Wednesday Septemer 1, 2010 Mark Bickham

Theme: Pun Next Door - Each of the four 2-word common expressions is interpreted literally and clued as if the first words all mean "nearby".

17A. Young woman next door?: NEAR MISS. perhaps this ONE .

24A. Adjoining floor?: TOUCHING STORY. In addition to SHADOWLANDS watch another true story, THE BLIND SIDE .

53A. Proximate coins?: CLOSE QUARTERS. For all you city people, there is always a SUBWAY RIDE .

66A. Chess piece within reach?: HANDY MAN. Since I do not have access to pictures of Windhover, would you settle for HIM ?

Happy September all, and it is the return of Lemonade and Mark Bickham, who has started to appear as a regular contributor, and whose last puzzle was the first puzzle blogged by C.C. as an American citizen.

To me this puzzle was a contradiction, with many new words, and almost a pangram, but also lots of three and four letter fill. This is the nature of the puzzle, I guess, somewhere there is sacrifice.

Across:

1. Energy: ZIP. A “Z” in the first word, a hint at a scrabbly puzzle that is missing only the letter J, hmmm. J?

4. It's an example of itself: ABBR (Abbreviation). Very clever.

8. Pure: CHASTE. They are often chased, and need to remember to use PROTECTION . Which kind of fits with 59A. Loosen, as laces: UNTIE.

14. Suffix with verb: OSE. Suffix to the word Verbose.

15. "Star Trek: T.N.G." counselor : TROI. DEANNE was on The Next Generation.

16. Bring about sooner: HASTEN. When I was little, one of the torments of my little friends was this fine poetic turn, “Hasten Jason, get the Basin; Oops, Plop, Get the Mop.”

19. Green light: ASSENT. What you do not get from the CHASTE girl above.

20. Architect Saarinen: EERO.

21. Earth pigment : OCHER. From the Greek, meaning yellow.

23. Hide-hair link: NOR. Neither hide nor hair. Never understood the phrase.

28. Fireside emanation: WARMTH. Do things ever really change FIRESIDE CHAT ?

30. "__ me!": DEAR.

31. '50s White House nickname: IKE.

32. Certain fisherman: EELER.

35. Annoys: MIFFS.

39. __ Piper: PIED. Loved the 60s .

41. Police sting, say: SETUP.

43. Grimace: MOUE, which rhymes with 44. Happen as a result: ENSUE, which follows.

46. "Who Can It __?": Men at Work hit: BE NOW and of course the 80s.

48. Exhaust, with "up": USE.

49. [see other side]: OVER. So simple, but also clever.

51. Brought up: REARED.

58. Spell: HEX. Did anyone see the MOVIE ?

60. Emerald City visitor: TOTO. My ex-wife owned a Cairn terrier, who could have been the stunt double. Yes, she called him TOTO; I said she was my ex!

63. List of things to discuss: AGENDA.

68. Dividend, e.g.: PAYOUT.

69. Germany's von Bismarck: OTTO. An under-appreciated historic LEADER .

70. Letter opener?: ELL. Opener to the word letter. Did anyone fall for this old trick?

71. "When a Man Loves a Woman" singer Percy __ : SLEDGE. Oh yes, this is a SONG .

72. Insolence: SASS.

73. Generous limit?: SKY. Not sure why it is generous, but certainly ambitious.

Down:

1. Area: ZONE.

2. "Got it" : I SEE.

3. Bosc sources : PEAR TREES. Which come near by 6D. "The Garden of Earthly Delights" artist: BOSCH, who 600 or so years ago saw lots of nakedness in his Eden, but no partridges.

4. 24-hr. cash source: ATM. I had trouble with this one, because around my house the three letter word that fits is DAD.

5. French breads: BRIOCHES. If you want, here is a RECIPE .

7. Hindu poet: RISHI. This was my lesson for the day. HISTORY .

8. Old battlefield shout: CHARGE. Old? Still very common at the war zone called the mall.

9. Is suffering from: HAS.

10. Beast of burden: ASS. Okay, I will control myself.

11. Court figure: STENO; I was thinking more along these lines after watching the US Open CENTER COURT .

12. Pavarotti, notably: TENOR. Sometimes my brain is crooked, but my first thought was OBESE, sorry Luciano.

13. Datebook notation: ENTRY.

18. Part of a Clue accusation: ROOM. I amy be the world’s best Clue player.

22. Football play also called a sweep: END RUN; which is balanced nicely by 33. Charles __, major decorator of the Palace of Versailles : LEBRUN, of whom I had no knowledge.

25. Adaptable truck, for short: UTE. Oh, sure, I am going to out my UTE and convert it back.

26. "Casablanca" pianist: SAM. So BEAUTIFUL .

27. Request to a barber: TRIM.

28. Use a napkin on: WIPE, good thing we did have than next to 10D.

29. Like, with "to" : A KIN, not CLAY .

34. Somme season: ETE.

36. Links groups: FOURSOMES. Don’t tell me I am the only one who thought of THESE .

37. A hothead has a short one: FUSE.

38. Future plant: SEED.

40. Couples: DUOS. After foursomes, I wanted FRED.

42. Omens: PORTENTS, not to be confused with 56D. Pal of Porthos: ATHOS.

45. "The Three Faces of __": 1957 film : EVE.

47. Very small: WEE.

50. Treat as the same: EQUATE.

52. Affectedly cultured: ARTY.

53. Biker leggings: CHAPS.

54. Corporate department: LEGAL. Okay, one clue for me.

55. Daisy variety: OXEYE. This is more properly knows as Leucanthemum vulgare, which does not sound very PRETTY .

57. Calf catcher: RIATA.

61. Chitchat: TALK.

62. Part of SRO: ONLY. SRO = Standing Room Only.

64. Doze: NOD.

65. Grooved on: DUG.

67. Elaborate affairs: DOS.

Answer grid.

Well I am outta here; like they say in Florida Click It or Ticket. Ciao.

Lemonade

Tuesday, August 31, 2010 Robert A. Doll

Theme: What Did You Do on Your Summer Vacation? - A minimalist student's essay. The first word (verb) of the four theme entries (17A, 26A, 46A, 61A) outlines what happened on the unifier (63A).

17A. Have significant influence: PACK A PUNCH

26A. "Enough on this subject": "LEAVE IT AT THAT"

46A. Persevere: STAY THE COURSE

61A. Respond at the front: RETURN FIRE. At a war front.

63A. "Round" thing suggested by the first words of 17-, 26-, 46- and 61-Across: TRIP

Argyle here.

A timely theme; just the type of wise guy report I would have turned in. How would you teachers react to such homework? There were some destinations sprinkled through out the puzzle, too.

Across:

1. __ d'état : COUP. First we go to France for “stroke of the state”.

5. Winger of "Shadowlands" : DEBRA. The film, Shadowlands, is a remake of both the 1985 BBC-TV film and a popular stage play about the love story of Joy Gresham and Clive Staples (C.S.) Lewis.

10. Shouts from Emeril : BAMS. Celebrity television chef.

14. Guesstimate phrase : OR SO

15. Fiat : EDICT. Law, regulation.

16. From the top : ANEW

19. Sight from the Sicilian village of Taormina : ETNA. The volcano.

20. Ali trainer Dundee : ANGELO. Boxing. Dundee trained Muhammad Ali, 1960 to 1981. Ali was still Cassius Clay back then.

21. Sunroom : SOLARIUM

23. Doctrinal suffix : ISM. Pertaining to a belief; dogma.

25. Rent : LET

33. Starbucks order : ESPRESSO

34. Charm : ENAMOR. Charm is used as a verb, in this case.

36. Show worry, in a way : PACE

37. Former California fort : ORD. closed in September 1994. Fort Ord was one of the most attractive locations of any U.S. Army post, because of its proximity to the beach and California weather. Would make a good trip destination.

39. Disease cause : GERM

40. Makes amends : ATONES

43. Puts in a new pot, say : REPLANTS. A short clip, a song about Harry Potter and repotting the Mandrakes.

48. Ample shoe width : EEE

49. According to : À LA

50. Belgian capital : BRUSSELS. Take a trip here.

55. Aleve alternative : ANACIN. Brand name pain relievers.

60. Superboy's girlfriend Lang : LANA

64. Mushrooms used in Asian cuisine : ENOKI. Image.

65. Elemental unit : ATOM

66. Places for props : SETS

67. Coolidge's vice president : DAWES. With Coolidge, Dawes is on the right.

68. City NNE of Lake Tahoe : RENO. Visit a city with pits.

Down:

1. Historic NYC club, with "The" : COPA. The 1978 Barry Manilow song "Copacabana" is named for and about the nightclub.

2. Algerian seaport : ORAN

3. SOS responder, often : USCG. United States Coast Guard (USCG), www.uscg.mil

4. Creep (along) : POKE

5. Kicks out of office : DEPOSES

6. Coll. dot follower : EDU

7. Storage containers : BINS

8. Pepsi competitor : RC COLA

9. Wheaties box picture : ATHLETE

10. Boxer Max : BAER. One of the most colorful figures of his day, Baer(1909 - 1959) enjoyed life in the limelight(like Ali and most boxers). He was the brother of twice World Champion boxing contender Buddy Baer and father of actor Max Baer, Jr., known to two generations as Jethro Bodine of the Beverly Hillbillies.

11. Hostile to : ANTI

12. Computer list : MENU

13. Showed off one's butterfly? : SWAM. A showy swimming stroke.

18. Kicking partner : ALIVE. Alive and kicking.

22. Business letter abbr. : ATTN. Attention.

24. Sushi bar soup : MISO

26. Exams for future attys. : LSATs. Law School Admission Test (LSAT)

27. Florida theme park acronym : EPCOT. Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. A nice place to visit.

28. Place to play : ARENA

29. Dodgers manager Joe : TORRE. The LA Dodgers are the latest in a long list of major league baseball teams that Joe has managed.

30. Viking in the comics : HAGAR. The Horrible. Comic strip by Dik Browne, whose first name might show up in late week puzzles. Also we have a teenage girl, 45. Greg Evans comic strip : LUANN

31. Chorus from the pews : AMENS

32. Flourless cake : TORTE. Made primarily with eggs, sugar, and ground nuts instead of flour. Take a trip to Germany to get some of the best tortes.

33. Ecol. watchdog : EPA. Ecology and Environmental Protection Agency

35. Apt. parts : RMs. Apartments and rooms

38. Ten: Pref. : DECA

41. Looks over warily : EYES

42. Took the wheel : STEERED

44. North Star : POLARIS

47. Treasure State capital : HELENA. “Treasure State” refers to the importance of mining in Montana

50. Popular diner orders, for short : BLTs

51. Prime rib order : RARE

52. Part of ICU : UNIT

53. Easy marks : SAPs

54. Put away : STOW

56. A long way off : AFAR

57. Name as a source : CITE

58. Boxing's "__ Mike" Tyson : IRON. Our third boxing reference.

59. Nautilus captain : NEMO. The fictional character featured in Jules Verne's novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. Now that would be a trip worth writing about.

62. Tiny Tim played one : UKE. Charles Dickens never envisioned this Tiny Tim.

Answer grid.

Here are three fantastic photos of our dashing pilot Dudley, whose initials in real life is DD (Yay, Lois!). Please click on each photo for enlargement. I love the wedding one very much. Beautiful couple.

Argyle