THEME: Leaping Lizards, we have leaking letters! The first letter of a common phrase 'leaks' off the page, leaving a new and humorously clued phrase. The first two depart on the left, with the first letter going bye bye, and the last two leave on the right, losing the last letter. Another new trick to keep you guessing as part of what I found to be a very challenging puzzle. Fresh cluing, interesting subjects and another fine entry from our own dynamic duo. All on the rare 11/11/11 ; a double honor. Let's see what else we have here.
17A. Jack Benny's 39?:WAGE FREEZE. I did not stop at 39, I go backwards as long as my age is divisible; this year I am 21. We have not had a wage freeze since Jimmy Carter.
24A. Mix-up among the peas?:IPOD SHUFFLE. Nice imagery, and one of Apple's major successes.
17A. Jack Benny's 39?:
24A. Mix-up among the peas?:
51A. Amorous ship leader?: CAPTAIN COOK. Cooing comes from love birds, and Captain Cook, while not as famous as Captain Crunch, Cook a British looker (explorer) did introduce Europe to New Zealand, Australia and Hawaii, right K man?
59A. Bird with a droll wit?: DRY MARTINI. Martins are types of swallows (the birds, not the spit or swallow swallow controversy) and Martinis have made a major comeback.
and the reveal:
36A. Julian Assange's controversial website, and a hint to what's missing from this puzzle's four longest answers : WIKI LEAKS. Do you all remember the big scandal? See the authors' comment below. I was more amazed to read this ARTICLE than the original news.
Across:
1. REO part: OLDS. I do not like it when I start in reverse, and REO in my current existence means Real Estate Owned, or what the foreclosed homes become, not the famous automaker and crossword staple Ransom E. Olds, who apparently actually invented the assembly line.
5. 7-Down portrayer on "Frasier": PERI. Gilpin, who played 7. See 5-Across: ROZ, a fine SITCOM character.
9. Medicine cabinet item: RAZOR. Gee, a simple one.
14. First-century Roman leader: NERO. Go watch I Claudius, the PBS series starring Derek Jacobi as Claudius, Nero's uncle.
15. Cross: ROOD. Oh boy had to really dig in my brain for this one, it symbolizes the crucifixion and is usually set up in the entry to a church. A difficult religious reference.
16. Lickety-split: A PACE. Ah, the A word.
19. Was about to blow up : FUMED.
20. Mizrahi of "The Fashion Show": ISAAC. I guess Asimov is too easy for Friday, but I never heard of this designer and REALITY TV guy.
21. Insurance co. employee: AGT. Co. = company: AGT = Agent.
23. __-relief: BAS. Low contrast sculpture.
27. Top-shelf : A-ONE.
28. Charlotte-to-Raleigh dir : ENE.
29. Texas NLer : STRO. Well, the only National League team in Texas is the Houston Astros.
30. Aslan's land : NARNIA. The Lion in the Chronicles. C. S. Lewis, the author, who was a Christian apologist, described Aslan as an alternative version of Christ, that is, as the form in which Christ might have appeared in a fantasy world. Hmm, more religion?
59A. Bird with a droll wit?: DRY MARTIN
and the reveal:
36A. Julian Assange's controversial website, and a hint to what's missing from this puzzle's four longest answers : WIKI LEAKS. Do you all remember the big scandal? See the authors' comment below. I was more amazed to read this ARTICLE than the original news.
Across:
1. REO part: OLDS. I do not like it when I start in reverse, and REO in my current existence means Real Estate Owned, or what the foreclosed homes become, not the famous automaker and crossword staple Ransom E. Olds, who apparently actually invented the assembly line.
5. 7-Down portrayer on "Frasier": PERI. Gilpin, who played 7. See 5-Across: ROZ, a fine SITCOM character.
9. Medicine cabinet item: RAZOR. Gee, a simple one.
14. First-century Roman leader: NERO. Go watch I Claudius, the PBS series starring Derek Jacobi as Claudius, Nero's uncle.
15. Cross: ROOD. Oh boy had to really dig in my brain for this one, it symbolizes the crucifixion and is usually set up in the entry to a church. A difficult religious reference.
16. Lickety-split: A PACE. Ah, the A word.
19. Was about to blow up : FUMED.
20. Mizrahi of "The Fashion Show": ISAAC. I guess Asimov is too easy for Friday, but I never heard of this designer and REALITY TV guy.
21. Insurance co. employee: AGT. Co. = company: AGT = Agent.
23. __-relief: BAS. Low contrast sculpture.
27. Top-shelf : A-ONE.
28. Charlotte-to-Raleigh dir : ENE.
29. Texas NLer : STRO. Well, the only National League team in Texas is the Houston Astros.
30. Aslan's land : NARNIA. The Lion in the Chronicles. C. S. Lewis, the author, who was a Christian apologist, described Aslan as an alternative version of Christ, that is, as the form in which Christ might have appeared in a fantasy world. Hmm, more religion?
32. "It __ Nice": '60s protest song : IS N'T. Never heard it, when we were in the admin buildings it was either dirges or We Shall Overcome.
34. Doubter: AGNOSTIC. A little sub-theme perhaps with C. S. Lewis and 13D. Site of a legendary parting: RED SEA. Another religious reference; I thought of this PARTING, ladies? Also, 42D. Rigorously abstinent: ASCETIC. Self-discipline and abstinence in some form and degree are parts of religious practice within many religious and spiritual traditions, including Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam. Not to be confused with the fun loving aesthetics who seek pleasure. The modern agnostics are an impressive GROUP.
39. Federal statute trumps it: STATE LAW. The preemption doctrine.
41. New England law school: YALE.
45. Mercury, e.g.: PLANET. Metal was too short.
46. Old school addition?: MARM. Such a nice old fashioned word.
49. Rolls around the house: SOD. Sod is often sold in big round rolls, so it easier to lay to make a lawn. also a favorite word among British policemen in fiction.
50. Hierarchy level: RUNG. Climbing the ladder of success.
54. Bug: IRK. I do not know why but I hate bugs.
55. Third deg.?: PHD. Bachelors, masters and...
56. Like some tragedies: GREEK.
57. Club relative: SPADE. Let's call it like it is.
63. Earn: MERIT.Like all the raises no one is getting.
64. Tulip chair designer Saarinen: EERO. You must know this name to do puzzles.
65. Chianti, for one: VINO. From Tuscany. Italian.
66. Swamp plant: SEDGE. A large family of plants including the water chestnut and the papyrus sedge from which the Ancient Egyptian writing material was made. This family also includes cotton-grass, spike-rush and out Florida favorite, sawgrass which grows from the Everglades.
67. Speak like Don Corleone: RASP.
68. Ticker tapes, briefly?: ECGS. ElectroCardioGrams. Cute clue.
Down:
1. __ mission: ON A. Yes, we are half way and we are heading to the finish line.
2. Throngs: LEGIONS.
3. Saxony's capital : DRESDEN. The famous CITY of arts which was featured so prominently in Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five. A great book which became a great movie.
4. Beds, at times: SOFAS. Especially the king ones, right guys.
5. Like some quilt kits: PRE-CUT. Quilts? Really?
6. Want ad letter : EOE. Equal Opportunity Employer.
8. Pipe dream, say: IDEAL. Why would dreaming about a pipe be ideal? A cigar maybe; oh maybe they mean like in the sink.
9. Castaway's creation: RAFT. Wilson, where are you?
10. "The Simpsons" character with an 18-letter last name: APU. Nahasapeemapetilon, easy for you to say.
11. Big name on the ice: ZAMBONI. The big machine used to smooth the surface of ice.
41. New England law school: YALE.
45. Mercury, e.g.: PLANET. Metal was too short.
46. Old school addition?: MARM. Such a nice old fashioned word.
49. Rolls around the house: SOD. Sod is often sold in big round rolls, so it easier to lay to make a lawn. also a favorite word among British policemen in fiction.
50. Hierarchy level: RUNG. Climbing the ladder of success.
54. Bug: IRK. I do not know why but I hate bugs.
55. Third deg.?: PHD. Bachelors, masters and...
56. Like some tragedies: GREEK.
57. Club relative: SPADE. Let's call it like it is.
63. Earn: MERIT.Like all the raises no one is getting.
64. Tulip chair designer Saarinen: EERO. You must know this name to do puzzles.
65. Chianti, for one: VINO. From Tuscany. Italian.
66. Swamp plant: SEDGE. A large family of plants including the water chestnut and the papyrus sedge from which the Ancient Egyptian writing material was made. This family also includes cotton-grass, spike-rush and out Florida favorite, sawgrass which grows from the Everglades.
67. Speak like Don Corleone: RASP.
68. Ticker tapes, briefly?: ECGS. ElectroCardioGrams. Cute clue.
Down:
1. __ mission: ON A. Yes, we are half way and we are heading to the finish line.
2. Throngs: LEGIONS.
3. Saxony's capital : DRESDEN. The famous CITY of arts which was featured so prominently in Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five. A great book which became a great movie.
4. Beds, at times: SOFAS. Especially the king ones, right guys.
5. Like some quilt kits: PRE-CUT. Quilts? Really?
6. Want ad letter : EOE. Equal Opportunity Employer.
8. Pipe dream, say: IDEAL. Why would dreaming about a pipe be ideal? A cigar maybe; oh maybe they mean like in the sink.
9. Castaway's creation: RAFT. Wilson, where are you?
10. "The Simpsons" character with an 18-letter last name: APU. Nahasapeemapetilon, easy for you to say.
11. Big name on the ice: ZAMBONI. The big machine used to smooth the surface of ice.
12. Vast: OCEANIC.
18. Fan support: RAHS. Rah Rah Ree, kick them in the knee; Rah Rah Rass, kick them in the other knee.
22. Ligurian seaport: GENOA. Well, now I know the part of Italy that borders France is part of Liguria and is also where San Remo is located. All I knew about the area was the salami, salame genovese di Sant'Olcese. No baloney.
24. Shar-__: PEI. The wrinkle dogs from china. have you all eaten at a PEI WEI?
25. Weak: FRAIL.
26. Aid on a misty night: FOG LAMP. I had trouble with this, not realizing I was in a car on that misty night.
27. Pretentious: ARTSY. Rhymes with fartsy.
31. "Don't __!": ASK. Don't tell, now a thing of the past.
33. Country music sound: TWANG. Did anyone watch the CMA show Wednesday?
35. Just starting : NEW AT. For anyone doing their first crossword puzzle today, come back Monday and start again.
37. Suffix with vulcan: ITE. This has nothing to do with Spock, but the copper telluride mineral.
38. Craft with a mizzen : KETCH. Like the Yawl, a two masted ship, with a smaller jigger mast and a mizzen mast. Jeannie?
39. 7-Eleven beverage: SLURPEE. Not to be confused with Apu's Squishy or even an ICEE. (2:08) funny?
40. Vessel with a hinged cover: TANKARD. A beer reference; similar to a beer stein. Not every tankard has a lid.
43. Exploring : LOOKING. Like Captain Cook.
44. Shogun stronghold: EDO. Now known as Tokyo.
45. Binocular features: PRISMS.
47. 1950 #1 Ames Brothers hit: RAGMOP. Before becoming famous as Mongo on Daniel Boone, and for his tomahawak throwing on Johnny Carson, Ed Ames was one of these singing BROTHERS.
48. She played Romy in "Romy and Michele's High School Reunion": MIRA. Daughter of actor and opera singer Paul; she also won an Oscar for Woody Allen's Mighty Aphrodite.
52. Scary snake: ADDER. A family of deadly snakes, like the black adder and even the puff adder, not to be confused with Mr. Bean.
53. Fortitude: NERVE. Well those of you have made it this far in this wonderful but exhausting Friday effort have shown guts.
55. Tennis great Sampras: PETE. The American with the most major titles in tennis; his total was exceeded by Roger Federer.
58. Shovel: DIG.
60. Mens __: criminal intent: REA. Oh goody, a legal term meaning generally a 'guilty mind.' It is the intent part of a criminal act.
61. Sch. levels: YRS. What year is your son now?
62. Signs of resistance: NOS. Not yes, but no.
Answer grid.
Another Friday done, and the joy of blogging a hard G and C.C. special. That and it is Veteran's Day tomorrow so I do not have to get up early. Be sure to remember all who have served, and those who gave their lives. Sears donates money to our servicemen, and whether a war is popular or not, the soldiers deserve our support, respect and gratitude. Thanksgiving is coming so all of you old timers who are now quiet, all you lookie lous and and the rest please plan on saying at least hi, or more on Wednesday November 23, 2011 for our second annual check in and check up. Thanks all.
Constructors Note:
"Terry Gross's interview with a NY Times reporter regarding Times' publishing of WikiLeaks' cable inspired this theme. We thought it would be fun to orderly leak WIKI from the left and right edges of the grid. Rich liked the contemporariness of the theme, though Don and I were concerned that the puzzle would lose its relevance when it finally runs."
