Monday September 9, 2013 Jack McInturff

Theme: Shh! - The first words of all the theme entries are synonyms.

20A. Gentle leader's quality: QUIET STRENGTH. Thought of Mother Teresa.

37A. Devout petitions kept to oneself : UNSPOKEN PRAYERS. New term to me. Can you explain to me? Do they start with "Dear God..." also?  Jack used a plural because a grid-spanning 15 is easier to work than a 14, but it introduces an inconsistency to the theme set.

58A. Behind-the-scenes investor : SILENT PARTNER

C.C. here.

Dear Argyle was admitted to a VA hospital last Friday night. Foot ulcer. Like Boomer, he's a diabetic, so foot problem is very complicated and scaring. He should be back home later this week. Please keep him in your thoughts.

Monday puzzles always have simple themes and straightforward clues. Just look at the last few Down entries. What could be answers other than  IOWA, SKY & ONO?

 

Across:

1. The Crimson Tide's school, for short : BAMA. Alma mater of Alan, Marti's husband.

5. Delayed, as in traffic : STUCK

10. Boast : BRAG. How close were you to a hole-in-one? I hit the stick once.

14. Fe on the periodic table : IRON

15. Latin bears : URSAE

16. Bridle strap : REIN

17. Ditty : SONG

18. Lament over a loss : MOURN. Morneau has not been doing well with the Pirates. He was never the same after the concussion 3 years ago.

19. Light brown : ECRU

23. Cry of surrender : UNCLE

24. Practice for the LSAT, e.g. : PREP

25. Crescent component : ARC

28. Lou Grant portrayer : ED ASNER. Super grid-friendly letter combo, hence his frequent appearance in Xwords.

31. Tar pits locale : LA BREA. Tartar!

33. Cowboys and Indians, e.g. : TEAMS. Nice clue.

36. Lab gel made from seaweed : AGAR

43. Doughnut's middle : HOLE

44. Gets really wet : SOAKS

45. Voices one's view : OPINES

48. 401(k) alternative named for a Delaware sen. : ROTH-IRA

53. Like cool cats : HEP

54. 1986 Peace Nobelist Wiesel : ELIE

57. "The __ Sanction": Eastwood thriller set in the Alps : EIGER. Did you read the news about Eastwood and his wife spouse-swapped with their friends?

62. NYC or London area : SOHO

64. Bygone anesthetic : ETHER

65. Bottom of a shoe : SOLE

66. Be absolutely sure : KNOW

67. April Fool's antic : TRICK

68. "Mila 18" author Leon : URIS. I think Abejo read this book.

69. Jedi guru : YODA

70. '90s White House cat : SOCKS. Clinton's cat.

71. Confined, with "up" : PENT

Down:

1. Shellfish soup : BISQUE. Have some!

2. In the area : AROUND

3. Tennis great Seles : MONICA. Read her biography years ago. Can't remember much though.

4. Beings with halos : ANGELS

5. Kid's math homework : SUMS

6. Pace between a walk and a run : TROT

7. Seize, as power : USURP

8. Concerned person : CARER. Maybe it's mental. I just feel Boomer walks slower than before. He just told me he'll cut Tuesday and Friday morning pot games out of his weekly schedule to focus on his three league games.

9. Pet motel : KENNEL

10. One of TV's Mavericks : BRET. This stumped me.

11. Plug in, as a smartphone : RE-CHARGE

12. What you breathe : AIR

13. African antelope : GNU

21. 7:50, vis-à-vis 8:00 : TEN TO

22. Dean's list no. : GPA

26. Back : REAR

27. Valets park them : CARS

29. Comic strip shriek : EEK

30. Explorer John and comical Charlotte : RAEs

32. Howl at the moon : BAY

34. Letters after L : MNO

35. Trade jabs : SPAR

37. "Whoops" : UH OH

38. "Nah!" : NOPE

39. Haphazard, as workmanship : SLIPSHOD. SLAPDASH has the same meaning, right?

40. Pig holder : PEN

41. Former MGM rival : RKO

42. Daisylike fall bloomer : ASTER. So pretty.

46. Long, thin fish : EEL

47. Rains ice pellets : SLEETS

49. Asks boldly, as for a loan : HITS UP

50. Turn one's back on : IGNORE. Can you ignore her?

51. Land with a rod : REEL IN

52. Slap the cuffs on : ARREST

55. Emcee's speech : INTRO

56. Moral principle : ETHIC

59. Des Moines's state : IOWA. I can picture Husker Gary say "Is Rich OK?"

60. Quick kiss : PECK

61. Slow-moving vessels : ARKs

62. Big __ Country : SKY

63. Sean's mom Yoko : ONO

I have a question for all of you: The blog main post looks unusual when I woke up this morning. The right edge words all spill out. Comments section is fine.

Does the main post look alright on your screen? Please let me know in the Comments section. Thank you.

C.C.

1) Updated at 7:27am: Blogger software had some changes last night: all the right edge words were truncated. The old blog Template did not allow width adjustment, so I had to apply a new one.  It'll take us a few days to get used to it. Thanks for the understanding.

2) Updated at 2:27pm: I've reversed to the old Template. Header button just would not work in the new format. The right edge problem is miraculously gone!

Friday, August 2, 2013, Jack McInturff

Theme: O, U r such a punny guy.

What an elegant offering from one of our steady senior scribes, Jack Mac; as seen below the letter "O" is renimoved from the last word of a phrase and replaced with a "U" creating a new and whimsical phrase. All of this in a package of 2 13s, 2 15s, a 9 and a 5 letter hint. 69 letters and yet the rest of the fill includes some originality and sparkle, such as OFF MIKE, VALID ID, GET SORE and the almost related UNHUNG.

Back in the Friday saddle, thanks Boomer for the assist; let's get to it.

20A. Gap that's easy to bridge? : MINIATURE GULF. (13). Gulf= Golf. HG, are you a miniature golf whiz with all the big boy golf you play?

28A. Prize for neatest coloring? : KINDERGARTEN CUP. (15). Cup=Cop. ARNOLD.(2:16)

36A. Kiss while hiking? : TRAIL BUSS.(9). Buss=Boss. How many of us oldster thought of Ward Bond in Wagon Train, or Erik Fleming in Rawhide?

49A. Alien adopted by Herman and Lily? : THE GREEN MUNSTER.(15). Munster=Monster. I have had the pleasure of sitting at Fenway and watching balls hit over the famous left field fence. I love the visual of ET moving in with Fred Gwynne.

57A. "If you don't go to bed, Santa won't come," e.g.? : CHRISTMAS RUSE.(13). Ruse=Rose. This PLANT is in a family not related to Roses, and a threat to animals as our friend Gareth Bain could explain better; and the hint

64A. Words to a kidder, and a hint to how this puzzle's five longest answers were created : OH YOU.(5).

Across:

1. Track : OVAL. Did anyone watch the NASCAR race at Indy last weekend?

5. Put up : BUILD. A parking lot? What song?

10. Agile : SPRY. To irritate me, my children suggest I am quite spry. but not a 27D. Wire wearer : SPY.

14. Song in the musical "Kismet" : FATE. Do not know the play or tune, but how easy was this?

15. 1973 Stones ballad : ANGIE. 40 years ago, a hair band!

16. Small music group : TRIO. Music intensive today, who is your favorite, Kingston?

17. Custard concoction : FLAN.

18. Sticking point : THORN.

19. Big refs. : OEDS. OED: Oxford English Dictionary.

23. Chemical ending : IDE. Need a bromide yet?

24. Animal enclosure : PEN. Noun and verb.

25. They're found in mines and minis : SEAMS. Another interesting visual. CED I gave up after ten minutes looking for a girl in a mini in a gold mine.

33. Icelandic literary collection : EDDA. and the unrelated, 35A. Ice cream entrepreneur Joseph : EDY

34. Look down on the clouds, perhaps : SOAR.

41. Diving bird : AUK.

44. ___ vodka: ristorante phrase : ALLA. Tinman, do we mix any Vodka in our marinara?

45. Ally of Roderigo : IAGO. Interesting use of the word ALLY, as Iago was his own player.

54. Big name in beauty : ESTEE. Do your criticize her of Lauder?

55. That, in Madrid : ESO.

56. Inc. abroad : LTD.

62. Lion portrayer : LAHR. Some Oz, other than Amos.

65. "___ off?" : ON OR. Written by a parent with a child who keeps turning lights on and off.

66. It's not a big case : ETUI. Nice pun, and gist for every lawyer.

67. ___ lazuli : LAPIS. Semi-precious stone.

68. Sandy shade : ECRU.

69. Family fare letters : TV-PG.

70. Plato's market : AGORA. The Ancient Greek marketplace.

71. Soccer broadcaster Messing : SHEP. The goalkeeper for the NY Cosmos Soccer team, now talking about 'football. LINK.(4:32).

Down:

1. Not meant to be public : OFF MIKE. Fresh fill.

2. Airport security req. : VALID ID. don't you love IDID?

3. Over : AT AN END. Lots of multiple word entries today.

4. Filmmaker Riefenstahl : LENI. Hitler's filmmaker.

5. Cupcakes-to-be : BATTER. Cute clue.

6. Like curtains to be installed : UNHUNG. Be careful Lois.

7. Role for Marty Feldman : IGOR. That is pronounced EEEEgore.

8. Currency until 2002 : LIRE. In Italy.

9. Leader after Mao : DENG.  I leave any practical commentary to C.C. about this MAN. (From C.C.: Deng opened China to the outside world through his "Open Door Policy". He is famous for saying "It doesn't matter whether a cat is white or black, as long as it catches mice." Wiki explains it quite accurately: "In other words, he did not worry too much about whether a policy was capitalist or socialist as long as it improved the economy.")

10. Pinched : STOLEN. I hope the pinch was not.

11. Where some thank-yous are written : PREFACE. All perps, but now it makes sense.

12. Divested (of) : RID..

13. Howdies : YOS. Images of both Arnold and Sly in one puzzle, and juxtaposed two.

21. Clod : APE. Hmmmm.

22. False friends : USERS.

26. Sludge : MUD. Well that should be clear.

29. Latin case: Abbr. : DATive.

30. Guardian of Narnia : ASLAN.

31. Co-star of Carroll, Jean and Sally : ROB. Reiner, All in the Family.

32. Cross-shaped letter : TAU.

37. Not as prevalent : RARER.

38. Draft pick : ALE. Not by a sports team but customer at Hops & Pie.

39. Mer land : ILE. Mer=Sea in French.

40. One of the fam : SIS. She is a sib too.

41. Bolted down : ATE. Part of why Americans become obese, eating too fast. Fast Food, an oxymoron?

42. Hesitating sounds : UHS. Um, er....

43. Whopper topper : KETCHUP. Speaking of fast foods, and the antonym to 6D.

46. Unavailable, in a way : AT LUNCH. At Burger King it seems.

47. Become irritated : GET SORE. Aw, Wally don't get sore.

48. Cook's "Food's ready!" : ORDER UP. Ding!

50. Baseball's "Iron Horse" : GEHRIG. Wally Pipp's favorite backup.

51. Obama's "Dreams From My Father," e.g. : MEMOIR.

52. Olympics chant : USA USA.

53. Terrible twos cries : NOS.

58. City in Kansas : IOLA. Well this one is obscure but has great letters. LINK.

59. Go after, as flies : SHAG. baseball again, not Austin Powers.

60. Slip in the pool? : TYPO. Typing pool, very nice.

61. Some reddish deer : ROES. Learning moment. WATCH. and listen, (2:12)

62. Rent : LET.

63. Beach transp. : ATV. All Terrain Vehicle.

Well I made it, Thanks Jack for the laughs and thank all of you who read these words whether you comment or not. Happy August all, my youngest is coming to visit. Lemonade all squeezed out.

Tuesday, July 9, 2013 Jack McInturff

Theme: Quiet! - Each word in these two-word entries admonish us to hush. Sh! Sh!

20A. 12-gauge ammo : SHOTGUN SHELLS

33A. Little consideration : SHORT SHRIFT. Word Origin & History: O.E. scrift "confession to priest, followed by penance and absolution," verbal noun from scrifan "to impose penance" (see shrive). Short shrift was originally the brief time for a condemned criminal to confess before execution (1594); fig. extension to "little or no consideration" is first attested 1814.

40A. Woolgatherer's tool : SHEEP SHEARS. Windhover?

49A. Eye protection for a tot's bath : SHAMPOO SHIELD

"Argyle here", he whispers. "I found this easier than yesterday's but mum's the word."

Across:

1. Pequod captain : AHAB

5. Online diary : BLOG

9. "My stars!" : "EGADS!"

14. Sagan of "Cosmos" : CARL

15. Capital NW of Napoli : ROMA. In Italia.

16. Challenges : DARES

17. Tex-Mex fare : TACO

18. Piece of news : ITEM

19. Flash of starlight : GLINT. It could have been better clued, IMO.

23. Talc-to-diamond hardness scale inventor : MOHS. Friedrich.

24. Tic-tac-toe win : OOO

25. Hush-hush : COVERT. Snuck in a theme related?

28. Baseball family name : ALOU

30. Tiny, to tam wearers : SMA'. I wanted WEE.

35. Harbor vessel : TUG

36. Squares with dinner rolls : PATS. I hate when they're ice hard.

37. NFL fifth periods : OTs. (overtimes)

38. Olin of "Alias" : LENA. A crossword regular but not so much in the TV series, "Alias". She was in 27 out of 105.

39. Lode load : ORE

44. Road crew goo : TAR

45. Sharing pronoun : OURS

46. Janitor's tool : WET MOP

47. Jungle __ : GYM

48. Lip soother : BALM

55. Reason for some food recalls : E. COLI

56. Pro foe : ANTI

57. Turner in a barbecue : SPIT

59. Pin place : LAPEL

60. Genuine : REAL

61. "Contents could cause Dad to make breakfast" brand : EGGO

62. Pat down : FRISK

63. Indian dress : SARI

64. Bridge position : EAST

Down:

1. Play a part : ACT

2. Lukas of "Witness" : HAAS. The little Amish boy who witnesses a murder.

3. Elaborate entrance : ARCH

4. They may be late : BLOOMERS. Show us your bloomers!

 5. High beams : BRIGHTS

6. Sacred flower, in Hinduism : LOTUS

7. Prophetic sign : OMEN

8. Looker's legs : GAMS

9. Beat by a nose : EDGE OUT

10. Winemaking giant : GALLO

11. Seed pod : ARIL. Close enough.

12. Man caves, perhaps : DENS

13. Old jet set jet, briefly : SST

21. Legal wrong : TORT. I much prefer a torte.

22. Filly's foot : HOOF

25. 100 smackers : C SPOT. Snuck in a Roman numeral.

26. Butler's bride : O'HARA

27. Election participant : VOTER

28. __ liberales: universidad course : ARTES. (liberal arts)

29. Daffy Duck has one : LISP

30. Iron emission : STEAM

31. Canadian storywriter Alice : MUNRO. Perps. LINK to Wiki.

32. Shocked : AGASP

34. Gardener attacking weeds, say : HOER

38. "Hmm ..." : "LET ME SEE". Yes, what I said after the previous entry.

40. Coffee additive for the lactose intolerant : SOY MILK

41. Camel feature : HUMP

42. One of Kenya's official languages : SWAHILI

43. Prefix with port : HELI

47. Strong winds : GALES

48. Massive, relatively hot luminous body : B STAR

49. Wound reminder : SCAR

50. Pueblo Indian : HOPI

51. Boathouse equipment : OARS

52. Draft category : ONE A

53. Nancy Lopez's org. : LPGA. (Ladies Professional Golf Association)

54. Works on a trench : DIGS

55. Sprite : ELF

58. Little shaver : TOT

Argyle

Wednesday, Jun 12 2013, Jack McInturff

theme: FATHER FIGURES - each theme entry is an actor in a film with "Father" in its title.  timely theme, with father's day just around the corner. couldn't have been easy to fit all these full names in one grid. 

18a. "Father of the Bride" co-star : STEVE MARTIN. recently became a father, at 67.

26a. "Father Dowling Mysteries" star : TOM BOSLEY

34a. "Father Knows Best" star : ROBERT YOUNG

41a. "Father Goose" co-star : CARY GRANT

55a. "Father Murphy" star : MERLIN OLSEN

and a beautifully placed vertical crossing the center theme answer:

24d. Father's Day "award" : BEST DAD

melissa here. don't know if jack is a dad or not, but he deserves a relaxing day off for this one. (From C.C.: Jack is a 83-year-old grandpa.)

across

1. Bank offerings, briefly : CD'S. certificates of deposit.

4. Emmy winner Edie : FALCO

9. Stockholm native : SWEDE

14. Pewter with 80% tin : LEY. did not know that. wikipedia says it was used for items that did not come into contact with food or drink.

15. First husband of Bathsheba : URIAH

16. Hermit : LONER

17. Ques. response : ANS

20. Star on the stand : WITNESS. courtroom.

22. Mean : NOT NICE

23. It's uncertain when it's gray : AREA. nice clue.

24. Rite performed by a mohel : BRIS

25. USSR successor : CIS. commonwealth of independent states.

30. Force : DINT. not a word you hear often.

31. Cardinal and carmine : REDS. pretty.

32. "In that case, scram!" : THEN GO

37. Belief in one god : THEISM

39. Put in stitches : DARN. nice.

40. Disapproving sound : HISS. as in boo, hiss!

46. Freud's "The __ and the Id" : EGO

47. Cattle unit : HEAD

49. Out of the wind : ALEE

50. Brouhaha : RHUBARB. i didn't know these were synonyms, must start using this word.

52. One settling a score : AVENGER

57. Keats opus : ODE

58. First name in wieners : OSCAR. anthony wouldn't fit.

59. Carried : TOTED

60. Legal thing : RES. another obscure one for me. "An object, a subject matter, or a status against which legal proceedings have been instituted."

61. Marks on a manuscript : STETS

62. Reaches great heights : SOARS. like this.

63. LeShan who wrote "It's Better to Be Over the Hill Than Under It" : EDA

down

1. Use for scratching : CLAW AT

2. "GoodFellas" actor : DE NIRO

3. One may be used to pick Powerball numbers : SYSTEM. not my favorite clue.

4. Oft-blown circuit component : FUSE

5. Crafts partner : ARTS

6. Alibis, sometimes : LIES

7. Cleveland NBAer : CAValier.

8. Storywriter known for twists : O HENRY

9. Mattress supports : SLATS

10. Tattered : WORN

11. Like a Greek siren : ENTICING

12. Cold weather wing maintenance : DE-ICING. dig the rhyming.

13. Che, at birth : ERNESTO. guevara.

19. "Who, me?" : MOI

21. Arrest : NAB

27. Globes : ORBS

28. Appear : SEEM

29. Pres. or CEO : LDR. leader.

30. __ of iniquity : DEN

32. British Conservative's ancestor : TORY. political faction.

33. Unable to reach a verdict : HUNG

34. Natural or renewable supply : RESOURCE

35. Grafton's "__ for Outlaw" : O IS

36. Pirate's cry : YAR

37. Insulated container : THERMOS

38. Like Mount Everest : HIGHEST

41. Explorers John and Sebastian : CABOTS

42. Sought a seat : RAN. tricky.

43. Dan Quayle's successor : AL GORE

44. Had to have : NEEDED

45. Saintly Mother : TERESA

47. What hagglers split : HAIRS

48. Sea eagle : ERN

51. Sheep's sound : BLAT

52. Hammett hound : ASTA. dashiell hammet, author of the thin man series.

53. Swerve : VEER

54. Extremes : ENDS

56. Head of Hastings? : LOO. great.

melissa

 

Tuesday, May 7, 2013 Jack McInturff

Theme: Live Wire? - Three endings with a loose electrical connection.

20A. Defend a position : STAND ONE'S GROUND

33A. Walk-off home run, often : TIE BREAKER. It has to be in the bottom of the last inning.

40A. Explodes with rage : BLOWS A FUSE

47A. With "The," PBS show for kids, and a hint to the ends of 20-, 33- and 40-Across : ELECTRIC COMPANY

Argyle here. Although the theme is current, much of the fill is dated.

Across:

1. Help for the poor : ALMS

5. Buffalo bunches : HERDS. Strange visual.

10. Florida resort, familiarly : BOCA. (Boca Raton)

14. Quick look : PEEP

15. German sub : U-BOAT. The E-boat was a torpedo boat on top of the water.

16. Cowardly Lion actor : LAHR

17. Old Sinclair Oil rival : ESSO

18. "Throw __ From the Train" : MOMMA. 1987, with Danny DeVito and Billy Crystal.

19. Soap Box Derby state : OHIO. Where in Ohio, you ask. 28D. Soap Box Derby city : AKRON

23. Bind with a band : GIRD. They used to GIRD their loins a lot in days of old.

24. Pinup's leg : GAM

25. Water under the bridge : STREAM

28. One in a church chorus? : AMEN

30. Brit. fliers : RAF. (Royal Air Force)

35. Horne of jazz : LENA. The Lady Is A Tramp - Words and Music, 1948

36. Metallic mixture : ALLOY

37. Homie : BRO. Homie is a shortened version of homeboy, homeboy being your close friend. Bro is someone like a brother to you, relatively speaking.

38. Honda compact : CIVIC

39. Fast-talking : GLIB

42. PC panic button : ESC. Oh?

43. Rounded hammer end : PEEN

44. Filled flapjack-like food : CRÊPES

45. Assist : AID

46. Bow-toting deity : EROS

55. Put in cargo : LADE

56. Swashbuckler Flynn : ERROL

57. Space : AREA

58. Prepare, as rice : BOIL (From C.C. to Jayce: What are your favorite congee ingredients and toppings? I wonder slow cooker will be more effective rather than boiling them forever.)

59. Petty : SMALL

60. Swed. neighbor : NORW. Sweden/Norway

61. "The Thin Man" terrier : ASTA

62. Tones down : TAMES

63. Before long : SOON. The end.

Down:

1. "Tarzan" characters : APES

2. "__ we forget" : LEST

3. Colorado's __ Verde National Park : MESA

4. Toon fry cook in The Krusty Krab restaurant : SPONGEBOB. Full name, SpongeBob SquarePants.

5. "Just go along with what I said" : "HUMOR ME"

6. WWII investment : E BOND

7. "When in __ ..." : ROME. "... do as the Romans do" - Saint Ambrose

8. River projects : DAMS

9. Walk drunkenly : STAGGER

10. Come into one's own : BLOOM

11. Hawaii's most populous island : OAHU

12. Stubble spot : CHIN

13. Yankee slugger, familiarly : A-ROD

21. Bridget Jones's book : DIARY. 2001 British romantic comedy film.

22. Was on the ballot : RAN

25. __ fright : STAGE

26. Cultivates : TILLS

27. Thing of the past : RELIC

29. Ask for Friskies, maybe : [MEOW!]

30. Accelerate, as an engine : REV UP

31. Licorice-flavored seed : ANISE

32. Stands up to : FACES

34. Competent : ABLE

35. Cradle-to-grave stretches : LIFE SPANS

38. Billiards bounce : CAROM

40. Doctor's advice : BED REST

41. Uses a mouse wheel : SCROLLS

43. Poe's "The __ and the Pendulum" : PIT

45. Amtrak speedster : ACELA. A made-up word.

46. Pierre's school : ÉCOLE

47. Isle off Tuscany : ELBA

48. Cambodia neighbor : LAOS

49. Revise copy : EDIT

50. "Joy of Cooking" writer Rombauer : IRMA

51. Study all night : CRAM

52. Suffix with buck : AROO

53. Emperor after Claudius I : NERO

54. Show fatigue : YAWN. Sums it up well.

Argyle

Note from C.C.:

Here are four pictures of Kazie's pretty granddaughter Lea, who will be visiting Kazie in June. Lea's favorite thing to do now is roll over.

Friday March 29, 2013 Jack McInturff

(Note from C.C.: Today's blog is a collaborative effort between Lemonade & Boomer, who had another 300 on Monday. Five perfect games this season! Lemonade had set up the whole clue/answer list, analyzed the theme & wrote a few comments, but did not feel well enough to continue. He was sick the week before, then last week's trip to Colorado and cold weather did not help. Get well soon, Lemonade!)

Theme: What the H?

Jack is back and he has given a tricky letter(s) substitution, where the letters "TR" are removed from the start of the final word of four common phrases and replaced with "H" to create a new and humorous answer. There is also a unifier, of sorts.

16A. Hide cyberspace crimes? : COVER ONE'S (TR)HACKS. (13). I have no idea how hackers hack, but I know how trackers track.

27A. Amsterdam cops? : DUTCH (TR)HEAT (9). I am not one for going Dutch on a date; if she can afford it I am man enough to let her pay.

35A. Objects of poolside ogling? : SWIMMING (TR)HUNKS.(13).

47A. Hayseed that doesn't tip? : CHEAP (TR)HICK.

57A. NBA military appreciation initiative, and a hint to this puzzle's theme : HOOPS FOR TROOPS.

Across:

1. Beginning to bat? : ACRO.  A tricky beginning  ACROBAT, not a baseball reference.                       

5. Styptic stuff : ALUM. Since they made the razors better, I have not seen one in years but they still work, I imagine. LINK.

9. Leapfrog : FLIT. Jack will have to explain this one, as I do not see the connection, and I do not want to start a war of unPC definitions.

13. Cleaver kid : BEAV. Wally always called his little brother this. Another answer, I must skate around and hope we get some of Lois' perfect edgy style.

14. Collaborative website : WIKI.

15. Actress Anderson : LONI. Poor Burt is going down the tubes. (Starting Boomer... Beautiful Loni was from Highland Park Minnesota.

19. Macbeth or Hamlet : ROLE. Did any of our band ever play one of these?

20. Most cozy : HOMIEST.  Where Joe Mauer and Buster Posey play.

22. "Where ___": 1996 Beck hit : IT'S AT.

25. Mr. ___: Dr Pepper rival : PIBB.

26. Bemoan : RUE.  Also one of the Golden Girls.

30. "Barnaby Jones" star : EBSEN.  Buddy was originally cast as the tin man in "Wizard of Oz", but was allergic to the silver makeup.

32. Editor's mark : STET.  Add a "SON" and you have cologne.

33. Strong-legged bird : EMU.

34. Pendleton Act pres. : CAA. Chester A. Arthur.

40. Writer Marilyn ___ Savant : VOS ?!

41. Chambéry shout : CRI.  That's four three letter "words" in a row that are a bit vague.

42. Olive, for one : TREE.  If this were three letters, I would guess OYL.

44. Parting word : ADIEU.  "My best of friends ADIEU.  I can no longer stay with you.  I'll hang my heart on the weeping willow tree, and may the world go well with thee!"

49. Push for payment : DUN. 

50. Peppy : SPRY.

52. Malága to Cádiz dirección : OESTE (West).  One language is tough enough.

53. Like the L.A. Times Building : ART DECO.  I have never seen the building.  I thought Art Deco was the guy who played Santa Claus at the office Christmas party.  Or maybe that was Art VanDelay.

55. Nitwit : BOOB. I know a different clue for this word.

62. Broadway governess : ANNA."The King and I"?

63. The Supremes or Cream : TRIO.  Kingston and Chad Mitchell are my favorites.

64. Remote button : MUTE.  I use this frequently on Bert Blyleven Twins telecasts.

65. Honey drink : MEAD.

66. Realizes : SEES.

67. Victim of spoilage? : BRAT.  My son's name is Bret.  I named him correctly but I spelled it wrong. 

Down:

1. "Shark Tank" airer : ABC

2. Corp. leader : CEO

3. ___ 4: Toyota SUV : RAV

4. Like some imaginations : OVER-ACTIVE.  I'll never admit it though.

5. MP's concern : AWOL.  "Where to get donuts" didn't fit.

6. Pickup opener : LINE.  Joey on Friends used "How you doin'",  But I think you also need to be rich and look like him.

7. Ho's instrument : UKE.  The Uke was invented in Portugal, not Hawaii. But the Hawaiians figured out what to do with it.

8. Cause of a big slice : MISHIT.  I can slice even when I hit it well. Careful how you say this word.

9. Mardi Gras torch : FLAMBEAU.  Never heard of this.  What do they call the shiny beads?

10. Focal points : LOCI

11. Cartoonists, at times : INKERS.  Okay, and other times as an ST on the front.

12. Offer to one who's been recently blessed? : TISSUE.  Or peeled an onion.

17. "Goodbye, Columbus" author : ROTH (Philip). My clue would be Hall of Fame PBA bowler Mark.  Now recovering from a stroke at a young age. 

18. Fireside shelf : HOB

21. Common base : TEN.  OR - the pin that's most common to leave.

22. Points a finger at : IDS.  The IDS Tower is still the tallest building in Minneapolis.

23. Sounds of disdain : TUTS.

24. Difficult spot : STEW.  The beef kind tastes the best.

25. Potbellied : PAUNCHY.  Middle age dilemma.  Eat your vegetables.

28. Clothes lines : HEMS

29. Brt. recording heavyweight : EMI

31. Peace rally slogan : BAN THE BOMB.  In the 60s, folks were building shelters.  Thank God we never had to use them.  But I often wondered why someone would stay underground and eat thirty days worth of food, only to return above ground to find that all of the Target stores and bowling centers were gone. 

34. Hairy "pet" : CHIA.  This replaced the pet rock as a Christmas present for in-laws.

36. Clicking site : MOUSE PAD.  Also the place where the mouse lives.  My garage was a mouse pad this winter.  I got them though.  They should have built a shelter.

37. Ph.D. seeker's exam : GRE

38. Brooklyn Nets forward Humphries : KRIS.  Originally from my home town, Hopkins, Minnesota.  55343

39. Dissenting group : SECT. 

43. Barely earn, with "out" : EKE

44. Oklahoma city : ADA.  Also a city in Northern MN.

45. Duke's home : DURHAM.  Also home of the minor league Bulls. Great Movie, remember Crash Davis?

46. Chant : INTONE

47. Seals's partner : CROFTS.  Originally Darrell, aka Dash.  Summer Breeze makes me feel fine.  Still waiting this year.

48. In need : POOR

51. Mac alternatives : PCs

54. Spanish address : DONA.  On a wagon, Bound for market, There's a calf with a mournful eye.

55. Creamy spread : BRIE

56. Early Nebraskans : OTOS - This is a great Band of Native Americans.  They were known as Southern Sioux, and settled near what is now the SD / NE border on the Missouri River.  Brule, South Dakota is the small town there, with a nine hole golf course and some of the best fishing in the Midwest. 

58. Pay dirt : ORE

59. Word of sharing : OUR

60. Class-conscious org.? : PTA - Harper Valley had an issue with theirs.

61. Prepared : SET - Three games of bowling is now called a set. We used to call it series. I guess either works for me.

Lemonade & Boomer