Monday, January 6, 2014 Amy Johnson

Theme: Sounds Funny - Cartoon Characters.

17A. "I am ze locksmith of love, no?" speaker : PEPE LE PEW

                            LINK

26A. "Ándale! Ándale! Arriba! Arriba!" speaker : SPEEDY GONZALES. Product tie-in.

                                    LINK

42A. "That's a joke, ah say, that's a joke, son" speaker : FOGHORN LEGHORN

                                 LINK

56A. "I'm hunting wabbits" speaker : ELMER FUDD. More product placement.

                           LINK

65A. See 59-Down : BLANC - 59D. With 65-Across, longtime voice of 17-, 26-, 42- and 56-Across : MEL. Short interview.

                      LINK

Argyle here. I don't know what it says about my ute but I didn't need any perps to get the theme entries. A fun start to the week.

Across:

1. Rose Parade vehicle : FLOAT. Timely.

6. Had a snack : ATE

9. Got older : AGED

13. Garlicky mayo : AIOLI. Are you getting it now?

14. Mark of an old cut : SCAR

15. Wind of 32 to 63 mph, on the Beaufort scale : GALE

16. Item on a 9-Down : TOPIC

19. Naval Acad. grad : ENS.ign

20. Mr. Kringle : KRISS. Almost timely.

22. Opposing army : ENEMY

23. Voting alliance : BLOC

24. Moved quickly : HIED

32. Took a risk : DARED

33. Olympian queen : HERA. The wife of Zeus.

34. Lodge member : ELK

35. Genesis grandchild : ENOS

36. Selected : CHOSE

38. 951, in old Rome : CMLI

39. Novelist Rand : AYN

40. "In __ of gifts ..." : LIEU

41. French city where Joan of Arc died : ROUEN

46. Snowfall unit : INCH

47. France, under Caesar : GAUL

48. Extremely high heel : SPIKE

51. Toothbrush brand : ORAL B

53. Run up the phone bill, perhaps : GAB

58. Puerto Rican pal : AMIGO

60. Very close : NEAR

61. "Your guess __ good ..." : IS AS

62. Kelly's 2000s morning co-host : REGIS. Philbin.

63. Calendar squares : DAYS

64. Super __: game console : NES. (Nintendo Entertainment System)

Down:

1. Unavoidable outcome : FATE

2. King of the jungle : LION

3. Butterfingers' cry : "OOPS!"

4. "The Greatest" boxer : ALI

5. __ pink: delighted : TICKLED

6. Highest poker pair : ACES

7. Footwear for Gregory Hines : TAP SHOES

8. Old-style "prior to" : ERE

9. List of items to be discussed : AGENDA

10. Stare in wonder : GAPE

11. Preteen sch. : ELEM.entary

12. Wet, as grass at sunup : DEWY

14. Like much Cajun cuisine : SPICY

18. TV host Gibbons : LEEZA

21. Reel partner : ROD

23. Hive insects : BEES

25. With regard to, on memos : IN RE. Latin for "in the matter [of]".

26. Japanese electronics giant : SANYO

27. Pitchfork point : PRONG

28. Grave robber : GHOUL

29. Madagascar primate : LEMUR

30. Actress Barkin : ELLEN

31. Potato covering : SKIN

32. Unable to hear : DEAF

36. Mag. sales : CIRC.ulation

37. Chicken coop : HEN HOUSE

38. Like many a fall day : COOL

40. Hardly a social butterfly : LONER

41. Strawberry's partner-in-pie : RHUBARB

43. Walkers on trails : HIKERS

44. "Jeepers!" : "EGADS!"

45. __ pal : GAL

48. Drop in a mailbox : SEND

49. Ardent request : PLEA

50. Noncommittal response : "I MAY"

52. Dietary stds. : RDAs. (Recommended Dietary Allowance)

53. Prefix with byte : GIGA

54. Not fer : AGIN. Not for, against.

55. Greenish-yellow pear : BOSC

57. Creepy "Jaws" sighting : FIN. Da-Dum...Da-Dum...Da-Dum-Da-Dum-Da-Dum!

                          "That's All Folks!"

Argyle

Sunday September 15, 2013 Amy Johnson

Theme: "No-win Situations" - All possible combinations of letters XXO (except XXX & OOO) are hidden in each theme entry.

 

23A. Wonka's starting hockey team? : SIX OOMPA LOOMPAS. Oompa-Loompas work for Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. Six player on ice during a hockey game.

37A. Much "Sanford and Son" banter? : REDD FOXX ONE- LINERS

66A. Rockport knockoffs? : FAUX OXFORDS. Maybe Famous Footwear has Rockport. Never paid attention to that brand before.

96A. Rusty, the Iron Man? : SUPERHERO OXYMORON. Funny clue.

16D. Artistic place for tiny letters? : MAILBOX ORIGAMI

50D. Non-conforming Marvel mutants? : UNORTHODOX X-MEN

Reveal entry:

116A. Three-letter combinations hidden in this puzzle's six other longest answers : TIC TAC TOE LOSERS

Amy covers all the possible 6 arrangements, correct? X'es are tricky to deal with in filling, she had 10 of them!

Across:

1. Casserole holders : MITTS

6. Flood barrier : DIKE

10. Santa __, aka "devil winds" : ANAs

14. Tut's home, now : TOMB

18. Online payment : E-CASH

19. OS X basis : UNIX. Mac OS X.

20. Guns : REVs

21. At full throttle : AMAIN

26. Say "I do" : UNITE

27. 2006 Verizon acquisition : MCI

28. Dutch pottery city : DELFT

29. Nonstick cookware brand : T-FAL.  Great quality.

30. Clown's props : STILTS

31. Early philosophical hot spot : ELEA. I know this place only as  Zeno of Elea. He's a philosopher, so it could be a hot spot. MN is a hot spot for crosswords. George Barany told me that  "...Will said that besides New York and California, there is no other state with such a concentration of constructing talent (maybe he forgot about Maryland?)".

33. Island gift : LEI

34. Home of the Green Wave : TULANE

36. Civil War nickname : ABE

42. Eugene's st. : ORE

44. Cousin of a bald eagle : ERN

45. Bygone TV knob : HOR

46. High points : CLIMAXES

48. Grammy winner Cole : PAULA. "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?"

51. Alley cries : MEOWs

53. Org. with Pirates and Sharks : AHL. No idea. American Hockey League.

54. Black hues, to Chaucer : EBONs

55. Traditional fourth-anniversary gift : LINEN. See here. Boomer and I will celebrate our 13th year next May.

56. Fed. workplace monitor : OSHA

57. Hot state : IRE

58. Bob or bowl : HAIRDO

59. Game with Skip cards : UNO

60. Hawaii's coffee capital : KONA

62. Half the taijitu symbol : YANG

64. "__ Went Mad": Riley poem : ERE I

65. Cellists' sect. : STR (String)

70. Styling stuff : GEL

73. Us opponents : THEM

76. Certain slip-on : MULE. Shoes.

77. Catch some rays : BASK

79. Crest letters : ADA

80. Like sailors on leave : ASHORE. I wanted something drunk related. Sorry, Spitzboov/D-Otto!

82. Lucrative : FAT. OK, a fat year.

83. Epitome of thinness : RAIL

85. High points : ACMES

87. Polynesian language : MAORI. I think Steve used this image last time. Stick your tongue out. How low can you go?

88. ABO designation : POS (Positive)

89. High : TIPSY

90. Venerated one : SAINT

91. Skating on thin ice : IN DANGER

93. Holiday chuckles : HOs. Santa!

94. 21st, e.g.: Abbr. : CEN

95. Tokugawa shogunate seat of power : EDO

104. Scripts that may be hard to read : RXS

106. Part of ASAP : AS SOON. One 6-letter partial is OK.

107. Old-fashioned show of affection: Abbr. : LTR. My sister-in-law Barbara always writes us letters.

108. Project Mercury org. : NASA

109. Actress Meredith __-Birney : BAXTER

111. Coll. major involving an observatory : ASTR (Astronomy)

112. Calligrapher's line : SERIF

114. Rotation meas. : RPS (Revolutions per Second)

115. Skilled pitchers : ADMEN. Not baseball.

119. Hardly certain : LEERY

120. Natural soother : ALOE

121. Bengay, e.g. : BALM. This might work if you have mild arthritis pain or muscle pain. You local Asian store should have them. The stuff stinks though.

122. "Have a look!" : GO SEE

123. Lombardy Castle city : ENNA. In Sicily. Splynter might know Lombardy Castle. Not me.

124. Surfer, perhaps : USER. Internet surfer.

125. Old dagger : SNEE

126. Mythical lover of wine and women : SATYR

Down:

1. "Animal magnetism" coiner : MESMER. He gave us "Mesmerize".

2. Frozen drip : ICICLE

3. Rolled on a runway : TAXIED

4. Menu general : TSO. Chicken.

5. Sporting heels : SHOD

6. Two-floor apartment : DUPLEX

7. Up the creek : IN A FIX

8. Highland wear : KILT

9. Skeletal prefix : EXO. "Outer".

10. Carrying limit : ARMFUL

11. Himalayan native : NEPALI. Sherpa's life is actually very hard.

12. Ski area concern : AVALANCHE. Sherpas encounter this often.

13. Snake's "Back off!" : SSS

14. Ready to snap : TAUT

15. __ vincit amor : OMNIA. Do you believe in "Love conquers all"?

17. What some fight to, with "the" : BITTER END

22. Video game console : NES

24. Cantaloupe, e.g. : MELON

25. Aquatic rompers : OTTERS

30. Pak of the LPGA : SE RI. She opened the door for all those Korean LPGA players. 

32. Mr. Rochester's ward : ADELE. Jane Eyre.

35. "Gimme a Break!" star Carter : NELL. And 49. "__ Misbehavin'" : AIN'T

38. Ballpark buy : FRANK

39. "This could be a problem" : OH OH

40. Trouble for the hopelessly trapped : NO WAY OUT

41. Nasty race tactic : SMEAR

43. Manitoba pump sign : ESSO

47. Irish Rose's guy : ABIE. Learned from doing Xwords.

48. Grade refinement : PLUS

51. "__ Lisa" : MONA

52. Biblical barterer : ESAU

53. Ship protected by Hera : ARGO. Otherwise, no woman on that ship.

57. Lower-ranking : INFERIOR

58. Company with toy trucks : HESS

61. "All __": 1984 film : OF ME

63. Rocker Rose : AXL

67. Adman's yuletide : XMAS

68. Aaron's MLB record 2,297 : RBIs

69. Longtime "What's My Line?" host : DALY (John). I should borrow Splynter's BMT (Before My Time).

71. Original sin site : EDEN

72. __ resort : LAST

74. Israeli folk dance : HORA

75. Actress Moran et al. : ERINs

78. "Casey's Top 40" host : KASEM

80. French girlfriend : AMIE

81. 1959 Gidget player : SANDRA DEE. Hey, a full name.

82. Jibs, e.g. : FORESAILS

84. Lhasa __ : APSO

86. Church law : CANON

88. Spices (up) : PEPS

89. Powerful D.C. lobby : THE NRA

92. __ gum: thickening agent : GUAR

94. Ritchard who played Hook on Broadway : CYRIL. Stranger to me. Captain Hook. Wiki said he was born in Australia. Not Russia as I thought.

97. Gun, in old slang : ROSCOE. I forgot. But we had this clue before.

98. More spicy : HOTTER

99. Soccer stadium shout : OLE OLE

100. Limit-pushing, in adspeak : XTREME. The bowling center in Treasure Island is called Island Xtreme Bowl.

101. Most limited : RAREST

102. Fish-eating hawk : OSPREY

103. 1952 Egyptian Revolution leader : NASSER. The guy who's in control now is General Sisi. No government can survive in Egypt without the military backing. Morsi is a good example.

105. Tough : STERN

109. Statement no. : BAL (Balance)

110. Mononymous New Ager : ENYA

112. Asian country suffix : STAN. Meaning "Land".

113. London forecasts : FOGS

116. Sigma follower : TAU

117. Letters next to an eye : CBS. Great clue.

118. "__ man walks into ..." : SO A

I mentioned last week that George Barany (The genius behind the Alan Turing tribute puzzle)  & Friends made the fun puzzle inside the program for "An Evening with the Puzzle Master". Everyone was busy solving the grid while waiting for Will to start the presentation.

George kindly provided me with the puz file. I thought you might enjoy it. You don't have to be an Minnesotan to solve the grid. 

Click here for the PDF file. Click here for the puz file. 

 

Spoiler alert:

Click here to read how the puzzle was created & George's thoughts on several entries. I bet TTP & PA Don enjoyed reading his remark on 51-Down. There is also a great picture of the MN constructors with Will Shortz at the bottom. 

C.C.

Sunday August 18, 2013 Amy Johnson

Theme: "Extra! Extra!" - The last word in each theme entry is a common name for a newspaper.

23A. Newspaper for visionaries? : DREAM JOURNAL. I don't keep one. But my recurring dream is not finishing an exam in time. Way too much pressure in my school days.

28A. Newspaper for convicts? : CRIMINAL RECORD

44A. Newspaper for settlers? : COLONIAL TIMES

69A. Newspaper for skiers? : SNOW GLOBE. The guy who owns Red Sox also owns the Boston Globe.

93A. Newspaper for hams? : RADIO DISPATCH

110A. Newspaper for demons? : DEVIL'S ADVOCATE

119A. Newspaper for wedding planners? : HITCHING POST. So why do you think Jeff Bezos bought the Washington Post? As a trophy?

35D. Newspaper for bumpkins? : COUNTRY STAR

40D. Newspaper for bakers? : COOKIE PRESS

Our local paper is Star Tribune. But unlike the above theme entries, there are no suitable * Tribune phrases. The key words have to be in a different context.

Across:

1. Gelatin garnish : ASPIC. Not garnish to me. It's delicious.

6. Engaged in battle : AT WAR

11. 99 on tags, often: Abbr. : CTs

14. __ and Buster Bunny: "Tiny Toons" stars : BABS. The one in pink.

18. Disco era star Summer : DONNA

19. Buzzed : DRONED

21. Scoot : HIE

22. Zeno's town : ELEA. Learned from doing Xwords.

25. Said over : ITERATED

27. Golfer Watson : BUBBA. 2012 Masters champ.

30. Shirt part : ARM

31. __ candy : EYE

32. Gp. with a Creative Cities Network project : UNESCO. Onager guess.

33. Attribute : ASCRIBE

37. What some lie in : WAIT. Lie in wait.

39. Open, as a vitamin bottle : UNCAP

43. Classic roadster : REO

50. Harem chamber : ODA. Doho Doc, do ladies wear Burqinis there?

51. Jack-in-the-pulpit family : ARUM

53. 1982 Grammy winner for Record of the Year : ROSANNA. By the rock band Toto.

54. "Cool!" : AWESOME! So, what "Cool!" words do your grandkids use, Husker Gary?

56. Kindle : IGNITE

58. 911 respondent : EMT

59. In again : RETRO. Saw lots of girls wear Corduroy skinny last winter.

62. Barely manages, with "out" : EKES

63. Chose not to pursue, as an issue : LET DIE

64. Morning deity : EOS

66. Oil filter accumulation : GUNK

67. Golfer's back : NINE

68. Dietary no. : RDA

72. "The Bells" poet : POE

73. Country poem : IDYL

75. Ready for business : OPEN. Did you ever see a Brow Studio in your local malls?

76. Tyke : TOT

77. Twisted : WARPED

80. Jazzman Allison : MOSE. Never heard of him. He looks cool.

81. Order to a boxer : SIC 'EM

83. Old PC monitor : CRT

85. Pied-__: temporary home : A-TERRE

86. Eccentric : NUTCASE

88. Museum offering : EXHIBIT

91. Blacken : SEAR

92. Baja bear : OSA

97. Complex bus. office : STE. Suite?

98. Not inclined to go on : TERSE

100. 1990s game console release, initially : SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System)

101. "No sweat" : THAT'S OK

103. Heckle : HOOT AT

106. "Have You Seen __": 1971 hit : HER

109. Old cosmonauts' destination : MIR

115. Greet the day : ARISE

118. Tiramisu flavoring, perhaps : AMARETTO. Italian for "a little bitter".

122. Scrabble piece : TILE

123. Canal site : EAR. Nailed it. We've seen this clue many times.

124. Dieter's statistic : INCHES

125. Extract with a solvent : ELUTE. Sounds like a fake word: e-Lute.

126. Belligerent Olympian : ARES. God of War.

127. Cape Town's country: Abbr. : RSA. Republic of South Africa.

128. Ring leader? : CHAMP. Boxing! I was thinking of the crime gang.

129. Painter Neiman : LEROY. He did lots of sports paintings.

Down:

1. Put in : ADD

2. Ending for ab or ad : SORB

3. Tire, in Toulouse : PNEU. A bit obscure.

4. Where many jokes are set : IN A BAR

5. Fabric used in lace : CAMBRIC. New word to me. Wiki said it's originally from the French commune Cambrai.

6. "Without further __ ..." : ADO

7. Start of a postwar period : TRUCE

8. Fret : WORRY

9. Potts of "Designing Women" : ANNIE

10. Paper unit : REAM

11. Italian red : CHIANTI

12. Best-seller list datum : TITLE

13. Tarot readers : SEERS

14. Major Boston street : BEACON. Must be in the Beacon Hill area.

15. Like some saxes : ALTO

16. Craft __ : BEER

17. DUI-fighting org. : SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions). MADD too.

20. Sixth-century year : DLI. 551.

24. Big Scouts meeting : JAMBOREE

26. Dismiss, as a potential juror : RECUSE.  I always thought one (like a judge) recuses oneself in a case.

29. Jour's opposite : NUIT. "Bonne nuit!"

33. Thin as __ : A RAIL

34. Suit material : SERGE. I've yet to see SERGE clued with a Gainsbourg reference.

36. "Evil Woman" rockers, familiarly : ELO

37. Colorless : WAN

38. Banned fruit spray : ALAR

41. Jingle writers : AD MEN

42. Bel __: creamy cheese : PAESE

45. Suffix with lact- : OSE

46. "I bet you don't know any!" : NAME ONE. There are 4 big dynasties with capital in Xi'An. Name one.

47. Being pulled : IN TOW

48. River to the Seine : MARNE. So many French rivers with 5 letters.

49. Dweller on the forest moon of Endor : EWOK

52. Good note for beginners to start on : MIDDLE C

55. Three amigos, e.g. : SENORES. And 57. Aunt, to 55-Down : TIA. And 117. This, to 55-Down : ESTO

60. Voyage taken alone? : EGO TRIP. Fun clue.

61. Place for a soak : TUB

65. Pvt.'s boss : SGT

69. Saw : SPIED

70. Tokyo-based electronics giant : NEC. Three letters. What else could be it be?

71. Rannoch and Tummel : LOCHS. I thought those were just people's names.

72. Square in a breadbasket : PAT. Boomer put butter on his white rice last week.

73. "__ making this up" : I'M NOT

74. Put out : DOUSE

75. Greek mount : OSSA

77. Guard : WATCHMAN

78. Pindar's Muse : ERATO

79. Two-time Olivier Award winner Jacobi : DEREK. He's a Sir.

82. Ancient Persian : MEDE

84. "We really don't know yet," on a sched. : TBA

87. Ring of color : AREOLE. For D-Otto! She's in trouble for leaked bikini photos.

India is a curious nation.

89. Omicron preceders : XIs.

90. Addams family member : ITT

94. Dancing Duncan : ISADORA

95. Being broadcast : ON TV

96. Stylist's supply : HAIR GEL. For Marti's cool hair.

99. British counties : SHIRES

102. Hit that clears the bases : TRIPLE. One letter longer for HOMER. I echo Irish Miss's sentiments: Miss your comments, LaLaLinda.

104. Blender brand : OSTER

105. Casual good-byes : TA TAs

106. Come out of one's shell : HATCH. 

107. __ Sketch : ETCH A

108. Adjust the length of : RE-HEM

110. Much input : DATA

111. Kuwaiti ruler : EMIR

112. Depressed area : VALE. DALE too.

113. "__ just can't wait to be king": "The Lion King" lyric : OH I

114. Prez's title : CINC. Commander-in-Chief.  This & POTUS (President of the United States of America) just never comes to me easily.

116. Whiskey drink : SOUR

120. www access : ISP

121. Mystery writer Josephine : TEY

C.C.

Sunday July 21, 2013 Amy Johnson

Theme: "Child's Play" - The last words are all kids' toys.

 

22A. Obstacles : STUMBLING BLOCKS

32A. Wild pair, sometimes : ONE-EYED JACKS

50A. "The Phantom of the Opera" setting : MASQUERADE BALL

65A. Morsel mentioned in '80s Australian tourism ads : SHRIMP ON THE BARBIE. Barbie is their slang for BBQ. The original 1959 barbies are worth thousands.

85A. Abstained, in a way : WENT ON THE WAGON

97A. Take the gold : COME OUT ON TOP. The guy to watch in Rio.

114A. Snap : LOSE YOUR MARBLES

Fun theme. When I was a kid, there were no blocks, or wagon or barbies or any plastic toys, we sewed our own little bags filled with beans or corn and played a very simple backyard game. Similar to this, except mine were prettier.

Across:

1. Tie-dye locale : CAMP. I like to nail 1-Across entry. Not today.

5. "Sonic the Hedgehog" developer : SEGA

9. Skunk Le Pew : PEPE

13. Pileggi of "The X-Files" : MITCH. Recognized his face. Not his name.  

18. Suffix for stink : AROO

19. Sea once fed by the Amu Darya River : ARAL

20. Round Table array : ARMOR

21. Cape Cod vacation destination : TRURO

25. End-of-term hurdle : FINAL

26. Put out there : AIR

27. Pealed : RANG

28. Barroom disorder : MELEE

29. Special Olympics founder Shriver : EUNICE

30. Picked up on : SENSED

34. Biblical verb : HAST

36. Playwright Ensler : EVE. Stranger to me.

37. Technology in Pixar films, briefly : CGI (Computer-Generated Imagery)

38. "Wicked Game" rocker Chris : ISAAK

41. Boastful opening : VENI . "Veni, vidi, vici"

43. Civil War historian Shelby : FOOTE

46. Aquarium fish : OPAH

53. With reason : SANELY

55. Coal industry org. : UMW

56. Conspiracy : PLOT

57. Get under the tag, hopefully : SLIDE

58. Hades, to Satan : REALM

59. Amanda of "2012" : PEET. Oh, I liked her Something's Gotta Give. Very pretty.

61. Like drag strips : LOUD. I don't get this clue.

63. 24-hr. convenience : ATM

64. A hitchhiker might have one : GAS CAN

70. Spots : ESPIES

72. Area usually not mowed : LEA. Simple in retrospect.

73. Pelican St. metropolis : NOLA

74. Spanish 101 verb : ESTA

77. Dummy on Bergen's knee : SNERD

78. As a companion : ALONG

80. "Herding Cats: A Life in Politics" author : LOTT (Trent)

82. Bargain basement letters : IRR

83. Seasoned sailor : SEA DOG

88. Cries from one standing on a chair, maybe : EEKs

89. Obeys : HEEDS

91. Kudrow of "Friends" : LISA. Phoebe.

92. Navel concavity : INNIE

93. "__ appétit!" : BON

94. NYC visitor's final destination, perhaps : JFK. Or first.

95. 1998 home run record chaser : SOSA (Sammy)

104. Puts into words : UTTERS

108. Unprincipled : AMORAL. Out of the $80,000 Eliot Spitzer spent on his self-destructive sexual liaisons, not one penny is from public money. I'd vote him for the Comptroller post, Splynter!

109. Reduce : LOWER

110. Pigeon shelter : COTE

112. Half-pretentious? : CHI. Chichi. Recognize him?

113. Shows pluck : DARES

117. Play, as Julius Caesar : ENACT

118. Curved moldings : OGEES

119. Blew the whistle : SANG. And 120. Blows the whistle : RATS. "Rat" always sets off  Whitey Bulger. I'd eat worms if he's not a FBI informant.

121. Shades : TINTS

122. Gamer's title island : MYST

123. Nice sweetheart : AMIE. The French city Nice.

124. Brief writer: Abbr. : ATTY. Legal brief.

Down:

1. Places on una avenida residencial : CASAs

2. Fictional Ziff infatuated with Marge Simpson : ARTIE. I'm just not into The Simpsons.

3. Wear black, perhaps : MOURN

4. Little Spitz, briefly : POM. Hello Spitzboov!

 
5. Dieters' lunch orders : SALADS

6. "__ Brockovich" : ERIN

7. Turf controller : GANG

8. Subj. with exponents : ALG. For Bill G. Thanks to his post last Tuesday, I learned the differences between "Hay" and "Straw".

9. Worker, informally : PROLE

10. Host : EMCEE

11. Gumby's sidekick : POKEY. The pony.

Gumby & Pokey

12. Relatives of ums : ERs

13. Honshu Isl. peak : MT FUJI

14. Youngest of the three Prozorov sisters : IRINA. Three Sisters.

15. Forum wear : TUNIC

16. Figure out : CRACK

17. Case weaknesses : HOLES

20. Coeur d'__ : ALENE

23. Dissolution : BREAK-UP

24. Low-budget flicks : B MOVIES

29. Advantages : EDGES

31. "Inside the NBA" analyst, to fans : SHAQ

33. Outer: Pref. : ECT

35. Wii locale : TV ROOM

36. Tight position? : END. Tight end.

38. Morning announcement : I'M UP

39. Word before time and place : SAME

40. At this very moment : AS WE SPEAK

42. Flip over : EAT UP

43. Trust : FAITH

44. "Grumpy" film title characters : OLD MEN. Grumpy Old Men.

45. Fútbol shout : OLE. Football in Spanish.

46. Part of a layette : ONESIE

47. Hippie bus decal : PEACE SIGN

48. __ marsala : ALLA

49. Choir number : HYMN

51. Perry of fashion : ELLIS

52. Hardly inconspicuous : BLATANT

54. Egyptian, usually : ARAB

60. Show places? : THIRDS. Nice clue.

62. Dressed to the nines, with "up" : DOLLED

64. Log holder : GRATE

66. Take back to the drawing board : RE-DO

67. Eye-catching signs : NEONS

68. Nuts go-with : BOLTS. Nuts and bolts.

69. Island greetings : ALOHAS

70. __ quam videri: North Carolina motto : ESSE. To be, rather than to seem (to be).

71. Three-time All-Pro Giant lineman Chris : SNEE. Knew him only because I needed a new clue for SNEE once. "Old dagger" just would not work.

75. Half-Betazoid aboard the Enterprise : TROI

76. "Alfred" composer : ARNE.  More familiar with his "Rule Britannia".

78. It might be inspired : AWE

79. Driving instructor : GOLF PRO. In the driving range.

81. Storm that's chased : TWISTER

84. Grave offender? : GHOUL

86. Neat finish? : NIK. Neatnik.

87. Med sch. subject : ANAT

90. Fangorn Forest inhabitant : ENT. The Lord of the Rings.

93. Toots one's horn : BOASTS

94. Outback young : JOEYS. Baby kangaroos.

96. Reason for oversleeping : OUTAGE. Since the alarm clock would not work? Not true for Husker Gary!

97. Future officer : CADET

98. Saudi neighbor : OMANI

99. Bugs with weapons : MORAN. Bugs Moran the gangster. Al Capone's rival.

100. Like a Siberian Husky's ears : ERECT

101. Informal science : OLOGY

102. Sketch artist's array : NOSES. "Array" made me think of the tools the sketch artist uses, not the stuff he draws.

103. Certain follower's reading : TWEET

105. Ostentation : ECLAT

106. One giving Scarlett a fever? : RHETT. Great clue.

107. No tough guy : SISSY

110. Study all night : CRAM

111. Luxury hotel chain : OMNI

114. "Ten Little Indians" actor Herbert : LOM. He's also in The Pink Panther.

115. Today preceder : USA. USA Today.

116. Victoria's Secret buy : BRA. Dave's daughter works there. Speaking of Dave, he mentioned last time "My Dentist has this poster on his door to keep your mind busy while he drills." I just could not see the man. You?

C.C.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013 Amy Johnson

Theme: Might is Mite - Common phrases take on new meanings when the last word is replaced with a homophone.

20A. Bad web designer's product? : NOT A PRETTY SITE. SIGHT > SITE

37A. Start the service ceremonially? : LEAD WITH A RITE. RIGHT > RITE

56A. Dieter's hope when entering the brewpub? : LET THERE BE LITE™. LIGHT > LITE™

Argyle here. Quite a range of entries; programing, pugilism, and pubs. The resulting homophones, (a word that is that is pronounced the same as another word but differs in meaning) change the original meaning. The only nit might be whether LITE is a legitimate word. Mad Men would say yes.

Across:

1. Mama who sang with the Papas : CASS. Elliot

5. Mercury and Saturn : ORBs. Clecho: 14A. Mercury or Saturn : AUTO

9. "What a tragedy" : "SO SAD"

15. Picnic spot : PARK

16. Revise, as text : EMEND

17. Mine car : TRAM

18. Pincushion alternative : ETUI. Strange, I never really looked at ETUIs before. They aren't pincushions but may contain one.

19. Maternally related : ENATE

23. Extreme anger : IRE

24. Boy : LAD

25. Hanoi holiday : TET. Clued this way should keep someone happy.

26. Sandwich shop letters : BLT

28. Cut companion : PASTE. My friends.

30. Heavy herbivore : RHINO. Cute alliteration.

32. Greek goddess of the dawn : EOS. Near clecho: 2D. Roman goddess of the dawn : AURORA

33. Coll. dorm mentors : RAs. (Resident assistants)

35. Essen-to-Leipzig direction : OST. Headed east in Germany.

36. Food for Fido : ALPO

41. "Roger that" : "COPY". Radio talk.

42. Keats wrote one to a nightingale : ODE

43. Funnyman Caesar : SID. With Imogene Coca.

44. Prefix with duct : OVI

45. Melbourne marsupial : KOALA

47. Discourage : DETER

51. Get hitched : WED

52. Shimon Peres's land: Abbr. : ISR. He is the current President of Israel.

53. Cosmo, e.g. : MAG. Cosmopolitan/Magazine

55. Delighted utterance : "AAH!". and "OOH!" Get ready for the fireworks.

60. Shoot for : AIM AT

61. Like some support : SOLE

62. Crack pilots : ACES

63. Flambé : AFIRE

64. Laos location : ASIA

65. Unlike a dead end, briefly : THRU. (through)

66. Spy mission, in brief : RECON. (reconnaissance)

67. Cornerstone datum : YEAR

68. Boo relative : HISS. Did you see that some military bases are cutting out fireworks this year?

Down:

1. It makes a feline frisky : CATNIP

3. Declares : STATES

4. Dream-inducing "Brave New World" drug : SOMA. "take a trip and never leave the farm"

5. Puccini work : OPERA

6. Like slasher films, typically : RATED R

7. Champagne designation : BRUT

8. Very jumpy : SKITTISH

9. Deals with : SEES TO

10. Present opening? : OMNI. Omnipresent.

11. "Click It or Ticket" device : SEAT BELT

12. Range playmate of song : ANTELOPE. Range companion of deer.

13. JFK's predecessor : DDE

21. Profess one's innocence, perhaps : PLEAD

22. Grapevine starters? : YENTAs. Word Origin & History. "yenta" : "gossip, busybody," 1923, from Yente Telebende, comic strip gossip in 1920s-30s writing of Yiddish newspaper humorist B. Kovner (pen-name of Jacob Adler) in the "Jewish Daily Forward." It was a common Yiddish fem. proper name, alt. from Yentl and said to be ult. from It. gentile "kind, gentle," earlier "noble, high-born".

27. Chinese menu surname : TSO. (General)

29. Cafeteria convenience : TRAY

31. Monopoly miniature : HOTEL. You need four houses on each of your color group before you can get a hotel.

34. "Just Do It" logo : SWOOSH

36. Guy or gal Friday : AIDE

37. Topic for advice columnists : LOVE LIFE. And for yentas.

38. Serious flu outbreak, e.g. : EPIDEMIC

39. Start of a speculation : "I DARE SAY ..."

40. Blue __ Mountains : RIDGE

41. Chick-fil-A spokescritter : COW

45. "Awww"-inducing pet shop resident : KITTEN

46. Earhart in the air : AMELIA

48. Chinese martial art : TAI CHI

49. Diner patrons : EATERS

50. Monkey used in research : RHESUS

54. "Fuzzy Wuzzy was __" : A BEAR. "Fuzzy wuzzy was a bear, fuzzy wuzzy had no hair, fuzzy wuzzy wasn't fuzzy was he?"

57. Luau staple : TARO. Must be cooked thoroughly to leach out the calcium oxalate.

58. Fragrant flower : ROSE. Shout out to ARBAON.

59. Strip of latticework : LATH

60. Swiss river : AAR

Smooth sailing today.

Argyle

Note from C.C.:

Happy Birthday to Eric Wells, who reads but has never posted on our blog. Eric told me "The coolest part about my birth date is that it's also my mother's birth date. I was her (best?) gift on her 29th birthday (many years ago!)" Happy 83rd Birthday to Eric' mom as well!

Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Amy Johnson

Theme: Brr x 2 - The unifier can precede both parts respectively.

17A. *Protective fuse container : BREAKER BOX. ICE BREAKER, a ship that opens up the ice. ICE BOX, dare I mention refrigerator?

39A and 40A. With "Baby," a 1990's hip-hop hit that answers the question, "What can precede both parts of the answers to starred clues?" : ICE and ICE. If you care to listen. Link.

61A. *Tailgater's brew chiller : BEER BUCKET. ICE BEER, so much hype. ICE BUCKET, to keep it cold.

11D. *Flood control concern : STORM WATER. ICE STORM, I hope you all escaped any serious one this winter. ICE WATER, or iced water. Cold either way.

29D. *Era of mass production : MACHINE AGE. ICE MACHINE, built-in, in some refrigerators. ICE AGE, a time, a movie(with sequels).

Argyle here. I like the grid arrangement; center reveal with the themes surrounding it. Tougher than the usual Tuesday. What will tomorrow bring?

Across:

1. 1860s Grays : REBS. Civil War.

5. Danger : PERIL

10. __ Spumante : ASTI

14. 50+ group : AARP. It is still called by the four letters but they don't stand for anything other than their organization. So it isn't an anagram or initialism since 1999. Before then, 21A. Part of 14-Across, originally : RETIRED. (American Association of Retired Persons)

15. Verdi aria : ERI TU

16. Trans Am roof option : T-TOP

19. Mower brand : TORO

20. Set up for a fall : ENTRAP

23. Gift for el 14 de febrero : ROSAs. Some roses for your señorita on día de San Valentín.

26. Tree for which New Haven is nicknamed : ELM. But, like most places, only a few of those elms of centuries past are still standing.

27. Summits : ACMES

30. Native American weapons : TOMAHAWKS

35. "Get a __ of this!" : LOAD

36. Loud, like sirens : ABLARE. An "A" word.

37. MSN alternative : AOL. Like AARP, it was previously known as America Online but uses only the letters now.

38. Partners' legal entity: Abbr. : LLC. An initialism for Limited Liability Company.

41. Lao Tzu's "path" : TAO

42. July 4th reaction : [OOH!]

43. Early Florida explorer : DE SOTO. Early Chrysler car.

45. Get gooey : MELT

46. School term : TRIMESTER

48. Saintly circles : AURAS

49. "Uh-uh, lassie!" : "NAE!"

50. Groupon offerings : DEALS

52. Rodeo hat : STETSON

56. With 48-Down, Felipe's outfielder son : MOISES. 48D. See 56-Across : ALOU

60. Keister in a fall? : PRAT. (means buttocks)

64. Bird house : CAGE

65. Really miffed : IRATE

66. "The Clan of the Cave Bear" heroine : AYLA

67. Thumbs-up votes : AYES

68. Bellhop, at times : TOTER. One who totes.

69. Out of concern that : LEST

Down:

1. Broccoli __ : RABÉ. Dark green leaf of the mustard family.

2. Be worthy of : EARN

3. Novelist __ Easton Ellis : BRET. West coast boy who came east for an education. (Bennington College)

4. Trained with gloves : SPARRED

5. Marshmallowy Easter treats : PEEPS. Probably stale by now.

6. Miscalculate : ERR

7. Curved bone : RIB

8. "Click __ Ticket": seatbelt safety slogan : IT OR. Is this PSA nationwide?

9. Elegance : LUXE

10. Hun honcho : ATTILA

12. Ran fast : TORE

13. Apple for a music teacher? : iPOD

18. "Get Smart" evil agency : KAOS. Spelled with all capital letters but pronounced as a single word, it also is not an anagram. The individual letters do not represent anything. We have a mini-theme going here.

22. Little chuckle : TE-HEE. So little, there is only one E in TE.

24. In a perfect world : AT BEST

25. Sevillian sun : SOL. Seville, a city and province in Spain.

27. Portion out : ALLOT

28. Enjoy crayons : COLOR. The ones from Easton, PA. Remember? (Crayola manufacturer)

31. __ d'hôtel: headwaiter : MAÎTRE

32. With the bow, to a cellist : ARCO. But on the road, to a driver, it's an anagram for Atlantic Richfield Company.

33. Cuddly-looking marsupial : KOALA

34. Casino attractions : SLOTS

36. Unreturned serves : ACES

39. Inventeur's list : IDÉES. In France.

44. U.K. lexicological work : OED. (Oxford English Dictionary)

45. Many a Tony winner : MUSICAL. The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, known informally as the Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. - per Wikipedia.

47. Unglossy finishes : MATTEs. Enough with the MATTES.

51. Jewelry resin : AMBER

52. Pet adoption org. : SPCA

53. Printer paper holder : TRAY

54. Final bio? : OBIT

55. Detective Wolfe : NERO

57. Largest of the Inner Hebrides : SKYE. (Scotland)

58. Wiggly swimmers : EELS

59. On-base pct., e.g. : STAT. (statistic)

62. Have a meal : EAT

63. 66, notably: Abbr. : RTE. Time to hit the road!

Argyle