Monday January 8, 2024 Paul Coulter

  

Theme:        The Progressive Write

Happy Monday, everyone! sumdaze here on what would have been Elvis Presley's 89th birthday. Due to a twist brought about by today's theme, we instead have Elvis Costello & The Attractions with Everyday I Write the Book (1983).  

Constructor Paul Coulter submitted a textbook Monday grid. The first word of each of the four longest answers progresses from LINE to PAGE to CHAPTER to BOOK, as does the writing process. The gimmick is logical and cleanly presented. Paul earns extra points for the inclusion of nine multi-word fill answers (in addition to the four themers). 

16 Across. Activity at a country western bar: LINE DANCING.  

26 Across. Error message that results from clicking a broken link: PAGE NOT FOUND.  

Flashback from yesterday's puzzle, anyone? This one happens when your browser is asking a website to display something but the website cannot find the right page to display so it gives you an error message.  Example

47 Across. Fraternity building: CHAPTER HOUSE.  According to this Greek Life Glossary, this is a house on a college campus where members of the organization reside. Not all campuses have CHAPTER HOUSEs. Some have designated rooms given to each fraternity or sorority called Chapter Rooms, or a special residence hall where each group gets a floor.

If you were not sure of this one, sussing the theme provided an extra clue.  

62 Across. "Hawaii Five-O" catchphrase: BOOK 'EM DANNO.  This was a Steve McGarrett (played by Jack Lord) catchphrase in the original series (1968-1980), spoken to James MacArthur's character, Dan Williams. To the delight of viewers, the line was reprised in the 2010-2020 re-make.

And now for the rest of the story....
Across:
1. "SNL" alum McKinnon: KATE.  She is so funny! Here is KATE pretending to be an airport chauffer in The Spy Who Dumped Me (2018) with Mila Kunis. 

5. Made off with: STOLE.  

As the mastermind of the largest known Ponzi scheme in history, Bernie Madoff made off with tens of billions of dollars of investors' money.

10. Set the dog (on): SIC. as in "sic 'em"

13. Wildly out of control: AMOK. Today AMOK is synonymous with "unruly" but its etymology reveals a murderous meaning.

14. Don, as boots: PULL ON.  The straps on the sides of cowboy boots are called mule ears and are used to PULL ON the boots. Some styles are more pronounced than others. You can see how they got their name. 

15. __-la-la: singer's syllables: TRA.

18. Crew team's blade: OAR.

19. __ foo yung: EGG.  

This 5-star recipe is very adaptable to whatever is on hand.
The foodie writes, "It is believed to have originally been created by Chinese chefs in America
as a way to use up leftovers, so it’s not strictly authentic though there are similar dishes in China."

20. Wrap up: END.  

21. Nervous system cells: NEURONS.  NEURONS in the news

23. Longtime Dodgers manager Tommy: LASORDA.  (1927-2021)

This is a great fit for an LA Times puzzle! He managed the LA Dodgers from 1976-1996, winning two World Series plus two more National League pennants.  National Baseball Hall of Fame page

25. Snow vehicle pulled by huskies: SLED.  

31. "Are you really making me do this?": MUST I.  

34. Director DuVernay: AVA.     crosses     28 Down. Reproductive cells: OVA.

35. Practice in the ring: SPAR.  boxing

36. Absorbed, as a cost: ATE.  To "eat the cost" is to agree to bear the cost of something, usually monetarily and often begrudgingly.

37. Skill on the verge of extinction: LOST ART.  Hand up for trying to think of a specific skill as opposed to a synonym. 

41. Greek T: TAU.

42. "Darn it all!": RATS.  

44. Wrestler Flair nicknamed the "Nature Boy": RIC.  

Ric, flaunting his flair

45. Beside: ALONG.

51. Snowblower brand: TORO.  In the summer, this word is clued as "Lawnmower brand".

52. New York's Waldorf __ hotel: ASTORIA.  

The original Waldorf Hotel was built at 33rd Street and Fifth Avenue in 1893 by William Waldorf Astor. Four years later, John Jacob Astor IV, William’s cousin and familial rival, built an even taller hotel next door in an act of one-upmanship. The cousins finally agreed to a truce and the two buildings were connected through a 300-foot marble corridor known as Peacock Alley. The Waldorf-Astoria was born.  more history

56. Shield from harm: PROTECT.

59. Simple top: TEE.

60. Early ISP: AOL.  Internet Service Provider and America Online

61. __ and reel: ROD.

65. Throw in: ADD.

66. Whole: ENTIRE.

67. End-of-the-week letters: TGIF.  not the Monday end

68. "You got it": YES.  Also, a rock band from London that released this song in 1971.  

I've Seen All Good People:  Your Move

69. Wails with grief: KEENS.  Learning moment. KEENS is the 3rd person present form of the verb keen, as defined in the clue. Example:  She KEENS over her lover's lifeless body.

In a similar vein, KEENS are Irish funeral songs accompanied by wailing.

70. Ham or lamb: MEAT.

Down:
1. Superman's birth name: KALEL.  

Five for Fighting. Superman (It's Not Easy) (2001) 

2. Latina friend: AMIGA.  Latina is feminine so we did not have to wait for perps to see if it was amigo or amiga.

3. Kitchen picker-uppers: TONGS.

4. __ out a living: just get by: EKE.

5. Dairy Queen order: SUNDAE.  

My friend calls these "Texas stop signs".

6. Special attention, for short: TLC.

7. Lena of "Chocolat": OLIN.

8. Symbol on the Texas flag: LONE STAR.  Speaking of Texas...

9. Overwhelm: ENGULF.  Are there any other David Sedaris fans on The Corner?

When You are Engulfed in Flames (2008)

10. Didn't back down from: STOOD UP TO.  

I Won't Back Down was the lead single on Tom Petty's first solo album, Moon Fever.

Look for George Harrison and Jeff Lynne (co-founder of XWD favorite ELO) on guitar.

That's Ringo Starr in the video but he was not the drummer for the recording.

11. Shiraz's country: IRAN.  Along with being a city in IRAN, Shiraz is a red wine historically produced in that area. I think it is the same grape as an Australian Syrah. Perhaps C-Moe, our wine guy on The Corner, can elaborate.

12. Autos: CARS.     and     22 Down. Early 20th century autos: REOS.  

14. Ivory soap company, informally: P AND G.  Procter AND Gamble  

17. Upset, as a plan: DERAIL.

24. Decide to leave, with "out": OPT.

27. Slangy "Of course!": NATCH.  NATCH-urally

29. Bread baked in a tandoor: NAAN.  This man makes NAAN every Tuesday at my local Farmer's Market. He told me that the dough sticks to the sides of the oven because it (the dough) is a little bit wet.

30. Medication: DRUG.

31. Painter Chagall: MARC.  (1887 Belarus - 1985 France)

In this self-portrait (1912-1913), he has seven fingers on his left hand,
possibly because he was born 7/7/1887.

32. Provo's state: UTAH.

33. Caused a disagreement between, say: SET AT ODDS.

38. Cookie-flavored ice cream holder: OREO CONE.  

Will wonders never cease?

39. Round Table title: SIR.

40. Had a bite of: TASTED.

43. "You missed a __": SPOT.  So annoying!

46. Zodiac sign before Virgo: LEO.  also the only 3-letter sign

48. Alex whose job was in "Jeopardy!" for many years: TREBEK.  

After hosting 11 previous game shows, he started his Jeopardy! gig on September 10, 1984.
I am not sure but I think this pic is from that first show.

49. Horse operas: OATERS.  a.k.a. westerns

50. "I'm at your disposal": USE ME.

53. Driving __: golfer's practice site: RANGE.  

Free Range Golfers

54. Ancient Aegean region: IONIA.  I worked this one out by remembering the three types of Greek columns:  Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian then later looked it up. IONIA was a territory in western Anatolia (modern-day Turkey). Twelve cities formed the Ionian League but it was not a political nor a military alliance. One of those cities was Miletus, as in the Greek philosopher, Thales of Miletus (624 BC - 527 BC).

55. High up: ALOFT.

56. Seek divine guidance: PRAY.

57. Went in a biker's sidecar, say: RODE.  This clip is from the Marx Brothers:

58. Handy bag: TOTE.  

NPR knows we like them!

63. Extended family: KIN.

64. Spot for fast cash: ATM.  

The epilogue:

That's all for today. I look forward to reading your comments!

Monday August 1, 2022 Paul Coulter

Theme: ANIMAL RIGHTS (56. Anti-cruelty movement, and what the answers to the starred clues literally have) - The right side of each theme entry is an animal.

20. *Clickable device with a light sensor: OPTICAL MOUSE.

35. *One who's easily frightened: SCAREDY CAT.

42. *Simple riding toy: HOBBY HORSE.

Boomer here. 

When I was a kid, the only animal we had was a pet dog. Speaking of that era, C.C. and I journeyed to northern Wisconsin to meet up with a friend of my youth who I have not seen for about 60 years.  We exchanged stories of our lives and had a great meal at a restaurant on Yellow Lake near Danbury. 

Boomer and Carol, Danbury, WI, 7/25/2025

 Across:

1. "Same here": SO AM I.  I am not a CRAB!

6. Chesapeake Bay crustacean: CRAB.  Yes you are!!

10. Lavish party: FETE.

14. Stand-up performer: COMIC.  Some of us can do it sitting down.

15. Top-quality: A ONE.  There are a lot of A ONE puzzle solvers on this blog.

16. Iraq's eastern neighbor: IRAN.  You would probably RUN too if you lived there.

17. Muscat native: OMANI.

18. Grazing grounds: RANGELAND.  Sounds like Texas to me.

22. __ Beta Kappa: PHI.

23. Chemical in oven cleaners: LYE.  Our oven never gets dirty enough to use that stuff.

24. "How unfortunate": IT'S SAD.  Miguel Sano is back on the Twins roster.  His batting average is .089 !

28. "Comprende?": SEE.

29. Lavish party: GALA.  We had a GALA party of four at Yellow Lake.

31. "Wheels down" stat, for short: ETA.

32. Confined, with "up": PENT.  Maybe in a PENT house.

38. Merit badge earner: SCOUT.  I was a cub scout but never made it to the next level.

40. Tolkien monster: ORC.

41. Bizarre: OUTRE.

45. Clearance rack caveat: AS IS.

46. Craft brewer's brew: ALE.  My favorite is Canada Dry ginger ALE.

47. Snail-paced: POKY.  Hurry up!

48. R&B's Boyz II __: MEN.

50. Bruce of the "Die Hard" films: WILLIS.

52. Auction offer: BID.  We have spent a lot of time buying and selling on eBbay.  

53. Director's shout: CUT.  Also a barber's shout.

60. Citrus drink: ORANGEADE.

63. Big name in water filters: BRITA.  Our water does not need a filter.  City water is pretty clean.

64. Bookish sort: NERD.  Lots of NERD movies back in the eighties ?

65. GPS suggestions: RTES.  We just Google a map if we don't know where we're going.

66. Prying tool: LEVER.

67. "To a ... " poems: ODES.  "Ode to Billie Joe" It was the third of June....

68. Cravings: YENS.

69. Decorative jugs: EWERS.

Down:

1. Ice cream serving: SCOOP.  I need more than one SCOOP!

2. Get-up-and-go: OOMPH.  Got up and went!

3. Violin master who taught Stradivari: AMATI.  Sounds like a name of a car model.

4. __ Cooper: small car made by BMW: MINI.  And this is a car model.  Too small for me.

5. Spiky winter hanger: ICICLE.  Back on our home in a few months. Brrr

6. Kid-lit writer/illustrator Eric: CARLE.

7. Knock about: ROAM. We ROAMed north to Danbury WI. 

8. __ Domini: ANNO.  Year of our Lord.

9. Enchant: BEGUILE.

10. Contents of a backup drive: FILES. C.C. keeps them on the computer.

11. Chapter in history: ERA.  Also a pitcher's stat.

12. Light brown color: TAN.  I have a bit on the arms.  It'll be gone by fall.

13. See 51-Down: END. 51. With 13-Down, clothing retailer that began as a mail-order yachting supply company: LANDS.

19. Chihuahua or Sonora, por ejemplo: ESTADO.  Is it fair to put non English fill with non English clue in a Monday puzzle?

21. "The __ have it": "Motion carries": AYES.  Ah Yes!

25. Religious splinter groups: SECTS.

26. Video game pioneer: ATARI.  Spent many hours on mine.

27. Goes out with: DATES.  I dated my bowling ball for years.

28. Bang, as one's toe: STUB. Receipt for a ticket.

29. Actor Shandling: GARRY.  Never thought much of him.

30. Curved sections: ARCS.  The really BIG one is in St, Louis!

32. "Oh, nonsense!": PSHAW.

33. Bacteria that may trigger a food recall: E COLI.  Nasty stuff.

34. Prestigious prize with six categories: NOBEL.

36. Downton Abbey's Mrs. Patmore, for one: COOK.  I was one years ago.  The pay was a bit low but it was fun.

37. Chinese currency: YUAN.

39. Skill measured in wpm: TYPING. Still using only one hand. My WPM is about 5.

43. Stockings: HOSIERY.  I call them socks.

44. Mideast leader: EMIR.

49. Safe to consume: EDIBLE.  The C.C. garden beans are very EDIBLE.

52. "God __ America": BLESS.  "From the mountains, to the prairies, to the oceans white with foam "

53. Onion kin: CHIVE.

54. Say out loud: UTTER.  Better say it louder.

55. Bygone Russian rulers: TSARS.  I think Vladimir is wearing the badge now.

57. Life partner: MATE.  Your King is trapped in chess.

58. Yemen coastal city: ADEN.

59. Increased in size: GREW. My money did not grow in Danbury, WI. 

60. Peace activist Yoko: ONO.

61. Crimson: RED.

62. "__ you sure?": ARE.  I am never sure.

Boomer

Sunday April 10, 2022 Paul Coulter

 

Theme:  "Assembling the Parts" - Each theme entry consists of ABC, B is a preposition. Each entry is clued as AB+ BC = ABC.

22. "Might I suggest ... " + "Since you mentioned it ... " = "I'll be darned!": HOW ABOUT THAT. "How about ..." + "About that" = "How about that?".

30. Honest about + "L'chaim!" = Realistic: TRUE TO LIFE. True to + "To Life!" = True to life.

43. Approached old age + Ready to sail = Joined the cause: GOT ON BOARD. Got on + On board

61. Yell + Bent on getting = Need urgently: CRY OUT FOR. Cry out + Out for = Cry out for.

79. Sergeant's order + Type of skate = Get with the program: FALL IN LINE. Fall in + inline = Fall in line.

91. Patronize + Comfortable = Kind of parent: STAY AT HOME. Stay at + At home = Stay at home.

104. Cede + Pitching style = Climbing method: HAND OVER HAND. Hand over + overhand = hand over hand.

I don't recall a similar theme in LAT before. Fun and tight, Paul! Made me think of the great Merl Reagle.

I was wrong last Sunday when I said this would be the last puzzle edited by Rich Norris. Next Sunday's is.

Across:

1. Fruit stand buys: MELONS. Have you tried the black Beauty watermelons?

 

7. One way to be taken: ABACK.

12. Behavioral Analysis Unit's org.: FBI. 15. Govt. loan agency: SBA. Also 40. DOD intel arm: NSA. And 101. Fed. power dept.: ENER.

18. Mountains of __: Genesis locale: ARARAT.

19. Bar offering: SUSHI. And 20. Heros, to some: GRINDERS. I prefer sushi.

24. Superior: HIGHER UP.

25. Wasn't present?: ISN'T. And 27. Car jackers?: MECHANICS. Fun clues.

26. Violent protester: RIOTER.

28. Irish moonshine: POTEEN. Learning moment for me. Also spelled as "Poitin".

32. Netted, say: SNARED.

34. Kennel club designation: BREED.

36. Angers: IRES.

37. Cliffside dwelling: AERIE.

38. Defense secretary under Nixon: LAIRD (Melvin). New name to me, though he does look familiar. 

39. Dear: HON.

46. Archaeological site: RUIN. Hope you all get a chance to visit my hometown Xi'an someday. So many historical sites.

48. Noticed: SPIED.

50. "__ ideas?": ANY.

51. Phone downloads: APPS.

52. Irritates: RASPS.

53. Studied for a job?: CASED. Cased a joint.

54. Google find: SITE.

56. Lite: LO-FAT.

57. Have credit from: OWE TO. A few other To's: 39. Well aware of: HIP TO. 41. Take care of: SEE TO.

58. __ male: ALPHA.

65. Western __: UNION.

66. Super Bowl LVI champ: LA RAM.

67. Some wedding guests: AUNTS.

68. Snacks, say: EATS.

70. Biting: ACERB. This word just looks sour.

71. One may become a cliché: ADAGE.

72. Raise: REAR.

74. High point: TOP.

77. Marsh growths: REEDS.

78. Brief "Out of the question": CAN'T.

82. AOL alternative: MSN.

83. __ Elton John: SIR.

84. Morally instruct: EDIFY.

86. The Mick succeeded him as Yankee center fielder: DIMAG. Mickey Mantle.  This might be Rich's clue. He's an avid Yankee fan.

87. Letters after many a general's name: RET'D.

89. Full force: BRUNT.

90. Experts: MAVENS.

94. Rouses: AWAKES.

96. Changeable type: CHAMELEON. So many great fill in this grid: 3. Celebration with a tent, maybe: LAWN PARTY. 56. Like some bonds: LONG TERM. More great fill: 71. Crucial trials: ACID TESTS. 74. Vacation rental option: TIMESHARE. 81. Online customer service option: LIVE CHAT.

97. Thingamabob: DOODAD.

100. "Goddess of Pop": CHER. Do you believe in life after love?

103. Hardly promising: HOPELESS.

106. Writers like O. Henry: IRONISTS. And 109. Writer: PEN.

107. Aquatic mammal: OTTER.

108. Beltway environs: DC AREA.

110. Rehab hurdle: DTS. Delirium tremens.

111. Crystal-lined rock: GEODE.

112. "Stagecoach" and "High Noon": OATERS.

Down:

1. When repeated, a fish: MAHI. Huge.

 

2. Winged figure of myth: EROS.

4. Handel bars: ORATORIO. Nice clue also.

5. Apt grab rhyme: NAB.

6. Put away for later: STORED.

7. __ Clinton, historic English village that lent its name to a sports car: ASTON. Another learning moment. 

 

8. Joke victim: BUTT.

9. "A Hard Road to Glory" author: ASHE.

10. Rent for fishing, say: CHARTER. Charter boat.

11. Do-it-yourselfer's purchase: KIT.

12. Disagreements: FRICTIONS.

13. Mountain West river named for sheep: BIGHORN.

14. Clinton said he didn't do it: INHALE.

15. Printing flourish: SERIF.

16. Actor Dern: BRUCE. Laura Dern's father.

17. Nile serpents: ASPS.

20. Indian butter: GHEE.

21. Patron saint of France: DENIS.

23. Risky turn, maybe: UIE.

27. __ pie: MUD.

29. Frosh, probably: TEEN.

31. Writes a new version of: RE-DRAFTS.

32. It's a long story: SAGA. One of our blog readers actually read "Dream of the Red Chamber".

33. Brightly colored: NEON.

34. Hopping targets?: BARS.

35. Clear (of): RID.

38. Common cat seat: LAP.

40. Japanese-American: NISEI. Jill is one.

Steve and Jill, June 12, 2016

Tea at The Queen Mary

42. Extra feature: ADD ON. A few more On's: 75. "... roasting __ open fire": ON AN. 92. Hit lightly: TAP ON. 98. Able to see right through: ONTO.

44. Dugout rack item: BAT.

45. Crude gp.?: OPEC. Can't fool our regulars.

47. "Aim High" federal org.: USAF.

48. Merit badge earner: SCOUT.

49. Little men in the front row: PAWNS.

52. Delivery assignment: ROUTE. Our mail delivery is still erratic.

54. Dig find: SHARD.

55. Sonnet line quintet: IAMBS.

58. Auto option: ALARM.

59. Velcro alternative: LACES.

60. Groom with a bill: PREEN. Verb "groom".

62. "M*A*S*H" corporal: RADAR.

63. Chinese currency: YUAN. My dad's salary was RMB49/month in 1981. Less than $8.

64. Authentic: REAL.

69. "Exodus" hero: ARI.

72. "Cast Away" escape vehicle: RAFT.

73. Nevada copper town: ELY. Learned from doing crosswords.

76. Cello parts: PEGS.

79. Flipper: FIN.

80. Sask. neighbor: N DAK.

83. Least fresh: STALEST.

85. Deadline: DUE DATE.

87. Asian noodle dish: RAMEN. Xi'an style.  You can find this chain in New York City.

88. Lens cover: EYELID.

89. French word of approval: BON.

90. Managed: MADE DO.

91. Jersey __: SHORE.

93. "Bonanza" brother: HOSS. I watched a little bit of  this episode when I was waiting for Boomer at the MRI waiting place. My first and only "Bonanza".

94. Really dig: ADORE.

95. Sound file suffix: WAV.

96. China problem: CHIP.

99. Had too much, briefly: OD'ED.

102. Old food label figs.: RDAS.

104. Keep every one of: HOG.

105. TV pioneer: RCA.

Boomer's blood draw result was not good. His PSA rose to 445 (0-4 is normal), so the third chemo infusion did not work either. We're going back to the big VA hospital again tomorrow for a CT scan. Busy week ahead, appointment every day. 

The good news is that spring is finally here.The snow is almost all gone.

C.C.