(Note from C.C.: Today's post is blogged by Dr. Dad who is currently on a business trip. Barry Silk's themeless puzzle was published in LA Times on Saturday Feb 21, 2009.)
Hello! My name is Dr. Dad. I found C.C.'s Star Tribune Crossword Corner by accident a while ago when solving the Trib puzzle published in the Providence Journal (RI). I have had a great time on her site and she graciously asked me to guest blog and, therefore - today I am guest blogging for the Star Tribune Crossword Corner. She does an excellent job with analyzing crosswords and has numerous visitors. I hope I do her justice with Barry Silk's themeless puzzle of February 21st.
There seems to be a hint of a "theme" in this puzzle - 12D: Action Hero. Many times the heroes of action films can be seen wearing Jump Suits (35D) and Life Jackets (1A) with numerous Sweat Stains (57A). They need a lot of Horse Sense (14D), especially when Standing Guard (13D). Not my best effort at figuring out themes, but ---
Enough of that. Off to the puzzle (70 words).
Across:
11A: Bills: CASH. My cash is dwindling in this troubled economy.
15A: It's 42 miles NNW of Bar Harbor: ORONO, MAINE. I was surprised that the answer contained the state as well. The University of Maine is located here and Orono is a frequent answer in Xwords.
16A: Pi opening?: OCTO. Nice trick. I looked for other Greek letters. Ugly looking but they taste delicious. I first ate them when I visited China.
17A: Warning sign: DO NOT ENTER.
18A: Sky light: STAR.
19A: _____' acte: ENTR. French for "between the acts." It can refer to an intermission but more often refers to a piece of music performed between acts of a theatrical production. It is also a 1924 film.
20A: Short change?: CTS. Goes hand in hand with my "11A cash" that is also getting short.
21A: Morning prayers: MATINS. The early morning or night prayer service in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Eastern Orthodox liturgies.
23A: Liberally "strong" in Hawaiian: MAHI. Mahi Mahi is "strong strong" for dolphin fish. This Mahi Mahi with Ginger Soy Sauce looks delicious.
25A: 1963 system based on a 1944 Robert Moon proposal: ZIP CODE. I wonder if Mr. Moon prepared for the nine-digit system or only the five-digit one.
26A: Like jambalaya: CREOLE. Creole is not the same as Cajun.
29A: Billboard listings: HIT SONGS.
30A: Energize: REV UP. Plenty of revving up a couple of Sundays ago at this place.
31A: Soprano Fleming: RENEE. Not familiar with this person. My favorite is Ian.
32A: Old TV knob: HUE. Does anyone still own a TV with knobs?
33A: Latin 101 verb: AMAS
34A: Dermatology issues: SORES. What about acne?
35A: Psychologist Piaget: JEAN. Well known (but not to me) for his work studying children and their cognitive development.
36A: Adverb ending: IAL
37A: Runs through: STABS
38A: Doesn't knock?: PURRS. Most of the engines at Daytona were "purring."
39A: Some tennis players: GRUNTERS. At 101 decibels, Wimbledon's defending champion Maria Sharapova is judged the loudest grunter so far.
41A: No longer très chic: DEMODE. Très chic is from French "very smart". Démodé is French, past participle of démoder, to outmode.
42A: Christmas village display figures: SKATERS. I still think she was one of the best.
43A: One for the books?: PERP. Help! I don't understand this one. All I know is perpendicular for Xwords. And the perp helped me to get this answer.
44A: Not on time for: LATE TO
45A: Military rank: MAJ. Major.
46A: Where T. Rex Sue was found: SDAK. South Dakota. You can see her at the Field Museum.
50A: Sacred bird of old Egypt: IBIS
51A: Not enough: INADEQUATE. Like my cash and short change and if you have enough you can give it to:
54A: Bandit one hopefully gives money to?: SLOT. And then your CPA can be concerned with:
55A: DEDUCTIBLE(s)
56A: Knockouts, so to speak: TENS. Kind of in keeping with the short change and bills. Not enough to go around.
Down:
1D: Valuable deposit: LODE. Wish I'd find one to help my short change, cash, and tens.
2D: Word with hand or horse: IRON. Fits well with "Horse Sense" in this puzzle.
3D: Newspaper option: FONT.
4D: Titanic: ENORMOUS. And SHE was. Loved the movie.
5D: Scribble: JOT
6D: "Cocoon" Oscar Winner: AMECHE. I am glad that Heath Ledger got the posthumous award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
7D: "C'mon . . . please?": CAN'T I?
8D: Hobbyists' buys: KITS
9D: Storm hdg: ENE. Much better than "opposite of "WSW."
10D: Home wreckers: TERMITES. I thought of "Exes" but then again, I have had termites and they truly are home wreckers.
11D: BJ's competitor: COSTCO. Another competitor is Sam's Club (used to be PACE).
22D: Sanctuary section: APSE. A crossword staple, along with NAVE.
24D: Matterhorn, e.g.: ALP. Here is another famous Alp - the Eiger (Clint Eastwood fans might remember "The Eiger Sanction.").
25D: Popular issues: ZINES. (pronounced 'zene') - An abbreviation of the word fanzine, or magazine. It is most commonly a small circulation, non-commercial publication of original or appropriated texts and images.
26D: Alternative to newspaper classifieds: CRAIG'S LIST. This is indeed becoming popular as the alternative.
27D: Noteworthy: REMARKABLE. Describes nicely the tribute Barry Silk gave C.C. and her site with his "Star Tribune Crossword Puzzle" from last week. Thanks, Barry.
28D: Critique: EVALUATION
29D: Tea flavorings: HERBS
31D: Comedy club sounds: ROARS
34D" Subject of the 2007 Mitchell Report: STEROIDS. 'Nuff' said on this subject.
37D: Proof instruction: STET. Another Xword staple.
38D: By way of: PER. This helped me get "perp" for 43A which I still don't understand.
40D: Powerful experiments: NTESTS. The chemist in me kept thinking laboratory. Here is one of the most powerful N Tests. I am glad we stopped these and hope no one else wants to start.
41D: Bring down: DEJECT
43D: "The Taming of the Shrew" setting: PADUA. Here is the the map.
45D: Good way to have it: MADE. Don't we all wish that?
47D: "The Aba ___ Honeymoon": DABA. I was glad it was 'daba' because all I could think of was Fred Flintstone and 'Yabba Dabba Doo!"
48D: Mythical Hun King: ATLI. This has become a staple in recent Xwords.
49D: Insightful: KEEN
52D: Just out: NEW. As am I on this crossword blogging. I hope I've done okay.
53D: Dairy units: Abbr.: QTS.
Thank you, C.C. for asking me to do this. It was fun and I hope you and all visitors like my "Critique = Evaluation (28D)".
Dr. Dad
Hello! My name is Dr. Dad. I found C.C.'s Star Tribune Crossword Corner by accident a while ago when solving the Trib puzzle published in the Providence Journal (RI). I have had a great time on her site and she graciously asked me to guest blog and, therefore - today I am guest blogging for the Star Tribune Crossword Corner. She does an excellent job with analyzing crosswords and has numerous visitors. I hope I do her justice with Barry Silk's themeless puzzle of February 21st.
There seems to be a hint of a "theme" in this puzzle - 12D: Action Hero. Many times the heroes of action films can be seen wearing Jump Suits (35D) and Life Jackets (1A) with numerous Sweat Stains (57A). They need a lot of Horse Sense (14D), especially when Standing Guard (13D). Not my best effort at figuring out themes, but ---
Enough of that. Off to the puzzle (70 words).
Across:
11A: Bills: CASH. My cash is dwindling in this troubled economy.
15A: It's 42 miles NNW of Bar Harbor: ORONO, MAINE. I was surprised that the answer contained the state as well. The University of Maine is located here and Orono is a frequent answer in Xwords.
16A: Pi opening?: OCTO. Nice trick. I looked for other Greek letters. Ugly looking but they taste delicious. I first ate them when I visited China.
17A: Warning sign: DO NOT ENTER.
18A: Sky light: STAR.
19A: _____' acte: ENTR. French for "between the acts." It can refer to an intermission but more often refers to a piece of music performed between acts of a theatrical production. It is also a 1924 film.
20A: Short change?: CTS. Goes hand in hand with my "11A cash" that is also getting short.
21A: Morning prayers: MATINS. The early morning or night prayer service in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Eastern Orthodox liturgies.
23A: Liberally "strong" in Hawaiian: MAHI. Mahi Mahi is "strong strong" for dolphin fish. This Mahi Mahi with Ginger Soy Sauce looks delicious.
25A: 1963 system based on a 1944 Robert Moon proposal: ZIP CODE. I wonder if Mr. Moon prepared for the nine-digit system or only the five-digit one.
26A: Like jambalaya: CREOLE. Creole is not the same as Cajun.
29A: Billboard listings: HIT SONGS.
30A: Energize: REV UP. Plenty of revving up a couple of Sundays ago at this place.
31A: Soprano Fleming: RENEE. Not familiar with this person. My favorite is Ian.
32A: Old TV knob: HUE. Does anyone still own a TV with knobs?
33A: Latin 101 verb: AMAS
34A: Dermatology issues: SORES. What about acne?
35A: Psychologist Piaget: JEAN. Well known (but not to me) for his work studying children and their cognitive development.
36A: Adverb ending: IAL
37A: Runs through: STABS
38A: Doesn't knock?: PURRS. Most of the engines at Daytona were "purring."
39A: Some tennis players: GRUNTERS. At 101 decibels, Wimbledon's defending champion Maria Sharapova is judged the loudest grunter so far.
41A: No longer très chic: DEMODE. Très chic is from French "very smart". Démodé is French, past participle of démoder, to outmode.
42A: Christmas village display figures: SKATERS. I still think she was one of the best.
43A: One for the books?: PERP. Help! I don't understand this one. All I know is perpendicular for Xwords. And the perp helped me to get this answer.
44A: Not on time for: LATE TO
45A: Military rank: MAJ. Major.
46A: Where T. Rex Sue was found: SDAK. South Dakota. You can see her at the Field Museum.
50A: Sacred bird of old Egypt: IBIS
51A: Not enough: INADEQUATE. Like my cash and short change and if you have enough you can give it to:
54A: Bandit one hopefully gives money to?: SLOT. And then your CPA can be concerned with:
55A: DEDUCTIBLE(s)
56A: Knockouts, so to speak: TENS. Kind of in keeping with the short change and bills. Not enough to go around.
Down:
1D: Valuable deposit: LODE. Wish I'd find one to help my short change, cash, and tens.
2D: Word with hand or horse: IRON. Fits well with "Horse Sense" in this puzzle.
3D: Newspaper option: FONT.
4D: Titanic: ENORMOUS. And SHE was. Loved the movie.
5D: Scribble: JOT
6D: "Cocoon" Oscar Winner: AMECHE. I am glad that Heath Ledger got the posthumous award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
7D: "C'mon . . . please?": CAN'T I?
8D: Hobbyists' buys: KITS
9D: Storm hdg: ENE. Much better than "opposite of "WSW."
10D: Home wreckers: TERMITES. I thought of "Exes" but then again, I have had termites and they truly are home wreckers.
11D: BJ's competitor: COSTCO. Another competitor is Sam's Club (used to be PACE).
22D: Sanctuary section: APSE. A crossword staple, along with NAVE.
24D: Matterhorn, e.g.: ALP. Here is another famous Alp - the Eiger (Clint Eastwood fans might remember "The Eiger Sanction.").
25D: Popular issues: ZINES. (pronounced 'zene') - An abbreviation of the word fanzine, or magazine. It is most commonly a small circulation, non-commercial publication of original or appropriated texts and images.
26D: Alternative to newspaper classifieds: CRAIG'S LIST. This is indeed becoming popular as the alternative.
27D: Noteworthy: REMARKABLE. Describes nicely the tribute Barry Silk gave C.C. and her site with his "Star Tribune Crossword Puzzle" from last week. Thanks, Barry.
28D: Critique: EVALUATION
29D: Tea flavorings: HERBS
31D: Comedy club sounds: ROARS
34D" Subject of the 2007 Mitchell Report: STEROIDS. 'Nuff' said on this subject.
37D: Proof instruction: STET. Another Xword staple.
38D: By way of: PER. This helped me get "perp" for 43A which I still don't understand.
40D: Powerful experiments: NTESTS. The chemist in me kept thinking laboratory. Here is one of the most powerful N Tests. I am glad we stopped these and hope no one else wants to start.
41D: Bring down: DEJECT
43D: "The Taming of the Shrew" setting: PADUA. Here is the the map.
45D: Good way to have it: MADE. Don't we all wish that?
47D: "The Aba ___ Honeymoon": DABA. I was glad it was 'daba' because all I could think of was Fred Flintstone and 'Yabba Dabba Doo!"
48D: Mythical Hun King: ATLI. This has become a staple in recent Xwords.
49D: Insightful: KEEN
52D: Just out: NEW. As am I on this crossword blogging. I hope I've done okay.
53D: Dairy units: Abbr.: QTS.
Thank you, C.C. for asking me to do this. It was fun and I hope you and all visitors like my "Critique = Evaluation (28D)".
Dr. Dad
