Wednesday July 10, 2019 Alan Olschwang

 Theme:  DEUCES WILD (58. Card game declaration, and a hint to what can be found in the four other longest answers) - Anagram of "Deuce" are hidden in each theme answer.

 18. *Soft material: SUEDE CLOTH.

 23. *Supply support for a claim: PRODUCE EVIDENCE.

 36. *"Coming Home" and "Nebraska" Oscar nominee: BRUCE DERN.

 50. *Like many new job seekers: COLLEGE-EDUCATED.

Boomer again, filling another blogging gap.

Hello everyone. I can relate to this theme because I really like playing the deuces wild version of draw poker machines at the casinos.  You don't win a lot but also you can play a while without losing much. I did hit a royal flush (no wild cards) for $200, on a five nickel bet at Treasure Island. The one in Minnesota, not the one on the Strip in Vegas.

Boomer, Treasure Island, 2013

Across:

1. Chopped garden clods: HOED.  Easier than pulling weeds, but careful around the tomatoes .

5. Wash: BATHE.

10. Thailand neighbor: LAOS.

14. Basketball Hall of Famer Donovan: ANNE.  We met Lindsey Whalen once.  She was a star Minnesota Gopher and Minnesota Lynx guard.  She now coaches the Gopher women's basketball program and I expect will be elected to the Hall of Fame. She is from Hutchinson, MN, a city 40 miles west of Minneapolis and was founded by my great, great, great grandfather Asa Hutchinson.  Leader of the Hutchinson Family Singers, but no relation to the governor of Arkansas.  (I asked).  

Anne Donovan (November 1, 1961 – June 13, 2018)

15. Dislike to the max: ABHOR.

16. Foot part: INCH. Toe did not have enough letters and heel didn't work either.

17. Rose and ruby: REDS.  Cincinnati baseball team.  I wish they could have taken a game or two from Cleveland last weekend.

20. "Downton Abbey" actor Stevens: DAN.

21. Ph.D. hurdle: DISS. Dissertation.

22. Quarterback Manning: ELI.  Brother of Peyton.  "Nationwide is on your side." 

29. Absolute: UTTER.

30. Cork's land: Abbr.: IRE.

31. "Mazel __!": TOV. Congratulations and best of luck!!

32. Ancient city on the Nile: THEBES.  The Nile River does not get enough credit.  I believe the source is either the Red Sea or the Mediterranean and winds its way through Egypt.  It forms a few lakes south of Cairo, reminds me of the Mississippi in Missouri.

34. "That scared me!": EEK.  Monday we had EKE, now we are treated to EEK.

35. Many a map dot: ISLE.  Reminds me of Lake of the Isles, featured on the intro of many Mary Tyler Moore episodes.

Mary Tyler Moore House, August 16, 2017

39. West Point team: ARMY.  Hup, Sarge.

42. It's never free of charge: ION.

43. E-tailer: DOT COM.

47. Life story, briefly: BIO.

48. Spike TV, once: TNN.

49. Candle emanation: AROMA. That's odd, I never realize an aroma from a candle.  How about "Outhouse emanation"?

55. Filming site: LOT.  It is said his wife was turned to a pillar of salt.

56. Phnom __, Cambodia: PENH.

57. Ancient times, poetically: ELD.

62. Tire swing support: TREE.  Brings back memories.  I have not seen a tire swing for years.

63. "A Beautiful Mind" mathematician: NASH.  I have not seen one of them for years either,  My Mom drove a 1952 sedan.  (Not a Rambler).  I owned a 1975 Pacer before AMC went under.

64. Numbered market section: AISLE.  Home Depot has numbered aisles, and I swear every store employee knows exactly which number everything is in. 

65. Is in session: SITS.

66. Slow-moving boats: ARKS.

67. Old Renault: LE CAR.  Never owned or drove one of these.  Is Renault still in business?

68. 38-Down, e.g.: PEST. 38D. Orkin target: ROACH.

Down:

1. Barely able: HARD PUT.  Add a "T" and you have the Hard putt made on the 18th green by Matt Wolfe at the 3M Open Sunday.

2. The heck: ON EARTH. Peace ON EARTH finally, now that July 4th has passed.

3. Back-of-the-book explanatory comment: END NOTE.

4. Paris' Pont __ Arts: DES. 

5. Like 101 courses: BASIC.

6. Vituperation: ABUSE.

7. This and this: THESE.  Life Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness.

8. Brick carrier: HOD.

9. Prior to, in verse: ERE.

10. De Gaulle's birthplace: LILLE.  Charles De Gaulle was a key ally for the U.S. in World War II and was still President of France when I was in high school in the sixties.

11. Applies holy oil to: ANOINTS. Our sick parishioners receive this monthly in church.

12. U.N. Day month: OCT.  The 27th is my birthday.

13. "Be quiet!": SHH.

19. Relinquish officially: CEDE.  Hairlines must cede twice, because they RECEDE.

21. Engraver Albrecht: DURER.

24. "You Light Up My Life" singer Boone: DEBBY.  I see her on infomercials with Peter Marshall selling old time greats CDs.  Her dad PAT was a legend, now he sells bathtubs.

25. Competed: VIED.

26. Ticked: IRKED. See also 46. Superlatively 26-Down: MADDEST.

27. KFC title: COL.  Good old Colonel Sanders.  We visited the very first KFC in Corbin, KY about 17 years ago on our way to Myrtle Beach, SC.  A great historical stop.

28. Biblical garden denizen: EVE.  Please pass me an apple.

33. Acting litigiously: SUING.

34. Poetic twilight: EEN.  Oh I'm just eightEEN, got a ruptured SplEEN and I always carry a purse, (Draft Dodger Blues.  Chad Mitchell Trio)  

35. IV part: INTRA.

37. Cold Stone Creamery buy: CONE.  Former Mets pitcher David.

39. "The Rookie" network: ABC.  I don't watch ABC too much anymore.  Maybe if they had "Law & Order" reruns.

40. __ Grande: RIO.

41. Oyster or clam: MOLLUSK.

44. Social circle: COTERIE.

45. Brunch buffet station fare: OMELETS.  Great name!  I think it is Latin for three scrambled eggs, grilled flat, then rolled up around ham and cheese.

48. Beret's perch: TETE.

51. Highland waters: LOCHS. Home of the Ness Monster?

52. Protestant denom.: EPISC.

53. Street in a law office: DELLA.  I used to watch Perry Mason all the time.  Now I hardly ever tune in a rerun.

54. Sedated: UNDER.

58. Paternity identifier: DNA.  Had this on Monday.

59. Musical gift: EAR.  I have heard that a person might have a good ear for music.  What do they do with their other ear?

60. "Do the Right Thing" pizzeria owner: SAL.

61. LPGA golfer Michelle: WIE.  She was in Chaska Minnesota at Hazeltine several weeks ago.  However it seems she has injured wrists, and was not able to make the cut.

62. Dose meas.: TSP.

Boomer

Tuesday, July 9, 2019, Gail Grabowski and Bruce Venzke

Man's Best Friend.  The last word of each theme answer can precede the word Dog to give us a new and common phrase.

I'll start with the unifier today.

54-Across. Pretend to be wealthy, in old slang ... and a hint to words that end answers to starred clues: PUT ON THE DOG.

According to a number of sources, the idiom Putting On the Dog is uniquely an American expression.  It was first recorded in print in the early 1870s in a book entitled Four Years at Yale, and it means "to make a flashy display."  It may derive from the popularity of lap dogs during the 1860s and 1870s.  Because a lap dog was considered to be pampered, "putting on the dog" was a way of showing off.

20-Across. *  Hit the roof: BLOW ONES TOP.  As in the Top Dog - Number 1 Best!

38-Across. *  Goes on a winning streak: GETS HOT.  Could also be parsed as Get Shot, but that doesn't fit the theme.  Hot Dog.  Hi, Misty!

11-Down. *  Old Spice rival: RIGHT GUARD.  Both Right Guard and Old Spice are deodorants.    Guard Dog.

29-Down. *  Photogenic evening event: SETTING SUN.  Sun Dog.  Everything you always wanted to known about a Sun Dog, but were afraid to ask.

Across:
1. Tampa NFLers: BUCS.  As in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Their logo is fierce.  Hi, Tin!

5. Copier powder: TONER.

10. Like much testimony: ORAL.

14. Sundance Film Festival state: UTAH.  This is an annual event that takes place in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah.  Next year the film festival will run from Thursday, January 23, 2020 through Sunday February 2, 2020.  It is a showcase festival for American and foreign independent filmmakers.  Get your tickets now!

15. Virtuosic piece: ÉTUDE.

16. Document with an executor: WILL.  As in your Last Will and Testament.

17. Celeb's wheels: LIMO.  As in a Limousine.

How classy!

18. Angry diner patron's decision: NO TIP.

19. French Toaster Sticks brand: EGGO.  Leggo my Eggo!

23. Barn bale: HAY.  Round or Square?

24. Spring flower: IRIS.  Things you didn't know about Van Gogh's Iris paintings.

25. Turned to compost: ROTTED.

27. Pretend to be: POSE AS.  Can you spot the differences in these pictures?

30. Word with call or ritual: MATING.  As in a Mating Call or a Mating Ritual.

32. Rudder's region: STERN.  Hi, Spitzboov!

33. Religious faction: SECT.

34. Ballet skirt: TUTU.  //  Not to be confused with 42-Across.  Fictional terrier from Kansas: TOTO.

37. Museum display: ART.

41. Satisfied exhalations: AHs!

44. Picture of health?: X-RAY.

45. Kiddie-lit brutes: OGRES.

47. "Famous potatoes" referred to in a license plate slogan: IDAHOS.  My Own Private Idaho.

49. Rubble-lifting machine: LOADER.

50. Movie theater: CINEMA.  Where you go to see a film at the Sundance Film Festival.

52. __ bath: therapeutic soak: SITZ.  Believe me, you don't want to see a picture.

53. Energy unit: ERG.  An Erg is the amount of work done by a force of one dyne exerted for a distance of 1 centimeter.  The word erg comes from the Greek word for work.

60. Arnaz of early TV: DESI.  Desi Arnaz (Mar. 2, 1917 ~ Dec. 2, 1986) was the husband of Lucille Ball and played her husband, Ricky Ricardo, on I Love Lucy.  Sadly, their marriage in real life was not a happy one.

62. Anwar of Egypt: SADAT.  Muhammad Anwar el-Sadat (Dec. 25, 1918 ~ Oct. 6, 1981) was the 3rd President of Egypt.  He worked to make peace with Israel, and in 1978, he shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Israeli Prime Minister, Menacham Began.  Three years later, Sadat was assassinated  by one of his countrymen while celebrating the annual event marking Egypt's crossing of the Suez Canal during the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

63. U2 lead singer: BONO.  His given name is Paul David Hewson (b. May 10, 1960).

64. Sufficient, briefly: ENUF.  Enuf said!

65. Bike for a tyke: TRIKE.

66. Shamu was one: ORCA.

67. Rooms with recliners: DENS.

68. Take the wheel: STEER.  I initially tried Drive, but I guess we were looking for a more bovine answer.

69. RR depot posting: SKED.  As in the schedule.

Down:
1. Daffodil-to-be: BULB.

2. Electric co., e.g.: UTIL.  As in a Utility.

3. Covert ops garb: CAMO.  I was thinking a little more Cloak and Dagger, so initially tried Cape.  (Look closely.)

4. More flamboyant: SHOWIER.

5. Nadal's sport: TENNIS.  Rafael Nadal (b. June 3, 1986) is a professional tennis player.  He has won 18 Grand Slam singles titles.

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal

Roger Federer

6. Great Plains natives: OTOES.

7. Tree-borne allergen sources: NUTS.

8. Tweak, as text: EDIT.

9. Work under, as a manager: REPORT TO.

10. Have bills to pay: OWE.  I owe, I owe, so off to work I go!

12. Pool owner's concern: ALGAE.  It's hard work to keep a pool algae-free.

13. "Airplane!" actor Bridges: LLOYD.  Lloyd Vernet Bridges, Jr. (Jan. 15, 1913 ~ Mar. 10, 1998) was the father of actors Beau and Jeff Bridges.  Airplane! is a very funny movie.

21. Indonesian ape: ORANG.

22. Luau finger food: POI.  When I tried poi, it was more like the consistency of humas, not something that one would eat with one's fingers.

26. Blowup letters: TNT.  As in TriNitoToluene.

27. Natl. Merit Scholarship qualifying exam: PSAT.  The Preliminary SAT is a standardized test administered by the College Board and is co-sponsored by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

28. Other, in Oaxaca: OTRO.  Today's Spanish lesson.  Oaxaca is is a city in central Mexico known for its colorful buildings made from greenish volcanic stone.

30. Western plateaus: MESAS.

31. Like overworked muscles: ACHY.

33. Houston MLBer: 'STRO.  As in the Houston Astros Major League Baseball team.  Note, however, that the official logo doesn't abbreviate the name.

35. You, quaintly: THEE.  I initially tried Thou.

36. Cold War country: Abbr.: USSR.  As in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or in the alphabet used in Russia, the country would have been known as Союз Советских Социалистических Республик.

39. Drains of energy: EXHAUSTS.

40. One in a comb row: TOOTH.

43. Glorifying verse: ODE.  A crossword staple.

46. Open-sided structures also called summerhouses: GAZEBOS.  Do you know the difference between a Gazebo and a Pergola?

48. Sound system part: AMP.

49. Leave a paper trail?: LITTER.  My favorite clue of the puzzle.

50. Formally gave up: CEDED.

51. Goddess of peace: IRENE.  Good night!

52. Slithering reptile: SNAKE.

55. Fruit pastry: TART.  Yummers!

56. Drooling toon canine: ODIE.  Garfield's chum.

57. Nerdy sort: DORK.

58. Back in the day: ONCE.  Once upon a time there was, "a king!", my little readers will instantly exclaim.  No, children, you are mistaken.  Once upon a time there was a piece of wood.  **  To which  children's story are these the opening lines?

59. Egg on: GOAD.

61. "No __, ands or buts": IFs.


And here's the Grid:

I'll leave you with a QOD:  If you haven’t found something strange during the day, it hasn’t been much of a day.  ~  John A. Wheeler (né John Archibald Wheeler; July 9, 1911 ~ Apr. 13, 2008), American theoretical physicist

**  Pinocchio.

Note from C.C.:

Happy Birthday to dear Tony (Anonymous-T), our generous and caring geek friend. Tony wrote a program that eased up our blogging considerably.

At Wit's End near Carmel on Father's Day 2017

Monday July 8th, 2019 Jennifer Marra

Theme: TV investigators

20A. Investigating team in "Sherlock": HOLMES AND WATSON.

39A. Investigating team in "Dragnet": FRIDAY AND GANNON.

56A. Investigating team in "The X-Files": MULDER  AND SCULLY.

Boomer here.  C.C. said this might be Jennifer's LA Times debut. Congratulations!

I spent considerable time this weekend watching the 3M Open PGA golf tournament on TV.  I mentioned in the past the C.C. and I attended the Champions tour event at the TPC in Blaine but we did not visit this year's tourney.  The field was a bit weak however the play was very good on a tough course. I noticed many Canadians in the field but most of the upper level Europeans were across the pond getting ready for the Open.

I had to chuckle when one of the announcers identified Adam Hadwin as being from Manitoba, British Columbia.  He later corrected himself, but I think he said Adam was from Moose Jaw, Manitoba.  Well, since I have shirttail relatives in Saskatoon, I knew that Moose Jaw is in Saskatchewan.  The 3M tournament was happy to welcome Canadians and I think they probably felt at home in Minnesota.  We did not have any earthquakes this weekend. It's difficult to putt when the ground is shaking.  Exciting finish.  Funny hat Bryson knocked in an eagle putt on 18 but then congrats to Matt Wolfe who nailed an eagle of his own to win ! 

Across:

1. Head honcho: BOSS.  Bruce Springsteen

5. Bird's crop: CRAW.

9. Fare in a pigsty: SLOP.  There was a little rain at the 3M Open and a few sloppy shots.

13. Canal about which the 1905 song "Low Bridge, Everybody Down" was written: ERIE.

14. Subs from delis: HEROS.  I think Heroes is spelled with another "e".

16. One can be painted or papered: WALL.  OR you can make or lose paper money on this Street.

17. Tattle: TELL.  Have an apple William.

18. Now, in Nicaragua: AHORA. Chilean golfer Joaquin Niemann would know this.  I didn't.

19. On the ocean: ASEA.  He joined the Navy to see the world, but what did he see, he saw a sea.

23. Limbs in sleeves: ARMS.  "Babes in Arms" was a musical from the thirties that has been performed in many high schools over the years.

24. "__ woods these are I think I know": Frost: WHOSE.

25. Black __ : covert missions: OPS.  Remember Donald Sutherland's Black Ops revelation in the movie "JFK" ?

28. "Moby-Dick" narrator: ISHMAEL.

32. Archaeologist's find: RELIC.

34. Ventilation: AIR.  Basketball star Michael Jordan.

35. Turkey meat choice: DARK.  We used to have a local racing fan and journalist who called himself "Dark Star".  He stopped at "Boomer's Ballcards" once or twice and made purchases of baseball cards.  He was a member of Interlachen Country Club where Bobbie Jones won the US Open in 1930 for his third leg of the grand slam.  C.C. and I visited the course for the 2002 Solheim Cup and again in 2008 for the LPGA U.S. Open.  Not to play, just to watch.

43. Is the right size: FITS. It the shoe fits, wear it. 

44. Eisenhower nickname: IKE.  I will always remember when he visited Minneapolis in a bubble top convertible parade, around 1956. I always wondered why JFK did not use the same type of transportation.

45. Jack of "Twin Peaks": NANCE.

46. Losing weight: ON A DIET.  I did not need a diet.  The pills took my weight off.  Now I am a fighting 180 LBs.  C.C. can maybe convert that to KGs.

49. __ out: just manage: EKE.  Didn't take long to get from IKE to EKE. 

50. Sugar substitute brand: EQUAL.  A little spendy.  I buy the same stuff with the name "Stevia" in a bag from Aldi.  Of course I refill my empty "Equal" jars with the product.

54. "The Andy Griffith Show" tyke: OPIE.  I wonder if Ronnie Howard ever thought that his screen name would be used in over 1000 crossword puzzles.

63. Tight connection, as between mother and baby: BOND.  "Bond, James Bond."

64. "... had a farm, __": E I E I O.  Mr. McDonald's sneaky way to get 5 vowels into a puzzle.  By the way.  Old McDonald grew potatoes and livestock on his farm, and eventually opened a fast food restaurant.  Some people say that story is a Kroc.

65. In __ of: replacing: LIEU.

66. Bibliography space saver: ET AL.  How many eggs did you have for Breakfast Caesar ?  Et tu Brute.

67. "The Wife" actress Close: GLENN.  Famous astronaut John.  We have his autograph.

68. Unceasingly: EVER.  "If you're EVER in a jam, here I am.

69. Steak order: RARE.  Retired NL Umpire Dutch Rennert was said that his strike call sounded like STEAK RARE.

70. Fr. holy women: STES.

71. Part that's left: REST.  Did you ever notice that highway rest area bathrooms are not too restful?

Down:

1. Second Hebrew letter: BETH.

2. Three-ply snack: OREO.  I think OPIE used to ask Aunt Bea for an OREO.

3. Window ledge: SILL.  "High upon a Windowsill, I couldn't hardly reach it," (Our Gang) 

4. 1965 Alabama march site: SELMA. "And you tell me over and over and over again, that you don't believe, we're on the eve of destruction."

5. Deep fissures: CHASMS.

6. Discuss to death: REHASH.  Sounds like an afternoon meal in the U.S. Army.

7. Elvis __ Presley: ARON.

8. Scrabble play: WORD.  C.C. and I used to play frequently.  She beat me all the time but now we are donating the big Scrabble game to the church garage sale this month.

9. Lawn mower's trail: SWATH.

10. Roundup rope: LASSO.

11. Spreads on breads: OLEOS.  I wonder if Aunt Bea spread OLEO on OPIE's OREO.

12. Piper Cub, e.g.: PLANE.  Tattoo on Fantasy Island.  De Plane, De Plane !!

15. Observed: SAW.  Tweety - I taught I taw a puddy cat.

21. Author Jong: ERICA.

22. Shoemaker's tool: AWL.

25. "Carmina Burana" composer: ORFF.  Sounds like a dog bark during July 4 LOUD fireworks.

26. Prefix with scope or meter: PERI.

27. Use a box cutter on: SLIT. I slit the sheet, the sheet I slit.  Upon the slitted sheet I sit.  (say that carefully)

29. Like horses' necks: MANED.

30. Help: AID.

31. Work unit: ERG.

33. Cards shown to get past bouncers: IDS.  We have an IDS Tower in Minneapolis.  I believe it was an acronym for Investors Diversified Services. That company has been swallowed up, but the building remains with the same name.

35. Some trial evidence: DNA.  The "A" stands for acid.  The DN stands for something I cannot spell.

36. Diarist Frank: ANNE.

37. __ the boat: make waves: ROCK.  "I am a ROCK, I am an ISLAND" Simon and Art.

38. Leg joint: KNEE.  Quarterbacks take them at the end of a game.

40. Yang partner: YIN.

41. Alias letters: AKA.

42. Caper: ANTIC.

46. Corrida cheer: OLE.  Ole and Sven were installing new shingles on the roof.  But Sven was only using half the nails and tossing the others away.  Ole said, "Hey Sven, why are you throwing half the nails off the roof??"  Sven "Can't you see those nails are pointed on the wrong end." Ole - "Stupid!!  Those nails are for the other side of the roof!" 

47. "I" on the periodic table: IODINE.

48. Many office printers: EPSONS.  With apologies to any one who owns one.  I think they are a thing of the past. HP stands for Horsepower.

50. Live coal fragment: EMBER.  We used to have a restaurant chain in the Twin Cities.  Their slogan was "Remember the Embers."  Not many left. Needless to say they were predicting actuality.

51. Marketing target: QUOTA.

52. Of an arm bone: ULNAR.

53. Bewilder: ADDLE.  Adjective for BRAIN.

55. Swiss calculus pioneer: EULER.

57. Rule, for short: REG.

58. Isn't feeling up to par: AILS.

59. Bygone Nair rival: NEET.  I remember this.  Haven't seen it for a long time.  I never used it.  I never had hair on my legs.

60. Being broadcast as it happens: LIVE.

61. Wranglers alternative: LEES.  Levi's alternative also.

62. Asian tent: YURT.

Boomer