Saturday, November 24, 2018, Kyle Dolan

Themeless Saturday Puzzle By Kyle Dolan

On this first Saturday after Thanksgiving and subsequent Black Friday, Small Business Saturday is observed. Our town is very aggressive in promoting its downtown small businesses and some of these enterprises are still flourishing with second and third generation owners.

November 24 also marks Evolution Day, the anniversary of the 1859 publication of Darwin's On The Origin Of Species. Mixing the two thoughts together might give rise to contemplating the evolution of shopping in recent years and where it might be headed in the future.

It is my pleasure to blog my third Saturday Themeless by Dr. Kyle Dolan on this day. I avoided being held up to OBLOQUY (learning moment por moi) by realizing GOAT YOGA was an actual thing and my arcade bonus EXTRA was BALL, not TIME nor LIFE.

Clever, fair Saturday cluing also made for a tough but  fun excursion for this solver.


Now let's see what the good doctor has for us before we head out to Mom and Pop's store.

Across:

1. Fitness trend that involves kids?: GOAT YOGA - A pretty obscure jumping off point but it is a real activity as you can see at the Denver County Fair in Colorado where the "kids" are two and four-legged.

9. "... but we're not done yet": SO FAR

14. Arcade bonus: EXTRA BALL - I remember getting five pinballs for a nickel as a yute and an extra game at 300 points.

16. Old market for olive oil: AGORA - Speaking of shopping, Trajan's Market was a huge AGORA in ancient Rome where I'd bet you could get some olive oil. Our guide called it the world's first shopping mall.

17. Setting for Dante's "Divine Comedy": AFTER LIFE 

18. "Impractical Jokers" network: TRUTV - truTV

19. Something to try out for: ROLE - Tom Selleck did audition for the ROLE of Indiana Jones but Magnum PI came up... 

20. Shelved, for now: ON ICE.

22. "What __?": ELSE - California has had about every tragedy possible this year. This is a question they could be asking themselves 

23. Drei, in the Apennines: TRE - What famous song/movie would be called TRE monete nella fontana in Italy and DREI münzen im brunnen north of the Alps in Germany? *Answer at bottom


24. Cries from sties: SQUEALS - What they are SQUEALING for in the sty

26. Mate: PAL - Sunday solvers will remember C.C.'s wonderful Bro Hug puzzle from last weekend which had: 23A. Corporate criminal's undoing: PAPER TRAIL. PAL  and  Oh yeah, she also had 39A. Sparty's school: MICHIGAN STATE. MATE.

27. Neruda wrote one about the sea: ODE - Pablo Neruda wrote, "I need the sea because it teaches me"

28. Frequent adoptee: PUP 

29. Dirty digs: RAT HOLE

31. Local politician's goal, perhaps: MAYOR - Our town's MAYOR has been instrumental in getting a $400M chicken plant and massive new low cost housing developments here in our little town of 26,000. Approval is far from unanimous. 

34. Bit of bedroom decor: SHAM - Pillow covers at our house

36. When tripled, "Yum!": NOM - We went with NUM, NUM, NUM with our kids

38. Dates: SEES.

39. Cover stories?: BLURBS - The start of a BLURB from our crossword friend TRU 

41. Some lab workers: TECHS  - Here's a kitty wearing a Lab Coat

43. Perform energetically: ROCK OUT.

45. "__ & Him": Zooey Deschanel duo: SHE - A seasonal offering from Her and Him

46. Prefix with gender: CIS.

49. Polly's call: AWK - or Salty's and 5. Pirate's cry: YAR - Although Popeye is not a pirate and the parrot is not Polly, still...

50. Bound: TRUSSED - A treatment your turkey may have had two days ago

52. Elect: OPT.

53. Ziggy Stardust genre: GLAM - A character created by David Bowie

55. Pitch-lowering symbols: FLATS - Down a musical half step 

56. Jaunty greeting: HI HO - Which of these used the greeting, "HI HO, Steverino!" 

57. Country on the Gulf of Guinea: GABON - If you know where it is, you're a better man than I am, Charlie Brown. The answer

59. "That makes much more sense!": I GET IT NOW - Yeah, I do, but I still won't be able to pick out Gabon in a few days

61. Summer month in Santiago: ENERO - On the chart below, ENERO is JANuary and the height of Chile's summer 

62. Italian bread often served at Christmastime: PANETTONE - Last Saturday was National Homemade Bread Day

63. Particulars, informally: DEETS - I guess the "Dev is in the DEETS". Yuck!

64. Wanting: STRAPPED - STRAPPED for cash leaps to mind


Down:

1. Customize for: GEAR TO - As an educator, you are obligated to GEAR your lessons TO your kids

2. 3-Down's alma mater: OXFORD - and 3. Churchill's 1945 successor: ATTLEE. Clement ATTLEE was in the class of 1904 where he graduated as a Bachelor of Arts with second-class honours in modern history.

4. Family shower: TREE - Not the questionable context you first thought. The Family TREE shows your ancestry

6. Public humiliation: OBLOQUY - A new word for me

7. Start to overtake: GAIN UPON.

8. 2004 remake starring Jude Law: ALFIE - What's It All About, ALFIE?

9. Posed: SAT - FDR SAT for this portrait in April of 1945 in Warm Springs, GA but it went unfinished as he died while the water color was in progress

10. Brutish one: OGRE.

11. Ball field marker: FOUL POLE - This famous Carlton Fisk homer hit the FOUL POLE (FAIR POLE?) to win Game 6 of the 1975 World Series.

33. Got exactly right: NAILED - The Red Sox renamed that the Fisk Pole to honor the man who NAILED it 43 years ago

12. Gallery news: ART SALES.

13. Disentangled: RAVELED - RAVELED : Unraveled = Furled : Unfurled

15. '70s-'80s Rabbit competitor: LE CAR - VW's Rabbit vs Renault's LE CAR

21. Panache: ELAN.

24. One may be foiled by a captcha: SPAMBOT - This "Captcha" program asks you to type in the distorted screen characters to prove you are not a robot/SPAMBOT which could then send SPAM email to as many addresses as it can harvest

25. Put away: STASHED.

30. Makes haste: HIES - HIE, thou art an olde word

31. Euro forerunner: MARK - Not LIRA it turns out, 32. Tommy add-on: ROT - Not GUN it turns out and 44. Spring bloom: TULIP- Not LILAC it turns out

34. Provision for trucks: SLOW LANE.

35. Two-time Republican presidential candidate: HUCKABEE - and his daughter 

37. Camp gathering place: MESS TENT - A famous one

39. Talked big: BRAGGED.

40. Waves: SURF.

42. Grover's predecessor: CHESTER - CHESTER A. Arthur became president when President James Garfield was assassinated. Since there was no mechanism to name a new VP, he served his four years without one.

46. Like classic gumball machines: COIN OP - In my misspent yute, it was the answer to the burning question, "What can you buy for a penny""

47. Apple's X, e.g.: IPHONE - My 6S is doing great but the battery might be heading south

48. Put under a seat, say: STOWED.

51. Elaborate tales: SAGAS - An excellent list of movie SAGAS

54. Cartoonist Walker: MORT - A mashup of his two most famous strips 

56. Letters in an internet bar: HTTP - The HyperTextTransfer Protocol address of this blog: https://crosswordcorner.blogspot.com


58. Opposed words: NOS- The number of NOS cast can change greatly when a secret ballot is used

60. Spanish diminutive ending: ITA - Chica - Girl. ChiquITA - Little Girl affectionately in Spanish. Also a chance to post a song from one of my favorite groups 

Now before you go out and skip the Big Box Stores to shop, how 'bout a comment:

*That song would be Three Coins In The Fountain

Friday, November 23, 2018, Jeffrey Wechsler

Title: The car of the year and an inspiration? The Triumph TR4

If you are not too stuffed from your Thanksgiving Turkey, or Turducken, or Goose,  welcome to Friday. Well guess who is back with an add-on letters theme. This time Jeffrey adds TR to the beginning of 4 in the language phrases. The results are pretty funny. He even sneaks in a Thanksgiving reference with his Dickens clue. He seemed a bit obsessed with a non-vegetarian slant with GOOSE, MOOSE MEAT and OFFAL all together in the middle; I guess he did not want u to veg out. Two grid-spanners and two 13 letter themers as well as including OFFICE AREA, GRABS ON, ARMORER, KOSHER SALT, MOOSE MEAT, STATE TREE and ON ONE END show his skill in putting together a grid with lots of sparkle. So now...

17A. Imaginary fish?: TROUT OF ONE'S MIND.(15). While I did not go out of my mind I loved this one.

32A. Participates in a biathlon for physicians?: TREATS AND RUNS (13). Medical humor.

41A. Where climbing plants flourish?: TRELLIS ISLAND (13). I also loved the use of Ellis Island as a base phrase.

61A. Tire-testing statistics?: TRACTION FIGURES.(15). The most well thought out combination as our toys become a useful piece of information.

Across:

1. Chicken (out): WIMP. I hope the Friday fear does not make you chicken out.

5. Mild cheese: GOUDA. Because you will have a gouda time.

10. Latticework component: LATH. This was difficult for me, but perhaps a bonus theme fill as
a lath or slat is a thin, narrow strip of straight-grained wood used under roof shingles or tiles, on lath and plaster walls and ceilings to hold plaster, and in lattice and trellis work.

14. Grandson of Adam: ENOS.

15. Behind-the-scenes retail space: OFFICE AREA. This is very convoluted, though I guess it makes sense.

19. QBs' targets: TES. Tight Ends, the best known of which is currently...

20. Second-largest W. Hemisphere country: USA. This is apparently in debate as the source I cite says the USA is bigger than Canada, but not as big of Antarctica, which is only partially in the Western Hemisphere. LINK. Please educate me if you know differently. I have read more, and it seems that Canada is larger based on total mass, which includes internal waterways, while the US is larger in land mass. No intent to slight our Canadian readers or constructors, eh!

21. Clutches: GRABS ON. Also Friday clue/fill difficulty for me

22. Ann้e quarter: ETE. French for part of a year.

23. Composer Bart๓k: BELA.

25. Email tab: SENT.

26. Water collection pit: SUMP. This the low part of an area where liquids collect when draining from something, like from a private waste pool. You often will need a sump pump.

28. Uh-huh accompaniers: NODS. You do it without even thinking.

38. Of limited scope: NARROW. Like many minds.

39. Old auto named for an explorer: DE SOTO. The history of the CAR.

44. More than a peck: KISS. Especially if you are with...

45. Yours, to Yves:  À TOI.  

46. "O, that way madness lies" speaker: LEAR. Jeffrey gets his Shakespeare in this week. King Lear bemoaning the treatment he has received from his daughters.

50. Many a Ph.D.: PROFessor.

54. 50-Across' subj., perhaps: ENGlish

55. Mail creator: ARMORER. Chain mail not e-mail.

59. Texting qualifier: IMO. In My Opinion.

60. Where some drives begin: TEE. Ah some golf.

64. Common cooking ingredient: KOSHER SALT. The WHY it is used by chefs.

65. Campsite sight: TENT.

66. Language that gave us "plaid": ERSE. They also gave us the concept of plaid.

67. Architectural projections: EAVES.

68. Last letters in London: ZEDS.

Down:

1. Record-breaking, rainwise: WETTEST. California wishes it was having some of that instead of those states that are flooding.

2. Reciprocally: IN RETURN.

3. Alaskan burger choice: MOOSE MEAT. Not really true but you can sometimes find this TREAT.

4. Nittany Lions' sch.: PSU. Penn State University in Happy Valley.

5. Dickensian holiday dish: GOOSE. Famous in A Christmas Carol not as the gift, but the background. The STORY.

6. Remains at the butcher: OFFAL. This is an old word which began as a combination of "off" and "fall" - that which falls off.

7. Aerial enigma: UFO.

8. Microwave signal, sometimes: DING.

9. Hardware brand: ACER. I am typing on an ACER laptop.

10. Symbols of innocence: LAMBS. Unless you are being silent.

11. Spring up: ARISE.

12. Mortise partner: TENON. More bonus carpentry.

13. "I __ noticed": HADN'T. Well pay attention!

16. That, in Madrid: ESA. Spanish.

18. One may include a shower: TUB.

24. __ Arbor: ANN. Where the University of Michigan, another Big Ten school is located.

27. Henry VIII's sixth: PARR. It's Catherine or Jack.

29. They may be long at the track: ODDS. Cute horse racing humor; I hope it did not give you a long face.

30. Square root of neun: DREI. German division that isn't military.

31. Find (out): SUSS. A favorite puzzle solving word.

33. Long haul: TREK. Ask James Tiberius Kirk.

34. Recital numbers: SOLI. More than one solo.

35. Leatherworker's set: AWLS.

36. 2014 "NCIS" spinoff locale, briefly: NOLA. A CSO to many here.

37. Pecan, for Texas: STATE TREE. Ours is the SABAL PALM. Yours?

40. How brooms are usually stored: ON ONE END.

42. Org. affected by net neutrality: ISP. Internet service Provider.

43. Fully comprehends: DIGESTS.

46. Hanukkah serving: LATKE. The holiday is fast approaching and homemade potato pancakes are a treat. I use apple sauce, and even cinnamon apple sauce while other prefer gravy or sour cream.

47. Wrong turn, say: ERROR.

48. Bring together: AMASS. A Scrooge reference?

49. Basel-based pharmaceutical giant: ROCHE. Their WEBSITE.

51. Feature of many a Daniel Boone depiction: RIFLE. Dan'l is back for the second straight week- who would a thunk it.

52. Skips: OMITS.

53. Driving hazard: FOG. Especially if you do not know your...

56. GPS datum: RTE.

57. Land of the banshee: EIRE.

58. Civil rights icon Parks: ROSA.

62. Canadian rapper with the album "Reckless": NAV. This CSO to our Canadians comes with a Punjabi heritage. LINK.

63. Big name in snack food: UTZ.

Well I am now hungry and confused, so I will bid you all a fond farewell from Thailand and hope Jeffrey and I entertained this week. I will be back at my normal stomping grounds next Friday.

Lemonade out. I inserted a picture of Oo at the Umbrella Factory where they make and decorate all of them by hand.

Thursday November 22, 2018 Robin Stears

Theme: Last Shift - Last words in all theme entries are all anagrams of "northe":

17A. "Shake It Up" star who won a 2015 Teen Choice Award for her role in "The DUFF": BELLA THORNE.

 

27A. "Monster" Oscar winner: CHARLIZE THERON.

47A. Another name for the Romanov Empire: IMPERIAL THRONE.

62A. Masked hero who partners with Kato: GREEN HORNET.

C.C. here. Steve is probably caught up somewhere with no WiFi. I'll just have a simple write-up today.

We seldom see a 6-letter anangram puzzle. 3 or 4 letters are more common. I'm amazed at Robin's find. We also seldom see a anagram puzzle without a reveal.

Across:

1. Electrically flexible: AC/DC.

5. Mammals who hold hands while sleeping: OTTERS. Did not know this trivia. So sweet.

11. Cy Young Award stat: ERA.

14. "So gross": BLEH. And 52. "'Sup, homie": YO DOG. Don't recall anyone on our blog ever used these expressions.

15. Persona non grata: PARIAH.

16. Hula hoop?: LEI.

19. __ Bernardino: SAN.

20. Helicopter part: ROTOR.

21. Mineral suffix: ITE.

22. Crackerjack: ADEPT.

24. All ears: RAPT.

26. Sport-__: UTE.

34. Yellow Teletubby: LAA LAA.

35. Rower's need: OAR.

36. Like old records: MONO.

37. Returns home?: IRS. Nice clue. We also have 66. Income recipient: EARNER.

38. Blush or flush: TURN RED.

41. ATM maker: NCR.

42. Thick fog: SOUP.

44. Narc's org.: DEA.

45. Element used in atomic clocks: CESIUM. Learning moment for me.

50. Lay unused: SAT.

51. A/C units: BTUs.

55. "Ballers" network: HBO. Wiki says "Ballers is an American comedy-drama television series created by Stephen Levinson and starring Dwayne Johnson as Spencer Strasmore, a retired NFL player who must navigate his new career of choice as the financial manager of other NFL players."

57. Gets rid of: LOSES.

61. Binary digit: ONE.

65. Feel badly about: RUE.

67. Avis adjective: RARA. Rara avis.

68. Medium strength?: ESP. Another nice clue.

69. Arm-twisting: DURESS.

70. "Son of Frankenstein" role: YGOR.

Down:

1. This ans. is one: ABBR. Answer/Abbreviation.

2. Ancient queen, familiarly: CLEO. Cleopatra invented the eyeliner.

3. Bench press muscle: DELT.

4. __ hydrate: sedative: CHLORAL. Also new to me.

5. Decide: OPT.

6. South Pacific island: TAHITI. Close to the sesame paste TAHINI (for hummus).

7. Easy pace: TROT.

8. Word on an Irish euro: EIRE.

9. Hightailed it: RAN.

10. Tight-fitting dress: SHEATH.

11. "Is there something __?": ELSE.

12. Cut the crop: REAP.

13. "If it __ broke ... ": AIN'T.

18. Where Noah landed: ARARAT. Boomer started going to church again three weeks ago. He's a Catholic.

23. Consider: DEEM.

25. Strong praise: PLAUDIT.

26. Netherlands city near Amsterdam: UTRECHT. Click this map for the exact location. North of Gouda.

27. Billiards bounce: CAROM.

28. Invites to the skybox: HAS UP.

29. Divided into districts: ZONAL.

30. Corn unit: EAR.

31. Masterless samurai: RONIN. Literally "wanderer".  The character on top means "wander", the one on the bottom means "person".

32. Perfectly timed: ON CUE.

33. It's to be expected: NORM.

34. Actress Virna: LISI. Have not seen her in our grid for a long time.

39. Stephen who plays Inspector Bucket on "Dickensian": REA.

40. "Talk Dirty" singer Jason: DERULO. New to me also.

43. 100 centavos: PESO.

46. "A thousand pardons": SO SORRY.

48. Uneven: RAGGED.

49. Sizzler choices: T-BONES.

52. Knight times: YORE. I like this clue also.

53. Obligation: ONUS.

54. Like a basso profundo voice: DEEP.

55. Berlin mister: HERR.

56. N.B. part: BENE.

58. Glitch: SNAG.

59. Architect Saarinen: EERO.

60. Have the lead: STAR.

63. "This Is India" novelist Santha Rama __: RAU.

64. Billing nos.: HRS.

 

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Thanks for being part of our Crossword Corner family. I can't imagine what my life will be without your support, esp the past few months.

I'm also grateful for our blogging team, who dedicate so much time on their writeups every week, even when traveling in other countries or dealing with some personal health issues.

Thank you, Rich Norris, Patti Varol and all the L. A. Times constructors for your daily entertainment.

C.C.

Wednesday, November 21, 2018 C.C. Burnikel

Theme: A CAPITAL IDEA, i.e. a sterling concept, taking advantage of the word CAPITAL having two distinctly different meanings, as we shall soon see; one relating to finance and the other to being something central and important.

18. Church official: PARISH CLERK.  A church official charged with carrying out specific duties.  This term was in much more common use in the 19th century.

24. Vermont senator since 2007: BERNIE SANDERS. From 1990 to 2006 he represented Vermont in the House of Representatives.  He also served as mayor of Burlington from 1980 to 1999. If you ever think your vote doesn't matter, remember he won his first election by 10 votes. Deeper than that into politics we shall not venture.

48. "Thus with a kiss I die" speaker: ROMEO MONTAGUE.  Tragic young hero and one of the eponyms of a Shakespearian tragedy.  The musical followed a few centuries later.

58. Baked pasta dish: RIGATONI PIE.  You be the judge.

And then the centrally located two-part unifier.  37. With 39-Across, seed money ... or what 18-, 24-, 48- and 58-Across each has: STARTUP.

39. See 37-Across: CAPITAL.  Together, they indicate the initial investment needed to get a business going; and also, via word play, the CAPITAL city of a European country at the START of each theme entry.

The cities are --
PARIS, France;
BERN. Switzerland;
ROME, Italy; and
RIGA, Latvia.

Hi gang, JazzBumpa here as your tour guide on a journey provided by our most gracious host. Sit back and enjoy the ride.

Across:

1. Plane engine housing: POD.  For wing mounted engines.

4. Hindu philosophy: TANTRA.  Adherence to the doctrines or principles of the tantras, involving mantras, meditation, yoga, and ritual.

10. "Don't leave": STAY.  Dog command?

14. Previously: AGO. Once upon a time

15. Signals for firefighters: ALARMS.

16. Only state with a non-rectangular flag: OHIO.   I knew this, since I am from there. Also - what's round at both ends and hi in the middle?  Now - on to stuff I did not know.

Ohio's state flag was adopted in 1902. The Ohio burgee, as the swallowtail design is properly called, was designed by John Eisemann. The large blue triangle represents Ohio's hills and valleys, and the stripes represent roads and waterways. The 13 stars grouped about the circle represent the original states of the union; the 4 stars added to the peak of the triangle symbolize that Ohio was the 17th state admitted to the union. The white circle with its red center not only represents the "O" in Ohio, but also suggests Ohio's famous nickname, "The Buckeye State."

Buckeye, peeps! Only $24.95

 
17. Big beverage server: URN.  Generally with a tap, and usually used for coffee, tea or hot water.

20. "I'm game!": LET'S.  And away we go!

22. Business abbr.: INCorporated.

23. Singer Mann: AIMEE.  New one for me.

28. Gambling city on the Truckee: RENO. Nevada.  The Truckee is the only outlet from Lake Tahoe, and it empties into Pyramid Lake in the great basin.

29. Golden Delicious, e.g.: APPLE.  My absolute least favorite variety.

30. Hosp. recovery area: POST-OP.  After surgery location.

32. Prepared: SET.  Ready to go.

33. Add to the staff: HIRE.  Bring on a new employee.

41. Jedi master with pointy ears: YODA.

42. Twaddle: ROT. Nonsense.

44. Business losses, figuratively: RED INK.  Debits are noted in red, so, if they exceed credits, the red dominates.

45. Biting desert lizards: GILAS.  Large, slow moving, venomous lizards, native to the North American southwest

47. Buddhist temple bell: GONG.

53. Amazon Echo's voice assistant: ALEXA.  We have a granddaughter with that name. Here we are a few years ago.  She's in college now.

Note the family hair

54. Youthful fellow: LAD.

55. Difficult journey: TREK.

62. "__ you alone?": ARE.  Can I come over?

63. Flood-anticipation precaution, briefly: EVACuation.  Also for wild fires.

64. Was nearly empty: RAN LOW.  In short supply.

65. Fabric flaw: RIP. Tear.

66. Dollars for quarters: RENT.  Living quarters.  Clever!

67. Word from a poser: CHEESE.  Induces a quasi-smile in a photographic subject.

68. Thus far: YET.  Up to now.

Down:

1. Folklore lumberjack Bunyan: PAUL.  Companion of Babe the Blue Ox.

2. Fantasy meanie: OGRE.

Is he really that mean?

3. "Chin up!": DON'T BE SAD.  Things could be worse.

4. Touch lightly: TAP.  Or PAT.  Needed perp help.

5. Harlem Renaissance writer Locke: ALAIN.   Alain Leroy Locke [1885-1954] was an American writer, philosopher, educator, and patron of the arts. Distinguished as the first African-American Rhodes Scholar in 1907.

6. C.S. Lewis' fantasy world: NARNIA.  Setting for a series of novels.

7. Bench press beneficiary: TRICEPS.  Muscles in the backs of the upper ams.

8. White House's 132: Abbr.: RMS.  Rooms.

9. Firepit detritus: ASH.  Burnt wood residue.

10. Three-dimensional: SOLID.  Having length, width and height.

11. __ park: THEME.  An amusement park designed around a central or unifying concept - Disney World, for example.

12. Broadcaster: AIRER.  Presenter of radio or TV programming.

13. Oxen connectors: YOKES. A YOKE is a crosspiece connecting the necks or shoulders of animals, so they can pull a load together.

19. Stick for a walk: CANE.

21. Nissan sedan: SENTRA.

25. Ginger or ginseng: ROOT.

26. Builder's guideline, briefly: SPEC.  Specification - detailed instruction for the project.

27. Ring exchange place: ALTAR.  Wedding rings.

28. __-Rooter: ROTO.  Drain pipe and sewer cleaning device, and service company of the same name.

30. "Gangnam Style" musician: PSY.  Erm.  Here, if you're interested.

31. Festival in the month of Adar: PURIM.  A Spring festival held on the 14th or 15th of the month to  commemorate the defeat of Haman's plot to massacre the Jews as recorded in the book of Esther.  Deeper than that into religion we shall not venture.

33. Holed up: HID OUT.  Typically, as a way of avoiding law enforcement.

34. Travel plan: ITINERARY.  A planned route, including stops, if any.

35. Hit the bell: RANG.  Bonged the GONG

36. Caribou cousin: ELK. Cervus canadensis, one of the largest members of the deer family; but not as large as the moose.  To muddy the waters, in British English, the moose is called the ELK.  Go figure.

38. Sport for equestrians: POLO.  A game similar to field hockey, played on horse back, using long-handled mallets.

40. Simon who co-wrote and co-starred in "Shaun of the Dead": PEGG. [b 1970] British actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer.  Would he confuse ELK with moose?

43. Sun worshiper's mark: TAN LINE.

I pale in comparison

45. Nanny __: GOAT.  A female of this animal variety.  The male is called Billy.  I don't know why.

46. Bread or butter: STAPLE.  An important item in something, such as a diet.  When the sword swallower lost his job with the circus, he fell on hard times and couldn't even provide STAPLES for his family.

48. Not so well-done: RARER.  Meat cooking terms.

RARER preparations are on the left

49. Salade niçoise morsel: OLIVE.  From the city of Nice, in France, this salad also contains a variety of other ingredients, including tomatoes, hard boiled eggs and anchovies in an olive oil dressing.

50. Fox of "Transformers": MEGAN.

51. Precise: EXACT.  On the mark.

52. "Until next time": ADIOS.  Buh-bye.

56. Cleveland's lake: ERIE.  Where I come from, it's Toledo's Lake!

57. Held on to: KEPT. As, frex, the faith.

59. Tolkien monster: ORC.  Evil cave dwelling creature that cannot abide the sun.

Actor Jeff Brophy as Snaga

60. "Don't think so": NAH.  Nope.

61. Little lamb's mom: EWE.  A sheep in sheep's clothing.

And with that wool blanket we'll wrap up our tour.  Hope you enjoyed the ride.

Cool regards!
JzB

Tuesday, November 20, 2018 Craig Stowe

"Larcenous Behavior"

17. Traditional Easter dinner: ROAST LAMB.

25. Steinway seat, perhaps: PIANO BENCH.

33. Ohio's has wheat and arrows: STATE SEAL.

51. Boating safety feature: LIFE JACKET.

59. Glancing blow on the road, and a hint to the puzzle's circles: SIDESWIPE.  Forms of thievery are found by combining the circled letters at the leading and trailing sides of the compound words

Across:

1. Worked off nervous energy, say: PACED.

6. Grounded fast jet: SST.

9. Like imitators: APISH.

14. Maine town on the Penobscot: ORONO.    Named after the Maine town, the Lake Minnetonka city of Orono, Minnesota gets little reference in crossword puzzles.   It deserves a CSO. 

15. Letter after sigma: TAU.

16. Food from heaven: MANNA.

19. "... better __ worse": wedding vow words: OR FOR.

20. Wedding rental: TUX.

21. "Not bad, not great": SO SO.

22. Cuts anew: RESAWS.

23. "In your dreams!": AS IF.

27. Biological mapping subjects: GENOMES.  About the Human Genome Project

If you want to find out about your ancestral lineage, buy a kit from National Geographic for $70.  That's the Genographic Project. 

29. By the seashore: COASTAL.

30. Garden tool: EDGER.

31. Scientist Wernher __ Braun: VON.

32. Undercover agent: SPY.  Secret agent man.  Secret agent man.  They've given you a number, and taken away your name.   I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that Desper-otto has the song on his music server.

38. Transmission type: Abbr.: STD. Standard.

41. Line on many a receipt: TAX. 

42. Hold (onto): LATCH.

46. Take advance orders for: PRESELL.

49. Colder than cold: SUBZERO. 

53. Former couples: EXES.

54. Curly-horned goats: IBEXES.   Sure-footed creatures.

Alpine Ibexes live in the mountainous alps of Europe.


Nubian Ibexes live in the mountainous desert areas of the Middle East and parts of Africa.


55. Mama's mama: NANA.

57. Vietnam New Year: TET.

58. Renaissance fair garment: TUNIC.

61. Still soft, as concrete: UNSET.

62. Sci-fi vehicle: UFO.  After subzero earlier,  we need something warm.  How about this hit from the British rock band ?


63. Golf targets: HOLES.

64. Jury members: PEERS.

65. Wooden pin: PEG.

66. Wide-mouthed pitchers: EWERS.

Down:

1. Canoe carrying: PORTAGE.   Probably pretty safe to assume that the city names of Portage Michigan, Portage Indiana, and Portage Wisconsin were each influenced by the language of the French fur trappers of early America.  I read there are 8 more city names of Portage in the U.S.,  and 1 in Canada. 

2. Turned on: AROUSED.  See the image at 47D.

3. Cajolery: COAXING.  Arm-twisting. 

4. Running trio?: ENs.  Quantity three of the letter n.

5. Colon components: DOTS.  In this clue and answer, the punctuation mark.   Not the large intestine in human anatomy.

6. Equilibrium: STASIS.

7. Polynesian island nation: SAMOA.

8. "Rub-a-dub-dub" vessel: TUB.   A container for the butcher,  the baker, and the candlestick maker.

9. Microscopic organism: AMOEBA.

10. Analyzes grammatically: PARSES.

11. Babies: INFANTS.

12. Mt. Hood hood?: SNOWCAP.

13. How scolding words may be spoken: HARSHLY.

18. Leisurely gait: LOPE.

22. ABC exec Arledge: ROONE.  History.com on Roone Arledge

24. Enemies: FOES.

26. Cpls. and sgts.: NCOs.

28. Muscular 2017 "Dancing With the Stars" competitor: Mr. T. 


31. Distress: VEX.

34. Book of maps: ATLAS. 

35. Gymnast's powder: TALC.

36. Vatican vestment: ALB.

37. Lounge (around): LAZE.  Initially had loaf.

38. Call it quits: SPLIT UP.

39. Chicago newspaper: TRIBUNE.

40. The "D" of "NORAD": DEFENSE.   When I served, it was the North American Air Defense Command.   Now it is the North American Aerospace Defense Command.    

43. Silk or cashmere: TEXTILE.

44. Climbing vine: CREEPER.

45. Snack cake maker with the Nasdaq symbol TWNK: HOSTESS.

47. More appealing: SEXIER.   Error 404 - There's nothing here.

48. Spits out, as a DVD: EJECTS.

49. Old salt: SEADOG.

50. __ Reader: eclectic digest: UTNE.   Utne Reader is a digest of the new ideas and fresh perspectives percolating in arts, culture, politics, and spirituality. - Utne.com - About

52. Chef's cutter: KNIFE.

56. Tennis great Arthur: ASHE.

59. "How's it hangin'?": SUP.  Slang.  Contraction of What's up ?

60. __ factor: impressive quality: WOW.

MEASURE TWICE

Monday November 19, 2018 Jerry Edelstein

Theme:  HORSE AROUND (59A. Engage in tomfoolery ... and a hint to what goes with each part of the answers to starred clues, but not in the same way) - Horse precedes the first word and follows the second word in each theme entry.

17A. *Kids' recreational garb: PLAY CLOTHES. Horse play. Clotheshorse.

23A. *Two-person log cutter: WHIP SAW. Horsewhip. Saw horse.

36A. *Soar: FLY HIGH. Horsefly. High horse.

49A. *Daytona 500, e.g.: CAR RACE. Horse car. Race horse (Horse race as well).

3D. *Economic conflict often involving tariffs: TRADE WAR. Horse trade. War horse.

38D. *Hiker's carryall: BACK PACK. Horse back. Pack horse.

 

Boomer here.  

A wonderful time of the year.  I just want to wish each and every one of you that frequents this blog, a very Happy Thanksgiving, and a great kickoff to the holiday season.  Please do not call it "Turkey Day", and please do not patronize stores that open on Thursday evening. Trust me, they will all have stuff left on the shelves on Friday. And whoever started the expression "Black Friday"?  Go if you like, but usually, the best deals run from December 23-24. 

Across:

1. Fast plane: JET.  Don't know when I'll be back again.

4. Sultan's group: HAREM.

9. Prickly seedcase: BUR.  Not Perry Mason, and not it's cold outside

12. Organ with a hammer and anvil: EAR.

13. Puts money away, as for retirement: SAVES UP.  Tax season is coming soon.  Time to save down.

15. Opposite of WNW: ESE.  Clue is easy, so easy.

16. Actress Longoria: EVA. He had a girl, Eva Braun, hair as red as flame

- Ah, ja, ja.

He papered walls for many years till his moment came

- Of course!  

Check with Desper-Otto for detail

19. Revolutionary British soldiers: RED COATS. Bill Cosby did a skit about how in the Revolutionary War, American soldiers would hide while British soldiers must wear red and march in a straight line.

21. John of "Fawlty Towers": CLEESE.

22. __ lot: stuffs oneself: EATS A.  Do we need this clue three days before Thanksgiving ?

24. Little chess piece: PAWN.  History channel shows a lot of Pawn Stars reruns.  Still not sure if Chum Lee is still employed there.

26. Genetic initials: RNA.

28. UFO passengers, presumably: ETS.

29. On the house: GRATIS. Yup, Latin for "no charge".  (Does not apply to dead batteries though.)

32. Elicit: EDUCE.

35. Put on TV: AIR.

38. Dickens pen name: BOZ.

41. City hall bigwig: MAYOR. Lots of new ones were elected this month.

42. Opposite of cruel: HUMANE.

44. Artist's deg.: MFA.

46. Moscow's land: Abbr.: RUS.  Fools rush in, where wise men never go.

48. App symbol: ICON.

52. Practical joke: PRANK.

55. Inexact lunch time: ONE-ISH. By one o'clock?? ISH my lunch is cold.

56. Mom's and dad's dads: GRANDPAS.

61. Set a price of: ASK. And you shall receive

62. Miners dig it: ORE.  I've seen this nearly every week, and no clue ever asks for the state where D.B. Cooper bailed out.

63. Sides of an issue: ASPECTS.

64. Michael of "SNL": CHE.

65. Snake's sound: SSS.  I've never heard a hiss.  Maybe a rattle?

66. Bogs: MIRES.

67. London's __ Gardens: KEW.  How much is five Kew Gardens plus five Kew gardens?  "Ten Kew" gardens.  You're welcome!

Down:

1. Boo: JEER.  Sounds like a laundry soap Blue Cheer

2. Roof overhang: EAVE.

4. "Papa Bear" of football: HALAS.  Incredible story.  George was owner AND coach of the Chicago Bears when I was a kid.  I think he won five championships.  (Before the Super Bowl era.) The Bears now display his initials on their uniform sleeve out of respect.  If he knew he would be in this puzzle, he may have named his Chicago team the "Horses."  

5. Gamer's game face: AVATAR.  Featuring faces worse than "The Exorcist".

6. "Curious George" creators Hans and Margret: REYS.

7. Corner PC key: ESC.  Upper left.  (I had to check)

8. Chips in a garden: MULCH.  We use the cedar kind and they tend to fly around.  But C.C. doesn't like the reddish brown and neither do I.

9. Order: BEHEST. So you're at McDonald's and the person at the window says "May I take your behest?"

10. Repurposes to replace, as a tool: USES AS. Sounds like a slogan for Scandinavian Airlines.

11. Stitch again: RESEW.

13. Pick out in a crowd: SPOT. If you're picking out a dog, then you spot Spot.

14. __ sci: college major: POLI.

18. Conical home: TEPEE.  We don't see these much anymore.  But Minnesota was home to many Native Americans.  They had to be tough to live in an unheated tent in these winters.

20. Ray Charles' "I __ Stop Loving You": CAN'T. "I've made up my mind.  To live in memories of these lonesome times."

23. Dry riverbed: WADI.

24. Links gp.: PGA.  I've been watching the Georgia event this weekend. Charles Howell has been on the tour forever with only two wins. C.C. and I remember seeing him at the PGA Championship at Hazeltine in 2002.  Yesterday,  Charles survived three dropped shots on the first two holes in the final round. Congrats to Mr. Howell on his third PGA win !

25. Radio host Shapiro: ARI.  Not familiar with this radio guy. But I do watch Ari Melber on MSNBC

27. India's first prime minister: NEHRU. I wonder if he ever really wore those jackets with funny collars.

30. "__ tree falls ... ": IF A. And no one is around to hear it, does it still make a noise ??

31. Underhanded: SLY. And the family Stones.

33. "Yuck!": UGH.

34. Former Energy secretary Steven: CHU. Nobel Prize winner.  Served under President Obama.

37. Days long gone: YORE.

39. Beatle bride: ONO. Oh No!  She never changed her surname to Lennon?

40. Buddhist discipline: ZEN.

41. Roger who hit 61 in '61: MARIS.  He never got the credit because two new expansion teams

were added so pitching was weaker.  Besides, he was from North Dakota, and Nodakians never get credit for anything.

43. Take care of: MIND. Over matter.

44. Estate homes: MANORS.

45. Bordeaux brothers: FRERES. Frere Jacques, Morning bells are ringing, Ding Dang Dong.

47. Neaten (up): SPRUCE. These will be decorated in homes next month.  Neatening up will need to take place after they have served their purpose.

49. Silver salmon: COHOS.

50. On the ocean: ASEA.

51. Deep depression: CHASM.

53. Raves' companions: RANTS.

54. Added conditions: ANDS. Ifs or Buts.

56. Suffix with movie: GOER. This seems like a made up word to me.

57. 1975 Wimbledon winner Arthur: ASHE.

58. Twist, as facts: SKEW.  you will need a SKEWER to close the Turkey so the stuffing won't fall out

60. Troy, N.Y., school: RPI.

Boomer

Notes from C.C.:

1) Husker Gary and I made today's Puzzle Society Crossword, edited by David Steinberg. Click here to solve our "Golden Words" (great title, Gary!). Click here to see the answer grid and constructor note. 

2) Boomer has been writing a column for MN Bowling since 2007. Turkey of the Year is an annual feature. Read here for his thoughts this year.