Saturday, Jan 28, 2012, Barry C. Silk

Theme: None

Words: 72

Blocks: 28

Saturday Silk~! Either I am still dreaming, or my confidence with Saturday puzzles, specifically this one, is getting very high - I did happen to know a great many answers off the top of my head, but my "WAG"-ing ( Wild Azz Guessing ) has gotten bolder. For example;

19A. Manhattan's __ Place, named for a wealthy early American : ASTOR - I live on Long Island, about 50 miles from Manhattan, but do not know this spot; but "five-letter" wealthy Americans? Well, let's try "ASTOR" ~!!

23A. Albemarle Sound's st. : N. CAR - Even though I know nothing about the location, I threw in "NDAK", (for North Dakota), since four-letter state abbreviations have the possibility of including "N" or "S" - close enough for "perps", and then I went back and fine-tuned 'North Carolina'

34A. They shine in theaters : EXIT SIGNS - Aisle lights? no - Usher's beam? no - Exit Signs - well, it fits....

I think what I am saying is that a "daunting" triple-ten pinwheel puzzle such as this can be less blank if you "go with your gut" on some of the clues - but don't 'forget' that it was a WAG, or you'll paint yourself into a black & white corner....

Yes, No, Maybe, Not ~??

Onward ~!

ACROSS:

1. Mascot whose first and middle names are Horatio Magellan : CAP'N CRUNCH - This guy; he was on my breakfast table every now and then

11. Employs : USES

15. "No kidding?" : ARE YOU SURE ??

16. Nonspecific filing abbr. : MISCellaneous

17. Situations with no legal moves : STALEMATES

18. Mlle. counterpart : SRTA

20. Retired fliers : SSTs

22. Whale group : GAM - now here's a WAG gone wrong; I had POD, but my 13D HAD to be right; see below

26. Improvisatory composition : TOCCATA - DAH ~! I should have known this; it's one of my favorite pieces - you all know this one

28. Case worker: Abbr. : DETective

31. "... harken __ die": Tennyson : ERE I - we have many a poet on this blog

33. Carpenter's gadget : NAILER - How Ironic is it that I did NOT WAG this? In truth, it's actually worse being a carpenter, because now I start thinking about the hundreds of gadgets it could be....I do own a dual-function Bosch nailer, does both common nails and metal bracket nails, which are stubbier; C.C. asked me to put more of my work up here - right now, I am doing a big drafting project

37. Stretch : TRACT - This word always makes me think of this clip from Monty Python

38. Russian auto : LADA - I am just curious - I am going to count the "NICs" - Nailed It Clues; this is #1 - from doing crosswords, this car

39. Apply gently : DAB ON - #2, from doing crosswords

41. Traditional Indian beverage : CHAI - #3, from doing crosswords

42. Devil : SCAMP - put in SATAN at first - note that the "S" stayed

44. Baylor University hoopsters : LADY BEARS

46. Piece of protective gear : HELMET - another WAG

48. Jutland native : DANE - I put in JAWA here, since they lived on Tatooine, and the "Jundland Wastes" were there, too - totally wrong, but again, the "A" stayed

49. Haw. doesn't observe it : DST - I know that some parts of Indiana don't deal with Daylight Savings Time, but the HAW. did not click until just now - HAWaii; - I think it's silly now, too

50. Judge : ARBITER

52. Harmony : SYNC

54. 2011 lockout org. : NBA - #4 - conflicting with the NHL, I was hoping that they stayed locked out - alas, you get the sport with the biggest waste of quality hardwood...

55. Citi Field predecessor : SHEA #5 - live here, been there, the NY Mets old stadium

57. "Quiet!" : ZIP IT ~!! - thought we were on our way to a pangram

61. Political mascot creator : NAST (Thomas) - #6 - Uncle Sam

63. Washoe County seat : RENO NEVADA

66. Publisher Chandler : OTIS

67. Task assigned at a meeting : ACTION ITEM

68. German pop star since the '80s : NENA - #7 - You know this song

69. Sewer's accessory : NEEDLE CASE - ah - not the etui we always see....

DOWNward ~!

1. Latin quarters? : CASA - the "A" was there from my ASTOR WAG, so I put in the Spanish word for house - I knew quarter from "No Quarter", the Led Zeppelin song; I didn't think it meant 25¢ in the song, so I had to look it up, when I was about 13 years old

2. Newspaper section : ARTS - this filed in by itself; all perps

3. Garden supply : PEAT - WAG, since the "T" was there

4. Hose material : NYLON - #8 - oh, I know these

5. More than wheedles : COERCES - after that, it's "Arm Twisting"

6. Punch spirits : RUM

7. "Miracle on Ice" team : USA - #9 - but I dig hockey

8. "Phooey!" : NUTS - tried RATS first - half right

9. Surfer's perch : CREST - of a wave, not the toothpaste....

10. "El Cid" star, 1961 : HESTON - Charlton

11. Sounds of hesitation : UMs....

12. Round Table member : SIR GALAHAD - More Monty Python, at :30

13. English station wagons : ESTATE CARS - I got this one because I record every single episode of the BRITISH original series "Top Gear" - both funny, and informative - and I was never a big car enthusiast

14. Hustler : SCAM ARTIST

21. Improvisational style : SCAT

24. Parched : ARID

25. Majestic : REGAL

27. She turned Odysseus' crew to swine : CIRCE

28. "Runaway" singer, 1961 : DEL SHANNON - quite a lot I didn't know about him; committed suicide the day before my 19th birthday

29. Make worse : EXACERBATE

30. National Cherry Blossom Festival focal point : TIDAL BASIN - Image

32. Out of favor : IN BAD

35. Motown singer Terrell : TAMMI

36. Pops : SODAS - was not fooled by this one

40. NASDAQ setting : NY, NY

43. Some are exotic : PETS - I had an iguana, Zeus, and a ball python (third reference) named "Snickers" - he ate live mice

45. Coal tar product : BENZENE - a WAG with the "Zed" there

47. 1974 Asian Games host city : TEHRAN

51. Ex-model Gabrielle : REECE - Volleyball player, here

53. Honda model : CIVIC


56. Deal prerequisite, maybe : ANTE

58. "__-Pan": carol : PATA - did not know this at all; more here

59. Fateful day : IDES

60. Subdue : TAME

62. Dept. of Homeland Security org. : TSA

64. Suffix with fact : OID

65. Lon of Cambodia : NOL

Answer grid.

Splynter

Friday, January 27, 2012, Marti Duguay-Carpenter

THEME: Let's all meet at the BAR. Each of the six theme answers abuts the three square bars which are joined in the middle of the puzzle, adding the word BAR to the beginning or end of the fill. We had a wonderful Don Hard-G's L-Bar themed puzzle, LINK last January and this puzzle goes another step in integrating visual as well as verbal clues. Really creative, as we have become accustomed with our second double dose of Marti, blog Thursday, construct Friday. I have added her note at the end. This seems a departure for M., with some very hard fill and the focus not on puns and giggles. Well let us see if the prayers for Friday clarity were answered. The SIX (6) theme answers plus unifier:

30A. Hiker's chewy snack: GRANOLA (BAR). I keep them in my desk drawer, not much hiking going on.

32A. Chart used for comparisons: (BAR) GRAPH. I like Pie charts better, especially Cherry.

41A. Steakhouse section: SALAD (BAR). They were introduced in steak places but abound now.

43A. Coming-of-age ritual (BAR) MITZVAH. This is where I got the theme, as I knew M. knew what the ritual name was. We all live by Mitzvah but that is another story.

7D. Trendy place to get gas?: OXYGEN (BAR). We have had reference to these places before, though I never been to one, unless you count my time in ICU. LINK. Dennis, you going to take a drive down there?

48D. Maine resort: (BAR) HARBOR. I will see if our Mainiac will tell you all about the place. I love it there, in August.

And the unifier,

62D. Row of black squares preceding or following six puzzle answers, thereby completing them: BAR.

Across:

1. More than irk: ENRAGE. I am always very pleased to blog Marti's efforts, but they also take me so much longer because I become so distracted with tangents from her cluing. Ah well, let us see how you all do.

7. Ending with neur-: OSES. Better than Psych-----

11. Ring leader?: REF. Boxing ring, my first thought was the old EAR Ring. Thought too much, nice clue.

14. "Take it easy!": COOL IT. Easy there pardner,

15. Bonus, in adspeak: XTRA. read all about it.

16. Actress Lupino: IDA. Was she married to Howard Duff?

17. Wichita-based aircraft company: CESSNA. But now they build planes all over the world to save money.

18. Accordion-playing satirist: YANKOVIC. Weird AL.

20. Soft spreads: OLEOS.

21. Pact: AGREEMENT.

22. Idaho crop: RUSSETS. I bet you did not KNOW.

24. Santa __: West Coast winds: ANAS. Anyone watching the golf fro Torrey Pines?

25. "Sonic the Hedgehog" developer: SEGA. They fizzled when Dreamcast was blown away by X-Box, Wii and PS2.

28. Western symbol: TIN STAR. Were you Marshall Dillon or Wyatt Earp fans?

36. "I didn't need to know that!": TMI. Too Much Information, not to be confused with its cousin TMJ, or its step sister TMZ.

37. Family leader?: DON. Knotts? Adams? Rickles? Oh. Don Corleone!

38. Early Beatle Sutcliffe: STU. Fifth Beatle, quit to be an artist, but died young mysteriously. Rumor is Sir Paul was jealous.

40. Lower land?: LEA. Where the lower lows? (Parse "Lower" as Low-er.)

45. Medium: PSYCHIC. No, but I wear a large now.

49. Grub: EATS. Gabby Hayes anyone?

50. Italian bubbly source: ASTI. They have given up the SPUMANTE.

53. The Dike Kokaral divides its two sections: ARAL SEA. More learning.

55. Earth's life zone: BIOSPHERE. SCIENCE. (2:28) Also a movie so bad, it has no trailer on You Tube.

57. Float __: A LOAN. Be careful.

61. Where many shop: ON THE WEB. Be careful.

62. One making big bucks?: BRONCO. Not Tebow? I kept trying to think of the name for a female moose.

63. Payable: DUE.

64. Default consequence, for short: REPO.-session.

65. They're often distinguished by degrees: ALUMNI. E.G., BA, MA and JD.

66. Slalom curve: ESS. I knew she would sneak in a skiing reference.

67. God of lightning: THOR. Ladies?

68. Fix, in a way, as a lawn RESEED. It is sodding easier to sod, right Steve, Nice Cuppa?

Really behind schedule, so we must pick up the pace:

Down:

1. Danish shoe brand: ECCO. Latin for behold, who knew about this SHOE?

2. Seasonal number: NOEL. No not FOUR, the singing kind.

3. Obeyed a court order: ROSE. All rise, and give a shout out to our ARBAON.

4. One who didn't get in: ALSO RAN. E.g. Rick Perry.

5. Infomercial knife: GINSU. "But wait, there's more!" The precursor to all infomercials. LINK.

6. LAX listing: ETA. Estimated Time of Arrival.

8. Kicks off: STARTS. You think from Bicycles, or Motorcycles?

9. One of the Gallos: ERNEST. With brother Julio the purveyors of lots of wine, some very good, some very cheap.

10. Drink with sushi: SAKE. Cold or hot?

11. Torn asunder: RIVEN. A nice $10.00 word from the Old Norse.

12. Minneapolis suburb: EDINA. Fancy part of town? C.C.? Jeannie? (C.C.: Some rich folks like Twins' owner live in that area. Quite a few nice golf courses as well, including Interlachen, which hosted US Women's Open a few years ago. Also Solheim Cup in 2002.)

13. Things to face: FACTS. What does this mean, and why do I hear the theme to The Facts of Life in my head now?

19. "My World of Astrology" author: OMARR. Grew up reading the newspaper horoscopes of Sydney.

21. Turkey diner, probably?: ASIAN. Not nibbling a leg, but the country. Nice clue.

23. WWII invasion city: ST LO. Is there a ST. Hi anywhere in France?

25. Certain NCOs: SGTS. Many served at St. Lo.

26. "Forever, __": 1996 humor collection: ERMA. Bombeck, a CW staple, and a funny lady.

27. Author Sheehy: GAIL. I have heard of but not read her BOOKS.

29. Bust __: A GUT. Laugh very heartily so the jelly belly gets rolling; you will not bust a gut reading Gail Sheehy.

31. Ironically, they might be even : ODDS. Cute clue/fill. Loves irony.

33. Inventing middle name: ALVA. Finally an easy one; thanks Mr. Edison.

34. Three-__: sports portmanteau: PEAT. Winning an event three years in a row. Never in Super Bowl History.

35. Derisive cries: HAHS. Dangerous habit.

38. Prepare to be shot: SMILE. What happens to you after the derisive laughs. Be careful.

39. Some twitches: TICS. Well I already used up my Clouseau and Dreyfus clip. How many recall Herbert Lom did not appear in the original Pink Panther movie?

42. Like copycats: APISH. Free pass.

44. Enthusiastic: ZEALOUS. When his girlfriend kissed another girl, he did not get jealous, he got zealous.

46. G-d, in Judaism: YAHWEH. Boy is this a complicated topic, but yes and no.

47. Sleazeball: CREEPO. Nice Webster's word.

50. Humble place: ABODE. Welcome to my....

51. Skull cavity: SINUS. I guess it really is a Friday.

52. Popular rubbers: TOTES. Not Trojan, but she must know DUREX fits in this space? Oh, that kind, I have not worn rubbers in a long time. I SEE.

54. Canadian poet Birney: EARLE. Egads, they know how to rhyme in Canada? My learning moment. All perps. LINK.

56. Saucy: PERT. When I see these words, I now think of two things; shampoo and our own Heart Rx.

58. Pub offer: ON ME. Okay, a Beer reference, sort of. I tried that line in a BAR, but she did not get on.

59. Trouble spots for teens: ACNE. How many proactiv users are there? And are they all pretty women?

60. Reason for being denied a drink NO ID. My first thought was this old Domino's AD. (0:32). Anyone else? Well don't get annoid with me, trivia does stick to my brain.

Answer grid.

Well another Friday puzzle in the record book, another wonderful time with one of our own, and time for me to go back to reading the Game of Thrones books; halfway through the 1125 page book 3. Enjoy all, and here is Marti.

"I was playing around with grid designs, trying to make a puzzle theme from the different shapes. I thought of crosses, x's, squares, and finally came up with this one, with "bars". I thought it would be fun to incorporate the bar shapes into the theme answers. I hope you enjoy the result!"