Friday, April 26, 2013, Jim Holland

Theme: Punning around the world.

Each of the four theme answers takes an existing phrase with a geographic reference and uses a sound alike replacement to create a new and humorous phrase. We have two grid spanners and two fourteen letter fill, symmetrically with the 15's a country beginning with "S" and the 14's with a "G" so the theme is full. This is the second puzzle from Mr. Holland that I recall, with a Sunday last year as his LAT debut. I found this to be a comparatively easy puzzle, with many early week characteristics, word length, etc. but still some very challenging fill. Let's take a walk through this Holland Tunnel.

17A. One lingering in Edinbugh? : SCOTTISH TARRIER (TERRIER).(15) I learned what I know about Scotland from reading Ian Rankin and M.C. Beaton. Any Hamish MacBeth fans?

27A. Some Athenian physicians? : GREEK ORTHO DOCS (ORTHODOX).(14). I had to bone up on my Greek to get this one.

50A. Berlin sidewalk writing? : GERMAN CHALK LIT. (CHOCOLATE) (14). Lit being literature makes it all work.

64A. Fancy singles event in Stockholm? : SWEDISH MEET BALL.(MEAT BALL) (15). Are we foreshadowing Elin?  I thought this was very cute, with all kinds of punny potential.

On with the show.

Across:

1. ___ squad : VICE. Anybody see the MOVIE? (0:58).

5. Sharp fasteners : BRADS. Little shiny guys, not Pitt.

10. Line of movement : PATH. I like this clue.

14. In a while : ANON. I learned this from Shakespeare.

15. Go back to the beginning, in a way : RESET. Time to hit the reset button on life.

16. Spread unit : ACRE. Not butter, or cream cheese but a ranch.

20. Hoglike mammals : TAPIRS. Not quite a potbellied pig.

21. "I could ___ horse!" : EAT A. Don't you love the juxtaposition of the hog and the eating a horse?

22. Touch : DAB. Does anyone not think of

23. Stravinsky's "The ___ of Spring" : RITE. JzB. a few bars please. LINK. (4:42).

25. DX ÷  V : CII. 510 divided by 5 = 102. The Roman math you all requested.

26. "___ a ripoff!" : IT'S.

32. Black gold : OIL. Texas tea.

33. Big Bird buddy : ELMO.

34. DOD subdivision : NSA. Department of Defense oversees the National Security Agency.

35. Really feel the heat : BAKE. A favorite past time here in the sunny south.

37. Plus : AND.

39. Carpenter's tool : RASP.

43. CD conclusion? : ROM. Read Only Memory.

46. Charge carriers : IONS. My first read, I though it said change...

49. Fury : IRE.

54. Valiant son : ARN. Funny, I linked Prince V last week for his haircut.

55. Heavenly altar : ARA. Like this ONE.

56. Hockey Hall of Famer Mikita : STAN. Gew up with Stan and Bobby Hull leading the Blackhawks.

57. Sum (up) : TOT. Total; you get the impression Rich changed the clue here and forgot about 18D. 57-Across's wheels : TRIKE which requires a different tot to ride his tricycle.

58. Personal time? : NITE.?? Up to you all.

60. Some govt. investments : T-NOTES. In between T-bills and T-bonds. Medium term maturities.

67. New coin of 2002 : EURO Time flies.

68. One may work with a chair : TAMER. Looks funny without the Lion attached.

69. Vivacity : BRIO. A puzzle word all should know.

70. Church section : APSE. Even Mrs. O'Hair would have known this one.

71. Angling banes : SNAGS. When you go fishing and your line gets caught.

72. Oh's role in "Grey's Anatomy" : YANG. Sandra playing Cristina.

Down:

1. Humongous : VAST. Man, I wish it were the other way around.

2. Worshipper of the Earth goddess Pachamama : INCA. No clue, but perped itself easily. Who's your pachamama?

3. Condo cousin : CO-OP. Co-operative apartment and the precursor to condo living. Nothing to do with Gary.

4. Complete : ENTIRE.

5. British university city : BRISTOL. In the grand tradition of British subtlety, it is called Bristol University. Where are all of our Brits? Steve did you scare them away?

6. Legal issue : RES. The Latin for things.

7. "Off the Court" author : ASHE. Arthur the tennis professional, who tragically died young from AIDS contracted from a blood transfusion before the threat was widely known.

8. Separate : DETACH.

9. Post : STATION.

10. Links standard : PAR. A golf term that has become an in the language concept for everything.

11. Like citrus fruit : ACIDIC. Looks funny, opposite of BASIC?

12. They might make cats pause : TREATS. Love the sound pause/paws.

13. Chef's array : HERBS. Are you an ERB or HERB person?

19. Military surprises : RAIDS.

24. First name in humor : ERMA. Bombeck, a literal first name. We also have Emma below.

“Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the 'Titanic' who waved off the dessert cart.” ― Erma Bombeck.

27. Tar : GOB. Sailor.

28. Sea inlet : RIA. More crosswordese.

29. One who observes a fraternal Hour of Recollection : ELK. The BPOE CODE

30. Source of invigoration : TONIC. These days our tonics are energy drinks, not celery based.

31. One leaving a wake : OAR. You have to picture an oar slicing through the water.

36. Mess up : ERR. Do not forget to forgive. OAR/ERR?

38. Self-recriminating cries : DOHS. The Simpsons' influence is pervasive.

40. Have a health problem : AIL. I have a cough and stuffy nose from the climate adjustments.

41. Hindu title : SRI. Like Mr. from the Sanskrit.

42. Sweetie : PET. Are you all offended by people calling you sweetie?

44. Muscat native : OMANI.

45. Some Roman Catholics : MARISTS. Followers of MARY.

47. Babbles : NATTERS. Remember the Nabobs?

48. Perspective : SLANT. I often wondered why these have become synonymous. My only guess is that it comes from art, where the slant of shadows is used to create distance perspective. I am sure someone will enlighten me.

50. Mature : GROW UP. Not likely.

51. Adds to the database : ENTERS. That is why the job is known as data entry.

52. ___ Detroit: "Guys and Dolls" role : NATHAN. My youngest played in his high school's version.

53. Like some tree trunks : KNOBBY. And many knees.

54. Having no clue : AT SEA.

59. Peel on "The Avengers" : EMMA. One wonderful inspiration in the 60's, Diana Rigg, she is now playing the dowager of the Tyrells on Game of Thrones.

61. King who succeeded 59-Down : TARA. This was a devilishly clever clue, because King made you think the clue was misplaced, but  Linda Thorson was hired as Tara King to replace Diana Rigg.

62. Swedish model Nordegren in 2004 nuptial news : ELIN. Tiger's erstwhile wife. Makes you want to hire a nanny.

63. Tough going : SLOG. I guess you guys managed to slog through the last few links.

65. Buck's mate : DOE. A deer, a female deer...

66. Hosp. test : EEG. So many tests Electroencephalography.

Well my last April effort for this year, and  now I must go. Thanks for tuning in and taking time to say hello. Until next week, Lemonade out.

Note from C.C.:

Steve, our Wednesday blogger, took part in Marbles' LA Tournament last Sunday. He said:

"The competition was fun - there were about 25 people at the Los Angeles event (there were eight or so locations across the country). Eric Maddy was the winner - apparently he was 11th at the 2010 ACPT. He's a pretty intense character! There were three puzzles with a 20-minute time limit and the winners of the three rounds faced off in the final. I completed the first in about 10 minutes, the second in 15 and was a solid DNF on the third. I tried the final puzzle for fun and I'd filled in possibly an eighth of it when Eric finished - I don't think I'm cut out for speed-solving. It was fun, though."

Left to Right: Bill Farhood, Eric Maddy, JT Williams

You can't see Steve clearly here. He's in purple shirt, sitting next to Eric Maddy.

You can see him clearly here:

Steve, Notre Dame London Campus, Nov 2012

Thursday, April 25, 2013 Jeffrey Wechsler

Theme: POP! goes the puzzle...

17-Across. Pop : CARBONATED DRINK.

26-Across. Pop : PUNCTURING SOUND.

43-Across. Pop : WARHOL'S ART STYLE.

56-Across. Pop : TOOTSIE ROLL ITEM.

Jeffrey also has a puzzle in today's New York Times - a rare occurrence for a constructor. Congratulations, Jeffrey!

Four fifteen-letter theme entries have totally different meanings for the simple word "pop." And we have a fifth fifteen-letter entry that has nothing to do with the theme, at 7-Down. Outdoor security options : EXTERIOR CAMERAS. Did that throw anyone off?

Really easy puzzle, for a Thursday. I flew through it in just over my typical Monday time. Let's see what I missed...

Across:

1. Dot-___ printer : MATRIX. We used to have to put these noisemakers in a special room.  The sound of them running payroll on Fridays was deafening.

7. Hash house sign : EATS.

11. Org. that financed many public murals : WPA. Works Progress Administration (Later renamed Work Projects Administration). One of the lesser-known aspects of Roosevelt's New Deal program. I wanted this to be NEA, but that one comes later in the grid...

14. Brand with a Justice for Potatoes League : ORE-IDA. Because "Lays" was too short.

15. Inside information? : X-RAY. Fun clue.

16. Ancient pillager : HUN.

20. Air France-___: European flier : KLM. Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij. Literally, "Royal Aviation Society," better known as "Royal Dutch Airlines." (And yes, I did have to look up the spelling of "Royal" ;-D)

21. Cathedral areas : NAVES. Apses/Naves always have to wait on perps.

22. Place in a 1969 western : ETTA. Etta Place was the name of the schoolteacher that took up with Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid. Great misdirection! (Couldn't resist...)

23. Tech staff member : CODER.

24. Camel hair colors : TANS.

32. Bat mitzvah locale : SHUL.

33. Bands from Japan : OBIS.

34. Gp. concerned with dropout prevention : NEA. Ah, there it is. But wait! It's not the National Endowment for the Arts that I thought of for 11-Across, but the National Education Association.

35. Run smoothly : HUM.

36. Condor's booster : UPDRAFT. Haha,  I was thinking of a rocket, until I imagined that the condor might not appreciate such a "boost."

39. Ruckus : DIN.

40. "___ you sure?" : ARE.

41. Charcutier offering : PORC. Pork, in a French butcher shop.

42. 2010 Angelina Jolie spy film : SALT. Never heard of this movie. Any good?

48. "Sooey!" reply : OINK.

49. "Goodness gracious!" : MERCY.

50. Kitty's sunny sleeping spot : SILL.

52. TV and radio : MEDIA.

53. Toulouse : oeil :: Toledo : ___ : OJO. French and Spanish "eye".

60. An official lang. of Kenya : ENG.lish.

61. The "a" in "a=lw" : AREA.= length x width. (Bill G., are you proud of me?)

62. First word of Longfellow's "Paul Revere's Ride" : "LISTEN, my children, and you shall hear..."

63. Technique : WAY.

64. Chews the fat : YAKS.

65. First step toward nirvana : SATORI. Learned from crossword puzzles.

Down:

1. Poke fun at : MOCK. 4-Down. Poke fun at : RIB. 54-Down. Poke fun (at) : JEER.

2. Shrinking sea : ARAL. Despite the efforts of Kazakhstan with funding from the World Bank to reverse the trend.

3. Duration : TERM.

5. Defensive denial : I DO NOT! (Response to "You always leave the toilet seat up!")

6. Second word of Coleridge's "Kubla Khan" : XANADU. "In XANADU did Kubla Khan / a stately pleasure dome decree..."

8. Battling god : ARES.

9. Itty bit : TAD.

10. Pink Floyd's Barrett : SYD. Here's one of his classics. 4:13

11. Pentecost : WHIT SUNDAY. The name is a shortening of the word "White," and refers to the Holy Ghost descending on the apostles.

12. Flat-bottomed boat : PUNT.

"Two Women Asleep in a Punt Under the Willows"
by John Singer Sargent

13. "Put your Head on My Shoulder" singer : ANKA. Hard to believe that this one was just four years before 10-Down. 2:42

18. Claim with conviction : AVER.

19. Truckee River city : RENO.

23. II into D : CCL.

24. "Yay, the weekend!" : TGIF. "Thank goodness it's Friday!"

25. Short right hand? : ASST. "Short" for ASSistanT.

26. "Balderdash!" : PSHAW.

27. Chekov bridgemate : UHURA. Star Trek.

28. Quantitative "science"? : NUMEROLOGY. Nice fill.

29. Bulls' org. : NBA. National Basketball Association. Chicago's team.

30. "Jurassic Park" co-star : NEILL. Sam Neill played Dr. Alan Grant.

31. Father of modern Italian, per linguists : DANTE.

36. Very soon after : UPON.

37. President between Tyler and Taylor : POLK.

38. No and Who: Abbr. : DRs. Neat misdirection.

42. Messy room : STY.

44. Excalibur part : HILT.

45. Change the colors of, say : REDO. I want to re-do my bedroom, but can't decide on a color. I just can't 57. Put into words : SAY. the look I'm going for.

46. Wavy lines, in music : TRILLS. Like this.

47. Justice who's the son of an Italian immigrant : SCALIA. Alito is also the son of an Italian immigrant.

50. Get into a lather : STEW.

51. New Rochelle college : IONA.

52. Overly submissive : MEEK.

53. "The Simpsons" bus driver : OTTO. I really have to watch that show someday...

55. Intro to science? : OMNI. I was thinking of high school courses. (Hey, I'm not omniscient!)

58. It's usually FDIC-insured : IRA. Individual Retirement Account.

59. Bassoon end? : IST. Bassoonist. And that's the end of my story!

Hugs,

Marti

Note from C.C.:

Happy Birthday to dear Kazie, the language expert on our blog. Kazie grew up in Sydney, Australia. She has been living in Wisconsin the past two decades. (Correction: Kay has been here since 1974.)  She speaks fluent French & German and is always the first person I go to whenever I have a linguistic problem.

Barry (Kazie's husband), Hemingway & Kazie, Spain, 2012

Wednesday, April 23, 2013 Ed Sessna

Theme: TWO CUBED.  Or is that a CRAZY idea? Three theme answers contain anagrams of the word EIGHT, straddling two words of the answer.  In crossword jargon, such mixing up of letters can be clued as CRAZY, so, CRAZY or not, this is a good, solid theme.

17 A. Michael Jackson memorabilia : WHITE GLOVES.  Everyone needs a trademark.

28 A. Line-drawing tool : STRAIGHT EDGE.  Here is a three-sided one.  Also doubles as a ruler. 

45A. Conversational skill : THE GIFT OF GAB.  The ability to talk at any length on any topic with no preparation.  My grandson Ryan has this gift - he can make friends in the line at the grocery store.  The other theme answers have two words, this one has four = two squared.

And the unifier.  61A. Uno ancestor, and, in a way, what are hidden in 17-, 28- and 45-Across : CRAZY EIGHTS.  Uno is game played with a special, and quite colorful deck. I must have played CRAZY EIGHTS as a kid, but don't remember anything about it.

Hi gang, JazzBumpa here to guide you on this colorful flight through some great and possibly crazy eights.

Across:

1. Singer Bryant : ANITA.  Famous for orange juice commercials, among other things

6. Tooted in a Revolutionary band : FIFED.

11. Jacques, e.g. : NOM.  "Name" in French - a French answer for a French name.

14. Common java hr. : TEN A. M.  Coffee break time.  N.B. abrv in cl & ans.

15. "__ of Two Cities" : A TALE.  Charles Dickens novel set in London and Paris around the time of the French revolution. 

16. Be in the red : OWE.  Slang.  To be in the black is to have a positive cash balance.  This comes from the old accounting practice of noting debts in red ink.

19. Coal container : BIN.  Historically also used for dust.

20. Met display : ART.  The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City

21. Met supporter: Abbr. : NEA.  National Endowment for the Arts.  Semi-clecho.

22. Completely drained : EMPTIED. Exhausted didn't fit.

24. Cold War concerns : RUSSIANS. Well, this probably would depend on who you were asking.

27. Web address ending : ORG. It stands for organization, as opposed to COM, which is intended for commerce.  These ideas were the original intent in 1985, but now both domain types are unrestricted.

33. Fruity : BATTY.  Crazy, like an eight.  By why go half way, when you can have fruit bats?

36. Aristotelian pair? : TAUS.  Tau is the "T" equivalent in the Ancient Greek alphabet.  Aristotle was an ancient Greek and there are two T's in his name. My philosophy does not favor self-referential clues, but I will be stoic about it.

37. Cauliflower __: boxing injury : EAR.  A condition caused by trauma to the external portion of the ear that separates cartilage from the adjoining tissue, so that it degenerates and fibrous tissue forms in the skin.  Per Wikipedia, "The condition is most common among boxers, wrestlers, mixed martial artists, and forwards in rugby union."

38. "Exodus" author : URIS.  Leon.

39. Heavy curtain : DRAPE. 

41. Head of a family? : CAPO. Mafia slang.

42. Channel for film buffs : TCM. Turner Classic Movies, where you might find a flick about a CAPO.

43. Jalapeño rating characteristic : HEAT.  Hot peppers.

44. Nemo creator Verne : JULES.  This clue is about fictional submarine Captain Nemo, aka Prince Dakkar in the novels Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1870,) and The Mysterious Island (1874.)   Not to be confused with a certain lost fish.

49. Info source, with "the" : WEB.  The infamous internet, source of all sorts of good and bad information.

50. Like early life forms : PRIMEVAL.  Derived from Latin words meaning early age.  In those halcyon days, neither prime time nor evil had yet been invented.

54. Shakespearean actor Kenneth : BRANAGH.  He has directed or starred in several movie adaptations of Shakespeare's plays.

58. SALT subject : ABM.  Topics for Strategic Arms Limitation Talks included Anti-Ballistic Missiles.

59. Worker who handles returns, briefly : CPA.  A Certified Public Accountant handles tax returns and also can tell you if you're in the red.

60. Tune : AIR.  Here is a wonderful example.

64. Prune : LOP. 

65. New worker : HIREE.  If you are a hirer

66. Pick of the litter : ELITE.  This doesn't quote seem to fit. 

67. Sot's symptoms : DT'S.  Delerium Tremens.  This is a syndrome resulting from alcohol withdrawal that can include body tremors, mood swings, hallucinations and several other symptoms.  "DT's" is in the language, and doesn't require an abrv. hint in the clue.

68. Readied, as the presses : INKED.  Ready to print.

69. Deep sleep : SOPOR.  Another possible symptom of the DT's, that can last for a day or longer.

Down:

1. Engaged in armed conflict : AT WAR.

2. Beatles jacket style : NEHRU.  This is a hip length tailored coat somewhat loosely modeld on the much longer sherwani, which was worn by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the Prime Minister of India from 1947 to 1964.  It is unlikely that he ever wore a Nehru jacket.

3. Contract change approvals: Abbr. : INITS.  Initials - cuz' who wants to take the time to sign their whole NOM?

4. Tit for __ : TAT.  Equivalent retaliation, similar to an eye for an eye.  Probably derived from the Dutch tip for tap - blow for blow.

5. Motel Wi-Fi, for one : AMENITY. Something that provides comfort, convenience or enjoyment.

6. Singer-dancer Lola : FALANA.  An American singer and dancer born in 1942.

7. Jurist Lance : ITO.  He presided over events that gave murder trials a bad name.

8. Top choice, slangily : FAVE.  Short for favorite, I assume. 

9. Type of sch. with low grades? : ELEM.  Clever clue.  Elementary school, my dear Watson, for the PRIMEVAL part of your educational experience.

10. Iron-fisted rulers : DESPOTS. Historically, a ruling individual or oligarchy with absolute power.  In modern usage, there is an implication of oppression and abuse of power.  Game of Thrones fans will probably think of King Joffrey.

11. "Don't sweat it" : NO BIG DEAL.  It's a piece of cake.

12. Baby's boo-boo : OWIE. Until you get hurt

13. Convalesce : MEND.  Then you might have take time to get better.

18. First in a car, say : GEAR.  This had me stalled for a while, but I'm in 2nd gear now.  

23. Uno e due : TRE.  One plus two = three.  Is this French or Italian?

25. Retired fliers : SSTS.  Super Sonic Transports.  They have been out of commercial service since Oct. 2003. 

26. Straddle : SIT ATOP.  This is imprecise.  You can SIT ATOP something without having your legs dangled on either side, which is what is required for it to be a straddle.

29. Spark plug measurement : GAP.  This distance is critical for proper performance.

30. Color : HUE.  For some reason, red comes to mind.

31. Look open-mouthed : GAPE.

32. Valentine's Day deity : EROS. Aka Cupid.

33. Target of a joke : BUTT. This expresson goes back to at least 1775.  It is probably derived from the use of the word butt meaning a target for archery practice, and then the target of the joke.

34. St. Louis symbol : ARCH.  Someone who hates St. Louis would be it's ARCH enemy.

35. Sci-fi travel conveniences : TIME WARPS.  The Free Dictionary tell us a TIME WARP is "A hypothetical discontinuity or distortion occurring in the flow of time that would move events from one time period to another or suspend the passage of time."  But since I played an all Brubeck concert last night, I'll go with this.

39. Dict. feature : DEF.  Dictionaries feature definitions.

40. Dirty one in a memorable Cagney line : RAT. 

41. Sugar shape : CUBE.

43. Terrace cooker : HIBACHI. A charcoal brazier.

44. Night-night clothes? : JAMMIES.  Kiddie talk for bed time and pajamas.

46. DDE, in WWII : GEN. General Dwight David Eisenhower.

47. Worn at the edges : FRAYED.  Like a puzzle with too many abrvs.

48. Sarcastic remark : GIBE.  Did I just make one?

51. TV monitoring device : V-CHIP.  So your kiddies can't sneak down in their JAMMIES after you go night-night and watch soft core porn on Skinemax.

52. Most likely will, after "is" : APT TO. Are they likely to?

53. Surgery beam : LASER. 

54. Not in need of a barber : BALD.  I just had my remaining hairs cut today, and discussed with my similarly unendowed barber the dangers of sunburn on the pate.

55. Mob action : RIOT. Not in a good way

56. It may run from cheek to cheek : GRIN.  Wouldn't "ear to ear" be more in the language?  My lips go cheek to cheek even when I frown.

57. Carol opening : HARK.  Some angel named Harold is singing.

62. Zip code start? : ZEE.  O G - a spelt out letter.

63. Day-__: pigment brand : GLO.   Color, only better.

Well, that wraps up our CRAZY EIGHT tour.  Pretty good ride, with some pretty good music, a crazy five, and only a couple of clunkers.  Hope you had fun with it.

Cool Regards!

JzB

Tuesday, April 23, 2013 John Verel and Jeff Chen

Theme: Perfect dramas to play in the Ed Sullivan Theater - because the theater is known for being chilly, it would put you in the mood to watch these dramas or listen to the revealer.

17A. O'Neill drama set in Harry Hope's saloon : THE ICEMAN COMETH

28A. With 30-Across, drama based on '70s presidential interviews : FROST. 30A. See 28-Across : NIXON

40A. Drama about Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine : THE LION IN WINTER

52A. With 54-Across, "Viva La Vida" rock group, and what 17-, 28-/30- and 40-Across each is? : COLD. 54A. See 52-Across : PLAY

Argyle here. Meet John Verel (not an anagram for our editor), teamed up with one of my favorites, Jeff Chen. They have giving us a unique Tuesday, a puzzle with mirror crossword symmetry, left/right. Two grid spanners and two 2-parters. I found some clues were a little ragged but doable. Change can be good and I liked the presentation. A lot of alliteration, also.

Across:

1. Pink drink, briefly : COSMO. (cosmopolitan cocktail) One I've never had. The color comes from cranberry juice.

6. Arson aftermath : ASH

9. Hutt crime lord of sci-fi : JABBA. Over-weight baddie from "Star Wars".

14. According to : AS PER

15. Grazing area : LEA

16. Light purple : LILAC. we are into spring when the lilacs bloom. Wish I could link the smell.

20. Tailor's target : TEAR (great alliteration)

21. Many a Beethoven sonata ender : RONDO. Honestly, doesn't Rondo sound like it should be an action figure?

22. Popeye's __' Pea : SWEE

23. Jabber on and on : YAK. Jabber/Jabba seems a little too close.

24. __ in November : 'N' AS

25. Likable prez : IKE. Dwight D. Eisenhower, our 34th President.

27. More than feasts (on) : OD's

32. Aspiring doc's course : PRE-MED

33. Walked alongside one's master : HEELED. Good clue.

35. On the Pacific : ASEA

36. Fertilizable cells : OVA

38. "Just __!": "Be right there!" : A SEC

45. "Friendly skies" co. : UAL. (United Air Lines)

46. Greatly feared : DREADED

47. Comstock Lode find : ORE. (silver ore)

48. Fred of "My Cousin Vinny" : GWYNNE. Gotta see it again.

50. Oozed : SEEPED

55. Pottery "pet" : CHIA. More alliteration.

58. Smooth transition : SEGUE

60. Pastoral poem : IDYL

64. Invisible vibes : AURA

65. More than most : EVERY

66. Wine tasting criterion : NOSE

67. Quilting parties : BEEs

68. Corrida cheer : ¡Olé!

69. Neuter, horsewise : GELD

Down:

1. Slyly spiteful : CATTY

2. Irish actor Milo : O'SHEA. He passed away earlier this month.

3. Say what you will : SPEAK FREELY

4. Golda of Israel : MEIR

5. "The Lord of the Rings" baddie : ORC

6. Answering the penultimate exam question, say : ALMOST DONE

7. Actor Connery : SEAN

8. How lovers walk : HAND-IN-HAND

9. "Jersey Girl" actress, to fans : J-LO. (Jennifer Lopez) Her character dies within the first 15 minutes of the film.

10. Goals : AIMS

11. Emulated Mt. St. Helens? : BLEW ONE'S TOP

12. With __ breath: expectantly : BATED

13. Pains' partner : ACHES

18. Answering machine button : ERASE

19. Journalist Roberts : COKIE

24. Name, in Nîmes : NOM. In southern France.

26. Program file suffix : EXE

29. Not counterfeit : REAL

31. "The Good Earth" mother : OLAN. The Good Earth is a novel by Pearl S. Buck.

32. "Nonsense!" : "PSHAW!"

34. Tractor manufacturer : DEERE. First name, John.

35. Give __: yank : A TUG

37. By way of : VIA

39. Believability on the street, slangily : CRED. (short for "credibility")

41. Driver's license fig. : ID NO. (identification number)

42. Threat words : OR ELSE

43. Actor Snipes : WESLEY. Maybe he could play Rondo.

44. Thought : IDEA

49. "March Madness" games, informally : NCAA's. (National Collegiate Athletic Association)

51. Sizing up : EYING

53. "Whip It" band : DEVO. Whip it good. "When a problem comes along, You must whip it; Before the cream sets out too long, You must whip it; When something's goin' wrong, You must whip it."

54. Like the driven snow : PURE. Like in Grandma's snow globe.

55. Red wine choice, for short : CAB. (cabernet sauvignon)

56. Tint : HUE

57. Wrath : IRE

59. Salon goop : GEL

61. Mommy deer : DOE

62. Initials on L'Homme fragrance : YSL. (Yves Saint Laurent)

63. Took the reins : LED

Argyle

Note from C.C.:

1) Puzzazz has started their Year of Puzzles. The first puzzle is a "very cool double spiral" made by Parker Lewis. Click here for details.

2) Here are two sweet photos of JD's grandsons. The pictures were taken the day before yesterday.

Left to Right: Cameron, Truman & Grady

Two years ago, they were this big:

Left to Right: Grady (11 months), Truman (3 years old) & Cameron (2 weeks)

Monday, April 22, 2013 Drew Banneman

 

Theme: Help - The start of the unifier can also precede the first word of the themes.

20A. Behavior of a community : GROUP DYNAMICS. SUPPORT GROUP.

30A. "Star Trek" catchphrase : "BEAM ME UP". SUPPORT BEAM.

36A. Storage items near outdoor faucets : HOSE REELS. SUPPORT HOSE. (my favorite)

48A. Military officer's ride : STAFF CAR. SUPPORT STAFF.

55A. Nurturing network of family and friends, and a hint to the starts of 20-, 30-, 36- and 48-Across : SUPPORT SYSTEM

Argyle here. A Monday debut for Drew, gender unknown. I hope Splynter may find a suitable pic for SUPPORT HOSE. Two corners with 7-letter vertical stacks with the long themes connected to them. All-in-all, a good Monday debut puzzle. I hope Drew will drop by.

Across:

1. Switchblade : SHIV

5. French revolutionary who was murdered in a tub : MARAT. (Jean-Paul Marat) More of a Tuesday entry.

10. Hard to outwit : WILY. Wile E. Coyote

 

14. Trumpet muffler : MUTE

15. Rolled out of bed : AROSE

16. One-named Gaelic folk singer : ENYA. I'll come back and link her song if I don't find anything else.

17. Bear in two constellations : URSA. Major and minor.

18. Pro cager : NBAer

19. Folksy Joan : BAEZ. I like Joan.

23. Martini liquor : GIN. Or...

 

24. AOL chat components : IM's. (Instant Messages)

25. Turkish __: spas : BATHS

28. 24-hour auto race city : LE MANS. South-west of Paris. 67A. 500-mile race, familiarly : INDY. Indianapolis, Indiana, a long way from France.

33. Standing straight : ERECT

34. Aim for pins : BOWL. Get 'em all, Boomer.

35. "How come?" : "WHY?". It comes after the "NO!"s of the terrible twos.

40. Satisfied sigh : "AAH!"

43. Sox player, e.g. : ALer. First basketball, now baseball.

44. Preface, briefly : INTRO

51. Attempt to cool, as steaming hot soup : BLOW ON

52. Prefix with foam : STYRO

53. Maglie or Mineo : SAL. Ball player or actor.

54. Unlock, poetically : OPE

60. Corncob pipe part : STEM

62. "The First Time __ Saw Your Face" : EVER I. Forget Enya.

 

63. Speech problem : LISP

64. Stay fresh : KEEP

65. Dig artifact : RELIC

66. Send out, as rays : EMIT

68. Phones on stage, e.g. : PROPS. Maybe we can get some links to when props fail. I'd look now but I probably wouldn't come back.

69. Contradict : DENY

Down:

1. Bring across the border illegally : SMUGGLE. There have been some horror stories about smuggling people.

2. One in a rush : HURRIER. Clunk! We were doing so good. Why not HARRIER?

3. "Your money's no good here!" : "IT'S ON ME!"

4. Calf meat, in Provence : VEAU. French veal.

5. Coated buttonlike candies : M AND Ms. I read it as candles; that gave me a pause!

6. "Slicing Up Freshness" fast-food chain : ARBY'S

7. Reddish horse : ROAN. 21D. Ford named for a horse : PINTO

8. On the ocean : ASEA

9. __ paper: school composition : TERM

10. Device for a Skype chat : WEBCAM. Marvelous device, I understand.

11. Very agitated : IN A STEW

12. Soap ingredient : LYE

13. '60s-'80s Red Sox legend, familiarly : YAZ. Carl Yastrzemski, member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

22. Selectric maker : IBM

26. "Whadja say?" : "HUH?"

27. Double agent : SPY

29. "Oh" de Cologne? : "ACH". Cute clue but doesn't make up for HURRIER.

30. Drilling tool : BORER

31. Potter's pitcher : EWER. Alliteration.

32. Tavern brew : ALE

34. Lugosi who played Dracula : BELA

37. Cul-de-__ : SAC

38. Pharmaceutical giant Eli : LILLY

39. __-Globe: shakable collectible : SNO. I remember Grandma's. Today's don't cut it.

40. Balaam's mount : ASS

 

41. Lawyer: Abbr. : ATT.

42. Country bumpkin : HAYSEED

45. Double-cross : TWO-TIME

46. Lures by phishing, say : ROPES IN

47. Afraid of running out, gas gauge-wise : ON EMPTY

49. Drably unattractive : FRUMPY. A descriptive word.

50. Ascot wearer : FOP. FOP-a man who is excessively concerned with fashion and elegance.

51. Fundamentals : BASICS

53. Word after comic or landing : STRIP

56. Cop's suspect : PERP. Perpetrator, to a cop; perpendicular, to us.

57. Eggs __ easy : OVER

58. Move, in brokerese : RELO

59. Winter toy : SLED. Sledding is a gateway sport to skiing?

60. Tackle a slope : SKI

61. Olympic diver's perfection : TEN. On a one to ten scale.

 

Argyle

Sunday April 21, 2013 Robin Stears

Theme: Herbal Tease - One word in each theme entry is replaced by a sound-alike herb.

23A. Observation about sprouting aromatic plants? : SOMETHINGS ARE MINT-TO-BE. Somethings are meant to be.

36A. "Yes, I'm positive this seed is in five-spice powder"? : THAT'S MY FENNEL ANSWER. That's my final answer. Not fond of fennel or the Five-spice powder. My dad used star anise in meat dishes.

55A. "We should whip up some pickle flavoring"? : LET'S MAKE A DILL. Let's Make a Deal.

80A. Like something even better than a pungent herb? : BEYOND BAY LEAF. Beyond belief.

 

96A. Incense hung in two places? : MYRRH MYRRH ON THE WALL. Mirror Mirror on the Wall. Never thought of Myrrh as herb.

117A. Getting by with a loaner herb? : LIVING ON BORROWED THYME. Living on borrowed time. Pure homophone.

Very nice puzzle title!

Grid spanners can make things easier on a week day puzzle, but they're tricky to grid for a 21*21. Plus, Robin has a couple long 19's to deal with. Hence, 6 theme entries today. An extra 7th in the very middle row would make this extra tough, even if it's short.

Across:

 

1. Pricey sweaters : MOHAIRS. Angora goats.

8. They remove bad marks : ERASERS

15. Vertebral bones : SACRA

20. "__ Flame": Bangles ballad : ETERNAL

21. One in the running : NOMINEE

22. Blood of the gods : ICHOR. Learned from doing Xword.

26. Elementary fivesome : A E I O U. And 49. Alphabet trio : BCD

27. Roo's refuge : POUCH

28. Soul-searching events? : SEANCES. I love "Ghost". So good.

29. XIII x IV : LII

31. __-mo replay : SLO

32. "Washboard" muscles : ABS. Which angel do you like the best?

35. __ y Plata: Montana motto : ORO

43. Period relative : ERA

44. Trifle : SOU

45. Ultimate goal : END ALL

46. Easy target : SAP

48. Where It.'s at : EUR. Pay attention to the . in It.

51. Chinese tea : CHA. Literally "tea". Yum Cha ("Drink tea") is a daily activity for retired people in Guangzhou/Hong Kong. Dim sum & Cha & lots of idle gossip. It often takes 2-3 hours. Young people usually "Yum Cha" on weekends.

52. "Sideways" co-star Paul : GIAMATTI

60. Proceed (from) : EMANATE

61. Mythical sea nymphs : NEREIDS. This word reminds me of RESTAURANT in my early days of English learning. Hard to spell. Now looking back, nothing complicated in RESTAURANT.

62. Yield to gravity : SAG

64. 2005 Nobel-winning dramatist : PINTER (Harold). He wrote "The French Lieutenant's Woman".

65. Tears down, in Dover : RASES. Our Razes.

68. Broadband letters : DSL

69. Hägar creator Browne : DIK

71. Can't forgo : NEEDS

72. Bear witness : ATTEST

74. "My country, __ ..." : TIS

76. Every garçon has one : CEDILLA. The mark under that c. I bet this clue will stump some garçons. "I have a what?"

78. Pasture critters : GRAZERS

85. Black-and-tan terrier : AIREDALE

87. Center of gravity? : VEE

88. "__ rang?" : YOU

89. Aladdin's monkey : ABU

90. California's Big __ : SUR

91. Patio-brewed beverage : SUN TEA

93. Many IRA payees : SRS

95. Stimpy's sidekick : REN. "Ren & Stimpy".

103. Sushi tuna : AHI

104. Part of MYOB : OWN

105. "Nerts!" : BAH

106. Poetry Out Loud org. : NEA

107. Working like a dog : SLAVING

111. Prevent : DEBAR

113. Razzle-dazzle : ECLAT

122. __ acid : AMINO

123. Groundbreaking Reagan appointee : O'CONNOR. First woman on the Supreme Court. Tough lady. I think she intimidated even Terry Gross.

124. Showed disdain : SNEERED

125. Forms : MODES

 
126. Positively charged particles : PROTONS

127. Leather treaters : TANNERS

Down:

1. Cactus League spring training city : MESA. Cactus League is in Arizona. Grapefruit League is in Florida.

2. Native Oklahoman : OTOE

3. Half up front? : HEMI. As in, Hemisphere. Tricky, as DEMI, SEMI fit too.

4. Biological ring : AREOLA

5. Goes with one's gut : INTUITS

6. "Yay, team!" : RAH

7. Maidenform buy : SLIP

8. Swamp : ENGULF

9. The "R" in Edward R. Murrow : ROSCOE. Never knew this.

10. Eastern nursemaid : AMAH. Lots of Filipino AMAHS in Hong Kong. Cheap labor. Plus, they speak English.

11. McCartney title : SIR

12. San Diego-to-Albuquerque dir. : ENE

13. "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" band : REM

14. Jorge's half-dozen : SEIS

15. Bollywood strings : SITARS. 65. Music for 15-Down : RAGAS

16. Urgent come-on : ACT NOW

17. Prefix with -aholic : CHOC

18. Boxer's attire : ROBE

19. Olympian warrior : ARES. 86. Warrior companion of 19-Down : ENYO. Learning moment for me.

24. Always butting in : NOSY

25. Old electronic display source : NEON LAMP

30. Weatherman's line : ISOBAR

32. They're history : ANNALS

33. Murphy __ : BED. Never saw one in person.

34. Blast furnace refuse : SLAG

36. Honest : TRUE

37. "The Wizard of Id" co-creator Johnny : HART. The "B.C." cartoonist.

38. Tossed in, as a losing poker hand : MUCKED. Don't know this term.

39. Radar's soda brand : NEHI

40. Byron's words before "'Tis but the truth in masquerade" : A LIE. "And, after all, what is a lie? 'Tis but the truth in masquerade." Don Juan.

41. Probate concern : ESTATE

42. Snitched : RATTED

43. Flotsam or Jetsam in "The Little Mermaid" : EEL. Nice new clue!

47. Beach resort strolling spots : PIERS

50. Jefferson, for one : DEIST

51. MP3 holders : CDS

53. As a rule : MAINLY

54. Temper : ANNEAL

56. Earn a blessing? : SNEEZE. Not sure what Boomer is sensitive to. He sneezes a lot. Probably some kind of scents. Going to Kohl's or some other department stores can set him off.

57. __ around: wasted time : MESSED
 

58. Wing it : AD LIB

59. Weighed down : LADEN

63. Euphoric : GIDDY

66. Lobby brightener : ATRIUM

67. Characterized by twinkling : STARRY

70. Put the __ on: quash : KIBOSH

73. Criticizing harshly : TRASHING

75. U.K.'s longest river : SEVERN

76. Country singer David Allan __ : COE. Never heard of him. Not a country music fan. Wow, look at his hair!

77. Polo VIP : LAUREN. Ralph Lauren. Polo shirt.

79. Gentrification target : SLUM

81. "You betcha!" : YEAH

82. Viscount's superior : EARL

83. Third man? : ABEL

84. Kicks : FUN

92. Credit checker Experian, pre-1996 : TRW

94. Equal-ize? : SWEETEN. Equal sweetener.

97. Gorge : RAVINE

98. Safari sights : RHINOS. JD had a few Safari trips.

99. Moon of Uranus : OBERON. Named after the king in "A Midsummer Night's Dream". 

100. Pyle portrayer : NABORS (Jim)

101. Leave out of the freezer : THAW

102. City SW of Essen : AACHEN. See Essen a bit to the east?

 

107. Bridge feat : SLAM. Hi there Spitzboov!

108. Chauffeured car : LIMO

109. Voracious : AVID. Anyone noticed the similarities between Clear Ayes & Yellowrocks? Both knowledgeable, curious & voracious readers.

110. Gunk : GOOP

111. Villain on Crab Key : DR NO. Thanks for the "Villain" hint.

112. Symbol on a staff : REST

114. Ancient harplike instrument : LYRE

115. AKC part: Abbr. : AMER

116. Nugent and Turner : TEDS

118. ATM maker : NCR

119. Heckle : BOO

120. Fort Erie's prov. : ONT. China uses provinces too. 23 provinces. Lu Lingzi is from Shenyang Province. Due to China's One-Child policy, she was her parents' only kid.

121. Letters from your parents? : DNA. Nice clue.

C.C.