Monday June 25, 2012 Geoffrey Lewis

Theme: An Exercise - XXXXL, four phrases hiding an XL in the middle. First, the unifier.

62A. Size whose letters are hidden in the answers to starred clues : EXTRA LARGE

Then two across and two down.

17A. *Magnifying glass, e.g. : CONVEX LENS

38A. *Benefit of an unsuccessful stock trade, at filing time : TAX LOSS

11D. *From the library of, in Latin : EX LIBRIS

37D. *Construction worker's meal : BOX LUNCH

Argyle here. A sizable exercise for a Monday but very doable. Geoffrey debut was back in February. This grid is more of a pinwheel layout; 10's and 8's w/ a 7 letter center.

Across:

1. Dr. Frankenstein's helper : IGOR. Let's go, indeed.

5. Use a loom : WEAVE

10. Diner handout : MENU

14. Factual : TRUE

15. Big name in kitchen foil : ALCOA

16. Wood choppers : AXES. George Washington did not have wood choppers.

19. Honorary law degs. : LLD's. Doctor of Laws.

20. Ad __ committee : HOC

21. Seamen's agreements : AYEs

22. Bigfoot cousin : YETI

24. Chris who won 18 Grand Slam singles titles : EVERT. Wow! Wooden rackets and no grunts.

26. Not a risky wager : SAFE BET

29. Absolute ruler : DESPOT

31. Parade percussion instrument : BASS DRUM. XL bass drum.

32. Art aficionado's hangout : MUSEUM

34. Filly's father : SIRE

35. Old CIA rival : KGB

41. Michael Douglas, to Kirk : SON. At a black tie affair, Image.

42. Winged archer : EROS

44. Dry red wine : CLARET

46. Cotton, wool, etc. : TEXTILES

49. The Okefenokee and others : SWAMPS. Geography lesson.

53. Popular painkiller : TYLENOL

54. African virus : EBOLA

55. Part of USC: Abbr. : UNIV. University of Southern California.

56. Liquidate : SELL

59. Put the cuffs on : NAB

60. Band of outlaws : GANG

65. Walk to and fro : PACE

66. Paper purchases : REAMS

67. Transfer from pitcher to glass : POUR

68. Humorist Mort : SAHL. Still going, web site.

69. Span. girls : SRTA's. (Señoritas)

70. Golfer's pocketful : TEEs

Down:

1. Made you scratch : ITCHED

2. Phonograph record feature : GROOVE. How many grooves on a record?

3. Pound segments : OUNCES

4. Test, as an engine : REV

5. Like fake fruit : WAXY

6. Glamour rival : ELLE. (magazines)

7. High cards : ACES

8. Otto __ Bismarck : VON. Wiki article.

9. Piece-of-cake school courses : EASY A's

10. Ice-creamy drinks : MALTEDS. Haven't had one in years; I'll take care of that today.

12. Homer's neighbor : NED

13. Navy ship letters : USS

18. Enjoy Red Lobster, say : EAT OUT

23. Abysmal grades : EFs. Is it better to drop a course and get an I(Incomplete) rather than an F?

25. Turning speed: Abbr. : RPM. (revolutions per minute)

26. South Pacific island nation : SAMOA

27. Continental coin : EURO

28. Feds under Ness : T-MEN

30. Airport safety org. : TSA. (transportation security administration)

31. Chicago cagers : BULLS

33. Perform at the top of one's game : EXCEL

35. Etta of old comics : KETT 36. Writer Zane : GREY 40. "Black Beauty" author Anna : SEWELL 43. Manager Casey : STENGEL. A string of old proper names.

39. Next yr.'s alums : SR's

45. Filing aid : TAB

47. Ristorante suffix : INI. Menu offerings ending in INI? Not that many, really.

48. Aficionados : LOVERS. Of an object, not each other.

50. President with a doctrine : MONROE. An attempt to keep the Old World out of the New World.

51. Bubonic __ : PLAGUE

52. Curved swords : SABERS

56. ER doc's "Right away!" : "STAT!"

57. Columnist Bombeck : ERMA

58. Girl : LASS

60. Loc.-finding tool : GPS. (global positioning system)

61. Little battery : AAA

63. Gen-__: boomer's kid, probably : Xer

64. Spot-on : APT

Answer grid.

Looking back over the puzzle now, it seems a little dated.

Argyle

Note from C.C.:

Today is Argyle's 300th LA Times write-up for us. Off the blog, he's my trusted sounding board for theme ideas and always gives me constructive feedback and advice on various issues. Thanks for being there, Santa!