10.06 Thu

T H U R S D A Y
October 6, 2011
Peter A. Collins

Theme: Surprise Elements — Elements hidden inside of theme answers.

Theme Entries:

• 18A: Health enhancer, so it's said (APPLE A DAY).
• 20A: It "is no problem. You just have to live long enough": Groucho Marx (GETTING OLDER).
• 51A: "A Moon for the Misbegotten" playwright (EUGENE O'NEILL).
• 56A: Longshoremen's aids (CARGO NETS).
• 37A: Unexpected twist (and a hint to what's hidden inside 18-, 20-, 51-, and 56-Across) (SURPRISE ELEMENT).

Hey, puzzle fans. Doug here, filling in on a Thursday. PuzzleGirl is taking a well-deserved day off. Well, a day off from the blog. She's still got to be at work for eight hours. And then she'll come home and handle a myriad of household and PuzzleKid-related chores. What a slacker.

Peter A. Collins brings us a scientific theme today. I hope you were able to uncover all the elements. Two metals (lead & gold) on top and two nobles gases (neon & argon) on the bottom. I don't think there's any significance to those pairings, but I could be missing something. Mr. Collins is fond of putting easter eggs into his puzzles. Maybe he's got the chemical formula for Clamato running diagonally through the grid.

I appreciate the fact that every word in each theme entry is part of a hidden element. Hiding TIN in SET IN STONE wouldn't be as cool, because STONE doesn't contribute to the hidden word.

Before we get to the bullets, I want to give a huge shout-out to fellow cruciverbalist Joon Pahk. Joon won his third Jeopardy! match on Wednesday, and it was a nail-biter. Be sure to tune in Thursday. Joon rocks!

Bullets:

• 6A: Slip a Mickey (DRUG). A Mickey Finn is an alcoholic drink laced with a drug that'll knock you unconscious. Wikipedia tells me that it's likely named for a notorious Chicago bartender, Michael "Mickey" Finn, who was accused of using knockout drops to incapacitate and rob some of his customers.
• 22A: Pickup facilitator (LINE). At a singles bar. For the record, "Wanna see this crossword I made?" has proven to be a horrible pickup line.
• 60A: Net reading (BLOG). I typed EMAG here first, and I was happy it was wrong, because BLOG is a much better answer. Mere seconds later...EMAG appeared at 1-Down. With the same clue! The life of a crossword blogger is never boring. 

• 2A: "Writing on the wall" word (MENE). The phrase "the writing on the wall" originates in the book of Daniel. A disembodied hand appeared and wrote on the palace wall: "Mene, Mene, Tekel u-Pharsin," foretelling the demise of the Babylonian Empire. Hmmm, I always thought it was ""Klaatu, barada, nikto."
• 3D: Michigan's Cereal City (BATTLE CREEK). Cool entry. That's where Kellogg's is headquartered. Do you think the whole city smells like Pop-Tarts?
• 44D: French onion soup topping (CHEESE). Remember when they changed the name to "Freedom onion soup"? And forced chefs to make it with All-American American cheese slices.
• 52D: Gov't. train wreck investigators (NTSB). National Transportation Safety Board. Yep, nothing funny to say about that.

• 56D: "CSI: NY" airer (CBS). You know, I've never seen a single episode of any of the various CSI incarnations. But I have seen a lot of episodes of "Bewitched." (I had to figure out some way to use this Elizabeth Montgomery picture again.)

I'm sure you'll all be happy to know that PuzzleGirl will be back tomorrow. Have a good one.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 34A: 1965 NCAA tennis champ (ASHE).
• 47A: Bit of code (DAH).
• 61A: "Tiger in your tank" company (ESSO).
• 10D: Pre-Communism leader (CZAR).
• 19D: Slippery swimmer (EEL).
• 39D: Dawn goddess (EOS).

Everything - 1A: Smoldering bit (EMBER); 6A: Slip a Mickey (DRUG); 10A: It may have all the answers (CRIB); 14A: Stiller's partner (MEARA); 15A: High rollers' destination (RENO); 16A: Half of 10? (ZERO); 17A: Speed skater Apolo __ Ohno (ANTON); 18A: Health enhancer, so it's said (APPLE A DAY); 20A: It "is no problem. You just have to live long enough": Groucho Marx (GETTING OLDER); 22A: Pickup facilitator (LINE); 23A: "Friendly skies" co. (UAL); 24A: __ center (REC); 27A: PC time meas. (MSEC); 29A: Performed, in a way (SANG); 32A: Band that performed "Whip It" (DEVO); 33A: Bars in stores (UPC); 34A: 1965 NCAA tennis champ (ASHE); 35A: Aaron's team for 21 seasons (BRAVES); 37A: Unexpected twist (and a hint to what's hidden inside 18-, 20-, 51- and 56-Across) (SURPRISE ELEMENT); 40A: Make (CREATE); 41A: Gloom mate (DOOM); 42A: Rural stretch (LEA); 43A: "... two fives for __?" (A TEN); 44A: Skin malady, perhaps (CYST); 45A: What crews use (OARS); 46A: Expression of disappointment (TSK); 47A: Bit of code (DAH); 49A: Hair care purchase (TINT); 51A: "A Moon for the Misbegotten" playwright (EUGENE O'NEILL); 56A: Longshoremen's aids (CARGO NETS); 59A: Baggy (LOOSE); 60A: Net reading (BLOG); 61A: "Tiger in your tank" company (ESSO); 62A: Ban's predecessor at the U.N. (ANNAN); 63A: Bastes, e.g. (SEWS); 64A: Attic constructions (WEBS); 65A: Bridge seats (WESTS); 1D: Net reading (E-MAG); 2D: "Writing on the wall" word (MENE); 3D: Michigan's Cereal City (BATTLE CREEK); 4D: Steamy (EROTIC); 5D: Arrested (RAN IN); 6D: Bore (DRAG); 7D: Bank takeback, briefly (REPO); 8D: Deprive of juice? (UNPLUG); 9D: Israel's Meir (GOLDA); 10D: Pre-Communism leader (CZAR); 11D: Thing to stop on (RED); 12D: Savings for later yrs. (IRA); 13D: When repeated with "oh" in between, "Wow!" (BOY); 19D: Slippery swimmer (EEL); 21D: Mythical beast, to locals (NESSIE); 24D: Epiphanies (REVELATIONS); 25D: Score-tying shot (EVENER); 26D: Olympics broadcaster Bob (COSTAS); 27D: Mideast capital (MUSCAT); 28D: Last lap efforts (SPURTS); 30D: Spa sounds (AHS); 31D: Indigent (NEEDY); 32D: Lake creator (DAM); 34D: Interior decorator's concern (ART); 35D: Juiced (BLOTTO); 36D: Sleep acronym (REM); 38D: Cooking utensil (PAN); 39D: Dawn goddess (EOS); 44D: French onion soup topping (CHEESE); 45D: Numbers after nine, often (ONE ONE); 47D: Sam & Dave, e.g. (DUO); 48D: Nixon's first veep (AGNEW); 50D: Union acquisition? (INLAW); 51D: Vandalizes, in a way (EGGS); 52D: Gov't. train wreck investigators (NTSB); 53D: Those, to Pedro (ESOS); 54D: Future atty.'s hurdle (LSAT); 55D: Eye part (LENS); 56D: "CSI: NY" airer (CBS); 57D: Microbrewery buy (ALE); 58D: Altercation (ROW).

07.04 Mon

M O N D A Y
July 4, 2011
Peter A. Collins

Theme: Independence Day — Theme answers are related to Independence Day.

Theme answers:

• 39A: Chief author (who died 7/4/1826) of 5- and 9-Down (THOMAS JEFFERSON).
• 5D/9D: Document signed 7/4/1776 (THE DECLARATION / OF INDEPENDENCE).
• 7D/51D: Chief congressional advocate (who died 7/4/1826) of 5- and 9-Down (JOHN / ADAMS).

Okay, this is funny. I first read the clues for THOMAS JEFFERSON and JOHN ADAMS as "The [blah blah blah] who died of 5- and 9-Down." Like THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE was some kind of disease or something. Took me a few minutes to figure that out. HAha! So this is a fine puzzle and obviously timely. But you know what I'm going to do today? I'm going to take the day off. I can do that, right? (The cool thing is that even though I just asked that question, I can't actually hear your answer!) I think it's okay for me to do that today so I'm going to. You all go ahead and chat it up in the comments and I'll see you back here tomorrow.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 20A: UFO pilots, in theory (ET'S).
• 34A: Bruin Bobby who wore #4 (ORR).
• 53A: Video game pioneer (ATARI).
• 66A: Moray fisherman (EELER).
• 32D: 1944 battle city (ST.-LÔ).

Everything Else — 1A: Racecourse setting for a "My Fair Lady" scene (ASCOT); 6A: IHOP beverages (OJ'S); 9A: Unseats (OUSTS); 14A: Coach Bill whose 49ers won three Super Bowls (WALSH); 15A: Highchair user (TOT); 16A: Camera setting (F STOP); 17A: Fill with joy (ELATE); 18A: "__ will be done ...": Lord's Prayer (THY); 19A: Prefix with -clast (ICONO); 20A: UFO pilots, in theory (ET'S); 21A: Speak dully and endlessly (DRONE ON); 24A: Actor Beatty (NED); 25A: Fate (KISMET); 27A: Stick (to) (ADHERE); 29A: Sprinted (RACED); 31A: Starting squad (A TEAM); 32A: Dote on (SPOIL); 34A: Bruin Bobby who wore #4 (ORR); 36A: Chopin's instrument (PIANO); 42A: NASA vehicle (LEM); 43A: Cheers for (ROOTS ON); 44A: Like Robitussin: Abbr. (OTC); 45A: GM navigation system (ONSTAR); 47A: Danish birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen (ODENSE); 49A: Drew, as a magnet (ATTRACTED); 53A: Video game pioneer (ATARI); 56A: Org. for drillers? (ADA); 57A: Innocent ones (NAIFS); 61A: "Bedtime for __": Reagan film (BONZO); 62A: Used a chair (SAT); 63A: Nav. officers (CMDRS.); 64A: Sir Arthur __ Doyle (CONAN); 65A: HBO alternative (TMC); 66A: Moray fisherman (EELER); 67A: Ollie's partner (STAN); 68A: Bat wood (ASH); 69A: Matches, as a bet (SEES); 1D: See 38-Down (A WEEK); 2D: 1972 U.S./Soviet missile agreement (SALT I); 3D: Pupils' places (CLASSROOMS); 4D: East, to Ernst (OST); 6D: Director Preminger (OTTO); 8D: Eye malady (STYE); 10D: Pac-10 sch. (USC); 11D: Worker with rocks (STONE MASON); 12D: Copier filler (TONER); 13D: Fine china brand (SPODE); 22D: GPS suggestion (RTE.); 23D: Feedbag grain (OAT); 26D: Injure badly (MAIM); 28D: What can't be parted after it's departed? (HAIR); 30D: School where belts are earned (DOJO); 31D: Sounds from pounds (ARFS); 32D: 1944 battle city (ST.-LÔ); 33D: Withdrawn diet-drug combo Fen-__ (PHEN); 35D: Like a gen. who no longer has men (RET.); 37D: Have-__: the needy (NOTS); 38D: With 1-Down, every seven days (ONCE); 40D: Put mail in boxes, say (SORT); 41D: Third of a yard (FOOT); 46D: "__ of the Apes" (TARZAN); 48D: Mingo portrayer on "Daniel Boone" (ED AMES); 50D: Certain Jamaican believer (RASTA); 52D: Hidden problem (CATCH); 53D: Preschool basics (ABC'S); 54D: Honk (TOOT); 55D: Kournikova of tennis (ANNA); 58D: Not doing anything (IDLE); 59D: Gratis (FREE); 60D: Lith. and Ukr., once (SSR'S).

06.18 Sat

S A T U R D A Y
June 18, 2011
Peter A. Collins

Theme: None

Another tough puzzle. I might just get used to this! This one actually felt like a real Saturday to me. I scanned through the across clues and it didn't look like I was going to get anything. But I entered a few short answers here and there — some more tentatively than others — and it all came together in the end.

This puzzle has some fantastic long entries. My favorites are NUMBERS GUY, CHEAP SEATS and, of course, BLACK MAGIC WOMAN (5A: Bean counter / 29A: They're not near the action / 17A: Top 10 single on the 1970 album "Abraxas").

NUMBERS GUY especially made me laugh because PuzzleSon was just explaining to me tonight that he's a "Donut Guy." Apparently, that means he's not interested in pie. Whatever.

Missteps for me today included:

• 20A: Tub contents (BATH). I tried OLEO.
• 21A: Depend (REST). RELY seems like a reasonable guess.

• 27A: Wane (SAG). Wanted EBB here.
• 12D: Letter on a dreidel (GIMEL). Tried the only Hebrew letter I know: ALEPH.
• 48D: John Denver album with an eagle's silhouette on the cover (AERIE). I included this entry in today's Crosswordese 101 list, but the clue on this one is pure evil. Even knowing AERIE as crosswordese didn't help me today. Please tell me I'm not the only one who tried ANNIE first.
• 50D: Cashier's counter bowlful (MINTS). My first thought was CENTS.

There wasn't really too much that I flat-out didn't know. The R at the cross of UMBRA (1D: Sunspot center) and RAREE (19A: Old-style street show) was my last entry. I'm pretty sure I've never seen UMBRA before. RAREE was somewhere in the cobwebs, but there's no way I could have defined it for you. Other than that, the only complete mystery was [18D: KEYE Luke of Charlie Chan films]. To me, then, this was a pretty accessible late-week puzzle.

Bullets:

• 28A: 1992 gold medal-winning Dream Team coach Chuck (DALY). This one was so frustrating for me. I could picture the guy. He's actually, like, my least favorite basketball coach of all time, so I knew immediately who he was, I just couldn't come up with his name. Oh, and I was guessing that SOLAR HALO (2D: Phenomenon caused by ice crystals between the Earth and sun) was [something]-HOLE, so that O wasn't helping me out at all.
• 36A: Six-pack alternative? (BEER GUT). That's pretty cute. The six-pack in this clue refers to six-pack abs.
• 44A: Takes it slow (LOLLS). Remember how I was looking for this word yesterday?
• 5D: Camus, for one (NOM). French!
• 7D: Kid-lit Judy Moody series author McDonald (MEGAN). Pretty sure there's a Judy Moody movie in my future.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 41A: Picker-upper's concern: Abbr. (ETA).
• 14D: "Fiddler on the Roof" matchmaker (YENTE).
• 45D: Hops driers (OASTS).
• 48D: John Denver album with an eagle's silhouette on the cover (AERIE).

[Follow PuzzleGirl on Twitter.]

Everything Else — 1A: Old Eurasian letters (USSR); 15A: Home of H. Rousseau's "The Sleeping Gypsy" (MOMA); 16A: How travelers' bags are screened (ONE AT A TIME).

22A: Affected (ARTSY); 23A: A, B or C, perhaps: Abbr. (ANS.); 24A: Like an alias (FALSE); 25A: Writ word (HABEAS); 35A: Some six-pack contents (ALE); 37A: It's best if it's well-seasoned (WOK); 38A: Party stipulation (NO CHILDREN); 40A: Gentle way to go (EASY); 42A: Shuts out, in slang (SKUNKS); 47A: Eastern way (TAO); 49A: '70s toothpaste with "green sparkles" (GLEEM); 51A: Call, in a way (HAIL); 52A: Pot user (CHEF); 53A: Language that gives us "shampoo" (HINDI); 54A: Didn't just go (ASKED PERMISSION); 57A: Very loud (STENTORIAN); 58A: Wood fastener (T-NUT); 59A: Certain tax determinant (ASSESSMENT); 60A: They may be first class: Abbr. (SGTS.); 3D: One making cracks (SMART ALEC); 4D: Happens quickly (RACES BY); 6D: Brazen (UNABASHED); 8D: Entices (BAITS); 9D: Permanently mark (ETCH); 10D: Word with deal or nerves (RAW); 11D: Possible reason for folding (STORAGE); 13D: Sch. with a Lowell campus (U. MASS.); 24D: Ritual abstinence (FAST); 26D: Rapid Northeast train (ACELA); 27D: Moxie (SPUNK); 28D: Castellaneta who voices Homer Simpson (DAN); 30D: Transpose digits, say (ERR); 31D: Golden, Silver, Bronze and Iron, to Ovid (AGES OF MAN); 32D: One may be rude (AWAKENING); 33D: Ejected (TOSSED OUT); 34D: Diving milieu (SKY); 36D: Smithereens (BITS); 39D: Athens native (HELLENE); 40D: Volunteers (ENLISTS); 43D: Disgusted chorus (UGHS); 44D: High capital (LHASA); 46D: Fancies (LIKES); 47D: 100,000 BTU (THERM); 52D: Naval noncoms (CPO'S); 55D: AA issue (DT'S); 56D: QB's miscue (INT.).

05.19 Thu

T H U R S D A Y
May 19, 2011
Peter A. Collins

Theme: Fish! — That's right, fish!

Theme answers:

• 19A: Vast expanse (and a fitting setting for this puzzle) (DEEP BLUE SEA).
• 38A: Somewhat suspect (and a hint to what can be found by connecting the circled letters in alphabetical order) (A LITTLE BIT FISHY).
• 57A: Don Ho hit (and what the O's in this grid represent) (TINY BUBBLES).

Happy Thursday, everyone. This is the second Thursday in a row the LA Times has run a puzzle that I think of as relatively gimmicky. I think I mentioned last week that a gimmicky Thursday is standard fare over at the New York Times. Maybe the LAT is leaning that way now too.

My feelings about this puzzle are really all over the map. It's a cute idea, drawing a fish. Although I am repulsed by the thought of eating seafood, I've always enjoyed fish as decorative motif. So I like that. Also, I first thought that the O's in the clue for 57A referred to the circles in the puzzle, which seemed pretty lame. But now I see that it actually means the letter O's up there in the northwest corner. That's much more impressive. Especially because there aren't any other O's elsewhere in the grid. So that's two things I like. But then there's EEEE (45A: Very wide shoe). And TEDEUMS (40D: Latin hymns). And ESSES and REASSESSED (70A: 20% of seventy-six? / 10D: Like much real estate, annually). By the way, if you don't understand the clue for ESSES, please be sure to check out the Crosswordese 101 Round-up at the bottom of this post. Speaking of too many S's, you must agree with me that SPINAL TAP is awesome, but SPINAL TAPS is not. Also, the clue — 28D: Lumbar punctures — is icky.

So, yeah, I liked the chess reference — 12D: Way to relocate a king (CASTLE). And CADS clued as [72A: Bad lads] made me chuckle. But I'm not sure the good outweighed the bad/mediocre today. I'll be interested to hear what you think.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 17A: Scots Gaelic (ERSE).
• 23A: __ Lanka (SRI).
• 35A: Shrinking sea (ARAL).
• 37A: Chicago commuter carriers (ELS).
• 54A: Actor Wallach (ELI).
• 63A: Gaming pioneer (ATARI).
• 70A: 20% of seventy-six? (ESSES).
• 2D: Seine feeder (OISE).
• 50D: Priestly garb (ALB).

[Follow PuzzleGirl on Twitter.]

Everything Else — 1A: Ones minding their peas in queues? (PODS); 5A: __ band (PEP); 8A: Where the music stops? (HARD C); 13A: Uprising (RIOT); 14A: Consider judicially (HEAR); 15A: End of __ (AN ERA); 16A: Bony beginning (OSTE-); 18A: They might be executed by a judge (STAYS); 22A: York's title: Abbr. (SGT.); 24A: Fourth-cen. monastic (ST. BASIL); 26A: a.m. beverages (OJ'S); 29A: Citric __ (ACID); 32A: Finesse shampoo maker __ Curtis (HELENE); 33A: Shows inattention at a lecture, maybe (NAPS); 43A: Folksy negative (NAW); 44A: Identical (SAME); 46A: Lessens (ABATES); 49A: "Voilà!" cousin ("TA-DA!"); 51A: ENTs, e.g. (DRS.); 52A: Bonding capacity measure (VALENCE); 56A: Ideal conclusion? (-IST); 65A: Judge (DEEM); 66A: "Please allow me" ("MAY I?"); 67A: Old dwelling for 68-Across (TEPEE); 68A: Western natives (UTES); 69A: Ready for use (PREP); 71A: Gambling area (PIT); 1D: Urge (PROD); 3D: Heap affection (on) (DOTE); 4D: Self-help segments (STEPS); 5D: See 36-Down (PERU); 6D: Lessen (EASE); 7D: Basketball ploy (PRESS); 8D: Argues (with) (HAS A BEEF); 9D: Tiny crawler (ANT); 11D: Bombay product (DRY GIN); 14D: Like rotini (HELICAL); 20D: Support in a dresser drawer (BRA); 21D: Sudan neighbor: Abbr. (ETH.); 25D: Kate's sitcom pal (ALLIE); 26D: "Leaving __ Jet Plane" (ON A); 27D: Flier to Tokyo (JAL); 30D: Inflames (IRES); 31D: Pat (DAB AT); 34D: Declare (STATE); 36D: 5-Down's capital (LIMA); 39D: ATM output (TWENTIES); 41D: Slip floater, to its owner (HER); 42D: "Absolutely!" ("YES!"); 46D: Fly (AVIATE); 47D: Moistens with drippings (BASTES); 48D: Acoustics, e.g.: Abbr. (SCI.); 53D: Turn out to be (END UP); 55D: High-tech debut of 1981 (IBM PC); 58D: "__ do fear thy nature": Lady Macbeth (YET I); 59D: Epitome of redness (BEET); 60D: Pasternak heroine (LARA); 61D: Scrutinized (EYED); 62D: Uses a straw (SIPS); 64D: R&B artist Des'__ (REE).

05.07 Sat

S A T U R D A Y
May 7, 2011
Peter A. Collins

Theme: No theme on Saturdays

Hey, everybody. Sorry I'm so late today. PuzzleHusband and I had an unexpected evening without the kids last night, so we went out for dinner and then hung out together here at home until it was too late for me to do any coherent writing about the puzzle (or anything else for that matter). And this one was a toughie! Sparkly entries and tricky cluing throughout — I'm guessing it gave people some trouble and other people really enjoyed the ride. Let's get right to it.

Quite a bit of crosswordese in today's grid (for a Saturday), but what I noticed is that the discussions we've had about these words probably didn't help you much today. For example, early in the week it's enough to know that URAL is "the name of a Russian and Kazakh river that feeds the Caspian Sea as well as the mountain range that separates Europe and Asia." But today's clue doesn't even hint that we're talking about Russia (unless you know that the Sakmara is a Russian river, which I sure didn't). Same with OSLO. It's a common crossword word, but if the clue doesn't say anything about the Kon-Tiki, winter Olympics, the Nobel Peace Prize, or fjords, I'm not immediately thinking OSLO. I guess what I'm saying is, good job on the crosswordese. This is really the only way to do it for a late-week puzzle. (Details about all the crosswordese I found in today's puzzle is down at the bottom of this post. Check it out.)

I had the most trouble in the southeast corner and northern California area. I've never heard of "The Professor and the Madman" — apparently a book about the OED that actually sounds pretty interesting. I also had NEATENS where NEUTERS was supposed to go (43D: Fixes), never heard of a BUSHRAT (50A: Small Australian omnivore) and couldn't remember LANA Lang's first name (57D: Lang of Smallville). So you can see where I might have had some trouble there. After guessing on a few of those entries, EDINBURGH finally came clear (34D: City nicknamed "Auld Reekie") but that left me with BASHRAT and ENGN, which totally didn't look right. I was frustrated at that point, but when I finally let go of NEATENS it all came together. Whew!

Man, I am really rambling here and it's just keeps getting later and later, so let's get to the ...

Bullets:

• 1A: Peace offering? (NOBEL PRIZE). Love this tricky clue and that OSLO (14D: Vigeland Park city) is also in the grid.

• 11A: __ jure (IPSO). No idea.
• 15A: Subversive (UNAMERICAN). If you're in America anyway.
• 19A: Party follower? (GOER). GOER can be a suffix of the word "party," so GOER can "follow" "party."
• 20A: The Musketeers, e.g. (MEN). Whoa. Specific, specific clue for a vague, vague answer. I guess that's what we get on Saturday.
• 25A: Cottonpickin' (DOGGONE). Love both the clue and the answer on this one!
• 36A: Produce (SIRE). The old one-word-that-can-have-a-ton-of-meanings trick.
• 42A: Oscar-winning Whitaker role (AMIN). Actor's last name in the clue hints that the answer will be the character's last name too.
• 49A: Grooved whale (SEI). Ne-Ever heard of it.

• 60A: Heavy wind (TUBA). I'm gonna try to nip this in the bud right here. Yes, a TUBA is a brass instrument, but brass instruments are technically considered winds. I believe the three major categories of musical instruments are winds, strings, and percussion.
• 66A: Apple that's Minnesota's state fruit (HONEY CRISP). My mouth started watering on this one. Have you all had a HONEY CRISP apple? They're only available for a short time in the fall and they're kind of expensive, but definitely worth waiting (and paying) for.
• 68A: Teases too much, maybe (OVERSTYLES). As in hair.
• 4D: Qatar, for example (EMIRATE). We just talked about EMIRATEs here yesterday, did that help jog (i.e., NUDGE) your memory?
• 5D: Umpire's cry (LET). Yes, I tried OUT first. And yes, the official up in the chair at a tennis match is an umpire.
• 55D: Painters' protection (TARPS). I didn't notice the plural at first and tried SMOCK, which obviously didn't get me very far.
• 59D: Ottoman governors (BEYS). When we last chatted about Ottoman governors, I mentioned PASHAS and AGHAS, but totally forgot about BEYS.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up: Other than NIN, the only crosswordese in the grid that didn't seem to have a ramped up clue was IOS, showing up with its typical clue, 22D: Cyclades island. Other words to look out for in clues for IOS include Greece, Aegean, and Naxos. The island is said to be the burying place of Homer, which also shows up in clues once in a while. Also, IOS is also a type of "showy, colorful moth." So try to remember that too.

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

• 18A: The Sakmara flows into it (URAL).
• 23A: Big name in China (ENLAI).
• 41A: "Collages" novelist (NIN).
• 67A: Morse morsels (DAHS).
• 14D: Vigeland Park city (OSLO).
• 24D: New York college whose team is the Gaels (IONA).
• 30D: Presque Isle State Park's lake (ERIE).

[Follow PuzzleGirl on Twitter.]

Everything Else — 16A: Orthodontic challenges (GAPS); 17A: Modern era (DIGITAL AGE); 21A: Venetian marketplace (RIALTO); 27A: "Dracula" director Browning (TOD); 29A: Contrarian (NAYSAYER); 32A: Eco-friendly border (GREENBELT); 37A: "The Professor and the Madman" subj. (OED); 38A: Not seasonal (ALL YEAR); 44A: Read the wrong way (MISJUDGED); 46A: Ledger entry (LINE ITEM); 52A: Place for boarders (DEPOT); 56A: 1998 NFL Comeback Player of the Year (FLUTIE); 58A: Prattle (GAB); 61A: Infrequently spotted (RARE); 62A: Official report (WHITE PAPER); 65A: GM worker (ENGR.); 2D: With 3-Down, deli order (ONION); 3D: See 2-Down (BAGEL); 6D: London pusher's vehicle (PRAM); 7D: Worked (up) (RILED); 8D: "It seems unreal to me!" ("I CAN ONLY IMAGINE!"); 9D: Bit of evasion (ZAG); 10D: What some bars supply (ENERGY); 11D: Dewlapped reptiles (IGUANAS); 12D: Negotiating during a truce (PARLEYING); 13D: Gaiter relative (SPAT); 26D: Bill for software? (GATES); 28D: Hotel rm. option (DBL.); 31D: Tear (REND); 32D: SportsCenter highlight (GOAL); 33D: Do __ ... (RE MI); 35D: Dramatist Rice (ELMER); 39D: Foyt and Cronin (AJ'S); 40D: Felt remorse for (RUED); 45D: Regarding what's taken in (DIETARY); 47D: Grammar best-seller "Woe __" (IS I); 48D: "Tommy" rockers (THE WHO); 51D: What tots might go after? (TATER); 53D: Learner (PUPIL); 54D: Like some with sedentary lifestyles (OBESE); 56D: "High Noon" director Zinnemann (FRED); 63D: __ lane (HOV); 64D: Agt.'s cut (PCT.).

WEDNESDAY, June 3, 2009—Peter A. Collins

THEME: "Broken Codes That Require No Decoding"—The circled letters spell out words that can complete "code of ___" phrases, and they're "broken" into pieces rather than appearing as intact words

Theme answers:

• 17A: Colonial fair artisan is a GLASSBLOWER. "Code of laws" in the plural seems to be the more common phrase.
  
• 24A: Reasons for an R rating are SEX AND VIOLENCE. Fight Club had a code of silence.
  
• 38A: To Keep an eye on things is to HOLD DOWN THE FORT. Competitors at the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament are nice people and operate under a code of honor.
  
• 49A: LIKE THE DICKENS is just as quaintly slangy as Lickety-split.
  
• 60A. Cryptographers' successes (and what can be found in the circles in this puzzle's long answers) are BROKEN CODES. The L.A. Times crossword doesn't seem to run insane gimmick puzzles like we sometimes see in the NYT on Thursday, but it would've been fun if this crossword had some sort of code to break. Maybe a cryptographer would find a code to decipher. Hmm, how about 33D Swirled (EDDIED)? Did Ed die?

Crosswordese 101: Omigod, omigod, omigod! There are two perfect examples of crosswordese that haven't been covered yet in Crosswordese 101. 15A is a Wash basin partner, or EWER, while 2D is OLLAS, or Clay pots. According to previous clues, an OLLA is a Spanish or Southwestern stewpot made of earthenware or clay, and it's good for making paella. The EWER has fine-arts cred as a "still-life subject," which is a common clue for the word. Back in the day, you'd fill up your EWER with water and...do something with that basin/bowl in the process of washing up. How do you remember which crosswordese is which? The OLLA's clue tends to skew Spanish and culinary, while the EWER emphasizes decorativeness and water.

An olio of answers and clues:

• 1A: Makeshift bookmark is a DOG-EAR, or a turned-down corner of a page.
  
• 16A. Romance, the verb, means WOO. Have you ever pitched woo?
  
• 29A: It may be roja or verde (red or green) clues SALSA. Would you toss some salsa into your olla? I can't say.
  
• 35A. Two-time Indy 500 champ Luyendyk's first name is ARIE. The other famous ARIE is the oddly punctuated neo-soul singer India.Arie.
  
• 42A: ACID is a DNA part—part of the phrase deoxyribonucleic acid.
  
• 45A. Seder month is NISAN. ELUL and ADAR are other crossword-friendly months in the Jewish calendar.
  
• 47A. PSI is so multifaceted. It's a Tire gauge meas., short for pounds per square inch. It's a trident-shaped Greek letter. And it's a noun meaning "supposed parapsychological or psychic faculties or phenomena."
  
• 9D. You know what 25% of zero? is? The letter ZEE, which is one fourth of the word "zero." I'm quite fond of this type of clue. Always tricky, often surprising, probably not ever accessible by means of a crossword dictionary. These hyper-literal clues take several forms—"Ireland's start" might be a CAPITAL I, while the "Capital of Colorado" could be the capital C at the beginning of the name. "A third of a banana" consists of ENS (the letter N).
  
• 46D. Quarter horse quarters includes two different meanings of "quarter(s)." The place of residence for a quarter horse is the STABLE.
  
• 50D. The clue references a song I didn't know. "Monday ___ Friday on my mind": 1967 song lyric is finished by the words I HAVE. "Friday on My Mind" was a classic Australian rock song by the Easybeats (who?), and apparently the band approved of David Bowie's cover version. Let's hear some Bowie!
  

Everything Else — 7A: Relax (LAZE); 11A: Sta. that might show a Bogie flick (TCM); 14A: "Let me find out" (I'LL'SEE); 19A: Baja bear (OSO); 20A: Marquis de __ (SADE); 21A: "Lord, is __?": Matthew (IT I); 22A: Stage awards (OBIES); 28A: DJ's array (CDS); 30A: "The Zoo Story" playwright (ALBEE); 34A: QB's goof (INT.); 43A: Place to crash (PAD); 44A: Took another plunge? (RE-WED); 55A: Old-time actress Bara (THEDA); 56A: Galoot (APE); 57A: Look down (MOPE); 59A: Drift (about) (GAD); 64A: "The Loco-Motion" singer Little __ (EVA); 65A: Mother of Helen of Troy (LEDA); 66A: Tennessee team (TITANS); 67A: Tennis winner's hurdle (NET); 68A: Even once (EVER); 69A: Trim (SVELTE); 1D: Home, informally (DIGS); 3D: Maker of PlugIns (GLADE); 4D: County north of Kent (ESSEX); 5D: Two-time loser to DDE (AES); 6D: Put a new book cover on (REBIND); 7D: Pope during the Battle of Ostia (LEO IV); 8D: "How cute!" (AWW); 10D: "Misty" composer Garner (ERROLL); 11D: Streak beginning? (TWO IN A ROW); 12D: Trig ratio (COSEC); 13D: Long-headed mammal (MOOSE); 18D: Former Fords (LTDS); 23D: "Don't take silly chances" (BE SAFE); 25D: Served past (ACED); 26D: "That __ fair!" (ISN'T); 27D: Hand-on-the-Bible vow (OATH); 30D: "Found it!" ("AHA!"); 31D: It stops at each sta. (LOC.); 32D: Reacted to, as sudden bright light (BLINKED AT); 33D: Swirled (EDDIED); 34D: Evansville's st. (IND.); 36D: Dander (IRE); 37D: LAX posting (ETD); 39D: Moonfish (OPAH); 40D: Subside (WANE); 41D: The Phantom of the Opera (ERIK); 47D: Plumber's piece (PIPE); 48D: Sachet emanations (SCENTS); 49D: Three-star mil. officer (LT. GEN.); 51D: Senegal's capital (DAKAR); 52D: Wax theatrical (EMOTE); 53D: Situated at a junction (NODAL); 54D: Ran through (SPENT); 58D: In __: actually (ESSE); 61D: Gun (REV); 62D: Pindar opus (ODE); 63D: Kind of engr. (CIV.).