Friday, February 6, 2009

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.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Note: I'm on vacation (DisneyWorld) this week with little to no access. I wrote this post last week before I left, and it is going to be briefer than usual. Also, don't be offended if I don't respond to comments. See you next week.

Title: The Old College Try
Author: Joon Pahk
Theme: Ivy League team names

• 20a: Prog rock band with guitarist Robert Fripp (KING CRIMSON). Harvard.


• 11d: Song on the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine" album (HEY BULLDOG). Yale. According to Wikipedia, Bulldogs are the third most common college mascot, after Eagles and Tigers. Who knew?




• 29d: Outwardly powerful but inwardly weak person (PAPER TIGER). Princeton.


• 58a: They're found at the ends of 20-Across and 11- and 29-Down (IVY LEAGUERS).

Some people might consider this theme vaguely arbitrary, since there are eight Ivy League schools of which only three are represented. While it is true that "complete set" themes are really nice, consider that:

1. Jamming eight entries into a 15x15 puzzle is insane.


2. Finding an unrelated phrase that includes BIG RED and BIG GREEN is likely impossible.


3. Few that didn't go to one of the snubbed schools would argue that Harvard, Princeton, and Yale are the crown jewels of the Ivy League.

So, I've got no problem here at all.

Answers with few comments and no pictures:

• 5a: D-Day beach (OMAHA). Also a poker varient.


• 10a: Counterfeit (SHAM).


• 14a: "___, I'm a Big Girl Now" ("Hairspray" song) (MAMA). Didn't know, but easy to figure. Here it is.


• 15a: Bravery in battle (VALOR). Goes nicely with 16a: Statue subject, perhaps (HERO).


• 17a: Farm team members (OXEN). Baseball misdirection.


• 18a: Prosperous outlying community (EXURB).


• 19a: Church choir song (HYMN).


• 23a: Android, for short (BOT).


• 24a: Fraternal order member (ELK).


• 25a: "Chains of Love" pop duo (ERASURE). Didn't know this.


• 27a: Determine the worth of (APPRAISE).


• 32a: Flowerpot spot (SILL).


• 33a: "___ of Love" (1989 Al Pacino film) (SEA). Also with Ellen Barkin and John Goodman. Tense film. I recommend it.


• 34a: Skirt fold (PLEAT).


• 36a: Does nothing (LOLLS). Like me, right now perhaps, next to a pool at the Caribbean Beach Resort... Mmmmmm....


• 39a: Nile biters (ASPS).


• 41a: Big name in jeans (LEVIS).


• 43a: Menu next to File (EDIT).


• 44a: Whittier College's team nickname (POETS).


• 46a: Fender bender reminders (DENTS).


• 48a: Female reproductive cells (OVA).


• 49a: Heinie (REAR).


• 51a: 1942 Albert Camus novel, with "The" (STRANGER).


• 53a: Dilapidated place (RAT TRAP). Love it.


• 56a: Dir. from Staten Island to Shelter Island (ENE).


• 57a: Bush's nickname for senator Barbara Boxer (ALI).


• 64a: Scrubbed, as a space mission (NO GO).


• 66a: Cause to panic (ALARM).


• 67a: One of two answers on a simple test (TRUE).


• 68a: Reprimand, with "out" (CHEW).


• 69a: Olduvai ___ (archaeological site in Tanzania) (GORGE).


• 70a: End of a vague threat (ELSE).


• 71a: Fabled race runner-up (HARE).


• 72a: Forest moon inhabited by Ewoks (ENDOR).


• 73a: Make a big stink? (REEK).


• 1d: Out of control (AMOK).


• 2d: Metered vehicle (TAXI).


• 3d: Sign of what's to come (OMEN).


• 4d: Nativity scene item (MANGER).


• 5d: Much more than what is required (OVERKILL).


• 6d: Full-length skirt (MAXI).


• 7d: Grad (ALUM).


• 8d: Clydesdale, e.g. (HORSE).


• 9d: Bowers (ARBORS).


• 10d: Librarian's admonishment (SHH).


• 12d: Strong suit? (ARMOR).


• 13d: "The Count of ___ Cristo" (MONTE).


• 21d: Applaud (CLAP).


• 22d: Get exactly right (NAIL).


• 26d: Plum relative used to flavor gin (SLOE).


• 27d: "Stat!" (ASAP).


• 28d: Coin of Cuba (PESO).


• 30d: Likely tournament finalist (SEED).


• 31d: Roof overhangs (EAVES).


• 35d: Slight coloration (TINT).


• 37d: Like many sports broadcasts (LIVE).


• 38d: Capital indicator on a map (STAR).


• 40d: Put back in after striking out (STET).


• 42d: Flowing ribbon, as at a party (STREAMER).


• 45d: Wraparound garment (SARI).


• 47d: Performed in an a cappella group (SANG).


• 50d: Lay waste to (RAVAGE).


• 52d: Like some German nouns (NEUTER).


• 53d: Dressing option (RANCH).


• 54d: Hello, in Hilo (ALOHA).


• 55d: End zone marker (PYLON).


• 59d: Rendered fat used in cooking (LARD).


• 60d: Hence (ERGO).


• 61d: First name in courtroom fiction (ERLE). Also, the first name of Halliburton. Maybe I will remember that...


• 62d: Bit of skulduggery (RUSE).


• 63d: Search out (SEEK).


• 65d: Be in the red (OWE).

Note to all you constructors out there. Easy doesn't have to be boring. And this puzzle is an example of a well-executed Monday. Interesting fill and clues, all easily gettable, make for a pleasant solve. Nice job.

Thanks for listening.

- Pete M.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Title: Divine Intervention
Author: Joon Pahk
Theme: Phrases that contain Norse Gods (Odin, Thor, Tyr, and Loki).

• 18a: *Classic jazz composition by Duke Ellington and Barney Bigard (MOOD INDIGO). Great tune. Here's a little different version by Nina Simone.



• 28a: *Boundary of a black hole (EVENT HORIZON).


• 47a: *Common political principle (MAJORITY RULE).



• 59a: *Friend of the penguin Badtz-Maru (HELLO KITTY). I had absolutely no clue when I read this clue, figuring it was some reference to "Happy Feet" or something. But I've certainly heard of Hello Kitty, so it wasn't hard once I hit a few crossings.


• 53d: With 58-Across, what can be found in each of the answers to the asterisked clues (NORSE / GOD).

It definitely would have taken me longer to figure this theme out without the helper clues, especially since TYR is not as familiar to me as the others. But it's definitely a nice and well-executed theme, with each deity spanning the two-word phrases that contain them.

Sunny Spots:

• 2d: Doll in the National Toy Hall of Fame (GI JOE). I still my old ones, minus a couple of hands and feet. The oldest has the smooth molded head; the other has the fuzzy buzz cut.


• 3d: Maestro Seiji (OZAWA). Formerly the head of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. A gimme for me.


• 25d: Result of a hook-and-eye connection? (SHINER). Excellent boxing reference here.


• 29d: Possible cause for an R (NUDITY). See? I don't always rise to the bait. Some things just scream for pictures; others I leave well-enough alone. Great fill though.

Sundries:

• 1a: They can be inflated (EGOS). I knew this even before I saw it was a 4-letter fill.



• 5a: "ER" costar of Julianna (ERIQ). I know I've mentioned this before, but it's been a long time since Eriq La Salle has been on "ER". Please, Eriq... do something else of note so we can update these stale references.


• 14a: Sphinx site (GIZA).


• 17a: "The blue dot cleanser" (AJAX). A couple of nice, Scrabbly short fills. I don't know if they still use that phrase in their advertising, but I certainly remember it from TV commercials growing up.



• 22a: Victim of Bart's prank calls (MOE).


• 23a: Two-___ (kind of fastball) (SEAMER). Easy for a baseball fan. There's also a four-seam fastball, which has different action on it due to the way airstream passes over the seams.


• 25a: Web user (SPIDER). I know you wanted us to put SURFER in there, didn't you. Luckily, I already had the I in there.


• 32a: Emmy winner Woodard (ALFRE). You're right, Karen M. Tracey, I remembered it this time. I even remember that her middle name is ETTE.


• 38a: Little biters (RED ANTS).


• 42a: Turn and river preceder in hold'em (FLOP). Some day, I'd like to play in the Main Event. That'll be after the kids are out of college, as there's no way I can front the entry fee right now.


• 44a: North Pole list header (NICE). As opposed to NAUGHTY. Which one are you on?


• 50a: Rock genre? (COMEDY). Chris Rock, that is.


• 55a: Rock genre (EMO). And, of course, EMO is also a comedian, so it's kind of a tight loop.




• 63a: Swift, e.g. (BIRD). Aww, Joon. We can't get a Larry clue here? How about "Johnson rival"?


• 4d: Zoot's instrument in Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem (SAX). Love the clue. The reference, if you don't know it, is to "The Muppet Show" band.




• 5d: "Freaky Deaky" author ___ Leonard (ELMORE).


• 6d: Quadratic formula solution (ROOT). The first of two mathy clues which, as a former math major, were gimmes for me.


• 8d: Abbr. that a proof reader might come across? (QED). This second one was well-disguised, which made it even nicer.


• 13d: Roadway writing (SLO). I've never seen SLO written in a roadway.


• 19d: Customs duty (IMPOST).



• 27d: Colleague of Lauer and Vieira (ROKER).


• 30d: Rockets star McGrady (TRACY).


• 31d: Cousin of a congo snake (NEWT). I didn't know this off-hand, but I'm glad it avoided yet another first-name reference.


• 34d: Nickname for a fast woman (FLO-JO).


• 39d: City hard by Vance AFB (ENID, OK.). I didn't parse this correctly until just now. I saw it as Enidok, which I was not at all comfortable with.


• 40d: Leaves in a bowl (SALAD). I've seen this clue before, so I wasn't fooled.


• 43d: Large citrus fruits (POMELOS).


• 59d: Haw's partner (HEM). You know it's either HEM or HEE.



• 61d: Lucy who voiced Viper in "Kung Fu Panda" (LIU).

Suns of Bitches:

• 35a: Former name of Broadway's George Gershwin Theatre (URIS).


• 56a: McFarlane who spawned the comic book "Spawn" (TODD).


• 64a: "Eight Men Out" author Asinof (ELIOT).

Nice theme and nice puzzle by Joon. Plenty of Scrabbly letters (in fact, it's a pangram, containing every letter at least once) with interesting fill and some clever cluing. Maybe a touch name-heavy, though it could have been moreso if EMO, BIRD, and NEWT had been clued differently. Everything was gettable from crossings, so all-in-all, it was an entertaining Wednesday.

Thanks for listening.

- Pete M.