Friday, March 18, 2011

QOD: It's practically impossible to look at a penguin and feel angry. ~ Joe Moore

Today's Theme: All No-ING. Each of the theme clues is a common phrase except the "ING" is missing, giving an All Knowing punny new phrase.

17. Lodging Surplus? = EXTRA INNS. The common phrase is Extra Innings.

20. Versace Creation? = ITALIAN DRESS. The common phrase is Italian Dressing.

37. Misplaced Yogi and Smokey? = LOST ONE'S BEARS. The common phrase is Lost One's Bearings.

58. Plant at Sotheby's? = BRITISH SHILL. The common phrase is British Shilling. Don't remember seeing this coin on my last trip to London.

62. Investment in Fine Fabric? = SILK STOCK. The common phrase is Silk Stocking. It also reminds me of the Crime Time after Prime Time show I used to watch called Silk Stalkings.

48-D. Pleasure Trip, and a Hint to This Puzzle's Theme = OUTING.

Across:
1. Hardly a Walk in the Park = TREK. My initial thought was Easy.

5. “American ____” = IDOL. I have never watched American Idol.

9. Provoke = ROIL. Not a word I use, but a good word all the same.

13. Russo of “Tin Cup” = RENE. I first saw her on the cover of Cosmopolitan.

14. Heavyweight Fighter? = SUMO. As in a Sumo wrestler.

15. Snoring Cause, Perhaps = APNEA. It is more common than one would realize.

19. Settles In = NESTS. It took a while for this answer to reveal itself.

22. Blotter Letters = AKA. Oh, as a police blotter! AKA stands for Also Known As. My favorite clue of the puzzle.

25. However, Contracted = THO.

26. Bygone Chrysler = LE BARON.

27. Target of Military Press = DELT. No idea.

29. Animal Rights Org. = PETA. Stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. To draw attention, they often have their members stand naked on street corners.

31. Penn et al.: Abbr. = STNS. Oh, as in Penn Station, not the university.

32. Backed Up, In a Way = ON DISC.

35. Quad Building = DORM.

42. Limo Occasion = PROM.

43. Maker of Pianos and Bikes = YAMAHA. I knew that Steinway didn’t make motorcycles!

45. Pacific Salmon = COHO. Yummy!

49. Scholarship Drive Donor = GRAD.

51. Carnival Starting Point? = PIER. As in taking a cruise on a Carnival liner.

52. Blood Specification = ONE UNIT.

54. “Gotcha!” = AHA!

57. Hydroelectric Structure = DAM.

61. Busted = RAN IN. // And 40-Down: BUST = RAID.

66. _____ Acid = AMINO. Protein’s building blocks.

67. “Night” Author Wiesel = ELIE. We haven’t seen him in crosswords for a long time. He used to make frequent appearances.

68. Way-Back-When Time = YORE. I wanted ONCE.

69. Coat Rack Items = PEGS. I really wanted Hats. I think of Pegs as being an integral part of a coat rack.

70. Just Slightly = A TAD.

71. Classic Theater Name = ROXY. I thought of LOEW.

Down:
1. What’s A Little Past Due? = TRE. Oh, the Italian lesson for the day. Three is the number that is a little past two.

2. Name Fit For a King? = REX. Latin for King.

3. Tonsillitis M.D. = ENT. Stands for Ear, Nose and Throat.

4. “Felicity” Star Russell = KERI.

5. Thomas of the NBA = ISAIAH. I remember him from years ago.

6. Maker of Tires and Tennis Balls = DUNLOP.

7. Present Opening? = OMNI. I knew this immediately! Omnipresent.

8. Silicon Valley City = LOS ALTOS.

9. Grammy Category = R AND B. Stands for Rhythm and Blues.

10. Met Expectations? = OPERAS. This was so easy, I almost missed it.

11. Supplement = INSERT.

12. Reveals = LETS ON.

16. Clubs: Abbr. = ASSNS. Stands for Associations.

18. One of Two Authorized U.S. iPhone Carriers = ATT. The other is Verizon.

21. Close at Hand = NEAR BY.

22. Flap = ADO. Much Ado About Nothing.

23. ____ Ration = KEN-L. Dog food brand, Ken-L Ration.

24. Designer Gucci = ALDO.

28. “My Country ___ …” = TIS. From the song, My Country Tis of Thee, Sweet Land of Liberty, Of Thee I Sing …”

30. Swelling = EDEMA.

33. Additive Sold at Pep Boys = STP.

34. Pembroke or Cardigan Dogs = CORGIS. Favorite dog of the Queen.

36. Start of an Apology = MEA. As in mea culpa, mea culpa!

38. View from Edinburg = NORTH SEA. Good clue.

39. Band Aid? = AMP.

41. 2000 World Series Stadium = SHEA.

44. Ready For Battle = ARM.

45. Army Attack Helicopter = COBRA.

46. Cloverleaf Component = ON RAMP. Helps you get in the interstate.

47. Duff = HEINIE. Oh, as in your butt! Get off your duff and get to work!

50. Flowering Plant Used for Food by the Aztecs = DAHLIA. I was not aware of this fact.

53. Yucatán Youngsters = NIÑOS. The puzzle’s Spanish lesson.

55. Hoofed It = HIKED.

56. Roker and Rosen = ALs. Both are named Al.

59. Bank Deposit? = SILT. Oh, as in a river bank!

60. About 10 Trillion Kil. = LTYR. Stands for Light Year. Who knew?

63. Valentine Symbols = OOO. Usually see XOXOX, for Hugs and Kisses. Not sure which is which.

64. ‘80s-‘90s Honda Model = CRX. I let the perps fill this in for me.

65. Critical = KEY. Oh, as an essential element, not to be critical of something.