Monday, January 30, 2012 Kevin Christian

Theme: Feathered Homonyms - Three birds that can also be used as verbs. They are in all capitals to show the clues could have been the answer and the answers could have been the clues. The answers are all in the pattern of "verb + ONE'S + noun".

20A. DUCK : LOWER ONE'S HEAD

41A. CRANE : STRETCH ONE'S NECK

60A. QUAIL : LOSE ONE'S NERVE

Argyle here. Bird is the Word(1:06) Kevin used a similar gimmick back in 2010. Link He gave us another puzzle last year; maybe he can squeeze in two this year. I'd like that. A grid spanner, no cheater squares, and just a 'Q' short of a pangram.

Across:

1. Fashionable : CHIC. A young quail is called a chick.

5. __ Blanc, the Alps' highest peak : MONT

9. Wintry mess : SLUSH

14. Prolonged unconsciousness : COMA

15. Confess openly : AVOW

16. Like horror film music : EERIE

17. Practice boxing : SPAR

18. Luke Skywalker, e.g. : JEDI. The Force is with him.

19. Postal service symbol : EAGLE. Another bird.

23. The NFL's Cowboys : DALLAS

25. Energy : ZEST

26. Snake's warning : "SSS!"

27. "Can __ honest with you?" : I BE

28. 2011 World Series champs, on scoreboards : STL. St. Louis Cardinals.

30. Rogue : CAD

32. Ring loudly : PEAL

34. "Othello" villain : IAGO. He hates Othello and devises a plan to destroy the Moor by making him believe that his wife, Desdemona, is having an affair with his lieutenant, Michael Cassio(who we see in later in the week puzzles).

37. Fits of anger : RAGES

44. Actor Davis : OSSIE. He married actress Ruby Dee, you might remember. (You should.)

45. __-poly : ROLY. And here's a little ditty I'll bet you haven't heard. Clip(2:41) 49A. "__-haw!" : YEE

46. Yours, to Yves : À TOI

47. Presidents' Day mo. : FEB.

51. Any nonzero number divided by itself : ONE

52. Arafat's org. until 2004 : PLO. Palestine Liberation Organization. Yasser Arafat.

55. Remove, with "off" : TAKE

58. "Key Largo" 54-Down winner Claire : TREVOR, 54D. Hollywood award : OSCAR. She was in "Stagecoach" with John Wayne.

63. Not shortened, as a film : UNCUT

64. Suit to __ : A TEE

65. "Joy of Cooking" writer Rombauer : IRMA

68. Stiller's comedy partner : MEARA. Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara.

69. iPhone message : TEXT

70. Cowardly film beast played by 29-Down : LION, 29D. Actor Bert (see 70-Across) : LAHR

71. Swashbuckler Flynn : ERROL

72. Brother of Cain and Abel : SETH

73. "Ignore that editing change" : STET

Down:

1. IV amounts : CCs

2. "__ on Pop": Dr. Seuss : HOP

3. "Lay it on me!" : "I'M ALL EARS!"

4. Christmas song : CAROL

5. Like the Grand Canyon : MAJESTIC

6. Higher than : OVER

7. All-nighter pill : NODOZ. NoDoz® Alertness Aid Caffeine Caplets.

8. Bale binder : TWINE

9. Reel from a blow to the head : SEE STARS

10. Wife of Jacob : LEAH

11. Involuntary impulses : URGES

12. Eliot's "__ Marner" : SILAS

13. Obeys : HEEDS

21. Used to be : WAS

22. Upper-left PC key : ESC

23. Tippler, for short : DIPSO. Short for dipsomania, a compulsive desire to drink alcoholic beverages. And 42D. Abstain from alcohol : TEETOTAL

24. Helps with a heist : ABETS

31. Carvey or Delany : DANA. Twins? Not!

33. Explorer Ericson : LEIF

35. Moo __ gai pan : GOO

36. The "O" in SRO : ONLY

38. "Time to move on" : "GET OVER IT"

39. Money-saving, in product names : ECONO

40. Downhill racer : SKIER

43. Canines metaphorically exchanged for something desired : EYE TEETH. So named because they are directly below the eyes. I was expecting more.

48. Prohibit : BAN

50. Goof : ERR

52. Nom de __: pen name : PLUME

53. Solitary man : LONER

56. Grecian urn poet : KEATS

57. Cosmetics giant Lauder : ESTÉE

59. Lesser of two __ : EVILS

61. French franc successor : EURO

62. Deli counter call : NEXT

66. One of the Stooges : MOE

67. Picnic undesirable : ANT

Answer grid.

Argyle

Tuesday, July 5, 2011 Kevin Christian

Theme: Dog Days - Seven dogs and their greeting & food brand. (Click on name for image.)

9A. *Jake LaMotta, e.g. : BOXER

17A. *Mexican neighbor of New Mexico : CHIHUAHUA

24A. *Skiers' patron : SAINT BERNARD

41A. *Like Hammett's falcon : MALTESE

43A. *Piece of advice : POINTER

54. *Labrador was added to its provincial name in 2001 : NEWFOUNDLAND

67A. *Beijing dialect : PEKINGESE

Unifiers:

58D. Steadfast belief (and parent of each answer to a starred clue?) : DOGMA. (DOG MA, get it?)

73A. Greetings from the answers to starred clues : BARKS

Bonus entry:

51A. Brand for a 58-Down : ALPO

Argyle here. Easy theme but a lot of it! It has been over a year since Kevin's last LAT puzzle and a pangram to boot. Welcome back.

Across:

1. Word after boom or Bean : TOWN. BEANTOWN/ Boston.

5. Dickens's Uriah : HEEP. From the novel David Copperfield, the character is notable for his cloying humility, obsequiousness, and insincerity.

14. Aleve target : ACHE

15. Fall birthstone : OPAL

16. "All systems __" : ARE GO

19. Feature of "butte" but not "but" : LONG U. I'm catching on to this gimmick quicker now.

20. Like lava flows : OOZING

21. Austin-to-Dallas dir. : NNE

23. British golfer Poulter : IAN. Colorful.

28. NYC hub : JFK and 68D. Inbound flight posting at 28-Across : ETA

31. Tolerate : BEAR

32. 2008-'09 Japanese prime minister Taro __ : ASO. Image.

33. Sans serif typeface : ARIAL

35. Expansive : VAST

37. Ye __ Tea Shoppe : OLDE

45. Information storage unit : BYTE

46. Choice word : ELSE

48. __-wip: dessert topping : REDDI. Whipped cream in a can.

49. Bear: Sp. : OSO

53. Follow-up film: Abbr. : SEQ.

59. Pie __ mode : À LA

60. Suffix for glob : ULE

61. Home builder's subcontractor : ROOFER

65. Get started : BEGIN

70. Upright : ON END

71. "They're __ again!" : AT IT

72. Desert tableland : MESA

74. Lord's partner : LADY. Can't be clued as Tramp's partner to avoid conflict with the theme.

75. Tiny power source : ATOM

Down:

1. Filled tortilla : TACO

2. Cuatro times dos : OCHO. Spanish 4 X 2 = 8

3. Ace : WHIZ

4. Classic grape sodas : NEHIs

5. Philly's signature sandwich : HOAGIE. What? Not the cheesesteak?

6. N.T. book after Galatians : EPH.. Ephesians. The Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians, often shortened to Ephesians, is the tenth book of the New Testament. Its authorship has traditionally been credited to Paul, but it is considered by some scholars to be "deutero-Pauline," that is, written in Paul's name by a later author strongly influenced by Paul's thought.

7. Seine contents : EAU. French / water.

8. Backup strategy : PLAN B

9. Agricultural cubists? : BALERS. Shout out to WH. Forgot to mention yesterday, I thought of Jeannie when I saw the riddle about the HAIR. I hope she's still afloat.

10. Yellow metal, in Mexico : ORO. Maybe we can get an answer today from yellowrocks about his her name. (Oops)

11. Seat of Greene County, Ohio : XENIA

12. Samantha of "Doctor Dolittle" : EGGAR. Image.

13. Set of drinks for the table : ROUND

18. Lacking capacity : UNABLE

22. "Cool!" : "NEATO!"

25. Umbilical terminus : NAVEL

26. __ la la : TRA

27. Not a soul : NO ONE

28. Doorframe part : JAMB

29. Start to unravel : FRAY

30. Scot's skirt : KILT

34. Dined on, biblically : ATE OF

36. Witch's incantation : SPELL

38. Old Ford models : LTDs

39. "__ Dinah": 1958 Frankie Avalon hit : DEDE. Clip.(2:15) A wailing sax on the bridge.

40. La Salle of "ER" : ERIQ. Image.

42. Asian Olympics city of 1988 : SEOUL

44. Like some patches : IRON ON

47. Blue : SAD

50. Squeaks and creaks : SOUNDS

52. Equivalence : PARITY. Often heard in sports talk.

54. Big wheel : NABOB

55. 2010 Supreme Court appointee Kagan : ELENA. Kagan is the first justice appointed without any prior experience as a judge since William Rehnquist in 1972. (Check out Hahtool's avatar from yesterday.)

56. Staked amount : WAGER

57. Himalayan country : NEPAL

62. Acre's 43,560 square units : FEET

63. Bygone U.S. gas : ESSO

64. 500 sheets : REAM

66. Octopus's defense : INK

69. Joke around with : KID

Answer grid.

Argyle

Notes from C.C.:

1) Look at this adorable boy. Can you guess who he is (from our blog, of course)?

2) Many of us have been receiving free daily Word of the Day mini-crossword from Paul Stynsberg, who always tries his best to provide the most relevant & informative crosswordese of the day. He said in his email yesterday: I'm running a 5K on July 16th to raise money for the fight against ALS. My goal is to get 50 people to kick in a buck or two. If you'd like to be a part of this, please make a check payable to "ALS Fundraiser" and try to get it to me sometime before the race. (I'm sorry, I don't have a way for you to do this on-line.) Mail to:

Paul Stynsberg

705 4th St. NE

Roseau MN 56751

Let's help and motivate Paul to run faster. Thank you!

Tuesday April 20, 2010 Kevin Christian

Theme: RIGHT onyms - Three semantic definitions of RIGHT.

20A. RIGHT: SYNONYM FOR JUST. (meaning the same)

38A. RIGHT: HOMONYM FOR WRITE. (sounding the same, meaning different)

50A. RIGHT: ANTONYM FOR LEFT. (meaning the opposite)

RIGHT is capitalized because normally it's an answer. Clue/Answer shift today.

I'm Argyle and I'm back.

First, let me say there are no helper/cheater squares in this puzzle, ok. Second, welcome to a new constructor today, assuming it's not a new anagram of our editor.

A rather easy Tuesday puzzle but quite nice. We have a good start to the week.

Across:

1A. Indian region known for its tea: ASSAM. Map (from a tea blogger.)

6A. Etta of old comics: KETT. Etta Kett was launched as a single panel by Paul Robinson in Dec., 1925, it originally offered tips to teenagers on manners, etiquette and the social graces. Robinson, however, saw a narrative potential, devising a strip of wholesome humor that maintained a readership over five decades. Drawing with a polished, clean-line style, he expanded his teenage characters into a daily strip and Sunday page about energetic Etta Kett, her middle-class family and friends in a suburban setting (and becoming a crossword staple).

10A. Winery vessels: VATS.

14A. "The Lord of the Rings" hero: FRODO. Portrayed by Elijah Wood in the movie even though Frodo is a middle-aged hobbit in the book.

15A. Trendsetting: EDGY.

16A. Words after laugh or whoop: IT UP.

17A. Lisa of "The Cosby Show": BONET. They say Bill Cosby was not happy when she was in the movie, Angel Heart.

18A. Popular depilatory: NAIR. (a hair removal product)

19A. Frozen breakfast brand: EGGO.

23A. Stephen of "The Crying Game": REA.

24A. Charged particle: ION.

25A. Polar bear's domain: ARCTIC.

29A. Nonpaying train rider, perhaps: HOBO.

32A. Balloon-breaking sound: POP.

35A. Irritant "in your side": THORN.

36A. Verdi's title princess: AIDA. Opera.

37A. Brett Favre's number: FOUR. Football quarterback.

41A. Thor's father: ODIN. Thor is the Norse god of thunder. He is a son of Odin and Jord.

42A. Mideast bigwig: EMIR.

43A. __, meenie ...: EENIE.

44A. Anatomical egg holder: SAC. The "egg sac" or ovary.

45A. Maxwell Smart's nemesis: KAOS. The bad guys on the TV spoof of spy shows.

46A. Make plump: FATTEN.

47A. That boat: SHE.

49A. Ending for refuse: NIK.

58A. Comedian Roseanne: BARR. She does have Chutzpah: 64A. NERVE.

59A. "One giant leap for mankind" site: MOON.

60A. Figure of speech: IDIOM.

62A. Colored part of the eye: IRIS.

63A. Feel concern: CARE.

65A. Use a keyboard: TYPE.

66A. Help badly?: ABET. (help illegally)

67A. Prepare to be knighted: KNEEL.

Down:

1D. Langley or Laughlin: Abbr.: AFB. (Air Force Base) Langley AFB is in Hampton, VA, and Laughlin AFB is located near Del Rio, Texas.

2D. Sellout signs: SROS. (Standing Room Only)

3D. PlayStation maker: SONY.

4D. Yemen port: ADEN.

5D. Ramada, for one: MOTOR INN.

6D. Land of Obama's father: KENYA.

7D. Cheese in red wax: EDAM.

8D. "Yay, tomorrow's Saturday!": TGIF.

9D. Neophyte: TYRO.

10D. Mission __, California: VIEJO. A city located in southern Orange County, California in the Saddleback Valley. There is no Spanish mission in Mission Viejo, and the name is an ungrammatical use of a masculine adjective with a feminine noun. The correct Spanish term meaning "old mission" is "misión vieja." Per Wikipedia.

11D. How banks are usually robbed: AT GUNPOINT.

12D. Port pullers: TUGS. Aliteration

13D. Dog in a primer: SPOT. Do they still use, "SEE SPOT RUN. RUN, SPOT, RUN."?

21D. Japanese information technology giant: NEC. NEC Corporation is one of the world's leading providers of Internet, broadband network and enterprise business solutions.

22D. Brazilian hot spot: RIO.

25D. One of the Musketeers: ATHOS

26D. Valerie Harper role: RHODA. A spin off of the Mary Tyler Moore TV show.

27D. "FoxTrot" or "Dilbert": COMIC STRIP.

28D. Suffix with cyclo or jumbo: TRON.

29D. Old sound systems: HI-FIS.

30D. Febreze target: ODOR.

31D. Ingot: BAR.

33D. Bellybutton type: OUTIE.

34D. Fuss over oneself: PREEN.

36D. Bullets and such: AMMO.

37D. Worry: FRET.

39D. Affirmative vote: YEA.

40D. Vulnerable spot in a chain: WEAK LINK.

45D. Barbie's guy: KEN.

46D. Christmas tree choice: FIR.

48D. Trigger, e.g.: HORSE. Let's play match the horse and rider. Roy Roger and Trigger. Dale Evans and ?

49D. Three trios: NONET. A group of nine.

50D. More than 51-Down: A BIT.

51D. Not even 50-Down: NARY. Cute combo.

52D. Village People disco hit: YMCA.

53D. Ancient kingdom near the Dead Sea: MOAB.

54D. "Look out, golfers!": "FORE!".

55D. Snake-and-fruit story setting: EDEN.

56D. Blaze: FIRE.

57D. "Slithy" thing in "Jabberwocky": TOVE.

61D. Filmmaker Gibson: MEL.

Answer grid.

Argyle