Tuesday, April 2, 2024 David Tuffs

O Captain! My Captain!  The circles spell out a very well known (Obvious) Captain, some fictional, some real. 

16-Across. Give up vaping, say: KICK A HABIT.  Captain Ahab.  Think Moby Dick, the whaling novel by Herman Melville (Aug. 1, 1819 ~ Sept. 28, 1891).  Captain Ahab is the monomaniacal captain of the whaling ship Pequod.  On a previous voyage, the white whale Moby Dick bit off Ahab's leg, and he (Captain Ahab) now wears a prosthetic leg made out of whalebone.  The book was inspired by an actual event.   [Name # 1, Fictional.]

23-Across. Low-cal beer option: MICHELOB LIGHT.  Captain Bligh.  Vice-Admiral William Bligh (Sept. 9, 1754 ~ Dec. 7, 1817) was a British officer in the Royal Navy. He is best known for the mutiny on HMS Bounty.  He was known for his volatile temper and in 1789, his crew mutinied.  Captain Bligh and some of his loyal followers were set adrift by the mutineers.  Amazingly, he survived and his crew survived.  [Name # 2, Real.]

46-Across. "Still Alice" Best Actress Oscar winner: JULIANNE MOORE.  Captain Nemo.  [Names # 3, Fictional,  and # 4, Real.]  Captain Nemo is a fictional character created by the French novelist Jules Verne (né Jules Gabriel Verne; Feb. 8, 1828 ~ Mar. 24, 1905).  You can read about Captain Nemo two of Verne's science-fiction books: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas and The Mysterious Island.

58-Across. Musical instrument also called a calliope: STEAM ORGAN.  Captain Morgan.  Captain Morgan (circa 1635 ~ Aug. 25, 1688) was a Welch pirate who later became the Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica.  He was also a sugar plantation owner, which is probably why his name today is associated with spiced rum.  [Name # 4, real.]

And the unifier:

35. With 37-Across, title for the hidden individuals in 16-, 23-, 46-, and 58-Across, thanks to the circles in each answer?: CAPTAIN.

37. See 35-Across: OBVIOUS.  Together these clues give us Captain Obvious.  Captain Obvious is a pejorative nickname given to a person who insists on stating things that are patently clear.

What other Obvious Captains can you think of?  I thought of Captain Kangaroo, Captain Kirk, Captain Marvel, Captain Underpants, Captain America, Captain Jack Sparrow, and Captain Hook.

Across:

1. Settle, as a debt: REPAY.

6. "Leaving the chat for a sec": BRB.  Textspeak for Be Right Back.

9. Puerto __: RICO.  Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island and unincorporated U.S. territory.

13. Get out of bed: ARISE.

14. Bubble tea pearls: BOBA.  Boba are the chewy tapioca pearls that are found in milk tea.  Everything you wanted to know about Boba Tea but didn't know to ask.

15. Wet dog emanation: ODOR.

18. Amaze: STUN.

19. Startled cry: EEK!

20. Muscles worked by crunches: ABs.  As in the Abdominal muscles.

21. Tries, with "at": HAS A GO.

27. Justice Kagan: ELENA.  Elena Kagan (b. Apr. 28, 1960) makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles.  [Name # 5.]

29. Greek Cupid: EROS.  Eros is the Greek god of love and sex.  His Roman counterpart is Cupid.  [Name # 6, Mythological.]

30. Kid-lit "Dr.": SEUSS.  Dr. Seuss is best known for writing children's books.  He write and illustrated over 60 books for children.  Dr. Suess is actually the pen name of Theodor Seuss Geisel (Mar. 2, 1904 ~ Sept. 24, 1991).  [Name # 7, Pseudonym.]

31. As above, in footnotes: IDEM.  Today's Latin lesson.  The word means meaning "the same".  It is commonly abbreviated as id., because adding the "ed" takes too long.  The word is generally used in legal citations to denote the previously cited source.

32. Roaring-lion studio: MGM.  The studio is the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

40. Surveillance org.: NSA.  As in the National Security Agency.

41. Chicago MLB team: CUBS.  One of two Major League Baseball teams in Chicago.

43. "You win": I LOSE.

44. Rib-eye request: RARE.

45. "Thor: Ragnarok" actress Thompson: TESSA.  Tessa Lynne Thompson (b. Oct. 3, 1983) is an American actress.  She starred as Valkyrie in Thor: Ragnarok.  [Name # 8.]

52. Shorebird with a curved bill: AVOCET.  Everything you wanted to know about the American Avocet but didn't know to ask.  They do have cute curved bills.

53. "Ugh": GAH.

54. Punk subgenre: EMO.

57. Phone-silencing button: MUTE.

62. Down or dirty: BLUE.  Think sad.  He was feeling blue when he learned she was moving away.  Blue is also associated with dirty words.

63. Attention-getting sound: AHEM.

64. Furious: ANGRY.

65. Pert reply: SASS.

66. Hoped-for proposal answer: YES.  //  And 4-Down. Inquire: ASK.

67. 2023 installment in a Vin Diesel film franchise: FAST X.  Movie number 10 in the Fast and Furious series.  Also known as Fast 10: Your Seatbelts.  Vin Diesel's given name is Mark Sinclair (b. July 18, 1967).  [Name # 9, Pseudonym.]

Down:

1. Tool for tidying a golf bunker: RAKE.

2. Ohio border lake: ERIE.  A shout-out to our dear friend Abejo.

3. Mood lifters: PICK-ME-UPS.

5. "Oh, about __ high": YEA.

6. Gravity-powered winter racer: BOBSLED.

7. Slugger's stat: RBI.  Runs Batted In.

8. Product for a scented soak: BATH BOMB.  Everything you wanted to know about a bath bomb but didn't know to ask.

9. Martini & __ vermouth: ROSSI.  Martini & Rossi is an Italian multinational alcoholic beverage company primarily associated with the Martini brand of vermouth and also with sparkling wine.  [Name adjacent.]

10. Bone on a dog collar, perhaps: ID TAG.

11. Lozenge target: COUGH.

12. " ... but perhaps I'm mistaken": OR NOT.  Generally said sarcastically.

14. Sweetie: BABE.

17. Triumphant laugh: HAH!

22. "Happy Days" diner: AL'S.  Formerly Arnold's diner until Al Delvecchio took over Arnold's after Arnold got married and moved away.  [Name # 10, Fictional.]

24. App with Reels, familiarly: INSTA.

25. Castle in Spain, e.g.?: CASA.  Today's Spanish lesson.  My home is my castle.

26. Sandwich treats: OREOs.  A crossword staple.

27. Corner PC key: ESC.

28. Not fatty: LEAN.

31. Store, after cremation: INURN.  To place or bury in an urn.

32. Distance runner: MILER.

33. Plenty of nothing: GOOSE EGGS.

34. Rumple, with "up": MUSS.

36. "Your guess is as good as mine": I CAN'T SAY.

38. Don Corleone: VITO.  Vito Corleone was the fictional in The Godfather.  He was portrayed by Marlon Brando (Apr. 3, 1924 ~ July 1, 2004) in the original movie.  [Name # 11, Fictional.]

39. Word after Red or before robin: SEA.  As in Red Sea or Sea Robin.  A Sea Robin is not a bird, but a fish.  Who knew?

42. See 59-Down: BEE GEES.  //  59-Down. With 42-Down, "Stayin' Alive" disco trio: THE.  Together we get The Bee Gee, named for Brothers' Gibb.  I'll spare your ears.

44. Issa of "The Hate U Give": RAE.  Issa Rae (née Jo-Issa Rae Diop; b. Jan. 12, 1985) visited us just last Tuesday.

46. Door frame parts: JAMBS.

Anatomy of a Door Frame.

47. Soft palate dangler: UVULA.

48. Floating flower: LOTUS.

49. Slurpee-like drinks: ICEEs.

50. Polite title: MA'AM.

51. Resistance unit: OHM.  The ohm is the unit of electrical resistance in the International System of Units. It is named after German physicist and mathematician Georg Simon Ohm (Mar. 16, 1789 ~ July 6, 1854)

55. Small shop: MART.

56. Black gem in a cameo: ONYX.  The Onyx is one of the birthstones of July.

60. Clumsy one: OAF.

61. Genetic messenger: RNA.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

Monday April 1, 2024 Patti Varol

  

Happy Monday, everyone! sumdaze here with a golden puzzle to celebrate April Fools' Day. It has a holiday theme, just-right Monday level, and a factor of fun. For these reasons, it earns the title:  

We will begin with the themed clues:

17 Across. Matching cups, saucers, sugar bowl, etc.: TEA SERVICE.  

22 Across. Colorful hard confection: RIBBON CANDY.  

This is RIBBON CANDY. It is popular at Christmastime.

50 Across. Legumes in some chili recipes: KIDNEY BEANS.  

They are so named because of their kidney-like shape and their color.
Actually, thinking of them that way makes them sound far less appetizing.

57 Across. Mojave Desert yucca: JOSHUA TREE.  

Some say they inspire images of the biblical Joshua
reaching out his arms towards God.

Here is the reveal:

36 Across. Apt time for pranksters to do the starts of 17-, 22-, 50-, and 57-Across?: APRIL FOOLS' DAY.

"The starts of 17-, 22-, 50-, and 57-Across" are all things pranksters do:  TEASE, RIB, KID, and JOSH.  

All four of the themers are two-word phrases. "TEASE" spans both words while the other three are the first syllables of the first words. 

Something about this puzzle felt familiar. Did you feel that way, too? Perhaps I was recalling this November 29, 2023 puzzle by Jeanne D. Breen (blogged by Anonymous T) with the reveal ALL KIDDING ASIDE.

I like that Patti gave us a special puzzle to mark today's date. Perhaps she thought, "Well, if no one is going to submit an April Fools' Day puzzle than I will just have to create one."

Across:

1. Low on a spiciness scale: MILD.  

5. Presidential thumbs down: VETO.  Cue School House Rock:  

9. Future JD's exam: LSAT.  To be admitted into a Doctor of Jurisprudence program, one must first pass the Law School Admission Test.

13. Over again: ANEW.

14. Villainous: EVIL.  

Jace Everett   Bad Things (2005)

This was the theme song to the TV show True Blood (2008-2014).

15. Commuter boat: FERRY.

16. Post-it scribble: NOTE.  

19. Starting point: ONSET.  Think "time" as opposed to "location".

21. "Luncheon of the Boating Party" painter Pierre-Auguste: RENOIR.  The painting is on display at The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C.

(1880-1881)
Renoir later married the model in the bottom, left.

25. "Bowwow!": ARF.  

dog noises in nine languages  (32 sec.)

28. Fr. holy woman: STE.  I know this one from doing XWDs. "French" is abbreviated and so is something about a nun.

29. Pep squad cheer: RAH.

30. Alex Morgan's sport: SOCCER.  She is an American athlete born on July 2, 1989 who plays forward for the United States' women's national soccer team and the San Diego Wave.

32. Back, at sea: ASTERN.  Without the comma, one might try to think of words meaning "to return to the sea".  

This diagram helped me see the difference between "stern" and "astern".

35. "Good heavens!": OH MY.  

40. Antioxidant berry in fruit bowls: ACAI.

41. Tranquil: SERENE.

42. Not exactly: KIND OF.

45. Mariska Hargitay series, familiarly: SVU.  Law & Order:  Special Victims Unit  (1999 - present)  

This is Mariska posing in front of a SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle).

46. Small amount: BIT.

49. Citrus drink suffix: -ADE.

54. Extra charge for a sci. class, e.g.: LAB FEE.  Science class

56. Quick bite: SNACK.  

61. Share a side with: ABUT.  But, wait! We also have 62A....

62. Anticipate: AWAIT.

63. Rhyming tributes: ODES.

64. Train segments: CARS.  

I was standing on a pedestrian overpass when I took this picture of train CARS loaded with coal.

65. Terrarium pet: NEWT.  

Learn more about this Luristan NEWT here.

66. Norway's capital: OSLO.     and     34 Down. Like Vikings: NORSE.

67. Job: TASK.

Down:
1. Grand homes: MANORS.

2. Part of the plot: IN ON IT.  

3. Doesn't interfere with: LETS BE.  

The Beatles  Let It Be  (1970)

4. Uncool sort: DWEEB.     and     52 Down. Uncool sorts: NERDS.

5. Nov. 11 honoree: VET.  "November" is abbreviated, so is "VETeran".

6. Festive night, often: EVE.

7. Prom queen's crown: TIARA.

8. Elizabeth of "WandaVision": OLSEN.  Elizabeth is the younger sister of the OLSEN twins from Full House (Mary-Kate and Ashley). This is the trailer for her show.  👍👍  

9. Jeans maker Strauss: LEVI.  

10. Hot sauce often mixed with mayonnaise: SRIRACHA.  Knowing this one and knowing how to spell it are two different challenges.

This is for those of you who have been following the SRIRACHA drama.

11. Path of a lobbed ball: ARC.

12. Sheridan who plays young Cyclops in the "X-Men" films: TYE.  his IMDb page

15. Soft serve ice cream alternative, casually: FROYO.  

18. Wraps up: ENDS.  

20. Upper bodies: TORSI.  The plural of torso is torsos or TORSI. 

Gaddi Torso  (2nd Century BCE)
The artist is unknown. "Gaddi" is the family name of a previous owner.

23. Countrywide: Abbr.: NAT'L.  National

24. Gourmet cooks: CHEFS.     and     26 Down. "Ratatouille" rat: REMY.     and     27 Down. Cook in hot oil: FRY.

2007 Disney movie

31. Programmer's output: CODE.

32. Dry as a desert: ARID.

33. Fish eggs: ROE.

36. Battery fluid: ACID.  your battery acid questions answered

37. Carpentry tool that cuts plywood sheets: PANEL SAW.  

How to Panel Saw

I like how the tape measure is built into the saw.

38. Tax: LEVY.  When they tax the jeans in 9D it is called a Levi LEVY.  😉

39. Oscar season oversights: SNUBS.  Def.:  (verb) rebuff, ignore, or spurn disdainfully. 

This was a timely clue because for the last two weeks, the internet has been sending me links to articles about who was snubbed by the Oscars. 

Ke Huy Quan won an Academy Award in 2023
 for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in
Everything Everywhere All at Once.

40. Sometimes called, for short: AKA.  It stands for Also Known As and is pronounced ay-kay-ay.

43. "True. However ... ": OK, BUT.

44. World Cup org.: FIFA.  Fédération Internationale de Football Association

Founded in 1904, it is the governing body for many international soccer tournaments, most notably the World Cup.

46. "__, black sheep ... ": BAA BAA.  Have you any wool?  

John Anderson released Black Sheep in 1983.

47. Acquires, as debts: INCURS.     and     58 Down. Have bills to pay: OWE.

48. "Tut-tut" kin: TSK TSK.  I was not familiar with "tut-tut". According to Merriam-Webster, it is used to express disapproval or disbelief.

51. Half a "Star Wars" droid name: DETOO.  Wookieepedia agrees that R2-D2 is sometimes spelled Artoo-Detoo.

53. Put into effect: ENACT.

55. Take __: lose money: A HIT.

57. First mo.: JAN.  

59. Long fish: EEL.

60. That, in Spanish: ESO.  If it feels like the answer to this one keeps changing, it is because it does -- depending on gender, proximity, and number.

Well, almost....

I kid you not, this is the correct grid:  

Have a wonder-fool day, everyone!

P.S.:  Before you alert me to an incorrect link in my first paragraph, please read this explanation of rickrolling.  Gotcha!

Sunday, March 31, 2024 ~ Rebecca Goldstein

Title: "Funny Business"

For those who celebrate, Happy Easter!

Today, Rebecca put some Funny (peculiar, not ha-ha) Business in our (circular) Easter baskets. In this Easter Egg hunt I did my best, but may(?) need some help parsing out these companies:

23. Composite image where stars appear as streaks: TIME LAPSE PICTURE. PEPSI.

39. Flurry of emotions: MIXED FEELINGS. FEDEX.

47. Vehicle that may address the "last mile" problem: ELECTRIC SCOOTER. COST CO.

63. "Don't forget your umbrella and galoshes!": ITS RAINING CATS AND DOGS. GIN'CA Peruvian Gin(?)

83. As the situation warrants: WHERE APPLICABLE. APPLE

92. Phryge, for Paris 2024, e.g.: OLYMPIC MASCOT. COMCAST - a cable / ISP company.

Olympic and Paralympic Mascots

110. Period that included the storming of the Bastille: FRENCH REVOLUTION.
  

And the reveal:

102. Corporate shake-up affecting the companies in the circled letters?: RE-ORG.  Nice, Rebecca.  Very Nice.

Across:

1. Cymbals played with a pedal: HI-HAT.

Hi Hat

6. Doofus: TWIT.

10. Snack or stack at the poker table: CHIPS.

15. Hushed summons: PSST. Yo' over here.

19. Sun-dried brick: ADOBE.

20. Hardwood trees: OAKS.

21. 32-foot pastry visible from the 405 in Los Angeles: DONUT.

Mmm Donuts

22. "Sex Education" protagonist: OTIS. Sex Education is a series on Netflix.

23. [See: Theme]

26. Key turning point?: LOCK.

Or if you're Keyless

27. Landscaping tool: HOE.

28. Title role for Madonna: EVITA.

29. Chihuahua's alert: BARK.

30. Sinister: EVIL.

32. Early social networking site: MYSPACE. MySpace was before Facebook.

34. Cartagena kiss: BESO.

35. Flat formation: PLATEAU.

Flat formations

38. Kitchen containers: POTS.

39. [See: Theme]

41. GoPro device: CAMERA.

44. Musical ability: EAR.

45. Ref. that added "adultification" in 2023: OED. Oxford English Dictionary: "Adultification is originally a psychology term describing children who act more mature than their peers as a result of being handed adult responsibilities from a young age."

46. Rattan: CANE.

47. [See: Theme]

52. Used a peeler: PARED.

53. Comedian DeLaria: LEA.

54. Like last-minute tix, maybe: SRO. Standing Room Only at a sold-out show.

55. "Stop talking": HUSH.

56. Sudden shocks: JOLTS.

57. Air space?: LUNG. Cute.

59. Rio hello: OLA.

61. Bag-checking org.: TSA. Transportation Security Administration.

62. __ fide: BONA.

63. [See: Theme]

71. Bavarian range: ALPS.

72. Prefix with cache: GEO. "Geocaching is an outdoor recreational activity, in which participants use a Global Positioning System receiver or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called geocaches or caches, at specific locations marked by coordinates all over the world." [Cite]

73. Get loose, in a way: SAG.

74. Ginger __: SNAP.

Cookies!

75. Italian seaport: GENOA. Or salami!

77. Flock infant: LAMB.

79. Brio: PEP.

81. Word with bird's or bull's: EYE.

82. 75-Down [GRILL] accessory: GRATE.

83. [See: Theme]

88. Simpson who plays the sax: LISA.

Lisa on the Sax

89. "Mr. Robot" creator Esmail: SAM.

I enjoyed the first two seasons.

90. Beam: RAY.

91. Said aloud: VOICED.

92. [See: Theme]

97. Cable: CORD. Not Comcast but just a line.

98. Has on the calendar: PLANS TO.

99. "American Dad" dad: STAN. American Dad is another Seth MacFarlane cartoon.

Stan

100. Inched closer: GOT NEAR.

103. Match makeup: SETS. Tennis anyone?

104. Petting zoo chorus: BAAS.

105. Base for many Italian fashion labels: MILAN.

106. Ginger blossom garland: LEI.

108. Tends to spilled milk: MOPS. Cute.

110. [See: Theme]

114. Dressy attire: SUIT.

115. "The Color Purple" producer: OPRAH.

116. "You said it!": AMEN.

117. Do some dirty dancing: TWERK.

118. Jennifer of "Dirty Dancing": GREY. Nice clecho.

119. Dishwasher cycle: RINSE.

120. Petting zoo ride: PONY.

121. Music League submissions: SONGS.

Down:
1. "Hell __ no fury ... ": HATH.

2. Figurative expression: IDIOM.

3. Comfy cozy: HOMEY.

4. First pres. born outside the Thirteen Colonies: ABE. Lincoln was born in KY before moving to IL.

5. Power trip?: TELEPORT. Cute.

6. Debate issues: TOPICS.

7. Trash: WASTE.

8. HEMNES retailer: IKEA.

9. Vanilla meas.: TSP. Teaspoon.

10. 1990s media coverage?: CD CASE. Cute.

11. Souped-up car: HOT ROD.

12. Indigenous Alaskan: INUK.

13. Water filter brand: PUR.

14. Mentally prepared: STEELED.

15. " ... and I approve this message" spots: POLITICAL ADS.

16. Lifted prints?: STOLEN ART.

17. [Not my error]: SIC.

18. Disappointed click: TSK.

24. Digital images?: AVATARS.

25. Wild goat: IBEX.

31. Actor Kilmer: VAL.

33. Blueprint bit: SPEC.

34. Hardwood tree: BIRCH.

35. House of Lords member: PEER.

36. St. __ of Assisi: AGNES. A CSO to IM!. In Doug Peterson's March 17, 2024 puzzle, CLARE was the Assisi St.

37. Employed: USED.

39. Madrid "more": MAS.

40. Adversary: FOE.

41. Pegged instruments: CELLI. Plural cello.

42. Indigenous Alaskan: ALEUT. Nice clecho.

43. Denotes: MEANS.

44. Biotech bacteria: ECOLI.

48. Makes a flat sheet flatter: IRONS. Nice clue.

49. Resolution: OUTCOME.

50. Peak between Pelion and Olympus: OSSA.

51. "__ a big if!": THATS.

52. Duck habitat: POND.

56. Musician Batiste: JON.

58. Provide pardon: GRANT AMNESTY.

60. Acute thing: ANGLE.

62. Bread shaped like a 21-Across: BAGEL.

64. Plant with a tiger tooth variety: ALOE.

65. Brewery letters: IPA.

66. One on a fixie, say: GEAR.

67. Like some tear-jerkers: SAPPY.

68. Yr. before a historic time change: ONE BC.

69. Journalist King: GAYLE.

70. Dashboard display: SPEED.

75. Outdoor kitchen fixture: GRILL.

76. Simple: EASY AS PIE.

78. Lowest rank for a 35-Down [not PEER but House of Lords member]: BARON.

80. Crucially important: PIVOTAL.

82. Unappealing plateful: GLOP.

83. Baylor University city: WACO.

84. "I dunno ... ": HMM.

85. "Postman __": BBC stop-motion animation series: PAT.

Postman Pat

86. Crunchy snack: CORN NUTS.

Original Corn Nuts

87. Helper: AIDE.

89. Accepts an invitation to pose: SITS FOR. Or watching the neighbor's children.

93. Calif. Christmas hrs.: PST. Pacific Standard Time

94. Poses in a yoga studio: ASANAS.

95. Lazy walrus, e.g., for short: STACHE.

How to Style [7:24]

96. Paper money: CASH.

97. Coral community: COLONY.

100. Assumed: GIVEN.

101. Marvin the Martian, e.g.: ALIEN.

Best of [6m]

104. Switzerland's capital: BERN.

105. Brief brief: MEMO. Memorandum in case we all forgot what memo is short for.

107. Signs: INKS.

108. NYC arena: MSG.

109. Possessive word: OUR.

111. Troy research univ.: RPI.

112. Missy Elliott genre: RAP.

113. Number of players in Battleship: TWO.

The Grid:

The Grid

My synopsis:
WOs: Larch -> BIRCH
ESPs: OTIS, LEA DeLaria, SAM Esmail, OSSA
Fav: Teleport was cute.

There you have it folks.
I hope you found all the Easter Eggs and don't find one with the mower in June :-)

Cheers, -T