Gary larson

Title: Don't let this puzzle bug you because it is about a cartoon.

Gary has entered the fray seeking to publish scads of puzzles this year. I had the pleasure to blog two in January on the 15th and the 29th. He has been published in every major venue after his late 2018 debut in the NYT.  Today we are faced with the world of Phylum: Arthropoda (all arthropods), Class: Insecta (only the insects). Now if I only had John Lampkin's encyclopedic knowledge and picture library...but I digress. As it turns out, while I have heard of the movie, I never have seen it, Luckily, I do not believe that made the solving any harder. I could try to impress you with the knowledge that there are more than <a href=https://www.si.edu/spotlight/buginfo/bugnos><b>900 Million </b></a>species of bugs on earth or provide a <a href=https://www.royensoc.co.uk/insect-classification><b>LINK</b></a> to a wonderful British bug book (ok I love alliteration) instead it's time to actually talk about the puzzle.

It really does not play like a Friday, with a less than 5 letter per word average, but it is after all a tribute puzzle to the second film from the Disney/Pixar partnership. I have now watched it and am impressed with the theme as I initially thought Gary had taken actual parts of the movie to use. The long non-theme fill -  ACCOLADE, ATYPICAL, FORMERLY, MADE NICE,  RESTLESS, and TWIST TIE are all very nice. So let's examine the themers.

17A. Nightspot in "A Bug's Life"?: CRICKET CLUB (11). The question mark should have been enough to let me know it was part of the movie. Marylebone Cricket Club, based at Lord's, developed the modern rules of play and conduct. Some HISTORY.

27A. Purse in "A Bug's Life"?: FLEA BAG (7) A literal clue for a pejorative in America for a very cheap, dirty hotel. It is now a hit British TV show. Fleabag.

37A. Fancy dance in "A Bug's Life"?: FLY BALL (7). Some baseball for Boomer and C.C. and some old South and dancing.

50A. Queue in "A Bug's Life"?: BEE LINE (7). By now we yanks have accepted the British queue for line, and while they might fly together I doubt they stand in line together.

58A. Fruity beverage in "A Bug's Life"?: BEETLE JUICE (11). I doubt that beetles or even Beatles would make a fruity juice but it does bring us good old-fashioned puzzle symmetry. We are not talking the Rolling Stones or David Bowie here. I guess I will never learn political correctness to give up on humor.

On to the rest...

Across:

1. Merged thespian union: AFTRA. I am too young to know of this union before the merger on September 17, 1952, when the Television Authority and AFRA (American Federation of Radio Artists) which had been formed big radio stars like Jack Benny, Eddie Cantor, and others, merged to create a new union: the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. During my off and on work repping musicians and models I have dealt with them. They have now merged with SAG.

6. Stares: GAPES. Not a word I like.

11. Sault __ Marie: STE.

14. Show fear: COWER. The etymology from Middle Low German kūren ‘lie in wait.’

15. Draw in the air: AROMA. Very tricky, a draw meaning something that attracts others.

16. Disadvantage: CON. 

19. Throw __: RUG. Why is it a small rug; several can be used in a room.

20. Meditation sounds: OMS.

21. "__ Alyscamps": van Gogh work: LES. 

                                                                    
22. Canon competitor: LEICA. Cameras before cell phones became so sophisticated.

24. Hang out in the sun: LET DRY. Down here it is way of life.

29. "Star Wars" droid: ARTOO.

30. Normandy battle town: ST LO.

32. "Raising Buchanan" star Auberjonois: RENE. The movie seems interesting. 

33. Not-so-VIP group: D-LIST. We are obsessed with ratings.
 
34. Garlicky sauces: AIOLIS. Very common fill.

36. Private __: EYE. My eyes are far from private as so many people are examining them these days.

39. Disfigure: MAR.

42. Skeleton's place?: CLOSET. But how do you keep them there/

43. Hopping mad: IRATE. An Easter clue?

45. Mythological ship: ARGO. Oh my, another CSO to me.

48. Recipe info: Abbr.: AMTS.

49. Frozen custard chain in 14 states: ANDY'S. WE have one of these frozen CUSTARD businesses in Lakeland, Florida, This is the home of Publix which does not yet offer the product.

52. Swallow: ACCEPT. Or spit?

53. Winged, perhaps: AVIAN.

54. Down: EAT.

56. Zip: NIL.

57. Member of the fam: SIS.

63. Day before Thanksgiving, e.g.: EVE. Day before everything.

64. Woolly, say: OVINE. Sheep family; cows bovine. 

65. Ancient Peruvians: INCAS.

66. Actor Benicio __ Toro: DEL. A successful PUERTO RICAN actor.

67. Alprazolam brand: XANAX. Don't you know all their generic names?

68. Believes: FEELS. Meh

Down:

1. Four-star review, e.g.: ACCOLADE. Historically from early 17th century: French, from Provençal acolada, literally ‘embrace around the neck (when bestowing knighthood)’, from Latin ad- ‘at, to’ + collum ‘neck’.

2. At one time: FORMERLY.

3. Flexible fastener: TWIST TIE. 

4. __ hall: REC.

5. Ancient sanctuary: ARK. Does this mean Noah's Ark or the Ark of the Covenant? We appear to have many religious scholars here now. But not, 7D. Rainbows, say: ARCS. 

6. Box office take: GATE.

8. Party pro: POLitician.

9. Earthbound bird: EMU. Just not Lemu.

10. Valuable fur: SABLE.

11. Professional copyist: SCRIBE.

12. Colorful bird: TOUCAN. Play this game...

13. Occupy: ENGAGE.

18. Tarzan player Ron: ELY.

23. Good listeners?: EARS.

25. They're allowed: DOS.

26. Cracking-up letters: ROTFL. Rolling on the floor laughing.

27. Fountain orders: FLOATS.

28. Veg out: LOLL.

30. Bully's reply: SAYS ME.

31. Land with yaks: TIBET.

35. Like a pelvic artery: ILIAC.

38. Advance: LOAN.

39. Tried to get along: MADE NICE.

40. Irregular: ATYPICAL.

41. Fidgety: RESTLESS.

42. Tab, e.g.: COLA.

44. Org. with an elephant in its logo: RNC. Republic National Committee.

45. Put down: ABASED.

46. Bring back: REVIVE.

47. Dr. Seuss' real last name: GEISEL. THEODORE.

51. Mail collector: INBOX.

52. Had a bite: ATE.

54. Italian hot spot: ETNA.

55. "Jeopardy!" name for 36 years: ALEX. RIP. 

59. Actress Longoria: EVA.

60. German article: EIN.

61. Brand "choosy moms choose," in ads: JIF.

62. French article: UNE. Deuz trois, time to go.

Jeffrey Wechsler

Title: Pi DAY.

My first Sunday blog, and my first time not needing to try to create an appropriate but entertaining title. Today is March 14, which in our shorthand world is 3.14. Pi Day celebrates the mathematical constant π (3.14) and was coined by Physicist Larry Shaw in 1988 as it is also the birthday of Albert Einstein. Happy birthday, Al.  HISTORY.  Now it is a celebration of eating pies, not a bad thing.

As I have mentioned I went to boarding school for high school and my sophomore year I was paired with George Harvey who had a goal in life to memorize Pi to 100 places. He was at  3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939937510. 

On to JW's creation, he has taken 7 in the language expressions and inserted "PI" in various locations to bring us new and whimsical phrases. Obviously, with a 21 x 21 grid, there is room for a lot of nice words and we get ENDOWED,  FINE TIP, OPACITY, PILES IN, SECRETE, SOJOURN,  TIE DYES, BEST CASE,  LAKE ERIE, LORRAINE, PRANCING, IN GENERAL,  JUMPSTART,  KEEPS AT IT, and YOU CAN TRY. LEANA and ESALE, are also new. We have much work to do so let's get started.

The theme:

24A. Shrimp dish ordered online?: INTERNET SCAMPI (14). I really liked turning the awful internet scam into a very popular dish.

34A. Not someone you'd want in the cockpit?:  VACANT             PILOT (11). I get the vacant lot, but I think "not something" you would want in the cockpit makes more sense.

45A. Candidate's concern after the latest poll?: OPINION DIP (12). A fun conversion from food this time. See 24A.

68A. Hook during a typically slow period?: OFF-SEASON                PIRATE (15). Our friend the Captain is back without Peter or Smee.           

93A. Physician for longshoremen?: PIER DOCTOR (10) An ER doctor might be what these hard workers need.

99A. No-brainer card game?: STUPID POKER (11). With all the varieties people make up like 3s and one-eyes kings are wild...

117A. Like most clouds, compared to cirrus clouds?: NONE THE WISPIER (14). I hope you know your CLOUDS.

No time to rest, on to the rest.

Across:

1. Yellow smoothie fruit: PAPAYA. A very important fruit in our home for  ส้มตำไทย (som tum), which uses the papaya before it ripens. 

7. Chick's sound: PEEP. Hence the expression, not a peep out of you.

11. Turin-based automaker: FIAT. FIAT is an acronym that stands for “Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino”, which means Italian Automobile Factory of Turin. 

15. One going through an eyelet: LACE. Shoe, shoe.

19. Anthology compiler: EDITOR. He/she makes the selections as opposed to correcting them. Our Rich does some of each.

20. Loud sound: ROAR. A clue that needed perps because after all, it could have been BURP.

21. For the most part: IN GENERAL. Another fill you need to work for and wait.

23. Squeal on: RAT OUT. Since 1902 it has been a police informant, made more specific in 1934 when it became to turn traitor and act as an informant. Originally from rats off a sinking ship.

26. Equestrian action: PRANCING. Did you ever expect to see dressage to a foul-mouthed rap song? Viewer discretion advised.
                                                
28. Sticks in a parlor: CUES. Billiard parlors, not pool halls.

29. Gulf of California state: SONORA. We have seen this Mexican state often recently. 

30. Simile words: AS A. We the young actor ASA Butterfield introduced as an alternate clue.

31. Divert: SHUNT. avert, deviate, move, rechannel, shift, sidetrack, swerve, switch, transfer, deflect, divert, redirect, swing, turn, veer, wheel, whip, swivel, twist, whirl, zigzag, bend, curve, sway

reverse, turn back.

33. Mumbai apparel: SARIS. 

39. NYSE events: IPOS. Initial Public Offerings.

43. Effect, as a law: ENACT. A good way to explain Effect vs, Affect.

44. In its current condition: AS IS. Important real estate term.

51. Lows: NADIRS. Zenith was not only a TV.

53. Complete: UTTER. I hear "disregard."

55. French region associated with an eggy dish: LORRAINE.

56. Decorates tees: TIE-DYES. Most of us are of an age that has personal experience in both wearing and creating. According to the media it recently made a comeback as one of the biggest fashion trends of 2020.

58. Hurl insults (at): SNIPE. Another use a very "hot" word.

60. Ricoh rival: NIKON. Are they STILL?

61. Retired jet: SST. Making a COMEBACK also?

62. Fertile: LUSH. IRELAND?

65. Hit with a water balloon, say: DOUSE. We had some multi-story buildings in high school and balloons...

67. Restaurant kitchen array: OVENS. I never thought of them as on display. 

72. Russian milk drink: KEFIR. It used to be a SECRET not it is on sale at PUBLIX. More Russian influence a word I only know from solving puzzles 89A Ukase: EDICT.

75. Driver's target: SCREW. Really nice misdirection but I am not sure I would have it followed by...

76. Punctilious to the extreme: ANAL.

77. Shakespearean "Shake a leg!": HIE. JW sneaks a Will S in.

80. Online exchange: E-SALE. Made up word that is probably in the dictionary by now. 

81. Carouse: REVEL.

83. Temporary stay: SOJOURN. They cannot agree where the word comes from but it sounds French to me. LINK.

86. Toledo is on it: LAKE ERIE. The official lake of the Corner.

92. Defensive castle feature: TURRET.

95. National symbol: FLAG.

98. Bawl: WEEP. So sad...

101. Soft drink options: SODAS. As opposed to the "hard" drinks of real men!

106. Humiliate: ABASE. An old-fashioned word which I saw often in books in school. 

108. Discernment meas., in meteorology: VISibility. A link to our not so cirrius theme fill, and to THIS.

109. Tolerates: ABIDES.

111. Fish tank buildup: SCUM. I wonder how the red betta is doing.

112. Optimal: BEST CASE. Scenario. 

121. Carried with effort: HAULED. 

122. Doesn't give up: KEEPS AT IT. A very Jeffrey fill with multiple words.

123. Prayer wheel spinner: LAMA. Buddhists unite for the Prayer wheel,  in Tibetan mani chos 'khor, a mechanical device the use of which is equivalent to the recitation of a mantra

124. Missing the mark: ERRING. I almost put this one red, but that would have been a red 'erring.

125. CEO's helper: ASST. Anyone's helper.

126. Like venison: GAMY. A new four-letter WORD?

127. "The Killing" actress Mireille : ENOS. This ACTRESS has appeared in many shows, both evading zombies and dealing with polygamy, which is ironic as she is a Mormor. I like HANNA which is coming back for a third season.

128. Exclusive date: STEADY. I never tried it, I either married them or I did not.

Down:

1. One in cuffs, maybe: PERP. A Corner favorite word.

2. Month after Shevat: ADAR. It ended today giving us NISSAN and the PESACH holiday in two weeks.

3. Filled food truck buy: PITA. So many food trucks.

4. Very much: A TON.

5. "Take a shot at it": YOU CAN TRY. Another classic JW fill.

6. Con __: ARTIST. Another time? 

7. Puritan: PRIG. "a conceited, narrow-minded pragmatical person; a dull, precise person; one who cultivates or affects propriety and offends or bores others," 1753, originally in reference to theological scruples (1704

8. Very long time: EON.

9. Celebrate an anniversary, say, with "out": EAT. Where you might start with...

10. Like veggies in platters: PRECUT. Crudites.

11. Marker choice: FINE TIP.  

12. Supermodel Sastre: INES. She has appeared in puzzles often but not MOVIES.

13. FBI figure: AGT.

14. Hardy title teenager: TESS.

15. CNN medical analyst Wen: LEANA. A nice change from sebaceous cysts but still controversial. 

16. Protective suit: ARMOR.

17. Blue Grotto isle: CAPRI.

18. Sewing machine inventor Howe: ELIAS. Appropriate after highlighting Mr. Singer.

22. Army sgts., e.g.: NCOS.

25. Flee: RUN.

27. Valley known for viticulture: NAPA. Viticulture- wow? I think it means vines?

31. Small opening: SLIT. Not necessarily...for you Richard.

32. Talk show VIPs: HOSTS. Yeah, right/

34. HVAC system openings: VENTS. No vents. you die/

35. Nin of literature: ANAIS.

36. Officer trainee: CADET.

37. Etching supply: ACID.

38. Terre Haute sch.: ISU. Indian State University. 

40. Enters en masse: PILES IN.

41. Tokyo-born peace activist: ONO.

42. Newton honorific: SIR. Isaac. 

45. Betelgeuse's constellation: ORION. We have not seen this clue since April 24, 2015.

46. Negative afterthought: OR NOT. I love you so much ...

47. Unworldly: NAIVE.

48. Water container?: DIKE.

49. Aware of: IN ON.

50. Bank conveniences: PENS. They stopped attaching so they could not be stolen and now give away thousands; they about a week's worth of ink, but hey it is free!

52. Word with interest: SELF. Made tricky by being near banks.

54. Gave money for: ENDOWED. Mostly Universities.

57. Figure (out): SUSS. A very common word in our write-ups and commments/

59. Part of a moth's life cycle: PUPA. John Lamkin, where are you?

63. Hide: SECRETE. Add an "E" to create a verb.

64. March __: HARE. Sure that was my first thought, not!

66. Significant times: ERAS. EONS and ERAS?

68. NFL Titan, when in Houston: OILER. The original team was the Houston Oilers led by quarterback George Blanda.

69. Let go: FREED. Goes with...

70. Break, as ties: SEVER.

71. Very much: A LOT. Of there is of...

72. Growth in a wet forest: KELP. In the oceans.

73. Actor Morales: ESAI. They do love his vowels.

74. Expert's discovery: FAKE. How do you "discover" a fake? You may reveal it...

77. Impresario Sol: HUROK. The MAN.

78. Goddess of peace: IRENE. My mother's name and she was all of that.

79. Shift key neighbor: ENTER.

82. Elevates: LIFTS.

84. Give fresh energy to: JUMPSTART. Your car?

85. Nabisco brand: OREO. Nice clue.

87. Noisy disturbance: ROW. Not a boat.

88. Bar supply: ICE. Tin, look away.

90. Game that might end in a library: CLUE. With Miss Scarlett and the knife.

91. Dance genre: TAP.

94. Murkiness: OPACITY. I know all too much about opacity especially as it relates to post-cataract surgery. LINK. I did include the gruesome part but I did suffer from this after my surgery and despite YAG laser surgery to fix it, my eye has never been the same. Last Saturday, I awoke with no usable vision from that eye, which has always been my "good eye." So please forgive any errors or deficiencies.

96. With 97-Across, words before "good reason": GIVE. 97A. See 96-Down: ME ONE. Give me a good one for using this kind of referential cluing?

99. Free thing to try: SAMPLE.

100. Something done after a meal: DISHES.

101. Pioneering decaf brand: SANKA. Orange is the new black pioneer?

102. Orchestral pair, at a minimum: OBOES. Please explain why.

104. Skillful: ADEPT.

105. Drill bit purchases: SETS. I always have gotten mine as part of other purchases/

107. __ stop: BUS.

110. Chase, as flies: SHAG.

111. Exercise activity: SWIM.

112. Bali products: BRAS.

113. Medical breakthrough: CURE.

114. Et __: and others: ALIA.

115. Transmit: SEND.

116. Avant-garde: EDGY.

118. Touchdown hr. calculation: ETA.

119. Holm of "The Hobbit": IAN. Played Bilbo is the LOTR trilogy.

120. Punk subgenre: EMO.

Peter Koetters

Title: Shake that booty

Peter who has had 13 of his 16 major puzzle publications with the LAT, is back after zero 2020 puzzles in one of the papers. I blogged his FIRST and a few others over the years. Today is a simple scramble with the three-letter second word of the phrase being anagrammed to create a different and visually amusing picture. This seemed easy for a Friday but I got lots of sleep while Oo was working. We had some funny ones.

17A. Beneficial tree tapping?: HEALTH SAP. HEALTH SPA. As a Floridian, we have many spas around here; we used to take the sap from the maple trees and boil a whole bunch to make maple syrup. Of course, those who spend a fortune on all those TV ads promising eternal youth...

29A. Wildebeest with a habit?: SMOKING GNU (10). Who knew? 
I do not think they can shoot, but it seems unlikely- for the original words -SMOKING GUN. I do like the picture of cultured wildebeest.

47A. Hoop site?: END OF AN EAR (10). End of Era, not a simple earring.

11D. Hawaiian wedding accessory?: WHITE LEI. Oh my, there are so many inappropriate comments I could make and upset for our current PG-rated blog, but it is a fun twist on a WHITE LIE.  No pictures needed.

37A. Top for a Japanese dish?: SUSHI BRA. Another challenge, but the internet is always there. We also have so many sushi bars in SoFla.

And a reveal:

61A. Reversed, in a way ... and a hint to the creation of five puzzle answers: INSIDE OUT(9). Meh, unnecessary and not helpful for me. But the interspersed 7 letter fill really helped me in getting this done. They are EMINENT, I LOST IT, INHERIT, MATINEE,  REALITY, RIHANNA, and ROTUNDA. 

Now that we have sussed the theme and identified the longer, fill, let's go.

Across:

1. It's found in a lock ... or a loch: OAR. A most enjoyable play on words to start the action. 

4. Founder of one of Israel's Twelve Tribes: JUDAH. Jacob's first wife, Leah, bore him six sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. Two other tribes, Gad and Asher, were named after sons born to Jacob and Zilpah, Leah’s maidservant. Two additional tribes, Dan and Naphtali, were named after the sons of Jacob born of Bilhah, the maidservant of Rachel, Jacob’s second wife. Rachel bore Jacob two sons, Joseph and Benjamin. In modern Judaism, it is the descendants of Aaron - the Cohanim and Levites who survived to matter with everyone else part of ISRAEL. Confused yet?

9. Multilevel marketing giant: AMWAY. Is it a PYRAMID SCHEME, there are many pro and con links all taking to multi-level marketing "businesses." Tell me your experiences.

14. "WALL-E" FX: CGI. Computer-Generated Imagery; in the joy of blogging, I had the pleasure of the flipbook- the beginning generated movement.

15. __ territory: ENEMY. Not all meanings are related to war. Ask Cubs and White Sox fans.

16. Lake near Squaw Valley: TAHOE. Still one of the most beautiful places on earth. 

19. Leaning: ATILT. A dreaded "A" word.

20. Vex: RILE. Vex comes from the Latin VEXARE to disturb, and they said those six years of Latin study would never come in handy.

21. Come into: INHERIT. Part of my current business, probating estates and seeing who inherits, a word that comes from - you guessed it - the Latin INHEREDITARE. I could go on.

23. Willing subject?: ESTATE. A pun lost because of its juxtaposition making it a really obvious fill.

26. Renowned: EMINENT. Not to be confused with IMMINENT.

32. Wells' Weena et al.: ELOI. Would like another picture of Yvette Mimeux?

33. Mississippi river to the Mississippi River: YAZOO. The Yazoo River was named by French explorer La Salle in 1682 as "Rivière des Yazous" in reference to the Yazoo tribe. It is created by the Tallahatchie River Yalobusha River to form the Yazoo River. Remember the bridge?

34. The Aire runs through it: LEEDS. Alex, rivers for $2,000. LINK. 

35. Common online interruptions: ADS.

38. Domed building: ROTUNDA. Recently in the news, sadly this ONE.

41. "Give or take" ending: ISH.

42. Actress Tierney: MAURA.

44. Projectionist's stack: REELS.

46. Otherwise: ELSE.

52. One-named "Unapologetic" singer: RIHANNA.
RiRi.

54. Pang: TWINGE.

55. "That completely overwhelmed me!": I LOST IT. It has happened to me 4 times in my life. My father, who I adore, and who was a remarkable man was a rageholic and I have at least a piece of that genetic code.

58. Favorable points: PROS. let's argue the Pros and Cons.

59. Range: AMBIT. ambit (n.) late 14c., "space surrounding a building or town; precinct;" 1590s, "a circuit;" from Latin ambitus "a going round, a circuit, circumference." 

64. Garçon's handout: CARTE. A French waiter gives you a menu. 

65. Go on the stump: ORATE. An 1848 dictionary mentioned "to stump it" was a phrase "borrowed from the backwoods," as it referred to speaking from atop a tree stump.

66. Oklahoma native: OTO. Native American tribe.

67. Binge-watching mealtime aids: TRAYS. So you can sit in the tv room.

68. Not cool at all: NERDY.

69. Mint holder: TIN. 

Down: 

1. Earth tones: OCHRES. A word I learned watching my father oil paint.

2. Fair-hiring problem: AGEISM. No problem here though we are trending younger.

3. Venetian marketplace: RIALTO. An interesting HISTORY.

4. Contrail source: JET. This is a trail of condensed water from an aircraft or rocket at high altitude, seen as a white streak against the sky. 

5. John Irving alma mater: Abbr.: UNH. He not only went to the University of New Hampshire, but that is where he was BORN.

6. Lucy's guy: DESI. Do you love Lucy? 

7. "__ Called Ove": 2015 film: A MAN. Based on a novel by Swedish author Fredrik Backman which Tom Hanks has optioned to do an English language version.

8. Honky-tonk line?: HYPHEN. Such a cute clue.

9. Big name in games: ATARI. The first.

10. Play before supper: MATINEE. Another cute clue, not stickball in the backyard.

12. Early internet co.: AOL. I still have my AOL account among my five accounts.

13. Still: YET. Again. 

18. Needing caulking: LEAKY. Maybe that is what I need...

22. LiMu __: ad bird: EMU. Feel free to vent here; not my favorite. 

24. Prom queen topper: TIARA. I would have guessed Prom King but there were not enough letters.

25. Carmaker Ferrari: ENZO. The namesake creation. 

27. Subtle approvals: NODS.

28. Morticia, to Gomez: TISH. 

30. Came down with: GOT. Hopefully no COVID.

31. Melon, e.g.: GOURD. have you ever tried WIKIDIFF?

MELON VS. GOURD all melons are gourds but not all gourds are melons unless you are using eupemisms.

34. Bochco series: LA LAW. 63D. 34-Down actress: DEY.

35. OAS part: Abbr.: AMER.

36. Surrealist friend of García Lorca: DALI.

39. Prefix with con: NEO.

40. Dexterous: DEFT.

43. "Survivor" genre: REALITY. There is precious little reality in reality TV.

45. Wading bird: SNIPE. Didn't we have this?

47. Half of nine?: ENS.

48. One with an anthem: NATION.

49. Plant deeply: ENROOT. meh.

50. Rainforest rodent: AGOUTI.

51. Lie atop: REST ON. See 24D, supra.

53. Score in a score: NOTES. Lovely play on words.

56. Memo intro: IN RE.

57. Old despot: TSAR.

59. Pretend to be: ACT.

60. Deface: MAR.

62. "__ be fun!": IT'D. Was it? I had a great time

Jeffrey Wechsler

 

Across:

1. Adopted gradually, with "in": PHASED.

7. Sandpiper family birds: SNIPES.

13. One of two sound recommendations for a light sleeper?: EARPLUG.

15. Shunned one: PARIAH.

16. African Queen, for one: STEAMER.

17. "Don't doubt my abilities!": ICANSO.

18. January temps, often: TEENS.

19. Do lunch?: CATER.

21. London's __ Gardens: KEW.

22. Longtime senator Thurmond: STROM.

23. Battery parts: ANODES.

25. History: PAST.

26. Short on manners: RUDE.

27. Fraternal order: ELKS.

31. Coil in a garden: HOSE.

32. Prepares for takeoff: TAXIES.

34. Extravagant: BAROQUE.

38. Lot: FORTUNE.

39. Buttonhole: ACCOST.

40. Function: WORK.

41. Campus figure: DEAN.

42. Storytelling singer Guthrie: ARLO.

43. Declared: SAID.

47. Like some ornate doorways: ARCHED.

50. Fixes tears: DARNS.

51. Firepit residue: ASH.

54. Speak publicly: ORATE.

55. Advice from colleagues, say: INPUT.

56. With 58-Across, savory base for a canapé ... and the function of a black square in four puzzle rows?: CHEESE.

58. See 56-Across: CRACKER.

60. Afternoon service: TEASET.

61. One held for ransom: HOSTAGE.

62. Force (upon): IMPOSE.

63. Allowed paid use of: LEASED.

Down:
1. Pre-euro coin: PESETA.

2. Critics who can't be pleased: HATERS.

3. Childish denial: ARENOT.

4. Jerk, e.g.: SPASM.

5. West __: upscale store: ELM.

6. Sufficient grounds for action, in law: DUECAUSE.

7. Used bugs, perhaps: SPIED.

8. Shell material: NACRE.

9. Rollover acronym: IRA.

10. __ lady: gin and grenadine cocktail: PINK.

11. Fluency: EASE.

12. Make an appearance: SHOW.

14. Starbucks size: GRANDE.

18. Baking powder amt.: TSP.

20. Sock part: TOE.

24. Hot message: SEXT.

26. Beat decisively: ROUT.

28. Lucy of "Kill Bill": LIU.

29. Tennis great Rosewall: KEN.

30. Orlando-to-Miami dir.: SSE.

31. Main bases: Abbr.: HQS.

32. Deere rival: TORO.

33. Ararat craft: ARK.

34. Shoddy: BAD.

35. Top player: ACE.

36. TV pioneer: RCA.

37. Actress Chaplin: OONA.

38. Utter nonsense: FOLDEROL.

40. Deplorable sort: WRETCH.

42. "Eureka!": AHA.

43. Some decafs: SANKAS.

44. Lanvin scent since 1927: ARPEGE.

45. Accustomed (to): INURED.

46. Summer hrs.: DST.

48. Blush wines: ROSES.

49. Minos' kingdom: CRETE.

50. Formal decrees: DICTA.

51. When Lear disowns Cordelia: ACTI.

52. Young passenger on the 33-Down: SHEM.

53. Rattletrap: HEAP.

57. Spanish "that": ESO.

59. Enzyme suffix: ASE.

Jeffrey Wechsler

 

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.