Theme: Wide left on four - West coast footballers.
17. *Power source that plugs into a computer port: USB CHARGER. San Diego Chargers
23. *"Airplane!" flight number, to the control tower: TWO-ZERO-NINER. San Francisco Forty Niners
36. *Carl Icahn or Michael Milken: CORPORATE RAIDER. Oakland Raiders
46. *Castle gate-busting weapon: BATTERING RAM. Los Angeles Rams
57. Home of the player at the ends of the answers to starred clues: CALIFORNIA
Argyle here. Jake's back for another Monday. Yes, it is sports related but not obscure. Except for one notable word, a pretty easy Monday.
Across:
1. "Get lost!': "SCRAM!"...and stay off my lawn.
6. Google __: geographical app: MAPS
10. Ruth with bats: BABE. How much for an autographed Babe Ruth bat, C.C.? (From C.C. : If it's authenticated and the autograph is in great condition, 10K-50K I think. I recall one sold for over 100K a few years ago.)
14. Egypt's capital: CAIRO
15. They may clash on a movie set: EGOs
16. Environmental sci.: ECOL. (Ecology)
19. Physics particle: ATOM
20. Andes, e.g.: Abbr.: MTs. (mountains)
21. Against: ANTI
22. Make amends (for): ATONE
26. Boats with double-bladed paddles: KAYAKS
29. Forget to include: OMIT
30. Mosque leader: IMAM
31. Address for Bovary: MADAM. Let the nits begin. When the novel, "Madame Bovary" (1856), was first serialized in La Revue de Paris between 1 October 1856 and 15 December 1856, public prosecutors attacked the novel for obscenity.
33. Having one flat, musically: IN F
40. Billy the __: KID
41. Father or son New York governor: CUOMO. Mario and Andrew.
42. Head, to Henri: TÊTE
43. Suffix with joke or pun: STER
44. Gratify: PLEASE
51. Going on, to Sherlock: AFOOT. "Come, Watson, come! The game is afoot."
52. Lily pad squatter: FROG
53. Sock hop site: GYM
56. "The Mod Squad" cop: LINC. 1968 to 1973 TV show, Clarence Williams III as Lincoln "Linc" Hayes...1999 film starred Omar Epps as Linc.
60. Actor Estrada: ERIK
61. Be complicit in, as a caper: ABET
62. Giraffe kin: OKAPI
63. Exec's asst.: SEC'Y. (secretary)
64. TiVo predecessors: VCRs. (videocassette recorder)
65. Jotted down: NOTED
Down:
1. Film on stagnant water: SCUM
2. Film credits list: CAST
3. Barbecue fare: RIBS
4. Smile shape: ARC
5. Iroquoian people, or a hair style named for them: MOHAWK
6. Fred or Ethel of old TV: MERTZ, from "I Love Lucy".
7. Texas A&M athlete: AGGIE
8. 19th-century master of the macabre: POE. Edgar Allan Poe
9. Old Rus. state: SSR. (Soviet Socialist Republic)
10. "Get lost!": "BEAT IT!"...and stay off my lawn. I don't want to have to tell you AGAIN!
11. Follow, as a tip: ACTON
12. Trailblazing Daniel: BOONE
13. Roundheaded Fudd: ELMER. "Daniel may hunt bears but I'm hunting wabbits!"
18. Yucatán years: ANOs. From years ago: the Yucatan Asteroid Crater.
22. Jungian inner self: ANIMA. Not a Monday friendly word.
23. Pack (down): TAMP
24. Calf-roping event: RODEO
25. Poet Khayyám: OMAR
26. Punt or field goal: KICK
27. Mine, to Marcel: Á MOI
28. One of 100 between end zones: YARD
31. Native New Zealander: MAORI. Bed and Breakfast?
32. Source of quick cash, briefly: ATM. (automated teller machine)
33. Brainstorm: IDEA
34. Butterfly catchers: NETS. Could have stayed with the sports theme with the Brooklyn Nets, pro basketball team.
35. For nothing: FREE
37. Eight-musician group: OCTET
38. Regretful sort: RUER
39. Bulleted list entry: ITEM
43. Heavyset: STOCKY
44. Plum's title in Clue, briefly: PROF. The professor? Now Victor Plum, a billionaire video game designer.
45. Blue or black water of filmdom: LAGOON. The Blue Lagoon (1980 film)/Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954 film)
46. Hay bundles: BALES
47. Burning: AFIRE
48. Mixer with gin: TONIC
49. Player referenced in 57-Across' clue, briefly: NFLer
50. Southern side dish: GRITS
53. Tiny biting insect: GNAT
54. "Eek!": "YIPE!"
55. Hotel room cleaner: MAID
57. Cleveland cager, for short: CAV. The Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team.
58. "Easy as" letters: ABC
59. Old studio letters: RKO
Argyle
Note from C.C.:
For those who can't find Sunday puzzles in their LA Times, it's moved to the Comics section.
Theme: "Do Stuff" - GEL spans across each theme entry.
23A. Breakfast item : SAUSAGE LINK. I enjoyed my leftover yam/apple for breakfast, sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds.
33A. Bus station compartment : STORAGE LOCKER
43A. Decorative outdoor fixture : CARRIAGE LAMP. Did not know there's a term for it.
60A. Category including spacing and margins : PAGE LAYOUT
77A. Vehicle usage record : MILEAGE LOG
92A. Curbside check-in freebie : LUGGAGE LABEL. I just call it "Luggage tag".
98A. Broadway director's concern : STAGE LIGHTING
117A. "American Graffiti" director : GEORGE LUCAS. I thought young Jay Leno was in this movie. But Wiki says no.
Reveal:
118D. Styling product hidden in eight long puzzle answers : GEL
Very consistent. All *GE L*. Not many workable phrases for the *G EL* pattern, as in NOTHING ELSE.
Gail likes to put a couple of themers in Down slots. Not this time. Across all the way. The fill is quintessential Gail, smooth and clean. There's a quiet elegance in all of her puzzles.
Across:
1. Udon cousin : SOBA. We all have our sweet spot. Asian food is mine.
5. Not at all : HARDLY
11. Poker pro's concern : ODDS
15. Weather the storm : COPE
19. Latin 101 verb : AMAS. You love.
20. Albéniz piano work : IBERIA. Unfamiliar with the composer.
21. Petty of "A League of Their Own" : LORI
22. Mind matter : IDEA
25. Lackluster : DRAB. Not DULL.
26. Let it all out : VENT
27. Blade holder : SHEATH
28. Heavy ref. : OED. Kids these days probably never use a "heavy" dictionary.
29. Ancient manuscripts : PAPYRI
31. Gridiron figure : YARDAGE. Golf too.
39. Bar menu heading : REDs
41. Zilch : NIL
42. "Do __?" : I DARE. Not I CARE.
49. TV awareness-raiser : PSA
52. Action film props : UZIs. Named after the designer Uzi Gal, according to Wiki.
53. Cookie shaped like two of its letters : OREO
54. Throw a feast for : REGALE
55. 1984 Nobel Peace Prize winner : TUTU (Desmond)
56. Handled bag : TOTE
57. Started war? : DEALT. Card game.
59. Serious trend : RAGE
62. Like some speeches, it seems : ENDLESS. Not those TED Talks.I really like Derek Siver's "How to Start Movement". Only three minutes
64. Ruffle feathers, so to speak : MAKE MAD
65. Tells : SAYS TO
66. Musical with the song "Willkommen" : CABARET. Got via crosses.
69. Collie collar danglers : ID TAGS
74. Fugitive : RUNAWAY
76. Left hanging : STOOD UP. He stood her up.
81. Coil on a reel : HOSE
84. "That's a fact!" : NO LIE!
85. Comparison words : AS AN. Wise as an owl.
86. Room access : HALL
87. Masonry mixture : MORTAR
89. Streamlet : RILL
90. "Leaving Las Vegas" co-star : SHUE (Elisabeth). Not a movie I want to see.
91. Decorates mischievously, for short : TPs
94. Yankee manager before Girardi : TORRE (Joe)
96. Sports statistic : WIN. Slight clue/answer dupe with83. "College GameDay" number : STAT
97. One way to get dinner : TO GO
104. Not just bargain : DICTATE. Also got via crosses.
109. How many raises are given : YEARLY. "How many" is seldom is one phrasal unit in this type of clue.
110. Anger : IRE
112. Mason of "The Goodbye Girl" : MARSHA
113. Restrain : CURB
116. Cause to fluctuate : SWAY
119. Kolkata's locale : ASIA. I'm used to the Calcutta spelling.
120. Paddock parent : SIRE. I read it as "Padlock". Paddock is a new word to me.
121. Mental wherewithal : ACUMEN
122. Construction site sight : CONE
123. Mannerless sort : BOOR
124. Till stack : ONES
125. "He loves me" pieces : PETALS
126. Hot times abroad : ETEs
Down:
1. Fresh : SASSY
2. Home of Heartland of America Park : OMAHA. Vowel-rich. Hence its frequent appearance.
3. Outdoor clothing entrepreneur Eddie : BAUER
4. Mideast president elected the same year as the younger Bush : ASSAD. So long.
5. Overdrive : HIGH GEAR
6. Presidential nickname : ABE
7. Transfer to a new city, briefly : RELO
8. Sits on the line : DRIES. I like this clue also.
9. Godiva alternative : LINDT
10. Shaggy-haired bovine : YAK. It's said that Tibetans drink up to 60 small cups of Yak Butter Tea a day. Simple recipe: tea, butter, salt & hot water. Give it a go, D-Otto. It's good for the upper body strength :-) Silicon Valley's Bulletproof Coffee was inspired by this drink.
11. Lifetime chum : OLD PAL. This blog will turn nine on Jan 28, 2017. You guys are now my old pals. We're growing old together.
12. Biker's headgear, maybe : DO-RAG. We also have64. National Bike Month : MAY
13. Sun blocker : DRAPE
14. Legendary prophet : SIBYL. "Prophetess" would have made it easier.
15. Serving on a jury, e.g. : CIVIC DUTY. Never served on a jury. You?
16. Elevated lines? : ODE
17. Waterman product : PEN. Never heard of this pen brand.
18. Work on a course : EAT
24. Early gaming name : ATARI
30. French royal : ROI
32. Craftsman outdoor tools : EDGERS
34. Generous offer : ON ME
35. Swindle, in slang : RIP. Don't even think of GYP, not PC to be in our crossword.
36. Instrument that doesn't need tuning : KAZOO. Got via crosses.
37. "Un Ballo in Maschera" aria : ERI TU. This is a difficult clue. We normally have "It was you" or "Verdi" hint.
38. Zero out, say : RESET
40. Sonic Dash publisher : SEGA
43. They may be cracked : CODES. This works for SAFES as well.
44. Sports venue : ARENA
45. Prepared : READY
46. Big wheel's wheels : ROLLS. Rolls-Royce.
47. Internet connectivity annoyance : LAG. So what's your Download speed? Ours is about 23.
48. IPA component : ALE
49. Sound of the Northwest : PUGET. Puget Sound.Nice clue.
50. Champagne flute feature : STEM
51. Café order : AU LAIT
55. Leave, with "off" : TAKE
58. Colorful pet store purchase : TETRA
60. Something to shoot for : PAR. Boomer had two birdies this year, both on par-3 holes.
61. Supplement : ADD ON
63. Looked for : SOUGHT
66. Heads and tails : CALLS
67. Illegal mil. status : AWOL
68. Paper or plastic : BAG
70. Irish lullaby start : TOO-RA. "Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral". I drew a blank.
71. Surprise in a skit : AD LIB. Also got via crosses.
72. Duplicity : GUILE
73. Period of time : SPELL
75. Minimum-range tide : NEAP
76. Poseidon, e.g. : SEA GOD.Here is a good explanation on why Chinese say "Oh, my mother!" instead of "Oh, my God!" when surprised.
77. Ketch pair : MASTS
78. Seemingly can't lose : IS HOT
79. Linney of "The Savages" : LAURA
80. Athlete's supplement : ENERGY BAR. Also 88. Training routines : REGIMENS. Both great fill.
81. Fail to share : HOG
82. AA or AAA : ORG. Nice clue as well.
87. Short bond? : MUNI. Municipal bond.
92. Hammered : LIT
93. From around here : LOCAL
95. Big shoes to fill? : EEE. Last time this clue tricked me.
96. "But of course!" : WHY YES
99. Catcher on the range : LASSO
100. Director Allen who was dubbed the "Master of Disaster" : IRWIN. Don't recall this name.
101. Look daggers (at) : GLARE
102. Birthday card rack subsection : NIECE
103. Tiling job supply : GROUT
105. Mutual agreement : TRUCE
106. Site of the Princess Margaret Stakes : ASCOT. Named afterPrincess Margaret.
107. Macbeth, when the play began : THANE
108. Alleviates : EASES
111. "At Wit's End" author Bombeck : ERMA. I often confused her with that cookbook author IRMA.
Phew~!
I solved it. Did not look good. Admit to one "post-fill Google", and
two red-letter cheats. Ran over my personal allotted time in less than
two minutes. I am calling this one a win. The fateful double whammy of
chunky corners tied into two double stacks of 15-letter spanners, and
this one was going to be a total blank, or at best a slog, as far as I
could tell - and the only reason I was able to get through this brutally brilliant construction was due to the fact that I had a streak of proper names that I knew were definitively correct; I put "*"s
next to those clues. The lowest block count I have ever seen in a
15x15 grid, with 26 being the next closest; add to that the fact that in
my opinion, there was no 'meh' fill, and I have to admire this one from
Mr. Diehl. The four spanners, and the bonus 13-letter central climber;
15. Loaded : AS RICH AS CROESUS - my Google; I had the name part via crossings, and I checked to see if there was a "financial" connection to this person - the Wiki
17. Side dish in a sauce : CREAMED POTATOES - my small family decided on ordering Thankgiving dinner, and we got creamed potatoes instead of mashed - I liked them, but mom and bro did not
50. Cub, for one : NATIONAL LEAGUER - and World Series winner after 108 years
53. Saint-Exupéry classic : THE LITTLE PRINCE - asteroids are involved - the Wiki
16. Sushi bar selection : SPICY TUNA ROLL - not a fan of uncooked fish, but I am familiar with the selections being some type of "roll", which helped
dONeWARD~!
ACROSS:
1. Renewable fuel source : BIOMASS
8. Licorice-flavored liqueur : SAMBUCA - I had "FIRST DOG" for 8d., which made this hard to see, but I am rather "familiar" with this cordial
18. Rashness : HASTE
19. Came across by chance : LIT ON - I had HIT ON
20. Sch. that moved from the Mountain West Conf. to the Big 12 in 2012 : TCU - all perps
21. Prefix with analysis : META - meta-analysis, but in this case, a hyphenated prefix
22. Odd page, normally : RECTO - nailed it; I also know what the frontispiece is
23. Critter with tusks : BOAR
24. Barley wine, e.g. : ALE - argh~! How did I not get this~!? I had no clue
25. First child of Henry VIII to survive to adulthood : MARY I
26. Rummy : SOUSE - the second definition of the word is "drunkard"
27. Leaf producer : NISSAN - oh so clever misdirection; the ECO-friendly car
and a romper image, too~!
29. Like stucco : TEXTURED
31. Lavish supply : PROFUSION
33*. Gateway Arch designer : SAARINEN
36*. Author Huxley : ALDOUS
40*. "The Empire Strikes Back" director Kershner : IRVIN - seen here to the right of Geroge Lucas on the "Dagobah" set
41*. "Tell It to My Heart" singer Taylor __ : DAYNE
43. One abroad : UNE - oh, the number one, missed the misdirection
44. Béchamel base : LAIT - Frawnche for milk
45. Easing of govt. control : DEREGulation
46. Bingo call : B TEN - oops, I tried "TWO B" and "B TWO" first
47. Nature-nurturing org. : EPA
48. State of Österreich : TIROL
49. California's __ Bay : MORRO - perps, and a Natick with Marv at 59d.
54. Caustic solution : SODA LYE
55. Sells off : DIVESTS
DOWN:
1*. King pen name : BACHMAN - this is the name that appears on the novel "Thinner", the first one I ever read from "him"
2. Beersheba native : ISRAELI
3. Euripides tragedy : ORESTES
4. Japanese two-seater : MIATA - another car
5. Top : ACME
6. Miss : SHE - Dah~! I had "ERR", that kind of "miss"
I won't miss this kind of miss
7. British potter James known for Brown Betty teapots : SADLER
8. FDR's Fala et al. : SCOTTIES - not FIRST DOG; took a while to realize we needed a breed here
9. Film beeper, familiarly : ARTOO - Detoo, R2-D2, also a part of the Empire Strikes Back - and other films....
10. Complaint : MOAN
11. Jump in the pool? : BET - my poker game moved up one day this week
12. Bob Hope venue : USO TOUR - I figured it was "USO-", but 'venue' threw me
13. Mark of a shark : CUE CASE - a hustler, a pool hall billiards shark; I have two cases myself
14. Guaranteed : ASSURED
22. Didn't stop talking : RAN ON
23. Destined : BOUND - I suppose I was destined to finally find a new vehicle - here I am at the restaurant with my new old Dodge Caravan
25. Muir Woods' county : MARIN
26. It's a wrap : STOLE
28. Sail-extending pole : SPRIT
30. Yangtze tributary : XIANG
32. Form a political union : FEDERATE
33. Solo pianists often provided music for them : SILENTS
- my new old Dodge Caravan came with a cassette player, and I have been
listening to myself and friends who've made and sent me audio tapes,
and this piece was on one of them;
the dexterity really starts at the 5:00 mark
34. Cheyenne allies : ARAPAHO - half filled via perps
35. Worked with props? : AVIATED - har-har~!
37. Beats to the finish line : OUTRUNS
38. Stoop-shouldered, say : UNERECT - OK, a little "meh"
39. Many in España : SEÑORES
42. Raised the roof : YELLED
45*. __ Moore: Hormel brand : DINTY
46*. '30s-'50s filmdom nickname : BOGIE
- Humphrey Bogart - and featured in the song Key Largo, a song that got
a lot of "muzak" air time, and I did not know who the singer was
oh, so tacky
48. Hard labor : TOIL
49. Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Levy : MARV
51. Waterfront gp. : ILA - International Longshoreman Assoc.
52. Prefix with Pen : EPI
Splynter
Notes from C.C.:
1) Cool picture, Splynter, Nice to see you again.
2) Here are a couple great photos from Lemonade's Asheville Family Vacation. You can see more here.
3) Here is Jayce's Yam/Apple recipe. I already tried last night. I used two medium-sized Asian sweet potatoes like below. Very dense & sweet. One big Honeycrisp & one medium Fuji. Coconut butter instead of regular button. It was fantastic. The kitchen smelled amazing.
