Saturday, May 5, 2018, Samuel A. Donaldson and Erik Agard

UN PUZZLE THEMELESS POR SAMUEL A. DONALDSON Y ERIK AGARD DE CINQUO  DE MAYO!

Ay caramba, Sam and Erik have provided us with a lovely puzzle to help celebrate on this Cinco de Mayo. I'm sure if I asked you 43. "¿Cómo __?": ESTAS (How are you?) after you finished this puzzle, you would say "muy bien" (very good). 

I wrote to Sam and he very graciously responded that he met Erik at the 2017 ACPT and proposed collaborating with him and said he has truly enjoyed doing so. Sam said of Erik - In Erik’s case, I relished the chance to work with one of the best crossword constructors around. I think he consistently writes the best clues, and the fill in his puzzles is fresh, erudite, playful, and diverse. Happily, Erik agreed to work with me, and we’ve made a few puzzles since. 

Samuel A. Donaldson              Erik Agard

Now let's explore south of this border and see the wonderful work done by this duo!


Across:

1. "This is so humbling": I'M HONORED - A man who felt neither humbled nor HONORED and showed it by staying home

10. One skilled in moderation: HOST - Every political debate has a HOST who is supposed o be an unbiased moderator for the event

14. Literally, "something for something": QUID PRO QUO - Is much more elegant than "tit for tat", don't  you think?

16. "Once more __ the breach": "Henry V": UNTO - At the Battle Of Agincourt on St. Crispin's Day

17. Backup: UNDERSTUDY - When the UNDERSTUDY tells the star to "break a leg"... 

18. "Deadwood" actress Jewell: GERI - She played a disabled woman working in a very tough town

19. Chiller: ICE 

20. Good kick: FIELD GOAL - Blair Walsh may never live down this missed short FIELD GOAL that cost the Vikings a 2015 playoff game

22. Virginia senator Kaine: TIM.

23. Firing site: KILN - No one's KILN produces more lovely work than Dale Chihuly's

25. "__ Meenie": Kingston/Bieber hit: EENIE - Go ahead and google it if you're interested 

26. Certain fisher: EELER - An EELER with a very effective EEL catching device - The Willow Eel Hive

28. Not following anyone: OUT FRONT - If you're not OUT FRONT like the lead sled dog, the scenery never changes

31. New York home of the Himalayan Highlands: BRONX ZOO - I wonder how many Yeti they have 

33. Duck Hunt platform: NES - A 1984 Nintendo video game

34. Southwestern plant whose oil is used in cosmetics: JOJOBA.

36. "It's out of my hands": I TRIED  and 39. "Okay, here's the deal": SO LISTEN

38. Rival of SEA and OAK: LAA - Los Angeles Angels (often referred to here as the halos)

41. Design that's just over a foot: ANKLE TAT - My DW's twin got a butterfly there at 65 yrs old

46. Back at the track: BET ON - Here are the odds in the today's big race that will have been run already if you are reading this late  Bolt d'Oro is named for Gold (ORO in Spanish) Medal sprinter Usain Bolt, so since this is Cinqo de Mayo... BTW, how'd the handicappers do late, bloggers?

47. Dali contemporary: SERT - Jose' Maria SERT and his "Dining Room?"

49. Subtle signal: NOD - In the original case below is a 1951 Gibson Ukulele that my SIL intended to buy for $300 but he kept NODding until he bought it for $975

51. Coolidge is famous for it: TERSENESS - He wasn't called Silent Cal for nothin'

54. Sched. uncertainty: TBA - To Be Announced

55. What contacts may help: EYES - I'd like some contacts but my optometrist, uh, can't, see it

56. Irreverent one: BLASPHEMER - This "BLASPHEMER" had some issues with his church

60. Algonquian language: CREE - In the CREE language, Hello is TANISI

61. Drink with a croissant, maybe: CAFE AU LAIT - Much more elegant than simply "coffee with milk" 

62. Toy truck name: HESS.

63. What's often on the following page: NEXT MONTH - Cool clue!



Down

1. Short notice?: I QUIT - A good answer today to, "Do you want a 4th Margarita/Mint Julep?" 

2. Ball State University city: MUNCIE - Their most famous alum

3. Fugitive's plea: HIDE ME - Rick refused to HIDE Ugarte in this classic movie most of you will know

4. Often flowery words: ODE

5. "Ask Me Another" co-producer: NPR

6. Hosp. areas: ORS - Grandson thinks he wants to be a surgeon but felt woozy when their anesthesiologist neighbor gave him an OR tour

7. Texter's "Too funny!": ROTFL - Rolling On The Floor Laughing

8. Semiannual astronomical event: EQUINOX  - Equal day/night (4 days sooner than the recognized day here at 41N Lat)

9. "C'mon, bro!": DUDE  - Here's a meaningful monosyllabic exchange

10. Affectionate sort: HUGGER  - Awww...

11. Interview, often: ONE-ON-ONE - Lance said admitting to Oprah that he doped and lied about it cost him over $100M

12. Hardly harmonious: STRAINED 

13. Going places?: TOILETS - What a great clue Sam and/or Erik!

15. Thimble Theatre name: OYL - There she is!

21. Clear-cut, as for lumber: DEFOREST - Planting replacements is now required

23. Lamp filler: KEROSENE

24. 1950 story collection including "The Evitable Conflict": I ROBOT - Asimov's tale of how intelligent robots can save humans from conflicts among each other

27. Voting Rights Act pres.: LBJ - Just months after JFK's death LBJ used his unique legislative skills to get this historic Act passed

29. Action movie pieces: UZIS.

30. Walk unsteadily: TOTTER - Too many Margaritas or Mint Juleps and...

32. One of the original singers of "Can You Feel the Love Tonight": NALA - Our frequent crossword lioness visitor 

34. Novel first credited to Currer Bell: JANE EYRE - Charlotte Bronte first wrote under a male pseudonym (but preserved her initials - as did her sisters) because her mode of writing was not considered feminine

35. Symbols of strength: OAK TREES - Jimmy Dean sang of Big Bad John - "Like a giant OAK TREE, he just stood there alone, Big John"

37. Safety's stat.: INT - Here's an INTerception in the end zone (by a cornerback not a safety...)

38. Test giver: LAB TECH.

40. "You can come out now": IT'S SAFE - or the opposite of that seen below

42. They can be eaten or absorbed: LOSSES - Paramount Studios had to absorb/eat a huge loss on the 2016 remake of Ben Hur 

44. Scott Lang, when in costume: ANT-MAN

45. "Very well": SO BE IT 

48. Newark's county: ESSEX - A 1905 map

50. Title for Sidious: DARTH - DARTH means Dark Lord and here you see DARTH Sidious next to the more familiar DARTH

52. "Superstore" airer: NBC - A sitcom that has not graced my flat screen

53. Dash: ELAN.

57. Record-setting Lady Vols basketball coach Summitt: PAT - She won more basketball games than any college man or woman. Early onset Alzheimers forced her 2011 retirement but she lived five more years demanding "no pity party for me".

58. Go smoothly: HUM - How Pat Summit's teams played

59. "Shine a Little Love" band, to fans: ELO - Ah, we finish with an old friend


Por favor siéntase libre de añadir sus propios comentarios sobre este 5 de Mayo (Please feel free to enter your own comments on this May 5). Muchas Gracias Sam and Erik!

DA GRID

Note from C.C.: 

Argyle's sister Klista has been looking through her photos to put on a photo board at the celebration of his life at the Argyle Fire Department on Saturday, May 12, 2018. She kindly sent me these four to share with our regulars. How I wish I had discussed with him about the Santa Clause cut-out!

 

Here is a YouTube clip I made with all the Santa photos I have. Or you can click here.

Friday, May 4, 2018, David Alfred Bywaters

Title: F-f-f-f-friday!

A little déjà vu as David is back again with an add a letter puzzle. This variation has the letter "F" added to the first word in a two word in the language phrase. We have five themers plus a reveal using 62 squares. This placed many restrictions on the grid, and there was little room for long sparkly fill. But there was quite a bit of humor in theme fill and cluing.  FLAB COAT and FACTION FIGURE  both tickled my Fancy and I did not feel ANTZY, or is it ANTSY?

Not feeling all that sparkly myself as the reality of Scott's passing hangs heavy. But as melissa said, the show must go on.

17A. Origami academy?: FOLD SCHOOL (10). A bit of foreshadowing. The owl and the humor.

23A. Exhaust from the carnival food tent?: FAIR POLLUTION (13).
You can watch this VIDEO.

32A. Scary beach phenomenon?: FIN SIGHT (8).
You can watch this VIDEO.

41A. Garment tailored to flatter your waist?: FLAB COAT (8). Well, flatter is asking too much. VIDEO.

47A. Divisive politician?: FACTION FIGURE (13). No politics, no link.

59A. Boldness, and a hint to five long puzzle answers: EFFRONTERY (10). I like this reveal. with EFF (the word for the letter F) which is put on the front.

Okay, to work.

Across:

1. Like many superheroes: CAPED. And crusaders. I watched AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR last Friday. No spoilers but we enjoyed the 2 1/2 hours.

6. Paper items: NEWS. I struggled with this at first, trying to think of things made of paper especially after the Origami clue/fill.

10. Rock-blasting equipment: AMPS. I nailed this; all the years on the road paid off.

14. Kind of acid used in food flavoring: AMINO. You like reading, here is the LINK.

15. Dos x dos x dos: OCHO. Spanish multiplication.

16. Indian garb: SARI. This picture wraps up this garment.

19. Chimney liner: SOOT. How true, and deceptive.

20. Victorian, e.g.: ERA.

21. Erelong: SOON. Before long.

22. Physicist who left Italy in 1938 to protect his Jewish wife: FERMI. The "wife" was a remarkable woman in her own RIGHT.

27. Hand over: CEDE.

28. Small wake maker: OAR. Another simple, but cute clue/fill.

29. Cowboy, at times: ROPER. Mmm.

37. Pitcher with no arms: EWER. The old baseball misdirection. My grandmother had some Roseville.

38. Backbone: SPINE.

40. Forest grazers: DOES. A heteronym.

43. Growing things: FLORA.

44. Quotable boxer: ALI.

45. Story: TALE.


53. Filmmaker born Konigsberg: ALLEN. Better know as Woody. Based on the virulent hatred of this man, I am surprised he is still in puzzles.

54. Barbarian: OGRE.

55. Nickname derived from "Mortgage Association": MAE. FNMA. GNMA. SLMA. When my grandmother retired she had very little in savings and minimal Social Security. My father helped her put the money into GNMA stock which was paying 10% monthly dividend, it really helped her.

58. Glasses, in adspeak: SPEX. Not wrong, just meh.

62. Yonder thing: THAT.

63. Hawaiian island: MAUI.

64. She turned Odysseus' crew to swine: CIRCE. The inspiration for Game of Thrones?

65. Antoinette preposition: SANS. We had this "without" this week.

66. Highland hats: TAMS. This would fit in the hat puzzle.

67. Toys on strings: YOYOS. I go up and down on this toy.

Down:

1. Tea and cake purveyor: CAFE.

2. Deity with a bow: AMOR. The same number of letters as EROS.

3. Rice dish: PILAF. Stir in onion and cook until onion becomes translucent, then add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Mix in the rice and chicken broth. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender, and the liquid has been absorbed - 20 to 25 minutes.

4. Finish: END.

5. Set of related documents: DOSSIER. This is late 19th century: from French, denoting a bundle of papers with a label on the back, from dos ‘back,’ based on Latin dorsum. Various.

6. Optimism opposite: NO HOPE.

7. Prefix suggesting affordability: ECONO.

8. Journalist's question: WHO.

9. Fa-la link: SOL.

10. Factory equipment, e.g.: ASSET.

11. "The Piano" extra: MAORI.

12. Publicity video: PROMO.

13. Peaceful protest: SIT IN. My brothers and I were in graduate school in Storrs for the EVENTS depicted here. But we never considered a 47D. Some protests: FASTS.

18. Electrical supply: CORD. Fun, as without the cord it will not get there.

22. Symbols of wealth: FURS.

24. Bitter: ACERB. I like acerbic better.

25. Meat cut: LOIN. Pork loin is a cut of meat from a pig, created from the tissue along the dorsal side of the rib cage. Various.

26. Exit __: LANE.

29. Penalty caller: REF.

30. Talkative "Winnie the Pooh" character: OWL. Like Rabbit, he was not a stuffed animal that was brought to life, just a character created by Milne. He has been voiced by Craig Ferguson (Winnie the Pooh); Hal Smith (The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh); Jack Warden (Alice in Wonderland) and Andre Stojka (The Tigger Movie). The shadow fell.

31. Edible sphere: PEA. A nice mental picture.

32. Able: FIT. I may not be fit, but I go to the gym three days a week now, I do not want to be an...

33. Lazybones: IDLER.

34. Unappealing viscous material: GOO.

35. The Beatles' "I Saw __ Standing There": HER.

36. Org. using wands: TSA. Transportation Security Administration. And, 60D. Airport org.: FAA. Federal Aviation Administration.

38. Aria, usually: SOLO.

39. Royal annoyance?: PAIN. Rhymes with...

42. Biblical brother: CAIN.

43. Orator's skill: FLUENCY.

45. Fertile Crescent waterway: TIGRIS. No love for the Euphrates?

46. Farming prefix: AGRO. Sounds like 56D. With the bow, on a score: ARCO. A musical score; usually used as a direction in music for players of stringed instruments. Various.

48. Top dog: ALPHA.

49. Unarmed, to a cop: CLEAN.

50. Modern messages: TEXTS.

51. End of a giant sequence: FO FUM. Fee fi

52. Nail-filing abrasive: EMERY. I am board with this clue/fill. It rubs me the wrong way.

57. Watchers: EYES.

59. Life-saving pro: EMT. Emergency Medical Technician.

61. Spanish uncle: TIO. My grandchildren have learned some Spanish, and call some of their uncles Tio.

I found this a fairly fast finish. I hope you enjoyed it and welcome to May. Still hard to focus on humor. Thanks, David. Lemonade out.

Thursday, May 3rd 2018 Jeffrey Wechsler

Theme: Dessert Mix - can't explain it better than the reveal:

59A. Ice cream features found, in a way, in this puzzle's circles: CHOCOLATE SWIRLS

Scrambled "CHOCOLATE" highlighted by the circles in the theme entries:

16A. Natural analog of sonar: BAT ECHOLOCATION. That's why they can flit around in bat caves and not smack into the walls in the dark. Truly, Nature is a wonderful thing. I walk into walls in hotels in the middle of the night going to the bathroom. I need a bat assistant.

32A. Ones who have class?: SCHOOL TEACHERS. The unsung heroes of our world. Let's have a "Buy Our Teachers Chocolate Swirl Day". BOTCWD. Aghh, need a better acronym!

36A. Old General Motors model: CHEVROLET COACH. From 1931 - I felt bad when I didn't know this, but thank you crosses! A quite lovely automobile. It looks a lot like a 30's Rolls-Royce.

This was a puzzle masterclass - thank you, Jeffrey. Wonderful theme, grid-spanners, 14's, and look at those blocks of 3x7's in the NE and SW.  Awesome.


Across: 

1. Liberty __: BELL. Shoddy merchandise. Cracked on delivery. I'd have sent it back, free returns with Amazon Prime. When you order a Liberty Bell, you expect the best.

5. Troublesome types: IMPS

9. Cleaning tool: SWAB. Surgery tool too. Count 'em in, count 'em out!

13. Any number: ONE OR MORE. Is zero a number? If so, if not .... clue accuracy. Your essays are due next Thursday.

15. River through Florence: ARNO

18. Toyota RAV4, e.g.: UTE. Shorthand for "Sports Utility Vehicle".

19. The best policy, so it's said: HONESTY. Good advice.

35. Developing, biologically: IN UTERO. I had IN VITRO first. Then thought about that.

43. Literary award with a spaceship logo: HUGO. I *think* I knew this. Look up Hugo Gernsback on Wikipedia.

44. Head for the hills: RUN

45. Nothing new: OLD HAT

47. Billiards concern: ANGLE

49. Phantasy Star game maker: SEGA. I didn't know this, but SEGA seemed a good stab with the "S" in place

50. Big name in ATMs: NCR. I tried IBM first, because I had "EDAMAME" confidently in place at 38D. I love great construction and cluing when I get sent up a blind alley. This was a classic case. It was only when nothing would work around that section that I had to rethink everything in the area.

51. Egret habitats: MARSHES

58. Braggart's abundance: EGO.

62. Hard to control: EELY.Slipperly too.

63. Harley-Davidson Museum city: MILWAUKEE. Home of the knucklehead, the flathead and all other great innovations.

64. Cholesterol nos.: LDLS. I think my levels are OK. LDL is the "bad" cholesterol level. Pay attention.

65. Presently: ANON. This is one of those words I love, and I'm determined to keep "in the language". I have people who I work with, or I have worked with, who enjoy using it, just for the curiously factor.

66. Scrip items: MEDS. Where are you, HeartRX?

Down: 

1. Hats like Maurice Chevalier's: BOATERS. I tried to find a musical link worthy of the blog, but failed. Here's the signature hat though:

2. Intestinal: ENTERIC.Crosses all the way. I will learn this.

3. Director with three Oscars: LEE. Ang Lee. Amazing talent. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Brokeback Mountain and The Life of Pi.

4. Welsh : llyn :: Scots : __: LOCH. I'm not sure I knew this. It made sense when I filled it in though.

5. "__ your side": I'M ON

6. "The Wind in the Willows" figure: MOLE. I loved this book as a small child. I remember falling in love with the illustrations of E.H. Shepard. Then came Winnie the Pooh. What a wonderful man.

7. They know the ropes: PROS

8. Schism group: SECT

9. Wasn't used: SAT, Sat down, rode the pine. watched from the bench. Tough.

10. Squirm: WRIGGLE

11. "And __ thing ... ": ANOTHER

12. Fish that sound good in Spanish: BONITOS? Not sure about the plural here. Fish singular - Fish plural.

14. Density symbol, in physics: RHO. Tough stuff.

16. Like bodybuilders: BUFF

17. Right at sea?: AYE! Right? Aye, sir to starboard! Yes, maybe, but right? Not sure.

22. Book before Esth.: NEH. The Old Testament. Learn your three-letter abbreviations of the Bible books if you want to solve crosswords.

24. Hessian pronoun: ICH. This was nice. Hermann Hesse, German novelist. "Ich" = "I".

26. Crime movie genre: NOIR. Watch LA Confidential for a great example.

27. Name on a museum wall: DONOR

28. When some news shows begin: AT TEN

29. Sugar source: BEET

30. Half of a call-and-response game: MARCO. Polo. One of the most annoying games in the annals of child-watching. Enough said.

33. Whopper: LULU. A BIIGGGG one!

34. "Very nice!": COOL

36. Area around the altar: CHANCEL. This took me way to long. The SW corner was tough for me.

37. Bent (over): HUNCHED

38. Asian appetizer: EGG ROLL. Yeah, I see your EGG ROLL and raise you EDAMAME - and then I lose.

39. Remote control abbr.: VOL. I just looked at mine. Indeed, it has VOL right there.

40. Cause of a paper weight increase: ADS. Think your Sunday print edition of your local newspaper. If mine delivered just the sports section, the literary review and the crossword, I'd save the trees, the delivery guys and my recycle

41. Brightened: CHEERED

42. Tries for a better price: HAGGLES

46. New Mexico county bordering Colorado: TAOS

48. Punk rock subgenre: EMO. Always. Three-letter rock genre - fill it in and move on

52. Diva Gluck: ALMA. Thank you crosses, Jeffrey is always fair.

53. Dust Bowl deficiency: RAIN

54. WWII invasion city: ST LÔ. If you have a chance to read any of the various narratives about this city in 1944, I'd encourage you to do so.

55. Cut: HEWN

56. Spanish "that": ESA

57. Like many laps: SWUM. I'd love to count my lifetime laps in the pool. It's been a lot. I love the "zen" times when you can only hear the water while you pull through each lap.

60. Pitcher Young and painter Twombly: CYS

61. Presidential nickname: IKE. I had the "E". Went went with "ABE", was wrong.

Like all of us, I am very sad about Argyle's decision to shuffle off the mortal coil. He was a wonderful man and gave great pleasure to many, many people. I would like us all to look in his mirror and feel that when our time comes we can hope everyone says that about all of us. The world would be a very better place.

And ... the grid!

Steve

Notes from C.C.:

1) OK, a real time "Happy Birthday" to Dave (D4E4H), who turned 74 today. I misunderstood an email he forwarded to me last Sunday. Hope you get in time the birthday gifts you boldly asked from my siblings.

Here is a clearer picture of Dave and Mr. Romeo. He said "I am helping him with his social media "Muzzle book" because he is all paws. He has 4,000 "licks.""

Dave (D4E4H)

2) Please click here to view Santa's obituary. Thanks for the information, Spitzboov!

Wednesday, May 2, 2018, C.C. Burnikel

Theme: Get IT?

17. *Mother of Donald Jr. and Eric: IVANA TRUMP.

26. *Laurence Fishburne's "What's Love Got to Do With It" role: IKE TURNER.

35. *With 41-Across, two-time NBA All-Star named for an NBA Hall of Famer: ISAIAH.

41. *See 35-Across: THOMAS.

51. *Swimmer with five Olympic gold medals: IAN THORPE.

60. *Early 20th-century muckraker: IDA TARBELL. Awesome.

48D. Expert computer operations group ... to which the answers to starred clues belong?: IT TEAM.

Melissa here. I come, like all the regulars, with a heavy heart today, but I know Santa would want the show to go on. I'm guessing that C.C. consulted with him on this puzzle, which feels a bit comforting. Do you feel him? I do.

Across:

1. Low-pH compound: ACID.

5. Creighton University city: OMAHA.

10. Silly: DAFT.

14. Running behind: LATE.

15. Spanish bar food: TAPAS.

16. Falls back: EBBS.

19. Pacific Rim continent: ASIA.

20. Disney collectible: CEL.

21. __ anglais: English horn: COR. -->

22. "Casablanca" actor Peter: LORRE.

24. Dublin residents: IRISH.

30. Dried chili in Mexican cuisine: ANCHO.

31. Tiny tunneler: ANT. Dig the alliteration.

32. Colorful tropical fish: TETRA.

33. Cause of red cheeks: ROUGE. Or joy.

36. Biol. or geol.: SCI.

38. Spa treatments: PEELS.

40. Courthouse figs.: DAS. District Attorneys.

43. Woody thicket: COPSE.

45. Extends a tour: REUPS.

46. Sunbather's goal: TAN.

47. Place for a Fitbit: WRIST. My daughter and I just got each other one for an early Mother's day gift. Nifty little devices.

53. Perfume compound: ESTER.

54. Take a pass: SAY NO.

55. Buccaneer's domain: SEA.

57. __ chi: martial art: TAI.

58. "The Boss Baby" voice actor Baldwin: ALEC.

63. Sport with periods called chukkers: POLO.

64. Intoxicating shrubs: COCAS.

65. Fidel's successor: RAUL.

66. Throw out: TOSS.

67. Contest submission: ENTRY.

68. Band boosters: AMPS. Nice clue.

Down:

1. Keys on a keyboard: ALICIA.

2. Luray attraction: CAVERN. Cool video on this page. Anyone been?

3. Slanted, in a way: ITALIC. Ohhh.

4. La-Z-Boy room: DEN.

5. Aptly named "Airplane!" autopilot: OTTO.

6. Two-party system?: MARRIAGE. Haha.

7. "The Simpsons" storekeeper: APU.

8. Village: HAMLET.

9. __ of tea: A SPOT.

10. Start of a message to magazine subscribers: DEAR READERS.

11. What some vote in: ABSENTIA.

12. Christopher A. Wray's agcy.: FBI.

13. Bag-checking org.: TSA.

18. "Gesundheit!" evoker: ACHOO.

23. Well-worn tracks: RUTS. See here.

25. Tex-Mex seafood dish: SHRIMP TACOS.

27. Patella: KNEECAP.

28. Periods of history: ERAS.

29. Root word?: RAH.

34. FedEx alternative: UPS.

35. Many a cable co.: ISP.

36. __ butter: cosmetic moisturizer: SHEA.

37. Gives legal advice: COUNSELS.

39. Symbol of the second-largest state: LONE STAR.

41. Prefix with angle or cycle: TRI.

42. Pallid: ASHY.

44. Use foul language: SWEAR.

46. Walked all over: TROD ON.

49. Make airtight: SEAL UP.

50. Quavering musical sounds: TRILLS.

52. In reserve: ON ICE.

56. "Child's play!": EASY.

58. On point: APT.

59. Bath bathroom: LOO.

61. Pretend to be: ACT.

62. Push-up top: BRA.

D. Scott Nichols (Argyle/Santa/Cid) In Memoriam

I'm sad to let you know that Scott, our dear Santa, passed away last night (April 30, 2018). He was 73.

Argyle had various health issues, but he always bounced back to the blog. The amputation was just too much for Santa physically.  He was tired when I last talked to him, but he kept his wits, humor and cynicism. The classic Santa I knew and loved.

Argyle covered 840 puzzles for our blog. He also made seven puzzles for the L.A. Times and two puzzles for the New York Times. It was always fun working with him. Challenging too, as Santa could be very stubborn.

Off the blog, he was my advisor and close friend. Seldom did I make any blog or life decision without consulting Santa: "Santa, I don't get this theme"; "Santa, my blood pressure is low again"; "Santa, did you see that comment at 10:00am?". His replies were always short, succinct, to the point and quick.  He was always just one email away.

I still can't believe he won't be back. He left a big hole in my life. I just can't stop sobbing. But I feel very lucky to have had him in my life for almost 10 years. A few months ago, he surprised me with an email I sent to him in 2008. He saved every email.

Santa, rest in peace. You'll always be in my heart. Thanks for all you've done for me and this blog.

I also want to thank Argyle's adopted niece Jennifer Ballard for taking good care of him while busy with her own job and family life. She patiently answered all my questions and kept me updated on Santa's progress. Thank you, Jennifer!

Our condolences to Argyle's sisters Kalista Nichols, Laura Manitta, Sheilla, Claire and all his family.

Our Beloved Santa (Feb 20, 1945-April 30, 2018)

Santa and His Four Sisters

Santa and Jennifer at Jennifer and Dave's Wedding, June, 2011

You can send sympathy cards to this address:

Jennifer Ballard
188 West Rd.
Argyle, NY 12809

Thank you so much!

C.C.

Added later:

1) More Argyle remembrances and memories can be read on Tuesday May 2 puzzle post. Just scroll down to Comments Section.

2) Please click here to view Santa's obituary.

3) Please click here for all Santa's pictures. Or just click below YouTube clip I made. Sorry, Santa, I did a poor job cropping some pictures.

Tuesday, May 1, 2018, Victor Barocas

 The Multifunctional Tool.

18. *Tuna eater's tool, maybe: CAN OPENER.

24. *Eyebrow-plucking tool: TWEEZERS.

36. *Shape of rotini pasta: CORKSCREW.

41. *Cocktail frank stabber: TOOTHPICK.

48. *Loser to rock, beater of paper: SCISSORS.

58. With 60-Across, contraption that usually includes the answers to the starred clues: SWISS ARMY. 60. See 58-Across: KNIFE.

Let's see what other fun Victor brings today.

Across:

1. Goldman's partner: SACHS. Marcus Goldman and Samuel Sachs.  The large multinational investment bank. 

6. Socially awkward sort: DORK.  Clark Kent ?

10. Potter's material: CLAY.

14. Voyager 1, e.g.: PROBE.

15. Like James Bond antagonists: EVIL.

16. With 11-Down, 2016 almost-Oscar-winning movie: LA LA.  11D. See 16-Across: LAND.  At the 2017 OSCAR awards ceremony,  La La Land won six OSCARS, and was erroneously awarded a seventh for Best Picture.  Moonlight was the real 2016 Best Picture award winner.  

17. Screen legend Flynn: ERROL. Swashbuckling swordsman.

20. Neither's partner: NOR.  If a verb is already in the negative, then partners either and or  are used.

21. Boxing ref's decision: TKO.

23. Worked, as dough: KNEADED.

27. Family room: DEN.

28. Captain's group: CREW.  Ship, Captain and Crew is a game played with five dice.  Players ante in to the pot.  Only after getting the Ship (a six), Captain (a five) and Crew (a four) can you get the Cargo.  The player with the largest Cargo total (point value of the other two dice) wins the pot.  

29. Spring shape: COIL.

31. Lottery ticket purchase, essentially: BET.

34. Michaelmas daisy: ASTER.  Daisy ?  Five letters.  See if ASTER fits.  It should.  It does.  Look up Michaelmas daisy later.   Oh, a daisy that blooms around Michaelmas (Sept 29th).   The largest group of Michaelmas daisies, with over 1,000 named cultivars is symphyotrichum novi-belgii.  That means "hair growing together - from New York".   They are also known as New York asters.  The weird stuff you learn on the internet...

38. Trendy: CHIC.

39. Sixth __: intuition: SENSE.  I have an intuition that blog-follower Fact Checker (and others) are looking up New York asters right about now.

40. Émile who wrote "J'Accuse...!": ZOLA.

43. "Miracle on 34th Street" store: MACYS.

44. Thor, to Odin: SON.

45. Its football team has played Harvard 134 times: YALE.

46. Grand Marquis, for short: MERC.


47. 2100, to Augustus: MMC. When the Roman statesman and military leader added one thousand, plus one thousand, plus one hundred, his total was MMC.

52. Adjusted (to): ATTUNED.

56. Dorm mgrs.: RAs.  Dormitory managers: Resident Assistants. 

57. "Ben-Hur" author Wallace: LEW.  I read Ben-Hur Wallach, assumed actor, saw the answer needed three letters and entered Eli.  How do you say bzzzt ?  You can read about Indiana-born, Civil War General and author Lew Wallace at  Britannica Biography: Lewis-Wallace.

62. Pub size: PINT.

63. "The World According to __": GARP.  Never read it, but have heard of it.  Almost entered the synonym for trail mix.

64. Concave navel: INNIE.

65. Not leave: STAY.  Love it when Rosemary Butler joins in, then get a chuckle out of the falsetto a few seconds later.


66. Leave: EXIT.  But they just asked me to stay, just a little bit longer.    What a twist !

67. Surprising plot development: TWIST.  O. Henry.   'nuff said ?

Down:

1. Used up: SPENT.

2. Cursor shape: ARROW.  The standard mouse pointer on a computer is an arrow, but you can select from a variety of others.  

3. Proofer's change: CORRECTION. After the blue-pencil.  Editing vs Proofreading  

4. "Game of Thrones" network: HBO.

5. Soda water: SELTZER.  Carbonated water.

6. Interior designer's concern: DECOR. Are all of these  Fixer Upper decors going out of style ?

7. Eggs, to a biologist: OVA.

8. Hockey venue: RINK.  The Pittsburgh Penguins play at PPG Paints Arena.

9. Yukon gold rush region: KLONDIKE.

We had an Isaly's  restaurant in our small town in N.E. Ohio.  Isaly's invented the Klondike Bar.  I knew of it long before I knew of the Yukon gold rush region.  Isaly's was also regionally famous for its "Skyscraper" ice cream cones and chip-chop ham.  There are now 14 flavors of the Klondike bar.

10. Wash the dirt off: CLEAN.

12. Protected at sea: ALEE.

13. Three feet: YARD.  Is it possible to get a complete food storage center... less than a yard wide ?

19. Banana leftovers: PEELS.

22. Royal Botanic Gardens locale: KEW.   Kew is WSW of London proper.  About 30 minutes on the Tube from Westminster.   Zoom in and the take the satellite view.  Zoom out to get your bearings.


25. Build: ERECT.

26. Wall-mounted light fixtures: SCONCES.

30. Ural River city: ORSK. Today's second pictorial geography lesson:

A 23 hour drive from Orsk to Omsk

31. Hybrid green veggie with small florets: BROCCOLINI.  Just saw this recipe for pan roasted broccolini  on an episode of Growing A Greener World. 

32. Slippery: EELY.

33. "__ the night before ... ": TWAS.

34. Play divisions: ACTS.

35. "Go away!": SHOO.

36. Finish the top of, as a room: CEIL.  To provide with a roof.   In French, ceil is eye, and ciel is sky.

37. Business magnates: CZARS.

39. Era that began with Sputnik: SPACE AGE.  Jump on that bandwagon.  Don't get left behind !

42. Church songs: HYMNS.

43. Soldier's cooking supplies: MESS KIT.  Field utensils.

46. Actress Farrow: MIA.

47. In need of air freshener: MUSTY.  Not that olives smell musty, but I had to get this vid in somewhere after Sunday's discussion of olive trees.  Gary mentioned seeing them in Tuscany.  We just saw this episode Saturday.  


49. Burial chamber: CRYPT.

50. Int.-reducing mortgages: RE-FIs.  Hi Lemonade !

51. Like sugar: SWEET.  How long before fresh sweet corn ?

52. Egyptian snakes: ASPs. 

53. Foolish one: TWIT.

54. Funny Fey: TINA.

55. "The Destroyer" of Marvel Comics: DRAX.  No idea.  Wagged the A.

59. Med. scan: MRI.  Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

61. Opposite of SSE: NNW.

Here's the grid.  See all y'all later n'at !

Monday April 30, 2018 Matt McKinley

Theme: THIRTY DAYS (58. Feature of the time periods hinted at by the starting letters of 17-, 23-, 38- and 47-Across) - Apr, Jun, Sep and Nov starts each theme answer.

17A. Fruity 12-Down topping: APRICOT JAM.

23A. Craftsperson using scrap metal, glass, etc.: JUNK ARTIST.

38A. Tax filing option for married couples: SEPARATE RETURNS.

47A. Restriction for quarantined patients: NO VISITORS.

Boomer here. And happy good morning to one and all.  I see some month abbreviations, including April.  I am not sorry to say good riddance to April this year.  Not only did the weatherman dump a ton of snow on us, but our Minnesota Twins had 4 games postponed, and managed to lose nine more in a row.  Hello May! Garden fence is ready and the dirt is rejuvenated.  We have yet to see the perennial Asian lily or the rose bush return for the summer.  

Best wishes to Argyle for a speedy rehab recovery.  Now... On with the show!  

Across:

1. Harley rider: BIKER. I had a bike when I was a kid, but it was not a Harley. I always felt that calling a Harley a bike was like calling a battery jumper cable clamp a paper clip.

6. Approved: OK'ED.

10. "The lady __ protest ... ": "Hamlet": DOTH.

14. Where one may be taken for a private word: ASIDE. To the dungeon.

15. Golfer's warning: FORE.  I often wondered where this came from.  I just holler "Look out", and that's before I swing the club.

16. Slender woodwind: OBOE. Well what's new ? A four letter word with three vowels.

19. Drive or reverse: GEAR.

20. The "S" in "CBS": Abbr.: SYST.

21. Little green veggie: PEA. Split 'em and make soup.

22. Vast chasm: ABYSS.

26. "400 Richest Americans" magazine: FORBES. No I am not in there. It's brutal to be 401st in anything. 

30. Nagging troubles: WOES.  Briefly, there is not enough room on the page to list my nagging woes.

31. Nimble: AGILE. Jack be agile, Jack be quick.

32. Stick a toothpick in, as a snack: STAB.  I'm not sure about toothpicks.  I think a knife or fork is more appropriate. 

34. "Bye, Luigi!": CIAO.  My sister has been to Italy a number of times.  She always ends her emails to me with this four letter Italian word (with three vowels).  I think she does the LA Times crossword frequently.

41. High-school kid: TEEN.

42. "On Golden __": POND.  Henry Fonda and his daughter Jane, as well as a star-studded cast.  Fonda sort of reminds me of Walter (Grumpy Old Man) Matthau and his buddy Jack Lemmon.

43. Rodeo lasso: RIATA.

44. Film critic Pauline: KAEL.

46. "Town Without Pity" singer Gene: PITNEY.  It isn't very pretty what a town without PITNEY can do.

51. One who's done for: GONER.

52. Old studio letters: RKO. It's an acronym for Radio-Keith-Orpheum.  What's interesting is downtown Minneapolis had a theatre called RKO Orpheum. Redundant and it's not there anymore.

53. Olympic sword: EPEE. Widely used in crosswords, I suspect because it's a four letter word with three vowels.  Okay, I am boring all.  I won't mention it again.

57. Ridesharing company: UBER. There are 12,000 Uber drivers now in the US.

61. Range in Europe: ALPS.

62. Country's McEntire: REBA.

63. Cove, e.g.: INLET.

64. Viral internet phenomenon: MEME. "Class, Who wants to get out at noon?"

65. Former couples: EXES. Goes first at tic tac toe.

66. Like yesterday's fashions: PASSE. 

Down:

1. Parts of cote tales?: BAAS.

2. Kids' road-trip game: I SPY. Now in a heap of trouble, "I Spy" was Bill Cosby's first TV show with Robert Culp in 1965,  You need to be as old as I to remember it.

3. White wine apéritifs: KIRS.

4. Cut and paste, e.g.: EDIT.

5. Word with room or center: REC.

6. Plenty of times: OFTEN.  OFTEN is a lot.  One OF TEN, not so much

7. TV cop with a lollipop: KOJAK. Telly Savalas played detective Kojak.  His first name was Theo, which I always considered it to be half a name.  Then along came Andy Sipowicz  who named his kid Theo.

8. Big Band __: ERA.

9. Rep.'s opponent: DEM. Politics, - Elephants and Donkeys

10. Bone-shaped treat: DOG BISCUIT.

11. Follows orders: OBEYS. If someone ORDERS a PIZZA, I might follow it out to the table.

12. Browned bread: TOAST. Ein Prosit.  "Here's to the guy who couldn't think small. Here's to the biggest embezzler of all..."  I am sure Tom can name that tune.

13. Word sewn on a towel: HERS.

18. Composer's work: OPUS.  This is interesting.  There is a business complex called OPUS in the city where I grew up.  So I googled Opus and sure enough it's a commercial real estate conglomerate.  Not sure about the composer clue.

22. Dined: ATE. Unscramble the letters and you have EAT.  A lot of people ATE between seven and nine.  

23. Spectator's bit of disapproval: JEER. Add a "T" in the middle and you have shortstop Derek, who was seldom Jeered at Yankee Stadium.

24. Tony or Hugo: AWARD.

25. Judge's apparel: ROBE. New York Yankee Aaron does not wear a robe, but when he comes to bat, the fans "All Rise".

26. Like greyhounds: FAST.

27. S-shaped molding: OGEE.

28. Ready on the vine: RIPE. The garden is coming soon.  How do you tell if green beans are ripe?

29. Poetry that doesn't rhyme: BLANK VERSE.

32. Popular vodka, popularly: STOLI.

33. Square root of 100: TEN. O GEE Whatever happened to Bo Derek ?

35. Persia, today: IRAN.

36. Required poker bet: ANTE.

37. "__, can you see ... ": O SAY. I believe the correct spelling is "OH SAY" - can you see?

39. Zoo primates: APES.

40. "Divergent" films heroine: TRIS.

45. Oxygen is about 21% of it: AIR. In large cities, I think the rest is smog.

46. Luther's sect: Abbr.: PROT.

47. Duke or earl: NOBLE.

48. Hr. after noon: ONE PM. Eleven on the West Coast.

49. Many a casino-owning group: TRIBE. We have several Native American casinos in Minnesota and they do very well.  I don't go too often because I think the house percentage is much higher than Nevada.  But one of the casinos has 24 bowling lanes.  Been there, done that.

50. Gumbo vegetables: OKRAS.

51. U.S. island territory: GUAM.

53. Author Ferber: EDNA.  A name from the roaring twenties.  She wrote at least two books that were made into movies.  If you can name them, you are older than I.

54. Buddies: PALS.

55. Seers?: EYES.  I like SNAKE ____.  (A roll of 2 at the craps table).

56. Ninety degrees from norte: ESTE.

58. Luigi's three: TRE. The second appearance of Luigi in the clues today.  Isn't he Mario's buddy ?

59. Whammy: HEX. This crossword clue has a hundred different answers.  Hope you had the ACROSS before you got to it.

60. Cry from a pup: YIP.

Boomer

Notes from C.C.:

Spitzboov (Al) and his wife Betty visited dear Argyle on Saturday April 28, 2018. Spitzboov brought this great Marine "At Their Core" to Santa, who was a Marine.

Click here to see Spitzboov's write-up. Thank you, Spitzboov and Betty,  for visiting Argyle and letting him know that he's sorely missed. 

Please continue keeping Argyle in your thoughts and prayers. Please send cards to below address. Argyle's friend Jennifer wanted me to tell you that "he enjoys the cards that everyone sends especially with notes in them".

D. Scott Nichols

Room #219
Wesley Health Care Center
131 Lawrence St.
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Argyle

Sunday April 29, 2018 Jeff Eddings

Theme: "Camera Shy"-  Seven different camera brands are stretched out in each theme entry.

23. H&R Block calculation: PERSONAL INCOME TAX. Pentax.

42. Individual with limited skills: ONE TRICK PONY. Nikon.

50. "You can't be serious!": I BEG YOUR PARDON. GoPro.

70. Hamilton, for one: AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY. Minolta.

91. Recreational area with pipes, bowls and ramps: SKATEBOARD PARK. I just call it skate park. Kodak.

99. Dropping-off places?: SLEEPING CARS. Leica.

122. Red choice: CABERNET SAUVIGNON. Canon. Canon/Sony/Leica are one of the three cameras Don G and I used in our HIDDEN CAMERA puzzle ages ago.

Another Sunday debut. Congrats, Jeff!

I don't quite get how stretching out the cameras equal the puzzle title "Camera Shy" though.
 
Across:

1. Angled: FISHED.

7. Three-word defense: I AM SO.

12. Soother: BALM. Aloe vera! It can also minimize skin pores like cold water, not that D-Otto cares.

16. Sign, as a contract: INK. These days we e-sign. So convenient.

19. Pump measurement: OCTANE.

20. Shooting competition: SKEET.

21. Two-dimensional size: AREA.

22. ABO system abbr.: NEG.

26. Hot __: TUB.

27. K-pop city: SEOUL. K-Dramas are very popular in China.

28. Long. counterpart: LAT.

29. Sock part: TOE.

30. Times-changing workers?: EDITORS. Times newspaper.

32. They may be footed: PAJAMAS. Never worn pajamas.

35. Peru grazer: LLAMA.

37. On: ATOP.

38. Sworn words: I DO.

41. Gloomy __: GUS.

45. Put in new film: RELOAD. All digital now. Also 131. Shooters with straps, for short: SLRS.

47. [Oh no!]: GASP.

49. First name in makeup: ESTEE. This is their popular product. Too pricey.

54. "Full House," but not "House": SITCOM.

58. Small-runway mil. craft: STOL. Short TakeOff and Landing.

59. Cap joint: KNEE.

60. Former sea that's now part desert: ARAL.

62. Zany: LOONY.

63. "Into the Wild" star Hirsch: EMILE. Some poisonous plants killed him. My grandma and used to go out to the field a few miles from our home and pick up these gooey alga-like stuff (Nostoc commune) after the summer rain. She'd then dry them and made steamed buns during Spring Festival. Just look at these images when I typed in the Chinese name.

65. Drs.' publication: JAMA.

67. __-out: total: ALL.

69. PTA member: MOM.

76. High-tech agent: BOT. Like spambots,

77. Schuss or slalom: SKI.

78. UMass' conference: A TEN. Atlantic 10 Conference.

79. Explosive matter, briefly: NITRO.

80. Storm sounds: CLAPS.

82. Air carrier: DUCT.

84. Judge's assessment: FINE. 108. Being judged: ON TRIAL.

85. Olive, for one: TREE. Never saw an olive tree in person.

89. Throw away, in a way: DELETE.

95. Like the opening of "The Wizard of Oz": SEPIA.

97. Clarifying words: AS IN. Q as in "Qin". No U.

98. Microwave concern: ARCING.

104. Beehive State native: UTE.

105. SAT scores, e.g.: NOS.

106. Emulate a hot dog: PANT.

107. Gridiron gripper: CLEAT.

112. Cow chow: ALFALFA.

114. Hold up: ROB.

116. Ref. for wordsmiths: OED.

117. Polynesian Disney heroine: MOANA.

121. Lao Tzu's "way": TAO. It looks like this:

126. Angled piece: ELL.

127. Focus for clérigos: DIOS. God in Spanish.

128. Raven's sound: CROAK.

129. Part of a plot: IN ON IT.

130. Low: SAD. So sorry for your loss, Keith!

132. Tony's cousins: EMMYS. Julia Louis Dreyfus has nine.

133. Skip: IGNORE. 

Down:

1. Dandy guys: FOPS.

2. Drink with a domed cover: ICEE.

3. A.L. West pro, informally: STRO.

4. Entertains at the penthouse: HAS UP.

5. Historic WWII B-29: ENOLA GAY.

6. __ mother: DEN.

7. Five Pillars faith: ISLAM.

8. Breed from Honshu: AKITA. Have any of you been to Japan?

9. All NBA players: MEN.

10. Mennonites, e.g.: SECT.

11. 1962 Lawrence portrayer: O'TOOLE.

12. Sweetie, in slang: BAE. Too lazy to write baby/babe.

13. Twin sister of Apollo: ARTEMIS.

14. Headliners: LEAD ACTS.

15. Skirt type: MAXI.

16. As a whole: IN TOTO.

17. Impulse-conducting cell: NEURON.

18. Enemy in a Le Carré novel: KGB SPY. 71. 18-Down, at times: MOLE.

24. "Sad to say ... ": ALAS.

25. Diner sandwich: MELT.

31. Stick on, in a way: TAPE TO.

33. Dojo action: JUDO KICK. Debut fill.

34. Slugging Sammy: SOSA. We have lots of of mint-condition Sosa, McGwire rookie cards. Boomer used to own a baseball store in the 1980s. Alas, they're not worth anything now.

36. Oakland's Oracle, e.g.: ARENA.

38. Light controller in a lens: IRIS.

39. Obligation: DEBT.

40. Spread on toast: OLEO.

43. "Morning Edition" airer: NPR.

44. Lake Wobegon creator: KEILLOR. Such a sad downfall.

46. Creepy starer: OGLER.

47. Inexperienced: GREEN.

48. Donkey Kong looks like one: APE.

51. Like rolled carpet: UNLAID. Spell check does not like it.

52. "The Martian" star: DAMON (Matt)

53. __ contract: ORAL.

55. Food __: listlessness after a large meal: COMA. Your blood sugar goes up after a big meal, but your blood pressure goes down.

56. __ about: ON OR.

57. "Oh dear!": MY MY.

61. Gloria Estefan, for one: LATINA.

64. Error: MISSTEP.

65. Volkswagen sedan: JETTA. When I lived in Shanghai, most of Taxis were Jettas.

66. N-S Manhattan road: AVE.

68. Bookish set: LITERATI.

70. Starting quartet: ABCD.

72. Famous last words?: ET AL.

73. Ribs unit: RACK.

74. Blue side: UNION.

75. Unacceptable to some, for short: NOT PC. Also 109. Zero input: NO SAY.

81. Old Spanish bread: PESETA.

83. Meter measure: USAGE.

84. "The X-Files" org.: FBI.

86. Pour, e.g.: RAIN.

87. Inventor Rubik: ERNO.

88. Heart lines?: Abbr.: EKGS.

90. Cringe-worthy YouTube subject: EPIC FAIL. We were so happy to be back to Springbrook last Monday. The trails were still very soggy. We're going to hit 78 tomorrow.

92. Road goo: TAR.

93. Standard Oil brand: ESSO.

94. Unrealistic: DREAMING.

96. About to deliver: IN LABOR.

99. Outpourings: SPATES. Like your support for dear Santa, who lost his right leg to diabetes. 

 Cousin Merle, Laura (Argyle's sister) and Argyle, Feb 2017

100. Fingers-in-ears syllables: LA LA LA. Hope you're enjoying spring, dear LaLaLinda!

101. Embrace: ENFOLD.

102. Kiss drummer Eric: CARR. Wiki listed him as a "Past member".

103. Immediately: AT ONCE.

104. Hindustani tongue: URDU.

110. Sources of deck wood: TEAKS.

111. Sign in: LOG ON.

113. Digital displays, briefly: LCDS.

115. Earthen wall: BERM.

118. Cornerstone word: ANNO.

119. Film __: NOIR.

120. Pot starter: ANTE.

123. Capital of Switzerland?: ESS. Switzerland.

124. Hulce or Hanks: TOM. Or D-Otto or TTP, my rocks.

125. Sundial seven: VII.

Belated Happy Birthday to Dave (D4E4H), who turned 74 years old yesterday. Dave has some serious health issues and cannot move around freely, that's why sometimes his avatar is in BLACK when he's away from his normal computer. 

This Comments Section Abbreviation list is now easier to read because of Dave, who suggested me to alphabetize it. So simple yet I never thought of it.