google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Janice Luttrell

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Showing posts with label Janice Luttrell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Janice Luttrell. Show all posts

Jul 26, 2016

Tuesday, July 26, 2016 Janice Luttrell

Theme: Festival Seating - or the opening bell at Macy's on Black Friday; don't get caught in the stampede.

20A. "SportsCenter" co-anchor : HANNAH STORM

56A. Extreme onset of anxiety : PANIC ATTACK

11D. Overdraft fee, e.g. : BANK CHARGE

29D. Caffeine jitters : COFFEE RUSH

Argyle here and so is Janice again but no reveal. Even less 3-letter entries than Monday's. Remarkable. I'll add Hannah Storm's picture here.


Across:

1. Willy Loman's favorite son : BIFF. I know Biff the Bully from Back to the Future.

5. Surrounded by : AMID

9. Site with a "Find a Doctor" section : WEB MD

14. Recline lazily : LOLL

15. Ricky Martin's "Livin' La Vida __" : LOCA

16. Firefighter Red : ADAIR. He was famous for snuffing out oil well fires.

17. Jai __ : ALAI

18. Ajar : OPEN

19. Like the yolk in Eggs Benedict : RUNNY. Do you like them runny? I prefer a little set to them.

23. Kenan's comedy partner : KELWiki. I must be too old to find them funny.

24. Pottery material : CLAY

25. Uproar : OUTCRY

27. Microfilm unit : FICHE. You needed a reader.


30. Tuba sound : [OOM-PAH]

32. To whom Lennon's "Woman" is dedicated : ONO. Yoko.

33. Bit of shuteye : CATNAP

36. Cheers from the stands : RAHs

39. Sharable PC files : PDFs. (Portable Document Format)

41. Maker of candy "pieces" : REESE. Yum! Straight out of the freezer on a hot day ....

42. Yorick's skull in "Hamlet," e.g. : PROP. "Alas, poor Yorick"

43. Waiting room seat : SOFA

44. "Location, location, location," to a real estate agent : MANTRA

46. Test for M.A. seekers : GRE. (Graduate Record Examination)

47. Playwright Albee : EDWARDWho's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

49. Deli loaf : BREAD

51. Cybermoniker : USER ID

53. Word with map or code : AREA

55. "Morning Edition" broadcaster : NPR. (National Public Radio)

62. Unrefined : CRUDE

64. Uproars : ADOs. Outcries.

65. Better __ ever : THAN. Better than sliced deli loaf.

66. Cutting beam : LASER

67. "Sommersby" actor Richard : GERE

68. Prefix with dextrous : AMBI

69. Spirit of a people : ETHOS

70. Beach cover : SAND

71. Tree house : NEST

Down:

1. Not at all thrilling : BLAH

2. City in southeast Kansas : IOLA


3. Spanish dessert : FLAN

4. Shrink back : FLINCH. A fast shrink.

5. Hi and bye on Lanai : ALOHA

6. Sister of Peter Rabbit : MOPSY

7. Rapper-turned-actor : ICE-T

8. Five-O detective's nickname : DANO. The controversy here. Add to it if you care.

9. Get ready in the bullpen : WARM-UP

10. Dean's URL ender : .EDU

12. One who digs hard rock? : MINER

13. How deadpan humor is delivered : DRYLY

21. Actor Guinness : ALEC

22. "__ Room": longtime kids' show : ROMPER. 1953 to 1994

26. Waterproof cover : TARP

27. Natty dressers : FOPs

28. __-European : INDO

30. Without letup : ON END

31. Tobacco kiln : OAST. We see it used to dry hops more commonly.

34. Doomed Spanish fleet : ARMADA


35. Drop on a cheek : TEAR



37. Israeli dance : HORA

38. Went too fast : SPED

40. __ City: Baghdad suburb : SADR. Formerly known as Saddam City.

45. Aid in a bad way : ABET

48. Windshield cleaners : WIPERS

50. Wicker material : RATTAN

51. One who might call you his niece : UNCLE

52. Fat-avoiding Jack : SPRAT, but not his wife who could eat no lean.

53. Part of a squirrel's stash : ACORN


54. Demolished, in Devon : RASED. It would be nice to visit before all the old houses are gone.


57. Reminds ad nauseam : NAGS

58. Inspiration : IDEA

59. Woeful words : "AH, ME"

60. Street fleet : CABs. Neat.

61. Make mittens, say : KNIT

63. "Gloria in Excelsis __" : DEO


Argyle

Jul 20, 2016

Wednesday, July 20, 2016 Janice Luttrell

Theme - HIGH TIMES.   The first word of common two-word phrases can follow the word HIGH to make other recognizable, in-the-language phrases.

Lets start with the unifier --  24 D. Top-of-the-line, and what each of the four longest puzzle answers begins with? : HIGH END.   Indicating merchandise with a large price tag, presumably justified by comparable quality or some other mark of desirability.  Let's see how it fits with the theme entries

3 D. Contact skating sport : ROLLER DERBY.   A roller skating race on a track between two 5-member teams.   Each team has a designated jammer, who attempts to score points by lapping members of the other team.  The teams attempt to assist their own jammer while hindering the other teams jammer.  The result is mayhem.

A HIGH ROLLER is a big spender or one who places large bets.

9. Act too quickly : JUMP THE GUN.   An expression derived from racing events, where the start of the race is announced with a piston shot.  One who starts too soon acts too quickly and can be disqualified.

The HIGH JUMP is an athletic event in which competitors jump over a horizontal bar.

27. Kind of tackle made illegal in the NFL in 2005 : HORSE COLLAR.   A dangerous method of tacking consisting of grabbing inside the back of another player's collar or shoulder pads and dragging him backwards to the ground.

To be on one's HIGH HORSE is to act in an arrogant and disdainful manner.

31. Cartoon bird that first appeared in "Fast and Furry-ous" : ROAD RUNNER.  Here's a clip from the 1949 cartoon.




To take the HIGH ROAD is to behave in a morally superior manner, as for example, to avoid being drawn into acting negatively.   Probably not compatible with the previous theme entry.

Hi gang - JazzBumpa here to explore today's offering.  Janice Luttrell has given us a rather unusual grid with a couple horizontal 9-stacks.  But the theme answers are all vertical 10's and 11's.   This inevitably leads to a large number [25] of three-letter fill, due to grid constraints.  But the average word length is 4.92, solidly in the Wednesday pocket.  Why arrange it this way?  Each theme word that combines with the unifier is at the HIGH END of its fill.   So the theme not only works on its own; it also illustrates itself graphically.  Most elegant!

Let's see what other goodies we can uncover.

Across

1. Dropped the ball : ERRED.   Misplaying the ball is one way to make an ERROR in baseball.  Throwing inaccurately is another.

6. Pantry pest : ANT.   They bug me.

9. Puts in a cooler : JAILS.  American slang

14. Successor of Pope John X : LEO VI.   His term ran from ca. June, 928 until his death in ca. February 929.  

15. Like many indie films : LOW BUDGET.

17. "You Be __": 1986 Run-D.M.C. hit : ILLIN'.   Whateva'.

18. Dr. Brown's classic drink : CREAM SODA.   Rated good, not great.

19. Pasadena institute : CAL TECH.   The California Istitute of Technology, a private university specializing in science and engineering.

21. Mysterious power : ESP.   Extra-Sensory Perception.   The ability - if you believe that sort of thing - to acquire information without using the known physical senses, including such psychic phenomena as telepathy, clairvoyance and precognition.

22. Slush Puppie maker : ICEE.   Producer of frozen beverages under the ICEE and Slush Puppie brand names.

23. Little snicker : HEH.   Not to be confused with a small candy bar.

25. Cries out for calamine : ITCHES.   As from a bug bite or other skin irritation.

30. Three times, in an Rx : TER.

31. Notes after do : RE-MI.   In the English language version of solmization, these are among certain syllables assignment to musical scale steps.  

32. Prefix for "time" : CHRONO -.   From the Greek god CHRONOS, a personification of time.

33. __-wop music : DOO.  A pop music vocal style originating in the U.S. during the 50's characterized by close harmonies and often using nonsense syllables in the main line or the accompaniment.



35. Starting device: Abbr. : IGN.   Ignition, for internal combustion engine powered vehicles.

37. Belgian banknotes : EUROS.   All over Europe.

38. Speedmaster watchmaker : OMEGA.  This is a line of CHRONOGRAPH [time display plus stop watch] wrist watches.  They have been worn by U. S. astronauts during NASA's Gemini 4 and Apollo 11 missions.  It is the only watch qualified for extra-vehicular activity.

40. __ Na Na : SHA.  A retro doo-wap singing group, and also their TV show of the same name, that ran from 1977 to '81.   Their name is derived from this song, originally recorded by the Silhouettes in 1957.


Are you picking up some mini-themes?

41. Gypsum painting surface : GESSO.   A mixture of pigment, gypsum and/or chalk with a binder used a primer to prepare a wood of canvas painting surface.

42. Whittled : PARED.  Trimmed down, either literally or figuratively.

43. President pro __ : TEM.   The second highest ranking official in the U. S. Senate, typically the most senior member of the majority party.  According to the Constitution, the Vice president of the U. S. is the President of the Senate.   Theoretically, the President Pro Tem acts in his absence. In practice, though, neither person actually presides over the Senate.   This responsibility is rotated among junior senators of the majority party, to give them procedural experience - or, more likely, because the senior members foist it upon them..

44. Salt Lake City collegian : UTE.   One who matriculates at the University of Utah.

45. Remains in the fire? : EMBERS.  Last glowing bits that will soon be ashes.   Nice play on "remains."

47. Wolfgang's veto : NEIN.   No in Germany - or Austria.

49. Baseball uniform part : CAP.



52. Doesn't go for the green, in golf : LAYS UP.   Deliberately shoots short of the green, or to avoid a hazard, as a safety play, hoping to have a better opportunity on the next shot.

53. U.K. military award : DSO.   Distinguished Service Order, a military decoration awarded to officers for meritorious service in wartime.

54. Buckwheat noodle : SOBA.   From the Japanese word for buckwheat.



55. Earn after taxes : NET.   Take home pay.

57. "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" autobiographer Maya : ANGELOU.  [1928-1914]  American poet, playwright and civil rights activist.

59. Writer of medical thrillers : ROBIN COOK. [b 1940] His novels, many of which have become best sellers, sometimes explore controversial topics.

64. Book with interstates : ATLAS.    Book of maps

65. Like California, to a Hawaiian : STATESIDE.   Referring to the continental U. S. from outside the country, or from the detached States.

66. Gape : STARE.   Specifically to do so open-mouthed, as from amazement.  Vide supra.

67. One in a cast : ACTOR.  It's traditional to tell an actor "break a leg" before the performance.  If taken literally, could lead to a double meaning.

68. WKRP's Nessman : LES.  portrayed by actor  Richard Sanders.


69. Pasture groups : HERDS.   Of cattle, presumably.

Down


1. Draw out : ELICIT.  To cause a reaction by one's own action.

2. Tighten, as sneakers : RELACE.  And retie.

4. Party-planning site : EVITE.   Check it out.

5. Use the good china, say : DINE.   As opposed to chowing down, which could just as easily involve paper plates and plasticware, or merely hovering over the sink.

6. Lead-into-gold practitioner : ALCHEMIST.  Using the BASIC principle of purification to achieve gnossis [mystical enlightenment,]  an ALCHEMIST strove to transmute base metals into noble metals, create panaceas, and achieve immortality,   Not sure any was ever successful.

7. Negative connector : NOR.   Neither's companion.

8. Overly cute, to a Brit : TWEE.  What would we say, STATESIDE?  Cutesy?

10. Source of much website revenue : ADS.   Annoyances, to my way of thinking.

11. "Need __ on?" : I GO.   Yes - tell me more!

12. Had no one to catch : LED.  As in a race of some sort.

13. BART stop, e.g. : STAtion.

16. Rudimentary : BASIC.   Or fundamental.

20. Revolutionary Guevara : CHE. [1928 - 1967] An Argentine Marxist revolutionary, diplomat and military theorist who became a major figure in the Cuban revolution. 

26. Dressing holder : CRUET.    A flat-bottomed vessel with a narrow neck, a stopper, and possibly an integral spout.

28. Hall of Famer Slaughter : ENOS. [1916-2002]   His career spanned 1938-1959, interrupted by military service from 1943-5.   He was a 10-time all star and played in the World Series 5 times.

29. Only fair : SOSO.  Mediocre.  

34. Fancy moldings : OGEES. S-shaped double curves.

36. Some first-born children : NAMESAKES.  They are named after ancestors or older relatives.

38. Volkswagen rival : OPEL.  A German auto company that is a subsidiary of GM, headquartered in Rüsselsheim.

39. Doll's cry : MAMA.

46. Short job details? : SPECS.   Here, it's the designation of the job details that is short, not the job itself.

48. Electrified particle : ION.   Hydrogen atom: "I seem to have lost my electron."  Chemist:  "Are you sure?"   Hydrogen atom: "I'm positive."

50. On the train : ABOARD.  On board, probably influenced by Old French.

51. Stops to think, say : PAUSES.  Causes a slight break in the action.

54. Luigi's lucky number? : SETTE.   Seven in Italian.

56. Work very hard : TOIL.  

58. Deep cut : GASH.

59. Zimbabwe neighbor: Abbr. : Republic of South Africa.

60. Non-Rx : Over The Counter.

61. Night flier : BAT.   Effective mosquito controller, too.

62. Olympics skater Midori : ITO.   The first female to complete the triple axel in competition in 1988.  It became her signature move.



63. Neruda wrote one to salt : ODE.   .  .  .  sprinkling vital light upon our food .  .  .

There you have it.   Very nicely done puzzle, with some extra treats inside.  I liked a lot.  Hope you did, too.

Cool Regards!
JzB



Jul 5, 2016

Tuesday, July 5, 2016 Janice Luttrell

Thene: No Reveal Tuesday - Duties of a prep cook.

10D. Fail to advance to a subsequent round : MISS THE CUT

20A. Martial arts wood-breaking move : KARATE CHOP

29D. Six-faced puzzle : RUBIK'S CUBE

53A. Shady advantage for a craps shooter : LOADED DICE

"Chop" refers to cutting foods into pieces that are not necessarily even, but all about 1/2" in diameter. "Cube" means to cut food into pieces that are even, like a square. "Dice" means to cut food into even, small squares about 1/4" in diameter.

Argyle here with my Ginsu at the ready. I felt this pinwheel was an apt Tuesday.

Across:

1. Like a three-dollar bill : BOGUS. The un-pc word fit also.

6. Schedule opening : SLOT

10. "Welcome" sites : MATS

14. Take over forcibly : USURP

15. Surrounding radiance : AURA

16. One with star power : IDOL

17. __ apso: dog : LHASA

18. Touchpad toucher : USER

19. California's __ Valley : SIMI

22. Plant generator : SEED. How does your garden grow?

23. All-purpose vehicle, for short : UTE

24. Like some angles : OBTUSE. Do NOT call Warden Norton this word~!



26. Marble rye pattern : SWIRLS

30. Rental period : MONTH

32. __ New Guinea : PAPUA. Some difference from Simi Valley.

 
33. Employment agency listing : JOB

34. Barbecue brand : WEBER. So barbecue can mean the grill but if you were wondering....

38. Gulf States native : ARAB. NOT the Gulf of Mexico states.

39. "Wheel of Fortune" purchase : AN I

40. Deep sleep : COMA

41. Newspapers and such : MEDIA

43. "I agree" : "YES"

44. Language of ancient Carthage : PUNIC. Wikipedia

45. Word before Kat or Glue : KRAZY. The Kat came way before the glue.

47. Place to chow down : EATERY

48. Rumormonger's output : GOSSIP

51. Grain bristle : AWN. Wild rye.

52. Price-per-barrel org. : OPEC. (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries)

60. Prego rival : RAGU

61. Gumbo pod : OKRA

62. Burger and fries, e.g. : ORDER

63. Get a good grip on : GRAB

64. Hurt seriously : MAIM

65. King or tsar : RULER

66. To be, in Versailles : ÊTRE

67. Tournament passes : BYEs

68. Bottomless chasm : ABYSS

Down:

1. Cheapest way to buy, with "in" : BULK

2. Workplace watchdog: Abbr. : OSHA. (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

3. __ gum: thickening agent : GUAR

4. Bear in two constellations : URSA

5. Kitchen flipper : SPATULA

6. Pasta cook's potful : SAUCE

7. Rife with vegetation : LUSH

8. Three-ply cookie : OREO

9. Silvery game fish : TARPON

11. "Farewell, chérie" : "ADIEU"

12. Dictionaries, encyclopedias, and the like : TOMEs

13. Playground feature : SLIDE

21. X-files subjects, briefly : ETs

25. FYI relative : BTW. "for your information"/"By the way"

26. E-junk : SPAM

27. Hard finish? : WARE

28. Tablet with a Smart Keyboard attachment : iPAD

30. Monopoly game need : MONEY

31. Japanese decorative belts : OBIs

33. Hip-hopper who married Beyoncé : JAY Z. Shawn Corey Carter.

35. Dog biscuit shape : BONE

36. Gulf States leader : EMIR

37. Risqué : RACY

42. Jackie O's second : ARI

44. Box opener of myth : PANDORA

46. Poise : APLOMB

47. Woolly female : EWE

48. Narrow canyon : GORGE


49. Eye-fooling pantings : OP-ART

50. Popeye's creator : SEGAR

51. First one-term president : ADAMS. John.

54. Thumbs-up : OKAY

55. R&B vocalist India.__ : ARIE



56. Beat but good : DRUB

57. Without much thought : IDLY

58. So-so grades : CEEs

59. Transposes digits, say : ERRs

Argyle


Jun 21, 2016

Tuesday, June 21, 2016 Janice Luttrell

Theme: Thereby Hangs a Tail - A tale of a jumbled TAIL.

21A. "Let's say we're even" : CALL IT A WASH

54A. It's all in your mind : MENTAL IMAGE

3D. Off-ramps : EXIT LANES

34D. Sudden downturns, and a literal hint to this puzzle's circles : TAILSPINS

Argyle here. The letters of TAIL are spun into different orders. I found this not as intriguing as Monday's offering but still quite nice. I hope our regulars would catch the meaning of the reveal and find the permutations even without the circles.

Across:

1. Think tank nuggets : IDEAs

6. Party freebies : SWAG

10. Hurricane response org. : FEMA. (Federal Emergency Management Agency)

14. Confusion : MIX UP

15. Shakespearean villain : IAGO. (Othello)

16. Ink color, to Shakespeare : EBON

17. Flower symbolizing freshness : DAISY

18. Turkish money : LIRA

19. Barnes & Noble reader : NOOK

20. Sandwich initials : BLT

24. Some corporate jets : LEARS

26. Internet hookups? : E-DATES

27. "Oh my goodness!" : "DEAR ME!"

29. Like much barley soup : BEEFY

31. Marriott competitor : OMNI

32. Tuneful : ARIOSE. This was seen on a Sunday back in September.

34. Line on a restaurant receipt : TIP

37. Slice of pie : PIECE

39. Car starter: Abbr. : IGNition

40. Bitcoin, e.g. : E-CASH

42. UFO crew, supposedly : ETs

43. "Golly!" : "BY GOSH!". Will we have to hear about this being sacrilege from anon again?

46. Like some garage floors : OILY

47. Raise aloft : HOIST

48. "How do you like them __?!" : APPLES

50. Baltimore athlete : ORIOLE

53. What undercover cops may wear : WIRES. Spy stuff.

57. Fido's foot : PAW

60. Proactiv+ target : ACNE

61. Eins, zwei, __ : DREI. ...und es ist ein zwei drei Schläge Sie auf dem alten Ballspiel sind out.

62. Suspected perp's story : ALIBI bolstered by 58D. Provide a fake 62-Across for, e.g. : ABET

64. Downpour that can hurt : HAIL

65. Has a snack : EATS

66. Rolled to hold fries, as paper : CONED

67. Does impressions of : APES

68. Bug repellent ingredient : DEET

69. Rapidity : HASTE

Down:

1. Website with movie trivia : IMDb. (Internet Movie Database)

2. Use a rotary phone : DIAL

4. Vienna's land: Abbr. : AUStria

5. Surveillance device : SPYCAM. More spy stuff.

6. Window shelves : SILLS

7. Cry miserably : WAIL

8. Prefix with culture : AGRI. Agriculture.

9. Chin growths : GOATEEs

10. Green Monster ballpark : FENWAY

11. WWII German torpedo craft : E-BOAT. The submarines were U-boats.

12. Bullwinkle, for one : MOOSE. Rocky's friend.

13. Egyptian crosses : ANKHs

22. __ rug: small carpet : AREA

23. Magazine revenue source : AD FEE

25. Actor Dane of "Grey's Anatomy" : ERIC. Dr. Mark Sloan.

27. Lowdown : DOPE. Info that isn't as dumb as it sounds.

28. Exude : EMIT

29. Intolerant sort : BIGOT

30. Years on end : EONS

33. Tractor trailers : RIGS

35. Dot on the blue part of a map : ISLE



36. Sci. class : PHYSics

38. Deadly African virus : E-BOLA

41. Handle it as well as one can : COPE

44. Produced, as crops : YIELDED. That bottom land has produced/yielded a bumper crop three years running.

45. Reagan's first secretary of state : HAIG. Al “I’m in charge here” Haig

47. Monopoly buys : HOTELS

49. Lead the flock : PREACH

50. City name famously used by Peyton Manning when calling signals : OMAHA



51. Summarize : RECAP

52. Navel type : INNIE

53. Slacks measure : WAIST. at the innie.

55. "Dies __": hymn : IRAE

56. Ration (out) : METE

59. Like EEE shoes : WIDE

63. Mauna __ : LOA

Argyle


Jun 6, 2016

Monday, June 6, 2016 Janice Luttrell

Theme: Fresh start to the week - The start of the unifier can also be the start to the start of the theme entries.

17A. Enter like a debutante : BREEZE INTO. Fresh Breeze.

23A. Keep a lawn moist : WATER THE GRASS. Fresh Water

53A. Deflate the overconfidence of : CUT DOWN TO SIZE. Fresh Cut.

63A. New beginning ... and what the first words of 17-, 23- and 53-Across can literally have : FRESH START

Argyle here. I started an expo but spent my time on the write-up instead.

Across:

1. Single-celled lab specimen : AMEBA

6. Sultan of __: Babe Ruth : SWAT

10. Machine-mixed ice-cream beverage : MALT. Okay, snack time. 30A. Ring-shaped fried veggies : ONIONS. 40A. Round veggie : PEA. 69A. Roast, on le menu : RÔTI(rôti de bœuf). 44D. Asian dish topped with crushed peanuts : PAD THAI. 46D. Cereal served hot : OATMEAL. 50D. Fish eggs : ROE. 51D. Absorbs with bread, as gravy : SOPS UP. Some poi? 67D. Island party : LUAU. Thirsty? 21A. Toga party barrel : KEG

14. Sun-bleached : FADED

15. Pass in soccer but not in football : KICK

16. Singer India.__ : ARIE. 61 Rampy, if you're still with us, there's a nice Corvair in the video.



19. Debussy's "Clair de __" : LUNE



20. Focus of psychoanalysis : SELF

22. Vinyl collectible : ALBUM

27. Comedy duo Key & __ : PEELE. Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele.

29. Midday snooze : SIESTA

32. __ on the back : PAT

33. Sting operation : TRAP

37. Where Hillary was a sen. : NYS. (New York State)

38. Airer of old films : TCM. (Turner Classic Movies)

42. Best pitcher in the rotation : ACE

43. Shocked reaction : GASP

45. Brazilian port : RIO

The beach looks clean here.

47. Search __: online tool : ENGINE

49. WrestleMania venues : ARENAs
 
52. Electroshock weapon : TASER

57. __ of the Union address : STATE

58. Velocity meas. : MPH

59. Pilate's "Behold!" : "ECCE!"

62. Georgia __ : TECH. Georgia Institute of Technology, one of the oldest and most respected polytechnical universities, is in Atlanta.



66. Vicinity : AREA

68. Hog hangouts : STIES

70. Shrill bark : [YELP!]

71. "Peter Pan" girl : WENDY

Down:

1. Homes for mil. jets : AFBs. (Air Force Base)

2. Female horse : MARE

3. Flower in a "Sound of Music" song title : EDELWEISS



4. Bovine hybrid : BEEFALO. Leftover from Sunday's puzzle?

5. Wood shaper with a broad blade : ADZ

6. Slalom racers : SKIERS

7. Men's dress shoe : WINGTIP

8. Work onstage : ACT

9. Boxing ref's ruling : TKO. (technical knockout)

10. Teen hanging out among shoppers : MALL RAT

11. Netherlands Antilles resort island : ARUBA

12. Lucy's blanket-toting brother : LINUS. "Peanuts" Their last name is van Pelt.

13. Swarms (with) : TEEMS

18. __ out: barely make : EKE

22. Ten-percenter: Abbr. : AGT. (agent)

24. Circus covering : TENT

25. Unlikely auto trade-in : HEAP. They have been known to have been donated to charities with a considrable inflated value.

26. Lauder of cosmetics : ESTÉE

27. Vintage video game : PONG

28. One-named Irish singer : ENYA. She did "Orinoco Flow" and Orinoco was in Sunday's puzzle.(part of a clue)

31. Carpentry fastener : SCREW

34. Engage in high jinks : RAISE CAIN

35. Unpopular spots in school? : ACNE

36. Social equal : PEER

39. Wisc. neighbor : MINN.

41. Not in favor of : ANTI

48. Texarkana daily : GAZETTE

53. Certain red giant : C STAR

54. In __: not yet born : UTERO

55. "Be silent," in music : TACET. Akin to TACIT.

56. "Be silent!" : "SHH!"

60. Rep on the street : CRED. (credibility)

61. Website featuring handicrafts : ETSY.com

63. Angler's lure : FLY

64. Deeply regret : RUE

65. NNE's opposite : SSW

Argyle

May 30, 2016

Monday, May 30, 2016 Janice Luttrell

Theme: Murky Monday

20A. Chicago bluesman nicknamed for the creek he played in as a child : MUDDY WATERS

56A. Ill-gotten gains : FILTHY LUCRE

11D. Greeting from an affectionate dog : SLOPPY KISS

29D. Fast one : DIRTY TRICK

Argyle here. SLOPPY doesn't quite match up with the other three themes but this such a smooth puzzle, it can be forgiven. This should be a fair test for our tyros but otherwise a fun solve. Four long pinwheel arms with a good size block of white in the middle. Janice had quite a run this month. (4)

Across:

1. Discussion : TALK

5. Untidy situation : MESS

9. Zodiac transition points : CUSPS

14. "The Time Machine" people : ELOI

15. Fairly large fair : EXPO

16. Guitarist Eddie Van __ : HALEN



17. Reddish horse : ROAN

18. Birthstone for many Libras : OPAL

19. Stopped snoozing : AWOKE

23. "The Raven" poet : POE. Edgar Allan Poe

24. Tenth of ten in a race : LAST. It took a bit for this to sink in.

25. Harvest machine : REAPER. "Don't fear the reaper".

27. Filled with cargo : LADEN

30. Wise guy sometimes "wearing" pants? : SMARTY. (smarty pants)

32. Magnate Onassis : ARI

33. Fancy wineglass : GOBLET

36. Pretty good : OKAY

39. Little more than : MERE

41. Find another purpose for : REUSE

42. Biker's distance unit : MILE

43. Enjoys a buffet : EATS

44. Walked proudly : STRODE

46. Mo. city on the Miss. : STL. St. Louis.

47. New Haven alumni : YALIES

49. "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" storyteller : AESOP

51. Daily food allowance : RATION

53. Bungee __ : CORD

55. Bus station abbr. : ARR. (arrival time)

62. Damp : MOIST

64. Fifth of 13 popes : LEO V. There was 13 popes named Leo. Also, 34D. Family name of three popes : ORSINI

65. Use gentle persuasion on : COAX

66. Game show host : EMCEE

67. Soft French cheese : BRIE

68. Work the copy desk : EDIT

69. Bare : NAKED

70. Agile : SPRY

71. Family rooms : DENS

Down:

1. School session : TERM

2. Matty of baseball : ALOU. Just one of the Alou family.

3. Washer capacity : LOAD

4. Reader with Paperwhite and Fire models : KINDLE. A given for some.

5. Kitty cries : MEOWS

6. Political exile, for short : EXPAT. Expatriate.

7. Tiny tiff : SPAT

8. Shoe bottom : SOLE

9. Beer drunk after a shot : CHASER

10. Detroit labor gp. : UAW. (United Automobile Workers)

1954 Olds concept car
12. Black tea variety : PEKOE

13. Disdainful grin : SNEER

21. Yin partner : YANG

22. Not family-friendly, moviewise : R-RATED

26. Molecule part : ATOM

27. Flimsy, as an excuse : LAME

28. Wallpaper hanger's calculation : AREA

30. Fails to enunciate : SLURS

31. "You've Made __ Very Happy": 1969 Blood, Sweat & Tears hit : ME SO



35. __ noire : BÊTE

37. Range above tenor : ALTO

38. Sharp cry : YELP

40. Actor Morales : ESAI

45. British peer : EARL

48. Hit high in the air : LOFTED

50. Drew out, as latent talent : EDUCED

51. Japanese noodle dish : RAMEN

52. Dunkin' Donuts emanation : AROMA

53. "You're preaching to the __!" : CHOIR

54. Yiddish "Egad!" : "OY VEY!"

57. Barristers' degs. : LL.B.s (Bachelor of Laws)

58. Maryland athlete, for short : TERP. Terrapins

59. Morse creation : CODE

60. Ball game delayer : RAIN

61. Nos. requested by receptionists : EXTs. (Extension)

63. "Get it?" : "SEE?"

                   Not ready to go yet?
Argyle


May 23, 2016

Monday, May 23, 2016 Janice Luttrell

Theme: Cone Heads. Words that can be ahead of CONE.

52A. Classic "Saturday Night Live" family, with "the" ... and, literally, what the starts of the answers to starred clues can be : CONEHEADS

38A. *Rhinoplasty : NOSE JOB. Nose Cone

28D. *Freeway congestion : TRAFFIC JAM. Traffic Cone

20A. *Make easier to hear, as bad news : SUGAR COAT. Sugar Cone

 
11D. *Appliance that makes Eggos unnecessary : WAFFLE IRON. Waffle Cone

Argyle here. Nice pinwheel grid but marred slightly by the two ice cream cones instead of a forth type of cone.

Across:

1. Like a store ready for business : OPEN

5. Gadget for KP duty : PEELER

11. Part of www : WEB

14. Champagne Tony of golf : LEMA. His fame was cut short by his death in a plane crash in 1966.

15. Replacing, with "of" : IN LIEU

16. "__ we done here?" : ARE

17. Old pharmacy weight : DRAM. It's complicated.

18. Phonograph inventor : EDISON

19. Quaint "Tsk, tsk!" : "FIE!". "Fie, my lord, fie! a soldier, and afeard?" ~ Lady Macbeth

22. Not as risky : SAFER

24. Misrepresents, as data : SKEWS

25. Veil of gloom : PALL

26. __ voce: softly : SOTTO. Lowish?

29. Kid gloves? : MITTENS

32. Unadulterated : PURE

33. Promotional bribe : PAYOLA

36. Novelist Fleming : IAN

37. Letter after zeta : ETA

39. Genetic letters : RNA

40. Terrier's welcome : [ARF!]

41. Writing fluid container : INKPOT

42. Laugh good and loud : ROAR

43. Removes impurities from : REFINES

45. Minister's home : MANSE

46. French cruise stops : ILES

47. Manuscript insertion mark : CARET

50. Emmy-winning daytime host Lake : RICKI



56. Modifying wd. : ADJ. (adjective)

57. Martial arts film star Chuck : NORRIS

 
59. Fingerprint, to a detective : CLUE

60. "Kampgrounds" chain : KOA. (Kampgrounds of America)

61. Most adorable : CUTEST

62. Not just ready and willing : ABLE

63. Big shade tree : ELM

64. Radiator sounds : HISSES. Not a good sound.

65. __ Springs, California : PALM

 
Down:

1. The "O" in REO cars : OLDS. (Ransom E. Olds)

2. Land of Lima and llamas : PERU. A little alliteration to start us off.

3. Kindle read, briefly : E-MAG

4. Word that ends many yoga classes : NAMASTE. Hindu's hello or goodbye accompanied by a suitable gesture.

5. Jigsaw puzzle unit : PIECE

6. Provide with funds : ENDOW

7. Sewing machine inventor Howe : ELIAS

8. "Schindler's __" : LIST

9. Fair-hiring abbr. : EEO. (Equal Employment Opportunity)

10. Gets credit from the bartender : RUNS A TAB

12. One of the Great Lakes : ERIE. What?! There are other Great Lakes?

13. Suds in a mug : BEER

21. "King Kong" studio : RKO. What RKO stands for here.

23. PC key : ALT

25. Show's first episode : PILOT

26. Asparagus unit : SPEAR

27. Very odd : OUTRE

29. Magic charm : MOJO

30. Family babysitters : NANAs

31. Hunter's trap : SNARE

33. Southern loaves : PONES. Sounds good.

34. Poses a poser : ASKS

35. Slangy affirmative : "YEP!"

38. Like the width of many foot-long envelopes : NINE INCH

42. Interest limitation : RATE CAP

44. Sort : ILK

45. "Doesn't thrill me" : "MEH"

47. Apple centers : CORES

48. Sambuca flavoring : ANISE

 
49. Enjoys a hammock : RESTS

50. Leaf-clearing tool : RAKE. I'd rather enjoy the hammock.

51. Superstar : IDOL

52. Old PC monitors : CRTs. (cathode ray tube)

53. Jessica of the "Fantastic Four" films : ALBA

 

54. Yawn-inducing : DULL

55. Outwardly appear : SEEM

58. Yves' yes : "OUI"

 
Argyle