M O N D A Y October 11, 2010 Kristian House

Theme: The World on a String — Theme answers are familiar phrases that all end with words that can be types of, um, how do I explain this? Oh just go look at the theme answers. You'll get it.


Theme answers:

• 18A: Engages in fanciful storytelling (SPINS A YARN).
• 28A: Bench squad (SECOND STRING).
• 46A: Connecting idea (COMMON THREAD).
• 61A: Start acting independently (CUT THE CORD).

Bullets:

• 14A: Show that launched Kelly Clarkson's career, familiarly (IDOL). I only watched one season of "American Idol" and think that's going to have to be enough. I might have to tune in once or twice to see how Steven Tyler is doing, but for the most part I just don't think the show will be very good without Simon (going out on a limb there, I know).

• 16A: Actor Wilson (OWEN). I've seen him a few things and he's pretty entertaining. I laughed really, really hard whe he started singing "Don't Give Up On Us Baby" in the "Starskey & Hutch" movie.
• 33A: Watson of Harry Potter films (EMMA). I believe she plays Hermione.
• 37A: Middle Corleone brother (FREDO). I don't have to explain that this is from the Godfather, do I? Okay, good.
• 54A: Prepare to drive (TEE UP). Golf!
• 1D: Nine-to-__ (FIVE). I don't think I've ever worked a nine-to-five job. My job right now is eight-to-five. How about you all?
• 3D: Wine cellar tool (CORKSCREW). I'm not exactly a wine connoisseud, so I just have to ask: is there some reason you would use the CORKSCREW in the wine cellar instead of waiting until you bring the wine upstairs?
• 9D: Saint Francis's home (ASSISI). I can never remember where the Ss go.

• 21D: Salsa fruit (MANGO). PuzzleSister made a salsa one time with jicama. It was delish.
• 34D: Came to terms (with) (MADE PEACE). My favorite entry in the grid.
• 40D: Usual fourth down play (PUNT). I'm not a football expert by any means, so this is a serious question. Is "usual" a fair characterization? I mean, I know a teams often PUNT on fourth down, but do they usually?
• 41D: Wedding party member (USHER).



• 51D: Modern witch's religion (WICCA). Here's the thing about Christine O'Donnell. Who really cares if she "dabbled in witchcraft" when she was younger? And I don't mean that in a she's-not-important-enough-to-think-about way. What I mean is: what's the problem with dabbling in witchcraft?

Crosswordese 101: You'll never guess what an OPAH is. That's right! It's a 47D: Colorful fish! And it's almost always clued as a colorful (or brightly colored) fish, so it's pretty easy to remember. OPAHs are also known as moonfish and sunfish, so you might also see those words in the clue.

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

• 22A: Mine access (ADIT).
• 31A: Only defenseman to lead the NHL in scoring (ORR).

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Everything Else — 1A: Payroll tax with Soc. Sec. and Medicare components (FICA); 5A: Tibet's capital (LHASA); 10A: Joe in a cup (JAVA); 15A: Vague emanations (AURAS); 17A: "Give" or "take," e.g. (VERB); 20A: Mukluk wearer (ESKIMO); 23A: The Beatles' "__ Just Seen a Face" (I'VE); 24A: Trap (SNARE); 26A: Subjects of wills (ESTATES); 32A: Ballpark entrance (GATE); 39A: Band booster (AMP); 41A: Carrier renamed in 1997 (USAIR); 42A: "... __ forgive those who trespass ..." (AS WE); 43A: "__ in Boots" (PUSS); 45A: Seventh-century date (DCI); 51A: "Yee-haw!" ("WHOOPEE!"); 55A: K+ or Na+ (ION); 56A: McDonald's symbol (ARCH); 58A: Father to many? (PRIEST); 64A: Intl. defense gp. (NATO); 65A: Ornery type (CRAB); 66A: Seasonal sleigh driver (SANTA); 67A: Micro or macro subj. (ECON.); 68A: Egyptian vipers (ASPS); 69A: Disapproved vocally (TSKED); 70A: Damp at dawn (DEWY); 2D: Mid-month time (IDES); 4D: White whale, e.g. (ALBINO); 5D: Hall of Fame manager Tommy (LASORDA); 6D: Drill sergeant's "one" (HUP); 7D: Diva's moment (ARIA); 8D: Potential splinter remover (SANDER); 10D: "Ode to __" (JOY); 11D: Watch for (AWAIT); 12D: Zeal (VERVE); 13D: Authors Rice and Tyler (ANNES); 19D: Bus. letter directive (ATTN.); 25D: Juanita's "this" (ESTA); 27D: "Middle" period (AGES); 28D: Family room piece (SOFA); 29D: Goofs (ERRS); 30D: Conductor's beat (TEMPO); 35D: Flaky mineral (MICA); 36D: Like the Mojave (ARID); 38D: 1920s-'40s art style (DECO); 44D: Blended-family parent (STEPDAD); 48D: Most insignificant (MEREST); 49D: Tourist draws (MECCAS); 50D: Unrepairable (RUINED); 52D: Doctor's time in the office (HOURS); 53D: Like much pub ale (ON TAP); 57D: Traffic complaint (HONK); 59D: Pack away (STOW); 60D: Cereal spokestiger (TONY); 62D: "Very funny" TV station (TBS); 63D: U.S. 1, for one (RTE.).

TUESDAY, August 4, 2009 — Kristian House

Theme: Baseball! — Theme answers are phrases about baseball clued as non-baseball-related idioms.

Theme answers:

• 20A: Completely unexpected (OUT OF LEFT FIELD). Had a hard time seeing this one because I was stuck on "out of the blue."
  
• 28A: Fail to get a job done (DROP THE BALL).
  
• 45A: Be super-successful (HIT A HOME RUN).
  
• 53A: From day one (RIGHT OFF THE BAT).
  

Crosswordese 101: The problem with APEX is that it's clued the same way as ACME. For example, today's clue is 16A: Pinnacle, and, really, the answer could be either one. ACME is a more common crossword word, but you just never know so you really need to check the crosses. Words you'll see in clues for both APEX and ACME: top, peak, summit, high point, zenith, and mountaintop.

Apologize in advance for the quick write-up today. I'm traveling home with the kids and then it's going to be a crazy week: filling in for Orange here and at her blog, taking the kids downtown hoping to get a glimpse of the American Idols, then sending them off to New Mexico to spend some quality time with PuzzleMother-In-Law. Oh and then there's that work that I actually get paid for. Not sure when I'll be able to fit that in.

Luckily, it was an easy, breezy puzzle today. On early-week puzzles I generally just go through the acrosses first and then the downs. Today I knocked off the first four acrosses with no problem and then hit MOLTO (15A: __ vivace: quite lively, on scores), which is a word I've actually seen, but I couldn't come up with it quickly so I waited for the crosses. I also had to pause for a quick second at 37A: Wheel shaft to remember Rex's mnemonic for recalling the difference between AXLE and axel. Like the APEX ambiguity, I also had to wait for crosses on ENTS (51A: Tolkien tree creatures), which I always get confused with orcs; OLAF (7D: Norway's patron saint), which is sometimes spelled Olav; ONE-A (55D: Top draft status), which I always think could be a-one but never is; and ZIG (60D: Make a sharp turn), which could just has easily have been zag.



Other:

• 38A: Yesterday, to Juan (AYER). Is this a common Spanish word? I knew it, but I've been hanging out in a Spanish-speaking country for the last two weeks.
  
• 49A: Tandoori bread (NAN). I do not like this spelling but I understand that I'm not in charge of this.
  
• 65A: Sixth Jewish month (ADAR). A four-letter Jewish month is almost always going to be Adar. Except when it's Elul.
  
• 5D: "Epitaph for a Spy" author Eric (AMBLER). Never heard of him.
  
• 6D: "West Side Story" Oscar winner Rita (MORENO). Love her.



• 54D: "Othello" conniver (IAGO). I don't know what it is about Iago, but I always enjoy seeing him in the puzzle.
  

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Everything Else — 1A: CEOs' degrees (MBAS); 5A: In the midst of (AMONG); 10A: Pull up stakes (MOVE); 14A: Dismounted (ALIT); 17A: Casino numbers game (KENO); 18A: Oater saloon fight (BRAWL); 19A: Leafy green that's high in vitamin K (KALE); 23A: Part of a hammer (PEEN); 24A: Many AARP members (SRS); 25A: Speedster at JFK, once (SST); 34A: Halloween witches' blemishes (WARTS); 36A: Brazilian hot spot (RIO); 39A: Barely enough (SCANT); 41A: Muslim leader (IMAM); 42A: Spicy Asian cuisine (THAI); 43A: Tam or bowler (HAT); 44A: Crockett's last stand (ALAMO); 50A: Still in the package (NEW); 60A: Fanatic's feeling (ZEAL); 61A: "... bombs bursting __" (IN AIR); 62A: Martial arts school (DOJO); 63A: "Bus Stop" playwright (INGE); 64A: __ Park: Edison lab site (MENLO); 66A: Old Pontiac muscle cars (GTOS); 67A: Lightened up (EASED); 68A: First in the waiting line (NEXT); 1D: Powerful shark (MAKO); 2D: __ cheese dressing (BLEU); 3D: "__ Misbehavin'" (AIN'T); 4D: Hunch over (STOOP); 8D: Food package amt. (NT. WT.); 9D: Pitch or chip (GOLF SHOT); 10D: Puts up get-out-of-jail money (MAKES BAIL); 11D: Autumn birthstone (OPAL); 12D: South African grassland (VELD); 13D: Program file suffix (EXE); 21D: T-men and G-men (FEDS); 22D: Anger (IRE); 25D: Strip of mowed grass (SWATH); 26D: Greet casually, with "to" (SAY HI); 27D: Halloween goody (TREAT); 29D: Babble on and on (PRATE); 30D: Metal in solder (TIN); 31D: Forest feller (AXMAN); 32D: Camel cousin (LLAMA); 33D: Car for which a law is named (LEMON); 35D: Sources of romantic conflict (TRIANGLES); 39D: When the curtain rises (SHOWTIME); 40D: Web video gear, for short (CAM); 44D: Lit. collection (ANTH.); 46D: Half an evil laugh (HEH); 47D: Submit an amended 1040 (REFILE); 48D: Having no paths or trails (UNTROD); 52D: Roomy auto (SEDAN); 53D: Patronize Hertz, say (RENT); 56D: Bleacherites, e.g. (FANS); 57D: Be an omen of (BODE); 58D: "Foaming cleanser" of old ads (AJAX); 59D: Legal wrong (TORT).