Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Today’s Theme: Did You Take Your Medicine Today? The PHARMACISTS dispense the medicines today. Three of the theme clues are forms of medicine delivery methods, united by the professionals who prepare the medicines.

18. Historic Cache for Future Millennia = TIME CAPSULE.

25. Investing Largely in Money Markets, Say = STAYING LIQUID.

42. Item for Doodling or Note-Taking = WRITING TABLET.

55. Dispensers of the Ends of 18-, 25-, and 42-Across = PHARMACISTS.

Across:

1. Hydroelectric Project = DAM.

5. Makes Improvements To = EMENDS. I learned a new word today. I first tried “Amends” but that didn’t work for 5-Down. Emends pertains to the written word, so is a cross between Edits and Amends.

10. California Wine Valley = NAPA. I love visiting California’s wine country.

14. Ipanema’s City = RIO. As in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. I learned that Ipanema is a neighborhood of Rio from a recent article in the Smithsonian magazine.

15. “Anything You Want” = “NAME IT.”

16. Petri Dish Gel = AGAR.

17. Geological Span = EON. // And 24-Across: Geological Span = ERA.

20. Take Turns = ALTERNATES.

22. Name of Two Presidents = ADAMS. Bet you were looking for a first name! Both John Adams and his son, John Quincy Adams, were early U.S. Presidents.

23. Fuel for Big Rigs = DIESEL.

32. Money Market Fund, e.g. = ASSET.

34. Follows a Recipe = COOKS. What I failed to do yesterday when making a cake. The result was a disaster!

35. ___ Championship: August Golf Tournament = PGA. No idea. I don’t follow golf.

36. Jordanian Queen Dowager = NOOR. She is the widow of King Hussein. She was an American, born Lisa Najeeb Halaby, and converted to Islam when she married King Hussein.

37. Negative Quality = MINUS.

38. Beginning On = AS OF. Hmm…

39. Canal Site = EAR. Loved this clue.

40. Ate Sumptuously = DINED.

41. Heads-Up = ALERT.

45. “Mighty” Tree = OAK.

46. Power Failure = OUTAGE.

49. Really Bad = AWFUL. I was thinking that bad meant “evil.”

52. “No Way, José” = “NOT ON A BET!” I was expecting a phrase in Spanish.

57. Lennon’s Widow = ONO.

58. Emerald Isle = EIRE. For some reason, this crossword staple never sticks in my brain. I always have to wait for the perps to get the spelling of this word.

59. Supplanter of the Silent Movie = TALKIE. The first feature talking movie was the Jazz Singer, which was released in 1927.

60. Coffee Holder = URN.

61. Attracted a Trooper, Maybe = SPED. The troopers seem to be especially on alert for speeders in the rural parishes.

62. Mary Hartman Portrayer Louise = LASSER.

63. Your, in Tours = TES. French.

Down:

1. Live in Fear Of = DREAD.

2. Garlicky Sauce = AIOLI. Aioli is a French sauce made of lemon, eggs, garlic and olive oil.

3. Education Pioneer Maria = MONTESSORI.

4. Ask on Bended Knee = ENTREAT. I tried really hard to fit in “Marry Me.”

5. For the Most Part = MAINLY.

6. John’s Partner in “The Avengers” = EMMA. Once again this is a piece of trivia I learned from doing crosswords.

7. Nair Competitor = NEET.

8. Cubes that are Rolled = DICE.

9. Where Many Commuters Wait: Abbr. = STA. Stands for Station.

10. Tech-Heavy Stock Exchange = NASDAQ. Stands for National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System.

11. Contents of Un Lago = AGUA. Lago is Spanish for Lake, hence is filled with Agua, which is Spanish for Water.

12. Arboreal Miami Sight = PALM.

13.Greek God of War = ARES.

19. Louvre Location = PARIS.

21. Fragrant Compound = ESTER.

24. BPO ___ = ELKS. Apparently, this stands for Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

26. Cupcake Topper = ICING.

27. Nine-Piece Combo = NONET.

28. Mild Dutch Cheese = GOUDA.

29. Distraught Over = UPSET ABOUT.

30. Composer Stravinsky = IGOR.

31. Off One’s Rocker = DAFT.

32. All Over Again = ANEW.

33. Attract Upward-Looking Onlookers = SOAR.

37. Stole Fur = MINK.

38. Prince Valiant’s Wife = ALETA. Not familiar with this comic character or his family.

40. Hitchcock’s “_____” For Murder” = DIAL “M.”

41. Oldest Driver to Win the Indy 500 = AL UNSER.

43. Went on the Road = TOURED. I wonder if you Toured in Tours?

44. Baby’s Footwear = BOOTIE.

47. Country or Folk = GENRE. I initially thought of Music.

48. Preppy Collars = ETONS.

49. Mimics = APES.

50. Lion Tamer’s Handful = WHIP.

51. Taxi Rider or Payment = FARE.

52. March Madness Org. = NCAA. Stands for National Collegiate Athletic Association. The college baseball tournament takes place in March.

53. Sounds of Disapproval – TSKS.

56. Part of NATO: Abbr. = ATL. Stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Today’s Theme: Blue, Blue, My World is Blue.  Each of the theme clues contains a different shade of the color blue, which is emphasized by the unifying clue found at 70-Across.  The is a song entitled Blue, Blue, My World is Blue.   Bette Midler also has a song entitled “Am I Blue.”

20. 1978 Movie Set in a Turkish Prison = MIDNIGHT EXPRESS. The was based on a true story of a young American who was sent to prison for trying to smuggle hashish out of Turkey. I never saw the movie, but read an excerpt of the book in Cosmopolitan. Midnight Blue is a dark shade of blue.

35. Volatile Situation = POWDER KEG. A powder keg contains gun powder and may explode at any moment. Powder blue is a very light shade of blue.

46. White Legumes = NAVY BEANS. How ironic that Navy Beans are white, since Navy Blue is a dark shade of blue.

57. Big Name in Dutch Porcelain = ROYAL COPENHAGEN. Royal Copenhagen makes beautiful place settings. Royal Blue is a very bright shade of blue.

70. Shades of It Begin This Puzzle’s Four Longest Answers = BLUE.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Today's Theme: Palindromes. We derive today’s theme through 36-Across, which states: Three Pairs of Them End the Answers to Starred Clues. I really had to look for the palindromes.

17. * Dense Fabrics = DOUBLE KNITS, which pairs with:

60. * More than Just Grumble = RAISE A STINK.

20. * Ready to Blow” = OVER STRESSED, which pairs with:

54. * “Top Chef” Spin-Off Involving Competitive Baking = JUST DESSERTS.

27. * It’ll Keep Your Hat On = CHIN STRAP, which pairs with:

44. * Carquest Stock = AUTO PARTS.

Across:

1. Yankee’s Div = Al East. The New York Yankees play in the American League East division in baseball.

7. Deal = COPE. You thought it was a card-playing reference, didn’t you?

11. Jenny or Jack = ASS.

14. Alter, as Boundaries = REDRAW.

15. Slain Shepherd = ABEL. A Biblical reference. Cain slew Abel. // 49-Across: 15-Across’s Dad = ADAM. Adam and Eve were Cain and Abel’s parents.

16. “Fer Sher” = YEP.

19. Prior, to Prior = ERE.

22. Fettuccine Follower = ALFREDO. Fettuccine Alfredo is a pasta dish.

25. Aborigines of Hokkaido = AINU. These are the indigenous people of Japan.

26. Compress, in a Way = BALE. This is the time of year that the farmers are baling their hay.

28. Cat Tail Motion = SWITCH. My cat often switches her tail when I hold her and she wants to escape.

35. Specialty = AREA.

40. Lots = A TON.

41. Area 51 Location = NEVADA. It is a secret military area.

50. Bingo Call = B-TEN. This is the weakest clue in the puzzle.

51. Kettle Pair = MA AND PA. From the old TV show.

59. www Address = URL. Stands for Uniform Resource Locator / And 3-Down: 59-Across Ending = EDU. A common ending for university and other educational institution’s electronic addresses.

64. Messenger Letters? = RNA. Stands for Ribonucleic Acids. Great clue!

65. Ain’t Right? = ISN’T.

66. Have Suspicions About = BE ON TO.

67. One Hairpin Turn After Another = ESS.

68. Cribbage Markers = PEGS. My grandfather taught me how to play cribbage.

69. Quixote’s Squire ______ Panza = SANCHO.

Down:

1. Not Easy, to a Cockney? = ‘ARD. The “H” sound is often dropped in the Cockney accent.

2. MGM Mascot = LEO.

4. Botanical Gardens = ARBORETA. What a great word!

5. Soother = SALVE.

6. Rough Wool Cloth = TWEED.

7. Six-Pack Units = CANS // And 22-Down: Six-Pack Units = ABS. You will lose your six-pack abs by drinking too much beer from the six-pack cans!

8. Notice with a Bio, Often = OBIT. How sad.

9. Czech Hockey Player Nedved = Petr.

10. Threat Ender = ELSE. As in the phrase: “… or else.”

11. Music to a Captain’s Ears = AYE, SIR.

12. Star Sometimes Seen Opposite Venus? = SERENA. Serena and Venus Williams sometimes play tennis opposite each other.

13. Stepped On It = SPED UP.

18. McDonald’s Founder = KROC. Ray Kroc.

21. Gathered Dust = SAT.

23. Postgraduate Study = LAW. My field.

24. Emma Peel’s Hair Style = FLIP. (LINK)

28. “I wish I _____ Seen That” = HADN”T.

29. Factory Outlet Tag Abbr. = IRR. Stands for Irregular.

30. Vegas Gas = NEON.

31. Identical = SAME.

33. Show Enjoyment at a Show = CLAP. Interesting echo of “show” in the clue.

34. ____ High Note = HIT A.

37. Where the Lofoten Isl. Are = NOR. The Lofoten Islands are in Norway. They look so pretty.

38. Northwestern University City = EVANSTON. It is in Illinois, just north of Chicago.

39. Teen Safety Org. = SADD. Stands for Students Against Drunk Driving.

42. Skip Over Water, as Stones = DAP. No idea.

43. Doc Bloc = AMA. Stands for American Medical Association.

44. Offically Retract = ABJURE.

45. One-Way Street No-No = U-TURNS.

46. Magnetic Measures = TESLAS. He appears yet again in our puzzles!

47. Hudson Bay Prov. = ONT. Ontario.

48. Hook’s Right Hand = SMEE. I will really have to read “Peter Pan” again.

52. Saudis, Usually = ARABS.

53. On the Aegean = AT Sea.

55. Water Waster = DRIP.

56. Slack Off = EASE.

57. Participate in Karaoke = SING.

58. Grounded Jets = SSTS.

61. Ltd. Relative = INC. The British use “Limited”, while the Americans use “Incorporated” for their companies.

62. Nonspecific Extreme = NTH. As in the nth degree.

63. “Koochie ___!” = KOO.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Today’s Theme: Changes in Attitude. The second word of each theme response is an action of change.

16. Some Den Boxes = CABLE CONVERTERS. People can convert from one religious belief to another. People are not, however, Cable Converters.

22. Hookups to Many Electronic Devices = POWER ADAPTORS. People can adapt to their environments. People are not, however, Power Adaptors.

35. Jacob Riis, et al. = SOCIAL REFORMERS. This clue actually refers to human action. Jacob Riis was a social reformer who tried to improve the conditions of the new immigrants to New York City in the 1800s. At first, I thought that perhaps Jacob Riis was a Dutch artist.

44. Currency Pros = MONEY CHANGERS. This clue also refers to human action.

55. Insurance Investigators = CLAIMS ADJUSTERS. There were a lot of Insurance Investigators and Claims Adjusters in Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina.

Across:

1. “The Facts of Life” Actress Charlotte = RAE. I never watch this show, but Charlotte Rae often appears in crosswords.

4. Swiftly = APACE. Not the first word that popped into my head.

9. Just ____: Minimal amount = A DAB. I wanted A Tad, and hey, two of the letters worked!

13. Dual-Purpose Room Shape = ELL. Why a dual purpose room?

15. Academy Freshman = PLEBE. Comes from the Roman for Plebian, who were the commoners.

19. Mimi’s “Mine” = A MOI.

20. Clown for the Camera = MUG.

21. Pounce On = LEAP AT. Something my cats would do.

25. Solar Wind Particle = ION.

26. “Alley ___” = OOP. Alley Oop is a comic strip character.

27. Yale or Harvard = IVY.

30. Form 1040 IDs = SSNS. Stands for Social Security Numbers. They are required on the Federal 1040 Tax Forms.

32. Hammer-Wielding God = THOR. Norse god of myth.

34. Gave the Boot = AXED.

38. Fruity Pastry = TART.

39. Community Word = OURS.

40. “Powerful you have become, the dark side I sense in you” speaker = YODA. From the “Star Wars” series. (Link)

41. Go Downhill Fast? = SKI. Nailed it!

42. Course Taught Bilingually: Abbr. = ESL. Stands for English as a Second Language. This is a common crossword response.

43. Dorothy Gale’s State: Abbr. = KAN. Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz” was from Kansas.

51. Card Carrier = MEMBER.

53. Sound from a Wowed Crowd = OOH. This clue feels like a filler clue.

54. Do In = SLAY. Kill could fit also, but slay immediately popped into my head.

58. Shrewd = CAGEY.

59. Helmsley dubbed “Queen of Mean” = LEONA.

60. Specks in la mer = ILES. A foreign reference to islands in the sea.

62. Op-ed Piece, e.g. = ESSAY.

63. Timeline Divs. = YRS. Timelines are often divided into Years.

Down:

1. Postgame Summary = RECAP.

2. Crockett’s Last Stand = ALAMO. Davy Crockett fought at the Alamo.

3. Be Rude in a Crowd = ELBOW. This was my favorite clue.

4. Enjoyed a Blue Plate Special = ATE.

5. Pellet Gobbler of Old Games = PAC MAN.

6. For All to Hear = ALOUD.

7. Line Dance = CONGA.

8. Lt. Holder = ENV. Abbreviation for Envelope.

9. Rite Site = Altar. I liked this clue. Lots of religious rites, including marriages, occur at altars.

10. Threw Overboard = DEEP SIXED.

11. ____ Kadabra: Foe of the Flash = ABRA. I am not familiar with the comic strip character “The Flash” but the fill was an easy guess after reading the enemy’s surname.

12. Blue Ribbon-Worthy = BEST.

15. Before Surgery, Briefly = PRE-OP.

17. What to do After Making Your Metaphorical Bed = LIE IN IT.

18. Corrida Combatant = EL TORO.

23. Parks in ‘50s News = ROSA. When Rosa Parks died, she received a state funeral. She was a true heroine in the Civil Rights movement. She refused to give up her seat on a bus.

24. Vanishing Sounds = POOFS.

28. Designer Wang = VERA. I think of her as a designer of beautiful wedding gowns.

29. Gridiron Gains: Abbr. = YDS. Stands for Yards.

30. Overcharge, Slangily = SOAK.

31. Practice Grid Game = SCRIMMAGE.

32. With Sincerity = TRULY.

33. Part of H.R.H. – HER. Her Royal Highness. Queen Elizabeth of English would be referred to as HRH.

34. Surrounded By = AMONGST.

35. Oft-Numbered Rts. = STS. Stands for Streets. Who knew?

36. They Aren’t Champs = LOSERS. Like the kids in GLEE.

37. “You’ve Got Mail” Co-star = RYAN. The movie starred Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks.

42. Bad Guy = ENEMY. I don’t really think of an enemy being necessarily a bad guy.

43. Island VIP = KAHUNA. Hawaiian term ~ the Big Kahuna.

45. Big Apple Awards = OBIES. These are the Off-Broadway theater awards.

46. Cryptographers’ Creations = CODES.

47. Orange-roofed Eateries, for Short = HOJOS. Short for Howard Johnson’s. Howard Johnson’s was both a restaurant and a hotel chain. It was famous for its fried clams and its wide variety of ice cream flavors.

48. Poem of Lament = ELEGY.

49. Not as Easy to Come By = RARER.

50. Handicappers’ Methods: Abbr. = SYSTS. Stands for Systems. This refers to gambling, which is illegal in Louisiana, so we call it “gaming.”

51. 13th Century Date = MCCI. Or, 1201 in a more common usage.

52. Airline to Tel Aviv = EL AL. A common crossword fill.

56. Pub Pint = ALE.

57. “Come to think of it …” = SAY. I got this through the perps.