03.26 Sat

S A T U R D A Y
March 26, 2011
Julian Lim

Theme: None

Really really enjoyed this puzzle, but I'm getting a late start today, so let's go straight to bullets. No wait, let's do Crosswordese 101 first. These are words that come up in crossword puzzles again and again (and again and again and again) even though they probably don't come up in everyday conversation hardly ever. So it's a good idea to know them. Each CW word in this list is a link that will take you back to the post where we first featured it as CW101, where we talk about what the word means and how it's typically clued. (There's a list of all the CW101 words we've covered so far here.)

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 19A: Galway Bay's __ Islands (ARAN).
• 39A: Shrub yielding an indigo dye (ANIL).
• 61A: Ethyl butyrate, e.g. (ESTER).
• 4D: Majlis al Jinn cave site (OMAN).
• 21D: Dashboard Confessional music genre (EMO).
• 31D: Memorable movie lion (LAHR).
• 53D: Ohio tribe (ERIE).

Bullets:

• 1A: Its first mascot was a toque-wearer named Speedee (MCDONALD'S).
• 10A: Father in the comic strip "Bringing Up Father" (JIGGS). Got this one completely through crosses.
• 15A: 2010 health statute, informally (OBAMACARE). Timely colloquialism.
• 29A: Werewolves do it (MORPH).



• 40A: Dollars for quarters? (HOME LOANS). Tricky clue. "Quarters" in this case refers to "living quarters."
• 47A: Ham relative (SHEM). Biblical reference: SHEM and Ham are sons of Noah.
• 49A: Ruined the family photo, maybe (MADE A FACE). Ha!
• 56A: Potter's concern (VOLDEMORT). Love this clue. Were you all, "Clay? … ???"

• 59A: Piece maker? (REESE). Mmmmmm, Reese's Pieces.
• 1D: Home of V. Van Gogh's "Starry Night" (MOMA). The Museum of Modern Art.
• 3D: "SNL" cast member with Phil and Kevin (DANA). Phil Hartman, Kevin Nealon, and Dana Carvey. I was never a huge fan of Kevin Nealon, but the one time I was in the audience for SNL, he came out and did the warm-up act and he killed it. I also think he's awesome in "Weeds."
• 6D: Valuable diamond (ACE). Playing cards.

• 12D: Fight fiercely (GO TO THE MAT). By any chance did you all hear about the NCAA's 125-pound champion wrestler this year? Kid was born with one leg. This was his last chance for a championship, so even though he beat my Hawkeye (who, by the way, was the defending champ), I have to admit I'm happy for him. Also, the phrase "one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest"? Yeah, we can let that one go now.
• 45D: Six-time NBA All-Star Stoudemire (AMARE). I thought for sure his first name was more common than that. Is there another Stoudemire?
• 48D: Annie's student (HELEN). Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller.
• 58D: Feu extinguisher (EAU). French!

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Everything Else — 16A: Deify (ADORE); 17A: Beastly place? (MENAGERIE); 18A: Protest tactic (SIT-IN); 20A: Groupings affected by natural selection (GENE POOLS); 22A: Asked for a ticket? (SPED); 24A: Pluck (METTLE); 25A: Leisure wear (LOAFER); 30A: Among other things, in Latin (INTER ALIA); 33A: Iranian-born TV director Badiyi (REZA); 36A: Roll with the punches (TAKE IT AS IT COMES); 41A: 2008 runner (NADER); 44A: Still running (LEFT ON); 45A: Beer named for a river (AMSTEL); 51A: Cooling treats (ICES); 55A: Like a baseball bat's symmetry (AXIAL); 60A: Bizet's "Habanera," for one (OPERA ARIA); 62A: Folded (WENT UNDER); 2D: Handle user (CB'ER); 4D: Majlis al Jinn cave site (OMAN); 5D: Shrew (NAG); 7D: Coffeehouse option (LARGE); 8D: Like some flowers (DRIED); 9D: Detected (SEEN); 10D: "The Eyre Affair" author Fforde (JASPER); 11D: Not at all like rocket science (IDIOT PROOF); 13D: Cook, in a way (GRILL); 14D: Meaning (SENSE); 22D: Brunei's capital Bandar __ Begawan (SERI); 23D: Fall lead-in? (PRAT); 25D: "Kiss Me Deadly" singer Ford (LITA); 26D: "... __ open fire" (ON AN); 27D: It was blamed for reduced pasta sales in 2003 (ATKINS DIET); 28D: Relax (FEEL AT EASE); 29D: Seriously injure (MAIM); 32D: Prefix with 29-Across (ISO-); 34D: Greek known for paradoxes (ZENO); 35D: The "A" in many org. names (ASSN.); 37D: Beginning to cast? (TELE-); 38D: Skelton's Kadiddlehopper (CLEM); 42D: One in a pit (DEALER); 43D: Wrap artist? (ELF); 46D: Plateaus, with "out" (MAXES); 47D: Sniper's aid (SCOPE); 50D: Make no bones about (AVOW); 51D: Supermodel with a Global Chic collection (IMAN); 52D: Line with juice? (CORD); 54D: Rock or tin follower (STAR); 57D: "The 5000 Fingers of __": Seuss film (DR. T).

W E D N E S D A Y December 15, 2010 Julian Lim

Theme: Head Games— Theme answers end with things created in your mind.

Theme answers:

• 16A: Words of protest (WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA).
• 21A: King's memorable words (I HAVE A DREAM).
• 33A: Lennon's last album released before his death (DOUBLE FANTASY).
• 49A: Pensive state (DEEP THOUGHT).
• 55A: Sports psychologist's mantra ... or what can be said about the last word of 16-, 21-, 33- or 49-Across (IT'S ALL IN THE MIND).

I made my way steadily through this Wednesday grid without any problems. Anything that didn't come to mind immediately (see what I did there?) was easily discovered through crosses. The theme is fine — nothing particularly flashy, but the theme answers are several notches above boring. Wondering where the partials, prefixes and suffixes hang out? Apparently right here in this grid: A SEC, OR A, A TEN, UP A, -URB, ANA-, -INI. Wow. That seems a little excessive.

Bullets:

• 1A: 2007 Oscar winner (Best Original Screenplay) about a pregnant teenager (JUNO). Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this movie, but I wish it had been presented a little more straightforwardly as a modern-day fairy tale. I'm afraid some people (especially teens) walked away from that movie thinking that's what life is really like.

• 9A: Astronaut's thumbs-ups (AOK'S). Not a fan of the gratuitous plural.
• 64A: Instrument in a Chinese temple (GONG). When are they gonna bring "The Gong Show" back?
• 2D: Escort to a seat, in slang (USH). 'Cuz when I'm rappin' about the movie house, it's wack to use the whole word.
• 14D: Pricey strings, for short (STRAD). Short for STRADivarius.
• 18D: Chess sacrifice (GAMBIT). I was looking for something a little more French here. Aren't there a lot of French terms in chess?
• 25D: "... two fives for __?" (A TEN).
• 38D: "Gross!" ("YECH!"). I can't be the only one who tried "yuck" first.
• 46D: Heracles' beloved (IOLE). I've learned a few mythical characters just from solving puzzles. This isn't one of them.
• 50D: Gearshift letters (PRNDL). Park-Reverse-Neutral-Drive-Low.
• 51D: Heads, to Henri (TÊTES). Now there's my French!

Crosswordese 101: There are a few ways to clue the entry ANI. In the L.A. Times, the most common is the one used today: 8D: Singer/songwriter DiFranco. Next is a reference to the clue as a "Wheel of Fortune" buy ("I'd like to buy AN I, Pat.") That clue is tricky, because it's also used to clue AN E. ANI is also the nickname of Anikin Skywalker in "Star Wars" and the word for a big blackbird, but you're only likely to see that clue in late-week puzzles. Of course, my favorite way to clue AN I is as the partial "'Gimme _____!': start of a Hawkeye cheer." Go Hawks!

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

• 19A: High nest (AERIE).
• 30A: Hockey great (ORR).
• 63A: Theater honor (OBIE).

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Everything Else — 5A: Greenish-blue (AQUA); 13A: "Gimme __": "Be right with you" (A SEC); 14A: Turn one's nose up at (SPURN); 15A: __ the fat (CHEW); 20A: Very capable (ADEPT); 26A: Sound during a massage (AAH); 27A: Do a goalkeeper's job (DEFEND); 28A: Island in the French West Indies, familiarly (ST. BART'S); 31A: Elect (VOTE IN); 39A: Uses a LaserJet (PRINTS); 40A: "Oh, what a tangled __ we weave": Scott (WEB); 42A: Island nation west of Haiti (JAMAICA); 45A: Mineral used in glassmaking (SILICA); 48A: "... man __ mouse?" (OR A); 52A: Nairobi is its capital (KENYA); 54A: Kingdom (REALM); 61A: Time for lunch (NOON); 62A: Machu Picchu's range (ANDES); 65A: Makes slick, in a way (OILS); 66A: Letters at the end of a love letter (XOXO); 1D: Boxer's target (JAW); 3D: Cultural funding gp. (NEA); 4D: C to C, e.g. (OCTAVE); 5D: Nuisance to gardeners (APHID); 6D: Kooky (QUEER); 7D: Suffix with sub (-URB); 9D: Low-pH substance (ACID); 10D: "Goodness!" ("OH DEAR!"); 11D: Try and try again (KEEP AT); 12D: Mowed strips (SWATHS); 17D: Witnessed (SEEN); 21D: Altar words (I DO); 22D: Gnus' group (HERD); 23D: Hairstyle for Hendrix (AFRO); 24D: These, in Juarez (ESTAS); 29D: Prefix with gram (ANA-); 31D: __ cavae: large blood vessels (VENAE); 32D: Frequently, to a bard (OFT); 34D: Dance-storm link (UP A); 35D: Like some showers (BRIDAL); 36D: Wingless parasites (LICE); 37D: Gulp from a flask (SWIG); 41D: Creature that "sees" using echolocation (BAT); 42D: Pulling one's leg (JOKING); 43D: Schoolyard argument retort (ARE TOO); 44D: Controversial rocker Marilyn (MANSON); 45D: Old Persian rulers (SHAHS); 47D: Klutz (LUMMOX); 53D: Partner of yin (YANG); 56D: __-tzu (LAO); 57D: Pasta ending (-INI); 58D: Native of Nigeria (IBO); 59D: Prohibit (NIX); 60D: "Gloria in Excelsis __" (DEO).

T U E S D A Y November 9, 2010 Julian Lim

Theme: I'm All In — Theme answers all end with words used to describe the cards dealt in the poker game Texas Hold 'Em.


Theme answers:

• 17A: High jump technique created by 1968 Olympic gold medalist Dick (FOSBURY FLOP).
• 27A: K-shaped reversal on the road (THREE-POINT TURN).
• 45A: Longest Canadian waterway (MACKENZIE RIVER).
• 60A: World Series of Poker Main Event no-limit game whose 2010 winner will be revealed tonight—the last words of 17-, 27- and 45-Across refer to the cards dealt between rounds of betting (TEXAS HOLD 'EM).

Slight issue. The 2010 WSOP winner was revealed last night. He is Quebec's Jonathan Duhamel.

So, yeah. Not really sure what to make of that. But anyway, I flew through this puzzle pretty quickly and didn't see the theme until I got to the reveal, which is a shame because I like it! If you're not familiar with TEXAS HOLD 'EM, this theme meant nothing to you. If you're interested in learning a little about the game (and what this theme means), here's a quick overview of how the game works. (Full Tilt Poker? Why that's just a random site I found. I swear I've never spent hours and hours (and hours and hours) (… and hours and hours) on Full Tilt Poker!)

Bullets:

• 1A: One who's all skin and bones (SCRAG). There's that word again. Didn't we just see it recently?
• 6A: Talmudic scholar (RABBI). I do some freelance work for a synagoguge, and I really have to concentrate hard to avoid adding a T every time I type the word RABBI.

• 36A: "My Dinner With Andre" director Louis (MALLE). I know the movie, but didn't know the director.
• 41A: Dahl's "Fantastic" title character (MR. FOX). Ha! If you were around yesterday, you probably got this one no problem!
• 27D: Pageant crown (TIARA). Have you ever watched "Toddlers and Tiaras"? Each episode follows two or three young (very young!) pageant contestants. It's … horrifying.
• 28D: Somewhat unhinged (HALF-CRAZED). Most interesting entry in the grid.
• 33D: "That tastes great!" ("MMMM!"). This is something you really hate to see.
• 37D: Norse trickster (LOKI). We'll cover LOKI in Crosswordese 301.

Crosswordese 101: If a clue refers to a type of music as Caribbean, Jamaican, and/or related to reggae or calypso, odds are you're looking for SKA (51A: Caribbean music). I learned about SKA from crossword puzzles. I've also found it to be a really useful word in Scrabble. I don't know much about SKA, but that's not surprising considering I had never heard of reggae until I went to college. People are like, "Do you like reggae?" and I'm all, "Um … yeah, of course. Love it! … Has anyone seen my dictionary? ..."

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

• 34A: Leftover scraps (ORTS).
• 53A: Eye layer (UVEA).
• 65A: Popeye's creator (SEGAR).
• 67A: Ppd. enclosures (SASES).
• 32D: Maui goose (NENE).
• 55D: River in the Bernese Alps (AARE).

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Everything Else — 11A: Attire in which to retire, briefly (PJS); 14A: __ donna (PRIMA); 15A: Startle (ALARM); 16A: Jay-Z's music genre (RAP); 19A: December 24th, e.g. (EVE); 20A: String ensemble instrument (CELLO); 21A: French greeting (ALLO); 22A: Lumberjack's tool (SAW); 23A: Street shaders (ELMS); 25A: Some nest eggs, for short (IRAS); 33A: Filmdom's Farrow (MIA); 35A: Chilling (EERIE); 39A: "__ a done deal" (IT'S); 40A: Victoria's lasted longer than that of any other British monarch (REIGN); 42A: Speak highly of (TOUT); 44A: Saldana of "Avatar" (ZOE); 49A: Puerto __ (RICO); 50A: Matching (SAME); 56A: Sales pitch (SPIEL); 59A: Candy in a dispenser (PEZ); 63A: Milne's "Now We __ Six" (ARE); 64A: Año beginning (ENERO); 66A: Get __ of: discard (RID); 68A: Utopias (EDENS); 1D: Sunscreen letters (SPF); 2D: Swamp beast (CROC); 3D: It may be meteoric (RISE); 4D: Slow walker (AMBLER); 5D: Charles de __ (GAULLE); 6D: Blu-__ Disc (RAY); 7D: With 18-Down, sporty Italian wheels (ALFA); 8D: Really good time (BALL); 9D: "W." star Josh (BROLIN); 10D: Tariff payer (IMPORTER); 11D: Prepare, as a bottle launcher (PRESSURIZE); 12D: Jakarta's island (JAVA); 13D: Expel with force (SPEW); 18D: See 7-Down (ROMEO); 24D: Perfume squirt (SPRITZ); 26D: Suit to __ (A TEE); 29D: 10th-century emperor (OTTO I); 30D: Comic books, e.g. (ISSUES); 31D: Hardship (RIGOR); 38D: Does, as a task (EXECUTES); 43D: Speak ill of (TRASH); 46D: Nine-day devotion (NOVENA); 47D: Levy, as a tariff (IMPOSE); 48D: Like many Muslim women (VEILED); 51D: Trade easy punches (SPAR); 52D: Skin lotion brand (KERI); 54D: Spouses no more (EXES); 57D: On __: nervous (EDGE); 58D: Far from fatty (LEAN); 61D: Urgent call at sea (SOS); 62D: __ Fields: cookie brand (MRS.).

S U N D A Y October 17, 2010 Julian Lim (syndicated)

Theme: "I Have a Weird Feeling …" — Anagrammed words for various emotions are hidden in the theme answers.

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


Theme answers:

• 22A: "The Age of Turbulence" memoirist (ALAN GREENSPAN). [anger]
• 29A: Still in Hollywood (FREEZE FRAME). [fear]
• 32A: Event with a "six metres club" (POLE VAULT). [love]
• 45A: Treaty of Paris conflict, 1763 (THE SEVEN YEARS WAR). [envy]
• 59A: Defense strategy that's not an option in some states (INSANITY PLEA). [pity]
• 71A: Scandalmongers, often (TABLOID PRESS). [pride]
• 83A: Nintendo game that involves rescuing a princess (THE LEGEND OF ZELDA). [glee]
• 92A: "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" performer (BILLY JOEL). [joy]
• 94A: Common cell (MOBILE PHONE). [hope]
• 109A: Conflict, and a hint to unraveling the puzzle's circled letters (MIXED EMOTIONS).

There were no circles in my grid so I'm totally guessing on the theme answers. If I missed any, please let me know in the comments and I'll add them here.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 40A: Big name in beauty (ESTÉE).
• 57A: Sushi bar supplier (EELER).
• 90A: Yeats's "__ and the Swan" (LEDA).
• 61D: Fed. auditor (GAO).
• 86D: Lemon add-on (-ADE).
• 98D: Siouan tribesmen (OTOES).

Everything Else — 1A: Hied (SPED); 5A: Redbox rental (DVD); 8A: Fond du __, Wisconsin (LAC); 11A: NH3 (AMMONIA); 18A: Apple part (CORE); 19A: Service station offering (AIR); 20A: "Rubáiyát" rhyme scheme (AABA); 21A: Trying to catch a break? (X-RAYING); 25A: Speculator's reply to "Where's all your money?" (I LOST IT); 26A: Bob Marley, e.g. (RASTA); 27A: Pupil of Plato (ARISTOTLE); 38A: Vet (EX-G.I.); 39A: Suvari of "American Pie" (MENA); 40A: Big name in beauty (ESTÉE); 41A: "The X-Files" extras (FEDS); 50A: Dr. Alzheimer (ALOIS); 52A: Dwells (RESIDES); 53A: Stretch out using (LIE ON); 54A: Many of their pieces are nearly identical (JIGSAWS); 57A: Sushi bar supplier (EELER); 58A: Homeys (PALS); 61A: Like pheasant (GAMY); 62A: Little rat (PUP); 65A: Slave (TOIL); 66A: Corrosive fluids (LYES); 67A: What vacationers are without, by choice (CARE); 68A: Batman co-creator (KANE); 69A: It "enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time": Merton (ART); 70A: Exploded (BLEW); 75A: "Charlie's Angels" angel Munroe (KRIS); 76A: Fracas (MELEE); 77A: Ball Park Franks maker (SARA LEE); 78A: Links site (CHAIN); 80A: Bread component? (SILENT A); 82A: Key of the overture to Mozart's "The Magic Flute" (E FLAT); 87A: "See ya!" ("TA-TA!"); 88A: Buddy List user (AOLER); 89A: Heading under which cabs are listed (REDS); 90A: Yeats's "__ and the Swan" (LEDA); 101A: Heart stimulant brand (ADRENALIN); 103A: Romantic cocktail garnish (PETAL); 104A: First frat at U.C. Berkeley (ZETA PSI); 112A: Delta follower (EPSILON); 113A: Sacha Baron Cohen character (ALI G); 114A: __ de Cologne (EAU); 115A: Tenth: Pref. (DECI-); 116A: She played Sasha Monroe on "Third Watch" (NIA LONG); 117A: 83-Across console (NES); 118A: Banned pesticide (DDT); 119A: "Understood" ("I SEE"); 1D: Gobble (down) (SCARF); 2D: Opposite (POLAR); 3D: Make blank (ERASE); 4D: Pasta order word (DENTE); 5D: __ es Salaam (DAR); 6D: Fight (for) (VIE); 7D: Less upbeat (DREARIER); 8D: Error (LAPSE); 9D: Like __ out of 79-Down (A BAT); 10D: Spam-revealing aid? (CAN OPENER); 11D: Deodorant targets, anatomically (AXILLAE); 12D: 1957 Bobbettes hit (MR. LEE); 13D: Great Leap Forward architect (MAO); 14D: Cries of dismay (OYS); 15D: Niggling detail (NIT); 16D: Trattoria menu suffix (-INI); 17D: Thespian's rep. (AGT.); 20D: "__ sure you've heard ..." (AS I'M); 23D: Wondering look (GAZE); 24D: Org. with many arms (NRA); 28D: Theater awards (TONYS); 30D: No. after a phone no. (EXT.); 31D: Alphabet trio (FGH); 33D: Indeed (VERILY); 34D: Boneheads (ASSES); 35D: Old CIA plane (U-TWO); 36D: Like times of famine (LEAN); 37D: Thrice, in Rx's (TER); 39D: Euripides tragedy (MEDEA); 41D: Sizzling Tex-Mex meat (FAJITA); 42D: "The Ladies' Man" author Lipman (ELINOR); 43D: Watch Fido, say (DOGS IT); 44D: Hemp fiber (SISAL); 46D: Filters (through) (SEEPS); 47D: German donkey (ESEL); 48D: Odious (VILE); 49D: Arbored Southwestern walkway (ALAMEDA); 51D: Japanese honorific (SAN); 55D: Game (WILLING); 56D: Optical maladies (STYES); 58D: Montmartre's city (PARIS); 60D: Longbow wood (YEW); 61D: Fed. auditor (GAO); 62D: Valencian rice dish (PAELLA); 63D: Depose (UNSEAT); 64D: Old Catalan coin (PESETA); 67D: Former Yankee Boyer (CLETE); 68D: Singles promoter? (KRAFT); 70D: Prickly, plantwise (BRIERY); 71D: Final purpose, to Aristotle (TELOS); 72D: First Hebrew letter: Var. (ALEF); 73D: Daimler contemporary (BENZ); 74D: Game opener? (PRE-); 75D: Survivor of Krypton's destruction (KAL EL); 76D: Broker (MIDDLE MAN); 78D: K.J. __, first Korean to win on the PGA Tour (CHOI); 79D: See 9-Down (HELL); 80D: Villainous look (SNEER); 81D: 1967 Temptations hit (ALL I NEED); 83D: Check (TAB); 84D: Disintegrating (ERODING); 85D: Penn. neighbor (DEL.); 86D: Lemon add-on (-ADE); 91D: PDA entry (APPT.); 93D: 39-Down's spouse (JASON); 94D: Leg hiders (MAXIS); 95D: Designer Cassini (OLEG); 96D: Didn't pass, in bridge (BID); 97D: Alpine protagonist (HEIDI); 98D: Siouan tribesmen (OTOES); 99D: '30s V.P. John __ Garner (NANCE); 100D: Milk pitcher? (ELSIE); 102D: River past Thebes (NILE); 104D: Buddhist sect (ZEN); 105D: Start to cure? (EPI-); 106D: Hijack-prevention org. (TSA); 107D: Feel peaked (AIL); 108D: Oslo Accords gp. (PLO); 110D: Furious (MAD); 111D: Partner of about (OUT).

F R I D A Y August 13, 2010 Julian Lim

Theme: Film Farm — Farm~ish animals discuss which movie to rent. Had I been able to find a copy of the Far Side "Mating Calls" strip, you know the one, with "Hey bay-bee! Hey bay-bee!", I'd have gone with "Dating Calls" or something.



Theme answers:

• 17A: The animals were bored, and the cows suggested a (MOOVIE NIGHT).
• 20A: "Great idea!" said the goats. "Let's watch (MAAS ATTACKS)."
• 35A: "How lowbrow!" said the cats. "We much prefer (THE COLOR PURRPLE)."
• 50A: "Too serious!" said the pigeons. "Why don't we go with (COO HAND LUKE)?"
  
• 55A: But in the end, the sheep had their way, and they all watched (BAABAARELLA).

PuzzleFamily is in Colorado, which you know if you've been following along. PuzzleGirl's gonna have a hellish travel day, which I know because she told me. "SethG," she said, "we're going to have what is shaping up to be a hellish travel day." I'm SethG.

She also sent me what turned out to be a completed copy of the puzzle, which I noticed before I actually focused enough on the grid to see any of the answers. I did note what I presume to be her completion time, which turned out to be faster than mine. We never compare times, but I think she's generally a bit faster than me, especially on the early-week puzzles, and I have maybe a slight advantage over her in completing some of the harder, end-of-the-week puzzles. As for today's slower time, I blame puns.

Somehow I got MAAS ATTACKS with I think no crosses. I've seen it, but it's maybe not as famous as the others. My fondest memory:

Slim Whitman YODELing (65A: Produce some cliff notes?) makes their heads explode!

If I'd been in the barnyard I'd have been pulleting for COO HAND LUKE, but BAABAARELLA is a noble choice. I'm gonna assume the sheep were male.

Some stuff:

• 15A: "But I don't want to go among mad people" speaker (ALICE). Another movie, though I didn't like the new one so much. I'm a big fan of the books, though.
• 22A: One may have an undulating floor (FUNHOUSE). Because seasick is fun.
  
• 32A: Software for creating bibliographies (ENDNOTE). Didn't know it, but it makes sense. Like 63A: L'École __ Roches: French private school (DES) or 48D: Events where the dessert haupia is served (LUAUS). You don't need to know an answer to enter it from a few crosses. Logical inference!
• 45A: Supreme Court nominee Kagan (ELENA) has been Associate Justice Kagan for almost a week now.
• 61A: "Bye!" ("ADIEU!") and 62A: Say "Hi!" to (GREET) form a nice pair.
• 8D: Inverse of nano- (GIGA-). They're both nonally magnituded. As opposed to 9D: Eight, in Aachen (ACHT).
• Not a big fan of 43D: Lunchbox snack (COOKIE) crossing the COO theme answer at the COO. I am a big fan of Cookie Monster, though.
  
  
• 52D: Bupkis, in Barcelona (NADA). Bupkis is one of my absolute favorite words. Those are more favorite than just my favorite words.
  

Crosswordese 101: CIE. I have no idea what this actually means. Because it's in French. But constructors seem to like it, and it turns out you don't need to know exactly. It's a French business abbreviation. If you see anything about a Boulogne business abbr., (16A: Co. in Cannes), Ltd. in Lyon, Inc. overseas, etc., it's CIE.

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Everything Else — 1A: Weenie (TWERP); 6A: Certain alien (LEGAL); 11A: With 58-Down, "Taking Woodstock" director (ANG); 14A: Many an IM user (AOL'ER); 19A: False pretense (ACT); 26A: Viti Levu is its largest island (FIJI); 27A: Salt's salutations (AHOYS); 28A: Nouveau riche (UPSTART); 31A: Piece conclusion (CODA); 40A: Check for flaws (INSPECT); 41A: Give __ up: assist (A LEG); 42A: Cry at a faith healing (I CAN SEE); 46A: Abolitionist Lucretia (MOTT); 47A: 1949 Gatsby portrayer (ALAN LADD); 54A: Sanctioned (OK'D); 60A: Jar head (LID); 64A: Support pieces (BASES); 1D: Highlander's cap (TAM); 2D: Seek support from (WOO); 3D: Jeff Lynne's band (ELO); 4D: MLK's title (REV.); 5D: Piano duet parts (PRIMOS); 6D: Turner and Wood (LANAS); 7D: Beethoven title name (ELISE); 10D: Lithuanian's neighbor (LETT); 11D: Whistling thorn, e.g. (ACACIA); 12D: Channel for little kids (NICK JR.); 13D: Laughs at a joke (GETS IT); 18D: Perrier, e.g. (EAU); 21D: Nevertheless (AFTER ALL); 22D: Trivia buff's fodder (FACT); 23D: "Here comes trouble!" ("UH-OH!"); 24D: Anatomical knot (NODE); 25D: Plant with colorful flower clusters (HYACINTH); 28D: Gender-biased, briefly (UN-PC); 29D: Sulk (POUT); 30D: Violas' sect. (STR.); 32D: More (ELSE); 33D: Informal turndown (NOPE); 34D: "Forgot About __": hip-hop hit (DRE); 36D: Walk-__: bit parts (ONS); 37D: Fervent request (PLEA); 38D: Give conditionally (LEND); 39D: Quaint "Yowza!" ("EGAD!"); 42D: "Turn up the heat!" ("I'M COLD!"); 44D: Like bitter rivals (AT ODDS); 45D: Verve (ENERGY); 47D: "The Zoo Story" playwright (ALBEE); 49D: Dossier abbr. (AKA); 51D: Rhyme scheme in many sonnets (ABAB); 53D: Address site (DAIS); 56D: Ranch closing? (-ERO); 57D: Spearheaded (LED); 58D: See 11-Across (LEE); 59D: Part of NATO: Abbr. (ATL.).

SUNDAY, June 20, 2010 — Julian Lim (syndicated)

Theme: "Course Humor" — Golf puns!

[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: Golfer's excuse for a bad chip shot? (IRON DEFICIENCY).
• 29A: Golfer's shot into a water hazard? (STROKE OF MISFORTUNE).
• 49A: Golfer's lament about failing to recognize different ball positions? (I CANNOT TELL A LIE).
• 65A: What a golfer who's not playing well doesn't do? (GET IN THE SWING OF THINGS).
• 84A: Mind-set for a golfer wary of sand? (BUNKER MENTALITY).
• 109A: Golfer's admission after missing fairways? (I HAD A ROUGH TIME).

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 52A: Digs up? (AERIE).
• 71A: Greek marketplaces (AGORAE).
• 80A: Indian nurses (AMAHS).
• 90A: Long bones (ULNAE).
• 57D: Muslim general (AGA).
• 105D: 1847 novel set on Tahiti (OMOO).
• 107D: Paris possessive (SES).
• 114D: Craggy crest (TOR).

Everything Else — 1A: Some bars (BREW PUBS); 9A: Benjamin (C-SPOT); 14A: Political fugitive (ÉMIGRÉ); 20A: Communications collectible (RADIO SET); 21A: Overgrown tract (HEATH); 22A: Intolerant (NARROW); 25A: Swing one's hips (GYRATE); 26A: It's multifaceted (GEM); 27A: Bridge opening, for short (ONE NO); 28A: Checking line (REIN); 38A: Naval officer (ADMIRAL); 41A: Volume-control devices, in recording (FADERS); 42A: Scads (A LOT); 43A: Stared salaciously (LEERED); 44A: Where to get off: Abbr. (STA.); 47A: Categories (TYPES); 48A: Like Key lime pie (TART); 53A: Green light (NOD); 54A: Baseball great Combs (EARLE); 55A: Fills with cargo (LADES); 57A: Dols. and cts. (AMTS.); 59A: Start of a 1961 inaugural quote (ASK NOT); 60A: Religious rift (SCHISM); 72A: Got watery, in a way (TEARED); 73A: Thugs' pieces (GATS); 74A: Friendship bracelet items (BEADS); 78A: Drawn fawn (BAMBI); 79A: "Kung Fu" actor (AHN); 89A: __ of Silence: "Get Smart" security device (CONE); 91A: Melancholic (SAD); 92A: Mike user, maybe (ORATOR); 93A: Minuscule amount (IOTA); 94A: Brad of "Deuces Wild" (RENFRO); 96A: Noms de guerre (ANONYMS); 97A: Golfer's slicing tee shot? (DRIVE AROUND THE BEND); 102A: Describe in drawing (LIMN); 103A: Ties (EVENS); 104A: Crowd around, as a celebrity (MOB); 107A: Pope who met with Attila the Hun (ST. LEO I); 115A: 1974 Mocedades hit (ERES TU); 116A: Fix, as a green (RESOD); 117A: Ford 1925 "Tin Goose" aircraft, e.g. (TRIMOTOR); 118A: Vegas strategy (SYSTEM); 119A: Neural impulse carriers (AXONS); 120A: Sitcom sewer worker (ED NORTON); 1D: Sea cell (BRIG); 2D: Hard to come by (RARE); 3D: Kingdom south of Moab (EDOM); 4D: Prevail (WIN); 5D: Cast intro? (POD-); 6D: "__ the force ..." (USE); 7D: Hoodwink (BEFOOL); 8D: Play terribly (STINK); 9D: Trouser material (CHINO); 10D: Yell "Bon voyage!" to (SEE OFF); 11D: Searing utensil (PAN); 12D: Non-Rx (OTC); 13D: Your, of yore (THY); 14D: Rivet (ENGROSS); 15D: "Waiting on the World to Change" singer John (MAYER); 16D: Chafe (IRRITATE); 17D: Like salt (GRANULAR); 18D: Baloney (ROT); 19D: One in a flock (EWE); 24D: Start to cry? (CEE); 29D: Soldier's barked denial (SIR NO SIR); 30D: General heading (TREND); 31D: Maker of the V10K, the world's hardest watch (RADO); 32D: __ Hari (MATA); 33D: Tennyson work (IDYLL); 34D: Old photo tint (SEPIA); 35D: Unfettered (FREED); 36D: Sushi seaweed (NORI); 37D: Luncheon end? (-ETTE); 38D: Husband of Fatima (ALI); 39D: Fourth-qtr. month (DEC.); 40D: Predestined, with "be" (MEANT TO); 44D: Gambler's fund (STAKE); 45D: Ocean fliers (TERNS); 46D: Tolerate (ALLOW); 50D: New Ager John (TESH); 51D: Beatles' last album (LET IT BE); 52D: Writer Sholem (ASCH); 56D: Abbr. pertaining to origin (ESTD.); 58D: Gig fraction (MEG); 59D: To __: exactly (A TEE); 61D: Plateau (HIGHLAND); 62D: Foolishness (INANITY); 63D: Snorkel, e.g.: Abbr. (SGT.); 64D: Ed.'s workload (MSS.); 66D: Apprehends (NABS); 67D: Gets close to (NEARS); 68D: Harmful ray type (GAMMA); 69D: Spherical (ORBED); 70D: Sinn __ (FEIN); 75D: More likely to get hired (ABLER); 76D: "I'm stumped!" ("DUNNO!"); 77D: Big mess (SNAFU); 79D: Claire's baby, on "Lost" (AARON); 80D: Battery fluid (ACID); 81D: Peaty wasteland (MOOR); 82D: CuraÁao's chain (ANTILLES); 83D: Most weighty (HEAVIEST); 85D: "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" composer (KERN); 86D: Vocal quality (TONE); 87D: Mix in oaters (TOM); 88D: Hist. class data (YRS.); 90D: Coffinite element (URANIUM); 95D: Had way too much (OD'ED ON); 96D: Preposterous (ABSURD); 98D: Ham it up (EMOTE); 99D: Super Bowl highlights? (TV ADS); 100D: "Talk to __": 2002 Almodóvar film (HER); 101D: Online reminder (ENOTE); 104D: Chef's protection (MITT); 106D: Alpine capital (BERN); 108D: Effort (TRY); 109D: Tax-deferral vehicle, for short (IRA); 110D: Bewitch (HEX); 111D: Japanese prime minister who succeeded Fukuda in 2008 (ASO); 112D: Gimlet choice (GIN); 113D: Insurance gp. (HMO).

TUESDAY, February 9, 2010 — Julian Lim

Theme: A and E — Theme answers are two-word phrases with the initials A.E.

Theme answers:

• 17A: Using a treadmill, e.g. (AEROBIC EXERCISE).
• 26A: Regional air travel brand since 1984 (AMERICAN EAGLE).
• 43A: Aviator who said "the lure of flying is the lure of beauty" (AMELIA EARHART).
• 56A: Movie DVD special feature, perhaps (ALTERNATE ENDING).
• 61A: "Dog the Bounty Hunter" network, and a hint to the theme in this puzzle's four longest answers (A AND E).

Perfectly serviceable Tuesday puzzle. Theme not anything to write home about, but clunker fill is at a minimum and I would say some of the fill is actually pretty lively. Like ARCANA (6D: Major or Minor tarot card group), POINSETTIA (11D: Leaves for the holidays?), and EXTRA EXTRA (28D: Old-time breaking news cry). ARSENAL (42D: Munitions center) is kinda interesting too.

Just a couple things:

• 21A: The Beatles' "__ Loser" (I'M A). When I was in high school we had this joke that anytime someone called someone else a "loser," what they were really saying was "sex goddess." Now, why we were joking around with phrases like "sex goddess" is an interesting question. Completely inappropriate!
• 32A: Round-buyer's words (ON ME). Had no idea what this clue was going for. I was thinking along the lines of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat."
• 37A: "I don't think so!" ("NO WAY!"). PuzzleHusband's response to my text message that there was an actual snow plow on our street this evening.

• 53A: Former Pakistani president (ZIA). I know ZIA as the sun symbol of the Zia Indians, but it's rarely clued that way.
• 63A: Game with six colorful characters (CLUE). Have you seen the new version? Players send text messages to each other. Or something. It's very high-tech.
• 64A: Google alternative (LYCOS). Raise your hand if you tried YAHOO first.
• 4D: "I've got you now!" ("OHO!"). Can we just stop using this particular exclamation in the puzzles? Who's with me?

• 24D: Kids' outdoor winter project (SNOWMAN). The picture is my neighbor with her awesome snowman from last week.
• 30D: Actress Adams of "Enchanted" (AMY). Coincidentally, Adams played AMELIA EARHEART in "Night at the Museum II." I also believe one of my co-bloggers has a little crush on her.

Crosswordese 101: Well, we've already talked about OLIO, but somehow got this far without addressing OLEO (2D: Land O'Lakes product). OLIO-with-an-I is a mishmash, a hodgepodge, a mixed bag. OLEO-with-an-E, on the other hand, is … margarine. Clues for OLEO are toughened up by referring to specific brands of margarine (e.g., Promise and Blue Bonnet) or by using words like roll ("on a roll"), spread ("spread out"), and clarified in a tricky way. So keep an eye out for those.

Everything Else — 1A: Part of DMV (MOTOR); 6A: Need a backrub, say (ACHE); 10A: "__-daisy!" (UPSA); 14A: Nobel Peace Prize winner Root (ELIHU); 15A: Walk like a drunk (REEL); 16A: Entre __ (between us) (NOUS); 20A: 29-Down, for one (DOE); 22A: Relating to flight technology (AVIONIC); 23A: Laurel and Getz (STANS); 25A: Medicine amount to take (DOSE); 31A: Either Bush, e.g. (TEXAN); 33A: Baker's meas. (TSP.); 36A: Leftover bits (ORTS); 39A: "__ boy!" (ATTA); 40A: On the authority of (PER); 41A: Friend (CHUM); 42A: Vietnamese, e.g. (ASIAN); 47A: Corp. heads (CEOS); 48A: Hospital staffer (NURSE); 49A: Beer unit (SIX-PACK); 52A: Former telecom giant (GTE); 59A: Encircle (GIRD); 60A: Fiber-rich food (BRAN); 62A: Many MP-3 player batteries (AAAS); 1D: Honeyed liquor (MEAD); 3D: Run out of gas (TIRE); 5D: Add insult to injury (RUB IT IN); 7D: So-so mark (CEE); 8D: Penta- plus one (HEXA-); 9D: Mt. Fuji statistic (ELEV.); 10D: Dweebish (UNCOOL); 12D: Sleeping girl in an Everly Brothers hit (SUSIE); 13D: "Hang on __" (A SEC); 18D: All-in-one Apple computer (IMAC); 19D: Crest (RIDGE); 23D: Mmes., in Madrid (SRAS.); 26D: Resting on (ATOP); 27D: Trifling (MERE); 29D: Bambi's aunt (ENA); 34D: Marquee name (STAR); 35D: Gasp (PANT); 37D: Org. with Senators and Capitals (NHL); 38D: Québécois's approval (OUI); 39D: Queens tennis stadium (ASHE); 41D: Civil rights activist Chávez (CÉSAR); 44D: Bermuda rentals (MOPEDS); 45D: University of Oregon city (EUGENE); 46D: Museo hangings (ARTE); 47D: Eyelashes (CILIA); 49D: The Star Wars films, e.g. (SAGA); 50D: "Squawk Box" network (CNBC); 51D: Bush advisor Rove (KARL); 53D: Brass component (ZINC); 54D: Prefix with China (INDO-); 55D: Awfully long time (AGES); 57D: Fraternity letter (TAU); 58D: Word before break or care (DAY).