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

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Feb 8, 2011

Tuesday, February 8, 2011 John Lampkin

Theme: Last, but not Least - The end of four theme entries(see 39A for #) are synonyms for the unifier, 39-Across.

17A. Side-to-side skid: FISHTAIL. Unfortunately, tail isn't a separate word.

24A. Have no place to go but up: HIT ROCK BOTTOM. Too many celebs seem to just keep bouncing on that rock bottom.

39A. Pistol handle, and what 17-, 24-, 50- and 62-Across each have: BUTT END

50A. Bus driver's request: "STEP TO THE REAR"

62A. Idler at the shore: BEACH BUM. The other three I understand but how did BUM become a synonym our backside?

Argyle here. This seems a good fit for a Tuesday. I'm not feeling too sharp, so feel free to pick up the slack. But please, not too DF.

Across:

1. Unconscious state : COMA

5. Big Apple line : MAC. Steve Jobs' creation.

8. Buster who played Flash Gordon : CRABBE. Actor Buster Crabbe starred as Tarzan before moving on to such roles as Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers, plus numerous westerns, from the 1930s. He was a swimmer and won medals in two Olympic Games: 1928 and 1932. Like a Louis L'Amour hero, broad at the shoulders and narrow at the hips.
Image.

14. Rat-__ : A-TAT

15. Texter's "I think ..." : IMO. "In My Opinion ..."

16. Cosmetics giant founded in 1932 : REVLON (Clecho) 20A. Cosmetics giant Lauder : ESTÉE

19. Top-priority : URGENT

21. Doodad : GISMO. Thingamajig

23. In the past : AGO

27. Old man's domain, in a Hemingway work : THE SEA. A real fish tale.
Image.

29. "¿Cómo __ usted?" : ESTÁ. Spanish.

30. With perfection : TO A T

31. Bite like a rat : GNAW

34. Get all A's : EXCEL

38. From the past : OLD

41. Gentle-lamb connector : AS A

42. Wallpaper goo : PASTE

44. To be, in Bordeaux : ÊTRE. French.

45. FBI guy : G-MAN

46. Mtn. stats : ALTs.. Mountain altitudes.

48. Virgil epic : AENEID. A epic poem written by Virgil, in Latin, in the late 1st century BC.

55. Point, as a pistol : AIM

56. Disinfectant brand : LYSOL

57. Port near Kobe : OSAKA. Japan.

60. Ex-Soviet leader Brezhnev : LEONID. Russia.

64. Nonsupporter's political sign words : VOTE NO (Clecho) 54D. Supporter's political sign word : ELECT

65. U.N. Day mo. : OCT.. United Nations Day on the 24th of October.

66. Wild West's Wyatt : EARP

67. Monopod feature : ONE LEG

68. Mo. town : ST. L.. St. Louis, Missouri.

69. Some NCOs : SGTs.

Down:

1. Hard Rock __ : CAFE

2. Bluesman Redding : OTIS

3. Newspapers' staff lists : MASTHEADs

4. Nonbeliever : ATHEIST

5. Athletes for Hope co-founder Hamm : MIA. Athletes for Hope is a nonprofit organization that works to educate professional athletes about philanthropy, connect them with charitable causes, recognize these efforts and inspire others to get involved in the community. (Wikipedia)

6. Chum in Chihuahua : AMIGO and 28D. Chihuahua greeting : HOLA and 47D. Chihuahua, e.g. : TOYDOG. Triple clecho!

7. What drives a baby buggy? : COLIC

8. Cookie jar morsels : CRUMBS

9. Transplanted successfully : REROOTED

10. Batting no. : AVG.

11. Lamb's greeting : BLEAT

12. Salsa drum : BONGO

13. Bug sci. : ENTOM. Entomology.

18. Head, to Henri : TETE. More french

22. Cookout holder : SKEWER

25. Maker of Mama's Special Garden Sauce : RAGU. Look for
it on your grocer's shelves.

26. Invoice add-on : TAX

27. Sports car option : T-TOP

32. Big bomb blasts : N-TESTS. Triple alliteration.

33. Courtroom VIP : ATT.

35. Photographer's tote : CAMERA BAG

36. Morales of "NYPD Blue" : ESAI. And of crosswords ever since.

37. Arrive, in a way : LAND

39. Spare tire site? : BELTLINE

40. About to arrive : NEAR

43. Light hit : TAP

45. Grinds, as teeth : GNASHES

49. Fair-hiring org. : EEOC. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

50. Round of gunfire : SALVO

51. Attach, as to a hitching post : TIE ON

52. Ham it up : EMOTE

53. Vagabonds : HOBOs

58. Super Bowl XXXIV MVP Warner : KURT. Quarterback for the St. Louis Rams at the time.

59. Gig gear : AMPs

61. "__ Blu Dipinto Di Blu": 1958 hit : NEL.
Dean Martin.(3:04) "Volare"

63. Eur.-North America divider : ATL. Atlantic.

Answer grid.

John is enjoying Costa Rica this week and hopes you all enjoyed his puzzle. However, if you feel like killing him for a tricky clue or difficult crossing, he has a special message for you.

Argyle