Thu., 4/9 Marti DuGuay-CARPENTER

[magus]

THEME:   DOPE is inside random phrases  (I have already alerted the authorities)
   
GOOD ONES:     
Skinny, so to speak, and {theme}   INSIDE DOPE   
King output   NOVELS   
   
BTW:   
ESA =NG   
   
Pressure for payment   DUNS [in my neighborhood it was guns; "dun" meant only finished as in, "I'm DUN wit dis!" 
   
RATING:    
Three grins = Loved it; Two grins = Enjoyed it; One grin = A bit bland for my taste; One teardrop = Not much fun   

[Thomps2525]

"Popular chip" is FRITO. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, because "Fritos" is a brand name, I maintain that a single Fritos corn chip must be referred to as a "chip" and not as a "frito." After all, a single Lays potato chip is never called a "lay," is it? I rest my case.

[Thomps2525]

The New York Times crossword appearing in today's Daily News has four theme answers which begin horizontally and then continue downwards. "Lagging" is the clue to the theme: FALLINGBEHIND. Get it?

But there are 46 black squares. Forty-six! That is the most I have ever seen in a 15x15 puzzle.

[magus]

For the Defense:

"We need stuff for the dip."
"Like chips?"
"I guess."
"Fritos?"
"Whatever.  Yeah, Fritos? are fine."

But the Prosecutor would have us believe that the conversation would go this way:

"We need stuff for the dip."
"Like chips?"
"I guess."
"Fritos?"
"What are you crazy?!  You said chips; now you're saying Fritos.  A Frito isn't a chip!  What a fool!"
"Well, how about a Lay?"
"As if..."

The Defense rests --- like the Walrus sitting on a potato chip.