Gary Larson January 14

Title: Let's go to the movies and talk about the plot!

One of our regular Friday Fixtures, Gary Larson has presented a moviecentric puzzle which requires some thought and some cinema knowledge. It is a bit heavy on the 3 and 4 letter fill with 42 of the 77 words offset only by the 4 themers and AU NATUREL, CLEAN IT UP, MARIO KART and ORATORIES each 9 letters. What brought this effort to Friday is the very tricky but enjoyable theme where part of the clue (in BLUE) is a synonym for a movie and part (in PINK) suggests the plot. I liked that very much. We will begin with the themers...

17A. "Back to the Future"?: TIME RELEASE (11). The movie is a TIME travel variation which mirrors much of what H.G. Wells brought us. 

29A. "March of the Penguins"?: WALKIE TALKIE (12). The Talkie revolutionized movies and not only tell made up stories but can show remarkable documentaries like this where the 'stars' walk.

46A. "Titanic"?: WATER FEATURE (12). This movie is the now very popular retelling of actual events but in a mostly fictional account which does spend its time on the water as the feature film.

60A. "Star Wars"?: SHOW OF FORCE (11). Here the SHOW comes first and the plot last but even if you have avoided seeing the movie the Force has become a force in the modern world. I love it and am caught up on the Mandelorian and the Book of Boba Fett.

So much excitement, but now to the rest...

Across:

1. Name in Cold War news: TASS. We baby boomers knew them well but I will let Wiki EXPLAIN.

5. Lampoon: SATIRE. A big part of puzzles and blogs. 

11. Ones presenting acts: MCS. Master of Ceremonies.

14. "Hard __!": captain's order: ALEE. The command used in coming about to inform the crew that the helm is being pushed hard to leeward, turning the boat into the wind, LA Times.

15. Ended an engagement, in a way: ELOPED. Funny, as getting married does end it.

16. Larter of "Resident Evil" films: ALI. You can decide if she is EVIL.

19. Gym unit: REPititon.

20. What a choir may sing in: UNISON. The chancel? A church, opera house, or school hall? Nope.

21. Bhopal locale: INDIA. Most famous for this horrible TRAGEDY. Some pictures may be upsetting.

23. Tablelands: MESAS. We have had pictures recently showing how flat they are.

24. Tacks on: ADDS. Like that hidden tip on your bill in the restaurant.

27. The last Mrs. Chaplin: OONA. 

32. Brazil map word: SAO. Saint in Portugese and part of the name of many city, just as saint is here in the US.

35. Butler's last word: DAMN. He kept it and did not give it to Scarlett.

36. "Groovy!": NEATO. 50s beatnik talk.

37. Some pitches: CURVES. Sliders, sinkers, cutters...

40. Evasive tactic: END RUN. Both in American football and politics.

41. "We're live!" studio sign: ON AIR. 

                            

42. Limo destination: PROM. Two abbreviations.

45. Performs a Halloween prank, briefly: TPS. Toilet Papers.

50. Warehouse: STOW. The American desire to make every noun a verb.

51. Sleep and Comfort: INNS. Two national chains.

52. Spiral-horned antelope: ELAND. 

56. Bear genus: URSUS.

58. "Out of Africa," for one: MEMOIR. A book and a movie.

59. Vince's agent in "Entourage": ARI. A TV show and a movie.

64. Prepare to drive, with "up": TEE. HG is perhaps our most dedicated golfer considering the Nebraska weather.

65. "Gracias" reply: DE NADA. It means “you have nothing to thank me for” (that full phrase being “no tienes nada [de] qué agradecerme”).  Spanish lesson

66. 66 and others: Abbr.: RTES. Cute the route and the clue number.

67. Pair of gallons?: ELS. There are two "l"s in gallon.

68. Play areas: ARENAS. For sports and entertainment not your back yard.

69. Listening devices: EARS. Very simple and cute.

Down:

1. Stride pianist Art: TATUM. You want to learn HOW?

2. Classic Dior style: A LINE.

3. Weigh station line-up: SEMIS. As a kid I never understood the weigh stations and why all the big trucks pulled off the highway.

4. Vacillate: SEESAW. We know a seesaw goes up and down...

5. Gone out with: SEEN. Many were and are arranged just for the publicity.

6. "__ in": "Jeopardy James" bet: ALL.

                                

7. Pirouette pivot point: TOE. Some ballet...

8. Draft choice: IPA. Not for a sports team but for a beverage from a tap.

9. Stand up to: RESIST.

10. Prime real estate?: EDEN. Another fun clue.

11. Racing game with Yoshi and Bowser: MARIO KART. I played this with my boys and their friends for many hours. I was better at some of the other NES games. 

12. "Don't leave a mess": CLEAN IT UP. Sounds bossy.

13. Modest intake: SIP. My first thought was nip.

18. Actress Salazar of "Maze Runner" movies: ROSA. An obscure clus for me but I have seen this ACTRESS.

22. Allotted: DOLED.

24. Abbr. between names, perhaps: A/K/A.

25. Lower: DIM. 

26. Pride's place: DEN. Seems a bit homphobic...

28. Very long time: AEONS.

30. Mormon letters: LDS. Latter Day Saints.

31. Gothic fiction pioneer Radcliffe: ANN. Ann Radcliffe, née Ann Ward, (born July 9, 1764, London, England—died February 7, 1823, London), the most representative of English Gothic novelists. She was a pioneer in developing a literature of terror, and her influential novels stand apart in their ability to infuse scenes of terror and suspense with Romantic sensibility. Britannica.

32. Barges and such: SCOWS. These are examples of a flat-bottomed boat with sloping ends used as a lighter and in dredging and other harbor services. Dictionary

33. In the buff: AU NATUREL. Our titillating French lesson. Dressed as you were born.

34. Private chapels: ORATORIES. I am not familiar with this as a small chapel, especially for private worship. 

38. Lookout offerings: VIEWS.

39. Blunder: ERR.

40. Ostrich relative: EMU. Don't hate the bird just Liberty Mutual.

42. Write: PEN.

43. Commanded: RAN.

44. NHL tiebreakers: OTS. Overtimes. 

47. Price partner: FISHER. Before Legos...

48. Coral __: REEF.

49. "Get Shorty" novelist __ Leonard: ELMORE.

53. Blood line: AORTA. It is the most important of them all.

54. Like sunny weather, vis-à-vis rainy: NICER. Silly.

55. Toggery: DRESS.

57. Food stamp?: USDA. 

                                    

58. Degs. for playwrights: MFAS.

59. Eroded, with "into": ATE. Particularly nest eggs.

61. Low digit: ONE.

62. Pallid: WAN. 

63. "Ghost" psychic __ Mae Brown: ODA. The renowned psychic...

Gary Larson

 Title: Cinderella, what are you wearing to the ball? (See later inspiration)

Today our constructing phenom, Gary don't call me Far Side Larson,  presents me with his 6th Friday that I have blogged in 2021 (along with 2 for Moe) to go with his 7 Sundays. We have slang for 'clothing' which are the second word in a two-word in the language expression as the theme. I would say this is a whimsical effort overall. I am sure you missed Gary since his most recent LAT was all the way back on Sunday. In keeping with modern Fridays, this has more words and fewer empty spaces but the theme is tight and the amusement factor high. The longish non-themers BETRAYS,  BLAME ME, CALYPSO, CAPSULE, DINGBAT. DOGBANE,  ECOCIDE, ENDRUNS, FASTENS. FLAILED, LABORED, MADISON,  RISES UP  and TEHRANI are quite a diverse field. They are each 7 letters long. So we start:

15A. Outfits for a climber?: HIGH GEAR (8). A climber goes up wearing his climbing gear and his friend cruises in his car in high gear. LINK

18A. His-and-her outfits?: BINARY NUMBERS (13). The binary numbers (0 and 1) are how computers work. Per the Oxford English Dictionary, “number” has been used to mean “an article of clothing." gender specific clothing is binary. LINK

35A. Outfits for tourist town natives?: LOCAL  RAGS (9). When I was in boarding school the locals were the "townies." I think of our hometown newspaper as the local rag, but it can also be a worthless piece of cloth, especially one that is torn or worn. rags, ragged or tattered clothing.

56A. Outfits for the masses?: COMMON THREADS (13). Know your threads will not help you here. This is the simplest of the fill.

62A. Outfits for dairy farmers?: MILK DUDS (8). My favorite and the silliest. Duds as clothing come from Middle English dudde, originally meaning worn-out or ragged clothing. Dairy farmers milk their cows and we all know

MILK DUDS Candies were introduced by F. Hoffman & Co. of Chicago in 1928. The Candiesgot their name because their maker found it impossible to get the chocolate-covered caramels to form perfectly round balls, so he called them “duds.” He wanted candy symmetry but failed. Gary did not. This very symmetrical set of five themers has 51 spaces of the 225 in this 15x15 with no reveal. 

Across:

1. Follower of Jefferson: MADISON. President number 4 followed number 3.

8. Turn on: START. This works well for machines, but is more complicated with humans.

13. Polluter's crime: ECOCIDE. I put in ___CIDE  and ruminated for a while. 

14. Mountaintop home: AERIE. This variant of eyrie is the bird nest of an eagle, falcon, hawk, or other bird of prey.

17. Refuse: TRASH. I refused to be tricked.

21. The first "A" in A.A. Milne: ALAN. Alan Alexander was more than the creator of Winnie the pu pu platter (oops)...anyway, he studied under H.G. Wells and played cricket with J.M. Barrie, A.C. Doyle, and P.G.Wodehouse.

23. Fictional 1847 autobiographer: EYRE. Oh Jane you fictional woman.

24. __ Paulo: SAO. Brazil. 

25. Typographical ornament: DINGBAT. No this is not ...

but in the computer industry, a Dingbat font is a font that has symbols and shapes in the positions designated for alphabetical or numeric. Wingding is very popular.

29. Evasive tactics: END RUNS. To circumvent from the Football play.

31. Spot: SEE.  I got this right away.

32. Infuriates: IRES. I am irked.

34. Polynesian capital: APIA. Apia, town, port, and capital (since 1959) of Samoa. It is located on the northern coast of Upolu Island, in the South Pacific Ocean. Many famous athletes and actors come from Samoa. 

39. Jessica of "Dark Angel": ALBA. She played a genetically enhanced government superhuman prototype, Max Guevera who teamed with a journalist, played by Michael Weatherly (NCIS and BULL) in a post-apocalyptic Seattle to right wrongs. Seattle also was the home of iZombie another SciFi series. 

42. Long-gone time: YORE.

43. Tiger, e.g.: CAT. Deceptively simple.

46. Belafonte #1 album on which "Day-O" was the first track: CALYPSO. 

50. Turns on: BETRAYS.

52. Corp. alias letters: DBA. Doing business as.

53. Subway fare?: HERO. Not the price of travel...

55. Sword with a three-sided blade: EPEE.

61. They hold your horses: REINS. Literal but amusing.

65. Deejay, at times: EMCEE. DJ MC ...

66. Swung wildly: FLAILED. Facing a famed Twins pitcher...

67. Transfers, as a house: DEEDS. My bread and butter.

68. Secures: FASTENS.

Down:

1. Not so hot: MEH. The bloggers' safe word.

2. Handel's "__, Galatea e Polifemo": ACI. A most emotional TALE from the mists of myth. I will await comments from all of our musically educated posters.

3. Poisonous plant reputed to repel canines: DOGBANE. It is poisonous to dogs and looks like milkweed to which I am extremely allergic. It  does feel like a CSO to John Lampkin.

4. Chinese book of divination: I-CHING. My late brother David studied these rituals.

5. Register, with "up": SIGN. Be cause you ...

6. Music halls of old: ODEA. If you look up ODEA in the dictionary it tells you noun:the plural of odeum. Helpful.

7. Close: NEAR.
 
8. Ring bearer?: SATURN. A debut for this clue/fill combo. Very clever.

9. Called: TERMED.

10. Many an Omani: ARAB. And 12D. Like many "Argo" militants: TEHRANI. The capital of Iran.

11. Revolts: RISESUP. They have had their share in that part of the world.

16. White alternative: RYE. Just bread but it does rhyme with...

19. Emmy-winning scientist: NYE.

20. '90s-'00s Cubs star: SOSA. No indication of his being one of many being blackballed by the Hall of Fame voters. This ARTICLE is very long but should be of interest to our dedicated baseball fans.

21. GEICO highlights: ADS. Most of their's are funny. I see you LIMU!

22. Tell tales, maybe: LIE. Maybe, baby?

26. Book jacket text, often: BIO.

27. Semicircle, say: ARC. 

28. Leaves for a spot: TEA. A CSO to many at the Corner who enjoy a spot of tea, but not a cup. It is a more confusing IDIOM.

30. Student housing VIPs: RAS. Resident Assistants.

33. Wily: SLY. Sly E Coyote just didn't work.
 
35. Set down: LAY. Two versions: I set down the book on the desk. Or, I laid down stricter rules for my...

36. Take badly?: ROB. A now common clue/fill to deceive the audience.

37. "__ you done?": ARE. No, we have many clues left.

38. Perceive: GET. I perceived Gary's meaning.

39. Like some appliances: AC/DC.

40. Worked: LABORED.

41. Words of confession: BLAME ME. Meh. That is not a confession.

43. Tablet alternative: CAPSULE. Not computer but pills.

44. Supportive response: AYE. Nay!

45. "The Waste Land" monogram: TSE. The best link I could find for those interested in THOMAS STEARNS ELIOT.

47. Called: PHONED. Someday this to will be gone from the lexicon.

48. It's sometimes necessary to come to them: SENSES.

49. Food bit: ORT.

51. Website with "Ask Me Anything" interviews: REDDIT.

54. Unit of resistance: OHM.

57. Laptop navigation aids: MICE.

58. Jazz phrase: RIFF.

59. "Enchanted" movie girl: ELLA. Recently this version

60. Aliases: AKAS. Also Known As.

63. Thieves' place: DEN. A concept from the Christian Bible.

64. Radical '60s org.: SDS. Students for a Democratic Society. Very active at my college alma mater.

Gary Larson

Title: Furniture $1,000.00 Mayim.

I had to resist my inclination to be sad when I finished solving this Friday from Gary "Taking over the World" Larson because for me it is a take off on JEOPARDY . Naturally I do not

Across:

1. Simple starts: ABCS. 

5. Move unsteadily: LURCH.

10. Mex. title: SRTA.

14. Yawn-inducing: SLOW.

15. "That's __": 1953 Top 10 hit: AMORE.

16. Close relative, often: HEIR.

17. Stuffing ingredient: SAGE.

18. Furniture for an angler?: WATER TABLE.

20. German article: EINE.

21. Kind of barbecue: OPENPIT.

22. Furniture for an efficiency expert?: SNAPPY DRESSER.

26. Worldly: SECULAR.

27. Highways: Abbr.: RTES.

30. Small game pieces: PAWNS.

32. Alphabetically fifth of Santa's reindeer: DASHER.

34. Phone download: APP.

37. Hidden: CLOAKED.

39. One attached to a binding, perhaps: SKI.

40. Organized set: SERIES.

42. Family group: MAFIA.

44. Cheat, in a way: PEEK.

45. Gather dust: LIE IDLE.

49. Furniture for a military officer?: SERVICE BUREAU.

54. Against: NOTWITH.

55. Anna Pigeon mystery series writer Nevada __: BARR.

56. Furniture for an event planner?: PARTY CHAIR.

59. Plus: ALSO.

60. You won't get cards without it: ANTE.

61. Actress Knightley: KEIRA.

62. Barely go (through): SEEP.

63. Red ink: LOSS.

64. Touch, say: SENSE.

65. White-tailed shore bird: ERNE.

Down:

1. Weigh: ASSESS.

2. Illusionist David known for death-defying stunts: BLAINE.

3. Hennessy product: COGNAC.

4. Remove with a broom: SWEEP UP.

5. __ of diminishing returns: LAW.

6. First name in "Pulp Fiction" credits: UMA.

7. Turbine part: ROTOR.

8. __ paper: CREPE.

9. "__ a bottle and an honest friend!": HERE'S.

10. Woodworking tools: SHAPERS.

11. New beginnings: REBIRTHS.

12. List: TILT.

13. Equals: ARE.

19. Heavy wts.: TNS.

23. Word after fire or first: PLACE.

24. Two-masters: YAWLS.

25. 1962 villain played by Joseph Wiseman: DRNO.

28. Startled cry: EEK.

29. Hindu title: SRI.

31. Short beer order: SAM.

32. Emergency room treatment, for short: DEFIB.

33. Parting word: ADIEU.

34. Hieroglyphics creature: ASP.

35. One of a peppery trio?: PEE.

36. Does a laundry task: PRESORTS.

38. Mustard family member: KALE.

41. Aptly named backing group for the Turners: IKETTES.

43. Flight center: AIRBASE.

46. Place to get wheels: DEALER.

47. Yankee Don who pitched the only no-hitter (a perfect game) in World Series history: LARSEN.

48. Iceland is in it: EUROPE.

50. Letters after either Cowboy St. senator's name: RWY.

51. Maker of NyQuil and DayQuil: VICKS.

52. "... __ wed": ITHEE.

53. Mountain __: CHAIN.

54. Technology start: NANO.

56. Amigo: PAL.

57. Org. that takes many forms: IRS.

58. Issa of "Awkward Black Girl": RAE.

Gary Larson

TITLE: Ruh Roh? Oh no! SCOOBY vs. ASTRO

Gary in his unstoppable move to take over the cyber crossword world is back with a sounds like puzzle based on a beloved cartoon dog. But which one? But first, lets examine the puzzle. It has a bunch of seven letter fill ANARCHY, AT LARGE, ATTESTS, BRIDGET, IT'S HERE, LAUGH IN, LOANERS, NEUTERS, PONTOON, RECASTS, TROLLEY and TSETSES which are a great basis to solve. The number of 3/4/5 fill are high - 57 and similar grids have appeared on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Those are the bland statistics, but for this effort the question is - was it fun to solve. It was for me and I will explain.

18A. Deception at a dog show?: ROVER RUSE (9). This filled very quickly as ROVER is a common dog name and a RUSE is a deception, making the clue/fill very simple. OVER and USE are both complete words that have the R added. So when I went to the next themer...

23A. Top-shelf whiskey?: REGAL RYE (8). This is obviously a reference to EAGLE EYE, but it does not follow the 18A pattern. EGAL YE are nothing. But the fill sounds good; hmm, look for more info.

34A. Food staple storage areas?: RICE RACKS (9). The perps gave me this pair, another Rxxx Rxxxx answer, but ICE ACKS (ICE AX?) does not make sense and despite my immersion in Thai culture, I do not know of RICE RACKS, as they dry their rice on mats, But I now have learned the Japanese method.

51A. Unexpected lopsided victory?: RARE ROUT (8). ARE OUT is another pair of real phrases but by this time I am convinced the puzzle is built aroud sound (not surround sound) and I am quickly provided a reveal.

56A. Cartoon canine whose speech patterns inspired four puzzle answers: SCOOBY DOO (9). Yes, Scooby Does start his words with the R sound, and now we are ready to move on to the rest of the story.

Across:

1. Musical collectible: ALBUM. My problem has been that they do not travel well or easily. I have ruined too many very valuable records from the heat.

6. Wit: CARD. Boring M-W: Synonyms for card; comedian, comic, droll, farceur, funnyman, gagger, gagman, gagster, humorist, jester, joker, jokester, wag, wit.

10. Cut: SLIT. A throat? More pirates hanging around...

14. Trunk with a chest: TORSO. This is a doubly cute clue/fill as it is tricky and combines TRUNK and CHEST which can be synonyms.

15. Mind: OBEY. Mind has so many permutations, mind your baby sitter, mind your manners, mind your ps and qs etc. but I find no etymology for mind to mean obey.

16. Is gentle with: PATS. This year they will be relying on Mac Jones the QB from Alabama's most recent national championship team. Bye bye Cam.

17. Denny who founded the Moody Blues and Wings: LAINE.
Biography

20. With 21-Across, odds follower: AND. 21A. See 20-Across: ENDS. Odds and ends.
22. Highest unstriped pool ball: EIGHT.  ❽

26. Washes up: BATHES.

27. Samsa of Kafka's "The Metamorphosis": GREGOR. If you have not read the story, it is interesting. I enjoyed the message. The name of the central character appears to derive partly from literary works Kafka had read. A character in The Story of Young Renate Fuchs, is named Gregor Samassa. The Viennese author Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, whose sexual imagination gave rise to the idea of masochism, Venus in Furs (1870), a novel whose hero assumes the name Gregor at one point.  Gregor Samsa has hung a picture of a oman in furs on his bedroom wall that he is very sad to see taken away.

28. Roll in the grass: SOD. Wonderful clue/fill introduced to us HERE

29. Steamed state: IRE. I would say someone is irate but I get the idea.

30. Perfume compound: ESTER. Not ESTEE, a chemical answer.

31. Tees, say: TOPS. Yes, many kinds.


33. Video game letters: NES.  Nintendo Entertainment System.

38. Blame: RAP. This has so MANY origins.

41. Wranglers rival: LEES. Jeans, Gene.

42. Big name in health care: AETNA.

46. Ambient music pioneer Brian: ENO. His letters keep him popular.

47. It might be sticky: BUN.
It does not o well with...

48. Bordeaux wine: CLARET. Moe should have had this last week, but Claret is a British term used, unofficially, in reference to red Bordeaux wine. The red wines of Bordeaux are blends, mostly based on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The term “claret” is sometimes used—unofficially, of course—to refer to Bordeaux-style red wines produced elsewhere, such as the United States.

49. Classic light provider: CANDLE. In the wind?

53. "Star Wars" name: ARTOO. R2D2.

54. Fishing boat: DORY. Also a lost blue tang.

55. Wireless standard initials: LTE.  Long Term Evolution.

58. Youngest French Open champ: SELES. To this day Monica, aged 16 and 6 months, is the youngest winner when she won the French Open, to become the youngext in the Open Era. She was surpassed by Martina Hingis seven years later who won the 1997 Australian Open aged 16 years, 3 months. Her career was cut short by a crazed fan.

60. Superhero with a hammer: THOR. He has has too much press lately.

61. Has something: EATS.

62. "At the Movies" co-host: EBERT. Siskel and...

63. Dict. entries: SYNS. The bloggers have discovered so many cute syonym sites.

64. Where Cisco has no "i," briefly: NYSE. I hate to be the one who complains but this company trades on NASDAQ: as CSCO. Be more careful Rich. 

65. Vast chasm: ABYSS.

Down:

1. Loose: AT LARGE. Sounds like aan escapee.

2. Auto repair perks: LOANERS. It certainly helps to have a car in our society. I have not been allowed to drive for 3 years plus and it sucks.

3. One of the Fondas: BRIDGET. 

4. "Top Gun" org.: USN. Navy, not Air Force; the sequel flies into theaters November 19, 2021. Isn't that pirate day not maverick day?

5. Homer's bartender: MOE. Another reference coming a week late.

6. Clichéd: CORNY.  Rustic, unsophisticated; ridiculously or tiresomely old-fashioned or sentimental; trite. colloquial. 

7. Quarters: ABODE. So quadraplex would be Dollars?

8. Guns: REVS. Engines, especially motorcycles and airplanes. See 4D.

9. Salon supply: DYE. A dye is a colored substance that chemically bonds to the substrate to which it is being applied. This distinguishes dyes from pigments which do not chemically bind to the material they color

10. Diagonal sail extender: SPRIT. sprit

11. '60s-'70s show with a Joke Wall, familiarly: LAUGH IN. A feature many loved.
                                               

12. "The parcel has arrived": IT'S HERE. 

13. African pests: TSETSES. More cutting remarks.

19. __ lips: READ.This comes in very handy.

21. Blunder: ERR. Is blundering divine also?

24. New __: AGER. An OPINION that may not reflect your ideas, but those of uswere efected by this concep

25. Loughlin of "Full House": LORI. More famous for her children and husband now. 

26. Pear variety: BOSC.

28. Getaway spots: SPAS.

31. Many a "Buffy" character: TEEN.

32. Vein contents: ORE.

35. Solving aid: CLUE.

36. Trendy kind of chips: KALE.

37. Lightly burn: SEAR.

38. Replaces actors for: RECASTS. 

39. Lawlessness: ANARCHY.

40. What may float your boat: PONTOON. Acute literal answer.

43. Transport on "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood": TROLLEY.

44. Fixes, in a way: NEUTERS. Ouch.

45. Certifies: ATTESTS. Hardly the same thing.

47. Oozy horror film menace, with "the": BLOB. Two versions; the CLASSIC and the REMAKE.

48. Shout: CRY. Cry out maybe, but not just cry.

50. Metaphorical opportunities: DOORS. If you call the Mayor she can open some doors for you.

51. Underground network: ROOTS. Hence the name of the mini-series.

52. Turned up: AROSE. Our dreaded A-word of the day.

54. WWII turning point: D-DAY. A LESSON for the children.

57. Strong desire: YEN. This etymology might surprise you but NOT C.C.

58. Watery expanse: SEA. Also one of my many great grand nephews by marriage. 

59. Point of decline: EBB. Go with the flow man as I am ebbing my way out of here.

Gary Larson

Title: We have a reveal today, which is probably what the author considered his title so I will not compete...

55A. Paperback designed to simulate animation ... and a hint to the answers to starred clues: FLIPBOOK (8). Yes, it is one word. We used to create our own when I was young, but they were nothing like the ones featured in the link.

This is a back to back for me blogging Gary who is one of the many very productive newer constructors. Each theme fill is a theoretical book with a title that corresponds to an in the language two-word expression. However, if you "flip" the words you get a very different well know entity. Fun. We also have NEW CARS, PERSIST, REASONS, ENLARGER,  ORE CARTS, PAW PRINT, WHITE TIE and STARTED to challenge the solvers. 

17A. *Reference work for canine lovers?: DOG GUIDE (8). We all are familiar with GUIDE DOGS 

21A. *Instructional work for expectant mothers`?: LABOR MANUAL.

33A. *Fictional work about a pick-up artist?: APPROACH NOVEL.

49A. *Illustrated work for bullpen pitchers?: RELIEF COMIC.

Across:

1. Hybrid cycle: MOPED. We had a minibike, but not a MOPED.

6. Technology that uses polarized light, briefly: LCD. Liquid Crystal Display.

9. Boo-boo: OWIE. Not a favored fill here.

13. Baba ghanouj ingredient: TAHINI. The description has Tahini as ground, toasted sesame seeds. A mildly Friday word.

14. Yellowfin tuna: AHI. Tuna or salmon? Both contain the same number of calories, but yellowfin tuna (sometimes referred to as “ahi”) is less fatty, offers eight more grams of protein than wild salmon, and is prized for its mild but not fishy flavor. Although wild salmon contains more fat, it also has more heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids

15. "That was close!": PHEW. This word is from the 17th century and is an onomatopoeia: the sound of rapid exhalation one makes when some trying situation is over.

16. Preserve, in a way: EMBALM. Ugh. This somewhat inappropriate breakfast test word comes from the French word baum meaning balm, like an ointment.

19. Range in the home, maybe: AMANA. While this company now owned by WHIRLPOOL eventually began making ranges, they started in the Amana Colonies in Iowa making the first stand-up freezer. 

20. Keep going: PERSIST. From the Latin Persistere.

23. Punk rock offshoot: EMO. This history of the MUSIC.

26. Calculating: SLY.

27. Grunts, so to speak: GIs. The term G.I. has been used as an initialism of "Government Issue", "General Issue", or "Ground Infantry", but it originally referred to "galvanized iron", as used by the logistics services of the United States Armed Forces

28. Got going: STARTED.

30. Simmons competitor: SERTA. 

32. Cork's place: EIRE. Not in a wine bottle for Moe, but a County in Ireland.

38. Requiem Mass word: IRAE. Serious crosswordese.

39. Layers: TIERS. Like cakes.

40. There are lots of them: NEW CARS. Without perps this is impossible, but it is a new fill.

44. Beats by __: DRE. 

45. Some tags: IDS.

48. Afternoon refresher: NAP. I am almost ready to get used to naps. I have always appreciated the 20-minute power nap.

52. Tries to influence, with "with": REASONS. From a child's POINT OF VIEW. Or, 60A. Unbending: STRICT.

54. Worship: ADORE. Je t'aime, je t'adore!

57. Tried and true: PROVEN.

58. Choice: A-ONE. Steak sauce?

59. Parrot: APE. Parrots are not simians!

61. Written reminder: NOTE. Generally sticky now.

62. "The Spanish Tragedy" dramatist: KYD. Beginning the revenge tragedy.

63. Strong point: ASSET.

Down:

1. Cat, say: MAMMAL. Another vague Friday means to challenge.

2. "Yowza!": OH BABY.  1930s (as yowzah ): perhaps representing a regional or colloquial pronunciation of yes sir 

3. It can be grand: PIANO. Distraction is the key.

4. Darkroom gear: ENLARGER. 

5. Skeptical, as a view: DIM. Parents often have a dim view
of their kids' ideas.

6. Weighed down: LADEN. Since they are burdened with their preconceived notions.

7. Group that blends well: CHORUS. Very important in the theatre of the 1500s.

8. Tries to unearth: DIGS AT. My meh clue/fill.

9. Major work: OPUS. Latin; no more pictures of the Penguin.

10. Formal wear: WHITE TIE. The CODE.

11. Mil. roadside hazard: IED. Improvised Explosive Device (IED), a homemade bomb, constructed from military or nonmilitary components, that is frequently employed by guerrillas, insurgents, and other non-state actors as a crude but effective weapon against a conventional military force.

12. Sweater material source: EWE. But not me.

13. Shades of blue: TEALS. At least 260 shades of blue are documented.

18. River to the Colorado: GILA.

20. Noodles: PASTA.

22. Barcelona-born surrealist: MIRO.

24. Cruciverbalist Reagle of "Wordplay": MERL.

25. Words of praise: ODE.

29. Guns: REVS.

30. What many writers work on: SPEC.

31. Be in a cast: ACT.

33. Specialty: AREA.

34. Rin Tin Tin autograph, e.g.: PAW PRINT.

35. Leather sources: HIDES.

36. Soft ball material: NERF.

37. Mine vehicles: ORE CARTS.

38. Keeper's concern: INN.

41. Spirited horse: ARAB.

42. Saturate again: RESOAK.

43. "Hang on __": 1965 #1 hit: SLOOPY.

45. Apple video-editing app: iMOVIE.

46. Run: DIRECT.

47. Chanel product: SCENT.

50. Signed: INKED.

51. Dinnertime draws: ODORS.

53. Duel tool: EPEE.

55. __ club: FAN.

56. WC: LOO.

57. Smokey Bear TV spot, for one: PSA.

GARY LARSON

 

Title: A pun puzzle for the openminded. 

We welcome back Gary Larson who in just over three years on the big stage has numerous publications here, at the NYT, the WSJ, and the Universal puzzle. I blogged one last October, and Gary does like wordplay. All the "J"s are now "CH." It creates some fun fill and starts us on our way, as they are very gettable once you grasp the concept. The sparkly fill includes ADOPTED, ESTELLE, HEROINE, MOLIERE, ONE LOVE, STANLEY, KALAMATA, and THE OPERA a diverse knowledge base required. 

The theme:

16A. Levi's alternatives in the bargain bin?: CHEAP WRANGLERS (14). Wrangler jeans, Jeep Wrangler. 

23A. Bright red semi?: CHERRY RIG. This is the biggest stretch for me. First, I learned the term as Jury-rigged, which does indeed have historical precedence, over jerry-rigged, with citations in the Oxford English Dictionary all the way back to 1788. Do non-truckers think about their big rig?

36A. Dog collar for obedience school?: PRACTICAL CHOKER. A sad but apt replacement for a practical joker. 

48A. Kibbles 'n Bits?: CHUNK FOOD. Well, I never thought of dog food like junk food, nor the little pieces as chunks but you must do what you must do.

57A. Inept patsy on water skis?: CHUMP IN THE LAKE. On that note, I won't suggest you go jump in the lake but get on with the rest of the puzzle.

ACROSS:

1. Supplies food: CATERS. Not the easiest of starts for me. 

7. Lord with a namesake sports trophy: STANLEY. Requires knowledge of Hockey's Stanley Cup.

14. Showy bloom: DAHLIA.  Sometimes sad.

15. "The Miser" playwright: MOLIERE. Studying French in school helped with this "comedy" L'avare. Molière modeled the protagonist in The Miser on a character in Aulularia (Pot of Gold), a comedy by the ancient Roman playwright Plautus (254-184 BC), according to the nineteenth-century French scholar Eugène Benoist. 

18. Rial spenders: OMANIS. The currency of the country, and two others- Yemen and Iran.

19. Ascended: ROSE. To great heights.

21. Humdinger: PIP. A colloquialism defined by another. US origin, perhaps a blend of hummer (“something that moves fast”) +‎ dinger (“something outstanding”). First attested in a newspaper article in the Daily Enterprise of June 4, 1883, at Livingstone, Montana.

27. Song heard in the film "Marley & Me": ONE LOVE.
Don't cry...okay cry. 

31. Sign of success: VEE. Winston and a clecho.

32. Sign of success: SRO. Standing Room Only.

33. Arte who co-owns MLB's Angels: MORENO. A CSO to Lucina.

34. Prayer __: BEADS. And yet, a second CSO.

41. Sported: HAD ON. She sported a Givenchy at the Oscars.

42. Steamed cantina dish: TAMALE. Followed by the third and major CSO to our maven on the Mexican delight, Ms. Lucy Dale.

43. I in Innsbruck: ICH.

46. Mogadishu is its cap.: SOMalia. I like the word Mogadishu.

47. Getty of "The Golden Girls": ESTELLE. She was the youngest of the actresses and the first to leave us; only Betty White carries on. Young Estelle.

51. Petition: ASK.

52. Relaxation: EASE.

53. Smarts: WISDOM.

63. Captain Marvel, for one: HEROINE. The current ONE.

64. Walking on air: ELATED. A favorite word of our own C.C.

65. Taken in: ADOPTED.

66. Parlor pieces: DIVANS.

Down:

1. Govt. agency in many 2020 headlines: CDC. Center for Disease Control. Did you ever notice dis-ease actually means the opposite of ease, like disenfranchisement?

2. Spa emanation: AAH. Oooh.

3. Title Marx Brothers setting: THE OPERA.

4. Jack of "Rio Lobo": ELAM. He was a scary-looking dude.

                                                    
5. Gifford's "Live" successor: RIPA. Kathie Lee and Kelly. 

6. Like logs: SAWN.

7. Huge hit: SMASH.

8. Passel: TON. Passel supposedly comes from a mispronouncing of "parcel". Ya think?

9. Niger neighbor: Abbr.: ALG. There is a sad STORY here.

10. Nothing: NIL. Important for hockey and football (soccer) fans.

11. Suspicious: LEERY. Not Timothy...

12. E on a scoreboard: ERRORS. Along with R and H.

13. Private aye: YES SIR. A little humor in the clue.

17. Often-steamed serving: RICE. Do all of you here have your own RICE COOKER?

20. It may be inflated: EGO.

21. Ceremonial display: POMP.

22. "__ out?": IN OR. Every pet owner knows this game.

24. First name in daredeviltry: EVEL. He's back!

25. Takes the bait, say: REACTS.

26. Software subsidiary of IBM since 2019: RED HAT.

28. Peace Nobelist Walesa: LECH.

29. Focused, jobwise: ON TASK.

30. Entirely without: VOID OF compassion?

34. Outlaw: BAN. Or a deodorant.

35. To a degree: SOME.

37. Villa-studded Italian lake: COMO. Or our old friend Perry the barber; I get him often.

38. Greek city known for olives: KALAMATA.

39. Building additions: ELLS.

40. Strongly suggest, with "of": REEK. I will again LINK this scene from Game of Thrones, but please do not watch, it is awful and disgusting.

43. Bar staple: ICE. Not at Tinbeni's house.

44. Onomatopoeic dance: CHA CHA. This reminds me of the Cuchi Cuchi girl Charo and somehow really fits with a J to CH theme.

45. Quieted: HUSHED.

47. Touch up, perhaps: EDIT.

49. Surgeon's opening?: NEURO.

50. Dominated in competition: OWNED. When did this become the phrase?

54. Threw off: SHED.

55. Where to find a hero: DELI. These days, maybe the only place to find one.

56. Norse patron: OLAV.

58. Unruly head of hair: MOP.

59. Trading place: PIT. Chicago Board of Trade, the NYSE ...

60. Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 __ minor: IN E. An ending E to match a beginning one.

61. First "Jeopardy!" guest host after Alex: KEN. WOW! We are really up to date, Ken is okay but he seems nervous to me.

62. Harris and a horse: EDS. Ed Harris who I featured for his role in ENEMY AT THE GATES.

There are 5 Fridays in January so you will see me again this month, GWATCDR. This was not the first week I blogged two puzzles, but my first Monday Friday sandwich. I hope it was tasty. Lemonade out. 

Gary Larson

 Title: Where are they from?

ATM FEES,  BISQUES, EMERITI, EYE EXAM, GRAFTON, GRETZKY,  GROUPIE,  HAT SIZE, SIERRAS, SKI PASS, and UNMEANT.

Across:

1. Ancient wizard: MAGE.

5. Serbian-born NBA center __ Jokic: NIKOLA.

11. Fella: BRO.

14. Speck: ATOM.

15. Bordeaux wine: CLARET.

16. Narrow inlet: RIA.

17A. Grasslands around Dakar?: SENEGAL LEAS.

19. Petition: ASK.

20. High ranges: SIERRAS.

21. Holder of 61 NHL records: GRETZKY.

23. Chamber group: TRIO.

24. Comet relative: BONAMI.

25. Retire: TURNIN.

28. Jessica of "Dark Angel": ALBA.

31. Winter vacation purchase: SKI PASS.

33. Part of a late 1900s demographic: GEN-Y-ER.

35. "The Simpsons" storekeeper: APU.

36. Feature of a map of Baghdad?: IRAQ KEY.

38. MD treating canals: ENT.

39. Oklahoma tribe: PAWNEE.

41. Accidental: UNMEANT.

43. Genesis twin: ESAU.

44. Middle of a three-part start: GET SET. On your mark ...

45. Subtly points out: INFERS. Oh, this is so wrong.

48. Present time?: X-MAS.

51. Uniform concern, maybe: HAT SIZE.

53. Late author whose daughter wrote, "As far as we in the family are concerned, the alphabet now ends in Y": GRAFTON.

56. Behave: ACT.

57. Laid-back attitude in Hanoi?: VIETNAM EASE.

59. Charlotte of "The Facts of Life": RAE.

60. Bivouac: ENCAMP.

61. Times past: ERAS.

62. Uma's "Pulp Fiction" role: MIA.

63. Perceived to be: SEEN AS.

64. Caesar and others: SIDS.

Down:

1. One side of a physics equivalence principle: MASS.

2. Bit the dust: ATE IT.

3. One with no hope: GONER.

4. Honored retirees: EMERITI.

5. Indiana-based sports org.: NCAA.

6. Troubles: ILLS.

7. Penn of "House": KAL. He is all over the place. His IMDB

8. Crater Lake locale: OREGON.

9. Hear (of): LEARN.

10. Without a clue: ATSEA.

11. Longing in São Paulo?: BRAZIL YEN.

12. Take a shot at: RISK.

13. Wine nuance word: OAKY.

18. Exuberant fan: GROUPIE.

22. IRS agent: TMAN.

24. Fish restaurant offerings: BISQUES.

26. Unusual: RARE.

27. Eavesdropping org.: NSA.

29. Twisted: BENT.

30. Focus for some collectors: ART.

31. Watering holes: SPAS.

32. Hot spot in Al Ahmadi?: KUWAIT TEA.

33. Masterpieces: GEMS.

34. Test involving gradually longer lines: EYE EXAM. A wonderful clue as each successive line is longer.
EYE CHART 

35. Mimic: APE.

37. Round Table VIP: KNT. Knight abbreviation? 

40. Creatures of habit?: NUNS. Hah, hah. 

42. Some bank acct. charges: ATM FEES.

44. Homer's home: GREECE.

46. Fins: FIVES.

47. Slate, for one: E-ZINE.

49. Original Flashback games console designer: ATARI.

50. "What a pity": SO SAD.

51. Wrong: HARM.

52. Smoothie fruit: ACAI.

53. Fed. lending agency: GNMA.

54. Criticizes: RAPS.

55. Storied loch: NESS.

58. Brown shade: TAN.