Tuesday June 8, 2010 Barry Silk

Theme: Day Starter - The first word of the first three theme entries are synonyms of the first word of the fourth entry.

17A. Program that uses certain Sun Microsystems software: JAVA APPLICATION. Some of the on-line crossword programs use this app.

25A. Messy contest in a pit: MUD WRESTLING. Requires an image, fer sure.

42A. Al Gore's 2000 running mate: JOE LIEBERMAN.

56A. Living room reading that includes this puzzle's theme: COFFEE TABLE BOOK.

Argyle here.

A silky Tuesday (Q away from a pangram). Some obscure words but with doable perps. Today's theme song, Java Jive by The Ink Spots.

Across:

1A. Earth neighbor: MARS.

5A. One of the four chief angels: URIEL. One of four or one of seven or...Google for yourself. Gabriel and Michael are the main two, after that, I got confused.

10A. Crew hands: OARS. The Crew on a crew can be called OARS.

14A. Pulitzer-winning author James: AGEE. His autobiographical novel, A Death in the Family (1957), won him a posthumous Pulitzer Prize.

15A. Nabisco wafer named for its flavor: NILLA. Image.

16A. Super Bowl held in MCMLXXXVIII: XXII. Super Bowl Twenty-two was played on January 31, 1988.

20A. An off-ramp may lead to one: OVERPASS.

21A. Banquet entrées: ROASTS. Or chicken or fish.

22A. Buddhism, e.g.: Abbr.: REL.. Religion.

23A. __ Fáil: Irish coronation stone: LIA. Also known as the Stone of Destiny, it is a stone at the Inauguration Mound on the Hill of Tara in County Meath in Ireland, which served as the coronation stone for the High Kings of Ireland. More at Wikipedia.

24A. Actress Spelling: TORI.

30A. Privileged folks: HAVES. As opposed to the 'have nots'.

33A. Greek peak: OSSA.

34A. Washington Sq. campus: NYU. New York University and a part of Greenwich Village, Manhatten, New York City.

35A. Came to earth: ALIT.

36A. 1971 Sutherland title role: "KLUTE". A small-town detective(Donald Sutherland) searching for a missing man has only one lead: a connection with a New York prostitute(Jane Fonda).

38A. "__ 101": Former Nickelodeon sitcom: ZOEY.

39A. High-speed www hookup: DSL. Well, faster than dial-up.

40A. Letter-shaped fastener: T-NUT. Similar to a wing nut

41A. Dollar fractions: CENTS.

46A. Curved molding: OGEE. A crossword staple.

47A. Popular ISP: AOL. (Internet Service Provider, America On Line)

48A. Classic TV brand: RCA. (Radio Corporation of America)

51A. Soak up: ABSORB.

54A. Mainly: ABOVE ALL.

58A. Wine region near San Francisco: NAPA.

59A. Bucket wheel used for irrigation: NORIA. I'll look for a video later. I found a nice one the last time we had this entry. Update: Different than the last time but if someone(Lucina?) translates what he is saying, that would be nice. Clip. The main point is that it uses the flow of the water to lift up some of the water up to a higher height.

60A. Like one with a full schedule: BUSY.

61A. LAX postings: ETDs. (Los Angeles International Airport, Estimated Time of Departure)

62A. Third dimension: DEPTH. After length and width.

63A. Flexible Flyer, e.g.: SLED.

Down:

1D. Student's focus: MAJOR.

2D. Tequila plant: AGAVE.

3D. Celebrate boisterously: REVEL.

4D. Blacken: SEAR. I thought of char first.

5D. Like a procrastinator's bills: UNPAID.

6D. Carpentry tool that cuts with the grain: RIPSAW. Against the grain would be a crosscut saw.

7D. Maladies: ILLS.

8D. Inventor Whitney: ELI.

9D. Sport with sticks: LACROSSE. La Crosse is a city in Wisconsin.

10D. Beefy soup ingredient: OX TAIL.

11D. The Earth turns on it: AXIS.

12D. Real comedian: RIOT. Or they might be a gas.

13D. Transgresses: SINS.

18D. Top grade: A-PLUS.

19D. Vital body line: AORTA. Artery.

24D. Grade factor: TEST.

25D. Bumped into: MET.

26D. GPS suggestion: ROUTE.

27D. Involved with, as a plot: IN ON.

28D. Da's opposite: NYET. Russian.

29D. Fellows: GUYS.

30D. Muslim pilgrimage: HADJ.

31D. Too: ALSO.

32D. Repulsive: VILE.

36D. Exercise involving squatting: KNEE BEND. For some of us, they're vile.

37D. Garage job: LUBE.

38D. Satori-seeking sect: ZEN.

40D. Panthère relative: TIGRÉ. French

41D. Have a cow: CALVE. When a cow gives birth to a calf, she calves.

43D. Shower sponges: LOOFAS.

44D. White Carroll critter: RABBIT. Sneaky use of the first letter of the clue being capitalized.

45D. Dough: MOOLAH.

48D. Holocaust hero Wallenberg: RAOUL. But the exact circumstances of his death have long been in dispute.

49D. Shut: CLOSE.

50D. Adhesive resin: ALKYD.

51D. High school breakout?: ACNE.

52D. Something to miss or rock: BOAT. (to miss or to rock)

53D. Dirty Harry's org.: SFPD. "Go ahead. Make my day." (San Francisco Police Department)

54D. Lobbying group for seniors: AARP.

55D. Recedes: EBBS.

57D. Little piggy, so to speak: TOE.

Answer grid.

Argyle

Monday June 7, 2010 Gail Grabowski

Theme: No Free Rides - Three phrases that end with a method of access to public transportation.

20A. "Just what we need!": "THAT'S THE TICKET!".

38A. "Thanks, but none for me": "I'LL HAVE TO PASS".

57A. "Furthermore ...": "BY THE SAME TOKEN...".

Argyle here. Tough but fair Monday.

Across:

1A. Rarely read e-mail: SPAM.

5A. Edible pockets: PITAS.

10A. Bottled model: SHIP. A little naval sub-theme. 10A is stacked over 16A. Verne skipper: NEMO.(Jules Verne, Capt. Nemo, "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea") Also, 4D. One of a yawl's pair: MAST. Image. Perhaps one of our sailors can tell us why it's called a yawl.

14A. Contemporary of Ella and Sarah: LENA. Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Lena Horne, all great singers.

15A. Make up (for): ATONE.

17A. Hardwood trees: OAKS. Hand up for elms first.

18A. "Buzz off!": "SCRAM!".

19A. Extremely dry: ARID.

23A. "Love __ Madly": Doors hit: HER. Clip. From their final album, L.A. Woman.

24A. Caustic substance: LYE.

25A. Stately: REGAL.

27A. Chaotic situation: SNAFU. Acronym meaning Situation Normal: All F****d Up. Started in the military.

29A. Fraidy-cat: SISSY.

33A. Extra NHL periods: OTs. (National Hockey League, overtimes)

34A. Approximate fig.: EST.. (Estimate)

36A. "Uh-uh": "NAH".

37A. Follow the advice of: HEED.

42A. Irksome swarm member: GNAT.

43A. Place to apply gloss: LIP. And 44A. Elephant's floppy feature: EAR. More commonly referred to in the plural form.

45A. Mil. base enforcers: MPs.

46A. Shrubby landscape: HEATH. Ah, the setting for historical romance novels.

48A. Like Dylan Thomas, by birth: WELSH. Richard Burton was Welsh, also.

52A. Sweetie pie: CUTIE.

54A. NAFTA signatory: USA. North American Free Trade Agreement between the United States, Canada, and Mexico. (1994)

56A. "Sands of __ Jima": 1949 film: IWO. Starred John Wayne.

62A. Stein fillers: ALES.

63A. Find the answer to, as an equation: SOLVE. Or as a crossword.

64A. High point: PEAK.

65A. "The King and I" setting: SIAM.

66A. Engaged in, as a trade: PLIED.

67A. Dog of old mysteries: ASTA.

68A. 220-by-198-foot plot, e.g.: ACRE.

69A. Classroom jottings: NOTES.

70A. In need of a map: LOST.

Down:

1D. Slow-moving leaf eaters: SLOTHS. Two or three toed.

2D. Pheasant female: PEAHEN.

3D. Turkish capital: ANKARA.

5D. Pale: PASTY.

6D. Rash reactions?: ITCHES.

7D. Verbally attacked, with "into": TORE.

8D. Medical school subj.: ANAT..

9D. Rig on the road: SEMI. Alliteration clue.

10D. Boa or cobra: SNAKE. Assonance clue.

11. Words before an attempt: "HERE GOES".

12D. Copies: IMITATES.

13D. Pea's place: POD. More alliteration, including the answer.

21D. Partly melted snow: SLUSH.

22D. Have a bawl: CRY. (Have a ball)

26D. Source of a hippie's high, perhaps: LSD.

28D. Sensed: FELT.

30D. All thumbs: INEPT.

31D. Took a load off: SAT.

32D. Pump or clog: SHOE.

35D. Tall story: TALE.

37D. Fabled runner-up: HARE.

38D. For all to see: IN PUBLIC.

39D. During 2009: LAST YEAR.

40D. Itinerary word: VIA.

41D. Play with, kitten-style: PAW AT.

42D. Yukon automaker: GMC. An SUV.

46D. Sly chuckle sound: HEH.

47D. Square-bodied military vehicle: HUMVEE. High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV or Humvee)

49D. In this way: LIKE SO.

50D. Workout wear: SWEATS.

51D. Greet with a beep: HONK AT.

53D. "Who's there?" response: "IT'S ME".

55D. Watermelon discards: SEEDS.

58D. Channel for jocks: ESPN. (Entertainment Sports Programming Network)

59D. New pilot's milestone: SOLO.

60D. Touched down: ALIT. It's very important, after a pilot's first solo flight, that he alights safely. Failure to accomplish this would ruin the euphoria of soloing.

61D. Play-of-color gem: OPAL.

62D. Quick-wink link: AS A.

Answer grid.

Argyle

Sunday June 6, 2010 Jim Page

Theme: Taketh Away - TH is dropped (taken away) from common phrases.

27A. Reason for a burglar to take aspirin?: (TH)ROBBING HEADACHE. Throbbing Headache. Fun clue/answer.

35A. Display a casual shirt?: SHOW ONE'S TEE (TH). Show One's Teeth.

53A. One who sings during meals?: MUSICAL (TH)EATER. Musical Theater. The answer feels a bit strained to me.

60A. Where to buy "Splitting Up For Dummies"?: (TH) RIFT STORE. Thrift Store.

74A. Reaction to a New Year's Day birth?: JANUARY (TH) AW. January Thaw.

85A. Salamander coverage?: (TH) EFT INSURANCE. Theft Insurance. Very unexpected TH drop. Loved the answer.

97A. Defy a parent?: CROSS ONE'S PA (TH). Cross One's Path. I don't know cross can mean "defy". Not fond of two ONE'S in the theme answers (see 35A).

109A. Corn that may or may not be eaten?: EAR (TH) IN THE BALANCE. Does the base phrase refer to Al Gore's "Earth in the Balance"?

Some TH are dropped from the beginning of the phrase, some from the end, some from the middle (though still the beginning/end of a word). Good variety. Nice puzzle title too.

Must be a bear to construct a Sunday puzzle. 144 words (362 letters) are a lot to grid. Our average weekday puzzles normally have no more than 78 words.

Favorite clue today is COAT (113D. You might wear it out). Brilliant. Did the puzzle wear you out?

Across:

1. GM line until 2004: OLDS

5. "You're making __ mistake!": A BIG. Several partials today.

9. Coming-out parties: DEBS

13. Value: ESTEEM. The answer is never REGARD, which has the same number of letters.

19. Mariner or Mountaineer, briefly: MERC. Mercury SUVs. Stumper.

20. Moon over Milano: LUNA. Italian for "moon". Luna = Roman moon goddess. Alliteration.

21. Jazz giant, familiarly: ELLA (Fitzgerald). Not Utah Jazz.

22. Annoyingly small: MEASLY

23. Lago filler: AGUA. Spanish for water.

24. Animated bug film: ANTZ. 1998 move. This has become a gimme to me.

25. Cyberseller's site: EBAY

26. Like some champagne glasses: FLUTED. Cheers!

31. Joe Louis, e.g.: ARENA. Home of the Detroit Red Wings (NHL). Unknown to me. I could only think of BOXER.

32. "Gigi" author: COLETTE. Dennis quoted her a few times.

33. Cassis cocktail: KIR. Named after the Canon Felix Kir, the guy who created the drink.

34. "Bummer": SO SAD

39. Checkup responses: AHS

41. What Forum addresses were in: LATIN. The ancient Forum in Rome.

42. Mr. __!: old detective game: REE. No idea. Some Ebay seller claims it's a board game that inspired Clue.

43. Log opening.: EPI. Epilog. The spelling checks wants epilogue.

46. Prepare pupils for an exam?: DILATE. Without the question mark, the clue works fine too.

51. Israeli arms: UZIS

52. Mama bear: Span.: OSA. Would prefer "Spanish". "Span." suggested an abbreviated answer.

56. "Me, __ & Irene": 2000 film: MYSELF

58. Noshed: SNACKED

59. "Take __ face value": IT AT

63. Legal precedent: TEST CASE. A joyful fill for Hahtool & Lemonade.

66. Texter's "Lordy!": OMG

69. Cagney's "Yankee Doodle Dandy" role: COHAN. The movie is about George M. Cohan.

70. '60s activist Bobby: SEALE. Black Panthers co-founder.

71. Hi-__ graphics: RES

72. Trip acquisition: SOUVENIR

78. "Assuming that ..." IF SO

79. Net income earner?: ETAILER. Internet. Nice clue.

81. With hands on hips: AKIMBO. Like her posture.

88. OED entries: WDS. Words.

90. Arrow groove: NOCK. No idea. It refers to the top notch at the end of the arrow.

91. Got a little hoarse at the race, maybe: ROOTED. True!

92. Seaside bird: ERN

93. Moo goo __ pan: GAI. Gai = Chicken in Chinese. Wild Gai is slang for prostitute.

94. Take place: OCCUR

95. Buckeyes' sch.: OSU. Hello Buckeye!

100.Seat belt, e.g. : STRAP

104.Shakespeare contemporary: KYD (Thomas). No idea. Maybe Clear Ayes knows this guy.

107.Funny DVD feature: OUTTAKE

108."Love Story" author Segal: ERICH. I did not know that Al Gore inspired "Love Story" until his recent break-up with his wife.

115.Sailor with "muskles": POPEYE. Yeah, why didn't he say "I sweet potato what I sweet potato"?

117.Jay's home: NEST. The real bird. Thought it might refer to Toronto Blue Jays.

118.__ to one's neck: IN UP

119.Textile machine: LOOM

120.Fends off: AVERTS

121.Disney lioness: NALA. In "The Lion King".

122."__ fan tutte": COSI. Mozart opera. Literally "Thus do all (women"). "Women are like that".

123.Coventry carriage: PRAM. British for baby stroller. Coventry is a city in England. Unknown to me.

124.Microscope parts: LENSES

125.Computer since 1998: IMAC

126.Some Fr. martyrs: STES. Saintes.

127.Like some feed: OATY. Not enough space for VIDEO/AUDIO.

Down:

1. Actor Epps: OMAR

2. Versatile block: LEGO

3. Clobber: DRUB

4. Healing sign: SCAB. No SCAB/SCAR hesitation today.

5. Family support group: AL-ANON. What does AL stand for?

6. They botch jobs: BUNGLERS. Ah, OK.

7. Where there are too many fish, as per a 1964 hit: IN THE SEA. "Too Many Fish in the Sea" by The Marvelettes. Not in my radar. Here is the clip.

8. Newspaper name: GAZETTE

9. One of The Ramones: DEE DEE. Nailed it.

10. Island off Tuscany: ELBA

11. __ belt: BLACK

12. Acknowledge a passerby: SAY HI

13. "Unbelievable" band: EMF. Indie band from the UK. Another stranger to me.

14. Ethiopian messiah: SELASSIE. Haile Selassie.

15. Bullish start?: TAURO. Prefix for "bull". Rooted in Taurus.

16. __ Park, Colorado: ESTES

17. "The Mask of Zorro" heroine: ELENA. Nope. Maybe Bill G knows. He loves Catherine Zeta-Jones.

18. 1962 Paul Petersen hit: MY DAD. Here is the song. I was clueless.

28. Screen picture: ICON

29. Scarfed down: ATE

30. Horse and buggy __ : ERA. Refers to the 19th and early 20th centuries. Before the advent of the automobile.

35. Run-down area: SLUM

36. Lacking clarity: HAZY

37. Bluesman Redding: OTIS. Hello Otis the Bear!

38. More erudite: WISER

40. "Good" cholesterol, briefly: HDL

43. Opal finish?: ESCE. Opalesce. Verb. I only know opalescent.

44. Water__: dental gadget: PIK. Not a familiar gadget to me.

45. Picnic pitcherful: ICE TEA. Alas, another D-less Iced Tea.

47. Nonclerical: LAIC

48. Floral perfume: ATTAR. Rose oil.

49. Pull one's leg: TEASE

50. Some Deco works: ERTES

52. Go __ a tangent: OFF ON

53. 6 on a handset: MNO

54. Former Mideast org.: UAR (United Arab Republic). Old Egypt-Syr. alliance (1958-1961).

55. "Be __ ...": A DEAR

57. Tiny parasites: LICE

58. D.C.'s Union, e.g.: STN

61. Exiled South Vietnamese president: THIEU (Tyoo). I can never remember his name.

62. ''Nausea'' novelist: SARTRE

64. __ a fox: SLY AS

65. Weather-resistant wood: TEAK

66. Basketmaking branch: OSIER. Here are some red osier.

67. Diva Anna: MOFFO. Nope. Have never heard of this lady. Strange name.

68. Keen enjoyment: GUSTO

70. California's Big __: SUR

73. Soccer ball brand: VOIT. No idea. Named after the founder William J Voit.

74. Islamic spirit: JINN. Quite a few variant spellings of this spirit.

75. Still product: Abbr. : ALC. Gee, alcohol.

76. Bridal page word: NEE

77. React to a shot, say: WINCE

80. Swiss river: AAR

82. Soft shoes: MOCS

83. Victoria's Secret spec: B-CUP. I am sure Dennis wants D-CUP. How about you, Argyle?

84. Cajun staple: OKRA

86. One starting out: NEOPHYTE. Awesome fill.

87. Radical campus gp.: SDS (Students for a Democratic Society)

88. Start of an adage about economy: WASTE NOT. Want not. I like the answer.

89. Rid, as of false ideas: DISABUSE

93. Some Hawthorne works: GOTHICS

94. Like the lama, but not the llama, in a Nash poem: ONE L

96. Lei wearer's strings: UKE. Not the string I have in mind

97. Cold relief caplet: CONTAC. Not enough space for DayQuil.

98. Bad place to be stuck: RUT

99. Giraffe cousins: OKAPIS. Barb B used to like this picture.

100.Usually green flower part: SEPAL

101.Treasure hoard: TROVE

102.Go from green to red, often: RIPEN. Lovely clue. Echo the "green" in 100D.

103.Their service is impeccable: ACERS. Tennis.

105.One-named Greek singer: YANNI

106.Hope: DREAM

110.Mallorca, for one: ISLA. Not familiar with Majorca (Mallorca in Spanish), the largest island of Spain.

111.Kal Kan rival: ALPO

112.Director Ephron: NORA. I liked her "Sleepless in Seattle".

114.Award for Tina Fey: EMMY

116.Basic center?: ESS. The center S in the word Basic.

Answer grid.

C.C.

Saturday June 5, 2010 Robert H. Wolfe

Theme: None

Total words: 72

Total blocks: 34

Quintessential Robert Wolfe themeless, with three 15-letter grid spanners and all of them "common enough phrases in daily speech but rarely used in puzzles":

17A. Daydreams: CASTLES IN THE AIR. Awe-inspiring fill.

38A. Reaction to a coincidental entrance: SPEAK OF THE DEVIL. My favorite answer today.

58A. Declaration that's from hunger: I COULD EAT A HORSE. Then we also have ATE (6D. Took in). Tiny flaw. Two forms of the same word (EAT/ATE) should not be allowed in the same grid.

Besides the three grid-spanners, Bob also gives us ten 9-letter entries. He is fond of multi-word answers, so we have plenty today. His playfulness & humor are also in full display. Rafts of misleading clues. My favorite is INFRA (28D. Red head?). Infrared.

Across:

1. "Something's Got a Hold on Me" singer, 1962: ETTA JAMES. Was stumped immediately. Great to see her full name.

10. Bar at the bar: ESTOP. The first bar is verb, "prohibit", the second bar is noun, "the court". We often see it just clued as "Legally prevent".

15. It "ain't what it used to be": Yogi Berra: THE FUTURE. Makes sense.

16. Birch of "Alaska": THORA. Actress Thora Birch. I thought the clue was asking for a particular birch tree in the Alaska. Completely overlooked the quotation mark. Having never heard of the movie "Alaska" did not help.

19. Cry of exhilaration: WHEE

20. Like an irritated person's teeth?: SET ON EDGE. Awesome clue/answer.

21. What U can follow: RST. Alphabetically.

23. White House nickname: RON. Reagan. I wanted IKE.

24. Musician nicknamed "Sugar Lips": HIRT (Al).

27. Try to jab: HIT AT

31. Dose people?: DEM. "Those people" = Them. NY slang I presume. Dis and Dat, Dem and Dose.

34. Like the Indian rhino: ONE-HORNED. Man, it's true. This guy only has one horn.

36. Uncle equal?: I GIVE. V-8 moment for me.

40. Upholstery adornments: TUFTS

41. Plant grafting component: ROOTSTOCK. New word to me.

42. Hampshire's home: STY. Hampshire the breed of pig, characterized by erect ears and a black body with a whitish band around the middle, covering the front legs, according to Wikipedia. I thought it's kind of sheep or goat, Windhover.

43. 1966-67 AFL rushing leader Jim: NANCE. No idea. I bet Barry G/ Mainiac knows. Did not even know England patriots was called Boston Patriots before.

44. DOJ employee: ATTY. DOJ = Depart of Justice.

45. 'Enry's abode: 'OME. Home. The sound H is dropped in the clue/answer. Cockney accent.

47. Ink __: octopus defense: SAC

49. Alfalfa locales: HAYFIELDS. Windhover would love this puzzle.

55. "Verily, thou __ God that hidest thyself" (Isaiah): ART A. Easy guess.

61. It may be metered: VERSE. Fantastic clue.

62. Above: AFORESAID

63. Glacial ridge: ESKER. Simply forgot. We had this fill before.

64. Doesn't draw: STANDS PAT. I don't get the meaning of "draw" here.

Down:

1. Inclusive abbr. : ETC

2. Cold war abatement: THAW

3. Radio host John: TESH. New Ager.

4. Then: AFTER THAT

5. First name in sci-fi: JULES (Verne). "Around the World in Eighty Days".

7. Tousle: MUSS

8. Ohio tribe: ERIE. We also have TETON (29. Dakota dialect). Indian tribes are part of our citizenship test also. There are more than 500 federally recognized tribes in the US. But you only need to know one.

9. Directed: SENT

10. Centric leader: ETHNO. Prefix for "culture".

11. Polish: SHEEN. Noun "Polish". I wanted SHINE.

12. Loathsome sort: TOAD

13. Copier insert: Abbr.: ORIG

14. Skin: PARE. Verb "skin". So tricky.

18. Actionable offense: TORT

22. During, old-style: THRO. How can "through" mean "During"? "Via" to me.

24. Armies: HOSTS. Armies/hosts of.

25. Data, often: INPUT. Not the "Star Trek" guy Data.

26. Like atolls: REEFY. A real word.

30. For this purpose: AD HOC

31. Displacement from a club: DIVOT. D'oh, golf club! Divot is the piece of turf torn up when you strike the ball with an iron.

32. Force out: EVICT. Nice sequential "out" tone to 31D.

33. Braves outfielder Cabrera: MELKY. The Melky Way. He's with the Yankees before. Might be stranger Jayce.

35. Blesses: OKS

36. They may be checked at the door: IDS

37. Be convincing about: GET ACROSS

39. Soissons seasons: ETES. Alliteration. Soissons is city northeast of Paris. Unknown to me. So close in spelling to French fish "poisson".

43. Requirement: NEED

45. Not worthless: OF USE

46. Sebastian Coe, e.g. : MILER

48. Sounded amazed: AAHED. Oohed too.

49. Swarming spot: HIVE. Alliteration

50. They can be high or low: ACES. Don't know cards. TIDE does not fit. Several tricky "they" or "it" in today's puzzle.

51. Walled English city: YORK. No idea. My hometown Xi'An is walled too.

52. Where cows chow down: LEAS. Loved the three "ow"s.

53. Bats: DAFT. Of course I was thinking of baseball bats/HITS.

54. Acropolis sight: STOA. The Greek portico.

56. Under-the-sink item: TRAP. What trap?

57. Land of plenty?: ASIA. Plenty of people. Natural resources too.

59. Hal Foster prince: ARN. I am used to the "Prince Valiant's son" clue. Was ignorant of the creator of the strip.

60. Summer hrs. at MIT: EDT (Eastern Daylight-saving Time)

Answer grid.

C.C.

Friday June 4, 2010 Kelsey Blakley

Theme: Magic I - Letter I is attached to the end of a common phrase.

17A. College administrator's cocktail?: DEAN MARTINI. Dean Martin. The only theme entry where the added I changed a two-syllable sound into three-syllable one.

30A. Still in love with a legendary giant?: NOT OVER YETI. Not Over Yet. Yeti the Abominable Snowman. One syllable to two.

47A. Vehicle delivering the weekly checks?: PAYROLL TAXI. Payroll Tax. One syllable to two also.

63A. Equine teacher of Japan?: HORSE SENSEI. Horse Sense. Sensei is Japanese for "teacher". Literally "one who was born first". Sen = First. Sei = Birth. Same as Chinese. One syllable to two syllable as well. And the only I that's attached to the end of a vowel rather than a consonant.

All of the four theme answers have 11 letters. Quite scrabbly. I spotted 4 Z's.

Several of the Down clues delighted me today:

32D. Surfer's read: EZINE. E Magazine. Computer "surfer".

33D. Sentence lengths: TERMS. Prison sentence.

54D. Small fry: TYKE. Not fish.

55D. Debugging agent?: RAID. The bug killer Raid.

Several other clues have a fresh feel too.

Across:

1. Voting group: BOARD. OK, Board of Directors.

6. Big splash maker of the '60s: SHAMU. Was unaware of this original Shamu story.

11. Bit of a tryst exchange: COO. Ha ha, I know Rich would not clue SEX this way.

14. Invest, as with a quality: ENDUE. Put in ENDOW.

15. Navigational aid: LORAN. Long Range Radio Aid to Navigation. Always wanted RADAR.

16. Wood-shaping tool: ADZ

19. Product name derived from the German word for peppermint: PEZ. From German "Pfefferminz". New to me.

20. Requiring less effort: EASIER

21. Inspection requiring scales: AUTOPSY

23. Henpeck: NAG AT

26. Encouraging sound: RAH

27. Former Secret Service weapon: UZI. No longer in use, Argyle?

35. Old Chevy: NOVA. No va is "no go" in Spanish, correct?

37. Romance novelist Roberts: NORA

38. Bagel order, maybe: DOZEN. I've never ordered that many bagels.

39. Blusters: CROWS. I associate crow with brag rather than bluster.

41. Phone bk. listings: NOS

42. Christmas tree adornment: SKIRT. Is yours red also?

43. White House middle name: ABRAM. James Garfield's middle name.

44. Addie's husband in "As I Lay Dying" : ANSE. No idea. So close to the "Latin handle" ANSA.

46. Generous offer: ON ME

50. Alien's subj.: ESL (English as a Second Language). We have a few ESL teachers on the blog: Lucina, Dot, who else?

51. Joey's mom: DOE. Was unaware that a female kangaroo is called a doe. A baby kangaroo is Joey.

52. Eastwood's 1978 "co-star" Clyde, e.g.: ORANG. In "Every Which Way But Loose". I drew a blank.

54. "I wouldn't lie!": TRUST ME

58. E. Sicilian peak: MT ETNA. We often see ETNA alone.

62. Verb for Popeye: YAM. "I yam what I yam".

66. Sleep, in Sussex: KIP. Verb. It can also be noun meaning "bed". New word to me.

67. Firth: INLET

68. Without face value, as stock: NO PAR

69. Mag wheels?: EDS (Editors). Magazine big wheels.

70. "We don't see __ ..." : EYE TO. Did you get it immediately?

71. Not bland: TASTY. And HOT (7D. Like sauce with a kick).

Down:

1. Eliot's "Adam __": BEDE. Learned from doing Xword.

2. Most fit for drafting: ONE A

3. Entry-level legal jobs: Abbr. : ADAS. OK, Assistant District Attorneys.

4. Clash: RUN IN

5. Put down: DEMEAN

6. 35mm camera choice: SLR (Single-Lens Reflex)

8. Rossini specialty: ARIA

9. Soil enricher: MANURE

10. Cirque du Soleil costumes: UNITARDS. Uni + (leo)tard. With full lengh stockings. Maybe Dennis knows. I don't.

11. Sadie Hawkins Day creator: CAPP (Al)

12. "__ of Solomon": religious works: ODES. Guessed.

13. Osbourne of Black Sabbath: OZZY. Such a DF family.

18. About 1% of the Earth's atmosphere: ARGON. Inert gas. Literally "idle".

22. 1971 John Lennon song: OH YOKO. Here is the song. Blind spot for me.

24. Unkeyed: ATONAL

25. Leafs' home: TORONTO. Toronto Maple Leafs. NHL team.

27. Open, as a brew: UNCAP

28. Anthony Quinn title role: ZORBA. ''Zorba the Greek''. 1964 movie.

29. Old billiard ball material: IVORY

31. Poughkeepsie college: VASSAR. Jackie Kennedy attended Vassar.

34. Chip maker: INTEL. Computer chips.

36. Arbitration decisions: AWARDS

40. Blended fruit drink: SMOOTHIE

45. They may be physical: EXAMS. Nice clue too.

48. Like some meringue: LEMONY. Have never had lemon meringue.

49. Rapt: INTENT

53. Columbus's birthplace: GENOA

56. Tag determiners: UMPS. Baseball "tag".

57. Della's creator: ERLE. Erle Stanley Gardner. Della Street is Perry Mason's secretary.

59. Dosage abbr. : TSPS

60. Bang-up: NEAT

61. Like breezeways: AIRY

64. Headstrong: SET

65. DDE's arena: ETO (European Theater of Operations)

Thank you for the sweet comments/emails yesterday, everyone. They meant a lot to me. I was eligible for citizenship six years ago, but had never seriously considered becoming an American until I started this blog and got to know all of you on a daily basis. You have made a huge difference in my life. Thank you.

Answer grid.

C.C.

Thursday June 3, 2010 Mark Bickham

Theme: Yakety-Yak - Common phrases ending in verbal expressions are humorously interpreted and clued as if they were of a certain occupation.

18A. Musician's parlance?: KEY WORDS. Musical key. C Minor/Major, etc.

24A. Billiards player's parlance?: ENGLISH LANGUAGE. English is a "spinning motion imparted to a ball, esp. in billiards". Maybe Lois can educate us more about this term.

38A Mechanic's parlance? IDLE CHATTER. With engines running. I noticed the dreaded Utah shape, Jerome!

55A. Remodeler's parlance?: PANEL DISCUSSION. Two grid-spanning theme entries.

61A. Chiropractor's parlance? BACK TALK. I bet Jazzbumpa & Mainiac love this answer.

This puzzle scheme reminds me of Robert W Harris' "Imaginary Places" Melissa Bee blogged last January. Familiar two-word phrases ending in "locations" are punnily reinterpreted in correspondence to their clues. For example: ANNUAL PLANT is clued as "Where yearbooks are made?"

Interesting triple stacks of 6's in top left and bottom right corners. Across & Down. Should delight Dennis.

Across:

1. Cook, as Swiss steak: BRAISE. Brown & simmer.

7. "There never was a good" one, according to Franklin: WAR. So true.

10. Like many a head-turner: SEXY. Like Jessica Hart.

14. Imposed, as a tax: LEVIED

15. Fertility clinic cells: OVA

16. Colored: HUED

17. Getting on: AGEING. Oh, I simply use AGING. I also use "cluing", but I noticed Spitzboov uses "clueing".

20. Buddhist discipline: ZEN

21. 1773 jetsam: TEA. "Jetsam" in Boston Harbor.

23. Wall alternative, perhaps: MOAT. In Medieval time then.

30. Draft holder: STEIN

31. Make known: AIR

32. Spread out: SPLAY. New word to me. Related to "display". "Spread out" sounds very DF.

33. For time eterne: E'ER. We also have ERE (45. Bard's "before").

35. Mole user: Abbr. CIA. Spy mole.

37. Sailor's "Agreed": AYE

42. Fella: MAC

44. West of Hollywood: MAE. Mae West.

46. Hello or goodbye: ALOHA

49. Crime lab subject: DNA

51. Beginning: ALPHA. Oh, I did not know this extended meaning of alpha.

58. Heating device: COIL. Didn't come to me readily.

59. Sudan neighbor: Abbr.: ETH. Ethiopia. This abbr. answer stumps me all the time.

60. Dust remover: RAG

65. Arctic exploration tool: ICE AXE. Here is an image. Oh, Argyle, there is that ADZE!

67. Long-running reality show, familiarly: IDOL. "American Idol".

68. __-tzu: LAO. Literally "old master". Father of Taoism. Lao = Old in Chinese.

69. Syndicate: CARTEL

70. Court defense?: ZONE. Tennis or Basket court?

71. Bot. or chem.: SCI

72. Ticks off: ANGERS

Down:

1. Conflagrations: BLAZES

2. Temporary ruler: REGENT

3. Right, in a way: AVENGE. Right the wrong.

4. Junior's junior: III

5. Orlando newspaper: SENTINEL. Does it carry LAT puzzle?

6. Barely beats: EDGES. Alliteration.

7. Moo goo gai pan pan: WOK. The pan in "moo goo gai pan" means "slice".

8. Rosary recital: AVE MARIA. "Hail Mary". Catholic prayer.

9. Lustrous fabric: RAYON. Synthetic silk. Thought of SATIN first. We also have YDS (13. Fabric meas.). Fabric echo.

10. Fired wildly into, as an oater town: SHOT UP. Needed crossing help.

11. Where It.'s at: EUR. It. = Italy.

12. Marked with two lines: X'ED. Crossed out.

19. Some friendly greetings: WAGS. Dog.

22. "Bingo!" : AHA

25. Covered for a crony, perhaps: LIED. Alliteration. Could not fit in ABETTED.

26. Fungus-alga unions: LICHENS (LAHY-kuh n). The brownish mossy stuff? Have never heard of the word.

27. Onetime apple spray: ALAR

28. In high spirits: GAY

29. Inspect: EYE

34. Dream state acronym: REM. Rapid Eye Movement. A bit of eye duplication. Would've preferred the musical band clue here.

36. Absorbed, as a cost: ATE. Eat the cost.

38. Desktop image: ICON

39. Detroit's founder: CADILLAC. No idea. I just learned that the car Cadillac is named after this guy.

40. Garbage site: TRASH CAN. Awesome fill.

41. Congers, e.g. : EELS

42. Google Earth image: MAP

43. According to: A LA

47. Badger at the park: HECKLE. D'oh, ballpark. Tricky!

48. "Thanks __!" : A LOT

50. Adept type: ACE

52. Hook, for one: PIRATE. Captain Hook.

53. One who pulls a scam: HOAXER

54. Pinhead dancers?: ANGELS. Why? I don't get the clue.

56. Antique phone features: DIALS

57. City near Syracuse: UTICA. Spitzboov's hometown.

61. Profession, casually: BIZ

62. Flap: ADO. Noun.

63. Voting "nay": CON. Pro & Con.

64. Ornamental carp: KOI

66. Centimeter-gram-second unit: ERG. Only know it as "unit of work".

Answer grid.

On a personal note, I am excited to tell you that I became an American citizen yesterday afternoon after a very emotional swearing-in ceremony. When "Proud to be an American" was played right after the "Congratulations, new citizens" message from President Obama, my eyes welled up, tear fell.

It's been a long way. I enjoyed studying American Civics (history and government) and had a perfect score in my final test. I am proud to say that I now know who wrote the Federalist Papers. Do you?

C.C.

Wednesday June 2, 2010 Jack McInturff

Theme: THE FOUR TOPS - The first word of each two-word common phrase can precede "top".

17A. *Hooch from the hinterlands: MOUNTAIN DEW. Yum . Mountain Top = TOP 1.

29A. *Spears or Twain: POP SINGERS . Britney and Shania . Pop Top = TOP 2.

39A. *Steve Forbes proposed a 17% one: FLAT TOP. Flat Tax = TOP 3.

48A. *Place to get tickets: BOX OFFICE . Box Top = TOP 4. Count them, four just like the group!

62A. "I Can't Help Myself" singers (1965), and hint to puzzle theme found in beginnings of answers to starred clues: THE FOUR TOPS. The first band I got a record deal for, covered this song on their second album.

Hello all, there is no way you can enjoy this puzzle as much as I did. It is I, Across 66. Lemon ending: ADE 714 here, providing you information and entertainment.

If any of you had any doubt about how powerful C.C.’s influence is, a look at this fun puzzle which includes not only my sobriquet, but also Across 34. It covers the pupil: CORNEA knowing I have had three CORNEA transplant operations, and 30. About the eye: OPTIC. The nerve of this guy; then all kinds of legalese, Across 26. Like a case before the court: AT BAR , 52. Parcel (out): METE. A favorite legal word, 53. Sale warning: AS IS . Real estate primarily is sold this way, 58. Certifies under oath: ATTESTS , 70. Property to divide, perhaps: ESTATE; it is eerie!

Anyway, it is Wednesday, so let’s get to it:

Across:

1. Country bumpkin: HICK . Tricky way to begin, as RUBE also fits, so you have to look at down: 1. Run smoothly: HUM , to get going, or at least that is how I approach solving.

5. In itself: AS SUCH.

11. When doubled, a dance: CAN. Another toughie, with CHA as an alternative.

14. Tangelo relative: UGLI. One of our common fruit responses.

15. Baum's good witch: GLINDA. If you have not seen the play wicked it is a fabulous prequel to L. Frank Baum’s WIZARD OF OZ.

16. Livy's "I love:" AMO. More Latin and history of old Romans .

19. Gun: REV we can all picture Barry G. gunning the engine in his new Chrysler, or Dennis doing so in any car.

20. Sends again, as a package: RESHIPS.

21. WellPoint competitor: AETNA, insurance companies.

23. Computer list: MENU.

24. Stated: SAID. This was so easy, it was hard, he indicated.

36. __-Man: PAC. Yes, I was a fanatic!

37. Youngest Bronte sister: ANNE. She died young of TB.

38. Brian who produced some U2 albums: ENO. A musician in his own right.

42. Lyric poem: ODE.

43. Fruit covering: RIND.

45. "Madama Butterfly" tie: OBI.

46. Hid, cardsharp-style: PALMED. Yes, be careful of dealers with big hands.

51. Deviates: VEERS.

55. Marina locale: INLET.

61. Daisy __: MAE . Al Capp’s creation.

67. Exalt: LIFT UP.

68. "Toreador Song," e.g.: ARIA. Do we ever go a week without this word?

69. Cougar or Impala: CAR. I wanted something more complicated, involving wild cats…silly me.

71. Monthly payment: RENT.

Down:

2. Borodin prince: IGOR. More opera knowledge, my weak suit in all puzzles.

3. Detective's need: CLUE. Did anyone know, the game originated in England? Well, with Colonel Mustard….

4. Brother or father: KINSMAN.

5. "Encore!": AGAIN .

6. Err: SLIP UP, and the quick echo, 7. Errs, morally: SINS .

8. Leipzig link: UND. How to say “and” in German.

9. B followers: CDE. Easy?

10. Game show winner's destination, maybe: HAWAII. I guess they have all left us to sit on the beach.

11. Market offering: CART. It is the first thing you get when you go to the grocery store.

12. Service finale: AMEN. Any French Open Tennis fans out there?

13. Bright star: NOVA. Help me scientists, I thought this meant an explosion on a star?

18. 1994 Denis Leary comedy: THE REF , odd movie.

22. Flamboyant Dame: EDNA, another export from the Commonwealth of Nations, funny?.

24. Tiff: SPAT.

25. Songwriters' org.: ASCAP.

26. Harsh: ACERB. IC? ICKY?

27. "Pagliacci" baritone role: TONIO. No clue.

28. Where the 2009 World Series was won: BRONX. No comment.

31. Garden statue: GNOME.

32. Word after East or West: ENDER. I used to watch the BBC TV Show .

33. Oboes and clarinets: REEDS. Are your instruments custom made, JzB?

35. Up in the air: ALOFT.

40. Irish Rose's lover: ABIE.

41. Missionary St. Francis __: XAVIER. Cute juxtaposition.

44. Stadium topper: DOME. They are building a new baseball stadium for the Florida Marlins with a retractable roof, but will anyone come?

47. Light cigarette ad claim: LESS TAR. Wow, a real blast from the past.

49. In fine __: fit: FETTLE. Nice word, and alliteration!

50. Enjoy a bistro: EAT OUT.

54. Knucklehead: STUPE . Really?

55. Apple with an electronic core: IMAC.

56. Zilch: NADA. Finally, some Spanish.

57. Lewd look: LEER. Okay, maybe this one applies to me also.

58. Aqua Velva alternative: AFTA. But neither of these two, ever!

59. Ripped off: TORE.

60. Turn in a kissing game: SPIN. The bottle; where are you Lo-li-ta?

63. Towel word: HIS.

64. Newt, at one time: EFT. Yes, again; try and work this word into a conversation.

65. Made a lap: SAT. Love them babies .

Thanks for letting me in your homes, have a great June and be careful.

Answer grid.

Lemonade714

Tuesday, June 1, 2010 James Sajdak

Theme: Four Seasons - Common phrases ending in the plural form of four seasons, in chronological order. Notice I didn't use THE Four Seasons because I think that would indicate a singular result (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter) and the theme answers are plural. English teachers, do you agree?

17A. City near the base of Pikes Peak: COLORADO SPRINGS.

28A. National Economic Counsel director: LARRY SUMMERS. Like several names, I needed the perps to attain the answer but all doable. Image.

47A. Where to board the Maid of the Mist tour boat: NIAGARA FALLS. On the Canadian side.

61A. 1999 recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor: JONATHAN WINTERS. A short clip of Jonathan Winters On Jack Paar (as a satyr, C.C.)(Oops, he is a faun.)

Argyle here. I hope you all took a moment of silence to honor are fallen men and women yesterday. Then we had a good barbecue.

An easy Tuesday where the perps should have taking care of any problems you may have incurred. 16 three-letter entries and 36 four-letter entries.

Across:

1A. Cry out loud: BAWL.

5A. Pain for a sitter: IMP.

8A. Presumed evolutionary link: APEMAN.

14A. Bee's grandnephew: OPIE. Back there in Mayberry where they say 69A. "Golly": "GEE".

15A. Brazilian-themed Vegas casino, with "The": RIO. Also, 45A. Indian-themed Atlantic City casino, with "The": TAJ.

16A. Like the sea: SALINE. Salty.

20A. Increase by: ADD TO.

21A. Floral greeting: LEI.

22A. Trial: TEST.

23A. Letters that get things moving: ASAP. As Soon As Possible.

26A. One with a brush: ARTIST.

32A. Saharan: ARID.

33A. Prefix with state or sect: TRI.

34A. Make eyes pop and jaws drop: AMAZE. And 57A. "Get a load of that!": "WOWIE!". Insert your favorite pic here.

38A. Producer's dream: HIT. As in a Broadway play producer.

39A. Rye bread seed: CARAWAY.

42A. Gentle bear: BEN. Gentle Ben is the name of a children's book by Walt Morey, later made into a film and television series, as well as made-for-TV movies.

43A. Barber's blade: RAZOR.

46A. Star's part: LEAD.

51A. Horse house: STABLE. Cute alliteration.

53A. Final, e.g.: EXAM.

54A. Nailed, as a 53-Across: ACED.

55A. NHL stat: PTS. Points(Goals and Assists). UPDATE: The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. (Thank you, Lemonade714)

65A. Tenor Bocelli: ANDREA From Wikipedia. He is the biggest-selling singer in the history of Classical music. In 1998, Bocelli was named one of People magazine's 50 most beautiful people and in March of this year, he was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, for his contribution to live theater. Clip

66A. NASA thumbs-up: A-OK.

67A. New Mexico ski resort: TAOS.

68A. Puts back to zero: RESETS.

70A. A.D. part: ANNO.

Down:

1D. Lauderdale neighbor: BOCA. Map. Cavil alert: Last name of Fort Lauderdale and the first name of Boca Raton.

2D. Like two peas in __: A POD.

3D. Untamed: WILD.

4D. Workout wear: LEOTARD.

5D. 401(k) alternative, briefly: IRA.

6D. Central: MID.

7D. It may be Olympic-size: POOL.

8D. Seek ambitiously: ASPIRE.

9D. Golf pros often break it: PAR.

10D. Upper-class rule: ELITISM.

11D. Goes for the gold: MINES. Good misdirection.

12D. Common Woody Allen theme: ANGST.

13D. Home in a tree: NEST.

18D. Like a bright future: ROSY.

19D. Clothing line?: SEAM.

24D. Nick and Nora's clue sniffer: ASTA. Movie dog from The Thin Man.

25D. Manx murmur: PURR. Image They have genetic mutation that results in a short or non-existent tail.

27D. Busboy's aid: TRAY.

28D. Cowardly Lion player: LAHR.

29. Evidence of Sills' skills: ARIA. Beverly Sills

30. Nabisco cracker: RITZ.

31D. Mazda two-seater: MIATA. Zoom Zoom.

35D. Eve's second: ABEL.

36D. Fervor: ZEAL.

37D. Discontinues: ENDS.

39D. Nursery bed: CRIB.

40D. Soft or hard attachment: WARE.

41D. "Stronger than dirt!" cleanser: AJAX.

44D. How some hotdogging is done: ON A DARE.

46D. "Raging Bull" boxer Jake: LaMOTTA. Movie. Regarded among the greatest boxing films made despite its violent content.

48D. Top dogs: ALPHAs.

49D. "__ move on!": GET A.

50D. Young deer: FAWN.

51D. Tea cart treat: SCONE.

52D. Watches over: TENDS.

54D. Close to closed: AJAR.

56D. Stocking problem: SNAG.

58D. Teach not to rely on, with "from": WEAN.

59D. Wrinkle remover: IRON.

60D. North-of-the-border gas: ESSO. Exxon in the states.

62D. Hanoi holiday: TET.

63D. Job's lot?: WOE. Biblical Job.

64D. '50s presidential moniker: IKE.

Answer grid.

Chris in LA mentioned yesterday that his local newspaper, the New Orleans Times Picayune, is running a crossword survey. Please vote for LAT so Chris and others in the area can solve and comment the same puzzle as we do. Thank you.

Argyle

Monday May 31, 2010 Donna S. Levin

Theme: Dirty Harry - The first words of 20A, 31A and 41A form the famous quote made by Det. Harry Callahan, portrayed by 53A, in the movie, Sudden Impact.

20A. Rise from the ashes, so to speak: MAKE A COMEBACK.

31A. "Pygmalion" on Broadway: "MY FAIR LADY".

41A. Tourist who doesn't stay overnight: DAY-TRIPPER.

53A. Born 5/31/1930, entertainer associated with the phrase formed by the starts of 20-, 31- and 41-Across: CLINT EASTWOOD.

Argyle here. "Rise from the ashes" is a reference to the mythical bird, the phoenix, who is reborn from the ashes of its former self.

"The Pygmalion myth". Pygmalion was a sculptor who fell in love with a statue he had carved. In My Fair Lady, Prof. Henry Higgins transforms Eliza Doolittle into a "Lady", then falls in love with her.

Leave out the hyphen on "Day-Tripper" and you get Day Tripper by the Beatles.

A strong Monday puzzle with one possible quibble, tea grade, which I'll parse when I get to it.

Across:

1A. Buck in the forest: STAG.

5A. Mil. three-stripers: SGTS. Image. Worn on uniforms to indicate rank.

9A. Big name in insurance: AETNA.

14A. Wahine's dance: HULA. Where IS our Hawaiian contingent?

15A. In __ of: replacing: LIEU.

16A. Sink outlet: DRAIN.

17A. Slightly: A BIT.

18A. Slightly open: AJAR.

19A. Fictional chocolatier Wonka: WILLY. The original Roald Dahl novel was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

23A. Employ: USE.

24A. Laboriously earns, with "out": EKES.

25A. Gets the lead out?: ERASES.

28A. Two sizes above sm.: LGE.

29A. When the Kol Nidre is recited, vis-à-vis Yom Kippur: EVE. A dramatic introduction to Yom Kippur on what is often dubbed "Kol Nidrei night". It is written in Aramaic, not Hebrew. Its name is taken from the opening words, meaning "all vows". (I hope we get a more personal enlightenment.)

30A. 1970s radical gp.: SLA. Symbionese Liberation Army, kidnappers of Patricia Hearst.

36A. Not this: THAT.

37A. Breath mint brand: CERTS.

38A. Yalie: ELI. Elihu Yale was the benefactor of Yale University.

39A. Pirate's spoils: BOOTY. Just the sort of image I was hoping to find.

40A. Sticky stuff on a stick: GLUE. Remember we use to use tongue depressor sticks to smear paste on each others as kids.

43A. Prefix with center: EPI.

44A. "Blues Brother" Aykroyd: DAN. Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, The Blues Brothers.

45A. Connections that help you get ahead: INs.

46A. Think highly of: ESTEEM.

48A. Clue weapon: ROPE. From the board game. The weapons are knife, candlestick, rope, wrench, lead pipe, and revolver.

50A. "The Silence of the Lambs" org.: FBI.

56A. Easy __: AS ABC.

58A. Golden rule word: UNTO.

59A. Green Gables girl: ANNE. The story, Anne of Green Gables, was set in Prince Edward Island, Canada.

60A. Tea grade: PEKOE. It is legitimate, mostly. The tea industry uses the term Orange Pekoe to describe a basic, medium-grade black tea consisting of many whole tea leaves of a specific size. 63A. Prepares 60-Across: BREWS.

61A. Complaint: BEEF. "Where's the beef?"

62A. October 15th, e.g.: IDES. It's not just for March, you know.

64A. Low man on the feudal totem pole: SERF. That would be a figurative totem pole.

65A. Ultimate: LAST.

Down:

1D. SeaWorld star: SHAMU.

2D. Oompah brass: TUBAs.

3D. More than similar: ALIKE.

4D. Garden portal: GATE.

5D. Goof-off: SLACKER.

6D. Military action doll: GI JOE. We finally get to use JOE.

7D. Sides in a game: TEAMS.

8D. Certain: SURE.

9D. Online pop-up source: ADWARE.

10D. Soap vamp __ Kane: ERICA. Erica Kane is a long-running fictional character from All My Children and portrayed by Susan Lucci who finally won an Emmy in 1999.

11D. Discusses business: TALKS SHOP.

12D. Zero: NIL.

13D. One or another: ANY.

21D. Protection: AEGIS. Derived from a large collar or cape worn in ancient times to display the protection provided by a high religious authority.

22D. Quail group: BEVY.

26D. Really delight: ELATE.

27D. Lecherous woodland deity: SATYR. Image. (for C.C.)

28D. Tardy: LATE.

29D. Blue-pencil: EDIT.

31D. "Me and Bobby __": McGEE. A song written by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster, originally performed by Roger Miller, and later by Janis Joplin. the Miller version.

32D. Pound sounds: YELPS.

33D. "Nutty" individual: FRUITCAKE.

34D. Taboo for Mrs. Sprat: LEAN. From the nursery rhyme. "Jack Sprat could eat no fat. His wife could eat no lean."

35D. Prince __ Khan: ALY. Aly Khan married the American movie star Rita Hayworth. He was quite the playboy. The titles of prince and princess are claimed by children of the Aga Khan(Aly's father) by virtue of their descent from Shah Fath Ali Shah of the Persian Qajar dynasty. Large entry in Wikipedia for Qajar dynasty, if you're interested.

36D. Blouses and shirts: TOPS.

39D. I.Q. test name: BINET. Alfred Binet

41D. Rhett's last word: DAMN. "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn" In the novel Gone with the Wind, Rhett does not say "Frankly," but simply "My dear, I don't give a damn." The context is also different; he is speaking quietly to Scarlett in a room, not storming dramatically out of the house.

42D. Swipes: RIPS OFF.

44D. Prepares for a winter takeoff, as plane wings: DEICES.

47D. Jab with a bone: ELBOW.

48D. Actress Zellweger: RENÉE.

49D. Western movie: OATER. Mr. Eastwood has made a large number of films of this genre.

50D. Henry, Peter or Jane: FONDA. Father, son and daughter, all actors.

51D. Forensic TV drama: "BONES". One of my favorites. Very low-keyed finale, main characters are going away for a year(but the show returns in the fall).

52D. That is, in Latin: ID EST.

54D. Beat-up boats: TUBS.

55D. Cry like a banshee: WAIL. Another meaning would be KEEN.

56D. Police broadcast, briefly: APB. All-Points Bulletin.

57D. Rev.'s speech: SER. Sermon.

Answer grid.

Argyle