Tuesday July 23, 2023 Agnes Davidson and Zhouqin Burnikel

Do Not PASS Go.  Today's treat comes to us from our very own Irish Miss and C.C.  Do Not PASS up the opportunity to complete today's puzzle.

17-Across. Vocalist who expresses unrequited love: TORCH SINGER.  Pass the Torch.

28-Across. Early sci-fi adventure hero: BUCK ROGERS.  Pass the Buck, unless you're Harry S Truman.

35-Across. Hockey feats: HAT TRICKS.  Pass the Hat.  The modern equivalent is the on-line GoFundMe request for money to pay for something or to reward someone.

46-Across. Cocktail makers: BAR KEEPERS.  Pass the Bar.

And the unifier:

57-Across. Kill a few hours, and an apt title for this puzzle?: PASS THE TIME.

Across:

1. Vehicle not allowed in Venice: CAR.  Cars are not permitted in Venice, Italy; boats are the preferred method of public transportation, even police vehicles.

4. Museum piece: RELIC.

9. Relax in a tub: SOAK.

13. Mineral deposit: ORE.  A crossword staple.

14. __ acid: AMINO.  Protein building blocks.

15. "More or less": SORTA.

16. Put money (on): BET.

19. Skin bump: WART.

21. In first place: AHEAD.

22. Letters on tubes of toothpaste: ADA.  As in the American Dental Association.

23. Pencil end: ERASER.

26. "And that's final!": I MEAN IT!

31. Bring on board: HIRE.

32. Mil. rank: SGT.  Sergeant is a military rank.

33. Anchor a boat: MOOR.

34. "__ your age!": ACT.

39. Madrid Mrs.: SRA.  Today's Spanish lesson.

41. Previously: ONCE.  "Once upon a time there lived... 'A king! ' my little readers will say immediately.  No, children, you are mistaken.  Once upon a time there was a piece of wood."   Oh, wait!  That was last week.

42. Franchise that includes "Iron Man" and "WandaVision," for short: MCU.  As in Marvel Comic Unlimited.

45. Chimney dust: SOOT.

49. Petitions to a higher court: APPEALS.

51. Workplace for a forensic scientist: DNA LAB.

52. Uno e due: TRE.  Today's math and Italian lesson.

53. Vision-correcting surgery: LASIK.

56. Barest trace: WISP.

61. "Couples Therapy" network, for short: SHO.  I am not familiar with this show, which is apparently  a documentary series following couples as they seek the help of psychoanalyst Dr. Orna Guralnik  with their troubled relationships. 

62. Grammy winner Baker: ANITA.  Anita Baker (née Anita Denise Baker; Jan. 26, 1958) is known for her soulful ballads.  She has won several Grammys for her work.  [Name # 1.]

63. BBC airer, familiarly: TELLY.  Television.

64. Spanish for "to be": SER.  More of today's Spanish lesson.

65. Award for "Hadestown": TONY.  I saw Hadestown a year or so ago.  It's a modern re-telling of the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice.  Eurydice, a young girl looking for something to eat, goes to work in a hellish industrial version of the Greek underworld to escape poverty and the cold, and her poor singer-songwriter lover Orpheus comes to rescue her.

66. Sign of fire: SMOKE.  Where there's smoke ...

67. Museum pieces: ART.

Down:

1. Spider traps: COBWEBS.

2. Partial floor covering: AREA RUG.

3. Take back, as a statement: RETRACT.

4. Rodent in the Vietnamese zodiac: RAT.  The animals in the Vietnamese zodiac are Tý (Mouse), Sửu (Ox), Dần (Tiger), Mão (Cat), Thìn (Dragon), Tỵ (Snake), Ngọ (Horse), Mùi (Goat), Thân (Monkey), Dậu (Rooster), Tuất (Dog), and Hợi (Pig).

5. Introspective music genre: EMO.  A Crossword staple.

6. Turkish currency: LIRA.

7. Move very slowly: INCH.

8. Joint inheritor: CO-HEIR.

9. Cain, to Adam: SON.  There was another son, but Cain slew Abel.  [Names # 2 and 3, Biblical.]

10. Common label at Whole Foods: ORGANIC.  The store affectionately known as Whole Paycheck.

11. Humbly accepted blame: ATE DIRT.

12. Martial art developed in Okinawa: KARATE.

15. Steamed vegetables, e.g.: SIDE.

18. __ Club: Costco rival: SAM'S.

20. Sound of disapproval: TSK!

24. Humorist Bombeck: ERMA.  Erma Louise Bombeck (née Erma Louise Fiste; Feb. 21, 1927 ~ Apr. 22, 1996) was an American humorist.  In addition to writing several books, she also wrote a syndicated newspaper column about suburban life.  [Name # 4.]

25. Daikon or beet: ROOT.  A Daikon is a white Asian radish.

27. Cries of discovery: AHAs!

29. Understood: GOT.

30. Misspelling, e.g.: ERROR.

35. Dislike intensely: HATE.

36. Tattoo artist's supply: INK.

37. Looped in on an email: CC'ED.  As in Carbon Copied.

38. Enthusiastic: KEEN.

39. Opera diva, usually: SOPRANO.

40. Successfully entices: ROPES IN.

42. "Bridesmaids" actress McCarthy: MELISSA.  Melissa Ann McCarthy (b. Aug. 26, 1970) is a comic actress.  [Name # 5.]

43. Uninvited party guest: CRASHER.

44. Spot for a flash drive: USB PORT.

45. Made no changes: SAT PAT.

46. Ho-hum: BLAH.

47. Desirable traits: ASSETS.

48. "__ Patrol": animated series with dogs in uniform: PAW.  Paw Patrol is a big hit with the toddler set.

50. Ski resort near Snowbird: ALTA.  Alta is a ski resort in Utah.

54. To-do list entry: ITEM.

55. Metric weight: KILO.

58. Trough locale: STY.

59. "I have a dream" monogram: MLK.  As in Martin Luther King, Jr. (Jan 15, 1929 ~ Apr. 4, 1968).  [Name # 6.]

60. Place for winged liner: EYE.  Think of Amy Winehouse (née Amy Jade Winehouse; Sept. 14, 1983 ~ July 23, 2011).  She died 13 years ago today.

Here's the Grid:

It's your turn to PASS on your comments to C.C. and Irish Miss.

חתולה

Monday, July 22, 2024 Dan Caprera

  

Happy Monday, everyone! sumdaze here to chat about Dan Caprera's puzzle. I spotted this gimmick from a mile away, making for an easy-breezy Monday solve.  

Theme:  

We have three well-chosen themed answers that BUILD up to the reveal. Circles are used to emphasize the progression.

18 Across. Common key in big band music: B-FLAT MAJOR.

I reached out to our own music man and Wednesday blogger JazzBumpa for some help with this one. Here is a song he suggested. It's a banger! I cannot stop listening to it!   

Race to the Bridge

26 Across. "Stop futzing with that!": LEAVE IT BE.  

48 Across. Actress who played Dorothy Zbornak on "The Golden Girls": BEA ARTHUR.  

(1922 - 2009)

Then the reveal:

60 Across. "The Stuff You Love" toy company, and what this puzzle's circled letters do: BUILD-A-BEAR.  

"Stuff you love"...cute!
I have never been to one of these stores. Have you?

Notice that B, BE, BEA, and BEAR can stand alone (as opposed to being a part of a longer word) and that they alternate between the beginnings and ends of the themers. Looking good, Dan!

Let's see what else we can find in today's grid:

Across:

1. "I would never!": AS IF.  Here is the line:

Alicia Silverstone in Clueless  (1995)  (16 sec.)

Clueless is a modern version of Jane Austin's 1815 novel, Emma.

5. Official decree: EDICT.

10. Fiber in some muffins: BRAN.  My Abstract Algebra professor, Dr. Clarke, made the best bran muffins! We would pack her office during office hours, snacking on her muffins.

14. Ending with hard or soft: -WARE.  computer words

15. Misrepresent: BELIE.  

16. Eastern priest: LAMA.

17. Self-images: EGOS.  This clue made me think of selfies.  

20. Tooth care specialist: DENTIST.

22. Catholic prayer beads: ROSARY.

23. Historic space station: MIR.

24. Not together: APART.     and     30 Across. Together: AS ONE.  fun pairing!

34. Cleveland's lake: ERIE.  

35. Sundae topper: CHERRY.  

37. Distant: FAR.

38. Plus: AND.

39. Large body of eau: MER.  Eau and mer are French words for water and sea, respectively.

40. Female sib: SIS.  "Sibling" is shortened, so is "SISter". I like it when my big bro calls and says, "Hi, SIS!"

41. Dog coat: FUR.    

There is an Old English Sheepdog under all this FUR.

42. "Curses upon thee!": FIE.  FIE is an interjection used to express disgust or disapproval.

43. Smaller than small: ATOMIC.  

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids  (1989)

starring Rick Moranis  (1:44 min.)

45. Houston MLBer: STRO.  CSO to our Houston peeps!

MLB is an abbreviation so Astro is shortened to STRO.

46. Spanish title: SEÑOR.

50. Computer hard drive headache: CRASH.  Friday's CrowdStrike CRASH -- Oof!

52. Mine extraction: ORE.

53. Open, as a banana: UNPEEL.  I will call foul on this one. No one says, "Can you please UNPEEL a banana for me?"  #wince

56. Weekend trip, e.g.: GETAWAY.  

63. Newborn's acquisition: NAME.  

Jim Croce with I Got a Name  (1973)

64. Kitchenware brand: EKCO.  Learning moment. Ekco Brands is the U.S. division of Vasconia Brands (Mexico's housewares leader in manufacturing and distribution).

65. "__ Mia!": ABBA musical: MAMMA.  

Dancing Queen  (1986)

Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, and Meryl Streep

66. Emulate some species of jellyfish: GLOW.  Jellies have no bones, brains, teeth, blood, or fins yet they are animals. This 2 min. video shows some bioluminescent species.  

67. Sit for a spell: REST.

68. Desert havens: OASES.

69. Part of BPOE: ELKS.  The Benevolent and Protective Order of ELKS was founded on February 16, 1868.

Down:
1. Picking one's jaw up off the floor: AWED.

2. Wise one: SAGE.

3. First heavy metal band to have a video air on MTV: IRON MAIDEN.  I included some Metallica last week so I will skip the heavy metal video this week.

4. Wearing red and green, perhaps: FESTIVE.  I like this clue...and this outfit!  

5. Recedes: EBBS.  The ocean EBBS and flows. I often go to the beach at low tide to collect sea glass.  

6. Nimble-fingered: DEFT.  

7. Not feeling too hot: ILL.  That's chill without the ch.  😜

8. U.S. spy org.: CIA.  "United States" is abbreviated, so is the "Central Intelligence Agency".

9. Colorful tropical fish: TETRA.  

10. Big explosions: BLASTS.  

11. Indian royal: RAJA.

12. Love, in Spanish: AMOR.

13. Quaint negative: NARY.  Def.:  (adj.) not any; not one.

19. Some eels: MORAYS.  Here is a 2:27 min. video entitled,  Facts:  The Moray Eel.  

21. Hot temper: IRE.

24. Actor Vigoda: ABE.  (1921-2016)

Here is Fish with Barney (Hal Linden, b. 1931) and Nick (Jack Soo, 1917-1979).
BTW, all good XWD names!
Interesting trivia:  Jack Soo was born Goro Suzuki. His birthplace is listed as
 "at sea; Pacific Ocean".

25. Former name of Iran: PERSIA.

26. Flips (through): LEAFS.  As a verb, LEAF means to turn over pages, especially to browse or skim.

27. "Rubber Duckie" Muppet: ERNIE.  

28. "Law & Order: SVU" co-star: ICE-T.

29. Pulsates: THROBS.

31. Bonkers: OFF THE WALL.     and     45 Down. Unusual: STRANGE.     and     58 Down. Helter-skelter: AMOK.

A mini-theme developed in the SE.

32. Tiny South Pacific nation: NAURU.  In 2022 its population was 12,668 people.

Click to enlarge.

33. Typo, e.g.: ERROR.  I got this one rite.

36. Costa __: San José's country: RICA.  San José was one of the first cities with electricity.  

I took this PIC of a piece of the Berlin Wall
displayed in one of San José's central parks.

39. Damaged: MARRED.

44. Just okay: MEH.  

47. Spotted wildcat: OCELOT.  OCELOT Fact Sheet

49. Biodegrade: ROT.  Both are verbs. We are more accustomed to the adjective biodegradable.

51. San Antonio mission: ALAMO.

53. Airport transport, for some: UBER.

54. Microwave, informally: NUKE.  

55. Photos: PICS.

56. Catan or Codenames: GAME.  Thank you for the reminder that Catan is a game! We see it in puzzles every once in a while but I struggle to remember its name.

57. Historical spans: ERAS.

59. Trees with pliable wood: YEWS.  One of the World's oldest surviving wooden artefacts is a yew spear head estimated to be around 450,000 years old.  Uses of YEW

61. "Shaun the Sheep" sound: BAA.  Shaun the Sheep is a stop-motion animated TV show from the U.K. It became available on Netfix in 2020. The show appeals to children and adults. Here is a 2:17 min. clip. Notice that they do not talk. That fact adds an extra layer to this fitting clue.  

62. Ambulance gp.: EMS.  Emergency Medical Services, more commonly known as EMS, is a system that responds to emergencies in need of highly skilled pre-hospital clinicians.  EMS.gov

In conclusion, here is today's grid:

Bonus:  I found this one while looking for BEAR memes:

Sunday July 21, 2024 Kyle Dolan

Theme: "Course Work" - Each common phrase is re-interpreted as part of the course for a golfer. 

22. The golfer's engineering course involved making __: PITCHING MACHINES.

38. The golfer's psychology course helped develop a __: BUNKER MENTALITY.

47. The golfer's biomechanics course covered __: SWING SHIFTS.

69. The golfer's rhetoric course included debates on __: WEDGE ISSUES.

87. The golfer's art course taught how to draw a __: ROUGH SKETCH.

95. The golfer's landscape architecture course included the __: GREEN REVOLUTION.

113. After completing the courses, the golfer had a well-rounded __: DRIVER'S EDUCATION.

And golf course, of course! Really like the theme entries. All noun phrases where the first word is a golf term. The 113A is just a perfect ending. Surprised not to see anything CHIP* though.

I've mentioned before, Kyle is a brilliant themeless constructor. Many of today's fill and clues reflect his themeless skill.

Across:

1. Part that stretches over a foot: CALF. And a few other clues that I really like: 78. Columns that lean: OP-EDS. Newspaper columns. 105. Think piece?: IDEA. 29. Nonworking capital, for short?: IRA. 37. House work?: LAWS. 68. Legal partner?: SPOUSE. 85. Hook, to Pan: FOE. Captain Hook.

5. Zinger: BARB.

9. Desert refuge: OASIS. And 19. Roofed veranda: LANAI.

14. Whodunit genre: NOIR.

18. Field: AREA.

20. Oil source: OLIVE. Been loving the California Olive Ranch brand. 

21. Cogito, __ sum: ERGO.

25. ET rides: UFOS.

26. Part of London where Cockney originated: EAST END. Where Eliza Doolittle is from.

27. Popular pooch: LAB.

28. Cook in a wok, say: STIR FRY. No wok for me. We have an electric stove.

30. Founder: SINK.

31. Vail outfit: SKI SUIT.

35. Victorian __: ERA.

36. Approve of: BLESS.

43. Persian Gulf fed.: UAE.

44. Alex and __ jewelry: ANI.

45. Some elders: NANAS.

46. Campus org.: NCAA.

53. "Road Rules" airer: MTV.

54. Tree with delicate bark: BEECH.

55. Manhattan univ.: K STATE. Manhattan, Kansas.

56. Words on Alice's cake: EAT ME.

58. Battery in a science experiment: POTATO.

59. "Samesies!": SO AM I.

62. Cereal for Bart Simpson: KRUSTY O'S.

65. Designer Armani's nickname: GIO.

66. Deep cut: GASH.

71. Bench press muscles, for short: PECS

72. Dada artist Jean: ARP.

73. Filing for Chapter 11 protection: BANKRUPT. And 74. Corrupt offer: BRIBE.

76. Bear in fire-prevention ads: SMOKEY.

80. Trunks: TORSOS.

84. Donald Duck's nephew: LOUIE.

85. "Success!," in textspeak: FTW. For the Win.

90. Displace: OUST.

91. Northwestern capital: BOISE.

93. Eliza Hamilton portrayer Phillipa: SOO.

94. "What have we here!?": OHO.

99. Pack with 78 cards: TAROT.

101. "Titanium" singer: SIA.

102. Tournament favorite: ONE SEED.

103. "Carnation, __, __, Rose": Sargent painting: LILY. Why did he put two Lily's in the title?

104. One of many Kens in "Barbie": SIMU LIU. He was born in Harbin, China. Cold there.

108. AOL alternative: MSN.

109. "Perfect!": NO NOTES.

112. Febreze target: ODOR.

118. Super Soaker maker: NERF.

119. Encourage: EGG ON.

120. Mars neighbor: EARTH.

121. Upmarket hotel chain: OMNI.

122. Talks a lot: YAKS. My sister-in-law Connie will be out of the acute rehab center today. Almost her old chatty self.  She can now walk with a walker by herself.

123. Coped (with): DEALT.

124. Takes legal action: SUES.

125. Party in the back?: FEST. Ah, OK, TwinsFest, e.g.

Down:

1. Batman cover: CAPE.

2. Delivery to a house: ARIA. Opera house.

3. "Show us!": LET'S SEE IT. And 33. "Don't look at me!": I'M A MESS.

4. "Truthfully ... ": FACT IS.

5. Wedding hire: BAND.

6. Director Lee: ANG.

7. Plow (into): RAM.

8. Actress Mayim: BIALIK. Hosted "Jeopardy!" a while ago.

9. "You got roasted!": OOH BURN.

10. MSNBC's Velshi: ALI.

11. Misdeed: SIN.

12. Currier and __: IVES.

13. Segments of sonnets: SESTETS.

14. AI learning model: NEURAL NET.

15. "Carmina Burana" composer: ORFF.

16. Inventor Sikorsky: IGOR.

17. Pink-cheeked: ROSY.

19. Web shortcut: LINK.

23. Coop denizens: HENS.

24. Attaché, e.g.: CASE.

31. Gymnastics champion Lee: SUNI. The pride of Minnesota. Regan Smith too.

32. Carving tool: KNIFE.

34. Fair venue: TENT.

36. Perform in the subway, say: BUSK.

38. "Ridiculous!": BAH.

39. Display on a dash, for short: NAV.

40. Period of glacial growth: ICE AGE.

41. Zone defense, say: TACTIC. Basketball.

42. "Gulliver's Travels" people: YAHOOS.

48. Part of rock's CSNY: NASH.

49. Bygone Pontiac: GTO.

50. Shipping route: SEAWAY.

51. Occupy: TAKE UP.

52. Rockfish, by another name: STRIPER. Striped bass.

54. Logan International code: BOS.

57. Absolute necessity: MUST DO.

58. Theorizes: POSITS.

60. Gents: MEN.

61. "Beats me," briefly: IDK.

63. Spot for a soak: TUB.

64. "__ out!": YER.

66. Rustic-looking fireplace option: GAS LOG.

67. Tower of London display: ARMOUR.

70. Slowly becomes more appealing to: GROWS ON.

71. __ Noël: PERE.

73. Classroom competition: BEE.

75. __ choy: BOK. This used to be my go-to lunch in Guangzhou. Rich noodles with shiitake mushrooms and a few baby bok choy.

77. Rides the waves under wind power: KITE-SURFS.

79. Essman of "Curb Your Enthusiasm": SUSIE.

81. Part of a preschooler's day: STORY TIME.

82. Cuatro x dos: OCHO.

83. Tequila serving, perhaps: SHOT.

86. Early DVR: TIVO.

88. In, as a field goal: GOOD.

89. Little endearment: HON.

91. Made a fishtail, maybe: BRAIDED.

92. Iron, e.g.: ELEMENT.

96. Nada: NIL.

97. Nat. dissolved in 1991: USSR.

98. Past and future: TENSES.

99. "The MAGA Diaries" writer Nguyen: TINA. Unfamiliar to me.

100. Many: A LOT OF.

103. Scottish body: LOCH.

104. Tokyo-based tech giant: SONY.

106. 1970s Robin Williams role: MORK.

107. Beseech: URGE.

109. Sundae garnish: NUTS.

110. Many millennia: EONS.

111. Huff: SNIT.

114. Four-time French Open winner Swiatek: IGA. Polish tennis player.

115. Encyclopedia div.: VOL.

116. La pluie, e.g.: EAU. Rain.

117. Rapper Dr. __: DRE.

C.C.