Monday March 29, 2010 Barry Silk

Theme: "Keep it Under Your __" HAT (73A. The last word of this puzzle's five longest answers is a type of one)

18A. Gyroscopic toy: SPINNING TOP. A child's toy. Top hat.

24A. Central American fishing mecca: GULF OF PANAMA. On the Pacific end of the canal. Panama hat. (No, I don't know who he is.)

40A. Pretender in a ten-gallon hat and boots: DRUGSTORE COWBOY. Ersatz cowboy. Cowboy hat. Regrettable hat/HAT duplication.

52A. Proverbial backbreaker for a camel: THE LAST STRAW. One step over the limit. Straw hat. This is one of many styles; they just have to be made of 'straw'.

63. Arctic solar phenomenon: MIDNIGHT SUN. When the Earth's axis is tilted towards the sun, it never sets. Sun hat, extreme.

Astounded Argyle here. A Barry Silk with five long theme entries plus a unifier (Total 64 theme squares) on a Monday, what is Rich Norris smoking? A 'Z' short of a pangram. I better get busy.

Across:

1A. Calligrapher's need: INK. Calligrapher- One who is highly skilled in decorative handwriting, as with a great many flourishes. Example

4A. Hilton alternative: HYATT. (Hotels)

9A. Fragrant wood: CEDAR.

14A. Lair: DEN.

15A. Surrounding glows: AURAE. (or AURAS)

16A. Fuming: IRATE. When I had AURAS instead of AURAE.

17A. Day "Grey's Anatomy" airs: Abbr.: THU.

20A. Archery projectile: ARROW.

22A. Time past: YORE.

23A. Comic Philips: EMO. Is he still around, besides in cw?

28A. At liberty: FREE. Often said of escaped prisoners.

29A. "Flying kangaroo" airline: QANTAS. An acronym of Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services. 'Q' without a 'U'. Plane.

33A. The Beatles' "__ the Walrus": I AM.

36A. Skin layer: DERMA.

39A. British nobleman: EARL.

44A. Division word: INTO.

45A. __ Bruce, '30s-'40s Dr. Watson portrayer: NIGEL. The good Doctor

46A. Scand. nation: SWE.. (Scandinavia) (Sweden)

47A. Be lenient: GO EASY.

50A. Chinese leader?: INTO. (Indochinese)

58A. IV squared: XVI. 4x4=16, in Roman numerals.

61A. The same, on the Seine: EGAL. French: Remember "Liberty, Egality, Brotherhood".

62A. Bush successor: OBAMA.

67A. __ alai: JAI.

68A. Kindle download: E-BOOK. Amazon Kindle is a software and hardware platform for the rendering and displaying of e-books and other digital media.

69A. Gizmo: THING.

70A. Ques. response: ANS.. (Question and Answer)

71A. Homes in trees: NESTS.

72A. Letters after thetas: IOTAS. (Greek Alphabet)

Down:

1D. Dog collar attachment: ID TAG.

2D. India's first prime minister: NEHRU.

3D. Small knob: KNURL. A knob, knot, or other small protuberance. Also, a small ridge or bead, esp. one of a series, as on a button for decoration or on the edge of a thumbscrew to assist in obtaining a firm grip.

4D. Argues: HAS WORDS.

5D. "Fer sure!": "YUP!".

6D. The Diamondbacks, on scoreboards: ARI. Arizona Diamondbacks are a baseball team.

7D. Tucker of country music: TANYA. Delta Dawn.

8D. Part of a carpenter's joint: TENON. Here

9D. Movie theater: CINEMA.

10D. Fraction of a joule: ERG. Joule is equivalent to 10 to the power of 7 ergs

11D. Dinner and a movie, say: DATE.

12D. Tiny particle: ATOM.

13D. Seized auto, for short: REPO. Repossessed.

19D. Big oil exporter: IRAQ.

21D. Not quite right: OFF.

25D. There are three in every yard: FEET. And a cross-referred SIT (65D. Get off one's 25-Down).

26D. Eva of Argentina: PERÓN. "Evita" is the musical based on the life of Argentine political leader Eva Perón.

27D. From square one: ANEW.

30D. Folder features: TABS.

31D. Get one's ducks in __: A ROW.

32D. Leonard __: Roy Rogers's birth name: SLYE. Roy was a cowboy and actor before he became a fast food chain.

33D. "Got it, man!": "I DIG!".

34D. Pisa's river: ARNO.

35D. "Turn off the sound" button: MUTE.

37D. X-ray cousin, briefly: MRI. (Magnetic resonance imaging)

38D. Auspices: AEGIS. (patronage, support, sponsorship)

41D. Nanny __: GOAT. WH?

42D. Penny: CENT.

43D. Numbers on 45s: OLD SONGS. Musical numbers on 45RPM records, from an earlier time.

48D. Arab chieftains: SHEIKS.

49D. Safecracker: YEGG. (unknown origin)

51D. Gambling parlor letters: OTB.

53D. "Chicago Hope" actress Christine: LAHTI. Her picture.

54D. Even if, informally: ALTHO.

55D. Indian prince: RAJAH.

56D. Kenmore competitor: AMANA.

57D. Spot for a belt: WAIST.

58D. Mutant superhero group: X-MEN.

59D. Hard-to-describe feeling: VIBE. Shortened vibration.

60D. Nuptial vows: I DO'S.

64D. "Wayne's World" catchword: "NOT!".

66D. Italian article: UNA.

Answer grid.

Argyle

Sunday, March 28, 2010 Pamela Amick Klawitter

Theme: From the Produce Department - Different fruit is embedded in each theme answer.

23A. Chancellor Angela Merkel leads it: GERMAN GOVERNMENT. Mango. I love tropical fruit, esp pineapple.

32A. Bologna location: DELI MEAT COUNTER. Lime. Thought of the Italian city Bologna first.

54A. 1989 Fred Savage comedy: LITTLE MONSTERS. Lemon. Have never heard of the film.

70A. Houdini et al.: ESCAPE ARTISTS. Pear. Asian pear is the best. Sweet and crisp.

91A. Proving ground NW of Vegas: NEVADA TEST SITE. Date. I love almond stuffed Medjool dates. Heavenly!

105A. 50:1 bet, e.g.: EXTREME LONG SHOT. Melon.

122A. Striped reef dweller: EMPEROR ANGELFISH. No idea. Looks fake.

112A. A different one is hidden in each of this puzzle's seven longest answers: FRUIT

All of the fruit spans across two word, quite consistent. Lime, lemon & orange, Ms. Klawitter must love citrus fruit then.

Also a bit of Italian undercurrent:

58A. Firenze's land: ITALIA. Firenze is Italian for Florence.

68A. Ristorante dessert: TIRAMISU. "Pick-me-up" in Italian.

77A. Con __: spiritedly: BRIO. Most musical terms seem to be rooted in Italian.

95A. Olive Garden specialty: PASTA

50D. Sistine Chapel ceiling figure: ADAM

93D. Slowly, to Liszt: ADAGIO. Ad agio is "at ease" in Italian.

Smooth sailing for me today. Simple & sweet theme. Very few unknowns.

Across:

1. Pamplona parlor: SALA. Spanish for "room". Inside a casa (house). Alliteration in the clue.

5. 1912 Nobelist Root: ELIHU

10. New Balance rival: ASICS. Wikipidia says ASICS is an acronym of the Latin phrase "anima sana in corpore sano" which translates to "a healthy soul in a healthy body" or "a sound mind in a sound body".

15. Ancient symbols of Egyptian royalty: ASPS

19. 2005 A.L. MVP, familiarly: A-ROD. I've never liked him.

20. They get carried away: REPOS. Great clue.

22. First name in "Popeye"?: SWEE. Swee'Pea.

26. Clue: LEAD

27. Historical records: ANNALS

28. Oft-named period: ERA. Victorian Period, Obama Era, etc.

29. __-a-brac: BRIC

30. Cathedral feature: APSE

36. Top cards: ACES

38. Radio CD players: DJS

39. "Mad Men" airer: AMC. I guessed ABC first.

40. Tubs with jets: SPAS

46. Internet commerce: E-TAIL. So many nice baseball cards on Ebay.

49. Truman's Missouri birthplace: LAMAR. Can never remember this name.

57. Tussaud, for one: MADAME

59. Luau fare: POI

60. Friend of Rover: FIDO. And ARF (47D. Corgi comment). Dogs.

62. Neural impulse conductor: AXON. Are you a impulsive person?

63. 1983 self-titled debut album: MADONNA. The answer emerged itself.

65. Pigged out (on): OD'ED. Overdosed.

73. Do covers: HAIR NETS. Hairdo.

78. Furniture movers: CASTERS. Man, I never know the wheels under my chair are called casters.

83. Salinger character who said "I prefer stories about squalor": ESME. "For Esme with Love and Squalor".

84. Ply a scythe: REAP

86. School name follower in many addresses: EDU

88. Eye maliciously: LEER AT

89. Car shoppers' options: LEASES

96. Had an effect on: FAZED. Big effect then. Now, what does this Marisa Miller have an effect on you, guys?

97. Bigfoot cousin: YETI. The Abominable Snowman.

98. Come across as: SEEM

99. Genealogically based men's gp.: SAR (Sons of the American Revolution). Got me.

101. "Norma __": RAE

103. Rave partner: RANT. Rant and Rave.

117. Ditzy waitress on "Alice": VERA. No idea. Which one is Vera?

118. Trompe l'__: OEIL. "Eye' in French.

119. Winter coat: ICE

120. Sault-Marie filler: SAINTE. Sault Sainte Marie.

121. Dhow sailor: ARAB. Dhow is sailboat used by the Arabs. New to me.

126. Diana's escort: DODI (Fayed). I remember the tragic car crash. I like ARAB sits atop DODI in the grid. Dodi is an Egyptian Arab.

127. Lingerie shade: BEIGE

128. "__ a Grecian Urn": ODE ON. Keats poem.

129. Heavy reading?: TOME. Can't fool me.

130. Crossed (out): EX'ED. We often see X'ED.

131. "Consequently ...": AND SO

132. Jane of "Father Knows Best": WYATT. Have never heard of this lady.

133. NY Giants lineman Chris: SNEE. Also a mystery figure to me.

Down:

1. Epics: SAGAS

2. Ain't like it oughta be?: AREN'T. Lovely clue.

3. Doone of Devon: LORNA. "Lorna Doone". Alliteration.

4. Hyper?: AD MAN. Oh, I get it: hyper = one who hypes up.

5. Coastal raptors: ERNS

6. Something to shake or break, so to speak: LEG. Shake/break a leg. Nice rhyme.

7. NYSE launch: IPO (Initial Public Offering)

8. Ramshackle home: HOVEL

9. PIN relative: USER ID

10. Philip of "Kung Fu": AHN. Of Korean descent. Chinese for Ahn is Ang, as in Ang Lee.

11. Carnival dance: SAMBA

12. Like helium: INERT

13. Like dunce caps: CONICAL

14. "The Big Bang Theory," e.g.: SITCOM

15. Lewis lion: ASLAN. C.S. Lewis's lion in "Chronicles of Narnia".

16. Used a broom: SWEPT

17. Veggies in a porridge: PEASE. Pease porridge hot... Our split pea soup.

18. Passover feast: SEDER

24. "Flash of Genius" actor: ALDA

25. Certain aircraft engine: RAMJET. No idea. Know nothing about airplane.

32. Regard: DEEM

33. Prohibit, legally: ESTOP

34. Right on a mapa: ESTE. Spanish for "east".

35. Golden State sch.: UCLA

37. Spot removers: CLEANSERS

40. Unlikely: SLIM. Unlikely/slim chance.

41. Gyro bread: PITA. I am hungry.

42. The slightest bit: A TAD

43. Manche department capital: ST. LO. The D-Day Normandy town.

45. Poke around: SNOOP

48. Last Supper query: IS IT I. And IT'S ME (115. Shout upon arrival).

51. Modest skirt: MAXI

52. Cookie guy Wally: AMOS. The real "Famous Amos".

53. Eye care brand: RENU. Bausch & Lomb contact lens brand.

55. Sheets and such: LINEN

56. Hit back?: SIDE B. Nailed it. Side A is the hit side.

57. Sermon subject: MORTAL SIN. Rich Norris is really in the alliteration mood.

61. Record: DISC

64. French play part: ACTE

66. Kernel holder: EAR

67. Did a dishwashing chore: DRIED. Dishwasher does the job for us.

69. Plus: ASSET

71. Yoga position: ASANA (AH-suh-nuh). Sanskrit for "sitting down". New word to me also.

72. USA __: TODAY

73. Troubleshooting menu: HELP

74. Cruising, maybe: ASEA

75. "__ shocked as you are!": I'M AS

76. Musical symbol: REST

79. Alec D'Urberville's slayer: TESS. "Tess of the D'Urbervilles". She killed the jerk Alec.

80. Northern terminus of I-79: ERIE. New clue for a tired entry.

81. Matter of interest?: RATE. Interest rate. Another awesome clue.

82. Apple projection: STEM. Hey, one more fruit, though in the clue.

85. Candy originally from Austria: PEZ. I have a few Twins Pez. Most of the Pez are still marked "Made in Austria".

87. Unborn, after "in": UTERO

90. Effortlessness: EASE

92. Offscreen friend in "Ernest" films: VERN. I peeked at the answer sheet. Names often kill me. Why is Vern "offscreen"?

94. Coup d'__: ETAT

96. Citizens: FREEMEN

100. Lab slide critter: AMOEBA

102. Third-party account: ESCROW. Holding account

104. Nonstick cookware brand: T-FAL. What does T-FAL stand for?

105. Dodge: EVADE

106. Copy: XEROX

107. Diamond deal: TRADE. Bloody!

108. Beyond gung-ho: RABID

109. Oily compound: LIPID. Fatty!

110. Designer Cassini et al.: OLEGS. Cassini is the only Oleg I know of.

111. Intoxicating, as wine: HEADY

113. Breaks in relations: RIFTS

114. Strike caller: UNION. Thought of UMPIRE first.

116. Little laugh: TE-HEE

123. Vintage auto: REO

124. Museum funder: Abbr.: NEA (National Endowment for the Arts)

125. Figured out: GOT

Answer grid.

Picture of the Day: Here is a great photo of Jeannie's Mom & Dad on their wedding day heading off to their honeymoon in 1960. They just celebrated their 50-year anniversary on March 19, 2010.

C.C.