Wednesday, July 15, 2020 Ed Sessa

Theme - Isn't It Romantic - brought to you by Darmon Meader, who would have been our guest artist this Spring, except all the music events got cancelled.

Let's go with the unifier, to make sense of the circles - if you got them.

51 A. Like some conventional romances, as illustrated by each set of circled letters: BOY MEETS GIRL.  The first word each 2-word theme entry ends with the letters of a common male name, and the second word starts with the letters of a common female name - hence the meeting of BOY and GIRL.  There is actually a rather short list of generic plot types for stories, and this is one of them.

20 A. Sweets in an edible bouquet: CANDY FLOWERS.  Confections molded into the shapes of blooms and buds.  It's almost a shame to eat them. Here our romantic pair are ANDY and FLO.  I hope for his sake that it's not the annoying lady from the Progressive Insurance ads.  Our tour guide on a long ago white water rafting adventure was named FLO.  Our motto was "go with the Flo." [I am not making this up.]

27A . Birth of a baby: BLESSED EVENT.  I don't know the origin of this phrase, but it does keep the human race going.  I hope ED and EVE have a long and happy marriage that commenced before the blessed event took place.

43 A. Government bonds are part of it: NATIONAL DEBT.  This is the current total of all government borrowings.  I hope AL and DEB don't have too much of this sort of thing hanging over their heads.

Hi Gang, it's JazzBumpa, your matchmaker making today's introductions.

Across:

1. Esau's twin: JACOB.  These brothers got into a stew in an early disfunctional family.

6. Latticework piece: LATH.  A thin, flat strip of wood with various uses in construction.

10. Anew Skinvincible maker: AVON.

14. Act unceremoniously?: ELOPE.  Run away and get married, presumable avoiding a wedding ceremony.

15. Boo-boo: OWIE.  Minor injury, usually on a minor

16. Start to suction?: LIPO- .  A surgical procedure that uses suction to remove fat cells from specific areas of the body.  I think this type of affix clue uses suction.

17. Improvised container for roses: WINE CARAFE.  OK.  I suppose you could also use a catsup bottle

19. Aspiring DA's exam: LSAT.  The form of standardized test used specifically for admission to a law school.  It has long been established that there is scant - if any - correlation between standardized  test score and academic performance.  IMHO, the whole thing is a sham.

22. Urgent PD call: APB.  All Points Bulletin.  A broadcast from a law enforcement agency to its personnel or other such agencies, generally containing information about a wanted suspect or person of interest.

25. Sport-__: UTE.  A Sport utility vehicle - a rugged automotive vehicle similar to a station wagon but built on a light-truck chassis.

26. Deceives: LIES TO.  Prevaricates.

31. Hanukkah pancake: LATKE.  Potato pancake.

32. Chance: RISK.  Specifically, the chance that some sort of loss or harm may ensue.

33. Mosquito-eating critter: BAT.  The only mammal capable of true flight.    Bats are more maneuverable than birds,

36. DIY website: ETSY.  An American e-commerce website focused on handmade or vintage items and craft supplies.

37. Seafood boil staple: CLAMS.   Any of several kinds of bivalve molluscs. The word is often applied only to those that are edible and live as infauna, spending most of their lives halfway buried in the sand of the seafloor or riverbeds.

39. Wait patiently: BIDE.  A good old Anglo-Saxon word meaning to wait or stay.

40. Singer Orbison: ROY.  [1936-1988] From 1960 to 1966, 22 of his singles reached the top 40.

Boy loses Girl

41. Tallow source: SUET.  SUET is the raw hard fat from beef or mutton.  Tallow is the fat portion of SUET, removed from the fibers and membranes by melting

42. Dealership inventory: AUTOS.  Cars, and also trucks.

46. Italian fashion giant: ARMANI.  An Italian luxury fashion house founded by Giorgio Armani in 1975.

49. Fashioned after: A LA.  In the manner of ---

50. "Big Eyes" singer Lana Del __: REY.   Elizabeth Woolridge Grant (b. 1985), known by her stage name Lana Del Rey, is an American singer-songwriter and poet. Her music is noted for its stylized cinematic quality; its themes of tragic romance, glamour, and melancholia; and its references to pop culture, particularly 1950s and 1960s Americana.

Girl leaves Boy

55. Wile E. Coyote's supplier: ACME.

It never ends well

56. Hardware store gadget that creates the perfect color: PAINT MIXER.

60. Cardamom-flavored Indian tea: CHAI.

61. She asked Sam to play "As Time Goes By": ILSA.

Boy meets Girl's Husband

62. Writer Zola: EMILE.  Émile Édouard Charles Antoine Zola [1840-1902] was a French author, playwright, journalist and political activist.

63. Mild-mannered Clark: KENT.  Superman, by another name.

64. Vaping device, casually: E-CIG.  An electronic gadget that simulates smoking by generating an aerosol vapor from a heated liquid.

65. Jeans material: DENIM.  A sturdy cotton warp-faced textile in which the weft passes under two or more warp threads.  Now that is something that you know.

Down:

1. Moses, for one: JEW.  Kind of an important one, actually.

2. Boxing legend: ALI.  Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. [1942 – 2016] was an American professional boxer, activist, and philanthropist.   He is widely regarded as one of the most significant and celebrated sports figures of the 20th century and as one of the greatest boxers of all time.

3. Hornswoggle: CON.  Gain an advantage over someone by cheating and deception.

4. Crude gp.?: OPEC.  Organization of Petroleum Exporting Companies.

5. "__ I said so!": BECAUSE.  Do as I say!

6. __ it over: ruled: LORDED.  Dominated.

7. Off in the distance: AWAY.  Afar

8. Small spat: TIFF.  A petty quarrel between friends or lovers.

9. Like gravity wedges: HEELLESS.  I never knew.



10. Full of baloney: ALL WET.  Saying ridiculous things.

11. Woodshop grippers: VISES.  A metal tool with movable jaws used to hold a work piece firmly in place

12. Reality-bending paintings: OP ART.  Short for optical art,  a style of visual art that uses optical illusions.

13. "You're mistaken": NOT SO.    Possibly full of bologna.

18. Feed the kitty: ANTE.  At the start of a card game.

21. Trough grunt: OINK.  Pig talk.

22. More proficient: ABLER. Anything you can do, I can do better.

23. "Allegory of the cave" philosopher: PLATO.  Pondering belief vs knowledge.  More here.

24. "Breaking Bad" actress Brandt: BETSY.  [b 1973] She is an American Actress.

28. Star-spangled expanse: SKY.  The firmament.

29. Muse for poets: ERATO.

30. Vigor's partner: VIM.  If you take your vitamins.

33. Dog to beware: BITER.   I think I had this cur the last time.  Wary or not, I can't avoid it.

34. Sun-dried brick: ADOBE.  Made from clay.

35. Out of sorts: TESTY.  Irascible.

37. Cupcake: CUTIE PIE.  Affectionate terms that might not go over so well these days.

38. Wreath of plumeria blossoms: LEI.  A garland necklace.

39. Chum: BUD.  Pal.

41. Sensible: SANE.  Rational.

42. Protected from burglars: ALARMED.  But I would be ALARMED if the ALARM were to make a sound.

43. "Your call": NAME IT. What ever you like.

44. "Stop reminding me!": NAG NAG.  Give it a rest, already.

45. Touched down: ALIT.  Landed.

46. Taken __: ABACK.  Recoiling from surprise or shock

47. Tamiflu producer: ROCHE.  F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG is a Swiss multinational healthcare company that operates worldwide under two divisions: Pharmaceuticals and Diagnostics. Its holding company, Roche Holding AG, has bearer shares listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. The company headquarters are located in Basel.  Tamiflu is an oral antiviral medication used to treat and prevent influenza A and influenza B.

48. "Bro!": MY MAN.  Chum, bud, pal.

52. Soft mineral: TALC.  Hydrated magnesium silicate.

53. Spanish ayes: SI SI.  Yes, Yes, as we all say to C.C.

54. Mojito fruit: LIME.  A traditional Cuban cocktail, made with 5 ingredients.  The other 4 are white rum, sugar, soda water and mint.

57. Mark, as a survey square: X IN.  Indicate with an X or a check mark.

58. Manning who announced his retirement in 2020: ELI.  Quarterback for the New York Football Giants.

59. Sleep cycle: REM.  Rapid eye movement - when you are dreaming.

That wraps it up for today.  Wishing you all sweet, romantic dreams.

Cool regards,
JzB

Wednesday, July 1, 2020 Bill Zagozewski

Theme: I can't do any better than the unifier, so let's drive on over there and stop safely.

65. Intersection with flashing lights and bells, for short, and a hint to this puzzle's circles: RRXING.



We have two sets of crossing theme entries, one across and one down in each, of course. These two-word entries all have the initial R for both words, and the entries cross at the 2nd R.  If you got the two circles in your puzzle, these are the locations.

30 A. Extreme reaction to traffic: ROAD RAGE.  "Any unsafe driving maneuver performed deliberately and with ill intention or disregard for safety."
~Crossing~
10 D. Volunteer with Teddy Roosevelt: ROUGH RIDER.  A member of the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, which, ironically, would up fighting on foot.

45 A. "Standing" entrée: RIB ROAST.  A prime rib cut of beef, generally roasted "standing" on the rib bones, such that the meat does not touch the pan.
~Crossing~
29 D. "And away go troubles down the drain" company: ROTO ROOTER.  An American company founded in 1935, using a patented auger machine to clean tree roots and other debris from sewer lines. It also provides plumbing repair, sewer and drain services, and water damage cleanup services to residential and commercial customers.

Hi Gang, JazzBumpa here.  Also note that the circled crossings are located symmetrically in the grid, with a 180 degree rotation.  Nice elegant touch.  Having safely encountered the RR CROSSINGS, let us now continue our journey.

Across:

1. Lion controllers: TAMERS.  Those who train lions or other big cats for use in protection or entertainment, according to Wikipedia.

7. From the U.S.: AMERican.

11. Pained cries: OWS.   I use more colorful language.

14. Spotted wildcat: OCELOT.  A medium sized cat weighing from 8 to 15 kg, native to the American southwest, Mexico, Central America and South America.  It is characterized by solid black spots and streaks on its coat, round ears, and white neck and undersides.

15. Brussels-based gp.: NATO. North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

16. Chapel bench: PEW. A long bench with a back to provide seating for the congregation.

17. Sorbetto alternative: GELATO.  Italian frozen deserts that are similar but not identical to sherbet and ice cream.

18. Hall of Fame guest of honor: INDUCTEE.   A person newly added.

20. House speaker after Ryan: PELOSI.  Nancy [b 1940] née D'Alesandro, was speaker from 2007 to 2011, and again currently, starting in January, 2019.  She represents California's 12th congressional district.

22. Coffee machine setting: GRIND.  Reduces the beans to a useful size for brewing.

23. "I'm at my __ end!": WIT'S.  Out of patience, with no more cares to give.

26. Like many flights to LAX: INTL.  International - i.e from foreign countries into Los Angeles. Travel through LAX was off by 95% in mid April.  Can't quickly find how it is doing now.

27. Skating legend Sonja: HENIE. [1912 - 1969] She was a multiple award winner in the Olympics, and European and World Championships, and movie star in the late '30's.  She died of leukemia.

28. More aloof: ICIER.  Cold.  Very, very cold.

32. '50s prez: IKE.  Dwight David Eisenhower.  [1890-1969]

33. Place to use a mitt: OVEN.  For heat protection.

35. Grafton's "__ for Evidence": E IS. From her Alphabet mystery series.

36. Went around in circles: GYRATED. Quickly spun or moved in a spiral.

38. Confound: BEDEVIL.  Confusticate and bebother, as Bilbo would have it.

42. Decompose: ROT. Come undone.

43. Suffix with gazillion: -AIRE.  One who has all that money and stuff.

44. Brian of rock: ENO. [b 1948] A self-described non-musician with several solo albums and collaborations with many others who are known as musicians.  He has also produced albums for several of them.

48. Strict precision: RIGOR.   The quality of being extremely thorough, exhaustive, or accurate, derived from the Latin word for stiffness.

50. Simply not done: TABOO.  Forbidden.

51. All-purpose vehicles, for short: UTES.  Sport utilities.

53. Sugar source: CANE.  In Michigan it's beets.

54. In __: unborn: UTERO.  In the uterus.

55. Dress down: BERATE. Angrily scold and criticize.

57. New in theaters: FIRST RUN.

59. Jalopy: BEATER.  Beaten up old vehicle

63. Vous, less formally: TOI. You, in French; and you, in French.

64. Pair on a Disney World hat: EARS.

Costumes available here

66. Federal retirement org.: SSA.  Social Security Administration.

67. Actress Russo: RENE. [b 1954] American actress, producer and model.  She was in many movies through the 90's, and more recently appeared as Thor's mother in a series of superhero movies..

68. Corrects, as text: EMENDS.

Down:

1. Dress (up): TOG.  I've heard of TOGS as fancy clothing, but not of its use as a verb.

2. Opening day pitcher, typically: ACE.  The best starting pitcher on the staff.  Opening day seems to be something we might not experience this year.

3. "Coca Cola Cowboy" singer Tillis: MEL.



4. Slip by, as time: ELAPSE.

5. Repetitive learning: ROTE.  Memorization.

6. Vodka with Razberi and Ohranj flavors: STOLI.  Short for Stolichnaya.

7. Jennifer of "The Good Girl": ANISTON. [b 1969] She is am American actress, producer and business woman who reached fame and success playing Rachel in the TV series FRIENDS.  She then went on to make a series of romantic comedy movies that I never saw.

8. Capital on Luzon: MANILA.  In the Philippines.

9. Boarding pass info: ETD.  Estimated Time of Departure.

11. Going (for): OPTING.  Making a choice among options

12. Frank on the grill: WEENIE.   AKA the hot dog.

13. Stockholm native: SWEDE.

19. Pressed-pants feature: CREASE.

21. When rights are sometimes permitted: ON RED.  A right turn at an intersection, in this regard treating the red light as a stop sign.

23. "The Martian" actress Kristen: WIIG. [b1973] She is an American actress, comedian, writer and producer who has appeared in several movies over the past decade..

24. Eww-inspiring: ICKY.  Nasty and disgusting.

25. Concert level: TIER.  Rows of seating at some elevation.

31. Antelope playmates: DEER.  On the range, where the buffalo roam.

34. Reject, presidentially: VETO.  The president's or governor's right to reject a proposed law passed by the legislature.

37. Shady alcoves: ARBORS.  A shady sitting place or pergola usually in a park or garden, surrounded by climbing shrubs, vines or other vegetation. A grove of trees.

38. Dog to avoid: BITER.  Seems like good advice

39. 1970s Chevy subcompact: VEGA.  I wanted NOVA.

40. A party to: IN ON.  Knowledgable about.

41. Passed-down history: LORE.  Knowledge and traditions passed down through the generations.

43. Equally strained: AS TENSE.

45. Proportions: RATIOS.  The quantitative relationship between two amounts.

46. Spain and Portugal comprise most of it: IBERIA. A peninsula in south-western Europe.

47. The Tigers of the SEC: AUBURN.  Teams associated with the University.

49. Climber's tool: ICE AXE.

50. Clumps of hair: TUFTS.

52. Buffalo NHLer: SABRE.  Player on the profess


ional hockey team

56. Time in office: TERM.  With specified beginning and end dates.

58. "Norma __": RAE.  A movie about southern textile mill workers.

60. Bronze component: TIN. Mostly copper with about 12% tin and sometimes smaller amounts of other metals.  Brass, more dear to me, is copper and zinc.

61. Terminate: END.  Finish

62. Some NFL blockers: RGS.  Right guards.  Those in the first position to the right of the center in the offensive line of an American football team.

That's all folks.  Hope all you well trained solvers were able to stay on track.

Cool regards!
JzB