WEDNESDAY, September 9, 2009—Donna Levin

THEME: "Obedience School"—Four phrases start with words that are also common commands to a pet dog

When I'm going through a puzzle and the clues don't point me towards the theme, I read two or more theme entries and try to figure out what they have in common. Sometimes it has to do with the last words in the phrases...so I briefly pondered what a PIKE, HANDS, BOOTY, EXECUTION theme would be about. Medieval violence...plus booty. It's got potential.

Theme answers:

• 17A: Make an appearance (COME DOWN THE PIKE). "Come, boy. Come on! No, get away from the door. COME!"
  
• 26A: Do nothing (SIT ON ONE'S HANDS). "Sit, Ubu, sit."
  
• 48A: Dancing instruction from KC and the Sunshine Band (SHAKE YOUR BOOTY). "Shake hands, Murphy." Do you know how much time I spent trying to find a good video of this song on YouTube for last Saturday's post? I didn't like any of the videos with the band, so I went with a Simpsons butt montage set to that song. Aw, I would've saved that for today if I'd known SHAKE YOUR BOOTY was coming, rather than blowing it on DJIBOUTI. Here's a different KC song instead, another some from my tween years that gives me a tingle of guilty-pleasure nostalgia:
  
  
  
  
• 63A: Death row reprieve (STAY OF EXECUTION). Moderately depressing topic to touch on in crosswords, even though I guess a STAY is less grim. "Staaaayyyy."
  
• 60D: Pet targeted by the first words of this puzzle's four longest answers (FIDO). FIDO! That was just in another Saturday puzzle last weekend, clued as "name meaning 'I am faithful,'" and here it is again, anchoring a theme. You think Rex is pouting that popular dog name Rex isn't the unifying answer here?
  

Crosswordese 101: On Friday, Rex talked about some Scottish islands, the Hebrides, specifically SKYE and IONA. Today's topic moves across the water to the far west of Ireland and the ARAN Islands (16A: Galway Bay's __ Islands). These islands were populated over 2,000 years ago, and ruins of prehistoric forts remain. ARAN's crossword clues usually ask for Irish island or islands in Galway Bay.

Ready for some clue chit-chat?

• 38A: Fortified Portuguese wine (MADEIRA). This may be the white wine equivalent of a darker port or sherry. Fortified wines are not my thing at all. PORT, meanwhile gets a non-vino clue: 53A: Seaside city. I reckon either one could go in a CASK (10A: Winery container or CASK). But they probably won't be served over ICE, a.k.a. 34A: Bartender's rocks.
  
• 57A: Horace Greeley's direction for young men was to "Go WEST, young man."
  
• 13D: Genuflection joint (KNEE). Genu- is Latin for "knee" and flectere means "to bend," so genuflection means "to lower one's body briefly by bending one knee to the ground, typically in worship or as a sign of respect." I tell ya, hardly anybody ever genuflects to crossword constructors, but I suspect a few of them would appreciate it if we did that.
  
• 18D: West Virginia border river (OHIO). Dang, "West" in a clue and WEST in the grid? I hope that didn't keep anyone from writing WEST in. If you didn't get your fill of '70s music, here are the OHIO Players. You don't need to have the sound on, but I urge/press/iron you to watch it just for the Bedazzled wardrobe.
  
  
  
  
• 27D: Presses clues IRONS, but sometimes that clue will lead you to URGES. If you get a pressing urge to iron, seek help immediately.
  
• 61D: Large cross (ROOD). I learned this word from the Old English poem, "Dream of the Rood." Aaaand...this concludes today's medieval references.

Everything Else — 1A: Big bird's grabber (TALON); 6A: Croquet venue (LAWN); 14A: Essential acid, familiarly (AMINO); 15A: Working hard (AT IT); 20A: Bolsheviks' bane (TSAR); 21A: Ins. plans (HMOS); 22A: Auto dealer's agreement, at times (LEASE); 23A: Andy Taylor's boy (OPIE); 25A: Cloak-and-dagger org. (CIA); 33A: Movie trailer, e.g. (PROMO); 34A: Bartender's rocks (ICE); 35A: Takes home (NETS); 37A: Amorous sound (COO); 42A: Draw (TIE); 43A: Throw in a chip (ANTE); 45A: Nintendo game console (WII); 46A: Yankees' home (BRONX); 52A: "Groovy!" (RAD); 54A: More than sufficiently (AMPLY); 59A: Linc's "Mod Squad" do (AFRO); 66A: Enjoying a lot (INTO); 67A: Act the accomplice (ABET); 68A: Doomed Genesis city (SODOM); 69A: YMCA part: Abbr. (ASSN.); 70A: Lessons learned early (ABCS); 71A: Eat away at (ERODE); 1D: Diplomacy (TACT); 2D: "Famous" cookie guy (AMOS); 3D: South American capital (LIMA); 4D: Like a studio apartment (ONE-ROOM); 5D: Doze off (NOD); 6D: Marshals, usually (LAWMEN); 7D: 12 for Mg or 20 for Ca, e.g. (AT. NO.); 8D: Mental faculties (WITS); 9D: Extreme degree (NTH); 10D: Peninsula bordering Massachusetts Bay (CAPE ANN); 11D: Diva's piece (ARIA); 12D: Bloomingdale's rival (SAKS); 19D: Lamb's pen name (ELIA); 24D: __ Penh, Cambodia (PNOM); 25D: "If I Could Turn Back Time" singer (CHER); 26D: Pet welfare org. (SPCA); 28D: Place for a crown or cap (TOOTH); 29D: Old MacDonald refrain (E-I-E-I-O); 30D: Biol. or geol. (SCI.); 31D: Artoo's "surname" (DETOO); 32D: Be frugal (STINT); 36D: Erotic (SEXY); 39D: Filled with wonder (AWED); 40D: Like some home improvement projects, briefly (DIY); 41D: E.g., e.g. (ABBR.); 44D: Near the outset (EARLY ON); 47D: __ cuff: pitching injury site (ROTATOR); 49D: Fight stopper (KAYO); 50D: Underdog victories (UPSETS); 51D: Campus mil. group (ROTC); 54D: Where billions live (ASIA); 55D: "White" peaks in N.H. (MTNS.); 56D: Butter units (PATS); 57D: Jack of "Dragnet" (WEBB); 58D: Corporate VIP (EXEC); 62D: "Dinner is __" (ON ME); 64D: Flight oversight org. (FAA); 65D: Exploit (USE).

TUESDAY, September 8, 2009 — Gail Grabowski

Theme: Pants! — The first word of each theme answer describes a type of pants.

Theme answers:

• 17A: *Hilarious joke (KNEE SLAPPER).
• 39A: *Worry, slangily (SWEAT IT).
• 63A: *Frosted Lenten pastry (HOTCROSS BUN).
• 11D: *Enduring, as a storm (RIDING OUT).
• 34D: *Freight-bearing vessel (CARGO SHIP).
• 57D: Garment that can follow the starts of the answers to starred clues (PANTS).

Walked down the bus stop with the kids, waved as the bus rolled away, gave a whoop and a holler, walked back up the hill, all the while completely forgetting that I was supposed to blog today. Sorry about that, guys! This will be short!

Does anyone remember a comedian back in the early 90s whose schtick involved saying "Put your short pants on! Why don't you put your short pants on!" in a high, whiny voice (supposed to be imitating his mother)? I can't remember anything else about the guy except this one thing. Searching YouTube for "short pants" ... doesn't bring up anything related to this comedian.

Bullets:

• 22A: Bat one's eyelashes, perhaps (FLIRT). Do people still do this? I just spend several minutes looking for a picture of the girls with the writing on their eyelids from the Indiana Jones movie. Couldn't find one.
• 42A: Mex. neighbor (USA). Wrote in TEX at first.
• 62A: Jr. high, e.g. (SCH.). This is an ugly abbreviation, but the puzzle is otherwise very smooth, so I'm gonna let it go. Especially since it's the first day of school.
  

• 70A: Sources of blue eyes, say (GENES). PuzzleSon is totally into the whole genetic thing right now. He's constantly like, "I love peanut butter. Mom, do you love peanut butter? Did I get that from you?" (Answer: Yes.)
  
• 8D: Party headgear (PAPER HAT). I must be going to the wrong parties.
• 29D: "That'll do, thanks" ("I'M SET"). Could only think "I'm good" and "I'm OK," so had to wait for crosses.
• 40D: Street urchin (WAIF). WAIF is a great word.
• 49D: Round number? (ZERO). Cute clue!
• 50D: Outlaw-chasing group (POSSE). Just spent about five minutes looking for a clip of Ellen DeGeneres on Letterman several years ago when she said something really funny about the word posse. Can't find it.

• 56D: Get extra value from (REUSE). Okay, I just spent at least ten minutes looking for a decent, embeddable video of Jack Johnson's "3 R's" and couldn't find one. I'm totally striking out today. I'll at least give you a link and then I'm going to give up for today.

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Everything Else — 1A: Unshiny photo finish (MATTE); 6A: Tree with quaking leaves (ASPEN); 11A: Usually nonmelodic music genre (RAP); 14A: Not moving (INERT); 15A: Work on a loom (WEAVE); 16A: Under the weather (ILL); 19A: Narc's org. (DEA); 20A: Ages and ages (EONS); 21A: Depression era migrant (OKIE); 24A: Method: Abbr. (SYST.); 25A: Lincoln wore one (BEARD); 27A: Pay for a hand (ANTE); 28A: Bank encumbrance (LIEN); 30A: Sound heard twice in "gargantuan" (HARD G); 32A: Command to an attack dog (SIC 'EM); 35A: Dressing for romaine and such (SALAD OIL); 38A: Palm Pilot or BlackBerry, briefly (PDA); 43A: Hardly geniuses (AIRHEADS); 45A: Contest submission (ENTRY); 47A: Arrived (GOT IN); 48A: Poet Pound (EZRA); 50A: Old hands (PROS); 52A: Coerce (FORCE); 54A: Infield protector (TARP); 58A: Retreats in the desert (OASES); 60A: Bring up (REAR); 61A: Field of expertise (AREA); 66A: Maneuver among moguls (SKI); 67A: One way to read (ALOUD); 68A: White-sheet wearer, on Halloween (GHOST); 69A: Sixth sense, for short (ESP); 71A: Shipping weight deductions (TARES); 1D: Studio sound equipment (MIKES); 2D: Be a thorn in the side of (ANNOY); 3D: Prom goers (TEENS); 4D: Railroad bridge support (TRESTLE); 5D: UFO crew, presumably (ETS); 6D: Greet the morning (AWAKEN); 7D: Brownish photo tint (SEPIA); 9D: Genesis outcast (EVE); 10D: Spongy ball brand (NERF); 12D: Tip off (ALERT); 13D: One in a buffet stack (PLATE); 18D: Ear part (LOBE); 23D: "Shane" star Alan (LADD); 26D: Surrealist Salvador (DALI); 31D: Movie critic, at times (RATER); 32D: Restful resort (SPA); 33D: Deposed despot Amin (IDI); 35D: Stockholm-bound carrier (SAS); 36D: Jerusalem is its cap. (ISR.); 37D: Set (down) (LAY); 41D: Ralph Kramden's pal (ED NORTON); 44D: Sprinkler attachment (HOSE); 46D: Boris's partner in toon espionage (NATASHA); 48D: Online birthday greetings, e.g. (E-CARDS); 51D: Poolroom triangles (RACKS); 53D: Prompt again (RECUE); 55D: Vine-covered recess (ARBOR); 59D: Thick carpet (SHAG); 64D: Bullfight shout (OLÉ); 65D: Rank above cpl. (SGT.).

MONDAY, September 7, 2009 — Teri Smalley

THEME: football terms — 61A: Org. where you can see the first words of 20-, 38- and 55-Across (NFL)

Pretty uninspired stuff all around here, from theme answers to cluing. Actually, I really love the phrase KICK UPSTAIRS (not a phrase I know well, but vivid and lively), but the theme is blecch, esp. given that the relevant NFL terms (which are really just football terms) are so basic and boring: PASS, RUN, KICK. There's very weak theme coverage overall — just the three longish theme answers, only one of which has the decency to span the grid, and then the NFL answer, which is positioned arbitrarily. Further, the fact that PASS and INTERFERENCE both appear in the grid, but apart, not together, creates a horrible clunky effect (in case you don't know, PASS INTERFERENCE is a common violation in football). Hard to explain — unintentional footballness in a football puzzle just feels sloppy. Like the constructor has a tin ear for the sport she's building the grid around. Further still, PASS, RUN, and KICK are soccer terms (almost) as much as they are (American) football terms. Whole thing feels weak and shaky. Plus, 40 black squares means no decent long Down action. We get a couple long non-theme Acrosses — I esp. like DOGPATCH (33A: Li'l Abner's home)— but otherwise very little sizzle.

Theme answers:

• 20A: Give one's verdict (PASS JUDGMENT)
• 38A: Create a distraction (RUN INTERFERENCE)
• 55A: Get rid of by promoting, as an employee (KICK UPSTAIRS)

Crosswordese 101: R. E. LEE (27D: Surrenderer to U.S. Grant) — stupid me; I entered REBEL here without much thought, when everything about the clue was telling me to put in the very common correct answer RELEE. Usually the clue doesn't give you an exact parallel in another general whose name is expressed as initials + last name, as is the case here. The partial form of this abbreviation, E. LEE, is even more common than this incarnation. All those E's are just too h ard to resist. L and R are super-common as well, and thus the ghost of R.E. LEE will haunt the grid more than that of any other general. Sorry, OMAR Bradley.

What else?

• 1A: Small cluster, as of threads (TUFT) — I could do nothing with this at first pass. I think of hair being in TUFTS, not threads. But I'm notoriously fabric/sewing-ignorant.
• 50A: Teamsters leader who disappeared in 1975 (HOFFA) — Happy Labor Day!

• 63A: Disorderly type (SLOB) — I don't like "disorderly" for SLOB. The word implies rambunctious or unruly behavior. I get that a SLOB does not care for "order," but still, the clue clunks.
• 10D: Language group that includes Swahili (BANTU) — could easily have been Crosswordese 101. I know nothing about BANTU but knew instantly it was the answer here, which means it must appear in the grid a lot.
• 45D: Dogs from 21-Down (AKITAS) — like that this ties to the answer right above it in the grid, JAPAN (21D: Iwo Jima's country). Don't like that "Dogs" is in the clue when DOGPATCH is in the grid. Minor issue, admittedly.
• 49D: Dress bottom (SKIRT) — was thinking HEM, which is the bottom of the bottom that this grid wanted.

See you Friday,

~RP

[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter]

Sunday, September 6, 2009 — Merl Reagle

[Note: This is the puzzle that appears in the Sunday L.A. Times newspaper. If you don't get the paper, you can find the puzzle here. Scroll down to see the write-up of today's syndicated puzzle.]

Theme: "Designers' Holiday" — Theme answers are puns based on fashion designers' names.


Theme answers:

• 22A: Confident words about a designer doing this puzzle? (HILFIGER IT OUT).
• 32A: Encouragement from a designer's parents? (WE'RE PRADA YOU).
• 50A/61A: Comment to a mischievous designer? (YOU'VE BEEN UP DIOR OLD TRICKS AGAIN).
• 68A/84A: Comment about a designer's much-anticipated show? (I'VE BEEN WAITING VERSACE LONG TIME).
• 97A: Exclamation at a designer's show? (LAUREN BEHOLD).
• 114A: Words to a designer's baby? (PUCCI GUCCI KOO). I love that CHARO is also in the puzzle (19A: An ex of Xavier).

Bonus nontheme-theme answers:

• 25A: Designer's initials (YSL).
• 109D: Designer Hugo (BOSS).

My understanding is that for the foreseeable future, the Sunday calendar puzzle will run Sylvia Bursztyn and Merl Reagle on alternate weeks. If you haven't done many of Merl's puzzles, you might have some trouble. He definitely has his own style and it takes a few puzzles to get used to it. Merl is known for horrible, horrible (and I mean that in the nicest possible way) puns. I tell you what though: Even if you don't like puns, you have to admire how brilliantly he can put these themes together. Think about it. First he has to come up with the puns and they all have to be related somehow. Then he has to find symmetrical entries so they fit in a grid. Kinda makes me wonder if he has a long list of entries that didn't even make the puzzle. He's a creative genius, is what I'm saying.

The other feature of Merl's puzzles that always stands out to me is his use of "partials": typically small words that you wouldn't see in the grid but for their inclusion in common phrases. Today's partials include:

• 41A: Little ___ effect (OR NO).
• 74A: "This ___ a drill" (IS NOT).
• 91A: Words to an old chap (I SAY).
• 11D: Go ___ further (A STEP).
• 60D: "You're ___ talk!" (ONE TO).
• 70D: If ___ (should circumstances warrant) (NEEDS BE).
• 78D: "Horton Hears ___" (A WHO).
• 117D: "Indeed ___!" (I DO).

The partials in Merl's puzzles bothered me when I first started solving his puzzles but now I'm used to them. I actually sort of look forward to the ones that are parts of exclamations like today's "You're ONE TO talk!" For some reason those always make me chuckle.

I'm always pretty sure I'll see a couple answers I just plain don't know in a Merl puzzle.

• 44A: College town near Eureka, Calif. (ARCATA). Home of Humboldt State University.
• 53A: Pointed arch (OGIVE).
• 106A: John who wed Shirley Temple (AGAR). Wanted it to be Black.
• 12D: Lip or amyl ending (-ASE). I have no idea what this means.
• 35D: Pope Nicholas III's family name (ORSINI). I know I've seen this before, but I couldn't come up with it. Hope I can next time.

What else?

• 20A: Cugat's shakers (MARACAS). I just now noticed that Cugat is the Xavier referred to in the CHARO clue. Awesome.
• 27A: U.S. school near Juarez (UTEP). The University of Texas at El Paso. It's in crosswords a lot, so try to remember it!
• 40A: U.K. music label (EMI). I can never remember if it's EMI or BMI, which is also music-related (Broadcast Music Incorporated).
• 67A: Fan favorite (IDOL). You know what's coming, right? I can't help myself.
  



• 82A: Boston Garden legend (ORR). I always want this to be Larry Bird and it's always Bobby Orr.
• 104A: Secret rival? (BAN). Deodorant!
• 105A: Past partners (EXES).



• 119A: Shrunken, polluted Asian body (ARAL SEA). Fun to see the whole name of this body of water instead of just the ARAL part. (Clearly, I need to get out more.)
• 123A: Ladies' escorts (LORDS). Raise your hand if you entered gents first.
• 1D: Stiff and sore (ACHY). Yes I like country music. No I'm not going to include a video of "Achy Breaky Heart." You're welcome.

• 5D: ___ water (cologne) (TOILET). Not a real common crossword answer for some reason.
• 16D: Grosse ___, Mich. (ILE). Tried to abbreviate pointe at first.
• 47D: UFO shape, often (DISC). PuzzleSon just asked me about Area 51 the other day. Oh boy, here we go.
• 93D: Full of nuance (SUBTLE). Great clue for a great word.
• 115D: Hue: abbr. (CLR.). This one hurts a little.

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Everything Else — 1A: Chance to strike out on one's own (AT BAT); 6A: Texas oil city (ODESSA); 12A: Sour character (ACIDITY); 21A: Snack brand giant (SARA LEE); 24A: Clear (EVIDENT); 26A: The Beatles, e.g. (LADS); 29A: "To what ___?" (END); 30A: Fishing supplies (REELS); 37A: Refine, as metal (SMELT); 39A: Asian occasion (TET); 43A: Designer bag, perhaps (TOTE); 47A: Abbr. after Chris Dodd's name (D-CONN.); 49A: Create dresses (SEW); 55A: Prove fallible (ERR); 56A: High-minded (NOBLE); 57A: Tortilla dough? (PESO); 58A: You can skip the flat ones (STONES); 59A: Mister, at a misión (SEÑOR); 64A: Dark and atmospheric (NOIR); 66A: Coll. degrees (BAS); 78A: If nothing changes (AS IT IS); 79A: Hearing things (EARS); 80A: Jay's heir (CONAN); 83A: Welcome ___ (WAGON); 87A: Home of "True Blood" (HBO); 88A: Pushes (GOADS); 90A: Wolflike (LUPINE); 92A: Hefty refs. (OEDS); 94A: Detectives, briefly (PIS); 95A: Actress ___ Dawn Chong (RAE); 96A: Hammer parts (PEENS); 102A: Slumber stopper (ALARM); 107A: Escapee alert, for ex. (APB); 110A: Beat by a lot, as a record (SHATTER); 118A: Steak knives, etc. (CUTLERY); 120A: Worry-free places (EDENS); 121A: Dunk (IMMERSE); 122A: 1962 Roger Corman film, "Tales of ___" (TERROR); 2D: What you're doing (THIS); 3D: Bowling alley feature (BALL RETURN); 4D: Cartoon bark (ARF); 6D: Crew equipment (OARS); 7D: Gillette's Soft & ___ (DRI); 8D: Dig in (EAT); 9D: Use S.O.S on (SCOUR); 10D: Pan-fry (SAUTÉ); 13D: Collapsed (CAVED IN); 14D: Skater Slutskaya (IRINA); 15D: Any guy, to a beatnik (DADDYO); 17D: Easy multiplier (TEN); 18D: Nevertheless (YET); 20D: RN responsibilities (MEDS); 23D: Hoedown partner (GAL); 28D: Parboil (PRECOOK); 31D: Mtn. road stat (ELEV.); 32D: Taken off a liquid diet? (WEANED); 33D: Words to Brutus (ET TU); 34D: Love, to Livy (AMOR); 36D: Jagged (UNEVEN); 37D: Eye woes (STYES); 38D: Actress Julianne (MOORE); 39D: Immune system component (T-CELL); 42D: Is behind, in a way (OWES); 44D: Blood-typing letters (ABO); 45D: Drill a wider hole in, perhaps (REBORE); 46D: Informed opinion (APPRAISAL); 48D: Staying put (NOT GOING); 51D: Dressing regally (ENROBING); 52D: Believer in a nonintervening God (DEIST); 54D: Soccer scores (GOALS); 58D: Woebegone (SAD); 62D: Slope lifts (T-BARS); 63D: Join up (SIGN ON); 65D: Pluralized y (IES); 68D: Author Allende (ISABEL); 69D: Tessio in "The Godfather" (VIGODA); 71D: Some involve attrition (WARS); 72D: Cooling pouch for perishables (ICE PAD); 73D: "Honest!" ("NO LIE!"); 75D: Partier's prop (NOISE MAKER); 76D: TV money maven (ORMAN); 77D: Low cards (TREYS); 81D: Prop finish (-ANE); 84D: Futile (VAIN); 85D: Tress trait (CURL); 86D: Stadium section (TIER); 89D: Keys (OPENERS); 96D: Doorstep delivery (PARCEL); 98D: Film board, e.g. (RATER); 99D: Certain exile, for short (EXPAT); 100D: Une ___ (1 a.m., in Paris) (HEURE); 101D: Muppet in a can (OSCAR); 102D: Sonoran Desert cry? (AGUA); 103D: ___ insects (varnish resin source) (LAC); 106D: Teen follower (-AGER); 108D: Duck's home (POND); 110D: Empirical method subj. (SCI.); 111D: Sound happy, maybe (HUM); 112D: Dough-filled convenience? (ATM); 113D: Deli choice (RYE); 116D: Metrics intro (ISO-).

SUNDAY, September 6, 2009 — Pancho Harrison

[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: "Great Direction" — A puzzle memorializing director Elia Kazan on what would have been his 100th birthday.


Theme answers:

• 23A: *1947 Tony-winning Arthur Miller play (ALL MY SONS).
• 28A/113A: *1949 Tony-winning play starring Lee J. Cobb (DEATH OF A SALESMAN).
• 42A/45A: *1945 film based on a Betty Smith novel (A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN).
• 68A: *1947 Tennessee Williams play (A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE).
• 94A: *1955 film based on a Steinbeck novel (EAST OF EDEN).
• 97A: *1952 biopic starring Marlon Brando (VIVA ZAPATA!).
• 123A: Born 9/7/1909, he directed the answers to starred clues (ELIA KAZAN).

Great theme and well put-together. I've heard of most (but not all) of these plays/films, but the ones that were new to me weren't difficult to piece together from the crosses. Pretty sure I guessed VIVA ZAPATA with only V?????PATA in place. I was both pleased and surprised when it turned out to be correct. I haven't seen all that many Broadway shows, but I did see "A Streetcar Named Desire" with Jessica Lange and Alec Baldwin many years ago. Love Jessica Lange! If you ever feel like getting super depressed (!!), rent "Frances." She's amazing in it.

Crosswordese 101: If you don't know what TET is, well, it's time you learned. It's the Vietnamese New Year. It's based on the lunar calendar, though, so it takes place in late January or early February. It's often clued like it is today — 64D: Hanoi holidays — but sometimes the modifier is less specific (e.g., Vietnamese, Asian, or even just Eastern). And we can thank our lucky stars that we very rarely see it pluralized like it is today.

Crosswordese in today's puzzle that we've already covered includes À MOI (78A: Mine, in Marseille), REOS (108A: Flying Cloud et al.), ERLE (2D: First name in courtroom fiction), and TSAR (87D: Ivan IV, for one).

Co-stars:

• 9A: Philosopher William of __, known for his "razor" (OCCAM). I know there's a thing called Occam's Razor but I don't know exactly what it is.

• 21A: "Moi?" ("WHO ME?"). Has to be said with the right inflection of course. I didn't notice until I started on this write-up that moi also appears in an answer (78A: Mine, in Marseille (À MOI)).
• 27A: Pinocchio's creator (GEPPETTO). Had a leetle trouble with the spelling here.
• 30A: Cartoonist Keane (BIL). Bil, Ric Ocasek, and Nicolas Cage are founders of the "Famous People Missing a Letter Club."
• 58A: "__-haw!" (YEE). I always think this is going to be hee, and it almost never is.
• 67A: Head, in slang (NOB). Ne-ever heard this word.
• 81A: Disco guy on "The Simpsons" (STU). I've only seen a few episodes of "The Simpsons" over the years but I've got a pretty good handle on the characters just from doing crossword puzzles.
• 115A: Loner (MAVERICK). Specifically, an "unbranded range animal." The word derives from Samuel A. Maverick's name. He did not brand his calves.



• 125A: Nicholas Gage memoir (ELENI). Speaking of Nicolas Cage! Oh wait.

• 130A: Longtime Yugoslav leader (TITO).
• 5D: End of a journey (LAST LEG). This confused me because I could only think the end of a journey would be the destination, not the last part of it.
• 11D: Egyptian Christian (COPT). If you say so.
• 12D: Menotti title lad (AMAHL). From the American opera Amahl and the Night Visitors. Learned it from crosswords.
• 34D: Pharaohs' crosses (ANKHS). Runner-up for today's Crosswordese 101 lesson. It's a hieroglyphic character that means "eternal life."
• 43D: Diamond flaw? (ERROR). Baseball!
• 49D: Téa of "Spanglish" (LEONI). I have something I want to say about her, but I'm not sure it's okay.
• 70D: Un + deux (TROIS). French!

• 82D: Record, nowadays (TIVO). I love TiVo! I miss my TiVo! When we moved to Virginia, we signed up with Verizon Fios and started using their far inferior DVRs. Next time we move I think I'll try to get TiVo back.
• 89D: Snap (GO POSTAL). The Cruciverb data base only has this phrase listed three times as an answer. I was pretty sure I'd never seen it before. I like it.
• 96D: 11th century conquerors (NORMANS). Also a boy I dated in high school and his brothers. You probably won't see them in a puzzle any time soon though.

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Everything Else — 1A: Anabaptists, e.g. (SECT); 5A: "Auld __ Syne" (LANG); 14A: Name on a WWII bomber (ENOLA); 19A: Faithful (TRUE); 20A: Inter __: among others (ALIA); 22A: Warning wail (SIREN); 25A: Go after, puppy-style (NIP AT); 26A: Static problem (CLING); 31A: Nocturnal hunter (OWL); 32A: Unicorn feature (HORN); 33A: Alsace-__: French region (LORRAINE); 35A: Sta-__: fabric softener (PUF); 38A: Use up (EXHAUST); 41A: Car starter: Abbr. (IGN.); 52A: Memorize (LEARN); 53A: Crooked (ASKEW); 55A: In the style of (À LA); 56A: "Of __ Sing" (THEE I); 57A: Boot add-ons (SPURS); 59A: Ivy League city (ITHACA); 62A: Only okay (SO-SO); 63A: So yesterday (OUT); 65A: German pastries (STRUDELS); 75A: Patriotic women's org. (DAR); 76A: Rats (STOOLIES); 77A: Pantry concern (ANT); 80A: Emphasize (STRESS); 84A: Nine Inch Nails founder Reznor (TRENT); 88A: Auctioneer's word (GOING); 90A: Layer (HEN); 91A: Greeted and seated (SAW IN); 93A: Shankar's repertoire (RAGAS); 99A: Unlock, poetically (OPE); 100A: "Yikes!" ("OMIGOSH!"); 102A: Berlin article (DER); 103A: Sinuous comics villain (CATWOMAN); 109A: Former comm. giant (ITT); 112A: Sharing word (OUR); 120A: Lyric poet (ODIST); 122A: Praiseful hymn (PAEAN); 124A: Sign with scales (LIBRA); 126A: Artistic Chinese dynasty (MING); 127A: Old king of rhyme (COLE); 128A: Filch (STEAL); 129A: Pick up on (SENSE); 131A: Goofing off (IDLE); 1D: Doe's beau (STAG); 3D: Cosby's "I Spy" costar (CULP); 4D: Largo, e.g. (TEMPO); 6D: Scads (A LOT); 7D: Bolivian boy (NIÑO); 8D: Lot of fun, slangily (GAS); 9D: Sports negotiations side (OWNERS); 10D: Tuscan red (CHIANTI); 13D: "Ditto" ("ME TOO"); 14D: Snail on la carte (ESCARGOT); 15D: Nada (NIL); 16D: African grassland grazer (ORIBI); 17D: Red Square honoree (LENIN); 18D: Reporter's slant (ANGLE); 24D: Bow wood (YEW); 28D: Throw water on (DOUSE); 29D: Cold, to Carlos (FRÍO); 32D: "Training Day" actor Ethan (HAWKE); 35D: They hang together (PALS); 36D: Lone Star State sch. (UTEP); 37D: Haus wife (FRAU); 39D: It precedes Yankee in the phonetic alphabet (X-RAY); 40D: Hornswoggle (HOSE); 44D: Comes afterward (ENSUES); 46D: Book before Habakkuk (NAHUM); 47D: Cutting edge (BLADE); 48D: Sped (RACED); 50D: "__ no?" (YES OR); 51D: "Like __, all tears ...": Hamlet (NIOBE); 54D: Courtroom expert, often (WITNESS); 60D: Singer's syllables (TRAS); 61D: "M*A*S*H" star (ALDA); 65D: Hindu honorifics (SRIS); 66D: Nissan compact (SENTRA); 68D: Saw (ADAGE); 69D: Pago Pago's nation (SAMOA); 71D: "Takin' It __ Streets": Doobie Brothers hit (TO THE); 72D: Cut out the middle of (CORED); 73D: Coeur d'__, Idaho (ALENE); 74D: Guitar attachment (STRAP); 79D: Being hauled (IN TOW); 81D: Sips' opposites (SWIGS); 83D: Some, in Seville (UNAS); 85D: "Zounds!" ("EGAD!"); 86D: Basketball Hall of Famer Archibald (NATE); 92D: Orly lander (AVION); 95D: Disaster relief org. (FEMA); 98D: Title hero who married Tonya Gromeko (ZHIVAGO); 101D: Bad guy (MEANIE); 103D: Becomes less angry, with "off" (COOLS); 104D: Tax filer's fear (AUDIT); 105D: Navajo, e.g. (TRIBE); 106D: Suisse range (ALPES); 107D: Author Zora __ Hurston (NEALE); 110D: Shatner's "__War" (TEK); 111D: Actress Bingham or Lords (TRACI); 114D: Spotted (SEEN); 115D: Mid 11th century year (MLII); 116D: "It __ over till it's over": Berra (AIN'T); 117D: Eddie Bauer competitor (IZOD); 118D: Summon (CALL); 119D: "Trick" joint (KNEE); 121D: Sp. title (SRA.).

123D: CPR pro (EMT).

SATURDAY, September 5, 2009—Doug Peterson

THEME: No theme today—Just a themeless Saturday puzzle

Usually I do the L.A. Times crossword on screen in Across Lite, but this one I tackled while putting my son to bed, with only a wee Book Owl light for illumination. I didn't look at the clock, but I had figured out a chunk of the answers at the top before I even picked up my pencil, and my write-overs indicate only a couple snags. If you usually have to fight your way through a Saturday puzzle, was this one more pliable?

The first snag I hit was 22A: Bible book before Nehemiah. I had the first letter in place, an E, so I plugged in ESTH., an abbreviation for the book of Esther. Then 12D: Online shopping mecca asserted itself—it was AMAZON and not AMASON, of course. So I changed my Bible book abbreviation to EZEK., for Ezekiel. Mind you, the clue had Nehemiah and not the abbreviated Neh., so there was zero reason for me to abbreviate the answer instead of going straight to EZRA.

The other hitch was a single-letter problem. 4D: Climb could be the verb ASCEND, which I started with, or the noun ASCENT. On Saturdays, you need to be wary of clue words that can be in different tenses (e.g., the verbs put or set or lay) or represent different parts of speech (as with climb today).

Crosswordese 101: My favorite old crosswordese answer in today's puzzle is 63A: ORTS, clued as food Disposal bits. Obviously, such a nutty little morsel of crosswordese has already been covered in this section, two times. (And both times by me. Whoops.) So instead, let's chat about the components of 2D: Uncommon thing, or RARA AVIS. That's Latin for "rare bird." The full phrase is, like every other eight-letter answer not remotely a common crosswordese answer. But its halves are. For AVIS, the constructor usually writes a clue relating to the rental car company, but what else can you do with RARA besides go with a fill-in-the-blank clue, ___ avis? Good constructors try to avoid RARA because there's only one clue for it, and either a solver knows the answer or she doesn't; there's no fun brainwork involved in sussing out the answer.

Highlights:

• I enjoy conversational phrases dropped into a crossword grid. Doug gives us two, both super informal: 23A: "Care to make it interesting?" ("WANNA BET?") and 56A: "See ya!" ("I'M OUTA HERE!"). I prefer the two-T outta spelling, but my dictionary lists both spellings.
  
• I'm a fan or the first/last name combo in crosswords, too. Usually AMIS is clued by way of author Kingsley Amis or his son Martin Amis, but MARTIN AMIS (60A: "London Fields" novelist) looks cooler. I haven't read either Amis.
  
• 3D: Successor to the mini (IPOD NANO)—boy, crossword makers lucked out when Apple chose the iPod name. Alternating vowels and consonants, plus it's livelier than the other I*O* options, like IRON, IROC, IDOL, ICON, or IPOS.
  
• I'm a bit of a geography nerd, so I appreciate fill like 34D: Horn of Africa country (DJIBOUTI). Plus: That country, which is near Ethiopia and Somalia, practically rhymes with "shake your booty."
  
  
  
  
• 53D: Movers, but hopefully not shakers (VANS). You don't want a moving VAN to shake your boxes of fine china.
  
• Hey, I never knew this: 48D: Italian for "frozen" is GELATO. Gelid is a high-end vocabulary word meaning "icy" that's related. Opera fans may recognize the La Boheme aria "Che gelida manina," which is about Mimi's cold hands. (Why has no one written a song about my cold hands?) Despite GELATO and gelatin looking so similar, apparently the latter derives from a Latin word for "jelly."

Everything Else — 1A: Often dramatic number (ARIA); 5A: Dumps (SCRAP HEAPS); 15A: Finds fault with (RAPS); 16A: Dashiell Hammett's last novel (THE THIN MAN); 17A: Marsh critter (CROC); 18A: Tubeless and with no moving parts, electronically (SOLID STATE); 19A: Site of the mythical Lethe River (HADES); 21A: Little foxes (KITS); 25A: Trout spot (BROOK); 26A: Personification (AVATAR); 27A: How to see the obvious (PLAINLY); 29A: Feminine force (YIN); 30A: Speed limit posting, e.g. (ROAD SIGN); 33A: Lawn strip (SOD); 35A: Acknowledge silently (NOD AT); 36A: Obtain (GET); 39A: Wearing a bolero (JACKETED); 42A: Lab alert? (GRR); 44A: Some modern tribal operations (CASINOS); 47A: Grammy category (REGGAE); 49A: Recline next to (LIE BY); 50A: Blush, for one (COSMETIC); 52A: River to the Ligurian Sea (ARNO); 53A: Playback machines, briefly (VCRS); 55A: Move (away), like a coward (SLINK); 59A: Juvenile retort (AM SO); 61A: Prom dancer (TEEN); 62A: Very slow rate (SNAIL'S PACE); 1D: Majestic entrance (ARCHWAY); 5D: Bourbon and Sesame: Abbr. (STS.); 6D: Require the Heimlich maneuver (CHOKE); 7D: Kindled again (RELIT); 8D: Busting one's hump (AT IT); 9D: Profs' degrees (PH.D.'S); 10D: Casual greetings (HIS); 11D: Recording, as in a journal (ENTERING); 13D: Cop's duty (PATROL); 14D: Double-dealing (SNEAKY); 20D: Franco-German border region (SAAR); 24D: Rodeo mount (BRONCO); 25D: Specialty, slangily (BAG); 27D: Three-part H.S. exam (PSAT); 28D: Some water bottles (LITERS); 31D: NASA go-aheads (A-OKS); 32D: '50s pres. (DDE); 37D: Boggle accessory (EGG TIMER); 38D: Toy with an engine (TRAIN SET); 40D: Vague amount (ANY); 41D: 32-Down wasn't one of them (DEMS); 43D: S'poses (RECKONS); 44D: They may be staked (CLAIMS); 45D: Aviator (AIRMAN); 46D: Chihuahua female (SEÑORA); 50D: Espresso foam (CREMA); 51D: Courtier in "Hamlet" (OSRIC); 54D: Fellow (CHAP); 57D: '80s band '__ Tuesday (TIL); 58D: Language suffix (-ESE).

FRIDAY, Sep. 4, 2009 — Barry C. Silk

THEME: What's that noise? — HUM is added to the beginning of familiar phrases, creating wacky phrases, which are clued "?"-style.

I should not be able to do a Barry Silk Friday puzzle in under five minutes. Well under five minutes. I would love it if we could jack up the late-week difficulty a tad now. Syndicated solvers should have had time to acclimate to the editorial style of the LAT by now. Time to open up the deep end of the pool again. Clever theme from Mr. Silk, though probably more appropriate to a Wednesday-level puzzle. Once you figure out the theme, those remaining theme answers are really easy to get. I had HUMV- in place before seeing the clue, so I knew it had to go HUMVEE ... and then the "?" told me something wacky was going on, and the first word I could think of to follow VEE was FORMATION. And it fit. Done. Backed into the next theme answer. With -NGVASE in place I knew it had to be HUMMINGVASE. And so on. Stumpers today included HCH (29A: FDR predecessor) — as of right now, I have no idea what the "C" in Hoover's name stands for (it's Clark)— and, for no good reason, PUCKS (5A: Sports disks that can reach speeds of more than 100 miles per hour after being struck), which took me longer than any other answer to get. Last thing in the grid. Had -U-KS and couldn't make any sense of it. [After being struck] feels redundant. I think it's safe to assume that a disk involved in a sport is not self-propelled.



Theme answers:

• 17A: Military vehicle arrangement? (HUMVEE FORMATION)
• 24A: Flower holder that carries a tune? (HUMMING VASE)
• 43A: Ordinary dinner bread? (HUMDRUM ROLL) — rough, as meaning of ROLL shifts here (as it does not shift for VASE or FORMATION or REPLLENT)
• 56A: Chemical that keeps the baloney out? (HUMBUG REPELLENT)

Lots of cool, jaunty little two-word phrases in this one, including PIE TIN (5D: Bakery container), UP NEXT (45D: On deck), U.S. FLAG (6D: Old Glory), and MIX IN (26D: Add to the concoction). I had some concoction last night where the bartender took Maker's Mark and then MIXed IN ... I forget. Bitters? A cherry? It all came in a martini glass and was mmm mmm good. Daughter had milk on the rocks. We made quite a sophisticated pair. We then proceeded to talk about Greek mythology ad nauseam — she is really into the Percy Jackson books, and by "is really into" I mean "walks around reading," "falls asleep reading," "won't put down," etc.

Crosswordese 101: SKYE (63A: Terrier type) — SKYE is also an island off the northwest coast of Scotland, "... the largest and most northerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland." Also the last name of actress IONE SKYE. I believe the IONE/IONA distinction has been covered in another Crosswordese 101 write-up. The IOLA/IOLE distinction will have to wait for another day.

What else?:

• 35A: 45 years after William I invaded England (MCXI) — FAIL clue.
• 60A: Alamo first name (Davy) — Who knew DAVY Jones was at the Alamo?

• 41D: Title hero in a 1951 opera commissioned for television (Amahl) — possibly the subject of a future Crosswordese 101 segment. "AMAHL and the Night Visitors" is the name of this TV opera, composed by GIAN CARLO MENOTTI.

See you Monday,

~RP

[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter]

Everything Else — 1A: Langley et al.: Abbr. (AFBS); 5A: Sports disks that can reach speeds of more than 100 miles per hour after being struck (PUCKS); 10A: Steinbeck hero Tom (JOAD); 14A: Hint (CLUE); 15A: R&B family name (ISLEY); 16A: Magazine name that's also a pronoun (ELLE); 17A: Military vehicle arrangement? (HUMVEE FORMATION); 20A: How pros do things (EXPERTLY); 21A: "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance" singer (PITNEY); 22A: Through (VIA); 23A: Sacred (HOLY); 24A: Flower holder that carries a tune? (HUMMING VASE); 29A: FDR predecessor (HCH); 32A: __ rings (ONION); 33A: During (AMID); 34A: Revelatory, as a moment (AHA); 35A: 45 years after William I invaded England (MCXI); 36A: Mexican eatery staple (SALSA); 38A: One of the Four Corners states: Abbr. (ARIZ.); 39A: Biblical judge (ELI); 40A: Draped attire (SARI); 41A: Jobs creation (APPLE); 42A: Craving (YEN); 43A: Ordinary dinner bread? (HUMDRUM ROLL); 46A: Low pitch (BASS); 47A: MPG rating group (EPA); 48A: City with a University of Washington campus (TACOMA); 51A: Street entrances (MANHOLES); 56A: Chemical that keeps the baloney out? (HUMBUG REPELLENT); 58A: Get from __: advance slightly (A TO B); 59A: English county bordering Suffolk (ESSEX); 60A: Alamo first name (DAVY); 61A: He sings "Maria" in "West Side Story" (TONY); 62A: Get going (START); 63A: Terrier type (SKYE); 1D: Pang (ACHE); 2D: Continuous change (FLUX); 3D: Speed __ (BUMP); 4D: Golf's Ballesteros (SEVE); 5D: Bakery container (PIE TIN); 6D: Old Glory (US FLAG); 7D: Sate (CLOY); 8D: Plop lead-in (KER-); 9D: Academic conferences (SYMPOSIA); 10D: Breakwater (JETTY); 11D: Lena of "Havana" (OLIN); 12D: Soothing skin treatment (ALOE); 13D: Opposite of grant (DENY); 18D: Watergate senator Sam (ERVIN); 19D: Didn't feel well (AILED); 23D: Canned meats (HAMS); 24D: Warm and comfy (HOMEY); 25D: Family reunion attendee (UNCLE); 26D: Add to the concoction (MIX IN); 27D: French pronoun (MOI); 28D: Logically sound (VALID); 29D: Silent film star? (HARPO); 30D: Relax, slangily (CHILL); 31D: Eye shade (HAZEL); 36D: Kielbasas, e.g. (SAUSAGES); 37D: Pentagon topic (ARMS); 38D: Auto loan letters (APR); 40D: SeaWorld favorite (SHAMU); 41D: Title hero in a 1951 opera commissioned for television (AMAHL); 44D: Grim figure? (REAPER); 45D: On deck (UP NEXT); 46D: Ewing whose ex-wife dreamt an entire season of "Dallas" (BOBBY); 48D: "Imagine __!" (THAT); 49D: Monte Carlo, e.g. (AUTO); 50D: "Let's go!" ("C'MON!"); 51D: Monument Valley sight (MESA); 52D: Cutlass automaker (OLDS); 53D: Security problem (LEAK); 54D: It's a sin (ENVY); 55D: Eye sore (STYE); 57D: 18, 19 and 20 in a series (RST).

THURSDAY, September 3, 2009 — Daniel A. Finan

Theme: "Parts of Speech" — The first three letters of each theme answer are "parts" of the word "speech."

Theme answers:

• 17A: Where to hear letters recited (SPELLING BEE).
• 30A: Lady Godiva spotter (PEEPING TOM).
• 45A: "anyone lived in a pretty how town" poet (E. E. CUMMINGS).
• 62A: Recording studio feature (ECHO CHAMBER).
• 37A: Grammar elements, or what the first three letters of 17-, 30-, 45- and 62-Across literally are (PARTS OF SPEECH).

Having some technical difficulties in the PuzzleHousehold today so this probably won't be terribly long. Firefox has decided to stop working for me so I'm using Safari, which I'm sure is a fine, fine browser but I'm totally not used to it. Plus, it doesn't have all my bookmarks and stuff, so I'm not moving quite as quickly as I usually am. Ach! (23A: German "Alas!").

Crosswordese 101: Speaking of ACH, let's make that our crosswordese word of the day. In CrossWorld, this is the exclamation German-speaking people use to mean "Oy!" or "Uff da!" or "Egad!" I don't know if it's actually common in Germany. I have a feeling it's not, but no matter. What you want to be looking for in the clue is a hint to the German-ness of the answer and word that signifies lamentation. So: Oktoberfest "Oh!"; "Alas!" in Austria; Deutschland "D'oh!" The tricky clues you might see for this word include "Hamburger beef," and "Rhine whine."

Here's what's kind of a bummer about the theme: It's hard to explain. That's never good, but it doesn't necessarily mean the theme is bad. Here's what's awesome about the theme's execution: Reading the theme answers from top to bottom, their first three letters actually go through the word "speech" in the correct order: SPE, PEE, EEC, ECH. (Heh heh. I said pee.) I'm thinking this could not have been a super easy theme to (a) come up with and (b) turn into an actual puzzle.

Bullets:

• 14A: Irish writer who said "Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much" (WILDE). He's your go-to Irish writer.
• 28A: Oscar Madison, e.g. (SLOB). When I moved to New York a hundred years ago, the first celebrity I saw on the street was Tony Randall. When my parents moved to New York a few years later, the first celebrity they saw was Jack Klugman.
• 50A: "The Shining" climax setting (MAZE). I sort of shivered as I wrote in the answer to this one. I can't think of very many things creepier than the whole typing "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" scene. Oh man. I've totally creeped myself out by typing that.
• 6D: Commercial tune (JINGLE).



• 12D: Ravel classic (BOLERO). Is it bad that the first thing I think of when I see this answer is Bo Derek?

• 22D: Wrestling partners (TAG TEAM). This is, of course, referring to professional wrestling, which isn't real wrestling. I can't stress that enough. When I want to see real wrestling (which is more often than you might think) I watch college wrestling. I'm telling you those boys are tough, disciplined, and fit. Athletes in every sense of the word. Wrestling season is starting up any day now and I'll be traveling to several meets/tournaments. Go Hawks!
• 29D: Hamilton is its capital (BERMUDA). I did not know that.
• 40D: Candy in a red and blue wrapper (CLARK BAR). I thought the wrapper was orange.

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Everything Else — 1A: Savory gelatin (ASPIC); 6A: Green gems (JADES); 11A: Delivery experts, briefly (OBS); 15A: All thumbs (INEPT); 16A: One of the Three Stooges (MOE); 19A: Pipe with a bend (ELL); 20A: Sending to overtime, as a game (TYING); 21A: Avoided a trial (SETTLED); 25A: Word sung after a ball drops (AULD); 27A: Prefix with sol (AERO-); 34A: Arena for MacArthur (KOREA); 36A: Have in the crosshairs (AIM AT); 42A: Wavy design (MOIRE); 43A: Tossed course (SALAD); 51A: Tuber with eyes (SPUD); 52A: Harness the wind, in a way (SAIL); 54A: Deli choice (RYE); 55A: Colossal (TITANIC); 59A: Move with stealth (SKULK); 61A: __ Miss (OLE); 66A: Like nos. above zero (POS.); 67A: "Later!" ("SEE YA!"); 68A: Take a piece from? (UNARM); 69A: Bilko's rank: Abbr. (SGT.); 70A: __ throat (STREP); 71A: Wounds (SORES); 1D: Cribside chorus (AWS); 2D: Drink slowly (SIP); 3D: Teeming amount (PLETHORA); 4D: One way to sit by (IDLY); 5D: Salsa singer Cruz (CELIA); 7D: Director Lee (ANG); 8D: Balls' belles (DEBS); 9D: Olympics event with swords (EPÉE); 10D: Proofer's mark (STET); 11D: Denver __ (OMELET); 13D: Not often (SELDOM); 18D: __ to one's neck (IN UP); 23D: Be inquisitive (ASK); 24D: Hoof-on-cobblestones sound (CLOP); 26D: Overwhelms with noise (DEAFENS); 31D: Sorority letters (PIS); 32D: Troublemaker (IMP); 33D: Some Scottish Parliament votes (NAES); 35D: Subject for Bohr (ATOM); 38D: __City (computer game) (SIM); 39D: "... __ quit!" (OR I); 41D: Vague (HAZY); 44D: Actress Sandra (DEE); 45D: Legally impedes (ESTOPS); 46D: Novel postscript (EPILOG); 47D: Most likely to elicit 1-Down (CUTEST); 48D: It's removed at the pump (GAS CAP); 49D: Follower of Guru Nanak (SIKH); 53D: Maui shindigs (LUAUS); 56D: Untouchables leader (NESS); 57D: "Law & Order: SVU" actor (ICE-T); 58D: Grammy winner for "Believe" (CHER); 60D: Pre-P queue (LMNO); 63D: Luis's "Listen up!" ("OYE!"); 64D: Afore (ERE); 65D: Inn offerings: Abbr. (RMS.).

WEDNESDAY, September 2, 2009—Jerome Gunderson

THEME: "I'm a Changed Man"—Two pairs of celebrities with size-related first names swap names

Theme answers:

• 18A: "Little" comedian's big brother? (HULK HERMAN). Pee-wee Herman is the comic alter ego of Paul Reubens. I loves me some Pee-wee.
  
  
  
  
• 26A: "Big" wrestler's little brother? (PEE-WEE HOGAN). I get Hulk Hogan mixed up with Jesse Ventura. Did they both sport ginormous droopy mustaches? Or is that just Hulk? And no, I've never seen the reality show featuring Hulk and his daughter.
  
• 44A: "Thin" character actor's big brother? (FATS PICKENS). Slim Pickens is...a silly name. And that's really all I know about him. He has a name that sounds like "slim pickings." Slim Whitman was on '70s TV commercials for K-Tel compilations or something. He's my go-to Slim.
  
• 56A: "Heavy" R&B singer's little brother? (SLIM DOMINO). Luckily, Fats Domino survived Hurricane Katrina four years ago. We all know "Blueberry Hill," so let's go with "Ain't That a Shame":

Crosswordese 101: Today, let's talk about hardware. Sometimes RASP is clued as the sound and sometimes it's the tool. Where are the screwdriver, pliers, wrench, and hammer? They're too long to be crosswordese. But PEENS seems to show up far more often in the puzzle than in my tool-related discourse. You know how there's a ball-peen hammer? PEENS are 32D: Hammerhead part. If you are snickering like a 14-year-old about the words "peen" and "tool" (and don't even look at the 41 clue) come sit with me and we'll snicker together.

And now, my favorite clues and answers:

• 41A: "Horrors!" ("OH NO!"). Answer and clue alike are approximately 7,000 times better in a crossword than AH ME or OH ME, both of which I've seen used.
  
• 52A: Trivial (PIDDLING). Who doesn't love a word like PIDDLING? What's weird is that piddle means urinate...so I guess it would be redundant to call someone a piddling pissant.
  
• 2D: "Star Trek" navigator (SULU). Played by John Cho in this summer's movie. That movie wasn't half bad.
  
• 9D: Slangy word of indifference (MEH). This is a fairly new word, with possible Simpsons roots. As crossword fill goes, I say "yay" to MEH but "meh" to PEENS.
  
• 30D: Courage, in slang (MOXIE). And a big "yay" to MOXIE. "You've got moxie, kiddo!" Love the moxie.

Everything Else — 1A: PDQ relative (ASAP); 5A: Violin virtuoso Zimbalist (EFREM); 10A: Out of harm's way (SAFE); 14A: "To Sir With Love" singer (LULU); 15A: Decorative sofa fabric (TOILE); 16A: Dagger handle (HILT); 17A: Narrow cut (SLIT); 20A: Blink later than, in a contest (OUTSTARE); 22A: Scooter favored by '60s British mods (VESPA); 23A: "That __ hay!" (AIN'T); 24A: Was indebted to (OWED); 30A: Road trip guide (MAP); 33A: Homeric epic (ILIAD); 34A: Liberal faction, with "the" (LEFT); 35A: Valuable rock (ORE); 36A: Whirling water (EDDY); 37A: Streaker with a tail (COMET); 39A: Grease target (AXLE); 40A: So-so test grade (CEE); 42A: Tabloid creature (ALIEN); 43A: Mess up (ERR); 47A: Big hair style (AFRO); 48A: Conscription category (ONE-A); 49A: Words of sympathy (I CARE); 59A: Computer symbol (ICON); 60A: Put in the hold (LADE); 61A: Piebald horse (PINTO); 62A: River through Saint Petersburg (NEVA); 63A: Gave the once-over (EYED); 64A: Libidinous deity (SATYR); 65A: State, to Sarkozy (ETAT); 1D: Likewise (ALSO); 3D: Got down (ALIT); 4D: Saves (PUTS AWAY); 5D: Odorless gas (ETHANE); 6D: Stick shift gear (FOURTH); 7D: Irritate (RILE); 8D: Yellowstone grazer (ELK); 10D: Destroy, as a paper trail (SHRED); 11D: Intentions (AIMS); 12D: Brouhaha (FLAP); 13D: Europe's highest active volcano (ETNA); 19D: It's what's happening (EVENT); 21D: Made, as a knot (TIED); 24D: Decoratively curved molding (OGEE); 25D: Drift gently (WAFT); 26D: Pie serving (PIECE); 27D: Church leader (ELDER); 28D: Sea duck with prized plumage (EIDER); 29D: "American Me" actor/director Edward James __ (OLMOS); 31D: Senator Specter (ARLEN); 37D: Burn slightly (CHAR); 38D: Not fooled by (ONTO); 39D: Like some batteries (ALKALINE); 41D: Rubbed out, gangster style (OFFED); 42D: Did very well on (ACED); 45D: Like a spitz's ears (POINTY); 46D: Not alfresco (INDOOR); 47D: Packing heat (ARMED); 49D: Key (ISLE); 50D: Modeling medium (CLAY); 51D: Assistant (AIDE); 52D: Pub order (PINT); 53D: Hip-hopper born Tracy Marrow (ICE-T); 54D: Source of a stellar explosion (NOVA); 55D: Pesky biter (GNAT); 57D: Special __: military force (OPS); 58D: "Mamma __!" (MIA).

TUESDAY, September 1, 2009 — Sharon Petersen

Theme: "Wild Nights" — Theme answers are familiar phrases that begin with a word that can follow the word wild in another familiar phrase.

Theme answers:

• 17A: Stealthy felon (CAT BURGLAR).
• 61A: Apartment building emergency exit (FIRE ESCAPE).
• 11D: Wedding party tyke (FLOWER GIRL).
• 28D: Boating safety feature (LIFE JACKET).
• 68A: Untamed, and word that can precede the starts of 17- and 61-Across and 11- and 28-Down (WILD).

Crosswordese 101: Not much crosswordese to choose from today (which is awesome!), so let's talk about frequent headliner at the CrossWorld Jazz Lounge, ETTA James. She will almost always be clued like she is today — 3D: James of jazz. The thing is that you can't be fooled by thinking James is a first name! If James and jazz are in the clue, chances are it's ETTA you want.

This puzzle came together very smoothly for me and I really enjoyed it. Not a lot of snap to the theme entries, except for CAT BURGLAR, which is awesome. And I'm not sure I love the resulting phrase "wild life," but okay. There wasn't anything super flashy about the fill either, but there was enough good stuff to make it an above-average Tuesday in my book. SAY CHEESE (36D: Photographer's request) has shown up in puzzles before, but not very often so it felt pretty fresh to me. And it's symmetrical with SERENADES (5D: Woos with song), which is also a nice entry. I was able to get my pop culture on with ELAINE (20A: Friend of Jerry and George — love her!), Nora EPHRON (56A: "Sleepless in Seattle" director Nora), LONI Anderson (23A: Anderson of "WKRP in Cincinnati") and EWAN McGregor (22A: McGregor of "Angels & Demons"). I know some people don't like names in their puzzle, but I always do.

• 10A: Calif. cop org. (SFPD). Is it sad that I only associate the San Francisco Police Department with Dirty Harry?

• 15A: Birdie beater (EAGLE). Golf!
• 37A: Battle of Britain defense gp. (RAF). Royal Air Force.
• 1D: Dark purple (PUCE). Ugliest color name ever.
• 9D: Big name in mattresses (SERTA). When it comes to mattresses, it's going to be SERTA or Sealy so you can fill in the SE and wait for the crosses.
• 33D: First mate? (ADAM). Love it that Adam Lambert made his first crossword appearance over the weekend and would like to see more of him!

• 38D: "The World According to __": John Irving novel (GARP). I you haven't read Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany, do yourself a favor and check it out. I guess I'm an Irving fan in that I've read six of his books, including the 800+-page monstrosity Until I Find You. I swear I'm not saying this to be funny, but if you can make it through the drudgery of the first 400 pages, the last half of the book is excellent.
• 39D: Cheyenne-to-Omaha direction (EAST). Love it that this isn't a random combination of N, S, E, or W.
• 57D: Sitarist Shankar (RAVI). Did you know that Norah Jones is his daughter? I saw it in a crossword puzzle so it must be true.
• 58D: European auto (OPEL). If you had trouble with this, you might want to review Rex's Crosswordese 101 lesson here.

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Everything Else — 1A: Wordsworth work (POEM).; 5A: Pipe organ knobs (STOPS).; 14A: __ snuff (UP TO).; 16A: Ballerina's bend (PLIE).; 19A: Very small amount (IOTA).; 21A: Tonsillitis MD (ENT).; 25A: Cannes cup (TASSE).; 27A: Flamenco yell (OLÉ).; 29A: Elementary school basics (ABCS).; 31A: Left ventricle outlet (AORTA).; 34A: "__ Old Man": kids' song (THIS).; 35A: "Gloria in Excelsis __" (DEO).; 36A: The Greeks' Helios, e.g. (SUN GOD).; 38A: "Oh, be serious!" ("GET REAL!").; 40A: Call __ day (IT A).; 41A: Sports spots (ARENAS).; 43A: Like Paree, in song (GAY).; 44A: Jam-pack (CRAM).; 45A: Captain's superior (MAJOR).; 46A: Grab bag category: Abbr. (MISC.).; 47A: Heart and soul (ALL).; 48A: Pie fruit (APPLE).; 50A: So (THUS).; 52A: Table salt, to a chemist (NACL).; 54A: Lupino of film (IDA).; 60A: __-Seltzer (ALKA).; 63A: Blueprint detail, briefly (SPEC).; 64A: White-tie accompanier (TAILS).; 65A: Finished (OVER).; 66A: Handy bag (TOTE).; 67A: Sidewinder, e.g. (SNAKE).; 2D: October gemstone (OPAL).; 4D: Art pieces that hang from the ceiling (MOBILES).; 6D: Game with an "it" (TAG).; 7D: Stare at obviously (OGLE).; 8D: Herbs and shrubs (PLANTS).; 10D: Watches secretly (SPIES ON).; 12D: Bread with tabbouleh (PITA).; 13D: Martin of the Rat Pack (DEAN).; 18D: Family card game (UNO).; 24D: "Not likely!" ("I BET!").; 26D: Nobelist Bellow (SAUL).; 27D: Butler's love (O'HARA).; 30D: Short-legged Welsh pooch (CORGI).; 32D: Do sum work (TOTAL).; 34D: Streetcar cousin (TRAM).; 42D: "There's __ like home" (NO PLACE).; 44D: Consistent moneymaker (CASH COW).; 46D: Middle of the road (MEDIAN).; 49D: Picks up (LIFTS).; 51D: Favorable times (UPS).; 52D: Democrat's donkey designer (NAST).; 53D: Chop House dog food maker (ALPO).; 55D: Diva's solo (ARIA).; 59D: Uncool sort (NERD).; 62D: Moose, to a European (ELK).