03.25 Fri

F R I D A Y
March 25, 2011
John Lampkin

Theme: Half-Baked Ideas — Theme answers are familiar phrases that begin with a repeated first word, but the repeated word is only used once.

Theme answers:

• 17A: 61-Across Asian appetizer? (PU PLATTER).
• 21A: 61-Across cheer? (HIP HOORAY).
• 37A: 61-Across musical? (BYE BIRDIE).
• 55A: 61-Across gag? (KNOCK JOKE).
• 61A: Not well thought out (HALF-BAKED).

Wow. Really, really enjoyed this puzzle! Great theme, tricky cluing, lively fill — this puzzle has it all. I had trouble in two areas. In the southwest corner I wouldn't let go of DER for 50A: Hamburger's article, but the correct answer is EIN. I think I was just excited about the opportunity to post a picture of Kevin Der again, which is what I do every time the word DER appears in the puzzle. In fact, just last weekend at the ACPT I told Kevin about how I do that. He doesn't read the blog so he didn't know. Ha! Well now that I've talked about him for so long, I'll go ahead and use his picture. Should I use the same one I've been using all along from two years ago or should I update to the one I just took this past weekend? Decisions, decision!

Anyway, the other place I had trouble was in the Texas area because I had MANTA where SKATE was supposed to go (53D: Ray in the sea), leading me to believe the reveal answer would be ONE-something, which seemed totally reasonable. I also had MONITER for MONIKER (43D: Handle) even though it kinda seemed like it was spelled wrong. I figured it all out eventually and must say I enjoyed the challenge.

PuzzleSon was "helping" me with this puzzle and when he saw KNOCK JOKE he goes, "But those aren't even funny." Ha! Unfortunately, I spent a lot of time last night on my ACPT recap (scroll down to the next post to read it) so I'm pretty much out of time. I'll just hit the highlights real quick and then I'm off to work.

Bullets:

• 19A: Class figs. (PROFS.). Wanted this to be something to do with numbers, like GPA or something.

• 29A: Select, in a way (SCREEN). Remember back in the old days when you SCREENed your calls by listening to the answering machine? Or waaaay back when SCREENing your calls wasn't even possible?!
• 36A: Ballet __ (RUSSE). I don't believe I've ever heard this phrase and I don't know what it means.
• 67A: Fishhook connector (SNELL). Don't know this one either.
• 69A: Highland tongue (ERSE). We've covered ERSE in Crosswordese 101 in the past.

• 5D: Square on the table? (PAT). Not the proverbial square meal, but the literal square PAT of butter.
• 9D: Chow chow (ALPO). Food (sometimes called chow) for a dog (which might be the type of dog known as a chow).
• 31D: Nice street (RUE). The first word of this clue refers to the French city of Nice. And the French word for "street" is RUE. We talked about this cluing trick back in the Crosswordese 101 entry for ÉTÉ.
• 40D: Title savant in a 1988 Oscar-winning film (RAINMAN). I'm an excellent driver.
• 63D: Danish capital? (DEE). Another tricky clue that we've covered in Crosswordese 101.

[Follow PuzzleGirl on Twitter.]

Everything Else — 1A: Work on a batter (STIR); 5A: Grandly appointed (POSH); 9A: Stand for (ABIDE); 14A: Strong-spined volume (TOME); 15A: Forte (AREA); 16A: "I __ Piano": Irving Berlin hit (LOVE A); 20A: Bleak (GRIM); 23A: Spine movement? (SHIVER); 25A: Code-cracking gp. (NSA); 26A: Chatspeak qualifier (IMO); 27A: Batter's supply (PINE TAR); 32A: "Then again ..." ("YET …"); 33A: Doglike carnivore (HYENA); 39A: Ashes, e.g. (TREES); 42A: Geometry basic (AXIOM); 43A: Animal's gullet (MAW); 46A: Personally give (HAND TO); 48A: Meadow bloomer in the buttercup family (ANEMONE); 51A: A.L. rival of N.Y. (BOS); 54A: Flashes (GLINTS); 59A: Seed coating (ARIL); 60A: Inspire profoundly (IMBUE); 64A: Great Lakes explorer La __ (SALLE); 65A: Convenient abbr. (ET AL.); 66A: "Pretty Woman" actor (GERE); 68A: Disallow (DENY); 1D: Letters at Indy (STP); 2D: Head-scratcher (TOUGHIE); 3D: Fossil indentation (IMPRINT); 4D: Be haunted by, perhaps (RELIVE); 6D: Sports MD's specialty (ORTH.); 7D: Greet warmly (SEE IN); 8D: Dwells incessantly (on) (HARPS); 10D: Town name ending (BORO); 11D: They don't laugh when they're tickled (IVORIES); 12D: Discredits (DEFAMES); 13D: Hardly a head-scratcher (EASY ONE); 18D: Purple hue (AMETHYST); 22D: Eats (HAS); 23D: Code user (SPY); 24D: Comedic actress Martha (RAYE); 28D: 1988 self-titled C&W album (REBA); 30D: FBI facility since 1932 (CRIME LAB); 34D: Disallow (NIX); 35D: Diva's moment (ARIA); 37D: Daffodils' digs (BED); 38D: Bell sound (DONG); 39D: 1889 work of art deemed unsuitable for general display at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair (THE KISS); 41D: Dignify (ENNOBLE); 44D: Pair in a rack (ANTLERS); 45D: Horror filmmaker Craven (WES); 47D: Gram. case (OBJ.); 49D: Illusion (MIRAGE); 52D: Gasped in delight (OOHED); 56D: Select (CULL); 57D: Sailing stabilizer (KEEL); 58D: Vigorous style (ELAN); 62D: Annoying buzzer (FLY).

03.16 Wed

W E D N E S D A Y
March 16, 2011
John Lampkin

Theme: Thinking Happy Thoughts — Theme answers are words that follows the word "positive" in familiar phrases.

Theme answers:

• 17A: *Survey response (FEEDBACK).
• 21A: *Trying to remember (THINKING).
• 26A: *Prospects (OUTLOOK).
• 48A: *Disposition (MINDSET).
• 55A: *Cocky manner (ATTITUDE).
• 63A: Word (suggested by the black shape in this grid's center) that can precede the answers to starred clues (POSITIVE).

I didn't catch onto the theme while I was solving, because I didn't get to the reveal until the end. Then I thought, "Okay, that's good." Then later when I was looking it over to do this write-up it occurred to me that POSITIVE THINKING, POSITIVE OUTLOOK, POSITIVE MINDSET, and POSITIVE ATTITUDE are all pretty closely related while POSITIVE FEEDBACK … isn't. But, you know what? I'm just going to stay POSITIVE today so I guess the puzzle rubbed off on me.

[Hey, that's Mr. Noodle!]
You know what you can expect from a John Lampkin puzzle? Music and nature, that's what. I had to piece together the first two musical entries, but didn't have any trouble with the staccato music notation:

• 53A: Beethoven's only opera (FIDELIO).
• 30D: 19th-century Italian violin virtuoso (PAGANINI).
• 49D: Like staccato notes (DOTTED).

And, as for nature, it's all for the birds today:

• 16A: Bird that hangs its nest from a branch (ORIOLE).
• 60D: Brutus' bird (AVIS).
• 61D: Eat like a bird (PECK).

As you may know, in addition to puzzles, John is interested in music and nature photography. In fact, that oriole over there? Yeah, John sent me that picture to use with the blog. If he hadn't sent it, you probably would have gotten Cal Ripken, so everybody say "Thank you, John!" (Not that there's anything wrong with Cal Ripken. Oh what the hell, here's Cal anyway.)

Bullets:

• 20A: Juliet's volatile cousin (TYBALT). You'd think this would be easy for me, being that I majored in English and all. Well, you'd be wrong. I misspelled it TYBALD. D'oh!
• 34A: Know-it-all (SMARTIE). Great word. When I got the SMART part in there, I wondered for a minute if we might be headed in a different — less appropriate — direction.
• 40A: Push-up sound, perhaps (GRUNT). See also 46A: Push-up garment (BRA). Two totally different kinds of push-ups.
• 5D: "Not to worry" ("THAT'S OK"). I'm a fan of the colloquial phrase!
• 6D: Cristal maker (BIC). For some reason I thought this was alcohol-related. But I guess a "Cristal" is a type of pen. Huh.
• 8D: Best-seller (HOT ITEM). Another sparkly entry.
• 9D: Age opening? (IRON). The word IRON "opens" for the word "Age" in the phrase "IRON Age."

• 11D: Like a rock (SOLID). Okay, the first song I thought of was Ashford & Simpson's "Solid as a Rock," but that song is, well, I liked it in the 80s but it doesn't seem to have aged very well. Then there's Bob Seger's "Like a Rock," but that got all commercialized a while back. So I just happened to come across an awesome cover of Paul Simon's "Loves Me Like a Rock" on YouTube that I've never seen before, but it's not embeddable. Here's a link if you want to head over to YouTube to see it. It's pretty funky.
• 18D: "SportsCenter's Not Top Plays" videos, e.g. (BLOOPERS). Oh man. So hard to decide which BLOOPER to include. I think I'll have to go with a classic.

Crosswordese 101: There's not too much you need to know about ELENI for crossword puzzles. It's always clued as a Nicholas Gage book/memoir/best seller or as a 1985 John Malkovich/Kate Nelligan movie directed by Peter Yates.

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

• 24D: Pre-op test (EKG).
• 26D: Play-of-color gem (OPAL).
• 27D: Forearm bone (ULNA).
• 37D: Pierre's state (ÉTAT).

[Follow PuzzleGirl on Twitter.]

Everything Else — 1A: Inedible Swiss cheese part? (HOLE); 5A: Sched. uncertainty letters (TBA); 8A: Greets the bad guy (HISSES); 14A: Bard's black (EBON); 15A: "__ Latest Flame": Presley hit (HIS); 19A: Rang (TOLLED); 23A: Suffer defeat (LOSE OUT); 25A: Cubic roller (DIE); 29A: Cartoon skunk Le Pew (PEPÉ); 32A: Mideast political gp. (PLO); 33A: UPS delivery (PKG.); 38A: "Tomorrow" musical (ANNIE); 41A: Longtime Dodgers manager (LASORDA); 44A: Org. with shrinks (APA); 47A: Software buyer (USER); 50A: Chinese menu general (TSO); 58A: Draw into wrongdoing (ENTRAP); 62A: __ Tomatoes: film review website (ROTTEN); 65A: "Wait!" ("ONE SEC!"); 66A: Calendar col. (THU.); 67A: Weighty production (EPIC); 68A: Oppressive boss (TYRANT); 69A: Short flight (HOP); 70A: Cubicle furnishing (DESK); 1D: Test the weight of (HEFT); 2D: Carry out (OBEY); 3D: Leopold's co-defendant (LOEB); 4D: Ultimate goal (END-ALL); 7D: Mail an invitation for, as a wedding (ASK TO); 10D: Hairlike corn feature (SILK); 12D: Nicholas Gage memoir (ELENI); 13D: Rushlike plant (SEDGE); 22D: Marching syllables (HUPS); 28D: Lots (TONS); 31D: Commit 18-Down (ERR); 35D: Old boats (TUBS); 36D: Memo "apropos of" (IN RE); 39D: Paper in a pot (IOU); 42D: Gone (DEFUNCT); 43D: Bone-dry (ARID); 44D: Pierre's soul (AME); 45D: More than fills the inbox (PILES UP); 50D: Medium's medium (TAROT); 51D: Expressionless (STONY); 52D: Playful swimmer (OTTER); 54D: Diver's concern (DEPTH); 56D: "__ girl!" (IT'S A); 57D: Former girls' magazine (TEEN); 59D: Ready to eat (RIPE); 64D: "Now I get it!" ("OHO!").

03.06

S U N D A Y
March 6, 2011
John Lampkin

[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: "Adducational TV" — Extra letters are added to the titles of TV shows, yielding wacky results.

Theme Entries:

• 25A: Documentary about a Ravi Shankar concert? (SITAR TREK).
• 27A: Sitcom about an endearing dimwit? (LOVE THAT BOOB).
• 43A: Show about a nonsensical grain grinder? (BLARNEY MILLER).
• 70A: Drama about an opinionated military? (JUDGING ARMY).
• 100A: Talk show about words like "zeppelin" and "dirigible"? (THE FLYING NOUN).
• 119A: Sitcom about a team of aromatherapists? (THE MOOD SQUAD).
• 122A: Financial show about the fermented honey market? (MEAD MONEY).
• 39D: Drama about an Asian virus? (KUNG FLU).
• 63D: Drama about an obnoxious superhero? (BRATMAN).

Hey, everybody. Doug here, back in the Sunday saddle. I hope you enjoyed last week's fantastic Oscar-themed write-up by Brad Wilber. Thanks again, Brad! Today's constructor John Lampkin keeps the Hollywood vibe going with a nice television-based theme. Which of these shows would you be most likely to watch? I'd probably catch a few episodes of THE FLYING NOUN. And maybe BLARNEY MILLER. Who could resist the antics of a nonsensical grain grinder? Wasn't that an actual show? I think it was a "Perfect Strangers" spin-off starring Balki's zany uncle from the old country.

Bullets:

• 19A: Bellow's "The Adventures of ___ March" (AUGIE). I'm more familiar with Augie Doggie than Augie March. That might explain why I flamed out during February's "Literary Month" at Matt Gaffney's Weekly Crossword Contest.

• 27A: Sitcom about an endearing dimwit? (LOVE THAT BOOB). How many of you know or remember the show "Love That Bob"? Not me. Wikipedia tells me that "Love That Bob" was an alternate title for "The Bob Cummings Show," which ran from 1955 to 1959. Coulda fooled me. Bob Cummings later starred in a show called "My Living Doll" with Julie Newmar (best Catwoman ever!) who played a life-like android named Rhoda. Where do I get the DVDs?

• 64A: Symbol on the film poster for Eastwood's "Hang 'Em High" (NOOSE). I love this clue. Ordinarily NOOSE isn't the most pleasant word to see in the grid. Props to John & Rich for finding a way to make nooses interesting and non-gruesome.
• 92A: "Mayor" author (KOCH). If I remember correctly, PuzzleGirl used to live in the same apartment building as Ed Koch. And I know for sure that Jerry Orbach lived there too. So cool! I live in Southern California, but I don't run into too many celebrities. I once saw Lou Diamond Phillips at a Wienerschnitzel. Does that count?
• 111A: Attending USC, e.g. (IN L.A.) One of my least favorite recurring crossword entries. It used to be clued exclusively as part of the title of the 1985 movie "To Live and Die in L.A." Not a great entry, but acceptable. For some reason it's migrated away from the movie title to become a standalone entry. Wouldn't you wince at seeing INSF ("Riding the BART, say") or INNYC ("Watching a game at MSG, e.g.")? To me, those two are no worse than INLA.

• 1D: "Straight Up" singer Abdul (PAULA). Her career peaked when she did that fabulous duet with MC Skat Kat. It's been all downhill ever since.
• 16D: Inner tube shapes (TORI). Yeah, I suppose Tori Spelling looks a little bit like an inner tube.
• 53D: Old-timey words of emphasis (BY CRACKY). Awesome entry! And so much fun to say. "That was a dang fine puzzle in the paper today, by cracky."
• 74D: Last Olds made (ALERO). The last ALERO rolled off the assembly line in 2004, but it'll drive on in crossword grids forever.
• 91D: Gossip (SCHMOOZE). Another super entry. I wonder if anyone's ever used SCHMOOZE & BY CRACKY in the same sentence.
• 93D: Longtime New Yorker cartoonist Roz (CHAST). Ms. Chast will be appearing at the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament in Brooklyn in a couple of weeks. She's going to be handing out trophies at the awards banquet and doing a few impromptu sketches of Dan Feyer, Tyler Hinman, etc. (I made up that last part.) I'll be at the ACPT and so will PuzzleGirl. In fact, you can rub elbows with many of your favorite crossword luminaries there. And they're all super-nice. Seriously. So I'll see you there!

02.22 Tue

T U E S D A Y
February 22, 2011
John Lampkin

Theme: Fooded Things — Verbs based on words that can be words for food are used to describe random things. In the past tense. (What am I missing?)

Theme answers:

• 20A: Arborist's handiwork (PRUNED TREE).
• 26A: Windshield nuisance (SQUASHED BUGS).
• 44A: Result of an errant brushback pitch (BEANED BATTER).
• 55A: Deli sandwich filler (CORNED BEEF).

Can't say this theme did anything for me except cause me to ask a lot of questions. For example, why? And what? Also huh? Yes, I get it. The first word of each theme answer is a word that can be a type of food. But the phrase itself is just … random. Except for the last one. Yes, trees can be pruned; that doesn't mean that PRUNED TREE is a good phrase. Yes, bugs can be (and frequently are) squashed. Is SQUASHED BUGS a phrase people use? I suppose it might be. A batter might get beaned by an "errant brushback pitch" but in what circumstance would someone ever use the phrase BEANED BATTER? Then there's CORNED BEEF. Perfectly legitimate phrase all on its own. I've never really thought about what the CORNED part means — turns out it has to do with salt curing — so to me this answer also stood apart from the rest because I couldn't picture corning the way I can picture pruning, squashing, and beaning. So. Yeah. That's what I think of the theme.

I always feel bad when I start out negative like that. You know what I'm gonna need to turn this write-up around? A really, really awesome entry. Like … maybe, HIFAULTIN?! Yes that should do it! What a great word. Love seeing it in the puzzle. Other highlights for me include:

• 35A: Older woman's young lover, facetiously (BOY TOY).
• 8D: "Jeez Louise!" ("SHEESH!").
• 42D: Hack's service (CAB RIDE).
• 45D: One taking bets (BOOKIE).

Bullets:

• 5A: Go badly together (CLASH). Great clue.
• 18A: Time __ time: repeatedly (AFTER).



• 42A: Monopoly token (CAR). I think we've over this before here at LACC. Or maybe it was over at Rex's. It's not a CAR, it's a racecar. Similarly, there is not HAT token, it's a tophat. Says PuzzleGirl.
• 48A: Out of use, as words: Abbr. (OBS.). OBSolete.

• 53A: World dodo population (ZERO). I don't know if it was the "dodo" or the Z or what, but this one made me laugh.
• 59A: Pier gp. (ILWU). International Longshore and Warehouse Union.
• 7D: Helen Hunt or Holly Hunter, e.g. (ACTRESS WITH THE INITIALS HH).
• 21D: ABA member's title (ESQ.). Members of the American Bar Association are attorneys, who for some reasons are allowed to put "Esq." after their names.

• 50D: Yo-Yo Ma's instrument (CELLO). A friend from my childhood randomly posted on Facebook this picture of me playing the cello in 5th grade. For me, it's a cool picture in and of itself, but the really crazy part is that several people that know me literally thought this was a picture of PuzzleDaughter and not me.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 25A: Shocking swimmer (EEL).
• 47A: HDTV brand (RCA).
• 60A: Religious recess (APSE).
• 32D: Siouan tribe (OTOE).

[Follow PuzzleGirl on Twitter.]

Everything Else — 1A: Raise, as produce (GROW); 10A: Stylish (CHIC); 14A: Instant, in product names (REDI); 15A: Madre's milk (LECHE); 16A: Bride's ride (LIMO); 17A: Busy, busy, busy (AT IT); 19A: "The Wizard __": comic strip (OF ID); 22A: All there (SANE); 23A: Development developments (HOMES); 24A: Jazz guitarist Montgomery (WES); 31A: Average guys (JOES); 34A: H.S. elite (SRS.); 36A: Place to make deposits, briefly (ATM); 37A: Bouquet delivery letters (FTD); 38A: Dream letters (REM); 39A: Novelist Fleming (IAN); 40A: Alabama's only seaport (MOBILE); 43A: Chip in a pot, maybe (ANTE); 49A: Chip in a bowl (NACHO); 57A: Blue book filler (EXAM); 58A: Dust Bowl refugees (OKIES); 61A: Center (MIDST); 62A: Amber brews (ALES); 63A: Dieter's goal (LOSS); 64A: Care for (SEE TO); 65A: Branching point (NODE); 1D: Boardroom diagram (GRAPH); 2D: Fashionably dated (RETRO); 3D: Intense dislike (ODIUM); 4D: One sitting on the stand (WITNESS); 5D: Attired (CLAD); 6D: How liberals lean (LEFTWARD); 9D: Not there (HERE); 10D: Quite near (CLOSE BY); 11D: Pretentious, informally (HIFALUTIN); 12D: Chip-tossing declaration (I'M IN); 13D: Programmers' writing (CODE); 25D: Ancient kingdom near the Dead Sea (EDOM); 27D: You, in Yucatán (USTED); 28D: Longtime "At the Movies" co-host Roger (EBERT); 29D: Capricorn's animal (GOAT); 30D: Holiday song closer (SYNE); 31D: Doorway side (JAMB); 33D: Humiliate (EMBARRASS); 37D: Pet pest (FLEA); 38D: Disorderly place (RAT'S NEST); 41D: Salaries, wages, etc. (INCOMES); 43D: Graceful steed (ARABIAN); 46D: Conclusion (END); 51D: Hacked (HEWED); 52D: Worth having (OF USE); 53D: Zest (ZEAL); 54D: Trade show (EXPO); 55D: Dot-__: e-businesses (COMS); 56D: This, to Pablo (ESTO).

02.08 Tue

T U E S D A Y Date, 2011
John Lampkin

Theme: John Lampkin Likes Butts — The end of each theme answer is a word that can be a synonym for "butt."

Theme answers:

• 17A: Side-to-side skid (FISHTAIL).
• 24A: Have no place to go but up (HIT ROCK BOTTOM).
• 50A: Bus driver's request (STEP TO THE REAR).
• 62A: Idler at the shore (BEACH BUM).
• 39A: Pistol handle, and what 17-, 24-, 50- and 62-Across each have (BUTT END).

Cute theme. About halfway through I'm all, "Wait a minute, the theme is butts? Awesome." Nothing particularly sparkly about the long downs: MASTHEADS, REROOTED, CAMERA BAG, BELTLINE(??). They're long but that's about all I can really say for them. I also noticed quite a bit of that "themed cluing," which I really enjoy in small doses but find a little annoying after a while. What do I mean? Check these out:

• 16A: Cosmetics giant founded in 1932 (REVLON).
• 20A: Cosmetics giant Lauder (ESTÉE).
• 64A: Nonsupporter's political sign words (VOTE NO).
• 54D: Supporter's political sign word (ELECT).
• 6D: Chum in Chihuahua (AMIGO).
• 28D: Chihuahua greeting (HOLA).
• 47D: Chihuahua, e.g. (TOY DOG).

I also noticed a little thread of violence weaving its way through this grid. Did you see that?

• 14A: Rat-__ (A-TAT).
• 55A: Point, as a pistol (AIM).
• 32D: Big bomb blasts (N-TESTS).
• 50D: Round of gunfire (SALVO).

Did I mention the theme is butts?

Bullets:

• 5A: Big Apple line (MAC). I was taken in by the "Big Apple" trick. My first thought was "Circle Line," which is a tourist boat ride around Manhattan. (Not sure if it actually goes all the way around Manhattan, but anyway.) Of course, if Circle Line was the answer, the word "line" wouldn't be in the clue. D'oh!
• 8A: Buster who played Flash Gordon (CRABBE). Buster CRABBE is a cool name. I know a few people I wouldn't mind calling Buster CRABBE.
• 21A: Doodad (GISMO). I prefer to spell this word with a Z, and I did that first.
• 65A: U.N. Day mo. (OCT.). Whenever I see one of these clues for a particular month I always think it's April. I don't know why.
• 1D: Hard Rock __ (CAFE). A little unusual that the word "rock" is in this clue and in the grid (at 24A).
• 2D: Bluesman Redding (OTIS).
• 7D: What drives a baby buggy? (COLIC). That's a cute clue. So grateful the PuzzleKids didn't suffer from COLIC.
• 61D: "__ Blu Dipinto Di Blu": 1958 hit (NEL). No idea.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 20A: Cosmetics giant Lauder (ESTÉE).
• 44A: To be, in Bordeaux (ÊTRE).
• 45A: FBI guy (G-MAN).
• 36D: Morales of "NYPD Blue" (ESAI).

[Follow PuzzleGirl on Twitter.]

Everything Else — 1A: Unconscious state (COMA); 15A: Texter's "I think ..." (IMO); 19A: Top-priority (URGENT); 23A: In the past (AGO); 27A: Old man's domain, in a Hemingway work (THE SEA); 29A: "¿Cómo __ usted?" (ESTÁ); 30A: With perfection (TO A T); 31A: Bite like a rat (GNAW); 34A: Get all A's (EXCEL); 38A: From the past (OLD); 41A: Gentle-lamb connector (AS A); 42A: Wallpaper goo (PASTE); 46A: Mtn. stats (ALTS.); 48A: Virgil epic (AENEID); 56A: Disinfectant brand (LYSOL); 57A: Port near Kobe (OSAKA); 60A: Ex-Soviet leader Brezhnev (LEONID); 66A: Wild West's Wyatt (EARP); 67A: Monopod feature (ONE LEG); 68A: Mo. town (STL); 69A: Some NCOs (SGTS.); 3D: Newspapers' staff lists (MASTHEADS); 4D: Nonbeliever (ATHEIST); 5D: Athletes for Hope co-founder Hamm (MIA); 8D: Cookie jar morsels (CRUMBS); 9D: Transplanted successfully (REROOTED); 10D: Batting no. (AVG.); 11D: Lamb's greeting (BLEAT); 12D: Salsa drum (BONGO); 13D: Bug sci. (ENTOM.); 18D: Head, to Henri (TÊTE); 22D: Cookout holder (SKEWER); 25D: Maker of Mama's Special Garden Sauce (RAGU); 26D: Invoice add-on (TAX); 27D: Sports car option (T-TOP); 33D: Courtroom VIP (ATT.); 35D: Photographer's tote (CAMERA BAG); 37D: Arrive, in a way (LAND); 39D: Spare tire site? (BELT LINE); 40D: About to arrive (NEAR); 43D: Light hit (TAP); 45D: Grinds, as teeth (GNASHES); 49D: Fair-hiring org. (EEOC); 51D: Attach, as to a hitching post (TIE ON); 52D: Ham it up (EMOTE); 53D: Vagabonds (HOBOS); 58D: Super Bowl XXXIV MVP Warner (KURT); 59D: Gig gear (AMPS); 63D: Eur.-North America divider (ATL.).

01.24 Mon

M O N D A Y

January 24, 2011
John Lampkin

Theme: ROFLMAO — Okay, not really ROFLMAO. Just LOL. Theme answers are familiar three-word phrases with the initials L.O.L.

Theme answers:

• 20A: Comfortable situation to live in, with "the" (LAP OF LUXURY).
• 56A: Low-paying but rewarding project (LABOR OF LOVE).
• 11D: Minnesota-based dairy cooperative (LAND O' LAKES).
• 29D: "Like that's going to work!" ("LOTS OF LUCK!").
• 41A: Cyberchuckle, and a hint to this puzzle's four longest answers (LOL).

Good morning, everyone. Looks like we're starting out the week with a smooth solve from Mr. Lampkin. I usually expect something tricky from John, but today's puzzle is pretty straightforward. Well, it is Monday after all. Did you notice how many of the clues seemed to be "paired"? For example:

• 44A: "Romeo and Juliet" city (VERONA).
• 46A: Before, to Shakespeare (ERE).


• 6D: Brand over spaghetti (RAGU).
• 7D: Brand under the sink (AJAX).

I think of that type of cluing as Bob Klahn-esque, and it doesn't surprise me that we're seeing quite a bit of it from John.

As for the theme, it's a perfectly solid theme for Monday. Theme phrases are not particularly sparkly, but they don't just lie there either. The only nit I would pick is that three of the theme answers use OF as the O part of the phrase, while the fourth is the contraction O'. That didn't affect my solving experience, but it does detract somewhat from the theme's elegance. And I admit that's being awfully picky.

Grid entries that spice up this Monday fare include:

• 14A: Ballerina's rail (BARRE).
• 27A: A deuce used as an ace, say (WILD CARD).
• 5D: Showing shame (RED-FACED).
• 42D: Like a stroller at the shore, shoewise (BAREFOOT).

That last clue made me LOL. "Shoewise"? Had no idea what was going on there and only figured it out from crosses.

Bullets:

• 39A: Went to the polls (VOTED). When PuzzleSon was just a toddler, we took him with us to vote one time. Our polling place was an elementary school in the neighborhood, and they used machines where you make your choices and then push a big green button clearly marked with the word VOTE. As we went through the process, I explained it to PuzzleSon, the way parents do with little kids (knowing that none of it probably made a bit of sense to him). After that, every time we'd drive by that school he would yell out "Push green button say boat!"

• 66A: Nuts (LOCO). One of the few relatively tricky clues in the grid because the answer could have gone in a number of directions. Nuts like peanuts and walnuts? Nuts like a group of nutty people? Nope, it's not even a noun in this case. I had the same sort of hesitation with 13D: Relaxed (EASED). There, my first thought was to read the clue as a verb.
• 8D: Spanish toast (SALUD). Add this to your list of toasts, which should include SKOAL from the other day.
• 21D: Angle iron (L-BAR). Ane here, once again, ladies and gentlemen, a perfect example of how doing crossword puzzles regularly can help you become a better solver. I wouldn't have had the foggiest idea on this one if we hadn't just had L-BAR as a theme (and, if I recall correctly, the reveal answer was clued as "angle iron").

• 28D: People magazine focus (IDOL). Have y'all been watching "American Idol" this season? I'm a big Aerosmith fan, so I was afraid seeing Steven Tyler on the panel would make me cringe like crazy. Now, I haven't watched a whole episode all the way through, but the bits and pieces I've seen of him have been palatable. I understand that he sometimes tends a little toward the pedophile end of the spectrum, and that doesn't sit well with me at all, but from what I've seen, he's pretty entertaining.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 17A: Twisty-horned antelope (ELAND).
• 34A: Beethoven's Third (EROICA).
• 43A: "Born Free" lioness (ELSA).
• 46A: Before, to Shakespeare (ERE).
• 47A: "Free Willy" critter (ORCA).
• 59D: Chief Norse god (ODIN).
• 61D: Gaelic language (ERSE).

[Follow PuzzleGirl on Twitter.]

Everything Else — 1A: Where many knots are tied (ALTAR); 6A: Tabula __: blank slate (RASA); 10A: Elmer's product (GLUE); 15A: In __: stuck (A JAM); 16A: Bear with too-hot porridge (PAPA); 18A: Powerful wind (GALE); 19A: Tiny army marchers (ANTS); 23A: Anonymous Jane (DOE); 24A: Research facility (LAB); 25A: Songwriter Neil (DIAMOND); 32A: Store, as a hose (COIL); 33A: "Much __ About Nothing" (ADO); 36A: Li'l Abner's creator Al (CAPP); 42A: Cake maker (BAKER); 49A: Turns on, as an engine (STARTS UP); 51A: What mirrors do (REFLECT); 54A: Golfer's support (TEE); 55A: Dot-com's address (URL); 62A: Very dry, as Champagne (BRUT); 64A: Musical quality (TONE); 65A: __ but wiser (OLDER); 67A: Ending for exist (-ENCE); 68A: Leaves out (OMITS); 69A: Actress Sommer (ELKE); 70A: Nut, e.g. (SEED); 71A: Past or present (TENSE); 1D: Adam's second son (ABEL); 2D: Refrain syllables (LA LA); 3D: Mouse catcher (TRAP); 4D: Golfer Palmer (ARNOLD); 9D: Part of USA (AMERICA); 10D: 4.0, for one: Abbr. (GPA); 12D: Pulitzer author Sinclair (UPTON); 22D: NBA's __ Ming (YAO); 26D: Glittery mineral (MICA); 27D: Breaker at the shore (WAVE); 30D: Romeo or Juliet, e.g. (ROLE); 31D: Christian's dresses? (DIORS); 35D: Coagulate, as blood (CLOT); 37D: Lima's country (PERU); 38D: Get ready, briefly (PREP); 40D: British peer (EARL); 44D: Moves out (VACATES); 45D: Peacekeeping gp. since 1949 (NATO); 48D: Animation collectible (CEL); 50D: "Out with it!" ("TELL ME!"); 51D: Moscow money (RUBLE); 52D: Filmdom's Flynn (ERROL); 53D: Steakhouse steak (T-BONE); 57D: Grimm beginning (ONCE); 58D: Oboe or bassoon (REED); 60D: Docs for doggies and dogies (VETS); 63D: Stubbed digit (TOE).

01.13 Thu

T H U R S D A Y

January 13, 2011
John Lampkin


Theme: Dorky Magic Show — Words a magician might use to present the culmination of a trick are anagrammed (i.e., transformed) into words for things unlikely to be presented in a magic show.

Theme answers:

• 15A/17A: Illusionist's act, and this puzzle's title (MAGIC / TRANSFORMATIONS).
• 26A/28A: "Presenting: Info!" ("TA-DA: DATA!").
• 47A/49A: "Presenting: Instrument!" ("VOILÀ: VIOLA!").
• 56A/57A: "Presenting: Wall hanging!" ("PRESTO: POSTER!").

A few Puzzly Announcements before we get started today:

• Planning for this year's Crosswords L.A. tournament is in full swing. The tournament will be held May 1. This year, they're using puzzles specifically for the event and I have to tell you, their constructor line-up is amazing. I'm talking amazing as in Andrea Carla Michaels, Karen Tracey, Tyler Hinman, Elizabeth Gorski…. Yeah, that kind of amazing. And if that's not enough for you to get off your butt and over to Loyola Marymount University, I can personally attest to the fact that the tournament is a blast. I was there last year and wouldn't miss it this year either. Oh wait, did I forget to mention that proceeds from the event benefit Reading to Kids? Seriously. What's not to love about this tournament. Head on over to the tournment homepage for a warm-up puzzle by Todd McClary.
  

• Fireball Crosswords, an excellent independent series of puzzles available by subscription is getting ready to roll back into existence for its second year next week. These high-quality puzzles edited by Peter Gordon are on the difficult end of the range and are delivered right to your inbox 40 times per year at a price that can only be described as a steal.
  

• If you want to enter Patrick Blindauer's Summer Puzzlefest (and why wouldn't you?) you should probably head over to his website right now. Final answers are due February 1, but even if you're not interested in entering the contest, you should consider getting the puzzles. Patrick is one of the most innovative constructors out there today so you know the puzzles involved in this series are excellent.
  
• The 5th annual Silicon Valley Puzzle Fest will take place later the last weekend of this month at the Morgan Hill Library. I actually just heard about this for the first time this morning so I can't offer a personal recommendation, but it looks like they have some awesome (free!) puzzle workshops on the schedule for Saturday, with crossword and sudoku tournaments on Sunday.

Wow. Lots of good stuff going on in the puzzle world these days. I hope you have the time and inclination to participate in some of it!

Today's puzzle has a very cute theme, some interesting (and Scrabbly!) fill, and virtually no crosswordese. Maybe I'm biased because the first word I entered in the grid was IOWA (14A: Corny state?) and thinking about my Hawks always get me fired up, but my overall impression is that this puzzle is solid and fun. And even if you didn't enjoy this puzzle for some reason, I think you'll agree with me that it wins the award for Most Awesome Use of Vs. How crazy does TV/VCR look in the grid?? (42A: '80s-'90s entertainment combo). Add to that DÉJÀ VU and DIVVIES UP (28D: Illusion of familiarity / 31D: Distributes, as the loot) and you've got yourself a vatload of very vivacious Vs. (I apologize for that.)

The H-BEAM/RHODO- cross was the biggest problem for me (45A: Aptly named girder / 40D: Rose: Pref.). That H was the last thing I put in the grid. In fact, I had an "I" there first based on the across answer, but RIODO just didn't look right. Not that RHODO looks that much better, but at least it brought flowers to mind, so I figured it was a good guess.

Bullets:

• 1A: Hand mop? (SWAB). I'm not 100% sure I understand this clue, but I know it has something to do with a deck-hand SWABbing the deck.
• 16A: Unit of loudness (PHON). That's a real thing? Okay then. I didn't know that, but was able to piece it together through crosses.

• 21A: Sib, either way (SIS). SIS is a palindrome, you see.
• 29A: Track figures (ODDS). I was totally tricked by this clue. Kept picturing a track meet and thinking about all the people hanging around and the way numbers might be used. Didn't eve think of the racetrack. (Sorry, Mom!)
• 34A: Waste time, with "around" (MUCK). If you found nothing humorous about the way this word appeared letter-by-letter in your grid, then you're a much better person than I am.
• 59A: Mountain air (YODEL). Air meaning "tune" or "melody."
• 64A: Julia in films (RAUL). I wonder if constructors keep a list of famous people with "two first names" they can use to trick us.
• 65A: Clinton Cabinet member Shalala (DONNA). When I attended Hunter College in the mid-80s, she was the school's president so this was a gimme.
• 1D: George Harrison played one in "Norwegian Wood" (SITAR). Yep yep.



• 2D: In a sorrier state (WORSE). Oh, I had some trouble up in the northwest corner too, where I plopped an "ER" at the end of this one assuming that's how it would end but was, ya know, wrong.

• 9D: Label for many Tom Petty hits (MCA). Random!
• 18D: Day's "will be" (SERA). I didn't understand this one until I had gotten the whole answer from crosses. It's a reference to Doris Day's hit song "Que Sera Sera."
• 30D: Part of R&D: Abbr. (DEV.). Research and Development. But you knew that.

[Follow PuzzleGirl on Twitter.]

Everything Else — 5A: Siren, for one (ALARM); 10A: Sound rebound (ECHO); 20A: Playwright's device (ASIDE); 22A: Coincide (AGREE); 23A: Turn in (RETIRE); 25A: Most dependable (SUREST); 32A: Start of a confession, maybe (I LIED); 38A: Louvre Pyramid architect (PEI); 39A: Aptly named lab apparatus (BELL JAR); 41A: Zip (NIL); 44A: Gp. with big busts (DEA); 51A: Holy (SAINTLY); 53A: Experience (UNDERGO); 58A: Approximately (OR SO); 63A: Wood site (SHED); 66A: Further (ELSE); 67A: Kind (TYPE); 68A: Not on the level (SHADY); 69A: Batik artist (DYER); 3D: Be ready for (AWAIT); 4D: Desperados (BANDITS); 5D: Bowling initials (AMF); 6D: China neighbor (LAOS); 7D: Cultural opening? (AGRI-); 8D: Rounded edges, usually (RIMS); 10D: Dorothy Parker forte (EPIGRAM); 11D: Job (CHORE); 12D: Perfects (HONES); 13D: Advent (ONSET); 19D: Stretched tight (TAUT); 24D: Pop singer Brickell (EDIE); 25D: Emmy winner Thompson (SADA); 27D: From dawn to dusk (ALL DAY); 29D: Back (out) (OPT); 33D: Land in la mer (ILE); 35D: Ethereal (UNEARTHLY); 36D: Org. with covert ops (CIA); 37D: It merged with Air France in 2004 (KLM); 39D: Bond girl Ekland (BRITT); 43D: Give comfort to (CONSOLE); 46D: Holy (BLESSED); 48D: Insurer at One Lime Street, London (LLOYD'S); 50D: Needing to be fielded, as a baseball (IN PLAY); 51D: Baseball, for one (SPORT); 52D: Striking grouping (ARRAY); 54D: Sixth-day Christmas gift (GEESE); 55D: It might be tall (ORDER); 60D: "Nice!" ("OOH!"); 61D: "CSI" sample (DNA); 62D: You've just reached it (END).

01.02 Sun

S U N D A Y (syndicated)
January 2, 2011
John Lampkin

[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: "E-Literature" — A long E sound is added to the ends of titles, and the resulting phrases are given punny clues.

Theme Answers:

• 23A: Specific item in a sleepwear collection? (TWELFTH NIGHTIE).
• 47A: How a rock band's equipment damage was blamed? (ON THE ROADIE).
• 68A: Amazonian oddsmaker? (THE JUNGLE BOOKIE).
• 95A: Dressing room sprite? (VANITY FAIRY).
• 120A: Fabric softener delivered overseas? (WATERSHIP DOWNY).
• 17D: Goat's friend? (BILLY BUDDY).
• 74D: Aboriginal Walkman? (NATIVE SONY).

Hey, folks. This is Doug, back with you for another Sunday. John Lampkin, an L.A. Times regular, brings us a literary lollapalooza today.

I couldn't make sense out of the title at first, because the first three theme entries all had an "IE" tacked on. I didn't see the relation between "E-Literature" and "IE," but I eventually figured out we were dealing with an "E" sound. My favorite theme entry was TWELFTH NIGHTIE. "Nightie" is a funny word on its own, so it works well in the altered phrase. (I've always thought "panties" is a funny & ridiculous-sounding word too. Doesn't sound like something an adult would wear, does it?) The only theme answer I'll quibble with is NATIVE SONY, because "son" is pronounced differently than the "Son-" part of "Sony," so that's not consistent with the others. I liked a lot of the longer non-theme words in this one too: STEAL A KISS, SINK OR SWIM, TO THE MAX, TIPPY TOE, RED SPOT, NOT THAT. Good stuff.

Bullets:

• 8A: Orderly type? (SISTER). Nuns (sisters) are members of orders. And they're also probably neat and orderly. I can't imagine a nun with a messy room.

• 27A: Robert who played Roderigo in Welles's "Othello" (COOTE). The longer the clue for an actor's name, the less chance you're going to have any idea who he or she is. For example, everyone would get PITT for "Actor Brad." But you could add another 4 or 5 facts to this COOTE clue, and I'd still be baffled.
• 33A: City west of Mesa (TEMPE). Mesa is an anagram of Ames, the lamest city in Iowa according to PuzzleGirl. Go Hawkeyes!
• 53A: Mil. base stores (PXES). PX is short for Post Exchange. I've seen it pluralized as PXS in other puzzles. Both versions are ugly.
• 72A: Niblick, nowadays (NINE IRON). Golf clubs used to have awesome names like niblick, mashie, brassie, cleek, and baffing spoon.
• 76A: Writes John a letter? (ENDS IT). A "Dear John" letter. I'm pretty sure I learned about "Dear John" letters from an episode of M*A*S*H.
• 87A: Kathy of country (MATTEA). I don't know much about country music, so I asked PuzzleGirl to suggest a Kathy Mattea song. This one's about rockets or something.

• 94A: Certain hip-hop dancer (B-GIRL). The B is from the "break" in breakdancing. Watch the movie Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo for more information on breaking and popping.

• 101A: The "0" in a "4 5 0," on a scoreboard (ERRORS). The last three numbers of a baseball line score are Runs (R), Hits (H), and Errors (E).
• 107A: Intro for John? (DEAR). More "Dear John" action.
• 115A: Advanced teaching deg. (M.S. ED). Master of Science in Education. I thought it was Ms. Ed, Mr. Ed's wife.
• 7D: Narcissus snubbed her (ECHO). Echo was a nymph and a big-time chatterbox, so Hera cursed her by only allowing her to say words that were spoken to her. After Narcissus kicked her to curb, she spent the rest of her life pining away for him, until only her voice remained.
• 84D: It's heard a lot in Los Angeles (SPANISH). Sí, es verdad. My first thought was HONKING.
• 97D: "Great" feature of Jupiter (RED SPOT). From Wikipedia, "The Great Red Spot is a persistent anticyclonic storm, 22° south of Jupiter's equator, which has lasted for at least 180 years and possibly as long as 345 years or more. The storm is large enough to be visible through Earth-based telescopes."

• 111D: Christmas classic opening (TWAS). Only 357 shopping days left.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 99A: ___ Trophy: biennal European golf event (SEVE).
• 103A: Ruhr valley city (ESSEN).
• 113A: Hops-drying kilns (OASTS).
• 1D: Hammett canine (ASTA).
• 12D: "Grace Before Meat" essayist (ELIA).
• 29D: Barrie baddie (SMEE).
• 38D: Richard's counterpart in the 1956 election (ESTES).
• 39D: Girl leader? (ATTA).
• 41D: German border river (ODER).

Everything Else — 1A: Risked (AT STAKE); 14A: Take a __: attempt (STAB AT); 20A: Like the movie "Airplane!" (SATIRIC); 21A: Hardly religious (UNHOLY); 22A: Vacation choice (CRUISE); 25A: Bridal trails (AISLES); 26A: Rat tail? (-A-TAT); 28A: Royal pain (HASSLE); 30A: Back muscle, for short (LAT); 31A: Jacob's first wife (LEAH); 35A: Complicated (MESSY); 37A: Indy car's lack (REAR SEAT); 40A: Plated, in a way (ARMORED); 43A: Kyoto ties (OBIS); 46A: Question (ASK); 49A: Logging channel (FLUME); 50A: Retriever's retrieval (STICK); 52A: Store charge, often (TAX); 54A: More than just nodded (SAID HI); 55A: Pianist John (TESH); 56A: Jazz trumpeter's nickname (SATCH); 58A: Fixed up (REDID); 60A: Jazz trumpeter's nickname (DIZ); 61A: Per se (AS SUCH); 63A: Bite response (OUCH); 66A: Fax forerunner (TELETYPE); 75A: Stuttgart title (HERR); 80A: Thurman of film (UMA); 81A: Ejects, as lava (SPEWS); 83A: Hairy herd (BISON); 86A: Feast (DINE); 89A: Pro __ (RATA); 92A: N.T. book attributed to Paul (EPH.); 93A: Second lady after Tipper (LYNNE); 98A: Author Kesey (KEN); 100A: From head to foot (CAP-A-PIE); 105A: See 69-Down (PESCI); 108A: Malaprop or Miniver (MRS.); 110A: Turnover, e.g. (PASTRY); 118A: Part of ASAP (SOON AS); 123A: Adopt the naturist philosophy (GO NUDE); 124A: Consecrate, in a way (ANOINT); 125A: Architectural molding (CORNICE); 126A: Fashioned (STYLED); 127A: Dictators' underlings (STENOS); 128A: Paddle-wheel craft (STEAMER); 2D: Believed, to Tweety (TAWT); 3D: Smooch in the shadows (STEAL A KISS); 4D: Aggressive pinballer (TILTER); 5D: It might mean "I'm hungry!" (ARF); 6D: Hero's birthplace? (KITCHEN); 8D: "The Nutcracker __" (SUITE); 9D: 1959-'60 heavyweight champ Johansson (INGEMAR); 10D: Recital rebuke (SHH); 11D: Totally (TO THE MAX); 13D: Some bar shots (RYES); 14D: Climbed (SCALED); 15D: Shots (TRIES); 16D: Mozart's birthplace, now: Abbr. (AUS.); 18D: Boating on the briny (ASEA); 19D: Set of questions (TEST); 24D: "It couldn't be worse!" ("NOT THAT!"); 32D: "Dilbert" intern (ASOK); 34D: Phone on stage, e.g. (PROP); 36D: Recital highlights (SOLI); 37D: Dreads sporter (RASTA); 39D: Girl leader? (ATTA); 42D: Meet, as a challenge (RISE TO); 44D: Beatnik's "Got it" ("I'M HIP"); 45D: Wrest (SEIZE); 48D: Record holder? (EXCON); 49D: Slide show effect (FADE IN); 51D: Coal channel (CHUTE); 54D: Smooth and soft (SILKEN); 56D: Hillary helper (SHERPA); 57D: Actor Grant (HUGH); 59D: __ volente: God willing (DEO); 62D: Sculptor's tool (CHISEL); 64D: Indians, on scoreboards (CLE); 65D: Ginseng, for one (HERB); 67D: Sexy sleepwear (TEDDY); 69D: With 105-Across, "GoodFellas" Oscar winner (JOE); 70D: Open for Christmas (UNWRAP); 71D: Short (BRIEF); 72D: Ices, maybe (NUMBS); 73D: A scandal often ruins one (IMAGE); 77D: Success/failure metaphor (SINK OR SWIM); 78D: Central (INNER); 79D: Jeremy and friends, in "Zits" comics (TEENS); 82D: Yemen's capital (SANA); 85D: Buckeye State (OHIO); 88D: Three, in 84-Down (TRES); 90D: How a youngster might watch a parade, with "on" (TIPPY-TOE); 91D: End in __ (A TIE); 93D: Apollo's instrument (LYRE); 95D: Movers with motors (VANS); 96D: Uncomplicated type of question (YES-OR-NO); 100D: Quit (CEASED); 102D: Quimby in Beverly Cleary books (RAMONA); 104D: Hammett hero (SPADE); 106D: Play groups (CASTS); 108D: Texter's output: Abbr. (MSGS.); 109D: Ginseng, for one (ROOT); 112D: Wild harangue (RANT); 114D: Muscle twitches (TICS); 116D: Suffix with confer (-ENCE); 117D: Colorful worker? (DYER); 119D: Of no value, in Normandy (NUL); 121D: Hamburg article (EIN); 122D: Dr. of hip-hop (DRE).

T H U R S D A Y December 23, 2010 John Lampkin

Theme: Seasonal Puns — Yes, that's right, seasonal puns.


Theme answers:

• 20A: Seasonal cheeses? (SUMMER BRIES).
• 59A: Seasonal seasoning? (WINTER THYME).
• 11D: Seasonal smoked salmon? (SPRING LOX).
• 35D: Seasonal costume? (FALL GUISE).

It's not often that the clue at 1 Across really makes me sit up and take notice but wow! Ptolemaic constellation that is now divided into Carina (the keel), Puppis (the poop deck) and Vela (the sails)! That is one serious clue right there, people. We've covered ARGO in CW101, but I'm pretty sure we've never said anything that would have helped you today. I realized pretty quickly (somewhere between "Ptolemaic" and "constellation") that I had no idea what the answer would be, so I moved on. When I made it back up that way I had a couple crosses in place and — ::head-slap::! Good stuff right from the get-go. I like it.

Other noteworthy entries today include IN A HUFF (40A: Fuming), which is an awesome colloquial phrase. Also SMURF (22D: Blue toon). It's just fun to say, isn't it? Oh and the theme. If you like your puns on the groan-worthy end of the spectrum, you probably weren't thrilled with these. I really like them though. The base phrase for SPRING LOX is kinda drab, but the rest feel really solid and the theme clues are cute.

Bullets:

• 15A: Grade leader? (CENTI-). Wanna know what I popped right in here without even thinking about it? "Hard G." It's official: I've been doing way more crossword puzzles than a person should.

• 19A: Hammock support (TREE). I could not come up with this and when I finally did it made me laugh. Down at the PuzzleParents' place in Costa Rica they have something like seven hammocks and not one of them is supported by a tree!
• 25A: Miller's salesman (LOMAN). Had to rack my brain for this one. Man getting old sucks sometimes! I remembered right off that the son's name is Biff because it was mentioned in one of my favorite "Seinfeld" episodes (yes, I realize how sad that is), but the last name took a while. (This is a reference to Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, by the way.)
• 36A: "What's cooking?" elicitor (ODOR). And ODOR can, of course, elicit other, less appropriate, questions as well.
• 42A: Sitcom planet (ORK). Ladies and gentlemen, your "Mork and Mindy" reference of the day.

• 68A: New kids' block since 1958 (LEGO). First thing that came to my head was "Sesame Street." I don't think it's been around that long though.
• 2D: Old air fare? (RERUN). I'm all, "They used to serve some other kind of food on airplanes?" No, the "air" in this clue refers to broadcasting.
• 5D: Venomous arachnid (SCORPION).




• 26D: Dating concern (AGE).
• 34D: One-time pal of Baker and Charlie? (ABLE). I assume this is a reference to a phonetic alphabet.
• 37D: Pianist Laredo (RUTH). Whoa. Anyone ever heard of her?
• 41D: Ottoman (FOOT REST). In the PuzzleHouse, the word "ottoman" is always accompanied by air-quotes. The first time I ever used the word in front of the kids, they looked at me like I had three heads. They think it's a little hoity-toity for a, ya know, FOOT REST.
• 44D: "At Seventeen" singer Janis (IAN).




• 52D: Join (ENROL). If you know anything about me, you probably know that I'm not a fan of the one-L ENROL.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 10A: Exxon forerunner (ESSO).
• 18A: Mountain nymph (OREAD).
• 46A: Wheelbarrow feature (AXLE).
• 33D: "Rubáiyát" poet Khayyám (OMAR).

[Follow PuzzleGirl on Twitter.]

Everything Else — 5A: Utter (SHEER); 14A: Miller's product (MEAL); 16A: Peak (APEX); 17A: West Point team (ARMY); 23A: Place purveying potent pints (INN); 24A: Grab from the shelves (SNAP UP); 27A: Dickens's Heep (URIAH); 30A: Fried chicken piece (NUGGET); 33A: Klutzes (OAFS); 38A: Race with batons (RELAY); 39A: Finance major's deg. (MBA); 43A: Pooped (ALL IN); 45A: Con __: briskly, on scores (MOTO); 47A: Empathize (RELATE); 49A: Gallery events (SHOWS); 51A: Troll (GNOME); 53A: Peak (TIPTOP); 57A: Feathered runner (EMU); 62A: Put down (LAID); 64A: "__ under pressure": guts, to Hemingway (GRACE); 65A: Potent pints (ALES); 66A: Japanese soup (MISO); 67A: Retirement plans, informally (ROTHS); 69A: Foreshadowing (OMEN); 70A: "Cats" poet (ELIOT); 71A: Musical syllables (TRAS); 1D: Stockpile (AMASS); 3D: Kind of ray emitted by a supernova (GAMMA); 4D: Greek mount (OLYMPUS); 6D: It may be medicinal (HERB); 7D: Nuke-testing dept. (ENER.); 8D: Much modern business (ETAIL); 9D: Continue the journey, oater-style (RIDE ON); 10D: Corrode (EAT); 12D: Dated (SEEN); 13D: Paired pullers (OXEN); 21D: Ger. setting (EUR.); 28D: Sixth-day creation (ADAM); 29D: Seasonal rooftop noises? (HO HOS); 31D: British nobleman (EARL); 32D: Kid (TYKE); 40D: Like trailers on the road (IN TOW); 46D: Cloverleaf cover (ASPHALT); 48D: Political refugee (EMIGRE); 50D: Cleverness (WIT); 54D: Tippecanoe's partner, in an 1840 campaign (TYLER); 55D: Last in a series (OMEGA); 56D: Sonoran smackeroos (PESOS); 57D: Saint with a fire (ELMO); 58D: Hurt severely (MAIM); 60D: "Mon Oncle" director (TATI); 61D: Nymph who loved her own voice (ECHO); 63D: Put on (DON).