L.A. Times Crossword Wednesday, December 15 Matt Skoczen

Theme: Mountain Range.  Each theme entry contains the name of a mountain range, and in each case it begins and ends with the first and last letters that name - hence the use of "range" in the unifier clue.  Let's start there.

37 A. What each set of circled letters spells ... and depicts: MOUNTAIN RANGE.  Self explanatory.  But could be baffling if you didn't get the circles.

17A . Enforcement arm of the fed. courts: U.S. MARSHALS.  It is a bureau within the U.S. Department of Justice, operating under the direction of the Attorney General, but serves as the enforcement arm of the United States federal courts to ensure the effective operation of the judiciary and integrity of the Constitution.

The URALS are a mountain range that runs approximately from north to south through western Russia, from the coast of the Arctic Ocean to the river Ural and northwestern Kazakhstan. The mountain range forms part of the conventional boundary between the regions of Europe and Asia.

24 A. Streaming service whose logo ends with a math symbol: APPLE TV PLUS.  A streaming device for Apple devices, smart TVs and more.  It features new, original programming every month.

The ALPS are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately 1,200 km across eight Alpine countries: France, Switzerland, Monaco, Italy, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, and Slovenia.

48 A. "What I Like About You" co-star: AMANDA BYNES. [b. 1986]   is an American actress. She is best known for her work in television and film throughout the 1990s and 2000s. 

The ANDES, running along South America's western side, is among the world's longest mountain ranges. Its varied terrain encompasses glaciers, volcanoes, grassland, desert, lakes and forest. The mountains shelter pre-Columbian archaeological sites and wildlife including chinchillas and condors. From Venezuela in the north, the range passes through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile.

58 A. Family CBS series set on a self-named mountain: THE WALTONS. The life of a Depression-era family in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains is the subject of this wholesome series. The show is seen from the point of view of eldest son John Boy, who eventually goes to college, serves in World War II and becomes a novelist.

The TETONS are located in Wyoming, and are a sub-range of the Rockies.  I once read a quip that only a French man would look at these peaks and be reminded of his mistress's bosom.

Hi, Gang - JazzBumpa here to lead this expedition.  No Himalayas, so we won't need a Sherpa guide.  Let's get our climbing boots on a start the ascent.

Across:

1. "Sleepy Hollow" actress Christina: RICCI. [b 1980] is an American actress. She is known for playing unconventional characters with a dark edge.

6. Scenic overlook offering: VIEW.  As of, free, those grand Tetons.

10. Tools with teeth: SAWS.  Pliers have jaws.

14. Broadcast warning sign: ON AIR. Admonition to avoid making vagrant sounds.

15. Included in the email loop, briefly: CCED.  indicating those who are also sent a copy.

16. See 19-Across: CLEF.  I've been playing since 1960, and still want to spell this word with 2 f's.

19. With 16-Across, staff symbol for viola music: ALTO.  Presumably, this abomination exists to avoid the use of ledger lines.  In reality, there is no rational excuse for it. /rant

20. Oopsy on the keys: TYPO.  I love the German word for this: Fingerfehler.

21. Feel out of sorts: AIL. 

22. Somali-born supermodel: IMAN.  Iman Abdulmajid [b 1955] is a Somali-American fashion model, actress and entrepreneur. A muse of the designers Gianni Versace, Thierry Mugler, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan and Yves Saint Laurent, she is also noted for her philanthropic work. She is the widow of English rock musician David Bowie, whom she married in 1992.

23. 67.5 deg.: ENE.  The direction East-northeast.

28. Curtain material: SCRIM.  A woven material, either finely woven lightweight fabric widely used in theatre, or a heavy, coarse woven material used for reinforcement in both building and canvasmaking.

30. Vegas opening?: VEE.  A spelt-out letter.  Meh!

31. "How We Do (Party)" singer Rita: ORA. [b 1990] About whom I know nothing.

 

 32. German suffix with Konzert: MEISTER.  Auf Englisch, the concertmaster is the leader of the first violin section in an orchestra and the instrument-playing leader of the orchestra. After the conductor, the concertmaster is the second-most significant leader in an orchestra, symphonic band or other musical ensemble. 

36. Technical sch.: INSTitute.

40. Works with hide: TANS.

41. "This tastes awful!": I HATE IT.

42. CPR provider: EMT. Emergency Medical Technician.

43. Darth, as a youth: ANI.  Anakin Skywalker.

44. Green stuff: DOUGH.  Money

53. In favor of: PRO.  As opposed to Anti

54. Sciences partner: ARTS.

55. "I do not see why I should __ turn back": Frost: E'ER.  Ever, metrically force-fit.

“I do not see why I should e’er turn back, 

Or those should not set forth upon my track 

To overtake me, who should miss me here 

And long to know if still I held them dear. 

They would not find me changed from him they knew — Only more sure of all I thought was true.”

56. Where many a stuck thing sticks: CRAW. To be so offensive or disagreeable that one cannot swallow it. This expression is the modern version of stick in one's gizzard, gullet, or crop, all referring to portions of an animal's digestive system.

57. Paris gal pal: AMIE. 

61. Prejudice: BIAS.  pre-existimng attitude pro or anti some person or thing.

62. Pole at sea: MAST.  Support for the ship's riggings.

63. Undercut: ERODE.  A gradual wearing away, as by wind or water.  Undercut does not strike me as a good fit.

64. Is too busy, say: CANT.  Is unable or unwilling.

65. Texter's disclaimer, briefly: IMHO.  In My Humble Opinion.

66. Change: ALTER. Typically in a small but significant way.

Down:

1. Google Maps offerings: ROUTES.  To get you from point A to point B

2. On the same page: IN SYNC.  Synchronized.

3. RV park vehicle: CAMPER.  A large motor vehicle with facilities for sleeping and cooking while camping.

4. Vatican farewell: CIAO.  Hello or good bye in Italian.

5. Like some bargain bin mdse.: IRR.  Irregular - having some small flaw.

6. Blocker in a TV: V-CHIP.  A computer chip installed in a television receiver that can be programmed by the user to block or scramble material containing a special code in its signal indicating that it is deemed violent or sexually explicit.

7. "Show your cards": I CALL.   To call is to match a bet or match a raise. A betting round ends when all active players have bet an equal amount or everyone folds to a player's bet or raise. If no opponents call a player's bet or raise, the player wins the pot.

8. Sushi bar fare: EEL.  

9. Part of wpm: Abbr.: WDS.  Words per minute.

10. Rogue: SCAMP.   Someone mischievous in an amusing way.  Equivalent?  I have my doubts.

11. The whole time: ALL ALONG.  

12. Professional who breast-feeds another's child: WET NURSE.

13. NorCal airport: SFO.  The call letters for San Francisco International Airport.

18. Syrup source: SAP.  From maple trees.

22. "__ got it!": IVE.  Do you have it?

24. "You said it!": AMEN.  Statement of affirmation.

25. The Oscars, say: EVENT. A planned public or social occasion.

26. __ Haute: TERRE.  A city in and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, only 5 miles east of the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943.

27. Grabbed a chair: SAT.

29. Don of talk radio: IMUS.  John Donald Imus Jr., [b 1940] also known simply as Imus, was an American radio personality, television show host, recording artist, and author. His radio show Imus in the Morning was aired on various stations and digital platforms nationwide until 2018.

33. Singer Turner's memoir: I TINA.  Written in 1986

34. Indian "master": SAHIB. A polite title or form of address for a man.

35. Barcelona aunt: TIA.  Spanish

36. Really enjoying: INTO.  

37. ABBA musical: MAMMA MIA. A story built around a collection of their songs.

 

 38. Quebecer's neighbor: ONTARIAN. All Canadians, eh.

39. Helps: AIDS.  Assists

40. __ cozy: TEA.  A thick or padded cover placed over a teapot to keep the tea hot.

43. Common online interruptions: ADS.  Short for annoyances.

45. Yank from the soil: UPROOT.  Violent

46. "Thank U, Next" singer Ariana: GRANDE.  Ariana Grande-Butera [b 1993] is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Her music, much of which is based on personal experiences, has been the subject of widespread media attention, while her four-octave vocal range has received critical acclaim.

 

 47. Doctor Doogie: HOWSER.    An American medical drama that ran for four seasons on ABC from September 19, 1989, to March 24, 1993, totaling 97 episodes. The show stars Neil Patrick Harris in the title role as a teenage physician who balances the challenge of practicing medicine with the everyday problems of teenage life.

49. Desert trial: N-TEST.  Nuclear bomb explosion carried out in a remote location.

50. "Oy!": YEESH. A non-word, and poor fill.

51. Not familiar with: NEW TO.

52. Big Band __: ERA.  A period spanning roughly the mid 3930's to mid 40's, when poplar music was dominated by the big bands of the day.

 

 56. Lower left PC key: CTRL.   A modifier key which, when pressed in conjunction with another key, performs a special operation 

57. It can replace "pie" in an idiom: ABC.  It's just that easy.

58. "Enough!" in texts: TMI.  Too Much Information.

59. Bad actor: HAM.

60. Grassy expanse: LEA.  

We have reached the apex - if not necessarily the day - then, at least this puzzle.  As in any good MOUNTAIN RANGE, there were high points and low pints. Hope you found the climb exhilarating.

Cool regards!

JzB

L.A. Times Crossword December 1, 2021 Joe Deenney

 Theme: HOME is where you find it.  Hope you got the circles, because they are the place setters for the word HOME, which is hidden in each theme answer, can be found.  Let's have a look.

17A. Craven endeavor:  HORROR MOVIE.  Wes Craven has directed a few of them.  You can find the letters of the word HOME distributed across this fill.

22A. Like energy efficient buildings, for example:HIGH PERFORMANCE.  Well insulated with efficient HVAC systems.  Is your HOME one of them?

38A. Territorial Complex dissolved during the Napoleonic Wars: HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE.  It was established on Christmas Day in 800 C.E. when Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne emperor.

Acclaimed 2016 Broadway soundtrack, with "The": HAMILTON MIX TAPE.  This is more than a little bit strained.  Is a sound track a mix tape?  Really?  And TAPE?  By 2016 that would have been very old school.  But, it does give us the letters we need.

Final leg ... and a hint to each set of circles:  HOME STRETCH.  This is the last straight away section of a race on an oval track, leading to the finish line.  In each theme fill the letters of HOME are STRETCHED across the words, in each case beginning with H and ending with E.  The O and M are internal ,in order, and non-adjacent.  So there is a nice consistency to the construction.  Sadly, there are some vagrant E's and O's lurking in there also, which strikes me as a flaw.  In this type of theme there is no relationship among the theme fill other than accommodating the needed letters.  This is clever, well thought through, and pretty well designed, but I am less than delighted.

Hi Gang, JazzBumpa here, evidently in a nit-picking mood.  Let's see what else we can find.

Across

1. Surpasses 21, in blackjack:  BUSTS.  This is a betting card game where face cards count ten points, spot cards according to their numbers, and aces as either 1 or 11 at the player's discretion.  The point is to accept cards in order to get a count close to 21 without going over

6. Top-level performance:A GAME.  I remember my son saying when his kids were little that when they were at our house they had their A Game on. Alas, they are all adults now.

11. NBA legend familiarly: Dr. J. Julius Winfield Erving II (b. 1950), commonly known by the nickname Dr. J, is an American former professional basketball player.  During his 16 years in the NBA, none of his teams ever missed the post-season.

14.  Company that's proud of it quacks?  AFLAC.  This insurance company has a quacking duck in its commercials.  Cf. the Liberty Emu and Geico Gekko.  I hate them all.

15. Chopper topper: ROTOR.  The rotating blades on a helicopter.

Like the top half of Monaco's flag: RED.

16. In the style of: A LA.

20 A. Solar panel spot.  ROOF.  Where the sun shines.

21. Blockhead: TWIT.

29. Together in music: A DUE.  This refers specifically to the situation where a staff is carrying parts for two players, but they then play one part together.  From the French [of course] meaning "for two."

30. Acid found in olive oil.  OLEIC.  It is a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid, and the most common fatty acid found in nature.

31.  34 Across has one of them: TILDE.   The tilde  ˜ or ~, is a grapheme that changes the sound of the letter associated with it.  CF the next entry. The name derives from the Latin for superscript.

34. Historic ship: NIÑA.  One of the ships that Christopher Columbus used to pillage the new world.

35. QG's try: ATT.  Abrev.. for ATTEMPT - a football quarterback's pass intended for a receiver.  If he catches it, it's called a completion. 

41. Senator Klobuchar: AMY.  Like our own C. C., she represents Minnesota.

42. Orator's art: Abbr: RHET.  Short for rhetoric, the art of persuasion, which along with grammar and logic is one of the three ancient arts of discourse. Rhetoric aims to study the techniques writers or speakers utilize to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific situations.

43. WWI President: WILSON. Thomas Woodrow Wilson (1856 –1924) was an American politician and academic who served as the 28th president of the United States from 1913 to 1921. 

44. Dough: MOOLA.  Slang terms for money.

45. Resistance units: OHMS.  The standard unit of electrical resistance in the International System of Units (SI),  It is named after German physicist Georg Ohm.

52 By Jove: EGAD.  A mild oath, probably derived as a euphemism to avoid sayin, "Oh, God." in polite society.  Jove was the supreme god of Roman mythology, so it makes sense.

53.  Ticket datum:  GATE.   The total number of paying ticket holders. The amount they paid is gate receipts.

54. ___ Country:  ALT. Abrv for "alternative" - a sub genre of country music influenced by alternative rock.

62. Cartoonist Chaz: ROZ.  Rosalind "Roz" Chast is an American cartoonist and a staff cartoonist for The New Yorker. Since 1978, she has published more than 800 cartoons in The New Yorker. She also publishes cartoons in Scientific American and the Harvard Business Review.  

63.  Precipice: BRINK.  The edge [of something.]

64,  Like an egg: OVATE.  An oval expanded into the third dimension.

65.  Table for ___: TWO.  An intimate dining situation.

66. Passing words: OBITS.  Short for obituaries, brief writings about those who have recently departed.

67. Tranquilizing brand:  XANAX.   A prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of anxiety, panic disorder, and anxiety associated with depression. Xanax may be used alone or with other medications.

Down

1. Harrumph: BAH.  Expressions of disgust or displeasure.

2. Eerie sky light:  UFO. Unidentified Flying Object.  Who knows what they are?

3. Canon letters: SLR.  What kind of Canon is this: a brand name camera, of course.  Single Lens Reflex refers to the specific construction.

4. Pitch.  Another word with many potential meanings, but here is is TAR.

5.  Organization whose income taxes are passed through to shareholders.  S CORP.  An S corporation, for United States federal income tax, is a closely held corporation that makes a valid election to be taxed under Subchapter S of Chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code. In general, S corporations do not pay any income taxes.   And that is more than I know about them.

6. Tanks and such: ARMOR.  In this context, military vehicles sheathed with metal plate for protection.

7. Digress:  GO OFF ON A TANGENT.  I try not to do that.  You be the judge.

8.  Dune buggy, briefly: ATV. An All Terrain Vehicle -- a small open motor vehicle with one or two seats and three or more wheels fitted with large tires, designed for use on rough ground.

9. L'étate, à Louis XIV: MOI.   "I am the State," he claimed,  expressing the spirit of a rule in which the king held all political authority. His absolutism brought him into conflict with the Huguenots and the papacy, with damaging repercussions.

10 Bard's before: ERE.

11. Outlined, maybe: DRAWN.  As with pen or pencil.

12. Museum piece: RELIC.  An object surviving from an earlier time, especially one of historical or sentimental interest.

13. Website for Jewish singles: J DATE.   Where one can connect with successful, like-minded Jewish singles. 

18.  Sushi topper:  ROE.   Fish eggs.

21. Half a Northwest airport: TAC.  Serving Seattle and Tacoma, This airport is coded SEA-TAC.  [Bah!]

22. Yoga term meaning "force":  HATHA.

23. "Under the weather," say:  IDIOM.  A group of words whose meaning is not literal.

24. Water-formed ditch:  GULLY.

25. Actress Lamarr: HEDY.  Hedy Lamarr, born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler; [ 1914 – 2000) was an Austrian-born American film actress and inventor. Read abut her here.

26.  Director of many "This is us" episodes: OLIN. Ken [b. 1954]

27.  What people who need People might do?  RENEW.  For those who subscribe to the magazine.

28.  Cocoanut Grove city.  MIAMI.   This is an upscale neighborhood on Biscayne Bay.

32. Swashbuckling Flynn: ERROL.  [1909 - 1959] After a checkered early life, he turned to acting, and became famous for his leading roles in adventure movies.

35. Tyler of Archer: AISHA.  [b 1970]  An American actress, comedian, director, and talk show host. 

36. Tread heavily: TROMP.

37. Future, e.g.: TENSE.   A grammar term used to indicate whether a sentence (or verb) is an action in the past, the present or the future. 

39. Ten time NBA All-Star Anthony, to fans:  MELO.  Carmelo Kyam Anthony [b 1984] is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. He has been named an NBA All-Star ten times and an All-NBA Team member six times. 

40. Story arc: PLOT.

44. Prefix with day: MID-.  Close to noon.

46. Symbol of affection:  HEART.  Indicating love.

47. Lit up: AGLOW.  As the heart of someone in love.

48. Passover staple: MATZO.  An unleavened flatbread that is part of Jewish cuisine and forms an integral element of the Passover festival, during which chametz [leavening] is forbidden. 

49. Masks: HIDES.  As an ingedient with a strong flavor might mask the presence of another ingredient.

50. Wednesday kin: ITT.  A cousin from the Addams family TV show.

51. Copy, in a way: XEROX.  Where the brand name of a document copying machine is used generically for copying.

55. "Industry" network: HBO. "Industry" is British-American television drama series created by Mickey Down and Konrad Kay.  It follows a group of young graduates competing for a limited set of permanent positions at Pierpoint & Co, a prestigious investment bank in London.

56. Celestial sphere: ORB.  A round object in the sky.

57.  Cusomizable Nintendo avatar: MII.  It's how you can represent yourself in games on the Wii gaming system.

58.  Green of "Casino Royal."  EVA.  Eva Gaëlle Green [b. 1980] is a French actress and model. The daughter of actress Marlène Jobert, she started her career in theatre before making her film debut in Bernardo Bertolucci's "The Dreamers."

59. Share at the beach. TAN.   A skin tone you might develop from exposure to sun light.

60.  Windy City train letters: CTA.  Chicago Transit Authority. Also this.

61. Curse:  HEX.  An evil magic spell.

So ends the HOME STRETCH of another Wednesday, and begins the month of December.  Rabbit, rabbit!

Cool regards!

JzB

L. A.Times Crossword -- Wednesday, November 17, 2021. Paul Coulter

Theme: Done, but not with E's.  Theeclues would need a long "E" sound added at the end for the theme fill to make sense.  And even better, the "i.e." in the clue, suggesting "for example" is also the letter combo that needs to be added to the base clue to supply that sound.  Quite elegant.

17. Cook, i.e.?: BAKED TREAT.  Add the "E" sound for the COOKIE, not the baker.

23. Pink, i.e.?: LITTLE FINGER.  Not a Game of Thrones character, but add the "E" sound to get your PINKIE.

37. Rook, i.e.?: FIRST YEAR PLAYER.  With the added "E" sound a chess piece becomes a newly minted pro athlete.

61. Sort, i.e.?: AIR MISSION.  With the added "E: sound we get, not a separation and arrangement of things, but rather a SORTIE, defined as a deployment or dispatch of one military unit, be it an aircraft, ship, or troops, from a strongpoint - or something of that SORT. The term originated in siege warfare.  So the fill is a bit too specific for the clue.

50. E'er, i.e.?: BONE CHILLING.  When you add the "E"sound, it's not a Great Lake nor a response to seeing an elephant, but rather a reaction to something strange and frightening. 

Hi Gang, JazzBumpa here to E's us through this puzzle.  This is a clever theme, but a bit gimmickEE for my taste.  Let's see what else is going on.

Across:

1. "Encore!": AGAIN.  A request for another tune at the end of a performance.

6. Small strings: UKES.

 

Mandatory

 10. Big zero: NADA. Nothing in Spanish, adopted into American slang

14. Ballet bend that's a homophone for a cheese dish: FONDU. Watch this video - which is not at all cheesy -  and you can have fun doing it.

 

 15. One chip, maybe: ANTE. Start of a poker hand.

16. Love, in Lima: AMOR.  Spanish

19. Canceled: NO GO.

20. 1953 Alan Ladd classic: SHANE.

 

 21. Many a dictator's quality: EGOMANIA.  

25. Actress Ryan of "Courage Under Fire": MEG.   Meg Ryan [b 1961] is an American actress and producer. Ryan began her acting career in 1981 in minor roles before joining the cast of the CBS soap opera As the World Turns in 1982.

 

 28. Nickname of 1950s Reds slugger Ted: KLU.  Theodore Bernard Kluszewski [1924 - 1988] also known as "Big Klu", was an American professional baseball player known for his bulging biceps and mammoth home runs in the 1950s decade. He played from 1947 through 1961 with four teams in Major League Baseball.

29. Meds-approving agcy.: FDA. Food and Drug Administration.

30. Climbing vine: IVY.

31. Brian of Roxy Music: ENO.    Brian Peter George Eno [b. 1948] is a British musician, composer, record producer and visual artist best known for his pioneering work in ambient music and contributions to rock, pop and electronica.

33. Upright: ON END.

42. Elevator stop: FLOOR.

43. Leaves in small bags: TEA.  Then boiled in water - just that.

44. Pitcher's stat: ERA.

45. Univ. dorm mentors: RAS. Resident Assistant is a live-in position held by students. Generally, the goal of an RA is to create a safe and comfortable environment for the residents of a dorm.

47. Enero begins it: ANO.  January is the first month of the year in Spain and many other countries.

49. __ Jones: DOW.  Dow Jones & Company, Inc. is an American publishing firm owned by News Corp and led by CEO Almar Latour.  The company publishes The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, MarketWatch, Mansion Global, Financial News and Private Equity News.  Every day they publish the Dow Jones Industrial Average, a price-weighted measurement stock market index of 30 prominent companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States.  I have commentary on my blog every business day, if you are interested.

56. City north of Des Moines: AMES, IOWA.  The home of Iowa State University.

57. Must-haves: NEEDS.  Self explanatory.

60. Stare open-mouthed: GAWP.  Yes, this is actually a word, and this is what it means.

64. Inner: Prefix: ENTO-. Or endo-  always need perps.

65. USAF noncom: TSGT.  Technical Sargent.

66. Lombardy's land: ITALY.  Northern region

67. Smartphone call record, say: LIST.

68. Citi Field predecessor: SHEA.  CITI is the home of the Mets. It was completed in 2009.  It replaced SHEA, with was built in 1964

69. Pluralizers: ESSES.  English language word construction.

Down:

1. Edwards, in Calif.: AFB.  Air Force Base

2. Dress like, for the costume party: GO AS. Impersonate someone.

3. Egyptian cross: ANKH.

Symbol of life

4. Utopian: IDEAL.  Just about perfect.

5. Annoying sort: NUDNIK.  One who is a bore or a nuisance.

6. Old Mideast alliance: Abbr.: UAR.  United Arab Republics

7. Show respect, in a way: KNEEL.   A position in which the body is supported by a knee or the knees, as when praying or showing submission.

8. Eiffel Tower level: ETAGE.  Similar to the story of a house - in French.

9. Detonate: SET OFF.  Cause to explode.

10. Part of the "Hey Jude" refrain: NANANANA.  This goes on forever, and for my money, ruins an otherwise decent song.  YMMV.

11. "You're __ friends": AMONG.  Here among the cornerites.

12. Range rover?: DOGIE.  A motherless calf in a range herd

13. Loud, as a crowd: AROAR.  At a sporting event, frex.

18. Big name in 43-Across: TETLEY.   Founded in 1837 in Yorkshire, England. It is the largest tea company in the United Kingdom and Canada, and the second largest in the United States by volume.

22. Pain relief brand marketed to women: MIDOL.

24. Ditty: TUNE.  A simple song

25. Annoy: MIFF.  Be a NUDNIK.

26. Like villains: EVIL.  Well sure - they're the bad guys.

27. Greek lamb sandwich: GYRO.  The meat is a dense lamb meat loaf cooked on a rotating [hence gyro] vertical spit.

32. Breakfast cereal grain: OAT.

34. Checked out: EYED.  Leered or ogled, maybe.

35. Lyre-playing emperor: NERO.   Imperator Nero Cladius Divi Claudius filius Caesar Augustus Germanicus [37 - 68 CE] was the fifth emperor of Rome. He was adopted by the Roman emperor Claudius at the age of thirteen, and succeeded him to the throne. Nero seems to have been popular with his Praetorian guards, and with lower-class commoners in Rome and the provinces, but was deeply resented by the Roman aristocracy.

36. Sketch: DRAW.

38. Touchy subject: SORE SPOT.  Something difficult to talk about.

39. Singing sister of Toni Braxton: TRACI.  [b. 1971] is an American singer, reality television personality and radio personality. 

40. Authentic: REAL.  Not ersatz.

41. Pressed Italian sandwich: PANINI.  A grilled sandwich made with Italian bread.

46. Young hogs: SHOATS.  Weaned piglets.

48. Single-piece outfit for a baby: ONESIE.

50. Breakfast item: BAGEL.   A dense bread roll in the shape of a ring, made by boiling dough and then baking it.

51. Muscat native: OMANI.  Oman is a country on the south-east cleat of the Arabian peninsula.

52. Older efts: NEWTS. Semi-aquatic salamanders.

53. "If only": I WISH.  

54. Coffeehouse order: LARGE. Grande, perhaps.

55. Exploits: GESTS.  Adventures.

58. Sabado y domingo, por ejemplo: DIAS.  Saturday and Sunday, for example, are days of the week.

59. Exclusive: SOLE.  One and only - like a selected fish is a sole sole; or consider the bottom of a specific foot.

62. L.A. commuter org.: MTA.  Metropolitan Transportation Authority.    Not exclusive to L.A.

 

 63. Albany is its cap.: NYS.  Capitol of New York State.

That wraps up our Wednesday - not too hard and not too EEzy.  Did you brEEze through it?

Cool regards!

JzB

L.A. Times Crossword Wednesday, November 3, 2021 August Miller

Theme: Here it is from Hans and Franz.

 

Let's lift up the unifier first.  59 A. Overpowered ... or how the Across answers with circles might be described?: OUT-MUSCLED.  Out-manned and outgunned - unable to compete.  In the puzzle, significant muscles are abbreviated and featured as book ends in the theme fill.  Hence the use of "OUT" to indicate that the muscles are severed in the grid. [Ouch!]. So let's build them back up.

24 A. Opposite of a roast: GLOWING TRIBUTE.  In a roast, the guest of honor is humorously showered with [presumably] good-natured disrespect.  So, definitely the opposite.  GLUTES come in large, medium and small varieties, as illustrated in this cut away, and they follow you wherever you go.

Keep them strong

29. Fictional legal secretary: DELLASTREET.  From the old Perry Mason TV show, played by Barbara Hale [1922 - 1917].

Tribute

DELTS are shoulder muscles and also travel in threes.

Pump them up

42. Three-horned dinosaur: TRICERATOPS.  This behemoth wandered in North America between 66 and 68 million years ago.

Herbivore

The TRICEPS, as the name suggests, also are a trio, located in the back of the arm.

They extend the elbow joint

49. Job for the police: LAW ENFORCEMENT.   Responsibilities for enforcing laws, maintaining public order, and managing public safety.   The Latissimus Dorsi Muscle, aka, "LAT," is a large, flat triangular muscle that is not used strenuously in common daily activities but is an important muscle in many exercises such as pull-ups, chin-ups, lat pulldowns, and swimming.

Don't let them get too tight

Hi, Gang.  JazzBumpa here to do the heavy lifting.  Let's exercize our grey muscles and see what we can build up.

Across:

 1. Site-hop, Webwise: SURF.  You can find anything on the web.  Just be skeptical.

5. Watched closely: EYED.  

9. Beetle relative: JETTA.  Volkswagen Marques.

14. "Small world": OH, HI. Spoken at an unexpected meeting.

15. Fish that ought to go well with a cobbler?: SOLE.  An entrée, a desert, a shoe part and a shoe maker, all together in neat word play.

16. Paddled: OARED.  Moved a boat by arm power.  Which muscles are involved?

17. Not at all biased: FAIR.  

18. Yeast-free loaf: QUICK BREAD.  Bread made with a leavening agent (such as baking powder or baking soda) that permits immediate baking of the dough or batter mixture.

20. Au courant, with "in": TUNED.  Aware, maybe even woke.

22. Common lunch hour: NOON.  

23. Instrument for Este Haim of the pop rock trio Haim: BASS.

27. "When They See Us" creator DuVernay: AVA.   Ava Marie DuVernay is an American filmmaker. She won the directing award in the U.S. dramatic competition at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival for her second feature film 'Middle of Nowhere," becoming the first black woman to win the award.   When "They See Us"  is a 2019 American crime drama television miniseries created, co-written, and directed by Ava DuVernay for Netflix, that premiered in four parts on May 31, 2019

28. Become less brilliant, as colors: FADE.

35. Org. impacted by the Real ID Act: DMV.  Department of Motor Vehicles.

38. "CHiPs" actor Estrada: ERIK.   Henry Enrique "Erik" Estrada [b 1949] is an American actor and police officer. He is known for his co-starring lead role as California Highway Patrol officer Francis (Frank) Llewelyn "Ponch" Poncherello in the police drama television series CHiPs, which ran from 1977 to 1983.

39. Kitten's cry: MEW.

40. Place in an overhead bin, say: STOW.

41. Not looking good: WAN.  Pale, so therefore not looking healthy.

46. Self-__: CARE.   The process of taking care of oneself with behaviors that promote health and active management of illness when it occurs.

48. Hoppy brew letters: IPA.  

56. DEA agent: NARC.  The Drug Enforcement Agency deals with narcotics, hence the ugly nick-name for their agents.

57. Valley: DALE.   The name is used when describing the physical geography of an area. It is used most frequently in the Lowlands of Scotland and in the North of England;

58. Application of small drops: SPRAY.  As paint or nasal decongestant.

62. Bends: ARCS.  Smooth curves. 

63. Surg. holding area: PRE-OP.  Last stop before surgery.

64. Save for later, as a TV show: TIVO.  A digital recording device. 

65. Pacific salmon: COHO.   One of 5 Pacific salmon species.

66. Puts in the work for: EARNS.   An honest day's work for an honest day's pay.

67. Appear: SEEM. Look like.

68. Suffix with Jumbo: -TRON.  A video display using large-screen television technology.   It is typically used in sports stadiums and concert venues to show close up shots of an event or even other sporting events occurring simultaneously. 

Down:

1. What Germany has that Greece doesn't?:  SOFT G.   Phonetics, peeps.

2. DIY mover: U-HAUL.  Commercial truck and trailer renting company.

3. Mighty mammal with keratin horns: RHINO.

4. Rite of passage involving hot embers: FIRE WALK.   Walk bare foot over hot embers.  Where does this happen?

5. Law firm abbr.: ESQ.   Esquire: a title appended to a lawyer's surname.

6. Kits and cubs: YOUNG.  Animal babies.

7. "Silas Marner" author: ELIOT.  George Eliot was the pen name of Mary Ann Evans [1890 - 1880.]

8. Interior design: DECOR.   The furnishing and decoration of a room.

9. Role: JOB.  Position in an organization chart?  I don't understand this.

10. iPod accessory: EAR BUD.  A very small headphone, worn inside the ear.

11. Showed, as a good time: TREATED TO.   Picked up the bill.

12. Rag on: TEASE.  I don't think so.  Teasing is playful, ragging on is hostile.

13. Puts into the mix: ADDS.

19. Carver's tool: KNIFE. 

21. Soprano superstar: DIVA.  A famous and highly regarded female singer in opera or pop music

25. Rapper Lil __ X: NAS.   Montero Lamar Hill [b. 1999), known by his stage name Lil Nas X, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter.

26. Upside-down sleeper: BAT.  They hang around in the day time and get active at night.

29. Dawn phenomenon: DEW.  Moisture condensing on grass and other plants.

30. Slice of history: ERA.  A period of time notable for some important person or characteristic.

31. Author who wrote the Thongor fantasy series: LIN CARTER.  Linwood Vrooman Carter [1930 - 1988] was an American author of science fiction and fantasy, as well as an editor, poet and critic. 

32. "That's enough!": TMI.  Too Much Information: tell me no more.

33. Word with hall or room: REC.  Short for recreation.

34. Woolly mama: EWE.  Female sheep.

36. Unruly head of hair: MOP.

37. 9-Across et al.: VWS.  Volkswagen vehicles.

40. Short-lived 1765 legislation: STAMP ACT.   The Stamp Act of 1765 was the first internal tax levied directly on American colonists by the British Parliament. The act, which imposed a tax on all paper documents in the colonies, came at a time when the British Empire was deep in debt from the Seven Years' War (1756-63) and looking to its North American colonies as a revenue source. 

42. Amount past due?: TRE.  Two and three in some European language.

43. Tears to shreds: RENDS.

44. Rocker Ocasek: RIC.   Richard Theodore Otcasek [1944 – 2019], known as Ric Ocasek, was an American singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. He was the primary co-lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, songwriter, and frontman for the rock band the Cars. 

 

 45. Goodall subjects: APES.  Jane Goodall is best known for her 60-year study of social and family interactions of wild chimpanzees since she first went to Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania in 1960, where she witnessed human-like behaviors among chimpanzees, including armed conflict.  The chimpanzee  is a species of great ape native to the forest and savannah of tropical Africa. I

47. "You gotta be kidding!": AW, C'MON.  Gimme a break.

49. Linney of "Ozark": LAURA.   Laura Leggett Linney [b. 1964] is an American actress and singer. She is the recipient of several awards, including two Golden Globe Awards and four Primetime Emmy Awards, and has been nominated for three Academy Awards and five Tony Awards.

50. Indisputable evidence: FACTS.   Things that are known or proven to be true.

51. Skateboard leap: OLLIE.   Here is how to do it.

 

 52. Christopher who played Superman: REEVE.   Christopher D'Olier Reeve [1952 - 2004] was an American actor, director, and activist, best known for playing the titular main character in the film Superman and its three sequels.

53. Boot on a diamond: ERROR.  Misplay a batted ball in base ball.

54. Cheesy chip: NACHO.  A dish of tortilla chips topped by or dipped into melted cheese and often also other savory toppings.

55. Cicely of "Roots": TYSON.   She [1924 - 2021] was an American actress and model. In a career which spanned more than seven decades, she became known for her portrayal of strong African-American women. 

56. "Ain't gonna happen": NOPE.  Slangy denial.

60. Market advances: UPS.  When the indexes are rising.  So far, so good, this week.

61. Bubbly title: DOM.  Part of the name of a champagne brand.

That does it for another Wednesday.   I had a rather difficult time finding footholds with this one, but it all worked out [so to speak] in the end.  Also had a couple nits, but overall, a fun puzzle.  Hope you didn't strain anything.

Cool Regards!

JzB

L.A.TimesCrossword - Wednesday October 20, 2021 Kurt Krauss

Theme: Leave nothing to the imagination.  You might wonder what that means, but all will be revealed.  Meanwhile, here is today's theme song.

 Across:

 

17 A. *Well-worn, as carpets: THREAD BARE.  Having the nap worn off, so that the thread shows; thus, worn out and shabby.  Does the second word, now taken as a verb, indicate becoming naked, or early nude like Mother EVE?

25 A. *Lawn mower's spot: GARDEN SHED.  An out building used to store garden and yard maintenance tools and accessories.  The second word, as a verb, means to rid oneself of, slough off or lose something.

38 A. *Give the go-ahead from the control tower: CLEAR FOR TAKE OFF.  Assure that a plane may now go airborne with no danger of collision with other departing or approaching aircraft.  But the last two words, taken as a verb form, indicate the removal of something - such as free: clothing.  [I'm detecting a pattern here.]

61 A. *Slapstick slipper?: BANANA PEEL.  Slapstick is a form of low comedy based around pratfalls and mild comic violence.  The second word, as a verb, indicates the removal of an outer layer, as from a fruit or burlesque actor. 

50 A. *"Dilbert," e.g.: COMIC STRIP.   A sequence of drawings, often cartoon, arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative.  The second word, again as a verb, means to remove the coverings from something, or - more specifically - an act of undressing, especially before an audience. Hence, today's alternate theme song.

 

 And the unifier -- 69 A. Remove, as clothing ... and a hint to the ends of the answers to starred clues: DOFF.  Well, if you were wondering what this is about, this should remove all doubt.  Anybody up for naked puzzle solving?  Or maybe it's bath time.

Hi gang - it's JazzBumpa, and under my cloths, I'm naked.  Now you know.  Gratuitous verberization - the reckless transformation of innocent helpless nouns into verbs sets my teeth on edge.  The classic example is "parent."  Ugh!  But in this puzzle, we have none of that.  The key words in their fill phrases are other parts of speech; but in a different context are perfectly legitimate verbs.  With that mini-rant out of the way, let's go boldly forth and see what else we can uncover.

1. Triangular sails: JIBS.   A jib is a triangular sail that sets ahead of the foremast of a sailing vessel. Its tack is fixed to the bowsprit, to the bows, or to the deck between the bowsprit and the foremost mast. 

5. Giant among speakers: BOSE.  Brand name

9. Belfry hangers: BATS.  And you know what is on the belly floor - crazy stuff.

13. Online money: E-CASH.  

15. Scoville __: chili pepper heat measurement: UNIT - of measurement; a subjective estimate of the heat sensation of the pepper due to its concentration of capsaicinoids.

16. Overly fussy, say: ANAL.  This is a non-technical use of the term which more specifically [since we're revealing all here] is relating to or denoting a stage of infantile psychosexual development supposedly preoccupied with the anus and defecation.

19. Tiny: ITSY.  Minuscule.

20. Bro or sis: SIB.  People who share parents.

21. Desert partly in northern China: GOBI.  And partly in Mongolia.  The GOBI is a rain shadow desert, formed by the Tibetan Plateau blocking precipitation from the Indian Ocean reaching the Gobi territory. It is the sixth largest desert in the world and the second largest in Asia after the Arabian Desert.

22. Put a thin cut in: SLIT.  As with a sharp knife.

23. Greek Mars: ARES.  Gods of war.

29. Internet connection: MODEM.  A combined device for modulation and demodulation, for example, between the digital data of a computer and the analog signal of a phone line.

31. "Friendly Skies" co.: UAL.  United Airlines Holding Company.

32. URL ending of a 37-Across: EDU. As in EDUcation.

33. Least distant: NEAREST.  Where you should keep your enemies.

37. Campus VIP: PROF.  A Professor.

42. To the __: maximally: HILT.  Completely, to the maximum degree, as in The house was mortgaged up to the hilt. This idiom alludes to the handle (hilt) of a sword, the only portion that remains out when the weapon is plunged all the way in. 

43. Oven pan: ROASTER.  A pan for roasting meat.

44. Cooling rocks: ICE.  Slangily.

45. Diddley and Peep: BOS.  Plural of a proper name

46. Core concepts: GISTS. The substance or essence of speeches or texts.

55. Metz milk: LAIT.  Metz is a city in north-east France.

56. Russo of "Tin Cup": RENE.  Rene Marie Russo [b.1954] is an American actress and model.  She has appeared in many comedy, thriller and action-adventure films

57. Loads from lodes: ORES.  Mineral deposits from which metals may be refined, and a nice word play.

59. To and __: FRO.  Back and forth.

60. Marine steering mechanisms: FINS.  Frequently found on fish.

64. Entr'__: ACTE.  Entr'acte means "between the acts". It can mean a pause between two parts of a stage production, synonymous to an intermission, but it more often indicates a piece of music performed between acts of a theatrical production.

65. Writer Harte: BRET. Bret Harte [1836 - 1902] was an American short story writer and poet, best remembered for short fiction featuring miners, gamblers, and other romantic figures of the California Gold Rush. In a career spanning more than four decades,

66. Swiss Miss product: COCOA.  A chocolate powder made from roasted and ground cacao seeds

67. Common awards word: BEST. As in : "Movie," or "In Show."

68. Barrie's nonconformist pirate: SMEE.  Hook's side kick, but I do not understand the clue.


Down:

1. Stuff thrown overboard: JETSAM.   Unwanted material or goods that have been thrown overboard from a ship and washed ashore, especially material that has been discarded to lighten the vessel.

2. 10-time MLB All-Star: ICHIRO.  Suzuki [b 1973] is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder who played 28 seasons combined in top-level professional leagues. He spent the bulk of his career with two teams: nine seasons with the Orix BlueWave of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in Japan, where he began his career, and 14 with the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States. There's a lot more to his illustrious career, and you can read about it here.

3. Like fishhooks, usually: BARBED.    Having a sharp point that sticks out and backward from a larger point 

4. Atlanta-to-Miami dir.: SSE.  

5. Forrest's shrimp-loving friend: BUBBA.   Michael T. "Mykelti" Williamson (b. 1957) is an American actor best known for his roles in the films Forrest Gump, Con Air and Ali, and the television shows Boomtown, 24, and Justified. 

6. Broadcasting: ON AIR.  

7. __ Elton John: SIR.  On Feb. 24 in 1998, Elton John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight) became Sir Elton John, knighted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. He was awarded the title of Knight Bachelor for "services to music and charitable services." 

8. Mont Blanc summer: ETE.  French.

9. Uses a bucket in a boat: BAILS.  Scooping out water.

10. Film noir protagonist: ANTI-HERO.  A central character in a story, movie, or drama who lacks conventional heroic attributes.

11. Suggested, flavorwise: TASTED OF.  

12. Cunning: SLY.  Having or showing a cunning and deceitful nature.

14. "Macbeth" role: HAG.  The Three Witches, also known as the Weird Sisters or Wayward Sisters, are characters in William Shakespeare's play Macbeth 

Double, double toil and trouble;

Fire burn and caldron bubble.

18. Follow closely: DOG.   Follow (someone or their movements) closely and persistently.

22. Kenan Thompson is its longest-tenured cast member, briefly: SNL. Saturday Night Live, broadcast since 1975.

24. Loi maker: SENAT.  The French SENAT makes laws.

26. Uses Pledge, say: DUSTS.    Multi Surface Furniture Polish Spray that works On Wood Granite And Leather. 

27. Patronize, as a restaurant: EAT AT.

28. Behind: DUFF.  The human posterior.  DUFFS may be observed when togs are DOFFED.

30. French sea: MER.  Equally wet in any language.

34. "Hair" styles: AFROS.  Prominent in the musical "HAIR."

35. Fowl pole: ROOST.  Where a bird sits - and a nice word play.

36. Big time: ERA.  

37. Danger: PERIL.

38. In vogue: CHIC.

39. Chewy candy: LICORICE.  A confection usually flavoured and coloured black with the extract of the roots of the liquorice plant Glycyrrhiza glabra.

40. Periodic table items: ELEMENTS.  Each of more than one hundred substances that cannot be chemically interconverted or broken down into simpler substances and are primary constituents of matter. Each element is distinguished by its atomic number, i.e. the number of protons in the nuclei of its atoms.

41. Tap site: KEG.  Container for ale or beer.

45. Dating letters: BCE.  Before the Common Era

47. Mariners' park, familiarly and formerly: SAFECO. Now known as T-Mobile Park.

48. Lose interest in: TIRE OF. 

49. Minn. college: ST OLAF.  St. Olaf College is a private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota. The school was founded in 1874 on the land of the Wahpekute Band of the Dakota Nation by a group of Norwegian-American settler colonial pastors and farmers, led by Pastor Bernt Julius Muus.

51. Atlas box: INSET.   An inset map is a smaller map inset within a larger map. Inset maps can show the location of the main map in the context of a larger area or show more detail of a portion of the main map. 

52. Actress Blakley: RONEE.  Ronee Sue Blakley (b. 1945) is an American actress, singer-songwriter, composer, producer and director, perhaps best known for her work as an actress.

53. Steamed: IRATE.  Angry

54. Ballpoint, e.g.: PEN.   Writing implement.

58. Bunt on a scorecard: SAC.  SACrifice.  Deliberately batting the ball a short distance with the expectation of making an out at first base while advancing a runner already on base.

60. Groovy: FAB.  Cool, man.

61. Air rifle ammo: BBS.  Small metal spheres used as projectiles.

62. Chair part: ARM. They also have legs, a seat, and a back.  Hmm - they're almost human.

63. i follower: POD.  An i-Pod is an electronic device for storing and playing back music.

That's it for today.  If you DOFF your apparel and go outside naked, remember your sunscreen, and that you'll need it everywhere, especially on your DUFF, and other places where the sun don't usually shine.

Cool regards!

JzB

L.A. Crossword Wednesday, September 22, 2021 Craig Stowe

Theme:  The Bone Head connected to the Tail Bone. The end of each theme entry can follow the word BONE to yield an in-the-language phrase.

17. *Carrier with a Beijing Capital hub: AIR CHINA.  The Chinese national airline.  BONE CHINA is a ceramic made with BONE ash in its composition.  

25. *One barely awake: SLEEPYHEAD.  A sleepy or distracted person.  A BONE HEAD is a stupid person, or somebody who does a dumb or erratic thing.

36. *Keurig Dr Pepper brand since 2008: CANADA DRY. This is a brand name for a less sweet Ginger Ale. Over time, it expanded to include other soft drinks. Ironically, this company now also owns Vernors. BONE DRY is a descriptor for something that is extremely DRY.

51. *Nutritious intake: SQUARE MEAL.  A repast that is large and satisfying.  BONE MEAL is phosphorus-rich mixture of ground up animal bones used as a plant fertilizer and dietary supplement for animals

The unifier -- 61. Coccyx, familiarly, or what the ends of the answers to starred clues can do?: TAIL BONE.  The TAIL bone is the final segment of the vertebral column in all apes, and certain other animals. It is the remnant of a vestigial tai.  Here, the word BONE is at the end of, or TAILING the fill.  

Hi Gang - JazzBumpa, your resident 'BONE player, here ti lead you through today's BONE yard.  Let's see if we can find something to chew on.

Across:

1. Flying fox, e.g.: BAT.  A large fruit eating bat, indigenous to south-east Asia, east Africa, Australia and some near-by island groups.

4. Has the flu, say: AILS.  Suffers from an illness

8. Seed on a bagel: SESAME.  

14. All Hallows' __: EVE.  The night before.

15. Halt: STOP.   Go no farther.

16. More silly: INANER.  It's non common English to paste an -er suffix on polysyllabics.  Should be more INANE, though that doesn't fit the space, and there might be an irony in there.

19. Unemotionally, after "in": STRIDE.  Without feeling to ignoring the effects of some action or even.

20. Reid of "The Big Lebowski": TARA.  Millionaire Jeffrey [the BIG] Lebowski's trophy wife. There is confusion with Jeff [the DUDE] Lebowski, causing the ruination of the rug that tied the whole room together, and much hilarity ensues. 

21. Feudal peasant: SERF.  One in indentured servitude in medieval Europe.

23. "The Travels of Marco Polo" setting: ASIA.  He was born into a family of wealthy merchants, and traveled extensively throughout Asia.

24. "Without delay!": STAT. From the Latin word statin, meaning immediately

28. "Excusez-__!": MOI.  French for me.  This phrase is often used in a satirical way.

29. Nondairy milk ingredient: SOY.  Derived from soy beans.

30. Whopper: LIE.  A big one.  Can you handle it?

31. Automne preceder: ETE.  French seasons not involving tarragon.

32. Banks nicknamed "Mr. Cub": ERNIE.  He played short stop and first base for them from 1955 to 1971, and was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 1977.  HE was an 11 time all star and 2 time MVP.

34. Toxic but fragrant shrub: OLEANDER.   It contains several toxic compounds, but is so bitter that poisoning is rare.

39. Crude conduit: PIPELINE.  Also used for gasoline and natural gas.  It's been a rough few months for PIPELINE stocks.

42. Training line: LEASH.  A strap or cord restraining or guiding an animal.

46. Sean Lennon's mom: ONO.  Yoko.

47. Jodie Foster, in college: ELI.  A Yale student.

48. __ pride: GAY.  Confidence, self-respect, and solidarity as expressed by gay people, associated with openness about one’s own sexual identity, and the celebration of gay culture and history.

50. Teensy: WEE.  Very small.

54. Prefix with tasse: DEMI.  Half sized.

55. Adjust for pitch: TUNE.  Listen to the oboe.

56. Rank above viscount: EARL.  Nobility.

57. "Like that'll happen": AS IF.  Skepticism.

58. Black __: scary spiders: WIDOWS.  Black widow spiders are arachnids that are known for the females' unique appearance and tendency to eat their mates. They are considered the most venomous spiders in North America; however, their bite is rarely fatal to humans.

63. Ain't using proper language?: ARE NOT.  Grammatically correct.

64. Tommie of the Miracle Mets: AGEE.  Tommie Lee Agee (August 9, 1942 – January 22, 2001) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a center fielder from 1962 through 1973.  The two-time Gold Glove Award winner was named the AL Rookie of the Year in 1966 as a member of the Chicago White Sox. 

65. Deface: MAR.  Cause surface damage.

66. Biblical escape obstacle: RED SEA.  From Egypt to the Arabian Peninsula. 

67. Crammer's concern: TEST.   Studying hard at the last minute.  Good luck.

68. Triage ctrs.: ERS. Emergency Rooms.

Down:

1. "I haven't the foggiest": BEATS ME.  I do not know

2. Sunglasses style: AVIATOR.  "The perfect solution to protect a pilot's eyes against the elements."

3. Part of ATV: TERRAIN.  Between "All" and "Vehicle."

4. __-blond: grayish shade: ASH.  Read about it here.

5. Formal affirmation: IT IS SO.  If not, make it so.

6. Needing company: LONELY.  Sad because one has no friends or company.

7. Bowler's pickup: SPARE.   After leaving some pins standing with the first ball, knocking them all down with the 2nd.

8. One in the fam: SIS.  Female sibling.

9. Strep-treating doc: ENT.  Ear, Nose and Throat specialist; not a talking tree.

10. Emmy-winner actress Paulson: SARAH.  Sarah Catharine Paulson (born December 17, 1974) is an American actress. She is the recipient of several accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award. In 2017, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in the artists category.

11. Ouzo flavoring: ANISEED.   A flowering plant in the family Apiaceae native to the eastern Mediterranean region and Southwest Asia. The flavor and aroma of its seeds have similarities with some other spices, such as star anise, fennel, and liquorice.

12. Help to settle: MEDIATE.  Intervene between people in a dispute in order to bring about an agreement or reconciliation.

13. Modern library?: E-READER. A handheld device on which electronic versions of books, newspapers, magazines, etc., can be read.

18. Litter box user: CAT.  Feline house pet.

22. Dude: FELLA.  Just some guy, y' know.

26. Like a noted piper: PIED.  Dressed in multi-colored clothing.

27. How some taxes are paid: YEARLY.  One time, every year.

29. Undercoat: SEALER.  A paint layer applied after the primer and before the topcoat.

33. Crushed __: ICE.  

34. Dedicated poem: ODE.

35. Science guy Bill: NYE.  William Sanford Nye (born November 27, 1955),[3] popularly known as Bill Nye the Science Guy, is an American mechanical engineer, science communicator, and television presenter.

37. Khartoum's river: NILE.  The longest river in Africa.

38. Japanese art genre: ANIME.  Japanese animated art work.

39. Like boomers' birthdays: POST WAR.  The war ended in September, 1945.  Mine is in 1946

40. Ask: INQUIRE.

41. Throbbed, like one's heart: POUNDED.  With excitement or fear.

43. Really cool: AWESOME.  Inspiring great admiration or fear.

44. Advanced college course: SEMINAR. A class at a college or university in which a topic is discussed by a teacher and a small group of students.

45. Some young bovines: HEIFERS.  Young female cows that have not borne calves.

48. Usually unheated home part: GARAGE.  A building for housing a motor vehicle or vehicles.

49. They're on your side: ALLIES.   Persons or groups that provide assistance and support in an ongoing effort, activity, or struggle.

52. Long stretches: AEONS.   Immeasurably or indefinitely long periods of time 

53. Really bother: EAT AT.

54. Tiny bit: DAB.  A small amount. 

59. Misfortune: WOE.  A condition of deep suffering from misfortune, affliction, or grief

60. Greyhound destination: Abbr.: STA.  Station - a regular stopping place in a transportation route.

62. Give permission to: LET.  Allow.

That wraps it up.  A nice adventure, with no bone head plays.

Cool Regards!

JzB

Wednesday, September 8, 2021 Mark McClain

Theme: Plant Kernels.  Things you can plant to get a new plant.

17. *Devoted ESPN viewer: SPORTS NUT.  ESPN is a TV network devoted to various athletic events.  A NUT is a perhaps overly-avid fan. A NUT is also a dried fruit or SEED having a hard shell.

23. *Spec for sandpaper or salt: COARSE GRAIN.  This refers to particle size, which you can read about here and here.  A GRAIN is also the SEED of a plant that is harvested for human of animal food.

36. *Quarry that supplies aggregate: GRAVEL PIT.  This is an  an open-pit mine for the extraction of loose rock fragments.  A PIT is also the single shell of hardened endocarp with a SEED inside, found in drupaceous fruits, such as the cherry, peach or olive.  

Just Peachy.

54. *Garden walkway component: PAVING STONE.  A flat stone or brick used to make a hard surface to walk on outdoors.  A Stone is another name for the hard central portion of a drupaceous fruit, as above.

We have a pattern similar to this in our patio.

62. Last player selected for a Wimbledon ranking ... or part of each answer to a starred clue: FINAL SEED.  This would be the statistically weakest player in the competition.  Read about it HERE.  

In each of the theme entries, a SEED is identified that can be planted to bring forth the next generation of plant.  It is the last word of the entry, hence final.

Hi Gang.  JazzBumpa here.  I've proven myself to be not much of a gardener, so let's just move right along.

Across:

1. Chess result: DRAW.  The technical difference between a DRAW and a stalemate is that in a DRAW, both players agree that further play would not result in a victory for either player, while a stale mate is a situation where one side's king is not captured, but has no legal move.

5. "NASCAR on NBC" analyst Earnhardt Jr.: DALE.

9. Metalworker: SMITH. 

14. Cancun coin: PESO.

15. A party to: IN ON. Knows about.

16. Island near Maui: LANAI.  Hawaiian Islands

19. Uneasy feeling: ANGST.  An unfocussed feeling of dread or anxiety, typically about external conditions.

20. Word after box or law: OFFICE.

21. Bullish sound?: SNORT.  

22. Wail: CRY.

27. Coll. near the Rio Grande: UTEP.  University of Texas at El Paso.

29. Hard rain: SLEET.  Precipitation falling in hard particles - almost like SEEDS.

30. Dance class topic: STEP. 

31. First name in skin care: ESTEE. Lauder,  née Josephine Esther Mentzer [1906 – 2004] was an American businesswoman. She co-founded her eponymous cosmetics company with her husband, Joseph Lauter (later Lauder). [Wikipedia]

33. Caddie's offering: CLUB.  An iron or wood.

35. Make a wrong turn, say: ERR.  Go off course

40. Guys: HES.  Does anyone encounter this plural form outside of a crossword puzzle?

43. Jai __: ALAI.  A sport involving bouncing a ball off a walled space by accelerating it to high speeds with a hand-held wicker cesta. 

44. Quebec's __ Peninsula: GASPE.  The Gaspé Peninsula, also known as Gaspesia is a peninsula along the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River to the east of the Matapedia Valley in Quebec, Canada, that extends into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.

Oh, Canada

48. Racecourse shape: OVAL.

50. Ready for bed, briefly: IN PJS.  Wearing pajamas.

53. Long-running CBS series: NCIS.   The Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

57. Malarkey: ROT.  Nonsense.

58. Pachelbel work: CANON.

 

 59. Treasury secretary Janet: YELLEN.  Janet Louise Yellen (b. 1946) is an American economist, public servant, and educator who has served as the 78th United States secretary of the treasury since January 26, 2021. She previously served as the 15th chair of the Federal Reserve from 2014 to 2018. She is the first woman to hold either role. 

61. Sahara features: DUNES.   Big piles of sand, with random GRAIN size, I suppose.

65. Locale: VENUE.  The place where something happens, especially an organized event such as a concert, conference, or sports event.

66. Heck of a hike: TREK. A long arduous journey, especially one made on foot.

67. Dell rival: ACER. ACER Inc. is a Taiwanese multinational hardware and electronics corporation specializing in advanced electronics technology.

68. Brings in: REAPS.

69. Actor Grant: CARY.  (b. Archibald Alec Leach [1904 – 1986] was an English-American actor. Known for his transatlantic accent, debonair demeanor, light-hearted approach to acting, and sense of comic timing, he was one of classic Hollywood's definitive leading men during the 1940s and 1950s.  He was well trained.

 

 70. Drive-__: THRU.  As, frex, fast food restaurants. 

Down:

1. MLB rally killers: DPS.  Double Plays.

2. Researchers' publications: REPORTS.

3. To date: AS OF YET.  Up until now.

4. Klingon officer in the "Star Trek" franchise: WORF.  

5. '70s hot spots: DISCOS.

6. Strengthen, as glass: ANNEAL.  Controlled cooling to prevent residual localized stresses. Not so much strengthening as preventing weaknesses.

7. Seuss' Cindy __ Who: LOU.  Who was no more than two.

 

 8. Suffix with exist: -ENT.  Having reality.

9. Language student's challenge: SLANG.  A type of language that consists of words and phrases that are regarded as very informal, and are more common in speech than writing.  All rules are off.

10. Medieval estates: MANORS.  A large country house with lands; the principal house of a landed estate.

11. Thankless sort: INGRATE.

12. Preferable, gastronomically: TASTIER.  Yum!

13. Major success: HIT.  As a movie, stage play or popular song.

18. Half a mint?: TIC.  The front half of a Tic-tac.  It is far past time to banish "Half a-" clues for the next half a eternity.

21. Contrived plot: SET UP.  Otherwise known as foreshadowing?

22. Alert for an actor: CUE.  A thing said or done that serves as a signal to an actor or other performer to enter or to begin their speech or performance.

24. Checkout printout: RECEIPT.  Paper strip with items, prices and the total.

25. Unload, say: SELL.

26. "Morning Edition" airer: NPR.  National Public Radio.

28. Alternative to Margie: PEG.  Nicknames for Margaret.

32. Noted period: ERA. As, frex. Jazz.

34. Important: BIG.  As a business deal or sports event.

37. Square up: ALIGN.  

38. Hotel shuttles: VANS.  

39. Light earth tone: TAN.  Ocher doesn't fit.

40. Short flight: HOP.  Skips and jumps not included.

41. Hurricane mandate responder: EVACUEE.   Of whom there are now many.

42. Tropical grassland: SAVANNA. A mixed woodland-grassland ecosystem characterised by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to support an unbroken herbaceous layer consisting primarily of grasses. {Wikipedia]

45. Sudden stop sound: SCREECH.  As of a vehicles brakes.

46. Trailblazer: PIONEER. A person who is among the first to explore or settle a new country or area of knowledge.

47. "C'__ la vie!": EST.  In French, c'est la vie means "that's life," borrowed into English as idiom to express acceptance or resignation, much like "Oh well."

49. Umpire's pregame request: LINE UP.  List of starting players. 

51. Olympic star Jackie __-Kersee: JOYNER. [b 1963] She won three gold, one silver, and two bronze Olympic medals in heptathlon and long jump at four different Olympic Games from 1984 to 1996.  She now is an active philanthropist in children's education, racial equality and women's rights

52. Deceptive: SNEAKY.

55. Wine qualities: NOSES.  A wine tasting term used to describe how wine smells in the glass. Different wine varietals produce different aromas. The nose is also affected by how the wine is made and stored.

56. Building wing: ELL.  An extension at right angles to the length of a building

60. Challenge for an atty. wannabe: LSAT.   Law School Admission Test.  It is presumed to test the skills necessary for success in the first year of law school. 

61. TiVo, for one: DVR.  Digital Video Recorder.

62. Agcy. concerned with fraud: FTC.  The Federal Trade Commission.

63. Gershwin brother: IRA.  The Lyricist for brother George's compositions.  After working with other partners, they wrote almost exclusively with each other from 1924 until George's death in 1937, composing over two dozen scores for Broadway and Hollywood. 

 

  64. R&B's __ Hill: DRU.  Not a person, rather an American R&B group mostly popular during the 1990s, whose repertoire included soul, hip hop soul and gospel music. The group was founded in Baltimore in 1992 and is still active. 

And so we end on a note of high musical drama.  Hope you enjoyed the tour.

Cool regards! 

JzB