August 21, 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: Lara's Theme — The word/name/letter string LARA is hidden in each theme answer. And at 115A we find the title of the popular song based on "Lara's Theme" (which is from the film Dr. Zhivago, in case you didn't know).
Theme answers:
- 18A: Securities-buying strategy (DOLLAR AVERAGING).
- 23A: Inexperienced mind, e.g. (TABULA RASA).
- 25A: Historic site in Wyoming (FORT LARAMIE).
- 42A: Security device (BURGLAR ALARM).
- 45A: Be suspicious (SMELL A RAT).
- 57A: Do a trick (PULL A RABBIT OUT OF A HAT).
- 68A: "I'm Chevy Chase" and "You're not," for example (DECLARATIVE SENTENCES).
- 85A: They played their last game on Dec. 24, 1994 (THE L.A. RAMS).
- 88A: Invigorating (EXHILARATING).
- 103A: 1960s muscle car (DODGE POLARA).
- 107A: What we're living in, to Bush or Carter (NUCULAR AGE).
- 115A: Q: "So, where are all of the LARAs in this puzzle, sweetheart?" A: "___" (SOMEWHERE MY LOVE).
Everything — 1A: Clothing line? (SEAM); 5A: Argentine river that sounds like a fish (PARANA); 11A: Ethan's "Gattaca" co-star (UMA); 14A: Osmond and others (DONNYS); 16A: Longtime Chrysler model (LEBARON); 17A: Spill the beans (BLAB); 18A: Securities-buying strategy (DOLLAR AVERAGING); 20A: "Go ahead, ask" ("TRY ME"); 21A: Last three letters of TNT (ENE); 22A: Language that gave us "kayak" (INUIT); 23A: Inexperienced mind, e.g. (TABULA RASA); 25A: Historic site in Wyoming (FORT LARAMIE); 28A: Swedish-born actress who played Candy in "Candy," ___ Aulin (EWA); 29A: Start-up helper: abbr. (SBA); 31A: The Pep Boys, e.g. (TRIO); 32A: Tommy Franks is a ret. one (GEN.); 33A: Drink with dim sum (TEA); 36A: Even though (ALBEIT); 38A: Transpire (OCCUR); 42A: Security device (BURGLAR ALARM); 45A: Be suspicious (SMELL A RAT); 49A: Be finicky (NIGGLE); 50A: Reverse (UNDO); 51A: Instant-messaging pioneer (AOL); 52A: Elocution-class no-nos (ERS); 53A: "There's no one else but me" ("I'M IT"); 55A: Amundsen's quest (POLE); 57A: Do a trick (PULL A RABBIT OUT OF A HAT); 64A: One with burning pants? (LIAR); 65A: Velvet add-on (-EEN); 66A: Home of "Weekend Edition" (NPR); 67A: Cal or Georgia follower (TECH); 68A: "I'm Chevy Chase" and "You're not," for example (DECLARATIVE SENTENCES); 75A: Editor's catch (TYPO); 76A: Courteous enclosure: abbr. (SASE); 77A: It can ache (EAR); 78A: Jamie Foxx film (RAY); 79A: Arizona sight (MESA); 82A: Former N.Y. governor (PATAKI); 85A: They played their last game on Dec. 24, 1994 (THE L.A. RAMS); 88A: Invigorating (EXHILARATING); 91A: Jane Eyre's pupil (ADELE); 92A: James who played a wolf in "Wolf" (SPADER); 93A: Paris preposition (DES); 94A: Referee's last number (TEN); 96A: Big name in game coverage (ESPN); 100A: Alter, in a way (HEM); 101A: Kitten's comment (MEW); 103A: 1960s muscle car (DODGE POLARA); 107A: What we're living in, to Bush or Carter (NUCULAR AGE); 112A: Town, lake, or dam in Panama (GATUN); 113A: Do the floor (MOP); 114A: From Nineveh: abbr. (ASSYR.); 115A: Q: "So, where are all of the LARAs in this puzzle, sweetheart?" A: "___" (SOMEWHERE MY LOVE); 118A: Action (DEED); 119A: Exclusions from Santa's list? (POUTERS); 120A: Joint-account holder (SPOUSE); 121A: CIA precursor (OSS); 122A: Wanders (STRAYS); 123A: Fiji's capital (SUVA); 1D: Architect Paolo of Arcosanti fame (SOLERI); 2D: Blowup: abbr. (ENL.); 3D: "For want of ___ ..." (A NAIL); 4D: William's "Thin Man" co-star (MYRNA); 5D: For each (PER); 6D: Subside (ABATE); 7D: Sitar melody (RAGA); 8D: "Is this ___?" (A RIB); 9D: Low-class, in London (NONU); 10D: Secret motive (ANGLE); 11D: Of a Trojan War figure (ULYSSEAN); 12D: She brings home the worms (MAMA BIRD); 13D: Face on a fiver (ABE); 14D: Giver (DONOR); 15D: Reptile's tail? (-SAUR); 16D: "___ get this straight ..." (LET ME); 17D: Bikini part (BRA); 18D: Skilled (DEFT); 19D: Pfizer product (VIAGRA); 20D: Merry refrain (TRA-LA); 24D: Familiar with (AWARE OF); 26D: Saw, for one (TOOL); 27D: Bach's "Mass ___ Minor" (IN B); 30D: Sphere intro (ATMO-); 33D: Certain music intervals (TRITONES); 34D: Spur (on) (EGG); 35D: H.S. math course (ALG.); 37D: Delaware, the ___ State (BLUE HEN); 39D: In no uncertain terms (CLEARLY); 40D: Good last name for a mechanic? (CARR); 41D: Bear in the sky (URSA); 43D: Ton, for one (UNIT); 44D: Dog food brand (ALPO); 45D: Fall guy (SAP); 46D: Gelatin shaper, in London (MOULD); 47D: "Dallas" Miss (ELLIE); 48D: Shangri-la land (TIBET); 54D: Beginners' rentals on snowy slopes (MINI-SKIS); 56D: Side (LATERAL); 58D: Popular brand of supplement for those who are dairy-intolerant (LACTAID); 59D: Actress Arthur (BEA); 60D: Surprise win (UPSET); 61D: Quattro minus uno (TRE); 62D: Ghana's capital (ACCRA); 63D: In ___ (before noon) (THE A.M.); 69D: Shirts and skirts (APPAREL); 70D: Indy 500 sound (ROAR); 71D: Self-centered (VAIN); 72D: Have to get (NEED); 73D: Raconteur's offering (TALE); 74D: With op, a computer manager (SYS); 79D: Fit together (MESH); 80D: Business deductions (EXPENSES); 81D: Private eyes (SHAMUSES); 83D: Little bit (TAD); 84D: Broke bread (ATE); 86D: Plane's place (HANGAR); 87D: Rod's partner (REEL); 89D: Madagascar primate (LEMUR); 90D: "Little" car of song (GTO); 95D: Finishes the lawn (EDGES); 97D: Stuffed Indian pastry (SAMOSA); 98D: Show to be so (PROVE); 99D: Neck part (NAPE); 102D: Under-eave buzzers (WASPS); 103D: Truman beat him (DEWEY); 104D: Vous ___ (ÊTES); 105D: Gas dispensers (PUMPS); 106D: Elvis hit, "Stuck ___" (ON YOU); 108D: Dancer Charisse (CYD); 109D: Dig like a pig (ROOT); 110D: Manchurian border river (AMUR); 111D: "___ grip!" (GET A); 114D: Hubbub (ADO); 116D: Storefront info: abbr. (HRS.); 117D: Darling, to a Brit (LUV).
7 comments:
This is the first time I ever got to post the first comment--Yay!
Hope all has settled down with the kids and the van and the air conditioning and that you'll be able to enjoy a relaxed day today, PG.
Nice to see you do the Sunday Merl Reagle from the LA Times newspaper! Since my back has gone out and I can't do much today, I'll probably spend the day doing Merl Reagle cross word puzzles (we have all 17 of his books!).
MN
Clever as usual. But the NE was slow for me because of BLUEHEN, which I did not know. Also for 28a, I looked for something with vcs, or venture capitalists, then mBA, and finally SBA. The theme answers went quickly once I saw the LARAs and plugged them in. So it was pretty much EXHILARATING.
And thanks for the post, PG.
I solve the Reagle puzzles very early in the weekend, since they are available on line. Just looked it over.
I found this pretty easy, and have few quibbles. I have always heard the investment strategy described as DOLLAR cost AVERAGING, but it wasn't hard to figure out.
I learned to drive in a Chrysler LEBARON!
ALBEIT is one of my favorite words; reminds me of my Dad.
GATUN was a complete unknown to me; last letter in the grid was the crossing with ETES. I kept saying "Vous etes?" and it sounded right, but was confused because it looks just like the plural of summer in French (!).
Loved the ribbing of Bush with NUCULAR. I don't recall Jimmy Carter mispronouncing the term. Wasn't he a nuclear engineer? A quick check says he did graduate work in nuclear physics, and worked on the nuclear sub program, so I would think he knew how to say it.
@CoffeeLvr - Oddly enough, Carter did pronounce it "nucular" too. Great clue & entry.
@CoffeLvr- When Carter was president, I remember cringing every time he said "nucular," precisely because I knew he had studied nuclear engineering in college. I think it had something to do with his Southern accent.
In Bush's case, however, he just didn't know any better. :)
Thanks for the corrections; my memory was not accurate.
I can't visualize nor comprehend anyone buying 17 Merle Reagle crossword puzzle books! It hurts my head to even think of that many dreadful puns!
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