03.24 Thu

T H U R S D A Y
March 24, 2011
Don Gagliardo and C.C. Burnikel

Theme: Make or Break — Each theme answer is a familiar phrase ending with a word that can be "made" or "broken."

Theme answers:

• 17A: Romantic evening components, perhaps (DINNER DATES).
• 22A: California Gold Rush staple (SOURDOUGH BREAD).
• 36A: Alien statutes (IMMIGRATION LAWS).
• 47A: Wurlitzer whirlers (JUKEBOX RECORDS).
• 55A: Decide once and for all, and what one can do to the ends of 17-, 22-, 36- and 47-Across (MAKE OR BREAK).

Congratulations to C.C. Burnikel on her crossword debut! C.C. and her team blog the L.A. Times puzzle over at L.A. Crossword Corner where she has fostered a very active commenting community. I'm sure all the Crossword Corner folks are proud of her — as they should be! This is a very smooth puzzle with an interesting theme and some smooth fill. Very nicely done!

Bullets:

• 19A: Strain (TAX). I tried VEX first, which I think is the same thing I did on an ACPT puzzle this past weekend. (BTW, must get my ACPT write-up done today before it becomes old news — look for it later!)
• 27A: Watering hole (PUB). With 1A: Soaking spots (BATHS) still on my mind I actually had to talk myself out of TUB here.
• 29A: "Able was __ ...": palindrome start (I ERE). Now this here is something you really hate to see, but I feel like it's the only real clunker in the grid so no harm done.

• 46A: Cause of star wars? (EGO). Great clue.
• 53A: Plant moisture buildup (EDEMA). Before I had read the clue for this one, I already had E*EMA in place, which reminded me of Merl Reagle's bit on word choice: "You can't use — usually — bodily functions in puzzles, you know. 'Urine' would bail me out of a corner, I mean, a million times a year." That's from the documentary Wordplay, which you really should see if you haven't already.

• 65A: He passed Lou in 2009 to become the Yankees' all-time hit leader (DEREK). Love him or hate him, you have to admit he's got some skillz. (Also easy on the eyes!)
• 66A: Pulitzer writer Kidder (TRACY). I really, really, really feel like I should know who this is. Oh, he's Iowa Writers' Workshop alum. Maybe that's why I've heard his name. His books don't really ring any bells for me.
• 23D: 2009 Peace Nobelist (OBAMA). Award winners all over the place in this grid!
• 25D: Sub (HERO). Other sandwich words to look out for: grinder, hoagie, and po-boy.
• 26D: British weapon designed in Czechoslovakia (BREN). A quick look through the data base shows me BREN has been in the puzzle a few times in the past, but it doesn't sound familiar to me at all. Thankfully, Thursday is the earliest in the week we're ever going to see this entry.
• 27D: Three-time Masters champ Mickelson (PHIL). Lefty!
• 31D: Ruffles features (RIDGES). Ooh, tricky. Did anyone else misread this as "ruffles feathers"? That had to be intentional!

• 39D: "A Clockwork Orange" narrator (ALEX). Random anecdote: Once when I worked at a bookstore in New York a hundred years ago, Adam Ant and Jamie Lee Curtis came in together looking for the screenplay of "A Clockwork Orange." It's possible they had previously had a few drinks.
• 43D: New Jersey's state tree (RED OAK). Do y'all have trouble parsing the down clues? Sometimes I have to write them out horizontally in order to really "see" them. With the RED in place, all I could see here was a RE- word, couldn't even see the RED.
• 49D: Homeland of 23-Down's father (KENYA). I was considering going off on a pseudo-rant here but it occurred to me you might not know I was kidding and it would likely have the unfortunate consequence of inviting a bunch of political commentary that would probably end up making me mad, so let's just not do that, okay?

• 50D: Volleyball great Gabrielle (REECE). Married to surfer Laird Hamilton. I bet their kids are going to be the coolest kids ever.
• 60D: Mary __ Ash, cosmetics company founder (KAY). If I ever knew that Mary Kay's last name was Ash, I had forgotten it. But it wasn't too hard to figure this one out.

Crosswordese 101: I've never actually heard the word TUN used in casual conversation, but then again I'm not much of a wine person. In any case, to clue TUN, take one word from List A and one word from List B:

List A: wine, winery, large, Napa, vintner's
List B: cask, vessel, container, holder

See how today's clue — 3D: Large cask — follows the pattern? That's cuz sometimes I know what I'm talking about. Just sayin'.

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

• 16A: She played Beatrix in "Kill Bill" (UMA).
• 41A: 4-Down titles (SRIS).
• 2D: Darth, at one time (ANI).
• 48D: Radii neighbors (ULNAE).
• 57D: Cassis apéritif (KIR).
• 58D: Seventh Greek letter (ETA).

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Everything Else — 6A: Mideast ruling family name (ASSAD); 11A: Field call (CAW); 14A: Language that gives us "kayak" (INUIT); 15A: Abu __ (DHABI); 20A: Reason-based faith (DEISM); 21A: Film in Cannes (CINE); 28A: 23-Down was one: Abbr. (SEN.); 30A: Try in court (HEAR); 32A: Came around regarding (AGREED TO); 40A: It can make a star shine (LEAD ROLE); 41A: 4-Down titles (SRIS); 42A: Stadium take (GATE); 43A: Like sashimi (RAW); 52A: 27-Across offerings (ALES); 54A: Quaint stopover (INN); 61A: Hens do it (LAY); 62A: Novelist Jong (ERICA); 63A: Blue Cross competitor (AETNA); 64A: Yellow __ (SEA); 1D: Certain eBay click (BID); 4D: Gandhi, for one (HINDU); 5D: Directs (STEERS); 6D: Attaches to the house (ADDS ON); 7D: SeaWorld performer (SHAMU); 8D: Did nothing (SAT); 9D: Symbol of honesty (ABE); 10D: Bad-mouth (DIS); 11D: Sweetie pie (CUTIE); 12D: Whirlpool brand (AMANA); 13D: Like some slippery floors (WAXED); 18D: Sally in space (RIDE); 21D: Anglers' baskets (CREELS); 22D: "So I was wrong" ("SUE ME"); 24D: Leslie Caron title role (GIGI); 32D: Had (ATE); 33D: Challenged (DARED); 34D: Campfire base (TWIGS); 35D: __ buco (OSSO); 37D: Snatch (GRAB); 38D: __-Rooter (ROTO); 44D: Top server (ACER); 45D: Burrowing marsupial (WOMBAT); 47D: Puts in the can? (JAILS); 51D: More elusive (RARER); 55D: Dr.'s study (MED.); 56D: Were now? (ARE); 59D: Mandela's org. (ANC).

03.03 Thu

T H U R S D A Y
March 3, 2011
Don Gagliardo

Theme: Anagram Crossing — Six pairs of anagrams "cross" in the grid.

Theme answers:

• 1A: Orates (SPOUTS).
• 5D: Anybody's guess (TOSS-UP).


• 18A: Sea cows (MANATEES).
• 10D: Arises (EMANATES).


• 28A: Noodles, say (PASTA).
• 24D: Spanish appetizers (TAPAS).


• 48A: Pole symbol (TOTEM).
• 35D: Sacred choral piece (MOTET).


• 61A: Orchard grower (PEAR TREE).
• 37D: Comeback (REPARTEE).


• 68A: Word with health or illness (MENTAL).
• 49D: It's beneath the crust (MANTLE).


• 36A: One of six in this puzzle (ANAGRAM CROSSING).

Hey look! It's another awesome theme idea! I have to say that I didn't really notice the theme while I was solving. Once I got the reveal answer, I knew there was something going on with anagrams (obviously), but I couldn't really see them until I went hunting for them after the grid was completely filled. I almost wish there had been circles on the letters where the anagrams crossed each other — that might have been enough of a hint. As it turns out, the crossing anagram pairs are placed in the grid symmetrically, which is pretty impressive. Unfortunately, the price for that is paid by the fill. Don't get me wrong, there are some super sparkly entries in this grid. Like AZARIA, SNIPER, ON CAMERA. Even NEBRASKA looks good to me today. But the short fill? Let's just say that there's a rumor going around that I had a better time making that awesome colorful graphic up there than I did solving this puzzle. Not sure if it's true. Might just be a rumor.

There's a running joke over at Rex's blog that the God of Crosswordese is named OOXTEPLERNON. Those 12 letters were actually placed in a puzzle grid all in one row: OOX, TEP, LER, and NON. Now that's some ugly fill right there is what that is. I can't even remember how LER was clued. I mean, come on. LER? Seriously? Well, this puzzle's NAB ABU ETA ORT row comes very close to OOXTEPLERNON status. The only thing holding it back is that NAB is not completely terrible.

Bullets:

• 16A: Astronomy measurements (AZIMUTHS). I had a vague, vague recollection of this word way in the back of my brain somewhere.

• 17A: Engrave (INCISE). One the other hand, these two words mean nothing to me when they're paired like this. Not saying there's anything wrong with this clue/answer, just that all I could think of was teeth.
• 19A: Brief needlework? (TATS). Short for "tattoos," which are created with needles. If you ever meet me, ask me to tell you PuzzleHusband's tattoo story. It involves some body language that I can't really get across effectively in writing, but it's pretty funny. [Edited to add: No really. In this case TATS really is short for "tattoos" and there are three ways you can tell. One, for the "making lace" definition of TATS to work here the clue would need to indicate that the answer will be a third-person verb (i.e., "he tats," "she tats"), but it doesn't. Second, did you see the question mark? A question mark at the end of a clue means there's something fishy going on. Typically, it means that you need to put aside your first idea of what the words in the clue mean. What's the first thing you think when you see the word "needlework"? Sewing, knitting, stuff like that. But the question mark is telling you to think of the word in a different way. Like ... the needles used to create tattoos. The question mark might also have been trying to get you to look at the word "brief" in a different way (like if there was a specific word for sewing underwear?), which brings me to the third thing. The word "brief" in the clue is indicating that the answer will be a short form of a longer word. There's nothing "brief" about TATS when it refers to making lace. That's the whole word. On the other hand, TATS is a short form of the word TATTOO. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is your lesson for the day.]
  
• 21A: Label for some Glenn Frey hits (MCA). I tried POP first.

• 57A: Babe and Baby (RUTHS). All I could think of here was Babe the Pig and then I'm all "But what the heck can 'Baby' be referring to?" (Again, I'm not telling you this to criticize the clue. I'm just giving you a glimpse of how my mind words when it's in solving mode.)
• 66A: Mount McKinley's home (ALASKA). I can't remember the last time I thought of this mountain as "Mt. McKinley." Not that I spend a lot of time thinking about this mountain (or mountains in general), but when I do it's always "Denali" to me.
• 4D: Platoon, for one (UNIT). Just can't get away from Charlie Sheen these days, can we?
• 20D: Deejay Casey (KASEM). "American Top 40": a staple of my childhood.

• 40D: Big 12 school soon to be in the Big Ten (NEBRASKA). Which will bring the total number of schools in the Big Ten to … 12. The Powers That Be have also decided that there will now be two division in the Big Ten and they will be called "Legends" (Iowa, Michigan, Michigan Stat, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern) and "Leaders" (Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin). The thing that always amazes me when I see stupid stuff like this is that, okay, I get that someone came up with the idea and thought it was good. But then somewhere, at some point, other people agreed with that person. First guy: "My thought is that we'll name the divisions in such a way that nobody will be able to remember which team is in which division. And if we make the division names sound really snotty and condescending, that will be even better!" Everyone else in the room: "Great idea! Let's go with it!"

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 23A: Acting teacher Hagen (UTA).
• 35A: Mal de __ (MER).
• 42A: Some tech sch. grads (EE'S).
• 54A: Frat letter (ETA).
• 55A: Food scrap (ORT).
• 56A: Geneva-based workers' gp. (ILO).
• 22D: Dept. of Labor agency (OSHA).
• 33D: One-time Time critic James (AGEE).

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Everything Else — 7A: Hourly wage, e.g. (BASE RATE); 15A: Refuses to (CANNOT); 20A: Megan's "Will & Grace" role (KAREN); 22A: Physicist with a law (OHM); 25A: "It __ far, far better thing ...": Dickens (IS A); 26A: Wages (PAY); 27A: Get (SEE); 30A: The Simpsons, e.g. (TOONS); 32A: Wedding dance (HORA); 34A: Fabled mattress lump (PEA); 43A: Top ten item (HIT); 44A: Sign (OMEN); 45A: Pricey (STEEP); 50A: Wall St. exec's degree (MBA); 51A: Collar (NAB); 52A: "Aladdin" monkey (ABU); 59A: Gijón goose egg (NADA); 63A: An iamb's second half gets it (STRESS); 65A: Noteworthy (ESTEEMED); 67A: Relax (REST EASY); 1D: __-fi (SCI); 2D: Temple of the gods (PANTHEON); 3D: Being filmed (ON CAMERA); 6D: Chateau __ Michelle winery (STE.); 7D: The Tide (BAMA); 8D: Hank who voices many 30-Across (AZARIA); 9D: Cosecant reciprocals (SINES); 11D: Groove (RUT); 12D: At the original speed, in music (A TEMPO); 13D: Jail, in slang (THE CAN); 14D: Tests that are hard to guess on (ESSAYS); 29D: Speed: Pref. (TACHO-); 31D: Meeting time qualifier (OR SO); 38D: Solemn acts (RITES); 39D: Bold (IMMODEST); 41D: No-see-um, say (GNAT); 45D: Hard-to-see shooter (SNIPER); 46D: "Thy Neighborís Wife" author (TALESE); 47D: WWII torpedo launchers (E-BOATS); 48D: Some learners (TUTEES); 53D: Siam neighbor (BURMA); 58D: Actress Lamarr (HEDY); 60D: Sweater style named for Irish islands (ARAN); 62D: Like some mil. officers (RET.); 63D: Yosemite __ (SAM); 64D: ESPN reporter Paolantonio (SAL).

02.10 Thu

T H U R S D A Y February 10, 2011
Don Gagliardo

Theme: Happy Hour — Ingredients of a dry martini are hidden at the end of the theme answers.

Theme answers:

• 17A: Delta location (RIVER MOUTH).
• 20A: Source of showroom shock? (STICKER PRICE).
• 35A: Standing by for an on-air appearance (ABOUT TO GO LIVE).
• 53A: Risk calculation (SAFETY MARGIN).
• 57A: Its components are hidden at the ends of 17-, 20-, 35- and 53-Across (DRY MARTINI).

Let me tell you what's awesome about this theme. Maybe you already noticed this, but just in case you didn't. The phrases used for the theme answers don't end with the actual words VERMOUTH, ICE, OLIVE, and GIN — it's just that the letters that spell those words happen to be the last letters of the phrase. It feels like I didn't explain that very well. Let me try this. Here's an example of what a bad theme answer would be for this theme: SKATING ON THIN ICE. Besides the fact that it's too long, it's boring how the word we're looking for is ICE and that's actually the last word in the phrase. It's much cooler that the last word of the phrase is PRICE and we have to figure out that it's just the ICE that we're interested. (There isn't any RICE in a martini, right?)

Stuff I just flat-out didn't know:

• 19A: Actor Sitka who appeared in numerous Three Stooges films (EMIL).
• 43A: Central Chinese city (XIAN).
• 50D: Croesus' kingdom (LYDIA).

To be honest, there was other stuff I didn't know, like I didn't know that GONZAGA was a [34D: Spokane university], but I do know of other schools called GONZAGA so it wasn't that hard to put together, especially because I had the Z in there early thanks to [46A: Jazzman Stan] GETZ. EMIL, on the other hand … I filled him in from the back end, so just knowing that EMIL is a name didn't really help until I had fully 3/4 of the letters in place.

As for the rest of the grid, well, there is definitely some nice fill, but there are quite a few abbreviations and some clunkers too. Actually some of the abbreviations are also clunkers. (I'm looking at you, REGT. (33A: Battle gp.).) But I had to fight a bit through this one and the theme is pretty good, so I can see how someone could make the argument that it's a fair trade.

Bullets:

• 14A: Martinez with three Cy Young Awards (PEDRO). Whenever I see "Martinez" in a baseball clue I can only think of Tino. And I always know that's not right.
• 25A: "Catcher in the Wry" author (UECKER). Speaking of baseball.
• 31A: Send (THRILL). As in the Sam Cooke song, "You Send Me."
• 40A: Bauble (GAUD). My WTF answer of the day. I know "gaudy," but can't say I've ever seen GAUD. The U was the last letter I entered into the grid. If I had included an actual Clunkers List in this post, GAUD would probably be right on top. I haven't decided yet if I can forgive this one.
• 51A: Fit for consumption (EATABLE). Kinda makes EDIBLE sound high-falutin', doesn't it?

• 7D: "The Caine Mutiny" novelist (WOUK). PuzzleHusband and I were just talking about this book/movie the other day. I can't remember why exactly, but I remember I said that it's awesome. Which it is.
• 8D: Cigar tip? (-ETTE). The question mark is a hint that the answer won't be a word you would call the literal tip of a cigar. Instead, think about adding a "tip" to the end of the word "cigar."
• 13D: "Total Eclipse of the Heart" singer Bonnie (TYLER). You know I was going to post the "Literal Video" version of this song, but I've used that one before, so how about we mix it up a little and take a look at these knuckleheads instead:



• 23D: Jewish social org. (YMHA). Young Men's Hebrew Association.
• 45D: Terrified, to the bard (AFEARD). Sounds more like a backwoods kinda phrase, but okay.
• 47D: Designated (TERMED). I tried DEEMED first.

• 54D: "Happy Days" mom, to the Fonz (MRS. C). Oooh, I always like seeing MRS. C in the grid. It reminds me of how Fonzie always turned into such a cream puff around her.
• 55D: Auel heroine (AYLA). I read this series (it's the one that starts with "Clan of the Cave Bear," right?) at least a hundred years ago. I remember really enjoying it, but there was no way I was going to come up with her name without every single cross.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 27A: Hershiser with a Cy Young Award (OREL).
• 56A: Beard-preventing brand (ATRA).

[Follow PuzzleGirl on Twitter.]

Everything Else — 1A: Get used to it (ADAPT); 6A: PBS moderator Ifill (GWEN); 10A: Go for (COST); 15A: By __: from memory (ROTE); 16A: Sale modifier (ONLY); 22A: Healthy routine (HYGIENE); 26A: Make __ dash for (A MAD); 30A: Wind instrument vibrator (REED); 41A: Citi Field org. (N.Y. METS); 48A: Some are named for music genres (ERAS); 49A: Carrying limit (ARMFUL); 61A: Forest denizens (DEER); 62A: Capri, e.g. (ISLE); 63A: Quilt filler (EIDER); 64A: Used too much (OD'ED); 65A: USNA part: Abbr. (ACAD.); 66A: Puts in a hold (STOWS); 1D: Mortgage no. (APR); 2D: "De Civitate __": "The City of God," St. Augustine work (DEI); 3D: -ly word, usually: Abbr. (ADV.); 4D: Spanish fort (PRESIDIO); 5D: Rich dessert (TORTE); 6D: Food merchant (GROCER); 9D: Early Indian leader (NEHRU); 10D: Strong-arm (COERCE); 11D: Wired for sound (ON MIKE); 12D: Did a deli job (SLICED); 18D: Camera company that merged with Konica (MINOLTA); 21D: With some sauce (PERTLY); 22D: One of many jobs, in metaphor (HAT); 24D: Things to wear (GARB); 28D: Wear away (ERODE); 29D: Relay runner's assignment (LEG); 32D: Wheel securer (LUG NUT); 34D: Spokane university (GONZAGA); 36D: Play with a dog toy, maybe (TUG); 37D: Response to "You were kidding, right?" (I MEANT IT); 38D: Word of action (VERB); 39D: And friends, facetiously (ET AL.); 42D: Capt.'s heading (SSE); 43D: Like DVDs in a restricted room (X-RATED); 44D: "We can talk now" ("I'M FREE"); 49D: South American grilled meat dish (ASADO); 52D: Exhausts (TIRES); 58D: Altar promise (I DO); 59D: Fresh (NEW); 60D: Letters seen in many forms (IRS).

01.28 Fri

F R I D A Y January 28, 2011
Don Gagliardo

Theme: De-Ugh-ify — Theme answers are familiar phrases with the letter string UGH removed, creating new wacky phrases, clued "?"-style.

Theme answers:

• 17A: Where to sleep off a bender? (SOT SHELTER).
• 24A: Anxious campus society? (FRAT WITH TENSION).
• 38A: Hair styling prodigy? (DO BOY).
• 46A: Talented jazzman? (CAT WITH THE GOODS).
• 57A: "Airport music so early?" ("ENO ALREADY?").

Hey, everybody, sorry I missed you yesterday. Big thanks to Amy and Doug for stepping up in my hour of need. Our power flickered on and off most of the evening on Wednesday, and totally cut out at 10:00. So we got up this morning, took the food out of the fridge and put it on the porch, and went to work where we wouldn't freeze to death. The PuzzleKids joined me at my office, which was … interesting. Let's just say it wasn't my most productive day ever. It was a weird day anyway though: everybody was wearing jeans, coming in late, whining about the snow, oh and my kids weren't the only ones there, so it was all good. PuzzleDaughter ingratiated herself by making valentines for everybody. I got word from the neighbors that the power came back on around 2:00 this afternoon which was (obviously) welcome news. Now I'm back here at the house, warm and toasty with the internet fired up and everything is right with the world. So let's talk about this puzzle, shall we?

I'm not going to lie to you, this theme confused me while I was solving. I couldn't put any of the theme answers together with any certainty, but managed to figure out that one started with CAT and one started with FRAT, so I came to the reasonable conclusion that the starts of the other theme answers would rhyme as well. Not so! The next one to appear was SOT and then ENO and I thought to myself "This is a very strange and complicated theme. I hope I am smart enough to figure it out." And I did. Eventually. You see, the theme isn't built on the pronunciation aspect of these words but simply on the spelling. The letters UGH are removed from the first word of each phrase. The resulting first words looked to me like a real mishmash: SOT, FRAT, DO, CAT, ENO. And they are if you try to find a common thread, because there just isn't one. Two of them rhyme with each other, one is pronounced more or less the same as the base phrase, two of them have the UGH removed from the end, while the other base phrases remove the UGH before a terminal T. It just seems … messy to me. I don't believe there's anything fundamentally wrong with this theme. It just doesn't speak to me personally. Or maybe it's speaking to me but it sounds like jibberish.

Bullets:

• 5A: Company whose name is quacked in ads (AFLAC). Man that duck gets on my nerves.
• 28A: Yankee nickname (A-ROD). Alex Rodriguez. Perhaps you've heard of him.

• 31A: 2008 Libertarian presidential candidate (BARR). It doesn't happen often, but Every Once In A While being a politics geek comes in handy.
• 41A: Part of the dog days of Dijon (AOÛT). The French word for August.
• 45A: Atterbury Street gallery (TATE). I didn't know for sure that the TATE gallery was on Atterbury Street, but I knew it was in London and thought Atterbury Street sounded quite British. Quite.
• 56A: Frost, say (POET). Have you all seen the TV show "Chase"? The main character's name is Annie Frost and she Kicks Ass and never forgets to also Take Names.
• 61A: Dino's love (AMORE).



• 62A: Lhasa __ (APSO). This is a type of dog, right? I can never remember if it's APSO or IPSO. I guess I always get "ipso facto" in my head and then can's remember if the dog is different than the Latin phrase or the same. But I know it's one of those two.

• 64A: Mearth's mother, in a '70s-'80s sitcom (MINDY). Okay, it looks like we are going to have to start counting Mork & Mindy references. This is like the third one this year, right?
• 9D: Frequent Martha's Vineyard arrival (CAR FERRY). Because "rich a**hole" doesn't fit. Kidding! I'm sure Martha's Vineyard is full of lovely, lovely people. In fact, I'm a little ashamed of myself for implying otherwise.
• 10D: Is, when simplified (BOILS DOWN TO). This is a great grid entry, but I'm not crazy about the clue.
• 13D: Singer/songwriter born Robert Zimmerman (DYLAN). Gimme!
• 18D: Spoke uncertainly (HAWED). Second time this week for HAW. Did it come to you right away this time? I sure didn't hesitate long.
• 29D: MS. enclosure (SAE). We covered the SASE in a previous Crosswordese 101 lesson. I guess it's not too hard to figure that that the SAE is the same as the SASE. But without the S[tamp].

• 34D: Incriminating record, maybe (VIDEOTAPE). I solved this one from the bottom up and was going to be all kindsa freaked out if SEX TAPE was in the puzzle.
• 36D: Kareem, at UCLA (LEW). Before he changed his name, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was known as Lew Alcindor.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 20A: Aurora's counterpart (EOS).
• 43A: Friend of Dalí (SERT).
• 53A: Dag Hammarskjöld's successor (U THANT).
• 12D: Olds that replaced the Achieva (ALERO).

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Everything Else — 1A: Plain type? (JANE); 10A: Finishing nail (BRAD); 14A: Work (OPUS); 15A: Sporty Mazda (MIATA); 16A: Slick (OILY); 19A: Atl. republic since 1944 (ICEL.); 21A: Smart guy? (ALEC); 22A: Pivoting points (FULCRA); 27A: La __ Tar Pits (BREA); 29A: Worked with horses, in a way (SHOED); 33A: Like some rugs (OVAL); 37A: Pool shade (AQUA); 39A: Off the mark (WIDE); 40A: Abbr. followed by a year (ESTD.); 42A: Fund (ENDOW); 54A: Cramming method (ROTE); 55A: Disturb, as the balance (TIP); 60A: Regarding (IN RE); 63A: Headlights starer (DEER); 65A: Flunky (PEON); 1D: Pianist Hofmann (JOSEF); 2D: "I'm just __ wayfaring stranger": song lyric (A POOR); 3D: More than just into (NUTS ABOUT); 4D: Indirect route (ESS); 5D: Earhart of the air (AMELIA); 6D: Sole order (FILET); 7D: Door fastener (LATCH); 8D: Scarfed up (ATE); 11D: "Sleepy Hollow" actress (RICCI); 23D: Card game with a pre-victory warning (UNO); 25D: Stays afloat, in a way (TREADS WATER); 26D: Fateful card (TAROT); 30D: Operations ctrs. (HQ'S); 31D: Diner option (BOOTH); 32D: __ Dhabi (ABU); 35D: Foofaraw (ADO); 38D: Competitive missile hurlers (DART TEAM); 42D: More than ready (EAGER); 44D: German article (EIN); 45D: Big name in tea (TETLEY); 46D: Missile-shooting god (CUPID); 47D: Make restitution (ATONE); 48D: "Ta-da!" ("THERE!"); 49D: Town on the Firth of Clyde (TROON); 50D: Emulate Scrooge (HOARD); 51D: Playground retort (DID SO); 52D: Watch from the trees, say (SPY ON); 58D: Feature of a two-ltr. monogram (NMI); 59D: "The Gold-Bug" monogram (EAP).

01.11 Tue

T U E S D A Y

January 11, 2011
Don Gagliardo


Theme: Lots of Ls — Um … lots of Ls.

Theme answers:

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

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

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

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

Bullets:

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



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



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

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

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

[Follow PuzzleGirl on Twitter.]

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

S U N D A Y December 19, 2010 Don Gagliardo (syndicated)

Theme: "Product Placement" — Phrases in which words are replaced with homophonic product names & clued accordingly.

[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:

• 22A: Fruity beer? (MULBERRY BUSCH).
• 34A: Aftershave impact? (BRUT FORCE).
• 37A: Ponderings from behind a plow? (DEERE DIARY).
• 52A: Half a cereal swap? (TRIX OF THE TRADE).
• 79A: Popular vodka-drinking locale (BIG SKYY COUNTRY).
• 98A: Camera in need of screw-tightening (LOOSE CANON).
• 101A: Habitual depilatory cream user? (NEET FREAK).
• 113A: Breakfast for the road? (TRAVELERS CHEX).  

Doug here. Fun theme today! I've seen constructors use TRIX, KIX, and CHEX puns in a 15x15 grid, but I like the way Don G. takes it to the next level. Nice job.

My favorite theme entry was BIG SKYY COUNTRY at 79 Across, because "Big Sky Country" is one of Montana's nicknames, and I'm a Montana guy. Then I noticed that HANNAH is the answer to 78 Across. Look at that row in the grid: HANNAH / BIG SKYY COUNTRY. It's a hidden tribute to Hannah Montana! I should also point out that HANNAH crosses TRASHY at 52 Down.

Bullets:

• 21A: "People might be listening" (NOT HERE). Great clue/entry combo.
• 49A: Coffee ord. (REG). This confused me. Finally figured out it was REGular, a coffee order. I thought "ord." was short for "ordinance" and REG was short for "regulation." You don't want to be caught breaking one of those coffee ordinances.
• 87A: "Don't try to be ___" (A HERO). This video speaks for itself.

• 120A: Clothing category (CASUALS). I don't categorize my clothes, but if I did, "casuals" would be the major category. 

• 121A: Steps over fences (STILES). A stile is "a set or series of steps for crossing a fence or wall." I remember learning this word from the book Split Infinity by Piers Anthony. The main character is named Stile. Wow, I can't believe that book is 30 years old. I should probably read it again.
• 1D: Pitcher Galarraga who lost a perfect game on an umpire's bad call (ARMANDO). The best baseball story of 2010. If you're not familiar with the details, this article is a good place to start. Galarraga and the ump, Jim Joyce, are both class acts.
• 11D: Big name in brewing (ANHEUSER). Too bad this didn't cross MULBERRY BUSCH.
• 20D: One was lost in a film about Indiana (ARK). Nice clue!
• 83D: Baseball's Garciaparra (NOMAR). Nomar is his father's name, Ramon, spelled backwards.
• 116A: Pounder of "Avatar" (CCH). Yep, there's an actress named CCH Pounder. I wonder if she named any of her kids HCC.

OK, I'm going to cut it short today. I've got to pick out and buy and wrap and mail a few Christmas presents. Yeah, I'm screwed. Have a great Sunday!

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 26A: Extinct "great" bird (AUK).
• 42A: B'way sellout sign (SRO).
• 58A: Scrawny toon dog (REN).
• 108A: Mauna ___ (KEA).
• 73D: Versatile WWII ships (LSTS).
• 76D: Sci-fi play written in Czech (RUR).
• 99D: Hungarian spa city (EGER). 

Everything Else — 1A: Muscle memory? (ACHE); 5A: Puccini's "La __" (BOHÈME); 11A: Picks up (ABSORBS); 18A: Campus quarters (ROOMS); 20A: Instrument for Charlie Parker (ALTO SAX); 24A: Addressee of the 4/14/1970 message "we've had a problem" (HOUSTON); 25A: Second ending? (-ARY); 27A: Some health club exchanges (RECIPES); 29A: Addition word (AND); 30A: Like Jack (NIMBLE); 32A: CXVI x X (MCLX); 39A: Fades, with "down" (DIES); 40A: Fervor (ARDOR); 41A: "... __ TV!": end of a parental threat (OR NO); 43A: How hot-button issues are contested (BITTERLY); 45A: Padre's boys (NINOS); 48A: Rodent on a bank (RIVER RAT); 56A: One facing Venus? (SERENA); 59A: Warning to drivers (SLO); 60A: Outlaw Kelly (NED); 61A: Go-ahead (APPROVAL); 63A: Gray (ASHY); 65A: Moving van supplies (PADS); 67A: Ex-Blue Jays manager Gaston (CITO); 69A: NYC gallery (MOMA); 70A: Pacific mammal that uses rocks as tools (SEA OTTER); 73A: Casual affection? (LUV); 74A: "Car Talk" airer (NPR); 77A: Salmon on a bagel (LOX); 78A: Palindromic Daryl (HANNAH); 84A: Until now, in a CPA's report (YTD); 85A: Follow a new job (RELOCATE); 88A: Taj Mahal spires (MINARETS); 89A: "The Big C" network (SHO); 90A: Actress Rogers (MIMI); 94A: Sun Tzu's "The __ War" (ART OF); 97A: Durbeyfield daughter (TESS); 103A: Tenacious Roman senator (CATO); 104A: English poet __ Manley Hopkins (GERARD); 105A: "V" visitors, e.g. (ET'S); 106A: Close to a delivery (IN LABOR); 109A: Chicago-to-Knoxville dir. (SSE); 110A: Property tax rate (MILLAGE); 117A: Frenzied (IN A STEW); 118A: Corrode (EAT AWAY); 119A: French school (ÉCOLE); 122A: Pianist Myra (HESS); 2D: FedEx, e.g. (COURIER); 3D: Flock leaders (HOLY MEN); 4D: Diplomatic H.Q. (EMB); 5D: Women's rights activist Nellie (BLY); 6D: Wagering venue, in brief (OTB); 7D: Like most pay rates (HOURLY); 8D: Devereux's earldom (ESSEX); 9D: Either of two bks. of the Apocrypha (MACC.); 10D: Showed (EXHIBITED); 12D: Help up (BOOST); 13D: RV filler? (S-T-U); 14D: Understanding cries (OHS); 15D: Use foam on, as a fire (RETARD); 16D: Rodeo ride (BRONCO); 17D: E-mailer (SENDER); 19D: Black Panthers co-founder (SEALE); 23D: Wished one could take back (RUED); 28D: Use Shout on, say (PRETREAT); 31D: __ Zoo (BRONX); 32D: Cattail site (MARSH); 33D: __-Magnon (CRO); 35D: Stumble (FALTER); 36D: Jazz musician Kid __ (ORY); 38D: Elemental variant (ISOTOPE); 39D: Prima donna (DIVA); 43D: Phoenix, in myth (BIRD); 44D: Coarse file (RASP); 46D: Aegean island (IOS); 47D: Giants' org. (NFL); 48D: Bus sched. info (RTES.); 49D: Disgust (REVOLT); 50D: Captivate (ENAMOR); 51D: Component of the Perseus cluster (GALAXY); 52D: Like many tabloids (TRASHY); 53D: Find a new table for (RESEAT); 54D: Under control (IN HAND); 55D: It may be in sight (END); 57D: Storage acronym (ROM); 62D: Stadium rainwear (PONCHOS); 64D: Quaint pointing word (YON); 66D: Like lemurs (ARBOREAL); 67D: Salad veggie (CUKE); 68D: Campus creeper (IVY); 71D: Levy at the dock (TARIFF); 72D: At the time specified (THEN); 75D: Author who influenced Conan Doyle (POE); 80D: Hans Brinker's pair (ICE SKATES); 81D: Hoods' rods (GATS); 82D: Search engine name (YAHOO); 86D: Post-prime time fare (LATE NEWS); 88D: Witticism (MOT); 89D: Serious elbow-bender (SOT); 91D: Where children were given "broth without any bread" (IN A SHOE); 92D: Tasty mouthfuls (MORSELS); 93D: Page locators (INDEXES); 94D: Listless (ANEMIC); 95D: Eye's image receiver (RETINA); 96D: Magnetic measures (TESLAS); 98D: Like a metamorphic stage (LARVAL); 100D: Word that stops fire? (CEASE); 102D: Star in Orion (RIGEL); 103D: Raccoon cousin (COATI); 107D: Playground problem (BRAT); 108D: Something to play in (KEY); 111D: Sch. where "Geaux Tigers" signs are seen (LSU); 112D: Loss leader? (AT A); 114D: Farm lady (EWE); 115D: "Deck the Halls" syllables (LAS).

F R I D A Y December 10, 2010 Don Gagliardo

Theme: Something about Stock Options

Theme answers:

• 20A: Shrink for a noted Vulcan? (SPOCK ANALYST).
• 29A: Reason for a laundry odor? (SOCK ISSUE).
• 37A: Neighborhood garage sales? (SCHLOCK MARKET).
• 45A: Collection for an artist's garment? (SMOCK FUND).
• 56A: Some employee benefits, and this puzzle's title (STOCK OPTIONS).

I'm just gonna come right out and say it: This theme doesn't make any sense to me. So there are phrases where the word "stock" is replaced by a word that rhymes with "stock" for some reason. The added words don't seem to have anything else in common and there isn't any consistency in the way they were changed. To top it all off, the whole mess is explained by the phrase STOCK OPTIONS. What the heck am I missing here?

Bullets:

• 14A: "Rendezvous With __": Hugo-winning Arthur C. Clarke novel (RAMA). Never heard of this book. Also, isn't it weird that there's a literary award named after Hugo Chavez?
• 17A: Gp. dissolved 12/26/1991 (USSR). The "group" designation really threw me off here. I was thinking the answer would be a company. I briefly considered that it might be a band, but "dissolved" isn't really the right word for a band break-up.

• 24A: What serious players play for (KEEPS). Cute clue.
• 28A: Act that gets you a hand (DEAL). As I was solving, I took this clue/answer pair to mean that if you undertake and action that results in a DEAL, it's sealed with a handshake. It wasn't until I was reviewing the puzzle for this write-up that it's just referring to playing cards.
• 43A: "This American Life" radio host Glass (IRA). I don't listen to "This American Life" religiously, but I catch it once in a while. One of my favorite episodes ever is the one where this guy tells a story about a voice-mail message a student at Columbia got from his mom that went, well … basically the equivalent of "viral" back before the Internet really caught on. Back then the students could forward voice-mail messages on to other people and this particular message made the rounds to everyone on campus. The guy telling the story talks to a bunch of the people who heard the message and then (yay!) actually finds a recording of it. It's really very funny. If you're interested, the episode is called "Recordings for Someone." Google it!
• 64A: It precedes di or da, in a Beatles song (OB-LA). Thanks for the ear worm!
• 67A: Roulette bet (NOIR). French!

• 3D: Marathoner's lament (I'M SORE). I'm sure this is a fine, fine answer, but I have to say that I'm pretty sure I could come up with at least 50 other "laments" that would be more realistic than this one. "These freaking blisters are killing me," "I really have to pee," "Oh God, why did I think this would be a good idea?" …. Just sayin'.
• 13D: Artificial locks (WIG). I tried "rug" first, which caused all kindsa confusion over in that section.
• 21D: Infant who escaped Krypton (KAL-EL). I can never remember if it's KAL-EL or "Kel-Al." Mnemonic anyone?
• 30D: Orson, e.g., in a '70s-'80s sitcom (ORKAN). And that, ladies and gentlemen, is today's installment of "Mork and Mindy Trivia."

• 59D: Broccoli relative (KALE).

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 15A: "Brusha, brusha, brusha" toothpaste (IPANA).
• 16A: Morlock fare (ELOI).
• 8D: First-year law student (ONE-L).
• 11D: UN workers' agcy. (ILO).
• 54D: Dizzying genre (OP-ART).
• 55D: Nicholas I and II, e.g. (TSARS).
• 57D: Hawaiian food fish (OPAH).
• 62D: Reggae precursor (SKA).

[Follow PuzzleGirl on Twitter.]

Everything Else — 1A: Smart (CHIC); 5A: Use a user ID (LOG ON); 10A: Look at (VIEW); 18A: Hybrid big cat (LIGER); 19A: Half an ice grabber (TONG); 23A: Feature of Incan farms (TERRACE); 33A: Dry, as wine (SEC); 35A: Untrained (RAW); 36A: TV production co. whose mascot was Mimsie the Cat (MTM); 42A: Point (AIM); 44A: Fin. neighbor (NOR.); 49A: "Tiny Toon Adventures" bunny (BABS); 52A: Mount also known as Horeb (SINAI); 53A: Exterminate (ROOT OUT); 60A: Slung food (HASH); 63A: Initial strategy (PLAN A); 65A: Sommer of "A Shot in the Dark" (ELKE); 66A: Many a surfer (AOL'ER); 68A: Diamond spoiler (FLAW); 69A: 1954 event coded as "Castle Bravo" (H-TEST); 70A: Lushes (SOTS); 1D: Pie maker's pride (CRUST); 2D: Locked, in a way (HASPED); 4D: Traffic blocker (CAR CRASH); 5D: Bath salt fragrance (LILAC); 6D: Speaks one's mind (OPINES); 7D: Infatuated (GAGA); 9D: Not even one, with "a" (NARY); 10D: Chevy sportsters ('VETTES); 12D: Two or more eras, in geologic time (EON); 22D: Jet __ (SKI); 25D: Salinger title girl (ESME); 26D: Green stroke (PUTT); 27D: Where to study for a Th.D. (SEM.); 31D: Word with nanny or web (CAM); 32D: Nine-time U.S. skating champ (KWAN); 34D: Hairdo (COIF); 37D: Ventura County's __ Valley (SIMI); 38D: "Let's go!" ("C'MON!"); 39D: French wine term (CRU); 40D: Many an Asimov character (ROBOT); 41D: Three-course military supplies (K RATIONS); 42D: Symbol of stubbornness (ASS); 46D: Some kind of nut (CASHEW); 47D: Tool holder (KIT); 48D: Goes on monotonously (DRONES); 50D: Playground mishap (BOO-BOO); 51D: Bright, as a porch (SUNLIT); 58D: Lump (CLOT); 60D: Mag mogul with a mansion (HEF); 61D: __-American (ALL).

T H U R S D A Y November 25, 2010 Don Gagliardo

Theme: Electric Circuit — All words around the outside perimeter of the grid can come after the word "electric" in a familiar phrase.

Theme answers:

• 1A: Racer's privilege (POLE).
• 5A: Group of contestants (FIELD).
• 10A: Heart, basically (PUMP).
• 13D: Kind of nap or tie (POWER).
• 39D: Common observer (EYE).
• 58D: Bach's instrument (ORGAN).
• 73A: Make it official (SIGN).
• 72A: Rhythmic element (METER).
• 71A: Spelunker's aid (LAMP).
• 52D: Machine with bits (DRILL).
• 32D: Summer cooler (FAN).
• 1D: Brahms's instrument (PIANO).
• 7D: What the perimeter answers in this puzzle literally create (ELECTRIC CIRCUIT).

Happy Turkey Day, everybody! I'm grateful to all of you for hanging out with me and indulging me in my crossword ramblings. So far I'm still having fun. I hope you're getting a little something out of it too.

I'm not going to say too much today — like you I'm sure, I have a lot of family togetherness to get to. Also football. And food. So let's start off with the couple of things I didn't know at all:

• 36A: Three-time U.S. Women's Open champ Berning (SUSIE). Never heard of her. But I haven't paid close attention to tennis in a while. Is she a current player? HAha! She's a golfer. So I guess my inattention to tennis is irrelevant.
• 62D: German fantasy author Michael (ENDE). I feel like I've seen this name before, but it must not have made much of an impression on me.

Bullets:

• 18A: "Camelot" composer (LOEWE) / 19A: "Camelot," e.g. (SHOW). I like the consecutive "Camelot" clues with rhyming answers. Seems appropriate somehow.
• 21A: Prog. discontinued at some campuses during the Vietnam War (ROTC). Apparently it wasn't discontinued at PuzzleDad's college. Legend has it that Dad once beat a guy at pool who, because he didn't have the money on him (!!!), offered to mark my dad "present" in his required ROTC class for the semester. It was only after the semester ended that Dad discovered the guy had moved away. Ouch.

• 48A: Martini's partner (ROSSI). I guess I was thinking of tennis because of that golf clue I mentioned (sheesh!) and misread this as "Martina's partner."
• 52A: Baseball SS's stats (DP'S). I guess this means Double Plays. If I had been forced to come up with it, I probably would have, but I just got it through crosses.
• 69A: Take for __: fool (A RIDE). I had the problem here that SethG talked about yesterday. I read the clue and thought the answer would be "take for … a fool."
• 3D: Scofflaw of a sort (LITTERBUG). I tried "loiterer" but came up short on letters.
• 60D: "Your time __!" (IS UP). Yes, indeed, it is.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 15A: China's Zhou __ (ENLAI).
• 47A: Perry's creator (ERLE).
• 55A: Copycat (APER).
• 70A: Agora portico (STOA).
• 4D: Dinner duo? (ENS).

[Follow PuzzleGirl on Twitter.]

Everything Else — 14A: Victor's claim (I WIN); 16A: "Bug off!" ("SHOO!"); 17A: Tiny colonists (ANTS); 20A: The Wallendas don't use one (NET); 22A: Insensitive (OBTUSE); 24A: Had too much of (OD'ED ON); 26A: Adjust, as wheels (TRUE); 28A: Sailor's pronoun (HER); 29A: Designer Gernreich (RUDI); 30A: Church observances (RITES); 32A: Watch pockets (FOBS); 34A: "Hulk" star Bana (ERIC); 40A: Lie alongside (ABUT); 41A: Ali G portrayer __ Baron Cohen (SACHA); 43A: Depend (RELY); 44A: Bruce who played Dr. Watson (NIGEL); 46A: Bakery curlicue maker (ICER); 50A: Unlike Miss Manners (RUDE); 56A: Former NBAer Mourning (ALONZO); 59A: Sanction (RATIFY); 61A: Red amount? (CENT); 63A: Like BMWs: Abbr. (GER.); 64A: March time (IDES); 65A: Connie of "Weekends With Maury and Connie" (CHUNG); 67A: Cold water hazard (BERG); 68A: Party with ukes (LUAU); 2D: Finished paying off (OWNED); 5D: Serious crimes (FELONIES); 6D: Trying to settle a score, for short? (IN O.T.); 8D: __ of averages (LAW); 9D: Fade to nothing (DIE OUT); 10D: Sound made with a cupped hand (PSST); 11D: Compliant sound (UH-HUH); 12D: Bullwinkle J. __ (MOOSE); 21D: Fishing tool (ROD); 23D: Queen's offspring (BEES); 25D: Sporty '70s Plymouth (DUSTER); 27D: Nouveau __ (RICHE); 31D: "And how!" ("SURE DO!"); 33D: __-Wan Kenobi (OBI); 35D: Bring up (RAISE); 37D: Tanzania wildlife reserve (SERENGETI); 38D: Bad (ILL); 42D: Orchestrator, perhaps (ARRANGER); 45D: Rye buy (LOAF); 49D: Cloak-and-dagger gadget (SPYCAM); 51D: Nth: Abbr. (ULT.); 53D: "The Taming of the Shrew" setting (PADUA); 54D: Locomotive propeller (STEAM); 57D: Cause of some floating, briefly (ZERO G); 66D: Charlemagne's realm: Abbr. (HRE); 67D: Undergrad degs. (BS'S).

T H U R S D A Y November 11, 2010 Don Gagliardo

Theme: A Day at the PuzzleHouse — Theme answers all start with words describing the PuzzleKids' various reactions to daily events. (Okay, maybe not the spitting.)


Theme answers:

• 17A: Battle of the Bulge air assault division (SCREAMING EAGLES).
• 23A: Doppelgänger (SPITTING IMAGE).
• 34A: It's hard to get romantic with one (NAGGING HEADACHE).
• 48A: Reason to see a mechanic (WHINING ENGINE).
• 56A: Admonition to one acting out the starts of 17-, 23-, 34- and 48-Across (MIND YOUR MANNERS).

SPITTING IMAGE was the first theme answer I got and I think I only had two or three crosses in place at the time. At the risk of sounding like a complete idiot — I mean, really, at this point, what do I have to lose? — I'll admit that I can only remember what a "doppelgänger" is because of the recent "Doppelgänger Week" on Facebook. Obviously, I'd heard the word before that, but it was that event that really solidified it in my brain. So anyway when I got to 34 Across, the type of HEADACHE I thought of was "splitting" but that wouldn't fit. So I didn't really see where the theme was going until I got a little farther into it. SCREAMING EAGLES is a phrase I've heard, but not one that I could come up with off the top of my head. It's an awesome theme entry though, isn't it?

As usual for a later-week puzzle, there were several things that I just flat-out didn't know. Like:

• 29A: Incarnation of Vishnu (RAMA). I'll be the first to admit that I don't know much about Hinduism. Wikipedia tells me that RAMA, the "seventh avatar of Vishnu, … is pictured as the ideal man and the perfect human." No pressure though, RAMA.
• 64A: Mythical animal kingdom ennead (LIVES). I still don't know what this means and can't figure it out by Googling. I assume it has something to do with a cat's nine lives, right? But how does "kingdom" fit in? I'm at a loss!

• 6D: "__ Baba Bunny": classic Bugs cartoon (ALI). Now I definitely should have been able to infer this one, but I didn't spend much time and got it through crosses instead.
• 8D: Leia's last name (ORGANA). I knew that Princess Leia turned out to be the sister of one of the main Star Wars guys, so "Solo" and "Skywalker" both went through my head. I don't remember ever hearing of ORGANA though.
• 19D: Angular measurement device used in surveying (ALIDADE). From what I can tell, ALIDADE has only been used twice in any of the major crossword puzzles, both times in 2000. Once in a Newsday Saturday Stumper and once in a Saturday CrosSynergy puzzle. Personally, I think there's a good reason it doesn't show up more often, but maybe that's just me.

There were a couple other things that threw me off a little, like EDUC. for 1A: U.S. dept. with a Race to the Top reform prog. I have actually heard of the Race to the Top program because of the recent controversy over New Jersey's application (they didn't include the right numbers, they were asked about it and didn't know the numbers were wrong, then came back later and tried to say that they should have had an opportunity to change them — I don't know, there was more to it than that, here are more details, if you're interested). But PuzzleHusband used to work at the Department of Education so I'm super used to calling it "Ed." EDUC is a perfectly legitimate abbreviation, but it just didn't enter my consciousness. I don't ever recall hearing an "hourglass" referred to as a SANDGLASS (33D: Time-measuring device), so that held me up a bit. I haven't decided if I'm gonna let NO OIL slide as a 49D: Kind of salad dressing. If I put a hyphen in it, does that make it better: "no-oil salad dressing"? Maybe a little. Let me know what you think of it.

Bullets:

• 10A: Lock style (COIF). So many different words for hair!

• 30A: Alice's workplace (DINER). I hate it when I get so close to an answer but can't see it. First I thought of "Alice's Restaurant" and when that didn't fit I thought of Mel's Diner. My brain wouldn't just drop the "Mel's" in order to get the right answer though. Argh!
• 40A: Important no. to most car buyers (MPG). I tried APR here first.
• 43A: Sheer (STEEP). Very tricky. This is like a "sheer cliff" not "sheer stockings."
• 51A: Reservoir borders? (ARS). A letter R ("ar") is on each end ("border") of the word "reservoir." (We talked about literal letters back in August of last year.)
• 4D: Nest chorus (CHEEPS). I tried "chirps" here.
• 11D: Checked out, as a book (ON LOAN). I read this clue as a verb and couldn't shift gears to make it an adverb until it became clear through crosses.

• 13D: Uncle at 0001 Cemetery Lane, in '60s TV (FESTER). The Addams Family.
• 18D: First name in shipping (ARI). Shipping magnate and Jackie Kennedy's second husband, Ari Onassis.
• 39D: Callaway of golf equipment fame (ELY). We talked about ELY back in April of last year, but this guy didn't make the cut. Note to constructors: this is the second day in a row you included a golf clue that wasn't a gimme for me. I get it. You can stop now.
• 46D: Rainforest rodent (AGOUTI). We'll cover this in Crosswordese 301.
• 59D: Sra.'s neighboring counterpart (MME.). English = Mrs.; Spanish = Sra. (Señora); French = MME. (Madame).

Crosswordese 101: SLR stands for Single-Lens Reflex, a type of 35mm camera. A lot of times the clues will be, simply, "Camera type, for short." Other times the clue might include a particular camera brand — such as Canon, Nikon or Olympus. Later in the week, you are likely to see a clue attempting to be tricky by including the word "shooter" to throw you off (like today's 63A: Some shooters, briefly).

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

• 20A: Willows for weavers (OSIERS).
• 41A: Coastal raptor (ERNE).
• 1D: Gas acronym (ESSO).
• 7D: Hall of Fame quarterback Dawson (LEN).
• 35D: Feds (G-MEN).
• 36D: "__ go bragh!" (ERIN).
• 54D: Columnist Bombeck (ERMA).
• 55D: Nieuwpoort's river (YSER).

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Everything Else — 5A: Iconic rings (HALOS); 14A: JV team member, perhaps (SOPH); 15A: Warning (ALERT); 16A: Back in the day (ONCE); 21A: Cause to suffer (AIL); 22A: Word with meal or cake (OAT); 27A: Name on an airport shuttle (AVIS); 31A: Yang's partner (YIN); 32A: Clue (HINT); 33A: Cul-de-__ (SAC); 42A: It starts with "http" (URL); 46A: Desertlike (ARID); 47A: Teeny (ITSY); 52A: Besides (TOO); 53A: __ Tunes (LOONEY); 60A: Court entry (PLEA); 61A: Shopping list entries (ITEMS); 62A: "Woe __!" (IS ME); 65A: Peter or Paul, but not Mary (TSAR); 2D: Holliday and others (DOCS); 3D: Revolting situation (UPRISING); 5D: Target of pre-race stretching (HAMSTRING); 9D: "Shrek!" author William (STEIG); 10D: Minor player (COG); 12D: Cooling-off period? (ICE AGE); 24D: Bite (TANG); 25D: "Count me in!" ("I'M THERE!"); 26D: Mineral with basal cleavage (MICA); 27D: Writer Rand (AYN); 28D: Routing word (VIA); 32D: __ Hop: bouncing ball brand (HIPPITY); 35D: Feds (G-MEN); 37D: Kitten's quality (CUTENESS); 38D: Retail posting: Abbr. (HRS.); 43D: Overwhelms (SWAMPS); 44D: Rollercoaster ride, e.g. (THRILL); 45D: Former Disney chief (EISNER); 47D: Part of a conspiracy (IN ON IT); 50D: Charged particle (ION); 57D: Courtroom VIPs (DA'S); 58D: Test, as an engine (REV).