06.09 Thu

T H U R S D A Y
June 9, 2011
James Sajdak

Theme: Alternate Endings — Familiar two-word phrases following the pattern [x]ing + [x]er have their suffixes reversed.

Theme answers:

• 20A: Choir members during the sermon? (SINGERS WAITING). [singing waiters]
• 24A: Grocery employee dealing with a shortage of shelf space? (STOCKER STUFFING). [stocking stuffer]
• 47A: Top sellers sealing the deal? (CLOSERS PITCHING). [closing pitchers]
• 53A: News hound's sign-off? (ROVER REPORTING). [roving reporter]

I solved this puzzle last night after I got home from PuzzleSon's middle school band/orchestra concert. The concert lasted more than two hours. And PuzzleSon played in a total of … one song. Which didn't occur until an hour and 50 minutes in. So what I'm saying is, this theme made no sense to me At All while I was solving. Even after I was done it took me a while to figure it out. But I'm pretty sure all that says more about my state of mind than it does about the puzzle. The theme is cute right? I kinda wish all the theme answers had been singular because the S in the middle of three of them seemed like a big part of my confusion while solving.

Not a lot of sparkle in this one. As for the longer answers, PARABOLAS and SNORKELS are awesome (17A: Certain conic sections / 5D: Reef exploration gear), but GUARD RAIL and SET FORTH just kinda sit there (62A: Road safety feature / 40D: Outline, as a plan). Of the fill-in-the-blank clues, not a single one ended up being the first answer that came to my mind. My first thought for [36A: "Do the __"] was HUSTLE, which frankly cracked me up (correct answer: MATH). For [3D: Cape ___], my list went MAY, FEAR, COD, and then finally HORN. And [24D: Poison __] only brought to mind PEN and IVY (not SUMAC). Oh, I did get 52A: Toy magnate F. A. O. Schwartz right off the bat though. Is that well-known outside of New York?

Bullets:

• 1A: Sieben und eins (ACHT). Whoa! German math right out of the gate. Sieben = 7, und = and, eins = 1, ACHT = 8.

• 9A: Finish the doughnuts? (GLAZE). Wanted this to be something about ICING, but GLAZE is better.
• 14A: New York restaurateur (SHOR). I learned about Toots SHOR from crosswords.
• 22A: Reaction to one who's revolting (ICK). Seems like there's been a lot of ICK in the news this week.
• 23A: Palais denizen (ROI). French!
• 33A: Neighbor of Arg. (URU.). Uruguay.
• 8D: "L.A. Law" actor (DYSART). I do not know who this is.

• 10D: Actress Loughlin (LORI). But I know this actor played Becky on "Full House." I guess that show has aged well because PuzzleKids watch all the reruns. They're also into "Everybody Hates Chris" right now. I can't tell you how glad I am we're past the Barney and Dora stage. (Not that there's anything wrong with Barney and Dora — they're awesome.)

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 44A: __ Jackson, Fonda title role (ULEE).
• 51A: Monodrama about Capote (TRU).
• 64A: Once, once (ERST).
• 66A: Indian noble (RANEE).
• 11D: Yemeni port (ADEN).
• 13D: Faline's mother, in Salten's "Bambi" (ENA).
• 39D: Lilly of pharmaceuticals (ELI).
• 53D: Indian noble (RAJA).

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Everything Else — 5A: Roe source (SHAD); 15A: Not, some time back (NARY); 16A: "The Kiss" sculptor (RODIN); 19A: Gladiator's milieu (ARENA); 34A: Evoke gaiety with gags at a gig (SLAY); 35A: He shared the peace prize with Shimon and Yitzhak (YASIR); 38A: Male sovereigns' address (SIRES); 41A: Polynesian pendant (TIKI); 42A: Lent a hand (AIDED); 46A: One of the 10 lowest digits? (TOE); 61A: Anglo-__ (SAXON); 63A: Throw out (EJECT); 65A: Make eyes at (OGLE); 67A: "He __ not sleep": Shelley (DOTH); 68A: Pill bottle instruction (DOSE); 1D: Some cobras (ASPS); 2D: Spiced tea (CHAI); 4D: Disastrous (TRAGIC); 6D: Dutchman who painted "Gypsy Girl" (HALS); 7D: Got __ deal (A RAW); 9D: Please (GRATIFY); 12D: Sock it to (ZING); 18D: Bremen brew (BECK'S); 21D: Pot marker (IOU); 25D: Hiker's route (TRAIL); 26D: Best (OUTDO); 27D: Heyerdahl craft (RA I); 28D: Corn product (SYRUP); 29D: Budgetary waste (FAT); 30D: Last Supper question (IS IT I); 31D: Maker of Coolpix cameras (NIKON); 32D: "Peer Gynt Suite" composer (GRIEG); 37D: Boys and men (HES); 43D: International thaw (DETENTE); 45D: Convenient greeting (E-CARD); 48D: Sch. basics (RRR); 49D: Progressed in waves (SURGED); 50D: Dragster's wheels (HOT ROD); 54D: Paddy team (OXEN); 55D: Viva __ (VOCE); 56D: Cannes cash (EURO); 57D: Tense time? (PAST); 58D: Emilia's husband (IAGO); 59D: Lofgren of the E Street Band (NILS); 60D: TV show about a high school choir (GLEE); 61D: Rev.'s speech (SER.).

06.08 Wed

W E D N E S D A Y
June 8, 2011
C. W. Stewart & J. K. Hummel

Theme: Six Pairs — Each theme answer is a made-up two-word phrase where both words can be members of the same category, but they're clued as a verb phrase ending with a person's name. Got it?

Theme answers:

• 17A: *Persistently pester journalist Blitzer? (BADGER WOLF).
• 23A: *Evade actor Harrison? (DODGE FORD).
• 51A: *"Look out, Ichabod!"? (DUCK CRANE).
• 11D: *Spotted rapper MC? (SAW HAMMER).
• 32D: *"Step on it, Mrs. Cleaver!"? ("MARCH, JUNE!").
• 62A: Biblical cargo, or what makes up the answers to starred clues (TWO OF A KIND).

What a fun puzzle to help us over hump day! It's really late right now so forgive me if I start dozing in the middle of this. Not the puzzle's fault! I have a friend who's going through a thing right now that's very distracting, so I've just spent a bunch of time on it and am trying to shift gears so I can talk about this puzzle before I go to bed. Okay, let's do it!

Super cute theme. I'm very happy to report that the phrases here all follow the pattern [verb] + [person's name]. If it hadn't been this consistent, it could really have been a mess I think. But it is consistent so … whew! Not much else to say about the theme except that there sure is a lot of it! Six theme answers seems to be more and more common these days, but it's still a lot. The fill suffers here and there because of the constraints created by the theme density (I'm looking at you FER), but I feel like there are pay-offs throughout the grid, so it all evens out. All in all, a very nice puzzle by two lovely and talented ladies.

Bullets:

• 20A: Business opening? (I MEAN). In my mind, this clue is always looking for the prefix AGRI-. But not today.
• 43A: Large departure (EXODUS).



• 45A: Pirate's potent potable (RUM). Is "potent potable" really a phrase anywhere outside of "Jeopardy"? Serious question.

• 48A: Take in (NAB). This was my trouble spot. I tried EAT and NET before finally coming around to NAB.
• 66A: Zeno of __ (ELEA). If I had time to do a CW101 lesson today, I would probably bump it up to CW201 and talk about both this answer and SETT (69A: Paving stone). Both are words I learned from puzzles.
• 3D: Like some wartime messages (CODED). Did you see that a bunch of spy stuff recently declassified included instructions on how to use artichoke juice as invisible ink? Some other crazy stuff too. If I had time, I'd find you a link. I heard about it on Rachel Maddow's show.

• 7D: "Every wall is __": Emerson (A DOOR). I absolutely would not have gotten this one if it hadn't been for a recent New York Times puzzle that featured this quote prominently.
• 53D: "Another Saturday Night" singer Sam (COOKE). The song that immediately came into my head is Cat Stevens. Let's see if I know this one too. Hold on …. Whoa! It's the same song! I didn't know the Cat Stevens version was a cover. I guess we really do learn something new every damn day.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 14A: University with a law school in Greensboro (ELON).
• 37A: Fictional pirate (SMEE).
• 42A: Taj Mahal site (AGRA).
• 13D: Showy lily (SEGO).

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Everything Else — 1A: Relay, say (RACE); 5A: Parasol purpose (SHADE); 10A: Nile biters (ASPS); 15A: Swiss Alps refrain (YODEL); 16A: Like a blue moon (RARE); 19A: Branch branch (TWIG); 21A: Ballerina's pivot point (TOE); 22A: Dodo (SCHMO); 25A: Carte start (ALA); 26A: Goof up (ERR); 27A: Office assortment (STAMPS); 30A: NCR product (ATM); 33A: Moronic (OAFISH); 38A: Crumbly soil (LOAM); 40A: Word with mouth or pool (MOTOR); 41A: Flu fighters (SERA); 46A: Like some cows (SACRED); 50A: "Let me think ..." ("HMM …"); 57A: Green-skinned pear (ANJOU); 59A: Blood system letters (ABO); 60A: Tease (RAG ON); 61A: Chef lead-in (SOUS); 64A: "Green Gables" girl (ANNE); 65A: Plumber's tool (SNAKE); 67A: Amanda of "Gulliver's Travels" (2010) (PEET); 68A: Fall flower (ASTER); 1D: Auction action (REBID); 2D: Avis rival (ALAMO); 4D: Captivate (ENGAGE); 5D: Turk. neighbor (SYR.); 6D: Instruction book (HOW TO); 8D: Edited out (DELED); 9D: North Pole resident, presumably (ELF); 10D: Place for a nude (ART CLASS); 12D: Proper partner? (PRIM); 18D: Cool time in Madrid (ENERO); 22D: Made a lap (SAT); 24D: Set up (FRAMED); 27D: Diminished (SHRUNK); 28D: Lima or llama land (PERU); 29D: Mine line (SEAM); 30D: "Woe is me!" ("ALAS!"); 31D: Frat party wrap (TOGA); 34D: Deceive (FOX); 35D: "What was __ do?" (I TO); 36D: Instant lawn (SOD); 39D: Small monkey (MARMOSET); 44D: Pelvic bones (SACRA); 47D: Down Under runner (EMU); 49D: Traffic stoppers? (BRAKES); 51D: Suddenly occurs to, with "on" (DAWNS); 52D: WWII German sub (U-BOAT); 54D: Nimble (AGILE); 55D: The Muses, e.g. (NONET).

56D: Conclude by (END AT); 57D: PDQ relative (ASAP); 58D: Not a lick (NONE); 62D: Frisk-y govt. group? (TSA); 63D: Not agin (FER).

06.07 Tue

T U E S D A Y
June 7, 2011
Don Gagliardo & C.C. Burnikel

Theme: Split Peas — The letter string PEA is "split" between two words of a multi-word familiar phrase.

Theme answers:

• 17A: Ali ring trademark (ROPE-A-DOPE).
• 23A: Epcot's "giant golf ball" (SPACESHIP EARTH).
• 37A: Painter of outdoors scenes (LANDSCAPE ARTIST).
• 50A: Rolling over, so to speak (GIVING UP EASILY).
• 62A: Soup ingredients, and a hint to the hidden theme in 17-, 23-, 37- and 50-Across (SPLIT PEAS).

Good morning, everyone, and happy Tuesday. Today we've got another well-made Don and C.C. collaboration. There's not much to the theme — it's more interesting when the split word is a little longer than three letters, but SPLIT PEAS is a phrase just begging for a crossword theme, so there ya go. And it is Tuesday, so we can't really expect anything earth-shattering.

All the theme answers are pretty good. If we're going to rank them by awesomeness, ROPE-A-DOPE seems like an obvious front-runner. Other than, I noticed a baseball mini-theme:

• 32A: Miracle Mets' stadium (SHEA). Ah, the good old days when baseball stadiums weren't named after corporations.
• 36A: Stat for Cliff Lee (ERA). I actually threw RBI in there at first (Me: "stat, baseball, three letters…"), but remembered a split second later that Cliff Lee is a pitcher. Now that I think about it though, he plays in the league where pitchers also hit, right? So RBI would have been a legitimate answer, too!

• 68A: Home run jog (TROT). I swear to you when I filled this in, I thought "Well sure, unless you're somebody like Charlie Hustle." And then … bam!
• 25D: Red Rose (PETE). Speaking of the devil!
• 26D: "A League of __ Own" (THEIR).

If you watched any political news yesterday, you might also have seen a mini-theme in these answers:

• 9D: Member of Congress, say (LAWMAKER).
• 54D: Some storytellers (LIARS).
• 55D: Like some limited-choice questions (YES/NO).

That's probably all I should say about that.

Bullets:

• 14A: Restrictive membership word (ONLY). Remember those Members Only jackets that were so cool back in the 80s? Do they still make those? Oh man they do.
• 21A: Conestoga-made grooves (RUTS). Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, I know what a conestoga is now.
• 22A: Church-owned Dallas sch. (SMU). The abbreviation in the clue hints that the answer will also be an abbreviation.
• 64A: Des Moines resident (IOWAN). Me: My niece?
• 7D: "For those who think young" soft drink (PEPSI). Is this a relatively new slogan? I'm pretty sure I've never heard it before.
• 34D: Listless feeling (ENNUI). Great word.
• 49D: Damon of "Invictus" (MATT). For those of you who watch "Friday Night Lights": Don't you think Landry looks like Matt Damon? (Also, I always expect Buddy Garrity to fly off into a Robin Williams riff.)

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 1A: Ivan the Terrible, e.g. (TSAR).
• 35A: Eyelid annoyance (STYE).
• 65A: Slithery fish (EELS).
• 33D: Game start? (HARD G).

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Everything Else — 5A: Deadly snakes (ASPS); 9A: Simple hoops shot (LAY-UP); 15A: Digital water testers? (TOES); 16A: Make laugh (AMUSE); 19A: Alumnae, e.g. (WOMEN); 20A: La la lead-in (OOH); 28A: Victoria in Africa (LAKE); 29A: Comics scream (EEK); 30A: Easter basket delivery gait? (HOP); 42A: Coffee hour vessel (URN); 43A: It was often worn over a tunic (TOGA); 44A: Rocks to refine (ORES); 45A: Academic address letters (EDU); 46A: Carnival resort (RIO); 47A: Battling group (ARMY); 56A: Fingers for the D.A. (ID'S); 57A: Opposite of pre- (POST-); 58A: Subside, with "down" (DIE); 59A: Subside (ABATE); 66A: "Heck!" ("DARN!"); 67A: Lived (DWELT); 69A: To boot (ALSO); 1D: Bulls in Argentina (TOROS); 2D: Poke around (SNOOP); 3D: Pack leader (ALPHA); 4D: Corned beef bread (RYE); 5D: Just after sunset (AT DUSK); 6D: Relieve (SOOTHE); 8D: Duluth-to-Dubuque dir. (SSE); 10D: Love in Lille (AMOUR); 11D: "Tasty" ("YUM"); 12D: Exploit (USE); 13D: Con's home (PEN); 18D: Vicinity (AREA); 22D: "Gotta run!" ("SEE YA!"); 24D: Dressed (CLAD); 27D: Silver in old Westerns (HORSE); 31D: Loving strokes (PATS); 32D: Swing around (SLUE); 35D: Hot tub (SPA); 38D: Grating (STRIDENT); 39D: Nickel and dime (COINS); 40D: Wide-eyed (AGOG); 41D: Kids' stuff (TOYS); 47D: 17-mission NASA program (APOLLO); 48D: Fight back (RESIST); 51D: Indispensable (VITAL); 52D: Berth place (UPPER); 53D: Perfect (IDEAL); 59D: Help (AID); 60D: Gift decoration (BOW); 61D: Blow away (AWE); 62D: Tennis unit (SET); 63D: iPhone, e.g. (PDA).

06.06 Mon

M O N D A Y
June 6, 2011
Jack McInturff

Theme: Did I stutter?? — Hard to explain, just look at the answers and you'll get it.

Theme answers:

• 17A: Mechanic's excessively affected gadget box? (TOO TOO TOOL CHEST).
• 26A: Fashionable farm nestling? (CHI CHI CHICK).
• 47A: Dance contest winner? (CHA CHA CHAMP).
• 61A: High-kicking dancer at an audition? (CAN CAN CANDIDATE).

Pretty cute theme for a Monday. I kinda wish they had all either changed the pronunciation or not changed the pronunciation, but since there are two of each I can't really complain. The only thing I guess I could complain about is the crosswordese. Whoa Nelly! there's a lot of it in this grid. I mean, I know it's Monday and everything, so I'm expecting a smattering, but this sure seems like a lot. On the other hand, we get "IT'S A TRAP!" (52A: "They'll ambush you if you go in there!"), which is an awesome phrase, and BLURT (64A: Reveal impulsively), which is an awesome word, so all in all I'm going to say fine.

Bullets:

• 67A: Fibber of old radio (MCGEE). I'm not old enough to really know who Fibber MCGEE is except that he (he?) has something to do with old radio.



• 1D: Former Yugoslav leader (TITO).
• 11D: "The Cosby Show" boy (THEO). PuzzleHusband and I just started watching "30 Rock" this week. I know, I know. We're a little slow. Anyway, there was a reference to THEO Huxtable in one of the first couple of episodes. I know you're thrilled.
• 63D: Blonde's secret, maybe (DYE). Is it really a secret? My hair was very blonde until my mid 30s, and I always kind of felt like the fact that the blonde was natural was my little secret. I just assumed everyone thought it was dyed.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 15A: Most fit to serve (ONE-A).
• 16A: Sodas for Radar O'Reilly (NEHIS).
• 21A: First Japanese golfer to win a PGA Tour event (ISAO AOKI).
• 22A: Rajah's wife (RANI).
• 31A: Gallantry-in-combat mil. award (DSC).
• 41A: Letters on a cross (INRI).
• 66A: Tar Heel State university (ELON).
• 68A: Terrier variety (SKYE).
• 10D: "The Merry Widow" composer (LEHAR).
• 13D: Italian wine city (ASTI).
• 18D: Colorful fish (OPAH).
• 29D: Cola's first consonant (HARD C).
• 49D: Mozart's "__ fan tutte" (COSÌ).
• 50D: Mother-of-pearl (NACRE).
• 59D: Thames school (ETON).

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Everything Else — 1A: "Gone With the Wind" plantation (TARA); 5A: Interactive Facebook feature (WALL); 9A: Prefix with sonic or violet (ULTRA-); 14A: Press, as pants (IRON); 20A: Ready to be drawn from a keg (ON TAP); 25A: Damaged, as mdse. (IRR.); 34A: Dryer screen target (LINT); 35A: Collaborating group (TEAM); 36A: Blacksmith, at times (SHOER); 38A: "The King __" (AND I); 39A: Take everything off (STRIP); 42A: City near Syracuse (UTICA); 44A: Blade's sharp side (EDGE); 45A: Wildebeests (GNUS); 46A: Govt. ID issuer (SSA); 50A: Revival prefix (NEO-); 51A: Easy gait (TROT); 57A: Agreed (with) (SIDED); 65A: Cafeteria carrier (TRAY); 69A: Emailed or faxed (SENT); 2D: Presley's middle name (ARON); 3D: Cheer (for) (ROOT); 4D: South Pole continent, with "the" (ANTARCTIC); 5D: Seek as a spouse (WOO); 6D: Tiny hill crawler (ANT); 7D: Sainted fifth-century pope (LEO I); 8D: Cambodia neighbor (LAOS); 9D: Opens, as wine (UNCORKS); 12D: Insurer's exposure (RISK); 19D: Of the flock (LAIC); 23D: "Picked" complaints (NITS); 24D: Summer drink (ICE TEA); 26D: Santa __ (CLAUS); 27D: Clues (HINTS); 28D: Taj Mahal home (INDIA); 30D: "Put me down as a maybe" ("I MIGHT"); 31D: Designer Karan (DONNA); 32D: Inoculated fluid (SERUM); 33D: Like well-cooked bacon (CRISP); 37D: Times when sand castles are destroyed (HIGH TIDES); 40D: Tree fruit (PEAR); 43D: Film material (ACETATE); 48D: Traffic jam honker (HORN); 52D: Long-range warhead carrier, briefly (ICBM); 53D: Soft mineral (TALC); 54D: Like a bug in a rug (SNUG); 55D: Play divisions (ACTS); 56D: Amusement __ (PARK); 58D: Carnegie or Evans (DALE); 60D: Fender damage (DENT); 62D: Rejecting vote (NAY).

06.05 Sun (calendar)

S U N D A Y
June 5, 2011
Merl Reagle

[Note: This is the puzzle that appears in the Sunday L.A. Times newspaper. If you don't get the paper, you can find the puzzle here. Scroll down to see today's syndicated puzzle.]

Theme: "English-Spanish" — English and Spanish words combined in puns.

Theme answers:

• 23A: Remark from someone who's always sponging off you? (MOOCHES GRACIAS).
• 34A: Comment from someone who doesn't understand Japanese theater? (NOH COMPRENDO).
• 43A: Country known for its amusement parks? (COASTER RICA).
• 56A: Biography subtitled, "A Dog's Life"? (I, CHIHUAHUA).
• 69A: Guitarist whose concerts are extremely well-attended? (CARLOADS SANTANA).
• 88A: "May God smile on your media conglomerate"? (VIACOM DIOS).
• 95A: Dish created by a "Honeymooners" star? (CARNEY ASADA).
• 102A: Holiday song that scares dogs? (FLEAS NAVIDAD).
• 121A: "Goodbye and good riddance!" (HOSTILE LA VISTA).

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Everything Else — 1A: Love-'em-and-leave-'em type (CAD); 4A: In ___ (agitated) (ASTEW); 9A: Face-to-face test (ORAL); 13A: Site of the Henley Regatta (THAMES); 19A: Pilot who kept ditching his plane in "Catch-22" (ORR); 20A: King Abdullah subject (SAUDI); 21A: Actress Ward (SELA); 22A: Tasmania's capital (HOBART); 26A: Body of work (OEUVRE); 27A: Native encountered by Captain Cook (MAORI); 28A: "A Treatise on Money" author (KEYNES); 29A: Mick Jagger's title (SIR); 31A: Spotted (SEEN); 32A: Early TV panelist Francis (ARLENE); 37A: "___ Fables" (AESOP'S); 41A: Vietnam Wall designer Maya (LIN); 42A: Word with snap or snow (PEA); 47A: Mae West accessory (BOA); 49A: Curmudgeon (GRUMP); 54A: Utterer of "I am Fortune's fool" (ROMEO); 55A: Suffices (DOES); 58A: Page with views (OP-ED); 59A: The brainy bunch (MENSANS); 61A: Juegos Olimpicos goal (ORO); 62A: Off the market, perhaps (SOLD); 63A: Corp. letters on many freight cars (CSX); 64A: Friend of Bat and Doc (WYATT); 65A: Word after "Ready" (AIM); 67A: Sunday contributions (TITHES); 73A: Slangy physician (MEDICO); 76A: Red or Yellow, Black or White (SEA); 77A: Marketing gimmick (TIE-IN); 78A: Berkeley school, popularly (CAL); 81A: Foreshadowing (OMEN); 82A: Wine-barrel material (OAK); 85A: Part of a train, often (FLATCAR); 87A: Weapon in Clue (ROPE); 91A: Health food store brand, Burt's ___ (BEES); 92A: George Sand and George Eliot (WOMEN); 93A: "The Thin Blue Line" director Morris (ERROL); 94A: Cheerleader's cry (RAH); 97A: It makes MADD mad (DUI); 99A: Part 2 of a sob (HOO); 101A: Ritual repasts (SEDERS); 108A: Star of "Blade" (SNIPES); 112A: Bakery buy (LOAF); 113A: "Monsters, ___" (INC.); 114A: Plaza Hotel pixie (ELOISE); 118A: Ryan of "Zero Effect" (O'NEAL); 119A: Nimble-fingered (ADROIT); 124A: Disregard (IGNORE); 125A: She walks into Rick's (ILSA); 126A: "Rawhide" singer (LAINE); 127A: Jack's inferior (TEN); 128A: Took a breather (RESTED); 129A: Nectar flavor (PEAR); 130A: Break a Commandment (STEAL); 131A: Thunder Bay's prov. (ONT.); 1D: Short stop? (COMMA); 2D: Really loud, as a crowd (AROAR); 3D: Covet strongly, with "over" (DROOL); 4D: Take ___ (get to like) (A SHINE TO); 5D: Reply facilitator, w/o the stamp (SAE); 6D: Walrus feature (TUSK); 7D: Jittery people are on it (EDGE); 8D: Like Ichabod Crane (WIRY); 9D: Seminole chief (OSCEOLA); 10D: Medicinal Asian mushroom (REISHI); 11D: It's below Tenn. (ALA.); 12D: It's often twirled (LASSO); 13D: Pop Warner coached him (THORPE); 14D: Clod chopper (HOE); 15D: Bullying, e.g. (ABUSE); 16D: Expert (MAVEN); 17D: Did a dumb thing (ERRED); 18D: Apt anagram of "notes" (STENO); 24D: Folded (CREASED); 25D: Tap dancer Miller (ANN); 30D: Harm (IMPAIR); 33D: Malt additive? (-ESE); 35D: "Closing Bell" network (CNBC); 36D: Ronzoni topper, maybe (RAGU); 38D: An audit may be one (ORDEAL); 39D: On the double (PRONTO); 40D: After-lunch breaks (SIESTAS); 43D: Florida floater, briefly (CROC); 44D: Word after a faux pas (OOPS); 45D: Visa rival, briefly (AMEX); 46D: Richmond was its cap. (CSA); 48D: Old cry of surprise (OHO); 50D: Reggae musician, often (RASTA); 51D: "That can't be good" ("UH-OH"); 52D: Lounging slipper (MULE); 53D: Stationery stock (PADS); 56D: Cow-horned goddess (ISIS); 57D: Blowhard's output (HOT AIR); 59D: 1963 Beach Boys song, "In ___" (MY ROOM); 60D: Like Bob Dylan's voice (NASAL); 64D: G.I. Jane, for one (WAC); 66D: Means something (MATTERS); 68D: Place with a keeper (INN); 69D: Dos y tres (CINCO); 70D: Dict. listings (DEFS.); 71D: Christianity's ___ Creed (NICENE); 72D: Made fun of (TEASED); 73D: Push a pawn, e.g. (MOVE); 74D: OPEC summit attendee (EMIR); 75D: Start of a diary entry (DEAR); 78D: Johnny's lasted five years in "The Dead Zone" (COMA); 79D: Did impressions of (APED); 80D: "Stormy Weather" singer's first name (LENA); 83D: Classic whodunit, "The List of ___ Messenger" (ADRIAN); 84D: Sedona or Sorento maker (KIA); 86D: "Avenue Q" song, "What Do You Do with ___ in English?" (A B.A.); 87D: "William Tell" composer (ROSSINI); 89D: Early automaker (OLDS); 90D: Surprised reply (OH HI); 92D: "The Red Badge of Courage," e.g. (WAR NOVEL); 95D: Medicinal-shampoo ingredient (COAL TAR); 96D: "You rang?" ("YES?"); 98D: As one (UNITED); 100D: Texas oil town (ODESSA); 102D: Pen name (FLAIR); 103D: Become stuck (LODGE); 104D: Comes by honestly (EARNS); 105D: Like skullduggery, perhaps (AFOOT); 106D: Show stopper? (V-CHIP); 107D: "___ amuse you?" (line from "Goodfellas") (DO I); 109D: Green basil sauce (PESTO); 110D: Already had something (EATEN); 111D: Viewpoint (SLANT); 115D: Poverty, pollution, and such (ILLS); 116D: Place on a plane (SEAT); 117D: "Night" writer Wiesel (ELIE); 120D: That burning feeling? (IRE); 122D: Spanish shout (OLÉ); 123D: California Santa? (ANA).

06.05 Sun

S U N D A Y
June 5, 2011
John Lampkin

[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: "Low and Behold" — Bovine puns that are a cud above the rest.

Theme Entries:

• 27A: Farm vet's reference? (GRAZE ANATOMY).
• 51A: Milkmaid? (THE UDDER WOMAN).
• 89A: Calf's folks (MA AND PA CATTLE).
• 112A: Where orphans go while their adoptive moms give milk? (DOGIE DAY CARE).
• 14D: Santa's backup bovines? (SLEIGH BULLS).
• 16D: Expensive cuts? (HIGH STEAKS).
• 67D: Bovine hitmen? (COWS OF DEATH).
• 73D: Easy listening in the pasture? (MOOED MUSIC).

Hey, crossword fans. Doug here. Fun puzzle today from John Lampkin. I enjoy a good punny theme on a Sunday. A couple to make you laugh, a couple to make you groan. Good stuff. THE UDDER WOMAN & COWS OF DEATH were my favorites. Plenty of cool entries in the rest of the grid too. I especially liked the pair of 8-letter entries in the middle: YOU DA MAN & THWACKED. Let's see what else is in there.

Bullets:

• 1A: Bovine milieu (RANCH). Hey, 1-Across fits the theme. Cool.
• 6A: Pasture units (ACRES). Wow, the next answer also goes with the theme.
• 11A: Terrible twos types (TOTS). Reminds me of tater tots, and potatoes grow on farms. And cows live on farms, right? OK, maybe this one has nothing to do with the theme.

• 20A: The Pemaquid Point Light is on its state quarter (MAINE). John provided a photograph to accompany this entry. He took the picture last Labor Day weekend. He was either in Maine or he has an excellent telescopic lens. That photo would make a great jigsaw puzzle.
• 25A: Tribe affiliated with the Missouria (OTOE). Here's an informative Crosswordese 101 write-up by PuzzleGirl on the OTOE (sometimes spelled OTO). Bonus: if you go to that post & scroll down a little, you'll see a sexy picture of Leif Garrett.
• 30A: Wings choice (SPICY HOT). Love this entry.
• 54A: Fish alternative? (CUT BAIT). Fish or cut bait. Something you say to someone when you want them to make up their freaking mind.
• 84A: "The Way We ___" (WERE) / 85A: The way we word (SYNTAX). Now that's a cute pair of clues.
• 94A: Avis output (OVA). Avis is Latin for bird. Ova is Latin for eggs.
• 104A: "___ House": 1970 CSNY hit (OUR). I don't know this CSNY song. The only "Our House" I know is in the middle of our street.

• 1D: "Lethal Weapon" cop (RIGGS). I can't remember if that was the Mel Gibson character or the Danny Glover character. That movie series hasn't aged well, has it?

• 47D: Curly poker (MOE). I've seen this clue before, but it's worth seeing again.
• 49D: Godot's god (DIEU). Never actually seen or read this play. But I've watched Moe poke Curly hundreds of times.
• 93D: Browning gadget (TOASTER). When there are a lot of tricky clues in a puzzle, sometimes I start to overthink. For example, on this one I wondered what kind of gadget poet Robert Browning would use. A Rhymemaster 2000?

• 103D: Job that doesn't pay? (CRIME). Crossword constructor wouldn't fit.
• 111D: :, in analogies (IS TO). They dropped the analogies section from the SAT a few years ago. That's too bad. It was my favorite part. Here's one that PuzzleGirl will enjoy. Dan Gable : Wrestling :: Michael Jordan : Basketball. See how the colon stands for "is to"?

OK, it's a beautiful day, so I'm outta here. See you all next week.

Everything Else — 15A: Crack in a lip (CHAP); 19A: Fine Japanese porcelain (IMARI); 21A: Throw (HURL); 22A: 1953 Original Music Score Oscar-winning film (LILI); 23A: Alluded to (GOTAT); 24A: Skirt (EVADE); 26A: Long look at a looker (OGLE); 32A: Elite (SELECT); 33A: Perp chaser, with "the" (LAW); 34A: New York city or county (OSWEGO); 36A: Where the bucket slops? (STY); 37A: Pueblo people (HOPIS); 39A: __ Brasi, "The Godfather" hatchet man (LUCA); 40A: Offend (HURT); 42A: Type (SORT); 46A: Casino roller (DIE); 47A: Berlin's "Call Me __" (MADAM); 48A: Procreates (BREEDS); 55A: Fine fiddles (AMATIS); 56A: Sheet purchase (REAM); 57A: Email letters (AOL); 58A: Arcade game starter (SKEE); 59A: Guitar string choice (NYLON); 60A: Uni- + uni- + uni- (TRI); 62A: Log processor (SAWMILL); 65A: Logical conclusion? (SUM); 66A: Loser's demand (RECOUNT); 69A: Ratings name (NIELSEN); 71A: Father of the bride's offering (ARM); 74A: Exactly correct (SO RIGHT); 76A: Pharm. receipts (RXS); 77A: Crier of Greek myth (NIOBE); 81A: B&B offering (ROOM); 83A: Colorless (WAN); 86A: The way we word (SYNTAX); 87A: Imprudent (FOOLISH); 92A: Nautical patron (ST. ELMO); 93A: Nautical maneuvers (TACKS); 95A: Nautical storage (HOLD); 96A: Like heedless ears (DEAF); 97A: Stately trees (OAKS); 98A: Pang of conscience (QUALM); 100A: Improvise with the band (JAM); 102A: Jewel box (CD CASE); 105A: Like feet of no concern to a podiatrist? (IAMBIC); 110A: Squad cars (CRUISERS); 115A: Revolutionary sewer (ROSS); 116A: River islets (AITS); 118A: Assertion of faith (CREDO); 119A: Filmmaker Welles (ORSON); 120A: Exude (EMIT); 121A: Tax evasion investigators (T-MEN); 122A: Jackson Hole's county (TETON); 123A: Wet season events (RAINS); 124A: City on the Brazos (WACO); 125A: Rescuer, e.g. (HERO); 126A: AARP and NAACP (ASSNS.); 127A: Meaning (SENSE); 2D: Sardinian passion (AMORE); 3D: Birth-related (NATAL); 4D: Fad (CRAZE); 5D: Like "CSI" procedures (HITECH); 6D: Call from the flock (AMEN); 7D: Supercilious (CAVALIER); 8D: Vaqueros' ropes (RIATAS); 9D: Provide with funding (ENDOW); 10D: Appear (SEEM); 11D: Small but (THO); 12D: Beat in an individual medley (OUTSWAM); 13D: Figure of speech (TROPE); 15D: Overdo the sweetness (CLOY); 17D: Distribute (ALLOT); 18D: Religious devotion (PIETY); 28D: Disagreeing like bookies? (ATODDS); 29D: "Way to go, bro!" ("YOU DA MAN!"); 31D: Place to press a suit? (COURT); 35D: Scrutinize (SCAN); 38D: Graphic symbol (PIE); 39D: Asian teachers (LAMAS); 41D: CSA soldiers (REBS); 42D: Baseball's Musial (STAN); 43D: "Heavens to Betsy!" ("OH MY!"); 44D: Down-to-earth (REAL); 45D: Aid for a struggling student (TUTOR); 50D: Watch projection (STEM); 52D: Sups (DINES); 53D: Twist and squeeze (WRING); 54D: Helices (COILS); 57D: Green-card maker (AMEX); 60D: Numbers is part of it (TORAH); 61D: Trash (RUIN); 63D: Sent a message to, old-style (WIRED); 64D: "The Threepenny Opera" star (LENYA); 68D: Rapped with something flat (THWACKED); 70D: Climactic inning, often (NINTH); 71D: Barking sounds (ARFS); 72D: Tree anchor (ROOT); 75D: Hardwood trees (TEAKS); 78D: German aviation pioneer Lilienthal (OTTO); 79D: Black eight, e.g. (BALL); 80D: Struck (out) (EXED); 82D: Fr. miss (MLLE.); 85D: Some OR staffers (RN'S); 86D: Longest-serving current Supreme Court justice (SCALIA); 88D: Desktop models (IMACS); 89D: Serpico's biographer (MAAS); 90D: Covered with liberally, as a liquid (POURED ON); 91D: "The Barefoot Contessa" star Gardner (AVA); 98D: Calms (QUIETS); 99D: City chiefs (MAYORS); 100D: Polo competitor (J CREW); 101D: Scent (AROMA); 104D: Shrek and Fiona (OGRES); 106D: Bluesy Carmen (MCRAE); 107D: "__ Street Blues": Dixieland classic (BASIN); 108D: Fairway choices (IRONS); 109D: Burn sandalwood, say (CENSE); 113D: Tetra- + tetra- (OCTA-); 114D: Family heads (DONS); 117D: Cone head? (SNO).

06.04 Sat

S A T U R D A Y
June 4, 2011
Gareth Bain

Theme: None — It's Saturday.

What a workout! Really enjoyed this puzzle. Tough but fair — I think that's my favorite kind. We had PuzzleSon's birthday party this evening (laser tag!) and then I got distracted by a thing for a while and now it's almost 1:00 in the morning so I might not get to say everything I want to say about this awesome puzzle, but I'll do my best. Here we go ….

I started by reading the across clues and just kept getting farther and farther down the puzzle without coming up with anything. Then, all of a sudden: LON CHANEY, JR. Could that entry be any cooler? No. No, it could not. From there the bottom broke open pretty well. Slow and steady, but I definitely knew I was getting somewhere. With the bottom in good shape, I could see THREE-DOLLAR BILL (3D: Symbol of phoniness) and HENRY FORD MUSEUM (11D: Dearborn attraction) which gave me some traction in the top half. The most trouble I had was in that SAAB / ALDO / SLAB section. I tried MALIA where SASHA was supposed to go (5D: White House girl), thinking that LOIN would work for 18A: Side of beef part. (Correct answer: SLAB.) I also had STOLES for SABLES (22D: Luxury furs), which made LATOYA hard to see. I'm still a little puzzled about that one. LATOYA Jackson? She had a record in 1988? Who knew? (I'm guessing hardly anybody.) It also took me an embarrassingly long time to get BOB DYLAN, but I'm going to say that's because it's a vertical answer which, as you may know, is often a lot more difficult for me to "see" than a horizontal answer (8D: Winner of a 2008 Pulitzer Prize Special Citation for his "profound impact on popular music and American culture"). Okay, what else?

Bullets:

• 1A: Candy vehicle (SCTV). John Candy was a member of the Second City comedy group and became well-known through the group's television show (Second City Television, or SCTV).

• 9A: Gone crackers? (HI HOS). They're gone because they don't make them any more.
• 25A: Initial response to a yenta? (M.Y.O.B.). The word "initial" in the clue doesn't mean "first." It means we're looking for an abbreviation. Someone might say Mind Your Own Business to a yenta.
• 28A: Part of psi?: Abbr. (LBS.). Pounds per Square Inch? I couldn't let go of "psi" referring to the Greek letter and thought it was going to be something that I just didn't know.
• 35A: Celebrity mentioned in Warren Zevon's 1978 hit "Werewolves of London" (LON CHANEY JR.). Oh yeah.
  
  
  
• 38A: World Chess Champion after Botvinnik (TAL). Chess? Three letters? Yep, that's TAL alright.
• 46A: Blend (IMMIX). Um … what?

• 57A: Daughter of Muhammad (LAILA). Not the prophet, the boxer.
• 59A: Green (GELT). Are these both slang words for money? It's too late for me to look it up.
• 51D: Sorbonne heads? (TÊTES). Oh thanks goodness. French!

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 14A: Education acronym (ELHI).
• 16A: Certain Yemeni (ADENI).
• 61A: Fonda's beekeeper (ULEE).
• 7D: Hersey setting (ADANO).

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Everything Else — 5A: Imported wheels (SAAB); 15A: Brad's role in "Inglourious Basterds" (ALDO); 17A: Brings out (AIRS); 19A: Like some raincoats (LINED); 20A: Line before "Et tu, Brute?" (SPEAK HANDS FOR ME); 23A: Tailless mammal (APE); 24A: Self-titled 1988 R&B album (LATOYA); 26A: Skyscraper feature (LEDGE); 30A: Dom alternative (FRA.); 31A: Metaphors, e.g. (TROPES); 33A: Ice cream parlor order (MALT); 34A: "... lay the sod __ me": "Streets of Laredo" lyric (O'ER); 40A: Valley in the first book of Samuel (ELAH); 41A: Heavy hitter (SLEDGE); 44A: Santa __ (ANA); 45A: Some signatures (X'ES); 47A: "Beetle Bailey" cartoonist Walker (MORT); 49A: Members of an Afrocentric movement (RASTAS); 53A: Exhaust (USE); 54A: Ethical concern for a bar association (AMBULANCE CHASER); 58A: Court ritual (OATH); 60A: Coty Award winner Perry (ELLIS); 62A: Golden __ (RULE); 63A: Willowy woman (SYLPH); 64A: Polanski film based on a Hardy novel (TESS); 65A: Wrote, as an AOL buddy (IM'ED); 1D: Epicure's condiment (SEA SALT); 2D: Fast ship (CLIPPER); 4D: Traveler's need (VISA); 6D: __ once (ALL AT); 9D: Game division (HALF); 10D: Way of putting things (IDIOM); 12D: Encore, basically (ONE MORE); 13D: News supplement (SIDEBAR); 21D: Box for a cold (KLEENEX); 27D: Mail hub: Abbr. (GPO); 29D: In (STYLISH); 32D: White of the eye (SCLERA); 33D: __-jongg (MAH); 36D: Isn't trapped (HAS AN OUT); 37D: "To Kill a Mockingbird" brother (JEM); 38D: Cantina servings (TAMALES); 39D: Unusual occurrence (ANOMALY); 42D: Princess in Disney's "Enchanted" (GISELLE); 43D: Applied (EXERTED); 48D: __ mania, 17th-century Dutch phenomenon (TULIP); 50D: Model aspect (SCALE); 52D: Inflammation symptoms (ACHES); 55D: Tie securely (LASH); 56D: Business intro? (AGRI-).

06.03 Fri

F R I D A Y
June 3, 2011
Pancho Harrison

Theme: T sound changed to D sound — Yep, that's it.

Theme answers:

• 17A: Family member whose age is showing? (GRAYED UNCLE).
• 27A: Horse-cavalry soldier who's hardly capricious? (STAID TROOPER).
• 46A: Aggressive drug enforcement strategy? (RAID INCREASE).
• 61A: Bride's unraveling problem? (FRAYED TRAIN).

I don't have a lot of time this morning, so let's get right to it. What's with all the suffixes? ‑WURST, ‑ESE, ‑IAL, ‑ERY (2D: Knack attachment? / 5D: Ethnic ending / 9D: Editor's add-on? / 26D: Hatch back?). Honestly, that's the first thing that really jumped out at me about this grid, and that can't be good. The theme is fine. Nothing to write home about. The base phrases are GREAT UNCLE, STATE TROOPER, RATE INCREASE, and FREIGHT TRAIN. So, yeah, a little blah for a Friday.

As for the sparkle, that's provided by HEP CAT and DIRTY POOL (50A: One who digs your jive / 11D: Unsportsmanlike conduct), both of which are fantastic answers. But with the disaster that is the ESTE, STEROL, OTHO, DR. LAO area … I'm not sure it's a fair trade.

Bullets:

• 6A: Massenet opera (THAIS). Whatever you say.
• 11A: JFK, but not LGA (DEM). I understand this clue/answer to mean that John F. Kennedy was a DEMocrat, but Fiorello LaGuardia was not. Was LaGuardia actually known as LGA? If not, I'd say this clue is flawed, even though it's fabulous at first glance.
• 16A: Chill (ICE). Verbs, people.
• 45A: Golfer Westwood who replaced Tiger Woods as World #1 in October 2010 (LEE). Hey, I have an idea! Let's have a puzzle without Tiger Woods anywhere near it. kthxby
• 67A: Junio, por ejemplo (MES). Spanish! Junio = June; MES = "month."

• 43D: __ Park: Pirates' field (PNC). Have I mentioned how much I hate the trend of corporate names on baseball fields/sports arenas? About a hundred times? Okay, never mind.
• 47D: Skinny or small, probably (ILL-FED). Pretty sure that "probably" should be a "maybe." There are plenty of skinny and/or small things that aren't ILL-FED. PuzzleDaughter has a classmate who is way smaller than the rest of the 4th grade girls. Why? I don't really know. But I'm pretty sure she's fed appropriately. I'm thinking … I don't know, genetics?

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 19A: Co. led by David Sarnoff until 1970 (RCA).
• 20A: Tivoli's Villa d'__ (ESTE).
• 64A: Homer's donut supplier (APU).
• 12D: Behold, to Livy (ECCE).
• 25D: First century Roman emperor (OTHO).
• 34D: "Lohengrin" soprano (ELSA).
• 41D: "As I Lay Dying" father (ANSE).

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Everything Else — 1A: Pilfer (SWIPE); 14A: Distinctive characters (AURAS); 15A: Wrap-up (RECAP); 21A: Staff entry? (REST); 22A: Worn down (EATEN); 24A: Solid alcohol (STEROL); 26A: Vortex (EDDY); 33A: Line of clothing? (HEM); 36A: Jubilant cry (HOORAY); 37A: Pool game, perhaps (POLO); 38A: "Unlimited free mileage" rental pioneer (ALAMO); 40A: Washington Sq. campus (NYU); 41A: Bikini, e.g. (ATOLL); 42A: Vacation site (ISLE); 43A: Baker's container (PIE PAN); 49A: H.S. math course (CALC.); 54A: Swindle decoy (SHILL); 56A: Feint on the ice (DEKE); 59A: 39-Down recipient (HERO); 60A: John of England (LOO); 65A: Dog-__ (EARED); 66A: Western party (POSSE); 68A: Titles (DEEDS); 69A: Unsettling expression (SNEER); 1D: Wise guys (SAGES); 3D: Hot (IRATE); 4D: Sugar daddies, e.g. (PAYERS); 6D: "__ Lies": Schwarzenegger film (TRUE); 7D: Brooding group (HENS); 8D: Invoice abbr. (ACCT.); 10D: Muscle beach brand (SPEEDO); 13D: Ornery (MEAN); 18D: Traveling circus organizer in a 1964 film (DR. LAO); 23D: Take in (ADOPT); 28D: Greek column style (IONIC); 29D: Where some pairs are separated (DRYER); 30D: Brownish gray (TAUPE); 31D: Glamour rival (ELLE); 32D: Part (ROLE); 33D: Narrow margin (HAIR); 35D: Motivated by spite (MALICIOUS); 39D: Award for a 59-Across (MEDAL); 44D: Sounded satisfied (AAHED); 48D: "You've Got Mail" writer/director (EPHRON); 51D: Belay (CEASE); 52D: Surface (ARISE); 53D: Office supply (TONER); 54D: Grand __ (SLAM); 55D: Optimism (HOPE); 56D: Show gumption (DARE); 57D: Got a load of (EYED); 58D: Converse competitor (KEDS); 62D: Actress __ Dawn Chong (RAE); 63D: Decorates in a prankish way (TP'S).

06.02 Thu

T H U R S D A Y
June 2, 2011
Ed Sessa

Theme: Oh yeah? Let's see you do that with New Hampshire! — The first several letters of each theme answer is an anagram of a U.S. state.

Theme answers:

• 20A: Words of regret (HAD I ONLY KNOWN). [IDAHO]
• 32A: Samaritan's assurance (I MEAN NO HARM). [MAINE]
• 43A: Classic kids' wagons (RADIO FLYERS). [FLORIDA]
• 58A: Paddy Chayefsky novel, and literally, what the beginnings of 20-, 32-, and 43-Across all are (ALTERED STATES).

Good morning, everyone, and happy Thursday. I don't know what it's like where you live, but it's hot here. Like in the 90s hot and way more humidity than you really want to be having when the temperature is in the 90s. Ran into a friend last night who said, "It's supposed to be really nice tomorrow. Only 86." Whatevs. Did I mention that the air conditioning is out in my mini-van? Argh! With any luck, I'll get it fixed next week. Meanwhile I'm a little whiny. (PuzzleHusband: "A little?")

This puzzle was a good distraction for me today though. Lots of good stuff. The theme didn't help me at all during the solve, but I enjoyed figuring it out once I was done. I'm really terrible at anagrams so it didn't come easy, but I did eventually put it all together.

COOL CAT and CHALLAH were my favorite entries today (42D: Hipster / 7D: Traditional Jewish bread). But I don't love RESINY (67A: Like pine pitch). And even though I got it right way, I'm not crazy about the plural PASTAS (1A: Elbows and bow ties) — isn't the plural of PASTA … PASTA?

Stuff that gave me trouble includes:

• 7A: Floppy-eared "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" demon (CLEM). Can't say that I could name any character on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" besides Buffy herself.
• 11A: RMN's first veep (S.T.A.). Ooh, ouch. Spiro T. Agnew. Not a politician typically referred to by initials, but okay.
• 16A: Gist (NUB). I pretty much needed every cross for this one. I get it now, but it wasn't coming to me At All at the time.

• 36A: Freq. performer at Tanglewood (B.S.O.). That would be the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Perfectly legit. The fact that I had to look it up afterwards says more about me than it does about the puzzle.

But you know what? All of those three-letter entries that gave me trouble allowed the side-by-side entries SNOW JOB and TURN-ONS (11D: Flattering trickery / 12D: Excitement generators). And that's just funny, I don't care who ya are. So all is forgiven.

Bullets:

• 24A: Martial arts schools (DOJOS). Love this word. I want to take a martial arts class so I can talk about my DOJO MOJO.

• 52A: Responded to a bailiff's request (STOOD). Tricky! The bailiff says "All rise," right? (Well, that's what he says on TV anyway.) So ROSE might have been the first thing that came to your mind.
• 62A: Piker's nickname (EL CHEAPO). Apparently, I have no idea what a "piker" is.
• 5D: Wiesbaden wheels (AUDIS). Hmmm, AUDIS in the puzzle again. Do you think it's a sign?
• 30D: Plum's title, briefly (PROF.). Clue!
• 44D: Cook's announcement (IT'S DONE). Oh this one was such a disappointment to me. I so so so wanted the answer to be IT'S SOUP. But, unfortunately ….

Crosswordese 101: Ya know, we haven't had a real CW101 lesson for a while now. That's mostly because when I look over the grid, all I usually see is entries that we've already covered. Every once in a while, I'm surprised though. Like today I'm surprised to see we haven't covered SESE yet (69A: Africa's Mobutu __ Seko). This entry is only clued one way. Oh sure, sometimes you'll be informed that he was a president/dictator/autocrat/leader/ruler and sometimes (like today) he'll be generically African, while others you'll learn he was specifically from Zaire. But you'll always get his first and last name, with a blank right there in the middle. So hang onto this one, kids. You will definitely need it again.

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

• 9D: The Phantom of the Opera (ERIK).
• 55D: Arcade games leader (ATARI).
• 62D: Summer in the cité (ÉTÉ).

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Everything Else — 14A: Pre-deal demand (ANTE UP); 15A: Roll call response (HERE); 17A: City on the Rio Grande (LAREDO); 18A: Plane folks? (AVIATORS); 22A: Lair (DEN); 23A: Vodka brand that sounds like a toast (SKOL); 26A: TV's Mrs. Peel (RIGG); 28A: Oil holder, perhaps (LAMP); 31A: Hawaiian coffee region (KONA); 37A: Lauderdale neighbor (BOCA); 38A: Bleachers sound (ROAR); 40A: Non-Rx (OTC); 48A: Good time (BOOM); 50A: Memo starter (AS TO); 51A: Physical, e.g. (EXAM); 54A: Brittle cookie (SNAP); 57A: Actress Zadora (PIA); 63A: Nailed the test (ACED IT); 65A: Earl or Lady Grey (TEA); 66A: Rodent control brand (D-CON); 68A: N.C. summer hrs. (EDT); 70A: Things on strings (I.D. TAGS); 1D: Sidekick (PAL); 2D: Angels' home (ANAHEIM); 3D: Off-the-wall (STRANGE); 4D: Fit to be tied, with "off" (TEED); 6D: Scare (SPOOK); 8D: Assess (LEVY); 10D: "__ My Shadow": 1927 song (ME AND); 13D: Six-pack __ (ABS); 19D: Had the desired effect (TOOK); 21D: Some mutual funds (NO-LOADS); 22D: Soft & __: deodorant (DRI); 25D: __ Paulo (SÃO); 27D: Jabber (GAB); 29D: Abandons at sea (MAROONS); 33D: Postal motto word (NOR); 34D: Sweet Sixteen gp. (NCAA); 35D: __ de mer (MAL); 39D: Catcher's place? (RYE); 40D: Dictionary cousin of arch. (OBS.); 41D: Unsalvageable after an accident (TOTALED); 45D: "Where you book matters" online service (EXPEDIA); 46D: Barn ritual (RAISING); 47D: "He'll hae misfortunes great an' __": Burns (SMA); 49D: Adult silkworm (MOTH); 53D: Some sealed documents (DEEDS); 56D: Took measured strides (PACED); 59D: America's Cup competition, say (RACE); 60D: Poetic saga (EPOS); 61D: Drill (TEST); 64D: TV host Pennington et al. (TYS).

06.01 Wed

W E D N E S D A Y
June 1, 2011
Donna S. Levin

Theme: Different words for stomach — Theme answers all begin with words that can mean stomach.

Theme answers:

• 17A: Abdominoplasty, familiarly (TUMMY TUCK).
• 23A: Pepto-Bismol target (STOMACH ACHE).
• 36A: Bourgeois (MIDDLE CLASS).
• 49A: Lint receptacle? (BELLY BUTTON).
• 59A: Easy A (or where to learn about this puzzle's theme?) (GUT COURSE).

I can't say this is my favorite Donna Levin puzzle ever. Theme answers include five different words for stomach, but three of them actually mean "stomach" in the phrase and two don't. And one of them has Pepto-Bismol in the clue. Um, hello? Breakfast test? Plus, GUT COURSE is a phrase I learned from crosswords. I know it's legitimate and that some people have actually used it and find it familiar and think I'm an idiot because I haven't heard it, but there ya go. So, the theme doesn't really do anything for me. Luckily there's some very nice fill. My favorite entries are:

• 30A: Self-help guru Deepak (CHOPRA).
• 2D: European stew (GOULASH).
• 38D: Classical language of India (SANSKRIT).

I also really liked seeing HOME ROOM for some reason (3D: Where school attendance is usually taken). There's nothing really flashy about it, but it caught my attention anyway. Oh and MALICE (21A: Evil intent). I've always liked that word.

Some of the cluing really stood out for me too.

• 28A: Poet who wrote of the wasp, "I distrust his waspitality" (NASH).
• 56A: Enjoys surreptitiously, as a smoke (SNEAKS).
• 66A: Salad, at times (SIDE).

Lots of short two-word answers (or two-short-word answers, I suppose). Not complaining — I kind of like them — just observing.

• 16A: Ready for use (ON TAP).
• 19A: Salad dressing restriction (NO OIL).
• 6D: Become disenchanted with (SOUR ON).
• 32D: Talks off the cuff (AD LIBS).
• 41D: Prepares (GETS SET).
• 44D: Show enthusiasm for, as an opportunity (LEAP AT).
• 47D: Available for siring (AT STUD).

Other than that:

• 21D: 1960s Borgnine sitcom role (MCHALE). Took me a minute, but it came into focus with a couple crosses in place.
• 35D: Org. that stages an annual June open (USGA). United States Golf Association.
• 52D: Frère of a mère or père (ONCLE). French!

• 57D: Autobahn auto (AUDI). I have seriously got an itch for a new car. I've been driving a mini-van for, hmm, five or six years I guess. And I'm tired of it. I want a zippy little car. One where I don't have to be so concerned about getting the proper angle when I'm trying to park in the stupid parking garage at work. Guess it's probably time for a Budget and Finance Committee meeting here at the PuzzleHouse….

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 1A: Turkish title (AGHA).
• 5A: Dept. of Labor agency (OSHA).
• 60D: Israeli weapon (UZI).

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Everything Else — 9A: Isn't serious (JESTS); 14A: Aloof (COOL); 15A: Lovey-dovey exchange (COOS); 20A: One at the top of the board (LEADER); 22A: Hearing aid? (EAR); 26A: General __ Chicken (TSO'S); 29A: Envy, e.g. (SIN); 33A: Sandra's "Speed" co-star (KEANU); 39A: Anklebone (TALUS); 40A: More than interest (ENGAGE); 43A: Chef's phrase (ALA); 46A: Parts of the hip (ILIA); 48A: From square one (ANEW); 54A: Jeanne d'Arc, e.g.: Abbr. (STE.); 55A: Nimbi (HALOES); 58A: La Scala production (OPERA); 62A: Loses one's temper (RAGES); 63A: Fifth color of el espectro (AZUL); 64A: Stopped working (DIED); 65A: Surgical tube (STENT); 67A: __-bitty (ITTY); 1D: Tread the boards (ACT); 4D: __ mater (ALMA); 5D: Hawaii's "main islands," e.g. (OCTET); 7D: Ad __ (HOC); 8D: Inquire (ASK); 9D: Syndicated columnist Goldberg (JONAH); 10D: First name on an historic WWII bomber (ENOLA); 11D: Zeno's followers (STOICS); 12D: Meditative martial art (TAI CHI); 13D: Bad temper (SPLEEN); 18D: NFL rushing units (YDS.); 22D: List-ending letters (ETC.); 24D: Succeeds (MAKES IT); 25D: "Just __!": "Be right there!" (A SEC); 27D: Polish partner (SPIT); 31D: Dietary guideline letters (RDA); 34D: Tandoori bread (NAN); 37D: Doozy (LULU); 42D: Maa, in "Babe" (EWE); 43D: Detests (ABHORS); 45D: Purport (ALLEGE); 50D: Actress Sophia (LOREN); 51D: You often get a rise out of it (YEAST); 53D: Classical beginning (NEO-); 59D: 57-Down filler (GAS); 61D: Big name in ice cream (EDY).