L. A. Times Crossword Wednesday, September 27, 2023 John Guzzetta

Theme:   A puzzle in MODE mode.  The second word of two-word in-the-language phrases represent various types of MODES.

17 A. *Ray Winstone/Ben Kingsley crime drama: SEXY BEAST.  A SEXY BEAST is someone who exudes sexuality and is difficult to resist.  BEAST MODE  refers to the aggressive, animalistic persona that one might assume when in competition or combat in order to overpower an opponent.

22 A *Period of anxiety that may be brought on by facing one's mortality: MIDLIFE CRISIS.  This is an emotional crisis of identity and self-confidence that can occur in early middle age.   CRISIS MODE is a hyper reactive condition where everything catches you off guard,  increases your stress levels and you feel panicky. 

49. *Folded missile in a classroom: PAPER AIRPLANE.  Here are detailed instructions for how to make one.

AIRPLANE MODE is a setting on a smartphone or tablet for use on board an aircraft, in which the device does not receive or transmit wireless signals and so does not interfere with the aircraft's communication systems.

58. *Spot to store valuables when traveling: HOTEL SAFE.   A SAFE is a strong metal cupboard with special locks, in which you keep money, jewelry, or other valuable things.  There might be on in your HOTEL room.   SAFE MODE is a diagnostic mode of a computer operating system. It can also refer to a mode of operation by application software. Safe mode is intended to help fix most, if not all, problems within an operating system. It is also widely used for removing rogue security software. 

38. Fashionable, or an apt description of the ends of the answers to the starred clues: A LA MODE.  This refers to something fashionable and stylish.  Or, alternatively, a mode of serving pie, along with a scoop of ice cream.  

Hi Gang, JazzBumpa here, in puzzle analysis MODE.  {We will definitely not be getting into analyzing musical or mathematical MODES!}.  Generally, a MODE is manner in which something occurs or is experienced, expressed, or done.  Let's get into action MODE.

Across:

1. Flowerbox place: SILL.  A widow shelf.

5. Hubbub: STIR.  Ado

9. Use a 26-Down: SHAVE.  Scrape whiskers off the face, for example.

14. Nabisco cookie: OREO.  A pair of chocolate wafers with a sugary cream filling.  The crossword world's favorite desert.

15. Gallant one: HERO.  Doer of courageous deeds, or a large sandwich.  Chose wisely.

16. Wonder Woman's rope: LASSO.  A rope with a loop or noose at one end, suitable for capturing villains, perhaps.

19. "Touch of Evil" director Welles: ORSON.  This 1958 movie involves the investigation into drug trafficking after a car bomb explodes near the Mexican border.  George Orson Welles [1915-1985] was an American actor, director, screenwriter, and producer who is remembered for his innovative work in film, radio, and theatre. He is considered to be among the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all time. 

20. Some remote batteries: AAAs.  Small cylindrical batteries.

21. Bacon pieces: STRIPS.  One strip = one rasher. 

27. Apartment, say: UNIT.  A single living quarter in a larger structure.

28. "You __ to be there": HAD.  Explaining that being a direct witness is sometimes important for understanding or believing.

29. Put away: STOW.  Pack neatly in a particular place.

32. Some DVD players: SONYS.  Products of the Sony Group Corporation, a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.

34. Assessed, with "up": SIZED.  Examined and evaluated something or someone.

36. Actor Vigoda: ABE.   Abraham Charles Vigoda [1921 - 2016] was an American actor known for his portrayals of Salvatore Tessio in The Godfather and Phil Fish in both Barney Miller and Fish TV shows.

37. Vampire vaporizer: SUN.   According to legend, these evil creatures cannot abide direct sunlight.

40. Not gross: NET.  After all charges and deductions.

41. Examine critically: EYE.  Size up, visually.

42. Waffle: WAVER.  Vacillate due to uncertainty.

43. First few pages of many books: INTRO.  Short for introduction -  a preliminary and explanatory section at the beginning of a book, report, or speech..

45. Feudal laborer: SERF.  An agricultural laborer bound under the feudal system to work on their lord's estate.

47. Neither's partner: NOR.  Used to exclude pairs of things or concepts.

48. Japanese noodle: UDON.   Wheat pasta made in thick strips.

54. Parking spots: SPACES.  Areas demarcated within a larger region for placing individual vehicles.

56. "Agreed!": DEAL.  An agreement entered into by two or more parties for their mutual benefit, especially in a business or political context.

57. Eagle's perch: AERIE.  A large nest in a high place.

63. Pertaining to birth: NATAL.  As defined.

64. Disney snowman: OLAF.  From the movie FROZEN.

65. "__ go bragh!": ERIN.  Ireland forever!

66. Do up, as hair: STYLE.  A particular arrangement of one's hair.

67. Guitar tuners: PEGS.    Short wooden or metal sticks with flat, rounded ends that are turned to make the strings on a musical instrument tighter or looser.

68. Lean (toward): TEND.  Have a natural inclination to do or be drawn toward some object of action.

Down:

1. "Help!" letters: SOS.   A Morse code distress signal used internationally, originally established for maritime use. In formal notation SOS is written with an overscore line, to indicate that the Morse code equivalents for the individual letters of "SOS" are transmitted as an unbroken sequence of three dots / three dashes / three dots, with no spaces between the letters.

2. Anger: IRE.  Negative emotional reaction to words or an event.  Hopefully, it is not forever.

3. Supervillain Luthor who co-founded the Injustice League: LEX.  Originated in Superman comics.

4. Faithfulness: LOYALTY.  A strong, reliable feeling of support or allegiance.

5. Bundle of harvested grain: SHEAF.   A bundle of grain stalks laid lengthwise and tied together after reaping.

6. Poke fun at: TEASE.   Merriment at the expense of a usually unwilling victim.

7. Org. with many auditors: IRS.  Internal Revenue Service - the Federal tax collecting agency.

8. Spoil: ROT.  Deteriorate over time, as produce.

9. Casino machines: SLOTS.   Coin-operated gaming machines that generate random combinations of symbols on a dial, certain combinations winning varying amounts of money for the player.

10. Vice president Kamala: HARRIS.   Kamala Devi Harris [b. 1964] is an American politician and attorney who is the 49th and current vice president of the United States. She is the first female vice president and the highest-ranking female official in U.S. history, as well as the first African-American and first Asian-American vice president. 

11. Prosecutor's deputy, for short: ASSISTANT D.A.   The Assistant District Attorney is responsible for assisting the District Attorney with administering the ongoing activities of the District Attorney's Office and assists in developing and implementing departmental goals and objectives within general policy guidelines.

12. Initials on a brandy bottle: VSOP.  Very Superior Old Pale.  For a cognac to be classified as a VSOP, the minimum age of the youngest eau-de-vie in the blend must be at least 4 years old.

13. Ages upon ages: EONS.   Long periods of unspecified duration.

18. "Wow at first sip" brand: BAI.  A brand of cocoanut water.

21. Allied (with): SIDED.  Joined together for some purpose, generally against organized opposition. 

22. Dishevels, as hair: MUSSES.  Runs fingers through someone's hair in a random way to mess it up.

23. Senator for whom Honolulu's airport is named: INOUYE. Daniel Ken Inouye [1924 - 2012] was an American attorney, soldier, and politician who served as a United States senator from Hawaii from 1963 until his death in 2012. Beginning in 1959, he was the first U.S. Representative for the State of Hawaii, and a Medal of Honor recipient.

24. Occasion to use the good china: DINNER PARTY.  A social occasion at which guests eat dinner together.

25. Fire-breathing Greek monster: CHIMERA.   In Greek mytholog, a fire-breathing female monster with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail.

26. Stubble remover: RAZOR.   An instrument with a sharp blade or combination of blades, used to remove unwanted hair from the face or body.

30. "A Midsummer Night's Dream" king: OBERON.  A king of the fairies in medieval and Renaissance literature. He is best known as a character in William Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream, in which he is King of the Fairies and spouse of Titania, Queen of the Fairies.  Also, Oberon is a wheat ale that embodies everything we love about summer. Brewed with just wheat malt, hops, water and Bells Brewery's signature house ale yeast.  

31. Slobbery kiss: WET ONE.  Moist smooch.

33. Watched: SAW.  Observed or eyed.

34. Really relish: SAVOR.  Enjoy the flavor of.

35. "Agnus __": DEI.   Agnus Dei is the Latin name under which the "Lamb of God" is honoured within Christian liturgies descending from the historic Latin liturgical tradition, including those of Roman Catholicism, Lutheranism and Anglicanism.

39. Features of a bowling alley: LANES.  Wooden or urethane decks that are 62'10-3/4" long and 42 inches wide with ten pins spaced one foot apart 60 feet from the foul line.  

44. Mathematical void symbolized by { }: NULL SET.   In mathematical sets, the null set is a set that does not contain any values or elements. It is expressed as { } and denoted using the Greek letter ∅ (phi). Now we exit math mode.

46. Treatment that may involve a peel: FACIAL.  A beauty treatment for the face.

50. "Nope" writer/director Jordan: PEELE.  Jordan Haworth Peele [b. 1978] is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker, known for his film and television work in the comedy and horror genres.  I don't believe he is known for his facial treatments.

51. Luggage label: I.D. TAG.  Item to identify the ownership of an item of luggage.

52. Hangouts for some schools?: REEFS.  A ridge of jagged rock, coral, or sand just above or below the surface of the sea.  The school here is of the fishy variety.  

53. Friend: PAL.  Buddy amigo.

54. Without: SANS.  In French.  I relish a puzzle sans French. 

55. Organic fuel: PEAT.   Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter. It is unique to natural areas called peatlands, bogs, mires, moors, or muskegs. 

58. Short jump: HOP.  I HOP means I make a short jump.  IHOP is where I'm taking Gloria later this week for pumpkin pancakes. 

59. Copa Mundial cheer: OLE.   Copa Mundial is Spanish for World Cup, the FIFA international soccer [futbol] tournament.  I had a bit of trouble tracking it down, since Google just wanted to show me shoes of the same name.  Olé is a Spanish interjection used to cheer on or praise a performance commonly used in bullfighting and flamenco dance. 

60. What "will be" will be: ARE.  Forms of  the verb "to be."  This is a playful little excursion into tenses, where the future of the past becomes the present. 

61. Sign of a shark: FIN.  The shark's dorsal fin can sometimes be seen above the water line.  Not a good sign.

62. Goal: END.   The aim or purpose of an activity.  Also the END of this puzzle.  Well placed.

OK, Gang - that wraps up another Wednesday, and a fine ride it was.  I am now in sign-off mode.

Cool regards, 

JzB

L. A. Times Crossword - Wednesday, September 13, 2023 Max Schlenker

Theme: ALL DOLLED UP.  Theme answers have a final syllable that is a homophone for DOLL 

But first, today's theme song.

Sammy Nestico's arrangement of Satin Doll, played by the 

Dearborn Big Band at the Plymouth, MI Fall Festival - 9/10/23 

17 A. Primatologist who wrote "The Chimpanzees of Gombe": JANE GOODALL.  Dame Jane Morris Goodall DBE; born Valerie Jane Morris-Goodall; (3 April 1934) formerly Baroness Jane van Lawick-Goodall, is an English primatologist and anthropologist. She is considered the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees, after 60 years studying the social and family interactions of wild chimpanzees.

She is the founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and the Roots & Shoots programme, and she has worked extensively on conservation and animal welfare issues. As of 2022, she is on the board of the Nonhuman Rights Project.[6] In April 2002, she was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace. Goodall is an honorary member of the World Future Council.

27 A. Plaything made from a clothespin, perhaps: WOODEN DOLL.  No homophone this time - instead the real thing.  [If you consider a DOLL to be a real thing.]

Ana shows you how to make them

49 A. Actress/entrepreneur whose son is Lorenzo Lamas: ARLENE DAHL.  Arlene Carol Dahl (August 11, 1925 – November 29, 2021) was an American actress active in films from the late 1940s. She was one of the last surviving stars from the Classical Hollywood cinema era.

She was also an author and entrepreneur. She founded two companies, Arlene Dahl Enterprises and Dahlia, a fragrance company.

In her personal life, Dahl had six husbands, including actors Lex Barker and Fernando Lamas, and was the mother to three children the eldest of whom is actor Lorenzo Lamas. 

63 A. Lentil dish from western India: GUJARATI DAL. Sweet, spicy and tangy,  Gujarati Dal is comfort food at its best! This thin consistency dal is tempered with lots of spices like cinnamon, cloves, cumin, mustard and flavored with ginger, jaggery, lime juice. Best enjoyed with plain rice.  Recipe here.  Gujarat is a state in western India.  Dal can refer to several kinds of legume.

Hi Gang, JazzBumpa here.  A theme like this requires a different spelling for each homophone, or it would lack elegance.  And here that requirement is nicely achieved.  Not the theme I expected at first look, but it works well.  Let's see what else we can discover.

Across:
1. Say "I'll be there," maybe: RSVP.  An initialism of the French phrase, "répondez s'il vous plaît." This directly translates to "Respond, if you please." The initialism is often used to confirm attendance for an event, such as a wedding, birthday party or baby shower.

5. Officers-to-be: CADETS.  Trainees in uniformed organizations.

11. In the past: AGO.  Lone upon a time.

14. Aspire laptop maker: ACER.  A Taiwanese multinational hardware and electronics corporation specializing in advanced electronics technology, headquartered in Xizhi, New Taipei City. 

15. Firenze locale: ITALIA.  we cal it Florence, Italy.  But what do we know?   It is the capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, and home to many masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture. One of its most iconic sights is the Duomo, a cathedral with a terracotta-tiled dome engineered by Brunelleschi and a bell tower by Giotto. The Galleria dell'Accademia displays Michelangelo’s “David” sculpture. The Uffizi Gallery exhibits Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and da Vinci’s “Annunciation.”

16. Break in continuity: GAP.  I something missing?

19. Draw upon: USE.  Take, hold, or deploy (something) as a means of accomplishing a purpose or achieving a result; employ.

20. Jungian inner self: ANIMA.  Jung described the animus as the unconscious masculine side of a woman, and the anima as the unconscious feminine side of a man, each transcending the personal psyche. Jung's theory states that the anima and animus are the two primary anthropomorphic archetypes of the unconscious mind, as opposed to the theriomorphic and inferior function of the shadow archetypes. He believed they are the abstract symbol sets that formulate the archetype of the Self.  And no, I don't understand it either.  But I. am trying to get in touch with my female side.  Maybe that is being animated.

21. Photographer Goldin: NAN.   Nancy Goldin (born September 12, 1953) is an American photographer and activist. Her work often explores LGBT subcultures, moments of intimacy, the HIV/AIDS crisis, and the opioid epidemic. Her most notable work is The Ballad of Sexual Dependency (1986). The monograph documents the post-Stonewall, gay subculture and includes Goldin's family and friends. She is a founding member of the advocacy group P.A.I.N. (Prescription Addiction Intervention Now). She lives and works in New York City.

22. Provo resident: UTAHN.  People from Utah.

24. Cream ingredient: ALOE.   Aloe vera] is a succulent plant species of the genus Aloe. It is widely distributed, and is considered an invasive species in many world regions.

An evergreen perennial, it originates from the Arabian Peninsula, but grows wild in tropical, semi-tropical, and arid climates around the world. It is cultivated for commercial products, mainly as a topical treatment used over centuries. The species is attractive for decorative purposes, and succeeds indoors as a potted plant.

The leaves of Aloe vera contain significant amounts of the polysaccharide gel acemannan which can be used for a wide range of medical purposes. The skin contains aloin which is toxic. Products made from Aloe vera usually only use the gel.   I certainly hope so.

26. Double __ Oreos: STUF.  Oreo is a sandwich cookie with a sugary filling between two cocoa wafers.  I am not a fan.  The double stud variety has a thicker layer of sugary STUF.  No, thank you.

32. Liberated: FREE.   Showing freedom from social conventions or traditional ideas, especially with regard to sexual roles.

35. Fictional gentleman thief Lupin: ARSENE.   Arsène Lupin is a fictional gentleman thief and master of disguise created in 1905 by French writer Maurice Leblanc. The character was first introduced in a series of short stories serialized in the magazine Je sais tout. The first story, "The Arrest of Arsène Lupin", was published on 15 July 1905. 

36. Brazilian port: RIO.   Rio de Janeiro is a huge seaside city in Brazil, famed for its Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, 38m Christ the Redeemer statue atop Mount Corcovado and for Sugarloaf Mountain, a granite peak with cable cars to its summit. The city is also known for its sprawling favelas (shanty towns). Its raucous Carnaval festival, featuring parade floats, flamboyant costumes and samba dancers, is considered the world’s largest.

Mandatory

37. Locally organized lecture series: TEDX.   TEDx are independent events similar to TED in presentation. They can be organized by anyone who obtains a free license from TED, and agrees to follow certain principles. TEDx events are required to be non-profit, but organizers may use an admission fee or commercial sponsorship to cover costs. Speakers are not paid and must also relinquish the copyrights to their materials, which TED may edit and distribute under a Creative Commons license.   TED Conferences, LLC (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is an American-Canadian non-profit media organization that posts international talks online for free distribution under the slogan "ideas worth spreading"

38. Minor issue: NIT.  A more or less trivial annoyance.

39. Accomplish: ACHIEVE.   Get 'er done!

42. Gather dust: SIT.  Be idle, as of machinery or a work force.

43. Cartoon girl whose best friend is Boots: DORA.  

45. Director Ang: LEE.   Ang Lee OBS [b 1954] is a Taiwanese filmmaker. Born in Pingtung County of southern Taiwan, Lee was educated in Taiwan and later in the United States. As a filmmaker Lee's work is known for its emotional charge and exploration of repressed, hidden emotions.

46. Spanish "precise": EXACTO.  As translated.

48. Sweater spoiler: SNAG.  A small fabric defect caused by threads getting caught on an object.

51. Study feverishly: CRAM.   Study intensively over a short period of time just before an examination.

53. Fish sought by Marlin and Dory: NEMO.

54. Like udon, ramen, and pho: ASIAN.  In various types of Asia cuisine, these are two noodles and a soup.

56. Play a part: ACT.  portray a character in a movie or play.

58. Goads: PRODS.  Provoke or annoys someone)so as to stimulate some action or reaction.

62. Moroccan cap: FEZ.   The fez, also called tarboosh/tarboush, is a felt headdress in the shape of a short cylindrical, truncated hat, usually red, typically with a black tassel attached to the top. The name "fez" refers to the Moroccan city of Fez, where the dye to color the hat was extracted from crimson berries.

Source

66. Issa of "Barbie": RAE.   Jo-Issa Rae Diop [b 1985] credited professionally as Issa Rae, is an American actress, writer, and producer. Rae first garnered attention for her work on the YouTube web series Awkward Black Girl.

67. Trapped: SNARED.  Caught, literally or figuratively.

68. Short letter: NOTE.  A short informal letter or written message.

69. Meditation sounds: OMS.   A mystic syllable, considered the most sacred mantra in Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism. It appears at the beginning and end of most Sanskrit recitations, prayers, and texts.  Not to be confused with the Great God Om from Terry Pratchett's brilliant novel "Small Gods."

70. High-calorie cakes: TORTES.  Rich, usually multilayered, cakes that are filled with whipped cream, buttercreams, mousses, jams, or fruit. Ordinarily, the cooled torte is glazed and garnished. Tortes are commonly baked in a springform pan.

71. Alum: GRAD.  Alumni are former students or graduates of a school, college, or university. The feminine plural alumnae is sometimes used for groups of women. The word is Latin and means "one who is being nourished". The term is not synonymous with "graduate"; one can be an alumnus without graduating.  Have I discovered a nit?

Down:

1. Punjabi prince: RAJA.   RAJA is the name for a monarch — a king or a princely ruler — in historic India. While there are still rajas today, they no longer hold any real power. Through the long history of India, there have been many rajas who ruled over small areas of the continent.

2. Virus check: SCAN.  Look at all parts of (something) carefully in order to detect some feature.

3. "__, vidi, vici": VENI.   "I came; I saw; I conquered" is a Latin phrase used to refer to a swift, conclusive victory. The phrase is popularly attributed to Julius Caesar who, according to Appian,] used the phrase in a letter to the Roman Senate around 47 BC after he had achieved a quick victory in his short war against Pharnaces II of Pontus at the Battle of Zela (modern-day Zile, Turkey).

4. Put together early: PRE-MADE.  Made or assembled in advance.

5. Tech-focused exec: CIO.  Chief Information Officer.

6. Paid for one's sins: ATONED.  Made amends or reparation.

7. Absurdist art movement: DADA.  DADA or Dadaism was an art movement of the European avant-garde in the early 20th century.  Developed in reaction to World War I, the Dada movement consisted of artists who rejected the logic, reason, and aestheticism of modern capitalist society, instead expressing nonsense, irrationality, and anti-bourgeois protest in their works.

8. Joie de vivre: ELAN.   Energy, style, and enthusiasm.

9. "How Long __ Black Future Month?": N.K. Jemisin collection: TIL.   Up to the point in time or the event mentioned; until.

10. Port __: creamy French cheese: SALUT.  Port Salut is a semi-soft pasteurised cow's milk cheese from Pays de la Loire, France, with a distinctive orange rind and a mild flavour. The cheese is produced in wheels approximately 23 cm in diameter, weighing approximately 2 kg. 

11. Taqueria drink with tamarindo and horchata varieties: AGUA FRESCA.  (English: cool waters, lit. 'fresh waters') are light non-alcoholic beverages made from one or more fruits, cereals, flowers, or seeds blended with sugar and water. They are popular in Mexico and some other Latin American countries, as well as parts of the United States such as the Southwest. 

12. Deep cut: GASH.  A long deep slash, cut, or wound.

13. Vulnerable: OPEN.  Allowing access, passage, or a view through an empty space; not closed or blocked up.

18. Lead-bearing ore: GALENA.   The natural mineral form of lead sulfide. It is the most important ore of lead and an important source of silver. Galena is one of the most abundant and widely distributed sulfide minerals. It crystallizes in the cubic crystal system often showing octahedral forms.

23. Feathery cluster: TUFT.    A bunch or collection of threads, grass, hair, etc., held or growing together at the base.

25. Buck: ONE CLAM.  A single U.S. dollar

26. Eastern European language: SLOVENE.  Slovene or Slovenian is a Western member of South Slavic languages, which belong to the Balto-Slavic branch of the Indo-European language family. Most of its 2.5 million speakers are the inhabitants of Slovenia, majority of them ethnic Slovenes.

27. Mascara applicators: WANDS.  In this usage, a slender staff used to apply a substance to a specific location.

28. Film production company named for a constellation: ORION.   Orion Pictures (legal name Orion Releasing, LLC) is an American film production and distribution company currentlyowned by Amazon through its Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) subsidiary.  It was formed in 1978 as a joint venture between Warner Bros. and three former senior executives at United Artists. From its founding until its buyout by MGM in the late 1990s, Orion was considered one of the largest mini-major studios

29. Shuns: OSTRACIZES.   Shuns or excludes from a society or group.

30. Cantilevered window: ORIEL.   A form of bay window which protrudes from the main wall of a building but does not reach to the ground. 

31. Stretch the truth: LIE.  An assertion that is believed to be false, typically used with the purpose of deceiving or misleading someone. 

33. "Downton Abbey" sister: EDITH.

34. Laud: EXTOL.  Praise enthusiastically.

40. "How Stella Got __ Groove Back": HER.   Used as the object of a verb or preposition to refer to a female person or animal previously mentioned or easily identified.   The novel, told in Stella's own exuberant, dead-on, dead honest voice, How Stella Got Her Groove Back is full of Terry McMillan's signature humor, heart, and insight. More than a love story, it is ultimately a novel about how a woman saves her own life—and what she must risk to do it.

41. Not subject to taxes: EXEMPT.   Free from an obligation or liability imposed on others.

44. Taj Mahal city: AGRA.   A city on the banks of the Yamuna river in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, about 230 kilometres south-east of the national capital Delhi and 330 km west of the state capital Lucknow.    The Taj Mahal, built by Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his favourite empress. 

47. Loving lots: ADORING.  Love and respect someone deeply.

50. Main course: ENTREE.  The main course of a meal.

52. Fretful feeling: ANGST.  A feeling of deep anxiety or dread, typically an unfocused one about the human condition or the state of the world in general.

54. Hairstyle for Diana Ross and Bob Ross: AFRO.  A hairstyle, worn predominantly by Black people, in which naturally kinky or tightly curled hair is styled in a rounded shape.

55. Baseball gripping point: SEAM.   A line along which two pieces of fabric are sewn together in a garment or other article.

Sew it seams

56. Not closed all the way: AJAR.   Slightly open.

57. Links transport: CART.   A golf cart.

59. Aroma: ODOR.  Aroma sounds more attractive than smell.

60. Spreadsheet input: DATA.   A collection of discrete or continuous values that convey information, describing the quantity, quality, fact, statistics, other basic units of meaning, or simply sequences of symbols that may be further interpreted formally.

61. Downhill racer: SLED.   A land vehicle that slides across a surface, usually of ice or snow. It is built with either a smooth underside or a separate body supported by two or more smooth, relatively narrow, longitudinal runners similar in principle to skis. This reduces the amount of friction, which helps to carry heavy loads.

64. __, dos, tres: UNO.  Spanish is as easy ONE, two, three.

65. Some internet search results: ADS.  Advertisements for products or services.

OK.  For this Wednesday, that's all.  Hope y'all had a ball, didn't brawl, fall, crawl or hit a wall.

Cool regards!

JzB

L.A. Times Crossword - Wednesday, July 30, 2023 Rebecca Goldstein

Theme: CAFETERIA RUMBLE.  It's all about a lunch time brawl

Let's start with the unifier to make things clear.

62 A. Cafeteria combat epitomized by the actions in 17-, 36-, and 42-Across?: FOOD FIGHT.  This is a presumably not-too serious battle in which food stuffs are used as projectiles.  Serious or not, it's sure to make a mess.

17 A. Condiment often served with egg rolls: DUCK SAUCE.  This is a sweet-sour condiment made from plums or other fruit, with sugar, vinegar, ginger and chili peppers.  Its name may have originated from a similar sauce served with Peking Duck.  Here, though, DUCK is verb meaning to get low and out of the way, as from, perhaps, a thrown [or flying] DUCK.

36 A. Budget beef cuts: CHUCK STEAKS.   Or maybe the flung object could be  a rectangular cut of beef, about 2.5 cm thick and containing parts of the shoulder bones.  It could be CHUCKED, that is to say "thrown" of "heaved" from across the room.  [Such a waste.  Sad.]

42 A. Vegetables that rank high on the Scoville scale: FIRE PEPPERS.  Prairie fire peppers are a type of Capsicum Annuum, the same species that gives us jalapeño and bell peppers. However, unlike those mild peppers, prairie fire peppers are much hotter, with a Scoville heat range from 70,000 to 80,000 SHU. This heat is comparable to spicy Thai peppers, with a fruity flavor that sets them apart from your typical ornamental pepper.   These chilies are nine to thirty-two times hotter than jalapeño peppers.  To FIRE something is to throw or propel it with great force.  If a pepper hits you in the eye, let's hope it is of a mild variety.

Hi Gang, JazzBumpa here to see if we can whip up some culinary delights, and get through the fray without any serious damage - or even a mess to clean up.

1. Arabic for "tower": BURJ.  As much as I like to give constructors a lot of leeway, and hate to start off on a sour note, I consider this entry to classify as a gratuitous obscurity.   Foreign words are, at best, second rate fill; and a word that is likely to be completely unknown to most solvers falls even lower.  Some grace could be given if the perps were easier than normal, but, alas, this is not the case.  Let's move on.

5. Hermana de la madre: TIA.  Your mother's sister is your aunt.  Another foreign word, but this one can be excused, as it's a word you could have encountered in daily life.  Plus, Spanish is a much more familiar language here in the USA.

8. "Skip me": I PASS.   It's my turn, but I don't want it.

13. State with Blue Jackets: OHIO.  The Columbus Blue Jackets are a team in the National Hockey League

14. Like bald tires: WORN.  A tire is WORN when the tread depth is depleted by use.  This can be dangerous, so get a new set.

16. Pastry in a pink box, in Los Angeles: DONUT.  A donut is a type of tire-shaped confection made from leavened fried dough.  No esta bien para los diabéticos.

19. "Drop it!": LET GO.  Either literally release your grip on something, or figuratively stop doing or thinking about something.

20. Extremely steep: SHEER.  Like a mountain cliff.

21. Circle or square: SHAPE.  The external form, contours, or outline of something.

23. Kings, on NBA scoreboards: SAC.  The Sacramento team in the National Basketball Association.

24. Queen Latifah's genre: RAP.  A type of popular music originating among African American communities in which words are recited rapidly and rhythmically over a prerecorded, typically electronic instrumental backing.

26. National Pickleball mo.: APR.  April.

Oh, yeah.. I LOVE this

27. Tined utensil: FORK.  In cutlery or kitchenware, a fork is a utensil, now usually made of metal, whose long handle terminates in a head that branches into several narrow and often slightly curved tines with which one can spear foods either to hold them to cut with a knife or to lift them to the mouth.

28. Loops in discreetly: BCCS.   Tricky clue.  Includes someone in a communication by Blind Copying them, i.e. eliminating their name form the published copy list

31. News letters: UPI.   United Press International, an American international news agency whose newswires, photo, news film, and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations for most of the 20th century.  

33. Works for: EARNS.  Perceives a money payment for labor or services renderd.

35. NPR host Glass: IRA.    Ira Jeffrey Glass is an American public radio personality. He is the host and producer of the radio and television series This American Life and has participated in other NPR programs, including Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and Talk of the Nation.  I can't speak to the condition of his individual retirement account.

39. Cute nickname for a fuzzy pet: FUR BALL.   Self explanatory.

41. Reach new heights?: LEVEL UP.  A phrase from gaming meaning to finish one phase of the game and move on to the next, typically with new powers or abilities.  More generally, to improve one's self or some situation in a meaningful way.

44. "Yo," in Rio: OLA.  I recognize this word as informal greeting in English and Spanish.  The official language of Brazil is Portuguese, so let's assume it works there, as well..

45. Get a feeling: SENSE.  To have a thought about something based on real or imagined indirect clues, rather than factual information.

46. Go "vroom vroom": REV.  Increase the running speed of an engine or the engine speed of a vehicle by pressing the accelerator, especially while the clutch is disengaged.

47. Hideous: UGLY.  Unpleasant, especially in physical appearance.

48. Blow off steam: VENT.  The expression or release of a strong emotion, energy, etc.

49. Animal house?: ZOO.  Unlike the 1978 movie about a group a college misfits, this is a facility in which animals are kept within enclosures for public exhibition, and often bred for conservation purposes.

51. Triage ctrs.: ERS.  Emergency Rooms, hospital departments that provides immediate treatment for acute illnesses and trauma.   Triage is the preliminary assessment of patients or casualties in order to determine the urgency of their need for treatment and the nature of treatment required.

53. Rough calculation, briefly: EST.  Estimate.

54. Burdensome: HEAVY.  Oppressive or overwhelming, as of a task or situation.

56. Website with customizable RSVP options: EVITE.  A social-planning website for creating, sending, and managing online invitations. The website offers digital invitations with RSVP tracking. They also offer greeting cards, announcements, eGift cards, and party planning ideas. 

60. Performance platform: STAGE.  A raised floor or platform, typically in a theater, on which actors, entertainers, or speakers perform.

64. Ski equipment: POLES.   Lightweight slender shafts used in skiing that have a handgrip and usually a wrist strap at one end and an encircling disk set above the point at the other end

65. Inner Hebrides isle: SKYE.  The Isle of Skye, connected to Scotland's northwest coast by bridge, is known for its rugged landscapes, picturesque fishing villages and medieval castles. The largest island in the Inner Hebrides archipelago, it has an indented coastline of peninsulas and narrow lochs, radiating out from a mountainous interior. The town of Portree, a base for exploring the island, features harbourside pubs and boutiques.   MAP.

66. Fly high: SOAR.   As defined.

67. Church nooks: APSES.  Any large semicircular or polygonal recess in a church, arched or with a domed roof, typically at the eastern end, and usually containing the altar.

68. Proterozoic or Hadean: EON.  An indefinite and/or very long period of time.  The Proterozoic Eon, meaning “earlier life,” is the eon of time after the Archean eon and ranges from 2.5 billion years old to 541 million years old. The Hadean Eon, named after the Greek god and ruler of the underworld Hades, is the oldest eon and dates from 4.5–4.0 billion years ago. This time represents Earth's earliest history, during which the planet was characterized by a partially molten surface, volcanism, and asteroid impacts.  Now - don't you suddenly feel young?

69. "Voyage to India" singer India.__: ARIE.  India Arie Simpson [b. 1975] also known as India Arie, is an American singer and songwriter. Her debut album, Acoustic Soul, was released in 2001, and she has since released six more studio albums.   Voyage to India is an album.  You can listen to it here.

Down:

1. Figures, casually: BODS.  This had me thinking of numbers or geometry, but it refers to the shapes of human torsos - bodies, or BODS, informally.

2. "Nope": UH-UH.  Informal negation.

3. Sushi roll ingredient: RICE.  As a cereal grain, domesticated rice is the most widely consumed staple food for over half of the world's human population, particularly in Asia and Africa. It is the agricultural commodity with the third-highest worldwide production, after sugarcane and maize.   A sushi roll is a type of sushi wrapped in seaweed; usually cut into bite-sized pieces.

4. Wild cards?: JOKERS.  A wild card is a playing card that can have any value, suit, color, or other property in a game at the discretion of the player holding it.  The Joker is a playing card found in most modern card decks, as an addition to the standard four suits (Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, and Spades).  it often acts as a wild card, but may have other functions such as the top trump, a skip card (forcing another player to miss a turn), the lowest-ranking card, the highest-value card or a card of a different value from the rest of the pack 

5. JFK hotel named for a defunct airline: TWA.   John F. Kennedy International Airport, colloquially referred to as JFK Airport, Kennedy Airport, New York-JFK, or simply JFK, is the main international airport serving New York City.   TWA is the only on-airport, AirTrain-accessible hotel at JFK  Trans World Airlines [TWA] was a major airline in the United States that operated from 1930 until 2001 when it was acquired by American Airlines. It was formed as Transcontinental & Western Air to operate a route from New York City to Los Angeles via St. Louis, Kansas City, and other stops, with Ford Trimotors. 

6. Chits: IOUS. An IOU (abbreviated from the phrase "I owe you") is usually an informal document acknowledging monitary debt. An IOU differs from a promissory note in that an IOU is not a negotiable instrument and does not specify repayment terms such as the time of repayment. 

7. Ancient: ARCHAIC.  Very old or old-fashioned - of an earlier eon, perhaps.

8. Waste time: IDLE.  This looks like an adjective, but here it's a verb, indicating doing nothing.

9. "The Raven" poet: POE.  Edgar Allan Poe [1809 - 1849] was an American writer, poet, author, editor, and literary critic who is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is widely regarded as a central figure of Romanticism and Gothic fiction in the United States, and of American literature.

10. Celery topped with peanut butter and raisins: ANTS ON A LOG.    A snack made by spreading peanut butter, cream cheese, ricotta cheese, or another spread on celery, pretzels or bananas and placing raisins (diced olives, chocolate chips, etc.) on top. The snack and its name are presumed to be from the 1950s.   The classic peanut butter version of ants on a log is recommended as a healthy snack by the McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

11. Day of the Dead symbol: SUGAR SKULL.   A sugar skull is a type of Calavera [any artistic representation of skulls or skeletons] or a representation of a human skull. These are called sugar skulls since they’re traditionally made of sugar. Today sugar skulls are often made of a variety of things like chocolate, nuts, and other treats. These skulls play a large role in the Day of the Dead. This holiday follows All Saints’ Day, and it’s a way for people to honor their dead. Families flock to gravesites, offering gifts and food for their ancestors. People join together to eat, drink, tell stories, and celebrate the circle of life.

12. Market share?: STOCK.   This is a nice word play and misdirection.  Market share means the portion of a commercial market controlled by a particular company or product.  A stock is a security that represents a fractional ownership in a company. When you buy a company's stock, you're purchasing a small piece of that company, called a share.  Shares of stock are bought and sold on the stock market.  Very tidy.

15. Semimonthly tide: NEAP.   This is a tide just after the first or third quarters of the moon when there is least difference between high and low water.

18. Mexican Mrs.: SRA.   Abbreviation of Señora, a title or form of address used of or to a Spanish-speaking woman, corresponding to Mrs. or madam.

22. Save for later, in a way: PRESERVE.  Assuming this is referring to food stuffs [and why not]  to can, pickle, or similarly prepare for future use.   Otherwise to keep something safe or intact.

25. "Gimme a break": PUH-LEEZE.   Used to express exasperation, protest, or disbelief.

27. Available: FREE.  As a day or time when one has unscheduled time, or unoccupied, as of a rest room.

28. "Back to the Future" bully: BIFF.

29. Port of call: CRUISE STOP.  Scheduled locations for the ship to dock so that passengers can have excursions on the land.  Granddaughter Amanda is on her 3rd cruise ship gig, traveling to stops in Alaska.

30. Wheels away?: CAR RENTALS.  Typically, this would indicate a rapid departure by vehicle.  But "Wheels," as a noun, is an also slang term for a vehicle, usually an automobile.  So  this clue refers to a CAR RENTAL when you are are away from home.  Clever.

32. Juicer discard: PULP.  The stringy fibre or crushed mass which is often removed from fruit juice

34. Dune buggies, e.g.: Abbr.: ATVS.  All Terrain Vehicles.

36. Lids offerings: CAPS. Lids or Hat World, Inc. is an American retailer specializing in athletic headwear. It primarily operates under the Lids brand with stores in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom plus various websites.  I did not know that.

37. Artist whose name is a homophone of a sculpture medium: 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.

38. Fix, as a dog: SPAY.   Sterilize a female animal by removing the ovaries.

40. Dog-eared, say: BENT.   The folded down the corner of a page of a book or magazine, typically to mark a place.  Collectors and librarians hate this.  Cf next entry.

43. Get a rise out of: PROVOKE.  Stimulate or give rise to a reaction or emotion, typically a strong or unwelcome one, in someone.  

47. Document from an Amer. embassy: US VISA.  An endorsement on a passport indicating that the holder is allowed to enter, leave, or stay for a specified period of time in a country, issued by the United States.

48. Milanese moped: VESPA.   Vespa is both Latin and Italian for wasp—derived from the vehicle's body shape: the thicker rear part connected to the front part by a narrow waist, and the steering rod resembled antennae.

50. Bumblers: OAFS.   Stupid, uncultured, or clumsy persons.

52. WNBA official: REF.   Referee - an official who watches a game or match closely to ensure that the rules are adhered to and (in some sports) to arbitrate on matters arising from the play.   Here, one such in the Women's National Basketball Association.  There are also Refs in many other leagues and sports.

54. Collectible toy truck brand: HESS.  Created as a way to provide a fun, high-quality, and affordable toy for families during the holiday season, the first Hess Toy Truck was introduced in 1964. Ever since, the annual release of a new toy truck is a highly anticipated event and a treasured holiday tradition for millions of families.

55. Toy with an Eiffel Tower trick: YO-YO.  A yo-yo (also spelled yoyo) is a toy consisting of an axle connected to two disks, and a string looped around the axle, similar to a spool. It is an ancient toy with proof of existence since 500 BCE.

57. Rangers goalie Shesterkin: IGOR.  Igor Olegovich Shestyorkin (Russian: Игорь Олегович Шестёркин, commonly spelled as Shesterkin; born 30 December 1995) is a Russian professional ice hockey goaltender for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Rangers in the fourth round, 118th overall, of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. In his first 82-game season in 2021–22, Shesterkin won the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender.

58. Pad see ew cuisine: THAI.  Thai cooking places emphasis on lightly prepared dishes with strong aromatic components and a spicy edge. Australian chef David Thompson, an expert on Thai food, observes that unlike many other cuisines, Thai cooking is "about the juggling of disparate elements to create a harmonious finish. Like a complex musical chord it's got to have a smooth surface but it doesn't matter what's happening underneath. Simplicity isn't the dictum here, at all."

59. Raison d'__: ETRE.  The most important reason or purpose for someone or something's existence.

61. "Golly!": GEE.   A multi-purpose room in a home that can be used as a secondary living space, an office, an at-home library, a games room, a kid's playroom, and much more. It can be distinguished from other rooms like the living room and dining room because it functions as a more private and informal space. 

And so we end on that informal note.  I had my not, but despite that blemish this was a good puzzle with a tight theme and some lever clues.  Nope you enjoyed it.

Cool regards!

JzB

L.A. Times Crossword Wednesday, August 16, 2023 MaryEllen Luthlaut

Theme: Right on time.  In the language phrases are repurposed to describe arrivals in a way that relates to the thing that is arriving.   Let's have a look.

20 A. The ice cream truck arrived __: LICKETY SPLIT.  This phrase is of uncertain origin, but its meaning is clear - to achieve something very rapidly.  I'm guessing the relevant ice cream treat is a banana SPLIT. I would more likely LICK a cone, but OK.

33 A. The food truck arrived __: IN SHORT ORDER.  Another phrase that means to do something quickly. In a culinary sense, a SHORT ORDER is a dish which can be prepared and served quickly. So it fits.

42 A. The newspaper delivery van arrived __: WITH DISPATCH.  This phrase means quickly and efficiently.  A DISPATCH is a news report sent by a correspondent, often from a foreign land.  So the connection is perfect.

58 A. The race car arrived __: STRAIGHT AWAY.  This phrase means immediately.  A STRAIGHTAWAY is a straight section of a road or race track.  Another solid connection.

Hi, Gang, JazzBumpa here to register all these timely arrivals.  The levels of meaning here are impressive. Let's see what it takes to arrive at the end of this puzzle.

Across:

1. Pub hardware: TAPS.  A device to control the flow of liquid from a container.

5. Rotisserie rods: SPITS.  Thin pointed rods for holding meat over a fire. 

10. Peace and quiet: CALM.  A placid state, not showing anxiety or strong emotion.

14. Gaelic tongue: ERSE.  The Scottish or Irish Gaelic language.

15. Forearm bones: ULNAE.   The thinner and longer of the two bones in the human forearm, on the side opposite to the thumb.

16. Little of this, little of that: OLIO.   A miscellaneous collection of things.

17. Eyelid affliction: STYE.   An inflamed swelling on the edge of an eyelid, caused by bacterial infection of the gland at the base of an eyelash.

18. Former first lady Bush: LAURA.  Laura Lane Bush [b. 1946] is the wife of former President George W. Bush and was the first lady of the United States from 2001 to 2009. Bush previously served as the first lady of Texas from 1995 to 2000. She is also the daughter-in-law of former president George H. W. Bush.

19. Voice above tenor: ALTO.  In typical 4 voice harmony, the alto is the voice pitched below soprano, and above tenor and bass

23. Firepit residue: ASH. The solid residue left when combustible material is thoroughly burned 

24. Stop on the way home?: BASE.  In the game of baseball, a run is scored by progression from home plate, though 1st, 2nd, and 3rd base, and back to home late again.  I love this clever clue.

25. State strongly: ASSERT. State a fact or belief confidently and forcefully.  See my previous sentence.

29. Squish: STEP ON.  Specifically on something soft and -- well - squishy, so as to make a soft, squelching sound.

31. Echidna snack: ANT.   Echidnas, sometimes known as spiny anteaters, are quill-covered monotremes (egg-laying mammals) belonging to the family Tachyglossidae. The four extant species of echidnas and the platypus are the only living mammals that lay eggs and the only surviving members of the order Monotremata. The diet of some species consists of ants and termites, but they are not closely related to the true anteaters of the Americas, which (along with sloths and armadillos) are xenarthrans. Echidnas live in Australia and New Guinea.

32. Cultural org. with annual Jazz Master Fellowships: NEA.  The National Education Association is the largest labor union in the United States. It represents public school teachers and other support personnel, faculty and staffers at colleges and universities, retired educators, and college students preparing to become teachers.

37. Not ajar: SHUT.   Closed tight, as a door.

40. Chest-beating beast: APE.  Old World simians native to sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.  Unlike. monkeys, Apes do not have tails due to a mutation of the TBXT gene. 

41. Meat inspector's org.: USDA.   The United States Department of Agriculture is the federal executive department responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, and food

47. Part of IPA: ALE.   Ale is a type of beer brewed using a warm fermentation method, resulting in a sweet, full-bodied and fruity taste. Historically, the term referred to a drink brewed without hops. As with most beers, ale typically has a bittering agent to balance the malt and act as a preservative.

48. Baseball official: UMP.  Short for umpire.

49. Listening aid: EAR BUD.   A very small headphone, worn inside the ear.

53. Girl with a missing flock: BO PEEP.   The original story is about a little shepherdess who loses her sheep. Her name may have come from a 16th-century children's peek-a-boo game in England known as “Bo-Peep.” 

55. Alternative to fries: TOTS.  Potato products. 

57. Make a mistake: ERR.  Be mistaken or incorrect; make a mistake.  Hey - it's only human.

61. Seats for the congregation: PEWS.   A long bench with a back, placed in rows in the main part of some churches to seat the congregation.

64. Get around: EVADE.  Escape or avoid, especially by cleverness or trickery.

65. Round of applause: HAND.  Informal usage of the word.

66. Diva's solo: ARIA.   A self-contained piece for one voice, with or without instrumental or orchestral accompaniment, normally part of a larger work. 

67. More resentful: SORER.  Angrier.  A clumsy word that you're unlikely to encounter in conversation.

68. Lakefront city between Cleveland and Buffalo: ERIE.  Erie [population ca. 94000] is a city in Pennsylvania, on Lake Erie. Presque Isle State Park, a peninsula with beaches and trails, curves around Presque Isle Bay. Nearby, Waldameer Park & Water World has roller coasters and waterslides. The Erie Maritime Museum traces the history of Lake Erie and is the home port of the US Brig Niagara, an updated 19th-century ship. 

69. Oodles: MANY.  A whole big bunch.

70. Slim-necked swimmers: SWANS.   Swans are birds of the family Anatidae within the genus Cygnus. The swans' closest relatives include the geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. 

Wikipedia

71. Cruel: MEAN.  Unkind, spiteful or aggressive in behavior.

Down:

1. Some electric cars: TESLAS.   Tesla, Inc. is an American multinational automotive and clean energy company headquartered in Austin, Texas. Tesla designs and manufactures electric vehicles, stationary battery energy storage devices from home to grid-scale, solar panels and solar roof tiles, and related products and services.

2. Skillful one: ARTIST.   A person skilled at a particular task or occupation.

3. Maiden loved by Cupid: PSYCHE.   the Greek goddess of the soul and often represented as a beautiful woman with butterfly wings. The name Psyche means "soul" in Greek.   She was born a mortal woman eventually granted immortality, with beauty that rivaled even Aphrodite, goddess of love.

4. Aim (to): SEEK.   Attempt or desire to obtain or achieve something.

5. Ottoman rulers: SULTANS.   A position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun sulṭah, meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who claimed almost full sovereignty (i.e., not having dependence on any higher ruler) without claiming the overall caliphate, or to refer to a powerful governor of a province within the caliphate.

6. Stage performances: PLAYS.   Examples of a type of literary work that is designed for performance in a theater in front of an audience. A play is composed of dialogue between various characters and divided into acts and scenes to increase the dramatic effect. 

7. Not vacant: IN USE.  As, for example, a public rest room.

8. Weatherproof canvas: TARP.    A large sheet of strong, flexible, water-resistant or waterproof material, often cloth such as canvas or polyester coated with polyurethane, or made of plastics such as polyethylene.

9. Weatherproofing application: SEALANT.  Sealant is a substance used to block the passage of fluids through openings in materials, a type of mechanical seal. In building construction sealant is sometimes synonymous with caulk and also serve the purposes of blocking dust, sound and heat transmission. 

10. Layers: COATS.  Plies or applications of material to cover an object.

11. 100%: ALL.  Completely.

12. On: LIT.   Powered, as a light bulb.

13. Cow sound: MOO.  The deep vocal utterance of a bovine.

21. Jet, in poems: EBON.  Deep black.

22. Analogy phrase: IS TO.  A way of indicating a relational comparison.   A is to B as X is to Y 

26. Halts: ENDS.  Comes to a conclusion.

27. Marsh plant: REED.  Any of the tall, grass-like plants of wet places. They occur in reed beds. Reeds are many polyphyletic species, which have all adapted to this wet habitat by convergent evolution. It is a "form" name, not a technical botanical term.

28. Voice actress Strong: TARA.  Tara Lyn Strong [b. 1973] is a Canadian-American actress. She is known for her voice work in animation, websites, and video games.

30. __ helmet: safari accessory: PITH.  A lightweight cloth-covered helmet made of sholapith. The pith helmet originates from the Spanish military adaptation of the native salakot headgear of the Philippines.  Sholapith is dried milky-white spongey plant matter from Aeschynomene species.

31. Sphere: AREA.  An area of activity, interest, or expertise; a section of society or an aspect of life distinguished and unified by a particular characteristic.

34. Trunk hardware: HASP.  A slotted hinged metal plate that forms part of a fastening for a door or lid and is fitted over a metal loop and secured by a pin or padlock.

35. Like up and down: Abbr.: OPP.  Opposites.  

36. German mining region: RUHR.   A polycentric urban area in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. With a population density of 2,800/km² and a population of over 5 million, it is the largest urban area in Germany.

37. Forensic evidence collector: SWAB.   An absorbent pad or piece of material, often on a stick or rod, used in surgery and medicine for cleaning wounds and skin, applying medication, or taking specimens.

38. Largest city on Hawaii's largest island: HILO.  Hilo is on the Island of Hawaii.  The devastating wild fires on on the Island of Maui, to the north-west.   [Map]

39. Sch. near the Rio Grande: UTEP.   University of Texas at El Paso.

43. Composition for two: DUET.  A piece of music performed by two singers or instrumentalists.

44. Dazzle: IMPRESS.  Baffle them with your awesomeness.  

45. Ties in place: TETHERS.  Physically connects something to something. 

46. Slight coloring: CAST.   Tint, hue.

50. Ides of March word: BEWARE.   A cautionary admonition.  From an old PLAY.
  
51. Muse of astronomy: URANIA.   Meaning "heavenly" or "of heaven," she was, in Greek mythology, the muse of astronomy and astrology. Urania is the goddess of astronomy and stars, her attributes being the globe and compass.

52. England's first poet laureate: DRYDEN.  John Dryden [1631 - 1700] was an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who in 1668 was appointed England's first Poet Laureate. He is seen as dominating the literary life of Restoration England to such a point that the period came to be known in literary circles as the Age of Dryden.

54. Composition: ESSAY.   An essay is, generally, a piece of writing that gives the author's own argument, but the definition is vague, overlapping with those of a letter, a paper, an article, a pamphlet, and a short story. 

55. Headpiece worn by kid-lit's Fancy Nancy: TIARA.  Fancy Nancy is a 2005 children's picture book series written by Jane O'Connor and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser. Its first book entry spent nearly 100 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list, resulting in the launch of a series that now spawns over 100 titles, with sales of more than 50 million volumes.   A tiara (from Latin: tiara, from Ancient Greek: τιάρα) is a jeweled head ornament. Its origins date back to ancient Greece and Rome. In the late 18th century, the tiara came into fashion in Europe as a prestigious piece of jewelry to be worn by women at formal occasions. 

Wikipedia

56. City near the Great Salt Lake: OGDEN.   Ogden [population 87000] is a city north of Salt Lake City, in Utah. It’s a gateway to ski resorts like Snowbasin, Powder Mountain and Nordic Valley. George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park features life-size models and a paleontology lab. Historic 25th Street, once home to Prohibition-era speakeasies, is now a shopping and dining hub. 

59. Admit frankly: AVOW.   Assert, declare, affirm, protest, avow mean to state positively usually in anticipation of denial or objection

60. "Can I get a word in?": AHEM.  Used to represent the noise made when clearing the throat, typically to attract attention or express disapproval or embarrassment.  "Ahem, excuse me . . ."

61. "The Office" role for Jenna: PAM.   Regina Marie "Jenna" Fischer [b. 1974] is an American actress best known for her portrayal of Pam Beesly on the NBC sitcom The Office, for which she was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2007. She was also a producer for the show's final season.

62. Notable period: ERA.  A long and distinct period of history with a particular feature or characteristic.

63. Finish first: WIN.   Be victorious at the end of a contest or campaign.

OK, Gang.  We made to the end.  Hope you all got a win.  Happy Wednesday.

Cool regards!

JzB

L. A. Times Crossword Wednesday, July 12, 2023 Alan Massengill and Doug Peterson

Theme:  How Did We Get Here?  [We went for a ride.]. This is a hidden word theme, where a common mode of transportation spans between words in a 2 or 3 word theme fill.

7 A. *Barbie-inspired doll on "The Simpsons": MALIBU STACY.  This is the most popular doll in Springfield.  You can read about it here.   She arrived in this puzzle by BUS.

31 A. *"OK, gotta go!": WELL I'M OUT.  Announcing one's departure - in this case via a LIMO.  Maybe Stacy will go along for the ride.

Ridin' in Style

36 A. *Free baseball, so to speak: EXTRA INNINGS.  There's no extra charge when the game is tied after nine innings, and the spectators get to stay and watch the rest of the excitement.  If it's a home game in Chicago, you can leave afterward on a TRAIN.

On the Right Track

46 A. *Limb for Jaime Sommers or Steve Austin: BIONIC ARM.  Fictional characters from the two TV series The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman.  Each of them was seriously injured in separate accidents, and had body parts replaced with artificial components, giving them super-human abilities.  A CAR is a common means of transportation, even for us ordinary people. 

62 A. Service offered by 18-Down, and what's happening in the answers to the starred clues: RIDE SHARING.   A company that, via websites and mobile apps, matches passengers with drivers of vehicles for hire that, unlike taxicabs, cannot legally be hailed from the street.  Here, the theme fill surround the various vehicles that share their letters with the finished answer,

Hi Gang.  JazzBumpa here to direct today's traffic.  In this puzzle we have to find different way to get from point A to point B.  Let's see if we can do it without any accidents or unnecessary delays.  Start your engines!

Across

1. Donation sticker words: I GAVE.  

6. Unskilled in: BAD AT.  

11. "Have we __?": MET.  Suspicious kind of greeting.

14. Thread holder: SPOOL.   A cylindrical device which has a rim or ridge at each end and an axial hole for a pin or spindle and on which material (such as thread, wire, or tape) is wound. 

15. Upscale Honda brand: ACURA.

16. Passed-down tales: LORE.  A body of traditions and knowledge on a subject or held by a particular group, typically passed from person to person by word of mouth.

19. Surface measure: AREA.  As defined.

20. __ fever: CABIN.  Irritability, listlessness, and similar symptoms resulting from long confinement or isolation indoors during the winter.

21. Many a Henry James heroine: HEIRESS.   A woman who is legally entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death.  James is best known for his novels dealing with the social and marital interplay between émigré Americans, the English, and continental Europeans.  He also wrote ghost stories.

23. Spice in pumpkin spice, often: MACE.   Mace is a yellowish-brown spice that is derived from the dried lacy coating of the nutmeg seed. 

26. Field for a 23-Down: ECON. Economics - the branch of knowledge concerned with the production, consumption, and transfer of wealth.

28. "Purgatorio" poet: DANTE.  Dante Alighieri  (c. 1265 – 1321) was an Italian poet, writer and philosopher. His Divine Comedy is widely considered one of the most important poems of the Middle Ages and the greatest literary work in the Italian language.

29. Justin from Canada: BIEBER.  Justin Drew Bieber [b.1994] is a Canadian singer. He is recognized for his genre-melding musicianship and global influence in modern-day popular music.  His personal life has been --- complicated.

34. Supplement: ADD ON.   Include something as an additional element.

35. Pundit piece: OP-ED.  Denoting or printed on the page opposite the editorial page in a newspaper, devoted to commentary, feature articles, etc.

42. "If it __ broke ... ": AIN'T.  Multi-purpose contraction of am not, is not, are not, has not, or have not. Meanwhile, if something is reasonably successful or effective, there is no need to change or replace it.

43. Hall's Hall of Fame partner: OATES.   Daryl Hall and John Oates are an American pop rock duo formed in Philadelphia in 1970. Daryl Hall is generally the lead vocalist; John Oates primarily plays electric guitar and provides backing vocals. The two write most of the songs they perform, separately or in collaboration.  They have a pile of gold and platinum albums.  I was never a fan.

51. Gospel writer enshrined in a Venice basilica: ST. MARK.  The ascribed writer of the oldest of the four canonic New Testament gospels.  Modern scholarship suggests that the gospels were written anonymously, and that supposed authors names were added in the 2nd century.

52. Metallica's "__ It Sleeps": UNTIL.  This is the lead single from their 6th studio album "LOAD," from 1996, and they're only single to reach the top 10 in America.

You are not obligated to watch this

53. Startled cry: YIPE.  On of many possibilities.

55. Actress Turley of "Mad Men": MYRA.  Myra Turley [b. 1947] is an American film and television actress, best known as Dale in the 1995 sitcom Muscle, and as Madeline Evelley in Clint Eastwood's Flags of Our Fathers.

56. Drops by: STOPS IN.  Makes an unannounced visit.

59. One more than tri-: TETRA.  Prefixes indication three and four.

61. Basketball target: HOOP.  An 18 inch diameter circle through which the players attempt to shoot a 9.4 inch diameter ball.

67. Cagey: WILY.  Skilled at gaining an advantage, especially deceitfully.

68. Motionless: INERT.  Lacking the ability to move.

69. Bit part: CAMEO.   A small role (as in a movie) usually performed by a well-known actor

70. Consumed: ATE.  Ingested.

71. Last word: SAY SO.  The power or act of deciding or allowing something.

72. Japanese city that's home to Nijo Castle: KYOTO.     The castle consists of two concentric rings (Kuruwa) of fortifications, the Ninomaru Palace, the ruins of the Honmaru Palace, various support buildings and several gardens. The surface area of the castle is 275,000 square metres (27.5 ha; 68 acres), of which 8,000 square metres (86,000 sq ft) is occupied by buildings.   Kyoto, once the capital of Japan, is a city on the island of Honshu. It's famous for its numerous classical Buddhist temples, as well as gardens, imperial palaces, Shinto shrines and traditional wooden houses.

Down:

1. Belief system: -ISM.   A suffix appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it was used to form action nouns from verbs (baptism); on this model, used as a productive suffix in the formation of nouns denoting action or practice, state or condition, principles, doctrines, a usage or characteristic, devotion or adherence, etc.

2. Dean's list fig.: GPA.  Grade Point Average.

3. Web pioneer: AOL.   America On Line   An American web portal and online service provider based in New York City. It is a brand marketed by the current incarnation of Yahoo! Inc.   It was founded in 1985.

4. Larynx: VOICE BOX.   The hollow muscular organ forming an air passage to the lungs and holding the vocal cords in humans and other mammals;

5. Idris of "The Suicide Squad": ELBA.  Idrissa Akuna Elba OBE [b. 1972] is an English actor and DJ. An alumnus of the National Youth Music Theatre in London, he is known for roles including Stringer Bell in the HBO series The Wire, DCI John Luther in the BBC One series Luther, and Nelson Mandela in the biographical film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.   OBE is an award given in the UK for a special achievement.

6. Bare-bones: BASIC.   Reduced to or comprising only the unadorned or essential elements of something.

7. "Don't delay!": ACT NOW.  Snooze and you lose.

8. "Levitating" singer __ Lipa: DUA.   Dua Lipa (b. 1995) is an English and Albanian singer and songwriter. Her mezzo-soprano vocal range and disco-influenced production have received critical acclaim and media coverage. She has received numerous accolades throughout her career, including six Brit Awards, three Grammy Awards, two MTV Europe Music Awards, an MTV Video Music Award, two Billboard Music Awards, an American Music Award, and two Guinness World Records. She was included on the Time 100 Next list in 2021.

MEH!

9. Structure stabilized by a keystone: ARCH.   A curved symmetrical structure spanning an opening and typically supporting the weight of a bridge, roof, or wall above it.  A keystone is the wedge-shaped piece at the crown of an arch that locks the other pieces in place.

 Support from above

10. Actor Diggs: TAYE.  Scott Leo "Taye" Diggs [1971] is an American actor. He is known for his roles in the Broadway musicals Rent and Hedwig and the Angry Inch, the TV series Private Practice, Murder in the First, and All American

11. EGOT winner Rita: MORENO.   Rita Moreno [b. 1931] is a Puerto Rican actress, dancer, and singer. She is noted for her work on stage and screen in a career spanning over seven decades. Moreno is one of the last remaining stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood.

12. 1974 hit with Spanish lyrics: ERES TU.  "Eres tú" (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈeɾes ˈtu]; "You Are") is a popular Spanish language song written in 1973 by Juan Carlos Calderón and performed by the Spanish band Mocedades, with Amaya Uranga performing the lead vocal.

13. Social service?: TEA SET.  Also called a TEA SERVICE, this is a set of matching tea pot, cups, saucers, along with cream and sugar containers, often made of fine china.  I can be used at a social event.  

16. Any Super Bowl LVI-winning player: L. A. RAM.  Super Bowl LVI was an American football game played on Feb.13, 2022,  to determine the champion of the National Football League for the 2021 season. The National Football Conference champion Los Angeles Rams defeated the American Football Conference champion Cincinnati Bengals, 23–20.

18. Lyft competitor: UBER.  These are companies that offer app based ride sharing opportunities, and other transportation services.

22. Emphatic denial: I DID NOT.  And I really mean it!

23. Degree for future execs: MBA.  Master of Business Administration.  I have one, but was never an exec.

24. Succor: AID.   Assistance and support in times of hardship and distress.

25. Formally surrender: CEDE.  Give up (power or territory).

27. Like some vivid colors: NEON.   Neon colors are just bright types of primary and secondary colors, such as green, yellow, red, blue, and purple. Neon colors stand apart from conventional colors since they absorb and reflect more light.

30. Necessitates: ENTAILS.  Involves (something) as a necessary or inevitable part or consequence.

32. Hosp. worker: LPN.  Licensed Practical Nurse.

33. Tropical garland: LEI.    A circle of flowers that is worn around the neck in Polynesia. 

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

38. Actress de Armas: ANA.  Ana Celia de Armas Caso [b. 1988] is a Cuban and Spanish actress. She began her career in Cuba with a leading role in the romantic drama Una rosa de Francia. At the age of 18, she moved to Madrid, Spain, and starred in the popular drama El Internado for six seasons from 2007 to 2010

39. Humble self-appraisal: I TRY.   But -- do I succeed?

40. Radioactive emission: GAMMA RAY.  A gamma ray, also known as gamma radiation, is a penetrating form of electromagnetic radiation arising from the radioactive decay of atomic nuclei. It consists of the shortest wavelength electromagnetic waves, typically shorter than those of X-rays. 

41. Lisa Loeb's biggest hit: STAY.  Lisa Loeb [b. 1968] is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author and actress. She started her career with the number one hit song "Stay" from the film Reality Bites, the first number one single for an artist without a recording contract.

44. Miscalculate: ERR.  Make a mistake.

45. Calypso-influenced genre: SKA.   A music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. It combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues. Ska is characterized by a walking bass line accented with rhythms on the off beat.

46. Malarkey: BUSHWA.   Nonsense.

47. Really pumped: IN TO IT.   Highly enthused about something.

48. "Lawrence of Arabia" star: O'TOOLE.   Peter Seamus O'Toole [1932 - 2013]. was a British stage and film actor. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and began working in the theatre, gaining recognition as a Shakespearean actor at the Bristol Old Vic and with the English Stage Company.

49. Kinda chilly: NIPPY.  That's cool.

50. Angled joints: MITERS.   A joint made between two pieces of wood or other material at an angle of 90°, such that the line of junction bisects this angle.

51. "Late Night" host after Jimmy: SETH.  Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers.

54. Gnocchi sauce: PESTO.  A sauce that traditionally consists of crushed garlic, European pine nuts, coarse salt, basil leaves, and hard cheese such as Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino Sardo, all blended with olive oil. It originated in Genoa, the capital city of Liguria, Italy.

57. Crocus kin: IRIS.   A flowering plant genus of 310 accepted species with showy flowers. As well as being the scientific name, iris is also widely used as a common name for all Iris species, as well as some belonging to other closely related genera. 

58. Designer Ricci: NINA.  Nina Ricci [1883 - 1970], born Maria Nielli in Turin, was an Italian-born French fashion designer. She moved to France at the age of 12. At the age of 13, she began an apprenticeship at a dressmaker's. In 1904, she married Luigi Ricci. They had one child, 

60. Ribs order: RACK.   A rack of ribs will have a minimum of 8 ribs, but can also include up to 13 depending on the butcher and how it was prepared. Butchers will call it a “cheater rack” if it contains less than 10 ribs.

63. TV actress Susan: DEY.   Susan Hallock Dey [b. 1952] is a retired American actress, known for her television roles as Laurie Partridge on the sitcom The Partridge Family from 1970 to 1974, and as Grace Van Owen on the drama series L.A. Law from 1986 to 1992.

64. Brief "As I see things": IMO.  In My Opinion.

65. Accounting figure: NET.   The amount that's left over after you deduct expenses, taxes, and other liabilities (sums you have to pay). Your net amount is the lowest number you can get, meaning you only reach your net point once you've subtracted everything you need to dedicate money to.

66. Gloppy stuff: GOO.  A sticky or slimy substance.

So, on that rather unpleasant not, we bring another Wednesday to a close.  But we covered a lot of territory, and I hope you enjoyed the rest of the excursion.

Cool regards!

JzB