Tuesday, February 28, 2012 Don Gagliardo & C.C. Burnikel

Theme: It was so cold ... - three dogs were allowed on the bed. The band's name is explained here.

20A. Golfer's gadget used at the edge of water hazards : BALL RETRIEVER

34A. Early leader in a race : PACE SETTER

43A. Pelvic contusion : HIP POINTER

55A. "Joy to the World" group, and based on the ends of 20-, 34- and 43-Across, what you're having if you solve this puzzle after dark? : THREE DOG NIGHT

Argyle here. Hard G and C.C. have gone to the dogs. Not just any dogs but a tight group of sporting dogs. There is a wide spread in the fill to keep it interesting. I hope you were able to fetch all the answers.

Across:

1. Coal holders : BINS

5. "The Censor" of Rome : CATO. There is Cato the Elder and Cato the Younger; you can guess which one was "The Censor".

9. Hiked, as prices : UPPED. Can you say "gas prices"?

14. Australian golfer __ Scott : ADAM. He was involved with that incident where Tiger fired his caddy.

15. Most fit for duty : ONE A

16. Emma Roberts, to Julia : NIECE. Here as a blonde.

17. Pass catchers : RECEIVERS

19. Company that ironically had a crooked E in its logo : ENRON

22. 10-Down substance used in roofing : TAR and 10D. Tree with needles : PINE. I knew it was used on bats.

23. Salinger title girl : ESMÉ. "For Esmé – with Love and Squalor"

24. Sumac of Peru : YMA

27. Cries of pain : OWs

30. Little rascal : IMP

32. How animals boarded the ark : IN TWOS

38. Cries of surprise : OHO'S

39. "__ Were the Days" : THOSE

40. __ Intrepid : USS

41. Curing solution : BRINE

42. Watches a kid for cash : SITS

45. Form 1040 data : INCOME

47. Many moons: Abbr. : YRs. (years)

48. Erie summer hrs. : EDT. (Eastern Daylight Time)

49. Bk. before Esther : NEH. (Nehemiah)

50. "__ la Douce" : IRMA. Starring Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine(1963)

53. Extremely long time : EON

61. Way up : STAIR

63. Deceived : LED ASTRAY

64. Duplicate, briefly : REPRO

65. Bath, in Bordeaux : BAIN. French.

66. Wyatt at the O.K. Corral : EARP

67. Look of disdain : SNEER

68. Pisa's river : ARNO

69. Portly Jolly Roger pirate : SMEE

Down:

1. Wire fence point : BARB

2. It's all in your head : IDEA

3. Salt, to a chemist : NACL

4. Silvery food fish : SMELT

5. Oater hero's request when entering the fray : "COVER ME!"

6. Work without __ : A NET

7. Land in Paris : TERRE. More French.

8. Desert refuge : OASIS

9. In need of leveling : UNEVEN

11. Daily Planet editor : PERRY WHITE. He was always telling Jimmy Olsen, "Don't call me chief!"

12. Prefix with system : ECO

13. Room with a remote : DEN

18. Call from one who more than calls? : "I RAISE"

21. Arab commander : EMIR

25. Gazed dreamily : MOONED. Let the DF comments begin.

26. Declare : ASSERT

27. Decides to join : OPTS IN

28. Hula dancer, often : WAHINE. Often the clue, seldom the answer.

29. Present wrapper's aid : SCOTCH TAPE

31. Spitting sound : "PTUI!". "Pardon me"

33. In tatters : TORN

35. Pump sign on the Alcan highway : ESSO. Better gas up when you have a chance.

36. Recipe meas. : TSP.

37. Make out : ESPY

41. Buffalo's minor league baseball team : BISONS

43. "Take this" : "HERE"

44. Pizza herb : OREGANO

46. "Snow White" fairness judge : MIRROR

51. Toast type : MELBA

52. "Be __ ...": start of a polite request : A DEAR

54. Evenings, in ads : NITES

56. Add to the work force : HIRE

57. Viking war god : ODIN. Thor was his son.

58. Protein unit : GRAM

59. Fabled slacker : HARE

60. Make words using keys : TYPE

61. Many retd. boomers : SRs. (seniors)

62. Farthest-right bowling pin : TEN

Answer grid.

Argyle

Note from C.C.:

Don came up with this idea after adopting his two dogs Pansie & Cosmos. We originally had SACAGAWEA for 55A & IT'S I for 31D. Rich felt that SACAGAWEA was not Monday/Tuesday friendly and IT'S I overly contrived. So we went through a couple revisions.

Monday, February 27, 2012 Lila Cherry

Theme: Dale, Jr., at Daytona? - If Junior pulls off a win today at Daytona, in the manner suggested by the words in the front of the first three theme entries, his popularity will surge higher than it ever has before.

17A. Backstage : BEHIND THE SCENES

24A. Got married : TIED THE KNOT

43A. Forefront, as of technology : LEADING EDGE

56A. Returning to popularity, or what you'd have been doing if you followed the sequence formed by the first words of 17-, 24- and 43-Across : MAKING A COMEBACK

Argyle here. If you think today's constructor is Lila Cherry, that's really Rich. A good example of what a Monday puzzle can be, even if there is that shameful plug for the paper. (24-Down. Los Angeles daily : TIMES) If you have any nits, today is the day to lay them on; our editor can take it.

The Daytona 500 was rained out on Sunday, the first time in the history of the race.

Across:

1. Fight-stopping calls, briefly : TKOs. (technical knockout) May be called by the referee, fight doctor, or a fighter's corner.

5. Discourteous : RUDE

9. Ireland patron, for short : ST. PAT

14. 10 million centuries : AEON

15. Soon, to the bard : ANON

16. Chicago airport : O'HARE. It is an important hub for United Airlines.

20. The second story, vis-à-vis the first : UPSTAIRS

21. Tough Japanese dogs : AKITAs. Info.

22. Coll. football's Seminoles : FSU. Florida State University at Tallahassee, FL.

23. Over, to Oskar : ÜBER

29. Wee lie : FIB

32. Forster's "A Passage to __" : INDIA. Trailer. (3:24)

33. Off one's rocker : NUTS

34. Dashboard gadget prefix with meter : ODO

35. Robin's Marian, for one : MAID. Robin Hood. Maid Marian is more complex than I thought, according to Wikipedia.

36. Market express lane units : ITEMS

38. Car : AUTO

39. North Pole helper : ELF. Still on vacation.

40. Muscle pain : ACHE

41. Desi who married 60-Across : ARNAZ and 60-Across. Ball of Hollywood : LUCY

42. Sneaky : SLY. Note it is tied into TIMES. (24D)

46. USA or Mex., e.g. : ABBReviation

47. "Do __ favor ..." : ME A

48. Blood deficiency that causes weakness : ANEMIA. Reduced number of red blood cells.

51. Embodiments : EPITOMEs

58. Informal bridge bid : ONE NO. (one no trump)

59. Activist Parks : ROSA

61. Praise : KUDOS

62. Sheltered valley : GLEN

63. Brown or cream bar orders : ALES. A small misdirection towards popsicles

Down:

1. "Forbidden" cologne brand : TABU. I am a little confused here. TABU is a perfume by Dana, launched by the design house of Dana in 1932. TABU is classified as a luxurious, oriental fragrance and is called "The forbidden fragrance".(If you go to this site, scroll down to read some interesting comments.) "Forbidden" cologne is new and isn't the same fragrance.

2. Hang on to : KEEP

3. Partners of aahs : OOHs

4. Fit of agitation : SNIT

5. Pungent salad veggie : RADISH

6. Fictitious : UNTRUE

7. Cries from Homer Simpson : D'OHs

8. Opposite of WSW : ENE

9. Plugging-in places : SOCKETS

10. "... all snug in __ beds" : THEIR

11. Cool off, dog-style : PANT. Why do dogs pant? Answer, possible TMI.

12. Locale : AREA

13. "__ of the D'Urbervilles" : TESS. A novel by Thomas Hardy, first published in 1891.

18. USA/Mex./Can. pact : NAFTA. (North American Free Trade Agreement)

19. Wooden shoes : SABOTS

23. E pluribus __ : UNUM

25. Counting everything : IN ALL

26. Spiritually enlighten : EDIFY

27. Completed : DID

28. Kicked with a bent leg : KNEED

29. No longer lost : FOUND

30. Luggage attachment : ID TAG

31. Hooch : BOOZE

36. Swelling treatment : ICE BAG. It may be needed after 28-Down.

37. "__ she blows!" : THAR

38. Exist : ARE

40. White whales, e.g. : ALBINOs. "THAR she blows!"

41. Colorful marble : AGATE

44. Levy, as a tax : IMPOSE

45. Upscale retailer __ Marcus : NEIMAN. Headquartered in the Dallas, Texas.

46. __ acid : AMINO

48. Unrestrained way to run : AMOK

49. Half of Mork's sign-off : NANU. Mork's better half, reporting to Orson.(1:57)

50. Barely made, with "out" : EKED

51. Environmental sci. : ECOL.

52. Beatles nonsense syllables : OB-LA-DI, OB-LA-DA, life goes on.

53. Manhandle : MAUL

54. Caesar's "Behold!" : "ECCE!"

55. "The __ the limit!" : SKY'S. Tom Petty's "Into the Great Wide Open" (3:47)

57. Neighbor of Braz. : ARGentina

Answer grid.

Argyle

Tuesday, February 21, 2012 Billie Truitt

Theme: Bummer - Four grid spanners that start off badly. (synonyms for bad)

16A. Airport security canine : BOMB SNIFFING DOG

23A. Thanksgiving serving : TURKEY DRUMSTICK

41A. Frothy citrus dessert : LEMON CHIFFON PIE

56A. Women's swimsuit size factor : BUST MEASUREMENT. A sideline for Dennis?

Argyle here. The discussion about day of the week appropriateness for a word may continue today. There are some doozies.

The long entries (SEE STARS and EAU DE VIE) adjacent to the top and bottom theme entries are quite sparkly.

Across:

1. Baseball's Hammerin' Hank : AARON. Rookie card. Note he signed it Henry Aaron.

6. Bad color for ink? : RED

9. Sunlight unit : BEAM

13. Vegetation : FLORA

14. Ward of "Sisters" : SELA. Her IMDb page.

15. Notion : IDEA

19. React to a whack : SEE STARS

20. "You're not the only one!" : "SO CAN I!"

21. Ending for mass or pass : IVE

22. Talking bird : MYNA

31. Agenda details : ITEMS

32. Cool-cucumber link : AS A

33. Lake Mich. city : CHIcago. The Windy City.

34. Semana septet : DIAs. Spanish week/days

35. "Divine Comedy" poet : DANTE

37. Phlebotomist's target : VEIN

38. With 48-Across, shout at the station : ALL, 48A. See 38-Across : ABOARD. Do they still do that?

39. Byrnes of "Grease" : EDD. His IMDb page.

40. Quake site : FAULT. (earthquake)

46. Pothole's place : ROAD

47. Jimmy's successor : RON (Jimmy Carter/Ron Reagan)

51. Type of brandy whose name means "water of life" : EAU DE VIE. Upon reading the explanation, I remember having this before. Basically, it is a brandy NOT made from grapes but some other kind of fruit.

58. Capri, for one : ISLE. In the Bay of Naples, southeast of Rome.

59. Puppy bites : NIPS

60. Mascara problem : SMEAR

61. Ring decisions, briefly : TKOs. Boxing rings/technical knockouts.

62. Sample : TRY

63. Sample : TASTE. Classic clecho.

Down:

1. Langley and Travis: Abbr. : AFBS. (Air Force Bases)

2. Botanical skin treatment ingredient : ALOE

3. "Julius Caesar" setting : ROME

4. Globes : ORBS

5. Bad guys : NASTIES

6. Flag throwers : REFs. Is there a sport besides football where the refs throw a flag?

7. Many a "Lord of the Rings" character : ELF

8. Dogpatch gal : DAISY MAE. Edie Adams won a Tony Award for playing the original Daisy Mae in the Broadway musical "Li'l Abner". 1956

9. Lion, for one : BIG CAT

10. Icelandic poetic work : EDDA

11. Really long time : AEON

12. Star followers : MAGI

14. Begat : SIRED

17. It's darker than royal blue : NAVY

18. Dijon denials : NONs. Dijon is southeast of Paris.

22. Is compelled to : MUST

23. __ wave : TIDAL

24. Of practical value : UTILE

25. Domain : REALM

26. Canadian rd. distances : KMs. (kilometre)

27. "Amazing" paranormal debunker : RANDI

28. Freeze over : ICE UP

29. Spicy bean dish : CHILI

30. Kunta __: Burton's "Roots" role : KINTE. LeVar Burton.

35. Morally degenerate : DECADENT

36. Condition treated with Ritalin, briefly : ADHD. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

37. Car for a large family : VAN

40. Most doting : FONDEST

42. Takes the podium : ORATEs

43. Standard : NORM

44. Munich matrons : FRAUs. German.

45. Typical barbershop complement : FOUR

48. Slightly : A BIT

49. Perform on sidewalks, in London : BUSK. The word "BUSK" comes from the Spanish root word "buscar", meaning "to seek" – buskers are literally seeking fame and fortune. per Wikipedia.

50. Scandinavian capital : OSLO

51. Glimpse : ESPY

52. Austen heroine : EMMA. Published in December 1815.

53. Victory signs : VEEs

54. __ the finish : IN AT

55. To be, in Brittany : ÊTRE. Peninsula west of Paris.

57. Balloon contents : AIR

Answer grid.

Argyle

Monday, February 20, 2012 Geoffrey Lewis

Theme: Erin go Bragh - Four entries that end in an Irish county.

17A. *Get really angry : POP ONE'S CORK. PSA (1:25)

25A. *Belfast-born flutist : JAMES GALWAY. Dame Kiri Te Kanawa & James Galway - "Danny Boy" (5:15)

35A. *2004 loser to George Bush : JOHN KERRY. Image.

51A. *Sandwich request : HOLD THE MAYO. How County Mayo got its name.

60A. One of the four that end this puzzle's starred answers : IRISH COUNTY

Argyle here. Thanking everyone in advance for your birthday wishes; now there is no need to waste space on any greetings. ;-)

I was unable to find any other puzzles by our constructor so this could be a debut. A strong start, in any case, with the unusual tri-stack, seven high, in each corner.

Across:

1. Like Eastwood's Harry : DIRTY. Five films, between 1971 and 1988.

6. Aromatic resin : ELEMI

11. Emeril catchword : "BAM!". The celebrity chef.

14. Start of un año : ENERO. Spanish for January, start of the year

15. Add to the mix : PUT IN. and 19A. Cocktail cooler, in Coblenz : EIS. Coblenz is a German city situated on the banks of the Rhine. EIS, we learned yesterday, is ICE (so Tinbeni will never visit Coblenz).

16. Freudian subject : EGO

20. Paris airport : ORLY

21. Having trouble deciding : TORN

22. Hindu social division : CASTE

24. Fish eggs : ROE

27. "For shame!" : "TUT TUT!". Tried "TSK TSK!" first.

29. Sedative : OPIATE

30. Suffix with bed or home : STEAD

31. Arthur of tennis : ASHE

34. Selected on a ballot, with "in" : Xed

39. Source of quick cash, briefly : ATM

42. Operating system since the '60s : UNIX

43. Ball hit over the wall : HOMER. In fair territory, of course.

47. Steals : SWIPES

50. Title street of kids' TV : SESAME

55. Accomplished : DID

56. Islamic deity : ALLAH

57. College head : DEAN

58. Shower affection (on) : DOTE

59. __ tai: cocktail : MAI

63. Rock producer Brian : ENO

64. Stealthy craft : CANOE

65. Zellweger of "Chicago" : RENÉE. Portrayed Roxie Hart.

66. Room with bookcases : DEN

67. Tolerate : STAND

68. Flowers with swordlike leaves, briefly : GLADS

Down:

1. Expels from the country : DEPORTS

2. "Should I deal you a hand?" : "IN OR OUT?". "Ante up if you're in"

3. Abundantly supplied (with) : REPLETE

4. Helen of __ : TROY. Shout out to Irish Miss of Troy.

5. Partner of hither : YON

6. __ salts : EPSOM

7. "Filthy" dough : LUCRE. Dirty money.

8. Preppy collars : ETONs. A broad white collar worn over the lapels of a jacket.

9. Downed Russian space station : MIR

10. Mushroom with a black-edged top : INK-CAP. Toxicity

11. Secretion used in hives : BEESWAX

12. Stir up : AGITATE

13. Strolled, as to the saloon : MOSEYED

18. French state : ÉTAT

23. "Float like a butterfly" boxer : ALI

25. Karate relative : JUDO

26. Habitué : GOER. Habitué - a frequent visitor to a place (churchgoer; moviegoer)

28. __ Mahal : TAJ

31. Landers or Lee : ANN. (Mother Ann Lee, of the Shakers)

32. Enjoy the slopes : SKI

33. Put a spell on : HEX

36. Awed crowd reaction : HUSH

37. Stat start : RHEO

38. Casual hellos : YOs

39. Humiliated : ASHAMED

40. Like many rural roads : TWO LANE

41. Thousand thousand : MILLION

44. "Papa Don't Preach" singer : MADONNA

45. Radiated : EMITTED

46. Flights leaving around midnight, usually : RED EYEs

48. iPhone, e.g., briefly : PDA. (Personal Digital Assistant)

49. Rules of conduct : ETHICS

50. In __: harmonious : SYNC

52. Twin Cities suburb : EDINA, Minnesota.

53. Subatomic particle : MESON. Something to do with quarks and anti-quarks.

54. Oohed and __ : AAHed

58. Face-off with pistols : DUEL

61. Squealer : RAT

62. Nonprofit's URL ending : .ORG

Answer grid.

Argyle

Note from C.C.:

Ha ha, I'm wasting space, but Happy Birthday to dear Argyle, who brings us love, humor and smiles every day. Xie Xie, Santa!

Tuesday, February 14, 2012 Marti DuGuay-Carpenter

Theme: Noahs - It is a repeating of four 'oo' sound, but no 'ahs'.

20A. Dismiss an occult doll-making practice? : POOH-POOH VOO-DOO

32A. "What's that chocolate beverage you're drinking, Yogi?" answer : "YOO-HOO, BOO-BOO"

42A. Model train expert? : CHOO-CHOO GURU

56A. Frilly Hawaiian dress? : FROU-FROU MUU-MUU

Argyle here with our own HeartRX, and on Valentine's Day, too. A fun puzzle today.

Across:

1. Place for family game night : DEN

4. Book of poems partly by King David : PSALMS

10. Farm grazer : COW

13. Egg cells : OVA

14. Communicating regularly : IN TOUCH

16. Fat Tire product : ALE

17. Ballplayer's hat : CAP

18. Woos, minstrel-style : SINGS TO

19. N.J. neighbor : DELaware.

23. Hanukkah money : GELT

24. Govt.-issued ID : SSN

25. Donahue and Collins : PHILs. Talk show host/Singer

26. Double Stuf cookies : OREOs

28. With 57-Down, wealthy people : THE 57D. See 28-Across : RICH

31. Hair removal brand : NEET

36. Raggedy doll : ANN

37. Debate side : PRO

38. PC component : CRT. (cathode ray tube) A former component these days.

39. Studio whose films get off to a roaring start : MGM

45. Speed-of-sound name : MACH

48. Wee, like bairns : SMA. In Scotland, bairns means children.

49. Sarandon of "Bull Durham" : SUSAN. Here in a "Got Milk?" ad.

50. Snow-block home : IGLOO

52. Hippie's home : PAD. Now a hippie Eskimo is hard to imagine. But they'd be cool.

55. When Romeo meets Juliet : ACT I and 43D. Juliet's family name : CAPULET

60. Small amount : FEW

61. Temps : FILL INs

62. Fib, e.g. : LIE

64. Dark time for a poet : EEN

65. Kind of fiction : SCIENCE

66. Recreational transport, briefly : ATV. An all-terrain vehicle (ATV), also known as a quad, quad bike, three-wheeler, or four-wheeler. Three-wheelers were found to be unsafe and I don't think they are being made any more.

67. Driller's deg. : DDS. Doctor of Dental Surgery. (dentist)

68. More sexy : HOTTER and 39D. Powerfully built : MUSCULAR

69. Manhattan liquor : RYE

Down:

1. Bespectacled dwarf : DOC

2. Role for Patti LuPone or Madonna : EVA PERON. Patti LuPone is known for her Tony Award-winning performances as Eva Perón in the 1979 stage musical "Evita". Madonna portrayed her in the movie, "Evita"

3. Layered pastry : NAPOLEON. Yum!

4. "Hogwash!" : "PISH!"

5. Scissors cuts : SNIPS

6. Periodic table figs. : AT NOs. Atomic Numbers

7. Access with a password : LOG ON TO

8. "Faster, huskies!" : "MUSH!". Very versatile word. MUSH can be a verb, with or without an object, an interjection(as clued), or a noun; all relating to dog sleds and dog sledding.

9. John Candy skit show : SCTV. Second City Television (SCTV) is a Canadian television sketch comedy show offshoot from Toronto's The Second City troupe that ran between 1976 and 1984.

10. Golf bag carrier : CADDIE

11D. World Cup chant : OLE! OLE! and 12D. Runner-up's news : "WE LOST". Another interesting pairing.

15. Earring style : HOOP

21. Texter's "From a different aspect ..." : OTOH. "On The Other Hand ..."

22. "Say it isn't so!" : "OH NO!"

23. "La maja desnuda" painter : GOYA

27. Second-year student : SOPHomore.

29. High, in Hamburg : HOCH. German.

30. Spanish river : EBRO. In the north of Spain.

33. Top Olympic medals, in Madrid : OROs. In the center of Spain.

34. Rapid economic expansion : BOOM

35. Plains tribesmen : OTO

40. Tip on a table : GRATUITY

41. City bond, informally : MUNI. (Municipal bond)

42. Dynasty during Confucius' time : CHOU. Confucius' time was the Spring and Autumn Period, a period in Chinese history that roughly corresponds to the first half of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty(Chou) between 722 and 479 BC.

44. American territory in the Pacific : GUAM. The commemorative quarter.

45. Offended : MIFFED

46. Signed a pact, say : AGREED

47. Circus performers : CLOWNS

51. Slays, mob-style : OFFs

53. "Care for __?": after-dinner offer : A MINT

54. Numbskull : DUNCE

58. Hodgepodge : OLIO

59. Mouse manipulator : USER

63. Night of anticipation : EVE

Answer grid.

Argyle

Note from C.C.:

1 Happy Birthday to dear Marti! Thanks for the fun puzzles & everyday wit and warmth. Hugs!

2 Happy 4-year blog anniversary to Dennis, the secret engine behind this blog. Thank you for being there, Dummy!

Monday, February 13, 2012 Anna Gundlach

Theme: What Little Girls Are Made Of

17A. Baker's sweetener : GRANULATED SUGAR

26A. Cinnamon blend for a Thanksgiving recipe : PUMPKIN PIE SPICE

37A. Little ones who, they say, are made up of the ends of this puzzle's four longest entries : GIRLS

43A. "All finished!" : "THAT'S EVERYTHING"

57A. 1966 Beach Boys hit : "WOULDN'T IT BE NICE". Clip(2:24)

Argyle here. It has been awhile since Anna's last puzzle but if you are going to fit FOUR! grid spanners into a Monday .... A little crosswordese must be expected.

What's next? Snips and snails, and puppy dogs tails?

Across:

1. Hitchhikes : THUMBS. Vanity Fair(2:59)

7. Hiker's snack mix : GORP

11. "Cocoon" director Howard : RON

14. "Très sexy!" : "OO LA LA!"

15. Chevy hatchback : AVEO

16. Tavern order : ALE

20. Columnist Landers : ANN

21. Swiss calculus pioneer : EULER, Leonhard.

22. Odds and ends : STUFF

23. "__ silly question, get . . ." : ASK A

24. "Twittering Machine" artist Paul : KLEE

33. "The Sheik of __": 1920s song : ARABY

34. "Poor me!" : "ALAS!"

35. Carpenter's cutter : SAW

36. Places for compost : BINS

39. Israel's Netanyahu, familiarly : BIBI

40. Took a load off : SAT

41. Writing implements : PENS

42. Elegant dress material : SATIN

47. Make less difficult : EASE

48. Ages upon ages : AEON

49. Heart or liver : ORGAN

52. The devil : SATAN

54. Tavern spigot : TAP

60. Sick : ILL

61. __ pro quo: substitute : QUID

62. Laundry employee : IRONER. Remember the time we had MANGLE?

63. Santa's little helper : ELF. They're all on vacation now.

64. Trig function : SINE

65. Equivalent of A flat : G SHARP. You get A FLAT if you run over somethinG SHARP?

Down:

1. Old Roman garment : TOGA

2. Sound of traffic frustration : HORN

3. __ Bator, Mongolia : ULAN

4. Fellow : MAN

5. Feature of a clear day : BLUE SKY

6. Dog also called a Persian Greyhound : SALUKI. Wikipedia link.

7. Garden entrance : GATE

8. Too much of a good thing : OVERKILL

9. Little wagon's color : RED

10. Have in one's hands : POSSESS

11. Classico competitor : RAGU

12. Norwegian royal name : OLAF

13. Indoor ball brand : NERF

18. Shepard who hit golf balls on the moon : ALAN

19. Lone Star State sch. : UTEP. University of Texas at El Paso.

23. LAPD alerts : APBs. All Points Bulletin.

25. Grazing lands : LEAs

26. Blue Ribbon beer : PABST

27. Dickens villain Heep : URIAH. Misty, how you doing on the book?

28. Underwater ray : MANTA

29. Examine grammatically : PARSE

30. Last Supper query : "IS IT I?"

31. Mountain quarters : CABIN

32. "Dallas" surname : EWING. Prime time soap opera.

37. Thousands, in a heist : GEEs. Slang One thousand dollars is a grand, G, gee or (1000) large.

38. Buy for the future, as gold : INVEST IN

39. German road : BAHN. (Autobahn)

41. Manners to be minded : P's AND Q's

42. Rock-throwing protesters : STONERS. Not the stoners I know, man.

44. Marsh duck : TEAL

45. Heavy metal band named for a rodent : RATT. I'll let Ant or Splynter link it.

46. "'Bout this large" : "YEA BIG". Needs accompanying hand gesture.

49. Boo-boo, to tots : OWIE

50. Turn at the casino : ROLL

51. __ of Mexico : GULF

53. Senate page, for one : AIDE

54. Rocking Turner : TINA

55. Expert server, in tennis : ACER

56. Whodunit quarry : PERP

58. Rapa __: Easter Island : NUI. Easter Island was given the name Rapa Nui (Great Rapa) by Tahitian sailors, in the 1860's, as it reminded them of Rapa - a small island in French Polynesia (now commonly referred to as Rapa Iti). Before 1863, the name was unknown on the island. -S. Fischer, "The Naming of Rapanui". Crosswordese candidate.

59. Japanese dramatic form : NOH. Drama that often uses masks. Crosswordese candidate.

Answer grid.

Argyle

Note from C.C.:

Here is a lovely picture of 9-year-old Hudson helping grandpa Husker Gary solve yesterday's LA Times puzzle "after he took a sip of coffee out of my NASA mug. He got UTTER and others too, some with prompting and some on his own! My wife is scared he is turning into Papa!".

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 Bruce Venzke and Gail Grabowski

Theme: Article 17 of the Geneva Convention - The first words of the theme entries are the three things(split into four parts) that the unifier(in the center) is required to give interrogators.

20A. *Reason consumers purchase certain brands : NAME RECOGNITION

28A. *Bumbling beginner : RANK AMATEUR

39A. Mil. detainee who may reveal only the starts of the answers to starred clues : POW

48A. *Hookups for computer peripherals : SERIAL PORTS

54A. *Financial analysts : NUMBER CRUNCHERS

Argyle, corporal, 2083472. OK, I'll talk. I liked this one better than yesterday's, as one might expect from Bruce and Gail. Tight theme, minimum crosswordese, strong corners, classic grid. Two grid spanners.

Across:

1. Hook or Cook: Abbr. : CAPT. Spelling it Cap'n reflects sailors' pronunciation, as in Cap'n Horatio Magellan Crunch.

5. For the calorie-conscious : LITE

9. Purse handle : STRAP

14. Fairy tale baddie : OGRE

15. Ugandan baddie : AMIN. Idi

16. Remove pencil marks : ERASE

17. Completely destroy : RUIN

18. Rikki-Tikki-__: Kipling critter : TAVI. A story from the Jungle Book describing the mongoose's, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, fight with Nag, the big black cobra.

19. __ Carlo: Grand Prix setting : MONTE. It is part of Monaco, the sovereign city state on the French Riviera.

23. Ankle artwork, briefly : TAT

24. Fathers and grandfathers : MEN

25. Bks.-to-be : MSs. (manuscripts)

35. Historic WWII bomber : ENOLA GAY. Always good to see both names.

37. Threat punctuator : OR ELSE. Yes, punctuator is in the dictionary, as a related noun form.

38. Timber wolf : LOBO

41. Paper purchase : REAM. International standards organizations define the ream as 500 identical sheets.

42. Poll findings : TRENDS

45. Island state of Australia : TASMANIA

50. Dadaist Jean : ARP. When Arp spoke in German he referred to himself as "Hans", and when he spoke in French he referred to himself as "Jean".

51. Wish undone : RUE

52. Opposite of 'neath : O'ER

63. Inventor Howe : ELIAS. American inventor and sewing machine pioneer.

64. Winslet of "Titanic" : KATE. At age 11. Image.

65. "The rest __ to you" : IS UP

66. Insurance giant : AETNA

67. "Did You __ See a Dream Walking?" : EVER. Clip(6:43) but you might want to stop when Ginger Rogers starts singing at 1:03.

68. Int'l alliance : NATO

69. "Our Gang" dog : PETEY

70. Ph.D. hurdle : DISS. (dissertation)

71. Remove from power : OUST

Down:

1. Ear on your plate : CORN

2. Isla surrounder : AGUA. Spanish island/water.

3. Stiffly neat : PRIM

4. Religious belief : TENET

5. Infielder's untimely move : LATE TAG

6. 1998 Apple debut : IMAC

7. DVR pioneer : TIVO. Digital Video Recorder (DVR).

8. Tough nut to crack : ENIGMA

9. Advanced study group : SEMINAR

10. Relaxed pace : TROT

11. Hindu princess : RANI

12. Regarding : AS TO

13. Rounded end of a hammer : PEEN

21. Uncommon, avis-wise : RARA. Latin: rara avis - rare bird

22. Much sought-after clownfish of film : NEMO

25. Gets all gooey : MELTS. Tinbeni doesn't want his avatar gooey so he stays away from ice.

26. Nocturnal noise : SNORE

27. Clearheaded : SOBER

29. Brit : lie-down :: Yank : __ : NAP

30. Former Japanese capital : KYOTO. Some say that Tokyo and Kyoto are simultaneously capitals of Japan. Not me, I only know what I read in Wikipedia.

31. Trillion: Pref. : TERA

32. Kagan of the Supreme Court : ELENA

33. TWA competitor : USAIR

34. Plot a new route : REMAP

36. Actress Anderson : LONI

40. Serious conflict : WAR

43. Assume as probable : DARESAY

44. Disparaging remark : SLUR

46. Habitual pot smokers : STONERS. "Dudes!"

47. Fraction of a min. : MSEC (millisecond)

49. Ate like a bird : PECKED

53. Thick-skinned beast : RHINO

54. Kind of tide : NEAP

55. Fonda's beekeeper : ULEE. From the movie, "Ulee's Gold".(1997)

56. Oven user's accessory : MITT

57. Thorn in one's side : BANE

58. Shankar with a sitar : RAVI. Strangely alliterated clue.

59. Western natives : UTEs

60. Biblical twin : ESAU

61. Grooves in the road : RUTS

62. Carpet cleaner's concern : SPOT

Answer grid.

Argyle