Jeffrey Wechsler

Title: Having an anagram old time!

Hi, I have donned my plus-fours to caddie once again for JW, and will provide the tour for another Friday effort. This one is a true anagram puzzle, nothing but. Or is it? In the words of Ron Popeil - wait- there's more! All of the anagrams are accomplished by switching only the last two letters of an expression. And! Each is an ST becoming a TS!  And what he conjures with this simple plan is very amusing and laughable or at least grinnable. I am not sure it is anything but coincidental the puzzle is running on Shabbat Shuvua- "Sabbath [of] Return" שבת שובה. But the puzzle is rife with religious rites, no lefts invited. 

ENAMELER, IDOLIZED, LITERATI, YALE BLUE,  SEMESTERS, and SPARE TIRE. 

18A. Frenetic drummer's output?: SAVAGE BEATS (12).

25A. Like a professional gambler's life?: ALL FOR THE BETS (13).

39A. Consistently wins prizes for carrots, turnips, etc.?: RULES THE ROOTS (13).

50A. Specially designed Valentine's Day burgers?:  PATTY HEARTS (12).

Across:

1. Word with a wave: BYE. Bye Miss American Pie. A Boomer favorite song. 

4. Table __: SCRAPS. This was hard for an easy one. 

10. Big name in Norwegian history: OLAV. OLA_ wait for the perp.

14. Political scientist Bremmer: IAN. No comment but I will run a snippet from April 2020. 

15. Undermines: ERODES. A more dramatic word than I initially thought.

16. Fountain with a wind: PETE. A CSO to our Louisiana group. 
Pete Lafontaine.

17. According to: À LA.

20. Literally, half-year periods: SEMESTERS. From sex ‘six’ + mensis ‘month’, Latin.

22. Hawaii, on many maps: INSET. Most islands appear as insets. 

23. Cast doubt upon: BELIE.

24. They're not from around here: ALIENS. Cute way to phrase this clue/fill. 

29. Expected: DUE IN. My arrival in the office gets later and later as I age.

30. Theme park array: RIDES.

31. Marine bird: TERN. Not related to this song. 

32. Stinky: FETID. Back so soon?

33. Legislative creation: BILL. Is that true Bill G., were you part of a political decision?

37. "Wonderful!": GREAT.

38. Debate fixtures: PODIA. The Latin plural for words ending -ium.

42. Butter source: PEANUT. There are so many non-dairy kinds of butter in your Whole Foods aisles.

44. Row divider: AISLE. Did I see that coming? 

45. Golf nickname: ARNIE. Now tied with Tiger for most PGA titles.

46. Flat out?: SPARE TIRE. Whimsical, but tricky. My spare tires go with me everywhere.

52. Veer sharply: ZAG. Add a ZIG and you have some rolling papers.

53. Like Magellan, for long periods: ASEA.

54. Correctly, old-style: A'RIGHT?

55. ORD posting: ETA. Estimated Time of Arrival.

56. Jumbotron displays, briefly: LEDS.  The Orthodox Rabbi's Union has approved them for SHABBAT.

57. "Good riddance": NO LOSS.

58. Worked on: DID.

Down:

1. Prejudice: BIAS. No prejudice here at the Corner; all are welcome.

2. Official school color since 1894: YALE BLUE. HISTORY.

3. Jewelry artisan: ENAMELER. A ten-dollar word. 

4. Stretch in therapy, say: SESSION. Why aren't they visits?

5. Evidence of a large impact: CRATER. The Dinosaur killers?

6. Wander: ROVE. Have not heard from Carl for a while.

7. Month between Shevat and Nisan: ADAR. It also can have a twin, ADAR II for the 7 years that need a leap month on the Hebrew calendar.

8. Hat-hanging aids: PEGS. 

9. Montpelier-to-Providence dir.: SSE.

10. Christmas morning cry: OPEN IT. Really?

11. Auto options: LEASES.

12. When some local news is broadcast: AT TEN.

13. Road workers' garb: VESTS. Generally reflective.

19. "Greatest gymnast ever," per Retton: BILES.

21. Like storied North Pole workers: ELFIN.

24. Not up: ABED.

25. Home security giant: ADT. It all started on April 5, 1874, with a nighttime break-in. American District Telegraph (ADT) Founder Edward Callahan created a telegraph-based "call-box" to signal for assistance to a central office. He quickly connected 50 other homes in the neighborhood, creating the first residential security system network.

26. Tundra's lack, usually: TREES. Not always. LINK.

27. Try to strike: HIT AT. Try to? 

28. Bunker of note: EDITH. She was the star of the show for me. 

32. Stew: FRET.

33. Helping hand: BOOST. Also a cell phone company and a protein shake.

34. Worshipped: IDOLIZED. Jews do not believe in idols no matter what Simon Cowell says. Did anyone watch the finale of AGT?

35. Ones who do things by the book?: LITERATI. Cute clue, but not the whole story as Literati were scholars in China and Japan whose poetry, calligraphy, and paintings were supposed primarily to reveal their cultivation and express their personal feelings rather than demonstrate professional skill. It has been coopted in the English speaking world for the Literate.

36. __ Cruces: LAS. New Mexico. 

37. Sticky: GLUEY. Like many crossword clue/fill choices. 

38. Aaron and Eli, in the Old Testament: PRIESTS. Many may not know but Moses' brother Aaron (my oldest boy's name) was the high priest of JUDAISM. The Egyptians also had priests and priestesses. LINK.

39. Carried on: RANTED. Enough religion for one puzzle; on to a different Sunday hero. 

40. "The Golden Arm" of the Baltimore Colts: UNITAS. An outcast from Pittsburgh, who became an all-time great in Baltimore. 

41. "At the __ Core": Burroughs novel: EARTH'S. One in a series Edgar Rice wrote about the hollow center of our planet.

42. Authoritative type of bull: PAPAL. These are written edicts from the sitting Pope of the Catholic Church and derive their name from the leaden seal on the document- BULLA. I was wrong, more religion.

43. Wipe out: ERASE. Or rub out. 

46. Hematology prefix: SERO. From serology, the study of SERUM. 

47. Traditional dairy farm item: PAIL. As a child living in a farming area with endless milk cows, my image of Mrs. O'Leary's cow knocking over the lantern while being milked seemed very real. Now I know it was unlikely to be true. The LEGEND. As we near the anniversary (October 8) I just learned it was not even the worst fire that night as PESHTIGO WISCONSIN had a fire that night that killed over 1,000 people.

48. Ship that sailed from Iolcus: ARGO. A CSO to me. MYTH

49. "Zounds!": EGAD.

51. Luke's pilot pal: HAN. Another SOLO write-up effort from me ending with a STAR WARS reference.

That was exhausting

David Van Houten

Title: I AM what I AM 

I begin with wishing all those who will celebrate the Jewish New Year, starting this evening at sundown, Shana Tovah-שנה טובה. 

ADMIRALS, TERRIBLE, BASSINETS,  and UNDAMAGED

20A. Nickname for the first Web user?: INTERNET ADAM (12).

34A. General Motors toy?: BABY GRAND-AM (11).

41A. Cheese snack for the road?: DRIVERS EDAM (11).

55A. Hangover ... and a hint to 20-, 34- and 41-Across: MORNING AFTER (12).

Across:

1. Sit tight: BIDE.

5. Lucy who played Watson on "Elementary": LIU.

8. 10-Down instrument: PIPES.

13. Isn't with more people?: AREN'T.

15. Miller of "Room Service": ANN.

16. Winner of four FIFA World Cups: ITALY.

17. French toast part: SANTE.

18. Baby goat: KID.

19. Arc lamp gas: XENON.

23. California peaks, with "the": SIERRAS.

24. Peace, in Russian: MIR.

25. Pen name: BIC.

28. Family nickname: SIS.

29. Benjamin Hoff's "The __ of Pooh": TAO.

30. Japanese wrestling: SUMO.

31. Middle of summer?: EMS.

37. Stylish flap: LAPEL.

39. Tarzan's Cheeta, for one: APE.

40. Evasive maneuver: DODGE.

44. Until now: YET.

45. Vogue rival: ELLE.

46. Volume-increasing addition, usually: ESS.

47. Small untruth: FIB.

49. Mall __: RAT.

50. Japanese yes: HAI.

51. Pitcher's malady: SORE ARM.

57. "Death of a Salesman" family name: LOMAN.

60. Ambient music pioneer Brian: ENO.

61. SoFi Stadium NFLer: LA RAM. Oops, no, not part of the theme.

62. Winner of 15 Grammys (2009-2017): ADELE.

63. Fort Worth sch.: TCU.

64. Snail trail: SLIME.

65. Loser to Roosevelt and Truman: DEWEY.

66. Remained idle: SAT.

67. Keep: LAST.

Down:

1. Foundation: BASIS.

2. Afghan's neighbor: IRANI.

3. Al __: DENTE. Didn't he blog Thursdays here years ago?

4. Goes into: ENTERS.

5. Land O'__: dairy aisle brand: LAKES.

6. Competitive: INIT.

7. Intact: UNDAMAGED.

8. "Cars" maker: PIXAR.

9. Tabloid twosome: ITEM.

10. Part-goat god: PAN.

11. "Evil Woman" gp.: ELO.

12. Example, for instance: Abbr.: SYN.

14. Adjective for Alexander's day, in a Judith Viorst kids' book: TERRIBLE.  THE BOOK

21. Mars rover org.: NASA. Did any of you watch AWAY with Hilary Swank?

22. Couture giant: DIOR.

25. Mac: BUDDY.

26. It might be spitting: IMAGE.

27. Dancer companion: COMET.

29. Varieties: TYPES.

30. __-cone: SNO.

31. Ranking member, as in a village: ELDER.

32. Actress Gibbs of "The Jeffersons": MARLA.

33. In need of mopping up: SPILT.

35. Baby beds: BASSINETS. It has been so long since I had a baby in my home, I had forgotten this word. They were wonderful when you did not want to leave your room to comfort a baby.

36. Military leaders: ADMIRALS.

38. Portentous time: EVE.

42. Bring up: REAR.

43. In __: confused: A FOG.

48. Come about: BEFALL.

50. Dear: HONEY.

51. Pig feature: SNOUT.

52. Naturally lit courtyards: ATRIA.

53. Paper quantities: REAMS. 500 sheets.

54. Big Apple sports mascot: MR MET. Another appearance of the ball headed one.

55. Tom or bull: MALE.

56. Ancient Cuzco resident: INCA. Did they eat couscous there? So much HISTORY.

57. Bloke: LAD. Steve, I miss you already.

58. Wordsworth wrote one to duty: ODE. Would you like some extensive COMMENTARY?

59. Pound sound: MEW. Do they really take cats to the pound?

Paul Coulter

 Theme: Beware of Star Warts

I am back for week three of my most recent activity as Friday sherpa, which for an unknown reason, I predicted last Friday. Tom F., who does so much for the blog and the bloggers has decided to retire from blogging which leaves you all stuck with me. This will help those who were getting their "thank yous" wrong. At least until Chairman Moe gets to his first Friday frolic. 

I enjoy Paul, his puzzles, his visits, and his family updates. I am puzzled by this puzzle which has a decidedly Monday/Tuesday feel. 53 of the 78 words are 3 or 4 letters long, separated with 40 black squares. I love humor 'from pun' puzzles, but these seemed a bit forced, speaking of which I think this would have fit better with STAR WARS DAY, May the 4th. On the other hand, this should keep you all happy on a Friday, so off we go. 

The puns are all consistent with the first word a sound-alike to a Star Wars character. Like the famous latex and corn syrup hero

I found them to be a stretch. It did not take away from enjoying the solve, but it required more imagination. Let's look at the themers.

17A. Solo's favorite sandwiches?: HAN BURGERS (10). The Millenium Falcon skipper and father of Kylo. 

27A. Vader's favorite treat?: DARTH CHOCOLATE (14). An example of the use of "TH" to replace "K" not!

47A. Wookiee's favorite dessert?: CHEWIE BROWNIES (14). Chewbacca gets the only nickname.

63A. Hutt's favorite beverage?: JABBA JUICE (10). A slight variation as this character is "the Hutt," not Jabba Hutt. I was not sure how well known the juice franchise is, but they are almost everywhere. LINK.

While we already have Darth, there is a dearth of long fill HOUSEPLANT, PARTICULAR, REDCOATS, and TEETOTAL being the crop. 

Across:

1. Ticket category: ADULT. Not an infraction.

6. Goggle: GAPE. There are lots of G words for this.

10. Request to a prospective guest: RSVP. Respondez S'il Vous Plait.

14. "Paint It Black" instrument: SITAR. The song is older than my wife. They dropped the Sitar over the years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flSmiIne-4k

15. "That's a shame": ALAS. For our Friday Shakespeare quotation, we could clue ______ poor Yorick.

16. "East of Eden" director Kazan: ELIA. His birthday will be Monday. 

19. "The Persistence of Memory" painter: DALI.

20. 1914 battle river: YSER. It was a turning point for the Belgian soldiers and part of the inspiration for Hercule Poirot.

21. Side in some all-star games: EAST. They have also been known to West, North, and South.

22. Didn't dawdle: ACTED.

23. __ loss for words: AT A.

25. Digging: INTO. Like music, man!

34. Automne preceder: ÉTÉ.

35. Refrain: CHORUS. Don't stop, but sing along.

36. Cabeza, across the Pyrenees: TÊTE.

38. Busy, busy, busy: AT IT.

40. "Friendly Skies" co.: UAL.

41. X-rated material: SMUT. 

42. Jasmine __: RICE.

43. Not on the level: ASLANT.

46. BlackBerry, e.g.: PDA.

50. Protective cover: TARP.

51. Canapé topper: ROE.

52. Hit gently: TAPON.

55. Actor Hemsworth: LIAM.

58. Soak up the sun: BASK.

62. Rapper with a beverage-like name: ICE-T. All 457 episodes. Odaphin

65. No ally of Asta: FLEA. Don't feel bugged by all the references to this dog?

66. Uptight: ANAL. Be still my, heart that is a scandalous word. Does anyone watch the mini-golf show HOLEY-MOLEY?

67. Put to rest: ALLAY. Your fears.

68. What "F" may mean: FULL. On a gas tank.

69. Modest response to praise: I TRY. My mantra when I do my write-up.


70. Brigantine's pair: MASTS.

Down:

1. Far from ruddy: ASHY. At least it isn't Arthury...

2. "Buenos __": DIAS. Bon Jour. Guten Tag.

3. "Cure Ignorance" online anthology: UTNE. Very popular in the CW world.

4. Unwitting test taker: LAB RAT. That seems unfair. They may know what is going on but like the treats.

5. Capote nickname: TRU. True. 

6. "Born This Way" Lady: GAGA.

7. Tavern pours: ALES. 

8. Hard to please: PARTICULAR.

9. Double curve: ESS.

10. Revolutionary soldiers: REDCOATS.

11. Deck chair piece: SLAT.

12. Beneath contempt: VILE.

13. Treated: PAID.

18. Part of a boxer's "tale of the tape": REACH.

22. The NHL's Thrashers: ATL.

24. Cannabis compound: THC.

26. Discouraging words: NOS.

27. Honey: DEAR.

28. Room at the top: ATTIC.

29. 1990s Labor secretary: REICH.

30. Boston fern, e.g.: HOUSEPLANT.

31. Sonicare rival: ORALB.

32. Piano practice concerns: TEMPI.

33. Piano practice piece: ETUDE.

37. Share-a-ride updates, briefly: ETAS.

39. Stay dry: TEETOTAL.

43. Balloon filler: AIR.

44. Bellini opera: NORMA.

45. Wee hour: TWO.

48. Blanched: WAN.

49. One of six awards for Ursula Le Guin: NEBULA.

52. Minor argument: TIFF.

53. Free speech org.: ACLU.

54. Zest: PEEL.

56. Support beam: IBAR.

57. Well: ABLY.

59. Is home sick, maybe: AILS.

60. "Go on, git!": SCAT.

61. Custodian's ringfull: KEYS.

63. __ alai: JAI.

64. Improv session: JAM.