Orthorunics

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Wednesday, Jun 4th, 2025 ~ Joe Marangell

SHHH~!

TurkiSHHH Delight

My first time covering a crossword from Mr. Marangell. His first LA Times was here, back in November 2024. Yes, circles, but very few names, chunky triple sevens in all four of the Down corners, and overall, a tight group of four unspoken ways to express joy, anger, approval and indifference, "quietly" hiding in the circles;

17. Credit card promotion for frequent fliers: BONUS MILES - SMILE 😁 - I don't have any credit card with frequent flyer bonus miles - travel for me was always covered by the company; the pipe organ company did not take full advantage of this perk, go figure 🤔

Smile - it looks like it might a good trip; I should become a frequent flyer

24. Etsy purchase, perhaps: CUSTOM PRINT - STOMP 😡 - I don't make prints, but I do build wood furniture - I can see myself selling some pieces through etsy

This one is SOLD already, but I could make one just like it

34. Key partnership?: PIANO DUET - NOD 😉 - The internet says a piano duet is TWO pianos, not just two piano players, this "duet" is hysterical...

Heart & Soul - "chopsticks"

50. Handwoven products at Istanbul's Grand Bazaar: TURKISH RUGS - SHRUG ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Colorful; I have an abstract-patterned one waiting for a place in my home

58. "Is that so?," or a hint to the communication methods found in this puzzle's circled letters: YOU DON'T SAY - tacit, non-verbal means of expressing one's response

And Away We Go~!

Across:

1. Tree with papery bark: BIRCH

6. Opera set in Memphis: AIDA - crossword staple

10. Part of a Cape Cod, familiarly: CRAN - "A" Cape Cod is a vodka cocktail with cranberry and a slice of lime; I noted that if one is not careful, when you buy the Ocean Spray cranberry "cocktail", the amount of "added" sugar is insane; I buy the "diet" version ( ironic ) that has 1g of 'natural' sugar

14. Japanese lager brand: ASAHI - AND - 47D. Japanese dogs: AKITAS - our consturctor must have an affinity for things "A" Japan, as AKIRA was in his first LA Times

15. Ignore: SNUB

16. Main character: HERO

19. Simplicity: EASE

20. Explosive sound: BLAM - I usually wait on perps, as there are dozens of "sounds" this could be

21. Blackjack card: ACE

22. Elizabeth __ cosmetics: ARDEN - the website

23. Hor. map line: LATitude

27. Latin catchall: Et Alii - and others, typically seen as "et al."

29. Annually: PER YEAR

30. Checkout option: DEBIT - I get 5% cash back/points with my Discover & Amazon credit cards - I use my debit card at the gas pump because credit is usually higher priced.

31. Sharp-witted: KEEN

33. Wily: SLY

38. HS exams for coll. credit: APs - Meh. I don't care for the plural abbrs in crosswords

41. Hit or __: MISS

42. Athlete who may run four laps: MILER - Ah- I was just a week too early with this fill . . . .

46. Takes a turn: ROTATES - Literally - not 'your move', during a game

49. Second-most-populated city in Oregon: EUGENE - behind Portland, I am guessing

53. Contribute: ADD

54. Amazon biz: eTAIL

55. U.K. constituent: ENGland - Nottingham was the place both my parents grew up

This image can be purchased on etsy

56. Upper hand: EDGE

57. Prime condition: MINT - I tried BEST

61. Actress Swenson: INGA - I knew her from "Soap" and "Benson" - her IMDb. My buddy's ex-wife chose this name for their sedond daughter, so that she could be nicknamed "Iggy"

62. "How __ can I put this ... ": ELSE

63. "Dragon Ball" genre: ANIME

64. Goes out with: SEES

65. Counterpart: PEER - KEEN, SEES and PEER today

66. Subsides: WANES

DOWN:

1. Talked excitedly: BABBLED

2. Keep away from others: ISOLATE - I prefer "solitude" to crowds; I am an introvert

3. Accumulated charges: RAN A TAB

4. Buddy: CHUM

5. That fella's: HIS

6. Nike competitor: ASICS

7. Shore recess: INLET - yeah, but meh; I grew up on Long Island, and the "inlets" were channels to the Great South Bay

8. Expected: DUE

9. Situp muscles: ABs - I do not work on the ABdominals at the gym yet - my trainer "Brett" says my "keg" is in the way - har-har....that's why I am going to the gym 😜

10. Manhattan garnish: CHERRY

11. Prepares: READIES

12. Premier League club known as the Gunners: ARSENAL - oh, my dad would be so disappointed I did not know this immediately - he ate, breathed and slept "European" football - soccer

13. "Stay out": NO ENTRY - we had this identical entry also in the Down in his debut LA Times puzzle

18. Home of Haleakala National Park: MAUI - figured it was Hawai'i, I tried OAHU

22. Start of Q2: APR - The second quarter of the year is April, May, June

24. __ Field: home of the Mets: CITI - Knew this because I grew up on Long Island - but it was Shea back then

25. Sides of a paper?: OP-EDS

26. Restaurant offering: MENU - I WAGed this; good one

28. Body part used in kissing and telling: LIP - cute

31. Kosher deli snack: KNISH - pronounced "Kuh - nish"

Looks tasty

32. Greek goddess of the dawn: EOS

35. City near the geographic center of Iowa: AMES

36. Big birds: EMUS

37. Comedian Notaro: TIG - more here

38. NASA moon exploration program since 2017: ARTEMIS

39. Dish with fries and gravy: POUTINE - Fries topped with cheese curds and hot gravy

I made my own hash browns in the air-fryer this weekend

40. Offbeat: STRANGE

43. Shows through the door: LEADS IN

44. Checkmate phase: END GAME - Not "YOU LOSE"

45. Flights that may serve dinner and breakfast: RED-EYES

48. Shorthand for sharing a new realization: TIL - I was thinking in terms of text messages, like "FYI". Meh. I found this, so it's legit

49. Waffle choice: EGGO

51. Second word in an ecological mantra: REUSE - Reduce, - - -, Recycle

52. Working for: UNDER

56. Italian volcano: ETNA - Etsy, now Etna

58. "Uh-huh": YEP - AND - 60D. "Uh-uh": NAW - Slangy verbal communications

59. Flamenco cheer: OLÉ

Splynter

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Wednesday, May 28th, 2025 ~ Sala Wanetick & Emily Biegas

IT'S A TRAP~!

Star Wars, The Return of the Jedi, It's a trap #1

Once more we have the duo of Sala and Emily offering up our Wednesday workout, and I can literally take my review from their last construction ( here on Mar 5th ) and post it word for word, as today's crossword practically duplicated that one; it felt like deja vu all over again. I do the Down clues first, so this grid, like the one in March, opened with a muscial concept I could grasp, but also like the last one, it had a plethora of names, two of which formed a Natick ( I'm looking at you, 16A/11D. ) which did me in this Monday's puzzle, as well. Sigh. YMMV, but, like thier last consturction, I felt the theme was weak and just didn't hit the mark for me. It was suggested the last time I did a review of the girls' construction that I be "honest", so that all constructors could improve upon their puzzles ( I myself have had a couple of co-created, published crosswords ) - I say, keep trying, ladies~! The themers - three "set ups" - and reveal;

17. Potentially awkward encounter: BLIND DATE - I was "threatened" with a blind date the last time I was on Long Island; my friend's wife "really thought I should get together with this friend of hers."

26. Deceptive undercover ploy: STING OPERATION - this is the "poster song" for any "STING"

The Entertainer - Scott Joplin

43. "American Ninja Warrior" feature: OBSTACLE COURSE - I've been diligent in the month of May - went to the gym every other day, then walked 30-40mins in my neighborhood on the off days - and I would love to get into shape just be able to attempt this . . . .

59. "We've been fooled!," or what can be said about 17-, 26-, or 43-Across: "IT'S A SET-UP~!" - I certainly feel like I've been "had"

Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, "It's a trap" #2

And Away We Go~!

ACROSS:

1. Move from the freezer to the sink, perhaps: THAW

5. Pod that may be pickled: OKRA

9. Barbershop sharpening tool: STROP

14. Hall of Fame golfer Isao: AOKI - name #1 - a crossword staple, with all those vowels - I only knew this name because I learned who he is by doing crosswords; he's the same age as the man who started the Pipe Organ company

15. Some summer babies, astrologically: LEOS - a bit 'meh' in the plural

16. "Defying Gravity" singer Cynthia: ERIVO - name #2, got me - see the little black triangle in the grid solution below. Natick. Pure. And. Simple. Period. Her web page - I do like the album cover

19. Come-ons: LURES - not RUSES; I was 60% correct

20. Burned a bit: SINGED - I once sing-ed a song for karaoke . . . .

21. Stimulant in some soft drinks: CAFFEINE

I'm fine, no really, I'm good, I just need a cup of coffee

23. Jumbo suffix: TRON - as in Jumbotron, the big screen at sports arenas, etc.; I'm feeling 'meh' about this, too

25. Cooling systs.: A/Cs

33. Coffee mug defect: CHIP

Yup, definitely "chipped"

34. Square-jawed canine: BOXER

35. Supersecretive org.: NSA - Dah~! Not CIA; 33% correct

36. Chicago airport code: ORD - due to O'Hare originally being Orchard Field - the Wiki

37. Gallivant: TRAIPSE - now here are good $2 words for clue/answer

39. Beanie, e.g.: CAP

40. Pool stick: CUE - had this Monday, too

41. Pay bump: RAISE

42. Sheet in a book: PAGE - at least it's not a name; i.e., Jimmy PAGE

47. "C'est la __!": VIE

48. Adjust the pitch of: TUNE

49. Musical place for a partridge: PEAR TREE - another good clue/answer

54. Tennessee NFL team: TITANS

58. Frowned upon: TABOO

61. Shady garden area: ARBOR

62. "Shoot": "DANG."

63. Connecting point: NODE

64. Bombards with texts, say: SPAMS - again, in the plural, a bit 'meh'.

65. Michigan's __ Royale National Park: ISLE - I'm betting Jazzbumpa knew this one

66. Chatted privately, briefly: DMed - Direct Messaged

DOWN:

1. Guitar player's aid: TABS - short for tabulature, which shows the fret number you hold with your finger(s) on the "lines" representing the strings on the neck; it's how I learned to play, but lately, I have gotten better with the actual note names

"Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love" - Van Halen

2. Colorful Hindu festival: HOLI - I had this back on Apr 16th

3. Related (to): AKIN

4. Shape of some eyeliner applications: WINGTIP - this makeup detail

At least it wasn't the shoes

5. One who's past the age of learning, in a saying: OLD DOG - that is, you can't teach an - - - new tricks

6. Hawaii's Mauna __: KEA - geographic name - LOA, or KEA~?

7. Campus mil. group: ROTC - Reserve Officers' Training Corps - more here

8. Offshore: ASEA - yeah, but meh.

9. Focus of a "me day": SELF CARE - I figured it was something like "SPA - - -"

10. Most authentic: TRUEST

11. "SOS" singer, to fans: RiRi - OK, I get it, I'm old.... The artist Rihanna; the song, which samples MY generation's "Tainted Love" from Soft Cell, this 80s one-hit-wonder. RiRi's Wiki; name #3

12. Tandoor, for one: OVEN - More here

13. Sit (for): POSE

18. "Marriage Story" Oscar winner Laura: DERN - name #4

22. Kayak listing: FARES - Tried HOTEL; the website - Kayak choice would have been more deceptive

24. Goal of some criminal justice reform efforts: NO BAIL - had N, O, L via perps, so a WAG on my part

26. Hedge element: SHRUB - a shrubbery~!

MP and the Holy Grail

27. Gravitational phenomena: TIDES

28. Composure: POISE

29. Anticipate: EXPECT

30. Quechua speakers: INCAS - name(ish)

31. "August: __ County": Meryl Streep film: OSAGE - no clue, so I'm calling name #5

32. Area hidden by a turtleneck: NAPE - could not be "neck" because it was in the clue

33. American tennis phenom Gauff: COCO - the Frawnche Open is this week; like the British open, known as "Wimbledon", the offical name of this tennis championship is Roland-Garros - name #6

37. Turncoats: TRAITORS

38. 5K participant: RACER - I knew we were looking for a "runner", which didn't fit; I tried MILER

42. Make believe: PRETEND

44. Den: TV ROOM - mancave didn't fit

45. Power interruption: OUTAGE - a nuisance, if you're watching a movie in your 44D.

46. Colleges, to Aussies: UNIversitieS

49. School fundraising orgs.: PTAs - again, the plural is a bit 'meh'

50. "Tombstone" character Wyatt: EARP - even if I know this, it's still a name, #7

51. "SOS" singers: ABBA - the "other" SOS song - still a name, #8

52. Cash gift given on Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha: EIDI - Islamic holidays - more here. Really~? on Wednesday~? Sheesh. The Wiki

53. Waze figs.: ETAs - Waze, the driving app, a cute play on "WAYS"

55. Basic particle: ATOM

56. Like a streaker: NUDE

57. Stepped on the gas: SPED

60. Marcello Hernández's show, for short: SNL - his IMDb - name #9

Splynter

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Wednesday, May 14th, 2025 ~ Brian Callahan & Tim Giannetti

MORNIN', SUNSHINE~!

I loved this theme~! We have two authors today; Mr. Callahan has been a frequent co-collaborator for the LA Times, and this appears to be Mr. Giannetti's debut - well done, sirs~! The theme, again in the Downs for me ( I had a similar puzzle Apr 16 - plus circles ), is a graphical depiction of the word STAR as it "rises" from the bottom of the answer phrase through the middle phrases, and finishing up at the top of the final phrase. I felt it was a tidy construction, lots of names and circumreferential clues, yet at the same time sort of weird - as if it were an exercise in obsucrity AND a texbook array of crossword entries with chunky corners; the result being a puzzle that didn't feel like a Wednesday level, but that's exactly where it needed to be. The best I can do to "express" the theme;

9. Secret passed down by Nonna, perhaps: PASTA RECIPE - Nonna = Granny in my family

11. "Don't try to do everything at once": START SMALL

20. Some turnpike turnoffs: REST AREAS

23. Certain business quota: SALES TARGET

29. Up-and-comer, or a progression found in 29-, 23-, 20-, 9-, and 11-Down: RISING STAR

And Away We Go~!

ACROSS:

1. HS class with many average lessons?: AP STATS - I did not know this class was available

8. Twitches: SPASMS - As I get older, I can no longer have caffeine late in the day - otherwise, my legs twitch when I go to bed

14. Greeted from afar: WAVED HI - um, yeah - such an odd fill, but OK

15. MSU athlete: SPARTAN - MSU = Michigan State University; their website

16. Top rank in a tournament: ONE SEED

17. Can compete with the best: HAS GAME - the only "game" I have is Monopoly

18. Fisheye __: LENS

M.C. Escher, Three Spheres

19. Blood bank fluids: SERA

21. Crooner Mel: TORMÉ - name #1

22. "__ live and breathe!": "AS I . . ."

24. Thompson of "Men in Black: International": EMMA - name #2 - AND - 4D. Thompson of "Men in Black: International": TESSA - not the same "Thompson" - name #3

26. Paving goo: TAR

27. World Autism Mo.: APRil

30. Roadie's charges: AMPS

32. Planets, poetically: ORBS

34. __ tai: MAI

35. Future JD's exam: LSAT - crossword staple, Law School Admissions Test

36. Fishy fellow: MERMAN

Family Guy

39. "I'm home!": "IT'S ME~!"

41. Chem class site: LAB

43. __ Case: White Castle purchase: CRAVE

Man, I have not had White Castle in long, long time - now I AM craving

44. Branch of Islam: SHI'ISM

46. "The Amateur" actor Malek: RAMI - and the "bad guy" Lyutsifer Safin in the last James Bond movie; his IMDb - name #4

48. Fabrication: LIE

49. Quick scribble: NOTE

50. O.K. Corral surname: EARP - name #5

51. Acid letters: LSD - LySergic Acid Diethylamide -the Wiki

52. URL option: ORG

54. Actress Jessica: ALBA - frequent grid visitor; name #6

56. 36-Across's realm: SEA

58. Civil rights activist Chavez: CESAR - name #7

60. Brief "Get it done!": A.S.A.P.

62. "Frozen" princess: ELSA - name #8 - AND - 3D. "Frozen" reindeer: SVEN - name #9

"The Blonde & The Beast"

66. Immune response trigger: ANTIGEN - the Wiki, if you're curious

68. Stressful situation: HOT SEAT

70. Heads: LEADERS

71. NASA or NASCAR: ACRONYM

72. "Gosh darn it!": AW RATS

73. Ticket for a black diamond enthusiast: SKI PASS

DOWN:

1. Mil. no-show: AWOL - Absent WithOut Leave

2. Window installer's unit: PANE - I had one break on me last year; no sense in fixing or replacing it - I plan to replace both windows with a set of French ( Frawnche ) doors

It broke when I opened the window in a near-perfect arch

5. Sports drink suffix: ADE - GatorADE, e.g.

6. PC game with Livin' Large and Hot Date expansion packs: THE SIMS - I have not played much of this game - I preferred being the Mayor of my own Sim City

7. Hash browns, e.g.: SIDE

8. Club with cucumber slices?: SPA - Nice. I was contemplating "BLT" - but I like this fresh clue

10. Golden Fleece vessel: ARGO - name(ish)

12. ABBA's "__ Mia!": MAMMA - AND - 25D. Lisa Bonet, to Zoë Kravitz: MOM - a couple of days too late for this past Sunday

13. Vile smile: SNEER

15. Part of a bedding set: SHAM - the part I never bother with when I buy a set; I hardly use the top sheet, in fact - it's the fitted bottom sheet, with side pockets that I like best - I can hang my electric blanket controller there

27. Brest friends: AMIs - I missed the "r" on the first pass in Brest ( France )

Frawnche Friends

28. Way: PATH

31. Buddy: PAL

33. "I c-c-can't feel my t-t-toes": "BRR~!"

37. "We try harder" car rental chain: AVIS

38. "... should the __ arise": NEED

40. "'O Sole __": MIO - how 'bout Elvis' take on the melody~?

I dig the sideburns, man~! - the song Wiki

42. Farmyard bleat: BAA

45. Filmmaker Brooks: MEL - name #10

47. Vulcan salute giver: MR. SPOCK - name #11

52. Sunshine State city: OCALA - I made it as far as Jacksonville, FL - name #12

53. Subscribe again: RENEW

55. Prohibits: BANS

57. "The Tortoise and the Hare" teller: AESOP - the Fabulist

59. Verdi opera: AIDA

61. "I see now!" cries: "A-HAs~!" - the plural is a bit Meh.

63. Emmy winner Waithe: LENA - name #13; her IMDb

64. Declares: SAYS

65. Twentysomethings?: ATMs - A HA~! Trying to find an alternative to this crossword constant, not as clever as the one for SPAs

67. MD workplaces: ERs

69. Tetra- minus one: TRI - Four, less one, in prefixes equals Three

Splynter

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Wednesday, May 7th, 2025 ~ Parikshit S. Bhat

BE the BRIDGE

This is P.S. Bhat's fourth LA Times contribution - and my first time working one of his constructions. The last one was on a Friday in 2021; the one prior to that was in 2018, blogged by Santa ( Argyle ) on the editor' s (then) assistant Patti's B-day, and my anniversary, Jan 8th. Yes, we have the circles again, outlining scrambled, or "troubled" bodies of water. A handful of names, one of which I was totally "huh~?" about ( I am looking at you, 37D.), a mere 14 3LWs, a 'balance' of 22 4-letter and 20 5-letter words, and two of the four theme answers unique to crosswords. The themers and reveal;

19. Equanimity between nations: BALANCE OF POWER - OCEAN - my step-daughter's name, too

24. Technical support team's headache: COMPUTER VIRUS - RIVER

The acronym "PICNIC"

44. "Get Out" and "Nope" star: DANIEL KALUUYA - LAKE - no clue, and not who I envisioned; I figured his was more of a "Hawaiian" name - see 23A. His IMDb