04.02 Sat

S A T U R D A Y
April 2, 2011
Alan Olschwang

Theme: None

No time for a full write-up today, so talk amongst yourselves. If you have a chance, you should come on back tomorrow though. The Sunday puzzle this week was constructed by our own Doug Peterson, and we have a new guest blogger filling in to chat you up about his puzzle, which I'm sure will be fabulous (both the puzzle and the chat). See you tomorrow!

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Everything Else — 1A: Island where florins are spent (ARUBA); 6A: Unoccupied (IDLE); 10A: Mental keenness (WITS); 14A: Charged (RAN AT); 15A: Hold (DEEM); 16A: Minimally (A BIT); 17A: Where few people live (MIDDLE OF NOWHERE); 20A: "Is that __?" (A NO); 21A: Entertainer (ARTISTE); 22A: Rural pro (FER); 23A: Having no chapters? (NON-UNION); 25A: Prohibit (ENJOIN); 27A: Hardly handy (INEPT); 28A: Quiet, in a way (OIL); 30A: Mattingly's predecessor (TORRE); 31A: 20-20, e.g. (TIE); 33A: Persian for "crown" (TAJ); 35A: Summer arrivals (LEOS); 36A: Debugging aid? (INSECT REPELLENT); 41A: Bar patron who appears in every "Cheers" episode (NORM); 42A: Bordeaux bottom (CUL); 43A: Clavell's "__-Pan" (TAI); 44A: Marsh bird (SNIPE); 46A: Norse war god (TYR); 48A: Schism outcomes (SECTS); 52A: Jai alai ball (PELOTA); 54A: Float seller (MALT SHOP); 56A: Clark's "Mogambo" co-star (AVA); 57A: Huge (TITANIC); 59A: Solid-rock center? (AS A); 60A: Pick wielder (DENTAL HYGIENIST); 63A: Three-time '80s speed skating gold medalist Karin (ENKE); 64A: Kathryn of "Law & Order: C.I." (ERBE); 65A: Um preceder? (NOSEE-); 66A: Early Sam & Dave record label (STAX); 67A: Club income (DUES); 68A: Head lock (TRESS); 1D: Lawyer's suit? (ARMANI); 2D: Spoil, as a picnic (RAIN ON); 3D: How a knot may come (UNDONE); 4D: Like some judgment (BAD); 5D: Kennebec River outlet, with "the" (ATLANTIC); 6D: "Same here" ('I DO TOO'); 7D: 2008 Adam Brooks romantic comedy (DEFINITELY MAYBE); 8D: Contact, e.g. (LENS); 9D: Show anger, say (EMOTE); 10D: ''Do __ Diddy Diddy'': 1964 hit (WAH); 11D: Start of a rule with numerous exceptions (I BEFORE E); 12D: Trunk item (TIRE IRON); 13D: Most severe (STERNEST); 18D: "__ tu": Verdi aria (ERI); 19D: Sold (for) (WENT); 24D: Bouncy (UPTEMPO); 26D: Kicks (JOLLIES); 29D: Drink from a dish (LAP); 32D: What an ellipsis may mean: Abbr. (ETC.); 34D: Black shade (JET); 36D: Big-time (IN SPADES); 37D: Tempest in a teapot (NON-EVENT); 38D: Colombo's country (SRI LANKA); 39D: Same old same old (RUT); 40D: You'll be busted if you use it (LAST CENT); 45D: Blues singer James (ETTA); 47D: Extents (RANGES); 49D: One in a cruise ship line (CHAISE); 50D: Chucks (TOSSES); 51D: Floods (SPATES); 53D: Had something (AILED); 55D: Full deck in old Rome? (LII); 58D: Drive-__ (THRU); 61D: St. with a panhandle (TEX.); 62D: Easter opening? (NOR-).

WEDNESDAY, May 5, 2010—Alan Olschwang

THEME: "Trash Compactor"—Four two-word phrases begin with words that double as verbs that mean "compact" or "squish."

Oy, I did not care for this puzzle. The theme was OK (though one theme entry is the sort of thing you only know if you're a baseball fan, and I tell you, millions of crossword fans are not also baseball fans), but there was a lot of fill that's hostile to crossword newbies. I'll get to that in a minute. What I liked about the theme is that it's got two Qs, and there's the added elegance of all four "squish" words being used in non-verb, non-squishing contexts.

I forgot to plan ahead, and I have anniversary dinner plans (19 years!) So this post will be quick, unillustrated, and not formatted how it usually is.

Theme entries:

• 18a. [Mule or burro] is a PACK ANIMAL.
• 26a. [Where to see racquets] is a SQUASH COURT.
• 48a. [Daring diamond device] is SQUEEZE BUNT. I had SQUEEZE PLAY, because what the heck is a SQUEEZE BUNT? It's nothing I know about. And I know "device" alliterates, but is it the best word choice here?
• 63a. [Impromptu jazz performance] is a JAM SESSION.

What I didn't like:

• The middle, where CORFU sits beside ORALE. One's a [Greek vacation isle] and the other's a [Papal vestment].
• 37a. [Put on, as cargo] clues LADED. Who ever talks about lading?
• 51a. ["Turandot" slave girl] clues LIU. Usually we get Charlie's Angels actress Lucy Liu or Long Island University. I've been doing crosswords for decades and the only opera I've ever attended is Turandot, and I still needed all the crossings for this one.
• 34d: [In other words, to Brutus] is ID EST, which we see as "i.e." often enough. This is fine Latin, quite accessible. 59a: [And the following, in a bibliog.] clues ET SEQ. Et sick!
• 66a. ["Rent-__": Reynolds/Minnelli film] clues the partial A COP. The movie was undistinguished and it has likely been forgotten by most of the people who ever knew it existed—unless they do crosswords, in which case they get reminded a couple times a year.
• 4d. AM/FM RADIO is a terrific entry, but I'm not sure why it's clued as [Feature of a new car]. I took a Ford Fusion Hybrid for a test drive a week ago, and the AM/FM radio was but a small part of the sound system. Six-disc CD player! Twelve speakers! Optional iPod/MP3 player hookup! I am just old enough to remember when the cheap-ass cars came with only an AM radio, and FM was the fancy option, before having a tape player became the fancy option.
• 9d. [Trapper] clues SNARER. Quick, tell me a sentence in which you have used the word SNARER. And "What? SNARER?!? Is that even a word?" doesn't count.
• 27d. The QUOIT, a [Ring used in a horseshoelike game], is a word I encounter in only two places: crosswords and Scrabble. Oh, do I love it in Scrabble. Not so much in crosswords.
• 40d. [Store, as fodder] clues ENSILE, which is in the running for the title of Dullest Word Found in Crosswords. I dunno—is it worse than ENISLE?
• 64d. The [Marshal at Waterloo] is named NEY. Sure, Napoleon is a much bigger deal, but NEY hogs all the crossword glory.

Enough kvetching from me. I'll bet you guys can mention some things you liked in this puzzle. Take it away!

Crosswordese 101: Ding, ding, ding! Today's winner is ORALE. It doesn't appear in crosswords too often, but I consider it and the ALB to be old-school crosswordese. I mean, if you don't live in Vatican City, do you pay much attention to papal vestments? Probably not. Other clues you may see invoke the nouns garment, attire, scarf, or cape. Once ORALE was even clued as an alb coverer. (Can't believe we haven't XW101ed ALB yet! Consider yourself lucky—it means we haven't seen ALB much here.)

Everything Else — 1A: Final Four org. (NCAA); 5A: Bedouin homes (TENTS); 10A: Bed board (SLAT); 14A: The enemy (THEM); 15A: Saved on supper, one would hope (ATE IN); 16A: Hot spot connection (WI-FI); 17A: Bondman (SERF); 20A: Relief provider (BROMO); 22A: Place with trails and trams (SKI RESORT); 23A: B&O et al. (RRS); 25A: Cousin of -trix (ESS); 32A: "Aladdin" prince (ALI); 35A: Ilsa __, Bergman's "Casablanca" role (LUND); 36A: Game ender, at times (HORN); 39A: "Ouch!" ("YOWIE!"); 41A: Backstabber (RAT); 42A: A-list (ELITE); 43A: Use, as a cot (LIE ON); 44A: Dart through the air (FLIT); 46A: Island rings (LEIS); 47A: Financial statement abbr. (YTD); 52A: Arthur Godfrey played it (UKE); 53A: Earlier today, say (A WHILE AGO); 65A: South African Peace Nobelist (TUTU); 67A: Parishioner's pledge (TITHE); 68A: Poet Pound (EZRA); 69A: Katharine of "The Graduate" (ROSS); 70A: Flippant (SASSY); 71A: Bassoon, e.g. (REED); 1D: Airline investigative org. (NTSB); 2D: "Moonstruck" Oscar winner (CHER); 3D: Sleek, for short (AERO); 5D: Beer source (TAP); 6D: Flight data, briefly (ETAS); 7D: Post-Thanksgiving soup starter (NECK); 8D: "Kon-__" (TIKI); 10D: Deli platter cheese (SWISS); 11D: One might pick you up at an airport (LIMO); 12D: Way off (AFAR); 13D: Lean (TILT); 19D: Get cozy (NESTLE); 21D: RN workplaces (ORS); 24D: Reaction to a library volume? (SHH); 26D: With cunning (SLYLY); 28D: Single (UNWED); 31D: Set free (UNTIE); 32D: "Farewell, mon ami" (ADIEU); 33D: Grant entrée to (LET IN); 38D: Completely recovered (ALL BETTER); 45D: Shih __: Tibetan dog (TZU); 49D: Pursuits (QUESTS); 50D: Struggle to make, with "out" (EKE); 51D: Struggles with sibilants (LISPS); 53D: When it's __: answer to an old riddle about a door (AJAR); 54D: City SSW of Dallas (WACO); 55D: Managed care gps. (HMOS); 56D: __ Minor (ASIA); 57D: Skedaddles (GITS); 58D: July 4th sounds (OOHS); 60D: Financial advisor Orman (SUZE); 61D: French 101 verb (ÊTRE); 62D: One of a four in a nursery (QUAD).

SATURDAY, November 28, 2009Alan Olschwang

Theme: As usual for a Saturday, no theme today. (Of course, I could be wrong. I've missed themes before.)

Hi, everyone. I believe Orange is still stuffing herself with turkey in some God-forsaken Internet-less place. I believe she'll be back blogging at her place on Monday, and will be back in the rotation here next Wednesday. In the meantime, you're stuck with me. Let's just make the best of it.

I thought we might have a theme going with the two double-Z answers: MEZZO-SOPRANO and JACUZZI (22A: Carmen, for one / 38A: Maker of many jets). But no. Then when I saw more Scrabbly letters, and thought we might have a pangram on our hands. But no again. All it needs is an effin' F. Bummer.

Stuff I did not know:

• 19A: Zen enlightenment (SATORI). Sometimes considered the first step toward Nirvana.
• 10D: Belgium winter hrs. (CET). Whoa, what? That would be Central European Time.
• 13D: Former Tennessee Titans tight end Kinney (ERRON). Insert your own err-on-the-side-of-caution joke here.
• 24D: Sprites of Persian mythology (PERIS). Apparently they rank between angela and evil spirits. Kinda like humans, I guess.

• 50D: "The Hustler" author Walter (TEVIS). I didn't know "The Hustler" was originally a novel.
• 62D: Knotted pile carpet (RYA). It's a traditional Scandinavian rug. If you do a Google image search, you see a wide variety of colors and designs, so I'm not sure what it is that makes these rugs their own category. Something about the wool or the knots I think.

Other stuff I noticed:

• 20A: Certain theater, for short (REP). Short for REPertory.
• 28A: "__ for Evidence": Grafton novel (E IS). Y'all know about the Sue Grafton novels, right? They all start with letters: A Is for, I don't know, Alibi or something. B Is for Blood. I'm making these up, but you get the point.
• 33A: Inexpensive kids' toy (PAPER DOLL). I'm pretty sure toy makers have discovered a way to make paper dolls expensive.
• 47A: Classic Jag (XKE). I always want there to be a J in this answer. And there never is.
• 56A: Company with a kangaroo on its logo (QANTAS). Q without a U? Crossword gold.
• 4D: Derby town (EPSOM). Epsom, Essex, Sussex ... they're all the same to me unfortunately.
• 34D: Dallas Mavericks owner before Cuban (PEROT). Kept reading this as "Dallas Mavericks owner Cuban" and couldn't figure out why Mark wouldn't fit.

• 39D: Golfer Babe who was a six-time AP Female Athlete of the Year (ZAHARIAS). So, yes, I know her name was Babe, but "Golfer Babe"? That doesn't seem right somehow.
• 52D: Vocally twangy (NASAL). I should be able to find something twangy for you ....

Crosswordese 101: R.U.R., which stands for Rossum's Universal Robots, is a play that premiered in 1921 credited with introducing the term robot. It was written in Czech by Karel Capek. Obviously, the play is considered science fiction. And with all that knowledge, you should be able to recognize R.U.R. the next time it's clued in a puzzle.

Everything Else — 1A: King overthrown by William of Orange (JAMES II); 8A: Breaks out (ESCAPES); 15A: Conversion gadget (ADAPTOR); 16A: Was humbled (ATE DIRT); 17A: Dennis the Menace's neighbors, with "the" (WILSONS); 18A: "Told you!" ("SO THERE!"); 21A: Berkshire school (ETON); 25A: Bad start? (MAL-); 29A: Fork in the road (VEE); 30A: Caribbean cruise stop (ARUBA); 40A: Asmara is its capital (ERITREA); 41A: One in a box (SPECTATOR); 43A: Nutritious beans (SOYAS); 44A: "I'm so clever" sound ("HEH"); 45A: Big affairs (DOS); 48A: Spinach is high in it (BETA-CAROTENE); 54A: U.S. dept. with a windmill on its seal (ENER.); 55A: Robot play (RUR); 60A: Daydream (REVERIE); 62A: Decay, as pipes (RUST OUT); 63A: "Sleepless in Seattle" studio (TRISTAR); 64A: One who aches (YEARNER); 65A: Party leader (HOSTESS); 66A: Brisk, to Brahms (ALLEGRO); 1D: 1975 thriller shot largely on Martha's Vineyard (JAWS); 2D: 1998 Sarah McLachlan hit (ADIA); 3D: Brewer's supply (MALT); 5D: Supply (STORE); 6D: Create charged particles in (IONIZE); 7D: Org. that gets a lot of returns (IRS); 8D: Uncomplicates (EASES); 9D: Short stay (STOP OVER); 11D: Didn't deviate from, as plans (ADHERED TO); 12D: Michelangelo masterpiece (PIETÀ); 14D: Court figure (STENO); 20D: Santa __: Sonoma County seat (ROSA); 23D: "Shh!" ("ZIP IT!"); 25D: Some mil. brass (MAJS.); 26D: Give __: care (A RAP); 27D: Fortune founder (LUCE); 31D: Romania's capital (BUCHAREST); 32D: Ancient Valley of Mexico native (AZTEC); 35D: Antelope that often has nearly upright horns (ORYX); 36D: Pipe problem (LEAK); 37D: Cut with light (LASE); 42D: It may be fishy (ODOR); 46D: Film follow-up (SEQUEL); 48D: Distance maintained between vessels (BERTH); 49D: Hot time in Chile (ENERO); 51D: Who's sorry now? (RUERS); 53D: Between: Fr. (ENTRE); 57D: Half a patio pair (TONG); 58D: "Violin Playing as I Teach It" author Leopold (AUER); 59D: Houston pro, locally ('STRO); 61D: 66, e.g.: Abbr. (RTE.).

SATURDAY, May 2, 2009 — Alan Olschwang

THEME: The Saturday puzzle is themeless—the game is decoding tougher clues and figuring out a slew of longer words and phrases

This crossword is a bit easier than the usual Saturday puzzle—but the difficulty level should be easing back upwards soon now that the former TMS solvers have had over a month to get accustomed to Rich Norris's editorial style.

Crosswordese 101: Ah, looky here: one of my least treasured types of crosswordese, the military honor abbreviation: 10D: U.S. Army medals (DSCS). Do you know how many U.S. military awards and decorations there are? A veritable ton. DSC stands for the Distinguished Service Cross.

I generally cannot keep DSC separate in my head from a couple British honors. The DSO is the Distinguished Service Order. And then there are the honors a few notches shy of knighthood—OBE and MBE stand for order and member, respectively, of the British Empire.

What I do is stash all of these abbreviations in my head in a jumble, and hope that the crossings lead me to the right answer without any trouble. Sometimes it works okay and sometimes...not so hot.

Among the more obscure stuff:

• 1A: The Pleiades' Alcyone, for one (GIANT STAR). Is there an astronomer in the house?
  
• 27A: German aviation pioneer Lilienthal (OTTO). All I can tell you about this one is that I believe Lilienthal is German for "valley of lilies." Wikipedia says they called him the Glider King, but I like to reserve terms like that for flying squirrels.
  
• 48A: Not pizzicato (ARCO). To play a stringed instrument ARCO means to use a bow, I think. The dictionary gently informs me that pizzicato means "plucking the strings of a violin or other stringed instrument with one's finger."
  
• 
  
• Speaking of stringed instruments, KOTOS are 51D: Japanese stringed instruments.
  
• 54D: Exec gps. (MGTS). I was dithering between MGRS and MGMT.
  

Favorite answers and clues:

• 15A: Touching base (IN CONTACT).
  
• 17A: Where many strings are pulled (BEHIND THE SCENES).
  
• 37A: Fall opportunities for high school seniors (EARLY ADMISSIONS).
  
• 41A: Making a crossing (ASEA). Too much crosswording muddles the meaning of "crossing" for me, turning this clue into a temporary mystery.
  
• 45A: Often-allergic attack (ASTHMA). Do you know what breed Ren, of Ren and Stimpy fame, is? He's an asthma-hound chihuahua:
  
• 
  
  
• 58A: Former Boer republic (ORANGE FREE STATE).
  
• 65A: Like an imposition (A LOT TO ASK).
  
• 1D: Pop singing brothers from the Isle of Man (GIBBS). The Bee Gees comprised Barry, Maurice, and Robin; little brother Andy Gibb had a solo career.
  
• 8D: Classic ghost story (A CHRISTMAS CAROL). If your summer involves any ghost stories told by the campfire, be sure to regale the kids with Dickens.
  
• 12D: Ruined (GONE TO POT).
  
• 14D: Confirmation word (YES). I was looking for something much more specific to, say, religious confirmation rites.
  
• 32D: Tumult (MAELSTROM). Terrific word, ain't it?
  
• 38D: Letter opener (DEAR). You thought about putting SIRS here, didn't you?
  

Everything Else — 10A: Bag opening? (DOGGY); 16A: Dull thing, in slang (SNORE); 19A: Street address (BRO); 20A: Sun. speech (SER); 21A: Milo of "Ulysses" (OSHEA); 22A: Shellac (STOMP); 25A: Turbulent waters (RIPS); 29A: Like some felonies (CLASSA); 31A: China biggie (SPODE); 32A: Polite title (MADAM); 34A: Branch headquarters? (TREE); 36A: Inflate (PAD); 40A: Cotillion honoree (DEB); 42A: Sense of style (TASTE); 43A: Flash (GLINT); 47A: This, in Toledo (ESTO); 49A: Battle of Endor fighters of film (EWOKS); 53A: Shellac (TROMP); 55A: Ernst contemporary (ARP); 57A: Chem. unit (MOL); 62A: Out of, as work (NOTAT); 63A: It's pitched at a stake (HORSESHOE); 64A: Dreams, to some (OMENS); 2D: Like some gases (INERT); 3D: Cold burst? (ACHOO); 4D: "There's __ in team" (NOI); 5D: Spike TV, once (TNN); 6D: Avg. levels (STDS); 7D: Chitlins might be cooked with 'em (TATERS); 9D: Numbered hwy. (RTE); 11D: Like some grounders (ONEHOP); 13D: Scooby-Doo, for one (GREATDANE); 18D: It might be sent from a bridge (SOS); 23D: 15th century year (MCDL); 24D: Dabble in (PLAYAT); 26D: __ passu: impartially (PARI); 28D: Sizable refs. (OEDS); 30D: Latin I word (AMAS); 31D: Oil source (SESAME); 33D: Resolve, in a way (ARBITRATE); 35D: O.T. book (ESTH); 37D: Go cautiously (EDGE); 39D: "The Last Time __ Paris": 1954 film (ISAW); 44D: Reagan speechwriter (NOONAN); 46D: Corrida hero (TORERO); 48D: Mock (APE); 50D: Missouri River city (OMAHA); 52D: Glossy (SLEEK); 54D: Exec gps. (MGTS); 56D: Gnat, for one (PEST); 58D: "Double Fantasy" artist (ONO); 59D: Loan-insuring org. (FHA); 60D: Congeal (SET); 61D: Chicken general (TSO).