Wednesday, April 13, 2022, Joe Deeney

Theme: AGAIN AND AGAIN

15. Test format with options: MULTIPLE CHOICE.

21. Dojo move: KARATE CHOP.

47. Nocturnal bird that woke up Vinny in "My Cousin Vinny": SCREECH OWL.

55. Cocoa butter confection: WHITE CHOCOLATE.

33. Bat specialty, and what you need to find in four long answers: ECHO LOCATION.

Melissa here. The word ECHO is split across each two-word phrase, in the same way - E-CHO - thus ECHO LOCATION. This is the final Wednesday puzzle edited by Rich Norris. It has been quite a run, hasn't it?

Across:

1. L.A. Rams' __ McVay, youngest head coach to win the Super Bowl: SEAN.

5. Fly high: SOAR. The clue is making me hear the theme from Rocky, 'Gonna Fly Now,' in my head.

9. Old NCAA football ranking sys.: BCS. Tricky for people who aren't sports fans. The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) system was in place for the 1998 through 2013 seasons and in 2014 was replaced by the College Football Playoff.

12. Regarding: AS TO.

13. Limerick's land: EIRE.

14. Coagulate: CLOT.

18. Grassland: PRAIRIE.

19. Using pointe shoes: ON TOE. Literal translation from French is cutting edge.

20. Didn't stick around: RAN. Great clue, I bet it's Rich's.

24. Card game requirement, maybe: ANTE.

26. __-pitch: SLO. Hm. Well again, not being a sports fan, I'm not sure if this refers to the variety of softball in which the ball is pitched with an underhand motion at moderate speed in an arc that rises at least six feet above the ground, because I don't usually see it spelled without the W, or the Canadian TV Show that IS spelled that way. What do you think?

27. Farm female: HEN. Not ewe!

28. Roman who defeated Hannibal: SCIPIO. Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus was a Roman general and statesman, most notable as one of the main architects of Rome's victory against Carthage in the Second Punic War. Who knew this? I needed perps.

31. Triage areas: Abbr.: ERS. Emergency Rooms.

38. Name in "Kill Bill" credits: UMA. Uma Thurman.

39. Military jeep successor: HUMVEE. The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV; colloquial: Humvee) is a family of light, four-wheel drive, military trucks and utility vehicles.

41. Aid for the lost: MAP. Haha.

44. They're not from around here, briefly: ETS. Extraterrestrials. Originating, existing, or occurring outside the earth or its atmosphere

46. Lowly worker: PEON.

51. Messenger __: RNA. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a molecule similar to DNA.

52. As is fitting: APTLY.

53. 41-Across, e.g.: DIAGRAM.

58. Golfer's pocketful: TEES.

59. Sell on the street: HAWK. Hawk vs. hock.

60. Series finale: Abbr.: ET AL. Latin phrase meaning “and others.”

61. "__ the ramparts ... ": O'ER. Contraction of over.

62. Dire March time: IDES. But why?

63. Slithery swimmers: EELS.

Down:

1. Longtime Agassi rival: SAMPRAS. Pete Sampras held the Open Era record of six year-end No. 1 rankings—all earned consecutively, from 1993 to 1998.

2. Online GEICO alternative: ESURANCE.

3. Brit's pond: ATLANTIC. The Atlantic Ocean borders on North America, South America, Europe, and Africa. It is the world's second largest ocean, while the Pacific Ocean is the largest. Interesting facts.

4. "It wasn't me": NOT I.

5. Photo tint: SEPIA. A reddish-brown color, named after the rich brown pigment derived from the ink sac of the common cuttlefish. The word sepia is the Latinized form of the Greek σηπία, sēpía, cuttlefish.

6. Persian Gulf ships: OILERS. In the United States Navy, an Oiler is a Combat Logistics ship that replenishes other ships with fuel and in some cases food, mail, ammunition and other necessities while at sea, in a process called Underway Replenishment or UNREP.

7. Word shortened to its middle letter, in texts: ARE. How r u?

8. "Parks and __": REC. NBC TV series from 2009 - 2015.

9. Devil-may-care: BLITHE.

10. Protective covering: COCOON. Chrysalis vs. cocoon.

11. So inclined?: STEEP. Another great clue.

14. Large sea snail: CONCH.

16. Bug: IRK.

17. Soil-moving implement: HOE.

22. Jack Ryan portrayer before Harrison: ALEC. Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford - in the Tom Clancy books-turned-movies.

23. Holy scroll: TORAH. First five books of the Hebrew Bible.

25. Book after Galatians: Abbr.: EPH. New Testament, Ephesians.

29. Chit: IOU. Phonetic acronym of the words "I owe you," refers to a document that acknowledges the existence of a debt

30. Ancient Mesoamerican: OLMEC. The Olmecs are best known for the statues they carved: 20 ton stone heads, quarried and carved to commemorate their rulers. The name Olmec is an Aztec word meaning the rubber people; the Olmec made and traded rubber throughout Mesoamerica.

 
32. Guy found running through the alphabet?: STU. The letters S-T-U. Clever clue.

34. Court recitation: "I swear that the evidence that I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God."

 35. Little terror: IMP.

36. Give credit where credit isn't due: OVERRATE.

37. Like early childcare: NEONATAL. Newborn.

40. Glossy coats: ENAMELS.

41. "Scorpion" co-star Katharine: MCPHEE. Also, runner-up on the fifth season of American Idol.

 42. More pretentious: ARTIER.

43. Pummels with snowballs: PELTS.

45. "Us, too": SO DO WE.

47. Handled: SAW TO.

48. Watch closely: EYE.

49. Candlemaker's supply: WICKS.

50. Mekong Valley language: LAO. Sometimes referred to as Laotian, it is spoken in Laos, where it is the official language for around 7 million people, as well as in northeast Thailand, where it is used by around 23 million people

54. Musical series set at McKinley High: GLEE.

56. City with two MLB teams: CHI. Cubs and White Sox. Why two?

57. Possessed: HAD.

Tuesday, April 12, 2022 Jesse Goldberg

Piano Lessons:  One of the first music lessons teaches the notes of the scale.  How to remember the notes?  Do today's puzzle!

17-Across. *   __ day: on alternating days: EVERY OTHER.

25-Across. *  Aussie's "Well done!": GOOD ON YOU.

31-Across. *  One with the motto "Be Prepared": BOY SCOUT.

42-Across. *  Serves a prison sentence: DOES TIME.

47-Across. *  Part of the contract where gotchas might be found: FINE PRINT.

59-Across. The first words of the answers to starred clues are a mnemonic for this musical symbol's staff lines: TREBLE CLEF.  The notes on the lines are E G B D F.  The mnemonic for the open spaces is FACE.

Back when I was taking piano lessons, the phrase was Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge.  I guess the diet police have determined that eating too much fudge is not good.  I thought of our resident musician when I caught the theme to today's puzzle.  Hi, JazzB!

There is a lot of opportunity for some music today, which is appropriate for today's theme.

A big Thank You to Boomer who stood in for me for the past two weeks while I was dealing with my Dad's estate.

Across:
1. Chesapeake shellfish: CRAB.

5. Swings at a fly: SWATS.

10. Perfect tennis serves: ACES.

14. Can't stand: HATE.

15. Band whose debut album "Dreamboat Annie" was released in the U.S. on Valentine's Day in 1976: HEART.

16. Reclined: LAIN.

19. Thought: IDEA.

20. Raised, as kids: REARED.

21. What a vocalist may drop for emphasis: MIC.  Not Cool.

23. "What's the __?": "So what?": DIF.  Meh!

24. Pallid: WAN.

28. Historic period: ERA.

30. Deluge: TORRENT.

34. Trait carriers: GENES.  Everything you wanted to know about gene traits from the National Human Genome Research Institute.

38. Brazenly obvious: BLATANT.

39. Morton condiment: SEA SALT.  Although this article isn't about the Morton salt company, it does involve a salt company, a salt dome, an oil company.

41. Determined to have: SET ON.  I've got my heart Set On a new sofa.

43. Daily record, as on a ship: LOG BOOK.

46. Almost on "E": LOW.  Think of the dashboard on your car showing that you need more gas.

50. Mantra syllables: OMs.

52. United: ONE.

53. Talk incessantly: YAK.

54. "You're the One That I Want" musical: GREASE.

57. Bloody, as steak: RARE.

62. Back up, on a PC: UN DO.  Not back up as in store, but back up as in OOPS!

63. Philadelphia NFLer: EAGLE.

64. Winter wear: COAT.

65. Extreme disorder: MESS.

66. Struck down, biblically: SMOTE.

67. Pantry pests: ANTS.

Down:
1. "Believe" singer: CHER.

2. "Must-see" review: RAVE.

3. Eroded: ATE AWAY AT.

4. Quotable Yogi: BERRA.  How Yogi Berra (né Lawrence Peter Berra; May 12, 1925 ~ Sept. 22, 2015) got his nickname.

5. Not barefoot: SHOD.

6. Drenched, e.g.: WET.

7. "That feels good": AAH!

8. Seismic event: TREMOR.

9. Long step: STRIDE.

10. Comedian Wong: ALI.  The comedy routines of Ali Wong (née Alexandra Dawn Wong; b. Apr. 19, 1982) are probably classified as for adults only. 

11. Escalade, casually: CADDY.  The Escalade is made by Cadillac.

12. Kids' song refrain: E-I-E-I-O.

13. Big blunder: SNAFU.

18. Hankering: YEN.  Also the name of Japanese currency.

22. Barrel-shaped drums: CONGAs.

25. Joint ailment: GOUT.

26. Uneaten morsel: ORT.  This used to be a crossword staple.

27. A-bomb tryout: N-TEST.

28. Recedes to the sea: EBBS.

29. Part in a play: ROLE.

30. "An ounce of action is worth a __ of theory": Emerson (probably): TON.

32. Pilfered: STOLE.

33. Suspended cover above a bed: CANOPY.

35. Place for a manicure: NAIL SALON.  Hi, Lucina!

36. "Tickle Me" Muppet: ELMO.

37. Hearty entrée: STEW.

39. Chimney sweep's target: SOOT.

40. "A mouse!": EEK.

42. Cheadle who was Basher in "Ocean's" films: DON.  Don Cheadle (né Donald Frank Cheadle, Jr.; b. Nov. 29, 1964), also portrayed the hotel manager in Hotel Rwanda.

44. Fireplace inserts: GRATES.

45. Yoga-as-exercise namesake: BIKRAM.  Also known as Hot Yoga.

47. Roman place of assembly: FORUM.

48. Foolish: INANE.

49. Brainiacs, maybe: NERDS.  Where did this word come from?

50. Valuable deposit: ORE.

51. Muslim holy city: MECCA.

54. Joy: GLEE.

55. Usher's offering: SEAT.

56. Young newts: EFTS.  They are cute little critters.

58. Dawn goddess: EOS.

60. Alter __: EGO.

61. Three-letter sandwich: BLT.  As in a Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato sandwich.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

Monday April 11, 2022 Kathy Lowden

Theme: PPS (71. Second addendum to a letter ... and a hint to 18-, 34-, 44- and 62-across) - Each theme entry is in the P* P* pattern.

18. Petite Mattel doll with her own Netflix TV series: POLLY POCKET.

34. Guy featured in "Practical Principles of Plain and Perfect Pronunciation": PETER PIPER.

44. Porky's girlfriend: PETUNIA PIG.

62. Animated feline in Inspector Clouseau films: PINK PANTHER.

Boomer here. Another LA Times debut. Congratulations, Kathy Lowden!

PPS: Most of us have probably followed the news about Mark Vande Hei.  He is the astronaut who became famous for floating around in space longer than any other person.  The only reason I mention this is that he graduated from Benilde St. Margaret's high school in the mid 1980s. A baby boomer you may know is also a Benilde alumni from 1965, and a BSM Bowling coach.

 

Across:

1. Bar passer: Abbr.: ATT. Attorney - with my medicine. I am not allowed any spirits.  So I pass the bar every day.

4. Donkeys: ASSES.  "I'm a gold lock, I'm a gold key.  I'm a don lock ..."

9. Silly: INANE.

14. Heckler's word: BOO.  Major League baseball is now open.

15. Kind of milk one shouldn't cry over: SPILT.  Leslie Gore.  "It's my party and I'll Cry if I want to."

16. Luxury watch: ROLEX.  Most of us exchange the ROL wit TIM.

17. CPR expert: EMT.  This is also known as thinwall conduit.  Electrical Metallic Tubing.

20. Put on a peg, as a golf ball: TEED.  Hoping I can knock it off soon.  We still are getting a bit of snow here.

22. Carp in a pond: KOI.

23. WWII subs: U BOATS.

24. Rich as Croesus, e.g.: SIMILE.

26. Lire replacers: EUROS.  I bought some of these once on eBay.  It was a mistake.

28. Person, place or thing, in grammar: NOUN.

30. Irish or English dogs: SETTERS.

38. MSN competitor: AOL.  The battle that never was.

39. Ooze with: EXUDE.

40. Silent assent: NOD.  I get it.

41. Main blood vessel: AORTA.  Very important to us all.

43. World Wide __: WEB.  A home for spiders.

46. Wand symbolizing royal authority: SCEPTER.  Hail to the king!!

49. Snow pea holders: PODS.

50. __ & Young: accounting firm: ERNST.  A little high class for most of us.

52. Places for belts: WAISTS.  Or at a bar?

56. Séance contact: SPIRIT.  Jet Blue tried to buy Spirit Airlines recently but I heard that the deal fell through.  They were trying to eliminate a low cost competitor.

59. Firepit residue: ASH.  Ash Wednesday is in the past.  Easter is coming soon.

61. Avoid completely: SHUN.

65. "... butterfly ... bee" boxer: ALI.  Louisville KY was Mr. Ali's home.  Much memorabilia there.

66. Broadway backer: ANGEL.  Los Angeles baseball team.

67. Road one-eighty: U TURN.  Better not do it on a highway.

68. Dangerous tide: RIP.  Mr. Van Winkle.

69. Aptly named novelist: READE. Charles.

70. Digital units: BYTES.  Do not get bitten by a BYTE.

Down:

1. Aids in illegal activity: ABETS.  Sports betting is starting up everywhere.  I heard that the odds on Tiger winning the Masters was 700 to 1.

2. Actress Marisa: TOMEI.  George Costanza made friends with her on "Seinfeld".

3. Tribal symbol: TOTEM.

4. Cleopatra's snake: ASP.  When I think of Elizabeth Taylor, what kind of life is that.  Chad Mitchell Trio.

5. Did not remain silent: SPOKE UP.

6. Cylindrical barn neighbor: SILO.  The hogs do not need a fridge.  They have a SILO.

7. Kimmy Schmidt player __ Kemper: ELLIE.

8. Hog's home: STY.  Yeah, but they have a SILO !

9. Will Smith film suggested by an Asimov classic: I ROBOT.

10. Free, after "at": NO COST.  Beware of stuff with "NO COST"

11. __-Seltzer: ALKA.  Spee Dee.

12. Nair rival, once: NEET.

13. Phone no. go-withs: EXTS.  I think extensions are a thing of the past.

19. More pristine: PURER.

21. Had an evening meal: DINED.  Have you seen the new stacked burgers from Dairy Queen.  They would not fit in my mouth.  And I have a BIG Mouth.

25. Stuff of legends: LORE.

27. Depleted: USED UP.  I think my chemo will be USED UP in about seven weeks.

29. NorCal NFL team: NINERS.  Forty of them.

31. Wyatt of Dodge City: EARP.  I remember the show starring Hugh O'Brien.

32. Naan relative: ROTI.

33. Refinery by-product: SLAG.  Ugly stuff.

34. Church benches: PEWS.  Of course our church has them.  No kneeling kneelers though. 

35. Corp. bigwig: EXEC.

36. Boob __: TV: TUBE.  I watch a lot of TV.  What does this make me ??

37. "... like the __ calling the kettle black": POT.  Smoking the "M" word.

41. Verdi opera set in Egypt: AIDA.

42. Watering place: OASIS.  This used to be a cigarette brand.

44. Prefix for "five": PENTA.  The PENTAgon has five sides.

45. Remote area known for its middle?: NOWHERE. Middle of nowhere. I've been there now and then.

47. Livened (up): PERKED.  Made coffee.

48. Almost a homer: TRIPLE.  We have a guy named Buxton who may hit a few of these this year.

51. Badly worn: TATTY.

53. Musical symbol: SHARP.

54. Dutch flower: TULIP.  Tiptoe through them with Tiny Tim.

55. Little scissors cuts: SNIPS.  Save your scissors.  I really do not have enough hair left.

56. Box for practice: SPAR.

57. Tree with needles: PINE.  At least you do not have to rake the needles in the fall.

58. "Young Frankenstein" Fräulein: INGA.

60. Close, as a door: SHUT.  or UP, as a mouth.

63. Well-worn pencil: NUB.

64. OR attendants: RNS.  Many great ones at our VA facilities.

Boomer

 

Sunday April 10, 2022 Paul Coulter

 

Theme:  "Assembling the Parts" - Each theme entry consists of ABC, B is a preposition. Each entry is clued as AB+ BC = ABC.

22. "Might I suggest ... " + "Since you mentioned it ... " = "I'll be darned!": HOW ABOUT THAT. "How about ..." + "About that" = "How about that?".

30. Honest about + "L'chaim!" = Realistic: TRUE TO LIFE. True to + "To Life!" = True to life.

43. Approached old age + Ready to sail = Joined the cause: GOT ON BOARD. Got on + On board

61. Yell + Bent on getting = Need urgently: CRY OUT FOR. Cry out + Out for = Cry out for.

79. Sergeant's order + Type of skate = Get with the program: FALL IN LINE. Fall in + inline = Fall in line.

91. Patronize + Comfortable = Kind of parent: STAY AT HOME. Stay at + At home = Stay at home.

104. Cede + Pitching style = Climbing method: HAND OVER HAND. Hand over + overhand = hand over hand.

I don't recall a similar theme in LAT before. Fun and tight, Paul! Made me think of the great Merl Reagle.

I was wrong last Sunday when I said this would be the last puzzle edited by Rich Norris. Next Sunday's is.

Across:

1. Fruit stand buys: MELONS. Have you tried the black Beauty watermelons?

 

7. One way to be taken: ABACK.

12. Behavioral Analysis Unit's org.: FBI. 15. Govt. loan agency: SBA. Also 40. DOD intel arm: NSA. And 101. Fed. power dept.: ENER.

18. Mountains of __: Genesis locale: ARARAT.

19. Bar offering: SUSHI. And 20. Heros, to some: GRINDERS. I prefer sushi.

24. Superior: HIGHER UP.

25. Wasn't present?: ISN'T. And 27. Car jackers?: MECHANICS. Fun clues.

26. Violent protester: RIOTER.

28. Irish moonshine: POTEEN. Learning moment for me. Also spelled as "Poitin".

32. Netted, say: SNARED.

34. Kennel club designation: BREED.

36. Angers: IRES.

37. Cliffside dwelling: AERIE.

38. Defense secretary under Nixon: LAIRD (Melvin). New name to me, though he does look familiar. 

39. Dear: HON.

46. Archaeological site: RUIN. Hope you all get a chance to visit my hometown Xi'an someday. So many historical sites.

48. Noticed: SPIED.

50. "__ ideas?": ANY.

51. Phone downloads: APPS.

52. Irritates: RASPS.

53. Studied for a job?: CASED. Cased a joint.

54. Google find: SITE.

56. Lite: LO-FAT.

57. Have credit from: OWE TO. A few other To's: 39. Well aware of: HIP TO. 41. Take care of: SEE TO.

58. __ male: ALPHA.

65. Western __: UNION.

66. Super Bowl LVI champ: LA RAM.

67. Some wedding guests: AUNTS.

68. Snacks, say: EATS.

70. Biting: ACERB. This word just looks sour.

71. One may become a cliché: ADAGE.

72. Raise: REAR.

74. High point: TOP.

77. Marsh growths: REEDS.

78. Brief "Out of the question": CAN'T.

82. AOL alternative: MSN.

83. __ Elton John: SIR.

84. Morally instruct: EDIFY.

86. The Mick succeeded him as Yankee center fielder: DIMAG. Mickey Mantle.  This might be Rich's clue. He's an avid Yankee fan.

87. Letters after many a general's name: RET'D.

89. Full force: BRUNT.

90. Experts: MAVENS.

94. Rouses: AWAKES.

96. Changeable type: CHAMELEON. So many great fill in this grid: 3. Celebration with a tent, maybe: LAWN PARTY. 56. Like some bonds: LONG TERM. More great fill: 71. Crucial trials: ACID TESTS. 74. Vacation rental option: TIMESHARE. 81. Online customer service option: LIVE CHAT.

97. Thingamabob: DOODAD.

100. "Goddess of Pop": CHER. Do you believe in life after love?

103. Hardly promising: HOPELESS.

106. Writers like O. Henry: IRONISTS. And 109. Writer: PEN.

107. Aquatic mammal: OTTER.

108. Beltway environs: DC AREA.

110. Rehab hurdle: DTS. Delirium tremens.

111. Crystal-lined rock: GEODE.

112. "Stagecoach" and "High Noon": OATERS.

Down:

1. When repeated, a fish: MAHI. Huge.

 

2. Winged figure of myth: EROS.

4. Handel bars: ORATORIO. Nice clue also.

5. Apt grab rhyme: NAB.

6. Put away for later: STORED.

7. __ Clinton, historic English village that lent its name to a sports car: ASTON. Another learning moment. 

 

8. Joke victim: BUTT.

9. "A Hard Road to Glory" author: ASHE.

10. Rent for fishing, say: CHARTER. Charter boat.

11. Do-it-yourselfer's purchase: KIT.

12. Disagreements: FRICTIONS.

13. Mountain West river named for sheep: BIGHORN.

14. Clinton said he didn't do it: INHALE.

15. Printing flourish: SERIF.

16. Actor Dern: BRUCE. Laura Dern's father.

17. Nile serpents: ASPS.

20. Indian butter: GHEE.

21. Patron saint of France: DENIS.

23. Risky turn, maybe: UIE.

27. __ pie: MUD.

29. Frosh, probably: TEEN.

31. Writes a new version of: RE-DRAFTS.

32. It's a long story: SAGA. One of our blog readers actually read "Dream of the Red Chamber".

33. Brightly colored: NEON.

34. Hopping targets?: BARS.

35. Clear (of): RID.

38. Common cat seat: LAP.

40. Japanese-American: NISEI. Jill is one.

Steve and Jill, June 12, 2016

Tea at The Queen Mary

42. Extra feature: ADD ON. A few more On's: 75. "... roasting __ open fire": ON AN. 92. Hit lightly: TAP ON. 98. Able to see right through: ONTO.

44. Dugout rack item: BAT.

45. Crude gp.?: OPEC. Can't fool our regulars.

47. "Aim High" federal org.: USAF.

48. Merit badge earner: SCOUT.

49. Little men in the front row: PAWNS.

52. Delivery assignment: ROUTE. Our mail delivery is still erratic.

54. Dig find: SHARD.

55. Sonnet line quintet: IAMBS.

58. Auto option: ALARM.

59. Velcro alternative: LACES.

60. Groom with a bill: PREEN. Verb "groom".

62. "M*A*S*H" corporal: RADAR.

63. Chinese currency: YUAN. My dad's salary was RMB49/month in 1981. Less than $8.

64. Authentic: REAL.

69. "Exodus" hero: ARI.

72. "Cast Away" escape vehicle: RAFT.

73. Nevada copper town: ELY. Learned from doing crosswords.

76. Cello parts: PEGS.

79. Flipper: FIN.

80. Sask. neighbor: N DAK.

83. Least fresh: STALEST.

85. Deadline: DUE DATE.

87. Asian noodle dish: RAMEN. Xi'an style.  You can find this chain in New York City.

88. Lens cover: EYELID.

89. French word of approval: BON.

90. Managed: MADE DO.

91. Jersey __: SHORE.

93. "Bonanza" brother: HOSS. I watched a little bit of  this episode when I was waiting for Boomer at the MRI waiting place. My first and only "Bonanza".

94. Really dig: ADORE.

95. Sound file suffix: WAV.

96. China problem: CHIP.

99. Had too much, briefly: OD'ED.

102. Old food label figs.: RDAS.

104. Keep every one of: HOG.

105. TV pioneer: RCA.

Boomer's blood draw result was not good. His PSA rose to 445 (0-4 is normal), so the third chemo infusion did not work either. We're going back to the big VA hospital again tomorrow for a CT scan. Busy week ahead, appointment every day. 

The good news is that spring is finally here.The snow is almost all gone.

C.C.