Tuesday, November 1, 2022 Zachary David Levy

Art Class:  The last word of each theme answer is something that an artist might create.

17-Across. Ron Howard film featuring firefighters: BACK DRAFT.  Ron Howard visited us just last Thursday.

25-Across. Crossbreed with curly hair: GOLDEN DOODLE.

47-Across. "Saturday Night Live" segment, e.g.: COMEDY SKETCH.

60-Across. Toon McGraw in a Stetson hat and a matching holster: QUICK DRAW.

White Rabbit on the first day of this new month!

Across:

1. "You wish!": AS IF.  //  And 22-Across. "__ seen enough": I'VE.  //  29-Across. "None for me, thanks": I PASS.

5. Move slowly (through): WADE.

9. Words before ears and thumbs: I'M ALL.

14. Software test version: BETA.

15. Laudatory poems: ODES.

16. "Rocky" actress Shire: TALIA.  Talia Shire (née Talia Rose Coppola; b. Apr. 25, 1946) is the younger sister of  movie director Francis Ford Coppola (b. Apr. 7, 1939).  [Name #1.]

19. Fodder for a mill: GRIST.

20. Belief in nonbelief, so to speak: ATHEISM.

21. Small bite: NIBBLE.

23. More knotted, as a tree trunk: GNARLIER.

30. Jacobson of "A League of Their Own": ABBI.  Abbi Jacobson (b. Feb. 1, 1984) was in the 2022  remake of A League of Their Own, not the original 1992 film with Tom Hanks and Geena Davis.  There's no crying in baseball.  [Name # 2.]

31. "No more procrastinating!": DO IT!  Nike's slogan.

35. Candy heart word: LUV.

36. Faucet: TAP.

38. __ bran: OAT.

40. Full-contact fighting sport, for short: MMA.  As in Mixed Martial Arts.

41. Future atty.'s exam: LSAT.  As in the Law School Admissions Test.

43. Apple device introduced in 2010: iPAD.  //  And 33-Down. Apple computer that debuted 12 years before the 43-Across: iMAC.

45. Hipbone-related: ILIAC.

50. Register operators: CASHIERS.

53. Sch. group: PTA.  As in Parent Teacher Association.

54. Gasoline rating: OCTANE.  Everything you wanted to know about Octane ratings, but didn't know to ask.

55. Personal identifiers: BIO DATA.

59. Broccoli part: STALK.

62. Book name: TITLE.  Read each book in order.

63. Lobby for: URGE.  Change the first vowel and you get 64-Across. Fairy-tale beast: OGRE.

65. Golf legend Sam: SNEAD.  I learned about Sam Sneed (né Samuel Jackson Sneed; May 27, 1912 ~ May 23, 2002) from doing the crossword puzzles.  [Name #3.]

66. Poet Sharon: OLDS.  I am not familiar with the works of Sharon Olds (née Sharon Stuart Cobb; b. Nov. 12, 1942).  [Name # 4.]

67. "Here __ nothing": GOES.

Down:

1. Swedish pop group: ABBA.  The first letters of each of the band members forms the name of the band:  Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad.  [Name # 5.]

2. Legislative position: SEAT.

3. Rash symptom: ITCH.

4. Some forged documents: FAKE IDS.

5. Deteriorate: WORSEN.

6. Patriarch from Eden: ADAM.  The name Adam (אדם) is the Hebrew word for man.  It is pun on the   Hebrew word adamah (אדמה) which means "earth" or  "soil", since Adam was said to be formed from the dust of the earth.  [Name # 6.]

7. Rapper Mos __: DEF.  Mos Def (né Dante Terrell Smith; b. Dec. 11, 1973) makes occasional guest appearances in the puzzles.  [Name # 7.]

8. Ballpark fig.: EST.  As in Estimate.

9. Dated term for a celebrity socialite: IT GIRL.  Silent screen starr, Clara Bow (née Clara Gordon Bow; July 29, 1905 ~ Sept. 27, 1965), was the original It Girl.

10. Multicolored, as some rye: MARBLED.  As in Rye Bread, not the alcohol.

11. "I was somewhere else" statement: ALIBI.

12. Hosiery thread: LISLE.  Not a Tuesday word.

13. Not now: LATER.

18. Let go (of), as assets: DIVEST.

21. Olympic gymnast Comaneci: NADIA.  Nadia Elena Comăneci (b. Nov. 12, 1961) was the first gymnast to be awarded a perfect score of 10 at the Olympics Games.  She competed in the 1976 and 1980 Olympics.  In 1996, she married fellow gymnast Bart Connor (b. Mar. 28, 1958).  [Name # 8.]

23. Lump: GOB.

24. "I'm __! Who are you?": Dickinson poem: NOBODY.  A poem by Emily Dickinson (née Emily Elizabeth Dickinson; Dec. 10, 1830 ~ May 15, 1886) [Name # 9.]

25. Fish organ: GILL.

26. "Bloom County" penguin: OPUS.  [Name # 10.]

27. Volcanic flow: LAVA.

28. Smartly dressed: DAPPER.

32. Leave out: OMIT.

34. Dashboard RPM dial: TACH.

37. "Save Me" singer Mann: AIMEE.  Aimee Mann (née Aimee Elizabeth Mann; b. Sept. 8, 1960) was in the 1980s band 'Til Tuesday before she began her solo career.  [Name # 11.]

39. Video-sharing app: TIKTOK.

42. "Black Panther" hero: T'CHALLA.  A character from Marvel Comics.  [Name # 12.]

44. Commercials: ADS.

46. Iditarod front-runner: LEAD DOG.  The Iditarod origin story.

48. Sounded like a pig: OINKED.

49. Kitchen rack array: SPICES.

50. Sells for: COSTS.

51. Be part of, as a play: ACT IN.

52. Kansas or Arkansas: STATE.

55. Texas city nickname: BIG D.

56. Mythical ship sailed by Jason: ARGO.  Hi, Lemonade.  I hope you are getting better.  [Name adjacent.]

57. Button on a deli scale: TARE.  What is the difference between Zeroing out and Tare?

58. Bowls over: AWES.  Hi, Boomer!  You're AWEsome!

60. Quid pro __: QUO.

61. Clickable link: URL.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

Monday October 31, 2022 Doug Peterson

Theme: Alternate Trick or Treat

18. TRICK: DOUBLE CROSS.

24. TREAT: SPRING FOR DINNER.

39. TRICK OR TREAT: HALLOWEEN CHOICE.

51. TRICK: OPTICAL ILLUSION.

61. TREAT: FIDO'S REWARD.

Boomer here.  

Whew what a week gone by. Thanks to all you bloggers and readers who sent me a happy birthday.  I was overwhelmed and feeling a bit older. I have never been 75 before so I am not sure how to act,  However I do feel that I sleep longer now.  Happy Halloween to you all!

Across:

1. "Knives Out" actress de Armas: ANA.

4. Skin care product: CREAM.  Of the crop

9. Bread that's boiled before it's baked: BAGEL.  They always look good but I have not eaten many..

14. Not good: BAD. BAD Leroy Brown!! 

15. African animal with striped hindquarters: OKAPI.

16. Monte __: gambling resort: CARLO.  I never gambled there and never drove the sporty Chevy. 

17. Thanksgiving tuber: YAM.  Am I going to celebrate Thanksgiving?  Yes I YAM !

20. Genre of many works with "star" in the title: SCI-FI.

22. + or - atomic particle: ION.

23. Tot's scrape: OWIE.  My little sisters used to get them - not me.

28. __-Saxon: ANGLO.

29. Mar.-to-Nov. hrs.: DST.  I am now so old that I remember as a kid, we did not have DST in Minnesota.

30. "Sin City" actress Jessica: ALBA.

32. Sphere: ORB.

34. Waiting room seat: CHAIR.  The VA had plenty of these.

43. Tough to climb: STEEP.  Stairs in our home. C.C. has to help me climb.

44. Batman and Robin, e.g.: DUO.  Abbot and Costello, Punch and Judy. Laurel and Hardy.

45. Get ready, informally: PREP.  It's impossible to PREP for a birthday.

46. Flow back: EBB.

49. Flap on a jacket: LAPEL.  Great place to pin a 300 pin.

58. Email heading word: FROM.

59. Rock's __ Speedwagon: REO.

60. Honolulu-born "E Lei Ka Lei Lei" singer: DON HO.  Tiny Bubbles.

65. Spot for an AirPod: EAR.  WHAT ??

66. Stevie Wonder's "My Cherie __": AMOUR.

67. Advisory group: PANEL.  I remember all of the quiz shows that had PANELS.

68. $200 Monopoly buys: Abbr.: RRS.  Take a ride on the Reading.

69. Doesn't wear out: LASTS.  Bowling balls LAST.  Golf balls find places to hide.

70. Mean and sarcastic: SNIDE.

71. "Catch my drift?": SEE.  He joined the Navy to SEE the world.  But what did he see, he saw the SEA!

Down:

1. Vast chasm: ABYSS.

2. Rights org. that awards the Spingarn Medal: NAACP.

3. Worthy of esteem: ADMIRABLE.  Describes ALL of you crossword solvers and bloggers!!! 

4. Programmer's task: CODING.

5. Former MGM rival: RKO. 

6. __ de parfum: EAU.  EAU Claire - city in Wisconsin.

7. Tough H.S. science class: AP BIO.

8. Noble address: MI LORD.  Should not this be "MY LORD" ??

9. Slyly include in an email, for short: BCC.

10. "__ Burr, Sir": song in "Hamilton": AARON.  Home run King HENRY.

11. In adulthood: GROWN.  We have ADULT beans in our garden. 

12. Borden mascot: ELSIE.

13. One who draws the short straw: LOSER.  Or a pitcher on the Minnesota Twins.

19. Stops: ENDS.  Baseball season ENDS soon. Enjoy the World Series.

21. Concluding episode: FINALE.

25. Healthy aura: GLOW. In the dark on Halloween.

26. Golfer's warning shout: FORE.  Do not hit into the group ahead.

27. Calamine lotion target: ITCH.  We used to get poison ivy when we were kids. Ouch !

30. Contented sighs: AHS.  And Oooohs

31. Back muscle, informally: LAT.

33. __-and-breakfast: BED.  Don't eat it in BED.

35. "Fingers crossed": HOPE SO.  My Mother's name was HOPE.  She had sisters named Faith and Charity.

36. Passenger planes: AIRLINERS.  Pull out a credit card if you want to fly.

37. Hockey surface: ICE.  Well-known in Minnesota.

38. Agt.: REP.

40. Oil cartel letters: OPEC.  I am sure they are getting richer at $4.00 or more per gallon.

41. __ and void: NULL.

42. Christmas stocking disappointment: COAL.  We used to heat a home with COAL.

47. "Hunting Season" novelist Nevada: BARR.

48. Censoring sounds: BLEEPS.

50. Rainy day creation: PUDDLE.  We get them on our new driveway.  They did not quite get it level.

51. Scraps used by nose-to-tail chefs: OFFAL.  I have never heard of this.

52. __ donna: opera star: PRIMA.

53. Big commotions: TO-DOS.

54. Folding declaration at the poker table: I'M OUT.  Bluffing seldom works.

55. Des Moines resident: IOWAN.  Just South of the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

56. Windy City airport: O'HARE.  Been there once.  It's HUGE.

57. Viking language: NORSE.  Minnesota Vikings speak English like the rest of us.

62. Graduating gp.: SRS.  I believe this covers those who are 75 or more.

63. Singer DiFranco: ANI.

64. Checkers color: RED.  Or black which is not a color

Boomer

Sunday October 30, 2022 Christina Iverson

Theme: "This or That, for Two" - Each "example" phrase is literally interpreted by the two examples in each clue.

23. "An Introduction to Calculus" or "The Art of Public Speaking"?: TEXTBOOK EXAMPLE.

37. Christian Louboutin shoes or a Fendi bag?: FASHION ILLUSTRATION.

58. Gibson Flying V or Fender Stratocaster?: GUITAR CASE.

64. Emmy statue or the Stanley Cup?: PRIZE SPECIMEN.

79. Richter or Mohs?: SCALE MODEL.

95. Wedding or merger?: UNION REPRESENTATIVE.

115. Marble top or butcher block?: COUNTERINSTANCE.

Not familiar with "counterinstance". Only know "counterpoint". 

Christina Iverson's theme is always tight. Today is a good example. In case you're not aware, Christina used to be the assistant to Patti Varol, the crossword editor for the L.A. Times.

 

Christina & Patti

Across:

1. PowerShot camera-maker: CANON. 116. SLR camera by 1-Across: EOS.

6. Arches National Park state: UTAH.

10. Middle of a Latin boast: VIDI. Veni, vidi, vici.

14. Threw in: ADDED.

19. Skybox setting: ARENA.

20. Herb with grayish leaves: SAGE. We've always dried sage.

21. Novelist Kingsley: AMIS.

22. "Get Out" writer/director Jordan: PEELE.

26. Trattoria fare: PASTA.

27. Vow: OATH.

28. Went quickly: SPED.

29. Picnic container: COOLER.

31. Sphinx, in part: LION. Head of a human, and the body of a lion.

32. Relieves: EASES.

34. Make a point: SCORE.

35. Straightens up: ALIGNS.

42. Hunter near the Pleiades: ORION.

43. Poke fun at: TEASE.

44. King or queen, but not prince: BED. We really need to move the TV upstairs. Boomer is just so stubborn. He had two falls in the past four days. And I hurt my right shoulder trying to get him up on Saturday. This stair-climbing is getting dangerous for both of us.

45. Yo lead-in: FRO.

48. Chemistry lab substances: SOLUTES.

51. "C'est la __!": VIE.

52. Crossword diagram: GRID.

54. Snow remover: PLOW.

55. Fifth Avenue retailer: SAKS.

56. Entrance: WAY IN.

60. Gaelic tongue: ERSE. And 74. Scot's refusal: NAE.

61. Big Band __: ERA.

62. Little round vegetables: PEAS.

63. Dam that created Lake Nasser: ASWAN

69. TV grouch: OSCAR.

73. Apple tablet: IPAD.

75. Speak (up): PIPE.

82. Indie pop duo __ and Sara: TEGAN. Canadians. By the way, Canadian Eh, your card arrived safely. Thank you!

84. Spoken: ORAL.

85. Behind schedule: LATE.

86. Haitian friend: AMIE. Haitian Creole there. We also have 108. French infinitive: ETRE.

87. "Sold out" sign: SRO.

88. "Heavens!": MY STARS.

90. Scepter top: ORB.

91. 109-Across maker's need: LYE. 109. Dove bar: SOAP.

92. Philly Ivy: U PENN.

94. "Please let me?": CAN'T I.

101. Life's work: CAREER.

103. Opposition group: ANTIS.

104. Fitness portmanteau: TAE BO.

105. Fleecy boots: UGGS. I saw a girl wearing this pair the other day.

106. Suppresses, as bad news: SITS ON.

113. Is inclined: TILTS.

118. Amalfi Coast country: ITALY. 119. Capital of 118-Across: EURO. Money.

120. Old Dodge: OMNI.

121. Ghana's capital: ACCRA.

122. Accounted for a bag, say: TARED. Not a word I use.

123. Meal in a bowl: STEW.

124. Ongoing drama: SAGA.

125. Trapshooting: SKEET.

Down:

1. __ the Elder: Roman historian: CATO.

2. Geometry calculation: AREA.

3. Ariana Grande's "Thank U, __": NEXT. About her past relationships.

 

4. Free: ON THE HOUSE.

5. Snatch: NAB.

6. Grand Slam component: US OPEN. Tennis. Golf too.

7. Doesn't put up a fight: TAKES IT.

8. Like whiskey and wine: AGED.

9. Bewitch: HEX.

10. "Scoot!": VAMOOSE.

11. Bring in: IMPORT.

12. Comedian Phyllis: DILLER. Fang.

13. "Makes sense": I SEE.

14. Google Play download: APP.

15. "What's the __?": slangy "What gives?": DEALIO. Not a word I use.

16. Cause of a product recall, perhaps: DESIGN FLAW. 71. Stealthy thief: CAT BURGLAR. 75. Field day equipment: POTATO SACK. All great fill.

17. Pop star John: ELTON.

18. Campus officials: DEANS.

24. __ buco: OSSO.

25. Point the finger at: ACCUSE.

30. Like reasonably strong bonds: RATED A.

33. "If it __ broke ... ": AIN'T.

34. Defeated, as a dragon: SLAIN.

36. Tupperware top: LID.

37. "Chicago" choreographer: FOSSE (Bob)

38. Cheering loudly: AROAR.

39. Fabric store section: SILKS.

40. "Shazam!" actor Zachary: LEVI.

41. Somewhat: A BIT.

46. First name in civil rights history: ROSA. Parks.

47. Clive of "Gosford Park": OWEN.  He's also in that scary "Derailed".

49. Fancy jug: EWER.

50. Jaipur attire: SARI. Where's Vidwan?

52. Avocado dip, for short: GUAC.

53. Going up: RISING.

54. IT dept. array: PCS.

57. Member of an Iraqi religious minority: YAZIDI. Debut entry.

58. "__ whiz!": GEE.

59. Fled: RAN.

62. Scoreboard abbr. for a rainout: PPD. Postponed.

64. Ante-: PRE.

65. Fencing blade: EPEE.

66. Actor Mineo: SAL.

67. Shortened title: MA'AM.

68. Really small: EENY.

69. Norwegian banking hub: OSLO.

70. C-section souvenir: SCAR.

72. Bass beer: ALE.

76. Tehran resident: IRANI. Often Iranian.

77. Final installment, perhaps: PART V.

78. "Eighth Grade" actress Fisher: ELSIE.

80. Local leaders: MAYORS.

81. Bad sign: OMEN.

82. Orchard units: TREES.

83. Ages: EONS.

87. Verizon Wireless rival: SPRINT. We use Consume Cellular.

89. Wound cover: SCAB.

91. Tell a story: LIE.

92. Thus far: UP TO NOW.

93. Mesh: NETTING.

96. Snuggle (in): NESTLE.

97. Tattle on: RAT OUT.

98. Guarantee: ENSURE. Ensure Plus for Boomer.

99. Literary realm by the River Shribble: NARNIA.

100. Light shirts: TEES.

101. Measure up: CUT IT.

102. Anxious feeling: AGITA.

107. Helps reduce swelling: ICES.

108. Writer Bombeck: ERMA.

110. Formerly: ONCE.

111. Good-sized yard: ACRE.

112. __ moss: PEAT.

114. "Sammy the Seal" writer Hoff: SYD.

117. Many grad students, for short: TAS.

It was a good week, despite two falls. My sister-in-law Connie flew in from San Francisco for Boomer's birthday. We went to Mystic Lake of course! Boomer put in a $20 bill at the draw poker and was entertained for more than an hour. And he walked away with $5 profit. He hit four kings, which paid him 250 nickels. Here we are at their Minnehaha Cafe.

Boomer & C.C., 10/27/2022

Thanks again for the loving cards, notes and gifts. It was a super special birthday because all of you, esp Acesaroundagain (Glenn) and Tara from Calabasas. Thank you so much!

C.C.