Monday, April 30, 2012 Kevin Christian

Theme: Three Italians - An adjective for three Italian cities begin these phrases.

20A. Christian led by the Pope : ROMAN CATHOLIC. Rome

39A. Equine that originated in Italy's Campania region : NEAPOLITAN HORSE. Naples (Wikipedia - Neapolitan horse).

55A. Slatted window treatment : VENETIAN BLIND. Venice.

Argyle here. I am not sure of the intent of the theme today. Based on three Italian cities, Venice in northern Italy, Rome in the middle and Naples in the south, but not presented that way in the grid. Any ideas? Love to hear them.

Across:

1. Ginger cookies : SNAPS

6. Take down __: humble : A PEG

10. 1040, for example : FORM

14. Stand-up in a club : COMIC

15. Close by : NEAR

16. Ireland's best-selling solo artist : ENYA. SailAway.(4:28)

17. Plentiful : AMPLE

18. __ Bell : TACO

19. Sinister look : LEER

23. Passionate : FIERY

24. "Amadeus" subject : MOZART. Amadeus Trailer.(2:24)

27. Paper with NYSE news : WSJ. (New York Stock Exchange / Wall Street Journal)

30. 300, to Caesar : CCC

31. Federal agency support org. : GSA

32. Michele of "Glee" : LEA.

33. Lotion ingredient : ALOE

35. Road for Caesar : ITER

37. Brook or lake fish : TROUT

42. Iraqi currency : DINAR

43. "Pleeeeeease?" : "CAN I?"

44. Wedding cake level : TIER

45. Part of USDA: Abbr. : AGR. (agriculture)

46. RR depot : STA

48. Big name in kitchen gadgets : OXO. Mid-range prices. (OK, desper-otto?)

50. Harris and McMahon : EDs

51. 1862 Tennessee battle site : SHILOH. Also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing. Map.

53. Dolly the sheep, e.g. : CLONE

60. Tiny dog biter : FLEA. My first thought was of those little ankle biters.

62. Balkan native : SERB

63. Eagle's dwelling : AERIE. Can we get an update?

64. Nerd : DORK

65. Machu Picchu resident : INCA

66. Boa or mamba : SNAKE

67. Like an optimist's point of view : ROSY

68. Big Dipper component : STAR

69. Facilitated : EASED

Down:

1. Capone facial mark : SCAR

2. Pitcher Hideo : NOMO. Hideo Nomo was the first Japanese-born Japanese major leaguer to permanently relocate to MLB when he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1995.

3. Clock radio letters : AM/PM. Ha! I was looking for the switch from AM/FM this time.

4. Seasoned rice dish : PILAF

5. Like many postcard photos : SCENIC

6. Continent with penguins : ANTARCTICA

7. Like bogs : PEATY. And some single malts, eh Tinbeni?

8. Apiece : EACH

9. Cleans and brushes, as a horse : GROOMS

10. __ Navidad : FELIZ. (Merry Christmas) Written and sung by José Feliciano in 1970.

11. Diet soda claim : ONE CALORIE

12. Deli bread choice : RYE

13. Fold, spindle or mutilate : MAR

21. Director DeMille : CECIL. Are you ready for your close-up?

22. Disinclined : LOATH

25. Acted in an environmentally conscious way : REUSED. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

26. Spuds : TATERS

27. Comedian Sykes and a fish : WANDAs. The movie, "A Fish Called Wanda" came out in 1988. Cleanest clip I could find for Sykes.

28. "... in a one-horse open __" : SLEIGH

29. "Can We Talk?" comedienne : JOAN RIVERS

31. Nature Valley snack : GRANOLA BAR

34. Govt. antipollution org. : EPA

36. Inbound flight approx. : ETA

38. Decay : ROT

40. Welles of "Citizen Kane" : ORSON

41. Watergate president : NIXON

47. Grad student's paper : THESIS

49. Having just hit a double, say : ON BASE. Not the daily kind.

52. Like a faulty pipe : LEAKY

53. Approximately, in dates : CIRCA

54. Supreme Court justice Kagan : ELENA

56. Camping gear : TENT

57. Some nest eggs, briefly : IRA's

58. Swoosh logo company : NIKE

59. Accomplishment : DEED

60. WWII leader : FDR

61. Brit's bathroom : LOO

Answer grid.

Argyle

Sunday April 29, 2012 Alan Arbesfeld

Theme: Amazing! - Each 3-word theme entry start with WOW.

23A. Steal : WALK OFF WITH

29A. Wouk work, with "The" : WINDS OF WAR.

35A. 2000 Sean Penn film, with "The" : WEIGHT OF WATER. Generally I'm not a fan of dropping articles for theme needs. But both "The" are dropped here. Quite consistent.

59A. Have a drink : WET ONE'S WHISTLE

80A. Last book in Robertson Davies' "Deptford Trilogy" : WORLD OF WONDERS

99A. Sage advice : WORDS OF WISDOM

106A. Laurel and Hardy film set in Brushwood Gulch : WAY OUT WEST

118A. '30s show tune that became a 1960 Dion and the Belmonts hit : WHERE OR WHEN. Not familiar with the song. Waiting for Argyle to link.

So four OFs in the middle, the other O's are different. I like the variety.

Have not seen Alan Arbesfeld's by line since Dec 2009. Excited to have the chance solving and discussing his puzzle. He is a veteran constructor and has been a regular contributor to the NY Times.

Only 67 black squares in this grid, and no cheater! Lots of nice fill today.

Across:

1. Colorful talker : MACAW

6. Hair net : SNOOD. This is similar to the one my Grandma used to wear.

11. Thai currency : BAHT. No plural form in Thai language. But "Bahts" seem to be in common use here.

15. Legal opening? : PARA. Paralegal.

19. Prominent period : EPOCH

20. New Mexico county whose seat is Alamogordo : OTERO. Sounds like Spanish. What does it mean?

21. Buck chaser? : AROO. Buckaroo.

22. Elliptical : OVAL

25. Shows no restraint : LETS LOOSE

27. Hit sign : SRO (Standing Room Only)

28. Work out an agreement : SETTLE

30. Honorary Muslim title in old India : NAWAB. I only know Nabob.

32. Fed. auditing agency : GAO

34. Crib sheet users : TOTS. I was thinking of cheat sheet.

40. Spoils : GOES BAD

45. WWII Italian beachhead : ANZIO. You did not think of OMAHA?

46. Waterfront org. : ILA (International Longshoremen's Association)

47. It's gone in less than a flash: Abbr. : NSEC (Nanosecond)

49. Go for an ace, maybe : SERVE

50. Corporate honcho : SUIT

51. King in "The Tempest" : ALONSO

53. Bilko and Klinger, e.g.: Abbr. : NCOs

56. "The Namesake" director Mira : NAIR. Excited about this new clue. She also directed "Amelia". She's an Indian.

57. Busy, design-wise : ORNATE

62. Blowup source, briefly : NEG (Negative). Photos.

63. Shield border, in heraldry : ORLE. Troublesome word for me. I can never remember it.

65. Germany, to Meg Ryan: Abbr. : ANAG (Anagram). Tricky clue.

66. Conference clip-on : NAME TAG

67. Defended : STOOD BY. Stand by Your Man.

69. Nailed down : SECURED

71. "It's my fervent wish!" : I HOPE SO. Splynter will need lots of luck in Las Vegas.

74. French monarchs : ROIs

76. Dr. visit : APPT

77. "Cheers" bartender : SAM

83. Mexican man, say : LATINO

85. Summer treat : ICEE

86. Whim : LARK. Made me think of CrossEyedDave, who's full of whimsical ideas, as you can see from his fun & creative links.

87. Rock and Roll Hall of Famer David : CROSBY

89. Had too much : OD'ED

90. Sole protectors : SHOES

92. Said three times, a story shortener : YADA. "Seinfeld".

94. Sudden death cause : TIE

95. Last word in doughnuts : KREME. Krispy Kreme.

96. Self-important boss, facetiously : HIS NIBS. Is there a "Her nibs"?

102. Aid factor : NEED

104. Sun Valley loc. : IDA (Idaho)

105. Parts of some area calculations : RADII

111. They take things in stride : STOICS. Most East Asians are.

114. Go downhill, in a way : SKI

117. Basically : IN ESSENCE

120. Fictitious : TALL. Tall tales.

121. Time co-founder : LUCE (Henry)

122. Board : GET IN

123. Topple : UPEND

124. 1944 Normandy battle site : ST. LO. So is CAEN.

125. Unwanted messages : SPAM

126. Prevailing tendency : TREND. This eye make-up is very trendy, black eyeliner on the upper lid and a little wing tip around eye corner. I'm thinking only LaLaLinda will notice it.

127. Giving lip : SASSY

Down:

1. Cat calls : MEWS

2. On __ with : A PAR

3. Empire-building activity : COLONIZING

4. "Eew!" kin : ACK

5. A-list : WHO'S WHO

6. Cook for three minutes, say : SOFT BOIL. Do you like soft boiled eggs? .

7. Abbr. on many a can : NT WT

8. Eye, in Versailles : OEIL. Irrational spelling.

9. Maker of Taco Kits : ORTEGA. I've never had tacos.

10. "How stupid of me!" : D'OH!

11. Indonesian island on its own sea : BALI. I bet Dennis wants a "Bra brand" clue since he's an expert in the field. Lovely color, isn't it?


12. Isn't for couples? : AREN'T. Cute clue.

13. Show off : HOTDOG

14. Have an easy catch with : TOSS TO

15. Disappearing word : POOF

16. Declare : AVOW

17. Tabula __ : RASA

18. Tiger, e.g., briefly : AL-ER (American Leaguer). Detroit Tigers, for Jazzbumpa & Linda's husband, though I doubt they use AL-ER.

24. Something to be proud of : FEAT

26. Fails to prevail : LOSES

29. Troubles : WOES

31. Bad gut feeling : AGITA

33. When a memorable movie gunfight occurs : AT NOON. "High Noon".

35. Aired, as a TV show : WAS ON

36. Harden : ENURE

37. Ran smoothly : FLOWED

38. Dwindle : WANE

39. Break a promise : RENEGE

41. Had a feeling : SENSED

42. Benjamin of "Law & Order" : BRATT. Curtis! Who's the coolest TV cop? To me, it's Bobby Simone of "NYPD Blue".

43. Walled Spanish city : AVILA

44. Easing of govt. restrictions : DE-REG

48. IV amts. : CCs

51. Spray : AEROSOL

52. Extend one's visit : STAY ON

54. Confess : OWN UP. So, Bill's crush is Sofia Vergara. Mine is Daniel Craig. How about yours?

55. How rebukes are administered : SHARPLY

58. Schlepped : TOTED

60. Sadat's predecessor : NASSER

61. "__ man who wasn't there ..." : I MET A. What's the poem about? I read a few lines. Sounds creepy.

64. Bath scrubber : LOOFA

67. Anger : SPLEEN

68. Rather rival : BROKAW (Tom)

70. Othello's lieutenant : CASSIO

71. "If only!" : I WISH

72. __ Minh City : HO CHI. Saigon.

73. Hydrox rivals, once : OREOs

75. Driver's license, often : ID CARD

77. Fries and slaw : SIDE DISHES

78. Prefix with meter : ANEMO. meaning "wind".

79. Computer accessory : MODEM

81. Like some humor : WRY

82. Spoils : ROTS

84. Sculptors' subjects : TORSI. Plural of torso.

88. Get close to : BEFRIEND

91. One may get congested : SINUS

93. "Go ahead!" : DO IT

95. Former children's clothing chain : KIDS R US. Was it related to Toys "R" Us?

97. Chewable Asian leaves : BETELS

98. Clinched : SEWN UP

100. Reindeer name : DASHER

101. Baylor University site : WACO

103. "Rock Around the Clock" label : DECCA

106. Mental faculties : WITS

107. Gray area?: Abbr. : ANAT (Anatomy). "Gray's Anatomy" (Henry Gray). The TV series "Grey's Anatomy" is a play on word on former.

108. Whoop it up : YELL

109. Munch Museum city : OSLO

110. Appear to be : SEEM

112. Nice bean? : TETE. Again, Nice the French city.

113. Online __ print : OR IN. Drew a blank.

115. Guy dolls : KENS

116. Fedora-wearing adventurer, familiarly : INDY. Oh, Indiana Jones.

118. Driver's lic. stat : WGT. OK to lie a little.

119. FDR program : WPA. Works Project Administration.

Answer grid.

Happy 18th Wedding Anniversary to Ron Worden!

C.C.

Saturday, April 28th, 2012, Julian Lim

Theme: None

Words: 70

Blocks 29

What a bruiser~! Most definitely had to resort to red-letter today, but upon review, I probably could have avoided doing so if I had not been in a hurry. Lots of vague clues, misdirection, and obscurity make this offering from Mr. Lim truly difficult. 8- and 6-letter stacks top and bottom, with a stair-step middle of 6-, 7-, 8-, and these 11-letters;

26A. Discount shopper's buy : NO-NAME BRAND

41A. Book also known as Canticles : SONG OF SONGS - the Wiki

with 2 pairings of 9-letters in the DOWN;

11D. Super-successful program, in high-tech slang : KILLER APP(lication) - like Angry Birds~?

12D. They're in feet : METATARSI - plural of metatarsus




32D. Coercing : LEANING ON

33D. Opera glasses on a handle : LORGNETTE - new word for me; these glasses

So let's see where I dropped the ball - maybe you did better....

Onward ~!

ACROSS:

1. One may be cut before a fight : ARMS DEAL - well, let's hope so....

9. Cowboy Hall of Famer : AIKMAN - Troy, and I had A---AN, so a semi-WAG

15. Examined : LOOKED AT

16. Lament : GRIEVE

17. Woman on your side, ideally : LADY LUCK - I am not going to Vegas to gamble; the trip itself is going to be my biggest gamble

18. Summer top : HALTER - part of my problem today was hesitating; I was going for this right away, then said "nah, not on a Saturday"....

19. Like Wile E. Coyote : INEPT

20. Spanish greeting : HOLA

22. It makes pie crusts flakier : LARD

23. Salinger title girl : ESME - crossword friendly answer

24. __ vu : DÉJÀ

25. Invite to call : BET - I had "SEE" first, but what's SBGUNS~? (25D.)

30. "Cat __": Jane Fonda film : BALLOU - never heard of it - then again, I was 6 years off....

34. Hopper : KANGAROO - eh, my train brain was thinking of this hopper

35. Grand venue : OLE OPRY - again, I hesitated, not sure why

37. "Chow time!" : "SOUP'S ON~!"

38. More twinkly : STARRIER - my first thought, but just refused to accept this answer

40. Detaches, in a way : UNPINS

43. Bach's "Mass __ Minor" : IN B

44. Name associated with animal rescue : NOAH - not PETA, thank you



45. Speed : RACE

49. Troubling spots : ACNE

51. Asian soldiers : ROKs - Republic of Korea - Image

52. Old Turkish title : PASHA

53. Restrict : HOGTIE

55. "Not likely" : "I DOUBT IT"

57. Many : A LOT OF - I finally decided I better try SOME things, and this was one of them

58. Spy's aid : EARPIECE

59. Locum __: temporary substitute : TENENS - this is part of what comes up on a web search - job postings for metatarsi doctors~?

60. Fleet part : SQUADRON

DOWN:

1. "The Notebook" heroine : ALLIE - chick flick (IMHO) - haven't seen it

2. Cocker spaniel colors : ROANS - Image

3. Netizen's need : MODEM

4. Apple FaceTime alternative : SKYPE - I do neither, so....

5. Scapula neighbor, for short : DELToid, muscle

6. Bursar's address ending : EDU

7. German spa city : AACHEN - A place with "ACHE" in the name, and a Spa in the town? coincidence? Geography

8. Capt. McNeil's favorite underling : Lt. KOJAK

9. Muslim title : AGHA

10. Billionaire Rennert : IRA

13. Allege as fact : AVER

14. Oddball of a sort : NERD

21. Asian teachers : LAMAS

24. Brad of "Deadwood" : DOURIF - one of those names constructors are probably happy to discover

25. Red Ryders, e.g. : B.B. GUNS - "You'll shoot your eye out~!"

26. "Can do" : "NO PROB(lem)~!"

27. "Desist!" : ENOUGH~!

28. One preceder : NOON - agrh~! not ZERO

29. Family heads : DONS - not DADS, and not "EFFS" (yeah, no "?" at the end - but a good crossword clue, right?)

30. Head : BOSS

31. Toni Braxton, for one : ALTO - if you say so

36. Having no gray area : YES/NO

39. Green players : ROOKIES

42. Where to find EBAY : NASDAQ - I was pretty sure it was not ONLINE, since EBAY was all capitals - another good misdirection - and ending with "Q", to boot

45. Zealous : RABID

46. Oxeye relative : ASTER - flowers, not flow-ers

47. Sacramento Valley's "City of Roses" : CHICO - WAGed from the clue I had two puzzles ago

48. Off one's plate : EATEN - argh, not ENDED - there are some things I need to get off my plate

49. "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for __": Oliver Sacks book : A HAT - tried "A MAN" - hey now, it's early....

50. Fictional king : COLE

51. Fight controllers : REFS - Boxing matches

52. Insect stage : PUPA - just had this answer

54. __ Television : ION - Ch3 around here (Cablevision, Long Island)

56. Okla. campus with a Prayer Tower : ORU - Oral Roberts University, with a .EDU address

Answer grid.

Splynter