05.28 Sat

S A T U R D A Y
May 28, 2011
Bonnie L. Gentry

Theme: None

What better way to start out a long holiday weekend than with a tough Saturday themeless. This one was a pretty good workout, don't you think? There are a couple entries that stood out to me. I like HIPSTER (1A: Hardly a square), especially because the other day I tried to enter it into a grid where POP STAR was supposed to go. HAIL A CAB (28A: Decide not to walk, perhaps) looks good in the grid and has a pretty tricky clue. I tried TAKE A BUS first. And what can I say about EGG AND I (64A: Ma and Pa Kettle debut film, with "The")?! Never heard of the movie and I have to admit the title made me laugh.

Today I'm going to walk you through some of the trickiness in this grid, and then we're going to call it good so you can get outside where you belong.

First, the ambiguous word clues.

• 24D: Apple and peacock, e.g. (LOGOS). What the heck could an apple and a peacock have in common? No wait, maybe the reference is to colors? Apple red? That's not really a color. Oh, I get it! They're both used as LOGOS for a couple of pretty well-known companies.
• 31D: Place for snaps (ALBUM). "Snapshot" seems like an old-fashioned word to me. Is it used much any more? In any case, a "snapshot" can also be referred to as a "snap" (kind of like "picture" and "pic"), and you might find snaps in a photo ALBUM.
• 37D: American enticements (LOW FARES). Enticements for American people? Enticements to become American? To come to America? Huh?? Ohhhh, American Airlines! That company uses LOW FARES to entice people to fly with them.

Next, let's take a look at the question mark clues. Remember: A question mark typically means that you have to think about what each word means and not look at the phrase as a whole.

• 15A: Duty-free? (ON LEAVE). "Duty-free" means without tax, right? Right. But the question mark means you need to think about the words in a different way. Like someone who is "free" of all their "duties."
• 17A: Moving locks? (HAIR REPLACEMENT). I don't really have a go-to definition for the phrase "moving locks," so this one doesn't really feel like a question mark clue to me. Does the phrase "moving locks" mean something? In any case, the "locks" in this clue aren't related to canals or security, but rather to hair.
• 41A: Team feature? (NO I). In this case, you shouldn't be thinking about actual features of actual teams, but rather a feature of the word "team" itself. As the saying goes: "There is no I in team." (But there are three Us in "Shut the f*** up.")

• 58A: Exact opposites? (BALLPARK FIGURES). The phrase "exact opposites" makes me think of two people that are, well, exactly opposite. An outgoing person and a wallflower. A cynic and an idealist. But in this clue, you need to think about how you might descripe the opposite of the word "exact."
• 61A: Letters read with feeling? (BRAILLE). Was your first thought some type of love letter? A Dear John letter maybe? "Letters" in this clue doesn't refer to correspondence, it refers to the actual components of an alphabet. Letters written in BRAILLE are — literally — read with feeling.
• 11D: Long ride? (LIMO). Nope, not a road trip, just a stretched out automobile.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 19A: Service rank (ONE-A).
• 39D: Caspian feeder (URAL).
• 48D: Willem of "Spider-Man" (DAFOE).
• 57D: Piedmont product (ASTI).

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Everything Else — 8A: Duplicate (REPLICA); 16A: Unlikely to cheat (ETHICAL); 20A: Muddy, as water (ROIL); 21A: Signal agreement (NOD TO); 22A: Juice source (BATTERY); 24A: "The Sea-Wolf" captain (LARSEN); 33A: Made an impressive delivery (ORATED); 34A: Corner key (ESC); 35A: Exclusive (SOLE); 36A: Gain notoriety, as via 38-Across (GO VIRAL); 38A: See 36-Across (YOUTUBE); 40A: Eclipse, to some (OMEN); 43A: Appear unexpectedly (CROP UP); 44A: Got comfy in a sofa (SANK DOWN); 46A: Women-only residences (HAREMS); 47A: Nonbeliever, to some (INFIDEL); 49A: Crossing the keel (ABEAM); 53A: Pre-med subj. (ANAT.); 54A: Magical beginning (ABRA); 62A: Raving (ON A RANT); 63A: Fixes, as pumps (REHEELS); 1D: Cream-filled treat (HO-HO); 2D: __ instant (IN AN); 3D: Bend at the barre (PLIE); 4D: Medical supplies (SERA); 5D: Gob (TAR); 6D: From time to time (EVER AND ANON); 7D: Find a new home for, in a way (REPOT); 8D: Not at all complicated (REAL EASY); 9D: And more: Abbr. (ETC.); 10D: Derived from benzene (PHENYL); 12D: Bumped off (ICED); 13D: Jargon (CANT); 14D: Glee club member (ALTO); 18D: Pliant (LITHE); 22D: Suds, so to speak (BEER); 23D: Glancing (RICOCHETING); 25D: Bakery emanation (AROMA); 26D: First bird off the Ark, in Genesis (RAVEN); 27D: Deserve no stars (STINK); 29D: Notable Titanic casualty (ASTOR); 30D: Compact, perhaps (COUPE); 32D: Summons (BEEPS); 42D: How hard crosswords are usually not done (IN INK); 45D: Golf ball feature (DIMPLE); 49D: Can. or Mex., e.g. (ABBR.); 50D: Reveal (BARE); 51D: Where Goliath was slain (ELAH); 52D: "I Just Can't Live __": Carrie Underwood song (A LIE); 54D: Mystique (AURA); 55D: Cereal material (BRAN); 56D: Rip to bits (REND); 59D: Completely (ALL); 60D: __ rule (GAG).

SUNDAY, May 16, 2010 — Bonnie L. Gentry

Theme: "Mark Time" — The letter string GPA is hidden in each theme answer

[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 answers:

• 27A: It's a racket (PING PONG PADDLE).
• 41A: S.O.S, for one (SCOURING PAD).
• 64A: "Come again?" ("BEG PARDON?").
• 89A: Group in power (RULING PARTY).
• 101A: State of inaction (HOLDING PATTERN).
• 15D: You might get it in your pajamas (MORNING PAPER).
• 58D: More than a walk-on (SPEAKING PART).
• 110D: Scholastic mean, briefly, hidden in this puzzle's seven longest answers (GPA).

Crosswordese 101 Round-Up:

• 40A: Bobby Orr, for most of his career (BRUIN).
• 44A: Gelling agents (AGARS).
• 81A: "Gymnopédies" composer Satie (ERIK).
• 114A: Duel-purpose equipment (ÉPÉES).
• 39D: One making a good impression? (APER).
• 70D: '20s-'30s Flying Cloud, e.g. (REO).

Everything Else — 1A: Group of notes (CHORD); 6A: Is, in Ixtapa (ESTÁ); 10A: Prefix with grain (MULTI-); 15A: National League East team (METS); 19A: Renée's "Chicago" role (ROXIE); 20A: Milky Way ingredient? (STAR); 21A: Guesstimate word (ABOUT); 22A: Speed-skating rink, e.g. (OVAL); 23A: Invites the public (OPENS); 24A: You can't go when you're in it (PARK); 25A: Districts (ZONES); 26A: Pantheon site (ROME); 30A: New Englander (YANKEE); 32A: Begin to use, as resources (TAP); 33A: Just so (NEAT); 34A: Most violent (GORIEST); 35A: __ de corps (ESPRIT); 38A: Caravan stopovers (OASES); 43A: Trevi Fountain coin count? (TRE); 48A: Having just seen a ghost, maybe (PALE); 49A: Mechanical connectors, half the time (MALES); 50A: Jumping contest entrants (FROGS); 52A: __ du jour: bistro special (PLAT); 53A: Hundreds of wks. (YRS.); 54A: Cavalry blade (SABER); 55A: "I've __ thinking ..." (BEEN); 56A: Venezia's land (ITALIA); 58A: Feed store? (SILO); 59A: Alpine mont (BLANC); 60A: Managing (COPING); 61A: Acts of faith? (LEAPS); 68A: Like urban populations (DENSE); 69A: In __ and out ... (ONE EAR); 71A: Pottery ovens (KILNS); 72A: Frankenstein aide (IGOR); 74A: Throw a feast for (REGALE); 75A: Data transfer unit (BAUD); 76A: Odessa's home (TEXAS); 78A: "Like that's gonna happen!" ("HAH!"); 82A: 1936 Olympics champ (OWENS); 84A: Simple fellow (SIMON); 85A: Seat of Hawaii County (HILO); 86A: Plebe's denial (NO SIR); 88A: Some hangings (ART); 91A: Asian menu assurance (NO MSG); 93A: Musical "don't play" (TACET); 94A: "Very well" ("SO BE IT"); 95A: Disconnects (HANGS UP); 98A: Knot, as of hair (HANK); 99A: Bi- plus one (TRI-); 100A: Justice of the peace customer (ELOPER); 108A: Big butte (MESA); 109A: "Enough already!" ("I GIVE!"); 111A: Dig find, perhaps (TOOL); 112A: Part of a TV signal (AUDIO); 113A: Constantly (EVER); 115A: Command after "Oops!" (UNDO); 116A: Touches the tarmac (LANDS); 117A: Brooding place (NEST); 118A: Soup scoop (LADLE); 119A: Thorn in one's side (PEST); 120A: Cut drastically (SLASH); 1D: Harvester's haul (CROP); 2D: Northern Arizona native (HOPI); 3D: Farmer's helpers (OXEN); 4D: Sound right (RING TRUE); 5D: Lose heart (DESPAIR); 6D: Armchair QB's channel (ESPN); 7D: Men-only affair (STAG); 8D: Field shield (TARP); 9D: Hot Springs National Park state (ARKANSAS); 10D: Tribute and Miata (MAZDAS); 11D: It might have a nut at each end (U-BOLT); 12D: Sans companions (LONE); 13D: Digital watch abbr. (TUE); 14D: Dress shop compliment (IT'S YOU); 16D: Draw forth (EVOKE); 17D: Emulates a horse whisperer (TAMES); 18D: Frozen drops (SLEET); 28D: Most favorable (OPTIMAL); 29D: Scout's good work (DEED); 31D: Mezzo's moment (ARIA); 34D: Sportscaster Gumbel (GREG); 35D: See from afar (ESPY); 36D: Wound remnant (SCAR); 37D: Campaign vets (POLS); 38D: Eye impolitely (OGLE); 40D: Mile High athlete (BRONCO); 42D: Mover and shaker (NABOB); 43D: Exit poll indication (TREND); 45D: Exhausted (ALL IN); 46D: Gully fillers (RAINS); 47D: Frontier transport (STAGE); 50D: What the dauntless lack (FEARS); 51D: [Quoted verbatim] ([SIC]); 54D: Rope fiber (SISAL); 55D: Needing spicing (BLAND); 57D: Ruckuses (TO-DOS); 59D: High 80s, roughly (B-PLUS); 61D: "Space Cowboys" actor __ Dean (LOREN); 62D: Start of a new año (ENERO); 63D: Tutelage (AEGIS); 65D: "La Dolce Vita" actress (EKBERG); 66D: Beanstalk menace (GIANT); 67D: President who appeared on "Laugh-In" (NIXON); 73D: Rap genre (GANGSTA); 76D: Scrabble piece (TILE); 77D: Throw off (EMIT); 78D: Expand the staff (HIRE); 79D: Cathedral voices (ALTI); 80D: Baseball Hall of Famer Wilhelm (HOYT); 83D: Slender-bodied stinger (WASP); 84D: Silently endure difficulty, in slang (SUCK IT UP); 85D: Chronic (HABITUAL); 87D: Greeted the judge (ROSE); 89D: "Atlas Shrugged" author (RAND); 90D: Internet gateways (PORTALS); 92D: Spark in a bookshop (MURIEL); 93D: "Thy Neighbor's Wife" author (TALESE); 95D: Studly sorts (HE-MEN); 96D: Naproxen brand (ALEVE); 97D: Small victory margins (NOSES); 98D: Crude abode (HOVEL); 101D: Zipped (HIED); 102D: Zip (NONE); 103D: Pantheon figures (GODS); 104D: Conspiracy theorist's subject (PLOT); 105D: "Show Boat" author Ferber (EDNA); 106D: Clears (of) (RIDS); 107D: Small snack (NOSH).

SUNDAY, September 20, 2009Bonnie L. Gentry and Victor Fleming

Theme: "Signs of Burnout" — Theme answers are familiar phrases with the word ash hidden in them.

[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 answers:

• 23A: Dramatic device about which Hamlet says "The play's the thing ..." (SHOW WITHIN A SHOW).
• 37A: Kindness simile (SWEET AS HONEY).
• 53A: Rare key in which a section of Chopin's "Polonaise Fantaisie" is written (A SHARP MINOR).

• 72A: World Series of Poker Main Event game (TEXAS HOLD 'EM).
• 87A: California's first lady (MARIA SHRIVER).
• 105A: Open one's law office, say (HANG OUT A SHINGLE).
• 17D: Easily become angered (HAVE A SHORT FUSE).
• 46D: 2000 Martin Lawrence/Nia Long comedy (BIG MOMMA'S HOUSE).
• 80A: Sign of burnout hidden in eight puzzle answers (ASH).

Crosswordese 101: Sometimes ETA is clued as the 7th letter of the Greek alphabet, and others it's clued as it is today, as the abbreviation for Estimated Time of Arrival (10D: In-flight approx.). The only really tricky thing about this answer is that ETA and ETD (Estimated Time of Departure) are clued the same way. Unfortunately, you just have to check the cross to know for sure which one you need. What you're looking for in a clue for both ETA and ETD is a reference to flight (plane, pilot, captain, cockpit, airport) and an abbreviation clue (sometimes it's the airport code that serves as the abbreviation clue — not surprisingly, the LAT often uses LAX).

Stuff that jumped out at me today:

• 29A: Star responsible for eclipsing Venus? (SERENA). Were you tricked by this? Or is it soon enough after the U.S. Open that you got it right away?
• 30A: North Carolina university (ELON). Not to be confused with England's ETON, which also appears in crosswords quite a bit.
• 44A: Ed who wrote "87th Precinct" novels (MCBAIN). If you say so.
• 49A: Territory that became two states (DAKOTA). Cleverly named North Dakota and South Dakota. South Dakota is the one with Mt. Rushmore. North Dakota is the one with ... nothing.
• 59A: H-bomb trial, e.g. (N-TEST). Is there a difference between an N-TEST, an A-test and an H-test?
• 61A: Lunar Asian holiday (TET). Remember when we covered this in CW101?

• 66A: Big name in nonstick cookware (T-FAL). I originally entered K-FAL. I think I was thinking of K-Fed. Which is weird because I never do that.
• 67A: It starts with enero (AÑO). Big, big controversy about this little word in crossword constructor circles. Some maintain that Ñ is a completely different letter than N and should not be used. Others say, we use letters with diacritical marks all the time, so what's the diff? Well, in this case the word with and without the tilde are very different words. Año means year and ano means a part of the anatomy that is not appropriate to talk about here. It's a family show, people.
• 90A: Letters before a trade name (DBA). Stands for Doing Business As.
• 94A: "The Mod Squad" role (LINC). Loved this show when I was a kid. This was on around the same time as Room 222, if I remember correctly.
  
  


• 109A: Instrument shaker at the end of a minstrel troupe (MR. TAMBO). Just learned this recently when MR. BONES showed up in a New York Times puzzle and Rex explained it all over at his blog. I seem to recall that older folks got this answer quite easily and the younger ones were clueless.
• 111A: Bridge bid, briefly (ONE NO). I don't play bridge, but I think this means "one no trump." Any bridge players out there?
• 15D: Jazzman known as "Fatha" (HINES). Interesting! Usually we see Fatha in the grid instead of in the clue.

• 39D: Blue Moon of '60s-'70s baseball (ODOM). He was a good player, but the most interesting thing I could find about him is his name.
• 41D: "Gymnopédies" composer (SATIE). We covered him a couple months ago in CW101.
• 49D: Jerk (DOPE). Jerk and dope have two completely different meanings to me, but it was easy enough to get the answer anyway.
• 65D: Elec. letters (AC/DC).



• 84D: Torn off forcibly (AVULSED). Pretty sure I've never seen this word before. I'm guessing it's totally fair though.
• 89D: Gymnast Mary Lou of Olympics fame (RETTON). I believe she was the first female athlete to be featured on a Wheaties box.

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Everything Else — 1A: Deferred payment at the bar (RAN A TAB); 8A: Flies over Africa? (TSE-TSES); 15A: Alternatives to Twinkies (HOHOS); 20A: "Cool!" (AWESOME); 21A: Upgrades the factory (RETOOLS); 22A: Pocatelloís state (IDAHO); 25A: Work of fiction (NOVEL); 26A: Type sizes (PICAS); 27A: Made, as a basket (WOVE); 28A: Soak (up) (SOP); 31A: Pick (SELECT); 33A: Pandora's boxful (ILLS); 35A: Missile's path (ARC); 36A: Site of an impromptu nap (DEN); 40A: "... so long __ both shall live?" (AS YE); 41A: Extends across (SPANS); 42A: Line of bushes (HEDGE); 43A: Regal initials (HRH); 47A: Loving: Prefix (PHILO-); 52A: Highest class (ELITE); 57A: Grammar school basics, briefly (RRR); 58A: Kelly's co-host (REGIS); 60A: Back of the neck (NAPE); 62A: Broadway auntie (MAME); 63A: Concerning (ANENT); 64A: Enjoy a hot tub (BATHE); 68A: Sch. near the Rio Grande (UTEP); 69A: Peru's __ Picchu (MACHU); 70A: Unrefined oil (CRUDE); 71A: Suffix with real (-ISM); 75A: Gets licked (LOSES); 76A: Put down (DEMEAN); 78A: Prefix meaning "spiral" (HELIC); 79A: Fizzles (out) (PETERS); 81A: "__ fired!" (YOU'RE); 83A: Vaughan of jazz (SARAH); 85A: Siberian metropolis (OMSK); 93A: "Well, __-di-dah" (LAH); 95A: Ready to be driven (TEED UP); 96A: "Buenos __" (DIAS); 97A: Dangerous compound in Agent Orange (DIOXIN); 99A: General Arnold of WWII (HAP); 102A: PC key below Shift (CTRL); 103A: Frenzied (MANIC); 104A: Vertical (PLUMB); 108A: Chorus platform (RISER); 110A: Made of clay (EARTHEN); 112A: Black Sea port dweller (ODESSAN); 113A: Unemotional (DRY-EYED); 1D: Spoke like Don Corleone (RASPED); 2D: Not long, timewise (AWHILE); 3D: Recent rightist (NEOCON); 4D: Nile dam site (ASWAN); 5D: Hauls to the shop (TOWS); 6D: "Who __ to argue?" (AM I); 7D: ___ a rock and a hard place (BETWEEN); 8D: Hot-dish holder (TRIVET); 9D: Iroquois Confederacy member (SENECA); 11D: Throw easily (TOSS); 12D: Trendy London area (SOHO); 13D: Marrying on the sly (ELOPING); 14D: Cincinnati-to-Nashville dir. (SSW); 16D: Febreze target (ODOR); 18D: Short story writer known for irony (O. HENRY); 19D: Comforting words (SOLACE); 24D: Green targets (HOLES); 29D: Conniving (SLY); 31D: Ballet bird (SWAN); 32D: Rock concert memento (T-SHIRT); 34D: 1862 Bull Run victor (LEE); 37D: Undercover agents (SPIES); 38D: Lend a hand (HELP); 40D: Subject of Indiana Jones's quest (ARK); 43D: Fabled napper (HARE); 44D: Disney's Ariel, e.g. (MERMAID); 45D: Make pure (CLEANSE); 47D: Fen-__: withdrawn diet-drug combo (PHEN); 48D: Dost possess (HAST); 50D: One staying afloat in place (TREADER); 51D: Lacking guile (ARTLESS); 53D: Building addition (ANNEX); 54D: First instruction (STEP A); 55D: Words before black or red (IN THE); 56D: Book after Micah (NAHUM); 63D: "... two fives for __?" (A TEN); 64D: Island east of Java (BALI); 66D: Marriage promise (TROTH); 68D: Bonneville Flats state (UTAH); 69D: Harass (MOLEST); 70D: Fair, in forecasts (CLEAR); 73D: Feng __ (SHUI); 74D: Wife of Zeus (HERA); 77D: Alas. native (ESK.); 79D: Scrub up, say (PREP); 81D: PBS chef Martin (YAN); 82D: Fruit tree grouping (ORCHARD); 83D: Libya's Gulf of __ (SIDRA); 85D: Veteran (OLD PRO); 86D: Submit with a stamp (MAIL IN); 87D: Hr. part (MIN.); 88D: Queen of Troy (HECUBA); 90D: Lake fisherman's boat (DINGHY); 91D: Receiver of property, in law (BAILEE); 92D: Climb (ASCEND); 94D: Book, in Bologna (LIBRO); 96D: Beatrice's admirer (DANTE); 98D: Mutant superhero group of comics (X-MEN); 100D: Kitty starter (ANTE); 101D: Annual major golf tournaments played in August, familiarly (PGAS); 103D: Boglike (MIRY); 105D: Med. care group (HMO); 106D: Mantric sounds (OMS); 107D: Guffaw syllable (HAR).

WEDNESDAY, May 20, 2009—Bonnie L. Gentry

THEME: "Breaking Up Is Not So Hard To Do After All"— Three phrases contain the hidden word UP, broken in half across words

There've been plenty of crossword themes involving hidden words split among the words in a phrase, but how many of them mandate phrases that include words ending in U? Not so many. And how often is the first square in the puzzle filled with a V? Not much of the time, so crossing VALID (1A: Still in force) with VAMP (1D: Seductress) felt fresh. The theme contains just two 10's and two 13's, leaving wiggle room for Bonnie to include a cool dozen 7- and 8-letter answers in the fill.

You know what happened to this constructor one time? Even though she includes that middle initial in her byline to help set herself apart from singer Bobbie Gentry, an NYT crossword credited Bonnie as Bobbie. Here's the other Ms. Gentry singing "Ody to Billy Joe":



Crosswordese 101: Sure, ERTÉ the Harper's Bazaar artist (19A) is in the puzzle, but Rex covered him on April 27. So we move on to REA (55D: Stephen of "Citizen X). Stephen REA first became semi-famous among Americans when he was in The Crying Game. The Irish actor's other clueable movies include V for Vendetta, Michael Collins, Romeo and Me, Still Crazy, and In Dreams. Given the L.A. Times's Hollywood slant, it seems that REA almost always gets clued with actor Stephen, but N.Y. Times clues for REA have mentioned the phrase mens rea (criminal intent), New Yorker cartoonist Rea Irvin, and CNN's Rea Blakey.

Theme answers:

• 17A: Pancake-wrapped Chinese dish is MOO SHU PORK.
  
• 23A: More food. Peppered entree is STEAK AU POIVRE. It was way too short, but I still wanted STEAK DIANE here. (DIANE, it turns out, was lurking below as 59A: "Cheers" waitress.)
  
• 46A: Judge's query after charges are read clues "HOW DO YOU PLEAD?" This has legal echoes with two other answers: 6A: Serve with a summons (CITE) and 14A: O'Connor's successor (ALITO).
  
• 54A: BREAKING UP is clued with 54A: Disbanding, and a literal hint to the hidden theme in 17-, 23- and 46-Across.

An olio of answers and clues:

• 15A: Partly revitalized sea (ARAL). Hey! It's coming back! After all these years of "shrinking sea" clues, the Aral Sea (an inland sea) is partly revitalized.
  
• 29A: Knotty and twisted (GNARLED). Gotta love a silent G.
  
• 3D: Pride's quarters (LIONS DEN).
  
• 6D: "RUR" playwright (CAPEK). Karel Čapek was a Czech writer, and R.U.R. is short for "Rossum's Universal Robots." Čapek coined the word "robot."
  
• 12D: Old explosive device (PETARD). I beseech you, do not get hoist by your own petard.
  
• 24D: Suffers humiliation (EATS CROW). Great colloquial answer here.

Everything Else — 10A: Gullible sorts (SAPS); 16A: Chart with ancestors (TREE); 20A: Transportation secretary under Clinton (PEÑA); 21A: Nickelodeon dog (REN); 22A: Father of Paris (PRIAM); 27A: Goodyear offering (RADIAL); 30A: Sound from a nest (TWEET); 31A: Fill with bubbles (AERATE); 32A: Dusk, in verse (E'EN); 33A: "Uncle" with a red bow tie (SAM); 35A: Lyricist Gershwin (IRA); 36A: "Little Red Book" writer (MAO); 39A: In need of aspirin (ACHING); 41A: Court sport, for short (B-BALL); 43A: Italian innkeeper (PADRONE); 45A: Bent, as to show off a muscle (FLEXED); 48A: Good __: fixed (AS NEW); 49A: Cup with crumpets (TEA); 50A: Mild reproofs (TUTS); 53A: Climb, as a tree (SHIN); 57A: Work at the bar (TEND); 58A: Cougar maker, briefly (MERC); 60A: Work measures (ERGS); 61A: Laundry (WASH); 62A: "No surprise to me" (IKNEW); 2D: Facial tissues additive (ALOE); 4D: Shout evoked by a dead heat (IT'S A TIE); 5D: 2001 OED addition that cites "The Simpsons" (D'OH); 7D: When forging started (IRON AGE); 8D: Road-surfacing goo (TAR); 9D: Fraternal society member (ELK); 10D: More than just clean (STERILE); 11D: Get there (ARRIVE); 13D: Teacher's note next to an F (SEE ME); 18D: Eurasian boundary river (URAL); 22D: Like laptops (PORTABLE); 25D: Strip, as a ship (UNRIG); 26D: Early late-night host (PAAR); 27D: I-80, e.g. (RTE); 28D: Astound (AWE); 31D: Protein building block, for short (AMINO); 34D: "Hey!" to a mate (AHOY); 36D: Title character who "returns" in a Neil Simon title (MAX DUGAN); 37D: Brewpub order (ALE); 38D: Antiquated (OLD); 39D: Numbers to be summed, in math (ADDENDS); 40D: Spays (NEUTERS); 42D: '50s-'60s counterculturist (BEATNIK); 43D: More swanky (POSHER); 44D: Storefront shade (AWNING); 45D: Harsh criticism (FLAK); 46D: Waste maker? (HASTE); 47D: Georgia's state fruit (PEACH); 51D: Do some piano maintenance (TUNE); 52D: Emulate a geyser (SPEW); 54D: 5 Series automaker (BMW); 56D: Infamous Amin (IDI).

THURSDAY, March 26, 2009 — Bonnie L. Gentry

THEME: "Of all the...!" — Four familiar phrases begin with a word meaning gall or presumptuousness.


Day Four of this new enterprise and you haven't run for the hills yet. So far I'm having a blast and I really appreciate you all hanging out with us over here! So let's get right to it.

Crosswordese 101: I think I'm gonna have to go with UMA Thurman for today. In a lot of early-week puzzles, an UMA clue will give you her last name making her pretty easy to figure out. Later in the week, it helps to know some of the movies she's been in: "Gattaca," "Kill Bill," "The Avengers," "Dangerous Liaisons," and "Pulp Fiction" are the most popular. I didn't realize until today that she was in "The Producers." It also helps to know that she was married to Ethan Hawke at one time. And you want to be sure you don't get her confused with UTA Hagen, a Tony award–winning actress and acting teacher who is sometimes clued as the author of Respect for Acting or A Challenge for the Actor. Hagen also appeared on the soap opera "One Life to Live" and, at one time, apparently had an affair with Paul Robeson. That doesn't usually come up in the puzzle though.

Theme Answers:

• 21A: Operational headquarters (nerve center)
• 26A: Classy office door adornment (brass nameplate)
• 46A: 2006 political best-seller, with "The" (Audacity of Hope)
• 52A: Beside one another (cheek by jowl)

Cute theme. I figured it out once I got BRASS and AUDACITY. What I need to remember is that no matter how many times I check the top of an LAT puzzle on a weekday, there will never be a title up there to help me figure out the theme. I don't know why I keep trying that.

Before we get to the rest of the puzzle, I think we're going to have to spend a few moments on 30D: Punish with a fine — MULCT. Seriously? Mulct? Who has ever heard that word? It gets 263,000 Google hits and the first several pages of results consists of dictionary sites. Not a good sign. It means, well ... it means "punish with a fine," so I guess I can't really argue with the clue but ... mulct?? I don't know what else to say.

Stuff:

• 15A: Decisive refusal (never) — I had the "N" and entered no way, which slowed things down for me quite a bit in this section.
• 19A: _____ dixit (ipse) — Another Latin phrase to add to your list. I'm sure PuzzleMom will be along shortly to tell us what it means.
• 38A: Ma for one (cellist) — Yo-Yo Ma. Loved him on "The West Wing."
  



• 41A: Rx writers (MDs) — The abbreviation in the clue indicates that the answer will also be an abbreviation. In this case, it could be either MDs or DRs so I waited for the crosses.
• 44A: "Proud Mary" band, for short (CCR) — Creedence Clearwater Revival. And sometimes they just come right out and tell you the answer will be an abbreviation. Here's another version of this great song.
  



• 45A: Pond problem (scum) — Ewwwwww.
• 51A: Corp. that once owned Hertz and Hilton (UAL) — And the abbreviation in the clue means .... ? The answer will be an abbreviation too. Yes! You're getting the hang of it now! UAL Corporation is an airline holding company that was incorporated as part of a reorganization of United Airlines. The corporation owned Hilton and Hertz for about five years in the 1980s.
• 63A: Irish Free State successor (Éire) — Ireland was called "The Irish Free State" (or, in Irish, "Saorstát Éireann") until 1937. Since 1937, Ireland has had two "official" languages — English and Irish — so the two official names of the state are Ireland and Éire. Another name for Ireland you want to remember is Erin, which is a common poetic name. If you want to read a little more about this to help cement it in your mind, go here.

• 64A: Prefix with tasse (demi) — For some reason I can never remember if this word has to do with coffee or bras. ... Oh, I see. Demi is French for half. A demitasse is a small cup used to serve espresso, and a demi bra is a half-cup bra style with wide-set straps. Alrighty then. Mystery solved.
• 68A: "Roots" Emmy winner (Asner) — Yeah, Ed Asner. Lou Grant. Same guy.
• 1D: "I Kid You Not" author (Paar) — Jack Paar, the original host of "The Tonight Show." I can Never remember if his name is spelled Paar or Parr and usually wait for crosses. "I kid you not" was a catchphrase of Paar's. Did Johnny Carson use it as well? I think I can hear Carson saying it and I don't believe I've ever even seen Jack Paar.
  
• 4D: Little butter? (kid) — Ooh, penalty flag! I just noticed that the word kid is in both a clue and an answer. We're going to need a ruling from Orange. Raise your hand if you initially entered pat for this one. I thought so. Me too. But the question mark indicates that we need to look at these words in a non-obvious way. So, instead of remembering what you put on your toast this morning, you realize that butt can be a verb and think of an animal known for butting. That would be a goat. And a little goat is a ... KID. See how that works?
• 7D: Tel _____-Yafo (Aviv) — I have no idea what this means. Hold on .... According to Wikipedia, "In April 1949, Tel Aviv and Jaffa were united in the single municipality of Tel Aviv-Yafo...." It's true: you learn something new Every. Single. Day.
• 12D: _____-majesty (lese) — In French, lèse-majesté. A crime against a sovereign power (such as treason).
• 24D: Submissions to eds. (MSs) — MS is the abbreviation for manuscript, which is something you might submit to an ed(itor).
  
• 28D: "Illmatic" rapper (Nas) — We talked about Ice-T and Dr. Dre a couple days ago. Add Nas to that list. He turns up occasionally and "Illmatic" is the name of his debut album.

• 38D: Louisiana Territory explorer (Clark) — Showing once again my complete ignorance of American history, I was thinking LaSalle? DeSoto? No idea. It's unfair to put Clark in there without Lewis!
• 40D: Sellout initials (SRO) — Standing Room Only.
• 52D: Musical conclusion (coda) — Not sure why, but I love this word.
• 60D: Jared of "American Psycho" (Leto) — I've seen this guy's name in the puzzle before but don't know who he is, so I went to look for a picture. I think he looks like John Stamos but I'll let you judge for yourself.
  



• 63D: It sometimes needs a boost (ego) — A lot of times when you see a clue about a boost, a stroke, or a trip, you should be thinking EGO.

There are a lot of other cool and interesting words in this puzzle, but I just can't get to everything! So don't forget to leave a comment. You know you want to.

Everything Else — 1A: Alp top (PEAK); 5A: Sounding shocked (AGASP); 10A: Looking shocked (PALE); 14A: A8 manufacturer (AUDI); 16A: Double-click, maybe (OPEN); 17A: In need of irrigation (ARID); 18A: Lacking skepticism (NAIVE); 19A: __ dixit (IPSE); 20A: Ocean delicacy (ROE); 25A: Estrangement (RIFT); 33A: Lends a hand (AIDS); 34A: "It's so __!" (YOU); 35A: Make up (for) (ATONE); 37A: Clavell's "__-Pan" (TAI); 42A: 1943 penny metal (STEEL); 50A: __ school (GRAD); 58A: E-mail cackle (LOL); 61A: Masseur's stock (OILS); 62A: Stag (ALONE); 65A: Andes herd animal (LLAMA); 66A: Pesky biter (GNAT); 67A: Part of WNBA: Abbr. (ASSN); 69A: Capital south of Lillehammer (OSLO); 2D: 100 cents (EURO); 3D: Part of "The Sound of Music" farewell song (ADIEUADIEU); 5D: Author Rice (ANNE); 6D: Transmission component (GEAR); 8D: Harsh (SEVERE); 9D: Rain, briefly (PRECIP); 10D: Indicate (POINTAT); 11D: PDA entry (APPT); 13D: Fed. power dept. (ENER); 22D: Key of Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 1 (EFLAT); 26D: Upside-down sleepers (BATS); 27D: It's twirled in a rodeo (RIATA); 28D: PBS's science guy (NYE); 29D: IM offerer (AOL); 31D: Gin cocktail (TOMCOLLINS); 32D: Become, finally (ENDUP); 36D: Salinger dedicatee (ESME); 39D: Needing salt, perhaps (ICY); 43D: Enters stealthily (EDGESIN); 45D: '50s oldies syllable (SHA); 47D: Secret doctrine (CABALA); 48D: Tennyson works (IDYLLS); 49D: Eye or ear ending (FUL); 53D: Hurries (HIES); 54D: Street liners (ELMS); 55D: Rocker Jett (JOAN); 56D: "My treat" (ONME); 57D: Deterioration (WEAR); 59D: Like the Sabin vaccine (ORAL).