Monday, February 27, 2012 Lila Cherry

Theme: Dale, Jr., at Daytona? - If Junior pulls off a win today at Daytona, in the manner suggested by the words in the front of the first three theme entries, his popularity will surge higher than it ever has before.

17A. Backstage : BEHIND THE SCENES

24A. Got married : TIED THE KNOT

43A. Forefront, as of technology : LEADING EDGE

56A. Returning to popularity, or what you'd have been doing if you followed the sequence formed by the first words of 17-, 24- and 43-Across : MAKING A COMEBACK

Argyle here. If you think today's constructor is Lila Cherry, that's really Rich. A good example of what a Monday puzzle can be, even if there is that shameful plug for the paper. (24-Down. Los Angeles daily : TIMES) If you have any nits, today is the day to lay them on; our editor can take it.

The Daytona 500 was rained out on Sunday, the first time in the history of the race.

Across:

1. Fight-stopping calls, briefly : TKOs. (technical knockout) May be called by the referee, fight doctor, or a fighter's corner.

5. Discourteous : RUDE

9. Ireland patron, for short : ST. PAT

14. 10 million centuries : AEON

15. Soon, to the bard : ANON

16. Chicago airport : O'HARE. It is an important hub for United Airlines.

20. The second story, vis-à-vis the first : UPSTAIRS

21. Tough Japanese dogs : AKITAs. Info.

22. Coll. football's Seminoles : FSU. Florida State University at Tallahassee, FL.

23. Over, to Oskar : ÜBER

29. Wee lie : FIB

32. Forster's "A Passage to __" : INDIA. Trailer. (3:24)

33. Off one's rocker : NUTS

34. Dashboard gadget prefix with meter : ODO

35. Robin's Marian, for one : MAID. Robin Hood. Maid Marian is more complex than I thought, according to Wikipedia.

36. Market express lane units : ITEMS

38. Car : AUTO

39. North Pole helper : ELF. Still on vacation.

40. Muscle pain : ACHE

41. Desi who married 60-Across : ARNAZ and 60-Across. Ball of Hollywood : LUCY

42. Sneaky : SLY. Note it is tied into TIMES. (24D)

46. USA or Mex., e.g. : ABBReviation

47. "Do __ favor ..." : ME A

48. Blood deficiency that causes weakness : ANEMIA. Reduced number of red blood cells.

51. Embodiments : EPITOMEs

58. Informal bridge bid : ONE NO. (one no trump)

59. Activist Parks : ROSA

61. Praise : KUDOS

62. Sheltered valley : GLEN

63. Brown or cream bar orders : ALES. A small misdirection towards popsicles

Down:

1. "Forbidden" cologne brand : TABU. I am a little confused here. TABU is a perfume by Dana, launched by the design house of Dana in 1932. TABU is classified as a luxurious, oriental fragrance and is called "The forbidden fragrance".(If you go to this site, scroll down to read some interesting comments.) "Forbidden" cologne is new and isn't the same fragrance.

2. Hang on to : KEEP

3. Partners of aahs : OOHs

4. Fit of agitation : SNIT

5. Pungent salad veggie : RADISH

6. Fictitious : UNTRUE

7. Cries from Homer Simpson : D'OHs

8. Opposite of WSW : ENE

9. Plugging-in places : SOCKETS

10. "... all snug in __ beds" : THEIR

11. Cool off, dog-style : PANT. Why do dogs pant? Answer, possible TMI.

12. Locale : AREA

13. "__ of the D'Urbervilles" : TESS. A novel by Thomas Hardy, first published in 1891.

18. USA/Mex./Can. pact : NAFTA. (North American Free Trade Agreement)

19. Wooden shoes : SABOTS

23. E pluribus __ : UNUM

25. Counting everything : IN ALL

26. Spiritually enlighten : EDIFY

27. Completed : DID

28. Kicked with a bent leg : KNEED

29. No longer lost : FOUND

30. Luggage attachment : ID TAG

31. Hooch : BOOZE

36. Swelling treatment : ICE BAG. It may be needed after 28-Down.

37. "__ she blows!" : THAR

38. Exist : ARE

40. White whales, e.g. : ALBINOs. "THAR she blows!"

41. Colorful marble : AGATE

44. Levy, as a tax : IMPOSE

45. Upscale retailer __ Marcus : NEIMAN. Headquartered in the Dallas, Texas.

46. __ acid : AMINO

48. Unrestrained way to run : AMOK

49. Half of Mork's sign-off : NANU. Mork's better half, reporting to Orson.(1:57)

50. Barely made, with "out" : EKED

51. Environmental sci. : ECOL.

52. Beatles nonsense syllables : OB-LA-DI, OB-LA-DA, life goes on.

53. Manhandle : MAUL

54. Caesar's "Behold!" : "ECCE!"

55. "The __ the limit!" : SKY'S. Tom Petty's "Into the Great Wide Open" (3:47)

57. Neighbor of Braz. : ARGentina

Answer grid.

Argyle

Sunday Feb 26, 2012 James Sajdak

Theme: Coif It Up - One word in each common phrase is punnily replaced by a hair salon term.

27A. Salon for Trump and his imitators? : WE SHALL OVER-COMB. We shall overcome.

35A. The queen's salon? : SCISSORS PALACE. Caesars Palace. What's the connection between "queen" and "scissors"?

70A. Salon specializing in plaits? : BRAIDER JOE'S. Trader Joe's.

100A. Salon for swimsuit models? : BEACHED BLONDES. Bleached blondes. Reverse theme entry, isn't it? The hair-related word is out. So, no "Coif it Up" here as the title suggests. BLEACHED WHALE would fit the pattern.

111A. London salon? : BRITISH HAIR WAYS. British Airways.

15D. Salon for newlyweds? : BRUSHING BRIDES. Blushing brides.

48D. Salon for idealists? : CURL OF MY DREAMS. Girl of my dreams.

As I mentioned before, punning is very subjective. It produces giggles in some, and groans & grins in others. I'm afraid I will never fully appreciate the fun of English puns due to my background. Coming to America at age 30 is too late to grasp the nuance of the language.

But I was excited to see James Sajdak's byline. He's a great constructor. He mentioned before that he likes "feel good, fun puzzles" and dislikes war references. He said "I make a conscious effort to avoid things like A TEST, N TEST, DESERT STORM and other militaristic references".

Sometimes theme & answer selection reflect a constructor's background, interests and principles.

Across:

1. Comprehend : GRASP

6. Southern Russian city : OMSK. In Siberia.

10. Sources of a 2000 ballot controversy : CHADS. It's in the clue for Splynter's FLA yesterday.

15. University QB, e.g. : BMOC (Big Man On Campus)

19. Out of control : ROGUE. Going rogue!

20. Soda with fruity flavors : NEHI

21. Rarin' to fight : HET UP

22. First woman attorney general : RENO (Janet)

23. Vote in : ELECT

24. Settled : ALIT

25. Kitchen drawer? : AROMA. Always a fun clue.

26. Took advantage of : USED

30. Computer file acronym : ASCII

31. Natural balm : ALOE

32. Sushi staple : AHI. Yellowfin tuna.

33. Fair share for a pair : ONE HALF

42. Having ruffles : FRILLY

43. Needle : RIB

44. "... and __ a good-night!" : TO ALL

45. Dieter's breakfast : MELON. And 74A. Convenient breakfast fare : EGGOS. Clecho (clue echo).

47. "Mother, please, I'd rather do it myself!" product : ANACIN. Not familiar with the line.

51. Fender unbender? : BODY SHOP. "Unbender" indeed.

54. Speakeasy employee : B-GIRL

58. Prepare to operate : SCRUB UP. For surgery.

60. "Mon Oncle" star : TATI (Jacques)

61. Yippie Hoffman : ABBIE

62. Adjusts the boundaries for, perhaps : REMAPS

65. Battlefield cry : MEDIC. Gimme for Dennis, who risked his life in Vietnam and was shot in the knee.

66. Stabs : TRIES

67. Rapper __ Moe Dee : KOOL. Rappers all think they're kool.

73. Ain't the way it should be? : ISN'T

76. Prepare for a dubbing : KNEEL. Oh, dubbing a knight. Not movies.

77. Wanting : IN NEED

79. Dutch pottery city : DELFT. The distinctive blue & white pattern is originated in China.

80. Sensible : SANE

81. Racer Maserati : ERNESTO. Well, eddyB, your turn! If the clue is not Che Guevara related, then I know nothing.

85. Memo from upstairs : SEE ME

86. Reagan era scandal : IRANGATE. Iran-Contra.

91. Help develop : FOSTER

92. One who shouldn't be in your business? : YENTA. In every culture.

94. Nutritional std. : US RDA

96. Eponymous western tribe : UTE

97. Only just : HARDLY

106. What "they've all gone to look for," in a Paul Simon song : AMERICA. For Boomer.

108. Jean-__ Picard: "Star Trek: TNG" captain : LUC

109. Cryptic character : RUNE

110. Soprano Fleming : RENEE

119. Edmonton's prov. : ALTA. Alberta.

120. Embarrass : ABASH

121. Slangy hangout, with "the" : HOOD

122. Dublin theater : ABBEY. Abbey Theater.

123. Where Anna was governess : SIAM. Anna in "The King and I".

124. Chip choice : NACHO. And 125. Chip, maybe : ANTE. Another clecho.

126. Italy's fashion center : MILAN. AC Milan too.

127. "Do the Right Thing" pizzeria : SAL'S

128. Schindler with a list : OSKAR. "Schindler's List".

129. Service dining hall : MESS

130. Noblemen : PEERS

Down:

1. Cultivated : GREW

2. Something to read for : ROLE. Oh, for audition.

3. Gets older : AGES. My mother died at age 36. Sometimes I see her when I look at myself in the mirror.

4. For example : SUCH AS

5. Potpourri items : PETALS

6. Ready : ON ALERT

7. Dramatic opening? : MELO. Melodramatic.

8. Thug's knife : SHIV

9. Flier on the beach, often : KITE

10. Cuban dance : CHA CHA

11. Like brave deeds : HEROIC

12. Molecular bit : ATOM

13. Timothy Q. Mouse's title friend : DUMBO

14. Baths : SPA

16. Agave liquor : MESCAL. How does it taste?

17. '70s-'80s House speaker : O'NEILL (Tip).

18. Systematize, as rules : CODIFY

28. John for Elton : LOO. John = Loo.

29. Unite for a cause : RALLY

30. Stunt pilot, e.g. : AEROBAT

34. Bears' org. : NFL

35. Titles for esposas: Abbr. : SRAS. "Esposas" is Spanish for "spouses" I gather.

36. POTUS, to the military : CINC (Commander-in-Chief). POTUS = President of The United States.

37. Support beam : I-BAR

38. More than sniffle : SOB

39. Kung __ chicken : PAO. Kung = Palace. Pao = Guard. The dish is named after an official who worked in the Qing Dynasty palace. Kung Pao is Cantonese. In Mandarin, it's Gong Bao chicken.

40. City council mem. : ALD

41. It may be repressed : EMOTION

46. Unisex : EPICENE. New word for me.

49. "May __ frank?" : I BE

50. Asleep, as a foot : NUMB

52. Trick ending? : STER. Trickster.

53. Mecca-bound pilgrim : HADJI. Or HAJJI.

55. Head of the Egyptian god Thoth, in many renderings : IBIS. Sacred bird to the ancient Egyptians.

56. It means nothing to Nanette : RIEN. Literally "nothing".

57. For fear that : LEST

59. Puts one's seat on a seat, in slang : PARKS IT

63. Favoring Mideast unity : PAN-ARAB

64. Tuscan city : SIENA. Brings to mind "Under the Tuscan Sun".

65. Blanc with many voices : MEL

67. Sneaker brand : KEDS. Any Doc Martens fan here?

68. S-shaped molding : OGEE

69. Look like a Lothario? : OGLE. Alliteration.

71. Restaurateur Paula : DEEN. Well, no one is perfect. "Kiss my grits!"

72. Feudal peasant : SERF

75. Metal marble : STEELIE. Crossword word.

78. "Another Green World" musician Brian : ENO

82. Game with a hole card : STUD

83. Beret holder : TETE

84. Galena and hematite : ORES

87. Italian bag man? : GUCCI. FENDI has 5 letter also, and Italian luxury bag brand as well.

88. Louisville Slugger wood : ASH

89. Half of sei : TRE

90. Announcer Hall : EDD

93. MoMA locale : NYC

95. Rubs the wrong way : ABRADES

97. Bedevil : HARASS

98. 2009 title role for Hilary : AMELIA. Hilary Swank.

99. Cottage at the beach, often : RENTAL

101. Inventor Otis : ELISHA

102. Appreciative cry after a play : AUTHOR. I don't get this clue.

103. Him, in Le Havre : LUI

104. Location for potential mergers? : ON RAMP. Was thinking of business mergers.

105. Neophyte : NEWBIE

107. Arafat's successor : ABBAS

112. Pool triangle : RACK

113. Hoax : SHAM

114. Perfect : HONE

115. Intense attraction, with "the" : HOTS

116. Willing follower? : ABLE. Ready, willing and able.

117. It changes annually : YEAR. True.

118. Dict. entries : SYNS

120. "Is that __?" : A NO

Answer grid.

C.C.