Jeffrey

 Title: We must eliminate CR gas (dibenzoxazepine).

Once again I am blogging a Jeffrey Wechsler puzzle. (Thank you Moe for graciously offering to let me blog the April 2 and you would blog the the 9th and 16th so we would be on schedule for sharing the duties 50/50) and it turned out the 23rd is another JW).

Also, like last time, I am assigning a meaningful title to the puzzle, whether intended or not, because if you know of the risks of CR TEAR GAS  which is 10 times stronger than the original tear gas, you will understand the importance of a ban. I am very much against violence. Particularly if the often irreverent, sometimes entertaining comments offend and you want to beat the crap out of me. Back to real entertainment, as Jeffrey has removed the bigram - CR - from the beginning of four/five in the language phrases and the resultant phrases are clued to amuse. There are none better at this style. Once again to meet the creative need, Jeffrey uses a non-square grid this time 15 columns by 16 rows. I guess that the extra row was the result of double themers in the middle, but that is just a guess. This lead to a plethora of 5 and 6 letter fill and left the theme fill as the only long word or phrases. Which means it is time...

15A. Judicious use of an Egyptian goddess?:  {CR}ISIS MANAGEMENT  (14). I am not sure how you "use" a goddess but she was an interesting deity, the daughter of GEB and NUT.

20. Source of some cruise ship beer?:  {CR}AFT BREWERY (10). I think there are actual ships with breweries on board. CARNIVAL VISTA.

35A. With 40-Across, good advice for correcting a manuscript?: {CR}EDIT WHERE (9).

40A. See 35-Across:  {CR}EDIT IS DUE (9). Giving credit where credit is due. 

52A. What a theater hopes its "Bus Stop" revival will be?:  {CR}INGE WORTHY (10). William Motter Inge the author of BUS STOP was an American playwright and novelist, whose works typically feature solitary protagonists encumbered with strained sexual relations. In the early 1950s he had a string of memorable Broadway productions, including PICNIC, which earned him a Pulitzer Prize.

58A. Audiophile's flat, say?: {CR}AMPED APARTMENT (14) Now that the theme is out there, I am amped to get to the rest, so away we go. 

Across:

1. Opening for recorded music: CD-SLOT. I hear the grumbling already when 1A is not simple. (Sorry D-O). The term seems clunky but it has about 76,200,000 results from Google. 

7. Pass: ELAPSE. Time, oh good good time

13. Placid: SERENE. Hopefully while the time passes.

14. Cheese-making sites: DAIRIES. Yes, you need milk.

                                  

17. In concert: AS ONE. We acted together.

18. Scott who played Danno on "Hawaii Five-0": CAAN. Son of James Caan this 5'5" actor has made his own way in Hollywood.

25. Caesar's last gasp: ET TU. I should have et only one.

26. Most exposed: BAREST. Maybe like THIS?

27. Like microbes, before microscopes: UNSEEN. Sneaky little guys.

29. Lover of Aphrodite: ARES. The war god; she was the ISIS of her people.

30. 39.37 inches, in Ipswich: METRE. Where are the Duke and Duchess hiding? SUFFOLK COUNTY. 

33. Really enjoy: SAVOR. No dinosaur but LINK.

42. Some brass: TUBAS. Don't confues them with the SOUSAPHONE.  

43. Frisbees, e.g.: DISCS. Do you remember the PLUTO PLATTER? Growing up in Connecticut I knew that the Frisbee's name is a spin-off from a defunct Connecticut bakery, Frisbie Pie Co. New England college students often tossed empty pie tins around for fun, a habit that led them to refer to the Pluto Platter as a "frisbie."

44. Salon supply: GELS. Not for me.

45. One on a regimen, perhaps: DIETER. Or maybe a PILOT.

49. Mountain guide: SHERPA. A clear CSO to C.C. and her affectionate appellation for us.

51. Cornerstone word: ANNO. Latin year placed in building cornerstones. 

56. Evidence of surgery: SCAR.

57. Soffits are under them: EAVES. 

65. Big 12 rival of the Longhorns: SOONERS. Texas and Oklahoma.

66. Knowledgeable (in): VERSED. OKL is well versed along with others here.

67. Indications of humanity?: ERRORS. Who said "to err is human, to forgive divine" ? Answer below if I remember. 

68. Upper crust groups: ELITES. 

Down:

1. Franchise whose opening themes are songs by The Who: CSI.

2. Paris' Rue __ Martyrs: DES. Street of martyrs

3. Indian honorific: SRI. Not Indian but a Hindu honorific, do you think it is related to 41D. "Hey" assistant: SIRI?

4. Guitarist Paul: LES. Mr. Electric Guitar

5. Where Mark Watney was stranded for about 560 sols, in a 2015 film: ON MARS. Played by Matt Damon. Interesting movie.

6. Wonderland service: TEA SET.

7. Raring to go: EAGER.

8. Rest: LIE. 

9. Tentacle analog: ARM. Back in the day my young female friends would complain that their date was like and octopus.

10. Fragments: PIECES.

11. Law group: SENATE. Oddly this was hard.

12. Passed-down property: ESTATE. A common misconception.

14. Kierkegaard, e.g.: DANE. Søren Aabye Kierkegaard (b. 1813, d. 1855) was a profound and prolific writer in the Danish “golden age” of intellectual and artistic activity. I kept trying to find a 4 letter word that meant philosopher. Eventually after rejecting many incorrect 4 letter words of frustration, the correct one surfaced.

16. "Get on it!": NOW. Make it so!

19. Field role of early TV: NUN. Silly Sally role.

20. Demean: ABASE.

21. Capacitance unit: FARAD. Named after Michael Faraday, thisis the SI unit of electrical capacitance, equal to the capacitance of a capacitor in which one coulomb of charge causes a potential difference of one volt. Huh?

22. Roman fountain: TREVI. Much nicer than the one by our pool.

23. Stupefy: BESOT.

24. Nomadic shelter: YURT. 

28. Mature eft: NEWT. Cute reversal clue/fill. 

30. Just what the doctor ordered: MEDS. Nice!

31. U.S. Cabinet-level dept.: EDUC.

32. Family __: TIES. Poor Michael J. Fox, from Teen Wolf to physical struggles.

34. Theme park offering: RIDE. Charging a $100.00+ per day, sounds like being taken for a ride.

36. More vast: HUGER.

37. "The Great Movies" series author: EBERT.  His OBITUARY.

38. Actor Fiennes: RALPH. Actor Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes was born on December 22, 1962 in Ipswich, Suffolk, England. See 30A if you do not believe how much thought goes into finding entertaining fill.

39. One of ten in Baldwin's "Notes of a Native Son": ESSAY. A book I found profoundly moving while in college, and now, in my dotage I ponder his words as I observe the division in our people. “You can not describe anything without betraying your point of view, your aspirations, your fears, your hopes. Everything.” This may be what keeps us apart.

45. Court figs.: DAS. District Attorneys.

46. If: IN CASE. My little Georgia boys learned "for case."

47. Captivate: ENAMOR. 'N AMOR? The Submariner?

48. Lethargy: TORPOR."lethargy, listlessness," c. 1600, from Latin torpor "numbness, sluggishness," from torpere "be numb, be inactive, be dull" (from PIE root *ster- (1) "stiff").

49. Sharp turn: SWERVE. Onomotopoeia? LIST. I left out the fifth O until the final run through.

50. Hiker's stopover: HOSTEL.

53. Gets closer to: NEARS. Relax, I am almost done.

54. Openings: GAPS.

55. Mendes of fashion: EVA.  To SPANK or not?

59. Brian of Roxy Music: ENO. ENOugh is ENOugh!

60. "__ Rosenkavalier": DER. Literally the red knight (Spitzboov?) a complcated OPERA with Strauss' music.

61. CT scan relative: MRI. Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Mine for later today has been canceled as the blood work showing my levels for Bun and Creatinine was not reported in writing.

62. January Ga. hours: EST. Eastern Standard Time.

63. Previously called: NÉE. Only if you are a female; so many languages are gender specific. Does that make it harder for the new generations?

64. NFL scores: TDS. Or FGS.

JW

 Title: Bite the bullet, it's over

Today we have a strong moralistic puzzle from Jeffrey that uses his writing mentor, Will Shakespeare, as the inspiration for this self-contained sermon. After Macbeth kills King Duncan for his wife, she tries to soothe him with, "Things without all remedy Should be without regard: what's done, is done." This is never as easy to do as to say, but JW comes up with a theme that fell into place (I would guess) when he realized that -what's done is done- is exactly 15 letters long. That has occurred to a few other constructors, but none used Jeffrey's approach. Where we get his unique style is gridding this as a 15x16 puzzle, a tall order by any measure. This choice allows him to insert 4 great fill BLOW A FUSE, HEARTACHE, MANIFESTO and ON HIS BACK. To me it elevates the whole experience.

The themers:

17A. "Take my advice: no use crying over spilled milk ... ": WHAT'S DONE IS DONE (15). Especially if you have a cat or dog that will happily lap it up.

34A. With 36-Across, "There's no going back ... ": YOU CANT (7). 36A. See 34-Across: CHANGE THE PAST (13). The eternal question of the space-time continuum.

48A. "Put everything behind you ... ": FORGET ABOUT IT (13). Said with an accent and feeling, an anthem for mobsters.

61A. "And look ahead.": IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON (15). Which thoughtfully is the perfect segue to discussing the rest of the puzzle. Let us repair to the minutia.

Across:

1. Honshu drama: NOH. Kan'ami and his son Zeami started this ART FORM in the 14th century.

4. Words before a recap: AS I SAID. Very often by bosses, teachers, and parents to those they control.

11. Audi rival: BMW. We have many cars lately.

14. Boise-to-Billings dir.: ENE. Standard-fill for a puzzle, but who really cares.

15. "Raging Bull" boxer: LAMOTTA. He was a brawler who fought the best and won half of the  time.

16. Infamous Vietnam War site, My __: LAI. If you can bear the ignominy, the horror, and the pictures. The LINK.

20. Compact part: MIRROR. It was the key to the Guardian solving a mystery on the LIBRARIANS.

 

21. Greet warmly: SHOW IN. I guess this depends on how effusively you greet your guest.

22. Spumante source: ASTI. The bubbly faux champagne region in Italy. Moe can provide much more information.

23. PC core: CPU. 

26. Spot to get a bite on the street: CAFE. Especially if there are many mosquitoes around.

27. Rockets' org.: NBA.

28. Low cloud: STRATUS. Didn't I do clouds last week?

32. Two-__: half-price opportunity: FER. Here we do the BOGO.

33. Pouch: SAC.  Very important in the insect world,

35. Ship letters: USS. United States Ship (abbreviated as USS or U.S.S.) is a ship prefix used to identify a commissioned ship of the United States Navy and applies to a ship only while it is in commission.

39. Brewery vessel: KEG. Not to be confused with vestal. 

40. Celestial feline: LEO. We have one of our own, welcome.

41. Snoots put them on: AIRS. Nice clue/fill- to give oneself airs: to assume an unnatural or affected manner, esp. an unjustified air of superiority. 1701 T. Baker Humour of Age ii. 29 

45. Other, in Oaxaca: OTRO. Or otra.

53. Sigma follower: TAU. Learn the alphabet for Greek? You need many alphabets and more to communicate. LINK.

54. Shorebirds related to stilts: AVOCETS. 

55. Crux: NUB. 

57. Cards: WITS.

59. Up on the latest: AWARE.

60. Sax type: ALTO.

64. Force featured on "Bosch," for short: THE LAPD. Los Angeles Polic Department is home to many shows.

65. "So close!": NICE TRY.

66. Oodles: TONS.

67. They often take turns: CARS.

Down:

1. __ Own Organics: NEWMAN'S. Paul, may he rest in peace.

2. Where "The Man With the Hoe" carried the world, in an Edwin Markham poem: ON HIS BACK.  

                               

                                  The Man With the Hoe

3. Great sadness: HEARTACHE.  I don't do dinosaurs... heartache; agony, bitterness, despair, grief, heartbreak, misery, pang. sadness, suffering, torment, affliction, dejection, depression, despondency, distress, dolor, hurting, remorse, torture, etc. I do rely on 28D. Roget entry: Abbr.: SYNonym.

4. Plus: ALSO.

5. Iraq's __ City: SADR. Some recent HISTORY.

6. Brief "I think": IMO. In My Opinion

7. Oceanus, to Gaia: SON. So many myths, so many THEORIES.

8. Snacked: ATE.

9. "How sweet __!": IT IS. 

10. Sprint: DASH.

11. Lose it: BLOW A FUSE. The expression blow a fuse came into use in the early twentieth century and is related to the use of electricity in the average home. A fuse protects an electrical item from a sudden surge of electricity that may start a fire.

12. Public policy declaration: MANIFESTO. This is a public declaration of policy and aims, usually in writing, especially one issued before an election by a political party or candidate.

13. Cookout fare: WIENERS. Oddly this nickname for sausages in a bun came from the image of dachshunds.

18. One less than tetra-: TRI. 4 to 3.

19. OB or ENT: DOC. Obstetrician and Ear Nose and Throat.

23. Rock's Mötley __: CRUE. A very successful 80's band that AXE toured with during the 80s before one of the band's guitarists got killed in a car accident.

24. Formal agreement: PACT.

25. Four Corners state: UTAH. Naturally there are FOUR of them

29. Dress, with "up": TOG.

30. Le Monde article: UNE. Just French.

31. Auto additive with a red oval logo: STP. Andy Granatelli and Mario Andretti

37. Seaweed product: AGAR. The SCIENCE.

38. Quite often: A LOT.

42. Supermarket chain with a red oval logo: IGA. It did not start out that way. 1960 vesrion...

43. Overhauls: REVAMPS.

44. Put away: STOWED.

45. Titania's husband: OBERON. A tiny bit of Will Shakespeare.

46. Serving as a symbol: TOTEMIC. Totem is a fun word, making it and adjective is...creative?

47. Fin. neighbor: RUS. Finland and Russia.

48. Loyalty: FAITH. 

49. Start: OUTSET.

50. "Human beings ... may hide their feelings, but __ does not": Hemingway: A CAT. This is such a wonderful quotation and so apt here where we have our coterie of cat connessieurs like HG. I can visualize Lily agreeing.

51. Fjords, e.g.: INLETS. Back to Scandanavia.

52. Teach privately: TUTOR.

53. Foolish sort: TWIT.

56. Superskinny: BONY.  My choice...

58. Battle of Normandy town: STLO. This has appeared hundreds of times in the major puzzles since it was first used in 1953, including last Friday.

60. Claim: AVER. Law word, silly.

62. Actor McKellen: IAN. A wonderful actor and best friends with another...

63. Andean root vegetable: OCA. Don't you want to learn to GROW THEM?

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