Friday, December 21, 2018, Paul Coulter

Title: Where the 'ell is the L? There is no end to it!

I continue in pig heaven with today's fun, challenging puzzle from one of Rich's stable of consistent Friday winners. Very simple theme but it took unraveling HELIOSTAT to get me going in the right direction. I love that the reveal was both tricky and very helpful. It also was a parsing of words that took a skilled eye. I so admire the minds that spot these opportunities and make them into crossword puzzles.  Paul also includes FITNESS,  NEWAGER,  ONESHOT,  SHINDIG, the aforementioned HELIOSTAT, and MISS ELLIE.  I know you are anxious to finish wrapping presents, so-on with the show.

17A. Cartoon drawing of Rip Van Winkle?: SLEEPER CELL (10). Cartoons are made up of cels, very different from a terrorist cell whose members work undercover in an area until sent into action, as featured in this TV SHOW. I never heard of it, but I do know this ACTOR from NCIS. Since he has lots of credits, maybe he can replace the awful OD'ed in puzzledom. He really was born in Tel Aviv.

24A. Decoration for a Tinseltown party gift?: HOLLYWOOD BOWL (12). A Bow is a common part of packaging a gift. Since its opening in 1922, the Hollywood Bowl has been the premier destination for live music in Southern California, hosting everyone from Billie Holiday to The Beatles to Yo-Yo Ma under the iconic silhouette of its concentric-arched band shell. It was renovated in 2000. Wiki I think.

39A. Dismiss a disobedient film computer?: FIRE HALL (7). In the US and Canada, this is more commonly called a fire station, but they are the same thing. I like the image of firing the out of control 2001 Space Odessey whose full name is HAL Heuristically programmed ALgorithmic computer9000. 

51A. Dixie hospitality, e.g.?: SOUTHERN DRAWL (12). This is fun, I guess it means that hospitality is the reason why people are Drawn to visit the South. Whenever I would go to Alabama to visit my then wife's family I morphed into a Southern boy with a draw, y'all.

64A. Allowing use of, as a library does ... or, in three parts, a hint to four puzzle answers:  L ENDING OUT (10). They often are called  Lending libraries; here, however, it the "L" as the ending of each of the theme phrase that comes out. Brilliant!

Across:

1. Spite: VENOM. Isn't there a movie? I still can't believe Stan Lee is gone.

6. Don't believe it: MYTH. Is as good as a mile?

10. Lying lion in "The Lion King": SCAR.

14. Colleague of Samuel and Sonia: ELENA.
Alito, Sotomayor, and Kagan of the  SUPREMES. The clecho, 12D. Colleague of Kagan and Kavanaugh: ALITO. 1st names, then last names.

15. Yorkshire river: OUSE. A CSO to Steve and a challenge as there are 4 rivers in the UK with this name.

16. In fine fettle: HALE. And often hearty unless you are a golfer, then you are just HALE.

19. Camera part: IRIS. Like any eye, it opens and closes. LINK.

20. Blackens: TARS. Meh.

21. "We need to get a cat!": EEK. A very cute clue for a mouse.

22. Set off: IGNITE. From Latin ignitus, past participle of igniō, ignire (“to set on fire, ignite”); we also get ignition for our automobile.

27. Seat for a shot: STOOL. In the doctor's office? Sounds dirty.

30. Piedmont province: ASTI. Spumante.

31. Orchestral gong: TAM-TAM. I see it written both with and without the hyphen, Chau gong (Tam-tam) The familiar "Chinese" gong is the Chau gong or bullseye gong. Large Chau gongs, called tam-tams have become part of the symphony orchestra. Wiki. This one is made by the same people who make the best cymbals.

33. Salem winter hrs.: PST.

34. Hat-removing event: GUST. We are having 50 mph gusts today.

38. Be off base: ERR. But it is human.

42. Future fish: ROE. Do roe row?

43. "Oliver Twist" type: WAIF. Words change; it began as meaning
"person (especially a child) without home or friends" first attested 1784, from legal phrase waif and stray (1620s), from the adjective in the sense "lost, strayed, homeless." Neglected children being uncommonly thin, the word tended toward this sense. Connotations of "fashionable, small, slender woman" began 1991 with application to childishly slim supermodels such as Kate Moss. oed.

45. Farm mom: SOW.

46. It may be held or bitten: TONGUE. Generally a good idea.

48. "Insecure" Emmy nominee __ Rae: ISSA. I was not aware of this TV series which she created, produces, writes and stars in much like a modern-day George Burns. She did change the character name from Issa Rae to Issa Dee.

50. Bad looks: LEERS. Deceptive.

57. Dig: TUNNEL. This took a minute to see.

58. Macabre monogram: EAP. Edgar Allan Poe.

59. Name of two of Henry VIII's wives: ANNE. Which is Boleyn and which Cleves? *



63. Massachusetts motto opener: ENSE.  This has appeared very often. "By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty." "Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem."

67. First-rate: ACES.

68. Angry: IRED. I am tired of ired; nobody says this.

69. Busybody: YENTA. Yenta or Yente (Yiddish: יענטאַ‎) is a woman who is a gentlewoman or noblewoman - genteel/gentle. But because the matchmaker in Fiddler on the Roof was named Yenta, the idea of it meaning gossip or busybody took control.

70. Two-time World Series champs: METS. 1986 World Series vs Boston Red Sox; 1969 World Series vs. Baltimore Orioles.

71. Like falling off a log?: EASY.

72. Boorish: CRASS.

Down:

1. Protective wear, often: VEST. Bulletproof hopefully.

2. Self-titled 1969 jazz album: ELLA.

3. Poetic negative: NE'ER.  I never use this in my poetry.

4. Not to be repeated: ONESHOT. This was a Friday clue/fill.

5. Blueprint: MAP.

6. Culinary mushroom: MOREL. The old picture for the Corner.

7. Foul: YUCKY. Eventually, C.C. decided it was.

8. "Ash Wednesday" poet's monogram: TSE. T.S. Eliot comes to us in so many ways.

9. Device that generates solar power: HELIOSTAT. An instrument in which a mirror is automatically moved so that it reflects sunlight in a constant direction. It is used with a pyrheliometer to make continuous measurements of solar radiation. It is from helios, the Greek word for sun, and stat, as in stationary. various.

10. Bash: SHINDIG. Or old TV

11. West Indies native: CARIB. This very misleading. They are members of an indigenous South American people living mainly in coastal regions of French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, and Venezuela. Island Caribs, are an indigenous people of the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean.

13. Alter with thread: RESEW.

18. Unagi, e.g.: EEL. C.C. shout out.

23. Nabbed: GOT.

25. Kiddie lit count: OLAF. Count Olaf is the main antagonist of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events.

26. Clean with soap: WASH.

27. Brood: STEW.

28. Twelve Oaks neighbor: TARA. GWTW home. next to Southfork. I got to play on the set one night; what a great party, but I did not take pictures to show you all. Drat. It was before camera phones.

29. Katz of "Dallas": OMRI. He played John Ross III. It is an adjoining clecho to help parse...32D. Mother of J.R. and Bobby: MISS ELLIE.

33. Row of seats: PEW.

35. Advocate: URGE.

36. Whiskey __: SOUR.

37. Cafepress.com offerings: TEES. And so much more. Look them up.

40. Big laugh: ROAR.

41. 1970 Kinks hit: LOLA. First the Animals now the KINKS. Timely link.

44. Gym goal: FITNESS.



47. Hard-to-define spiritualist: NEW AGER. I disagree the world wide web says DEFINITION.

49. Cow, for one: SHE.

51. Cook, as clams: STEAM. So many choices. LINK.

52. Not a heavy weight: OUNCE. I like the cadence of this clue.

53. Up in the air: UNSET. Literal.

54. Bogotá babies: NENES.

55. Family nickname: DADDY. Warbucks?

56. N.Y. engineering sch.: RPI. Back again for another CSO.

60. Actress Gaye of "Ali": NONA. Daughter of Marvin.

61. Bar freebies: NUTS.

62. Itinerary info: ETAS.

65. Victorian __: ERA.

66. 9/11 Memorial site: Abbr.: NYC.

My next to the last blog of 2018, and a wonderful way to go. Paul is not only prolific but he has so many styles and so much wit. Thank you, Paul and all. One more and on to 2019. Lemonade out.

* Speaking of Henry VIII and his six wives; today is the 4 year anniversary of my marriage to my sweetheart Oo. It has been very good.

Sunday December 9, 2018 Paul Coulter

Theme: "Culinary School"- Each cooking utensil is punnily re-phrased:

 

23A. Pie company exec?: PASTRY WHEEL. The big wheel.

25A. Bad brunch review?: OMELET PAN.  Our Steve has a Japanese style Tamagoyaki pan.

  

37A. Neighborhood with meat purveyors?: BUTCHER BLOCK.

55A. ATM code you rotate regularly?: ROLLING PIN.

84A. Thief at a fertility clinic?: EGG POACHER. Never used one.

98A. Nasty group of directors?: CUTTING BOARD.

16A. Stadium for a boxing match?: PUNCH BOWL.

118A. Journalists covering a spicy story?: GARLIC PRESS. Makes me smile. Thinking of our Garlic Gal.

What a fun theme. Tight set and amusing clues. 

I think Paul is a foodie and often makes puzzles while hungry.

Across:

1. 8 for O, e.g.: AT NO. Atomic Number.

5. Quibbles: CARPS.

10. "M*A*S*H" actor: ALDA. Four A's in his name.

14. Like bachelor parties: STAG.

18. Excel: SHINE.

20. Autumn color: OCHRE.

21. Tea party host: MARCH HARE. Sparkly fill.

26. Find new quarters for: RE-HOUSE.

27. Winter fall: FLAKES. So lucky that the big snow fell here only after Boomer completed his radiation. 

29. Film units: REELS.

30. Michelangelo masterpiece: PIETA.

31. MSN competitor: AOL.

32. Cooking fat: SUET.

34. Guadalajara girls: NINAS.

43. Air freshener scent: LILAC.

46. Performed, in Shakespeare: DIDST. Just DID now. We also have 108. Old will?: SHALT.

48. How surprise party guests should arrive: EARLY.

49. Blanched: WAN.

50. Yours, in Tours: A TOI.

51. Doc bloc: AMA.

52. Keisters: SEATS.

54. "Momo" author Michael: ENDE. Not familiar with the book.

59. FICA benefit: SSI.

60. Unit in Ohm's Law: AMPERE.

62. Costa del __: SOL.

63. Female antelope: DOE.

64. Mellow: SOFTEN.

66. Looked lecherously: LEERED.

67. Suffix meaning "living substance": PLASM. Dictionary gives these three examples: endoplasm,  neoplasm and cytoplasm.

69. Not yet on the sched.: TBA.

70. Coast: GLIDE.

72. Like many churches: SPIRED.

75. Light: IGNITE.

78. Adaptable truck, for short: UTE.

79. "Bravo!": OLE.

82. Barbershop parts: TENORS.

83. Batman and the Boy Wonder, e.g.: DUO.

87. AA and AAA, e.g.: ORGS.

88. Takes from a deck: DRAWS. Deck of cards.

90. "Do Ya" rock gp.: ELO.

91. "I see": AH SO.

92. Starry-eyed agreement, often: I DO.

93. Area below the abdomen: GROIN.

95. Leslie of "Gigi": CARON. "Crazy Rich Asians" flopped in China. It just does not click with Chinese.

97. Holders of roasts: SPITS.

101. Like Dennis the Menace: PESKY.

103. Part of Q.E.D.: ERAT.

104. Bit of baby talk: GOO.

105. Leg bone: TIBIA. And 125. Bone on a menu: OSSO.

111. Work (out): REASON.

114. Inflexible: ADAMANT.

121. Wood preservatives: CREOSOTES. I learned this word from another puzzle.

122. Farm refrain: E I E I O.

123. Spock's father: SAREK. Another learning moment for me.

124. Firm employees: Abbr.: ATTS. One tiny letter dupe with 100. Dept. of Justice bigwigs: AGS.

126. Some NCOs: S SGTS.

127. Time at the inn: STAY.

Down:

1. Cleopatra killer: ASP.

2. Choreographer Twyla: THARP. So flexible.

3. Japanese-American: NISEI.

4. Without delay, as payment: ON THE NAIL. Is this a common phrase? Never heard of it.

5. Intimidates: COWS.

6. Advil target: ACHE.

7. MLB scoreboard abbr.: R H E. Runs, Hits, Errors.

8. Homes built indoors: PREFABS.

9. Traitors: SELL-OUTS.

10. Crazily: AMOK.

11. Like a flimsy excuse: LAME.

12. Backstage theater workers: DRESSERS.

13. An MRI may reveal a torn one: ACL.

14. "Fiddler on the Roof" setting: SHTETL. Yiddish for "small town".

15. Bind, in a way: TAPE. D-Otto told me about this tape, which fixed our dryer vent leaks nicely.

16. Asian sea: ARAL.

17. Mil. bigwigs: GENS. Generals.

19. Arousing: EROTIC.

22. As a result of this: HEREBY.

24. Chinese currency: YUAN. Chairman Mao's image is on all the paper money.

28. __-rock: ALT.

33. Modern address: URL.

35. Commonly used saws: ADAGES.

36. Gullible sort: SIMP.

38. Cut out: CEASE.

39. "You lose a lot of time, __ people": Marian Anderson: HATING.

40. Dog tag datum: OWNER.

41. Close-knit group: CADRE.

42. Injured, in a way: KNEED.

43. Drummer Ulrich: LARS. Metallica.

44. "Am __ late?": I TOO.

45. Hang loosely: LOLL.

47. Place for an honoree: DAIS.

53. Collection of heir pieces?: ESTATE. Fun clue.

54. Blunt blade: EPEE.

56. Do-nothing: IDLER.

57. Wikipedia policy: NO ADS.

58. Words indicating a delay: NOT NOW.

60. Thomas associate: ALITO. Supreme Court.

61. Euripides tragedy: MEDEA. Lemonade knows the full story.

65. "Criminal Minds" agcy.: FBI.

67. Some Olympians, nowadays: PROS.

68. Leaf's central vein: MIDRIB.

71. Two-time Tony winner Patti: LUPONE.

72. Zeno, notably: STOIC.

73. Concealed: PERDU. French word.

74. Bullion unit: INGOT.

76. Natural fertilizer: GUANO. Not HUMUS.

77. Hungarian wine region: EGER.

79. "I wasn't expecting you": OH HI.

80. "__ we forget": LEST.

81. God with a quiver: EROS.

85. Hardly haute cuisine: GLOP.

86. Large South American rodents: CAPYBARAS. Learning moment again.

88. Easy paces: DOGTROTS.

89. Misers: SCROOGES.

93. Saddle-holding bands: GIRTHS.

94. Tiny messenger: RNA.

96. Keats, in a Shelley title: ADONAIS.

97. Economizes: SKIMPS.

99. AT&T and Verizon: TELCOS.

102. Opp. of legato, in music: STAC.

106. Still: INERT.

107. Baffled: AT SEA.

108. Humane org.: SPCA.

109. On the disabled list, say: HURT.

110. Without __: riskily: A NET.

112. Farm females: EWES.

113. "Not to mention ... ": ALSO.

114. Came down: ALIT.

115. "Vaya con __": DIOS.

117. Bit of heckling: BOO.

119. "Andy Capp" cartoonist Smythe: REG. Stranger to me.

120. __ blue: SKY.

D4E4H's caretaker Lynn sent me this email yesterday:

"This is Lynn writing. David wanted me to tell you what's going on with him. A week ago Tuesday he had a heart attack. He was taken to the hospital and put in ICU for 7 days. During that time they put in two stents. One on the left on Friday of that week and one on the other side on Monday. They couldn't do both the same day because of his kidneys being bad. They also want to put in a Pace Maker but had to send him to another hospital downtown for that. When that new hospital took him down for this Pace Maker they found he had an infection in his legs so postponed it until he could get rid of the infection. They are scheduled to put it in Monday, Dec. 10th. If he still has the infection they will send him home and wait until the infection clears up and then bring him back. Meanwhile he says he is on vacation just sitting in his room eating and watching TV. "
 

I then called Dave. He said the nurse at his assisted living place made the right decision and sent him to ER. He still has his humor intact, admitting he's "stubborn as a mule".  Hope the surgery tomorrow is smooth. Please keep Dave in your thoughts and prayers.

Happy birthday to dear Hahtoolah (Susan), who's been with our blog for almost 10 years. She's an incredibly fast learner. I was stunned to see a scheduled post with perfect format just a few hours after I emailed her the puzzle and the blog instructions. She never ceases to amaze me with her astute observations and spot-on quotes. Thanks for being part of our blog team, Susan!

Boomer Updates:

The side effects from the radiation seem to be mostly gone. Now Boomer can swallow food without any discomfort. He does have stomach ache at times, esp after a meal. Not sure if it's from Zytiga or ibuprfen or oxycodone. 

Monthly meeting with Dr. Thomas Downs next Wednesday, then a blood draw. Eager to see if his PSA is lowered further.

Thanks for your continued support. Boomer and I get emotional and encouraged reading your comments and emails.

C.C.

Monday October 29, 2018 Paul Coulter

Theme: SURPRISE TEST (54. Unexpected classroom announcement ... and, initially, one hiding in each set of puzzle circles) - Three different tests are hidden in each theme entry.

20. Protective net above a cradle: DREAM CATCHER.

34. Government prosecutor: STATE'S ATTORNEY.

40. Reduced responsiveness to medication: DRUG RESISTANCE.

Boomer here.  

Hello everyone, and thank you for all the well wishes and birthday greetings.  C.C. and I  had a great Saturday meeting my son and daughter-in-law at the local Native American casino known as Mystic Lake in a south suburb of Minneapolis. (Shakopee). We enjoyed the buffet and then risked a few bucks in the casino.  (I'm pretty cheap, I play for nickels).  

Across:

1. Autos: CARS.  My mother worked for CARS at the VA.  (Stood for Central Accounts Receivable Service).

5. Cutlass automaker: OLDS.  Yup this is a car.  I never had a Cutlass, but I had a couple of Olds gas hogs in the 60s.

9. Stick-on design: DECAL.

14. Fever with chills: AGUE. Gesundheit!

15. Hide, as a bone: BURY.  I often wondered how the bone tastes when the dog digs it up ?

16. 100 bucks: C NOTE.  Or, 100 male deer in a GEICO commercial.

17. Breadbasket item: ROLL.

18. Read bar codes on: SCAN.  They are amazing!  I have a bar code on my VA ID and checking in to the clinic it reads the bar code and knows more about me than I do.

19. "Wizard of __ Park": Edison: MENLO.  Thomas Edison was a wizard and set up shop in Menlo Park, New Jersey, near Newark.  Since I had a long history with Graybar Electric, I sometimes feel I owe my career to Thomas Edison.

23. __ Paulo, Brazil: SAO.  Huge City !

24. Some tech sch. grads: EES.  I think the puzz is pointing at Electrical Engineers.

25. Type of energy or reactor: ATOMIC.  Don't get too close to this.

29. '60s-'70s quarterback Tarkenton: FRAN.  NFL Vikings Hall of Famer.  Number 10.  I remember some of the magic he worked back in 1961, when the Vikings were an expansion team!

31. Content cat sound: PURR.  PURRfect !

33. Spanish gold: ORO. Our Records Only

37. Philip of "Kung Fu": AHN.

38. Live and breathe: ARE. This are an interesting clue

39. "Ich bin __ Berliner": JFK: EIN. Yes, I am old enough to remember this speech, but I am sure younger folks have heard this line many times.

45. "Casablanca" pianist: SAM.  Play it again !

46. She sheep: EWES.

47. Blues singer James: ETTA.  Also Miss Kett

48. At first, second or third: ON BASE.  I might have guessed UMPIRE

50. Long __ of the law: ARM.

51. Airline to Stockholm: SAS.

58. Gorge: CHASM.

61. Aesop's also-ran: HARE.  I never believed that story about the tortoise .

62. "East of Eden" director Kazan: ELIA.

63. Blender button: PUREE.  Just make sure you have that rubber top on the thing or you will have puree all over your counter.

64. Barely makes, with "out": EKES. We eked out a few dollars on a 2 cent machine at Mystic Lake Saturday.

65. A short distance away: NEAR.

66. Accumulate: AMASS.  We DID NOT amass a fortune at Mystic Lake however.

67. "Wild" frontier place: WEST.  Remember Mr. West who played Batman ?

68. IRS form IDs: SSNS. You may give your last four, but not the whole works.

Down:

1. King and queen: CARDS.  We played Jacks or better Saturday

2. Greek marketplace: AGORA.

3. Hitchhiker's principle?: RULE OF THUMB.  Is there also a rule of finger ?

4. Actress Ward: SELA.

5. Lewd: OBSCENE.

6. "Star Wars" mastermind: LUCAS.  George Lucas created this epic movie.  If you purchased a few of the figures in 1977, you may have a fortune.  however, I bought baseball cards.

7. "Dang!": DRAT.

8. Lip-__: mouth the words: SYNC.  Not allowed at karaoke

9. U.S. capital transit system: DC METRO.  I've never been to DC. Couldn't get the votes.

10. First month of el año: ENERO.

11. Pro's opposite: CON.  Jails are full of these.

12. Braves, on scoreboards: ATL.  They didn't quite make it to the World Series this year, but I remember who beat them in the 1991 Series.

13. DiCaprio, in fan mags: LEO.  Short for Leonardo.  Famous for "Titanic"

21. Potatoes partner: MEAT.  Remember the Wendy's Commercial lady.  "Where's the Beef?"

22. "B.C." cartoonist Johnny: HART.

26. Tennis great with nine Grand Slam singles titles: MONICA SELES.

27. Goodnight woman of song: IRENE.  "I'll see you in my dreams."

28. Coquettish: COY.

30. Tolled like Big Ben: RANG.  The Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback does not toll.

31. Romeo's rival: PARIS.  I never read Shakespeare so I will take the word for this.

32. Salt Lake City team: UTES.

34. Leftovers wrap: SARAN.  I never liked the way it sticks to itself, but it seals better than wax paper.

35. Postage-paid enc.: SASE.  Acronym

36. Cost of living?: RENT.  And any other thing on which you spend money.

40. Brit. military award: DSO.

41. Job applicants' preparations: RESUMES. Rez oo may, not Re zoom

42. Pretty pitcher: EWER.  Not Chris Sale or Clayton Kershaw ??

43. Most concise: TERSEST.  I always thought Terse had a little anger in it too.

44. "Don't look __ like that!": AT ME.

49. Beasts of burden: ASSES.  No comment

50. Buenos __: AIRES.  It took me a while to learn that this is pronounced Ireez.

52. From China, say: ASIAN.

53. Popular performers: STARS. Dallas Hockey Team.  (Formerly Minnesota North Stars).

55. "That was close!": PHEW.

56. Leaves gatherer: RAKE.  A necessary tool this time of year.

57. Addition column: TENS. Gymnastics scores for Nadia.

58. Auditing pro: CPA.

59. Run smoothly: HUM.  Option if you cannot sing.

60. Altar in the sky: ARA.  I know this is Latin, but I could never see the so called pics in any of these constellations, except for the big dipper.  And it did not look like a bear.

Boomer

Sunday October 14, 2018 Paul Coulter

Theme:  "For Starters" - Each theme entry is mash-up of three types of item indicated by the circled letters.

 

22. Three types of (see circled letters: MAP): MERCATOR AREA POLITICAL.

32. Three types of (see circled letters: JET): JUMBO EXECUTIVE TURBO.

50. Three types of (see circled letters: MAN): MINUTE ANCHOR NEWSPAPER.

76. Three types of (see circled letters: CAT): CALICO ABYSSINIAN TABBY.

90. Three types of (see circled letters: CAR): CITROEN ACURA RENAULT.

108. Three types of (see circled letters: ART): AVANT-GARDE ROCOCO TRAMP.

In the old Tribune Media Daily days, sometimes we had "Three types of trees/fruits" themes. Just a simple mashup with convenient letter counts

Paul's take is different. The what in "Three type of ..." is circled and those three letters start each of the theme entry component.

I particularly like the CAT and CAR ones, as the answers are indeed "type of...". MAN are just words that can preceded MAN. Same with MAP and JET.

Across:

1. Eponymous Chanel perfume: COCO.

5. Eagerly enjoy, as praise: LAP UP. And 24. Eagerly enjoy: EAT UP.

10. Latitude: PLAY.

14. Not barefoot: SHOD.

18. Banned fruit spray: ALAR. University of Minnesota just developed a  new apple called "First Kiss". Supposed to be better than Honeycrisp.

19. Gladiator's realm: ARENA.

20. Pull-up beneficiaries: LATS.

21. Mold: SHAPE.



26. Naturally lit room: SOLARIUM.

27. "500" initials: S AND P. Standard & Poor's 500.

28. Stick in one's craw: RANKLE.

29. Q and A part: Abbr.: ANS. Answers.

30. Allocate, with "out": METE.

31. Word often paired with "great": LATE.



40. Mimics: APES.

41. Gadget's rank: Abbr.: INSP. Inspector Gadget.

42. Ann and May: CAPES.

43. Much of "Deck the Halls": LAS.

45. Eclipse, maybe: OMEN.

46. Wharton postgrad awards: MBAS.

48. "Bravo!": OLE.

49. Speech problem: LISP.



57. Resting place: BED.

58. Reception vessel: URN.

59. Most healthy: HALEST.

60. More than proper: PRISSY.

61. Electrolysis particle: ANION.

63. [not my error]: SIC.

64. Solemn: STAID.

66. "__ in the Boy's Room": 1973-'74 hit: SMOKIN.

69. Prepares to transplant: UNPOTS.

72. Control: OWN.

73. Small batteries: AAS.



80. "Chestnuts roasting __ open fire": ON AN. How I miss freshly roasted chestnuts. Popular street food in Xi'an in winter months.

81. Supermodel Carangi: GIA. Played by Angelina Jolie.

82. "Hamlet" quintet: ACTS.

83. Clambake trash: COBS.

84. Graphics file extension: TIF.

85. "Let's Make __": A DEAL.

87. Hit the bottle: TOPE.

89. History Muse: CLIO.



95. Les États-__: UNIS.

96. Gray matter?: Abbr.: ANAT. Gray's Anatomy.

97. __ es Salaam: DAR.

98. "The Birds" actress: HEDREN. Tippi. Mom of Melanie Griffith, mom of Dakota Johnson.

101. Special Forces cap: BERET.

103. Causes of fear: BUGABOOS.

111. Confine: LIMIT.

112. Works in the garden: DIGS.

113. He's got the life: RILEY. The life of Riley.

114. "Tosca" tune: ARIA.

115. Swing noisily, as a shutter: FLAP.

116. Omegas' counterparts: ZEES. Not the watch Omega.

117. Chip dip: SALSA.

118. Ballpark figs.: ESTS.


Down:

1. Pic takers: CAMS.

2. Parkay product: OLEO. We also have 53. Eclectic mixes: OLIOS.

3. Director Reiner: CARL.

4. Marine predator: ORCA.

5. About one-third of MLB players: LATINO.

6. Fire up: AROUSE.

7. Waves overhead?: PERM. Literally.

8. Acapulco article: UNA.

9. Astronomical measures: PARSECS. New to me. Google shows that it's about 3.26 light years.

10. Mars, for one: PLANET.

11. Sgt. Friday's force: LAPD.

12. Resting on: ATOP.

13. Designing initials: YSL.

14. Black eye: SHINER.

15. Online break-in: HACK.

16. Australian export: OPAL.

17. Remove from a manuscript: DELE.

21. Prestige: STATUS.

23. Many Qatar natives: ARABS. My friend Chris used to live Bahrain.



25. About to explode: IRATE.

30. Stand-up sort: MENSCH. Consonants-rich.

31. Star of the animated short "Two Scent's Worth": LE PEW.

32. Farr of "M*A*S*H": JAMIE.

33. Flip over: UPEND.

34. Computer list: MENU.

35. Chinese city known for its Terracotta Army: XI'AN. Gimme for you, right? I've been linking the soldiers from time to time. Hahtoolah said hello to them a while ago.

36. PC screen images: ICONS.

37. High-end hotel employees: VALETS.

38. Radar screen images: BLIPS.

39. Havens: OASES.

44. Agile: SPRY.

45. Fed. fiscal agency: OMB. Office of Management and Budget.

46. Fine wool: MERINO.

47. Bath in Baja: BANO.

49. Made, as a bet: LAID.

51. Roman garment: TUNIC.

52. Door fasteners: HASPS.



54. Prefix with linear: RECTI.

55. Salmon egg deposits: SPAWNS. Full of Omega-3.

56. In __: published: PRINT.

61. Analogous: AKIN.

62. Nile valley native: NUBIAN.

65. Perfectly: TO A T. Parsing!

66. Many a bagpiper: SCOT.

67. Bouncing off the walls: MANIC.

68. Norwegian king, 995-1000: OLAF I.

70. Spiral-horned African antelope: NYALA. Learning moment for me.

71. Attack verbally: SNAP AT.

73. Bubbling hot: ABOIL.

74. Monastery head: ABBOT.

75. Part of CBS: Abbr.: SYS.

77. Author James and baseball's Tommie: AGEES.

78. Cake-decorating artist: ICER.

79. Censorship-fighting org.: ACLU.

85. Gulf War journalist Peter: ARNETT.

86. "Nothing __!": DOING.

87. Radio knob: TUNER.

88. Figures of speech?: ORATORS. Great clue.

89. Diamond weight: CARAT.

91. Root vegetable: TURNIP.  Have you tried pickled turnip? You need beets for color.

92. Gentle touch: CARESS.

93. Brings out: EDUCES.

94. Major Japanese port: NAGOYA. Very crowded during cherry blossom period.

98. Not quite a majority: HALF.

99. Bad to the bone: EVIL.

100. Spanish lady: DAMA. I thought it's DONA.

101. Cheese on crackers: BRIE.

102. Barely beat: EDGE.

103. Cotton capsule: BOLL.

104. Highlands hillside: BRAE.

105. Pair in a dinghy: OARS.

106. Bypass: OMIT.

107. Resorts with body wraps: SPAS.

109. Carpentry tool: ADZ

110. Langley org.: CIA.

The CT scan Boomer had on Tuesday showed a few bad spots on his back. We're going to have more MRI scan and bone scan next week.

C.C.

Friday, October 5, 2018, Paul Coulter

Title: I see the sea, see?

More Corner prescience, as Steve referenced the difficulty in putting theme fill next to each other. Paul is back with one of the most difficult Fridays for me in a very long time.  It is a strange puzzle, with 84 words, 60 of which are 3 or 4 letters long. Just because the fill is not long does not mean it was easy. HENNAING and  LIE-ABEDS are the only long fill outside of the grid-spanning reveal  - 42A. Result of polar ice melt graphically shown by the second part of six two-part puzzle answers: RISING SEA LEVELS (15). This made the theme sort of easy to spot, and I saw that if 63A BAL  moved up next to 57A TIC, it named a sea I was familiar with (BALTIC). Likewise, ARAB and IAN (ARABIAN)  but from there it was a learning experience made more challenging by the US failure to teach geography. The (2) and (1) made finding the remaining pairs easy. There are six pairs, and I only was sure of those two. Well, I really look forward to Paul's comments today, and all of yours. My information is from various sources online.

The theme:

Pair one- 25A. Univ. aides (1): TAS (3). 20A. "Wow!" (2): MAN (3). The TASMAN SEA is a section of the southwestern Pacific Ocean, between the southeastern coast of Australia and Tasmania on the west and New Zealand on the east; it merges with the Coral Sea to the north and encloses a body of water about 1,400 miles (2,250 km) wide and 900,000 square miles (2,300,000 square km) in area.

Pair two- 28A. Damage (1): MAR (3). 22A. Actress Kate (2): MARA (4). The MARMARA SEA is an inland sea located entirely within Turkey's borders. It separates Turkey's Asian and European parts by connecting the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea. It does so by connecting the Black Sea to the Marmara Sea via the Bosphorus Strait and the Aegean Sea to the Marmara Sea via the Dardanelles Strait. The Marmara Sea is the world's smallest sea covering only 4,380 square feet.

Pair three- 30A. Helpless? (1): SOLO (4). 24A. Cal. column (2): MON (3). The SOLOMON SEA is a portion of the western South Pacific Ocean, bounded on the west by New Guinea, on the north by New Britain, and on the east by the Solomon Islands. With an area of 280,000 square miles (720,000 square km), the sea contains the Louisiade Archipelago, New Georgia, and Guadalcanal Island.

Pair four- 58A. Happy hour spot (1): BAR (3). 54A. Sinusitis docs (2): ENTS (4). The BARENTS SEA, a marginal sea of the Artic Ocean, was once known as the Murmanskoye Morye by the Russians. It appears as such in a 1595 atlas. The basin countries of the Barents Sea are Russia and Norway (they drain into this body of water).

Pair five- 61A. Many an Omani (1): ARAB (4). 56A. Author Fleming (2): IAN. The ARABIAN SEA's largest islands include Yemen's Socotra, Oman's Masirah Island, India's Lakshadweep, and Pakistan's Astola Island. Countries that have coastlines along the Arabian Sea include India, the Maldives, Pakistan, Oman, Yemen, and Somalia.

Pair six- 63A. Remaining loan amt. (1): BAL (3). 57. Sign of nerves, maybe (2): TIC (3). The BALTIC SEA is the youngest sea on our planet, emerging from the retiring ice masses only some 10,000-15,000 years ago. Governed by special hydrographical and climatic conditions, the Baltic Sea is one of the planet’s largest bodies of brackish water. It is composed of salt water from the North East Atlantic and fresh water from rivers and streams draining from an area four times larger than the Sea itself

Again the reveal:
42A. Result of polar ice melt graphically shown by the second part of six two-part puzzle answers: RISING SEA LEVELS (15).

Well if you are not all worn out, let's solve all the rest.

Across:

1. Take to the cleaners: HOSE. We start with a tricky slang verb- slang : to deprive of something due or expected : TRICK, CHEAT.

5. Lay low: HID. After hosing them you need to.

8. Pretty companion?: PLEASE. With a cherry on top.

14. Windows alternative: UNIX. UNIX is an operating system which was first developed in the 1960s, and has been under constant development ever since. By operating system, we mean the suite of programs which make the computer work.

15. Drop the ball: ERR.

16. Dragster's wheels: HOT ROD. Some history. LINK.

17. Wedding ring?: HORA. Very tricky, but literally a dance in a circle and popular at Jewish weddings.

18. Class-conscious org.?: NEA. More tricky cluing, class like in school. National Education Association

19. Charge: ACCUSE. For me, it brings to mind J'ACCUSE.

32. Infamous Amin: IDI. Amin (in Arabic أمين) is an Arabic and Persian male given name that means "faithful, trustworthy"

33. Constriction of the eye's pupil: MIOSIS. I did not know this. I think of plants.

35. Apple's apple, e.g.: LOGO. Another fun clue.

39. Hail, to Hadrian: AVE. He built a wall in Rome.




40. All over again: ANEW.

41. "I'll second that": AMEN.

47. Isn't idle: ACTS.

48. Deep blue: ANIL. The indigo shrub; or the indigo dye obtained from the plant

49. Track meet segment: LAP.

50. Authenticity emblem: SEAL. Still used by courts and clerks.

51. Parlor furniture item: SETTEE. The settee, a precursor to the sofa and type of love seat, is characterized by a straight back, room for two people, and founded atop four legs.

53. Hot time in Haiti: ETE. Summer.

65. Individually: APIECE.

67. Dug, with "up": ATE. Did you eat up this puzzle?

69. Big times: ERAS.

73. A through E, at times: WIDTHS. Shoes.

74. Sprout: LAD. Two very old-fashioned words.

75. Courteous: NICE.

76. Snares with a loop: LASSOS.

77. Med. show locales: ERS.

78. Serve sparingly, with "out": DOLE.


Down:

1. "Say what?": HUH.

2. Dedicatee of Lennon's "Woman": ONO. Yoko next to...

3. McCartney's title: SIR. Paul.

4. Checkup: EXAM.

5. Applying a temporary tattoo: HENNAING. Very big in Key West.

6. Boiling state: IRE.

7. Scotch serving: DRAM. Poor Hamish Macbeth has to dole out many a wee dram.

8. Seven Wonders lighthouse: PHAROS. A long HISTORY.

9. One from town: LOCAL. We always called them townies.

10. "Yada yada yada" letters: ETC. Thank you George Costanza.






11. Jack-in-the-pulpit family: ARUM. We are talking PLANTS not about a preacher named Jack.

12. Fair: SO SO.

13. First place?: EDEN. Not leading the league, but where it all began.

21. Mideast capital: AMMAN. Jordan.

23. Faulkner's "__ Lay Dying": AS I. His writing is very respected and his novel the subject of much DISCUSSION.

25. Pageant toppers: TIARAS.

26. It may be unsolicited: ADVICE.

27. Daybreak?: SIESTA. More misdirection, a break during the day not dawn.

29. Agile deer: ROES. This is a small, agile Old World deer, Capreolus capreolus, the male of which has three-pointed antlers. CUTE.

31. Norse patron: OLAV.

34. Hard work: SWEAT. Blood, sweat and tears.

36. Fare filled and folded: OMELET.

37. Trattoria desserts: GELATI. The plural. Gelato is simply the Italian word for ice cream, but in English, it has come to mean specifically Italian or Italian-style ice cream.

38. With no guarantee of payment: ON SPEC. Spec homes are still popular here in South Florida where an older home is torn down and replaced with a much bigger house.

43. Cartography dot: ISLE.

44. Against: ANTI.

45. Reluctant risers: LIE-ABEDS. An old-fashioned word that has appeared in much literature.
LINK.

46. Barack's 2010 High Court appointee: ELENA.  Please no more politics. KAGEN.

51. Emphasize: STRESS.

52. That, in Tijuana: ESA.

55. Snack chip: NACHO.

58. Much more than a sniffle: BAWL.

59. Samoa's capital: APIA. A better clue than, "Either Lindstrom or Zadora."

60. Purges (of): RIDS.

62. One may be stored in a barn: BALE. Is that anyway to treat this man?

64. Advance: LEND.

66. Sci-fi staples: ETS. Extra-terrestrials.

68. Blacken, in a way: TAR. Not La Brea today.

70. Copacabana city: RIO.

71. Commonly torn ligament, briefly: ACL. The anterior cruciate ligament is one of the key ligaments that help stabilize your knee joint. The ACL connects your thighbone (femur) to your shinbone (tibia).

72. Note: SEE.

A very different puzzle from our own PC, and of course I am curious to know what you all think. I always enjoy a when a constructor combines visual elements. I found it hard but satisfying. Happy week-end all. Lemonade out.

Thursday September 20th 2018 Paul Coulter

Theme: Jay Lend-o - Loan a letter to a phrase and come up with a "punny" new one.

17A. Norwegian coastal horse?: FJORD PINTO. Ford Pinto

Not only was this car a genuine menace to drive, but when Ford wondered why it wasn't selling in Latin America, they were informed, late in the marketing day, that "pinto" is a rather perjorative term for the size of a man's ..... equipment. I mean car.

24A. Excellent joke?: GREAT JAPE. Great ape.

39A. Where a sensei teaches how to slalom?: SKI DOJO. Ski-Doo. A Sensei in this context is a martial arts teacher; I know the term as a third-generation Japanese-American.

50A. "We sure fell for that one, Jack," e.g.?: JILL HUMOR. Ill humor. What? I mean I get it, but can we come up with a better clue? "You" rather than "we" makes a lot more sense; still terrible, but better than this effort.

The reveal?

62A. Was yanked offstage ... or what four puzzle answers did, in a way: GOT THE HOOK. The "J" is a hook-shape. Hence a j-hook in hardware, and probably fishing, although I didn't check the fishing bit. Wild stab in the dark with the fishhook.

Yep, nothing to argue about here. Find a phrase, add a "J" to it somewhere, clue it appropriately and move on.

And ..... the fill.

Across:

1. Have a sudden inspiration?: GASP

5. Embryonic membranes: CAULS

10. "Good going!": NICE!

14. Ancient Andean: INCA

15. Fully committed: ALL IN. Poker term originally, I believe. Bet all your chips on one hand of cards.

16. Cries at the Home Run Derby: OOHS. Baseball mini-theme today. Home Runs, pitchers and such.

19. Agitated state: SNIT. Agitated? Ticked-off, in my book.

20. Ring leader?: TORERO

21. Parenthesis, e.g.: ARC

22. Dún Laoghaire's land: EIRE. It used to be the primary ferry port between Great Britain and Ireland, but most, if not all, services have now been retured. Pronounced "Dun Leary" if you ever need to buy a ticket.

23. Largest division of Islam: SUNNI

26. Alpine transport: T-BAR

28. 2010 sci-fi sequel subtitled "Legacy": TRON

29. Grassy stretches: LEAS

32. Map line: ROAD

35. "A Doll's House" playwright: IBSEN

38. "The Martian" has none: E.T.S

41. Stat for Chris Sale: ERA. He's a pitcher, so Earned Run Average. Red Sox now, previously White Sox. I wonder what he did with the white ones from his uniform when he was traded? Or did he just leave them in his locker for the laundry guy? There are around 1,200 players each season in Major League Baseball. He's one of them. I just need to learn another 1,199 and I've got this year's crossword nailed.

42. Pronunciation symbol: SCHWA. This thing: ə. A mid-central vowel. A south-central vowel in Los Angeles is probably something else entirely.

44. PBS science series: NOVA

45. Small racer: KART

46. Barbershop part: BASS

48. McGregor who plays two roles on TV's "Fargo": EWAN. I've liked him since "Trainspotting" which I saw at an "arts theater" in Santa Monica and was hugely amused to see that it was subtitled English, in spite of being in English.

54. Jungle vine: LIANA

58. Big star: IDOL. Billy. Rebel Yell. Cue the music. 80's live pop excess.

59. Lincoln Ctr. site: N.Y.C. Also the site of my hd. off.

60. PBS science series: COSMOS. Chlecho trickery with 44A.

61. Brit's floor covering: LINO. We had lino in the bedrooms when I was a kid, and no heating. Getting up in winter was a bare-foot-meets-ice-rink experience.

64. Fuss: TO-DO

65. Dvorák's "Rusalka," for one: OPERA

66. Instead: ELSE

67. Scandinavian name meaning "cliff": STEN. What do you call a man with a seagull on his head? Cliff.

68. Block: DETER

69. Sunflower edible: SEED

Down:

1. They're kept under wraps: GIFTS

2. Pear variety: ANJOU

3. Contempt: SCORN

4. Raises: PARENTS

5. Guitarist's gadget: CAPO

6. "Aladdin" prince: ALI

7. __ nerve: ULNAR

8. Petrol unit: LITRE. Those British and their spelling. No reason to mess with the original French, but you know, what do those foreigners know?

9. Vehicle with caterpillar treads: SNO-CAT. Ski-doo, sno-cat. Winter today.

10. Often-cosmetic procedure: NOSE JOB.

11. View from Corfu: IONIAN SEA. Yep, nice spot for sure.

12. Sound from a tree: CHIRP. 

13. Competitor of Helena: ESTÉE. Lauder vs. Ruberstein. Gloves off!

18. Small amount: DRIB. Is a drab bigger or smaller than a drib? Surely it has to be one of the two, else you'd be doing something "in dribs and dribs" or "drabs and drabs".

24. Abdomen neighbor: GROIN. It's a toss-up which one you'd rather take a hit playing rugby. I've suffered both. I think I'd lean towards the abdomen given the choice.

25. Chamber music group: TRIO

27. Storied craft: ARK

29. "__ Miz": LES

30. "You get the idea" letters: ETC.

31. Light hair color: ASH BLONDE

33. Brouhaha: ADO

34. Matthew Arnold's "__ Beach": DOVER. A scary chap, he was a schools inspector, frightening in itself, but his work is referenced by Ray Bradbury and Ian McEwan - you know you're not in for an easy ride with his poetry or prose when you're in that company.

Only, from the long line of spray

Where the sea meets the moon-blanch'd land,

Listen! you hear the grating roar

Of pebbles which the waves draw back, and fling,

At their return, up the high strand,

Begin, and cease, and then again begin,

With tremulous cadence slow, and bring

The eternal note of sadness in.

Dover Beach, Matthew Arnold

36. Be off: ERR. Surprised to to see a baseball reference ... oh wait ...

37. Bryce Harper, for now: NAT. Washington Nationals. There it is!

39. Ornamental band: SASH

40. Talk: JAW

43. Belgian language related to French: WALLOON

45. Deli snacks: KNISHES

47. Ra, in ancient Egypt: SUN GOD

49. Cosmetic additive: ALOE

50. Rejects suddenly: JILTS

51. Jerk: IDIOT.

52. Mr. Magoo, for one: MYOPE

53. Santa's reindeer, e.g.: OCTET

55. Whac-__: A-MOLE

56. Rope loop: NOOSE

57. FAQ part: ASKED. Frequently-Asked Questions link on a website.

60. Scorch: CHAR

63. Amount past due?: TRE. Uno, duo, tre. Any Green Day fans are wondering what happened to that triptych. Uno was delivered, I think duo and tre are still a twinkle in the band's eye.

Got Grid?

Steve