Saturday, April 23, 2011 - Pyrotechnics

Introduction

It was somewhat difficult to discern a theme in  today's puzzle from Cox and Rathvon. However, I eventually settled on 'pyrotechnics' based on the first and last across clues. Since pyrotechnics may also mean "a brilliant display, as of rhetoric or wit, or of virtuosity in the performing arts" [American Heritage Dictionary] or "brilliance of display, as in the performance of music" [Collins English Dictionary], perhaps the term may also have a connection with 16a.

I do apologize for the poor quality of the grid that appeared in my original posting. Since the Digital Edition published on the National Post website was missing the Weekend Post section containing the puzzle, I was forced to scan the puzzle from the print edition of the newspaper. As I only discovered this situation after I had completed the puzzle, I had to erase my markings - which unfortunately may have been still faintly visible. Fortuitously, I was able to do this as I use a pencil to do the puzzle (a revelation that the ink-obsessed Brits will surely find appalling).

The National Post has now updated their website to include the missing section of the paper and I have replaced the original scanned image with one of better quality.

Update: Theme Solved

Thanks to MG (see Comments section), I think we have uncovered the theme of this puzzle. The grid visually is a pinwheel. Prompted by his comment, I found this image of a pinwheel tile pattern.

Solution to Today's Puzzle

Legend:	"*" anagram; "~" sounds like; "<" letters reversed
	"( )" letters inserted; "_" letters deleted

Across

1a   PINWHEELS* - anagram (collapsed) of WHEN PILES

• pinwheel - [Collins English Dictionary] noun 3. the US and Canadian name for windmill [3]
• windmill - [Collins English Dictionary] noun 3. Also called whirligig British a toy consisting of plastic or paper vanes attached to a stick in such a manner that they revolve like the sails of a windmill. US and Canadian name pinwheel.

6a   PI(X)EL* - anagram (reorganized) of PILE containing (around) X ([Roman numeral for] ten)

7a   MAR(PLO)T - MART (shop) containing (broken into by) PLO

• marplot - [American Heritage Dictionary] noun An officious meddler whose interference compromises the success of an undertaking. [After Marplot, a character in The Busy Body, a play by Susannah Centlivre (1669-1723).]
• PLO - abbreviation Palestine Liberation Organization

10a   STRANG(L)ER - L ([Roman numeral for] fifty) contained in (in) STRANGER (alien)

11a   {NAOM|I}< - reversal (about) of {I + MOAN (complain)}

12a   AUDI|O~ - sounds like (sound of) AUDI (German car) + O (wheel)

14a   GAMB(O)LING - O (round) contained in (in) GAMBLING (casino activity)

16a   _ORCHES|TRA_ - hidden in (with some) tORCHES TRApped

18a   TO W|IT - TOW (drag) + IT (the thing)

20a   IN|DIA - IN (popular) + DIA (day in Central America; i.e., Spanish or Portuguese word for 'day')

21a   CHAR(AC)TER - CHARTER (rent) containing (includes) AC (air-conditioning)

23a   G(A|S P)UMP - GUMP (Hanks movie role) containing (involving) {A + SP (Spanish)}

Forrest Gump is a 1994 American comedy-drama film based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom. The film was directed by Robert Zemeckis, starring Tom Hanks [in the title role], Robin Wright, and Gary Sinise. The story depicts several decades in the life of Forrest Gump, an Alabama simpleton who travels across the world, meeting historical figures, influencing popular culture, and experiencing firsthand some of the historic events of the late 20th century.

24a   RID(G)E - RIDE (go on horseback) containing (around) G (green)

25a   F(IREW)ORKS - anagram (tangled) of WIRE contained in FORKS (branches)

Down

1d   PAPE|RED - PAPE (French pope; i.e., French word for 'pope') + (and) RED (cardinal)

2d   NIX|ON - NIX (veto) + ON (airing; i.e., being broadcast)

Nixon is a 1995 American biographical film directed by Oliver Stone for Cinergi Pictures that tells the story of the political and personal life of former US President Richard Nixon, played by Anthony Hopkins.

3d   HALF-LIGHT - FLIGHT (escape) following HAL (Harold)

4d   ELMER* - anagram (lousy) of MERLE

5d   ST(RUNG) OUT - STOUT (brave) containing (takes) RUNG (step)

8d   {LEON|I}< -reversal (back) of {I ([Roman numeral for] one) + NOEL (Christmas)}

Téa Leoni (born Elizabeth Téa Pantaleoni) is an American actress who has starred in a wide range of films including Jurassic Park III, The Family Man, Deep Impact, Fun with Dick and Jane, Spanglish, Bad Boys and Ghost Town.

9d   TAILGATER~ - sounds like (recited) {TALE (story) + GATOR (swamp denizen)}

10d   SH(AD)OWING - AD (commercial) contained in (in) SHOWING (broadcasting)

13d   O|PER|A| BUFF - O (love; as a score of 0 in tennis) + PER (according to) + A + BUFF (brawny)

buff - adjective North American informal (of a person or their body) in good physical shape with well-developed muscles: the driver was a buff blond named March

15d   MI|A| FAR|ROW - MI (note) + A + FAR (distant) + ROW (queue)

mi (British me) - noun North American Music (in tonic sol-fa) the third note of a major scale

Mia Farrow (born Maria de Lourdes Villiers Farrow) is an American actress, singer, and former fashion model who has appeared in more than forty-five films winning numerous awards and is also notable for her extensive humanitarian work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

17d   CEDES~ - sounds like (in the ear) SEEDS (germs)

19d   WITHERS - double definition; "base of a horse's neck" & "is affected by heat"

21d   _CA|PER_ - hidden in (found in) AfriCA PERhaps

22d   ADDER - double definition; "one engaged in finding a total" & "snake"

Signing off for today - Falcon