S U N D A Y December 5, 2010 Nora Pearlstone (syndicated)

Theme: "CD Changers" — An initial letter "C" is changed to a "D" in each of nine familiar phrases, creating new zany entries.

[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: Athlete's illegal plan? (DOPING STRATEGY).
• 44A: Inevitably short story of a track event? (DASH ACCOUNT).
• 68A: Derrières? (FRENCH DUFFS).
• 96A: Contented furnace part? (HAPPY DAMPER).
• 119A: Pass receiver's nightmare? (DREAM OF THE DROP).
• 13D: Dangerous links game? (GOLF DARTS).
• 41D: Where authors exhibit unedited work? (DRAFTS FAIR).
• 44D: Designated area for Southern dialogue? (DRAWL SPACE).
• 83D: City employee who helps with the dishes? (TOWN DRIER).

This is your regular Sunday host, Doug P, back with another helping of cruciverbial goodies. Today's puzzle is by Nora Pearlstone, a very talented and experienced constructor. When I saw the byline, I knew it was going to be a quality puzzle. The only theme entry that caused me to raise an eyebrow was HAPPY DAMPER, because it's hard to visualize a "contented furnace part." Maybe he's friends with the Brave Little Toaster.

My favorite theme entry was DREAM OF THE DROP. It's quite clever, and the double "CD change" is a nice way to finish off the puzzle. And there's a reason that DREAM OF THE DROP is the last across entry: the constructor didn't want solvers to think that every theme entry would involve a double letter change. If DREAM OF THE DROP was up top at 23-Across, then we'd all be wondering "Why don't the rest of them change two C's to D's?" By placing DREAM OF THE DROP at the end of the puzzle, solvers should recognize it as a bonus. Of course, some people might start solving the puzzle in the lower right corner, but they're probably weirdos.

Bullets:

• 1A: Post-commencement fliers? (CAPS). A tough one to start with at 1-Across. Think about graduates throwing their mortarboards into the air. I don't remember doing that, but it's been a long time since I was in school.

• 19A: Snack with several eating options (OREO). All of the options work for me.
• 49A: Hopping desert rodent (JERBOA). I was going to include a picture of a jerboa, but it basically looked like a rat, and who wants to look at a rat? 
• 6D: Some NFL blockers (RGS). Short for right guards. And sometimes you'll see LGS for left guards. There are also RTS (right tackles) and LTS (left tackles), but those are usually clued as abbreviations for "rights" and "lieutenants," respectively.
• 9D: 20th-century Canadian composer André (MATHIEU). Wow, André Mathieu is one of the Frenchiest names I've ever seen. Never heard of him, but that doesn't mean much. Composers aren't my forte. Here's a snippet from Wikipedia: "Mathieu began composing at the age of 4. At age 6, Mathieu gave his first recital of his own composition at the Ritz Carleton Hotel in Montreal." OK, well I'm sure I was doing important stuff at age 6 too. Let's move on.
• 12D: Seth of "SNL" (MEYERS). This was a mystery to me. I haven't watched "Saturday Night Live" in years. 

• 42D: Overused word at the nursery (CUTE). My first thought was a nursery where they sell plants, and I couldn't imagine what word would be "overused." Topsoil? Trowel? Mulch?
• 48D: Classified charge (ADFEE). It won't be long before "classified ads" are something that only old people remember. And I guess I'll be one of the old people. 
• 62D: One weber per square meter (TESLA). A physics unit for measuring magnetic fields, named after the great Nikola Tesla. He also inspired the name of a rockin' band. (There are some bad words in this song, so don't click on the video if you have sensitive ears.)

• 111D: Prefix with -aholic (CHOC). Do chocaholics like Oreos? Because everyone knows that the chocolate wafers are the worst part of the cookie.

If anything else caught your eye, feel free to mention it in the comments. See you next week.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 65A: Asian celebration (TET).
• 100A: Children's author Blyton (ENID).
• 56D: Chariot ending (EER).

Everything Else —  5A: Skirmish (FRAY); 9A: Polite address (MAAM); 13A: Freedom of speech inhibitor (GAGLAW); 20A: Grimm bad guy (OGRE); 21A: Adolescent woe (ACNE); 22A: Shopping with a mouse, say (ONLINE); 26A: Check up (on) (LOOKIN); 27A: Put to work (EMPLOY); 28A: Whom a physician should heal? (THYSELF); 30A: TV Batman Adam (WEST); 31A: Dost speak (SAYST); 32A: Kenyan tribe (MASAI); 35A: Businesses (TRADES); 37A: Credits (to) (ASCRIBES); 40A: It's nearly bisected by the Missouri R. (SDAK); 41A: Caesar's 601 (DCI); 47A: It's not wall-to-wall (AREARUG); 51A: Cross-country need, perhaps (SKI); 52A: Put on the tube (AIR); 54A: Until now (TODATE); 55A: Sign of a slip (ERASURE); 57A: "SNL" producer Michaels (LORNE); 59A: Endure (SUFFER); 60A: Handful (FEW); 61A: Deceive (LIETO); 64A: Winans of gospel (CECE); 66A: Leave no room in (FILL); 72A: This, in Spain (ESTO); 75A: Distress letters (SOS); 77A: Restaurateur Toots (SHOR); 78A: Exams for sophs or jrs. (PSATS); 80A: Warm lining (FUR); 81A: Influence (IMPACT); 84A: Publishing crime (LIBEL); 86A: Place (SITUATE); 88A: Milan's __ alla Scala (TEATRO); 89A: Dept. in charge of rural development (AGR); 90A: Author Tarbell (IDA); 93A: Brain (GENIUS); 94A: Does without (ESCHEWS); 99A: Dogpatch's Daisy __ (MAE); 102A: Cutting tool handy in tight crevices (SABERSAW); 103A: Football play also called a sweep (ENDRUN); 105A: __ man (LADYS); 106A: Rumor starter? (IHEAR); 111A: General Mills brand (CHEX); 114A: Do some home improvement (REMODEL); 116A: Film set at the Bates Motel (PSYCHO); 117A: Island state (HAWAII); 123A: Delphic medium (ORACLE); 124A: Failed '80s gridiron org. (USFL); 125A: Go (toward) (HEAD); 126A: What kings and courts do (RULE); 127A: Civic or rec follower (CENTER); 128A: Allot, with "out" (METE); 129A: Line on a horse (ODDS); 130A: "__ Death": "Peer Gynt Suite No. 1" movement (ASES); 1D: Sets of regulations (CODES); 2D: Olfactory lure (AROMA); 3D: Energized (PEPPY); 4D: Dirties (SOILS); 5D: Stick-in-the-mud (FOGY); 7D: Gallery display (ART); 8D: "__ durn tootin'!" (YER); 10D: __-deucy (ACEY); 11D: Therapy subject (ANGST); 14D: 365 días (ANO); 15D: Shines (GLOWS);16D: Take a shine to (LIKE); 17D: Spanish liqueur (ANIS); 18D: Took off (WENT); 24D: Nobody at all (NOTASOUL); 25D: Steaming mad (ATABOIL); 29D: Russian auto (LADA); 32D: Longtime Olivia Newton-John label (MCA); 33D: Rainbow paths (ARCS); 34D: Tired partner? (SICK); 36D: Barely make, as a living (EKEOUT); 38D: Bridge star Omar (SHARIF); 39D: Caught in a net (SNARED); 43D: Disney president Robert (IGER); 45D: Tummy muscles (ABS); 46D: Costner links film (TINCUP); 49D: Bridges of "Starman" (JEFF); 50D: "... __ saw Elba" (EREI); 53D: Coral phenomena (REEFS); 58D: Earthy tone (OCHRE); 63D: Above (ONHIGH); 67D: Reluctant (LOATH); 69D: Charmed snakes? (COBRAS); 70D: Notes after mis (FAS); 71D: Mark of disgrace (STIGMA); 73D: "Swan Lake" outfit (TUTU); 74D: Tram car fillers (ORES); 76D: Conceal (SCREEN); 79D: How AA members complete their program (STEPWISE); 81D: News bit (ITEM); 82D: City east of Tempe (MESA); 85D: ChapStick, e.g. (LIPBALM); 87D: A, to Fauré (UNE); 91D: Changed the locks? (DYED); 92D: "He was white and shaken, like __ martini": Wodehouse (ADRY); 95D: Filly's father (SIRE); 97D: Lager alternative (PALEALE); 98D: Barnyard brayer (ASS); 101D: Jerk (DUMDUM); 103D: Right-on (EXACT); 104D: Swedes' neighbors (NORSE); 107D: Victim of Hercules (HYDRA); 108D: Tan shades (ECRUS); 109D: Financially struggling, with "in" (AHOLE); 110D: Boxing ring borders (ROPES); 112D: Wonderland tea party attendee (HARE); 113D: McGregor of "Big Fish" (EWAN); 115D: Skillful (DEFT); 116D: Some profs (PHDS); 118D: Mer land (ILE); 120D: Discoverer's shout (OHO); 121D: Miffed, with "up" (FED); 122D: Tiny amount (TAD).

M O N D A Y October 4, 2010—Lila Cherry

Today's puzzle was not available online by the time I had to leave for work this morning. I'll post it later this evening when I get home. Sorry!
=============

Okay, now that Angela has left for work, we can play. Amy here with a copy of my Diary of a Crossword Fiend post.



THEME: "Gooey Sammich"—Five theme entries begin with the words PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWICH
The theme is a gooey PB&J sammich:

• 17a. [Sources of rowdy criticism] are PEANUT GALLERIES. Does that really take a plural? Singular feels much more familiar.
• 25a. BUTTERBALL is a [Turkey brand].
• 38a. The ampersand, or [&], may be informally called the AND SIGN.
• 49a. [Colorful plastic footwear] is JELLYSHOES. Don’t eat ‘em, folks.
• 59a. [Hawaii once comprised most of them] clues the SANDWICH ISLANDS.

I love some of the longer fill—STAND PAT, BEN STEIN the game show EMCEE, CHAMELEON, and PERCHANCE are terrific entries. Some of the short answers gave me more trouble, which I wasn’t expecting on a Monday (but then, it was before 7 a.m. when I was doing the puzzle, pre-breakfast and pre-caffeine):

• 1a. COCKY means [Self-confident to a fault]. Clear enough, but I drew a blank on it and skipped the upper right corner until later.
• 16a. [ROTC school WSW of Washington, D.C.] is VMI, or Virginia Military Institute. Voo Much Information!
• 32a. [Recline, biblically] clues LIETH. These biblical verb answers are a category of fill that I don’t care for.
• 2d. [Aptly named California coastal city] is indeed aptly named: OCEANSIDE. Too bad Oceanside is pretty much unknown to me.
• 6d. [Severity, in Soho] clues RIGOUR with the British “U” spelling (there’s a Soho in London as well as in New York City).
• 8d. This one was a gimme, but it troubled me. KIL. as [About .62 mi.] is awkward because km is the more widely accepted abbreviation for kilometer.
• 19d. [Opener's next call, in bridge] is REBID. My kid was asking about bridge the other day. My husband told him it was a game for very old people. I said “Hey! Brendan Quigley plays bridge.” My husband said he was an exception. So you see that we are not a bridge-embracing household. Nautical, poker, bridge, and biblical verbs—among my least favorite categories of fill.
• 48d. [Omega preceders], P*IS…is it PHIS or PSIS? I usually have to check the crossing to figure it out. It’s PSIS.
• 60d. [All-Pro Patriots receiver Welker] is named WES…but I’ve never heard of him, I don’t think. Current player, or player of yore?
• 62d. The CCU [Hosp. heart ward] doesn’t get much play in crosswords. It may stand for coronary care unit or cardiac care unit. Other *CUs besides the ICU include the SICU (surgical), MICU (medical), NICU (neonatal or neurological), and PICU (pediatric), none of which you are likely to encounter in crosswords.

Your assignment today is threefold, pupils. It's Blog-It-Yourself Day!

1. Head to YouTube and watch a video that today's puzzle evokes.
2. Do a Google image search on a word like JELLY or BUTTERBALL and find a goofy picture. No, better yet, find a hilarious picture to accompany the word REBID.
3. Nominate your own Crosswordese 101 entry from today's puzzle and see if it's already been covered here. If it hasn't, make up lies about the word.

P.S. Constructor "Lila Cherry" is one of editor Rich Norris's noms de plume.

P.P.S. Sorry about the font madness!

M O N D A Y September 20, 2010 Samantha Wine

Theme: Hiding Out — First words of theme answers describe something/someone that's not here.


Theme answers:

• 20A: Daydreaming (LOST IN THOUGHT).
• 36A: Failing to grasp a key element (MISSING THE POINT).
• 52A: Not expected back at work until tomorrow (GONE FOR THE DAY).

Nice, simple theme for this lovely Monday morning. Looks like we're just going to ease on into the week, which is fine by me. I finished this puzzle in 3:15 which means there was really no resistance anywhere. I can never remember of the ARTHRO- part of ARTHROscopic (12D: Prefix with -scopic) ends in an O or an A, so I just left that square blank until I came back around to it with the cross. Same with 63A: Mauna LOA. As always, it could very well have been KEA, so I just left that one alone and it filled itself in later.

Misc.:

• 18A: On the __: broken (FRITZ). My dad had an uncle named FRITZ. I think that's an awesome name.
• 26A: Funny Costello (LOU). Elvis Costello is pretty funny too, isn't he? No? Okay.

• 43A: What ballerinas dance on (TIPTOE). There's something just a little off about this clue for me. When people are described as walking on tiptoe, they're not actually walking on the tips of their toes. But when ballerinas dance, they really are. Or maybe they're not because of the blocks in the toes of their shoes. I don't know. It just seems a little fuzzy.
• 1D: Trade name abbr. (DBA). Doing Business As.
• 11D: Store to "fall into," in old ads (THE GAP). I have no memory of this slogan. I guess I wasn't paying attention to The Gap in the early 80s.
• 13D: "Scram!" ("BEAT IT!"). Oh sure, why not?



• 45D: Letter-writing friend (PENPAL). Do they still have those?

Crosswordese 101: Syngman RHEE was 35D: South Korea's first president. He served in that position from 1948 until his resignation in 1960. As far as crossword puzzles are concerned, that's all you need to know about him!

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

• 19A: Approx. landing hr. (ETA).
• 42A: IRS agent (T-MAN).
• 49A: Utah city near Provo (OREM).
• 63A: Mauna __ (LOA).
• 62D: Prior to (ERE).

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Everything Else — 1A: Persian Gulf emirate (DUBAI); 6A: Aptly named novelist (READE); 11A: Check for drinks (TAB); 14A: Rocket scientist Wernher von __ (BRAUN); 15A: Use for dinner, as dishes (EAT ON); 16A: Realm from 800-1806: Abbr. (HRE); 17A: Jazzy O'Day (ANITA); 23A: More intimate (CLOSER); 25A: __-mutuel: type of betting (PARI); 27A: Abel's slayer (CAIN); 30A: Tsar or emperor (DESPOT); 32A: It follows the overture (ACT I); 34A: Pressed for time (IN A RUSH); 41A: Conceived of (IDEATED); 46A: Slangy agreement (YEAH); 48A: HVAC measure (BTU); 50A: Uproar (TUMULT); 58A: Econ. yardstick (GNP); 59A: Nebraska city (OMAHA); 60A: Tee shot (DRIVE); 64A: Lees competitor (LEVIS); 65A: Ocean ship (LINER); 66A: Bigger picture: Abbr. (ENL.); 67A: Kosher deli offering (KNISH); 68A: Sharp-eyed bird (EAGLE); 2D: Caterer's vessel (URN); 3D: Controversial financial rescues (BAILOUTS); 4D: Cars (AUTOS); 5D: "Be right there!" ("IN A SEC!"); 6D: Get a better int. rate, probably (REFI); 7D: Make on the job (EARN); 8D: Working busily (AT IT); 9D: "The lady __ protest too much": "Hamlet" (DOTH); 10D: Automaker Ferrari (ENZO); 21D: New employee (TRAINEE); 22D: End result (UPSHOT); 23D: Littleneck, e.g. (CLAM); 24D: Centers of activity (LOCI); 28D: Actress Swenson (INGA); 29D: Smartly dressed (NATTY); 30D: Obstetrician's calculation (DUE DATE); 31D: Psychic's asset, for short (ESP); 33D: "Surely I'm not the only one?!" ("IS IT ME?!"); 37D: Altar promise (I DO); 38D: "Drinks are on yours truly" ("I'M BUYING"); 39D: MLB league (NATL.); 40D: Letter-shaped fastener (T-NUT); 43D: Flip back and forth, as an on-off switch (TOGGLE); 44D: Like some denim patches (IRON-ON); 47D: Circular gridiron gathering (HUDDLE); 51D: "West Side Story" heroine (MARIA); 53D: Music genre that experienced a '50s-'60s revival (FOLK); 54D: Sign of the future (OMEN); 55D: Sitarist Shankar (RAVI); 56D: That's partner (THIS); 57D: Corned beef dish (HASH); 61D: Commercial prefix with -cro (VEL-).

M O N D A Y September 6, 2010 Lila Cherry

Theme: What's black and white and read less and less frequently every day? — Theme answers end with words that can describe parts of a newspaper.


Theme answers:

• 18A: Watch or clock (TIMEPIECE).
• 20A: Second floor of a home, say (UPPER STORY).
• 33A/35A: Real McCoy (GENUINE / ARTICLE).
• 52A: Where to begin adding numbers (ONES COLUMN).
• 54A: Daily publication where you'd read the ends of 18-, 20-, 33/35- and 52-Across (NEWSPAPER).

I'm still a little freaked about learning that the contrusctor of today's New York Times puzzle is also a college wrestling referee. I was pretty sure there weren't any puzzle/wrestling people besides, ya know, me. I can't imagine talking to someone about both puzzles and wrestling. With most people, I can't really talk about either subject. Without them looking at me like I have three heads. Anyway, this is a very cool bit of news. I'm going to have to think about how I can take advantage of it in my quest to take over the world. I'm sure there's a way.

But hey — let's talk about this puzzle. I didn't time myself, but it felt like I blew through it pretty quickly, which is what I expect on Monday of course. The theme is solid, though not incredibly interesting — GENUINE ARTICLE is a nice entry and ONES COLUMN made me chuckle. TIMEPIECE and UPPER STORY don't do much for me, but they're fine. Well, now that I think about, UPPER STORY sounds a little awkward. I would be more likely to say "upper floor" or "second story." But that very well might just be me.

The interesting thing about this puzzle, though, is that it doesn't have much crosswordese at all. We'll talk about ESTER later and we've mentioned AGAPE (17A: Open-mouthed) before, but that's pretty much it.

Bullets:

• 1A: Moved on all fours (CREPT). I kinda wanted "sneek" for this but CREPT is so much better.

• 9A: Action film high point (CHASE). Do people really enjoy the chase scenes? They always bore me.
• 24A: QVC competitor (HSN). I don't know what QVC stands for (if anything), but HSN is Home Shopping Network.
• 29A: Brighton buddy (MATEY). PuzzleDaughter has this new thing where she talks in either a British or Australian accent when we're out in public. When we get out of an elevator, she'll say to the other passengers "g'day, mate" or "cheerio." It's pretty funny.
• 32A: Amt. still owed (BAL.). An amount still owed is a BALance.
• 45A: Bump off (DO IN). I had a heckuva time parsing this one. "DOIN? Shouldn't there be another letter in there somewhere?"

• 51A: Actress Gardner (AVA). I can never remember whether her name is Eva or AVA. And I could swear I just saw her in a puzzle with the E spelling. If I had been paying attention today, of course, I would have noticed EVA PERÓN (3D: Argentine leader played by Madonna) at another spot in the puzzle and realized they couldn't both be spelled the same way.
• 59A: Perrier, to Pierre (EAU). French!
• 60A: Cybercommerce (ETAIL). I can think of another thing ETAIL might mean, but it's completely inappropriate.
• 1D: Civil War org. (CSA). Confederate States of America.
• 13D: Pizazz (ENERGY). I've said it before and I'll say it again. I want four Zs in my PIZZAZZ.
• 36D: Dungeness delicacy (CRAB MEAT). I don't eat seafood so this answer made me hold my nose. And then 37D: Tart dessert (LEMON PIE) made me hurl.
• 53D: Nikki Sixx/Tommy Lee group Mötley __ (CRÜE).

Crosswordese 101: I don't really know what ESTER is, but I know how to recognize an early-week clue for it. Late in the week, clues for ESTER are often examples of ESTER like diglyceride, butyl acetate, banana oil, phosphate, or other science-y sounding things that I can never keep in my brain. Early in the week though? An ESTER is basically a "Perfumer's compound," "fragrant compound" or 63A: Aromatic compound.

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Everything Else — 6A: "Snow" veggie (PEA); 14A: Break off completely (SEVER); 15A: Select, with "for" (OPT); 16A: Like Cheerios (OATEN); 22A: Your and my (OUR); 23A: John who played Basil Fawlty (CLEESE); 25A: Town, informally (BURG); 26A: Animal fat (LARD); 27A: Keats or Yeats (POET); 30A: Ear: Pref. (OTO-); 31A: Ernie's Muppet pal (BERT); 39A: Got ready for a lap dog (SAT); 40A: Ink stain (BLOT); 41A: Accelerate, with "up" (REV); 42A: Gets nosy (PRIES); 46A: Arrived (CAME); 47A: Swedish soprano Jenny (LIND); 48A: Tyrannosaurus __ (REX); 49A: Element used in dating rocks (CARBON); 56A: Microwave alerts (BEEPS); 58A: Speechify (ORATE); 61A: Justin Timberlake's boy band ('N SYNC); 62A: AAA suggestion (RTE.); 2D: Control, as temperature (REGULATE); 4D: Livened (up) (PEPPED); 5D: Ancestral diagrams (TREES); 6D: Pans partner (POTS); 7D: Nickname (EPITHET); 8D: Maximally (AT MOST); 9D: Xerox (COPY); 10D: See 25-Down (HAI); 11D: Enjoyed a diner (ATE OUT); 12D: Tie tightly (SECURE); 19D: Directional suffix (-ERN); 21D: Regret one's sins (REPENT); 23D: Drain obstruction (CLOG); 25D: With 10-Down, "South Pacific" song (BALI); 28D: Calif. neighbor (ORE.); 29D: Damon of "Good Will Hunting" (MATT); 31D: Skewed view (BIAS); 32D: "Bucking" horse (BRONCO); 34D: Secondhand (USED); 35D: Baba who stole from thieves (ALI); 38D: All square (EVEN); 40D: Costlier ballpark spot (BOX SEAT); 42D: Expect to happen (PLAN ON); 43D: Funny Joan (RIVERS); 44D: Sort of (IN A WAY); 45D: Farther below the water's surface (DEEPER); 46D: Salad oil bottles (CRUETS); 48D: Cell "messenger," briefly (RNA); 50D: "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" playwright (ALBEE); 52D: Oil cartel acronym (OPEC); 55D: RR depot (STN.); 57D: 35mm camera type (SLR).

S U N D A Y August 15, 2010 — Gia Christian (syndicated)

Theme: "Knock 'Em Dead" — Theme answers are familiar phrases with an M omitted, creating new wacky phrases clued "?"-style.

[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: What would trouble Trixie if the Kramdens moved away? (ABSENCE OF ALICE).
• 51A: Parallel world? (OTHER EARTH).
• 69A: Badly burned British dish? (BANGERS AND ASH).
• 85A: Pint-drinking buddies' experience? (ALE BONDING).
• 117A: 19th-century queen's tough tests? (VICTORIAN ORALS).
• 14D: "Wiggly dessert stale, kemosabe" (JELLO OLD).
• 17D: Religious dissenters? (PRAYING ANTIS).
• 61D: Type that regularly visits Willy Wonka's factory? (CHOCOLATE ILK).
• 83D: Mischievous long-eared critter? (ARCH HARE).

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 57A: Cars over the road (ELS).
• 62A: Mauna __ (LOA).
• 91A: Jazz immortal (ELLA).
• 4D: Automne preceder (ÉTÉ).
• 13D: Dairy case item (OLEO).
• 18D: Bean measures? (EEG'S).
• 34D: Middle East VIP (EMIR).
• 47D: Notre Dame's Parseghian (ARA).
• 116D: Drink stand buy (ADE).

Everything Else — 1A: Citrus source (LIME TREE); 9A: __-Turkish War (ITALO); 14A: Quartz variety (JASPER); 20A: Boss's okays, often (INITIALS); 21A: Twangy (NASAL); 22A: Duck à l'orange, e.g. (ENTRÉE); 25A: "Gil Blas" novelist (LESAGE); 26A: __-jongg (MAH); 27A: Half a dance (CHA); 28A: Daily opinion page, briefly (OP-ED); 29A: Van Gogh works (OILS); 31A: Designer monogram (YSL); 32A: Whacked, biblically (SMOTE); 34A: Key of Brahms's Symphony No. 4 (E MINOR); 36A: Notorious '80s-'90s crime boss (GOTTI); 38A: Three-handed card game (SKAT); 39A: Regret deeply (LAMENT); 41A: Maker of Nutri-Grain Waffles (EGGO); 43A: Cell messengers (RNA'S); 46A: Roman holiday (FESTA); 48A: "The Mod Squad" role (LINC); 49A: Record material (VINYL); 50A: Fairy tale baddie (OGRE); 53A: Onetime Burmese statesman (U NU); 54A: Go (DEPART); 56A: Picnic spoiler (RAIN); 58A: Rocking Turner (TINA); 59A: Sonoma and Safari (GMC'S); 64A: Computer acronym (ASCII); 66A: Customer file ID (ACCT. NO.); 68A: Fed. medical org. (NIH); 72A: Red-and-white supermarket logo (IGA); 73A: Bottom line, ideally (PROFIT); 75A: When gluttons eat (OFTEN); 76A: Tick off (IRK); 77A: Rehab admission (USER); 78A: Hail __ (A CAB); 79A: Get to work again (FIX); 80A: "Take __ from me" (A TIP); 82A: Nova __ (SCOTIA); 84A: Bentley of "American Beauty" (WES); 92A: Do a double take, say (REACT); 94A: Wool: Pref. (LANI-); 95A: Addition symbol (CARET); 96A: Fanaticism (ZEAL); 97A: Golfer's option (CART); 98A: From the heart? (AORTAL); 100A: "Soap" family name (TATE); 101A: PC troubleshooters (TECHS); 103A: Courses at bars (SALADS); 105A: Idyllic spots (EDENS); 107A: Own, to a Glaswegian (HAE); 109A: "Excuse me ..." ("AHEM …"); 111A: Store of ore (LODE); 112A: Cheerleader's word (RAH); 113A: Space (GAP); 115A: Richards of "Jurassic Park" (ARIANA); 121A: Not as chilly (MILDER); 122A: Prosecutor's burden (PROOF); 123A: Perturbs (AGITATES); 124A: Bully's dare (MAKE ME); 125A: Personnel (STAFF); 126A: Ship's cargo list (MANIFEST); 1D: Neeson of "The A-Team" (LIAM); 2D: To-do pile site (IN-BASKET); 3D: Hodgepodge (MISH-MASH); 5D: Touch of color (TINCT); 6D: "The Sea Around Us" author Carson (RACHEL); 7D: Zeno's home (ELEA); 8D: That, in Tijuana (ESO); 9D: If nothing else works (IN A PINCH); 10D: Scout's discovery (TALENT); 11D: "... say, and not __" (AS I DO); 12D: Europe's __ de Genève (LAC); 15D: "__ of robins ..." (A NEST); 16D: OK and others (STS.); 19D: Virginia __ (REEL); 24D: Instigate (FOMENT); 30D: Pop of rock (IGGY); 33D: Aquatic frolickers (OTTERS); 35D: Restrains (REINS IN); 37D: Torrid Zone boundary (TROPIC); 38D: Bay Area hub: Abbr. (SFO); 40D: Friends-and-family support group (AL-ANON); 42D: Safari sighting (GNU); 44D: Adapt musically (ARRANGE); 45D: Jazz group? (SET); 49D: Spock, partly (VULCAN); 52D: Israeli port city (EILAT); 55D: Inscribe (ETCH); 57D: Southend-on-Sea's county (ESSEX); 59D: Econ. measure (GNP); 60D: Word with drug or mile (MIRACLE); 63D: Previously (AGO); 64D: Museum exhibitor (ARTIST); 65D: Uganda's Amin (IDI); 66D: Invite as one's date for (ASK TO); 67D: Wake maker (OAR); 69D: Netanyahu of Israel, familiarly (BIBI); 70D: Results (EFFECTS); 71D: Lawrence's land (ARABIA); 74D: Femme __ (FATALE); 77D: Keep current (UPDATE); 81D: Business mag (INC.); 82D: Speaks in slang? (SEZ); 84D: Simple card game (WAR); 85D: What you might take if you're tired? (A LOAD OFF); 86D: Food storage area (LARDER); 87D: Sinus specialists, briefly (ENT'S); 88D: Reagan-era scandal (IRAN-GATE); 89D: Proprietor's calculation (NET SALES); 90D: Onetime AT&T rival (GTE); 93D: Relax (EASE); 98D: Many (A LOT OF); 99D: Get closer, as to hear better (LEAN IN); 102D: Cave __: beware of the dog (CANEM); 104D: Foil maker (ALCOA); 106D: Hindu loincloth (DHOTI); 107D: "Go for the Goal" autobiographer (HAMM); 108D: Operatic highlight (ARIA); 110D: MLB honorees (MVP'S); 112D: Hindu music style (RAGA); 114D: It ain't quite "Hey!" ("PSST!"); 118D: NYC subway (IRT); 119D: "__ Sam": "Green Eggs and Ham" opening (I AM); 120D: U.K. defense arm (RAF).

SUNDAY, July 25, 2010Nora Pearlstone (syndicated)

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Theme: "Tee for Two" — A T is added to the second word of a familiar two-word phrase, creating a new wacky phrase clued "?"-style.

[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: Monster affected by a moon phase? (CRESCENT TROLL).
• 37A: Levy on butchers? (MEAT TAX).
• 69A: Warren weeping? (RABBIT TEARS).
• 76A: Japanese chicken snacks? (EAST TENDERS).
• 106A: Can for old smokes? (BUTT TIN).
• 124A: Attacker's fruity treat? (ASSAULT TRIFLE).
• 17D: Small pie à la Pollock? (ABSTRACT TART).
• 41D: Stuff that sticks for years? (GREAT TAPE).
• 49D: Taunting from the Miami bench? (HEAT TRASH).
• 65D: Bakery supply for wrapping cake boxes? (DESSERT TWINE).

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 35A: Yeats's homeland (ERIN).
• 71A: U.K. award (OBE).
• 80A: Asian holiday (TET).
• 4D: While opening (ERST-).
• 8D: Caesar's closer (ET TU).
• 32D: To be, in Quebec (ÊTRE).
• 61D: Historic canal (ERIE).

Everything Else — 1A: Get at (ACCESS); 7A: Like lambs (GENTLE); 13A: 1983 invasion site (GRENADA); 20A: President Ahmadinejad's capital (TEHRAN); 21A: Pioneer Day celebrant (UTAHAN); 22A: Dressed (ENROBED); 25A: Chips Ahoy! maker (NABISCO); 26A: Filet mignon, e.g. (ENTRÉE); 27A: Black Sea country (UKRAINE); 29A: Diglyceride, for one (ESTER); 30A: Performance rights org. (BMI); 31A: Craving (URGE); 33A: Give a hand (ASSIST); 36A: Response to an e-mail wisecrack (LOL); 40A: "Here's the __ ..." (THING); 42A: Many a Monopoly sq. (AVE.); 43A: Sole (ONLY); 45A: Abbot's address: Abbr. (RT. REV.); 46A: Spiffed (up) (SPRUCED); 48A: Illustrator N.C. (WYETH); 50A: The younger Saarinen (EERO); 51A: Boo follower (HOO); 54A: Toon flapper Etta (KETT); 55A: __ Plaines, Illinois (DES); 57A: 1980s South African pres. (PW BOTHA); 60A: Starts the kitty (ANTES); 63A: Mouse site (PAD); 66A: College fund-raising targets (ALUMS); 72A: Newbie (TYRO); 73A: Everycowboy (TEX); 74A: Skip (OMIT); 75A: Hook (up) (RIG); 79A: Carrion eater (HYENA); 81A: '90s N.Y. Philharmonic conductor Kurt (MASUR); 82A: Westernmost of the Sunda Islands (SUMATRA); 84A: Mean at a univ. (GPA); 86A: South Dakota, to Pierre (ETAT); 88A: Word before and after "vs." in a Mad feature (SPY); 89A: Italian vineyard region (ASTI); 92A: Culture: Pref. (ETHNO-); 96A: Read (PERUSED); 99A: Scrawny (GAUNT); 101A: Good earth (LOAM); 102A: Co. that spun off the Baby Bells (ATT); 103A: Wasteland (HEATH); 108A: Luau instrument (UKE); 109A: 19th Amendment proponent (CATT); 111A: Tough spot (SCRAPE); 113A: Saltimbocca herb (SAGE); 114A: Seat holder: Abbr. (SEN.); 115A: Flightless New Zealanders (KIWIS); 117A: Ruthless leaders (TYRANTS); 120A: Rubbed the wrong way (CHAFED); 122A: Split payment? (ALIMONY); 127A: Time keeping action? (RENEWAL); 128A: Treads heavily (STOMPS); 129A: List shortener (ET ALIA); 130A: Women's department array (DRESSES); 131A: Most balanced (SANEST); 132A: "Have patience" ("NOT YET"); 1D: LAX tower service (ATC); 2D: What a stickler may stand on? (CEREMONY); 3D: Bedspread fabric (CHENILLE); 5D: Pelvic bone (SACRUM); 6D: Scornful type (SNEERER); 7D: Like some instinctive reactions (GUT); 9D: Sussex stoolie (NARK); 10D: Chest (THORAX); 11D: Singers' refrains (LA LAS); 12D: Join up (ENLIST); 13D: Beginning (GENESIS); 14D: Protein-building polymer (RNA); 15D: Kathryn of "Law & Order: C.I." (ERBE); 16D: Uproar (NOISE); 18D: Trick (DECEIVE); 19D: Decorated (ADORNED); 24D: Deny the truth of (NEGATE); 28D: Med. research org. (NIH); 30D: Lose, as a big lead (BLOW); 34D: I-90 in Mass., e.g. (TNPK.); 38D: U. of Maryland team (TERPS); 39D: Declare (AVOW); 44D: Financial report hdg. (YTD); 47D: __ Reader: alternative media anthology (UTNE); 51D: Sting, for instance (HOAX); 52D: Tout's hangout, for short (OTB); 53D: "Yahoo!" ("OH BOY!"); 56D: Roy Rogers's birth name (SLYE); 58D: Brittany seaport (BREST); 59D: Je t'__: French "I love you" (AIME); 62D: U.S. Army E-6 (SSGT); 63D: Pope creation (POEM); 64D: Four-line rhyme scheme (ABAA); 67D: Coffee holders (URNS); 68D: __ vivendi: lifestyle (MODUS); 70D: Small bell sound (TING); 73D: Room service convenience (TRAY); 77D: Layered skirt (TUTU); 78D: Old Roman ldr. (EMP.); 79D: Goes after (HAS AT); 83D: Product with "Robusto!" flavors (RAGU); 85D: View from Martha's Vineyard, Mass. (ATL.); 87D: Golf shop bagful (TEES); 90D: "Tsk" relatives (TUTS); 91D: Whole (INTACT); 93D: Indoor buzzer? (HOUSEFLY); 94D: Blunt fiction (NAKED LIE); 95D: Rainbow, to some (OMEN); 96D: Early luxury auto (PACKARD); 97D: 24/7 business (ETAILER); 98D: Three-syllable feet (DACTYLS); 100D: Secure, in a way (TIGHTEN); 104D: Give it a go (TRY); 105D: Bother no end (HARASS); 106D: Former Mormon leader Ezra Taft __ (BENSON); 107D: Almost touching (NEAR TO); 110D: Airport postings (TIMES); 112D: Fusilli, e.g. (PASTA); 116D: Females with pig tails (SOWS); 118D: Easy to manage (TAME); 119D: Has dinner (SUPS); 121D: Royal decree (FIAT); 123D: Tam wearer's turndown (NAE); 125D: D-Day craft (LST); 126D: Dinner exhortation (EAT).