Theme: None
Words: 72
Blocks: 29
Saturday Number 5 in this July, and a fun one, I thought - but that might be because I cruised through it with little trouble. Perhaps it was not the same for you, so I will do my best to break it down. Another pinwheel design, this time with triples of 10's and 9's.
1. Revisiting the past? : TIME TRAVEL
11. __ shot : SLAP - Hockey, the kind of shot where you really wind up - and a great movie, if you're into hockey....
15. "Been there" : I CAN RELATE
16. Country with a green, yellow and red flag : MALI - Image here
17. Israelites, to many : CHOSEN ONES - here I thought it was Ozzy Osbourne....@ 1:55
18. Hone : EDGE - the verb, in this instance
19. The sport of shooting, in Soissons : TIR - I did not know - here is the Wiki
20. Took in : ATE
21. Finn's friend : SAWYER
23. Sarah McLachlan's record label : ARISTA
25. Chinese port also known as Xiamen : AMOY
27. 2012 games host country, in Olympics code : GBR - Great Britain; not a great logo for the Olympics, IMO
28. Come to : COST
29. Like some boxers : CANINE - Boxer, the dog, although Mike Tyson put his canines to use, too....
31. "Who __ we kidding?" : ARE
32. Personification : AVATAR - we have some good ones on the blog - I think we should do a weekly theme, and have the avatars change accordingly - like we did with the "days gone by" oldies....my first suggestion? How about your home/ dream home?
34. Tales you can also read backwards? : SAGAS - a little play on the palindrome concept
36. Fakes : RINGERS
39. "To reiterate ..." : AS I SAID...
41. Notable Nixon gesture : V-SIGN - Image
42. Jenny Fields's son, in a 1978 best-seller : T.S. GARP - Technical Sergeant Garp - a strange story
44. Luv : HON - Lovey, Honey-bunny
45. Talked up : TOUTED
47. Certain dieter's concern : CARBohydrates
51. Go (for) : OPT
52. Objects : ENDS - a stretch; as in attaining objects, the "ends" of a search, or is it the verb, and one "objects" to something, and ends it?
53. Glassy-eyed one : STARER - funny, I had "STONER" at first, and was 66% there....
55. Brand named for two states : ORE-IDA - Argyle just linked this Monday, OREgon, and IDAho,the tater-tots makers
57. __ favor : POR - Spanish, for "please"
58. Whitman of "Arrested Development" : MAE - many images
59. Essex neighbor : KENT - England, or GBR; map lower right
60. Female pop trio since 1979 : BANANARAMA - I knew them from "Cruel Summer", and not much more, tho they did hit it with a remake of "Venus"
64. Go back, in a way : UNDO - Thank God for "undo", especially in blogging and AutoCAD~!!!
65. Only place on Earth where crocodiles and alligators co-exist : EVERGLADES - Florida; I lived in Jacksonville for a time
66. Lowly worker : PEON
67. Pans, and how : TEARS APART - as in a bad review
DOWN:
1. Popular mint : TIC-TAC
2. Mariner from Japan : ICHIRO - Seattle Mariners, got me at first.
3. "The Piano" extras : MAORIs - Some more, here ; did not see the movie; not my thing
4. USNA grad : ENSign
5. Pay for : TREAT
6. Airport offering : RENT-A-CAR
7. Succulent genus : ALOE - Total WAG on a Saturday, of course, but succulent....
8. Cargo carrier : VAN
9. Summer abroad : ETE - French summer
10. Good thing to learn : LESSON
11. Duck in the Eurasian taiga : SMEW
12. Singer known for unconventional outfits : LADY GAGA - I like her, despite the outfits
13. Basic math course : ALGEBRA I - two clues in a row that might have been hard to parse
14. Second-least populous st. capital : PIERRE, SD - the city, and it's state - nailed it.
22. Bridge response : AYE, SIR - this time, the bridge is referring to that of the Enterprise, as in Star Trek, or yesterday's "Argo" clues
24. Immortal college coach : STAGG - Immortal, perhaps, famous? Not in my wheelhouse - more here
25. Santa __ : ANA
26. Illusion : MIRAGE
30. Ready to father : AT STUD - horses
33. Let it all out : VENTED
35. Shepherd-protecting org. : ASPCA
36. KOA amenity : RV HOOK-UP - KOA is the "Kampgrounds of America", sort of the Wal-mart of camping....
37. Petroleum processing by-product : ISOPRENE - actually, quite fascinating reading for me
38. Pioneer in side-scrolling video games : NINTENDO - like Mario did, from right to left
40. Tearjerkers of a kind : SAD SONGS
43. 61-Down crossers: Abbr. : STs, & 61. See 43-Down : AVE - a really UGH pair of clues for a Saturday
46. How some stunts are done : ON A BET
48. Fighting force : ARMADA - Ensign, Aye, Sir = a mini-theme going here
49. Hole widener : REAMER - yeah, but to follow with
50. One may come with wings : BREAST - well, I could just get DF here....
54. Refrain from singing? : TRA-LA - fresh cluing here
56. "Bring __!" : IT ON
57. Tudor widow : PARR - Catherine, survivor of Henry VIII; more good reading
62. Gp. for teachers : NEA
63. Emulate Sir Mix-A-Lot : RAP - I linked him last time....
Splynter
Friday, July 29, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
Saturday, July 23rd, Barry Silk
Saturday Silkie
Theme: None
Words: 72
Blocks: 28
Well, now, what a stark change from last week's offering - IMHO. I seemed to sail through this one, with a LOT of WAGs, and just a few gaffes. Yet another Barry Silk Saturday - I think he might have more than any other constructor. Triple stacks in a pinwheel fashion again, with a grouping of unique answers in the NE corner -
5. They're waved : MAGIC WANDS - I am in no hurry to see the final installment of Harry Potter, despite having read all the books, and being a huge fan
16. Much of it is shipped via the Strait of Hormuz : IRANIAN OIL - map, here - top right
18. Critical period : CRUNCH TIME - the Eleventh hour, the Two-minute warning, etc.; for me, Crunch Time is 9am, trying to get 30+ trucks rolling for "timely" parcel delivery
ACROSS:
1. __ Cup: Canadian football trophy : GREY -
15. Sound detected with a stethoscope : RALE - BEAT, no, RASP, no....
17. What injured parties may try to get : EVEN
19. Gumshoe : TEC - DeTECtive
20. Walked : TROD
21. "It will be fair weather: for the sky __": Matthew : IS RED
22. Gallery event : ART SHOW - nailed it
24. Like some candle scents : PINY - looks funny, to me
26. Bach, e.g. : GERMAN
27. Reasonable : SANE - I had FINE first, as in "Gimme $10 for it? - that's FINE"
28. Dave Matthews Band label : RCA
31. Lander at Orly : AVION - French for aeroplane, found this in my search
32. Library supporter? : BOOKSHELF - nailed it, great clue/ans
34. "Little Caesar" gangster : RICO - been in a few puzzles recently, right?
35. They extract oxygen from water : GILLS
36. With 40-Across, nocturnal noisemaker : HOOT ; 40. See 36-Across : OWL - can't help it - I'll take #3, keep the beer....
37. "Help!" predecessor : BEATLES VI - Contained "Eight Days a Week", the only song I recognize
39. Viking language : NORSE
41. Fleshy-leaved plant : ALOE - WAG, but a four-letter plant in a CW?
42. Blackmailer : GOUGER
43. Part of NBA: Abbr. : ASSN - had NAT'L to start
44. Bridge units : TETRADS - group of four, not necessarily in bridge
45. Unalaska denizen : ALEUT - WAG - map - bottom left
48. See : DATE
49. Govt.'s Laboratory of Hygiene, now : NIH - National Institute of Health - also been popular lately
50. Ancient rock engraving : PETROGLYPH - nailed it, but I am a big fan of "Ancient Aliens" on the History Channel, and they talk about these all the time
53. Gershon of film : GINA - this fine lady
54. City near Randolph Air Force Base : SAN ANTONIO, Texas
55. Sea of __, shallowest in the world : AZOV - still, at 46ft, it's pretty deep - map
56. Colorful : OPALESCENT
57. Pool member : GENE
DOWN:
1. "Ninotchka" star : GRETA GARBO - All "guy" links today, so I will add some balance
2. Pan's opposite : RAVE REVIEW - how does my hunk pic do?
3. Outlet type : ELECTRICAL
4. Itch : YEN
5. .000001 meters : MICRON
6. Mall map symbol : ARROW - as in "You Are Here"
7. Showy trinket : GAUD - and hence, "GAUDy"
8. Place to retire : INN
9. Title spelled out in Art. 2 of the U.S. Constitution : C.I.C. - Commander In Chief, the POTUS - President of the United States
10. Surfer girls : WAHINES - pronounced "wah-hee-nee", it's a Hawaiian boy or girl; slang it's a surfer girl - I would guess the equivalent of a "Tom Boy"
11. Restless : ANTSY
12. Film __ : NOIR
13. Olive branch site : DIME - Drinks are $1.10 in the vending machines as UPS, so I bring a pocketful of dimes with me to work
14. Winter scene staple : SLED
20. Comparison word : THAN
23. 1930 tariff act co-sponsor : SMOOT - and some interesting history here
24. Philadelphia suburb : PAOLI - Pennsylvania - map
25. Pens' contents : INKS - had the K from "Bookshelf", so it wasn't "PIGS"
27. Unravel : SOLVE - the 'good' kind of unravel - this puzzle, nor your sweater
28. Overhaul : REORGANIZE
29. Got ready to trap : CLOSED IN ON
30. Occasional stinger : AFTERSHAVE - not gonna link it....
32. Nomadic grazers : BISON
33. Time to attack : H-HOUR - like D-Day
35. Stylist's stock : GELS
38. Warning to an overindulgent bar customer : LAST ONE - or it can lead to drunken bar brawls
39. Bank robber's aid : NOTE - a .45 comes in handy, too
42. Break 90, say : GET HOT - despite hitting 100° here, I was thinking about a low golf score, aided by 44D
43. Acoustic : AURAL - I have an article that describes Blue Öyster Cult as "Aural Liquid Plumbr"
44. Green stroke : TAP-IN - Putting green
45. Lhasa __ : APSO - cute
46. Spring : LEAP
47. 1928 destroyer of the village of Mascali : ETNA - WAG
48. Physics unit : DYNE
51. Sporty cars : GTs
52. __ cit. : LOC - Legal term; I defer to the Legal Firm of "Dewey, Cheatem & Howe"
53. __ order : GAG - more legalese
Splynter
Theme: None
Words: 72
Blocks: 28
Well, now, what a stark change from last week's offering - IMHO. I seemed to sail through this one, with a LOT of WAGs, and just a few gaffes. Yet another Barry Silk Saturday - I think he might have more than any other constructor. Triple stacks in a pinwheel fashion again, with a grouping of unique answers in the NE corner -
5. They're waved : MAGIC WANDS - I am in no hurry to see the final installment of Harry Potter, despite having read all the books, and being a huge fan
16. Much of it is shipped via the Strait of Hormuz : IRANIAN OIL - map, here - top right
18. Critical period : CRUNCH TIME - the Eleventh hour, the Two-minute warning, etc.; for me, Crunch Time is 9am, trying to get 30+ trucks rolling for "timely" parcel delivery
ACROSS:
1. __ Cup: Canadian football trophy : GREY -
15. Sound detected with a stethoscope : RALE - BEAT, no, RASP, no....
17. What injured parties may try to get : EVEN
19. Gumshoe : TEC - DeTECtive
20. Walked : TROD
21. "It will be fair weather: for the sky __": Matthew : IS RED
22. Gallery event : ART SHOW - nailed it
24. Like some candle scents : PINY - looks funny, to me
26. Bach, e.g. : GERMAN
27. Reasonable : SANE - I had FINE first, as in "Gimme $10 for it? - that's FINE"
28. Dave Matthews Band label : RCA
31. Lander at Orly : AVION - French for aeroplane, found this in my search
32. Library supporter? : BOOKSHELF - nailed it, great clue/ans
34. "Little Caesar" gangster : RICO - been in a few puzzles recently, right?
35. They extract oxygen from water : GILLS
36. With 40-Across, nocturnal noisemaker : HOOT ; 40. See 36-Across : OWL - can't help it - I'll take #3, keep the beer....
37. "Help!" predecessor : BEATLES VI - Contained "Eight Days a Week", the only song I recognize
39. Viking language : NORSE
41. Fleshy-leaved plant : ALOE - WAG, but a four-letter plant in a CW?
42. Blackmailer : GOUGER
43. Part of NBA: Abbr. : ASSN - had NAT'L to start
44. Bridge units : TETRADS - group of four, not necessarily in bridge
45. Unalaska denizen : ALEUT - WAG - map - bottom left
48. See : DATE
49. Govt.'s Laboratory of Hygiene, now : NIH - National Institute of Health - also been popular lately
50. Ancient rock engraving : PETROGLYPH - nailed it, but I am a big fan of "Ancient Aliens" on the History Channel, and they talk about these all the time
53. Gershon of film : GINA - this fine lady
54. City near Randolph Air Force Base : SAN ANTONIO, Texas
55. Sea of __, shallowest in the world : AZOV - still, at 46ft, it's pretty deep - map
56. Colorful : OPALESCENT
57. Pool member : GENE
DOWN:
1. "Ninotchka" star : GRETA GARBO - All "guy" links today, so I will add some balance
2. Pan's opposite : RAVE REVIEW - how does my hunk pic do?
3. Outlet type : ELECTRICAL
4. Itch : YEN
5. .000001 meters : MICRON
6. Mall map symbol : ARROW - as in "You Are Here"
7. Showy trinket : GAUD - and hence, "GAUDy"
8. Place to retire : INN
9. Title spelled out in Art. 2 of the U.S. Constitution : C.I.C. - Commander In Chief, the POTUS - President of the United States
10. Surfer girls : WAHINES - pronounced "wah-hee-nee", it's a Hawaiian boy or girl; slang it's a surfer girl - I would guess the equivalent of a "Tom Boy"
11. Restless : ANTSY
12. Film __ : NOIR
13. Olive branch site : DIME - Drinks are $1.10 in the vending machines as UPS, so I bring a pocketful of dimes with me to work
14. Winter scene staple : SLED
20. Comparison word : THAN
23. 1930 tariff act co-sponsor : SMOOT - and some interesting history here
24. Philadelphia suburb : PAOLI - Pennsylvania - map
25. Pens' contents : INKS - had the K from "Bookshelf", so it wasn't "PIGS"
27. Unravel : SOLVE - the 'good' kind of unravel - this puzzle, nor your sweater
28. Overhaul : REORGANIZE
29. Got ready to trap : CLOSED IN ON
30. Occasional stinger : AFTERSHAVE - not gonna link it....
32. Nomadic grazers : BISON
33. Time to attack : H-HOUR - like D-Day
35. Stylist's stock : GELS
38. Warning to an overindulgent bar customer : LAST ONE - or it can lead to drunken bar brawls
39. Bank robber's aid : NOTE - a .45 comes in handy, too
42. Break 90, say : GET HOT - despite hitting 100° here, I was thinking about a low golf score, aided by 44D
43. Acoustic : AURAL - I have an article that describes Blue Öyster Cult as "Aural Liquid Plumbr"
44. Green stroke : TAP-IN - Putting green
45. Lhasa __ : APSO - cute
46. Spring : LEAP
47. 1928 destroyer of the village of Mascali : ETNA - WAG
48. Physics unit : DYNE
51. Sporty cars : GTs
52. __ cit. : LOC - Legal term; I defer to the Legal Firm of "Dewey, Cheatem & Howe"
53. __ order : GAG - more legalese
Splynter
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Saturday, July 16th, Tom Heilman
UGH ~!
Sorry, but this offering today had some real cringers in it. First time I have blogged Tom Heilman; the last Saturday from Tom was May 2010, and the results seemed to be on par with this puzzle....
Splynter here, on a DNF Saturday -
Words: 66
Blocks: 27
ACROSS :
1. Public mockery : PASQUINADE - tough start; had I not had the "U" in both the A. and D. clues, the Q would not have been a choice
11. Opening movement of Holst's "The Planets" : MARS - a WAG, but it IS "The Planets"
15. Cleans up : EXPURGATES - Sounds more like making the mess....
16. First Dominican-born Major League Baseball manager : ALOU - a classic CW WAG here
17. Everglades denizens : ALLIGATORS - got it
18. Hoot? : DAMN - I don't give a "hoot" about....
19. Occupation : TRADE
20. "Lady, shall __ in your lap?": Hamlet : I LIE
21. They may be geological : ERAS
22. Direct : BOSS - the verbs, here
23. A plan may be put on it : HOLD
24. Artist son of Andrew Wyeth : JAMIE - Nope, don't know these people; here's some of the art
25. Kyrgyzstan city : OSH
26. Pregnant pause, perhaps : TENSE MOMENT - good clue/answer
28. Surface phenomena affected by magma : GEYSERS - got it - more here
30. Judges : DECIDES
31. Complex design : WEB
32. Fatal opening? : NON - Like in NON-fatal injury...?
33. Statement of equality : ITS A TIE - yeah, but meh
37. Coastal freeze : FAST ICE - I knew it was some sort of __ ice
41. Established favorable conditions (for) : SET THE STAGE - good one I did NOT get
43. Pita look-alike : NAN - nailed it, but a three-letter answer on Sat. doesn't help much....
44. Narrow ridge : ARETE - here
45. Faithful : TRUE
46. Crack agent? : NARC - Crack, the rock cocaine, and the DEA man who busts you for it
47. "Okay then" : I SEE
48. Scented souvenirs : LEIS
49. Chemical prefix? : PETRO - I REFUSED to put this in, even though I had it, since there was NO WAY it could cross with PETR-....and it did....
50. Poet Walter __ Mare : DE LA - Nope, don't know this guy
51. Independent way to live : OFF THE GRID - I guess, but I wouldn't necessarily describe it as independent; more like low key, or on the "lam"
53. Barely better than none? : SLIM when your choices are "slim and none"
54. Railing with molded supports : BALUSTRADE - you know I HAD to get this one; I might have a huge balustrade to build next month
55. Court cry: Var. : OYEs - a variation on OLEs ????
56. Private : ONE-STRIPER - ARGH~! Got me, never thought of the military
DOWN:
1. Moor feature : PEAT BOG - wasn't he the lead singer of some rock group?
2. Frontman on the 1987 debut album "Appetite for Destruction" : AXL ROSE - Guns N Roses; got him, knew him, thought I might have a chance; he's the one in the middle - the guy to the left is my second favorite guitarist, Slash.
3. Flamboyant : SPLASHY - Axl was splashy, not Slash-y
4. Plugs of tobacco : QUIDS - my parents are both British; to me a "quid" is slang for a buck, a pound, a dollar, and not used in the plural
5. Seriously suggest : URGE
6. Supermarket chain with Chicago H.Q. : IGA - quick, name a three-letter food store....there's one WAY out east here on Lon Guyland
7. United __ : NATIONS - see the last clue/answer, 52D.
8. Components of the Maldives : ATOLLS - had islets to start
9. Scoffed at : DERIDED
10. __ est percipi: to be is to be perceived : ESSE - Four years of Latin told me "to be" is ESSE
11. Raked it in : MADE A MINT - had MADE MONEY to start; not a bad WAG
12. Protected, in a way : ALARMED - as in your home, with the "Slomin's shield" or ADT
13. Arugula alternative : ROMAINE
14. Down times? : SUNSETS - good clue/ans. and visual
23. Beetle of note : HERBIE - OH ~! The Volkswagen ~! VERY good ~!
24. Playful : JOCOSE - Bzzz - Denied; didn't get it
26. Use a ring, maybe : TEETHE - had TIE OFF (like drapes) at first; the the T_E helped
27. Household : MENAGE - Let's get DF here, and lighten this one up ~!
29. Elite tactical units : SWAT TEAMS - nailed it; today it was YES or NO - I either got it, or I didn't, and had no hope, to boot
33. Discussion-ending words : I SAID SO - I had "THAT'S IT" and couldn't shake it
34. In a word : TERSELY - got it, but spelled it TERSLEY
35. Pinball ball, perhaps : STEELIE - I love pinball, like the "Black Knight" and the Addam's Family", but did not know this term until I started writing today
36. Grammy winner for the 1993 album "Mi Tierra" : ESTEFAN - I had PUENTE (Tito), but spelled it wrong anyway
37. Thomas Mann's "Doktor __" : FAUSTUS - Um, nope
38. Caught : IN A TRAP - yeah, I guess
39. Four-wheel drive? : CAR RIDE - Really~?!?!?
40. Spy, at times : ENCODER
42. Gimcrack : TRIFLE
46. Pola of the silents : NEGRI - image
48. Western howler : LOBO
49. Stone: Pref. : PETR - not gonna say it again....
52. President when the U.N. was created : HST - I wanted Woodrow Wilson, but he was denied his "League of Nations".
Oh well, at least I move into my new apartment this weekend - I am off to lick my NON FATAL mental wounds....thanks for listening to me gripe
Splynter
Sorry, but this offering today had some real cringers in it. First time I have blogged Tom Heilman; the last Saturday from Tom was May 2010, and the results seemed to be on par with this puzzle....
Splynter here, on a DNF Saturday -
Words: 66
Blocks: 27
ACROSS :
1. Public mockery : PASQUINADE - tough start; had I not had the "U" in both the A. and D. clues, the Q would not have been a choice
11. Opening movement of Holst's "The Planets" : MARS - a WAG, but it IS "The Planets"
15. Cleans up : EXPURGATES - Sounds more like making the mess....
16. First Dominican-born Major League Baseball manager : ALOU - a classic CW WAG here
17. Everglades denizens : ALLIGATORS - got it
18. Hoot? : DAMN - I don't give a "hoot" about....
19. Occupation : TRADE
20. "Lady, shall __ in your lap?": Hamlet : I LIE
21. They may be geological : ERAS
22. Direct : BOSS - the verbs, here
23. A plan may be put on it : HOLD
24. Artist son of Andrew Wyeth : JAMIE - Nope, don't know these people; here's some of the art
25. Kyrgyzstan city : OSH
26. Pregnant pause, perhaps : TENSE MOMENT - good clue/answer
28. Surface phenomena affected by magma : GEYSERS - got it - more here
30. Judges : DECIDES
31. Complex design : WEB
32. Fatal opening? : NON - Like in NON-fatal injury...?
33. Statement of equality : ITS A TIE - yeah, but meh
37. Coastal freeze : FAST ICE - I knew it was some sort of __ ice
41. Established favorable conditions (for) : SET THE STAGE - good one I did NOT get
43. Pita look-alike : NAN - nailed it, but a three-letter answer on Sat. doesn't help much....
44. Narrow ridge : ARETE - here
45. Faithful : TRUE
46. Crack agent? : NARC - Crack, the rock cocaine, and the DEA man who busts you for it
47. "Okay then" : I SEE
48. Scented souvenirs : LEIS
49. Chemical prefix? : PETRO - I REFUSED to put this in, even though I had it, since there was NO WAY it could cross with PETR-....and it did....
50. Poet Walter __ Mare : DE LA - Nope, don't know this guy
51. Independent way to live : OFF THE GRID - I guess, but I wouldn't necessarily describe it as independent; more like low key, or on the "lam"
53. Barely better than none? : SLIM when your choices are "slim and none"
54. Railing with molded supports : BALUSTRADE - you know I HAD to get this one; I might have a huge balustrade to build next month
55. Court cry: Var. : OYEs - a variation on OLEs ????
56. Private : ONE-STRIPER - ARGH~! Got me, never thought of the military
DOWN:
1. Moor feature : PEAT BOG - wasn't he the lead singer of some rock group?
2. Frontman on the 1987 debut album "Appetite for Destruction" : AXL ROSE - Guns N Roses; got him, knew him, thought I might have a chance; he's the one in the middle - the guy to the left is my second favorite guitarist, Slash.
3. Flamboyant : SPLASHY - Axl was splashy, not Slash-y
4. Plugs of tobacco : QUIDS - my parents are both British; to me a "quid" is slang for a buck, a pound, a dollar, and not used in the plural
5. Seriously suggest : URGE
6. Supermarket chain with Chicago H.Q. : IGA - quick, name a three-letter food store....there's one WAY out east here on Lon Guyland
7. United __ : NATIONS - see the last clue/answer, 52D.
8. Components of the Maldives : ATOLLS - had islets to start
9. Scoffed at : DERIDED
10. __ est percipi: to be is to be perceived : ESSE - Four years of Latin told me "to be" is ESSE
11. Raked it in : MADE A MINT - had MADE MONEY to start; not a bad WAG
12. Protected, in a way : ALARMED - as in your home, with the "Slomin's shield" or ADT
13. Arugula alternative : ROMAINE
14. Down times? : SUNSETS - good clue/ans. and visual
23. Beetle of note : HERBIE - OH ~! The Volkswagen ~! VERY good ~!
24. Playful : JOCOSE - Bzzz - Denied; didn't get it
26. Use a ring, maybe : TEETHE - had TIE OFF (like drapes) at first; the the T_E helped
27. Household : MENAGE - Let's get DF here, and lighten this one up ~!
29. Elite tactical units : SWAT TEAMS - nailed it; today it was YES or NO - I either got it, or I didn't, and had no hope, to boot
33. Discussion-ending words : I SAID SO - I had "THAT'S IT" and couldn't shake it
34. In a word : TERSELY - got it, but spelled it TERSLEY
35. Pinball ball, perhaps : STEELIE - I love pinball, like the "Black Knight" and the Addam's Family", but did not know this term until I started writing today
36. Grammy winner for the 1993 album "Mi Tierra" : ESTEFAN - I had PUENTE (Tito), but spelled it wrong anyway
37. Thomas Mann's "Doktor __" : FAUSTUS - Um, nope
38. Caught : IN A TRAP - yeah, I guess
39. Four-wheel drive? : CAR RIDE - Really~?!?!?
40. Spy, at times : ENCODER
42. Gimcrack : TRIFLE
46. Pola of the silents : NEGRI - image
48. Western howler : LOBO
49. Stone: Pref. : PETR - not gonna say it again....
52. President when the U.N. was created : HST - I wanted Woodrow Wilson, but he was denied his "League of Nations".
Oh well, at least I move into my new apartment this weekend - I am off to lick my NON FATAL mental wounds....thanks for listening to me gripe
Splynter
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Saturday, July 9th, Doug Peterson
Theme: None
Words: 70
Blocks: 28
Wow~! - Considering the fine and challenging offers from our "Corner Constructors" of the last two days, I smoked this puzzle, without a single hesitation, and only one quick review to find my one-letter goof. We have seen Doug before on Saturday, his last being the duo with Barry Silk.
A nearly a 'pinwheel' symmetrical puzzle, with triple stacks of 10 in each "arm" - just a black square off in the NE and SW.
Onward~!
Splynter
ACROSS:
1. It may be picked : BASS GUITAR - I actually switched to the DOWNS first, but once I had _SS G_, I pretty much got it - I play, but use a pick more often then the finger or slap technique
11. Revival figs. : EMTs - nice misdirection, human revivers, Emergency Medical Technicians
15. Sly role, as a rule : ACTION HERO - Sylvester "Sly" Stallone, in movies such as Rambo, Cliffhanger, etc. - I still want to see "The Expendables" with "ALL" the action heroes.
16. Fly on the river, perhaps : LURE
17. One who might steal kisses : CHOCOHOLIC - those little Hershey kisses here
18. Protected from buffeting : ALEE - Saturday level cluing for this word
19. Shorten, in a way : HEW
20. Smoking choice : PIPE
21. Big name in test preparation : KAPLAN - Here
23. Certain surfer's power source : KITE - I would rather sail my Hobie Cat than do this
24. Stands in a field? : COPSES
25. Choice cut : T-BONE
28. Dealt with loose ends : MOPPED UP
30. Shadow removers : RAZOR BLADES - "5 o'clock shadow" for the hirsute man
33. Treasure State motto word : ORO
34. Intaglio stone : ONYX - Here
35. Not as refined : RUDER - I had rawer to start
36. Times to get ready : EVES
37. "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." producer : MGM - a WAG with the -G- there
38. Sinuous storytellers : HULA DANCERS - show me your links ~!
40. One of the noble metals : PLATINUM - nailed it; also Gold et. al.
42. Champion, for one : HORSE - I got it, but didn't know who Champion was....
43. Absinthe flavorings : ANISES
44. Chicago's __ House : HULL - Here's the story
46. Out there to the max : ODDEST
47. Tightly : FAST - meh, not sure about this
48. NASCAR no. : RPM
51. Doce halved : SEIS
52. "You Should Be Dancing" group : THE BEE GEES
55. Pre-bar letters : LSAT
56. Trying to get close to : ESTIMATING
57. Extremely : OHSO
58. Cops often take them at crime scenes : STATEMENTS - Huge Law & Order fan, usually this segment comes right after the first commercial break
DOWN:
1. "Little Organ Book" composer : BACH - Four-letter organ composer?
2. Not quite smart? : ACHE - Loved this, reminds me of this
3. Put away : STOW
4. Disclaimer in a quote : SIC - most often brakceted [sic] like this....
5. More likely to ooze : GOOPIER
6. Like a pitch that's taken, ironically : UNHIT
7. "My wish is ..." : I HOPE
8. Tubby leader? : TELE - Tele-tubbies, those pastel colored things
9. 1968 newlywed, familiarly : ARI - I had LIZ at first, a WAG at Elizabeth Taylor
10. Pink Floyd's "The Wall," e.g. : ROCK OPERA
11. Slip by : ELAPSE
12. Chewed on : MULLED OVER
13. Balancing pros : TREASURERS - well-clued
14. Caught, in a way : SEEN
22. Useful downloads : APPS
23. First U.S. secretary of war (for whom a fort was named) : KNOX
24. Put into bars, say : CODED
25. Defeat badly : TROMP
26. East Pakistan, today : BANGLADESH
27. Sonnet likely inspired by Ramses the Great : OZYMANDIAS - One and the same
28. Chair's title, at times : MADAM
29. Sheriff's outfit : POSSE
31. Gentlemen's second choices? : BRUNETTES - Well, now, they happen to be this gentleman's FIRST choice
32. Corkers : LULUs
36. Sierra Club subj. : ECOL. - Ecology, hear here ~!
38. Sign of an escape? : HISS - as air from a punctured tire
39. Devils, e.g. : NHL TEAM - New Jersey - I will root for them if the NY Rangers aren't on
41. Words with organized crime : TIES TO - Another L&O reference, as in "Biegel has ties to the Masucci family..." ( I had tieD to, my only boo-boo )
44. Order clothes : HABIT - I had ROBES to start here
45. "I'm yours to command" : USE ME - I think of the lyrics here at 0:58
46. Vigeland Sculpture Park city : OSLO - Images
47. Crumbly topping : FETA - cheese, on salads, etc
48. Arabian checker : REIN - Arabian, the horse, but not Champion
49. Shut (up) : PENT
50. In-box queue: Abbr. : MSGS
53. Fair Deal initials : HST - Harry S. Truman
54. Former comm. giant : GTE - I remember these guys
See ya next time ~!
Splynter
Words: 70
Blocks: 28
Wow~! - Considering the fine and challenging offers from our "Corner Constructors" of the last two days, I smoked this puzzle, without a single hesitation, and only one quick review to find my one-letter goof. We have seen Doug before on Saturday, his last being the duo with Barry Silk.
A nearly a 'pinwheel' symmetrical puzzle, with triple stacks of 10 in each "arm" - just a black square off in the NE and SW.
Onward~!
Splynter
ACROSS:
1. It may be picked : BASS GUITAR - I actually switched to the DOWNS first, but once I had _SS G_, I pretty much got it - I play, but use a pick more often then the finger or slap technique
11. Revival figs. : EMTs - nice misdirection, human revivers, Emergency Medical Technicians
15. Sly role, as a rule : ACTION HERO - Sylvester "Sly" Stallone, in movies such as Rambo, Cliffhanger, etc. - I still want to see "The Expendables" with "ALL" the action heroes.
16. Fly on the river, perhaps : LURE
17. One who might steal kisses : CHOCOHOLIC - those little Hershey kisses here
18. Protected from buffeting : ALEE - Saturday level cluing for this word
19. Shorten, in a way : HEW
20. Smoking choice : PIPE
21. Big name in test preparation : KAPLAN - Here
23. Certain surfer's power source : KITE - I would rather sail my Hobie Cat than do this
24. Stands in a field? : COPSES
25. Choice cut : T-BONE
28. Dealt with loose ends : MOPPED UP
30. Shadow removers : RAZOR BLADES - "5 o'clock shadow" for the hirsute man
33. Treasure State motto word : ORO
34. Intaglio stone : ONYX - Here
35. Not as refined : RUDER - I had rawer to start
36. Times to get ready : EVES
37. "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." producer : MGM - a WAG with the -G- there
38. Sinuous storytellers : HULA DANCERS - show me your links ~!
40. One of the noble metals : PLATINUM - nailed it; also Gold et. al.
42. Champion, for one : HORSE - I got it, but didn't know who Champion was....
43. Absinthe flavorings : ANISES
44. Chicago's __ House : HULL - Here's the story
46. Out there to the max : ODDEST
47. Tightly : FAST - meh, not sure about this
48. NASCAR no. : RPM
51. Doce halved : SEIS
52. "You Should Be Dancing" group : THE BEE GEES
55. Pre-bar letters : LSAT
56. Trying to get close to : ESTIMATING
57. Extremely : OHSO
58. Cops often take them at crime scenes : STATEMENTS - Huge Law & Order fan, usually this segment comes right after the first commercial break
DOWN:
1. "Little Organ Book" composer : BACH - Four-letter organ composer?
2. Not quite smart? : ACHE - Loved this, reminds me of this
3. Put away : STOW
4. Disclaimer in a quote : SIC - most often brakceted [sic] like this....
5. More likely to ooze : GOOPIER
6. Like a pitch that's taken, ironically : UNHIT
7. "My wish is ..." : I HOPE
8. Tubby leader? : TELE - Tele-tubbies, those pastel colored things
9. 1968 newlywed, familiarly : ARI - I had LIZ at first, a WAG at Elizabeth Taylor
10. Pink Floyd's "The Wall," e.g. : ROCK OPERA
11. Slip by : ELAPSE
12. Chewed on : MULLED OVER
13. Balancing pros : TREASURERS - well-clued
14. Caught, in a way : SEEN
22. Useful downloads : APPS
23. First U.S. secretary of war (for whom a fort was named) : KNOX
24. Put into bars, say : CODED
25. Defeat badly : TROMP
26. East Pakistan, today : BANGLADESH
27. Sonnet likely inspired by Ramses the Great : OZYMANDIAS - One and the same
28. Chair's title, at times : MADAM
29. Sheriff's outfit : POSSE
31. Gentlemen's second choices? : BRUNETTES - Well, now, they happen to be this gentleman's FIRST choice
32. Corkers : LULUs
36. Sierra Club subj. : ECOL. - Ecology, hear here ~!
38. Sign of an escape? : HISS - as air from a punctured tire
39. Devils, e.g. : NHL TEAM - New Jersey - I will root for them if the NY Rangers aren't on
41. Words with organized crime : TIES TO - Another L&O reference, as in "Biegel has ties to the Masucci family..." ( I had tieD to, my only boo-boo )
44. Order clothes : HABIT - I had ROBES to start here
45. "I'm yours to command" : USE ME - I think of the lyrics here at 0:58
46. Vigeland Sculpture Park city : OSLO - Images
47. Crumbly topping : FETA - cheese, on salads, etc
48. Arabian checker : REIN - Arabian, the horse, but not Champion
49. Shut (up) : PENT
50. In-box queue: Abbr. : MSGS
53. Fair Deal initials : HST - Harry S. Truman
54. Former comm. giant : GTE - I remember these guys
See ya next time ~!
Splynter
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Saturday, July 2nd, Barry Silk
Theme: None
Words: 72
Blocks: 31
Hey~!
We start off the holiday weekend with a Saturday Silk, two triple stacks of 10 in the NW and SE. Lots of entertainment clues, most before MY time....Not a tough one, but I did have to check red-letter for my first guess at 9D. Oh well. 6 "Z"s, but no 59D - missing the "Q-U"
Let's go to the video tape ~!
Splynter
ACROSS:
1. Extraterrestrial factor in creating much of Earth's carbon-14 : COSMIC RAYS - first thoughts were SOLAR FLARE or COMET/METEOR something....
11. '90s TV toon therapist : KATZ - this was on Comedy Central, but I couldn't watch because of the annoying jittery animation, described here
15. "The Defense Never Rests" co-author : F. LEE BAILEY - I defer to others
16. You may bid on it : EBAY
17. Circulation aid : CEILING FAN - good answer, I just installed two.
18. Five-time Wimbledon winner : BORG - Bjorn, of Sweden
19. American Fur Company founder : ASTOR
20. Firenze field : CAMPO - hey, thanks to yesterday, this one was a gimme ~!
21. "__ to Canaan": Carole King hit : BEEN - tried "ROAD" to start
24. Harris trickster : BR'ER RABBIT - a contraction of "brother", he's a character of folklore with more here
27. Sin tax, e.g. : EXCISE
29. Take-charge type : DOer
30. __ Genevieve: Missouri county or its seat : STE
31. __-ovo-vegetarian : LACTO - a guess, and I surmise that this is a person who is OK with consuming milk and eggs
32. Cry of delight : YOWZAH - last word heard here (warning: lyrical content~!)
34. Low life? : AMOEBAE - yes, a play on the plural, like I had before; this time, the Latin plural for our one-celled organisms
36. Remote drivers? : AA CELLS - got this one with a smile - thinking about a similar answer in a puzzle of my own....
40. Attached, as some decals : SEWN ON - meh, but I guess if it read "patches" instead of decals, it'd be a gimme. I tried IRON ON to start
42. Certain elephant : ASIAN - funny, but I couldn't get Indian or African to fit....
43. Dander : IRE
46. Pro __ : RATA
47. Miss Hungary of 1936, familiarly : ZSA-ZSA - our cop-slapping drunk driver - here
48. Where Massenet's "Don Quichotte" premiered : MONTE CARLO
51. Grate : RASP
52. Obscured : HAZED
53. Edge : SIDLE
55. Desert antelope : ORYX - image
56. Insolvent bailout beneficiary : ZOMBIE BANK - today's learning moment for me; based on the way things are after the $700B bailout of '08, I would prefer my "cut" of $22,000.
61. Michelle Phillips was one in the '60s : MAMA -of the Mamas & Papas
62. Man in the street : AVERAGE JOE - I could do without this guy's 15mins of fame in the next presidential election....
63. Hot times in 48-Across : ETES - not gonna say it....
64. Coconut-flavored cocktail : PIÑA COLADA - gettin' caught in the rain....
DOWN:
1. Ozone-threatening compound : CFC - ChloroFluoroCarbon - here
2. Word of support : OLE~!!!
3. Half of dodici : SEI - Italian for 12 and 6 - it filled itself in via perps
4. Black garnets : MELANITES - image
5. Spoonbill's cousin : IBIS
6. "No way!" : CAN'T BE
7. Inflexibility : RIGOR
8. Served with a creamy cheese sauce : ALFREDO
9. Word of support : YEA - I had "PRO" to start, and it wasn't working for me.
10. Lexicon abbr. : SYNonym
11. Word from the Turkish for "roasted meat" : KEBAB
12. Subj. of Cold War tests : A-BOMBS
13. Asphalt trap : TARPIT
14. Fallopian tube traveler : ZYGOTE - that is, coming down....
20. Bolívar's birthplace : CARACAS - map
21. Coach of Nadia and Mary Lou : BELA - too 52A for me - I just know these were two Olympian gymnasts.
22. Physical, e.g. : EXAM
23. Danish shoe brand : ECCO
25. Martin's partner : ROWAN - Rowan & Martins' Laugh-in, which I saw in reruns as a kid, and where I learned about Arte Johnson - lots of famous people, including 47A
26. Iran's Mohammad Shah __ Pahlavi : REZA - um, OK, sure...
28. Dried out, with "up" : SOBERED - I "dried out" 2,365 days ago
32. Busybody : YENTA
33. 1962 chart topper whose title subject "doesn't do what everybody else does" : HE'S A REBEL - someone else might appreciate this more than I do
35. "Never Wave at __": 1952 film : A WAC - WAAAY before my time
37. "__ With a 'Z'": 1972 TV special : LIZA - again, WAAAY before my time - I WAGed it when the Z showed up
38. Miss : LASS
39. Breeze : SNAP - as in "that was a _"
41. Crew members : OARSMEN - SAILORS fit, too
43. Arrival announcement : I'M HOME
44. Find very funny : ROAR AT
45. Catalytic protein : ENZYME
47. Group of signs : ZODIAC - nailed it. How's your life now that there are 13 signs? I actually had to "switch" to Capricorn from Aquarius - it's OK, it's a more manly sign, anyway.
49. Gulf state : TEXAS
50. 47-Down member : LIBRA - my younger brother is one
54. Block brand : LEGO - loved this toy as a kid - still have it all in my closet
56. Reheat, in a way : ZAP - we say "Nuke" in my house
57. Duct opening? : OVI - I had VIA to start; any relation to the Zygote?
58. Grammy-winning Steely Dan album : AJA - I like old Steely Dan; the new stuff, not so much
59. Doze : NOD - NAP fit, too.
60. Mauna __ : KEA - OK, so did you go with LOA or KEA to start?
Splynter
Words: 72
Blocks: 31
Hey~!
We start off the holiday weekend with a Saturday Silk, two triple stacks of 10 in the NW and SE. Lots of entertainment clues, most before MY time....Not a tough one, but I did have to check red-letter for my first guess at 9D. Oh well. 6 "Z"s, but no 59D - missing the "Q-U"
Let's go to the video tape ~!
Splynter
ACROSS:
1. Extraterrestrial factor in creating much of Earth's carbon-14 : COSMIC RAYS - first thoughts were SOLAR FLARE or COMET/METEOR something....
11. '90s TV toon therapist : KATZ - this was on Comedy Central, but I couldn't watch because of the annoying jittery animation, described here
15. "The Defense Never Rests" co-author : F. LEE BAILEY - I defer to others
16. You may bid on it : EBAY
17. Circulation aid : CEILING FAN - good answer, I just installed two.
18. Five-time Wimbledon winner : BORG - Bjorn, of Sweden
19. American Fur Company founder : ASTOR
20. Firenze field : CAMPO - hey, thanks to yesterday, this one was a gimme ~!
21. "__ to Canaan": Carole King hit : BEEN - tried "ROAD" to start
24. Harris trickster : BR'ER RABBIT - a contraction of "brother", he's a character of folklore with more here
27. Sin tax, e.g. : EXCISE
29. Take-charge type : DOer
30. __ Genevieve: Missouri county or its seat : STE
31. __-ovo-vegetarian : LACTO - a guess, and I surmise that this is a person who is OK with consuming milk and eggs
32. Cry of delight : YOWZAH - last word heard here (warning: lyrical content~!)
34. Low life? : AMOEBAE - yes, a play on the plural, like I had before; this time, the Latin plural for our one-celled organisms
36. Remote drivers? : AA CELLS - got this one with a smile - thinking about a similar answer in a puzzle of my own....
40. Attached, as some decals : SEWN ON - meh, but I guess if it read "patches" instead of decals, it'd be a gimme. I tried IRON ON to start
42. Certain elephant : ASIAN - funny, but I couldn't get Indian or African to fit....
43. Dander : IRE
46. Pro __ : RATA
47. Miss Hungary of 1936, familiarly : ZSA-ZSA - our cop-slapping drunk driver - here
48. Where Massenet's "Don Quichotte" premiered : MONTE CARLO
51. Grate : RASP
52. Obscured : HAZED
53. Edge : SIDLE
55. Desert antelope : ORYX - image
56. Insolvent bailout beneficiary : ZOMBIE BANK - today's learning moment for me; based on the way things are after the $700B bailout of '08, I would prefer my "cut" of $22,000.
61. Michelle Phillips was one in the '60s : MAMA -of the Mamas & Papas
62. Man in the street : AVERAGE JOE - I could do without this guy's 15mins of fame in the next presidential election....
63. Hot times in 48-Across : ETES - not gonna say it....
64. Coconut-flavored cocktail : PIÑA COLADA - gettin' caught in the rain....
DOWN:
1. Ozone-threatening compound : CFC - ChloroFluoroCarbon - here
2. Word of support : OLE~!!!
3. Half of dodici : SEI - Italian for 12 and 6 - it filled itself in via perps
4. Black garnets : MELANITES - image
5. Spoonbill's cousin : IBIS
6. "No way!" : CAN'T BE
7. Inflexibility : RIGOR
8. Served with a creamy cheese sauce : ALFREDO
9. Word of support : YEA - I had "PRO" to start, and it wasn't working for me.
10. Lexicon abbr. : SYNonym
11. Word from the Turkish for "roasted meat" : KEBAB
12. Subj. of Cold War tests : A-BOMBS
13. Asphalt trap : TARPIT
14. Fallopian tube traveler : ZYGOTE - that is, coming down....
20. Bolívar's birthplace : CARACAS - map
21. Coach of Nadia and Mary Lou : BELA - too 52A for me - I just know these were two Olympian gymnasts.
22. Physical, e.g. : EXAM
23. Danish shoe brand : ECCO
25. Martin's partner : ROWAN - Rowan & Martins' Laugh-in, which I saw in reruns as a kid, and where I learned about Arte Johnson - lots of famous people, including 47A
26. Iran's Mohammad Shah __ Pahlavi : REZA - um, OK, sure...
28. Dried out, with "up" : SOBERED - I "dried out" 2,365 days ago
32. Busybody : YENTA
33. 1962 chart topper whose title subject "doesn't do what everybody else does" : HE'S A REBEL - someone else might appreciate this more than I do
35. "Never Wave at __": 1952 film : A WAC - WAAAY before my time
37. "__ With a 'Z'": 1972 TV special : LIZA - again, WAAAY before my time - I WAGed it when the Z showed up
38. Miss : LASS
39. Breeze : SNAP - as in "that was a _"
41. Crew members : OARSMEN - SAILORS fit, too
43. Arrival announcement : I'M HOME
44. Find very funny : ROAR AT
45. Catalytic protein : ENZYME
47. Group of signs : ZODIAC - nailed it. How's your life now that there are 13 signs? I actually had to "switch" to Capricorn from Aquarius - it's OK, it's a more manly sign, anyway.
49. Gulf state : TEXAS
50. 47-Down member : LIBRA - my younger brother is one
54. Block brand : LEGO - loved this toy as a kid - still have it all in my closet
56. Reheat, in a way : ZAP - we say "Nuke" in my house
57. Duct opening? : OVI - I had VIA to start; any relation to the Zygote?
58. Grammy-winning Steely Dan album : AJA - I like old Steely Dan; the new stuff, not so much
59. Doze : NOD - NAP fit, too.
60. Mauna __ : KEA - OK, so did you go with LOA or KEA to start?
Splynter
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)