F R I D A Y September 10, 2010 Jack McInturff

Theme: Someone's gonna poke an EY out — Familiar phrases omit the letters EY, creating wacky new phrases clued wackily.


Theme answers:

• 20A: Faultfinding brother? (MONK ON ONE'S BACK).
• 29A: Debris in the hayloft? (BARN RUBBLE).
• 38A: Impervious to chutzpah? (GALLPROOF).
• 50A: What Michelle Kwan might do in a financial emergency? (HOCK SKATES).
• 59A: Haystack-hiding Ottoman? (TURK IN THE STRAW).

Today we're going straight to …

Bullets:

• 11A: Short nightwear? (PJ'S). It's not that the nightwear is short in length, it's that the word for nightwear we're looking for here is a shortened form. I.e., PJ'S for "pajamas."

• 17A: "Big Girl in the Middle" co-author Gabrielle (REECE). She's a professional beach volleyball player married to a professional surfer. I'm sure they both work really hard at their jobs, but I have to say it sounds a little bit like a charmed life.
• 23A: Spat end (-ULA). I entered "ter" at first. Besides being wrong, that's a terrible answer.
• 34A: Shivering causes (FEARS). All I could think of was temperature but couldn't find anything to fit. Had to get this one through crosses.
• 42A: Jordan was part of it: Abbr. (NBA). HAha! This one totally tricked me. Thought it was referring to the Kingdom of Jordan not His Airness, Michael Jordan.
• 55A: First daughter of the '60s (LUCI). That would be Luci Baines Johnson.
• 65A: MGM motto word (ARS). MGM's motto is "ARS Gratia Artis," Latin for "Art for art's sake." Personally, I prefer Ubu Productions' motto "Sit, Ubu, sit!"

• 68A: Blow without distinction? (JOE). As in the phrase "any old Joe Blow…." Good clue.
• 73A: Finishing stroke (SERIF). Mmmm … typography.
• 6D: Arizona's "Red Rocks Country" (SEDONA). Beautiful!
• 12D: Nocturnal scavengers (JACKALS). I know SethG wasn't thrilled about the first theme answer. He's not a fan of familiar phrases that are generally directed at "you" being changed to "one." You know what he does like, though? This.



• 13D: Friday was one: Abbr. (SGT.). Jack Webb's character Joe Friday from Dragnet, which I just learned right this moment was a radio show before it was on television.
• 26D: Stars of "Two and a Half Men," e.g. (HES). Just becuase you can pluralize any word, doesn't mean you should.
• 40D: Airport near Citi Field, briefly (LGA). LGA is the code for New York's LaGuardia Airport.

• 41D: Dandy (FOP). FOP is an awesome awesome word. I don't have enough FOPs in my life. Or cads. I need more FOPs and cads.
• 48D: Sharon, notably (ISRAELI). This an example of the old pronunciation trick. Ariel Sharon (pronounced like share-OWN) is a former Israeli Prime Minister.
• 49D: London classic, with "The" (SEA-WOLF). Okay, this is how dumb I am. I had No Idea what this meant until I was reading through the clues and answer in preparation for writing this post. I'm thinking it's the name of a famous ship that's docked in England? Maybe the nickname of a famous British sailor? No. It's the name of a book. A classic book — it even says that in the clue! — written by Jack London.
• 63D: Ohio State basketball coach Matta (THAD). I'm not really up on my college basketball coaches but this guy seems to have had an impressive career. Despite the fact that he started out playing for the Hoopeston-East Lynn High School Cornjerkers in Hoopeston, Illinois.

Crosswordese 101: ROCS are … 9D: Mythical birds. Ta-da! Big surprise, right? Okay, how else might you see ROC clued? How about "Arabian Nights" bird, Sinbad's transport, or mythical/fabled/legenday predator/flier. It has been clued twice this year in the New York Times as Jay-Z's hip-hop label ROC-A-Fella Records. So you might want to watch out for that clue as well.

Other crosswordese in the puzzle that we've already covered:

• 36A: Each (A POP).
• 8D: Wheelset component (AXLE).
• 22D: Tirana is its cap. (ALB.).
• 28D: Work unit (ERG).
• 51D: Cassis apéritif (KIR).

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Everything Else — 1A: Spread __ (EAGLE); 6A: Rises to great heights (SOARS); 14A: Series (ARRAY); 15A: Speedpass brand (EXXON); 16A: Space in time (LAG); 18A: Longtime DieHard rival (DELCO); 19A: Fake it (ACT); 24A: Carmelite, e.g. (NUN); 25A: Daughter of Laban (LEAH); 27A: Lighten up (FADE); 37A: WWII intelligence gp. (OSS); 45A: Dreamcast maker (SEGA); 46A: Dona __ pacem: grant us peace (NOBIS); 54A: Pretense (POSE); 56A: Boomer's kid (X'ER); 58A: Basso Berberian (ARA); 66A: D-Day beach (OMAHA); 67A: Wedding memento (VIDEO); 69A: Not fresh (BANAL); 70A: Green shampoo (PRELL); 71A: Balaam's beast (ASS); 72A: Radiate (EXUDE); 1D: Canal protector (EAR MUFF); 2D: Colorful rings (AREOLAE); 3D: Caribbean island nation (GRENADA); 4D: Dearth (LACK); 5D: "__ America Tour": 2006 CBS News event (EYE ON); 7D: Team members (OXEN); 10D: Arty type, maybe (SNOB); 11D: Controversial testing component (PLACEBO); 21D: Heart (NUB); 30D: Knock on (RAP AT); 31D: "Fresh Air" airer (NPR); 32D: Friend of Pooh (ROO); 33D: Knowledgeable about (UPON); 35D: Reason for grounding, perhaps (SASS); 39D: Coin in Tirana (LEK); 42D: Sabres' org. (NHL); 43D: Former U.N. secretary-general __-Ghali (BOUTROS); 44D: Charges (ACCUSES); 47D: One taken in (BOARDER); 52D: Yoga command (EXHALE); 53D: Date (SEE); 57D: Requested answers (RSVP'S); 60D: Eastern beef city (KOBE); 61D: It gives you the big picture (IMAX); 62D: Half a sitcom signoff (NANU); 64D: Flag (TIRE); 65D: Grammy-winning Steely Dan album (AJA).

T H U R S D A Y September 9, 2010 John "Doppler" Schiff

Theme: Flip-Flop — The words in familiar two-word phrases are reversed.


Theme answers:

• 17A: Excessive pride in one's china? (PLATE VANITY).
• 26A: Brawl during a game of musical chairs? (SEAT RUMBLE).
• 36A: What Winfrey couldn't do during a noted couch-jumping episode? (CONTROL CRUISE).
• 51A: Zorro's chamois? (BLADE WIPER).
• 61A: Cassette deck feature, and a hint to this puzzle's theme (AUTO REVERSE).

Cute them, nice puzzle today. I wasn't crazy about starting right off with a partial at 1-Across ("I WALK the Line"), but I think I'll let it go because it's Johnny Cash. I then had a quick misstep at 6-Across also. It's so not fair that both of Ringo STARR's names are five letters long. And who ever calls him STARR? I always try "Ringo" first and it's very rarely correct. (It's 3–4 times more likely to be STARR, actually. Those are just good letters!) By the time I got to the N in Ringo, I glanced at the clue for 6D: Clinton's department and knew that I had been tricked again. (Hillary Clinton is, of course, the U.S. Secretary of STATE.)

So what should we talk about?

• 19A: A storm might delay it: Abbr. (ARR.). Oh yeah, this one was tricky for me too. Tried ETD first, thinking to myself "Of course, it might just as well be ETA." Totally forgot about ARR. Arrgh!

• 34A: Bolt, e.g. (EAT). So funny. All I could think of was the Bolt Bus, a really cheap bus line that runs from Washington, D.C. to Boston (with stops in Baltimore, Philly, and New York). I've taken it a couple times. It's not too bad. And the price is definitely right. But this was a totally different meaning of "bolt." See also 2D: Gobbled (WOLFED).
• 41A: Case, for instance: Abbr. (SYN.). We were not fooled by this one today, were we? (The words "case" and "instance" can be SYNonyms.)
• 55A: Chihuahua child (NIÑO). I tried "nene" here, like a big dope. "Nene" has been clued as the word for "baby" in Spain, like, twice. So I thought I was being so clever. Never mind that Chihuahua is in Mexico.
• 3D: 2009 James Cameron blockbuster (AVATAR). You all have probably seen this already, but I think it's hilarious, so I'll post it here anyway.



• 9D: Accel.'s opposite, in music (RIT.). That would be "accelerando" (speed up) and "ritardando" (slow down).
• 18D: It drops with fog: Abbr. (VIS.). Didn't we just have this hideous abbreviation recently?

• 25D: Jerry's comedy partner (DEAN). I think I saw the other "Jerry's partner" clue first (63D: Jerry's partner), which I wanted to be "Ben" but was TOM. Then with this one, I thought it would be a comedy duo that goes by the comedians' two names (like Laurel & Hardy, Abbott & Costello, Stiller & Meara). I guess this is Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin who obviously worked together, but I forgot that they were "partners."
• 36D: Twisters (CYCLONES). Also Iowa State University's mascot. Boo!!!
• 46D: "Gracias" response (DE NADA). This is how I learned to respond to "gracias" when I first started picking up Spanish. I've noticed, though, that when we're in Costa Rica, the typical response is "Con mucho gusto," and the other night at Chipotle when PuzzleDaughter thanked the cashier in Spanish, she said "Por nada." I'm guessing it's a regional thing.
• 50D: Word-for-word reference? (ROGET'S). Nice clue!

Crosswordese 101: Wikipedia explains that ORC "is a word used to refer to various races of tough and warlike humanoid creatures in various fantasy setting." In crossword puzzles, and particularly in the L.A. Times, ORC is almost always clued with a reference to J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings." Except for today, where it's clued simply as a 43A: Middle-earth monster.

Other crosswordese in the puzzle that we've already covered:

• 15A: She played Adrian in "Rocky" (TALIA).
• 59A: Sheet with beats, for short (EKG).
• 68A: Marshall Plan pres. (HST).
• 34D: Trains overhead (ELS).
• 45D: Fishing village that became Tokyo (EDO).
• 62D: Alleged spoon-bender Geller (URI).
• 64D: Sushi fish (EEL).

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Everything Else — 11A: "Gosh!" ("GEE!"); 14A: Trailer follower (MOVIE); 16A: Cellular transmitter (RNA); 20A: Sailor's rear (AFT); 21A: Sorrowful comment (PITY); 22A: Congo neighbor (GABON); 24A: Coveted role (LEAD); 29A: Relevant, in law (AD REM); 31A: Tuxedos, often (RENTALS); 32A: Power source size (AAA); 35A: Acquire (GET); 42A: Apt. ad spec (RMS.); 44A: Followed, as an impulse (ACTED ON); 47A: Respectful refusal (NO SIR); 56A: B on a table (BORON); 57A: High, to Henri (HAUT); 60A: Filmmaker Lee (ANG); 65A: Ball-bearing device (TEE); 66A: Queen's mate (DRONE); 67A: Reason for a raise (MERIT); 69A: Sighted (AIMED); 70A: Thicke and Rickman (ALANS); 1D: Savanna leaper (IMPALA); 4D: Burning (LIT); 5D: Medieval castle tower (KEEP); 7D: Tucker of country (TANYA); 8D: "Float like a butterfly" boxer (ALI); 10D: Flash Gordon weapon (RAY GUN); 11D: Random assortments (GRAB BAGS); 12D: Course taker (ENROLLEE); 13D: Not kidding (EARNEST); 23D: Tsp. or tbsp. (AMT.); 27D: __ II razor (TRAC); 28D: Fashionably dated (RETRO); 30D: Gym safety item (MAT); 33D: Feathered flier (ARROW); 37D: In line with the goal (ON TARGET); 38D: Defunct sci-fi magazine (OMNI); 39D: Vase relative (URN); 40D: Clickable pic (ICON); 41D: Day of rest (SABBATH); 48D: High chain (SIERRA); 49D: Finalizes, as a cel (INKS IN); 52D: Cellular transmitter (PHONE); 53D: Like cornstalks (EARED); 54D: Wish one hadn't (RUE); 58D: Adult cable rating (TV-MA).

Bay Area Crossword Tournament This Weekend

If you're anywhere near the Bay Area, you should plan to attend the Bay Area Crossword Tournament this Saturday in Alameda. You'll find all the information you need here. As far as puzzle tournaments go, it's not terribly expensive and all the proceeds go to the California Dictionary Project, which seems like an organization a bunch of Puzzle People can really get behind! Go! Have fun!

W E D N E S D A Y September 8, 2010 Mangesh Sakharam Ghogre

Theme: Now I know my ABCs …. — Theme answers are familiar phrases that begin with the letters A through G.


Theme answers:

• 20A: Elite socialite (A-LISTER).
• 22A: Place for a finance major (B-SCHOOL).
• 27A: Delivery method (C-SECTION).
• 37A: Planned attack times (D-DAYS).
• 48A: Online investing (E-TRADING).
• 54A: Camera lens ratio (F-NUMBER).
• 56A: Bare wear (G-STRING).

This is an awesome idea for a theme. It's too bad D-DAY is so short that it had to be arbitrarily pluralized. I also don't think I've ever heard the phrase F-NUMBER but I'm guessing it's familiar to real photographers (whatever that means). I also wish the outliers LSAT and UCAL (16A: Atty.-to-be's challenge / 63A: Sch. with Riverside and Irvine campuses) hadn't been included. It's much more elegant when none of the non-theme answers fit the theme. But, I want to repeat, I think this is a great idea for a theme and the way the theme answers are laid out in the grid is pretty cool.

The only places I got tripped up were on a couple of the names:

• 1D: Kate of "We Are Marshall" (MARA). Never heard of her.
• 43D: Hall of Fame NFL coach Ewbank (WEEB). Or him.
• 46D: Shakers founder (ANN LEE). This name was back in the cobwebs somewhere, but I needed almost all the crosses for it to emerge.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 17A: Indian princess (RANI).
• 18A: Flightless birds (RHEAS).
• 36A: Pound of poetry (EZRA).
• 50A: Bambi's aunt (ENA).
• 2D: Airline to Ben-Gurion (EL AL).
• 6D: German coal valley (RUHR).
• 7D: Riviera season (ÉTÉ).
• 13D: Inscribed slabs (STELES).
• 39D: Jackie's "O" (ARI).

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Everything Else — 1A: Bit of cat chat (MEOW); 5A: Phobia (DREAD); 10A: Cell signal strength indicators (BARS); 14A: __ mater (ALMA); 15A: Unconventional (OUTRE); 19A: Where some descents start (ACME); 24A: Dick and Harry's leader? (TOM); 25A: __ name: computer ID (USER); 26A: "__ size fits all" (ONE); 31A: Russian coins (RUBLES); 33A: Grinders (HEROS); 34A: 1960s Canadian prime minister Pearson (LESTER); 38A: Middle __ (EAST); 42A: Ironic tales' tails (TWISTS); 44A: Sharapova of tennis (MARIA); 45A: Low parts (BASSES); 51A: "Baseball Tonight" channel (ESPN); 53A: Like some stocks, for short (OTC); 60A: Wasatch Mountains ski resort (ALTA); 61A: Body-care brand named from the Latin for "snow-white" (NIVEA); 64A: Soup vegetable (LEEK); 65A: Stunning weapon (TASER); 66A: Tableland (MESA); 67A: __ majesty (LESE); 68A: Like some bars (SMOKY); 69A: Pitt in films (BRAD); 3D: Prefix with bus (OMNI); 4D: Oxford vests (WAISTCOATS); 5D: Moola (DO-RE-MI); 8D: Emirate natives, mostly (ARABS); 9D: Menu heading (DESSERTS); 10D: Not at all scintillating (BLAH); 11D: Comparable to a cucumber (AS COOL); 12D: Punk rock icon Joey (RAMONE); 21D: Young 'uns (TOTS); 23D: Rock's M*ouml;tley __ (CRÜE); 25D: Yet to be had (UNEATEN); 27D: Revolutionary Guevara (CHE); 28D: "Oh yeah? __ who?" (SEZ); 29D: Misjudge (ERR); 30D: Auto pioneer (OLDS); 32D: Bit of a fairy tale trail (BREAD CRUMB); 35D: Process: Abbr. (SYST.); 37D: Begs to differ (DISSENTS); 40D: Sloth, for one (SIN); 41D: Price indicator (TAG); 44D: Dillon of "There's Something About Mary" (MATT); 45D: Happen to (BEFALL); 47D: Pan-fries (SAUTES); 49D: Prayer beads (ROSARY); 52D: Trojan War king (PRIAM); 55D: Brand (MAKE); 56D: Computer nerd (GEEK); 57D: "Happy birthday" writer, perhaps (ICER); 58D: Org. that reaches for the stars? (NASA); 59D: "I'm __ it's over" (GLAD); 62D: Brandy letters (VSO).

T U E S D A Y September 7, 2010 Donna S. Levin

Theme: Bluer Than Blue — Each theme answer starts with a word that can describe a shade of blue.


Theme answers:

• 20A: 1978 movie set in a Turkish prison (MIDNIGHT EXPRESS).
• 35A: Volatile situation (POWDER KEG).
• 46A: White legumes (NAVY BEANS).
• 57A: Big name in Danish porcelain (ROYAL COPENHAGEN).
• 70A: Shades of it begin this puzzle's four longest answers (BLUE).

I have a hard time believing this theme hasn't been done before, but I don't feel like looking it up so I won't. But even if a theme has been done before, it never hurts to see what Donna can do with it. Today, she made it into a smooth, solid Tuesday puzzle. Just as I suspected she would.

I had the worst time getting started though! I threw WASP in off the bat (1A: Stinging flier) and then started to go backwards through the downs. I blanked on 4D: Carpentry smoother (PLANE), so moved right on to SLED (3D: Winter ride), but when I hit 2D: Car company whose name is Latin for "Hark!" I immediately thought AVIS instead of AUDI. I could see something was wrong, so I looked at the clue for 14A: Seed cover and knew it had to be the crosswordese ARIL. Which didn't work at all. Because it was, ya know, wrong. At that point I glanced down at the first theme answer (MIDNIGHT EXPRESS), which was a total gimme, so I didn't have too much trouble deciding to abandon that corner and come back to it later. The rest of the puzzle was pretty smooth and when I got back up to the northwest, it all became clear.

Misc.:

• 16A: Monetary unit of Cyprus (EURO). I still have to think a minute sometimes to remember the EURO. I still want those European countries to have their own currency for some reason.
• 18A: Repeated question in Matthew (IS IT I). Ooh, this could have been CW101 today. We'll definitely cover it at some point.
• 23A: Part of ESL: Abbr. (ENG.). ENGlish as a Second Language.
• 25A: Evian, e.g. (SPA). Anyone else try "eau" first?
• 39A: Because (SINCE). One of my pet peeves is the use of "since" to mean "because." Hey, we all have 'em, right? Well, that one's mine.

• 52A: "Gilligan's Island" shelters (HUTS). I totally cracked up the other night when a friend of mine posted something about "Gilligan's Island" on his Facebook status and the very next thing on my wall was a message from my aunt, whose profile picture looks like this:
• 67A: Cass's title (MAMA).



• 42D: Pinstriped ALer (N.Y. YANKEE).

• 47D: "Little Women" woman (BETH). Also a cheesy KISS song.
• 49D: Folded (one's hand), in poker slang (MUCKED). I don't play poker enough to have remembered this off the top of my head.
• 61D: Hockey Hall of Famer Phil, to his fans (ESPO). That would be Phil ESPOsito.
• 64D: Hamish's refusals (NAES). Hamish is apparently a common Scottish (first) name, which reminds me of when my friend Sharon was pregnant. They knew they were going to give the baby an Irish name, and Sharon's husband, Patrick, lobbied hard for Seamus for quite a while. It was only later he admitted that the only reason he brought up Seamus was so that anything else would sound good in comparison. Sneaky!

Crosswordese 101: Daniel DEFOE is, just like the clue says, the 72A: "Robinson Crusoe" author. He's almost always clued with a reference to "Robinson Crusoe," although sometimes or one of its characters, "Friday." You might also see a reference to "Moll Flanders." Now, the problem that I have with DEFOE is that I get the spelling confused with Willem DAFOE, an actor who appeared in the Spider-Man movies, "Clear and Present Danger," "The Last Temptation of Christ," and "Platoon." Anyone have a mnemonic to remember which spelling is which? I'm thinking "Crusoe" ends with an E, so maybe that'll trigger the E spelling. Got anything better?

Other crosswordese in the puzzle that we've already covered:

• 24A: One of a "Great" quintet (ERIE).
• 71A: Island garlands (LEIS).
• 21D: "Bus Stop" playwright (INGE).
• 37D: Greek "H" (ETA).
• 58D: Bassoon cousin (OBOE).
• 59D: Legendary Himalayan (YETI).

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Everything Else — 5A: Unifying idea (THEME); 10A: Let the cat out of the bag (BLAB); 15A: "Bolero" composer (RAVEL); 17A: Notion (IDEA); 19A: Dollar dispensers, briefly (ATM'S); 28A: Hotpoint appliances, familiarly (GE'S); 30A: Peppery root veggie (RADISH); 40A: Island feast (LUAU); 41A: Peaceful protest (SIT-IN); 43A: Sgts. and cpls. (NCO'S); 44A: Real estate units (ACRES); 48A: Escaping, with "on" (THE LAM); 50A: Observe narrowly (EYE); 51A: Observe (SEE); 55A: E. Coast border (ATL.); 65A: Early sibling rivalry victim (ABEL); 66A: Mall booth (KIOSK); 68A: Scintilla (IOTA); 69A: Run off to get hitched (ELOPE); 73A: Back talk (SASS); 1D: Caprice (WHIM); 5D: Gun activators (TRIGGERS); 6D: Diner hodgepodge dish (HASH); 7D: Online party notice (EVITE); 8D: Curbside payment collector (METER); 9D: Cure-all mixture (ELIXIR); 10D: Yogi or Boo-Boo (BEAR); 11D: Mandolin relative (LUTE); 12D: Second Amendment subject (ARMS); 13D: Chief (BOSS); 22D: They may be split in soup (PEAS); 25D: Water balloon sound (SPLAT); 26D: Marsupial's pocket (POUCH); 27D: Cognizant (AWARE); 29D: Dermatologist's concern (SKIN); 31D: Eat in style (DINE); 32D: Machu Picchu architects (INCAS); 33D: Pastry at a Devonshire tea (SCONE); 34D: "Siddhartha" author Hermann (HESSE); 36D: Hamilton-Burr engagement (DUEL); 38D: Rhett's last verb (GIVE); 45D: Humorist Mort (SAHL); 53D: Patterned fabric (TOILE); 54D: "SNL" staple (SPOOF); 56D: Symbols of gentleness (LAMBS); 57D: Pool table border (RAIL); 60D: Sighed word (ALAS); 62D: Festive party (GALA); 63D: Avian Aussies (EMUS).

M O N D A Y September 6, 2010 Lila Cherry

Theme: What's black and white and read less and less frequently every day? — Theme answers end with words that can describe parts of a newspaper.


Theme answers:

• 18A: Watch or clock (TIMEPIECE).
• 20A: Second floor of a home, say (UPPER STORY).
• 33A/35A: Real McCoy (GENUINE / ARTICLE).
• 52A: Where to begin adding numbers (ONES COLUMN).
• 54A: Daily publication where you'd read the ends of 18-, 20-, 33/35- and 52-Across (NEWSPAPER).

I'm still a little freaked about learning that the contrusctor of today's New York Times puzzle is also a college wrestling referee. I was pretty sure there weren't any puzzle/wrestling people besides, ya know, me. I can't imagine talking to someone about both puzzles and wrestling. With most people, I can't really talk about either subject. Without them looking at me like I have three heads. Anyway, this is a very cool bit of news. I'm going to have to think about how I can take advantage of it in my quest to take over the world. I'm sure there's a way.

But hey — let's talk about this puzzle. I didn't time myself, but it felt like I blew through it pretty quickly, which is what I expect on Monday of course. The theme is solid, though not incredibly interesting — GENUINE ARTICLE is a nice entry and ONES COLUMN made me chuckle. TIMEPIECE and UPPER STORY don't do much for me, but they're fine. Well, now that I think about, UPPER STORY sounds a little awkward. I would be more likely to say "upper floor" or "second story." But that very well might just be me.

The interesting thing about this puzzle, though, is that it doesn't have much crosswordese at all. We'll talk about ESTER later and we've mentioned AGAPE (17A: Open-mouthed) before, but that's pretty much it.

Bullets:

• 1A: Moved on all fours (CREPT). I kinda wanted "sneek" for this but CREPT is so much better.

• 9A: Action film high point (CHASE). Do people really enjoy the chase scenes? They always bore me.
• 24A: QVC competitor (HSN). I don't know what QVC stands for (if anything), but HSN is Home Shopping Network.
• 29A: Brighton buddy (MATEY). PuzzleDaughter has this new thing where she talks in either a British or Australian accent when we're out in public. When we get out of an elevator, she'll say to the other passengers "g'day, mate" or "cheerio." It's pretty funny.
• 32A: Amt. still owed (BAL.). An amount still owed is a BALance.
• 45A: Bump off (DO IN). I had a heckuva time parsing this one. "DOIN? Shouldn't there be another letter in there somewhere?"

• 51A: Actress Gardner (AVA). I can never remember whether her name is Eva or AVA. And I could swear I just saw her in a puzzle with the E spelling. If I had been paying attention today, of course, I would have noticed EVA PERÓN (3D: Argentine leader played by Madonna) at another spot in the puzzle and realized they couldn't both be spelled the same way.
• 59A: Perrier, to Pierre (EAU). French!
• 60A: Cybercommerce (ETAIL). I can think of another thing ETAIL might mean, but it's completely inappropriate.
• 1D: Civil War org. (CSA). Confederate States of America.
• 13D: Pizazz (ENERGY). I've said it before and I'll say it again. I want four Zs in my PIZZAZZ.
• 36D: Dungeness delicacy (CRAB MEAT). I don't eat seafood so this answer made me hold my nose. And then 37D: Tart dessert (LEMON PIE) made me hurl.
• 53D: Nikki Sixx/Tommy Lee group Mötley __ (CRÜE).

Crosswordese 101: I don't really know what ESTER is, but I know how to recognize an early-week clue for it. Late in the week, clues for ESTER are often examples of ESTER like diglyceride, butyl acetate, banana oil, phosphate, or other science-y sounding things that I can never keep in my brain. Early in the week though? An ESTER is basically a "Perfumer's compound," "fragrant compound" or 63A: Aromatic compound.

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Everything Else — 6A: "Snow" veggie (PEA); 14A: Break off completely (SEVER); 15A: Select, with "for" (OPT); 16A: Like Cheerios (OATEN); 22A: Your and my (OUR); 23A: John who played Basil Fawlty (CLEESE); 25A: Town, informally (BURG); 26A: Animal fat (LARD); 27A: Keats or Yeats (POET); 30A: Ear: Pref. (OTO-); 31A: Ernie's Muppet pal (BERT); 39A: Got ready for a lap dog (SAT); 40A: Ink stain (BLOT); 41A: Accelerate, with "up" (REV); 42A: Gets nosy (PRIES); 46A: Arrived (CAME); 47A: Swedish soprano Jenny (LIND); 48A: Tyrannosaurus __ (REX); 49A: Element used in dating rocks (CARBON); 56A: Microwave alerts (BEEPS); 58A: Speechify (ORATE); 61A: Justin Timberlake's boy band ('N SYNC); 62A: AAA suggestion (RTE.); 2D: Control, as temperature (REGULATE); 4D: Livened (up) (PEPPED); 5D: Ancestral diagrams (TREES); 6D: Pans partner (POTS); 7D: Nickname (EPITHET); 8D: Maximally (AT MOST); 9D: Xerox (COPY); 10D: See 25-Down (HAI); 11D: Enjoyed a diner (ATE OUT); 12D: Tie tightly (SECURE); 19D: Directional suffix (-ERN); 21D: Regret one's sins (REPENT); 23D: Drain obstruction (CLOG); 25D: With 10-Down, "South Pacific" song (BALI); 28D: Calif. neighbor (ORE.); 29D: Damon of "Good Will Hunting" (MATT); 31D: Skewed view (BIAS); 32D: "Bucking" horse (BRONCO); 34D: Secondhand (USED); 35D: Baba who stole from thieves (ALI); 38D: All square (EVEN); 40D: Costlier ballpark spot (BOX SEAT); 42D: Expect to happen (PLAN ON); 43D: Funny Joan (RIVERS); 44D: Sort of (IN A WAY); 45D: Farther below the water's surface (DEEPER); 46D: Salad oil bottles (CRUETS); 48D: Cell "messenger," briefly (RNA); 50D: "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" playwright (ALBEE); 52D: Oil cartel acronym (OPEC); 55D: RR depot (STN.); 57D: 35mm camera type (SLR).

S U N D A Y September 5, 2010Sylvia Bursztyn (calendar)

Theme: "Unlabored Day" — The word REST is hidden within theme answers.

[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: Earthy (TERRESTRIAL).
• 29A: Eminent (PRESTIGIOUS).
• 48A: Sell short (UNDERESTIMATE).
• 84A: Nelson, for one (WRESTLING HOLD).
• 111A: Gorbachev policy (PERESTROIKA).
• 116A: Good-as-new state (RESTORATION).
• 4D: Wilderness warden (FOREST RANGER).
• 67D: Free (UNRESTRICTED).

Everything Else — 1A: Turned over pages (LEAFED); 7A: Tina's "30 Rock" costar (ALEC); 11A: Ghana's capital (ACCRA); 16A: Dinghy thingy (OAR); 19A: Big name in San Francisco politics (ALIOTO); 20A: Grammy winner Erykah (BADU); 21A: Sandbank (SHOAL); 22A: Cartagena article (UNA); 25A: Aegean island (SANTORINI); 27A: Floor square (TILE); 28A: QED part (ERAT); 31A: Nile deity (ISIS); 32A: Brow-slapper's syllable (DUH); 33A: Leader of the band (MAESTRO); 34A: Hill of "The West Wing" (DULÉ); 35A: Medieval narrative (CONTE); 37A: Gutter spot (EAVE); 39A: On the main (ASEA); 40A: Skating gold medalist Carol (HEISS); 41A: Physicist's field (ENERGY); 43A: Goat quote (MAA); 44A: Get into (DON); 45A: Oil can abbr. (SAE); 46A: Pulitzer winner James (AGEE); 54A: Isle of poetry (ERIN); 57A: Sylphlike (SVELTE); 59A: Does and does (DEER); 60A: Bus. card no. (TEL.); 61A: Swamp thing (SEDGE); 63A: Nissan models (ALTIMAS); 66A: Like some professors (TENURED); 68A: Junky (CHEESY); 70A: Keepsake (MEMENTO); 72A: File menu option (RENAME); 73A: Cheer (HEARTEN); 75A: Plate useful at mealtime (DENTURE); 77A: Judge (TRIER); 78A: Put away (EAT); 79A: Natural balm (ALOE); 81A: Straightened (TIDIED); 83A: Purposes (ENDS); 88A: "Bye Bye Birdie" number (KIDS); 90A: "... ain't heavy, --- my brother" (HE'S); 91A: Singsong syllable (TRA); 92A: Pants part (LEG); 94A: In-crowd actors? (EXTRAS); 98A: Altar areas (APSES); 101A: Open carriage (SHAY); 102A: Gouda displaymate (EDAM); 104A: Swift specialty (IRONY); 105A: Anaheim Ducks' disk (PUCK); 106A: Restaurant staff (SERVERS); 108A: Eye opener (LID); 110A: "--- old cowhand ..." (I'M AN); 113A: Trim (PARE); 114A: "Origines" author (CATO); 115A: Irrepressible (EBULLIENT); 119A: Father's robe (ALB); 120A: Sleep disorder (APNEA); 121A: Otherwise (ELSE); 122A: In a fair way (EVENLY); 123A: --- Alamos (LOS); 124A: Lawn interlopers (WEEDS); 125A: Music's Coolidge (RITA); 126A: Hardison of "A Different World" (KADEEM); 1D: Pergola pattern (LATTICE); 2D: "Kyrie ---" (ELEISON); 3D: El Al or Alitalia (AIRLINE); 5D: Tours summer (ÉTÉ); 6D: Medicated (DOSED); 7D: Isaac's father (ABRAHAM); 8D: Milk in Cannes (LAIT); 9D: Educator LeShan (EDA); 10D: Part of a confession (CULPA); 11D: Tax pro (ASSESSOR); 12D: Took to task (CHASTENED); 13D: --- Costa County (CONTRA); 14D: Proportion (RATIO); 15D: Like a bump on --- (A LOG); 16D: ""Absolument, Monsieur!"" ("OUI! OUI!"); 17D: Rescinds (ANNULS); 18D: Elevates (RAISES); 24D: Faithful (TRUE); 26D: "--- cowboy!" (RIDE 'EM); 30D: "The Cloister and the Hearth" author (READE); 33D: Interim (MEANTIME); 36D: Word with good or goose (EGG); 38D: Jumped over (VAULTED); 40D: Do restrainer (HAIRNET); 42D: "You rang?" ("YES?"); 45D: Guide (STEER); 47D: Movies' Mendes (EVA); 49D: Dr. of radio fame (DEMENTO); 50D: Good to go (SET); 51D: Ellington title transport (A TRAIN); 52D: Abounded (TEEMED); 53D: Presbyters (ELDERS); 54D: Shun (ESCHEW); 55D: Try again (REHEAR); 56D: Form thoughts (IDEATE); 58D: Slasher film street (ELM); 62D: Will subjects (ESTATES); 64D: Guadeloupe's group (ANTILLES); 65D: Adorned with nailheads (STUDDED); 69D: Whoops (YELLS); 71D: Tolkien dwarf (ORI); 74D: "There's --- in team!" (NO I); 76D: Comics outcry (EEK); 80D: Put in power (ENTHRONED); 82D: Game piece (DIE); 85D: Kibbutz currency (SHEKEL); 86D: Solemnity (GRAVITAS); 87D: She played Kahlo (HAYEK); 89D: Sixth-century date (DXI); 93D: Pygmalion's love (GALATEA); 95D: Iceberg alternative (ROMAINE); 96D: "Penguin Island" author France (ANATOLE); 97D: Attain for gain, say (SYNONYM); 98D: Charm (APPEAL); 99D: Hopi home (PUEBLO); 100D: Operation attire (SCRUBS); 101D: Unruffled (SERENE); 103D: Joan of art (MIRO); 106D: Michael of R.E.M. (STIPE); 107D: Less seen (RARER); 109D: Jeter or Jacobi (DEREK); 112D: Deli side (SLAW); 113D: Low "Yo!" ("PSST!"); 117D: Wallach or Whitney (ELI); 118D: Gardner of "One Touch of Venus" (AVA).

S U N D A Y September 5, 2010 John Lampkin (syndicated)

Theme: "Funny Business" — Puns on places of business.

[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: Fishmonger's workplace? (SCHOOL BUILDING).
• 41A: Justice of the peace's workplace? (HITCHING POST).
• 65A: Cattleman's workplace? (STOCK MARKET).
• 89A: Matchmaker's workplace? (CHEMISTRY LAB).
• 104A: Dentist's workplace? (FILLING STATION).
• 15D: Racetrack owner's workplace? (OVAL OFFICE).
• 34D: Slapstick comedian's workplace? (CORNFIELD).
• 54D: Hard rock musician's workplace? (METAL SHOP).
• 70D: Ammunition supplier's workplace? (POWDER ROOM).

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 40A: Norwegian ruler (OLAF).
• 50A: Prince Valiant's son (ARN).
• 61A: Green land (EIRE).
• 114A: Folk singer Guthrie (ARLO).
• 115A: Adlai's running mate (ESTES).
• 120A: Old Russian ruler (TSAR).
• 13D: Addams family cousin (ITT).
• 29D: Brit. mil. awards (DSO'S).
• 45D: Hawk's nest (AERIE).
• 78D: Yale Blue wearer (ELI).
• 80D: Land on its own gulf (OMAN).
• 101D: Greek square (AGORA).
• 107D: Scott Turow memoir (ONE-L).

Everything Else — 1A: Leg-pulls (JESTS); 6A: Mean boss (OGRE); 10A: Underworld boss? (DEVIL); 15A: Chooses (OPTS); 19A: How some risks are taken, after "on" (A DARE); 20A: "I'd like to say something" (AHEM); 21A: Title singer of "You Must Love Me" (EVITA); 22A: Full of oneself (VAIN); 23A: Beethoven's love (MUSIC); 24A: Grave (TOMB); 25A: Kids' snow creations (FORTS); 26A: Spell opener (ABRA); 30A: Ring tone activator (CALLER); 32A: Traffic tangle (SNARL); 33A: Strong-ox connector (AS AN); 34A: Last to arrive at the station (CABOOSE); 35A: Ruler divisions: Abbr. (CMS.); 38A: Letters from your parents? (DNA); 39A: Greenhouse gas (OZONE); 44A: Slapstick antic (PRAT FALL); 48A: First name in B-29 history (ENOLA); 49A: Bard's contraction (E'EN); 51A: Letters sung after various animal names (E-I-E-I-O); 52A: Hard drive title (FILE NAME); 55A: Rice dish (PILAF); 57A: Bit for Fido, perhaps (SCRAP); 58A: Dept. store stock (MDSE.); 59A: It's south of Georgia (ARMENIA); 62A: Bears (HAS); 68A: Twisting shape (ESS); 69A: Put __ on: limit (A CAP); 71A: Property claim resulting from a default (TAX LIEN); 72A: Timber wolf (LOBO); 75A: Mill output? (RUMOR); 77A: Rimes of country (LEANN); 78A: Classic sitcom sidekick (ED NORTON); 82A: Vermont tourist town, home to the Trapp Family Lodge (STOWE); 83A: One of Beethoven's nine: Abbr. (SYM.); 84A: Denom. (REL.); 86A: 1836 siege site (ALAMO); 87A: Big pain (HEADACHE); 93A: Nymph who loved her own voice (ECHO); 94A: Thigh muscles (QUADS); 95A: Spain's El __ (CID); 96A: Canyon pair? (ENS); 97A: Begin (START UP); 100A: One of two Monopoly squares: Abbr. (UTIL.); 101A: Danny of the NBA (AINGE); 103A: Drive to drink? (THIRST); 109A: Baja buck (PESO); 110A: New, in Nicaragua (NUEVA); 112A: Sticky substances (GOOS); 113A: Spiritual sustenance (MANNA); 116A: Protagonist (HERO); 117A: Duck down (EIDER); 118A: Pour (TEEM); 119A: They're always advancing (YEARS); 121A: With a wink, perhaps (SLYLY); 1D: Traffic tangles (JAMS); 2D: PTA concern (EDUC.); 3D: It takes panes (SASH); 4D: Small chamber groups (TRIOS); 5D: Used (SECOND-HAND); 6D: Healthful cereal choice (OAT BRAN); 7D: Grave robber (GHOUL); 8D: Do-fa links (RE MI); 9D: Decorate with brilliant colors (EMBLAZON); 10D: Rebellious (DEFIANT); 11D: Four-time Australian Open champ Goolagong (EVONNE); 12D: It's N of North Carolina (VIRG.); 14D: Where "Madama Butterfly" premiered (LA SCALA); 16D: Cubist Picasso (PABLO); 17D: Some swing seats (TIRES); 18D: Drum kit item (SNARE); 28D: Legal scholar Guinier (LANI); 31D: Dies down (ABATES); 35D: Anthony Bourdain, for one (CHEF); 36D: 2004 iPod debut (MINI); 37D: Small-runway mil. craft (STOL); 39D: Reveal, to a bard (OPE); 42D: Skelton's Kadiddlehopper (CLEM); 43D: "Golly" ("GEE"); 44D: Leg-pull (PRANK); 46D: Truth twisters (LIARS); 47D: Horses' gaits (LOPES); 50D: Mem. of seven consecutive All-Star Game winning teams, 2003-2009 (AL'ER); 53D: Admin. aide (ASST.); 55D: Image creators (PR MEN); 56D: Somalian supermodel (IMAN); 59D: Analogous (AKIN); 60D: Oodles (A TON); 62D: Austere (HARSH); 63D: Extreme, as pain (ACUTE); 64D: Margaret Mead subject (SAMOA); 66D: Daisy whose buds may be used as a caper substitute (OXEYE); 67D: No blabbermouth (CLAM); 73D: Monopoly and others (BOARD GAMES); 74D: Airport south of Paris (ORLY); 76D: Hits back, say (REACTS); 79D: Fishing souvenir? (TALE); 81D: Heads, in slang (NOBS); 84D: Traffic stopper (RED LIGHT); 85D: Ambulance initials (EMS); 88D: Indian relish (CHUTNEY); 89D: Old sailor's blade (CUTLASS); 90D: Come down hard? (HAIL); 91D: Cut with small blades (SCISSOR); 92D: Salon request (TINT); 94D: Tremble (QUIVER); 97D: Green land patron, for short (ST. PAT); 98D: "Done" ("THERE"); 99D: Shopping cart path (AISLE); 102D: Shopping with virtual carts (ETAIL); 104D: Greek cheese (FETA); 105D: Denials (NOES); 106D: Dr. Jones, familiarly (INDY); 108D: Quaint "not" (NARY); 111D: Employment (USE).

S A T U R D A Y September 4, 2010 Barry C. Silk

Theme: None


Good morning and Happy Labor Day Weekend to y'all! Nice Barry Silk offering today. I'm a little surprised not to see what I usually think of as a tip-off that it's Barry's puzzle: references to (a) Philadelphia or (b) baseball. In any case, late start + busy day ahead = straight to bullets.

Bullets:

• 12A: Water potential symbol (PSI). PSI is a Greek letter that's used to represent water potential which, according to Wikipedia, "quantifies the tendency of water to move from one area to another due to osmosis, gravity, mechanical pressure, or matrix effects such as surface tension." Alright-y then.
• 18A: Manhattan liquor (RYE). Also a town in New York not far from Manhattan.
• 34A: Milk sources (TEATS). Wasn't expecting the answer to be quite so … specific.
• 36A: Stumblebums (LUMMOXES). Great word!
• 40A: Pocono and others (RACEWAYS). Got this one through crosses. I thought it was going to be something more like "resort."

• 43A: Virginie et Floride (ÉTATS). French spelling in the clue indicates French answer. As we learned earlier this week in the New York Times puzzle, ÉTATS is STATES spelled backwards!
• 47A: Sound heard very close to your ear (SNIP). Pair this with 2D: Buzz, e.g. (HAIRCUT) and you've got yourself a mini-theme.
• 51A: Spoke Abyssinian? (MEWED). I always think Abyssinian is referring to an ancient people but it's always referring to a cat.
• 66A: Cologne conjunction (UND). And in German (where Cologne is located).
• 68A: Orgs. with chiefs (PD'S). Police Departments.
• 1D: Item for a camp project (T-SHIRT). This would be an item needed for tie-dye day.

• 5D: Mr. Big's org. on "Get Smart" (KAOS). I guess I'm from a different generation. When I see "Mr. Big," I think "Sex and the City," not "Get Smart." Which is actually kind of bizarre since I've never seen "Sex and the City." I did enjoy Chris Noth on Law and Order though.
• 9D: USSR successor (CIS). The Commonwealth of Independent States was esablished upon dissolution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1991.
• 12D: Seeming contradiction (PARADOX). My first thought was "oxymoron." At least I got the "ox" part right.
• 14D: Summer refreshers (ICE TEAS). Yes, it should be "iced." No, crossword puzzles don't care.
• 24D: Old-fashioned tightening tool (SKATE KEY).



• 26D: Historical Oder River region (SILESIA). Got this one through crosses. I wish there was room in my brain for more stuff.

• 35D: Places for sweaters? (SPAS). Get ready for three tricky clues in a row. In this one, "sweaters" means "people who sweat," not the item of clothing.
• 37D: Physics leader? (META-). META- is a prefix that can be placed in front of the word "physics," thus "leading" it.
• 39D: Fine and dandy: Abbr. (SYNS.). The N here was the last letter I entered into the grid. The cross was making sense to me with the N, but it took a while before I understood that the words "fine" and "dandy" are SYNonymS.
• 64D: SEAL's org. (USN). United States Navy.

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Everything Else — 1A: Symbol of concentration (THINKING CAP); 15A: Noted pier site (SANTA MONICA); 16A: Org. offering the Canine Good Citizen program (AKC); 17A: Rap sheet notes? (HIP HOP MUSIC); 19A: Vexation-plus (IRE); 20A: Irish __ (SEA); 21A: Make potable, in a way (DESALT); 23A: Some phones (RCA'S); 25A: Emit coherent light (LASE); 28A: "Sexy" Beatles woman (SADIE); 29A: Folded parts (TUCKS); 31A: The south of France (MIDI); 33A: __ fide (BONA); 38A: Clearance level (TOP SECRET); 46A: Out of control (AMOK); 49A: Mexican waters (AGUAS); 53A: "Don't __ word!" (SAY A); 55A: -an counterpart (-ENNE); 56A: Hoped (PRAYED); 58A: Polish, say (RUB); 60A: Memorable time (ERA); 61A: Respectful title (SIR); 62A: Stock, usually (LIQUID ASSET); 67A: Calcium oxide (CAUSTIC LIME); 69A: Accepting personal responsibility (ON ONE'S HONOR); 3D: Good way to go (IN PEACE); 4D: High degree (NTH); 6D: Press forward (IMPEL); 7D: Polite turndown (NO MA'AM); 8D: Savanna sighting (GNU); 10D: Biting (ACID); 11D: Shows impatience, in a way (PACES); 13D: View when landing, perhaps (SKYLINE); 22D: Spy's doing (SABOTAGE); 27D: Cabinet dept. (EDUC.); 30D: Store (STOW); 32D: 2002 Literature Nobelist Kertész (IMRE); 40D: Increases sharply (RAMPS UP); 41D: Portmanteau word for a certain native (AMERIND); 42D: Each of them is "one who, in a perilous emergency, thinks with his legs": Bierce (COWARDS); 44D: Receives on the radio (TUNES IN); 45D: Italian Riviera resort (SAN REMO); 48D: Fool's gold (PYRITE); 50D: Two-__: tandem (SEATER); 52D: Car battery ignition system pioneer (DELCO); 54D: Q5 and Q7 (AUDIS); 57D: Anthropologist Fossey (DIAN); 59D: "The Well-Tempered Clavier" composer (BACH); 63D: Locus in __: the place in which (Lat.) (QUO); 65D: Pitch preceder (SLO-).

F R I D A Y September 3, 2010 Anthony J. Salvia

Theme: Identity Theft — Theme answers are familiar phrases with the letter string ID removed, thus requiring wacky clues.


Theme answers:

• 17A: Like a dialect coach? (ACCENT PRONE). [accident prone]
• 53A: Answer from LL Cool J? (RAP RESPONSE). [rapid response]
• 11D: Christmas? (PRESENTS DAY). [Presidents Day]
• 25D: Herbivorous reptiles? (FLORA GATORS). [Florida Gators]
• 36A: Web danger, and a hint to this puzzle's theme (ID THEFT).

Before we get started today, I just want to say that I've noticed a few people venturing out of lurkdom recently and I want you to know I appreciate you! It's always a pleasure to hear new voices chiming in — so thank you!

Now this kinda theme right here? This is what I'm talking about. It's not just random "add this letter" or "remove that letter" — the letter removal actually has a point. The letters ID have been stolen, see? The phrase is "identity theft" and ID has been stolen. Mad props to Mr. Salvia for a clever theme that makes sense. (Do you think he knows his last name anagrams to "saliva"? Yeah, you're right. He probably does.)

Couple things I didn't know in this puzzle:

• 6A: 1990s-2000s Irish leader Bertie (AHERN).
• 50A: Titania's consort (OBERON).
• 28A: Whalebone (BALEEN).

I feel a little bad about not knowing OBERON. Seems like something I should know. The others though? I'm gonna let myself off the hook for those.

More:

• 30A: New York home of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (TROY). I did know this one. RPI is, of course, the alma mater of one Tyler Hinman who just happens to have a redesigned blog these days. Speaking of Tyler, if you haven't seen the documentary "Wordplay" yet, you really should rent it or put it in your queue or whatever it is people do with movies these days. I watched it again last weekend and it gets better every time.
• 42A: Key of Mozart's Symphony No. 40 (G MINOR). The thing to remember about musical keys is that (1) the first letter can only be A–G and (2) the rest of the entry will follow the pattern M**OR because it has to be either MAJOR or MINOR. So even if you don't know the key of the piece of music in question (and really, who does?) you can definitely fill in three of the letters and have a pretty good head start on one other.

• 3D: Slicker (MAC). Hmmm. Both MAC and 6D: Record label launched in 1968 (APPLE) in the puzzle today. Subliminal advertising?
• 4D: Performer with five #1 hits in his first year on the Billboard charts (PRESLEY). Me while solving: "Why won't ELVIS fit?"
• 29D: A or Ray (AL'ER). Thank you all for being so nice yesterday about my spectacular bungling of the Major League Baseball division explanation yesterday. Central! Ack!

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 62A: They're heavier than foils (ÉPÉES).
• 9D: Toon dog (REN).
• 31D: City SE of Cherbourg (ST.-LÔ).
• 46D: Cigna competitor (AETNA).
• 50D: Boy with a fishing pole in a '60s sitcom title screen (OPIE).

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Everything Else — 1A: What some sirens do (TEMPT); 11A: Pres. counterparts (PM'S); 14A: It may be blank (STARE); 15A: Food processor setting (PUREE); 16A: Outback critter (ROO); 19A: End of an academic address (EDU); 20A: Periods (SPELLS); 21A: Amount-and-interval numbers (DOSES); 23A: Not connected (OFFLINE); 26A: Reel art (CINEMA); 27A: Knack (TALENT); 31A: Three-time French Open champion (SELES); 32A: Its symbol is Sn (TIN); 35A: Musical knack (EAR); 38A: Murcia Mrs. (SRA.); 39A: Nutritional stat (RDA); 40A: Like some panels (SOLAR); 41A: Genesis locale (EDEN); 44A: Where the Maine sank (HAVANA); 46A: Expects (AWAITS); 48A: Consequences of an all-nighter (RED EYES); 49A: Obsess (EAT AT); 52A: General on a menu (TSO); 58A: Where Nina Totenberg reports (NPR); 59A: Inuit for "women's boat" (UMIAK); 60A: Gives some TLC to, with "in" (TUCKS); 61A: Doofus (ASS); 63A: Source of brown fur (STOAT); 1D: Airport safety org. (TSA); 2D: Last letters on some lists (ETC.); 5D: One at the edge of the gutter (TEN PIN); 7D: Pitch (HURL); 8D: Lover of Psyche (EROS); 10D: Most impoverished (NEEDIEST); 12D: Cable __ (MODEM); 13D: "Semper Fidelis" composer (SOUSA); 18D: It may pop up in a clearing (TENT); 22D: Vending machine insert (ONE); 23D: Fish-eating mammal (OTTER); 24D: Capacitance unit (FARAD); 26D: Bass symbol (CLEF); 28D: Joy of "The View" (BEHAR); 33D: Papas of "Zorba the Greek" (IRENE); 34D: Family matriarchs (NANAS); 36D: "For real?" ("IS IT TRUE?"); 37D: Oxford fellows (DONS); 41D: Become balanced (EVEN OUT); 43D: Athletes for Hope co-founder Hamm (MIA); 44D: Word on a towel (HERS); 45D: Embraces (ADOPTS); 47D: Mud daubers, e.g. (WASPS); 48D: Smells (REEKS); 51D: Highlands hillside (BRAE); 54D: Rock concert fixture (AMP); 55D: U.S. Army E-6, e.g. (NCO); 56D: Jamaican genre (SKA); 57D: Phila. setting (EST).

T H U R S D A Y September 2, 2010 Dan Naddor

Theme: Palindromes — Pairs of answers end in 'em.


Theme answers:

• 17A: *Dense fabrics (DOUBLE KNITS).
• 60A: *More than just grumble (RAISE A STINK).


• 20A: *Ready to blow? (OVER-STRESSED).
• 54A: *"Top Chef" spin-off involving competitive baking (JUST DESSERTS).


• 27A: *It'll keep your hat on (CHIN STRAP).
• 44A: *Carquest stock (AUTO PARTS).


• 36A: Three pairs of them end the answers to starred clues (PALINDROMES).

Okay, that's pretty cute. DOUBLE KNITS is a little bland but it's paired with RAISE A STINK which is awesome. Nothing jumped out at me as very flashy, or even "Naddor-ish," about this grid but it didn't give me any big problems, which I guess is about what we should expect until at least Friday in the L.A. Times.

Misc.:

• 1A: Yankees' div. (A.L. EAST). In baseball, there's the American League and the National League. And each league is divided into two regions, East and West. I can never remember which team is in which league so I just get the first letter from the cross.

• 11A: Jenny or jack (ASS). Heh.
• 25A: Aborigines of Hokkaido (AINU). Completely unknown to me. I don't even know what Hokkaido is. Is this something I should know?
• 32A: Cat tail motion (SWITCH). Started with "twitch." An easy fix.
• 50A: Bingo call (B TEN). Here's the thing. Bingo only goes up to a certain number although I can't remember exactly what that number is right now. I want to say 80 or 80-something. In crosswords, we're never going to see a Bingo answers that's anywhere but the B column because in the other columns the spelled-out numbers are too long. With a four-letter answer, you know you're looking for B ONE, B TWO, or B TEN, and you just have to check the crosses.

• 51A: Kettle pair (MA AND PA). With the ANDPA in place I entered GRANDPA before I looked at the clue and wondered how the heck a GRANDPA could be a pair and what it had to do with a kettle.
• 65A: Ain't right? (ISN'T). If this is the first time you've seen this clue, you were probably a little confused. You'll see it again, though, so remember it for next time! (ISN'T is the right (i.e., correct) way of saying "ain't.")
• 1D: Not easy, to a Cockney? ('ARD). Unless it's part of the theme, I think using "Cockney" words generally just indicates desperation.
• 7D: Six-pack units (CANS). Love how this is paired with 22D: Six-pack units (ABS).
• 9D: Czech hockey player Nedved (PETR). Not a hockey fan but I do know a couple hockey players' names from crosswords. But I've never heard of this guy.
• 11D: Music to a captain's ears (AYE SIR). Tried AYE AYE first. Wouldn't that be a better answer?

• 12D: Star sometimes seen opposite Venus? (SERENA). Timely clue with the U.S. Open happening right now.
• 29D: Factory outlet tag abbr. (IRR.). An item of clothing with a flaw in it is "irregular" and might end up in the outlet store for quick sale.
• 37D: Where the Lofoten Isl. are (NOR.). Whoa. I need to know more about NORway than just Oslo and the Kon-Tiki? Cripes.
• 42D: Skip over water, as stones (DAP). Learned this from crosswords.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 19A: Prior to, to Prior (ERE).
• 48D: Hook's right hand (SMEE).
• 58D: Grounded jets: Abbr. (SST'S).

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Everything Else — 7A: Deal (COPE); 14A: Alter, as boundaries (REDRAW); 15A: Slain shepherd (ABEL); 16A: "Fer sher" ("YEP"); 22A: Fettuccine follower (ALFREDO); 26A: Compress, in a way (BALE); 35A: Specialty (AREA); 40A: Lots (A TON); 41A: Area 51 location (NEVADA); 49A: 15-Across's dad (ADAM); 59A: www address (URL); 64A: Messenger letters? (RNA); 66A: Have suspicions about (BE ONTO); 67A: One hairpin turn after another (ESS); 68A: Cribbage markers (PEGS); 69A: Quixote's squire __ Panza (SANCHO); 2D: MGM mascot (LEO); 3D: 59-Across ending (EDU); 4D: Botanical gardens (ARBORETA); 5D: Soother (SALVE); 6D: Rough wool cloth (TWEED); 8D: Notice with a bio, often (OBIT); 10D: Threat ender (ELSE); 13D: Stepped on it (SPED UP); 18D: McDonald's founder (KROC); 21D: Gathered dust (SAT); 23D: Postgraduate study (LAW); 24D: Emma Peel's hair style (FLIP); 28D: "I wish I __ seen that" (HADN'T); 30D: Vegas gas (NEON); 31D: Identical (SAME); 33D: Show enjoyment at a show (CLAP); 34D: __ high note (HIT A); 38D: Northwestern University city (EVANSTON); 39D: Teen safety org. (SADD); 43D: Doc bloc (AMA); 44D: Officially retract (ABJURE); 45D: One-way street no-nos (U-TURNS); 46D: Magnetic measures (TESLAS); 47D: Hudson Bay prov. (ONT.); 52D: Saudis, usually (ARABS); 53D: On the Aegean (AT SEA); 55D: Water waster (DRIP); 56D: Slack off (EASE); 57D: Participate in karaoke (SING); 61D: Ltd. relative (INC.); 62D: Nonspecific extreme (NTH); 63D: "Koochie-__!" (KOO).

W E D N E S D A Y September 1, 2010 Mark Bickham

Theme: Don't Stand So Close to Me — Familiar phrases that start with words meaning "close by" are clued as if the last part of the phrase is a synonym of its meaning in the original phrase.


Theme answers:

• 17A: Young woman next door? (NEAR MISS).
• 24A: Adjoining floor? (TOUCHING STORY).
• 53A: Proximate coins? (CLOSE QUARTERS).
• 66A: Chess piece within reach? (HANDY MAN).

Can't say I feel strongly about this puzzle one way or the other. It had a decent Scrabbly-ness factor (just a J short of a pangram), a middle-of-the-road theme, and some fine, fine fill. There were also a couple of clunkers but nothing outrageous. Well, maybe that ABBR. / RISHI crossing is outrageous (4A: It's an example of itself / 7D: Hindu poet). I don't understand what the clue for ABBR. means At All. Not to say that it's necessarily bad — just that I don't get it. Perhaps one of you kind people will 'splain it to me in the comments. As a matter of fact, yes. Yes, I'm sure one of you will.

I'm not crazy about the forced pluralization of all of the long downs: PEAR TREES / BRIOCHES / FOURSOMES / PORTENTS. Can't PORTENT be a verb as well? If so, it should have been clued that way if only so we could say that not all of the long downs were randomly pluralized. The only other thing that really slowed me down at all was 33D: Charles LE BRUN, major decorator of the Palace of Versailles. Um, who? But again, that might just be another sign that I'm not actually smart enough for this particular hobby. But I'm not going to let a little lack of knowledge stop me! And you shouldn't either!

More:

• 19A: Green light (ASSENT). Very tricky using "green light" as a verb!
• 43A: Grimace (MOUE). Love this word. I don't think I've Ever said it out loud but I would like to some day.
• 51A: Brought up (REARED). I was thinking about this in terms of promotion, like baseball. Bringing someone up from the minor leagues.
• 70A: Letter opener? (ELL). The "opening" (first) letter of the word "letter" is L (ELL).
• 71A: "When a Man Loves a Woman" singer Percy __ (SLEDGE). Oh sure. Why not?



• 18D: Part of a Clue accusation (ROOM). With a RO in place, I immediately entered ROPE but realized my error almost immediately. Did you all know that they have different weapons in newer versions of Clue?

• 25D: Adaptable truck, for short (UTE). Short for "utility."
• 53D: Biker leggings (CHAPS). The other kind of biker.
• 56D: Pal of Porthos (ATHOS). Whoa. ATHOS actually threw a mountain at Zeus. Oh wait, wrong ATHOS! The one I'm thinking of is a mythological giant, but the one actually clued here is the musketeer.
• 62D: Part of SRO (ONLY). SRO = Standing Room Only.
• 64D: Doze (NOD). Tried NAP here at first.

Crosswordese 101 Round-Up:

• 15A: "Star Trek: T.N.G." counselor (TROI).
• 20A: Architect Saarinen (EERO).
• 32A: Certain fisherman (EELER).
• 3D: Bosc sources (PEAR TREES).
• 34D: Somme season (ÉTÉ).

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Everything Else — 1A: Energy (ZIP); 8A: Pure (CHASTE); 14A: Suffix with verb (-OSE); 16A: Bring about sooner (HASTEN); 21A: Earth pigment (OCHER); 23A: Hide-hair link (NOR); 28A: Fireside emanation (WARMTH); 30A: "__ me!" (DEAR); 31A: '50s White House nickname (IKE); 35A: Annoys (MIFFS); 39A: __ Piper (PIED); 41A: Police sting, say (SET-UP); 44A: Happen as a result (ENSUE); 46A: "Who Can It __?": Men at Work hit (BE NOW); 48A: Exhaust, with "up" (USE); 49A: [see other side] (OVER); 58A: Spell (HEX); 59A: Loosen, as laces (UNTIE); 60A: Emerald City visitor (TOTO); 63A: List of things to discuss (AGENDA); 68A: Dividend, e.g. (PAYOUT); 69A: Germany's von Bismarck (OTTO); 72A: Insolence (SASS); 73A: Generous limit? (SKY); 1D: Area (ZONE); 2D: "Got it" ("I SEE"); 4D: 24-hr. cash source (ATM); 5D: French breads (BRIOCHES); 6D: "The Garden of Earthly Delights" artist (BOSCH); 8D: Old battlefield shout (CHARGE); 9D: Is suffering from (HAS); 10D: Beast of burden (ASS); 11D: Court figure (STENO); 12D: Pavarotti, notably (TENOR); 13D: Datebook notation (ENTRY); 22D: Football play also called a sweep (END RUN); 26D: "Casablanca" pianist (SAM); 27D: Request to a barber (TRIM); 28D: Use a napkin on (WIPE); 29D: Like, with "to" (AKIN); 36D: Links groups (FOURSOMES); 37D: A hothead has a short one (FUSE); 38D: Future plant (SEED); 40D: Couples (DUOS); 42D: Omens (PORTENTS); 45D: "The Three Faces of __": 1957 film (EVE); 47D: Very small (WEE); 50D: Treat as the same (EQUATE); 52D: Affectedly cultured (ARTY); 54D: Corporate department (LEGAL); 55D: Daisy variety (OXEYE); 57D: Calf catcher (RIATA); 61D: Chitchat (TALK); 65D: Grooved on (DUG); 67D: Elaborate affairs (DOS).