C.C. Burnikel

Title: A tall order from C.C.

Not a tall, but A↠ TO↠ LL. Well, we continue adjusting, and I am comforted by the task of unraveling one of our dear leader's creations. I do not get to blog C.C. often, but this puzzle is a perfect example of why C.C. has become an Icon of modern crossword construction. While seeing the great reveal, ATOLL being reparsed as A TO LL was impressive; finding four meaningful phrases that would make sense when the ending "A" in the first word of the phrase was replaced with "LL" was awesome.  The rest of the fill was chock full of sparkle - ARSENAL EDAMAME,  SALT COD,  SPUMONI,  TROTSKY,  VERTIGO, DESOLATE,  GET ANTSY, IDRIS ELBA, and LET ME KNOW. And the cultural references for a non-US born person highlights how much C.C. has incorporated into her mental database. "Nuff said, enjoy.

18A. Spread served in concave pasta?: SHELL BUTTER (11). SHEA Butter has nothing to do with the Mets old ballpark.

32A. Laid-back cats and dogs?: CHILL PETS (9). CHIA pets are hanging in as an absurd gift.

44A. Revealing sweat remover at the poker table?: TELL TOWEL (9). TEA Towel may not be a phrase to which you are familiar; mine are all linen.

59A. What Royal Caribbean reps do?: SELL CRUISES (11). SEA cruises can be distinguished from river cruises.
And the reveal:

53D. Island ring ... or, in three parts, a hint to 18-, 32-, 44- and 59-Across: ATOLL.(5).

Across:

1. Cow, for one: SHE. The old simple misdirection. DUH!

4. Cancel, in a way: ABORT. The space race gave this old word new meaning.

9. Food fight noise: SPLAT.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9hxYG-vWuE

14. "U R 2 funny!": LOL. Textspeak Laugh Out Loud (or Lagh ot lod?).

15. "On the Media" medium: RADIO. A podcast from our friends at NPR.

16. Michelangelo carved it from a single slab of marble: PIETA.  I did not know this fact. I am in...

17. Circus reaction: AWE.

20. Statuette site: NICHE.

22. Sushi bar appetizer: EDAMAME.

23. Start to pace, say: GET ANTSY. This word has followed me recently.

26. Stood: ROSE.

27. Polite address: MA'AM.

28. "We'll Meet Again" host Curry: ANN.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr5DN-_AOGM

29. Documentarian Burns: KEN. A very prolific and important documentary filmmaker. His body of WORK.

36. Ancient Aegean region: IONIA. You should brush up on this HISTORY.

38. Teased: RODE.

39. Word of welcome: ALOHA.

41. 1993 Literature Nobelist Morrison: TONI.

42. Law school subject: TORTS. One of Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe mysteries was solved when Wolfe asked a suspect who was talking about his experience in law school if he had learned drafting torts.

46. Sliding runner: SKI.

47. Sounds of contentment: AHS.

49. Name associated with the Gateway Arch: EERO.  We see this DESIGNER often thanks to the three vowels.

50. Only: SOLE.

52. Like ghost towns: DESOLATE.

56. Hitchcock classic set in San Francisco: VERTIGO. The inspiration for Mel Brooks' High Anxiety. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHhsEYDg8GI

58. Colorful tank addition: TETRA. Sometimes called neon this is  a small tropical freshwater fish that is typically brightly colored. Native to Africa and America, many tetras are popular in aquariums.

62. Move on a lake: OAR. ?

63. Forbidden: TABOO.

64. For fun, with "on": A LARK. Or an old cigarette brand.

65. "Hamilton" creator __-Manuel Miranda: LIN. He is very busy these days.

66. Spiral-horned creature: ELAND.

67. Sinatra standard: MY WAY.
https://vimeo.com/91950808

68. Sgt.'s superiors: LTS.

Down:

1. Urban Dictionary focus: SLANG.

2. Mandel of "Deal or No Deal": HOWIE. A bald germaphobe comedian who has made his mark in reality TV, with this show that once had princess to as a suitcase girl. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R-N5_TKlVI

3. Give a seat to: ELECT.

4. Premier League powerhouse: ARSENAL. the FOOTBALL CLUB.

5. "Humph!": BAH.

6. Celebratory work: ODE.

7. One with an easy life: RILEY. A memory from my early years, this SITCOM was Mr. Bendix' starring role.

8. Spilled the beans: TOLD.

9. Layered ice cream: SPUMONI.

10. Deli pockets: PITAS.

11. "I'll be waiting to hear from you": LET ME KNOW. LMK, a favorite phrase.

12. Suit to __: A TEE.

13. Street cover: TAR.

19. Raised building?: BARN. A New England TRADITION.

21. Play with a ghost: HAMLET. Ah, play WITH, not play with.

24. Taberna tidbit: TAPA. Simple Spanish.

25. Refines, as ore: SMELTS.

28. "Pieces of Me" singer Simpson: ASHLEE. Jessica's sister.

30. Bonn article: EINE.

31. Polish target: NAIL.

32. Older PC screens: CRTS. Cathode Ray Tube.

33. Errant golf shot, usually: HOOK.

34. "Luther" star: IDRIS ELBA.  I know the actor, but not the SERIES.

35. Golf club part: TOE.

37. "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" (1969) star: O'TOOLE. Peter.

40. Taproom array: ALES.

43. Dried fish used in brandade: SALT COD. Not familiar with this DISH or Portuguese cooking in general.

45. October Revolution leader: TROTSKY.

48. Next in line: HEIR.

51. Wrinkle-resistant fabric: ORLON.

52. Lacy table mat: DOILY.

54. Black hair, e.g.: TRAIT.

55. Deserves: EARNS.

56. Saltimbocca meat: VEAL. This is Italian for jumps in the mouth, and you can make it at HOME.

57. Largest of the Mariana Islands: GUAM.

59. Sault __ Marie: STE.

60. Tool with teeth: SAW.

61. Cy Young Award stat: ERA.

C.C. Burnikel

Title: Letters rip.

My 2018 begins with a C.C. special in which initial-isms are unwound to create whimsical new clues and fill. I think this is my 4th or 5th friday from C.C. solo, though she has done some Friday collaborations.


ALFREDO, ATE DIRT, KARAOKE, PANACEA, RADIATE, SEDATED and NICE GOING are all fun fill, but TEARSTAIN is wonderful.


17A. Attire with a spreadsheet design? : EXCEL SHIRT (10). XL SHIRT gets repurposed.

24A. Disreputable court proceeding? : SEEDY CASE (9) C.D. CASE gets repurposed.

50A. Extracts from Wrigley Field's walls? : IVY FLUIDS (9). I.V. FLUIDS gets repurposed.

61A. Transports for fertilizer? : PEATY BOATS (10). P.T. BOATS gets repurposed.

Across:

1. Fey of "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot": TINA. A spectacularly hidden hint to the type of puzzle.

5. Ready to rock : EAGER. The "E" was my last fill. Sometimes we make the easy hard.

10. Mug shot subject : PERP. C.C. slipped in a Corner word.

14. "I got this!" : ON IT.

15. Wheels since 1986 : ACURA. This car was in Monday's first puzzle of the year.

16. Adidas rival: AVIA. I think Nike is a bigger rival.

19. Minor points : NITS. The lifeblood of much puzzle discussion and another C.C.inside joke.

20. Under : SEDATED. Good Friday deception; I can hear the doctor asking, "Is he under yet?"

21. More than tickles : ELATES. I think this is one of C.C.'s favorite words.

23. Liquor in a Singapore sling : GIN. I have had this before - I will always remember Albany.

26. Unskilled in : POOR AT.

29. Hebrides tongue : ERSE. Scottish Gaelic spoken HERE.

30. Arrived, in a way : ALIT.

31. Hardly an original : APER.

34. Office administrations : OATHS. I love this clue/fill; perfect deception. At every level government officials are sworn in; later on sworn at.

38. Superstation that broadcasts some Cubs games: WGN.

39. Old Testament prophet: EZEKIEL. I spent way too much time trying to squeeze this into being a theme fill, but "KIEL" just did not fit the pattern of the others.

41. Creature for whose shape Anguilla was named : EEL. Named by COLUMBUS?

42. "Broca's Brain" author : SAGAN.  The entire BOOK.  Or WIKI.

44. Speed away, with "out" : PEEL.

45. Syrup brand since 1902 : KARO.

46. Cuts (off) : LOPS.

48. Sacred crawler: SCARAB. Do you remember this SCENE?

55. Monopoly quartet: Abbr. : RRS.

56. __ network : NEURAL. Good solid friday clue/fill and a mini-theme  with 42A.

57. Emit : RADIATE.

60. Greased auto part : AXLE. I am so not an auto mechanic type.

64. Scholarship consideration : NEED. Sounds counter-intuitive doesn't it.

65. Umbilical variety : INNIE. I was an innie, but now I have an unbilical hernia.

66. Lover's greeting : KISS.

67. Old U.S. pump sign : ESSO.

68. Bluto and Pluto : TOONS. I like the rhyme but it took me a while to see what a sailor from Popeye and a Disney dog had in common.

69. "Echoes in Rain" singer : ENYA.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWFc5mkABNo

Down:

1. Ring site : TOE.

2. Sydney band originally called The Farriss Brothers : INXS. If you want you listen HERE.

3. "Good work!" : NICE GOING.

4. Swallowed one's pride : ATE DIRT.

5. Needle point? : EAST. Simple but this took so long as I to get away from sewing.

6. Soreness : ACHES.

7. Museum offering : GUIDE. Another good example of Friday decption in clue/fill.

8. Miss on "Jeopardy!," e.g. : ERR.

9. Involving nudity, maybe : RATED-R. The rating can be earned by  hard language, or tough violence, or nudity within sensual scenes, or drug abuse or other elements, or a combination of some of the above. MPAA.

10. Cure-all : PANACEA. I have always loved this word. Panacea comes from a Greek word meaning "all-healing", and Panacea was the goddess of healing.

11. 1980 Tony winner for Best Musical : EVITA.

12. Bat mitzvahs, e.g. : RITES.

13. So yesterday : PASSE.

18. Superboy's girlfriend : LANA.

22. Disinfectant brand : LYSOL.

25. Like many "Buffy" settings : EERIE.

26. Kittens play with them : PAWS.

27. Lingerie brand : OLGA.

28. Whirling toon : TAZ.

32. Drink with a Zero Sugar variety : PEPSI.

33. __ out a meager existence : EKE.

35. Mark on a Dear John letter, perhaps: TEAR STAIN. Fabulous clue/fill.

36. Zeus' jealous wife : HERA.

37. One who doesn't pick up much : SLOB. Not a dolt, but a messy one.

39. __ Gay : ENOLA.

40. "The Complete Short Game" author : ELS. How many three letter golfers are there?

43. Fettuccine sauce : ALFREDO. I add tuna and peas for a complete meal.

45. Bar attraction : KARAOKE. Kara 空 "empty" and ōkesutora オーケストラ "orchestra"); same kara as in karate (empty hands).

47. Ministry : PULPIT.

49. Bed with enclosed sides : CRIB.

50. Absurd : INANE.

51. Annoys : VEXES.

52. Celebrated seasons : YULES.

53. Pipe cleaner : DRANO.

54. Chemise fabric : SATIN.

58. Salon assortment : DYES.

59. Site for handicrafts : ETSY.

62. "Reflection" musician : ENO.

63. Issuer of five million-plus IDs annually : SSA.

C.C. Burnikel

Title: Shh the J's are coming.



AUTO PEN, INK SPOT,  COSSETS,  EASY JOB, BRETHREN,  MISNOMER,  IN MOTION, U. N. SPEECH, RED AS A BEET,  BEER O'CLOCK,  BIONIC LEGS,  I SMELL A RAT

17A. Art-loving athlete? : CULTURE JOCK (11).

31A. What you don't know about audio equipment? : RADIO JACK (9).

47A. Difficult situation at Bed Bath & Beyond? : PILLOW JAM (9).

61A. Gem of a night out? : EVENING JADE (11).

Across:

1. Wrap alternatives : PITAS.

6. Ill-fated Corleone hoodlum Luca : BRASI.

11. TD scorers : RBS. Running backs.

14. Response to a raise : I'M OUT. Or I fold, or just muck your cards.

15. Element #86 : RADON. Perp time.

16. Fish whose blood is poisonous to humans : EEL. Of course C.C. would know eel blood is poisonous to humans and other mammals, but both cooking and the digestive process destroy the toxic protein. The toxin derived from eel blood serum was used by Charles Richet in his Nobel winning research which discovered anaphylaxis (by injecting it into dogs and observing the effect). Wiki.

19. "Agnus __" : DEI.

20. Home of the annual Norwegian Wood music festival : OSLO.  Wonderful excuse for
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl2xQAeCvOc

21. Heineken symbol : STAR. . C.C. used this before LINK.  Do you remember the puzzle where all the companies that use a Star in their logo?

22. Quick : SMART. That boy is as quick as a whip!

24. Sign on a door : PUSH. P U then the perps.

26. Texas county bordering New Mexico : EL PASO. Did not know it was a County. Read a Lawrence Block mini-mstery where he was trying to rhyme El Paso.

28. "__ Irish Rose" : ABIE'S. The modern version had a really fun cast. Turns out may have married Bernie, but she loves Batya.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8fSnJ0-0PA

34. Chinese checkers, e.g. : MISNOMER. Really fun word, and again we see C.C. playing with her heritage. It is a German variation of an American game that has nothing to do with checkers.

36. Firm : STABLE.

37. Fruit juice brand : POM. Oo buys this regularly.

38. Break up : END IT. Now done by text, I understand.

40. Goddess sister of Selene : EOS. A few years ago, I has this goddess of the dawn many times. LINK.

41. World Heritage Site org. : UNESCO. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

44. Ban delivery : U. N. SPEECH.

49. Foreigner in "Taxi" : LATKA. The lare great Andy Kaufman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjvY_-w12kQ

50. Greensboro Grasshoppers' baseball level : CLASS A. Leave it to c.C. to craft a friday baseball clue.

51. Surprised sounds : OHOS.

53. Appreciative sounds : CLAPS.

54. Wine holders : VATS.

56. "The Ghost of Frankenstein" role : YGOR. Or maybe IGOR?

60. "Away From __": Julie Christie movie : HER. This heart wrenching story of a woman who is institutionalized by her husband due to advanced Alzheimer's disease, is based on a short story by Alice Munro who was in a recent Friday puzzle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5l5J4L1ZdQ

64. Turkish bigwig : AGA.

65. Sculpted trunk : TORSO. The human variety.

66. Chocolate-caramel candies : ROLOS.










67. It ends 11/6/2016 in the U.S. : DST. Daylight Savings Time. First Sunday in November.

68. Evil figure : SATAN.

69. "No good movie is too long and no bad movie is short enough" speaker : EBERT.

Down:

1. __ de gallo : PICO. No self-respecting South Floridian could get this wrong. Spanish for "rooster's beak," pico de gallo is a relish made of finely chopped ingredients like jicama, oranges, onions, bell peppers, jalapeño peppers and cucumbers, along with various seasonings. This condiment was so named because it was once purportedly eaten with the thumb and finger, an action that resembles a rooster's pecking beak. Food Network. Unlike salsa nothing is cooked.

2. Stern rival : IMUS.

3. Crossing cost : TOLL.

4. Signing facilitator : AUTOPEN. This 60 year old DEVICE.

5. Poker great Ungar : STU. Another sad STORY.

6. Members of a flock : BRETHREN.

7. Punjabi prince : RAJA. 23D. Woman whom Goya also painted clothed : MAJA. We have seen both versions here.

8. Flipped over : ADORED. Not a pancake, or amttress- a girl/boy?

9. A behavioral sci. : SOCiology.

10. Laundry challenge : INK SPOT. Use an alcohol based product, no longer hairspray.

11. Visibly embarrassed : RED AS A BEET. I love these two next to each other

12. Time for a cold one : BEER O'CLOCK. This is actually in the 2015 Oxford dictionary.

13. Skirt feature : SLIT.
http://img.wennermedia.com/480-width/1417616639_taylor-swift-zoom.jpg

18. Web feed document letters : RSS. RSS (Rich Site Summary; originally RDF Site Summary; often called Really Simple Syndication) uses a family of standard web feed formats to publish frequently updated information: blog entries, news headlines, audio, video. Wiki. Unknown to me.

25. Military support gp. : USO. Think Bob Hope.

27. Memory aids : LISTS.

28. Intensify : AMP UP. C.C. has clearly amp-ed up her game presenting more Friday and Saturday offerings.

29. Brain-controlled transportation devices : BIONIC LEGS. Two more exquisite fill.

30. "Something's fishy" : I SMELL A RAT.

32. Adversity, in the RAF motto : ARDUA. Per ardua ad astra. From adversity to the stars. Good to know some latin. This was chosen in 1912 for the first royal flying corps.

33. "We R Who We R" singer : KESHA. I have only heard of her as Ke$ha. The song...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXvmSaE0JXA

35. Catty remarks : MEOWS.

39. Actively operating : IN MOTION.

42. Hit, in a way : SLAP.

43. Mollycoddles : COSSETS. I only know this word from reading scads of British mysteries.

45. West Bank initials : PLO.

46. Not a hard nut to crack : EASY JOB. Seems like a random phrase and clue.

48. "Les Misérables" inspector : JAVERT. A great J word to finish.

52. EVINE Live competitor : HSN. Home Shopping Network. QVC just would not work.

53. Libya neighbor : CHAD. Think we will ever learn African Geography?
55. Archaeologist's handle : ANSA.

57. Severe blow : GALE. Refers to winds blowing.

58. Pure propane's lack : ODOR.

59. Come to a halt : REST.

62. Intl. broadcaster since 1942 : VOA. Voice of America.

63. Hurdle for srs. : GRE.

C.C. Burnikel

Title: Colour me happy.

I have blogged for almost six years now and C.C. has 127 solo puzzles published in the LAT in the last 4 years, but this is only my second solo C.C. Friday. The first was the outstanding Poet's Corner puzzle in 2014. Today is quite tame by comparison, and like last weeks JW, primarily a fun puzzle. The simple concept of phrases including words which sound like colors is brought together by the rare Friday reveal. Once again she builds her grid in a pin wheel fashion with the reveal in the southeast. No long fill, but some interesting intermediate fill like STACHE,  OH DARN,  OGRESS,  GASHED,  B B KING,  SPREES,  BOASTS, FAINTS, ANEMIA,  HEFNER,  ENGAGE,  PAWNEE, SCENERY, EPITHET,  SINCERE,  LET ME GO, HOW'S THAT. All this from our transplanted fearless leader...amazing.

17A. *Lost it : BLEW A FUSE (9).

60A. *Entertained the kids, in a way : READ ALOUD (9).

11D. *"Bonanza" star : LORNE GREENE (11).

25D. *Cottage site in the Beatles' "When I'm Sixty-Four" : ISLE OF WIGHT (11).
And the reveal.

41D. Risqué ... and what each answer to a starred clue contains? : OFF COLOR (8).

Across:

1. Trellis pieces : LATHS. THIS always confused me, but I learned a trellis can be made of lattice. Splynter, help?

6. "Ideas worth spreading" acronym : TED. Technology, Entertainment, Design

9. Runs out : BOLTS.

14. Eponym of a United Kingdom poetry prize : ELIOT. It is obvious many here share my love of Poetry and PRIZES.

15. Schooner filler : ALE.

16. Walking the dog, e.g. : CHORE. I was thinking about yoyos.

19. Storage place : CD-ROM. Oh these modern times.

20. Play set : SCENERY.

22. Nonpro? : ANTI. Ifn you aint fer it, your agin it.

23. Man's best friend, e.g. : EPITHET. They can be nice like that or  they can be bad. It is a sobriquet, a nickname, a title, a label, a description etc. Fittingly a lead in to...52D. Animal that's been a Japanese Natural Monument since 1931 : AKITA. An amazing STORY.

26. Fiona, after Shrek's kiss : OGRESS. Nit polic, Fiona was always an Ogress, the spell which made her look like a human was broken by the kiss.

28. Cut deeply : GASHED. But literally and metaphorically.

29. "Blues on the Bayou" musician : B. B. KING. An album and a song...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4ZI_p0mjsI

31. Spanish pronoun : ELLA.

32. Overindulgent outings : SPREES. A binge.

34. Stranded messenger : RNA. Nice stand pun.

37. Handle : SEE TO. Make it so....

39. Mr. Potato Head piece : EAR. Followed by the anthropomorphic...

40. Front-wheel alignment : TOE IN. Know your TOE or you will be towed.

42. Unduly : TOO. Not unduly hard.

43. Possesses with pride : BOASTS.

46. Deflect, with "off" : FEND.

47. Passes out : FAINTS.

49. "The Girls Next Door" co-creator : HEFNER.  PLAYBOY meets reality tv.

51. Fictional Indiana town in "Parks and Recreation" : PAWNEE. You can READ or watch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_zknCszY58

53. Genuine : SINCERE. Like the...

54. Dust Bowl migrant : OKIE.

55. Release request : LET ME GO.

58. Summation symbol, in math : SIGMA. You all get this, RIGHT?

64. Moral principle : ETHIC.

65. Scar, say : MAR.

66. Thorny evergreen : GORSE.

67. Occupied, as a desk : SAT AT.

68. Museum pieces : ART.

69. Vertical : ERECT.

Down:

1. Its natl. emblem is the cedar tree : LEBanon. Fun with flags. The cedars of Lebanon are mentioned often in the Bible.

2. Every drop : ALL.

3. 20-20, e.g. : TIE. Not perfect vision; not a tv show. good misdirection.

4. ''What do you think?'' : HOW'S THAT? Often heard while you try to hang a picture.

5. What one might have with milk, briefly? : 'STACHE. Got Milk? Who was your favorite?

6. Needle : TAUNT.

7. Different : ELSE. She was something....

8. Road sign image : DEER. How do they know where to cross?

9. Email option, for short : BCC. Now blind courtesy copy.

10. "Shoot!" : OH DARN.

12. Brings (out) : TROTS. And then to make the disastrous evening complete, they trotted out their vacation pics.

13. Late round : SEMIS.

18. Satellite broadcasts : FEEDS.

21. Team connection : YOKE. Poor oxen, the yoke is always on them.

23. Get rid of : EGEST. Opposite of ingest. Seriously.

24. Retro diet, to put it mildly : PALEO. The word is from Greek palaios meaning ‘ancient.' The idea is to eat like early man, no processed foods etc, Since their life expectancy was about 30....

27. Kernel : GIST.

29. Leadership : BRASS.

30. Hall of Fame pitcher Blyleven : BERT. Of course C. C. would slip in a baseball payer from Minnesota, what a curve ball. He was born in the Netherlands and coached their pitchers in the new world event.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M08YxzFuBUM

33. Organic fuel : PEAT. Major heating fuel in the Highlands, I have read.

35. Bay Area pro : NINER. We got our morning weather girl from the 49ers

36. Court rival of Pete : ANDRE. Sampras and Agassi.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJTTvyDX0nE

38. Village Voice award : OBIE.  Off-Broadway.  LINK.

44. Law school newbie : ONE L. We did not use this in my day.

45. Drew back : SHIED.

48. Lack of get-up-and-go : ANEMIA. I had the ferrous oxide recently.

50. Hold rapt : ENGAGE.

51. Puts forward : POSES. Say you are stuck on a desert island, who do you want there with you?
If you answer, "my spouse" you are...

53. Quick on the uptake : SMART.

56. Humorous Bombeck : ERMA.

57. Sewer's concern : TEAR. One who sews.
59. Play : ACT.

61. Natural resource : ORE.

62. L.A. school : USC. University of Southern California.

63. LAPD rank : DETective.