Wednesday, August 8 2018, Bruce Venzke & Gail Grabowski

Theme: GAG ORDER. Ipecac, anyone?

19. Kontinental Hockey League trophy named for an astronaut: GAGARIN CUP. The KHL was created to further the development of hockey throughout Russia and other nations across Europe and Asia. Gagarin Cup.

26. Airport area with carousels: BAGGAGE CLAIM.

38. Planning to wed: ENGAGED. This GAG is perfectly centered in the grid.

46. One arranging gigs: BOOKING AGENT.

54. Joke used repeatedly ... and aptly found in 19-, 26-, 38-, 46- and 54-Across: RUNNING GAG. Running gags in Seinfeld.

Great progressive, or "running" placement of this clever GAG, see?

Across:

1. Game fish: BASS. First thought of the card game, Go Fish.

5. Body wrap spot: SPA. First thought was an injury. Nope.

8. Clams up, with "down": PIPES.

13. Jaunty tune: LILT. Merriam Webster defines it exactly so: "a spirited and usually cheerful song or tune," but I usually think of google dictionary's definition "a characteristic rising and falling of the voice when speaking."

14. Like a dotted note, in mus.: STAC. “Staccato” is an Italian word that means “sharply detached or separated from the other notes.” The symbol to indicate that a note or chord is to be played with a staccato articulation is a dot above or below the note (or chord).

15. Overflowing (with): AWASH.

16. Sign of spoilage: ODOR.

17. Ending with Wal: MART.

18. High-calorie cake: TORTE. Not SHORT. Could be almost anything - not many low-calorie cakes, are there?

22. Wrangler maker: JEEP.

23. Homer's neighbor: NED. The Simpson's - Ned Flanders.

24. Have grand plans: ASPIRE.

31. Pulitzer-winning author James: AGEE. For A Death in the Family. “God doesn't believe in the easy way.”

32. One of a clashing pair, perhaps: EGO. Cute.

33. Gobbled up: EATEN.

37. Moral misstep: SIN.

41. Glorifying homage: ODE.

42. Do a bakery job: KNEAD.

44. Part of pewter: TIN. Pewter contained lead as a hardener until it became widely known that lead can be toxic. It is now typically made of tin, copper, antimony, and bismuth.

45. Olympian warmonger: ARES.

50. 1965 Yardbirds hit: I'M A MAN. Not to be confused with Chicago's tune with the same name.

52. Corrosive substance: LYE.

53. Fruity beverages: ADES.

60. "The Kiss" sculptor: RODIN.

62. Old Royale 8's: REOS.

63. Jessica of "Dark Angel": ALBA.

64. "Ready Player One" novelist Ernest: CLINE.

65. Eye protector: LASH.

66. Clout: PULL.

67. Missouri River tributary: OSAGE.

68. Seeker of intel: SPY.

69. Eye woe: STYE.

Down:

1. Paperless journal: BLOG.

2. "Radames' Letter" musical: AIDA.

3. Trudge (through): SLOG.

4. Off-the-wall: STRANGE.

5. Getz of jazz: STAN. One of the greatest saxophonists of all time. Soul Eyes.

6. Pique-nique place: PARC. Not sure why google translate didn't translate parc to park on the English side.

7. Bona fide: ACTUAL. Latin = in good faith.

8. One way to stand: PAT. Interesting.

9. WWII flag-raising island: IWO JIMA.

10. Peeling gadget: PARER.

11. Big name in makeup: ESTEE.

12. Smith of Fox News: SHEP.

14. Wee bit: SMIDGEN.

20. Stephen of "Counterpart": REA. Spy thriller, on Starz.

21. "Don't text and drive" ad, e.g.: PSA. Public Service Announcement.

25. Mottled: PIED. In the case of the Pied Piper, he wore multi-colored clothing.

26. Enjoy the sun: BASK.

27. Feudin' with: AGIN. Hillbilly glossary.

28. Heredity unit: GENE.

29. Albumen container: EGG.

30. Tropical raccoon relative: COATI.

34. Zoomed: TORE.

35. Garden in a Sistine Chapel mural: EDEN.

36. Source of some tweets: NEST.

38. Genesis kingdom: EDOM.

39. Gimlet liquor: GIN. Gin, lime, and soda.

40. World's third-most spoken language: ENGLISH.

43. Belittling: ABASING.

45. Inevitable generational differences: AGE GAPS.

47. Dinghy implement: OAR.

48. Small knobs: KNURLS.

49. "We the Living" writer Rand: AYN.

50. Megastars: IDOLS.

51. __ blitz: MEDIA.

53. West Coast gas brand: ARCO.

55. Twice-monthly tide: NEAP.

56. Prone to prying: NOSY.

57. Market surplus: GLUT.

58. With skill: ABLY.

59. Powerful wind: GALE.

61. Name change indicator: NEE.

Tuesday, August 7, 2018 Jake Halperin

"Break a Leg"

17. Rare baseball event: TRIPLE PLAY.

24. Antiterrorism legislation of 2001: PATRIOT ACT.

37. Nightlife sphere of activity: CLUB SCENE.

53. Race terminus: FINISH LINE.

62. Theater direction ... and a hint to 17-, 24-, 37- and 53-Across: STAGE RIGHT.

Hmm...

What about.... 65. Actor's part: ROLE ?    Shouldn't this have been part of the theme, and included in 62A ?   Or perhaps edited out ?

I don't know.  I only have a "bit part" to play in this production.  Let's "chew the scenery" while you think about it.

Across:

1. Knock for a loop: AMAZE.

6. "The jig __!": IS UP.

10. Wing measurement: SPAN.

14. The "N" of USNA: NAVAL.   Unites States Naval Academy.   Brief History

15. Beer-brewing mixture: MASH.

16. Taper off: WANE.

19. 28-Across (ONE), in German: EINS. In München steht ein Hofbräuhaus: Eins, zwei, g'suffa!


20. Troubling Nixon records: TAPES.

21. Supermarket walkways: AISLES.

23. Falafel bread: PITA.

28. Single: ONE.

29. Double-helix molecule: DNA.

30. Slake, as thirst: QUENCH.

31. Hardly current: PASSE.  Slake seems hardly current.

33. Bridges of Netflix's "Bloodline": BEAU.

36. Snob's "in the air" body part: NOSE.

40. "That sounds painful": OUCH.  Clecho at 40D.   Thought I broke bones when my footing gave way last Thursday.  Managed to land prone, but my legs didn't clear the scalloped concrete landscape edging.  Large bone contusions on my left femur (golf ball sized) and right tibia (half of a tennis ball) kept me off my legs until Saturday. 

43. Brussels-based defense gp.: NATO.

44. Clear data from: ERASE.

48. Like a damaged atmospheric layer: OZONIC.

50. Letter after pi: RHO.

52. World Series org.: MLB. Major League Baseball.

Full 2018 MLB Predictions at FiveThirtyEight.com

56. Smear, as paint: DAUB.

57. Narrow waterway: STRAIT.

58. Coins of 59-Down: RIALS.

60. All-encompassing: A TO Z.

66. Narrate: TELL.

67. Celebrated chef Ducasse: ALAIN.  I had to read the Wikipedia article on him. That should help the next time his name appears in a puzzle.

68. Intuit: FEEL.

69. Canadian gas brand: ESSO.

70. Big Apple 52-Acr. player: NY MET.

Down:

1. Colony insect: ANT.

2. Tennis great Navratilova: MARTINA.

3. Takes to the skies: AVIATES.  Dudley does this !

4. Frank of avant-garde rock: ZAPPA.

5. Magazine with the column "Ask E. Jean": ELLE.

6. Little devil: IMP.

7. Dinner course, to Heinrich: SALAT.  Recipes for Authentic German Salads

8. TWA rival: US AIR.

9. Body structure: PHYSIQUE.

10. Equal or Splenda: SWEETENER.

11. Italian pal: PAISANO.

12. "Bel Canto" novelist Patchett: ANN.  I had to read the Wikipedia article on her. And the one about the book.  That should help the next time her name appears in a puzzle.

13. Video game letters: NES.  Nintendo Entertainment System

18. Little League broadcaster: ESPN.  One of many amateur and professional sports programs broadcast by the "Worldwide leader in Sports."   ESPN.com is their online portal.

Wilbur Charles, to atone for my July 24th embedding the video of Aaron Boone of the Yankees hitting the dramatic 2003 Game 7 ALCS walk-off home run that eliminated the Boston Red Sox, I offer the following ESPN.com article link:  This just might be the best Red Sox team ... ever 

22. Singer Rawls: LOU.

23. Jack-in-the-box sound: POP !  goes the weasel.

25. Limerick's rhyme scheme: AABBA.

26. Emails a dupe to: CCs. The electronic carbon copy.  And a CSO to our Blog Leader !

27. First word of numerous Grisham titles: THE.   I'd say so.   The list:

1. 1991 - "The Firm"
2. 1992 - "The Pelican Brief"
3. 1993 - "The Client"
4. 1994 - "The Chamber"
5. 1995 - "The Rainmaker"
6. 1996 - "The Runaway Jury"
7. 1997 - "The Partner"
8. 1998 - "The Street Lawyer"
9. 1999 - "The Testament"
10. 2000 - "The Brethren"
11. 2002 - "The Summons"
12. 2003 - "The King of Torts"
13. 2004 - "The Last Juror"
14. 2005 - "The Broker"
15. 2006 - "The Innocent Man"
16. 2008 - "The Appeal"
17. 2009 - "The Associate"
18. 2010 - "The Confession"
19. 2011 - "The Litigators"
20. 2012 - "The Racketeer"
21. 2016 - "The Whistler"

Miller, Erin Collazo. "The Complete John Grisham Book List." ThoughtCo, Jun. 27, 2018, thoughtco.com/john-grisham-book-list-362085.

29. Md. neighbor: DEL.  Regular reader Bluehen hails from the state with the fastest Internet speeds in the country,  no sales taxes, and according to Kiplinger ratings,  the top state for retirees in terms of economy, crime, demographics, and overall tax rates.

The Delaware River and the Delaware Bay both predate the name of the state. In 1610, English naval officer Samuel Argall named the bodies of water after the governor of Virginia, Thomas West, the 12th Baron De La Warr.

25 Delightful Facts About Delaware 

Use the + - buttons to zoom in and out.  


32. German veal dish: SCHNITZEL.  Wiener Schnitzel,  Kartoffelsalat und Bier !

34. Approximate fig.: EST.

35. Oak-to-be: ACORN.

38. Not pure: UNCHASTE.

39. Opposite of paleo-: NEO.

40. "That sounds painful": OOF.  The sound of the air expelled from my lungs when I fell.  The good news is that the house is almost done.   A couple of small sections of wall and the trim paint on the windows remain.

41. Action film weapon: UZI.

42. Bring comfort to: CONSOLE.

45. Composite dental filling material: AMALGAM.  There are safer choices.

46. Flavored icy drink: SLUSHIE.

47. Recede, as a tide: EBB.

49. Syr. neighbor: ISR.

51. Often hyperlinked word: HERE.

54. Low-cal beers: LITES.

55. Tilted type: Abbr.: ITALS.

56. Newspaper frequency: DAILY.

59. Tehran's land: IRAN.

61. Clog front: TOE.  The shoe, not an obstruction.

63. Mop & __: cleaning brand: GLO.

64. Blasting letters: TNT.

Time to Exit...Stage Left


Here's the grid:

Monday August 6, 2018 Craig Stowe

Theme: LIFE PARTNER (57. Significant other, often, and a hint to the ends of the answers to starred clues) - Life can precede the last word of each theme answer.

 

17A. *Program for an idle monitor: SCREEN SAVER. Life saver.

22A. *Rustic: COUNTRY STYLE. Life style.

37A. *Distinctive Jay Leno facial feature: JAW LINE. Lifeline.

47A. *Squeaky-clean: SPICK AND SPAN. Life span.

Boomer here.

C.C. and I arrived early at the 3M Championship Golf Tournament. We received our bag of goodies compliments of the 3M Company. Not quite as loaded as previous years but it is very commendable that 3M gives free products to nearly everyone in attendance. In addition, on Saturday they assemble a dozen "Greats of Golf" including Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Gary Player, Annika Sorenstam, Nancy Lopez and more, who play a scramble round following the regular entrants.

Congratulations to Kenny Perry, who joined Hale Irwin as the only two three time winners of the 3M Championship. But who has time for golf??  The PWBA (Women's Professional Bowling Assn.) is making a tour stop this week in Eagan, Minnesota (A southern suburb of Minneapolis) and I will be there for the Pro-Am.  (I am still an AM).

Boomer, Arnie's Army Entrance, 2018

Across:

1. Awesome, in show biz: BOFFO.  Sounds like an enforcer for the mob.

6. Dorian Gray creator Oscar: WILDE.

11. Splash gently, as waves: LAP.  Something your Mom had that you sat on.

14. Toothbrush brand: ORAL-B. I have heard of this, but I am a Fixodent man.

15. Upscale Honda: ACURA.

16. "__ been thinking": I'VE.  Reuben Reuben would have no problem with this clue.

19. Unfavorable critique: PAN.

20. Chad neighbor: CAMEROON.  Africa has sooo many countries, I can't keep track.

21. Clarifying words: AS IN.

26. Female foxes: VIXENS.

29. Like wine casks: OAKEN. Or an old bucket

30. Rowing needs: OARS.  I pulled many of these as a young kid.  We could not afford an outboard motor.

31. Buffalo NHLer: SABRE.  Buffalo also has an NFL team.  Nothing for major league baseball or hoops that I know.

33. Michael of "SNL": CHE. Co-host of "Weekend Update". 

Colin Jost ad Micha Che

36. Supermarket initials: IGA. A huge grocery store conglomerate, but nothing here in Minnesota.

39. "2001" computer: HAL. Fictional

40. Playpen item: TOY.

41. Olympian Bolt: USAIN.  I remember Usain Bolt, both for his interesting first name, and his speedy record under 10 seconds in the 100 meter dash.

42. Quarters for lions: DENS. Don't forget where the Cub Scouts meet.

43. Large, at Starbucks: VENTI. I am constantly amazed at the lineup of cars at the Starbucks drive thru window.  I have never tried their coffee. I am afraid I would like it and I don't want to spend four bucks a day on morning Java.

45. Tiny bit: SMIDGE.

51. In addition: ALSO.

52. Act out, as a Civil War battle: RECREATE.

56. Mai __: TAI.  You can make these at home, or drop into a bar in Hawaii if you don't have the ingredients.

60. Game with Skip cards: UNO.  I am sure everyone had the UNO game as a kid.  But it was not too challenging and ended up on the shelf next to Old Maid. 

61. Eisenhower opponent Stevenson: ADLAI. Adlai was in the first presidential election that I remember. What I did not understand was after he lost in 1952, why was he nominated again in 1956?  

62. Playful swimming mammal: OTTER.  I think he was in "Animal House". 

63. Bic, for one: PEN. Attica for another.

64. Mild Dutch cheese: GOUDA.  I have never tried it. The name does not sound tasty. 

65. Gardener's concerns: WEEDS.  We have a large crop in our garden this year.  Not sure why.

Down:

1. Pear from France: BOSC.

2. Killer whale: ORCA.

3. Word before hand or land: FARM.  I can assure that it is also a word after "state". 

4. Pulls a scam on: FLEECES.  White as snow, ask Mary.

5. "A Midsummer Night's Dream" king: OBERON. Shakespeare is almost as well known as LeBron.

6. Aired, as a TV program: WAS ON. The 3M Championship WAS ON the Golf Channel Saturday.  They showed Kenny Perry bringing the TPC Blaine to its knees, but mostly just showed the Legends.

7. "__ help it": I CAN'T.

8. Candy heart verb: LUV.  Could be a "Luxury Utility Vehicle"?

9. Dr. of rap: DRE.

10. Has an __ to the ground: EAR.

11. Mouthed the words: LIP-SYNCHED.  Interesting - I think this used to occur frequently on variety shows, however now it's mostly police officers putting on a fundraiser and having fun doing it.

12. Benefit: AVAIL.

13. Pasta in vodka sauce: PENNE.  I have heard of penne pasta, and I have heard of vodka.  I did not know they go together.

18. Entre __: between us: NOUS.  Looks like French, but it could be Latin.  I don't nous.

21. Snacked: ATE.

23. Bird associated with spring: ROBIN.  Mr. Williams was one of my Favorites.  Nanoo Nanoo.

24. Knitter's ball: YARN.  Or a place where knitters go to dance.

25. __-Ball: arcade game: SKEE. One of my favorite arcade games. Used to be nine balls for a dime.  Now it's a lot more, but the prizes are not so good.  Targets used to be 10 - 50. Now some go up to 5000!

26. Sports ball brand: VOIT.

27. "Othello" villain: IAGO. Shakespeare again?

28. Superman super power: X-RAY VISION. Not sure if you need X-Ray vision to change in a phone booth.  (Years from now, young people won't even know who Superman was, OR what was a phone booth.)

31. Suitor: SWAIN.

32. __ Baba: ALI.  Sort of makes me think of the NFL. 40 players getting paid millions of dollars to play a game, and I watch every Sunday and have to listen to all those ads.

34. Dangle: HANG.  Dang me, Dang me.....

35. "Anything __?": "Is there more?": ELSE. Yes, there are 16 more clues.

37. Trash: JUNK.  A button for a lot of emails in my mail box.

38. "The Thin Man" dog: ASTA. I am not old enough for William Powell and Myrna Loy, but I seem to remember a TV series with Peter Lawford and the stupid annoying dog "ASTA".

42. Breakfast nook, e.g.: DINETTE.

44. Prefix with friendly: ECO.

45. Humane org.: SPCA.

46. Bone tissue: MARROW. Not to be confused with newsman Edward R. Murrow.

47. Suddenly took notice: SAT UP.

48. Vehicle that taxis: PLANE.

49. Not look forward to at all: DREAD.

50. Photo finish: SEPIA. When I see photo finish I think of a horse race. Since there are no horses named Sepia, I think of a color.  However I am sure that some of you have a sepia colored photo of your great great grandfather. 

53. Pay to play: ANTE.  Jacks or better, trips to win.

54. Miffed, with "off": TEED.  No, I am a golfer and get teed off eighteen times a game. If I am "Miffed" I get ticked off.

55. Drops the ball: ERRS.  I say errors

57. Fall behind: LAG.

58. Wedding vow words: I DO.  I wonder if anyone ever said "I Don't"

59. Illness with its own season: FLU.

Boomer

Sunday August 5, 2018 Bruce Haight

Theme:"Anabrands"- The brand name is anagrammed in each theme entry.

24A. Company covering the ninth of Salinger's "Nine Stories"?: LAST TALE INSURANCE. Allstate Insurance.

32A. Company providing stimulation before a round?: GOLFER'S COFFEE. Folgers Coffee.

51A. Company for ones who love taking sides?: I ADORE POTATOES. Idaho Potatoes. Surprised to see BOISE IDAHO (74D. Capital south of a panhandle) in the same grid. (Correction: Ore-Ida Potatoes, Thanks, everyone!)

66A. Company that bugs people?: NOSY ELECTRONICS. Sony Electronics

82A. Company that moves a lot of cash?: LARGE FLOWS BANK. Wells Fargo bank. In big trouble.

101A. Company named for its product container?: IN A CARTON MILK. Carnation Milk.

110A. Company dealing "frankly" with campaign issues?: MAYOR'S RACE WIENERS. Oscar Mayer Wieners.

Veteran solvers know that Bruce loves anagram gimmick. Today's puzzle is a great example of his style, sense of humor and high standard in fill.

The puzzle only has 140 words and 66 black squares, but the fill is so sparkly and clean.

No cheater!! 

Across:

1. Muppet chimp __ Minella: SAL.

4. "Patience you must have" speaker: YODA.

8. Text for a promo: AD COPY.

14. Unit of weight: CARAT.

19. Biblical priest: ELI.

20. Steady: EVEN.

21. First name in the 2016 campaign: BERNIE. Feel the Bern!

22. Informed: AWARE.

23. Track circuit: LAP.

27. Spur on: IMPEL.

29. White wine apéritif: KIR.  Flavored with cassis.

30. TRS-80s, e.g.: PCS.

31. __ of interest: PERSON.

36. Belief system: CREDO.

37. Robot arms don't have them: ULNAE. New clue angle.

38. Camera lens feature: IRIS.

39. Like a D, gradewise: POOR.

40. Subway posting: MAP.

43. Madame Bovary: EMMA. Read it at college. Touched me deeply.

45. Bankrolled: STAKED.

47. Acronymic distress about being excluded from the fun: FOMO. Fear of Missing Out.

48. Leery of: ONTO.

49. Opening feature: POP TOP.

54. "__ got it!": I'VE.

55. Fax button: SEND.

57. Toss in: ADD.

58. Look down on, figuratively: SPIT AT.

59. Brain areas: CEREBRA. Plural of cerebrum.

61. Green, in a way: ENVIOUS.

65. Rilke works: POEMS.

69. "Real Time" host: MAHER (Bill). Way too left-leaning.

72. Canadian site of the 1988 Winter Olympics: ALBERTA. Where were you in 1988?

73. Tiny and shapeless: AMOEBIC.

77. Timeless, in verse: ETERNE.

79. '60s chic: MOD.

80. __ page: OPED.

81. Acapulco gold: ORO.

87. Like some surveys: AERIAL.

89. Card sounding like a platter: TREY.

90. Christmas lot selection: FIRS.

91. "Little House" family name: OLESON. Unknown to me.

93. Spent: USED.

94. Shirley MacLaine, to Warren Beatty: SIS.

95. Ump's cry: SAFE.

96. Big heap: SLEW.

97. Cartoon genre: ANIME.

99. Trace of color: TINCT. Odd, spell check does not like this word.

105. Old marketplaces: AGORAE.

107. United: ONE.

108. Moll's limb: GAM.

109. Grammy winner Gorme: EYDIE.

115. Even a little: ANY.

116. Overhead concern?: OZONE. Nice clue.

117. Emotionally out of control: CRAZED. Reminds me of a favorite movie test D-Otto sent me.

118. Runs on: GABS.

119. Laugh starter: HEE.

120. Author Theodor __ Geisel: SEUSS.

121. Helpful holdings: ASSETS.

122. Nobelist Wiesel: ELIE.

123. Not even: ODD. 

Down:

1. Former MLB exec Bud: SELIG. Not liked here. He tried to contract Twins long ago.

2. Dollar rival: ALAMO.

3. Beauty product for kissers: LIP PLUMPER. Kylie Jenner has built an empire over lip-plumping products.

4. First female Fed head Janet: YELLEN.

5. Eggs in a lab: OVA.

6. An in-box might be part of one: DESK SET.

7. Shenanigan: ANTIC.

8. Legal gp.: ABA.

9. Penn. neighbor: DEL.

10. Brunch fare: CREPES. These are Chinese crepes. They're called Jian Bing.

11. In the cooler: ON ICE.

12. Money-dispensing needs: PINS.

13. "Suh-weet!": YES. Here is my Husker T-shirt.

14. More than a job: CAREER.

15. Tony, for one: AWARD. We have an AWARD on our blog!

16. Pasted message, stereotypically: RANSOM NOTE. Great fill.

17. Oil acronym: ARCO.

18. Many a gamer: TEEN.

25. Three-horse carriage: TROIKA.

26. Dislodges: UPROOTS.

28. Key of Beethoven's "Eroica": E FLAT.

33. Silky-voiced crooners they are not: RASPERS.

34. One of the Weasley twins: FRED. Santa would have nailed it.

 

35. Dog tag?: FIDO. Cute.

36. Italy's Lake __: COMO.

39. Wham! or Roxette: POP DUO.

41. Elite crew: A TEAM.

42. Blog series: POSTS. Like our daily blog write-up.

43. Awesome: EPIC.

44. Formally propose: MOVE.

46. Support: AID.

47. Film noir hat: FEDORA.

48. Serving no purpose: OTIOSE. Not a word I use.

50. "Look Back in Anger" playwright John: OSBORNE. New to me also.

52. "Nick of Time" singer: RAITT.

53. Software details: APP CODE. Not a familiar term to me.

56. "Glee" actress Rivera: NAYA.

60. Get-up-and-go: ENERGY.

61. They're rubbed when mingling: ELBOWS. Great clue.

62. Calls for: NEEDS.

63. DVD forerunner: VCR.

64. Piece of cake: SNAP.

67. "Get Shorty" novelist __ Leonard: ELMORE. Not sure why " ___ " is used in the clue. He's quite famous.

68. Unequivocal refusal: I MEAN NO.

69. Softens: MELTS.

70. '70s breakout gaming company: ATARI.

71. Toast for Mrs. Robinson: HERE'S TO YOU.

75. "Dies __": IRAE.

76. How vichyssoise is usually served: COLD. Yellowrocks' specialty.

78. Wipes out: EFFACES.

80. Stamps of approval: OKS.

83. Pilfer: LIFT.

84. Whirled weapon: BOLA.

85. First portrayer of Obi-Wan: ALEC. Guinness.

86. Meditative genre: NEW AGE.

88. Gin __: RUMMY.

92. Kind of cookie: OATMEAL.

95. Catches: SNARES.

96. Cold outburst: SNEEZE.

98. Actually existing: IN ESSE.

100. Most clubs in a pro's bag: IRONS. You can carry 14 clubs in your bag. I only used a 7 iron and a putter in my first few rounds of golf.

101. Andean people: INCAS.

102. Scope: RANGE.

103. Like much loose-leaf paper: LINED.

104. Focused (on): KEYED.

105. Cookie monster?: AMOS. I get the direction, but not sure "monster" is apt.

106. Look steadily: GAZE.

107. Tools in locks: OARS.

111. Early TV maker: RCA.

112. Caught in the rain without an umbrella, say: WET. It rained a lot yesterday at 3M Championship.

113. Bouncer's requests: IDS.

114. Ballpark fig.: RBI.

JD is enjoying her annual family vacation in Kauai. Here are two sweet pictures of her grandsons.

Saturday, August 4, 2018, C.C. Burnikel

Themeless Saturday Puzzle by C.C. Burnikel 

Today we celebrate one of the true staples of home, the chocolate chip cookie! Eating the dough, smelling the aroma of baking and finally eating the finished product with a glass of ice cold milk is a true sensory delight. My lovely bride makes one batch extra crispy just for me.

I hope you can get some of these wonderful baked beauties and enjoy them with my write-up or in spite of my write-up.

As you can see by the byline, our blogmistress shows once again that she can construct for any day of the week as she submits this beguiling themeless entry. Here she is pictured with me and the Husker t-shirt I took her when Joann and I met with her and Boomer in Minneapolis. She told me she has worn it twice and like anything else, I know it looked good on her!

As I read the cluing for 16 Across,

16. Walks caused by walks, perhaps?: TRIPS TO THE MOUND.

it occurred to me that something seemed familiar about that entry. Then, boom, it struck me that I had given C.C. that clue in response to a request from her for one of her great baseball fills. That is very cool but what is not so cool is that despite having written the clue and remembering that I had written it, it took way too many perps to remember what the fill was! Yeah, the Mensa people have no intention of contacting me. 😮 

Let's see what other gems our brilliant friend has for us today:


Across:

1. Biting: ACID.

5. Hooded African menace: MAMBA - Kobe Bryant bills himself and his shoe as The Black Mamba

10. One may be strapless: BRA.

13. Put on board: LADE - A bill of LADING from Valencia, Spain to Ashod, Israel via the Maersk Line

14. Girl Sebastian is referring to in the song "Kiss the Girl": ARIEL  - Advice from Sebastian the anthropomorphic Crab in The Little Mermaid

15. Poke: PROD.

16. Walks caused by walks, perhaps?: TRIPS TO THE MOUND - "Give me the ball, young man, that's one walk too many!"

19. Snatches: ABDUCTS

20. Always there: ETERNAL - JFK's ETERNAL flame at Arlington has gone out at least twice

21. Aware of: ONTO


22. "Battle of the Sexes" co-star: EMMA STONE - She played Billie Jean King to Steve Carrel's Bobby Riggs in the movie about their famous 1973 tennis match.

24. Dealer's order: ANTE UP  - Waddya mean I didn't ANTE UP?

26. Small grove: COPSE  - Most farmsteads around here have a small COPSE of trees surrounding the buildings including the chicken coop where you will find a 28. Fowl pole: ROOST.

27. Close one: PAL.

30. Graham who co-founded The Hollies: NASH - Later he left the Hollies and became the N of CSN&Y

34. 11th-century navigator: ERICSON - Leif makes celebrating Columbus Day seem silly 

36. Occasion to spiff up: HOT DATE.

39. Mother of the Titans: GAEA  - The mother of everything

40. App with pics, familiarly: INSTA  - Short for INSTAgram. 

42. Light color: RED - The RED light is on the right side in Japan

43. Cozumel coins: PESOS.

46. Impatient: SNAPPY -  He can't make it SNAPPY if he 48. Rests: TAKES A NAP.

52. Oct. 2017 Dodgers-Cubs matchup: NLCS  - A pricey ticket

53. Mine carriers: ORE CARS  and 57. Lose it: GET OUT OF CONTROL.

54. "Did it start already?": AM I LATE? - An OCD fear of mine

59. Imitated: APED.

60. King, e.g.: RULER.

61. "Hamilton" Tony winner Leslie __ Jr.: ODOM - Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote the play and played Hamilton to Leslie ODOM Jr.'s Burr

62. Cantina condiment: SAL - Me gustaría la SAL en el borde de mi vaso de margarita (gustaría = like, SAL = salt, borde = rim, vaso = glass)

63. Convenient app for some drivers: E-PARK.

64. Scandinavian capital: OSLO.


Down:

1. Baja's opposite: ALTA - ¿Cuál fue la temperatura ALTA y BAJA del día? (What was the high and low temperature of the day?)

2. Creamy pasta dish: CARBONARA - Dr. Dolan used this fill in a puzzle I blogged on July 7th 

3. "That was a fact!": I DIDN'T LIE

4. Appoint as a posse member, say: DEPUTE - In High Noon, Gary Cooper tried to DEPUTE men and they all refused

5. Drudge online: MATT  - The editor of The Drudge Report

6. Cropped up: AROSE - Suddenly... 

7. Sch. in the 2008 film "21": MIT - Audiences liked it a lot more than the critics. I've watched it several times for the math, gaming and the story arc where the nerd becomes a player

8. Monstrous creatures: BEHEMOTHS - NASA's BEHEMOTH - the crawler/transporter that carried the Shuttle and the Moon Rockets out to the launch pad. Find the fire truck for comparison in size

9. Microbrewery fixture: ALE TAP.

10. Mars in music: BRUNO - Wayne Newton jokingly called BRUNO "so talented he makes me sick" 

11. Journalist Farrow: RONAN  - As fate would have it, RONAN made a big splash last week with this expose

12. Puzzle: ADDLE Here is a puzzle that might ADDLE you

15. Presage: PORTEND.

17. Rubs clean: SCOURS.

18. Private meal?: MESS - Most army privates would know what S.O.S. in the MESS Hall/Tent is

23. Mic holders: MCS - I had "Drop the MIC" in last Saturday's puzzle

24. Take down __: A PEG - One of the ongoing premises on Frasier was to see the pompous star taken down A PEG

25. Shih-__: mixed breed: POO  - The cute little dog with the unfortunate name

29. Introductory French course: ONION SOUP - I'd hope that one of the succeeding courses would be a filet mignon 

31. Holdings for many seniors: AARP CARDS - Getting one of these is a rite of passage like getting your driver's license, though perhaps less eagerly anticipated

32. Aid in changing a light bulb: STEP STOOL  - Yes, now just rotate the STOOL clockwise

33. Lamarr of "Boom Town": HEDY  

35. One side of New England's Bourne Bridge: CAPE COD  - Here is a 1970 b/w picture showing this bridge connecting the Massachusetts mainland with Cape Cod over the Cape Cod Canal

37. Some NBA periods: OTS.

38. Red wine substance: TANNIN - A naturally occurring substance found in grape skins, seeds and stems. White wine has less TANNIN and is less likely to give you a headache

41. Govt. code crackers: NSA  - The National Security Agency offers online code challenges like this one below where the hint is the Q in the code stands for an R in the answer

44. Hairy Genesis son: ESAU - Isaac and Rebecca's twins Esau and Jacob are born

45. "Being and Nothingness" author: SARTRE  - Jean Paul's essay in phenomenological ontology which rejects Kant's concept of noumenon. 

47. Overly: ALL TOO - We all know people who were taken from us ALL TOO soon

48. Forum wardrobe: TOGAS.

49. South American cornmeal cake: AREPA  - Shredded beef in AREPA

50. __ One: vodka brand: KETEL - Not a connoisseur so...

51. Harness race horse: PACER  - It appears a bunny wants to get into the race with these PACERS

55. 1981 TV groom: MORK  - A little of Robin Williams comedy can go a long way with me but I found him to be wonderful in Good Morning Vietnam, Dead Poets Society and Good Will Hunting where he showed his acting chops

56. Ticklish doll: ELMO  - Tickle Me Elmo was the hottest Christmas toy in America one year

58. Grapefruit League locale: Abbr.: FLA - In March we went the other way to see The Cactus League doing spring training in ARZ

I hope you enjoyed those cookies during this excursion and will tell you there is no law against seconds on the cookies as you comment and read what others of our merry band have to say. 

p.s. Happy Birthday to my youngest daughter today! Here she is shown with her youngest.

DA GRID