google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Saturday

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Showing posts with label Saturday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Saturday. Show all posts

Mar 23, 2024

Saturday, March 23, 2024, Nate Cardin

 Themeless Saturday by Nate Cardin

Nate is a chemistry teacher. PhD. in L.A. He is a crossword constructor, waffle iron enthusiast (as you will soon see when you watch him on Wheel Of Fortune below). Survivor obsessive. Anti-racist. Feminist.

Below is Nate's appearance on Wheel Of Fortune in September of 2022. You'll see why he is a fan of waffles.


Across:

1. Part of the fam: SIS.

4. Caldecott Medal winner __ Jack Keats: EZRA.


8. Tree crowns, collectively: CANOPY.


14. "We come to this place ... " theater chain: AMC.


15. __ point: MOOT - A MOOT point: The Titanic should have had more lifeboats.

16. Pea family plant: CLOVER.

Cover Crops

17. Flaunts: SHOWS OFF - Uma Thurman does just that in The Producers 


19. Asks for more Money: RENEWS - Money is capitalized.


20. Pueblo people: HOPI.

21. Pickens of "Blazing Saddles": SLIM - I better remember him riding riding a nuclear bomb in Dr. Strangelove 


23. Retro hip beer, for short: PBR.

1950's Ad
24. Fix: AMEND.

26. Common retirement vehicles: ROTH IRAS 😀

30. Like some questions: YES NO - Didja ever?


31. YouTube genre that may cause tingles, for short: ASMR - I think I finally have this: Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) is a previously unstudied sensory phenomenon, in which individuals experience a tingling, static-like sensation across the scalp, back of the neck and at times further areas in response to specific triggering audio and visual stimuli. Here's ASMR music to "easily defeat insomnia" or use as background while solving Nate's puzzle.


32. In the flesh?: NUDE 😀

33. Note of recognition?: I GET THAT A LOT.

"You look like that girl on NCIS."

36. Tribeca Film Festival co-founder: DENIRO.


38. Crushes on: ADORES 😀 - A modern version of having a crush on someone

39. Electric vehicle driver's apprehension: RANGE ANXIETY.


41. Raisins, in an after-school snack: ANTS.


42. Forward thinker?: SEER.

43. Me in C minor: E FLAT - Do Re Me


47. __ Spy apples: NORTHERN - We had these apples just a few weeks ago

49. Goo in some 31-Across videos: SLIME - An ASMR video with "soothing" goo for a visual


50. What "will be" will be: ARE 😀 We will be and now we ARE.

51. Cut: SNIP.

54. Abbr. in quote books: ANON.

55. Point in the right direction: ORIENT.


58. Numbers like 3 and 14, but not 3.14: INTEGERS - Whole numbers

60. Loosen, as skates: UNLACE.

61. Not much: A TAD.

62. Fujairah fed.: UAE - It's a three-hour drive NW from Muscat along the Gulf Of Oman if that's any help.

 

63. Charged (with): TASKED - C.C. has TASKED me to blog every Saturday puzzle

64. Setback: LOSS.

65. "i'm begging u": PLS 😒


Down:

1. Apt rhyme of slay and runway: SASHAY - Slay is an adjective for a drag queen who performs well in a drag performance and that might involve a SAHAY on a runway.


2. Return address?: I'M HOME 😀

3. Teacher defended by Darrow in 1925: SCOPES - Substitute biology teacher John Scopes skipped the evolution section in the text but agreed to be indicted for teaching it because he believed in it. He was found guilty but the verdict was overturned.


4. Modem terminals?: EMS Modem has an "M" on each end

5. Menageries: ZOOS - Among the best in the world.


6. "u slay me": ROFL - A different slay meaning: Rolling On the Floor Laughing

7. Initially: AT FIRST.

8. Roots rock band that started as the Blue Velvets, for short: CCR - It was hard to pick a favorite here


9. Hebrew leader?: ALEPH - The first letter in the Hebrew alphabet

10. Pride banner with yellow, white, purple, and black stripes: NONBINARY FLAG.


11. Veto: OVERRULE.

12. The __ Charitable Trusts: NGO with a think tank: PEW.


13. Brief closing: YRS - Short for Yours Truly at the end of a letter.

18. Hot spell?: WINNING STREAK.

22. Bob that may be a solution for post-pregnancy thinning: MOM HAIR.


25. Prairie wanderer: DOGIE - A motherless calf


27. Swap: TRADE.

28. Hubbubs: ADOS.

29. Fixed: SET - MLB clubs will soon have a SET pitching rotation selected from their 44. Roster: LINEUP.

31. Make-up artists?: ATONERS 😀

34. Wipe: ERASE.

35. "Obvi!": TOTES - Totally obvious

36. Paul of "The Fabelmans": DANO The Fablemans is the film about Steven Spielberg and how his childhood shaped his love of movies. Paul plays Sammy Fabelman's (Spielberg's) father Burt Fabelman. Did anyone think of this?


37. Inner workings?: ENTRAILS - Ewwww...

39. Scrambled: RAN - What trapped QB's do


40. Generational portmanteau: XENNIAL.


45. Ethically unconcerned: AMORAL.

46. Prepares for impact, say: TENSES.


48. Thus: HENCE.

52. Loving: INTO.

53. School gps.: PTAS - Founded by these ladies in 1897 in Washington D.C.. 


55. Openly queer: OUT.

56. Component of some vaccines: RNA Here ya go

57. Conference acronym: TED - Technology, Entertainment, Design


59. Mag staff: EDS.





Mar 16, 2024

Saturday, March 16, 2024, Jess Rucks

 Themeless Saturday by Jess Rucks


Jess returns after a six month hiatus and brightens our Saturday with a wonderful puzzle. I sailed through in sixteen minutes and was slowed only to be amazed and amused by her skill. I found Jess on FaceBook and can't tell you what a bright, engaging person she is.

Jess has separated from the Air Force after five years of service where she told me served as an Urdu linguist, not interpreter. She now lives in Colorado Springs with her husband who serves in the U.S. Space Force. This is a picture with her and her then 5-year-old son having a good time on the playground. Jess assures me this is Urdu for, "I hope you enjoyed Jess's puzzle."

                                          مجھے امید ہے کہ آپ نے جیس کی پہیلی کا لطف اٹھایا ہوگا۔


Across:

1. Beach blanket: SAND - 😀 Yeah, I guess beaches are blanketed with SAND

5. __ Men: one-hit junkanoo band of 2000: BAHA.


9. Member of a dazzle: ZEBRA - I'd probably still say herd


14. "Van Helsing" role: IGOR.


15. Smart __: ALEC.

16. Location of the Karnak Temple Complex: EGYPT - A visit to the Karnak Temple Complex is part of Agatha Christie's plot in this Poirot movie.


17. Have empathy: CARE.

18. Pepa or pepper partner: SALT - 😀 The less common of the pairing.


19. "Buona __": NOTTE - Good Night in Italian. I hope Jess will stop in to tell us if شب بخیر is correct in Urdu.

20. Phrase on a shamrock-green T-shirt: KISS ME I'M IRISH - I'd love to buy this for a dear lady we all know on our Crossword Corner!


23. "Almost ready": ONE SEC.

24. Sleeping soundly: OUT.

25. Hermey of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," for one: ELF - Who knew?


28. Comedian who wrote "Cracking Up" and "I Know I Am, but What Are You?": SAMANTHA BEE.


32. Hodgepodge: MISH MASH.

35. Hoity-toity type: SNOOT.

36. Euler's field: MATH - If you're a math peep like I am, you know it is pronounced OY LER. Bonus points for understanding this:


37. Vital organ elements: PIPES - Our good friend Splynter knows a lot about these elements! Be sure to read his comments below the write-up!

    

39. Sound quality: TONE.


40. "Long story short ... ": IN SUM.

42. Motocross need: DIRT BIKE.


44. Cozy aesthetic: COTTAGE CORE.


46. Goof: ERR.

47. Camel kin: TAN.


48. Some event notices: E-VITES


53. "Stop misquoting me!": I DIDN'T SAY THAT.


57. Treadmill options: PACES - It's in here somewhere 



59. Throaty sound: AHEM.

60. Cornstarch brand: ARGO - Also the ship for Jason and the Argonauts

61. Rice brews: SAKES.

62. "American Chopper" argument, e.g.: MEME.


63. Diminutive of Dolores: LOLA - Did anyone else think of Gwen Verdon and Damn Yankees?


64. Aromatic herb: THYME.


65. Robed dignitary: EMIR.

66. Chuck: YEET - A well known synonym for throw is softball circles
Down:

1. Travis Scott's "__ Mode": SICKO.


2. Once more: AGAIN.


3. Like Freya and Hel: NORSE.


4. Word with down or up: DRESS 😀

5. One of two near Everest: BASE CAMP - All who climb 29,00o foot Everest must first make the 8 - 12 day difficult but doable trek up to BASE CAMP at 17,500 feet. This family did make it to BASE CAMP with their kids. 

 

6. Jai __: ALAI - A fav game in Crosswordland 

7. Tiller: HELM - He is "at the HELM" because he has his hand on the tiller


8. Lara Croft, for one: ACTION HERO.

9. High points: ZENITHS - Big brother to cwd regulars acme and apex

10. Super followers?: EGOS.


11. Without any variation: BY THE BOOK.


12. Sch. assignment: RPT.

13. Made a fast stop: ATE 😀 On Easter Sunday, March 31 this year, those of you who fast for lent can stop.

21. Breathable fabric: MESH.

22. Groove: RUT - There can be a big difference 

26. Currency in West Africa: LEONE - This bike in Freetown, Sierra Leone will run you 107,000,000 LEONES or about $4,400.

27. Swanky gala: FETE.

29. Handle for a née-sayer: MAIDEN NAME - I have no issue with keeping a surname after marriage

30. Savory jelly: ASPIC.


31. Start to freeze?: ANTI.

32. Large estate: MANOR.

33. "Too much to get into": IT'S TRICKY.

34. Close: SHUT - klōz not klōs

36. Game for owls: MICE 😀

38. Cord cutter, perhaps: STREAMER 😀


41. "Blue Nude" painter: MATISSE.

A set of three

43. Large group: BEVY.

45. Josh who plays Shakespeare on "History of the World, Part II": GAD.


49. Winner of four FIFA World Cups: ITALY.


50. Paroxysm: THROE.


51. Old quarter back: EAGLE - 😀 In this clue, quarter back is two words. Now the obverse side still has George Washington but the reverse side has hosted an EAGLE and many special images

Old quarter
A example of a new quarter
52. Mink kin: STOAT.


54. Judge: DEEM.

55. Creature feature with giant ants: THEM - Circa 1954

56. Quasi: SEMI.

57. Wash. setting: PST - Washington state is two hours behind me where I'm on CST

58. "That's the spot": AAH - I'll bet that's how you feel after finishing Jess's fun puzzle!


From Splynter:

Hi Gary,

Most of what I do for the company concerns design, drafting and the installation of the components of a pipe organ - chests, reservoirs, windlines, etc.  I am rarely on site when the actual pipes get put on the chests.  I did find some images, but nothing special, see attached.  I had a coworker snap the image, also attached, when we recycled zinc pipes that did not get voiced and reinstalled at a church.  I then took a selfie ( and I really, really wanted to send you a "shelfie", too ) Here are half of the facade pipes from the National Cathedral before we took them down and refurbished them.

Splynter