Thursday, March 13 - Alan Arbesfeld

Hoo-boy...this theme took me some time to figure out. Since I wasn't getting too many answers, I was pretty sure we were looking at a rebus (or cram-a-lot) of some sort.

Double letters within one square...and it all came together quite nicely.

17A: "Scram!" (buzz off), crossing at 3D: Half of a showy display? (razzle) and 14D: Like some oil rigs (offshore).

18A: Practice area, of a sort (putting green)...one of the best of the bunch...crossing at 7D: Kennel club rejects (mutts), 9D: Overwhelm (boggle) and 11D: Lee Van __ (spaghetti western actor) (Cleef).

28A: "Black rat" as opposed to "Rattus rattus" (common name), crossing at 21D: Eponym of a classic Minnesota-brewed beer (Hamm) and 26D: __ time (in no). Hamm was my tip-off.

36A: Biblical patriarch whose name means "he will laugh" (Isaac), crossing at 31D: TV's Jack and kin (Paars).

41A: Radical Hoffman (Abbie), crossing at 33D: Robot in "Forbidden Planet" (Robby). Abbie would have been another tip-off, except I spelled it Abbe for too long.

46A: Northeast, on a map (u pp e rr ight), crossing with 38D: Spice holder (pepper box) and 43D: Misses the mark (errs). I had top right until I figured out the theme...and I never would have guessed pepper box. Thank goodness for its cross at 67A: Lawless role (Xena).

59A: Directories (address books), crossing at 55D: Less conventional (odder), 46D: Amherst campus, briefly (U Mass) and 56D: Blackmore heroine (Doone).

62A: Bygone women's magazine (McCalls), crossing at 58D: Stops on a sales rep's rte. (accts) and 52D: Last place (cellar). This corner really had me fouled up. Because I had appts, rather than accts, I couldn't come up with the name of a magazine to save my soul.

At that point, I declared the puzzle finished and checked out that nasty little corner at JimH's blog.

I think Alan Arbesfeld's idea was brilliant, and he pulled it off pretty well. It may be asking too much to expect that no double letters would appear in separate squares...1A: Factory seconds: Abbr. (irrs), 23A: __ Snider, frontman for rock's Twisted Sister (Dee) 63A: Sharp (keen) and 53D: Seconds: Abbr. (assts).

Other noteworthy fill includes 24A: Once-in-a-lifetime traveler (Haji), 54A: Silk fabric for scarves (foulard), 12D: Cigarette brand that sponsored "The Dick Van Dyke Show" (Kent), 25D: Bump (jostle) and 28D: Grammy winner Winans (CeCe)...although I wasn't sure if it would be CeCe or BeBe.

Don mentioned that 66A: Himmel und __ (traditional German potato dish) (erde) actually translates to heaven and earth. I'm sure there's a story behind that.

I definitely don't get 37D: Job for Hercule Poirot (CAS)...what am I missing?

I missed a golden opportunity yesterday...the perfect segue at 30A: Concluding appearance (swan song). I don't know how long it will be, but for the time being, Madness is signing off. I've neglected some pretty important things to keep this blog going. I will miss it, and I will miss many of you. [UPDATE for those of you in Syndication Land. The sabbatical was short-lived...I missed all of you too much. Check out the links in the sidebar for the next week or so...but come back to Madness soon!]

Here's the grid...



...and I'll see you later.

Linda G

Tuesday, December 18 - Alan Arbesfeld

Just when I think I'll zoom through a puzzle, there's something simple to trip me up. I nailed the theme answers...only to stumble on a couple of words near the end.

Today's theme is WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN and WHY, and the theme answers are:

17A: Response to a knock (Who can it be). I've never said that, but it reminds me of the song by Men at Work. Hear it here.

26A: The important thing (what matters). Many years ago, Leslie's class did a Mother's Day project called The Important Thing. For some reason, it's still hanging in the kitchen. The funny thing is...I didn't really help her with her homework. I just sat with her while she did it. I've cropped it so that it's readable, so you don't get the full effect of her lovely artwork. She would just die of embarrassment if she knew I'd posted this, so don't tell her.

38A: Doctor's query (Where does it hurt?). These days, he just asks me where it doesn't hurt.

44A: "Never!" (when pigs fly). My favorite...for the visual alone. Some time in 1981, Don commented that pigs weren't pink. Every Christmas since then, I've given him a pink pig. He regrets having said it. That reminds me, I haven't gotten this year's pig yet. He has already received a coffee cup, bookmarks, candy, plush, stained glass, a clay ornament, a framed cross-stitch, a cookie jar, socks, an apron...it's getting hard to come up with different things after so many years.

59A: Discounter's pitch (Why pay more).

The tough spots for me...fortunately all gettable with crosses...were 65A: Unit of force (dyne)...damn science stuff and 67A: Classic computer game set on a seemingly deserted island (Myst)...never heard of it. I was also a bit unsure about 47D: Sober (staid), which didn't help me much. 45D: Armed conflict (hot war) was a phrase that's new to me, and I've never heard of 39D: Dickens's Drood (Edwin).

Yesterday a reader (postoo) commented about the use of ires as a verb...and it's here again today...56D: Tees off. Of course, I wanted a golf answer in there.

I definitely liked seeing the Scrabbly J begin the first two answers...1A: Comment not to be taken seriously (jest), crossing with 1D: 1975 Spielberg thriller (Jaws), and 5A: __ Marley's ghost in "A Christmas Carol" (Jacob), crossing with the delightful 5D: Place to find auto parts (junkyard).

Some of my favorites...either for the clues or the answers:

16A: Poi source (taro). A Hawaiian answer, just for you, Bob!

31A: A Chaplin (Oona). Her name appears from time to time, so it's best to remember it.

33A: Lhasa __ (Tibetan dogs) (Apsos). I can never remember if it's Apso or Apsa. 36D: Sportscaster Hershiser (Orel) didn't help at all...could have just as easily been Arel.

42A: Entre __ (nous). Love the cross at 29D: Steakhouse selections (T-bones). When I had TBO, I was sure I had something wrong.

66A: Teammate of Snider and Hodges (Reese). Haven't a clue who that is, but the name fit.

3D: One not associating with the likes of you? (snob).

7D: Half of an E.P.A. mileage rating (city). Mike and Elaine got a new Explorer. It gets about three gallons to the mile.

25D: Come clean (fess up).

48D: Rock opera with the song "Pinball Wizard" (Tommy). One of my favorites...to this day, I love the soundtrack.

54D: N.Y.S.E. debuts (IPOs)...Initial Public Offering. That's been in the puzzle more than once.

That's it for tonight. Here's the grid...



...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G

Sunday, November 11 - Alan Arbesfeld

It feels good to be back in the swing of things. I just loved Alan Arbesfeld's Sunday puzzle--Putting on Some Weight. I had one theme answer in place but just did not get the theme at all. When I got the second one, it began to make sense...which then made most of the others much easier to get.

Ordinary names and phrases have TON added...either in the middle of or at the end of them. The new phrases are then appropriately clued in clever ways.

The theme clues and answers are:

22A: Up to top physics standards (as good as Newton). This was the last one to fall because of a wrong answer at 10D: Pussy foot (paw)...I had pad. As good as Ned just didn't make any sense at all.

32A: Recumbent W.W. II general? (Patton on the back). I struggled to come up with his name. I was picturing George C. Scott, and I knew I knew the name...it finally came around to the front of my brain.

46A: First game of a Chinese double-header? (Canton opener). Once I had the theme, this one just jumped out.

55A: Container for an iron or wedge? (club carton). This was the once I had before I understood the theme. Obviously it made no sense at all, so I erased everything after club.

68A: "I'm not interested in having tea!"? (Don't give me any Lipton)...the corniest one of the bunch.

86A: Where to pick up nuclear supplies? (proton shop). I had photo for the longest time. Couldn't make any sense of the cross at 73D [clued as Figure in a bust] for the longest time. I didn't notice the (not so obvious to me) answer until just now. I was thinking statue...they were thinking drug (narc).

96A: Crucifix? (sexton symbol). Don't know what I'm missing here. The sexton at our church is the janitor and caretaker. It must mean something else in other churches.

107A: Traveler's aid in South Carolina? (Charleston Atlas). Many of you will remember the 97-pound weakling ads. For the rest of you, this will tell you more. It's definitely funny to see it again after all these years. This was the second one I got...definitely my favorite.

123A: Easily transportable plantation product? (rollaway cotton)...for some reason, this one made me laugh the most.

Until Don came upstairs to tell me the answer to 25A: Time, in Munich, I was baffled by 1D: Square. I though maybe they wanted Plan A, although it didn't make sense, and neit sounded like a very good German word. The correct answers...plaza (that kind of square) and zeit. Equally baffling for a time was 1A: Award for hanging (plaque). Who gets an award for hanging someone?

By far my favorite word in the puzzle...maybe of all time...is 82D: Place together (juxtapose). It's not only beautiful, it makes really good use of its X.

I'm always fond of multiple word answers, and Alan didn't let me down.

20A: How miracle workers walk (on water).

41A: Substitute (for) (pinch hit). That may be one word, but I'm calling it two...otherwise, the double H looks too weird.

58A: Grab (snap up). I hit a big sale at Herberger's this morning and was able to snap up some really good deals. Flannel sheets and a fleece blanket for Mike and Elaine. Oops, everything else was for me...jeans, sweater, long sleeve tees, shoes, socks, and a potential mother-of-the-bride dress. For $5, you get a coupon worth $10 off an item, plus several 20% coupons...the money goes to the participating nonprofit of your choice. I had bought 5 tickets, so I had to buy a lot of things...don't you know.

133A: Schoolyard challenge (make me). I know we complain frequently about the playground retorts, but that one's good.

12D: "The Joys of Yiddish" author (Leo Rosten); 13D: "Smoking __?" (or non); 14D: Call 911, e.g. (get help); 16D: Facing (up against); 84D: Small part (cameo role); and 97D: Garage litter (oil cans).

While not a multiple word answer, 7A: 18th-century Venetian master who painted "Adoration of the Magi" looks like one as I'm looking over the grid. Tiepolo, not to be confused with tie polo. You can read about him here.

76A: Absolut rival, for short (Stoli). Stoli has no rival, IMOO...perhaps Absolut does.

The only word I don't like is 23D: Makeup kit item (applier)...it seems like a nonword. I have makeup brushes and a couple of applicators, but no appliers.

I don't know anything about pinochle (except that I've always liked the word itself), so I certainly didn't know 35D: Low cards in pinochle (nines). Do you play with all the cards...or only nine through ace?

21D: Modern music genre (techno) threw me. I was sure I had something wrong when I had the CHN in place. Same thing happened at 111A: Item often cloned. BMP...WTF? Great answer, though. IBM PC.

Other foreign language offerings appeared at 51A: Omelette ingredient (oeuf) and 90A: Lago composition (agua)...Spanish for lake and water, respectively.

Loved seeing 130A: Writers Shreve and Brookner (Anitas). I'm not familiar with Brookner, but Anita Shreve has been a favorite author since I read The Pilot's Wife years ago.

Also liked 112D: It's a dyeing art (batik). We have a beautiful framed batik of three zebras. The local Episcopal churches have a two-week African Team Ministries fair where they sell jewelry and wood items...and batik, on occasion...with all proceeds helping them serve the needs of men, women and children in east Africa. I just discovered that you can shop online...click here and you can, too.

There's still much more to say about this puzzle, but I'm fresh out of steam. Here's the grid...



...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G

Tuesday, October 23 - Alan Arbesfeld

I've put off blogging for more than an hour because I was so tired. Now I can't stop yawning. I'm guessing this will be a quick one.

Not that Alan Arbesfeld doesn't deserve more...in addition to a theme with five long answers, he's given us some good fill to chew on.

The theme is revealed at 59A: What the starts of 17-, 26-, 37- and 52-Across are (things drawn)...and the theme answers are:

17A: Play follower, usually (curtain call).

26A: Loofah, e.g. (bath sponge).

37A: Circulatory system flow (bloodstream).

52A: Shoot-'em-up figure (gunslinger).

The two long down answers are mighty nice.

11D: Saroyan novel, with "The" (Human Comedy). Struggled to come up with a name for 32A: Pest control brand (d-CON), so this looked pretty strange for a time.

25D: Hoops coach with the most N.C.A.A. Division I wins (Bobby Knight). A few months ago I didn't know about the man...tonight, it was a gimme.

Some of my favorite clues/answers:

14A: Sign of spring (Aries). Got the answer but didn't get it at first...clever.

20A: Amateurish (bush). This was priceless. I hadn't thought of that definition of the word before.

31A: Start the pot (ante up). Ante shows up fairly often, but there's something about this one that I like.

41A: Singer __ P. Morgan (Jaye). I remember her from game shows a hundred years ago...didn't know she was a singer. Here she is with Kermit.

48A: For dieters (nonfat). That was my third answer for that clue. I immediately put lowcal, then changed it to lowfat. I finally got it because of 38D: Old Dodge (Omni).

55A: Clobber, biblically (smite)...absolutely the funniest clue ever.

68A: Site of Ali's Rumble in the Jungle (Zaire). A great word, as is its cross at the Z...57D: Wood-shaping tool (adze). That's one I learned from Scrabble games with my mother in the late sixties.

10D: Primrose family member (oxlip). Such an ugly name for such a pretty flower. I'm too tired to include pictures tonight, but here's one.

12D: "It slipped my mind!" (I forgot). That's almost not funny...it happens far too often.

13D: Letterman lists (top tens).

24D: "Wheel of Fortune" buy (an O). Far better clue than referring to a year in Spain.

34D: Red Sox div. (AL East). If it weren't for the Rockies and their bid for the World Series, I wouldn't have known this. For the record, I'm not a huge sports fan, so the Bosox fans out there needn't razz (phooey...that was yesterday's word) me about the upcoming games. I'm just excited that the Rockies made it this far.

39D: Singer of the 1962 hit "The Wanderer" (Dion). Talk about a double standard...if a woman had done a song like that, you know what they'd say about her.

41D: Tools for making twisty cuts (jigsaws)...good Scrabbly word.

42D: Barnard grads (alumnae). It sure didn't help that I'd originally read the clue as Barnyard grads.

49D: Fakes, as an injury (feigns).

Things I didn't know but got from crosses:

21A: "__ economy is always beauty": Henry James (In art).

47A: Actress Chase of "Now, Voyager" (Ilka). Here's a picture of her from the trailer for that movie.

46D: "Deal or No Deal" network (NBC). Never heard of it...the show, I mean. Of course I've heard of NBC.

61D: Here, in Paris (ici).

Here's the grid...

...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G

Wednesday, September 12 - Alan Arbesfeld

If you take a look at the sidebar...over there, to the right...you'll see the names of some of the wonderful readers who have agreed to guest blog while Don and I are relaxing on the beaches of Kauai. There are still two others who have yet to sign on, but I'd like to thank each of them. Howard (who comments as Howard B) will be covering the three Friday puzzles, Robert (Green Genius) will do the Saturdays and Sundays, except for Sunday 9/23. Dave (who comments as evad) will do that one, in addition to the two Thursday puzzles. Rick (Cornbread Hell) will cover the Tuesday and Wednesday puzzles. Wendy, who I think may be making her blogging debut, will cover the Monday puzzles, and I'm extremely grateful for a feminine presence. Keep the guys in line, Wendy, especially...well, he knows who he is. (Just kidding. I love you all.)

Today has been only slightly better than yesterday. Again, that will be my excuse for not understanding the theme. I know I'll be embarrassed when I read it elsewhere...or when a reader points it out to me.

The theme is revealed (to some, anyway) at 52A: Sprint to the tape...and a hint to this puzzle's theme (finish strong). Okay, would someone please tell me how the theme answers all relate?

20A: Smash (box office hit). I get the reference to hit, but does that make one strong?

29A: Athlete seated at a table, maybe (arm wrestler). A wrestler is strong, but there's probably more to it than that. By the way, before I tore my bicep, I was quite the arm wrestler, considering my small stature. I used to beat some of the (younger, rather wimpy) guys at the shelter.

35A: Advice to a Harley passenger (hold on tight). This was actually a gimme, although I don't see the connection.

42A: Fits perfectly (suits to a tee). Maybe this isn't even a theme answer, but it's in the right place for one.

I feel stupid enough already. When someone explains it, I think I'll just crawl into a hole somewhere.

On to what I really liked. The clever clues at 28A: Head of state? (ess), 2D: They spread fast (rumors) and 55D: Poll closing? (ster).

Also the vertical stacks in the northwest which join rumors. 1D: Tarzan portrayer (Crabbe)...he was even before my time, 3D: Joan's "Dynasty" role (Alexis)...I'm mildly embarrassed to say that I loved the show, and 4D: Salami variety (Genoa). I used to love Genoa salami sandwiches on buttered white bread. I can't even imagine eating it now...all those blobs of fat.

8D: Going from A to B, say (linear), 10D: Suffered from an allergy, maybe (felt itchy)...bet that hasn't ever been in a puzzle, 33D: Enriches with vitamins (fortifies), 47D: Cause of weird weather (El Niño), and 48D: Young swan (cygnet)...I learned that at a baby shower years ago. We had to name the young of about 50 different birds and animals.

Check out the number of sports-related clues, all of which I got: 49A: Soccer forward (striker), 59A: Like any of seven Nolan Ryan games (no hit), 44D: Court action (tennis), and 45D: A.L. East player (Oriole). Not too shabby.

I didn't know 41A: County near Tyrone (Derry) but guessed it once I had the D and the last R in place. Also didn't know 53D: Weapon in a rumble (shiv). And would someone tell me why 27D: Good sign for an angel is SRO?

I Like Ike is back, clued as a two-part answer...at 57-Down and 62-Across.

I just noticed the number of Scrabbly letters in this. Z, X, K, J, F, V. Nicely done.

There were entertainment clues for everyone. In addition to Crabbe and Alexis, we have 33A: "Shrek" princess (Fiona), 34A: "It's Impossible" crooner (Como), 32D: Fish in a John Cleese film (Wanda), and 35D: "Aquarius" musical (Hair). I saw it in West Palm Beach a hundred years ago. I think it was the first time I ever saw a naked man...well, several of them. I still can't believe my mother let me go. Or maybe I didn't tell her.

Time to say good night. Here's the grid...



...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G

Thursday, August 16 - Alan Arbesfeld

I was late getting to the puzzle tonight...an impromptu get-together with a friend and the new man in her life, followed by dinner out with Don. We don't do parties and such very often, but this was enjoyable. We're both very happy for K...her ex was/is a schmuck, IMOO. If you're having an affair, don't lie to your wife when she's on to it and confronts you. We're not stupid. It goes the other way as well.

Okay...on to the puzzle. And a very entertaining puzzle it was.

Loved the theme, revealed at 10A and 37A: FROM/START TO FINISH.

The four theme answers are all common phrases, but the first letter is moved to the last space...then appropriately clued.

18A: Reason to renovate an opera house? (RUST IN MET). Trust in me...that's the only one I'll translate.

20A: One cauterizing a skin blemish? (HEATER OF WART).

54A: Narc operation on Amtrak? (RAILWAYS BUST). This was the one that made the theme make sense.

57A: Dropped "The Simpsons" from the TV schedule? (ENDED BART).

The only clue/answer I didn't like was 5D: Caught congers (eeled). I don't think of eel as a verb...this seemed like a stretch. But I liked the theme so well, I'd be willing to let most anything slide.

Did not know and still do not get:

24D: Sponsorship: Var. (Egis). Should that be all caps?

30D: From the beginning (abovo).

Thought there was a third but I'm not seeing another. Things I didn't know, but they seem to make sense:

36A: Poem about Paris, in part (Iliad). I assume they're talking about Paris, the character, as opposed to the city. Clever.

44A: Hieroglyphic symbol for the ancient Egyptian "M" (owl).

60A: Florence's __ Vecchio (Ponte). Got it from the crosses.

61A: Toni Morrison novel (Sula). I'm not familiar with Morrison's work. Again, the crosses made it happen.

6D: Battle of the __, in the Spanish Civil War (Ebro).

I really liked the vertical stacks in the northwest and the southeast: 1D: Hurry in the direction of (rush to), 2D: Make a stud payment (ante up), and 3D: Climber's chopper (ice axe)...45D: Waiting area (lounge), 46D: Given the boot (ousted), and 47D: Comes out with (utters).

Favorite clues/answers:

45A: Bud's bud (Lou). Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. Got it but didn't get it right away.

63A: Tee off (anger). A gimme...I didn't think it was about golf.

64A: Wax remover (Q-tip). Eeee-yewwww. Or however that's spelled.

13D: Boulder hrs. (MST). Mountain Standard Time made it to an earlier puzzle, with a clue that made you think it was about sports.

34D: Big bag of groceries, e.g. (armload)
.

37D: Hot (sexy). A much better clue than we had the other day...like a Playmate of the Month. I had a real issue with that one. I had nude for that one...which all Playmates are. But are they all sexy? I'll concede that some are.

43D: Slopes devotee (ski bum).

I'm ready to call it a night. Here's the grid...

...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G

Thursday, May 17 - Alan Arbesfeld

It's Thursday, and we all know what that means.

You know the answer + it just won't fit in the grid = REBUS.

And Alan Arbesfeld gives us a great rebus at that. The theme is revealed at 55A: Special CD release...or a hint to this puzzle's theme (boxed set). The word set appears in four long theme answers, and another in the center of the grid.

17A: Ones with a family connection? (SiameSE Twins), intersecting with 18D: Begin (SET out).

64A: Shrewd bargainers (horSE Traders), along with 65D: Scrap (SET to).

10D: Fail to keep tabs on (loSE Track of), sharing its set with 19A: Takes root (SETs in)

36D: Be very, very sorry (curSE The day). This gets the award for best intersection...at 46A: Much higher than normal (falSETto).

And in the center of the grid, 41A: Former European money (peSETas) and30D: Decimal (baSE Ten).

This was the best rebus I've ever seen, and I say that because it's the first time I figured it out on my own!

For 10D, I had *O**ACKOF, and I was 99.99% sure that it had to be lose track of. I cautiously penciled in set, and everything just started to fall into place. Now I see how you can love a rebus. The aha moments just keep happening, kind of like...well, it was good.

Was totally amazed to see 20A: Straight (hetero). I thought for a minute I was doing the Sun puzzle.

Had never heard of 59A: Punish by fining (amerce). All of the downs were in place, so I knew it had to be right. Doublechecked the old Webster's. Yeah, it's there.

Maybe it's just the brand I wear, but 40A: Hose hue (ecru) doesn't ring true with me. Little Color and Barely There, yes. Ecru, no.

Clever cluing at 23A: It's not forked out (soup), 37A: Await delivery anxiously (pace), 66A: One of a noted nautical trio (Nina), 41A: Hardly a marksman (poor shot), and 61A: Bureau add-on? (crat).

52D: Hardy perennial (peony). Mine have been full of buds for a few days. When I came home this afternoon, there were about a dozen beautiful white peonies on one bush. I planted them in memory of my Dad's brother, who called them pe-OH-nies.

That's it for tonight. Dave (a/k/a evad) is the guest blogger du jour at Diary of a Crossword Fiend. Be sure to check it out.

Linda G