Theme: Word Scramble
I probably would have eventually figured out the theme without the reveal, but it was a clever addition:
61-Across. Cocktail garnish, and a hint to letters hidden in the answers to starred clues : LEMON TWIST.
17-Across. *Serious swearing : SOLEMN OATH.
24-Across. *Hunt's rival : DEL MONTE.
37-Across. *Brunch choice : WESTERN OMELET.
51-Across. *Camera attachment : ZOOM LENS.
Across
1. "Elementary" network : CBS.
4. Eponymous obstetrician Fernand : LAMAZE. I needed the "Z" before this name popped into my head. His "natural" childbirth method was very popular in the '70s, but I think it has gone out of favor now.
10. "Oh, go on!" : PISH.
14. __ provençale : À LA. Prepared in the style of Provence - usually with olive oil and garlic.
15. Part of the plot : IN ON IT.
16. Gardening tool : RAKE.
19. Banded gemstone : ONYX.
20. Dorm room item : TWIN BED.
21. Really trouble, with "at" : EAT.
23. Help on the way up : RUNG.
29. 31-Down, for one : OPERA. And 31-Down. "Habanera" singer : CARMEN.
31. Former Honda model : CRX. Immediately followed by 32-Across. Honda division : ACURA.
33. Perform for : PLAY TO.
36. Target of some sprays : ODOR.
41. Ref. book : DICT.ionary.
42. Come to light : EMERGE.
43. Not from a bottle : ON TAP.
45. Expected amt. of repairs : EST.imate.
46. It may be blessed : EVENT.
53. Hip bones : ILIA.
54. Modern detective fiction pioneer : POE.
55. Captain's heading : DUE EAST.
58. Shade similar to bright turquoise : AQUA.
64. Managing ed.'s concern : CIRC.
65. List closing : ET ALIA.
66. Burns negative : NAE. Robert Burns.
67. Adjust for space, say : EDIT.
68. Webster's shelfmate : ROGET'S.
69. Come to a conclusion : END.
Down
1. Longtime maker of convertibles : CASTRO. Couches and ottomans provide extra sleeping room for the in-laws. And they are usually uncomfortable enough, so that they don't visit too long.
2. Have a tantrum : BLOW UP. See 48-Down.
3. Solution for contacts : SALINE.
4. Trunk projection : LIMB. Oh my. My first thought was bathing trunks...
5. Actress Heche : ANNE. Probably more noted for her relation with Ellen DeGeneres than any of her supposed acting skills.
6. Attitude : MOOD.
7. Santa __ : ANA.
8. Proactiv target : ZIT.
9. Great-aunt of Drew : ETHEL. The famous Barrymore family.
10. Diplomatic code : PROTOCOL.
11. John, in Scotland : IAN.
12. __ blue : SKY.
13. Bewitch : HEX.
18. MIT grad, often : ENGR.aver?
22. Doctor's org. : AMA. American Medical Association.
24. Sarcastic quality : DRYNESS.
25. Use a threat to get : EXTORT.
26. Like Botticelli's Venus : NUDE. I have seen it at the Uffizi in Florence. Breathtaking.
27. Easy pace : TROT.
28. Place for a plug : EAR.
30. Rental ad abbr. : APT. "Apt to rent"
34. Jeans giant : LEE.
35. "Wow!" in texts : OMG. "Oh My Gosh!"
37. Skid row regular : WINO.
38. Plasm lead-in : ECTO.-plasm.
39. Statute opposed by the Sons of Liberty : STAMP ACT.
40. Wide size : EEE.
41. Dairy dept. quantity : DOZ.en
44. Mideast initials : PLO. Palestine Liberation Organization.
47. Mountaintop allure : VIEW.
48. "Airplane!" heroine : ELAINE. Funny movie.
49. Xterra maker : NISSAN.
50. Covered in ink, with "up" : TATTED.
52. Conger catcher : EELER.
55. Former North Carolina senator Elizabeth : DOLE.
56. Cohesive group : UNIT.
57. Cockpit announcements, briefly : ETAs.
58. Solitaire base card : ACE.
59. Four times a day, in an Rx : QID. Quater In Die.
60. Ocean State sch. : URI. University of Rhode Island.
62. WWII arena : ETO. European Theater of Operations. I just finished reading the 2015 Pulitzer Prize winner "All the Light We Cannot See," by Anthony Doerr. I highly recommend it!!
63. GQ, e.g., briefly : MAG.azine. I remember when MAGs referred to these.
Time for LEMONade!
Marti
Speaking of which, Lemonade714 stopped in to visit me last week while he was here for his reunion. Here's a pic of us relaxing on the deck.
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Showing posts with label Robert E. Lee Morris. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Robert E. Lee Morris. Show all posts
Jul 2, 2015
Jun 18, 2015
Thursday, June 18, 2015 Robert E. Lee Morris
Theme: (I don't even have to wrack my brain for a theme, because it was handed to me by Mr. Morris) 33-Down. Bar freebie, and this puzzle's theme : MIXED NUTS.
24-Across. As hidden in 17-Across, one of this puzzle's 33-Down : CASHEW.
17-Across. 1996 Fox launch : NEWS CHANNEL.
37-Across. As hidden in 57-Across, one of this puzzle's 33-Down : PECAN.
57. Seattle landmark : SPACE NEEDLE.
47-Across. As hidden in 11-Down, one of this puzzle's 33-Down : ALMOND.
11-Down. He and Don Shula share the NFL record of 36 playoff games coached : TOM LANDRY.
24-, 37- and 47-Across were icing on the cake - the puzzle could stand nicely on its own without them.
Across
1. Military decoration : MEDAL. Like many of the answers today, this was my first thought.
6. Supporting structure : TRUSS.
11. Leading : TOP.
14. Solitary : ALONE.
15. Silent brother of comedy : HARPO. Did you know, they got their nicknames in a poker game?
16. Valuable deposit : ORE.
19. NFL players, e.g. : MEN. OK, I know it's Thursday and we have to have vague clues. But still...
20. Cozy lodge : INN.
21. Fail, in slang : TANK.
22. Only city on California's Catalina Island : AVALON. Just 26 miles across the sea.
26. Netherlands city near the Belgian border : BREDA. Map.
27. Mork's planet : ORK.
28. Italian mathematician who was a contemporary of Euler : LAGRANGE.
31. "Good Will Hunting" actor : DAMON. One of my favorite movies with Matt DAMON and Robin Williams.
34. Flightless birds : EMUS.
35. Small amount : DAB. "Just a little DAB'll do ya!"
36. Landed : ALIT.
39. Rice-shaped pasta : ORZO. I often serve this with a shrimp & fennel dish that I make. Here's the recipe. (You could also substitute gorgonzola for the feta.)
40. Latin law : LEX.
41. Aloe __ : VERA. Difficulty could have been ramped up for a Thursday by clueing it as Designer Wang.
42. "Breaking Bad" star Cranston : BRYAN. He's a real baddie.
43. Restaurant freebie : ICE WATER.
45. One of the Pep Boys : MOE. Manny, MOE and Jack are the iconic figures in the logo.
46. Breaks bread : DINES.
51. 1976 Olympics decathlon gold medalist : JENNER. Caitlyn née Bruce.
53. Parched : ARID.
55. Stop working : DIE.
56. __ Claire : EAU. Wisconsin.
60. D.C. clock setting : EST. Eastern Standard Time.
61. Spa offering : SAUNA.
62. Guide : STEER.
63. Legal thing : RES. More Latin.
64. California pro : ANGEL. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Go figure.
65. Not likely to run on : TERSE.
Down
1. Highly excited : MANIC.
2. Justice Kagan : ELENA.
3. Eats : DOWNS.
4. T or F, maybe : ANS.wer.
5. Speaker's stand : LECTERN.
6. "Better late __ ..." : THAN...never.
7. General, e.g. : RANK. Filled it in without even thinking about it.
8. Coffee container : URN.
9. Fishing tool : SPEAR GUN.
10. Crossword enthusiasts : SOLVERS. Gimme for everyone here, right?
12. Creme-filled treat : OREO.
13. Ivy League school : PENN. I already had the P from TOP, so this was a gimme, too.
18. Swooping predator : HAWK.
23. Oral health org. : ADA. American Dental Association.
25. Real card : HOOT.
26. The Crimson Tide : 'BAMA. Gimme. DH's old rivals.
28. Aptly named Renault : LECAR.
29. __ Strip : GAZA.
30. Black, to a bard : EBON.
31. "The Persistence of Memory" artist : DALI. Melty watches. Gimme.
32. Actor Baldwin : ALEC.
37. Broadway flier : PETER PAN. Were you thinking pamphlets and playbills?
38. Cockney toast starter : 'ERES.
39. Utah city : OREM.
41. "Colors of the Wind" singer Williams : VANESSA. Pretty song from Disney's animated film "Pochahontas."
42. Most daring : BOLDEST.
44. Take the checkered flag : WIN.
45. Chief : MAIN.
48. Farther out? : ODDER.
49. Frasier's brother : NILES. He was so good in that show.
50. Big name on the farm : DEERE.
51. Catcall : JEER.
52. Comfort : EASE.
53. Cause of adolescent angst : ACNE.
54. Unfeigned : REAL.
58. Summer mo. : AUG.ust. And we end with a partial clecho:
59. Somme summer : ETE.
Toodles!
Marti
24-Across. As hidden in 17-Across, one of this puzzle's 33-Down : CASHEW.
17-Across. 1996 Fox launch : NEWS CHANNEL.
37-Across. As hidden in 57-Across, one of this puzzle's 33-Down : PECAN.
57. Seattle landmark : SPACE NEEDLE.
47-Across. As hidden in 11-Down, one of this puzzle's 33-Down : ALMOND.
11-Down. He and Don Shula share the NFL record of 36 playoff games coached : TOM LANDRY.
24-, 37- and 47-Across were icing on the cake - the puzzle could stand nicely on its own without them.
Across
1. Military decoration : MEDAL. Like many of the answers today, this was my first thought.
6. Supporting structure : TRUSS.
11. Leading : TOP.
14. Solitary : ALONE.
15. Silent brother of comedy : HARPO. Did you know, they got their nicknames in a poker game?
16. Valuable deposit : ORE.
19. NFL players, e.g. : MEN. OK, I know it's Thursday and we have to have vague clues. But still...
20. Cozy lodge : INN.
21. Fail, in slang : TANK.
22. Only city on California's Catalina Island : AVALON. Just 26 miles across the sea.
26. Netherlands city near the Belgian border : BREDA. Map.
27. Mork's planet : ORK.
28. Italian mathematician who was a contemporary of Euler : LAGRANGE.
31. "Good Will Hunting" actor : DAMON. One of my favorite movies with Matt DAMON and Robin Williams.
34. Flightless birds : EMUS.
35. Small amount : DAB. "Just a little DAB'll do ya!"
36. Landed : ALIT.
39. Rice-shaped pasta : ORZO. I often serve this with a shrimp & fennel dish that I make. Here's the recipe. (You could also substitute gorgonzola for the feta.)
40. Latin law : LEX.
41. Aloe __ : VERA. Difficulty could have been ramped up for a Thursday by clueing it as Designer Wang.
42. "Breaking Bad" star Cranston : BRYAN. He's a real baddie.
43. Restaurant freebie : ICE WATER.
45. One of the Pep Boys : MOE. Manny, MOE and Jack are the iconic figures in the logo.
46. Breaks bread : DINES.
51. 1976 Olympics decathlon gold medalist : JENNER. Caitlyn née Bruce.
53. Parched : ARID.
55. Stop working : DIE.
56. __ Claire : EAU. Wisconsin.
60. D.C. clock setting : EST. Eastern Standard Time.
61. Spa offering : SAUNA.
62. Guide : STEER.
63. Legal thing : RES. More Latin.
64. California pro : ANGEL. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Go figure.
65. Not likely to run on : TERSE.
Down
1. Highly excited : MANIC.
2. Justice Kagan : ELENA.
3. Eats : DOWNS.
4. T or F, maybe : ANS.wer.
5. Speaker's stand : LECTERN.
6. "Better late __ ..." : THAN...never.
7. General, e.g. : RANK. Filled it in without even thinking about it.
8. Coffee container : URN.
9. Fishing tool : SPEAR GUN.
10. Crossword enthusiasts : SOLVERS. Gimme for everyone here, right?
12. Creme-filled treat : OREO.
13. Ivy League school : PENN. I already had the P from TOP, so this was a gimme, too.
18. Swooping predator : HAWK.
23. Oral health org. : ADA. American Dental Association.
25. Real card : HOOT.
26. The Crimson Tide : 'BAMA. Gimme. DH's old rivals.
28. Aptly named Renault : LECAR.
29. __ Strip : GAZA.
30. Black, to a bard : EBON.
31. "The Persistence of Memory" artist : DALI. Melty watches. Gimme.
32. Actor Baldwin : ALEC.
37. Broadway flier : PETER PAN. Were you thinking pamphlets and playbills?
38. Cockney toast starter : 'ERES.
39. Utah city : OREM.
41. "Colors of the Wind" singer Williams : VANESSA. Pretty song from Disney's animated film "Pochahontas."
42. Most daring : BOLDEST.
44. Take the checkered flag : WIN.
45. Chief : MAIN.
48. Farther out? : ODDER.
49. Frasier's brother : NILES. He was so good in that show.
50. Big name on the farm : DEERE.
51. Catcall : JEER.
52. Comfort : EASE.
53. Cause of adolescent angst : ACNE.
54. Unfeigned : REAL.
58. Summer mo. : AUG.ust. And we end with a partial clecho:
59. Somme summer : ETE.
Toodles!
Marti
Note from C.C.:
Kazie and her husband Barry traveled to China last month. They visited all the top traveling stops in China, including my hometown Xi'an. The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda (3rd picture here) is not far from my own home.
Kay said:
"Our general direction was from Beijing to Xi'an, to Guilin, to Shanghai. Also, I need to say everything there was fascinating--such a
learning experience for us both. We were in a small group of only 17
people until Shanghai, when there were only 6 of us. The others stayed
behind to cruise the Yangtze for several days, the week before the
terrible sinking of another boat similar to the one they took!
All in all, I would recommend this trip to anyone! Incidentally, our
national guide was also from Xi'an, probably about your age, very nice,
and extremely good at explaining everything."
Here are a few pictures. Please click here for more.
Kay and Barry ride in a rickshaw to the Hutong district in Beijing |
Barry and Kay in front of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests at the Temple of Heaven |
Kay in front of the
Buddhist Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi’an. China has four main religions: Buddhism,
Muslim, Christianity and Taoism
|
Apr 28, 2015
Tuesday, April 28, 2015 Robert E. Lee Morris
Theme: Hey buddy, can you spare a medi? - The sequence of the letters in the word SPARE have been changed and scrambled inside 17-, 32-, 38-Across and 11-, 29-Down. If you have the circles, that's fine. If you don't, then it's an added challenge.
17A. Airport security indignity : STRIP SEARCH
32A. Flour packaging : PAPER SACK
38A. Diva's big moment : OPERA SOLO
11D. Social gathering at a home : HOUSE PARTY
29D. Region beyond our atmosphere : OUTER SPACE
54A. Pocketful of coins, and what literally occurs in the circled letters in five puzzle answers : SPARE CHANGE
Lyegar here. I found having the circles and knowing the gimmick helped a skosh in the solve. Otherwise, a standard grid with mostly standard fill. Too many proper names?
Across:
1. Tennessee senator Alexander : LAMAR. (Andrew Lamar Alexander, Jr) Unknown to me.
6. Disgusting : GROSS
11. Summary on a timecard: Abbr. : HRs. (hours)
14. Olds model : ALERO
15. Emotionally expressive, as poetry : LYRIC. Dictionary approved.
16. OPEC commodity : OIL
19. Charlottesville sch. : UVA. (University of Virginia)
20. "Mazel __!" : TOV. ("good luck!")
21. Flair : ELAN
22. NFL Network talk show host Rich : EISEN. A journalist who attended the University of Michigan and was NOT an athlete although he was co–sports editor of the school's paper.
24. Father of Cain and Abel : ADAM
25. "The Maltese Falcon" novelist : HAMMETT. (Dashiell Hammett)
27. "That's enough!" : "STOP IT!"
30. Get started, as a grill : FIRE UP. Oh, yeah!
31. One-eighty : U-TURN
35. Bon __: witticism : MOT
36. Animal skins : PELTS
37. __ v. Wade : ROE
41. "Another card, dealer" : "HIT ME". Playing Blackjack.
43. Citizens under Caesar : ROMANS
44. Gorge : CANYON
45. Pure joy : ECSTASY
47. Quaint dagger : DIRK. 'Tis the one ye Scots wear in their hose.
48. Controversial Nixon records : TAPES
49. Blue jay or oriole : BIRD
50. Down in the dumps : SAD
53. Actress Thurman : UMA
58. Mo. with the shortest day of the year : DEC. Day meaning the period of sunlight.
59. Elaborate display : ECLAT
60. The "A" in "CAT scan" : AXIAL. (computed axial tomography) Older and less preferred term. per Wiki.
61. Fair-hiring abbr. : EOE. (Equal Opportunity Employment)
62. Thick-furred dog : SPITZ
63. Colorful tank fish : TETRA
Down:
1. "The __ of the Mohicans" : LAST
2. Choir voice : ALTO
3. "Jeopardy!" creator Griffin : MERV
4. The D-backs, on scoreboards : ARI. (Arizona Diamondbacks)
5. Tricked by a scam : ROPED IN
6. Sparkle : GLEAM
7. Meg of "You've Got Mail" : RYAN
8. Bruin legend Bobby : ORR
9. Attack, to Rover : SIC
10. One with a devious plan : SCHEMER
12. Metal fastener : RIVET
13. Bias : SLANT
18. Bed support : SLAT
23. Don of morning radio : IMUS. "Don Imus Leaving Fox Business Network". Didn't know, don't care.
24. Auto financing abbr. : APR. (annual percentage rate)
25. Aware of : HIP TO
26. Greek god of war : ARES
27. Japanese wrestling : SUMO
28. 'Vette roof option : T-TOP. The '68 Corvette coupe was the first U.S.-built car to feature a T-top roof.
30. Niagara __ : FALLS
32. Showy flower : PEONY
33. Crooner Perry : COMO. If it's hip to be square, this dude was.
34. Sharp : KEEN
36. "The more you know" TV ads, e.g. : PSAs. (Public Service Announcement)
39. Repetitive learning : ROTE
40. Builds up : AMASSES
41. Construction site headgear : HARD HAT
42. Bic filler : INK
44. Newspaper sales no. : CIRC. (circulation)
45. Technique-mastering piano piece : ETUDE
46. Short film role : CAMEO
47. "Legion of the Damned" series writer William : DIETZ. What? His website.
49. Naughty kid : BRAT
50. Cranky state : SNIT
51. Biology lab gel : AGAR
52. Fashion's Oscar __ Renta : DE LA
55. Narc's find, briefly : PCP. Angel Dust.
56. Boxing immortal : ALI
57. Firefighter's tool : AXE
Yes, too many names.
Argyle
Note from C.C.:
Kerry S, a long time lurker on our blog, sent me this fun picture yesterday: 1-A: Town in Italy!
Oct 9, 2014
Thursday, October 9, 2014 Robert E. Lee Morris
Theme: "No rubbernecking!"
17-Across. *Tricky puzzle : BRAIN TEASER.
37-Across. *"Let me give it a shot?" : CAN I TRY.
59-Across. *Historic route west : OREGON TRAIL.
11-Down. *Unvarnished facts : PLAIN TRUTH.
And the reveal:
29-Down. Calamity, and what's literally hidden in the answers to starred clues : TRAIN WRECK.
Each starred entry has the letters in T-R-A-I-N all jumbled up. Fun reveal, but I didn't need it to get the theme entries. When I came across the clue, I just glanced at what was already filled in: Check! Anagram puzzle!
Across
1. Kid-lit classic "__, Plain and Tall" : SARAH. A story of grief, loneliness and abandonment. Kid-lit? Really?
6. Dust Bowl refugees : OKIES. Think of the Joad family here.
11. Part of many a texting request : PLS. Short for "please."
14. Unborn, after "in" : UTERO.
15. "It's a Wonderful Life" director : CAPRA. Ah, my favorite movie, and personal mantra.
16. Pitcher rim : LIP. I am getting gun-shy, and was actually thinking of a baseball pitcher!
19. Tenn. neighbor : ALA.bama.
20. Commuter's woe : JAM.
21. Astronomy : Urania :: poetry : __ : ERATO. Respective muses.
22. Basic chord : TRIAD.
24. City between Paris and Marseille : LYON. Map.
25. "Just this time ..." : FOR ONCE.
27. Mensa membership consideration, perhaps : IQ TEST. There are many different tests that would qualify you for membership, so "perhaps" is appropriate in this clue.
30. Most plucky : GAMEST. Not to be confused with "gamiest."
31. Myanmar, formerly : BURMA.
32. SeaWorld attraction : ORCA.
33. Stonestreet of "Modern Family" : ERIC. Never saw the show, so was not familiar with this actor, who plays Cameron Tucker.
36. Actress Wasikowska : MIA. Never knew the name of this actress, who played Alice in Tim Burton's movie version of "Alice in Wonderland." Needless to say, this section relied heavily on perps!
40. __ Today : USA.
41. Essentially fat-free : SKIM.
43. Credit report blot : REPO.ssession.
44. Film with dusty streets, typically : OATER.
46. Seconds flat : NO TIME. I really wanted "in" at the beginning.
48. Eight dry gallons : BUSHEL.
49. "Hiya!" : HOWDY DO. Let's sing to the tune of "Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay":
It’s Howdy Doody time It’s Howdy Doody time Bob Smith and Howdy too Say “HOWDY DO” to you Let’s give a rousing cheer ’Cause Howdy Doody’s here It’s time to start the show So kids, let’s go!
51. Genesis creator : SEGA. Arcade game, not the bible book...
52. Pasture measures : ACRES.
53. User's shortcut : MACRO.
55. Meditation beginning? : PRE. Premeditation.
58. Marine pronoun : SHE. I'm sure that Spitzboov has linked the explanation of "SHE" referring to ships before, but I couldn't find it.
62. Noir hero : TEC. The '40s-'50s era of crime drama films often involved a detective ("TEC") or undercover cop .
63. Large jazz combo : NONET.
64. Tourist __ : MECCA.
65. Origin of an egg-shaped spaceship : ORK. "Mork and Mindy" ran from 1978-82. RIP Robin Williams.
66. Locations : SITES.
67. Praise : EXTOL.
Down
1. Alg. or geog. : SUBJ.ect.
2. Razor brand : ATRA.
3. 20 quires : REAM. Factoid: The quire got its name from Old English "quare," meaning "by fours." Four sheets of vellum or parchment would be folded in half -giving a total of 8 sheets, or 16 sides. When pulp paper made it easier to stitch pages together, this meaning was quickly lost, and a quire usually contained 24 or 25 sheets. The modern ream is made up of 500 sheets, or 20 quires.
4. First name in shipping : ARI. Onassis was a Greek shipping magnate.
5. Bee's nectar reservoir : HONEY SAC. I never heard this term. It is also called a "honey stomach."
6. Vast expanse : OCEAN.
7. Longtime pitcher Jim with the nickname "Kitty" : KAAT. I defer to people who know more about baseball than the fact that it does, indeed, require a baseball for the game. Here's the wiki.
8. By its very nature, in law : IPSO FACTO. The embedding of a wiki link does not, IPSO FACTO, turn me into a baseball expert!
9. Afore : ERE.
10. "Being and Nothingness" philosopher : SARTRE. Jean Paul.
12. Fragrant bloom : LILAC. I have both white and purple ones on my property.
13. Fictional falcon seeker : SPADE. Sam Spade, "The Maltese Falcon."
18. Relaxed pace : TROT. Unless you are trying to find the W.C.
23. Left the runway : ROSE.
24. Apollo lander, briefly : LEM. Lunar Excursion Module.
26. General Bradley : OMAR. One of the very few five star generals in U.S. history.
27. AT and PS/2 computers : IBMS.
28. Nestlé __ : QUIK.
30. Complain : GRIPE.
32. "Be right with you" : ONE MOMENT. I had to check perps before deciding between "minute" or MOMENT.
34. "Ah! Say no more" : I SEE.
35. Poet Sandburg : CARL. One of my favorites is this poem:
17-Across. *Tricky puzzle : BRAIN TEASER.
37-Across. *"Let me give it a shot?" : CAN I TRY.
59-Across. *Historic route west : OREGON TRAIL.
11-Down. *Unvarnished facts : PLAIN TRUTH.
And the reveal:
29-Down. Calamity, and what's literally hidden in the answers to starred clues : TRAIN WRECK.
Each starred entry has the letters in T-R-A-I-N all jumbled up. Fun reveal, but I didn't need it to get the theme entries. When I came across the clue, I just glanced at what was already filled in: Check! Anagram puzzle!
Across
1. Kid-lit classic "__, Plain and Tall" : SARAH. A story of grief, loneliness and abandonment. Kid-lit? Really?
6. Dust Bowl refugees : OKIES. Think of the Joad family here.
11. Part of many a texting request : PLS. Short for "please."
14. Unborn, after "in" : UTERO.
15. "It's a Wonderful Life" director : CAPRA. Ah, my favorite movie, and personal mantra.
16. Pitcher rim : LIP. I am getting gun-shy, and was actually thinking of a baseball pitcher!
19. Tenn. neighbor : ALA.bama.
20. Commuter's woe : JAM.
21. Astronomy : Urania :: poetry : __ : ERATO. Respective muses.
22. Basic chord : TRIAD.
24. City between Paris and Marseille : LYON. Map.
25. "Just this time ..." : FOR ONCE.
27. Mensa membership consideration, perhaps : IQ TEST. There are many different tests that would qualify you for membership, so "perhaps" is appropriate in this clue.
30. Most plucky : GAMEST. Not to be confused with "gamiest."
31. Myanmar, formerly : BURMA.
32. SeaWorld attraction : ORCA.
33. Stonestreet of "Modern Family" : ERIC. Never saw the show, so was not familiar with this actor, who plays Cameron Tucker.
36. Actress Wasikowska : MIA. Never knew the name of this actress, who played Alice in Tim Burton's movie version of "Alice in Wonderland." Needless to say, this section relied heavily on perps!
40. __ Today : USA.
41. Essentially fat-free : SKIM.
43. Credit report blot : REPO.ssession.
44. Film with dusty streets, typically : OATER.
46. Seconds flat : NO TIME. I really wanted "in" at the beginning.
48. Eight dry gallons : BUSHEL.
49. "Hiya!" : HOWDY DO. Let's sing to the tune of "Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay":
51. Genesis creator : SEGA. Arcade game, not the bible book...
52. Pasture measures : ACRES.
53. User's shortcut : MACRO.
55. Meditation beginning? : PRE. Premeditation.
58. Marine pronoun : SHE. I'm sure that Spitzboov has linked the explanation of "SHE" referring to ships before, but I couldn't find it.
62. Noir hero : TEC. The '40s-'50s era of crime drama films often involved a detective ("TEC") or undercover cop .
63. Large jazz combo : NONET.
64. Tourist __ : MECCA.
65. Origin of an egg-shaped spaceship : ORK. "Mork and Mindy" ran from 1978-82. RIP Robin Williams.
66. Locations : SITES.
67. Praise : EXTOL.
Down
1. Alg. or geog. : SUBJ.ect.
2. Razor brand : ATRA.
3. 20 quires : REAM. Factoid: The quire got its name from Old English "quare," meaning "by fours." Four sheets of vellum or parchment would be folded in half -giving a total of 8 sheets, or 16 sides. When pulp paper made it easier to stitch pages together, this meaning was quickly lost, and a quire usually contained 24 or 25 sheets. The modern ream is made up of 500 sheets, or 20 quires.
4. First name in shipping : ARI. Onassis was a Greek shipping magnate.
5. Bee's nectar reservoir : HONEY SAC. I never heard this term. It is also called a "honey stomach."
6. Vast expanse : OCEAN.
7. Longtime pitcher Jim with the nickname "Kitty" : KAAT. I defer to people who know more about baseball than the fact that it does, indeed, require a baseball for the game. Here's the wiki.
8. By its very nature, in law : IPSO FACTO. The embedding of a wiki link does not, IPSO FACTO, turn me into a baseball expert!
9. Afore : ERE.
10. "Being and Nothingness" philosopher : SARTRE. Jean Paul.
12. Fragrant bloom : LILAC. I have both white and purple ones on my property.
13. Fictional falcon seeker : SPADE. Sam Spade, "The Maltese Falcon."
18. Relaxed pace : TROT. Unless you are trying to find the W.C.
23. Left the runway : ROSE.
24. Apollo lander, briefly : LEM. Lunar Excursion Module.
26. General Bradley : OMAR. One of the very few five star generals in U.S. history.
27. AT and PS/2 computers : IBMS.
28. Nestlé __ : QUIK.
30. Complain : GRIPE.
32. "Be right with you" : ONE MOMENT. I had to check perps before deciding between "minute" or MOMENT.
34. "Ah! Say no more" : I SEE.
35. Poet Sandburg : CARL. One of my favorites is this poem:
Fog
The fog comes
on little cat feet.
It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.
38. Like New Mexico's climate, largely : ARID.
39. "Darned if I know!" : YOU GOT ME.
42. Style : MODE.
45. Cool-cucumber link : AS A.
47. Poultry magnate John et al. : TYSONS.
48. Alpine capital : BERN. Béarnaise sauce is also sometimes spelled "Bernaise," leading people to believe that it originated in Bern, Switzerland. But there is no truth to that. Béarnaise is strictly of French origin.
49. Must : HAS TO.
50. Yellowish pigment : OCHER. RGB 204.119.34
51. Highland Games participants : SCOTS.
54. "A Death in the Family" author : AGEE. Such a vowel-friendly name.
55. Agreement : PACT.
56. Wealthy, in Juárez : RICO.
57. Ben Gurion airline : EL AL.
I totally missed these last two clechos, because I had filled them in with the across answers:
60. King at Versailles : ROI.
and
61. King in old Rome : REX.
Tag, you're it!
Marti
39. "Darned if I know!" : YOU GOT ME.
42. Style : MODE.
45. Cool-cucumber link : AS A.
47. Poultry magnate John et al. : TYSONS.
48. Alpine capital : BERN. Béarnaise sauce is also sometimes spelled "Bernaise," leading people to believe that it originated in Bern, Switzerland. But there is no truth to that. Béarnaise is strictly of French origin.
49. Must : HAS TO.
50. Yellowish pigment : OCHER. RGB 204.119.34
51. Highland Games participants : SCOTS.
54. "A Death in the Family" author : AGEE. Such a vowel-friendly name.
55. Agreement : PACT.
56. Wealthy, in Juárez : RICO.
57. Ben Gurion airline : EL AL.
I totally missed these last two clechos, because I had filled them in with the across answers:
60. King at Versailles : ROI.
and
61. King in old Rome : REX.
Tag, you're it!
Marti
Aug 26, 2014
Tuesday, August 26, 2014 Robert E. Lee Morris
Theme: Letter Combo - Today's puzzle brought to you by the letters A and C.
35A. Summer coolers, briefly, and a hint to this puzzle's six longest answers : AC UNITS
17A. Church area for enthusiastic responses : AMEN CORNER
21A. Painting course : ART CLASS
53A. Morning warning provider : ALARM CLOCK
3D. One often precedes it : AREA CODE
36D. Military uniform jacket : ARMY COAT. Surplus favorite.
Argyle here. This is Robert's third puzzle so far this year. An easy puzzle in a complicated grid. Five sections with little connections and yet the themes interlock while the cheese, I mean unifier, stands alone.
Across:
1. Ancient calculators : ABACI
6. Off-ramp : EXIT
10. Makes a quick getaway : LAMS. Lam can be a verb or a noun.
14. Low-ranking noble : BARON
15. Move to another town, for short : RELO
16. Sheltered, at sea : ALEE
19. Bolivia neighbor : PERU
20. Open just a crack : AJAR
23. Point a finger at : ACCUSE
25. Clears a whiteboard : ERASES
26. English sculptor Henry : MOORE. “Man Enters the Cosmos”
27. Clairvoyant's claim : ESP. (extrasensory perception) 60A. Clairvoyant : SEER
30. 1-Down member: Abbr. : ATTY. (attorney)
31. Pie à la __ : MODE
32. SeaWorld tanks : AQUARIA. Plural.
34. Bullring bravo : "¡OLÉ!"
36. TV spots : ADS
39. Odd : STRANGE
40. Dagger in "Macbeth," e.g. : PROP. As in a stage production of the play.
41. Negotiator's goal : PACT. Had DEAL first.
43. Whopper : LIE
44. St. Petersburg neighbor : TAMPA. FLA., not RUS.
45. Local dialect : PATOIS. From French, as you might expect.
47. "Let's wait" : "NOT YET"
51. Cartel acronym : OPEC. (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries)
52. Excess : GLUT
57. German "a" : EINE
58. Actor Grant : CARY
59. San Antonio shrine : ALAMO
61. Banjo spot : KNEE So 40D. 61-Across bone : PATELLA. (knee cap)
62. Brit's bye-byes : "TA TA"s
Down:
1. Law gp. : ABA. (American Bar Association)
2. Emeril interjection : "BAM!"
4. Pull out of thin air, seemingly, with "up" : CONJURE
5. Words before "of emergency" : IN CASE
6. Goof : ERR
7. TV warrior princess : XENA
8. Robert who played a Soprano : ILER
9. Flourless cake : TORTE
10. Argentina's Río de __: River of Silver : LA PLATA
11. Yankees' div. : AL EAST
12. River to Liverpool Bay : MERSEY. Not a lip sync!
13. "Hop on Pop" author : SEUSS
18. Bauxite, e.g. : ORE
22. Award-winning detective fiction writer Robert : CRAIS. Crais began his career writing scripts for television shows such as Hill Street Blues, Cagney & Lacey, Quincy, Miami Vice and L.A. Law. - Wikipedia
23. Bullets and such : AMMO
24. Poised under pressure : COOL
27. Up (to), as a task : EQUAL
28. Branch of Islam : SUNNI
29. Baseball Hall of Famer Satchel : PAIGE
32. Unlike this ans. : ACR. (not down, across)
33. Hwy. : RTE.
35. Room accessed via ladder, maybe : ATTIC
37. Knucklehead : DOPE
38. Squabble : SPAT
39. Vespa, for one : SCOOTER
41. Talking parrot in a 1998 film : PAULIE. I did not watch it.
42. Bring into harmony : ATTUNE
44. '60s cartoon feline : TOP CAT. I did watch it.
45. Book parts : PAGES. So simple it's hard.
46. Hanging loosely : SLACK
47. Name, in Paris : NOM. As in NOM de plume.
49. Mongolia's __ Bator : ULAN. Population: 1.132 million (2010)
50. Like Hubbard's cupboard : BARE
54. Kind of whiskey or bread : RYE. A toast for Tinbeni.
55. Nashville awards org. : CMA. (Country Music Association)
56. Fight enders, briefly : KOs...and I'm down for the count.
Argyle
Note from C.C.:
Happy Birthday to Montana! Below is a picture of her birthday gathering in July. She said:
"...Mid-July was more convenient than August for work schedules. My CT son rented a 10 bedroom condo in Vail, CO and invited all his siblings to come with their families. We had never all been at the same place at the same time before. It was a wonderful gift to me!..."
Please click here for more pictures. Montana had to have furnace on the past few days. Are you still planning your autumn visit to Dudley area?
My 5 children celebrated my 2014 birthday in Vail, CO
Jul 16, 2014
Wednesday, July 16, 2014 Robert E. Lee Morris
Theme: An ordinary, unexceptional, prosaic, standard-issue, run of the mill Wednesday at The Corner. The first word of today's theme entries can be combined with the unifier word GARDEN to present a VARIETY of in-the-language pairings. Often with this kind of theme the generated phrase is original, clever and humorous. Today, true to the spirit of the theme, the resulting phrases are of the GARDEN VARIETY.
The unifier first. 36 A. Commonplace, and what the start of 17-, 24-, 51- or 60-Across is : GARDEN VARIETY. The first recorded use in a figurative sense is from 1928. The evident reference is to something that might be found in anyone's home garden, hence, not special, unique nor exotic. The meaning has expanded a bit to imply mediocrity.
17. Green Day's "American Idiot," e.g. : ROCK OPERA. Released 10 years ago. A sample follows, if you're into that sort of thing. A ROCK GARDEN, cleverly enough, is an an area landscaped with ROCKs and plants suited to that environment.
24. NASCAR winner's celebration : VICTORY LAP. One turn around the track at low speed to allow the winner to bask in the adulation of her/his adoring fans. VICTORY GARDENs were vegetable and herb gardens planted at private residences or public parks in the U.S. and several other countries during WW II. They took considerable pressure off of the public food supply and contributed to morale on the home front.
51. 1995 Stephen King novel : ROSE MADDER. Story about abuse, with the main character ROSE Daniels, in which the pigment ROSE MADDER plays a peripheral role. There are many ROSE GARDENs. One of the famous ones borders the Oval Office and West Wing of the White House. It was established in 1913 by First Lady Ellen Loise Axson Wilson.
60. Spare tire : BEER BELLY. Two slang expressions denoting excess in the midriff region, aka Dunlop's Disease, 'cuz when you sits down, yer belly done lops over yer belt. A BEER GARDEN is an outdoor area, usually associated with a pub or restaurant where beer and food are served. The history is quite interesting.
This clever theme presents us with four quite different VARIETIES of GARDENS. Mediocre? I think not.
Hi, gang, it's JzB your humble GARDEN VARIETY trombonist. Let's see what else Robert has planted for us.
Across
1. Place to wipe your boots : MAT. On the floor by the door.
4. Vice squad strategies : RAIDS.
9. "Darn!" : SHOOT. I'm guessing this is a not-quite-sound-alike substitute for a less polite word.
14. Sister of Zsa Zsa : EVA. The third sib is Magda.
15. Flynn of film : ERROL. Famous buckler of swashes in Captain Blood, The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Sea Hawk and many more.
16. Main artery : AORTA. Literally, the main artery of the blood stream.
19. Govt.-backed bond : T-NOTE. T is for Treasury. These notes are issued in terms of 2, 3, 5, 7 and 10 years.
20. Secretary of the Interior under FDR : ICKES. Harold L., progressive Republican deeply involved in Chicago politics, who was recruited by FDR to appeal to middle-of-the-road [Garden Variety?] voters. No politics at The Corner, but you can read about him here.
21. Navel type : INNIE. There are two varieties. Check them out [or in] here.
23. Commuting start? : TELE. Telecommuting. Working from home via an electronic device.
29. First-class : STELLAR. The best - probably because this word in its literal sense refers to stars, and they are brilliant.
31. Sales incentive : REBATE. Money back from the seller can be STELLAR.
32. Send to the statehouse : ELECT. In this case, as the governor.
35. "¿Cómo __?" : ESTA. How are you, amigo? Lots of Spanish today.
41. Shade of green : JADE. Green-blue hue named for a gem stone.
42. German steel city : ESSEN. This western German city dates from the 9th century. For the last 400 years it has been associated with the Krupp steel company.
43. __ energy : ATOMIC. Kinetic, potential, chemical, mechanical, magnetic, thermal -- the list goes on.
46. Sleeveless shirt : TANK TOP. Here's one in JADE green.
54. Prefix with space : AERO. A refreshingly honest prefix clue referring to efforts in science, engineering and business to fly in the atmosphere of Earth (aeronautics) and surrounding space (astronautics). [Wikipedia]
55. English Channel port : DOVER. In a region famous for it's white cliffs, as in this WW II era song.
56. Fashionista Mary-Kate : OLSEN. I guess M-K and her twin sis Ashley have become celebrities, which one wag defined as people well-known for being famous.
57. Bolt on a track : USAIN. Love this clue. Bolt means [among other things] to move fast, and Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt certainly does that.
63. Red Sea peninsula : SINAI. A region of Egypt between the Red Sea to the south and the Mediterranean to the north. To the East, it borders Israel. It is mostly separated from the rest of Egypt by the Gulf of Suez.
64. Pi, for one : RATIO. Specifically, the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter.
65. Tempe sch. : ASU. Arizona State University.
66. Prop for a clown : STILT. Nice double meaning. Looks harmless.
67. Hacienda brick : ADOBE. Straw reinforced bricks of clay or mud, dried in the sun.
68. Fall mo. : SEPtember.
Down
1. Inherent rights and wrongs, as of a case : MERITS. Perhaps our legal beagles can elaborate.
2. Long-legged shore bird : AVOCET. This had me so stumped for a while, that I doubted the perp EVA. Finally had to go googling.
3. Take on, as a challenge : TACKLE.
4. Vintage cars : REOS. It seems that Ransom Eli Olds enjoyed naming cars after himself. I don't think he has anything to do with this, though.
5. Dadaism founder : ARP. Jean or Hans, depending on his audience, a French-German sculptor, painter, poet, and abstract artist. Dada [a word of uncertain origin] rejected reason and logic, prizing nonsense, irrationality and intuition.
6. Rage : IRE. Anger.
7. Greek architectural style : DORIC. The plainest of the three classic support column styles.
8. Viewpoint : SLANT. Everybody has one.
9. "The Colbert Report" stock-in-trade : SATIRE. Political.
10. Winged stinger : HONEY BEE.
11. Gold, in Guadalajara : ORO. Spanish gold.
12. Polo Grounds hero Mel : OTT. Most famous crossword baseball player.
13. __ Bo : TAE. a total body fitness system that incorporates Martial Arts techniques. This phrase is both a portmanteau and a backronym. I am not making this up.
18. Ship stabilizer : KEEL. Either the backbone of a ship or a vertical projection from the bottom of a boat. It lowers the center of gravity to help keep the vessel upright, and also aids forward motion by resisting side-slipping.
22. "... a borrower __ a lender ...": "Hamlet" : NOR. I thought it came from Ben Franklin. Live and learn.
24. Low-lying land : VALE.
25. "Me, Myself & __": Jim Carrey film : IRENE. I wanted EILENE. That's my mom. IRENE is her twin sister.
26. In the cellar, sportswise : LAST. Surprisingly, where the Red Sox are at the moment.
27. ABA member : ATTY. American Bar Association and ATTorneY.
28. Pot pie veggie : PEA. I like them, but not everybody does.
30. Was in front : LED. Like the K. C. Royals did briefly in mid-June.
33. Rite Aid rival : CVS. Drug stores
34. Sample : TASTE. Is it in good taste to taste a TASTE?
36. Chihuahua cat : GATO. Mas Español.
37. Ruckuses : ADOS. Not often seen in the plural.
38. Like some skill-building classes : REMEDIAL. These classes are intended to correct a deficiency.
39. __ admiral : REAR. The lowest of the admiral ranks.
40. Bed-and-breakfast, e.g. : INN. Establishment offering food and lodgings.
41. Moonshine container : JAR. I had JUG at first.
44. "Consider the job done!" : I'M ON IT. As with this puzzle, but I'm not done yet.
45. Cleveland NBAer : CAValier.
47. Cabbagelike plant : KALE. A leafy green.
48. Electric cars named for a physicist : TESLAS.
49. Ultimatum words : OR ELSE. Sounds like a threat.
50. Fork over what's due : PONY UP. The meaning is clear. The origin - not so much.
52. Actress Winger : DEBRA. Her break-through role was in Urban Cowboy (1980.)
53. Profound fear : DREAD.
56. Clarinet cousin : OBOE. I don't think this is valid. Cylindrical vs conical bore is simply too great a difference in my mind, let alone single vs double reed. But you can check it out and draw your own conclusions.
57. Naval letters : USS. United States Ship. I just recently learned that SS means Steam Ship.
58. Grab a stool : SIT. In a bar or a barn?
59. "Give me __!": start of a Hoosier cheer : AN I. For Indiana. Why Hoosier? There's more here than I cared to read.
61. WWII arena : ETO. European Theater of Operations.
62. Tease : RIB. Another word uncertain origin, perhaps from something funny being rib-tickling.
Quite a nice puzzle, despite a couple nits, and fun to blog. Hope you all enjoyed it.
Cool regards!
JzB
The unifier first. 36 A. Commonplace, and what the start of 17-, 24-, 51- or 60-Across is : GARDEN VARIETY. The first recorded use in a figurative sense is from 1928. The evident reference is to something that might be found in anyone's home garden, hence, not special, unique nor exotic. The meaning has expanded a bit to imply mediocrity.
17. Green Day's "American Idiot," e.g. : ROCK OPERA. Released 10 years ago. A sample follows, if you're into that sort of thing. A ROCK GARDEN, cleverly enough, is an an area landscaped with ROCKs and plants suited to that environment.
24. NASCAR winner's celebration : VICTORY LAP. One turn around the track at low speed to allow the winner to bask in the adulation of her/his adoring fans. VICTORY GARDENs were vegetable and herb gardens planted at private residences or public parks in the U.S. and several other countries during WW II. They took considerable pressure off of the public food supply and contributed to morale on the home front.
51. 1995 Stephen King novel : ROSE MADDER. Story about abuse, with the main character ROSE Daniels, in which the pigment ROSE MADDER plays a peripheral role. There are many ROSE GARDENs. One of the famous ones borders the Oval Office and West Wing of the White House. It was established in 1913 by First Lady Ellen Loise Axson Wilson.
60. Spare tire : BEER BELLY. Two slang expressions denoting excess in the midriff region, aka Dunlop's Disease, 'cuz when you sits down, yer belly done lops over yer belt. A BEER GARDEN is an outdoor area, usually associated with a pub or restaurant where beer and food are served. The history is quite interesting.
This clever theme presents us with four quite different VARIETIES of GARDENS. Mediocre? I think not.
Hi, gang, it's JzB your humble GARDEN VARIETY trombonist. Let's see what else Robert has planted for us.
Across
1. Place to wipe your boots : MAT. On the floor by the door.
4. Vice squad strategies : RAIDS.
9. "Darn!" : SHOOT. I'm guessing this is a not-quite-sound-alike substitute for a less polite word.
14. Sister of Zsa Zsa : EVA. The third sib is Magda.
15. Flynn of film : ERROL. Famous buckler of swashes in Captain Blood, The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Sea Hawk and many more.
16. Main artery : AORTA. Literally, the main artery of the blood stream.
19. Govt.-backed bond : T-NOTE. T is for Treasury. These notes are issued in terms of 2, 3, 5, 7 and 10 years.
20. Secretary of the Interior under FDR : ICKES. Harold L., progressive Republican deeply involved in Chicago politics, who was recruited by FDR to appeal to middle-of-the-road [Garden Variety?] voters. No politics at The Corner, but you can read about him here.
21. Navel type : INNIE. There are two varieties. Check them out [or in] here.
23. Commuting start? : TELE. Telecommuting. Working from home via an electronic device.
29. First-class : STELLAR. The best - probably because this word in its literal sense refers to stars, and they are brilliant.
31. Sales incentive : REBATE. Money back from the seller can be STELLAR.
32. Send to the statehouse : ELECT. In this case, as the governor.
35. "¿Cómo __?" : ESTA. How are you, amigo? Lots of Spanish today.
41. Shade of green : JADE. Green-blue hue named for a gem stone.
42. German steel city : ESSEN. This western German city dates from the 9th century. For the last 400 years it has been associated with the Krupp steel company.
43. __ energy : ATOMIC. Kinetic, potential, chemical, mechanical, magnetic, thermal -- the list goes on.
46. Sleeveless shirt : TANK TOP. Here's one in JADE green.
54. Prefix with space : AERO. A refreshingly honest prefix clue referring to efforts in science, engineering and business to fly in the atmosphere of Earth (aeronautics) and surrounding space (astronautics). [Wikipedia]
55. English Channel port : DOVER. In a region famous for it's white cliffs, as in this WW II era song.
56. Fashionista Mary-Kate : OLSEN. I guess M-K and her twin sis Ashley have become celebrities, which one wag defined as people well-known for being famous.
57. Bolt on a track : USAIN. Love this clue. Bolt means [among other things] to move fast, and Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt certainly does that.
63. Red Sea peninsula : SINAI. A region of Egypt between the Red Sea to the south and the Mediterranean to the north. To the East, it borders Israel. It is mostly separated from the rest of Egypt by the Gulf of Suez.
64. Pi, for one : RATIO. Specifically, the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter.
65. Tempe sch. : ASU. Arizona State University.
66. Prop for a clown : STILT. Nice double meaning. Looks harmless.
67. Hacienda brick : ADOBE. Straw reinforced bricks of clay or mud, dried in the sun.
68. Fall mo. : SEPtember.
Down
1. Inherent rights and wrongs, as of a case : MERITS. Perhaps our legal beagles can elaborate.
2. Long-legged shore bird : AVOCET. This had me so stumped for a while, that I doubted the perp EVA. Finally had to go googling.
3. Take on, as a challenge : TACKLE.
4. Vintage cars : REOS. It seems that Ransom Eli Olds enjoyed naming cars after himself. I don't think he has anything to do with this, though.
5. Dadaism founder : ARP. Jean or Hans, depending on his audience, a French-German sculptor, painter, poet, and abstract artist. Dada [a word of uncertain origin] rejected reason and logic, prizing nonsense, irrationality and intuition.
6. Rage : IRE. Anger.
7. Greek architectural style : DORIC. The plainest of the three classic support column styles.
8. Viewpoint : SLANT. Everybody has one.
9. "The Colbert Report" stock-in-trade : SATIRE. Political.
10. Winged stinger : HONEY BEE.
11. Gold, in Guadalajara : ORO. Spanish gold.
12. Polo Grounds hero Mel : OTT. Most famous crossword baseball player.
13. __ Bo : TAE. a total body fitness system that incorporates Martial Arts techniques. This phrase is both a portmanteau and a backronym. I am not making this up.
18. Ship stabilizer : KEEL. Either the backbone of a ship or a vertical projection from the bottom of a boat. It lowers the center of gravity to help keep the vessel upright, and also aids forward motion by resisting side-slipping.
22. "... a borrower __ a lender ...": "Hamlet" : NOR. I thought it came from Ben Franklin. Live and learn.
24. Low-lying land : VALE.
25. "Me, Myself & __": Jim Carrey film : IRENE. I wanted EILENE. That's my mom. IRENE is her twin sister.
26. In the cellar, sportswise : LAST. Surprisingly, where the Red Sox are at the moment.
27. ABA member : ATTY. American Bar Association and ATTorneY.
28. Pot pie veggie : PEA. I like them, but not everybody does.
30. Was in front : LED. Like the K. C. Royals did briefly in mid-June.
33. Rite Aid rival : CVS. Drug stores
34. Sample : TASTE. Is it in good taste to taste a TASTE?
36. Chihuahua cat : GATO. Mas Español.
37. Ruckuses : ADOS. Not often seen in the plural.
38. Like some skill-building classes : REMEDIAL. These classes are intended to correct a deficiency.
39. __ admiral : REAR. The lowest of the admiral ranks.
40. Bed-and-breakfast, e.g. : INN. Establishment offering food and lodgings.
41. Moonshine container : JAR. I had JUG at first.
44. "Consider the job done!" : I'M ON IT. As with this puzzle, but I'm not done yet.
45. Cleveland NBAer : CAValier.
47. Cabbagelike plant : KALE. A leafy green.
48. Electric cars named for a physicist : TESLAS.
49. Ultimatum words : OR ELSE. Sounds like a threat.
50. Fork over what's due : PONY UP. The meaning is clear. The origin - not so much.
52. Actress Winger : DEBRA. Her break-through role was in Urban Cowboy (1980.)
53. Profound fear : DREAD.
56. Clarinet cousin : OBOE. I don't think this is valid. Cylindrical vs conical bore is simply too great a difference in my mind, let alone single vs double reed. But you can check it out and draw your own conclusions.
57. Naval letters : USS. United States Ship. I just recently learned that SS means Steam Ship.
58. Grab a stool : SIT. In a bar or a barn?
59. "Give me __!": start of a Hoosier cheer : AN I. For Indiana. Why Hoosier? There's more here than I cared to read.
61. WWII arena : ETO. European Theater of Operations.
62. Tease : RIB. Another word uncertain origin, perhaps from something funny being rib-tickling.
Quite a nice puzzle, despite a couple nits, and fun to blog. Hope you all enjoyed it.
Cool regards!
JzB
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