M O N D A Y November 29, 2010 Jeff Chen

Theme: Takin' It Easy — Theme answers are three-word phrases with the pattern "R-word and R-word."

Theme answers:

• 17A: Music genre that evolved in the '50s (ROCK AND ROLL).
• 28A: How the wheels on the bus go (ROUND AND ROUND).
• 47A: "Old" nickname for Zachary Taylor (ROUGH AND READY).
• 63A: Complain hysterically (RANT AND RAVE).
• 39A: Time off, briefly, and this puzzle's theme (R AND R).

Very nice Monday theme today. Simple concept, well-known phrases — that's all we're looking for on Monday, right?

Bullets:

• 10A: W.W. Jacobs short story "The Monkey's __" (PAW). Again with the monkeys.
• 67A: Like the night in a classic Van Gogh work (STARRY).
  
• 7D: Hindu religious instructor (GURU). I actually entered "yogi" first. Now that's just dumb.

• 8D: Chevy Volt or Ford Fusion (ECO-CAR). Tried "hybrid" here. The only reason I know anything about these cars is because (a) Motor Trend recently named the Chevy Volt its Car of the Year and Rush Limbaugh [edited to delete political statements that may be offensive to some — Google it if you're interested] and (b) the Ford Fusion was constantly pushed last year during "American Idol" (yes, I know that's sad).
• 15D: First-rate, in Rugby (SLAP-UP). I'm not really an expert on the British slang. I like a lot of it when I hear it, but then I can never remember it.
• 31D: "Who's the Boss?" star Tony (DANZA). Okay, here's something that's bothered me for a long time and I've never told anyone about it. One night many, many years ago (late-'80s, I'd say), I was watching Letterman and the show was done with voice-overs. I mean, Letterman came out and did his monologue, but they had obviously stripped out the audio and had someone else basically saying Letterman's part. Obviously, I thought it was bizarre. Imagine my surprise when they continued it through the whole show! Have any of you ever seen anything like that??? Oh, and the point is that Tony Danza was the guest that night. In case you thought I was just blurting out random nonsense for no reason (as opposed to my usual habit of blurting out random sense for a very good reason).
• 38D: Sock ending (-EROO). I much prefer my -EROO at the end of "switch."
• 50D: Longtime Nevada senator Harry (REID). Just recently squeaked out a victory over Sharron Angle, who [edited to delete political statements that may be offensive to some].

Crosswordese 101: There are three NYEs you should know for puzzles. Did you know NYE is the name of the largest county in Nevada? I didn't think so. That one doesn't come up very often. Then there's Louis NYE, a comedian from the '50s–'60s known for his appearances on "The Steve Allen Show," especially the show's weekly "Man on the Street" sketches. But the most popular NYE in CrossWorld is 65D: PBS science guy Bill. All you need to know about him for crossword purposes is that in 2005 he had a television show called called "The Eyes of NYE." His previous show, "Bill Nye the Science Guy," aired in the 1990s and won seven Emmy Awards.

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

• 13A: Etonic competitor (AVIA).
• 43A: Hägar the Horrible's dog (SNERT).
• 45A: Zippy start? (ZEE).
• 66A: Work unit (ERG).
• 27D: Nephew of Cain (ENOS).
• 28D: Big birds of lore (ROCS).
• 60D: Eye part containing the iris (UVEA).
• 64D: "Taking Heat" memoirist Fleischer (ARI).

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Everything Else — 1A: Toad feature (WART); 5A: Cravings (URGES); 14A: Hollandaise and barbecue (SAUCES); 16A: Genetic molecule: Abbr. (RNA); 19A: "__ complicated" (IT'S); 20A: Evil smile (SNEER); 21A: Pac-10 hoops powerhouse (UCLA); 22A: Cambridge sch. (MIT); 23A: Letter before kappa (IOTA); 26A: Tranquil (AT PEACE); 32A: Possess (OWN); 33A: Italian "a" (UNA); 34A: Tide creations (POOLS); 37A: Formally relinquish (CEDE); 42A: Winter fall (SNOW); 46A: Well-armed org. (NRA); 52A: Nonsense (BALONEY); 54A: The ten in "hang ten" (TOES); 55A: Batter's stat (RBI); 56A: Power co. product (ELEC.); 58A: Freeze, as a plane's wings (ICE UP); 62A: + molecule, e.g. (ION); 68A: All done (OVER); 69A: Knox and McHenry: Abbr. (FTS.); 70A: "Do the Right Thing" actor Davis (OSSIE); 71A: Wimpy (WEAK); 1D: Serious conflicts (WARS); 2D: Cosmetic caller (AVON); 3D: Paddy grain (RICE); 4D: Adopt, as a puppy (TAKE IN); 5D: "Top Gun" org. (USN); 6D: "Groovy!" ("RAD!"); 9D: Do business with (SELL TO); 10D: Temperamental diva, e.g. (PRIMA DONNA); 11D: Shenanigan (ANTIC); 12D: Trash (WASTE); 18D: Yankee with 613 career homers, familiarly (A-ROD); 24D: Bull: Pref. (TAUR-); 25D: Oscar winner Paquin (ANNA); 29D: Wilson of "Marley & Me" (OWEN); 30D: Subordinates (UNDERLINGS); 35D: Manor master (LORD); 36D: Oscillate (SWAY); 40D: Car scar (DENT); 41D: Overhaul, as a Web site (REDO); 44D: Workers with an ear for music? (TUNERS); 48D: Italian ice cream (GELATO); 49D: "Laughing" critters (HYENAS); 51D: Money for taxes and insurance may be held in it (ESCROW); 52D: Lawyer's filing (BRIEF); 53D: NASA "Stop!" (ABORT); 57D: NBA's Shaq and Yao, e.g. (CTRS.); 59D: A gutter is often under it (EAVE); 61D: Exec's extra (PERK).

S U N D A Y November 14, 2010 Jeff Chen (syndicated)

Theme: "Physical Therapy Session"— All the theme answers are two-word phrases with the initials P.T.

[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: It begins with H (PERIODIC TABLE).
• 29A: Place to take a date? (PALM TREE).
• 35A: Worker with a fork (PIANO TUNER).
• 46A: Wood shop item (POWER TOOL).
• 57A: One may be used in child support (PATERNITY TEST).
• 69A: You can't put it down (PAGE TURNER).
• 75A: All-bark, no-bite type (PAPER TIGER).
• 83A: Windshield downer (PARKING TICKET).
• 97A: History feature (PAST TENSE)
• 106A: Intimate exchange (PILLOW TALK).
• 115A: Number that may be shocking (PRICE TAG).
• 126A: Endurance level of a sort (PAIN THRESHOLD).

Howdy, folks. Doug here today. I thought it might be fun to devote a little more attention to the syndicated Sunday puzzle from time to time. PuzzleGirl gave me the keys to the place, but she likes to sleep in on Sundays, so try to not to disturb her with any loud comments.

Very straightforward theme today. The title had me thinking we were going to get some physical therapy-related puns. (Lady of Sprain, maybe?) No luck there, but apparently physical therapy is often abbreviated PT. OK, that works. I was impressed with the number of theme entries (12) in this one. Not quite Naddoresque, but impressive nonetheless. I'm sure the constructor had lots of PT's to choose from, and he put together a nice set. The most surprising to me was PAIN THRESHOLD. Interesting entry that I've never seen in a crossword grid, and you could even say it's related to physical therapy. Ouch.

Bullets:

• 23A: It begins with H (PERIODIC TABLE). I really liked this clue. I had no idea where it was going. Lots and lots of phrases start with H, right? Very clever. In case you're still in the dark, the first element in the periodic table is Hydrogen (H). My favorite periodic table is the Periodic Table of Comic Books.
• 50A: Chopin's Opus 10 works (ETUDES). For some reason, I read this clue as a complete sentence. "Chopin's Opus 10 works." "Works for what? Huh?"

• 103A: The toe of an Asian "boot" (OMAN). Hmmm, I didn't know Asia had a boot too. OK, I guess the Arabian Peninsula could be considered a boot. Italy's boot is definitely more stylish. Arabia looks like one of those Ugg boots.
• 125A: 1881 Pasteur vaccine target (ANTHRAX). An easier clue (for me) would have referenced the thrash metal band Anthrax. They were one of the "Big Four" thrash bands of the '80s, along with Megadeth, Metallica, and Slayer. I was going to include an Anthrax video here, but I think I've already exceeded the allowed level of Anthrax content for this blog.
• 131A: Discordant to many an ear (ATONAL). Yep, this clue would also work for ANTHRAX.
• 69D: Dorm wall art (PINUP). Feels like an anachronistic clue. I think of pin-ups as more of a WWII era thing. Betty Grable, Lana Turner, etc. On a side note, I just found out that Judge Wapner of "People's Court" fame dated Lana Turner when they were both students at Hollywood High.

• 99D: Critter on Australia's coat of arms (EMU). Three-letter word with "critter" and "Australia" in the clue? It's got to be ROO or EMU. Whaddya know, they're both on the coat of arms! The koalas and dingos must be ticked off.
• 109D: "Black bird" pursuer of fiction (SPADE). The "black bird" in question is the Maltese Falcon, and it's pursued by Sam Spade. One of my favorite books and movies. "The stuff that dreams are made of."
• 117D: Pop ___, Chok'lit Shoppe owner in "Archie" comics (TATE). This one was a gimme for me. I read a lot of "Archie" comics when I was a kid. It's hard for me to believe that they're still being published, but they're out there. I see "Archie" digests at the grocery store all the time. Do kids today read "Archie" comics? I hope there are at least a few young comic book geeks out there.

Have a great Sunday!

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 28A: Hip-hop doc (DRE).
• 32A: Skipper's direction (ALEE).
• 44A: Looked for lampreys (EELED).
• 56A: NY tech. school since 1824 (RPI).
• 90A: Actress Thurman (UMA).
• 91A: Island at the edge of the Bering Sea (ATTU).
• 12D: Capital of Poland? (PEE).
• 51D: While lead-in (ERST).
• 59D: Daly of "Judging Amy" (TYNE).
• 72D: "Bambi" doe (ENA).
• 116D: Eagle by the shore (ERNE).

Everything Else — 1A: Target (AIM FOR); 7A: Zany (MADCAP); 13A: Standout in a small pond? (BIG FISH); 20A: "Pizza by the slice" chain (SBARRO); 21A: Cactus bump (AREOLE); 22A: Centers for Disease Control headquarters site (ATLANTA); 25A: Soaked up, as a spill (BLOTTED); 26A: Barnyard abode (STY); 27A: Fit together (MESH); 30A: Detection device (SENSOR); 34A: A very long time (EONS); 39A: Some are narrow (ESCAPES); 43A: Rice-A-__ (RONI); 53A: One of seven (ASIA); 55A: Video game giant (SEGA); 61A: Blotch (STAIN); 63A: VAIO computer maker (SONY); 64A: Took to the airport, say (SAW OFF); 68A: BrontÎ who wrote "Agnes Grey" (ANNE); 77A: Present-day Persia (IRAN); 78A: Swarmed (TEEMED); 80A: U.S. dept. concerned with radioactive waste (ENER.); 81A: "Inception" filmmaker Christopher (NOLAN); 95A: Face-off (DUEL); 96A: Beethoven's "Waldstein," e.g. (SONATA); 100A: __ toast (MELBA); 104A: From way back when (OLDTIME); 109A: __ City: Baghdad suburb (SADR); 112A: "__ said!" ('NUFF); 114A: Essence (NATURE); 119A: One way to sway (FRO); 121A: Chapeau site (TÊTE); 122A: __ tai (MAI); 129A: Cold War follower (DETENTE); 130A: Harshly criticize (SCATHE); 132A: Paris's Champs __ (ÉLYSÉES); 133A: Sommelier, e.g. (SERVER); 134A: Pestilent fly (TSE-TSE); 1D: Lethal snakes (ASPS); 2D: "As if!" ("I BET!"); 3D: Mrs. Lincoln (MARY); 4D: Calendar abbr. (FRI.); 5D: Words from a balcony (O ROMEO); 6D: Squirrel, for one (RODENT); 7D: Speed of sound (MACH ONE); 8D: Pianist Tatum (ART); 9D: __ in the water (DEAD); 10D: Lethal snake (COBRA); 11D: Gene variant (ALLELE); 13D: Ali the woodcutter (BABA); 14D: "__ cost you!" (IT'LL); 15D: Grab, in slang (GLOM); 16D: Most plump (FATTEST); 17D: Preamble (INTRO); 18D: "Card Players Quarreling" artist (STEEN); 19D: Underworld god (HADES); 24D: Time edition (ISSUE); 29D: Cowboy legend __ Bill (PECOS); 30D: Catty (SNIDE); 31D: Send along (RELAY); 33D: Uncanny ability (ESP); 35D: Get set (PREP); 36D: Itty-bitty bit (IOTA); 37D: "Sometimes you feel like __ ..." (ANUT); 38D: See 127-Down (REST); 40D: Amaze (AWE); 41D: Cribbage piece (PEG); 42D: Some are named for presidents (ERAS); 45D: "__ Irae" (DIES); 47D: Borneo rainforest dweller (ORANG); 48D: Offer a thought (OPINE); 49D: Big boat (LINER); 52D: Muzzle (SNOUT); 54D: Memo order (ASAP); 58D: Memo opening (IN RE); 60D: It flew its last flight in 2001 (TWA); 62D: Clavell's "__-Pan" (TAI); 65D: Start the bidding (OPEN); 66D: __ shui (FENG); 67D: Worries (FRETS); 70D: Wavy lines, in comics (AROMA); 71D: Bashes (GALAS); 73D: Brit. or Byzantine (EMP.); 74D: Pore over (READ); 76D: The Stooges, e.g. (TRIO); 79D: Jazz combo member (DRUM); 82D: Pertaining to all 50 sts. (NATL.); 84D: Opposite of spoil (KEEP); 85D: Bad, in rap slang (ILLIN'); 86D: 100 simoleons (C-NOTE); 87D: __ Sutra (KAMA); 88D: List-shortening term (ET AL.); 89D: Place to put a tiger, in old ads (TANK); 92D: Media mogul Turner (TED); 93D: "Rizzoli & Isles" station (TNT); 94D: Manipulating (USING); 98D: Primitive light sources (TORCHES); 101D: Gibberish (BLATHER); 102D: Adjust (ALTER); 105D: Obliterate (EFFACE); 107D: Consume more than (OUTEAT); 108D: Jerks (WRESTS); 110D: Synthetic fabric (ARNEL); 111D: Simple tune (DITTY); 113D: Brother in a hood? (FRIAR); 118D: Cancels (AXES); 120D: Airing, as a sitcom (ON TV); 122D: The Alps' __ Blanc (MONT); 123D: Regretful word (ALAS); 124D: Not doing anything (IDLE); 126D: They're usually under signatures: Abbr. (PS'S); 127D: With 38-Down, what's left (THE); 128D: Work the soil (HOE).

T U E S D A Y October 26, 2010 Jeff Chen

Theme: Here! — First words of the theme answers can precede the word "roll" in a familiar phrase.


Theme answers:

• 17A: *"That's a certainty!" ("BANK ON IT!").
• 22A: *Say "Well done," say (PAY A COMPLIMENT).
• 34A: *Cover the night's check (SPRING FOR DINNER).
• 46A: *Generate sales leads (DRUM UP BUSINESS).
• 54A: Attendance check, and a hint to the puzzle theme in the first words of the starred answers (ROLL CALL).

What we have today is a perfectly serviceable Tuesday. It's got a fine theme, with fine theme answers. The fill, most of which is short, is fine. Other than the theme, the longest answers in the grid are NO OUTLET and HELSINKI, which are ... fine. Unfortunately, it's just really hard to get excited about Tuesdays. If I show up here on a Tuesday and I'm not complaining about a weak theme and griping about a bunch of answers that I don't like, then I think we can call it a success.

Bullets:

• 1A: Homey (COZY). Wanted this answer to be "bro" or "buddy" or something like that.
• 21A: Mousse user (SALON). HAha! Misread this as "Mouse user," which I'm sure is exactly what I was supposed to do!

• 30A: Bozo (JERK). I think of a bozo as more of a dummy than a JERK, but either way "bozo" is an excellent put-down.
• 31A: Remark from Rex (ARF). I don't get why dogs are so often named Rex in CrossWorld. Is that really a typical dog name? Spot, Fido, Rover? Sure. Rex? Not so much.
• 42A: "Brave New World" drug (SOMA). We'll cover this in Crosswordese 301.
• 51A: Nae sayer (SCOT). "Nae" is how they say the word "no" in Scotland.
• 1D: Chard alternative (CAB) and 3D: Chard alternative (ZIN). Is chard a leafy green vegetable? Hold on .... Yes. Yes it is. Was anyone else tricked by this or was it just me because I'm not a wine drinker?

• 5D: Chandler's "Friends" ex-girlfriend with an annoying laugh (JANICE). Great clue! By far my favorite thing in the whole puzzle.
• 56D: Poetic pugilist (ALI). I thought I was looking for a boxer that appeared in a poem, not a boxer who himself was prone to lapsing into poetry.

Crosswordese 101: Q.E.D., which you'll often see at the end of a mathematical proof or a philosophical argument, stands for the Latin quod erat demonstrandum ("that which was to be demonstrated"). When you see Q.E.D. in a crossword clue it's almost always prompting you for the answer ERAT. Clues are generally straightforward: "Q.E.D. part," "Part of Q.E.D.," or 29A: Q.E.D. word.

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

• 14A: Converse competitor (AVIA).
• 41A: Long-tongued cartoon dog (ODIE).
• 60A: Doctor of music? (DRE).
• 62A: Some dadaist paintings (ERNSTS).
• 2D: Egg cells (OVA).
• 8D: No more seats, on a sign (SRO).
• 24D: Rumored Himalayan beast (YETI).

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Everything Else — 5A: Boeing product (JET); 8A: Shoulder wraps (SHAWLS); 15A: Fuss (ADO); 16A: Immensely popular (RED HOT); 19A: "Ripe" part of life (OLD AGE); 20A: Ceremonial act (RITE); 27A: Rock examiner? (JEWELER); 28A: A seeming eternity (EONS); 39A: Function (USE); 40A: Suave to a fault (OILY); 43A: Obvious (EVIDENT); 50A: Knock one's knuckles against (RAP AT); 52A: To excess (OVERLY); 59A: Blew off steam (VENTED); 61A: Skin lotion additive (ALOE); 63A: Verizon rival (AT&T); 64A: Coquette (MINX); 4D: Himalayan beast (YAK); 6D: Magazine VIP (EDITOR); 7D: Carved pole (TOTEM); 9D: Capital east of Oslo (HELSINKI); 10D: "Mysterious and spooky" TV family name (ADDAMS); 11D: Ahab's quarry (WHALE); 12D: Start one's work day, maybe (LOG ON); 13D: Angioplasty implant (STENT); 18D: Like much family history (ORAL); 22D: Offenders, in copspeak (PERPS); 23D: Enlightened (AWARE); 25D: Word with group or pressure (PEER); 26D: British nobleman (LORD); 27D: Son of God, in a Bach cantata (JESU); 30D: Elation (JOY); 31D: Bolivian range (ANDES); 32D: Stagecoach controls (REINS); 33D: Fuss (FRET); 35D: Sign at a cul-de-sac (NO OUTLET); 36D: Hobbling gait (GIMP); 37D: Love handles, so to speak (FLAB); 38D: Botanical branch point (NODE); 42D: Stings (SMARTS); 43D: Companion (ESCORT); 44D: Purple shade (VIOLET); 45D: Worldwide: Abbr. (INTL.); 46D: Took the wheel (DROVE); 47D: Ecstatic film critic, e.g. (RAVER); 48D: Sch. founded by Franklin (U. PENN.); 49D: Dietary standard often measured in mg. (USRDA); 53D: NFL rushing nos. (YDS.); 55D: "Overhead" engine part (CAM); 57D: "Man of a Thousand Faces" Chaney (LON); 58D: Archvillain Luthor (LEX).

T U E S D A Y October 5, 2010 Jeff Chen

Theme: Solving la puzzle loca — Theme answers are familiar phrases that mix Spanish with English words.


Theme answers:

• 17A: Site for flashy couples dancing (SALSA CLUB).
• 28A: Annual college football game in Arizona (FIESTA BOWL).
  
• 38A: Spicy deep-fried stuffed appetizers (JALAPENO POPPERS).
• 45A: Nap period, in Latin America (SIESTA TIME).
• 62A: 2004 Adam Sandler movie, and a hint to the puzzle theme found in 17-, 28-, 38- and 45-Across (SPANGLISH).

More wrestling stuff today for PuzzleGirl, so SethG here with a quick summary.

The theme concept is nice, the execution mostly nice. The phrasing on the FIESTA BOWL clue is a little weird--this isn't what the game is called just in Arizona, this is actually the game's name. But that, SALSA CLUB, and JALAPENO POPPERS are all phrases that have entered the American vernacular. SIESTA TIME, on the other hand, is not a phrase I'm familiar with. Do they actually call it that in Latin America? If not, this is not actually Spanglish, it's just a made-up phrase that combines Spanish and English. Even if they do, this is the only theme clue that requires an "in Latin America" modifier. I was gonna say -1/10 from the East German judge, but there's no more East Germany and why would he be judging Spanglish, anyway?

I never saw the movie. I've heard it's mediocre. Was it?

Bullets:

• 1A: Houlihan portrayer in 5-Across (SWIT)/5A: Korean War sitcom (M*A*S*H). Blogger spell-checker doesn't like "portrayer". I got to 1A, couldn't think of anyone named Houlihan, moved on to 5A, said "oh", then went back to fill in Loretta SWIT first. Played by Sally Kellerman in the movie, by ink in the Richard Hooker novel. I didn't look any of that up. If PuzzleGirl were here, this would be a video fer sher.
• 20A: Popular swim briefs (SPEEDOS). If PuzzleGirl were here, this would be a picture fer sher.
  
• 24A: Group of street toughs (GANG). Calling them "toughs" does not make them sound tough.

• 53A: "Ain't happening!" (NO SIREE). Usually said to Bob. I had to think for a bit to see if this was part of the theme.
  
• 57A: Emulates Jell-O (WIGGLES). See also: JIGGLES.
• 61A: Bar, in law (ESTOP). This means to legally prevent, not that a happy-hour hangout where lawyers meet programmers is an e-stop.
  
• 66A: Poet Lazarus (EMMA) was tired, poor, and a huddled mass yearning to breathe free.
• 24D: "Start that job now!" (GET ON IT). Usually said to Lt. Tom Kazansky or a catapult officer.
• 35D: The "m" in E = mc² (MASS). Also the MA.
• 53D: Giraffe's trademark (NECK). I like giraffes, and giraffes like me.
  
• 57D: "Living" payment (WAGE). See also: JAGE.
• 59D: Salinger heroine (ESME). With all his f-a-c-u-l-t-i-e-s intact. If you haven't read this, read this. This.
  

Crosswordese 101: We covered IONA, but not yet IONE. IONE may be the heroine in "The Last Days of Pompeii", or one of the Nereids, which are apparently Grecian sea-nymphs. Most of the time, though, the clue will be like today's 56D: Actress Skye. Her name is Ione Skye. She's been in lotsa stuff, but she's probably most well-known for her role as Diane Court in Say Anything. Her dad is Donovan, and they quite rightly call him mellow yellow.

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Everything Else — 5A: Korean War sitcom (MASH); 9A: Reading aids (LAMPS); 14A: __ Major: Great Bear (URSA); 15A: Actress Hayworth (RITA); 16A: Native Alaskan (ALEUT); 19A: Confiscate (SEIZE); 21A: Issue an embarrassing retraction (EAT CROW); 23A: Foul caller (REF); 25A: Competed in a race (RAN); 34A: Physics bit (ATOM); 36A: Ending for absorb (-ENT); 37A: Supreme Court justice Sotomayor (SONIA); 42A: Crop up (ARISE); 43A: Indian bread (NAN); 44A: Takes to court (SUES); 48A: Paid athlete (PRO); 49A: Sign over a door (EXIT); 50A: Sign before Virgo (LEO); 64A: Bridal registry category (CHINA); 65A: Impulse (URGE); 67A: Musical Carpenter (KAREN); 68A: Word with pressure or review (PEER); 69A: Gush (SPEW); 1D: Figure (out), in slang (SUSS); 2D: Conclude, with "up" (WRAP); 3D: Castaway's place (ISLE); 4D: Shocking weapon (TASER); 5D: Appliance brand that helps you wake up? (MR. COFFEE); 6D: Suffers (AILS); 7D: "The Simpsons" disco guy (STU); 8D: __ corpus (HABEAS); 9D: Like a desperate effort (LAST-GASP); 10D: Actor Guinness (ALEC); 11D: Israel's Golda (MEIR); 12D: "The Godfather" author Mario (PUZO); 13D: Goulash, e.g. (STEW); 18D: Summer drink (ADE); 22D: Tiny army member (ANT); 25D: Indian nobles (RAJAS); 26D: Centipede video game creator (ATARI); 27D: "Cross my heart!" ("NO LIE!"); 29D: Lodge (INN); 30D: Hits on the noggin (BOPS); 31D: Outdo (ONE-UP); 32D: Electrician, at times (WIRER); 33D: Steer catcher (LASSO); 39D: Broadway flier (PETER PAN); 40D: Nonstick spray (PAM); 41D: "I just flew in, and boy are my arms tired!," e.g. (ONE LINER); 46D: Tree feller (AXE); 47D: Snarls, as traffic (TIES UP); 51D: Scrambled fare (EGG); 52D: Makes eyes at (OGLES); 54D: Fed. workplace watchdog (OSHA); 55D: Cookbook verb (STIR); 58D: Hobble (LIMP); 60D: "Pygmalion" playwright (SHAW); 63D: Season opener? (PRE-).

S U N D A Y September 19, 2010 Jeff Chen (syndicated)

Theme: "Location, Location, Location" — Theme answers are familiar phrases with the initials U.R.

[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:

• 21A: Alternative media magazine since 1984 (UTNE READER).
• 26A: City improvement program (URBAN RENEWAL).
• 43A: Moving option (UHAUL RENTAL).
• 50A: "Song of the South" storyteller (UNCLE REMUS).
• 63A: Den controller (UNIVERSAL REMOTE).
• 77A: Consumer Reports feature (USER REVIEW).
• 85A: Score after a 22-Down, usually (UNEARNED RUN).
• 98A: Rot (UTTER RUBBISH).
• 109A: Mall map phrase, and a homophonic hint to this puzzle's theme (YOU ARE HERE).

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 31A: Napa prefix (OENO-).
• 53A: Food scrap (ORT).
• 73A: Indian dignitary (RANEE).
• 108A: Like a stadium full of cheering fans (AROAR).
• 55D: Gelling agents (AGARS).
• 72D: British guns (STENS).
• 100D: __ Minor (URSA).

Everything Else — 1A: Game with triples and doubles (DARTS); 6A: Strike out (OMIT); 10A: Rogen of "Knocked Up" (SETH); 14A: Singer's syllable (TRA); 17A: On the ball (ALERT); 18A: Composer of the "Brandenburg" concertos (BACH); 19A: Virile (MACHO); 20A: Scold, with "out" (CHEW); 23A: Woolf's "__ of One's Own" (A ROOM); 24A: Overhaul (REDO); 25A: Consequence of selfish acts, some say (BAD KARMA); 29A: Pulitzer category (DRAMA); 32A: Old commercial prefix with mat (FOTO-); 33A: Tabasco, por ejemplo (ESTADO); 37A: Sully (SOIL); 39A: Gazed amazedly (MARVELED); 46A: Place (SITE); 47A: One way to swing (FRO); 48A: Driving __ (RANGE); 49A: Swimming cap brand (VOIT); 54A: Secure in a harbor (MOOR); 55A: Monopoly buys: Abbr. (AVES.); 56A: Go with the flow (ADAPT); 57A: They're often not on the menu (SPECIALS); 60A: Fluish feeling (AGUE); 61A: Terse negation (IT ISN'T); 66A: Coke collectible (BOTTLE); 68A: Cajun vegetable (OKRA); 69A: Desert menaces (RATTLERS); 74A: Calendar col. (TUES.); 75A: Short smokes? (CIGS); 76A: Droid (BOT); 80A: School in Durham (DUKE); 81A: Feudal lord (LIEGE); 83A: Rose-rose-rose-rose connector (IS A); 84A: Distillery vessels (VATS); 87A: "No prob!" ("NOT AT ALL!"); 90A: Herr's partner (FRAU); 91A: Patterned marbles (AGATES); 92A: __ League (ARAB); 93A: Bibliographic abbr. (ET AL.); 95A: It eats shoots and leaves (PANDA); 102A: Recites effortlessly (REELS OFF); 107A: Quarter, e.g. (COIN); 111A: Capital NNW of Santiago (LIMA); 112A: Illegal lending tactic (USURY); 113A: Chapter 11 issue (DEBT); 114A: Allied (with) (SIDED); 115A: Black and tan half (ALE); 116A: D.C. team (NATS); 117A: Memorable periods (ERAS); 118A: League divisions (EASTS); 1D: Smear (DAUB); 2D: Resort near Snowbird (ALTA); 3D: Tear to pieces (REND); 4D: Tough journey (TREK); 5D: Equivocate (STRADDLE); 6D: He bested Clinton in 2008 (OBAMA); 7D: Speaker's title, perhaps (MADAM); 8D: Curling surface (ICE); 9D: Unlike a dead end, briefly (THRU); 10D: Kitchen wrap (SARAN); 11D: Field involving scarcity and elasticity (ECONOMICS); 12D: Superhero based on a god (THOR); 13D: "Smooth sailing from here!" ("HOME FREE!"); 14D: Chaney title role (THE WOLFMAN); 15D: Unwanted letter of fiction (RED A); 16D: MP's quarry (AWOL); 19D: Silents actress Normand (MABEL); 20D: Minotaur's island (CRETE); 22D: Diamond flaw? (ERROR); 27D: Agitate (ROIL); 28D: Calendar pg. (NOV.); 30D: Moving about (ASTIR); 33D: Continental money (EUROS); 34D: Astute (SHARP); 35D: Oncle's spouse (TANTE); 36D: What "8" may represent: Abbr. (AUG.); 38D: Feedbag morsel (OAT); 40D: View from Nantucket: Abbr. (ATL.); 41D: Burst (ERUPT); 42D: "__ thou know who made thee?": Blake (DOST); 44D: Develop slowly (EVOLVE); 45D: Rope loop (NOOSE); 46D: Look of disdain (SNEER); 50D: Throat projection (UVULA); 51D: "Something to Talk About" Grammy winner (RAITT); 52D: Comet brand before it was reassigned to Mercury (EDSEL); 54D: "You've got __" (MAIL); 58D: More adorable (CUTER); 59D: Lay to rest (INTER); 60D: Cockeyed (ASKEW); 61D: Diagnostic machine (IMAGER); 62D: Rug rats (TOTS); 64D: Lecherous sorts (ROUES); 65D: Eleniak of "Baywatch" (ERIKA); 66D: Low man (BASSO); 67D: Revolving door recommendation (ONE AT A TIME); 70D: Film critic Roger (EBERT); 71D: Scoundrel (ROGUE); 73D: Bankrupt (RUIN); 74D: Boxer's dream (TITLE BOUT); 75D: Get ready to play, as a CD track (CUE UP); 78D: Noted WWII bride (EVA BRAUN); 79D: Kilmer of "The Saint" (VAL); 80D: Chromosome component (DNA); 81D: Language involving fine print? (LEGALESE); 82D: Wash. neighbor (IDA.); 85D: www addresses (URL'S); 86D: Four-time presidential candidate (NADER); 88D: Combat zone (ARENA); 89D: Sailor (TAR); 90D: Godmother, at times (FAIRY); 94D: Uphill pullers (T-BARS); 96D: Curaĉao neighbor (ARUBA); 97D: __-foot oil (NEATS); 98D: Winner of seven straight NCAA hoops championships (UCLA); 99D: Labor (TOIL); 101D: Fictional alter ego (HYDE); 103D: Sunni relative (SHIA); 104D: Weighty refs. (OED'S); 105D: Stew (FRET); 106D: Some raiders (FEDS); 110D: Anthem preposition (O'ER).

M O N D A Y September 13, 2010 Jeff Chen

Theme: B&B — It's pretty easy. You can figure it out.


Theme answers:

• 17A: Consequences of a minor accident, perhaps (BUMPS AND BRUISES).
• 22A: "The Greatest Show on Earth" promoters (BARNUM AND BAILEY).
• 35A: Before long (BY AND BY).
• 46A: Product improvement slogan (BIGGER AND BETTER).
• 53A: Cozy inn whose abbreviation is a hint to this puzzle's theme (BED AND BREAKFAST).

Isn't it fun to start off the week with a funky-looking grid? The four 15-letter answers no doubt necessitated this unusual look. Take a look at all the down answers that cross two theme answers. I think Jeff did a great job with this puzzle and can hardly believe it ended up as a Monday. Seems like the constraints placed on the grid by the theme answers would cause some non-Monday and/or awkward crossings but I didn't see any. Well, GETS FIT (41D: Tones one's body) is kind of random, but that's really the only thing. Other than that, smooth sailing.

Bullets:

• 27A: Totally dreadful (ABYSMAL). I'm going to try to use this word today. You should too.
• 29A: Like EEE shoes (WIDE). I'm pretty sure the reference to the crossword-tastic size EEE shoes in the clue is a wink to us frequent solvers.

• 42A: Adjust to the desired wake-up time, as an alarm (SET). Man, that's a long way to go for SET.
• 13D: __ fit: tantrum (HISSY). Ooh, here's another great phrase to work into the conversation today. Shouldn't be too difficult with PuzzleDaughter around! (Please don't tell her I said that.)
• 18D: Pond gunk (SCUM). Ew.
• 37D: Lead-in to girl or boy (ATTA). There's always a possibility with this clue that the answer will be IT'S A so it's a good idea to wait for crosses.
• 46D: Genesis tower locale (BABEL). Also one of the most depressing movies of all time.
• 58D: Beachgoer's shade (TAN). Or, if you're like me, maybe a little pink.

Crosswordese 101: It doesn't matter whether you love, hate, or are indifferent to "The Simpsons," a few bits of trivia about the show will go a long way in your crossword-solving career. For example, it pays to know 2D: "The Simpsons" storekeeper, APU Nahasapeemapetilon, Ph.D. Fortunately, you only have to know his first name. Other tidbits about APU that might show up in clues: he is the proprieter/clerk of the Kwik-E-Mart which is known for selling something called a "Squishee"; he and his wife, Manjula, are the parents of octuplets; and he graduated first in his class of seven million at Calcutta Tech.

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

• 34A: '50s political monogram (DDE).
• 59A: Grandson of Adam (ENOS).
• 36D: River of Flanders (YSER).

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Everything Else — 1A: Green gem (JADE); 5A: Runs easily (TROTS); 10A: Ruler marking (INCH); 14A: High spot (APEX); 15A: Baton-passing event (RELAY); 16A: Delhi dress (SARI); 20A: Less than 90 degrees, anglewise (ACUTE); 21A: Baseball card data (STATS); 28A: Place for cookies (JAR); 30A: Skin: Suff. (-DERM); 31A: Air gun ammo (BB'S); 38A: Span of history (ERA); 39A: "So's __ old man!" (YER); 40A: "¿Cómo __ usted?" (ESTÁ); 41A: Horse's stride (GAIT); 43A: Gently slips past (EASES BY); 51A: Be __ model: exemplify grace in success (A ROLE); 52A: Hideous sorts (OGRES); 60A: Celtic priest of old (DRUID); 61A: Basis of an invention (IDEA); 62A: Tennis do-overs (LETS); 63A: 1,000 kilograms (TONNE); 64A: Word with ghost or boom (TOWN); 1D: Sharp punch (JAB); 3D: FDR or JFK, politically (DEM.); 4D: Wide-open space (EXPANSE); 5D: Emotional shock (TRAUMA); 6D: Hertz auto, e.g. (RENTAL); 7D: Of days gone by (OLDEN); 8D: Bar bill (TAB); 9D: Damascus' land: Abbr. (SYR.); 10D: "Lord, __?": Last Supper question (IS IT I); 11D: __ decongestant (NASAL); 12D: Greek island where Minos ruled (CRETE); 19D: G.I.'s group (U.S. ARMY); 22D: Off-color (BAWDY); 23D: Tolerate (ABIDE); 24D: Winona of "Edward Scissorhands" (RYDER); 25D: Spun CDs at a party (DJ'ED); 26D: Caustic remark (BARB); 30D: Crime lab evidence, briefly (DNA); 31D: Beauty's beloved (BEAST); 32D: Payola, e.g. (BRIBE); 33D: Mythical man-goat (SATYR); 35D: Get noticed (BE SEEN); 43D: Enter stealthily (EDGE IN); 44D: Use emery on (ABRADE); 45D: Hide's partner (SEEK); 47D: Dancer Castle (IRENE); 48D: No-show in a Beckett play (GODOT); 49D: Half-full or half-empty item (GLASS); 50D: Smudge-proof, like mascara (NO-RUN); 54D: Banned bug spray (DDT); 55D: Certain sib (BRO); 56D: Commotion (ADO); 57D: Use a Singer (SEW).

M O N D A Y AUGUST 9, 2010 Jeff Chen

Theme: Fabulus! — Theme answers are multi-word phrases where the first word ends with the letters ULUS.


Theme answers:

• 17A: Economy-boosting government program (STIMULUS PACKAGE).
• 28A: Exam with derivatives and integrals (CALCULUS TEST).
• 49A: Puffy sky feature (CUMULUS CLOUD).
• 64A: Rome's twin founders, traditionally (ROMULUS AND REMUS).

This is a really interesting puzzle to me. The theme is definitely "meh" but the fill is super smooth and it even includes a few real sparklers and some scrabbliness. Sparklers? What sparklers? Well, how about SOURPUSS (6D: One with a grumpy scowl)? Sure it's kinda old-timey, but come on. SOURPUSS? That's gold. And what about FJORD (9A: Scandinavian inlet)? FJORD offers that strange consonant collision right up front that's not just strange and consonant-heavy but Scrabbly to boot. That's 12 points right there in the first two letters if you don't play it on a multiplier square (which, of course, you do because you know better than to waste all that fire power on a measly old 1x space). And oh my gosh the Ks! So many Ks to love in this grid: KOFI, K.C. JONES, JOKESTER, RISK — I'm practically OD'ing on the wonderfulness that is the letter K.

And that's not all. I'm sure you also noticed the clever cluing bleed-over thing (which I think of as a Bob Klahn specialty):

• 4D: Cross shape (TAU).
• 5D: Bent pipe shape (ELL).


• 28D: __ of arms (COAT).
• 29D: Comrade in arms (ALLY).


• 45D: Sister (NUN).
• 47D: "Sister __": Whoopi Goldberg film (ACT).


• 66D: Dr. of rap (DRE).
• 67D: Dr.'s co-workers (RN'S).

I think there are a couple more too, though they're not as blatant.

What else should we talk about?

• 4A: Electrical pioneer Nikola (TESLA). Him again.
• 33A: Game originally named "The Conquest of the World" (RISK). I'm sure I haven't played this game in 30 years. I remember I loved it though.

• 34A: Gold or silver, e.g. (MEDAL). Well lookie here — a coupla Olympic gold medalists!
• 46A: She gets what she wants (LOLA). HAha! I got this through crosses and thought it must be a lyric from the Kinks song, but it's actually a song from the musical Damn Yankees that I've never heard before.
• 53A: Hall of Fame Celtic whose initials are his given name (K.C. JONES). I love it when sports clues are gimmes for me. It makes me feel so smart.
• 60A: Strong-jawed device (VISE). Let's see if I can spell it right today ….
• 70A: Dot on a die (PIP).


[I hear Gladys Knight is down to one pip these days. That's sad.]

• 3D: Homeless child (WAIF). This is an awesome word.

• 41D: Dunked morning snack (DOUGHNUT). It's a good thing clues don't have to be exclusive definitions. I mean, it would be a shame if you could only snack on doughnuts in the morning.
• 52D: Score before 15, in tennis (LOVE). As soon as I filled this answer in, my heart sank. I really feel like I let you down. I covered AD IN in a CW101 lesson just last week and explained the scoring convention used in tennis. But I completely forgot about LOVE! Ya know how I was feeling so smart back at 53A? Now I don't feel so smart any more. Sorry!

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 4D: Cross shape (TAU).
• 19D: Tennis legend Arthur (ASHE).
• 25D: "East of Eden" director Kazan (ELIA).
• 36D: Baseball's Felipe or Moises (ALOU).
• 65D: WWII transport (LST).
• 66D: Dr. of rap (DRE).

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Everything Else — 1A: Sound near an ineffective scarecrow (CAW); 14A: Chef's phrase (ALA); 15A: Healing plants (ALOES); 16A: Apple pie maker's device (CORER); 20A: Ex-UN chief Annan (KOFI); 21A: GPS suggestions (.); 22A: Greek vowels (ETAS); 23A: Apt name for a herding dog (SHEP); 26A: Wedgelike tools (CHISELS); 32A: __ Miss (OLE); 38A: Baldwin of "30 Rock" (ALEC); 40A: Line spoken to the audience (ASIDE); 43A: Actor's assignment (ROLE); 44A: Big name in chicken (TYSON); 48A: Wall Street index, with "the" (DOW); 56A: Spanish cat (GATO); 57A: Pakistan neighbor (IRAN); 58A: Benelux country: Abbr. (NETH.); 68A: Makes a scarf, say (KNITS); 69A: One-eighty (U-TURN); 71A: Dost lay one's eyes on (SEEST); 72A: "For __ sake!" (PETE'S); 73A: Messy place (STY); 1D: Sherry container (CASK); 2D: Choir part (ALTO); 7D: "__ we forget" (LEST); 8D: Appearance (ASPECT); 9D: TV monitoring gp. (FCC); 10D: Wisecrack maker (JOKESTER); 11D: Give a speech (ORATE); 12D: Fit for a king (REGAL); 13D: Word with sun or evening (DRESS); 18D: Catchall abbr. (MISC.); 24D: "Ben-__" (HUR); 27D: Belief: Suff. (-ISM); 30D: Wranglers alternative (LEES); 31D: Proficiency (SKILL); 35D: Knucklehead (DODO); 37D: Ribald (LEWD); 39D: Hard-shelled palm fruits (COCONUTS); 50D: List of choices (MENU); 51D: Runs out of (USES UP); 53D: Actor Douglas and baseballer Gibson (KIRKS); 54D: Witch (CRONE); 55D: Farr or Foxx (JAMIE); 59D: London's __ Britain art gallery (TATE); 61D: Rascals (IMPS); 62D: Three-piece attire, maybe (SUIT); 63D: Glimpse (ESPY).

TUESDAY, May 11, 2010 — Jeff Chen

Theme: In the Loop — Theme answers are two-word phrases with the initials CC.


Theme answers:

• 17A: Cough cause (COMMON COLD).
• 27A: Courtside coverage (COLOR COMMENTARY).
• 41A: Captain's concern (COLLISION COURSE).
• 55A: Contract clone (whose abbreviation hints at this puzzle's theme) (CARBON COPY).

Overslept this morning, so let's get right to it. A solid Tuesday offering from Mr. Chen. Did you notice that the theme clues are all CC phrases as well? Nicely done. A little bit of crosswordese here and there, which you expect in an early week puzzle, and then you come across some sparkle like DITZY and GAUDY (34A: Like a birdbrain / 40A: Flashy). Throw in LEMON LAW and CASBAH (3D: Statute that protects car buyers / 41D: Section of Algiers) and you've got yourself enough interesting fill to call this a decent puzzle. You know what's coming. And I know you know what's coming. And you know I know you know what's coming. So we're all in agreement, right? Excellent.

• 62A: Red Rose (PETE). Great clue for Charlie Hustle.
• 63A: More than chunky (OBESE). All I could think of was peanut butter. There's creamy and there's chunky and … there's something else?

• 12D: Loan shark (USURER). Have you been paying any attention to the "payday lenders'" opposition to financial reform? The guy who's leading the charge — arguing that the payday lender industry is too poor to be regulated — is absolutely and completely filthy rich. On one of his properties he even built himself a football stadium. And hosted a college football there! Really!
• 25D: Legendary female warrior (AMAZON). Also an online book retailer that I think might really take off one of these days.
• 36D: Multicountry union using the same currency (EUROZONE). Don't recall seeing this in a puzzle before.
• 55D: One with a beat (COP). And now, ladies and gentleman, your antidote to the Clash.

Crosswordese 101 round-up:

• 15A: Rod in a hot rod (AXLE).
• 20A: Ambient music pioneer Brian (ENO).
• 50D: Double-reed woodwind (OBOE).

Everything Else — 1A: Pinochle plays (MELDS); 6A: Lure (BAIT); 10A: Arced line connecting two musical notes (SLUR); 14A: Construction girder (I-BEAM); 16A: Sniffer (NOSE); 19A: School reunion attendee (ALUM); 21A: Madeline of "Blazing Saddles" (KAHN); 22A: Cathedral top (SPIRE); 23A: Not at any time, in verse (NE'ER); 25A: Flew a plane (AVIATED); 31A: Sources of fiber (BRANS); 32A: Blackens, as tuna (SEARS); 33A: Puts in stitches (SEWS); 35A: Rip (TEAR); 39A: Grand Canyon pack animal (BURRO); 46A: Consecrates with oil (ANOINTS); 47A: Germany's von Bismarck (OTTO); 48A: Police operation (STING); 49A: Central points (FOCI); 51A: Microwave (ZAP); 54A: Insect wound (BITE); 58A: Agreement from the flock (AMEN); 59A: Two-tone cookie (OREO); 60A: Office machine powder (TONER); 61A: One of a matching pair (HERS); 1D: Scampering squeakers (MICE); 2D: Black, in verse (EBON); 4D: Public works project (DAM); 5D: Camel users? (SMOKERS); 6D: "Goldberg Variations" composer (BACH); 7D: Neural transmitter (AXON); 8D: Not well (ILL); 9D: Bill's "excellent adventure" partner (TED); 10D: Be short with (SNAP AT); 11D: Nabokov nymphet (LOLITA); 13D: Cure (REMEDY); 18D: 55-Down in a bust (NARC); 22D: Breaks a commandment (SINS); 24D: Ages and ages (EONS); 26D: Quite (VERY); 27D: Its eye is on TV (CBS); 28D: Refinable rock (ORE); 29D: Egyptian god of the dead (OSIRIS); 30D: Part of MGM (METRO); 34D: Pledge target (DUST); 35D: Lacking slack (TAUT); 37D: Promos (ADS); 38D: Deli loaf (RYE); 39D: Soft-voiced Crosby (BING); 40D: Started liking, as a hobby (GOT INTO); 42D: Prompt (ON TIME); 43D: Hang around (LOITER); 44D: Tablecloths and more (LINENS); 45D: Designer Chanel (COCO); 49D: Guitar ridge (FRET); 52D: Big galoots (APES); 53D: Combustible pile (PYRE); 56D: "We __ the World" (ARE); 57D: Corn unit (COB).

MONDAY, Apr. 26, 2010 — Jeff Chen

THEME: "What?" — four theme answers have that clue; answers are all colloquial ways of asking "What?"


Theme is cute, if slightly wobbly. Obviously, answers were chosen at least in part of symmetricality, so you've got a first person pronoun in 58A: "What?" ("I BEG YOUR PARDON") but not in 20A: "What?" ("DIDN'T CATCH THAT"), despite the fact that the reverse would sound more natural — people say "BEG YOUR PARDON" all the time without the "I" in front, "DIDN'T CATCH THAT" less so. Also, "SAY AGAIN" (45A: "What?") is not a familiar phrase to me, though it was highly inferrable. The phrase, as I know it, is "COME AGAIN?" But again, "COME AGAIN" would screw up your rotational symmetry with "EXCUSE ME" (32A: "What?"). This is what I mean by "wobbly" — the actual answers make me think of different, good answers that weren't used and better ways of phrasing answers that were. Still, it all seems tight enough for an LAT Monday. Also, the overall fill is super solid, especially for a grid with a tone of 4-letter words. Not once did I wince or think "ugh." Oh, wait, I didn't see ESME (70A: Salinger heroine). That one I could do without. And there's a smattering of crosswordese here and there, but only a smattering, and an inoffensive smattering at that. I don't enjoy doing Roman numeral division in the middle of my solve (66A: CC ÷ XXV => VIII), but with GROOVY (49D: Old-fashioned "Cool!") as one of the crosses on that answer, the enjoyment factor returned.

[XENA!? (33D: TV warrior princess)]
Crosswordese 101: NEVE Campbell (42A: Actress Campbell) — there is exactly one viable crossword NEVE: NEVE Campbell. She was pretty famous, seems like, oh, a decade ago, as a cast member of the FOX series "Party of Five" (1994-2000) and then, making out with Denise Richards, in "Wild Things" (1998). I have no idea what she's been doing lately, though she appears to have been a guest voice on "The Simpsons" just last year.

What else?

• 5D: Hostess offerings (CUPCAKES) — clues like this can make a huge difference (relatively speaking) in my solving times. Couldn't just throw it down, even with a couple crosses in place, because "Hostess" was ambiguous (I, of course, though it referred to someone hosting a party ... which, I suppose, it could, if the party in question was a child's birthday party — I think it's safe to say that "Hostess" here is the snack cake company).
• 41D: Book report, e.g. (SYNOPSIS) — again, slowed down by a long Down. Had the SYN- and started thinking "are 'book' and 'report' SYNONYMS of one another ...?" No. Overthinking it. "O" in ORBITS got me back on track.
• 44D: Edith, to Archie (DINGBAT) — aargh. Had the DING- and was surprised when DINGIE wouldn't fit. Not surprisingly, I was confusing my abusive overweight 70s sitcom characters — Mel called Vera "DINGIE" ("DINGY?" "DINGHY?") while Archie called Edith "DINGBAT."

See you Friday,

~RP

[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter]

Everything Else — 1A: Life histories, briefly (BIOS); 5A: Atkins diet concern (CARB); 9A: Bogus (FALSE); 14A: Drub in a game (ROUT); 15A: Exploitative type (USER); 16A: Author Zola (EMILE); 17A: Not in favor (ANTI); 18A: Italian tower site (PISA); 19A: Corrective eye surgery (LASIK); 20A: "What?" ("DIDN'T CATCH THAT"); 23A: Nova __ (SCOTIA); 24A: Gentleman's offering on a crowded train, perhaps (SEAT); 25A: Scratch (out), as a living (EKE); 27A: Reason to grab a tissue (SNIFFLE); 32A: "What?" ("EXCUSE ME?"); 37A: Lost color (PALED); 38A: Watered-down (WEAK); 39A: Hangs ten, say (SURFS); 42A: Actress Campbell (NEVE); 43A: Finished (ENDED); 45A: "What?" ("SAY AGAIN?"); 47A: Back-talking (SASSING); 50A: Big bang producer (TNT); 51A: One running in a pusher, for short (NARC); 53A: Circles the Earth (ORBITS); 58A: "What?" ("I BEG YOUR PARDON"); 62A: Toothbrush company (ORAL-B); 63A: Metallurgist's raw materials (ORES); 64A: Choir voice (ALTO); 65A: Modeling wood (BALSA); 66A: CC ÷ XXV (VIII); 67A: Swerve (VEER); 68A: Shoreline irregularity (INLET); 69A: Hankerings (YENS); 70A: Salinger heroine (ESME); 1D: Thin nails (BRADS); 2D: Architectural order (IONIC); 3D: One-up (OUTDO); 4D: Stretch in the service (STINT); 5D: Hostess offerings (CUPCAKES); 6D: Continent crossed by Marco Polo (ASIA); 7D: Score silence symbols (RESTS); 8D: Sources of teen angst, dentally (BRACES); 9D: Sharpie feature (FELT TIP); 10D: Asian nurse (AMAH); 11D: Edelstein of "House" (LISA); 12D: Use a letter opener on (SLIT); 13D: Scared comics cry (EEK); 21D: Connections (TIES); 22D: Solo of "Star Wars" (HAN); 26D: Cousin of an ostrich (EMU); 28D: Vampire tooth (FANG); 29D: Insect in a circus (FLEA); 30D: First name in jeans (LEVI); 31D: First family's home? (EDEN); 32D: Rams' ma'ams (EWES); 33D: TV warrior princess (XENA); 34D: No-goodniks (CADS); 35D: Hawaiian strings (UKES); 36D: Hosp. areas (ERS); 40D: Sprat's taboo (FAT); 41D: Book report, e.g. (SYNOPSIS); 44D: Edith, to Archie (DINGBAT); 46D: Gillette razor brand (ATRA); 48D: Aye's opposite (NAY); 49D: Old-fashioned "Cool!" ("GROOVY!"); 52D: Radium co-discoverer (CURIE); 54D: Atlanta athlete (BRAVE); 55D: Dawdles (IDLES); 56D: Symbol on a pole (TOTEM); 57D: Source of spousal angst, nocturnally (SNORE); 58D: Persia, nowadays (IRAN); 59D: Formal dance (BALL); 60D: Apart from this (ELSE); 61D: Jockey strap (REIN); 62D: Kimono sash (OBI).

THURSDAY, March 25, 2010 — Jeff Chen

Theme: "Fore!" — Say the theme clues out loud and pretend the homophone of what you say is the clue.

Theme answers:

• 20A: CCCC? [foresees] (TELLS THE FUTURE).
• 39A: AAAA? [forays] (MILITARY ATTACKS).
• 56A: TTTT? [forties] (CHILLY FORECAST).

I really enjoyed this puzzle. I thought the cluing was tricky but not too tricky and I had several missteps and "but but but …" moments. We didn't see much in the way of theme density today, but I think the rest of the puzzle makes up for it. Oh, and I love a bunch of the epithets in both the clues and answers:

• 5A: Dishonorable types (CADS).
• 24A: Yokel (RUBE).
• 63A: Big jerks (BOZOS).

Missteps:

• 9A: Gets off the road, in a way (PLOWS). Me: "Why won't tows fit? Why the h**l won't tows FIT?"
• 49A: Deli option (TUNA). Wanted the more common rye here.
• 22D: Wolf pack member (U-BOAT). Was thinking Boy Scouts.
• 28D: At an impasse, as the Senate (DEADLOCKED). Entered gridlocked without too much hesitation.

Couple more things:

• 3D: Prepared to speak to a tot, maybe (KNELT). Seems like a fresh clue to me. I think we get the "marriage proposal" clue too often.
• 8D: Messy situation (SNAFU). We've talked about this recently, haven't we? "Situation Normal All Fouled [or choose another f-word] UP."

• 32D: Trans-Siberian Railroad city (OMSK). Any of those cities that end in SK remind me of Seinfeld's "Rochelle, Rochelle."
• 41D: España feature (TILDE). You weren't tricked by this, right? Tell me you weren't tricked by this!
• 25A: Bird was one, briefly (CELT). And finally, if you were a basketball fan in the 80s, do yourself a favor and find some way to watch the new HBO special "Magic and Bird: A Courtship of Rivals." We happened to catch it at the hotel last weekend and it's outstanding.

Crosswordese 101: The clue for today's CW101 word — 34D: Banned apple spray — is typical. If you see the words banned, bygone, or controversial having to do with an apple, orchard, of fruit spray, you can be certain you're looking at ALAR. The word is sometimes — but rarely — also clued as "winged" or "wing-shaped."

Everything Else — 1A: Torah holders (ARKS); 14A: Spear or pepper follower (-MINT); 15A: End of grace (AMEN); 16A: Sound portion (AUDIO); 17A: On the briny (ASEA); 18A: Pro __ (RATA); 19A: Spills carelessly (SLOPS); 23A: Amount consumed (INTAKE); 27A: Hemingway's Santiago, in the story's title (OLD MAN); 32A: Pontificate (ORATE); 35A: Jessica of "Good Luck Chuck" (ALBA); 38A: Relieve (EASE); 42A: "Get outta here!" ("SCAT!"); 43A: Coward of the stage (NOEL); 44A: Clarifying words (ID EST); 45A: Inchon native (KOREAN); 47A: "__ never work!" (IT'LL); 52A: Hunk (ADONIS); 60A: Santa __: Silicon Valley city (CLARA); 61A: Fuzz (LINT); 62A: DEA agent's discovery (KILO); 64A: Ocean predator (ORCA); 65A: Penultimate fairy tale word (EVER); 66A: Used up (SPENT); 67A: __-do-well (NE'ER); 68A: Information __ (DESK); 1D: Valuable violin (AMATI); 2D: Like baked dough (RISEN); 4D: Overhead projection? (STALACTITE); 5D: Monopoly (CARTEL); 6D: Eastern nurse (AMAH); 7D: Discourage (DETER); 9D: Many a Matisse (PASTEL); 10D: Doozy (LULU); 11D: It's added to natural gas (ODOR); 12D: Use a rag on (WIPE); 13D: Coast Guard pickup (SOS); 21D: Olympic event since 1968 (SKEET); 26D: Poi essential (TARO); 29D: Medieval club (MACE); 30D: More than wonders (ASKS); 31D: Egg site (NEST); 33D: Moneyed, in Madrid (RICO); 36D: Soap ingredient (LYE); 37D: Indonesian island (BALI); 40D: Invalidate (ANNUL); 46D: "Finally!" ("AT LAST!"); 48D: __ sauce: seafood serving (TARTAR); 50D: Polymer introduced by DuPont in 1938 (NYLON); 51D: Blazing (AFIRE); 53D: Like a babe in the woods (NAIVE); 54D: British __ (ISLES); 55D: Childbirth symbol (STORK); 56D: Equine sound (CLOP); 57D: Smog, e.g. (HAZE); 58D: Make smooth, in a way (IRON); 59D: Fairy tale opener (ONCE); 60D: Items used by good buddies (CBS).

MONDAY, Mar. 1, 2010 — Jeff Chen

THEME: FALL (57D: Drop down, and apt word that can follow the last words of 4-, 8-, 15- and 28-Down) — four (vertical!) theme answers "FALL" down the grid, while a bonus theme answer (EDEN) lurks (symmetrically!) in the far NE


Very enjoyable puzzle. Soooo weird that the LAT and NYT both ran puzzles with vertical theme answers (a rarity) on the same day. And a Monday at that. That's the last day you suspect to see shenanigans. So I'm having a great solving day so far, as both daily puzzles were unexpected and entertaining. This one's more conservative, but also cleaner in terms of fill. I appreciate the virtues of both. Hell, I'm just glad to know that there's apparently a market for puzzles with vertical theme answers, since I've got one burning a hole in my pocket right now. That's probably not the right metaphor, but whatever. I'm going to submit the puzzle this week. We'll see where (if anywhere) it ends up. But back to this one — the verticality of the theme answers gives it the oomph it needs to go from "meh" (yet another "Word that can follow..." theme) to good. Solid. In fact, as good an early-week puzzle as I've seen in the LAT.

Theme answers:

• 4D: "Cutting to the chase..." ("LONG STORY SHORT...") — great answer (first and only prior use that I can find is by one Mr. Doug Peterson)
• 28D: Like here-today-gone-tomorrow businesses (FLY-BY-NIGHT)
• 8D: "The Price Is Right" signature phrase ("COME ON DOWN!") — this just makes me sad for Drew Carey.
• 15D: Going nowhere (DEAD IN THE WATER) — another lively colloquial expression.

Aside from the long stuff, my favorite answers of the day has to be THWACK! Had the "TH-" and saw the clue — 53A: Hit with a paddle — and thought "... no. Can it be?" Wrote in THWACK, and THWACK! It was right. For some reason I like that THWACK THWACKs CUPID (55D: Deity with a bow and arrow) in the head (after which, presumably, he then KEELS over) (56D: Topples (over)).

["Shooting Cupid," Voice of the Beehive, 1990]
For a puzzle that fell in only a little over 3 minutes, this one held a lot of minor obstacles for me. I instinctively went for ENMESH over ENGAGE (48D: Interlock, as gear), and then, when I got that fixed, dropped in GABON instead of GHANA (68A: Ivory Coast neighbor) (GABON is close, but not adjacent, to Ivory Coast). Also initially went with BRAY over BAWL (45A: Wail) and SESTET over STANZA (9D: Poem part).

Crosswordese 101: AGAVE (54D: Tequila source) — 60% vowels, alternating vowel-consonant structure ... all the ingredients of a five-letter repeater. AGAVE is the new(ish) "natural" sweetener of "healthy" products (I use "scare quotes" because, for the most part, health-wise, sugar is sugar is sugar). Yesterday in the grocery store, this poor guy who'd been sent to the store with a list from the cook (presumably his wife) had no idea how to find many of the listed products. We found him in the Asian food section, trying to find soba noodles. Once my wife helped him, he then asked, plaintively, if we had any idea where he could find AGAVE syrup. Wife pointed him in direction of sugar alternatives in the "health" section, and wished him good luck.

What else?

• 5A: Plastic clog footwear brand (CROCS) — I think they're based in Colorado. CROCS has a huge display / store in at least one of the concourses at the Denver Airport.
• 30D: In the buff (BARE) / 33D: Buttocks, in slang (TUSH) — these go nicely with THWACK, I think. You know who's in danger of having a BARE TUSH? The guy with his Pants on the Ground!

~RP

[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter]

Everything Else — 1A: Word-of-mouth (ORAL); 5A: Plastic clog footwear brand (CROCS); 10A: Before: Pref. (PRE-); 13A: Quash, as a bill (VETO); 14A: Fathered (BEGOT); 15A: Monopoly card with a mortgage value (DEED); 16A: Mary Kay rival (AVON); 17A: Alabama march city (SELMA); 18A: Sea eagle (ERNE); 19A: Breathing organs (LUNGS); 21A: Finely sharpened (KEEN); 22A: Long, long time (AEON); 23A: Playground piece that has its ups and downs (SEE-SAW); 25A: Caught 40 winks (DOZED); 27A: Relieved end-of-the-week cry (TGIF); 29A: Country west of Botswana (NAMIBIA); 33A: Jackson 5 brother (TITO); 36A: Musher's transport (SLED); 38A: Traffic tangle (SNARL); 39A: Cold War empire: Abbr. (USSR); 40A: Compulsive fire starters, informally (PYROS); 42A: Lobster catcher (TRAP); 43A: Has (an audience) rolling in the aisles (SLAYS); 45A: Wail (BAWL); 46A: Coop group (HENS); 47A: Provider of kisses? (HERSHEY); 49A: Cyrano had a big one (NOSE); 51A: Reddish-orange dye (HENNA); 53A: Hit with a paddle (THWACK); 57A: Stereotypical dog name (FIDO); 60A: __ the lily: overembellish (GILD); 62A: International Court of Justice site, with "The" (HAGUE); 63A: Allege as fact (AVER); 64A: Radiant (AGLOW); 66A: Word after duct or ticker (TAPE); 67A: Time for fasting (LENT); 68A: Ivory Coast neighbor (GHANA); 69A: Bad to the bone (EVIL); 70A: D-Day craft (LST); 71A: Early anesthetic (ETHER); 72A: Cincinnati team (REDS); 1D: Egg shapes (OVALS); 2D: Variety show (REVUE); 3D: Make amends (for) (ATONE); 4D: "Cutting to the chase ..." (LONG STORY SHORT); 5D: "The Amazing Race" network (CBS); 6D: Smell really bad (REEK); 7D: Leered at (OGLED); 8D: "The Price Is Right" signature phrase (COME ON DOWN); 9D: Poem part (STANZA); 10D: Pierre's pop (PÈRE); 11D: "The Biggest Little City in the World" (RENO); 12D: Notable 57-Down site (EDEN); 15D: Going nowhere (DEAD IN THE WATER); 20D: Drop in the middle (SAG); 24D: Thin smoke trail (WISP); 26D: There are three in "mommy" (EMS); 28D: Like here-today-gone-tomorrow businesses (FLY-BY-NIGHT); 30D: In the buff (BARE); 31D: Shah's land, once (IRAN); 32D: Swiss peaks (ALPS); 33D: Buttocks, in slang (TUSH); 34D: Bermuda, e.g. (ISLE); 35D: Old Russian despot (TSAR); 37D: Pitching stat (ERA); 41D: 11-Down machine (SLOT); 44D: Ship, to its captain (SHE); 48D: Interlock, as gears (ENGAGE); 50D: "Quiet!" ("SHH!"); 52D: Koran deity (ALLAH); 54D: Tequila source (AGAVE); 55D: Deity with a bow and arrow (CUPID); 56D: Topples (over) (KEELS); 57D: Drop down, and apt word that can follow the last words of 4-, 8-, 15- and 28-Down (FALL); 58D: Singer Burl (IVES); 59D: Fender ding (DENT); 61D: Finished (DONE); 65D: Original Cabinet department renamed Defense in 1949 (WAR).