Monday, September 5, 2016 Gail Grabowski and Bruce Venzke

Theme: Mystery Monday - No reveal, or is there?

62. Brief film role: CAMEO APPEARANCE. A CAMEO can appear as part of the other three items.

17. Chronological documentation in a court case: CHAIN OF EVIDENCE. Cameo necklace(chain)

27. Point an accusing finger at: PIN THE BLAME ON. Cameo pin(brooch)

48. "Be careful on that icy sidewalk": "WATCH YOUR STEP", Cameo watch (Usually a pocket watch)

Argyle here. Some easy stuff, some easy to overthink them and some that will get your thinking cap working. I think we will have a range of responses today. The grid itself with its two grid spanners and stong corners is solid.

Across:

1. Captain obsessed with a whale: AHAB

5. Baseball great Ruth: BABE

9. Channel covering Capitol Hill: C-SPAN

14. Formal affair: BALL

15. Taken by mouth: ORAL

16. Rome's home: ITALY

20. Prior name of Ho Chi Minh City: SAIGON

21. Spot of acne: ZIT

22. Driver's license prerequisite: TEST

23. Damaging precipitation: HAIL

25. NFL officials: REFs

32. Greek Cupid: EROS

33. Great Lakes' __ Canals: SOO

34. Prom participant: SENIOR

37. Japanese drama: NOH

38. Cry bitterly: SOB

40. Links org.: PGA. (Professional Golfers' Association)

41. Sharpshooters' magnifiers: SCOPES

45. Discouraging answers: NO's

47. Organs that may be pierced: EARS

51. When repeated, a Hawaiian fish: MAHI

52. Shoelace securer: KNOT

53. Offended smack: SLAP

56. New Deal org.: WPA. (Works Progress Administration)

58. More gloomy: DARKER

65. Female reproductive gland: OVARY

66. Any one of the Bahamas: ISLE

67. Geometric art style: DECO

68. Cup, in Calais: TASSE

69. Cartoon screams: EEKs

70. Leaves speechless: AWEs

Down:

1. Elementary lessons: ABCs

2. "You're a riot ... not": "HA-HA"

3. Jai __: ALAI

4. Fatal plant diseases: BLIGHTS. I question "fatal".

5. Outskirts of the outskirts: BOONIES

6. Weimaraner warning: ARF. 31D. Try to bite, puppy-style: NIP AT

7. Joan at Woodstock: BAEZ

8. Horror's "Mistress of the Dark": ELVIRA. Official Site.

9. Spanish hero El __: CID

10. Classic cowboy hat: STETSON

11. Windex target: PANE

12. MLB postseason semifinal: ALCS. (American League Championship Series)

13. Kremlin refusal: NYET

18. Genesis shipbuilder: NOAH. Would we laugh at him today? Or be worried?

19. List listings: ITEMS

24. Wall St. deals: LBOs. (leveraged buyout)

26. Price of admission: FEE

27. Check-signing needs: PENS

28. __-Z: classic Camaro: IROC. (International Race of Champions) In March 2008, IROC auctioned off its tools, equipment, cars, and memorabilia, and went out of business.

29. "Not gonna happen": "NO HOW"

30. Zany: LOONY

35. Kiddie-lit monster: OGRE

36. Sing like Joe Cocker: RASP

39. Best-seller list entry: BOOK

42. Fusses over: PAMPERS

43. LAX listing: ETA

44. The "a" sound in "about" or "around": SCHWA

46. Ice cream treats: SUNDAES

47. Erik of "CHiPs": ESTRADA

49. Flower child, e.g.: HIPPIE

50. Roll in the aisles: ROAR

53. Kilt wearer: SCOT

54. Volcanic flow: LAVA

55. Amo, __, amat: AMAS

57. Vaulted church recess: APSE

59. Had the information: KNEW

60. Behold, to Caesar: ECCE

61. Classic cars: REOs

63. Santana's "__ Como Va": OYE. "Oye como va mi ritmo", meaning "Listen to how my rhythm goes."

64. Lodge logo animal: ELK. The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

Argyle

Monday, August 29, 2016 Jerry Edelstein

Theme: Monday? - A single word can be added to the front of five other non-related words.

63A. United stand ... and what the first part of the answers to starred clues literally can have: COMMON FRONT

17A. *Cost of shares on the exchange: MARKET PRICE. Common Market.

41A. *U.S./USSR conflict: COLD WAR. Common Cold.

11D. *Element in an executive compensation package: STOCK OPTION. Common Stock.

25D. *Drive to do the responsible thing: SENSE OF DUTY. Common Sense.

27D. *"So long": "GOOD DAY". Common Good.

Argyle here. It may just be me but I felt this was meant to be later in the week.

Across:

1. Illusions in a stage act, collectively: MAGIC

6. Muslim leaders: IMAMs

11. Place for a massage: SPA

14. Twist: GNARL

15. French Revolution radical: MARAT. Jean-Paul Marat.

16. Put a strain on: TAX

19. Tip jar denomination: ONE

20. Miffed: SORE

21. Gizmos: DEVICES

23. __ buco: veal dish: OSSO

26. Director Lee: ANG

28. Student's workplace: DESK

29. Guttural "Psst!": "AHEM!"

30. Wedding vows: I DO's

32. Condemn: DOOM

34. Most rational: SANEST

36. Nobel Peace Prize city: OSLO

38. Jack-in-the-box sound: [POP!]

40. Drips in the ICU: IVS. (Intravenous)

43. Give it a go: TRY

44. Witness: SEE

45. Yankee slugger, to fans: A-ROD

46. Area of expertise: MÉTIER. French

48. Sound from Leo: ROAR

50. Twist, as water-damaged floorboards: WARP

52. Sharpen: HONE

53. World Cup soccer org.: FIFA. (Fédération Internationale de Football Association)

55. "__-hoo!": YOO

56. 1946 N.L. RBI leader Slaughter: ENOS

57. Part of a chess match when most of the pieces are off the board: END GAME

60. "__ the mornin'!": TOP O'

62. Sch. run by Mormons: BYU. (Brigham Young University)

68. Track transaction: BET

69. Wabbit-hunting Fudd: ELMER

70. Fragrant wood: CEDAR

71. Pig's home: STY

72. Officials who have their faculties: DEANs. Cute.

73. Hit hard, biblically: SMOTE

Down:

1. Leo is its logo: MGM

2. California's Santa __ River: ANA

3. Long-jawed fish: GAR

4. Annoying: IRKSOME

5. Egyptian queen, familiarly: CLEO. (Cleopatra VII Philopator)

6. Loom on the horizon: IMPEND

7. St. Patrick's mo.: MARch

8. Very dry: ARID

9. Sprayed in defense: MACED

10. Longshoreman: STEVEDORE

12. Window glass: PANE

13. Lumberjacks' tools: AXES

18. Double agent: TRAITOR

22. Prefix with metric and bar: ISO

23. Desert retreat: OASIS

24. Norelco product: SHAVER

31. U-turn from NNE: SSW

33. Rita with an Oscar, Emmy, Tony and Grammy: MORENO. West Side Story's  Anita.

35. Like Al Capone: SCARFACED

37. Ridicule satirically: LAMPOON

39. Combustible funeral piles: PYREs

42. Under a quarter-tank, say: LOW

47. Geometry proposition: THEOREM

49. Bailed-out insurance co.: AIG. (American International Group, Inc)

51. Copter blades: ROTORS

54. Whac-__: arcade game: A-MOLE

57. Diminishes: EBBS

58. Russian denial: "NYET!"

59. Actress Stone of "Birdman": EMMA

61. Low-ranking GIs: PFCs. (Private first class)

64. Guys: MEN

65. Prefix with meter: ODO

66. __ King Cole: NAT

67. Italian three: TRE

Argyle

Note from C.C.:

I hope you can click here and sign the petition calling for price reduction for EpiPens, which have surged to $600/pack without any justification. The CEO's salary rose over 600% since 2007, when Mylan bought EpiPen.

Monday, August 22, 2016 John Doering Sr. and C.C. Burnikel

Theme: Want fries with that? - There are four types orders to be found in the circles and the circles are on each side of the theme entries.

18. Paper or plastic choice: GROCERY BAG. Gag order; no discussing the current case to the press.

24. Waitstaff boss: MAÎTRE D'HÔTEL. Mail order.

40. Misfortune: BAD LUCK. Back order; what happened to your mail order.

51. Popular climb from Lone Pine, California: MOUNT WHITNEY. Money order, to pay for your mail order that has been back ordered.

62. Fries, slaw, etc. ... and what this puzzle's circles represent: SIDE ORDERS

Argyle here. C.C. has her latest protégé in tow and provided us with a doable Monday but with circles. Lack of circles shouldn't have slowed things up very much, I would imagine. Still, it's more fun with them.

Author:

1. D.C. fundraisers: PACS. (political action committee)

5. Throat-clearing word: [AHEM!]

9. Square root of 64: EIGHT

14. Marathon aftermath: ACHE

15. Singer Horne: LENA

16. Versailles send-off: ADIEU

17. Moscow: nyet :: Berlin: __: NEIN

20. Detective Pinkerton: ALLAN. C.C. worked for Pinkerton's at one time. The founder(Allan) of the Detective Agency was long gone by then.

22. Protest singer Phil: OCHS. He died in 1976 at the age of 35.

23. "Okay, __ do it!": LET'S

27. Gravy container: BOAT

28. Cocktail: DRINK

31. Online company with many drivers: UBER. Now they want to do away with the drivers.

33. Tot's piggies: TOES

37. Religious symbols: ICONS

39. "__ culpa": MEA

42. Tales of __: misfortunes: WOE

43. Bamboo eater: PANDA

45. Watson of "Harry Potter" films: EMMA. She looks different now.

46. Learning by memorization: ROTE

47. Carrier that added "ways" to its name in 1997: USAir

49. Butter toffee bar: SKOR. Still chewing on this one.

57. Car rental giant: AVIS

60. Most of the Jolly Green Giant's laugh: HO HO

61. "Done!": "THERE!"

65. "Terrible" tsar: IVAN

66. Coral island: ATOLL

67. West Point initials: USMA. (United States Military Academy)

68. Take a break: REST

69. Oater law group: POSSE

70. Gas company with toy trucks: HESS. They got rid of their gas stations but still sell the toy trucks.

71. Neighborhood: AREA

Down:

1. Old TWA rival: PAN AM

2. High-speed Amtrak service: ACELA. A made-up name.

3. Legumes used in cook-offs: CHILI BEANS

4. McCain or McConnell: SENATOR

5. Math subj.: ALG. (algebra)

6. King of Judea: HEROD

7. Firstborn son of Cain: ENOCH. Bible study: quiz later.

8. Ultra-manly: MACHO

9. Corn piece: EAR

10. Peaceful: IDYLLIC. In my local area, the corn is idyllic; grown up tall and the ears are filling out but beware, the choppers are coming.

11. Barb: GIBE

12. Furnace output: HEAT

13. Harbor craft: TUGS

19. Cornerstone abbr.: ESTD. (Established)

21. Gun lobby org.: NRA. (National Rifle Association)

25. Kett of old comics: ETTA

26. Christine's lover in "The Phantom of the Opera": ERIK

29. Ultimatum words: NOW OR NEVER

30. Tie the __: marry: KNOT

31. Strike caller: UMP

32. Older brother of Jeff Bridges: BEAU

34. "__ to Billie Joe": ODE

35. Large shade tree: ELM

36. Total in math: SUM

38. "Understand?": "SEE?"

40. Scott of "Happy Days": BAIO. "Chachi" Arcola is the younger cousin of Fonzie.

41. Flea market payment: CASH

44. Ones "in distress" in old films: DAMSELS

46. Tax-sheltered nest egg: ROTH IRA

48. German coal valley: RUHR. Haven't seen the valley in awhile.

50. Modeler's buy: KIT

52. "Obviously, Einstein!": "NO DUH!"

53. "__ are the times that try men's souls": Paine: THESE

These are the times that try men's souls. In the course of our nation's history, the people of Boston have rallied

Bravely whenever the rights of men have been threatened. Today, a new crisis has arisen. The Metropolitan

Transit Authority, better known as the M. T. A., is attempting to levy a burdensome tax on the population in the

Form of a subway fare increase. Citizens, hear me out! This could happen to you!

54. Early-bird catches: WORMS. Did you catch an ear worm from the above intro?

55. Rub out: ERASE

56. Gossipy sort: YENTA

57. Without delay, in memos: ASAP. (as soon as possible)

58. Don Corleone's first name: VITO

59. Nuptial vows: I DO's

63. Barcelona cheer: ¡Olé!

64. Carrier to Copenhagen: SAS. Scandinavian Airlines

Argyle

Note from C,C.:

John Doering Sr. is our own witty Jayce, who speaks fluent Chinese and understands every quirky thing I say. Jayce also learns super fast and is lots of fun to work with. 

Congratulations on your LAT debut, dear Jayce!

Jayce
Picture was taken in June 2013 in a hotel in Santa Barbara where Jayce and his wife were enjoying a week of vacation with his son and his family.

Monday, August 15, 2016 Mark McClain and Andrea Carla Michaels

Theme: TNT - Three word phrases with initial initials of T A T

20. Painful reality that one doesn't want to face: THE AWFUL TRUTH

28. Close enough to share intimate secrets: THICK AS THIEVES

47. Features of many mountain roads: TWISTS AND TURNS

57. 1984 #1 hit for Cyndi Lauper: TIME AFTER TIME

71. Body art, briefly ... and, initially, a hint to this puzzle's four longest answers: TAT

Argyle here but it should have been Steve! Sports and airports and FOOD! Oh My! Some of the clueing is Thursday level, too.

Across:

1. Scale readings: Abbr.: WTs. And sure, I wanted LBs first.

4. Pau or Marc of the NBA: GASOL crossing 4D. London airport: GATWICK

My personal Natick: The Gasol brothers are professional basketball players from Spain. Gatwick is UK's 2nd-largest airport but I only knew of Heathrow.

9. Roofing material: PITCH

14. Snicker syllable: HEH

15. Essential acid, familiarly: AMINO

16. Online cash-back deal: E-BATE

17. WSW's opposite: ENE

18. Giveaway bags: TOTEs

19. Lone Star State: TEXAS

23. Bite-sized fish dish: SUSHI with 21D. 23-Across tuna: AHI

24. Bond creator Fleming: IAN

25. "I thought so!": "A-HA!"

33. Didn't toss out: KEPT

34. Vigilant: ALERT

35. 2015 award for Steph Curry: ESPY. He is another pro basketball player.

39. Have a craving (for): YEARN

42. Crucifix letters: INRI. “Iesvs Nazarenvs Rex Ivdaeorvm” (Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews)

43. Skin irritations: SORES

45. Slips that promise payment: IOUs. (I Owe You)

53. Walk-__: small roles: ONs

54. British ref. work: OED. (Oxford English Dictionary)

55. March b-ball tourneys, casually: NCAAs. (National Collegiate Athletic Association)

62. Nest sound: CHIRP

64. Start to type?: PROTO. (prototype)

65. Chaney of horror films: LON

66. Tapered boat: CANOE

67. Five minutes past a quarter of: TEN TO. A bit convoluted clue.

68. "Patience __ virtue": IS A

69. Use up money: SPEND

70. Cook, as mussels: STEAM

Down:

1. Stimulates, as an appetite: WHETS

2. Basic training command: "TEN-HUT!". Stand at attention.

3. "Good grief!": "SHEESH!"

5. "I __ the opinion ... ": AM OF

6. In __: unmoved: SITU

7. New law student: ONE L

8. Went berserk: LOST IT

9. Porky Pig's girlfriend: PETUNIA

10. "Yeah, right!": "I BET!"

11. Financial shelter: TAX HAVEN

12. Windy City "L" operator: Abbr.: CTA. (Chicago Transit Authority)

13. Stag party attendees: HEs

22. Cheering word: RAH

26. Münster mister: HERR

27. Italian wine region: ASTI

29. __ lime pie: KEY

30. Big primate: APE

31. Laundry day target: STAIN

32. Quarterback Manning: ELI

35. This, in Spain: ESTO

36. Scattered, as seed: SOWN

37. Uncorrupted: PRISTINE

38. "Of course!": "YES"

40. Angler's pole: ROD

41. Cashew or almond: NUT

44. Trod heavily: STOMPED

46. Solarium: SUNROOM

48. Set eyes on: SEE

49. Responds well to change: ADAPTS

50. Sales slip: Abbr.: RCT. (receipt)

51. Stick the landing, say: NAIL IT

52. Stuffed Indian pastry: SAMOSA

56. Parisian political body: SENAT

58. Get the creases out of: IRON

59. Stew (over): FRET

60. "When you hear the __, please leave your message": TONE

61. Jazzy James: ETTA

62. Emails a dupe to: CCs

63. WWII General __ Arnold: HAP

His Story

Argyle

Monday, August 8, 2016 Kevin C. Christian

Theme: Beyond Medium - Well, well, well done.

20A. Position of football lineman J.J. Watt : DEFENSIVE END. End well.

28A. Average, in math : ARITHMETIC MEAN. Mean well.

42A. Fountain treat with Bosco, maybe : CHOCOLATE SHAKE. Shake well.

47A. Echoic remark before "What do we have here?" whose words can follow the ends of 20-, 28- and 42-Across : "WELL WELL WELL"

Argyle here. Argyle here (with a sense of déjà vu).

Author:

1. 24 minutes, in the NBA : HALF

5. Giant among wholesale clubs : SAM'S

9. Heat unit : THERM

14. Rideshare app : UBER

15. __-deucey : ACEY

16. Great Lakes mnemonic : HOMES. Test yourself.

17. Author Wiesel : ELIE

18. Improbable tale : YARN

19. Candy heart message : I LUV U

23. Sound heard by a shepherd : [BAA!]

24. Intense, as a competitor : FIERCE

33. Unsteady on one's feet : AREEL

34. Country rocker Steve : EARLE

35. "__ & the Women": 2000 Gere film : DR. T

36. Divisions of tennis matches : SETs

37. Actress Holmes : KATIE

38. Ticked off : SORE

39. "How was __ know?" : I TO

40. Diamond weight : CARAT

41. Word before Master or case : STAIR

45. Biblical dancer : SALOME

46. For each : PER

54. Many Mideast residents : ARABS

57. Verdi opera set in Egypt : "AIDA"

58. Color similar to turquoise : AQUA

59. '90s candidate Ross : PEROT

60. Hosp. scans : MRIs. (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

61. Road grooves : RUTS

62. Japanese capital : TOKYO

63. Literary sister of Amy, Meg and Jo : BETH. (Little Women)

64. Magnitude : SIZE

Down:

1. Tinged : HUED

2. Having the skills : ABLE

3. Actor/singer Garrett : LEIF. He became famous in the 1970's as a child actor, pop star and teen idol.

4. They're on the house : FREEBIES

5. Prepares to have one's tongue depressed : SAYS "AH"

6. Healthy berry : ACAI

7. Griffin of game show fame : MERV

8. "Auld Lang __" : SYNE

9. Skating danger : THIN ICE

10. Texas __: poker game : HOLD 'EM

11. Big Australian bird : EMU

12. Gun, as an engine : REV

13. The Spartans of the NCAA : MSU. (Michigan State University)

21. Part of NFL: Abbr. : NATL. (National)

22. TurboTax option : E-FILE

25. Hardwood tree that drops acorns : RED OAK

26. Fisher who plays Princess Leia : CARRIE. Daughter of Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher.

27. Come in : ENTER

28. "Queen of Soul" Franklin : ARETHA

29. Equip anew, as a machine shop : RETOOL

30. Ben Stiller's mom : MEARA. Anne.

31. Really bother : EAT AT

32. Clichéd : TRITE

33. Nike competitor : ASICS

37. Superman's birth name : KAL-EL

38. Sci-fi classic that introduced Princess Leia : "STAR WARS"

40. Regains consciousness : COMES TO

41. Poet Silverstein : SHEL

43. Frequent John Wayne persona : COWBOY

44. A cannonball makes a big one : SPLASH

48. Shepherd's charge : LAMB

49. Lamp-to-plug line : WIRE

50. Improve text : EDIT

51. Same: Pref. : EQUI

52. Skating jump : LUTZ

53. Cut with light : LASE

54. Fitting : APT

55. Rock's __ Speedwagon : REO

56. Genesis boat : ARK

Argyle

Monday, August 1, 2016 Jason Mueller

Theme: Colorful Windmill - with the reveal at the hub.

40A. 1950s RCA innovation ... or this puzzle's four longest answers? : COLOR TV

17A. Albert/Gabor sitcom set on a farm : GREEN ACRES. CBS

11D. Sitcom for which Candice Bergen won five Emmys : MURPHY BROWN. CBS

59A. Tom Selleck police series : BLUE BLOODS. CBS

25D. Drama in which Tatiana Maslany plays several clones : ORPHAN BLACK. BBC America

{Rabbit Rabbit} Argyle here. Jason has been HERE before. A neat start to the week and the month. It is a little odd that the color starts the Across themes and ends the Down themes. Is there a purpose?

Across:

1. Veggies in Mendel's experiments : PEAs

5. Wear away : ERODE

10. Key with five sharps: Abbr. : B MAJor

14. Apiece : EACH

15. Name of nearly 20 French kings : LOUIS

16. Deceptive scheme : RUSE

19. Spring flower : IRIS

20. Auction unit : LOT

21. Remain firm : STAND PAT

23. Chided : SCOLDED

27. Slangy affirmative : YEAH

28. Gives a hoot : CARES

29. Fingers in a lineup : IDs

32. Pictograph : GLYPH

35. Award for Tiger Woods or Roger Federer : ESPY. (short for Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Award)

36. Con's early release : PAROLE

38. Spelling contest : BEE

39. High degree : NTH

41. Hwy., e.g. : RTE

42. Stat for Cy Young : ERA. (earned run average) lower is better.

43. Compensated (for) : ATONED

44. Thesaurus entry : WORD

45. Top 40 listings : SONGS

47. Solidify : GEL

48. "Space Oddity" singer David : BOWIE

49. Raised, as horses : BRED

51. Longed (for) : YEARNED

53. Amphitheater : COLISEUM

57. Jan. honoree : MLK. (Martin Luther King Jr.)

58. Garden of Eden exile : ADAM

64. Scalp parasites : LICE

65. Prefix with mural : INTRA

66. "Go back!" computer command : [UNDO]

67. Signs, as a contract : INKS

68. __ Tots : TATER

69. Thomas Hardy heroine : TESS

Down:

1. Pin for hanging : PEG

2. Organ associated with van Gogh : EAR

3. Crack pilot : ACE

4. Frankenstein creator : SHELLEY

5. Make wildly happy : ELATE

6. Legendary big bird : ROC

7. Belonging to us : OURS

8. Slimming-down strategy : DIET

9. Student's composition : ESSAY

10. Type of shower or gown : BRIDAL

12. Most populous continent : ASIA

13. In __: as a prank : JEST

18. Approving bobs : NODS

22. Israeli desert : NEGEV

23. Parts of acts : SCENES

24. Big name in recent Cuban history : CASTRO

26. Back-and-forth talk : DIALOG

30. Unmanned spy plane : DRONE

31. In a bad way : SORELY

33. "The Dick Van Dyke Show" surname : PETRIE. Rob Petrie, his wife Laura, and son Richie.

34. Listened to, as advice : HEEDED

36. Pan partner : POT. Pot and pan just sounds wrong.

37. Old Ford model : LTD. Etymology

40. They're tried in court : CASES

44. Get in one's reps : WORKOUT

46. Tony winner Tammy : GRIMES. Her daughter is Amanda Plummer.

48. Soccer sphere : BALL

50. __ card: payment method : DEBIT

52. Block : EMBAR

53. Colombian metropolis : CALI

54. Chief Norse god : ODIN

55. Bone near the radius : ULNA

56. Mixed-breed dog : MUTT

60. Before, poetically : ERE

61. United : ONE

62. Driller's deg. : DDS. (Doctor of Dental Surgery)

63. Palindromic call for help : S-O-S

Argyle