The Lighter Side of JzB

Here you will find photos, poetry, and possibly some light-hearted foolishness. For the Heavier Side
of JzB
see my other blog,
Retirement Blues. (There be dragons!)

I claim copyright and reserve all rights for my original material of every type and genre.


Every day visits*
From Moose, Goose, and Orb Weaver
All seized by Haiku


"Why moose and goose?" you may ask. Back on 2/04/13 Pirate wrote a haiku with an elk in it, and I responded with
one with a moose and then included him every day. A few days later in comments Mystic asked "Where's the goose?"
So I started including her with this post on 2/07. A week later on the 14th, Mark Readfern
asked for and received a spider. The rest is history.

*Well, most days, anyway. Grant me a bit of poetic license.

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

L.A. Times Crossword Wednesday February 28, 2024. Natalie Murphy

Theme:  If we could turn back time.  The word "DAY is hidden in each theme entry, but spelt backwards.  Not easy to find.  Nota bene: each YAD is split across two words.

21. Beach community in L.A.'s South Bay: PLAYA DEL REY.   A seaside suburb in the Santa Monica Bay and the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, California. As of 2018, the community had a population of 16,230 people.

26. Customer who buys a gadget as soon as it's available: EARLY ADOPTER.    an early customer of a given company, product, or technology. The term originates from Everett M. Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations.  They ususally pay the highest price.

43. Guidance at just the right moment: TIMELY ADVICE.   Exactly as defined in the clue.

50. Time to do things out of order, or what appears in 21-, 26-, and 43-Across: BACKWARD DAY.   National Backwards Day, celebrated on January 31st each year, is a whimsical and fun-filled observance that encourages people to do things in reverse or unconventional ways.

Hi Gang, JazzBumpa here, thinking about driving a Toyota in reverse.  But let's go at this puzzle in a straightforward way.  

Across:

1. Like purchases made while playing freemium games: IN APP.  With some apps, you can buy additional content or services within the app. We call these "in-app purchases." Here are some examples of in-app purchases: A sword that gives you more power in a game. A key that unlocks more features of an app. Virtual currency that can be used for purchases.

6. Hanging on every word, say: RAPT.  Completely fascinated by what one is seeing or hearing.

10. Golf course transport: CART.   A small motorized vehicle for golfers and their equipment.

14. Storm-tracking device: RADAR.   A system for detecting the presence, direction, distance, and speed of aircraft, ships, and other objects, by sending out pulses of high-frequency electromagnetic waves that are reflected off the object back to the source.  Radar spelt backwards is __________.

15. Cincinnati's state: OHIO.   A state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ohio borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the west, and Michigan to the northwest. Of the 50 U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area. With a population of nearly 11.8 million, Ohio is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated state. Its capital and largest city is Columbus, with other large population centers including Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Akron, and Toledo. Ohio is nicknamed the "Buckeye State" after its Ohio buckeye trees, and Ohioans are also known as "Buckeyes".[10] Its flag is the only non-rectangular flag of all U.S. states.  Giraffes are not native to Ohio because buckeyes are poisonous to them.

16. Taiwan-based laptop giant: ACER.   Acer Inc. is a Taiwanese multinational hardware and electronics corporation specializing in advanced electronics technology, headquartered in Xizhi, New Taipei City.

17. "Skyfall" singer: ADELE.  Adele Laurie Blue Adkins MBE  (born 5 May 1988), known mononymously as Adele, is an English singer-songwriter. She is known for her mezzo-soprano vocals and sentimental songwriting. Adele has received numerous accolades including 16 Grammy Awards, 12 Brit Awards (including three for British Album of the Year), an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Golden Globe Award.

18. __ bene: NOTA.   A Latin phrase meaning "note well". It is often abbreviated as NB or n.b., and first appeared in English writing c. 1711.

19. "Space Jam" bunny voiced by Kath Soucie: LOLA.  Lola Bunny is a Looney Tunes cartoon character portrayed as an anthropomorphic female bunny created by Warner Bros. Pictures. She is generally depicted as Bugs Bunny's girlfriend. She first appeared in the 1996 film Space Jam.

20. Oldest Bobbsey daughter: NAN.  The Bobbsey Twins are the principal characters of what was, for 75 years, the Stratemeyer Syndicate's longest-running series of American children's novels, written under the pseudonym Laura Lee Hope. The first of 72 books was published in 1904, the last in 1979, with a separate series of 30 books published from 1987 through 1992. The books related the adventures of the children of the upper-middle-class Bobbsey family, which included two sets of fraternal twins: Bert and Nan, who were twelve years old, and Flossie and Freddie, who were six.  Does anybody read them any more?   Imagine NAN facing in the other direction.

24. Scottish Highlander: GAEL.  (Especially in historical contexts) a member of the Gaelic-speaking peoples inhabiting Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man.

25. Calendar entries: EVENTS.  An occasion planed for a certain lpace and time.

31. Woodshop grippers: VISES.   A mechanical apparatus used to secure an object to allow work to be performed on it. Vises have two parallel jaws, one fixed and the other movable, threaded in and out by a screw and lever. 

32. "Aw, darn!": RATS.   Exclamation of disappointment or dismay.  But it's bright in reverse.

33. Sweet potato: YAM.  Not the same thing.  We've been over this.  Especially in MAY.

36. "__ done the same thing!": I'D'VE.  I would have.

37. "The Cider House Rules" Oscar winner Michael: CAINE.  Sir Michael Caine CBE [b 1933] is an English retired actor. Known for his distinctive Cockney accent, he has appeared in more than 160 films over a career spanning eight decades and is considered a British film icon. 

39. Beauty mark: MOLE.    A normal skin growth that develops when pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) grow in groups. They appear as small, dark marks, or sometimes flesh-coloured small bumps, on your skin. Moles can appear in a range of different colours, shapes and sizes.

40. Napkin holder: LAP.  The flat area between the waist and knees of a seated person, suitable for placing a napkin or computer.   In retrospect, it could be your friend.

41. Cast a ballot: VOTE.  A formal indication of a choice between two or more candidates or courses of action, expressed typically through a ballot or a show of hands or by voice.

42. All fired up: EAGER.   Wanting to do or have something very much.

46. "Ooh, makes sense": AH, I SEE.   Expression of enlightened agreement.

49. __ and ends: ODDS.   Miscellaneous articles or remnants.

53. Enormous: BIG.  Huge

56. Working hard: AT IT.   Or arguing, or something . . .

57. Verbally attacked, with "into": TORE.  A verbal assault.

58. Like some breakfast tea: IRISH.   Irish Breakfast Tea is a type of black tea that has been a beloved beverage in Ireland and around the world for centuries. This tea is known for its robust and bold flavor, as well as its invigorating effects, making it a popular choice for a morning cuppa. Nota bene: Irish Tea is not grown in Ireland.

60. "__ a Lady": Tom Jones classic: SHE'S.  




61. Brunch, e.g.: MEAL.   A meal is an eating occasion that takes place at a certain time and includes consumption of food. The names used for specific meals in English vary, depending on the speaker's culture, the time of day, or the size of the meal.

62. Terse denial: NOT ME.  Properly should be NOT I, but nobody talks like that.

63. Quaint "Listen!": HARK.  Pay attention!

64. Quiche base: EGGS.  Oval or round objects laid by  female birds, reptiles, fish, or invertebrates, usually containin developing embryos. The eggs of birds are enclosed in a chalky shell, while those of reptiles are in a leathery membrane.

65. V-formation flyers: GEESE.  A goose is a bird of any of several waterfowl species in the family Anatidae. This group comprises the genera Anser and Branta. Some other birds, mostly related to the shelducks, have "goose" as part of their names.  They also lay eggs,

Down:

1. Persia, today: IRAN.   Iran, also known as Persia and officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Iraq to the west and Turkey to the northwest, Azerbaijan, Armenia, the Caspian Sea and Turkmenistan to the north, Afghanistan to the east, Pakistan to the southeast, the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf to the south. It covers an area of 1.648 million square kilometers (0.64 million square miles), making it the world's 17th-largest country. Iran has around 90 million people, making it the world's 17th most populous country. Its capital and largest city is Tehran with around 16 million people in its metropolitan area.


2. Spanish "nothing": NADA.  Literal

3. Yemen's Gulf of __: ADEN.

4. Buddy: PAL.  Amigo, chum, bestie.   Reversed when you sit down.

5. Takes care of charges in advance: PRE-PAYS.  Pay up front, or earlier,

6. 2018 NL Rookie of the Year Acuña Jr.: RONALD.  Ronald José Acuña Blanco Jr. [1997] is a Venezuelan professional baseball outfielder for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball. After signing with the Braves as an international free agent in 2014, Acuña made his MLB debut in 2018, and won the National League Rookie of the Year Award.

7. "Howdy, Cap'n!": AHOY.  A shout used, especially by people in boats, to attract attention: Ahoy there! used, especially on a boat, when you see something, usually something that is in the distance: Land ahoy! Ship ahoy!

8. Bread with a pocket: PITA.    A flat rounded slightly leavened bread, originally from the Middle East, with a hollow inside like a pocket, which can be filled with food. 

9. Marioverse racer with pink braids: TOADETTE.   A female Toad who appears as a playable character in various spin-off games throughout the Mario series.


10. Telemarketer: CALLER.    Salespeople who are employed by a company to telephone people in order to persuade them to buy the company's products or services, typically at dinner time. 

11. __ squash: ACORN.  An acorn-shaped dark green winter squash (Cucurbita pepo) with a ridged surface and mildly sweet yellow to orange flesh.



12. Rented again: RELET.  Rent (a property) for a further period or to a new tenant.

13. Cafeteria stack: TRAYS.   Flat, shallow containers with raised rims, typically used for carrying food and drink, or for holding small items.

22. Grassy meadow: LEA.   An open area of grassy or arable land.

23. Nights before: EVES.   The day or period of time immediately before an event or occasion.

24. Delight: GLEE.   Great delight.   Originally, the joy one gets from singing, hence glee clubs as singing ensembles.

26. Wicked: EVIL.  Bad and nasty.  In real time if you turn it around.

27. Verdi opera set in Egypt: AIDA.  A tragic opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni. Set in the Old Kingdom of Egypt.  The Egyptians have captured and enslaved Aida, an Ethiopian princess. An Egyptian military commander, Radamès, struggles to choose between his love for her and his loyalty to the King of Egypt. To complicate the story further, the King's daughter Amneris is in love with Radamès, although he does not return her feelings.

28. "Tell me if you're coming" letters: RSVP.   RSVP is an initialism derived from the French phrase Répondez s'il vous plaît, literally meaning "Respond, if it pleases you", or just "Please respond", to require confirmation of an invitation.

29. Protruding window: ORIEL.    A large window built out from a wall and resting on a bracket or a corbel.



30. Skillet: PAN.  A flat-bottomed pan used for frying, searing, and browning foods. It is typically 20 to 30 cm in diameter with relatively low sides that flare outwards, a long handle, and no lid. 

33. "Pic-a-nic" basket-stealing bear: YOGI.



34. Smart __: wiseacre: ALEC.   A person who is irritating because they behave as if they know everything.  Frex, I know this should be ALECK.

35. Little more than: MERE.   That is solely or no more or better than what is specified.

37. "Bring it on!": COME AT ME.  Used to express confidence in meeting a challenge.

38. Consumed: ATE.   Eat, drink, or ingest food or drink.

39. Dallas NBA team, for short: MAVS.   The Dallas Mavericks (often referred to as the Mavs) are an American professional basketball team based in Dallas. The Mavericks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference. The team plays its home games at the American Airlines Center, which it shares with the National Hockey League's Dallas Stars.

41. Perspective: VIEW.   A particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view.

42. Going around in circles?: EDDYING.  As water, air or smoke.

43. "Naughty!": TSK-TSK.   A tongue-clicking sound expressing disapproval or annoyance.

44. Alpine songs: YODELS.  a form of singing which involves repeated and rapid changes of pitch between the low-pitch chest register and the high-pitch head register or falsetto.  This vocal technique is used in many cultures worldwide.

45. Poet laureate Limón: ADA.  Ada Limón [b. 1976] is an American poet. On July 12, 2022, she was named the 24th Poet Laureate of the United States by the Librarian of Congress. This made her the first Latina to be Poet Laureate of the United States.  She's the same, any way you look at her.

46. Embarrass: ABASH.   A feeling of shame or being disconcerted or embarrassed.

47. Branch of yoga: HATHA.   A yoga system of physical exercises and breathing control.

48. Less welcoming: ICIER. More unfriendly or hostile.

51. "Walkabout" director Nicolas: ROEG.  Nicolas Jack Roeg CBE BSC [1928 -2018] was an English film director and cinematographer, best known for directing Performance, Walkabout, Don't Look Now, The Man Who Fell to Earth, Bad Timing and The Witches.

52. "RuPaul's __ Race": DRAG.    A reality show in which a group of talented drag queens compete in challenges to impress host RuPaul, the world's most famous drag queen, to win a cash prize along with a crown and the title of America's Next Drag Superstar. 

53. Tasting menu portion: BITE.   A very small portion of food.

54. Schools of belief: -ISMS.  A suffix denoting the act, practice, or process of doing a particular thing in a particular way. 

55. Clarified butter: GHEE.   Ghee is made by melting regular butter. The butter separates into liquid fats and milk solids. Once separated, the milk solids are removed, which means that ghee has less lactose than butter. 

59. Maki sushi topper: ROE.  The fully ripe internal egg masses in the ovaries, or the released external egg masses, of fish and certain marine animals such as shrimp, scallop, sea urchins and squid. As a seafood, roe is used both as a cooked ingredient in many dishes, and as a raw ingredient for delicacies such as caviar.

That's it for today.  Hope it didn't set you back too much,

Cool regards!
JzB







Wednesday, February 14, 2024

L. A. times Crossword Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Margi Stevenson and Katie Hale

Theme: Terms of Endearment - Career-specific phrases identifying one's object of affection.  

17. Beekeeper's valentine?: HONEY BUNCH.  A beekeeper is a person who owns and breeds bees, especially for their honey.  Their love is sweet.




25. Juice barista's valentine?: MAIN SQUEEZE.  A juice barista prepares and serves fruit-based beverages, which presumably involves some squeezing.  The main squeeze is someone's preferred girl/boyfriend or lover. No indication is given for the one in second place.  




37. Optometrist's valentine?: GOOD LOOKING.   Optometrists examine, diagnose and treat diseases and disorders that affect your eyes and vision.   A good looking person is one who is physically attractive, either with or without glasses, on either of you.



52. Aesthetician's valentine?: SWEET CHEEKS.  An aesthetician is a person trained to administer facials, advise customers on makeup and the care of skin and hair, etc.  I did not know that. So the reference is to the attractiveness of the beloved's facial shape.  My mind never even considered the callipygian alternative. Nope, not even for a microsecond.



61. Baker's valentine?: STUD MUFFIN.  This is a sexually attractive, usually muscular young man.  Unlike a culinary muffin, which is a small domed cake or quick bread made from batter or dough.



Hi, Gang, and happy Valentine's Ash Wednesday!  JazzBumpa here to share the love.  Margi and Katie have cooked up some tasty treats for us, and a bit of Valentine's eye-candy.  And then comes Lent.  So let's have some fun while we can. 

Across:

1. Plot points?: BEDS.  I guess this refers to garden beds in a plot of land, rather than a moment in a story that affects the character or the direction of the story in some way.   Am I missing anything?

5. Reply-all email storm deterrents: BCCS.  Blind copies, where the list of recipients is not revealed.

9. Horse breed native to the Middle East and North Africa: ARAB.   A breed of horse with historic roots on the Arabian Peninsula. With a distinctive head shape and high tail carriage, the Arabian is one of the most easily recognizable horse breeds in the world. It is also one of the oldest modern breeds.

13. In a frenzy: AMOK.   With uncontrolled and disruptive behavior.

14. Desert succulents: ALOES.   An evergreen perennial, it also originates from the Arabian Peninsula, but also grows wild in tropical, semi-tropical, and arid climates around the world.

16. Common piercing spot: LOBE.   For ear rings.

19. Chaucer chapter: TALE.  The Canterbury Tales is a collection of twenty-four stories that runs to over 17,000 lines written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer between 1387 and 1400. It is widely regarded as Chaucer's magnum opus. 

20. Up and about: AWAKE.    Out of bed and in motion.

21. Meditation retreat: ASHRAM.   As defined.

23. "Karma is a __ / Purring in my lap 'cause it loves me": Taylor Swift lyric: CAT.  Ode to a contented pet.

28. Almost overflow: BRIM.   Filled to the very edge of a container.

30. Yokohama drama: NOH.   traditional Japanese masked drama with dance and song, evolved from Shinto rites.

31. Consumer advocate Ralph: NADER.   Ralph Nader [b. 1934] is an American political activist, author, lecturer, and attorney noted for his involvement in consumer protection, environmentalism, and government reform causes, and a perennial presidential candidate.

32. Spanish title: SEÑORA.  A title or form of address used of or to a Spanish-speaking woman, corresponding to Mrs. or madam.

35. Hardware store purchase: TOOL.   A device or implement, especially one held in the hand, used to carry out a particular function.

41. Yemeni port: ADEN.   Aden is a port city located in Yemen in the southern part of the Arabian peninsula, positioned near the eastern approach to the Red Sea. It is situated approximately 170 km east of the Bab-el-Mandeb strait and north of the Gulf of Aden.

From Google Maps

42. Buys time: STALLS.   Delays an event temporarily so as to have longer to improve one's own position.

45. Packs in, as coffee: TAMPS.   Rams or packs (a substance) down or into something firmly.  I've never tamped coffee.

49. Performer's routine: ACT.   Perform a fictional role in a play, movie, or television production.

51. Nursery rhyme vessel: PAIL.   A usually cylindrical container with a handle.   Don't fall down when carrying one, you could break something.

56. Snoop: SPY.   Investigate or look around furtively in an attempt to find out something, especially information about someone's private affairs.

57. "Never would have thought": THAT SO?  Expression of surprise or disbelief

58. Vegas lights: NEONS.   Fluorescent lamps filled with neon, and inert gas

60. Monopoly payment: RENT.   A fee charged to a player who lands on somebody else's property

66. Midrange voice type: ALTO.   In 4-part voice leading alto is the second-highest part, sung in choruses by either low women's or high men's voices. It is pitched lower than soprano, and higher than baritone.

67. "The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse" writer: AESOP.  Aesop [c. 620–564 BCE] was a Greek fabulist and storyteller credited with a number of fables now collectively known as Aesop's Fables. Although his existence remains unclear and no writings by him survive, numerous tales credited to him were gathered across the centuries and in many languages in a storytelling tradition that continues to this day. 

68. Spicy __ roll: TUNA.   A saltwater fish that belongs to the tribe Thunnini, a subgrouping of the Scombridae family. The Thunnini comprise 15 species across five genera, the sizes of which vary greatly, ranging from the bullet tuna up to the Atlantic bluefin tuna, which averages 2 m and is believed to live up to 50 years.

69. Devious plan: PLOY.   A tactic intended to embarrass or frustrate an opponent, or to trick someone to achieve an often concealed objective.

70. Parking lot mishap: DENT.  Making a bad impression.

71. Healthy piece: SLAB.  A large, thick, flat piece of stone, concrete, or wood.  Though, in this case, it's probably a piece of meat.

Down:
1. "A Christmas Carol" cry: BAH.  Frequent utterance of Ebenezer Scrooge.  His redemption by three spirits has become a defining tale of the Christmas holiday in the English-speaking world

2. Intense music genre: EMO.   Emo is a rock music genre characterized by emotional, often confessional lyrics. It emerged as a style of hardcore punk and post-hardcore from the mid–1980s Washington, D.C. hardcore scene.

3. Making a gift of: DONATING.   Giving money or goods for a good cause, for example to a charity.
 
4. Misrepresent, as data: SKEW.   To distort from a true value or symmetrical form

5. Braided bread often filled with chocolate or cinnamon: BABKA.   A sweet braided bread which originated in the Jewish communities of Poland and Ukraine. It is popular in Israel and in the Jewish diaspora.

6. Make aware: CLUE IN.  Provide information about a particular item or event.

7. Swindle: CON.  Use deception to deprive someone of money or possessions.

8. "Just wait a __": SEC.  Request for someone to briefly pause an action.

9. Tennis and golf legend Gibson: ALTHEA.   Althea Neale Gibson [1927 - 2003] was an American tennis player and professional golfer, and one of the first Black athletes to cross the color line of international tennis. In 1956, she became the first African American to win a Grand Slam event.

10. Showed displeasure like a dragon: ROARED.   A roar is a a full, deep, prolonged cry uttered by a lion or other large wild animal.  Why a fictional creature was chosen is a bit of a mystery.

11. Burning: ABLAZE.   On fire.  Keep your distance.  AFLAME has 4 of the same letters.

12. Pricey German wheels, informally: BEEMER.  A BMW automobile, a product of Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, commonly abbreviated to BMW, a German multinational manufacturer of luxury vehicles and motorcycles headquartered in Munich, Bavaria, Germany.  

15. "Inside the NBA" analyst, familiarly: SHAQ.   Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal, known commonly as Shaq, is an American former professional basketball player who is a sports analyst on the television program Inside the NBA.

18. Thanksgiving vegetable: YAM.   Only maybe.  Are Yams and Sweet Potatoes the Same? No, yams and sweet potatoes are not the same. Yams have rough, dark brown skin that is often compared to tree bark, and their flesh is dry and starchy like a regular potato. Sweet potatoes have smooth reddish skin, softer flesh (when cooked), and a sweet flavor.

22. Naturally bright: SUNLIT.  Like an atrium,  a large open-air or skylight-covered space surrounded by a building.

23. "Survivor" network: CBS.   Columbia Broadcasting System

24. "__ we having fun yet?": ARE.  The second person singular present and first, second, third person plural present of be.   Well - are we?

26. Never ever: NOT ONCE.   Ain't gonna happen.

27. "Get out!": SHOO.  A word said to frighten or drive away a person or animal.   And never, ever come back!

29. Dairy farm sound: MOO.   Bovine utterance.   Not to be confused with an udderance, though moo utterers do have udders. 

33. Events with a lot of insult comedy: ROASTS.   A banquet at which the guest of honor is subjected to good-natured ridicule.

34. Put in: ADD.   To put something with something else to increase the number or amount or to make it more important.  Or, to voice an opinion in an on-going discussion.

36. Allows: OKs.   Grants assent or permission.

38. Two-time Emmy winner Remini: LEAH.   Leah Marie Remini [b. 1970] is an American actress. She starred as Carrie Heffernan on the CBS sitcom The King of Queens and as Vanessa Celluci in the CBS sitcom Kevin Can Wait, both alongside Kevin James. 

39. Snooze: NAP.   A short period of sleep, typically taken during daytime hours as an adjunct to the usual nocturnal sleep period. Naps are most often taken as a response to drowsiness during waking hours.

40. Generous pour: GLASSFUL.   An amount contained by or sufficient to fill a glass or tumbler, possibly to the brim.

43. Gloss target: 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.   A lip is either of the two fleshy parts which form the upper and lower edges of the opening of the mouth.  Their primary purpose is to make sounds on the trombone.

44. Wily: SLY.   Having or showing a cunning and deceitful nature.

45. Sandal style: T-STRAP.   Having a single or multiple strap attached to a shoe to hold it on the foot or having a purely ornamental function and passing either above the instep near the arch or around the ankle.

46. "Gosh darn it!": AW HELL.  Slangy expressions of disappointment. 

47. Treating unkindly: MEAN TO.   Purposefully being rude or saying or doing something to hurt someone.

48. Object in a game of fetch: PET TOY.  Toys specifically marketed for dogs to play with come in many varieties, including dog bones, puppy toys, balls, tug toys, training aids, squeaky toys, etc.  As far as I know, attempting to play fetch with cats is doomed to failure.

50. Connective tissue: TENDON.   A flexible but inelastic cord of strong fibrous collagen tissue attaching a muscle to a bone.

53. Spanish "thing": COSA.  Literal translation.

54. Well-groomed: KEMPT.    Maintained in a neat and clean condition; well cared for.

55. Trifling sum: SOU.   A former French coin of low value.

59. Crypto artworks, for short: NFTs.  Non-Fungible Tokens -- blockchain-based tokens that each represent a unique asset like a piece of art, digital content, or media. An NFT can be thought of as an irrevocable digital certificate of ownership and authenticity for a given asset, whether digital or physical.

62. Nickname for Edward or Theodore: TED.  It's unclear to me how TED is derived from either of them.  But I knew I guy named Roland who went by Ron.  This whole thing is about as confusing as NFTs

63. Not let go to waste: USE.  Consume or put in to action - not let something sit idle.

64. "Go-To Dinners" cookbook writer Garten: INA.  Ina Rosenberg Garten [b. 1948] is an American television cook and author. She is host of the Food Network program Barefoot Contessa, and was a former staff member of the Office of Management and Budget.

65. Capture: NAB.   In this context, apprehend a wrong-doer.

Hope you found something sweet to enjoy in this basket of Valentine treats.  

Cool regards!
JzB

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

L.A.Times Crossword Wednesday, January 31, 2024. Chris Gross

Theme Buried Culinary Treasures.  Common in-the-language phrases contain, that is to say, have room for,  tasty postprandial delights

20 A. *Bakery employees who offer free samples?: CUPCAKE HOLDERS. The surface meaning is a person holding cupcakes to be distributed.  A CUP HOLDER is a device for holding a plastic cup or other drinking container, as in the console of a motor vehicle, or an item if furniture.  The hidden desert is a CAKE an item of soft, sweet food made from a mixture of flour, shortening, eggs, sugar, and other ingredients, baked and often decorated. And this fill is a CAKE holder in more ways than one. A bit involuted, but tasty.  Do those bakery folks have frosting on their fingers?

33 A. *Mistakes made while preparing a simple breakfast?: POPTART FOULS How wold one foul a Poptart?  By dousing it in pickle juice, perhaps. In baseball, a POP FOUL is a ball hit high in the air for not much distance that lands in foul territory.  Our dessert here is a TART - an open pastry case containing a filling.   Don't mess it up.

43 A. *Comfort food with a high price tag?: POTPIE OF GOLD.   I've heard of gilding the lily. Hmmm. Perhaps made with gold electroplated pastry dough? A POT OF GOLD is a large amount of money, especially one that is unattainable or illusory.  A dessert PIE is a baked dish which is usually made of a pastry dough casing that contains a filling of various sweet or savory ingredients.  As distinguished from a TART, the PIE has a top crust. Probably not made of gold, though

58. Question from a server, or what was needed to create the answer to each starred clue: ROOM FOR DESSERT.   Chris made room in each of these phrases to tuck in a sweet treat.  The server would be asking of you are too full to participate.

Hi gang, JazzBumpa here, in the throes of a dramatic glucose spike.  Let's get going and work off some of those carbs.

Across:

1. Tracks: CUTS.  Album tracks.  Wasn't my first thought.

14. "Pronto" letters: ASAPAs Soon As Possible.  Take your time, but hurry.

15. Delight: ELATE. Make very happy.

16. Rachel Maddow's field: NEWS.   Information about current events.  What's happening now.

17. Simon or Garfunkel: NAME.  Ditto Smith and Jones.  Again, not what one would expect from the clue

18. Terra __: COTTA.  A clay-based non-vitreous ceramic, fired at relatively low temperatures.  Earthenware.

19. Small valley: DELL.  Often in a wooded area.

23. Purpose: USE.  The reason for which something exists.

24. Shed: LOSE.  Give off, discharge or expel.  During the hurricane my yard shed its shed.

25. Summer hrs. in Portsmouth: EDT Eastern Daylight Time

26. Some DEA employees: NARCS.  Slang shorthand for narcotics agent, who specializes in laws dealing with illegal drugs.

28. Smallest state in India: 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.

30. Stable staple: OAT.   A nutritious breakfast for both horses and people.

38. "Frozen" sister: ELSA.  Elsa is the Queen of Arendelle in the Disney cartoon feature, Frozen.  I think this clue should point to her sister Anna, since Elsa is the star of the show.

41. Misstep: ERROR.  Faux pas, Fingerfehler.  Oops.

42. Water waster: DRIP.  From a not-properly-shut-off faucet.

46. Back: AGO. In the past.

47. "The A-Team" actor: MR T.   Laurence Tureaud [b. 1952] is an American actor. He is known for his roles as B. A. Baracus in the 1980s television series The A-Team and as boxer Clubber Lang in the 1982 film Rocky III.

48. Abbr. before a year: ESTAB.  Established - referring to the year something was founded. 

52. Fundraising org.: PTA Parent-Teachers Association, a network of of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools.   

54. Gets faint: DIMS.   Reduces in brightness or image clarity.

57. Laundry brand: ERA.  A P&G product.

62. Soap brand: LAVA.  Lava is a heavy-duty hand cleaner in soap bar form manufactured by the WD-40 Company. Unlike typical soap bars, Lava contains ground pumice, which gave the soap its name. The soap and pumice combination is intended to scour tar, engine grease, paint, dirt, grime, filth, and similar substances from the skin.

63. French 101 infinitive: AVOIR.  Meaning to have.

64. Last remarks?: OBIT.  Not a last utterance, but funereal comments about the recently departed.

65. Improves in a cellar, say: AGES.  As wine or cheese.

66. Barbershop quartet part: TENOR.  Unlike choral harmony in which the parts from top down are soprano, alto, tenor and bass, with the melody usually in the soprano part; in barbershop harmony the tenor sings a harmony part that is consistently above the melody, which is sung by the lead.  Below that are baritone and bass.  So the voices from top down are tenor, lead, baritone and bass.

67. Soap brand: DOVE.  A brand of facial soap made by Unilever that comes in a variety of specialized uses.  Dove chocolate tastes better than any of them.

68. Pigeon fancier on "Sesame Street": BERT.  This was not a great success.




69. Adversary: ENEMY.  One that contends with, opposes, or resists.

70. Took a hatchet to: AXED.  Hewed or chopped.

Down:

1. Tourist destination on the Yucatan: CANCUN.   Cancún, a Mexican city on the Yucatán Peninsula bordering the Caribbean Sea, is known for its beaches, numerous resorts and nightlife. It’s composed of 2 distinct areas: the more traditional downtown area, El Centro, and Zona Hotelera, a long, beachfront strip of high-rise hotels, nightclubs, shops and restaurants. 

2. Chant for the red, white, and blue: USA-USA.  Often heard at the Olympics.

3. Mess (with): TAMPER.  Interfere with something in order to cause damage or make unauthorized alterations.

4. Job detail, for short: SPEC.  Specification - a detailed description of the design and materials used to make something.

5. Geico icon: GECKO.  I don't know which I hate more - the Geico adds with the gecko or without the gecko.

6. Medicinal plants: ALOES.   Aloe vera is a succulent plant species of the genus Aloe. It is widely distributed, and is considered an invasive species in many world regions. An evergreen perennial, it originates from the Arabian Peninsula, but also grows wild in tropical, semi-tropical, and arid climates around the world.   The leaves of Aloe vera contain significant amounts of the polysaccharide gel acemannan, which can be used for topical purposes. Aloe skin contains aloin which is toxic. Products made from Aloe vera usually only use the gel.

7. Come clean?: BATHE.   Instead of admitting to some wrong-doing, here we make us of, for example, Dove or Lava soap.

8. "A Man Called __":  OTTO.  Tom Hanks film based on a Fredrik Backman novelm, A Man Called Ove.   When a lively young family moves in next door, grumpy widower Otto Anderson meets his match in a quick-witted, pregnant woman named Marisol, leading to an unlikely friendship that turns his world upside down.


9. Down-to-earth: REAL.   With no illusions or pretensions; practical and realistic.

10. Done: ENDED.  Finished.

11. Excursion where one might see something brewing?: BEER TOUR.   As you visit each brewery, you will learn how they differ from each other, and how their beers make them distinct from the others. You will also get to taste different kinds of beer and know each brewery's bestseller and award-winning beers.

12. Pointed tools: AWLS.    Tools with which holes can be punctured in a variety of materials, or existing holes can be enlarged. They are also used for sewing heavy materials, such as leather or canvas. They have a thin, tapered metal shaft, coming to a sharp point, either straight or slightly bent.

13. Designer monogram: YSL.   The initials of Yves Saint Laurent.  I will wear clothes with his monogram when he wears clothes with the RLT monogram.

21. To boot: ALSO.  The term comes from the Old English to bote, which was once used as part of a legal term in English law, meaning something extra that is added as part of a bargain or compensation.  
You don't hear this expression much here in the States.  But I watch a lot of hockey, and it seems quite common in Canada

22. Like many students at Gallaudet University: DEAF.  Gallaudet University is a private federally chartered university in Washington, D.C., for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing. It was founded in 1864 as a grammar school for both deaf and blind children.

27. Sleep apnea apparatus, initially: CPAP.   CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) is a machine that uses mild air pressure to keep breathing airways open while you sleep. Your healthcare provider may prescribe CPAP to treat sleep-related breathing disorders including sleep apnea.

28. High seas quaff: GROG.   A strong alcoholic drink, originally rum, mixed with water

29. Other, in Oaxaca: OTRO.   Spanish.

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

I think I'll pass

32. Recipe amt.: TSP.  Teaspoon.

34. Equal: PEER.   One that is of equal standing with another 

35. Relaxed pace: TROT.  A pace faster than a walk

36. Dog park sound: ARF.  Barking.

37. Likelihood: ODDS.  Probability that something will happen.

38. BEACH Act org.: EPAEnvironmental Protection Agency

39. Record: LOG.  Enter (an incident or fact) in the log of a ship or aircraft or in another systematic record.

40. Brief visit: STOP OVER.   To stay at a place for a short period of time on the way to somewhere else or before returning home.

44. Islamic leader: IMAM.   Any of various rulers that claim descent from Muhammad and exercise spiritual and temporal leadership over a Muslim region

45. "Not that much": LESS.  Comparatively not as much.

49. Place to drive: TEE BOX.   In golf,  the start of each hole where you take your first swing.

50. Show up: ARRIVE.  Reach a place at the end of a journey or a stage in a journey.

51. Part of RBI: BATTED.  RBIs are Runs batted in: a run that is scored as a result of a specific batter's hit, walk, sacrifice, etc. 

53. Canapé base, maybe: TOAST.  A canapé is a small piece of bread or pastry with a savory topping, often served with drinks at a reception or formal party.

54. Worker with a monotonous routine: DRONE.   a person who is obliged to do menial, routine or boring work 

55. Cold feet or hot seat: IDIOM.   A type of phrase or expression that has a meaning that can't be deciphered by defining the individual words. Appropriately, the word “idiom” is derived from the ancient Greek word “idioma,” which means “peculiar phraseology.”

56. Full of cheer: MERRY.  Cheerful and lively.

58. Breathe fire, say: RAGE.  Be extremely angry and vocal.  Another example of an idiom.

59. Inevitable end: FATE.  The development of events beyond a person's control, regarded as determined by a supernatural power.

60. Pizza place: OVEN.  Where it is cooked, not where it is eaten.

61. Bartender's supply: SODA.  Bubbly water.

62. Chocolate __: LAB.  The Hershey product research facility. No, wait -- The Chocolate Lab is a brown colored variety of Labrador Retriever,  a friendly, confident and loving dog with great character and huge appeal as a pet.



And on that friendly note we draw today's treats to a close.  We had some fun snacks and a few opportunities to clean up.  Hope you found it satisfying.

Cool regards!
JzB




Wednesday, January 17, 2024

L.A. Times Crossword Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Theme: This is a rank puzzleor  We're in the Army now.



Hidden in the theme fill are the names of military ranks, indicated by the circled letters.  If you didn't have the circles, this would be a tough one to suss.  Let's check it out.

18 A. "I luv u" message holder: CANDY HEART.   These Valentine treats.


A CADET is a young trainee in the military

25 A. Textbook dividers: CHAPTER HEADINGS Printed matter (as the chapter number or title, quotations, illustrations, or decorative letters) preceding the text at the beginning of a chapter.

In most armies and in some air forces, a CAPTAIN is the commander of the largest group of soldiers that an officer can be expected to know personally—a company in the infantry, a battery in the artillery, a flight in the air force.

40 A. Hybrid interactive experience: AUGMENTED REALITY.  A technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user's view of the real world, thus providing a composite view.

GENERAL is the title and rank of a senior army officer, usually one who commands units larger than a regiment or its equivalent or units consisting of more than one arm of the service. Frequently, however, a general is a staff officer who does not command troops but who plans their operations in the field.

53 A. "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" actress: MELISSA JOAN HART.   Melissa Joan Hart [b. 1976] is an American actress, producer, and director. She had starring roles as the title characters in the sitcoms Clarissa Explains It All, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and Melissa & Joey. She appeared as Liz in No Good Nick.

Sabrina

A MAJOR serves as the primary staff officer for brigade and task force command regarding personnel, logistical and operational missions.

And the unifier --  63 A. Asserted one's authority, and what can be found in this puzzle's circled letters: PULLED RANK.   To use one's high position in a society, organization, group, etc., to order someone to do something or to get special treatment or privileges.  In puzzle context, I guess this means you have to pull out the circled letters to reveal the target words.

Hi Gang.  JazzBumpa here to lead this drill, and I promise not to pull rank.   I'm not a big fan of circled letter themes.  This one might have had a touch of elegance if the military ranks presented were in rank order, but, alas, 'twas not to be.  As much as I appreciate how difficult it must have been to find fitting theme fill entries, I am not delighted with the result.   But that is mere personal preference.  YMMV.

Let's put on our parching boots then, and see if we can have a successful mission.
 
Across

 1. Snack in a hard or soft shell: TACO.  My first thought was crab. Oh, well. Taco is the Spanish word for sandwich.  Once in Mexico I ordered a jamón con queso taco, not knowing what jamón was.  I was surprised to get a ham and cheese sandwich on white bread.

5. Mega-excited, with "up": TURNT.  It never occurred to me that turned could be spelt this way.  This was a stumbling block for me. 

10. Pattern: MOTIF.  A bit of a stretch, but OK, I guess

15. Big star: IDOL.   A person or thing that is greatly admired, loved, or revered.

16. Formal "Same here": AS DO I.  Informally -- "Me too."

17. Initiative: DRIVE.  Urge or force (animals or people) to move in a specified direction.  In this usage, the one being urged is yourself, and the direction is metaphoric for some goal or achievement.

20. "The Lion King" lion: SIMBA.    This Disney animated feature follows the adventures of the young lion Simba, the heir of his father, Mufasa.     Images here.

21. Nintendo avatar: MII.  A Mii is a customizable avatar used on several Nintendo video game consoles and mobile apps. The name Mii is a portmanteau of "Wii" and "me", referring to them typically being avatars of the players. 

22. Prefix added to some music genres: ALT.   Short for alternative, a category of rock music that evolved from the independent music underground of the 1970s. Alternative rock acts achieved mainstream success in the 1990s with the likes of the grunge, shoegaze, and Britpop subgenres in the United States and United Kingdom, respectively. 

24. Kid's elder: GOAT.  Of the species Capra hircus.

30. Snippet: CLIP.  A small piece or brief extract from a video or audio recording.

31. Extreme anger: IRE.  Derived from Latin.

32. __ guard: SHIN.  A shin guard is a thick piece of material that you wear inside your socks to protect the lower part of your leg when you are playing a game such as soccer.

33. Glutton: HOG.  One who wants both his share and yours. 

34. "Ooohhh": AHA.  Expressions of surprise or delight.

36. Equal (with): ON A PAR.  Equivalent to.

45. "The plan's been approved": ITS A GO.   Used to say that things are working correctly or that you have permission to do something 

46. "Who, me?": MOI.  Pretentious French usage.

47. Split __ soup: PEA.  Soup made typically from dried peas, such as the split pea. It is, with variations, a part of the cuisine of many cultures. It is most often greyish-green or yellow in color depending on the regional variety of peas used; all are cultivars of Pisum sativum.

48. Hiker's mix: GORP.   An acronym for "good ol' raisins and peanuts", although the mix may contain M&M's and other nuts.   AKA trail mix.

50. Cooling syst. meas.: BTUBritish Thermal Unit.

52. "__ Green": Kermit's song: BEIN'.


Alternatively --

Urbie was also Green

58. CIO or CTO: EXEC.  Executive - a corporate officer.

59. Good Charlotte genre: EMO.  Good Charlotte is an American rock band from Waldorf, Maryland, formed in 1995, that I never heard of.  EMO is a rock music genre characterized by emotional, often confessional lyrics. 

60. Kitchen cover: LID.  For a pot or pan.

61. __ basin: TIDAL.  The Tidal Basin is a man-made reservoir located between the Potomac River and the Washington Channel in Washington, D.C. It is part of West Potomac Park near the National Mall and is a focal point of the National Cherry Blossom Festival held each spring.  Generically, a basin for boats which is accessible or navigable only at high tide.

69. "__ in Borderland": manga series: ALICE.  a Japanese science fiction thriller drama streaming television series [that I never heard of] based on the manga by Haro Aso. The series was directed by Shinsuke Sato. It stars Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya as allies trapped in an abandoned Tokyo forced to compete in dangerous games, the type and difficulty represented by playing cards, to extend "visas" that, if expired, result in the player's execution by lasers being shot from the sky.

70. Inventor Howe: ELIAS.  Elias Howe Jr. [1819 – 1867] was an American inventor best known for his creation of the modern lockstitch sewing machine.

71. Gel often kept in the fridge: ALOE.  A preparation of leaf pulp from the parenchymal tissue of the plant Aloe vera (Liliaceae). Aloe vera gel contains carbohydrate polymers, such as glucomannans or pectic acid, and various vitamins and essential amino acids, as well as other organic and inorganic compounds.  Not sure why it would need to be refrigerated.

72. Slowly, in music: LENTO.  I was thinking LARGO.  Either is correct.

73. Wetland plants: REEDS.   A woody plant with long, slender leaves. Reeds need a lot of moisture, and they usually grow in or near a marsh. The stalk of a reed plant is also called a reed, and it's from this stiff, wood-like material that reeds for certain musical instruments were first made.

74. Big name in golf equipment: PING.  Ping Inc. designs and manufactures golf equipment. The Company's products include golf clubs, club bags, headwear, gloves, travel gear, and accessories. Ping operates worldwide as a subsidiary of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation.

Down:

1. Twitch: TIC.   A repetitive movement that is difficult, if not impossible to voluntarily control. Tics can affect any group of muscles. The most common are facial tics, such as eye- blinking, nose-twitching, or grimacing.

2. Orthodontist's org.: ADAAmerican Dental Association.   Orthodontics is a dentistry specialty that addresses the diagnosis, prevention, management, and correction of mal-positioned teeth and jaws, as well as misaligned bite patterns. 

3. Pro opposite: CON.  In favor of vs. against.

4. Wall hanging showing 48 states, perhaps: OLD MAP.  Makes sense - there have been 50 since 1959.

5. Largest island in French Polynesia: TAHITI.  Tahiti is the largest island in French Polynesia, the South Pacific archipelago. Shaped like a figure-8, it's divided into Tahiti Nui (the larger, western section) and Tahiti Iti (the eastern peninsula). With black-sand beaches, lagoons, waterfalls and 2 extinct volcanoes, it's a popular vacation destination.

6. "__ your words": toddler parent's phrase: USE.  Encouraging a toddler to talk - a decision one may come to regret.

7. Nutritionist's no.: RDA.   Recommended Daily Allowance - the average daily dietary intake level that is sufficient to meet the nutrient requirement of nearly all (97 to 98 percent) healthy individuals in a group. 

8. "Sunrise" singer Jones: NORAH.   Norah Jones [b. 1979] is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. She has won several awards for her music and, as of 2023, had sold more than 50 million records worldwide. Billboard named her the top jazz artist of the 2000s decade.  She is the daughter of musician Ravi Shankar and concert producer Sue Jones.



9. Lord and Lady: TITLES.  A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify either generation, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification.  And, in the plural, also almost the title of this excellent Discworld novel.

10. Physical pros: MDS.  Medical Doctors.  Rather an odd clue.

11. Never seen before: ORIGINAL.  In this usage, something that is the first of its kind.

12. "The Lion King" meerkat: TIMON.  Featured on a non-shareable video.  You can watch it here.

13. Hosp. attachment: IV BAG.   IV bags contain a solution of fluids that is administered directly into the patient's bloodstream through a needle or catheter, with the composition of the IV solution varying based on the type of fluid used and the patient's medical condition.  They attach to the patient, not the building.

14. Great deeds: FEATS.  Achievements that requires great courage, skill, or strength.

19. Puppy plaint: YIP.  Sound made by a small dog.

23. Chevy SUV: TAHOE.  The Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon are part of General Motors' full-size SUV family and are differentiated from the similar Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL primarily by the length of the passenger and cargo area behind the C-pillar. 

25. Influence: CLOUT.  Influence or power, especially in politics or business.

26. __ boson: elementary particle: HIGGS.   An elementary particle in the Standard Model of particle physics produced by the quantum excitation of the Higgs field, one of the fields in particle physics theory.  The Higgs field is a field of energy that is thought to exist in every region of the universe. The field is accompanied by a fundamental particle known as the Higgs boson, which is used by the field to continuously interact with other particles, such as the electron.  Now you know.

27. Q.E.D. center: ERAT.  Q.E.D. is the Latin abbreviation for quod erat demonstrandum: "Which was to be demonstrated." Q.E.D. may appear at the conclusion of a text to signify that the author's overall argument has just been proven.

28. Shorten, as a skirt: RE-HEM.  A hem is the edge of a piece of cloth or clothing that has been turned under and sewn.  To re-hem a garment is to fold over a greater length of cloth, thus shortening the garment.

29. Meyer of "Line of Duty": DINA.  Dina Meyer [b. 1968] is an American actress. She began her career appearing in a recurring role on the Fox teen drama series Beverly Hills, 90210, before landing a leading role opposite Keanu Reeves in the 1995 film Johnny Mnemonic.

30. Fragrant latte: CHAI.  In America, "chai" has become known as a flavor of tea with predominantly cinnamon or cardamom notes. But in India, chai is not a flavor of tea; it is tea—chai literally translates to "tea" in Hindi.  Latte is a coffee drink of Italian origin made with espresso and steamed milk. I don't how to make this fit.

35. Marinade in Spanish cooking: ADOBO.   This is a condiment or cooking sauce with a base containing chillies, particularly Chipotle and Ancho peppers. An Ancho pepper is a Poblano chili that is dried after it turns red. These sauces are used as a marinade and to add a smoky, spicy flavor.

37. Laurie of "Twin Peaks": PIPER.   Piper Laurie [1932-1923] was an American actress. She is known for her roles in the films The Hustler, Carrie, and Children of a Lesser God, and the miniseries The Thorn Birds.

38. Bit the dust: ATE IT.  Died, or less extremely, experience a severe failure.

39. Director Coogler: RYAN.  Ryan Kyle Coogler [b. 1986] is an American filmmaker. He is a recipient of four NAACP Image Awards and four Black Reel Awards, and has been nominated for two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and a Grammy Award.

41. Tricks that are also a treat?: MAGIC ACT.  Performances usually compounded of verbal utterance and object manipulation, that constitute “performative” acts by which a property is imperatively transferred to a recipient object or person on an analogical basis.  Happy to clear that up.

42. Self-images: EGOS.  One's self, especially as contrasted with another self or the world.  Similarly, one's sense of self -worth.

43. Like Odin and Thor: NORSE.  Relating to medieval Norway or Scandinavia, or their inhabitants or language.

44. Actress Wilson: RITA.  Rita Wilson [b.1957] is an American actress, singer, and producer. Her film appearances include Volunteers, Sleepless in Seattle, Now and Then, That Thing You Do!, Jingle All the Way, The Story of Us, Runaway Bride, It's Complicated, and Larry Crowne, and she appeared in the television series The Good Wife and Girls.

49. Overindulge: PAMPER.  Indulge with every attention, comfort, and kindness; spoil.

51. "Except maybe ... ": UNLESS.  Used to introduce the case in which a statement being made is not true or valid

52. Undeserved notoriety: BAD RAP.  An unfairly bad reputation

53. Key material?: METAL.  Keys are made of metal.  I suppose the intended misdirection indicates a vital material.  I'm unimpressed.

54. Cast out: EXILE.  The state of being barred from one's native country, typically for political or punitive reasons.

55. Escorted: LED IN. Accompanied by someone who assures you arrive safely or with proper respect
and acknowledgment

56. Unit of energy: JOULE.  A unit of work or energy in the International System of Units (SI); it is equal to the work done by a force of one newton acting through one metre. Named in honour of the English physicist James Prescott Joule, it equals 107 ergs, or approximately 0.7377 foot-pounds.

57. Kept out of sight: HID.  Concealed.

62. August baby, maybe: LEO.  The fifth sign of the zodiac. It corresponds to the constellation Leo and comes after Cancer and before Virgo. The traditional Western zodiac associates Leo with the period between about July 23 and August 22, and the sign spans the 120th to 150th degree of celestial longitude.

64. Fib: LIE.  An untruth, spoken with the intent to deceive.

65. Young man: LAD

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

67. Persona __ grata: NON.  A Latin phrase meaning “unwelcome person.” As a legal term, it refers to the practice of a state prohibiting a diplomat from entering the country as a diplomat, or censuring a diplomat already resident in the country for conduct unbecoming of the status of a diplomat.

68. Pub delivery: KEG.  A metal container holding 36 U.S. gallons of beer.

That ending sounds like a visit to the officers club.  I had my nits, but this puzzle was OK, so lets raise a cold one.

While were having a toast, today is our 33rd wedding anniversary.  The best years of my life!




Cheers!
JzB



Wednesday, November 22, 2023

L. A. Times Crossword Wednesday, November 22, 2023 Amy Johnson

Theme: Let's Tie This Thing Up - Maybe Like A Turkey?

17 A. "Get lost!": GO FLY A KITE.  The phrase originated in the 1940s and was very popular at that time and for the next few decades. Its meaning is derived from its literal meaning: A person would probably need to go away to actually fly a kite.  And what would s/he hold on to -- hmmm.


23 A. Hands-on creation?: SHADOW PUPPET. These are figures that are placed between a light and a screen. Moving them creates the illusion of moving images on the screen. An experienced puppeteer can make figures appear to walk, talk, fight and dance. Shadow puppetry is a popular form of entertainment in countries all over the world.  But there are other puppets manipulated in a different way.

46 A. Home of SpongeBob SquarePants: BIKINI BOTTOM.   Bikini Bottom is the main setting in the SpongeBob SquarePants series. It is an undersea city where SpongeBob and his friends live. According to Nickelodeon's program summary, Bikini Bottom is located in the Pacific Ocean, beneath Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands.  Were they just stringing us along?  Here is the other kind.


57 A. Actress who completed her EGOT with a Grammy for the audiobook "Finding Me": VIOLA DAVIS.  Viola Davis [b. 1965]  is an American actress and producer. Davis is one of the few performers to have been awarded an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony. She is the sole African-American to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting as well as the third person to achieve both statuses. Alternatively, the VIOLA is a string instrument that is bowed, plucked, or played with varying techniques. Slightly larger than a violin, it has a lower and deeper sound. Since the 18th century, it has been the middle or alto voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.

And -- the unifier -- 36 A. What some favors and one part of the answers to 17-, 23-, 46-, and 57-Across come with?: STRINGS ATTACHED.   If something such as an agreement or special offer has strings attached, it involves special demands or limits.  These are metaphorical strings. But each of the other theme fill have an alternate meaning in which it is literally attached to a string - and in each case a different kind of string.

Hi Gang, JazzBunpa here to pull your strings today.  Let's dig into this puzzle and see it we can put a bow around it.

Across

1. "Sounds cool, man": I'M HIP.  OK. by me in jive talk.

6. Antioxidant-rich berry: ACAI.   Açaí berry is a fruit from a palm tree found in South America, mainly in the Brazilian Amazon. Because the tree does not grow outside its natural habitat, and the fresh Açaí berries are very perishable, they are usually available outside Brazil only as a juice 

10. Protrudes: JUTS.  Sticks out.

14. Background tunes for a tree-trimming party: NOELS.  Christmas Carols.  Nope - still too soon.


15. Quarterback's setback: SACK.   In gridiron football, a sack occurs when the quarterback (or another offensive player acting as a passer) is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before throwing a forward pass, when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and without clear intent, or when a passer runs out of bounds behind the line of scrimmage due to defensive pressure.

16. "Just __!": A SECond.  Request for someone to wait for a brief moment.

19. "You Bet Your Life" host Jay: LENO.  James Douglas Muir Leno (born April 28, 1950) is an American television host, writer and comedian. After doing stand-up comedy for years, he became the host of NBC's The Tonight Show from 1992 until 2009.  Since 2021 he has hosted the revival of You Bet Your Life. 

20. Industrious insect: ANT.   Ants are eusocial insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from vespoid wasp ancestors in the Cretaceous period. More than 13,800 of an estimated total of 22,000 species have been classified.

21. "If I Could Turn Back Time" singer: CHER.   Cher (born Cherilyn Sarkisian; May 20, 1946) is an American singer, actress and television personality. Often referred to by the media as the "Goddess of Pop", she has been described as embodying female autonomy in a male-dominated industry. Known for her distinctive contralto singing voice and for having worked in numerous areas of entertainment, as well as adopting a variety of styles and appearances.


22. Knight game: JOUST.   Jousting is a medieval and renaissance martial game or hastilude between two combatants either on horse or on foot. The joust became an iconic characteristic of the knight in Romantic medievalism. The term is derived from Old French joster, ultimately from Latin iuxtare "to approach, to meet."  You can learn about it here.  [Embedding was not allowed]

26. Small parts for big names: CAMEOS.  A CAMEO is a small character part in a play or movie, played by a distinguished actor or a celebrity.

29. Lamarr of the silver screen: HEDY.   Hedy Lamarr [born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler, 1914] was an Austria-Hungarian-born American actress and technology inventor. She was a film star during Hollywood's Golden Age.


30. Particle with an orbital system: ATOM.    An atom is a particle that consists of a nucleus of protons and neutrons surrounded by an electromagnetically-bound cloud of electrons. The atom is the basic particle of the chemical elements, and the chemical elements are distinguished from each other by the number of protons that are in their atoms. 

31. IRS convenience: E-FILE.  Electronic filing, also known as e-filing, is a process of submitting documents to a court or government agency. You typically do this via the internet or other electronic means. 

33. Brownie __ mode: ALA.  Topped or garnished with ice cream.

40. L.A.-to-NYC dir.: ENE.  East-North-East - the direction or compass point midway between east and northeast..

41. Tiny bits: IOTAS.  Extremely small amounts.

42. Set the pace: LEAD. Set the initiative in an action; be an example for others to follow, have first place in a race..

43. Brittney Griner's org.: WNBA.  Women's National Basketball Association.   Brittney Yevette Griner ( born October 18, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA.)] She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist with the U.S. women's national basketball team and a six-time WNBA All-Star. She was additionally named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2023.

44. Little rascals: SCAMPS.   Person, especially children, who are mischievous in a likable or amusing way.

51. Dark wood: EBONY.  Ebony is a dense black/brown hardwood, coming from several species in the genus Diospyros, which also includes the persimmon tree. Few Diospyros species such as macassar and mun ebony are dense enough to sink in water.

52. Portal: DOOR.   Entrance way.

53. Itinerary info: ETA.  Estimated Time of Arrival.

56. "Sounds cool!": NEAT.  Slang phrases for approval or agreement.

60. Story: TALE.   a fictitious or true narrative or story, especially one that is imaginatively recounted.

61. __-Alt-Del: CTRL.  A PC key combination.  The function of the key combination differs depending on the context but it generally interrupts or facilitates interrupting a function. 

62. Leaves out: OMITS.  Leaves out or excludes (someone or something), either intentionally or forgetfully.

63. Actor Sharif: OMAR.   Omar Sharif [born Michel Yusef Dimitri Chalhoub, 2015). was an Egyptian actor, generally regarded as one of his country's greatest male film stars. He began his career in his native country in the 1950s. He is best known for his appearances in American, British, French, and Italian productions.

64. "Black-ish" star Tracee Ellis __: ROSS.  Tracee Joy Silberstein (born October 29, 1972), known professionally as Tracee Ellis Ross, is an American actress. She is known for her lead roles in the television series Girlfriends (2000–2008) and Black-ish (2014–2022) receiving nominations for five Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the latter.  She is the daughter of actress and Motown recording artist Diana Ross and Robert Ellis Silberstein. 

65. Windbreaker fabric: NYLON.   Nylon is a family of synthetic polymers with amide backbones, usually linking aliphatic or semi-aromatic groups. Nylons are white or colorless, and soft; some are silk-like. They are thermoplastic, which means that they can be melt-processed into fibers, films, and diverse shapes.  The properties of nylons are often modified by blending with a wide variety of additives.

Down:
1. Pulitzer-winning architecture critic Saffron: INGA.  Inga Saffron (born November 9, 1957) is an American journalist and architecture critic. She won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Criticism while writing for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

2. Once in a blue __: MOON.  This indicates a rare event.  More precisely, a blue moon is an additional full moon that appears in a subdivision of a year: the third of four full moons in a season.  This happens every two to three years (seven times in the Metonic cycle of 19 years)

3. Lift with effort: HEFT.  As defined.

4. Ailing: ILL.  Sick.

5. Film set at the Bates Motel: PSYCHO.  Psycho is a 1960 American horror film produced and directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The screenplay, written by Joseph Stefano, was based on the 1959 novel of the same name by Robert Bloch. The film stars Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin and Martin Balsam. The plot centers on an encounter between on-the-run embezzler Marion Crane (Leigh) and shy motel proprietor Norman Bates (Perkins) and its aftermath, in which a private investigator (Balsam), Marion's lover Sam Loomis (Gavin), and her sister Lila (Miles) investigate her disappearance.

6. Made inquiries: ASKED.  Said something in order to obtain an answer or some information.

7. Tahrir Square city: CAIRO.  Cairo is the capital of Egypt and the city-state Cairo Governorate, and is the country's largest city, home to 10 million people. It is also part of the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, the Arab world and the Middle East: The Greater Cairo metropolitan area, with a population of 22.1 million, is the 12th-largest in the world by population.   Tahrir Square; English: "Liberation Square", also known as Martyr Square, is a major public town square in downtown Cairo, Egypt. The square has been the location and focus for political demonstrations. The 2011 Egyptian revolution and the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak occurred at the Tahrir Square.

8. "__ your age!": ACT.  Behave in a manner appropriate to someone of one's age and not to someone much younger.


9. Actor Barinholtz: IKE.   Ike Barinholtz [b. 1977] is an American actor, comedian, writer, director, and producer. He is best known for his starring roles in the comedy series MADtv (2002–2007), Eastbound & Down (2012), The Mindy Project (2012–2017), Bless the Harts (2019–2021), The Afterparty (2022), and History of the World, Part II (2023). In February 2023 he won the inaugural primetime season of Celebrity Jeopardy!, winning US$1,000,000 for charity.

10. Bucket of bolts: JALOPY.  An old car in a dilapidated condition.

11. Burn through: USE UP.   Use or consume all of a stock or supply of something.

12. Tied up in knots: TENSE.  Become emotionally upset, typically through anxiety or nervousness.

13. "House of Gucci" director Ridley __: SCOTT.  Sir Ridley Scott (born 30 November 1937) is an English filmmaker. He is best known for directing films in the science fiction, crime, and historical drama genres. His work is known for its atmospheric and highly concentrated visual style. Scott has received many accolades throughout his career, including the BAFTA Fellowship for lifetime achievement from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in 2018, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Golden Globe Award. In 2003, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.

18. Cries of discovery: AHAS.  Used when you are expressing pleasure or surprise that you have understood something or found something out

22. King Herod's realm: JUDEA.  The Herodian kingdom was a client state of the Roman Republic ruled from 37 to 4 BCE by Herod the Great, who was appointed "King of the Jews" by the Roman Senate. When Herod died, the kingdom was divided among his sons into the Herodian Tetrarchy.

23. Service plaza rig: SEMI.  A semi tractor-trailor vehicle used for hauling freight.

24. Tiny bits: WHITS.  Iotas, and a clecho.

25. Linus Van __: "Peanuts" kid: PELT.  Linus Van Pelt is a fictional character in Charles M. Schulz’s comic strip Peanuts. He is the best friend of Charlie Brown, the younger brother of Lucy Van Pelt, and the older brother of Rerun Van Pelt. His first appearance was on September 19, 1952, but he was not mentioned by name until three days later. He was first referred two months earlier, on July 14. Linus spoke his first words in 1954, the same year he was first shown with his security blanket. Linus is named after Schulz's friend Linus Maurer.



26. 12 bottles of wine: CASE.  A box or receptacle for holding something, often a specific quantity.

27. Env. directive: ATTN.  Mail routing instruction within an office or business.

28. Extra: MORE.  But, wait . . .

31. Founded: Abbr.: ESTAB.  Established - the date when a business was started.

32. Drone-regulating org.: FAA.   Federal Aviation Administration.

33. "Excuse me ... ": AHEM.  Feigned throat clearing sound, used to get someone's attention.

34. __ year: LEAP.  A year, occurring once every four years, that has 366 days including February 29 as an intercalary day.

35. Stirs in: ADDS.   If you add one thing to another, you put it in or on the other thing, to increase, complete, or improve it. For example: add the grated cheese to the sauce. 

37. Nincompoop: NINNY.  A foolish nitwit.

38. Asian desert: GOBI.   The Gobi Desert is a vast, cold and arid region in northern China and southern Mongolia. It's known for its dunes, mountains and rare animals such as snow leopards and Bactrian camels. In the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park, the Khongoryn Els sand dunes are said to sing when the wind blows. The park also features the deep ice field of Yolyn Am canyon. Dinosaur fossils have been found at the red "Flaming Cliffs" of Bayanzag.

39. Chowder morsel: CLAM.  Clam is a common name for several kinds of bivalve molluscs. The word is often applied only to those that are edible and live as infauna, spending most of their lives halfway buried in the sand of the seafloor or riverbeds.

43. Time for cold feet?: WINTER.  Literal.  I've been wearing socks to bed for a few weeks.  Figuratively,  having cold feet is to be too fearful or timid to undertake or complete an action.

44. Greek portico: STOA.  A classical portico or roofed colonnade.

45. Le __ Bleu: Julia Child's alma mater: CORDON.   Literally "blue ribbon," indicating a high level of achievement. 

46. Lunchbox type: BENTO.  A bento is the Japanese iteration of a single-portion take-out or home-packed meal, often for lunch. Outside Japan, it is common in other East and Southeast Asian culinary styles, especially within Chinese, Korean, Singaporean, Taiwanese cuisines and more, as rice is a common staple food in the region. 

47. Steel girder: I-BEAM.   An I-beam is any of various structural members with an I or H-shaped cross-section. Technical terms for similar items include H-beam, w-beam, universal beam, rolled steel joist, or double-T. I-beams are typically made of structural steel and serve a wide variety of construction uses. 

48. Souvenir toy from Australia, say: KOALA.   A stuffed animal toy replica of the koala

49. Landfill emanations: ODORS.  It's garbage.  It smells bad.

50. Road trip expense: TOLLS.  A charge payable for permission to use a particular bridge or road.

53. Mean business?: EVIL.  Profoundly immoral and wicked.  Clever misdirection.

54. "Mambo King" Puente: TITO.  Ernest Anthony Puente Jr., [1923 -2000]commonly known as Tito Puente, was an American musician, songwriter, bandleader, timbalero, and record producer. He composed dance-oriented mambo and Latin jazz music. Puente and his music have appeared in films including The Mambo Kings and Fernando Trueba's Calle 54.


55. Trade gp.: ASSN.   A trade association, also known as an industry trade group, business association, sector association or industry body, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry.

57. Bygone TV attachment: VCR.  Video Cassette Recorder.

58. Skater Midori: ITO.   Midori Ito [b. 1969] is a retired Japanese figure skater. She is the 1989 World champion and the 1992 Olympic silver medalist. She is the first woman to land a triple-triple jump combination and a triple Axel in competition. 


59. "Doctor Who" role for Karen Gillan: AMY. Karen Sheila Gillan (/ˈɡɪlən/; born 28 November 1987) is a Scottish actress and filmmaker. She gained recognition for her work in British film and television, particularly for playing Amy Pond, a primary companion to the Eleventh Doctor in the science fiction series Doctor Who (2010–2013), for which she received several awards and nominations. Her early film roles include Ally in the thriller film Outcast (2010) and Jane Lockhart in the romantic comedy film Not Another Happy Ending (2013). She also worked on the stage while in Britain, appearing in John Osborne's play Inadmissible Evidence (2011).

That wraps up this Wednesday.  Hope I didn't string you along.  Have a joyous, blessed and food-filled Thanksgiving.  See you all in January.  Go Lions!

Cool regards!
JzB