03.07 Mon

M O N D A Y
March 7, 2011
Scott Atkinson

Theme: Hard to Explain in Words — Theme answers are phrases that follow the pattern "[three letters]ky [two letters]ck"

Theme answers:

• 17A: Small-time (RINKY-DINK).
• 53A: Fortunate one (LUCKY DUCK).
• 10D: Wham-O footbag (HACKY SACK).
• 29D: Cheap dance hall (HONKY TONK).

These theme answers are really fabulous. And the rest of the fill is … not. Wow. Really not a fan of this one, which is unfortunate because, as I said, the theme answers are awesome. Everything seemed to be going along just fine until I got to HDS. (29A: Coin flip call: Abbr.). Why in the world would you abbreviate a coin flip call? Is there any situation you can think of where you would be writing about a coin flip and need to use the word HEADS but have to/want to/feel it would appropriate to abbreviate it? And, in general, it got worse from there. Lots of partials: TO AN, A CHAT, I BE. Gratuitous plurals: PUCKS, CHANNELS, CROCKS, PARKAS, just as an example (there are plenty more!). To round out the list we've got some random letter strings and non-words — R-S-T, AAHS, PPP — and the singularly awful TUSKERS (which also happens to be a gratuitous plural).

The theme answers are terrific and most of the longer fill ranges from fine to quite nice (like POIROT, COUSTEAU, ORTHODOX). But overall, just not feeling this one, dawg.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 15A: Most eligible for the draft (ONE-A).
• 26A: Some Ga. Tech grads (EE'S).

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Everything Else — 1A: Pet adoption ctr. (SPCA); 5A: Like drive-thru orders (TO-GO); 9A: Cash alternative (CHECK); 14A: Come __ end: conclude (TO AN); 16A: Popular branch of yoga (HATHA); 19A: Have __ with: talk to (A CHAT); 20A: Like strictly religious Jews (ORTHODOX); 21A: Invite to enter (ASK IN); 22A: Fawn's mother (DOE); 23A: Family folk (KIN); 24A: Simple to apply, in adspeak (EASY-ON); 25A: Approx. leaving hour (ETD); 27A: Pass along softly, as a secret (WHISPER); 30A: Yuletide spiced ales (WASSAILS); 31A: Número after siete (OCHO); 34A: Fellows (MEN); 35A: Stage group (CAST); 36A: Occur together (COINCIDE); 39A: '60s atty. general who served under his brother (RFK); 42A: End of a giggle (HEE); 43A: Angel dust, briefly (PCP); 46A: Completely stump (STYMIE); 47A: "May __ excused?" (I BE); 48A: Significant period (ERA); 49A: Handy bags (TOTES); 50A: Rodin or Michelangelo (SCULPTOR); 52A: Evita's married name (PERON); 54A: Put on a coat? (PAINT); 55A: Color of suede shoes, in song (BLUE); 56A: __-Seltzer (ALKA); 57A: Hockey disks (PUCKS); 58A: Dines (SUPS); 59A: Mouth off to (SASS); 1D: Walked decisively (STRODE); 2D: Christie sleuth Hercule (POIROT); 3D: On a slant (CANTED); 4D: Pharaoh's cross (ANKH); 5D: Hot alcoholic drinks (TODDIES); 6D: Burger toppers (ONIONS); 7D: Group with thirtysomethings, briefly (GEN-X); 8D: "Mighty" tree (OAK); 9D: Vehicle's framework (CHASSIS); 11D: Addis Ababa's country (ETHIOPIA); 12D: Television watcher's choices (CHANNELS); 13D: Kit __ bar (KAT); 18D: Teamed, as oxen (YOKED); 24D: McGregor of "Moulin Rouge!" (EWAN); 30D: Like small laddies (WEE); 31D: Halloween mo. (OCT.); 32D: "Undersea World" explorer Jacques (COUSTEAU); 33D: Momentous (HISTORIC); 37D: Joins, as stones in a wall (CEMENTS); 38D: Colored part of the eye (IRIS); 39D: Expresses stern disapproval of (REBUKES); 40D: Touchy-__ (FEELY); 42D: Diaphragm spasm that may be cured by holding one's breath (HICCUP); 43D: "Downtown" singer Clark (PETULA); 44D: Onion soup holders (CROCKS); 45D: Hooded coats (PARKAS); 50D: "Star Trek" helmsman (SULU); 51D: Palmtop computers: Abbr. (PDA'S); 53D: Scale abbr. (LBS.).

F R I D A Y October 1, 2010 Scott Atkinson

Theme: Ho! Ho! Ho! — Theme answers are familiar phrases with the letter string HO removed (i.e., "heaved"), creating new wacky phrases clued "?"-style.

[If the significance of the highlighted entryhas you scratching your head, you're not alone.It's the number one most Frequently Asked Question.]
Theme answers:

• 18A: *Ancient Chinese cote occupant? (MING PIGEON). [homing pigeon]
• 25A: *Observation after a Bush walk? (W'S ON FIRST). [Who's on first]
• 36A: *Nickname for a so-so Navy officer? (CAPTAIN OK). [Captain Hook]
• 50A: *Habitually drunk panda? (BAMBOO SOT). [bamboo shoot]
• 57A: *Kenyan healthcare worker? (RN OF AFRICA). [Horn of Africa]
• 42D: Dismissal, and a hint to how the answers to starred clues were derived (HEAVE-HO).

Happy October, everybody! And TGIF! It's been many years since I've T'd GIF, but I am definitely T'ing GIF today! This working full-time thing is wearing me out!

I had some trouble with this puzzle today. Not NYT-Friday type trouble, but more than the other puzzles we've seen this week in the LAT. I tried to start in the northwest corner and couldn't come up with Anything there. Moved onto the northeast corner where I got the MING part of the theme answer, but couldn't figure out the rest because I was so focused on the words "vase" and "dynasty" that I just couldn't see anything else. And I couldn't get it through the downs because I didn't yet have enough acrosses to see AFEARED (11D: Lackin' gumption) and FOOTSIE (12D: Under-the-table diversion), what with SHAFT (9A: Treat meanly) just sitting there taunting me. I also couldn't remember who was in "Platoon" besides … Charlie Sheen? Was he in that? Man, I was going to be So Embarrassed if he wasn't, but he was — whew! (His 16A: "Platoon" co-star was, of course, Willem DAFOE, who has been a topic of CW101 here recently.)

So, I'll talk about the rest of the puzzle in the bullets, but let's get back to that NW corner. In generally, I really don't think of myself as a person who would complain about a four-block of Zs. I mean, I like my Scrabbliness as much as the next crossword solver, and those Zs are awfully pretty right there, I'll give you that. But. (You knew there was a "but.") … SOZZLED? That means 3D: Drunk, in slang? Look, I don't mean to brag, but I am probably as well-acquainted with drunkenness as anyone you're going to meet and I've Ne-Ever heard that word before. SOZZLED! I actually kind of like the sound of it so … should we give it a pass?

Here were the missteps that really slowed me down:

• 1A: Aloe target (RASH). Wanted BURN, which is generally the target of the PuzzleHouse's aloe supply. We are a fair-skinned bunch!
• 5A: Indian royal (RAJA). Tried RANI first. Both RAJA and RANI were covered in CW101 almost six months ago.

• 20A: Tasseled toppers (FEZZES). Wanted CORNSTALK first (that's the Iowa in me peeking out) and when that wouldn't fit, I switched over to the correct category (hats) but tried the wrong type (BERETS).
• 56A: "All in the Family" family name (STIVIC). If I'm the only one who entered BUNKER with no crosses and no thought whatsoever, I'll eat my FEZ.
• 1D: Picaresque (RAFFISH). This is the most embarrassing misstep I made. I totally read this as "Picturesque," and was soooo proud of myself for thinking of BUCOLIC, which is a word that always stumps me because to me it seems like it should mean the opposite of what it actually does mean. Plus it fit and everything! Argh!

Bullets:

• 14A: 1990s Expos manager (ALOU). Of course I know the ALOUs, they're standard crosswordese, but I've never paid attention to what teams they are associated with (sorry, Crosscan).
• 41A: "Even Napoleon had his Watergate" speaker (YOGI). I don't recall hearing this particular quote, but it was pretty clearly a Yogi-ism.
• 42A: I followers? (HOP). The letters H-O-P follow the letter I in Rex's favorite breakfast spot, the International House Of Pancakes.
• 53A: Sheikdom of song (ARABY). Off the top of my head, I don't know what this clue refers to. I'm guessing that when I hear the song I'll recognize it. I'm also guessing someone will link to it in the comments so I won't have to.
• 61A: Genesis brother (SETH). Hi, SethG!

• 7D/56D: Eponymous bacteriologist (JONAS / SALK).
• 29D: Good name, briefly (REP). As in REPutation.
• 43D: Traveled from point A to point A? (ORBITED). I don't know if this is an original clue but it sure is clever!

• 48D: Former RFK Stadium NLer (NAT). When I moved away from the D.C. area in 2003, there was no baseball team. When I moved back in 2008, the NATionals were here. (I'm all, "There sure are a lot of Wisconsin fans here on the East Coast!") So, the "former" part tricked me. I thought it must be referring to the area's previous team, the Senators. But, as it turns out, the "former" refers to the stadium and not the team. The NATs used to play in RFK Stadium but now they play … somewhere else. Their own stadium. I don't know what it's called.
• 58D: Old cry of disgust (FIE). Let's bring this back, shall we?
• 59D: Rose of rock (AXL). There are bands I love to hate and then there are bands like Guns 'n' Roses, which I hate to love.
• 60D: Prez, to GIs (CIC). Commander In Chief.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 6D: Paul's "Exodus" role (ARI).
• 38D: Peeples of "Fame" (NIA).

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Everything Else — 15A: Approach shot club (IRON); 17A: Bubbles (FIZZ); 22A: Happy hour order (ALE); 23A: Partook of (ATE); 24A: Bit of dental work (INLAY); 28A: "Hold on!" ("SEE HERE!"); 30A: Japanese-American (NISEI); 31A: "If __ only listened!" (HE'D); 32A: Shade sources (ELMS); 35A: Florida's __ City (DADE); 39A: Lead player (STAR); 45A: Stoop (PORCH); 47A: Dry cleaner's supply (HANGERS); 54A: Carpenter __ (ANT); 55A: Exxon Valdez cargo (OIL); 62A: Many a dance club tune (REMIX); 63A: Fiendish (EVIL); 64A: The old you (THEE); 65A: '50s flop (EDSEL); 66A: Guitar's fingerboard (NECK); 67A: Repairs, as a green (SODS); 2D: Property recipient (ALIENEE); 4D: Old-fashioned "Way to go!" ("HUZZAH!"); 5D: Wheel parts (RIMS); 8D: Saxon opening (ANGLO-); 9D: Star Wars letters (SDI); 10D: Witchy woman (HAG); 13D: Article of faith (TENET); 19D: Keystone State founder (PENN); 21D: It may be evil (EYE); 25D: "The Optimist's Daughter" writer (WELTY); 26D: Generic pooch (FIDO); 27D: "Out of Africa" author Dinesen (ISAK); 33D: He said "Learn from the masses, and then teach them" (MAO); 34D: Common sense? (SIGHT); 36D: Atkins diet no-no (CARB); 37D: Gas brand seen at ampm stores (ARCO); 39D: Reached across (SPANNED); 40D: Powwow communication source (TOMTOMS); 44D: Analysts' concerns (PSYCHES); 46D: Clopper (HOOF); 49D: Mill inputs (GRISTS); 50D: Ballet rail (BARRE); 51D: Fire indicator, perhaps (SIREN); 52D: Green shade (OLIVE).

S U N D A Y September 12, 2010 Scott Atkinson (syndicated)

Theme: "The Long and Short of It" — A long E sound in familiar phrases is changed to a short I sound and clued wackily.

[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:

• 25A: Wiring woes? (ELECTRIC ILLS).
• 30A: Pickle processor's invitation? (LET'S MAKE A DILL).
• 49A: Fruity medication? (BANANA PILL).
• 61A: Black, gooey knolls near Charlotte? (NORTH CAROLINA TARHILLS).
• 78A: Factories with good morale? (HAPPY MILLS).
• 94A: Moonshine equipment that's frozen solid? (COLD HARD STILL).
• 103A: Documents bequeathing tiny exercise devices? (HAMSTER WILLS).

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 82A: "__ du lieber!" (ACH).
• 92A: Disney's middle name (ELIAS).
• 13D: Kazakhstan, once: Abbr. (SSR).
• 39D: D-Day target city (ST.-LÔ).
• 97D: Turner memoir (I TINA).
• 103D: Pilgrimage to Mecca (HAJ).

Everything Else — 1A: Cuba libre ingredient (COLA); 5A: Grocery unit (BAG); 8A: Govt. securities (T-BONDS); 14A: Pester (NAG AT); 19A: Former Israeli president Weizman (EZER); 20A: Flabbergast (AWE); 21A: Greek sun god (HELIOS); 22A: Steer clear of (AVOID); 23A: Place to park a parka (COAT TREE); 27A: Like Humpty Dumpty, ultimately (IN PIECES); 28A: Places to go in Gloucester? (LOOS); 29A: Ballot fallout (CHADS); 33A: British pop singer Lewis (LEONA); 34A: Spring mo. (APR.); 35A: Constitutional aid? (CANE); 36A: Holiday veggies (YAMS); 37A: Denali et al.: Abbr. (MTS.); 40A: Disguise for illegal activities (FRONT); 43A: Eponymous dish inventor (PETRI); 45A: Hi from a float (WAVE); 46A: Duff (SEAT); 47A: Common Market inits. (EEC); 48A: Bobby Orr, once (BRUIN); 51A: Uneasy desire (ITCH); 53A: 1953 Leslie Caron film (LILI); 54A: Malarkey (BUNK); 55A: Prefix with trafficker (NARCO); 56A: Hideous (GRUESOME); 58A: Foot specialist? (BARD); 59A: Toll rd. (TPK.); 68A: Nonverbal syst. (ASL); 69A: Christmas setups (FIRS); 70A: "…mile, or On Education" author (ROUSSEAU); 71A: Lieu (STEAD); 75A: Cap'n's crew member (BOS'N); 76A: "You're So __": Carly Simon hit (VAIN); 77A: Ten percenters: Abbr. (AGTS.); 81A: __ State Broncos: Western Athletic Conf. team (BOISE); 83A: 1975 Pure Prairie League hit (AMIE); 84A: Apple with tunes (IPOD); 85A: Soldier, in slang (GRUNT); 86A: Site of India's Red Fort (DELHI); 88A: Math proof letters (QED); 89A: Sweat spot (BROW); 90A: Support gp. created in 1942 (WAAC); 91A: RVer's refuge (KOA); 100A: North Carolina fort (BRAGG); 101A: Doughnut shapes (TORI); 102A: Chosen one (SELECTEE); 106A: Rocky address (YO ADRIAN); 107A: Justice since 2006 (ALITO); 108A: "Mas Que Nada" bandleader (MENDES); 109A: Vietnam Veterans Memorial architect (LIN); 110A: One way to store data (ON CD); 111A: Eponymous scout Chisholm (JESSE); 112A: Elusive big Scot? (NESSIE); 113A: Calculus prereq. (ALG.); 114A: Ken of "Wiseguy" (WAHL); 1D: Mining magnate Rhodes (CECIL); 2D: Triatomic pollutant (OZONE); 3D: Bounded (LEAPT); 4D: Old guild member (ARTISAN); 5D: Rail amenity (BAR CAR); 6D: "Eight Days __" (A WEEK); 7D: Skein fliers (GEESE); 8D: It's usually disregarded when alphabetizing (THE); 9D: "I puritani" composer (BELLINI); 10D: Fútbol shout (OLE OLE); 11D: Williamson of "Excalibur" (NICOL); 12D: Things to connect (DOTS); 14D: Football party munchies (NACHOS); 15D: Winged, perhaps (AVIAN); 16D: Yitzhak Rabin's predecessor (GOLDA MEIR); 17D: Has a cold (AILS); 18D: Jerry Rice's 208, briefly (TD'S); 24D: Offer chocolates to, as a dieter (TEMPT); 26D: Bygone deliverers (ICEMEN); 31D: In "Rent," it starts with "Seasons of Love" (ACT II); 32D: "Aw, phooey!" ("DARN!"); 33D: Hot flower (LAVA); 36D: Tug (YANK); 38D: Rash protection (TALC); 40D: Simulate (FEIGN); 41D: Rocket opening (RETRO); 42D: Come to pass (OCCUR); 43D: Original (PRIMAL); 44D: Basel-born mathematician (EULER); 45D: Movie fish (WANDA); 46D: New Age music player, often (SPA); 48D: Voting groups (BLOCS); 49D: "I'd go out with women my age, but there are no women my age" speaker (BURNS); 50D: Egyptian crosses (ANKHS); 52D: Riled (up) (HET); 54D: Scot's tot (BAIRN); 57D: Like groves (SHADY); 58D: Euphoria (BLISS); 59D: One looking for the way? (TAOIST); 60D: Compote fruit (PRUNE); 62D: From way back when (OF OLD); 63D: Prepare for a run (TRAIN); 64D: Metaphor words (IS A); 65D: By the book (LEGAL); 66D: Gate fastener (LATCH); 67D: It's often served with ginger and wasabi (SUSHI); 71D: Celt since 8/4/2010 (SHAQ); 72D: Lacking spice (TAME); 73D: Skin graft material (EPIDERMIS); 74D: Galoot (APE); 75D: Karate chop, e.g. (BLOW); 76D: Speak (for) (VOUCH); 79D: Desert illusion (MIRAGE); 80D: NYSE events (IPO'S); 81D: Thin nail (BRAD); 85D: Pisa airport name (GALILEI); 86D: Took two pills, say (DOSED); 87D: Have humble pie (EAT CROW); 89D: Hallux (BIG TOE); 90D: __ Fair (WORLD'S); 91D: "Constant Craving" vocalist (K.D. LANG); 93D: Endures (LASTS); 94D: Fountain contents, often (COINS); 95D: Sanctuaries (ASYLA); 96D: Try to quiet, as a persistent squeak (REOIL); 98D: Percolate (LEACH); 99D: 1985-'87 U.S. Open champ (LENDL); 100D: Loft bundle (BALE); 101D: Hardly macho, in Manchester (TWEE); 104D: LBJ successor (RMN); 105D: Bakersfield-to-L.A. heading (SSE).

MONDAY, June 28, 2010 — Scott Atkinson

Theme: Garanimals — Theme answers are two-word animal names that are made up of two different animals' names.


Theme answers:

• 17A: Hammerhead relative with stripes (TIGER SHARK).
• 27A: Huge walrus relative (ELEPHANT SEAL).
• 48A: Primate with spindly limbs (SPIDER MONKEY).
• 63A: One of two in "The Twelve Days of Christmas" (TURTLE DOVE).

[WARNING: So totally NSFW!]

I have a feeling people might have hit some rough spots today, mostly because of all the names. If it makes you feel any better, I see at least a couple grid entries that could have been clued as people but weren't.

Today is the first day of a new schedule for us here at the PuzzleHouse, so I can't spend a lot of time with you this morning.

Quickly:

• 15A: '80s Pontiac roadster (FIERO). For some reason, this answer paired with FIORELLO (21A: 1930s-'40s New York mayor La Guardia) tickled me.

• 37A: Supreme Court intern (CLERK). PuzzleSister once applied for a clerkship at the Supreme Court. She didn't get the job, but she figures that not a lot of people can brag that Justice Souter made coffee for them.
• 40A: Antlered critter (ELK). I don't remember exactly what Rex says about "critter" but whatever it is (a) I agree with him and (b) an ELK is too big to be referred to as a "critter."
• 47A: Curry of "Today" (ANN). Is she the one who gave a commencement address at Wheaton College in Massachusetts and mistakenly listed well-known alumni from Wheaton College in Illinois? I heard that her take-away from that incident was: "Don't Google drunk."

Crosswordese 101: The part that makes AEON crosswordese to me is the spelling. It's not an unusual word, but you have to remember that sometimes it's spelled with that A at the beginning. Most clues for AEON are about what you'd expect: "Many millenia," "Almost an eternity," and today's 30D: Long, long time. But once in a while it's clued in relation to the 2005 Charlize Theron film "Aeon Flux," which I don't believe I've had the pleasure of seeing.

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

• 52A: One-named Irish singer (ENYA).
• 9D: John Lennon's love (YOKO ONO).
• 25D: Mayberry boy (OPIE).
• 29D: "Born Free" lioness (ELSA).
• 58D: "The Motorcycle Song" singer Guthrie (ARLO).

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Everything Else — 1A: Apple computers (MACS); 5A: Subsurface woodwork decoration (INLAY); 10A: Coffeehouse convenience for Web surfers (WIFI); 14A: Give off, as light (EMIT); 16A: Ruckuses (ADOS); 19A: Pulls, as a camper (TOWS); 20A: Visibly stunned (AGAPE); 23A: Submarine weapon (TORPEDO); 26A: Orange Free State settler (BOER); 32A: Covert __: spy activities (OPS); 35A: Be untruthful (LIE); 36A: Sharpshooter Annie (OAKLEY); 42A: Plains grazer (BISON); 43A: Cooking class, for short (HOME EC); 45A: "__ Miz" (LES); 53A: Pago Pago natives (SAMOANS); 57A: Talky gatherings (GABFESTS); 61A: Large wall picture (MURAL); 62A: Eins, zwei, __ (DREI); 66A: Alda of "M*A*S*H" (ALAN); 67A: Clarinetist Shaw (ARTIE); 68A: Words of understanding (I SEE); 69A: Oxen's harness (YOKE); 70A: Have a new __ on life (LEASE); 71A: Hanukkah moolah (GELT); 1D: Convened in (MET AT); 2D: Compadre (AMIGO); 3D: "Close, but no __" (CIGAR); 4D: Treeless Siberian tract (STEPPE); 5D: "No __, ands or buts" (IFS); 6D: Fed. research org. (NIH); 7D: Fall faller (LEAF); 8D: Speedy Gonzales exclamation (ARRIBA); 9D: John Lennon's love (YOKO ONO); 10D: Ride behind a speedboat (WATERSKI); 11D: TV's "American __" (IDOL); 12D: Chicks, ducks, etc. (FOWL); 13D: "That __ yesterday!" (IS SO); 18D: Fishing line holder (REEL); 22D: Adjust a paragraph setting (RETAB); 24D: Biden's state: Abbr. (DEL.); 28D: Phone call response (HELLO); 31D: Nashville's Loretta (LYNN); 32D: Folk legend Phil (OCHS); 33D: Sit (down) undaintily (PLOP); 34D: 18-wheeler (SEMI); 38D: Give new meaning to (REDEFINE); 39D: New Hampshire city (KEENE); 41D: Barbies' counterparts (KENS); 44D: Waterford product (CRYSTAL); 46D: Caribbean music (SKA); 49D: Grown-up (MATURE); 50D: Plus-size supermodel (EMME); 51D: Cool cat's "Get it?" ("YOU DIG?"); 54D: Cropped up (AROSE); 55D: Bellybutton (NAVEL); 56D: Winter hazard (SLEET); 57D: Melbourne greeting (G'DAY); 59D: Toucan's pride (BEAK); 60D: Mex. miss (SRTA.); 64D: "__ the season ..." ('TIS); 65D: Jeans brand (LEE).

THURSDAY, March 11, 2010 — Scott Atkinson

Theme: Turn, Turn, Turn — Theme answers have the letters STILE hidden in them, consecutively but not in the same order reach time.

Theme answers:

• 17A: Mah-jongg pieces, e.g. (GAME TILES).
• 28A: Notable achievement (MILESTONE).
• 34A: Site of the Beatles' last commercial concert (CANDLESTICK PARK).
• 43A: Likely to spread disease (PESTILENT).
• 57A: Metro access, and a hint to the circled letters in 17-, 28-, 34- and 43-Across (TURNSTILE).

Fun puzzle today! I really the love the Scrabbliness of it. The theme is fine — nothing super exciting but it also doesn't suck. But it's the fill that made the puzzle enjoyable for me. I didn't love TNTS in the plural (27A: Demolition supplies) or LOGISTIC in the singular (1D: Like a wedding planner's skills — yes, yes, I know it's an adjective and not a singular noun, but you're all smart enough to get my point). But those slight eyebrow raises were offset by Paul LYNDE (19A: Paul in the center square — check out a compilation of some of his funny lines here), KVETCH (22D: Whine — which just might be the coolest word ever), and "I CAN SEE!" (20A: Cry to a faith healer, maybe).

I'm one of those people who loves names from popular culture in their puzzles, so Paul LYNDE and REDD Foxx (64A: Funny Foxx) were fun to see. Even though Arthur ASHE is crosswordese (41A: "A Hard Road to Glory" author), he was such an awesome guy that I enjoy seeing him regularly. (Funny story about this clue. There's a book about high school wrestling in Iowa that came out a few years ago called "Four Days to Glory" — sort of a "Friday Night Lights" for wrestling — and whenever I see the Ashe book, I always think of the wrestling book and feel a jolt of surprise that the wrestling book made it into a puzzle. Which, of course, it didn't and never will. Along the same lines, I spent quite a bit of time at the ACPT trying to convince Peter Gordon of Dan Gable's crossworthiness and … didn't get very far.)

But it was the Ks, Qs and Zs I liked the most.

Scrabble!

• 48A: Film in which Woody Allen voices Z (ANTZ). I either forgot or never knew he was even in that.
• 55A: Hose problems (KINKS). First entered snags. Wrong kind of hose, obviously. Oh yeah, you know what's coming.
  



• 59A: 1944 Italian beachhead (ANZIO). Huh?
• 11D: "Macbeth" ghost (BANQUO).
• 26D: Swab brand (Q-TIP). No other brand will do!
• 35D: Scatterbrain (DITZ). By the time I got down to this part of the puzzle, I had figured out there were lots of Zs in the grid, so this answer went straight in with no hesitation at all.
• 45D: Song section (STANZA).

Crosswordese 101: There are two common ways to clue ELS: (1) like today's 51D: High trains and (2) South African golfer Ernie ELS (whose nickname is "The Big Easy" — try to remember that).

WEDNESDAY, February 24, 2010—Scott Atkinson

THEME: "Hardware Party"—Four answers begin with FASTENers used in non-hardware contexts

Theme entries:

• 17A: [*Stable storage enclosure] (TACK ROOM). It wasn't until the crossings gave me this answer that I realized "stable" was the noun (a horse barn) and not an adjective.
  
• 61A: [*Benjamin Button portrayer] (BRAD PITT). That's an attractive human being there.
  
• 10D: [*Wacko] (SCREWBALL). Remember those ice-cream truck Screwballs, the paper cone of sherbet with a gumball in the bottom? Oh, how I loved those as a kid. As a mom? Turns out Screwballs taste nasty.
  
• 34D: [*Game that goes down to the wire] (NAIL-BITER). Now, that's a terrific entry clued that way. It's less appealing if clued as [Cuticle gnawer], no?
  
• 60A: [Attach, perhaps with hardware that begins the answers to starred clues] (FASTEN).
  

This one is roughly par for the Wednesday-level difficulty course, or maybe a notch easier.

Like PuzzleGirl and Rex, I am tiiiired after the crossword tournament. It's total sensory overload: I stay up late, I get up early, and I spend most of my waking moments in group settings. If past years have taught me anything, it's that it'll take me a solid week to feel caught up on sleep. The exhaustion is definitely worth it, though—I had a blast.

What all is in this puzzle? This:

• 29A. [Letter-shaped hardware] (U-BOLT). What the hell? You're hardware. You can probably help FASTEN things. What are you doing loafing in this puzzle? Get to work and find a way to support the theme. (Vague theme idea: a group of famous people whose names are bracketed by hardware. USAIN BOLT! I might try to come up with more, but I'm really not a fan of that sort of theme so why perpetrate another one on the world?
  
• 33A. [Chinese currency] (YUAN). When I see people talking about prices of things in China, they use RMB, not yuan. Apparently the Chinese yuan and renminbi, or RMB, are basically the same thing.
  
• In case you always wondered how to spell a 43A. [Laugh from a Stooge], it's NYUK.
  
• 56A. [Mötley Crüe's two] (UMLAUTS). No, those words are not German. Did you try to squeeze NIKKI SIXX AND VINCE NEIL into seven squares? And can yøü actüally bear to wätch this whöle video?
  
  
  
  
• 6D. [Cobbler's concern] (SHOE). Do you have trouble with your peach cobbler? Does the crust take on the consistency of shoe leather?
  
• 39D. [Sudden-braking result] (SKID MARK). Heh. Anyone else snickering here?
  
• 59D. [Train sched. list] (STNS). STA. is a much more common abbreviation for "station" than STN., and then we're getting it pluralized here? Meh.
  

Crosswordese 101: DINAR

Today's clue is 50D: [Iraqi money]. The DINAR is also used in many other countries, including Kuwait, Jordan, Libya, and Bahrain. The hitch is that there's another 5-letter Middle Eastern currency, and it shares the same vowels: the RIYAL. The RIYAL has been clued as the money of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Yemen. Mind you, that one can also be spelled without the Y: RIAL. Which is not to be confused with the Cambodian unit of currency called the RIEL. Be aware that all four of these currency names may show up, and let the crossings distinguish between them if you're not in the mood to study lists of the countries that use each currency.

Everything Else — 1A: Mesmerized (RAPT); 5A: Medicinal amt. (TSP.); 8A: Fenway Park city (BOSTON); 14A: "East of Eden" director Kazan (ELIA); 15A: "__ Do You Love?": Bo Diddley classic (WHO); 16A: Concert bonus (ENCORE); 19A: They save the day (HEROES); 20A: Affliction (DISEASE); 21A: Be scared to (DARE NOT); 22A: Bank acct. entry (INT.); 23A: Symbol on several keys (ARROW); 24A: No __: menu notice (MSG); 27A: Company featuring cavemen in its ads (GEICO); 35A: Play thing (PROP); 36A: It's a wrap (SARAN); 37A: Mrs. Peel of "The Avengers" (EMMA); 38A: Arias, e.g. (SOLOS); 40A: Plastic surgeon's offering, for short (LIPO); 41A: "Ghostbusters" co-writer Harold (RAMIS); 44A: In unfamiliar territory, maybe (LOST); 45A: Dandruff site (SCALP); 46A: Commonly cluttered room (ATTIC); 48A: Maiden name lead-in (NÉE); 49A: Reward for merit (BADGE); 51A: Egg carton no. (DOZ.); 53A: Great Plains terrain (PRAIRIE); 62A: Fellini's realm (CINEMA); 63A: Site of the smallest bone in the body (EAR); 64A: Lowly worker (PEON); 65A: Sleep apnea sufferer, often (SNORER); 66A: The Hartford logo (ELK); 67A: Egyptian snakes (ASPS); 1D: Former gen.'s status (RETD.); 2D: Jai __ (ALAI); 3D: Cam's output (PICS); 4D: Sulu portrayer on "Star Trek" (TAKEI); 5D: Lively "Texas" dances (TWO-STEPS); 7D: Spitz-type dog, for short (POM); 8D: Joy of "The View" (BEHAR); 9D: Burdensome (ONEROUS); 11D: Ren or Stimpy, e.g. (TOON); 12D: Its creme may be eaten first (OREO); 13D: Hornet's home (NEST); 18D: Tolled (RANG); 21D: Fail to finish school (DROP OUT); 23D: Altar boy (ACOLYTE); 24D: Clinton press secretary Dee Dee (MYERS); 25D: "Poison" shrub (SUMAC); 26D: Beta follower (GAMMA); 28D: Early metalworking period (IRON AGE); 30D: Belted constellation (ORION); 31D: Forgetful moment (LAPSE); 32D: Conservative IRA asset (T-NOTE); 42D: "I don't want to hear the rest" ("SPARE ME"); 47D: More than chilly (COLD); 52D: Rock artist Frank (ZAPPA); 53D: Cpls.' underlings (PFCS); 54D: Picnic spoiler (RAIN); 55D: "It will come __ surprise" (AS NO); 56D: River through southern Russia (URAL); 57D: One-eighties (UIES); 58D: Corvette roof option (T-TOP); 61D: Blossom visitor (BEE).