google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Sunday September 10, 2017 Pam Amick Klawitter

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Sep 10, 2017

Sunday September 10, 2017 Pam Amick Klawitter

Theme: "Top Choice"- Each theme entry is punnily clued as "Hairdo for....".

22. Hairdo for experts? : WHIZBANGS

24. Hairdo for gadget lovers? : THINGAMABOB. Looks simple. But lots of work involved in this one.
 

36. Hairdo for sportscasters? : FOOTBALL HIGHLIGHTS. Shown in above picture.

59. Hairdo for certain Germans? : FRANKFURTER BUN. I like messy buns.


81. Hairdo for daring gymnasts? : DOUBLE BACKFLIP. This was once popular in China also.


103. Hairdo for economists? : INFLATIONARY SPIKES


122. Hairdo for wickerworkers? : BASKET WEAVE

125. Hairdo for burglars? : CRIME WAVE

The hair-related words are all last words or last parts of a word. Quite consistent.

So nice to see Pam back. She's a total pro. This is her 29th puzzle on our blog. She mostly focuses on Sunday grids. Interesting. I just checked her label on our blog. She never made a themeless grid. 

Look at her cool hair. 


Across:
    
1. "Dallas" was one : SOAP. And 11. 1-Across plot staple : AMNESIA

5. Like much cheese : AGED

9. Improv style : SCAT

13. They're surrounded by agua : ISLAS

18. Developer's plot, perhaps : ACRE. Boomer and I have been enjoying this 130-acre nature center. Mostly cushioned ground, super friendly to Boomer's legs/hips.


19. Round number? : ZERO. What a great clue.

20. Dingbat : SCHMO

21. Ohno on skates : APOLO

26. Roll at a nursery : SOD

27. Honored athlete : ALL-STAR. When did you get into tennis, Big Easy?

29. John in Dublin : SEAN

30. Flier over Hawaii : NENE

31. It may follow you, but not me : ARE. Also 85. You and me, say : PAIR

32. Tricks : RUSES

34. Old German leader : KAISER

43. Only NFL coach with a perfect season : SHULA (Don)

44. Undistinctive marks : CEEs. And 124. Symbol of peace : VEE

45. "No man __ island ... ": Donne : IS AN

46. "With enough courage, you can do without a reputation" speaker : RHETT. To Scarlett.


50. Sounds of uncertainty : UMs

51. Household hisser : RADIATOR

54. Enzyme ending : ASE

56. Oil-rich fed. : UAE

57. System of values : ETHIC

63. Secretly includes in the 108-Down loop, briefly : BCCs. And 108. It clicks open : EMAIL

65. Ambien maker : SEARLE

66. "__ gonna happen" : AIN'T

67. U2 philanthropist : BONO

70. Work on, as a soundtrack : REDUB. Also 109. Watch again, as a movie : RESEE


74. Having less vermouth, as a martini : DRIER

75. "Family Guy" creator MacFarlane : SETH

76. Footnote word : IDEM

77. More work : UTOPIA. Tricky clue. Thomas More.

79. Gossip : DIRT

86. Car shopper's option : LEASE

89. Andorra's cont. : EUR

90. That, in Mexico : ESA. Also 2. Eight, in 14-Down : OCHO. 14. See 2-Down : SPANISH

91. Emphasized, in a way : ITERATED

93. Chihuahua cheer : OLE

95. Prefix with sphere : TROPO. Also 69. Logical opening? : NEURO 116. And Start to bat? : ACRO. All O-ending prefixes.


97. "I'd consider __ honor" : IT AN

100. French honey : AMIE

101. Seaman's shout : AVAST

107. 2017 Masters champ Garcia : SERGIO. Finally won the Masters this year.

110. P.C. Wren protagonist Beau __ : GESTE

111. Energy Star co-creator, familiarly : EPA. Wiki says Energy Star "was created in 1992 by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy".

112. Skunk River city : AMES

113. VMI program : ROTC

115. Three-layer fishing net : TRAMMEL. Never heard of this word.

119. Changeable border : HEM. Another great clue.

127. Words with wait or state : LIE IN

128. California cager : LAKER

129. Painter Magritte : RENE

130. Tough test : ORAL

131. Disney princess from Avalor : ELENA


132. Neverland pirate : SMEE

133. Binged (on), as junk food : OD'ed

134. Took off : WENT

Down:

1. Wise words : SAWS. My motto: when in doubt, listen to D-Otto. Life or crosswords. But not sports or fashion.

3. Dry as dust : ARID

4. 90-year-old mint : PEZ. I did not know the age. But I see Pez dispenser at the flea market all the time.

5. Rhododendron variety : AZALEA

6. Short title for Lee : GEN'L

7. Bits of work : ERGs

8. Old-fashioned do? : DOST. Not hair do.

9. Ivy, e.g.: Abbr. : SCH

10. Woodworking tools : CHISELS
 
12. Roman wrap : TOGA

13. Sevillian soy? : I AM. Googled afterwards. "Soy" is Spanish for "I am".
 
15. Places to see studs : LOBES

16. On one's own : ALONE

17. Like the designated driver, by design : SOBER

20. Gymnast Kerri who performed an iconic vault in the 1996 Olympics : STRUG. Iconic picture. 


23. Uncivilized : BARBARIC

25. Sarcophagus symbol : ANKH. Sarcophagus is a new word to me. Stone coffin.


28. Grain appendage : ARISTA. Learned from doing crosswords.

31. NBA's Hawks, on scoreboards : ATL

 33. Avoided on the job : SHIRKED

35. "__ Grows in Brooklyn" : A TREE

36. Coll. football's Seminoles : FSU

37. "Alas!" : OH ME. Not AH ME.

38. Toss from office : OUST

39. Calculator feature, for short : LCD

40. First name in Norse navigators : LEIF

41. Half an approval : HEAR. I used to think it's "Here, here".

42. Twisted : GNARLED

47. 1978 Broadway jazz revue : EUBIE. Music by Eubie Blake. Learning moment for me.

48. Tease : TAUNT

49. First of the second nine : TENTH. 10th hole on back nine. Golf. Really miss TTP on the blog.


52. Grows : ACCRUES

53. Switch positions : ONs

55. Clean and then some : STERILE

58. Cold War concern : H-BOMB

60. Much : FAR

61. Mentalist Geller : URI

62. Selassie worshiper : RASTA

64. Put a price on a flight? : SET BAIL. Nice fill/clue.

67. High-end hotel amenity : BIDET. My ex had this in his apartment. I never asked him what's the use.

68. Sussex smell : ODOUR
 
71. 1988 Ryan/Quaid remake : D.O.A.


72. Short lines at the register? : UPC

73. Two-piece suits : BIKINIs

78. Where to see a wake : AFT. Oh, boat.
 
80. Still-life fruit, perhaps : RED APPLE

82. "Ghost Town" (2008) actress : LEONI (Téa)


83. Almost a ringer : LEANER. Horseshoes shot.

84. "Joy of Cooking" writer Rombauer : IRMA. Thinking of our Florida regulars.

87. Seriously overcharge : SOAK. Not bill-related.

88. End of a threat : ELSE

92. "Brat Farrar" novelist : TEY (Josephine).

94. Saturn drivers? : ETs. The planet. Not the car. 

96. Deflategate concern : PIGSKIN

98. Ring duo : TAG TEAM

99. Had dessert, in a way : ATE CAKE. Mid-Autumn Festival is coming. The local Asian store here is already displaying mooncakes. It's normally sold in a pretty tin with a picture of moon goddess Chang'e. Quite pricey. Wish they sell individual one.


102. Itinerary word : VIA

104. Frontier protection : FORT

105. Polecat cousin : OTTER. We also have 114. Hogwarts messengers : OWLS. And 119. Fabled favorite : HARE
 
106. Looked to be : SEEMED

107. Polecat cousin : SABLE
  
117. '60s TV talking animal : MR ED

118. Go for the gold : MINE

 120. Politico Bayh : EVAN

121. Dripping sandwich, maybe : MELT. Have any of you tried Bánh mì?

 
123. Bambi's aunt : ENA
 
126. "That's really something!" : WOW

C.C.


25 comments:

  1. FIR, but not without travail! My worst TRAMMEL was the top center (to use the meaning of that word that I'm familiar with). Didn't know ARISTA, don't like the clues for SCHMO or CHISELS (stonemasons use chisels, woodworkers use planes or adzezes!) and STRUG and FRANKFURTER took a long time to bring to mind!

    Noticed ASE & ESA are placed in reflected position in the grid.

    A SCHMO who awoke with NEUROLOGICAL AMNESIA
    Claimed that he WENT, VIA dreams, to UTOPIA!
    All the women wore bikinis,
    Speedos covered men's, UM, FRANKFURTERS --
    But OH, ME, he could only wear a loose TOGA.

    Patterns of behavior change with a BIDET.
    Ignoring of TRAMMELS, schedules forget.
    People come up with RUSES
    To go SOAK their tushes.
    Add the DRIER THING-AMA-BOB, and they have no regret!

    {A-, A-.}

    ReplyDelete
  2. Early Lurk say...

    {LOL x2}

    C.C. I love Bánh mì! There are 3 places in H-Town I know where to get a good one. I understand it was the French influence on Vietnam that inspired the sandwich. I like it with fish sauce but my buddy (who emigrated from Hong Kong when he was 6) thinks that's gross. He only employs the plum sauce and Sriracha... As Steve would say, FOOD! Cheers -T

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  3. Good Morning:

    This is the earliest I have ever posted and can be chalked up to insomnia. I think my nerves are frazzled listening to the horrors and havoc that Irma is causing. I am so sad and worried for everyone facing the danger and devastation that lies ahead.

    This was a fairly easy romp, aided by the straightforward title. Lots of clever cluing, as CC pointed out. More work had me stumped for quite awhile but perps saved the day there and elsewhere. No real hiccups so I finished in normal Sunday time. Fav clues were Moveable border=Hem and Round number=Zero.

    Thank you, Pam, for a pleasant diversion from Irma and thank you, CC, for being the "hostess with the mostest."

    Thoughts and prayers to all those in harm's way.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Y'all! Great puzzle, Pam. Theme was amusing. Great expo, C.C.!

    Owen: woodworkers also use a CHISEL such as to make a slot under a latch plate for the deadbolt to slide into.

    Had heard of SKUNK RIVER recently but couldn't remember where it was.

    SW was the last to fill today with a couple red-letter runs. Stoat before SABLE. RErun before RESEE. Didn't remember Deflategate term until after PIGSKIN perped in. Knew SERGIO. I was cheering him on to the Green Jacket.

    Why is "more work" UTOPIA. UM, is More the author?

    Don't remember Kerri STRUG at all. Had other things on my mind that year.

    Didn't know TRAMMEL,BCCs, EUBIE, DOA.

    I raise wheat. Never heard of ARISTA. After Googling, I see it is bristles which we always call the beard.

    Yesterday I wrote "Teutonic" when I meant "Tectonic Plates". Duh!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Good morning!

    DNF right off the bat. I was so sure that "Wise words" were SASS that I let SHIZBANG stand. Looked weird, but hey, it could'a been. Bzzzzzt! Thanx, Pam and CC.

    ARISTA used to be a record label. Heck, maybe still is. Nope, looked it up, and it's gone.

    Yup, PK, it was Thomas More back in the 1500s.

    Interesting to see IRMA in today's puzzle. Coincidence? I think not. I'll bet Rich reshuffled.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Good morning everyone.

    Agree with PK about wood chisels. Part of any good carpenters tool set - several widths as well.
    Nice hairy puzzle today. Only needed a few red letters. Couldn't suss I AM. TRAMMEL was a new word.
    KAISER - Always chortle a little when I hear it. My dad would sometimes use the phrase "wo selbst der KAISER zu Fuß hingeht" to mean "going to the bathroom". Literally "Where the Kaiser has to go by himself on foot". (Must be a peasant thing relative to the esteem of the monarchy).
    AZALEA - Love azaleas. Norfolk has an Azalia Gardens near the airport.
    ORAL - ORALS can be tough, I guess, but if you know your material, I submit it can be fun, too, to interact with your peers or examining board. (I've had two, a graduate degree and a civil service exam for a more senior engineer slot.)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I did best on the top this morning, beginning with the northeast. I remembered APOLO Ohno from "Dancing with the Stars," and my German helped me get KAISER pretty quickly. Was also thankful that it was easy to get the easy Donne quote. I also got the clever ZERO which gave me the lovely AZALEA. And I'm so glad that NENE is showing up regularly in puzzles these days. I unfortunately had EVAN before SEAN for that Dublin John, but then remembered that EVAN was Welsh and not Irish.

    But lots of trouble and lots of cheating to get other parts of the puzzle. I'm having a much harder time with Sunday puzzles than I used to--hope they're just getting a little harder and not that I keep losing ground. But not your problem, Pam, you produced a terrific puzzle, and C.C., your write up is a delight, as always.

    I'm still worried about how all those folks who lost homes in Texas are going to find places to live, and now the huge worry about the poor people in the path of IRMA. I put ERMA in the puzzle at first, because I just didn't want to think about the sorrow in that part of the country. Hope all of our friends there will stay safe.

    And have a good Sunday, everybody!

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a terrific puzzle! The clues were hard and the theme answers a lot of work!

    But a great feeling of accomplishment when completed!

    Many places in Portland for the sandwich ... yum yum!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you, Pam Amick Klawitter! I see your puzzles in puzzle books and they are always challenging.

    This one I thought the cluing was difficult and misleading but managed to get through it one sector at a time. Luckily the hairdos were had a somewhat familiar ring and I could complete them except the BACK in DOUBLEBACKFLIP. Finally I came and finished it here on C.C.'s commentary.

    For which, thank you, C.C. You provide such interesting background information on a culture that is unfamiliar to me and I've learned so much from you.

    In BASKETWEAVE though, I believe it refers to the African-American style but I could be wrong.

    Have a peaceful Sunday, everyone! Floridians, stay strong and stay safe!
    Another birthday party today.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Just finished Friday and Saturday. I hope to get to today's so I didn't peek.

    Wanted to stop by to offer thoughts for safety and strength to our Floridians and others in Irma's path. Same for Houstonians who are still working their way out of Harvey's mess.

    At least Tinbeni won't need ice. . . .

    You have my thoughts and prayers.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I liked this puzzle a lot. (Actually, it's very seldom I don't like a puzzle.) Great cluing! As for the theme, after WHIZ BANGS and THINGAMABOB I thought we were dealing with gadgets and whatchamacallits. Took me a minute or two to realize we were dealing with hairdos. Speaking of do, I loved the clue for DOST. Hand up for trying EVAN and EWAN before SEAN. For polecat cousin I wanted SKUNK but then I saw the clue for AMES so knew that couldn't be right. The only nose-wrinklers were RESEE and REDUB. For some reason when I got the word SOD today I thought of what a character in one of my computer games says, in a thick Scottish accent, when you order him to attack: "Take that, ya sod!" Another one of the game's characters says (also in a Scottish accent for some reason) "Hey you! Catch!" when he lobs a mortar at an enemy.

    I confess I have never had Bánh mì. But I will soon, now. Lots of Vietnamese eateries around here.

    Eubie Blake had some of the biggest hands and longest fingers I have ever seen on a pianist, or anyone else for that matter. Rachmaninoff had big hands, too.

    Best wishes to you Floridians, and to you all.

    ReplyDelete
  12. No paper today, but keeping with my attempt to keep a "sense of humor" during the hurricane, I offer this Limerick du jour:

    It's Armageddon, pastor did preach,
    As storm Irma did bellow and screech.
    As the winds and rain grow
    It's for sure, that you know,
    That it's not just a day at the beach.

    Stay strong Florida!

    ReplyDelete
  13. From the constructor: Thanks for all the nice comments! Desper-otto, believe it or not, Irma was in the original submission! As I wait up north to see if my Florida home survives, it is quite a coincidence!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks for checking in with us, Pam. Interesting coincidence regarding IRMA!

    C.C. I love the pictures of the hair-dos.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Second week in a row I gave up after five hours of struggle. My disagreements with the defs are too numerous to list, but the most egregious shortfall of these puzzles is their inter-changing nouns for verbs and adjectives for adverbs. I guess ignoring grammar is part and parcel of puzzle construction now-a-days. And alternate archane spellings ... don't have room to go there! The few times I've posted here, I was defiled, defamed and demeaned but, as a long time English teacher, my expectations of accuracy in the use of our Mother Tongue are high and somewhat immutable.

    ReplyDelete
  16. A very late start today, with a 42 mile bike race that I had to leave in a hurry after finishing to get to a 50th wedding anniversary party on time. The hairstyles were easy guesses with the DOUBLE BACK FLIP giving the most trouble. I kept wanting ACCRETES instead of ACCRUES but it wouldn't fit and I finally finished with the tricky ' More work' UTOPIA, BIKINI, ITERATED and AFT (kept thinking of an Irish 'Wake' at a BAR).

    15d- "Where to see studs"- originally had LOWES. CHIPPENDALES- that was yesterday.
    Originally misspelled Kerri STRUG as SHRUG and DRIER as DRYER, had to change SNARLED to GNARLED, and TEY, ELENA, and LEONI were perped. TRAMMEL- never heard of it. Ditto for the Sevillian soy-I AM.

    AMNESIA- the only one I've ever personally witnessed it 'Selective AMNESIA' when people conveniently forget to do something.

    ALL STAR- not me, I played tennis for over 30 years before my knee replacement. DW still plays. I don't know when she started but she won the Sugar Bowl singles tournament for 12 & under girls in 1958.

    BIDET- doesn't touch and I won't 'touch' your comment.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anon@5:37- what you refer to as an 'egregious shortfall' is what makes the puzzles bun and challenging. Nobody is defiling, defaming, and demeaning anybody here and if you are somehow offended, let me be the first to apologize for the regulars.

    We just write about our missteps and what we think of the clues. But as and English teacher, you of all people should recognize the Mother Tongue is very flexible. Pick a name and join us.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wow! Great theme. This took longer than the normal Sunday, but FIR, well worth the effort. I found the bottom half easier than the top.
    In my teens my brother and I hung hung out with his best friend and a neighbor girl. We played many games including horseshoes with its LEANERS and ringers. Whenever Jenny and I were winning my brother's friend suddenly felt unwell and had to quit, no matter what the game. Girls could not beat boys.
    DOST was filled automatically and unnoticed. "Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of." Benjamin Franklin
    ORAL. "Oral tests" reminds me of giving open book tests. Some students who could not rely on memorization and had to reason found an open book test very much more difficult than a regular test. I thought open books test were a cinch because I love to read.
    Speaking of the TRAMMELs by the TROPOsphere, that is so appropriate for today.
    My heart goes out to all in danger. I have just contributed to the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund. Most of the church sponsored funds have a high reliability rating. If you wish to contribute goods, money or voluntary services please look into what is most usable.
    how to help

    ReplyDelete
  19. Re: Anon @1737's frustration with the puzzles.

    I believe there are very few actual errors in the sense of "inter-changing nouns for verbs and adjectives for adverbs. I guess ignoring grammar is part and parcel of puzzle construction now-a-days. And alternate archane spellings………"
    Our frustration lies in the fact that substitutions or clues that seem incorrect are actually correct although they may seem awkward. It is our unfamiliarity with certain usages that makes us want to argue, but mostly should be thought of as a learning moment. I give a lot of credit to the editors for doing such a good job of vetting the material, and yet offering an interesting solving experience.
    Spelling is in a constant state of flux, and it's going to get a lot worse what with all the texting shortcuts. JMHO.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Good evening, folks. Thank you, Pam Amick Klawitter, for a fine puzzle. Thank you, C.C., for a fine review.

    I looked at this puzzle this morning before church. It seemed daunting. Later, in the afternoon I made some headway. then took a nap having worked all night last night. Then it seemed easier. The theme helped once I figured it out. CRIME WAVE was my first theme answer.

    My Achilles Heal was the NW corner. I had DEN for 4D thinking of Denver. Of course that messed up 1A, which turned out to be SOAP. Had OCTO for 2D before OCHO became obvious. Once I had PEZ, WHIZ BANGS appeared. That's my story and I am sticking to it.

    Liked 96D PIGSKIN, for Deflategate. I talked to my brother in law, who was a high school football coach his whole life, about the low pressure football. He said they did it all the time in high school. Whatever the quarterback wanted.

    Thought SET BAIL was a clever one.

    Cooked out tonight. Hamburgers and Chicken Wings. Wow! Everything was great.

    See you tomorrow.

    Abejo

    ( )

    ReplyDelete
  21. Greetings!

    Thanks to Pam and C. C.!

    Great theme!

    Only a few unknowns. Did not know ELENA and EUBIE took awhile. Otherwise OK.

    Sending hope to people in Florida! Harvey has a granddaughter there whom he has not heard from.

    Hope to see you all tomorrow!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Sorry I have not chimed earlier. I have been busy with lawn mowers and generators in the past few days. I haven't been doing the puzzles either. Also Our garden which is almost a 1/2 acre needed some irrigation work. A friend went in with his tractor and busted some pipes and cut a bunch of drip tape.

    Anyway I thought Irma was going head west toward the Gulf and miss Florida. I have a lot of friends there and so far they are OK.

    I hope Tin is OK because the storm is very close to him right now. I am praying for all of our Florida people.

    ReplyDelete
  23. BooL - Good to hear from you. I figured you were busy 'cuz a guy like you ain't goin' down easy. BTW - some cool videos on lawnmower engines.

    I've been tracking Irma all eve/night and it seems like it turned East b/f hitting Tampa Bay and lost strength over land - this after Cuba ripped the back 1/2 of the storm off. I think all our FL friends are going to be OK. Wet, but OK.

    On that note: Role call - Tin, Lem, C.Moe. I wanna hear 'here' over here.

    Cheers, -T

    ReplyDelete
  24. This felt like a big Saturday puzzle! Challenging all the way to the end! But the theme was fun and original and I felt satisfied to FIR.

    CC you never fail to surprise me with how much you know... and then surprise me by not knowing something more common like sarcophagus. A sarcophagus is actually a tomb that contains a coffin inside.

    Thanks, CC, for explaining other parts of the puzzle that I did not get. TENTH totally mystified me before your explanation.

    Had no idea that PEZ had been around so long. Thought it dated from when I was a child in Europe in the 1960s.

    Hand up that RESEE seemed a bit of a reach.

    In high school I spent an entire term on an independent study project on UTOPIA and other Utopian stories. So I was surprised I was a bit slow in catching on to the clever clue of "More work"!

    TEY totally unknown and just looked wrong, but I was wrong. Other total unknowns: ENA, ELENA, SERGIO, Skunk River which made SW very challenging.

    Learning moment that AZALEAs are a type of Rhododendron!

    ReplyDelete
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