One clue is rather horrifying, though: ... OINKS

I agree, such entries aren't necessary.
dan | 10.29.06 - 7:09 pm | #

I've been informed that TEEVEE is the spelling used in the Gene Wilder movie, whereas it's TEAVEE in Roald Dahl's book (which I bought for my kid, but we haven't read it yet) and the Johnny Depp movie.
Orange | Homepage | 10.29.06 - 7:38 pm | #

I was not horrified by the OINKS clue, but I did think, Did I read that right? I don't know where you draw the line on these things, but as long as there aren't any pigs doing the puzzle, I won't worry about it.

I really like the clues "Tallest piece in jeu d'echecs" (for ROI) and "Letter often written by Rhodes scholars?" (for ETA). Hardly Monday material, but good stuff.

The Nancy Salomon puz in the Times had a great theme and great fill. And it took me roughly the same time as the Sun, which is not often the case early in the week.

With the Times down for days now, it makes the whole no-spoiler rule debate a rather moot issue. I'd guess we'll see it back tomorrow.
JJF | 10.29.06 - 10:25 pm | #

This was a great Monday puzzle by Nancy Salomon. The only place for banality and cliche is the crossword, where hackneyed phrases take on new, fresh, almost poetic life. Plus there's the added bonus of the non-theme theme entry: RUN INTO.

Note also the criminal subtheme of this puzzle: OUTLAW, ARMED, HANDGUN. Clearly something sinister is going on beneath the sunny surface of this puzzle.

Michael
Michael | Homepage | 10.30.06 - 8:42 am | #

The Liz got me wondering if DR. could work like MR. There's the central (13) THEDOCTORISIN. "Expert on infant sexuality" BABYDRRUTH. RED or HOT or GREENDRPEPPER. GUESSDRWHO, WHOSDRWHO, THEDRWHO, not quite. ??? Could be a good Monday game.
Lee | 10.30.06 - 11:01 am | #

NYT 47D [Ages and Ages] EON.

I am always curious to see various dictionary definitions of such terms. Here are a few.

Eon: the longest division of geological time … a division of geologic time comprising two or more eras … an immeasurably long period of time … a unit of geologic time equal to one billion years …

There are five Eons, which are roughly as follows.

Phanerozoic eon: The most recent 545 million years, the period of geologic time during which abundant animal life has existed.

Precambrian eon: from 4.6 billion until 545 million years ago.

Proterozoic eon: from 2,500 to 545 million years ago, the eon prior to the first abundant complex life on earth.

Archean eon: from 3.8 to 2.5 billion years ago; earth's crust formed; unicellular organisms are earliest forms of life.

Hadean eon: earliest eon in the history of Earth from 4.6 to 3.8 billion years ago, no evidence of life.
dan | 10.30.06 - 11:54 am | #

Not to forget:

NODRNO and TOUCHOFDREVIL

Though I'm finding doctors better suited to a dose of punning:

LANDPHIL
MASSSEUSS
BALLYWHO
MAYWELBY
WATSONTV

If pain persists...
DA | Homepage | 10.30.06 - 4:31 pm | #

DA -- Glad you're playing! [Response to "Who was James Bond's first movie nemesis?"] THEANSWERISDRNO (15)
Lee | 10.30.06 - 5:01 pm | #

Another 15? [Mini-Me master's primary source?] ROOTOFALLDREVIL.

Though I prefer the pun jag, AZIZ.

It's more QUINNTESSENTIAL.
DA | Homepage | 10.30.06 - 6:36 pm | #