A dandy Friday Feb 1 head scratcher from Doug Peterson (answers.) The long clues are all too good to give away easily although you can click to reveal but here are some of my favorite shorter ones.
"Playboy's plea" is RENEW. As soon as I saw that I knew this puzzle would be good. Then I got "Prepare for a shower, maybe" as GIFT WRAP and I was hooked. I also liked both clues along the bottom: "Without much wind" is TERSELY and "Tickled the most" becomes PINKEST.
"Domesticates" as GENTLES struck me as odd, but at least I could wrap my brain around it. Could someone please explain why "Ape wrestlers" is GRAPPLE? I know I'm going to feel stupid when the answer arrives, but I don't get it.
In other news, I should have realized that I'm only an amateur when it comes to trying to be offensive. The Times raves today about Jerry Springer: The Opera which had only two performances at Carnegie Hall. Ben Brantley opines that it could be the great American musical of the 21st century. Wow.
Update: I love the Internet. I ask a question and the answer comes just a few minutes later. Profphil explains the grappling apes in his comment below.
Doug Peterson had another winning puzzle a couple of years ago. What might CONDOLEEZZA RICE and DOESN'T KNOW BEANS be? Click here for the answer.
