Wednesday, March 23, 2016, Matt Skoczen

Title: A Peeling Duty

Kitchen Patrol is a common stereotype of punishment in the armed services. As most other military terms, like MP and AWOL, it has acquired an acronym - KP. No character better represents a soldier who is in constant trouble than our favorite buck private Beetle Bailey who is on KP seemingly interminably.

Matt's offering today offers four theme phrases which are two-word phrases that begin with the letters K and P respectively.

Theme entries:

17. *Freebie with fries : KETCHUP PACK - Are they easy to open for you?

38. *Spicy Chinese dish with chicken and peanuts : KUNG PAO - Or how a Superhero would order it

11. *South Korean subcompact : KIA PRIDE - Does 6' 1", multimillionaire Michelle Wei really drive a KIA or just cash their checks?

37. *Beer pong venue : KEG PARTY - In this Beer Pong game, somebody on the other team must now drink that cup of beer perhaps drawn from a KEG.

THEME REVEAL:

50. Mil. grunt work, and a hint to the answers to starred clues : KP DUTY - In the Navy too! Spitz?

Across  
      
1. Tatum O'Neal played one in "The Bad News Bears" : TOMBOY - Her character was also a GRIFTER, a word from last Thursday's puzzle. 

7. Burn a tad : CHAR - A CHAR-broiled Clearwater, Nebraska steak. Can't do better!

11. Keystone bumbler : KOP - Mack Sennett's wacky silent-movie police force

14. Running by itself : ON AUTO - Otto Pilot appears in my funniest movie ever

15. Drought-ridden : SERE - Not ARID this time

16. Suffix with infant : ILE

19. Woodworking tool : ADZ

20. Kosher deli offering : LATKE

21. Sipped sherry, say : HAD A NIP

23. Nails, as a test : ACES

24. Baptism receptacle : FONT

25. How some Bibles present Jesus' words : IN RED - Jesus had a lot to say in Matthew 11 and 12

28. Secure with a seat belt : STRAP IN - A lot of us grew up with strapless cars!

30. Stool pigeon : RAT FINK 

32. Barrister's topper : WIG - London Lawyer's Fake Coif

33. Playing card symbol : PIP - Go ahead and count 'em all. 364 pips + 1 joker = 365 days in a year and + 2 jokers = 366 days for leap years

34. Chief Valhalla god : ODIN - Valhalla is the Norse Hall Of The Slain ruled over by ODIN

35. Whiskey barrel wood : OAK - Aging in CHARred OAK barrels give whiskey its color

41. Big name in ice cream : EDY

42. It may be gray : AREA

44. In medias __ : RES - "Into The Middle Of Things" For example the start of the movie The Da Vinci Code has Jacques Saunière being pursued and killed in The Louvre by Silas and we don't find out what that's about for a while

45. Dr. Mom's forte : TLC

47. Source of early clothing? : FIG TREE - I wonder what size Adam wore

49. With 56-Across, blamed for : CHALKED paired with 56. See 49-Across : UP TO

53. Antique photo : SEPIA - So named because the the ink sac of the cuttlefish SEPIA was originally used in photography

54. Heavy hauler : DRAY - Add to our Cartage discussion this month

57. Recognition : ACCLAIM

59. Fund : ENDOW

60. Part of dpi : PER - Resolution quality in Dots PER Inch

62. *Of its species, only the emperor is larger : KING PENGUIN

64. 747, e.g. : JET

65. Cyberzine : EMAG - Here's some EMAG's you can try online for 2 weeks for free

66. Inner strength : METTLE

67. Wily : SLY

68. Very best : TOPS - Baby if I'm the bottom, You're the TOP(s)! Can't go wrong with Cole Porter

69. Verne __, Mini-Me portrayer in Austin Powers films : TROYER - Verne and his ex-wife Genevieve Gallen. 
 

Down

 1. Gertrude Stein confidante Alice B. __ : TOKLAS

2. Like Chekhov's "A Marriage Proposal" : ONE ACT

3. "As a __ of fact ..." : MATTER

4. Firewood-sizing tool : BUCKSAW - Here's a cute one on a whirligig 

5. Will-wisp link : O THE - Problematic Musical Maria - A flibbertigibbet! A will-O'-THE wisp! A clown!

6. Thou, now : YOU

7. Political channel : C-SPAN

8. Intellectually stimulating experience : HEAD TRIP

9. Conquistador's chest : ARCA - Same root for the item Indiana Jones was seeking.

10. Weave anew : REKNIT

12. Antique : OLD

13. Brick-shaped candy : PEZ

18. Unit of loudness : PHON - Number of dB's at 1,000 Hz. You're welcome.

22. It may be supplied at a booth, briefly : INFO

24. Work (out) : FIGURE

26. Writer Bagnold : ENID - A father is always making his baby into a little woman. And when she is a woman he turns her back again. Guilty as charged, ENID!

27. Seventh Avenue fashion initials : DKNY - Donna Karen New York or

29. Water__: oral irrigator : PIK

31. "So what?" feeling : APATHY 

33. Family-friendly ratings : PG'S

35. Big galoots : OAFS

36. Grammy winner India.__ : ARIE - She added the period because she liked how it looked 

39. "Ready for forty winks?" : NEED A NAP - Everyday at 1 pm when I sub!

40. Portuguese hi : OLA

43. Symptom ending : ATIC - My brother was ashthmATIC

46. Held fast : CLUNG TO

48. Dishonest activity : RACKET - After all his RACKETEERING, this sent him to Alcatraz

49. Kid's summer spot : CAMP - Hello Mudder, Hello Fadder...

51. French star : ETOILE - You can probably translate this children's song: Brille, brille, petite  ÈTOILE

52. Real drag : DOWNER

55. Gibson's "Lethal Weapon" role : RIGGS

58. Stretch __ : LIMO - I'm trying to get my mind around what group would use this one

59. Cabinet dept. : ENER

60. Nightcap complement : PJ'S

61. Sushi fish : EEL

63. CPR pro : EMT - Because of declining populations,  required training time and necessary availability at a moment's notice, some small towns no longer have  EMT's

All in all, a very nice mid-week exercise but now I've got a few taters to peel! Looking forward to your comments which I hope you will Keep Positive. Dismissed!

How to Have a Blogger Account

(This instruction post is from TTP.)

CC, here are my instructions and explanation for someone to "go Blue," and doesn't know how.


If you don't have a Google account and want to "go blue" then read on. It means that you'll need a Blogger profile.

No matter what Google apps you want, whether it's Blogger, G+, a YouTube account, or others, you'll first need a Google account.

A Google account always start with the creation of a Google profile that includes setting up a GMAIL (Google email) account.

If you already posting comments to the blog, an easy way to get both the Google account and Blogger account setup is to do the following:

1) At the very top of the comments page is a large white B in an orange background. Select it. 

2) You'll get a Google screen that says "One Account. All of Google." "Sign in to continue to Blogger."

3) Skip the sign in and go to the bottom and select "Create Account." 

4) Fill out the form to create your Google Account.

5) The next screen will be a Welcome screen. Select "Continue to Blogger"

6) On the next screen, select "Create a limited Blogger profile"

7) On the screen after that, create a Blogger profile name (Display name) and then "Continue to Blogger"

8) On the next screen, find your Display name in the upper right corner. Select it, and then select Account.

9) At the next screen, choose Account Overview. It's in the middle column under Personal Info and Privacy.

10) After you select Account Overview, select View Dashboard. 

11) Scroll down to Blogger. To the right of Blogger, you should see "Edit Blogger Profile." Select it.

You can add a picture as an avatar, and then fill out a Blogger profile with as much or with as little info as you want to share.

12) When satisfied, go to the bottom of the screen and select "Save Profile." 

Thanks so much, TTP.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016 Ed Sessa

Theme: Jumblgram - Playing with the letters of the word, WORD.

53A. Ogden Nash specialty, and a hint to this puzzle's circles : WORDPLAY. WORD

20A. Gradually exhaust : WEAR DOWN. RDOW

37A. Salon task : BLOW DRY. OWRD

11D. Furniture maker, e.g. : WOODWORKER. DWOR

28D. Restaurant reviewer : FOOD WRITER. ODWR

Argyle here. There is no connection between the theme entries other than the word jumble contained in the circles. Having the circles could be of some help in the solve but not necessary. Similar pinwheel to Monday but with the reveal in a different place and the corners are more isolated.

Across:

1. Wife of 25-Down : FRAU partnered with 25D. Husband of 1-Across : HERR

5. Flipping burgers, e.g. : McJOB

10. Victorious shout : "I WON!"

14. Sylvester's speech problem : LISP

15. Now, in Nuevo León : AHORA. The State of Nuevo León is located in Northeastern Mexico. The capital city, Monterrey, is the third largest city in Mexico.

16. Nixed, at NASA : NO-GO

17. Corrosive stuff : ACID

18. Be homesick (for) : YEARN

19. Country legend Tennessee Ernie __ : FORD. "The Ol' Pea-Picker"

22. Helpful staffers : AIDES

23. Amiss : AWRY. Awords.

24. Nag : SHREW

26. Embarrassing slip-ups : GAFFES

29. Bottom-line red ink : NET LOSS

32. "That's all she __" : WROTE. Appropriate after 29-Across. "Turn off the lights, the party's over".

33. Bear shelter : LAIR

35. Infamous vampire, familiarly : DRAC. "Whatever happened to my Transylvania twist?"

36. One's self : EGO

40. Korean carmaker : KIA

41. Like Lady Godiva on horseback : NUDE

43. Author __ Stanley Gardner : ERLE

44. Upright : ON END

46. Darkest lunar phase : NEW MOON

48. Some school uniform parts : SKIRTS

49. Salon task : RINSE

50. Part of a progression : STEP

51. Corned beef solution : BRINE

57. Count for something : RATE

58. Cooper of shock rock : ALICE. A far cry from the Ol' Pea-Picker.

60. Pre-euro Italian money : LIRA

61. Sign of the future : OMEN

62. German thanks : DANKE

63. One of seven for Julia Louis-Dreyfus : EMMY. Seinfeld (one), The New Adventures of Old Christine (one), Veep (five).

64. Skin growth : WART

65. Ice cream helping : SCOOP

66. "Slammin'" slugger Sammy : SOSA

Down:

1. Imperfection : FLAW

2. Grain in some cakes : RICE. Slight misdirection.

3. Where billions live : ASIA

4. Rising air current : UPDRAFT

5. City VIPs : MAYORS

6. Like taffy : CHEWY

7. Cusack or Crawford : JOAN

8. Bobby of the Bruins : ORR

9. Outlaw : BAN

10. Shortstop's realm : INFIELD

12. "Puss in Boots" baddie : OGRE

13. Signaled yeses : NODS

21. Geeky type : DWEEB

22. Singer Garfunkel : ART

24. Derogatory : SNIDE

26. "Miracle on 34th Street" actor Edmund : GWENN. Mr. Kris Kringle.

27. Pick a fight (with) : ARGUE

30. Superdome NFLer : SAINT

31. Tons : SCADS

33. "SNL" producer Michaels : LORNE

34. Piercing tool : AWL

38. 13 popes : LEOs. Is there another 3-letter pope?

39. Teamed, as oxen : YOKED

42. Highly respected : EMINENT

45. Baby bottle parts : NIPPLES

47. __-man band : ONE

48. Meryl of "The Iron Lady" : STREEP. The biographical film based on the life of Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013).

50. Great, in show biz : SOCKO!

51. It may be furrowed : BROW

52. "__ Lama Ding Dong": doo-wop hit : RAMA. Another genre? heard from.

Sorry, no embedding again. Muppet version

53. Sot : WINO

54. Wheels for the well-heeled : LIMO

55. Akimbo limbs : ARMS. Stand with hands on the hips and elbows turned outward.

56. "Divine Secrets of the __ Sisterhood" : YA-YA

58. Magazine fillers : ADs

59. Fond du __, Wisconsin : LAC

Argyle

Notes from C.C.:

1) Happy Birthday to dear PK! So happy and comforted that you're back to the blog. Please don't leave us again. We all adore you!  Sorry, Dave, I stole one of your cakes. 

2) Our blog reader Robert has a Google Plus account, but he wants to have a Blogger account like most of our regulars. Does any of you know if it's possible for him to create a Blogger profile? I recall helping Misty return to her Blogger profile with this link last time. But Misty already had a Blogger account. Robert doesn't. Thanks for the help.

Monday, March 21, 2016 C.C. Burnikel

Theme: VII - Four sevens.

16. *Mozart and Robin, in their own way : BOY WONDERS. Seven Wonders of the World.

39. Number associated with the ends of answers to the starred clues : SEVEN

59. *Windy day ocean condition : CHOPPY SEAS. The Seven Seas.

10. *Earth-sized collapsed stars : WHITE DWARFS. Seven Dwarfs

23. *Best female friends : SOUL SISTERS. The Seven Sisters. The Pleiades star cluster.

Argyle here. Tidy little pin wheel from C.C. today. I'm sure we all can come up with other 'sevens' so have at it. I'll start with "Seven Samurai" but I have no idea how to clue it so 'samurai' is the last part of the answer.

Across:

1. Pure joy : BLISS

6. Fairy tale bear : MAMA. One of three bears.

10. Athletic org. founded by Billie Jean King : WTA. (Women's Tennis Association)

13. Sports channel summary : RECAP

14. Apple's shuffle or touch : iPOD

15. Melville captain : AHAB

18. Fancy airport ride : LIMO

19. Poker declaration : "I RAISE"

20. Last word of many fairy tales : AFTER

21. Fundamentals : BASICS

24. Recliner feature : LEG REST

26. "Xanadu" rock gp. : ELO. (Electric Light Orchestra)

27. Not on time : LATE

30. Bird feeder supply : SEED

31. Like the accent in cliché : ACUTE

33. Loading dock access : RAMP

35. Graceful bird : SWAN

38. Echoic first name of Olympic hurdler Jones : LOLO. Lori "Lolo" Jones

40. Pet gerbil's home : CAGE

41. Simple : EASY

42. Rounded hammer end : PEEN

43. "Casablanca" actor Peter : LORRE

44. Land surrounded by water : ISLE

46. "Star Trek" helmsman : SULU. George Takei is on Facebook.

48. Gave grub to : FED

49. Fiesta food : TOSTADA

 

52. Irish playwright Sean : O'CASEY. (1880 – 1964)

54. Threepio's pal : ARTOO. No arguments.

55. Swindlers : CROOKS

58. Fortuneteller : SEER

63. Canadian Conservative : TORY

64. Gravy vessel : BOAT

65. Craze : MANIA

66. Supergirl's symbol : ESS

67. Repairs with turf, as a lawn : SODS

68. Nail file material : EMERY

                                 Musical Interlude.

Down:

1. Texter's "Gimme a sec" : BRB. (Be Right Back)

2. Lion in the night sky : LEO

3. Far from friendly : ICY

4. 2005 horror sequel : SAW II

5. Website with timed trivia quizzes : SPORCLE. LINK

6. Calf-length dress : MIDI

7. Zoo primates : APEs

8. Gourmet mushroom : MOREL

9. YouTube annoyances : ADs

11. Makes less unruly : TAMEs

12. Scrub, as a launch : ABORT

15. Outdoor, as cafes : AL FRESCO. "in the open air"

17. Curiosity-launching gp. : NASA

20. __ of Reason : AGE

21. Memphis music festival street : BEALE. The Beale Street Sheiks ~Beale Town Bound(2:54)(can not be embedded)  

22. Metal wrap giant : ALCOA

25. "Around the Horn" channel : ESPN. A debate about the hottest sport issues.

28. Lemon or lime : TREE

29. Roof edges : EAVES

32. Film that introduced Buzz Lightyear : "TOY STORY"

34. List of dishes : MENU

36. Think alike : AGREE

37. Emotionally demanding : NEEDY

39. Made haste : SPED

43. "I'm just so fortunate!" : "LUCKY ME!"

45. Poet __-tzu : LAO

47. Script "L" feature : LOOP

 

49. Tentative bite : TASTE

50. Twistable cookies : OREOs

51. "Bless you" prompter : [ACHOO!]

53. Tea region of India : ASSAM

56. __ hog : ROAD

57. Chooses, with "for" : OPTs

59. "Madam Secretary" network : CBS

60. Opposite of WSW : ENE. 67.5°

61. Put on television : AIR

62. For example : SAY...

                                     Finale

 

Argyle