Saturday, January 28, 2012

Saturday, Jan 28th, 2012, Barry C. Silk

Theme: None

Words: 72

Blocks: 28

 Saturday Silk~!  Either I am still dreaming, or my confidence with Saturday puzzles, specifically this one, is getting very high - I did happen to know a great many answers off the top of my head, but my "WAG"-ing ( Wild Azz Guessing ) has gotten bolder.  For example;

19. Manhattan's __ Place, named for a wealthy early American : ASTOR - I live on Long Island, about 50miles from Manhattan, but do not know this spot; but "five-letter" wealthy Americans? Well, let's try "ASTOR" ~!!

23A. Albemarle Sound's st. : N.CAR - Even though I know nothing about the location, I threw in "NDAK", (for North Dakota), since four-letter state abbreviations have the possibility of including "N" or "S" - close enough for "perps", and then I went back and fine-tuned 'North Carolina'

34A. They shine in theaters : EXIT SIGNS - Aisle lights? no - Usher's beam? no - Exit Signs - well, it fits....
    I think what I am saying is that a "daunting" triple-ten pinwheel puzzle such as this can be less blank if you "go with your gut" on some of the clues - but don't 'forget' that it was a WAG, or you'll paint yourself into a black & white corner....

Yes, No, Maybe, Not ~??

Onward ~!

ACROSS:

1. Mascot whose first and middle names are Horatio Magellan : CAP'N CRUNCH - This guy; he was on my breakfast table every now and then

11. Employs : USES

15. "No kidding?" : ARE YOU SURE ??

16. Nonspecific filing abbr. : MISCellaneous

17. Situations with no legal moves : STALEMATES

18. Mlle. counterpart : SRTA

20. Retired fliers : SSTs

22. Whale group : GAM - now here's a WAG gone wrong; I had POD, but my 13D HAD to be right; see below

26. Improvisatory composition : TOCCATA - DAH ~! I should have known this; it's one of my favorite pieces - you all know this one

28. Case worker: Abbr. : DETective

31. "... harken __ die": Tennyson : ERE I - we have many a poet on this blog

33. Carpenter's gadget : NAILER - How Ironic is it that I did NOT WAG this?  In truth, it's actually worse being a carpenter, because now I start thinking about the hundreds of gadgets it could be....I do own a dual-function Bosch nailer, does both common nails and metal bracket nails, which are stubbier; C.C. asked me to put more of my work up here - right now, I am doing a big drafting project

37. Stretch : TRACT - This word always makes me think of this clip from Monty Python

38. Russian auto : LADA - I am just curious - I am going to count the "NICs" - Nailed It Clues; this is #1 - from doing crosswords, this car

39. Apply gently : DAB ON - #2, from doing crosswords

41. Traditional Indian beverage : CHAI - #3, from doing crosswords

42. Devil : SCAMP - put in SATAN at first - note that the "S" stayed

44. Baylor University hoopsters : LADY BEARS

46. Piece of protective gear : HELMET - another WAG

48. Jutland native : DANE - I put in JAWA here, since they lived on Tattooine, and the "Jundland Wastes" were there, too - totally wrong, but again, the "A" stayed

49. Haw. doesn't observe it : DST - I know that some parts of Indiana don't deal with Daylight Savings Time, but the HAW. did not click until just now - HAWaii; - I think it's silly now, too

50. Judge : ARBITER

52. Harmony : SYNC

54. 2011 lockout org. : NBA - #4 - conflicting with the NHL, I was hoping that they stayed locked out - alas, you get the sport with the biggest waste of quality hardwood...

55. Citi Field predecessor : SHEA #5 - live here, been there, the NY Mets old stadium

57. "Quiet!" : ZIP IT ~!! - thought we were on our way to a pangram

61. Political mascot creator : NAST - #6 - Uncle Sam

63. Washoe County seat : RENO NEVADA

66. Publisher Chandler : OTIS

67. Task assigned at a meeting : ACTIONITEM

68. German pop star since the '80s : NENA - #7 - You know this song

69. Sewer's accessory : NEEDLE CASE - ah - not the etui we always see....

DOWNward ~!

1. Latin quarters? : CASA - the "A" was there from my ASTOR WAG, so I put in the Spanish word for house - I knew quarter from "No Quarter", the Led Zeppelin song; I didn't think it meant 25¢ in the song, so I had to look it up, when I was about 13 years old

2. Newspaper section : ARTS - this filed in by itself; all perps

3. Garden supply : PEAT - WAG, since the "T" was there

4. Hose material : NYLON - #8 - oh, I know these

5. More than wheedles : COERCES - after that, it's "Arm Twisting"

6. Punch spirits : RUM

7. "Miracle on Ice" team : USA - #9 - but I dig hockey

8. "Phooey!" : NUTS - tried RATS first - half right

9. Surfer's perch : CREST - of a wave, not the toothpaste....

10. "El Cid" star, 1961 : HESTON - Charlton

11. Sounds of hesitation : UMs....

12. Round Table member : SIR GALAHAD - More Monty Python, at :30

13. English station wagons : ESTATE CARS - I got this one because I record every single episode of the BRITISH original series "Top Gear" - both funny, and informative - and I was never a big car enthusiast

14. Hustler : SCAM ARTIST

21. Improvisational style : SCAT

24. Parched : ARID

25. Majestic : REGAL

27. She turned Odysseus' crew to swine : CIRCE

28. "Runaway" singer, 1961 : DEL SHANNON - quite a lot I didn't know about him; committed suicide the day before my 19th birthday

29. Make worse : EXACERBATE

30. National Cherry Blossom Festival focal point : TIDAL BASIN - Image

32. Out of favor : IN BAD

35. Motown singer Terrell : TAMMI

36. Pops : SODAS - was not fooled by this one

40. NASDAQ setting : NY, NY

43. Some are exotic : PETS - I had an iguana, Zeus, and a ball python (third reference) named "Snickers" - he ate live mice

45. Coal tar product : BENZENE - a WAG with the "Zed" there

47. 1974 Asian Games host city : TEHRAN

51. Ex-model Gabrielle : REECE - Volleyball player, here

53. Honda model : CIVIC


56. Deal prerequisite, maybe : ANTE

58. "__-Pan": carol : PATA - did not know this at all; more here

59. Fateful day : IDES

60. Subdue : TAME

62. Dept. of Homeland Security org. : TSA

64. Suffix with fact : OID

65. Lon of Cambodia : NOL

Splynter