Friday, August 23, 2013, Matt Skoczen

Theme: En-word and upward! An homage to Splynter?

Geez, I hope you understand 'EN' sounds like ON; we don't need anybody being Paula Deaned. So after a one week hiatus, Matt S. is back with a variation on the single definition theme, using French phrases, beginning with EN, with second part a five letter word,  all in common usage in the US. A classic 12, 14, 14, 12 four theme answer grid. Some hard work in places, but it all went pretty smoothly. Now we will see how many Matts drop by today. Let us start deciphering...

17A. En masse : ALL TOGETHER. (12). Each fill is literal.

27A. En vogue : STYLISH IN PARIS. (14). We get our French reference, not a reveal but certainly a hint.

47A. "En garde" : GET READY TO DUEL. (14). Not sure why the quotation marks unless it is because it is said out loud, more a fencing than a shoot out term.

62A. En route : NOT YET THERE. (12). Are we there yet? Yes we are ready for the rest of the story.

Across:

1. Like some cooked hot dogs : PLUMP. Of course, YUMMY.(0:33).

6. Monopoly property after Illinois : B AND O. A nice change from old Athletics's Third Baseman Sal.

11. It may be pale : ALE. and an immediate clecho, and a double beer reference.

14. It may be pale : LAGER.  You could do a whole puzzle with this one clue with fill like New Englander's face, and sea shells and Lindsay Lohan.

15. Old Detroit-to-Seattle hwy. : US TEN. Tricky, my first thought was 'Usten, we have a problem.'

16. Approval of a sort : NOD.

19. Rundown ender : TAG. Baseball clue, where a runner is trapped in between bases.

20. Mr. Ma : YO-YO.

21. Words with hunch : ON A.

22. Calm : PACIFY.

24. Mount where Moses saw the promised land : NEBO. It is in JORDAN.

26. Jogging technique? : MEMO. Interesting, this is the beginning of memory, which is what is being jogged here.

33. Thunders : BOOMS.

34. Quirky : ODD.

35. Sleeping bag site : TENT. Which usually ends up leaving you...

36. Cold and damp : RAW. Not the ideal vacation for an...

37. Like many a social climber : ELITIST.

41. Keep-secret link : IT A. If they went they would keep it a secret.

42. Sports shoe brand : AVIA. I think it is now the official sneaker of Walmart.

44. Walk-___ : ONS. Non scholarship athletes trying out for the team.

45. Honest Abe's dad, in comics : ABNER. We are having a renaissance in interest in AL CAPP and his comic strip.

51. Brief briefs? : BVDS. Like Kleenex, this brand name became synonymous with the tighty whitey we alll wore, The name according to the wiki world comes from Bradley, Voorhees & Day, the three founders. The companyas bought by Fruit of the Loom was gobbled up by Mr. Buffet and Berkshire Hathaway.

52. Aging issue : RUST. Not so much for me, but I worry about Tinman.

53. Took in : HOUSED.

56. Shuttle, perhaps : BUS.

57. David's longtime partner : CHET. Huntley Brinkley Report, what I grew up watching.

61. Keats subject : URN. How bad is your social life that you write a poem to an Urn?

65. ___ loss : NET.

66. Hits with force : SWATS.

67. Subs : HEROS. You might think this refers to the sandwich also called Hoagie and Grinder, but in our world it refers to HG and others who work as substitute teachers and become heroes to their classes.

68. Also : TOO.

69. Commencement : ONSET.

70. Apparel : DRESS. So when we don our gay apparel, it is a dress.

Down:

1. Coach's call : PLAY.

2. Composer Schifrin : LALO. He did Dirty Harry, Bullitt and so many more.

3. Like some moods : UGLY.

4. Broadway, for the theater industry : METONYM. I bet all of our teachers knew this CONCEPT. If you did not the cross with NEBO was tough.

5. 11-Down opposite : PRO. and 11D. 5-Down opposite : ANTI.

6. ___ Aires : BUENOS.

7. Movie clue sniffer : ASTA. The Thin Man cast is also big time crossword  fodder.

8. Last in a theoretical series : NTH.

9. Places for diving boards : DEEP ENDS.

10. Feature of many highways : ON RAMP. Well, I think 'many' might just be an understatement, since if you do not have an ON (not EN) ramp how would you ever get ON (not EN)?

12. Just sit around : LOAF. Nice contrasting fill back to back.

13. Not at all calm : EDGY.

18. Mongolian expanse : GOBI.

23. Layer : COAT. Like of paint.

25. Choice word : ELSE. Give me the money, or...

26. Skirt length : MIDI. Not my favorite, but...

27. Dry Italian wine : SOAVE.

28. Specifically : TO WIT. Here we actually have more wit than that

29. ___-totsy : HOTSY. Like this, 601 San Pablo Ave  Albany, CA 94706,  for our left coasters.  LINK.

30. French royal : REINE. With an "E" it is the Queen, without the "E" it is a kidney.

31. Mil. gathering? : INTEL.ligence.

32. One in the lead : STAR.

33. Talk big : BRAG.

38. Encumber : LOAD DOWN. Low down on the down load?

39. Unaffiliated voters: Abbr. : INDS. Independents.

40. Small boys : TADS. A cruel tricky synonym for LADS. Not to be confused with 63D.

43. Wall St. figures : ARBS. Arbitragers.

46. Bungle badly : BUTCHER. Man the last thing I want is my butcher to be a bungler with all those big knives.

48. All things considered : EVEN SO.

49. Most sincere : TRUEST.

50. Boot : OUST.

53. Pursuit : HUNT.

54. Three-part snack : OREO. Top middle and bottom, or Twist, lick and chew?

55. Golden rule word : UNTO. Others...

56. Information unit : BYTE.

58. "___, kitty kitty!" : HERE.

59. Mythological archer : EROS. I have graduated from the dawn to love.

60. 1994 Shirley MacLaine title role : TESS. A finishing run of "T" words. LINK. (2:22).

63. Some univ. staff : TA'S. Teaching Assistants. My youngest was one but they hardly made him feel like staff.

64. Divinity sch. degree : TH D. Doctor of Theology.

Well another Friday in the record books, I  pray you enjoyed the show. Time to go see my Charlotte. Lemonade out.

Note from C.C.:

Happy Birthday to the Scotch-loving Tinbeni!

Thursday, August 22, 2013 Jeff Stillman

Theme:  The"Ump"

Common phrases ending in "amp" are changed to "ump."

17A. Glowing sugar cube? : FLUORESCENT LUMP. Fluorescent lamp.

26A. Campaign to raise mailing fees? : POSTAGE STUMP. Postage stamp.

44A. Easy strikeout victim? : BATTING CHUMP. Batting champ.

57A. Wedding song for Ivana or Marla? : THE LADY IS A TRUMP. "The Lady Is a Tramp." Classic Frank and Ella. 3:51

Jeff gives us a grid with only ten 3-letter words and a slew of 4-5 letter ones.  Nothing stood out for me in the longer fill.

Marti here, to see what else is on the menu today.

Across:

1. Diana's companion : DODI. Fayed and Princess Diana.

5. Off-the-wall play : CAROM. I usually associate the word with billiards.

10. "...baked in ___" : A PIE. Four and twenty blackbirds, that is.

14. An awfully long time : AGES.

15. Meter reading : USAGE.

16. Without : SANS. Who shot the serif?

20. Electrical pioneer whose last known U.S. patent was for a helicopter-plane : TESLA.

21. A soprano one has short strings : UKE. Pretty tune. 2:02

22. Team competition : RELAY.

23. Ant who sings : ADAM. I forgot about this ant. 3:18 Not to be confused with this ant:

25. Some film-book relationships : TIE-INS. Like a newly-published edition of the book that has the movie poster on its cover.

31. Upper arm bones : HUMERI. [Update 7:30 AM: Some papers listed the clue as "Forearm bones. That would be an incorrect answer]

32. Cyclotron bits : IONS.

33. Convenience store convenience : ATM.

36. Clinches : ICES.

37. Polynesian porch : LANAI.

39. Tennis coups : ACES.

40. Cow or sow : SHE.

41. Tax that funds Soc. Sec. : FICA. Federal Insurance Contributions Act tax.

42. More patrician : NOBLER.

46. Field of plants? : BOTANY. Nice misdirection.

49. Regarding : AS TO.

50. Somewhat inclined : ATILT. Aaaaah...

51. Outback runner : EMU.

53. Goof : ERROR.

60. Mall map word : HERE. "You are here."

61. Discourage : DETER.

62. Cheeseboard choice : EDAM.

63. While lead-in : ERST. Erstwhile.

64. Spring for lunch : TREAT.

65. Lairs : DENS.

Down:

1. Bonkers : DAFT.

2. People-watch inappropriately : OGLE.

3. ___ ex machina : DEUS. Literally, Latin for "God from machine." A story ending that is highly improbable, and is used to extricate the characters from a seemingly inescapable situation. Like many Harry Potter books, or even the ending of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, when Sam and Frodo are rescued from Mt. Doom by eagles.

4. Cuts off : ISOLATES.

5. Stick for breaking, at times : CUE. Breaking the rack, that is. Not breaking over each others' heads in a pool room brawl!

6. Take for granted : ASSUME.

7. Rooftop accessory : RACK. I was on top of the house, not the car.  But here's another type of rack you might enjoy...

8. Decorative molding : OGEE.

9. "Eight ___ Out": 1988 baseball movie : MEN. About the 1921 scandal when the Chicago White Sox arranged with underworld gamblers to throw the World Series. [Update: The date of the World Series was 1919. The trial took place in 1921.]

10. In the arms of Morpheus : ASLEEP.

11. Eighth-century pope : PAUL I. 757-67 A.D.

12. Jude Law's "Cold Mountain" role : INMAN. Nicole Kidman's sweetheart in the film. Good story.

13. July awards show, with "the" : ESPYS. Nice change from "Catch sight of" clue. Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly award. (Deja vu, all over again!)

18. Speed demon's undoing : RADAR.

19. Cuts back : TRIMS.

24. Gymnast's asset : AGILITY.

25. Open D and open G, for guitars : TUNINGS. Ugh. I would have tried to get Husker G's MUSINGS to go in there.

26. Frat letters : PHIs.

27. Smart remark? : "OUCH, ...that hurts!" From a stinging pain, not some sass.

28. Barrie buccaneer : SMEE. Captain Hook's right-hand-man (since he didn't have one of his own...)

29. Old Testament peak : SINAI.

30. ___ fault : TO A.

33. Scopes Trial gp. : ACLU. American Civil Liberties Union. They offered to defend anyone who had been accused of teaching evolution.

34. Swarm : TEEM.

35. Auto ad no. : MSRP. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price.

38. Tread the boards : ACT.

39. Couldn't stomach : ABHORRED.

41. Slice competitor : FANTA.

vs.

43. Santa's reindeer, e.g. : OCTET.

44. Balanchine's field : BALLET. A peek into his methods. 2:31

45. Vertigo symptom : NAUSEA.

46. Get clean : BATHE.

47. Survey choice : OTHER.

48. Levels : TIERS.

51. Observer : EYER.

52. Itty-bitty bug : MITE.

54. Uncivil : RUDE.

55. Sultanate whose flag features two swords and a dagger : OMAN.

56. Tach nos. : RPMs.

58. Banned pesticide : DDT. Dichlorodiphenyltriclhoroethane.

59. Works in a gallery : ART. The stuff on the wall, not the verb.

That's it for this week!

Marti

Note from C.C.:

Here is a sweet picture of JD and her grandson Truman on his first day to first grade yesterday. Click here to see more pictures of Truman, who is going to be 6 years old next week.

Wednesday August 21, 2013 Paul Hunsberger

Theme: SEVEN (49D. Number of consecutive letters without 2-Down in this puzzle's four longest answers) - A cluster of 7 consecutive non-A E I O U letters span across each theme entry.

18A. "The Meaning of Life" comedy group : MONTY PYTHON. Splynter likes them.

32A. Menace that isn't very menacing : EMPTY THREAT. Like those from Lil' Kim.

40A. Eric Carmen power ballad covered by Celine Dion : ALL BY MYSELF

56A. Title magical caretaker in a 2005 film : NANNY MCPHEE. Never saw it. Starring  Emma Thompson and Colin Firth.

2D. Facetious sequence? : A E I O U. As Spitzboov told us before, A E I O U is sequentially contained in the word Facetious.

49D. Number of consecutive letters without 2-Down in this puzzle's four longest answers : SEVEN

C.C. here. Jazzbumpa was ready to entertain you, but "Cruciverb is STILL out to lunch. That's three days running. Grrrr" (Thanks, Dudley). Jazz will be back next Wednesday.

 

A rather unique theme. We've seen puzzles with orderly AEIOU letter strings. Would be more impressive if there were no Y involved, as all of the 6 Y's in the theme entries are vowels. It might not be doable.

Across:

1. Half-__: 50-50 coffee : CAF

4. Near the back, nautically : ABAFT. Always want STERN. Why does ABAFT exist when AFT already has the same meaning?

9. Flora and fauna : BIOTA

14. Poet's "atop" : O'ER

15. Root vegetable : TUBER. Have you ever seen taro plants in person? Huge.

16. Deck out : ADORN

17. Routing word : VIA

20. Ages and ages : EONS

22. Vote of confidence : YEA

23. Events marked by good-natured insults : ROASTS

24. Occasion to pull together? : TUG O' WAR. Nice clue

26. Backfire noise : BANG

27. Present-day Persia : IRAN

28. Statue of Liberty supporter : PEDESTAL. So literal.

35. Chopper : AXE

36. Open stretches : LEAs. Here is our pretty little one.

Kazie's Granddaughter Lea

37. Gut reaction? : OOF

38. Assemble-it-yourself company : IKEA

39. Hostel : INN

44. Inanimate carousel rider : SUITCASE. And 10D. 44-Across attachments : ID TAGS. I imagine Steve travels light.

46. Traditional Cockney delicacies : EELS. Jellied eels. See here. I only like pickled herrings.

47. St.-John's-__ : WORT. Do you believe in herbal medicine?

48. Stalemate : IMPASSE

51. Aussie gal : SHEILA. Where is our Aussie Dave?

54. Flash drive PC port : USB (Universal Serial Bus). Anon T, is your given name Tom also? We've got two Toms (TTP & D-Otto) with computer background.

55. Tool holder : SHED

59. Hail, to Caesar : AVE

60. Up until now : AS YET

61. Gas leak warnings : ODORS

62. Contract signer's tool : PEN. So I caught Pete Weber smoking outside Treasure Islands (MN) last Sunday. He's so friendly in person. Signed my PBA program and pin. But the happiest moment is to meet with Walter Ray Williams, arguably the greatest bowler of all time.

C.C. & Walter Ray Williams

63. Moon aspect : PHASE

64. Use a divining rod : DOWSE

65. Minnesota twins? : ENS. This self-referential clue tends to bother Jazzbumpa. And Twins beat his Tigers last night.

Down:

1. Really want : COVET

3. Fragrant flower used in leis : FRANGIPANI. Wiktionary said this word is "from an Italian noble family, a sixteenth-century marquess who invented a plumeria-scented perfume. The name comes from frangi "breaking" + pani "bread," a reference to the family's distribution of bread in time of famine." Good to know.

4. 24-hr. cash source : ATM

5. Tending to float : BUOYANT

6. Daisy Mae's guy : ABNER

7. Spanakopita cheese : FETA. Yellowrocks likes Spanakopita.

8. Give it a go : TRY

9. Sharp weapon : BAYONET

11. Sounds of awe : OOHS

12. Word after fox or turkey : TROT

13. Raggedy dolls : ANNs

19. "The Devil Wears __" : PRADA. Loved the movie. Not enough words to describe Meryl Streep. Genius.  

21. Organizes : SORTS

25. "I'm on my __" : WAY

26. Muscular : BEEFY

28. Seriously look into : PROBE

29. Materializes : TAKES SHAPE. Great entry. Lots of nice fill in this grid.

30. Skating jump : AXEL

31. Table extender : LEAF

32. Bulldogs' supporters : ELIs. Yale.

33. Carte du jour : MENU

34. "The Planets" composer : HOLST (Gustav)

38. Mallorca y Cuba : ISLAS. English Majorca.

40. Church candle lighter : ACOLYTE. Needed the crossings.

41. Former Anaheim Stadium NFLer : LA RAM (1946 to 1994). This often stumps non-sports fans. They're now St. Louis Rams.

42. Country club crowd : MEMBERS

43. "Roger that" : YEP

45. Twisted threads : TWINES

48. 1995 R&B hit "This __ We Do It" : IS HOW

50. Blissful environs : EDENS

51. Huddle follower : SNAP

52. Diner breakfast order : HASH

53. Big name in New Age music : ENYA

54. High style : UPDO

57. Grand Banks fish : COD. I wonder if cod tastes great pickled.

58. Legal ending? : ESE. Legalese.

C.C.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013 Steve Blais

Theme: A One and a Two... - Music related terms.

38A. Best Picture of 1965, and a hint to the ends of 18-, 23-, 50- and 59-Across : "THE SOUND OF MUSIC"

18A. Thing to make when a Post-it isn't handy : MENTAL NOTE

23A. Fan magazine for teens : TIGER BEAT. Vintage cover.

50A. Warm, muted color : EARTH TONE

59A. Frenzied state : FEVER PITCH

Maestro Argyle here. OK, I'm not really. If you have questions, save them for Jazzbumpa. I hope he shows up today. I'm glad there wasn't anything about female deer or jam and bread beverage. Nice straightforward Tuesday puzzle, anchored by a grid spanner.

Across:

1. Red planet : MARS

5. Put down stakes, maybe : CAMPED. A cute misdirection.

11. Jack Sprat's no-no : FAT.

"Jack Sprat could eat no fat.

His wife could eat no lean.

And so between them both, you see,

They licked the platter clean."

14. "Yeah, whatever!" : "I BET!"

15. It traditionally translates to "O come" : "ADESTE...". Fideles

16. Elem. school basics : RRR. The three R's: reading, writing, and arithmetic.

17. Facts and figures : DATA

20. Surgeons' tools : SCALPELS

22. Call it a night : TURN IN

25. Exclusive, as communities : GATED

26. Veto vote : NAY

27. "Blessed __ the peacemakers": Matthew : ARE

29. Carrying a weapon : ARMED

32. Clearance event : SALE

34. Enveloping glow : AURA

41. Geologic periods : EONS

42. Any time now : SOON

43. Not up to the task : INEPT

44. Distant : FAR

45. Supermarket chain with a red-and-white logo : IGA. (Independent Grocers Alliance) Not a chain, in the common sense. IGA operates as a franchise through stores that are owned separately from the brand. A lot of small town, Mom and Pop stores.

46. Take off : LEAVE

56. Former Indian prime minister Gandhi : INDIRA

58. College class staples : LECTURES

61. Shabby wear : RAGS. Not newspapers this time.

62. Prefix with cycle : TRI

63. Sprawling property : ESTATE

64. To be, to Berlioz : ÊTRE

65. Scale fifth : SOL

66. Game with falling blocks : TETRIS. (electronic game)

67. Revolutionary Trotsky : LEON

Down:

1. Central position : MIDST

2. Beaded calculators : ABACI

3. Change the price of : RETAG

4. Blah quality : STALENESS

5. Paid a visit : CAME BY

6. Fred's dancing sister : ADELE

7. High-IQ group : MENSA

8. Pasadena winter hrs. : PST. (Pacific Standard Time)

9. Floride, par exemple : ÉTAT. French for Florida indicates French for state.

10. Downpour : DELUGE

11. Forward-facing side : FRONT

12. Clarinetist Shaw : ARTIE

13. The way things are going : TREND

19. Gun lobby org. : NRA. (National Rifle Association of America)

21. Site of much Spanish art : PRADO. The Museo del Prado is the main Spanish national art museum, located in central Madrid.

24. Eagle's picker-upper : TALON. There are some super videos out there of eagles using their talons.

28. Gridiron enforcer : REF

29. Had a bite : ATE

30. Pi follower : RHO. More common Greek letters today.

31. Dudes : MEN

32. Sleep-disturbing sound : SNORE. Hah, not to the snorer.

33. Excitement : ADO

34. In the altogether : AU NATUREL. Or how to use make-up so it looks like you aren't using make-up.

35. Take advantage of : USE

36. Shred : RIP

37. Not just sit by : ACT

39. Springsteen's "Born in the __" : USA

40. Physical strength : MIGHT

44. Polecat relative commonly kept as a pet : FERRET

45. Needs scratching : ITCHES

46. London elevators : LIFTS

47. Month after diciembre : ENERO. Notice the lack of capitals.

48. Aleve competitor : ADVIL

49. Be in the game : VIE

51. Raised church area : ALTAR

52. Prefix with linear : RECTI. Rectilinear - characterized by straight lines.

53. Give a speech : ORATE

54. Part of UNCF : NEGRO. (United Negro College Fund)

55. German steel city : ESSEN

57. Church recess : APSE

60. Former comm. giant : ITT. The company was founded in 1920 as International Telephone and Telegraph.

Argyle

Note from C.C.:

Isn't this picture sweet? Lemonade's granddaughter Charlotte at a Lemonade Stand!

Monday, August 19, 2013 Matt McKinley

 

Theme: Pinaceae Pinus - Products of a pine tree.

20A. Long-eyed stitching tool : DARNING NEEDLE

33A. Dairy Queen order : ICE CREAM CONE

41A. Proverbial backbreaker : THE LAST STRAW. Link

56A. Maine's nickname, and a hint to the ends of 20-, 33- and 41-Across : PINE TREE STATE

Argyle here. Running late. Puzzle seemed conflicted. Some very easily clued entries, some clued with trickery and a few obscure entries for a Monday. Moving along to what appears to be Matt's debut puzzle.

Across:

1. 33-Across topper : SCOOP. 33. Dairy Queen order : ICE CREAM CONE

6. Points (at) : AIMS

10. Trucker on a radio : CBer

14. Former "Idol" judge Abdul : PAULA

15. Tie in chess : DRAW

16. Cosmo competitor : ELLE. (magazines)

17. Marx Brothers shenanigan : ANTIC

18. Topnotch : A ONE

19. Sugar bowl block : LUMP

23. Student's Web address ending : .EDU

24. One on the other side : FOE

25. Right on time : PROMPT. NOT Cruciverb.

28. Finally registered mentally : SANK IN

30. __ cheese dressing : BLEU

32. Dinghy mover : OAR

36. "The __ Baltimore": Lanford Wilson play : HOT_L. The E in the neon sign didn't work.

39. "__ Wiedersehen" : AUF. Too soon, can't say good bye yet.

40. Picnic spoilers : ANTS

46. Main element in pewter : TIN

47. Dance in a pit : MOSH

48. Soak up : ABSORB

52. Promotional theater display item : POSTER

54. Martini order : DRY

55. Theology subj. : REL.. (religion)

60. Army vehicle : JEEP

62. "I figured it out!" cries : A-HA's

63. Craze : MANIA

64. Gets older : AGES

65. Army status : RANK

66. Rags-to-riches author Horatio : ALGER

67. Murder mystery staple : BODY

68. Russian fighters : MIGs

69. British city on the River Aire : LEEDS

Down:

1. Black suit : SPADES

2. Ottawa's country : CANADA

3. Beat in a race : OUTRUN

4. "thirtysomething" actor Ken : OLIN

5. World's largest ocean : PACIFIC

6. "Time is money," e.g. : ADAGE

7. Golfer's selection : IRON

8. Lion's tresses : MANE

9. Popeye's kid : SWEE' PEA

10. Violin cousin : CELLO

11. Song title words before "You saw me standing alone" : "BLUE MOON"

 

 

12. Horror film street : ELM

13. Workout unit : REP

21. Nada : NONE

22. Beaten instrument : DRUM

26. Breathe after sprinting : PANT

27. Yves's "very" : TRÈS

29. Pass idly, as time : KILL

30. Hair neatener : BRUSH

31. Exited : LEFT

34. Sylvester and Garfield : CATS

35. Cornfield cries : CAWS

36. Internet address opening : HTTP

37. Cincinnati's home : OHIO

38. State-of-the-art 1970s bike : TEN SPEED

42. Church agreement : AMEN

43. Pitcher's problem : SORE ARM

44. Hard to find : RARE

45. Totally dreadful : ABYSMAL

49. Autumn color : ORANGE

50. Tightened, as shoelaces : RETIED

51. Dims with tears, as one's vision : BLEARS

53. A bit too happy at happy hour? : TIPSY

54. Office workplaces : DESKS

57. Spicy cuisine : THAI

58. Jingled : RANG

59. "A __ of Two Cities" : TALE

60. Fighter's punch : JAB

61. Self-regard : EGO

 

Argyle

Sunday August 18, 2013 Amy Johnson

Theme: "Extra! Extra!" - The last word in each theme entry is a common name for a newspaper.

23A. Newspaper for visionaries? : DREAM JOURNAL. I don't keep one. But my recurring dream is not finishing an exam in time. Way too much pressure in my school days.

28A. Newspaper for convicts? : CRIMINAL RECORD

44A. Newspaper for settlers? : COLONIAL TIMES

69A. Newspaper for skiers? : SNOW GLOBE. The guy who owns Red Sox also owns the Boston Globe.

93A. Newspaper for hams? : RADIO DISPATCH

110A. Newspaper for demons? : DEVIL'S ADVOCATE

119A. Newspaper for wedding planners? : HITCHING POST. So why do you think Jeff Bezos bought the Washington Post? As a trophy?

35D. Newspaper for bumpkins? : COUNTRY STAR

40D. Newspaper for bakers? : COOKIE PRESS

Our local paper is Star Tribune. But unlike the above theme entries, there are no suitable * Tribune phrases. The key words have to be in a different context.

Across:

1. Gelatin garnish : ASPIC. Not garnish to me. It's delicious.

6. Engaged in battle : AT WAR

11. 99 on tags, often: Abbr. : CTs

14. __ and Buster Bunny: "Tiny Toons" stars : BABS. The one in pink.

18. Disco era star Summer : DONNA

19. Buzzed : DRONED

21. Scoot : HIE

22. Zeno's town : ELEA. Learned from doing Xwords.

25. Said over : ITERATED

27. Golfer Watson : BUBBA. 2012 Masters champ.

30. Shirt part : ARM

31. __ candy : EYE

32. Gp. with a Creative Cities Network project : UNESCO. Onager guess.

33. Attribute : ASCRIBE

37. What some lie in : WAIT. Lie in wait.

39. Open, as a vitamin bottle : UNCAP

43. Classic roadster : REO

50. Harem chamber : ODA. Doho Doc, do ladies wear Burqinis there?

51. Jack-in-the-pulpit family : ARUM

53. 1982 Grammy winner for Record of the Year : ROSANNA. By the rock band Toto.

54. "Cool!" : AWESOME! So, what "Cool!" words do your grandkids use, Husker Gary?

56. Kindle : IGNITE

58. 911 respondent : EMT

59. In again : RETRO. Saw lots of girls wear Corduroy skinny last winter.

62. Barely manages, with "out" : EKES

63. Chose not to pursue, as an issue : LET DIE

64. Morning deity : EOS

66. Oil filter accumulation : GUNK

67. Golfer's back : NINE

68. Dietary no. : RDA

72. "The Bells" poet : POE

73. Country poem : IDYL

75. Ready for business : OPEN. Did you ever see a Brow Studio in your local malls?

76. Tyke : TOT

77. Twisted : WARPED

80. Jazzman Allison : MOSE. Never heard of him. He looks cool.

81. Order to a boxer : SIC 'EM

83. Old PC monitor : CRT

85. Pied-__: temporary home : A-TERRE

86. Eccentric : NUTCASE

88. Museum offering : EXHIBIT

91. Blacken : SEAR

92. Baja bear : OSA

97. Complex bus. office : STE. Suite?

98. Not inclined to go on : TERSE

100. 1990s game console release, initially : SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System)

101. "No sweat" : THAT'S OK

103. Heckle : HOOT AT

106. "Have You Seen __": 1971 hit : HER

109. Old cosmonauts' destination : MIR

115. Greet the day : ARISE

118. Tiramisu flavoring, perhaps : AMARETTO. Italian for "a little bitter".

122. Scrabble piece : TILE

123. Canal site : EAR. Nailed it. We've seen this clue many times.

124. Dieter's statistic : INCHES

125. Extract with a solvent : ELUTE. Sounds like a fake word: e-Lute.

126. Belligerent Olympian : ARES. God of War.

127. Cape Town's country: Abbr. : RSA. Republic of South Africa.

128. Ring leader? : CHAMP. Boxing! I was thinking of the crime gang.

129. Painter Neiman : LEROY. He did lots of sports paintings.

Down:

1. Put in : ADD

2. Ending for ab or ad : SORB

3. Tire, in Toulouse : PNEU. A bit obscure.

4. Where many jokes are set : IN A BAR

5. Fabric used in lace : CAMBRIC. New word to me. Wiki said it's originally from the French commune Cambrai.

6. "Without further __ ..." : ADO

7. Start of a postwar period : TRUCE

8. Fret : WORRY

9. Potts of "Designing Women" : ANNIE

10. Paper unit : REAM

11. Italian red : CHIANTI

12. Best-seller list datum : TITLE

13. Tarot readers : SEERS

14. Major Boston street : BEACON. Must be in the Beacon Hill area.

15. Like some saxes : ALTO

16. Craft __ : BEER

17. DUI-fighting org. : SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions). MADD too.

20. Sixth-century year : DLI. 551.

24. Big Scouts meeting : JAMBOREE

26. Dismiss, as a potential juror : RECUSE.  I always thought one (like a judge) recuses oneself in a case.

29. Jour's opposite : NUIT. "Bonne nuit!"

33. Thin as __ : A RAIL

34. Suit material : SERGE. I've yet to see SERGE clued with a Gainsbourg reference.

36. "Evil Woman" rockers, familiarly : ELO

37. Colorless : WAN

38. Banned fruit spray : ALAR

41. Jingle writers : AD MEN

42. Bel __: creamy cheese : PAESE

45. Suffix with lact- : OSE

46. "I bet you don't know any!" : NAME ONE. There are 4 big dynasties with capital in Xi'An. Name one.

47. Being pulled : IN TOW

48. River to the Seine : MARNE. So many French rivers with 5 letters.

49. Dweller on the forest moon of Endor : EWOK

52. Good note for beginners to start on : MIDDLE C

55. Three amigos, e.g. : SENORES. And 57. Aunt, to 55-Down : TIA. And 117. This, to 55-Down : ESTO

60. Voyage taken alone? : EGO TRIP. Fun clue.

61. Place for a soak : TUB

65. Pvt.'s boss : SGT

69. Saw : SPIED

70. Tokyo-based electronics giant : NEC. Three letters. What else could be it be?

71. Rannoch and Tummel : LOCHS. I thought those were just people's names.

72. Square in a breadbasket : PAT. Boomer put butter on his white rice last week.

73. "__ making this up" : I'M NOT

74. Put out : DOUSE

75. Greek mount : OSSA

77. Guard : WATCHMAN

78. Pindar's Muse : ERATO

79. Two-time Olivier Award winner Jacobi : DEREK. He's a Sir.

82. Ancient Persian : MEDE

84. "We really don't know yet," on a sched. : TBA

87. Ring of color : AREOLE. For D-Otto! She's in trouble for leaked bikini photos.

India is a curious nation.

89. Omicron preceders : XIs.

90. Addams family member : ITT

94. Dancing Duncan : ISADORA

95. Being broadcast : ON TV

96. Stylist's supply : HAIR GEL. For Marti's cool hair.

99. British counties : SHIRES

102. Hit that clears the bases : TRIPLE. One letter longer for HOMER. I echo Irish Miss's sentiments: Miss your comments, LaLaLinda.

104. Blender brand : OSTER

105. Casual good-byes : TA TAs

106. Come out of one's shell : HATCH. 

107. __ Sketch : ETCH A

108. Adjust the length of : RE-HEM

110. Much input : DATA

111. Kuwaiti ruler : EMIR

112. Depressed area : VALE. DALE too.

113. "__ just can't wait to be king": "The Lion King" lyric : OH I

114. Prez's title : CINC. Commander-in-Chief.  This & POTUS (President of the United States of America) just never comes to me easily.

116. Whiskey drink : SOUR

120. www access : ISP

121. Mystery writer Josephine : TEY

C.C.

Saturday, Aug 17th, 2013, Brad Wilber

Theme: None

Words: 70 (missing Q)

Blocks: 37

   I do believe Mr. Wilber took it easy on us this week - at least it seemed so for me; I worked harder on yesterday's "Buzz" puzzle than I did today - and today had just as many "Z"s, too~!  A rather odd-looking grid, a scattering of blocks ( and a high count for a Saturday ).  Just two 11-letter climbers, and two 9-letter entries in the across:

4. Familiar slogan : CATCH-PHRASE - what's your favorite "catch-phrase"? I'll tell you mine....

25. Beginner : ABECEDARIAN - Literally, someone learning the "ABCDs" of their milieu, from the Latin for someone learning the, well, a,b,c,d's

24. Coltrane's rendition of "My Favorite Things," e.g. : JAZZ WALTZ - I have added music links elsewhere in the puzzle, so feel free to find yours

47. Triple : THREEFOLD

Ooooooooonward~!--------->

ACROSS:

1. Pretentious fop : COXCOMB - Filled this in on the second pass; derived from the hat worn by court jesters, as it resembled the 'cock's comb'; i.e., the crest of a gallinaceous (ooh, big word) male bird

8. Ring of Fire country : JAPAN - nailed it, but then again....Ring of Fire story

13. Some brotherhoods : FRIARIES - new word for me, but I knew about friars; see 62A

15. Slow-tempo Spanish dance : BOLERO

16. "Who's on First?" comic : COSTELLO - I started typing BUD ABBOT, but was short a letter

17. Britt of "The Wicker Man" : EKLAND - Spelled it wrong; I had "U" in for the "A"

18. Resource in Montana/Wyoming's Powder River Basin : COAL MINE - a shout-out to our Montana

20. Antique auto : REO - too easy for Saturday

21. Peacock Throne leaders : SHAHS - more 'cocks'....

26. Grandeur : POMP - To go along with your coxcomb....

27. Majestic quality : HALO - and still more; a glow about the 'head'?

28. Launder money for, e.g. : ABET - is this really abetting, or more like racketeering?

29. "This could get ugly!" : "UH-OH~!"

30. Diner cooker : GRIDDLE - The appliance, not the person

32. Dickens's "Little __" : DORRIT

34. Creator of Marryin' Sam and Joe Btfsplk : AL CAPP - Some etymology on the name Btfsplk

38. Was a mentor to : ADVISED

42. Earth tone : ECRU

43. Amount to take : DOSE

45. Edgar-winning mystery writer Stabenow : DANA

46. "__: The Wanderer Talks Truth": singer's memoir : DION - musical interlude

49. Flooded field : PADDY

50. Unsavory paper : RAG

51. Brad, for one : FASTENER - the small nail, not the actor Pitt

53. One of six official U.N. languages : ARABIC

55. They're often mixed : EMOTIONS - my first thought, and so I did NOT fill it in; I thought it was too easy for Saturday

59. Waiter's observation : I'M NEXT - The person in line, not the server

60. Fertilizer compounds : NITRATES - Great WAG for me

61. Try : TASTE

62. Plainsong singer : CHANTER - reminds me of this movie:

DOWN:

1. Phased-out refrigerant compound : CFC - Chlorofluorocarbon, and if you care to continue our chemistry lesson from last week....

2. Conquistador's treasure : ORO - Spanish man, Spanish gold

3. They follow the nus : XIs - cute use of homonym ("Late Night following your local news")

5. Creme-filled snacks : OREOs - well, there's a lot to get DF about on this Saturday~!

6. Actress Kunis : MILA

7. Lab vessel connected to a vacuum pump : BELL JAR

8. Regular "Laugh-In" feature : JOKE WALL - starring that crossword staple ARTE Johnson

9. Up, in scores : ALL - tied, that is; I used to hear this in soccer recaps - "Manchester and Arsenal 1-all in the second half"

10. LensCrafters rival : PEARLE - eyewear professionals

11. Journalist Peter : ARNETT

12. Crammer's tablet : Nō-DōZ - pill popping tablets, not the i-thingy

 

14. Horn of Africa native : SOMALI

15. Automotive pioneer Karl : BENZ - Half of the Mercedes-Benz company's origins

19. Maker of PerformX sportswear : IZOD

21. Tater : SPUD

22. Seasonal chuckle : HO-HO - short a Ho~?

23. Spanish soap staple? : AMOR - Spanish soap opera, that is, and love; threefold love makes for much more drama

27. "Design on a Dime" network : HGTV

31. Art movement born during WWI : DADA - some history here; funny, but this article uses 4D in the 4th paragraph

33. Obsession with an accent : IDÉE FIXE - I was thinking this was a clue about perfume at first; idée fixe is Frawnch for fixed idea, so that kind of obsession, with the 'accent' on the "E"

35. __ test : ACID - seemed a little too easy for a Saturday

36. Nudge : PROD

37. Weak : PUNY - we just had this earlier in the week, I believe

39. Altar assurances : I DOs - until you DON'T for some ( including me )

40. "Bambi" creator Felix : SALTEN

41. Peculiar to a locale : ENDEMIC - I like "indigenous" better; sounds less 'plague-like'

43. Greg's TV partner : DHARMA - ABC sitcom I never watched; I like this Dharma better

44. They have stops and keys : ORGANS - LOVE the pipe organ; more music - what incredible skill

47. Attribute : TRAIT

48. Really, after "in" : FACT

49. Historic Jordanian city : PETRA - the city built into the canyon wall, and featured in "Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade"

52. "Sex and the City" actor Chris : NOTH - I never watched this, either, but I was a huge fan of "Mike Logan" on Law & Order

54. Get into the pool : BET - the gambling pool

56. Third Major Leaguer to reach 500 home runs : OTT - now this is more like Saturday cluing; total WAG for me, but then again, how many three-letter baseball players can you name, C.C.~? (From C.C.: Derrek Lee came to mind.)

57. Alumna identifier : NÉE - more Frawnch. more accent.

58. Lith., once : SSR - for BarryG, before he goes away~!

Splynter

PS.

 I would like to know if anyone here has any idea about how to go about getting a novel copyrighted, and then published.  Thanks for your responses.

 Oh, and here's the missing "Q"