Saturday, July 4th, 2015, Alan Olschwang

Theme: Star-spangled Saturday

Words: 68 (missing J,V,W,Z)

Blocks: 27

  The fireworks have started already - I bombed on this one.  Alan's last Saturday slog was over a year ago, and I got just as beaten up then as I did today - but for some reason, this one seemed to be a complete fun-sponge instead of a chance to enjoy myself by learning some new things.  Oh well.  Way over my personal time, and yes, I caved in to red-letters.  Triple 9-letter corners with two 11-letter spanners and another pair of 9-letter climbers on the inside;

30a. Miner matters : ORE DEPOSITS - my cousin Carole, who lives in England, was just here for 10 days - her brother Trevor was a miner

40a. Traveler's alternative : HILTON HOTEL - alternative~? pretty specific if you ask me; I'm taking a vacation in two weeks and staying in a hotel in Dover - with a JACUZZI~!  :7))

 (OK, I'm exaggerating)

7d. Fungus usually considered poisonous : TOADSTOOL

 33a. Words before taking off : I GOTTA RUN - BBQ and bonfire - right after I'm done here~!

NO ReWArD....

ACROSS:

1. Washington music festival named for a legend : SASQUATCH - Alan had this fill in that last Saturday puzzle, too - I wonder if he knows something....

10. Prima __ case : FACIE - hear this all the time on Law & Order, but I went with an "A" at the end; later it dawned on me that I might not have it right

15. Apprehended : IN CUSTODY

16. Old Bristol-Myers dental product : IPANA - put it in, took it out....do the hokey-pokey...

17. Hot spot : FIREPLACE - the house I like in Dover has a real fireplace - love them

18. __ panel : SOLAR - dah~!  This took W-a-a-a-a-y too long to come to me

19. Autocrats of old : TSARS

20. Sports radio host Patrick : DAN - can never remember his name

21. Meteorological conditions : CLIME - I always think of Monty Python & The Holy Grail when I hear this word

@0:54, regarding swallows....

22. Finalist-to-be's hurdle : SEMI

23. Indian silk-producing region : ASSAM

25. Biting : ACID - meh.  I prefer acidIC

26. Remove chemically : ELUTE - a Natick for me; I did the alphabet run for the "L", as it crossed the unknown "LETHE"

28. __ rod : AARON'S - ah.  Biblical. The Wiki.  It suggests that the rod may be in the Ark of the Covenant

34. Slamming door, perhaps : CUE - do you think they're angry~?

35. Bouvier __ Flandres: herding dog : DES - Frawnche - just can't get away from it

36. Way of the East : TAO - or ZEN~?  which one, which one....

37. 1998 title role for Angelina : GIA - Don't recall this one; sounds racy.  IMDb

38. __ loss : AT A

39. Code word : DIT - or DAH~? which one, which one....

43. Unsettling sort : STARER

(I pondered this one, as well)

45. Ordered room service, e.g. : ATE IN

46. Dispense, with "out" : METE  - Dah~!  Not DOLE; 25% right

47. "A Town Like Alice" novelist : SHUTE - Perps

49. Title VII enforcer: Abbr. : EEOC - Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - I looked up "VII" because it was enacted before my time

53. Where the action is : ARENA

55. Altar on high : ARA - the constellation

 

(in keeping with my comment last week, I also like the name Andromeda)

56. Chevy Corvair option, briefly : TURBO - I pondered T-TOPS first; I did not know this was a rear-engine car; more here

57. __ Stone, winningest woman coach in college hockey : KATEY - never heard of her, but if she coaches hockey, that's cool with me~!

58. Unsportsmanlike conduct : DIRTY POOL

60. Eiffel Tower level : ÉTAGE - more Frawnche, but this was in last week's puzzle, too

61. Like some pliers : SNUB-NOSED - or dogs and revolvers

62. Curly-coated cats : REXES - got it via perps, but had to Google after to see

63. Masseur's concern : TENSENESS - God, I need a massage~!

DOWN:   

1. Scrutinizes : SIFTS

2. Absinthe flavoring : ANISE

3. "Git!" : "SCRAM~!"

4. Asked : QUERIED

5. Carrier's org. : USPS - oh, those carriers - Pbbbbt~!!!

6. A&P part: Abbr. : ATLantic & Pacific

8. Holders for holders? : CD CASES - mostly perps; the clue doesn't jibe for me

9. Shenzi, Banzai or Ed, in "The Lion King" : HYENA

10. Kind of yr. : FISCal

11. Like some nerve cells : APOLAR

12. Multicolored pet : CALICO CAT

13. Words betraying lack of readiness : IN A MINUTE

14. Sea lion, for one : EARED SEAL

23. Some domestic workers : AU PAIRS

24. Broadway offering : MATINEE

27. Infernal flower? : LETHE - well, I was not fooled by flow-ers - I knew we wanted a river in Hell (Hades); just didn't know there were FIVE

29. Kirin competitor : ASAHI - I knew Kirin was Japanese beer, but none of its competitors

30. One working on lines : ODDS MAKER

31. Continue to stress : REITERATE - ah. stress as in insist, not 'pace'

32. Heir's headache, maybe : ESTATE TAX

41. Bullish : TAURINE

42. Slightly ahead of : ONE UP ON

44. Back out : RENEGE

48. "... tell'st me where thou __ this ring": Shak. : HADST

50. Irregularly notched : EROSE - remembered from doing crosswords

51. Mellow winds : OBOES

52. They're easily caught : COLDS

54. All those in favor : AYES

56. Newcastle's river : TYNE - toyed with AVON at first

59. Current "American Dad!" airer : TBS - have to close on the Fourth of July with this

Good Morning U.S.A.~!!!

Splynter

Friday, July 3, 2015, Jeffrey Wechsler

Theme: Take ST and then by magic you have

SC

Well I am back, two weeks have passed and Jeffrey Wechsler is back as well. This is a traditional letter substitution puzzle where the letter "T" following an "S" is removed from a common phrase and replaced with a "C" to create an amusing image, clued with humor. The first three have the change in the first word, the last two the last word. I love much of the fill, with only 69 words and an average length in excess of 5 letters, this is more of challenge. He puts many letters into the theme, also 69 (hmmm) which gives the puzzle an interesting look leaving little room for long down answers. He does have some so so fill but there are ALBINO,  DOES SO,  LOUVER,  MOLSON,  MOSEYS,  OPEN BY,  SPEARS,  TRYSTS,  TUGS AT,  WOOLLY,  ANTLERS,  DESIGNS, DRUM SOLO,  MRS. SMITH,  NOBLESSE, TRAINEES all worth the effort to uncover.  The theme generated some chuckles for me, you?

16A. Imperfect produce? : SCUFFED CABBAGE (14). Stuffed cabbage was a regular meal growing up, and the image of a damaged head of cabbage is cute.

23A. Nocturnal picket-line crosser? : SCAB IN THE DARK (13). Stab in the dark sounds ominous. For me this was the most tortured themer, but it works.

34A. Reconnaissance team? : SCOUTHEARTED MEN (15). Stouthearted men for some reason makes me think of Mel Brooks' Men in Tights.

48A. Result of a London tea cart mishap? : ROLLING SCONES (13). The picture of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards etc. watching their scones roll away is precious.

57A. Feature of a taped hardcore punk performance? : VIDEO SCREAMING (14). Video streaming is hot, but I think of other bands as the screamers.

Okay let's unwrap this baby:

Across:

1. 17th-century privateer : KIDD. All you wanted to know about WILLIAM who is not to be confused with the 15th Century pirate William Kyd.

5. Rock worth unearthing : ORE.

8. Military groups : UNITS. This took longer than it should.

13. About : IN RE. A gimme for those who studied Latin or the law.

14. Downtime for Mars? : PAX. Latin for peace, certainly a rest time for a war god.

15. Absorb : SOP UP. What the bread is for at the end of a really good meal.

19. Rob's "West Wing" role : SAM. Sam SEABORN. (2:24).

20. Domestic tearjerker : ONION. Tricky, but just cut them under water and you can stem the tears.

21. "__ Wedding": "The Simpsons" episode involving a fortune-teller : LISA'S. Easy to guess but the clue was not helpful.

26. Wild partner : WOOLLY. According to phrase finder. "This expression is of American origin and came into being to describe the 'wild' west of the country sometime after the Californian Gold Rush era of the 1850s."

28. __ Alamos : LOS. We had this test site recently.

29. Screening gp. : TSA. Transportation Security Administration.

30. Woodstock performer before Joan : ARLO. he was booed off the stage for refusing to sing Alice's Restaurant,  Ms. Baez was wonderful, and then the rains came.

31. Kid's comeback : DOES SO. Does not!!!

40. Romance novel features : TRYSTS. A lovely old fashioned word that makes cheating sound okay.

41. 1963 role for Shirley : IRMA. La DOUCE (2:15).

42. In the same way as : A LA. Some French for Splynter.

45. Defensive question : AM I? Your ami?

46. It merged with Coors in 2005 : MOLSON. They are all in trouble in the wake of the craft beer revolution.

52. __ Blades, Latin jazz star : RUBEN. No idea; what do you think?

53. Oater omen : NOOSE. Hang 'em High.

54. Uma's "Pulp Fiction" role : MIA. This movie always generates lots of differing opinions, I hated it, then I loved it.

60. Stage direction : ENTER.

61. Vital : KEY.

62. Relative of -ule : ETTE. french diminutive suffixes; tough clue, reversed I would not have gotten it.

63. Ruled quarters? : ROOST.

64. '60s campus org. : SDS. Students for a Democratic Society.

65. Their Christmas feast included roast beast : WHOS. Jeffrey must love this family, as I had Cindy Lou Who two weeks ago.

Down:

1. Petruchio's request of Kate : KISS.

2. Empire whose last stronghold was conquered in 1572 : INCA. I missed the anniversary.

3. Ginger Baker specialty : DRUM SOLO. For Bruce, the late Teddy Mueller and all the others who have provided a beat to my life. WATCH (3:38)and listen.

4. Dict. entry : DEFinition. I slipped up on this for a while.

5. Ready for business no later than : OPEN BY.

6. Pizza cuts, essentially : RADII. Literally.

7. Halfway house resident : EX-CON.

8. Flash drive letters : USB. Universal Serial Bus.

9. Roi et reine, par exemple : NOBLESSE oblige. The Nobility.

10. "The drinks were on me" : I PAID. Not I-Pad.

11. Affects, as one's heartstrings : TUGS AT. Perry Como?

12. Divers' weapons : SPEARS.

17. Future yearling : FOAL. Newborn horsey.

18. Hunting lodge decoration : ANTLERS. From a dead deer.

22. Jamaican genre : SKA. Music.

24. Influence : CLOUT.

25. One taking coats, perhaps : HOST. So easy, in retrospect.

26. Used to be : WAS.

27. Tolkien terror : ORC.

31. Chanel creations : DESIGNS. From a time when hot Coco meant something.

32. Grain generally pluralized : OAT. Nobody can eat just one?

33. Ballet's Black Swan : ODILE.

35. Green workers : TRAINEES. Oh, than meaning of GREEN.

36. "Amazing Grace," e.g. : HYMN. We had a memorial service at my reunion with ended with this old stand-by.

37. Big name in pies : MRS. SMITH. What is your favorite?

38. Comic Philips : EMO.

39. Indian flatbread : NAN. 1 A or 2?

42. LAX stat : ARRival.

43. Adjustable door feature : LOUVER. We have lots of these and windows in SoFla.

44. Spooner of Spoonerism fame, for one : ALBINO. I did not know this, I went to school with two albinos, one in grammar school and one in college.

46. Walks unhurriedly : MOSEYS. Exactly my pace for solving puzzles.

47. Most fit to serve : ONE-A. The opposite of 4-F.

49. Engendered : LED TO.

50. Subjects of washday mysteries : SOCKS. What dryers live on.

51. Hollowed out : CORED.

55. Delighted by : IN TO. I am really in to JW's puzzles, I wonder if he will be back in two weeks again?

56. Quite a long time : AGES.

58. Scrap : ORT. A single oat? Not to be confused with Orc.

59. Copy cats : MEW. This is all CED needs for an hour's worth of cute kittens; enjoy all;  have great holiday, be careful with  the fireworks and remember to honor those who both made us free and keep us free.

It was great to be gone, see old friends and relatives, show my wife my childhood home, meet marti in person etc. but it is good to be back. Lemonade out.

Thursday, July 2, 2015 Robert E. Lee Morris

Theme: Word Scramble

I probably would have eventually figured out the theme without the reveal, but it was a clever addition:
61-Across. Cocktail garnish, and a hint to letters hidden in the answers to starred clues : LEMON TWIST.

17-Across. *Serious swearing : SOLEMN OATH.

24-Across. *Hunt's rival : DEL MONTE.

37-Across. *Brunch choice : WESTERN OMELET.

51-Across. *Camera attachment : ZOOM LENS.

Bottom's up!

Across

1. "Elementary" network : CBS.

4. Eponymous obstetrician Fernand : LAMAZE. I needed the "Z" before this name popped into my head. His "natural" childbirth method was very popular in the '70s, but I think it has gone out of favor now.

10. "Oh, go on!" : PISH.

14. __ provençale : À LA. Prepared in the style of Provence - usually with olive oil and garlic.

15. Part of the plot : IN ON IT.

16. Gardening tool : RAKE.

19. Banded gemstone : ONYX.

20. Dorm room item : TWIN BED.

21. Really trouble, with "at" : EAT.

23. Help on the way up : RUNG.

29. 31-Down, for one : OPERA. And 31-Down. "Habanera" singer : CARMEN.

31. Former Honda model : CRX. Immediately followed by 32-Across. Honda division : ACURA.

33. Perform for : PLAY TO.

36. Target of some sprays : ODOR.

41. Ref. book : DICT.ionary.

42. Come to light : EMERGE.

43. Not from a bottle : ON TAP.

45. Expected amt. of repairs : EST.imate.

46. It may be blessed : EVENT.

53. Hip bones : ILIA.

54. Modern detective fiction pioneer : POE.

55. Captain's heading : DUE EAST.

58. Shade similar to bright turquoise : AQUA.

64. Managing ed.'s concern : CIRC.

65. List closing : ET ALIA.

66. Burns negative : NAE. Robert Burns.

67. Adjust for space, say : EDIT.

68. Webster's shelfmate : ROGET'S.

69. Come to a conclusion : END.


Down

1. Longtime maker of convertibles : CASTRO. Couches and ottomans provide extra sleeping room for the in-laws. And they are usually uncomfortable enough, so that they don't visit too long.

2. Have a tantrum : BLOW UP. See 48-Down.

3. Solution for contacts : SALINE.

4. Trunk projection : LIMB. Oh my. My first thought was bathing trunks...

5. Actress Heche : ANNE. Probably more noted for her relation with Ellen DeGeneres than any of her supposed acting skills.

6. Attitude : MOOD.

7. Santa __ : ANA.

8. Proactiv target : ZIT.

9. Great-aunt of Drew : ETHEL. The famous Barrymore family.

10. Diplomatic code : PROTOCOL.

11. John, in Scotland : IAN.

12. __ blue : SKY.

13. Bewitch : HEX.

18. MIT grad, often : ENGR.aver?

22. Doctor's org. : AMA. American Medical Association.

24. Sarcastic quality : DRYNESS.

25. Use a threat to get : EXTORT.

26. Like Botticelli's Venus : NUDE. I have seen it at the Uffizi in Florence. Breathtaking.

27. Easy pace : TROT.

28. Place for a plug : EAR.

30. Rental ad abbr. : APT. "Apt to rent"

34. Jeans giant : LEE.

35. "Wow!" in texts : OMG. "Oh My Gosh!"

37. Skid row regular : WINO.

38. Plasm lead-in : ECTO.-plasm.

39. Statute opposed by the Sons of Liberty : STAMP ACT.

40. Wide size : EEE.

41. Dairy dept. quantity : DOZ.en

44. Mideast initials : PLO. Palestine Liberation Organization.

47. Mountaintop allure : VIEW.

48. "Airplane!" heroine : ELAINE. Funny movie.

49. Xterra maker : NISSAN.

50. Covered in ink, with "up" : TATTED.

52. Conger catcher : EELER.

55. Former North Carolina senator Elizabeth : DOLE.

56. Cohesive group : UNIT.

57. Cockpit announcements, briefly : ETAs.

58. Solitaire base card : ACE.

59. Four times a day, in an Rx : QID. Quater In Die.

60. Ocean State sch. : URI. University of Rhode Island.

62. WWII arena : ETO. European Theater of Operations.  I just finished reading the 2015 Pulitzer Prize winner "All the Light We Cannot See," by Anthony Doerr.  I highly recommend it!!

63. GQ, e.g., briefly : MAG.azine. I remember when MAGs referred to these.

Time for LEMONade!
Marti

Speaking of which, Lemonade714 stopped in to visit me last week while he was here for his reunion. Here's a pic of us relaxing on the deck.

Wednesday, July 1, 2017 Frank Virzi

Theme: Baseball - the last word is a type of pitch.

 

17A. *Place-setting piece : SALAD FORK. Forkball.

27A. *Inviolable, as rules : HARD AND FAST. Fastball.

42A. *Rough-and-tumble : BARE KNUCKLE. Knuckleball.

57A. *Statistical graph image : BELL CURVE. Curveball.

Reveal entry (symmetrically placed):

12D. When combined with 50-Down, this puzzle's game : BASE

50D. See 12-Down ... and a word that can follow the ends of the answers to starred clues : BALL

Bonus fill:

20A. Fenway Park and Wrigley Field : STADIUMS

6D. 10-time Gold Glove winner Roberto : ALOMAR The only Hall of Famer known to have spit at an umpire.

 

33D. Diamond smack : LINE DRIVE

40D. Hall of Famer Slaughter : ENOS - Once scored from first on a single.

Good morning all.  Boomer here - Happy July Fool's day.  Start dating your checks 2015 1/2. Great to see a baseball puzzle.  Made me hungry for a hot dog.  Fastball, Curve, Knuckleball made famous by Hoyt Wilhelm, the Niekro brothers, Wilbur Wood and now R.A. Dickey.  It seems the forkball is now called a split finger and notably absent is the Spitball from early baseball years.  How about the Vaseline ball from Gaylord Perry, and the beanball from the Barber, Sal Maglie, as well as Don Drysdale and many others.  Warn both benches and then start tossing people.  Here we go...

Across:       

1. Waterlogged lowlands : FENS - I have no idea what this is

5. Iditarod, e.g. : RACE - Mora Minnesota has a similar race each year.

9. Talmudic scholar : RABBI - Also in jokes with a priest and a minister

14. Bountiful place? : UTAH

15. Tel Aviv airline : EL AL

16. Wee hr. : ONE AM - I get it but I'm not sure I like it.  I will be one AM at the PBA50 Pro Am Bowling event at Treasure Island in Welch, MN this month.

19. Stunned : AGASP - the result of a bean ball?

21. Sweet liqueurs : CREMES What would a Brandy Alexander be without these.

22. She, in San Remo : ESSA - I am not good at foreign words.

23. "Uptown Girl" songwriter : JOEL - Yup, Billy, I like "The Longest Time" better.

24. "Cats" monogram : TSE (T.S. Eliot)

 

32. Early Talmudic scholar : HILLEL  - Not in Priest and Minister jokes.

34. Need to pay : OWE

35. Back in the day : ONCE

36. Morning TV host replaced by Michael : REGIS - I never knew how Philbin got so much air time speaking through his nose.

37. Apr. addressee : IRS - Ever notice when you combine THE and IRS you get "THEIRS"

38. Roper's target : DOGIE

39. __ upswing : ON AN

40. London's Virgin __ Records : EMI

41. Raises an auction paddle for : BIDS ON - I see it in sitcoms, but I never used one on eBay.

45. Heavy wts. : TNS - I understand tons, but how is TNS an abbreviation for tons?

46. God of Spain : DIOS

47. Lamb or Bacon, e.g.: Abbr. : AUTH. Charles Lamb (ELIA) and Francis Bacon.

49. Sporty Fords : T-BIRDS - The 1957 model was always my favorite.

52. Marriott rival : SHERATON

56. Speedy : RAPID - Bob Feller's fastball earned him the nickname "Rapid Robert"

58. Start of a valentine message : I LOVE - OR Bobby Valentine had a different message for umpires.

59. S.A. country on the Pacific : ECUA - Really?  Is this a postal abbreviation?

60. Mezzanine, e.g. : TIER

61. Like Venus, to Serena : OLDER

62. "__ Mommy kissing ... " : I SAW - Santa Claus. Jimmy Boyd sang the nasal version.  I think it was redone by Wayne Newton - also nasal.

63. River of Spain : EBRO

Down:

1. Hubbub : FUSS

2. Californie, par exemple : ETAT - Boo! foreign words.

3. "The Lion King" lion : NALA

4. Protect from light : SHADE

5. Firm no : REFUSAL

 

7. National rentals : CARS - Ever notice how your legs don't fit in economy, compact, and mid size?

8. Deer family member : ELK - Not the Brewer's Rob Deer family.

9. Laughed heartily : ROARED

10. Type of cake made with egg whites : ANGEL FOOD - Melts in your mouth, not in your hand.

11. Roof support : BEAM - 

 

13. Babysitters' challenges : IMPS - Not nice to call other people's children IMPS.  Isn't there some game that has International Match Points?  Bridge or Chess?

18. Sink clutter : DISHES - DirecTV catchers, when it's not raining.

21. Ice cream parlor order : CONE

23. Shark flick : JAWS - I cannot remember how many times I've seen this.  "I think we'll need a bigger boat!"

24. Beat : THROB

25. Tuscan city : SIENA - I had one of these in a Crayola box once.

26. "Pomp and Circumstance" composer : ELGAR (Edward)

28. Greek column style : DORIC

29. Existential woe : ANGST - How I feel about abbreviations in crossword puzzles.

30. Offspring : SCION

31. Babysitters, often : TEENS

37. Controversial radio host : IMUS - Don -- King of radio jerks!

38. Coke Zero rival : DIET RC - Diet Rite Cola was the pioneer of sugar free pop back in the fifties.  It did not taste very good but it preceded Tab which wasn't too good either.

41. Sunday shopping restriction : BLUE LAW - never heard of this.

43. One pulling your leg : KIDDER

44. Liqueur in a B-52 cocktail : KAHLUA- What would a Black Russian be without this.  Do not sub Creme de Cacao.  I can tell the difference.

48. __ cuisine : HAUTE - Rather see Terre_____, IN

49. The Andrews Sisters, e.g. : TRIO- I prefer Kingston____ or Chad Mitchell____.  The Andrew sisters were a trio but never referred to by that name.

51. Apple MP3 player : IPOD

52. Jiffies : SECS - abbreviation not shown in the clue.

53. Windy City paper : TRIB - abbreviation not shown in the clue.

54. Partner of out : OVER - Pilot in "Airplane"

55. Homebound sleuth Wolfe : NERO

57. "__ Mir Bist Du Schoen": Andrews Sisters hit : BEI - Foreign again.

The fat guy is me with my qualifying medals, getting ready to participate in the bowling event at the National Senior Games coming to Minnesota next week. Word is that there will be 9995 participants in about 17 different events.  Ages span from 50 to 102 and participants are showing up from all 50 states.  Should be a boom for the hotel trade.  If you are in the Twin Cities, I will be at Southtown Lanes in Bloomington on July 10 (singles) and July 12 (doubles).

Boomer

Tuesday, June 30, 2015 C.C. Burnikel

Theme: Po' Boys - Answers with the word HERO sandwiched within them.

20A. Coastal storm concern : BEACH EROSION

34A. Follow local conventions, metaphorically : DO AS THE ROMANS DO. (when in Rome)

41A. Get rich illicitly : FEATHER ONE'S NEST

55A. Deli lunch ... or, based on a word hidden in 20-, 34- and 41-Across, what each of those answers is? : HERO SANDWICH

Argyle and C.C., our hero. Two spanners today and two different religious climbers. Unique. Progressive split of  HERO.

Across:

1. Cereal aisle regular __ Crunch : CAP'N

5. Classic Christmas stocking punishment : COAL

9. IRS submission method : E-FILE

14. "So sad!" : "ALAS!" and "Alack!" plus, 54D. Self-pitying lament : "WHY ME!"

15. Dance performed in grass skirts : HULA

16. Lag behind : TRAIL

17. Ready for harvesting : RIPE

18. Website for handmade goods : ETSY.com

19. Rooftop spinners : VANEs. Weather vane on Gary's house.

23. NBC skit show, familiarly : SNL

24. Enjoyed a meal : ATE

25. Checklist marks : TICKS

28. Prefix with sail : PARA

30. German automaker : OPEL

32. "Look at that!" : "OOH!". Got your "oohs and aahs" all set for the Fourth?

38. Web links, briefly : URLs

39. "__ out!": ump's call : YER

40. "Now I get it!" cries : "A-HA!"s

46. Org. policing Internet neutrality : FCC. (Federal Communications Commission)

47. Has yet to settle : OWEs

48. Play the lead : STAR

49. "The Family Circus" cartoonist Bil : KEANE

51. Cartoon shopkeeper : APU

52. Dawn moisture : DEW

59. Boxcars, in craps : SIXes. Presumed to resemble a pair of boxcars on a freight train.

62. Lay off : FIRE

63. Join forces (with) : ALLY

64. Halloween reward : TREAT

65. Steady stream : FLOW

66. Rock music style of the New York Dolls : GLAM. Hit the mute button and just watch them.

67. Rice field : PADDY

68. Julian and Sean, to John Lennon : SONS

69. Italy's Villa d'__ : ESTE. The Villa d'Este is a villa in Tivoli, near Rome, but there is a second one, in Cernobbio on the shores of Lake Como.

Down:

1. Dieter's count : CARBS. (carbohydrates)

2. Spock's father, but not his mother : ALIEN. Sarek is a Vulcan astrophysicist.

3. Castel Gandolfo holy retreat : PAPAL PALACE

4. Tiny amt. of time : NSEC. (nanosecond)

5. Speedy feline : CHEETAH. No, not that fast, not measured in nsecs.

6. Freakish : OUTRÉ

7. "Besides that ... " : "ALSO ... "

8. Air Pops chips maker : LAYS

9. Pierre's "And there you have it!" : "ET VOILÀ!". "Tada!"

10. Mali currency : FRANC. Mali still has a relationship with France, its former colonial ruler. Hence the use of the franc.

11. "Dr. No" novelist Fleming : IAN

12. Fib : LIE

13. Above-the-street trains : ELs. (elevated)

21. Lyricist with Rodgers : HART. They worked on 28 stage musicals and more than 500 songs. Another lyricist: 60D. Gershwin brother : IRA

22. Checklist component : ITEM

26. Vlasic varieties : KOSHER DILLS

27. Fizzy drinks : SODAs

29. Mgr.'s aide : ASST.

30. Twistable cookies : OREOS

31. Often blocked online lewdness : PORN

33. Run the party : HOST

34. Fanny : DUFF

35. Hoover rival : ORECK. (vacuums)

36. "Reader, I married him" governess : EYRE. Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre

37. Granny : NANA

42. Forthrightness : HONESTY

43. Pitcher in many still-life paintings : EWER

44. Cable station for game highlights : ESPNews

45. Small earring : STUD

50. Leading : AHEAD

51. Hank of Cooperstown : AARON. (baseball)

53. Flashy display : ECLAT

56. Does in, mob-style : OFFS

57. Farmland skyline highlight : SILO

58. Minimum __ : WAGE

59. Gas treatment letters : STP

61. Crossed (out) : Xed

 

Argyle

Note: Today is C.C.'s birthday. How cool is that, to be published on your birthday?

Monday, June 29, 2015 Patti Varol

Theme:     V

20A. *Statue of Nike at the Louvre : WINGED VICTORY. The statue First theme entry has 13-letters, hence it starts at Row 4 rather than our normal Row 3.

37A. *Had street smarts : KNEW A THING OR TWO

51A. *Jesus, to Christians : PRINCE OF PEACE

29D. Hand gesture for the last word of the answers to starred clues : V-SIGN. Very middle column of the grid.

Argyle here. Puzzle there. Carry on. Thank you, Patti V.

Across:

1. Org. protecting people's rights : ACLU. (American Civil Liberties Union)

5. Petting zoo newborns : LAMBS

10. Huff and puff : BLOW

14. Box office bust : FLOP. Opposite of boffo.

15. Salty expanse : OCEAN

16. Parkway division : LANE

17. Biblical water-to-wine locale : CANA. "I'm going where the water tastes like wine."

18. "Little Rascals" girl : DARLA

19. Herb-infused cooking aids : OILS

23. Lucy's longtime spouse : DESI

24. Tease : KID

25. Tolerate : ABIDE

28. Month between mars et mai : AVRIL. (March, April, May)

31. HDTV brand : RCA

34. "Brighton Beach Memoirs" playwright Neil : SIMON

35. Smiley icon on a weather map : SUN

36. Fright : FEAR

41. Pulitzer-winning novelist Jennifer : EGAN. A Visit from the Goon Squad won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

42. Toupee : RUG

43. "__ to your health" : HERE'S

44. Triumphed : WON

45. Good, in Guadalajara : BUENO

47. Crystal-bearing rock : GEODE

48. Family members : KIN

49. Have an inkling : FEEL

57. James of "The Godfather" : CAAN

58. Golf great Palmer : ARNIE

59. Bossa __ : NOVA

61. Prilosec target : ACID

62. Cessation of fighting : TRUCE

63. Baby's bed : CRIB

64. Bic Cristal and uni-ball : PENs

65. Double curves : ESSes

66. Wriggly fish : EELs

Down:

1. New Eng. Patriots' org. : AFC. (American Football Conference)

2. Nail-removing hammer part : CLAW

3. Actress Anderson : LONI

4. Variable, like the stock market : UP AND DOWN

5. Mineral-rich deposits : LODEs

6. Maine national park : ACADIA

Cadillac Mountain Sunrise



7. "Jeopardy!" creator Griffin : MERV

8. Island near Java : BALI

9. Giving in to the munchies : SNACKING

10. Transfusion fluid : BLOOD

11. Cozy hideaway : LAIR

12. One and __: soul mate : ONLY

13. Director Anderson : WES

21. Actress Davis : GEENA. I wonder if Wes ever directed Geena.

22. Up to, on invites : 'TIL

25. Cockeyed : ASKEW

26. "You got that right!" : "BINGO!"

27. "See what __?" : I MEAN

30. Sprint : RUN

31. Nostalgically trendy : RETRO

32. Yelled at a scarecrow? : CAWED

33. Got out of bed : AROSE

36. Self-employed, as a writer : FREELANCE. Also free lance, free-lance, "medieval mercenary warrior," 1820 ("Ivanhoe"), from free (adj.) + lance (n.); apparently a coinage of Sir Walter Scott's. Figurative sense is from 1864; specifically of journalism by 1882. ~ Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

38. Cut short : TRUNCATE

39. Shade of color : HUE

40. "My goodness!" : "OH, GEE!"

45. Coal container : BIN

46. Cubicle setting : OFFICE

48. Types : KINDS

50. Olympics swords : EPEEs

51. Walk back and forth : PACE

52. Ball game ruiner : RAIN

53. Goofs up : ERRs

54. Burden : ONUS

55. Apple center : CORE

56. Wicked : EVIL

57. Mushroom top : CAP. Just the way I like them.

60. Six-pack muscles : ABs

Argyle

Notes from C.C.:

1) Joann told me yesterday that Husker Gary had meatloaf, whipped potatoes and green beans for lunch and strawberry yogurt for dessert. The first non-liquid meal he had in ages. He's coming home today. Thanks for your prayers and positive thoughts during the past two weeks. Thanks for keeping us updated, Joann!

2) Melissa's daughter placed 2nd in novice and 3rd in open for bikini division in National Physique Committee Championships held in San Jose yesterday. She was the cheerleader for San Jose Sharks last time Melissa talked about her. Maybe she still is.

3) Happy Birthday to dear Barry G, the Cal Ripken, Jr. of our blog. Barry started commenting on our blog shortly after I started and missed only a few days when he was traveling for work. Barry is an avid fisherman and a terrific chef. Check out his recipe for seafood linguini. I think he also has a secret pasta sauce recipe.

  Barry, his wife & son (Joshua)

Sunday June 28, 2015 Jim Quinlan

Theme: "Slightly-off Broadway" - One letter is dropped from each play.

24A. Show about shoeless Shem? : BARE FOOT IN THE ARK. Barefoot in the Park.

39A. Show about auto club service? : ON THE TOW. On the Town.

57A. Show about an unusual car? : THE ODD COUPE. The Odd Couple.

71A. Show about sorry predators? : THE PIRATES OF PENANCE. The Pirates of Penzance.

90A. Show about inventions in the military? : PRIVATE LIES. Private Lives. The only unknown musical to me. 

104A. Show about baseball's Hodges as the life of the party? : FUNNY GIL. Funny Girl. Gil Hodges was the winning manager of the 1969 World Series.

122A. Show about a pageant contestant with rhythm? : BEAUTY AND THE BEAT. Beauty and the Beast.

I don't think the dropped letters P, N, L, Z, V, R & S (no dupes!) spell out anything. Just a tight set of  7 musicals that make surface sense once a letter is dropped.

I think this is Jim Quinlan Sunday debut. Lemonade blogged his first LAT back in April. Jim took advantage of the moderate theme material (total 89 squares) and gave us a solid grid. No obscure names or places or words in this puzzle.  Very clean.

Across:

  

1. Performs like Drake : RAPS. Drake is the Taylor Swift of rap.

5. Holy struggle : JIHAD

10. Seek guidance, in a way : PRAY

14. Start of a waste line? : HASTE. Haste makes waste.

19. Like zero : OVAL

20. Speak : ORATE. And 61. Speak : STATE

 

21. Madden : RILE

22. Toss out : EXPEL

23. Man, for instance : MALE. Tried ISLE first.

27. Indigenous Alaskans : ALEUTS

29. Tropicana option : PULP. Orange juice. Not the Vegas casino.

30. Baked __ : ZITI. Never tried it. No cheese for me.

31. Ruler divs. : CMs

32. Hole in the head : NOSTRIL

 

34. Sound often prohibited? : PEEP. "Not a peep out of you!"

36. "A Delicate Balance" playwright : ALBEE

41. Hoarse condition : CROUP. Got via crosses. I can never remember this word.

44. Snuck by : ELUDED

47. Word after top or trade : SECRET

49. Southern stew thickener : OKRA

51. Greeted the day : AROSE

52. One of 256 in a gal. : TBSP

56. Hide : SKIN

59. Common default font : ARIAL. Our blog default is Georgia.

63. Camper's utensil : SPORK

64. "Falling Skies" airer : TNT

65. VIP : BIGWIG. What Marc Maron is now. 

67. Chinese-born poker star Johnny : CHAN. No idea. Wiki said he was born in Guangzhou. That red character on his T-shirt spelled out CHAN in Cantonese.

69. Curved fastener : U-BOLT

77. Sink hole : DRAIN

78. One of three squares : MEAL. Square meals.

79. Modern reading : eBOOKS

81. Place to check your balance : ATM

84. Stop by : END AT

86. Bronze place : THIRD

89. Expensive : STEEP

93. Mustard weapon, possibly : ROPE. Colonel Mustard. Stumped me.

95. Good name for a Whirlpool spokesman? : EDDY

96. Buff : TONED

97. Turn at the tables : ROLL. Casino action, right?

98. Satisfied comment : IT'LL DO. This section remained elusive for a long time. I just could not get the crosses easily.

100. Man cave setup : STEREO

102. Close in films : GLENN. Glenn Close.

109. Weight watcher's concerns : CARBS. Not me. I love carbs.

111. Bee's knees : MOST. I wanted BEST.

113. Elton John's "__ Saved My Life Tonight" : SOMEONE

114. National Humor Mo. : APR. Crosses makes the answer easy.

116. Idina Menzel voiced her in "Frozen" : ELSA

119. One may be taken in desperation : STAB. Take a stab.

121. Give in : RELENT

127. Exam for jrs. : PSAT

128. Fab : BOFFO. Learned from doing crosswords.

129. Hedge formation : MAZE

130. Enterprise competitor : ALAMO

131. Rock follower? : ETTE. Rockette.

 

132. Composer Bruckner : ANTON

133. Went 76 on Route 66, say : SPED

134. Possessive type? : DEMON. I had DEMO? early on, but could not nail it. Stupid.

135. Slacker's opposite : DOER

 

Down:

 

1. Pizzeria shaker contents : ROMANO. So what's your favorite junk food? Pizza? This is mine.

2. Arthurian isle : AVALON

3. Most susceptible to burning : PALEST. Sunburn.

4. Clue seeker : SLEUTH

5. Contractors' destinations : JOB SITES

6. "This American Life" host Glass : IRA

7. Only nonvocal instrument in Britten's "A Ceremony of Carols" : HARP

8. Really enjoyed : ATE UP. Very similiar to how I eat my Shin noodles. Boiled egg and green onions.

 

9. Ricochet : DEFLECT

10. Ace : PRO

11. Cracker with a scalloped edge : RITZ

12. Et __ : ALII

13. Gossip : YENTA

14. Laugh syllable : HEH

15. 83-Down tool : AXE. And 83. Video game involving breaking and placing blocks : MINECRAFT. Fell easily. Never played it though.

16. In la-la land : SPACED OUT

17. Academic period : TERM

18. Chicago-based order : ELKS. Did not know they're based in Chicago.

25. TUV neighbor on some phones : OPER

26. Game piece : TILE

28. "__ chic!" : TRES

33. Hair : LOCKS

35. "Hunny" lover : POOH

37. Golden relatives? : BLACK LABS. Nailed it also.

38. Cannes coin : EURO

40. Legal document : WRIT

42. Lute family members : UKES

43. Support : PROP UP

45. British Open network : ESPN

46. Anti-bug compound : DEET

48. Pass : ENACT

50. PDF creator : ADOBE

52. PC key with two arrows : TAB

53. Brolly carrier : BRIT. I did not know the meaning of Brolly, British for umbrella. Answer slightly dupes the clue for ESPN. Hard to avoid this on Sundays.

54. [Ah, me!] : SIGH

55. Poked, puma-style : PAWED

57. Dollhouse staples : TEA SETS

58. Remotely piloted craft : DRONE

60. Many a deaf person : LIP-READER. Also got via crosses.

62. Foes of us : THEM

66. __ squid : GIANT

68. First name in lexicography : NOAH (Webster)

70. Govt. security : T-NOTE

72. Shotgun caller : RIDER. I had to ask Boomer what it means. He said the front passenger seat next to the driver is called a shotgun seat.

73. Two-handed, perhaps : ANALOG. Oh, clock.

74. Try a new line, say : FLIRT. I want RE???.

75. Like Vassar since 1969 : CO-ED

76. Scratched (out) : EKED

80. Binoculars user : SPY

81. Flats, in the U.S. : APTS. So U.S. indicates an abbreviated answer?

82. Home run pace : TROT

85. Cash box : TILL

87. Massage deeply : ROLF

88. Mark above a "See me!" note : D PLUS. I mentioned earlier, I was bogged down in this area.  Wish I had attended some sort of school here. Felt very disadvantaged over lots of simple stuff.

91. __ Bradley handbags : VERA

92. Sch. level : ELEM

94. Sitcom sewer worker : ED NORTON. "The Honeymooners". Saw similar clue before. Still got me. Never watched the show.

98. As an option : INSTEAD

99. Complimentary words from a bartender : ON ME. I was thinking of something flattering.

101. Get in line : OBEY

103. Munch : NOSH

105. Cried out, as in pain : YELPED

106. Attends : GOES TO

107. Not learned : INNATE

108. Varsity athlete's honor : LETTER. Those stacks in lower right and upper left are not easy to fill cleanly. Great job by Jim.

110. Poetry contests : SLAMS

112. Put aside : TABLE

114. Palindromic pop group : ABBA

115. Lowly worker : PEON

117. [Just like that!] : SNAP

118. Carving tool : ADZE

120. Show elation : BEAM. Lots of 4-letter words in this puzzle.

123. Supposed abduction vehicle : UFO

124. Whole bunch : TON

125. Stevens of Alaska : TED. Bridge to nowhere.

126. "Yo te __": Spanish lover's words : AMO

Joann has kindly kept me in the loop of Husker Gary's progress. Things look very promising at the moment. Gary does lots of diligent walking every day, and  X-rays are performed every morning to monitor his progress. Joann emailed me this yesterday:

"Gary called me this morning and said that the x-ray of the can barium stuff they gave him earlier in the week is now moving through out his intestinal system which is so great to hear! Gary is thinking the Doctors will start him on a diet of cream soups and puddings later today. Then they can monitor how that flows as well. We both want to make sure everything is glowing normally before he is dismissed. "

Looks like he can go home to Joann and Lily soon. You've been through so much, Gary!

Joann & Gary

C.C.