Sunday, August 26 - Andrew M. Greene and Craig Kasper

Circles in my Sunday puzzle! Color me a happy solver.

The theme of this joint effort is GETTING AHEAD...literally. The circled letters are all parts of a head, with each part in its appropriate place. I tried to draw the head, but I'm not sure it will be all that visible when I post it.

[UPDATE: I just read that there were actually four constructors on this puzzle, but the NYT can only list two in the byline. Andrew M. Greene and Craig Kasper were the two named, but Todd McClary and Jeffrey Harris were also responsible for this well-executed puzzle.]

Taking it from the top:

21A: Toddler's mealtime accessory (BOOSTER CHAIR)

29A: Quarters for a business, e.g. (FISCAL PERIODS)

54A: Safari, e.g. (WEB BROWSER)

64A: Persuaded with flattery (BLARNEYED)

66A: Noted explorer of Polynesia (HEYERDAHL)

76A: Time in which light travels one foot, approximately (NANOSECOND)

100A: Astronomical events that occur twice or more a year (LUNAR ECLIPSES)

113A: Nested set of containers (CHINESE BOXES)

And on either side of the head:

53D: Be weighed down (BEAR THE BURDEN)

15D: Empathetic one, derisively (BLEEDING HEART)

This was nothing short of brilliant. I don't remember the exact point (or part) where it became obvious, but I then went back and filled in circles. I didn't notice the placement of the parts until I was almost finished. Brilliant...I can't say it enough. I'm in awe.

I go nuts with clues that refer to one another in some circular fashion, forcing me to read and reread them. Like...1A: See 7-Across; 7A: Product whose 1-Across is a 61-Across; 61A: Snack item. When all is said and done, it's fairly obvious. An I-Mac (7A) has an apple (61A) as its emblem (1A).

If I ever knew 81A: Creatio ex __ (Christian tenet) was nihilo, I've forgotten it. I got it from crosses, but looked it up to see its meaning...creation out of nothing.

I didn't know 70A: 1940s-'50s Dodger who was a 10-time All-Star (Reese), but guessed it when I had the R*E*E in place. Turns out it's PeeWee Reese, and I have heard the name somewhere.

Loved 58A: Idiot (cretin). Just something funny about the word. I can think of a few off the top of my head...no one who reads this blog is included in that list.

18A: Heavy-duty hand soap (Boraxo). All I could think of was Lava, but I had the last letter and guessed correctly. That meant that 4D: Steve Martin romantic comedy wasn't All of Me, which was my first answer. The correct answer is L.A. Story, which I didn't see...maybe never heard of. According to this article, he also wrote it.

26D: In short supply (sparse). I had scarce. Once I got the theme, I knew there wasn't a head part that ended in C.

Didn't know 71A: Particle created by a cosmic ray (muon), but it fit. Also didn't know 98A: Teahouse floor covering (tatami)...apparently some kind of fiber mat.

My favorite answers include 24A: Battle report? (rat-a-tat); 35A: Lorre's "Casablanca" role (Ugarte); 13D: Political asset (charisma); 62D: Sports bar wall decoration (pennant); 75D: Polite (civil)...took me forever to see it; 82D: Save for later (lay aside); and 93D: Cry of triumph after "Whew!" (I made it).
Here's the grid...I can't see the circle, but you can probably picture it there.



Don's home from his week-long trip. It's nice to be back to normal.

See you tomorrow.

Saturday, July 7 - Todd McClary

Before I start on the daily blog, I want to wish a very happy birthday to our daughter, Leslie, who turns 18 on Saturday, 07/07/07. She was unhappy that she had to work on her birthday...an unwelcome welcome to the real world. Happy birthday, sweetie!

I don't know if I can blame it on the heat, but I'll try. Your puzzle totally kicked my butt, Mr. McClary.

But I was totally impressed! Stacks of 10-letter words--not just long, but good.

Three horizontal stacks in the top left:

1A: Magellan, e.g. (spacecraft). I didn't think it had to do with Ferdinand, but I was pretty sure it would end in strait. It actually worked with several of the downs...for a while.

15A: Enthusiastic welcome (hello hello). Not anything I'd say in conversation, no matter how happy I was to see someone. But I'm willing to overlook things like that when a puzzle has this much to offer.

17A: Imparts artfully (insinuates).

And three vertical stacks top right:

12D: Casa dei Bambini school founder (Montessori). Didn't know it by the clue alone, but I had enough of the acrosses to know that's what it had to be.

13D: Show tune sung by a stevedore named Joe (Ol' Man River). This was the only true gimme for the long answers. I learned this in History of Popular Music. It's from the musical Showboat...music by Jerome Kern, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein.

14D: Relinquishes control (steps aside).

The other vertical stacks, bottom left:

26D: Words to leave by (adios, amigo). After I'd done the acrosses, the only one I'd entered in that corner was 62A: "...maybe more, maybe less" (or so). Since I knew that the answer ended in O, I felt pretty confident entering hasta luego. It didn't take too long to see the error of my ways.

27D: Did a dog trick (rolled over). Played dead also fit, but that R at the end meant I'd better think of another trick.

28D: Aids in closing deals (sweeteners). That seems like a stretch, but it's definitely a Saturday clue. Monday would have something to do with iced tea.

The last of the stacks--horizontals in the lower right.

57A: Doctor, at times (inoculator). Until a few weeks ago, I had never been given a shot by a doctor. I'd have told you they didn't know how to do it. But Dr. Mitch, who gave me a cortisone shot, knew what he was doing. And so did I...he was hurting me! Seriously, my shoulder is so much better since that day. That and the physical therapy have worked magic.

61A: Cosmopolitan alternative (piña colada). I was pretty sure this didn't refer to the magazine, but I was trying to think of some kind of martini that would fit. Speaking of martinis, here's the recipe for Oprah's famous lemon drop martinis. They're to die for...and especially refreshing on these 100° days.

63A: Supporters of roads (state taxes). I've seen this just recently, but it may have been in one of my NYT books. Maybe one of the ACPT puzzles. Seven down, one to go, then I'll send it my packet in. Puzzle #7 kicked my butt worse than this one did. Its X crosses with 53D: Record label for Sam & Dave and Booker T. & the MG's (Stax).

Another X appears at 29A: Sorority letters (XIs), crossing with 23D: Track wager (exacta). This one has tripped me up before, and it tried to again.

A rare appearance by Z at 45A: Rumble in the Jungle setting (Zaire), crossing with 45D: Hound (zealot). We've seen the word before, but not clued that way that I can remember.

I very definitely do not understand 37A: Zolaesque imputation (J'accuse). I Googled it and found a reference to ACPT. Can someone clear this one up? And will I feel stupid when it's explained? [Updated 7:27 a.m. - Thanks, Donald. I corrected the way it should be written. Who can shed light on the ACPT reference?]

19A: Word with age or weight (atomic) made me laugh when I finally got it. I had middle. Hey, it works.

The worst word in the puzzle, although clued brilliantly, was 40A: Release a bulletin? (untack). The next time I remove something from my bulletin board, I will consciously be aware that I am untacking it.

I was delighted to see 41A: TV role for Bamboo Harvester. I never stopped to think that Mr. Ed had a name. I was just a kid...what did I know?

Speaking of long ago (although more recent than Mr. Ed), 10D: Quaint note opener (To Sir) made me think of To Sir With Love, starring Sidney Poitier and Lulu. I absolutely loved that movie. Better add it to my Netflix queue.

And 56A: St. __ (Cornwall resort town) (Ives) reminded me of the old rhyme. You can read it, plus an interesting commentary, here.

And I'm off to get some sleep.

Linda G