L.A. Times Crossword Wednesday March 8, 2023 Beth Rubin and Will Nediger

Theme:  Spilled Milk.  Let's see how it works.  Different types of "milks" are spelled out in a diagonal array of letters, slanting down from left to right. They are RICE, from the R of 1A, OAT from the O of 9A,  ALMOND, from the A at the 24A-25D cross,  COCONUT from the C of 27A, and SOY from the S of 55A. Hope I didn't miss any.  If you didn't have the circles in your grid, this theme would be impossibly opaque - or, at least, turbid.  I can't imagine how Beth and Will put this together.

Hi, Gang.  JzB here to be milkman for the day.   Given the unusual nature of the theme, I posted the graphic here instead of at the bottom of the post.

I intend to MILK this puzzle for all it's worth.  Grab your buckets and let's see what we can squeeze out.

Across:

1. Roughly: OR SO.  An approximation, not a coarse surface or action.

5. Skin blemish: WART.   A small, usually painless growth on the skin. Most of the time, they are harmless. They are caused by a virus called human papillomavirus 

9. Poetic contraction: O'ER.  Over.

12. Inheritance recipients: HEIRS.  Person legally entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death.

14. Slurpee-like drinks: ICEES.   A frozen carbonated beverage available in fruit and soda flavors. 

16. Astronaut Jemison: MAE.  Mae Carol Jemison (born October 17, 1956) is an American engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut. She became the first black woman to travel into space when she served as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992. Jemison joined NASA's astronaut corps in 1987 and was selected to serve for the STS-47 mission, during which the Endeavour orbited the Earth for nearly eight days on September 12–20, 1992.

17. Parade with strict precision: MARCH IN STEP.  Left-right-left, etc.

19. Body shop fig.: EST.   Estimate of expected cost for the repair.

20. __ Lanka: SRI.    Formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian peninsula by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait. Sri Lanka shares a maritime border with the Maldives in the south-west and India in the north-west.

21. Conclusion: END.  Termination.

22. One providing misguided support: ENABLER.  A person who encourages or enables negative or self-destructive behavior in another.

24. Milan opera house: LA SCALA.    Abbreviation in Italian of the official name Teatro alla Scala is a famous opera house in Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as the Nuovo Regio Ducale Teatro alla Scala (New Royal-Ducal Theatre alla Scala). The premiere performance was Antonio Salieri's Europa riconosciuta.

26. Pull up stakes for one's co.: RE-LO.   Move to another city. Relocate.

27. Hint: CLUE.   Crosswords are full of them.

30. Starbucks size: TALL.   The 4 are Short, TALL, grande and venti.

31. Gains a lap: SITS.   You lose it when you stand up;

32. "Stay right there!": DON'T MOVE.  

34. Fuel economy meas.: MPG.   Miles per gallon.

35. Tropical storm: CYCLONE.   A rapid rotating storm originating over tropical oceans from where it draws the energy to develop. It has a low pressure centre and clouds spiraling towards the eyewall surrounding the "eye", the central part of the system where the weather is normally calm and free of clouds.

36. More inclusive: BROADER.

40. See red?: OWE.   To be in debt.  A bit of a stretch,  but OK. 

41. Sorting factor in some directories: LAST NAME.  Family name, then given name.

42. Blessing: BOON.   A favor.

44. British noble: EARL.   A British nobleman ranking above a viscount and below a marquess.  Know your place.

45. "Saving Private Ryan" event: D-DAY.   On June 6, 1944, more than 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline, to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which, “we will accept nothing less than full victory.” More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by day’s end, the Allies gained a foot-hold in Continental Europe. The cost in lives on D-Day was high. More than 9,000 Allied Soldiers were killed or wounded, but their sacrifice allowed more than 100,000 Soldiers to begin the slow, hard slog across Europe, to defeat Adolf Hitler’s crack troops.

46. Medical pros: DOCS.  Doctors, Physicians.

47. Opens, as a gift: UNWRAPS.  Tears off the paper.

49. Sound bite, e.g.: EXCERPT.   A short extract from a film, broadcast, or piece of music or writing.

51. Sked info: ETA.   A schedule might include an Estimated Time of Arrival.

52. April 15 payment: TAX.   A compulsory contribution to state revenue, levied by the government on workers' income and business profits, 

55. Original Beatle Sutcliffe: STU.   Stuart Fergusson Victor Sutcliffe (23 June 1940 – 10 April 1962) was a Scottish painter and musician best known as the original bass guitarist of the English rock band the Beatles. Sutcliffe left the band to pursue his career as a painter, having previously attended the Liverpool College of Art. Sutcliffe and John Lennon are credited with inventing the name "Beatles" 

56. Metaphor for something that can't be changed, and what's found five times in this puzzle?: SPILLED MILK.  Don't cry over it.

59. Keystone figure: KOP.    Fictional, humorously incompetent policemen featured in silent film slapstick comedies produced by Mack Sennett for his Keystone Film Company between 1912 and 1917.

60. Lofty nest: AERIE.   A large nest of a bird of prey, especially an eagle, typically built high in a tree or on a cliff.

61. Shrub that may be toxic: SUMAC.   A shrub or small tree of the cashew family, with compound leaves, fruits in conical clusters, and bright autumn colors.

62. Informer, maybe: SPY.   A person who secretly collects and reports information on the activities, movements, and plans of an enemy or competitor.

63. Saxophone insert: REED.     A thin piece of flat material that is held to the instrument's mouthpiece by a ligature. The reed vibrates when a musician blows air between it and the mouthpiece, producing a certain tone.

64. Repair: MEND.  Fix

Down:

1. Electrical units: OHMS.   The SI unit of electrical resistance, expressing the resistance in a circuit transmitting a current of one ampere when subjected to a potential difference of one volt.

2. Caboose: REAR.   A railroad car with accommodations for the train crew, typically attached to the end of the train.   By analogy,  a person's back side. 

3. Virtual assistant on Apple devices: SIRI.  Apple's virtual assistant for iOS, macOS, tvOS and watchOS devices that uses voice recognition and is powered by artificial intelligence 

4. Goblinlike fantasy creature: ORC.   (In fantasy literature and games) a member of an imaginary race of humanlike creatures, characterized as ugly, warlike, and malevolent.   The concert originated by J.R.R.Tolkein in his Lord of the Rings novels.

5. South Dakota national park known for its air currents: WIND CAVE.    Wind Cave National Park is an American national park located 10 miles (16 km) north of the town of Hot Springs in western South Dakota. Established on January 3, 1903 by President Theodore Roosevelt, it was the sixth national park in the U.S. and the first cave to be designated a national park anywhere in the world. The cave is notable for its calcite formations known as box work, as well as its frostwork.

6. Rm. coolers: ACS.   Air Conditioners.

7. Share again, as a joke: RETELL.  

8. "Ooo La La La" singer __ Marie: TEENA.  Mary Christine Brockert (March 5, 1956 – December 26, 2010), known professionally as Teena Marie, was an American singer-songwriter, musician, composer, arranger, and producer. She was known by her childhood nickname Tina before taking the stage name Teena Marie and later acquired the nickname Lady T, given to her by her collaborator and friend, Rick James.

9. Brunch dish: OMELET.   A dish of beaten eggs cooked in a frying pan until firm, often with a filling added while cooking, and usually served folded over.

10. Stands in a studio: EASELS.   A self-supporting wooden frame for holding an artist's work while it is being painted or drawn.

11. Nostalgia-inducing: RETRO.  Imitative of a style, fashion, or design from the recent past.

13. "__ Butter Baby": Ari Lennox/J. Cole song: SHEA.  

15. Hydrotherapy spot: SPA.   A mineral spring considered to have health-giving properties.

18. Not negotiable: IN STONE.   Used to emphasize that something is fixed and unchangeable.

23. Bandits: BRIGANDS.    A gang that ambushes and robs people in forests and mountains.

24. Live it up: LET LOOSE.   Spend one's time in an extremely enjoyable way, typically by spending a great deal of money or engaging in an exciting social life.

25. Pub choice: ALE.  A type of beer with a bitter flavor and higher alcoholic content.

27. Public health agcy.: CDC.   Center for Disease Control.   A U.S. federal government agency whose mission is to protect public health by preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability. 

28. Poet Mina or actress Myrna: LOY.  Mina Loy [1882-1966] poet and painter, was a charter member of the generation that—beginning in 1912 with the founding of Poetry magazine—launched the modernist revolution in poetry in the United States. Loy was too radical for Poetry's editor Harriet Monroe, who published her poetry only in a review article, but the generation's more innovative members admired her defiant honesty of subject and applauded the new directions she advanced for poetry.

Myrna Loy (born Myrna Adele Williams; 1905 – 1993) was an American film, television and stage actress. As a performer, she was known for her ability to adapt to her screen partner's acting style.

29. Chapel Hill sch.: UNC.  University of North Carolina.  

31. Ad: SPOT.  The 30-, 40- or 60-second ads that appear in a television or radio commercial schedule,

33. Like freshly cut lawns: MOWN.  

34. Fred Flintstone's boss: MR. SLATE.    Fred's boss at the Bedrock Quarrel and Gravel Company (later known as Slate Rock and Gravel Company) and a fictional character of the original series, The Flintstones and the rest of the franchise, 

36. Raced (along): BARRELED.   Moved very quickly, perhaps in a turbulent or uncontrolled manner. 

37. Family man: DAD.  A father.

38. Horvath of "The Rings of Power": EMA.   Ema Horvath (b.1994) is an American actress. She has appeared in the films Like.Share.Follow. (2017), The Gallows Act II and The Mortuary Collection (both 2019), and What Lies Below (2020). Since 2022, she has played Eärien, the sister of Isildur, in the Amazon Prime fantasy television series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

39. Marina del __, California: REY.    (Spanish for "Marina of the King") is an unincorporated seaside community in Los Angeles County, California, with an eponymous harbor that is a major boating and water recreation destination of the greater Los Angeles area. The port is North America's largest man-made small-craft harbor and is home to approximately 5,000 boats. 

41. Bar code?: LAW.   Clever clue. The bar is the legal profession as an institution. The term is a metonym for the line (or "bar") that separates the parts of a courtroom reserved for spectators and those reserved for participants in a trial such as lawyers.  Code is a body of law.

42. Cereal eater's proof of purchase: BOX TOP.   A boxtop, in the context of being a proof of purchase, is understood to be the upper portion of a product box, detached, and mailed as part of a claim for a radio premium or other advertising offer. During the 1930s through 1960s, cereal boxtops were usually the most common proofs of purchase used to claim such premiums.

43. Keep busy: OCCUPY.   Fill one's time, hopefully with something useful.

44. Unabridged: ENTIRE.   Not cut or shortened.

46. Secretaries, e.g.: DESKS.   A writing desk with a top section for books

47. __ Peninsula: Michigan home of Yoopers: UPPER.  AKA, the U.P. - hence the phonetic designation Yoopers.  Those of us who live in the L.P. - below the Macinac [pronounced Mackinaw - don't ask me why] Bridge are known as trolls.

48. Cushions: PADS.   A pillow or similar item stuffed with a mass of soft material, used as a comfortable support for sitting or leaning on.

50. Pretoria's land: Abbr.: RSA.  Republic of South Africa.  Read abut it here.

52. Umpire's cry: TIME.  Indicating a time out - a halt in the play. This allows the coaches of either team to communicate with the team, e.g., to determine strategy or inspire morale, as well as to stop the game clock.

53. Mathematician Turing: ALAN.   Alan Mathison Turing OBE FRS (1912 – 1954) was an English mathematician, computer scientist, logician, cryptanalyst, philosopher, and theoretical biologist. Turing was highly influential in the development of theoretical computer science, providing a formalisation of the concepts of algorithm and computation with the Turing machine, which can be considered a model of a general-purpose computer. He is widely considered to be the father of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence.

54. Randall Munroe's webcomic of "romance, sarcasm, math, and language": XKCD.   Well - this is an unlikely letter grouping to appear  in anX-word, so kudos for making it work.  Munroe states on the comic's website that the name of the comic is not an initialism but "just a word with no phonetic pronunciation".The subject matter of the comic varies from statements on life and love to mathematical, programming, and scientific in-jokes. Some strips feature simple humor or pop-culture references. It has a cast of stick figures,[3][4] and the comic occasionally features landscapes, graphs, charts, and intricate mathematical patterns such as fractals.   You can read it here.

57. Two truths and a __: icebreaker game: LIE.   To play, everyone sits or stands in a circle. One by one, each person in the circle says three statements about him/herself. Two of these statements must be facts, or "truths," and one must be a lie. The other members then try to guess which statement is the lie.

58. Autumn flower, for short: MUM.   Chrysanthemums.  They are native to East Asia and northeastern Europe. Most species originate from East Asia and the center of diversity is in China. Countless horticultural varieties and cultivars exist.

A picture I took in October, 2014

That's all we have.  Hope you found this puzzle to be tasty and nutritious, regardless of your lactose tolerance.

Cool regards!

JzB

L.A. Times Crossword Wednesday March 6, 2023 Rebecca Goldstein

Theme:  If you're bored, try skating.  OK.  That's a reach.  Let's check the unifier.

66A. Olympic arena that features the ends of 17-, 25-, 41-, and 52-Across: SKATE PARK.   This is an area designed and equipped for skateboarding.  Let's dig a little deeper.

17A. Commuter option: LIGHT RAIL.  This is a a railroad system or systems constructed to lower engineering standards than a mainline railroad, typically one operating small, frequent trains in an urban area.  A SKATE PARK RAIL is a a bar on upright supports where the skater can do slides and other tricks.  There are two types.  The FLAT RAIL is long horizontal bar that is low to the ground.  A HAND RAIL is a railing down a set of stairs or a bank.

25 A. Hawaiian dish with skipjack tuna: POKE BOWL.  Chunks of raw, marinated fish — usually tuna — which is then tossed over rice and topped with vegetables and umami-packed sauces.  A SKATE PARK BOWL is a structure with a continuous curved side that is usually between 3 and 12 feet deep.  The curved walls of bowls allow skaters to ride around and across the bowl in addition to the back and forth skating.

 41 A. Dumped unceremoniously: KICKED TO THE CURB.  This is being dismissed or rejected in an abrupt and possibly humiliating manner.  A SKATE PARK CURB is the ledge of an elongated block, generally flat and low to the ground where beginners can learn to do tricks.  The edges and top surface can both be used in different ways.

52 A. Cloverleaf segment: EXIT RAMP.  This is a short roadway by which vehicles may leave a major highway. A SKATE PARK RAMP is a sloping surface that connects two places that are at different levels. They are often combined with other elements to make more complex structures.

Hi, Gang, JazzBumpa here to SKATE us through today's puzzle. I won't be doing any fancy tricks.  You can find pictures of most of these features at this link. 

Across:

1. Nile reptile: ASP.   A name used in classical antiquity for a venomous snake, probably the Egyptian cobra, Naja haje. It was the symbol of royalty in Egypt, and its bite was used for the execution of favoured criminals in Greco-Roman times. 

4. Woodworking tool: RASP.   Rasps, or, more correctly, rasp-cut files, have a series of individual teeth produced by a sharp, narrow, punchlike chisel. Their very rough cut is suited to the fast removal of material from soft substances, such as wood, hooves, leather, aluminum, and lead.

8. School year: CLASS.  Free: Freshman, Sophomore, etc.

13. "Knock, knock" response starter: WHO'S [there.]

15. Crooner Paul: ANKA.   Paul Albert Anka OC (b. 1941) is a Canadian-American singer, songwriter and actor. He is best known for his signature hit songs including "Diana", "Lonely Boy", "Put Your Head on My Shoulder", and "(You're) Having My Baby". Anka also wrote the theme for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson; one of Tom Jones' biggest hits, "She's a Lady"; and the English lyrics to Claude François and Jacques Revaux's music for Frank Sinatra's signature song "My Way"

16. Put a cap on: LIMIT.   A restriction on the size or amount of something permissible or possible.

19. State one's views: OPINE.  As defined.

20. Union member?: SPOUSE.  A marriage union.  Clever clue. Whether this is also a labor union is left unstated.

21. Total disorder: MESS.  A dirty or untidy state of things or of a place.

23. "__ whiz!": GEE.  A statement of astonishment or wonder.

24. Attempt: STAB.  I'm at first you don't succeed, stab, stab again. [Not attributed to Julius Caesar.]. BTW, the Ides of March is next Wednesday.

27. "Good Will Hunting" univ.: MIT.  Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

29. Ahmed of "The Night Of": RIZ.   Rizwan Ahmed (Urdu pronunciation: [b. 1982) is a British actor and rapper. He has received several awards, including an Academy Award and a Primetime Emmy Award with nominations for two Golden Globe Awards and two British Academy Film Awards. In 2017, he was named in the Time 100 listing of the most influential people in the world.  I've maxed to never hear of him until just now.

31. "If I were __ ... ": YOU.  Used when giving someone advice.

32. "Time's Arrow" novelist Martin: AMIS.   Martin Louis Amis (b.1949) is a British novelist, essayist, memoirist, and screenwriter. He is best known for his novels Money (1984) and London Fields (1989). He received the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for his memoir Experience and has been listed for the Booker Prize twice.  Amis served as the Professor of Creative Writing at the Centre for New Writing at the University of Manchester until 2011. In 2008, The Times named him one of the fifty greatest British writers since 1945.

34. Guns, as an engine: REVS.   Presses the accelerator to increase the revolutions per minute and therefore the speed.

37. Mandarin greeting: NIHAO.  You say it as 'nee hao' and you often see it spelt 'nihao'. It means “hello” (literally “you good”) so you know when / where to use it!  I guess you don't say it to a bad person.

44. Pitch perfect: ON KEY.  Accurate in pitch, musically pleasing.  I'm usually satisfied if an anthem singer doesn't make me wince.

45. Potatoes, in South Asian cuisine: ALOO.  Derived from Indian.

46. "Twittering Machine" artist Paul: KLEE.   Paul Klee (1879 – 1940) was a Swiss-born German artist. His highly individual style was influenced by movements in art that included expressionism, cubism, and surrealism. Klee was a natural draftsman who experimented with and eventually deeply explored color theory,

Predates all social media platforms

47. Snakelike fish: EEL.  Eels are ray-finned fish belonging to the order Anguilliformes (/æŋˈɡwɪlɪfɔːrmiːz/), which consists of eight suborders, 19 families, 111 genera, and about 800 species. Eels undergo considerable development from the early larval stage to the eventual adult stage and are usually predators.

49. TD's six: PTS.   In American football, a touchdown scores 6 POINTS.

51. Mary __ cosmetics: KAY.    Mary Kay Ash (born Mary Kathlyn Wagner; 1918 – 2001) was an American businesswoman and founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, Inc. At her death, she had a fortune of $98 million, and her company had more than $1.2 billion in sales with a sales force of more than 800,000 in at least three dozen countries.

57. Rx writers: DOCS.   Physicians, aka "Docs" write Prescriptions - written directions or orders for the preparation and use of medicines.  I have a few.

59. Movie night room: DEN.  Where the big screen TV is most likely located.

60. Woodwind for Elaine Douvas: OBOE.  Elaine Douvas has been principal oboe of the Metropolitan Opera for more than 40 years and an oboe instructor at Juilliard since 1982.

Wikipedia

61. Enticing scents: AROMAS.  So many words with nuanced meanings for types of smells.

64. Spy collection: INTEL  Intelligence - the collection of information of military or political value.  Not the American semiconductor chip maker headquartered in Santa Clara, California

68. After-bath wrap: TOWEL.   A piece of thick absorbent cloth or paper used for drying oneself or wiping things dry.

69. Not all: SOME.  A portion of some collective.

70. Sparkling wine region: ASTI.  A city in the Piedmont region of Italy, S of Turin that is famous for its carbonated wine.

71. Makes out, in Manchester: SNOGS.   Kisses and caresses amorously.   I learned this word read Harry Potter.

72. Affirmative votes: YEAS.  

73. QVC alternative: HSN.  Cable TV shopping networks.

Down:

1. Puncturing tools: AWLS.   A small pointed tool used for piercing holes, especially in leather.

2. Model in a bottle: SHIP.   

Wayfair Ahoy!

3. Toy with a handlebar and a big spring: POGO STICK.   A device for jumping off the ground in a standing position, through the aid of a spring, or new high performance technologies, often used as a toy, exercise equipment or extreme sports instrument. It led to an extreme sport named extreme pogo or "Xpogo".   It consists of a pole with a handle at the top and footrests near the bottom, and a spring located somewhere along the pole. The spring joins two sections of the pole, which extends below the footpads.

4. Unique person: RARE BIRD.  An exceptional person or thing; a rarity.  Usually not an actual. bird.

5. Political commentator Navarro: ANA.   Ana Violeta Navarro-Cárdenas (née Navarro Flores; [b.1971] is a Nicaraguan-American political strategist and commentator. She appears on various television programs and news outlets, including CNN, CNN en Español, ABC News, and Telemundo. She is also a co-host of the daytime talk show The View, garnering Emmy Award nominations for her work. 

6. Cut corners: SKIMP.  Expend or use less time, money, or material on something than is necessary in an attempt to economize.

7. Hunter-gatherer diet: PALEO.   A diet based on the types of foods presumed to have been eaten by early humans, consisting chiefly of meat, fish, vegetables, and fruit, and excluding dairy or grain products and processed food.

8. Reason to say "Whew!": CLOSE ONE.  An escape or dangerous activity that was almost not successful.

9. Carmex target: LIP.  A brand of lip balm produced by Carma Laboratories, Inc

10. Buddy in Barcelona: AMIGO.   A friend in Spanish.

11. Muscular power: SINEW.   Literally, sinew is a cord in your body that connects a muscle to a bone./. Figuratively, the source of strength, power, or vigor. 

12. Stainless __: STEEL.    Stainless steel is an alloy of iron that is resistant to rusting and corrosion. It contains at least 11% chromium and may contain elements such as carbon, other nonmetals and metals to obtain other desired properties. Stainless steel's resistance to corrosion results from the chromium, which forms a passive film that can protect the material and self-heal in the presence of oxygen.

14. Closed: SHUT.  

18. Figure in Russian history: TSAR.  The ruler of Russia until the 1917 revolution.   The way crosswords spell CZAR.

22. Chicago WNBA team: SKY.  The Sky compete in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) as a member club of the league's Eastern Conference. The franchise was founded prior to the 2006 season. The Sky experienced a period of success from 2013 to 2016, making four playoff appearances and playing in the 2014 WNBA Finals. They experienced a second period of success starting in 2019 and won their first championship in the 2021 WNBA Finals.

26. Lincoln competitor: BUICK.    A division of the American automobile manufacturer General Motors (GM). Started by automotive pioneer David Dunbar Buick in 1899, it was among the first American marques of automobiles, and was the company that established General Motors in 1908. Before the establishment of General Motors, GM founder William C. Durant had served as Buick's general manager and major investor.

27. Shark name that comes from Maori: MAKO.   The shortfin mako shark  Isurus oxyrinchus), also known as the blue pointer or bonito shark, is a large mackerel shark. It is commonly referred to as the mako shark, as is the longfin mako shark (Isurus paucus). The shortfin mako can reach a size of 4 m (13 ft) in length and weigh 570 kg (1,260 lb). The species is classified as Endangered by the IUCN.

28. "Let's do it!": IM IN.   An agreement to participate in something.

30. Actress Catherine __-Jones: ZETA.   Catherine Zeta-Jones CBE (b. 1969) is a Welsh actress. Known for her versatility, she is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and a Tony Award. In 2010, she was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for her film and humanitarian work.

33. Shooting sport: SKEET.  A shooting sport in which a clay target is thrown from a trap to simulate the flight of a bird.

35. Abbreviation on a TV remote: VOume.

36. Intersection sign: STOP.  

38. Angry shout from a green Avenger: HULK SMASH.    'Hulk smash" is the trademark slogan of the Incredible Hulk, a Marvel Comics Universe character. Outside of the comic universe, hulk smash has come to refer to destructive actions taken in a fit of rage.

39. Locale: AREA.  A region or part of a town, a country, or the world.

40. Follow orders: OBEY.  Do what I say!

42. Exasperated expressions: EYE ROLLS.   A gesture in which a person briefly turns their eyes upward, often in an arcing motion from one side to the other. In the Anglosphere, it has been identified as a passive-aggressive response to an undesirable situation or person. The gesture is used to disagree or dismiss or express contempt for the targeted person without physical contact.

43. Much-anticipated nights out: HOT DATES.   Social outings with a current or potential lover which holds the possibility of a sexual encounter.

48. Scientist's workplace: LAB.  I saw a sign once that said what we need in this laboratory is more labor and less oratory.

50. Aching: SORE.   In pain

52. Changes the narrative?: EDITS.   Clever clue, but I disagree.  To edit is to fine tune the text and/or prepare it for publication.  Changing the narrative wold involve extensive rewriting.

53. Noble gas whose name comes from the Greek for "strange": XENON.  The chemical element of atomic number 54, a member of the noble gas series. It is obtained by distillation of liquid air, and is used in some specialized electric lamps.

54. Split evenly: IN TWO.  Bisected.

55. Overgrown, in a way: MOSSY.  Covered in moss.

56. Black tea grade: PEKOE.   A high-quality tea made from the downy tips of the young buds of the tea plant 

58. __ América: international football tournament: COPA.  the top men's football tournament contested among national teams from South America. It is the oldest still-running continental football competition, as well as the third most watched in the world. The competition determines the champions of South America. Since the 1990s, teams from North America and Asia have also been invited to compete.

62. __ and crafts: ARTS.   The skills of making objects, such as decorations, furniture, and pottery by hand

63. Largest organ in the human body: SKIN.   The external limiting tissue layer of an animal body.  The skin is an organ because it is composed of tissues working together. The main three tissues are: the epidermis, the outermost layer of skin; the dermis, under the epidermis; and the subcutaneous or fat layer, under the dermis.  Each layer has its own distinct form and functions and is composed of a unique profile of cells. 

65. Brain scan letters: EEG.   An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test that measures electrical activity in the brain using small, metal discs (electrodes) attached to the scalp. Brain cells communicate via electrical impulses and are active all the time, even during asleep. This activity shows up as wavy lines on an EEG recording.

67. Reddit Q&A: AMA.  Ask Me Anything,  an event on Reddit where a new kind of crowdsourced interview can happen.   The interviewee begins the process by starting a post, describing who they are and what they do. Then commenters from across the internet leave questions and can vote on other questions according to which they would like to see answered.  

That brings this session to a close.  Hoe you didn't wipe out or skin your knees.

Cool Regards!

JzB

L.A. Times Crossword Wednesday, February 22, 2023 Alexander Liebeskind and Yu-Chen Huang

Theme: once again I have to defer to the unifier.

36 A. Functions perfectly, and what can be said about the starts of 17-, 23-, 46-, and 57-Across: WORKS LIKE A CHARM.   I'm uncertain if this is referring to charms in the mystical-spiritual sense, or as a jewelry item that can be found on a charm bracelet.  Let's check it out.

17 A. Pride symbol: RAINBOW FLAG.  A rainbow is a meteorological and optical phenomenon that is caused by reflection, refraction and dispersion of light in water droplets resulting in a spectrum of light appearing in the sky. It takes the form of a multicoloured circular arc. Rainbows caused by sunlight always appear in the section of sky directly opposite the Sun.  The rainbow flag represents the intersectional diversity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and Two-Spirit (LGBTQIA2-S) communities. A rainbow charm symbolizes optimism and silver linings.

An arc of colors

23 A. Arachnid relative that resembles a crustacean: HORSESHOE CRAB.   Horseshoe crabs are marine and brackish water arthropods of the family Limulidae and the only living members of the order Xiphosura.Despite their name, they are not true crabs or crustaceans: they are chelicerates, most closely related to arachnids such as spiders, ticks, and scorpions.  I did not know this.   The horseshoe represents luck, prosperity, and protection on your travels.   Many styles and colors of charms are available.

46 A. Minty frozen treat at McDonald's every March: SHAMROCK SHAKE.  A mint flavored confection.

Only 730 calories

 A shamrock is a young sprig, used as a symbol of Ireland. Saint Patrick, Ireland's patron saint, is said to have used it as a metaphor for the Christian Holy Trinity. The name shamrock comes from Irish seamróg ([ˈʃamˠɾˠoːɡ]), which is the diminutive of the Irish word seamair and simply means "young clover".

As a charm it symbolizes good luck, and traditionally was believed to ward off evil.

57 A. Nutty-tasting winter vegetable: ACORN SQUASH.  Acorn squash (Cucurbita pepo var. turbinata), also called pepper squash or Des Moines squash, is a winter squash with distinctive longitudinal ridges on its exterior and sweet, yellow-orange flesh inside. Although considered a winter squash, acorn squash belongs to the same species (Cucurbita pepo) as all summer squashes (including zucchini and crookneck squash).

We had one for dinner a few nights ago.

The acorn, or oaknut, is the nut of the oaks and their close relatives (genera Quercus and Lithocarpus, in the family Fagaceae). It usually contains one seed (occasionally two seeds), enclosed in a tough, leathery shell, and borne in a cup-shaped cupule. Acorns are 1–6 cm (1⁄2–2+1⁄2 in) long and 0.8–4 cm (3⁄8–1+5⁄8 in) on the fat side.   As a charm it represents wealth, strength, happiness in marriage,

Hi, Gang.  JazzBumpa here; charmed to be your host today. 

Across:

1. Hint of color: TINCT.  As defined.

6. Biblical tower site: BABEL.   The Tower of Babel (Hebrew: מִגְדַּל בָּבֶל‎, Mīgdal Bāḇel) narrative in Genesis 11:1–9 is an origin myth and parable meant to explain why the world's peoples speak different languages.  According to the story, a united human race speaking a single language and migrating eastward, comes to the land of Shinar (שִׁנְעָר‎). There they agree to build a city and a tower with its top in the sky. Yahweh, observing their city and tower, confounds their speech so that they can no longer understand each other, and scatters them around the world.

11. Inquire: ASK.  pose a question

14. Play area?: ARENA.  A level area surrounded by seats for spectators, in which sports, entertainments, and other public events are held.

15. Greek salad fruit: OLIVE.   A small oval fruit with a hard pit and bitter flesh, green when unripe and brownish black when ripe, used as food and as a source of oil.

16. Sushi topper: ROE.  The mass of eggs contained in the ovaries of a female fish or shellfish, typically including the ovaries themselves, especially when ripe and used as food.  I had shad roe once.  Once.

19. Texter's "Hang on a sec": BRB.  Be Right Back.

20. "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" director Lee: ANG.

21. No-frills font: ARIAL. A sans serif font. It looks like this.

22. Wee bit: IOTA.  The ninth letter of the Greek alphabet ( Ι, ι ), transliterated as ‘i.’.   The words iota and jot share a lot more than just a common meaning—both ultimately derive from the same word. When Latin scholars transcribed the Greek name of the ninth letter of the Greek alphabet, they spelled it as either iota or jota (the letters i and j were simply variants of each other), and these spellings eventually passed into English as iota and jot. Since the Greek letter iota is the smallest letter of its alphabet, both words eventually came to be used in reference to very small things.

27. Sex therapy subject: LIBIDO.  A concept originated by Sigmund Freud to signify the instinctual physiological or psychic energy associated with sexual urges and, in his later writings, with all constructive human activity.

29. Helpful supporter: ALLY.   A person, group, or nation that is associated with another or others for some common cause or purpose:

30. Loads: A TON.  Figuratively, any large amount.  Imagine, if you will, a ton of iotas.

31. Give in a little: BUDGE.   To move slightly; begin to move.  Hence, to change one's opinion or stated position; yield.

33. Irritate: VEX.  Annoy. 

40. Brief alarm?: SOS.  Brief in the sense that it consists of only three letters; not that whatever causes the alarm is of short duration.   These are the letters represented by the radio telegraphic signal (· · · – – – · · ·) used, especially by ships in distress, as an internationally recognized call for help.

41. Fake: POSER.  One portraying himself as something he is not.

42. Singer India.__: ARIE.   India Arie Simpson [b 1975], also known as India Arie, is an American singer and songwriter. She has sold over five million records in the US and ten million worldwide. She has won four Grammy Awards from her 23 nominations, including Best R&B Album.

Not a poser

43. Gargantuan: HUGE.   Enormous.  Derived from Gargantua, the name of a giant king in François Rabelais's 16th-century satiric novel Gargantua, the second part of a five-volume series about the giant and his son Pantagruel. 

44. "The Country Girls" novelist Edna: O'BRIEN.   The Country Girls is a trilogy by Irish author Edna O'Brien [b. 1930]. It consists of three novels: The Country Girls, The Lonely Girl, and Girls in Their Married Bliss. 

51. School year division: TERM.   A fixed or limited period for which something  lasts or is intended to last.

52. Swarms (with): TEEMS.   As defined.

53. Noble __: GAS.   The noble gases make up a class of chemical elements with similar properties; under standard conditions, they are all odorless, colorless, monatomic gases with very low chemical reactivity. The six naturally occurring noble gases are helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and the radioactive radon.

56. With 11-Down, Michigan college town: ANN.    Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2020 census recorded its population to be 123,851, making it the fifth-largest city in Michigan. It is the principal city of the Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Washtenaw County. 

Ann Arbor is home to the University of Michigan. The university significantly shapes Ann Arbor's economy as it employs about 30,000 workers, including about 12,000 in the medical center. The city's economy is also centered on high technology, with several companies drawn to the area by the university's research and development infrastructure.

Ann Arbor was founded in 1824, named after the wives of the village's founders, both named Ann, and the stands of bur oak trees.

60. TNT part: TRI. Trinitrotoluene, more commonly known as TNT, more specifically 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, and by its preferred IUPAC name 2-methyl-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene, is a chemical compound with the formula C6H2(NO2)3CH3. TNT is occasionally used as a reagent in chemical synthesis, but it is best known as an explosive material with convenient handling properties. The explosive yield of TNT is considered to be the standard comparative convention of bombs and asteroid impacts. 

61. Sounds from happy cats: PURRS.   Cats will purr when they are in a relaxed environment, sending out waves of calmness. This may also occur when you stroke them, and if this is the case, your feline friend is feeling happy or sociable.

62. Loosen, as a knot: UNTIE.  

63. Storm center: EYE.   A region of mostly calm weather at the center of tropical cyclones. The eye of a storm is a roughly circular area, typically 30–65 kilometers in diameter. It is surrounded by the eyewall, a ring of towering thunderstorms where the most severe weather and highest winds occur.

64. Borden spokescow: ELSIE.   Elsie the Cow is a cartoon cow developed as a mascot for the Borden Dairy Company in 1936 to symbolize the "perfect dairy product". Since the demise of Borden in the mid-1990s, the character has continued to be used in the same capacity for the company's partial successors, Eagle Family Foods and Borden Dairy.

65. Utopias: EDENS.   An imaginary location, community or society that possesses highly desirable or nearly perfect qualities for its members.

Down:

1. Actress Reid: TARA.   Tara Donna Reid  [b. 1975] is an American actress. She played Vicky in the films American Pie, American Pie 2, and American Reunion, and Bunny Lebowski in The Big Lebowski. In 2013, she starred as April Wexler in the television film Sharknado, and went on to reprise the role in five sequels.

2. Setting of the graphic novel "Persepolis": IRAN.

3. People next door: NEIGHBORS.

4. "Erin Burnett OutFront" channel: CNN.

5. Knight's tunic: TABARD.    A type of short coat that was commonly worn by men during the late Middle Ages and early modern period in Europe. Generally worn outdoors, the coat was either sleeveless or had short sleeves or shoulder pieces.

6. "Ziggy Stardust" singer David: BOWIE.  David Robert Jones [1947-2016], known professionally as David Bowie, was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Bowie was acclaimed by critics and musicians, particularly for his innovative work during the 1970s.

7. Some Italian sports cars, for short: ALFAS.  Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian luxury car manufacturer and a subsidiary of Stellantis. It was founded on 24 June 1910, in Milan, Italy as A.L.F.A., an acronym for Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili. The brand is known for sport-oriented vehicles and has been involved in car racing since 1911.

8. Star of HBO's "Barry": BILL HADER.   William Thomas Hader Jr. (b. 1978) is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and director. Hader first gained widespread attention for his eight-year stint as a cast member on the long-running NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 2005 to 2013, for which he received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations and a Peabody Award. He became known for his impressions and especially for his work on the Weekend Update segments, in which he played Stefon Meyers, a flamboyant New York tour guide who recommends unusual nightclubs and parties with bizarre characters with unusual tastes.

9. Actress Longoria: EVA.  Eva Jacqueline Longoria Bastón [b. 1975] is an American actress, producer, and director. After a number of guest roles on several television series, she was recognized for her portrayal of Isabella Braña on the CBS daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless, on which she starred from 2001 to 2003.

10. Part of a race: LEG.   In track and field, leg is a term used to describe one of four equal parts of a relay race. Each leg is run by a different runner, who must pass a baton to the next runner in order to complete the race.

11. See 56-Across: ARBOR.  Michigan City.

12. Kinda: SORTA.  Approximately.

13. Shish __: KEBAB.  Shish kebab is a popular meal of skewered and grilled cubes of meat. It can be found in Mediterranean cuisine and is similar to or synonymous with dishes called shashlik and khorovats, found in the Caucasus region. It is one of the many types of kebab, a range of meat dishes originating in the Middle East.

18. Approximately: OR SO.  Kinda, sorta.

22. Slippery, as a road: ICY.   Glazed with frozen water.

24. Barnyard sound: OINK.   Piggish vocalization.

25. Actress Kurylenko: OLGA.   Olga Kostyantynivna Kurylenko [b. 1975] is a Ukrainian–French actress and model. She started her acting career in 2005, and first found success as an actress for her role as Nika Boronina in the film adaptation of the video game Hitman. 

26. Utility abbr.: ELEC.   Electric.

27. Newton trio: LAWS.  Newton's laws of motion are three basic laws of classical mechanics that describe the relationship between the motion of an object and the forces acting on it. These laws can be paraphrased as follows:  A body remains at rest, or in motion at a constant speed in a straight line, unless acted upon by a force. When a body is acted upon by a force, the time rate of change of its momentum equals the force. If two bodies exert forces on each other, these forces have the same magnitude but opposite directions.

28. "Am __ early?": I TOO.  It's so hard to be just early enough.

31. Dividing lines: BISECTORS.  Straight lines that divide lines, angles or shapes into two equal parts.

32. Luau strings, briefly: UKE.  

33. Diversify, in a way: VARIEGATE.   Alter in appearance, especially by adding different colors.

34. Ohio border lake: ERIE.   South of Canada.

35. Marvel mutants who battle Magneto: X-MEN.   In the Marvel Universe, mutants are humans who are born with a genetic trait called the X-gene which grants them natural superhuman abilities. Due to their differences from the majority of humanity, mutants are subject to prejudice and discrimination and many X-Men stories feature social commentary on bigotry and justice. The X-Men have fought against a variety of enemies, including villainous mutants, human bigots, supervillains, mystical threats, extraterrestrials, and malevolent artificial intelligences. 

37. Egg (on): SPUR.    Goad or urge someone else to do something,

38. Macy's red star, for one: LOGO.   A symbol or other design adopted by an organization to identify its products, uniform, vehicles, etc.

39. Literary "Listen!": HARK.   To listen closely or give attention to something: 

43. "I wonder ... ": HMM.   Indication of pondering.

44. Units of resistance: OHMS.  Electrical resistance.

45. Language from northern Spain: BASQUE.   The language of the Basques: people sho are indigenous to, and primarily inhabit, an area traditionally known as the Basque Country — a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.

46. Utter: STATE.   Give audible expression to; speak or pronounce.

47. "Atlanta" actor Brian Tyree __: HENRY.   Brian Tyree Henry [b.1982] is an American actor. He rose to prominence for his role as Alfred "Paper Boi" Miles in the FX comedy-drama series Atlanta, for which he received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

48. Golfer Palmer, to fans: ARNIE.  Arnold Daniel Palmer [1929-2016] was an American professional golfer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most charismatic players in the sport's history. Dating back to 1955, he won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and the circuit now known as PGA Tour Champions.

49. Beach volleyball Olympic gold medalist __ Walsh Jennings: KERRI.   Kerri Lee Walsh Jennings [b 1978] is an American professional beach volleyball player, three-time Olympic gold medalist, and a one-time Olympic bronze medalist. She is the beach volleyball leader in career victories as of 2016 having won 135 international and domestic tournaments.

50. Pick up: SENSE.   Become aware of or realize something, although it is not very obvious.

54. Spelling clarification phrase: AS IN.  Frex, G as in Gila monster.

55. Wally Lamb's "__ Come Undone": SHE'S.   the 1992 debut novel by Wally Lamb. The novel was selected as the fourth book for Oprah's Book Club in December 1996. Lamb's novel was named a finalist for the 1992 Los Angeles Book Awards' Art Seidenbaum Prize for first fiction. She's Come Undone has been translated into eighteen languages.

57. Imitate: APE.

58. __-de-sac: CUL.  A street or passage that is closed at one end.

59. German conjunction: UND.  Meaning "and."

And so it ends.  Were you charmed?

Cool regards!

JzB

L.A.Times Crossword Wednesday, February 8, 2023 Drew Schmenner

Theme: Vowel Sound Progression - With Z Sounds.  The final syllable of each them entry begins with the sound - though not always the spelling - of the letter "Z," and ends with the sound - though not the spelling - of a long vowel, in alphabetical order: A, E, I, O and U.  Let's check it out.

18 A. Small dog with a French name: BICHON FRISÉ.   From French: bichon à poil frisé, French pronunciation: ​[biʃɔ̃ fʁize], meaning 'curly haired dog') is a small breed of dog.  Although the Bichon breed type are originally Spanish, used as sailing dogs, also as herding dogs sometimes, the French developed them into a gentle lap-dog variety. 

The ending is pronounced ZĀ, or ZAY, if you prefer.  What are you gonna do - it's French!

23 A. Stopped worrying: RESTED EASY.  When you don't worry you can sleep well.

The ending is pronounced ZĒ, or ZEE.  This is the kind of thing that makes English as a 2nd language so hard.

41 A. Education activist who is the youngest Nobel Prize laureate: MALALA YOUSAFZAI.  (Urdu: ملالہ یوسفزئی, Pashto: ملاله یوسفزۍ, pronunciation: [məˈlaːlə jusəf ˈzəj]; born 12 July 1997), is a Pakistani female education activist and the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Awarded when she was 17, she is the world's youngest Nobel Prize laureate, and the second Pakistani and the first Pashtun to receive a Nobel Prize.

On 9 October 2012, while on a bus in Swat District after taking an exam, Yousafzai and two other girls were shot by a Taliban gunman in an assassination attempt in retaliation for her activism; the gunman fled the scene. Yousafzai was hit in the head with a bullet and remained unconscious and in critical condition at the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology, but her condition later improved enough for her to be transferred to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, UK.  You can read more details here. 

The rendering of here last name into English results in the last syllable as written above, and pronounced ZĪ, or Z-EYE. 

54 A. Leader of the Pink Ladies in "Grease": BETTY RIZZO.  Portrayed in the movie by Stockard Channing, she is a tough and sarcastic leader of the Pink Ladies. She smokes, drinks, and does not care what others think of her. Rizzo is also a girl with a "reputation". 

The ending of her name is pronounced, for a nice change of pace, pretty much like it's spelt: ZŌ. 

64 A. To a great extent, informally: OUT THE WAZOO.  To an excessive degree.

The final syllable is pronounced ZŪ.  The long U is often pronounced "YOO," rather than"OO."  But sometimes not, I guess.

Hi Gang, JazzBumpa on the scene with today's lesson in phonetics.  Let's keep an ai out for what else we can find in tode's grid. Are oo with my?

Across:

1. Derisive cry: BAH.  Sometimes along with its partner, HUMBUG!

4. Open, as a 4-Down app: TAP ON.  Accessing an app on a touch-screen device.

9. Marshmallow treats: PEEPS.  

Read about them here.

14. In the past: AGO.  This was recorded some time ago.

15. Rock's __ in Chains: ALICE.

16. "The Martian" star: DAMON.   Matthew Paige Damon (b. October 8, 1970) is an American actor, film producer, and screenwriter. Ranked among Forbes' most bankable stars, the films in which he has appeared have collectively earned over $3.88 billion at the North American box office, making him one of the highest-grossing actors of all time.He has received various awards and nominations, including an Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards, in addition to nominations for three British Academy Film Awards and seven Primetime Emmy Awards.

In the movie, When astronauts blast off from the planet Mars, they leave behind Mark Watney (Matt Damon), presumed dead after a fierce storm. With only a meager amount of supplies, the stranded visitor must utilize his wits and spirit to find a way to survive on the hostile planet. Meanwhile, back on Earth, members of NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring him home, while his crew mates hatch their own plan for a daring rescue mission.

17. Earth __: DAY.   An annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by EarthDay.org (formerly Earth Day Network) including 1 billion people in more than 193 countries. 

20. Inbox filler: E-MAIL.   On your computer or device.

22. Spending like there's no tomorrow: ON A SPREE.   A spell or sustained period of unrestrained activity of a particular kind.

26. Isr. neighbor: SYR.  Israel and Syria.

27. Wild guess: STAB.   Sort of like a shot in the dark.

28. Tool with teeth: SAW.  I can see that.

31. Blue-green hue: TEAL.   A dark greenish-blue color, named for a duck of similar hue..

34. Pyramid, often: TOMB.   The Egyptian ones are.

37. Canterbury pens: GAOLS.  British spelling of Jail.  As a kid, when I first saw this in a Sherlock Holmes story I was quite confused.

44. Raging mad: IRATE.   Seeing red.

45. Barbecue rod: SPIT.   A slender pointed rod for holding meat over a fire

46. Cough syrup amts.: TSPS.  Teaspoons.

47. Alter __: EGO.  A person's secondary or alternative personality.

49. Chem class rooms: LABS.  A laboratory.  I saw a sign in one stating that here should be more labor and less oratory,

51. Quinceañera attendee, maybe: TIO.  An AUNT might attend the celebration of a girl's 15th birthday. this has cultural roots in Mexico and Europe and is widely celebrated by girls throughout Latin America. 

60. Out early: ON PAROLE.  Parole is the release of a prisoner temporarily (for a special purpose) or permanently before the completion of a sentence, on the promise of good behavior.

63. Tatum of "Paper Moon": O'NEAL.   Tatum Beatrice O'Neal [b. 1963] is an American actress. She is the youngest person ever to win an Academy Award, winning at age 10 for her performance as Addie Loggins in Paper Moon opposite her father, Ryan O'Neal. She also starred as Amanda Wurlitzer in The Bad News Bears, followed by Nickelodeon, and Little Darlings.    

67. Spill preventer: LID.   As on a child's puppy cup.

Kids in their cups

68. Like overly rehearsed comments, probably: TRITE.    Overused and consequently of little import; lacking originality or freshness.  Said of a remark, opinion, or idea.  Overly rehearsed?  I dunno 'bout that.

69. Rework, as text: EMEND.  Make corrections and improvements.

70. Beats by __: DRE.  Brand name for pricey earphones and buds.

71. Dye used in mehndi decoration: HENNA.   A  dye prepared from the plant Lawsonia inermis, also known as the henna tree, the mignonette tree, and the Egyptian privet, the sole species of the genus Lawsonia.   Mehndi is a form of body art and temporary skin decoration from the Indian subcontinent usually drawn on hands or legs.

72. Fizzy drinks: SODAS.

73. __ Lingus: AER.  The flag carrying ail line of Ireland. Founded by the Irish Government, it was privatised between 2006 and 2015 and it is now a wholly owned subsidiary of International Airlines Group. The airline's head office is on the grounds of Dublin Airport in Cloghran, County Dublin. 

Down:

1. The "B" of "Notorious RBG": BADER.   Joan Ruth Bader Ginsburg [b. 1933] was an American lawyer and jurist who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1993 until her death in 2020.

2. Peak performance: A-GAME.   One's best possible performance,

3. Georgetown athletes: HOYAS.   According to Georgetown's Athletic Department Website, many years ago, when all students were required to take Greek and Latin, the athletic teams were nicknamed "The Stonewalls."  Rumor has it that one clever student chanted "Hoya Saxa!" which translates to "What Rocks!"  The cheer grew and students began to consistently yell "Hoya Saxa! Hoya Saxa!" Eventually, the "Saxa" was dropped and the cheer evolved to "Hoya!"

The name proved popular and all Georgetown teams were named "The Hoyas."  No, a Hoya is not a bulldog. It is not any animal, mascot, or creature of any sort. Hoya actually means "what."

So, if you ever ask: What is a Hoya? That's your answer. What? What. A Hoya is what.

4. Device with a touchscreen: TABLET.    A mobile computing device that has a flat, rectangular form like that of a magazine or pad of paper, that is usually controlled by means of a touch screen, and that is typically used for accessing the Internet, watching videos, playing games, reading electronic books, etc.

5. Wong of "Always Be My Maybe": ALI.  Alexandra Dawn "Ali" Wong [b. 1982] is an American stand-up comedian and actress. She is best known for her Netflix stand-up specials Baby Cobra, Hard Knock Wife, and Don Wong. She starred in the film Always Be My Maybe, on which she also served as a writer and producer.

6. Selfie, e.g.: PIC.  Photograph of one's self.

7. Golfer Lorena: OCHOA.   Lorena Ochoa Reyes [b. 1981] is a Mexican former professional golfer who played on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour from 2003 to 2010. She was the top-ranked female golfer in the world for 158 consecutive and total weeks, from 23 April 2007 to her retirement on 2 May 2010, at the age of 28 

8. Highlighter hues: NEONS.    Extremely bright or vivid colors, so named ny analogy to neon lamps.

9. Versatile docs: PDFS.  Documents in Portable Data File format, useable on any platform.

10. Wyatt of the Old West: EARP.   Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp [1848 - 1929] was an American lawman and gambler in the American West, including Dodge City, Deadwood, and Tombstone. Earp was involved in the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral, during which lawmen killed three outlaw Cochise County Cowboys.

11. Dubai rulers: EMIRS.   A title of various Muslim (mainly Arab) rulers.

12. Seven-time MLB All-Star catcher Buster: POSEY.   Gerald Dempsey "Buster" Posey III [b.1987] is an American former professional baseball catcher. Posey spent his entire twelve-year Major League Baseball career with the San Francisco Giants, from 2009 until his retirement at the conclusion of the 2021 season. In September 2022, Posey joined the Giants' ownership group.

13. Snide smile: SNEER.   A contemptuous or mocking smile, remark, or tone.

19. Those opposed: NAYS.  

21. "Oof, look at the time": IT'S LATE.  Time to call it a night.

24. Target of some miners: DATA.  Data mining is the process of extracting and discovering patterns in large data sets involving methods at the intersection of machine learning, statistics, and database systems.

25. Some TikTok teens: E-BOYS.   E-girls and e-boys, sometimes collectively known as e-kids, are a youth subculture of Gen Z that emerged in the late 2010s, notably popularized by the video-sharing app TikTok. It is an evolution of emo, scene and mall goth fashion combined with Japanese street fashion and K-pop fashion.

29. Ottoman title: AGA.    A military or civil officer in the Ottoman Empire

30. Enters, as an aroma: WAFTS IN.  To WAFT is to pass or cause to pass easily or gently through or as if through the air.

31. "You've shared enough!": TMI.  Too Much Information.

32. AirPod holder: EAR.  The organ of hearing and balance in humans and other vertebrates, especially the external part of this.

33. Pie __ mode: ALA.  Literally, fashionable; in the current style or fashion.   Here in the U.S. it means the ice cream has a scoop of ice cream on it.

35. Swiffer product: MOP.   An implement made of absorbent material fastened to a handle and used especially for cleaning floors

36. Constructed: BUILT.  

38. Parts of lbs.: OZS.   Pounds and ounces.  Where does the "z" come from?  

39. Overtake and then some, on a track: LAP.  A LAP is one time around a race track.  To LAP another runner is to get one full LAP ahead of him

40. Family nickname: SIS.   Meaning sister.  I have one.

42. __ of lamb: LEG.   Lamb leg is a large and succulent cut from the hind legs that can be butchered into smaller cuts. Lamb leg is a popular Sunday dinner roasting joint, though, this is not the only way this tasty joint can be prepared.

43. Stick around: STAY.   Remain in a certain place.

48. Wind quintet wind: OBOE.   A woodwind instrument with a double-reed mouthpiece, a slender tubular body, and holes stopped by keys.

50. Stews (over): BROODS.  Thinks deeply about something that makes one unhappy.  Worries.

51. Sweet __: TOOTH.  A affection for confections.

52. Accustom: INURE.  Accustom (someone) to something, especially something unpleasant.

53. Decide to participate: OPT IN.  Choose to participate in something.

55. "As You Wish" memoirist Cary: ELWES.   Ivan Simon Cary Elwes [b. 1962] is an English actor and writer. He is known for his leading film roles as Westley in The Princess Bride, Robin Hood in Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and Dr. Lawrence Gordon in the Saw film series.

56. DÌa de San ValentÌn sentiment: TE AMO.  The Valentine's Day sentiment is, I love you."

57. Nintendo's The Legend of __: ZELDA.  The Legend of Zelda is an action-adventure game franchise created by the Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo, although some portable installments and re-releases have been outsourced to Capcom, Vanpool, and Grezzo.

58. Former name of the Congo: ZAIRE.   Officially the Republic of Zaire (French: République du Zaïre, [ʁepyblik dy zaiʁ]), was a Congolese state from 1971 to 1997 in Central Africa that was previously and is now again known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Zaire was, by area, the third-largest country in Africa (after Sudan and Algeria), and the 11th-largest country in the world. With a population of over 23 million inhabitants, Zaire was the most-populous officially Francophone country in Africa, as well as one of the most populous in Africa.

59. Not as up-to-date: OLDER.  I'm taking this personally.

61. Memo abbreviation: ATTN.   Attention recipient.

62. "Better Call Saul" Emmy nominee Seehorn: RHEA.   Deborah Rhea Seehorn [b. 1972] is an American actress and director. She is best known for playing attorney Kim Wexler in AMC's Better Call Saul, for which she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards

65. Zoo opening in London?: ZED.   The first, i.e. opening, letter of the word in Brit-speak. We just call it Zee.

66. "Based __ true story": ON A.  Said of a fictional account involving real persons and/or events.

That's all, folks.  Hope you were able to pronounce all these words.  Happy Wednesday, everyone.

Cool regards!

JzB

L. A. Times Crossword Wednesday, January 25, 2023 Emma Lawson

Theme: I can't do any better than the unifier.

61 A. Make waves, and a hint to this puzzle's circles: ROCK THE BOAT.  As we'll soon see, various boats have been rocked by having the letters of their names mixed up, thus "rocked."  This is indicated by the circles in the grid.

17 A. Charitable undertaking that deserves support: WORTHY CAUSE.  Someone or something deserving support because they have the qualities or abilities required.  The hidden mixed-up word is YACHT - a sailing or power vessel used for pleasure, cruising, or racing. There is no standard definition, though the term generally applies to vessels with a cabin intended for overnight use.   Often a rich person't toy.

31 A. Bit of false modesty: HUMBLE BRAG.  An ostensibly modest or self-deprecating statement whose actual purpose is to draw attention to something of which one is proud.  We go from a potentially elegant YACHT to the fittingly humble BARGE -  a flat-bottomed inland waterway vessel which does not have its own means of mechanical propulsion.  It is typically either pushed or pulled by another vessel.

42. "Ugh, shut up already": NO ONE CARES.  A blunt statement of disinterest.   Of greater interest is the CANOE - a lightweight, narrow water vessel, typically pointed at both ends and open on top, propelled by one or more seated or kneeling paddlers facing the direction of travel and using a single-bladed paddle.

Hi, Gang.  Emma was not able to fit CRUISE SHIP into the mix.  Still, we can enjoy our aquatic excursion with a variety of mixed up vessels.  Let's sail into the rest of the puzzle and see what else we can discover

Across:

1. __ Sutra: KAMA.   "Principles of Love" is an ancient Indian Sanskrit text on sexuality, eroticism and emotional fulfillment in life. It was written as a guide to the art of living well, the nature of love, finding a life partner, maintaining one's love life, and other aspects pertaining to pleasure-oriented faculties of human life.

5. Charlatans: FRAUDS.  Those falsely claiming to have a special knowledge or skill;

11. Smidgen: TAD.  A tiny quantity.

14. Classic Camaro: IROC.   IROC stands for International Race of Champions, a competition similar to Nascar. IROC began in 1974 by racing Porsches, but the cost of maintaining them was prohibitive, so the series turned to the Chevy Camaro in 1975.

15. Breaks things off: ENDS IT.  Brings something to a close, such as a relationship.

16. Tankard filler: ALE.  a type of beer with a bitter flavor and higher alcoholic content.

19. Right Guard alternative: BAN.  Under arm deodorants.

20. Feedback: INPUT.  Information provided in response to something.

21. Bullfighters: MATADORS.  Their job is to kill the bulls.

23. "Go for the Goal" memoirist Mia: HAMM.   Mariel Margaret Hamm-Garciaparra [b. 1972] is an American retired professional soccer player, two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion. Hailed as a soccer icon, she played as a forward for the United States women's national soccer team from 1987 to 2004. 

25. Tried to avoid the catcher's tag: SLID HOME.  Like this.

26. Pan: SKILLET.   A shallow metal cooking pot with a long handle, used for frying.

29. "Weetzie Bat" series writer Francesca __ Block: LIA.  Francesca Lia Block [b.1960] is an American writer of adult and young-adult literature. She is known for the Weetzie Bat series, which she began while a student at UC Berkeley. 

30. Break the tape: WIN.  Getting to the finish line first in a race.

37. Religious platform: ALTAR.   A table or flat-topped block used as the focus for a religious ritual, especially for making sacrifices or offerings to a deity.

40. Scottish refusal: NAE.

41. Tuscan city whose university was founded in 1240: SIENA.  A city in central Italy’s Tuscany region,  distinguished by its medieval brick buildings. The fan-shaped central square, Piazza del Campo, is the site of the Palazzo Pubblico, the Gothic town hall, and Torre del Mangia, a slender 14th-century tower with sweeping views from its distinctive white crown. 

45. 2016 Super Bowl MVP __ Miller: VON.   Vonnie B'VSean Miller [b. 1989] is an American football outside linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. Miller played college football at Texas A&M, where he earned consensus All-American honors and the Butkus Award. He was selected by the Denver Broncos second overall in the 2011 NFL Draft.  He tore his ACL vs the Lions on Thanksgiving day, 2022.  The Bills went on to win that game 28-25 on a field goal as time expired.  The Bills could have used him this week as the Bengals shredded their defense.

46. "I've got it!": AHA.  That moment of realization.

47. Talking back to: SASSING.   Unwelcome feedback.

50. Temporada con nieve: INVIERNO.   The snowy season in Spain is WINTER.

55. Connections: TIES.  

56. Jazz trumpeter Wynton: MARSALIS.   Wynton Learson Marsalis [b. 1961] is an American trumpeter, composer, teacher, and artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. He has promoted classical and jazz music, often to young audiences. Marsalis has won nine Grammy Awards, and his Blood on the Fields was the first jazz composition to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music. 

57. Cuts: TRIMS.   Removes excess.

60. Big fuss: ADO.

64. Tech exec: CIO.  Chief Information Officer.   Probably a nerd.

65. Much of North Africa: SAHARA.  Large desert.

66. Memo phrase: IN RE.   A Latin phrase meaning “in the matter of.” The term “In re” is used in legal documents to refer to a case, particularly a case without an opposing party. For example, "In re Estate of Ruth Bentley" might be used to refer to a probate case about the estate of Ruth Bentley.

67. "Grace and Frankie" actor Waterston: SAM.   Samuel Atkinson Waterston (b.1940) is an American actor. Waterston is known for his work in theater, television and film.  He has received many awards.   

68. Lure into wrongdoing: ENTRAP.  Do this in order to achieve arrest and prosecution.

69. "On the double!" abbr.: ASAP.   As Soon As Possible.

Down:

1. New Zealand bird: KIWI.   Kiwi are flightless birds endemic to New Zealand of the order Apterygiformes. The five extant species fall into the family Apterygidae and genus Apteryx. Approximately the size of a domestic chicken, kiwi are the smallest living ratites.

Seven Kiwi Facts

2. "East of Eden" brother based on Abel: ARON.  Although Aron is likable and kind, his innate moral sensitivity is extreme, and it makes him fragile and easily susceptible to hurt. The sheltered Aron has a great deal of trouble facing the reality of human evil in the world, and Steinbeck builds a great deal of suspense in the second half of East of Eden regarding whether or not Aron will ever meet his mother, Cathy, and whether or not he will survive such an encounter.

3. Completely become: MORPH INTO.    Change very gradually from one thing into another.

4. Real: ACTUAL.   Existing in fact; typically as contrasted with what was intended, expected, or believed.

5. Tina with a recurring role on "Only Murders in the Building": FEY.   Elizabeth Stamatina "Tina" Fey [b.1970] is an American actress, comedian, writer, producer, and playwright. Fey is best known for her tenure as a cast member and head writer for the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 1997 to 2006. 

6. GOP org.: RNC.   Republican National Committee.

7. "Run to You" singer Bryan: ADAMS.   Bryan Guy Adams [b 1959] OC OBC FRPS is a Canadian musician, singer, songwriter, composer, and photographer. He has been cited as one of the best-selling music artists of all time, and is estimated to have sold between 75 million and more than 100 million records and singles worldwide. 

8. Typical: USUAL.  Expected.

9. Purify, in a way: DISTILL.   Purify (a liquid) by vaporizing it, then condensing it by cooling the vapor, and collecting the resulting liquid.

10. Makes less wobbly: STEADIES.  Stabilizes the position of something.

11. Simply not done: TABOO.   A social or religious custom prohibiting or forbidding discussion of a particular practice or forbidding association with a particular person, place, or thing.

12. Wake-up call?: ALARM.   Something that alerts a person to a situation

13. Pretty thick: DENSE.   Closely compacted in substance.  Figuratively, of a person - stupid.

18. Webmaster's code: HTML.   HyperText Markup Language.

22. Abu __: DHABI.   The capital and second-most populous city (after Dubai) of the United Arab Emirates.  The city of Abu Dhabi is located on an island in the Persian Gulf, off the Central West Coast. Most of the city and the Emirate reside on the mainland connected to the rest of the country. 

24. Just okay: MEH.   Expressing a lack of interest or enthusiasm.

26. Ugly duckling's true self: SWAN.  A Danish literary fairy tale by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen (1805–1875), published in 1843.  A swan's egg is misplaced in a clutch of duck eggs, and the resulting cygnet becomes an outcast.  Eventually he discovers is true self and flies away.

27. Approximately 2.2 lbs.: KILO.  The kilogram is the unit of mass in the International System of Units, having the unit symbol kg. It is a widely used measure in science, engineering and commerce worldwide, and is often simply called a kilo colloquially. It means "one thousand grams."

28. Fish in a negitoro roll: TUNA.  Negitoro is diced tuna with green onion. You'll most often find it served as a sushi roll. The tuna is sourced from scraping near the bones and from scrap pieces.  Yum!

32. Mo. after Leap Day: MAR. Leap day is Feb.29, occurring every 4th year not divisible by 100.  The following month is March.

33. Orchard pollinators: BEES.

34. Subsequent drafts: REVISIONS.  Of a text.

35. Quote book abbr.: ANON.  Anonymous.

36. Crew: GANG.  A group of people who work closely together.

38. Diarist Nin: ANAIS.  Angela Anaïs Juana Antolina Rosa Edelmira Nin y Culmell  [1903 – 1977] was a French-born American diarist, essayist, novelist, and writer of short stories and erotica. Born to Cuban parents in France, Nin was the daughter of the composer Joaquín Nin and the classically trained singer Rosa Culmell. Nin spent her early years in Spain and Cuba, about sixteen years in Paris (1924–1940), and the remaining half of her life in the United States, where she became an established author.

39. Prepare for a show: REHEARSE.   Practice (a play, piece of music, or other work) for later public performance.  I usually do this on Monday and Wednesday evenings.  Speaking of boats - granddaughter Amanda is in Toronto REHEARSING for her 3rd gig as a cast member on a Disney cruise ship.

43. Assistance in getting a ride?: CAR LOAN.  Money borrowed to purchase a vehicle.  Clever clue.

44. Plopped down in a chair: SAT.

48. Location: SITE.   

49. Croatia neighbor: SERBIA.  A landlocked country in Southeastern and Central Europe.  The two countries have similar spoken languages, but different written languages, as Serbia uses the Cyrillic alphabet.

50. Apple desktops: I-MACS.  Brand designation for lines of personal computers.

51. Gymnast Comaneci: NADIA.   Nadia Elena Comăneci Conner [b. 1961] is a Romanian retired gymnast and a five-time Olympic gold medalist, all in individual events. In 1976, at the age of 14, Comăneci was the first gymnast to be awarded a perfect score of 10.0 at the Olympic Games.

The IOC has blocked the video from sharing{?!?)  You can see it HERE

52. Revving sound: VROOM.

53. Not, in German: NICHT.   Literal.

54. Liam's "Schindler's List" role: OSKAR.  Oskar Schindler [1908 - 1974] was a German industrialist, humanitarian and a member of the Nazi Party who is credited with saving the lives of 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust by employing them in his enamelware and ammunitions factories in occupied Poland and the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. 

58. "Where Am I Now?" memoirist Wilson: MARA.   Mara Elizabeth Wilson (b. 1987) is an American actress and writer. She rose to prominence as a child for playing Natalie Hillard in the film Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) and went on to play Susan Walker in Miracle on 34th Street (1994), the title character in Matilda (1996), Annabel Greening in A Simple Wish (1997), and Lily Stone in Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000). Wilson took a 12-year hiatus following the last film to focus on writing. She returned to acting in 2012, and has predominantly worked in web series.

59. Pedometer unit: STEP.   An act or movement of putting one leg in front of the other in walking or running.

62. La-la lead-in: TRA.   Nonsense syllables sometimes occurring in songs, sometimes used to suggest gaiety, lightheartedness, or playful derision.

63. Luck, to Shakespeare: HAP.   Obsolete term for luck or good fortune, from Middle English "happe."  This is the root of our modern word "happy."

Now we bring this ship into port.  Hope you had a HAP voyage.

Cool regards!

JzB