Wednesday, Dec 5 2012, Robin Stears

theme: I'M DOWN

this seemed more like a thursday level to me, a bit of a workout. an unusual looking grid, too, fitting the COLUMNS theme. i like puzzles that have down theme answers, i guess just because it's unusual.

5d. *"Break Like the Wind" band : SPINAL (COLUMN) TAP. 

10d. *TV drama narrated by a teen blogger : GOSSIP (COLUMN) GIRL. does anyone watch gossip girl?

26d. *Double-date extra : FIFTH (COLUMN) WHEEL. "third wheel" is the more common phrase. fifth column definition.

34d. *Chemical connection that involves a transfer of electrons : IONIC (COLUMN) BOND. an ionic column is a greek architectural feature.

22. The answers to starred clues start with kinds of them, and are arranged in them : COLUMNS

across

1. Unapproachable : OFFISH. a stretch-ish.

7. Heavy shoe : BROGAN. wikipedia: "a term generally applied to any heavy, ankle-high shoe or boot …". 

13. Like Steven Wright's delivery : DEADPAN. "I went for a walk last night and she asked me how long I was going to be gone. I said, "The whole time."

15. Fragrant hybrid bloom : TEA ROSE. created by cross-breeding two types of roses. so pretty.

16. Unusually large : OUTSIZE

17. They enjoy being cruel : SADISTS

18. GPS display : RDS. global positioning system / roads.

19. Scottish refusal : NAE

20. Melodic passages : ARIOSOS. new to me.

21. Cabbage head? : HARD C. can't fool me with that any more.

23. E. __ bacteria : COLI

24. Hug : ENFOLD. enfolds and kisses.

27. Buckeyes' sch. : OSU. ohio state university.

29. Blunt blade : EPEE

32. Main idea : POINT

33. Defensive story : ALIBI

35. "I hate when you do that!" : GRR

36. Balkan Peninsula capital : SOFIA

37. Profit share : CUT

38. Heavenly hunter : ORION. constellation.

40. Prov. on Lake Superior : ONT. ontario, canada.

41. Tottenham tot toters : PRAMS. tottenham is an area in london, and pram is a british word for a baby carriage.

43. Squares : NERDS

44. Grape soda brand : NEHI

46. A in German class : EIN

47. Light spectrum extreme : VIOLET

48. L.A. Sparks' org. : WNBA

50. Contractor's details : SPECS

52. Ones with a common heritage : ETHNICS

55. Eyeball : ORB

56. "Grimm" network : NBC. no idea. looks interesting.

59. Put away, as a hunting knife : SHEATHE

60. More apt to pout : MOODIER

62. Many a Nickelodeon watcher : PRETEEN

63. Exalt : ENNOBLE

64. Astonishingly enough : NO LESS

65. Carol opener : ADESTE. christmas carol, adeste fideles, aka o come all ye faithful. it's that time again already. here's BNL's version of a different classic carol:

down

1. Air Wick target : ODOR

2. It can go on for years : FEUD

3. Dieter's count : FATS

4. Picks from a lineup : ID'S. identifies - no indication of abbreviation, i suppose ID is common enough.

6. Thin ice, say : HAZARD

7. Berenstain youngster, e.g. : BEAR CUB. children's book series, the berenstain bears.

8. Active beginning? : RADIO. radioactive.

9. Maryland state bird, for one : ORIOLE. why 'for one'?

11. Apropos of : AS TO

12. Storied loch : NESS

14. Can't be without : NEED

15. Bag-checking agcy. : TSA. the butt of so many jokes.

21. Hägar's daughter : HONI. never remember this.

24. Canon rival : EPSON. printer makers.

25. Worst possible turnout : NO ONE. aw.

28. Tries to please a master, perhaps : SITS. "if you can sit quietly after difficult news, if in financial downturns you remain perfectly calm, if you can see your neighbors travel to fantastic places without a twinge of jealousy, if you can happily eat whatever is on your plate, if you can love those around you unconditionally and fall asleep after a day of running around without a drink or a pill, if you can always find contentment just where you are … you're probably a dog."

30. Diminish by degrees : ERODE

31. Arp contemporary : ERNST. jean arp (1886-1966) and max ernst (1891-1976) - both german painters, sculptors and poets.

33. Trendy healthful berry : ACAI

39. Classic autos : REO'S

42. Is guilty of a dinner table no-no : REACHES

45. Congenital : INNATE

47. Shakespearean setting : VERONA. romeo and juliet, and the two gentleman of verona.

49. Falls for a joke : BITES

51. Fleshy fruit : POME

52. "Mike and Mike in the Morning" broadcaster : ESPN

53. Via, briefly : THRO

54. China's Sun Yat-__ : SEN. did not know this.

56. Calligrapher's points : NIBS

57. Seat restraint : BELT

58. Hudson Bay native : CREE

61. Forest female : DOE

melissa

 

Tuesday, December 4, 2012 Marti DuGuay-Carpenter

 

Theme: Unfettered - Three synonyms that while they may not be synonyms of each other or how they are used in their phrase, are synonyms of the unifier.

17A. Quits worrying : RESTS EASY. Easy in the phrase is an adverb but as a synonym of loose, that something or someone is permissive, is an adjective.

27A. Like 56 minutes of each hour of The Masters telecast : COMMERCIAL-FREE. The phrase use is as unobstructed but as a synonym of loose, free is unrestrained.

47A. "Get off my back!" : "CUT ME SOME SLACK!". Here slack is part of an idiom, to give someone a break. As a synonym of loose, slack is the antonym of taut.

62A. Unfinished business, or, in a way, what 17-, 27- and 47-Across have in common : LOOSE ENDS

Argyle here. This softball turned into a hardball when I tried to write it up. Thanks a lot, Marti. I hope I got it right. Good solid corners, the way Rich likes them.

Across:

1. Ho-hum time : DRAG. No drag here.

5. Ship's command post : HELM

9. Zip preceder : STATE

14. Really-really : OH SO. Superlatively qualitative. and 25D. Chop-chop : PRONTO

15. Verdi's "Celeste Aida," e.g. : ARIA

16. Hypothesize : POSIT

19. Oohed and __ : AAHed

20. "Luncheon on the Grass" painter : MANET. You know, the two guys and the naked chick.

21. Law firm bigwigs : PARTNERS

23. Group with many golden agers : AARP. If you don't know AARP, well, bless you son.

26. Failed firecracker : DUD

34. Federal web address ending : .GOV

35. Office betting groups : POOLS

36. Curaçao neighbor : ARUBA. Map and Bottle.

37. TV's talking horse : MR. ED

39. Drum kit drum : SNARE

41. "Want the light __ off?" : ON OR

42. "Stick Up for Yourself" nasal spray : AFRIN

44. Glittery topper : TIARA

46. Molecule with a + charge, e.g. : ION

50. Mischief-maker : IMP

51. Hose fillers? : LEGS. I'm leaving this for Splynter.

52. Wide-awake : OPEN-EYED

57. Wanted poster word : ALIAS

61. Longish skirts : MIDIs

65. Temporarily unavailable : [IN USE]

66. Sask. neighbor : ALTA. (Saskatchewan/Alberta, Canada)

67. Macro or micro subj. : ECON.. Could be ECOL?

68. Help desk staffers, usually : TECHs

69. Hornet's home : NEST

70. Tebow throw, say : PASS. Still chuckle at New York Jest(from a past puzzle).

Down:

1. Quarter of a quad, perhaps : DORM. Quadrangle/Dormitory

2. Perlman of "Cheers" : RHEA Here is a classic clip.(I can't stop laughing) And seasonal, too.

3. Part of YMCA: Abbr. : ASSN.

4. Pep rally cry : "GO TEAM!"

5. Possess, in the Hebrides : HAE

6. Christian __ : ERA

7. Speech impediment : LISP

8. Honduras native : MAYA

9. Patty turner : SPATULA

10. How a pendulum swings : TO AND FRO

11. Tennis great Arthur : ASHE

12. Row at Wrigley : TIER. More alliteration.

13. LAX guesstimates : ETD's. Or any airport.

18. Email doesn't require one : STAMP

22. Nutritional abbr. : RDA. (recommended daily allowance)

24. 1920s-'30s Flying Clouds, e.g. : REOs. Early luxury cars from Oldsmobile.

27. Greek vacation isle : CORFU. A Greek island in the Ionian Sea.

28. For all to see : OVERT

29. Insurance case : CLAIM

30. Knesset country : ISRAEL. Knesset - The unicameral parliament of Israel [Hebrew, literally: gathering] Unicameral - consisting of a single chamber, as a legislative assembly.

31. Written in mystical letters : RUNIC

32. Kindle download : E-BOOK

33. Deservedly get : EARN

34. Former car-financing org. : GMAC. (General Motors Acceptance Corporation)

38. Dwindle : DIMINISH

40. Hebrides tongue : ERSE. Map. Home to Talisker Scotch.

43. Archrivals : NEMESES. Super heros seem to attract them.

45. Aquarium accumulation : ALGAE. Shouldn't there be little critters in there eating that stuff.

48. One seeking intelligence : SPY

49. In dreamland : ASLEEP. Where I should be.

52. Leave out : OMIT

53. "Ponderosa" tree : PINE

54. PTA's focus : EDUC.. Locally, it is PTSA, Parent-Teacher-Student Association. Is that what your school has?

55. Lust for life : ELAN

56. Charitable distribution : DOLE. What to do with the contributions.

58. Machu Picchu resident : INCA

59. Fusses : ADOs

60. Federal IDs : SSN's

63. Extra NHL periods : OT's

64. Did nothing : SAT

Argyle