08.09 Tue

T U E S D A Y

August 9, 2011

Mike Peluso

Theme: Money Money Money — The last word of each theme answer can follow the word "cash" in a familiar phrase.



Theme answers:

• 18A: *Duplicator in an office (COPY MACHINE).
• 24A: *Great Chicago Fire scapegoat (MRS. O'LEARY'S COW).
• 39A: *Classic chocolate treat (MARS BAR).
• 49A: *Take a path of least resistance (GO WITH THE FLOW).
• 60A: Seller's assurance of payment, and a hint to what the last words of the answers to starred clues can have in common (CASH UP FRONT).

Good morning, everybody! I'm back from my adventures and I'm really excited to tell you all about them, but that will, unfortunately, have to wait. I need to try to get back into my regular groove today and that includes … work. Ugh. That whole job thing can really be a time suck, don't you think? So I'm going to say a couple things about today's puzzle and then I'll be back later (probably much later) to let you know about all the fun you missed over the weekend.



I wasn't purposely trying to zip through this grid, but it was very smooth so I kind of did anyway. I didn't take the time to figure out the theme while I was solving, but I'm not sure I would have been able to see it anyway. These kinds of themes don't tend to jump out at me. I do like it though. Very clever. Theme answers seem lively enough. Well, COPY MACHINE is kinda boring, but maybe I think that because I work in an office and use one every day.



I saw the name ARSENE (37A: Thief-turned-sleuth Lupin) in a puzzle I was solving recently (don't remember which one), but obviously didn't pay enough attention to it because I couldn't remember it today. Maybe I will next time. The fill, overall, was really solid and clued perfectly for a Tuesday. I did notice an awful lot of plurals, which I don't care for, but that's really the only negative thing I can say about this grid. Nice job, Mike!



Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 47A: Aptly named fruit (UGLI).
• 25D: Old Norse works (EDDAS).
• 26D: Biochemist's gel (AGAR).
• 63D: Originally called (NÉE).

Everything — 1A: The NFL's Montana and Favre, e.g. (QB'S); 4A: __-wip: "real cream" brand (REDDI); 9A: Rap's __ Rhymes (BUSTA); 14A: Suffix with script (-URE); 15A: Apply, as pressure (EXERT); 16A: Not cool, man (UNHIP); 17A: Marksman's skill (AIM); 18A: *Duplicator in an office (COPY MACHINE); 20A: Former boxer Ali (LAILA); 22A: Musician's gift (EAR); 23A: Makes a decision (OPTS); 24A: *Great Chicago Fire scapegoat (MRS. O'LEARY'S COW); 28A: Apt. complex unit (BLDG.); 29A: Ohio rubber city (AKRON); 32A: Canonized Fr. women (STES.); 35A: Grand Coulee, for one (DAM); 37A: Thief-turned-sleuth Lupin (ARSENE); 38A: Nonpro sports org. (AAU); 39A: *Classic chocolate treat (MARS BAR); 41A: "Proud Mary" pop gp. (CCR); 42A: Throbs (PULSES); 44A: Watchdog's warning (GRR); 45A: Prog. listing (SKED); 46A: Spot on TV (PROMO); 47A: Aptly named fruit (UGLI); 49A: *Take a path of least resistance (GO WITH THE FLOW); 56A: Narrow cut (SLIT); 58A: Filmdom's Farrow (MIA); 59A: Short vodka order (STOLI); 60A: Seller's assurance of payment, and a hint to what the last words of the answers to starred clues can have in common (CASH UP FRONT); 64A: Sewing kit item (PIN); 65A: Starts the pot (ANTES); 66A: Army base near Petersburg, Va. (FT. LEE); 67A: 12/24 or 12/31 (EVE); 68A: Iraq's main port (BASRA); 69A: Ritual celebrating the Jews' liberation from Egyptian slavery (SEDER); 70A: __ Moines (DES); 1D: Uneasy feeling (QUALM); 2D: Prickly bush (BRIAR); 3D: 18-wheelers (SEMIS); 4D: Automaker's bane (RECALL); 5D: Lead-in for skeleton (EXO-); 6D: Bank statement abbr. (DEP.); 7D: Laundry appliance (DRYER); 8D: "Be that as __ ..." (IT MAY); 9D: Tampa Bay athlete, briefly (BUC); 10D: Opens, as a gate (UNHOOKS); 11D: Marine salvage crew's job (SHIPWRECK); 12D: Glass darkener (TINT); 13D: Big galoots (APES); 19D: Latin art (ARS); 21D: Throws softly (LOBS); 25D: Old Norse works (EDDAS); 26D: Biochemist's gel (AGAR); 27D: Singer Vikki (CARR); 30D: "... __ and for all!" (ONCE); 31D: Bookish type (NERD); 32D: '90s-'00s NFL Pro Bowler Warren (SAPP); 33D: Bull: Pref. (TAUR); 34D: Speakers at memorial services (EULOGISTS); 36D: Chow mein additive (MSG); 37D: "I can't believe this!" ("AARGH!"); 39D: "Feed me," in Siamese? (MEOW); 40D: Champagne word (BRUT); 43D: Cover completely (SMOTHER); 45D: Prepare, as flour (SIFT); 48D: Red Sox pitcher Jon (LESTER); 50D: Brat (IMP); 51D: Little fights (TIFFS); 52D: Bret who wrote gold rush stories (HARTE); 53D: Ran with ease (LOPED); 54D: Fruit yielding oil (OLIVE); 55D: Some cellar contents (WINES); 56D: Union underminer (SCAB); 57D: Head-turning Turner (LANA); 61D: Mex. neighbor (USA); 62D: Trite (OLD); 63D: Originally called (NÉE).