Joseph Knecht

  MISMATCHED MALAPROPS Constructor Tim D'Alfonso is back for his 4th appearance in the LA Times, his first being about 2 years ago and like today's puzzle it was just in time for Summer . Like our frequent contributor from Norfolk , I don't think speling is one of Tim's strong suits, as he leads off with 3 punny themers with mismatched homophones for the IPA pronunciation of raɪt (the International Phonetic Alphabet that is, not the ALE ):  17A. Formal induction ceremony for a league of pickpockets?: SWIPING RITE .  As a leftie who can't tell my right from my left, I stay away from social media because I never know who I might accidentally pick up. 27. Bicycles and aviation, notably?: THE WRIGHT STUFF .  The Wright Brothers were the first to fly a heavier than air craft on 12/17/1903 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.  Historian David McCullough has pointed out that every time they flew they were risking th...

  * Basta Pasta Today's constructor is Dr. Ed Sessa .  I had the privilege of reviewing his last outing on December 15, 2022 , and this marks his 139th appearance here.  Today he carefully selects six types of Italian pastas and pairs them with the professionals most likely to choose them.  And from the plethora of pasta shapes from which Dr. Ed could have chosen, the absence of this one will delight some ... Anelli Plus there are no asterisks (*), obscure P&P, or reveal to spoil your solving fun! So let's dig in ... Here are the themers with only the PRO TIPS highlighted.   Recipes are no extra charge ... 18A. Dentist's pasta choice?: CAP ELLINI .   But before you have a CAP put on you have to see an Endodontist who might prefer CANAL ONI .  But I'm sure they'll both prefer their pasta Al Dente .  Capellini originated in Northern Italy ... Capellini 24A. Jeweler's pasta choice?: GEM ELLI .  From the s outhern Italian region ...

Feathered Follies Tweety Today's constructors-cum-ornithologists feather our nest with fill from 5 classic movies, which they have morphed into punny birds with just a single letter change .  Kelly Richardson is a fledgling in these parts and Katie Hale has soared through our skies many times as a constructor and assistant editor. Here is each new hatchling, followed by the original still in its shell ... 16A. Film about a seabird who will stop at nothing for a sandwich?: RAGING GULL .  RAGING BULL is a 1980 American biographical sports drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and based Jake LaMotta 's 1970 memoir Raging Bull: My Story . It stars Robert De Niro as Jake LaMotta.   22A. Film about a bird who is constantly mistaken for a common pigeon?: DOVE ACTUALLY .  LOVE ACTUALLY is a 2003 Christmas romantic comedy film written and directed by Richard Curtis . It features an ensemble cast, composed predominantly of British actors, many of whom had worked w...