08.22 Mon

M O N D A Y

August 22, 2011

Kelly Clark

Theme: For the Birds — The first word of each theme answer is something birds do.



Theme answers:

• 20A: *Resolve once and for all (LAY TO REST).
• 38A: *Savings for later in life (NEST EGG).
• 11D: *Like unreliable short-term businesses (FLY-BY-NIGHT).
• 27D: *Do some scheming (HATCH A PLOT).
• 56A: Lyric in a Porter song that ends "Let's fall in love," and a hint to the starts of the starred answers (and 1-Across) (BIRDS DO IT).

Happy Monday, everyone. Hope you enjoyed your weekend! We're starting off the week with a very cute theme that begins with a well-known lyric and literalizes it for puzzle purposes. Great idea! (If you're new here, don't worry if you've never heard the word "literalizes" — sometimes I make up words.) As an added bonus, the theme answers are all pretty colorful phrases. I especially like FLY-BY-NIGHT and HATCH A PLOT.

[I couldn't find a video of anybody actually performing this song, but I wanted you to hear it anyway.]

The cluing is really straightforward today. I don't see much that warrants an explanation. It's probably worth noting that the clues for both NYC and AWOLS (42A: B'way setting / 69A: Illegally off-base GIs) contain "shortened" words, which is your hint that the answer will also be a short form. Speaking of AWOLS … I'm pretty sure every time AWOL is clued as a noun someone questions it. It used to sound all kindsa wrong to me too, but now I've seen it in puzzles so often that I'm used to it. Anyone out there know if AWOL is commonly used as a noun in the military?



Bullets:

• 1A: Sound from a tree (CHIRP). Bonus non-theme theme answer!

• 14A: Flamboyant evangelist __ Semple McPherson (AIMEE). I felt like this is someone I should probably know, but it turns out she was a media celebrity back in the 20s and 30s. Of course there are people from back then who I am familiar with, but I guess my knowledge of flamboyant evangelists is limited.
• 17A: Baseball's Nolan and actress Meg (RYANS). Nolan RYAN is CEO of the Texas Rangers, you know.
• 28A: Arrive after a tough trip (MAKE IT IN). This answer shows up in the cruciverb.com data base only one other time. I think it's a great entry.
• 10D: Italian sandwich (PANINI). PANINI is a fun word to say. I thought the PANINI was just the bread for some reason, but I guess it's the whole sandwich.
• 40D: "... or __ thought" (SO I). If we have to have a partial in the grid, I'm glad it's clued in a way that makes me laugh. For some reason, I picture this phrase being said in a cartoonish way, like the same way someone might say "If that is your real name!"
• 49D: Simpsons neighbor Flanders (NED). One day I'll do a crosswordese entry about all the Simpsons stuff you need to know for puzzles.

Crosswordese 101: There are three different ways to clue UTE(S) that you will see often in puzzles. First, it may be clued as a short-form of "utility vehicle" with clues such as 4x4, versatile vehicle, or all-purpose truck. Second, UTES may refer to an American Indian people who now live primarily in Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. Clues for this meaning of UTE are likely to include the words Western, Rocky Mountain, Beehive State, or Colorado modifying either Indian or native. And, finally, we get to today's clue (50A: Salt Lake City college team, aptly). University of Utah athletes are nicknamed Utes. For this meaning of Ute, you'll typically see the words athlete, player, or team modified by Beehive State or Salt Lake City.

Other crosswordese in today's puzzle that we've already covered:

• 16A: Inter __: among others (ALIA).
• 43A: Slender woodwind (OBOE).
• 62A: Rani's garment (SARI).
• 67A: Italian noble family (ESTE).
• 39D: River of Spain (EBRO).
• 47D: "__ Fideles": carol (ADESTE).

Everything — 1A: Sound from a tree (CHIRP); 6A: Range between soprano and tenor (ALTO); 10A: Cpls.' underlings (PFC'S); 14A: Flamboyant evangelist __ Semple McPherson (AIMEE); 15A: Boston Bruins or Chicago Bears, e.g. (TEAM); 16A: Inter __: among others (ALIA); 17A: Baseball's Nolan and actress Meg (RYANS); 18A: Bath towel word (HERS); 19A: Natasha's no (NYET); 20A: *Resolve once and for all (LAY TO REST); 22A: Many an October baby, astrologically (LIBRA); 23A: A __ alfa (AS IN); 24A: Nairobi native (KENYAN); 25A: Satirical Mort (SAHL); 28A: Arrive after a tough trip (MAKE IT IN); 31A: Schoolroom group (CLASS); 33A: Travelers' lodgings (INNS); 34A: Hypotheticals (IFS); 37A: PC key (ALT); 38A: *Savings for later in life (NEST EGG); 41A: Miracle-__: garden brand (GRO); 42A: B'way setting (NYC); 43A: Slender woodwind (OBOE); 44A: Reacted to fireworks (OOHED); 46A: The Beatles' George (HARRISON); 50A: Salt Lake City college team, aptly (UTES); 51A: "Happy I can oblige" ("GLAD TO"); 53A: Cop's route (BEAT); 55A: Lassos (ROPES); 56A: Lyric in a Porter song that ends "Let's fall in love," and a hint to the starts of the starred answers (and 1-Across) (BIRDS DO IT); 61A: "__ well that ends ..." (ALL'S); 62A: Rani's garment (SARI); 63A: Cease-fire (TRUCE); 64A: Coagulate, as blood (CLOT); 65A: Treater's words (ON ME); 66A: Levels, as a building (RAZES); 67A: Italian noble family (ESTE); 68A: Fava or lima (BEAN); 69A: Illegally off-base GIs (AWOLS); 1D: Poet Sandburg (CARL); 2D: Breezy greeting (HIYA); 3D: "__ be wrong, but ..." (I MAY); 4D: Avis offerings (RENTALS); 5D: Cuban cash (PESOS); 6D: Zeus' daughter (ATHENA); 7D: Popular jeans (LEES); 8D: Small fruit pie (TART); 9D: Mantric syllables (OMS); 10D: Italian sandwich (PANINI); 11D: *Like unreliable short-term businesses (FLY-BY-NIGHT); 12D: Olds Cutlass model (CIERA); 13D: The devil (SATAN); 21D: Canyon edge (RIM); 22D: "Come on, we're late" ("LET'S GO"); 24D: Goal in checkers (KING); 25D: Read, as a bar code (SCAN); 26D: Treaty partner (ALLY); 27D: *Do some scheming (HATCH A PLOT); 29D: Flying toys (KITES); 30D: U-turn from WSW (ENE); 32D: Stable sounds (SNORTS); 35D: Available for a date (FREE); 36D: Puts in a lawn the fast way (SODS); 39D: River of Spain (EBRO); 40D: "... or __ thought" (SO I); 45D: Beat in a Western showdown (OUTDRAW); 47D: "__ Fideles": carol (ADESTE); 48D: Conan of "Conan" (O'BRIEN); 49D: Simpsons neighbor Flanders (NED); 51D: Pre-meal blessing (GRACE); 52D: Lounges around (LOLLS); 54D: Stars, in Latin (ASTRA); 56D: Undoing (BANE); 57D: Cookbook writer Rombauer (IRMA); 58D: Greek liqueur (OUZO); 59D: Its cap. is Reykjavik (ICEL.); 60D: Tracy's Trueheart (TESS); 62D: Cry out loud (SOB).

08.21 Sun (calendar)

S U N D A Y

August 21, 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: Lara's Theme — The word/name/letter string LARA is hidden in each theme answer. And at 115A we find the title of the popular song based on "Lara's Theme" (which is from the film Dr. Zhivago, in case you didn't know).



Theme answers:

• 18A: Securities-buying strategy (DOLLAR AVERAGING).
• 23A: Inexperienced mind, e.g. (TABULA RASA).
• 25A: Historic site in Wyoming (FORT LARAMIE).
• 42A: Security device (BURGLAR ALARM).
• 45A: Be suspicious (SMELL A RAT).
• 57A: Do a trick (PULL A RABBIT OUT OF A HAT).
• 68A: "I'm Chevy Chase" and "You're not," for example (DECLARATIVE SENTENCES).
• 85A: They played their last game on Dec. 24, 1994 (THE L.A. RAMS).
• 88A: Invigorating (EXHILARATING).
• 103A: 1960s muscle car (DODGE POLARA).
• 107A: What we're living in, to Bush or Carter (NUCULAR AGE).
• 115A: Q: "So, where are all of the LARAs in this puzzle, sweetheart?" A: "___" (SOMEWHERE MY LOVE).

Everything — 1A: Clothing line? (SEAM); 5A: Argentine river that sounds like a fish (PARANA); 11A: Ethan's "Gattaca" co-star (UMA); 14A: Osmond and others (DONNYS); 16A: Longtime Chrysler model (LEBARON); 17A: Spill the beans (BLAB); 18A: Securities-buying strategy (DOLLAR AVERAGING); 20A: "Go ahead, ask" ("TRY ME"); 21A: Last three letters of TNT (ENE); 22A: Language that gave us "kayak" (INUIT); 23A: Inexperienced mind, e.g. (TABULA RASA); 25A: Historic site in Wyoming (FORT LARAMIE); 28A: Swedish-born actress who played Candy in "Candy," ___ Aulin (EWA); 29A: Start-up helper: abbr. (SBA); 31A: The Pep Boys, e.g. (TRIO); 32A: Tommy Franks is a ret. one (GEN.); 33A: Drink with dim sum (TEA); 36A: Even though (ALBEIT); 38A: Transpire (OCCUR); 42A: Security device (BURGLAR ALARM); 45A: Be suspicious (SMELL A RAT); 49A: Be finicky (NIGGLE); 50A: Reverse (UNDO); 51A: Instant-messaging pioneer (AOL); 52A: Elocution-class no-nos (ERS); 53A: "There's no one else but me" ("I'M IT"); 55A: Amundsen's quest (POLE); 57A: Do a trick (PULL A RABBIT OUT OF A HAT); 64A: One with burning pants? (LIAR); 65A: Velvet add-on (-EEN); 66A: Home of "Weekend Edition" (NPR); 67A: Cal or Georgia follower (TECH); 68A: "I'm Chevy Chase" and "You're not," for example (DECLARATIVE SENTENCES); 75A: Editor's catch (TYPO); 76A: Courteous enclosure: abbr. (SASE); 77A: It can ache (EAR); 78A: Jamie Foxx film (RAY); 79A: Arizona sight (MESA); 82A: Former N.Y. governor (PATAKI); 85A: They played their last game on Dec. 24, 1994 (THE L.A. RAMS); 88A: Invigorating (EXHILARATING); 91A: Jane Eyre's pupil (ADELE); 92A: James who played a wolf in "Wolf" (SPADER); 93A: Paris preposition (DES); 94A: Referee's last number (TEN); 96A: Big name in game coverage (ESPN); 100A: Alter, in a way (HEM); 101A: Kitten's comment (MEW); 103A: 1960s muscle car (DODGE POLARA); 107A: What we're living in, to Bush or Carter (NUCULAR AGE); 112A: Town, lake, or dam in Panama (GATUN); 113A: Do the floor (MOP); 114A: From Nineveh: abbr. (ASSYR.); 115A: Q: "So, where are all of the LARAs in this puzzle, sweetheart?" A: "___" (SOMEWHERE MY LOVE); 118A: Action (DEED); 119A: Exclusions from Santa's list? (POUTERS); 120A: Joint-account holder (SPOUSE); 121A: CIA precursor (OSS); 122A: Wanders (STRAYS); 123A: Fiji's capital (SUVA); 1D: Architect Paolo of Arcosanti fame (SOLERI); 2D: Blowup: abbr. (ENL.); 3D: "For want of ___ ..." (A NAIL); 4D: William's "Thin Man" co-star (MYRNA); 5D: For each (PER); 6D: Subside (ABATE); 7D: Sitar melody (RAGA); 8D: "Is this ___?" (A RIB); 9D: Low-class, in London (NONU); 10D: Secret motive (ANGLE); 11D: Of a Trojan War figure (ULYSSEAN); 12D: She brings home the worms (MAMA BIRD); 13D: Face on a fiver (ABE); 14D: Giver (DONOR); 15D: Reptile's tail? (-SAUR); 16D: "___ get this straight ..." (LET ME); 17D: Bikini part (BRA); 18D: Skilled (DEFT); 19D: Pfizer product (VIAGRA); 20D: Merry refrain (TRA-LA); 24D: Familiar with (AWARE OF); 26D: Saw, for one (TOOL); 27D: Bach's "Mass ___ Minor" (IN B); 30D: Sphere intro (ATMO-); 33D: Certain music intervals (TRITONES); 34D: Spur (on) (EGG); 35D: H.S. math course (ALG.); 37D: Delaware, the ___ State (BLUE HEN); 39D: In no uncertain terms (CLEARLY); 40D: Good last name for a mechanic? (CARR); 41D: Bear in the sky (URSA); 43D: Ton, for one (UNIT); 44D: Dog food brand (ALPO); 45D: Fall guy (SAP); 46D: Gelatin shaper, in London (MOULD); 47D: "Dallas" Miss (ELLIE); 48D: Shangri-la land (TIBET); 54D: Beginners' rentals on snowy slopes (MINI-SKIS); 56D: Side (LATERAL); 58D: Popular brand of supplement for those who are dairy-intolerant (LACTAID); 59D: Actress Arthur (BEA); 60D: Surprise win (UPSET); 61D: Quattro minus uno (TRE); 62D: Ghana's capital (ACCRA); 63D: In ___ (before noon) (THE A.M.); 69D: Shirts and skirts (APPAREL); 70D: Indy 500 sound (ROAR); 71D: Self-centered (VAIN); 72D: Have to get (NEED); 73D: Raconteur's offering (TALE); 74D: With op, a computer manager (SYS); 79D: Fit together (MESH); 80D: Business deductions (EXPENSES); 81D: Private eyes (SHAMUSES); 83D: Little bit (TAD); 84D: Broke bread (ATE); 86D: Plane's place (HANGAR); 87D: Rod's partner (REEL); 89D: Madagascar primate (LEMUR); 90D: "Little" car of song (GTO); 95D: Finishes the lawn (EDGES); 97D: Stuffed Indian pastry (SAMOSA); 98D: Show to be so (PROVE); 99D: Neck part (NAPE); 102D: Under-eave buzzers (WASPS); 103D: Truman beat him (DEWEY); 104D: Vous ___ (ÊTES); 105D: Gas dispensers (PUMPS); 106D: Elvis hit, "Stuck ___" (ON YOU); 108D: Dancer Charisse (CYD); 109D: Dig like a pig (ROOT); 110D: Manchurian border river (AMUR); 111D: "___ grip!" (GET A); 114D: Hubbub (ADO); 116D: Storefront info: abbr. (HRS.); 117D: Darling, to a Brit (LUV).

08.21 Sun

S U N D A Y

August 21, 2011

Pamela Amick Klawitter



[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: "Scrambled Signals" (or "Gal Sins") — Phrases that indicate anagrams in a cryptic way.

Theme Entries:

• 24A: 91-Across? (GARBLED SPEECH).
• 91A: Aviary sounds (CHEEPS).
• 49A: 1-Down? (ALTERED STATES).
• 1D: Tries (TASTES).
• 92A: 111-Down? (SHIFTING GEARS).
• 111D: Barracks bigwig (SARGE).
• 121A: 58-Across? (MIXED BLESSING).
• 58A: Lack of sincerity (GLIBNESS).
• 3D: 129-Across? (TWISTED SISTER).
• 129A: Put up a fight (RESIST).
• 61D: 79-Across? (CHANGE OF HEART).
• 79A: Milky Way planet (EARTH).

Hey, crossword fans. Doug here on Sunday. Wasn't I just here on Friday? I need a vacation. Anyway, today we've got anagrams. You can "garble" SPEECH to get CHEEPS, "alter" STATES to get TASTES, etc. If you solve cryptic crosswords, you're very familiar with this type of wordplay. In fact, some of these clue pairs are easily converted into cryptic clues: [Tries altered states (6)] or [Lack of sincerity is mixed blessing (8)], e.g.

My favorite pairing is TWISTED SISTER / RESIST because Twisted Sister's only hit was "We're Not Gonna Take It." A pretty awful song, but I must have watched the video a hundred times when I was in junior high. Those are some hours I'd like to have back. Check out the singer. He looks like an over-the-top nightmare version of Christina Aguilera. You've gotta love the '80s.



Lots of theme answers sprinkled around the grid, which led to some rough spots in the surrounding fill. The toughest section for me was the lower right, with the baffling AHERN & SERIATE. Let's jump to the bullets.

Bullets:

• 21A: Venue for newsgroups (USENET). Does Usenet still exist? I used to follow the rec.puzzles.crosswords newsgroup on Usenet, but that was a looong time ago. Hmm, looks like all the old newsgroups still exist on Google Groups. I'd be shocked if anyone under 40 looks at them.

• 57A: Actresses Gray and Moran (ERINS). I have fond memories of Ms. Gray from the old "Buck Rogers" series. Man, I watched a lot of crappy TV when I was a kid. Though you can see that "Buck Rogers" did have one redeeming feature: Colonel Deering's purple jumpsuit.
• 60A: With a cast of thousands (EPICAL). Epical? Yikes!
• 64A: Japanese-American (NISEI). This is an entry you'll run into every now and then, and you might confuse it with ISSEI. It helps to remember that ISSEI is a "First-generation Japanese-American" and NISEI is a "Second-generation Japanese-American."
• 96A: White Owl alternative (TE AMO). I saw this in the grid just now, and thought it was Team O. Sounds like something to join if you're really into Oprah. I'll stick with Team Jacob. Anyway, White Owl and Te Amo are both brands of cigars.
• 115A: Some tabernacle singers (ALTI). Plural of alto.

• 93D: TV's Buffy, e.g. (HEROINE). Yeah, Buffy was cool on "Family Affair," but calling her a heroine is a bit of a stretch. It's hard to look tough when you're carrying around a Mrs. Beasley doll, and I speak from experience.
• 94D: Where work piles up (IN-BOXES). Thanks for the reminder, puzzle. I took Friday off, so I'll have plenty piled up on Monday.
• 102D: Shylock's adversary (PORTIA). From "The Merchant of Venice." I thought Portia was from a different Shakespeare play. Well, it's too late to look it up now. The blog is almost over.

See, what did I tell you? All done. I hope you enjoyed today's mixed up puzzle. See you next weekend.



Everything — 1A: Popular tank fillers (TETRAS); 7A: First word in many addresses (LADIES); 13A: Aurora borealis region (ARCTIC); 19A: If all goes wrong (AT WORST); 21A: Venue for newsgroups (USENET); 22A: Slain Tejano singer (SELENA); 23A: Chills (SHIVERS); 24A: 91-Across? (GARBLED SPEECH); 26A: Immobilizes, as a perp (TASES); 27A: She played Dottie in "A League of Their Own" (GEENA); 29A: Florentine evening (SERA); 30A: Where to see the Kon-Tiki (OSLO); 31A: Sinusitis doc (ENT); 32A: Give the go-ahead (OKAY); 34A: One with "Esq." on the door (ATT.); 36A: Xing people? (PEDS); 38A: "Woo-__!" (HOO); 39A: Flow slowly (SEEP); 41A: Utah city on I-15 (OREM); 43A: Hi, in Honduras (HOLA); 45A: "__ Peculiar Man": Paul Simon song (A MOST); 47A: React to humidity, in a way (DROOP); 49A: 1-Down? (ALTERED STATES); 53A: __ Friday (CASUAL); 55A: Stir up (AROUSE); 56A: Gave a whirl (SPUN); 57A: Actresses Gray and Moran (ERINS); 58A: Lack of sincerity (GLIBNESS); 60A: With a cast of thousands (EPICAL); 64A: Japanese-American (NISEI); 65A: Sharp dresser's standard? (NINES); 66A: Directional finish (-ERN); 68A: "I get it," humorously ("AH SO"); 69A: Grounded flier (SST); 70A: Three sheets to the wind (SAUCED); 72A: Beethoven's "Pathétique," e.g. (SONATA); 75A: Both of racing's Unsers (ALS); 76A: Seine summers (ÉTÉS); 78A: Colour suffix (-ISE); 79A: Milky Way planet (EARTH); 80A: Things of passing interest? (LANES); 82A: "Do I __ eat a peach?": Eliot (DARE TO); 84A: StubHub competition (SCALPERS); 87A: Wistful remark (OH GEE); 88A: Thing to play (ROLE); 90A: Colored ring (AREOLA); 91A: Aviary sounds (CHEEPS); 92A: 111-Down? (SHIFTING GEARS); 96A: White Owl alternative (TE AMO); 97A: Future, for one (TENSE); 98A: Has second thoughts about (RUES); 99A: Members of the flock (EWES); 101A: Bay Area blues, briefly (SFPD); 104A: NYSE figure (ARB); 105A: Parking area (SPOT); 107A: Spinning toon (TAZ); 110A: Beaux-__: architectural style (ARTS); 112A: __ polloi (HOI); 113A: No longer worth discussing (MOOT); 115A: Some tabernacle singers (ALTI); 117A: Lacking integrity (LOOSE); 119A: 1990s-2000s Irish leader (AHERN); 121A: 58-Across? (MIXED BLESSING); 124A: Arranged in sequence (SERIATE); 126A: Hot months in Chile (ENEROS); 127A: "Stand By Me" director (REINER); 128A: Largest African country (ALGERIA); 129A: Put up a fight (RESIST); 130A: Pull out (SECEDE); 131A: Rice creation (LESTAT); 1D: Tries (TASTES); 2D: Fuel gas (ETHANE); 3D: 129-Across? (TWISTED SISTER); 4D: Drift (ROVE); 5D: Sandbox comeback (ARE SO); 6D: Abbr. on outdated maps (SSR); 7D: Vehicle for supine sledders (LUGE); 8D: Hatha yoga posture (ASANA); 9D: Clear of vermin (DERAT); 10D: Having five sharps, musically (IN B); 11D: Skinny swimmers (EELS); 12D: Skyline highlight (STEEPLE); 13D: Big name in Syrian politics (ASSAD); 14D: Gym unit (REP); 15D: Geppetto's goldfish (CLEO); 16D: Opening stroke (TEE SHOT); 17D: How a macro lens is used (IN CLOSE); 18D: (In) partnership (CAHOOTS); 20D: Fictional author of "The World According to Bensenhaver" (T.S. GARP); 25D: Hates the thought of (DREADS); 28D: Private __ (EYE); 33D: __-Aid (KOOL); 35D: This and that (THESE); 37D: Suddenly paid attention (SAT UP); 40D: Danish fruit? (PRUNE); 42D: Iwo Jima figure (MARINE); 44D: Unrefined finds (ORES); 46D: Craze (MANIA); 48D: Welcome desert sight (OASIS); 50D: Like lungs (LOBED); 51D: Winery casks (TUNS); 52D: Out of gas (SPENT); 53D: Perfumed, as a chancel (CENSED); 54D: Label founded in 1975 by Clive Davis (ARISTA); 55D: Eatery "just a half a mile from the railroad track" (ALICES); 58D: Serengeti roamers (GNUS); 59D: Popular Nissan (SENTRA); 61D: 79-Across? (CHANGE OF HEART); 62D: Dead to the world (ASLEEP); 63D: Red ink entries (LOSSES); 67D: Three cheers, maybe (RAHS); 71D: Garlicky spread (AIOLI); 72D: Palate stimulus (SAPOR); 73D: "... otherwise, you'll be sorry!" ("… OR ELSE!"); 74D: Wailuku welcome (ALOHA); 77D: Feudal laborers (SERFS); 79D: Ancient home of Parmenides (ELEA); 81D: Reminders to conversation monopolizers (AHEMS); 83D: Rainy day brand (TOTES); 85D: Exercise wheel site (CAGE); 86D: "Give it __!" (A REST); 89D: Join the club (ENROLL); 91D: "__ Magnifique": Porter tune (C'EST); 92D: Barely get the words out (STAMMER); 93D: TV's Buffy, e.g. (HEROINE); 94D: Where work piles up (IN-BOXES); 95D: Alley boundaries (GUTTERS); 96D: Saint of Ávila (TERESA); 100D: Isn't anymore (WAS); 102D: Shylock's adversary (PORTIA); 103D: Give business to, as a café (DINE AT); 106D: Longtime beer experiencing a 2000s resurgence (PABST); 108D: Dress with a flare (A-LINE); 109D: Divided into districts (ZONED); 111D: Barracks bigwig (SARGE); 114D: Actress Garr (TERI); 116D: Words with a nod (I SEE); 118D: Grimm heavy (OGRE); 120D: Makes tracks (HIES); 122D: Bob and flip (DOS); 123D: [Not my mistake] ([SIC]); 125D: Allen wrench shape (ELL).

08.20 Sat

S A T U R D A Y

August 20, 2011

Doug Peterson

Theme: None — Cuz, ya know, it's Saturday



So yesterday was really not my favorite day so far. First, I dropped the PuzzleKids off at camp and went to work. Then I figured out how to get my van home from the shop even though PuzzleHusband is out of town. So far so good, right? Yeah. At the end of the day, I grab the kids and race home to meet the landlord who's coming over to fix the air conditioning. Poor PuzzleSon is kind of staggering around — he didn't sleep well because he has swimmer's ear and it hurts. I make some small talk with the landlord and finally get him out of here so I can address PuzzleDaughter's lice issue. We're a couple minutes into applying the lice shampoo aaaand … the power goes out. Did I mention that I haven't made dinner yet and it's almost 8:00? So, yeah, not the best day really. The power did eventually come back on in the middle of the night, but I had given up and gone to bed. Oh, and I"m supposed to leave this morning at 8:00 to shuttle the kids to the PuzzleParents with whom they're going to spend the next couple of weeks. (I guess that's a good news. Did I just say that out loud?) All that to say that I don't have much time this morning. And I just spent a bunch of it whining. Hey, that's how I roll. (P.S. Sorry if your head is itching now.)



Super hard puzzle this morning, right? I ended up with a DNF because I've never heard of TANGANYIKA (12D: It merged with Zanzibar in 1964). I guessed an E where that second N was supposed to go. If I had run the alphabet I might have figured out that N worked with the cross and was a better choice, but I just didn't have time.



Not too much other stuff that I just flat-out didn't know:

• 15A: Muse of sacred music (POLYHYMNIA). Although after it's in it looks kinda appropriate.
• 53A: __ Bacon: "East of Eden" character (ABRA). Who knew?
• 46D: Wedding announcement (BANNS). I have no idea what this means.

There was a lot that was fun to SUSS out (20A: Puzzle (out)):

• 17A: Does a bit of informal polling (ASKS AROUND). Awesome colloquial phrase with a great clue.
• 21A: Model born Lesley Hornby (TWIGGY). I didn't know her name, but the TW gave it away.

• 33A: Texas Rangers CEO (NOLAN RYAN). When I saw "Rangers," I immediately thought "hockey" and knew there was no way I would know this answer. With a couple crosses in place, I realized we were talking about baseball. Whew!
• 36A: Story writer/poet Grace who studied with Auden (PALEY). Story writer? That makes her seem kinda lightweight (which she's not).
• 38A: Honey Ryder and Xenia Onatopp, e.g. (BOND GIRLS). Those Bond Girls have the stupidest names.
• 26D: Dow 30 company (EXXON MOBIL). Got the two Xs in place pretty early, so this one basically wrote itself in.

Wish I could hang out longer, but we need to get this show on the road. I know there's a ton of stuff to talk about today. Have fun in the comments!







Everything — 1A: They're dirty pool (CHEAP SHOTS); 11A: WNBA positions (CTRS.); 15A: Muse of sacred music (POLYHYMNIA); 16A: Brest milk (LAIT); 17A: Does a bit of informal polling (ASKS AROUND); 18A: Paquin of "True Blood" (ANNA); 19A: Note (SEE); 20A: Puzzle (out) (SUSS); 21A: Model born Lesley Hornby (TWIGGY); 23A: Equinox mo. (SEP.); 24A: Accepted (NORMAL); 25A: "GoodFellas" Oscar winner (PESCI); 28A: Reckon, in the boonies (S'POSE); 30A: OR abbr. (NEG.); 32A: One who's done stretches? (EX-CON); 33A: Texas Rangers CEO (NOLAN RYAN); 35A: Leap on blades (AXEL); 36A: Story writer/poet Grace who studied with Auden (PALEY); 37A: Classic Leontyne Price role (AIDA); 38A: Honey Ryder and Xenia Onatopp, e.g. (BOND GIRLS); 40A: Out of line (ASKEW); 41A: Inseparable (ONE); 42A: Some rectangular bars (OLEOS); 43A: Feinting spells? (SPARS); 44A: Ore.'s highest point (MT. HOOD); 46A: Broker's advice (BUY); 47A: Any regular on "The View" (COHOST); 48A: Numbers for closers (ERAS); 50A: Cone head? (SNO-); 53A: __ Bacon: "East of Eden" character (ABRA); 54A: Got at (INSINUATED); 57A: Structure on piles (PIER); 58A: "When pigs fly!" ("NOT ON A DARE!"); 59A: More than asked (PLED); 60A: Safari sights (GRASSLANDS); 1D: They're no. experts (CPA'S); 2D: It may wind up around the house (HOSE); 3D: Paul's "The Prize" co-star (ELKE); 4D: Bard's interjections (AYS); 5D: Introduce by degrees (PHASE IN); 6D: Stack sweetener (SYRUP); 7D: GP gps. (HMO'S); 8D: Weight (ONUS); 9D: Can across the pond (TIN); 10D: "I'm afraid the news is not good ..." ("SAD TO SAY …"); 11D: One may be filed (CLAIM); 12D: It merged with Zanzibar in 1964 (TANGANYIKA); 13D: Gangbuster's target (RING LEADER); 14D: Inn time (STAY); 22D: Singer of complex songs (WREN); 23D: Baste (SCOLD); 24D: Phrase of emphasis (NO LESS); 25D: R&B singer Bryson (PEABO); 26D: Dow 30 company (EXXON MOBIL); 27D: When, in Act Two of "Macbeth," the Porter knocks at the gate (SCENE THREE); 28D: Caught (SNARED); 29D: Taquería meat (POLLO); 31D: Irritates, with "at" (GNAWS); 34D: Far from mellifluous (RASPY); 36D: At the helm of (PILOTING); 39D: Nursery sounds (GOOS); 40D: Like much business? (AS USUAL); 45D: Put away (HOARD); 46D: Wedding announcement (BANNS); 47D: Stupefyin' Jones creator (CAPP); 48D: First-year Spanish verb (ESTÁ); 49D: Mexican waterways (RIOS); 50D: Persian for "place of" (STAN); 51D: One needing social work? (NERD); 52D: Confucius's "Book of __" (ODES); 55D: Bergen's home: Abbr. (NOR.); 56D: Org. working on bridges (ADA).

08.19 Fri

F R I D A Y
August 19, 2011
Jeff Louie

Theme: Crazy Cuisine — Hard G sounds are changed to hard C sounds in familiar foods, creating a madcap menu of outrageous edibles.

Theme Entries:

• 16A: Dairy food for a haunted house? (CREAK YOGURT).


• 23A: Boxed Brie? (CRATED CHEESE).


• 38A/41A: Pancake-flavored drink? (CREPE JUICE).


• 50A: Snacks for an all-nighter? (CRAM CRACKERS).


• 62A: Dinner dish decorated for a king? (CROWNED BEEF).

Hey, puzzle fans. Doug here, filling in on a Friday. PuzzleGirl is away on important business. She called me last night from an undisclosed location. There was a lot of loud music and laughter in the background, so I didn't catch everything she said. Sounded pretty important though. OK, let's get to the puzzle.

Unless I'm mistaken, this is Jeff Louie's debut puzzle. Congratulations! This is an ambitious theme. You could come up with a decent theme by finding a bunch of phrases that start with GR & then changing the G sound to a C sound. But Mr. Louie kicked it up a notch by only using food-related phrases. Nice work.

I like CREPE JUICE the best, because it sounds kinda gross, in a good way. It reminds me of some of the strange sodas that Jones Soda puts out around the holidays. Sodas with flavors like Turkey & Gravy, Dinner Roll, Christmas Tree, Green Bean Casserole, and Herb Stuffing. When I'm invited to Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, I always bring the Jones Soda. The kids love it! I get out the fancy glasses, and we all have a sample of each flavor. (And yes, I'm always assigned to sit at the kids' table for some reason.) I remember the Turkey & Gravy soda was especially vile. It was like licking an ashtray. And Christmas Tree tasted like Windex. Best flavor: Pumpkin Pie.

Bullets:

• 1A: Espresso concoction (LATTE). Aren't espresso and latte two different things? I'm not a coffee drinker, so I may be completely off-base. That's right. I don't drink coffee, but I occasionally drink Mashed Potatoes & Butter soda.


• 10A/13A: Coming-out phrase? (IT'S A GIRL). Because the baby girl's "coming out" of the mother. Moving on...



• 14A: Surprisingly, the Rays don't play there (TAMPA). The Tampa Bay Rays play in St. Petersburg, Florida. The New York Giants and New York Jets play in New Jersey. And the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim? You can figure that one out.


• 16A: Dairy food for a haunted house? (CREAK YOGURT). I wasn't familiar with Greek yogurt. Wikipedia tells me that it's "yogurt which has been strained in a cloth or paper bag or filter to remove the whey, giving a consistency between that of yogurt and cheese, while preserving yogurt's distinctive sour taste." Uh, that almost sounds worse than the crepe juice.


• 34A: Sask. neighbor (N. DAK.). If PuzzleGirl was here, I'm sure she'd have something interesting to say about North Dakota. Let's see... It's the birthplace of Roger Maris. That's all I've got.



• 40A: Priest's vestment (ALB). That's a vintage Crosswordese 101 entry. Check it out here: ALB.


• 9D: Weather forecast word (PATCHY). This is one of my favorite clues today. Rather than giving us a boring synonym, the constructor came up with a clever way to make us think of "patchy." The only place I ever hear that word is in weather forecasts. Patchy fog, patchy clouds, etc.


• 10D: Sundance entry, usually (INDIE). Independent films at the Sundance Film Festival.


• 22D: Name that means "cool breeze" in Hawaiian (KEANU). That's the most interesting thing I've ever read about Keanu Reeves. My name in Hawaiian is Kouka. I learned that from a keychain in a Hawaiian gift shop.

PuzzleGirl will be back tomorrow, bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, and ready to blog. Or you'll be stuck with me again. Enjoy the rest of your Friday.

08.18 Thu

T H U R S D A Y

August 18, 2011

Don Gagliardo & C.C. Burnikel

Theme: Plus Signs — Three blocks of black squares look like plus signs and the first three (four?) letters of each theme answer can be a word having to do with addition.



Theme answers:

• 16A: Rikishi's contest (SUMO MATCH).
• 28A: City known as the political capital of Africa (ADDIS ABABA).
• 43A: Pacific Northwest cedar monuments (TOTEM POLES).
• 55A: The three in this grid are a hint to the starts of 16-, 28- and 43-Across (PLUS SIGNS).

First of all, I just want to say Happy Birthday to PuzzleHusband! What are we doing to celebrate? Well, I'm going to drop the PuzzleKids at day camp and drop my van off at the shop. He's going to meet me at the shop and give me a ride to work and then head off on a business trip. I will spend the rest of the day hoping and praying that the shop is able to finish its work on the van today so the kids and I aren't stranded. Oh, and somewhere in there we're hoping the landlord will somehow be able to fix our air conditioner. So, yeah. Looking like a great day ahead.



This puzzle was … not my favorite. I did notice the unusual grid pattern right off the bat, so that helped with the theme. I'm not entirely sure if the relevant part of the last theme answer is TOT or TOTE. Both have dictionary support for fitting with the theme. I want to say it's TOT so that each of the three theme answers starts out with three theme letters to go along with the three plus signs in the grid. So, okay, let's go with that.



Tons of crosswordese and uninteresting fill in this one. A few gems distinguish themselves from the crowd:

• 35A: Reorganize, and then some (SHAKE UP).
• 7D: Prom corsage (ORCHID).
• 11D: Prepare for the hot tub (DISROBE).
• 36D: Jeter's 3,000th hit, e.g. (HOME RUN).

They're offset by words that just sit there — like AMMETER, LOOKED, OBTAIN, COMPILER — and a couple real clunkers — AEROBAT and AT A TIME, I'm looking at you. So, overall, as I said, not my favorite. Don and C.C. have set the bar pretty high for themselves, though, so that might be part of it.



Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 1A: Altar constellation (ARA).
• 22A: Bit for the dog bowl (ORT).
• 25A: Plaintive wind, perhaps (OBOE).
• 26A: First-year law student (ONE-L).
• 33A: Polo Grounds #4 (OTT).
• 47A: Scandinavian saint (OLAF).
• 29D: "The Clan of the Cave Bear" writer (AUEL).
• 51D: Strategic WWI river (YSER).

Everything — 1A: Altar constellation (ARA); 4A: Picked locks? (AFRO); 8A: Where to see Goyas (PRADO); 13A: Translating computer program (COMPILER); 15A: Had pizza delivered, say (ATE IN); 16A: Rikishi's contest (SUMO MATCH); 18A: Vice __ (VERSA); 19A: DFW airport home (TEX); 20A: Lei presenter (WAHINE); 22A: Bit for the dog bowl (ORT); 23A: Tapped-out character (DIT); 24A: Popping up all over (RIFE); 25A: Plaintive wind, perhaps (OBOE); 26A: First-year law student (ONE-L); 28A: City known as the political capital of Africa (ADDIS ABABA); 30A: Battlefield display (HEROICS); 32A: King's problem in "The King's Speech" (STUTTER); 33A: Polo Grounds #4 (OTT); 34A: Place to see bull horns (LEA); 35A: Reorganize, and then some (SHAKE UP); 39A: Thrill (DELIGHT); 43A: Pacific Northwest cedar monuments (TOTEM POLES); 45A: NYC neighborhood (NOHO); 46A: Make __ dash (A MAD); 47A: Scandinavian saint (OLAF); 48A: Rascal (IMP); 49A: Like Gen. McChrystal (RET.); 50A: Quite soon (ANY DAY); 52A: Bearded beast (GNU); 53A: What a case may go to (TRIAL); 55A: The three in this grid are a hint to the starts of 16-, 28- and 43-Across (PLUS SIGNS); 58A: Gravy no-no (LUMPS); 59A: Billie Holiday's real first name (ELEANORA); 60A: El primer mes (ENERO); 61A: Houston MLBer (STRO); 62A: "Just kidding!" ("NOT!"); 1D: Rm. coolers (AC'S); 2D: Stand-up performance (ROUTINE); 3D: Current contraption (AMMETER); 4D: Align the cross hairs (AIM); 5D: Fly in the ointment (FLAW); 6D: Slows (RETARDS); 7D: Prom corsage (ORCHID); 8D: Work on the street (PAVE); 9D: MapQuest output: Abbr. (RTE.); 10D: Pilot in a show (AEROBAT); 11D: Prepare for the hot tub (DISROBE); 12D: Painting the town red (ON A TEAR); 14D: "A __ upon thee!" (POX); 17D: Oldies players (HI-FIS); 21D: Gets cozy (NESTLES); 23D: [Facepalm!] (D'OH); 25D: Lay one's hands on (OBTAIN); 27D: Undid the blindfold (LOOKED); 28D: Do more than just consider (ACT UPON); 29D: "The Clan of the Cave Bear" writer (AUEL); 31D: Tabloid pair (ITEM); 35D: Scare (STARTLE); 36D: Jeter's 3,000th hit, e.g. (HOME RUN); 37D: Unit by unit, in succession (AT A TIME); 38D: Coral component (POLYP); 39D: Foreclosure cause (DEFAULT); 40D: In progress (GOING ON); 41D: Author better known as Saki (H.H. MUNRO); 42D: Word with seed or banana (TOP); 44D: Tureen utensils (LADLES); 50D: Besides (ALSO); 51D: Strategic WWI river (YSER); 52D: Gibson need (GIN); 54D: Spring mo. (APR.); 56D: Common word on Brazilian maps (SÃO); 57D: Watched the kids (SAT).

08.17 Wed

W E D N E S D A Y

August 17, 2011

Jack McInturff

Theme: Three Times a Lady — Each theme answer is a familiar phrase that starts with a word that follows the word LADY in a familiar phrase



Theme answers:

• 17A: Gourmet treat sold in gold boxes (GODIVA CHOCOLATE).
• 25A: Backdrop for tangerine trees, in a Beatles classic (MARMALADE SKIES).
• 41A: Enduring fortune, ethnically speaking (LUCK OF THE IRISH).
• 54A: 1978 #1 hit for the Commodores (and this puzzle's title) (THREE TIMES A LADY).

Very cute theme today. I was thinking all three ladies might be songs, but then remembered that whenever I think of LADY GODIVA, the song that goes through my head is actually this one:





But that's just my own little quirk, obviously not something Jack McInturff needs to keep in mind while constructing. Although if constructors would tailor their puzzles directly to me, that sure would help me along.



There were a few things in today's grid that I just flat-out didn't know, which seems like kind of a lot for a Wednesday:

• 22A: Edd's "77 Sunset Strip" role (KOOKIE).
• 23D: Great Seal word (ORDO). Um … what?
• 29D: Tennyson's "__ Arden" (ENOCH).

But those entries were balanced out nicely by SWIT and KAREEM, which were right in my sweet spot (30D: She played Houlihan on "M*A*S*H" / 42D: Laker teammate of Magic). My sweet spot apparently lives in the late 70s/early 80s and sits in front of a TV.



Winner of today's Most Awesomest Word in the Grid Award goes to VERMIN (18D: Rats and such). It's a cartoonish word, isn't it? Unfortunately, X FACTOR (39D: Hard-to-define element) got robbed. Any other day and it would have had no trouble taking the title.



Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 21A: Bow-wielding god (EROS).
• 4D: Ex-press secretary Fleischer (ARI).
• 37D: Viking war god (ODIN).
• 43D: "Garfield" drooler (ODIE).
• 52D: Novelist Ferber (EDNA).

Everything — 1A: Crime writer Paretsky (SARA); 5A: Name on an NYU arts building (TISCH); 10A: Goes (for) (OPTS); 14A: Declare openly (AVER); 15A: Toaster, at times (EMCEE); 16A: Bucket of bolts (HEAP); 17A: Gourmet treat sold in gold boxes (GODIVA CHOCOLATE); 20A: USN rank (ENS.); 21A: Bow-wielding god (EROS); 22A: Edd's "77 Sunset Strip" role (KOOKIE); 23A: Approximation phrase (OR SO); 24A: Brand served on the floor (ALPO); 25A: Backdrop for tangerine trees, in a Beatles classic (MARMALADE SKIES); 31A: Thief (BANDIT); 32A: Cabbage roll? (WAD); 33A: L.A.-to-Bakersfield heading (NNW); 34A: Follow, as a tip (ACT ON); 35A: Bit of a pickle (JAM); 36A: Yes-man's phrase (SO DO I); 38A: Hawaiian tuna (AHI); 39A: Ballot markings (X'ES); 40A: Take off (DEDUCT); 41A: Enduring fortune, ethnically speaking (LUCK OF THE IRISH); 45A: "Law & Order" figures: Abbr. (ADA'S); 46A: Swedish explorer Hedin (SVEN); 47A: Former "Today" co-anchor (COURIC); 50A: D-delta connection (AS IN); 51A: Fashion bottom line? (HEM); 54A: 1978 #1 hit for the Commodores (and this puzzle's title) (THREE TIMES A LADY); 57A: Gentle slope (RISE); 58A: Maine campus town (ORONO); 59A: Godmother, often (AUNT); 60A: Good earth (LOAM); 61A: Harder to find (RARER); 62A: Ho-hum (BLAH); 1D: Guru (SAGE); 2D: Royal Shakespeare Theatre river (AVON); 3D: Primary colors (REDS); 4D: Ex-press secretary Fleischer (ARI); 5D: Excitedly removes, as wrapping (TEARS AT); 6D: "Works for me" ("I'M COOL"); 7D: UCLA and USC (SCHS.); 8D: Boardroom VIP (CEO); 9D: Harassed from the peanut gallery (HECKLED); 10D: "You have to see this!" ("OH LOOK!"); 11D: Heyday (PEAK); 12D: Jacques of "Mon Oncle" (TATI); 13D: WWI admiral Maximilian von ___ (SPEE); 18D: Rats and such (VERMIN); 19D: Cry over spilled milk? (OOPS); 23D: Great Seal word (ORDO); 24D: Sandler of "Spanglish" (ADAM); 25D: Peru's __ Picchu (MACHU); 26D: Playful prank (ANTIC); 27D: Up to one's neck (in) (AWASH); 28D: Pakistani river (INDUS); 29D: Tennyson's "__ Arden" (ENOCH); 30D: She played Houlihan on "M*A*S*H" (SWIT); 31D: False god (BAAL); 35D: Airbus products (JETS); 36D: Williams of tennis (SERENA); 37D: Viking war god (ODIN); 39D: Hard-to-define element (X FACTOR); 40D: b, in a ÷ b (DIVISOR); 42D: Laker teammate of Magic (KAREEM); 43D: "Garfield" drooler (ODIE); 44D: Reputed Dead Sea Scrolls writer (ESSENE); 47D: Laptop key (CTRL); 48D: Taft's birth state (OHIO); 49D: Minor start? (URSA); 50D: 21-Across, in Rome (AMOR); 51D: Do a trucker's job (HAUL); 52D: Novelist Ferber (EDNA); 53D: Urban legend, e.g. (MYTH); 55D: Rollover subj. (IRA); 56D: Scientist's milieu (LAB).