Tuesday, January 10, 2023 Dan Schwartz and Shannon Rapp

What's the connection?  The theme answers have absolutely Nothing in Common with each other.  The circles show us that the connection is just NADA.

17-Across. 1965 Beach Boys hit whose B side was "Please Let Me Wonder": DO YOU WANNA DANCE.

29-Across. "Just part of the job": ALL IN A DAY'S WORK.

49-Across. Fruity cocktail: BANANA DAIQUIRI.

And the unifier:

63-Across. Lack of similar interests, and what the three long answers with circled letters have?: NOTHING IN COMMON.

Here's the Grid, so you can see for yourself that the three long answers have Nothing In Common (aka NADA).

Across:

1. __ off: gets smart: WISES.  I wanted Mouth off, but the second part of the clue indicates a plural answer.

6. Online customer service option: CHAT.

10. Actor Daniel __ Kim: DAE.  Daniel Dae Kim (b. Aug. 4, 1968) was born in Busan, South Korea.  He moved with his family to the United States when he was just 1-year old.  [Name # 1.]

13. Quaking trees: ASPENS.

15. Honolulu's island: OAHU.

16. Mos. and mos.: YRS.  Months and Months add up to Years and Years.

20. Cry of disgust: UGH.

UGG.

21. Field of greens?: GOLF.

22. "L'shanah __": Rosh Hashanah greeting: TOVAH.  Technically, this phrase means "for a good year".  Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year.

23. Stage accessory: PROP.

25. "Thor" role for Anthony Hopkins: ODIN.  Although Sir Anthony Hopkins (né Philip Anthony Hopkins; b. Dec. 31, 1937) played Odin in Thor, he is probably best known as Hannibal Lecter in The  Silence of the Lambs.   [Name # 2.]

27. "__ and Juliet": ROMEO.  My father was a member of the ROMEOs (Retired Old Men Eating Out).  [Name # 3.]

32. Honey liquor: MEAD.  I wonder if Margaret Mead (Dec. 16, 1901 ~ Nov. 15, 1978) liked Mead?

33. Uber status: ETA.  As in Estimated Time of Arrival.  This answer usually refers to plane schedules.

34. Method: Abbr.: SYS.  As in System.

35. Depilatory brand: NAIR.

38. Job detail, briefly: SPEC.

41. "__ your imagination!": USE.

44. Animated pic: GIF.  As in Graphics Interchange Format.

46. Protective trench: MOAT.

54. Bonus: EXTRA.

55. Khaki alternative: ECRU.  Both are shades of brown.

56. Simply must have: NEED.

58. Greek letter between rho and tau: SIGMA.

60. Slog away: TOIL.

62. Director DuVernay: AVA.  Ava DuVernay (née Ava Marie DuVernay; b. Aug. 24, 1972) is probably best known for her 2018 film A Wrinkle in Time.  [Name # 4.]

66. Letter opener?: ELL.  As in the letter "L".  I am not keen on this type of clue and answer.

67. Rex Stout sleuth Wolfe: NERO.  Nero Wolfe was/is a fictional private detective created in 46 mystery stories written by Rex Stout (né Rex Todhunter Stout; Dec. 1, 1886 ~ Oct. 27, 1975).  Stout's mysteries were later adapted into a television series that starred William Cannon (1920 ~ 1994).   [Name # 5.]

68. "Cobra Kai" practice: KARATE.  Cobra Kai is a martial arts comedy drama television series.

69. Digit on a foot: TOE.

70. Peabody-winning journalist Ifill: GWEN.  Gwen Ifill (Sept. 29, 1955 ~ Nov. 14, 2016) hosted Washington Week in Review.  She was the first African-American woman to host a nationally televised US public affairs program.  Sadly, she died young of cancer.  [Name # 6.]

71. Fees for overdue library books, e.g.: FINES.  I have 2 overdue books from my local library that should have been returned when I was away.  Oops!

Down:

1. Crumple into a ball: WAD UP.

2. Map line connecting points of equal value: ISOGRAM.

3. Small security opening in a door: SPY HOLE.

4. Job listing abbr.: EEO.  As in Equal Employment Opportunity.

5. Warm and cozy: SNUG.

6. Disclose: CONFIDE.

7. __ Chinese: world's largest ethnic group: HAN.

8. At the drop of __: A HAT.

9. Some houses with exposed-beam exteriors: TUDORS.

10. Big bundles of energy: DYNAMOS.  Also the name of the professional soccer team in Houston.

11. Target sport: ARCHERY.

 

12. Opposite of WNW: ESE.  Points on the compass.

14. Faint: SWOON.

18. "Bridge of Spies" actor Alan: ALDA.  Alan Alda (né Alphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo; b. Jan. 28, 1936) is best known for his role as Hawkeye Pierce on M*A*S*H.  He'll celebrate his 87th birthday later this month.  [Name # 7.]

19. Declare bluntly: AVOW.  A crossword staple.

24. Strategize: PLAN.

26. Battle of the Beltways MLB team: NATS.  [Name adjacent.]

28. Approves: OKs.

30. Mont. neighbor: IDA.  Idaho is adjacent to Montana.

31. Shrill bark: YAP.

36. Swiatek ranked world No. 1 by the WTA in 2022: IGA.  [Name # 8.]  Hand up if you are familiar with Iga Natalia Świątek (b. May 31, 2001).  She is a Polish professional tennis player.

37. Uber service: RIDE.

39. CGI bird in Liberty Mutual ads: EMU.  I'll spare you these annoying adverts.

40. Nickel or dime: COIN.

 

41. Purple yam from the Philippines: UBE.

42. Moment to shine at a jazz recital, perhaps: SAX SOLO.

43. Authorize: ENTITLE.

45. Political subgroup: FACTION.

47. Nameless local guy in The Onion headlines: AREA MAN.  Total guess.

48. 50-50 in the Senate, say: TIE VOTE.  Hmm...  No politics on this blog.

50. Exasperated cry: ARGH!

51. New pet owner's task: NAMING.

 

52. Wrinkle remover: IRON.

53. "Hurry up!": QUICK.

57. "Homeland" Emmy winner Claire: DANES.  Claire Danes (née Claire Catherine Danes; b. Apr. 12, 1979) got her start in the teen drama My So-Called Life.  In 2011, she began her role as CIA agent Carrie Mathison on Homeland.  [Name # 9.]

59. From the top: ANEW.

61. Bread shape: LOAF.

63. Pickleball court divider: NET.  Everything you need to know about Pickleball, but didn't know to ask.

64. Test for aspiring profs: GRE.  As in the Graduate Record Examinations, which of often required for admission into graduate school.

65. CT scan kin: MRI.

חתולה

Many thanks to Anonymous T for filling in for me for the last several weeks while I had the opportunity to explore in Southeast Asia.  Below are a few photos from my travels.

The Royal Palace Complex in Phnom Penh

The Royal Palace Complex in Phnom Penh

The Royal Palace

Angkor Thom

Angkor Wat

At the Udon Monestery

Monday January 9, 2023 Lynn K. Watson and Will Nediger

  

Hello Cornerites! 

Welcome to another Lynn K. Watson and Will Nediger collaboration. We recently enjoyed their Monday, Dec. 26. 2022 puzzle,  "Crack the Case".

This time, our theme is:        You Should Be DancinG, yeah!

The Bee Gees (1976) You Should Be Dancing

featuring John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever (1977)

Fast Forward 46 years (yikes!), we find the unifier for today's puzzle:

60 Across.  Rock and Roll Hall of Fame trio, and an apt name for a trio of answers in this puzzle: THE BEE GEES.

The Bee Gees were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.  According to their website, the trio's name originally referred to the common initials of Barry Gibb and his two friends, Bill Goode and Bill Gates (not that Bill Gates). The name then evolved into the BG's and then to the Bee Gees, which eventually came to mean the Brothers Gibb.

The trio (See what the constructors did there?) of answers are:

16 Across.  Open-air alehouse: BEER GARDEN.

26 Across.  Kathleen Turner comedy featuring super intelligent infants: BABY GENIUSES.

Not my thing. BTW, Kathleen Turner played Dr. Elena Kinder.

Baby Geniuses movie trailer (1999)

Surprisingly, there is a sequel, Superbabies:  Baby Geniuses 2 (2004)

46 Across.  Eggplant appetizer: BABA GHANOUSH.  a Mediterranean dip made from roasted eggplants.  5-star recipe  Definitely my thing! 

All 3 answers have a first word that begins with the letter "B" and a second word that begins with the letter "G". No *starred* clues to miss this time; though I did have some spelling challenges.

We Better Get Going..   <---- 1 B, 2 G's

Across:
1. Rainbow flag letters: LGBT.  Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender

5. Too sure of oneself: SMUG.

Cats can be so SMUG.

9. "The Vampire Diaries" actress Dobrev: NINA.  Coincidentally, today is NINA's birthday. She was born 34 years ago in Bulgaria.  If you are reading this, NINA, we wish you a very happy birthday!

Also, CSO to inanehiker!

the birthday girl

13. Vicinity: AREA.  The police code 10-60 means there is a (law enforcement) squad in the vicinity.

14. Play button's alternate function, often: PAUSE.  Let's see who has the most clickers. I will start the bidding at 5. That is 4 more than I care to have.

15. More than one: A FEW.  Five clickers is A FEW too many.

18. __ of approval: SEAL.

19. Cul-de-__: SAC.  French; literally "bottom of the bag"

Think of a paper sack with just one opening.

20. Goddess who wears a headdress with cow horns: ISIS.

ISIS sporting her trademark headdress.

21. Underdog victories: UPSETS.  Remember when Rulon Gardner from Wyoming, won the Olympic gold medal in Greco-Roman wresting in Sydney 2000?

an Olympic UPSET (38 sec.)

23. Waters down: THINS.

25. Like fast-spreading TikTok videos: VIRAL.  'VIRAL' is good. 'Virus' is bad.

31. Fruit-flavored drink brand: SOBE.

34. Hollered: YELLED.

35. CPR pro: EMT.

36. Largest Greek island: CRETE.  Greek islands list

38. "Hold on a __!": SEC.

39. Nemesis: ENEMY.

41. Untouched serve: ACE.  You know...tennis, volleyball, and probably other sports, too. 

42. Eritrea's capital: ASMARA.  pronounced "eh-ruh-TREE-uh" and "aa-SMAA-ruh", AtG (According to Google)

45. Black gemstone: ONYX.

49. Actress Barkin: ELLEN.

Oh, that ELLEN.

50. Attempts: SHOTS.  You know...hockey, basketball, and probably other sports, too. 

53. Shrub with colorful flowers: AZALEA.  I think of these as being popular on the East Coast.

55. Slugger Juan who won the 2022 Home Run Derby: SOTO.  Respect moment #1.

57. "When will u b here?": ETA.  short for "Estimated Time of Arrival"

59. Snoozefest: BORE.

63. __ 500: INDY.

64. Surround: HEM IN.

65. Ginger cookie: SNAP.  July 1 is National Ginger Snap Day...in case you were wondering.

66. Model Holliday: TESS.  Because "Holliday" is capitalized, we might guess a name.  This is Tess Holliday.

67. Sign above a door: EXIT.

68. Questions: ASKS.  verbs...or lately, "ASKS" is often used as a noun

Down:
1. Science workshops: LABS.  Time to add a cute animal pic for Irish Miss!

2. Australia's __ Barrier Reef: GREAT.

Any other Old 97's fans fans out there?

"What's so GREAT about the Barrier Reef? What's so Fine about Art?"

3. Tree with smooth gray bark: BEECH.

hauntingly beautiful BEECH tree trunks

4. Roofing material: TAR.

5. South Asian wraparound dress: SARI.

6. Some spa applications: MUDS.

7. "__ only as directed": USE. so you cannot sue them later

8. Bona fide: GENUINE.

George Clooney in O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)

"But you ain't bona fide."

9. Largest city in the Bahamas: NASSAU.  Things to do while on holiday in Nassau

So Picturesque!!

10. "You really understand me": I FEEL SEEN.  essay by Caleb Madison, the crossword puzzles editor at The Atlantic magazine (<500 words)

11. Well-organized: NEAT.

12. Hole-making tools: AWLS.

14. Elapse, as time: PASS BY.

17. Actress Lollobrigida: GINA.  Born in 1927, GINA lives in her home country of Italy.

22. Start of a title by 44-Down: PRIDE.  and Prejudice

and 44D. "Emma" novelist Jane: AUSTEN.

24. "As if!": I BET.

25. Shoelaces alternative: VELCRO.

27. Guy who always agrees with the boss: YES-MAN.

28. Gather a bit at a time: GLEAN.

29. Award for TV excellence: EMMY.

30. Mythical river of the underworld: STYX.  Also, an American rock band that formed in 1972 in Chicago.

STYX performing Come Sail Away (1977)

31. Wound covering: SCAB.

32. Black-and-white sea creature: ORCA.

ORCAs can be found in the blue parts.
They have been known to travel up to 1,200 miles (2,000 kms)

33. Buzzing facial adornments: BEE BEARDS.  HUGE learning moment!

How to Grow a Bee Beard (1:45 min.)

Warning:  not for the faint of heart!

37. Sharp-eyed bird: EAGLE.

40. L.A. arts district: NOHO. "Los Angeles" is abbreviated, so is "NOrth HOllywood".

43. Put away, as a sword: SHEATHE.

Shown here, the Dread Pirate Roberts' sword is SHEATHEd.

47. Places for bowling: ALLEYS.  Respect moment #2.

48. Espadrille, e.g.: SHOE.  Espadrilles can be flats or heels. They are usually casual and have canvas/cotton straps. The main thing is their soles are made out of rope.  Do guys know this?

51. Frigid temps: TEENS.  CSO to our northern Cornerites!

52. T-bone, for one: STEAK.

53. "This won't hurt __!": A BIT.  What is usually said before it hurts a lot.

54. Tune (out): ZONE.

55. Big rig: SEMI.

56. Solemn bio: OBIT.  Respect moment #3.

58. Egyptian serpents: ASPS.

61. Magic spell: HEX.

One more song before we Break for Good....

Bette Midler a.k.a. The Divine Miss M

in Hocus Pocus (1993) sings I Put a Spell on You

62. Fed. property agency: GSA.  "Federal" is abbreviated, so is the "General Services Administration". It manages federal property and provides contracting options for government agencies.

Here's the full Bore Grid:

I was in NorCal most of last week -- first to attend an event in my brother's honor and then a few days in Napa. RLS sometimes appears in grids so I wanted to share this pic of the famous sign with his wine quote. The other pic is of me in front of the wine train when we stopped for a tasting.

That's all for today. Remember to Be Grateful! As usual, I look forward to reading your comments!

Sunday January 8, 2023 David Alfred Bywaters

Theme: "Down in Front" - IN is added to the start of each common phrase.

3. Orchestra conductor's memo heading?: IN RE PERCUSSION. Repercussion.

6. So-so golf swings?: INDIFFERENT STROKES. Different strokes.

10. How married couples may spend Thanksgiving?: IN-LAW ABIDING. Law-abiding.

14. Baseball groundskeeper's problem?: INFIELD MOUSE. Field mouse.

30. Religious seminary?: INVOCATIONAL SCHOOL. Vocational school.

53. Dragon tattoos, e.g.?: INKING OF BEASTS. King of beasts.

61. Take out a policy for replacement value?: INSURE ENOUGH. Sure enough.

63. Finding actors for a small-studio film?: INDIE CASTING. Die casting.

See how "Down" added the extra elegance to this puzzle? I would have just used "In Front" and put theme entries in Across. The brain of DAB!

Grid-wise, it's a standard 144-word, 78-black square grid that I really like.

Across:

1. Breezily unconcerned: GLIB.

5. Storage tower: SILO.

9. Emotional exhalation: SIGH. And 59. Cry of dismay: OH NO.

13. Mint metal, once: SILVER.

19. Wine opener?: OENO.As in "Oenophile".
 
20. Home of the Railroad Museum of Oklahoma: ENID. Here with Thomas.

21. "Next round's __": ON ME.

22. Whomever: ANYONE.

23. Sent on: FORWARDED.

25. Group with ancestral ties: CLAN.

26. Paranormal cases: X-FILES.

27. Serpent's tail?: INE. Serpentine. Also 106. Chemical suffix: ANE.

28. Nintendo consoles: WIIS.

29. Designer Versace: GIANNI. Here with his sister Donatella.

31. Habituate: INURE.

32. Swindles: RIPS OFF.

34. Eject forcibly: SPEW.

35. Cost of hand delivery?: ANTE. Poker hand.

37. CEO, CFO, etc.: MGT. Management.

38. Go furtively: SNEAK.

39. 82-Down subcompacts: FIESTAS. 82. Maker of Explorers and 39-Across: FORD.

42. Low places: VALLEYS.

44. __ Haute: TERRE. Indiana.
 
45. Finish: END.

46. Lawyer's gp.: ABA.

47. Outdated, spelled in an outdated way: OLDE.

48. Is able to: CAN.

49. NBC founder: RCA. I associate a "founder" with a person.

50. Purple flower: LILAC.

52. "__ oui!": MAIS.

55. Render aghast: STUN.

57. Intend: MEAN.

58. Hindu deity: DEVA. Sanskrit for "god".

60. Owns: HAS.

61. McShane of "Deadwood": IAN. Looks like a bad character.

62. Spanish ayes: SI SI. Chinese is "Shi de, Shi de".

65. Rebuke from Caesar: ET TU.

67. Kith and __: KIN.

69. Raised trains: ELS.

70. Minor quibbles: NITS.

72. "I'll Be Your Mirror" photographer Goldin: NAN.

73. Ebro y Douro: RIOS. Wikipedia says Douro is "the highest-flow river of the Iberian Peninsula".

74. Anger: IRE. 127. Come to a boil: SEETHE.

75. Hit the slopes: SKI.

76. Shrugworthy: SO SO.

77. Hounds, e.g.: DOGS. Verb.

79. Smelter's supply: ORE.

80. Grant-giving gp.: NEA.

81. Soy block: TOFU. I like it extra firm.

83. Pad krapow gai cuisine: THAI. Pad ="Stir-fried". Krapow= "Holy basil". Gai is just "chicken". Same as Cantonese. Also slang for "prostitute".

85. Glass piece: PANE.

87. Disney CEO Bob: IGER. He's back.

88. __ close to schedule: ON OR.

89. Choir attire: ROBES.

91. Roth __: IRA.

92. Peace activist Yoko: ONO.

93. Forfeited auto: REPO.

95. Earth-friendly prefix: ECO.

96. "Wonder Woman" star Gadot: GAL.

97. Aficionados: BUFFS.

100. Spot with patio furniture: SUNDECK.

103. Relatively reliable sources of income: DAY JOBS.

105. Defame in print: LIBEL.

107. Tiny amt. of time: NSEC.

109. Coin receiver: SLOT.

110. Country estate: CHATEAU.

112. Release: LET GO. Tiny dupe with 1. Lead: GO FIRST.

114. Targeted, as a basketball hoop: SHOT AT.

116. Not ajar: SHUT. Hi there, Hahtoolah!

117. Bank drive-thru device: ATM. Oh, I finally got my Wells Fargo ATM card. Now I have access to our bank account again. No more credit card from them though. I just don't have the bandwidth to deal with them any more. 

118. Warmed the bench: SAT OUT.

120. "There's nobody else": I'M IT.

121. Relaxes: LOOSENS UP.

123. Cheese in some bagels: ASIAGO. Boomer would be startled by what I have in the fridge now.

 124. Pre-Easter period: LENT.

125. Out of control: AMOK.

126. Raison d'__: ETRE.

128. "Bus Stop" playwright: INGE (William)

129. Salon array: GELS.

130. Secondhand: USED.

Down:

2. Like a maned cat: LEONINE.

4. Gift topper: BOW.

5. Sans-__: type style: SERIF.

7. Reclines: LIES.

8. Peculiar: ODD.

9. Transcending the individual: SOCIETAL.

11. FBI guy: G MAN.

12. Reddish brown dye: HENNA. Intricate.

13. Jazz horn: SAX.

15. "__ Eyes": 1975 Eagles hit: LYIN'.

16. Encyclopedia unit: VOLUME.

17. Cabinet department created under Carter: ENERGY.

18. Creates anew, as a password: RESETS.

24. Roused: AWOKEN.

29. Rte. provider: GPS.

33. Wrap brand: SARAN.

34. Some cars: SEDANS.

36. "Culture Warlords" author Lavin: TAL. New clue angle. Sometimes we see "Chess master Mikhail".

40. Worshipper of the goddess Pachamama: INCA.

41. Merchant's goal: SALE.

43. "Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology" memoirist Remini: LEAH. She's pretty gutsy.

51. Affirm: AVER.

54. Evening party: SOIREE.

55. "__ So Unusual": Cyndi Lauper's debut album: SHE'S.

56. Converse with: TALK TO.

57. Month between abril and junho: MAIO. May.

64. First word of some Brazilian city names: SAO.

66. Ripped apart: TORE.

68. Close: NEAR.

71. Little Italy neighbor: SOHO.

78. Tap: SPIGOT.

84. Still tucked in: ABED.

86. Part of UAE: ARAB.

87. Indigenous people of the far North: INUIT.

90. Nondairy coffeehouse order: SOY LATTE.

92. Not quite spherical: OBLATE.

94. Mac alternatives: PCS.

98. __ film: FEATURE.

99. Had a dry spell at the plate: SLUMPED.

100. Taco bar array: SALSAS.

101. Disquiet: UNEASE.

102. Geneticist Stevens who discovered sex chromosomes: NETTIE.

104. Write (down): JOT.

108. Cook-off dish: CHILI.

111. Shucker's discards: HUSKS.

113. Superlative acronym: G.O.A.T.

115. Sign: OMEN.

116. More than none: SOME.

119. __ loop: simple skating jump: TOE.

121. Fall behind: LAG.

122. Modern, in German: NEU.

Big milestone today for Patti Varol, editor for the L.A. Times Daily crosswords. Happy birthday, Patti! 

I've worked with Patti for many years, both for the Crosswords Club and the LAT daily. Whether a puzzle is accepted or rejected, she always gives me constructive feedback and helps me tighten up the theme set. She also spends an extraordinary amount of time to polish my clues:

1) She makes sure that my clues don't dupe the clues in the puzzles that run in the same week as mine.

2) She makes sure that I have no typos and the cluing style fit in the Tribune Media requirements, that my total character count does not exceed the space for various newspapers. It's very easy to get long-winded!

3) She makes sure that my clues are fair.  Can you imagine I want every clue to reflect my interests and who I am? Can you imagine I clue BING as [Ice, in Chinese] and DING as [Ancient Chinese cauldron with three legs] and I intersect the two in the same grid? Certainly fair to me, but it's not to you guys.

4) She makes sure that my clues are fresh and witty. As I've mentioned in the past, the many clever clues you guy like are not mine. She's the unsung hero behind all this.

It's just astonishing to read yesterday's comments. I'm stunned by this constructor's lack of understanding of how a puzzle is edited.