Thursday, March 27, 2014 Pancho Harrison

Theme: "Paradise Lost" in the the middle of the theme entries.

17-Across. Specific gravity : RELATIVE DENSITY. I used to measure the specific gravity of urine when I worked in the lab, so that was all I could think of when I read the clue. Your experience may vary...

29-Across. Publicly traded investment company with a limited number of shares : CLOSED END FUND. I'll let my financial manager deal with the boring details...

45-Across. Mad man? : ALFRED E. NEUMAN. Cover boy of Mad Magazine, with the tag line "What, me worry?"

And the reveal:

58-Across. Classic children's novel, and what to look for in this puzzle's three other longest answers : THE SECRET GARDEN. EDEN is split differently in each of the three theme entries: E-DEN, ED-EN and ED-E-N. I like that in a puzzle. Here's the rest -

Across:

1. Gp. co-founded by Victor Herbert : ASCAP. No clue about Victor Herbert, but a couple perps gave me a WAG at the answer.

6. Bonkers : LOCO. and 67-Across. A bit daft : DOTTY. Not to be confused with a Mad man.

10. Harbinger : OMEN. I think of "harbinger" as foretelling something positive (like spring - is it ever going to get here?) and OMEN as something negative.

14. Cheri of "Scary Movie" : OTERI. Thank goodness I memorized this one long ago. It has saved my bacon in many a tough puzzle.

15. "... __ the dreadful thunder / Doth rend the region": "Hamlet" : ANON.

16. Gossipy Barrett : RONA. See # 14-A comment.

20. Vietnamese observance : TET. See # 14-A comment

21. Hitch : SNAG. and a semi-clecho with 34-Across. Do a hitch in the military : SERVE.

22. Vintage cars : REOS. See # 14-A comment.

23. Onetime Kenny G label : ARISTA. See # 14-A comment.

25. Play with robots : RUR. See # 14-A comment.

26. Linebacker Manti __, 2012 Heisman Trophy finalist : TEO. I guess I'll just have to memorize this one as well. (OK, I'll stop now!) (From C.C.: This guy's fake girlfriend incident must have escaped Marti. Read here.)

33. Wagner works : OPERAS. I could use my music link on this one, but I have something better in mind.

35. Put away : STOW.

38. Dove competitor : CAMAY.

40. Slangy turnarounds : UEYS. UIES is another spelling we see.

41. Settings for Manet : CAFES. Like this one.

Corner in a Cafe Concert

43. Finished a flight-training requirement : SOLOED. Hi, Dudley!

48. Agnus __ : DEI. "Lamb of God" in Latin.

49. Auction ending? : EER. Auctioneer.

50. Take out : DELETE.

53. 1977 medical novel : COMA. This was Robin Cook's first major novel. I was working at the VA Hospital when it came out, and everyone had their nose in a copy during lunchtime.

55. Time of jour : SOIR. Anyone else want "heur"?

57. Baa maid? : EWE. Cute.

62. __ of Sandwich : EARL.

63. "This can't be happening!" : OH NO.

64. Script parts : LINES.

65. Additionally : ALSO.

66. E or G, e.g. : NOTE.


Down:

1. Angiogram image : AORTA.

2. Take the helm : STEER.

3. Irish musical ensemble __ Woman : CELTIC. We just watched one of their concerts the other night. But, I'm still holding on to my musical link...

4. Altar constellation : ARA.

5. Road trip refresher : PIT STOP.

6. __ lamp : LAVA.

7. Universal donor's type, briefly : O NEG.

8. Food fish : COD. It's also what you mail to your friend in Boston on their birthday.

9. Successful squeeze play result : ONE RUN. Boy, did I need an education for this one. I thought a squeeze play was when two fielders trap a runner between bases. Bzzzt!  It's actually a bunt when there is a runner on third, forcing the outfielder to throw to first, while allowing the runner to make it to home plate…10-Down. "... __ they say" : OR SO.

11. What humidity measures : MOISTURE. Um, isn't it measured by a hygrometer?

12. Forest friend of Frodo : ENT. Even though Frodo himself never met them, they acted as his friends and allies.

13. Dissenting vote : NAY.

18. "Hold your horses, I'm coming" : IN A SEC.

19. Unhip types : NERDS.

24. Like right-lane traffic, usually : SLOWER. I'm a left-lane kinda girl, myself...

25. Goodwill store transaction : RESALE.

27. Green condition? : ENVY. and 44-Down. Green shade : EMERALD.

28. Laudatory verses : ODES.

30. Helpful tip for a puzzle solver? : ERASER. Cute misdirection.

31. "Behind the Candelabra" co-star : DAMON. The story of Liberace, it also starred Michael Douglas and received rave reviews.

32. Like the Middle Ages : FEUDAL.

35. Large quantity : SCAD.

36. Account : TALE.

37. Company bigwigs : OFFICERS.

39. "Get it, daddy-o?" : YOU DIG?

42. Note next to a red F, maybe : SEE ME. Uh-oh...

46. Church VIP : DEACON.

47. "You __ worry" : NEEDN'T. Let Alfred E. Neuman do that for you...

51. "Rockin' Robin" chorus word : TWEET. At last, something worth linking!  Tweedle-lee-dee-dee-dee, tweedle-lee-dee-dee, tweedle-lee-dee-dee-dee, tweedle-lee-dee-dee, tweedle-lee-dee-dee-dee, tweedle-lee-dee-dee, tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet… (Aren't you glad I didn't waste my musical link on OPERAS or CELTIC Women?)

52. Itty : EENSY.

54. Peace Prize city : OSLO.

55. On its way : SENT. "The check is in the mail…"

56. Platte River tribe : OTOE.

58. Leaves in a bag : TEA.

59. Kubrick's out-of-control computer : HAL. In "2001: A Space odyssey."

60. Sigma preceder : RHO.

61. 2016 Olympics host : RIO. And they plan to hold sailing events here? Ewww...

Guanabara Bay

That's it from me for this week!

Marti

Thursday, October 3, 2013 Pancho Harrison

Theme: "Twist of Fate."

17. See 49-Down : O'HENRY SPECIALTY.

27. See 49-Down : DRINK GARNISH.

43. See 49-Down : SIXTIES DANCE.

56. See 49-Down : OLIVER OF FICTION.

And the unifier:
49-Down. Diving rotation, and the clue for four puzzle answers : TWIST.

So we have another "definition" type theme, but with a twist. Typically we would see all four theme answers clued as "Twist." But Pancho hid the clue in the grid, making it that much more difficult to make headway. I must confess, I was stumbling around blind on the first couple theme entries, until perps finally gave me an inkling of what the answers might be.

Across:

1. Like bars in noir films : SMOKY. Like this bar. And the dancin' is smokin', too! 3:20 Very apropos to the theme today...

6. Brouhaha : FLAP.

10. Workout woe : ACHE.

14. Salsa singer Cruz : CELIA. Did not remember her. 4:27 (Did it seem like there were a lot of names in the grid? I counted upwards of 15...)

15. BMW competitor : AUDI.

16. Invalidate : VOID.

20. Platte River settler : OTO.

21. Spoil, with "on" : DOTE.

22. "Cagney & Lacey" Emmy winner : GLESS. Sharon.

23. Scripture section : PASSAGE.

25. "I am just __ boy, though my story's seldom told": "The Boxer" : A POOR. Oldie but goodie. 5:17

31. '60s-'70s "Fearsome Foursome" NFL team : L.A. RAMS. Moved to St. Louis in 1994.

34. Reported for the first time : NEW.

35. Payable now : DUE.

36. Is after : SEEKS.

37. Oyster's spot : BED.

38. Peak in a Trevanian title : EIGER. Trevanian is the pen name of Rodney William Whitaker, who wrote "The Eiger Sanction." It was made into a film in 1975, directed by Clint Eastwood.

40. Capri crowd? : TRE. "Due's company, tre's a crowd..." in Italy.

41. "The Birdcage" wrap : BOA. Hilarious movie. Too many great scenes to link.

42. Emerges from the wings : ENTERS. Comes on stage.

47. Cosmetician Elizabeth : ARDEN. Nee Florence Nightingale Graham.

48. Governor who opened the Erie Canal : CLINTON. DeWitt, not Bill.

52. Jazz pianist Ahmad __ : JAMAL. Could not remember him, either. 2:07

54. Moscow news acronym : ITAR. Information Telegraph Agency of Russia.  Usually seen as ITAR-TASS.

55. Court : WOO.

60. 1-Down holder : CONE. And 1-Down. Ice cream serving : SCOOP.

61. Exxon forerunner : ESSO.

62. Hosiery thread : LISLE. Don't ask me how I knew this.

63. Bottom of the sea? : KEEL. This one threw me off, but I recovered enough to continue...

64. Hardly a sophisticate : BOOR.

65. Really worry : EAT AT.

Down:

2. Conductor Zubin : MEHTA. Fortunately, I did know him! 3:31

3. Spreads on the table : OLEOS.

4. Flesh and blood : KIN.

5. Sail supports : YARDARMS.

6. Get together : FASTEN.

7. Rapper __ Fiasco : LUPE. Another total unknown. 3:54

8. Gator chaser? : ADE.

9. Paparazzo's prize, briefly : PIC.

10. Land of Arthurian legend : AVALON.

11. "Kubla Khan" poet : COLERIDGE.

12. Pop radio fodder : HITS.

13. "Grand" ice cream brand : EDYS. But only in the eastern US. In the west, it is Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream.

18. Hindu mystics : YOGIS.

19. Operatic prince : IGOR. Aria from the opera "Prince Igor" by Borodin. 8:02

24. Mont. neighbor : S. DAK. South Dakota.  But Montana was just in New England last week!

25. Elderly : AGED.

26. Claw holder : PAW.

28. Massage : KNEAD.

29. Plaintiff : SUER. I never want to be the suee (pig...pig...pig.)

30. Bierce defines it as "His" : HERS. From "The Devil's Dictionary."

31. WWII carriers : LSTs. Landing Ship, Tank (s).

32. Gaseous: Pref. : AERI.

33. Go over more carefully : REEXAMINE.

37. Deck department supervisor, briefly : BOS'N. Short for "boatswain."

38. Surround : ENCIRCLE.

39. Santa Monica-to-Jacksonville hwy. : I-TEN. The main interstate in the southern US.

41. Scripps competition : BEE. The winning word in 2013 was "knaidel." It is a dumpling, and comes from the Yiddish "kneydl."

42. Zhou __ : ENLAI. C.C. explained to me the derivation of this name a while ago. "Chow" in Cantonese is the same as "Zhou" in Mandarin Chinese. So Zhou Enlai = Chow Enlai.

44. Retirees often do it : TRAVEL.

45. Between jobs : IDLE.

46. Represent officially : ACT FOR.

50. Alley Oop's girl : OOOLA. I just kept adding "O"s until the answer was full...

51. Large jazz combo : NONET.

52. Prom king, often : JOCK.

53. Sunburn soother : ALOE.

54. In that case : IF SO.

57. Lee follower : REB. Civil war rebels.

58. Granada bear : OSO. Spanish.

59. __ Maria: liqueur : TIA. Could also have been clued as "Granada aunt."

That's all I have for this week. See you next time!

Marti

Wednesday, August 28, 2013 Pancho Harrison

Theme: Most telling put downs - Each humorous two-word answer consists of a noun preceded by a two-syllable verb that indicates a negative action or feeling, and whose second syllable connects with the noun to yield an in-the-language phrase, all clued as "Put down ..."  Or to put it simply, DE is added to the start of each noun phrase.

17A. Put down toddlers? : DECRY BABIES.  To DECRY is to publicly denounce. CRY BABIES complain, whether they have a reason to or not.

28A. Put down formal education? : DEGRADE SCHOOL. To DEGRADE is treat or regard someone with disrespect.  GRADE SCHOOL is the designation for grades 1 through some number between 5 and 8, depending on whether your district has middle school and what year it starts.

48A. Put down thoroughfares? : DEMEAN STREETS.  DEMEAN means to cause a severe loss of dignity or respect.   MEAN STREETS, besides being a 1973 Martin Scorsese movie, means a part of town known for violence and crime.

64A. Put down a rock genre? : DEBASE METAL. DEBASE means to reduce the value or quality of something.  BASE METAL is something other than a precious metal. Copper, tin and zinc all qualify.

Hi gang, JazzBumpa here.  Rather a brilliant theme, IMHO.  But I love word play of all sorts.  This kind of involuted pun is somewhat akin to the old Tom Swifty.  Kinda, sorta, maybe.

Across:

1. Stockpile : AMASS.

6. A.L. West player : ASTRO.  Cellar dwellers from Houston.

11. Place to see reeds : FEN.  Bog, swamp.

14. Like some trains and anesthetics : LOCAL. Odd pairing, but I can't quibble.

15. "Gigi" star Leslie : CARON.  She was 27 when they made this movie.  Maurice Chevalier was a bit older.  My grandmother had a thing for him, as did Gigi's.

16. Pollution-policing org. : EPA. Environmental Protection Agency

19. It's in many poems : TIS.  Keeping with the involution idea, it's "it's" turned inside out,  Would a poet do that?  'TIS a shame.

20. Wirehair of whodunits : ASTA.  Nick and Nora's terrier.

21. Start of a morning diner order : A CUP.  Of coffee, tea, hemlock, bile  .  .  .

22. Hunt illegally : POACH. Why would anyone ever illegally hunt an egg?

24. Petty of "A League of Their Own" : LORI.  Can't say I remember her.

26. Sediment : LEES.  Dregs in wine making.

33. Handle the helm : STEER. 

35. They're not from around here, briefly : ET'S.  Extra-Terrestrials.

36. Ship of Greek myth : ARGO.  Jason and the Argonauts.  They went for the gold, and got fleeced.

37. Rand who created Dagny Taggart : AYN.  Worst!  Novel!  Ever!

38. Went by : ELAPSED.

42. The Matterhorn, e.g. : ALP.

43. Plumbing concern : DRIP.

45. GI entertainers : USO.  United Service Organizations

46. British __ : ISLES.  There are well over 100 of them.  I'm rather fond of Islay.

52. Hook's sidekick : SMEE.  He's getting to be a regular here.

53. Caesarean rebuke : ET TU.  And you, Brutus?  Very disappointing day for Julie.

54. "Me too!" : SO DO I.

57. Pay, as expenses : MEET. 

59. Russian assembly : DUMA. Government council.

63. Fuss : ADO.

67. Spruce cousin : FIR.  Evergreen trees.

68. Soothing application : SALVE.  What -- not ALOE?!?

69. Cockamamie : INANE. Now, that's just silly.

70. Comics cry : EEK.  I tawt I taw a mouse.

71. Ancestral diagrams : TREES.  Not to be confused with 67 A.

72. Dumas swordsman : ATHOS.  One of the musketeers. But shouldn't they have been the three swordsmen?

Down:

1. "The West Wing" Emmy winner : ALDA.  Alan

2. Homer's hangout : MOE'S. 'Tis HOMER Simpson, not the Greek poet.

3. IRA part: Abbr. : ACCT.  Individual Retirement Account.

4. Big name in frozen desserts : SARA LEE.  Everybody doesn't like something  .  .  .

5. Crafty : SLY.  Like advertising slogans

6. Thorny shrub : ACACIA.  With a strange flower.

7. "Elephant Boy" actor : SABU.  Of 1940's movie fame.

8. Rare sights in nurseries : TRIPLETS.  babies, not plants.

9. Lobster eggs : ROE. Fish eggs, too.

10. How many writers work : ON SPEC. Writing done without a guaranteed sale for the finished work.

11. Greek salad topper : FETA.  What I had for dinner, with enough leftover for tomorrow's lunch.  [Well, today, as you're reading this.]

12. Larger-than-life : EPIC.

13. 1950s Rambler maker : NASH.  Compact car, famous, at the time.

18. Virologist who worked with Epstein : BARR.  Wikipedia: The Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), also called human herpes virus 4 (HHV-4), is a virus of the herpes family, and is one of the most common viruses in humans.

23. Worker protection agcy. : OSHA.  Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

25. Storybook baddie : OGRE.

27. To be, to Brutus : ESSE. Him again?  Latin

28. Wrangler material : DENIM. Forever in blue jeans.

29. Station : DEPOT. A heavy handed station master is the DEPOT despot.  Don't mess with his tea pot.

30. 47-Downs have to talk their way out of them : ORALS. Clever. Exams for certain students, like dental hygienists, perhaps.

31. Look at lecherously : OGLE.  Makin' eyes.

32. Cuts off : LOPS.

33. H.S. sobriety crusaders : S.A.D.D.  Students Against Destructive Decisions.

34. Spare, in Soho : TYRE.  Spare tire, nor an extra of anything else.  British spelling. Soho London.

39. Moon over Marseille : LUNE. French.

40. Put together : ASSEMBLE.  Who assembled the DUMA?

41. Waist management : DIET. Cute.

44. Cuban cabbage? : PESO. Money.

47. Loan recipient, often : STUDENT.  Of the collegial variety.

49. In the center of : AMIDST.

50. Popular pieces : REESE'S.  Candy.

51. Rock follower? : ETTE.  The famous dancing troupe at Radio City Music Hall.  Granddaughter Amanda spent a week with them earlier this month.  Still hate these affix clues, though.

54. Sound partner : SAFE.

55. Drooling comics dog : ODIE.  From Garfield

56. Idiot : DORK. Is that really what this means?

58. Water-draining aid : EAVE.  It's raining here, and the downspout on my garage came disconnected from the EAVE.  I'll deal with it tomorrow.  [Today, as you read this.]

60. Canyonlands National Park locale : UTAH.

61. Hand, to Jorge : MANO.  Español.

62. Pub server's trayful : ALES.

65. Tuner's asset : EAR.

66. "Mamma __!" : MIA.  Italian expression cum ABBA musical.

Well, among other things, we've had movies, song and dance, salad and a snack. Pretty filling, I'd say.  Hope you enjoyed the excursion.

Cool regards!

JzB

Tuesday, March 19, 2013 Pancho Harrison

 Theme: Double Double-Aught - It's like looking at the business end of a pair of doubled-barrel shotguns.

17A. Play some b-ball : SHOOT HOOPS

25A. Tinted feature of some cars : MOONROOF

37A. Infallible, as a scheme : FOOLPROOF

51A. "The Hustler" setting : POOL ROOM

62A. Cereal with a spokestoucan : FROOT LOOPS

Old Sure-shot Argyle here. It would be hard to miss this theme staring you in the face. Anchored by those seven-letter columns in the corners.

Across:

1. Al who created Fearless Fosdick : CAPP. A Dick Tracy-type who would show up in Dogpatch upon occasion.

5. Sign between Virgo and Scorpio : LIBRA

10. Sailboat's team : CREW

14. Trac II successor : ATRA

15. See eye to eye : AGREE

16. "Divine Secrets of the __ Sisterhood" : YA-YA. 2002 comedy-drama I plan to watch...someday.

19. Well, in Paris : BIEN. Très bien; words I seldom heard from my French teacher.

20. Brain scan letters : EEG

21. What a red "X" may mean : ERROR. Letter I often saw on my French papers.

22. Charged atoms : IONS

23. Tavern game : DARTS

28. Motley : RAGTAG. and bobtail.

31. __ of speech : FIGURE. Like the entry above.

32. "OMG, stop with the details already!" : "TMI!". "Too Much Information!"

33. Support column : PILING. Often unseen but is what holds up the rest of a structure.

36. Hamilton's bill : TEN

40. Nervous mannerism : TIC

43. Pluto, for a time : PLANET. "I was?"

44. Curvy letter : ESS

47. The Negev's nation : ISRAEL

49. Put under : SEDATE

54. Spinning dizzily : AREEL. Oh-oh, one of those words.

56. __ Linda, California : LOMA

57. "Like, obviously!" : "NO DUH!"

60. Nutritional no. : RDA. (Recommended Dietary Allowance)

61. Smallish iPod : NANO

64. Pac-12 team since 2011 : UTEs. University of Utah.

65. Boxer Mike : TYSON

66. Run amok : RIOT

67. With 5-Down, Cowardly Lion player : BERT. 5D. See 67-Across : LAHR

68. Big name in farm equipment : DEERE. The big green machines; "Nothing Runs Like A Deere"

69. 649,739 to 1 against being dealt a royal flush, e.g. : ODDS. The ultimate hand.

Down:

1. Looked for security cameras, say : CASED. When planning to abet.

2. In the most basic way : AT HEART

3. Usher's handout : PROGRAM. "Can't tell the players without a program"

4. Kung __ chicken : PAO. Peanuts and peppers, oh my!

6. "What hump?" lab assistant : IGOR. A quote from "Young Frankenstein".

7. Ump's plate cleaner : BROOM. (whisk broom, that is.)

8. Copy, briefly : REPRO

9. '50s Dem. presidential candidate : AES. (Adlai Ewing Stevenson II) They are up to Adlai Ewing Stevenson V, now.

10. Bionic Woman, for one : CYBORG. A spin off from The Six Million Dollar Man TV show.

11. Reason for a tarp-covered field : RAINOUT

12. Condemned building, maybe : EYESORE. Or something on this site.

13. Pasty-faced : WAN

18. Skills evaluation : TEST

22. __ Montoya: "The Princess Bride" role : INIGO. "En Garde!"

24. "About time the week ended!" : TGIF

26. Deserving attention : OF NOTE

27. Wetland : FEN

29. Hunky Greek god : APOLLO. What is his connection to Adonis?

30. __ monster: lizard : GILA. Colorful critter with a bad bite.

34. Hosp. staffer : LPN. (Licensed Practical Nurse)

35. Ticks off : IREs

38. "Carmen," for one : OPERA

39. Phobia : FEAR

40. Insider's hint : TIP

41. Cut off from others : ISOLATE

42. Michael Bublé, e.g. : CROONER

45. Drug banned by most pro sports : STEROID

46. Bean container : SEED POD

48. Nearly : ALMOST

50. Writer Roald : DAHL

52. How pastrami may be served : ON RYE. Corned beef gone already!?

53. Caribou cousin : MOOSE

55. Has a long shelf life : LASTS

58. Way in : DOOR

59. __ Reader: eclectic magazine : UTNE. If you haven't learned this yet, study it; it will be back.

61. Much-used pencil : NUB

62. Bouquet dely. facilitator : FTD. (Florists' Transworld Delivery)

63. Gold, in Granada : ORO. Old map of the Granada in Spain.

Argyle

Sunday Dec 30, 2012 Pancho Harrison

(If your paper does not carry the puzzle I'm blogging on Sundays, click here to solve on line or print out a copy. We don't know why the LA Times newspaper does not carry this puzzle on Sundays. It's just the way it is.)

Theme: "Missing Piece" - GUN can follow the last word of each theme entry.

23A. Item on a resolution list : STOP SMOKING. Smoking gun.

25A. Wiggly belt? : JELLO SHOT. Shotgun.

47A. Flour or sugar, e.g. : FOOD STAPLE. Staple gun.

 

70A. Classic comedy duo : BOB AND RAY. Raygun.

93A. Sucker that debuted in 1931 : TOOTSIE POP. Popgun.

117A. '60s-'70s compact resurrected in 2012 : DODGE DART. Dart gun.

 

121A. Vigorous effort : ELBOW GREASE. Grease gun. 123. Use 121-Across on : SCOUR

36D. Fixture in many an office hallway : CANDY MACHINE. Machine gun.
 
40D. Tyke : LITTLE SQUIRT. Squirt gun. I just love this picture.

Left to right: Grady (11 months), Truman 3 & Cameron (2 weeks)

120D. Piece that can follow the ends of the nine longest puzzle answers : GUN

Sensitive theme given the Sandy Hook tragedy. But remember Rich arranges his puzzle schedule a month in advance. Pancho created this puzzle months ago.

Pancho is the first LAT constructor we encountered when the Tribune made puzzle change in March 2009, so his name will always be special to me.

Across:

1. Argentine grassland : PAMPA

6. Teacher's request : SEE ME

11. Cell unit: Abbr. : MIN

14. Wise words : ADAGE

19. Oklahoma natives : OTOES

20. Poetry middle name : ALLAN. Edgar Allan Poe.

21. "Double Fantasy" artist : ONO

22. Pageant accessory : TIARA

27. Abate : EASE UP

28. Headliner : STAR

29. Choose to participate : OPT IN

30. Dr. concerned with rhythm : DRE. Rapper.

31. __ tai : MAI

33. Some are inflated : EGOS

35. Stick-to-it-iveness : TENACITY

40. Listed in England? : LEANT. We just LEANED.

42. Those, in Tijuana : ESAS

44. Look askance : GLANCE

45. __ test : ACID

51. High degrees : NTHS

52. Floride, e.g. : ETAT. Floride is French for Florida. I thought it's some kind of chemical product.

53. Desdemona's husband was one : MOOR. Othello.

54. Stage direction : ENTER

55. One may be coed : DORM

56. Words to one taking off : DON'T GO. Won't work. Just let him go.

58. Fictional plantation : TARA

61. "Madness put to good use": Santayana : SANITY

63. Richard's "Stakeout" co-star : EMILIO (Estevez). Richard Dreyfuss. 100A.

64. Blast from the past : OLDIE. So many good Chinese oldies are on YouTube.

66. Marcus's partner : NEIMAN

69. Closet contents, maybe : LINEN

73. Snacks in shells : TACOS

75. Jet-setter's transport, perhaps : CESSNA

77. Dutch painter of "The Cat Family" : STEEN (Jan). Drew a blank.

78. Blessing elicitor : AHCHOO

79. Deal with, as thirst : QUENCH

82. Andean ancient : INCA

83. Trailing : BEHIND

84. Baseball family name : ALOU. 3/4 are vowels, hence its frequent appearances in Xwords.

87. Prefix meaning "vinegar" : ACETO

89. Further : ALSO

91. Supermodel Sastre : INES. She was the Trésor spokemodel. I like Trésor, a lot.

92. Pueblo Revolt tribe : HOPI. Easy guess. Unaware of the Revolt.

96. M.I.T. grad, often : ENGR

97. Opposed : AVERSE

99. Splendor : POMP

100. "I have no idea" : GOT ME

102. It's often between two periods : SENTENCE. D'oh moment!

105. Tiff : SPAT

107. Ready, as a keg : TAP

108. But, to Brutus : SED

111. Brink : VERGE

113. Pablo __ y Picasso : RUIZ. What am I, chopped liver? OK, suspension!

115. Plant with stickers : NETTLE

124. Path to enlightenment : ZEN. The character looks like this in Chinese. I don't think Dave will ever be in a  Zen-like state. His brain is way too active.

125. Notre Dame's river : SEINE. Not the Notre Dame Steve & Irish Miss had in mind.

126. River frolicker : OTTER

127. Wimbledon courts, in essence : LAWNS

128. Cockpit calc. : ETA. I wonder why they call it cockpit.

129. Vampire's undoing : STAKE

130. Oscar winner Witherspoon : REESE. She won Oscar for "Walk the Line". Nice movie.
        

Down:

1. Got set for a shot? : POSED. Instinctive fill for me.

2. Fragrant extract : ATTAR

3. Yellowstone bellower : MOOSE. And 7. Yellowstone buglers : ELKS

4. Latino Muppet prawn : PEPE. 100A.

5. Took over : ASSUMED

6. __ Paulo : SAO

8. A-list : ELITE

9. Got by : MANAGED

10. Captivate : ENGROSS

11. Spell-casting art : MOJO

12. Not up to it : INEPT

13. "Cape Fear" actor : NOLTE (Nick)

14. Really hard to hum along to : ATONAL

15. Bad-mouth : DIS

16. "That's the spot!" : AAH

17. Miracle-__ : GRO. Do you snip the tops of your tomato plants to stop growth? I feel you can get bigger tomatoes this way.

18. Use the feed bag : EAT

24. Assigner of G's and R's : MPAA

26. Teddies and such : LINGERIE. So, how many bras do you think an average American woman own?

32. Data : INFO

34. Fill to the bursting point : SATE

37. Digging : INTO

38. Sch. staffer : TCHR. Oh no!

39. Polite rural affirmative : YES 'M

41. Very affected : TOO TOO

43. Without : SANS

45. __ energy : ATOMIC

46. Fang : CANINE

48. Toothbrush handle? : ORAL B. Great clue.

49. Home-school link: Abbr. : PTA

50. 1974 title role for Dustin : LENNY. RATSO fits as well.

52. Henry James biographer Leon : EDEL. Haven't seen this answer for a long time.

53. Alley Oop's kingdom : MOO

57. Infomercial cutter : GINSU

59. Nutritional stds. : RDAs

60. "__ a stinker?": Bugs Bunny line : AIN'T I

62. Church pledge : TITHE

65. Site of a Biblical plot : EDEN

67. In need of a massage : ACHING

68. Midday event : NOONER

70. Baccarat call : BANCO

71. One may include a walk-off homer : RECAP. Not an easy clue.

72. Like pre-digital recordings : ANALOG

74. Fixes the fairway, say : SODS

76. Made tidy : NEATENED

78. Blood typing letters : ABO

80. Bus. driver? : CEO. Didn't see the .

81. URL opener : HTTP

84. Cries of discovery : AHAs

85. It means nothing at Arthur Ashe Stadium : LOVE. Indeed.

86. Go on first : OPEN

88. Bolivian bears : OSOs

90. Tea serving? : SPOT

94. Dazzle : IMPRESS

95. Scout shirt feature : EPAULET. The shoulder piece. 

96. Largest penguin : EMPEROR

98. Breaks off : SEVERS

101. In-flight beverage? : TANG. Nice clue.

103. It doesn't last : CRAZE. I just don't see the beauty of Boyfriend jeans. The holes are great. But the jeans feel so slouchy.

104. White-plumed wader : EGRET

106. Long bone : TIBIA

108. Condition : STATE

109. "It's nobody __ business" : ELSE'S

110. Caterpillar rival : DEERE

112. Mount near Catania : ETNA. In Sicily.

114. Doze, with "out" : ZONK

116. Head of France? : TETE. Literally, "head", in France.

117. High-speed PC connection : DSL

118. Andean tuber : OCA. Our local grocery stores do not carry these. I wonder if they taste like taros.

119. Daily newspaper index : DOW

122. Pint-size : WEE

C.C.

Sunday August 19, 2012 Pancho Harrison

Theme: "Invitation to the Dance" - A Gene Kelly tribute puzzle. Seven of his most well-known movies are featured in the grid.

22A. 117-Across film which he also co-directed : ON THE TOWN. Never heard of the film. Also starring Frank Sinatra.

27A. Film that earned 117-Across a Best Actor nomination : ANCHORS AWEIGH. Also starring Frank Sinatra.

43A. Film pairing 117-Across with Fred Astaire : ZIEGFELD FOLLIES

60A. With 75-Across, Scopes Trial film featuring 117-Across : INHERIT. And 75A. See 60-Across : THE WIND. The only split-up film.

66A. 117-Across Oscar-winning film : AN AMERICAN IN PARIS. Lovely movie. Leslie Caron went back to him in the end.

91A. 117-Across film with a classic umbrella scene : SINGIN' IN THE RAIN

106A. 117-Across's film debut : FOR ME AND MY GAL. Judy Garland was in the movie too.

117A. Song-and-dance man born 8/23/1912 : GENE KELLY

Today we have 105 theme squares. I mentioned before that gridding gets trickier when the number goes over 100.

Additionally, Pancho has 9 theme entries to deal with. 7 entries with the same 105 theme squares are easier to tackle. Hence the 82 black squares in this grid. Most of the time the count is capped at 78.

Across:

1. Frivolous : FLIP

5. Household moniker : PAPA. For Husker Gary.

9. Farm houses : COOPS

14. Medieval Italian chest : ARCA. Learned from doing Xword.

18. Western casino city : RENO

19. Portent : OMEN

20. Longtime talk show : OPRAH. She said she coined "Aha moment".

21. Sewing case item : SPOOL

24. She won the All-Around gymnastics gold eight years before Mary Lou : NADIA (Comaneci). In 1976. Mary Lou 1984. I drew a blank.


25. Male prefix : ANDRO. "Female prefix" is GYNOUS. Androgynous.

26. Simoleons : MOOLAH

30. Prize hopeful : NOMINEE

33. Shakespeare's fairy queen : TITANIA. "A Midsummer Night's Dream".

34. Instead : ELSE

38. Chaney of chillers : LON

39. Garment district biz : RAG TRADE

46. Former Toyota models : ECHOS

51. Kingly : REGAL

52. Mauna __ : LOA

53. Brouhaha : ADO. The brouhaha over Gabby Douglas' hair confused me.

54. Rest : OTHERS. Was thinking of verb.

55. Like reel-to-reel recordings : ANALOG

57. Prepare : READY

61. Newer, in a way : REVISED

64. Leb. neighbor : ISR

65. Handbook list, briefly : REGS (Regulations)

71. Moment to shine : SOLO. For Hope.

73. Publicity : INK

74. "Good heavens!" : MERCY ME. I thought eating walnuts make you smarter, as they resemble human brain.

77. "Wonder Woman" star Carter : LYNDA

79. It's measured in litres : PETROL

84. Corkscrew pasta : ROTINI

85. Uruguayan uncle : TIO. Alliteration.

86. PBS funder : NEA

89. Hindemith's instrument : VIOLA. Gimme, Jayce? I'm not familiar with Paul Hindemith.

90. Journalist Alexander : SHANA

95. Uses a cell : DOES TIME. Prison cell.

97. Lateral opening? : TRI. Trilateral.

98. Marine flier : ERNE. Always picture Dennis rather than ocean when I see "Marine".

99. Calgary's province : ALBERTA

103. So-so : AVERAGE

110. Daring : HEROIC

115. Caribbean honeymoon destination : ARUBA. Where did you go on your honeymoon?

116. Discontinue : CEASE

120. Cave __: beware of the dog : CANEM

121. "Oklahoma!" aunt : ELLER

122. Airport sign in red letters : AVIS. Tricky clue.

123. Fateful day : IDES

124. Bk. after Genesis : EXOD (Exodus)

125. Floor : STORY

126. Not at all wandering : RAPT. I feel CrossEyedDave is easily distracted.

127. Arboreal abode : NEST

Down:

1. Package label word : FROM. Argyle finally has a Trader Joe's in his neck of the woods. I told him about the must-try fig butter. He thought it's buttered fig.

2. "Leading With My Chin" author : LENO

3. Absorbed by : INTO

4. Sci-fi writer whose career spans more than 70 years : POHL (Frederik)

5. Place for a patch : POTHOLE

6. Latin trio word : AMO. "I love".

7. Chapel bench : PEW

8. 1997-2006 U.N. chief : ANNAN (Kofi)

9. Bury, say : CONCEAL

10. Colorful fish : OPAH

11. Novus __ seclorum: dollar bill phrase : ORDO

12. Dancers, often : PAIR

13. Alternatives to Nehis : SHASTAS. I wonder what Melissa's favorite drink is. Maybe tea. She's spiritual.

14. Nighttime problem : APNEA

15. "The Kiss" sculptor : RODIN

16. Herder from Wales : CORGI

17. Lei giver's greeting : ALOHA

21. Tool serrations : SAW TEETH. And 54. Sloped connection : ON RAMP. What Husker Gary said yesterday: "I can hear the HUM of Splynter’s circular saw!"

23. Caesar's end? : EAN. Caesarean.

28. "I, Claudius" role : NERO

29. Crisis offering : AID

31. Gal in a gang : MOLL

32. __-European : INDO

34. Literary Pound : EZRA. Ezra Pound the poet.

35. Financial claim : LIEN

36. Saturn maker : SEGA. Sega Saturn video game. Unknown to me.

37. The same to vous? : EGAL. And 47. Sorbonne sweetie : CHERI. Mon chéri. Ma chérie.

40. Pleased : GLAD

41. Like some sums : TIDY

42. Antique auto : REO

44. Regional plant life : FLORA

45. Language for a 69-Down : FARSI. 69. 45-Down speaker : IRANI.

48. Word spoken with one hand up : HERE'S. Toast.

49. Copier insert: Abbr. : ORIG

50. Grounded fleet: Abbr. : SSTS

56. Sign of spring : GEMINI

58. Common Mkt. : EEC

59. What Butler didn't give : A DAMN. "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn".

60. 1960s Cosby/Culp show : I SPY

62. Sell : VEND

63. Miff : IRK

64. Business abbr. : INC

66. Prince Valiant's wife : ALETA

67. Like a hopeless situation : NO WIN

68. Composer Rorem : NED

70. "Still Me" memoirist : REEVE

71. Narrow waterways: Abbr. : STRS (Straits)

72. "I know! I know!" : OH OH

76. Where Alice's adventures really took place : IN A DREAM

77. Household screen target : LINT

78. "You can observe a lot by watching" speaker : YOGI (Berra)

80. Improvised swing : TIRE.

81. Banzai Pipeline sound : ROAR. Never heard of this Pipeline, JD.

82. Ken of "Brothers & Sisters" : OLIN

83. Country way : LANE

85. "__ better to have loved ...": Tennyson : 'TIS. "... 'Tis better to have loved and lost /Than never to have loved at all...".

87. __'acte : ENTR

88. Big name in shaving : ATRA

91. Where to find happy mediums? : SEANCES. Nice clue.

92. Poetic technique : IMAGERY

93. St. Petersburg's river : NEVA

94. Most costly : HIGHEST

96. Taxonomic suffix : OTA. What?

99. "I've Just Seen __": Beatles : A FACE

100. His story is told by the Once-ler : LORAX. I don't know who Once-ler is.

101. Kirby of "City Slickers" : BRUNO. He's in "Good Morning, Vietnam".

102. Surround tightly : EMBED

104. "Enigma Variations" composer : ELGAR

105. Cry of fear : EEK

107. Shoulder muscle, for short : DELT

108. Bueno's opposite : MALO. French is "Mal".

109. Nieuwpoort's river : YSER

111. Check : REIN

112. Retro sign word : OLDE

113. Spots in la mer : ILES

114. Dermatologist's concern : CYST

118. "Little" '60s singer : EVA

119. Swig : NIP

Answer grid.

C.C.

Thursday, May 10, 2012 Pancho Harrison

Theme: "I crabbed about it, but wasn't cowed, fished my way around, and finally got it done...(I kid you not!)" Animals used as verbs, told in a cute sports short story.

20A. I ___ him about never playing Ping-Pong with me... : HOUNDED. "Dogged" is also a word similar to hounded, meaning persistently followed. From the German "hund", for "dog".

22A. I ___ over my string of victories at the rec center... : CROWED. Crows are raucous birds, and tend to make a lot of noise over their accomplishments.

29A. I always thought he'd ___ out on me in fear... : WEASELED. Weasels are very agile, and can slip in and out of tiny nooks and crannies, thus avoiding their predators.

46A. So I ___ him into a game. What a mistake! : BADGERED. Badgers are known to dig ferociously. Very persistent animals!

55A. I ___ to avoid his smashes, and I couldn't touch his serve... : DUCKED. From the Old English dūce or, "diver".

56A. In the end, the score was 21-0. I got ___! : SKUNKED. Did you ever try to win a battle with a skunk? Nope, didn't think so! So when you get skunked, you lose big -- almost, as if you didn't even try!

Marti here, to explain the rest of the entries in this fun puzzle from one of our regular constructors.

Across:

1. Covent Garden numbers : ARIAS. Covent Garden is a popular shopping and tourist area associated with The Royal Opera House, which is also known as "Covent Garden".

6. Drainage areas : SUMPS

11. Documentarian Burns : KEN. Winner of both Academy Awards and Emmys for his documentaries. Here is a glimpse at one of his latest films.

14. Common billing cycle : MONTH

15. '90s FBI head : FREEH. This guy. And yep, that's really how to spell his name!

16. Seine sight : ILE

17. Metal giant : ALCOA

18. Initial strategy : PLAN A. For my retirement, I am about as far as Plan Y right now...(Anyone have a tip on a good scratch ticket?)

19. Spanish root word? : OLE. HaHa, funny punny clue. "Root", meaning to cheer for.

24. Persian greeting : MEOW. Persian cat, that is.

25. Sudden insight : EPIPHANY. I had an epiphany when I finally sussed this answer!

27. Collar : NAB

31. Appian Way, e.g. : ITER. Latin for "road"

33. WWII transports : LSTS. Landing Ship, Tank(s)

34. Make even shorter, in a way : REHEM. In H.S., us girls would always have a needle and thread in our purse, so that we could "re-hem" our skirts as soon as our parents dropped us off at the bus stop.

38. Zilch : NONE. Hey, doesn't this clue / ans. belong in yesterday's blog?

39. Exams for future attys. : LSATS. Law School Admission Test(s)

41. Golfer Isao : AOKI. If you don't know this one by now, file it away: THIS INSTANT!

42. Cortés subject : AZTEC

44. Fla.-to-Cal. highway : I-TEN. Map, in pink. I have driven I-40 across the country, but never took I-10. Anyone else?

45. "The Man Who Fell to Earth" director : ROEG. Nicolas. He also directed "Walkabout" and "Don't look Now".

49. Ltr. afterthoughts : PSs. Post-Script(s). in letters.

50. Unsuccessful contenders : ALSO-RANS

53. Warring Olympian : ARES. I thought "Thor" at first.

59. Hosp. area : ICU

60. Sovereign decree : EDICT

63. Initiative : DRIVE

64. Globe : ORB

65. Chute material : NYLON. Did anyone else think of the playground slide, and "steel"?

66. "The Elements of Bridge" author : GOREN.

67. ___ salt : SEA. I use Maldon Sea Salt all the time. But I save the "Fleur de sel" (flower of salt) for the most delicate dishes.

68. Lathers : SOAPS

69. Log line : ENTRY. Also, "blog line"!

Down:

1. Asian pram pusher : AMAH

2. Chewy candy brand : ROLO. Caramel and milk chocolate in the US, but dark chocolate in the UK. Why the difference?

3. One trying to keep her seat, maybe : INCUMBENT. Oh gosh, I can't tell you where my mind was going with this one. Are we in a movie theater? A bus? A bar? A restroom?

4. Make amends : ATONE

5. Tail : SHADOW. Or, "hound"?

6. Calif. force : SFPD. Not LAPD...the San Francisco Police Department.

7. Link letters : URL

8. Give-minute link : ME A...ummm, I have to think about this for a min--OH! I got it now!

9. Low-tech recording device : PENCIL. I roared over this one when it appeared. Clever clue!

10. Less dull : SHARPER. Like my low-tech recording device?

11. Oklahoma tribe : KIOWA. With 12,000 members currently.

12. Page of "Juno" : ELLEN. I just think she is so adorable! (Great movie too, BTW.)

13. Hard up : NEEDY

21. "State Fair" actor, 1962 : EWELL. Oh, c'mon. You know this guy, right? (He's the one on the right.) 1:26

23. "Heavens to Murgatroyd!" : OH DEAR. Oh dear, I just loved this clue!

25. Big properties : ESTATES

26. Annoy : PESTER. "Badger" fits, too.

27. Singer Simeone : NINA. "The High Priestess of Soul." Her smash hit of 1958 was this song from "Porgy and Bess". 4:09

28. The whole enchilada : A TO Z. "atoz" always looks so weird in the grid, doesn't it?

30. Give out, as roles : ASSIGN

32. Maker of Ex-O-Fit athletic shoes : REEBOK. I"ll take the red ones, please!

35. Dress that makes a slow dance difficult : HOOP SKIRT. But the polka is no prob! 2:16

36. Scratches (out) : EKES

37. Russian fighters : MIGS. Did you know, that the name is from the founders: Mikoyan and Gurevich? Now, it is called "Mikoyan."

40. Gridiron maneuver : SNEAK. Or, "weasel" your way past the defense?

43. Corners recklessly : CAREENS.

47. Beatnik's bro : DADDY-O. I had "daddio" at first. Arrgh!

48. Lowly worker : DRUDGE. Really? I think his reports are top-shelf!

50. "Later, Luis!" : ADIOS

51. Dinero : LUCRE. Filthy?

52. Salvage crew acronym : SCUBA. Self-Contained-Underwater-Breathing-Apparatus.

54. Infamous Houston company : ENRON. Let's not go there...

56. Short stops? : STNS. Stations, abbreviated ("short").

57. At all : EVER

58. Claim otherwise : DENY

61. Stevedore's gp. : ILA. International Longshoremen's Association.

62. Steal : COP. Cop a squat, cop an attitude...not that I would ever cop out on you!

Answer grid.

See you next week, same time, same channel...

Hugs and shrugs,
Marti

Friday, March 30, 2012, Pancho Harrison

Theme: ODD COUPLES! Each of the similarly clued theme answers are a pair of famous people whose last names combine to form a sound alike fill for the clue. I will always have a soft spot for today's constructor who the created the very first LA Times puzzle when TMS syndicate made the switch. A very proper name intense puzzle, and with six theme answers, all clechos, we have an effort which was clearly a challenge to create. let's play.

17A. Actor roomies' mailbox label that sounds like racing groups? : PITT/CRUISE. Pit Crews. Brad Pitt. Tom Cruise. The two appeared together in Interview with a Vampire.

24A. Actor/flutist roomies' mailbox label that sounds like a crook? : CAAN/MANN. Con man. James Caan. Herbie Mann. a great jazz MUSICIAN. (3:50).

32A. TV host/singer roomies' mailbox label that sounds like a vital sign? : HART/RAITT. Heart rate. Mary Hart recently retired co-host of Entertainment Tonight, who also was one of Regis' early co-hosts; and Bonnie Raitt, daughter of musical theater great John Raitt. Bonnie is a star in her own right, and to be PC, I chose her for all female studio apartment.

45A. Actress/comic roomies' mailbox label that sounds like an auto safety feature? : ROLLE/BARR. Roll bar. Esther Rolle, a Florida girl who found fame as JJ Walker's mom, and your favorite comedienne Roseanne Barr.

51A. Actress/cartoonist roomies' mailbox label that sounds like an airport employee? : SKYE/CAPP. Sky cap. You better tip if you want your bags to travel with you. Ione Skye is the actress. Oddly paired with L'il Abner creator Al Capp.

63A. Screenwriter/actor roomies' mailbox label that sounds like an old announcer?: TOWNE/CRYER. Town crier. Robert Towne wrote the screenplay for such diverse wonderful movies  as Chinatown and Shampoo. Jon Cryer, has made a career of being second banana on Two and a Half Men.

On to the puzzle:

Across:

1. Legendary kicker : PELE. I knew it was going to be a good day when I grokked his thought and the Downs confirmed. Edson Arantes do Nascimento, who is still considered by many to be the greatest soccer player of all time.

5. Go slowly : SEEP. So much for a speed run, this took perps as the fill slowly seeped into my brain.

9. Start to strip? : DRAG. Dragstrip. Whoa boys no strip tease HERE.(0:58) This was filmed in part right here in Ft. Lauderdale at the now torn down Solid Gold.

13. Neural transmitter: AXON. Oh goody, our science learning moment.

14. Old carrier : PAN AM. Soon to be cancelled TV SERIES.

16. Count (on): RELY. You can rely on Pancho for really diverse fill.

19. Fifty-fifty : EVEN. Odds.

20. In the wrong way : ASTRAY. Marti is forever trying to lead us astray.

21. On a cargo ship, say : AT SEA.

23. Mink cousin : STOAT. perhaps you are more familiar with its name Ermine.

28. Jodie Foster title role: NELL. Somewhat disturbing MOVIE.(2:22).

31. First apartment, perhaps : STUDIO. The famous 0 bedroom apartment.

37. Begins a tour : OPENS. They usually open in LA and work east.

38. Flamenco shout : OLE.

39. Cyberspace giant : YAHOO. The now also have their own radio sports network.

41. Waikiki wreath : LEI. Aloha. Not to be confused with 29D. Not clerical : LAY. How utterly ironic

42. Digestion-related commercial prefix : PEPTO. Mel Brooks' street name in this silly MOVIE.

48. Youth who flew too near the sun: ICARUS. His father was DAEDALUS, he was just dead.

50. Appointment : DATE. Hey baby, how about going on an appointment with me?

54. Frankfurt's state : HESSE. Not clued with Herman, but this GEOGRAPHY lesson. Comments KZ?

58. Winningest NFL coach : SHULA. The Dolphins' own Don Shula, now a steak house impresario. I guess after watching all those 300 pounders eat, he saw where the real money was.

59. Resentful : BITTER. Also a type of vetch.

60. Former eft : NEWT. Being non-political, no Gingrich humor here. Maybe we can talk about EFT.

65. Track : OVAL.

66. Net business : E-TAIL. I want in this business, I need a piece of etail now!

67. "Sesame Street" giggler : ELMO. Which is your favorite character?

68. Heredity unit : GENE.

69. "Now!" relative : STAT. Used in hospitals, from the Latin STATIM: Immediately.

70. Road sign silhouette : DEER. Be careful crossing over to the downs, oh dear!

Down:

1. Half a '60s quartet : PAPAS. Beautiful VOICES, (2:34)weird people. Dance Cass, dance! Right Papa Cass?

2. Get a life? : EXIST. A very Camus like clue.

3. Game you usually lose : LOTTO. But you never win if you do not play!

4. 3-Down player, e.g. : ENTRANT. Half a BILLION Dollars!

5. Nimble : SPRY. I associate with old people, even if I am one of them.

6. Seine filler : EAU. The French river is made of water; where are you Lolita? Robin, I thought you were back?

7. 30-ton computer : ENIAC. Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer. An acronym.

8. Ristorante offering : PASTA. Italian lesson.

9. Invent : DREAM UP. Don't you wonder how the constructors dream up so many themes?

10. Gun : REV. Engines, not weapons.

11. Stein filler : ALE. My first thought was Alice B. Toklas, but the beer reference was simpler.

12. MD for women : GYNecolegist. The lady parts doctor.

15. Desert rises : MESAS.

18. Work the party, in a way : CATER.

22. Opposite of exo- : ENTO. Latin prefixes for outside and inside.

25. "A Passage to India" heroine : ADELA. It is Friday, and this BOOK about the tension caused when Adela Quested an Englishwoman accuses an Indian Muslim doctor, Aziz, of attempted sexual assault.

26. Montana, once : NINER. Not the state but Joe the hall of fame quarterback.

27. Respectful response : NO SIR. Yes sir!

30. Alibi provider, sometimes : LIAR. Rhymes with Lawyer.

32. Pueblo people : HOPIS. The too have their 2012 PREDICTIONS.

33. Smart guy? : ALECK. ORIGIN.

34. Make good on : REPAY.

35. However, briefly : THOugh.

36. Blabbed : TOLD. Big mouth.

40. Plug end? : OLA. Plugola. Another term the Payola given to 1950s and 60's DJs to promote acts or products.

43. Railroad crossing : TRESTLE. It is the support, can also be part of a table, etc.

44. "That hurt my feelings!" : OUCH. "If you prick me, do I not bleed?" Hey anon.

46. Code of conduct : ETHIC.

47. Visibly furious : BEET RED. Could not resist.

49. Cook on the range : SAUTE. As opposed to using the oven, not out in the fields.

52. Conspires : PLOTS. Some authors are great at plots some at creating characters, the great ones do both.

53. Poke, kitten-style : PAW AT. For all the kitty lovers this LINK.

55. Elegance : STYLE. Like C.C.'s puzzles and blogs.

56. Note next to a red F, maybe : SEE ME. A nice shout out to all of our teachers past and present.

57. Miscue : ERROR.

59. Circular road : BELT. Like at NCIS.

60. Frothy traditional beverage : NOG. EGGsactly.

61. "__ of Destruction": 1965 protest song : EVE. No wonder my generation is all a little crazy with this our ANTHEM. (3:37) Very graphic and violent.

62. Pallid : WAN. This clue pales in comparison to others.

64. Peeples of "Fame" : NIA. I leave you with this memory

Well another Friday and another month almost gone; thanks for inviting me in and see you next time. If you want information on Pancho read his INTERVIEW. Lemonade out.

PS for Dennis, there actually two Jack's Old Fashion Hamburger House restaurants in the area, the other is at 4201 N. Federal Highway, a little south of Commercial. Jack Berry the founder was a wonderful man, and a good friend who died in 2011. If I could get his burgers and 5 guys fries I would weigh a ton. Pompano is just over a two mile walk for me, and Ft. Lauderdale 3 miles.

Here is an article from our LAT constructor Mangesh Ghogre regarding his forthcoming visit to the US as a judge for the ACPT. I especially enjoyed the last paragraph, so true! Click here to see his picture with Will Shortz during the Judges' Dinner.