L.A. Times Crossword Wednesday, October 23, 2024 Laura Dershewitz

Theme:  You're putting me on.  And me, too; where, as we shall soon see, one garment is worn over another garment. 

17 A. Put in the fridge to warm up: DEFROSTED, as from the freezer,  and --
20 A. Common laundry no-show: SOCK,  a piece of clothing worn on the foot and often covering the ankle or some part of the calf.   Sometimes lost in the wash.

But the target word here is FROCK,  an unfitted, comfortable garment for wear in the house, or (later) a light overdress worn with a slip or underdress. 

19 A. Bistros: CAFES for casual dining, and --

23 A. Lose on purpose: TANK, make no effort to win.

Here we are looking for a CAFTAN,  often worn as a coat or as an overdress, usually having long sleeves and reaching to the ankles.

56 A. Legendary Arthur: ASHE.  Arthur Robert Ashe Jr. [1943-1993] was an American professional tennis player. He won three Grand Slam titles in singles and two in doubles. Ashe was the first black player selected to the United States Davis Cup team, and the only black man ever to win the singles titles at Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open, and --

62 A. Shrubby landscape: HEATH,  an area of open uncultivated land, especially in Britain, with characteristic vegetation of heather, gorse, and coarse grasses.

This item is a SHEATH.  Sheath dresses fit tightly from bodice to hem, and emphasize the shape of an hourglass figure, while shift dresses [vide infra] are shapeless and conceal the body shape.

61 A. Like Puss in Boots: SHOD, wearing shoes, and --

64 A. Delivered by plane, as emergency supplies: AIRLIFTED, as defined.

 A SHIFT is a dress in which the cloth falls straight from the shoulders and has darts around the bust. It frequently features a high scoop or boat neck. 

And the unifier - 39 A. Autumn-weather advice for staying comfortable, or a description of each set of circled letters: DRESS IN LAYERS.  Perhaps wear an undershirt, overshirt, sweater and jacket.  If you get too warm, you can remove a layer. 

 Or just don one of the layerable garments described above.  I suppose for some of these, the layering is implied, or even optional.  But we'll just let that go.

Hi, Gang, it's JazzBumpa here in the dressing room.  Since the theme clues each span a pair of across lines, I had to layer these clues to dress this puzzle up properly.  Hope you got the circles, or this material would be hard to see through.  Let's find out what other fashions Laura has designed for us

Across:

1. Pre-weekend shout: TGIF.  Thank [Deity of your choice] it's Friday.

5. Spot for a hoop: LOBE.  Ear ring location

9. Subsided: EBBED.   Receded or declined.

14. Pro __: gratis: BONO.   Pro bono is a Latin phrase that means "for the public good" and refers to professional work done voluntarily and without payment.

15. Unanswered, as a question: OPEN.   Refers to a matter or problem that is being discussed but to which the answer is not yet known.

16. Eternal City fountain: TREVI.  The Trevi Fountain is an 18th-century fountain in the Trevi district in Rome, Italy, designed by Italian architect Nicola Salvi and completed by Giuseppe Pannini in 1762.

A Guide to the Fountain

21. Puny pencil: STUB.  Writing remnant.

24. Word with green or silver: SCREEN.  A green screen is a large green backdrop that makes it possible to add any background to the subject of your photo or video.  Cf 10 D. "Silver screen" is a term that refers to the movie industry or to a type of projection screen used in early film:

26. Hall of Fame coach Summitt: PAT.   Patricia Susan Summitt was an American women's college basketball head coach and college basketball player. As a coach at the University of Tennessee, she acquired 1,098 career wins, the most in college basketball history at the time of her retirement.

28. Part of 1-Across: IT'S.   It is.  But, alas,  now it's only Wednesday.  And I have 2 [!] rehearsals tonight.

29. Fluffy dog, familiarly: POM.  The Pomeranian is a breed of dog of the Spitz type that is named for the Pomerania region in north-west Poland and north-east Germany in Central Europe. Classed as a toy dog breed because of its small size, the Pomeranian is descended from larger Spitz-type dogs, specifically the German Spitz.

30. Stag or doe: DEER.   A deer or true deer is a hoofed ruminant ungulate of the family Cervidae. Cervidae is divided into subfamilies Cervinae and Capreolinae. Male deer of almost all species, as well as female reindeer, grow and shed new antlers each year.

33. Burns a bit: CHARS.   Partially burn an object so as to blacken its surface.

35. Rode an enchanted broomstick, maybe: FLEW.  Move or be hurled quickly through the air, no matter witch way.

37. Tow truck: WRECKER.  Slangy mis-application of the word.

43. "Soup's on!": LET'S EAT.  It's meal time. 

44. Scene scenes: SETS.   Arrangements of props and other background items in a segment of a movie or play.

46. D.C. subway: METRO.   Rapid transit or mass rapid transit (MRT) or heavy rail, commonly referred to as metro, is a type of high-capacity public transport that is generally built in urban areas. 

48. "Remixing Since Forever" ice cream brand: EDY'S.   Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, Inc., is an American ice cream company, founded in 1928 in Oakland, California. The company's two signature brands, Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream and Edy's Grand Ice Cream, are named after its founders, William Dreyer and Joseph Edy

50. Blubber: CRY.  Weep, sob.

51. Student carrier: BUS.  A large motor vehicle carrying passengers by road, typically one serving the public on a fixed route and for a fare.

52. French pal: AMI.  Literal

54. Garlicky sauces: AIOLIS.  A mayonnaise flavored with garlic and sometimes other ingredients, such as red pepper.

58. First name in jazz: ETTA.   Jamesetta Hawkins [1938-2012] known professionally as Etta James, was an American singer and songwriter who performed in various genres, including gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, rock and roll, and soul.

67. Luminous vibes: AURAE.  In spiritualism and some forms of alternative medicine, a supposed emanation surrounding the body of a living creature and regarded as an essential part of the individual.

68. "U slay me!": LMAO.  Laughing My Appendages* Off.  
* So to speak.

69. "Actually, I disagree": UH--NO.  Nope!

70. Hint at: IMPLY.  Strongly suggest the truth or existence of something not expressly stated.

71. Site built with two cents?: YELP.   Yelp Inc. is an American company that develops the Yelp.com website and the Yelp mobile app, which publishes crowd-sourced reviews about businesses. It also operates Yelp Guest Manager, a table reservation service. It is headquartered in San Francisco.  Unless the clue is referring to users putting in their 2 cents worth, I don't know what it means.

72. Ping-Pong table dividers: NETS.  A six inch high mesh barrier that separates a ping pong table into two equal halves: 

Down:

1. Sked abbr.: TBD.  To be determined, referring to an item in a schedule,

2. Offers no more clues, as a trail: GOES COLD.  Becomes ineffective or unproductive,

3. Snitch: INFORMER.  A person who informs on another person to the police or other authority.  Tattle tale.

4. Compel: FORCE.  Oblige someone to do something, regardless of their willingness.

5. __ Angeles Sparks: LOS.   The Los Angeles Sparks are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Sparks compete in the Women's National Basketball Association as a member club of the league's Western Conference. The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began. 

6. Declines, with "out": OPTS.  Chooses not to participate in something.

7. Vegetable used in some red dyes: BEET.    The edible dark red spherical root of a a herbaceous plant, eaten as a vegetable.

8. Become, eventually: END UP.   To reach or come to a place, condition, or situation that was not planned or expected.

9. "And more" abbr.: ETC.  Abbreviation for et cetera: and other similar things. It is used to avoid giving a complete list.

10. 2024 Charli XCX hit album whose cover became a meme: BRAT.    Charlotte Emma Aitchison [b. 1992] known professionally as Charli XCX, is an English singer and songwriter. Born in Cambridge and raised in Start Hill, Essex, she began posting songs on Myspace in 2008, which led to her discovery by a promoter who invited her to perform at warehouse raves.   Charli XCX "Brat" Cover Parodies refers to exploitable edits of English singer and songwriter Charli XCX's sixth studio album cover, known as brat. The cover features a vibrant lime-green background with the title "brat" disproportionately imposed on it, which received some criticism in February 2024 but was later turned into a source for green-screen edits and memes, as the cover could be easily photoshopped and parodied on social media by fans of the singer and also several companies, especially in Brazil.

Full Album

11. "No playing favorites!": BE FAIR.  Impartial and just, without favoritism or discrimination.

12. Happenings: EVENTS.  Planned public or social occasions.

13. Hockey pucks, e.g.: DISKS. Flat, thin, round objects.

18. Approved: OKED.  As defined

22. "Likewise," informally: BACK AT YA.    Whatever you just said to the person saying it, that person is saying the same thing back to you.

24. Letters on a Coppertone bottle: SPF.  Solar Protection Factor.  A sunscreen’s SPF is a measure of how many harmful ultraviolet rays it absorbs or reflects away from your skin.  Must be reapplied ever couple of hours.

25. "I had no idea!": NEWS TO ME.  Said of newly received knowledge.

27. Nonbinary pronoun: THEY.   Non-binary pronouns are pronouns that are not gender specific and are often used by people who identify outside of the gender binary. The most common non-binary pronouns are "they/them/their". 

31. Greek goddess of discord: ERIS.   Eris is the goddess of strife, discord, and rivalry. She is known for starting the Trojan War by throwing a golden apple inscribed "For the most beautiful" among the guests at the wedding of Peleus and Thetis. Eris was not invited to the wedding, and her actions led to a quarrel among the goddesses. Her Roman equivalent is Discordia.

32. Soprano Fleming: RENEE.  Renée Lynn Fleming [b. 1959] is an American soprano and actress, known for performances in opera, concerts, recordings, theater, film, and at major public occasions. A recipient of the National Medal of Arts, Fleming has been nominated for 18 Grammy Awards and has won five times. 

34. Greek god of war: ARES.   Ares was the ancient Greek god of war or, more properly, the spirit of battle. He represented the distasteful aspects of brutal warfare and slaughter. Ares was never very popular, and his worship was not extensive in Greece.

36. Allergic reaction, perhaps: WELT.   A raised red mark on the skin where something has hit or rubbed you, or from an allergic reaction.

38. Not naked: CLAD.  Clothed or covered.  Cf 41 A/

40. Lab liquids: SERA.    Liquids that are injected into someone's blood to protect them against a poison or disease, or the the watery, pale yellow part of blood.

41. Provide with a wardrobe change: RECLOTHE.  Provide a change of clothing.

42. Loud and grating: STRIDENT.  Said of a harsh voice or sound.

45. Pt. of GPS: SYStem.  

46. Art house?: MUSEUM.  Typically, a movie theater that specializes in films that are artistic or experimental rather than merely entertaining.  But here - a more literal meaning of a building that houses works of art.

47. F equivalent, in music: E SHARP.  Note that are spelt differently, but sound the same are known as enharmonic equivalents.  

49. "Absolutamente!": SI,SI.  Enthusiastic affirmation.

51. Faith whose oldest standing temple is in Wilmette, Illinois: BAHAI.   A monotheistic religion founded in the 19th century as a development of Babism, emphasizing the essential oneness of humankind and of all religions and seeking world peace. The Baha'i faith was founded by the Persian Baha'ullah (1817–92) and his son Abdul Baha (1844–1921).   Babism isa religion founded in 1844 by the Persian Mirza Ali Muhammad of Shiraz (1819–50) who taught that a new prophet would follow Muhammad.

53. Home of the Eternal City: ITALY.  Rome, of course.

55. "Riveting," sarcastically: OH, FUN.  Might be spoken through gritted teeth.

57. "And others" abbr.: ET. AL.  Like ETC [Cf 9 A] but used when the list is of people, such as co-authors, rather than things.

59. Clock display: TIME.  The current hours and minutes.  Will you come back for seconds?

60. North __ Sea: Kazakh lake: ARAL.  The Aral Sea was an endorheic lake lying between Kazakhstan to its north and Uzbekistan to its south, which began shrinking in the 1960s and largely dried up by the 2010s. 

63. Cry for attention?: HEY.   Pay attention, now!

65. Prune: LOP.  Cut off or prune, as branches.

66. Uno y uno: DOS.  Zwie, kettő, deux, två, two, in any language.

Well, that wraps up [so to speak] another Wednesday.  Hope you are enjoying your autumn.  Don't forget to layer up.

Cool regards!

JzB

L.A. Times Crossword Wednesday, September 18, 2024 Larry Snyder

Theme: Trans-atlantic misdirections.   In-the-language phrases are repurposed and given a humorous twist with a distinctly British flare.  Note that two of the theme fill are grid-spanners.

16 A. Arugula researcher at Cambridge?: ROCKET SCIENTIST. Rocket is one of the several names for arugula, an edible annual plant in the family Brassicaceae used as a leaf vegetable for its fresh, tart, bitter, and peppery flavor.   I did not know that, and assume that usage is more common in Britain, where Cambridge is a university dating back to the year 1208, in a city of the same name.   Of course,  a ROCKET SCIENTIST is generally one who works on rocket propelled vehicles.  

25 A. Pristine field for Manchester United?: PERFECT PITCH.   A PITCH is the playing surface for the game of association football. Its dimensions and markings are defined by Law 1 of the Laws of the Game, "The Field of Play". The pitch is typically made of natural turf or artificial turf, although amateur and recreational teams often play on dirt fields. Artificial surfaces are allowed only to be green in color.

Manchester United is a team playing soccer, or as it is known across the pond - football.  The phrase "Perfect Pitch" more commonly refers to the ability to identify or recreate a musical note of a specific frequency without a reference point. I don't have it.

40 A. Sweater for a thrill-seeker's leap off Tower Bridge?: BUNGEE JUMPER.  The Tower Bridge spans the River Thames near the Tower of London.  A BUNGEE JUMPER is a thrill-seeker, regardless of the jumper's location.  But in British parlance, a JUMPER is a warm top that covers the arms - more or less what we would call a sweater.  Bungee jumping is the activity of leaping from a high place while secured by a long nylon-cased rubber band around the ankles.  I am not tempted.  

52 A. Pure sausages at the Rose & Crown pub?: ABSOLUTE BANGERS.  Back in England, BANGERS are sausages.  The term dates from WW II, when, due to meat shortages, sausages were made with watery fillers that wold explode during cooking.  More recently, a BANGER is something that is exceptional, impressive, or of high quality, such as a song with a loud, energetic beat that is good for dancing, or becoming your personal ear worm.   I think this one is a bit of a stretch.

Hi, Gang.  Jazzbumpa reporting for duty.  I've never been across the sea, but I'm not going to let the stop me.  Let's see where today's excursion takes us.

Across:

1. Pillow structure: FORT.  Not the first thing an adult might think of, but the 9-year-old in me approves.  Also requires blankets.

5. Quick reminder: NOTE.  Put it in writing.

9. Mario racing vehicle: KART.   A variety of such vehicles used in a series of kart racing games based on the Mario franchise developed and published by Nintendo. Players compete in go-kart races while using various power-up items. It features characters and courses mostly from the Mario series as well as other gaming franchises such as The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, F-Zero, Excitebike, and Splatoon.

13. Wading bird: IBIS.  Any one of a group of long-legged wading birds in the family Threskiornithidae that inhabit wetlands, forests and plains.[4] "Ibis" derives from the Latin and Ancient Greek word for this group of birds. It also occurs in the scientific name of the western cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) mistakenly identified in 1757 as being the sacred ibis.

14. Board game based on pachisi: SORRY.   Sorry! is a board game that is based on the ancient Indian cross and circle game Pachisi. Players move their three or four pieces around the board, attempting to get all of their pieces "home" before any other player. Originally manufactured by W.H. Storey & Co in England and now by Hasbro, Sorry! is marketed for two to four players, ages 6 and up. The game title comes from the many ways in which a player can negate the progress of another, while issuing an apologetic "Sorry!"

15. Pelvic bones: ILIA.  The ilium (pl.: ilia) is the uppermost and largest region of the coxal bone, and appears in most vertebrates including mammals and birds, but not bony fish. All reptiles have an ilium except snakes, although some snake species have a tiny bone which is considered to be an ilium.

19. "Is it clear?": SEE?   You dig?

20. Be for Halloween: GO AS.   Be dressed in a costume suggestive of some thing or somebody.

21. Deep-fryer compartment: BASKET. For holding the fryables.

22. Shower time?: APRIL.   Typically the month of Spring rains.

24. Grand crime: LARCENY.  The "grand" modifier is applied to theft of personal property having a value above a legally specified amount.

28. Flying: ALOFT.  Up in the air.

29. Hostess snack cake: HOHO.   A chocolate cake rolled with a creamy fillling

30. Yoko who said, "You can be very wild and still be very wise": ONO.  She is a Japanese multimedia artist, singer, songwriter, and peace activist. Her work also encompasses performance art and filmmaking.   She is also the widow of John Lennon.

33. Trapped fluff: LINT.  Lint is a collection of loose, short fibers or threads from clothing, hair, or other materials. It can be found on or around clothing, and can come from materials like cotton, linen, and wool.  It can be caught in a dryer filter.

34. Schematics: PLANS.  Designed representations of the elements of a system using abstract, graphic symbols rather than realistic pictures.

36. Saharan country next to Sudan: CHAD.  Chad, officially the Republic of Chad, is an independent state at the crossroads of North and Central Africa. The landlocked country is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon to the southwest, Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west.

37. Island ring: LEI.  Not an island atoll, but rather a floral loop worn as a decoration.

38. Some Korean compacts: KIAS.  Kia Corporation is a South Korean multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. It is South Korea's second largest automobile manufacturer, after its parent company, Hyundai Motor Company.

39. Cran cocktail: COSMO.  A cosmopolitan, or, informally, a cosmo, is a cocktail made with vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice, and freshly squeezed or sweetened lime juice. The cosmopolitan is a member of the Gimlet family of cocktails. 

43. Prioritizes patients: TRIAGES.  The preliminary assessment of patients or casualties in order to determine the urgency of their need for treatment and the nature of treatment required.

46. Afro-Cuban dance: RUMBA.   This term can be applied to various music and dance styles originating in Cuba, or styles that are similar.

47. __ to the core: ROTTEN.  Said of someone devoid of any redeeming or positive characteristics.

48. Digital indulgence, casually: PEDI.  Short for pedicure, a cosmetic treatment of the feet and toenails.

49. Vintage TV brand: RCA.  A former corporation that was the dominant electronics and communications firm in the United States for over five decades.  It did not survive a series of poor business decision in the face of strong international competition.  

55. Highlighter tone: NEON.   Any of the extremely bright, intense, and vibrant versions of primary and secondary colors, such as red, blue, green, yellow, and purple.  They are so named for the bright colors  of neon lights

56. Doughnut, mathematically: TORUS.  In geometry, a torus is a surface of revolution generated by revolving a circle in three-dimensional space one full revolution about an axis that is coplanar with the circle. 

57. Frantically: AMOK. In an uncontrolled and disruptive manor.

58. Randomly generated IDs: SSNS.   Social Security Numbers.

59. Soaks (up): SOPS.  Absorbs.

60. Sutures: SEWS.   Applies stitches holding together the edges of a wound or surgical incision.

Down:

1. Some December decor: FIRS.   Evergreen trees, wreaths or branches.

2. __ d'amore: OBOE.   A double reed woodwind musical instrument in the oboe family. Slightly larger than the oboe, it has a less assertive and a more tranquil and serene tone, and is considered the mezzo-soprano of the oboe family,   I played in a symphony orchestra for 16 years, and don't recall ever seeing one.

3. Brand with a cable car logo: RICEARONI.   a boxed food mix that consists of rice, vermicelli pasta, and seasonings. To prepare, the rice and pasta are browned in butter, then water and seasonings are added and simmered until absorbed. It is a product of Quaker Oats Company, a subsidiary of PepsiCo.  It is also known as the San Francisco Treat.

4. "Shame" sound: TSK. 

5. Pretzel option: NO SALT.  Would need mustard or cheese dip.

6. Tolkien baddies: ORCS.  A race of humanoid creatures best known for their service as footsoldiers and slaves to the Dark Lords of Middle-earth. Even when not in thralldom to an evil master, Orcs rarely if ever had non-violent interactions with Elves, Men, or Dwarves.

7. Part of TNT: TRI. In chemistry, TNT stands for 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, a man-made, odorless, yellow solid that is used as an explosive:

8. Safety stations in some labs: EYE BATHS.  As described here, a specialized fountain designed to flush the eyes with water to remove foreign material. 

9. Lowbrow art: KITSCH.  Art, objects, or design considered to be in poor taste because of excessive garishness or sentimentality, but sometimes appreciated in an ironic or knowing way.

10. Tough to tell apart: ALIKE.   Similar.

11. Out of bed: RISEN.  Having moved up from a reclined position.

12. Frayed: TATTY.  Worn out, in poor physical condition.

14. Immovable: STOIC.   Calm and unemotional.

17. Wading bird: EGRET.   A heron with mainly white plumage, having long plumes in the breeding season.

18. DEA agent: NARCO.  Slang or derogatory term for a drug enforcement agent.

23. Deflating sound: PFFT.  Air under pressure escaping though a small opening.

24. Animal helped by a mouse in a fable: LION.  A kindness is never wasted.   

25. Shadow: PALL.  A dark covering, as of smoke or dust.

26. Author Wiesel: ELIE.  Eliezer "Elie" Wiesel [1928-2016] was a Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor. He authored 57 books, written mostly in French and English, including Night, a work based on his experiences as a Jewish prisoner in the Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps.

27. Temporary stage: PHASE.  A distinct period or stage in a series of events or a process of change or development.

30. "For crying out loud": OH SPARE ME.  When someone is tired of listening to another person or is in a state of disbelief, they may respond with "spare me"

31. Identify: NAME.  Establish or indicate who or what someone or something is.

32. What wavy lines might represent in a comic: ODOR.   Usually an unpleasant one.

34. Pesto need: PINE NUTS.   The white seeds of some pine trees, often used in cooking 

35. Falls behind: LAGS.  Falls behind in movement, progress, or development; not keeping pace with another or others.

36. Word with over or through: COMB.  A strip of plastic, metal, or wood with a row of narrow teeth, used for untangling or arranging the hair.   A comb over is an arrangement of sparse hair attempting to cover a bald spot.  To comb through is to conduct a thorough search.

38. Passover potato pie: KUGEL.   A baked casserole, most commonly made from egg noodles or potato. It is a traditional Ashkenazi Jewish dish, often served on the Sabbath and Jewish holidays.

39. Chutney seed: CUMIN.   The aromatic seeds of a plant of the parsley family, used as a spice, especially ground and used in curry powder.

40. Conductors' tools: BATONS.  A thin stick used by a conductor to direct an orchestra or choir.

41. Darkness personified, in Greek mythology: EREBUS.  Erebus is the personification of darkness and shadows, and is also the name of a place in the underworld on the way to Hades.

42. Notorious apostle: JUDAS.  Th apostle accused of betraying Jesus in the Gospel accounts.

43. Like one honored by a pink, blue, and white flag: TRANS.   An umbrella term for persons whose gender identity, gender expression or behavior does not conform to that typically associated with the sex to which they were assigned at birth.

44. Garb donned by Oxford dons: ROBES.   A long flowing outer garment.

45. "Them's fightin' words!": IT'S ON.   An exclamation of readiness, eagerness or anticipation for something especially if it is a competition or confrontation. 

48. Crime drama suspect: PERP.   A perpetrator of a crime.  Alternatively, a crossing word in a crossword.

50. Cornfield nuisance: CROW.    Any of various large usually entirely glossy black passerine birds of the family Corvidae and especially genus Corvus.

51. Queries: ASKS.  Inquires.  Those questioning minds want to know.

53. All __ often: TOO.   With distressing frequency.

54. Electric alternative: GAS.  This could refer to natural gas vs electric for a cooking stove or gasoline vs battery power for a vehicle.  You can choose.

On that energetic note, we bring today's adventure to a close.  No extra charge for the birds and solid geometry.

Have a pleasant autumn.  I'll be back in October.

Cool regards!

JzB

L.A. Times Crossword Wednesday August 21, 2024 Brian Callahan and Will Eisenberg

Theme: Confused Dog Days of August.   The circled letters in each theme fill are a jumble of a type of terrier dog.  

Fortunately, not like this.

18 A. *Skeptical response to an ultimatum: OR ELSE WHAT.  Wadda ya gonna do about it?   The mixed up dog here is a WELSH terrier.

24 A. *Swashbuckling feline voiced by Antonio Banderas: PUSS IN BOOTS.  The original story is a European fairy tale about an anthropomorphic cat who uses trickery and deceit to gain power, wealth, and the hand in marriage of a princess for his penniless and low-born master.  Now, this cat has gone to the dogs.  Or at least to a BOSTON terrier.

50 A. *Common side with chiles rellenos: SPANISH RICE.  A Mexican side dish made from white rice, tomato, garlic, onion, and perhaps other ingredients.   Under the table, hoping for scraps, is an IRISH terrier.

39 A. *"Absitively posolutely!": HECKYES.  Slangy and jumbled, but enthusiastic agreement.  And who could say no to a SKYE terrier?

And the unifier -- 59 A. Hybrid dog breed, literal examples of which can be found in the answers to the starred clues: TERRIER MIX.  A terrier mix is a dog that is a combination of a terrier-type dog and another breed. They can vary in size, color, and personality, and can make good companions for many lifestyles.  What kind of dogged determination did it take to find the fill for this puzzle?

Hi, Gang.  JazzBumpa here to walk us through this doggone fine puzzle, and not bark up any wrong trees along the way.  Nothing arf-way about it.  I've never had a dog, but every family in our next generation has has had a parade of them over the decades - mostly rescues.

Across:

1. Forecaster's tool?: ESP.  Extra Sensory Perception - a paranormal ability to perceive information outside of the five senses, such as telepathy, clairvoyance, or precognition.  Here, this is not a weather forecaster, as you might suspect, but somebody predicting the future

4. Sow's opposite: REAP.   Planting and harvesting.

8. Forecaster's tool: RADAR.  This clecho does refer to the weather.

13. Wong of "Beef": ALI.  Alexandra Dawn "Ali" Wong [b. 1982] is an American comedian, actor, writer, producer and director. She is best known for her Netflix stand-up specials Baby Cobra, Hard Knock Wife, and Don Wong.

14. Seal predator: ORCA.  The orca, or killer whale, is a toothed whale that is the largest member of the oceanic dolphin family. It is the only extant species in the genus Orcinus. Orcas are recognizable by their black-and-white patterned body.  They are the only predator feared by the great white shark.  All they want from the shark is it's liver.   

15. Lady Liberty's land, familiarly: US OF A.  United States of America.

16. Bay Area industry: TECH.   Computers, chips, software, and related items.

20. Unwilling to be swayed from: SET ON.  Bound and determined, as my mother used to say.

22. Driver's "Star Wars" role: REN.   The son of Han Solo and Princess Leia, Kylo Ren, played by Adam Driver, is a dark warrior strong with the Force. He commands First Order missions with a temper as fiery as his unconventional lightsaber. As a leader of the First Order and a student of Supreme Leader Snoke, he seeks to destroy the New Republic, the Resistance and the legacy of the Jedi.  If anyone is interested, here is my review of a movie he was in.

23. "Were your __ burning?": EARS.  'Cuz I was dissing you to your friends.

28. Retired Bing assistant: CORTANA.  Not Mr. Crosby's former butler, Cortana was a virtual assistant developed by Microsoft that used the Bing search engine to perform tasks such as setting reminders and answering questions for users. 

29. Shout to a diva: BRAVA.  A shout of approval, the female equivalent of "bravo."

32. Days before: EVES.  Especially of holidays or important events.

33. Vocal quality after a long speech, perhaps: RASP.   A rough, unpleasant sound due to vocal irritation.
  
36. Giving a good look: EYING.  Looking at or watching closely or with interest.  Ogling, perhaps.

38. Flanders who lives on Evergreen Terrace: NED.   Homer Simpson's neighbor.

41. Change one's tone?: DYE.  Tone here meaning color, as of hair or clothing.  Clever.

42. Innate characteristic: TRAIT.  A distinguishing quality or genetically determined characteristic.

44. Role: PART.   As in a stage or screen performance.

45. Nintendo rival: SEGA.   Video game consoles.

46. Electronic instrument, for short: SYNTHesizer -- An electronic machine for producing different sounds. Synthesizers are used as musical instruments, especially for copying the sounds of other instruments, and for copying speech sounds..

48. National Park vacation package, perhaps: ECOTOUR.  Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education

53. Burn treatment: ALOE.  Ointment made from the juice of Aloe vera -- 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 also grows wild in tropical, semi-tropical, and arid climates around the world

56. Bushwacker liquor: RUM.   This does not refer to woodsmen skilled at surviving in the wilderness, nor to confederate guerrillas.  Instead, the bushwhacker is a complex cocktail with several and varied ingrediants, which might or might not include rum.

57. Skyscraper abundance: GLASS.    Because they often have a cladding system that covers the building's exterior by combining large windows and opaque panels to create the look of an uninterrupted glass surface. 

63. "Frozen" sister: ELSA.   When their kingdom becomes trapped in perpetual winter, fearless Anna (Kristen Bell) joins forces with mountaineer Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) and his reindeer sidekick to find Anna's sister, Snow Queen Elsa (Idina Menzel), and break her icy spell.   One might argue which of these female siblings is the main character and which is the "sister."

64. Runs into: MEETS.  This refers to a chance encounter, rather than a planned meeting or a collision.

65. Click a floppy disk icon: SAVE.  The act of preserving data at a storage location, such the hard drive or a portable device.

66. Stocking stuffer?: LEG.  Usually this phrase refers to Christmas presents stuck in a decorated cloth tube hanging from the mantle.  But here it's a body part put into an article of clothing.

67. Tiny bit: SKOSH.   The word skosh comes from the Japanese word sukoshi, which is pronounced "skoh shee" and means "a tiny bit" or "a small amount." The Japanese word was shortened by U.S. servicemen stationed in Japan after World War II. 

68. "Grand" ice cream: EDYS.  A brand of ice cream from the American company Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, Inc., which was founded in 1928 by William Dreyer and Joseph Edy. The brand is named after its founders and is sold in the Eastern and Midwestern United States under the Edy's name, and in the Western United States and Texas under the Dreyer's name.

69. U.S. ID issuer: SSA.  Social Security Administration.

Down:

1. Puts away: EATS.   Downs, ingests, devours.

2. Some tween parties: SLEEPOVERS.  An event involving an overnight stay at another's house.  

3. When school is full of posers?: PICTURE DAY.  The day when school pictures are taken.  Of course, the students all pose.  Clever.

4. Aussie hopper: ROO.  A kangaroo.   

Hop over here to learn more

5. Go astray: ERR.   Goof up.  In the New Testament the Greek word for sin is a term from archery that means "missing the mark."

6. Biting: ACERB.  Dry, sour or bitter.  I always want an -ic at the end.

7. Diet that avoids processed foods: PALEO.   An eating plan based on foods humans might have eaten during the Paleolithic Era. The Paleolithic Era dates from around 2.5 million to 10,000 years ago. A modern paleo diet includes fruits, vegetables, lean meats, fish, eggs, nuts and seeds.

8. Regret: RUE.   Bitterly regret what one had done.   Did the apprentice chef rue spoiling the roux?   

9. In a manner of speaking: AS WE SAY.  In a manner of speaking.

10. City whose name comes from the Arabic for "roundness": DOHA.   Doha is the capital city and main financial hub of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf coast in the east of the country, north of Al Wakrah and south of Al Khor, it is home to most of the country's population.   It does have a sort of semi-circular layout.

11. Nowhere near: AFAR.  At a distance.

12. "Dagnabbit!": RATS.  Oh, phooey!

17. Slews: HOSTS.  Large quantities.

19. Craft beer aficionado, perhaps: SNOB.  A person who believes that their tastes in a particular area are superior to those of other people.  I, for one, prefer Bell's Oberon to Budweiser.

21. Unit with a classified no. of employees: NSA.   The National Security Agency/Central Security Service, a US Department of Defense agency that is part of the US Intelligence Community. The NSA's mission is to protect US national security systems and information by collecting, processing, and sharing foreign electronic signals intelligence. They also work to prevent foreign adversaries from accessing classified national security information. 

25. Memo header: IN RE.   In re is 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. 

26. Image Awards gp.: NAACP.  NAACP stands for National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. It is the oldest and largest civil rights organization in the United States, founded in 1909 by Black and white activists in New York City. The NAACP was created in response to the violence against Black Americans at the time.

27. Very, in Vichy: TRES.  

28. Minor change?: CENT.  Ha, ha.  One penny, rather than some slight modification.

30. What Zoomers are up to these days?: VIDEO CALLS.   Zoom is a proprietary videotelephony software program developed by Zoom Video Communications. The free plan allows up to 100 concurrent participants, with a 40-minute time restriction. 

31. "Who thinks they know the answer?": ANY GUESSES.  I had a few solving this puzzle.

34. Reel Big Fish 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. Reel Big Fish is an American ska punk band from Huntington Beach, California. The band gained mainstream recognition in the mid-to-late 1990s during the third wave of ska with the release of the gold-certified album Turn the Radio Off.

35. Funeral piles: PYRES.   Heaps of wood for burning a dead body.

37. Camper's bagful: GEAR.   Equipment that is used for a particular purpose.

39. Address letters: HTTP.   For web addresses

40. __ A Sketch: ETCH.  A mechanical drawing toy operated by two knobs moving an enclosed stylus horizontally and vertically.  It always amazed me when someone could actuallly draw something with one.

43. Some orthotic devices: INSERTS.  Custom-made, removable, prescription medical devices that are worn inside shoes to help relieve pain and correct foot problems.   Not all shoe inserts are orthotics.

45. Subway spinner: STILE.  Short for turnstile, a post having arms which turn around that is set in an entrance or exit so that persons can pass through only on foot one by one.

47. Fabled braggart: HARE.  In his hubris, he lost the race with the tortoise. "The Tortoise and the Hare" is one of Aesop's Fables and is numbered 226 in the Perry Index. The account of a race between unequal partners has attracted conflicting interpretations. The fable itself is a variant of a common folktale theme in which ingenuity and trickery are employed to overcome a stronger opponent.

49. Assn.: ORG.  Association, organization.

51. Breastfeed: NURSE.  literal.

52. "So cheesed off!": I'M MAD.  An expression of anger.

53. Note givers: ATMS.  Automatic Teller Machines, notes in this case being paper currency.

54. Shallot relative: LEEK.  Both of these plants form edible bulbs that are used in cooking.  They are related to onoins.

55. McCafé frappé flavor: OREO.   A sweet, frozen coffee drink from McDonald's that blends vanilla Frappé base, ice, Oreo cookie pieces, and Cookies 'N Cream flavored syrup, and tops it with whipped cream and more Oreos

58. Overdrawn account?: SAGA.  Not related to bank overdrafts.  Instead, this clue isa pejorative descriptor of a long story.  

60. Thereabouts: -ISH.  A suffix that makes the modified noun less exact.

61. Wrigley Field plant: IVY.   Wrigley Field is a ballpark on the North Side of Chicago, Illinois. It is the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs, one of the city's two MLB franchises.  Wrigley Field's features include its ivy-covered brick outfield wall, distinctive wind patterns off Lake Michigan, the red marquee over the main entrance, and the hand-turned scoreboard. 

62. Marks (out): XES.   Draws an X or a series of X's through something to indicate that it is incorrect or no longer wanted.

 That's it for this Wednesday.  See you in September.

Cool regards,

JzB

L. A. Times Crossword Wednesday, May 29, 2024. Matthew Stock

Theme:  You can't have one without the other.  Sometimes things just go together, as we shall soon see.  Or, if you got the circles, might be seeing already.  The near-by ends of the two words in each theme fill feature the same letter.

16. Marine animal that resembles a flower: SEA ANEMONE.  These are are a group of predatory marine invertebrates constituting the order Actiniaria. Because of their colorful appearance, they are named after the Anemone, a terrestrial flowering plant. You can read more about it here.

23. Branch of mathematics focused on collections: SET THEORY.   Set theory is the branch of mathematical logic that studies sets, which can be informally described as collections of objects. Although objects of any kind can be collected into a set, set theory — as a branch of mathematics — is mostly concerned with those that are relevant to mathematics as a whole.  I just barely squeaked through calculus, so that's all I've got.  If you want more you can start here. 

37. Chance to get together and take shots?: PHOTO OP.  This is an arranged opportunity to take a photograph of a politician, a celebrity, or an event.

48. Genre for 1980s hair bands: GLAM METAL.   A subgenre of heavy metal that features pop-influenced hooks and guitar riffs, upbeat rock anthems, and slow power ballads. It borrows heavily from the fashion and image of 1970s glam rock ---  performed by male musicians who wore flamboyant and feminine clothing, makeup, and hairstyles, particularly platform shoes and glitter, and female musicians who wore masculine clothing.

59. Kittens who should be adopted together, or what can be found in this puzzle's circles: BONDED PAIR.   Two cats that have a special relationship and the adoption center wants to place them in a home together.  There are also bonded pair dogs.   Separation would be traumatic for them.

Our BONDED PAIRS are the last letter of the first word and the first letter of the second word in each theme entry, as indicated by the circles.  This theme has an original concept, and a clever use of the unifier.

Hi gang, JzB here. Theoretically, I guess all the fill in this puzzle would constitute a set.  With no further theorizing, let's check it out.  

LATE EDIT Just before pushing the Publish button I noticed that the paired letters in sequence are A, T, O, and M, spelling ATOM.  So what we have in our bonded pairs are 2 ATOMS.  This makes it a chemical bond, and raises it to a whole new level of clever elegance. The long obsolete chemist in me heartily approves.   Very impressive! 

Across:

1. Retail club similar to Costco: SAM'S.   An American chain of membership-only warehouse club retail stores owned and operated by Walmart Inc.

5. Coin flip call: HEADS.  This refers to the front side, or obverse surface, of a coin.  The other side is the reverse or tails.

10. Pine family tree: FIR.    Firs are evergreen coniferous trees belonging to the genus Abies in the family Pinaceae. There are approximately 48–65 extant species, found on mountains throughout much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa. The genus is most closely related to Cedrus (cedar). The genus name is derived from the Latin "to rise" in reference to the height of its species. The common English name originates with the Old Norse, fyri, or the Old Danish, fyr.

13. Sitting on: ATOP.  On top of.

14. Arm joint: ELBOW.  The joint  where your humerus (your upper arm bone) meets your radius and ulna (the two bones in your forearm). It joins your upper arm to your forearm. Your elbow also contains cartilage, ligaments, muscles, nerves and blood vessels. Your elbow moves in two main directions.    There is no truth to the rumor that it is named after a macaroni noodle.

15. Singer and civil rights activist Horne: LENA.  Lena Mary Calhoun Horne (1917 – 2010) was an American singer, actress, dancer, and civil rights activist. Horne's career spanned more than seventy years, appearing in film, television, and theatre. Horne joined the chorus of the Cotton Club at the age of sixteen and became a nightclub performer before moving on to Hollywood and Broadway.  A groundbreaking African-American performer, Horne advocated for civil rights and took part in the March on Washington in August 1963.

18. Possesses: OWNS.   Has and holds as property.

19. Open-toed shoe: SANDAL.  A low-cut shoe that fastens by an ankle strap

20. Payable now: DUE.   Expected at or planned for at a certain time.

21. Dance Dance Revolution move: STEP.   A single element of a dance.

22. Term of address that elides a letter: MA'AM.  Shart for madam.

25. Creature in Sherpa folklore: YETI.   An ape-like creature purported to inhabit the Himalayan mountain range in Asia. In Western popular culture, the creature is commonly referred to as the Abominable Snowman. 

27. Virtuous one: SAINT.  A person of exceptional holiness of life, formally recognized as such by the Christian Church, especially by canonization. Less formally, a person of great holiness, virtue, or benevolence.

28. Contributes: ADDS.  Puts in.

31. "Kapow!": BLAM.  Catroon sound efects for explosions.

34. Guinness, for one: STOUT.   A dark beer that is generally warm fermented.

36. "You stink, ref!": BOO.   Common expression of disdain.

39. Slam Dunk Contest org.: NBA.  National Basketball Assocoation.

40. Pixy Stix contents: SUGAR.  Pixy Stix are sweet and sour colored powdered candy usually packaged in a wrapper that resembles a drinking straw.  Sugar is the generic name for sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates, many of which are used in food. 

42. Episodic drama: SAGA.  The word saga has its origins in the Middle Ages. In those days, a saga was an historical tale of the first families who lived in Norway or Iceland. Today the word is used to describe a very complicated or detailed series of events. 

43. "Come on now": JEEZ.  An expression of surprise, disappointment or disdain.

44. Underneath: BELOW.  Located under or lower than something else.

46. Minor in astronomy?: URSA.  The little bear, also known as the little dipper constellation.

51. Parts of plays: ACTS.   An act is a major division of a theatre work, including a play, film, opera, ballet, or musical theatre, consisting of one or more scenes.

54. Mother of Apollo and Artemis: LETO.   Leto is a Titan and the mother of the gods Apollo and Artemis in classical Greek mythology. She is the daughter of Coeus and Phoebe, and her main legends take place on Delos and Delphi. Leto is known as the goddess of fertility and motherhood, and is also known as Kourotrophos, which means "Rearer of Youths". Leto's story includes being pregnant by Zeus, seeking refuge on Delos to give birth, and suffering misfortunes due to her relationship with Zeus. 

55. Thanksgiving, e.g.: Abbr.: THU.   Thursday

56. "I'm one of them too!": LIKE ME.  having something in common.

58. Lends a helping hand: AIDS.   Assists.

61. Catch sight of: SPOT.  Eye, espey, obsrve.

62. __ Martin: British car: ASTON.   Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings PLC  is a British manufacturer of luxury sports cars and grand tourers. Its predecessor was founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford. Steered from 1947 by David Brown, it became associated with expensive grand touring cars in the 1950s and 1960s, and with the fictional character James Bond following his use of a DB5 model in the 1964 film Goldfinger. Their grand tourers and sports cars are regarded as a British cultural icon.

63. Norway's capital: OSLO.   the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of 709,037 in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of 1,064,235 in 2022.   During the Viking Age, the area was part of Viken. Oslo was founded as a city at the end of the Viking Age in 1040 under the name Ánslo, and established as a kaupstad or trading place in 1048 by Harald Hardrada. The city was elevated to a bishopric in 1070 and a capital under Haakon V of Norway around the year 1300. 

64. Go limp: SAG.   Droop.

65. Naps, say: RESTS.   Ceases work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength.

66. Simple tops: TEES.  A short-sleeved casual top, generally made of cotton, having the shape of a T when spread out flat.

Down:

1. Back talk: SASS.   Impudence; cheek.

2. Starting five, e.g.: A TEAM.   A group consisting of the best members of a larger group; an elite group.

3. Disney heroine who sings "How Far I'll Go": MOANA.   An adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana meets the once-mighty demigod Maui, who guides her in her quest to become a master way-finder. Together they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds.

4. Some self-care opportunities: SPA DAYS.   A day spent on a visit to a spa, which is a place that offers relaxation, luxury, and beauty treatments. 

5. Element of high fashion?: HEEL.   High-heeled shoes, also known as high heels or pumps, are a type of shoe with an upward-angled sole. The heel in such shoes is raised above the ball of the foot. High heels cause the legs to appear longer, make the wearer appear taller, and accentuate the calf muscle.

6. __ City: New Haven nickname: ELM.   New Haven had the first public tree planting program in the U.S., producing a canopy of mature trees (including some large elms) that gave the city the nickname "The Elm City".

7. Place to call home: ABODE.   The place where one lives.

8. Breakfast-on-the-run choice: DONUT.   a type of pastry made from leavened fried dough.   The two most common types are the ring doughnut and the filled doughnut, which is injected with fruit preserves, cream, custard, or other sweet fillings.

9. Candy: SWEETS.    A confection that features sugar as a principal ingredient. 

10. Maybe not any at all: FEW TO NONE.   A description of rarity or very long odds.

11. Float in some water rides: INNER TUBE.   An inflatable torus that forms the interior of some pneumatic tires. The tube is inflated with a valve stem, and fits inside of the casing of the tire. The inflated inner tube provides structural support and suspension, while the outer tire provides grip and protects the more fragile tube.

12. Coarse-sounding: RASPY.    Unpleasantly harsh or grating in sound.   I can relate since as I write this, my voice is in the 2nd sub-basement.

15. Succumb to one's emotions: LOSE IT.  A temporary inability to control one's emotions, typically in response to anger, fear or sorrow. 

17. Title: NAME.   These words are synonymous when applied to written works or musical compositions, but not when applied to people.

23. Farm fixtures: SILOS.    Structures for storing bulk materials.   Silos are used in agriculture to store fermented feed known as silage, not to be confused with a grain bin, which is used to store grains. The typical structure is a right circular cylander.

24. Padlock holder: HASP.   A clasp for a door, lid, etc., especially one passing over a staple and fastened by a pin or a padlock.

26. "Candidly," in texting: TBH.   To Be Honest.

28. Muscles stretched in cobra pose: ABS.   Abdominals.

29. High-ABV hoppy beer: DOUBLE IPA.    A  type of IPA that contains more hops and malt than a regular IPA:

30. Extremely competitive: DOG EAT DOG.   Used to refer to a situation of fierce competition in which people are willing to harm each other in order to succeed.

32. __ snail's pace: AT A. Making distressigly slow progress

33. Bigwig: MOGUL.  An important or powerful person, especially in the motion picture or media industry.

35. Toon devil: TAZ.  This guy.

37. Gathering for senior partners?: PROM.  I guess this is referring to a formal high school dance party, attended by seniors and their dates.

38. Source of water power?: OAR.  For powering a canoe.

41. "So close": ALMOST.   Missed it by that much.

43. "Bingo!": JACKPOT.  The big winner.

45. Mixologist's amenity: WET BAR.   A small bar used for mixing and serving alcoholic beverages that includes a sink with running water, as opposed to a "dry bar" that does not include a sink.

47. Uttered: SAID.  Spoken.

48. Pane piece: GLASS.  A portion of a window.

49. This and that: THOSE.  More than one thing.

50. Some godmothers: AUNTS.   Moms' sisters.

52. Needle: TEASE.   Make fun of or attempt to provoke someone in a playful or pseudo-playful way.

53. Happy face: SMILE.  An facial expression denoting pleasure.

56. Binoculars part: LENS.   An optical device that focuses or disperses a light beam by means of refraction. 

57. God with a bow and arrow: EROS.  Eros was the Greek god of carnal love.  Eros was the assistant, and according to some the son, of Aprhodite, the goddess of love and fertility. He made people fall in love by shooting an arrow into their heart.

60. Pointillism bit: DOT.  Pointillism is a technique of painting in which small, distinct dots of color are applied in patterns to form an image.  Georges Seurat and Paul Signac developed the technique in 1886, branching from Impressionism. The term "Pointillism" was coined by art critics in the late 1880s to ridicule the works of these artists, but is now used without its earlier pejorative connotation.

Now it's time to set this puzzle aside.  Hope you enjoyed the solve.

Cool regards!

JzB

L.A. Times Crosssword Wednesday, May 15, 2024 Rena Cohen

 Theme:  It all works out in the end, if you have the right beginning. Is that too enigmatic?  All will become clear, I hope.  Lets have a look at the theme fill.

20. Broadway contender's number: AUDITION SONG.   A short performance to test the talents of a musician, singer, dancer, or actor.

31. Item that may spruce up empty floor space: ACCENT RUG.   A small rug that can be placed in areas where larger rugs wouldn't fit. They're generally 4'x6′ or smaller. 

38. Check for immunity: ANTIBODY TESTING.   Antibody tests (serology tests) look for antibodies in your blood. Antibodies are proteins your immune system makes to fight infection. These tests help your provider confirm a diagnosis of a wide range of diseases, disorders and infections, 

45. Last part of a relay: ANCHOR LEG.    The final position in a relay race. Typically, the anchor leg of a relay is given to the fastest or most experienced competitor on a team. The athlete completing the anchor leg of a relay is responsible for making up ground on the race-leader or preserving the lead already secured by their teammates.

56. Positive spin on a bad situation, or a feature of 20-, 31-, 38-, and 45-Across: SILVER LINING.  An advantage that comes from a difficult or unpleasant situation: When things look black, there's always a silver lining.

The only thing I can find in common among these theme fill is the first and last letters of each entry.  These are AG, the chemical symbol for the precious metal SILVER.   This symbol derives from the Latin argentum and Sanskrit argunas from "bright."   So, between these letters, the rest of the fill becomes the lining.  To pick a nit, the lining should be on the inside, while the AG is on the outside, and this did throw me off for a while.  But, I guess, you can't have everything. 

Here's today's theme song.

Hi, Gang, JazzBumpa here to lead this mining expedition.  Let's see what other precious items we can find.

Across

1. __ Romeo: motorsport brand: ALFA.   Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian luxury car manufacturer and a subsidiary of Stellantis Europe. 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

5. Soccer goal material: MESH.  Material made from a network of wire or thread.

9. Congressional hearings airer: C-SPAN.  The  Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network.   C-SPAN is a private, nonprofit organization funded by its cable and satellite affiliates.  It televises proceedings of the United States federal government and other public affairs programming.

14. Momentarily: SOON.  A short period of time.  

15. Hybrid or coupe: AUTO.   Types of motortcars.

16. In the know: AWARE.   Having knowledge or perception of a situation or fact.

17. App store image: ICON.   A symbol or graphic representation on a screen of a program, option, or window, especially one of several for selection.

18. 47-Down woman: FRAU.  The German word for woman.

19. Gave an identity: NAMED.  As defined.

23. Presidential advisory gp.: NSC.  National Security Council.  The President's principal forum for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his or her senior advisors and cabinet officials.  N.B. the abbrv in clue and ans,

24. Dachshund's bark: YAP.  A high pitched canine utterance.

25. U2 collaborator Brian: ENO.  Brian Peter George Eno [b. 1948] also mononymously known as Eno, is an English musician, songwriter, record producer and visual artist. He is best known for his pioneering contributions to ambient music and electronica, and for producing, recording, and writing works in rock and pop music. 

26. Roman time unit: ORA.  An hour, mis-splt.  S/b HORA.

29. Amoxicillin target: STREP.  Short for streptococcus, a bacterium of a genus that includes the agents of souring of milk and dental decay, and hemolytic pathogens causing various infections such as scarlet fever and pneumonia..

34. Caesar's final day: IDES.  He was murdered on the IDES of March.  The IDES was a day falling roughly in the middle of each month (the 15th day of March, May, July, and October, and the 13th of other months) from which other dates were calculated.

36. __ Vegas: LAS.  A municipality in Nevada, aka Sin City.  It is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-largest in the Southwestern United States.

37. Prefix with -syncrasy: IDIO-.  An idiosyncracy is a mode of behavior or way of thought peculiar to an individual.

42. "Not so fast": WAIT.   Hold on a sec.

43. Rust color: RED.  A color at the end of the spectrum next to orange and opposite violet, as of blood, fire, or rubies.

44. Filmmaker Ethan or Joel: COEN.    An American filmmaking duo. Their films span many genres and styles, which they frequently subvert or parody. 

48. Netflix genre: DRAMA.   A written work that tells a story through action and speech and is meant to be acted on a stage

51. "__ queen!": YAS.   A term you say in response to someone fabulous. It's the equivalent of saying, “fierce,” “YES” or “you do you!” You're practically celebrating someone for what they're doing, how they look, or for what they've said.

52. Luau garland: LEI.  A garland or wreath common in Hawaii, across Polynesia, and the Philippines. 

53. Teamwork impediment: EGO.   The part of the mind that mediates between the conscious and the unconscious and is responsible for reality testing and a sense of personal identity.  If not controlled, it can lead to an elevated sense of self-importance.

55. Woodsman material, in Oz: TIN.  Tin is a chemical element; it has the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. A silvery-colored metal, tin is soft enough to be cut with little force, and a bar of tin can be bent by hand with little effort.

59. Course for a class pres., maybe: AP GOV.  Advanced Placement is a program in the United States and Canada created by the College Board. AP offers undergraduate university-level curricula and examinations to high school students.  In a Government course, students learn about the structure of government and how it shares power at the local, state and federal levels. 

62. "Sesame Street" toddler: ELMO.

63. Ice cream parlor option: CONE.   An ice cream cone or poke is a brittle, cone-shaped pastry, usually made of a wafer similar in texture to a waffle, made so ice cream can be carried and eaten without a bowl or spoon.  

64. __ dog: CHILI.    A hot dog served in a bun and topped with a meat sauce, such as chili con carne. Additional toppings may include cheese, onions, and mustard. 

65. Coastal inlets: RIAS.   A ria is a coastal inlet formed by the partial submergence of an unglaciated river valley. It is a drowned river valley that remains open to the sea.

66. Indigo shrub: ANIL.   Indigofera suffruticosa, commonly known as Guatemalan indigo, small-leaved indigo (Sierra Leone), West Indian indigo, wild indigo, and anil, is a flowering plant in the pea family, Fabaceae.   Anil is native to the subtropical and tropical Americas, including the Southern United States, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as northern Argentina. This species has been widely introduced to other parts of the world and today has a pantropical distribution.

67. -Ish: KINDA.   A suffix indicating near similarity.

68. Longings: YENS.  Strong feelings of wanting or wishing for something.  I thought about going to Japan, but didn't have the yen to travel.  [This is literally true.  Our oldest granddaughter, Amanda, is dancing at Tokyo Disney.  We considered gong to see her perform, but decided the 14 hour plane trip was more than we could endure.]

69. On a ferry, perhaps: ASEA.  At sea.   Or maybe confused while on a boat.

Down:

1. Sri Lankans, e.g.: ASIANS.  Any inhabitant of a country located in the Asian continent.

2. Swarming insect: LOCUST.  Locusts are various species of short-horned grasshoppers in the family Acrididae that have a swarming phase. These insects are usually solitary, but under certain circumstances they become more abundant and change their behaviour and habits, becoming gregarious.

3. Writers with good taste, hopefully: FOOD CRITICS.  A food critic, food writer, or restaurant critic is a writer who analyzes food or restaurants and then publishes the results of their findings to the public. Although these terms are not strictly synonymous, they are often used interchangeably. 

4. Roman time units: ANNI.   Years.  Unus annus est VMMMDCCLX horis.

5. Party game also known as "Werewolf": MAFIA.  Mafia, also known as Werewolf, is a Russian social deduction game created by Dimitry Davidoff in 1986. The game models a conflict between two groups: an informed minority (the mafiosi or the werewolves) and an uninformed majority (the villagers). At the start of the game, each player is secretly assigned a role affiliated with one of these teams.

6. Icy moon of Jupiter: EUROPA.   Europa, or Jupiter II, is the smallest of the four Galilean moons orbiting Jupiter, and the sixth-closest to the planet of all the 95 known moons of Jupiter. It is also the sixth-largest moon in the Solar System.

7. Swiftie or Belieber: STAN.   An extremely or excessively enthusiastic and devoted fan.

8. Feline friend: HOUSE CAT.   A domestic cat, especially one kept as an indoor household pet.

9. Unusual instrument in the "1812 Overture": CANNON.  Here is a relevant excerpt.

I've played this, but not with real canons.

10. College tour giveaways: SWAG.  SWAG is free promotional merchandise such as branded apparel, drinkware, stationary, accessories, or any memorable gift item given to clients, employees, or meeting attendees for marketing, awareness, and branding purposes.

11. Conagra cooking spray brand: PAM.  PAM is a cooking spray currently owned and distributed by ConAgra Foods. Its main ingredient is canola oil.   PAM was introduced in 1959 by Leon Rubin who, with Arthur Meyerhoff, started PAM Products, Inc. to market the spray. The name PAM is an acronym for Product of Arthur Meyerhoff.

12. "My lips __ sealed": ARE.  All your secrets are safe with me.

13. Flanders of Springfield: NED.  Nedward "Ned" Flanders Jr., commonly referred to by his surname, is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons, voiced by Harry Shearer and first appearing in the series premiere episode "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire." He is the good-natured, cheery next-door neighbor to the Simpson family and is generally loathed by Homer Simpson, though there are numerous instances where the two are portrayed as good friends.

21. One with an easygoing personality: TYPE B.   Type A and Type B personality hypothesis describes two contrasting personality types. In this hypothesis, personalities that are more competitive, highly organized, ambitious, impatient, highly aware of time management, or aggressive are labeled Type A, while more relaxed, "receptive", less "neurotic" and "frantic" personalities are labeled Type B.

22. "Nearly done ... ": ONE SEC.   Wait.

26. Rabbinical students' goals: ORDINATIONS.   Ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. 

27. Tulum attraction: RUIN.   Tulum is a resort town on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, around 130 km south of Cancún. The 13th-century, walled Mayan archaeological site at Tulum National Park overlooks the sea. It incorporates the clifftop Castillo, built as a watchtower, and the Templo de las Pinturas, with a partially restored mural. Inland, the Cobá archaeological site has pyramid-shaped temples with views over the surrounding jungle.

28. Waiting eagerly: AGOG.   Very eager or curious to hear or see something.

30. Wharton who was the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction: EDITH.   Edith Wharton 1832 - 1937] was an American writer and designer. Wharton drew upon her insider's knowledge of the upper-class New York "aristocracy" to portray realistically the lives and morals of the Gilded Age. In 1921, she became the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction, for her novel The Age of Innocence.

32. Drexler who was part of Houston's Phi Slama Jama in the early 1980s: CLYDE.   Clyde Austin Drexler (b.1962) is an American former professional basketball player who currently works as the commissioner of the Big3 3-on-3 basketball league. Nicknamed "Clyde the Glide", he played 15 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), spending a majority of his career with the Portland Trail Blazers before finishing with the Houston Rockets. He was a ten-time NBA All-Star and named to the NBA's 50th and 75th anniversary teams. Drexler won an NBA championship with Houston in 1995, and earned a gold medal on the 1992 United States Olympic team known as "The Dream Team".

33. Chemical concentration measurement: TITER.   Titer or titre is a way of expressing concentration. Titer testing employs serial dilution to obtain approximate quantitative information from an analytical procedure that inherently only evaluates as positive or negative. The titer corresponds to the highest dilution factor that still yields a positive reading.

35. Sour salad green: SORREL.   A perennial herbaceous plant in the family Polygonaceae. Other names for sorrel include spinach dock and narrow-leaved dock. Sorrel is native to Eurasia and a common plant in grassland habitats. It is often cultivated as a leaf vegetable or herb.

38. Not sporting home colors: AWAY.  Said of a team playing at the opponents' field, court, or arena

39. Granny: NANA.  Familiar terms for a grandmother. 

40. Amazon drop-off: DELIVERY.  The process of transporting goods from a source location to a predefined destination. 

41. "Likewise!": SO DO I.  Me, too!

46. "Drivers License" singer Rodrigo: OLIVIA.  Olivia Isabel Rodrigo [b. 2003] is an American singer-songwriter and actress. She first rose to prominence for starring on the Disney Channel series Bizaardvark and the Disney+ series High School Musical: 

47. Austria's language: GERMAN.   German language, official language of both Germany and Austria and one of the official languages of Switzerland. German belongs to the West Germanic group of the Indo-European language family, along with English, Frisian, and Dutch.

49. Mouse with a polka-dotted dress: MINNIE.   Minerva "Minnie" Mouse is an American cartoon character created by the Walt Disney Company. As the longtime sweetheart of Mickey Mouse, she is an anthropomorphic mouse with white gloves, a red or pink bow, polka-dotted dress, white bloomers and low-heeled shoes occasionally with ribbons on them.

50. Actress Lansbury: ANGELA.   Dame Angela Brigid Lansbury DBE [1925 - 2022] was a British and American actress. In a career spanning 80 years, she played various roles across film, stage, and television. Although based for much of her life in the United States, her work attracted international attention.

54. Lip __: GLOSS.   Lip gloss is a cosmetic used primarily to give lips a glossy luster, and sometimes to add a subtle color. It is distributed as a fluid or a soft solid The product is available in ranges of opacity from translucent to solid and can have variously frosted, glittery, glossy, and metallic finishes.

56. Auctioneer's cry: SOLD.  An auctioneer is a person who conducts auctions by accepting bids and declaring goods sold.

57. Nobelist Wiesel: ELIE.  Eliezer "Elie" Wiesel [1928 - 2016] was a Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor. He authored 57 books, written mostly in French and English, including Night, a work based on his experiences as a Jewish prisoner in the Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps.

58. Sweet Sixteen org.: NCAA.  National Collegiate Athletic Association.

59. "Gah!": ACK.   Expressions of dismay or disgust.

60. Upsilon neighbor: PHI.   Greek Letters.

61. Negroni liquor: GIN.  The Negroni is made with 1 oz gin, 1 oz Campari an 1 oz sweet vermouth, garnished with an orange peel.

I had fun with this puzzle and I hope you did, too.  Did it test your mettle?  Would you give it a medal for it's SILVER metal?

Cool regards, my precious friends.
JzB