google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner

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Oct 1, 2008

Wednesday October 1, 2008 Allan E. Parrish

Theme: CUFF links

18A: "Felony Squad" star: HOWARD DUFF

61A: Refuse baloney: TAKE NO GUFF

3D: Weakling: CREAM PUFF

26D: Half a pair of warmers: EAR MUFF

37D: Unclothed: IN THE BUFF

HUFF and LUFF are two other ?UFF rhymes. I've never heard of the wader RUFF before. Dennis probably loves this RUFF.

There is also a car related sub-theme:

9A: 1986 Indy winner Bobby: RAHAL

40A: ___ Romeo (Italian car): ALFA

39D: Miniature racer: KART

57D: Classic Brit. sports cars: MGBS

59D: Sporty Camaro: IROC

Great to see both ZSA ZSA (20A: One Gabor) and EVA (62D: Sister of 20A) in one puzzle. Magda's name has 2 vowels too. I wonder why her name does not appear on Xword often.

I had another hard time this morning. Too many proper names for me. Besides, I was so sad. Twins lost their one-night stand. All of the sudden, this season is over. But I don't really hate the White Sox or A. J. Pierzynski. A.J. might drive many players and fans crazy, but he was my favorite Twins before he was traded to the Giants (then White Sox). Then Johan Santana became my favorite, but he was traded away too.

Never mind, it's still a great season for Justin Morneau and the Twins.

Across:

1A: Opening letters: ABCD. I like how ABCD intersects A TO Z (1D: All-inclusive breadth).

5A: Richie's mom, to the Fonz: MRS. C. Big stumper for me. She is played by Marion Ross. Everybody is so happy in that picture.

14A: One-thrid of a WWII movie?: TORA. It's pretty good movie. But "Pearl Harbor" is better.

16A: Garlic sauce: AIOLI. Ai (garlic) + Oli (oil). This AIOLI looks so green, too much herb I think.

24A: Oceanic: MARINE. I would prefer the clue to be "Devil dog" related to tie in with PFCS (71A: Military E-3s). What is E-3s?

31A: Public funds: TREASURY. Are you OK with this clue?

33A: Legendary drummer Gene: KRUPA. An unknown legend to me. I don't understand this "Drum Boogie" clip, which one is KRUPA?

36A: Moo juice: MILK. Is this a play for word or is "Moo juice" a well-accepted slang for MILK?

41A: Irish patriot Robert: EMMET. I really like "Bold Robert EMMET" folksong: "... A hero I lived, a hero I'll die..."

42A: One-named Irish singer: ENYA. "Believe, and you will find your way..."

46A: Sitcom about nothing: SEINFELD. This is my favorite SEINFELD moment.

50A: Breakfast fare: CEREAL. I am curious, what do you normally have for breakfast? Do you solve crossword puzzle before or after breakfast?

53A: Hold it right there: FREEZE

66A: Parisian pupil: ELEVE. Have not seen École for a long time.

67A: Runny cheese: BRIE. Nuts with runny cheese?

69A: Valuable fiddle: STRAD. Joshua Bell bought one for $3.5 million.

Down:

2D: Ribbon knots: BOWS. Or "Joshua Bell's needs".

4D: "Taxi" co-star: DANZA. I would not have got his name without the across clues.

5D: Goat coat: MOHAIR. Angora goat to be exact.

9D: Josh of "How I met Your Mother": RADNOR. Unknown to me. Did he have a fling with Britney Spears?

11D: Julianne of "Dancing with the Stars": HOUGH. Another unknown. She looks very pretty.

12D: Actress Woodard: ALFRE. I forgot. Her face looks very familiar, so I must have seen her somewhere before.

13D: Full-term con: LIFER

25D: __-Marcus: NEIMAN. Have you read "Bergdorf Blondes"? Plum Sykes used to work for Anna Wintour (Vogue).

28D: "So Much in Love" group: TYMES. Here is the song. I've never heard of "The TYMES" before. I like the title. It reminds me of Buttercup and her farm boy. They are "So Much in Love".

41D: Actor Estevez: EMILIO. Can never remember his name. Wish he would change his name into Sheen.

45D: Biographer of Henry James: EDEL (Leon). Learned his name from doing Xword. He wrote a five-volumn biography of Henry James.

54D: Fasten a fly: ZIP UP

64D: By gone expletive: FIE. I vaguely remember someone uttered FIE on a comment not long ago.

C.C.