Sun Blocks - A Crossword Blog by Pete Mitchell

Sunset, Sunrise?

2009-03-02T17:00:00.001-05:00

As of now, the Sun puzzle has ceased to exist. However, if enough people commit their interest, Peter Gordon will again begin to produce this fantastic puzzle. The price is incredibly reasonable at about 20 cents a puzzle. That's a dollar a week, and less than five dollars a month. Can you even buy a latte for that these days? Maybe just. So, for the price of one latte a month, you could (again) be enjoying these puzzles that are every bit as good as New York Times puzzles, a touch harder even in the early week, and a touch edgier in many respects. The vast majority are by the same quality constructors you've come to know and love.

The loss of the Sun is especially sad for constructors. There are now 250+ fewer spots per year for quality puzzles to see the light of day. And Peter Gordon is the anti-Shortz when it comes to response times. Whereas the New York Times will respond to a submission in anywhere from one to six months (sometimes longer), Peter Gordon usually responds within 24 hours! Whether for a budding constructor or a seasoned veteran, that's just a wonderful thing.

So, what are you waiting for? Are you seriously going to tell me you don't think 20+ of these puzzles in a month isn't worth five bucks? How much do you spend on videos? On coffee? On highway tolls? On vending machines? On lottery tickets? You wouldn't forego one restaurant lunch every two months to get a daily Sun puzzle? I know I would.

Think it over. Sure there are plenty of free puzzles out there. But somehow, they just don't seem to measure up. Here's the link:

www.suncrossword.com/sunrise

Thanks for listening.

- Pete M.

Friday, February 27, 2009

2009-02-27T02:01:00.010-05:00

Title: Think Twice
Author: Mark Diehl
Theme: Double edged -- all squares around the perimeter contain two letters each.

17a: Fuzz busters? (RaZORBLADES). A nice clue here, evoking the slang for a radar detector.

40a: Excalibur and Glamdring (BROADSWORDS). Glamdring was the name of the sword found in the troll lair in "The Hobbit" and wielded by Gandalf throughout the rest of that book and through the "Lord of the Rings". That single reference warrants a geek tag like no other reference I've ever seen. Awesome!

64a: Like 17- and 40-Across (and this puzzle) (DOUBLE-EDGEd).

39d: Funk

knew

1a: Arctic game (CaRiBoUs). This one threw me a bit, even after I knew the theme, because I've always thought the plural of caribou was caribou (like moose and deer). I've never heard it pluralized in this fashion, though the dictionary backs it as an option. Caribou is also the name of an alcoholic concoction commonly drank in unseemly quantities at Quebec Winter Carnival. If you've been to Quebec in the winter, you'll understand the appeal.

5a: 2001 Robert De Niro film (ThE sCoRe). Great film, also starring Edward Norton and featuring Marlon Brando.

9a: Oscar-winning song from "Captain Carey, U.S.A." (MoNa LiSa). This classic, sung by Nat King Cole, was the first "Best Song" Oscar from a non-musical drama. Here, I hope, is a link to it. (My company has blocked my access to youtube, so I can't verify it. If it's wrong, I apologize.)

13a: Derby distance (MeTRE). Derby is a city in England, hence the spelling. Not the distance of a particular race or of a hat of any kind. I confidently put MILE here before I knew what was going on.

16a: "Little House on the Prairie" tribe (OSAGe).

19a: Miranda Cosgrove TV character surnamed Shay (CARLy). Didn't know this at all. You might remember her as Summer, the cocky girl who becomes the band manager in "School of Rock".

23a: Garner (JeNN). Just kidding. It's ReAP.

27a: Slush fund purchase? (SNOWTIRe). Ouch.

31a: Traverse (CoURSE).

35a: Ballpark figures (ERAs).

36a: "A Journal of the Plague Year" author (DeFOE). I couldn't have named a single thing he wrote other than Robinson Crusoe. I suspect I'm not alone here.

38a: Affixes, in a way (IRONS On).

43a: To such an extent (as) (InSOFAR).

46a: Word with space or rock (OPERa). I assume that's opera space, not space opera? Maybe I'm wrong. Has "Star Wars" been made into a musical yet?

49a: Nana (GrAN).

52a: Injustices (WRONGs).

53a: "Count me in!" (I'd LOVE TO). Great fill.

57a: Drawn figure (TOOn).

61a: Draw back (CoWER).

69a: Certain furbearer (StOAT). Furbearer is a weird word. Are we skinbearers? Are fish scalebearers?

71a: Con game (BUNKo).

72a: Party mix ingredient (CoRn ChEx). Mmmmm. Party mix.

73a: Cause (EnGeNdEr).

74a: Military unit insignia (ArM pAtCh).

1d: Shooter's device (CaMeRa).

2d: It's scalloped (RiTZ). I couldn't figure out where this clue was going to save my life. Then I got it from crossings and went "Doh!".

3d: Jersey municipality (BoRO).

4d: They're not clean (UsERS). Drug reference.

5d: Calliope kin (ThALIA). Muses. Usually, it's Erato.

6d: Conveyance in an emergency (EsCAPE POD). Love it.

7d: Mixed (CoED). Sensitively clued as the adjective, not the more-politically-incorrect noun.

8d: Make available (ReLEASE). As DVDs, CDs, games, etc.

9d: Kid's farm sighting (MoO-COW). As opposed to all those baa-cows and neigh-cows out there. This felt like a bit of a stretch, but I can accept it. I guess.

10d: Columbia org. (NaSA). The space shuttle Columbia, not the city or the school.

11d: Trust buster? (LiAR).

12d: With prudence (SaGeLy).

23d: Change, as a computer program (ReCoDe). Well, sort of. Recode typically implies that you're starting from scratch, not modifying an existing program. So, if you start from scratch to create something that does basically the same thing, is it the same computer program anymore? Maybe it depends on whether you name it the same thing.

30d: Think in a logical manner (ReAsOn). "Logic is little tweeting bird chirping in meadow."

42d: Citizen part (WATCHBANd).

43d: Anastasia portrayer (InGrId). Bergman, of course.

48d: Teases (RaGs On).

51d: Ran a successful pass pattern (GOT OPEn). I like this fill a lot.

54d: Top (VERTEx).

56d: Kind of top (HALTEr).

60d: Keep out (DEBAr).

61d: Place to buy Kirkland Signature products (CoStCo). Never shopped there; never heard of Kirkland Signature products.

62d: Spent (WORn).

63d: Not together (EACh).

65d: Lean on (URGe).

66d: Sell off rapidly (DUMp).

67d: Black fly (GNAt).

68d: Successor to Joseph Wapner (Ed KoCh).

Sundries:

58a: Polish phrases, say (EDIT). Very cute clue.

70a: Presumably thin guy of rhyme (SPRAT). Jack Sprat could eat no fat, his wife could eat no lean.

18d: Animated TV dog (BLUE). I don't know what this references.

22d: Start of a saying about forgiveness (TO ERR).

28d: Hamilton (TENSPOT). I've never called a 10-dollar bill a "Hamilton", but then again I've never called it a tenspot either. I do know that Alexander Hamilton is on the ten, though, so it's not a reach.

37d: Pulsating pair (CAROTIDS).

47d: Spoon drummer Jim (ENO). Is he related to Brian?

52d: Osso buco ingredient (WINE). First guess VEAL; second guess BONE; finally figured it out.

This was a really beautiful puzzle, and a great send-off (hopefully not forever) for the Sun puzzle series.

I've had a great time blogging and want to thank everyone who came to read and/or post along the way, and to all those who have supported me, openly and behind the scenes. You know who you are.

Special thanks to Peter Gordon who, if you ask me, shouldn't have to pay for a single drink this whole weekend. If you see this guy, show your love.

Well, in the words of one Bilbo Baggins...

I regret to announce, this is the end.
I'm going now - I bid you all a very fond farewell.

Good-bye

Thanks for listening.

- Pete M.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

2009-02-26T01:01:00.004-05:00

Title: Themeless Thursday
Author: Tony Orbach
Theme: NA

Here it is, the penultimate Sun puzzle, and a typically excellent one. But the sun (the real sun) is out and I want to go outside and play, so comments will be sparse and brief.

1a: Cruel inquisitor (TORQUEMADA).

11a: Posse members (PALS). I grew up watching western movies with my dad. Posse to me will always involve horses and cowboys.

15a: Did a 180 (ABOUTFACED).

16a: Davis-drawn dog (ODIE). That's Jim Davis of Garfield fame, of course.

17a: Hide (CAMOUFLAGE).

18a: Bubkes (NONE).

19a: Piece of praise (ODE).

20a: Ways (ROADS).

21a: Turkic tongue (UZBEK).

22a: How ham might be ordered (ONRYE).

23a: Electrolyte particles (ANIONS). How might ham be ordered by a physicist? With anions.

24a: Dominatrix, for example (SADIST).

27a: Many pound inhabitants (MUTTS).

29a: Robbie's dad (EVEL).

30a: Sufi beliefs, e.g. (MYSTICISM).

34a: Social goodie (TEACAKE).

37a: Ghost costume cutout (EYEHOLE).

38a: It's made without yeast (SODABREAD). It's made without soda too.

40a: Brésil division (ETAT).

41a: Small recesses (NOOKS).

42a: Adds streets to, say (REMAPS).

44a: Vanilla, e.g. (ORCHID).

47a: French river (SAONE).

49a: Scrupulous (MORAL).

50a: "Fuego del Ande" singer (SUMAC).

51a: Brand of energy drink (AMP).

54a: Continuously (EVER).

55a: "Synkronized" band (JAMIROQUAI). Never heard of them. Very Scrabbly.

57a: Get ready, with "up" (GEAR).

58a: "Theodora Goes Wild" star (IRENEDUNNE).

59a: Throng (ARMY).

60a: Done wrong (MISTREATED).

1d: Soft shell grab? (TACO).

2d: One-chapter O.T. book (OBAD).

3d: Where "Tosca" takes place (ROME).

4d: Status follower (QUO).

5d: One-way street no-nos (UTURNS).

6d: Endeavor (EFFORT).

7d: Language of Singapore (MALAY).

8d: Part of AMPAS (ACADEMY). The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded the Oscar to the only one of the five best picture nominees I saw "Slumdog Millionaire." Great movie.

9d: There are nine in F. for every five in C. (DEGS).

10d: Orange additive? (ADE).

11d: Bernard Madoff offering (PONZISCHEME).

12d: Spicy Mexican marinade (ADOBO).

13d: It often stays in the closet (LINEN).

14d: Personal ad word (SEEKS).

21d: Loose (UNTIE).

22d: "Mighty Mouse" villain (OILCANHARRY). I vaguely remember this meanie, although if you'd asked me to name somebody named Oil Can I'd've gone with Boston Red Sox pitcher Oil Can Boyd.

23d: Case worker: Abbr. (ATTY).

24d: Prepares for a spike (SETS).

25d: Subcompact from Chevrolet (AVEO).

26d: Word with heat or meat (DEAD).

28d: Put into service (USED).

30d: Pigeon-hearted (MEEK).

31d: Grain (IOTA).

32d: Rough the passer? (SLAP).

33d: "Kiner's Korner" interviewees (METS).

35d: In a tumultuous state (ABOIL).

36d: Nickname of Mariano Rivera's crosstown rival (KROD). If you wonder how Francisco Rodriguez got the nickname K-Rod and not F-Rod, you should know that in baseball notation a strikeout is symbolized by the letter K. Rodriguez strikes out a lot of batters.

39d: Postulates (ASSUMES).

42d: Lion, at times (ROARER).

43d: Protect from the enemy, in a way (ENCODE).

44d: "The ___ Man" (1971 Charlton Heston film) (OMEGA). One of my favorites, recently redone with Will Smith and a new title (which escapes me.)

45d: Name on a bone-shaped ID tag, perhaps (ROVER).

46d: Beat by a lot (CREAM).

48d: Make ___ (strike it rich) (AMINT).

50d: Draped dress (SARI).

51d: Jessica Simpson, to Bronx Mowgli Wentz (AUNT).

52d: Locks in a paddock? (MANE).

53d: Foot, in French (PIED).

55d: "Broken Flowers" director Jarmusch (JIM).

56d: As (QUA).

Good luck at the ACPT.

Norrin

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

2009-02-25T02:01:00.004-05:00

Title: That's Unreal!
Author: Peter A. Collins
Theme: Imaginary numbers (in math)

25a: See 73-Across (THE SQUARE ROOT).

53a: See 73-Across (OF NEGATIVE ONE).

71a: Hurricane centers (EYES). "i" homophone.

73a: What to do to all the letters in this puzzle's grid hinted at by 71-Across to create the symbol described by 25- and 53-Across (SHADE).

Here's a puzzle for the math geeks. In math, an integer is any non-fraction (i.e., ..., -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, ... ). A rational number is any number that can be represented as the simple quotient of two integers (i.e., a/b, where a and b are integers). Then you have irrational numbers, like "e" and pi, that cannot be so simplified. Combine the rationals and irrationals to get the set of "real" numbers. But that's not enough to solve all the equations that need solving. That's why we need "imaginary" numbers, defined as a product of a real number and "i" -- defined, as noted in this puzzle -- as the square root of -1 (so, i x i = -1). Armed with this new definition, we can define "complex" numbers, which have both a real and non-real component (e.g., 3 + 2i). Suffice it to say that this opens up new doors in mathematical analysis.

As a former math major, this puzzle tickled my fancy. But I can't help wondering how accessible this phenomenon is to the average crossword-solving crowd. Still, it's a nice execution, with the shaded "i"s forming another "i" in the grid.

Sundries:

1a: Aria man, maybe (BASSO). Did you try TENOR first? Who could blame you?

15a: Gabonese president Bongo (OMAR). See? Epps and Sharif aren't the only Omars out there if you look. And we know Peter Gordon looks.

17a: Obfuscate (CLOUD). Obfuscate is a great word. It generally implied intentional clouding, to make something more difficult to understand for someone else. Why would one want to that, you ask. Well, I first became aware of it when programming in Java some years back. It was a relatively straightforward procedure to "decompile" someone's program, thus gaining access to the original source code and logic therein -- something that might want to be protected by the author to avoid pirating. Obfuscation was a routine that garbled the source code so that it was difficult to read by humans, but would still compile to function in the same way as the original.

22a: Thing that can be very sticky? (DAM). Sticky, as in made of sticks. Ugh.

24a: With 28-Across, 1935 nominee for Best Picture (TOP/HAT). With Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

35a: Blowhard (GASBAG). Is this one word or two? I'm not sure.

41a: Morse morsel? (DAH). Morse code is refered to as dots and dashes when written, but dits and dahs when heard. So, a morse code morsel in three letters could easily be DIT, DOT, or DAH. Put in the D and wait for the crossings.

43a: Denis of "The Ref" (LEARY). I love Denis Leary. This was a pretty silly film, but has its amusing moments for sure.

49a: Led (RAN). It took me a while to find the synonym here. Ran, as in ran a company, say.

52a: Former Manhattan punk music club, familiarly (CBS). Some might find that CBGBs is enough of a stretch without resorting to a "familiar" shortcut. I got it easily enough, but there are better clues for CBS.

58a: Where monkeys go bar-hopping? (ZOO). Ugh.

60a: Signs up (ENROLLS). I'm more used to seeing this with one L, but both are legitimate.

67a: Deuce follower, sometimes (AD OUT). Tennis scoring.

68a: 2008 All-Star center fielder McLouth (NATE). Must be an NLer, as I've never heard of him.

69a: Son of Solomon Levy in an Anne Nichols play (ABIE).

70a: Word on Pooh's pot (HUNNY).

72a: "___ on Entebbe" (1977 TV movie) (RAID). I remember this like it was yesterday. I was in my teens, a formative period.

3d: Cargo measures (SHORT TONS).

4d: Part of NSW (SOUTH). New South Wales, Australia.

5d: Gobs (OODLES).

6d: 1999 Claire Danes film, with "The" (MOD SQUAD). Could have easily been used to clue OMAR Epps, above.

12d: Easy-to-play instrument (KAZOO).

26d: Pope during the Great Schism (URBAN VI). I'm not crazy about Pope clues, but they're not usually that hard to figure out.

29d: "The African Queen" co-screenwriter (AGEE). I think I must have seen this a few times in puzzles, because it came to me much quicker than I would have thought it might.

38d: Court buildings? (GYMS). Basketball courts, particularly.

42d: Did some work as a char (HOOVERED). I didn't know fish did housework. Apparently, there's another meaning of char I was not familiar with.

56d: Olympic skiing gold medalist Alberto (TOMBA). Some athletes have personae that last well beyond their limited Olympics exposures. Tomba is one of these unforgettables.

57d: "Well, obviously!" (NO DUH).

61d: Bergman's "Casablanca" role (Ilsa LUND).

Thanks for listening.

- Pete M.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

2009-02-24T02:00:00.010-05:00

Title: Puzzle of the Week
Author: Ogden Porter (Peter Gordon)
Theme: Real and fictional people named for days of the week

17a: Author of "My Secret Garden" (NANCY FRIDAY).

23a: Identical twin character in "There Will Be Blood" (PAUL SUNDAY).

30a: Protagonist of several Jasper Fforde novels (THURSDAY NEXT).

39a: Christina Ricci film role (WEDNESDAY ADDAMS).

47a: All-Pro center for the Indianapolis Colts (JEFF SATURDAY).

55a: Cubs player who prevented two protesters from igniting an American flag on the outfield grass during a 1976 game at Dodger Stadium (RICK MONDAY).

67a: "Looking for Mr. Goodbar" actress (TUESDAY WELD).

where to begin? first of all, this was a cool theme, very simple but well-done. seven long theme answers is a lot for a 15x15 puzzle... which is why peter had to super-size the puzzle to 17x15 to fit them in. (yes, most people in puzzles would call it 15x17, but i've decided i've got to be my own man, so i'm going to call it rows x columns, which is what everybody else in the world does anyway.) i can honestly say i've never done a 17x15 puzzle, so it was a new experience, but not an unpleasant one. the theme would have been even cooler if the entries had been in logical order, but the lengths didn't match up well enough for that despite the convenience of wednesday as the only 15.

second: i have never heard of most of these people. the two pro athletes, yes, although they are bordering on non-famous. saturday is an all-pro, but he's also an offensive lineman, and most offensive linemen are totally anonymous to all but the most hard-core NFL fans. monday is a player whose name i know, but he's definitely from before my time, and while he was a good player, he wasn't a great one. and i know who wednesday is, even though i've never watched the addams family TV show or movie(s?).

but the other four... yikes. i'd never heard of tuesday until WELD showed up in the december 24 NYT puzzle with the clue [Tuesday in Hollywood]. friday—no idea who that is, although i have heard of dragnet's sgt friday. and sunday... well, didn't see that movie. and thursday? that's a totally improbable name for a person. i didn't even know who jasper fforde was until KMT made him the marquee entry in a NYT themeless in november.

Sunny Spots:

43d: Harvard Yard building (DORM). right down the street. the building in the picture is thayer, where i lived as a freshman.

Sundries:

7a: Scratch the surface of, maybe (ETCH). nice clue, with the literal sense not being the first to come to mind.

14a: Nonprincipled (AMORAL). immoral = evil, as an act; AMORAL = lacking morals, as a person; nonmoral = not related to morality, as an issue. however, i don't know the difference between unprincipled (the word i would have used for this clue) and nonprincipled, which my dictionary doesn't recognize.

19a: With 35-Across, musical inability (TIN/EAR). i've seen this in crosswords surprisingly often, but the most memorable was in a jonesin' theme with COPPERHEAD, NICKELBACK, LEAD FOOT, IRON LUNG, GOLD TEETH, and BRASS BALLS.

25a: ___ Alex (2005 Preakness and Belmont winner) (AFLEET). why do i remember this? i have zero interest in racing. i guess it's just such an unusual name.

46a: Seth of "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" (ROGEN). he's an okay actor, but i like the movies he's written. the clue also goes nicely with 64d: Pornographic (BLUE).

51a: Evil demon (GHOUL). as opposed to all those good demons.

60a: Hard-to-make point in craps (FOUR). i'll take your word for it, i guess.

74a: Sweats might be worn during it (PHYS ED). this clue struck me as odd. usually, when a clue refers to the answer with a pronoun, it's a tricky clue involving some sort of attempt to conceal the category of the answer. this clue, however, is pretty straightforward. why not [Class in which you might wear sweats?]

11d: Like "Wall-E" (RATED G). they say that the oscars were yesterday (two days ago, by the time anyone reads this). it turns out that wall-e was one of two movies i saw in 2008. (the other one, indiana jones and the kingdom of the crystal skull, was not nominated for any oscars.) it was pretty good, and definitely better than crystal skull, so i'll give it the joon for best picture of 2008.

12d: Alec's "Star Wars" role (OBI WAN). genuine class.

13d: Restaurant with Moons Over My Hammy (DENNY'S). i used to eat there pretty often when i lived in palo alto and there was nothing else open after 11 pm. it was sad. i don't actually like their food, but anything is better than nothing.

36d: Sister of Zsa Zsa (MAGDA). definitely the third-best gabor sister in crossworld.

47d: ___ joint (place to eat, drink, and dance) (JUKE). is tihs 1950s slang, or does it just feel that old?

62d: "When the cat's ___ ..." (AWAY). when i took french 1 back in 8th grade, i made a point of memorizing lots of french proverbs, just for fun. one of them was, "quand le chat est parti, les souris dansent." there was another one about cats, too: "nous avons beaucoup de chats à fouetter" (we have a lot of cats to whip). what is the deal with cats and gruesome adages? i guess after we whip our cats we can think of more than one way to skin them.

65d: Did too many lines of blow, say (ODED). drug reference.

Suns of Bitches:

54a: Photographer William who's known for his pictures of Weimaraners (WEGMAN). until i googled this, i assumed he took pictures of people from weimar, like goethe and schiller. apparently, weimaraners are dogs.

18d: "Giant" ranch (REATA). what does this even mean? i know what a REATA is. it's not a ranch of any size.

25d: Iraqi politician Chalabi (AHMED). never heard of this guy, but it's a common arabic name.

38d: "Teach Your Children" group, for short (CSNY). this must be some new york thing that i'm not in on. i know "CSI: NY," but not CSNY.

57d: Extremely (NO END). this wasn't hard, of course, but i just wanted to put it here because i'm feeling ornery. NO END has no right to be an adverb, does it?

i guess that's all for me. i'll miss the sun puzzles dearly. here's hoping the sun will rise again some day. in the meantime, thanks to peter for his tireless efforts over the last 7-8 years, even though i've only been around to enjoy the fruits of those efforts for the last 12 months.

joon

Monday, February 23, 2009

2009-02-23T02:01:00.003-05:00

Title: Pinstripers in the Hall
Author: Michael T. Williams
Theme: Nicknames of Hall-of-Fame Yankees players

18a: Bronx Bomber in Cooperstown (JOLTIN' JOE). Joe DiMaggio.

24a: Bronx Bomber in Cooperstown (OLD PROFESSOR). Casey Stengel.

38a: Bronx Bomber in Cooperstown (THE SULTAN OF SWAT). Babe Ruth.

52a: Bronx Bomber in Cooperstown (THE IRON HORSE). Lou Gehrig.

62a: Bronx Bomber in Cooperstown (MR. OCTOBER). Reggie Jackson.

Okay, first things first. It's no secret that I'm a die-hard Red Sox fan, so there's only so much love I can give to a Yankees puzzle. But it's a cool theme, and I knew all but the Casey Stengel one (which I know I've heard, but I couldn't place without looking it up). Minor quibble that two start with THE, which is kind of undesirable in a crossword, but not a huge flaw.

Sundries:

17a: Sound of a wet impact (SPLAT). Which might leave a 28a: Irregularly shaped stain (SPLOTCH). I've always been a fan of the onomatopoetic words.

37a: 50th state greeting (ALOHA). This is the gimme that corrected my one false step at 10d, where I had CONTAINS for 10d: Holds in check (CONTROLS).

45a: Holy Frenchwoman: Abbr. (STE).

46a: London cathedral (ST PAULS). Unusual to have two "saint" clues, especially so close together.

66a: Arctic coat (PARKA). RIME, my first instinct, didn't fit.

1d: Pasta sauce (PESTO). I love PESTO. The only thing we grow consistently in our pitiful garden is basil, so summertime is pesto time. Man, you can almost smell that picture, can't you?

5d: Straight (HETERO).

8d: Word left behind by the Lorax (UNLESS). I need to go back and read this again, as it seems to get more puzzle action than most Seuss stories.

9d: Actor Mahershalalhashbaz ___ of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (ALI). This is oddly guessable. I still haven't seen the film. I think I'll wait for it to show up on Netflix.

11d: Ramada alternative, informally (HOJO).

21d: Factotum (DO ALL). I never heard of a factotum, which is a servant hired to do a wide variety of jobs. I think I need one.

26d: Norwegian saint (OLAF). I never know whether this is going to be OLAF or OLAV. I've seen it both ways, and I'm not sure there's a pattern.

34d: University of Maryland player, for short (TERP). The Terps get more crossword ink than most college mascots, that's for sure. Although the Georgetown Hoyas get their due as well.

39d: Full of electrical interference (STATICKY). Wow, that just looks wrong, doesn't it?

41d: Animated clownfish voiced by Alexander Gould (NEMO). You had me at animated fish.

48d: One-named comedian in "Jingle All the Way" (SINBAD).

59d: David Copperfield's first wife (DORA). Didn't know this, but never saw the clue. This is usually clued via "Dora the Explorer".

Countdown to ACPT. Can't wait! If you're one of the three people who have followed this blog, be sure to introduce yourself and say hello. I'll probably be in the bar. :)

Thanks for listening.

- Pete M.

Friday, February 20, 2009

2009-02-20T02:01:00.006-05:00

Title: Oscar-winning Roles
Author: Jeremy Horwitz
Theme: Fictional roles that won "Oscars" in their fictional universe

1a: With 69-Across, Oscar-winning star of "Queen of the Night" in 1992's "The Bodyguard" (RACHEL / MARRON).

20a: Oscar-winning star of "Tropic Blunder: The True Story Behind the Making of the Most Expensive Fake True War Story Ever" in 2008's "Tropic Thunder" (TUGG SPEEDMAN).

38a: Oscar-winning star of "A World for Two" in 1954's "A Star Is Born" (VICKI LESTER).

55a: Oscar-winning star of "To Serve and Protect" in 1997's "In & Out" (CAMERON DRAKE).

Wow, what a way to round out Oscar week. I have to say that, despite the fact that only TUGG SPEEDMAN even sounded familiar, I really like this concept a lot. I found all the other names to be plausible enough, and none of the crossings were that nasty, so it was quite the nice Friday puzzle.

Sundries:

11a: Laurence Fishburne series (CSI). Name a series in three letters...

14a: One of the Andrews Sisters (MAXENE). I had the MAX and went with MAXINE, but it was soon clear from the crossing that this was not the correct spelling.

15a: Fictional spy Rider (ALEX). I'm not familiar with this series of spy novels by Anthony Horowitz.

17a: Learned scholar (SAVANT). I always thought a SAVANT was a natural talent more than a scholar, but I guess that's the idiot savant.

19a: Unit replaced by the siemens (MHO). 23a: 100 nanojoules (ERG). Our physics fix of the day.

27a: Italian composer Antonio (SALIERI). If you've seen "Amadeus", you'll remember this name.

33a: The Enforcer's boss (SCARFACE). Is this from the movie "Scarface", or is this some comic I am not aware of? When I see "The Enforcer", I think Dirty Harry movie.

36a: Tropical beach garment (SARONG).

40a: Coca-Cola offering (FRESCA). Does anyone drink this stuff? I think it's the worst tasting soda I've ever tried. Even worse than Tab.

45a: Flat fee (RENT). Very nice clue.

48a: "Did it start without me?" (AM I LATE).

54a: It gets bigger when stroked or massaged (EGO). Sexual innuendo tag.

66a: Balletic opposite of en l'air (A TERRE). If you're not in the air, you're on the ground.

7d: Misses at a rodeo (GALS). Another very nice clue.

9d: Site of Hercules's first labor (NEMEA). For some reason, my first instinct was NIMES.

13d: Decreasing? (IRONING). Very cute.

21d: Balenciaga parent company (GUCCI). I've never heard of Balenciaga, but somehow I knew this answer instinctively.

23d: Staggered start? (ESS). Cryptic letter clue.

25d: Idol (GRAVEN IMAGE). Nice fill.

29d: Get angry and defensive (BRISTLE).

39d: "Enigma Variations" composer (ELGAR). Elgar is probably most known for his "Pomp and Circumstance" march, played at most graduation processions.

40d: Geometric term coined by Benoît Mandelbrot (FRACTAL). Excellent. Get some math geekiness in here. I'm not going to explain them, go here or here for more info.

41d: Go back into the ring? (REMARRY). Okay, that's pushing it a bit much. There's often a fine line between clever and over-the-top. It's hard to define, but this one stepped over.

46d: Brand of chewing gum (MENTOS). Mentos makes gum? Who knew?Does it do the same thing that the mints do when you add them to Diet Coke?

49d: Moises of "Hannah Montana" (ARIAS). This is didn't know, but I didn't need to. And I prefer it over some obscure Italian opera reference.

50d: Where the pa'anga is spent (TONGA). Obscure clue, but with T___A, it was easy to guess.

52d: Cathouse cheese (MADAM). There's something unsettling about this clue. The use of the word "cheese" in the context of a cathouse sends my mind to places I'd just as soon it not go. "Whorehouse head" would be more suggestive, but at the same time would feel... I don't know... cleaner?

53d: Honshu seaport (AKITA). I went with OSAKA first, as I expect we were meant to.

62d: Full house sign (SRO). Standing Room Only. I never knew this before doing crosswords. New Hampshire doesn't have a lot of standing room only shows, I guess.

Only one more week of Sun puzzles. This is a mixed blessing for me, as I will miss the quality puzzles terribly. But I'm not sure I'm going to miss blogging them. Don't get me wrong, it's been fun, but it can also be a chore. Without the help of Joon and Norrin2, I'd have bailed long ago. It will be nice to have a break.

Thanks for listening.

- Pete M.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

2009-02-19T02:01:00.003-05:00

Title: It's an Honor to be Nominated . . . Again
Author: John Farmer
Theme: Actors nominated twice for Academy Awards for the same role.

If you had asked me to name somebody nominated twice for an Academy Award for the same role, I could have told you about Paul Newman (17A: 1961 and 1986 nominated role for Paul Newman (only five times has the same actor been nominated for the same role in two films) (FAST EDDIE FELSON ) and that's only because it seems so weird to me that of all the great roles Newman played he won his only Academy Award for "The Color of Money" and he was great in it, of course, but it wasn't a great movie and anybody can look good playing opposite Tom Cruise.

If I'd racked my brain I probably could have got 47A: 1972 and 1974 Oscar-nominated role for Al Pacino (MICHAEL CORLEONE) even though I haven't seen any of the Godfather movies -- or the Sopranos or any other gangster-related shows. Just have zero interest in gangsters, I guess. (Pacino didn't win an Oscar until "Scent of a Woman" which was not one of his best roles either, if you ask me. )

And maybe if you had a gun to my head I could have come up with 26A: 1944 and 1945 Oscar-nominated role for Bing Crosby (FATHER O'MALLEY) only because it seems Bing was always playing either a priest or a guy on the run with Bob Hope, crooning to Dorothy Lamour.

But I did not know 33A: 1964 and 1968 Oscar-nominated role for Peter O'Toole (KING HENRY II) or 56A: 1998 and 2007 Oscar-nominated role for Cate Blanchett (QUEEN ELIZABETH I). I don't know, maybe movies about ROYALTY (16A: Payment to an author, perhaps) appeal to me as movies about gangsters. O'Toole by the way played King Henry in Becket and The Lion in Winter. Blanchett played Queen Elizabeth in Elizabeth and Elizabeth: the Golden Age. The same year she was nominated for that latter Liz, she was also nominated for playing the role of Bob Dylan in I'm Not There.

Only other Oscar winner I see in this puzzle is at 29D: Charles portayer (LOY) . That's Myrna Loy, who did not win an Oscar for her role as Nora Charles in the Thin Man movie series or any specific role. Instead she won a lifetime achievement award shortly before she died in 1993.

A couple of other entries that caught my eye:

68A: Part of "ST:DS9" (TREK) That's Star Trek: Deep Space 9 for those of you who don't geek out in a trekward direction.

12D: Former province of France (ALSACE) Never heard of it, but geography is my weakness.

49D: Heir to the throne of Thule, in the comics (ARN) Son of Prince Valiant.

33D: Brass rings, maybe (KNOCKERS) Don't know why I like that one as much as I do. But I do.

Be here next week when we bid a tearful to the Thursday Sun puzzle.

Norrin

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

2009-02-18T02:01:00.006-05:00

Title: Screenwriting Can Be a Drag
Author: Andrea Carla Michaels and Patrick Blindauer
Theme: Oscar-winning screenplays that feature crossdressing.

4d: 1992 Best Original Screenplay Oscar winner featuring cross-dressing (THE CRYING GAME).

14d: 1982 Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar nominee featuring cross-dressing (VICTOR VICTORIA).

23d: 1959 Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar nominee featuring cross-dressing (SOME LIKE IT HOT).

Well, it must be Oscar week. This is the third puzzle in a row that features Oscar winners past (and also the third 15x16 grid). Today we get films featuring men dressed as women (or in one case, a woman pretending to be a man dressed as a woman). It seems a fairly straight-(no pun intended)-forward theme, which always has me wondering what I missed when I see Patrick Blindauer's name involved. Well, if there is something, I can't see it right now.

The rest:

7a: It runs in the woods (SAP). It's almost maple syrup season around here. Yummm.

15a: Word with gun or dog (TOP). Here's to Lt. Pete Mitchell.

17a: Cruise stopover (ISLE). My first instinct was PORT, but I should have know ISLE was more likely. Nothing to do with Tom Cruise this time.

27a: "Peter and the Wolf" duck (OBOE). This is a classic by Prokofiev, where each instrument plays the theme of a different character.

30a: 1990s computer hit with teleporting books (MYST). This was a groundbreaking puzzle game, and one of the first to appeal to women as much as men.

36a: Rockies manager Hurdle (CLINT). Who? Luckily I had _LINT by the time I came back to this one, which narrowed the choice considerably.

43a: Result of puppy love? (NIP). Cute.

44a: Old Olds (CIERA). You wanted ALERO here, I know you did. But have no fear, it shows up at 58d: Old Olds (ALERO).

45a: City with the burial site of a noted Indian (AGRA). That's Indian from India, not Native American. Agra is the site of the Taj Mahal.

49a: "Jaws" craft (ORCA). Some movie trivia is easier to recall than others. This one I'll never forget. A classic.

51a: Yellow spots' spots (RETINAE). I didn't get this. I guess yellow spots are a vision thing.

55a: "The Mystery of ___ Vep" (IRMA). Didn't know it.

59a: Part of a mean mien? (SNEER).

64a: Race in the library? (ELOI). Common crossword fare. Remember it.

68a: Mix-a-Lot's title (SIR). Don't know that much about rap, but I know this name.

70a: Part of the inn crowd? (ROOMER).

6d: All together (EN MASSE).

10d: Detailed, as instructions (STEP BY STEP).

11d: Lotharios (ROMEOS).

26d: Salt shaker? (SEA). A salt is an old sailor.

31d: Five-ninths of MLXXXIX (DCV). Didn't bother with the math on this one; just filled it in based on crossings.

33d: Plant food brand (MIRACLE GRO). Nice fill.

48d: Givens on "Jeopardy!" (ANSWERS). Robin Givens was on "Jeopardy!"? Well, not that I know of, but anything's possible. I know Robin Quivers has been. Either way, we're not talking proper names here, but the answers which are given such that the contestants can ask the appropriate question.

50d: Signaled on "Jeopardy!" (RANG IN). Continuing the "Jeopardy!" theme.

56d: Calls outside of one's calling area (ROAMS). Fair warning for you US Cellular users out there... your unlimited nights, weekends, and incoming calls don't count if you go to Canada. My wife's been working there for a few weeks and just got dinged with a $400+ cellular bill. Yikes!

Not too easy, but nothing too hard. Just what the doctor ordered for a Wednesday.

Thanks for listening.

- Pete M.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

2009-02-17T02:00:00.008-05:00

Title: International Film Festival
Author: Jerzy Whitmore
Theme: Best Picture winners whose title begins with a nationality

4d: Best Picture of 1996, with "The" (ENGLISH PATIENT). based on the novel by michael ondaatje, which i'm told is quite good.

7d: Best Picture of 1971, with "The" (FRENCH CONNECTION). the french lieutenant's woman wouldn't fit, it's from the wrong year, and it didn't win best picture.

19d: Best Picture of 1999 (AMERICAN BEAUTY). i've actually seen this one, which is saying something. (i don't normally watch movies.) not only that, i loved it. it's my second-favorite movie ever. so a big thumbs-up here.

a nice, tight, little theme. this is the second consecutive oscar-themed puzzle, and i read yesterday (on a crossword blog—where else would i have heard it?) that it's oscar week. does that mean we're in for a whole week of these? i hope not, but it's not nearly as depressing as the thought that we only have another week and a half's worth of sun puzzles at all.

it's also the second consecutive 15x16 puzzle, to accommodate the 16-letter FRENCH CONNECTION. but this one was symmetric.

Sunny Spots:

21d: Poles on the equator, maybe? (EXPATS). this clue made me smile. just brilliant! indeed, the equator does not pass through poland.

Sundries:

16a: Hollywood agent Emanuel whose brother Rahm is the White House chief of staff (ARI). somebody told me this factoid a few months ago. i can no longer remember who. but this might have beaten the ENC clue from last week for the "largest clue length/answer length ratio" record.

17a: Goes on a bender (BINGES). booze tag, i guess.

18a: One who makes fancy invitations, maybe (ENGRAVER). i wouldn't have minded an albrecht dürer clue here.

26a: Title for some dignitaries (EXCELLENCY). i think if you're good enough at whatever it is you do, you should get to be called "your EXCELLENCY." peter gordon, for instance, should have this title.

28a: "Exodus" novelist (URIS). neither this clue, nor 34d: Contemporary of Moses (KAREEM), has anything to do with the old testament.

31a: With 50-Across, investor's option (ROTH/IRA). nice to see the whole thing in here. it's almost always just IRA.

33a: Punches up, as punch (SPIKES). good clue. booze tag x2.

42a: Order from a bar regular, with "the" (USUAL). souse it up! i'm going to be three sheets to the wind by the time i'm done blogging this puzzle.

44a: "Hardcore troubadour" Steve (EARLE). learned this name from crosswords. he's some kind of country rocker. i prefer baseball hall-of-famer EARLE combs myself.

53a: Host of the 1980 Winter Olympics (LAKE PLACID). also some kind of 3rd-rate horror movie from the recent past, i think.

59a: Mathematical minima and maxima (EXTREMA). this was a very X-ful puzzle.

63a: Device for making grooves in wood (ROUTER). this clue is so last millennium.

70a: Hoover or Roosevelt, e.g. (DAM). i had DEM here for a second, even though i've seen this exact clue somewhere else in the past week.

2d: News agcy. owned by the Unification Church (UPI). i did not know that. is this common knowledge?

3d: Hall of Fame quarterback Dawson (LEN). i've been seeing this guy's name a lot recently, for no really good reason. he was the MVP of super bowl IV, just in case you ever find yourself doing this sporcle quiz.

5d: Copped thing (PLEA). i so wanted this to be FEEL.

8d: Strong-legged Armstrong (LANCE). okay, cute clue, though i bet his arms are also a lot stronger than mine.

24d: Fire up (AROUSE). such restraint shown in the cluing here. no sexual innuendo to be found.

40d: Snake-oil salesman's offering (ELIXIR). good word, fun clue.

46d: Sierra Nevada offering (PALE ALE). good grief. i'm cutting you off, mister!

48d: "10" star (BO DEREK). this was not a best picture winner.

54d: Viking rival (AMANA). apparently viking makes appliances. i was definitely looking for a football team here.

56d: Members of a firing squad? (AXMEN). i don't think i've heard this term used to describe wielders of metaphorical axes, only literal ones.

Suns of Bitches:

none, surprisingly. this was my fastest tuesday solve in quite some time.

overall, a nice puzzle and a very smooth grid. i don't recognize the constructor's name. if this is a debut, then congratulations to jerzy whitmore. (edited to add: it's not a debut. jerzy whitmore is actually experienced constructor jeremy horwitz in anagrammatic disguise. thanks to orange for the tip-off.)

see you next week.

joon

Monday, February 16, 2009

2009-02-16T02:01:00.000-05:00

Title: All the Presidents' Best Actors and Actresses
Author: Ogden Porter (Peter Gordon)
Theme: Oscar winners who share last names with U.S. Presidents

28a: Best Actress of 1960 and 1966 (ELIZABETH TAYLOR).

35a: Best Actor of 1964 (REX HARRISON).

57a: Best Actress of 1931 (HELEN HAYES).

4d: Best Actress of 1970 and 1973 (GLENDA JACKSON).

11d: Best Actor of 2001 (DENZEL WASHINGTON).

Breakin' the rules. Breakin' the rules. Here we have a 15x16 that is non-symmetrical with non-symmetrical theme answers. Did it bother you? Did it affect your enjoyment of the puzzle? This is one of those oft-debated issues among constructors. Are the rules of symmetry there for a reason, or are they just some snobbish clinging to an obscure set of rules for no apparent reason. I won't get into that too deeply here. Personally, I like the symmetry of crosswords. It pleases my mathematical sense of order. But I can honestly say I wasn't bothered by the lack of order during this fairly-easy Monday solve.

The rest is going to be quick, as I'm tired and want to go to bed.

Sundries:

4a: Potential petter's discouragement (GRR). This feels weird to me, as it's the pettee that is doing the discouraging.

17a: Like the Empire State Building (ART DECO).

23a: Sound from the anteater in "B.C." (ZOT). Don't recall this one.

24a: Broke (TAMED).

42a: Mexican state on the Gulf of Tehuantepec (OAXACA).

46a: Star-Belly and Plain-Belly Seuss creatures (SNEETCHES). Very nice.

63a: Puts an end to (ERADICATES).

65a: Vitality (ZING).

3d: Woven mat of Japan (TATAMI).

6d: Dad's product (ROOT BEER). I've been fooled by a Dad's clue before, so I was onto it this time. As I recall, it was "Dad's rival", which was AANDW (a nasty sequence of letters).

9d: Be taught incorrectly (MISLEARN).

31d: Missouri county (OSAGE).

38d: Is in the lead by a little (HAS AN EDGE).

46d: Former president of Indonesia (SUHARTO). I remember this from "The Year of Living Dangerously".

47d: Rum ___ Tugger ("Cats" cat) (TUM).

54d: Umenyiora of the New York Giants (OSI). Never saw the clue. Which is good, since I wouldn't have known this at all.

56d: Tips of skis? (ESSES). Cryptic letter clue.

That's all for tonight.

Thanks for listening.

- Pete M.

Friday, February 13, 2009

2009-02-13T02:01:00.003-05:00

Title: Wacky Weekend Warrior
Author: Trip Payne
Theme: None, in the traditional manner of speaking.

The Wacky Weekend Warrior is a Trip Payne specialty that comes around every once in a while. Some people might find it off-putting, as the vast majority of fill are not real words or common phrases. In fact, most of it is quite contrived or totally fabricated. But does that make it unfair? I suppose it could easily be, for what are the rules and standards of a puzzle that, by definition, is breaking the rules and standards? I'm not sure that there's a definitive answer to that question. Perhaps it totally a judgement call. But I can tell you this: I found absolutely nothing unfair in this puzzle. In fact, I thought it was surprisingly easy -- much moreso than I expected based on the recollection of my last experience with a WWW. The reason it wasn't too hard, I think, is because most of the wacky phrases are combinations of two words that are common enough, but just aren't typically used together. And the clues to each half, at least in this puzzle, were pretty straightforward. So, just let your mind go and trust your instincts, and things fall apart nicely. It may be an advantage if you're one of those people, as I am, who tend to coin their own words via the application of standard English patterns where they don't necessarily belong. So for me, for example, MAZERS was an immediate gimme.

And let's look at the obvious benefits of this wackiruleiositude: a wide-open, 52-word themeless, with only 22 black squares. No 3-letter words! Only four 4-letter words! Trust me, that's hard to do using a standard dictionary. And it's beautifully solvable, and entertaining to boot. And isn't that what puzzles are all about?

I won't be blogging any of the "normal" fill(and there wasn't much). We'll take a purely wackiscenic approach.

Sunny Spots:

19a: It might read "Home: Who cares; Away: Whatever" (BORED SCOREBOARD). I just love this clue.

23a: Remove all the males from (DE-MAN). I'm thankful this was clued without reference to surgery of any kind.

26a: Garden Ornaments "R" Us customer, sometimes (GNOME PICKER).

28a: What cheerleaders clean their equipment with (POM-POM BRUSHES).

44a: The scourge of one-celled supervillains everywhere (ALGAEMAN). This is by far my favorite fill! "Algaeman away!"

6d: What the word "powwwwoww" needs (LESS W). There's something beautifully elegant about this one (all politics aside). Love it.

7d: Craze that led to the infamous Guacamole Riots (AVOCADO MANIA). I'm not sure if this should be all one word or not. I guess it doesn't much matter, since nobody will ever use it again.

Sundries:

1a: Flabbergasts the Hollywood community (STUNS L.A.). Also, what the Celtics team does (again) this next playoff season.

8a: Labyrinth creators (MAZERS). As I said above, this was the first entry I put in. What else could it be?

14a: How clothier Strauss ended his letters (LOVE, LEVI).

16a: Topnotch ring of flowers (ACE LEI).

17a: Where armor eyeholes are located (ON A VISOR).

18a: Former flame of basketball player Malone (KARL EX).

21a: Old video game company dwindles down (ATARI WANES).

24a: David's golf cart, perhaps (DUVAL RIDE). This took me longer than it should have because I wasn't expecting the two halves to relate. In other words, I wasn't thinking of golfers named David; I figured it was some reference to the Biblical David.

31a: Atticus to Scout, or Sarabi to Simba (MOVIE PARENT).

32a: What corkscrews do (OPEN WINES).

39a: What you might expect in a mixed drink called a White Jamaican (MILK AND RUM).

41a: Running mate of Nia "C.C." McCain? (SARAH PALINDROME). You have to notice that Nia "C.C." McCain is a palindrome to get this.

43a: What a two-letter Romance-language translation of "the" might be (IL OR EL).

45a: Steal diamonds, slangily (NAB ICE).

46a: Auction offer from actor Pickens (SLIM'S BID). "What we've got here is... failure to communicate!"

48a: Notice a soft drink (SEE SODA).

1d: Commercial aimed at the untidy (SLOB AD).

2d: Jot down, infinitively (TO NOTE).

3d: Charlottesville school's sheep, for short (U.V.A. RAM).

5d: Problem after the nave was waxed (SLIDING PEW).

8d: Says "I tried needlepoint twice, but I was only so-so," for example (MAKES A PUN).

10d: Hyphenated word meaning "completely flat" (ZERO-ARCH).

11d: Capable of scatting to a jazz orchestra, e.g. (ELLA-LIKE).

12d: Wears away further (RE-ERODES).

13d: More than five bucks (SIX DEER).

15d: Rain protectors that would be very likely to rust (IRON UMBRELLAS). Another one I got right away.

20d: Silversmithing, reading lantern code, etc. (REVERE SKILLS).

25d: "Please pay attention to me, madam," à la Mike Hammer (LISTEN, DAME).

27d: Feature of a clear complexion (NO PIMPLES).

28d: Economist Greenspan, after succeeding Benedict (POPE ALAN). There's some definite amusement factor here.

29d: Put on too many terry cloth garments at once (OVERROBE).

30d: Operatic solo about a fur coat (MINK ARIA).

31d: What cleaning tools bring up in confessionals (MOP SINS).

35d: Brass instrument at 25% off? (TROMBO). This is almost a cryptic, removing 25% (two) of the eight letters in TROMBONE.

36d: Charity concert for ornamental flowers (MUM AID). Very nice.

The Downsides:
There are a few clunker fills. Mostly partials, which in a "normal" puzzle don't typically exceed five letters.

4d: "___ dull moment!" (NEVER A).

9d: It might be hailed (A CAB).

34d: Wear ___ (something Uncle Miltie used to do) (A DRESS).

37d: ___ text (do some editing) (EMEND A).

What more can I say? I enjoyed this puzzle thoroughly.

Thanks for listening.

- Pete M.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

2009-02-12T02:01:00.003-05:00

Title: Happy Birthday
Author: Ogden Porter
Theme: The bicentennial of the birth of Darwin and Lincoln.

It's an interesting coincidence that Lincoln and Darwin were born on the same day and the same year. For our purposes it's somewhat unfortunate that their birthday is on a Thursday this year since it makes for a pretty easy-for-a-Thursday puzzle, though Mister Gordon -- excuse me, Mister Porter -- does make it interesting. Use use of numbers means this puzzle is not strictly by the numbers.

I think even if I hadn't just read an article about Darwin and Lincoln in Smithsonian magazine I would have remembered that they shared a birthday. All I had to do was slide Abe into the 14-letter slot (16A: He was born on 56-Across: ABRAHAM LINCOLN) and Charlie into the 13-letter slot (37A: He was born on 56-Across: CHARLES DARWIN) and then slip their birthday into the aforementioned 56-Across -- only FEBRUARY TWELFTH wouldn't fit, FEBRUARY TWELVE was iffy-sounding. A couple of scratch-outs later and I realized we had numbers in our crossword puzzle. 56A: See 16- and 37-Across 12FEBRUARY1809.

Cool. And it led to 6 more crossing down entries with numerals.

56D: When SNL ends: 1AM

57D: Jr. alternative: 2ND

55D: Air Force stealth jet: F117

58D: Part of many toll-free numbers: 800

59D: Bond: 007

60D: When Clinton was prez: 90S

and a couple more acrosses too:

63A: M: 1000

66A: Pioneering Boeing planes: 707S

By the way also born on February 12th (though not in 1809) are Boston Celtic Bill Russell and Doobie Brother Michael McDonald

So you probably figure guys born 2 days before Valentines Day all have beards.

Well then how do you explain Salem Witch Trials instigator Cotton Mather (born February 12th, 1663)?

Easy, he decided to grow his Darwinesque beard on top of his head.

Other cool entries include 53A: Satisfactory UPTOSNUFF

22D: Aviation editor of Cosmopolitan in the 1920s EARHART I mean, who knew Cosmo ever had any interest in aviation other than articles about joining the mile-high club.

I was less impressed by 5D: Cyberjunk SPAM MAIL just because I've never heard it called that. It's usually either "spam" or "junk e-mail." I do like the word cyberjunk though, conjuring up images as it does of "Sanford and Son" as written by William Gibson.

That's all for me. Happy birthday, Abe, Bill, Cotton, Charles and Mike.

See ya next Thursday.

Norrin

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

2009-02-11T02:01:00.004-05:00

Title: Showing Some Muscle
Author: Tom Heilman
Theme: Adding short names of muscles to phrases.

Geologic + LAT = GELATO LOGIC (18a: Reason for having a preference for Italian ice cream?).

Boondocks + AB = BABOON DOCKS (24a: Primate piers?).

Moats + DELT = MODEL TATS (36a: Display body art?).

Restroom + PEC = RESPECT ROOM (54a: Where dissing isn't allowed?).

Warrant + QUAD = WAR QUADRANT (59a: Combat division?).

This is kind of a cool Wednesday theme. Gelato Logic reminds me of the old Steely Dan album, "Pretzel Logic". And no, I'm not sure what that means either.

Sunny Spots:

12d: Street vendor snacks (KNISHES).

25d: Pasta that resembles rice (ORZO).

45d: Butter pear (AVOCADO).

Sundries:

15a: Color also called meadowlark (ACORN). I never really thought of ACORN as a color. They are actually several colors throughout their life, ranging from green to brown to black.

29a: Where Tigrinya is spoken (ERITREA). Find a country name that fits. Once it ends in _EA, there aren't a lot of options.

30a: Spray of paint, e.g. (SPATTER).

32a: Interrobang part (DOT). I knew that a "bang" was an exclamation point, so it wasn't hard to figure that this was some other punctuation mark. Albeit, one I've never seen nor heard of.

33a: Part of ZPG (ZERO). Zero population growth.

47a: Sister of Iphigenia (ELECTRA). Daughters of Agamemnon in Greek legend/history.

51a: Mothball (RESERVE).

53a: Accessory for a lepidopterist (NET). Butterfly collector.

56a: Member of the first family (EVE). You'll see this clue again, so keep it in mind.

66a: Volatile solvent (ETHER). My favorite ETHER clue is "Number of people?"

67a: Close of an engagement? (I DO).

68a: Outfielder Ricky who won two World Series rings with the Yankees (LEDEE). HENDERSON didn't fit. And he won his rings with Oakland and Toronto.

69a: Questionable (SHADY). I had SHAKY to start, but NEK didn't sound much like a name to me.

2d: Plant on the back of Arizona's state quarter (SAGUARO).

9d: Eponym of Gdansk's airport (WALESA). Pretty easy guess once I had the W.

11d: Cowes Week event (REGATTA).

19d: Slicing spuds, perhaps (ON KP).

36d: Casual slip-on (MOC). Short for moccasin.

37d: Went like mad (TORE). Tried SPED first, which didn't help me any.

39d: Battery component (TEST). As in a battery of tests, not part of a Duracell.

44d: It's called Hrvatska by natives (CROATIA).

46d: Prescription pain reliever (DEMEROL). Drug reference tag? Nah, not for legal prescriptions...

55d: "The Fair Maid of ___" (Sir Walter Scott novel) (PERTH).

60d: The St. Lawrence R. flows through it (QUE). Quebec.

61d: Clicking sound? (AHA). Cute clue.

Suns of Bitches:

6d: Gretchen of "Rounders" (MOL).

38d: "Vertigo" co-screenwriter Coppel (ALEC).

62d: Main character in "Pushing Daisies" (NED).

All in all, a fine Wednesday, with none of the SOBs crossing anything particularly difficult.

Thanks for listening.

- Pete M.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

2009-02-10T02:00:00.005-05:00

Title: Coming of Age
Author: Patrick Blindauer
Theme: Wordplay theme in which AGE gets inserted to various phrases

17a: Beauty contests on the equator? (HOT PAGEANTS).

28a: Pelt with rocks in a wise manner? (SAGELY STONE). you probably know who sly stone is, but i didn't. some kind of '60s-'70s funk musician.

44a: Saws about infield flies? (POP-UP ADAGES). "an out in the hand is worth two in the bush."

60a: Psychologist Jean calls it quits? (PIAGET STOPS). swiss developmental psychologist jean piaget, you've officially made it. congratulations!

i have high expectations for a patrick blindauer theme, and this one fell somewhat short. there's nothing wrong with this theme, exactly, but other that POP-UP ADAGES, i wasn't wild about any of the four theme answers or their base phrases.

Sunny Spots:

51d: Chiba ___ Marines (Japanese team managed by Bobby Valentine) (LOTTE). any reference to nippon professional baseball gets an automatic sunny spot.

52a: 1 followed by 100 zeros (GOOGOL). this is just a cool word for a cool idea. certainly google thought so. it also reminds me of the brilliant russian author nikolai gogol.

18d: The earth, when viewed as a self-regulating organism (GAIA). fun factoid: the GAIA hypothesis was proposed by james lovelock, but named by his next-door neighboor, novelist william golding (of lord of the flies fame).

Sundries:

1a: Something to play for (KEEPS). nice clue at 1a.

6a: Green shoe (CLEAT). the shoe you wear on the golf green. the CLEAT itself is usually white.

19a: Pitch (TAR).

20a: Night crawlers, maybe (LIVE BAIT). eww. i'll spare you the picture.

33a: Lock (TRESS). it's always TRESS. but for once, this word isn't on the bottom row or rightmost column.

35a: Maxwell rival (REO). i'm not familiar with maxwell automobiles, which were manufactured from 1904-25. should i be?

40a: "Diary of a Genius" author (DALI). this is my favorite DALI: the sacrament of the last supper, from the national gallery of art in washington.

42a: Letter abbr. that tells the reader there's something else in the envelope (ENC). what's the record for highest clue length/answer length ratio?

43a: Turning points? (AXLES). this clue maybe doesn't even merit a ?.

59a: Up chuck? (LOB). this one does, but i wasn't wild about the clue.

64a: Shout when a show starts ("IT'S ON!"). i'd like to see this clued as ["You're going down!"]

2d: "My God," to Jesus (ELOI). now here's a clue i can get behind. seems a bit tough for a tuesday, though.

4d: Peck of pickled peppers picker Peter (PIPER). cute.

5d: Popular food fish (SEA BASS). yeah, lots of fishing words meet up here.

6d: Feeding a line to (CUEING). but not this one.

9d: Door holder's phrase ("AFTER YOU"). "i insist, my dear alphonse." "no, i insist, my dear gaston."

10d: Tries (TASTES). with _AS___ in place, i slapped HAS A GO down here. whoops.

22d: Way inappropriate for children (RATED X). like, waaaaay.

25d: "Sweeney Todd" prop (STROP). well, he is the demon barber of fleet street.

26d: Home to many works by El Greco (PRADO). spanish art having its say in this puzzle. but the DALI museum is in ... st petersburg, florida. why? i have no idea.

32d: Bagatelle dedicatee of the early 19th century (ELISE).

34d: Released (SPRUNG). i like this answer.

39d: Common bonds? (ANDS). nice clue for a slightly awkward answer.

43d: Germfree state (ASEPSIS). whoo, the vocab is getting kinda technical.

47d: Part of QED (ERAT). once, i saw this clue used for QUOD. someday i'd like to see it used for QUANTUM. or on a really good day, ELECTRODYNAMICS.

54d: Dead beat writer's piece? (OBIT). is there really a "beat" for OBIT writers?

55d: "Permit Me Voyage" poet (james AGEE). i didn't know he wrote poetry.

Suns of Bitches:

55a: City near BrasÌlia (ANAPOLIS). whoa. i'm way out of my depth here. rio, sao paolo, brasilia, recife... that's all the brazilian cities i know. the maryland home of the naval academy has two Ns.

8d: Progeny of Eternity and Infinity, in Marvel Comics (EON). obscure, but guessable.

24d: "Truth or Dare" director Keshishian (ALEK). no clue.

see you next time.

joon

Monday, February 9, 2009

2009-02-09T02:01:00.000-05:00

Title: Zipped In
Author: Peter Muller
Theme: Beverly Hills 90210

20a: Symbolically destroy at a public rally (BURN IN EFFIGY).

27a: Kelly Ripa, notably (CO-HOST).

35a: Mistress, sometimes (KEPT WOMAN).

40a: 1986 Louis Gossett Jr. film with three sequels (IRON EAGLE).

45a: Yogi Berra pitched it (YOO-HOO).

49a: Location with an associated number hidden in 20-, 27-, 35-, 40-, and 45-Across (BEVERLY HILLS).

Okay, let's get the obvious out of the way first. It's weird to have 6-letter theme entries alongside 9-letter non-theme entries when they all run across. It's just not normally done. If the theme weren't explicitly spelled out, solvers would be pulling their hair out trying to figure out how MELODRAMA and MAXISKIRT fit the theme. Other than that, I thought this theme was fine. Of course, I never noticed what was going on until the puzzle was finished, so it wasn't any help. But none was needed. Such is often the way with Monday puzzles.

Sorry, no pix today. In a hurry.

The rest:

1a: Portrayer of Felix in the movie "The Odd Couple," or Oscar in the TV series "The Odd Couple" (JACK). Jack Lemmon and Jack Klugman.

5a: Hall of Fame catcher Carlton (FISK). Worthy of a Red Sox tag.

15a: "Midnight in the Garden of Good and ___" (EVIL). I own this movie and I started watching it twice and still haven't gotten through it. One of these days...

16a: South American capital (SUCRE). Sucre is the constitutional capital of Bolivia; La Paz is the administrative capital.

17a: Soap, frequently (MELODRAMA).

29a: South American capital (PESO).

31a: Name that's an alphabetic trigram (STU).

39a: Omar's role in "The Mod Squad" (LINC).

42a: Terminate (LET GO). Not a phrase we want to see in this economy, thanks.

55a: "Orange Sky" singer Murdoch (ALEXI).

56a: Bad garment choice for a Rockette (MAXISKIRT).

60a: "Broca's Brain" author Carl (SAGAN).

62a: Lake surrounding Mohawk Island (ERIE). Erie rule.

3d: Jazz vibraphonist Tjader (CAL). Didn't know it, but didn't see it.

4d: Etch A Sketch control (KNOB).

5d: Drive (out) (FERRET).

6d: "___ Young Man" (Trump reality special) (IVANA).

18d: Kirsten of the "Spider-Man" movies (DUNST).

21d: Some bridge hands (EASTS). Yeah for bridge clues.

24d: Whiz (PHENOM).

29d: Socialite Mesta (PERLE). Who? Didn't see this clue either.

38d: ___ infallibility (Roman Catholic dogma) (PAPAL).

57d: George's brother and collaborator (IRA). Gershwin.

Suns of Bitches:
None.

Thanks for listening.

- Pete M.

Friday, February 6, 2009

2009-02-06T02:01:00.008-05:00

Title: Transmutation
Author: Joon Pahk
Theme: Chemical symbol rebus, with PB (lead) in the across answers becoming AU (gold) in the down answers.

Pretransmutation answers:

17a: Expressions of contempt (RASPBERRIES). That's the noise, also called a Bronx cheer, not the fruit.

25a: Raising support? (PUSH-UP BRA). A very perky theme answer.

51a: Chief (TOP BANANA).

60a: #1 hit of February 2003 (BUMP BUMP BUMP). By B2K, with P. Diddy.
```
I love the way you teasin me 
But u gotta start pleasin me
```

The transmutation indicator:

36a: Theme of this puzzle (ALCHEMY).

Posttransmutation answers:

11d: Place to find lifeless celebs (TUSSAUDS). Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, that is.

18d: Difficult and unpleasant (AUGEAN). Like cleaning a horse stable that hasn't been cleaned in 30 years. Literally. This was one of Hercules's tasks.

40d: Someone with whom you might share a spine (CO-AUTHOR). Great clue.

43d: Gastineau Channel city (JUNEAU).

57d: Lugs (HAULS).

A very nice Friday theme from our own Joon Pahk. I struggled to get going on this one, and rightly suspected some rebus action early on. But it wasn't until I figured out PUSH-UP BRA that it all clicked.

Sunny Spots:

12d: Be a willing participant? (INHERIT). I really liked this clue, even though I knew what they were getting at. I wanted WITNESS at first.

26d: "Reply ___, try again" (Magic 8 Ball message) (HAZY). Knew this right away, but love the Magic 8 Ball clue.

34d: Copper quarry? (PERP). PERP was actually my first instinct, but it was a while before I could get it to work.

44d: Down (IN A FUNK). Great phrase.

46d: Sank to the bottom? (SAT). Love this clue. Had me fooled until I finally parsed it as "Sank to one's bottom".

Sundries:

4a: Lava, sometimes (EJECTA). Cool word.

10a: The clink (STIR). Jail. Prison. The farm.

15a: Russian retreats (DACHAS).

16a: Squid eater (TUNA). I guessed ORCA first, which slowed this section down a bit.

21a: The munchies, for example (URGE). Indirect drug reference, as the urge is typically associated with smoking marijuana.

30a: Restaurant in Manhattan's theater district famous for the caricatures on its walls (SARDI'S). Never been, but I know of it.

32a: Lambeau ___ (Packers celebration) (LEAP).

35a: Citrus preparations (ZESTS). Doesn't take much preparation to make zest. You just scrape it off the rind.

42a: Brand of corn syrup (KARO). One of the first gimmes I found.

47a: 2004 film with the tagline "One man saw it coming" (I ROBOT).

49a: Aunt of Harry Potter (PETUNIA). I couldn't remember it until I got the P, then it clicked.

54a: Letter (TENANT). One who lets (leases) an apartment.

58a: Banking option, briefly (REFI). Refinancing.

59a: Repeated phrase in Kurt Vonnegut's "Slapstick" (HIHO).

65a: Not only that but also (NAY).

66a: "___ Christianity" (C.S. Lewis work) (MERE).

68a: Carrier to Schiphol (KLM). I knew was going to be either KLM or SAS.

4d: Utopian (EDENIC). Of Eden. Weird word, though.

5d: Be out of harmony (JAR).

6d: Like some hosiery (ECRU). The first gimme of the puzzle.

23d: West Coast baseball team's scoreboard abbr. (LAA). The Los Angeles Angles of Anaheim.

29d: Collection of suits? (DECK). Of playing cards.

33d: Epiphany follower (AHA). No church season here. Great clue.

38d: Drupe throwaway (PIT). Drupes are fleshy fruits like peaches.

39d: Wearing (EROSIVE). Went ERODING to EROSION to EROSIVE.

41d: Kelp eater (ABALONE).

48d: Character in "Henry VI, Part I" (TALBOT).

52d: Introduction to science? (NEURO). Cryptic prefix.

59d: West ___ United (English soccer team) (HAM). I don't watch soccer at all, but I knew this right away. I think it must be from old Monty Python's Flying Circus skits.

62d: Title character in a Poe novel (PYM). Shows up often enough, I should remember it more readily that I do.

Suns of Bitches:
Lot's of stuff I didn't know, but everything was gettable from crossings. Here are the complete unknowns for me:

22a: Cashmere clothing brand (TSE).

8d: City in South Korea near Pusan (TAEGU).

Nice theme and challenge from Joon. Didn't fall terribly quickly, but it broke open steadily and didn't seem unfair at any point. Just right for a Friday.

Thanks for listening.

- Pete M.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

2009-02-05T02:01:00.005-05:00

Title: Themeless Thursday
Author: Will Nediger
Theme: NA

Happy Thursday, y'all, the Green Genius here. I've only got one hour to blog this puzzle so we'll be hitting the high spots only. I kinda hate to give this puzzle short shrift cuz it's a good one, especially if you like long answers. How could you not like a puzzle that has SLACK JAWED YOKEL crossing TEENAGE WEREWOLF.

But if that's not enough, Will Nediger bought us all several rounds of drinks, maybe ONE TOO MANY (3d: Drinker's excess). Too many alcoholic beverages can have the same effect as NEPENTHES (16a: Forgetfulness potions). We got to listen to WU TANG CLAN (2d: Ghostface Killah's group) on our CAR RADIOS 52a: (Sources of moving music.) When I reviewed the puzzle after I finished it, I saw CAR RADIOS as CARR ADIOS, which I would clue as "Farewell to singer Vikki"

I learned something about basketball: 55a: "The Big ______ (nickname for Shaquille O'Neal) ARISTOTLE. According to Wikipedia, Mr. O'neal is also known as "Shaq," "The Diesel," "Shaq Fu," "The Big Daddy," "Superman," "The Big Agave," "The Big Cactus," "The Big Shaqtus," "The Big Galactus," "Wilt Chamberneezy," "The Big Baryshnikov," "The Real Deal," "Dr. Shaq" (after earning his MBA), and, most recently, "Shaqovic." So if your favorite player doesn't have a nickname now you know, Shaq took more than his share.

I got to see one of my favorite mascots 54a: Mascot with a letter (MR ZIP) who seems to be more or less retired these days.

Speaking of retired, the man with the most home runs as a catcher made an appearance in this puzzle 28d: 1993 rookie of the year (MIKE PIAZZA).

That's all I've got time for this week. If there's a word you missed, you'll find it here:

1a: Gave a damn? (SWORE).
6a: "Who's there?" response (ITSJUSTME).
15a: Capital city in northern Africa (TUNIS).
16a: Forgetfulness potions (NEPENTHES).
17a: Mushroom producer (ATEST).
18a: Ties (DEADHEATS).
19a: Walsh of "Private Practice" (KATE).
20a: Four gills (PINT).
21a: Ant-B-Gon maker (ORTHO).
22a: Producer of Coldplay's "Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends" (ENO).
23a: Two-times (CHEATSON).
25a: Sour (GOBAD).
27a: Jock's tutor, maybe (GEEK).
28a: Umami taste trigger (MSG).
31a: Vertexes (ACMES).
32a: City with a Paul Klee museum (BERN).
33a: Good vitamin C source (KIWI).
34a: Cletus of "The Simpsons," for one (SLACKJAWEDYOKEL).
37a: Take a nosedive (TANK).
38a: Green-lit (OKED).
39a: Fall fall, sometimes (SLEET).
40a: "___ Time at All" (Beatles song) (ANY).
41a: One-named Emmy, Grammy, and Oscar winner (CHER).
42a: Did a jeté (LEAPT).
43a: One who caters basely (PANDERER).
45a: "Think" sloganeer (IBM).
47a: Supernumerary's holding (SPEAR).
50a: 40% of fünf (ZWEI).
51a: Actress of "Fame" fame (CARA).
52a: Sources of moving music? (CARRADIOS).
54a: Mascot with a letter (MRZIP).
55a: "The Big ___" (nickname for Shaquille O'Neal) (ARISTOTLE).
56a: Gem holder (BEZEL).
57a: Stopgap (MAKESHIFT).
58a: Plugged-in (AWARE).
1d: Item in a camper's backpack (STAKE).
2d: Ghostface Killah's group (WUTANGCLAN).
3d: Drinker's excess (ONETOOMANY).
4d: Be upwardly mobile? (RISE).
5d: Biblical suffix (EST).
6d: Not from a major studio (INDIE).
7d: Michael Landon played one in 1957 (TEENAGEWEREWOLF).
8d: Like blood at some crime scenes (SPATTERED).
9d: President Bartlet's first name on "The West Wing" (JED).
10d: Remove, as a clip-on bow tie (UNHOOK).
11d: Back in the water? (STERN).
12d: "Imagine ___!" (THAT).
13d: ___ mouth (dental problem for some drug addicts) (METH).
14d: One of the Seven Sisters of the petroleum industry (ESSO).
20d: Advanced degree (PHD).
23d: Vineyard container (CASK).
24d: Fax machine button (SEND).
26d: Call's companion (BECK).
28d: 1993 N.L. Rookie of the Year (MIKEPIAZZA).
29d: Rose with pink flowers (SWEETBRIER).
30d: Having an expensive coat? (GILT).
31d: Film role for Skippy (ASTA).
32d: Italian casserole (BAKEDZITI).
33d: Caffeine source (KOLA).
35d: Mr. Big's first name on "Sex and the City" (JOHN).
36d: Flemish river (YSER).
41d: Gemologist's units (CARATS).
42d: Gift from a wahine (LEI).
43d: Diagram, as a sentence (PARSE).
44d: Zeroed out (RESET).
46d: Bowling pin material (MAPLE).
47d: Hustle (SCAM).
48d: Legal prefix (PARA).
49d: Actor Palladino (ERIK).
51d: Cox's sport (CREW).
53d: Cry a channel surfer might hear a few minutes after the final ticks of "60 Minutes" (DOH).
54d: Dubya's degree (MBA). Boy, that's hard to believe, considering every business he turned his hand to tanked,

Have a great Thursday. Norrin

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

2009-02-04T02:01:00.005-05:00

Title: Vowel Movement
Author: Patrick Blindauer
Theme: Two-part phrases where the second part mirrors the first part except that the vowels progress (A=>E, E=>I, I=>O, O=>U).

3d: NASA doctor’s collection? (SPACEMAN SPECIMEN).

5d: Glittering lymphoid mass? (TINSEL TONSIL). Ewww.

8d: With 51-Down, jelly thickener for "The Conference of Champions"? (PAC-TEN/PECTIN).

11d: Fad collection of actor Dempsey? (PATRICK'S PET ROCKS). It would be too egocentric to self-reference here, I guess. Eh, Patrick?

26d: Breath fresheners for a certain prayer? (MANTIS MENTOS). That's prayer as in "one who prays" -- a praying mantis.

Well, we have give a "potty humor" tag just for the title, don't we? I've seen a theme like this before, though I don't recall the exact details. I don't believe it dealt with double phrases like this one -- I think it was just phrases that were modified by the vowel progression. The 16-letter theme entries force the 15x16 design with theme clues running down. Plenty of theme fill here, and a remarkably smooth fill -- not unexpected from recent Constructor of the Year Oryx winner Patrick Blindauer.

Sunny Spots:

27a: Square that might have two sides? (MEAL). I'm certain I've seen this clue before, and it still caught me. Very clever, a square meal including sides. But why two? Why not three?

36a: "Play with us" channel (NICK JR). I love this because the CKJR letter combination seems so unplausible during the solve.

6d: Sparks could be seen on it in '07 (IDOL). Jordan Sparks and "American Idol". Very nice clue.

Sundries:

1a: Medicinal meas. (TBSP). An abbreviation at 1a is not ideal, but we'll forgive this minor indiscretion.

5a: Alfred directed her in "The Birds" (TIPPI Hedren).

10a: Tail of a Tibetan terrier? (APSO). Cryptic half-of-dog_name: Lhasa apso.

19a: The whole kit and caboodle (A TO Z).

20a: In "Penny Lane," what the banker never wears in the pouring rain (MAC). Beatles clues are always welcome here.

21a: Minor key? (ISLET). Cute clue.

22a: Bruno of "City Slickers" (KIRBY).

23a: Capital near the Oahe Dam (PIERRE). South Dakota.

25a: One with an abode in Aden (YEMENI). Usually it's ADEN in the puzzle, not the clue.

28a: Lie-down, to a Yank (NAP). Why to a Yank? Southerners don't nap?

29a: Private sleeping arrangement? (COT). Military reference.

38a: Australian Open champ before Steffi's three-year winning streak (HANA Mandlikova).

39a: Foot massager? (ODIST). Okay, that's pushing it.

43a: ___-Poo (character in "The Mikado") (NANKI).

44a: 1974 film starring Elliott Gould and Donald Sutherland (SPYS). I was so certain this was going to be MASH. If TRYSTS weren't such a gimme I might have had a real problem here.

47a: Most in need of Beano, maybe (GASSIEST). This ices the potty humor tag.

50a: Torn up on the screen (RIP). Rip Torn. But you knew that. You've seen this clue before.

52a: It borders Sask. (MONT). Montana.

65a: Economize (STINT). I wanted SKIMP in the worst way here, but I couldn't make it fit. STINT, to me, means a length of time.

68a: Number of pesetas in un duro (CINCO). Pick a Spanish number that begins with C.

69a: Chain with chairs (IKEA).

70a: Chachi's cousin, with "the" (FONZ). From "Happy Days", of course.

1d: Disney mutt (TRAMP). "Lady and the Tramp" is one of my favorite Disney films.

2d: Religion seeking world peace (BAHAI). You'd think all religions would seek world peace, wouldn't you? If only.

7d: "Our Gang" dog (PETEY).

13d: Black Sabbath vocalist's first name (OZZY). Easy, but nice to get that double-Z in there.

22d: Military cap with a flat top (KEPI). This is a word I learned from crosswords.

34d: Mathematician Lovelace (ADA). Linda didn't fit. And counting to twelve doesn't make one a mathematician... ;)

37d: –1, for 180° (COSINE). Speaking of math...

46d: Mortarboard tosser (GRAD). That's those funky hats they make you wear.

48d: Jolt, e.g. (SODA). "All the sugar and twice the caffeine."

59d: Toque wearer (CHEF). Hey, "Hell's Kitchen" has started again. But they don't wear toques. This is the time of year when Fox dominates the airwaves... "House", "Idol", "24", "Hell's Kitchen", ...

Suns of Bitches:

16a: Webkinz company (GANZ). Never heard of it. I've heard of Gas-X (in puzzles), but that didn't fit.

56a: Subject of the song "Tell Me, Trudy, Who Is Going to Be the Lucky One?" (EDERLE). I'm too lazy to look this up. It's only vaguely familiar.

Another nice puzzle from PB2, as we've come to expect.

Thanks for listening.

- Pete M.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

2009-02-03T02:00:00.006-05:00

Title: "I Can't Remember If I Cried..."
Author: Ogden Porter (Peter Gordon)
Theme: Commemoration of a historical event of 50 years ago today, as immortalized in song by Don McLean

3d: With 10-Down, February 3, 1959 (THE DAY THE/MUSIC DIED).

5d: With 8-Down, singer in a fatal plane crash on February 3, 1959 (THE BIG/BOPPER). his real name was jp chesterton.

39a: With 66-Across, singer in a fatal plane crash on February 3, 1959 (BUDDY/HOLLY). also a great song by weezer.

58a: Singer in a fatal plane crash on February 3, 1959 (RITCHIE VALENS).

49a: Song referencing February 3, 1959 (AMERICAN PIE).

this is a nice theme and a fitting commemoration to a major event in american cultural history. the lengths don't work out for a 15x15 crossword with standard rotational symmetry, so instead we have a 15x16 grid with mirror (left-right) symmetry. works for me.

there's no "official" video of this song, of course, since it predates the MTV era by quite a bit. and i didn't love any of the live versions i found on youtube. so instead, here's a somewhat goofy version with the original recording and odd still pictures interspersed. but at least you can click on play and then listen to the song while you read the rest of the blog.

Sunny Spots:

30a: Google your own name, e.g. (EGOSURF). that's one of the great neologisms of modern times. here's me. there's some weird stuff floating around in there, but it looks like it's all me (as opposed to some other joon pahk) in the top 50 hits.

9d: Painter Georgia (O'KEEFFE). this always looks like a typo. there's something existentially unnerving about the way the Es and Fs pile up.

Sundries:

10a: War room fixture (MAP). "gentlemen, you can't fight in here! this is the war room!"

14a: Norwegian pop trio (A-HA). i feel like i've seen this clue very recently. anyway, they're the one-hit wonders who gave us "take on me."

19a: Urich TV role (SPENSER). robert urich, of "spenser: for hire."

22a: Roz portrayer on "Frasier" (PERI gilpin). crossword celebrities: learn them, love them.

23a: Like the night sky (STARLIT). this is an appropriate fill word in an "american pie"-themed puzzle, because don mclean's "other" (much lesser) hit song was "vincent (starry starry night)." not a bad song, but nowhere near as iconic as "american pie."

26a: Actual (DE FACTO). usually it's IN ESSE, but DE FACTO is much more common outside of crosswords.

29a: Third baseman Ron who started three 1970s All-Star Games (CEY). approximate ranking of baseball players in crossworld: 1. ott 2. alou (various family members) 3. a-rod 4. cey 15. minoso 42. zito. what's a guy like mark teixeira to do? (get the yankees to pay him $180 million, that's what.)

33a: Prepare for takeoff? (UNTIE). cute.

38a: Planck contemporary (BOHR). i appreciate a good physics reference, even if it's to quantum mechanics. my best friend from grad school declared that he "didn't believe" in quantum. this was a bit of a problem, because he was in theoretical particle physics.

48a: With 68-Across, star of "Sextette" (MAE/WEST). never heard of the movie, but she's certainly famous enough.

65a: Like the score for the first play of a Scrabble game (EVEN). that's because the first player has to play through the pink double word score in the center of the board.

4d: Endust company (SARA LEE). what's endust? is that a ... dust product?

7d: Antepenultimate word of "Casey at the Bat" (HAS). i love the word antepenultimate, meaning third-to-last. "mighty case has struck out" is how it ends.

31d: Lachrymose (SAD). tough clue for an easy word, unless you've, say, sung mozart's requiem.

37d: O. neighbor (WVA). not sure i understand this clue. is it supposed to be "Oh. neighbor"?

43d: The first century started when it ended (ONE BC). there was no year zero, of course.

47d: Sex drives (LIBIDOS). i can't give this the "sexual innuendo" tag, because there's no innuendo.

50d: Part of "TMNT" (MUTANT). teenage mutant ninja turtles, teenage mutant ninja turtles, teenage mutant ninja turtles, heroes in a half-shell. turtle power!

61d: Drops on the lawn (DEW). i've seen this clue too many times for it to trick me again.

Suns of Bitches:

44a: Eel-and-rice dish (UNADON). i know UDON. i know UNAGI. this is neither, but it sounds like it might be both.

26d: Couple (DUAD). DUO, yes. DYAD, okay. but DUAD? really?

57d: Former E! anchor Jules (ASNER).

one of the things i'm going to miss about the sun puzzle is peter's willingness to take risks and break some rules if a theme warrants it. this puzzle is a good example. i wouldn't have known it was the anniversary of the famous plane crash if not for the puzzle, and solving it has enriched my day.

see you next time.

joon

Monday, February 2, 2009

2009-02-02T02:01:00.000-05:00

Title: Cross Sections
Author: Lee Glickstein
Theme: Phrases that end in newspaper sections

20a: 1988 comedy with Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin (BIG BUSINESS).

37a: Monthly fashion magazine (IN STYLE).

52a: College knowledge (LIBERAL ARTS).

11d: They can take a joke (GOOD SPORTS).

27d: "Back to the Future" theme (TIME TRAVEL).

Straightforward Monday theme, covering five sections of the local newspaper.

Sunny Spots:

31a: Convertible (SLEEP SOFA).

44a: Like some partners (SAME SEX).

33d: Result of reading the fine print, maybe (EYE STRAIN).

Sundries:

17a: Established principle (AXIOM).

18a: Knowledgeable person (MAVEN).

25a: Sweet bread spread (NUTELLA). I've never had this.

30a: "National Velvet" novelist Bagnold (ENID).

40a: WWI song by George M. Cohan (OVER THERE).

60a: Season starter? (PRE). Less than two weeks before pitchers and catchers report!

3d: Sasha Baron Cohen title character on an HBO show (ALI G).

4d: Splotched (BLOBBED). Is this really a word? Really?

5d: English diarist Pepys (SAMUEL).

6d: Small cup for coffee (DEMI-TASSE).

7d: Roll player (PIANO). A player piano plays rolls. Your average everyday piano does not. Or is roll here meant as some style of music (as in rock and roll)?

24d: Dumb cluck (ASS).

34d: Warren's "Bonnie and Clyde" costar (FAYE).

48d: The E of EGBDF (EVERY). Every good boy deserves fudge (or does fine). There was a puzzle recently with this very theme.

52d: Rickey flavor (LIME). Booze tag.

54d: "Forbidden Games" director Clément (RENE). Didn't see the clue. But it's a common French name.

55d: Baseball Hall of Famer Speaker (TRIS).

Suns of Bitches:
None.

Not much to say. Typical Monday.

Thanks for listening.

- Pete M.

Friday, January 30, 2009

2009-01-30T02:01:00.001-05:00

Title: Weekend Warrior
Author: Karen M. Tracey
Theme: None

Everything at Once:

1a: Ballet pose (ARABESQUE).

10a: My brothel's keeper? (MADAM). I love this clue. I'm sure I'm not the only one who read it as "brother", not "brothel", the first time around.

15a: "Chapel of Love" group, with "the" (DIXIE CUPS).

17a: Neither fore nor aft (AMIDSHIPS). This was the first fill I entered, and it helped break out the whole section.

18a: Ease up (RELAX).

19a: Semirigid colloids (GELS). Very scientific sounding, isn't it.

20a: Word "go" (ONSET). As in, "from word 'go'"...

22a: 1944 Physics Nobelist (RABI). Had everything but the A from crossings, and the A just felt right.

26a: Eccentric wheel (CAM). I tried HAM first, but CAM is more literal.

28a: She's behind Biden in the presidential line of succession (PELOSI). Speaker of the House.

30a: LP Field player (TITAN). LP Field is where the Tennessee Titans play.

33a: "Keeping Up With the Steins" actress (JAMI GERTZ). I got this one through crossings and Zen. I really don't know who she is. Oh, wait! She's the girl from "Crossroads" (the Ralph Macchio one, not the Britney Spears one).

37a: One taken in (ADOPTEE). Nice clue.

38a: The Lone Ranger, for one (MASKED MAN). This was easier once I realized that Tug McGraw was the baseball player and Tim McGraw was the singer.

41a: Red dwarfs (M-STARS). Luckily, I had the M before I saw this clue, so I didn't have to guess.

45a: Guitarist at Woodstock (SANTANA).

52a: Prime time (YOUTH). This one baffled me for a bit longer than it should have. Probably because I'm not there anymore.

53a: Littermate of Rover (FIDO).

58a: Little skill (APERY). That's Rich Little, and I've seen this exact clue recently, so it didn't fool me.

59a: Listing (AT AN ANGLE). Excellent.

60a: Bridge positions (WESTS). Not the most exciting of bridge clues, but a bridge clue nonetheless.

61a: Provide sympathetic attention (LEND AN EAR).

6d: "Danke ___" (1963 Wayne Newton hit) (SCHOEN). I wasn't sure of the spelling here at first, but got it eventually.

7d: Fruity bread spread (QUINCE JAM). Very nice!

8d: Swedish university city (UPPSALA).

9d: European Capital of Culture for 2010 (ESSEN). Erie rule.

12d: Central Park theater (DELACORTE). I had no idea. Which is why this section was the last to fall for me. Between this and CAM and RABI and JAMI GERTZ, there was some guessing going on.

13d: Figurine material, perhaps (ALABASTER).

14d: Makes as big as possible, as a computer window (MAXIMIZES). A little too easy, don't you think?

25d: Spanish city known for its aqueduct (SEGOVIA).

29d: Anathema (LEPER).

30d: "Live Like You Were Dying" singer (TIM MCGRAW).

31d: Like rough-and-tumble kids, frequently (IN A SCRAPE).

34d: Museum Mile milieu (MANHATTAN).

39d: Get going (ACTUATE).

48d: Writer ___ Rogers St. Johns (ADELA).

53d: Paavo Nurmi, for one (FINN).

Nice puzzle, with good scrabbly letters. Not as tough as many -- I was able to come in under 20 minutes, which is damned good for me for a KMT/WW. And I was ahead of that pace until the NE corner slapped me down.

Thanks for listening.

- Pete M.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

2009-01-29T02:01:00.004-05:00

Title: Chop to it
Author: David J. Kahn
Theme: is spelled out at 39a: Antelope with spiraled horns (and a hint to this puzzle's theme) (ADDAX). In other words, the letters A and X are added to common phrases to create new and unexpected answers that are then clued. Like most themes it's easier to show than to spell out:

18a: Levy on cover girls? (MODELTAX).

60a: Try to influence a game show leader? (COAXHOST).

3d: Person born in northwest Germany 1,500 years ago? (NATIVESAXON).

6d: Deception requiring a vote recount? (TALLYHOAX).

25d: Is a student in a housekeeping course? (TAKESWAXING). Also, I guess, a class one might take in cosmetology

36d: Dissertation about neuron appendages? (AXONPAPER). My least favorite of the themed entries -- because I'm not too hip on sub-atomic stuff and I can't find a picture of an axon.

Sunny Spots:

52a: Place for steamers? (SPA). Love those sauna jokes.

26d: NPR's Hansen (LIANE). Co-host with Will Shortz of the NPR Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzle, which I will win someday.

9d: Start of a noted palindrome (MADAM). As in "Madam, I'm Adam." My first thought was AMANA, as in the start to another noted palindrome "A man, a plan, a canal, Panama."

Suns of Bitches: Nothing really, although I did not and still don't know anything about "Knuffle Bunny" so 47d: Girl in the "Knuffle Bunny" books (TRIXIE) was tough.

Sundries: (Presented sans commentary due to poor time management)

1a: Like some yogurt (NONFAT).

7a: Chip maker (IBM).

10a: With 35-Across, die (PASS).

14a: "Spamalot" costar (AZARIA).

15a: Prix fixe alternative (ALACARTE).

17a: "I want to hear all the details" (DOTELL).

19a: "Idylls of the King" name (ENID).

20a: "Otello" premiere locale (LASCALA).

22a: Accelerate, with "up" (REV).

23a: Edgar Allan Poe character Arthur Gordon ___ (PYM).

24a: Courage and fortitude (METTLE).

28a: Spellbind (ENCHANT).

32a: Adjust one's sights, maybe (REAIM).

33a: Language of Afghanistan (PASHTO).

35a: See 10-Across (AWAY).

37a: Jazz trombonist Winding (KAI).

38a: 60-year-old carrier (ELAL).

41a: Fender flaw (DENT).

42a: ___-en-Provence (AIX).

43a: 11% of DC (LXVI).

44a: Weights (ONUSES).

46a: Franklin (CNOTE).

48a: Sherbet variety (RAINBOW).

50a: Matisse and others (HENRIS).

53a: Galoot (APE).

56a: "Understood" (IGOTCHA).

59a: Line through the poles (AXIS).

63a: Cans (POKIES).

65a: What a zigzag line might represent in a schematic (RESISTOR).

66a: Make clear (EVINCE).

67a: False negative? (TRUE).

68a: Fashion monogram (YSL).

69a: Kitchen appliances (RANGES).

1d: LaDuke was his vice presidential running mate in 1996 and 2000 (NADER).

2d: Triatomic form of oxygen (OZONE).

4d: Ethel's husband (FRED).

5d: Be hurting (AIL).

7d: Cat food brand (IAMS).

8d: Cartel (BLOC).

10d: Epicurean sense (PALATE).

11d: Works at the Whitney (ART).

12d: D.C.'s Union, for one (STA).

13d: Census form info (SEX).

16d: Waldorf salad ingredient (CELERY).

21d: Org. with a staff of Aesculapius logo (AMA).

23d: Mtge. point, for example (PCT).

27d: Gives out (EMITS).

29d: Wild bunch?: Abbr. (NHL).

30d: First name at the 1976 Summer Olympics (NADIA).

31d: "You're going to like us" sloganeer (TWA).

33d: Crayola color that used to be called Flesh (PEACH).

34d: Dress with a flared skirt (ALINE).

40d: TiVo, e.g. (DVR).

41d: Couple (DUO).

43d: Vivien and Janet of filmdom (LEIGHS).

45d: It has four franchises in Calif. (NBA).

49d: Freak ending? (ISH).

51d: Black, in a way (SOOTY).

54d: Knight, e.g. (PIECE).

55d: A lot of stress? (ESSES).

57d: General ___ chicken (TSOS).

58d: Keyboard key (CTRL).

59d: Having a similar quality (AKIN).

60d: Monitor, for short (CRT).

61d: "Jingle Bells" contraction (OER).

62d: Tempe inst. (ASU).

64d: Fertilizable gametes (OVA).

Today's puzzle was brought to you by your friendly neighborhood addax.
Have a nice Thursday, Norrin

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

2009-01-28T02:01:00.008-05:00

Title: On With Its Head
Author: Gary Steinmehl
Theme: Adding the letters H, E, A, and D, respectively, to the beginnings of phrases.

3d: System for keeping closets organized? (HANGER MANAGEMENT). I never saw this Nicholson/Sandler film. With a couple of exceptions, I don't much care for Adam Sandler films, but I tend to like Jack so I'll probably rent it eventually.

13d: "The Scream," e.g.? (EMOTION PICTURE).

14d: Amelia Earhart flight starter, for example? (ASCENT OF A WOMAN). This is the film that finally scored Al Pacino an Oscar, which is strange to me because I think he's way better in many other earlier films. I thought this particular role was a touch over-the-top. But I still enjoyed the movie.

9d: Apprehensive about a train trip? (DREADING RAILROAD).

Nice Tuesday theme. I liked the two film-related theme fills better than the other two, but finding four films that would fit must not have been feasible. Again, we have a 15x16 grid with themes running down, to accommodate the long 16 answers.

Sunny Spots:

19a: "American ___" (1980 Richard Gere film) (GIGOLO). Sure, it's a fill-in-the-blank. But it's a great word.

52a: Baa maid? (EWE). That's a pretty damned funny clue, if you ask me.

Sundries:

13a: Virus named after a Congolese river (EBOLA).

16a: Bond villain (DR NO).

17a: Canasta plays (MELDS).

21a: King, e.g. (FACE CARD).

23a: Chad of "Medical Center" (EVERETT).

25a: Extremely cold (GELID).

26a: To be, in Spanish (SER).

28a: Tennis partners? (ENS). Cryptic letter clue. Two 'N's in "tennis".

35a: Surname of ALF's family (TANNER).

39a: "Cool!" (NEATO).

49a: Ticker symbol for Harley-Davidson (HOG).

56a: Pica alternative (ELITE). Back before there were 50 million computerized fonts, typewriters were either Pica (10-characters per inch) or Elite (12-characters per inch).

58a: "Be honest" (DON'T LIE).

60a: Big hits (HOME RUNS). Pitchers and catchers report in 17 days. Giddy-up!

65a: Lasso (RIATA).

69a: Page of "Juno" (ELLEN).

72a: Delta might precede it or calculate it (ETA). A dual-clue -- very cryptic-crossword-like. Here, referencing delta and eta the Greek letters, and Delta the airline calculating ETA (estimated time of arrival). Clever.

4d: Game trail (SPOOR). That's game as in hunted prey, not like Monopoly or something.

6d: Word with ball or bag (GOLF).

66d: Word with ball or bag (TEA). Here, a tea ball is that metal thing you use to brew from loose tea. Not the kids' game, which is TEE ball.

8d: Early calculators (ABACI). Beware the plurals that don't end in 'S'.

10d: Christian of the cloth? (DIOR). Cute clue, but pretty easy.

20d: Act of faith? (LEAP). Verging on over-cuteness.

22d: Movie lioness (ELSA). From Born Free.

30d: Creator of Genesis (SEGA). Genesis, the video console.

34d: "___ Pueblo" (Ansel Adams book) (TAOS).

38d: Meshuga (LOCO).

54d: Three-time Gold Glove winner Minnie (MINOSO). His prime was in the 50's and 60's, but he came back (albeit briefly) twice after his retirement, once in '76 and once in '80. Pretty amazing for a guy whose rookie year was 1949!

60d: Blondie and Dagwood's neighbor (HERB).

Suns of Bitches:

12a: Former Kenyan president Daniel ___ Moi (ARAP). Not a name I recall seeing.

62d: 2002 Mark Kurlansky book subtitled "A World History" (SALT). Didn't know this at all.

Thanks for listening.

- Pete M.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

2009-01-27T02:00:00.007-05:00

Title: Hitchcock Double Features
Author: Ogden Porter (Peter Gordon)
Theme: Pairs of Hitchcock movie titles are joined to form wacky phrases, which are then clued

3d: Wholly engrossed wackaloon? (SPELLBOUND PSYCHO). is "wackaloon" really a word? i'm pretty sure i've never seen it before, but it was pretty clear from context what it meant.

5d: Thing that a second-story man might use to break into a house? (REAR WINDOW ROPE). ROPE is the only one of these movies that i've seen, philistine that i am. it's loosely based on one of my favorite novels, crime and punishment. i think i've seen about 10 minutes of REAR WINDOW while flipping channels at my in-laws' house.

10d: Subvert hawks and doves? (SABOTAGE THE BIRDS). this one feels like it hangs together as a phrase slightly less well than the other "double features."

18d: Madness in an emergency vessel used after a shipwreck? (LIFEBOAT FRENZY). this actually sounds very much like the plot of stephen crane's story the open boat. (okay, maybe not so much with the FRENZY and maybe more with the grim naturalism that we expect from crane.)

okay, this was a cool theme. i'm no movie buff, and my ignorance of old movies is particularly galling (to some), but by and large, these films are pretty famous. the only ones i'm not familiar with are SABOTAGE and FRENZY. and the resulting combinations are fairly amusing, too.

Sunny Spots:

22a: It gets laughs from just a few people (IN JOKE). i don't think i've seen this in a puzzle before. great fill word, and the clue is perfect.

64a: Hershey's chocolate bar with toffee (SKOR). yum...

Sundries:

13a: Wholly engrossed (RAPT). cute to cross this with SPELLBOUND, also clued as "wholly engrossed."

15a: "A Night at the Opera" name (MARX). karl? richard? no, silly. it's groucho et al.

19a: Old Testament fratricide victim (ABEL). "fratricide" is one of those words you don't get to use very often in everyday conversation.

21a: Tennis coach's concern (GRIP). i'm currently watching novak djokovic play andy roddick in the australian open. both guys are playing well, but it's 120° out there on the court. mercy! of course, it's currently 20° outside my window, which makes 120° seem not so bad.

24a: In an easygoing manner (MELLOWLY). i guess that's a word, but boy, what an awkward adverb.

26a: Thing that gets socked? (FOOT). not bad, but teetering close to the edge of the "clever but tortured" tag.

28a: Carmaker whose logo is a horse rampant (FERRARI). two things i liked about this clue: 1) i knew i knew it, but it still took me a while to remember which one it was; 2) the noun-following adjective "rampant."

32a: Euphonium's big cousin (TUBA). euphonium is another name for the baritone horn.

34a: Former Georgian president Shevardnadze (EDUARD). matt gaffney recently used SHEVARDNADZE as a theme entry in a "people whose names end with tools" puzzle.

48a: Bills, e.g. (NFL TEAM). i had the NF from crossings before i saw this clue, so it was pretty easy for me, but that's a pretty tough clue for a tuesday.

52a: Part of PDF (PORTABLE). portable document format. so no, "PDF file" isn't redundant.

2d: Hurtle (BARREL). i didn't read this clue carefully enough on the first pass: i thought it was "hurdle," and the answer might be BARRIER with some kind of rebus action going on. but no, it's just the verb BARREL.

6d: Number one Hun (ATTILA). hey, this clue rhymes. betcha didn't notice that. :)

9d: Musical key with four sharps (E MAJOR). or C# minor, but that didn't fit.

23d: Tom and Meg's "Sleepless in Seattle" director (NORA ephron). i always wonder if her nerdy high-school friends nicknamed her "nephron." or maybe her email address is nephron@something. there's gotta be some kind of kidney joke in here somewhere, right?

29d: "Exit Ghost" author (philip ROTH). the ninth and purportedly last of the nathan zuckerman books.

32d: Many Legoland visitors (TOTS). my son sam is now old enough to play with the playland-sized legos. he's quite deft at putting them together and taking them apart, which is fun to watch.

37d: Elbows on the table? (PASTA). great clue. i'm sure i must have seen something like it before, but i enjoyed it anyway.

42d: Stones, e.g. (PELTS). both stones and PELTS are nouns, but they are only related as verbs. so what's more gruesome: the idea of stoning someone, or animal-skin PELTS?

Suns of Bitches:

5a: Robot dog in "Sleeper" (RAGS). "sleeper," you say?

37a: Babyshambles singer Doherty (PETE). babyshambles, you say?

50d: Giraffe in the "Madagascar" movies (MELMAN). i have at least heard of the "madagascar" movies. but this answer reminds me only of the planet MELMAC, the homeworld of ALF.

see you next time.

joon

Monday, January 26, 2009

2009-01-26T02:01:00.000-05:00

Title: Roman Wrestling
Author: Tony Orbach
Theme: Names that are anagrams of "ROMAN".

3d: Joanie Cunningham portrayer on "Happy Days" (ERIN MORAN). This one's a gimme for me. I watched a lot of "Happy Days" in my day, even after they jumped the shark.

7d: 1997 A.L. Rookie of the Year (NOMAR GARCIAPARRA). I should have known this right off, but my brain doesn't catalog things by year. Once I had the NOM-- it was all over. Btw, he married soccer star Mia Hamm, so keep that in mind for future puzzles.

9d: Actress in "The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg" (NORMA SHEARER). Know the name, that's about it.

24d: Actor in "The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg" (RAMON NOVARRO). Didn't know the name at all. Apparently, this Mexican actor played a latin lover in silent films. A bit before my time.

38d: Financial guru who wrote "Women & Money" (SUZE ORMAN). Seen her plenty on cable TV.

This is a really cool theme, nicely placed in a 15x16 grid to accommodate the former Red Sox shortstop. Since he was with the Red Sox when he won the ROTY, we'll give a Red Sox tag.

Sunny Spots:

25a: Class that ends before labor day? (LAMAZE). Very cute.

52a: Drool makeup (SALIVA). Nothing like a good spit clue.

1d: Creep around (SKULK). I had SNEAK to start, which slowed me down. But I like SKULK better, it's a great word.

Sundries:

9a: Phrase on a menu that includes egg rolls and wonton soup (NO MSG). This messed me up, because I thought the phrase included egg rolls and wonton soup, not just the menu. I get it now.

14a: Lagerfeld of fashion (KARL).

17a: Arms of the Mediterranean? (UZIS).

23a: Royal Dutch Airlines letters (KLM).

24a: Sound at the start of an MGM movie (ROAR). From the lion, whose name is "Leo".

30a: A head (PER). I had a mental block on this one, even with _ER. And the crossing was no help at all.

31a: Walker of whisky fame (HIRAM). Booze tag.

33a: Mason of "Chapter Two" (MARSHA). I remember her from "The Goodbye Girl".

42a: David Sarnoff's co. (RCA). Really? This seems like a tough clue for a Monday. Luckily I never saw it.

43a: Like a 45° angle (ACUTE). Less than 90° is acute, more than 90° is obtuse.

51a: First name of a Warner Bros. skunk (PEPE). Le Pew.

59a: Girl, in Guadalajara (CHICA).

64a: Marvel superhero group (XMEN).

67a: Make like a hot dog? (PANT). Cute.

68a: Authoritative expression of permission (SAY SO).

5d: Record label founded by Sean Combs (BAD BOY).

10d: Den drug (OPIUM). Drug reference.

29d: Buy a round, say (TREAT). More booze tag fodder.

34d: Music royalty gp. (ASCAP).

39d: Ike's command in WWII (ETO). European Theater of Operations.

40d: One with a pre-K kid, maybe (X-ER).

48d: Showy flower (DAHLIA).

49d: Got along with minimal effort (SLID BY).

51d: Car radio button (PRESET).

53d: Slush Puppie lookalikes (ICEES).

55d: Tonalpohualli calendar user (AZTEC). Let me guess. Peter Gordon's clue?

58d: The Lone Ranger's sidekick (TONTO).

61d: Player of the national pastime who became a National (EXPO). Formerly of Montreal, before the team was moved to D.C. and renamed.

Suns of Bitches:

11d: Singer Ronnie (MILSAP). I had no clue on this one, even with MILSA_.

Overall, an enjoyable Monday.

Thanks for listening.

- Pete M.

Friday, January 23, 2009

2009-01-23T02:01:00.002-05:00

Title: And the Nominees Are...
Author: Roger Depont, or some Peter Gordon anagram
Theme: Academy Awards Nominations

As of the time of this writing, this puzzle wasn't released yet. That's because the nominations were just announced this morning, and it's not easy to come up with a good puzzle on a moment's notice.

But... I'm out all this evening and my Mom is having surgery tomorrow morning, so I probably won't get a chance to blog this puzzle by the time you all have gotten it and completed it.

So... I'm going to do something new. I'm going to pre-blog the puzzle. You can all comment as you wish, as normal. (Joon, if you want to add anything after the puzzle comes out, be my guest.)

The Best Picture nominations are:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Slumdog Millionaire
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Milk

If I were a betting man (and sometimes I am), I'd guess you'll see these as follows:

READER (6)
FROSTNIXON (10)
MILK (4)
SLUMDOG (7)
MILLIONAIRE (11)
CURIOUS (7)
CASE (4)
OFBENJAMIN (10)
BUTTON (6)

At least, that's how I'd try to do it, keeping the long titles together and in order. Amazing that it works out symmetrically. Still, it's a lot of theme fill, which makes the gridding process tough. Don't be surprised if you see some ugly clumps of black squares around the edges, and/or a few nasty entries. Just producing a viable puzzle from the above is no simple task, so you should be suitably impressed. Peter Gordon is, after all, the man.

It's for puzzles like these that you should go out and buy three friends a Sun subscription. Do you really want these to stop?

Thanks for listening.

- Pete M.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

2009-01-22T02:01:00.006-05:00

Title: Themeless Thursday

Author: Mark Feldman
Theme: N/A

Yesterday was my birthday, but this puzzle seemed about as easy as most of the Thursdays have been lately. So I guess I haven't totally lost my crosswording skills at the ripe old age of 51.

Sunny Spot:
36d: King's title (REVEREND). A MLK reference certainly seems appropriate this week.

50a: Fresh start (NEWLEASEONLIFE). This seems particularly appropriate this week as well.

23a: Seductive glance (COMEHITHERLOOK). A sexy look with a sexy name. I mean doesn't "come hither" sound much more erotic than "come here"?

Sundries:

1a: Wrap around a fatty Japanese roll? (OBI). Why does it have to be "fatty"? Can't a skinny geisha wear an obi?

4a: Princess in "The Tale of Despereaux" (PEA). Didn't see (or read?) the story in question. Is there actually a princess named Pea, not just tossing and turning trying to get to sleep on one.

7a: Decorative works (MOSAICS).

14a: Show that can be downloaded to an MP3 player (PODCAST). Best crossword podcast that I have found: Ryan and Brian Do Crosswords.

16a: Chaos (ANARCHY). Not necessarily. Anarchy is the absence of government or law. It doesn't necessarily follow that we will descend into chaos. We might just learn to get along.

17a: Italian province (TRIESTE).

18a: Water holder (CANTEEN).

19a: Polo rival (IZOD).

20a: Honeydew source (APHID). Wait a minute. You mean aphids make those melons?

22a: XX x XXXV (DCC). As Roman multiplication goes, this equation is pretty easy.

27a: Family nickname (SIS).

28a: Ocean menace, once (UBOAT).

29a: "Sorrows" poet (OVID). Perhaps he wouldn't be so sorrowful if he knew he was still relevant today. Bob Dylan borrowed some lines from Ovid's Poems of Exile on his album Modern Times.

31a: Meager (LENTEN).

33a: Paradoxical figure? (ZENO).

38a: Spring (EMERGE).

40a: Mad River ___ (Vermont ski area) (GLEN).

41a: 16th- and 17th-century entertainment in England (MASQUE).

45a: Go crazy (RAVE). Or a 20th and 21st century entertainment in England.

46a: "Seabiscuit" author Hillenbrand (LAURA).

47a: Unit used in measuring wire diameters (MIL).

54a: Mess up (ERR).

55a: "12 Angry Men" director (LUMET).

56a: Son of Seth (ENOS).

57a: Meat from a crossbreed (BEEFALO).

59a: Homemade pistols (ZIPGUNS).

62a: Given a new title (RENAMED).

63a: John, e.g. (APOSTLE).

64a: "Most likely ..." (ODDSARE).

65a: Fortune (LOT).

66a: View finder? (EYE).

1d: Light study (OPTICS).

2d: Russian wolfhound (BORZOI).

3d: Translator's challenges (IDIOMS).

4d: Certain step (PAS).

5d: Werner Erhard program (EST). This was huge in the 70's. Everybody was into EST. Valerie Harper and John Denver were prominent participants.

6d: Gorged oneself (ATEATON).

7d: Jungle slasher (MACHETE).

8d: Televising (ONAIR).

9d: Financial inst. (SANDL).

10d: Skill (ART).

11d: Froze up (ICEDOVER).

12d: Depositor's account choice (CHECKING).

13d: Put in phase (SYNC).

15d: Yield (CEDE).

21d: Baby ___ (urban fashion line) (PHAT).

24d: Clumsy ship (HULK).

25d: Rooftop bar? (IBEAM).

26d: Sludge (OOZE).

30d: Kid nurser (DOE).

32d: Logical beginning? (NEURO).

34d: Bus. driver? (MGR).

35d: Voicer of Fred Flintstone (ALANREED).

37d: Understood (KNEW).

39d: Statistics class calculation (MEAN).

42d: Fashionable (ALAMODE). Hmmm, I thought it meant "with ice cream."

43d: Invitation encl. (SASE).

47d: Up-to-the-___ (MINUTE).

48d: "I wish!" (IFONLY).

49d: Apartment dweller, often (LESSEE).

51d: Alpaca's mate, sometimes (LLAMA).

53d: Pins, so to speak (LEGS). The only instance I can think of where legs are termed "pins" is in the somewhat old-fashioned expression "wobbly on ones pins."

54d: Battle of the ___ (Spanish Civil War event) (EBRO).

58d: Sol-___ (does some practice singing) (FAS).

60d: NASDAQ debut (IPO).

61d: Joint stuff (POT).

Suns of Bitches:
34a: Former Finnish currency (MARKKA). I sure miss the franc and the lira, the last foreign currencies I knew anything about.

44d: Guatemala's national bird and currency unit (QUETZAL). Never heard of them. They're pretty colorful though:

52d: Goldbach contemporary (EULER). Never heard of either of them. Evidently they're mathemeticians.

Have a nice Thursday, Norrin.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

2009-01-21T02:01:00.004-05:00

Title: Where Have All the Vowels Gone?
Author: Scott Atkinson
Theme: Names a phrases with seven consecutive consonants.

17a: Basketball Hall of Fame coach known as "Big Bear" (BRANCH MCCRACKEN). Heard the name before.

23a: Rainn Wilson's role on "The Office" (DWIGHT SCHRUTE). Don't watch the show, but that's my own fault.

40a: "Li'l Abner" character Joe who has a rain cloud over his head (BTFSPLK). WTFSTHSSHT?

50a: Subject of a Pee Wee Hunt rag (TWELFTH STREET). Nice clue, great song.

62a: What can be found consecutively in 17-, 23-, 40-, and 50-Across (SEVEN CONSONANTS).

Not much to say about this one. It is what is it. I suppose Joe BTFSPLK is like Mr. Mxyzptlk -- you either know it or you don't. I didn't, but the crossings were all fair, so I don't mind all that much.

I'm in a hurry, so I'm going to breeze through the rest.

The Rest:

9a: Vietnam Veterans Memorial inscriptions (NAMES). My eldest son spent yesterday standing amongst the throngs on the Mall in Washington D.C., watching Obama's inauguration. It's a great place to visit in the summer, with the Vietnam wall being especially moving.

27a: Figure skater Midori (ITO).

36a: Brand in the lyrics of "Kodachrome" (NIKON).

43a: With 68-Across, Sri Lanka exports (PEKOE / TEA).

46a: Limp Bizkit drummer John ___ (OTTO). I wouldn't have known this, but I never saw the clue.

58a: "___ Baby" ("Hair" song) (ABIE). Know it from puzzles.

59a: Reacted to reveille (AROSE). The morning bugle call. Here it here.

69a: Nobody may go in front of it (ELSE'S). Umm... okay.

70a: Partiality (BIAS).

71a: Accordingly (ERGO). Therefore...

4d: "Told ya!" (I KNEW IT).

6d: Energy (OOMPH). Oomph is a great word.

10d: Portion of a lemniscate (ARC). A lemniscate is a figure-eight-shaped curve, like the infinity symbol.

11d: Beauty aid (MAKE UP KIT). Nice fill.

12d: Navratilova rival (Chris EVERT).

18d: Lit ___ (college course, informally) (CRIT).

25d: Amount of hair (HANK).

30d: "Miracle at St. Anna" director (LEE). If it's a director in three letters, it's probably Lee (Ang or Spike). This one's the latter.

31d: Cluster on military awards (OAK LEAVES).

49d: Actor Astin (SEAN), who played Sam in "The Lord of the Rings" films.

51d: Big cheese, in more ways than one (WHEEL).

52d: One-third of XXX? (TAC). Tic-tac-toe.

61d: Station identification, once (ESSO). I wasn't fooled by this clue even for a second. Don't know why.

Outside of the theme, I thought the puzzle was easier than normal for a Wednesday. There were 29a: Truckloads (ALOT) of Monday-ish clues here.

Thanks for listening.

- Pete M.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

2009-01-20T02:00:00.011-05:00

Title: Attention to Details
Author: Patrick Blindauer
Theme: Wordplay theme in which D is added to the end of two-word phrases

17a: Site of a hospital auction? (BIDDING WARD).

28a: Gradual curve in the road? (GENTLE BEND). my favorite of the theme answers. nice base phrase, and a good clue-answer pairing for the modified version.

48a: Perform some physical therapy? (MUSCLE MEND).

61a: Tiny greeting from Hallmark? (COMPACT CARD).

11d: Work for the military police? (BASE TEND).

38d: Group that plays during finals week? (TEST BAND).

not the world's most exciting theme, but well-executed with six rock-solid theme answers. the only thing i didn't like about it was having the two vertical entries which weren't longer than the other down answers—indeed, they're each in 3x8 stacks. the stacks are nice, but i actually had some difficulty determining that they were part of the theme, especially since the puzzle is fairly loaded with ? clues in the fill.

i was kind of expecting this puzzle to have something to do with the inauguration, but maybe that's because i expect everything to have something to do with the inauguration. i can't remember an inauguration this anticipated.

Sunny Spots:

34d: Plant tissue (XYLEM). i've always loved this word. i mean... it starts with X, and then goes later in the alphabet from there. good stuff. it gets much more crossword play than its counterpart, PHLOEM.

Sundries:

1a: What some people do to enter united states? (ELOPE). okay, that's a tortured clue. i did figure it out, and almost smiled. i think i'll give it the "clever but tortured" tag.

6a: Storybook elephant (BABAR). also a major particle physics experiment at SLAC.

14a: 2008 French Open and Wimbledon champ (NADAL). NADAL is great, but i was pretty bummed that he took out roger federer at wimbledon. but it was the greatest tennis match i've ever seen, so there's that consolation.

15a: Hoopster Danny (AINGE). he's now the GM of the boston celtics.

16a: Ex of Mickey, Artie, and Frank (AVA gardner). i don't know who any of those guys are, but i recognize this clue from having seen it in many forms before.

19a: Where to find a father-to-be: Abbr. (SEM). seminary. tricky clue. it seems cruel to combine misdirection with a not-very-common abbreviation on a tuesday.

22a: Caterpillar competitor (DEERE). i guess caterpillar makes farm equipment? or maybe lawnmowers?

24a: 1970 John Wayne film (RIO LOBO). there are at least three RIO ___ john wayne movies. i needed the B to figure the rest of this one out.

27a: ___ Beach, South Carolina (MYRTLE). i've been there, and yet i didn't get this even after i had MYR_L_. why? because i was misreading it as "southern california." duh.

33a: Novartis product (GAS-X). wasn't this one of the central answers in PB2's "big ten" friday puzzle from last october? i liked that one a lot.

35a: "Winter of Artifice" writer (anais NIN). not a work i'm familiar with, but there are only so many ways to clue NIN.

40a: Blah? (YADDA). in the sense that YADDA YADDA YADDA is roughly synonymous with "blah blah blah." this is a stretch, but i guess with the ? it's okay.

46a: Comic strip character who loves Dick (TESS). that's TESS trueheart and dick tracy, but this clue is definitely getting the "sexual innuendo" tag.

57a: "It's ___ real!" (BEEN). i liked this a lot: it's a fun way of cluing a boring word.

66a: Dry (UNWET). yuck.

68a: With 69-Across, Valentine's Day gift (RED/ROSES). don't get me started.

1d: Sportscaster with the catchphrase "Oh, my!" (dick ENBERG). i got this instantly, but is it really a catchphrase? it's so... uncatchy. ENBERG is perfectly inoffensive, but he's not exactly memorable.

2d: Actress Kazan (LAINIE). no relation to director elia. i think.

3d: Like some favorites (ODDS-ON). not sure i've ever seen this fill. it looks like ODD SON in the grid.

5d: Member of the Whiffenpoofs (ELI). the poofs are yale's premier all-male a cappella group. i wish i didn't know that, but i do.

6d: Bug planter's break-in (BAG JOB). i didn't know whether to sort this into "sunny spots" or "suns of bitches," so i split the difference. cool-looking phrase, but i've never heard of it.

9d: The A of A&M (AGR). yuck.

13d: Cross-dressing star of "The Royal Tour" on Broadway (DAME EDNA). the clue says "star," but apparently she's a fictional character. i did not know that.

18d: Prize that Sartre declined (NOBEL). i wonder if sartre gets jealous that his lover NIN is in crosswords so much more often than he is. i mean, she never did anything as cool as declining the NOBEL prize.

25d: About 9.46 trillion km (LTYR). i still hate this answer. the standard way of abbreviating "light-year" is just ly. at the very least, it should get a "Var." tag.

41d: Many people bank on them (ATMS). i've noticed that when the clue refers to the answer using a pronoun ("it" or "them") and contains a figure of speech, it's usually supposed to be interpreted literally rather than figuratively.

45d: His epitaph says "That's all folks" (mel BLANC). the guy who voiced bugs bunny, among thousands of other characters. interesting trivia.

52d: "Annus Mirabilis" poet (john DRYDEN). the "annus mirabilis" is 1666, the year of the great london fire. i'm not sure why they thought that year was so great.

62d: Gibraltar bride of 1969 (yoko ONO). i had no idea. gibraltar? really?

Suns of Bitches:

43a: "American ___" (Benjamin Nugent book) (NERD). i can't imagine a less helpful clue. there's probably a book called american ___ that i've never heard of for any value of ___.

26d: Mrs. ___ of Folgers fame (OLSON). not enough fame, if you ask me, but i've been known not to recognize characters from decades-old commercials. just ask madge, who's soaking in it.

39d: "___ Calling" (short-lived Fox series) (TRU). i had trouble with the T here, because the crossing 39a: Glover's specialty (TAP) wasn't doing me any favors. is that danny glover? gary glover? i'm guessing no, but i don't know who it is.

nice puzzle for a tuesday. it's not one of the PB2 outside-the-box specials, but a well-executed puzzle and an enjoyable solve nonetheless.

joon

Monday, January 19, 2009

2009-01-19T02:01:00.001-05:00

Title: The Last Hurrah
Author: Andrea Carla Michaels
Theme: "Sis Boom Bah" found at the ends of the respective theme entries.

20a: Author of "Word Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabble Players" (STEFAN FATSIS). I have never heard of this person. Now, sure, it's more likely that a crossword puzzle solver will be familiar with an author about words and Scrabble, but please... it's only Monday. This dude gets less than 35,000 Google hits.

36a: Taking decisive punitive action (LOWERING THE BOOM). This is a great phrase. Love it!

50a: Muck-a-muck (GRAND POOH-BAH). Love this one too. Reminds me of "Mr. C." on "Happy Days".

I like the theme concept. My only complaint is that if there are only three theme entries, I'd like to like all three of them. STEFAN FATSIS just doesn't measure up to the other two for me. He's just not a well-known-enough name for a Monday puzzle. He'd be a stretch for a Friday puzzle. I would have preferred RISK ANALYSIS or maybe AUTOHYPNOSIS, or even OSTEOPOROSIS.

Sunny Spots:

17a: Shares one's thoughts? (MIND MELDS). Wonderful! Star Trek geekiness and clever cluing combine for a real gem here.

47a: Little squirt (SPRITZ). Great word, great clue.

4d: Ex-lover (OLD FLAME). Excellent fill.

Sundries:

14a: Jannings of "The Blue Angel" (EMIL). Didn't know this, but it wasn't hard to figure.

27a: Macabre cartoonist Charles (ADDAMS). Inspiration for "The Addams Family".

30a: It's a wrap (SARI).

34a: It's a wrap (SARAN).

41a: "___ Irish Rose" (ABIE'S). There was a time when I would have had no clue what this was. But it's been in enough crossword puzzles that it's second nature now.

42a: Basketball court part (LANE).

49a: Mountain capper (SNOW). I live in New Hampshire, and let me tell you it caps more than just mountain tops.

64a: "Let Us Now Praise Famous Men" writer (AGEE). This is ERIE-rule for me. Writer in four letters starting with A? AGEE.

3d: Wine's partner (DINE).

9d: Like a nose that resembles an eagle's beak (AQUILINE).

21d: "SNL" role for Tina (SARAH). That's Tina Fey and Sarah Palin, for those who might have been living under a rock for the past year. I'd tell you which is which, but I'm afraid I'd get it wrong. :)

25d: Power of Hollywood (TYRONE).

28d: Genre of "Under the Boardwalk" (DOO-WOP).

29d: Buzzkill (DOWNER).

37d: Ramshackle structures (RAT TRAPS).

38d: Island in the western Mediterranean (IBIZA).

56d: Cold-cocked (K.O.'D).

Suns of Bitches:
None to speak of. Well, except for Stefan Fatsis.

Despite this puzzle's bout with stefanfatsisitis, I really enjoyed it.

Thanks for listening.

- Pete M.

Friday, January 16, 2009

2009-01-16T02:01:00.006-05:00

Title: Weekend Warrior
Author: Barry C. Silk
Theme: None

Sunny Spots:

1a: Leaving while the iron is hot? (FIRE HAZARD). Nice fill, nice clue. Of course, many irons today have auto-shut-offs, as do some coffee makers.

15a: Highly flawed plan (ROTTEN IDEA). Excellent.

60a: Chinese dumpling (POT STICKER). Yummy. And much more well-known to me than, say, a GYOZA.

Sundries:

11a: Butters? (RAMS). Those who butt. Ick. Would have prefered a "South Park" clue.

18a: Forest Whitaker's role in "The Crying Game" (JODY). I remember certain key elements of this movie, but not the character names.

19a: It's often passed in silence (GAS). Wow, a fart clue! I think that deserves its own tag.

25a: Ricky Ricardo's signature song (BABALU).

27a: Make up? (ELATE). Okay, that's pushing it a little.

32a: Hansen's disease victims (LEPERS). I've seen this here before, I think... yep, September 8, 2008.

34a: Seafood delicacy (SHAD ROE).

49a: Like pigs' feet (BRINED). Ewww.

53a: Brushback pitch (DUSTER). I always assumed a DUSTER was a pitch that not only brushed the batter back, but caused him to hit the ground trying to get out of the way, such that he had to dust himself off afterwards. Maybe that's how it started and it has developed to apply to any brushback. After all, baseball players and announcers aren't always the best stewards of the English language. But anyway, not too long now before spring training starts up. Man, I can't wait! DUSTER is also an old car by Plymouth.

63a: It's an indeterminate form when raised to itself (ZERO). Any non-zero number raised to the 0th power is 1. So, should 0 to the 0th be 1 also? Or should it be 0? Well, it's neither. Or both. Don't ask.

64a: 1976 Best Actress nominee (TALIA SHIRE). For "Rocky", I assume.

66a: Animated film of 2006 (OPEN SEASON).

1d: Michigan J. ___ (mascot of the WB) (FROG). Really? Who knew?

2d: The Gaels of collegiate sports (IONA). Ditto.

7d: Autoharp, e.g. (ZITHER).

10d: It has 18° sectors (DARTBOARD). 360 / 18 = 20 sectors. Yep, dartboard works.

12d: Landmark seen in the opening credits of "Hawaii Five-O" (ALOHA TOWER). I didn't know this off-hand, but it wasn't hard to figure. If you want to see the reference go here. It's at about the 13 second mark.

13d: Global hot spot (MIDDLE EAST).

21d: Qualcomm Stadium setting (SAN DIEGO) and 43d: Headquarters for Amazon.com (SEATTLE) give this puzzle a Western vibe.

28d: "How Do I Live" singer (LEANN RIMES). Why do I always want to spell RIMES with a Y? Even when it crossed LYZ, I wasn't 100% sure it was wrong.

29d: Introductory courses? (APPETIZERS). It's a weekend warrior, lose the question mark on this one.

31d: Oldies syllable (SHA). Kind of weak, especially when you also have 62d: When doubled, a ballroom dance (CHA).

45d: Lagniappe (TIP). As in a gratuiuty.

56d: Son of Eliel (EERO). I missed ELIEL in a puzzle in last year's ACPT, but it wasn't clued in reference to EERO Saarinen.

59d: Tic-tac-toe loser (XOO). Luckily I had the _OO when I saw this clue, so there were no guesses to be made.

Suns of Bitches:

38a: Graynor of "Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist" (ARI). Didn't know it. Never saw it (the clue or the movie). She apparently plays neither Nick nor Norah, so I'm not sure how famous that makes her.

52a: Romance novelist Carlyle (LIZ).

Not as hard as WWs have been lately, it seems. But no major complaints.

Thanks for listening.

- Pete M.

Thursday, January 15th 2009

2009-01-15T02:01:00.003-05:00

Title: Size Matters
Author: Matt Ginsberg
Theme: You're going to have print this out, kids. Across Lite won't work because we've got enlarged squares, one TALL, one WIDE, and one BIG. We've also got more than one letter per square and I'm not going to go into the whole rebus vs. Cramalot thing because even though I know I'm right I also know I'm in the minority. Anyway, your themed entries are:

33A: Major (BIGTIME)
35A: Hits the jackpot (WINS BIG)

5D: Important guy, in slang (MISTER BIG) Not modern slang, mind you, but very hep in the 1930s.

And my favorite (because the B-I-G does not refer to size): 33D: Bunker, for example (BIGOT)

On to the TALLs:

28A: They often have tiled floors (SHOWER STALLS)

30D: Scored (TALLIED)

And the WIDEs:

55A: Weblike? (WORLDWIDE)

57D: Harvard library (WIDENER)

57D: Far apart, as eyes (WIDESET)

To put the newest denizen of the dictionary to work -- meh. I was underwhelmed by the theme, which seemed familiar and pretty easy to fill in once you knew how it worked. There was some interesting fill however, and as I'm pressed for time this week, what say we hit the highlights and call it a day?

1A: Abnormal contraction (SPASM) I was thinking something like "Dasn't" (for "Dares not") or somesuch. Different kind of contraction.

49A: "Beautiful Girls" director Demme (TED) I thought this movie -- one of my favorites -- was going to appear in last Thursday's puzzle, but it turned out to be "Drugstore Cowboy" instead, so it was interesting to see it show up this week.

4D: Tahini ingredient (SESAME) And tahini in turn is an ingredient in hummus, which I am enjoying right now. Hope I don't get any on your computer screen.

7D: Exemplar of strength (OAK) Had the first letter and couldn't get it. My mind didn't want to let go of OX, even though that word is obviously not tall enough to go here.

26D: Actress Durance (ERICA) The lovely young lady who plays Lois Lane on "Smallvile"

No SoB's this week. Once you got the theme, it was pretty easy.

See you next Thursday.

Norrin

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

2009-01-14T02:01:00.008-05:00

Title: Game Points
Author: Peter J. Wentz
Theme: See below

17a: With 28-, 45-, and 62-Across, 62-Down (THE AVERAGE).

28a: See 17-Across (SCRABBLE SCORE OF).

45a: See 17-Across (ALL THE LETTERS IN).

62a: See 17-Across (THIS PUZZLE).

62d: See 17-Across (TWO).

This is one of those puzzles that is cool and/or a pain in the ass for a constructor to put together, but which doesn't translate to an increased enjoyment for the solver. From a solver's perspective, this is essentially a quote puzzle with a really boring quote. It's neither amusing nor profound. And let me ask you this: How many of you double-checked the math to see if the statement was actually true? I tend to be pretty anal about such things, and I know I didn't bother. Why? Because who cares, that's why. The average scrabble score of all the letters in the puzzle? Why is that interesting? I'm sure it was tough as hell to do, but the bang wasn't worth the buck if you ask me (and since you're reading this blog, that's exactly what you're asking).

So, let's take a look at the rest and see if this puzzle was salvageable, shall we?

The Rest:

4a: Luxury Hyundai sedans (AZERAS). This one might give the Olds ALERO a run for its money in the future.

15a: Gross parts (DOZENS). A gross is 144, or a dozen dozens. Good clue.

16a: Sarah Palin hairstyle (UPDO) goes well with 23a: Jheri curl alternative (AFRO). Add in 53a: Short cut (SNIP) and 54a: Stropped thing (RAZOR) and you've got a real salon mini-theme going.

19a: Homer gait (TROT). Baseball, not Simpsons. If Homer hit a homer, he would probably WADDLE. TROT Nixon, on the other hand, would SPRINT. And while we're on baseball, congratulations to Jim Rice for finally making it into the Hall of Fame! I'm guessing he doesn't read this blog, but you never know.

25a: Like e (REAL). It's math -- natural logarithm stuff. I'm not going into it here.

27a: Disorderly place (ZOO). Guessed STY at first, but I like this better.

32a: Short lines at the supermarket? (UPC). Clever clue.

35a: Artistic, unconventional community (BOHEMIA).

38a: "Sleuth" costar (JUDE LAW).

42a: O, e.g. (MAG). The Oprah magazine, I think. Or is that called Oprah and this is something different?

51a: Wether report? (BAA). A wether is a (usually castrated) male sheep. Very clever clue, but ouch!

52a: "ER" costar of Noah and Julianna (ERIQ). Please, Mr. LaSalle... star in something else soon!

64a: Designed with a projecting part for fitting into a corresponding recessed part (MALE). Like a plug.

67a: "Survey ___ ..." (SAYS). From "Family Feud".

3d: Person in a position of authority (HIERARCH). Unusual to see this form of the word, but easy enough to figure.

6d: Better Than ___ (band with the 1995 hit album "Deluxe") (EZRA).

8d: Catches some rays, perhaps (ANGLES). Do people fish for rays?

10d: London, e.g.: Abbr. (AUTH). I assume we're talking Jack London, the AUTHOR, here.

11d: Spaceflight award won in 2004 (X PRIZE).

24d: Accommodating person (OBLIGER). Yucky -ER word.

31d: Mentaiko's main ingredient (ROE).

37d: "Be More Cynical" comic (MAHER).

43d: Give in return (REQUITE).

45d: "Star Trek" director J.J. (ABRAMS).

50d: Simply Socials maker (RITZ).

55d: Lugs (OXES). Noun, not verb.

Suns of Bitches:

61a: Val's younger daughter in the comic strip "Stone Soup" (ALIX). Never heard of her, and don't ever recall seeing this spelling. But I like it's similarity to AXIL (10a: Space between a leaf and its supporting stem).

5d: Barrette-sporting Muppet (ZOE). I can name an awful lot of muppets, but I didn't know this one.

39d: Province in Italy's Liguria region (LA SPEZIA). Didn't know it.

46d: Playmate of Po (LAA-LAA). I had no idea. My kids were too old for the Teletubbies when they came out. Thank God.

Overall, this puzzle actually felt about right for a Wednesday. As noted, I wasn't overwhelmed by the theme, but it didn't hamper my enjoyment much. Even the hard ones weren't that hard to figure.

Thanks for listening.

- Pete M.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

2009-01-13T02:00:00.009-05:00

Title: The Oys of Yiddish
Author: Ogden Porter (Peter Gordon)
Theme: Wordplay theme in which a word gets an initial S changed to SCH phonetically, sometimes with a spelling change

17a: Slovenly hitters? (BATTING SCHLUMPS). i don't think i'm familiar with the word SCHLUMP, although at least it looks like what it sounds like. no "toches" here.

35a: Set of ads for cream cheese? (SCHMEAR CAMPAIGN).

58a: Carried? (SCHLEPPED AROUND). that does it—i'm adding the sexual innuendo tag. its time has come.

okay, the theme was fine. with a wordplay puzzle with only three theme answers, you can often nitpick about consistency; why does the modified word come first in only two of the three answers? why is there a spelling change in only one answer? etc. but i won't. still, it did seem odd that SCHLEPPED AROUND seems like an actual phrase that somebody might say. in fact, it seems like something i've said.

Sunny Spots:

16a: Frisbee maker (WHAM-O). i miss college.

42a: "None for me, thanks" ("I'M GOOD"). oh, he's pretty good all right.

38d: It's big in a May-December relationship (AGE GAP). my first thought: SUMMER?

Sundries:

1a: Make sound (MEND). tough clue right off the bat. this puzzle wasn't as much of a killer as last tuesday's, but it still took me a good long while, slightly longer than most wednesdays. i like this clue, though. even after i had MEN_ i couldn't figure it out.

14a: ___ Fun Barbie (1997 doll) (OREO). okay, that's a new OREO clue for me. really? OREO fun barbie?

20a: Subsidiary of Hallmark (CRAYOLA). so that you can send greeting cards in crayon.

22a: Body of water enclosed by an atoll (LAGOON). this word always reminds me of the scene in a buffy episode from season 2 where willow compares a fish-like monster to the "creature from the blue lagoon." xander corrects her, pointing out, "black lagoon. the creature from the blue lagoon was brooke shields."

31a: Wide receiver Welker (WES). did somebody say scrappy?

68a: ___ Star (brand of beer) (LONE). i'm sure it is. luckily, LONE star is also lots of other things, including a big old state in the south.

3d: Make after expenses (NET). i find it clever that this is next to 4d: Online biz (DOT COM), even though peter gordon doesn't like to cross-reference clues if he can help it.

11d: Lincoln's first vice president (hannibal HAMLIN). this guy was just in a theme clue for last thursday's NYT puzzle. i think he hails from paris, maine.

34d: "My Two ___" (Paul Reiser sitcom) (DADS). would you believe i also know this from the NYT crossword puzzle? months ago, greg EVIGAN (the other DAD of the title) was the answer to a clue, i think in a tuesday puzzle.

40d: With 36-Down, source of great wealth (GOLD/MINE). i wanted this to be CASH/COW, but GOLD MINE is a nice expression too.

46d: Two-time Wimbledon winner Gibson (ALTHEA). first black woman to win wimbledon, i think. but she wasn't the addressee of richard lovelace's poem "to ALTHEA from prison," which contains the lines "Stone walls do not a prison make / Nor iron bars a cage."

57d: Score after six faults and four aces to start a match (AD IN). and also, the player returning serve is probably really bored by now. i bet ALTHEA gibson didn't serve like that.

59d: Two-fifteenths of CCCXC (LII). i did this one by estimation since i already had _II from crosses when i read the clue. one fifteenth of 300 is 20, so this one is somewhat more than 40. in this case, 2/15 of 390 is 52.

Suns of Bitches:

23d: Secret agent Leamas in "The Spy Who Came In From the Cold" (ALEC). ha. not happening.

60d: One million chiliads (EON). chiliads, you say? apparently this is an old (and fancy!) word for 1000 years. that's the thing about peter gordon—he's so obsessed with new clues for common words that you end up with obscurity like this in the same puzzle as clues such as 10d: Day after Wed. and 12d: ___ State Building (Manhattan skyscraper). i gotta say, it's a bit jarring.

other than the clue difficulty going all over the map, this was a pretty enjoyable puzzle. see you next time.

joon

Monday, January 12, 2009

2009-01-12T02:01:00.000-05:00

Title: Skip It
Author: Patrick Blindauer and Tony Orbach
Theme: ROPE can be find "skipping" through the theme entries (i.e. alternating letters).

20a: It may power a nail gun (AIR COMPRESSOR). Have you seen "No Country for Old Men"? If you have, you'll know why I'm asking.

32a: Costume dramas, e.g. (PERIOD PIECES).

41a: Ornament symbolizing abundance (HORN OF PLENTY). Also know as the cornucopia, which is one of my favorite words.

57a: "Hi Infidelity" band (REO SPEEDWAGON). I am embarrassed to have contributed to this album's being one of the top sellers of its time. If I could "un-buy" it, believe me I would.

63a: Skipped thing (and a hint to 20-, 32-, 41-, and 57-Across) (ROPE).

Due to the facts that:
a) This puzzle has two authors; and
b) One of them is Patrick Blindauer
I'm going to start my commentary with a caveat. Assuming there's not more to the theme than I am currently seeing, I find this theme both a bit underwhelming and a bit strange for a Monday. Monday themes are usually pretty straight-ahead and obvious. In this case, I finished the puzzle with no idea what linked the theme entries. It took a while to notice the alternating letters -- you have to admit it's pretty subtle. I'm willing to bet there's a lot of people heading to the blogs to find out what they missed. As noted, I'm not 100% comfortable that there's not more to it. But even if there is (or maybe especially if), it doesn't feel like a Monday theme to me.

On the bright side, I loved all the theme entries.

Sunny Spots:

5d: Eatery that sells steamers (CLAM BAR). Mmmmm.

38d: Benefit obtained without cost (FREE RIDE).

44d: Pesky folks (NOODGES).

Sundries:

1a: Redondilla rhyme scheme (ABBA). I would have expected a "Mama Mia" reference. Redondilla? On a Monday? Of course, you know it's going to start with A -- all rhyme schemes do.

16a: Pitcher Ryan with a record 5,714 strikeouts (NOLAN). Pitcher Ryan would have been enough.

24a: Wind often made from granadilla wood (OBOE). What is this, the "All -dilla" puzzle?

36a: Michelle, to Barack Obama (WIFE). I was expecting some sort of pet name. Somehow I doubt he calls, "Hey, wife!". He'd have some visible bruises.

39a: Cheer leader? (SIS). "Sis boom bah!"

51a: Deem appropriate (SEE FIT).

55a: Stripe (ILK). Nice clue. Tricky for early week.

66a: Apple thrower in "The Wizard of Oz" (TREE). Very nice way to clue a common word. You'll have to skip ahead to about 8:15 in the following clip to get the scene in question.

67a: Noodle concoctions? (IDEAS).

6d: Safari sighting, for short (HIPPO). Guessed RHINO at first, but it didn't last long.

7d: "When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie" emotion (AMORE). This song was in my head already, from a recent FAZOOL reference (Friday NYT, I believe).

10d: Cardinal or canary, e.g. (COLOR). Cardinal red and canary yellow.

12d: Loch Lomond locks topper (TAM). Alliteration and consonance.

26d: Paas products (DYES).

30d: Dept. store inventory (MDSE). Merchandise.

34d: Skillet seasoner (OIL). Oik seasons the skillet itself, not the food being cooked in it.

35d: "The Celts" singer (ENYA). ERIE rule.

45d: Increase in friendliness (THAW).

49d: Hardships (RIGORS). Good word.

50d: Running mate? (ELOPER). ELOPE and its derivatives produce some of the most clever clues in crosswords. This is a good example.

52d: "The Most Happy ___" (Frank Loesser musical) (FELLA).

53d: Consider carefully (WEIGH).

58d: Christening spot (PROW). Christening a boat.

61d: Was down with (HAD). I'm not sure I get this. I thought being "down with" something was being okay with it. Oh wait! We're talking illness here, aren't we. Like I was down with the flu. Okay, I'm down with that.

Suns of Bitches:

28a: Japanese dumpling (GYOZA). I eat a lot of different foods in a lot of different styles, but I've never heard of a GYOZA. They look awesome, though. It is Monday, right?

9d: Pueblo Indian ancestors (ANASAZI). Ditto. Except for the eating and delicious parts.

Thanks for listening.

- Pete M.

Friday, January 9, 2009

2009-01-09T02:01:00.008-05:00

Title: Weekend Warrior
Author: Byron Walden
Theme: None

I broke this puzzle open in the southwest, worked my way east, and then stared at a half-completed puzzle for what seemed like ages. I just couldn't break into the top half at all, even after getting DUCAT and CECI. Finally, CHAKRA popped into my head, but it was like pulling teeth to finally nail it all down. No need to break these out into categories... it was all tough and all pretty cool.

1a: Trapper Keeper maker (MEAD). This was not helpful at all, as I had no idea what a Trapper Keeper was. Funny thing, last night watching TV I saw an ad for Trapper Keepers. Weird.

5a: Adventuresome preteen originally voiced by Tim Matheson (JONNY QUEST). Took too long to figure this one out. And I didn't realize, or remember, that there was no H in JONNY.

15a: "Quantum of Solace" Bond girl actress Kurylenko (OLGA). Haven't seen it yet. It's on my list. But I'll tell you what I have seen lately that's worth going to. "Slumdog Millionaire". Check it out if you get the chance.

16a: Crank call? (ARE YOU NUTS).

17a: His ravens represent thought and memory (ODIN). I never realized Odin had ravens. Apparently, they're named Hugin and Munin. I should read more about Norse mythology.

18a: Sam Rayburn sobriquet (MR DEMOCRAT). I suppose I'm supposed to know this, but I didn't.

19a: Word often said with grace and love (NOTE). Grace notes are musical embellishments. You know what love notes are.

20a: Respond to soft soap, maybe (MELT). Soft soap is flattery intended to gain favor.

22a: Model T time (BRASS ERA). The age of early automobiles.

24a: Yogi's energy center (CHAKRA).

25a: Get some duck down? (EAT). This one's pushing it a bit.

26a: Chillingworth's wife (PRYNNE). From "The Scarlet Letter".

29a: Dig a lot (ADORE).

31a: Coin for Shylock (DUCAT).

33a: President of Bolivia since 2006 (MORALES). How cool would an Esai clue have been? I readily admit I don't keep up on my foreign dignitaries.

36a: Risk territory (SIBERIA). My first instinct was YAKUTSK or IRKUTSK, both of which fit and, coincidentally, both of which border SIBERIA in the game. My next thought was SILESIA, but that was Diplomacy, not Risk.

40a: Neige color (BLANC). Neige is snow, in French.

42a: Difficult burden (CROSS). One's cross to bear.

43a: Run through (STAB). I got this right away, but it doesn't feel exact to me. Stabbing doesn't imply (to me) that the weapon comes through the other side. One stabs with a knife, but runs through with a sword or spear. It all reminds me of Aragorn fighting orcs in "The Lord of the Rings".

52a: It often makes a big splash (LOG FLUME). Nice one.

54a: Former princesa, maybe (REINA). Spanish for queen.

56a: Advance man? (SEER). Groan.

57a: Prego ad slogan (IT'S IN THERE). I remember these ads, but I couldn't have told you they were for Prego.

60a: Pop band? (THE STOOGES). Iggy Pop, that is. This one I knew.

62a: Roshis (ZEN MASTERS).

63a: "The ___ Wife" (1980 Reginald Hill mystery) (SPY'S).

1d: Romantic reflection (MOONBEAM).

2d: 1967 John Wayne film (EL DORADO). I went with "True Grit" at first, which didn't help me any in this section. "True Grit" was 1969.

3d: Incendiary (AGITATOR).

4d: Many residents of the Faeroe Islands (DANES).

5d: Transmission blocker (JAMMER).

6d: Rotating model (ORRERY). This is a model of the sun and planets.

7d: Harpooner on the Nautilus (NEDLAND). No clue.

8d: Duma nix (NYET). My lone start in the northeast section.

9d: Shul day (YOM).

10d: "___ the Maven" (William Safire anthology) (QUOTH).

11d: It begins "We the peoples" (U.N. CHARTER).

12d: With 41-Down, Illinois setting of the Ronald Reagan Museum (EUREKA / COLLEGE). This didn't even sound familiar to me.

13d: Some people find them hard to take (STAIRS). Tough clue.

14d: Sandal style (T-STRAP).

23d: Period (SPELL). Another really tough clue. Took me quite a spell to figure it out.

24d: This, in Magritte's "The Treachery of Images" (CECI).

30d: Yeshiva study (RABBINISM).

35d: Show with an inaccurate title for Western U.S. viewers (SNL). I'm assuming this is because it runs on tape delay in the west, rather than running live at 8:30pm.

37d: 1954 Robert Taylor thriller (ROGUE COP). If you say so.

38d: Distance-preserving transformation, as the rotation of a plane (ISOMETRY).

43d: Binaca blast (SPRITZ). Did you know Binaca was flammable? Spritz some through a lighter sometime; it's pretty impressive!

44d: Become incisive? (TEETHE). Ouch.

51d: Pole star? (SANTA). STRIPPER didn't fit.

53d: Initial hurdles for those who want to join the Supremes? (LSATS). Groan.

55d: Boilermaker part (SHOT). Booze tag!

This was one of the tougher WWs in a while, which is to be expected when you see Byron Walden's name at the top. Usually, I'm more on his wavelength. There were several clues in this puzzle where that was the case, but overall it was a struggle to finish. And yet, there's nowhere in the puzzle that I can point to that I would consider unfair. That's what makes this a great Weekend Warrior.

Thanks for listening.

- Pete M.

Thursday, January 8th, 2009

2009-01-08T02:01:00.005-05:00

Title: Themeless Thursday
Author: Mike Nothnagel
Theme: None

When I first got interested in crosswords Mike Nothnagel was one of the first constructors whose name I learned to look for. His puzzles were always great -- tough but doable. Or maybe I was just on his wavelength. Whatever the reason I still get a smile of anticipation when I see his byline.

Sunny Spots:
41A: Ones who have too many white belts (WINOS) Recently on Brendan Emmett Quigley's blog, he was talking about how much he hates puns, and I don't think he's alone. A lot of solvers and constructors don't like them even though they are an integral part of crosswords. I love 'em, thye more groanworthy the better. This one gave me a laugh because of course I was thinking of either a 60's go-go girl or a beginning karate class.

15D: "How many of each animal did Moses take on the ark?" is one (TRICK QUESTION) It's a trick question of course because Moses didn't build an ark, Noah did. But it's still a tricky (if not trick) question when you use Noah himself. Despite what they may have taught you in Sunday School, Noah since he took two of every unclean animal and seven of every clean animal. The Bible does not explain how to tell the difference, and I'm guessing by the end of a 40-day ark ride, all the animals -- not to mention Noah and his family -- were all pretty unclean.

(Now that I think about it, though, Moses did have an ark -- the Ark of the Covenant. But you couldn't put animals in it. It was covered in pure gold, and besides it was only two two cubits long.)

52A: Colorado Avalanche, formerly (QUEBEC NORDIQUES) A perfect example of why I like Mike Nothnagel. I know next to diddly squat about hockey, certainly not where the Colorado team used to play, but once I get a few letters filled in, my brain pulls something from a dusty back corner. I have seen the name Quebec Nordiques before. Where I do not know. Nor do I know what a Nordique is, but I don't have to know what it means, do I? just how to spell it. But, judging from their logo, a Nordique is some kind of headless elephant.

Suns of Bitches:

8D: Centerpiece of a successful line (TAC) I know without a doubt that there's something simple I'm missing here and I'll be embarrassed when someone explains it, but I don't get this.

36A: 1978 role for Richard Pryor, with "The" (WIZ) Not reallly an SOB, I don't guess, but I did miss it. Three-letter Richard Pryor movie must be The TOY and that's what I put down. Speaking of missed movies, I didn't fill it in (mainly because it didn't have enough letters, but my first thought when I saw 16A: 1989 Matt Dillon Film was BEAUTIFUL GIRLS not DRUGSTORE COWBOY. I haven't seen "Drugstore Cowboy" or "The Wiz", but "Beautiful Girls" is a great movie. ("The Toy" not so much.)

Sundries:

1A: Crusty entrée (POTPIE).

7a: Seat of the Bishop of London (STPAULS).

14a: Sources of ornamental feathers (EGRETS).

15a: Pendant shape (TEARDROP).

18a: Academic year div. (SEM).

19a: Cross of "Arrested Development" (DAVID). I didn't discover this show until after it was off the air (Thanks, Hulu!) but it's hilarious. Supposedly they're making a movie. David Cross played psychiatrist slash actor slash Blue Man Group member Tobias Funke.

20a: Becomes legally guaranteed (VESTS).

21a: Pertaining to light (PHOTIC).

23a: Thou (GEE).

24a: Courage (SPINE).

25a: Literally, "divine wind" (KAMIKAZE).

30a: Sham (FALSE).

31a: Sit on one's haunches (SQUAT).

32a: Lay down the lawn? (SOD). Another pun, and a good one.

33a: Sounds of light bulbs going on? (AHAS).

34a: Slow down the growth of (STUNT).

35a: Sister company of Louis Vuitton (DKNY).

37a: Mattress cover (SHEET).

38a: Apportions (METES).

39a: Kings and others (NBATEAMS). Could have been NHL TEAMS too. In fact I think I had that at first when I thought 24d: Indian term of respect (SAHIB) might be RAJAH.

42a: Like some coll. courses (REQ).

43a: Hooks up with (TIESTO).

45a: Newsman who wrote "Flashbacks: On Returning to Vietnam" (SAFER).

48a: Racing form data (SIRES).

49a: Three-time award for A-Rod (MVP).

55a: "Wheel of Fortune" bonus (FREESPIN).

56a: Gives a seat to (ELECTS).

57a: Lectures (TALKSAT).

58a: Dog (REDHOT).

1d: Those hoofing it, for short (PEDS).

2d: Damsel maltreater (OGRE). I wouldn't put it past an ogre to mistreat a damsel, even though that's usually a dragon's job.

3d: Atlantic City landmark since 1984 (TRUMPPLAZA).

4d: Brit's clothespin (PEG).

5d: Finish line (ITSDONE).

6d: Word with tax or sale (ESTATE).

7d: "Space ___" ("Star Trek" episode featuring Khan) (SEED).

9d: "I don't believe you" follower (PROVEIT).

10d: Madison Avenue trade journal (ADWEEK).

11d: Sticks' antitheses (URBS).

12d: Proceeds from a smashing success? (LOOT).

13d: 1974 spoof with the tagline "Would you buy a used secret from these men?" (SPYS). Starred Elliot Gould and Donald Sutherland -- both fresh off the movie "M*A*S*H" -- but this film was not nearly as successful. Maybe they should have spelled it "S*P*Y*S."

17d: Prefix with sac (OVI).

22d: Sound of disapproval (HISS).

23d: Wharton applicant's exam: Abbr. (GMAT).

26d: Clara on "Bewitched," for one (AUNT). Clara on "Bewitched" for one (AUNT) This one just jumped out at me. Isn't it odd how so much of the bad television you watched as a kid stays with you forever?

27d: Push it, in a way (ASKTOOMUCH).

28d: Regions (ZONES).

29d: Maker of Mint Karaoke Cookie ice cream (EDYS). I don't eat much ice cream -- or sweets at all. I have no idea what a karaoke cookie is.

30d: Hall of fame (FAWN). Fawn Hall was secretary to Colonel Oliver North, who evidently kept her busy shredding evidence.

31d: Originate (STEM).

34d: ___ Fu (1994 fighting video game) (SHAQ).

35d: Bit of progress (DENT).

37d: Divine miss? (SEERESS).

38d: Silo contents (MISSILE).

40d: Frequent Ferrell "SNL" role (TREBEK).

41d: Gardening tool (WEEDER).

44d: Like seconds: Abbr. (IRR).

45d: House painter's meas. (SQFT).

46d: Vibe (AURA).

47d: Vibe (FEEL).

48d: Foul mood (SNIT).

50d: Bill kill (VETO).

51d: "Over here!" (PSST).

53d: One for the books? (CPA).

54d: Calculus class letters (QED). Never got to calculus class. Does it mean "quod erat demonstrandum" there too?

Have a nice Thursday. Norrin.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

2009-01-07T02:01:00.010-05:00

Title: Georgia On My Mind
Author: Randall J. Hartman
Theme: Phrases with GA added

17a: Trip to Libreville? (GABON VOYAGE). Libreville is the capital and largest city, which makes it fair game.

27a: Din when enjoying a cigarette? (SMOKING GUNGA). This clue doesn't work for me at all. "Gunga Din" is the name of a poem. You can't just break it in half and treat each half as a synonym of the other. Well... you can, but I don't have to like it.

48a: LSD that's out of this world? (GALACTIC ACID). Drug reference tag.

64a: Boost actress Sonia? (PUSH-UP BRAGA). Unsurprisingly, my favorite clue of the bunch. At first I couldn't decide whether to grab a picture of Sonia or of a push-up bra. Turns out I didn't have to choose at all.

I like the theme idea, and most of the theme entries are fine. This is the type of theme that helps a little, in that you know a couple of letters that are going to appear. And sometimes you can suss out an answer if your brain is on the same wavelength. But it doesn't give too much away, which is good.

Sunny Spots:

15a: Like some professors' wardrobes (TWEEDY). As easy as this was - my only other thought was STODGY - I really like this word.

22d: Blue screen character (SMURF). Very nice clue!

Sundries:

1a: Harridans (HAGS). I'm pretty sure I've seen harridan in puzzles before, but I didn't know what it was right away.

22a: "Lady" group (STYX). I didn't even see this clue.

23a: Clown employers (RODEOS). Nice clue. Rodeo clowns are those crazy dudes who distract the bull so the rider can get the hell out of there without being trampled on. I know; I have cable.

32a: Show featuring hair and fiber expert Nick Stokes (CSI). The name was useless to me, but what other show would feature a hair and fiber expert?

35a: Crustacean eater (IBIS). Interesting clue for this one. Not at all my first instinct, but perfectly accurate.

36a: Object of an extended quest (GRAIL).

37a: "Oy gevalt!" (OH NO). Yeah, you don't hear "oy gevalt" much up in this neck of the woods.

57a: Comic strip written by Jerry Scott and illustrated by Jim Borgman (ZITS). I had no idea who wrote or illustrated this strip. But I've seen it, so once the Z was in place it was a gimme.

62a: First name in swashbuckling (ERROL). Flynn, of course.

63a: "I'm impressed!" (OOH). 66a: Come up short (OWE). I'm vaguely amused by this duo being side by side.

70a: Codger (GEEZER). Both excellent words.

71a: Thankful closing? (NESS). I misread this clue and went with LESS (as in THANKLESS), which made 51d DARREL instead of DARREN, but it looked okay to me. Those are the tough errors to find.

1d: "The Red Rocker" Sammy (HAGAR). I was pretty sure it wasn't Sammy Davis (Jr.)

2d: Poplar tree (ALAMO). Went with ASPEN at first, as I expect we were supposed to. Did I know that alamo was a kind of tree? Maybe somewhere in the dark recesses, but it didn't leap out.

4d: Calculi (STONES). As a math major, I remember that calculus means stone - I think it may harken back to the abacus, but I could be wrong and I'm too lazy to double-check - so this wasn't too hard. I would have preferred a more brash clue like chutzpah or cajones, though.

5d: "Buzzin'" network (MTV). I can't remember the last time I watched anything on MTV. Remember when they actually ran music videos?

6d: "The ___ Adventure" (1984 TV movie) (EWOK). Never saw it. The Ewoks were, in my opinion, the lowlight of the entire first trilogy. Luckily for them, the prequel trilogy came out to provide plenty of lowlight competition. Next to Jar Jar Binks, the Ewoks look mighty fine.

10d: Change your locks? (DYE). I wasn't fooled on this one for even a second.

11d: Cocktail with scotch and Drambuie (RUSTY NAIL). Booze tag! I've heard of this coctail, but never had one. Scotch should be single malt and unadulterated except for a splash of pure water.

18d: Rich girl in "90210" (NAOMI). Never watched it, but I had the _AOM_ before I saw the clue, so it was a pretty easy guess.

24d: Jerks (SOBS). I'm assuming this is S.O.B.s, as in sons of bitches, as I can't think of a context in which sobbing and jerking are the same.

29d: Oldest brother in Hanson (ISAAC). No clue, but again the double-A made it pretty clear.

30d: Arizona county that borders Maricopa (GILA). My first instincts were MESA and TAOS, but GILA was a close third.

31d: Film composer North who was nominated for 15 Oscars (ALEX). Didn't know it, but never saw the clue until it was all filled in.

32d: Where whips can be seen: Abbr. (CONG). In congress, the majority and minority whips are the disciplinarians of their party.

33d: Dan Uggla hit the last home run there (SHEA). Never forget that this is a New York-based puzzle.

34d: Flustered (IN A LATHER).

41d: Place "it's fun to stay at," according to song (YMCA). This is a Monday clue for a Wednesday puzzle.

44d: Paleon., e.g. (SCI). Ick. SCI always feels like it's going to be a decent fill when you're making a grid, but its clues tend to be really ugly, like this one.

46d: Record marking (SIDE B). Never saw this clue either.

50d: Real (IN ESSE). Latin that shows up enough to remember.

51d: Running back McFadden (DARREN). Had DARREL, due to my above-mentioned misread of 71a.

55d: "Animal House" party wear (TOGAS). My first-ever R-rated film. It still holds a special place in my memories.

58d: Big Ten wrestling powerhouse (IOWA). If you say so. Still, I got it right away.

60d: Cheez ___ (WHIZ). Almost worthy of a potty humor tag, but not quite.

61d: Pull some strings? (TUNE). Cute.

64d: Breed sometimes crossed with a beagle (PUG). What breed isn't sometimes crossed with a beagle? Granted, some combinations are harder to envision that others, but love works in strange ways.

Suns of Bitches:

21a: Boutros's successor at the U.N. (KOFI) crossing 7d: Singer with the Grammy-winning R&B album "Because of You" (NEYO) is just mean. Even if you know one or both, crossing KOFI and NEYO at a vowel should give you pause. Throw in 5a: Knit (MENDED), which could just as easily have been MELDED and you've got yourself a pretty nasty section for a Wednesday puzzle.

Except for the KOFI/NEYO/ME(L|N)DED sector and the GUNGA DIN theme entry, no major complaints.

Thanks for listening.

- Pete M.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

2009-01-06T02:00:00.001-05:00

Title: Turnabout is Vowel Play
Author: Kelsey Blakeley
Theme: Phrases which contain each of the five vowels exactly once, in reverse order

18a: Inventive (FULL OF IDEAS). nice. "inventive" also goes well with the adjacent 17a: Twist the truth (LIE).

24a: Western's opposite (UNOCCIDENTAL). very awkward. what about SUBCONTINENTAL? i guess it's 14, but it's a totally legit word. the only other single english word that fits this theme, according to my word list, is UNCOMPLIMENTARY. that's a nice one, too, and exactly 15 squares long to boot.

39a: Anglican Communion province (CHURCH OF IRELAND). i wasn't familiar with this per se (the church of england is much, much more famous), but it wasn't hard to suss out.

53a: French delicacy (DUCK FOIE GRAS). i've had foie gras from a goose before, and it was too gross for words.

63a: Italian painter Duccio di ___ (BUONINSEGNA). this... well. read on.

first things first: holy crap, this puzzle was tough for a tuesday.
second things second: i like the idea of this theme, but duccio do BUONINSEGNA is insane. i mean, i know who duccio is (14th-century italian painter) and i think i might even have a book of his paintings, but i didn't know his "last name." michelangelo buonarotti, raphael sanzio, rembrandt van rijn, michelangelo merisi (caravaggio), alessandro filipepi (botticelli), jacopo robusti (tintoretto)... these i knew. duccio, not so much. did anybody know this?

that's fine, though. take this kind-of-tough theme, surround it with tough fill and clues, and run it on a thursday. that's exactly what peter gordon did... except for the part where it's only tuesday.

Sunny Spots:

67a: The Leaky Cauldron, e.g. (INN). i didn't even see this clue until i started to blog. i'm smiling now, though—the clue really does a lot for this very common answer. the leaky cauldron is the INN that connects diagon alley to muggle london in harry potter books.

3d: Mutant superhero team (X-MEN). this is also pretty common as fill goes, but it reminds me of this board game, which brings back fond memories.

Sundries:

15a: Mets pitcher Perez, familiarly (OLLIE). well, he's not a met any more. he's a free agent, and if i remember correctly, the mets didn't offer him arbitration. i remember his huge 2004 season for 28d: The Pirates, in sports headlines (BUCS). also filling out the heavy sports quota for today: 57a: Hawks' home: Abbr. (ATL) and 8d: Midwest League city where the Chiefs play (PEORIA). despite all of these being gimmes for me (including the minor-league baseball clue), this puzzle still gave me fits.

22a: Mount Olympus warrior (ARES). "warrior," okay. technically. i mean he was the god of war and all that. but he was also a huge wuss.

32a: Spirit of Hope Award gp. (USO). this has something to do with bob hope, i would think.

35a: Crow's nest? (TEPEE). i don't think i understand this clue. are the crow a native american tribe?

44a: Wimpy cartoonist (SEGAR). i assume wimpy is a character in "popeye," but ... at least "cartoonist" plus a few crossings pointed the way.

71a: Conjunction with a separatrix (AND/OR). separatrix! fancy language, that.

1d: Coin with the presidential seal on the reverse (HALF). is that what they call it? i call it a "HALF-dollar." or sometimes a JFK.

2d: City on Presque Isle Bay (ERIE). i did not know that. fortunately, we can invoke the ERIE rule on this one.

10d: Illinois governor Blagojevich (ROD). this clue would have been a lot harder last year, wouldn't it? now he's so famous that we need to see BLAGOJEVICH in the grid. (my money is on KMT to be the first to do it.)

11d: Ace (GREAT). tough clue, very appropriate to this thursday puzzle. this time, "ace" is being used as an adjective.

12d: Midwest city on I-80 (OMAHA). no OMAHA royals clue? (i kid, i kid.)

27d: Gallagher of Oasis (NOEL). i don't know why i instantly thought of him instead of his brother LIAM, who also fits. but i was right.

29d: Author of "A Hard Road to Glory" (arthur ASHE). this one, too, although i suspect i've seen this clue before.

37d: Her "May It Be" featured lyrics in the Tolkien language of Quenya (ENYA). and definitely this one. with __Y_, it was never going to be anything other than ENYA.

55d: Obscure (CLOUD). another toughie—obscure the verb.

66d: Ida. neighbor (NEV). wait, really? huh. i guess ida. has that little finger that runs way down there, but still, whoa.

Suns of Bitches:
(make yourselves comfortable.)

16a: Gloria's "Sunset Boulevard" role (NORMA).

33a: Hawkshaw (TEC). i'm guessing "hawkshaw" is slang for detective, but i've never seen that word before.

4d: 1975 hit album for Loggins & Messina (SO FINE). what? who?

5d: Actor Gulager of "McQ" (CLU). what? who? the last time i saw MCQ in a crossword, it was a deck of cards rebus puzzle, and the answer was actually steve MCQUEEN.

9d: Sambuca relative (ANISETTE). sambuca is "an italian aniseed-flavored liqueur," according to my dictionary. that would have been good to know, but i had no idea what it meant.

19d: 1988 Rebecca De Mornay comedy (FEDS). aha! or rather, 23a: Cry of realization (AHA)! i've at least heard of rebecca de mornay. don't know this movie, though.

30d: Pulitzer-winning editorial cartoonist Marlette (DOUG). standard peter gordon fare: clue the common name via somebody you've never heard of.

42d: Sega robot (IDOG). wha? how can there be a sega robot i've never heard of? and are you sure it's not an apple product for your pet canine?

43d: Toches (REAR). this clue was totally opaque to me while solving, but in retrospect, i think i know this word. it's yiddish, and pronounced "tookus." i've just never seen it written.

56d: Ice dancer Grushina (ELENA). standard peter gordon fare, except ELENA is somewhat less common than DOUG. well, except in crosswords.

don't get me wrong; i liked this puzzle. i just thought it was really tough, with a tough theme, some tough fill, and some very obscure cluing. it should have run later in the week.

see you next time.

joon

Monday, January 5, 2009

2009-01-05T02:01:00.000-05:00

Title: They Died With Their Birthday Hats On
Author: Ogden Porter (Peter Gordon)
Theme: People who died on their birthday.

18a: Vice president who died on his 96th birthday, 5/16/1920 (LEVI P MORTON).

23a: Catcher who died on his 72nd birthday, 12/20/1972 (GABBY HARTNETT).

37a: Gangster who died on his 59th birthday, 7/17/1954 (MACHINE GUN KELLY).

51a: Actress who died on her 67th birthday, 8/29/1982 (INGRID BERGMAN).

60a: Talk show host who died on his 81st birthday, 8/11/2006 (MIKE DOUGLAS).

This is kind of a weird Monday theme. It's vaguely interesting trivia, but not at all the kind of thing you would actually expect someone to know. And if, like me, you're not up on your 19th-century vice presidents and/or your 1920s ballplayers, then it's pretty darned obscure. On the plus side, there are five theme entries, and each died in a different decade of his/her life, from their 50s to their 90s.

Sundries:

10a: Dick Vitale's cable channel (ESPN).

14a: Queen in a speech by Mercutio (MAB). From "Romeo and Juliette".

17a: Vow before testifying (I DO). A nice departure from the almost obligatory wedding clue, here we get the response to "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth...".

21a: Rho lookalike (PEE). Could have easily gone to potty humor here, but no... a boring Greek letter clue instead.

22a: Sauce made with pignoli (PESTO). Mmmm.

33a: With 34-Down, three-time World Series of Poker winner (STU / UNGAR).

56a: Borden mascot (ELSIE).

68a: "Let's Get It On" singer Marvin (GAYE).

70a: Boston ___ Sox (RED).

1d: Skosh (SMIDGE).

2d: Angle unit in math (RADIAN). 2pi radians = 360 degrees.

4d: Danny's "Do the Right Thing" role (SAL). That's Aiello, not Devito.

5d: Letter in El Al's logo (ALEPH).

6d: Olay rival (NIVEA).

9d: Orange leftover eaten on Black Friday (YAM). Day after Thanksgiving.

11d: Command to a fidgety child (SIT STILL).

24d: Bright-eyed and ___-tailed (BUSHY). I've always wondered where this phrase came from. And I've always liked it.

25d: Abominable Snowman (YETI).

32d: George Smiley, for one (SPY). Well, I was pretty sure it wasn't a SPA.

36d: Name signed on MLB baseballs (Bud SELIG), the commissioner of baseball.

39d: Chicago ballpark eponym, once (COMISKEY). This is at least the fourth baseball-related clue or answer this puzzle. Does that seem high?

48d: Key of Beethoven's "Pastoral" Symphony (F MAJOR).

49d: South-of-the-border order (TAMALE).

53d: Shirk one's responsibilities (DOG IT).

57d: Snoopy's original owner (LILA). I only vaguely recall this plotline, and I couldn't tell you what she looked like at all.

Not too much to say here. This puzzle didn't do much for me, but it wasn't terrible or anything. I wasn't crazy about the theme, which is a problem when you have five theme entries since it doesn't leave a lot of room for sparkling ancillary fill.

Thanks for listening.

- Pete M.

Friday, January 2, 2009

2009-01-02T09:32:00.004-05:00

Title: VWLLSS CRSSWRD
Author: Frnk Lng (Frank Longo)
Theme: Essentially themeless, but vowels are removed and there's no Y.

I love these puzzles. They're so... puzzley. Since I'm running late, and since it's not always obvious what the fully vowelled answer is, I will list all the answers and reduce my comments considerably.

1a: Director Godard (JNLC). Jean-Luc.

5a: Alternative to a true-false test (MLTPLCHCQZ). Multiple choice quiz.

15a: Having tender tootsies (FTSR). Footsore.

16a: Mixture that can kill (LTHLCMBNTN). Lethal combination.

17a: Disappears gradually (FDST). Fades out.

18a: Place reviewed in Fodor's (TRVLDSTNTN). Travel destination.

19a: One who thinks logically (RSNR). Reasoner.

20a: Making global in scope (NTRNTNLZNG). Internationalizing.

21a: Result of bad reception (STTC). Static.

22a: Caps and gowns are worn for them (GRDTNS). Graduations.

23a: "O Canada," for one (NTHM). Anthem.

24a: Emetic syrup used in treating accidental poisoning (PCC). Ipecac.

25a: Garden outside Jerusalem that was the scene of the agony and betrayal of Jesus (GTHSMN). Gethsemane.

30a: Gallery with paintings, sculptures, handicrafts, etc. (MSMFFNRTS). Museum of fine arts.

33a: Christmas tree decoration (RNMNT). Ornament.

34a: Errata list (MSPRNTS). Misprints.

35a: Getting people up in arms (CSNGSTR). Causing a stir.

37a: Simulated, as a Civil War battle (RNCTD). Re-enacted.

38a: Deep-fried Chinese appetizers (SPRNGRLLS). Spring rolls.

40a: When tripled, a classic Christmas carol (LTTSNW). "Let it Snow".

42a: Rock to sleep (LLL). Lull.

43a: Tangled up, as shoelaces (NKNT). In a knot.

44a: Totally dries up (DSCCTS). Desiccates.

46a: Hot dog topping (RLSH). Relish. I went with CTSP (catsup) first.

47a: Final performance run-throughs (DRSSRHRSLS). Dress rehearsals.

51a: Camcorder insert (VDTP). Video tape.

52a: Periodical put out by the same parent company (SSTRPBLCTN). Sister publication.

53a: Edible green head (LTTC). Lettuce.

54a: Team that won Super Bowl XLI (NDNPLSCLTS). Indianapolis Colts.

55a: Small, active bird (TMTT). Tomtit.

56a: High schoolers' advisers (GDNCCNSLRS). Guidance counselors.

57a: Catch in a web (NSNR). Ensnare.

1d: D.C. landmark whose interior walls contain excerpts from the Declaration of Independence (JFFRSNMMRL). Jefferson Memorial.

2d: Body with 100 members (NTDSTTSSNT). United States Senate.

3d: Cause not to have so great an effect (LSSNTHMPCT). Lessen the impact.

4d: Good food, warmth, etc. (CRTRCMFRTS). Creature comforts.

5d: Temperature at which a solid becomes a liquid (MLTNGPNT). Melting point.

6d: English majors take them (LTRTRCRSS). Literature courses.

7d: 1982 courtroom drama starring Paul Newman (THVRDCT). "The Verdict".

8d: Bees do it (to flowers) (PLLNT). Pollinate.

9d: Shedding light on (LCDTNG). Elucidating.

10d: Advances aggressively (CMSNSTRNG). Comes on strong.

11d: Done regularly and frequently (HBTL). Habitual.

12d: Formally declare to be a saint (CNNZ). Canonize.

13d: Sound bite, e.g. (QTTN). Quotation.

14d: Dividing into districts (ZNNG). Zoning.

26d: 1956 uprising during which Soviet forces invaded Budapest (HNGRNRVLTN). Hungarian Revolution.

27d: Theme song of Arthur Godfrey's radio shows (SMSLKLDTMS). "Seems Like Old Times".

28d: Psychiatric hospital (MNTLNSTTTN). Mental institution.

29d: Becomes a factor (NTRSTHPCTR). Enters the picture.

31d: Make global substitutions in a text document (FNDNDRPLC). Find and replace.

32d: Novel featuring Hester Prynne, with "The" (SCRLTLTTR). "Scarlet Letter".

36d: Complete moral purity (SNLSSNSS). Sinlessness, I assume. Not my favorite entry.

39d: Phones someone (PLCSCLL). Places a call.

41d: Bathroom fixture (WSHBSN). Wash basin.

45d: Fancy handwriting embellishments (CRLCS). Curlicues.

47d: Throwing water on (DSNG). Dousing.

48d: Lived (RSDD). Resided.

49d: Join temporarily, as a jam session (STNN). Sat in on? This doesn't feel quite right, as SAT IN should be plenty. But I can't think what else it would be.

50d: Al Pacino drama based on a Peter Maas book (SRPC). "Serpico". Tried SFLV ("Sea of Love") first.

The last time one of these came out (about a year ago, and predating this blog), I wrote to Peter Gordon asking if there'd be more. He said there would be a book of them available sometime this past fall, but I have not seen them yet. This puzzle's title (if you can display enough of it)indicates that it will be out "sometime this spring". I hope it's soon, because once a year is not enough for me. I really enjoy these a lot.

Thanks for listening.

- Pete M

Thursday, January 1, 2009

2009-01-01T02:01:00.008-05:00

Title: Themeless Thursday
Author: Karen M. Tracey
Theme: None

Happy new year, everybody. Hope 09 treats y'all fine. Norrin2 here and my new years resolution is to not complain about how easy the Thursday Sun puzzles are these days, and it looks like Karen Tracey is helping me keep that resolution. This was a tough one. Tough but fair with several entries that I should have got a lot quicker than I did.

24D: Explore among stalagmites and stalactites (SPELUNK) was my ticket into the puzzle. I knew this one,
even though I also knew that most people who do explores among the stalactites prefer the verb "to cave". Too bad because "spelunk" is a great word. From there I utilized my knowledge of 70's TV to get 44D: Barbarino of TV's Sweathogs (VINNIE)

And that together with 47D: Pie nut (PECAN) allowed me to get 47A: Novel with the character Serjeant Buzfuz, with "The" (PICKWICK PAPERS) I didn't specifically remember the name Buzfuz but I recognize a Dickensian name when I see one. And from there I figured I was off to the races and indeed the lower lefthand corner fell in pretty short order. Since I was already thinking of caves and spelunking I wasn't thrown off the by 55A's the looks-like-a-gerund-but-is- actually-an- adjective Yawning (CAVERNOUS).

But after that things slowed down considerably. I struggled mightily with 23A: Woodstock artist. I was racking my brain to recall who painted that famous picture of the bird on the guitar neck, or maybe she meant musical artist, so I tried to remember some of the more obscure acts at that event. It turns out the clue refers to Snoopy's buddy, who maybe should have been there:

I hate it when I have one in my wheelhouse (I'm a big comic strip fan) and I can't quite mentally expand enough to grab it. No, actually I don't hate it, but it's a tad embarrassing to fess up to.
And speaking of comic strips I had to cheat and look up 60A: 1954 Janet Leigh portrayal (ALETA). I never even knew there was a Prince Valiant movie. It must be pretty bad, even though now that I think about it Janet Leigh seems the perfect choice to play that part.

I'm also a big baseball fan and I definitely should have got 1A:Ballplayer Roy in "The Natural" (HOBBS) but I was sure it was spelled HOBBES like the philosopher (and Calvin's tiger). Plus I never expect to get One Across in a Karen Tracey puzzle, so I successfully psyched myself out.

I have a couple of minor musical quibbles, starting with 45A: Name in the only hit by Dexys Midnight Runners (EILEEN). It's true that "Come on Eileen" was their only hit in the United States, they had several more hits in their native England including a number one "Geno." (Also, shouldn't "Come on Eileen" have a comma in there?) 51D: Like vinyl records (PASSE) CD sales fell for the umpteenth year in a row in 2008, but LP sales are up as are sales of turntables, and you now see albums in places like Best Buy. So I'd say the LP is not passé just yet.

Here, with a minimum of interruption from yours truly, the rest of the first Sun puzzle of 2009:

1a: Ballplayer Roy in "The Natural" (HOBBS).

6a: They're not street-legal in many places (ATVS).

10a: Swift stroke (LASH). I tried to make this harder than it was, thinking it must refer to satirist Jonathan Swift.

14a: Lit (AFIRE).

15a: Sound of alarm? (BEEP).

16a: Service designation (ONEA).

17a: Flonase alternative (AFRIN).

18a: The Plow (URSAMAJOR). This one took a while too. I couldn't stop thinking it referred to hatha yoga asana "The Plow."

20a: "Must See TV" lineup (SITCOMS).

22a: Present (TROTOUT).

23a: Woodstock artist (CHARLESMSCHULZ).

25a: GRE component (VERBAL).

26a: Furtive glance (PEEK).

27a: 2008 hurricane (OMAR). Already forgotten the 08 hurricanes.

28a: Unspoiled locale (EDEN).

30a: Online lad mag (STUFF). Granted, I don't pay much attention to lad mags, but is Stuff online only these days?

35a: Leave-taking word (TATA).

36a: Chokes up, in a way (SILTS).

38a: Anent (INRE).

39a: Suits (EXECS).

41a: Sign of disuse (RUST).

42a: Ness and others (TMEN).

43a: Having no fractional parts (EVEN).

45a: Name in the only hit by Dexys Midnight Runners (EILEEN).

47a: Novel with the character Serjeant Buzfuz, with "The" (PICKWICKPAPERS).

52a: August (EMINENT).

53a: Posthumously published Franz Kafka novel (AMERIKA).

55a: Yawning (CAVERNOUS).

57a: Trig function (COTAN).

58a: Children's book author Jon (AGEE).

59a: Ticks off (IRKS).

60a: 1954 Janet Leigh portrayal (ALETA).

61a: Earns (NETS).

62a: Plain Jane (EYRE).

63a: Signs over (CEDES).

1d: Berkeley business school (HAAS).

2d: Staples rival (OFFICEMAX).

3d: Baby figure? (BIRTHRATE).

4d: Whatnot contents (BRICABRAC).

5d: Lady abroad (SENORA).

6d: Revile (ABUSE).

7d: Long jumper Igor ___-Ovanesyan (recordholder before Bob Beamon) (TER).

8d: Attire (VESTMENTS).

9d: Thin (SPARSE).

10d: Indisposed (LOATH).

11d: Historical region of western France (ANJOU).

12d: Where Samsung is headquartered (SEOUL).

13d: Big name in pet products (HARTZ).

19d: Dummies (up) (MOCKS). Tricky. I thought she meant dummy up as in "be quiet."

21d: Grasse lasses: Abbr. (MLLES).

24d: Explore among stalagmites and stalactites (SPELUNK).

25d: Tribal Council highlight (VOTE).

29d: Lobby list (DIRECTORY).

31d: Monk, e.g. (TITLEROLE).

32d: Not deserved (UNMERITED).

33d: Long program (FREESKATE).

34d: "Twin Peaks" actress (FENN).

37d: Anger (STEAM).

40d: Runoff conduit (SEWER).

44d: Barbarino of TV's Sweathogs (VINNIE).

46d: Dried root from a plant of the madder family (IPECAC).

47d: Pie nut (PECAN).

48d: TIFF part (IMAGE).

49d: Palm cat, e.g. (CIVET).

50d: Delivers a low blow to (KNEES).

51d: Like vinyl records (PASSE).

54d: Santa ___ (New Mexico Indians) (ANAS).

56d: Hung. neighbor (UKR).

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

2008-12-31T02:01:00.000-05:00

Title: Rear Ends
Author: Patrick Blindauer
Theme: Phrases whose first two and last two letters combine to make a synonym for "rear" (ass).

17a: Belmont Park statue subject (SECRETARIAT) => SEAT.

24a: Farm laborer (HIRED HAND) => HIND

29a: Melt ingredient (TUNA FISH) => TUSH.

44a: Takes out for use after a period of inactivity (DUSTS OFF) => DUFF.

50a: "Pardon My Sarong" costar (BUD ABBOTT) => BUTT.

62a: Endorse without question (RUBBER STAMP) => RUMP.

Thematically, this puzzle was a mixed bag for me. On the plus side, there were six theme entries (assuming I didn't miss any today) and the theme involved asses, which plays to my admittedly juvenile sense of humor. Also, it's cool not only that there are six 4-letter synonyms for REAR, but that they all can be formed as above using common names and phrases. On the minus side, the theme didn't help me at all; in fact, I had to go back afterwards to figure out what it was. And I wouldn't have noticed it at all without the title to make me look at it right. On the neutral side, the theme entries themselves were neither stellar nor duds, but were decent enough.

The Rest of the Puzzle

1a: See 41-Across (SALE). I'm not crazy about references to other clues at the 1a spot, especially when it's the second half.

15a: Like listing letters (ITALIC). Listing to the side, as in slanted.

16a: Words said when standing in front of a train? (I DO). A bridal train.

20a: Shout targets (STAINS). Shout, the detergent.

21a: 60 minutes: Abbr. (DEG). Degrees are made up of minutes and seconds, just like hours are.

23a: W.'s alma mater (YALE U). Ick. Yale is enough. Nobody says Yale U.

26a: Early Jacko do (FRO). Jacko = Michael Jackson.

34a: "The Merry Widow" composer Franz (LEHAR).

41a: With 1-Across, money-saving event (FIRE / SALE). See 1a.

42a: "Lost in Translation" setting (TOKYO). This movie got really great critical reviews, but I thought it was really slow and dull.

46a: It may hang from a toy (ID TAG). A toy poodle, perhaps.

53a: Yawl pair (MASTS). Yawls and ketches are two-masted sailboats. The yawl has the mizzen mast "yawl the way back" behind the steering.

58a: Jim's "Man on the Moon" role (ANDY). Jim Carrey. Andy Kaufman.

59a: Beyond help, in a way (DOA). Dead on Arrival. Ouch.

64a: Lowest honor (TEN). Bridge tag. Honors are ace, king, queen, jack, and ten.

2d: Queen of the Misty Isles, in the comics (ALETA). Didn't know it, but didn't see the clue either.

3d: Neighborhood pub, to a Brit (LOCAL). I just this morning was listening to "Slap and Tickle" by Squeeze, which includes the line "He drove off to his local; where he felt anti-social." How strange that it shows up in a puzzle that same day.

5d: Quarter halves (BITS). A quarter is "two bits".

11d: Cashew cousin (PISTACHIO). Two of my favorite nuts.

13d: Part of WWJD (WOULD). What would Jesus do?

18d: "Tuff ___" (1986 hit for the Fabulous Thunderbirds) (ENUFF). Easy enough to figure, even if you didn't know it.

24d: Hookah hookup (HOSE). Drug reference.

25d: GI bill? (DOL). Why GI, exactly? This one felt a little over-clever.

29d: Parlor piece, for short (TAT). Tattoo parlor.

30d: Spanish cardinal (UNO). Cardinal number.

31d: "Well, duh!" (NO KIDDING).

35d: Sandy bark? (ARF). Oof.

39d: Air force? (GUST). Went GALE first.

40d: Medium ability (ESP).

43d: Place to play the race card?: Abbr. (OTB). Okay, that's clever. In a non-PC sort of way. OTB is off-track betting.

48d: Peanut, in the South (GOOBER).

51d: Football wager (UNDER). One of the many bets one can lay is the over/under, where you bet whether the two teams' combined scores will be over or under the specified number.

52d: Raga drum (TABLA).

54d: Site of the rite stuff? (ALTAR).

57d: Green party VIP? (ST PAT).

63d: Tolkien's Legolas, e.g. (ELF). Love the Tolkein clues.

Suns of Bitches:

5a: Natty of literature (BUMPPO) crossing 9d: Swiss watch brand (PIAGET) was a total guess-the-letter crossing for me. And P was about my eighth choice.

The only major problem I have with this puzzle is the BUMPPO/PIAGET crossing. A minor nit is that it's a tad heavy-handed with the punny clues. Now don't get me wrong, I love a good punny clue. But after a few too many, you just start to groan.

Happy New Year, all, and thanks for listening.

- Pete M.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

2008-12-30T02:00:00.002-05:00

Title: Adverbially Yours
Author: Jim Leeds
Theme: Phrases which get -LY added to the first word to make silly adverbial phrases

17a: Avoid getting beaned in an inept manner? (LAMELY DUCK).

26a: Hike with great care? (GINGERLY SNAP). this was the last part of the puzzle i filled in, as i was thinking of the "walk outdoors" definition of hike.

45a: Gave very little support to? (BARELY BACKED). hmm. hmmmmm. it's a good thing i decided not to create that "sexual innuendo" tag i was considering last week.

58a: Use a bulletin board only once in a great while? (HARDLY TACK).

i didn't figure out the theme while i was solving this puzzle, and to be honest, it didn't do much for me when i did figure it out, since none of the theme answers really sparkled. LAMELY DUCK probably should have tipped me off, but i didn't really stop to think about it. probably would have helped me figure out GINGERLY SNAP.

Sunny Spots:

3d: Depriving of virility (UNMANNING). who's the NFL's un-manning? i say brett favre.

32d: It's next to Luxury Tax on a Monopoly board (PARK PLACE). both the NW and SE corners had parallel 9s, and i liked these two the best. sure, it's nice to see full names in the grid, but i'm not a big fan of 33d: "Wag the Dog" costar (ANNE HECHE).

43d: One who plays hoops (B-BALLER). even BALLER would have been a good answer, but i like B-BALLER even better. hoop it up!

47d: Combo utensil (SPORK). love this word. SPORK SPORK SPORK SPORK SPORK.

Sundries:

5a: Hebrew for "my master" (RABBI). i thought it meant "teacher." i guess they could be the same thing.

19a: "Purple ___" (Jimi Hendrix song) (HAZE). this song contains one of the most famous mondegreens ever: "excuse me while i kiss this guy." good song, though.

31a: Former lefty, perhaps (NEOCON). i've never seen "lefty" used in a political context, but most lefty baseball players stay lefty (unlike, say, billy wagner, who was right-handed until he broke his arm in 9th grade and learned to throw with his left).

35a: Get Mad again, say (RENEW). it's not tricky if you don't hide the capital M of Mad.

38a: Liquid-Plumr alternative (DRANO). it'd be cool to see drano in the clue and LIQUID-PLUMR in the grid some time, wouldn't it?

51a: Ends of the earth? (POLES). i like this clue with a ?. i didn't like it without a ? (as in the NYT puzzle four weeks ago today), because ... well, the earth is round. it doesn't have actual ends.

34d: Excellent driver (WOOD). hmm. a driver is a WOOD—a 1-WOOD, to be specific. i'm not sure why a WOOD is an "excellent driver." still, the clue was tricky enough to be pretty fun.

39d: Marathon, e.g. (RACE). PERSIAN WAR BATTLE wouldn't fit.

48d: Pickup line? ("HOP IN"). loved this clue.

Suns of Bitches:

5d: "Match Game" host Gene (RAYBURN). old game shows are definitely beyond my ken.

well, i didn't love the theme, but the puzzle overall had enough sparkle to make it an enjoyable solve. happy new year everybody!

joon

Monday, December 29, 2008

2008-12-29T02:01:00.001-05:00

Title: Foodies
Author: Ogden Porter (Peter Gordon)
Theme: Types of people named for food

17a: Tall, thin person (STRINGBEAN).

25a: Insignificant person (PEANUT). I thought a peanut was someone small in physical stature, not significance.

45a: Show-offy person (HOTDOG).

58a: Chubby person (BUTTERBALL).

11d: Crazy person (FRUITCAKE).

33d: Weak person (CREAMPUFF).

Nice easy Monday theme with ~~four~~ six entries spread vertically and horizontally, which tends to allow a less constrained fill than four horizontal theme entries. Let's see if that plays out today.

Patrick Jordan points out that there are six theme entries, not four. I missed PEANUT and HOTDOG the first time around, as they are shorter than some of the non-theme fill. Still, I should have noticed. 25 bonus points for Patrick, and an extra kudos to Peter Gordon for a clean fill with six theme entries.

Sunny Spots:

24a: Charmingly old-fashioned (QUAINT).

37a: Hose spouts (NOZZLES).

24d: Sandwich shop chain (QUIZNOS). Love the name. Not crazy about their subs, though.

3d: "Zack and Miri Make a ___" (PORNO). I haven't seen this yet, but I will. Props for putting PORNO into the puzzle.

43d: Farming industry, informally (AGRIBIZ). Nice fill.

Sundries:

5a: 1924 Edna Ferber novel (SO BIG). This sounds vaguely familiar.

15a: Papas of "The Trojan Women" (IRENE).

16a: Mötley ___ (CRÜE). Not my musical preference, but certainly well-known to me.

20a: Common form of bowling (TENPINS). Around here, where people actually play candlepin, it's called ten-pin. No plural.

21a: Ad answer to "How do you spell relief?" (ROLAIDS).

23a: Tennis score effectively the same as 30–40 (AD OUT).

28a: Hajj destination (MECCA).

40a: Newborn's wear (ONESIE).

42a: Miss-named? (NEE). Cute.

43a: "___ Flux" (2005 sci-fi film) (AEON). I'm pretty sure I saw this, but it didn't leave much of an impression and I couldn't tell you much about the plot at all. In fact, I think I might have it confused with "Ultraviolet".

53a: Like some odes (SAPPHIC).

55a: Former percussionist with Prince (SHEILA E).

64a: Grating (RASPY). As a voice.

1d: Jai alai player's basket (CESTA). I know this only from crosswords.

8d: Doing the same thing over and over (IN A RUT).

22d: Mojito garnishes (LIMES). I've never had one, but I've seen the commercials. Warrants the booze tag anyway.

37d: Pitcher's spot in the batting order, usually (NINTH). In the AL, the answer would be NEVER.

45d: Paris's mother (HECUBA). This name was slow in coming, but it was in there somewhere.

55d: Ladder part (STEP). Guessed RUNG at first.

56d: Lamarr of "Algiers" (HEDY). The only Lamarr I know.

Suns of Bitches:
None.

Decent Monday, with nothing horrendous, which is fine by me. For ~~four~~ six theme entries and some scrabbly letters, it was quite the clean fill.

Thanks for listening.

- Pete M.

Friday, December 26, 2008

2008-12-26T02:01:00.006-05:00

Title: Weekend Warrior
Author: Karen M. Tracey
Theme: None

Sunny Spots:

17a: Luau fare (ROAST PORK). Mmmmm... now that sounds good.

40a: Brand of cream liqueur (BAILEYS). Booze tag.

40d: It's under Wayne Manor (BAT CAVE). Easy, but I like it.

Sundries:

1a: The IJsselmeer was part of it before construction of the Afsluitdijk (ZUIDER ZEE). This felt ever-so-vaguely familiar, but not enough to get it without using all of the crossings. And let's face it, the clue was insane.

15a: Pushy, perhaps (OBNOXIOUS). I've run into a lot of these people this past week. Funny how Christmas, a season that should bring out the best in people, often does just the opposite.

18a: River landing place (LEVEE). Can't think levee without my head going here.

22a: Fusion predecessor (ATRA). Shaver names.

23a: Mr. Spacely's first name on "The Jetsons" (COSMO).

27a: Sitcom alien's home (ORK). "Mork and Mindy" here.

30a: With a slight slur, perhaps (TIPSILY). Funny, I don't usually consider tipsiness an attribute of one's speech, but rather of one's ability to walk straight.

36a: Title Pixar robot (WALL-E). I finally saw this recently. It was pretty cute.

42a: 2008 N.L. Cy Young Award winner Lincecum (TIM). Two baseball first names in the same puzzle? Can't find anyone else named Tim?

44a: Lady chapel locale (APSE). I'm not sure what the "Lady" part is for.

47a: Half of catorce (SIETE).

53a: Shop cleaner (WET/DRY VAC). I've always heard it called a Wet Vac, whether it does both or not.

57a: Stress, in a way (ITALICIZE). I've seen this style of clue often enough that it fell right away.

59a: Fancy fabrics (LAMÉS).

61a: Pet for Hamlet (SNERT). From Hägar the Horrible.

62a: Marmaduke, e.g. (GREAT DANE). Continuing the comic theme.

1d: 1969 Tony nominee for Best Musical (ZORBA).

4d: "Three Soldiers" novelist (DOS PASSOS). I think the last time I saw this name was in another KMT puzzle, though I could be wrong.

9d: Some kayakers (ESKIMOS).

12d: Old name for a tomato (LOVE APPLE).

14d: Alternative to cat's pajamas? (BEE'S KNEES). A quick gimme, which helped drop this section.

30d: Dish rack accessories (TEA TOWELS). We never called these tea towels, always dish towels. But it's funny, we had this discussion with some Canadian friends just a couple of weeks ago.

31d: 2006 Spike Lee caper film (INSIDE MAN). I haven't seen this yet, but I think it's on my Netflix list.

32d: What "Saturday Night Live" players are not ready for, supposedly (PRIME TIME). Gimme.

46d: Grace's last name on "Will & Grace" (ADLER). No idea. Got it from crossings.

50d: The Minnesota Twins retired his #6 (OLIVA).

51d: Hoodwink (COZEN). Cool word.

54d: Bar in a bar (REST). Sheet music, not pubs.

Suns of Bitches:

16a: Amin overthrew him (OBOTE) crossing 10d: 2008 World Series MVP Hamels (COLE) is the tough name crossing of the day. I guessed ABATE/CALE.

I found the NW to be the toughest, except for the above-mentioned guess-the-vowel name crossing. But overall it felt just about right for a Weekend Warrior.

Hope you all had a nice Christmas.

Thanks for listening.

- Pete M.