05.23 Mon

M O N D A Y

May 23, 2011
Victor Barocas

Theme: Colorful Crime Scene - Colored phrases have been smushed with evidence that might point to a murderer.

Theme answers:

• 20A: Evidence against an aristocrat? (BLUE BLOOD STAIN).
• 40A: Evidence against a gardener? (GREEN THUMB PRINT).
• 56A: Evidence against an Oscar attendee? (RED CARPET FIBER).

PuzzleGirl's not feeling well today, so you're dealing with Neville this morning. I find it crazy that this puzzle ran just two days after the DVD of Clue, one of my favorite films, I ordered arrived in mail - many more colors and crime scenes! The best moment of that film, courtesy of Madeline Kahn - spoiler alert!

And I love this puzzle as much as this movie. This is a great Monday puzzle! The theme is clever, yet easily accessible. It's got great fill (one exception - we'll hit that later) and it continues the grand tradition of early week puzzles with only three theme entries. I don't mean that sarcastically - I think there's a lot to be said for a well executed idea with just three entries. Can we please keep this up?

Bullets:

• 14A. Type of seedless orange (NAVEL). Number of times my name has been misspelled this way in the past month: Two. Once on a note to me at work and once yesterday at Starbucks. You know how they ask you your name to put on your drink? I spell my name afterwards so that they can put it on right. I started spelling, but the girl had already written NAVEL and started laughing and showed me. I also didn't get the whipped cream I wanted. Starbucks is always full of disappointments for me.
• 16A. Password enterer (USER).

• 25A. "Private Practice" network (ABC). With the cancellation of "No Ordinary Family," the number of primetime shows I watch on ABC is now reduced to one - and I usually catch "Shark Tank" on Hulu anyway.
• 44A. Singer Diamond (NEIL). There are two kinds of people in this world: Those that shout "So good! So good! So good!" when "Sweet Caroline" is played at a sporting event, and those who don't. Which category do you fall in?
• 64A. Seuss environmentalist (LORAX). The LORAX speaks for the trees, but have you heard what George Takei's been up to? Whether you agree with the politics behind this or not, I think you'll find the idea behind this pretty cute:

• 41D. Where Hercules slew a lion (NEMEA). The Nemean lion was the (nsfw) honey badger of Roman mythology.
• 47D. Q-Tip target (EARWAX). Ewwww! Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, anyone? No?

Crosswordese 101 Not a Real Word Round-up:

• 45A. Pout (MOUE). This isn't a word - Google agrees! This is the sole severe detractor from this puzzle for me. Sure, there are some other entries I don't like on a Monday, but this is utter nonsense. But what really gets me is when I, as an amateur constructor, can easily fix it: VENUS > VENTI (again with the Starbucks?) give us MOTE and MIS, which I find much preferable to MSS (ManuScriptS).
• 25D. Sponsorship (AEGIS). I don't mind this, but new solvers might not be familiar with it. An AEGIS "is a large collar or cape worn in ancient times to display the protection provided by a high religious authority or the holder of a protective shield signifying the same, such as a bag-like garment that contained a shield. Sometimes the garment and the shield are merged, with a small version of the shield appearing on the garment. It originally was derived from the protective shield associated with a religious figure when related in myths and images. The wearing of the aegis and its contents show sponsorship, protection, or authority derived from yet a higher source or deity. The name has been extended to many other entities, and the concept of a protective shield is found in other mythologies, while its form varies across sources." And if you think that I didn't just copy and paste that from Wikipedia, then...

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Everything Else — 1A: In the heavens (ABOVE); 6A: McCartney's instrument (BASS); 10A: Predecessor of surrealism (DADA); 15A: "There oughta be ___!" (A LAW); 17A: Like the more serious larceny (GRAND); 18A: "All you need," in a Beatles song (LOVE); 19A: Farm structure (SILO); 23A: Immigrant's subj. (ESL); 24A: Guitar neck features (FRETS); 28A: Bluesman Mahal (TAJ); 30A: Resident since birth (NATIVE); 34A: Tombstone lawman (EARP); 36A: Common mixer (SODA); 39A: Styles (MODES); 43A: To whom "I'll see you in my dreams" is sung (IRENE); 45A: Pout (MOUE); 46A: Opening word for Ali Baba (SESAME); 48A: Long sandwich (SUB); 50A: Ed.'s workload items (MS'S); 51A: Smallest (LEAST); 54A: Enemy (FOE); 62A: Black-and-white treat (OREO); 63A: Suffix with soft or flat (-WARE); 66A: Matter topper? (MIND); 67A: Part of NRA: Abbr. (ASSN.); 68A: Hardly hoi polloi (ELITE); 69A: Seeger of the Weavers (PETE); 70A: Marvel Comics heroes (X-MEN); 71A: Hamlet's countrymen (DANES); 1D: Director Lee (ANG); 2D: Harpoon point (BARB); 3D: Racetrack shape (OVAL); 4D: Legal site (VENUE); 5D: Firstborn sibling (ELDEST); 6D: Fun time (BALL); 7D: Distant (ALOOF); 8D: Relish (SAVOR); 9D: "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" setting (SWEDEN); 10D: Wind-related desert event (DUST STORM); 11D: Where Siberia is (ASIA); 12D: Corned beef seller (DELI); 13D: Elvis's middle name (ARON); 21D: Fun time (BLAST); 22D: "Forever" post office product (STAMP); 26D: Ballet rail (BARRE); 27D: Some Saskatchewanians (CREES); 29D: Elton of England (JOHN); 31D: "Eat crow," e.g. (IDIOM); 32D: Evening star (VENUS); 33D: Politician Kefauver (ESTES); 35D: Crime laws, as a unit (PENAL CODE); 37D: Scheduled to arrive (DUE); 38D: French friends (AMIS); 42D: Poker ploy (BLUFF); 49D: Didn't just simmer (BOILED); 52D: Cramp or twitch (SPASM); 53D: Of few words (TERSE); 55D: Deadly virus (EBOLA); 56D: Play boisterously (ROMP); 57D: Toledo's lake (ERIE); 58D: Minor collision damage (DENT); 59D: Nashville's st. (TENN.); 60D: The Auld Sod (ERIN); 61D: Do a film critic's job (RATE); 65D: Crosses (out) (X'ES).

05.22 Sun (calendar)

S U N D A Y
May 22, 2011
Merl Reagle

[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: "Products I'd Like to See" — Puns on product names.

Theme answers:

• 21A: Anti-crop pest product? (DELIVER US FROM WEEVILS).
• 31A: Anti-amphibian product? (TOAD-AWAY).
• 34A: Anti-faucet leak product? (KNOCKOUT DRIPS).
• 52A: Anti-dysentery product? (ADIOS AMOEBAS).
• 72A: Anti-grape stain product? (SQUELCHES).
• 87A: Anti-insect product? (LOOK MA NO ANTS).
• 103A: Anti-"pests in general" product? (THE VERMINATOR).
• 106A: Anti-dandruff product? (FLAKE OFF).
• 120A: Anti-fungus product (with an Elton John jingle)? (GOODBYE YELLOWISH MOLD).

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Everything Else — 1A: On ___ (fleeing) (THE LAM); 7A: Preexisting condition? (AS IS); 11A: It gets hammered (ANVIL); 16A: "She doesn't know me ___" (FROM ADAM); 18A: Building blocks of a sort (LEGOS); 20A: He directed Eastwood in the 1960s (LEONE); 24A: "Got it," to a gob ("AYE"); 25A: "The Pilot's Wife" author Shreve (ANITA); 26A: Silo filler (GRAIN); 27A: After the bell (LATE); 29A: Knight stick (LANCE); 42A: Emulate Tommy Moe (SKI); 43A: ___-Foy, Quebec (STE.); 44A: Drillmasters? (OILMEN); 45A: Long or now preceder (ERE); 46A: That cad (HIM); 48A: Stuff in a cell (RNA); 50A: Simple to use, as a product (ONE-STEP); 57A: Cribbage need (PEG); 58A: Propulsion poles (OARS); 60A: NYC gambling sign (OTB); 61A: Was in theaters (RAN); 62A: Evita's guy (JUAN); 64A: Followed (ENSUED); 66A: Path to a pew (AISLE); 68A: Money spent (OUTGO); 69A: Swarm (HORDE); 74A: Worthless stuff (DROSS); 75A: Admits frankly (AVOWS); 76A: Finland, to the Finns (SUOMI); 77A: Main dish (ENTRÉE); 79A: Alliance formed under HST (NATO); 80A: 124 Down's "Rocky" (III); 81A: Court figs. (DA'S); 83A: Pitching stats (ERAS); 84A: ___ choy (BOK); 91A: Not well-known (OBSCURE); 93A: Morse word (DIT); 94A: Carrier to Oslo (SAS); 95A: Landing info (ETA); 97A: Angler, at times (BAITER); 98A: TV military drama that spun off "NCIS" (JAG); 101A: Parisian pronoun (TOI); 109A: Blithe (MERRY); 110A: DEA agent's find (KILO); 111A: Manhattan Project VIP (FERMI); 114A: Nick's wife and others (NORAS); 117A: Kick-off prop (TEE); 125A: Cell phone company (NOKIA); 126A: Debussy contemporary (SATIE); 127A: Chance for many to sleep in (SATURDAY); 128A: Impede, variantly (STYMY); 129A: Former Dodge model (NEON); 130A: French Revolution figure (DANTON); 1D: Deuce topper (TREY); 2D: Green target (HOLE); 3D: UK record label (EMI); 4D: Red river? (LAVA); 5D: Mideast gulf (ADEN); 6D: Henner of "Taxi" (MARILU); 7D: ET on TV (ALF); 8D: Mr. Prokofiev (SERGEI); 9D: Mr. Stravinsky (IGOR); 10D: "Brave New World" drug (SOMA); 11D: Saloon selection (ALE); 12D: Pahrump's state: abbr. (NEV.); 13D: Kin of "presto" (VOILÀ); 14D: Arkin-Falk comedy, "The ___" (IN-LAWS); 15D: Rice vampire (LESTAT); 16D: Rx watchdog (FDA); 17D: Change genetically (MUTATE); 19D: "M*A*S*H" co-star (SWIT); 22D: Supreme Court first name until 2006 (SANDRA); 23D: Chimp in space (ENOS); 28D: Word after naked or private (EYE); 30D: Words to live by (CREDO); 32D: Ohio city (AKRON); 33D: Chow down uptown (DINE); 34D: Former surgeon-general (KOOP); 35D: Baseball team (NINE); 36D: Fashion first name (OLEG); 37D: Mil. trials (CM'S); 38D: Solvent compounds (KETONES); 39D: Draft ratings (ONE-A'S); 40D: Irrationally afraid (PHOBIC); 41D: Girl in the house (SIS); 47D: Emil's "Blue Angel" co-star (MARLENE); 49D: Renounce (ABJURE); 51D: Wilhelm I's realm (PRUSSIA); 53D: Toscanini, e.g. (ITALIAN); 54D: Toscanini, e.g. (MAESTRO); 55D: Self starter? (AUTO-); 56D: Hangs loose (SAGS); 59D: Elvis-suit features (SEQUINS); 63D: PINs, e.g. (NOS.); 64D: Depp-Landau film (EDWOOD); 65D: Twosome (DUO); 67D: "___ loves me ..." (SHE); 68D: Black Sea port dweller (ODESSAN); 69D: Role for Harrison (HAN); 70D: Track, often (OVAL); 71D: Rooter opening (ROTO-); 73D: Parenthesis alternative (EM DASH); 78D: Teacher of a sort (RABBI); 80D: "___ old for this!" (I'M TOO); 82D: Either co-founder of Apple (STEVE); 84D: Joke target (BUTT); 85D: Circular snack (OREO); 86D: Actress Deborah (KERR); 88D: Toy with a string (KITE); 89D: Meal starter? (OAT); 90D: Canned heat? (STERNO); 92D: Spy org. (CIA); 96D: Quiver filler (ARROWS); 98D: Oliver Stone epic (JFK); 99D: Puts straight (ALIGNS); 100D: Palooka (GALOOT); 102D: Up in the air (IFFY); 104D: One of Martin Sheen's sons (EMILIO); 105D: Innumerable (MYRIAD); 107D: Lovably odd (KOOKY); 108D: Service charges (FEES); 112D: He threw seven no-hitters (RYAN); 113D: Apportion (out) (METE); 115D: Clue-sniffing dog (ASTA); 116D: Avoid (SHUN); 117D: Hubbub (TO-DO); 118D: Verve (ELAN); 119D: Joseph of ice cream fame (EDY); 121D: Lower the beam (DIM); 122D: Tampa has one (BAY); 123D: Author Deighton (LEN); 124D: Actor known for wearing gold (MR. T).

05.22 Sun

S U N D A Y
May 22, 2011
Verge

[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: "And/or" — "OR" is added to familiar phrases to make wacky entries.

Theme Entries:

• 23A: Important meeting for Domingo and colleagues? (THE BIG TENOR CONFERENCE).
• 33A: Pulpit tirade? (BLAST FROM THE PASTOR).
• 50A: Sale of swampland? (MORASS MARKETING).
• 63A: Disloyal union member? (LABOR RAT).
• 69A: "Babe," e.g.? (PIG STORY).
• 83A: Really conservative Conservatives? (OLD SCHOOL TORIES).
• 92A: Comment about a recently razed vacation complex? (THE RESORT IS HISTORY).
• 114A: Maine travel agency's come-on? (MORE BANGOR FOR YOUR BUCK).

Hey, crossword fans. Doug here on Sunday. Today's puzzle is by the mysterious Verge. Is Verge a man? A woman? A couple? A robot from the year 2030?

The theme itself is very basic. Just add OR. But I like the results, and the long 21-letter entries are especially nice. (Yeah, those tenors are pretty big, aren't they?) The only one I'm not sure about is OLD SCHOOL T(OR)IES because I'm not familiar with "old school ties." I think it might be a British thing. A bloke will wear an Eton tie or a Harrow tie or maybe a Hogwarts tie to signify his school affiliation. In other news from the UK, I heard today that Princess Kate Middleton's sister Pippa is now known as P-Middy. Look for that entry in my next themeless puzzle.

Bullets:

• 26A: Cabin fever, e.g. (ANGST) Is that a good clue for ANGST? I'm not sure. I've never had cabin fever.

• 27A: Salon supply (HAIR GEL). Fortunately I don't have enough hair to worry about salon supplies.
• 68A: Half of vingt (DIX). Boy, I'm horrible at these French numbers. "Vingt" is 20 and "dix" is 10.
• 71A: "Anchorman" producer Judd (APATOW). If you don't know the name, you should try to remember it. The alternating vowels and consonants make it perfect for crosswords, and I predict you're going to see it again and again. Here's a list of Judd Apatow films if you want to brush up.
• 69A: "Babe," e.g.? (PIG STORY). This one's dedicated to Crosscan.

• 117A: Online memos (E-NOTES). Real word or not?
• 8D: Legal scholar Guinier (LANI). I know as much about her as I do about 49-Down, Scottish psychiatrist R.D. ___ (LAING). Nothing. We need a new famous person named Lani Laing.
• 16D: Cybernetics pioneer Norbert (WIENER). Insert your own cybernetic Wiener joke here
• 24D: God in a chariot (THOR). I don't normally associate Thor with a chariot. Maybe because I'm thinking of the comic book version. Wikipedia tells me that Thor "rides in a cart or chariot pulled by two goats, Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr, that he eats and resurrects."

• 37D: They may put players out (TAGS).
• 75D: Historic Kentucky county (BOURBON). I did not know that bourbon whiskey was named after an area in Kentucky. Cool.
• 92D: ___-CD conversion: music collection updating system (TAPE-TO). And then you can convert all those "updated" CDs to MP3s.
• 109D: Bush overshadower (TREE). I thought this was going to be something political, but it's just a tree.

A sad note for those of us who watched a lot of (fake) wrestling in the '80s. "Macho Man" Randy Savage died in a car accident on Friday. Snap into a Slim Jim this weekend in his memory. Ooooh yeeeah!

Everything Else —1A: Missouri range (OZARKS); 7A: Very friendly with (CLOSE TO); 14A: Legitimate (LAWFUL); 20A: Incisor neighbor (CANINE); 21A: Lost it (HAD A COW); 22A: His team has an orange-and-black logo (ORIOLE); 28A: "Hmm ..." ("I WONDER …"); 29A: Glom (COP); 30A: Hesitant sounds (UMS); 32A: A long time (YEARS); 43A: Like a hawk's perspective (AERIAL); 44A: __ agreement (ORAL); 45A: Recipe amount (CUP); 46A: Carides of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" (GIA); 49A: Scottish psychiatrist R.D. __ (LAING); 55A: Windows predecessor (MS-DOS); 56A: Sharp sensation (PANG); 57A: Transfix (AWE); 58A: "... __ mention ..." (NOT TO); 59A: Ornamented, as curtains (TASSELED); 62A: Sharpness (ACUMEN); 72A: Place for a large E (EYE CHART); 74A: Wine grape (PINOT); 75A: Tournament break (BYE); 77A: Part of a roof (EAVE); 78A: Boundary (AMBIT); 87A: Welsh breed (CORGI); 88A: 2010 Mark Twain Prize winner (FEY); 89A: Diving seabird (AUK); 90A: Didn't spoil (KEPT); 91A: Meaningful interval (PERIOD); 97A: Region on the South China Sea (MACAO); 100A: Lunch letters (BLT); 101A: Looney Tunes animator Avery (TEX); 102A: Might well (IS APT TO); 104A: Plymouth passenger carrier (RAIL CAR); 109A: Self-congratulatory cries (TA-DAS); 118A: Microsoft reference (ENCARTA); 119A: Italian desserts (GELATI); 120A: Out of fashion (DE MODE); 121A: Tough teammate to handle (EGOTIST); 122A: Obeyed a canine command (HEELED); 1D: Prefix with -hedron (OCTA); 2D: Journalist Paula (ZAHN); 3D: Rare blood type: Abbr. (A NEG.); 4D: Cage components (RIBS); 5D: Work with needles (KNIT); 6D: Circ. part (SEG.); 7D: Hardly top-of-the-line (CHEAPO); 9D: Stimulus used in aversion therapy (ODOR); 10D: Puppeteer Tony (SARG); 11D: Behold, to Brutus (ECCE); 12D: Prepare the factory (TOOL UP); 13D: Hold one's __ (OWN); 14D: Early movie mogul (LOEW); 15D: Gully (ARROYO); 17D: 1981 Hepburn co-star (FONDA); 18D: Gastric woe (ULCER); 19D: Rude looks (LEERS); 25D: Rift (FISSURE); 29D: Grey Cup sports org. (CFL); 31D: Large-beaked talker (MACAW); 33D: Soothing application (BALM); 34D: Green spans (LEAS); 35D: Requiring irrigation (ARID); 36D: Chinese: Pref. (SINO-); 38D: Poetic times (MORNS); 39D: Play genre (TRAGEDY); 40D: Suffers from (HAS); 41D: Some city lines (ELS); 42D: Toll rd. (TPK.); 46D: Cuban base, familiarly (GITMO); 47D: Bury (INTER); 48D: Torment (AGONY); 50D: Movie-rating org. (MPAA); 51D: Beer-making aid (OAST); 52D: Magazine that began as a comic book (MAD); 53D: Some refs. (ENCS.); 54D: Build up (TOUT); 59D: Experian, formerly (TRW); 60D: It's made up (LIE); 61D: Passage (EXCERPT); 62D: Player rep. (AGT.); 63D: __ luxury (LAP OF); 64D: Make __ of money (A PILE); 65D: Exchange, as words (BANDY); 66D: Onetime Siouan natives (OTOS); 67D: Campus military prog. (ROTC); 69D: Smooth, in a way (PAVE); 70D: Ticks off (IRES); 72D: Sniggler's target (EEL); 73D: 2010 earthquake site (HAITI); 76D: Simple country type (YOKEL); 78D: Scores 90+ on (ACES); 79D: Satirist Sahl (MORT); 80D: Liveliness (BRIO); 81D: Borodin prince (IGOR); 82D: Uncluttered (TIDY); 84D: Possess, to a Scot (HAE); 85D: Ring ruling (TKO); 86D: Poetic contraction (O'ER); 91D: Photos (PIX); 93D: Breeding ground (HOTBED); 94D: Bad way to come on (STRONG); 95D: Visit overnight (STAY AT); 96D: Legend subject (HERO); 97D: Acted quietly? (MIMED); 98D: "... world will live __": "Imagine" (AS ONE); 99D: Bank (CAROM); 103D: Facilitate an arrest, in a way (TASE); 105D: Oil acronym (ARCO); 106D: "__ first ..." (IF AT); 107D: Actress Singer (LORI); 108D: LCD flat panel displays have replaced many of them (CRT'S); 110D: Up to it (ABLE); 111D: Like a Jekyll and Hyde personality (DUAL); 112D: Comédie part (ACTE); 113D: Slide wildly (SKID); 115D: "Hmm ..." ("GEE …"); 116D: Word of disgust (UGH).

05.21 Sat

S A T U R D A Y
May 21, 2011
Barry C. Silk

Theme: None

Fun, tough puzzle to start off our weekend. Or does the weekend start on Friday? Whatever, this one is good. And if you just can't get enough of Barry Silk (and really, who can?), he also has the New York Times puzzle today. I haven't solved it yet. I'm guessing it's hard. But there's a lot to talk about, so let's go straight to the bullets.

Bullets:

• 1A: Unhappy fans, in slang (BOOBIRDS). I don't believe I've ever heard this term before, but it was easy to infer with a couple of the crosses in place.

• 15A: Encroachment (INVASION). PuzzleHusband accused me of encroaching on his half of the bathroom shelf the other day. I told him I was going to need a temporary easement. This is what happens when someone goes to work in a real estate law firm.
• 18A: Cheerios' cousins (ADIEUX). Two ways to say "good-bye." ADIEUX is, of course, the plural of ADIEU. (French!)
• 22A: "The Little Mermaid" prince (ERIC). Isn't the prince in the Nutcracker Suite also named ERIC? ERIC is also the name of the coach on "Friday Night Lights" and my cousin in Chicago. Coincidence? Most assuredly.

• 32A: Dating letters (BCE). Before the Common Era.
• 36A: Centennial debut of 1909 (LINCOLN HEAD CENT). I just learned that Abe Lincoln actually invented the emoticon. Can that possibly be true?
• 43A: Bird suborder that includes gulls and terns (LARI). Needed every single cross for this one.
• 48A: Divine, in a way (DOWSE). This has to do with finding water, right?
• 57A: Rubble creator (TNT). Oh that rubble.
• 62A: Jason, for one (SEAFARER). Oh that Jason.
• 64A: One of only three golfers who briefly kept Tiger Woods out of the World #1 spot between 1/11/1998 and 10/30/2010 (ERNIE ELS). Fun to see ERNIE's whole name in the grid, but this clue is just flat-out ridiculous. I guess January through October is golf season? Is that right? Those dates seem really random, but I'm sure they're not.

• 2D: Available, in a way (ON HIRE). Not a fan of this answer. Would like FOR HIRE much better.
• 8D: Oct. 1975 TV debut (SNL). I remember it like it was yesterday. I guess some people still watch the show. Every once in a while PuzzleSister will say to me, "Did you see on Saturday Night Live last week …?" And I'm all, "Um, I haven't watched SNL for like 25 years."
• 23D: "I Got a Name" singer (CROCE).
• 31D: One concerned with clemency (WEATHERMAN). I thought maybe this was referring to the Weather Underground and its members' concerns for their legal treatment. But no. "Clemency" here is just a meteorological term.
• 39D: Traffic controller, briefly (DEA). Drug traffic, that is. But you knew that.

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Everything Else — 9A: Dinar spenders (IRAQIS); 16A: Scraps (REFUSE); 17A: Cruel woman (SHE-DEVIL); 19A: Poitier title role (SIR); 20A: Sargasso Sea spawner (EEL); 21A: Hunter, at times (SNARER); 24A: Clancy hero (RYAN); 26A: Principle (TENET); 28A: Four-note chord (TETRAD); 30A: Investment company T. __ Price (ROWE); 33A: 160 square rods (ONE ACRE); 35A: Ugly (MEAN); 40A: Downwind (ALEE); 41A: Sunbeam product (TOASTER); 42A: Nth: Abbr. (ULT.); 44A: Prom queen's concern (HAIRDO); 50A: Summit (ACME); 52A: Shade of red (BEET); 53A: High-profile 44-Across (MOHAWK); 55A: Title object of a 1981 film quest (ARK); 58A: Fine wool (MERINO); 59A: Polish (SIMONIZE); 61A: Observation while passing the buck (ANTLER); 63A: On the beach (ASHORE); 1D: "The Deep" co-star (BISSET); 3D: Ready to move on (OVER IT); 4D: Sinister (BAD); 5D: "Of course" ("I SEE"); 6D: Mouth formation (RIVER DELTA); 7D: Decoration under a bowl (DOILY); 9D: Modern-day theocracy (IRAN); 10D: Make an archaeological adjustment to (REDATE); 11D: Hot (AFIRE); 12D: Colonial leader (QUEEN BEE); 13D: "Glad to do it!" ("I SURE CAN!"); 14D: Word with appeal or change (SEX); 21D: They may wake you up (SNORES); 25D: Very old (ARCHAIC); 27D: Big top, e.g. (TENT); 29D: Year in Mexico (AÑO); 34D: Arctic jacket (ANORAK); 35D: Fast-food pork sandwich (MCRIB); 36D: Glorify (LAUD); 37D: Dark clouds, to some (ILL OMENS); 38D: Financial planning yardstick (NET WORTH); 43D: One resting against a stake (LEANER); 45D: Turn in (RETIRE); 46D: Washington of "Glory" (DENZEL); 47D: River rompers (OTTERS); 49D: 1970 Neil Diamond hit (SHILO); 51D: Gold medalist skier Hermann (MAIER); 54D: Passed slowly, with "on" (WORE); 56D: First name in diplomacy (KOFI); 58D: Barnyard bleat (MAA); 59D: Vane dir. (SSE); 60D: Clydebank contradiction (NAE).

05.20 Fri

F R I D A Y
May 20, 2011
Mark Feldman

Theme: Composer puns — Theme answers are puns based on composers' names and movie titles.

Theme answers:

• 17A: Biopic about a time-traveling composer? (BACH TO THE FUTURE).
• 27A: Biopic about a composer who is unrecognized in public? (HAYDN PLAIN SIGHT).
• 48A: Biopic about a composer from a WWII hero's perspective? (SCHINDLER'S LISZT).
• 63A: Biopic about a composer fighting his inner demons? (BATTLE OF BRITTEN).

So the first thing I did when I finished solving this puzzle was log on to cruciverb.com to see if this theme had been done before. BACH TO THE FUTURE seemed like such an obvious pun to me that I couldn't believe it hadn't already been used. About six years ago, Randy Hartman had a Sunday Washington Post puzzle using this same idea, but BACH TO THE FUTURE was the only overlapping theme entry. A year later, however, David Kahn constructed a puzzle for the New York Sun with this theme ... using exactly the same theme answers. I don't think I'm going to take the time to analyze this information here, but I thought I would at least share it with you. There is one difference between today's puzzle and Kahn's: today we have the composers listed in chronological order, which I think is probably good for something although I'm not sure exactly what. It does explain why I had so much trouble with the last theme answer. I grew up playing piano, so BACH, HAYDN and LISZT were obviously familiar to me. BRITTEN, though, is a 20th-century opera guy who, I must admit, I've never heard of.

There are a couple bonus non-theme answers in today's grid:

• 69A: Itzhak Perlman choice (STRAD).
• 9D: More, in music (PIU).

Highlights in the grid for me today include ZYDECO and NO-HITTER (51D: Louisiana folk music / 38D: Historic game). Seems like the NO-HITTERs are coming fast and furious these days, aren't they? For some reason, I really liked the clue [34A: Heavy] for SOLEMN.


Both COE (71A: Canadian LPGA golfer Dawn __-Jones) and TIANT (47D: Three-time A.L. shutout leader of the '60s-'70s) were complete unknowns to me and I got them only through crosses. I also never knew that the little cape worn by some clergy (including ABBOTs, presumably) is called a mozzetta.

Missteps include ERR for SIN (36A: Go astray) and, embarrassingly, ENGLAND for ONTARIO (10D: Where London is). The whole time I was writing in the letters for ENGLAND, this little nagging voice in the back of my head was going "That's too obvious, especially for a Friday. You know there's a London somewhere else in the world. Think, dammit, think!"

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 14A: "Exodus" hero (ARI).
• 25A: __ avis (RARA).
• 66A: Grenoble's river (ISERE).
• 7D: Pub. of a "Distracted Driving" brochure (OSHA).
• 12D: Limerick land (EIRE).
• 55D: Wading bird (IBIS).
• 56D: Brewery feature (OAST).

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Everything Else — 1A: Pale (WAN); 4A: Mozzetta wearer (ABBOT); 9A: Sat (POSED); 15A: Intimate (CLOSE); 16A: Key scene for bursting bombs? (IN AIR); 20A: "... like __ buzzing in blind fury": Pyle (A BEE); 21A: Go after (CHASE); 22A: Traveling, in a way (ASEA); 23A: Builder's options (SITES); 35A: Rondeaux, e.g. (POEMS); 39A: Switch words (ON/OFF); 41A: Political pacifier (SOP); 42A: Ruled quarters? (ROOST); 45A: Devised, with "up" (DREAMT); 53A: Absorbed by (INTO); 54A: Legendary luster (SATYR); 55A: Tiny amount (IOTA); 57A: Sting (SMART); 62A: Zilch (NADA); 67A: Put to the test (TRIED); 68A: Former transp. regulator (ICC); 70A: Takes to the cleaners (HOSES); 1D: Indiana county or its seat (WABASH); 2D: Where Mecca is (ARABIA); 3D: Civilized feature (NICETY); 4D: Put-on (ACT); 5D: Alliance (BLOC); 6D: This and that (BOTH); 8D: Some shirts (TEES); 11D: Some links (SAUSAGES); 13D: "The Sopranos" actress __ de Matteo (DREA); 18D: Doesn't ignore (HEEDS); 19D: Spore producer (FERN); 24D: Cat lead-in (SNO); 26D: Old Egyptian symbol (ASP); 28D: Abbas's gp. (PLO); 29D: He appeared in eight consecutive U.S. Open finals (LENDL); 30D: Love overseas (AMORE); 31D: Figure (INFER); 32D: Ins. plan (HMO); 33D: 1/48 cup: Abbr. (TSP.); 36D: Yearbook sect. (SRS.); 37D: Games org. (IOC); 40D: Musical syllables (FAS); 43D: 1953 Best Supporting Actor Oscar winner (SINATRA); 44D: Big bang producer (TNT); 46D: L.A. Galaxy's gp. (MLS); 49D: Pharmacy concern (DOSE); 50D: Trouble (STATIC); 52D: Daze (TRANCE); 58D: Evening flier (MOTH); 59D: Full do (AFRO); 60D: Sluggers' stats (RBI'S); 61D: Corner (TREE); 64D: Brought (LED); 65D: Some tags (ID'S).

05.19 Thu

T H U R S D A Y
May 19, 2011
Peter A. Collins

Theme: Fish! — That's right, fish!

Theme answers:

• 19A: Vast expanse (and a fitting setting for this puzzle) (DEEP BLUE SEA).
• 38A: Somewhat suspect (and a hint to what can be found by connecting the circled letters in alphabetical order) (A LITTLE BIT FISHY).
• 57A: Don Ho hit (and what the O's in this grid represent) (TINY BUBBLES).

Happy Thursday, everyone. This is the second Thursday in a row the LA Times has run a puzzle that I think of as relatively gimmicky. I think I mentioned last week that a gimmicky Thursday is standard fare over at the New York Times. Maybe the LAT is leaning that way now too.

My feelings about this puzzle are really all over the map. It's a cute idea, drawing a fish. Although I am repulsed by the thought of eating seafood, I've always enjoyed fish as decorative motif. So I like that. Also, I first thought that the O's in the clue for 57A referred to the circles in the puzzle, which seemed pretty lame. But now I see that it actually means the letter O's up there in the northwest corner. That's much more impressive. Especially because there aren't any other O's elsewhere in the grid. So that's two things I like. But then there's EEEE (45A: Very wide shoe). And TEDEUMS (40D: Latin hymns). And ESSES and REASSESSED (70A: 20% of seventy-six? / 10D: Like much real estate, annually). By the way, if you don't understand the clue for ESSES, please be sure to check out the Crosswordese 101 Round-up at the bottom of this post. Speaking of too many S's, you must agree with me that SPINAL TAP is awesome, but SPINAL TAPS is not. Also, the clue — 28D: Lumbar punctures — is icky.

So, yeah, I liked the chess reference — 12D: Way to relocate a king (CASTLE). And CADS clued as [72A: Bad lads] made me chuckle. But I'm not sure the good outweighed the bad/mediocre today. I'll be interested to hear what you think.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 17A: Scots Gaelic (ERSE).
• 23A: __ Lanka (SRI).
• 35A: Shrinking sea (ARAL).
• 37A: Chicago commuter carriers (ELS).
• 54A: Actor Wallach (ELI).
• 63A: Gaming pioneer (ATARI).
• 70A: 20% of seventy-six? (ESSES).
• 2D: Seine feeder (OISE).
• 50D: Priestly garb (ALB).

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Everything Else — 1A: Ones minding their peas in queues? (PODS); 5A: __ band (PEP); 8A: Where the music stops? (HARD C); 13A: Uprising (RIOT); 14A: Consider judicially (HEAR); 15A: End of __ (AN ERA); 16A: Bony beginning (OSTE-); 18A: They might be executed by a judge (STAYS); 22A: York's title: Abbr. (SGT.); 24A: Fourth-cen. monastic (ST. BASIL); 26A: a.m. beverages (OJ'S); 29A: Citric __ (ACID); 32A: Finesse shampoo maker __ Curtis (HELENE); 33A: Shows inattention at a lecture, maybe (NAPS); 43A: Folksy negative (NAW); 44A: Identical (SAME); 46A: Lessens (ABATES); 49A: "Voilà!" cousin ("TA-DA!"); 51A: ENTs, e.g. (DRS.); 52A: Bonding capacity measure (VALENCE); 56A: Ideal conclusion? (-IST); 65A: Judge (DEEM); 66A: "Please allow me" ("MAY I?"); 67A: Old dwelling for 68-Across (TEPEE); 68A: Western natives (UTES); 69A: Ready for use (PREP); 71A: Gambling area (PIT); 1D: Urge (PROD); 3D: Heap affection (on) (DOTE); 4D: Self-help segments (STEPS); 5D: See 36-Down (PERU); 6D: Lessen (EASE); 7D: Basketball ploy (PRESS); 8D: Argues (with) (HAS A BEEF); 9D: Tiny crawler (ANT); 11D: Bombay product (DRY GIN); 14D: Like rotini (HELICAL); 20D: Support in a dresser drawer (BRA); 21D: Sudan neighbor: Abbr. (ETH.); 25D: Kate's sitcom pal (ALLIE); 26D: "Leaving __ Jet Plane" (ON A); 27D: Flier to Tokyo (JAL); 30D: Inflames (IRES); 31D: Pat (DAB AT); 34D: Declare (STATE); 36D: 5-Down's capital (LIMA); 39D: ATM output (TWENTIES); 41D: Slip floater, to its owner (HER); 42D: "Absolutely!" ("YES!"); 46D: Fly (AVIATE); 47D: Moistens with drippings (BASTES); 48D: Acoustics, e.g.: Abbr. (SCI.); 53D: Turn out to be (END UP); 55D: High-tech debut of 1981 (IBM PC); 58D: "__ do fear thy nature": Lady Macbeth (YET I); 59D: Epitome of redness (BEET); 60D: Pasternak heroine (LARA); 61D: Scrutinized (EYED); 62D: Uses a straw (SIPS); 64D: R&B artist Des'__ (REE).

05.18 Wed

W E D N E S D A Y
May 18, 2011
Bill Thompson

Theme: Hit the Showers — Each theme answer starts with a word that can precede the word "shower" in a familiar phrase (i.e., the resulting phrases are "headed" by the word "shower.")

Theme answers:

• 17A: 1958 Robert Mitchum drama (THUNDER ROAD).
• 26A: Dorm room snack (COLD PIZZA).
• 40A: '70s-'80s Haitian president, familiarly (BABY DOC DUVALIER).
• 52A: Early spring shout (APRIL FOOL).
• 65A: Bath fixtures, and a hint to the starts of 17-, 26-, 40- and 52-Across (SHOWER HEADS).

Starting right off with that J in the first square, I was hoping that would be a Scrabbly one, and it sure was. Okay theme — not the most exciting, but the theme answers are relatively interesting and the fill is above average. I thought for a minute that the first word of each theme answer might work with both SHOWER and HEAD to create new phrases. THUNDERHEAD is something, right? And HEAD COLD is definitely something. But obviously, those aren't consistent and the rest don't work anyway. Alas. Overall, a pleasant solve today. Nothing really to complain about except the random telephone keypad letter string MNO (30D: Letters below DEF). But hey: PORNO!

Entries that tickled my fancy today include JOB HOP (1A: Frequently change positions) and ARRIBA (70A: Speedy Gonzales cry). I actually had two little hiccups, but I don't blame the puzzle for either of them. First of all, I had PRES for PREZ, which gave me SEN instead of ZEN for [21A: Buddhist sect]. D'oh. And I'm not familiar with the terms SPITZ and POG (11D: Norwegian Elkhound, for one / 16A: Faddish '90s disc), so that P was the last letter I entered. I must have seen POG in a puzzle before, though, because it sounds vaguely familiar. Anyway, like I said, I'm not complaining about any of those entries, just pointing out where I had trouble.

Bullets:

• 24A: __ au vin (COQ). More Scrabbly goodness.
• 28A: Musical with the song "Midway Chase" (BARNUM). Can't say I've heard of this musical, but with a few crosses in place it was easy to infer.

• 50A: Prepare for online publication (WEBIFY). I'm torn about this one. Doug and I were chatting last night and he pointed to this one as a sparkler. When I entered it, I kinda thought it was a dud, but now it's growing on me.
• 58A: Offshore eyesore, to some (OIL RIG). Probably not a good idea to get me started on the oil companies these days.
• 72A: Ex-Yankee Pettitte (ANDY).
• 1D: Rocker Joan (JETT). Oh yeah.





• 5D: Meteor tail? (-OID). I tried ITE first.

• 54D: Like May through August, in a way (R-LESS). This has something to do with oysters. Oysters are either good to eat during R-LESS months or they're bad to eat during R-LESS months. I wouldn't eat them during any month, so it doesn't really matter to me.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 36A: Self-titled 1969 jazz album (ELLA).
• 44A: Film lioness (ELSA).
• 8D: Ambient music pioneer (ENO).
• 13D: Ancient market (AGORA).
• 29D: Sea damaged by Soviet irrigation projects (ARAL).
• 35D: Author LeShan (EDA).
• 63D: Winter Palace resident (TSAR).

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Everything Else — 7A: Jury member (PEER); 11A: Patty Hearst's kidnappers: Abbr. (SLA); 14A: Frosted pastry (ECLAIR); 15A: "The Raven" opener (ONCE); 19A: GM had one in Nov. 2010 (IPO); 20A: Low digits (TOES); 22A: Roofing support (RAFTER); 31A: Like many eBay items (USED); 32A: Disco, for one (ERA); 33A: Photographer Adams (ANSEL); 45A: Sports (HAS ON); 46A: Sup (EAT); 47A: Clothes line? (SEAM); 57A: Beat the house (WIN); 59A: Email forwarder's intro (FYI); 61A: Idiot (TWIT); 64A: Certain artery: Abbr. (RTE.); 68A: Profs' aides (TA'S); 69A: __-kiri (HARA); 71A: Intractable beast (ASS); 73A: Empty __ (NESTER); 2D: Cinco y tres (OCHO); 3D: Chesapeake Bay delicacies (BLUE CRABS); 4D: "MMMBop" band (HANSON); 6D: Chief exec (PREZ); 7D: Dirty fare (PORNO); 9D: Hallmark.com offerings (E-CARDS); 10D: Orangutan (RED APE); 12D: "J to tha L-O!" artist (LOPEZ); 18D: __ room (REC); 23D: Brother of Raúl (FIDEL); 25D: Campus hangout (QUAD); 27D: Beauts (LULUS); 28D: Nixon confidant Rebozo (BEBE); 34D: Jerk (SCHMO); 37D: Prepare to ambush (LIE IN WAIT); 38D: Page (through) (LEAF); 39D: Pretentiously showy (ARTY); 41D: Arafat of the PLO (YASIR); 42D: Pledge (VOW); 43D: From the top (ANEW); 48D: Cuthbert of "24" (ELISHA); 49D: Knitting project (AFGHAN); 51D: Black flies, notably (BITERS); 52D: Major artery (AORTA); 53D: Deli pockets (PITAS); 55D: Right __ (OF WAY); 56D: Caustic solution (LYE); 60D: Ahmadinejad's land (IRAN); 62D: "__ safe and warm if ...": "California Dreamin'" lyric (I'D BE); 66D: Old California fort (ORD); 67D: Charlemagne's realm: Abbr. (HRE).