Tuesday, October 14, 2014 Jacob Stulberg

Theme: Five Feet High And Rising - The water is coming up behind both parts of the theme entries.

18A. Access using force : BREAK OPEN. Break water, Open water.

23A. Old-time fountain employee : SODA JERK. Soda water, Jerkwater.(insignificant rural settlements)

38A. 1954 Oscar-winning Brando film, or where either half of 18-, 23-, 51- and 61-Across can literally be found : "ON THE WATERFRONT"

51A. Like unabridged print dictionaries : HARD BACK. Hard water, Backwater. (Out of the main current)

61A. Being attacked : UNDER FIRE. Under water, Fire water.

Argyle here with Jacob who is venturing into the earlier days of the week. I'm glad the reveal mentioned both halves of the answer because I tend to miss that. Nice grid layout.

Across:

1. Westminster landmark : ABBEY. On left, Westminster Palace on right.

6. Literary captain who says "I'd strike the sun if it insulted me" : AHAB

10. Natural bandage : SCAB

14. Witch : CRONE

15. Decide, as a judge : RULE

16. Freight train hopper : HOBO

17. Stolen pastries in "Alice in Wonderland" : TARTS. Pop Quiz: Who stole the tarts?

20. Say with certainty : AVER

21. "Get off the stage!" : "BOO!"

22. Without any slack : TAUTLY

25. Right-angle bend : ELL

26. Amigo : PAL

27. They're earned by completing college courses : CREDITS

31. Shade : HUE and 29D. Shade : TINT

34. __ bear : POLAR

37. Buffalo's lake : ERIE

42. Gyro bread : PITA

43. Staircase pillar : NEWEL. This one has a Westminster look.

44. Ultimate degree : NTH

45. Many a rush-hour rider : STANDEE

48. Drink often iced : TEA

50. Justice Dept. division : DEA. (Drug Enforcement Administration). Often one of their tactics, 4D. Catch in a sting : ENTRAP

56. Less biased : FAIRER

59. Wall-climbing plant : IVY

60. Bump off : DO IN

63. Sudden power increase : SURGE. It's time I bought a new surge protector.

64. Observes : SEES

65. Tablet operator : USER

66. In base eight : OCTAL. Odd looking word.

67. Police crisis unit acronym : SWAT. (Special Weapons And Tactics)

68. One of the deadly sins : LUST

69. Kick off : START

Down:

1. Attend to the duties of : ACT AS

2. "Well done!" : "BRAVO!"

3. Yawning in class, say : BORED

5. "Certainly!" : "YES!"

6. Ann __, Michigan : ARBOR

7. "Impresario" memoirist Sol : HUROK. Wikipedia LINK.

8. Stein filler : ALE

9. Car that's ready for the scrap heap : BEATER. That's what I and one of the Tappet Brothers drive.

10. Side of a road : SHOULDER

11. Egyptian Christian : COPT. The forgotten Christians?

12. Adam's second son : ABEL

13. More than lean : BONY

19. Leafy green : KALE

21. Later on the page : BELOW

24. Joke : JAPE. Hmm, JAPE has a sometimes bawdy history.

27. Group of workers : CREW

28. Appliance with a water reservoir : IRON

30. Late-night host Meyers : SETH

31. Beer flavoring : HOPS

32. Curriculum part : UNIT

33. James of jazz : ETTA

35. Path to the pins : LANE

36. Consumed : ATE

39. Ergonomic keyboard feature : HAND REST. Wrist rest.

40. Second attempt : RETRY

41. Hurried away : FLED

46. Bucks and does : DEER

47. Tongue-lashing : EARFUL

49. Kidnap : ABDUCT

51. Adds to the staff : HIRES

52. Stave off : AVERT

53. Vital blood line : AORTA

54. Groucho's smoke : CIGAR

55. Prepared to be knighted : KNELT

56. Make a scene : FUSS

57. Once again : ANEW

58. Creative spark : IDEA

62. Pocatello sch. : ISU. (Idaho State University)

63. Sea captain's "Help!" : S-O-S

Argyle

Note from C.C.:

After Irish Miss downloaded iOS 8 to her iPad Mini, she has to sign in to her Google account every time she leaves & rejoins the blog. There is no "Stay signed in" box for her to check.

If any of your iPad users know how to solve her problem, please leave her a note in the blog Comments section. Thank you.

Monday, October 13, 2014 Carol Hacker

 

Theme: Retro Variant - Two word phrases that start with a R and a V.

18A. *MTV staple : ROCK VIDEO

31A. *Oral indication of anger : RAISED VOICE

47A. *Trip to somewhere you've been before : RETURN VISIT

62A. *Selling point of a home on the Hudson, say : RIVER VIEW

51D. Place for Winnebagos ... and for the answers to the starred clues? : RV PARK

Argyle here with what appears to be a debut puzzle by one Carol Hacker but could it be an anagram for our editor? I thought we weren't going to see any more of these simple repeat letter puzzles but this one was so clean it may be an exception. Strong corner blocks, a touch of whimsy in the clues.

Across:

1. Parody : SPOOF

6. Infant : BABY

10. Homeless child : WAIF

14. Songstress Lena : HORNE

15. Geometry class calculation : AREA

16. Throw hard : HURL

17. According to : AS PER

20. D-flat equivalent : C SHARP

22. Territory that became North and South states : DAKOTA

23. Mauna __ : KEA

 

24. Syst. with hand signals : ASL. (American sign language)

26. "Blazing Saddles" director Brooks : MEL

27. Baseball hat : CAP

30. Nine-digit govt. ID : SSN

34. Nickname of AA co-founder William Wilson : BILL W

35. Word before limits or space : OUTER

36. Home for a bird : CAGE

39. Home for the Heat : MIAMI

42. Dermatologist's concern : CYST

43. In front : AHEAD

45. Prophet whose name sounds like a mineral : MICAH. The mica group represents 37 phyllosilicate minerals.

50. "I need a short break," in chat rooms : BRB. (Be Right Back)

53. Brit. bigwigs : PMs. (prime minister)

54. Vote of approval : YEA

55. Explosive initials : TNT

56. Egg cells : OVA

57. Either "Bye Bye Love" brother : EVERLY. If you follow this to YouTube, there is an extensive bio there.

60. Comprehends : GRASPS

65. Take the part of : ACT AS

66. Fancy pitcher : EWER

67. Actor Morales : ESAI

68. Mowing the lawn, e.g. : CHORE

69. Small horse : PONY

70. Spanish muralist José María : SERT. (Josep Maria Sert i Badia)

71. Distance runs, briefly : TEN Ks

Down:

1. Crude dwellings : SHACKS

2. Western bad guy chasers : POSSEs

3. "Little __ Annie" : ORPHAN

4. Top draft status : ONE A

5. Classic Italian sports car : FERRARI

6. Happy hour spot : BAR

7. N.Y. Yankee suspended during 2014 : A-ROD

8. Turned into : BECAME

9. Gabbed : YAKKED

10. Slightest amount : WHIT

11. Chutzpah : AUDACITY

12. Anger : IRE

13. Mel's Diner waitress : FLO. Is it time to retire the old Flo and go with the new one?

19. Swedish automaker : VOLVO

21. Biblical song : PSALM

25. Actress Taylor : LILI. She was in Mystic Pizza.

28. Top poker pair : ACES

29. Sassy : PERT

32. Hindu teacher : SWAMI

33. "That's painful!" : "OUCH!". And afterwards 61D. Hurt : ACHE

34. Boyfriend : BEAU

36. Fish that complains a lot? : CARP

37. "Can I get a word in?" : "AHEM?"

38. Exacts revenge : GETS EVEN

40. Fine spray : MIST

41. Cake topping : ICING

44. Washer's partner : DRYER

46. Draw, as flies : ATTRACT

48. Uneasy "bundle" contents : NERVES

49. Suitcase : VALISE

50. Marathon city : BOSTON

52. Lowest choral parts : BASSES

58. Exceptionally : VERY

59. 2014, for one : YEAR

62. Sales staff employee : REP Shortened from representative.

63. __ Jima : IWO

64. Quickness of mind : WIT. Some don't give whit for wit. They think you're being pert.

 

Argyle

Tuesday, October 7, 2014 Ron Toth & C.C. Burnikel

Theme: And here's the pitch - Musically, that is. I think.

26D. Sheet music quintet, and with 31-Down, what the first letters of 16-, 22-, 36-, 45- and 56-Across represent : STAFF. 31D. See 26-Down : LINES

16A. Symbol of a good try : E FOR EFFORT

22A. Movie for all : G-RATED FILM

36A. Straight-A student's bane : B-PLUS

45A. "Lady Chatterley's Lover" author : D. H. LAWRENCE

56A. Noted O.J. Simpson attorney : F. LEE BAILEY

Argyle here. A lot of entries for a Tuesday but not a problem for our constructors a due. If you don't recognize Ron, it's our own JzB. The two climbers are as long as the theme entries but not much chance of mistaking them for theme. Good job on the fill. The quintet is in order but I still don't understand musical notation, though. Your results may vary.

Across:

1. 18th Greek letter : SIGMA. Carries the 's' sound.

6. Instagram account creator : USER. I know as little about Instagram as I do music.

10. Gunpowder container : KEG. The number of kegs we've had lately, Zed may have it wrong.

13. Contest submission : ENTRY

14. Campus sports gp. : NCAA. (National Collegiate Athletic Association)

15. Call, retro-style : DIAL

18. To be, to Cato : ESSE. Some Latin.

19. Just okay : SO-SO

20. Place to apply gloss : LIP

21. Use unwisely, as time : WASTE

26. Organ near the stomach : SPLEEN

29. Playground threat : "I'LL TELL!"

32. Rips : TEARS

33. Clash of clans : FEUD

34. Ornamental pond fish : KOI

35. JFK postings : ARRs. (arrivals)

38. Show sleepiness : YAWN

39. Christmas tree : FIR

40. Follow one's new job, in Realtor-speak : RELO

41. Private student : TUTEE

42. Go up alone : FLY SOLO

44. Persian Gulf ships : OILERS

48. Gaze intently : STARE

50. Before, to Frost : ERE

51. Like skyscrapers : TALL

55. Bee flat? : HIVE. Cute.

59. Bone-dry : ARID

60. Bartlett cousin : BOSC Pears.

61. Like the man of one's dreams : IDEAL

62. Marry : WED

63. ''Yeah, sure!'' : "I BET!"

64. Tractor maker : DEERE

Down:

1. Goes out with : SEES

2. Data : INFO

3. Classic Pontiacs : GTOs

4. "Won't you be my neighbor?" TV host : MR. ROGERS

5. Nautical consent : AYE

6. Not up to the job : UNFIT

7. Check (out) : SCOPE

8. Musical skill : EAR. Another theme reference.

9. Singer in an interrogation room? : RAT. Ok, this "singer" isn't musically related.

10. Musical inspired by "The Taming of the Shrew" : "KISS ME KATE". Originally produced in 1948 on Broadway. It garnered five Tony Awards in 1949.

11. Fort Worth-to-Dallas direction : EAST

12. Merriment : GLEE

15. Passed out cards : DEALT

17. Caramel-topped custard dessert : FLAN

21. Like some very bad pitches : WILD. And here we combine music and baseball.

23. Legal matter : RES

24. God, in Grenoble : DIEU

25. Reasons for school absences : FLUs. Shortened form of influenzas.

27. Danger : PERIL

28. "Seinfeld" co-creator : LARRY DAVID

30. Farther down : LOWER

33. Progressive Insurance spokeswoman : FLO. If you haven't seen Flo, I won't be the one to break your bliss.

36. "Dracula" star Lugosi : BELA

37. Furrow the fields : PLOW

38. Christmas season : YULETIDE

40. Part on stage : ROLE

41. Muscle spasm : TIC

43. Destroy, as files : SHRED

44. Premium plane seat, usually : ONE B

46. Pee Wee in Brooklyn : REESE. Great shortstop.

47. Upright : ERECT

48. "Pygmalion" playwright : SHAW. George Bernard Shaw.

49. Radial __ : TIRE

52. Out of the wind : ALEE

53. Goneril's father : LEAR

54. Country singer Lovett : LYLE. He's more than just country.

56. Source of DVD warnings : FBI

57. Easy throw : LOB

58. Help out : AID

Argyle


Notes from C.C.:

As Argyle mentioned earlier, Ron Toth is our own Jazzbumpa. We made two puzzles earlier this year, and were lucky to get both accepted. This is actually our first puzzle. The second one was published in August.

We initially had NOTES  as a reveal entry. Rich, who is a pianist, pointed out (via Patti) that "EGBDF are more than just NOTES... they represent the LINES on the treble clef STAFF. Happily, those two words are 5 letters; hopefully you can find symmetric places for them in the grid."


As his blog write-ups show, Ron is very creative, witty and hardworking. I had fun working with him.

Monday, October 6, 2014 Jerome Gunderson

Theme: You'll never get rich by digging a ditch - Four places that need ditches dug. Because We're in the Army Now!

17A. Letter-routing number : POSTAL CODE. Harrisburg Military Post.

27A. Can in an Andy Warhol painting : CAMPBELL'S SOUP. Camp Beauregard.

47A. World Series setting : BASEBALL FIELD. Naval Base Point Loma.

62A. California Gold Rush figure : FORTY-NINER. Fort Gordon.

60D. Soldier's group, a member of which might be stationed at the start of 17-, 27-, 47- or 62-Across : ARMY. Two states have no Army posts: New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

Cpl. Argyle here. Let's see, we had Fort Dix and we broke camp. We have plenty of posts. I'm not off base saying this cruciverbalistic army has got this Monday down. Thanks, Jerome. Tight themeage; first part of a two word entries. Good pace.

Across:

1. Club joke teller : COMIC

6. Misfortunes : ILLS

10. Motel worker : MAID

14. Traditional Pennsylvania barn raisers : AMISH

15. Tide type : NEAP

16. Ploy : RUSE

19. Overly submissive : MEEK

20. Poker hand prize : POT

21. Thai language : LAO

22. Baker that "nobody doesn't like" : SARA LEE

24. __ cum laude : SUMMA. (with highest honor)

26. Beer barrel : KEG

32. __ New Guinea : PAPUA

                        World Atlas

33. Hairy Addams cousin : ITT

34. Norwegian capital : OSLO

36. Fancy flower vase : URN

37. Hat for a Western hero : STETSON

41. Former Mideast alliance: Abbr. : UAR. (United Arab Republic)

42. Emily Dickinson, e.g. : POET

44. Apt name for a painter : ART

45. How the elated walk : ON AIR

51. "2001" computer : HAL

52. Mars neighbor : EARTH

53. Traveled around 52-Across, say : ORBITED

57. Mates for mas : PAs

58. Chicken __ king : À LA

61. Fight-or-flight emotion : FEAR

65. Fly like a butterfly : FLIT

66. Reverse : UNDO

67. Early morning hr. : ONE AM

68. Heavy drinkers : SOTS

69. Jump : LEAP

70. Yellowish-brown : TAWNY

Down:

1. Dogpatch creator Al : CAPP

2. Melville novel : OMOO

3. Light fog : MIST

4. Suffix with Marx : IST

5. Fried Taco Bell offerings : CHALUPAS. Chalupas are made by pressing a thin layer of masa dough around the outside of a small mold, in the process creating a concave container resembling the boat of the same name, and then deep frying the result to produce crisp, shallow corn cups. These are filled with various ingredients such as shredded chicken, pork, chopped onion, chipotle pepper, red salsa, or green salsa. ~ Wikipedia. Any resemblance to the Taco Bell offering?

6. It may be gross or net : INCOME

7. MGM mascot : LEO, the Lion.

8. Boys : LADS

9. Has a talk with : SPEAKS TO

10. Nearsighted toon : MR MAGOO

11. "The Mammoth Hunters" author Jean : AUEL

12. "Got it" : "I SEE"

13. Fake on the ice : DEKE. 'Juke" on the gridiron.

18. Ram's offspring : LAMB

23. Hi-__ monitor : RES

24. Church-owned Texas sch. : SMU. (Southern Methodist University)

25. Not very much : A LITTLE

27. Chocolate substitute : CAROB

28. Sleep disorder : APNEA

29. Ranks for Columbo and Kojak: Abbr. : LTs. (lieutenants) TV detectives.

30. Customary : USUAL

31. Tartan pattern : PLAID. Maybe you can find your tartan here.

32. Coyote's offspring : PUP

35. Hockey legend Bobby : ORR

38. Enough food for a feast : TABLEFUL

39. Mesozoic or Paleozoic : ERA

40. "That's a fact" rebuttal : "NO, IT'S NOT"

43. Saloon souvenirs : T-SHIRTS

46. Old Testament book before Esth. : NEH. (Nehemiah)

48. Break bread : EAT

49. Computer on an airplane tray table : LAPTOP

50. Unravel at the edge, as threads : FRAY

53. Switch positions : OFFs

54. Move, in real estate lingo : RELO. (ReLocate)

55. Switch partner : BAIT

56. Fully cooked : DONE

58. All over again : ANEW

59. Low in fat : LEAN

63. Old vitamin bottle no. : RDA. (Recommended Dietary Allowances)

64. Once __ while : IN A

Argyle

Tuesday, September 30, 2014 Steve Blais

Theme: You can keep your shirt on - Themes start with things you might lose.

17A. Reminder to be polite : MIND YOUR MANNERS. Lose your mind.

23A. Assets-and-liabilities statement : BALANCE SHEET. Lose your balance.

40A. "Congratulations!" : "WAY TO GO!". Lose your way.

51A. 1993 film about a novice Olympic bobsled team : "COOL RUNNINGS" (They were from Jamaica.). Lose your cool.

62A. What risktakers have ... and what the starts of 17-, 23-, 40- and 51-Across can be? : SOMETHING TO LOSE

Argyle here. A lot of names again but fewer abbreviations. (I didn't count them.) Two spanners also. All in all, quite like Monday.

Across:

1. Cross in some hieroglyphics : ANKH

5. Guinness of "Star Wars" : ALEC. and 14A. "Star Wars" princess : LEIA

9. Most of its panhandle is in the Pacific Time Zone : IDAHO. Note some of (update) Oregon is Mountain Time Zone.

15. "Hawaii Five-O" nickname : DANO. "Book 'em, Dano!"

16. At lunch, say : NOT IN

20. Pond growth : ALGAE

21. Churn up : ROIL

22. "__-haw!" : YEE. YEE or HEE, gotta wait on the perp.

27. Judge at a base : UMPIRE

30. Flower pot filler : SOIL

31. Something to brag about : FEAT

32. Perform perfectly : NAIL

36. Dance movements : STEPS

39. Rower's blade : OAR

42. Be a contender : VIE

43. Word with whisper or fright : STAGE

45. It's a gas in Canada : ESSO

46. Copper-plated coin : CENT

47. Without ice : NEAT. Finally, right Tin?

49. Millionaire's accumulation : WEALTH

56. Incoming flight info: Abbr. : ARR. (arrivals)

57. Any minute now : SOON

58. Hop out of bed : GET UP

66. Nursery rhyme tart taker : KNAVE. Who knew?

67. Large cross : ROOD

68. Blessing ender : AMEN

69. Repaired, as a shoe : SOLED. From a bygone era.

70. Approximate figs. : ESTs

71. Ties the knot : WEDS

Down:

1. __ mater : ALMA

2. Astronaut Armstrong : NEIL

3. Checkmate victim : KING

4. Tasted, with "of" : HAD A BIT

5. "And now, without further __ ..." : ADO

6. 2000s first lady Bush : LAURA

7. 2001 bankruptcy filer : ENRON

8. Stand-up individual? : COMIC

9. Road trip stopover : INN

10. Crime family boss : DON

11. Right in front of one's face : AT EYE LEVEL

12. New recruit : HIREE

13. Beginning : ONSET

18. Magazine subscription period : YEAR

19. Many microbrews : ALEs

24. "Stormy Weather" singer Horne : LENA

25. "Nothing special" : "SO-SO"

26. Bit of Google success : HIT. Easier on your teeth than Bit-O-Honey.

27. Sci-fi transports : UFOs

28. Veggie platter's lack : MEAT

29. Like "The X-Files" cases : PARANORMAL

33. Thumbs-up vote : AYE

34. For what __ worth : IT'S

35. Part of LAPD : LOS. (Los Angeles Police Department)

37. Ice cream buy : PINT. It still could be Edy's.

38. "Family Guy" creator MacFarlane : SETH

40. Wash-and-__ : WEAR

41. Prom attire : GOWN

44. Hair goo : GEL

46. Source of legal precedents : CASE LAW

48. Rear end : TUSH. I still LOL at the end of the clip.

50. "Thick & Fluffy" breakfast brand : EGGO

51. Big barrels : CASKS

52. Maine campus town : ORONO

53. Bete __ : NOIRE

54. Verboten things : NO-NOs

55. Weighty gold bar : INGOT

59. Weighty work : TOME

60. Pre-owned : USED

61. Rollerballs, e.g. : PENS

63. First lady? : EVE

64. Actor Danson : TED. He has gone from Cheers to CSI.

65. QB's scores : TDs

Argyle

Note from C.C.:

Happy Birthday to Pje (Pat), the milk man's daughter :-). You can read more about Pat here. She's been a quiet influence in our blog, always offering comfort when someone needs help.

Monday, September 29, 2014 Matt Skoczen

Theme: Good Rap - Three types of wrap I can stand.

17A. Boil out of the pot : BUBBLE OVER. Bubble wrap, my favorite.

27A. Present in lieu of cash : GIFT CERTIFICATE. Gift wrap.

48A. Doctors doing reconstructive work : PLASTIC SURGEONS. Plastic wrap.

64A. Director's "We're done," and hint to the starts of 17-, 27- and 48-Across : "THAT'S A WRAP"

Argyle here. Matt has given us a pleasant start to the week. A couple of spans and tight stacks all around.

Across:

1. Headliners : STARS

6. Prefix with final or trailer : SEMI

10. Ward of "CSI: NY" : SELA

14. "Wowie!" : "OH BOY!"

15. Frau's home : HAUS and 67A. Frau's mate : HERR

16. Medicine cabinet swab : Q-TIP

19. Sch. near the Rio Grande : UTEP University of Texas at El Paso.

20. Old Testament twin : ESAU

21. Leaves : GOES. The leaves are turning, getting ready to go.

22. Goethe classic : FAUST. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust is a tragic play in two parts: ... read more here.

23. Sun. message : SER. (sermon)

25. Shortening for pie-making : LARD

35. Genetics lab subject : RNA

36. Mix with a spoon : STIR

37. Hard to lift : LEADEN. Often used to describe one's extremities.

38. Where serve-and-volley tennis players win a lot of points : AT NET

40. Dict. entry : DEF. (definition)

42. Sturm und __ : DRANG. Tumult; turmoil; upheaval; Dunder and Blixem.

43. Attacks : SETS AT. "Sic 'em!"

45. Gin flavoring : SLOE

47. Neither here __ there : NOR

51. Verdi opera : AIDA

52. Turkish bigwig : AGA

53. Where to find Houston St. and Penn Sta. : IN NYC

56. Hammer or saw : TOOL

59. Stadium cheers : RAHs

63. Hawaii's "Valley Isle" : MAUI

66. Requests : ASKS

68. Backyard barbecue site : PATIO

69. Newsman Huntley : CHET

70. Celestial bear : URSA

71. Wield : EXERT

Down:

1. Tea brand with a lizard logo : SOBE

2. Consequently : THUS

3. "Dancing Queen" band : ABBA. Sing along!

4. Strong and healthy : ROBUST

5. Word segment: Abbr. : SYL. (syllable)

6. "Scram, fly!" : "SHOO!"

7. Roof overhang : EAVE

8. Rolled oats cereal : MUESLI. From the fine folks that also bring us spelt flour.

9. Jerusalem's land: Abbr. : ISR. (Israel)

10. Cop show wheels : SQUAD CAR

11. Caesar's disbelieving words : "ET TU...?"

12. Golfers' concerns : LIES

13. Date bk. entry : APPT. (appointment)

18. "Snowy" heron : EGRET

22. Breakfast sandwich item : FRIED EGG

24. Deliriously happy : ECSTATIC

26. CIO partner : AFL. The American Federation of Labor / Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL–CIO)

27. Clutch tightly : GRASP

28. "__ inside": chipmaker's slogan : INTEL

29. Classic orange soda : FANTA

30. Get __ of: throw out : RID

31. Rapunzel feature : TRESS

32. Hersey's "A Bell for __" : ADANO

33. Mortise insert : TENON

34. Some MIT grads : ENGRs. (engineers)

39. Charles Lamb, notably : ESSAYIST

41. Winter ailment : FLU

44. Three times daily, on an Rx : TID. (Latin: ter in die)

46. Tough tests : ORALS

49. Novelist Willa : CATHER. There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm. ~ Willa Cather

50. Auditory canal blocker : EARWAX. Don't stick 16-Across in there.

53. Colorful old Apple : iMAC

54. "Parsley is gharsley" poet Ogden : NASH

55. Microwave : NUKE

57. Paddles, e.g. : OARS. Noun or verb, either works.

58. Mexican's "other" : OTRA

60. Comic Johnson : ARTE

61. Word with spray or style : HAIR

62. Laundry challenge : SPOT

64. Day before Fri. : THU.

65. Swinger in the jungle : APE

Argyle

Tuesday, September 23, 2014 Jeffrey Wechsler

Theme: Quintessential Tuesday

20A. Period of meaningful interaction : QUALITY TIME

28A. "That's using your head!" : QUICK THINKING

46A. Planck's Nobel prize-winning formulation : QUANTUM THEORY. I know about as much about this as I do quarter-tones.

52A. Small musical interval sung in choral warmups : QUARTER-TONE. Classic dictionary entry. "quarter-tone : an interval equivalent to half of a semitone."

65A. Surreptitiously ... and a hint to 20-, 28-, 46- and 52-Across : ON THE QT

Argyle here. Big words Tuesday. Seven letter stacks in two corners. Two big chunks of black on the sides. All-over, not bad.

Across:

1. Reduce to mist : ATOMIZE

8. Insubstantial stuff : PAP

11. Intro deliverers : MCs. (master of ceremonies)

14. Short outing for a jogger : MILE RUN

15. From A to Z : ALL

16. The smile on a smiley face, say : ARC

17. Green gem : EMERALD

18. Where to leggo your Eggo? : TOASTER. Tinbeni is our toaster.

22. Having the wherewithal : ABLE. First thought? Rich.

26. Take to court : SUE

27. From square one : ANEW

33. Detach from the dock : UNMOOR

34. Sharply delineated, as a contrast : STARK

35. Egyptian snake : ASP

36. Actress Charlotte : RAE Or 60D. Stephen of "The Crying Game" : REA

38. __ Lanka : SRI. Tourist enjoying the beaches.

39. Scooby-__ : DOO

42. Living thing : BEING

44. Make responsible for, as chores : ASSIGN

48. Insulting remark : SLUR

50. Equal: Pref. : ISO

51. Carnivorous dinosaur, briefly : T REX

57. Let go : UNLOOSE

58. Movie equipment : CAMERAS

63. "O, __ fortune's fool!": Romeo : I AM (3.1.136)

64. Start to practice? : MAL. Malpractice.

66. 8-Down treaters: Abbr. : DRs. 8D. Waiting room waiters : PATIENTS

67. Get at a store : BUY

68. Traditional Yuletide quaff : WASSAIL

Down:

1. Soul, to Zola : ÂME. Zola, the French writer.

2. "A Christmas Carol" boy : TIM. Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit's boy. Keep him away from the wassail.

3. Bullfight "Bravo!" : "¡OLÉ!"

4. Debussy's "La __" : MER

5. Syria neighbor : IRAQ

6. Last letter of a pilot's alphabet : ZULU

7. Mark similar to a hyphen : EN DASH. Traditionally half the width of an em dash.

9. Very much : A LOT

10. Be in the game : PLAY

11. Checking conclusively, in chess : MATING. Another strange definition.

12. __ de cacao : CRÈME

13. Carpentry fastener : SCREW

19. Performed really poorly : STANK

21. San __ Obispo, California : LUIS

22. Color of water : AQUA

23. Cookout supply : BUNS

24. Walk on a bad knee, say : LIMP

25. Novelist Umberto : ECO

29. Divided nation : KOREA

30. Teach a skill to : TRAIN

31. Jeweler's purity unit : KARAT

32. Dublin-born : IRISH

37. In every aspect : ENTIRELY

39. Couturier Christian : DIOR

40. Shrek, for one : OGRE

41. Black stone : ONYX

42. Grand Canyon pack animal : BURRO

43. Sudden wind : GUST

45. Chess pieces and board, e.g. : SET

46. Reservations : QUALMS

47. Barnyard animal, in totspeak : MOO COW. Now for something really different.

48. Ink squirter : SQUID

49. Like some ancient calendars : LUNAR

53. Mummy's home : TOMB

54. Genesis twin : ESAU

55. Grandma : NANA

56. CPR providers : EMTS. (CardioPulmonary Resuscitation/Emergency Medical Technicians)

59. Canadian interjections : EHs

61. EPA concern : AQI. (Air Quality Index)

62. Arch city: Abbr. : ST. L. (St. Louis)

Argyle

Monday, September 22, 2014 Marti DuGuay-Carpenter

Theme: ¡Three Amigos! - Actually, besides their first names, this trio doesn't have much in common.

18A. Selling point for a house on the coast : OCEAN VIEW. Billy Ocean

25A. Sin forbidden by the Second Commandment : IDOL WORSHIP. Billy Idol

43A. Fortuneteller's tool : CRYSTAL BALL. Billy Crystal

55A. Cop's night stick, and what the beginnings of 18-, 25- and 43-Across could form : BILLY CLUB

Argyle here. A fun Monday from Marti. Fresh cluing and a few edgy words. My personal trouble spot was the cross of 45-Down(recognition) and 47-Across(spelling).

Across:

1. Southwestern plateaus : MESAs

6. "The jig __!" : IS UP

10. Equivalent, in France : EGAL. Liberté! Égalité! Fraternité!

14. Bucking beast : BRONC. He's thrown the 'O' off the back.

15. Brother of Abel and Cain : SETH

16. Prado hangings : ARTE. The Museo del Prado is the Spanish art museum in Madrid.

17. Yoga position : ASANA. My asana position.

20. Amble past : STROLL BY

22. Ranked in the tournament : SEEDED

23. Top bond rating : AAA

24. Red and Yellow : SEAs

30. Auditor of bks. : CPA

33. Crazes : MANIAs

34. Like the Oz woodsman : TIN. and no ice in sight.

35. Avoid like the plague : SHUN

36. Circular gasket : O-RING

37. Meat with eggs : HAM

38. Envelope closers : FLAPS. with ham and eggs.

39. Frozen sheet : FLOE

40. Watch pocket : FOB

41. One taking bets : BOOKIE

42. Aficionado : FAN

45. Crate piece : SLAT

46. Antlered critter : ELK

47. Lounging robe : CAFTAN

 

 

50. Hold a parking lot party : TAILGATE. 'Tis the season.

57. Get-go : ONSET

58. New York canal : ERIE

59. Inner Hebrides isle : IONA. Part of an archipelago off the west coast of mainland Scotland...and still part of the United Kingdom.

60. Appraised : RATED

61. Auctioned auto, often : REPO

62. Pirate's booty : SWAG. Pirates are still hanging around?

63. Jackets named for an English school : ETONS

Down:

1. Some CFOs' degrees : MBAs. (chief financial officer/Master of Business Administration)

2. Once, old-style : ERST

3. Fly like an eagle : SOAR

4. __ Domini : ANNO

5. Scamp : SCALAWAG. Also, scallywag; especially British, scallawag.

6. Weather map line : ISOBAR

7. Cabinet dept. head : SECY. (secretary of __)

8. Sport-__: off-road vehicle : UTE

9. Gradually introduce : PHASE IN

10. Overhangs around the house : EAVES

11. Crossword puzzle component : GRID

12. Suit to __ : A TEE

13. Lascivious : LEWD

19. Minimum-range tide : NEAP

21. Thailand neighbor : LAOS

24. Wedge of wood : SHIM

25. "Later!" : "I'M OFF!"

26. Alfalfa's sweetheart : DARLA

27. Bagel flavor : ONION

28. Connector of two points : LINE

29. Wild guesses : STABS

30. Grammy winner Khan : CHAKA. Chaka Khan "Ain't Nobody"(4:31)

31. School kid : PUPIL

32. Yosemite photographer Adams : ANSEL. Ansel Adams.

35. Untidy type : SLOB

37. "Joy to the World" songwriter Axton : HOYT. Selective list of Hoyt Axton songs, take a look. List

38. Traditional tales : FOLKLORE

40. Saint from Assisi : FRANCIS

41. "__ Ha'i": "South Pacific" song : BALI

43. Sculptor's material : CLAY

44. Lipton unit : TEA BAG

45. Fifth-cen. pope called "The Great" : ST. LEO. What made him great?

47. Driver with a handle : CBer. Citizens Band Radio

48. Suffix with million or billion : AIRE

49. Fix up and resell quickly : FLIP

50. Sashimi staple : TUNA

51. Tiny biting insect : GNAT

52. Regarding : AS TO

53. High schooler : TEEN

54. Scheduled takeoff hrs. : ETDs

56. Almost on "E" : LOW. (gas)

Argyle