SUNDAY, July 11, 2010 — Pamela Amick Klawitter (syndicated)

Theme: "Geek Squad" — The word tech is hidden in each theme answer.

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

Theme answers:

• 23A: Welsh pop singing sensation (CHARLOTTE CHURCH).
• 37A: Cookie tidbit (CHOCOLATE CHIP).
• 60A: "The Awakening" author (1899) (KATE CHOPIN).
• 85A: Knifehand strike (KARATE CHOP).
• 101A: Environmentalist's concern (CLIMATE CHANGE).
• 123A: 1971 counter-culture film revue hosted by Richard Pryor (DYNAMITE CHICKEN).
• 15D: Holiday song that begins "The sun is shining, the grass is green" (WHITE CHRISTMAS).
• 53D: Legislative meeting area (SENATE CHAMBERS).
• 120D: Support worker hiding in the eight longest puzzle answers (TECH).

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 49A: Pageant prop (TIARA).
• 133A: Signs of success, for short (SRO'S).
• 2D: Turkish chiefs (AGHAS).
• 16D: Slippery swimmers (EELS).
• 36D: Cathedral section (APSE).
• 44D: Arced molding (OGEE).
• 55D: HDTV brand (RCA).
• 83D: Down Under gem (OPAL).
• 90D: SASE, for one (ENCL.).
• 114D: Madame's mine (À MOI).

Everything Else — 1A: Addition, e.g. (MATH); 5A: Five-sided home? (PLATE); 10A: Sandy color (ECRU); 14A: __ pants (SWEAT); 19A: Princess Fiona, e.g. (OGRE); 20A: Ben-Hur portrayer Novarro (1925) (RAMON); 21A: Place for a speaker (DAIS); 22A: Letter after eta (THETA); 26A: Like some carpets (PILED); 27A: Capital near the Gulf of Tonkin (HANOI); 28A: Davis who voiced Yar in "Dinosaur" (OSSIE); 29A: Datsun starter? (DEE); 30A: Cruising (AT SEA); 31A: Gives, as homework (ASSIGNS); 33A: 27-Across site, briefly (NAM); 35A: Matter of interest? (RATE); 42A: Place to pick up chicks (COOP); 46A: Price limit (CAP); 50A: If-__: conditional statements (THENS); 51A: Stock market stat (HIGH); 52A: Off the mark (AMISS); 54A: 1860s Jefferson contemporary (ABRAHAM); 57A: ERA component (EARNED); 59A: Function (ROLE); 63A: Gives a thumbs-up (LIKES); 64A: Curling tool (IRON); 65A: Liam Neeson's land (IRELAND); 66A: Downs a sub? (EATS); 68A: __ blocker (BETA); 69A: Leader leader? (LOSS); 70A: Times to remember (ERAS); 72A: Clay pigeon hurler (TRAP); 76A: Powder mineral (TALC); 78A: Choir production (CANTATA); 81A: 1974 Lucille Ball role (MAME); 82A: Yacht spots (COVES); 88A: Some 75-Down (ANTS); 89A: Cochise, for one (APACHE); 91A: Ice cream soda ingredient (SELTZER); 92A: Broad-ended cravat (ASCOT); 93A: Sensitive area (RASH); 94A: Pertaining to birth (NATAL); 96A: Strike lightly (TAP ON); 99A: Sounds from Santa (HO'S); 100A: Entreaty (PLEA); 105A: Teen hangout (MALL); 107A: Poivre companion (SEL); 108A: Picked on (NEEDLED); 112A: Parts of a butcher's inventory (SLABS); 115A: Stock market stats (UPS); 118A: "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" singer (EVITA); 121A: "South Park" mom (LIANE); 122A: "Charles in Charge" co-star Willie (AAMES); 126A: Link in a chain? (STORE); 127A: __ the Red (ERIC); 128A: Rolling in francs (RICHE); 129A: Actress Polo (TERI); 130A: Bank caper (HEIST); 131A: Michaelmas mo. (SEPT.); 132A: Workout consequences (ACHES); 1D: Starbucks choice (MOCHA); 3D: Former prefix? (TRANS-); 4D: Medal-worthy (HEROIC); 5D: Woods or Els (PRO); 6D: Play on which a Puccini opera was based (LA TOSCA); 7D: Small quantities? (AMTS.); 8D: Hose fillers (TOES); 9D: Spanish name for the holm oak (ENCINA); 10D: Univ. URL ending (EDU); 11D: It might be wild (CARD); 12D: Sushi staple (RICE); 13D: Herald, as a new era (USHER IN); 14D: Mar. parade honoree (ST. PAT); 17D: Precisely, with "to" (A TEE); 18D: "There!" ("TA-DA!"); 24D: Wrigley Field's lack until 1988 (LIGHTS); 25D: It can drive people to the mountains (HEAT); 32D: "There's __ in 'team'" (NO I); 34D: Madness may involve one (METHOD); 38D: Spouts off (ORATES); 39D: Stickers (LABELS); 40D: Mate (CHAP); 41D: Spherical opening? (HEMI-); 43D: Porker's plaint (OINK); 45D: Ones who get a third degree (PH.D.S); 46D: Antilles native (CARIB); 47D: Puccini's love (AMORE); 48D: Tube test? (PILOT); 56D: Philip __, Asian-American actor known for war movie roles (AHN); 58D: Flying level: Abbr. (ALT.); 60D: Veto (KILL); 61D: Hard as __ (A ROCK); 62D: "Awesome!" ("NEATO!"); 67D: Quickly, in memos (ASAP); 70D: "Blah, blah, blah," briefly ("ETC., ETC."); 71D: Enthusiastic (RAH-RAH); 73D: Dressing choice (RANCH); 74D: Sandbox retort (AM TOO); 75D: Exterminator's targets (PESTS); 77D: Eyjafjallajökull output (ASH); 78D: Coloratura legend (CALLAS); 79D: Bar passer: Abbr. (ATT.); 80D: Pince-__ (NEZ); 82D: Moan and groan (CARP); 84D: Flower holder (VASE); 86D: Piedmont wine area (ASTI); 87D: Paper purchase (REAM); 92D: Gabriel et al., in 86-Down (ANGELI); 95D: Refers casually (to) (ALLUDES); 97D: Dash (PANACHE); 98D: Washington is on it (ONE); 102D: Overflow (TEEM); 103D: "Movie Macabre" host (ELVIRA); 104D: Orders from on high (EDICTS); 106D: It's a plus (ASSET); 109D: California cager (LAKER); 110D: January, to Jorge (ENERO); 111D: Patron saint of France (DENIS); 112D: Obi, e.g. (SASH); 113D: Past curfew (LATE); 116D: Rite heap (PYRE); 117D: Salon sound (SNIP); 119D: Meteor ending (-ITIC); 124D: Make it happen (ACT); 125D: Bucks and rams (HES).