SHELFIES!

 Below are the SHELFIES sent in by some of our crossword family.

(single click to enlarge)

Irish Miss

  

                         

Malodorus Manatee

Pat

Sophia

 

Sue 

Waseely 

Anonymous-T

  

Husker Gary

Susan(self-professed lurker 😀)

Renee/Sumdaze

CED 

Dave wrote, "I was looking thru my old photos to see if I had happened to take a photo of my shelf cabinet at home. I didn't find any, but I did find this odd photo of things I assembled when I get bored away from home. It might give you an idea of what my home shelf cabinet looks like..."

Monday February 19, 2024 Janice Luttrell

  

Theme:                                                 Put a RING on it! 

I

Beyoncé  (2008)

Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)

"If you liked it then you should have put a ring on it" 🎵

Happy Presidents' Day, everyone! sumdaze here with a puzzle from the prolific constructor, Janice Luttrell. It might be fair to say that Janice liked putting a RING on four words to create a fun puzzle theme.

Let's round up the themed clues:

16. Disruptive student: CLASS CLOWN.  

A CLASS RING is a ring worn by students and alumni to commemorate their year of graduation from a certain school/program.

Sidebar:  waseeley got me watching Northern Exposure again. I notice Maurice the NASA guy and Dr. Joel both wear one. Perhaps the director is saying these two men aren't that different??

23. Cocktail with rum and vodka: BRASS MONKEY.  The third ingredient is orange juice. These alcoholic beverages were sold pre-mixed in the '70s and '80s by the Heublein Company.

A BRASS RING is something you could reach out to grab while riding a carousel. I grew up reaching for the one at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. You had to be on the outside horse to be in position. Then you had to quickly throw it at a mural of a clown and hit it in its mouth. If you did, the nose lit up and you got a free ride. "Reaching for the BRASS RING" came to mean "trying for the big prize".

Note:  This one was my FIW today. Being unfamiliar with the cocktail, I guessed BRASSdONKEY (after a lot of perps), which seemed to go fine with the name of an actress in 25-D. dARA is as reasonable as MARA. IMHO, the clue would have been improved with some sort of clever hint to a monkey.

35. Wilson/Vaughn comedy with the tagline "Hide Your Bridesmaids": WEDDING CRASHERS.  Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn starred in this popular 2005 film.

A WEDDING RING is a symbol of timeless love and commitment.

45. Time for a final bow: CURTAIN CALL. The cast comes back onstage at the end of a live show.

A CURTAIN RING  attaches the curtain to a rod.  

55. Mastermind, and what the first word of 16-, 23-, 35-, or 45-Across can be: RING LEADER.  This is a person leading a group of people engaging in (usually) improper or unlawful activities.

CLASS, BRASS, WEDDING, and CURTAIN can all precede the word RING to create in the language phrases.

Here are the other clues:

Across:
1. Island northwest of Molokai: OAHU.  This one was a gimme for me. The Na Wahini O Ke Kai is a women's outrigger canoe race from Molokai to Oahu. The first year I did it, it took my team 6.5 hrs. The second year, it took us 7 hrs. (Wind and water currents make a big difference.) The year after that I moved away but it was a bad year for my team. The breakers at Molokai were so strong they broke my team's canoe in half.

5. Inseparable pals, briefly: BFFS.  Best Friends Forever and yesterday's 1-Down

9. Grizzly, for one: BEAR.  

13. Fastens, as shoelaces: TIES.

14. Monica who won nine Grand Slam singles titles: SELES.  International Tennis Hall of Fame link

15. Not all thumbs: ABLE.  Someone who is "all thumbs" lacks nimbleness with their hands.

18. Garden dirt: SOIL.  Why Soil Matters article

19. Slobbers: DROOLS.  

20. "Killing Eve" actress Shaw: FIONA.  IMDb link

21. Short "I need a short break": BRB.  Be Right Back

26. Carter's successor: REAGAN.  It's a Presidents' Day clue!

President Ronald Reagan was born February 6, 1911 in Tampico, IL. He became the 40th President of the U.S. on January 20, 1981, succeeding President James "Jimmy" Carter. Reagan's inauguration ceremony was the first to be held on the west side of the Capitol -- an homage to his time as California's governor.

28. Body parts studied by otologists: EARS.  Do the ENT's know about this??

29. Actress Chlumsky: ANNA.  I know Anna from Veep. Here's a 30 sec. clip and her IMDb link .

30. Turn away: AVERT.     and     32 Across. Sheep bleat: BAA.

39. "__ Misérables": LES.  I saw this with my friend Gina at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts.

40. Flies like an eagle: SOARS.  OK, so ... I had the Steve Miller Band song here but waseely just used it last Thursday so I removed it. What do you think of this cover by The Neville Brothers?  

41. Most of the time: A LOT.

42. Apple's virtual assistant: SIRI.

43. Italian sub meat: SALAMI.

50. Roofing stuff: TAR.

51. "Ok, sure": UH HUH.

52. Nobody in particular: ANYONE.  

54. Ibuprofen target: PAIN.     and     1 Down. Available sans Rx: OTC.  Over The Counter

This time of year, you might be wondering which medical expenses are deductible. IRS website  

New for 2023, the cost of OTC drugs may be paid or reimbursed by an HSA.  See Q13 for more details.

59. "Three and out" football play: PUNT.  I've not heard it called this before but teams usually PUNT on the 4th down if they do not think they can get a first down.

60. Country shaped like a boot: ITALY.  

61. Clever tactic: PLOY.  Def.:  a cunning plan or action designed to turn a situation to one's own advantage.

62. Hoppy brews: ALES.

63. Mexican sauce made with chocolate: MOLE.  It's so deliciosa and complex that it's difficult to find a restaurant that makes it on site.

64. "Auld Lang __": SYNE.  It's often played when people RING in the New Year.

Down:

2. Feel awful: AIL.

3. Workout accessories that keep sweat out of the eyes: HEAD BANDS.  Olivia Newton-John wore one in her Physical video. How '80s is this??!! It won a Grammy for Video of the Year in 1983.

4. Space race initials: USSR.  Speaking of President Reagan....  

Popular Science July 1984 issue
Many of these ideas are a reality today.

5. Heroine in Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" novels: BELLA.  She was the angsty teen trying to choose between Edward the Vampire and Jacob the werewolf.

6. Word after dental or Mental: FLOSS.  

7. Just a handful of: FEW. not A LOT

8. Nine-digit ID: SSN.

9. Sinks: BASINS.  "Sinks" is a plural noun this time.

10. Kindle download: E-BOOK.

11. Dress with a triangular silhouette: A-LINE.

12. Electrical circuit component: RELAY.  Here's a 2 min. video on how they work.  

14. Contempt: SCORN.  

generally not nice things

17. Buckwheat noodle similar to udon: SOBA.  

I thought this yin-yang arrangement was clever.
(The dark noodles are SOBA noodles.)

20. Old West outposts: FORTS.  

John Wayne in Fort Apache (1948)  (48 sec.)

21. Free-for-all fight: BRAWL.  

Wes Anderson's Isle of Dogs  (2018)

22. "Judy" Oscar winner Zellweger: RENÉE.  

(We're back to the RING theme.)

24. Clairvoyants: SEERS.

25. "House of Cards" actress Kate: MARA.  definitely not Kate dARA

27. Roam (about): GAD.

30. "Oh no, not __!": AGAIN.

31. TiVo precursor: VCR.  VideoCassette Recorder

32. Not in time to be useful: BELATEDLY.  This was the symmetrical fill to 3-Down, HEADBANDS.

33. Fragrance: AROMA.

34. Up and about: ASTIR.

36. Whitlock Jr. of "Da 5 Bloods": ISIAH.  We've had this name a few times now.

37. Sushi seaweed: NORI.  Here you can see that the NORI is on the outside of the rice for hosomaki and inside the rice for uramaki.

38. Linden who played Barney Miller: HAL.  Hal also played the clarinet. I think JzB will like this one. Do you recognize those two at the beginning?  

42. Daredevil's feats: STUNTS.

43. In a wily way: SLYLY.

44. Succulent with soothing gel: ALOE.  I finally got around to repotting mine. It's happier now.  

45. Brit's spot of tea: CUPPA.  I picked up this lingo from my Aussie friends. They use it for any hot beverage ... "Wanna grab a CUPPA?"

46. Company with orange-and-white trucks: U-HAUL.

47. River through western Germany: RHINE.  

48. Panama waterway: CANAL.  

49. Point of view: ANGLE.  This was my favorite clue because both "point" and "ANGLE" can also be Geometry terms.

53. Siestas: NAPS.

55. Lip of a glass: RIM.  It's where you stick the salt for your margarita.  

56. "Who am __ argue?": I TO.

57. Countless lifetimes: EON.

58. Manhattan liquor: RYE.  the cocktail -- not the NYC borough  

How to Make a Manhattan

This week's grid:  

Thanks for stopping by! Please RING us again tomorrow!

 

Notes from C.C.:

 

We made today's Atlas Obscura puzzle. It's edited by Samir Patel. Give it a whirl.

Sunday February 18, 2024 John Lieb

Theme: "Position Papers" - Each common phrase is rephrased as if it's a periodical fitting the people in each clue. 

23. Periodical for prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges?: FULL-COURT PRESS.  A perfect clue to start with.

41. ... for con artists?: SNOW GLOBE.

44. ... for kitchen remodelers?: CABINET POST.

67. ... for aspiring entertainers?: YOU DESERVE A BREAK TODAY.

88. ... for potato chip aficionados?: CRUNCH TIMES.

91. ... for scuba divers?: DEEP VOICE.

112. ... for clockmakers?: SECONDHAND NEWS.

 I feel they all work great except 67A. Noun phrases work the best for this type of "Periodical for..." or "Favorite paper for ...", right?

So nice to see John's byline again. From Boswords website, John "teaches Math and coaches football and baseball at The Roxbury Latin School." I had a few email exchanges with John over the years. He's super nice and a true gentleman. He's one of those few who are skilled at both themed and themeless grids.

John Lieb

Across:

1. "Doctor Who" airer: BBC.

4. Comedian Wong: ALI. Her father is Chinese. Wong is Cantonese. In mainland China, we use Wang.

7. North African expanse: SAHARA.

13. Flying disc game: KANJAM. Wikipedia says this game is developed in Western New York.

19. Traffic regulator in a construction zone: FLAGMAN.

21. Chemical cousin: ISOMER.

22. First-string units: A TEAMS.

25. Xterra maker: NISSAN.

26. Yalies: ELIS.

27. Promo: TEASER.

28. Altercations: SET-TOS.

29. Commoner: PLEB.

30. Paint brand sold at Home Depot: BEHR. Exclusively at Home Depot.

31. Canoe material: BIRCH.

34. Foreign policy gp.: NSC.

36. Support: AID.

37. Rooney of "Women Talking": MARA.

38. Guitar accessories: CAPOS.

40. 880 square feet, for a pickleball court: AREA. Oh hi, Big Easy!

46. Drift: TENOR.

47. Captain Nemo creator: VERNE.

49. Geek: DWEEB.

50. Org. created two years before the 1896 Athens games: USOC. Fresh clue angle!

53. Major work: OPUS.

54. Cape __, Massachusetts: ANN. And 88. Cape __, Massachusetts: COD.  Must be John's clues.

55. Actor Vigoda: ABE. He was in "The Godfather".

58. "Monday Night Football" channel: ESPN.

61. Pod members: WHALES.

63. Everyone: ALL.

65. Missed the mark: ERRED.

71. Physicist Mach: ERNST.

72. Squeeze (out): EKE.

73. Gaming tile: DOMINO.

74. Retired jets: SSTS.

75. Kama Sutra topic: SEX. Any of you familiar with Shunga? I don't want to link and bring troubles to our blog.

76. Informal greetings: HIS.

78. Sonic the Hedgehog platform: SEGA.

79. Gaming cubes: DICE.

81. Paris river: SEINE.

83. Ohio home of Minor League Baseball's RubberDucks: AKRON. Makes sense. Rubber.

84. Shel Silverstein's "A Light in the __": ATTIC.

95. Granola bar bits: OATS.

96. Sag: DROOP.

97. Private aid gps.: NGOS.

98. "Insecure" star Issa: RAE.

99. Sample on a swab: DNA.

100. Soul singer Baker: ANITA.

102. Gear parts: COGS.

103. Cross products: PENS. I've only used Pilot.

104. Like hot yoga: SWEATY.

108. Venus flytrap snack: INSECT.  Carnivorous plant.

110. Sandy sediment: SILT.

111. Margaret Atwood's homeland: CANADA.

116. Spring river phenomenon: ICE RUN.

117. Amp toter: ROADIE.

118. Takes the plunge: RISKS IT.

119. Talks to online: SKYPES.

120. Bays, e.g.: INLETS.

121. Sigma follower: TAU.

122. Show with an early a.m. after-party: SNL.

Down:

1. Fave pal: BFF.

2. Offside boundary in hockey: BLUE LINE.

3. Picked in class: CALLED ON.

4. Gremlins, or where some saw "Gremlins": AMCS.

5. Southeast Asian language: LAO.

6. Yet to be delivered: IN UTERO.

7. Instrument that dates to the Mughal Empire: SITAR.

8. Nile vipers: ASPS.

9. Biblical peak: HOREB. Learned from doing crosswords.

10. Alaskans, Hawaiians, etc.: AMERICANS.

11. Hi or low follower: RES.

12. "__ longa, vita brevis": ARS.

13. "Citizen __": KANE.

14. Bickering: AT IT.

15. Jay's home: NEST.

16. "All the President's Men" Oscar winner: JASON ROBARDS. He played Ben Bradlee.

17. Stockpiles: AMASSES.

18. Yahoo! rival: MSN.

20. Smooth-talking: GLIB.

24. Post-injury regimen: REHAB.

28. "Grey's Anatomy" production company: SHONDALAND. Founded by Shonda Rhimes.

29. Bygone: PAST.

30. The Orioles, in box scores: BAL. Baltimore. And 37. Baseball VIPs: MGRS.

32. Broccoli __: RABE.

33. Cost-of-living fig.: CPI.

35. Purr-former: CAT. Agnes-like clue.

39. In stitches: SEWN.

40. Mimic: APE.

42. Hurts: WOUNDS.

43. Increase in complexity, perhaps: EVOLVE.

44. Passionate activists: CRUSADERS.

45. Moral principle: TENET.

48. Fencing sword: EPEE.

51. Yelps of pain: OWS.

52. Charcuterie board accompanier: CHEESE TRAY.  Want some?

56. Tuckered out: BEAT.

57. Ice cream brand: EDY'S.

58. Peepers: EYES.

59. Vexed: SORE.

60. "Groundhog Day" town: PUNXSUTAWNEY. What a sparkly fill.

62. "Raiders of the Lost __": ARK.

63. Actor Assante: ARMAND. He's in "Private Benjamin".

64. Wearable wreath: LEI.

66. Met, as a challenge: ROSE TO.

68. Set of principles: ETHIC.

69. Enticing sales acronym: BOGO.

70. Showy carp: KOI.

77. With sharp resolution: IN HD.

78. Having doubts: SKEPTICAL.

80. Cleveland NBAers, for short: CAVS.

82. Nav. rank: ENS.

83. Mine, in Marseille: A MOI.

85. Indefatigable: TIRELESS. There's a guy who swims the whole session with his snorkel on, probably 30 laps non-stop. I think it's cheating.

86. "Things never go my way!": I CAN'T WIN.

87. Copyright symbols: CEES.

89. Rifle: RANSACK.

90. Cyclotron particle: ION.

92. Pre-flood Biblical patriarch: ENOCH.

93. Custardy dessert: EGG TART. Sure miss the smell of freshly baked egg tarts in Guangzhou. Very flaky.

94. Like a negative number squared: Abbr.: POS. John is a math teacher.

101. Battery terminal: ANODE.

102. Hands over: CEDES.

103. Flamingo hue: PINK.

105. Wyatt of the Old West: EARP.

106. Together, in music: A DUE.

107. Souvenirs from an island vacation?: TANS.

109. Bit of pique: SNIT.

110. California sch. of Padres legend Tony Gwynn: SDSU. San Diego State University

111. Prefix with gender: CIS. 

112. __ Lanka: SRI.

113. Geological stretch: EON.

114. "Candyman" director DaCosta: NIA.

115. Gateway Arch city, for short: STL.

C.C.