Monday, October 15, 2012 Nancy Kavanaugh

Theme: What to wear - Three different dresses start the three theme entries.

17A. Four-to-midnight production overseer, say : SHIFT SUPERVISOR

26A. Dead battery hookup : JUMPER CABLE

43A. Encased dagger : SHEATH KNIFE Wiki link for definition.

56A. Dry runs, and a hint to the starts of 17-, 26- and 43-Across : DRESS REHEARSALS

Argyle here. Two grid spanners on a Monday is impressive. Easy peasey with some fun clues. Some possible theme related entries I will highlight.

Across:

1. Trot or gallop : PACE

5. Home with a domed roof : IGLOO

10. Stylish : CHIC

14. Earth Day sci. : ECOL. (ecology) and 52D. Earth sci. : GEOL. (geology)

15. Playground chute : SLIDE

16. Avatar of Vishnu : RAMA. Vishnu has many avatars, Rama is one of the main ten (Dashavatara).

20. Bill of Rights amendment count : TEN. Connection?

21. "Les Misérables" author Victor : HUGO

22. Parisian love : AMOUR

23. "What __ the odds?" : ARE

24. In liberal amounts : APLENTY

31. Get hitched in a hurry : ELOPE

32. Without warning : ALL AT ONCE

37. Unload for cash : SELL

38. Colorado ski city : ASPEN

39. Secure in the harbor : MOOR

40. Mind readers : TELEPATHS

42. Luxurious bedding material : SATIN

45. Popular restaurant fish : SEA BASS

49. 18-Down, on a sundial : III. 18-Down. Midafternoon hour : THREE

50. Shoreline feature : INLET

51. Stare at impolitely : OGLE

53. Time Warner "Superstation" : TBS. (Turner Broadcasting System)

60. Clumsy one : LOUT

61. Mail for King Arthur : ARMOR. A type of dress, in the broad sense.

62. Wrinkle remover : IRON. King Arthur would need a hammer to get the wrinkles out of his dress.

63. MDs for otitis sufferers : ENT's. (ear, nose, and throat) Otitis is inflammation of the ear.

64. With tongue in cheek : WRYLY

65. Maddens with reminders : NAGS

Down:

1. Bothersome insect : PEST

2. Exercise woe : ACHE

3. Nickel or dime : COIN

4. Tiny toymaker : ELF. The North Pole is hiring.

5. Periodical publisher : ISSUER

6. Sound from a water cooler : [GLUG]

7. Fat-reducing procedure, briefly : LIPO. (liposuction)

8. Poem of praise : ODE

9. "__ the ramparts ..." : O'ER

10. Punishment's partner : CRIME. "Crime and Punishment" is a novel by the Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky. It was first published in 1866.

11. Is wearing : HAS ON

12. Poker concession : "I'M OUT". The bettor's money stays in the pot, however.

13. Have in stock : CARRY

19. __ parking : VALET

23. Winesap, e.g. : APPLE. Info

24. Most capable : ABLEST

25. Draw up a schedule for : PLAN

26. Kid around : JEST

27. Oscar-nominated Peter Fonda role : ULEE. "Ulee's Gold" (1997)

28. "__ Flanders": Defoe novel : MOLL. The Fortunes & Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders &c. Who was Born in Newgate, and during a Life of continu'd Variety for Threescore Years, besides her Childhood, was Twelve Year a Whore, five times a Wife (whereof once to her own Brother), Twelve Year a Thief, Eight Year a Transported Felon in Virginia, at last grew Rich, liv'd Honest, and dies a Penitent. Written from her own Memorandums …

29. Social divisions : CASTES

30. Wolf pack leader : ALPHA. I spent time trying to think of the word used for Cub Scout den leader.

33. Muscat resident : OMANI. Muscat is the capital of Oman.

34. "Surely you don't mean me" : "NOT I"

35. Hairdo : COIF

36. Seaside swooper : ERNE. (sea eagle)

38. Contented sounds : AAHs

41. Exams for sophs or jrs. : PSAT's

42. Winter Olympics entrant : SKIER

44. Swank of "Amelia" : HILARY

45. Move furtively : SIDLE

46. Scandalous newsmaker of 2001-'02 : ENRON

47. Alaskan native : ALEUT

48. Outplays : BESTS

51. "Goodness gracious!" : "OH, MY!"

53. O'Hara homestead : TARA. In "Gone with the Wind"

54. Opinion website : BLOG

55. IRS form entries : SSN's

57. Inexperienced, as recruits : RAW

58. Go wrong : ERR

59. Moral wrong : SIN

Argyle


Notes from C.C:
  
Here is a photo of Windhover (Larry) taken on August 15th, 2012 at his 50th high school reunion. He looks so mellowed.

I think this is the picture that made Annette (or is it Hahtool?) want to ride in his bike. Very rugged.

Sunday October 14, 2012 John Lampkin

(If your paper does not carry the puzzle we're blogging on Sundays, click here to solve on line or print out a copy.)

Theme: Location, Location, Location - The first word in each locale contained phrase is replaced by a sound-alike word.

25A. African antelope's haven? : GNU REPUBLIC. New republic the magazine.

27A. Farmer's fields? : FODDER LAND. Fatherland

44A. Roomer's mecca? : BOARDER STATE. Border state.

66A. Ford's legacy? : AUTO-MAN EMPIRE. Ottoman Empire.

85A. Oscar fan's realm? : WILDE KINGDOM. Oscar Wilde. Wild kingdom.

108A. Celebrity chef's turf? : EMERIL CITY. Emeril Lagasse: "Kick it up a notch!". Emerald City.

110A. Bellyacher's bailiwick? : WHINE REGION. Wine region.

42D. Friendly folks' environs? : HI COUNTRY. High country.

50D. Jurist's paradise? : SUE NATION. Sioux Nation.

To me, no one does this type of punny theme better than John Lampkin. Try to clue those theme entries yourself,  you'll realize what imaginative and witty person he is.

Of course, a pangram. Of course, no cheaters. It's a John Lampkin after all. He treats every grid as an art. Plenty of long non-theme entries for a 9-theme entry grid. Only 66 black squares. I'd need 76 to 78.

Across:

1. Nighttime refresher : SLEEP. Lately Boomer (a diabetic) wakes up often because of foot nerve problem. Any advice will be appreciated.

6. Stir : ADO

9. Coffee flavoring : MOCHA

14. Galleon spars : MASTS

19. Roaring Camp chronicler : HARTE (Bret). From the "The Luck of Roaring Camp". Not  familiar to me.

20. Like some cats : HEP. 95D. Cool cat's "Understood" : I'M HIP.

21. Faint : SWOON

22. Britten's "Billy Budd," e.g. : OPERA

23. Command to a soldier : ABOUT FACE

29. Eocene and Miocene : EPOCHS

30. Unappreciative response : ICK. 41. Appreciative responses : AHs

31. Cardinal's resting place : TREE. What a great misleading "Cardinal"!

32. Bid : OFFERED

34. They may be written in tablets : DOSAGES. Great clue also.

36. Down : SAD. Splynter frequently gave shout-outs to Eddy on Saturdays, Eddy always  responded in his terse & droll style.

38. Actress Vardalos : NIA. And 56. Aimée of "La Dolce Vita" : ANOUK. Both should be gimmes for long time solvers.

39. At an earlier time : SOONER

48. It: It. : ESSA. ELLE in Italian.

52. Amp controls : DIALS

54. Shaping devices : DIES. Tricky clue.

55. Galleria display : ARTE
  

57. Highest point : ACME

 

58. Like some memories : FOND. I will remember you, will you remember me?

EddyB Hockey Game

Clear Ayes & Granddaughter Rachael

59. Tints : DYES

60. Rhododendron variety : AZALEA. I planted Burning Bush in our little garden this year. So impressed with their bright color and sturdiness.

61. Route directories : ROAD MAPS

63. Mexican pyramid builder : MAYA. 56D. Mexican pyramid builder : AZTEC

64. Nicklaus rival : WATSON (Tom). Or PALMER. Tom Watson is very nice in person. Some pros can be very cold.

65. Berliner's cont. : EUR

69. Peace, in Mexico : PAZ

71. 1960s-'70s first family : NIXONs. Nixon is very well regarded in China.

73. Queen's subjects : ANTS. John's wits in full display.

74. Acoustical foam pattern : EGG CRATE. I wonder why this shape.

76. Floral fragrances : ATTARS

77. Down : BLUE. "... Where do you go when you're blue..."I love this song so much.

78. Dullsville : BLAH. 89. Dullsville : DRAGGY.

79. Vacation plan : TRIP

80. Modern Persian : IRANI

81. Alligator __ : PEAR. Avocado. On toast with a few red pepper flakes. Heaven!

82. "__ there ..." : BEEN

83. Legally block : ESTOP

84. Feathered mimic : MYNA

88. __-cone : SNO

91. Gram. case : OBJ

92. Sister : NUN

94. Airport security concern : LIQUIDS

97. Round Table figure : GALAHAD. Lancelot's son. 

100. It broke up in 1991: Abbr. : USSR. Where were you in 1991? I was in college, happily dating.

104. __ Darya River : AMU. To the Aral Sea.

105. Come to pass : BEFALL

113. Taught gradually, with "in" : INSTILLED.

114. Gritty intro? : NITTY. Nitty-gritty.

115. Rub out : ERASE

116. U.S. Army E-6, e.g. : NCO

117. Pet annoyance? : PEEVE. Pet peeve. 45D. Gets pets, maybe : ADOPTS

118. "Jes' think ..." : S'POSE. Does "Jes'" stand for Jesus? I've never heard of this phrase before.

119. Site of unplayable organs : TORSO. And 33D. Organ with a drum : EAR

120. JFK, in the '50s : SEN

121. Philly cager : SIXER   

Down:

    

1. Dumbwaiter enclosure : SHAFT

2. Birthday work for mom : LABOR. Fun clue.

3. Destroy over time : ERODE

4. Liszt's "Transcendental __" : ETUDES. John is a pianist.

5. Elliott the Dragon's friend : PETE. From "Pete's Dragon". I definitely googled this before.

6. Time and __ : A HALF

7. Orange-handled pot beverage : DECAF. I don't drink coffee. Have no idea it's in orange-handled pots.

8. Unrestricted, as a discussion : OPEN-ENDED

9. Controversial flavor enhancer : MSG. It's widely used in Chinese dumplings.

10. Dominated : OWNED

11. Clever stroke : COUP

12. Scope opening? : HORO. Horoscope.

13. One may begin "Reminds me of the time ..." : ANECDOTE. I like this clue.

14. Creamy dessert : MOUSSE

15. 911 call follow-up, perhaps : APB

16. Baseball commissioner who helped establish interleague play : SELIG (Bud). Also wild card.

17. Instant : TRICE

18. Quarterback's concerns : SACKS

24. Bilbo's heir : FRODO. "The Lord of the Rings".

26. App-using device : PHONE

28. Helps with the dishes : DRIES
  

35. Some bowls : ARENAS

37. Playing hooky, maybe: Abbr. : ABS

39. Casting site : STREAM. Fishing.

40. They made Trigger happy : OATS. Trigger was Roy Roger's horse.

41. On __: if challenged : A DARE.

 

43. Memorable provider of roadside aid : SAMARITAN

46. Classic laundry soap : RINSO
 

47. Approve : SAY YES

49. Featured chorus lines : SOLO PARTS

51. Alias indicator : AKA
 

53. Showed the way : LED

58. Satyr cousins : FAUNS. Half man, half goat.

 

59. "Inferno" author : DANTE

60. Cry of frustration : AARGH

62. Soprano Kiri Te Kanawa, e.g. : MAORI

63. Soil enricher : MANURE

64. Tobacco industry whistle-blower Jeffrey : WIGAND. Stranger to me.

67. Bug, perhaps : MALADY

68. Pequod part-owner : PELEG. "Moby-Dick".

70. Youngest Marx brother : ZEPPO. Herbert Marx.

72. Kubla Khan's palace : XANADU. It's located in the present day Inner Mongolia, north of Beijing.

75. Amendments 1-10 subj. : RTS (Rights)

76. Intention : AIM

77. Lux. neighbor : BELG (Belgium)

78. Hundred-dollar bills, in slang : BENJAMINs

81. Pickled offering at a deli : PIG'S FEET. Widely consumed in Guangzhou, but never pickled.

82. Authoritative source : BIBLE

83. Avian runner : EMU

85. Spoonbill, for one : WADER
 

86. RV park chain : KOA

87. Vague rumor : ON DIT. Literally "They say" in French.

90. Angus cut : RIB EYE

93. Centers : NUCLEI

94. Homeowners' prides : LAWNS
  

96. Birder's Andean mecca : QUITO. Trust John on this. He's a naturalist.

97. Sheen : GLOSS

98. So : HENCE

99. Bad fire : ARSON

101. Big name in kitchen appliances : SILEX
 

102. Winwood of Traffic : STEVE. Also unknown to me.

103. Cup sought every two years : RYDER. Epic meltdown this year.

106. Farmer's prefix : AGRO

107. "Pants on fire" person : LIAR

109. Bussing needs : LIPS. Yellowrocks had a fun comment on bussing/bussed this past week.

111. Some Windows systems : NTS

112. Romantic beginning : NEO. Noe-Romantic.

I want to thank Seen and Windhover again for checking on Eddy & Clear Ayes last week and all your touching notes. I'm very saddened by the loss of two long-time regulars in a short period of time, but also comforted by the warmth and support shown on the blog. 

Life has been a bit rough lately, thank you for brightening my day with your daily comments and banters.

C.C.