T H U R S D A Y October 21, 2010 Ed Sessa

Theme: 3.14169.... — Familiar phrases are clued as if the first word is a type of pie.

Theme answers:

• 18A: Pie flop? (CHERRY BOMB).


• 23A: Pie taste-test site? (CHOCOLATE LAB).


• 39A: Pie to-do? (MUD FLAP).


• 50A: Pie charts? (APPLE RECORDS).


• 60A: Pie patter? (MINCE WORDS).

Mmmmm. Pie. Cute theme and I like how the clues are all short and to the point. Two elements of the theme are a little off to me. First, MINCE WORDS is, unlike the others, a verb phrase. And second, "Pie charts" is an actual thing while the other clue phrases are simply made up. Those two things definitely detract from the theme's elegance, but the puzzle is still enjoyable. At least it was for me.

Except down there in the southwest corner. I had a heckuva time down there. The trouble started with me wanting the first word of the 60A phrase to be an adjective and continued with my inability to think of anyone but Lola and Tony at the stupid Copacabana. (And, yes, thanks for the earworm. Really appreciate it.) Once I got MINCE in place, my guess of CRANIAL seemed wrong because of the consonant collision at the front of 56D, but when I got past that, the rest of the section fell pretty easily.



Bullets:

• 9A: Spring bloomer (LILAC). Tried ASTERS first.


• 14A: His epitaph reads "And the beat goes on" (BONO). That's pretty sweet.


• 17A: TV role for Bamboo Harvester (MR. ED). Wait, what? It never occurred to me that I didn't know the real name of the horse who played MR. ED. Horses, as I'm sure many of you know, are often named by combining the names of their "parents." Bamboo Harvester's sire's name was The Harvester, but his dam's name was Zetna Hara which doesn't look to me like it relates to bamboo, but maybe it does. I mean really. I don't know what I'm talking about half the time.


• 22A: Travelers' burdens (VALISES). Are you still burdened by VALISES? I usually carry a suitcase.


• 38A: Buckeyes' home: Abbr. (OSU). Boooo! (Nothing personal, I just always feel the need to boo all Big Ten teams other than the Hawkeyes.)


• 64A: Days of Hanukkah, e.g. (OCTET). Did I tell you all that PuzzleDaughter asked if we could celebrate Hanukkah this year? She swears it's not just about the eight days of presents. (Yeah, right.) I think we'll probably do it. We're not Christian and we celebrate Christmas every year so why not? Need to get myself a menorah.


• 1D: High-tech debut of 1981 (IBM PC). With the I in place all I wanted was a Mac product but couldn't get one to fit.


• 5D: 1980s-'90s slugger Fielder (CECIL). Unfortunately, he played first base. I wish he had been an outfielder.


• 9D: Clapton title woman (LAYLA). Maybe this will help get that awful Copacabana song out of our heads.





• 13D: Male swans (COBS). The things you learn!


• 29D: Tunnel entrance of sorts (GOPHER HOLE).


• 54D: Mild expletives (DANGS). Very mild indeed.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 33D: Name meaning "hairy" in Hebrew (ESAU).


• 36D: Airline to Oslo (SAS).


• 62D: Grammy-winning Dr. (DRE).

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Everything Else — 1A: A party to (IN ON); 5A: Quite the fashion plate (CHIC); 15A: Faulkner femme fatale Varner (EULA); 16A: BP merger partner (AMOCO); 20A: Italian deli sandwich (PANINI); 26A: X, at times (TEN); 27A: www bookmark (URL); 28A: Film director's headaches (EGOS); 32A: Luther's lang. (GER.); 34A: First Amendment lobbying gp. (ACLU); 36A: Numbers game (SUDOKU); 41A: Post- opposite (PRE-); 42A: One in distress? (DAMSEL); 44A: Slug or song ending (-FEST); 45A: Loft material (HAY); 46A: Apartment manager, familiarly (SUPE); 47A: Quaff for Andy Capp (ALE); 48A: Curling setting (ICE); 56A: Like the auditory and optic nerves, e.g. (CRANIAL); 59A: Aspen topper (SKI HAT); 63A: Prohibited thing (NO-NO); 65A: Flag (TIRE); 66A: First name in Olympics gymnastics (OLGA); 67A: Like beer halls, usually (NOISY); 68A: Eyewear, in ads (SPEX); 69A: Raid target (PEST); 2D: Grammy winner Jones (NORAH); 3D: Bridge opening (ONE NO TRUMP); 4D: "Fuggedaboutit!" ("NO DICE!"); 6D: "Whazzat?" ("HUH?"); 7D: Seine sight (ILE); 8D: Longtime ice cream cake brand (CARVEL); 10D: Wet one's whistle (IMBIBED); 11D: Johns, to Elton (LOOS); 12D: Top (ACME); 19D: "Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-__": Irish lullaby (RAL); 21D: Hardly distinguished (NO-NAME); 24D: Nostalgic song title word (AULD); 25D: Godiva product (TRUFFLE); 30D: Gumbo ingredient (OKRA); 31D: Chop __ (SUEY); 32D: Mars and Venus (GODS); 35D: __-de-sac (CUL); 37D: Slight market improvement (UPTICK); 40D: Disconcerting glance (LEER); 43D: Hand-holding events (SEANCES); 47D: Parcels out (ALLOTS); 49D: Requiring change, briefly (COIN-OP); 51D: Reverence (PIETY); 52D: A pad helps protect it (PAW); 53D: Elizabeth I's beloved (ESSEX); 55D: Brown ermine (STOAT); 56D: "Get real!" ("C'MON!"); 57D: Guy who "wore a diamond," in the song "Copacabana" (RICO); 58D: ABM component? (ANTI); 61D: Scary current (RIP).

W E D N E S D A Y October 20, 2010 Elizabeth A. Long

Theme: Pretty Letters All in a Row— Familiar phrases that begin with a letter are rendered "literally."


Theme answers:

• 4D: Online IRS document submission system, literally? (EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE). [e-file]
• 7D: '60s sitcom set at Fort Courage, literally? (FFFFFFFFFFFFFFF). ["F Troop"]
• 8D: Skimpy bikini part, literally? (GGGGGGGGGGGGGGG). [g-string]

Wow. Big ups again to Doug P. for stepping in the last few days. I was having some major technical difficulties and I really didn't want to leave you all hanging, so I'm really grateful to Doug! But now I'm back and I don't plan to be gone any time in the near future, so I guess we'll just have to make the best of it.

Today's theme is … interesting. I really like the E clue and the G clue, but I'm not crazy about the F clue. I mean, sure, it's a bunch of Fs that I suppose can be described as a "troop," but the other theme answers — "file" and "string" — are much better because they can both be synonyms of "line" which is really how the letters are situated. For a "troop" I would rather a group of Fs all bunched together, or maybe in a couple of lines. Like a troop in formation? Do I even know what I'm talking about? … My parents were hippies I really don't know anything about the military except what I learned from "Hogan's Heroes" and for some reason that always struck me as a tad unrealistic.

The rest of the puzzle is decent but not outstanding. Obviously, concessions were made for the theme. In fact, I think a solver's overall impression of this puzzle will depend on his or her evaluation of the theme because there's not really much else to get excited about. For me, I'm in the thumbs-up category but I'm not doing cartwheels or anything. (Not that you'd probably get to me to do cartwheels for something I was actually super excited about either, but you get my point.)

[Not PuzzleGirl]
Bullets:

• 16A: Fit of fever (AGUE). Do you know how to pronounce this word? I don't think I've ever said it out loud, but in my head it's sounds like EGG-YOU.
• 32A: Take the stand again (RETESTIFY). I read this as "Take the stand againST" and couldn't figure out what prefix was needed.
• 54A: Working hours for night owls (LATE SHIFT).



• 60A: Creamy cheese (BRIE). I go through phases where I cook a lot and I'm in one of those phases right now. The other night I made a potato soup with apples and brie that was to die for!
• 18D: Arrived at a base, in a way (SLID).
• 50D: Plaint from a pirate (AARGH). See now, this drives me nuts. Pirates do not say AARGH, they say ARRR. Period. Says PuzzleGirl.

Crosswordese 101: I TOO can be clued as a partial ("Am _____ late?," "Was _____ harsh?") or as the Langston Hughes poem, sometimes referred to as 14D: "I TOO, Sing America." It's not too terribly long or anything, but it's quite moving.

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.

Tomorrow,
I'll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody'll dare
Say to me,
"Eat in the kitchen,"
Then.

Besides,
They'll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed—

I, too, am America.

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

• 12A: Author __ Stanley Gardner (ERLE).
• 38A: Gen. Robt. __ (E. LEE).
• 53A: Metric energy unit (ERG).
• 28D: Hard to hold (EELY).
• 33D: Mythical Himalayan (YETI).

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Everything Else — 1A: Use chicanery on (DUPE); 5A: Pole worker? (ELF); 8A: Lots (GOBS); 13A: Islamic mystic (SUFI); 15A: Work on, as a bone (GNAW); 17A: Roosevelts' successors as first family (TAFTS); 19A: Festive event (GALA); 20A: Desert with a view of Beersheba (NEGEV); 22A: One studying saucers (UFOLOGIST); 24A: Awfully long time (EON); 26A: Popular pâté (FOIE GRAS); 27A: He's not always a beast (WEREWOLF); 31A: Cat chaser (DOG); 34A: Mass unit (GRAM); 39A: Gather (INFER); 41A: Arizona river (GILA); 42A: It has a floor on Wall St. (NYSE); 43A: Good feeling that lingers (AFTERGLOW); 45A: Common Mkt. (EEC); 48A: Achieves via trickery (FINAGLES); 49A: Lets up (EASES OFF); 56A: Libya neighbor (EGYPT); 61A: Volunteer (OFFER); 63A: "La maja desnuda" painter (GOYA); 64A: Stare at impolitely (OGLE); 65A: Words before then (IF SO); 66A: Pita sandwich (GYRO); 67A: Playground shout (WHEE); 68A: Co. whose logo features Mercury carrying a bouquet (FTD); 69A: "What __ around ..." (GOES); 1D: Official with a list (DEAN); 2D: Attempt to persuade (URGE); 3D: Outlet connection (PLUG); 5D: Educ. guess (EST.); 6D: Island cookout (LUAU); 9D: Studio warning light (ON AIR); 10D: Wood for model fliers (BALSA); 11D: Deals with, as a fly (SWATS); 21D: Promises (VOWS); 23D: War on Poverty org. (OEO); 25D: "It must have been someone else" ("NOT I"); 27D: St. Paul's architect (WREN); 29D: AAA suggestions (RTES.); 30D: Filmmaker Wertmüller (LINA); 35D: Brooklet (RILL); 36D: Ointment ingredient (ALOE); 37D: Animal mouths (MAWS); 40D: Actor Auberjonois (RENÉ); 44D: Like a once-in-a-blue-moon event (RARE); 46D: Hook shape (ESS); 47D: Small to mid-size salmon (COHO); 49D: Macaroni shape (ELBOW); 51D: It turns a lot in rush hour (STILE); 52D: Stereotypical poodle name (FIFI); 55D: __-drive (TEST); 57D: Fluctuate wildly (YO-YO); 58D: Combustible pile (PYRE); 59D: New Mexico resort (TAOS); 62D: Gun, in slang (ROD).

T U E S D A Y October 19, 2010 Anna Gundlach

Theme: Games People Play -- Four theme entries that begin with things one might use while playing a board game. Fun!

Theme Answers:

• 20A: Guy in a spotlight (MAN OF THE HOUR).
• 33A: Feature of much of Bach's music (COUNTERPOINT).
• 43A: Coin for Long John Silver (PIECE OF EIGHT)
• 59A: Symbolic but inconsequential act (TOKEN GESTURE)
• 1A/73A: Where you might find the starts of 20-, 33-, 43- and 59-Across (BOARD GAMES).

Howdy, folks. This is Doug, bringing you another day of semi-keen insight and plenty of off-topic rambling. But don't worry. PuzzleGirl's fine, and she'll be back in the blogger's seat tomorrow if not sooner.

I believe this is Anna Gundlach's debut puzzle. Congratulations, Anna! Nice solid theme for a Tuesday. I imagine there's quite a bit of overlap between crossword junkies and board game aficionados, so this puzzle should hit the sweet spot for many solvers. The four theme entries are all interesting, and I love that she used BOARD and GAMES as the reveal entry rather than just GAMES. The rest of the fill was above-average, with MAALOX crossing HOT OIL and SASHIMI, and a VIKING hiding in a CAVERN. Good stuff.

Bullets:

• 17A: Almost fail (GET A D). ...on your report card. It took me a while to figure this one out. "Get a D" is an iffy phrase in my book, so I'm going to almost fail this entry. And I hope it doesn't lead to GETANA, GETAB, GETAC, and GETANF.
• 23A: Country in which Tetris was created (RUSSIA). It was technically the Soviet Union back then, but lots of people called it "Russia" anyway. Make sure you have your volume up when you watch this one:

• 31A: Antacid named for its elements (MAALOX). Magnesium, aluminum, and oxygen. That's a cool piece of trivia!

• 43A: Coin for Long John Silver (PIECE OF EIGHT). The first thing that came to mind was Long John Silver's restaurant. How sad is that? When I was in high school, I worked for a Long John Silver's rival, Skippers. Their mascot was a giant parrot, and the worst job in the place was standing out front wearing the parrot costume and waving at traffic.
• 11D: Hushpuppies are often fried in it (HOT OIL). Everything at Skippers was fried in hot oil. I usually avoided parrot duty because I was one of the top cooks. Well, it wasn't really "cooking." It was throwing things into hot oil and then fishing them out with a basket.
• 12D: Running by itself (ONAUTO). Hey, this was an entry in the very first puzzle I blogged, a couple of weeks ago. It's short for "on autopilot." Scully2206, I hope you remembered it!
• 40D: Fruit that isn't pretti? (UGLI). What do you think? Cute clue or a total groaner?
• 45D: Conundrums (ENIGMAS). The clue and the answer are both fun words. And ENIGMAS anagrams to IN GAMES, which is where you'll find the starts of the theme entries. Trippy.
• 48D: Drive drove (CATTLE). That's an odd-looking clue. The "drive" comes from "cattle drive," and a "drove" is a "group of animals moving together." I like it.

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M O N D A Y October 18, 2010 Don Gagliardo

Theme: E's Please--Each theme answer is chock-full of E's and only E's.

Theme Answers:

• 20A: Was disappointed, as with a performance (EXPECTED BETTER).
• 25A: Out-of-the-ordinary brews (EXTREME BEERS).
• 37A: Attorney General under Ronald Reagan (ED MEESE).
• 44A: Calm by nature (EVEN-TEMPERED).
• 52A: She replaced Paula Abdul as an "American Idol" judge (ELLEN DEGENERES).
• 56D: "Buy It Now" online site (and where vowels were bought for 20-, 25-, 37-, 44-, and 52-Across?) (EBAY).

Howdy, crossword fans. Doug here again. There were some technical difficulties in Crosswordland tonight, and we couldn't track down a copy of the puzzle for AcrossLite. It's late now, so this will probably be a short write-up. I'm sure you can all pick up the slack in the comments.

Fun Monday puzzle, and I like the fact that we got to see five theme entries. If I were more clever, I'd do this writeup using E as the only vowel. Is that even possible? I know there are a couple of novels that use every letter except E: Gadsby and A Void. That's pretty crazy. OK, I'm already off on a tangent, so let's jump straight to bullets:

Bullets:

•  25A: Out-of-the-ordinary brews (EXTREME BEERS). I've never heard this term before, but the clue was straightforward enough. One beer website tells me that extreme beers "exceed the ordinary, usual, or expected." One of their examples is "ale brewed with oysters or seaweed." In other words, beers invented by people who are already really drunk.

• 52A: She replaced Paula Abdul as an "American Idol" judge (ELLEN DEGENERES). I saw Paula Abdul at the airport a couple of years ago, and let me tell you, she's gorgeous! More beautiful in person than she is on television. 
• 58A: 1999 Ron Howard film (EDTV). This movie's always playing at the the Crossword Cineplex as a double feature with Ulee's Gold. 
• 9D: Attack à la Brutus (STAB). Yeah, it was horrible the way he used to go after Popeye with that bayonet. Don't forget to eat your spinach, kids!
• 56D: "Buy It Now" online site (and where vowels were bought for 20-, 25-, 37-, 44-, and 52-Across?) (EBAY). Wow, that's a mouthful. And I'm not sure it makes sense. Are we supposed to imagine a "bay" where E's are sold? Yeah, I guess that kinda works. And I do think it was wise to include an explanatory entry, especially on Monday.

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S U N D A Y October 17, 2010 Sylvia Bursztyn (calendar)

Theme: "Book Ends" — The end of each theme answer can be used to describe a type of book.

[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:

• 24A: Contest won with a pin (WRESTLING MATCH).
• 30A: Ahead of time (BEFOREHAND).
• 45A: Scan for typos (SPELLCHECK).
• 70A: Dylan classic (IT'S ALL OVER NOW BABY BLUE).
• 94A: Film script (SCREENPLAY).
• 111A: Broad view (BIG PICTURE).
• 117A: Core oration (KEYNOTE ADDRESS).

Everything Else — 1A: Quagmire (MORASS); 7A: Took higher (UPPED); 12A: Man in the Iran mosque? (IMAM); 16A: Solo on screen (HAN); 19A: Bless with oil (ANOINT); 20A: Watts in the movies (NAOMI); 21A: Da Vinci signature piece (MONA LISA); 23A: More meager (POORER); 26A: Reese of the Dodgers (PEE WEE); 28A: Green Hornet's sidekick (KATO); 29A: Tennis legend Arthur (ASHE); 34A: Adjusts to fit (ADAPTS); 36A: LAX info (ETA); 38A: Idle or Burdon (ERIC); 39A: Patisserie purchase (TORTE); 40A: Done-turn link (TO A); 41A: Speaker of Cooperstown (TRIS); 42A: Perilous (RISKY); 44A: TV's "can cook" chef (YAN); 48A: Shooting stars (METEORS); 51A: Talks like Daffy (LISPS); 53A: Past time (YORE); 54A: Ninnies (TWITS); 56A: Lesley of "60 Minutes" (STAHL); 58A: Broadway Joe (NAMATH); 62A: Came across (MET); 65A: Student aid (LOAN); 67A: "Encore!" ("AGAIN!"); 69A: Banderas "slasher" role (ZORRO); 75A: Hackneyed (STALE); 76A: Raze (LEVEL); 77A: Jon of "Selena" (SEDA); 78A: Approves (OKS); 79A: Rocker Santana (CARLOS); 81A: Office stamp (DATER); 83A: Big ship (LINER); 86A: Death Valley's county (INYO); 88A: Salon fixture (DRYER); 90A: Looked up to (ADMIRED); 98A: Conned (HAD); 100A: "Uncle!" ("I GIVE!"); 101A: Tool booth (SHED); 102A: Figure head? (CPA); 103A: Parting "palabra" (ADIOS); 106A: Pump part (HEEL); 107A: Feel ill (AIL); 108A: Like "Glee" music (CHORAL); 113A: Knight clothes (MAIL); 115A: Boy, in Coyoacán (NI*Ntilde;O); 116A: Naval habitat (SEA LAB); 121A: Old Testament prophet (ISAIAH); 125A: Patronize (FREQUENT); 126A: Beckett's no-show (GODOT); 127A: Alaska neighbor (CANADA); 128A: Rotter (CAD); 129A: Skin pics (TATS); 130A: Utopias (EDENS); 131A: Start of a classic JFK line (ASK NOT); 1D: Chart (MAP); 2D: John --- Lennon (ONO); 3D: Milne marsupial (ROO); 4D: Turbulence cause (AIR POCKET); 5D: Snide smile (SNEER); 6D: Sesame or Easy (STREET); 7D: Still energetic (UNWEARY); 8D: Protective of offspring (PARENTAL); 9D: "Ulalume" author (POE); 10D: Common pair (EMS); 11D: NFL's Iron Mike (DITKA); 12D: Mirror (IMITATE); 13D: Board game biggie (MONOPOLY); 14D: "Brokeback Mountain" director Lee (ANG); 15D: Papas' singing partners (MAMAS); 16D: "Hey!" ("HI THERE!"); 17D: Spartan (ASCETIC); 18D: "I'll pass" ("NAH"); 22D: Vegas opener (LAS); 25D: Youth (LAD); 27D: "You know --- you are" (WHO); 30D: Road shoulder (BERM); 31D: Buffalo's lake (ERIE); 32D: Stallone's union movie (FIST); 33D: Leary of "Rescue Me" (DENIS); 35D: Falcon's claw (TALON); 37D: Invite (ASK); 41D: Gang of made men (THE MOB); 43D: "That hurts!" ("YOW!"); 45D: Puck's eatery (SPAGO); 46D: Expressions of dismissal (PSHAWS); 47D: Wacko (CRAZY); 49D: Streamlet (RILL); 50D: Seat at the bar (STOOL); 52D: Kiss rocker Paul (STANLEY); 55D: Socked away (SAVED); 57D: Put down in writing? (LIBEL); 59D: Folkie Guthrie (ARLO); 60D: WWII island (TRUK); 61D: Prepares a bed outdoors? (HOES); 62D: Catchall abbr. (MISC.); 63D: James of jazz (ETTA); 64D: Bygone sovereign (TSAR); 66D: Sparks' state (NEVADA); 68D: Olympics great Comaneci (NADIA); 71D: In cahoots (ALLIED); 72D: Sierra --- (LEONE); 73D: Take another shot (RETRY); 74D: Foreigner or America (BAND); 80D: Mesh (SYNCH); 82D: Recovery prog. (REHAB); 84D: UK label (EMI); 85D: Rue de la Paix place (RIGHT BANK); 87D: Schmeling, to Louis (OPPONENT); 89D: Big name in hotels (RADISSON); 91D: Violinist Andrá (RIEU); 92D: Word often before after (EVER); 93D: Proofer's mark (DELE); 94D: FICA-funded org. (SSA); 95D: Grand illusion (CHIMERA); 96D: Passed along (RELAYED); 97D: Roundup ropes (LARIATS); 99D: Abridged books (DIGESTS); 104D: --- -Locka (OPA); 105D: Sand makeup (SILICA); 108D: Pull (CLOUT); 109D: Furthermore (AND); 110D: Get stuck (LODGE); 112D: Josá's houses (CASAS); 114D: Probe, briefly (INQ.); 117D: The Col.'s chain (KFC); 118D: Leaves in a bag (TEA); 119D: Serling or Stewart (ROD); 120D: Stamp add-on (-EDE); 122D: McKellen or McEwan (IAN); 123D: Flutter (ADO); 124D: Pillbox or porkpie (HAT).

S U N D A Y October 17, 2010 Julian Lim (syndicated)

Theme: "I Have a Weird Feeling …" — Anagrammed words for various emotions are hidden in the theme answers.

[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:

• 22A: "The Age of Turbulence" memoirist (ALAN GREENSPAN). [anger]
• 29A: Still in Hollywood (FREEZE FRAME). [fear]
• 32A: Event with a "six metres club" (POLE VAULT). [love]
• 45A: Treaty of Paris conflict, 1763 (THE SEVEN YEARS WAR). [envy]
• 59A: Defense strategy that's not an option in some states (INSANITY PLEA). [pity]
• 71A: Scandalmongers, often (TABLOID PRESS). [pride]
• 83A: Nintendo game that involves rescuing a princess (THE LEGEND OF ZELDA). [glee]
• 92A: "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" performer (BILLY JOEL). [joy]
• 94A: Common cell (MOBILE PHONE). [hope]
• 109A: Conflict, and a hint to unraveling the puzzle's circled letters (MIXED EMOTIONS).

There were no circles in my grid so I'm totally guessing on the theme answers. If I missed any, please let me know in the comments and I'll add them here.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 40A: Big name in beauty (ESTÉE).
• 57A: Sushi bar supplier (EELER).
• 90A: Yeats's "__ and the Swan" (LEDA).
• 61D: Fed. auditor (GAO).
• 86D: Lemon add-on (-ADE).
• 98D: Siouan tribesmen (OTOES).

Everything Else — 1A: Hied (SPED); 5A: Redbox rental (DVD); 8A: Fond du __, Wisconsin (LAC); 11A: NH3 (AMMONIA); 18A: Apple part (CORE); 19A: Service station offering (AIR); 20A: "Rubáiyát" rhyme scheme (AABA); 21A: Trying to catch a break? (X-RAYING); 25A: Speculator's reply to "Where's all your money?" (I LOST IT); 26A: Bob Marley, e.g. (RASTA); 27A: Pupil of Plato (ARISTOTLE); 38A: Vet (EX-G.I.); 39A: Suvari of "American Pie" (MENA); 40A: Big name in beauty (ESTÉE); 41A: "The X-Files" extras (FEDS); 50A: Dr. Alzheimer (ALOIS); 52A: Dwells (RESIDES); 53A: Stretch out using (LIE ON); 54A: Many of their pieces are nearly identical (JIGSAWS); 57A: Sushi bar supplier (EELER); 58A: Homeys (PALS); 61A: Like pheasant (GAMY); 62A: Little rat (PUP); 65A: Slave (TOIL); 66A: Corrosive fluids (LYES); 67A: What vacationers are without, by choice (CARE); 68A: Batman co-creator (KANE); 69A: It "enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time": Merton (ART); 70A: Exploded (BLEW); 75A: "Charlie's Angels" angel Munroe (KRIS); 76A: Fracas (MELEE); 77A: Ball Park Franks maker (SARA LEE); 78A: Links site (CHAIN); 80A: Bread component? (SILENT A); 82A: Key of the overture to Mozart's "The Magic Flute" (E FLAT); 87A: "See ya!" ("TA-TA!"); 88A: Buddy List user (AOLER); 89A: Heading under which cabs are listed (REDS); 90A: Yeats's "__ and the Swan" (LEDA); 101A: Heart stimulant brand (ADRENALIN); 103A: Romantic cocktail garnish (PETAL); 104A: First frat at U.C. Berkeley (ZETA PSI); 112A: Delta follower (EPSILON); 113A: Sacha Baron Cohen character (ALI G); 114A: __ de Cologne (EAU); 115A: Tenth: Pref. (DECI-); 116A: She played Sasha Monroe on "Third Watch" (NIA LONG); 117A: 83-Across console (NES); 118A: Banned pesticide (DDT); 119A: "Understood" ("I SEE"); 1D: Gobble (down) (SCARF); 2D: Opposite (POLAR); 3D: Make blank (ERASE); 4D: Pasta order word (DENTE); 5D: __ es Salaam (DAR); 6D: Fight (for) (VIE); 7D: Less upbeat (DREARIER); 8D: Error (LAPSE); 9D: Like __ out of 79-Down (A BAT); 10D: Spam-revealing aid? (CAN OPENER); 11D: Deodorant targets, anatomically (AXILLAE); 12D: 1957 Bobbettes hit (MR. LEE); 13D: Great Leap Forward architect (MAO); 14D: Cries of dismay (OYS); 15D: Niggling detail (NIT); 16D: Trattoria menu suffix (-INI); 17D: Thespian's rep. (AGT.); 20D: "__ sure you've heard ..." (AS I'M); 23D: Wondering look (GAZE); 24D: Org. with many arms (NRA); 28D: Theater awards (TONYS); 30D: No. after a phone no. (EXT.); 31D: Alphabet trio (FGH); 33D: Indeed (VERILY); 34D: Boneheads (ASSES); 35D: Old CIA plane (U-TWO); 36D: Like times of famine (LEAN); 37D: Thrice, in Rx's (TER); 39D: Euripides tragedy (MEDEA); 41D: Sizzling Tex-Mex meat (FAJITA); 42D: "The Ladies' Man" author Lipman (ELINOR); 43D: Watch Fido, say (DOGS IT); 44D: Hemp fiber (SISAL); 46D: Filters (through) (SEEPS); 47D: German donkey (ESEL); 48D: Odious (VILE); 49D: Arbored Southwestern walkway (ALAMEDA); 51D: Japanese honorific (SAN); 55D: Game (WILLING); 56D: Optical maladies (STYES); 58D: Montmartre's city (PARIS); 60D: Longbow wood (YEW); 61D: Fed. auditor (GAO); 62D: Valencian rice dish (PAELLA); 63D: Depose (UNSEAT); 64D: Old Catalan coin (PESETA); 67D: Former Yankee Boyer (CLETE); 68D: Singles promoter? (KRAFT); 70D: Prickly, plantwise (BRIERY); 71D: Final purpose, to Aristotle (TELOS); 72D: First Hebrew letter: Var. (ALEF); 73D: Daimler contemporary (BENZ); 74D: Game opener? (PRE-); 75D: Survivor of Krypton's destruction (KAL EL); 76D: Broker (MIDDLE MAN); 78D: K.J. __, first Korean to win on the PGA Tour (CHOI); 79D: See 9-Down (HELL); 80D: Villainous look (SNEER); 81D: 1967 Temptations hit (ALL I NEED); 83D: Check (TAB); 84D: Disintegrating (ERODING); 85D: Penn. neighbor (DEL.); 86D: Lemon add-on (-ADE); 91D: PDA entry (APPT.); 93D: 39-Down's spouse (JASON); 94D: Leg hiders (MAXIS); 95D: Designer Cassini (OLEG); 96D: Didn't pass, in bridge (BID); 97D: Alpine protagonist (HEIDI); 98D: Siouan tribesmen (OTOES); 99D: '30s V.P. John __ Garner (NANCE); 100D: Milk pitcher? (ELSIE); 102D: River past Thebes (NILE); 104D: Buddhist sect (ZEN); 105D: Start to cure? (EPI-); 106D: Hijack-prevention org. (TSA); 107D: Feel peaked (AIL); 108D: Oslo Accords gp. (PLO); 110D: Furious (MAD); 111D: Partner of about (OUT).

S A T U R D A Y October 16, 2010 Barry C. Silk

Theme: None


I enjoyed the struggle of this puzzle today. I had a couple of trouble spots, but managed to piece it all together eventually. Some of the longer fill is just awesome. Look, I'm as tired of hearing about TIGER WOODS as the next person, but seeing him right there next to ZERO MOSTEL is pretty cool (30D: Three-time U.S. Open champ / 31D: He played Max Bialystock in "The Producers"). The trouble down in that corner came when I entered Lao-TZE instead of 30A: Lao-TZU. I felt kind dumb mixing those two guys up when I realized my mistake, but now that I've looked it up I see that both my answer and the correct answer are ways of referring to the same person.

Things that I just flat-out didn't know:

• 17A: USAF plane for limited runways (STOL). Stands for "Short Take-Off and Landing." So it's not one specific type of plane, it's a way of describing the types of planes that are used, as the clue says, for limited runways.
• 12D: Manny with 150 career pinch hits (MOTA). MOTA played for a couple other teams before settling with the L.A. Dodgers in 1969. After he retired from playing, he joined the Dodger coaching staff and is still a coach today.
• 13D: Hungarian wine region (EGER).
• 47D: 1966 U.S. Open champ Fred (STOLLE). After Funk and Couples, I'm out of Freds. And as it turns out, this clue is about tennis, not golf.

And I can't believe how long it took me to get PHILLIES (35A: 2008 World Series champs) considering that I know damn well Barry likes to include both Philadelphia and baseball in his grids!

Bullets:

• 5A: Younger partner (JESSE JAMES). Turns out a guy named Cole Younger ran with the outlaw Jesse James. Who knew? I thought this clue was looking for a phrase like "older and wiser" only "younger and [something]." But I couldn't think of anything.
• 18A: They need to be transcribed (STENO NOTES). The other day at work, my supervisor asked me if I had a recommendation for a book that would teach her shorthand. Hey, I'm old but I'm not that old!
• 23A: Crime show in its 11th season (CSI). Is it possible that this show has been on this long?
• 26A: "Per ardua ad __": RAF motto (ASTRA). "Through adversity to the stars."
• 40A: Fiend (OGRE). Unless it's a crossword fiend. That kind of fiend is definitely not an ogre.
• 41A: Stiff's nickname (EL CHEAPO). I thought "stiff" in this clue meant a dead body. Not sure what that says about me.

• 50A: Result in a roped-off area, briefly (TKO). A TKO (technical knock-out) might be the end result of a boxing match, which takes place in an area surrounded by ropes.
• 56A: Cobra-killing carnivore (MONGOOSE). Were we just talking about "meerkat" the other day? That was the only thing I could think of here. I knew it wasn't right, but for some reason meerkat and mongoose occupy the same part of my brain and I just couldn't distinguish them.
• 58A: Networking asset (SHARED FILE). With the -ILE in place, I thought this would be some kind of SMILE.
• 64A: Agent's accounts (SPY STORIES). I kept parsing this "spy's [something]," which kept me from figuring it out for quite a while.

• 1D: Southwestern national park, or the primary plant that grows there (JOSHUA TREE). JOSHUA TREE National Park is in southern California. Pretty sure they shot an episode of "Entourage" there once.
• 10D: Flower in the amaryllis family (JONQUIL). Can you get more Scrabbly than the JONQUIL?
• 14D: Part of SSS: Abbr. (SYST.). Selective Service SYSTem.
• 25D: Accepted principle (AXIOM). With the -IOM in place I actually wrote in IDIOM. Which makes no sense at all.
• 29D: Disney acronym (EPCOT). "Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow." I always forget this is an acronym and think it's somebody's name.
• 42D: Like wind and surf (ERODENT). This one gave me a lot of trouble. I tried EROSIVE and ERODING before I finally got close to the correct answer but didn't know if it should end in ENT or ANT.
• 60D: French iron (FER). Didn't know this one at all (I bet SethG did though!), but it was pretty easy to infer given that many words related to iron start with FER.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 63A: Sidewalk sale items (ADES).
• 7D: Proof mark (STET).
• 9D: Expressive rock genre (EMO).

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Everything Else — 1A: Bring together (JOIN); 15A: Bone, to Benito (OSSO); 16A: Field for bug bugs (ENTOMOLOGY); 19A: Surgical instrument that stops bleeding (HEMOSTAT); 21A: Ice cream choice (QUART); 22A: A, in Arles (UNE); 24A: Modem speed unit (BAUD); 28A: Pope before Paul V (LEO XI); 33A: Bitter outburst (TIRADE); 37A: Baseball stats (RBIS); 38A: Small opening? (MICRO-); 43A: Formed from (MADE OF); 45A: Some MIT grads (EES); 46A: Screams (RIOTS); 48A: Manhattan Project notable (FERMI); 49A: Forward (BOLD); 52A: Earned (WON); 53A: Equally hot (AS MAD); 61A: Scribbles (JOTS); 62A: Scotch part? (PINE NEEDLE); 65A: Bikini component (ISLE); 2D: Apparent (OSTENSIBLE); 3D: Strength-training exercises (ISOMETRICS); 4D: Court plea, briefly (NOLO); 5D: Kids (JESTS); 6D: Necessitate (ENTAIL); 8D: Didactic term of address (SON); 11D: Voiced (ALOUD); 20D: Large number (SCAD); 24D: Quantum physics pioneer (BOHR); 27D: Impetuous (RASH); 32D: Act diplomatically (USE FINESSE); 34D: Spam, at times (EMAIL); 36D: Rich supply (LODE); 39D: 2001 high-tech debut (IPOD); 44D: Clueless, after "in" (A FOG); 49D: Discloses (BARES); 51D: Places for pads (KNEES); 53D: Ancient royal symbols (ASPS); 54D: Crow's-nest sighting (SHIP); 55D: Myriad (MANY); 56D: It covers the 51-Down (MIDI); 57D: Resort NNE of Ventura (OJAI); 59D: __ gratias (DEO).

F R I D A Y October 15, 2010 Kelsey Blakley

Theme: What the L? — An "L" is added before the "Y" in words ending in "Y," and wackiness ensues.

Theme answers:

• 17A: Mentioned with a yawn? (DULLY NOTED)
• 23A: Tightfistedness scale? (MISERLY INDEX)
• 53A: Like a centaur? (PARTLY ANIMAL)
• 64A: Old enough to know better? (HARDLY BOYS)

Howdy, fellow cruciverbalists. Doug here, pinch-hitting for PuzzleGirl on a Friday. Speaking of hitting, Kelsey Blakley knocked one out of the park! Today's puzzle is excellent. Lots of fun from top to bottom. We've all seen add-a-letter puzzles before. I've constructed quite a few of them myself. Now to make an add-a-letter theme really shine, the constructor has to create phrases that can be clued in clever and surprising ways. I thought the first two theme entries were OK--cute and not terribly memorable. But the last two are just awesome. "Like a centaur?" sounds like the title for a creepier-than-usual Madonna video. And HARDLY BOYS for "Old enough to know better?" is the icing on the cake. Plenty of good stuff in the fill too. Let's look at some highlights:

Bullets:

• 1A: A popular one is modeled after the Winchester rifle (BBGUN). Nice entry and clue to kick off the puzzle. Clumps of consonants like "BBG" are great for making the solver think he or she has written in something wrong.

• 21A: Like jellybeans (OVOID). Boring entry saved by a tasty clue.
• 33A: Lollipop-licking cop (KOJAK). I don't have much of anything to say about the show, as it was a little before my time, but that's one cool-looking grid entry with the J and double K.
• 43A: Contest entry (ESSAY). I got the initial E and confidently put in ENTRY. Genius.
• 51A: Battle preparation place, in metaphor (WARPATH). From "on the warpath" I presume. Clever clue. At first, I thought it might be WARROOM, but I couldn't jibe that with the "metaphor" part of the clue.

• 4D: Black light, briefly (UVLAMP). When I was a kid, I begged my parents for a black light. I thought it would be the coolest thing to buy a couple of those trippy black light posters they sold in comics books. My mom's exact quote: "You're not ordering a bunch of crap from a comic book." Well, I showed her. When I got to college I finally sent away for the x-ray glasses!
• 8D: Tip of Massachusetts (ONEILL). I figured it was one of those capes (Cod, Ann, May?) but of course none of them fit. I've never been great with East Coast geography. I've only lived in the "big states" out West. You could drop Delaware or Rhode Island into Eastern Montana and nobody but the cows would notice.
• 27D: God wounded by Diomedes in the "Iliad" (ARES). I love mythology clues. Wounding the God of War? That's hardcore! Brush up on your ARES with this Crosswordese 101 entry.
• 50D: Home to many Berbers (SAHARA). I misread the clue as "Home to many Biebers" and thought "Oh my god, there's more than one of him!"

That's all for today, folks. I hope you enjoyed the puzzle as much as I did.

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Everything Else — 6A: Three-time A.L. MVP (AROD); 10A: Narcissist's obsession (SELF); 14A: Oil source (OLIVE); 15A: __ fide (BONA); 16A: Gin flavoring (SLOE); 19A: Inn group member (MAID); 20A: __ trap (SETA); 22A: Memo header (INRE); 26A: Swiffer WetJet, e.g. (DAMPMOP); 29A: Bereft (LORN); 30A: Jupiter, for one (ORB); 31A: Allen contemporary (PAAR); 37A: Ristorante staple (VEAL); 39A: Explore deeply (PROBE); 42A: Derelict, perhaps (WINO); 45A: Factor opening (BENE); 47A: Bucko (MAC); 48A: Goofs (around) (BUMS); 57A: Actress Falco (EDIE); 58A: Oarlock pin (THOLE); 59A: Vanishing points (ENDS); 63A: Outfits (RIGS); 66A: Send out (EMIT); 67A: End of a lover's ultimatum (ORME); 68A: Designated (MEANT); 69A: Aussie sleep sounds? (ZEDS); 70A: European coal region (SAAR); 71A: Fire proof? (ASHES); 1D: Mr. Olympia contestants' obsessions (BODS); 2D: RisquÈ (BLUE); 3D: Thin ornamental layer (GILT); 5D: Marshal under Napoleon (NEY); 6D: Good, except on the links (ABOVEPAR); 7D: Eggbeater feature (ROTOR); 9D: Beatnik's address (DADDYO); 10D: Gilligan's shipwrecked ship (SSMINNOW); 11D: Savanna grazer (ELAND); 12D: River through Tours (LOIRE); 13D: Fly-by-night co.? (FEDEX); 18D: "It'll never wash!" (NOSOAP); 24D: Little cut-up (IMP); 25D: Bug like a 24-Down (IRK); 26D: Went off the deep end (DOVE); 28D: Wheels of Fortune? (MBAS); 32D: Knock over (ROB); 34D: "Sands of Iwo __": 1949 film (JIMA); 35D: Med school subj. (ANAT); 36D: "Mayor" author (KOCH); 38D: Doctor's orders, often (LABTESTS); 40D: Stump (BEWILDER); 41D: Plaque holder? (ENAMEL); 44D: James's "Westworld" costar (YUL); 46D: Time slice (ERA); 49D: Aristotle's first element of tragedy (MYTHOS); 52D: Annapolis newbies (PLEBES); 53D: Two-time Venezuelan president Carlos (PEREZ); 54D: Turn on __ (ADIME); 55D: Intolerant (RIGID); 56D: "__ Rae" (NORMA); 60D: Early animal handler (NOAH); 61D: Bit of force (DYNE); 62D: Ret. fliers (SSTS); 65D: Sumac from Peru (YMA).

T H U R S D A Y November 11, 2010 Don Gagliardo

Theme: A Day at the PuzzleHouse — Theme answers all start with words describing the PuzzleKids' various reactions to daily events. (Okay, maybe not the spitting.)


Theme answers:

• 17A: Battle of the Bulge air assault division (SCREAMING EAGLES).
• 23A: Doppelgänger (SPITTING IMAGE).
• 34A: It's hard to get romantic with one (NAGGING HEADACHE).
• 48A: Reason to see a mechanic (WHINING ENGINE).
• 56A: Admonition to one acting out the starts of 17-, 23-, 34- and 48-Across (MIND YOUR MANNERS).

SPITTING IMAGE was the first theme answer I got and I think I only had two or three crosses in place at the time. At the risk of sounding like a complete idiot — I mean, really, at this point, what do I have to lose? — I'll admit that I can only remember what a "doppelgänger" is because of the recent "Doppelgänger Week" on Facebook. Obviously, I'd heard the word before that, but it was that event that really solidified it in my brain. So anyway when I got to 34 Across, the type of HEADACHE I thought of was "splitting" but that wouldn't fit. So I didn't really see where the theme was going until I got a little farther into it. SCREAMING EAGLES is a phrase I've heard, but not one that I could come up with off the top of my head. It's an awesome theme entry though, isn't it?

As usual for a later-week puzzle, there were several things that I just flat-out didn't know. Like:

• 29A: Incarnation of Vishnu (RAMA). I'll be the first to admit that I don't know much about Hinduism. Wikipedia tells me that RAMA, the "seventh avatar of Vishnu, … is pictured as the ideal man and the perfect human." No pressure though, RAMA.
• 64A: Mythical animal kingdom ennead (LIVES). I still don't know what this means and can't figure it out by Googling. I assume it has something to do with a cat's nine lives, right? But how does "kingdom" fit in? I'm at a loss!

• 6D: "__ Baba Bunny": classic Bugs cartoon (ALI). Now I definitely should have been able to infer this one, but I didn't spend much time and got it through crosses instead.
• 8D: Leia's last name (ORGANA). I knew that Princess Leia turned out to be the sister of one of the main Star Wars guys, so "Solo" and "Skywalker" both went through my head. I don't remember ever hearing of ORGANA though.
• 19D: Angular measurement device used in surveying (ALIDADE). From what I can tell, ALIDADE has only been used twice in any of the major crossword puzzles, both times in 2000. Once in a Newsday Saturday Stumper and once in a Saturday CrosSynergy puzzle. Personally, I think there's a good reason it doesn't show up more often, but maybe that's just me.

There were a couple other things that threw me off a little, like EDUC. for 1A: U.S. dept. with a Race to the Top reform prog. I have actually heard of the Race to the Top program because of the recent controversy over New Jersey's application (they didn't include the right numbers, they were asked about it and didn't know the numbers were wrong, then came back later and tried to say that they should have had an opportunity to change them — I don't know, there was more to it than that, here are more details, if you're interested). But PuzzleHusband used to work at the Department of Education so I'm super used to calling it "Ed." EDUC is a perfectly legitimate abbreviation, but it just didn't enter my consciousness. I don't ever recall hearing an "hourglass" referred to as a SANDGLASS (33D: Time-measuring device), so that held me up a bit. I haven't decided if I'm gonna let NO OIL slide as a 49D: Kind of salad dressing. If I put a hyphen in it, does that make it better: "no-oil salad dressing"? Maybe a little. Let me know what you think of it.

Bullets:

• 10A: Lock style (COIF). So many different words for hair!

• 30A: Alice's workplace (DINER). I hate it when I get so close to an answer but can't see it. First I thought of "Alice's Restaurant" and when that didn't fit I thought of Mel's Diner. My brain wouldn't just drop the "Mel's" in order to get the right answer though. Argh!
• 40A: Important no. to most car buyers (MPG). I tried APR here first.
• 43A: Sheer (STEEP). Very tricky. This is like a "sheer cliff" not "sheer stockings."
• 51A: Reservoir borders? (ARS). A letter R ("ar") is on each end ("border") of the word "reservoir." (We talked about literal letters back in August of last year.)
• 4D: Nest chorus (CHEEPS). I tried "chirps" here.
• 11D: Checked out, as a book (ON LOAN). I read this clue as a verb and couldn't shift gears to make it an adverb until it became clear through crosses.

• 13D: Uncle at 0001 Cemetery Lane, in '60s TV (FESTER). The Addams Family.
• 18D: First name in shipping (ARI). Shipping magnate and Jackie Kennedy's second husband, Ari Onassis.
• 39D: Callaway of golf equipment fame (ELY). We talked about ELY back in April of last year, but this guy didn't make the cut. Note to constructors: this is the second day in a row you included a golf clue that wasn't a gimme for me. I get it. You can stop now.
• 46D: Rainforest rodent (AGOUTI). We'll cover this in Crosswordese 301.
• 59D: Sra.'s neighboring counterpart (MME.). English = Mrs.; Spanish = Sra. (Señora); French = MME. (Madame).

Crosswordese 101: SLR stands for Single-Lens Reflex, a type of 35mm camera. A lot of times the clues will be, simply, "Camera type, for short." Other times the clue might include a particular camera brand — such as Canon, Nikon or Olympus. Later in the week, you are likely to see a clue attempting to be tricky by including the word "shooter" to throw you off (like today's 63A: Some shooters, briefly).

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

• 20A: Willows for weavers (OSIERS).
• 41A: Coastal raptor (ERNE).
• 1D: Gas acronym (ESSO).
• 7D: Hall of Fame quarterback Dawson (LEN).
• 35D: Feds (G-MEN).
• 36D: "__ go bragh!" (ERIN).
• 54D: Columnist Bombeck (ERMA).
• 55D: Nieuwpoort's river (YSER).

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Everything Else — 5A: Iconic rings (HALOS); 14A: JV team member, perhaps (SOPH); 15A: Warning (ALERT); 16A: Back in the day (ONCE); 21A: Cause to suffer (AIL); 22A: Word with meal or cake (OAT); 27A: Name on an airport shuttle (AVIS); 31A: Yang's partner (YIN); 32A: Clue (HINT); 33A: Cul-de-__ (SAC); 42A: It starts with "http" (URL); 46A: Desertlike (ARID); 47A: Teeny (ITSY); 52A: Besides (TOO); 53A: __ Tunes (LOONEY); 60A: Court entry (PLEA); 61A: Shopping list entries (ITEMS); 62A: "Woe __!" (IS ME); 65A: Peter or Paul, but not Mary (TSAR); 2D: Holliday and others (DOCS); 3D: Revolting situation (UPRISING); 5D: Target of pre-race stretching (HAMSTRING); 9D: "Shrek!" author William (STEIG); 10D: Minor player (COG); 12D: Cooling-off period? (ICE AGE); 24D: Bite (TANG); 25D: "Count me in!" ("I'M THERE!"); 26D: Mineral with basal cleavage (MICA); 27D: Writer Rand (AYN); 28D: Routing word (VIA); 32D: __ Hop: bouncing ball brand (HIPPITY); 35D: Feds (G-MEN); 37D: Kitten's quality (CUTENESS); 38D: Retail posting: Abbr. (HRS.); 43D: Overwhelms (SWAMPS); 44D: Rollercoaster ride, e.g. (THRILL); 45D: Former Disney chief (EISNER); 47D: Part of a conspiracy (IN ON IT); 50D: Charged particle (ION); 57D: Courtroom VIPs (DA'S); 58D: Test, as an engine (REV).

T H U R S D A Y October 14, 2010 Matt Matera

Theme: YES!— Each theme answer starts with the word yes in a different language.


Theme answers:

• 1A: *Hip-hopper who married Beyoncé (German) (JAY-Z).
• 20A: *Old stories (English) (YESTERDAY'S NEWS).
• 28A: *Inferred cosmic substance (Russian) (DARK MATTER).
• 44A: *Séance device (French) (OUIJA BOARD).
• 51A: *Fatal problem in Genesis (Spanish) (SIBLING RIVALRY).
• 66A: Parliamentary votes, or what appears at the starts of the answers to starred clues (YEAS).

Before we get started I just wanted to let you all know about a crossword app that's been around for a while but has a pretty cool deal going right now where you can get a bundle of 20 Onion puzzles for just $1.99. For those of you who haven't tried the Onion puzzles, I would say they're high-quality, they're generally not super tough, and they tend to be a little on the "edgy" side. I've never tried the app, but I've heard it's awesome on the iPad. I think I'll download the free version to check it out on my iPhone and I'll report back. With the paid version, I've been told you get "all the best puzzles in the known universe." And I got that from a very reliable source. In the meantime, though, please check out the deal and let us know if you try it.

Did any of you have the same reaction I did when you first started this puzzle? "What the heck is German about JAY-Z?!" That was enough to send me looking for the theme (I don't always do that) and it turned out to be a big help.

Bullets:

• 10A: Delhi wrap (SARI). I always get tricked by this clue. I always think they're talking about the sandwich-type wrap, which is weird because I've always thought the whole "wrap" thing sounded pretentious so I don't know why I think about it so much.
• 16A: Green Zone site (IRAQ). I misread this clue as "Green Zone SIGHT" and thought IRAQ was a really bad answer. (It is, however, a prefectly fine answer for the actual clue.)
• 19A: Things you saw while out? (LOGS). I got it right away that "out" was referring to sleep, but I thought the answer would be "dreams," which obviously didn't fit. It didn't occur to me that there might be two tricky words in the clue!
• 33A: Mythological ride (CARPET).



• 35A: Derisive cry (YAH). Not sure in what context this "cry" would be used derisively. Making fun of the accents in "Fargo"?
• 42A: Body art, in slang (TAT). I'm glad we're able to clue TAT as TATtoos now, instead of relying on the old "making lace" definition.

• 49A: "Dagnabit!" ("RATS!"). Excellent exclamations.
• 58A: Colombia neighbor (PERU). And you know what country is also a neighbor of PERU? That's right ... CHI-CHI-CHI! LE-LE-LE!
• 61A: Animal shelter (LAIR). When I see the word LAIR I always picture a cave in my mind. And I don't think there's any way I'll ever picture a cave again without thinking about those miners. I have a feeling we're going to be seeing a lot of those guys over the next several days and weeks. (As Andy Borowitz tweeted yesterday morning: "Post-traumatic experts say it could be days before the Chilean miners appear on Dancing with the Stars.")
• 7D: Org. with rovers (NASA). I wanted this to be about dogs.
• 9D: Handel bars? (MESSIAH). Cute clue.

• 10D: '20s White House nickname (SILENT CAL). Calvin Coolidge. Not real wordy as far as presidents go.
• 31D: Actress Durance who plays Lois on "Smallville" (ERICA). This seems obscure to me. Has she been in anything else?
• 37D: TV princess (XENA). Hi, Doug.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 14A: Movie apiarist (ULEE).
• 18A: Brewers' kilns (OASTS).
• 56D: Flightless bird (RHEA).

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Everything Else — 5A: Sturdy fabric (DENIM); 15A: Like sandalwood leaves (OVATE); 17A: Gets into (DONS); 23A: "Paris, je t'__": 2006 film (AIME); 24A: Charged particle (ION); 25A: Nashville awards gp. (CMA); 36A: Pivotal part (CRUX); 38A: Bug, perhaps (ERROR); 39A: Hottie (FOX); 40A: Easternmost state (MAINE); 41A: "Don't touch that __!" (DIAL); 43A: High-speed raptor (FALCON); 47A: Former World No. 1 tennis player Ivanovic (ANA); 48A: With 6-Down, one in fear of an audit (TAX); 59A: Funnel-shaped (CONED); 60A: Architect Mies van der __ (ROHE); 62A: Gather (AMASS); 63A: Intuited (KNEW); 64A: About (OR SO); 65A: Greet respectfully (BOW TO); 1D: Kids' author Blume (JUDY); 2D: Succulent plant (ALOE); 3D: Dieters may fight them (YENS); 4D: Keebler cracker (ZESTA); 5D: Pushover (DOORMAT); 6D: See 48-Across (EVADER); 8D: __-bitty (ITTY); 11D: ... ducks in __ (A ROW); 12D: Poverty, in metaphor (RAGS); 13D: Brightness nos. (IQ'S); 21D: Down source (EIDER); 22D: "Kidding!" ("NOT!"); 25D: Included in the e-mail chain (CC'ED); 26D: Video game plumber (MARIO); 27D: Pianist Claudio (ARRAU); 29D: Honshu city (KYOTO); 30D: Top limit (MAX); 32D: Bad sentence (RUN-ON); 34D: Former Kremlin policymaker (POLITBURO); 39D: Terrif (FAB); 40D: Former sketch comedy that used Don Martin cartoons (MAD TV); 42D: Hailed ride (TAXICAB); 43D: "I wish 'twere otherwise" ("'FRAID SO"); 45D: Airline to 29-Down (JAL); 46D: Slap the cuffs on (ARREST); 50D: Like a biting remark, in British slang (SARKY); 51D: Burn slightly (SEAR); 52D: Novelist Murdoch (IRIS); 53D: Pitcher Hideo (NOMO); 54D: Chew (GNAW); 55D: Unaccompanied (LONE); 56D: Flightless bird (RHEA); 57D: Trees used to make longbows (YEWS); 58D: Abbas's gp. (PLO).

W E D N E S D A Y October 13, 2010 Dan Naddor

Theme: Money Money Money — Theme answers are familiar phrases that begin with words that can describe financial states.


Theme answers:

• 17A: Challenges for an interviewee (LOADED QUESTIONS).
• 25A: Not even close (WELL OFF THE MARK).
• 40A: Journalism bigwig (MANAGING EDITOR).
• 51A: Defied tradition (BROKE WITH CUSTOM).

Every once in a while there's a puzzle where I just can't figure out the theme until I'm completely done with the puzzle and looking hard at the theme answers. This is one of those puzzles. First I tried connecting the ends of the theme answers — QUESTIONS / MARK / EDITOR / CUSTOM — and guess what. I couldn't come up with anything. For some reason. Then I tried the first words instead and still didn't get anywhere. Why? Because I was only reading WELL instead of WELL-OFF and the -OFF part is actually important here. So I can't decide if that's a flaw in the theme that's worth griping about or if it was just me not catching on and therefore feeling stupid. Who knows?

Bullets:

• 5A: Furtive message (MEET ME). Ooh, I like this. Much more fun to receive than the scary "See Me" I used to get from my lunatic boss.
• 15A: First pro team to play on artificial turf (ASTROS). How did I know this??
• 30A: __ the finish (IN AT). That's an ugly partial. See also 49D: "Pay __ mind!" (IT NO).

• 31A: Seventh of eight, now (URANUS). URANUS used to be the seventh planet out of nine. Poor Pluto.
• 59A: Church councils (SYNODS). I learned this word from puzzles a couple years ago and two days later I was sitting at the PuzzleKids' swimming lesson chatting with another mom. I asked her where she worked and she said at the [something-or-other] Synod. Weird.
• 6D: ABA honorifics (ESQS.). Attorneys — members of the American Bar Association — can put an ESQ. at the end of their names if they want.
• 12D: Joan of "Knots Landing" (VAN ARK). Loved that show. I mean loved it. I'm sure I wouldn't be able to stand it today.
• 22D: Womb-mate (TWIN). Not a big fan of this clue. I mean, sure ... not that there's anything wrong with this particular body part it's just that, well, it sounds like a euphemism and: (a) I don't think it needs a euphemism — it's a uterus, call it that; and (b) if you don't think it's appropriate to use the word uterus, then womb really isn't any better. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get it. It's supposed to sound like "roommate," but I still don't have to like it.

• 27D: Eight-time British Open host town (TROON). Never heard of it. For some reason, PHGOO* didn't help me at all here.
• 28D: Greek leader? (HARD G). I thought the answer to this one might be alpha, the first letter of the Greek alphabet, but it was going for something even more literal than that. I've been catching up on a backlog of puzzles over the last few days and have seen a lot of these types of clues so I'm getting less and less prone to falling for the trick.
• 34D: 1950s Niners Hall of Fame quarterback (Y.A. TITTLE). Only know him from crosswords. He had quite a career — he's a Hall-of-Famer and two-time NFL MVP — but he was just a little before my time.

• 36D: Puppeteer Tony (SARG). Here's another guy I only know from puzzles. Have you heard of him? He is the "father of modern puppetry in North America" after all!
• 48D: Communicate digitally? (SIGN). I knew what this clue was getting at, but I couldn't get my brain to think past ASL (American Sign Language).
• 52D: Magnesium has two (EMS). Ouch.

Crosswordese 101:There are a couple of LENs you should be aware of for crossword purposes. In today's grid is 55A: Spy novelist Deighton. He's almost always clued just this way. Every once in a while, one of his titles will be in the clue, but even then his last name is included. Other LENs include the actor LEN Cariou, sportscaster LEN Berman, movie director LEN Wiseman, and former football player LEN Dawson.

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

• 57A: Earthenware pot (OLLA).
• 7D: Case in a purse, perhaps (ÉTUI).
• 23D: Vintner's prefix (OENO-).
• 24D: Outback critter (EMU).
• 35D: Harrow rival (ETON).

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*PuzzleHusband's Golf Obsession Osmosis

Everything Else — 1A: Mr. or Mrs. (ABBR.); 11A: New Deal prog. (TVA); 14A: Toon predator __ E. Coyote (WILE); 16A: Used to be (WAS); 20A: Serious religious dissents (HERESIES); 21A: Elite Eight org. (NCAA); 22A: Trinidad's partner (TOBAGO); 24A: Digital greeting (E-CARD); 32A: Japanese drama (NOH); 33A: Bar shot (SNORT); 34A: "May I help you?" ("YES?"); 37A: Neptune, for one (SEA GOD); 39A: It may be raw (DATA); 44A: Goof (BONER); 45A: Kind of will or trust (LIVING); 46A: Greek vowel (IOTA); 47A: "If you ask me ..." ("AS I SEE IT ..."); 56A: It's attractive (MAGNET); 58A: Big name in ice cream (EDY); 60A: Fix up (REDO); 1D: Hole-making tool (AWL); 2D: Many a Britannica article (BIO); 3D: Mindless chatter (BLAH BLAH); 4D: Reacted to giving out too many cards (REDEALT); 5D: Constituted from (MADE OF); 8D: Elder or alder (TREE); 9D: Trunk growth (MOSS); 10D: D.C. setting (EST); 11D: Like some accidents (TWO-CAR); 13D: Longtime Syrian ruling family name (ASSAD); 18D: Consequently (ERGO); 19D: Pizarro victims (INCAS); 26D: Yeasts, e.g. (FUNGI); 29D: M.D.'s specialty (ENT); 33D: Show signs of age, as a roof (SAG); 37D: Weasel (SNEAK); 38D: Listening device (EAR); 39D: ÷ follower (DIVISOR); 40D: Tied in the harbor (MOORED); 41D: 1963 Burton role (ANTONY); 42D: Picks (ELECTS); 43D: "Mon __!": Poirot exclamation (DIEU); 44D: Book read by millions (BIBLE); 47D: Traveling (AWAY); 50D: Get rid of (SHED); 53D: Passè (OLD); 54D: Cultural Revolution leader (MAO).

T U E S D A Y October 12, 2010 Meredith Ito

Theme: D.C. Comics — Theme answers are comedians with the initials D.C.


Theme answers:

• 17A: "Vicious Circle" stand-up guy (DANE COOK).
• 25A: Stand-up guy who played Tobias Fünke on "Arrested Development" (DAVID CROSS).
• 36A: Stand-up guy with his own sitcom, 1995-2004 (DREW CAREY).
• 51A: Stand-up guy with multiple "SNL" personas (DANA CARVEY).
• 60A: "Superman" publisher, and this puzzle's title (D.C. COMICS).

Love this theme. I mean, I really love this theme! See, the reveal answer is D.C. COMICS. And D.C. COMICS is actually a thing all on its own. But for the puzzle it's re-interpreted: the theme answers are all comics whose initials are D.C.! This is exactly what I want to see in a puzzle theme. And I don't even know who DAVID CROSS is. But I don't care! Because there are plenty of things that I don't know and he fits perfectly with the theme. Unless he's not a comic. Let me look him up real quick. ... Oh I totally know that guy. And he's totally a comic. I just didn't know his name. This is kinda sad, but I'm gonna go ahead and tell you anyway. I recognize him from "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel." He was the bad guy.

Now, I'm not going to lie to you. I'm not crazy about seeing two suffixes in the same grid — 14A: Suffix with stamp (-EDE) and 43A: Enzyme suffix (-ASE) — and the southeast corner is a little military heavy, but I'm not going to dwell on any of that. The theme is outstanding and the fill is above average. Oh, and did you see the two non-theme bonus answers?

• 19A: Explosion sound (KABOOM). Straight of out D.C. COMICS, right?
• 59D: "Isn't __ riot?!": "Funny guy!" (HE A). I have been amused at one time or another by each of the comedians mentioned, so this clue definitely works for me.

Bullets:

• 4A/1A: Fix à la MacGyver (JURY / RIG). I so wanted this to be DUCT TAPE. Does MacGyver actually use duct tape? I've never watched the show, but when I think of MacGyver, I think of ... duct tape.

• 15A: "Lonely Boy" singer (ANKA). Women around my age probably think of this as a Donny Osmond song.
• 63A: Little laugh (TEE-HEE). I much prefer this spelling to the oft-seen TEHEE.
• 65A: Rebellious Turner (NAT). Honestly? The first thing that came to my mind was IKE. Well, he was rebellious too, wasn't he?
• 28D: Golfer Sabbatini (RORY). I know this one through PHGOO (PuzzleHusband Golf Obsession Osmosis). If you're not a golf fan, this guy probably isn't somebody you know, but the crosses are all solid so you shouldn't have had any trouble.
• 40D: Potter's friend Ron (WEASLEY). Lots of Harry Potter this week. Glad I didn't have to know the actor's name today.
• 43D: "Sweet" girl in a barbershop song (ADELINE). I tried to find a video of one of my favorite bands singing a song called "Adeline," but I couldn't. I found audio of it and I got super excited until it cut off right before the last verse. Unfortunately, for this particular song you really need the last verse. Anyway, if you like bluegrass music, check out The Mike & Amy Finders Band on iTunes. And if you're in Colorado, by all means go see them.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 15A: "Lonely Boy" singer (ANKA).
• 23A: River inlet (RIA).
• 33A: Hot day coolers (ADES).
• 18D: Mideast carrier (EL AL).
• 37D: Semicircular recess (APSE).

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Everything Else — 8A: "__ Bovary" (MADAME); 16A: Hypothetical primate (APEMAN); 20A: Spiral-shelled mollusk (WHELK); 21A: Uncover, in verse (OPE); 24A: Whit or bit (IOTA); 29A: Carpenter's fastener (NAIL GUN); 31A: Regis and Kelly, e.g. (CO-HOSTS); 32A: Big initials in nutritional supplements (GNC); 35A: Clear the chalkboard (ERASE); 39A: Horrendous (AWFUL); 42A: NYSE debuts (IPO'S); 46A: Predicting a market decline (BEARISH); 49A: Husky, e.g. (SLED DOG); 53A: Start from scratch (REDO); 54A: The Trojans of the Pac-10 (USC); 55A: Luggage-screening gp. (TSA); 56A: __ Lama (DALAI); 57A: Platitude (CLICHÉ); 64A: Large-scale work (EPIC); 66A: Iraqi neighbor (SYRIAN); 67A: Loser to paper and winner over scissors (ROCK); 68A: USN rank (ENS.); 1D: Joe Louis Arena hockey player (REDWING); 2D: Pocatello resident (IDAHOAN); 3D: Like some fingerprints (GENETIC); 4D: Tire-changing aid (JACK); 5D: Game with Draw Two cards (UNO); 6D: "King Kong" studio (RKO); 7D: Comedian Smirnoff (YAKOV); 8D: Just about manage (MAKE DO); 9D: Therapists' org. (APA); 10D: Society newcomer (DEB); 11D: Loving, to Luisa (AMOROSA); 12D: "Little Red Book" adherents (MAOISTS); 13D: How stadium crowds move (EN MASSE); 22D: Photo (PIC); 25D: "Bro!" ("DUDE!"); 26D: From the start (ANEW); 27D: Word preceding a 22-Down (CHEESE); 30D: Marinara clove (GARLIC); 34D: Lab subj. (SCI.); 36D: Commercial battery prefix with "cell" (DURA-); 38D: __-poly (ROLY); 39D: Kidnaps (ABDUCTS); 41D: More decorative (FANCIER); 44D: Recycled item (SODA CAN); 45D: Ones with I-strain? (EGOISTS); 47D: Glossy fabric (SATEEN); 48D: Noon and midnight: Abbr. (HRS.); 50D: Wee weight (DRAM); 52D: Skywalker's nemesis (VADER); 56D: Pier (DOCK); 58D: T'ai __ (CHI); 61D: Naval noncom: Abbr. (CPO); 62D: Pres. title (CIC).