L.A. Times Crossword Wednesday, June 22, 2022 Dave Taber and Laura Moll

Theme: Bon Apétit and Welcome Home!   This is - apparently - about as straight forward a theme as you'll ever see, with each entry providing part of a dinner.  Until you check the circles, which give it a whole new level of meaning.  If you didn't get the circles, this will be a revelation.

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

63 A. Sequence of dishes such as 18-, 25-, 38-, and 55-Across, in more ways than one: HOME MADE MEAL.  The surface meaning is a MEAL you cook for yourself in your own kitchen.  But the circled letters spell the HOME of some critter.  

18 A. Healthy starter: GARDEN GREENS.  This describes the leafy vegetables of a salad, which might get your meal off to a good start. But it also contains a DEN - a place where a wild animal, such as a fox orbear might live. Or, perhaps, a non-thematic hang-out for thieves. You decide.

25 A. Baked side: POTATO WITH CHIVES.  I'd be tempted to add some butter and sour cream to this high-carb delight.  However - what you don't want in your POTATO, is a HIVE - the abode of insects, such as ants or wasps.

38 A. Meaty entrée: T-BONE STEAK. This is a steak of beef cut from the short loin, including a "T"-shaped lumbar vertebra with sections of abdominal internal oblique muscle on each side. Yum! The NEST is a home for any kind of bird. And, yes, this gives me an eyrie feeling. Maybe it's the Hitchcock influence.

55 A. Filled dessert: CHOCOLATE ECLAIRS.  These are oblong pastries made with choux dough filled with a cream and topped with a flavored icing - chocolate in this case. Here it is also filled with a LAIR - another wild animal home; typically that of a fierce or dangerous one, such as a lion or a dragon.

Hi gang, JazzBumpa here as the maitre'd for today's culinary delight.  Let's see what other tasty morsels we can discover.

  Across:

1. Praised: LAUDED.   Highly praised or admired.

 7. Stalagmite creator: DRIP.  A stalagmite is a mound or tapering column rising from the floor of a cave, formed of calcium salts deposited by dripping water and often uniting with a stalactite.

11. Spam holder: CAN.  Slight misdirection here as you might expect a file folder rather than a metal container for a sort-of meat product.  As I understand it, SPAM is very popular in Hawaii, and a genuine Hawaiian pizza is made with SPAM, not ham.  To each his own.

14. Periodic Pacific current: EL NIÑO.  And weather patters associated with that current.  During El Niño, trade winds weaken. Warm water is pushed back east, toward the west coast of the Americas.  El Niño can affect our weather significantly. The warmer waters cause the Pacific jet stream to move south of its neutral position. With this shift, areas in the northern U.S. and Canada are dryer and warmer than usual. But in the U.S. Gulf Coast and Southeast, these periods are wetter than usual and have increased flooding.

15. American Eagle Outfitters lingerie brand: AERIE.  Check it out here.

17. Whiz: ACE.  one highly skilled at something.

20. Zodiac animal with horns: RAM.  His name is Aries, not to be confused with 15A.

21. Thurman of "The War With Grandpa": UMA.  Uma Karuna Thurman [b 1070] is an American actress, producer and fashion model. Prolific in film and television productions encompassing a variety of genres.

 

 22. Actress Goldie: HAWN.  Goldie Jeanne Hawn b 1945] is an American actress, dancer, producer, and singer. She rose to fame on the NBC sketch comedy program Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, before going on to receive the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Cactus Flower.   

23. Vocation: TRADE.    An occupation to which a person is especially drawn or for which they are suited, trained, or qualified.

30. Floor model: DEMO.  A unit of a product displayed to show its capabilities.

31. Genuflect: KNEEL.  Knee bending gesture of respect or devotion.

32. Pool or polo: GAME.   A form of play or sport, especially a competitive one played according to rules and decided by skill, strength, or luck.

33. Red-wrapped cheeses: EDAMS.   A semi-hard cheese that originated in the Netherlands, and is named after the town of Edam in the province of North Holland. Edam is traditionally sold in flat-ended spheres with a pale yellow interior and a coat, or rind, of red paraffin wax.

35. Julia of "The Addams Family": RAUL.   Raúl Rafael Carlos Juliá Arcelay [1940 - 1994]was a Puerto Rican actor. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, he took an interest in acting while still in school and pursued the career upon completion of his studies.

37. Area represented by Sen. Gillibrand: NYS.  New York State.  Kirsten Elizabeth Gillibrand [b 1966] is an American lawyer and politician serving as the junior United States senator from New York since 2009. 

42. Prez on a fiver: ABE.  Abraham Lincoln [1809 - 1865] was an American lawyer and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865.  His likeness is found of the 5 dollar bill.

45. Whole lot: SCAD.  A large number or amount.

46. Muscle twitch: SPASM.   A sudden involuntary muscular contraction or convulsive movement.

49. Tank top kin, briefly: CAMI.  A woman's loose-fitting undergarment for the upper body, typically held up by shoulder straps and having decorative trimming.  An example here.

51. Créme de la créme: A-LIST.   The best person or thing of a particular kind.    the A-LIST is a group of individuals of the highest level of society, excellence, or eminence.

54. Writer Bombeck: ERMA.  Erma Louise Bombeck [1927 - 1996] was an American humorist who achieved great popularity for her newspaper humor column describing suburban home life, syndicated from 1965 to 1996. She also published 15 books, most of which became bestsellers.

59. "Taxi" mechanic: LATKA.  Portrayed by Andy Kaufman [1949 - 1984]

60. __ mortals: MERE.  Ordinary people.

61. Place for a "snake bite" piercing: LIP.  Two lower lip piercings.  Not at all common among trombone players

62. "What __, chopped liver?": AM I.   The earliest use of this phrase in its derogatory sense -- that is, ''something trivial; something to be scoffed at'' -- in the Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang is by Jimmy Durante on his 1954 CBS-TV show: ''Now that ain't chopped liver. ''

68. Actor McKellen: IAN. Sir Ian Murray McKellen [b 1939] CH CBE is an English actor. His career spans seven decades, having performed in genres ranging from Shakespearean and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction.

69. Leading in a tight game: UP ONE.  Leading by a single point.

70. Barcelona's naciún: ESPAÑA.  Spain, in Spain.  

71. Flavor enhancer, for short: MSG.  MonoSodium Glutamate; the sodium salt of glutamic acid. MSG is found naturally in some foods including tomatoes and cheese in this glutamic acid form.

72. Buttonlike earring: STUD.

73. Squeaky ball, e.g.: DOG TOY.   Fun for your pup

Down:

1. Slight advantage: LEG UP.  Resulting from some assistance.

2. Apple pie order: ALA MODE.   Literally, fashionable or stylish.  On pie, it means topped with ice cream.

3. Starless?: UNRATED.  Of a movie, by critics.

4. "You __ your best": DID.  Sometimes it's not good enough.

5. Chicago-to-Toronto dir.: ENE. East, north-east.

6. Honolulu-born jet pilot who became a pop singer: DON HO.   Donald Tai Loy Ho [1930 - 2007] was an American traditional pop musician, singer and entertainer. He is best known for the song "Tiny Bubbles" from the album of the same name.

7. Galapagos Islands researcher: DARWIN.   Charles Robert Darwin [1809 - 1882] FRS FRGS FLS FZS was an English naturalist, geologist and biologist, best known for his contributions to evolutionary biology. His proposition that all species of life have descended from a common ancestor is now widely accepted and considered a fundamental concept in science.

8. Confirms, as a password: RE-ENTERS.   Enter and enter again.

9. Isl. with four provinces: IRE.   The four provinces of Ireland are Leinster, Ulster, Munster and Connaught.  Six of Ulster's 9 counties constitute Northern Ireland.

10. See 36-Down: PIN.

36. With 10-Down, politician's flag, often: LAPEL.  A lapel pin, also known as an enamel pin, is a small pin worn on clothing, often on the lapel of a jacket, attached to a bag, or displayed on a piece of fabric. Lapel pins can be ornamental or can indicate the wearer's affiliation with an organization or cause.

11. Traveling band: CARAVAN.   A group of people traveling together.  Originally, this referred to traders or pilgrims traveling across a desert in Asia or North Africa.

12. Private school: ACADEMY.   A place of higher education in a special field.

13. Foes that seem impossible to beat: NEMESES.   The inescapable agent of someone's or something's downfall.

16. Bk. read at Purim: ESTH.  ESTHER.  The book relates the story of a Hebrew woman in Persia, born as Hadassah but known as Esther, who becomes queen of Persia and thwarts a genocide of her people. The story forms the core of the Jewish festival of Purim, during which it is read aloud twice: once in the evening and again the following morning. 

19. Rubberneck: GAWK.  Stare openly and stupidly vs turn one's head to stare at something in a foolish manner.   Near equivalents, but not quite.

24. Tractor-trailer: RIG.   Big truck.

26. Amo, amas, __: AMAT. Conjugation of the the Latin verb meaning "to love."

27. Crypts: TOMBS.  Burial vaults, usually underground. 

28. "But it's a dry __": HEAT.  Presumably less uncomfortable due to low humidity.

29. Hints: CLUES.

34. Home of many L.A. Times readers: SO CAL.  Southern California.

39. "The Lion King" lion: NALA.    A fictional character in Disney's The Lion King film franchise. Introduced in the animated film The Lion King, Nala subsequently appears as a less prominent character in the film's sequels 

40. Word processor feature: EDIT MENU.  Where you can select text to copy or delete.

41. Melissa Benoist's role on "Supergirl": KARA.   Kara Danvers, also known as Kara Zor-El on her homeworld, is a fictional character in the Arrowverse franchise, mainly the television series Supergirl.

42. Accolades: ACCLAIM.  Enthusiastic and public praise.

43. Islands northeast of Cuba: BAHAMAS.   The Bahamas, officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is a country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the West Indies in the Atlantic. It takes up 97% of the Lucayan Archipelago's land area and is home to 88% of the archipelago's population.

44. Chewing the scenery: EMOTING.  Over-acting.

47. Welcome warmly: SMILE AT.

48. Rivera who holds the MLB record for career saves: MARIANO.   Mariano Rivera is a Panamanian-American former professional baseball pitcher who played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees, from 1995 to 2013. Nicknamed "Mo" and "Sandman", he spent most of his career as a relief pitcher and served as the Yankees' closer for 17 seasons.  He recorded 652 saves.

50. "Blech!": ICK.    Expressions of disgust or distaste.

52. Apparently was: SEEMED.  So it appeared.

53. Mega- squared: TERA.  Prefixes indicating large and even larger numbers or quantities.  Mega = 1 million, Tera = 1 trillion.

56. Hanauma Bay's island: OAHU.  Where Spam is popular, maybe.

57. Gave up: CEDED.   Relinquish control of possession of something, such as a territory, often unwillingly or because forced to do so:  

58. Fan out: SPLAY.  As fingers or limbs.

64. Photo __: OPS.   A photo op, short for photograph opportunity, is an arranged opportunity to take a photograph of a politician, a celebrity, or a notable event. The term was coined by the administration of US President Richard Nixon. William Safire credited its coinage to Bruce Whelihan, an aide to Nixon Press Secretary Ron Ziegler.

65. Clever remark: MOT.   Short for bon mot - a pithy or witty remark. 

66. Paul Anka's "__ Beso": ESO.  That kiss, from 1962.

 

 67. High hybrid stat: MPG.  A hybrid is a vehicle powered by both a gasoline engine and an electric motor.  It should achieve a high number of Miles Per Gallon of gasoline.

Thus ends our Wednesday repast.  Hope you didn't get indigestion.  I found it quite satisfying.

Cool regards, 

JzB

L.A. times crossword Wednesday, June 8, 2022 Huang-Kim Vu and Wendy L. Brandes

Theme:   Elementary, my dear Puzzle Solver.  One word of each them fill is a chemical element from the periodic table. 

17 A. There's an element of doubt to it?: WAFFLE IRON.  This is a kitchen device for pressing batter into a shape with dimpled surfaces.  IRON is a metallic element with the atomic number 26 and symbol Fe.  By mass, it is the most common element on earth.

23 A. There's an element of romance to it?: CARBON DATING.  This is the determination of the age or date of organic matter from the relative proportions of the CARBON [symbol C] isotopes carbon-12 and carbon-14 that it contains. The ratio between them changes as radioactive carbon-14 decays.  DATING is activity with someone - often, but not always, of the other gender - in pursuit of a romantic relationship. 

53 A. There's an element of mystery to it?: SILVER SCREEN.  Literally, the screen n which a motion picture is projected; by analogy, movies collectively, or the movie industry.  SILVER, beside being the Lone Ranger's horse, is a soft, white, lustrous transition metal with atomic number 47 and symbol Ag.  It has the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal.  Movies can be, among other things, mysteries, or dramas, or like 64 A.  I think this clue is a bit of a stretch.  But, then, silver is malleable.

64 A. There's an element of humor to it?: COMEDY GOLD.  This is common phrase describing something that is very funny.  GOLD  is a yellow metallic element with atomic number 79 and symbol Au, used especially in jewelry and decoration and to guarantee the value of currencies. 

Found this on Facebook

Hi, Gang - JazzBumpa here to analyze this elementary puzzle.  As someone with two long defunct chemistry degrees, I absolutely love this theme.  Let's see what other riches we can discover.

Across:

1. Where to hear cutting remarks?: SALON.  A place where a stylist can do your do.  Nicely clued.

6. Tiff: SPAT.  Quarrel.

10. "The one over there": THAT.   Indication of. specific thing.

14. "Gotta run!": I'M OFF.  Alternatively, "There's something wrong with me."

15. Sharpen: HONE.  As a knife edge or set of skins.

16. Corned beef __: HASH.  A mixture of chopped corned beef and potatoes.

19. Crazy about: INTO.  Relating to something you are involved with or enjoy.  Crazy about might be overstating it.

20. Prosecco kin: ASTI.   A pair od sparkling iotalian wines.

21. Start to matter?: ANTI-.  Anti-matter is a substance composed of subatomic particles that have the mass, electric charge, and magnetic moment of the electrons, protons, and neutrons of ordinary matter but for which the electric charge and magnetic moment are opposite in sign.  Matter can mean stuff, as a noun, or be of some importance, as a verb.  Despite the clever word play, this type of cutesy affix clue has long outlived it usefulness and amusement value.

22. Sing smoothly: CROON.

 

 26. Increased: ADDED TO.  Amped up.

29. Carving of a Polynesian god: TIKI.  In Polynesian mythology, tiki often represents the first human being on Earth created by the atua (deity) Tane, who, together with Hine-ahu-one, is considered humankind's progenitors. In areas of Polynesia, carved tiki figures were often thought to be a repository for a certain god's mana (prestige).

30. "Hips Don't __": Shakira hit: LIE.  Fairly sure this is not crooning.

 

There is no deceit in these body parts

 

31. "Yikes!": OH NO.  Exclamation of dismay.

33. Nana alternative: MEEMAW.  A grandmother's title, as bestowed by an infant.  This is what my son's kids called Gloria when they were learning to talk.  In contract, I remember, her son's oldest, Amanda, asking: "Do I have to call you that?"  We said she didn't.  

37. __ pressure: PEER.   Influence from members of one's peer group.  Can be good or bad.

39. Keebler baker: ELF.

 

 41. Gazpacho, por ejemplo: SOPA.  An example of soup - specifically, a cold soup made of raw, blended vegetables, of Spanish origin.

42. Fla. coastal city: ST. PETE.  More formally, St. Petersburg, on the Gulf coast, known as the sunshine city.

45. "The Daily Show" correspondent Lydic: DESI.   An American comedian and actress [b 1981] who is a correspondent on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. From 2011 to 2016, she starred as guidance counselor Valerie Marks on the MTV comedy-drama series Awkward. 

Correspondent

48. Fellows: MEN.  Guys.

49. __ Bradley bags: VERA.   This is an American luggage and handbag design company, founded by Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia R. Miller in 1982.

51. If nothing else: AT LEAST.  What you might have to settle for.

57. Leg joints: KNEES.   The joints between the thighs and the lower legs in humans.

58. Target on a putting green: HOLE.  Where you sink you putts.  And no gimmies!

59. "Got it": I SEE.  Understood.

63. Walkman descendant: I-POD.  A portable electronic device for playing and storing digital audio and video files.

66. Course catalog?: MENU.  The courses of a meal.  Another clever clue.

67. Father of Eros: ARES.  Ares is the Greek god of courage and war. He is one of the Twelve Olympians, and the son of Zeus and Hera.   Eros is the Greek god of love and sex.   Shakira reveals the truth about him.

68. Shoyu flavor: UMAMI.  Umami, or savoriness, is one of the five basic tastes. It has been described as savory and is characteristic of broths and cooked meats. People taste umami through taste receptors that typically respond to glutamates and nucleotides, which are widely present in meat broths and fermented products.

69. Cold spell: SNAP.  A weather event involving a cooling of the air, or the invasion of very cold air, over a large area. It is marked by a drop of average temperature well below the typical averages of a region.

70. Action at the track: BETS.  Wagers.

71. Analyze grammatically: PARSE.  Analyze a sentence into its parts and describe their syntactic roles.

Down:

1. Dancer/YouTube star JoJo __: SIWA.  Joelle Joanie "JoJo" Siwa [b2003] is an American dancer, singer, and YouTuber.  If interested, you can search her many videos on YouTube.

2. Reddit Q&A sessions: AMAs.  Ask Me Anythings.  [I might even answer.]

3. Ann Taylor __: LOFT.  Loft, originally Ann Taylor Loft, was established in 1996 as an extension of the original Ann Taylor brand, offers more relaxed fashions for work and home, in the "moderate" priced category.

4. One end of some commutes: OFFICE.  Work place for many.

5. Org. with Giants and Titans: NFL.  National Football League.

6. Tibia: SHIN BONE.  The tibia is the shinbone, the larger of the two bones in the lower leg. The top of the tibia connects to the knee joint and the bottom connects to the ankle joint. Although this bone carries the majority of the body's weight, it still needs the support of the fibula.  If hips dlm't lie, do fibula fib?

7. Coastal city on the Iberian Peninsula: PORTO.  Port in Spanish.

8. Choose, as a successor: ANOINT.   Figurative.  More literally, ceremonially confer divine or holy office upon (a priest or monarch) by smearing or rubbing with oil.

9. Uniform number for Sue Bird: TEN.   Suzanne Brigit Bird [b 1980] is an American-Israeli professional basketball player for the Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association. 

10. Decade that is less than a decade away: THIRTIES.  We are now in the twenties.  They are not roaring.

11. Location of Hoan Kiem Lake: HANOI.  In Viet Nam

12. __ Martin: British car: ASTON.  Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings PLC is an English manufacturer of luxury sports cars and grand tourers. 

13. Flip-flop: THONG.   A shoe that is held on by two straps that go next to the big toe. 

18. Habitat for humanity: EARTH.   Our home planet.

22. Celebratory slice: CAKE.  For birthdays, weddings, graduations, etc.

24. Big fuss: ADO.  A state of agitation or fuss, especially about something unimportant.

25. __ sum: bite-sized Chinese fare: DIM.  It is a large range of small Chinese dishes that are traditionally enjoyed in restaurants for brunch.

26. Range for yodelers?: ALPS.  Range can mean a number of things, depending on context.  Here it refers to mountains, not vocal tessitura. 

27. Nutrition regimen: DIET.  Foodstuffs selected in a nutritional strategy.

28. Profound: DEEP.  

32. Outdated: OLD.

34. NYC home of Frida Kahlo's "Self-Portrait With Cropped Hair": MOMA.  Museum Of Modern Art,  Frida came up the last time I blogged.

35. Chimps and gorillas: APES.   Any large primate that lacks a tail, including the gorilla, chimpanzee, orangutan, and gibbon.

36. Desire: WANT.

38. Really got going: REVVED UP.  Excited or enthused.

40. Like skeleton racers, seemingly: FEARLESS.   Skeleton is a winter sliding sport in which a person rides a small sled, known as a skeleton bobsled, down a frozen track while lying face down and head-first. 

43. Some concert merch: TEES.  Simple shirts, possibly with complex art work.

44. Mistakenly hit reply all, e.g.: ERR.  Make a mistake.

46. Trusty mount: STEED.  Just so.

47. __ de la Cité: Paris landmark: ILE.  An island in the river Seine in the center of Paris. In the 4th century, it was the site of the fortress of the Roman governor. In 508, Clovis I, the first King of the Franks, established his palace on the island.

50. On dry land: ASHORE.

52. Puzzle: ENIGMA. Something that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand.

53. Leafs (through): SKIMS. An act of reading something quickly or superficially.

54. How contracts are usually signed: IN PEN.  For permanence.  INK also fits.

55. "Bleeding Love" singer Lewis: LEONA.  Leona Louise Lewis [b, 1985] is a British singer, songwriter, actress, model and activist.

Lips can lie

56. Cleaner sold in green canisters: COMET.  

60. Rocket: SOAR.  Fly high.

61. Shady bunch?: ELMS.  Shade giving trees - they don't lie.

62. Singer Brickell: EDIE.  Edie Arlisa Brickell [b 1966] is an American singer-songwriter widely known for 1988's Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars, the debut album by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, which went to No. 4 on the Billboard albums chart. She is married to singer-songwriter Paul Simon.

64. Taxi: CAB.  A vehicle that carries paying passengers 

65. "You betcha": YUP.  Slangy agreement.

So ends another Wednesday's offering.  Hope you reacted well to it.

Cool regards!

JzB

L.A. Times Crossword Wednesday, May 25, 2022 Lynn Lempel

Theme: What's in a name?  The first name of a well known person is repurposed as the second word of an in-the-language phrase, and humor ensues.  

17 A. Make Todd stay home after a "Meet the Press" blooper?: GROUND CHUCK.  Literally, this is GROUND up meat from the front part of the cow, with a high fat content.  CHUCK Todd is the regular host of "Meet the press" an hour-long Sunday Morning public affairs program. Being grounded is a stay-at-home punishment for bad behavior.  Does he deserve it?  You decide.

25. Refuse to let Wood exhibit "American Gothic"?: BLOCK GRANT.  A BLOCK GRANT is money from central government which a local authority can allocate to a wide range of services.  GRANT Wood pointed the famous picture cited in the clue.

38. Make Garfunkel pay for breaking a recording contract?: FINE ART.  ARThur Ira Garfunkel is an American singer, poet, and actor. He is best known for his partnership with Paul Simon in the folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel.  A FINE is a punishment for malfeasance.  FINE ART is creative art, especially visual art whose products are to be appreciated primarily or solely for their imaginative, aesthetic, or intellectual content.

49. Donate twice as much as Gates?: DOUBLE BILL. A DOUBLE BILL a program of entertainment with two main items or personalities.  To DOUBLE somebody is to do twice as well or twice as much in some endeavor.  William Henry [BILL] Gates III is an American business magnate, software developer, investor, author, and philanthropist. He is a co-founder of Microsoft, along with his late childhood friend Paul Allen.

60. Maneuver Phillips into telling how he got the "Dateline NBC" job?: CORNER STONE.  This is the STONE that forms the base of a corner of a building, joining two walls.  Presumable the most important item in the base of the structure.  STONE Stockton Phillips is an American television reporter and correspondent. He is best known as the former co-anchor of Dateline NBC, a news magazine TV series.

Hi gang, JazzBumpa here to anchor today's episode.  I truly love this theme.   Less enamored with the rest of the puzzle, though, which is rather over-endowed in the proper name department.  Let's see what else we can report on.

Across:
1. Andre with eight Grand Slam wins: AGASSI.  Andre Kirk Agassi [b 1970] is an American former world No. 1 tennis player. He is an eight-time major champion and an Olympic gold medalist, as well as a runner-up in seven other majors. 

7. Russell of "The Americans": KERI.  Keri Lynn Russell is an American actress. She portrayed the titular character on the drama series Felicity, which won her a Golden Globe Award, and Elizabeth Jennings on the FX spy thriller series The Americans, which earned her nominations for several Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe Awards.

An American

11. Indian state in the Western Ghats: GOA.  Goa is a state in western India with coastlines stretching along the Arabian Sea. Its long history as a Portuguese colony prior to 1961 is evident in its preserved 17th-century churches and the area’s tropical spice plantations. 

14. Lanai furniture material: RATTAN.   a type of material that is used in wicker weaves. Rattan is a naturally growing vine like species that is native to tropical regions of Australia, Asia, and Africa. For production use, the skin is peeled away and utilized for weaving purposes.

15. "You said it!": AMEN.

16. Furthermore: AND.  Not only that, but. .  .  .

19. Untruth: LIE.  Mendacity.

20. Large planter: URN.  A tall, rounded vase with a base.

21. Barnacle spot: KEEL.  A barnacle ia a marine crustacean with an external shell, which attaches itself permanently to a variety of surfaces. Barnacles feed by filtering particles from the water using their modified feathery legs.  In shipbuilding, the KEEL is the main structural member and backbone of a ship or boat, running longitudinally along the centre of the bottom of the hull from stem to stern. 

22. Hoofbeat sound: CLOP.

23. "Breath, __, Memory": Edwidge Danticat novel: EYES.   The novel deals with questions of racial, linguistic and gender identity in interconnected ways. 

29. LEGO buys: KITS.   A set of parts to be put together to make a finished object

31. Long-necked waders: HERONS.  Any of various long-necked and long-legged wading birds (family Ardeidae) with a long tapering bill, large wings, and soft plumage.   I was lucky to get this picture of one.

32. Iberian peninsula country: SPAIN.   Along with Portugal, Andorra, Gibraltar, and a sliver of France.

35. Bigelow or DuVernay: DIRECTOR.  Film makers

37. "__ we meet again": 'TIL.  Short for "until."

41. Regret: RUE.

42. Hands over: ENTRUSTS.

44. Luxor's country: EGYPT.

46. Folklore monsters: TROLLS.  Large creatures from Scandinavian mythology, typically living in caves or mountains.   They are cruel and hostile to humans and other living things. 

47. Lavish party: GALA.

51. Family nickname: PAPA.  Bumpa doesn't fit.

55. MLB stat: RBIS.  Runs Batted In.

56. Retain: KEEP. Hold as one's own.

58. Filing aid: TAB.  A small flap or strip of material attached to or projecting from something, used to hold or manipulate it, or for identification and information.

59. "You got it": YES.  Agreement

64. "Mangia!": EAT.  Italian.

65. "Motor Trend" topic: AUTO.  A motor car.

66. Pad of paper: TABLET.  A writing pad.

67. Med. caregivers: RNS. Registered Nurses.

68. Cook up: BREW.  Devise a clever or devious story, excuse, or plan.

69. Uses delaying tactics: STALLS.

Down:

1. Quarrel: ARGUE.  Make a fuss

2. "Lincoln at Gettysburg" Pulitzer winner Wills: GARRY.  Garry Wills [b 1934] is an American author, journalist, and historian, specializing in American history, politics, and religion, especially the history of the Catholic Church. He won a Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction in 1993.

3. Square things: ATONE.  Make amends.  Here, "square" is a verb, not the adjective you might have expected.

4. Disco __ of "The Simpsons": STU.  Stuart Discothèque, usually known as Disco Stu, is the owner of Stu's Disco. He is a disco aficionado and is usually featured wearing a rhinestone-encrusted leisure suit from the 70's and sports an Afro. The son of Doo-Wop Steve and Public Domain Debbie.

Simpson's Wiki

5. Went to the bottom: SANK.  [Glub]

6. Behind, so to speak: IN DEBT.  Failing to make payments, as due.

7. "The Two Fridas" painter: KAHLO.  Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón [1907 - 1954] was a Mexican painter known for her many portraits, self-portraits, and works inspired by the nature and artifacts of Mexico.   The painting is a double self-portrait.

8. Bird that won't fly away: EMU.   The second-largest living bird by height, after its ratite relative, the ostrich. It is endemic to Australia where it is the largest native bird and the only extant member of the genus Dromaius.

9. __ room: REC.  A place dedicated to fun and games.

10. HP product: INK.  Stuff you can print with.

11. Valor: GALLANTRY.  Courageous behavior, especially in battle.

12. Bowlful often topped with melted GruyËre: ONION SOUP.

13. Skilled (at): ADEPT.

18. Animator's sheets: CELS.  Transparent sheets of celluloid or similar film material, which can be drawn on and used in the production of cartoons.

22. Gator kin: CROC.  Large aquatic reptiles in the Crocodilia order.  They have mostly different habitats.

I give you now Professor Twist,

A conscientious scientist,

Trustees exclaimed, "He never bungles!"

And sent him off to distant jungles.

Camped on a tropic riverside,

One day he missed his loving bride.

She had, the guide informed him later,

Been eaten by an alligator.

Professor Twist could not but smile.

"You mean," he said, "a crocodile."

-- Ogden Nash

24. Need a lift, maybe: SKI.   The lift gets you to the top of the hill so you can SKI back down.

26. __ seed pudding: CHIA.  A custard like desert made from chia seeds and some type of milk, with optional flavorings and toppings.

27. Golden State Warriors coach Steve: KERR.  Stephen Douglas Kerr [b 1965] is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association. He is an eight-time NBA champion, having won five titles as a player as well as three with the Warriors as a head coach.

28. Storybook sister: GRETEL. Sibling of Hansel.  The two children are abandoned in the forest where they are captured by a witch who intends to fatten them up and eat them.  Gretel outwits the witch and kills her, and the children escape with her treasure.  Arya Stark doesn't fit.

30. Completely: IN FULL.  With nothing omitted.

32. Sault __ Marie: STE.   Sault Ste. Marie is the only city in, and county seat of, Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. With a population of 14,144 at the 2010 census, it is the second-most populated city in the Upper Peninsula after Marquette.

33. Speckled legume: PINTO BEAN.    A variety of common bean. In Spanish they are called judías pintas, literally "speckled bean". It is the most popular bean by crop production in Northern Mexico and the Southwestern United States, and is most often eaten whole, or mashed and then refried.

34. Humanitarians: ALTRUISTS.   Those who are concerned with or seeking to promote human welfare.

35. __ Plaines, Illinois: DES.   A city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 60,675. The city is a suburb of Chicago and is located just north of O'Hare International Airport. 

36. Jobless, in a way: Abbr.: RETired.  Having left the work force to to age or infirmity.

39. Archipelago part: ISLE.  An individual island in a chain.

40. Govt. crash investigator: NTSB.  National Transportation Safety Board.

43. Steals from: ROBS.  Unlawfully taking property from a person or place by force or threat of force.

45. Opening: GAP.

47. High spirits: GLEE.   High spirited joy.  In Old English this was the specific joy resulting from song.   Possibly related to the group of Germanic words in gl- with senses of "shining; smooth; radiant; joyful" 

48. Phone notifications: ALERTS.  Messages sent to help you see information that could potentially save either your life or someone else's. 

49. Laundry appliance: DRYER.  For your laundry.

50. "No need to remind me": I KNOW.

52. Ring-shaped reef: ATOLL.  A coral island consisting of a reef surrounding a lagoon. 

53. Group of jurors: PANEL.  A small group of people chosen to give advice, make a decision, or publicly discuss their opinions.

54. Helps in a heist: ABETS.   Encourages or assists (someone) to do something wrong, in particular, to commit a crime or other offense.

57. Jr. challenge: PSAT.   The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is a standardised test administered by the College Board and cosponsored by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation in the United States. 

60. Pinot alternative: CAB.  Short for Cabernet Sauvignon, a red wine made from a variety of black wine grape of the same name from the Bordeaux area of France, now grown throughout the world.

61. Sharing word: OUR.  Yours and mine.

62. GPS display: RTE.  Route - a way to get from here to there.

63. Scheduling abbr.: TBA.  To Be Announced.

So concludes another Wednesday.  Have a happy middle of the week.

Cool regards!

JzB

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 Robin Stears

Theme: A Quip in three parts.

17 A. First part of a quip about climate change: A MIND CONTROLLED.

27 A. Second part of the quip: AIR DEODORIZER.

45. Third part of the quip: MAKES SCENTS IF.

60. Last part of the quip: YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

It's not clear what this has to do with climate change, but oh, well.  I hold this type of theme in very low regard.  Let's move on.

Across:

1. Works in a park, perhaps: STATUES.  Works of art, not labors

8. Chooses: SELECTS.  Opts for

15. City of ancient Greece: CORINTH.  It is located in south-central Greece.   Some guy named Paul wrote letters to his fellow congregants there.

16. Steelmaking raw material: IRON ORE.  It is often found in sedimentary rocks.  The most important 
such minerals are hematite [Fe₂O₃] and magnetite [Fe₃O₄]. 

19. "Cool beans!": NEATO.  Like, a-wow, man!

20. Cookware purchase: POT. Or PAN.  needed perps.

21. Streaming delay: LAG.  Be patient.  it's buffering.

22. Finale: END.  All done.

24. Cornish game __: HEN.  It's just a chicken

26. Abhor: HATE.  Can't stand.

32. "This Is Just My Face: __ Not to Stare": memoir by Gabourey Sidibe: TRY.  Reflections of an unlikely movie star.

33. Green, in a way: NEW.  Raw, too, I suppose.

34. Hearing organ: EAR.  Eh?

35. 2020 N.L. MVP Freddie: FREEMAN.  My grandson Nate is a Dodgers fan and was delighted that they signed him to a six year deal after he spent 12 seasons in Atlanta.  He set a team record in the first game of a double header on Saturday, hitting 3 doubles in 4 plate appearances. in the second game he added a single and a walk as the Dodgers swept the Cubs

38. Beverage similar to hard seltzer: ALCOPOP.  An alcopop is any of certain flavored alcoholic beverages with relatively low alcohol content (e.g., 3–7% alcohol by volume), including: Malt beverages to which various fruit juices or other flavorings have been added.

42. Short lunch?: BLT.  An abbreviated bacon-lettuce and tomato sandwich.

43. Form 1099 agcy.: IRS.  The infernal Revenue Service.

44. Future flower: BUD.  if it doesn't get nipped.

49. Time for action: D-DAY. June 6, 1944 in World War II on which Allied forces invaded northern France by means of beach landings in Normandy.   By analogy then, any day on which an important operation is to begin or a change to take effect.

51. With 58-Down, 2018 Best New Artist Grammy winner: DUA.  Due Lipa b 1995] is an English singer and songwriter. Possessing a mezzo-soprano vocal range, she is known for her signature disco-pop and R&B sound.  Sorry.  Never heard of her.

At the 2020 Granmy Ceremony

52. Land north of Den.: NOR.  Denmark and Norway.  our Granddaughter Alexa will be studying this summer in Copenhagen and Stockholm [Sweden.] 

53. Decompose: ROT.  Return to dust.

54. __ and cheese: MAC.  First I entered HAM.  Either way, now I'm hungry.

56. Works very hard: TOILS.  Possibly in a park, maybe, could be

65. Neither here nor there: EN ROUTE.  On the way

66. Flute played by Zamfir: PAN PIPE.

67. Confirm, as a password: RE-ENTER.  Don;t miss-type uit.

68. Syrup source: TREE SAP.  Maple, I hope.

Down:

1. PC virus check: SCAN.

2. Hefty book: TOME.  A large, heavy scholarly one.

3. Opera solo: ARIA.  A long accompanied song for a solo voice, typically one in an opera or oratorio.

4. Like some windows: TINTED.  Colored to reduce heat load from the sun.

5. Brought to ruin: UNDONE.   Something has either not gone as planned, or has failed in some way. 

6. "The rest is obvious" abbr.: ETC.  And so on. .  .  .

7. Factory: SHOP.  Manufacturing facility.

8. Minor minder: SITTER.  Person who watches over the little ones.

9. "To __ is human ... ": ERR.  Oops -- my mistake.

10. British lav: LOO.   Necessary facility.

11. Picture that shows more detail: Abbr.: ENL.  Enlargement.

12. Tall decorative addition around some cakes: COLLAR.  If you say so.
  
13. Spring for lunch: TREAT.   To buy for your companion[s.]

14. Swamp plant: SEDGE.  A grasslike plant with triangular stems and inconspicuous flowers, growing typically in wet ground. 

18. "Ain't gonna happen": NO HOW.   Ain't no time, ain't no place, ain't no way.

23. Was philanthropic: DONATED.   Gave support to a worthy cause.

25. Leslie of "The Naked Gun" films: NIELSEN.  Leslie William Nielsen [1926.2010] OC was a Canadian-American actor and comedian. With a career spanning 60 years, he appeared in more than 100 films and 150 television programs, portraying more than 220 characters. 

26. Long lunch?: HERO.  A stacked sandwich on a long bun.

27. DOJ branch: ATF.  Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is a branch of the Department of Justice.

28. Sale rack abbr.: IRRegular.

29. Pumpernickel grain: RYE.  For bread.

30. Animal house: DEN.  Or PEN.  Are they wild or domestic?

31. Actor Efron who voices Fred in "Scoob!": ZAC.  Zachary David Alexander Efron [b 1987] is an American actor and singer. He began acting professionally in the early 2000s and rose to prominence in the late 2000s for his leading role as Troy Bolton in the High School Musical trilogy. During this time, he also starred in the musical film Hairspray and the comedy film 17 Again.

36. Site to do one's bidding: EBAY.  On line auction site.

37. "Letter From Birmingham Jail" initials: MLK.   the late Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. [1929 - 1968]

38. __ de Triomphe: ARC.  This monument in Paris honors those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, with the names of all French victories and generals inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I.

39. TV network with pledge drives: PBS.  Public Broadcasting Service.

40. "Certainement!": OUI.  Yes, at the Arc de Triomphe

41. Adobe file format: PDF.  Portable Document Format.  It allows documents to be transferred across otherwise incompatible systems.

43. "Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing" singer Chris: ISAAK.  Christopher Joseph Isaak [b 1956] is an American musician and occasional actor. He is widely known for his hit "Wicked Game", as well as the songs "Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing" and "Somebody's Crying". He is known for his signature 1950s rock & roll style and crooner sound, as well as his falsetto and reverb-laden music.

45. Grown-up: MATURE.  Adult, presumably.

46. Sting's real last name: SUMNER.  Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner CBE [b 1951], known as Sting, is an English musician, singer, songwriter and actor. He was the frontman, songwriter and bassist for new wave rock band the Police from 1977 to 1984.

 

I had forgotten about this song.

 47. Zip, nada, zilch: NOT ONE.  NOT ANY also fits, unfortunately.

48. Group of traveling performers: TROUPE.

49. Appliance that seems to eat socks: DRYER.   Truth!

50. Lorna of literature: DOONE.  The eponym for a historical romance novel, in which a fictional story is set in the context of real historical events and figures.

55. Ship leader: Abbr.: CAPT.   This threw me, as I was exception CAP'N.  Either way it means captain.

57. "For sure!": IT IS.  Affirmative

58. See 51-Across: LIPA.  Still never heard of her.

59. Pedometer unit: STEP.  A pedometer is an instrument for estimating the distance traveled on foot by recording the number of steps taken.

61. Heavy weight: TON. Two thousand pounds.

62. Shack: HUT.  A small, simple, single-story house or shelter.

63. Mineral suffix: -ITE.  Cf 16A.

64. Watering hole: BAR.  Informal reference to a tavern.

So, we end this Wednesday adventure with the chance for a cold drink.

Cheers!

JzB

L.A. Times Crossword Wednesday, April 20, 2022 C.C. Burnikel

Theme:  Challenges!  Here, the theme is displayed in the clues rather than the fill.  Each clue can be interpreted as a challenging expression, or perhaps a dare.  But then the associated fill responds to a quite different sense of the clue.  A very clever twist by our own fearless leader.

17. Top that!: WEDDING CAKE.  Do better if you can! [You can't.] A wedding cake is topped with frosting, of course, and often with little bride and groom statues.

30. Beat that!: STEEL DRUM.  Do better if you can! [Nope - It's unbeatable]. But you can beat a SRARE DRUM, my first choice; or, more melodically, the actual given fill.

46. Strike that!: POWER POSE . Take a swing. [You'll miss] But it still might be a great photo op.

63. Take that!: COFFEE BREAK.  Said while delivering a stout clout.  Then we can rest a bit, and have a cup.

Across:

1. Nail tech's layers: COATS.  Of polish

6. Open mic night host: EM CEE.  Master of Ceremonies.

11. Automated Twitter user: BOT.   A software application that runs automated tasks over the Internet, usually with the intent to emulate human activity on the Internet, such as messaging, on a large scale.

14. Fire in the belly: ARDOR.  Enthusiasm or passion.

15. Take one's sweet time: DALLY.  I prefer to dawdle.

16. Dedicated lines: ODE.  A lyric poem in the form of an address to a particular subject, often elevated in style or manner and written in varied or irregular meter.

19. Prefix with binary: NON-.  A negating prefix.  Non-binary is an umbrella term for gender identities that are neither male nor female‍—‌identities that are outside the gender binary.  It's complicated.

20. Fair: SO-SO.  Mediocre.

21. Consider: DEEM.  Make a judgment.

22. Kabocha or pumpkin, e.g.: GOURD.  A fleshy, typically large fruit with a hard skin, some varieties of which are edible.

24. Make-up artist?: LIAR.  Ha!  Someone who contrives untruths.

26. Mike who voices Shrek: MYERS.  Michael John Myers, OC (born May 25, 1963) is a Canadian actor, comedian, director, producer and screenwriter. His accolades include seven MTV Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. In 2002, he was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2017, he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada for "his extensive and acclaimed body of comedic work as an actor, writer, and producer." [Wikipedia]
 
28. David Ortiz's 1,768, briefly: RBIS.   Runs Batted In.  You knew there would be baseball!  David Américo Ortiz Arias (born November 18, 1975), nicknamed "Big Papi", is a Dominican-American former professional baseball designated hitter and first baseman who played 20 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), primarily with the Boston Red Sox. He also played for the Minnesota Twins. During his 14 seasons with the Red Sox, he was a ten-time All-Star, a three-time World Series champion, and a seven-time Silver Slugger winner. Ortiz also holds the Red Sox single-season record for home runs with 54, which he set during the 2006 season. [Wikipedia]

34. Park fixture for two: SEE-SAW.  It has its ups and downs.

36. SoFi Stadium player: RAM.  American football.

37. Half and half: ONE.  Simple addition, not from the creamery.

38. Caroline du Sud, e.g.: ETAT.  South Carolina is a State, but not in France.

39. Like some angles: ACUTE.  Less than 90 degrees.

41. Intestinal fortitude: GUTS.  Courage and perseverance; grit; pluck. 

42. __ on the side of caution: ERR.  Be careful.

43. Soon-to-be grads: SRS.  Seniors.

44. Realm entered through a wardrobe: NARNIA.  From the series of books by C. S. Lewis.

50. Miami-__ County: DADE.  In FLA.

51. "Count me out": I PASS.

52. Wee: ITSY.  Teeny tiny.

54. Test versions: BETAS.  A version of a piece of software that is made available for testing, typically by a limited number of users outside the company that is developing it, before its general release.

56. Farm skyscraper: SILO.  A tower on a farm used to store grain.

58. Hairstyle for Nina Simone: AFRO.  Eunice Kathleen Waymon (February 21, 1933 – April 21, 2003), known professionally as Nina Simone, was an American singer, songwriter, musician, arranger, and civil rights activist. Her music spanned styles including classical, jazz, blues, folk, R&B, gospel and pop. [Wikipedia]

Source

62. "Kinda": ISH. More or less.

66. Hoover, for one: DAM.  Hold back the water.

67. Come about: ARISE. Happen, ensue.

68. Like a foggy trail path: EERIE.  Spooky.

69. Four-time WNBA champion Bird: SUE.  Suzanne Brigit Bird (born October 16, 1980) is an American-Israeli professional basketball player for the Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).[1] Bird was drafted by the Storm first overall in the 2002 WNBA draft and is considered to be one of the greatest players in WNBA history. As of 2021, Bird is the only WNBA player to win titles in three different decades. She held a front office position for the NBA's Denver Nuggets as their Basketball Operations Associate. She has also played for three teams in Russia. She holds both U.S. and Israeli citizenship. [Wikipedia]

70. Divulge: LET ON.  Reveal.

71. Fine partner: DANDY.  Used to express agreement or approval 

Down:

1. Cornfield calls: CAWS.  Songs of crows

2. Cookie that has a lychee flavor in China: OREO.  Crossword favorite cookie - all over the world.

3. States further: ADDS.

4. Slate of chores: TO DO LIST.  Get busy.

5. __ Lanka: SRI.  Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, and southeast of the Arabian Sea; it is separated from the Indian subcontinent by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait.  [Wikipedia]

6. Trimming tools: EDGERS. 

7. Nutmeg spice: MACE.  Nutmegs are the actual seeds of the tree while mace is what is known as an airl—the protective coating of the seed.

8. Chewy chowder chunk: CLAM MEAT.  

9. Animal on Idaho's state seal: ELK.  The elk, also known as the wapiti, is one of the largest species within the deer family, Cervidae, and one of the largest terrestrial mammals in its native range of North America, as well as Central and East Asia. [Wikipedia]

10. Application that may help reduce crow's-feet: EYE GEL.

11. Game show climax, often: BONUS ROUND.

12. Garbage feature: ODOR.  Smell or reek.

13. Mind, as a bar: TEND.  To apply oneself to the care of something.

18. Doc intended to prevent leaks: NDA.  Non-Disclosure Agreement.

23. Windy City airport code: ORD.  Chicago O'hare International Airport.

25. Ariana Grande's "God __ Woman": IS A.

27. Gulf of Aden republic: YEMEN.    A country in Western Asia, on the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It borders Saudi Arabia to the north and Oman to the northeast and shares maritime borders with Eritrea, Djibouti, Somaliland and Somalia.

28. Evoking the past: RETRO.

29. "Just wait a bit more!": BEAR WITH ME.  How much can you put up with?

31. Tie for roasting: TRUSS.  

32. Remove, as a ribbon: UNTIE.

33. Painted Desert landform: MESA.  Flat topped, steep sided hill.

34. Leak out slowly: SEEP.  As though a porous material or small holes/

35. Stinging insects: WASPS.   Winged insects related to the bee and ant that have a slender body with the abdomen attached by a narrow stalk and that in females and workers are capable of giving a very painful sting.

40. Regimen with Workouts of the Day: CROSS FIT.  A high-intensity fitness program incorporating elements from several sports and types of exercise.

41. Ambiguous point: GRAY AREA.  Region of uncertainty.

45. Podcast interrupters: ADS.  Annoyances.

47. Org. regulating pesticides: EPA.  Environmental Protection Agency/

48. Mischief-maker: RASCAL.

49. Freestyle skier Gu who won two gold medals at the 2022 Winter Olympics: EILEEN.  Eileen Feng Gu (born September 3, 2003), also known by her Chinese name Gu Ailing (Chinese: 谷爱凌), is an American-born freestyle skier, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and model. She has competed for China in halfpipe, slopestyle, and big air events since 2019.

Wikipedia

53. Where to wear a metti: TOE.  A toe ring.

54. Auction actions: BIDS.  Offer (a certain price) for something, especially at an auction.

55. Old Testament twin: ESAU.  Older brother of Jacob.

57. "In that case ... ": IF SO.  Well, maybe then . . .

59. Terrarium plant: FERN.   A class of nonflowering vascular plants that possess true roots, stems, and complex leaves and that reproduce by spores.

60. Bust: RAID.  As by narcotics police.

61. "__-dokey!": OKEY.  Phrase of agreement.

64. Foundry delivery: ORE.  To me smelted.

65. Place to retire: BED.  For the night, not permanently.

So ends another Wednesday.  Hope you were up to the challenge.

Afterthought: The last time I blogged I mentioned that granddaughter Amanda had informed me that sit-ups were a disfavored exercise.  This got some push back.  Yes, it's true that sit-ups and crunches have been around for a long time.  But it's also true that with the passage of time we occasionally  learn more and better information; and that the old way of doing things is not always the best.  My first thought was that someone who has recently earned professional certification in a certain field might actually know what she's talking about.  The reality is that a perfectly executed sit up might have some benefit in developing core muscles.  But in terms of risk and reward, it's a bad bargain. The risks are that if not perfectly done, sit-ups can cause a bulge in the lower abdomen - exactly the opposite of what is desired; and, even worse, damage the lower back.  Further, there are more effective exercises that do not pose these risks.  For more information you can google "don't do sit ups" and find several pages of detail.

Cool regards!

JzB

L.A. Times Crossword Wednesday, April 6, 2022 Julian Lim

Theme: When the theme entries are vertical, it generally means there is some sort of a gimmick.  The presence of circles in the grid confirms this notion.  If you didn't get them, then this theme would be very opaque.  The circled letters, when read in reverse, spell part a certain kind of fitness activity.  The vertical orientation suggests that the implied common word is UP.  

3 D. "It's safe to come out": THE COAST IS CLEAR.  Idiomatic, suggesting that there are no enemies in sight.  The contained word, when read up is SIT, giving us the SIT UP --  an abdominal endurance training exercise to strengthen, tighten and tone the abdominal muscles.  Our multi-talented oldest granddaughter, Amanda, is a certified fitness trainer, and she assures me that this is a completely useless activity.

9 D. Predictors of most 20th-century U.S. presidential elections: GALLUP POLLS.  Gallop is an organization that conducts polls: assessments of public opinion by the questioning of a [presumably] statistically representative sample.  Here the contained word is PULL.  A PULL UP  is a closed-chain movement where the body is suspended by the hands and pulls up. As this happens, the elbows flex and the shoulders adduct and extend to bring the elbows to the torso.  Resistance is provided by body weight.

25 D. User's rescuer: TECH SUPPORT. This is a service provided by a hardware or software company which provides registered users with help and advice about their products.  The contained word is PUSH.  The PUSH UP is an exercise in which a person lies facing the floor and, keeping their back straight, raises their body by pressing down on their hands.

11 D. Workout suggested by the circled letters and their orientation: EXERCISE ROUTINE.  This is what you get when you combine these items.  My routine involves a tread mill and free weights, instead.

Hi gang, JazzBumpa here.  I'm not a fitness trainer, but I will be guiding us along as we exercise our brains in this puzzle routine.  Let's hit it.

Across:

1. Bank security device, briefly: CCTV.  Closed Circuit TV.

5. Aim high: GO BIG. Or, as the saying tells us, go home.

10. Harvest: REAP.  Gathering in of crops.

14. "Fancy meeting you here!": OH, HI.  Sometimes said in awkward situations.

15. Vital vessel: AORTA. The main artery of the body, supplying oxygenated blood to the circulatory system. In humans it passes over the heart from the left ventricle and runs down in front of the backbone

16. Semi bar: AXLE.  A rod or spindle (either fixed or rotating) passing through the center of a wheel or group of wheels. A semi is a tractor trailer rig, which will have several AXLES.

17. Gardener's buy: SEED.  For starting new plants.

18. Shoulder warmer: SHAWL.  An article of fabric worn over the shoulders and/or head.

19. Table parts: FEET.  Person parts, too.

20. Region on the South China Sea: MACAO.  An autonomous region on the south coast of China, across the Pearl River Delta from Hong Kong. 

22. Members with unflinching loyalty: STALWARTS.  Those who are loyal, reliable, and hardworking.

24. Landlord's sign: TO LET.  Meaning: for rent.

26. __ Ellen, J.R.'s wife on "Dallas": SUE.  Portrayed by Linda Grey

Unflattering assessment

27. Maximum: CAP.  As in a limit on spending.

28. HHS agency: FDA. Food and Drug Administration.

29. Exchange need: RECEIPT.  As in returning a purchase to a retail establishment for a refund or replacement.

32. 12-Down output: IPA.  India Pale Ale, a hoppy brew.

33. "No problem!": EASY.  Piece of cake.

35. ER skill practiced on a doll: CPR.  Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

36. Pet-adoption ads, briefly: PSAS.  Public Service Announcements.

38. Part of MB: BYTE. The Megabyte [MB] unit of information equal to 2^20 bytes or, loosely, one million bytes.  A byte consists of 8 adjacent binary digits (bits), each of which consists of a 0 or 1. 

39. Couldn't refuse: HAD TO.  No choice.

41. Text recipient: CELL.  Cellular telephone

44. Tattoo parlor supplies: INKS.   And needles.

46. Pussy-cat's partner, in verse: OWL.  In this bit of doggerel.  Or, perhaps, it's catterel.

47. One with many limbs: TREE.  

48. Facebook barrage, at times: ADS.  Unfortunately.

50. Unconscious: OUT COLD. Unconscious or asleep.

53. "Srsly?!": OMG. Oh My Goodness! [perhaps]

54. Media-monitoring org.: FCC.  Federal Communications Commission.

55. "Up First" network: NPR.  National Public Radio.

56. Flu fighter: SERUM.  A fluid used to provide immunity to a pathogen or toxin by inoculation or as a diagnostic agent.

58. Emotionally break down: FALL APART.  

Like this

62. "__ while they're hot!": GET 'EM. Whatever they happen to be.

64. Bicolor cookie: OREO.  Crossword's favorite cookie.

65. Dinnertime draws: ODORS.  Aromas are more inviting.

67. Italian tower city: PISA.

68. End of the line: REAR.  Back end,

69. Burning again: RELIT.  As upon seeing an old flame?

70. Column in math: ONES. Tens, hundreds, thousands . . .

71. Risk it: DARE.  Take a chance.  It can be beautiful.

72. Walk heavily: TROMP. Or STOMP.

73. Pursue: SEEK.  Follow, attempt to catch.

Down:

1. Micro- ending: -COSM.  A community, place, or situation regarded as encapsulating in miniature the characteristic qualities or features of something much larger.

2. Calorie counter's break: CHEAT DAY.   Based on the idea that a dieter can 'cheat' for one day a week as long as they eat to their diet plan for the remaining six days.

4. Author Gore: VIDAL.  Eugene Luther Gore Vidal [1925 - 2012] was an American writer and public intellectual known for his epigrammatic wit, erudition, and patrician manner. Vidal was bisexual, and in his novels and essays interrogated the social and cultural sexual norms he perceived as driving American life. 

5. Fun time, in slang: GAS.

6. Fireworks cries: OOHS.  Not to mention Aahs.

7. Frank's cousin: BRAT.  Two naughty boys?  No, wieners and BRATwurst - types of sausages.

8. Formal confession: IT WAS I.  Yep.  I done dooed it.

10. Nadal's nickname: RAFA.  Rafael Nadal Parera [b 1986] is a Spanish professional tennis player. He is ranked world No. 4 in singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals; he has been ranked world No. 1 for 209 weeks and finished as the year-end No. 1 five times. 

12. Pub dispenser: ALE TAP.  Keg dispenser

13. Pampering spot for cats and dogs: PET SPA. 

21. Above, in poems: O'ER. As, frex, ramparts.

23. Dampens: WETS.  Moistens.

28. Winter mo.: FEBruary.  Shortest because it's the worst.

30. Bookkeeping pro: CPA.  Certified Public Accountant.

31. Triage MD: ER DOC.  Emergency Room physician.   Triage is the assignment of degrees of urgency to wounds or illnesses to decide the order of treatment of a large number of patients or casualties.

34. Craving: YEN.  I thought about going to Japan but didn't have the YEN to travel.

37. Pretense that's put on: ACT.  As in a play, or sometime in real life.

40. 28-Down number: TWO.  Because it's the second month of the year.

42. "I wanna look!": LEMME SEE.  The more proper "Let me see" also fits.

43. Thanksgiving dinner choice: LEG.  Commonly called a drum stick.  Always my first choice.

45. Hawaii's __ Coast: KONA.  Coffee region, I believe.

48. Pay for on one's own: AFFORD.  The ability of pay for something.

49. Georgetown Univ. locale: DC AREA.  Near the nation's capitol.

51. Wall Street regular: TRADER.  One who frequently buys and sells stocks or options.

52. Ph.D., e.g.: DEG.  An advanced degree.

57. Targets for towers: REPOS.  Towers, as in vehicles that tow, not tall architectural structures.  REPOS are repossessed vehicles, because of a 48 D failure.  

59. Mythology: 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.  I fail to see equivalence here.  Myths are historical stories, not necessarily factual, that are of importance to a society.  They can be an aspect of LORE, but the whole is not equal to one of its parts.

60. Caramel-centered treat: ROLO.  Coated with chocolate.

61. Request at the barbershop: TRIM.  Just make me look neat.

63. Render indistinct, as an odor: MASK.  Cover something up.

66. Longtime NASCAR sponsor: STP.  It's the racer's edge.

Well - this Wednesday exercise put us through our paces.  Hope it was't too much of a brain strain.  Adios until next time.

Cool regards!

JzB