google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner

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Jan 4, 2010

Monday January 4, 2010 Gail Grabowski

Theme: "There Oughta be a __"

17A: *Sound and practical judgment: COMMON SENSE.

36A: *Cops' sickout: BLUE FLU.

58A: *Karate and aikido: MARTIAL ARTS.

11D: *Iced tea garnish: LEMON PEEL.

31D: *Analytical write-up: CASE STUDY.

And tying them all together: 59D: A kind of it begins the answers to starred clues: LAW. Quite a heavy theme for a Monday. The puzzle theme concept is quite similar to Jack McInturff's "Rule" puzzle we had last March.

Argyle here. "COMMON SENSE" is on Jazzbumpa's required reading list. COMMON LAW is the system of laws originated and developed in England and based on court decisions, on the doctrines implicit in those decisions, and on customs and usages rather than on codified written laws.

"BLUE FLU", so called from the officers' blue uniforms. Called the Taylor Law in NY, many police departments are prohibited from going on strike, so they call in sick en masse. BLUE LAWS are statutes regulating work, commerce, and amusements on Sundays. According to Snopes article they were not related to the color blue.

"MARTIAL ARTS" encompass fighting without the use of weapons. MARTIAL LAW is enforced by a military force(and they will use weapons.)

"LEMON PEEL" A bit inaccuracy there; all the pictures of iced tea show a lemon slice. If you want a peel, get a mixed drink. LEMON LAWS force a dealer to take back a car if it proves to be defective.

"CASE STUDY" Pretty much what the clue said. CASE LAW is law established by judicial decisions. Often CASE LAW citings are interpretations of a law not covered by statue.

Phew! Time for a musical interlude. 1A: Bluegrass instrument: BANJO "Fireball Mail"

Across:

6A: Tearoom biscuit: SCONE.

14A: WWII threat: U-BOAT.

16A: Outback sprinter: EMU. Average cruising speed is around 45 kph.

19A: Trio in a nursery rhyme tub: MEN. And who do you think they be? The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker.

21A: Honshu metropolis: OSAKA. Osaka is on the island of Honshu. (Japan)

22A: Half-baked twice?: DONE. but baking 46D: It might be half-baked: IDEA. twice won't make it better.

23A: 1970s Mary Tyler Moore costar: ED ASNER. Full name in both clue and answer.

25A: E-mails: SENDS.

26A: Pigeon patter: COOS. and 61A: Clay pigeon sport: SKEET.

27A: Ready in the keg: ON TAP.

32A: Food preparers' headgear: HAIR NETS. Plural prepairers.

35A: Letters before a 15-Across: AKA. (Also Known As).

40A: Quit worrying: REST EASY.

42A: Barely passing grade: D-PLUS.

45A: Place to fish from: PIER.

47A: Fiery felony: ARSON. This is an easy Monday clue.

49A: Like some lettuce: RED LEAF.

53A: Present, as one's case: STATE. A law tie-in?

55A: Pirates roam them: SEAS. They were lawless.

60A: One on foot, in signs: PED.

65A: Garden intruders: WEEDS.

Down:

1D: Tampa NFLers: BUCS Football.

2D: Dry as __: A BONE.

4D: Crowd to capacity: JAMPACK.

5D: Nebraska native: OTO. Also, Otoe.

8D: Sound like a pig: OINK.

12D: Modify: AMEND.

13D: Mojave hills: DUNES. Mojave desert.

18D: Verboten act: NO-NO.

22D: University VIP: DEAN.

24D: Protein-rich legume: SOY BEAN.

25D: German dessert: STRUDEL.

29D: It’s two more than an eagle: PAR. Golf.

30D: 1950s White House nickname: IKE. Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower, our 34th President.

32D: "You, over there!": "HEY!".

33D: Capote, familiarly: TRU.

38D: Purpose: USE.

41D: Homer chronicled its destruction: TROY.

43D: Event for special customers: PRESALE.

48D: More boorish: RUDER.

49D: Lenders' charges: RATES.

50D: Lofty lair: AERIE.

54D: Peach or beech: TREE. Good rhyme.

58D: Flavor-enhancing additive: MSG. Monosodium glutamate.

Answer grid,

Argyle