01.12 Wed

W E D N E S D A Y

January 12, 2011
Ken Bessette


Theme: Circle the Wagons — First and last two letters of each theme answer (which are circled) spell out a type of wagon.

Theme answers:

• 17A: When some suits don't wear suits (DRESS-DOWN FRIDAY).
• 23A: The Pawtucket Red Sox, e.g. (TRIPLE-A FARM TEAM).
• 52A: Sandals in Jamaica, e.g. (CARIBBEAN RESORT).
• 60A: Assume a defensive position (and what we did to highlight this puzzle's theme) (CIRCLE THE WAGONS).

I really, really want to love this puzzle. Seeing circles in my puzzle always make me a little skeptical, but this theme? This is why God invented circles in puzzles. The phrase is CIRCLE THE WAGONS. The circled letters are types of wagons. It's an idiomatic phrase with a literal interpretation. It's perfect. Exactly the kind of wordplay that makes me happy I'm a crossword freak. And yet …. DRESS-DOWN FRIDAY? I'm pretty sure I've never heard Casual Friday referred to that way. DRESS-DOWN FRIDAY makes it sound more like everyone's gonna get yelled at. And you definitely don't want to be restricted by a necktie when you're getting yelled at? Sorry, but that theme answer just doesn't work for me. TRIPLE-A FARM TEAM is probably okay, but it's not a phrase I would use. Not that I talk about minor league baseball that much, but when I do I'm more likely to say "triple-A club" or, simply, "farm team." CARIBBEAN RESORT is fine. The only problem I had with that is having to think about how to spell CARIBBEAN, but that's not the puzzle's fault.

I smiled when I unerstood what was going on with the theme. But that's before I really looked at the theme answers. And please don't get me started on the crosswordese. (Hint: Too much for Wednesday!) I crossed my fingers that just because the first two across answers were LE CAR and ENYA that didn't mean we were in for a Crosswordese Fest, but no such luck.

Best entries in the grid? EBBETS and OYE COMO VA (48D: Brooklyn's __ Field / 36D: Santana hit also covered by Tito Puente). Remember how the other day I wanted OYE COMO VA in the grid and it wasn't there and I posted the video anyway? Oh wait, that was over at Rex's. Here ya go.

Well, there's snow on the ground here in the Washington, DC, area, so I need to go take care of my legal obligation to spend some time freaking out this morning. Y'all enjoy your Wednesday and I'll see you back here tomorrow. Also, I have a feeling something pretty cool might happen next Wednesday, so be sure to come back.

Crosswordese 101: Occasionally, AVA is clued as simply a "Palindromic girl's name," but it's most often clued as AVA Gardner. Sometimes her last name is in the clue (e.g., "Gardner of Hollywood," "Gardner of film," "Actress Gardner"), but other times the clue will signal that the answer you're looking for is a first name by including a different person's first name — either an ex-husband (Mickey, Artie or Frank) or a co-star:

• Movie: "The Barefoot Contessa"
  
• Co-star: Humphrey (Bogart)

• Movie: "On the Beach"
  
• Co-star: Gregory (Peck)

• Movie: "Mogambo"
  
• Co-star: Clark (Gable)

• Movie: "The Killers"
  
• Co-star: Burt (Lancaster)

Other crosswordese in the puzzle that we've already covered:

• 1A: The Renault 5, in North America (LE CAR).
• 6A: One-named New Ager (ENYA).
• 21A: Frat "T" (TAU).
• 42A: River to the North Sea (TYNE).
• 46A: "Sonic the Hedgehog" developer (SEGA).
• 59A: Cheese or its town (EDAM).
• 8D: Gossipmonger (YENTA).
• 63D: Bambi's aunt (ENA).

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Everything Else — 10A: Lake plant (ALGA); 14A: Street of San José (CALLE); 15A: Ending with play or party (GOER); 16A: Rosemary, for one (HERB); 20A: Sound from Simba (ROAR); 22A: Fords with racing stripes (GT'S); 28A: Nuclear org. created under HST (AEC); 29A: __ Grey tea (EARL); 30A: Deep Throat's org. (FBI); 31A: Bamboozle (SCAM); 33A: Christian surname? (DIOR); 35A: How oaths are taken (ALOUD); 39A: __ de espera: waiting room (SALA); 40A: She played Buffy (SARAH); 43A: Derby town (EPSOM); 45A: Trig ratio (SINE); 49A: Schoolyard claim (DIBS); 51A: Frame for Roger Rabbit (CEL); 58A: Mideast "son of" (IBN); 66A: Hard downpour (HAIL); 67A: Music biz sensation, perhaps (TEEN); 68A: "If I Were a Rich Man" singer (TEVYE); 69A: Feminine suffix (-ENNE); 70A: Mex. miss (SRTA.); 71A: Clear (ERASE); 1D: Elec. readout (LCD); 2D: Field unit (EAR); 3D: Some temps (CLERICALS); 4D: Journalist Stewart or Joseph (ALSOP); 5D: Consignment shop transaction (RESALE); 6D: Swelled head (EGO); 7D: Word of urgency (NOW); 9D: Kennel double talk? (ARF ARF); 10D: Tuna at a luau (AHI); 11D: Building shelf (LEDGE); 12D: Persona non __ (GRATA); 13D: Wide gulf (ABYSM); 18D: Bob Marley feature (DREADS); 19D: Cuban dance (RUMBA); 23D: Café cup (TASSE); 24D: Roundup (RECAP); 25D: Met favorites (ARIAS); 26D: Where to see a lot of keys (FLORIDA); 27D: Knight games (TILTS); 32D: Haka dancers of New Zealand (MAORI); 34D: Made a quick stop (RAN IN); 37D: Madison's foil (UNGER); 38D: Passed out in Vegas? (DEALT); 41D: Sharon's language (HEBREW); 44D: Company that uses Pegasus as a symbol (MOBIL); 50D: Get under control, in a way (SEDATE); 52D: Buried supply (CACHE); 53D: Like most cardinals (AVIAN); 54D: __ to go (RARIN'); 55D: Pencil maze word (ENTER); 56D: More wise (SAGER); 61D: Cavs, on scoreboards (CLE); 62D: Worked (up) (HET); 64D: Where Rockefeller was gov. (NYS); 65D: Match, as a raise (SEE).

01.11 Tue

T U E S D A Y

January 11, 2011
Don Gagliardo


Theme: Lots of Ls — Um … lots of Ls.

Theme answers:

• 18A: Passé keyboard key (SCROLL LOCK).
• 62A: "I'm afraid this will sound funny" (YOU'LL LAUGH).
• 3D: Video game difficulty setting (SKILL LEVEL).
• 31D: Names on it are off-limits to telemarketers (NO-CALL LIST).
• 39A: Angle irons graphically represented by four sets of black squares in this grid, and by letter formations starting in the four longest answers (L-BARS).
• 64D: Ernie of the PGA, to whom this puzzle could be dedicated (ELS).

Good morning. I'm up super early today to get this post up for you, so let's just see how well my brain works at this time of the morning, shall we? I love the funky-looking grid we have today. Reminds me of those little whirly things on a stick that you blow on and they spin around. I'm sure those things have a name. In fact, I'm pretty sure I've seen the name of them in a puzzle. But I can't think of it now. Did I mention it's early?

Here's the thing about the theme. It's fine. I like the triple-L theme answers and I like the way the L blocks look in the grid. L-BAR? That really doesn't mean anything to me. If you Google it, many of the hits you'll get will be BARS aimed at a clientele of people whose lifestyle is sometimes referred to with a word that starts with the letter L. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Like I-beam and H-beam (and to a lesser extent T-nut) I assume an L-BAR is a real thing and has something to do with construction. Other than that, an L-BAR doesn't really have any significant presence in my life. So okay. The theme is L-BARS. Moving on.

I almost finished with an error and I wonder if any of you did the same thing? I plopped TIN in where TAN goes (4D: Bronze relative). I don't actually think that TIN and BRONZE are "relatives" but I already had the T and the N and I know that TIN and BRONZE have something to do with each other — which, I guess could make them "relatives" ... but now I'm just rambling. I was pretty sure it wasn't right when I put it in, is what I'm saying. So when I made my way back up to that section and saw ILKI, my hesitation was confirmed. I can't say that I know who ILKA Chase is (14A: Chase on stage) and I wasn't entirely sure her name wasn't ILKE. I mean, when you've got a ridiculous name like that, it really could end with just about anything, right? (Totally teasing about the ridiculousness of the name. It's actually a pretty cool name. Please don't write to me about my insensitivity.)

Bullets:

• 15A: Cat-__-tails (O-NINE). That is one ugly partial. And yet, I got it immediately, so can I really complain?
• 16A: Wicked (EVIL).



• 21A: Extremely, in Essex (BEASTLY). I need to keep a little notebook of all the words I see in crossword puzzles that I want to start using. I always say it here — "I'm going to start using this word" — but then I forget.
• 23A: Follower of Mary (LAMB). For a minute, I thought this clue was a reference to a radio alphabet. Then I remembered that when people say "M as in Mary" that's not the word used in the radio alphabet and actually sounds kinda wimpy. Of course now that I look it up, I see that the actual word used is MIKE and that's not much better. Oh look! The LAPD does use MARY. I take back everything I said.
• 68A: Boatload (SLEW).
• 7D: Letter addressees (SIRS). If there was ever a clue that could use a "passé" ….
• 21D: NYC subway line named for two boroughs (BMT). Nice to see the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit getting a little love. Usually, we only see the IRT here in CrossWorld.
• 27D: Hyped-up feeling (FEVER).



• 49D: Stock mkt. debut (IPO). Initial Public Offering. But you knew that.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 51A: German GM subsidiary (OPEL).
• 64A: Dublin's land (EIRE).
• 65A: Red Muppet (ELMO).
• 70A: Eyelid problem (STYE).
• 2D: Verve (ELAN).
• 32D: Big name in video games (ATARI).
• 64D: Ernie of the PGA, to whom this puzzle could be dedicated (ELS).

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Everything Else — 1A: 17-Across in the neck (PEST); 5A: Adventurous (RISKY); 10A: Domesticated (TAME); 17A: See 1-Across (PAIN); 20A: Bigger photo: Abbr. (ENL.); 22A: Horror maven Craven (WES); 25A: Sphere (ORB); 27A: Was beaten by (FELL TO); 29A: Midday energizer (POWER NAP); 34A: K-6 (ELEM.); 35A: Stroll (WALK); 37A: Vowel before omicron (IOTA); 38A: Bounty rival (VIVA); 41A: Picket line crosser (SCAB); 42A: Garden site (EDEN); 43A: Actor Neeson (LIAM); 44A: Finishes the road (TARS); 45A: Got sick again (RELAPSED); 48A: Like some quaint lamps (OIL-LIT); 50A: Fair grade (CEE); 52A: Workshop sprite (ELF); 55A: Crete-born "View of Toledo" painter (EL GRECO); 59A: Texas ranch initials (LBJ); 66A: Trace (TINGE); 67A: Future atty.'s hurdle (LSAT); 69A: Preminger et al. (OTTOS); 1D: Lounging jacket wearer's smoke, maybe (PIPE); 5D: Pasadena arena (ROSE BOWL); 6D: Andean ancient (INCA); 8D: Masseuse's challenge (KNOT); 9D: Cowardly (YELLOW); 10D: Business card abbr. (TEL.); 11D: Speak bluntly (AVOW); 12D: Cats' quarry (MICE); 13D: Benevolent lodgeful (ELKS); 19D: Ancient strings (LYRE); 24D: Farmers' publication? (ALMANAC); 26D: Brush component (BRISTLE); 28D: Say "bo's'n," say (ELIDE); 29D: Scottish pattern (PLAID); 30D: Gumbo pod (OKRA); 33D: Big name in beer (PABST); 36D: Up to the task (ABLE); 40D: Wet ones, so to speak (SMOOCHES); 46D: Banana discard (PEEL); 47D: Have as a customer (SELL TO); 52D: Makeup accentuates them (EYES); 53D: Recline lazily (LOLL); 54D: Do a slow burn (FUME); 56D: Trot or canter (GAIT); 57D: Litter's littlest (RUNT); 58D: Kellogg's toaster brand (EGGO); 60D: Donkey's protest (BRAY); 61D: Ballet leap (JETÉ); 63D: Sad (LOW).

01.10 Mon

M O N D A Y

January 10, 2011
Bruce Venzke and Gail Grabowski


Theme: Extra! Extra! — Theme answers start with the words "Read all about it."

Theme answers:

• 17A: Do some palmistry (READ ONE'S FORTUNE).
• 26A: Groundbreaking 1970s sitcom (ALL IN THE FAMILY).
• 47A: Link on a writer's site (ABOUT THE AUTHOR).
• 61A: Hilly Clinton bestseller (IT TAKES A VILLAGE).
• 68A: When repeated, start of an old shout that ends with the starts of 17-, 26-, 47- and 61-Across (EXTRA).

First of all I want to say: SMERSH. I just really felt like that needed to be said right up front this morning. SMERSH. Maybe several times. SMERSH SMERSH SMERSH. I've never read any James Bond novels and I've never been a big fan of the movies either, so SMERSH was a complete mystery to me. Got it entirely through crosses, at which point I marveled "Where have you been all my life?" I mean, I don't care who ya are, that's one awesome word right there. SMERSH. Welcome to my vocabulary, SMERSH.

For some reason, the LA Times archive on cruciverb.com hasn't been updated yet, so I had to solve on the applet this morning, which is no fun. I will say this for the LA Times's applet: it seems to be more user-friendly than the applet on the NY Times's site. Of course, that's not saying much. I can't figure out why there isn't a decent applet out there yet. What year is it again? Let's just talk about the puzzle before I get myself all worked up.

Fun theme today. Using the applet distracted me, so I wasn't able to pay attention to it as I was solving, which is kind of a bummer. I also found myself a little distracted by SMERSH (in case you hadn't noticed) but that's not the theme's fault. I especially like the entry ABOUT THE AUTHOR — a phrase that looks like a partial, but that you've actually seen a million times if you read at all. And any reference to ALL IN THE FAMILY is always good. I don't know if I've ever mentioned this to you before, but when I used to watch the show, I was a kid in Fargo, North Dakota, which means I basically had no idea what they were talking about half the time. When I got a little older and saw a little more of the world it all came together for me and I was like "Ohhhh yeeeah … that's funny."

Bullets:

• 22A: Fine distinction (NICETY). I tried "nuance" first.
• 23A: Tavern tussle (MELEE). I tried "brawl" first. (I don't usually have this much trouble on a Monday!)

• 25A: Delaware senator who sponsored IRA legislation (ROTH). Did you remember he was from Delaware? Me neither.
• 38A: "Midnight Cowboy" hustler Rizzo (RATSO). And here's our friend RATSO again.
• 44A: Soviet anti-spy group in some James Bond novels (SMERSH). SMERSH!
• 10D: Armstrong's nickname (SATCHMO). I'm all "Neil Armstrong had a nickname? What was it, like … Space Boy?"
  
• 28A: In poor taste (TRASHY).

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 20A: Giant legend Mel (OTT).
  
• 7D: Condé ___ Publications (NAST)
  
• 11D: Turn on an axis (SLUE).
  
• 35D: Andean stew veggie (OCA).

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Everything Else — 1A: Make mention of (CITE); 5A: Bamboo lover (PANDA); 10A: Army NCO (SSGT); 14A: Eight, in Essen (ACHT); 15A: Look forward to (AWAIT); 16A: Tiger or Twin, briefly (AL'ER); 21A: Chick's digs (NEST); 33A: Excessively ornate (FLORID); 34A: Sensitive skin spots (SORES); 35A: Not operating (OFF); 40A: __ Kan: Alpo alternative (KAL); 41A: Welsh dog (CORGI); 51A: "__, old chap!" (I SAY); 52A: Laura's cry on "The Dick Van Dyke Show" (OH ROB); 54A: Small gun (PISTOL); 57A: Western tie (BOLO); 60A: Stag party attendee (GUY); 64A: One who might 17-Across (SEER); 65A: Begat (SIRED); 66A: Top draft status (ONE-A); 67A: Music boosters (AMPS); 69A: Cold War initials (USSR); 1D: Billiards bounce (CAROM); 2D: Summer refresher (ICE TEA); 3D: "__ be the day!" (THAT'LL); 4D: LAX datum (ETD); 5D: Window section (PANE); 6D: Leaves speechless (AWES); 8D: "What's the __?" (DIF); 9D: Numerous (A TON OF); 12D: Lady's partner (GENT); 13D: Low card (TREY); 18D: NBC correspondent Roger (O'NEIL); 19D: Hayworth and Moreno (RITAS); 24D: Wrapper for Santa (ELF); 25D: Obstacle for Moses (RED SEA); 27D: Hide-hair link (NOR); 29D: Blackjack request (HIT ME); 30D: Aggravate (IRK); 31D: Grassy expanse (LEA); 32D: French designer's monogram (YSL); 36D: Watch chain (FOB); 37D: To's opposite (FRO); 39D: Tulsa sch. named for a televangelist (ORU); 42D: Rock instruments (GUITARS); 43D: "Not to worry" ("IT'S OK"); 45D: Seat that often swivels (STOOL); 46D: 1968 loser to RMN (HHH); 48D: "Honor Thy Father" author Gay (TALESE); 49D: Instruments with many pedals (ORGANS); 50D: Cheek colorers (ROUGES); 53D: How some learn music (BY EAR); 54D: Tuscany tower site (PISA); 55D: Agenda unit (ITEM); 56D: Twelve-__ program (STEP); 57D: Homer's son (BART); 58D: In excess of (OVER); 59D: "__ Rose": "The Music Man" song (LIDA); 62D: Common dinner hour (SIX); 63D: Comic Costello (LOU).

01.09 Sun

S U N D A Y (calendar)

January 9, 2011
Sylvia Bursztyn

[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.]

As you may have heard, Sylvia Bursztyn, who created this puzzle, passed away December 30. You can read the L.A. Times obituary here. I know Sylvia will be missed.

Theme: "Light Work" — Puns relating to light.

Theme answers:

• 23A: Lighting guru? (DR. FILAMENT).
• 25A: Lapses in light? (LUMEN DROPS).
• 48A: Better lighting line? (SUPERIOR CORD).
• 72A: What lit Mary's way in the dark? (A LITTLE LAMP).
• 95A: Lighting peddler's conveyance? (FIXTURE WAGON).
• 117A: Lighting store? (BULB MARKET).
• 121A: Yank that gets the wire out of the wall? (PLUG WRENCH).
• 33D: Switches stuck on low? (FROZEN DIMMERS).
• 38D: "An amount of power, is that right?" ("WATTAGE YOU SAY?").

Everything Else — 1A: Seizes (GRABS); 6A: Queen who loved Aeneas (DIDO); 10A: Thing to do (TASK); 14A: Pastrami's place, often (ON RYE); 19A: "That's ---!" (A WRAP); 20A: Bath stream (AVON); 21A: Lateral intro (EQUI-); 22A: Indy champ Bobby (RAHAL); 27A: Lacking body (LIMP); 28A: Taco chip dip (SALSA); 30A: Turn off (VEER); 31A: Cradle to grave (LIFETIME); 35A: Florence's --- Palace (PITTI); 37A: Attract (DRAW IN); 41A: Eliza's 'iggins ('ENRY); 42A: Hip joint (COXA); 44A: Native American ears (MAIZE); 46A: Put on the boards (STAGE); 47A: Glop (GOO); 51A: Mount near Messina (ETNA); 52A: European blackbirds (OUZELS); 54A: Tonic go-with (GIN); 55A: Calamitous (DIRE); 57A: Rugrat (TOT); 58A: Shorthand pro (STENO); 59A: Flight to the ER (MEDEVAC); 63A: Set against (COMPARE); 65A: City near Vesuvius (NAPLES); 67A: It has banks and flows (RIVER); 69A: Some oranges (OSAGES); 70A: Current letters (AC/DC); 75A: Noodge (PEST); 76A: Resolute (GRITTY); 78A: More furtive (SLIER); 79A: Tom of "Happy Days" (BOSLEY); 81A: Tec (GUMSHOE); 83A: Turtles ingredient (CARAMEL); 85A: "Get ---!" (A ROOM); 88A: "Stand" band (REM); 89A: "You're not the boss ---!" (OF ME); 91A: Guy's date (GAL); 92A: Ill-treat (MISUSE); 93A: Grade sch. (ELEM.); 100A: Spread (SOW); 101A: Gymnast Kerri (STRUG); 103A: Tropical vine (LIANA); 104A: Reformer Jacob (RIIS); 105A: Galleria (MALL); 106A: Network (SYSTEM); 108A: Vogue (TREND); 110A: Some salmon (SOCKEYES); 112A: Show horse (ARAB); 114A: Movie shots (TAKES); 116A: Crowd noise (ROAR); 126A: "Be-Bop- ---" (ALULA); 127A: Leisure (EASE); 128A: Novelist Hoag (TAMI); 129A: Hi or bye on Lanai (ALOHA); 130A: Poe bird (RAVEN); 131A: Env. abbr. (ATTN.); 132A: RN's device (HYPO); 133A: Rookies (TYROS); 1D: Wander (GAD); 2D: Presidential inits. (RWR); 3D: "Ruff" kin (ARF); 4D: Tony winner Pearl (BAILEY); 5D: Divvy up (SPLIT); 6D: Give the floor a quick clean (DAMP MOP); 7D: "--- had it!" (I'VE); 8D: Puts on (DONS); 9D: Available (ON TAP); 10D: Satellite of 1962 (TELSTAR); 11D: Living in water (AQUATIC); 12D: Bottom line (SUM); 13D: Ukraine's capital (KIEV); 14D: Directives (ORDERS); 15D: Tell (NARRATE); 16D: Pi follower (RHO); 17D: Pie hole (YAP); 18D: Golf champ Ernie (ELS); 24D: Friend, to Flavius (AMICUS); 26D: Beatty of "Deliverance" (NED); 29D: Star vehicle (LIMO); 31D: Kid's building blocks (LEGOS); 32D: Desk tray words (IN/OUT); 34D: Critical interpretation (EXEGESIS); 36D: Big name in sportswear (IZOD); 39D: Disregards (IGNORES); 40D: Most spiffy (NEATEST); 43D: Like Death Valley (ARID); 45D: Idle, Ambler or Burdon (ERIC); 48D: Sty food (SLOP); 49D: It can be a drag (INERTIA); 50D: Wilts (DROOPS); 53D: Passes (ENACTS); 56D: Type measures (EMS); 59D: Blanc or Brooks (MEL); 60D: More nasty (VILER); 61D: Middling (AVERAGE); 62D: Framable frame (CEL); 64D: Documentation (PAPERS); 66D: Let go (LAY OFF); 68D: Gargantua's creator (RABELAIS); 70D: Attack first (AGGRESS); 71D: Harshness (CRUELTY); 73D: Pampering, for short (TLC); 74D: Gretchen who played Bettie Page (MOL); 77D: However, briefly (THO); 80D: Been in bed (LAIN); 82D: Jannings of old movies (EMIL); 84D: Bryn --- (MAWR); 86D: "--- Mio" (O SOLE); 87D: Whimpers (MEWLS); 90D: Way out (EXIT); 92D: Gorky Park locale (MOSCOW); 94D: Inconstant (MUTABLE); 96D: Most pucker-producing (TARTEST); 97D: Like leftovers (UNEATEN); 98D: Major, for one (RANK); 99D: Designer Armani (GIORGIO); 102D: From Frankfurt (GERMAN); 105D: Just (MERELY); 107D: Calf call (MAA); 109D: Third dimension (DEPTH); 111D: Gold standard (KARAT); 113D: La --- Tar Pits (BREA); 115D: Do in a dragon (SLAY); 117D: Slot machine symbol (BAR); 118D: Spat end (-ULA); 119D: Murray Schisgal play (LUV); 120D: Comics' Krazy one (KAT); 122D: Ballpark fig. (UMP); 123D: Scand. land (NOR); 124D: Comedian Margaret (CHO); 125D: Features (HAS).

01.09 Sun

S U N D A Y (syndicated)

January 9, 2011
Jack McInturff

[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: "Oui" — The letters "OU" are replaced with "I" in familiar phrases, and the resulting entries are given punny clues.

Theme Answers:

• 23A: Herb homily? (SERMON ON THE MINT).
• 39A: Like a stroller out of breath? (WALKING WINDED).
• 50A: Golf pro's protection? (GRIP INSURANCE).
• 70A: Coffee at church? (HALLOWED GRIND).
• 81A: Adoptee's goal? (FINDING FATHER).
• 105A: "Last Comic Standing" winning routine? (CHAMPIONSHIP BIT).
• 35D: Knighted vintner's nickname? (SIR GRAPES).
• 46D: Dorm room Christmas tree? (FIR POSTER).

Hey, folks. Doug here with you on a Sunday. First, some sad news to report. Longtime L.A. Times Sunday puzzle constructor Sylvia Bursztyn has passed away. She and Barry Tunick began constructing a Sunday puzzle for the newspaper back in 1980, and it's become a weekly institution for many Angelenos. The Times has a nice write-up here: Sylvia Bursztyn.

Today's syndicated puzzle was a good one. Rather than simply adding or subtracting a letter, Jack McInturff pulls a little switcheroo, substituting "I" for "OU." My favorite theme entry is SIR GRAPES because it conjures up a goofy image, and goofy images are the bread and butter of my blog posts. My least favorite is FIR POSTER, because the clue (Dorm room Christmas tree?) feels a bit off. I think the idea is that a college student wouldn't have an actual Christmas tree in his or her dorm room, so the kid might tack up a poster with a Christmas tree on it. Hmmm. Maybe a clue about a "Christmas tree blog" and "blog posters" would make more sense.

Quite a few unfamiliar names in this one, but I didn't have trouble getting them from the crossing entries. Let's begin the bullets.

Bullets:

• 19A: Yellow spreads (OLEOS). You think "Big Tobacco" is too powerful? What about "Big Butter"? Oleo (margarine) is naturally white. In the early 19th century, the butter lobby supported legislation to ban the addition of yellow coloring to margarine. Some states even enacted laws to require margarine manufacturers to add pink coloring to make the product look unpalatable. By the start of the 20th century, eight out of ten Americans couldn't buy yellow margarine, and those that could had to pay a hefty tax on it. Bootleg colored margarine became common, and manufacturers began to supply food-coloring capsules so that the consumer could knead the yellow color into margarine before serving it. (Wikipedia)
• 26A: Canadian pianist Kuerti (ANTON). First "huh?" name of the day.

• 36A: Van Morrison's singing daughter (SHANA). Second "huh?" name of the day. To be fair, SHANA clues usually reference Shana Alexander, and I don't know her either. Maybe Ms. Morrison can supplant her as the go-to SHANA.
• 44A: Sound relatives (BAYS). Sounds and bays are bodies of water. Tricky.
• 78A: Former U.K. carrier (BOAC). British Overseas Airway Corporation. I once confused this with HUAC, House Un-American Activities Committee.
• 1D: Speaker of note (BOSE). Bose is a company that makes high-end audio equipment. My first guess for this one was TRIS Speaker, Hall of Fame centerfielder.
• 3D: Michael Corleone's bodyguard Al (NERI). Third "huh?" name of the day.
• 31D: "___ Promise You": *NSYNC hit (THIS I). This I promise you: I will never include an 'N SYNC video on the blog. But the Meaty Cheesy Boys are cool.

• 40D: Pianist/composer Chasins (ABRAM). Fourth "huh?" name of the day.

• 64D: Former title-winning women's wrestler Stratus (TRISH). Fifth and final "huh?" name of the day. I couldn't find a SFB (Safe For Blog) picture of Ms. Stratus, so you'll have to google your own. She's a seven-time WWE Women's Champion, and her signature moves include the Chick Kick, MaTrish Reloaded, and Stratusfaction. Maybe Iowa should hire her to help coach the wrestling team. (I'm kidding, PuzzleGirl! I just want to make sure you're reading this.)
• 81D: Bernie, Roz, and Greg, in a 2004 film (FOCKERS). I'm a little surprised to see this entry in a mainstream puzzle. I suspect it would have been disallowed if the word crossing the "O" was the least bit ambiguous. How many of these "Fockers" movies are there anyway? I've seen a lot of billboards for the latest installment.

• 84D: Spy covers (FAKE IDS). Remember "The Bourne Identity" movie? While in Zurich, the amnesiac Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) opens up a safe deposit box and finds a collection of his fake passports and IDs. And all of them have my birthday on them: month, day, and year! Cool, eh? A couple years after the movie came out, I noticed that some company was selling "Bourne Identity" props on eBay, so I emailed to ask them about the fake passports. They said they can't sell items that could be used for fraudulent purposes. Lame!
• 106D: Hugs, on cards (OOO). You don't usually see them without kisses (XXX).

Crosswordese101 Round-up:

• 19A: Yellow spreads (OLEOS).
• 74A: Hindu title (SRI).
• 96A: Pelvic bones (ILIA).
• 108A: It has banks in Switzerland (AARE).
• 24D: One-time partner of novelist Miller (NIN).
• 54D: African antelope (ELAND).
• 65D: Saree wearer (RANEE).

Everything Else — 1A: Language group that includes Swahili (BANTU); 6A: "Great" swingers (APES); 10A: Yaks (GABS); 14A: "Get out!" ("SCRAM!"); 20A: "Gloria" actress Rowlands (GENA); 21A: It will probably keep you in bed (AGUE); 22A: Raccoon kin (COATI); 27A: It's usually over a door (EXIT SIGN); 28A: Australia's __ Rock (AYERS); 29A: Current concern (EL NIÑO); 30A: Dismayed cry (OH NO); 31A: One begins "Rhapsody in Blue" (TRILL); 32A: Witness to the Transfiguration of Jesus (ST. PETER); 33A: Mag transformed by Helen Gurley Brown (COSMO); 37A: Union leavers (SECEDERS); 38A: Hawaiian tuna (AHI); 43A: Fallen orbiter (MIR); 45A: With no rocks (NEAT); 46A: Suspect story, maybe (FIB); 49A: '90s game disc (POG); 55A: Nest egg initials (IRA); 56A: Upgrade to five stars, say (RERATE); 58A: Not rented (OWNED); 59A: Capers (LARKS); 61A: "Sherlock Holmes" actress Rachel (MCADAMS); 63A: "What __ Is This?" (CHILD); 64A: Wander (TRAIPSE); 66A: Attend to loose ends (MOP UP); 67A: Look uncertainly (for) (GROPE); 68A: 1972 Oscar refuser (BRANDO); 69A: Wrath (IRE); 77A: Elected ones (INS); 79A: Slick trick (RUSE); 80A: Lincoln progeny (TAD); 86A: Director's challenge (EGO); 87A: Remove with effort (DISLODGE); 91A: Use the soapbox (ORATE); 92A: Spanish others (OTRAS); 94A: Lures (ENTICES); 95A: Moccasin, e.g. (SNAKE); 98A: Areas above hooves (SHANKS); 99A: Pursue (CHASE); 100A: Torino tongue (ITALIANO); 104A: Pasta often served alla vodka (PENNE); 107A: Drive-thru decision (ORDER); 109A: Not a happy fate (DOOM); 110A: Writer Zora __ Hurston (NEALE); 111A: Tries out (TESTS); 112A: Lulus (PIPS); 113A: Sound measure (SONE); 114A: Taunts (GIBES); 2D: Author Haley (ALEX); 4D: Hand-played drum (TOM TOM); 5D: Wartime diversion (USO SHOW); 6D: To the max, in the disco era (A-GO-GO); 7D: Ivy League member (PENN); 8D: Stud attachment? (-ENT); 9D: Dry and hot (SAHARAN); 10D: Some wardens' concern (GAME LAW); 11D: "__ Like You": Young Rascals hit (A GIRL); 12D: Keister (BUNS); 13D: Place to be quiet (SET); 14D: Like Super Bowl tickets, perhaps (SCALPED); 15D: Hustled (CONNED); 16D: Kiwi or rhea (RATITE); 17D: Sorry sort (ATONER); 18D: They may have 84-Down (MINORS); 25D: Giving the once-over (EYING); 29D: "Yada, yada, yada ..." ("ETC., ETC. …"); 32D: Family car (SEDAN); 33D: Summer getaway (CAMP); 34D: River formed at Pittsburgh (OHIO); 36D: Internet communications company (SKYPE); 37D: Golf's Slammin' Sammy (SNEAD); 41D: Café additions (LAITS); 42D: Denoting a loss (IN RED); 47D: Bugs (IRKS); 48D: It may be stolen (BASE); 50D: Plotting aid (GRAPH); 51D: Not at all (NO HOW); 52D: Steal (SWIPE); 53D: Without direction (UNLED); 57D: http://ucla.__ (EDU); 60D: It may be financial or legal (AID); 61D: Year of Super Bowl XXXVI (MMII); 62D: Muffin grain (CORN); 63D: Signs of spring (CROCI); 67D: Forest clearing (GLADE); 68D: Cruel, as force (BRUTE); 71D: Stomachs (ABIDES); 72D: Suit sizes (LONGS); 73D: Irritate (GRATE); 75D: Shankar music style (RAGA); 76D: Nuptial vows (I DOS); 82D: They aren't stars (NO NAMES); 83D: Understand (GRASP); 85D: Like white water (ROILING); 87D: Absolute ruler (DESPOT); 88D: Beckoning words (IN HERE); 89D: Score holders (STANDS); 90D: Small finch (LINNET); 93D: Capital city that hosted the 2007 Baseball World Cup (TAIPEI); 95D: #, on scores (SHARP); 96D: "Whoís there?" reply ("IT'S ME"); 97D: "Well, __-di-dah" (LAH); 99D: Indian spiced tea (CHAI); 100D: A party to (IN ON); 101D: Rhyme scheme of Kipling's "Ifó" (ABAB); 102D: Cairo's river (NILE); 103D: Plural suffix with Capri (-OTES); 105D: Salary limit (CAP).

01.08 Sat

S A T U R D A Y

January 8, 2011
Harvey Estes


Theme: None

I'm sorry, gang, but it's just one of those days. All I can do today is post the grid for you. Please have at it in the comments. Doug will be here with your Sunday puzzle tomorrow and I'll see you back here Monday. Have a great weekend!

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 16A: Thames landmark (ETON).
• 56A: French 101 verb (ÊTRE).
• 3D: Floral gifts (LEIS).
• 53D: Sputnik coverer (TASS).

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Everything Else — 1A: Worker with many keys (VALET); 6A: Fleece (CLIP); 10A: Nick Saban's team, familiarly (BAMA); 14A: Motel convenience (ICE MACHINE); 17A: Quicker picker-uppers? (STIMULANTS); 18A: City on the Rhône (LYON); 19A: Pigeon (EASY TARGET); 20A: Actress Anderson (LONI); 21A: Guilty and more (PLEAS); 22A: Dodge (RUSE); 23A: Juice carriers (WIRES); 28A: Go astray (ERR); 29A: Fountain contemporary (HIRT); 30A: Foolishness (INANITY); 32A: Spot remover, at times (SPONSOR); 35A: Surfing equipment (MODEMS); 36A: It purrs when it's cared for (ENGINE); 37A: Got ready for a big date (PRIMPED); 39A: Stepped on it, with "up" (SPEEDED); 40A: Boxes of calendars? (DAYS); 41A: Mountain West Conference athlete (UTE); 43A: Code subject (DRESS); 44A: Builder's truckload (FILL); 45A: High school math calculations (AREAS); 47A: One fighting something (ANTI); 48A: Mixed condiment (GARLIC SALT); 54A: Early exile (CAIN); 55A: Cause of senselessness (ANESTHESIA); 57A: "Don't waste your time" ("IT'S USELESS"); 58A: Driving aids (TEES); 59A: Biweekly tide (NEAP); 60A: Trip interruptions (FLATS); 1D: Workbench item (VISE); 2D: Court records (ACTA); 4D: Peabody relative (EMMY); 5D: Having no play (TAUT); 6D: Pride of country music (CHARLEY); 7D: Extend one's stay (LINGER); 8D: Visibly moved (IN TEARS); 9D: Raid targets (PESTS); 10D: Churches with carillons don't need one (BELL RINGER); 11D: Being supportive (AT YOUR SIDE); 12D: Opalescent gems (MOONSTONES); 13D: Warbucks's charge (ANNIE); 15D: What fans do (CLAP); 23D: Unlikely hero (WIMP); 24D: Extreme (INORDINATE); 25D: Automotive innovation that improved fuel economy (RADIAL TIRE); 26D: Front borders (ENEMY LINES); 27D: Ninnies (SIMPS); 29D: Perfected (HONED); 31D: Japanese financial market inits. (TSE); 33D: Dash (PEP); 34D: Film for which Warren Beatty won a Best Director Oscar (REDS); 38D: Mrs. Calabash's creator (DURANTE); 39D: Shrink-wraps, e.g. (SEALS UP); 42D: Mother in Calcutta (TERESA); 44D: Aspect (FACET); 45D: Over (AGAIN); 46D: Is in session (SITS); 49D: Frequent taster (CHEF); 50D: Push, in a way (SELL); 51D: Cruising (ASEA); 52D: Where guests may be ticked off? (LIST).

01.07 Fri

F R I D A Y

January 7, 2011
Gary Steinmehl


Theme: And sometimes Y (but not this time) — Familiar phrases have a vowel tacked onto the front. The vowels progress from top to bottom — A, E, I, O, U.

Theme answers:

• 20A: Proof of quartz sales? (AGATE RECEIPTS).
• 30A: Brewery's best? (ELITE BEER).
• 38A: "Mad Max" and "Twelve Angry Men"? (IRATE MOVIES).
• 46A: One of many at a Syracuse University football game? (ORANGE TOP).
• 58A: Making a mess at the warehouse? (UPENDING CASES).

I'm not going to lie and tell you I understood the theme while I was solving. I definitely didn't. I tried. Lord knows, I tried! But it didn't make any sense to me until I saw it all laid out. I'm not exactly crazy about the "I" entry. I guess the base phrase is "rate movies," and that's weak. But the rest of them are pretty good. ORANGE TOP actually made me chuckle. I found the rest of the puzzle just crunchy enough to be interesting, but not really hard enough for a Friday. (I know, I know, it's like I'm beating that dead horse that was sliding into home plate in that Mr. Ed video the other day.)

I did have a couple trouble spots. The first was that whole 13D: Before and 22D: Before, before? thing. I popped ERE in where PRE- was supposed to go, but realized I had been tricked pretty quickly. Also SCENA was rough (5A: One usually includes an aria and a recitative). My first thought was "opera" but that seemed a little too simple so I waited for some crosses. Eventually, it looked like the answer was supposed to be "scene," so I threw that on in. But "Esti" really didn't look right to me and I know ASTI from past puzzles (see CW101 below), so it was an easy enough fix.

Bullets:

• 1A: Lip (BRIM). Oh, I really wanted this to be "sass."

• 10A: Rhode Island's motto (HOPE). Short and to the point. I like it.
• 16A: Clue in a hunt (ODOR). Okay, this is funny. When I entered this answer I thought, "Wouldn't 'scent' be more appropriate? I mean, ODOR has such a negative connotation …." Like, what do I think the smell actually is out there in the woods? Cinnamon and rose petals?
• 34A: Is after you? (ARE). Conjugation trickiness. (And isn't that the best kind of trickiness?)
• 36A: Oscar-winning role for Forest (IDI). If you're gonna have an evil oppressive leader in the puzzle, this is the way to clue him. (And not with a little joke like "Mean Amin?" Haha! Get it? He was a tyrant that had hundreds of thousands of people killed! So he was mean! And that rhymes with his name! Haha!)
• 45A: Sweet ending (-OSE). -OSE is a suffix used with different types of sugars (fructose, glucose, etc.).

• 65A: Law partner (ORDER). DUN dun! (Wasn't sure how to spell that, but you get my drift.)
• 8D: Roger Maris wore it (NINE). Home town boy does good.
• 11D: Adventures (ODYSSEYS).



• 29D: Stirrup site (EAR). Who decided to name all those parts of the EAR all wacky?

• 42D: Anteater's sound effect in the comic "B.C." (ZOT). This answer came to me immediately. I guess I used to pay attention to "B.C."
• 49D: Some judges sit on them (PANELS). Because "butts" wouldn't fit.

Crosswordese 101: It's hard to believe we haven't covered ASTI yet. ASTI is an "Italian wine province" — in fact, you're likely to see exactly that clue in early-week puzzles. Today's clue is similar — 9D: Wine town near Turin. Other words that will tip you off to ASTI are Piedmont, spumante, vineyard, and Martini & Rossi. Later in the week, the clue might not mention wine at all, so tuck it away in your head as simply an Italian province too, and that will come in handy.

Other crosswordese in the puzzle that we've already covered:

• 13D: Before (ERE).
• 27D: Scrap (ORT).
• 41D: Head lines? (EEG).

[Follow PuzzleGirl on Twitter.]

Everything Else — 14A: Jim-dandy (A-ONE); 15A: Kachina carvers (HOPIS); 17A: Amounting to nothing (NULL); 18A: "Give me __" (A HINT); 19A: Texters do it (TYPE); 23A: __ moon (NEW); 24A: Ballot marker (X'ER); 25A: "One Good Cop" actress (RUSSO); 28A: Money in the bank, e.g. (ASSET); 37A: However (YET); 42A: Self-realization sect (ZEN); 44A: Bill (TAB); 50A: Lit up (AGLOW); 54A: Resort area near Reno (TAHOE); 55A: Org. offering jumps (AAA); 57A: First mate? (EVE); 63A: Pure and simple (MERE); 66A: Some are noble (FIRS); 67A: Head line (PART); 68A: City where de Gaulle was born (LILLE); 69A: Cameo, maybe (ROLE); 70A: Fellows (GUYS); 71A: Like Falstaff (OBESE); 72A: Cameo material (ONYX); 1D: Yogurt flavor (BANANA); 2D: They make you red in the face (ROUGES); 3D: Wedding creations (INLAWS); 4D: Get all mushy (MELT); 5D: Slice (SHARE); 6D: Hold together (COHERE); 7D: Work with a wide scope (EPIC); 10D: Place to chill (HOT TUB); 12D: Top 40 genre (POP); 21D: Hollywood "spear carrier" (EXTRA); 26D: Take in (SEE); 31D: People bend over backwards for it (LIMBO); 32D: Promising words (I DO); 33D: Save for later viewing (TIVO); 35D: Feminizing ending (-ETTE); 38D: Rushed (IN A HURRY); 39D: Put away (EAT); 40D: Composer Albéniz (ISAAC); 43D: Chunk of time (ERA); 47D: Apartment caveat (NO PETS); 48D: "My stars!" ("GEE!"); 51D: Skin wound (LESION); 52D: Too (OVERLY); 53D: Setting for many Thomas Hardy novels (WESSEX); 56D: Go along (AGREE); 59D: __ contendere (NOLO); 60D: Small quantity (DRIB); 61D: Like doodling (IDLE); 62D: Full coif (AFRO); 63D: Automaker's concern, briefly (MPG); 64D: Water under le pont (EAU).