Joseph Knecht

  Constructor Hanh Huynh recently made his debut with the LA Times ( July 7th, 2023 ), and now he's back with an exploration of Critter Band Radio We all know that animals use species-specific language to communicate with one another.  Hahn has apparently discovered that they have recently begun to adopt modern human communications technology to develop a rather cryptic form of inter-species communication , a kind of "pigeon trucker" lingo derived from Citizens Band Radio ( CBR ) . Each of his 5 themers are two-way exchanges in what could be called Critter Band Radio .   As they are a bit difficult to follow I've taken the liberty of italicizing the speakers in each clue; followed it with my translation of what was said (YMMV);  and provided a real-life example of the resulting fill ... 17A. Gnat : "Bug spray sighting. Request for assistance." Bee : "__. Backup is on the way.": FLY STANDBY . Gnat ( FLY...

Christina Iverson was Patti 's assistant when the latter took over editing duties from Rich Norris .  Here's Husker 's bio for Jeff Chen and Christina 's Saturday themeless on May 21, 2022 .  This will be her 20th solo or collaborative appearance on the Corner. Before we start the review here is a related public service announcement [ TL;DW ] on Toxic Cookware [Too long; Don't Watch] Christina's theme today concerns some not quite so toxic types of COOKWARE as in the above PSA , but they barely registered on the YELP * scale ... 18A. "Two stars! My spaghetti always sticks to the sides!": PASTA COOKER .  Maybe Christina should have given this a look instead -- an Oster Sangerfield Stainless Steel Cookware 5-Quart Pasta Pot w/Steamer & Strainer Lid -- 4.5 stars from 17,972 reviewers ... ...

  Veggie Tales Today is Grant Borough 's 5th visit to the Corner, fresh from an appearance at the NYT .   He takes us on a visit to the County Fair to see the winners of the BVOAT contest ( Best Vegetables of All Time ), exhibiting 4 common veggies, all sliced short to sound like a common phrase ... 17A. Proud proclamation at the county fair produce contest?: THAT'S MY CU CUMBER .  Our CUCUMBERS are coming in faster than we can eat them, so tomorrow I'm making pickles. Sliced cucumbers 26A. Praises a prizewinner at the county fair produce contest?: HAILS A CAB BAGE .  These require an early start and we didn't. 45A. Cause of a frantic search at the county fair produce contest?: LOST ART ICHOKE .  They don't grow in these parts, at least I haven't found any ... Arthur C. Clarke said that "any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic".  The same could be said for LOST ARTS .  The skills necessary to build another Chartres C...