Kurt Krauss

Theme: NESW? I am lost where do I go? It does not matter any direction will do, they all lead to home.

There are four pairs of theme answers along with the grid spanning 'hint'  40A. Like the answers to eight starred clues ... and a hint as to how to fill them in : OMNIDIRECTIONAL (15). The gimmick is you must read the fill in the direction of the of the words themselves. 93 theme letters is a big challenge so you can expect many short fill but we do get ANOMALY,  CITADEL,  COOLERS,  LABORED, UNRESERVED  and the complete ET TU BRUTE. Of course as is often the case on Friday, many will not like the backwards words. The last KK I blogged in 2014 brought out many negative or Thumper comments. But which way do you prefer to make Fridays challenging? Obscurities? Originality? I thought this was relatively easy and I had fun. let's peek at the answer sheet.

12A. *Ring punch : RIGHT HOOK (9). This was perps but it made sesne when paired with 68A. *Ring punch : SSORC TFEL (9) Left Cross, another common boxing term. The fill must be read from right to left.  We read right to left in Hebrew.

19A. *Manhattan neighborhood : EAST HARLEM (10). This neighborhood known also as Spanish Harlem is not a place many go to visit. It is Paired with 57A. *Liberia locale : ACIRFA TSEW (10) West Africa, which you have to read from West to East (right to left). This where I caught on as I know where Liberia is.

4D. *Animated TV series set in the Rockies : SOUTH PARK (9). This paired with 38D. *Challenge to Eiger climbers : ECAF HTRON (9) (North Face) which requires you to head North to understand the fill.

9D. *Promising : GNIMOC DNA PU (11). Up and Coming, which is paired with 23D. *Level-headed : DOWN TO EARTH (11) like the previous pair they must be read in the direction of the words.

Across:

1. Blesses : OKS. In retrospect this was easy, but I was thinking sneezing or religion.

4. Star Wars, initially : SDI. Strategic Defense Initiative.

7. Go fishing : ANGLE. I floundered about looking for an answer but the bass I cod come up with is that it describes the angle of the pole and the line. Or maybe the angle of the hook? I hate to worm my way out of this so help....

16. IQ test pioneer : BINET. Alfred did so much MORE.

17. Start of the line before "Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!" : ET TU BRUTE? This is Shakespeare's version where Cinna tries to justify killing Julius Caesar because Caesar was too popular. You can tell it is from a English writing because it mixes the Latin phrase with an English response.

18. Bluebloods : ELITE.

21. 1965 Sophia Loren comedy : LADY L.  What a cast. LINK (0:54).

24. Gas sign in green letters : HESS. Are there any left or are they all Speedway? I did not know Speedway was owned by Marathon until today.

25. Line of work: Abbr. : OCCupation. I find this an awesomely bad clue, but it is used regularly. There are many nice clues for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. HERE.

28. Year in Mexico : ANO. Spanish.

29. Talladega unit : LAP. An Alabama track on the NASCAR circuit.

31. Result of a 1955 merger : AFL-CIO.

34. Postseason game : BOWL. College football.

36. Pull in : MAKE. Money you make.

39. Treating poorly : BAD TO.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7VsoxT_FUY

43. Role for Dustin : RATSO. Midnight Cowboy. His break out role?

44. "The Bridge on the River __" : KWAI. Another wonderful movie.

45. Marquis de __ : SADE. How much do you really know about this man?

46. Chooses the window instead of the aisle? : ELOPES. Really cute airplane misdirection but it did not fool me.

48. Fraud watchdog org. : FTC.  Federal Trade Commission.

50. For each : PER.

51. Shade provider : DYE. Fun clue/fill misdirection.

52. Ness, for one : LOCH. Lake.

55. Castro and others : RAULS.

61. Don Diego de la Vega, familiarly : ZORRO. He will always be Guy Madison for me.

63. Frankness : UNRESERVE.

67. The Bradford kids of '70s-'80s TV, e.g. : OCTET. Who didn't love this FAMILY (1:02)

69. Milo of "Barbarella" : O'SHEA. He was in so many great roles. THIS (3:51) was not one of them. Jane was adorable.

70. Long time : EON.

71. Major : KEY.

Down:

1. Natural resource : ORE. Or not?

2. Young beaver : KIT. Be careful here....

3. Pepper, for one: Abbr. : SGT. All perps.

5. Words before dances : DO THE. This was filled before I saw the clue but I am completely unaware of this phrase. Help.

6. Some furniture stores : IKEAS. Meh, the extra s....

7. Biblical brother : ABEL.

8. Juba's "White" river : NILE. This was my learning moment, I just do not know much about the Southern Sudan.

10. Betray, with "down" : LET. To me the act of betrayal is much more than letting down.

11. Juillet's season : ETE. French for July and Summer. 30D. Brest friend : AMI. More French.

13. One of three cartoon nephews : HUEY.

14. Little League precursor : T-BALL. and the semi-clecho 15D. Little League belts: Abbr. : HRS. Home runs.

20. Soweto's home: Abbr. : RSA. Republic of South Africa.

21. Toiled : LABORED.

22. Rule exception : ANOMALY. A wonderful word.

26. Stronghold : CITADEL. Also a college.

27. Beach party staples : COOLERS.

32. Govt. group that began in 1908 : FBI.

33. Where kip are spent : LAOS. No idea, but I do know Thailand uses Baht.

35. Sylvester's problem : LISP.

37. London's __ Gardens : KEW.

41. Fawn's mom : DOE. Yes, her name is Jane.

42. Tiny songbird : TIT. Always good for a link. I like it when the two MATCH.

47. Canon offering, briefly : SLR. SingleLens Reflex.

49. Dimin.'s opposite : CRESCendo.

53. Handy : OF USE.

54. Playground retort : CAN SO.

56. Mad as __ hen : A WET.

58. Algonquian language : CREE.

59. Bit : IOTA.

60. Sun. message : SERmon.

61. Animal house : ZOO.

62. It turns out lts. : OCS. Officer Candidate School.

64. Nats' former stadium : RFK. Baseball team that shared the park with the unnamed football team.

65. Symbol of peace : VEE. This always reminds me of Churchill, which reminds me that I am watching the Roosevelt mini-series while I ride the exercise bike. Such an interesting family.

66. Eastern Nevada city : ELY. An old stagecoach TOWN. I know only from puzzles.

Mike Buckley

Theme: BOGO, get one pun and then a second one for free.

We get our third Mike Buckley effort of 2015 with this one a sound-alike pun effort.



18A. Composer Dvorák in hiding? : CACHED CZECH (11). This cashed check transforms into a musical clue. LINK.

38A. Demands for quiet from the downstairs tenant? : CEILING WHACKS (13). Sealing wax is not commonly used anymore, but the clue does bring back this SONG (3:00).

58A. Wildebeests slowing down? : BRAKING GNUS (11). My favorite mental picture comes from this breaking news.

3D. Walked by a campsite? : PASSED TENTS (11). Walked is whimsically past tense.

26D. Poor jousters? : WEAK KNIGHTS (11). Can you watch them on week nights on ESPN?



ASSISI,  DEANNA, I RAISE,  MAZDAS,  PINDAR,  PRAWNS,  SINKER,  TICTAC,  YTTRIA, DEPECHE, MIAMIAN,  SURGEON, AS EASY AS,  NEPOTIST, PECOS BILL, SAWHORSES


Across:

1. Spot : PIP. Like on a die.

4. "My Name Is Asher Lev" author : POTOK. Chaim Potok has written may wonderful books and appeared in puzzles often.

9. Normandy beachhead : OMAHA. No Nebraska clue on a Friday; will the next generation remember?

14. Rollover __ : IRA.

15. Send packing : EVICT.

16. Jazz section : SAXES.

17. "Hip Hop Is Dead" artist : NAS.
xxxxxxx
20. Misrepresent : DISTORT.

22. Main part : LEAD.

23. No harder than : AS EASY AS. An odd looking stretch of letters in a partial.

25. Edible decapods : PRAWNS.

29. Provide new audio for : REDUB.

30. More than square : CUBE.

32. Council position : SEAT.

33. Adjust, as sails : TRIM.

35. Mythical elephant carriers : ROCS.

37. "Aladdin" monkey : ABU.

41. Your Moment of __: Jon Stewart's show ender : ZEN. Obama ordered him to stay.

42. Spike : LACE. As in the punch; this was very tricky 4 letter fill.

43. Fuzzy Endor native : EWOK.

44. They're often smashed : SOTS. No Tinbeni comments here, please.

46. Ellington's "__ Indigo" : MOOD. The Duke.
xxx
48. Nearby : HANDY.

51. Umbria tourist town : ASSISI.

53. One who keeps it in the family : NEPOTIST. WE all have heard of nepotism, so I guess this word exists.

55. Sports gp. with three divisions : NCAA.

57. "The Kids Are __": 1979 The Who documentary : ALRIGHT.

62. One of Kramden's hardy followers? : HAR.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO4DPI1hegc

63. Staff symbol : C CLEF. Music notation. 8D. "Hooked on Classics" co. : K TEL. 49D. Note in the key of B major : D SHARP. A mini-theme ?


64. Singer's asset : RANGE.

65. Ode opener? : TRI.

66. Resort off the Sorrentine Peninsula : CAPRI.

67. Gather together : AMASS.

68. Post-workout destination : SPA.

Down:

1. "The test of any man lies in action" odist : PINDAR.

2. Game challenge : I RAISE.

4. Lover of Slue-Foot Sue : PECOS BILL.

5. Subject for Italian anatomist Fallopius : OVARY. He also invented the English subway, hence its name- the Fallopian Tube.

6. Certs alternative : TICTAC. Paddy whack...

7. "Alas!" from a lass : OCH.

9. Grouch in a can : OSCAR.

10. Protegés, e.g. : MAZDAS.

11. Fire : AXE.

12. Crime-solver Ramsey of 1970s TV : HEC. The second incarnation of Richard Boone, perhaps more famous as Palladin.

13. Krakatoa output : ASH.

19. "Exciter" band __ Mode : DEPECHE.

21. Alpha __, star in the Bull constellation : TAURI. This huge ORANGE star, known as Alderbarran is not related to the more familiar Alpha Centauri.

24. Cutting-edge professional? : SURGEON. Really sharp humor.

27. Snares : NABS
28. Former Beatle Sutcliffe : STU
31. Defer : BOW
34. Dolphin, e.g. : MIAMIAN
36. Cutting supports : SAWHORSES
38. Co. VIPs : CEOS
39. Sgt. maj., e.g. : NCO
40. Tropical raccoon kin : COATI
41. Half a Gabor? : ZSA
45. Angling aid : SINKER
47. Counselor in Jean-Luc's command : DEANNA

50. Oxide in incandescent gas mantles : YTTRIA. I do not even know what a gas mantle is, but this was interesting to READ.

52. Space opera genre : SCI-FI.

54. Promotions : PLUGS
56. Uttar Pradesh tourist city : AGRA
58. Discreet email letters : BCC
59. Nipper's label : RCA
60. High peak : ALP
61. Moll's leg : GAM. A great

Jeffrey Wechsler

These: Where did you hide all of the Holes?

Keeping to our bi-weekly schedule, we have Jeffrey back this time with a missing word puzzle. In row 1, 8 and 15 (the beginning middle and end) we have a three word string, each 4,5,4, the clue is for a word ending in "HOLE" but the hole is missing. It is an interesting scientific conundrum, can a hole which is nothing be missing? There is much consistency to the grid though a few of the ___HOLE fill are two words rather than a single word. What makes the puzzle a delight is JW's fun reveal which points out that there are nine words that are not but should be followed by HOLE. Other than that, it is another Friday with high word count and less than 5 letter average fill. The longer fill is varied including ABORTS,  LESTER,  NO SHOW,  SECURE,  SPLEEN,  SUCCOR,  TOO BIG, WADDLE, AM I BEAT,  CAPSULE,  GADGETS,  LOCKS ON,  REVERTS,  SEVENTY, SLEDGES, BASE CAMP,  PUNK ROCK, ORIGINALS,  REMINDS OF, with many of them Jeffrey's customary two word fill. The asterisks immediately warn the solver that the the game is afoot, otherwise 1A would be discouraging, WORMHOLE opened my eyes. Lots of nice musical references; let's see how we all did.

1A. *It offers an ocean view : PORTHOLE(4). Well both ports and portholes do, so this was a hard start. PORTHOLE is written both as one and two words.

5A. *Hardware insertion point : SCREW HOLE (5). While completely avoiding all DF comments, this is one of the theme fill that takes two words, always I think.

10A. *Sci-fi shortcut : WORM HOLE (4). Like many, I learned of this method of travel through STAR TREK. Sorry for the ad, but I like the LINK (4:46).

38A. *Means of evasion : LOOPHOLE (4).  Did you know THIS?

40A. *Stephen Hawking subject : BLACK HOLE (5). Back to space, this time real science. LINK.

41A. *Orca feature : BLOWHOLE (4). This time the science is mammal anatomy. LINK.

67A. *Geologic danger : SINKHOLE (4). I learned about these when I moved to Gainesville and this limestone sinkhole attributed to the DEVIL.

68A. *Serengeti gathering place : WATERHOLE (5). I think in terms of watering holes, but MW says, " a small pool, pond, or lake used by animals for drinking" so what do I know?

69A. *Home security device : PEEPHOLE (4). I do not find these very helpful and they installed the one at work for much taller peep-le, but I do remember this SCENE (1:05).
And the reveal, which i am sure appealed at least to me and Moe and HG and the other golfers----
46A. Quick round ... and, collectively, what the answers to starred clues lack : NINE HOLES (9).

I liked it!

Across:

14. Chevy subcompact : AVEO. Discontinued in 2011, so...

15. Salad bar morsel : OLIVE. This was hard because I think of morsel as part of rather than a whole.

16. Domingo forte : ARIA. You do not have to like opera to like Placido. LISTEN (3:01).

17. Spectator sport since the Edo period : SUMO. Not something I knew but easily inferrable.

18. Alpine air : YODEL. A stretch for me.

19. Checker, e.g. : DISC.

20. "What an exhausting day!" : AM I BEAT! JW like multiple word fill.

22. Pounding tools : SLEDGES. I did not need to be hit on the head with a hammer to get this one.

24. Veto : NIX.

25. Clay, nowadays : ALI. Easy unless you are a sculptor or into pottery.

26. Handy assortment : GADGETS.

30. "Terribly strange" age in Simon & Garfunkel's "Old Friends" : SEVENTY. They are both over seventy now.

34. ICU connections : IVS.

35. Medical unit : CAPSULE. I imagine those who did not like the earlier in the week capsule used as a clue for ROCKET, there will be debate about this clue/fill.

37. "__ you finished?" : ARE.

42. Terrible : AWFUL.

44. F1 neighbor : ESC. If you had to look at your keyboard was that cheating?

45. Makers of wood pulp nests : WASPS. John Lampkin showed us this PICTURE back in December.

49. Gets in one's sights, with "to" : LOCKS ON. As with a telescopic sight on your rifle.

52. Backslides : REVERTS to his/her old habits.

56. Cancels the launch : ABORTS.

57. Fasten : SECURE.

58. "Whip It" rockers : DEVO. Where are they NOW (0:16)?

59. Order outfit : HABIT. Nun too soon.

63. __ on the back : A PAT.

64. Monthly pmt. : ELECtricity bill.

65. Midway alternative : O'HARE. The two major Chicago airports.

66. Choice array : MENU. And the clecho, 43A. Choice array : LIST. 

Down:

1. "¿Qué __?" : PASA. The upside down question mark tells you it is Spanish.

2. Reproductive cell : OVUM. Eggs-actly.

3. Takes back to : REMINDS OF. Like my trip to my 50th high school reunion took me back to my childhood.

4. Goldilocks complaint : TOO BIG. Too hot?

5. Protein-rich bean : SOYA. Soy?

6. Blood __ : CLOT.

7. Unburden : RID.

8. Anticipatory times : EVES. Twas the night before Christmas....

9. More than adequately : WELL. Oh my, you do that so well!

10. Swaying walk : WADDLE.

11. Art museum works, usually : ORIGINALS.

12. Increase : RISE.

13. Pro and mini : MACS. Apple computers, here I come.

21. Business VIP : EXECutive.

23. Architectural projection : EAVE.

26. Colorado tributary : GILA.

27. State as accurate : AVOW.

28. Bar __ : TAB.

29. Petulance : SPLEEN.

30. Help : SUCCOR. A nice old fashioned word.

31. Yosemite grazer : ELK. I di not know this.

32. Stadium in St. Pete, with "The" : TROPicana. You know who has juice in Florida.

33. Landscaping shrubs : YEWS.

36. Obi, e.g. : SASH. So often OBI is the fill.

39. "Pure, stripped down" genre, per Tommy Ramone : PUNK ROCK. One of the originals.

41. Climber's refuge : BASE CAMP.

45. "__ Got Tonight": 1983 hit duet : WE'VE.

47. Absentee : NO SHOW.

48. Sci-fi author/editor del Rey : LESTER.

49. Fills with cargo : LADES.

50. Division symbols : OBELI.

51. Neo-pagan gathering : COVEN.

53. Nepal currency : RUPEE.

54. Big name in air conditioning : TRANE.

55. Everything but the liquor : SET UP.

60. Word associated with a light bulb : AHA.

61. Echolocation user : BAT.

62. Steaming state : IRE.

Mark Bickham

Theme: Order in the Court!

A quick revisit from Mark Bickham who provide Sunday's 21x21. Mark is one of my favorites and this puzzle was clearly easy for me based on the subject matter, but it is an odd one. Each of 4 common legal phrases is re-clued in witty fashion and then tied together with a an equally deceptive but amusing reveal. I cannot tell if the terminology is tricky if you do not have a legal background, so I am not sure if the puzzle will be hard for anyone but it was a quicker than normal solve for me.  The 5 theme related answers use 67 letters, so like last week, we have lots of short fill to balance, in this the overall has a very un-Friday like average work length under 5 letters. The few non-themers over 5
ALYSSA,  GROSSE,  LIED TO,  NATION,  SPEARS,  SUMMON, INSECTS, INTERNS, BEQUEATHS and  PRE-ASSIGN are okay, and none seem too obscure. Lets look at what happened.

17A. Rating for a recap? : SUMMARY JUDGMENT (15). A recap is a summary; a rating is a judgment; a summary judgment is a legal term referring to the disposition of a case without a trial.

29A. Advice on paper size? : LEGAL COUNSEL (12). I do not use apple computers (at least not until the end of the month) but on all of my print functions, one of the decisions one must make is paper size, letter or legal. If you ask someone to suggest one...legal counsel is one phrase for the attorney.

44A. Dibs on kitchen space? : COUNTER CLAIM (12). Dibs is a great invention, like calling shotgun while kitchens all have counters. A counter claim is where a Defendnat files an action against the original Plaintiff in a law suit.

58A. Displeased wave of the hand? : MOTION TO DISMISS (15). I can picture many famous hand wave dismissals, whicl a Motion to Dismiss is a pleading to end a case based sole on deficiencies in the language of the original complaint.
and the reveal:
36A. Fooled by one's imagination ... or, another way, what the four other longest puzzle answers are? : HEARING THINGS (13). All relate to matters which will go to a hearing before a judge.

Okay let's plunge in the rest....

Across:

1. Hybrid carriers : MULES. Great misdirection to begin Friday, if you did not think about cars you are smarter than I.

6. Hardly next door : AFAR.

10. Shelter gp. : SPCA. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has a long HISTORY worldwide.

14. Functional : UTILE. One of those words that sounds like more trouble than it is worth.

15. Winter Olympics event : LUGE.
Xxx

16. __ Mountains: European border range : URAL.

20. Start to state? : TRIstate. I just did the New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania part after Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island part.

21. Land east of the Suez Canal : ASIA.

22. June portrayer in "Henry &; June" : UMA.

23. Trainees : INTERNS. We have a summer intern at the office this year. her name is Stephanie, we now call her Charlie.

26. __ Pointe: Detroit suburb : GROSSE. An old COMMUNITY.

32. Rock and Roll Hall of Famers since 2010 : ABBA. This would have been hard except that I could only think of with four letters were ABBA and TOTO, and TOTO never made it.

34. Word with sick or cold : OUT. Out sick, or out cold.

35. Press : INK. A term i learned from reading about people.

41. __ au vin : COQ.

42. Ornamental fish : KOI.

43. Stapes, for one : BONE.

49. Artist with the 2011 album "Femme Fatale" : SPEARS. A little glimpse of dear BRITNEY. (3:33).

50. Antennae holders : INSECTS. A very fun clue, hey John Lampkin.

54. Took in : ATE.

55. Cooperate with in a caper : ABET.

57. Eggs : OVA.

63. Point-of-view intro : IMHO.

64. It may need cobbling : BOOT.

65. Shafts on the road : AXLES.

66. AAA part: Abbr. : ASSN.

67. Magazine filler : AMMO.

68. Erroll Garner classic : MISTY.

Down:

1. "Can't you get someone else?" : MUST I?

2. Political surprise : U-TURN.

3. Cap : LIMIT.

4. Shade provider : ELM.

5. Source of shells : SEA.

6. "Mistresses" co-star Milano : ALYSSA.

7. Big name in film : FUJI.

8. Río contents : AGUA.

9. __ cell : RED. A clue out of the 50's and 60's when people saw communists everywhere.

10. Call : SUMMON. Sounds like a word to use with demons.

11. Designate in advance : PRE-ASSIGN.

12. Has the power : CAN.

13. Either of two space bar flankers : ALT. For the online solvers a gimme, but did you have to look?

18. Checked out of the store, with "up" : RANG.

19. Wise teacher : GURU.

24. Island off Tuscany : ELBA.

25. Bottom : REAR.

26. Black-clad subculturist : GOTH.

27. Sight, say : SENSE.

28. Image on Idaho's state flag : ELK.  If you want see, LOOK.

30. Detective's skill : LOGIC.

31. Song on a record : CUT.

32. Renoir's "Girl With __" : A HOOP.

33. Wills : BEQUEATHS.

37. A Clanton and a president : IKES.

38. Fish-fowl link : NOR.

39. Sacred wader of ancient Egypt : IBIS.

40. Seward Peninsula city : NOME.

41. Engine units: Abbr. : CCS. Cubic centimeters.

45. Turkey, for one : NATION.


46. Old Smartphone : TREO. I had a friend who loved hers, until Blackberry came along.

47. Betrayed, in a way : LIED TO.

48. Unwilling to stand up for : ANTI. Iffn you aint fer me  yer agin me.

51. Some are tightly wound : COILS.

52. Den focal point : TV SET. More from the 50s and 60's.

53. Impudent : SASSY.

55. Smashing target : ATOM. My favorite clue.

56. Mike holder : BOOM. Hand held.

58. Girl's name that's a verb spelled backwards : MIA. This is a really obscure clue; are there other possibilities?

59. Serene sounds : OMS. For those who meditate.

60. Org. with Kings and Wizards : NBA. National Basketball Association. And the free agent parade continues.
61. "I can't remember it, Miss Ilsa" speaker : SAM. Great movie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Do2olZ49M54

62. 11th-century year : MXI. 1011, a kind of pun?

Jeffrey Wechsler

Theme: Take T and C




Across:

1. 17th-century privateer : KIDD
5. Rock worth unearthing : ORE
8. Military groups : UNITS
13. About : INRE
14. Downtime for Mars? : PAX
15. Absorb : SOPUP
16. Imperfect produce? : SCUFFEDCABBAGE
19. Rob's "West Wing" role : SAM
20. Domestic tearjerker : ONION
21. "__ Wedding": "The Simpsons" episode involving a fortune-teller : LISAS
23. Nocturnal picket-line crosser? : SCABINTHEDARK
26. Wild partner : WOOLLY
28. __ Alamos : LOS
29. Screening gp. : TSA
30. Woodstock performer before Joan : ARLO
31. Kid's comeback : DOESSO
34. Reconnaissance team? : SCOUTHEARTEDMEN
40. Romance novel features : TRYSTS
41. 1963 role for Shirley : IRMA
42. In the same way as : ALA
45. Defensive question : AMI
46. It merged with Coors in 2005 : MOLSON
48. Result of a London tea cart mishap? : ROLLINGSCONES
52. __ Blades, Latin jazz star : RUBEN
53. Oater omen : NOOSE
54. Uma's "Pulp Fiction" role : MIA
57. Feature of a taped hardcore punk performance? : VIDEOSCREAMING
60. Stage direction : ENTER
61. Vital : KEY
62. Relative of -ule : ETTE
63. Ruled quarters? : ROOST
64. '60s campus org. : SDS
65. Their Christmas feast included roast beast : WHOS

Down:

  1. Petruchio's request of Kate : KISS
2. Empire whose last stronghold was conquered in 1572 : INCA
3. Ginger Baker specialty : DRUMSOLO
4. Dict. entry : DEF
5. Ready for business no later than : OPENBY
6. Pizza cuts, essentially : RADII
7. Halfway house resident : EXCON
8. Flash drive letters : USB
9. Roi et reine, par exemple : NOBLESSE
10. "The drinks were on me" : IPAID
11. Affects, as one's heartstrings : TUGSAT
12. Divers' weapons : SPEARS
17. Future yearling : FOAL
18. Hunting lodge decoration : ANTLERS
22. Jamaican genre : SKA
24. Influence : CLOUT
25. One taking coats, perhaps : HOST
26. Used to be : WAS
27. Tolkien terror : ORC
31. Chanel creations : DESIGNS
32. Grain generally pluralized : OAT
33. Ballet's Black Swan : ODILE
35. Green workers : TRAINEES
36. "Amazing Grace," e.g. : HYMN
37. Big name in pies : MRSSMITH
38. Comic Philips : EMO
39. Indian flatbread : NAN
42. LAX stat : ARR
43. Adjustable door feature : LOUVER
44. Spooner of Spoonerism fame, for one : ALBINO
46. Walks unhurriedly : MOSEYS
47. Most fit to serve : ONEA
49. Engendered : LEDTO
50. Subjects of washday mysteries : SOCKS
51. Hollowed out : CORED
55. Delighted by : INTO
56. Quite a long time : AGES
58. Scrap : ORT
59. Copy cats : MEW

Jeffrey Wechsler

Theme: Get the "F" out of here!

Two weeks, so it must be time for another Jeffrey Jem. The concluding "F" in the final word in a known phrase is removed leaving a new phrase humorously but correctly clued. After all of the add a letter puzzles, here we have one with a disappearing letter. I was most impressed that he found 5 such phrases and each of the resulting new ones are very evocative and reasonable. Like the comment C.C. made last Sunday about Melanie's W, I found it unfortunate we have the MFA/FLESH crossing leaving a single F in the grid. I see the problem since the placement of two of the theme fill restricted the choices, but in a perfect world...We have a nice mini-theme of singer songwriters, as well as many interrelated concepts.

Not much in the way of long fill, ACCENT,  AUBURN,  EXCELS,  POLLEN,  SAVIOR,  SULLEN, UNREAL,  VENEER, ELEVATES,  SCENE TWO but plenty of road blocks. Let us get going....


18A. USDA-approved cheese? : LEGAL BRIEF (9). This is a theme and answer where you need the perps to get started with the first themer, but once you "see" the missing "F" it all makes sense.

24A. Query when a certain queen goes missing? : WHERE'S THE BEEF (12). This I found to be a particularly fair clue, because the Q is not capitalized leaving queen bee as one of a very limited few possible answers. I hope everyone remembers dear Clara Peller.

40A. Plow one's recently purchased field? : TURN OVER A NEW LEAF (15). Very nice use of the word LEA.

50A. Revolutionary as a successful businessman? : EXECUTIVE CHEF (12). Great visual of cigar smoking, beret wearing Che Guevera running a vape store in SoFla.

62A. Improved sci-fi computer? : BETTER HALF (10). Well almost any computer not trying to kill the humans would be nice.

On that rather special note let us move on....

Across:

1. Activities for seniors : PROMS. High school, not for me and you.

6. Cinematographer's deg. : MFA. Master of Fine Arts.

9. __ Summer: U.S. Naval Academy training program : PLEBE.

14. "Service at the Speed of Sound" franchise : SONIC. We have them here, but I am more familiar with Freaky Fast.

15. Not just some : ALL.

16. Ran very slowly : OOZED. Sadly, I associate the word with wounds...

17. Selassie of Ethiopia : HAILE. This was once a regular in puzzles, but his fame has dimmed, but this week a comeback?

20. Actor's study, perhaps : ACCENT. Are you all as amazed as I am at how well non-Americans like Stephen "Bill" Moyer, Simon "Jane" Baker, Hugh "House" Lawrie and oodles more are so believable with their accents? They often practice on a  64D. Studio __ : LOT.

22. King David's predecessor : SAUL.  and some more bible, 11D. Book of __ : EZRA. This is the story of the first return to Jerusalem after the Babylonian diaspora and the rebuilding of the temple, and 31D. Genesis wife : LEAH. Along with her sister Rachel, she married Jacob.

23. Gothic novelist Radcliffe : ANN.A Friday obscurity, this reclusive AUTHOR was a Gothic pioneer.

27. Head of the Greek Titans? : TAU. Cute.

28. "I can't believe my eyes!" : UNREAL. Like many Gothic Novels.

32. Angled pipe : ELBOW. Almost right next to 39A. North Sea feeder : ELBE

36. Atomic theory pioneer : BOHR. What I know about this MAN was begun from reading Margaret Grimes' Inspector Jury mysteries.

43. Obi-Wan portrayer : ALEC. great actor, Mr. Guiness

44. Early romantic figure : EROS. The boy god.

45. Controlling chain : LEASH. Below LEA.

46. Morose : SULLEN.

48. Named period : AGE. So many un-PC thoughts....

57. Org. concerned with smog : EPA. Environmental Protection Agency.

60. Firm bosses : CEOS. Chief Executive Officers

61. One who delivers : SAVIOR. Not Jimmy John. Not my favorite clue/fill.

65. :50, another way : TEN TO.

66. London __ : BROIL. I always marinate before the broiling. It is a matter of...

67. Source of pride : EGO.

68. Wrapped on a set : ENDED. On a movie, or tv series set.

69. Family and economy : SIZES. I just love how companies change products from 32 oz to 28 oz, keep the price the same and think we are too stupid to notice the price increase. That is why our grocery stores now post the price per ounce,

70. Big top item : NET. Unless they are real daredevils, working without one is then the norm. That would show great...

71. Way : STYLE.

Down:

1. "Baloney!" : PSHAW. Old timey expressions.

2. Orkin target : ROACH.

3. In abeyance : ON ICE. A non-CSO for Tin.

4. Track competitor : MILER. And, 53D. Relay or dash : EVENT. At the track meet.

5. Theatrical division : SCENE TWO.

6. Wrong at the start? : MAL. The prefix, from the Latin meaning bad, e.g. LINK.

7. Crayola color renamed Peach in 1962 : FLESH.

8. Some microflora : ALGAE. Micro meaning tiny -flora plant

9. Floral dispersion : POLLEN. More flora(l). I love how these clues are together.

10. Part of an alley-oop play : LOB.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHnsEwpZ2bo

12. Flower children's gathering : BE IN. Been there....

13. "Gates of __": Bob Dylan song : EDEN. Not his biggest hit. 34D. "The Song of Old Lovers" songwriter : BREL Jacques. 51D. "Hallelujah" songwriter Leonard : COHEN. My mini-theme.
LINK 1. LINK 2. LNK 3.

19. Georgia rival since 1892 : AUBURN. A small town in Alabama but home to a national football power for years.

21. Org. that issues "Known Traveler" numbers : TSA. Transportation Security Administration

25. River floater : TUBER. Not a lost potato, but one of the memorable parts of going to law school in Gainesville, Florida.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAuz_Pf3lp8

26. "Maid of Athens, __ part": Byron : ERE WE.

"Maid of Athens, ere we part,
Give, oh, give back my heart!
Or, since that has left my breast,
Keep it now, and take the rest!
Hear my vow before I go,
Ζωή μου, σᾶς ἀγαπῶ."

29. Self-titled 1969 jazz album : ELLA. Always fun to showcase Ms. Fitzgerald.

30. Five-spots : ABES. Five dollar bills.

32. LAX postings : ETAS. Estimated Time of Arrival.

33. Humdinger : LULU.

35. Rouen relative : ONCLE. Le mari de ma tante.

37. Valuable elemento : ORO. Gold!

38. Attacks : HAS AT.

41. Dental treatment : VENEER. Interesting that veneers were first used with wood and now we have porcelain ones for teeth, which were also wood at one time.

42. Improves : ELEVATES. Announcers are forever talking about athletes elevating their game, like LeBron, to the point where he....

47. Has no peer : EXCELS.

49. USO show audience : GIS.

52. Dictionary information : USAGE.

54. ___ Lou, Who girl who interrupted the Grinch's burglary : CINDY.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tjqq3ElVYlg
55. Travelocity option : HOTEL.

56. Slowly reduce : ERODE. Everything from rocks to confidence.

57. Recedes : EBBS. Well my energy is in fact...

58. Prefix with meter : PERImeter. This is a Friday usage, fer shure.

59. Familiar gamut : A TO Z.

63. Clip-on, maybe : TIE.I guess I am one of the few who still wears ties regularly, but no clip ons. But it is time to move on, as another week comes to an end. Next time I see you all it will be summer and the says will be getting shorter. Hope you enjoyed our biweekly visit with JW, Lemonade out.

Don Gagliardo and C.C. Burnikel

Theme: Marketing 101: add an ad.

What a last 4 weeks with Jeffrey Wechsler, John Lampkin, and now Don and C.C. I do not recall a Dynamic Duo puzzle since May, 2013, when we were treated to the Hidden Camera puzzle. It is only fitting that this team kick off the Fourth Annual Minnesota Crossword set for this Sunday, the 14th.

This time we have an add an AD to a recognizable two word phrase, with the first three added to the middle of the first word, the last to the beginning of the final word. While an outlier, I love the quote from Thelonious Monk. The rest of the puzzle has the now usual mix of deceptively clued facts or not too well known proper names which make the fill a challenge



17A. Sheep and cows grazing together? : MEADOW MIX (9). A little cat food transforms to big animal fodder.

30A. Taking turns ranting? : TIRADE ROTATION (14).

48A. Spy industry? : SHADOW BUSINESS (14). My favorite

63A. Monk's "The piano ain't got no wrong notes," e.g? : JAZZ ADAGE (9).

Across:

1. Oilman who once owned the New York Jets : HESS. He bought out his partners and hired Bill Parcells. LINK. Hess gas station recently became Speedway. What will happen to the trucks?

5. Voucher : CHIT. A very common fill.

9. "MacGyver" actor Dana : ELCAR. I recall this odd looking man, but confused the LC as CL for a bit.

14. "Happy Starts Here" food company : ALPO.  LINK. (0:15).

15. Something about us all? : AURA. Cute, about us not about us....

16. Lash of Westerns : LARUE. A different time and place. LINK.(14:36).

19. Latin clarifier : ID EST. i. e.

20. Rough projection : CRAG.

21. __ Flags : SIX. Theme parks.

23. Brand of coolers : YETI. No idea; are THEY big in Minnesota?

24. Chateau __ Michelle winery : STE.

25. "... the __ below / As hush as death ... ": "Hamlet" : ORB.

28. Chocolate dessert : MUD PIE.

34. Baleful : EVIL.

35. Sullen : MOROSE.

36. Char-Broil competitor : WEBER.

38. Last state to be admitted to the U.S. before the start of the Civil War : KANsas.

39. French toast : SALUT.

44. Big Sur retreat : ESALEN.

47. Morning co-host : RIPA. You think she works out?

52. Precise : SPOT ON.

53. Kung __ shrimp : PAO.

54. Took sides? : ATE.

55. Lattice strip : LATH.

56. Nigerian culinary staple : YAM.

59. Tot's glassful : WAWA.

61. Diner unit : ORDER.

67. Right wrongs : ATONE.

68. "Land for sale" sign datum : AREA.

69. Its logo uses Sweden's national colors : IKEA.

70. Trouble : NAG AT.

71. Phoned : RANG.

72. Costner role : NESS.

Down:

1. Pork cut : HAM
2. Student's option : ELECTIVE
3. Pork cut : SPARERIB
4. Pop : SODA
5. Call in a field : CAW
6. White noise, perhaps : HUM
7. Tennessee state flower : IRIS
8. Waiter at O'Hare : TAXI
9. Country's __ Young Band : ELI
10. Prince George's grandma : LADYDI
11. Lowlife, slangily : CREEPO
12. Southernmost 48-states capital : AUSTIN
13. Get even with again : RETIE
18. Prayer opener : OGOD
22. Brief holiday? : XMAS
24. Ratatouille, for one : STEW
26. "Losing My Religion" band : REM
27. Longtime Rather rival : BROKAW
29. Pac-12 team : UTES
31. Yard sale? : ALE
32. P&G dental brand : ORALB
33. Get ripped : TONEUP
37. More than modify : REDO
40. Prince __ of Ord, friend of Valiant : ARN
41. Act restlessly : LIEAWAKE
42. Draws attention from, in a way : UPSTAGES
43. Zap : TASE
45. Xperia maker : SONY
46. Surveillance org. : NSA
48. Ancient Laconian state : SPARTA
49. Show-off : HOTDOG
50. Goddess who advised Odysseus : ATHENA
51. "The Bridges of Madison County" setting : IOWA
52. Plumbing brand : SLOAN
57. Open slightly : AJAR
58. Actress Rooney __ : MARA
60. Court term, and hint to this puzzle's four longest answers : ADIN
62. Like Gen. Shinseki : RET
64. __ garden : ZEN
65. Turn sharply : ZAG
66. __ in echo : EAS