Saturday, Mar 30th, 2013, Barry C. Silk

Theme: Saturday Silkie

Words: 68 (missing F,J,Z)

Blocks: 28

  This one was a fun romp for yours truly today, as I was done well within my personal allotted time.  With the exception of one,  I found the answers dwelling deep inside my crossword cranium.  Triple 9- and 10-letter triple stacks in a pinwheel grid, with some notables:

31. Ambergris source : SPERM WHALE - ambergris is essentially "poop"; a substance found in the digestive system- the Wiki

42. Relatives of penny dreadfuls : DIME NOVELS - I got the "DIME" part, and novels seemed to make sense; some interesting reading; made me think of "pulp fiction" - but I'll refrain from a movie clip

57. Instigator of '70s-'80s wars : BURGER KING - I half expected this to be so variation of Coca-Cola or Pepsi; once the perps filled in, I recalled the 'other' war of the same time period - that between the answer and McDonald's.  I am a BK fan myself; they have sweet potato fries now~!

Onward~!

ACROSS:

1. Its goal is to include "all words in all languages" : WIKTIONARY - I don't usually visit this part of Wikipedia

11. Walker of the 1960s 76ers : CHET - all from the perps; not a basketball fan

15. Approaching the hour : A QUARTER TO - First line of a Blue Öyster Cult song (a quarter to 'five')

16. Bar mitzvah staple : HORA - feeling better, Lemon?

17. Retreats : RUNS SCARED

18. Without restraint : AMOK - not FREE

19. The Panthers of the Big East : PITT - from Pittsburgh

20. Bond first bought by FDR in 1941 : SERIES E - hey, I found a clip of the president pitching the idea~!

22. Heavenly approach? : STAIRWAY - No Stairway, denied~! (to Heaven, a la Led Zeppelin)

27. Open living rooms : LANAIs - why do I think this is called a "patio"?

28. Schools overseas : ECOLES - Frawnch for "school"

30. Spartan toiler : HELOT - I dug this one out from deep within my skull

35. Wiped out, with "in" : DONE

36. Texting nicety : THX - 'Thanks', and I am guilty of using it

37. Birds with colorful mates : PEAHENS - it's the male peaCOCKs (easy there) that have the plumage

39. Little break : NAP

40. Tim of "WKRP in Cincinnati" : REID

44. Dramatist Chekhov : ANTON - crossword staple, so I got it

46. Caved : GAVE IN

47. Ancient Mexican : TOLTEC - because AZTECS is more than one Mexican

49. Fertile Crescent area : NEAR EAST

53. Musical name that means "Love God" : AMADEUS - huh, well, that makes sense AMA, DEUS

55. Mid-second-century date : CLII - Roman 152; the second century was 101-200

56. Actress Rowlands : GENA - another crossword staple

62. Hydrocarbon endings : ENEs - propene, octene, etc.

63. Sign of a bad waiter : IMPATIENCE - went to a Japanese Hibachi restaurant last night - I dig the "stunt cooking" - the chef pitched broccoli florets to us to catch in our mouths

64. British side : MASH - bangers (hey now) and mash - sausage and potatoes

65. Take over : COMMANDEER

DOWN:

1. They may be found in board examinations : WARPS - HA~!!! I put in KNOTS first - carpenter's clue

2. Resigning words : I QUIT - felt like walking out at UPS today - not enough vans running for a holiday weekend

3. Kinte in "Roots" : KUNTA

4. More palatable : TASTIER

5. E-file org. : IRS

6. Nasdaq predecessor : OTC - just like the "Monday" cluing, this is Over-The-Counter finance

7. PBS benefactor : NEA

8. LAX datum : ARRival

9. They usually involve turns: Abbr. : RTEs

10. Singing cowboy's refrain : YODEL

11. Bound, in a way : CHAINED

12. Film in which Marv says, "He's only a kid, Harry. We can take him." : HOME ALONE

13. Caused by weathering : EROSIONAL

14. Act : TAKE STEPS

21. Fan sound : RAH

23. Ottawa-based enforcement gp. : RCMP - Royal Canadian Mounted Police - another Blue Öyster Cult song, also in the first line

24. Amazed : WOWED

25. Ron Reagan's first secretary of state : AL HAIG - full name, nice

26. Cat's assent : "YEAH MAN~!"

29. Record holder : SLEEVE

31. Gambit : STRATAGEM

32. Events : PHENOMENA

33. Turnoffs : EXIT LANES - good misdirection; not 'bad breath', e.g.

34. Octa- plus one : ENNEA - I study the Personality Types of the Enneagram; I know Yellowrocks does, too - I am a Five with a Four-wing

38. Liszt's "Harmonies du __" : SOIR - this was the one that was totally out of my wheelhouse

41. A, to Morse : DOT DASH

43. Unlike crews : V-NECKED - The VN--- was there, and I thought "no....oh wait~!" - we're talking T-shirts here

45. Formerly : NEE

48. __ yard : CUBIC

50. Dress with a flare : A-LINE

51. Subsequently : SINCE

52. Clemson player : TIGER

54. Sport for heavyweights : SUMO

58. Dash letters : RPM

59. Pinup highlight : GAM - can't get out without linking some GAMS, you know me~!

60. Frat vowel : ETA

61. Film dog's first name? : RIN - tin-tin, that is; not ASTA

Splynter

Friday March 29, 2013 Jack McInturff

(Note from C.C.: Today's blog is a collaborative effort between Lemonade & Boomer, who had another 300 on Monday. Five perfect games this season! Lemonade had set up the whole clue/answer list, analyzed the theme & wrote a few comments, but did not feel well enough to continue. He was sick the week before, then last week's trip to Colorado and cold weather did not help. Get well soon, Lemonade!)

Theme: What the H?

Jack is back and he has given a tricky letter(s) substitution, where the letters "TR" are removed from the start of the final word of four common phrases and replaced with "H" to create a new and humorous answer. There is also a unifier, of sorts.

16A. Hide cyberspace crimes? : COVER ONE'S (TR)HACKS. (13). I have no idea how hackers hack, but I know how trackers track.

27A. Amsterdam cops? : DUTCH (TR)HEAT (9). I am not one for going Dutch on a date; if she can afford it I am man enough to let her pay.

35A. Objects of poolside ogling? : SWIMMING (TR)HUNKS.(13).

47A. Hayseed that doesn't tip? : CHEAP (TR)HICK.

57A. NBA military appreciation initiative, and a hint to this puzzle's theme : HOOPS FOR TROOPS.

Across:

1. Beginning to bat? : ACRO.  A tricky beginning  ACROBAT, not a baseball reference.                       

5. Styptic stuff : ALUM. Since they made the razors better, I have not seen one in years but they still work, I imagine. LINK.

9. Leapfrog : FLIT. Jack will have to explain this one, as I do not see the connection, and I do not want to start a war of unPC definitions.

13. Cleaver kid : BEAV. Wally always called his little brother this. Another answer, I must skate around and hope we get some of Lois' perfect edgy style.

14. Collaborative website : WIKI.

15. Actress Anderson : LONI. Poor Burt is going down the tubes. (Starting Boomer... Beautiful Loni was from Highland Park Minnesota.

19. Macbeth or Hamlet : ROLE. Did any of our band ever play one of these?

20. Most cozy : HOMIEST.  Where Joe Mauer and Buster Posey play.

22. "Where ___": 1996 Beck hit : IT'S AT.

25. Mr. ___: Dr Pepper rival : PIBB.

26. Bemoan : RUE.  Also one of the Golden Girls.

30. "Barnaby Jones" star : EBSEN.  Buddy was originally cast as the tin man in "Wizard of Oz", but was allergic to the silver makeup.

32. Editor's mark : STET.  Add a "SON" and you have cologne.

33. Strong-legged bird : EMU.

34. Pendleton Act pres. : CAA. Chester A. Arthur.

40. Writer Marilyn ___ Savant : VOS ?!

41. Chambéry shout : CRI.  That's four three letter "words" in a row that are a bit vague.

42. Olive, for one : TREE.  If this were three letters, I would guess OYL.

44. Parting word : ADIEU.  "My best of friends ADIEU.  I can no longer stay with you.  I'll hang my heart on the weeping willow tree, and may the world go well with thee!"

49. Push for payment : DUN. 

50. Peppy : SPRY.

52. Malága to Cádiz dirección : OESTE (West).  One language is tough enough.

53. Like the L.A. Times Building : ART DECO.  I have never seen the building.  I thought Art Deco was the guy who played Santa Claus at the office Christmas party.  Or maybe that was Art VanDelay.

55. Nitwit : BOOB. I know a different clue for this word.

62. Broadway governess : ANNA."The King and I"?

63. The Supremes or Cream : TRIO.  Kingston and Chad Mitchell are my favorites.

64. Remote button : MUTE.  I use this frequently on Bert Blyleven Twins telecasts.

65. Honey drink : MEAD.

66. Realizes : SEES.

67. Victim of spoilage? : BRAT.  My son's name is Bret.  I named him correctly but I spelled it wrong. 

Down:

1. "Shark Tank" airer : ABC

2. Corp. leader : CEO

3. ___ 4: Toyota SUV : RAV

4. Like some imaginations : OVER-ACTIVE.  I'll never admit it though.

5. MP's concern : AWOL.  "Where to get donuts" didn't fit.

6. Pickup opener : LINE.  Joey on Friends used "How you doin'",  But I think you also need to be rich and look like him.

7. Ho's instrument : UKE.  The Uke was invented in Portugal, not Hawaii. But the Hawaiians figured out what to do with it.

8. Cause of a big slice : MISHIT.  I can slice even when I hit it well. Careful how you say this word.

9. Mardi Gras torch : FLAMBEAU.  Never heard of this.  What do they call the shiny beads?

10. Focal points : LOCI

11. Cartoonists, at times : INKERS.  Okay, and other times as an ST on the front.

12. Offer to one who's been recently blessed? : TISSUE.  Or peeled an onion.

17. "Goodbye, Columbus" author : ROTH (Philip). My clue would be Hall of Fame PBA bowler Mark.  Now recovering from a stroke at a young age. 

18. Fireside shelf : HOB

21. Common base : TEN.  OR - the pin that's most common to leave.

22. Points a finger at : IDS.  The IDS Tower is still the tallest building in Minneapolis.

23. Sounds of disdain : TUTS.

24. Difficult spot : STEW.  The beef kind tastes the best.

25. Potbellied : PAUNCHY.  Middle age dilemma.  Eat your vegetables.

28. Clothes lines : HEMS

29. Brt. recording heavyweight : EMI

31. Peace rally slogan : BAN THE BOMB.  In the 60s, folks were building shelters.  Thank God we never had to use them.  But I often wondered why someone would stay underground and eat thirty days worth of food, only to return above ground to find that all of the Target stores and bowling centers were gone. 

34. Hairy "pet" : CHIA.  This replaced the pet rock as a Christmas present for in-laws.

36. Clicking site : MOUSE PAD.  Also the place where the mouse lives.  My garage was a mouse pad this winter.  I got them though.  They should have built a shelter.

37. Ph.D. seeker's exam : GRE

38. Brooklyn Nets forward Humphries : KRIS.  Originally from my home town, Hopkins, Minnesota.  55343

39. Dissenting group : SECT. 

43. Barely earn, with "out" : EKE

44. Oklahoma city : ADA.  Also a city in Northern MN.

45. Duke's home : DURHAM.  Also home of the minor league Bulls. Great Movie, remember Crash Davis?

46. Chant : INTONE

47. Seals's partner : CROFTS.  Originally Darrell, aka Dash.  Summer Breeze makes me feel fine.  Still waiting this year.

48. In need : POOR

51. Mac alternatives : PCs

54. Spanish address : DONA.  On a wagon, Bound for market, There's a calf with a mournful eye.

55. Creamy spread : BRIE

56. Early Nebraskans : OTOS - This is a great Band of Native Americans.  They were known as Southern Sioux, and settled near what is now the SD / NE border on the Missouri River.  Brule, South Dakota is the small town there, with a nine hole golf course and some of the best fishing in the Midwest. 

58. Pay dirt : ORE

59. Word of sharing : OUR

60. Class-conscious org.? : PTA - Harper Valley had an issue with theirs.

61. Prepared : SET - Three games of bowling is now called a set. We used to call it series. I guess either works for me.

Lemonade & Boomer