08.05 Fri

F R I D A Y
August 5, 2011
Gareth Bain

Theme: Herb Puns — That's right. Herb puns.

Theme answers:

• 17A: Means of turning an herb into energy? (BASIL METABOLISM).
• 29A: Herb lovers' chat organized by Sarah Palin? (CHIVE TALKIN').
• 47A: Herb eaten with a nightcap? (THYME FOR BED).
• 63A: Remark on another encounter with an herb? (DILL WE MEET AGAIN).

I really hate to shortchange this puzzle today — especially since Gareth is my new best friend — but I really have a lot yet to do this morning, so I just can't really get into it. Sorry! Cute theme. Definitely groan-worthy, but that's a compliment when it comes to puns, right? My favorite grid entries are SKELETON (which has a great clue — 68A: Secret metaphor) and ODDBALL (46D: Flake).


Couple quick things:

• 16A: Layette item (ONESIE). I seem to recall that some people don't think this is a common word, but believe me it definitely is. If you're not familiar with it, that just means you haven't been to a baby shower lately.
• 19A: Chaotic situation (SNAFU). This is another one that people sometimes haven't heard. It stands for Situation Normal All Fouled Up. Sometimes there's a different F-word in there though.
• 43A: One putting away groceries (EATER). I like this clever clue too! "Get a load of him putting away the kielbasa!" (I'm not entirely sure where that random food example came from. I don't think I've ever had a kielbasa in my life.)
• 57A: Eagle's tail? (EYED). EYED can be added to the end (tail) of the word "eagle" to create the adjective "eagle-EYED."
• 5D: Starfish appendage (ARM). I actually entered LEG first. But that's just cuz I'm an idiot.
• 10D: Norse underworld goddess (HEL). Not familiar with this particular goddess, but her name seems appropriate.
• 24D: Arab's father (SIRE). Horses.
• 27D: John's running mate (SARAH). Pretty sure this puzzle filled its Sarah Palin quota with the clue at 29A. Not sure what she's doing showing up again here.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 22A: Stormers of Saruman's fortress, in "The Lord of the Rings" (ENTS).
• 38A: Q.E.D. word (ERAT).
• 54A: __ dye: methyl orange, e.g. (AZO).
• 71A: Two before iota (ETA).
• 18D: Wile E. Coyote's supplier (ACME).
• 34D: Tijuana toddlers (NENES).
• 49D: City near Provo (OREM).

Everything — 1A: Pelican State inst. (LSU); 4A: Oration setting (DAIS); 8A: Common slogan spot (T-SHIRT); 14A: It has many fighters (AIR FORCE); 16A: Layette item (ONESIE); 17A: Means of turning an herb into energy? (BASIL METABOLISM); 19A: Chaotic situation (SNAFU); 20A: Garbage tower (SCOW); 21A: Mo. when asters usually flower (SEP.); 22A: Stormers of Saruman's fortress, in "The Lord of the Rings" (ENTS); 25A: Labor party? (MOM); 26A: Snake's warning (SSS); 29A: Herb lovers' chat organized by Sarah Palin? (CHIVE TALKIN'); 35A: "The Gods Must Be Crazy" setting (KALAHARI); 37A: Care for (NURSE); 38A: Q.E.D. word (ERAT); 39A: Synopsis (RECAP); 42A: Reclined (LAIN); 43A: One putting away groceries (EATER); 45A: Unrestricted (ABSOLUTE); 47A: Herb eaten with a nightcap? (THYME FOR BED); 50A: Quaint contraction ('TIS); 51A: Negative link (NOR); 52A: "High Voltage" rockers (AC/DC); 54A: __ dye: methyl orange, e.g. (AZO); 57A: Eagle's tail? (EYED); 59A: Iraqi port (BASRA); 63A: Remark on another encounter with an herb? (DILL WE MEET AGAIN); 67A: Sign of a page-turner? (DOG-EAR); 68A: Secret metaphor (SKELETON); 69A: Slug relatives (SNAILS); 70A: Naval backbone? (KEEL); 71A: Two before iota (ETA); 1D: They may be chocolate (LABS); 2D: Phillips of "I, Claudius" (SIAN); 3D: __ Minor (URSA); 4D: Discuss business, in a way (DO LUNCH); 5D: Starfish appendage (ARM); 6D: Party host's bagful (ICE); 7D: Gig arrangements (SETS); 8D: In addition (TO BOOT); 9D: Single white male who likes the cold? (SNOWMAN); 10D: Norse underworld goddess (HEL); 11D: Goddess with cow's horns (ISIS); 12D: Intentionally provoked reaction (RISE); 13D: Fill-in (TEMP); 15D: Military wind (FIFE); 18D: Wile E. Coyote's supplier (ACME); 23D: Whaling adverb (THAR); 24D: Arab's father (SIRE); 26D: Olympic event since 1968 (SKEET); 27D: John's running mate (SARAH); 28D: Like the color of some roofing (SLATY); 30D: Goldsmith's "The __ of Wakefield" (VICAR); 31D: Break (LULL); 32D: Frank covering (KRAUT); 33D: Last Supper query (IS IT I); 34D: Tijuana toddlers (NENES); 36D: "Up and __!" (AT 'EM); 40D: Swedish group that won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest (ABBA); 41D: Tiny time meas. (PSEC); 44D: Decision about issues (RENEWAL); 46D: Flake (ODDBALL); 48D: Lobbies (FOYERS); 49D: City near Provo (OREM); 53D: Batting __ (CAGE); 54D: Puts in (ADDS); 55D: Horse Ranch Mountain's national park (ZION); 56D: Gymnast Korbut (OLGA); 58D: Computer support? (DESK); 60D: Fill (SATE); 61D: Reaction from a bad crowd? (RIOT); 62D: Tolstoy's Karenina (ANNA); 64D: Ring of shells, perhaps (LEI); 65D: __ out a living (EKE); 66D: Ball balancer (TEE).