Tuesday, June 25, 2019, Roland Huget

Why did it have to be Snakes?  There is a triple "S" hissing sound in each of the theme answers.  Note that the first word of each phrase ends in a double S, and the first word begins with an S to give us the HISS.

17-Across. Contents of a landscaper's spreader: GRASS SEED.

25-Across. Hollywood or Vine, vis-à-vis the other: CROSS STREET.

38-Across. Formal attire: DRESS SUIT.

53-Across. Social hierarchy: CLASS SYSTEM.

64-Across. Leaky tire noise found in five puzzle answers including this one: HISS SOUND.

Across:
1. Scottish Celt: GAEL.

5. Brake component: DISC.

Anatomy of a Break

9. Confronts with cockiness: FACES

14. Road runner: AUTO.

15. Marc with a clothing brand: ECKŌ.  //  And 62-Down:  Novelist Umberto: ECO.  The surnames sound alike.  Marc Eckō (né Marc Louis Milecofsky; b. Aug. 29, 1972) is an American fashion designer and founder of Eckō Limited.  It's not a company I am familiar with, but it apparently is known for its graffiti-style tee shirts and hoodies.

Umberto Eco (Jan. 5, 1932 ~ Feb. 19, 2016) was an Italian novelist, best known for his 1980 historical novel, Name of the Rose.

16. Higher in rank than: ABOVE.  See 53-Across.

19. Jeans material: DENIM.  You, too, can have this pair of Muddy DENIM Jeans for only $425.

20. Bring up, as kids: RAISE.

21. Very small: WEE.

23. MDX ÷ X: CLI.  Roman Math.  1510 ÷ 10 = 151.

24. Building wing: ELL.

30. Voted in: ELECTED.  Voters in our last election got this beautiful sticker after leaving the voting booth.

32. T-shirt coloring method: TIE-DYE.

33. Harp constellation: LYRA.  Obvious, right?

34. Mexican girl: NIÑA.  Today's Spanish lesson.

37. Tots may be bounced on them: KNEES.

41. Bud in a cantina: AMIGO.  More of today's Spanish lesson.

44. Diplomat's forte: TACT.

45. Part of UAE: ARAB.  As in the United Arab Emirates.

49. Most inexperienced, as a recruit: RAWEST.

51. Allowing cars in a single direction at a time, as a bridge: ONE LANE.

56. School support gp.: PTA.  As in the Parent Teacher Association.  This is a crossword staple.

57. Grain bristle: AWN.

58. Acorn producer: OAK.  What did the little Acorn say when he grew up?  Geometry!

59. Unmitigated: UTTER.

Oh, wait.  That's an Otter.

61. Not exactly new: DATED.

67. "Fear of Flying" author Jong: ERICA.  Erica Jong (née Erica Mann; b. Mar. 26, 1942) is probably best known for her 1973 novel, Fear of Flying, which isn't about flying at all, but rather sexual fantasies.

68. Leave out: OMIT.

69. "Rule, Britannia" composer Thomas: ARNE.  I learned about Thomas Arne (né Thomas Augustine Arne; Mar. 12, 1710 ~ Mar. 5, 1778) from doing the crossword puzzles.  He makes occasional guest appearances.

70. Determined to do: SET ON.  As in the sentence:  He's SET ON finishing this puzzle before the end of the day.

71. Nashville venue: OPRY.

72. "The Walking __": zombie show: DEAD.

Down:

1. DVD blooper collection: GAG REEL.

2. By ear: AURALLY.

3. Online merchant: E-TAILER.

4. Red ink: LOSS.

5. __ Moines: DES.  A city in Iowa.

6. Rink surface: ICE.

7. Depicts unfairly, as data: SKEWS.

8. Secret languages: CODES.  The Rosetta Stone helped to de-code ancient languages.

9. Short-lived obsession: FAD.  Anyone remember this short-lived FAD?  I read recently that it's coming back.

10. Civil War prez: ABE.

11. Admit defeat: CONCEDE.

12. Hex-dispensing stare: EVIL EYE.  This Hamsa will protect you from the Evil Eye.

13. Some Middle East natives: SEMITES.  Webster's defines Semite as "(1) a member of any of a number of peoples of ancient southwestern Asia including the Akkadians, Phoenicians, Hebrews, and Arabs; and (2) descendants of these peoples."  The word "Semite"  comes from "Shem", which literally means "name" in Hebrew, and was also the name of the Noah's oldest son.  Thus, in ancient mythology, the Semites were all descendants of Shem.

18. Splinter group: SECT. 22. Ballpark fig.: EST.  As in Estimate.  I initially tried ERA, thinking we were looking for Earned Run Average.  But we weren't actually in the baseball park here.

26. Artist Magritte: RENÉ.  As in René Margritte (né René François Ghislain Magritte; Nov. 21, 1898 Aug. 15, 1967), a Belgium surrealist artist.

27. Writer of exalted verse: ODIST.  As in one who composes Odes.  John Keats (Oct. 31, 1795 ~ Feb. 23, 1821) is probably the best known Odist, having written Ode on a Grecian Urn.

28. __ bar: Polynesian-themed spot: TIKI.

You, too, can get your own Tiki Bar from Amazon.

29. U-Haul truck, e.g.: RENTAL.  When I moved to Boston, I rented a U-Haul to transport all my stuff.  When I went out to return the truck the next day, it was gone.  It had been stolen during the night.  I reported it, and U-Haul never flinched an eye about the loss.

31. Mooches: CADGES.  An interesting new word for me.  It apparently means to ask for or obtain something to which one is not really entitled to.

35. Govt. code-breaking org.: NSA.  As in the National Security Agency.

36. Fancy tie: ASCOT.  Fun to have this answer as the Royal Ascot just ended last Saturday ~ the event where everyone must dress up and women wear outrageous hats.

39. Flag maker Betsy: ROSS.  Betsy Ross (née Elizabeth Griscom; Jan. 1, 1752 ~ Jan. 30, 1836) is credited with having made the first American flag.  Fact or Fiction?

40. __ Reader: eclectic digest: UTNE.  This magazine appears fairly often in the crossword puzzles.  I once got a copy in the mail, totally unsolicited.  I don't remember whether or not I read the issue, but I did not subscribe to the journal.

41. Gaming centers: ARCADES.

42. Invasive computer software: MALWARE.

43. "Give me that!": I WANT IT!  Didn't your mother teach you manners?  Maybe you will CADGE off someone to get what you want.

46. Ecstasy: RAPTURE.

47. Insect's feeler: ANTENNA.

48. Like Abe Lincoln and Santa Claus, facially: BEARDED.

50. Chinese menu general: TSO.  According to an article in the Smithsonian, General Tso Chicken, was invented by a chef from Hunan province in the 1950s in Taiwan.  It is a sweet deep-fried chicken dish.

52. Outback birds: EMUs.

54. Gleeful shout: YAHOO!

55. Pinch pennies: SKIMP.

60. "The Wind in the Willows" amphibious Mr.: TOAD.  The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame (Mar. 8, 1859 ~ July 6, 1932) was first published in 1908.  Although classified as a children's book, it is really about the leisured class of British gentlemen.  The characters are all animals ~ rats, moles, toads, and badgers, who sit around and drink and smoke.

63. "Forrest Gump" lieutenant: DAN.  I didn't remember this character in the movie.  He was played Gary Sinise (b. Mar. 17, 1955) in the movie.

65. Dame's counterpart: SIR.

66. Messy place: STY.

Here's the Grid:

I'll leave you with a QOD:  I think being nice is more important than being clever.  ~  Ricky Gervais (b. June 25, 1961)

Monday June 24, 2019 Gail Grabowski & Bruce Venzke

Theme: B AND E. (38A. Burglary, for short ... and a hint to this puzzle's four longest answers) - Each theme entry is in the pattern of B* E*:

 

 17A. Medical licensing test: BOARD EXAM.

 59A. Online mass marketing message: BULK EMAIL.

 10D. Wearing away of a riverside slope: BANK EROSION.

 23D. Torso-twisting "spin" that has no effect on the ball: BODY ENGLISH.

Boomer here.

"BE - All that you can -BE". I remember that BEing a commercial to join the Army.  It didn't work for me.  I could not find a bowling center or a golf course in Hardheim, Germany. Spring Bowling League ends tonight.  I will try to keep my golf clubs busy until Labor Day.

Across:

1. Esau's twin: JACOB.  Some of these old biblical stories live on and on.

6. Wee bit: TAD.

9. Cause to blush: ABASH.  Also a big hit by Albert Pujols.

14. Love, in Milan: AMORE.  "When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie !"

15. Hoopla: ADO.  What is the next note on the scale after a Ti ?

16. 1945 "Big Three" summit site: YALTA.  The "Big Three" were Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin. They agreed to demand that Germany surrender and end WWII, probably because Germany had no golf courses or bowling centers. 

20. "Pull up a chair": SIT.

21. "Ghostbusters" goo: SLIME. "Who ya gonna call ??

22. Sport with rifles and disks: SKEET.  I don't know about rifles. We used to shoot skeet with shotguns.

23. Tot's mealtime chest protector: BIB.  I sometime eat meals in a reclining chair.  I could use a bib.

24. Cardin of design: PIERRE.  The capital city of South Dakota.  C.C. and I visited there once.

25. Translates, as a cipher: DECODES.  Got the sniffles ? Dayquil may DECODE you.

29. Deborah of "The King and I": KERR.

30. Get away from: EVADE.  In Pac-Man you may need to EVADE Inky, Blinky, Pinky and Clyde.

31. Rain really hard: POUR. When it rains, it pours.  A slogan for Morton Salt.  Maybe, but when humidity gums it up in its box, sometimes it does NOT pour.

33. Smell: ODOR.  Would you like a picture of Rougned?  Or will you be happy this time to fill in an easy answer to an easy clue.

37. Group of quail: BEVY.  Quail is common, but I played golf lst week on a hole with a BEVY of ducks.

39. Pen name that sounds like a drink: SAKI. Never heard of these pens.

40. Maple or sycamore: TREE.

41. 1998 film with talking bugz?: ANTZ.

42. Longed (for): PINED.  Add an "N" in the middle and you've added a tail to a donkey.

43. State between Mont. and Minn.: N DAK.  Been there many times.  You may have seen us at Teddy Roosevelt's state park last week.

45. Transfers from computer to cloud, say: UPLOADS.

47. Theater platforms: STAGES.

50. Actor McKellen: IAN.

51. Instruments for Yo-Yo Ma: CELLI.  If that's the plural for cello, I'll take your word for it.

52. Flinch or blink: REACT.

55. "Hulk" director Lee: ANG.

58. Thing of the past: RELIC.  Many churches named after saints may have a relic of that saint somewhere.

61. Won by __: squeaked out the victory: A NOSE.  I'll bet Jimmy Durante won a lot.

62. Wrath: IRE.

63. Artery in an angiogram: AORTA. This is very special, you cannot live without it.

64. Unverified stories: MYTHS.

65. Mariner's "Help!": SOS.  I heard that when Samuel Morse built his code, he made the "S" and "O" short clicks so that a danger could be clicked conveniently and quickly.

66. Called the game: UMPED.  I know many people who have Umpired games. 

Down:

1. Short punches: JABS.

2. Mine, in Metz: A MOI. - Where is METZ? And do they have land mines there ?

3. Paint layer: COAT.

4. Hockey immortal: ORR.  Bruin Bobby.  Defenseman scored more goals than Miguel Sano strikeouts.

5. Place for reading a nighttime story to a tot: BEDSIDE.

6. Ride with a meter: TAXI.  Great sitcom, where Judd Hirsch and Danny DeVito became famous. 

7. Actor Sandler: ADAM. He was great in "The Longest Yard" but of course my favorite was "Happy Gilmore".

8. Rotunda topper: DOME.  Also a stadium topper in Minneapolis from 1982 - to about 2010.

9. Sailor's assent: AYE SIR. I think there are two AYEs in that

11. Change: ALTER.

12. Rodeo bovine: STEER.  I have a wheel coming out of dashboard for this.

13. Poker Flat chronicler Bret: HARTE.

18. North Sea feeder: ELBE. This river runs through Germany Northwest to Southeast. Quite a bit east of Hardheim.

24. Dijon dad: PERE.

25. Credit report item: DEBT. FICO score should be good enough.  It rhymes with  GEICO. Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike -- What day is it ???  Whatever happened to the cavemen anyway??

26. At any time: EVER.  "If you're ever in a jam, here I am".

27. Home to Alley Oop: CAVE.  The man in the funny papers we all know?  Not in our paper.

28. Hit on the tush: SPANK.  And Darla's forget me not "ALFAL"

29. Invasive Asian vine: KUDZU.

32. Toronto's prov.: ONT.  I am  little more familiar with Manitoba just North of MN.  They play hockey there too.

34. Delany of "Desperate Housewives": DANA.

35. Approved: OKED. Stuck in a panhandle.

36. Frees (of): RIDS.

38. Sounds at shearings: BAAS.  Sounds at a Brewers Cubs game - BOOS

42. Kin of a mesa: PLATEAU.

44. Gets the frost off, as plane wings: DEICES.  Yeah, were two hours late in Feb on a flight MSP to LAS.  

46. Prospector's tool: PICK.  I use one to get little bits of food out of my teeth.

47. "Get lost!": SCRAM.

48. So, so small: TEENY. Weeny itsy bitsy yellow polka dot bikini.

49. Portion out: ALLOT. When I portion out my dinner, I always go with A LOT.

52. Sluggers' stats: RBIS.  Sometimes you need to be lucky to have teammates on base when you get your hits.

53. Milan money: EURO.

54. Taproom orders: ALES.  I expect it may normally be BEER.

55. Strong lobby for seniors: AARP.  Not me.  I canceled  membership after one year.  All I got was a lot of junk mail disguised as good deals if I spent my money. 

56. Late time, in ads: NITE.

57. Delighted: GLAD.  Plastic bag or wrap.  Do not throw it in the ocean!

60. Judy, to Liza: MOM.  We used to have a boss named Marvin O. Mechelke.  When you got a memo signed MOM, you knew who it came from.

Boomer

Sunday, Jun 23, 2019 Mark McClain

Theme:  "Cruise Control" - Last word in each theme entry is part of a ship.

  

23A. Interface on old computers: SERIAL PORT.

25A. Crossing with a charge: TOLL BRIDGE.

48A. Violinist awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992: ISAAC STERN.

70A. Longest serving Secretary of State, 1933-'44: CORDELL HULL. Never heard of him. Wiki says he was "best known as the longest-serving U.S. Secretary of State, holding the position for 11 years (1933–1944) in the administration of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt during most of World War II. Hull received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1945 for his role in establishing the United Nations, and was referred to by President Roosevelt as the "Father of the United Nations"

96A. Longest-serving Republican senator, 1977-2019: ORRIN HATCH.

119A. TV reporting VIP: NEWS ANCHOR.

121A. Gesture of respect to a monarch: COURTLY BOW.
   
37D. Metaphor for an unfair advantage: STACKED DECK.

43D. Simple home in the woods: RUSTIC CABIN.

I hope Commander Spitzboov solves this puzzles. His local paper does not carry the Sunday LAT.

Notice the last word in each theme entry has a distinctive non-ship meaning. That's key to this type of theme.

Mark used a classic pinwheel design. Terrific model for a 9-themer 93 theme square grid. The grid is also typical Mark. No weird names or obscure abbreviations.

Across:

1. Friend of d'Artagnan: ATHOS. The other is Aramis. And 21. Parting from 1-Across: ADIEU.

6. Turning point: CUSP.

10. Organ array: PIPES.

15. Cunning: WILY.

19. Didn't lose a game: SWEPT.

20. Site of Italy's Festival of Festivals, featuring local food and wine: ASTI. Informative clue.

22. Managed care gps.: HMOS.

27. Crab in space: NEBULA. Crab Nebula.

28. Whenever you want: AT WILL.

30. Carpenter's supply: LUMBER.

31. Herbie of jazz: MANN.

33. Cuts back: PARES.

34. Debatable claim: ESP.

35. Repeated word in the Stones' "Jumpin' Jack Flash": GAS. It's a gas, gas, gas.

38. Suffolk slammer: GAOL. This is a picture of a few Chinese prisoners in 1900.

40. Diarist Anaïs: NIN.

41. Landing flight paths: PATTERNS.

46. Camera setting: AUTO.

51. TD Garden skater: BRUIN. Boston Celtics play there also.

52. Southern accent feature: DRAWL.

54. Long-necked wader: EGRET.

55. 128-Across' __ Vecchio: PONTE. And 128. See 55-Across: ARNO. My sister-in-law Connie plans to use "Monastery Stay" when she vacations there in a few months. Sounds very meditative and calming.

57. __-Caps: candy: SNO.

58. Rights advocacy gp.: ACLU.

59. German article: DER.

60. 18th-century lexicographer Johnson: SAMUEL.

61. Thrice, in Rx's: TER.

62. Taproom containers: KEGS.

64. Intend that one will: AIM TO.

67. "Top Hat" star: ASTAIRE (Fred)

69. Procure: GET.

74. Many desktops: PCS.

75. One getting on in years: OLDSTER.

77. Ice cream serving: SCOOP.

78. Actor Baldwin: ALEC.

80. Okra unit: POD. Our local farmers' market has fresh okra in August.

81. Puts on the books: ENACTS.

84. Fed. benefits agency: SSA.

86. Student stressor: EXAM. One of my frequent dreams is not to be able to finish the exam. Too much pressure in my school days.

88. "__ we good?": ARE.

89. "Ditto": ME TOO.

90. Summer refreshers: ICEES.

92. Start of an acting career, ideally: DEBUT.

94. Nouveau __: RICHE.

99. Location: SITE.

100. Parting words: TAKE CARE.

102. The first of two T's, in a familiar sequence: TUE. Oh. Our blog has three T's.

103. Flue residue: SOOT.

105. Trawler's tool: NET.

106. Caribbean export: RUM.

107. Wet dips: SWIMS.

109. Secured, in a way: TIED.

111. Actress Lansbury: ANGELA. 93 years old now.

114. Nova __: SCOTIA.

115. Single-masted ships: SLOOPS. Bonus fill.

124. Piece for two: DUET.

125. Nursed, say: DRANK.

126. Tolstoy's Karenina: ANNA.

127. Get hitched in haste: ELOPE.

129. Lew in old films: AYRES.

130. Foucault with a pendulum: LEON. Learning moment for me.

131. Candy mogul H.B. __: REESE.

Down:

1. PGA part: Abbr.: ASSN.

2. So precious, in Penzance: TWEE.

3. Oregano, for one: HERB.

4. Old den indulgence: OPIUM. When I was a kid, this TV series "The Legendary Fok" was very popular. Opium War was part of the background. Love, betrayal, kung fu, just amazing.

5. "The Great Escape" setting: STALAG.

6. Limit: CAP.

7. "Operation Phone Home" gp.: USO.

8. Sundress part: STRAP.

9. "Mere" amount: PITTANCE.

10. Like a good waiter: PATIENT. You in the waiting room.

11. Beloved stars: IDOLS.

12. Vitamin __: PILL.

13. Slender swimmer: EEL.

14. Rental from a renter: SUBLET.

15. Petulant complaint: WHIMPER.

16. Source of film trivia: IMDB.

17. Opera house section: LOGE.

18. River of Flanders: YSER.

24. Tropical veranda: LANAI. Dream place.

26. Region of industrial decline: RUST BELT.

29. Watch holder: WRIST.

32. Poked (around): NOSED.

35. Wander (about): GAD.

36. 2000s Saturn midsize model: AURA.

39. Athletic shoe once endorsed by Paula Abdul: LA GEAR. Look a bit uncomfortable.

41. Limo destination: PROM.

42. Like yearbooks: ANNUAL.

44. NorCal NFL team: NINERS.

45. Keep a roomie awake, maybe: SNORE.

47. Hooting young: OWLETS.

49. Sure competitor: ARRID.

50. Greener Living org.: EPA.

53. Haul: LUG.

56. Electric wheels: TESLA.

60. Unassisted: SOLO.

63. One of 20 in "Hamlet": SCENE.

65. Military meal: MESS.

66. Help for a sad BFF: TLC. Here is my BFF Carmen with her husband Lao Pan. How I miss Guangzhou and the food there!

68. High points: APEXES.

69. Latin carol word: GLORIA.

71. Figure of speech?: ORATOR. Great clue.

72. Biblical prophet: HOSEA.

73. Sports shockers: UPSETS.

75. Eye-catching display: OP-ART.

76. SoCal wine valley: TEMECULA. Another learning moment for me.

79. Set the pace: LED.

82. Center: CORE.

83. Rocky peak: TOR.

85. Knotted neckwear: ASCOT.

87. Tone down, as a color: MUTE.

90. Arctic people: INUIT.

91. Like many reactions: CHEMICAL.

93. Vietnam New Year: TET.

95. Opening words eventually followed by clinking: HERE'S TO.

97. Inventor's jubilant shout: IT WORKS. My reaction to various tips D-Otto gives me also: "Oh wow, it works, the rugs stay down." I'm a budding handywoman.

98. Raise aloft: HOIST.

101. Seyfried of "Mean Girls": AMANDA.

104. Employee in a cage: TELLER.

107. Tea go-with: SCONE.

108. Rhône tributary: SAONE.

110. Professor Challenger's creator: DOYLE. Not familiar with the character.

111. Forever __ day: AND A.

112. Nerve: Pref.: NEUR.

113. Tony-winning Verdon of "Damn Yankees": GWEN.

114. __-Pei: dog breed: SHAR.

116. Wind ensemble member: OBOE.

117. Bursts: POPS.

118. Popeye's __'Pea: SWEE.

120. Shed a tear: CRY.

122. Card game shout: UNO.

123. Got into the race: RAN.

C.C.

Saturday, June 22, 2019, Julian Lim

Themeless Saturday by Julian Lim

Today's constructor is Julian Lim who is an assistant professor in Singapore at Duke-NUS which is a collaboration between Duke University in America and the National University of Singapore. His areas of study would seem to fit right in with my issues! I fought off my behavioral disorders and was able to finish his offering quickly as his long fills were gettable and helpful!

Let's see what Professor Lim has for us today to combat any mental fatigue:

Across:

1. Marketing term involving supposed nutritional benefits: SUPERFOOD - What is this?

10. Dividing walls: SEPTA

15. Afford a view of: OPEN OUT TO - You can rent this house that OPENS OUT TO this view in the Honolulu area for $495/night.

16. '90s "SNL" regular Cheri: OTERI.

17. Skilled writer: WORDSMITH.

18. Run up, as debts: INCUR.

19. Starter followers: ENTREES - Here in Nebraska, I'd recommend a filet

20. Not for youngsters: R-RATED - A movie can keep a PG-13 rating with a couple of  "f-bombs" if they are not used in a sexual context

21. Take up again?: RE HEM - In the 70's, some girls "RE-HEMMED" their modest skirts in which they left home by rolling up the waistband to make mini skirts at school 

22. Arch with a point: OGEE - An old cwd friend 

24. Pay stub?: OLA - Julian! Tricky way to get PAYOLA

25. 1941 Bogart part: SAM SPADE - I'll bet most know what Bogie as SAM SPADE was referencing in this line to Ward Bond playing a police lieutenant  

28. Dry __: ROT

29. LeRoy Foster, for one: MURALIST.

30. Prayer's place: NAVE.

31. Robin's rhyming call?: HOLY GUACAMOLE - 50 variations on a theme

33. Bangkok bread: BAHT - This 39 BAHT sandwich equals $1.25 in Bangkok 

34. Rain-on-the-roof sounds: PIT A PATS - Interminable this spring in the Midwest

35. FAQ snippet: ANS - If you ask a Q, you expect an ANS

36. China quality: FINENESS - Porcelain and China are both terms that refer to dinnerware made of a FINE-particle clay

37. Metric meas.: KGS 50. Land with eland: VELDT - These largest antelope on the African grassland can weigh up to 600 KGS (1,000 lbs)

38. Epilepsy tests, for short: EEGS 

39. Tricked: HOSED - Love this commercial!

43. Romans, in a proverb: LOCALS.

45. Radcliffe grads: ALUMNAE - Graduates of formerly all female Radcliffe would be called ALUMNAE (plural of female singular alumna)

47. Profit: AVAIL.

48. Get at: INSINUATE.

51. Knocked too hard?: NITPICKED - A hazard for all bloggers

52. Kid's retort: ARE SO.

53. Gets even: SMOOTHENS - Most know this word but Seinfeld fans will understand (and want) this shirt

Down:

1. Planter: SOWER - A 1930 video of the 8.5 ton SOWER statue being lifted to the top of Nebraska's capitol building (:48)

2. On top, but only just: UP ONE - Toronto was UP ONE (3 games to 2) when The Golden State Warriors 36. Were conquered by: FELL TO them on 6/10/19. The 4. Upshot: END RESULT was an NBA title for Toronto

3. Western Australia's capital: PERTH - Gird your loins for a long trip if you are going to drive from Sydney to PERTH

5. Seasoning for lamb: ROSEMARY.

6. Steam: FUME.

7. Spunkmeyer of cookie fame: OTIS.

8. First National Leaguer to hit 500 home runs: OTT - This mint condition 1933 Goudey card will run you $42,000 

9. Hand-to-head cry: DOH.

10. Evening do: SOIREE - I wonder if Marie Antoinette served cake at her SOIREES

11. Peak in Catania: ETNA.

12. Push-up targets: PECTORALS.

13. What "never runs smooth," in a 1963 Gene Pitney hit: TRUE LOVE - His anguished voice spoke to my teen angst

14. Specification for a pilot: AIR DATE - If your TV pilot is good enough, it will get an AIR DATE

20. Much paperwork: RED TAPE - Even north of the border

22. Poppy products: OPIATES -  The difference between OPIATES and opioids

23. Garage vessel: GAS CAN.

26. Heckle and Jeckle, e.g.: MAGPIES - Cartoon birds of my misspent yute

27. Turning about: SLUING.

29. Where diamond gets a 10: MOHS SCALE - Talc is the softest on this scale at 1

30. Less: NOT SO MUCH.

31. Hair-of-the-dog target: HANGOVER - Origin of the phrase "Hair-of-the-dog"

32. Hawkeye's group: MASH UNIT. On M*A*S*H, Lebanese Klinger would call an easy task, "A proverbial piece of 33. Filo pastry dessert: BAKLAVA.

40. Dastardly sort: SNAKE 

41. Downed: EATEN.

42. Accomplishments: DEEDS - I volunteered to take lunch room duty for one year to help out my principal. 23 years later... 

44. Some are visual: AIDS - I believe in using visuals as AIDS in my blogging but people can still just scan for the bold answers and move on

45. Respecting: AS TO.

46. Cosmetic surg. option: LIPO.

48. Connections: INS - A great aid in getting a job

49. Strategic math game: NIM - I suspect Professor Lim has played this combinatorial game of NIM

Now presuming your Heating, Air Conditioning and Ventilation are fine,  comment on Julian's fun Saturday puzzle!