M O N D A Y December 6, 2010 Donna S. Levin

Theme: This is a hold-up! — Each theme answer is a familiar phrase that ends with a word for something you might use to hold something up.

Theme answers:

• 20A: Sidewalk periodical vendor (NEWSPAPER STAND).
• 25A: Edwards or Langley, e.g. (AIR FORCE BASE).
• 42A: Court-ordered parental obligation (CHILD SUPPORT).
• 48A: Philanthropic group chartered by auto execs (FORD FOUNDATION).

Always a pleasure to see Donna's name at the top of the puzzle. I absolutely flew through this one. The theme is great for Monday, but it's the fill that really impressed me. Not much in the way of crosswordese, and there were several entries that really sparkled to me, like PARRY, COWED and SHOWOFFS. Just good stuff all the way around.

Bullets:

• 1A: Try to obtain sensitive info using an Internet scam (PHISH). Are Dead Heads now Phish Heads these days? Way back when, I thought Little Feat would be the Dead's successors and we could call their fans Feat Heads.
• 17A: Specialized jargon (ARGOT). This is one of those words that sounds like it should mean something totally different. Also "bucolic."

• 24A: Gut courses (EASY A'S). I learned the phrase "gut course" from crossword puzzles.
• 38A: Nothing, in tennis (LOVE). Great clue.
• 55A: Univ. sports group (NCAA). How well do you know your NCAA Division I schools? Find out.
• 59A: Tiger Woods's ex (ELIN). It's interesting how ELIN is a Monday name now. I guess that goes to show you how a major personal scandal can up a person's crossword cred.
• 6D: Thompson of "Family" (SADA). When I see four-letter Thompson, I think Leah and Emma. I always forget about SADA.
• 10D: Taoism founder (LAO TSE). This was probably the trickiest thing in the grid for me. His name is also sometimes spelled TZU. (Also TSU, but that entry is always clued as an abbreviation for Tennessee State University.)
• 38D: Pencil for one's kisser (LIPLINER). Because proper lip coverage is extremely important.
• 57D: Sight organ (EYE). I think I would have preferred a clue a little less … clinical.

Crosswordese 101: AGRA is the Indian city where you'll find the Taj Mahal. Clues for AGRA will most likely include one or more of the following words: Taj Mahal, New Delhi, Mogul (or Mughal) capital, tourist, mecca, mausoleum, and tomb.



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

• 16A: Towards the sheltered side, at sea (ALEE).
• 3D: "Picnic" dramatist (INGE).

[Follow PuzzleGirl on Twitter.]

Everything Else — 6A: Chase down, as a fly ball (SHAG); 10A: Falls behind (LAGS); 14A: "Tiny Bubbles" singer (DON HO); 15A: Tip-top (A-ONE); 18A: "__ call us, we'll ..." (DON'T); 19A: Red sky, to a sailor (OMEN); 23A: __-Locka, Florida (OPA); 31A: Political corruption (GRAFT); 32A: Police busts (RAIDS); 33A: Revolutionary statesman Franklin (BEN); 36A: Knocks on the door (RAPS); 37A: Response to a fencing lunge (PARRY); 39A: Picnic invader (ANT); 40A: Intimidated (COWED); 41A: Tendon (SINEW); 44A: Show hosts (EMCEES); 47A: Actor Mineo (SAL); 54A: Notion (IDEA); 56A: Liberate from the hitching post (UNTIE); 58A: Shakespearean king (LEAR); 60A: Allow to pass (LET BY); 61A: Benevolent order (ELKS); 62A: Cowgirl Evans (DALE); 63A: Cropped up (AROSE); 1D: High-tech organizer, briefly (PDA); 2D: English or French instrument (HORN); 4D: Braggarts (SHOWOFFS); 5D: Lively nightclub (HOT SPOT); 7D: Hula __ (HOOP); 8D: Green Gables girl (ANNE); 9D: Prepare (GET READY); 11D: Hypoallergenic skin care brand (ALMAY); 12D: Davis who played Thelma (GEENA); 13D: Transmits (SENDS); 21D: Bogey beater (PAR); 22D: Impertinence (SASS); 26D: Pakistan neighbor (IRAN); 27D: Engrossed (RAPT); 28D: Move like a baby (CRAWL); 29D: Like some seals (EARED); 30D: Feathered friends (BIRDS); 33D: Sonny of Sonny and Cher (BONO); 34D: Happily __ after (EVER); 35D: Eft, when mature (NEWT); 37D: Like the victims in "Arsenic and Old Lace" (POISONED); 40D: Kitchen VIP (CHEF); 41D: Pancake flipper (SPATULA); 42D: Coniferous trees (CEDARS); 43D: Mex. neighbor (USA); 44D: Submit a tax return over the Internet (E-FILE); 45D: Hobbyist's plane, e.g. (MODEL); 46D: Old floorboard sound (CREAK); 49D: Golden State sch. (UCLA); 50D: Carpentry fastener (NAIL); 51D: Certain Scandinavian (DANE); 52D: Filmdom's Preminger (OTTO); 53D: Penpoints (NIBS).