Hello, Strangers!

I just wanted to stop in and say hi and I miss you guys! As you might know, I started a full-time job last week. It requires me to get up much earlier than I'm inclined to, plus when I get home I'm completely exhausted ... so I just haven't been able to wait up for the puzzle to come out. I've been solving the puzzle on my lunch hour and then checking in on the blog in the afternoon. And I do follow along with the comments even when I don't comment myself.

Big thanks to Amy and SethG for holding down the fort the last couple of days! I've got another (brand new) guest-blogger for you all tomorrow who I'm sure you'll enjoy. With any luck, I'll get used to this pace and be back to blogging very soon!

T U E S D A Y October 5, 2010 Jeff Chen

Theme: Solving la puzzle loca — Theme answers are familiar phrases that mix Spanish with English words.


Theme answers:

• 17A: Site for flashy couples dancing (SALSA CLUB).
• 28A: Annual college football game in Arizona (FIESTA BOWL).
  
• 38A: Spicy deep-fried stuffed appetizers (JALAPENO POPPERS).
• 45A: Nap period, in Latin America (SIESTA TIME).
• 62A: 2004 Adam Sandler movie, and a hint to the puzzle theme found in 17-, 28-, 38- and 45-Across (SPANGLISH).

More wrestling stuff today for PuzzleGirl, so SethG here with a quick summary.

The theme concept is nice, the execution mostly nice. The phrasing on the FIESTA BOWL clue is a little weird--this isn't what the game is called just in Arizona, this is actually the game's name. But that, SALSA CLUB, and JALAPENO POPPERS are all phrases that have entered the American vernacular. SIESTA TIME, on the other hand, is not a phrase I'm familiar with. Do they actually call it that in Latin America? If not, this is not actually Spanglish, it's just a made-up phrase that combines Spanish and English. Even if they do, this is the only theme clue that requires an "in Latin America" modifier. I was gonna say -1/10 from the East German judge, but there's no more East Germany and why would he be judging Spanglish, anyway?

I never saw the movie. I've heard it's mediocre. Was it?

Bullets:

• 1A: Houlihan portrayer in 5-Across (SWIT)/5A: Korean War sitcom (M*A*S*H). Blogger spell-checker doesn't like "portrayer". I got to 1A, couldn't think of anyone named Houlihan, moved on to 5A, said "oh", then went back to fill in Loretta SWIT first. Played by Sally Kellerman in the movie, by ink in the Richard Hooker novel. I didn't look any of that up. If PuzzleGirl were here, this would be a video fer sher.
• 20A: Popular swim briefs (SPEEDOS). If PuzzleGirl were here, this would be a picture fer sher.
  
• 24A: Group of street toughs (GANG). Calling them "toughs" does not make them sound tough.

• 53A: "Ain't happening!" (NO SIREE). Usually said to Bob. I had to think for a bit to see if this was part of the theme.
  
• 57A: Emulates Jell-O (WIGGLES). See also: JIGGLES.
• 61A: Bar, in law (ESTOP). This means to legally prevent, not that a happy-hour hangout where lawyers meet programmers is an e-stop.
  
• 66A: Poet Lazarus (EMMA) was tired, poor, and a huddled mass yearning to breathe free.
• 24D: "Start that job now!" (GET ON IT). Usually said to Lt. Tom Kazansky or a catapult officer.
• 35D: The "m" in E = mc² (MASS). Also the MA.
• 53D: Giraffe's trademark (NECK). I like giraffes, and giraffes like me.
  
• 57D: "Living" payment (WAGE). See also: JAGE.
• 59D: Salinger heroine (ESME). With all his f-a-c-u-l-t-i-e-s intact. If you haven't read this, read this. This.
  

Crosswordese 101: We covered IONA, but not yet IONE. IONE may be the heroine in "The Last Days of Pompeii", or one of the Nereids, which are apparently Grecian sea-nymphs. Most of the time, though, the clue will be like today's 56D: Actress Skye. Her name is Ione Skye. She's been in lotsa stuff, but she's probably most well-known for her role as Diane Court in Say Anything. Her dad is Donovan, and they quite rightly call him mellow yellow.

[Follow PuzzleGirl on Twitter.]

Everything Else — 5A: Korean War sitcom (MASH); 9A: Reading aids (LAMPS); 14A: __ Major: Great Bear (URSA); 15A: Actress Hayworth (RITA); 16A: Native Alaskan (ALEUT); 19A: Confiscate (SEIZE); 21A: Issue an embarrassing retraction (EAT CROW); 23A: Foul caller (REF); 25A: Competed in a race (RAN); 34A: Physics bit (ATOM); 36A: Ending for absorb (-ENT); 37A: Supreme Court justice Sotomayor (SONIA); 42A: Crop up (ARISE); 43A: Indian bread (NAN); 44A: Takes to court (SUES); 48A: Paid athlete (PRO); 49A: Sign over a door (EXIT); 50A: Sign before Virgo (LEO); 64A: Bridal registry category (CHINA); 65A: Impulse (URGE); 67A: Musical Carpenter (KAREN); 68A: Word with pressure or review (PEER); 69A: Gush (SPEW); 1D: Figure (out), in slang (SUSS); 2D: Conclude, with "up" (WRAP); 3D: Castaway's place (ISLE); 4D: Shocking weapon (TASER); 5D: Appliance brand that helps you wake up? (MR. COFFEE); 6D: Suffers (AILS); 7D: "The Simpsons" disco guy (STU); 8D: __ corpus (HABEAS); 9D: Like a desperate effort (LAST-GASP); 10D: Actor Guinness (ALEC); 11D: Israel's Golda (MEIR); 12D: "The Godfather" author Mario (PUZO); 13D: Goulash, e.g. (STEW); 18D: Summer drink (ADE); 22D: Tiny army member (ANT); 25D: Indian nobles (RAJAS); 26D: Centipede video game creator (ATARI); 27D: "Cross my heart!" ("NO LIE!"); 29D: Lodge (INN); 30D: Hits on the noggin (BOPS); 31D: Outdo (ONE-UP); 32D: Electrician, at times (WIRER); 33D: Steer catcher (LASSO); 39D: Broadway flier (PETER PAN); 40D: Nonstick spray (PAM); 41D: "I just flew in, and boy are my arms tired!," e.g. (ONE LINER); 46D: Tree feller (AXE); 47D: Snarls, as traffic (TIES UP); 51D: Scrambled fare (EGG); 52D: Makes eyes at (OGLES); 54D: Fed. workplace watchdog (OSHA); 55D: Cookbook verb (STIR); 58D: Hobble (LIMP); 60D: "Pygmalion" playwright (SHAW); 63D: Season opener? (PRE-).

M O N D A Y October 4, 2010—Lila Cherry

Today's puzzle was not available online by the time I had to leave for work this morning. I'll post it later this evening when I get home. Sorry!
=============

Okay, now that Angela has left for work, we can play. Amy here with a copy of my Diary of a Crossword Fiend post.



THEME: "Gooey Sammich"—Five theme entries begin with the words PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWICH
The theme is a gooey PB&J sammich:

• 17a. [Sources of rowdy criticism] are PEANUT GALLERIES. Does that really take a plural? Singular feels much more familiar.
• 25a. BUTTERBALL is a [Turkey brand].
• 38a. The ampersand, or [&], may be informally called the AND SIGN.
• 49a. [Colorful plastic footwear] is JELLYSHOES. Don’t eat ‘em, folks.
• 59a. [Hawaii once comprised most of them] clues the SANDWICH ISLANDS.

I love some of the longer fill—STAND PAT, BEN STEIN the game show EMCEE, CHAMELEON, and PERCHANCE are terrific entries. Some of the short answers gave me more trouble, which I wasn’t expecting on a Monday (but then, it was before 7 a.m. when I was doing the puzzle, pre-breakfast and pre-caffeine):

• 1a. COCKY means [Self-confident to a fault]. Clear enough, but I drew a blank on it and skipped the upper right corner until later.
• 16a. [ROTC school WSW of Washington, D.C.] is VMI, or Virginia Military Institute. Voo Much Information!
• 32a. [Recline, biblically] clues LIETH. These biblical verb answers are a category of fill that I don’t care for.
• 2d. [Aptly named California coastal city] is indeed aptly named: OCEANSIDE. Too bad Oceanside is pretty much unknown to me.
• 6d. [Severity, in Soho] clues RIGOUR with the British “U” spelling (there’s a Soho in London as well as in New York City).
• 8d. This one was a gimme, but it troubled me. KIL. as [About .62 mi.] is awkward because km is the more widely accepted abbreviation for kilometer.
• 19d. [Opener's next call, in bridge] is REBID. My kid was asking about bridge the other day. My husband told him it was a game for very old people. I said “Hey! Brendan Quigley plays bridge.” My husband said he was an exception. So you see that we are not a bridge-embracing household. Nautical, poker, bridge, and biblical verbs—among my least favorite categories of fill.
• 48d. [Omega preceders], P*IS…is it PHIS or PSIS? I usually have to check the crossing to figure it out. It’s PSIS.
• 60d. [All-Pro Patriots receiver Welker] is named WES…but I’ve never heard of him, I don’t think. Current player, or player of yore?
• 62d. The CCU [Hosp. heart ward] doesn’t get much play in crosswords. It may stand for coronary care unit or cardiac care unit. Other *CUs besides the ICU include the SICU (surgical), MICU (medical), NICU (neonatal or neurological), and PICU (pediatric), none of which you are likely to encounter in crosswords.

Your assignment today is threefold, pupils. It's Blog-It-Yourself Day!

1. Head to YouTube and watch a video that today's puzzle evokes.
2. Do a Google image search on a word like JELLY or BUTTERBALL and find a goofy picture. No, better yet, find a hilarious picture to accompany the word REBID.
3. Nominate your own Crosswordese 101 entry from today's puzzle and see if it's already been covered here. If it hasn't, make up lies about the word.

P.S. Constructor "Lila Cherry" is one of editor Rich Norris's noms de plume.

P.P.S. Sorry about the font madness!

S U N D A Y October 3, 2010 Sylvia Bursztyn (calendar)

Theme: 10 A.D. — Ten theme answers are people whose initials are A.D.

[Note: This is the puzzle that appears in the Sunday L.A. Times newspaper. If you don't get the paper, you can find the puzzle here. Scroll down to see today's syndicated puzzle.]


Theme answers:

• 24A: Czech composer (ANTONIN DVORAK).
• 38A: Civil rights movement activist (ANGELA DAVIS).
• 58A: TV's "Police Woman" (ANGIE DICKINSON).
• 76A: Veteran civil rights lawyer (ALAN DERSHOWITZ).
• 93A: Pulitzer-winning historian (ARIEL DURANT).
• 111A: French "Affair" figure (ALFRED DREYFUS).
• 3D: Football Hall-of-Famer (ART DONOVAN).
• 15D: "Falcon Crest" actress (ABBY DALTON).
• 70D: "Purple Noon" star (ALAIN DELON).
• 73D: Classic Hollywood character actor (ANDY DEVINE).

Everything Else — 1A: Physician coalition abbr. (AMA); 4A: Virtuoso (ACE); 7A: Stroke the strings (STRUM); 12A: Barb (DIG); 15A: Barbary beast (APE); 18A: Outlying (FAR); 19A: Contrasting (DIFFERENT); 21A: Cockney castle? ('OME); 22A: Supplicate (BEG); 23A: Tailor's concern (FIT); 26A: Sis's sib (BRO); 27A: Withstand (ENDURE); 29A: "Hurlyburly" playwright (RABE); 30A: Sycophants (LACKEYS); 32A: More intimate (CLOSER); 33A: One-time link (AT A); 34A: Orchestra area (PIT); 35A: Golden number (OLDIE); 37A: Daly of "Judging Amy" (TYNE); 43A: Mary's follower (LAMB); 44A: Whoopi's "Ghost" role (ODA MAE); 46A: Wilder on the screen (GENE); 47A: Louise's film crony (THELMA); 49A: Hardly or softly, briefly (ADV.); 51A: Pop (DAD); 52A: Writer Sarah --- Jewett (ORNE); 54A: Good sign on B'way (SRO); 55A: Slinky, for one (TOY); 56A: Get to (REACH); 63A: Paddled boats (CANOES); 65A: "--- fair in love ..." (ALL'S); 66A: Car deal part (TRADE-IN); 67A: Restrain (TRAMMEL); 69A: Most lacking slack (TAUTEST); 70A: Painter's workplace (ATELIER); 71A: Campaign pros (POLS); 72A: Like "Body Heat", for instance (STEAMY); 79A: Moore's sitcom boss (ASNER); 80A: Spring for a vacation? (SPA); 81A: Let go (CAN); 82A: Arm bone (ULNA); 83A: LAPD alert (APB); 85A: Plaines or Moines intro (DES); 86A: Bleach (WHITEN); 88A: Wiltshire wheel (TYRE); 90A: Ally of "St. Elmo's Fire" (SHEEDY); 92A: Cartoonist Peter (ARNO); 97A: Smith or Sandler (ADAM); 100A: Ways (MODES); 102A: Roadie's tote (AMP); 103A: Nancy salt (SEL); 104A: Blood line (ARTERY); 106A: Preordain (DESTINE); 108A: Ringlet (CURL); 109A: Lots of bread (LOAVES); 110A: Dressing base (OIL); 115A: Acct. amt. (INT.); 116A: From --- Z (A TO); 117A: River, to Rivera (RIO); 118A: Humperdinck hit (RELEASE ME); 119A: "--- didn't!" (NO I); 120A: Mattel doll (KEN); 121A: Prefix for flooey (KER-); 122A: Free as --- (A BIRD); 123A: "That --- then ..." (WAS); 124A: List's last letters (ETC.); 1D: Influence (AFFECT); 2D: In essence (MAINLY); 4D: "Not on ---!" (A DARE); 5D: Widescreen process (CINERAMA); 6D: Baby newt (EFT); 7D: Half of Congress (SENATE); 8D: "Survivor" adjective (TRIBAL); 9D: Lalique or Magritte (RENÉ); 10D: Colditz conjunction (UND); 11D: VH1 rival (MTV); 12D: Conductor Antal (DORATI); 13D: Apple variety (IMAC); 14D: Douglas's "Wall Street" role (GEKKO); 16D: Ebony family fruit (PERSIMMON); 17D: Sense of self (EGO); 20D: Search for food (FORAGE); 25D: Martini morsel (OLIVE); 28D: Not new (USED); 31D: She, in Cherbourg (ELLE); 34D: Knock (PAN); 36D: Cyberbuyer's market (EBAY); 39D: Zilch, in Xochimilco (NADA); 40D: Choreographer de Mille (AGNES); 41D: Exploit (DEED); 42D: Progress (STRIDES); 45D: Faithful support (ADHERENCE); 48D: White House nickname (HONEST ABE); 49D: Pendulum's path (ARC); 50D: DOJ gp. (DEA); 52D: Peer group? (OGLERS); 53D: Brooklet (RILL); 54D: 32-card game (SKAT); 57D: Terra --- (COTTA); 59D: Finger-pointer (NAMER); 60D: Livorno's land (ITALIA); 61D: Tart part (CRUST); 62D: Surfer's stops (SITES); 64D: "Avatar"'s Zoe (SALDANA); 68D: Air (MIEN); 69D: Burg (TOWN); 71D: Guided a gondola (POLED); 74D: Thai dish --- krob (MEE); 75D: Many mos. (YRS.); 76D: Greek Venus (APHRODITE); 77D: Send flying (HURL); 78D: Newscaster Paula (ZAHN); 80D: Competed with Michael Phelps (SWAM); 84D: Sonoma County city (PETALUMA); 87D: Ten below? (TOES); 88D: Oven built-in (TIMER); 89D: "You betcha!" ("YEP!"); 90D: Field and Ride (SALLYS); 91D: Facts (DATA); 94D: Sought, as office (RAN FOR); 95D: Loan shark (USURER); 96D: Go over "The Wall" again, say (REREAD); 98D: "We --- amused" (ARE NOT); 99D: Rasputin, for one (MYSTIC); 101D: Austere (STARK); 105D: Wine cellar staples (ROSES); 107D: "Would --- to you?" (I LIE); 108D: 451, in old Rome (CDLI); 110D: Flooring wood (OAK); 112D: Age (ERA); 113D: Miss coming out? (DEB); 114D: Sprinkling (FEW).

S U N D A Y October 3, 2010 Arthur S. Verdesca (syndicated)

Theme: "Argot" — An R is added to the beginning of a word creating a new wacky word clued "?"-style.

[Note: This is the syndicated L.A. Times puzzle. It does not appear in the actual newspaper, but is available for free at cruciverb.com.]


Theme answers:

• 23A: Width of a freeway exit? (RAMPLITUDE).
• 25A: Collection of complaints? (RANTHOLOGY).
• 39A: Apartment party? (RENTERTAINMENT).
• 50A: "I slept about eight hours"? (RESTIMATE).
• 53A: Indifference to Dr. Dre? (RAPATHY).
• 69A: Mai tai decoration? (RUMBRELLA).
• 89A: Slam dunk component? (RIMPACT).
• 92A: CBer's handle? (RIDENTITY).
• 99A: Like permissive dog owners? (ROVER INDULGENT).
• 121A: Lazy time for Huck Finn? (RAFTERNOON).
• 123A: Idiot driving a semi? (RIGNORAMUS).

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 49A: Bradley in uniform (OMAR).
• 94A: Qatar bigwig (EMIR).
• 96A: Wine opener? (OENO-).
• 129A: Remnants (ORTS).
• 11D: Disappearing sea (ARAL).
• 52D: Party cheese (EDAM).
• 71D: 1939 Garland co-star (LAHR).
• 110D: Alice's chronicler (ARLO).
• 116D: Architectural S-curve (OGEE).
• 122D: Long on screen (NIA).

Everything Else — 1A: Tot's call (MOMMY); 6A: LAX listings (ARRS.); 10A: Cabbage with crinkly, curled leaves (SAVOY); 15A: Knopf, e.g.: Abbr. (PUBL.); 19A: Domingo solos (ARIAS); 20A: No, to Nureyev (NYET); 21A: Adler who outwitted Sherlock Holmes (IRENE); 22A: Capital on Upolu island (APIA); 27A: Ad writer's award (CLIO); 28A: Treacherous place (MINEFIELD); 30A: Flips (UPENDS); 31A: Potentially offensive, in a way (UN-PC); 33A: TV chef Martin (YAN); 34A: Venerable one (ELDER); 36A: Movie buff's collectible (POSTER); 45A: Covert maritime org. (ONI); 46A: Use a towel on (WIPE); 48A: Old pros (VETS); 56A: "O patria __": "Aida" aria (MIA); 57A: Bamboozled (TAKEN IN); 58A: Deck out (DRESS); 60A: No more than (MERELY); 62A: Seine views (ILES); 63A: Navigable connection (STRAIT); 65A: In concert (AS ONE); 67A: Measure out (ALLOT); 72A: Scroogean look (SCOWL); 76A: Former jockey Smith who was married to Fred Astaire in the '80s (ROBYN); 78A: Online exchange (EMAILS); 80A: Surveyor's measure (AREA); 81A: Writer Leonard (ELMORE); 84A: Below, in verse (NEATH); 86A: Finished (AT AN END); 88A: Damone of song (VIC); 97A: Listening to every word (RAPT); 98A: Completed (DID); 105A: Historic Honolulu palace (IOLANI); 107A: Sri __ (LANKA); 108A: Latin word of affection (AMO); 109A: Author __ Morrow Lindbergh (ANNE); 110A: Andean beast (ALPACA); 113A: Removed with a chisel (GOUGED OUT); 117A: Generational disconnects (GAPS); 125A: Long sentence (LIFE); 126A: Force (MIGHT); 127A: "Law & Order: SVU" actor (ICE-T); 128A: Oak-to-be (ACORN); 130A: Final word (SAY SO); 131A: Vat sediment (LEES); 132A: Kids (TYKES); 1D: French grape-skin brandy (MARC); 2D: Hard exam (ORAL); 3D: "La Bohème" heroine (MIMI); 4D: Plan (MAP OUT); 5D: Maker of the fragrance Opium (YSL); 6D: Silly bit (ANTIC); 7D: Record-setting miler Jim (RYUN); 8D: Aptly named flight (REDEYE); 9D: Edberg of tennis (STEFAN); 10D: Paddock parent (SIRE); 12D: Family feud (VENDETTA); 13D: N.Y. neighbor (ONT.); 14D: Violinist Menuhin (YEHUDI); 15D: Sicilian seaport (PALERMO); 16D: Soon after (UPON); 17D: Cowboys' city, familiarly (BIG D); 18D: Attacks, with "into" (LAYS); 24D: In the first place (IMPRIMIS); 26D: In full bloom (OPEN); 29D: Mtge. payment part (INT.); 32D: __ town: recently arrived (NEW IN); 35D: Make it (LAST); 36D: "The quality of mercy is not strained" speaker (PORTIA); 37D: Common soccer score (ONE-ALL); 38D: Ebert's longtime co-host (SISKEL); 39D: On a pension: Abbr. (RET.); 40D: Gabor and others (EVAS); 41D: Exercise units (REPS); 42D: Single-named supermodel (EMME); 43D: Get the goods on (NAIL); 44D: Cafeteria staple (TRAY); 47D: Storage site (PANTRY); 51D: Pizarro's treasure (TESORO); 53D: Back off (RETREAT); 54D: Med. care provider (HMO); 55D: Hungers (YENS); 59D: Pick on (RIB); 61D: Eat one's words (RECANT); 64D: Clear out (RUN); 65D: Boxing biopic (ALI); 66D: Lipton alternative (SALADA); 68D: Unit of pressure (TORR); 70D: Hwy. mishap respondent (EMT); 73D: Steam n' Mash maker (ORE-IDA); 74D: Entered (WENT IN); 75D: Bride of July '81 (LADY DI); 77D: "__ Mir Bist Du Schoen": 1937 hit (BEI); 79D: Fill, as another's shoes (STEP INTO); 81D: Sometime (EVER); 82D: Oscar night rental (LIMO); 83D: Twice DLII (MCIV); 84D: TV alien's word (NANU); 85D: Green's sci. (ECOL.); 87D: Composer Bruckner (ANTON); 90D: Abbey resident (MONK); 91D: Teaching (PEDAGOGY); 93D: First NYC subway (IRT); 95D: Tells (RELATES); 100D: Streak (RACE); 101D: Up __: indignant (IN ARMS); 102D: Skit part (GAG); 103D: "Farm to Fork" author (EMERIL); 104D: Curt refusal (NO DICE); 106D: What you will (LEGACY); 109D: Pittypat and Polly (AUNTS); 111D: Cub's place (LAIR); 112D: Up-in-smoke sound (PFFT); 114D: Shows amazement (OOHS); 115D: "Do __ others ..." (UNTO); 118D: Crazily (AMOK); 119D: Unadulterated (PURE); 120D: Office IDs (SSN'S); 124D: Stinker (RAT).

S A T U R D A Y October 2, 2010 Harvey Estes

Theme: None — Description


I slept in this morning (oh man did that feel good!) so I'm posting a little later than usual which means I'm not going to ramble on and on the way I sometimes do. I'll just say that the triple stacks of 10s in each corner are awesome and I really enjoyed this challenge today!

Bullets:

• 1A: Parts counterparts (LABOR COSTS). When LABOR (by itself) didn't fit I thought I was looking for a different phrase. I'm not crazy about this entry because I don't think it's particularly in-the-language, BUT … looking at the other 10s in that corner and seeing that they're all car-related makes me like it anyway.
• 16A: Actor who turned down the role of Dr. Shepherd on "Grey's Anatomy" (LOWE). I have to admit I've never watched "Grey's," but I believe it's quite popular (!) so I've gotta think this was a bad career move on Rob LOWE's part.
• 29A: Neil Young song about Kent State (OHIO).



• 45A: Common chuckwalla habitat (DESERT). How is it possible that I've never heard of a chuckwalla? I guess at my age I should consider the possibility that I have, in fact, heard of it but have forgotten it somewhere along the way. (It's a big lizard.)
• 53A: Quarter of a yard (SPAN). I don't really understand this.

• 63A: Poky activity happens at it (SNAIL'S PACE). Had No Idea what the clue was getting at until the answer became clear through crosses.
• 1D: Lie low (LURK). Tried HIDE first.
• 6D: Comics character who said "Some days even my lucky rocketship underpants don't help" (CALVIN). Love him.
• 7D: "Entertaining Mr. Sloane" dramatist (ORTON). Never heard of (or perhaps forgot about?) this guy either.
• 11D: Send (ELATE). Whenever this clue/answer combo comes up there seem to be a lot of questions about it. By way of explanation:



• 26D: Challenging area at Augusta National, as it's facetiously called (AMEN CORNER). Total gimme! PuzzleHusband's golf obsession to the rescue once again! (See also 33D: Links numbers (PARS).)
• 38D: Tchr.'s notation (ABS.). This is quite the clunker of an abbreviation. I think I would have clued this in relation to the muscles instead.
• 47D: Lets off steam (VENTS). I thought this was going to be either RANTS or RAVES, so I lightly penciled in the R, which caused me some problems in this corner.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 49A: Bald eagle cousin (ERNE).
• 57A: Quotation abbr. (ANON.).
• 4D: Comic strip dog (ODIE).
• 5D: 1986 GE takeover (RCA).
• 52D: Hollywood canine (ASTA).
• 55D: Novelist Waugh (ALEC).

[Follow PuzzleGirl on Twitter.]

Everything Else — 11A: Vital team members (EMT'S); 15A: Lemon source (USED CAR LOT); 17A: One lacking bias (RADIAL TIRE); 18A: Spotlit opera event (ARIA); 19A: Joint with a cap (KNEE); 20A: Stumper's concern (VOTER); 21A: Summer goals for some (TANS); 22A: Old El Dorado feature (FIN); 23A: Unspoken part of the Godfather's "offers"? (OR ELSE); 25A: "One sec ..." ("HANG ON …"); 31A: Mister (SIR); 32A: Le Pew's pursuit (AMOUR); 33A: High fashion label (PRADA); 34A: Super vision? (ESP); 35A: Endows, as with power (VESTS); 36A: Kleptomaniac film monkey (ABU); 37A: 14th-century Florentine exile (DANTE); 39A: Hydrocarbon ending (-ENE); 40A: Fourth in a series (APRIL); 42A: "Hedda Gabler" playwright (IBSEN); 43A: Undertaking (ACT); 44A: Closing (LAST); 46A: They may be shod (HOOVES); 48A: The boss usually doesn't want to hear them (NOS); 50A: Curly hair, say (TRAIT); 57A: Quotation abbr. (ANON.); 58A: Holiday bloom (EASTER LILY); 60A: Kick back (REST); 61A: Minor considerations? (LITTLE ONES); 62A: Extremely, in Amiens (TRÉS); 2D: Simile center (AS AN); 3D: Only native Englishman ever named Doctor of the Church by a pope (BEDE); 8D: Fine cut (SLIT); 9D: Zipped (TORE); 10D: Olympics no-no (STEROID); 12D: Conscience (MORAL SENSE); 13D: Ann Landers or Abigail Van Buren (TWIN SISTER); 14D: Legendary swimmer (SEA SERPENT); 22D: On the block (FOR SALE); 24D: Rock crew (ROADIES); 25D: Show compassion (HAVE A HEART); 27D: In direct confrontation (NOSE TO NOSE); 28D: __ feeling (GUT); 29D: Shuttle path (ORBIT); 30D: Arrest, with "in" (HAUL); 41D: Some Cassatt works (PASTELS); 45D: "No kidding!" ("DO TELL!"); 48D: Capone associate (NITTI); 51D: Shower (RAIN); 53D: Pen repast (SLOP); 54D: Cóctel fruit (PIÑA); 55D: Novelist Waugh (ALEC); 56D: Place to find IBM (NYSE); 59D: Scale tones (RES).

F R I D A Y October 1, 2010 Scott Atkinson

Theme: Ho! Ho! Ho! — Theme answers are familiar phrases with the letter string HO removed (i.e., "heaved"), creating new wacky phrases clued "?"-style.


[If the significance of the highlighted entryhas you scratching your head, you're not alone.It's the number one most Frequently Asked Question.]
Theme answers:

• 18A: *Ancient Chinese cote occupant? (MING PIGEON). [homing pigeon]
• 25A: *Observation after a Bush walk? (W'S ON FIRST). [Who's on first]
• 36A: *Nickname for a so-so Navy officer? (CAPTAIN OK). [Captain Hook]
• 50A: *Habitually drunk panda? (BAMBOO SOT). [bamboo shoot]
• 57A: *Kenyan healthcare worker? (RN OF AFRICA). [Horn of Africa]
• 42D: Dismissal, and a hint to how the answers to starred clues were derived (HEAVE-HO).

Happy October, everybody! And TGIF! It's been many years since I've T'd GIF, but I am definitely T'ing GIF today! This working full-time thing is wearing me out!

I had some trouble with this puzzle today. Not NYT-Friday type trouble, but more than the other puzzles we've seen this week in the LAT. I tried to start in the northwest corner and couldn't come up with Anything there. Moved onto the northeast corner where I got the MING part of the theme answer, but couldn't figure out the rest because I was so focused on the words "vase" and "dynasty" that I just couldn't see anything else. And I couldn't get it through the downs because I didn't yet have enough acrosses to see AFEARED (11D: Lackin' gumption) and FOOTSIE (12D: Under-the-table diversion), what with SHAFT (9A: Treat meanly) just sitting there taunting me. I also couldn't remember who was in "Platoon" besides … Charlie Sheen? Was he in that? Man, I was going to be So Embarrassed if he wasn't, but he was — whew! (His 16A: "Platoon" co-star was, of course, Willem DAFOE, who has been a topic of CW101 here recently.)

So, I'll talk about the rest of the puzzle in the bullets, but let's get back to that NW corner. In generally, I really don't think of myself as a person who would complain about a four-block of Zs. I mean, I like my Scrabbliness as much as the next crossword solver, and those Zs are awfully pretty right there, I'll give you that. But. (You knew there was a "but.") … SOZZLED? That means 3D: Drunk, in slang? Look, I don't mean to brag, but I am probably as well-acquainted with drunkenness as anyone you're going to meet and I've Ne-Ever heard that word before. SOZZLED! I actually kind of like the sound of it so … should we give it a pass?

Here were the missteps that really slowed me down:

• 1A: Aloe target (RASH). Wanted BURN, which is generally the target of the PuzzleHouse's aloe supply. We are a fair-skinned bunch!
• 5A: Indian royal (RAJA). Tried RANI first. Both RAJA and RANI were covered in CW101 almost six months ago.

• 20A: Tasseled toppers (FEZZES). Wanted CORNSTALK first (that's the Iowa in me peeking out) and when that wouldn't fit, I switched over to the correct category (hats) but tried the wrong type (BERETS).
• 56A: "All in the Family" family name (STIVIC). If I'm the only one who entered BUNKER with no crosses and no thought whatsoever, I'll eat my FEZ.
• 1D: Picaresque (RAFFISH). This is the most embarrassing misstep I made. I totally read this as "Picturesque," and was soooo proud of myself for thinking of BUCOLIC, which is a word that always stumps me because to me it seems like it should mean the opposite of what it actually does mean. Plus it fit and everything! Argh!

Bullets:

• 14A: 1990s Expos manager (ALOU). Of course I know the ALOUs, they're standard crosswordese, but I've never paid attention to what teams they are associated with (sorry, Crosscan).
• 41A: "Even Napoleon had his Watergate" speaker (YOGI). I don't recall hearing this particular quote, but it was pretty clearly a Yogi-ism.
• 42A: I followers? (HOP). The letters H-O-P follow the letter I in Rex's favorite breakfast spot, the International House Of Pancakes.
• 53A: Sheikdom of song (ARABY). Off the top of my head, I don't know what this clue refers to. I'm guessing that when I hear the song I'll recognize it. I'm also guessing someone will link to it in the comments so I won't have to.
• 61A: Genesis brother (SETH). Hi, SethG!

• 7D/56D: Eponymous bacteriologist (JONAS / SALK).
• 29D: Good name, briefly (REP). As in REPutation.
• 43D: Traveled from point A to point A? (ORBITED). I don't know if this is an original clue but it sure is clever!

• 48D: Former RFK Stadium NLer (NAT). When I moved away from the D.C. area in 2003, there was no baseball team. When I moved back in 2008, the NATionals were here. (I'm all, "There sure are a lot of Wisconsin fans here on the East Coast!") So, the "former" part tricked me. I thought it must be referring to the area's previous team, the Senators. But, as it turns out, the "former" refers to the stadium and not the team. The NATs used to play in RFK Stadium but now they play … somewhere else. Their own stadium. I don't know what it's called.
• 58D: Old cry of disgust (FIE). Let's bring this back, shall we?
• 59D: Rose of rock (AXL). There are bands I love to hate and then there are bands like Guns 'n' Roses, which I hate to love.
• 60D: Prez, to GIs (CIC). Commander In Chief.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 6D: Paul's "Exodus" role (ARI).
• 38D: Peeples of "Fame" (NIA).

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Everything Else — 15A: Approach shot club (IRON); 17A: Bubbles (FIZZ); 22A: Happy hour order (ALE); 23A: Partook of (ATE); 24A: Bit of dental work (INLAY); 28A: "Hold on!" ("SEE HERE!"); 30A: Japanese-American (NISEI); 31A: "If __ only listened!" (HE'D); 32A: Shade sources (ELMS); 35A: Florida's __ City (DADE); 39A: Lead player (STAR); 45A: Stoop (PORCH); 47A: Dry cleaner's supply (HANGERS); 54A: Carpenter __ (ANT); 55A: Exxon Valdez cargo (OIL); 62A: Many a dance club tune (REMIX); 63A: Fiendish (EVIL); 64A: The old you (THEE); 65A: '50s flop (EDSEL); 66A: Guitar's fingerboard (NECK); 67A: Repairs, as a green (SODS); 2D: Property recipient (ALIENEE); 4D: Old-fashioned "Way to go!" ("HUZZAH!"); 5D: Wheel parts (RIMS); 8D: Saxon opening (ANGLO-); 9D: Star Wars letters (SDI); 10D: Witchy woman (HAG); 13D: Article of faith (TENET); 19D: Keystone State founder (PENN); 21D: It may be evil (EYE); 25D: "The Optimist's Daughter" writer (WELTY); 26D: Generic pooch (FIDO); 27D: "Out of Africa" author Dinesen (ISAK); 33D: He said "Learn from the masses, and then teach them" (MAO); 34D: Common sense? (SIGHT); 36D: Atkins diet no-no (CARB); 37D: Gas brand seen at ampm stores (ARCO); 39D: Reached across (SPANNED); 40D: Powwow communication source (TOMTOMS); 44D: Analysts' concerns (PSYCHES); 46D: Clopper (HOOF); 49D: Mill inputs (GRISTS); 50D: Ballet rail (BARRE); 51D: Fire indicator, perhaps (SIREN); 52D: Green shade (OLIVE).