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