Lock, Stock, and Barrel

Newsday x-word 4-30-14

Good afternoon on a cold, wet, and rainy day in NYC. I managed to finish all three puzzles before I got to work. Fred Piscop offers a nice crossword called "Key Club." The theme answers all have to do with different homonyms of "locks":

Loch Ness monster--Fact or Fiction?

20A: Ness, Lomond, etc. (SCOTTISH LOCHS). Also home to the legendary monster. Nessie supposedly made an appearance for the Scottish Referendum.

39A: Features of cars' rear doors (CHILDPROOF LOCKS). This is an absolute must! However, when my son was little, I knew many parents who went overboard with childproofing. Yes, I can understand protecting the child from glass and electricity, but the child needs to also explore things on his/her own.

Bagels and Lox

52A: Fish served on bagels (NOVA SCOTIA LOX). I think I have mentioned before that I must be the only Jew who doesn't like cream cheese and lox. My bagels have to be buttered or else. When my MIL was alive and we broke the fast on Yom Kippur, she had to make tuna fish and egg salad for me since I refused to eat lox.

The GEICO Gecko

Animal Farm:

8D: Closet pest (MOTH). Never put your wool sweaters in the closet. Always put them in acid-free boxes.
33D: Small lizard (GECKO). The GEICO Gecko is one of my all-time favorite mascots.
41D: Camel's Peruvian cousin (LLAMA)
56D: Meat in moussaka (LAMB). I don't think I've every tried moussaka, but it looks delicious!

Robert Heinlein

Our cryptoquote for today continues with their theme of brevity and simplicity in writing. This one is by Robert Heinlein (1907-1988):

The most important lesson in the writing trade is that any manuscript is improved if you put away the fat.

Robert Heinlein was often called "The Dean of Science Fiction Writers." He published 32 novels, 59 short stories, 16 anthology collections, four films, two television series, and several episodes for radio. His works included The Cat Who Walks Through Walls, Starship Troopers, Stranger in a Stranger Land, Farnham's Freehold, and The Door Into Summer. He was ahead in this time with attacking racism, writing about free love, belief in individualism, and exploring the purpose of metaphysics.

Today's JUMBLE is an even bigger groaner than yesterday's, if that's possible. A couple is looking at potential places to build a new home. The caption reads: "When they looked for a place to build their new home, they were ________."

Word list (an easy one today):

AGGUE = GAUGE
SEMYS = MESSY
SAHNIV = VANISH
THIRME = HERMIT

Scrambled solution: GEESNISEIT
Solution: "SITE"-SEEING

May I suggest the Staten Island landfill?

That's all for today. For those in along the I-95 corridor, stay dry! I hope May starts off on a better note.

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick