09.26 Mon

M O N D A Y
September 26, 2011
Robert Fisher

Theme: Runnin' On Fumes — The first word of each theme answer is a commonly used measure of fuel in a vehicle's gas tank.

Theme answers:

• 18A: Ceremonial uniform (FULL DRESS).
• 23A: Necktie knot (HALF WINDSOR).
• 38A: NCAA Elite Eight team (QUARTER FINALIST).
• 50A: Parent whose kids have moved out (EMPTY NESTER).
• 59A: Dashboard device, and a hint to the starts of 18-, 23-, 38- and 50-Across (FUEL GAUGE).
• 66A: What to add when the 59-Across gets low (GAS).

First things first: Please don't talk about today's New York Times puzzle in the comments. I will say (as unspoilerishly as I can) that the two puzzles don't have the same theme, but the similarities are remarkable enough that I'm pretty sure people will want to remark on them. By all means, go solve the NYT, but please — no spoilers!

Cute theme today. Pretty sure I've seen it before. In fact, I'm pretty sure I blogged it, but I'm too lazy to go look it up. The theme answers are all interesting and non-awkward. Just solid all the way around. Two grammatically tricky clues worth noting:

• 34A: Way up (STAIR). I read this as in "Man oh man, that hot-air balloon is WAY UP there." But, in this clue, "way" is a noun.

• 68A: Back at the track (BET ON). In this one, my brain came up with "I heard Angel Cordero had to go take care of some personal business, but now he's BACK AT THE TRACK." But here, "back" is a verb.

Other than that, it's pretty much Monday, which means a couple sparkles (EAST-WEST, CATTY) and the rest straightforward and solid.

Bullets:

• 6A: Inst. that turns out lieutenants (OC'S). Officers' … something?
• 15A: Rock music's __ Fighters (FOO). I believe David Letterman is a big fan of Foo Fighters, which for some reason I find hilarious.

• 48A: 41-Down sound in the comic "B.C." (ZOT); 41D: Threat to tiny workers (ANTEATER).
• 9D: Rookie's mentor (OLD PRO). For some reason I entered OLD PAL first, which would be a terrible answer to this clue.
• 12D: Bucks and rams (HES). Bucks are male deer. Rams are male sheep. Each individually animal might be referred to as "he." Collectively, they are HES. (I know, right?)

• 47D: Song spelled with arm motions (YMCA). I don't really have anything to say about this. I just wanted to include a picture of the Village People.
• 53D: Rosetta __ (STONE). It's a little strange that the word STONE appears in the clue for COULD (7D: "This __ be the last time": Stones lyric).

Everything — 1A: Minister's home (MANSE); 6A: Inst. that turns out lieutenants (OC'S); 9A: Poker game similar to Texas Hold 'em (OMAHA); 14A: Polynesian greeting (ALOHA); 15A: Rock music's __ Fighters (FOO); 16A: Tied, as shoes (LACED); 17A: Crest dispensers (TUBES); 18A: Ceremonial uniform (FULL DRESS); 20A: Turf grabbers (CLEATS); 22A: Yo-yo string feature (LOOP); 23A: Necktie knot (HALF WINDSOR); 25A: Tidal return (EBB); 28A: Ample shoe width (EEE); 29A: Temple with a minaret (MOSQUE); 31A: PC key for getting out of trouble (ESC); 34A: Way up (STAIR); 37A: Emanation detected by psychics, so they say (AURA); 38A: NCAA Elite Eight team (QUARTER FINALIST); 42A: __ no good (UP TO); 43A: Kept secret (SAT ON); 44A: Faux __: blunder (PAS); 45A: Main thoroughfare (ARTERY); 48A: 41-Down sound in the comic "B.C." (ZOT); 49A: __ of the land (LAY); 50A: Parent whose kids have moved out (EMPTY NESTER); 57A: Civil rights org. (ACLU); 58A: Work that ridicules folly (SATIRE); 59A: Dashboard device, and a hint to the starts of 18-, 23-, 38- and 50-Across (FUEL GAUGE); 64A: Carryalls (TOTES); 65A: Out of port (AT SEA); 66A: What to add when the 59-Across gets low (GAS); 67A: Create, as a statute (ENACT); 68A: Back at the track (BET ON); 69A: The USA's 50 (STS.); 70A: Takes in tenants (RENTS); 1D: Fire lighter (MATCH); 2D: Gene Vincent's "Be-Bop-__" (ALULA); 3D: __ Prize (NOBEL); 4D: Grain bundle (SHEAF); 5D: How latitude lines run (EAST-WEST); 6D: On vacation (OFF); 7D: "This __ be the last time": Stones lyric (COULD); 8D: Goes it alone (SOLOS); 9D: Rookie's mentor (OLD PRO); 10D: Make a dent in (MAR); 11D: Poker "bullet" (ACE); 12D: Bucks and rams (HES); 13D: Commercials (ADS); 19D: Weaver's machine (LOOM); 21D: Seven, in Sinaloa (SIETE); 24D: Approaches (NEARS); 25D: Supply with gear (EQUIP); 26D: Sac between a bone and tendon (BURSA); 27D: Cop's rounds (BEATS); 30D: Gal of song (SAL); 31D: The same (EQUAL); 32D: Old sporty Toyota (SUPRA); 33D: Spiteful, as gossip (CATTY); 35D: "__ tree falls ..." (IF A); 36D: Swanky (RITZY); 39D: Fish eggs (ROE); 40D: High hours? (NOONS); 41D: Threat to tiny workers (ANTEATER); 46D: '80s Cold War leader (REAGAN); 47D: Song spelled with arm motions (YMCA); 51D: Spark providers (PLUGS); 52D: Pull on (TUG AT); 53D: Rosetta __ (STONE); 54D: Giant (TITAN); 55D: Standing upright (ERECT); 56D: Concludes one's court case (RESTS); 59D: Detergent brand (FAB); 60D: Jeep or Land Rover, briefly (UTE); 61D: Superlative suffix (-EST); 62D: Lion sign (LEO); 63D: Dollar sign shape (ESS).

07.18 Mon

M O N D A Y
July 18, 2011
Robert Fisher

Theme: Photo Finish — The first word of each theme answer can follow the word "photo" to create a familiar word (i.e., it "finishes" the word "photo").

Theme answers:

• 17A: Penning ads and such (COPY WRITING).
• 26A: Mall habitué's motto (SHOP TIL YOU DROP).
• 42A: Instrument Bob Dylan was once booed for playing (ELECTRIC GUITAR).
• 56A: Race decided by a camera, or what the start of 17-, 26- or 42-Across literally is (PHOTO FINISH).

I decided not to try to race through this puzzle and I pretty much couldn't help it. Very very smooth fill. In fact, I threw two of the theme answers in without even reading their clues — I had enough crosses in place that they were just obvious. I only had one write-over in the whole grid: I first tried ONE SEC instead of IN A SEC (48A: "Comin' right up").

Cute theme idea. I like it when a word-before theme has a purpose. You know, it's not just random words being thrown together — they're being thrown together for a reason. In this case the phrase PHOTO FINISH is what holds it all together and gives it purpose. I really appreciate that. I don't, however, appreciate PHOTOELECTRIC. No doubt joon will be along any minute to explain why this word should be on the tip of everyone's tongue, but I'm pretty sure I've never heard it. So that kind of took away from the theme for me.

Nothing particularly exciting about the long downs, but some of the shorter entries tickled my fancy. Like:

• 6D: Showy to a fault (CHI-CHI).
• 41D: Scary beach current (RIP TIDE).
• 44D: In great numbers (GALORE).
• 48D: Far from certain (IFFY).

Those are very nice words, particularly on a Monday. A little Scrabbliness here and there also adds some sparkle

• 11A: Use a stun gun on (ZAP).
• 33A: Puppy's protest (YELP). I'm a little surprised YELP is still only clued as a puppy noise and not as the popular website yelp.com.
• 64A: Old Montreal team (EXPOS). Sorry, Crosscan. I know this is a sensitive subject for you.

Hmmm, what else? I didn't know [36D: HERSCHEL Bernardi, who played Tevye on Broadway], but got it easily through the crosses. I would probably have spelled HORSY with an E (36A: Equine, to a 19-Across). And the [62A: "Is it soup __?"] actually sounds better to me without the YET at the end. And with that, I'll leave you with this. (22A: Browsing the Web, say (ONLINE)).


Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 25A: Church alcove (APSE).
• 53D: Norway's capital (OSLO).

Everything Else — 1A: Gold medalist's place (FIRST); 6A: Buddies (CHUMS); 14A: Boise's state (IDAHO); 15A: Saigon's Vietnam War counterpart (HANOI); 16A: "__ had it!" (I'VE); 19A: Wee one (TOT); 20A: PC key next to the space bar (ALT); 21A: Buttery and creamy, as pastry (RICH); 24A: When doubled, make light of (POOH); 32A: Ending for micro- or oscillo- (SCOPE); 34A: Big Band __ (ERA); 35A: Tackle box item (LURE); 38A: Odds partner (ENDS); 39A: Like most codgers (OLD); 40A: Long-haul rig (SEMI); 41A: Postal postings (RATES); 46A: Gold medalist, vis-à-vis competitors (BEST); 47A: Egyptian snakes (ASPS); 51A: Part of a blind (SLAT); 52A: "Unbelievable!" ("WOW!"); 55A: Whopper junior? (FIB); 59A: Seasonal malady (FLU); 60A: Crowbar, essentially (LEVER); 61A: How objects are seen through a mist (DIMLY); 63A: Skip the announcement, invitations, etc. (ELOPE); 1D: Payroll tax acronym (FICA); 2D: Teen favorite (IDOL); 3D: Totally absorbed (RAPT); 4D: Hardly outgoing (SHY); 5D: Line on a tugboat (TOW ROPE); 7D: "What __ God wrought?" (HATH); 8D: Prefix with verse (UNI-); 9D: Game with tiny hotels (MONOPOLY); 10D: Volunteers (for) (SIGNS UP); 11D: Penne relative (ZITI); 12D: Skin So Soft maker (AVON); 13D: Townshend of The Who (PETE); 18D: Mob disorder (RIOT); 23D: Was in front (LED); 24D: Benedict I, e.g. (POPE); 25D: Affirmative votes (AYES); 26D: Oar (SCULL); 27D: Large crowd (HORDE); 28D: Emotionally expressive, as poetry (LYRIC); 29D: Avis __ Car (RENT A); 30D: Tell the waiter what you want (ORDER); 31D: Avoid flunking (PASS); 32D: Gin fizz flavoring (SLOE); 37D: Fail to mention (OMIT); 38D: Diner sign (EATS); 40D: Church topper (STEEPLE); 43D: TV network with an eye logo (CBS); 45D: "Wild Blue Yonder" mil. group (USAF); 49D: River through Egypt (NILE); 50D: Be contiguous with (ABUT); 51D: Aerobics accessory (STEP); 52D: Spineless one (WIMP); 54D: __ and wherefores (WHYS); 57D: Lacto-__ vegetarian (OVO); 58D: Put the kibosh on (NIX).

03.08 Tue

T U E S D A Y
March 8, 2011
Robert Fisher

Theme: Head Start — The word "head" can follow the last word of each theme answer in a familiar put-down.

Theme answers:

• 17A: Not-so-humorous humerus spot (FUNNY BONE).
• 23A: Exam taker's dread (MENTAL BLOCK).

• 39A: Daydreams (CASTLES IN THE AIR).
• 49A: Devoid of niceties, as some politics (BARE KNUCKLE).
• 61A: Racer's edge, or the ends of 17-, 23-, 39- and 49-Across, unflatteringly (HEAD START).

I got through this one without too much trouble. Fun theme. I got to the third theme answer before I had caught on and entered CASTLES IN THE SKY, which I think is how I've heard it before. But CASTLES IN THE AIR sounds good too, and the phrases result in about the same number of Google hits, so I assume they're equally common. Along the same lines, I thought our [9D: 41st president, affectionately] was POPPY BUSH, not PAPA BUSH, but it looks like both variations of this nickname are legit.

Other than that, there were only a few spots that gave me a frowny-face. Tacking an "S" onto the end of a famous person's name always bothers me unless the family itself is well-known. So, yeah, for ORR there's "Hockey legend Bobby," but not so much with the "et al." (Examples of plural famous names that would not bother me a bit: EWINGS ("Dallas"), O'NEALS (Ryan and Tatum), and OSMONDS (Osmonds). But mostly, this was just a smooth solve that felt pretty much perfect for a Tuesday.

Bullets:

• 9A: Trees along tropical beaches (PALMS). Or possibly in Wisconsin, depending on which cable news channel you're watching.

• 25A: Grubs and maggots (LARVAE). Eww. I seriously do not want to be thinking about grubs and maggots when I'm solving a crossword puzzle. Again, eww.
• 34A: Annual parade celeb (ST. PAT). When I lived in New York, St. Patrick's Day seemed like a great day to just stay inside. Lots of drunk people everywhere is what I'm saying.
• 42A: Joe Cocker's "You __ Beautiful" (ARE SO). My favorite Joe Cocker clip, with captions in case you don't understand what the heck he's singing.



• 45A: Slangy "No reason" ('CUZ). I do like seeing the slang in my puzzle.
• 47A: "Amen to that!" ("I'LL SAY!"). Also the colloquial phrase.
• 67A: 1/30 of abril (DIA). "Abril" is the Spanish word for "April," which has 30 days. "DIA" is the Spanish word for "day." So a DIA is 1/30 of abril (in Spanish, the names of months aren't capitalized).
• 8D: Tropical cyclone center (EYE). Which, as some of us recently learned, is surrounded by an EYEWALL.
• 25D: Crazy, in a Ricky Martin song (LOCA). I will now have "Livin' the Vida Loca" stuck in my head all day. Would you like to join me?



• 38D: Projector's slide holder (TRAY). For all you youngsters out there, "slides" used to be actual physical objects, not just computer-generated components of a PowerPoint presentation.
• 40D: Rigidly inflexible process (LOCKSTEP). My favorite entry.

• 50D: Lincoln Center's __ Fisher Hall (AVERY). Clever how Mr. Fisher got his name in the clue.
• 62D: Casual top (TEE). I created one this morning just for fun. I know Rex Parker wants one.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 21A: Hockey legend Bobby et al. (ORRS).
• 30A: "Garfield" pooch (ODIE).
• 63A: Mountain ridge (ARETE).
• 3D: It's near the 17-Across (ULNA).
• 26D: Month after Shevat (ADAR).
• 37D: Verdi opera (AIDA).
• 49D: Rum-soaked cakes (BABAS).

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Everything Else — 1A: Pert (SAUCY); 6A: Top grade, in slang (ACE); 14A: Aptly named cooler brand (IGLOO); 15A: Small island (CAY); 16A: Perpendicular to the keel (ABEAM); 19A: Tri- plus bi- (PENTA-); 20A: Drink from leaves (TEA); 21A: Hockey legend Bobby et al. (ORRS); 22A: Sea north of Poland (BALTIC); 29A: Manhattan sch. (NYU); 31A: Fan mag (ZINE); 43A: Formal coiffure (UPDO); 44A: Alan of "The Aviator" (ALDA); 55A: Disinclined (AVERSE); 56A: Works a tough row? (HOES); 57A: "The Amazing Race" airer (CBS); 60A: Prove apt for (BEFIT); 64A: www address (URL); 65A: Otherworldly (EERIE); 66A: IHOP condiment (SYRUP); 68A: Seed anew (RESOW); 1D: Sort through, as for clues (SIFT); 2D: Fit of fever (AGUE); 4D: Put one over on (CON); 5D: Cellist with 16 Grammys (YO-YO MA); 6D: Item in a fall stash (ACORN); 7D: Art able to (CANST); 10D: Clear as __ (A BELL); 11D: Slowly, in music (LENTO); 12D: "It slices! It dices!" gadget Veg-O-__ (MATIC); 13D: Wallop (SMACK); 18D: Zephyr (BREEZE); 22D: Journalist Nellie (BLY); 24D: What all good things come to (AN END); 27D: Increase (RISE); 28D: November honorees (VETS); 32D: Liar Joe in old TV car ads (ISUZU); 33D: Hip flask quickie (NIP); 35D: Greenish blue (TEAL); 36D: Sidekicks (PALS); 41D: Worked arduously (TOILED); 46D: Arles article (UNE); 48D: Like the preferable evil (LESSER); 51D: Allude (to) (REFER); 52D: Verdi aria that means "It was you" (ERITU); 53D: Strasbourg sweetheart (CHERI); 54D: Eucalyptus muncher (KOALA); 57D: Jaguar and Impala (CARS); 58D: Verve (BRIO); 59D: Hearty entrée (STEW); 61D: 1963 Paul Newman film (HUD).