Jamey is our constructor who worked at the University of Texas for 25 years as a writer/editor in the university’s development communications office. This is my seventh Saturday themeless from our former Longhorn friend and it was a real test for me. I was struck by a blizzard of names that I muddled through but I saved my error for the very last cell that you see marked in red. I thought the wonderful and very familiar actress Diane WIEST had the same last name as my friend Jason Wiese and I had no idea on SLOT canyons which I was very happy to research. So I accepted the bad "E" and moved on.
Across:
1. Loads: GOBS - Tons and Lots only slowed the process.
5. Fully get: GRASP.
10. Lab order?: HEEL - My wife has tried do train me as well for when we shop together with mixed results
14. "Black Dog" singer Parks: ARLO - A crossword staple clad in new clothes
15. Motley crew: RAG TAG ARMY - A RAG TAG ARMY is given credit for saving Kyiv from the invading Russian army
17. Ground corn: MEAL.
18. Attraction in Singapore's Marine Life Park: OCEANARIUM - Our crossword friend Julian Lim teaches at The National University of Singapore. I wonder if he's ever gone here
19. One-named Oscar winner for "Precious": MONIQUE.
21. Insalata whose key ingredients happen to be the colors of the Italian flag: CAPRESE - Insalata means salad in Italian and CAPRESE means "in the style of Capri".
22. Invites from a balcony, say: ASKS UP - Mae West is on a stair not a balcony but does issue a famous invitation to a very young Cary Grant.
23. Japanese-American: NISEI - Japanese Americans who were born in America
24. Lake that feeds the Mississippi: ITASCA - This sign is on the banks of Lake ITASCA in north central Minnesota.
26. Things to work on, maybe: ISSUES.
30. Choreographer de Mille: AGNES - Two minutes of Cecil B. de Mille's niece's famous Dream Ballet from Oklahoma with her narration.
32. Mountain near Olympus: OSSA - It's a little over a 3 hour drive between them
34. Barclays Center hoopster: NET - NBA
35. Stretch from the Loop to the Gold Coast: MAGNIFICENT MILE - A famous Chicago stretch
39. __ ideal: EGO - In Freudian psychoanalysis, the ego ideal (German: Ichideal) is the inner image of oneself as one wants to become
40. Donor type, briefly: O-NEG - O-NEG blood types are about 7% of the population
41. Feather bed?: ROOST 😁
42. Courted with love notes?: SANG TO - Notes of music
45. Whim: NOTION.
47. Signal silently to: NOD AT.
49. Dwindled: RAN LOW - Lake Mead over last 21 years
52. Fraidy-cats: COWARDS.
55. Italian luxury brand founded by a Greek silversmith: BULGARI.
56. Soft-drink choice: CHERRY COLA - Cherry Coke is one of ten choices from this machine
58. Cor anglais kin: OBOE.
59. Sticky roll that originated in Britain: CHELSEA BUN.
60. Burrows: DENS.
61. Spots in a casino: PIPS.
62. Wear: SPORT.
63. __ canyon: SLOT - This one is in Utah
Down:
1. __ ray: GAMMA.
2. Snacks that turned 110 last year: OREOS and 11. Northern terminus of I-79: ERIE - Newer cluing for some old standards
3. Unable to come up with: BLANKING ON - I know STONEHENGE very well but BLANKED ON it for a few minutes on the 1/18/23 puzzle.
4. "Now, here's the thing": SO LISTEN!
5. Classifies: GROUPS.
6. Ijeoma Oluo's "So You Want to Talk About __": RACE.
7. Period: AGE.
8. Keanan of 1990s TV: STACI.
9. Like some fusion menus: PANASIAN - Pan-Asian cuisine has a fusion of flavors and ingredients from throughout Asia
10. 49th vice president: HARRIS - Our current one
12. Outback runners: EMUS.
13. Old __, Connecticut: LYME - About 3 hrs up I-95 from Manhattan
16. Goggles: GAPES - The verb not the eyewear
20. Seemingly: QUASI - As a substitute, I guess I am a QUASI-educator
23. Fledgling: NASCENT - Rookie teachers came to my mind.
25. Element of change?: COIN - This was what I used when I had to go door-to-door to collect for the Omaha World Herald in 1958. (45¢/week for daily + Sunday)
27. Local information source?: UNION LABEL.
28. Unagi roll fish: EELS - I saw this so often in crosswords, I had to look up the pronunciation - oo NAH gee
29. Editor's "As you were": STET.
30. College town north of Des Moines: AMES - Iowa State's record setting QB will be playing in a big game tomorrow.
31. Infatuated: GAGA - My granddaughter is GAGA over Taylor Swift
33. Lily variety: SEGO.
36. Byproduct of some plant pigments: FOOD DYES - Here's some...
37. Experiment: TRIAL.
38. Chandra and Thoth: MOON GODS - I know CHANDRA is the name of a NASA satellite and so there was probably a connection to space. I enjoyed reading about these two names.
43. "Crazy" duo __ Barkley: GNARLS - GNARLS Barkley is the nonsense name of a duo whose first album was named Crazy. Google if you must.
44. Pressure units named for the inventor of the barometer: TORRS - Finally, a name this physics teacher knew. Evangelista TORRICELLI is a student of Galileo who is credited with inventing this instrument.
46. Skipper?: TRUANT.
48. Music rights gp.: ASCAP.
50. Home of Maine's Black Bears: ORONO - Every serious crossworder knows of the home of Maine University
51. "Hannah and Her Sisters" Oscar winner: WIEST
Mia Barbara Dianne
52. Soviet letters: CCCP - The dejected Soviet goalie is in shock while the Americans celebrate "The Miracle On Ice" in 1980.
53. "Didn't see you there": OH HI.
54. Fail to hold it together: WEEP.
55. Obfuscate: BLUR.
57. "Price negotiable" letters: OBO - This home goods store in Shellbyville, Indiana has a great name!
First off, welcome back Jeffrey Wechsler. My semi-laziness kept me from searching when a Jeffrey Wechsler puzzle last appeared in a Crossword Corner blog. Maybe right before Rich retired? Regardless, his puzzles were missed by many of us, myself included. When I saw that Wechsler was the constructor, I immediately emailed Lemonade714 to ask if he wanted to briefly come out of retirement and provide today's comments. Lemony/Jason graciously said "no", so we'll see if I am up to the task ...
The first thing that caught my eye was the unique pattern of black squares (blocks). I also noticed - before solving the first word - that there were two 14-letter entries (Rows 3 and 13), and an 11-letter entry in the center row (row 8). Typical themed puzzles are required - by the editor - to have a minimum of 40 letters in the total of the entries. 14 + 14 + 11 = 39, so I knew that more were there; just didn't know where
I also noticed a plethora (24) of 3-letter words. That is usually too high for a 15x15 puzzle on any day, let alone on a Friday. But knowing that Wechsler was the creator, I was not nonplussed ... (BTW, is "plussed" the antonym of nonplussed??!)
So off I went, starting at 1-across, looking for any "low hanging fruit". 1-across was not immediately known. (6-across. South Dakota region:) BADLANDS was easily solved, as was (14-across. __ All: car care brand:) ARMOR. The corresponding down clues (1. Cul-de-__:) SAC, (2. Letters for Kate Middleton:) HRH, and (3. Punk subgenre:) EMO, helped me get a foot hold in the NW Corner. (1-across. Stock holder?:) SHELF then quickly fell (brilliant clue, BTW), as did (5-down. Orchardist's concern:) FROST. (18-across. Application:) USE was next; then (22-across. Connecticut home of ESPN studios:) BRISTOL, and I thought, "Oh boy! This will be a cinch!" (which is not to be confused with the word "CONCH", [the answer to 33-across. Caribbean gastropod:])
So right now I am guessing that a few of you are saying, "Ok, Moe, slow down ... what sort of blog are you writing today?" "Are you going to explain HOW you solved the puzzle - each and every word - or are you going to 'get to the point'?!!"
OK. Here's the deal: I am writing this blog on Tuesday (Jan 24), and am in a bit of a hurry. Tomorrow (the 25th) begins a day of hell (for me), as the 26th I am scheduled for a colonoscopy ...
TMI? Perhaps
But for anyone who has gone through this procedure, the preparation day is a day from hell. I am looking forward to resting afterwards on Thursday, so getting the blog done today is my top priority, so please bear with me!! ;^)
15-across (Collection of Buddhist sculpture, Chinese jades, etc.:) ASIAN ART, only partially filled (I got the "ASIAN" part). So now comes the first theme entry: 16-across. Specialized work at a confectionary?: CHOCOLATE LABOR. The 3 and 4-letter clues running down from the word "BADLANDS" made this entry fill in easily: (6-down. "Hey, ewe!":) BAA; (7-down. Italian wine region:) ASTI; (8-down. Ran out of juice:) DIED; (9-down. "Deck the Halls" chorus fragment:) LA LA; (10-down. Political commentator Navarro:) ANA; and (11-down. Catches:) NABS. The "O" and "R" were gimmies, based on the clue. So now I knew what to look for in the remainder of the clues that had a "play-on-words"!
Jeffrey Wechsler incorporated the letters "OR" into the ends of two proper names (KING TUT and AQUAMAN), two descriptive nouns (CHOCOLATE LAB and THE BIG TEN), and one gerund (SPEEDING PAST). All of which provided us with a playful challenge!
Here are the "themed entries":
36-across. Instructor for a monarch?: KING TUTOR
38-across. Nickname for Luciano Pavarotti?: THE BIG TENOR
40-across. Estate that went all-out with turquoise paint?: AQUA MANOR
59-across. Vicar who puts the pedal to the metal?: SPEEDING PASTOR.
Honestly, I'm not sure which of these five I liked the best. They were all brilliant! And when you notice that three of the five are in rows 7, 8, and 9, it makes this one of the best, most creative puzzles I've ever solved
Were there a few words that could be construed as odd or perhaps disturbing? Maybe. (26-across. Nail polish brand with an Always Bare for You collection:) OPI is one; (32-down. Subatomic particle:) MUON is another ... and I am sure that some of you will take umbrage with other words, too ...
This puzzle has 59 themed letters!! For anyone who's ever attempted to create a crossword puzzle - by hand or from a computer program - this is insanely difficult. Jeffrey earned every penny today. It was well worth the wait. I hope you all enjoyed it - please comment below ... By the way, my procedure will be done as an out-patient, but technically, in the OR!! How fitting ...
Here is the grid, followed by the other clues:
Across:
19. Investigative journalist __ B. Wells: IDA.
20. Tiff: SPAT.
27. Prefix with gender: CIS.
28. Body care brand: NIVEA.
32. Tone down: MUTE.
42. Grind together: GNASH.
45. Baking measures: CUPS. Glad to see that this wasn't an abbreviation (TSPS, e.g.)
46. Fantasy brutes: OGRES.
48. Loose __: TEA. I actually WAG'd at this, but it fits better than a loose END
49. Subdivision unit: LOT.
50. Plead: ENTREAT. Which crossed a totally different, yet similar word (due to its spelling) ... 30-down. Item on a menu: ENTREE
53. Deep-dish chain, familiarly: UNOS. This one took me a few perps to fill - Chicago-based pizza chain
55. "And what have we here?": OHO.
58. Investment option, briefly: IRA.
65. Telemarketer's accessory: EARPIECE. This was a bit of a stretch, clue-wise
66. Hard section of a textbook, perhaps: SPINE.
67. Compact cars?: TRAIN SET. Cute clue
68. Made a big deal of: HYPED. I hope this isn't what I did with today's puzzle!! ;^)
Down:
4. Place: LOCUS. [from one of the many on-line dictionaries] "a particular position, point, or place." As used in a sentence: "It is impossible to specify the exact LOCUS in the brain of these neural events"
12. Worrisome educational statistic: DROPOUT RATE. First time this entry/word has been used in a crossword puzzle. Ditto for (24-down. Disappoints:) ISN'T UP TO PAR. Having one new word/phrase in a puzzle is cool; having two is amazing. And both are terms/phrases that are colloquial
13. Attach, in a way: STRAP TO. Glad that Jeffrey used "STRAP TO" rather than STRAP ON
17. Boxer Spinks: LEON. [wikipedia dot com says] "In only his eighth professional fight, he (LEON Spinks) won the undisputed heavyweight championship in 1978 after defeating Muhammad Ali in a split decision, in what is considered one of the biggest upsets in boxing history"
21. Level: TIER.
22. Email on the q.t.: BCC. [grammarist dot com says] "On the q.t. means doing something secretly. The q.t. in the phrase on the q.t. is an abbreviation of the word quiet. The term originated in the mid-1800s. There is some debate on whether the phrase on the q.t. is of American or English origin"
23. 2016 Olympics city: RIO.
25. Preference: LIKING.
29. Energy: VIGOR.
31. Medical chart datum: AGE.
34. Cartoonist Addams, familiarly: CHAS.
35. Adjustable border: HEM.
37. "Star Trek" spinoff before "DS9": TNG.
39. Steamed bun: BAO. Perps to the rescue; JW had no choice in this one
40. Org. concerned with privacy laws: ACLU.
41. __ hut: QUONSET. PIZZA didn't fit; besides, the word "hut" wasn't capitalized
43. "My bounty is as boundless as the __": Juliet: SEA. A staple in most every Jeffrey Wechsler puzzle is a clue which contains a reference to Wm. Shakespeare
44. Panama, for one: HAT.
47. Cut a bit: SNIP.
51. Wreck: TRASH.
52. Hoarse: RASPY.
54. Spanish : noche :: Italian : __: SERA. In Spanish, SERA is the verb form "will be". As in Que sera, sera. Of course, this leads me to the following Moe-ku:
What Doris Day sang When nacho cheese not melted?
"Queso raw, so raw ..."
55. God who gave up an eye to gain wisdom: ODIN. Perps/Friday clue
56. Shakes a leg, quaintly: HIES.
57. Second word of many limericks: ONCE. What my friend Wilbur Charles calls a "Moe-L'ick"
There ONCE was a young girl from France Who figured, she'd just "take a chance"! She let herself go For an hour, or so And now all her sisters are aunts
60. Prefix with gram or graph: EPI. TELE was too big
61. Comprehend: GET.
62. Bit of advice: TIP.
63. Early afternoon hour: ONE.
64. Rare color?: RED. As in a steak, perhaps?
Thanks for coming along for the ride! Hope you liked the blog despite it being bereft of pictures and videos. Maybe next time ... I hope to stop by later today and check-in. Feel free to add a comment
Katherine Baicker has had 3 LAT outings and Ross Trudeau has had
10, plus 54 with the NYT, including a collaboration with his
Dad,
whom you may recognize. I think this is the first time Katherine and Ross have teamed together for the LAT and for today's theme
they present us with 4 iconic mascots on a
FAST TRACK TO THE TOP
But let's begin at the bottom:
58A. Marketing
strategies, and what the mascots in this puzzle have all been given?:
SALES PROMOTIONS.
17A. Mascot who pursued the Hamburglar:
DETECTIVE BIG MAC. He started out as a beat cop who
always got his HAM and was eventually promoted to the rank of
Detective Big Mac
23A. Mascot with a goatee and a string tie: GENERAL SANDERS. This
humble COLONEL leveraged his good looks and Southern charm to get promoted to the rank
of
General Sanders
36A. Mascot "born in the Sea of Milk": ADMIRAL CRUNCH.
He started as CAPTAIN CRUNCH and his gimmick was a free whistle in every box. He was quickly promoted to the rank of
50A. Mascot who says, "I want to eat your cereal!":
MARQUIS CHOCULA. He started out as a lowly COUNT but was promoted
to royalty because he was willing to work night shifts and he really sank his
teeth into his job:
Marquis Chocula
Here's the grid:
Here's the rest:
Across:
1. Intro courses?: APPS. APPetizers?
5. Female turkeys: HENS. Their mates are called
TOMS.
9. Features of some islands: SINKS. These islands are not in
el Océano (see 45A), but in the middle of your kitchen:
14. Attract: DRAW.
15. Lotion ingredient: ALOE. SNORE. Oops, next
clue!
16. Sleeper's rumble: SNORE. May be a sign of sleep
APNEA. A
sleep study
can confirm whether you have it, but in my experience they are elaborate
affairs. Basically they bundle you up in a cocoon of wires and sleep
sensors and expect you to sleep comfortably while they monitor
you overnight. Somebody could make a bundle if they invented reusable,
wireless sensors, e.g. bluetooth enabled.
[Theme clue]
20. Dutch cheese: EDAM. Crosswordcheese.
21. Right at sea?: AYE. Whatever you say Admiral!
See also 57A.
22. So last year: OUT. "Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable
that we have to alter it every six months" - Oscar Wilde.
[Theme
clue]
28. Flying fig.: ALT. ALTitude.
29. Carve up a black diamond?: SKI. A former haunt for
Malodorous Manatee. These days he likes to lounge in the lodge
sipping hot toddies. 😁
30. Currier and __: IVES. Currier and Ives was a New York City printmaking business that operated between 1835 and 1907. Founded by Nathaniel Currier,
the company designed and sold inexpensive, hand painted lithographic
works based on news events, views of popular culture and Americana. The
corporate name was changed in 1857 to "Currier and Ives" with the
addition of James Merritt Ives.
A Brush for the Lead
31. Entreaty: PLEA.
33. Shade tree: ELM.
35. Service charge: FEE.
[Theme clue]
41. Choice indicators: ORS. RNS and MDS are not options.
55. Samantha Bee's former network: TBS. Samantha Anne Bee
(born in Toronto, Ontario on October 25, 1969) is a Canadian-American
comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actress, and
television host.
A CSO to CanadianEh!
Samantha Bee
56. Calgary summer hrs.: MDT. Hi again CanadianEh! The Mountain Time Zone
of North America keeps time by subtracting seven hours from Coordinated
Universal Time (UTC) when standard time (UTC−07:00) is in effect, and
by subtracting six hours during daylight saving time (UTC−06:00). Calgary, Alberta is due South of Edmonton on this map:
Mountain Time Zone
57. Left at sea?: PORT. See 21A.
[Theme reveal]
64. With 40-Down, legal scholar played by Kerry Washington in HBO's
"Confirmation": ANITA. and 40-Down HILL.
Confirmation is a 2016 American television political
thriller film, directed by Rick Famuyiwa and written by
Susannah Grant. The YouTube trailers were way too political, so you'll
have to settle for this:
BUT IN THIS CASE IT DIDN'T!
65. Past regulation, briefly: IN OT.
Over Time.
66. Smooch in a lift: SNOG. LIFT is Brit for
elevator. As long as the two of you are alone it's not a PDA.
67. Cat collar dangler: ID TAG. If you're really attached
to your pet you can have them
micro-chipped
in case they get lost and lose their ID TAG. We're next!
68. Affixes a patch, say: SEWS.
69. Hushed "Hey!": PSST.
Down:
1. Verb on a dipstick: ADD. But not too much. You
might blow a gasket.
2. Paid intro?: PRE.
3. Protected, in a way: PATENTED. Both PATENTS and TRADE MARKS are protected by the USPTO in Alexandria, VA,
where I worked for a couple of years. They are one of the few
government agencies that pays for itself through the fees it collects
for research and licensing.
Artist rendering of a Supernova Image credit: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss
8. "Buh-bye!": SEE YA.
9. Govt. stipend: SSI. Supplemental Security Income. A tip 'o the hat to TTP for pointing out my confusion between SSI and Social Security benefits. Here's the difference. Both are administered at the SSA Headquarters in Woodlawn, MD, about
2 miles from our house ...
Social Security Headquarters
10. Dutch banking giant with an orange lion logo: ING.
The ING Group is a Dutch multinational banking and financial
services corporation headquartered in Amsterdam. Its primary businesses are retail banking, direct banking, commercial
banking, investment banking, wholesale banking, private banking, asset
management, and insurance services. With total assets of US $1.1 trillion, it
is one of the biggest banks in the world, and consistently ranks among the
top 30 largest banks globally. Here's their logo:
I was happy to find that ING is also a major charitable organization, a
supporter of the arts, and they happen to be sponsors of the
world renowned
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, which performed this brass chorale from Mahler's 2nd Symphony ("The
Resurrection")
11. "I give!": NO MORE.
12. Alison in the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame: KRAUSS.
Alison Maria Krauss
(born July 23, 1971) is an American bluegrass-country singer and musician. She
entered the music industry at an early age, competing in local contests by the
age of eight and recording for the first time at 14. Here's her song
Down To The River To Pray used in the soundtrack to the 2000 Joel and
Ethan Coen film
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
13. Chip off the old flock?: SECT. Clever clue.
18. Sonata and Cadenza: CARS. This one really had me stumped for a
while.
Sonatas
are solo pieces, e.g. for piano or violin, whereas a
cadenza
is usually a virtuoso solo interlude within a larger orchestral work,
such as a piano concerto. But the second movement of
Beethoven's Sonata 32
published in 1822
has an incredibly virtuosic passage that I think qualifies as a
cadenza. It was almost 70 years ahead of its time and is reminiscent
of ragtime piano. This 2 minute interlude is popularly known as
the "boogie-woogie" variation. Take it for a test drive and see if you
don't agree:
19. "__-Hur": BEN. Ben-Hur is a 1959 American religious epic film directed by William Wyler, produced by Sam Zimbalist, and starring Charlton Heston as the title character. It was adapted from Lew Wallace's 1880 novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. It won 11 Academy awards and it even has an EPIC trailer ... 23. Missing segment: GAP.
24. Spanish pronoun: ELLA. SHE. Spanish lesson #2. A bi-lingual dupe with 43A?
25. Singer/activist Downs: LILA. Spanish lesson #3.
Ana Lila Downs Sánchez
(born 9 September 1968) is a Mexican singer-songwriter/activist. She performs
her own compositions and the works of others in multiple genres, as well as
tapping into Mexican traditional and popular music. Here's her
Zapata Se Queda
26. French Lord: DIEU. Not the aristocrat, the poor guy.
French lesson #1.
27. __ planner: EVENT.
32. Affaire de coeur: AMOUR. LOVE. French lesson #2.
34. NYC FC's org.: MLS. The
New York City Football Club
is an American professional
soccer
club based in New York City that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS), the
highest level of American soccer, as a member of the league's Eastern
Conference.
35. Just-brewed carafes of coffee, e.g.: FRESH POTS.
37. Kirkuk's country: IRAQ. Kirkuk (Arabic:
كركوك, Kurdish:
کەرکووک) is a city in Iraq, serving as the
capital of the Kirkuk Governorate, located 238 kilometres (148 miles) north of
Baghdad. The city is home to a diverse population of Turkmens, Arabs, Kurds,
and Assyrians.
Iraq
38. Smart: CHIC. See 22A.
39. Salad topping: CROUTONS. CROÛTONS.French lesson #3 (you get extra points for the ^)
45. Radio setting: AM BAND. AM FM and ALARM were
too short.
46. Like the streets in some period pieces: GAS LIT.
48. Nocturnal call: HOOT. Another CSO to Ray - O.
This makes two weeks in a row.
51. Strike caller: UMP.
52. Elba of "The Suicide Squad": IDRIS. Elba is definitely not
risk aversive.
The Suicide Squad
is a 2021 American superhero film based on the DC Comics team Suicide Squad. Imagine that.
53. Curling target: STONE. Also called "Chess on ice", curling
is a sport in which players slide stones on a sheet of ice toward a
target area which is segmented into four concentric circles. Oh and
BTW, according to this article, the Olympic rules actually call the target area a house.
US Olympic Curler Vicky Persinger
54. Brittle: CRISP.
55. Taiwan's first female president: TSAI.
Tsai Ing-wen
grew up in Taipei and studied law and international trade. She
later studied law at the
London School of Economics and Political Science, with her thesis
titled "Unfair trade practices and safeguard actions", and was awarded
a Ph.D. in law from the University of London.
Tsai Ing-wen
59. "When do u get in?": ETA.
60. Old futon problem: SAG. A new clue for old crosswordese?
63. "__ Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band": SGT. The clue didn't indicate if it was just for the first track or the eponymous album. This link will take you to the play list and you can click Play all to cycle through the whole album (with 1 sec ad blips) or you can pick and choose what you like. Enjoy!
Cheers, Bill
As always, thanks to Teri for proof reading and for her constructive criticism.
61 A. Make waves, and a hint to this puzzle's circles: ROCK THE BOAT. As we'll soon see, various boats have been rocked by having the letters of their names mixed up, thus "rocked." This is indicated by the circles in the grid.
17 A. Charitable undertaking that deserves support: WORTHY CAUSE. Someone or something deserving support because they have the qualities or abilities required. The hidden mixed-up word is YACHT - a sailing or power vessel used for pleasure, cruising, or racing. There is no standard definition, though the term generally applies to vessels with a cabin intended for overnight use. Often a rich person't toy.
31 A. Bit of false modesty: HUMBLE BRAG. An ostensibly modest or self-deprecating statement whose actual purpose is to draw attention to something of which one is proud. We go from a potentially elegant YACHT to the fittingly humble BARGE - a flat-bottomed inland waterway vessel which does not have its own means of mechanical propulsion. It is typically either pushed or pulled by another vessel.
42. "Ugh, shut up already": NO ONE CARES. A blunt statement of disinterest. Of greater interest is the CANOE - a lightweight, narrow water vessel, typically pointed at both ends and open on top, propelled by one or more seated or kneeling paddlers facing the direction of travel and using a single-bladed paddle.
Hi, Gang. Emma was not able to fit CRUISE SHIP into the mix. Still, we can enjoy our aquatic excursion with a variety of mixed up vessels. Let's sail into the rest of the puzzle and see what else we can discover.
Across:
1. __ Sutra: KAMA. "Principles of Love" is an ancient Indian Sanskrit text on sexuality, eroticism and emotional fulfillment in life. It was written as a guide to the art of living well, the nature of love, finding a life partner, maintaining one's love life, and other aspects pertaining to pleasure-oriented faculties of human life.
5. Charlatans: FRAUDS. Those falsely claiming to have a special knowledge or skill;
11. Smidgen: TAD. A tiny quantity.
14. Classic Camaro: IROC. IROC stands for International Race of Champions, a competition similar to Nascar. IROC began in 1974 by racing Porsches, but the cost of maintaining them was prohibitive, so the series turned to the Chevy Camaro in 1975.
15. Breaks things off: ENDS IT. Brings something to a close, such as a relationship.
16. Tankard filler: ALE. a type of beer with a bitter flavor and higher alcoholic content.
19. Right Guard alternative: BAN. Under arm deodorants.
20. Feedback: INPUT. Information provided in response to something.
21. Bullfighters: MATADORS. Their job is to kill the bulls.
23. "Go for the Goal" memoirist Mia: HAMM. Mariel Margaret Hamm-Garciaparra [b. 1972] is an American retired professional soccer player, two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion. Hailed as a soccer icon, she played as a forward for the United States women's national soccer team from 1987 to 2004.
25. Tried to avoid the catcher's tag: SLID HOME. Like this.
26. Pan: SKILLET. A shallow metal cooking pot with a long handle, used for frying.
29. "Weetzie Bat" series writer Francesca __ Block: LIA. Francesca Lia Block [b.1960] is an American writer of adult and young-adult literature. She is known for the Weetzie Bat series, which she began while a student at UC Berkeley.
30. Break the tape: WIN. Getting to the finish line first in a race.
37. Religious platform: ALTAR. A table or flat-topped block used as the focus for a religious ritual, especially for making sacrifices or offerings to a deity.
40. Scottish refusal: NAE.
41. Tuscan city whose university was founded in 1240: SIENA. A city in central Italy’s Tuscany region, distinguished by its medieval brick buildings. The fan-shaped central square, Piazza del Campo, is the site of the Palazzo Pubblico, the Gothic town hall, and Torre del Mangia, a slender 14th-century tower with sweeping views from its distinctive white crown.
45. 2016 Super Bowl MVP __ Miller: VON. Vonnie B'VSean Miller [b. 1989] is an American football outside linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. Miller played college football at Texas A&M, where he earned consensus All-American honors and the Butkus Award. He was selected by the Denver Broncos second overall in the 2011 NFL Draft. He tore his ACL vs the Lions on Thanksgiving day, 2022. The Bills went on to win that game 28-25 on a field goal as time expired. The Bills could have used him this week as the Bengals shredded their defense.
46. "I've got it!": AHA. That moment of realization.
47. Talking back to: SASSING. Unwelcome feedback.
50. Temporada con nieve: INVIERNO. The snowy season in Spain is WINTER.
55. Connections: TIES.
56. Jazz trumpeter Wynton: MARSALIS. Wynton Learson Marsalis [b. 1961] is an American trumpeter, composer, teacher, and artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. He has promoted classical and jazz music, often to young audiences. Marsalis has won nine Grammy Awards, and his Blood on the Fields was the first jazz composition to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music.
57. Cuts: TRIMS. Removes excess.
60. Big fuss: ADO.
64. Tech exec: CIO. Chief Information Officer. Probably a nerd.
65. Much of North Africa: SAHARA. Large desert.
66. Memo phrase: IN RE. A Latin phrase meaning “in the matter of.” The term “In re” is used in legal documents to refer to a case, particularly a case without an opposing party. For example, "In re Estate of Ruth Bentley" might be used to refer to a probate case about the estate of Ruth Bentley.
67. "Grace and Frankie" actor Waterston: SAM. Samuel Atkinson Waterston (b.1940) is an American actor. Waterston is known for his work in theater, television and film. He has received many awards.
68. Lure into wrongdoing: ENTRAP. Do this in order to achieve arrest and prosecution.
69. "On the double!" abbr.: ASAP. As Soon As Possible.
Down:
1. New Zealand bird: KIWI. Kiwi are flightless birds endemic to New Zealand of the order Apterygiformes. The five extant species fall into the family Apterygidae and genus Apteryx. Approximately the size of a domestic chicken, kiwi are the smallest living ratites.
2. "East of Eden" brother based on Abel: ARON. Although Aron is likable and kind, his innate moral sensitivity is extreme, and it makes him fragile and easily susceptible to hurt. The sheltered Aron has a great deal of trouble facing the reality of human evil in the world, and Steinbeck builds a great deal of suspense in the second half of East of Eden regarding whether or not Aron will ever meet his mother, Cathy, and whether or not he will survive such an encounter.
3. Completely become: MORPH INTO. Change very gradually from one thing into another.
4. Real: ACTUAL. Existing in fact; typically as contrasted with what was intended, expected, or believed.
5. Tina with a recurring role on "Only Murders in the Building": FEY. Elizabeth Stamatina "Tina" Fey [b.1970] is an American actress, comedian, writer, producer, and playwright. Fey is best known for her tenure as a cast member and head writer for the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 1997 to 2006.
6. GOP org.: RNC. Republican National Committee.
7. "Run to You" singer Bryan: ADAMS. Bryan Guy Adams [b 1959] OC OBC FRPS is a Canadian musician, singer, songwriter, composer, and photographer. He has been cited as one of the best-selling music artists of all time, and is estimated to have sold between 75 million and more than 100 million records and singles worldwide.
8. Typical: USUAL. Expected.
9. Purify, in a way: DISTILL. Purify (a liquid) by vaporizing it, then condensing it by cooling the vapor, and collecting the resulting liquid.
10. Makes less wobbly: STEADIES. Stabilizes the position of something.
11. Simply not done: TABOO. A social or religious custom prohibiting or forbidding discussion of a particular practice or forbidding association with a particular person, place, or thing.
12. Wake-up call?: ALARM. Something that alerts a person to a situation
13. Pretty thick: DENSE. Closely compacted in substance. Figuratively, of a person - stupid.
22. Abu __: DHABI. The capital and second-most populous city (after Dubai) of the United Arab Emirates. The city of Abu Dhabi is located on an island in the Persian Gulf, off the Central West Coast. Most of the city and the Emirate reside on the mainland connected to the rest of the country.
24. Just okay: MEH. Expressing a lack of interest or enthusiasm.
26. Ugly duckling's true self: SWAN. A Danish literary fairy tale by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen (1805–1875), published in 1843. A swan's egg is misplaced in a clutch of duck eggs, and the resulting cygnet becomes an outcast. Eventually he discovers is true self and flies away.
27. Approximately 2.2 lbs.: KILO. The kilogram is the unit of mass in the International System of Units, having the unit symbol kg. It is a widely used measure in science, engineering and commerce worldwide, and is often simply called a kilo colloquially. It means "one thousand grams."
28. Fish in a negitoro roll: TUNA. Negitoro is diced tuna with green onion. You'll most often find it served as a sushi roll. The tuna is sourced from scraping near the bones and from scrap pieces. Yum!
32. Mo. after Leap Day: MAR. Leap day is Feb.29, occurring every 4th year not divisible by 100. The following month is March.
33. Orchard pollinators: BEES.
34. Subsequent drafts: REVISIONS. Of a text.
35. Quote book abbr.: ANON. Anonymous.
36. Crew: GANG. A group of people who work closely together.
38. Diarist Nin: ANAIS. Angela Anaïs Juana Antolina Rosa Edelmira Nin y Culmell [1903 – 1977] was a French-born American diarist, essayist, novelist, and writer of short stories and erotica. Born to Cuban parents in France, Nin was the daughter of the composer Joaquín Nin and the classically trained singer Rosa Culmell. Nin spent her early years in Spain and Cuba, about sixteen years in Paris (1924–1940), and the remaining half of her life in the United States, where she became an established author.
39. Prepare for a show: REHEARSE. Practice (a play, piece of music, or other work) for later public performance. I usually do this on Monday and Wednesday evenings. Speaking of boats - granddaughter Amanda is in Toronto REHEARSING for her 3rd gig as a cast member on a Disney cruise ship.
43. Assistance in getting a ride?: CAR LOAN. Money borrowed to purchase a vehicle. Clever clue.
44. Plopped down in a chair: SAT.
48. Location: SITE.
49. Croatia neighbor: SERBIA. A landlocked country in Southeastern and Central Europe. The two countries have similar spoken languages, but different written languages, as Serbia uses the Cyrillic alphabet.
50. Apple desktops: I-MACS. Brand designation for lines of personal computers.
51. Gymnast Comaneci: NADIA. Nadia Elena Comăneci Conner [b. 1961] is a Romanian retired gymnast and a five-time Olympic gold medalist, all in individual events. In 1976, at the age of 14, Comăneci was the first gymnast to be awarded a perfect score of 10.0 at the Olympic Games.
The IOC has blocked the video from sharing{?!?) You can see it HERE
52. Revving sound: VROOM.
53. Not, in German: NICHT. Literal.
54. Liam's "Schindler's List" role: OSKAR. Oskar Schindler [1908 - 1974] was a German industrialist, humanitarian and a member of the Nazi Party who is credited with saving the lives of 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust by employing them in his enamelware and ammunitions factories in occupied Poland and the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.
58. "Where Am I Now?" memoirist Wilson: MARA. Mara Elizabeth Wilson (b. 1987) is an American actress and writer. She rose to prominence as a child for playing Natalie Hillard in the film Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) and went on to play Susan Walker in Miracle on 34th Street (1994), the title character in Matilda (1996), Annabel Greening in A Simple Wish (1997), and Lily Stone in Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000). Wilson took a 12-year hiatus following the last film to focus on writing. She returned to acting in 2012, and has predominantly worked in web series.
59. Pedometer unit: STEP. An act or movement of putting one leg in front of the other in walking or running.
62. La-la lead-in: TRA. Nonsense syllables sometimes occurring in songs, sometimes used to suggest gaiety, lightheartedness, or playful derision.
63. Luck, to Shakespeare: HAP. Obsolete term for luck or good fortune, from Middle English "happe." This is the root of our modern word "happy."
Now we bring this ship into port. Hope you had a HAP voyage, and keep on rowing.
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