Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 Ed Voile

Theme: Dollar and Cent

17A: Buck: DOLLAR BILL
61A: $ relative: CENT SYMBOL
11D: Highest price: TOP DOLLAR
35D: Guileless ones: INNOCENTS

I still have not finished the puzzle. Googling does not help.

Can not figure out what is 1A: Episodic TV show. Now I have ser_es. The clue of 4D does not help. Off one's feet:_ll. I initially put cola instead of soda, but corrected myself quickly after the doll bill clue. (Update: Thanks to a reader, now I got the 1A to be SERIES and 4D to be ILL. The clue for 4D is off one's feed, not feet).

I also have problem with 49A: Foolish old fogies. Now I have co_ts. The blue of 43D: Bossy's bellow: si_. I thought of Elsie the Cow, and his bellow is moo. (Update:The answer for 49A should be COOTS. And I was wrong earlier on 43D, it should be MOO.)

This puzzle has a sub theme of space agencies. We have 41A NASA & 5D ESA (European Space Agency clued as NASA's International Space Agency partner). We also have 41D European defense assn (NATO). I thought NATO also protects the interests of the US, though it's based in Brussels. David Petraeus will be a good commander for NATO. He has proved himself to be a very competent professional.

Congratulations to my husband, who bowled another 700 series last night. This is his 4th in 2008.

C. C.

Monday, Jan 21, 2008 Josiah Breward

Theme: Dry

17 A: Stranded: HIGH AND DRY
37A: Rehearsals: DRYRUNS
59 A: Fearless, in the house?: NOT A DRY EYE
11D: Ginger ale maker: CANADA DRY
33D: Sober refrain: HOWDRYIAM (never heard of this word before)

A bit tough for me to chew on a Monday.

6 Across: Cuddly George Lucas creature: EWOK. Never watched Star Wars. I did easily get EWO_ easily from down clues, and could not figure out the last letter.

9 Down: type of electron tube: KLYSTRON.

Comics John BYNER (34D: Comic John) and ROSEANNE (38D: Single-Name comic) made appearances also.

C. C.