L.A.Times Crossword Puzzle January 26, 2022 Darryl Gonzales

Theme:  We'll Get Along Swimmingly or This Puzzle Is All Wet.   You can choose.

It will make more sense if we start with the unifier.

39. '70s-'80s series about the Drummond family ... and what the starts of four long answers are: DIFF'RENT STROKES.  This was 

an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from November 3, 1978, to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985, to March 7, 1986. 

[From IMDB] "

Two black kids from Harlem, Arnold Jackson and older brother Willis, are welcomed into the family of wealthy New York businessman Philip Drummond when their mother, his housekeeper, passes away. The two brothers become part of the Drummond family and learn various lessons about life."  I wasn't a regular watched, but did see this show occasionally.  It was pretty good.

Back to the puzzle: the first word of each theme answer is a specific stroke used in swimming.

17 A. Oxymoronic '80s sci-fi film title: BACK TO THE FUTURE.  This is classic.

The BACK STROKE: Lie on your back and flutter your legs while circling your arms in a windmill motion. You swim on your back and propel yourself backwards. 

28 A. Out-of-the-way access: SIDE ENTRANCE.  Possibly good for sneaking in or out.

Although not one of the official four strokes in competitive swimming, the sidestroke is a great survival technique. This is commonly used by lifeguards because you can hold onto another person and keep them above water while you swim. Lie on your side and scissor your legs to propel yourself forward.

47 A. Place for a pen: BREAST POCKET.  A pocket on the front of a shirt or jacket, located over the chest.

The BREAST STROKE: Float with your stomach facing down, then move your arms in a half-circle motion in front of the body. Bend your legs, then kick back with good timing, and you’ll propel yourself up and forward. This is a great workout and is recommended for those who swim for exercise.

65. Seafood order: BUTTERFLY SHRIMP.  To butterfly a shrimp means to do a lengthwise incision on the front or back of the shrimp in a symmetrical way. Since it should be symmetrical or equally alike, both sides of the shrimp must have the same form when opened – like the shape of a butterfly with wings extended.

The BUTTERFLY STROKE: An excellent workout and common competitive stroke–possibly because it tests a mature swimmer–the butterfly is performed by bringing your arms up above your head, then pushing them down into the water to propel yourself forward. Your legs perform a dolphin kick, in which they stay together and kick simultaneously in a bobbing fashion. 

[Stroke descriptions]

Hi, gang, JazzBumpa on duty.  I'm not much of a swimmer, but lets dive right in to the puzzle.

Across:

1. Natural sand bank: BERM.  A flat strip of land, raised bank, or terrace bordering a river or canal.  I guess it could be sand.

5. Historic times: AGES.  As, free, the jazz AGE.

9. Standing at attention, say: ERECT.  Upright, as a good soldier should be.

14. Diva's solo: ARIA.  From operas and oratorios.  If Game of Thrones were an opera there could be an Arya ARIA.

15. Meter starter: DECI-.  Meaning one tenth of.

16. Cookie maker's tool: MIXER.  To blend all the ingredients

20. "Jeopardy!" contestant: ASKER.  That's the way this show works.   Answers must be in the form of a question.

21. Cub slugger: SOSA.  Samuel Peralta Sosa [b 1968]  is a Dominican American former professional baseball right fielder. He played in Major League Baseball for 19 seasons, primarily with the Chicago Cubs. After playing for the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox, Sosa joined the Cubs in 1992 and became regarded as one of the game's best hitters. [Wikipedia]

22. Paradise: EDEN.  The perfect place, if you can keep it.

23. Anasazi home setting: MESA.  A table land in the American South-west.  The Ancestral Puebloans, also known as the Anasazi, were an ancient Native American culture that spanned the present-day Four Corners region of the United States, comprising southeastern Utah, northeastern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, and southwestern Colorado.  [Wikipedia]

25. "__ the season ... ": TIS.  To be jolly, so cheer up, dammit!

27. Crowd no., often: ESTimation.

33. It's its own square: ONE.  Also the loneliest number.

34. Nice water?: EAU.  French.  Do you think it's nice?

35. Lanai greeting: ALOHA.  Welcome to Hawaii

44. Enjoying a scone, maybe: AT TEA.  We have tea at 4:00 every afternoon.  Sadly, though, I have to watch my carbs.

45. Call to Jude?: HEY.

 

 46. RN workplaces: ORS. Operating Rooms.

52. African snake: ASP.  As Cleopatra well knew, as the story goes.  But historians dispute the manner of her death

55. Major NJ airport: EWR.  Newark - Liberty International Airport.

56. Prepare to mail: SEAL.  As an envelope.

57. Small deer: ROES.  These are small deer native to Europe, reddish and grey-brown, and well-adapted to cold environments.

59. NYC's __ River: EAST.  A salt water tidal estuary in New York City. The waterway, which is actually not a river despite its name, connects Upper New York Bay on its south end to Long Island Sound on its north end.  Who knew?

61. Salamanca snacks: TAPAS.  Salamanca, in northwestern Spain, is the capital of Salamanca province, part of the Castile and León region.  Appetizers or snacks in Spanish cuisine.

68. Frisky swimmer: OTTER.  Some aquatic creatures are fish.  others are otters.  Either way, they're all wet.

69. "The Clan of the Cave Bear" protagonist: AYLA.  The Clan of the Cave Bear is a 1980 novel and epic work of prehistoric fiction by Jean M. Auel about prehistoric times. It is the first book in the Earth's Children book series, which speculates on the possibilities of interactions between Neanderthal and modern Cro-Magnon humans.

70. Fencing tool: EPEE.  A sharp-pointed dueling sword, designed for thrusting and used, with the end blunted, in fencing.

71. Feature of Mike and Ike candy?: RHYME.  Oblong, chewy, colorful candies coming in many flavors.  The only rhyming aspect I can figure out is in the name.

72. Pour: TEEM.   TEEM means to be full of or swarming with.  I can't relate it to pour.

73. Look after: TEND.  As sheep or children.

Down:

1. Quick Draw's sidekick __ Looey: BABA.

 

 2. Historic times: ERAS.

3. "Casablanca" hero: RICK.  Also classic.

 

 4. Bully's challenge: MAKE ME.

5. Turmoil: ADO.  A state of agitation or fuss, especially about something unimportant.

6. Enjoys the beach, say: GETS A TAN.  Don't forget your sunblock.  You want a TAN, not a burn.

7. Canyon comeback: ECHO.

8. Afternoon break: SIESTA.  Nap in Spanish

9. Long-legged runner: EMU.  Big bird.

10. Serious ceremony: RITE.  By definition

11. Radiate: EXUDE.  

12. Roman goddess of agriculture: CERES.  In ancient Roman religion, Ceres was a goddess of agriculture, grain crops, fertility and motherly relationships.  [Wikipedia]

13. Stoke-on-__: English city: TRENT.  Known for its pottery.

18. Plant with a trunk: TREE.

19. Gladly, to Shakespeare: FAIN.  Archaic word meaning done with pleasure.

24. Old-time knife: SNEE.  A large knife.  The word has cognates in other Germanic languages. 

26. Sign of surgery: SCAR.

28. Pop at a counter: SODA.  Pop in some regions, soda in others.  or even soda pop.  What do you say?

29. Down but not out: IN IT.  As, for example, the Chiefs with 14 seconds left.

30. Slick: DEFT.  Said of something done in a neatly skillful and quick manner, as for example Matthew Stafford to Cooper Kupp, as can be seen here.

31. Babe and a doctor: RUTHS.  Baseball star George Herman Ruth, Jr. [1895 - 1948] and Dr. Karola Ruth Westheimer. [b. 1928]

32. "Do Ya" rock gp.: ELO.  Electric Light Orchestra.

 

 36. "That's enough!": OK OK.  TMI; stop it already.

37. "You are __": mall map info: HERE.

38. Exec.'s helper: ASST.  Assistant.

40. Big mo. for chocolate purchases: FEB.  Thank you, St. Valentine.

41. Steakhouse order: RARE.  Style of cooking.

42. Established method: SET STYLE.  I'd call a standard operating procedure, but OK.

43. Work at a keyboard: TYPE.  As I am doing right now.

48. Pretty pitcher: EWER.  A large jug with a wide mouth.  Might or might not be pretty as a picture.

49. 1994 Peace co-Nobelist with Rabin and Peres: ARAFAT.  Mohammed Abdel Rahman Abdel Raouf al-Qudwa al-Husseini [1929 - 2004] popularly known as Yasser Arafat or by his kunya Abu Ammar, was a Palestinian political leader. 

50. Solemn vow: OATH.

51. Brit's Bordeaux: CLARET.  Unofficial reference to red Bordeaux wines.

52. Garden recess: ARBOR.  A shady garden alcove with sides and a roof formed by trees or climbing plants trained over a wooden framework.

53. TV's "__ Park": SOUTH.

 

 54. Tom of the Traveling Wilburys: PETTY.  Thomas Earl Petty [1950 - 2017] was an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and actor. He was the lead vocalist and guitarist of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, formed in 1976. He previously led the band Mudcrutch, and was also a member of the late 1980s supergroup the Traveling Wilburys.

 

 58. Stop, as a flow: STEM.

60. Roy Rogers' birth name: SLYE.  Leonard Franklin Slye [1911- 1998] aka Roy Rogers was an American singer, actor, and television host. Following early work under his given name, first as co-founder of the Sons of the Pioneers and then acting, the rebranded Rogers then became one of the most popular Western stars of his era.

62. Plumbing part: PIPE.

63. "Right you are!": AMEN.

64. Went too fast: SPED.

66. Before, to a poet: ERE.

67. Yosemite __: SAM.

This wraps up another Wednesday.  Hope you didn't flounder.

L.A. Times Crossword Wednesday, January 12, 2022 Craig Stowe

Theme: This puzzle is for the birds!  You'll soon see why.

17 A. 1994 Best New Artist Grammy winner's winged pet?: SHERYL'S CROW.  Sheryl Suzanne Crow [b. 1962] is an American musician, singer, songwriter and actress. Her music incorporates elements of pop, rock, country, jazz and blues. She has released ten studio albums, four compilations and two live albums, as well as contributed to several film soundtracks.  She took home not just the GRAMMY Award for Best New Artist, but also Record Of The Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for “All I Wanna Do.”

A crow is a bird of the genus Corvus, a widely distributed genus of medium-sized to large birds in the family Corvidae. The genus includes species commonly known as crows, ravens and rooks.

28 A. "La La Land" actor's winged pet?: RYAN'S GOSLING.  Ryan Thomas Gosling is a Canadian actor. He began his career as a child star on the Disney Channel's The Mickey Mouse Club, and went on to appear in other family entertainment programs, including Are You Afraid of the Dark? and Goosebumps.  I'm not an expert in such things, but I think he is generally considered to be a hunk.

My abs do no look like this.

A GOSLING is a young goose that has not yet developed flight feathers.  Don't we all start out that way?

44. "Shake It Off" singer's winged pet?: TAYLOR'S SWIFT.   Taylor Alison Swift [b 1989] is an American singer-songwriter. Her discography spans multiple genres, and her narrative songwriting, which is often inspired by her personal life, has received widespread media coverage and critical praise.\

The swifts are a family, Apodidae, of highly aerial birds. They are superficially similar to swallows, but are not closely related to any passerine species. Swifts are placed in the order Apodiformes with hummingbirds.

58 A. "Network" Oscar winner's winged pet?: PETER'S FINCH.  Frederick George Peter Ingle Finch [1916 – 1977] was an English-born Australian actor.  He is best remembered for his role as crazed television anchorman Howard Beale in the 1976 film Network, which earned him a posthumous Academy Award for Best Actor, his fifth Best Actor award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and a Best Actor award from the Golden Globes.

The true finches are small to medium-sized passerine birds in the family Fringillidae. Finches have stout conical bills adapted for eating seeds and nuts and often have colourful plumage. They occupy a great range of habitats where they are usually resident and do not migrate.

Hi Gang, JazzBumpa here to guide this bird watching excursion.  I hope it's not more than we can swallow.  So stay eagle-eyed.

Across:

1. Gauchos' gear: BOLAS.  A bolas is a type of throwing weapon made of weights on the ends of interconnected cords, used to capture animals by entangling their legs.  

6. Postpone: DEFER.  delay for an unspecified time.

11. Shakespearean possessive: THY.  If yours is thine, then what is mine?

14. Pass a test with flying colors: ACE IT. I have my first stress test early next month.  How should I study for it?

15. __ Lodge: ECONO.   A cheap [supposedly] motel.

16. Tint: HUE.  Color

19. Noteworthy time: ERA.  As, free. jazz, Elizabethan.

20. Drives up the wall: IRKS.  Angers, annoys.

21. Word with filter or field: OIL.  The original fossil fuel.

22. Google __: EARTH.  A mapping app.

24. Retirement fund: NEST EGG.  What you have saved for later.

26. Causing the heebie-jeebies: EERIE.  Strange or frightening.

32. "1984" antagonist: O'BRIEN.  An agent of the thought police who tricks the protagonist, Winston Smith, into believing that he opposes the totalitarian state.  It does not end well.

35. Got the pot: WON.  In some game or gambling event.

36. Also: TOO.  In addition.

37. Backing-up warnings: BEEPS.  Required of large vehicles as a safety measure.

38. Auntie, to mom: SIS.  Family ties.

39. Sheepish?: OVINE.  Literal.

41. "__ say!": I'LL.  Indication of strong agreement.

42. Quagmire: BOG.  Marsh, fen, swamp.

43. Sees, and then some: RAISES.  Increases the bet in a poler hand.

48. Arctic abode: IGLOO.  A type of shelter built of snow.   They were traditionally used only by the people of Canada's Central Arctic and Greenland's Thule area.

49. Biblical shout of praise: HOSANNA.  Evidently derived from an Aramaic root meaning save, rescue or savior, possibly indicating a special kind of respect.

 

 53. Lost strength: WANED.  Decreased in vigor, power, or extent; became weaker.

 55. It may be called: BET. As, for example, in a poker game.

56. Defensive ditch: MOAT.  A deep, wide ditch surrounding a castle, fort, or town, typically filled with water and intended as a defense against attack.

57. "I need a __": HUG.  Comfort and warmth

62. Kerfuffle: ADO.   A state of agitation or fuss, especially about something unimportant.

63. "Superman" actor: 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. 

64. Start of el año: ENERO.  First month of the year.

65. Bronze component: TIN.  Mostly copper, with about 12% tin.

66. Gives the green light: OKAYS.  Allows to proceed. 

67. Sees: DATES.  Goes out with.

Down:

1. Tidal low area: BASIN.  An area that is only navigable at high seas.

2. Yellowish shade: OCHRE. A light brownish yellow produced by clay containing ferric oxide and sand.

3. Onion relatives: LEEKS.   Hardy biennial plants of the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae), grown as vegetables.  The plant is related to the onion and has a mild, sweet, onionlike flavour. 

4. Landing site: AIRSTRIP.  An airport runway.

5. Farm structure: STY.   Home for pigs.

6. Pattern: DESIGN.  A regular repeating form.

7. Bk. after Proverbs: ECCL.   Ecclesiastes written c. 450–200 BCE, is one of the Ketuvim of the Hebrew Bible and one of the "Wisdom" books of the Christian Old Testament. 

8. In favor of: FOR.  I had "pro."  Oh, well.

9. Music producer Brian: ENO.  Brian Peter George St John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno RDI [Royal Designer for Industry] 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. 

10. Coxswain's charges: ROWERS.   In a race setting, the coxswain is tasked with motivating the crew as well as steering as straight a course as possible to minimize the distance to the finish line. 

11. Pointer's proclamation: THERE IT IS.   

12. Damage: HURT.

13. "Uh-huh": YEAH.  

18. Easternmost major U.S. airport: LOGAN.  In Boston.

23. Plague: AIL.  

25. Seers?: EYES.  

26. Big heads?: EGOS.

27. Dog's age, so to speak: EON.   I am not familiar with this usage.

29. Gulps: SWIGS.   Drinking increments.

30. Squat: NONE.  Zip, nada

31. Leaves: GOES.  Exits.

32. Last bio: OBIT.  A notice of a death, especially in a newspaper, typically including a brief biography of the deceased person.

33. Horror film first name: BELA.   Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó [1882 - 1956] known professionally as Bela Lugosi, was a Hungarian-American actor best remembered for portraying Count Dracula in the 1931 film, Ygor in Son of Frankenstein and his roles in many other horror films from 1931 through 1956. 

34. Putting one's faith in: RELYING ON.  

38. Middling: SOSO.  Not so hot

39. Big galoots: OAFS.  A stupid, uncultured, or clumsy person.

40. Nutrient abundant in liver: VITAMIN A.

42. Dude: BRO.  Homie.

43. Rolling-in-the-aisles causes: RIOTS.  A laugh riot, not a violent disturbance of the peace by a crowd.

45. Tee size: Abbr.: LGE.   Large.

46. Seasoned expert: OLD PRO.

47. Waldo forerunner?: WHERE'S.  The word placed in front of Waldo's name in children's picture books.  This is a strained use of the word "forerunner."

50. Large chamber ensemble: NONET.   Nine musicians

51. Mother-of-pearl: NACRE.   An organic–inorganic composite material produced by some molluscs as an inner shell layer; it is also the material of which pearls are composed. It is strong, resilient, and iridescent. 

52. Oldest Musketeer: ATHOS.  I did not know this.

53. "__ now?": WHAT.  Inquiry into ensuing events.

54. Volkswagen subsidiary: AUDI.    A German automotive manufacturer of luxury vehicles headquartered in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany. As a subsidiary of its parent company, the Volkswagen Group, Audi produces vehicles in nine production facilities worldwide.

55. Bunch of beauties: BEVY.   A large group of people or things of a particular kind.

59. Comics shriek: EEK.  As, free., on the occasion of a rodent sighting.

60. Green or black beverage: TEA.

61. Sustained: FED.  Supplied nourishment for.

That puts another Wednesday in the nest.  Hope this flight of fancy was just eggciting enough.

Cool regards!

JzB

P. S. On proofreading I detected a little game of chance sub-theme.  Did you catch it?