SATURDAY, May 22, 2010—Victor Fleming

THEME: No theme today—It's a themeless puzzle, just like every other Saturday.

With a 4:20 solving time for me, I'll rate this puzzle a bit tougher than the average Saturday L.A. Times crossword.

I'll walk you through the puzzle now, focusing mostly on my favorite parts:

• 1a. [McCarthy era phenomenon] is the RED SCARE. Wouldn't it be awesome to use that clue for an answer like BUDDY HOLLY?
• 17a. The clue [1985 John Irving best-seller] is missing with "The". With or without The, CIDER HOUSE RULES looks good in the grid. 1985? Holy cow. I still think of this as one of Irving's more recent novels.
• 20a. I like this clue. Yes, CUTENESS is a [Baby's asset]. Without said asset, the human race might've died out eons ago. If you're going to disrupt my sleep for months, you'd damn well better be cute.
• 30a. [Rested] clues TOOK FIVE, a solidly idiomatic phrase. I got addled by a wrong crossing. For 23d: [Show approval, or disapproval], I had RATE instead of the correct RAVE. (One raves about good things but gets raving mad about terrible ones.)
• 35a. This clue is misleading. [Frequent saver] is a GOALIE? As if. If I were the goalie, I assure you the saves would be infrequent.
• 42a. HOME STRETCH is perhaps my favorite answer today. [It's right before the end].
• 53a. AN ERA completes ["Corporations have been enthroned and ___ of corruption in high places will follow": Lincoln]. Good old Abe knew whereof he spoke.
• 54a. One [Cryptozoologist's subject] is the LOCH NESS MONSTER. Another is the yeti. Imagine my surprise when I drove past a store that had gone out of business and saw its name: Yeti Boutique.
• 8d. [They're not wild] isn't about untamed beasts, it's about EDUCATED GUESSES.
• 27d. [It's sold in bars] clues OLEO. "Barkeep! Double oleo, neat."
• 29d. The only reason I know that a [Paving stone] is sometimes called a SETT is because that word's been in crosswords before. It's too rare to count as crosswordese, I think. Luckily, all four crossings are more common, which should take the guesswork out of SETT. You won't see this entry before Saturday.
• 34d. FRESHEN UP is another great in-the-language phrase. [Shower and change, say] pretty much covers it.
• 56d. [Where "Shazbot!" is a curse] is ORK, as in the planet in Mork and Mindy. Ah, that takes me back to my tween years.

And now, a roundup of the less savory filling:

• 6d. [Sports fig.] clues ATH., short for "athlete," rather than some sort of statistic.
• 12d. [Everyone, in Essen] is ALLE. People seem to grumble when there are German words in the grid. (Me, I like 'em because I studied German.)
• 13d. [Suburban followers?] is a cute clue for a plural suffix, -ITES.
• 31d. Boring ONE-A is clued as [Service rank], which makes it sound like a military rank (along the lines of CPL, SGT, COL, MAJ) rather than a draft classification.
• 32d. Sure, a partial like OF AN is not great fill. But I do like the clue: ["Confessions __ English Opium-Eater": 1821 De Quincey work]. Are any of you opium-eaters? No? How about lotus-eaters? Anyone?
• 35d. GOT AT isn't so easy to put in a natural-sounding sentence in the past tense. The clue is [Touched], but I feel like "getting at" is more about implying. Dictionary tells me "get at" also means "reach" and "bribe." "I crawled under the car and GOT AT the damaged muffler"—that works, right?

• 41d. ["Life With Father" co-star Leon] AMES is no longer a household name. There was a guy in my college dorm who always called me "Ames." I'm still surprised no one else ever has.
• 45d. If you haven't encountered James ENSOR, the ["Christ's Entry Into Brussels in 1889" artist], in crosswords, you probably haven't run into him anywhere else. He had a decidedly macabre bent, with skeletons playing a prominent part in his art. Check out his work, and then he won't be an obscure entry anymore. (Advice: Belgian artist, 5 letters, your answer will invariably be ENSOR.)
• 51d. [Plasm lead-in] is the prefix ECTO-.

I usually don't know any current songs. My pop music fluency ended in about 1984. But now! I have a new favorite song, "Tightrope" by Janelle Monáe. It sounds great, and the video is captivating. The only relevance this video has to the crossword is that if the singer hits the big time, you might start seeing MONAE in the grid. Why, that name is 60% vowels! And her first name makes a good 7-letter entry, as the last 6 letters are super-common.



Crosswordese 101: ARETE is standard crosswordese with a lengthy pedigree. It means 9d: [Narrow ridge], meaning a sharp mountain ridge. Learn it, because it's not going anywhere.

Everything Else — 9A: Trysting relationship (AFFAIR); 15A: Flattered, in a way (IMITATED); 16A: Grand Canal span (RIALTO); 19A: Architect Saarinen (ELIEL); 21A: Goes back (RETROGRADES); 24A: "Shucks!" ("RATS!"); 25A: Displays, with "out" (TROTS); 36A: Medical malpractice issue (INFORMED CONSENT); 38A: Naval construction worker (SEABEE); 39A: Garden entrance component, perhaps (GATE POST); 40A: Beefy-T maker (HANES); 41A: A psychic may see one (AURA); 49A: Goes before (PRECEDES); 57A: Celebrate a promotion, maybe (EAT OUT); 58A: Grin measure? (EAR TO EAR); 59A: Shows exhaustion (DROOPS); 60A: Aviation pioneer (SIKORSKY); 1D: Sous chef's gadget (RICER); 2D: '60s boxing champ Griffith (EMILE); 3D: Finished the job (DID IT); 4D: Guide (STEER); 5D: Swindler Ponzi, at birth (CARLO); 7D: Popular '20s auto (REO); 10D: Early Ford supplier (FIRESTONE); 11D: Woodland spirit (FAUN); 14D: 18th-century sewer (ROSS); 18D: Brewski (SUDS); 22D: Ugly buildup (GRIME); 26D: Grating sound (RASP); 28D: Pie containers (TINS); 30D: Mrs. Addams, to Gomez (TISH); 33D: Capital of Hyogo Prefecture (KOBE); 37D: Traffic units (CARS); 43D: "Night Music" playwright (ODETS); 44D: Sought aid from (RAN TO); 46D: Beans of Paris? (TÊTES); 47D: Reason to lubricate (CREAK); 48D: Potter of fiction (HARRY); 49D: Asked in earnest (PLED); 50D: Jungle warning (ROAR); 52D: Half a track sound (CHOO); 55D: It follows April in Paris (MAI).

FRIDAY, May 21, 2010 — Mike Peluso

THEME: Airline puns — familiar two-word phrases from the world of flight are turned into puns and clued "?"-style


Expectations have everything to do with how difficult I think a puzzle is. For instance, I did today's NYT in 7:01 and today's LAT in 5:21, but the former felt (and was, comparatively) blazing fast, where the latter felt like a struggle (though the time is pretty avg. for me). I expect to get kicked around by a Friday NYT, but I expect a Friday LAT to be little different from the rest of the week, i.e. pretty easy. I enjoyed the toughness today, especially when I was done and could see that yes, there was a theme, and it was fairly coherent. I finished up in the SE and needed every single cross for the final theme answer, as I thought I was dealing with PLANET-something. This means the "K" in POCKET (50D: Sink, as a billiard ball) was the last letter in. First letter in: the "A" in ARCED (1A: Like a javelin's path), right off the bat.

Biggest struggle was the NE, where PILATE did not come to me except with much effort. I was not thinking Bible. I was thinking classical literature. Nothing was coming. Nothing. Now that I look back at that section, I realize that I put CHILI'S down quickly (9D: Tex-Mex restaurant chain), and then couldn't do a thing with the Acrosses. This make very little strategic sense, because if I'd simply looked at the Down next to CHILI'S — 10D: Bits of wisdom? (PEARLS) — I would have gotten it instantly and then the CP- would have given me CPLUS (9A: 2.3, roughly) and I'd have been in and out of there quickly. Instead, I abandoned the section and returned to it later. Irritating. I should be more disciplined than that by now.



Never seen KRA (40D: Malay Peninsula's Isthmus of ___), RIVA (39D: 1972 Kentucky Derby winner ___ Ridge), or TSR (64D: Dungeons & Dragons co.) outside of crosswords, and so am not that fond of them as answers. I'm not sure I've ever seen RIVA before today. That "V" was right in the middle of an answer I struggled to get: LIVES ON (44A: Stays in memory). It's a fine clue, but I didn't have many crosses. Knew it was something IN or ON. So I guess that little western section was the second-toughest part of the puzzle today. Isthmus of KRA sounds like someplace Flash Gordon liked to hang out. Oh, and I had RUBY Ridge as the Kentucky Derby winner at first. I was thinking about Ruby Ridge recently, as I was in the Idaho panhandle just last week for my grandma's 90th birthday party. Which reminds me, I made a tribute puzzle for her. I offered it to readers of my other blog, and now I'm offering it to you. Just hit "Print," below, or go here (to Orange's site) to get an AcrossLite/.puz version.
Grandma 2

Theme answers:

• 17A: Capri beach chairs? (ISLE SEATS)
• 25A: Quiz a Roman judge? (TEST PILATE)
• 38A: Affable terriers? (FRIENDLY SKYES)
• 51A: Really dark beers? (BLACK BOCKS)
• 63A: This puzzle's title? (PLANE TALK)

Crosswordese 101: TSR (64D: Dungeons & Dragons co.) — you (and I) may as well commit this one to memory, as it will repeat on you (and me). Originally, TSR stood for Tactical Studies Rules, but that is not going to help you remember it. I'm going to try to remember that it's an inverted alphabetic string. I know it starts with "T," so I can just work from there. You ... do whatever you have to. TSR could stand for Total Social Rejects ... but that's just mean. And I enjoyed D&D for a brief time in my pre-teen years, so I can't fully endorse that mnemonic. And yet it might work for me.

See you Monday.

[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter]

Everything Else — 1A: Like a javelin's path (ARCED); 6A: Balancing pro? (CPA); 9A: 2.3, roughly (C-PLUS); 14A: "The Wreck of the Mary __" (DEARE); 15A: Steak seasoning (RUB); 16A: Picked up (HEARD); 17A: Capri beach chairs? (ISLE SEATS); 19A: Rhythmic feet? (IAMBS); 20A: Faint (DIM); 21A: "The Metaphysics of Ethics" author (KANT); 22A: Camera type, briefly (SLR); 23A: Sailing, say (ASEA); 25A: Quiz a Roman judge? (TEST PILATE); 30A: Play with a brushing motion (STRUM); 32A: Fights in the sticks (RASSLES); 33A: Idealist (DREAMER); 37A: Post-WWII alliance (OAS); 38A: Affable terriers? (FRIENDLY SKYES); 42A: "Who, me?" ("MOI?"); 43A: They're not content to see you (RAISERS); 44A: Stays in memory (LIVES ON); 47A: Greek fabulist (AESOP); 51A: Really dark beers? (BLACK BOCKS); 55A: See 54-Down (REMO); 56A: Golfer's concern (LIE); 57A: Many a Middle Easterner (ARAB); 59A: Tokyo-based chip maker (NEC); 60A: Where to see an approaching train? (ALTAR); 63A: This puzzle's title? (PLANE TALK); 65A: Like a game in baseball's record books (NO-HIT); 66A: Sitcom E.T. (ALF); 67A: Coco rival (ESTEE); 68A: Traveling options (TOURS); 69A: Pin site (MAT); 70A: "Grace Under Fire" star Butler (BRETT); 1D: Puma competitor (ADIDAS); 2D: Put up a fight (RESIST); 3D: Less windy, say (CALMER); 4D: Bard's preposition (ERE); 5D: Certain sergeant's post (DESK); 6D: Rail relative (CRANE); 7D: Uses the "flat stick," in golf (PUTTS); 8D: Workout targets (ABS); 9D: Tex-Mex restaurant chain (CHILI'S); 10D: Bits of wisdom? (PEARLS); 11D: Flight (LAM); 12D: Suffix with sub- (URB); 13D: 1968 Columbia U. protesters (SDS); 18D: Put away (EAT); 22D: Hardly dense (SPARSE); 24D: BMW competitor (AUDI); 26D: Small diamonds (TREYS); 27D: Soothing lotion (ALOE); 28D: Chai and oolong (TEAS); 29D: Mountain road feature (ESS); 31D: Desert Storm mess, briefly? (MRE); 34D: Prepare for court, perhaps (ENROBE); 35D: Town in a 1945 Pulitzer-winning novel (ADANO); 36D: 11th-century year (MLI); 38D: Prevent (FOIL); 39D: 1972 Kentucky Derby winner __ Ridge (RIVA); 40D: Malay Peninsula's Isthmus of __ (KRA); 41D: Belgian river (YSER); 42D: Bud Selig's org. (MLB); 45D: Iced pastry (ECLAIR); 46D: Sidesteps (SKIRTS); 48D: Legislative century (SENATE); 49D: It's folded and filled (OMELET); 50D: Sink, as a billiard ball (POCKET); 52D: __ lily (CALLA); 53D: "Make today delicious" food giant (KRAFT); 54D: With 55-Across, Italian site of a post-WWI Allied conference (SAN); 58D: U.K. network, with "the" (BEEB); 60D: Hill dweller (ANT); 61D: Manchester head? (LOO); 62D: Cal. column (THU.); 63D: Robin's "Mork & Mindy" co-star (PAM); 64D: Dungeons & Dragons co. (TSR).

THURSDAY, May 20, 2010 — Dave Eckert

Theme: Just a Second — Each theme answer is a definition of the word SECONDS.


Theme answers:

• 17A: Seconds (AIDES FOR DUELERS).
• 24A: Seconds (EXTRA HELPINGS).
• 41A: Seconds (INFERIOR GOODS).
• 55A: Seconds (TICKS OF THE CLOCK).

Okay, this is awesome. Congratulations, Dave! For those of you who don't know, Dave Eckert comments here and elsewhere as imsdave and this is his debut puzzle. He told me a couple weeks ago that it was scheduled to run on my blogging day so I've been eagerly awaiting its appearance. And it's great! Really! Very nicely done, Dave.

Some people don't like this type of theme, but I'm a big fan. The argument, I believe, is that the answers aren't stand-alone phrases. But I think if they're inferrable from crosses, it's a nice way to do something a little different now and then. And in this case, Dave snazzed the grid up with a lot of Scrabbly letters which is always welcome. (Look at all those Xs and Ks!)

My solving experience was about what I expect from a Thursday LAT. Not particularly speedy, but steady with no major hang-ups. I finished the puzzle over in the northern California area where ENOKI and XENON crossing IONA were completely hidden until I finally came up with KNEES and that broke the whole section open.

More:

• 5A: Kelly's cohort (REGIS). I went looking for a clip of Dana Carvey doing an impression of Regis, but ended up with this instead (which I think is even better):



• 21A: Privacy metaphor (CLOSET). My first thought was the phrase "coming out of the closet" and I was all, "well, that's about a little more than just privacy" (not that there's anything wrong with that!). Then I realized it's more likely referring to the phrase "skeletons in the closet," which reminds me of Aerosmith's "Toys in the Attic," which sucked me into YouTube for, like, half an hour and I wasn't able to find the Exact Perfect video to post here so it was just a big waste of time. Welcome to my world.
• 22A: Troubled insurance giant (AIG). If by "troubled" you mean … well, I was going to go on and on about crooks and criminals and obscene amounts of money, but then I realized that the whole financial meltdown was really complicated and I don't know enough about it to rant. But you know what? I'm going to go study up on it because I would really like to rant and feel justified.
• 31A: Enjoy New York, say? (READ). I guess this means the magazine New York, which I've never heard referred to as anything but "New York Magazine," even though its name is simply "New York."
• 35A: Received, as a salary (DRAWN). Nice, tricky clue here. I had the N in place and thought the answer would be a two-word phrase ending with "in" or "on."
• 46A: Sound from Sandy (ARF). I believe Sandy is Little Orphan Annie's dog. Anyone?
• 58A: "One for My Baby" composer (ARLEN). I don't know this song but I found this awesome video.



• 3D: "Crimes and Misdemeanors" actor (ALDA). PuzzleHusband had the TV on in the next room the other night and I kept hearing Alan Alda's voice but couldn't figure out what show it was. Then it occurred to me that the only thing I've ever seen him in is M.A.S.H. and The West Wing. How is that possible?

• 11D: Places in la mer (ILES). French!
• 23D: Did in (SLEW).
• 40D: Cinematic opening, but not ending? (SOFT C). Yeah, I fell for it. Was trying to think of a prefix to go with cinematic until it became clear that I had been tricked. Damn you, Dave Eckert! ::shaking fist at sky::

Crosswordese 101: IONA (34A: Isle where Saint Columba died) is a small island in the Inner Hebrides off the western coast of Scotland. It's sometimes clued as a "neighbor" of nearby islands Skye and Mull. For crossword purposes, you also need to know that Macbeth is buried there. About half the time, though, IONA is clued as a college in New Rochelle, New York, whose team is the Gaels. So keep that in mind as well.

P.S. Oh, hey, one last thing. My esteemed colleagues and I have been kicking around an idea for a change on the blog and we've decided to go ahead and make it happen. Starting June 1, Rex and Amy will be retiring from this blog and giving their full attention to their own blogs (and whatever the hell else they feel like doing with their time). So, you're gonna be stuck with me every day. Let's just make the best of it, shall we?

Everything Else — 1A: Thick piece (SLAB); 10A: __ bath (SITZ); 14A: Corduroy feature (WALE); 15A: "West Side Story" role (ANITA); 16A: Flowering succulent (ALOE); 20A: Appreciative (GRATEFUL); 23A: Dry, like some Spanish wine (SECO); 30A: They have caps (KNEES); 32A: Hit hard (RAM); 37A: "See ya" ("TA-TA"); 38A: Ring decision (TKO); 39A: Part owner of Chrysler since 2009 (FIAT); 40A: Nasal spray brand (SINEX); 45A: Env. directive (ATTN); 47A: "Jeopardy!" clue, e.g. (ANSWER); 50A: They may be felt on the range (STETSONS); 57A: Tribe related to the Iowa (OTOE); 59A: Samoan seaport (APIA); 60A: Seats with kneelers (PEWS); 61A: Some designer dresses (DIORS); 62A: Discreet attention-getter (PSST); 1D: Ill-gotten gains (SWAG); 2D: Place to hibernate (LAIR); 4D: Sugar source (BEET); 5D: Weaver's fiber (RAFFIA); 6D: Once, perhaps (ENOUGH); 7D: Madonna's "Material __" (GIRL); 8D: "__ be my pleasure!" (IT'D); 9D: Its home is on the range (SAUCEPAN); 10D: Oater setting (SALOON); 12D: Went like the dickens (TORE); 13D: Citrus peel (ZEST); 18D: Chicago tower builder (SEARS); 19D: 1961 Heston role (EL CID); 24D: Japanese mushroom (ENOKI); 25D: It's a gas (XENON); 26D: Some like it hot (TEA); 27D: Troubadour's Muse (ERATO); 28D: Piano type (GRAND); 29D: Stuffs (SATES); 30D: Frontiersman Carson (KIT); 33D: "Mad __": 1979 Gibson film (MAX); 35D: Rural route (DIRT ROAD); 36D: Showers, e.g. (RAIN); 37D: Uncle, in Uruguay (TIO); 39D: Regales (FETES); 42D: United Kingdom's Guy __ Night (FAWKES); 43D: To a certain extent (RATHER); 44D: Salad makings (GREENS); 47D: Straddling (ATOP); 48D: Evening, informally (NITE); 49D: Harbor vessel (SCOW); 50D: WWII battle site (ST.-LˆO); 51D: Reaction to freshness? (SLAP); 52D: "My bad!" ("OOPS!"); 53D: Mark Harmon TV series (NCIS); 54D: Game using only cards higher than six (SKAT); 56D: Part of T.G.I.F.: Abbr. (FRI.).

WEDNESDAY, May 19, 2010— Don Gagliardo

THEME: "B-B-B-B-Bad to the Bone"—A record-breaking 29 Bs appear in the grid, some of 'em beginning words in the nominal theme entries

Was this one tougher than usual for a weekday LAT puzzle for you? Or is it just me?

The middle answer, B-TWENTY-NINE doesn't have a spelled-out number anywhere but crosswords. Its clue reads 39a: [Enola Gay, e.g. (and a hint to this puzzle's unusual feature)], and you'll note that the clue refers to the puzzle, not to the handful of apparent theme entries. What look like theme entries but are really part of the overall grid-wide theme are these four phrases with B.B. initials:

• 17a. [Trivial Pursuit edition] is BABY BOOMER.
• 27a. [Luxurious soak] is a BUBBLE BATH.
• 53a. [Party recyclable] is a BEER BOTTLE.
• 64a. [Place for low-priority issues] is the BACK BURNER.

The real theme is the sheer number of Bs in the puzzle. The previous record for the most Bs in a 15x15 crossword was 22, according to Barry Haldiman's page, and Don Gagliardo blew that out of the water. He's made a habit of that—he also holds the record for most instances of the letter G (21), K (30), and W (15).

All righty, what else is in this crossword, Bs or otherwise?

• 22a. [i follower] clues POD. With Apple's latest product, the answer could also have been PAD…or MAC, for a less newfangled product.
• 32a. [Très __: very little] clues the French word PEU. I find it works best to hold your thumb and forefinger close together when saying this word. "Un peu."
• 56a. I'm not crazy about [Tongue trouble] as a clue for SLIP. Yes, "slip of the tongue" is a common phrase, but it's hardly ever "tongue trouble" that's responsible. I know, I know—it's not to be taken literally.
• 59a. [Like many dicts.] is ABR., the abbreviation for "abridged." In your dict., you may also encounter the abbrev OBS. (10d. [No longer used, as a word: Abbr.]), short for "obsolete." If you're lucky, your crossword includes words that are common enough to be found even in an abridged dictionary and not marked "obs."
• 3d. A BOBCAT is apparently a [Hare-hunting feline].
• 12d. [Beatles song with "Mother Mary"] is "LET IT BE."

• 13d. And here's ARETHA [Franklin of soul]. Her voice makes my scalp tingle (in a good way).

• 39d. BAKELITE is [Collectible plastic jewelry]. Any of you own some?
• 54d. ["... for there is nothing / either good __, but thinking makes it so": Hamlet] is completed by the partial phrase OR BAD. Who doesn't like a little Shakespeare?

Crosswordese 101: Here are a few reruns: ELY, AGEE, EL AL.

Everything Else — 1A: To the third power (CUBED); 6A: Motorcyclist's hog (BIKE); 10A: Beatles nonsense syllables (OBLA); 14A: "__ Mio" (O SOLE); 15A: Prefix with mensch (UBER-); 16A: Uncle Remus title (BR'ER); 17A: Trivial Pursuit edition (BABY BOOMER); 19A: Download source (SITE); 20A: Pugilists' gp. (WBC); 21A: Give it a shot (TRY); 22A: i follower (POD); 24A: Smidgen (BIT); 25A: Flight to Eilat (EL AL); 27A: Luxurious soak (BUBBLE BATH); 30A: Asian palm (BETEL); 32A: Trés __: very little (PEU); 33A: Word in a Flintstone yell (YABBA); 34A: ISP with chat rooms (AOL); 36A: Gp. that has issued more than 420 million IDs (SSA); 38A: Braves' div. (NLE); 39A: Enola Gay, e.g. (and a hint to this puzzle's unusual feature) (B TWENTY-NINE); 42A: "Phooey!" ("BAH!"); 43A: Ball belle (DEB); 44A: "Pick a number from __ ..." (ONE); 45A: "Idol" success Clay (AIKEN); 47A: Ballot choices (X'ES); 49A: Fiber-rich cereals (BRANS); 53A: Party recyclable (BEER BOTTLE); 56A: Tongue trouble (SLIP); 57A: Show with "Celebrity Jeopardy!" spoofs, briefly (SNL); 58A: Dadaist Jean (ARP); 59A: Like many dicts. (ABR.); 61A: Post-op area (ICU); 62A: Getting the job done (ON IT); 64A: Place for low-priority issues (BACK BURNER); 67A: Moreno with Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards (RITA); 68A: '40s film critic James (AGEE); 69A: Guadalajara "good" (BUENO); 70A: Max of '30s boxing (BAER); 71A: Proof of ownership (DEED); 72A: "The Beverly Hillbillies" star (EBSEN); 1D: Spider's doing (COBWEB); 2D: In working order (USABLE); 3D: Hare-hunting feline (BOBCAT); 4D: Cambridgeshire cathedral town (ELY); 5D: Plastic user's concern (DEBT); 6D: Keep afloat (BUOY UP); 7D: ThinkPad maker (IBM); 8D: Stay active (KEEP BUSY); 9D: Flamboyant Flynn (ERROL); 10D: No longer used, as a word: Abbr. (OBS.); 11D: Like one who can be bought (BRIBABLE); 12D: Beatles song with "Mother Mary" (LET IT BE); 13D: Franklin of soul (ARETHA); 18D: Celestial sight (ORB); 23D: Actress Susan (DEY); 26D: Sofa material (LEATHER); 28D: Safest option (BEST BET); 29D: Pennants (BANNERS); 31D: Like bass notes (LOW); 35D: Headed up (LED); 37D: "I'll take that as __" (A NO); 39D: Collectible plastic jewelry (BAKELITE); 40D: Words clicked to see more (NEXT PAGE); 41D: Bach's "Mass __ Minor" (IN B); 42D: Two-year periods (BIENNIA); 45D: Take in (ABSORB); 46D: Hoops org. (NBA); 48D: Quenched (SLAKED); 50D: Dior skirts (A-LINES); 51D: Christianity's __ Creed (NICENE); 52D: Press forward (SPUR ON); 54D: "... for there is nothing / either good __, but thinking makes it so": Hamlet (OR BAD); 55D: Tidal action (EBB); 60D: Hick (RUBE); 63D: La Brea material (TAR); 65D: Average mark (CEE); 66D: Erase, with "out" (RUB).

TUESDAY, May 18, 2010 — Timothy L. Meaker

Theme: Hippie Slogan, er, I mean, Counterculture Phrase — Starts of the theme answers are a familiar phrase from the 1960s.


Theme answers:

• 20A: Provide some room illumination (TURN ON THE LIGHT).
• 37A: TV promo exhortation (TUNE IN TONIGHT).
• 53A: Disappear from the radar, so to speak (DROP OUT OF SIGHT).
• 66A: Timothy who preached the message found in this puzzle's theme (LEARY)

Wikipedia notes that in his autobiography, Leary explained the phrase:

"Turn on" meant go within to activate your neural and genetic equipment. Become sensitive to the many and various levels of consciousness and the specific triggers that engage them. Drugs were one way to accomplish this end. "Tune in" meant interact harmoniously with the world around you - externalize, materialize, express your new internal perspectives. "Drop out" suggested an elective, selective, graceful process of detachment from involuntary or unconscious commitments. "Drop Out"meant self-reliance, a discovery of one's singularity, a commitment to mobility, choice, and change. Unhappily my explanations of this sequence of personal development were often misinterpreted to mean "Get stoned and abandon all constructive activity."

When it comes to recognizing this phrase, I assume there will be two camps: those on the bus and those off the bus. Me, I'm on the bus. Recognized the phrase right away and actually kind of like the idea. Not so thrilled with the execution though. "TUNE IN TONIGHT"? I guess I've heard that, but "Tune in next week," sounds more familiar. There also seems to be an awful lot of crosswordese in the grid. Highlights of the puzzle for me were NOT SURE (33A: On the fence), which I like for some reason I can't really put my finger on, and SANTAS (1D: December temps). I couldn't stop thinking weather and when the answer finally fell it was a major head-slap moment.

Misc.:

• 6A: Unwanted e-mail (SPAM). What? People don't want email that offers "Today you get 85% Cash-Back visible was It ago Iron"?*
• 16A: Dom Perignon producer, familiarly (MOËT). I can't believe I'm going to admit this, but I always get MOËT confused with MOAB.

• 17A: Grammy winner Jones (NORAH). How many other Grammy winning Joneses are there? Extra points for any whose first name is five letters. I'll start things off with Quincy.
• 41A: Bright spot on a lunar halo (MOON DOG). I've never heard of this. I've never even heard of any of the bands of that name or the Jamie Kittle, "a local celebrity in Northern Kentucky, famous for the catch phrase 'everybody thinks I'm a darn freshman,'" whose stage name is Moondog. (Seriously? "A local celebrity in Northern Kentucky" gets a Wikipedia mention? I guess it's possible to slip anything in there.)
• 58A: Kennedy half, e.g. (COIN). Is it common for a Kennedy half dollar to be referred to as a "Kennedy half"? Is it common for a Kennedy half dollar to be referred to at all?
• 62A: Jeweler Lalique (RENÉ). Now we have to know jewelers? Yeesh!

• 63A: More under the weather (ILLER). The only acceptable context for this word is rap music. Even if you don't think rap is really music, you must agree with me on this one.
• 3D: More than just fear (TERROR). For some reason, PuzzleSon has it in his head that he wants to see "Nightmare on Elm Street." I believe he is familiar with the concept of fear but not TERROR.
• 5D: Manhattan area above Houston Street (NOHO). NOrth of HOuston.
• 10D: Chihuahua gal pal (AMIGA). Chihuahua in this case is the Mexican state, not the dog.
• 21D: Quiet period at day care (NAP TIME). Unfortunately, at the PuzzleHouse, NAP TIME is rarely quiet enough for my taste. ::sigh::

Crosswordese 101: Every once in a while ARGO is clued as a cornstarch brand, but the vast majority of the the times it appears, you're going to see a clue like today's [64A: Golden Fleece ship]. Words you should look out for in clues for ARGO are vessel, craft, ship, Jason, fleece, and Iolcus. Also know that ARGO is a constellation. Wait for it …. In the shape of a ship.

*Actual subject line of an email in my spam folder right now.

Everything Else — 1A: Resolute about (SET ON); 10A: Church recess (APSE); 14A: Wind: Prefix (ANEMO-); 15A: Doily material (LACE); 18A: Gillette razor (ATRA); 19A: College in New Rochelle, N.Y. (IONA); 23A: In the past (AGO); 24A: Monogram of a '50s White House aspirant (AES); 25A: Speedy (RAPID); 27A: "Popcorn" shellfish (SHRIMP); 30A: Conditions (IFS); 32A: Anthem contraction (O'ER); 36A: Really long time (EONS); 40A: Decorative vases (URNS); 42A: Brit's rainwear (MAC); 43A: Hymnals may be found in one (PEW); 44A: Marked down (ON SALE); 48A: Emergency tire (SPARE); 50A: Lab greeting (ARF); 52A: Teachers' org. (NEA); 59A: Resting on (ATOP); 60A: Dote on (ADORE); 61A: Thoreau's Walden __ (POND); 65A: Went lickety-split (SPED); 2D: "Stop!" ("ENOUGH!"); 4D: Arabian Sea nation (OMAN); 6D: Pool table layer (SLATE); 7D: They may be beaten (PATHS); 8D: Farm unit (ACRE); 9D: Cafeteria offering (MEAL); 11D: Express disdain for (POOH POOH); 12D: Conscious (SENTIENT); 13D: Greek vowel (ETA); 22D: 1040-issuing org. (IRS); 26D: AMA members (DRS.); 28D: Holiday buildings? (INNS); 29D: Bartender on "The Simpsons" (MOE); 30D: Red meat nutrient (IRON); 31D: Keep away (FEND OFF); 34D: Winter blanket (SNOW); 35D: __-Aztecan languages (UTO); 36D: Bacon go-with (EGGS); 37D: Hidden way out, maybe (TRAP DOOR); 38D: Hardly sympathetic (UNCARING); 39D: Electrical particle (ION); 40D: Speaker's hesitations (UMS); 43D: Get-up-and-go (PEP); 45D: Zambia neighbor (ANGOLA); 46D: "PBS NewsHour" anchor Jim (LEHRER); 47D: Hash house, e.g. (EATERY); 49D: Sonata movement (RONDO); 50D: Make things right (ATONE); 51D: Blocked (off), as a crime scene (ROPED); 54D: Dory propellers (OARS); 55D: Sun Bowl Stadium coll. team (UTEP); 56D: Go to sea (SAIL); 57D: Goofing off (IDLE); 58D: 22-Down employee (CPA).

MONDAY, May 17, 2010 — Jack McInturff

THEME: Cowboys and their horses ... three theme answers are "Cowboys who rode the end of X-Across" and the other three are phrases that end with the name of the appropriate horse


Sorry, but no time to write this up fully today. Also, no energy, no focus. Still quite jet-lagged and pajama-clad. I don't have much nice to say about this one, so it's probably for the best that I'm saying virtually nothing. Never heard of a SAM CHAMPION (when the hell was this guy a weatherman? When Silver and Trigger were alive? ... whoa, he's the current weatherman! Born 1961. Does anyone watch GMA anymore? I just don't see this guy as crossworthy. No offense.) or FREE SILVER, and didn't know AUTRY rode CHAMPION. These cowboys are all ancient. OTERO EERO OTTOI ugh. I pray Friday will bring more joy.



THEME ANSWERS:

• 17A: Cowboy who rode the end of 25-Across (ROY ROGERS)
• 25A: Sensitive gun-firing mechanism (HAIR TRIGGER)
• 31A: Cowboy who rode the end of 41-Across (LONE RANGER)
• 41A: Anti-gold standard policy that climaxed in the Bryan-McKinley campaign (FREE SILVER) — as if the historical epicenter of this puzzle weren't early enough already with the cowboys. Yeesh.
• 46A: "Good Morning America" weatherman (SAM CHAMPION)
• 58A: Cowboy who rode the end of 46-Across (GENE AUTRY)

Crosswordese 101: OTERO (52D: Alamogordo is its county seat) — not to be confused with another perennial crossword denizen, Cheri OTERI. OTERO is a county in New Mexico. It's also a county in Colorado. I don't know anything else about it, except it has that VCVCV structure that is crossword Gold, and so you're gonna see it, like it or (more likely) not.

See you Friday,

~RP

[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter]

Everything Else — 1A: Diagnostic procedure (SCAN); 5A: Potatoes' partner (MEAT); 9A: Robert Burns and Sean Connery, e.g. (SCOTS); 14A: Inner Hebrides isle (IONA); 15A: Et __: and others (ALII); 16A: Seer's card (TAROT); 17A: Cowboy who rode the end of 25-Across (ROY ROGERS); 19A: Santa __ racetrack (ANITA); 20A: Hustlers (CONMEN); 21A: Underage one (MINOR); 22A: Place to wipe your shoes (MAT); 25A: Sensitive gun-firing mechanism (HAIR TRIGGER); 27A: Three, in Tours (TROIS); 29A: Enero begins it (AÑO); 30A: Early bird's victim (WORM); 31A: Cowboy who rode the end of 41-Across (LONE RANGER); 38A: Pat down, as dirt (TAMP); 39A: Came to (AWOKE); 40A: Flying shore scavenger (ERNE); 41A: Anti-gold standard policy that climaxed in the Bryan-McKinley campaign (FREE SILVER); 43A: Gen-__: post-baby boomers (X'ERS); 44A: One quarter of M (CCL); 45A: 10th-century emperor known as "the Great" (OTTO I); 46A: "Good Morning America" weatherman (SAM CHAMPION); 53A: __ Arbor, Michigan (ANN); 54A: Golf tournament kickoff, often (PRO-AM); 55A: Basketball big man (CENTER); 57A: Acrobat software creator (ADOBE); 58A: Cowboy who rode the end of 46-Across (GENE AUTRY); 62A: Croatian-born physicist Nikola (TESLA); 63A: Always (EVER); 64A: Olin of "Chocolat" (LENA); 65A: Legree-like look (SNEER); 66A: Designer Saarinen (EERO); 67A: Test (EXAM); 1D: Knight's title (SIR); 2D: Whisper sweet nothings (COO); 3D: "__ questions?" (ANY); 4D: Drug cop (NARC); 5D: __ Carta (MAGNA); 6D: Fragrant resin (ELEMI); 7D: Broadcaster (AIRER); 8D: Old-fashioned denial ('TISN'T); 9D: Endurance (STAMINA); 10D: "My turn?" ("CA NI GO NEXT?"); 11D: Round sealing gasket (O-RING); 12D: From head __ (TO TOE); 13D: Ringo of the Beatles (STARR); 18D: Fireworks cries (OOHS); 22D: Workweek sequence: Abbr. (MTWTF); 23D: Like a cheering crowd (AROAR); 24D: Velvet-voiced Mel (TORMÉ); 26D: Harder to find (RARER); 28D: Flawless (IMPECCABLE); 31D: Boxer Ali (LAILA); 32D: "Wise" bird (OWL); 33D: Turkey mo. (NOV.); 34D: __ out a living (EKE); 35D: Reclusive actress Garbo (GRETA); 36D: Bankrupt energy giant (ENRON); 37D: Varnish ingredient (RESIN); 42D: Lay on thick, as cream cheese on a bagel (SCHMEAR); 45D: Fit to serve (ONE-A); 46D: Tiffs (SPATS); 47D: Shakespearean forest (ARDEN); 48D: Maine's state animal (MOOSE); 49D: Fibber or Molly of old radio (MCGEE); 50D: "Pet" irritation (PEEVE); 51D: Kind of tube or ear (INNER); 52D: Alamogordo is its county seat (OTERO); 56D: Occupy the throne (RULE); 59D: Stereotypical cowboy nickname (TEX); 60D: Genetic transmitter: Abbr. (RNA); 61D: Candied veggie (YAM).

SUNDAY, May 16, 2010 — Sylvia Bursztyn

Theme: "Almost Painless" — The letters OW are removed from familiar phrases.

[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 answers:

• 23A: Call from Tweety? (CANARY YELL).
• 25A: Boggy gallerias? (MARSH MALLS).
• 44A: Shakespeare in tears? (WEEPING WILL).
• 61A: Knock down tourists? (FELL TRAVELERS).
• 80A: Visualize a gale? (PICTURE WIND).
• 99A: Launch capsules? (THROW PILLS).
• 101A: Crystal gestures? (BILLY WAVES).
• 36D: Night of Arsenio's family reunion? (ALL HALLS EVE).
• 40D: Suspicious fish? (SHAD OF DOUBT).

Everything Else — 1A: It's game (TAG); 4A: Cooking up (MAKING); 10A: They've got the beat (COPS); 14A: Esau's twin (JACOB); 19A: Bristol brew (ALE); 20A: Pamplona's peninsula (IBERIA); 21A: "Typee" sequel (OMOO); 22A: Plato's marketplace (AGORA); 27A: Cuts out (EXCISES); 28A: "Escales" composer Jacques (IBERT); 30A: "Jaws" island (AMITY); 31A: --- in cat (C AS); 32A: Conspire (PLOT); 33A: Poe's midnight visitor (RAVEN); 35A: Oz creator (BAUM); 37A: More faithful (TRUER); 39A: Took a toll (TAXED); 40A: Retired flier (SST); 43A: Cartoon collectibles (CELS); 46A: "That was close!" ("PHEW!"); 47A: Pepper with missiles (PELT); 48A: Christie or Karenina (ANNA); 49A: Solemn ceremony (RITE); 50A: "Family Circus" cartoonist (KEANE); 51A: Sayings sayer (APHORIST); 53A: Shows a seat? (MOONS); 55A: One under par (BIRDIE); 56A: First name in aviation (AMELIA); 57A: Slip --- (blunder) (A COG); 58A: Conductor Stokowski (LEOPOLD); 59A: Gallaudet U. dept. (ASL); 64A: Tina of "30 Rock" (FEY); 65A: Carrion consumer (VULTURE); 67A: Noah of "ER" (WYLE); 68A: Spoke from a sty (OINKED); 70A: Bean and Welles (ORSONS); 71A: Eliot's Marner (SILAS); 72A: Gorbachev policy (GLASNOST); 75A: Drift (TREND); 76A: Word before Robles or doble (PASO); 77A: Gelatin kin (AGAR); 78A: Enterprise officer (SULU); 79A: Dream, to Vadim (REVE); 83A: Blake's black (EBON); 84A: Check out (EYE); 85A: Active sorts (DOERS); 86A: China's Zhou (ENLAI); 87A: Stake on the table (ANTE); 88A: Bogus (FALSE); 89A: Some evergreens (FIRS); 90A: Langley-based org. (CIA); 91A: British stage great Dame Ellen (TERRY); 93A: Good, to Gomez (BUENO); 95A: Rooming house guest (BOARDER); 104A: Spyri's Swiss miss (HEIDI); 105A: Gist (MEAT); 106A: Beethoven opus (EROICA); 107A: Words before wink (IN A); 108A: Atomic number 54 (XENON); 109A: Paronomasia samples (PUNS); 110A: Coleman of "Nine to Five" (DABNEY); 111A: Fish for a bagel (LOX); 1D: Tic-toe connector (TAC); 2D: Mercury's wings (ALAE); 3D: Boomers' kids (GEN X); 4D: Singer Makeba (MIRIAM); 5D: Vast chasm (ABYSS); 6D: Luke of "Kung Fu" (KEYE); 7D: Ticks off (IRES); 8D: Zip (NIL); 9D: Science legend's last name (GALILEI); 10D: Dancer's teammate (COMET); 11D: Sharif who played Zhivago (OMAR); 12D: Gilbert Stuart specialties (PORTRAITS); 13D: Letters seeking aid (SOS); 14D: In a crush (JAMMED); 15D: From the top (AGAIN); 16D: Stable boy? (COLT); 17D: French hub (ORLY); 18D: Kind of relief (BAS); 24D: Habituate (ACCUSTOM); 26D: Czech Republic's Vaclav (HAVEL); 29D: Leader preceder (BORN); 32D: Insect stage (PUPA); 34D: Auto bar (AXLE); 35D: Pager sound (BEEP); 37D: Pliable (TENSILE); 38D: Enterprise offering (RENTAL); 39D: Sharp pain (TWINGE); 41D: In one's dotage (SENILE); 42D: Collegiately attired (TWEEDY); 43D: Nos. pro (CPA); 44D: Bob Marley's band (WAILERS); 45D: They're on the record (GROOVES); 46D: "Law & Order" quarry (PERP); 50D: Newsstands (KIOSKS); 52D: Pay back (REFUND); 53D: Olympian Retton (MARY LOU); 54D: Sunshine State city (OCALA); 55D: Novelist Malamud (BERNARD); 58D: Crosby hit "Sweet ---" (LEILANI); 59D: " --- "sante"!" (AVOTRE); 60D: "Oklahoma!" carriage (SURREY); 62D: Surprise developments (TWISTS); 63D: Hanks' "Big" keyboard dance partner (LOGGIA); 66D: Firm up (TONE); 69D: Baja port (ENSENADA); 71D: Poirot's exclamation (SACRE BLEU); 73D: Blackthorn fruit (SLOE); 74D: Wine cask (TUN); 76D: Slapstick projectiles (PIES); 77D: Punching tools (AWLS); 80D: Hydra, for one (POLYP); 81D: Horse halter (REIN); 82D: Coated with chocolate (ENROBED); 85D: Natural selection theorist (DARWIN); 87D: Vent (AIRWAY); 88D: Tolkien protagonist (FRODO); 89D: Song and slug enders (FESTS); 90D: "Sleeping Prophet" Edgar (CAYCE); 91D: "America" pronoun (THEE); 92D: One of the Waltons (ERIN); 94D: --- Bator (ULAN); 95D: Steve McQueen movie menace (BLOB); 96D: Ken of "thirtysomething" (OLIN); 97D: Dastardly (EVIL); 98D: Sparks neighbor (RENO); 99D: Letters in a Lucas title (THX); 100D: Little rascal (IMP); 102D: Novelist Levin (IRA); 103D: Woody Herman's woodwind (SAX).

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).

SATURDAY, May 15, 2010—Barry C. Silk

THEME: No theme today—It's a themeless puzzle, just like every other Saturday.

4:06 places this in the difficulty range of a Thursday NYT (or an uncommonly easy themeless Friday NYT).

The grid's got a triple stack of 15s across the middle, crossed by a couple more 15s running down. Those anchor entries are as follows:

• 34A: [Minor league team with a locomotive in one of its logos] are the READING PHILLIES. Barry's a big Philadelphia Phillies fan.
  
• 38A: [He played Will Scarlet in "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves"] clues CHRISTIAN SLATER. Never saw that movie, but he's a cutie.
  
• 39A: [New England setting] is the EASTERN TIME ZONE. I think EASTERN STANDARD was in another recent puzzle, so I tried that here. TIME ZONE makes for better fill.
  
• 5D: [Someone to build a team around] is a FRANCHISE PLAYER. Sports, schmorts. I want to put together a crossword team. You really can't go wrong with any of the first-round draft choices when it comes to crossword competitors.
  
• 10D: [Runway displays] include FALL COLLECTIONS. I feel like the designers have fall and spring collections, but not summer and winter. Is this true?

Highlights, lowlights, midlights:

• 1A: If you [Move to new places?] but don't get very far, you SHUFFLE.
  
• 18A: [Source of relief?] is the BULLPEN where they store the extra pitchers at a baseball game. Good gravy, Barry, that's three baseball things. You couldn't stick one of these in your NYT puzzle yesterday?
  
• What an unsightly pair these are. 21A: [Look at, to Livy] clues the Latin ECCE, and 24A: [Suffix with fluor-] is -ESCE. There are some other ugly little fillers, too. Like abbreviations—SBA, CIC, OSS. Fragments—DRI, 'ELD elided from "held," LA-Z, AT A. So many short names!—POE, NED, TEO, ALF, LEN, APU, ALLIE, INEZ, LOREN, LEHAR, LISZT, BEENE. Not one of these lends any real sparkle to the grid. The long answers are great, and the 7s are fine. It's the short stuff that's bringing me down.
  
• 57A: The [Mexican salamander] with frilly gills is the AXOLOTL. I'm a big fan.
  
• 59A: ["New York Mining Disaster 1941" was their first U.S. hit in 1967] did not at all tell me the answer. The BEE GEES!

Crosswordese 101: LEHAR has been covered here.

Everything Else — 1A: Move to new places? (SHUFFLE); 8A: Exotic vacations (SAFARIS); 15A: Bird known for hovering in a headwind (KESTREL); 16A: Like some birthstones (OPALINE); 17A: Bunratty Castle site (IRELAND); 18A: Source of relief? (BULLPEN); 19A: Best Actress winner for "Two Women" (LOREN); 20A: Wagner's father-in-law (LISZT); 21A: Look at, to Livy (ECCE); 24A: Suffix with fluor- (ESCE); 26A: 1930s Kansas governor Landon (ALF); 29A: Cupcake (HON); 30A: Racer Fabi (TEO); 31A: Entrepreneur-aiding org. (SBA); 34A: Minor league team with a locomotive in one of its logos (READING PHILLIES); 38A: He played Will Scarlet in "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" (CHRISTIAN SLATER); 39A: New England setting (EASTERN TIME ZONE); 40A: Soft & __: Dial product (DRI); 41A: "MS. Found in a Bottle" author (POE); 42A: Pres. title (CIC); 43A: Nancy Drew's boyfriend (NED); 44A: Problems (ILLS); 45A: Where some "SNL" regulars got their start (SCTV); 47A: New England cheer word (BOOLA); 50A: Child's retort (I AM SO); 54A: Seek acceptance at (APPLY TO); 57A: Mexican salamander (AXOLOTL); 59A: "New York Mining Disaster 1941" was their first U.S. hit in 1967 (BEE GEES); 60A: Like some academic positions (TENURED); 61A: They aren't on the program (ENCORES); 62A: Gives in (ASSENTS); 1D: Black & Decker competitor (SKIL); 2D: Long lunch? (HERO); 3D: Beta tester, e.g. (USER); 4D: Army post named for a CSA general (FT. LEE); 5D: Someone to build a team around (FRANCHISE PLAYER); 6D: Author Deighton (LEN); 7D: "We '__ our bloomin' own": Kipling ('ELD); 8D: ___ sister (SOB); 9D: "The Simpsons" shopkeeper (APU); 10D: Runway displays (FALL COLLECTIONS); 11D: DivorcÈe Lowell in an '80s sitcom (ALLIE); 12D: Tough currents (RIPS); 13D: Spanish name meaning "chaste" (INEZ); 14D: Elated (SENT); 22D: Restraint (CONTROL); 23D: Locomotives (ENGINES); 24D: Cultural group members (ETHNICS); 25D: Like many tsunamis (SEISMIC); 26D: Like rainbows (ARCED); 27D: Operettist Franz (LEHAR); 28D: Modern Persian (FARSI); 31D: Squelch (SIT ON); 32D: Designer Geoffrey (BEENE); 33D: Comparable to a beet (AS RED); 35D: Morse "E" (DIT); 36D: Light hit (PAT); 37D: __-Boy recliner (LA-Z); 44D: Volunteer's words (I'LL GO); 46D: Prize (VALUE); 47D: Symbol of innocence (BABE); 48D: Exposed (OPEN); 49D: Nigeria is its most populous member (OPEC); 51D: Poetic period (MORN); 52D: Go back on the dele? (STET); 53D: Defunct GM line (OLDS); 55D: Beginning of Time? (TEE); 56D: Org. in the 1946 film "Cloak and Dagger" (OSS); 57D: One step __ time (AT A); 58D: Strikes (out) (XES).

FRIDAY, May 14, 2010 — Matt Ginsberg & Peter Muller

THEME: ON END (50D: Upright, and what's been removed to form this puzzle's theme answers) — familiar phrases that end in "-ON" have that "-ON" removed, creating wacky phrases, clued "?"-style


Did this in five flat, with most of the trouble coming early on (getting started, getting the theme) and very late (trying to finish up in the rough SW). I think the revealer here is a little clunky. I like that it's specific — addressing the "ON" and the fact that it comes at the end — but I would say the phrases have "-ON" endings. I might have gone with NOON as the revealer. Or ON/OFF (like some switches, or...). The grid is snazzy — lots of Scrabbly stuff. The theme yields some interesting, if mixed, results. Since when are JOHNS a word for underwear? LONG JOHNS, sure, but I've never seen JOHNS stand alone. Not saying it's never been done before, just that it's not familiar to me At All. Those JOHNS should have been bathrooms or the clientele of hookers (much, much funnier and more in-the-language). MEDIA BAR(ON) is only vaguely familiar to me as a phrase, though I can infer who might fit this category (Turner, Murdoch, etc.). All in all, good work. Wouldn't have crossed BAR and BARRE (which means "BAR"), but that's just me. Oh, and I-BAR is mocking that crossing from on high there in the north.

Theme answers:

• 18A: Underwear that never needs washing? (MAGIC JOHNS)
• 20A: Attack of Tolkien's Ents? (TREE SURGE)
• 32A: Press watering hole? (MEDIA BAR)
• 44A: English horn? (ANGLO SAX)
• 56A: Chest bump cousin? (BELLY BUTT)
• 61A: Fido's greeting? (WELCOME WAG) — cute.

[Magic Newton-John!]

As you are reading this, I am either flying across the country or have already arrived in Idaho and am enjoying the company of my extended family at my grandma's 90th birthday celebration (which officially takes place on Saturday). I'm taking my voice recorder and camera — there will be crossword-related activities. My grandma's the first person I ever saw work a crossword. Idaho! With the exception of having to get up at 4:00 am tomorrow (i.e. today), I'm terribly psyched.

Crosswordese 101: Zhou (Chou) EN-LAI (51D: 1972 host to Nixon) — first premier of China, serving from '49-'76. You will see ZHOU and CHOU in puzzles. I don't think "EN-LAI" has alternate spellings. I needed this answer today, as I had KNOT for 64A: Bump on a log (KNAR), and ACT I for 55D: Plot part, perhaps (ACRE). EDIE was only barely familiar to me (67A: Peter Gunn's girlfriend), and I had no memory of Ethan HAWKE's being in Fast Food Nation, so I needed the help of EN-LAI a lot today.

See you Monday,

~RP

[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter]

THURSDAY, May 13, 2010 — Gareth Bain

Theme: Anagrams! — The first words of the theme answers are all anagrams of one another.


Theme answers:

• 17A: Demonstrates sincere intentions (ACTS IN GOOD FAITH).
• 28A: Wonderful thing, in old slang (CAT'S PAJAMAS).
• 46A: Jazzy vocal style (SCAT SINGING).
• 57A: Stereotypical movie epic feature (CAST OF THOUSANDS).

I really enjoyed this puzzle. Nothing spectacular about the theme, but we're kind of getting used to that, right? But the theme answers themselves (with the exception of SCAT SINGING) are interesting and some of the fill is downright excellent. I don't remember ever seeing CRUD (14A: Filthy deposit) in a puzzle before. Now that's a great word. Kinda gross but not gross enough to disqualify it from the puzzle. It also gives me an idea. PuzzleDaughter has reported that PuzzleSon has recently started saying the word "crap," which she believes is inappropriate. I think I'll suggest CRUD as an alternative. Parenting at its finest, people.

I had a little trouble getting started up in the NW corner. For [1A: Be in a funk] I plopped in pout and, a nano-second later, thought "Oh cr…ud, I bet it's sulk." So I checked the crosses, got the M, the O, and the E relatively easy and thought moue? I know that a moue (which I keep mistyping as mouse) is a sulky expression so I thought okay, that's close enough. Then I misspelled TAI as tae (20A: __ chi), so 3D: "Shake!" looked like this:


I often have a lot of trouble reading the down answers (especially if they're more than one word) and have to write them out on paper horizontally so I can make sense of them. Sometimes when I do that, I see that I was right all along, I just hadn't parsed it correctly in its vertical position. Today? Not so much. It all worked itself out in the end though, so I've got that going for me.

Highlights:

• 10A: Capital south of Quito (LIMA). I just saw Cali in a puzzle recently, so I entered that without really thinking. Crosses set me straight.
• 22A: Like much junkyard metal (RUSTY). Also, certain tin rooves.



• 25A: Capital replaced by Abuja (LAGOS). It's a good day to know your world capitals!
• 35A: Work with notes (OPUS). Work in this case is a noun.

• 37A: Cosby often wore one on his show (SWEATER). Now that's an awesome clue if I've ever seen one.
• 48A: Long __ (JOHNS). So often plural answers are less than ideal because they're words that are actually said in the plural so infrequently. And then there's Long JOHNS. Nicely done!
• 64A: Capital of Oman (RIAL). Tricky! In this case, we're not looking for the capital city, but rather the currency.
• 65A: Ricky portrayer (DESI). I just now noticed that there are an awful lot of names in this puzzle. I don't usually notice because I love names in my puzzle. But those of you who don't are probably a little miffed.
• 4D: Paper heads, briefly (EDS.). Short for editors, who "head" newspapers.
• 28D: Jai alai basket (CESTA). We covered this in CW101 waaay back in February.

• 32D: Last-ditch bet (ALL IN). I don't love this clue. For terrible poker payers such as myself, yes, ALL IN is a last-ditch bet. For actual competent poker players, it's a bet with a specific purpose.
• 33D: Old-time comic Arnold (STANG). Ouch! Never heard of this guy!
• 48D: Martial artist co-star of "The Forbidden Kingdom" (JET LI). I get a kick out of it when a person's whole name is in the grid. I'm trying to think of who else we've seen that way: Amy Tan, Al Gore, who else?
• 58D: __ end: cloth remnant (FAG). Ne-Ever heard this phrase. If this were my puzzle, I probably would have clued it as the slang term for cigarette somehow (with any luck, more cleverly than "Slang term for cigarette.")

Crosswordese 101: I'm going to do something a little unorthodox in CW101 today. I want to talk about 9D: Composer Rorem (NED), but I actually want to focus on ROREM instead of Ned. There are an awful lot of Neds out there, but the only reason I know this particular Ned is because ROREM shows up as an answer occasionally. Ned ROREM is an American composer who won a Pulitzer Prize for "Air Music" in 1976. And that's pretty much what you need to remember about him for crossword puzzles.

Everything Else — 5A: 1979 sci-fi blockbuster (ALIEN); 15A: Gentle prod (NUDGE); 16A: "Trinity" novelist (URIS); 21A: At no time, to Bernhard (NIE); 23A: Assignment (TASK); 31A: Humanities degs. (MAS); 34A: Prefix with musicology (ETHNO-); 36A: Sea dog (SALT); 39A: Egg-cooking aid (SPATULA); 41A: Waterproof cover (TARP); 42A: "Zip-__-Doo-Dah" (A-DEE); 44A: Comic Cheech (MARIN); 45A: "Who __ You": 1978 album by The Who (ARE); 49A: Cause of reduced visibility (MIST); 50A: Draws back (SHIES); 53A: "In Treatment" network (HBO); 54A: Bustle (ADO); 62A: Either of a Monopoly pair: Abbr. (UTIL.); 63A: Informed (AWARE); 66A: Lose one's mind (GO MAD); 67A: Put on the canvas (KAYO); 1D: Aspiring MD's hurdle (MCAT); 2D: Black-and-white swimmer (ORCA); 3D: "Shake!" ("PUT IT THERE!"); 5D: Eight-time LPGA Player of the Year Sorenstam (ANNIKA); 6D: Downhill racer (LUGE); 7D: Words sealed with a kiss (I DO); 8D: Psyche part (EGO); 10D: Island bashes (LUAUS); 11D: It regulates the size of the pupil (IRIS); 12D: Specialized glove (MITT); 13D: Washed-out (ASHY); 18D: Joint that's jumping (IN SPOT); 19D: Bushy styles, for short (FROS); 24D: "I can do it with my eyes closed!" (A SNAP); 25D: Yorkie's perch (LAP); 26D: Tickles pink (AMUSES); 27D: [Horrors!] (GASP); 29D: Like Russia and Japan, for most of 1904-'05 (AT WAR); 30D: River crossed in Joshua (JORDAN); 31D: Senegal neighbor (MAURITANIA); 36D: Harts (STAGS); 38D: A pop (EACH); 40D: Prenatal tests, for short (AMNIOS); 43D: They're out of this world (ETS); 46D: Passable (SO-SO); 47D: Permeated (IMBUED); 50D: Gulf War missile (SCUD); 51D: Odium (HATE); 52D: Sister of Osiris (ISIS); 53D: "Hava Nagila" dance (HORA); 55D: Decisive '40s event (D-DAY); 56D: Nobel Institute site (OSLO); 59D: Thematic number on 61-Down (TWO); 60D: Scene stealer (HAM); 61D: Early craft (ARK).