03.29 Tue

T U E S D A Y
March 29, 2011
Joon Pahk & Andrea Carla Michaels

Theme: Pack It In — The first word of each theme answer can be a type of "pack." And there are six of them! Get it? Six-pack!

Theme answers:

• 17A: Completely dark (JET BLACK).
• 21A: Getting-to-know-you party activity (ICE BREAKER).
• 26A: Dirty fighting? (MUD WRESTLING).
• 39A: Wearisome routine (RAT RACE).
• 47A: "Wow, she's good-looking!" sounds (WOLF WHISTLES).
• 58A: "Funny Girl" leading role (FANNY BRICE).
• 66A: Some sculpted abs ... and what the starts of 17-, 21-, 26-, 39-, 47- and 58-Across are altogether? (SIX PACKS).

I had heard Joon and Andrea had a puzzle coming out and must admit my expectations were pretty high. Thank goodness they didn't disappoint! Seven theme answers. That's incredible! You'd think with that many theme answers they would have to resort to a funny-looking grid. Oh wait, it is a funny-looking grid. But that's okay. There's actually nothing wrong with a funny-looking grid. What you really hate to see is when high theme density necessitates crap fill. And while I can't say the grid is completely crap-free, it's pretty darn clean considering. In fact, the only entries that really jumped out at me as clunkers were RARES (29D: Filet mignon requests) and the Random Roman Numeral MCCC (6D: Cornerstone 1300). Other than that, I dare say Joon and Andrea were able to sneak in several entries that are a little on the hard side for a Tuesday, but because they have solid crosses I'm definitely not going to complain. All in all, a great Tuesday puzzle.

It's fun to solve a puzzle by someone you know and see their personality in it. These are the entries that screamed ANDREA at me:

• 10D: Its anthem is "Hatikvah" (ISRAEL).
• 24D: Music to a cat lover's ears (PURR).
• 62D: Giovanni's good-bye (CIAO).

As for Joon, well, I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that BLOOP (23A: Soft baseball hit) is all his.

Bullets:

• 1A: Lea low (MOO). I got off to a horrible start right here at 1-Across where I plopped in BAA without even thinking. Oops!
• 16A: Sci-fi author __ K. Le Guin (URSULA). Ya know how I've told you about how writing this blog sometimes throws me off onto tangents sometimes for hours? Usually it's YouTube that does it, but this time I went off on a search for a former college professor who got me interested in women's literature, including URUSLA K. Le Guin.
• 33A: "Weeds" airer, in TV listings (SHO). Weren't we just talking about this show? It's awesome. And the woman who played the school guidance counselor in some of the earlier episodes is a friend of Andrea's. I can't remember her name and I can't find her on imbd. I want to say her name is Amy, but I'm having no luck confirming.
• 45A: "Zounds!" ("EGAD!"). Does this make anyone else think of Scooby-Doo?

• 65A: Orbital extreme (APOGEE). I came across this word last week reading about the whole Super Moon thing, which I don't really understand, but I think it's just because I didn't really focus while I was reading.
• 2D: Nancy who's slated to replace Mary Hart on "Entertainment Tonight" (O'DELL). O'DELL said she is "honored to be the one to fill a TV legend's seat." I'm going to refrain from saying something mean here.
• 11D: Wagnalls's partner (FUNK). I knew these two names went together, but I had to look them up just now to remember that Funk & Wagnalls is a publisher of reference books.
• 13D: 1980-81 Iranian president Bani-__ (SADR). Um … what?

• 41D: Berkeley school, familiarly (CAL). We often see references to college nicknames that are just so wrong. It's nice to see a good one today.
• 50D: __ corpus (HABEAS). Had a little spelling issue here.
• 55D: Bologna ball game (BOCCE). Raise your hand if you pictured lunchmeat being batted into the air.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 20A: It's not butter (OLEO).
• 43A: Expressive rock genre (EMO).
• 53A: Wrath, in a classic hymn (IRAE).
• 69A: Depilatory brand (NAIR).
• 73A: Tolkien tree creature (ENT).
• 35D: Stone for many Libras (OPAL).

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Everything Else — 4A: Rocket interceptors, briefly (ABM'S); 8A: Doesn't tip (STIFFS); 14A: DJ's array (CD'S); 15A: Atahualpa, notably (INCA); 19A: Took an intersecting road (TURNED); 25A: Facility (EASE); 36A: Latvian capital (RIGA); 37A: Eastern principle (TAO); 38A: Liven (up) (PEP); 44A: __ of Good Feelings (ERA); 46A: Old boys? (MEN); 54A: Fat cat (NABOB); 64A: Quayle's successor (GORE); 68A: Mother with a Nobel prize (TERESA); 70A: AFL partner (CIO); 71A: Turns over, as an engine (STARTS); 72A: Film pooch in a tornado (TOTO); 1D: Low-paying position (MCJOB); 3D: Bone: Pref. (OSTEO-); 4D: Have a bug (AIL); 5D: __ B'rith (B'NAI); 7D: Benefit (SAKE); 8D: Hindu aphorisms (SUTRAS); 9D: Most loyal (TRUEST); 12D: Make a run for it (FLEE); 18D: Bust's opposite (BOOM); 22D: Spelling contest (BEE); 27D: Day in Durango (DIA); 28D: Lb. or oz. (WGT.); 30D: Couple in People (ITEM); 31D: Tom, Dick or Harry (NAME); 32D: Continue (GO ON); 33D: Eject, as lava (SPEW); 34D: Medal recipient (HERO); 40D: Rep. with a cut (AGT.); 42D: First lady's home? (EDEN); 48D: Identify, as a perp (FINGER); 49D: Most ironic (WRYEST); 51D: Suffix with hotel (-IER); 52D: "Beowulf" or "Star Wars" (SAGA); 56D: Pest control name (ORKIN); 57D: Stupefy with drink (BESOT); 58D: Pool legend Minnesota __ (FATS); 59D: In __: peeved (A PET); 60D: Director Ephron (NORA); 61D: Fails to be (ISN'T); 63D: Stage direction (EXIT); 67D: Tour golfer (PRO).

S A T U R D A Y August 7, 2010 Joon Pahk

Theme: None


Now this is what I'm talking about. This puzzle right here. Sparkly entries, tricky cluing, a couple things I really had to work hard for — in other words, a perfect Saturday. Here's something I noticed about this puzzle — and this is an easy way to distinguish an early-week puzzle from a late-week puzzle: one-word clues that could mean many different things. This puzzle is full of 'em!

• 24A: Hide (SKIN). Hide like in hide-and-seek? No.
• 54A: Fire (SACK). Fire like a flame? No.
• 63A: Draws (STALEMATES). Draws like with a pencil? How about like a chimney? Or maybe it's referring to your opponents in a tournament bracket? No.
• 1D: Nurses (SIPS ON). Nurses like in a hospital? Like feeding a baby? No.

Tricky, tricky, tricky! Love it!

There were a few things in this puzzle that I just flat-out didn't know:

• 19A: Christian denom. that observes the Sabbath on Saturday (SDA). Raise your hand if you tried LDS first. Yes, of course I've heard of Seventh-Day Adventists. But I've never seen them abbreviated.
• 30A: Painting on utensils or furniture (TOLE). I'm finding a bunch of references to this word defining it as the utensils or furniture themselves (the ones that have been painted in a certain way). But it seems that the act of this type of painting can also be described as "tole painting."
• 32D: Gogo's pal, in "Waiting for Godot" (DIDI). This is one of those things that Joon probably knows off the top of his head and can't believe that any educated person would admit to not having heard of. I take solace in the fact, however, that Joon is equally as likely to blanch at a reference to, say, Huey Lewis & the News. ("that seems pretty obscure" he might type in that lower-case way of his.)

• 38D: "Emperor __" (CONCERTO). This is Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73. Oh that "Emperor Concerto"!

Then there were entries that I didn't really know, but could eventually uncover with an educated guess:

• 43A: Angelo's instrument (ARPA). I assumed this answer would be a foreign word for "harp" but I wasn't entirely sure which language (Italian? Yes, Italian.) and in any case I didn't know the word.
• 53A: Robbie's dad (EVEL). I thought of Robbie on "My Three Sons," I wondered if Rob Petrie had a son and if Robbie Benson had a dad whose name I should know. When the V fell into place I realized we were talking about those wacky Knievels.
• 5D: Tycho Brahe's sci. (ASTR.). I'm sure I've only seen this guy's name in crossword puzzles. ("yeah, he only made the most accurate astronomical observations of his time, and mentored johannes kepler, but why should you know him?")
• 30D: Trypanosome transmitter (TSE-TSE). Trypano-whoozits?

• 41D: Theresa Dunn's ideal Mr., in a 1975 novel title (GOODBAR). This is one of those books I feel like I should read but I just never have. Or maybe I should just see the movie.
• 52D: Douze mois (ANNÉE). I know that "douze" is French for "twelve," but I did not know that "mois" is French for "months" until the crosses helped me out.

Finally there was just a bunch of stuff I really loved seeing:

• 1A: Ripped muscles? (SIX-PACK ABS). I originally thought "ripped" in the clue was a verb and the answer would be something like "worked out" or "pumped iron."

• 17A: Like some suits (PIN-STRIPED). Ya know what else are PIN-STRIPED? Some baseball uniforms. ("seriously? you're going to deface this post with a picture of the yankees??" Why yes, Joon. Yes I am.)
• 20A: Fix, as a wicker chair (RECANE). Okay, this one I didn't really love seeing. But it's the only entry that jumped out at me as a blatant clunker.
• 39A: Feverishly (LIKE MAD).
• 60A: Contemporary folklore (URBAN MYTHS).
• 7D: Two-time 1970s NBA champs (KNICKS). Gotta love a coupla Ks.
• 12D: "Not in public, you two!" ("GET A ROOM!"). Ha!

• 13D: "Get Shorty" co-star (TRAVOLTA). I would pay to watch John Travolta read the phone book.
• 35D: Bittersweet farewell (SWAN SONG).
• 36D: Drum site (EAR CANAL). I tried "inner ear" first. At least I was in the right neighborhood!

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 58A: A storm may affect it, briefly (ETA).
• 23D: The Boston Symphony played its second movement to commemorate FDR's death (EROICA).

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Everything Else — 11A: "House Hunters" network (HGTV); 15A: While away (IN ABSENTIA); 16A: Flying start? (AERO-); 18A: Right-leaning: Abbr. (ITAL.); 21A: WCs (LAVS); 22A: Renaissance Faire word (OLDE); 25A: Biodegrade (ROT); 26A: Prefix with biology (NEURO-); 28A: Cut (SNIP); 31A: Former Monterey Bay fort (ORD); 33A: Ringling Museum of the American Circus city (SARASOTA); 35A: Language subfamily that includes Maltese (SEMITIC); 40A: Defense against intruders (WATCHDOG); 42A: "Vamoose!" ("GIT!"); 44A: Playing a fifth qtr., say (IN OT); 46A: "This I Promise You" band ('N SYNC); 50A: Any U.S. Army E-4 thru E-9 (NCO); 51A: "Iron Chef America" chef Cat __ (CORA); 56A: City SSW of Cleveland (MEDINA); 58A: A storm may affect it, briefly (ETA); 59A: "__, you noblest English!": "Henry V" (ON, ON); 62A: Shuffle alternative (NANO); 64A: Phosphoresce (GLOW); 65A: One may be set on a stage (HORSE OPERA); 2D: When an engine might stall (IN IDLE); 3D: City visited by Marco Polo (XANADU); 4D: "Viewers Like You" help support it: Abbr. (PBS); 6D: Roman goddess of agriculture (CERES); 8D: Going to great lengths (AT PAINS); 9D: Like national elections (BIENNIAL); 10D: "Justine" author (SADE); 11D: Salute (HAIL); 14D: __ Act: 1919 Prohibition legislation (VOLSTEAD); 23D: The Boston Symphony played its second movement to commemorate FDR's death (EROICA); 27D: Surg. specialty (ORTH.); 29D: Moralizer (PRIG); 34D: Comparable (AKIN); 37D: Resort town W. of the Delaware Water Gap (MT. POCONO); 45D: Experiments (TRIALS); 47D: Actress Mimieux (YVETTE); 48D: Like hell? (NETHER); 49D: Midwest League's baseball level (CLASS A); 55D: Not just suppose (KNOW); 56D: Cloying sentimentality (MUSH); 57D: A few rounds, perhaps (AMMO); 61D: Kisser (YAP).

FRIDAY, July 16, 2010 — Joon Pahk

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Theme: Catching Some Zs — Two Zs are added to familiar phrases creating new wacky phrases clued wackily.


Theme answers:

• 17A: Amaze a racing legend? (DAZZLE EARNHARDT).
• 26A: Simple but exciting abode? (PIZZAZZ HUT).
• 48A: Headgear delayed in shipment? (LATE FEZZES).
• 61A: Furniture design flop? (FIZZLING CABINET).

Fun theme today! I mean how can a puzzle full of Zs not be fun?! I wish one more answer besides PIZZAZZ HUT had two sets of Zs and if you're going to be nitpicky, I can't really argue over that one, but I decided it didn't bother me. (I guess deciding that something doesn't bother me is different than it not bothering me because it's nowhere on my radar, but the result is the same — lack of botheriness.)

The only thing that really slowed me down was the ACT II / BALALAIKA cross (34A: When Macbeth kills Duncan / 5D: Russian instrument with a triangular body). Obviously, that last letter had to be either an I or a V but, never having heard of a BALALAIKA and not being totally up on my Shakespeare, both choices seemed equally likely. That I was the last thing I put in the grid.

Bullets:

• 1A: Place to get clean? (REHAB). I say no, no, no.

• 14A: Roasted, on Mexican menus (ASADA). I can't tell you how many times I've eaten pollo asada and had no idea what the asada part meant. It's always tasty though.
• 23A: "I ain't got no quarrel with the Viet Cong" speaker (ALI). This made me laugh.
• 43A: America's most wanted? (A-LIST). Personally, I prefer the D-list.
• 45A: Yvette's "our" (NOTRE). I could not make sense of this. All I could think was "nous," which means "we" in French, not "our." Damn you France! You have a different word for everything!
• 46A: "__ chic!" (TRES). Oh good, more French.
• 6D: Bird feeder filler (SUET). This was actually my first thought and then I thought maybe I was being too tricky and the answer was just plain old "seed." I checked the crosses before I committed. Whew!

• 18D: Daughter of Henry VIII: Abbr. (ELIZ.). I didn't like this at first, but then I decided that there are probably plenty of instances where this particular ELIZabeth's name actually is abbreviated. Like, for example, in a List of Acts of Parliament.
• 19D: Is down with (HAS). I assumed this clue was trying to be hip and the answer would be, I don't know … "hip."
• 27D: Blood of the gods (ICHOR). This really really really feels like something I should be familiar with. Or at least remember hearing about at some point.
• 31D: Minute piece? (WALTZ). This one tripped me up pretty good. I thought "Well, it's obviously not 'second' because of the question mark, so maybe it's the my-noot pronunciation and the answer is … 'iota'? Crap. Not long enough." Ended up getting this one totally through crosses. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
• 39D: Shed light on (ILLUMINE). ILLUMIN … hey! Where's the rest of the word? (By the way, I came across an article today about language and how it changes and how so many are resistant to (and hostile toward!) the changes. Check it out if you're interested.)
• 60D: Charon's river (STYX). Because you'd be disappointed if I didn't:

Crosswordese 101: The most popular NITA in crosswords is NITA Naldi, an actress/dancer who was a star of silent films and was associated with the Ziegfeld Follies. The cool thing about NITA Naldi is that both her names are crossworthy — you should also be prepared to see NALDI clued as "Silents star Nita." Other NITAs you might run into are New York congresswoman NITA Lowey and NITA Talbot of "Night Shift" and "The Concrete Jungle" who, for some reason, is never clued with a reference to her work on "Hogan's Heroes," for which, by the way, she received an Emmy nomination.

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

• 15A: Animal in two constellations (URSA).
• 64A: Toward shelter (ALEE).
• 2D: Twin in the Torah (ESAU).
• 44D: Simply designed British firearm (STEN GUN).
• 58D: Chimp in the Mercury program (ENOS).

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Everything Else — 6A: Dip (SWIM); 10A: Grade-schooler's reward (STAR); 15A: Animal in two constellations (URSA); 16A: "Hiya, José" (HOLA); 20A: Seek retribution, in a way (SUE); 21A: Prefix with meter (ALTI-); 22A: Unchallenging courses (EASY A'S); 24A: A goner, in slang (TOAST); 30A: On the road (AWAY); 35A: Blender brand (OSTER); 37A: Knock out, so to speak (AWE); 38A: Brainchild? (WHIZ KID); 40A: Iris parts (AREOLAS); 42A: Time Warner spin-off of 2009 (AOL); 50A: Draw out (EDUCE); 52A: "Maa" ma (EWE); 53A: Basic religious tenet (THEISM); 56A: Silents star Naldi (NITA); 58A: Four-song discs, briefly (EP'S); 65A: Stooge chuckle (NYUK); 66A: Off one's trolley (LOOPY); 67A: House member (LORD); 68A: Choosing word (EENY); 69A: Newark's county (ESSEX); 1D: Angular measures: Abbr. (RADS.); 3D: Skyline obscurer (HAZE); 4D: Tool whose blade is at right angles to the shaft (ADZ); 7D: Ghostly figures (WRAITHS); 8D: Knesset's land: Abbr. (ISR.); 9D: Femme fatale (MANEATER); 10D: View from Weed, California (SHASTA); 11D: Labourite's opponent (TORY); 12D: Robert of Broadway's "Guys and Dolls" (ALDA); 13D: "Phooey!" ("RATS!"); 23D: Saddam Hussein adviser Tariq (AZIZ); 25D: Defeated in an annual Nathan's contest (OUTATE); 26D: Grab for roughly (PAW AT); 28D: Scrabble 10-pointer (Z TILE); 29D: 12-sign system (ZODIAC); 32D: Not ignorant (AWARE); 33D: Sycophants' replies (YESES); 36D: Like wind energy (RENEWABLE); 41D: Slow mover (OOZE); 47D: Appropriated (SEIZED); 49D: Crumbly cheese (FETA); 51D: Broadband option: Abbr. (DSL); 53D: Maker of nonstick cookware (T-FAL); 54D: Big Island city (HILO); 55D: Weizman of 8-Down (EZER); 57D: Like 41-Down, perhaps (ICKY); 59D: Skunk Le Pew (PEPE); 62D: Emmy-winning scientist (NYE); 63D: Cyclades island (IOS).

SATURDAY, April 3, 2010 — Mike Nothnagel

Hi all. Today post is by committee. Two parts, joon, one part Crosscan. The world of crossword blogging is a little upside down right now, but we'll keep you guys covered. Crosscan uses capitals and joon doesn't, for those keeping score at home.


(joon) this is mike's LAT debut. mike's puzzles are so uniformly excellent. and today was no exception. the only thing i didn't like about it was that it didn't really put up a fight. mike is an excellent clue writer, but almost all of the clues today were entirely straightforward, enabling me to sprint through the puzzle in my fastest saturday time since that brief period last summer when they were all incredibly easy.

highlights from the fill:

• {Chat with someone on the way out?} is an EXIT INTERVIEW. one of the few clues with some trickery, both for the context of the clue and the fact "chat" wants to be a verb here.
• {Dreamer's activity} is WISHFUL THINKING. a really nice pair of answers crossing in the middle, but this clue (like so many others) was so straightforward that it wasn't hard to put in all fifteen letters here.
• {Part of a kid's lunch from home} is a JUICE BOX. nice scrabbly phrase here, part of the very scrabbly northwest. i bet this is the first entry mike put in the grid, but i wonder if he didn't clue it in reference to the astros' home park. (see also {Contests on the road}, AWAY GAMES.)
• {Cart's wheel attachment} is an AXLE TREE. AXLE came pretty easily here. TREE, not so much.
• {Home to FDR's presidential library} is HYDE PARK. cool answer, and i don't think it would have been a gimme, but for the fact that i had HYDEP___ in place by the time i saw it.
• {"Nope, the other thing"} is "WRONG ONE." love this one.
• {Pew extension} is a KNEELER, and a {Church rite site} is an ALTAR RAIL. neither one of these is tough, but spending a half-dozen hours in church this weekend probably made these even quicker to spring to mind.
• {Like many a residential system} is SEPTIC. now this one took some working of the crossings. i don't think you can hide the unpleasant subject matter of the answer just by making the clue incredibly vague. we're going to see it all in the end anyway, right?

(Crosscan) Right, joon. No real trouble spots for me, but I did put ALGOR first instead of ALGOL for {The "Demon Star"}. Thinking Al Gore, I guess.

Some Diane/Diana music:
51A: "Touch Me in the Morning" singer (ROSS);



61A: Jack's partner in a 1982 #1 John Cougar song (DIANE):


Everything Else 1A: Some pilgrims (HAJIS); 6A: Contests on the road (AWAY GAMES); 15A: Enjoy a victory, say (EXULT); 16A: Ignore, as an insult (RISE ABOVE); 17A: More or less uniform (ALIKE); 18A: Black Sea region (ASIA MINOR); 19A: Holiday pie ingredients (PECANS); 21A: Growth chart data: Abbr. (HTS.); 22A: __ torch (TIKI); 23A: Chateau __ Michelle: world's largest Riesling producer (STE.); 24A: Deem appropriate (SEE FIT); 26A: Indifferent grade (CEE); 27A: Space balls? (ORBS); 29A: 26-Across enhancement (PLUS); 30A: "Holy Toledo!" ("EGADS!"); 32A: Like a ward for some new hospital patients (NEONATAL); 34A: It fits in a lock (OAR); 35A: Chat with someone on the way out? (EXIT INTERVIEW); 39A: Pitcher Dwight Gooden's nickname (DOC); 40A: Home to FDR's presidential library (HYDE PARK); 42A: Showbiz figure (CELEB); 45A: Seattle Slew, vis-à-vis Swale (SIRE); 46A: "The nursery of England's gentlemen" (ETON); 47A: Park in NYC, e.g. (AVE.); 48A: "Oops" elicitors (BONERS); 50A: Like "Spring" from Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" (IN E); 51A: "Touch Me in the Morning" singer (ROSS); 53A: "Oh no!" ("ACK!"); 54A: Parasite (SPONGE); 56A: Church rite site (ALTAR RAIL); 59A: The "Demon Star" (ALGOL); 60A: Passé reception aid (TV ANTENNA); 61A: Jack's partner in a 1982 #1 John Cougar song (DIANE); 62A: Tony award category (SET DESIGN); 63A: Join (ENTER); 1D: Adds in great quantities (HEAPS ON); 2D: Cart's wheel attachment (AXLE TREE); 3D: Part of a kid's lunch from home (JUICE BOX); 4D: Chase on stage (ILKA); 5D: WWII Mark II's (STENS); 6D: First name at Notre Dame (ARA); 7D: Dreamer's activity (WISHFUL THINKING); 8D: In reality (AS IT IS); 9D: Baker's supply (YEAST); 10D: Piece of cheesecake? (GAM); 11D: Somewhat (A BIT); 12D: 1992 Wimbledon runner-up to Steffi (MONICA); 13D: Called forth (EVOKED); 14D: Word on some Emmy awards (SERIES); 20D: Like many a residential system (SEPTIC); 25D: Spark (ELAN); 28D: Nasty (SNIDE); 30D: Wasp's nest site (EAVE); 31D: Complaint (GRIPE); 33D: Distance covered by a first step (A TO B); 34D: Sequences (ORDERS); 36D: Teacher of Adele Varens, in an 1847 novel (EYRE); 37D: Bothering a lot (EATING AT); 38D: "Nope, the other thing" (WRONG ONE); 41D: Pew extension (KNEELER); 42D: Stone figures (CARATS); 43D: Increase in complexity, perhaps (EVOLVE); 44D: Vampire played by Cruise (LESTAT); 45D: Assertion from one who won't be outdone (SO CAN I); 48D: Shows (BARES); 49D: Part of a deck (SPADE); 52D: Golf hazard, often (SAND); 55D: "Enemies, A Love Story" Oscar nominee (OLIN); 57D: 47-Across, e.g. (RTE.); 58D: PC-to-PC system (LAN).