10.04 Tue

T U E S D A Y
October 4, 2011
Ed Sessa

Theme: Kinky sex … oh wait, no …. — The last word of each theme answer is a type of prop used by Harry Houdini.

Theme answers:

• 20A: Understand how things are done (KNOW THE ROPES).
• 36A: Places to see links (FRENCH CUFFS).
• 42A: Simple floral garlands (DAISY CHAINS).
• 58A: Stage name of Ehrich Weiss, for whom the ends of 20-, 36- and 42-Across were props (HARRY HOUDINI).

Did you all see Joon on Jeopardy last night? Pretty exciting! The good news for anyone who missed it is that he'll be back on tonight. (I guess that's pretty good news for Joon himself too.) Those of you who did see the show last night might have chuckled, like I did, at 1-Across. Joon missed the first of his three Daily Doubles the correct answer to which was LAMB (1A: Its "fleece was white as snow"). In his defense, the reference on the show wasn't quite as simple as a nursery rhyme. But it was about someone named Mary. Weird how stuff like that happens.

But now let's turn our attention to Dr. Sessa. Nice solid Tuesday puzzle with a interesting theme and a wholly inappropriate sub-theme. I'm sorry. I don't usually highlight all the double entendre–type entries in a grid, because I don't like to get all nasty, but I really can't help it today. I mean, come on … we've got ROPES, CUFFS, and CHAINS in the theme. There's no way I'm not going to raise an eyebrow at KAMA (Sutra), SLID, SLIT, T-BONED, LICKS, BLEW IT, PUSH and NOT ONCE. No way around it, guys; sorry for the stumble into the gutter.

I had the most trouble over on the eastern seaboard where I entered SIMPLE where SIMILE was supposed to go (31A: As plain as day, e.g.). I can't be the only one who did that. That P caused all kinds of problems, but it eventually worked itself out.

Bullets:

• 18A: Got one's uniform dirty, maybe (SLID). For some reason I was picturing a nurse's uniform here and couldn't make sense of this. Duh. It's baseball. By the way, PuzzleSon played his first baseball game in several years last weekend and hit a stand-up, RBI double. He felt pretty good about himself.

• 54A: Broadsided (T-BONED). I had actually never heard this term used in this way until PuzzleHusband was involved in a car accident earlier this year in which his car was T-BONED. (Lots of damage to the car; no damage to the husband.)
• 65A: "__ Three Lives": TV oldie (I LED). Since I had no idea, I wanted this answer to end in an S, like "[Somebody's] Three Lives."
• 1D: The home team gets the last ones (LICKS). I do not know what this means.
• 2D: Hersey's "A Bell For __" (ADANO). A little high-end crosswordese to add to your repertoire. We've talked about it here on the blog before. I Ne-Ever remember this one until I have a couple crosses in place.
• 5D: Former Asian state known for goat wool (KASHMIR). Oh yeah. You know what's coming.



• 27D: Pasta topper (PESTO). Mmm, pesto ….

• 43D: Steinway alternatives (YAMAHAS). Okay, I have wondered this for probably 40 years now. Is the YAMAHA that makes pianos the same YAMAHA that makes motorcycles? I literally think of that question every time I see a reference to either the pianos or the motorcycles and I've never bothered to look it up. Well, that ends today. Let's see … what does Wikipedia have to say? …. Okay, interesting. Yes, it's the same company. Kind of. Yamaha Corporation is the parent company and Yamaha Motor Company is part of that conglomerate. Yamaha Corporation began as a manufacturer of pianos and organs and — get this! — their logo is made up of three tuning forks. That's awesome. Who knew?

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 47A: Fair-hiring initials (EEO).
• 64A: Long, long time (AEON).
• 67A: Pear variety (BOSC).
• 2D: Hersey's "A Bell For __" (ADANO).
• 6D: Wheel holder (AXLE).
• 30D: Pioneering computer (ENIAC).

Everything — 1A: Its "fleece was white as snow" (LAMB); 5A: __ Sutra (KAMA); 9A: Go with the flow (ADAPT); 14A: Pastoral verse (IDYL); 15A: Pink-slipped (AXED); 16A: Ladies' man (ROMEO); 17A: Nicolas of "Adaptation" (CAGE); 18A: Got one's uniform dirty, maybe (SLID); 19A: Mississippi, e.g. (STATE); 20A: Understand how things are done (KNOW THE ROPES); 23A: Many frozen dinners are high in it (SODIUM); 24A: Taker of vows (NUN); 25A: Def Jam genre (RAP); 28A: Native American group (TRIBE); 31A: As plain as day, e.g. (SIMILE); 33A: Tax pro (CPA); 36A: Places to see links (FRENCH CUFFS); 38A: Friend (ALLY); 40A: Cancún uncle (TIO); 41A: 36-Across opening (SLIT); 42A: Simple floral garlands (DAISY CHAINS); 47A: Fair-hiring initials (EEO); 48A: Forensic facility (DNA LAB); 49A: Spy wear (CLOAK); 51A: Sí or oui (YES); 52A: Do-favor link (ME A); 54A: Broadsided (T-BONED); 58A: Stage name of Ehrich Weiss, for whom the ends of 20-, 36- and 42-Across were props (HARRY HOUDINI); 61A: Wife of Abraham (SARAH); 64A: Long, long time (AEON); 65A: "__ Three Lives": TV oldie (I LED); 66A: Michelangelo work (PIETÀ); 67A: Pear variety (BOSC); 68A: Charity (ALMS); 69A: Suisse peaks (ALPES); 70A: Like an animated Pea? (SWEE'); 71A: Cold-cock (KAYO); 1D: The home team gets the last ones (LICKS); 2D: Hersey's "A Bell For __" (ADANO); 3D: "Nearer, __, to Thee" (MY GOD); 4D: Messed up (BLEW IT); 5D: Former Asian state known for goat wool (KASHMIR); 6D: Wheel holder (AXLE); 7D: Golda of Israel (MEIR); 8D: Supplement (ADD ON); 9D: Poison in some whodunits (ARSENIC); 10D: Kids' book connectables (DOTS); 11D: GP's gp. (AMA); 12D: Gently stroke (PET); 13D: Place for a ring (TOE); 21D: Racetrack surface (TURF); 22D: Door sign (PUSH); 25D: Go through energetically, as drawers (RIFLE); 26D: 1966 Michael Caine title role (ALFIE); 27D: Pasta topper (PESTO); 29D: "Little Women" woman (BETH); 30D: Pioneering computer (ENIAC); 32D: Letters before nus (MUS); 33D: Tea leaves holder (CADDY); 34D: Wood shaver (PLANE); 35D: Fake name (ALIAS); 37D: Slinky's shape (COIL); 39D: Fashion monogram (YSL); 43D: Steinway alternatives (YAMAHAS); 44D: Trucker with a handle (CB'ER); 45D: Never (NOT ONCE); 46D: "Elephant Boy" actor (SABU); 50D: Alaskan brown bear (KODIAK); 53D: Iraqis, usually (ARABS); 55D: Nabisco brand named for its flavor (NILLA); 56D: The Penguin, to Batman (ENEMY); 57D: Playground retort (DID SO); 58D: Can't stand (HATE); 59D: "Ouch!" ("YEOW!"); 60D: Fire truck item (HOSE); 61D: Mineral spring (SPA); 62D: Feel sick (AIL); 63D: Workout unit (REP).

09.15 Thu

T H U R S D A Y
September 15, 2011
Ed Sessa

Theme: Silence of the Lambs — Each theme answer is a familiar word or phrase with one silent letter. From top to bottom, the silent letters spell LAMBS.

Theme answers:

• 14A: Corner-to-corner lines (CROSSWALK).
• 18A: Brand with a cuckoo mascot (COCOA PUFFS).
• 34A: Recall aids (MNEMONIC DEVICES).
• 55A: Disapproval (THUMBS DOWN).
• 60A: Nassau Coliseum NHL team (ISLANDERS).
• 39D: Characteristic of this puzzle's circled letters, which suggest a 1991 Oscar-winning film (SILENCE).

Very clever theme today from Dr. Sessa. I saw the random circles and wondered what the heck we were getting ourselves into. Once I had solved the puzzle, it still took me a minute to figure out the whole theme. I'm all "Okay, the letters are silent, got it. There was a movie called 'Silence'?" Well, no, PuzzleGirl. There was a movie called "Silence of the LAMBS." Aha! I am predicting right now that several commenters will complain that one or the other of these so-called silent letters isn't really silent. If I was a gambling person, I would actually bet quite a lot of money on that. Oh wait. I am a gambling person. Well, if it was at all customary or appropriate to gamble on crossword blog comments, I would actually bet quite a lot of money on that.

Bullets:

• 1A: Cabernets, e.g. (REDS). I thought this might have been a bonus non-theme answer having to do with a memorable line from the movie, but it turns out the actual memorable line (which apparently wasn't all that memorable, to me anyway) refers to chianti.

• 40A: Adams's "Nixon in China," for one (OPERA). Did y'all know there was an opera about this? I had no idea. And weren't we just talking about him yesterday?
• 3D: Prehistoric critters, briefly (DINOS). It was hard for me to think of anything other than T-REXES, which we saw in a puzzle earlier this week.
• 37D: Trump has an elaborate one (COMB OVER). Ha! Okay, I just found this on Wikipedia and I'm having a hard time believing it's actually true: "A variation of the comb over where baldness is concealed by long hair combed in three separate directions has a U.S. Patent 4,022,227 by Donald J. Smith and his father, Frank J. Smith, of Orlando, Florida. The Smiths were awarded an Ig Nobel Prize in Engineering for their effort." Oh, okay, I followed the link for the Ig Nobel Prize and found out it's a joke. Whew! (Oh, I get it. Ignoble. But is there really a patent?!)

I'll be traveling for a couple days and will see you back here Monday. Pretty sure someone will be here to open up tomorrow morning, but you'll need to come on back to find out for sure.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 22A: Literary schnauzer (ASTA).
• 49A: '40s film critic James (AGEE).
• 53A: Concert wind (OBOE).
• 4D: Dreamcast maker (SEGA).
• 9D: Belarus, once: Abbr. (SSR).
• 31D: Genre of the band Jimmy Eat World (EMO).
• 50D: Icelandic source of mythology (EDDA).

Everything — 1A: Cabernets, e.g. (REDS); 5A: __ Ababa (ADDIS); 10A: It's in poetry? ('TIS); 13A: Ray's mom on "Everybody Loves Raymond" (MARIE); 14A: Corner-to-corner lines (CROSSWALK); 16A: Blowing away (AWING); 17A: Small smoke (CIGARILLO); 18A: Brand with a cuckoo mascot (COCOA PUFFS); 20A: Enunciate poorly (SLUR); 21A: Spanish liqueur (ANIS); 22A: Literary schnauzer (ASTA); 23A: Invitation sender (HOST); 24A: Took care of (DID); 25A: Last pres. born in the 19th century (DDE); 26A: Fish and chips fish (COD); 29A: Jazz guitarist Montgomery (WES); 30A: IM user, perhaps (AOL'ER); 32A: News distributors (MEDIA); 34A: Recall aids (MNEMONIC DEVICES); 40A: Adams's "Nixon in China," for one (OPERA); 41A: Rice follower, at the market (-A-RONI); 42A: Colorful subway poster (MAP); 45A: Reagan era acronym (SDI); 46A: Load (TON); 48A: CCCX x V (MDL); 49A: '40s film critic James (AGEE); 51A: Injury reminder (SCAR); 53A: Concert wind (OBOE); 54A: Herring prized for its eggs (SHAD); 55A: Disapproval (THUMBS DOWN); 57A: Not easily comprehended (HARD TO SEE); 59A: Like some pride (CIVIC); 60A: Nassau Coliseum NHL team (ISLANDERS); 61A: Coeur d'__ (ALENE); 62A: "The X-Files" extras (ET'S); 63A: Proposal rarely made on one knee (TOAST); 64A: Arctic hazard (BERG); 1D: Salad veggie (RAW ONION); 2D: "Spamalot" co-creator (ERIC IDLE); 3D: Prehistoric critters, briefly (DINOS); 4D: Dreamcast maker (SEGA); 5D: Impeach (ACCUSE); 6D: Go with the tide (DRIFT); 7D: Having a mug like a pug (DOG-FACED); 8D: "A miss __ good ..." (IS AS); 9D: Belarus, once: Abbr. (SSR); 10D: Soapmaking material (TALLOW); 11D: Treat like dirt (ILL USE); 12D: Hybrid apparel (SKORTS); 13D: Crushed-stone surface (MACADAM); 15D: Words after a splash in a fountain, maybe (WISH); 19D: Artificially inflate (PAD); 25D: Dilating application (DROPS); 27D: Poetic dedication (ODE); 28D: Place to recline (DIVAN); 31D: Genre of the band Jimmy Eat World (EMO); 32D: __ Nashville: record label (MCA); 33D: Mattress filler (AIR); 35D: "Waking __ Devine": 1998 film (NED); 36D: Dún Laoghaire's waters (IRISH SEA); 37D: Trump has an elaborate one (COMB-OVER); 38D: Providing funds for (ENDOWING); 39D: Characteristic of this puzzle's circled letters, which suggest a 1991 Oscar-winning film (SILENCE); 42D: Old golf club name (MASHIE); 43D: White as a sheet (AGHAST); 44D: Diver's quest (PEARLS); 46D: Least likely to bite (TAMEST); 47D: Globe (ORB); 50D: Icelandic source of mythology (EDDA); 52D: Callers at round dances (CUERS); 53D: Ballet's Black Swan (ODILE); 55D: Uproar (TO-DO); 56D: Unpopular worker (SCAB); 58D: Blast cause (TNT).

07.11 Mon

M O N D A Y
July 11, 2011
Ed Sessa

Theme: " … and I'm not gonna take it any more!" — Each theme answer is a familiar phrase that begins with a word that can be a synonym for "angry."

Theme answers:

• 17A: Rhetorical question on a sultry day (HOT ENOUGH FOR YOU?).
• 26A: Shellfish order (STEAMED CLAMS).
• 38A: Pitcher's malady (SORE ARM).
• 48A: Off one's rocker (MAD AS A HATTER).
• 63A: What you're solving (in more ways than one, based on the starts of 17-, 26-, 38- and 48-Across) (CROSSWORD PUZZLE).

This puzzle really kept me going today. And that's saying a lot for a Monday. First of all, I made a mistake right out of the gate by trying DOZEN for BATCH (1A: Cookie quantity). Monday and I'm hosing up 1-Across? Yikes! Then I winced a little when I saw the ugly plural BAHS (1D: Scroogean outbursts), but had to chuckle when I got to D'OHS (8D: Homer Simpson outbursts). The next chuckle came at HOT ENOUGH FOR YOU? That's just an awesome awesome phrase to find in the grid. It's one of those questions that I'm pretty sure is still asked unironically from time to time, which is enough to make me roll my eyes. Not that it takes much to make me roll my eyes.

Despite a clunker here and there (I'm looking at you ACRED), the theme is what really makes this puzzle shine. First of all, it's totally tight. The "angry" words are all used in a "non-angry" context, and the phrases are all well-known. Okay, SORE ARM just kinda sits there, but the reveal answer more than makes up for that little nit. It's a CROSSWORD PUZZLE and the theme is CROSS WORDS. Love it.

Bullets:

• 6A: Partner of a mani, salon-wise (PEDI). Just had one yesterday. Aaaaahhhhhhh.
• 21A: Illness suffix (-OSIS). I tried -OTIS here first.
• 23A: Enjoy a chaise longue, say (LAZE). There is apparently a rule now that every grid has to include either LAZE or LOLL.
• 43A: "Sexual Healing" singer Marvin (GAYE). A man that could even make the National Anthem sexy.



• 71A: U.S.-Canada defense acronym (NORAD). I'm sure someone will be kind enough to tell us in the comments what this stands for. This is the organization that tracks Santa Claus every year, isn't it?

• 7D: Vet (EX-G.I.). This one was tough for me. I first went down the "animal doctor" road, then switched to the "investigate" definition and really only got to "veteran" once I had the whole thing pretty much filled in by crosses.
• 10D: How lovers walk (ABREAST). Heh heh. You said breast.
• 18D: Slimy stuff (OOZE). Goopy stuff!
• 24D: Writers Lowell and Tan (AMYS). And, of course, crossword blogger and all-time cool chick Reynaldo.
• 47D: "What craziness!" ("IT'S A ZOO!"). Another great colloquial phrase. Extra points for its exclamatory-ness.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 25D: Neet rival (NAIR).
• 30D: Hawaii's Mauna __ (LOA).
• 40D: "The Crying Game" actor Stephen (REA).
• 58D: Folk singer Guthrie (ARLO).
• 60D: Drug kingpin (CZAR).

Everything Else — 10A: "Dancing Queen" group (ABBA); 14A: Hawaiian hi (ALOHA); 15A: Neural conductor (AXON); 16A: Area outside the city, briefly (BURB); 20A: Appear to be (SEEM); 22A: Blood lines (VEINS); 25A: Subtlety (NUANCE); 31A: Striped cat (TABBY); 32A: __ polloi (HOI); 33A: Deck swabbers (TARS); 37A: Cavity fillers' org. (ADA); 42A: Tennis do-over (LET); 45A: Meaning of a wd. (DEF.); 46A: Shrek's love (FIONA); 52A: Boutonniere spots (LAPELS); 55A: Striped fish (BASS); 56A: Earthy tone (OCHRE); 57A: Lion's den (LAIR); 59A: West Point, e.g.: Abbr. (ACAD.); 66A: Lottery-like game (KENO); 67A: Look at leeringly (OGLE); 68A: Italian white wine (SOAVE); 69A: Original sin site (EDEN); 70A: Carpenter's supply (WOOD); 2D: Natural balm (ALOE); 3D: Shopping bag (TOTE); 4D: Class with flasks and beakers (CHEM LAB); 5D: Solo in "Star Wars" (HAN); 6D: Stopped briefly (PAUSED); 9D: Having one flat, musically (IN F); 11D: Poker tournament entrance fee (BUY-IN); 12D: Rodeo bucker (BRONC); 13D: Nasty treatment (ABUSE); 19D: Latin egg (OVUM); 26D: Party without women (STAG); 27D: Exclamation with a flourish (TA-DA); 28D: Cybermarketplace (EBAY); 29D: Master slicers and dicers (CHEFS); 34D: Scads (A LOT); 35D: Russo of "Get Shorty" (RENE); 36D: Marquee luminary (STAR); 39D: Las Vegas numbers (ODDS); 41D: Advanced degs. for writers (MFA'S); 44D: "Nature" author (EMERSON); 49D: Brewpub pints (ALES); 50D: Tolerated (ABIDED); 51D: Heavenly music maker (HARP); 52D: "Social contract" philosopher John (LOCKE); 53D: Like a big landowner (ACRED); 54D: Call up (PHONE); 57D: Nike's Swoosh, e.g. (LOGO); 61D: Edison's middle name (ALVA); 62D: Ownership document (DEED); 64D: "Golly!" ("WOW!"); 65D: Mil. branch with ships (USN).

06.30 Thu

T H U R S D A Y
June 30, 2011
Ed Sessa

Theme: Mickey Mouse Club — Theme answers are familiar phrases that begin with a letter. The letters spell out M-I-C-K-E-Y.

Theme answers:

• 20A: *13th in a literary series of 26 (M IS FOR MALICE).
• 29A: *Me.-to-Fla. route (I NINETY-FIVE).
• 35A: *Benjamin (C-NOTE).
• 39A: *Blue Light Specials store (KMART).
• 43A: *The Boss's backup (E STREET BAND).
• 53A: *All men have them (Y CHROMOSOMES).
• 52D: When spelled out, word that follows the beginnings of the starred answers in a memorable kids' show theme song (MOUSE).

Well a fine good morning to all of the 16 people who are likely reading this blog today. It was weird yesterday at my office — it was so eerily quiet I could have sworn the long weekend had already started. And if the traffic here at LACC is any indication, my office wasn't the only place. Y'all are in vacation mode! I can tell! Well here at LACC we never go on vacation! (Not exactly true, but it felt good to say.) So anyway let's talk about this puzzle.

Super ambitious theme today. Basically six theme answers across plus the reveal at 52D — that's quite a lot of theme. The fill suffers a little (I'm looking at you, southern Texas, with your RONEE / TOKED / SNOOTED collision), but overall this puzzle seemed to continue the trend of smooth grids we've seen this week.

Bullets:

• 10A: Net info sources (FAQS). Always a good place to look if you have a question. Like, for example, if you don't know why an entry is always highlighted in the grid at the top of my posts. It's right there in the FAQ!

• 25A: Diary of a sort (LOG). Can anyone think of the "diary"-type LOG without picturing Captain Kirk? I know I can't.
• 33A: Party invite inits. (BYO). Bring Your Own … chair. Or booze or whatever. Depends on what kind of party it is.
• 51A: Cooks quantity? (TOO MANY). Cute. As in the phrase "TOO MANY cooks spoil the lasagna." Or something.
• 61A: Blakley of "Nashville" (RONEE). No idea.
• 63A: "I Love Lucy" producer/writer Oppenheimer (JESS). Again with the absence of ideas.
• 64A: Tipped at the casino (TOKED). I'm not the inveterate gambler you might find in some people's families (*cough* mine *cough*), but I have spent a little time in the casino now and then and I have no idea what this means. Perhaps PuzzleMom will be by to enlighten us. Not that she's spent a lot of time in casinos or anything.
• 2D: Complain (REPINE). I don't believe I've ever heard this word in my life.

• 4D: Argonauts' island refuge (CORFU). This is another place I would point to as a victim of the ambitious theme, but I'm not sure that's fair. Is this legit and I'm just annoyed because I didn't know it? I hate when that happens.
• 5D: Kate's "Charlie's Angels" role (SABRINA). So I'm just scanning the down clues going, "'Potemkin mutiny city'? Not off the top of my head …. 'Argonauts' island refuge'? Nope …. 'Kate's "Charlie's Angels" role'? Easy! SABRINA!"
• 31D: Popularity (FAME).



• 38D: Decisive downfall (WATERLOO). John Wayne's hometown. (Yes, I know that's not true, so no need to write to me about it. It's a joke.)
• 41D: 1980s sitcom set in rural Vermont (NEWHART). The only thing I know about this show is "My brother Darryl and my other brother Darryl." And I'm not even sure I'm spelling Darryl right, not that it matters. Also, I believe as an inn proprietor, Bob NEWHART was able to use his famous "one-sided telephone conversation" schtick quite a bit.



• 42D: Acted snobbishly toward (SNOOTED). Ouch. Took me a while to get SNUBBED out of there.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 17A: Copycat (APER).
• 32A: Actress Gardner (AVA).
• 65A: Winged archer (EROS).
• 3D: Potemkin mutiny city (ODESSA).

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Everything Else — 1A: Nile reptile (CROC); 5A: Dance in Rio (SAMBA); 14A: Make over (REDO); 15A: Dwindling Alaskan tribe (ALEUT); 16A: It runs in Juárez (AGUA); 18A: Horn without keys (BUGLE); 19A: Place to brood (COOP); 23A: Glucose regulator (INSULIN); 24A: Winter phenomenon, commercially (SNO); 28A: Cultural org. since 1965 (NEA); 34A: "So be it!" ("AMEN!"); 38A: "__ to him who believes in nothing": Hugo (WOE); 40A: Bats (LOCO); 41A: "Platoon" setting, briefly (NAM); 42A: Author Grafton who wrote 20-Across (SUE); 46A: Basic resting spot (COT); 49A: "So that's it!" ("OHO!"); 50A: Where kronor are spent: Abbr. (SWE.); 55A: Bunker smoother (RAKE); 58A: Give __: inspire (A LIFT); 59A: Capable of (UP TO); 60A: Cell impulse transmitter (AXON); 62A: Put in stitches (SEWN); 1D: Fill snugly with (CRAM IN); 6D: Some booster club members (ALUMNI); 7D: Byte beginning (MEGA-); 8D: Dartboard area (BULLS-EYE); 9D: Diminished slowly (ATE INTO); 10D: Watch part (FACE); 11D: Back in time (AGO); 12D: Status __ (QUO); 13D: Deplete (SAP); 21D: Martini garnish (OLIVE); 22D: Demure (COY); 25D: Andean bean (LIMA); 26D: Done (OVER); 27D: Mannerly fellow (GENT); 30D: Nuclear radiation weapon, for short (N-BOMB); 32D: Comment end? (-ATOR); 35D: Mark's love (CLEO); 36D: Chips and dip, say (NOSH); 37D: Twice quadri- (OCTO-); 39D: Praise (KUDOS); 44D: PC key (ESC); 45D: Payment for cash? (ATM FEE); 46D: Boy scout, at times (CAMPER); 47D: Fight combo (ONE-TWO); 48D: Boxer Mike et al. (TYSONS); 53D: Desires (YENS); 54D: Pen call (OINK); 55D: British rule in India (RAJ); 56D: Bush whacker? (AXE); 57D: Haymaker consequences (KO'S).