google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Jerome Gunderson

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Showing posts with label Jerome Gunderson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jerome Gunderson. Show all posts

Sep 15, 2015

Tuesday, September 15, 2015 Jerome Gunderson

Theme: The 'T' is Silent

41A. Valentine symbol ... or, when read as two words, what you can't do when the answers to starred clues are spoken : HEART or "hear T".

17A. *"The Color Purple," for Oprah Winfrey : MOVIE DEBUT

66A. *Special Forces soldier : GREEN BERET

10D. *1990s Reform Party candidate : H. ROSS PEROT

30D. *Boneless seafood option : FISH FILLET

Argyle here. I doubt anyone would be surprised that all four entries are derived from French. Welcome to our old friend Jerome. You've been silent too long. Interview Another pinwheel grid with the unifier in the middle. C.C. pointed out to me the other day this design is prohibitive of longer fill. OK, OK say I, I still like it.

Across:

1. High-ranking Indian : RAJA

5. Jack rabbits, e.g. : HARES

10. Mr. Ed's foot : HOOF

14. Like Bond foes : EVIL

15. RLX automaker : ACURA

16. Bring down with a big ball : RAZE

19. Great Plains tribe : OTOE. Another old friend.

20. Soccer game tie, often : ONE ALL

21. Infiltrator : SPY

22. Email command : SEND

23. Hitch, as a ride : BUM

25. Long locks : TRESSES

27. Retailer known for little blue boxes : TIFFANY'S. Not on my income.

32. Maple output : SAP. Done for this year.

33. Singer Amos : TORI

34. Bottom corner of a square sail : CLEW. I didn't have a clue. It's part of a triangular sail, also.


36. Pass along : RELAY

40. Is obliged to pay : OWEs

43. Dallas quarterback Tony : ROMO. Signed as a free agent with the Cowboys in 2003.

44. Hiking trails : PATHS

46. Word before cook or burn : SLOW

47. "Yeah, yeah, I get it" : "OK, OK"

48. Monk's title : FRA

50. Winter traction aid : SNOWTIRE

52. Game divisions : PERIODS

56. Car in a '60s song : GTO



57. Stagger : REEL

58. Off-road transp. : ATV. (all-terrain vehicle)

60. Horseshoe-shaped letters : OMEGAs. Greek.

65. Inland Asian sea : ARAL. Sad.

68. Dry with a towel : WIPE

69. Words on a Wonderland cake : [EAT ME]

70. Turkish currency : LIRA

71. Egg container : NEST

72. Got off one's duff : STOOD

73. Mexico City problem : SMOG

Down:

1. Riviera resort San __ : REMO. Wonder if Romo ever visited Remo.

2. CoverGirl competitor : AVON

3. Jazzy jargon : JIVE

4. Et __: and others : ALIA

5. Went for a burger, say : HAD LUNCH

6. Unhittable serve : ACE

7. Pre-grilling spice mixtures : RUBS

8. Blow one's stack : ERUPT

9. Lascivious deities : SATYRS. Great for Halloween.

11. Hall's pop music partner : OATES. Still performing. 2014 Clip(7:52)

12. Holey layer : OZONE

13. Nourishes : FEEDS

18. Site of Napoleon's exile : ELBA

24. Pilgrim Standish : MYLES. I thought it was spelt with an "I".

26. Corn serving : EAR

27. Sporty car roof : T-TOP. But not on a GTO, I believe.

28. State whose straw poll was discontinued in 2015 : IOWA

29. Banjo ridge : FRET

31. Tapes up tightly : SEALS

35. Like a test answer with an "x" next to it : WRONG

37. Norse mischief-maker : LOKI

38. Love, to Ovid : AMOR. (Roman poet)

39. Oxen harness : YOKE

42. Black-and-white, e.g. : TWO-TONED

45. "No seats" letters : SRO. No tickets at all, SOL.

49. Traditional sayings : ADAGEs

51. Gestation location : WOMB. We've all been there, eh?

52. Shrimp relative : PRAWN

53. Spooky : EERIE. Halloween is coming soon.

54. Brings in : REAPS

55. Fender guitar model, briefly : STRAT. Stratocaster®

59. White House no : VETO

61. Slim swimmers : EELs

62. Bleak : GRIM

63. Prefix with dynamic : AERO

64. Guys-only : STAG

67. Punk rock offshoot : EMO

Argyle

Nov 13, 2014

Thursday, November 13, 2014 Jerome Gunderson

Theme: "G-Rated"

Jerome treats us to a GR-r-reat puzzle today.

20-Across. Place for a nagging passenger? : GRUMBLE SEAT. Did you ever ride in a rumble seat? If you did, you would not wonder why they call it that!

38-Across. Prohibition against Confederate soldiers? : GRAY BAN. Ray Ban, the "cool" sunglasses of the '60s.

54-Across. Soup with a prayer? : GRACE COURSE. We have an annual book club meeting at the Saratoga race course.

11-Down. Tribute to a sourpuss? : GRUMP ROAST. Rump roast is a tough cut of meat, but works well for beef stew.

28-Down. Farmer's harvest tradition? : GRAIN DANCE. He also might need to do a rain dance to insure that his crops ripen.


Across

1. Radical diet : FAST.

5. Balkan native : SERB.

9. Old West trail sight : WAGON.

14. Arabian prince : EMIR.

15. Court material, perhaps : CLAY. Hmmm...not "suit."

16. Country-rock artist Steve : EARLE. I don't know his music at all. Any good?

17. You may get one from a doctor : NOTE.
And we have a mini theme going here:
23-Across. Small dose? : MED. "Small" meaning the shortened version of the word medicine.
and
24-Across. Doctor's order : BEDREST. Plus some MEDs.
and
41-Across. Aleve and Advil : PAIN PILLS. Those MEDs will probably help with what ails you, and you don't even need a Rx.

18. Exclude : OMIT.

19. Goody-goody : PRUDE.

25. Peppy : SPRY.

26. Secret motives : ANGLES.

29. Rouse : STIR.

31. Trim (down) : PARE.

32. Its maker traditionally buys the drinks : HOLE IN ONE. Yep, been there.  It was witnessed on the 8th green by one of the members of the Senior league who were playing that day.  A round for 30+ guys? Priceless!

37. Pay back? : OLA. Payola.

40. Bailed-out insurance co. : AIG. American International Group.

43. Movie role played by Skippy : ASTA.

44. Tide table term : NEAP.

45. Played on a green : PUTTED. But not if you get a 32-Across!

47. Weary from overuse : JADE. Your viewpoint can become jaded, if something jades you.

49. Apparent : EVIDENT.

53. In the style of : A LA.

58. Sal of "Rebel Without a Cause" : MINEO. Actor Sal.

60. South American rodent : PACA.

61. Scruff : NAPE.

62. Word from the Latin for "little grandfather" : UNCLE. Nice bit of trivia. Grandfather is "avus" in Latin. The diminutive is "avunculus."

63. Algerian port : ORAN.

64. Bad to the bone : EVIL.  Like George Thorogood?

65. Sneaks a look : PEEKS.

66. Zebras that don't fear Lions? : REFS. REFerees as called "zebras" because of their striped uniforms.

67. Shoot down : DENY.


Down

1. __ shui : FENG.

2. Eros counterpart : AMOR. Greek & Latin lovers?

3. In __: as found : SITU.

4. Shake : TREMBLE.

5. Rebukes : SCOLDS.

6. Funny Fudd : ELMER. Wascally wabbit hunter.


7. Worker's reward : RAISE. Usually, just more work.

8. Units of memory : BYTES.

9. Let it all out, in a way : WEPT.

10. Rhine tributary : AAR.

12. More familiar, joke-wise : OLDER.

13. Poor : NEEDY.

21. Dragonfly prey : BEE. Cool insects, dragonflies. They can change direction in mid-air, hover for up to a minute and even fly backwards!

22. On the briny : AT SEA.

25. Moral lapse : SIN.

26. Per person : A POP.

27. Simba's mate : NALA. From "The Lion King." Nala is on the right.


30. English can : TIN. Not "loo."

32. Kubrick's computer : HAL. "2001: A Space Odyssey."

33. Olive often rescued : OYL. Funny cartoon.


34. Dumbbell abbr. : LBS.

35. Nick at __ : NITE.

36. Quaint expression of surprise : EGAD!

38. Student's fig. : GPAGrade Point Average.

39. More apt to be picked : RIPER.

42. Word between some last names : NEE. Hilary Clinton née Rodham.

43. Brought into harmony with, with "to" : ATTUNED.

45. Praline nuts : PECANSAunt Sally's in New Orleans are the best!

46. Low número : UNO. I thought it was the top number?

47. Traffic congestion : JAM UP. Remember this one?

48. Dress with a flare : A-LINE. Well, I guess supermodel Aline does "dress with a flair."

50. Mist : VAPOR.

51. Comforting words : "I CARE."

52. Joltless joe? : DECAF. HaHa. Cute pun on "Jolting Joe Dimaggio."

54. Takes off : GOES.

55. Talk excitedly : RAVE.

56. __ doctor : SPIN.

57. Hard to hang on to : EELY.

59. Bugling beast : ELK. Wow, ear-splitting!

That's it for this week!
Marti





Oct 22, 2014

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014 Jerome Gunderson

Theme: Four-part epic - the theme entries reference the Russian classic, published in four volumes.

17A. Bird between the partridge and French hen : TURTLE DOVE. "Between" in the context of the "12 Days of Christmas" carol.

29A. Species of falcon also called an American kestrel : SPARROWHAWK. Not a good thing to look up and see (if you're a sparrow):


47A. Epic novel symbolized by the ends of 17- and 29-Across : WAR AND PEACE. Interestingly, the author hesitated to call the work "a novel". He describes Anna Karenina as his "first true novel".

64A. Author of 47-Across : LEO TOLSTOY The man himself in 1906:



Hi everyone! Steve here with today's Wednesday offering. I have to confess I'm a little confused about this theme - I checked to see if there is some anniversary related to either the publication of the book or Tolstoy's lifeline, but drew a blank on both.

It bothers me that DOVE and HAWK are in the wrong sequence in the grid when considering WAR and PEACE, and it also bothers me that neither bird-endings are symbols for war nor peace, rather for warmongers and peacemakers. It just all seems a little contrived, but I'd love to hear other opinions.

Perhaps I'm being Mr. Grumpy today; there was some fun stuff in the grid, so let's move on.

Across:

1. Snoop's former "surname" : DOGG. Why the quotation marks - am I missing some subtlety in the cluing?

5. Sinatra's "The Lady Is a __" : TRAMP. Sinatra is just one of many artists who recorded this standard. I much prefer the recent duet from Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga.

10. Fine : OKAY

14. Polynesian capital : APIA. Formerly capital of German Samoa, there is still a proud German heritage in the region today.

15. __ roll : HONOR

16. Hard-to-explain feeling : VIBE

19. Exile isle : ELBA. Napoleon's first exile following the war with Russia during 1812-1813, which forms a large part of the narrative in the second half of "War and Peace".

20. In dreamland : ASLEEP

21. Smashes to smithereens : DESTROYS

23. Pique condition? : SNIT

25. Univ. aides : T.A.s I thought it stood for "Teacher's Aide" but it must be "Teacher's Assistant"

26. Jamaican music : SKA

35. Boot parts : TOES

37. __-Ball: arcade game : SKEE

38. "I'm not kidding!" : NO LIE

39. Dreads sporter : RASTA, and a proponent of SKA music.

41. What's always in poetry? : E'ER

42. "__ So Vain": Carly Simon hit : YOU'RE. Was the subject of the song Mick Jagger? (No). Warren Beatty? (No, but he was vain enough to claim that it was, so that's rather fun). Apparently it was David Geffen, but Ms. Simon continues to refuse to confirm or deny any speculation.

43. Sci-fi regular : ALIEN

44. Optic layer : UVEA

46. Feds under Ness : T-MEN

50. Future 32-Down: Abbr. : SRS. Seniors become alumni or alumnae, I assume they actually have to graduate first.

51. "Go for the Goal" author Hamm : MIA. US Women's National Soccer Team legend who retired in 2004. She married All-Star shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, consequently their three kids have more sporting genes in their DNA than most small towns.


52. Sales rep's tool : DEMO

54. Gym gear : BARBELLS

59. Musical ineptitude : TIN EAR. Ah, so that's why the cat hides when I play my guitars!

63. 1998 Sarah McLachlan hit : ADIA.  I thought I'd never heard this track before, so I trotted off to YouTube to check that there was no punctuation in the spelling and to listen to it and ... "Oh! It's that song!" I'd always thought it was "Eddie, I do believe I've failed you; Eddie, I know I've let you down ..". Funny how it can be one of your favorite songs and you have no idea what it's called.

66. Witty remark : JEST

67. Pasty : ASHEN

68. Italian volcano : ETNA. This seems to "erupt" in PuzzleWorld at least once a week. It's a darn handy letter combo though.

69. Egyptian symbol of life : ANKH

70. Garden path piece : STONE

71. After-school mall frequenter : TEEN

Down:

1. Crunched stuff : DATA

2. Magnum __ : OPUS. How about a magnum of Opus One from Napa? The 1997 vintage is priced at around $800 if you can find one. Just a tad outside my price range.


3. Lass : GIRL

4. "Pirates of Silicon Valley" figure : GATES. Microsoft's Bill, as portrayed by Anthony Michael Hall.

5. Knight crew? : THE PIPS. It took a moment for this penny to drop, but finally it did.

6. Bit of fishing tackle : ROD

7. Give __ to: okay : A NOD

8. Relocate : MOVE

9. Magic word : PRESTO

10. Miss, as an intended target : OVERSHOOT

11. Roughly 2.2 pounds, briefly : KILO. We were taught that "two and a quarter pounds of jam weighs about a kilogram" when we were transitioning to the metric system in the UK in the early 70's. We also learned that "A litre of water's a pint and three-quarters". That wouldn't work in the USA, where a pint is 16oz, not 20 (and a litre is a liter, just to add to the confusion)

12. First name in advice : ABBY

13. Votes for : YEAS. "Votes" in the noun form. Neat clue.

18. Eyepiece piece : LENS

22. Lion-colored : TAWNY. Uh-oh ... I think I'll get my coat and make a dash for it


24. Start, as a new hobby : TAKE UP

26. Camel's undoing : STRAW

27. Tree-dwelling marsupial : KOALA

28. Pantheon led by Odin : AESIR. Fellow Pantheon-chums were Frigg, Thor, Baldr and Týr, all good crossword-fodder!

30. Superman player : REEVE

31. Enjoy again, as a cherished book : RE-READ

32. Ones who no longer have class? : ALUMS

33. Cable installer, at times : WIRER

34. Wails : KEENS

36. Post-workout relaxation spot : STEAM BATH. Nit alert. I had STEAM ROOM first, and gradually changed it to BATH as the crosses proved me wrong. However - the "spot" bothers me - I'd take a steam bath in a steam room.

40. Musical set in an orphanage : ANNIE

45. Salon solvent : ACETONE

48. Texas city that spans five counties : DALLAS

49. Oscar winner Jannings : EMIL. He won the award for Best Actor in 1929, the first to do so. I can't quite remember what he wore on the red carpet. He was a native of Rorschach in Austria, famous for the ink-blot factory and exclusive supplier of suggestive images to psychoanalysts everywhere. (I might need to fact-check that last bit).

53. Start : ONSET

54. __ California : BAJA. My neighbor to the south. When I first moved to LA and visited San Diego, I couldn't understand why there were so many cars and trucks with Canadian license plates, until I realized that "BC" probably didn't stand for "British Columbia". Oh.

55. Yemen port city : ADEN

56. Put on the line : RISK

57. For fear that : LEST

58. Artsy Manhattan district : SOHO

60. Cigar butt? : -ETTE

61. Primo : A-ONE

62. Meg of "Sleepless in Seattle" : RYAN

65. Down-for-the-count count : TEN. One of the most famous sports photographs of all time, through the lens of someone I really admire, SI's Neil Leifer:



... 8-9-10 ding! And I'm out!

Steve


Oct 6, 2014

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


Jun 30, 2014

Monday, June 30, 2014 Jerome Gunderson

Theme: It's Puzzle Time! - Double AM's.

17A. Wishy-washy : NAMBY PAMBY

62A. Cookie brand : FAMOUS AMOS

11D. Elite group of athletes : DREAM TEAM. Note: The AM sound is missing.

35D. It's "played" by finger-pointers : BLAME GAME

52D. Wee hr., and a hint to a feature common to this puzzle's four longest answers : TWO AM

Argyle here. A theme excellent in its simplicity with some sparkly fill and we're good to go.

Across:

1. Cereal dish : BOWL. Remember we get cereal from Ceres, the goddess of agricultural fertility.

5. Defame in print : LIBEL. Slander - defamation by oral utterance.

10. Brink : EDGE

14. New York City theater award : OBIE. The off-Broadway award. Tony is the on-Broadway award.

15. Dutch-speaking Caribbean island : ARUBA


16. Dianetics creator Hubbard : L. RON. Dianetics is a set of ideas and practices regarding the metaphysical relationship between the mind and body which was created by L. Ron Hubbard and is practiced by followers of Scientology and separate independent Dianeticist groups. Wikipedia

19. Heating outlet : VENT

20. Baseball official : UMP

21. Ukrainian city of one million : ODESSA


22. "Othello" conspirator : IAGO

23. Give up the single life : SAY "I DO"

25. Standard : NORM

27. Took the first step : BEGAN

30. Very happy : ELATED

33. Exxon merger partner : MOBIL

36. Pigeon's roost, often : LEDGE. But we were thinking, "statue".

38. "Evil Woman" rock gp. : ELO. (Electric Light Orchestra)

39. Societal problems : ILLS

40. Thyme piece : SPRIG

41. Not at all wild : TAME

42. Agcy. that regulates tobacco products : FDA. (Food and Drug Administration)

43. Apple music players : iPODs

44. Greek island : SAMOS


45. Doe or sow : FEMALE

47. Slalom competitor : SKIER

49. Utility abbr. : ELEC.

50. Enterprise engineer : SCOTTY. Officer Montgomery Scott. The exact phrase, "Beam me up, Scotty", was never actually spoken in any Star Trek television episode or film.

54. Lead-in for bytes or bucks : MEGA

56. Persistently demand : INSIST

60. Run a tab, say : OWE

61. Arabian sultanate : OMAN. 55D. Gulf States prince : EMIR

64. Rocker Hendrix : JIMI. Jimi Hendrix - Star Spangled Banner Woodstock 1969 (not for everyone) Link

65. Hole __: golf rarity : IN ONE

66. Tilt : LEAN

67. Valuable rocks : OREs

68. Like pet parakeets : CAGED

69. Prom night wheels : LIMO

Down:

1. Paycheck surprise : BONUS

2. 2012 Romney defeater : OBAMA

3. Popeye's hamburger-loving pal : WIMPY



4. Neighbor of Syr. : LEB. (Syria/Lebanon)

5. Peke or Yorkie : LAP DOG

6. "Dies __": Latin hymn : IRAE

7. Mooches, as a cigarette : BUMS

8. Flows out : EBBS

9. Bomb on stage : LAY AN EGG

10. TV's "Mistress of the Dark" : ELVIRA



12. Loud bell : GONG

13. Within: Pref. : ENTO

18. Swiss Alps melody : YODEL

24. Sacred wader of old Egypt : IBIS

26. Corrida cheer : ¡OLE!. "Bravo!"

28. Food for Fido : ALPO

29. Dweebs : NERDS

31. Red "Sesame Street" Muppet : ELMO

32. Performs : DOES

33. Annoy : MIFF

34. Shoppe modifier : OLDE

37. Floppy __ : DISK

40. Explicit : SPECIFIC

41. Hawaiian root : TARO

43. Suffix with infant : ILE. (infantile)

44. Religious divisions : SECTS

46. Grammy winner Morissette : ALANIS

48. Put out, as a publication : ISSUED

51. Marisa of "My Cousin Vinny" : TOMEI

53. Courtroom question type : YES/NO

54. Magic charm : MOJO

57. Mom's mom : NANA

58. Skyline haze : SMOG

59. Actress Skye : IONE



63. Every bit : ALL


Argyle


Jun 9, 2014

Monday, June 9, 2014 Jerome Gunderson

Theme: Ultimate Business/Leisure Suit - Two word entries starting with the same two letters but not just any two letters. The two letters stand for pajamas but not just any pajamas. They represent the attire that publisher Hugh Hefner wore while conducting his business from the Playboy mansion.

18A. *Wealthy executive's plane : PRIVATE JET

39A. *Preparation using crushed Bartletts, say : PEAR JAM

63A. *Cheese with a bite : PEPPER JACK

3D. *Pizza Hut rival : PAPA JOHN'S

35D. *Ordinary-looking gal : PLAIN JANE

65D. Magazine mogul, familiarly, known for dressing in the sleepwear hinted at by the answers to starred clues : HEF


Argyle here. I felt the theme was a little flat with the feeling I'd seen it before. Still, it's tough getting all those jays in there. No complaints. The lack of long non-theme entries kicks up the word count.(80)

Across:

1. Have the blues : MOPE

5. Blackens : CHARS

10. Time gone by : PAST

14. Historical times : ERAs

15. Cooperstown's "Hammerin' Hank" : AARON. Cooperstown is the Baseball Hall of Fame location.

16. Mystical old letter : RUNE

17. Ductwork sealer : TAPE

20. Commercial suffix with Motor : OLA. (Motorola)

21. Barfly : SOT

22. Gourmand : EPICURE. Tuesday words.

23. Took issue : OBJECTED

26. Sheets with shopping reminders : LISTS

27. Midwest tribe : OTOE

28. Sea eagles : ERNEs

31. Search engine giant : YAHOO

33. Meadow bleats : BAAs

34. Omar of "House" : EPPS

38. Writer Rand : AYN

42. Lav, in Bath : LOO

43. Slob's creation : MESS

45. Zone : AREA

46. Online business : E-TAIL

48. Breath mint with Retsyn : CERTS



50. Indian garment : SARI

51. Episcopal chapel leader : VICAR. I watch "The Vicar of Dibley" ocasionally.

54. Emulate Gregory Hines : TAP DANCE

58. Kazakh-Uzbek border lake : ARAL SEA

61. Help-wanted notice? : SOS

62. __ in Juliet : J AS

65. Heavenly instrument : HARP

66. As to : IN RE

67. California/Nevada border lake : TAHOE

68. Covetousness : ENVY

69. Like a useless battery : DEAD

70. Leaves : EXITS

71. Lawyer's charges : FEES

Down:

1. "Ditto" : "ME TOO"

2. Pulsonic toothbrush brand : ORAL B

4. Opposite of WNW : ESE

5. "In Cold Blood" writer Truman : CAPOTE

6. Western writer Bret : HARTE

7. Shipping magnate Onassis : ARI

8. Wander : ROVE

9. Go ballistic : SNAP

10. Accurate : PRECISE

11. Served in its natural gravy, as roast beef : AU JUS

12. Viking family dog of comics : SNERT. He is Hägar's pet; Helga's pet is Kvack, the duck.

13. French heads : TÊTÊs

19. Roofing material : TILE

21. Exclusive story : SCOOP

24. DDE's command : ETO. Dwight D. Eisenhower / European Theater of Operations

25. Most loved : DEAREST

29. Hindu prince : RAJA

30. Govt. intel org. : NSA. (National Security Agency)

31. Thanksgiving veggie : YAM

32. Yeoman's "yes" : "AYE"

33. Bratty Simpson kid : BART

36. Hawaiian food staple : POI

37. Note before la : SOL and 47D. Syllable before la : TRA

40. Organ with a canal : EAR

41. Fermented honey beverages : MEADS

44. Sold for a big profit, as tickets : SCALPED

49. Celtic language : ERSE

50. Bike wheel radii : SPOKES

51. Lacking zip : VAPID

52. "Fame" singer Cara : IRENE

53. "It's a Wonderful Life" director Frank : CAPRA

55. Broad tie : ASCOT

56. Work on a totem pole : CARVE

57. Sports awards : ESPYs. (short for Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Award)

59. One-named Deco master : ERTÉ. Romain de Tirtoff, initials R.T. (Erté)

60. "Iliad" warrior : AJAX. He came to a tragic end.

64. Sashimi tuna : AHI. Hawaiian name.


Argyle


Oct 24, 2013

Thursday, October 24, 2013, Marti DuGuay-Carpenter & Jerome Gunderson

Theme: Twist and Shout,  it is anagram time!

Well this Thursday offering from our new Titanic Twosome, had me twisting in the wind in places until I finally shouted Eureka! I used up my anagram last time I blogged this pairing, so you all are on your own. Anagram puzzles are different because either you see it or you do not, which would make it very hard even with the reveal, but remember words like, Change, Shake Up, or in this case SWITCH etc. tell you it is an anagram. Lemonade here pinch writing for our shy Thursday thumper, unraveling the product of two beautiful minds. I am still not used to the day, but this had some very nice intermediate fill, such as NUDISTS, PARASOL, PATROLS, PLOPPED, CATWOMAN and SEAFARER and a couple of real challenges. Let's take a walk on the wild side and see.

20A. *Garden display : FLOWER PETALS. (12).

34A. *Paper fastener : METAL STAPLE. (11).

41A. *Feature of some kilts : KNIFE PLEATS. (11). As the grandson of a Tailor, I am embarrassed to say I did not know this TERM.

51A. Electrician's covers, and a hint to the ends of the answers to starred clues : SWITCH PLATES. (12).

Time to flick to ON and get to work.

Across:

1. Like much Oscar-night attire : CHIC. Not an easy one for me to see and I was struggling with 1 down too; This is one of those puzzles where I could provide a link for almost every answer, but I will restrain myself so you can focus on their words.

5. Under-the-sink installation : P TRAP. Is there a hyphen? For all you DIY people.

10. Take a shine to? : BUFF. Okay, maybe a few.

14. Jazz singer Horne : LENA. 70 years ago. LISTEN. (5:05). A real treat.

15. Island near Curaçao : ARUBA. Two of the three Dutch ABC islands off of the Coast of Venezuela.

16. 1930s migrant to California : OKIE. A no no? 23A. Oklahoma tribe : OTOE.

17. Far __ : EAST.

18. River where Romulus and Remus were abandoned : TIBER. My son the archaeology major named his dog REMUS, but after the Harry Potter character!

19. Hot : SEXY. Equal time.


24. Sends regrets : SAYS NO.

28. Crazed Muppet drummer : ANIMAL. A man, a woman and now for you furries, HIT IT. (0:43).

31. Bright light : NEON.

33. Bamboozled : HAD. Tricky clue for a little answer.

36. Where Andy Capp 'angs 'is 'at : 'OME.

37. Noggin : BEAN. Mr. Bean would be at 'ome with Andy.

38. Go in haste : HIE. A Shakespeare word, how cool.

39. Stretch : SPAN.

40. Med. lab letters : LDLLow-density lipoprotein The bad cholesterol. Lipo proteins often lead to liposuction.

45. Actor Wallach : ELI. He played the UGLY. (5:04).

46. Creatures of habit? : NUNS. Really fun example of the minds of our constructors.

47. Unfancy to the max? : LOATHE. Fancy meaning to like, not the adjective. Did it fool you?

48. Ready to be served : SEATED.

50. Three French horns, in a Prokofiev classic : WOLF. A true CLASSIC. (4:11).

57. Take a verbal shot at : ZING. Not to be confused with Bazzinga.

60. Small porch : STOOP. To me, it just means the steps in front of the porch.

61. Sitarist Shankar : RAVI. His famous daughter is Norah Jones, this is ANOUSHKA. (6:23).

62. Busy : AT IT.

63. Mel-Tones frontman : TORME. The velvet fog and muse for Night Court.

64. Place for the first 42-Down? : EDEN. Really cute cross-referential with 42D. Colony residents : NUDISTS. No ant colony for these two, and of course I have to add


65. Opens, as a car trunk : POPS. So many choices.

66. Sprinter's asset : SPEED.

67. Stinky : RANK. May be from our word RANCID?

Down:

1. Pitch indicator : CLEF. Man I need to go back to music class, when I was in school I was not only tone deaf, but pitch black.

2. Get back on one's feet : HEAL.

3. "You are __ much trouble!" : IN SO. a common sibling comment.

4. Supervillain with a whip : CATWOMAN, There have been so many beautiful women in that costume, who is your FAVORITE?

5. Pounds a beat : PATROLS.

6. Sheer nonsense : TRIPE. We know of the food made from entrails, so I guess it makes sense for the Slang definition: something, especially speech or writing, that is false or worthless; rubbish.

7. Hick : RUBE.  I guess there were a lot of Reubens in the country.

8. Disable the security system for, say : ABET. Complicated clue for a simple answer.

9. Lightweight umbrella : PARASOL. This is actually from the French to protect from the SOLEIL.

10. Domineering : BOSSY.

11. Maui strings : UKE. Where are all the the Hawaiians?

12. Tough spot : FIX.

13. Tina of "Date Night" : FEY. She is out of work and not happy, I hear.

21. Abbr. for the nameless? : ET AL.

22. Shipping route : LANE.

25. Patronize : SHOP AT.

26. Jet legend : NAMATH. Joe Willie, will the Jets ever have another hero?

27. Danish seaport : ODENSE. I am not really familiar with this city, though I can see the name coming from the Norse god, Odin and therefore a Jerome clue/fill. It looks like Aruba with the orange roofs.


28. Moseys : AMBLES.

29. Compass point? : NEEDLE. Another one, where you say, damn north, east, south, west are all too short.

30. Venezia's land : ITALIA. For marti our travelling saleswoman.

31. Innocents : NAIFS. The same stem as naive; there is a similar Yiddish word.

32. Foil kin : EPEE. Not tin or aluminum.

35. Deli slicing request : THIN. So why do we get it sliced thin and then out 6 pieces on the sammich?

39. Old salt : SEAFARER. Swabbie, sea dog, tar...or our missing marine?

41. More than suspected : KNEW.

43. Sat (down) ungracefully : PLOPPED. But did not fizz.

44. Hang out in the hammock : LOLL.

49. USAF E-6's : T-SGTS. "Technical Sergeant is the sixth enlisted rank (pay grade E-6) in the U.S. Air Force, just above staff sergeant and below master sergeant. " No longer a rank in the Army and not to be confused with 52D. 'Vette roof option : T-TOP. marti loves those 'letter-word' words.

50. Question before "Yeah, you!" : WHO ME?

53. Pear remnant : CORE. How cute, let's trick them and not use apple.

54. "Yay, me!" : TADA. Almost time.

55. Neck and neck : EVEN. I hope you are keeping up with me.

56. Hole on the green : SINK. Hole the verb, not the noun/ "Man, he holed a 50 footer!"

57. Static jolt : ZAP. Don't drag your feet on the carpet.

58. Skater Midori : ITO. I always link her for dear Clear Ayes, but this time I will pour a Midori sour.

so we can finish up with a

59. Swig : NIP.

What fun it is to toast these two, even with green liqueur on the rocks (sorry Tinbeni). A bit confusing for my Friday brain, but much fun. I leave you with some words from the divine one.

This is another puzzle that Jerome and I co-constructed. I love it that Rich published both in the same month! I was working on a theme idea with the unifier "SWITCH PLATE" that had anagrams of "plate" in it. When I got stuck trying to find good entries, I turned to the master of anagrams and asked for help. He suggested making PLATE plural, and came up with the theme entries.

Having only four entries, I told him I thought I could design a respectable grid, and he said: "I DON'T WANT TO BE PART OF ANYTHING RESPECTABLE!!" So that's how 42-Down got into the grid...



Note from C.C.:

Please click here to solve Marti's "Top Bananas" puzzle published at George Barany's website. Love that banana picture! Click here to see a cool picture of Marti and a funny bio. Who else on our blog can brag that he/she had a hole-in-one? Husker Gary's was a great mulligan.

Oct 11, 2013

Friday, October 11, 2013, Marti Duguay-Carpenter and Jerome Gunderson

Theme: KKKKKKKKKK. marti and Jerome strike us out swinging.

Avoiding any politically incorrect references, I had lots of fun with my Friday friend, collaborating with our very own Jerome Gunderson and producing their punishing puzzle; this is clearly their MAJOR METIER. A refreshing and rather less difficult Friday, filled with humor (dark and otherwise) and NOT a definition puzzle. I also have to thank Jerome for all the "J" words, because I am pretty sure they did not come from miss m. While add a letter is not a new theme, the pictures painted from merely adding a "K" to the end of the three letter word ending in "UN", the last word in an in the language phrase is well done. The symmetry of each lastword being _UNK elevates this from a mere add a letter.  It entertains me that unk also means unknown....

20A. Buff ancient ruler? : ATTILA THE HUNK. (13). By far my favorite theme answer, Revealed the theme early on; great visual.

28A. Own a few James Brown albums? : HAVE SOME FUNK. (12). Not my favorite tune from JB, but it FITS. (4:52).

49A. Leaps over an oily mud puddle? : JUMPS THE GUNK. (12). Reminds me of the classic Fonzie jumping the shark, and sharknado. and see 27D.

59A. Beef baloney? : HAMBURGER BUNK. (13). Not a bed made from meat, but a bunch of hooey.

to work....

Across:

1. Auto club offering : TOW. Not being a great typist, I often type TOW when I mean TWO. These days the car insurance policy and the credit card have eliminated my need for AAA.

4. Gregory Peck role : AHAB.  Not my first thought; he starred in the 1956 version, WATCH (3:11). Two interesting things about that version, first Orson Welles as Rev. Mapple and  second, Ray Bradbury wrote the screenplay. After seeing the theme, with Attila, I wanted this to be ATTICUS, but it did not fit. And do not forget to Call me...45D. Crewman for 4-Across : ISHMAEL.

8. Foster on a screen : JODIE.  I remember her from The Courtship of Eddie's Father.


13. Stretches of history : ERAS.

15. He actually played the lyre : NERO. Yes, but it would ruin the "he fiddled while Rome burned" pun. Lyre jokes are saved for lawyers.

16. Amherst sch. : UMASS. An old rival from my UConn days. The institution where Bill Cosby earned his PhD.

17. Two-time NBA MVP Steve : NASH. The Canadian passing wizard now with the Lakers. CLIP. (2:50).

18. Component of ocean H2O : NACL. Aye, the salt please.

19. Lawn game using lobbed missiles : JARTS. They are no longer pointed javelins.

23. Attorney general before Thornburgh : MEESE. Did you all miss Ed?

24. Yank's foe : REB.

25. Dudes : HES.

33. Fez, e.g. : HAT.  I could not fit in WILMER. Do you think Raj is the 21st century version?

36. Bankruptcy factor : DEBT.

37. Polynesian island nation : SAMOA. If you ever visit Fort Lauderdale, whether you look me up or not, go to the MAI KAI restaurant and watch their Polynesian show. People always go back for the show, the drinks and because...they want SAMOA.

38. "Break __!" : A LEG. An old Theater SUPERSTITION of unknown origin, or maybe too many origins.

40. Fare named for its shape : T-BONE. Steak.

43. Fabric quantity : BOLT. My grandfather was a retired tailor, so we grew up with many bolts of cloth around the house.

44. Mother of three French kings : JOAN I. My big UNKNOWN, though perped easily.

46. Shiny fabric : LAMÉ. Not a lame answer,

48. Arctic coast explorer : RAE. We have had this explorer with the nice vowels before. LINK. I think in a Sunday puzzle in March or May of this year. On Mondays and Tuesdays we get Charlotte.

53. DSL user's need : ISP. Internet Service Provider.

54. Mao's successor : HUA.  GUOFENG.  Mao supposedly wrote: "With you in charge, I'm at ease" (Ni ban shi, wo fang xin 你办事我放心).

55. Sticky-footed lizard : GECKO.

64. Botanist's category : FLORA.  This actress was unique, while her little sister was one of a bunch. Who are they?
66. Dweeb : NERD.

67. Size measure : AREA.

68. Competitor's dream : TITLE. To win the title of ....the Open Championship?

69. A bit off the ground, "up" : TEED. Golf, as opposed to ____off.

70. Sound like an ass : BRAY. Oh this is so tempting...

71. Bobbin : SPOOL. Like I said, my grandfather was a tailor.

72. Ketel One competitor : SKYY.  Never tried this brand.

73. NFL stats : YDS. Yards.

Down:

1. Common break hr. : TEN AM.

2. Speak : ORATE. See 70 across.

3. Refuse : WASTE. Tricky, do not refuse to consider refuse.

4. "Pitch Perfect" co-star Kendrick : ANNA.


5. Summer phenomenon : HEAT. in Miami, we consider the HEAT a year round phenomenon; right LeBron?

6. Curved support : ARCH.

7. Short jacket : BOLERO.

8. Concession stand candy : JUJUBES. My nickname as a small child; my mother would give me a handful and I would hold on tight, and fall asleep. I loved how they made the extra effort to make the candy fruit shaped. LINK.

9. Easternmost Arabian Peninsula country : OMAN.

10. "Dr. Strangelove" feature : DARK HUMOR. Really awesome satire for the TIME. And the ironic inclusion of 26D. __ Gay : ENOLA.

11. Adherent's suffix : IST.

12. Start to stop? : ESS. Nice word play. First letter in "stop".

14. With 52-Down, grilled fare : SHISH. 52D. See 14-Down : KEBAB. Some reason reminds me of the boys from New Zealand. Notice the entries are symmetrical.

21. Take control : LEAD.

22. Bottom line? : HEM. Not last week's A LINE.

27. Ray in the ocean : SKATE. Hmm, they are cousins to each other and sharks. Next to....

29. Boxer's attendant : VET. Not Ali, but your woof woof. Another Gareth B. reference.

30. Fall back : EBB.

31. It's a wrap : STOLE. Oh my, the combined wit of these two professionals...I am sure they each contributed half to this puzzle. I guess I can say that this is marti  a 50% wit, then.

32. "Terrif!" : FAB. Back in the 60s.

33. Pilgrim to Mecca : HAJJI.

34. Diamond clan : ALOUS. Felipe, Matty, Jesus and Moises. Baseball.

35. Trophy case memento : TEAM PHOTO.

39. Econ. measure : GNP. Gross National Product.

41. Bug : NAG.

42. Earthbound bird : EMU.

47. Tech sch. grad : ENGR. Engineer.

50. Slow boat : TUB. They are named from the shape, and boat came before the bath.

51. Hangs around the house? : HAUNTS. Loved this clue. And this VERSION. (7:48).

56. Pungent Thai dish : CURRY. Yum.

57. Play with, as clay : KNEAD. Most kids need to knead.

58. Gives the go-ahead : OKAYS.

60. First name in folk : ARLO. You newbies have not heard my Arlo at Woodstock rant, but....

61. Cause wrinkles, in a way : REEK. The clue should have been " Tortured servant in service to House Bolton" 

62. Joel of "Wicked" : GREY. Son of Catskills legend Mickey Katz and father of Jennifer, who is married to Clark Gregg, now in the new Shield TV series.

63. Water whirled : EDDY.

64. Some mil. bases : FTS. Forts.

65. Edge : LIP. A familiar usage for golfers, who are forever leaving putts on the lip.

Well, I am on the edge of getting out of here for the long holiday weekend after a really entertaining joint effort from two of our wittiest, wisest word warriors. Lemonade wishing you all a great Columbus weekend and clear sailing. Thanks Jerome and Marti.