Before we get started, I just want to say that I really appreciate you all hanging out with me here. I've been blogging solo here for a month now and so far it doesn't look like anyone's heading for the hills. So thank you for that. Also, even though I don't chime in a lot in the comments section, I want you to know it's just because my life is crazy right now. (Isn't that cute how I say that like maybe someday it won't be?) I do read all the comments and I both learn from and am entertained by all of you daily. I'm especially tickled when new commenters either stumble across our little spot here and jump right in, or when someone comes out of lurkdom. It's always awesome to welcome new voices into the mix. So. Thank you! Now onto the puzzle ….
I really enjoyed this challenge today. But again with the northwest corner! I had a heckuva time up there. I didn't know JAMES MASON (1A: He played Brutus in "Julius Caesar" (1953)) and had never heard of FATA MORGANA (14A: Complex mirage), which I'm happy to know now that I've looked it up. I also didn't know I GO TO PIECES (16A: 1965 Peter and Gordon hit) but now I have this song in my head:
My missteps include chief for SIOUX (46A: Sitting Bull, e.g.), sin for ERR (60A: Transgress), on time for AT ONCE (2D: Without delay), and AMA for HMO (47A: Doc bloc). I also wanted cup for SAC (8D: Egg holder). Egg cup? That's a thing, right? Other than that, it was just chipping away at it slowly but surely. I couldn't really get any traction anywhere except the northeast where the three three-letter gimmes helped immensely. Even though they sat atop the horrific GALOSH (19A: Wet-weather wear). You know how I'm always grumbling about the use of plurals in the grid? In this case, I would have preferred it!
Just a couple more things:
21A: Ski nautique site (LAC). LAC is French for lake so "Ski nautique" must be "water skiing." N'est-ce pas?
30A: House or lodge (STOW). Help me out here. Are house and lodge verbs in this clue? Cuz I think that makes sense then.
48A: Team that's played in the same home park since 1912 (RED SOX). I did not know that.
51A: "__ Got Bonnie": Rydell hit (I'VE). Don't know this song either.
3D: King's downfall, maybe (MATE). At first I wanted coup here. Does that even make sense?
14D: Dijon daughter (FILLE). More French!
20D: 1993 Anne Rice novel (LASHER). Was anyone fooled into trying Lestat here? I already had the A in place and knew that Lestate started with LE, so I didn't fall into that trap. I did see it though!
32D: Walking papers (THE AX). Love this! Might be one of my favorite clue/answer pairs of all time.
35D: Cupid, for one (REINDEER). Okay, this trap I walked right into with my eyes wide open. Great clue!
Crosswordese 101 Round-Up:
28A: "I kissed thee __ I killed thee": "Othello" (ERE).
Everything Else — 11A: Member of a notable foreign trio (AMO); 15A: Go for the bronze? (TAN); 17A: Enter the pool (BET); 18A: Crescent (LUNE); 22A: Acolyte's area (ALTAR); 27A: Barista's preparation (LATTE); 28A: "I kissed thee __ I killed thee": "Othello" (ERE); 31A: Pelvis-patella connectors (FEMURS); 32A: The farther ones (THOSE); 33A: 1988 Michelle Pfeiffer film (MARRIED TO THE MOB); 37A: Large amount (OCEAN); 38A: Stockpile (GATHER); 39A: Add water to, perhaps (THIN); 40A: Tribe member in many films (EXTRA); 41A: New Jersey casino, with "The" (TAJ); 44A: Pen output (OINKS); 50A: Busiest (PEAK); 52A: Figure to a fault (OVERANALYZE); 58A: One in a zillion? (ZEE); 59A: Venerable (TIME-HONORED); 61A: Some countdowns (HIT PARADES); 1D: Rain forest cat (JAGUAR); 5D: Payoff (SOP); 6D: Med. technique using contrast agents (MRI); 7D: What candles may reveal (AGE); 9D: A hundred sawbucks (ONE G); 10D: Like some vowels (NASAL); 11D: Fundamentally (AT BOTTOM); 12D: Stately and dignified, in music (MAESTOSO); 13D: Generally Googleable (ON THE WEB); 22D: Ordered pizza, perhaps (ATE IN); 23D: Capital of Togo (LOME); 24D: Walks with effort (TRUDGES); 25D: Chartered carrier (AIR TAXI); 26D: Ristorante dish (RISOTTO); 31D: Dogs (FRANKS); 33D: Make easier to use, in a way (MOTORIZE); 34D: One who gets things done (ACHIEVER); 36D: Via, informally (THRU); 41D: "__ here!" (THEY'RE); 42D: Floors (AMAZES); 43D: Caused a breakup? (JOKED); 45D: "In __, you are to blame": "Othello" (SOOTH); 49D: Louis __: son of Marie Antoinette (XVII); 50D: Lumber (PLOD); 53D: First to arrive, often: Abbr. (EMT); 54D: Good standing, for short (REP); 55D: "Got it!" ("AHA!"); 56D: Easter preceder? (NOR'); 57D: Santa __ (ANA).
THEME: No theme today—It's a themeless/freestyle puzzle
Oh, man, this one was even easier than last Saturday's puzzle. 3:14 for me lands at an easy Wednesday NYT level. The fill was cool, but the clues didn't make me work for them. I mean, if you were a fan of The West Wing, bam! 1-Across filled itself in and gave you a head start on the first 11 Down answers. Even though I kinda quit watching the show by the final two seasons, AARON SORKIN was a total gimme. His earlier show, Sports Night, was one of those under-watched but smart and engaging series.
Groovy bits:
12A: [1947 Oscar winner for Best Original Song] (ZIP-A-DEE-DOO-DAH). Great answer! I had most of the letters from the Downs before I even looked at the clue.
14A: [1988 Michelle Pfeiffer comedy] (MARRIED TO THE MOB). Also starring Matthew Modine as the FBI agent and...who played the mobster guy? Anyone remember?
16A: [Record holder?] (EX-CON). Love this clue!
29A: [For whom the bell tolls] (THEE). As in "Ask not for..."
42A: [Silly rabbit's desire, in ads] (TRIX).
46A: [Without anything on] (NAKED AS A JAYBIRD). I got this one off the K. Wish the clue had been more elusive so I'd have to work more to have this colorful answer emerge in a grid. One question: When you are naked, are you wearing nothing but blue feathers? No? I didn't think so.
50A: ['80s NBC medical drama] (ST. ELSEWHERE). Never watched this show, though it should've been right up my alley.
9D: [Cleopatra's eyeliner] (KOHL). No relation to former German chancellor Helmut Kohl. The black eyeliner powder takes its name from an Arabic word.
12D: [Fighter craft game released by Sega in 1982] (ZAXXON). I sure didn't know this one, but having a Z and two Xs worked into the grid pleases me.
24D: [Play badly?] (CHEAT). What's your household policy on cheating at board games? I grew up in a no-cheating household but my husband's family was fine with cheating. Yes, we have a mixed marriage.
32D: [Loser to Bush in 1988] (DUKAKIS). As a college student in Minnesota in '88, I went to the Democratic caucus. The Dukakis crowd thought they had a catchy slogan: "We're gonna caucus for Dukakis!" I no longer remember which candidate's corner I ended up in. It might've been Jesse Jackson, since I attended one of his rallies...on a Minnesota farm. Not many, I daresay, have heard Jesse Jackson leading a crowd in this chant: "Save the farm! The family farm!"
41D: [Picayune] (SMALL). I love the word picayune and wish I lived in New Orleans just so I could read the Times-Picayune every day.
The only answer I looked askance at was 34D: [Bridgestone product] (CAR TIRE). I think the word car is assumed. If it's a tire on something other than a car, then it's a truck tire or a bike tire.
Now, here's a clue that pretty much demands a video: 21A: [Charmer who "walks like a woman and talks like a man," in a 1970 hit] (LOLA). Enjoy the Kinks.
Crosswordese 101: Hey, you know what? I don't see any crosswordese in this puzzle.
Everything Else — 1A: "The West Wing" creator (AARON SORKIN); 12A: 1947 Oscar winner for Best Original Song (ZIP-A-DEE-DOO-DAH); 14A: 1988 Michelle Pfeiffer comedy (MARRIED TO THE MOB); 16A: Record holder? (EXCON); 17A: Battery alternative (FUEL CELL); 18A: Neural transmitter (AXON); 19A: Cat murmurs (PURRS); 21A: Charmer who "walks like a woman and talks like a man," in a 1970 hit (LOLA); 22A: John of London (LOO); 23A: Old postal divisions (ZONES); 24A: Pachelbel work (CANON); 25A: Oct. 1975 NBC debut (SNL); 26A: Cost to get in on the deal (ANTE); 27A: Cunning (SHREWD); 28A: First queen of Carthage (DIDO); 29A: For whom the bell tolls (THEE); 30A: Catkin bearers (ALDERS); 33A: Fast-growing pet (CHIA); 34A: Half of CDX (CCV); 37A: Ad preceder? (DEUCE); 38A: Frighten (DAUNT); 39A: Last word of Shelley's "Adonais" (ARE); 40A: Amplify (MIKE); 41A: Smart-mouthed (SASSY); 42A: Silly rabbit's desire, in ads (TRIX); 43A: Campus figure (ACADEMIC); 45A: One in a class by herself? (TUTEE); 46A: Without anything on (NAKED AS A JAYBIRD); 49A: Most buses (SINGLE DECKERS); 50A: '80s NBC medical drama (ST. ELSEWHERE); 1D: Use a fan on (AIR COOL); 2D: Kitchen protector (APRON); 3D: Delay cause, maybe (RAIN); 4D: Dedicated work (ODE); 5D: Neighbor of Homer (NED); 6D: Emancipated (SET FREE); 7D: Sussex scents (ODOURS); 8D: Dull drills (ROTES); 9D: Cleopatra's eyeliner (KOHL); 10D: "My stars!" ("I DECLARE!"); 11D: "Give me a for-instance!" ("NAME ONE!"); 12D: Fighter craft game released by Sega in 1982 (ZAXXON); 13D: Empty (HOLLOW); 14D: Board (MEALS); 15D: Hardly spicy (BLAND); 19D: Koi habitats (PONDS); 20D: Golden rule word (UNTO); 23D: Site of the 1974 fight known as "The Rumble in the Jungle" (ZAIRE); 24D: Play badly? (CHEAT); 27D: Newly polished (SHINY); 28D: Will writer, at a will reading (DECEDENT); 29D: Consequently (THUS); 30D: Pro pitcher? (ADMAN); 31D: Pioneer 35mm cameras (LEICAS); 32D: Loser to Bush in 1988 (DUKAKIS); 33D: Cataract (CASCADE); 34D: Bridgestone product (CAR TIRE); 35D: Old yellers (CRIERS); 36D: In a snit (VEXED); 38D: Places for roasters and toasters? (DAISES); 41D: Picayune (SMALL); 42D: Yam, for one (TUBER); 44D: Competitive advantage (EDGE); 45D: Trike rider (TYKE); 47D: Saul or Solomon (JEW); 48D: "Oh!" to Ohm ("ACH!").
Theme: "Watch the Birdie"—You can find the letters ONE literally under the letters PAR at ten different places in the grid. [Note: The circles were not printed on the grid. I put them in so you can see the theme answers more clearly.]
Theme answers:
20A: Fortified (RAMPARTED). Ouch.
23A: Cather novel set in Nebraska (O PIONEERS!). I remember from the last time a Willa Cather clue came up that O Pioneers! and My Ántonia have the same number of letters. Do you think she planned that?
21A: Convey (IMPART).
24A: __ Tunes (LOONEY).
36A: Not up to snuff (SUBPAR).
43A: Nary a soul (NOONE).
44A: Peeled strip (PARING).
50A: Year in Augustus' reign (ONE B.C.).
61A: Cowpoke's pal (PARD).
69A: Birdie that's hidden literally in 10 pairs of puzzle answers (ONE UNDER PAR).
99A: Tip of Massachusetts (O'NEILL). Tricky, tricky clue.
115A: Ancient Athens rival (SPARTA).
120A: Complexion aids (TONERS).
117A: Californian shrubland (CHAPARRAL).
121A: Time long past (BYGONE ERA).
Fabulous, fabulous theme today. Truly inspired. In golf, the score "one under par" is known as a "birdie." In this puzzle, we literally see ONE under PAR ten times in the grid. Ten times! And just in case you didn't notice—SYMMETRICAL! Amazing! Let's get our lesson out of the way and then maybe I'll use some more exclamation points.
Crosswordese 101: ARES is the Greek god of war. Not to be confused with EROS, the Greek god of love. Two totally different things. Obviously. In early-week puzzles, you'll typically get a straightforward clue like [Greek war god] or something equally as clever. Today the clue is [14D: Bellicose god]. Bellicose, of course, meaning ... um ... hold on. "Favoring or inclined to start quarrels or wars." So, yeah. ARES. From Wednesday on out, chances are you're going to get a lesson on ARES's family tree. Here are a few of his relatives:
Parents: Hera, Zeus
Children: Deimos, Phobos, Harmonia, Hippolyta
Half-siblings: Hercules, Athena, Hermes
Uncle: Demeter
Grandmother: Rhea
Lover: Aphrodite
Also remember that the Roman god of war is Mars. Sometimes ARES is clued as "Mars' Greek counterpart."
Back to this awesome theme! It's awesome! Okay, I'll stop now with the exclamation points. But really, I'm blown away. This is the kind of theme I might on my very best day think of but then decide after about ten minutes that it would be impossible to execute. Luckily, Will Nediger isn't as lazy as I am. Or maybe he's just smarter. Whatever. He hit on a great theme and executed it very impressively. Of course the theme places some heavy restrictions on the grid, so you're bound to see some clunkers. Let's just get them out of the way.
Clunkers:
103A: Dig discoveries: Var. (SHERDS). I really hate to see "Var." in my puzzle. To me, it means that the answer is going to be a made-up word that's very similar to a real word. And in this puzzle, we've got two of them. [81D: Like pumice: Var.] is POROSE.
105A: Ill. metropolis (CHI.). That's an ugly, ugly abbreviation for Chicago. I mean, I can't think of any other abbreviation for Chicago, but why do you need one? Speaking of abbreviations, 9D: MS. fixers (EDS.) hurts a little. MS = manuscripts and EDS. = editors. And that pain is compounded by the inclusion of 57A: Further shorten, maybe (RE-EDIT). Owie!
124A: Didn't worry a bit (SLEPT EASY). Rest easy. That's the phrase. Rest easy. Then there's 7D: Far from frenzied (AT EASE), which is a completely legitimate phrase, but I don't like seeing both easy and ease in the same puzzle.
38D: Attorney's specialty (LIBEL LAW). Well, this would be the specialty of a certain type of lawyer. A libel lawyer maybe? They probably have those in L.A.
47D: Cassandra, for one (SEERESS).Seer is bad enough, but tacking on the "feminine" ending? Let's just say I'm not a fan of the "feminine" ending. The other big Wheel of Fortune Letter pile-up is at 87D: Doctor, at times (REFERRER).
48D: Private pupil (TUTEE). I think this word is legitimate, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.
63D: Three letters forming a single sound (TRIGRAPH). Any linguists out there? I bet this one was easy for you.
65D: Obnoxious sort, in slang (CREEPO). Your mission is to use this word today in a normal conversation.
Okay, now that that's out of the way. Did I mention that I love this theme?! What else can we talk about?
Bullets:
26A: Mind the store (VEND). I had tend at first which really caused some problems up there in the NW corner.
38A: Pickup trick (LINE). Could not figure out what this clue was going for. A trick that a pickup truck does? Like a wheelie or something? No, that's a bike.
47A: Chilling order? (SEDATIVE). I don't really get this one. Does this mean chill as in calm down? Okay, that makes sense. I guess when I think sedative my mind goes more toward the anesthesia end of the spectrum, which is on a whole different plain than "chilling."
51A: Three-part European union (BENELUX). Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg. I looked that one up for you. It's just one of the services I offer.
55A: HI and OK (STS.). Sorry to any Canadians out there. We do love our postal abbreviations here in the United States! These two are Hawaii and Oklahoma.
60A: "Hud" Oscar winner (NEAL). Patricia Neal won the Best Actress Oscar for this 1963 movie. Whenever I see "Hud" I always think of "The Hudsucker Proxy," another Paul Newman movie. But "Hud" is the story of a self-centered, modern-day cowboy and "The Hudsucker Proxy" is a 1994 screwball comedy fantasy film written, produced and directed by, hey! The COEN Brothers! 113A: Either director of "No Country for Old Men" (COEN).
86A: Boo Boo, in Barcelona? (OSO). Yogi Bear's sidekick, Boo Boo? That's how I read it anyway. Oso is Spanish for bear.
89A: Net grazers (LETS). This is a tennis reference. A served ball that grazes the net on its way to the other side is called a let. Or a do-over. Depends on how old you are and how seriously you take the game.
96A: Small wrapper? (ELF). Not a small piece of paper that a candy is wrapped in, but a small person who wraps.
98A: Hit the sauce (TOPE). Oh man. I can't believe I missed this one for Crosswordese 101. Some other time for sure.
122A: Clunkhead (JERK). If you're not able to use creepo today, maybe you'll have better luck with clunkhead.
13D: One of two Crayola colors with the shortest name (TAN). The other is ... red? Just a guess.
35D: LeBron James, e.g., briefly (CAV). Love him. His nickname is "The King," you know.
37D: Cabs on the table (REDS). Ooh, I just got this now. It's wine.
61D: Pope's work (POEMS). Not the Pope, but Alexander Pope.
66D: Jazzman Woody (HERMAN). A gimme for me. He was one of the two big jazz guys that came and performed at our high school. The other was Maynard Ferguson. This was like a hundred years ago. Hey! This song kinda goes along with the theme:
83D: Classic Chunky brand (ALPO). I was thinking peanut butter and I have to say, I had a very strong physical reaction when I realized the clue was talking about dog food instead.
111D: Doo-wop group anchor (BASS). Let's see if I can find some cool doo-wop. This should work:
Everything Else — 1A: Hardly a knockout (PLAIN JANE); 10A: Imported roadsters (MIATAS); 16A: Schools of thought (ISMS); 22A: Via, to Burns (THRO'); 25A: Con victims (SAPS); 27A: Large currency unit? (WAD); 28A: Ancient France (GAUL); 29A: Bagel flavoring (SESAME); 32A: "The Life Aquatic with Steve __": Bill Murray film (ZISSOU); 34A: Dr. Mom's remedy (TLC); 39A: "Great Expectations" hero (PIP); 41A: Iowa's state tree (OAK); 49A: "__ better not" (YOU'D); 52A: Houston-to-Dallas dir. (NNW); 56A: "Come Back, Little Sheba" playwright (INGE). 58A: Cybercommerce (E-TAIL); 62A: Brings home (NETS); 64A: Brno-born people (CZECHS); 68A: Starbucks order (TALL); 72A: Priceless? (FREE); 73A: Scandalous stuff (SLEAZE); 75A: Plant reproduction prefix (SPOR-); 77A: Stretch (TERM); 78A: Development sites (WOMBS); 80A: Kid's shooter (POP GUN); 82A: Burlap source (HEMP); 83A: Crunch targets (ABS); 87A: Sorrow (REMORSE); 91A: Judgment Day hymn (DIES IRAE); 97A: One whose tickets are often expensive (COP); 101A: Big cat sign (LEO); 108A: Most of Uruguay (PAMPAS); 110A: Hayseed (RUBE); 112A: Aunt, in Uruguay (TÍA); 114A: Capitale south of San Marino (ROMA); 119A: They may be pale (ALES); 123A: Knockouts attract them (STARES); 1D: Leave no doubt (PROVE); 2D: Carnation location (LAPEL); 3D: __ acid (AMINO); 4D: Nano or shuffle (IPOD); 5D: Pita look-alike (NAN); 6D: TV shooting victim of 3/21/1980 (J.R. EWING); 8D: Geeky types (NERDS); 10D: "__ 18" (Uris novel) (MILA); 11D: "Too rich for my blood" (I'M OUT); 12D: Lunar Module test mission (APOLLO IX); 15D: Eyelid sores (STYES); 16D: Delivery notice? (IT'S A BOY); 17D: Garnier products (SHAMPOOS); 18D: Monocled food mascot (MR. PEANUT); 19D: 2006 Rihanna hit (SOS); 28D: Showed where to go (GUIDED); 30D: Baltimore daily (SUN); 32D: Mineral in oysters (ZINC); 33D: Bared one's soul (OPENED UP); 40D: The same either way (PALINDROMIC); 42D: Lane partner (KENT); 44D: APB part (POINTS); 45D: Temper (ANNEAL); 46D: Lavishly entertain (REGALE); 51D: Breakfast staple (BRAN); 53D: Abalone product (NACRE); 54D: Virtuoso (WIZ); 58D: Adopt, as a cause (ESPOUSE); 59D: Moved out (LEFT HOME); 67D: Throughout, in music (SEMPRE); 70D: Casual rebuffs (NOPES); 71D: Either of two Henry VIII wives (ANNE); 74D: Moat site (ZOO); 79D: Presage (BODE); 84D: Ectomorph (BEAN POLE); 85D: Newlyweds' car decoration (STREAMER); 88D: Barely beats (NIPS); 90D: Holdup cover-up (SKI MASK); 92D: Peaked (ILL); 93D: Fountain drink (SODA POP); 95D: High point of a European vacation? (ALP); 98D: Army medic's system (TRIAGE); 100D: Doesn't die out (LASTS); 102D: Eccentric (OUTRE); 104D: Type of alcohol (ETHYL); 105D: Jazz pianist Chick (COREA); 106D: Gets wind of (HEARS); 107D: Driller's filling (INLAY); 109D: Obsession for Lady Macbeth (SPOT); 113D: Hudson Bay tribe (CREE); 114D: British rule in India (RAJ); 116D: TV wheel spinner's purchase (AN A); 117D: "Criminal Minds" network (CBS); 118D: Tiny army member (ANT).
THEME: "In the Nonfiction Section" — Seven phrases that begin with TO take an initial HOW to become hypothetical how-to books.
Quick reminder: If your newspaper gives you the daily L.A. Times crossword edited by Rich Norris but it doesn't offer this Sunday puzzle, you can get it online. Register at Cruciverb.com (standard membership is free) to be able to download the puzzle in the Across Lite format. You can download Across Lite 2.0 at the New York Times website.
Crosswordese 101:
Today's featured topic is the Muses and the Fates. CLOTHO(31A: Thread-spinning Fate) rarely appears in the puzzle grid, but sometimes she's in the clues. If you encounter a clue like Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, the three FATES are who you need. In Greek mythology, CLOTHO spun out the thread of life (and no, the word "cloth" isn't related), LACHESIS measured the thread of life allotted to each person, and ATROPOS cut the thread, determining how and when people would die.
The real crossword all-stars are the nine Muses. ERATO is the MUSE of lyric poetry, and she is the unofficial Muse of crossword constructors thanks to her common letters and alternating vowel/consonant sequence. CLIO, Muse of history (and the name of an advertising award), is the next most common. The rest have longer names and are more likely to show up in clues as ERATO's sister than to appear in the grid. Here they are:
CALLIOPE, epic poetry
EUTERPE, music
MELPOMENE, tragedy (Bonus: fun to say out loud! Four syllables, stress the POM)
POLYHYMNIA, choral poetry
TERPSICHORE, dance
THALIA, comedy
URANIA, astronomy (not so hard to remember if you link her with the planet Uranus)
I know, I know—TERPSICHORE is the furthest thing from crosswordese. But this puzzle was packed with so many interesting, showy answers, it was hard to notice many "repeater" answers.
Theme Answers:
23A: Handbook of euphemisms? (HOW TO PUT IT MILDLY)—You know, that could be a useful book.
37A: Manual for talk show guests? (HOW TO BE ANNOUNCED)
44A: Guide for sore losers? (HOW TO BLAME)—Oh, I don't think anybody needs help on this front.
62A: Self-help book for compulsive liars? (HOW TO BE PERFECTLY FRANK)
78A: Reference work for modelists? (HOW TO SCALE)
85A: Vade mecum for neologists? (HOW TO COIN A PHRASE)—Vade mecum means "go with me" in Latin; the term refers to a handbook you might carry with you.
105A: Therapeutic book for blowhards? (HOW TO SAY THE LEAST)—Ooh, this could be a popular secret-Santa gift.
(I asked my husband to name a famous Frank to illustrate the PERFECTLY FRANK answer and he chose Charlemagne. Why, yes, he did study history. How did you guess?)
The Coolest Answers:
Three 6-letter verbs at the bottom of the puzzle go together beautifully: CUDDLE (96A: Get lovey-dovey); WIGGLE (87D: Toe movement); and NESTLE (88D: Get cozy).
More Goodies:
70A: Penn pal (TELLER). I like the Penn & Teller play on "penpal."
71A: Nincompoop (BOZO).
76A: Facebook user's nudge (POKE). I like Facebook. I do. I just don't understand why they created this "poke" feature. "Poking" someone on Facebook is akin to e-mailing them a blank message or calling them and hanging up. "I'm thinking of you, but not enough to write a few words."
3D: Scrolling 25-Down feature (NEWS CRAWL). 25D is MSNBC. I love/hate the news crawl—mostly hate—but it does make for a great crossword answer.
12D: Blockbuster transaction (DVD RENTAL). I haven't gone to a video store in years. Netflix!
41D: Road problem (POTHOLE). Chicago had a banner winter for potholes. I even saw 50-years-buried streetcar tracks and cobblestones in one pothole. History!
57D: Make a peep (SAY BOO). For this sense of SAY BOO, the "wouldn't" negation is needed. I'm not sure SAY BOO works great without the negation unless you're talking about trying to scare someone. How awesome would it be if, instead of making a peep, little chicks said "Boo!"?
Two answers go together on my list of don'ts. 59D: Part of a femme fatale's outfit (STILETTO HEEL); 71D: Sunbather's depilatory (BIKINI WAX).
89D:California's governor, facetiously is AHNOLD Schwarzenegger. We would also have accepted AHNULD, but the crossing theme answer demanded the O this time.
Tough Stuff:
15A: "Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer" musical (CATS). I'm not sure what PuzzleGirl's stance on musicals is, but Rex and I are solidly in the "no, please, no" camp.
26A: Opening word? (MAMA). I'm not quite sure how to interpret this. As in baby's first word?
55A: Item stolen in Pope's "The Rape of the Lock" (TRESS). Locks of hair = tresses of hair.
59A: Hindu god who rides a bull named Nandi (SHIVA). Not to be confused with sitting shiva.
84A: Antidote target (TOXIN).
99A: Quaint denial ('TISN'T). If you want to be a little more folksy in your denial, go with 'TAIN'T.
104A: Venetian elder of yore (DOGE). This one's an old-school crossword answer. Are you tempted to round up all the DOGEs and sing "Git along, little doge"?
109A: Colorado senator Mark (UDALL). Yes, he's part of the Udall political dynasty. Dad was Mo Udall; cousin is Senator Tom Udall of New Mexico; uncle Stewart Udall was in the JFK/LBJ cabinet.
111A: Jazzman Hines (FATHA). Gotta love the name Earl "Fatha" Hines. I just might start asking to be referred to as Amy "Mutha" Reynaldo. Enjoy the video of Earl Hines on the piano.
1D: "The Farmer in the Dell" syllables (HIHO). As in "hi-ho, the derry-o, the farmer in the dell."
2D: Wavy lines, in comics (ODOR). A green miasma is also effective in cartoons.
6D: Pampean cowboy (GAUCHO). I suspect Pampean is the adjectival form of the Pampas, where those cowboys work.
7D: Beat in a regatta (OUTROW). Holy cow! Here's a news story with "out-row" in the headline. Just when I was thinking this was a word nobody would ever use.
16D: Mauritania's official language (ARABIC). It's located on the west coast of Africa's wider top half.
46D: Obsolescent vote finalizer (LEVER). I had the damnedest time understanding this clue. This may be because I started out as a punchcard-and-chads voter and have never seen one of those old New York-style ballot levers.
97D: Jan Vermeer's hometown (DELFT). Delft china has characteristic blue-and-white decorations.
Everything Else — 1A: Motorists' warnings (HONKS); 6A: A great deal (GOBS); 10A: Lincoln in-laws (TODDS); 19A: Utopian (IDEAL); 20A: Nimbus (AURA); 21A: Humble home (HOVEL); 22A: Where Camus's "The Plague" is set (ORAN); 27A: MDs' workplaces (ORS); 28A: Film introduction? (MICRO); 29A: Close call (SCARE); 30A: Hinder (EMBAR); 33A: It's commonly twisted (ANKLE); 34A: Sight in le ciel (ETOILE); 35A: High do (AFRO); 40A: Large envelope feature (CLASP); 42A: Chapel Hill sch. (UNC); 43A: Patty Hearst alias (TANIA); 48A: He played Sheldon in "Misery" (CAAN); 50A: Future elm (SEED); 54A: Sushi fish (EEL); 56A: Bouncer? (BALL); 57A: Bareback rider's lack (SADDLE); 60A: Programmer's output (CODE); 61A: Bronze coatings (PATINAS); 67A: U-Haul rental (TRAILER); 68A: Drift gracefully (WAFT); 69A: Hard thing to kick (HABIT); 72A: Lord's home (MANOR); 73A: Road crew goo (TAR); 77A: Stand-up comic's need (MIKE); 80A: "Use your head!" (THINK); 83A: __ Paulo (SAO); 93A: Jason's vessel (ARGO); 94A: Melodious (ARIOSE); 95A: Drinks for Radar (NEHIS); 98A: "Bingo!" (RIGHT); 100A: Fencer's move (LUNGE); 101A: Flapper's wrapper (BOA); 108A: __ Girl: former teen fashion mag (ELLE); 110A: Court statement (PLEA); 112A: React in shock (REEL); 113A: Ready to ship (BOXED); 114A: "Sesame Street" guy with a unibrow (BERT); 115A: Walk, often lightly (TREAD); 4D: Kit__ (KAT); 5D: Replay technique (SLOMO); 8D: Con __: spiritedly (BRIO); 9D: Took a load off (SAT); 10D: Actor Alan (THICKE); 11D: "Trés chic!" (OOLALA); 13D: Take-out order? (DELE); 14D: Cunning (SLY); 15D: Utterly ordinary (COMMONASDIRT); 17D: Food wrapped in a corn husk (TAMALE); 18D: Trapped (SNARED); 24D: Heart (PITH); 25D: 24-hr. news source (MSNBC); 30D: Notions holder (ETUI); 32D: Complex ABC drama (LOST); 33D: Top-notch (AONE); 34D: Many millennia (EON); 35D: Massage target (ACHE); 36D: Baffin Bay sighting (FLOE); 38D: Rolaids rival (TUMS); 39D: A Bobbsey twin (NAN); 45D: Hush money payer (BRIBER); 47D: Exec's "Fast!" (ASAP); 48D: Citadel student (CADET); 49D: Baldwin of "30 Rock" (ALEC); 51D: Author Buchanan (EDNA); 52D: Panache (ELAN); 53D: Student's station (DESK); 56D: Big, in Variety (BOFFO); 58D: To begin with (ATFIRST); 60D: Pet rocks, once (CRAZE); 61D: Factory (PLANT); 62D: Letters before ://www (HTTP); 63D: Oft-dunked treat (OREO); 64D: Forgo the bus (WALK); 65D: Fighter in the Battle for Endor (EWOK); 66D: Spring event (THAW); 72D: Heath (MOOR); 73D: 2008 economic stimulus provision (TAXREBATE); 74D: Sacha Baron Cohen persona (ALIG); 75D: Seat of Nevada's Washoe County (RENO); 77D: 6, on a phone (MNO); 78D: Mocking laughs (HAHS); 79D: West Virginia resource (COAL); 81D: Party giver (HOST); 82D: Bar stock (ICE); 83D: Barely rains (SPITS); 85D: Higher on the Mohs scale (HARDER); 86D: Colorful songbird (ORIOLE); 90D: More intense (ACUTER); 91D: Beach topper (SUNHAT); 92D: Trim or rim (EDGE); 99D: List heading (TODO); 100D: Lovett of country (LYLE); 102D: Workplace stds. org. (OSHA); 103D: To a slight extent (ATAD); 105D: Where spokes meet (HUB); 106D: LAPD alert (APB); 107D: Ring site (EAR).
Before we get started, I just want to say that I really appreciate you all hanging out with me here. I've been blogging solo here for a month now and so far it doesn't look like anyone's heading for the hills. So thank you for that. Also, even though I don't chime in a lot in the comments section, I want you to know it's just because my life is crazy right now. (Isn't that cute how I say that like maybe someday it won't be?) I do read all the comments and I both learn from and am entertained by all of you daily. I'm especially tickled when new commenters either stumble across our little spot here and jump right in, or when someone comes out of lurkdom. It's always awesome to welcome new voices into the mix. So. Thank you! Now onto the puzzle ….
I really enjoyed this challenge today. But again with the northwest corner! I had a heckuva time up there. I didn't know JAMES MASON (1A: He played Brutus in "Julius Caesar" (1953)) and had never heard of FATA MORGANA (14A: Complex mirage), which I'm happy to know now that I've looked it up. I also didn't know I GO TO PIECES (16A: 1965 Peter and Gordon hit) but now I have this song in my head:
My missteps include chief for SIOUX (46A: Sitting Bull, e.g.), sin for ERR (60A: Transgress), on time for AT ONCE (2D: Without delay), and AMA for HMO (47A: Doc bloc). I also wanted cup for SAC (8D: Egg holder). Egg cup? That's a thing, right? Other than that, it was just chipping away at it slowly but surely. I couldn't really get any traction anywhere except the northeast where the three three-letter gimmes helped immensely. Even though they sat atop the horrific GALOSH (19A: Wet-weather wear). You know how I'm always grumbling about the use of plurals in the grid? In this case, I would have preferred it!
