07.20 Wed

W E D N E S D A Y
July 20, 2011
Scott Atkinson

Theme: Duck! — Words that end in LING are clued as if LING is a suffix intended to convey smallness, as it does in the word DUCKLING.

Theme answers:

• 17A: Very narrow fissure? (CRACKLING).
• 26A: Landfill in a toy city? (DUMPLING).
• 38A: Minuscule tattoo? (INKLING).
• 40A: Dollhouse dress adornment? (BOWLING).
• 49A: Where to wear a training bra? (BUSTLING).
• 62A: Very young hobo? (TRAMPLING).
• 67A: Waterfowl whose young inspired this puzzle's theme (DUCKS).

I got the beginnings of the first two theme answers first, but didn't actually complete a theme answer — and figure out the theme — until INKLING, which has a pretty cute clue. It was still a little tricky figuring out the theme answers, having to shift from one part of speech to another in my head in order to really grok what was going on. A good workout, I think. I'm not crazy about the clue for BUSTLING (49A: Where to wear a training bra?) — the "where" kind of threw me. I don't think I'd describe someone as wearing a bra "on her bust," which is where this clue leads me, the way it's worded.

Did you notice the bonus non-theme theme answers?

• 60A: Mila of "Black Swan" (KUNIS).
• 8D: Swan constellation (CYGNUS).

I was going to be irritated with KUNIS, since I've never heard of her, but then I realized the connection to the theme and couldn't be mad any more.

I have to assume there was no way around GAMALIEL (10D: Warren Harding's middle name) because that's gotta be scored pretty low on the old word list. I remembered that Harding's middle initial was G but assumed the answer would be something at least vaguely resembling a name. I had to piece that one together cross by cross. The "I" was the last letter I entered into the grid. You're killing me, SMALLS! (48D: Some tees.)

Bullets:

• 16A: Hand-dyeing craft (BATIK). We just can't get enough of this particular craft, can we?
• 42A: Opposite of perfect pitch (NO EAR). I wanted TIN EAR here, but NO EAR is perfectly acceptable.
• 44A: Transp. group in the Loop (CTA). Chicago Transit Authority.
• 3D: Twinkie or Ding Dong (SNACK CAKE). Best entry in the grid. Great clue too. Man! those are silly names for food.

• 6D: Slip in a pot (CHIT). I always think this clue refers to, like, an onion or something, but it's an I.O.U. "slip" that's been added to the poker "pot."
• 7D: Strips of leaves (DENUDES). I'm pretty sure I've seen this word before but didn't know what it meant.
• 35D: Cardinal who was a foe of the Musketeers (RICHELIEU). See this is what I was talking about with GAMALIEL. I didn't know this name either, but once I put a few crosses in place I could infer it pretty easily because it looks like a name. GAMALIEL? Not so much.
• 39D: Unwanted playground game teammate (LAST PICK). Oh, I was so afraid this was going to be RUNT or LOSER or FAT KID or something horrible like that. Whew!

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 34A: Where eaglets hatch (AERIE).
• 2D: Calvary inscription (INRI).
• 11D: Asteroids maker (ATARI).
• 25D: Bur. of Prohibition employee (T-MAN).
• 41D: Brewer's kiln (OAST).
• 61D: Palindromic airline (SAS).

Everything Else — 1A: Birthday secret (WISH); 5A: "Back in Black" band (AC/DC); 9A: Visibly amazed (AGAPE); 14A: __ Domini (ANNO); 15A: Bodybuilder's supplement (WHEY); 19A: Vintage violin (AMATI); 20A: Michael Moore health-care film (SICKO); 21A: Melody (TUNE); 23A: Rock 'n' roll middle name (ARON); 24A: Didn't sell (KEPT); 28A: CIA part: Abbr. (AGCY.); 30A: Arthur Fiedler et al. (MAESTRI); 32A: Hamm of soccer (MIA); 33A: Ryder rentals (VANS); 43A: Composer __ Carlo Menotti (GIAN); 45A: Pago Pago people (SAMOANS); 48A: Did a farrier's job (SHOD); 52A: Lacking spice (TAME); 54A: Chain selling stacks (IHOP); 55A: Clue in a case (LEAD); 57A: Dip for a chip (SALSA); 64A: "Fear of Flying" author Jong (ERICA); 65A: Sneaky trick (WILE); 66A: Luke's sci-fi sister (LEIA); 68A: Black stone (ONYX); 69A: Enjoys a smorgasbord (SUPS); 1D: WWII auxiliaries (WACS); 4D: Game with sticks (HOCKEY); 5D: Pointy tool (AWL); 9D: The N.Y. Nets were its last champion (ABA); 12D: Spike for a mountaineer (PITON); 13D: Squeezing (out) (EKING); 18D: Keystone character (KOP); 22D: Ambulance VIP (EMT); 27D: Shrimp relative (PRAWN); 28D: Key with no sharps or flats: Abbr. (A MIN.); 29D: NFL Hall of Famer Marchetti (GINO); 31D: Zambia neighbor: Abbr. (ANG.); 33D: Like megapopular web videos (VIRAL); 36D: Wild about (INTO); 37D: "Zounds!" ("EGAD!"); 40D: Recycling vessel (BIN); 43D: Yuri who was the first to orbit Earth (GAGARIN); 46D: Wire measure (MIL); 47D: Punch sequence (ONE-TWO); 49D: Pedaled (BIKED); 50D: Freedom, in Swahili (UHURU); 51D: Part of SST (SONIC); 53D: "Antony and Cleopatra" killer (ASP); 56D: Tyne with a Tony and Emmys (DALY); 58D: Salon sound (SNIP); 59D: "What __!": "How fun!" (A GAS); 63D: Tex-__ cuisine (MEX).

04.22 Fri

F R I D A Y
April 22, 2011
Scott Atkinson

Whassuuuppp, my crossword peoples! SethG here today, filling in for PuzzleGirl and her mobile family. SethG is also mobile--I've been busy, so I'm a bit behind on my puzzles. This is the first newspaper puzzle I've done in almost two weeks, so if it turns out that the same theme ran elsewhere yesterday or something don't expect me to mention it. I'll catch up soon, and I'd bet this theme didn't run elsewhere yesterday.

Theme: Spernooisms, aka THE OLD SWITCH ER OO — Theme answers switch the letters ER for OO in common phrases to make less common but wackier phrases.

Theme answers:

• 5D: The poop deck is a partial deck above a ship's main afterdeck. Below the beforedeck is the [Convicts' level on a prison ship?], the PERP DECK.
  
• 11D: Vitus Jonassen Bering was the Danish explorer in the Russian Navy who discovered Alaska. The people who already lived there could see Russia from their igloos. They were less than enthralled, and they yodeled mean stuff at him or something. Anyway, that's why the [Narrow passage where catcalls are heard?] came to be known as The BOOING STRAIT.
  
• 24D: A tattoo artist inks, while a TATTER ARTIST is a [Creative user of worn-out clothes?].
  
• 41D: When you BOOT Bert LAHR, you [Evict a "Wizard of Oz" actor?].
  
• 7D: Deceptive swap that literally resulted in 5-, 11-, 24- and 41-Down (THE OLD SWITCHEROO). This is 16 letters, which is why this puzzle is not a square.
  

Short write-up today, because I've got to get back to being busy. Before I go, here's some
Stuff:

• 1A: (SHEEP) were Bo-Peep's [Victims of a storied loser]. She was una perdedora.
  
  
• 10A: [Björn Ulvaeus's group] was ABBA. I assume "Ulvaeus" didn't help you much here. Swedish music!
  
• 45A. 47A. Speaking of Alaskan passages, The ARCTIC is the [Northwest Passage ocean], the SOVIET was an [Old Russian council].
  
• 66A. May, June, July, and August are the only months with no Rs in their names, and oysters apparently like cold. That's why [Like non-oyster months, traditionally] are R-LESS.
  
• 38D. 38A. It's cute to cross a cross reference, so you get [See 38-Down] for 38-Across. But that's totally not enough reason to give a pass to CONV. CTRS. being [large pol. arenas]. Ugh.
  
• Slate is an E-mag with EDS, birds that CAW would live in a Corvine, and KONG isn't a donkey, and the PEBBLE isn't fruity. Any questions?

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04.08 Fri

F R I D A Y
April 8, 2011
Scott Atkinson

Theme: Incomplete Countries — Each theme answer is a city/country pair with one letter missing from the country's name, which (obviously) creates much wackiness.

Theme answers:

• 16A: Celtic quaffs? (CARDIFF wALES).
• 30A: Caribbean baby animal? (HAVANA CUBa).
• 38A: Arabian guy? (MUSCAT oMAN).
• 52A: East Asian "pet"? (BEIJING CHInA).
• 11D: Iberian bridge? (MADRID SPAiN).
• 26D: Mesopotamian savings plan? (BAGHDAD IRAn).

I had a hard time with this theme, but it's totally not the theme's fault. I pieced CARDIFF together completely from crosses. I'm sure I've heard of CARDIFF at some point in my life, but I wouldn't have been able to tell you it was in [W]ALES. And I thought CARDIFF ALES sounded like a legitimate thing on its own. (What do I know from ales?) So, that was baffling to me. The next theme answers I got were HAVANA CUB and BAGHDAD IRA, so I'm trying to figure out how to tack an extra letter onto CARDIFF ALES to make it … something. Obviously that didn't work. It wasn't til I got to MUSCAT MAN that I realized the theme answers were missing a letter but not necessarily the last letter. Then I looked back at CARDIFF ALES and still had to think for a minute about what letter to add back into ALES to make a country. Duh. In hindsight, CARDIFF does sound very Welsh, doesn't it? Speaking of Welsh:



Bullets:

• 6A: Disaster response gp. (EVAC). Emergency Volunteer Air Corps. I only know that cuz I looked it up. Totally wanted FEMA here.
• 14A: Conscious (AWARE). I started to write in AWAKE and then realized I better check the cross.

• 26A: Club ingredient (BACON). Mmmm, bacon.
• 34A: Senescent (AGING). Senescent? Definitely my word of the day.
• 40A: Withdrawal concern (DT'S). Delirium tremens. Nasty, nasty stuff there.
• 43A: '70s TV cop played by Robert Blake (BARETTA). I can never remember if it's two Rs or two Ts.
• 46A: Farewells overseas (ADIEUS). French!
• 51A: Lighting brand (BIC). I misread the clue as "Lightning brand" and had no idea what to think about that.
• 2D: "__ (So Far Away)": 1982 hit for A Flock of Seagulls (I RAN). So at first I was all, "Cool clue. Instead of cluing it as the country, IRAN, break it up and clue it as a cheesy 80s song. Awesome." Then I realized that one of the theme answers is based on the IRAN the country and I don't like it so much any more. Unless you can make that same play on all the theme countries, I say don't do it all. [This just in: I've heard from several reliable sources that Baghdad is, in fact, in IRAQ not IRAN. I will continue to investigate this claim and let you know as soon as I have confirmation.]

• 7D: Feb. sentiment (VAL.). Ladies and gentlemen, your clunker of the day.
• 10D: Y for men only? (CHROMOSOME). This is a great clue/answer pair. It threw me not only because it's tricky, but also because I kind of expected this long down to be a theme answer.
• 23D: Complaint while groping (I CAN'T SEE). I guess that depends on what you're groping. Thankyouverymuch I'll be here all week.
• 27D: Earhart et al. (AVIATRICES). Anyone else have that A in place and start writing in A-M-E-L-I…oh crap.
• 32D: Naval acronym (SEALS). Sea Air And Land.
• 41D: And those following, in footnotes (ET SEQQ.). Whoa whoa whoa. Hold it right there, buddy. ET SEQQ? With two Qs? Whoa.
• 55D: Chantilly crower (COQ). I guess this isn't a reference to Chantilly, Virginia.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 23A: Composer Stravinsky (IGOR).
• 49D: Operatic slave (AIDA).

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Everything Else — 1A: Chuck E. Cheese's order (PIZZA); 10A: Eric the Red's birth year, roughly (CML); 13A: Lets go (FREES); 15A: "A likely story!" ("HAH!"); 18A: Old cereal box letters (RDA); 19A: __-Caps (SNO); 20A: Anderson of Jethro Tull (IAN); 21A: Pyle portrayer (NABORS); 25A: Words of affection from Luigi (CARA MIA); 28A: Astronaut Grissom (GUS); 29A: Seed alternative (SOD); 32A: Impudent (SASSY); 35A: Refinery input (ORE); 36A: Escape to Vegas, maybe (ELOPE); 37A: "__ life!" (THAT'S); 41A: 911 response initials (EMS); 42A: Hardly local (ALIEN); 45A: Assorted: Abbr. (MISC.); 47A: Dinghy thingy (OAR); 48A: Electrical sound (ZAP); 56A: "__ you nuts?" (ARE); 57A: Matching (EQUAL); 58A: Agony and ecstasy (MOODS); 59A: Dorm agts. (RA'S); 60A: 640 acres: Abbr. (SQ. MI.); 61A: Opposite of lanky (SQUAT); 1D: Cpl.'s subordinates (PFC'S); 3D: Reset (ZERO); 4D: Letter from London (ZED); 5D: "__ was saying ..." (AS I); 6D: McGregor of "The Men Who Stare at Goats" (EWAN); 8D: Circus sites (ARENAS); 9D: French Oscar (CÉSAR); 12D: Capital ENE of Kathmandu (LHASA); 14D: Way out yonder (AFAR); 17D: Shrek's love (FIONA); 22D: Like much Hawaiian lava (BASALTIC); 24D: Some Chinese restaurant decor (GONGS); 25D: Dice and ice, often (CUBES); 28D: Spiritual leaders (GURUS); 30D: It may be tipped (HAT); 31D: One commonly follows "said" (COMMA); 33D: Japanese dough (YEN); 39D: Stone monument (CAIRN); 43D: King with a trunk (BABAR); 44D: Old TV parts (TUBES); 45D: Knight's protection (MAIL); 47D: Ventura County resort (OJAI); 48D: Contemporary of Mao (ZHOU); 50D: It's behind us (PAST); 53D: Elemental suffix (-IUM); 54D: MLB execs (GM'S).

03.07 Mon

M O N D A Y
March 7, 2011
Scott Atkinson

Theme: Hard to Explain in Words — Theme answers are phrases that follow the pattern "[three letters]ky [two letters]ck"

Theme answers:

• 17A: Small-time (RINKY-DINK).
• 53A: Fortunate one (LUCKY DUCK).
• 10D: Wham-O footbag (HACKY SACK).
• 29D: Cheap dance hall (HONKY TONK).

These theme answers are really fabulous. And the rest of the fill is … not. Wow. Really not a fan of this one, which is unfortunate because, as I said, the theme answers are awesome. Everything seemed to be going along just fine until I got to HDS. (29A: Coin flip call: Abbr.). Why in the world would you abbreviate a coin flip call? Is there any situation you can think of where you would be writing about a coin flip and need to use the word HEADS but have to/want to/feel it would appropriate to abbreviate it? And, in general, it got worse from there. Lots of partials: TO AN, A CHAT, I BE. Gratuitous plurals: PUCKS, CHANNELS, CROCKS, PARKAS, just as an example (there are plenty more!). To round out the list we've got some random letter strings and non-words — R-S-T, AAHS, PPP — and the singularly awful TUSKERS (which also happens to be a gratuitous plural).

The theme answers are terrific and most of the longer fill ranges from fine to quite nice (like POIROT, COUSTEAU, ORTHODOX). But overall, just not feeling this one, dawg.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 15A: Most eligible for the draft (ONE-A).
• 26A: Some Ga. Tech grads (EE'S).

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Everything Else — 1A: Pet adoption ctr. (SPCA); 5A: Like drive-thru orders (TO-GO); 9A: Cash alternative (CHECK); 14A: Come __ end: conclude (TO AN); 16A: Popular branch of yoga (HATHA); 19A: Have __ with: talk to (A CHAT); 20A: Like strictly religious Jews (ORTHODOX); 21A: Invite to enter (ASK IN); 22A: Fawn's mother (DOE); 23A: Family folk (KIN); 24A: Simple to apply, in adspeak (EASY-ON); 25A: Approx. leaving hour (ETD); 27A: Pass along softly, as a secret (WHISPER); 30A: Yuletide spiced ales (WASSAILS); 31A: Número after siete (OCHO); 34A: Fellows (MEN); 35A: Stage group (CAST); 36A: Occur together (COINCIDE); 39A: '60s atty. general who served under his brother (RFK); 42A: End of a giggle (HEE); 43A: Angel dust, briefly (PCP); 46A: Completely stump (STYMIE); 47A: "May __ excused?" (I BE); 48A: Significant period (ERA); 49A: Handy bags (TOTES); 50A: Rodin or Michelangelo (SCULPTOR); 52A: Evita's married name (PERON); 54A: Put on a coat? (PAINT); 55A: Color of suede shoes, in song (BLUE); 56A: __-Seltzer (ALKA); 57A: Hockey disks (PUCKS); 58A: Dines (SUPS); 59A: Mouth off to (SASS); 1D: Walked decisively (STRODE); 2D: Christie sleuth Hercule (POIROT); 3D: On a slant (CANTED); 4D: Pharaoh's cross (ANKH); 5D: Hot alcoholic drinks (TODDIES); 6D: Burger toppers (ONIONS); 7D: Group with thirtysomethings, briefly (GEN-X); 8D: "Mighty" tree (OAK); 9D: Vehicle's framework (CHASSIS); 11D: Addis Ababa's country (ETHIOPIA); 12D: Television watcher's choices (CHANNELS); 13D: Kit __ bar (KAT); 18D: Teamed, as oxen (YOKED); 24D: McGregor of "Moulin Rouge!" (EWAN); 30D: Like small laddies (WEE); 31D: Halloween mo. (OCT.); 32D: "Undersea World" explorer Jacques (COUSTEAU); 33D: Momentous (HISTORIC); 37D: Joins, as stones in a wall (CEMENTS); 38D: Colored part of the eye (IRIS); 39D: Expresses stern disapproval of (REBUKES); 40D: Touchy-__ (FEELY); 42D: Diaphragm spasm that may be cured by holding one's breath (HICCUP); 43D: "Downtown" singer Clark (PETULA); 44D: Onion soup holders (CROCKS); 45D: Hooded coats (PARKAS); 50D: "Star Trek" helmsman (SULU); 51D: Palmtop computers: Abbr. (PDA'S); 53D: Scale abbr. (LBS.).

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

Here were the missteps that really slowed me down:

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

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

Bullets:

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

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

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

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

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

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

S U N D A Y September 12, 2010 Scott Atkinson (syndicated)

Theme: "The Long and Short of It" — A long E sound in familiar phrases is changed to a short I sound and clued wackily.

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


Theme answers:

• 25A: Wiring woes? (ELECTRIC ILLS).
• 30A: Pickle processor's invitation? (LET'S MAKE A DILL).
• 49A: Fruity medication? (BANANA PILL).
• 61A: Black, gooey knolls near Charlotte? (NORTH CAROLINA TARHILLS).
• 78A: Factories with good morale? (HAPPY MILLS).
• 94A: Moonshine equipment that's frozen solid? (COLD HARD STILL).
• 103A: Documents bequeathing tiny exercise devices? (HAMSTER WILLS).

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 82A: "__ du lieber!" (ACH).
• 92A: Disney's middle name (ELIAS).
• 13D: Kazakhstan, once: Abbr. (SSR).
• 39D: D-Day target city (ST.-LÔ).
• 97D: Turner memoir (I TINA).
• 103D: Pilgrimage to Mecca (HAJ).

Everything Else — 1A: Cuba libre ingredient (COLA); 5A: Grocery unit (BAG); 8A: Govt. securities (T-BONDS); 14A: Pester (NAG AT); 19A: Former Israeli president Weizman (EZER); 20A: Flabbergast (AWE); 21A: Greek sun god (HELIOS); 22A: Steer clear of (AVOID); 23A: Place to park a parka (COAT TREE); 27A: Like Humpty Dumpty, ultimately (IN PIECES); 28A: Places to go in Gloucester? (LOOS); 29A: Ballot fallout (CHADS); 33A: British pop singer Lewis (LEONA); 34A: Spring mo. (APR.); 35A: Constitutional aid? (CANE); 36A: Holiday veggies (YAMS); 37A: Denali et al.: Abbr. (MTS.); 40A: Disguise for illegal activities (FRONT); 43A: Eponymous dish inventor (PETRI); 45A: Hi from a float (WAVE); 46A: Duff (SEAT); 47A: Common Market inits. (EEC); 48A: Bobby Orr, once (BRUIN); 51A: Uneasy desire (ITCH); 53A: 1953 Leslie Caron film (LILI); 54A: Malarkey (BUNK); 55A: Prefix with trafficker (NARCO); 56A: Hideous (GRUESOME); 58A: Foot specialist? (BARD); 59A: Toll rd. (TPK.); 68A: Nonverbal syst. (ASL); 69A: Christmas setups (FIRS); 70A: "…mile, or On Education" author (ROUSSEAU); 71A: Lieu (STEAD); 75A: Cap'n's crew member (BOS'N); 76A: "You're So __": Carly Simon hit (VAIN); 77A: Ten percenters: Abbr. (AGTS.); 81A: __ State Broncos: Western Athletic Conf. team (BOISE); 83A: 1975 Pure Prairie League hit (AMIE); 84A: Apple with tunes (IPOD); 85A: Soldier, in slang (GRUNT); 86A: Site of India's Red Fort (DELHI); 88A: Math proof letters (QED); 89A: Sweat spot (BROW); 90A: Support gp. created in 1942 (WAAC); 91A: RVer's refuge (KOA); 100A: North Carolina fort (BRAGG); 101A: Doughnut shapes (TORI); 102A: Chosen one (SELECTEE); 106A: Rocky address (YO ADRIAN); 107A: Justice since 2006 (ALITO); 108A: "Mas Que Nada" bandleader (MENDES); 109A: Vietnam Veterans Memorial architect (LIN); 110A: One way to store data (ON CD); 111A: Eponymous scout Chisholm (JESSE); 112A: Elusive big Scot? (NESSIE); 113A: Calculus prereq. (ALG.); 114A: Ken of "Wiseguy" (WAHL); 1D: Mining magnate Rhodes (CECIL); 2D: Triatomic pollutant (OZONE); 3D: Bounded (LEAPT); 4D: Old guild member (ARTISAN); 5D: Rail amenity (BAR CAR); 6D: "Eight Days __" (A WEEK); 7D: Skein fliers (GEESE); 8D: It's usually disregarded when alphabetizing (THE); 9D: "I puritani" composer (BELLINI); 10D: Fútbol shout (OLE OLE); 11D: Williamson of "Excalibur" (NICOL); 12D: Things to connect (DOTS); 14D: Football party munchies (NACHOS); 15D: Winged, perhaps (AVIAN); 16D: Yitzhak Rabin's predecessor (GOLDA MEIR); 17D: Has a cold (AILS); 18D: Jerry Rice's 208, briefly (TD'S); 24D: Offer chocolates to, as a dieter (TEMPT); 26D: Bygone deliverers (ICEMEN); 31D: In "Rent," it starts with "Seasons of Love" (ACT II); 32D: "Aw, phooey!" ("DARN!"); 33D: Hot flower (LAVA); 36D: Tug (YANK); 38D: Rash protection (TALC); 40D: Simulate (FEIGN); 41D: Rocket opening (RETRO); 42D: Come to pass (OCCUR); 43D: Original (PRIMAL); 44D: Basel-born mathematician (EULER); 45D: Movie fish (WANDA); 46D: New Age music player, often (SPA); 48D: Voting groups (BLOCS); 49D: "I'd go out with women my age, but there are no women my age" speaker (BURNS); 50D: Egyptian crosses (ANKHS); 52D: Riled (up) (HET); 54D: Scot's tot (BAIRN); 57D: Like groves (SHADY); 58D: Euphoria (BLISS); 59D: One looking for the way? (TAOIST); 60D: Compote fruit (PRUNE); 62D: From way back when (OF OLD); 63D: Prepare for a run (TRAIN); 64D: Metaphor words (IS A); 65D: By the book (LEGAL); 66D: Gate fastener (LATCH); 67D: It's often served with ginger and wasabi (SUSHI); 71D: Celt since 8/4/2010 (SHAQ); 72D: Lacking spice (TAME); 73D: Skin graft material (EPIDERMIS); 74D: Galoot (APE); 75D: Karate chop, e.g. (BLOW); 76D: Speak (for) (VOUCH); 79D: Desert illusion (MIRAGE); 80D: NYSE events (IPO'S); 81D: Thin nail (BRAD); 85D: Pisa airport name (GALILEI); 86D: Took two pills, say (DOSED); 87D: Have humble pie (EAT CROW); 89D: Hallux (BIG TOE); 90D: __ Fair (WORLD'S); 91D: "Constant Craving" vocalist (K.D. LANG); 93D: Endures (LASTS); 94D: Fountain contents, often (COINS); 95D: Sanctuaries (ASYLA); 96D: Try to quiet, as a persistent squeak (REOIL); 98D: Percolate (LEACH); 99D: 1985-'87 U.S. Open champ (LENDL); 100D: Loft bundle (BALE); 101D: Hardly macho, in Manchester (TWEE); 104D: LBJ successor (RMN); 105D: Bakersfield-to-L.A. heading (SSE).