeping when this comes on .

Boomer

Notes from C.C.:

Happy 78th birthday to Uncle Fred, an avid Packers fan! Fred is based in Fort Lauderdale. Sorry your Packers lost again, but Boomer is happy.

 

Sunday October 23, 2022 Pam Amick Klawitter

Theme: "I Needed a Change" - Long I sound is changed into short A sound.

26. Parliamentary official overseeing strollers?: BRITISH PRAM MINISTER. British Prime Minister.

33. Brave showing at the bug zapper?: ONE GNAT STAND. One-night stand.

52. Clean halfheartedly?: BAT THE DUST. Bite the dust.

63. Guy who invented tiny nails?: FATHER OF THE BRAD. Father of the Bride.

81. Excellent reason to avoid a career as a milliner?: FEAR OF HATS. Fear of heights.

93. Evidence that leads to identity thieves?: HACKING TRAIL. Hiking trail.

99. How one kisses a famous rock at Blarney Castle?: NOSE TO THE GRAND STONE. Nose to the grindstone.

Another creative sound change gimmick from Pam. I would never came up with the title. Husker Gary-ish. Amazing!

Across:

1. Chunks of marble: SLABS.

6. Private eye: TEC. Detective.

9. Wild hog: BOAR.

13. Word of welcome: HELLO. Ni hao!

18. Sly: CAGEY.

19. Brand of sport sandals: TEVA. Meaning "nature" in Hebrew.

20. Blue area on a map: LAKE.

21. Universal principle: AXIOM.

22. Broadcaster: AIRER.

23. U.S. citizen: AMER.

24. "No warranties": AS IS.

25. Speed-reads: SCANS.

30. Poke bowl tuna: AHI.

31. Wine sediment: LEES.

32. Calendar boxes: DAYS.

39. Côte d'Azur view: MER.

40. Barge: SCOW.

44. California's __ Alto: PALO.

45. Fake ID flashers: MINORS.

46. Charge toward: RUN AT.

48. Pie __ mode: A LA. Can't even interest Boomer with pies or cookies these days. Sigh.

49. Like this answer: ACROSS.

51. Blue chip called "Big Blue": IBM. Juliet Wu was the GM of IBM China back in the late 1990s.

54. Horned African grazer: RHINO.

55. Farm enclosure: STY.

56. Trees with caffeine-rich nuts: KOLAS.

57. Zero out: RESET.

58. Besides: TOO.

59. OB or ENT: DOC.

61. Bounded: LEAPT.

62. Putting spots: GREENS.

67. Breakfast cereal magnate: CW POST.

70. "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" Oscar nominee: DAVIS. Viola.

71. Cartoonist Chast: ROZ.

72. Spot for withdrawals: ATM.

75. "Yeah, sure": UH HUH.

76. "For sale by" sign poster: OWNER.

77. John of the "Harold & Kumar" films: CHO.

79. Allende novel about a masked hero: ZORRO. Isabel Allende.

83. __ goo gai pan: MOO.

84. "Hurry up!": MOVE IT.

85. Notes before sols: FAS.

86. Mates: PAIRS.

87. Betting tactic: PARLAY.

89. Kin of -trix: ENNE.

90. Fr. holy women: STES. Saintes.

92. Dad __: BOD.

95. Animation collectibles: CELS.

97. Xperia Tablet maker: SONY.

98. Forest female: DOE.

107. "Cancel the launch!": ABORT.

109. Suffix with buck: AROO. And 3. Farming prefix: AGRI.

110. NFL analyst Tony: ROMO.

111. Light fabric: LINEN. Looks nice. Wrinkles so easily though.

112. Free-for-all: MELEE.

113. Dash dial: TACH.

114. Profess: AVOW.

115. "Miss Congeniality 2: __ and Fabulous": ARMED.

116. Stop: CEASE.

117. Humboldt River city: ELKO.

118. "That's correct": YES.

119. Watermelon leftovers: SEEDS.

Down:

1. Sign of healing: SCAB.

2. Dragon's digs: LAIR.

4. Vegetable in red flannel hash: BEET. Google shows Red flannel hash is just corned beef hash with beets.

5. Aleppo native: SYRIAN.

6. Fill-in worker: TEMP.

7. At any time: EVER.

8. Parking lot siren: CAR ALARM.

9. Threw under the bus: BLAMED.

10. Desert hangout: OASIS.

11. Analogous: AKIN.

12. Doctors-in-training: RESIDENTS. Have seen quite a few in VA radiology.

13. Rash: HASTY.

14. Surplus: EXCESS.

15. "That's not true!": LIAR.

16. Chaney of horror: LON.

17. Sounds in a yoga studio: OMS.

19. Island where Gauguin painted "Vahine no te tiare": TAHITI.

27. Fancy pillow covers: SHAMS.

28. Clothing department: MEN'S.

29. Figure skater Hughes: SARAH.

33. Eyeball benders: OP-ART.

34. Snack chip: NACHO.

35. California town whose name means "the river": EL RIO.

36. "Continue, please": GO ON.

37. Fit of pique: SNIT.

38. Kate's husband on "This Is Us": TOBY. Here they're.

39. Change into something new: MUTATE.

41. Bring about: CAUSE.

42. Jimmy of the Daily Planet: OLSEN.

43. Actress Naomi: WATTS.

46. "Invisible Man" writer Ellison: RALPH.

47. Mosaic flooring: TERRAZZO. Learning moment for me.

50. Malted spot: SODA SHOP.

52. Coast Guard fleet: BOATS.

53. Monopoly card: DEED.

55. UCLA or USC: SCH.

56. Mideast drink made from fermented milk: KEFIR. I don't drink milk, so never tried this.

60. Polo Grounds legend Mel: OTT. Big Easy sent me this a while ago.

61. Dotes on: LOVES.

62. Garden product syllable: GRO.

63. __ Corners: FOUR.

64. Norton of "Fight Club": EDWARD. Here with Brad Pitt.

65. Goes off: RANTS.

66. Sis's playmate: BRO.

67. Escape artist's props: CUFFS.

68. Whole __ bread: WHEAT.

69. Moon stage: PHASE.

72. Concert venue: ARENA.

73. "Lemon Tree" singer Lopez: TRINI.

74. Drive-up lodging: MOTEL.

76. Brutus Buckeye's home: OHIO STATE. Boomer paid closer attention to the Guardians this season because of his pen pal (and our blog reader) Janice.

77. Screw cap alternative: CORK.

78. Hindu festival of colors: HOLI.

80. "Back to you," on a walkie-talkie: OVER.

82. Aesop work: FABLE.

83. "I Try" Grammy winner: MACY GRAY.

84. Astonished cry: MY GOD.

87. French door piece: PANE.

88. "Here comes the next act": AND NOW.

91. Recap numbers: SCORES.

93. Syllables from Santa: HO HO HO.

94. Cars at a charging station: TESLAS. I'm terrible with cars. I don't even know what a Tesla looks like. OK, here's one.

 96. Cosmetician Lauder: ESTEE.

97. Inventory: STOCK.

99. French Quarter city, informally: NOLA.

100. Not written down: ORAL.

101. Wander around: ROVE.

102. "Silent All These Years" singer Tori: AMOS.

103. Flag: TIRE.

104. "Drinks are __": ON ME.

105. Call for: NEED.

106. Fades to black: ENDS.

107. "Preacher" network: AMC.

108. Quilting party: BEE.

We had a busy week. On Monday, Boomer visited his traveling league and said goodbyes to his longtime bowling buddies. On Tuesday he had another fall. His legs just gave in while I tried to get him off the toilet seat. Thankfully he did not get hurt. He was just a bit embarrassed to see the same fire department guys who helped us last month.

On Wednesday, the VA nurse removed the glucose monitor and the doc took Metformin off his med list. On Thursday, the Headland Hospice started the in-home hospice care and the Eucharistic Minister Bill Pavlik visited him.

Then on Friday and Saturday, we received lots of birthday cards with sweet notes from you guys! Boomer said "I did not know I have so many friends ..." He was surprised but delighted by your attention and love. We're only opening a few cards at a time so he can savor and have something to look forward to every day. It's Boomer's goal to live past January 1, 2023. 

C.C.

Boomer & His Friend Bill Whritenour, 10/17/2022