Saturday, October 8, Brad Wilber

Theme: None

Words: 70

Blocks: 26

Phew ~! Mr. Wilber's offering this time was another brain twister, one I was not going to give up on - but needed a little red-letter help, I must admit. There's usually a movie I know referenced in Brad's Saturday puzzles that I have done - today it's "My Cousin Vinny";

61. Mona Lisa Vito in "My Cousin Vinny," for one : STAR WITNESS - because "hostile" didn't fit; clip - @1:17

A grid of stacked 11's pinwheeled with triple 9's - daunting, and it's a good thing I didn't notice at first.

Onward ~!

ACROSS:

1. Esther Williams number : WATER BALLET - I have heard of her, but this took a while to figure out

12. One who "must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES": Eliot : CAT

15. Stage manager's exhortation : IT'S SHOWTIME~!~

16. Opposite of hence : AGO - did not know this; adverb, meaning "from now"

17. 1870s period costume named for a Dickens lass : DOLLY VARDEN - complete unknown, all perps to get it - this dress

18. Grille cover : BRA - automobile grille, and the ugly black thing used to protect the car from being chipped by road debris

19. Composer of "The Lovely Bones" music : ENO -

20. 1986-to-2001 orbiter : MIR - MIR is peace in Russian, and its space station

21. In sequence : ORDERED

23. Mason's fee : RETAINER - Perry Mason, lawyer, and his payment - not his Invisalign orthodontics - we have some who collect retainers on the blog - the fees, that is

26. Ones waiting for bottle openers? : GENIES - very cute, liked it

27. Storm's dir. : NNE - WAG or Wait

28. Ulster, for one : OVERCOAT - new to me, and a WAG from OVER_ _ _ _ - image

30. Indicate indifference : SHRUG

33. Printers' primary colors : CYANS - CYMK printers use Cyan, Yellow, Magenta, and blacK

34. Debt-laden fin. deal : LBO - Leveraged Buy-Out

35. Derisive call : HOOT - I envision construction workers HOOTing at the hotties walking by - "heyyyy, babyyyy"

36. Pep rally climax, perhaps : CHANT

37. Transfer consequence, familiarly : RE-LO cation

38. Wood used in bows : ELM - YUP, I started with YEW - we all did, right?

39. Grinds : TOILS

40. Auto club recommendation : MOTEL - Had ROUTE to start

41. It's for the dogs : LEASH LAW

43. Trig. function : COSine - Again, WAG or Wait

44. Like some prescription lenses : TINTED

45. Took after : EMULATED

50. Establish firmly : ENGRAFT - new word for me; more of a horticulture-type meaning, and surgery, too

52. __ Zion Church : A.M.E. - here's the church website, for those curious

53. Soprano Marton : EVA

54. Milne tyke : ROO - A.A. Milne, and Winnie the Pooh - Roo was the young Kangaroo

55. Hippie era swinger? : BEAD CURTAIN - yeah, I get it, cute

58. Heel in a bakery : END - as a loaf of bread - image

59. Life-support system? : CEREAL AISLE - oh, so awesome - I had _AISLE, and the "?" told me Life meant something unusual - this cereal, and Mikey

60. Paris's Pont __ Arts : DES

DOWN:

1. Improved, perhaps, as a road : WIDER

2. Mark Yom Kippur : ATONE

3. Letter-shaped workbench groove : T-SLOT - image

4. School subj. for an au pair : ESL - English (as a) Second Language

5. Seuss hallmark : RHYMING - Dr. Seuss, and "Sam I am" for example

6. Big ox, say : BOVINE - Because "FAT HEAD" wouldn't fit

7. Au courant : AWARE - French for "in the current"

8. Copier tray size: Abbr. : LTR - letter

9. Adriatic vacation destination : LIDO

10. Coming into view : EMERGENT

11. Chicken option : TENDERS - McDonald's has the "McNuggets", had them last night; every one else has "tenders", Burger King, Wendy's, etc..

12. Two-wheeled carriage with a folding hood : CABRIOLET




13. Easy : AGREEABLE

14. Forest dweller with a cap : TOADSTOOL - and ROBIN HOOD fit so well with the "-OO-"

22. Ref. work : ENCyclopaedia

24. "Everybody Loves __": Johnny Cash album : A NUT - Wiki

25. Sovereign euphemism : ROYAL WE

29. 37-Across rentals : VANS

30. Like a prime candidate for disillusionment : SHELTERED - He led a "sheltered life"

31. Duffer's dream : HOLE IN ONE - Duffer is slang for non-pro golfers; any one not too good at a sport - we have quite a few "duffers" on the blog

32. Mars and Mercury : ROMAN GODS - one of those clues that helped break open the SW

33. Mint family plant : CHIA

36. Eleventh-hour panic : COLD FEET

37. "The Horse Fair" artist Bonheur : ROSA - the painting

39. String in a preschool class? : THE ABCs - I like it

40. Subterranean rodent : MOLERAT

42. Narrow waterway: Abbr. : STRait

43. Fluffy clouds : CUMULI - cumulus plural

46. Colorful talker : MACAW - parrot

47. Style, as hair into a bouffant : TEASE - these guys

48. Crusader's targets : EVILS - I thought it was the "Holy Grail"

49. Kierkegaard et al. : DANES - This guy, who is frequently cited in the "Enneagram Personality Types" - I am a Type 5 w 4 wing - I love to study people, and I have some guesses at some of the folks who visit our blog

51. Butler's estate, for a time : TARA - Rhett Butler, and the estate in "Gone With the Wind" - so I guess Brad referenced TWO movies today....

56. __ Bund: Swiss newspaper : DER - Der, das, dag, go for a WAG

57. Pewter component : TIN - this was just about the only "gimme" today - a three-letter metal? Hmmm....

Answer grid.

Splynter

Friday, October 7, 2011, Pete Muller

Theme: C before E, must go, Gee.. We have a substitution puzzle where phrases containing a word ending in CE, replace that word with one ending in G instead. Merriment ensues. I loved the unifier, which took a perfectly good expression, G-FORCE (parsing it as "G for CE") and reshaped into the theme for this effort. I thought LAG and RAG were too similar, but the puzzle was fun and not too easy nor too hard. Like porridge on a cold morning. Until this puzzle, we have exactly one puzzle a year from Mr. Muller, always in July. Well, as your resident acronym ace, I am back from the cold wet north, to unscramble this Friday feast.


20A. Boast à la Donald Trump : BRAG FOR IMPACT. BRACE FOR IMPACT is the starter phrase. I am so glad we do not see much of Donald lately.

26A. "Our overly fussy friend has a point"?: THE PRIG IS RIGHT. THE PRICE IS RIGHT, yo Bob Barker. Like seeing old timey PRIG resurface.

43A. Joplin piece about modern weaponry?: NUCLEAR ARMS RAG. NUCLEAR ARMS RACE. Scott Joplin worte ragtime music, like you heard in the Sting.

50A. Delay from an 18th-century English ruler?: QUEEN ANNE'S LAG. QUEEN ANNE'S LACE. The plant is pretty.

And the unifier;

64A. It's zero in free-fall—and, put another way, a hint to how the four longest puzzle answers were formed : G FORCE. This must be parsed G FOR CE, to help understand the the G is being replaced.

On to the show:

Across:

1. Puts a little too close to the flame: SINGES. Well we are all off to a hot start.

7. Does away with: OFFS. Yes, our mob loving culture has embraced this word. Also, 53D. Named names: SANG, like Sammy the Bull.

11. Spirit: PEP. Yes, this why they are called pep rallies.

14. Set straight: ORIENT. Where do you side on the debate with orientate?

15. Narrow space: SLIT. We have had this one often, so I guess we need this IMAGE.

16. Pay add-on: OLA. PAYOLA; I imagine many of you are too young to recall the scandal with radio DJ's accepting bribes to play certain records in the 50's. And, 24A. Malt finish?: OSE. MALTOSE. One of the many sugars, sweety.

17. Where many changes occur: CABANA. Cabana or cabaña is the place near beaches or pools where people don beachwear, nice clue.

18. August: MAJESTIC.

22. Patriot Act protesters: Abbr.: ACLU. AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION. Here we go again.

25. Goddess of motherhood: ISIS. Time for our LESSON.

31. Wasikowska of "The Kids Are All Right": MIA. Want to meet this CELEBRITY?(4:00)

32. "Trinity" novelist: URIS. Leon is on a little roll these days.

33. Union agreement: I DO. The marriage union.

34. Fiber source: OAT BRAN.

36. Illegal pitch: SPITTER. Just as gross as it sounds, banned by baseball in 1920, it was last legally thrown by Wisconsin native Burleigh Grimes in 1934.

40. "Have some": EAT. In a Jewish household, it is always, "eat, eat."

41. Kid on "The Cosby Show": THEO. The one male child of the Huxtables played by MALCOM-JAMAL WARNER.(4:28).

42. Big name in '40s-'50s Argentina: EVA. Mrs. Peron, don't cry for her.

47. Went under: SANK.

48. Emulate Eminem : RAP. Nice alliteration.

49. Irascibility: BILE. This cross was tricky, with the SB.

55. LA and MI, but not DO or RE: US STATES. My favorite clue, great confusion.

56. Gas up?: AERATE. Also tricky, no cars and no flatulence.

59. NRC predecessor: AEC. The Atomic Energy Commission was replaced by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

60. It can get you credit in a store: VISA.

61. Shrink, in a way: NARROW.

62. "The __ of Pooh": '80s best-seller: TAO. I had forgotten this silly book.

63. "Right away, Mammy": YES'M. Mammy? UnPC?

Down:

1. Religious org., perhaps: SOC. The org. tells you it is an abbreviation, this time for SOCIETY.

2. George's lyricist: IRA. The brothers Gershwin.

3. Show little interest in, as food: NIBBLE AT. I like the word NIBBLE.

4. Get ready for action GEAR UP.

5. Sicilian resort: ENNA. Unfamiliar with this place.

6. Unaccompanied: STAG.

7. Biology text topic: OSMOSIS. I used to sleep on my Biology text book, gathering my knowledge by osmosis.

8. Roadside attention getters: FLARES. Like THESE?

9. Water brand named for its source: FIJI.

10. Dam up: STEM.

11. Fertilizer substance: POTASH. Want to learn about Potassium salts and other ORGANICS?

12. Draw forth: ELICIT.

13. Treaties: PACTS.

19. Water source: SPIGOT. Same number of letters as faucet.

21. Surround with dense mist: FOG IN.

22. Spherical opening?: ATMO. ATMOSPHERICAL.

23. Hirsute pet: CHIA. Not really, it is leafy not hairy.

27. Like the sticks: RURAL.

28. Sizzling: IRATE.

29. More fleshy, perhaps: RIPER. You think?

30. Under the weather, e.g.: IDIOM. An expression, likely from seasickness.This comes again from a maritime source. In the old days, when a sailor was unwell, he was sent down below to help his recovery, under the deck and away from the weather.

35. Anouilh play made into a Burton/O'Toole film: BECKET. Wonderful FILM.(4:46)

36. It's not always easy to get into: SHAPE.

37. "Tootsie" Oscar nominee: TERI GARR. She now is fighting MS, but I will always remember her from this SCENE. (0:24).

38. Assessment, for short: EVAL. EVALUATION.

39. Popular trend: RAGE. This reminds me of Joon and his struggles and triumph today; what he knows amazes me, and what he does not also amazes me.

41. Pontiac muscle car: TRANS AM. Not the Firebird?

43. Sartre work: NAUSEA. This was Jean-Paul's first published novel, and really set out the existential philosophy which attracts so many college juniors.

44. Paris-based cultural org : UNESCO. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Really, is that enough?

45. "Gunsmoke" star: ARNESS. He and his brother, Peter Graves from Fury and Mission Impossible entertained us for years.

46. Popular purveyor of stromboli: SBARRO. At every food court, started by a family from Brooklyn named, yes, SBARRO.

47. Zipp : SQUAT. I prefer diddly squat.

51. Deep blue: NAVY.

52. Play to __: A TIE.

54. Two pages: LEAF. It is both sides of the page.

57. Front-of-bk. list: TOC. Really, one more? TABLE OF CONTENTS.

58. Cote girl: EWE. I guess this is a reference to the little known people of the IVORY COAST? (From C.C.: silly EWE! Sheep shelter "Cote".)

Answer grid.

Well, another week gone. A puzzle with no French, no law and no beer, nothing to complain about. I wish you all a happy healthy year, as some of us will be disappearing to atone for all our sins. Until next time.

Lemonade

Interview with Peter A. Collins

Peter A. Collins delighted many of us with this fish puzzle in May 2011. A fish appears when when you connect the circled letters in alphabetical order, and the only four letter O's in the grid form TINY BUBBLES coming from the fish's mouth. It's one of the many innovative and unconventional puzzles Pete created for the LA Times and NY Times.

Pete started constructing puzzle in 2006. He has had 53 puzzles published by the NY Times, 7 by LA Times and a few by the NY Sun, The Chronicle of Higher Education, USA Today and Peter Gordon's Fireball Crosswords.

I hope you enjoy his answers as much as I did. And a big "Thank you" to Joe Krozel for making this interview possible.

What's the inspiration for this theme and what were the other candidates you also considered for the hidden element?

I think (it's been a while) I got the idea for this theme while I was tinkering around with an "alchemy" themed puzzle that eventually ran in the New York Times (8/10/2010). In that puzzle I turned LEAD into GOLD through a word ladder. I noticed that both lead and gold were fairly short words that seemed to lend themselves to be hidden in other expressions. That got me thinking about other elements and their hide-ability. Of course, so many of them have long/bizarre names, they weren't practical. I wanted the hidden elements to be interior, so something like CAR BONNET (CARBON) was out. I also wanted the elements to span multiple words, so something like STINGY (TIN) was out. When I realized SURPRISE ELEMENT was exactly fifteen letters long and aptly described the theme, I decided to go for it.

Where were the trouble spots for you in the gridding and filling process? Overlapping of theme entries is always challenging.

Yes, I was happy that I got the upper and lower pairs of themed entries to overlap for six letters (I really like it when themed entries run perpendicularly to one another and intersect, but that's usually impossible). Sometimes in a situation like this, the fill can get a bit strained, but overall in this puzzle, I don't think it was too bad (ESOS and NTSB are a bit unfortunate, though). When I have parallel themed entries as in this puzzle, I usually try to fill the longer entries that intersect two (or three) themed entries first. Giving the longer entries as much zip as possible is important. In this puzzle, I really liked BATTLE CREEK. Almost everyone has heard of it, and it's where I went to high school -- Go Bearcats!

What's your background? And how did you get into crossword construction?

I'm a high school math teacher in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I came to Ann Arbor (from Battle Creek) as an undergraduate student and never left. I also teach at the University of Michigan in the summers. My wife (a fellow Wolverine) and I have four daughters -- two are in town here at the University of Michigan, and two are still in high school.

After having been a casual solver for many decades, I eventually got into a routine of doing the LA Times and/or NY Times puzzle on a fairly regular basis. Eventually I stumbled upon Will Shortz's book of favorite puzzles, and I was blown away by the creativity I saw. I thought "I've got to try this". It's been a great creative release for me ever since.

Before I started constructing, I remember having seen BLING in a puzzle. I was both thrilled ("That is so cool!") and confused ("Wait -- that's not a real word!"). I think that moment was some kind of an epiphany for me.

How would you describe your puzzle style? What kind of themes/fill interest you the most and what kind do you try to avoid in your grids?

For me, a novel or ingenious theme is worth the trade-off for a little less-than-stellar fill. I really am not fond of the type of puzzles where, for instance, every first word in several phrases can precede another word. Even add-a-letter/drop-a-letter themes can seem pretty tired, unless they're really well done. If you look back at all the puzzles I've had published, I'd like to think there is a great variety in terms of theme choice. If you had to pick one recurring type, it just might be the kind of hidden word theme as seen in this puzzle.

What is the most memorable puzzle you've made and why is it special to you?

I did a Beatles-themed rebus puzzle in the New York Times (5/18/2006). It was actually my second published puzzle in the NY Times, but I wrote it before my first puzzle was published, so I was really a beginner. I did it with pencil (and a lot of erasing) on graph paper, with no high-tech help. I put many hours into that thing, and since at the point in time I was unpublished, I think my wife thought I'd lost my marbles. When Will Shortz accepted it, he said some very complimentary things, which really gave me the encouragement to keep going as a constructor.

What puzzles do you solve every day and which constructors do you find most inspiring?

I really only have time to do one puzzle a day -- but sometimes I do more than one anyway. Usually the New York Times or the LA Times. I also like Peter Gordon's Fireball puzzles. I'm still not an expert solver. I can often hack my way trough a Friday, and the occasional Saturday, but I am by no means a speed-solver. I've never been to the ACPT, but I hope to go some day. I rarely do Sunday puzzles due to the time commitment, but I like to keep up with their themes by reading the blogs.

I think Patrick Berry is amazing with the smoothness and quality of his fill. Joe Krozel (with whom I often collaborate) is definitely on my wavelength in terms of liking off-beat themes (in addition to his clever themeless puzzles). I like Mike Nothnagel and David Quarfoot's themeless puzzles. Elizabeth Gorski has done some really nice picture-in-grid stuff that I am often drawn to myself, too. There also seem to be a lot of clever young constructors coming up. That's good to see.

Besides crosswords, what are your other hobbies?

I still play soccer and volleyball competitively. I run a bit, and ride my bike to work when the whether permits. I read, I juggle, and I like to follow the Detroit and U-Mich sports teams. As I write this, the Tigers are beating the Yankees!

Thursday, October 6, 2011 Peter A. Collins

Theme: “Element-ary, my dear Watson!”

37A. Unexpected twist (and a hint to what’s hidden inside 18-, 20-, 51 and 56- Across) : SURPRISE ELEMENT. I really enjoyed Peter’s “Fishy” puzzle, as C.C. mentions in her notes. And this one did not go over like a…

18A. Health enhancer, so it’s said: APPLE A DAY.
…lead balloon.

20A. It “is no problem. You just have to live long enough”: Groucho Marx: GETTING OLDER. Thar’s gold in them thar quotes!!

51A. “A Moon for the Misbegotten” playwright”: EUGENE O'NEILL.

56A. Longshoremen’s aids: CARGO NETS. The American National Archives use(s?) argon to store important national documents, like the Declaration of Independence.

I loved how the two pairs of theme entries were stacked on top of each other.

Marti here, so let’s get started.

Across:

1. Smoldering bit : EMBER

6. Slip a Mickey : DRUG. A "Mickey Finn" used to be known as a strong drink, laced with chloral hydrate (a sedative). Now it's "roofies" (flunitrazepam). Either way, watch your drink when out in a crowd!

10. It may have all the answers : CRIB. Did any of you use a “crib sheet” when taking exams? (I didn't think so!!)

14. Stiller's partner : MEARA. Funny couple!

15. High rollers' destination : RENO

16. Half of 10? : ZERO. I sat looking at this clue for a while, wondering how to fit “five” in with the perps… I finally hit myself with the V8 can when I saw “10” as a one and a zero!

17. Speed skater Apolo __ Ohno : ANTON. This was a complete WAG (“Wild A**ed Guess”, for newbies to this blog…)

22. Pickup facilitator : LINE. “So, do you come to this blog often?”

23. "Friendly skies" co. : UAL. United Airlines. Abbr. in the clue indicates an abbr. for the airline.

24. __ center : REC. Did anyone confidently fill in “epi-“, like I did?

27. PC time meas. : M-SEC. OK, I confess… I put in _SEC, and waited for perps before I decided if it was “p”, “n” or “m”.

29. Performed, in a way : SANG. If you heard me sing, it would not be a pretty performance!

32. Band that performed "Whip It" : DEVO. Hunh, I must have still been discoing while this one was recorded...

33. Bars in stores : UPC. Universal Product Code.

34. 1965 NCAA tennis champ : ASHE. He was closer to my generation…

35. Aaron's team for 21 seasons : BRAVES. Hah…I am beginning to recognize baseball clues/answers. But I still wanted to put in “NY Mets". (I’ll get it right some day, C.C. – I promise!!)

40. Make : CREATE

41. Gloom mate : DOOM

42. Rural stretch : LEA

43. "... two fives for __?" : A TEN

44. Skin malady, perhaps : CYST

45. What crews use : OARS

46. Expression of disappointment : TSK...tsk

47. Bit of code : DAH. Or, "Kick the bucket", in a southern drawl...

49. Hair care purchase : TINT. Me? No grey hairs here!!

59. Baggy : LOOSE

60. Net reading : BLOG. "So, do you come to this blog often?"

61. "Tiger in your tank" company : ESSO

62. Ban's predecessor at the U.N. : ANNAN. Ban Ki-Moon succeeded Kofi Annan in 2007, and is the current Secretary-General of the United Nations. If you cry "foul" at "Ban" being a first name, while "Annan" is a last name, remember that Ban Ki-Moon is Korean, where the "first" name written, is actually the family name, while Kofi Annan is from Ghana, where the family name is written second.

63. Bastes, e.g. : SEWS. I am already thinking of basting the turkey!

64. Attic constructions : WEBS. Great clue - had me thinking for a few seconds!

65. Bridge seats : WESTS. I entered _ _ STS, knowing it could be either "eaSTS" or WESTS. Yes, Yellowrocks...that's how I solve, sometimes!

And now, to go south:

Down:

1. Net reading : E-MAG. e-zine, e-news, e-cards, e-trade...I still delete all those from my word lists. (Maybe someday I will get into the modern lingo, but for now I will stick to magazine, newspaper, greeting cards, retail trade...)

2. "Writing on the wall" word : MENE. Thankfully, I had filled in the across clues, so did not even see this one. It is an idiom from the Biblical Book of Daniel, where supernatural writing foretells the end of the Babylonian Empire.

3. Michigan's Cereal City : BATTLE CREEK

4. Steamy : EROTIC. Should I let this one go?

5. Arrested : RAN IN

6. Bore : DRAG. "It's a real drag..."

7. Bank takeback, briefly : REPO. Repossessed, as a car.

8. Deprive of juice? : UNPLUG. Loved this clue/answer! The "juice" is the electricity that powers our PCs, TVs, lamps, refrigerators, stoves, aquarium filters, humidifiers, furnaces, refrigerators, microwaves, toasters, coffeepots, radios, can openers, blankets...what else do you have that requires "juice"???

9. Israel's Meir : GOLDA

10. Pre-Communism leader : CZAR. The leaders of Russia were Tsars before there was Lenin or Marx.

11. Thing to stop on : RED. As in, "red light". Or, a euphemism for a communist leader...

12. Savings for later yrs. : IRA. Individual Retirement Account

13. When repeated with "oh" in between, "Wow!" : BOY. "Boy oh boy!!"

19. Slippery swimmer : EEL

21. Mythical beast, to locals : NESSIE. Loch Ness monster, familiarly.

24. Epiphanies : REVELATIONS

25. Score-tying shot : EVENER. Meh...

26. Olympics broadcaster Bob : COSTAS

27. Mideast capital : MUSCAT. Also known as Masqat on some maps (good for constructors to know, a "q" without a "u"...). It is at the tip of the Arabian Peninsula (zoom out to see the geography).

28. Last lap efforts : SPURTS. Using an expression from mb, "...snort !!"

30. Spa sounds : AHS. (After spurts?)

31. Indigent : NEEDY

32. Lake creator : DAM

34. Interior decorator's concern : ART

35. Juiced : BLOTTO. How many euphemisms are there for "drunk"?

36. Sleep acronym : REM. Rapid Eye Movement stage of sleep.

38. Cooking utensil : PAN

39. Dawn goddess : EOS

44. French onion soup topping : CHEESE. I made a caramelized onion and goat cheese soup the other night - yummy.

45. Numbers after nine, often : ONE-ONE. Hmmm...I think this refers to a tied score after nine innings of baseball...but then, what do I know??? (From C.C.: This refers to 911.)

47. Sam & Dave, e.g. : DUO. Sam & Dave were an R&B duo in the 60's - 80's. For "duo", I think of Stiller & Meara, Sonny & Cher, Penn & Teller, Starsky & Hutch, Tom & Jerry...who are your favorites??

48. Nixon's first veep : AGNEW. "Veep" is a euphemism for "V.P." (Vice President).

50. Union acquisition? : IN-LAW. Another great clue/answer. A marriage union often brings unwanted baggage...

51. Vandalizes, in a way : EGGS. Halloween is coming...watch out for those EGGS on the car and TP in the trees, along with smashed pumpkins!

52. Gov't. train wreck investigators : NTSB. Did you all remember National Transportation Safety Board (without looking it up)?

53. Those, to Pedro : ESOS

54. Future atty.'s hurdle : LSAT. Law School Admission Test

55. Eye part : LENS

56. "CSI: NY" airer : CBS. Columbia Broadcasting System.

57. Microbrewery buy : ALE

58. Altercation : ROW (Not to be confused with what crews do, as in 45A.)

Answer grid.

TAFNF (That's all for now, folks!)

Marti

Note from C.C.:

Al is still snowed under with work and won't back to the blog until next April. I'm happy to announce that Marti will be our Thursday sherpa from now on. It takes time, dedication and focus to write an informative & entertaining post every week. I'm so grateful to Marti and my other blogging crew. Xie Xie!

Wednesday, October 5, 2011 Clive Probert

Theme: things that go bump in the night. three annoying things that might keep you awake.

17A. Honk ... honk ... honk ... : AUTOMOBILE ALARM. dane cook's thoughts. (turn down your volume first)

27A. Woof ... woof ... woof ... : BARKING DOGS

42A. Drip ... drip ... drip ... : LEAKY FAUCET

54A. What you'll get as a result of 17-, 27- or 42-Across? Not! : GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP

melissa here.

four noticeable Down 9's are featured in this puzzle, intersecting two theme answers each.

Across:

1. The duck in "Peter and the Wolf" : OBOE. wikipedia article.

5. Hail : GREET. tricky clue, needed perps.

10. 1996 title role for Gwyneth : EMMA. based on the jane austen novel. and another austen novel, 30A. Youngest "Pride and Prejudice" Bennet sister : LYDIA

14. "Project Runway" host Heidi : KLUM. have never seen the show, but knew the name.

15. Ardent lover : ROMEO

16. Business jet company founder : LEAR

20. Conifer with springy wood : YEW. springy wood ... snort.

21. Help in a bad way : ABET

22. Jargon : LINGO

23. City on the Shatt al-Arab waterway : BASRA. in southern iraq.

25. Cheeky pet? : HAMSTER

31. Love, in Málaga : AMOR. spain.

32. In the center of : AMID

36. Bonehead : DOLT

37. Pong maker : ATARI

38. Brit's floor covering : LINO. did not know this, perps again.

39. Men : GUYS. some guys are just guys. speaking of which, tiger is at the resort this week for the fry's open.

40. "Will be," in a Day song : SERA. doris day. que sera, sera.

41. Prefix meaning "hundred" : CENTI. centimeter.

44. Mime who created Bip the Clown : MARCEAU. marcel.

48. Fragrant compound : ESTER

49. Gesundheit evoker : ACHOO

50. Walrus's weapon : TUSK

52. Filmmaker's deg. : MFA. master of fine arts.

58. Normandy river : ORNE

59. Kentucky pioneer : BOONE. daniel.

60. Like lawn spots in need of reseeding : BARE

61. Some wallet bills : ONES

62. Social customs : MORES. the accepted traditional customs and usages of a particular social group.

63. Jeanne and Geneviève: Abbr. : STES. saintes.

Down:

1. "Sure" : OKAY

2. Roy Orbison song that was a top ten hit for Linda Ronstadt : BLUE BAYOU

3. On the surface : OUTWARDLY

4. Expressive rock genre : EMO

5. "To Where You Are" singer Josh : GROBAN

6. Spa convenience : ROBE

7. Send out : EMIT

8. Sargasso Sea denizen : EEL. had no idea.

9. It may be tapped at a concert : TOE. or keg.

10. Brat Pack novelist Bret Easton __ : ELLIS. learning moment for me. from wikipedia: "The expression "literary Brat Pack" refers to the three young, East-coast American authors, Bret Easton Ellis, Tama Janowitz and Jay McInerney, who emerged in USA in the 1980s. It is a twist on the label brat pack that had previously been applied to a group of young American actors earlier that decade."

11. Intended : MEANT

12. Bart's mom : MARGE. the simpsons.

13. Mail at the castle : ARMOR. chainmail.

18. "Ave __" : MARIA

19. Poor request? : ALMS

24. "Saturday Night Live" fare : SKITS

25. "Yippee!" : HOORAY

26. Business opening? : AGRI. agribusiness.

27. Skyscraper, e.g.: Abbr. : BLDG. specific clue for a generic answer.

28. Cake, in Calais : GATEAU. french.

29. Former Berlin currency, briefly : D-MARK. wikipedia: "commonly called the "Deutschmark" in English but not in German. Germans often say "Mark" or "D-Mark."

32. Kayak maker : ALEUT. indigenous people of the aleutian islands in alaska and russia.

33. Pie filling that may include beef : MINCEMEAT. that's just wrong. do you like it, blll g.?

34. Meddle : INTERFERE

35. "Just __!" : DO IT. nike slogan.

37. Where landlubbers prefer not to be : ASEA

41. Winery containers : CASKS

42. Boxer Spinks : LEON

43. Admits, with "up" : FESSES

44. Cartoon Mr. : MAGOO

45. Squirrel's find : ACORN

46. Avignon's river : RHONE. france.

47. Works on a program : CODES

50. Red-bearded god : THOR. god of thunder.

51. __ Reader : UTNE

53. Rock of Gibraltar mammals : APES

55. Creator of Watson, a memorable 2011 "Jeopardy!" winner : IBM

56. Gunk : GOO. ew.

57. Ft-__: energy units : LBS foot-pound = a unit of work equal to the work or energy needed to lift a one-pound weight a distance of one foot against the force of the earth's gravity.

Answer grid.

melissa

Tuesday, October 4, 2011 Ed Sessa

Theme: Escapologist

20A. Understand how things are done : KNOW THE ROPES

36A. Places to see links : FRENCH CUFFS. Cufflink.

42A. Simple floral garlands : DAISY CHAINS

58A. Stage name of Ehrich Weiss, for whom the ends of 20-, 36- and 42-Across were props : HARRY HOUDINI

Argyle here. If Monday and Tuesday are any indication, we are in for a tough week.

Across:

1. Its "fleece was white as snow" : LAMB. If you started here, you might have thought we were getting a speed run. Wrong.

5. __ Sutra : KAMA. An ancient Indian Hindu text.

9. Go with the flow : ADAPT

14. Pastoral verse : IDYL

15. Pink-slipped : AXED

16. Ladies' man : ROMEO

17. Nicolas of "Adaptation" : CAGE. 2002 comedy-drama film. Poster.

18. Got one's uniform dirty, maybe : SLID. Baseball.

19. Mississippi, e.g. : STATE

23. Many frozen dinners are high in it : SODIUM

24. Taker of vows : NUN

25. Def Jam genre : RAP. Hip-hop music label.

28. Native American group : TRIBE

31. As plain as day, e.g. : SIMILE

33. Tax pro : CPA

38. Friend : ALLY

40. Cancún uncle : TIO. Cancún aunt : TIA. Cancún reveler : WILD

41. 36-Across opening : SLIT. The place for the cufflink in a French Cuff.

47. Fair-hiring initials : EEO. Equal Employment Opportunity.

48. Forensic facility : DNA LAB

49. Spy wear : CLOAK. Magician wear, too.

51. Sí or oui : YES

52. Do-favor link : ME A

54. Broadsided : T-BONED

61. Wife of Abraham : SARAH. Sarah (originally called Saray) was Abraham's main wife. In addition, Abraham had two more wives: Hagar (the mother of Ishmael) and Keturah.

64. Long, long time : AEON

65. "__ Three Lives": TV oldie : I LED. Synopsis.

66. Michelangelo work : PIETA. Sculpture.

67. Pear variety : BOSC

68. Charity : ALMS

69. Suisse peaks : ALPES. French spelling.

70. Like an animated Pea? : SWEE'. It is implied that Swee'Pea is Popeye's nephew.

71. Cold-cock : KAYO. Knock out with one punch, like Popeye would do after he ate his spinach.

Down:

1. The home team gets the last ones : LICKS. Baseball again.

2. Hersey's "A Bell For __" : ADANO

3. "Nearer, __, to Thee" : MY GOD

4. Messed up : BLEW IT

5. Former Asian state known for goat wool : KASHMIR. Today Kashmir denotes a larger area that includes the Indian-administered state of Jammu and Kashmir (the Kashmir valley, Jammu and Ladakh), the Pakistani-administered Gilgit-Baltistan and the Azad Kashmir provinces, and the Chinese-administered regions of Aksai Chin and Trans-Karakoram Tract. Would Led Zeppelin still go there? Clip.(8:32)

6. Wheel holder : AXLE

7. Golda of Israel : MEIR. 4th Prime Minister of Israel in office from March, 1969 to June, 1974.

8. Supplement : ADD ON

9. Poison in some whodunits : ARSENIC. Like "Arsenic and Old Lace", performed in high schools everywhere.

10. Kids' book connectables : DOTS. Connect-A-Dot.

11. GP's gp. : AMA. A general practitioner (GP) is almost a thing of the past.

12. Gently stroke : PET

13. Place for a ring : TOE

21. Racetrack surface : TURF. Usually inside the dirt track. Image.

22. Door sign : PUSH

25. Go through energetically, as drawers : RIFLE. Also in some whodunits.

26. 1966 Michael Caine title role : "ALFIE". Song.

27. Pasta topper : PESTO

29. "Little Women" woman : BETH. Four sisters – Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy.

30. Pioneering computer : ENIAC

32. Letters before nus : MUs. 12th(mu) and 13th(nu), letters of the Greek alphabet.

33. Tea leaves holder : CADDY. Box or casket with a hinged lid and lock used for storing tea leaves. Caddy is derived from the Malay kati, a unit of weight for tea. Cuppa, do you concur?

34. Wood shaver : PLANE

35. Fake name : ALIAS

37. Slinky's shape : COIL

39. Fashion monogram : YSL. Yves Saint Laurent.

43. Steinway alternatives : YAMAHAs. Pianos.

44. Trucker with a handle : CBer

45. Never : NOT ONCE

46. "Elephant Boy" actor : SABU. Black and white movie 1937.

50. Alaskan brown bear : KODIAK

53. Iraqis, usually : ARABS

55. Nabisco brand named for its flavor : NILLA

56. The Penguin, to Batman : ENEMY

57. Playground retort : "DID SO!"

58. Can't stand : HATE

59. "Ouch!" : "YEOW!"

60. Fire truck item : HOSE

61. Mineral spring : SPA

62. Feel sick : AIL

63. Workout unit : REP

Answer grid.

Argyle

Monday, October 3, 2011 Janie Smulyan

Theme: Talking Cereal - I'll let them tell you themselves. Clip.(0:60)

17A. "Get a grip!" : "SNAP OUT OF IT!"

37A. Crafts technique for an old-fashioned look : CRACKLE FINISH

60A. Connector that completes a phrase made from the starts of the three longest across answers : AND

61A. Get the front of one's bike off the ground : POP A WHEELIE

Argyle here. This certainly passes the breakfast test. This is Janie's second LAT puzzle. Still too many esses for my taste but I like the long theme entries.

Across:

1. What ice cream does in the sun : MELTs

6. Mythical weeper : NIOBE. One of the more tragic figures in Greek myth.

11. With it : HEP

14. "Terrific!" : GREAT

15. Play-of-color gems : OPALs

16. Bambi's aunt : ENA

19. Albums kept in jewel boxes, briefly : CDs

20. Dogpatch dad : PAPPY. The Dogpatch crew.

21. Eat like a bird : PECK AT

23. Anti-alcohol types : DRYs

25. Greenish-blue hue : TEAL

28. Room for Renée : SALLE. French.

29. Stubbed extremity : TOE

30. Internet company : DOTCOM

32. Bear's advice : SELL. The bull says, Buy.

33. Screen partner : STAGE. The entertainment industry.

35. Folded Mexican snacks : TACOs

42. More than fumed : RAGED

43. Trifled (with) : TOYED

45. Green eggs and ham lover __-am : SAM-I

48. Scrape, to a tot : BOO-BOO. So good not to see 'owie'.

51. __ culpa : MEA

52. Pizza's outer edge : CRUST

54. Scissors sound : SNIP

55. With competence : ABLY

56. Cardinal's headgear : RED HAT. Image. It is called a biretta. I think it has appeared in later in the week puzzles

58. Film idol Greta : GARBO. Image.

66. Bro : PAL

67. Muse for Browning : ERATO. Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

68. Super Bowl hoverer : BLIMP

69. Opposite of NNW : SSE

70. Spread widely : STREW

71. Big name in foil : ALCOA

Down:

1. Brit. sports cars : MGs. Shout out to Garlic Gal and Bill G.

2. West ender? : ERN. Western.

3. When presidential elections occur : LEAP YEAR

4. Noshes in Nuevo Laredo : TAPAs. Nuevo Laredo is a city located in the Municipality of Nuevo Laredo in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. The city lies on the banks of the Río Grande, across from Laredo, Texas.

5. Passenger pickup point : STOP

6. Reply to "Is it soup?" : "NOT YET"

7. Wall St. headline : IPO. Initial public offering.

8. Clumsy sort : OAF

9. Radar screen spot : BLIP

10. Colorado's __ Park : ESTES. View.

11. Badger at the comedy club : HECKLE. They aren't badgers; Heckle and Jeckle are magpies.

12. Ultimate goal : END-ALL

13. Muted, as colors : PASTEL

18. With 62-Down, at a satisfactory level : UP TO 62-Down. See 18-Down : PAR

22. Othello's lieutenant : CASSIO.

Othello. The servants of the duke, and my lieutenant.
The goodness of the night upon you, friends!
What is the news?

Cassio. The duke does greet you, general,
And he requires your haste-post-haste appearance,
Even on the instant.

23. Sot's woe, briefly : DTS. Delirium tremens.

24. Military prep org. : ROTC

26. Did something about, as an informant's tip : ACTED ON

27. Bread unit : LOAF

30. Ten: Pref. : DECA

31. Former telecom firm : MCI. Now acquired by Verizon Communications.

34. Overly ornate : GARISH

36. Aware of : ONTO

38. CIA Cold War counterpart : KGB

39. Some summer births, astrologically : LEOs

40. Like some gestures or logic : SYMBOLIC

41. Cad : HEEL

44. Week segment : DAY

45. Collage materials : SCRAPs

46. Convention sites : ARENAs

47. Work clumsily (through) : MUDDLE

49. "I'm so not impressed" event : "BIG WOW". Sarcasm.

50. Exotic sushi fish : OPAH

53. Carton sealers : TAPEs

55. "Does this ring __?" : A BELL

57. Legal wrong : TORT

59. McEntire of country : REBA

63. Put away at dinnertime : ATE

64. Texter's "Here's what I think" : IMO. In my opinion.

65. Clean air org. : EPA

Answer grid.

Argyle

Sunday October 2, 2011 Jim Leeds

Theme: Vintage Humor - One word in each common phrase is replaced by a wine term.

24A. Wearing a suit made of white-wine labels? : CHABLIS DRESSED. Shabblily dressed.

39A. Traditional time to bottle wine? : WHEN THE VAT LADY SINGS. When the fat lady sings.

66A. Present from a winery? : THE GIFT OF CAB. The gift of gab.

72A. Listing on a winery inventory? : SIXTEEN TUNS. Sixteen Tons.

75A. French wineries' regulations to assure quality? : CRUS CONTROLS. Cruise controls.

100A. Reds handed down from winery founders? : THE ZINS OF OUR FATHERS. The sins of our fathers.

118A. Winery owner's autobiography? : ME AND MY CHATEAU. Me and My Shadow.

Hmm, a puzzle for Marti. She loves wines and puns. Punning is quite subjective. It could bring a giggle, a groan or a grin.

One noticeable feature of this grid is the overlapping of three theme entries in the middle. Very rarely do we see this stack, as too many pre-filled slots limits constructor's choices. 67D, for example, with ENS?? in place, his only option is ENSUE. You want as many options as possible for any slot. I feel today's entries around that overlapping area are quite smooth. Good job!

I think this is Jim Leeds' first LAT Sunday. Congratulations!

Across:

1. Hawthorne title septet : GABLES. "The House of the Seven Gables".

7. Frankenstein's milieu : LAB

10. Taken in a con : HAD. "I've been had!"

13. "Yikes!" : OH GOSH

19. Green : UNRIPE

20. Amos Oz, for one : ISRAELI

22. Oil-rich peninsula : ARABIA

23. 106-Downs : STADIA. Plural of stadium. And 106. Sphere of activity : ARENA.

26. "Shoop Shoop Song (It's in __ Kiss)" : HIS. The tune sounds very familiar.

27. __-Magnon : CRO

29. Organic compound : ENOL

30. Most slush pile responses : NOs. Slush pile refers to those unsolicited manuscripts.

31. Brest beast : BETE. "La Belle et la Bete".

32. 23rd Greek letter : PSI

34. Dernier __: latest fashion : CRI. Do you like this fashion Santa brought to our attention a while ago?

36. More risky : DICIER

38. Abates : EASES

43. Mass of people : HORDE

44. "On the Road" narrator Paradise : SAL

45. Herbal tea : TISANE. Rose, mint, orange, etc.

46. They make tasty rings : ONIONS

48. Tom, Dick and Harry : NAMES. And 68D. Peter and Paul, but not Mary : TSARS. Both good clues.

51. Washed up, in a way : ASHORE

56. "Yes, Captain!" : AYE

57. Mai __ : TAI

59. Anatomical pouch : SAC

60. Prefix with culture : API. Prefix for "bee".

63. Post-Thanksgiving Muzak fare : CAROL

64. Neo- ending : PHYTE. Neophyte. Every puzzle has a few undesirable fill. Well done is rare in crossword.

69. Mint family herb : SAGE

74. Not feral : TAME

77. Heads up : SOARS

79. Colorful marble : AGATE

80. Implied part of ESL : AS A. English as a Second Language.

81. Ump's call : OUT

83. Crowd, in Cremona : TRE. Three's a crowd.

84. Chill (out) : VEG

87. Dolts : MORONs

89. Move furtively : SNEAK

91. "Griffin & __": 1991 best-seller : SABINE. Not familiar with the book. What's it about?

93. 4:00 p.m. service, maybe : TEA SET

97. Emeril catchword : BAM. "Kick it up a notch!". He makes crowd happy.

99. West Pointer : CADET

105. Redder inside : RARER

107. Chicago L, for one : LOOPER

108. Vegas opening : LAS

109. Dress (up) : TOG

110. Julia played her in 2000 : ERIN. " Erin Brockovich".

111. Kitty plaint : MEW

112. Slick-talking : GLIB

114. Org. with a "Popular Baby Names" Web page : SSA. Was ignorant of this fact.

116. Jazz job : GIG. Hi Ron!

122. Bright with light : ABLAZE

124. Like mosaic stones : INLAID

125. Seriously shocks : APPALLS

126. Faithful servants : YEOMEN

127. Drapery ornament : TASSEL

128. Ltr. add-ons : PSS

129. Observe : SEE

130. Most clever : SLYEST

Down:

1. Spew : GUSH

2. Call-and-response singing : ANTIPHONY. Two nice 9's here.

3. Relaxed, upscale restaurant : BRASSERIE. I've never thought of it as upscale.

4. Eye cover : LID

5. The "Iliad," e.g. : EPIC

6. Revealer of hits : SEARCH. I don't get this clue. (I'm a dummy, needed Splynter to explain it to me. Our blog gets many hits a day since people are searching for crossword answers.)

7. DMV card : LIC (License)

8. U.S. Open stadium : ASHE

9. Ex-German chancellor Willy : BRANDT. No idea. This guy won Nobel Peace in 1971.

10. Shrews : HELLCATS

11. Baba with magic words : ALI. "Open Sesame".

12. Walt and Roy : DISNEYs

13. Rows : OARS

14. 1,000-yr. realm : HRE

15. Blowhard : GASBAG

16. Get hung-up (on) : OBSESS

17. Veintiuno ÷ tres : SIETE. Let's see, 21 ÷3 = 7.

18. Where the Styx flows : HADES

21. Seething : ABOIL

25. Backs, in anatomy class : DORSA

28. Tram loads : ORES

33. Prefix with Chinese : INDO. Indo-Chinese.

35. "Terrible" ruler : IVAN. Ivan the Terrible.

37. Despotic Amin : IDI

38. "Romanian Rhapsodies" composer : ENESCO (Georges). Any comment, Jayce?

39. Silver stopper : WHOA. Lone Ranger's horse.

40. Back nine opener : TENTH. Husker Gary is nuts about golf, playing 36 holes a day so often.

41. "What a shame" : ALAS

42. Having three sharps, musically : IN A

47. Boss's prerogative : SAY SO

49. San __, California : MATEO

50. French for "rung" : ECHELON. Good to know. And excellent answer with 3 fixed letters already penned in from the theme placement (??HEL??).

52. Sword handles : HAFTS

53. Ocean predator : ORCA

54. "Home on the Range" word : ROAM. "Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam..."

55. Hamburg's river : ELBE. Into the North Sea.

58. Turner autobiography : I, TINA. Here is the cover. Look for Jazzbumpa to say I, RON again next time IRON comes up.

60. FBI employee : AGT

61. Any of 12 popes : PIUS

62. Backup plan lead-in : IF NOT

64. Green sauce : PESTO. Try it on toast, Bill G.

65. Phone no. go-withs : EXTs

67. Follow : ENSUE

69. Swindle : SCAM

70. Legendary Greek ship : ARGO

71. Legume whose gum is used as a thickening agent : GUAR. Guar gum.

73. Sung syllable : TRA

76. Hoops big man : CENTER

78. Be moved, say : REACT

82. Dana's "forbidden fragrance" : TABU

84. Arcade attraction : VIDEO GAME. Another two 9's here.

85. Stimulates : ENERGIZES

86. Obtains : GETS

88. "__ me!" : SEZ

89. Temporary solutions : STOPGAPS. Great answer too.

90. Marx who's much older than Harpo : KARL. Love this clue.

92. Bangkok bread? : BAHT. Thai has no plural form. So, no Bahts there.

94. Choreographer Alvin : AILEY

95. Peak experience? : SNOWCAP. Mountain peak.

96. That, in Tijuana : ESO

98. Some lit. degrees : MFAs

100. Matters for courts : TRIALS

101. Salon rinses : HENNAS

102. __ draft: was chilled : FELT A. The only partial in the grid, right?

103. Bay windows : ORIELS. Here is one.

104. Appraisers' reports : ASSAYS

105. Use PayPal : REMIT

111. CCLV x X : MMDL. 255 x 10= 2, 550.

113. Barn bundle : BALE. So, Spitzboov & Argyle grew up on a farm, anyone else? Grumpy?

115. One raised with Cain : ABEL

117. Chap : GENT

119. Metal-shaping block : DIE

120. Some printers: Abbr. : HPs. Meg Whiteman is their new CEO.

121. Employ : USE

123. Powell partner in "Thin Man" films : LOY (Myrna)

Answer grid.

C.C.