Tuesday, November 7, 2023 Michele Govier

Do Not Pass Go, and Do Not Collect $200.  Oh, wait!  Today we can pass Go and we can collect our $200.   Each theme answer is a different concept for something that one can pass.

19-Across. One known for clutch performances?: RACE CAR DRIVER.

31-Across. One who is sometimes a dummy?: BRIDGE PLAYER.

39-Across. One who is not on a roll?: D PLUS STUDENT.  As I was completing today's puzzle, I had DPL, and thought one of my perps must be wrong.  What kind of word begins with DPL.  I stuck with my perps, to give me the poor student who is barely earning a passing grade.  With grade inflation, this student is probably really totally failing the course.

And the unifier:

53-Across. "No, thank you," or something 19-, 31-, and 39-Across might say?: I THINK I'LL PASS.

Across:

1. Casual hellos: HIs.

4. Let in: ADMIT.

9. Ocular bump: STYE.  Eye problem.

13. Thin-strapped top: CAMI.  Short for Camisole.

14. "Psycho" star Janet: LEIGH.  Janet Leigh (née Jeanette Helen Morrison; July 6, 1927 ~ Oct. 3, 2004) was the mother of actress Jamie Lee Curtis (Nov. 22, 1958).  [Name # 1.]

15. Celebrity rodent of Punxsutawney: PHIL.  Everything you wanted to know about Punxsutawney Phil but didn't know to ask.  [Name # 2.]

16. River through Kazakhstan: URAL.  Everything you wanted to know about the URAL River but didn't know to ask.  The river is in both Europe and Asia.  At 1,509 miles long, the Ural River is the 3rd longest in Europe, followed by the Volga (2,194 miles) and Danube (1,777 miles).  It's the 18th longest river in Asia.

17. Italian salami city: GENOA.  Everything you wanted to know about Genoa Salami but didn't know to ask.

18. Tie: LINK.

22. Third-place medal: BRONZE.

23. Forward, as mail: SEND ON.

26. Nasal membranes: SEPTA.

27. Quick punch: JAB.

30. "Rolling in the Deep" singer: ADELE.  I love this Adele (née Adele Laurie Blue Adkins; b. May 5, 1988) song, but then I love all of her songs.  [Name # 3.]

34. Pack animal: ASS.

37. Tropical veranda: LANAI.  Lanai, Porch, Patio ... what's the difference?

38. That, in Spanish: ESO.  Today's Spanish lesson.

44. Venmo transfer, e.g.: E-CASH.  I didn't realize the company had been around for so long.

45. Curvy shape: ESS.

46. Wear down: ERODE.

50. Certain Polynesian: SAMOAN.  Polynesia is made up a several islands including Samoa.

52. Hurt: PAINED.

57. Carson's successor: LENO.  Both Johnny Carson (né John William Carson; Oct. 23, 1925 ~ Jan. 23, 2005) and Jay Leno (né James Douglas Muir Leno; b. Apr. 28, 1950) hosted the Tonight Show.  Carson was the host for nearly 30 years.  [Names # 4 and 5.]

59. Sales rep's target: QUOTA.

60. NYC drama award: OBIE.  The Obie, or Off-Broadway Theater Awards are presented annual for outstanding achievement in plays performed off-Broadway.

61. "__, Brute?": ET TU.

62. Poet Ginsberg: ALLEN.  Allen Ginsberg (né Irwin Allen Ginsberg; June 3, 1926 ~ Apr. 4, 1997) was known as a Beat Poet and, along with William Burroughs (Feb. 5, 1914 ~ Aug. 2, 1997) and Jack Kerouac (Mar. 12, 1922 ~ Oct. 21, 1969), were at the heart of the Beat Generation.  [Name # 6.]

Allen Ginsberg

63. Lenovo competitor: DELL.  Both companies make personal computers.  Levono is a Chinese company and the name is a portmanteau of Le (for legend) and novo (Latin for new).  Dell is an American company, founded in 1984 by Michael Dell (né Michael Saul Dell; b. Feb. 23, 1965).  [Name adjacent.]

64. Fragrance: ODOR.  I think of a fragrance as being a pleasant smell, while an odor is more stinky.

65. Hold responsible: BLAME.

66. "The Simpsons" disco guy: STU.  Diehard Simpsons fans known that his full name is Stuart Discothèque.  [Name # 7, fictional.]

Down:

1. Zimbabwe's capital: HARARE.  Hand up if you knew the name of this capital city without help from the perps.

2. Joe Friday's declaration in the classic "Dragnet" intro: I'M A COP.  Jack Webb (né John Randolph Webb; Apr. 2, 1920 ~ Dec. 23, 1982.  ) was the actor who portrayed Joe Friday on classic cop show, Dragnet.  [Name # 8, fictional.]

3. Subtle characteristic?: SILENT B.  Not really keen on this type of clue and answer.

4. Aquarium problem: ALGAE.

5. Forest animal with antlers: DEER.  //  And 12-Down. Large 5-Down: ELK.  All Elk are Deer, but not all Deer are Elk.

6. Pay attention to: MIND.

7. "Young Frankenstein" assistant with a shifting hump: IGOR.  [Name # 9, fictional.]

8. Bangkok natives: THAIs.  Hi, Lemonade and Oo!

9. Sweetener brand with sucralose: SPLENDA.  It's the sweetener in the yellow packaging.

Chemical compound of Sucralose,

10. Mystical source of perception beyond ordinary sight: THIRD EYE.

11. __ and yang: YIN.  Yin is also a form of Yoga.

13. Sidewalk edges: CURBS.

20. Captain of industry: CZAR.

21. Osso buco meat: VEAL.  Osso buco is an Italian speciality.  The name literally means bone with a hole, which refers to the bone marrow.  It's supposed to be good, but I have never tried it.

24. Cheers for a flamenco dancer: OLÉs.  More of today's Spanish lesson.

25. Rex Stout sleuth Wolfe: NERO.  Rex Stout (né Rex Todhunter Stout; Dec. 1, 1886 ~ Oct. 27, 1975) was American writer best known for his detective novels, which featured Nero Wolfe.  The Nero Wolfe series has been adapted for film, radio and television.  In 1981, a television show began based on Stout's characters in his Nero Wolfe series.  Nero Wolfe was portrayed by William Conrad (né John William Cann, Jr.; Sept. 27, 1920 ~ Feb. 11, 1994).  There was a second adaptation of Nero Wolfe in the early 2000s, which starred Maury Chaykin (July 27, 1949 ~ July 27, 2010) as Nero Wolfe.  You can still listen to the radio adaptations.  [Names # 10 and 11, one real, one fictional.]

27. Matchmaking app for Jewish singles: JDATE.

28. __ Dei: lamb of God: AGNUS.  Hi, Irish Miss!

29. Abacus units: BEADS.

32. Plural French pronoun: ILS.  Today's French lesson.  It means They, and can be a group of males, or a mix of male and females, but not a group of females.  That would be Elles.

33. Pastry with a crust: PIE.  Yummers!  It's almost time for pumpkin and pecan pies.

34. Fruity summer drinks: ADES.  Hi, Lemonade.  Come visit us again!

35. Pet adoption org.: SPCA.  As in the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

36. Hit with force: SLAM INTO.

40. Traveling show that entertains the troops: USO TOUR.

41. Former Iranian ruler: SHAH.

42. "Arrow" and "Legends of Tomorrow" actor McDonough: NEAL.  [Name # 12.]

43. Camera stands: TRIPODS.

47. How some risks are taken: ON A BET.

48. Arnaz and Ball's production company: DESILU.  A portmanteau of the first names of Desi Arnaz (Mar. 2, 1917 ~ Dec. 2, 1986) and Lucile Ball (Aug.  6, 1911 ~ Apr. 26, 1989). [Names # 13 and 14.]

49. Short-lived Ford model: EDSEL.  It does rather look like it is sucking on a lemon.  Why the car may have failed.  [Name adjacent.]

51. Muslim face covering: NIQAB.

52. Place for cinematic snakes: PLANE.  I never saw the movie Snakes on a Plane.

54. __ and void: NULL.

55. Soft drink nut: KOLA.  Everything you wanted to know about the Kola Nut but didn't know to ask.  Not to be confused with the Koala Bear.

56. Article: ITEM.

57. Many an August baby, astrologically: LEO.  Hi Leo III.  Do come back!

58. Info posted in an airport lounge: ETD.  As in Estimated Time of Departure.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

Monday, November 6, 2023 ~ John Michael Currie

What a Card.

Happy Monday folks! Today John gives us a cute reveal with the double-meaning of POST -- "mail" and "after." See, both parts of each themer can follow (be after) CARD.
I'll be honest, it took me a minute to figure out the theme - i.e. themer words POST (after) CARD...

12. Place in a house where one might find a cue or Clue: GAME ROOM. A Card Game may be played in the Card Room.

20. Many a corporate decision-maker: BOARD MEMBER. Cardboard. Card Member (Got Amex?).

34. Investor who has shares in a company: STOCK HOLDER. Cardstock. Card Holder (for business cards or a Mastercard user? We should be told.).

51. Seating chart designation: TABLE NUMBER. Card Table (aka the kid's table at Thanksgiving). Card Number (from one's Visa?).

60. Mail that doesn't need an envelope, and where both words of 12-, 20-, 34-, and 51-Across can be found?: POST CARD.

Fun, huh? Alright, let's take a look at the rest of the fill.

Across:
1. Opera highlight: ARIA.

5. Spanish Mrs.: SRA.

8. Yin and __: YANG.

Taoist Balance

12. [See: Theme].

14. Sherlock's sister, per two Netflix films: ENOLA.

Sherlock & Enola

16. Caffè Americano base: ESPRESSO.

Weird Al tells us there's no X in Espresso

17. Hale and hearty: STRONG.

19. Mil. category: NCO. Non Commissioned Officer. i.e. Sgts.

20. [See: Theme].

22. "Finding Nemo" kid who scares the fish: DARLA.

Dentist Scene

24. "My thought is ... ": I ASSUME.

25. Choir voice below soprano: ALTO.

26. Knightley's "Pirates of the Caribbean" role: SWANN. Keira Knightley played Elizabeth Swann.

Keira Knightley

29. "On my way!" text, maybe: LIE. It's a lie 'cuz you haven't left yet, have you?

30. Black-and-white cookies: OREOS.

32. Keyboard sound: CLACK.

34. [See: Theme].

37. Finish, as cupcakes: FROST. Didn't he write The Cupcake Not Taken?

39. Precise: EXACT.

40. NFL official: REF.

41. Fill in, as a lawn bare spot: RESOD.

43. Caustic remark: BARB.

47. Heartburn remedy: ANTACID.

50. Thigh bone: FEMUR.

51. [See: Theme].

55. Lagunitas Brewing Co. specialty: IPA.

Beer Advocate rates it a 93

56. "You're killing me, __!": line from "The Sandlot": SMALLS.

S'Mores?

57. Pet dander, for one: ALLERGEN.

59. Top-notch: ELITE.

60. [See: Theme].

61. Reduced by: LESS.

62. Sault __ Marie: STE.

63. Regarding: AS TO.

Down:
1. Guide that can become the outline for a meeting's minutes: AGENDA.

This Tracks

2. Imp: RASCAL. HG quizzed us Saturday.

My guess: Buckwheat, ?, DARLA, Spanky, Alfalfa, ?

3. Commodity from abroad: IMPORT.

4. __ Lingus: Irish carrier: AER.

5. Fair to middling: SO-SO.

6. Civil rights icon Parks whose actions inspired a bus boycott: ROSA.

7. Another name for the Roman god Cupid: AMOR.

8. Overly agreeable guy: YES-MAN.

9. Starts a poker pot: ANTES.

10. Social standards: NORMS.

11. Spherical: GLOBULAR.

13. Singer McEntire: REBA.

15. Lacking vigor: ANEMIC.

18. One from Athens: GREEK.

21. Ruckus: DIN.

23. Plunders: LOOTS.

26. Brief moment: SEC.

27. Round-bottomed cookware: WOK.

Mmm... Fried Rice

28. Fireplace leftovers: ASHES.

31. Wither away: ROT.

32. Public health agcy.: CDC. Center for Disease Control

33. Leave alone: LET BE.

The Fab Four

34. Jocelyn Alo's sport: SOFTBALL.

35. Good Grips gadget brand: OXO. I have a few of their kitchen tools -- Good Grips indeed.

36. Little guy: LAD.

37. Counterparts of sororities, for short: FRATS. Fraternities.

38. Menu option in a file manager: RENAME. In Windows, you can also just CLACK F2 and change the name in place.

41. Runs water over: RINSES.

42. School URL part: EDU. .edu is the top-level domain (TLD) for universities and colleges. The original TLDs were .edu, .com (commercial), .mil (military), .org (organization), .net (network related), .gov (government), & .int (international). I've had all but .int.

44. Compañeras: AMIGAS.

45. Stewie's teddy bear on "Family Guy": RUPERT. Family Guy is a cartoon for (im)mature audiences.

46. Marlon of "On the Waterfront": BRANDO.

He Coulda Been a Contender

48. "Kate & __": 1980s sitcom: ALLIE. The WikiP

Susan Saint James & Jane Curtin

49. Britons and Gaels: CELTS.

50. Agonize (over): FRET.

52. GPS app on iPhones: MAPS.

53. Printer smudge: BLOT.

54. "If all __ fails ... ": ELSE.

58. Early TV brand: RCA. Hi Misty!

The Grid:

The Grid

The skinny:
WOs: CLiCK -> CLACK ("Hello, you're on Car Talk.")
ESPs: DARLA, LIE, SWANN, RUPERT
Fav: A good buddy of mine (ex-Navy) would say "You're killin' me SMALLS" anytime someone around him didn't "get it."

Cheers, -T

Sunday November 5, 2023 Pam Amick Klawitter

Theme: - "Make Mine a Double" - An extra letter is added to the start of the second word. This letter is the same as the last letter of the first word.

22A. Curmudgeonly professor?: ACADEMIC CRANK. Academic rank.

38A. Sign of sadness from Dumbo?: ELEPHANT TEAR. Elephant ear.

70A. Pilot's scheduling concern?: SPEED OF FLIGHT. Speed of light.

100A. Sign of wedding-day jitters?: SMOKING GROOM. Smoking room.

117A. Consequence of a Midwest cold snap?: FREEZING GRAIN. Freezing rain.

13D. Golf rental with a sponsorship deal?: GRAPHIC CART. Graphic art.

14D. Method of tracking down Ben-Hur?: CHARIOT TRACE. Chariot race.

62D. Collectible earthenware?: CLASSIC CROCK. Classic rock.

70D. Under a log or in a pile of wet leaves?: SNAIL'S SPACE. Snail's pace.

The doubled letters are all consonants of course. 70A is the only one with a 3-word pattern. I do like it though.

Heavy theme. 9 entries. So not many long fill. Only two 8's.

Across:

1. Like bad fried food: GREASY. My favorite fried food: sesame balls.

 

 

7. Recipe smidgen: DASH.

11. Wrinkly faced dog: PUG.

14. "60 Minutes" airer: CBS.

17. Pumpkin seed: PEPITA. Just "pumpkin seed" in Spanish, right?

18. Sentimental sort: SOFTIE.

20. Airport board datum: Abbr.: ARR.

21. "__ do you do it!?": HOW.

24. Snake River st.: IDA.

25. Period: AGE.

26. Fashion designer Kate: SPADE.

27. Asks for a meal to be delivered to the penthouse, say: ORDERS UP.

29. Wish one hadn't: RUE.

30. Knock hard: RAP.

33. Rose fruit: HIPS. Pretty. 

35. Sorceress jilted by Jason: MEDEA.

36. Lift: HOIST.

42. San Fernando Valley community: ENCINO.

44. Tomato __: PUREE.

45. Otto in "A Man Called Otto," for one: GRUMP.

46. A-mews-ing memes?: LOLCATS. Ha.

48. Blue man group?: SMURFS.

50. College domain: EDU.

51. Once cost: WAS.

53. Some accent marks: ACUTES.

55. Car roof option: T TOP.

57. Wood stove buildup: SOOT.

59. In real trouble: UP A TREE. Do you know what this tree is? I took it yesterday at the Shingle Creek trails.

60. Carve one's initials, say: ETCH. Just learned "arborglyph" last Sunday.

63. Verdi opera: AIDA.

66. Panache: FLAIR.

68. __ beef: ROAST.

69. Org. with Lightning and Flames: NHL. 86. Extra 69-Across periods, briefly: OTS.

73. Intel-gathering org.: CIA.

74. Bride follower: TRAIN.

76. Biological copy: CLONE.

77. In __ of: LIEU.

78. Tenant's payment: RENT.

79. Make clearer, hopefully: RESTATE.

81. Employee's incentive: PERK.

83. Sample: DEMO.

85. Private assent: YES SIR.

87. "Yada yada yada" abbr.: ETC.

90. "Cheers," for one: SITCOM.

94. Family member: SIBLING. Andy turned 48 yesterday. I showed him my butterfly. He said: "You're not a frog anymore. You're a dolphin."

96. "Invisible Cities" author Calvino: ITALO. Also 11. Italian chum: PAISANO.

98. Nick of "Blackout": NOLTE.

99. Wyoming city: CASPER.

102. Where to find much 1990s music: ON CDS.

104. Divided lunchbox: BENTO.

106. Kuwaiti leader: EMIR.

107. Soup with rice noodles: PHO.

108. Cheers, for one: BAR.

109. +: PLUS SIGN.

112. Direct jeers toward: BOO AT. 52. The slightest bit: AT ALL. And 54. Tuned to: SET AT.

115. Huge fuss: ADO.

116. Come down with something: AIL.

122. Open __ night: MIC.

123. Bookkeeping pro: CPA.

124. Like an ideal situation: WIN WIN.

125. Vinyl record feature: GROOVE.

126. Biblical construction: ARK.

127. Double curve: ESS.

128. Heron's home: NEST.

129. Pinstripes wearer: YANKEE. Yankee caps are very popular in Guangzhou. Probably because lots of Cantonese visit New York.

Down:

1. Report card no.: GPA.

2. "Parks and __": REC.

3. Green org. with a flower logo: EPA.

4. Lends a hand: AIDS.

5. Escalator unit: STEP.

6. Kawasaki rival: YAMAHA. Motorcycle.

7. "__ McStuffins": DOC.

8. Natural hairstyle: AFRO.

9. Planetarium display: STAR MAP.

10. Thwart: HINDER.

12. Pakistani language: URDU.

15. Fake: BOGUS.

16. "I like that!": SWEET.

18. British royal staff: SCEPTRE.

19. Just got (by): EKED.

23. Job for a bouncer: ID'ING.

28. Staggers: REELS.

30. Gym iterations: REPS.

31. Many a univ. donor: ALUM.

32. El Misti's land: PERU.

34. Hoop alternative: STUD.

37. Just going through the motions: ON AUTO.

39. Western Australian port: PERTH. And 41. Ostrich kin: EMUS.

40. Lift with effort: HEFT.

43. Applaud: CLAP.

47. Greets and seats: SEES IN. 89. "Hop aboard!": CLIMB IN. 100. Add with a spoon: STIR IN.

49. __ opera: SOAP.

51. "Law & Order" creator: WOLF. Dick. Boomer watched every episode of ""Law & Order".

56. Jigsaw unit: PIECE.

58. Buyer's proposal: OFFER.

59. Prodded: URGED.

60. Way in: ENTRY.

61. Good scores on par fours: THREES.

64. "The French Dispatch" actor Benicio __ Toro: DEL.

65. Bring home from an animal shelter: ADOPT.

67. Son of a son: III.

71. Dollar bills: ONES.

72. Color shades: HUES.

75. "You're not going to like this": IT'S BAD. I have a new neighbor. Quiet and no weedy smell. I'm so happy.  

78. Chopper part: ROTOR.

80. Journey: TRIP.

82. Low-carb diet: KETO. Can't imagine such a diet.

84. Basketball Hall of Famer Yao: MING. Chairman of Chinese Basketball Association.

86. Big brutes: OGRES.

88. Grab: TAKE.

91. Hoofbeat sound: CLOP.

92. Brief "However": OTOH.

93. Office dispatch: MEMO.

95. Awards for Charlie Jane Anders and N.K. Jemisin: NEBULAS. Here is Anders.

96. Coca of "Your Show of Shows": IMOGENE.

97. Bagel flavor: ONION.

101. Not quite awake: GROGGY.

102. President born in Hawaii: OBAMA.

103. Apex antonym: NADIR.

105. "Careful where you open this link" shorthand: NSFW. Not Safe for Work.

110. Kissers: LIPS.

111. "That's __ to me": NEWS.

113. Taj Mahal city: AGRA.

114. 1982 Disney sci-fi film: TRON.

118. Clearasil target: ZIT.

119. Jolly good: A-OK.

120. "Now __ seen everything!": I'VE.

121. Word between surnames: NEE.

C.C.