Thursday, February 21, 2013 Ian Livengood and Jeff Chen

Theme: Tonsorial Treatment.

17A. *Squeaker : CLOSE SHAVE. They shave off the "C" for the next entry.

23A. *Fall in with the wrong crowd, say : LOSE ONE'S WAY. For the next one, they shaved the "E."

39A. *Kobe, notably : LOS ANGELES LAKER. And then, the "S" gets shaved.

50A. *"Voilà!" : LO AND BEHOLD. Oh dear, now the "L" gets shaved.

61A. *"Cantique de Noël," in the States : O HOLY NIGHT. Until all that's left is the lowly "O" in CLOSE. (Don't you hate it when the hairdresser starts gabbing with you, and you are left with a haircut that makes you look more like Yul Brynner?)

And the unifier:

48D. Tool used to give the starts of the starred answers a 17-Across? : RAZOR.

Fantastic theme, cleverly done.  Marti here, to look at what else is in store for us.

Across:

1. It's taken in court : FIFTH.

6. City founded by King Harald III : OSLO.

10. Silences, gang-style : OFFS.

14. Skateboarder's leap : OLLIE. A trick invented by Alan "Ollie" Gelfond in 1979, it is one of the first tricks most skateboarders learn. If you want to see how to do it, check out this video. 1:08

15. Pringle, e.g. : CHIP.

16. Brother of Fidel : RAUL.

19. Fanboy's mag : ZINE. It all started back in 1973 at a comics convention in Chicago. Get the story here.

20. ___ of Reason : AGE.

21. Exhort : URGE.

22. Make a fake of : FORGE.

27. Nurse : SIP. Not sure why "nurse a drink" came to my mind first...

28. KOA parkers : RVS. Kampgrounds of America are now full of Recreational Vehicles instead of tents.

29. Hopeful opening : I WISH.

31. Up on, with "of" : AWARE.

34. Trim : PARE.

36. Word with median or minimum : WAGE. In 1938, when minimum wage standards were first set, it was $0.25

42. Related : AKIN.

43. Redding who sang "These Arms of Mine" : OTIS. Not one of my favorites by him. But here's the obligatory link. 2:37

44. Agenda bullets : ITEMS.

45. Old saw : ADAGE.

47. "Mad Men" channel : AMC. It used to stand for American Movie Classics. But they are changing their programming, and the acronym is being de-emphasized.

48. Tach meas. : RPM. Revolutions per minute. You could get DIZZY watching this 45 RPM. 3:17

56. Daughter of King Triton : ARIEL. She was played by The Little Mermaid in a 1989 Disney film...

58. Composed : COOL.

59. Yokohama yes : HAI. はい

60. Kooky : ZANY.

64. Cause of a sniff : ODOR. Not "cold."  I have been lucky this year. No colds, but my allergies have been through the roof.

65. Three-piece piece : VEST.

66. Big name in paper : SCOTT.

67. Like many collectibles : RARE. Like a Topps '52 Mantle. Right, C.C.?  (From C.C.: Yes! To me, it's the Holy Grail of baseball card collectors.  T206 Honus Wagner is just an impossible dream.)

68. War god : ARES.

69. A/V component : AUDIO. The other component is video.

Down:

1. ___ point : FOCAL.

2. "Ooh, send me!" : I'LL GO. I read the clue, and couldn't get this song out of my head! 2:46

3. Northern sheets : FLOES.

4. McCourt memoir : 'TIS. I just mentioned this book a couple weeks ago.


5. Texter's giggle : HEE.


6. Yellowish shade : OCHRE. Like this.

7. Chases flies : SHAGS. Not swats.

8. Energetic types : LIVE WIRES. Nice fill!

9. Unlock'd : OPE.

10. Small pasta used in soups : ORZO.

11. Equal chance : FAIR SHAKE. More nice fill.

12. Mold, mildew, etc. : FUNGI.

13. "No ___ Till Brooklyn": Beastie Boys song : SLEEP. This is an equal opportunity blog, so I guess I am obliged to link this song....4:47

18. Enjoys the beach : SUNS. I wish I were back in Florida!!

22. "I feel I should tell you," briefly : FYI. For your information.

24. Trip to the dry cleaners, e.g. : ERRAND.

25. Pizza place : OVEN.

26. Commands reverence from : AWES.

30. Certain sample : SWATCH.

31. Arroz ___ Cubana: Spanish dish : A LA. Basically, it is a fried egg with rice smothered with tomato paste. If this were Monday, the clue would read "Chicken ___ King."

32. Restaurant pan : WOK.

33. Area conquered by Alexander the Great : ASIA MINOR. Modern day Turkey. Map.

34. Sch. whistle blower : P.E. TEACHER. I had PET______ and wondered if they were talking about obedience school!

35. 1996 Olympic torch lighter : ALI. Did not know that.

37. Ruby or topaz : GEM.

38. Hesitant utterances : ERS. And we also have 63-Down. Post-ER area : ICU. So don't hesitate, or you might end up in ICU!

40. Energetic : GOGO. Remember these boots?











41. Wedge in a mojito : LIME. Rum, mint, lime, sugar and club soda. What's not to like?

46. 100% : ALL.

47. With great skill : ABLY.
49. Big name in small bags : PRADA. With a big price tag, too.

51. Western loop : NOOSE.

52. Nimrods : DOLTS.

53. "That sounds bad!" : OH GOD. Or, "That feels soooo good!"

54. "Chicago Hope" Emmy winner : LAHTI. Christine. She played Dr. Kathryn Austin.

55. "Me, too" : DITTO.

57. Rochester's love : EYRE. Jane.  I'll have to re-read that one some day.

61. Eggs in a lab : OVA. Plural of ovum.

62. Cloak-and-dagger org. : NSA. National Security Agency. They even have their own comic book.

'Til next week, 'tis Marti, signing off!

Eric Williams, Wednesday Feb 20, 2013

theme: woody's winners

15d. With 16-Across, 1986 film in which Dianne Wiest says, "But you have to remember, while you read and you're cursing my name, that this is my first script." : HANNAH AND

16a. See 15-Down : HER SISTERS. it was during the filming of this movie that the mia/woody/soon-yi scandal broke. much of the movie was filmed in mia farrow's new york apartment, and some of her children appear as extras. she writes about it in her book 'what falls away.' 

37a. 2011 film in which Owen Wilson says, "Wonderful but forgettable. That sounds like a picture I've seen. I probably wrote it." : MIDNIGHT IN PARIS. brilliant movie, imho.

26d. 1977 film in which 59-Across says, "Awards! They do nothing but give out awards!" : ANNIE HALL

59a. Winner of screenwriting Oscars for the three quoted films : WOODY ALLEN

melissa here.

c.c's puzzle yesterday's was more of a struggle for me than today's - maybe because i got today's theme quickly. the rest almost filled itself in.

had to have taken some serious effort to work all those titles into a puzzle. the grid-spanning midnight in paris is right in the middle, with two theme answers crossing it. beautiful. for those of you taking notes about cheater squares, there are two in today's puzzle. to the left of the M in 10a, and to the right of the T in 64a.

allen has received four oscars, two for annie hall (best director, best original screenplay), one for hannah and her sisters, and one for midnight in paris. 

i don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it by not dying - woody allen.

bonus, non-theme answer:

11d. 1998 animated film released the month before "A Bug's Life" : ANTZ

across

1. When Romeo meets Juliet : ACT I

5. Crummy : LOUSY

10. His mausoleum is in Tiananmen Square : MAO

13. Close-Up, e.g. : TOOTHPASTE

15. Posterior : HIND

17. Pro foe : ANTI

18. Ready to pour : ON TAP

19. Paint as wicked : DEMONIZE

21. Peoria-to-Decatur dir. : SSE

22. TD's six : PTS

25. Question eliciting "Let's!" : WANNA?

26. Vital vessel : AORTA

28. Tidy up : NEATEN

31. Stratford's river : AVON

34. Holm and McKellen : IANS

36. "Star Trek" role : UHURA

40. No __ sight : END IN

41. Letterman rival : LENO

42. "99 Luftballons" singer : NENA. had to look this one up. german protest song, translated 99 air balloons. nena is the name of a german pop-rock band.

43. Thaw once more : REMELT

45. Give a good talking-to : SCOLD

47. In the lead : AHEAD

49. U2 producer or, backwards, U2 hit : ENO

50. Aswan landmark : DAM. on the nile.

53. Gift of a sort : DONATION

56. Simoleons : MOOLA

58. Justin Bieber or the golden calf : IDOL. snort. i admit i've never heard a bieber tune.

62. Stax Records genre : SOUL

63. "Titus __": 16th-century play : ANDRONICUS

64. Pre-LCD screen : CRT

65. Makes a home : NESTS. yesterday we had nestled.

66. Time in ads : NITE

down

1. Oldest musketeer : ATHOS

2. Directing brothers : COENS. welcome back.

3. Rich cake : TORTE

4. "__ small world" : IT'S A

5. 12-in. albums : LP'S

6. Cereal grain : OAT

7. Previously owned : USED

8. Scatter, like petals : STREW

9. Sycophant : YES MAN

10. Lionel train, say : MINIATURE

anyone know, without googling, what these lyrics are from?

and when you put her to use,

observe, when you put her to use

that you don't find the name lionel 

on her caboose

12. Jim Davis dog : ODIE. big tongued dog. where is dennis, anyway?

14. "Fantasia" tutu wearer : HIPPO

20. Outmaneuver : ONE UP

23. Calc prereq : TRIG

24. Lesley of "60 Minutes" : STAHL

27. Starts the pot : ANTES

29. Consumer advocate Brockovich : ERIN

30. Mercury Seven org. : NASA

31. From the U.S. : AMER

32. Hollywood crosser : VINE. los angeles streets.

33. Fifth wheel : ODD MAN OUT. aka third wheel.

35. From then on : SINCE

38. Fjord, for one : INLET

39. High time? : NOON

44. Formosa, now : TAIWAN

46. Willy, Biff or Happy of drama : LOMAN. death of a salesman.

48. Blackmore heroine : DOONE

50. Sweets, in Naples : DOLCI. italian confectionary.

51. Native Alaskan : ALEUT

52. Minister's house : MANSE. a house inhabited by a minister. i've lived in one or two.

53. Oft-burned object : DISC. homemade cd.

54. Stench : ODOR

55. Approves quietly : NODS

57. Lena of "Chocolat" : OLIN

60. Seuss's "The 5000 Fingers of __" : DR. T. t for terwilliger. bizarre movie.

61. Rocky hellos : YOS. yo adrian!

melissa

Notes from C.C.:

1) Here is a picture of Melissa's beautiful daughter working a recent San Jose Shark's game. Melissa said "A friend of her snapped a pic when he saw her face on TV. It looks like he's in the stairwell behind her, but it's his reflection on the TV."

2) Our California Coven (JD, Chickie & Garlic) meet monthly for coffee. Yesterday, Jill joined them. Great to "See" you, Jill! Below are 2 beautiful pictures.

JD said "While we dined, unbeknownst to us,  snow was falling in the beautiful foothills close by... a rare event in our valley. We drove to a local market to buy some excellent olive oil, recommended by Garlic Gal."

L to R: JD, Garlic Gal, Chickie & Jill

L to R: Jill, Garlic Gal, Chickie and JD

3) Happy 68th Birthday to dear Argyle, our sweet Santa, who has tirelessly guided us through 366 puzzles. Argyle is the first person I go to whenever I'm in trouble on or off the blog. He's always there and always provides me with prompt and solid feedback and advice.

15-Year Old, Freshman. 1960 Class of '63.

I wish I could make you this birthday Seafood Udon!

Tuesday, February 19, 2013 C.C. Burnikel

Theme: AMBER Alert - There are four tots lost amidst the odd-numbered theme entries. Your job is to find them.

17A. Reached an agreement : CAME TO TERMS. Every TOT is in the very middle of each theme entry.

23A. Thoroughly evil : ROTTEN TO THE CORE

34A. Very eager : HOT TO TROT

50A. "My pleasure!" : "NO NEED TO THANK ME!"

57. Sibling who stereotypically feels left out, and a hint to the little one hiding in 17-, 23-, 34- and 50-Across : MIDDLE CHILD

Argyle over here, I'm here! C.C. didn't give me an inkling she had a puzzle today. And a fine puzzle it is. Two grid spanners, seven letter climbers in the corners, and a minimum of dreck. (Lois didn't make the orgy yesterday but today's offering may draw her out.)

"AMBER Alert", Wiki, is a child abduction alert bulletin in several countries throughout the world. It also is used for missing persons, in some cases.

Across:

1. Edged out : BEAT

5. Haka dancers of New Zealand : MAORI

10. NetZero, for one : ISP. (Internet Service Provider)

13. South American chain : ANDES

15. 36-year Senator Hatch of Utah : ORRIN. (age 78)

16. Neither partner : NOR

19. Civil War nickname : ABE

20. Bordeaux buddy : AMI

21. Mothers on a farm : EWEs

22. "I'd like to say something" : "AHEM ..."

28. Laundromat lineup : DRIERS

29. Snug as a bug in a rug : NESTLED

30. Followers: Suf. : ISTs

31. Doesn't enunciate : SLURS

33. Magazine VIPs : EDs. (editor)

38. Atty.'s group : ABA. (American Bar Association)

41. Naval slammers : BRIGS. Somehow, I thought it was a drink at first.

42. Peril : RISK

46. Rainy season : MONSOON

48. Family support group for some rehab patients : AL-ANON

53. Squeezes (out) : EKES

54. "__ Yankees" : DAMN. "Damn Yankees" ran for 1,019 performances in its original 1955 Broadway production.

55. California ball club, in sports crawl lines : LAA. (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim)

56. Census datum : SEX

61. Having four sharps, in music : IN 'E'

62. Bit of broccoli : STALK

63. Singer Tennessee __ Ford : ERNIE. A song for you old farmers out there.

64. Do simple math : ADD

65. Hal Prince's record 21 : TONYS. Broadway producer, Awards and Nominations

66. Quaint oath : EGAD

Down:

1. Rum brand with a cocktail named for it : BACARDI. Made with Bacardi rum, grenadine, and lime juice.

2. Bewitches : ENAMORS

3. "Fess up!" : "ADMIT IT!"

4. Golf bag item : TEE

5. Choral work : MOTET. A polyphonic choral composition used as an anthem in the Roman Catholic service. (IDK, I admit it.)

6. Childish comeback : "ARE SO!"

7. Bruin great Bobby : ORR

8. Part of most eyeglasses : RIM

9. Car owner's pmt. : INS. (insurance) But not every state.

10. Having serious debts : IN A HOLE

11. Got serious : SOBERED

12. Docs-in-training : PRE-MEDS

14. Herd member : STEER

18. Holds : OWNS

22. Make a move : ACT

24. New Ager John : TESH. Here with his wife, Connie Sellecca.

25. Letter-shaped fasteners : T-NUTS

26. Haus husband : HERR

27. Pump name seen in Canada : ESSO. (gas pump)

31. Stretch : STINT

32. Fireplace fuel : LOG

35. Wind in the orchestra : OBOE

36. Walked all over : TROD

37. Air__: Florida-based carrier : TRAN

38. Memory malady : AMNESIA

39. Shelf support : BOOKEND

40. Took over, as territory : ANNEXED

43. Hint : INKLING

44. Horn of Africa country : SOMALIA. Map Looks like a rhino horn.

45. Prepared for baking, as bread dough : KNEADED

47. French possessive : SES. (its, plural)

48. [Sigh!] : "AH, ME!"

49. With 58-Down, judge in '90s news : LANCE. 58-Down. See 49-Down : ITO. Judge presiding at the O. J. Simpson trial.

51. Not in a predictable way : ODDLY

52. Spills the beans : TALKS

57. Rockies hrs. : MST

59. "The __ Patrick Show": sports talk program : DAN. Syndicated radio and television. Plus online and, of course, Twitter.

60. Centuries-long realm dissolved in 1806: Abbr. : HRE. (Holy Roman Empire)

Argyle

Notes from C.C.:

This is my original submitted grid. Rich thought the cheater square in the lower right (The one above 52 HUE) was unnecessary and re-did the section. See, you can't cheat when there are other options.

Monday, February 18, 2013 Dan Schoenholz

 Theme: Presidential Connection - Before and after variation in honor of President's Day. The last names of four American presidents are also the first names of four other famous people, one of whom was also a president (CSA)

20A. Jefferson : THOMAS OR DAVIS. Thomas Jefferson/Jefferson Davis (leader of the Confederacy)

27A. Washington : GEORGE OR IRVING. George Washington/Washington Irving (author of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow")

43A. Jackson : ANDREW OR BROWNE. Andrew Jackson/Jackson Browne (singer-songwriter, Running on Empty 4:58)

51A. Truman : HARRY OR CAPOTE. Harry Truman/Truman Capote (author of "In Cold Blood")

Argyle here on the day presidents sell stuff, or so it seems. Dan has come through with tight themed Monday with some late week crunchies thrown in.

Across:

1. Old flatboats : ARKS. A temporary boat, used to float goods down river then dismantled for the lumber. Wiki article.

5. Stag party attendees : MALES

10. Fixes with thread : SEWS

14. Skid row sort : WINO

15. River joining the Missouri near Jefferson City : OSAGE. Harry S. Truman reservoir.

16. "Is there __ against that?" : A LAW

17. Skating maneuver : LOOP

18. Gnatlike insect : MIDGE

19. Strauss of blue jeans : LEVI

23. Hibachi residue : ASH

25. 18-wheeler : RIG

26. Black cats, to some : OMENS

32. Baton-passing event : RELAY

33. Singer Brickell who's married to Paul Simon : EDIE

34. "You got that right, brother!" : "AMEN!"

35. In first place : ON TOP

37. Crab's grabber : CLAW

41. Impressionist : APER

42. Chicago airport : O'HARE. Orchard Field.

48. Coffee lightener : CREAM

49. Word with popper or dropper : EYE

50. Fishing stick : ROD. Some "sticks" cost over a $1,000.

56. Bump up against : ABUT

57. Jeweled headpiece : TIARA

58. Reverse, as a computer operation : UNDO

61. It ebbs and flows : TIDE

62. Kauai and Tahiti, for two : ISLES

63. Read bar codes on : SCAN

64. Large amount : SCAD

65. Gets things growing : SEEDS. Soon, soon.

66. Number picker's casino game : KENO

Down:

1. Leatherwork tool : AWL

2. Brazilian port, for short : RIO. (Rio de Janeiro)

3. Lumber blemish : KNOTHOLE

4. Frosh, next year : SOPH

5. Christina Crawford's "__ Dearest" : MOMMIE. Christina was one of four children adopted by Joan Crawford.

6. Italian cheese region : ASIAGO. Interesting; it can assume different textures, according to its aging, from smooth to a crumbly texture. Plus, 13D. Deli cheese : SWISS

7. Youngsters : LADS

8. "Simply delicious" waffle maker : EGGO. Lads and lassies protecting their Eggo's.

9. Tea leaves reader, e.g. : SEER

10. Deli meat in round slices : SALAMI

11. Dreaded business chapter? : ELEVEN. Dreaded by whom? A business may restructure and eliminate debts and continue in operation.

12. Greeting from a distance : WAVING

21. Wild revelry : ORGY

22. Went off the high board : DOVE

23. Taj Mahal city : AGRA

24. Come across as : SEEM

28. Competed in a 10K : RAN

29. Back in style : RETRO

30. Altar vow : "I DO"

31. Pants seam problem : RIP

35. Not shut, in verse : OPE. (open)

36. Just out of the box : NEW

37. Comedian Margaret : CHO. And more: American comedian, fashion designer, actress, author, and singer-songwriter.

38. "Sons and Lovers" novelist : LAWRENCE. (D. H. Lawrence (1885 – 1930))

39. Florence's river : ARNO. Italy, sometimes clued as Pisa flower.

40. Crab grass, e.g. : WEED. Soon, soon.

41. Military force : ARMY

42. Black-and-white cookie : OREO. but not 52D. Spunkmeyer of cookie fame : OTIS

43. Middle East language : ARABIC

44. 1971 Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo : NERUDA. (Pablo Neruda (1904 – 1973))

45. Scooted : DARTED

46. Brought to maturity : REARED

47. Cardiac surgery technique : BYPASS

48. Chews the fat : CHATS

53. Get out of bed : RISE

54. Auto racer Yarborough : CALE. Back in the day.

55. Elephant's incisor : TUSK

59. "The Da Vinci Code" author Brown : DAN

60. John's Yoko : ONO

Argyle

Notes from C.C.:

1) Happy Birthday to dear Lois! Hope you're succeeding in fighting the Nazi regime.

2) Happy Birthday to Awol (A Woman Of Leisure) as well! Look at her cool hair.

Awol

Sunday Feb 17, 2013 Mike Peluso

Theme: "Begone!" - B is removed from each theme entry.

23A. Garden tool for unexpected situations? : EMERGENCY RAKE. Emergency Brake.

35A. Hardly ever laugh? : LACK HUMOR. Black humor.

 51A. Reason for a few nicks? : SHAVING RUSH. Shaving brush.

69A. Plumber's assessment? : LEAK OUTLOOK. Bleak outlook.

 84A. Panama Canal bash? : LOCK PARTY. Block party.

102A. Highland scoundrel? : SCOTTISH ROGUE. Scottish brogue. Scottish English is hardest to understand.

3D. Loud parties in Georgia? : ATLANTA RAVES. Atlanta Braves.

57D. Vulcanized rubber inventor's unsteady gait? : GOODYEAR LIMP. Goodyear Blimp.

3 B's are removed from the first word. 5 from the second word. So no odd man out. 

We still have 5 B's in the grid. Mike probably considered keeping B's out of the grid, but opted having cleaner fill rather than obsessing over one letter.

  

Across:      

1. Charge for unlimited use, say : FLAT FEE

8. Nice woman : FEMME. The French city Nice.

13. Dines lavishly : FEASTS

19. Go back over : RE-TRACE

20. Connecticut town on Long Island Sound : DARIEN.  What's it famous for, LaLaLinda?

21. "It was all __" : A DREAM

22. About to deliver : IN LABOR

25. Escargot : SNAIL

26. Start the day : ARISE

27. NBA one-pointers : FTs. Free Throws.

28. Ayres who played Dr. Kildare : LEW

29. Barone's superior : CONTE. Italian for "Count". French is "Comte", "Le Comte de Monte-Cristo".

30. Ridge : CREST

31. Pvts.' superiors : CPLs

33. Start of many California city names : SAN

34. N.Y. neighbor : ONT
  

 37. PowerShot maker : CANON

39. Up : AT BAT

42. Elite school : IVY

43. Welcomes at the door : GREETS. During Chinese New Year, kids gets Hong Bao, literally "Red Packet", with money inside. In Guangzhou, you get Hong Bao as long as you're single. It's normally 10 or 20 RMB.

44. Drive aimlessly : CRUISE. Have never taken a cruise ship. I don't think I will.

45. Annoy with complaints : WHINE

48. Mentalist Geller : URI

49. "Just a __!" : SEC

50. Nickels and dimes : CHANGE

54. Some sopranos : DIVAS

55. Spies on, in a way : TAILS

56. Runs amok : RAMPAGES

60. Thought: Pref. : IDEO

61. "Tales From the __": '50s horror comic : CRYPT. Guessed.

62. Small toy? : WHELP. The ? did not prevent me from thinking real toys.

64. Al Green genre : SOUL

65. Blisters : VESICLES. Another new word to me.

67. Apples, e.g. : POMES

68. "What __!": "Yawn!" : A BORE

72. Closely watched index : THE DOW. Struggling to stay above 14,000.

73. Abbr. usually preceded by a comma : ETC

76. AMEX adjustments : CRS. Credit Reports? I only know Bill G & Avg Joe's old age CRS.

77. Tenured coll. employees : PROFS

78. Walks casually : MOSEYS

79. Golfer Garcia : SERGIO. He should have married Martina Hingis. They were a great couple.

81. Sch. fundraising gp. : PTA

82. Scandinavian capital : KRONE
 

83. Suave competitor : PRELL

89. Capp and Kaline : ALs

92. Joey's mom : ROO

93. __ Mawr : BRYN

95. Equip anew : RE-RIG
 

96. Amoxicillin target : STREP

98. Alliance formed under HST : OAS (Organization of American States). Founded in 1948.

99. Great Basin cap. : SLC. Salt Lake City.

100. His name is Spanish for "fox" : ZORRO. Learned this a while ago.

101. Punt navigator : POLER. Is this a football term?

106. At a moment's notice : READILY

108. Relents : LETS UP

109. Most exposed : BAREST

110. Author Prosper __ who wrote "Carmen," on which the opera is based : MERIMEE. No idea. I could only think of BIZET.

111. Old cinemas : ODEONS

112. Orchard Field, nowadays : O'HARE

113. Surprise success : SLEEPER. I'm rather intrigued by that Massad Prisoner X story. So he was a double agent?

Down:

1. Giants' home, familiarly : FRISCO

2. "The Lawrence Welk Show" sisters' surname : LENNON. The Lennon Sisters.

4. Blue eyes, e.g. : TRAIT. Were you thinking of Sinatra?

5. It has a moral : FABLE

6. Green prefix : ECO

7. Eternally, to Blake : EER

8. Starve, to Shakespeare : FAMISH. I only know famine, Mr. Shakespeare!

9. 1974 hit sung entirely in Spanish : ERES TU

10. Muddy area : MIRE

11. Bit of computer memory : MEG

12. Omaha-to-Milwaukee dir. : ENE

13. Statistical input : FACTS

14. It's Dreyer's west of the Rockies : EDY'S. Source of our blog trouble last month.

15. SFO info : ARR

16. Routes for liners : SEA LANES

17. Show particular interest : TAKE NOTE

18. Fish-eating duck : SMEW

20. She was the ten in "10" : DEREK.  Bo Derek is a beautiful woman.

24. Broncos' org. : NFL

26. Pie slice feature : ARC

30. Leonardo's co-star in "The Aviator" : CATE (Blanchett)

31. Halloween gathering? : COVEN. Fun clue. JD, Chickie, Garlic Girl gather monthly. They're our Californian Coven. Jill is to be inducted, I think.

32. Snoop : PRY

33. Pennzoil letters : SAE. I had to google. Society of Automotive Engineers.

35. Do surgery, in a way : LASE

36. __ golf : MINI

37. Invigorating, as air : CRISP

38. Pres. advisory team : NSC (National Security Council)

40. Controversial baby food ingredient : TUNA OIL. Unaware of the controversy.

41. Major leagues, in baseball lingo : BIGs

43. Crotchety sort : GRUMP. I miss Grumpy. who is never crotchety.

44. Rebuke : CHIDE

45. Party enforcer : WHIP

46. Stop : HALT

47. OR hangers : IVs

48. Eurasian range : URALS

50. Early 5th-century year : CDIV. 404. Or CDII/CDVI. 

51. Authority : SAY-SO

52. A mystery, metaphorically : GREEK

53. Aging pro, maybe : HAS BEEN. Made me think of Vijay Singh.

55. Arduous journeys : TREKS

58. Guilder replacements : EUROS

59. Ton : SLEW

61. Light cigar wrapper : CLARO. Read more here. I have no knowledge on cigar wrappers. I thought CLARO is just light cigar.

62. Response from Fido : WOOF

63. Ins. plans : HMOs

66. Five-time MLB All-Star Cooper : CECIL. Former managers for the Astros. Cecil Feilder is a 3-time All-Star. Which one is more famous to you?

Prince Fielder's Dad

 67. Oslo Accords signer: Abbr. : PLO. I don't remember exactly what Oslo Accords is about. But I do remember this image.

68. "I get it," wryly : AH SO

70. Author Sinclair : UPTON. "The Jungle". 

71. Gillette razor word : TRAC

72. Parliament member : TORY

73. Seer's alleged gift : ESP
 

74. Like many apartments : TERRACED
 

75. Piling coating : CREOSOTE. New word to me  also.

78. Business sch. major : MKTG

80. Day-__ : GLO

81. Thickness : PLY
 

85. Cincinnati-based retailer : KROGER. I've never visited a Kroger.

86. Look over : PERUSE

87. Octagonal road sign, in Arles : ARRET. "Stop" in French.

88. El Amazonas, por ejemplo : RIO

90. Actress Sobieski : LEELEE. Does she look like Helen Hunt?

91. More like a spring chicken : SPRYER

93. Dots that may beep : BLIPS

94. Some colas : RCs

96. What a slash may mean in some scores : SPARE. Bowling. Boomer had 23 strikes in a row last Monday, 290 & 300.

97. "It's __ for!" : TO DIE

98. City served by Gardermoen Airport : OSLO

99. Dumbfound : STUN

100. Writer __ Neale Hurston : ZORA
 

103. Chicken general? : TSO. General Tso's Chicken is one of those Chinese dishes Chinese don't eat. 

104. "Veep" network : HBO

105. Cheer word : RAH

106. Apt. divisions : RMs

107. Sushi fish : EEL

1) Happy Birthday to Ron Wordon! Great to see you back.

2) Happy 46th wedding anniversary to Husker Gary and Joann! I think I know the secret to their happy marriage: chocolate-covered strawberries.

Joann and Gary at one of Nebraska's most famous landmarks Chimney Rock on their way to the Black Hills August 28, 2012