Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: saturday. Jim Page

Constructor: JIM PAGE

Relative difficulty: EASY

THEME: none

Word of the Day: LEINE (47D Hanover's river) — The Leine is a river in Thuringia and Lower Saxony, Germany. It is a left tributary of the Aller river (and so of the Weser river as well) and 281 km in length. (per wiki)

• • •

LEINE? I was feeling pretty solid about ALLAH (45A Recipient of much praise) from just the sketchy AREAR (48d In the back), but I actually took out ALL when I saw LEINE appear (__sAH?? some Saturday variant of hosea?). Eventually, I realized it had to be right and put it back. This is treedweller again, the one with no life who is available to sub in on a moment's notice when one's travel plans change unexpectedly (actually, I'll always make a lot of compromises to help out at this site when the opportunity arises, because sitting in the Big Chair is truly an honor and a pleasure --- I just happen not to require many compromises in order to be available at the present time). Rex is getting some Quality Time with the family now. I have not confirmed reports that their dog is strapped to the roof of the car.

Reverse psychology works, my friends. I announced yesterday that I would be stumped today, because I never finish both Friday and Saturday puzzles in the same week. Not so, as it turns out --- this has been maybe my third or fourth complete weekend ever. In fact, I think I found this easier than yesterday's.

Speaking of yesterday, I cannot overlook the coincidence of Elton John's LEVON (46D Elton John hit) appearing today. I have enjoyed some Elton John tunes over the years, mostly back in my Classic Rock period, but, frankly, was never enough of a fan to buy his albums and listen to them deliberately. Also, I have never been particularly good at deciphering song lyrics, no matter how much I loved the song (kissthisguy.com could have been made just for me). So I was stumped on this clue for a long time (I contemplated "Devon"), because I always thought the lyric was "Leave on," a sort of British, poetic-license version of "mosey along" . But I went and got the video:

and here's the thing: there is totally a line in there where he says "Levon sells cartoon balloons in town." For those keeping track, yesterday we had the clue, "They often include balloons" for the answer CARTOONS (which I loved, because I enjoy animated cartoons, editorial cartoons, and generally any other cartoons you can come up with, more than I probably should). I can't tell you what the cosmic significance of this coincidence is, but I have to believe it means something. Please feel free to discuss the metaphysical ramifications in the comments. Or to simply dismiss it as Mr. Shortz messing with our heads a bit. Or to develop a complex conspiracy theory that ties it to global warming. Go nuts --- the inmates control the asylum this week. But you still need to limit yourself to three posts. We're living in a society, after all. Just sayin.

I may be a little oversaturated with election coverage, but I strongly suspect Mr. Page has presented a Mitt-Romney-is-a-douche mini-theme today. The Mitt recently traveled to Europe for a (8D Common thing to plan a vacation around) THREE-DAY WEEKEND [I can't confirm he took his yacht and stashed his (37A Crown polisher) DENTAL HYGIENIST [heh-heh] in the (40A Sleeper's option in a sleeper) LOWER BERTH {which, incidentally, has the same number of letters as "Bottom bunk" --- just sayin}, who persuaded him to (15A Water-park) DROP ANCHOR for a while en route].

Either that, or he strapped the family horse on top of a jet in a giant crate to deliver it [the horse, Rafalca --- how long before BEQ sticks that in a Monday themeless?] to the Olympic dressage events. I'm a little out-of-touch with current events lately.

Anyway, he was the latest (61A Old Glory saluter, most likely) U.S. NATIONAL to display (63A They're abandoned in charm school) BAD MANNERS across the pond, according to (57A Examination by those most qualified) PEER REVIEW.

[I totally resisted the opportunity to insert AREAR into that little fantasy. Just sayin.]

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Bullets:

13D Farthest / UTTERMOST — I have the uttermost disdain for this "word."
3D Informal name for a monkey / JOCKO — I had (and have) no idea, but it appeared from crosses nevertheless.
34D Brit working with nails, say / ENAMELLER— Yesterday, my fascination with British English came in handy when "rubber" popped up, but this one I had never heard. It seems to fit with other Britishisms, though, and I got it pretty easily.
36A Ghost's sound / OOOO — BOOOO!
38D Powerful Syrian city in the third millennium B.C. / EBLA --- A.) Shouldn't that be B.C.E.? and B.) My knowledge of third-millennium metropolises is weak, unfortunately, which contributed to my willingness to abandon ALLAH when LEINE appeared.
1D Big name in relief / ADVIL™ --- I took a couple of ibuprofen today after a recalcitrant drill bit made a tree-bracing job harder than I thought it should have been, but I was slow getting to this brand name. I hate advertising.
12D It's likely to have bass parts / MENS CHOIR--- Every time I review this puzzle, I see MENSCH and think a MENSCHOIR should be a place where nice, honorable folk hang out together (for which impromptu, last-minute substitutes should be eligible. Just sayin). Then again, it kinda reminds me of abbatoir, in which case I'll just stay here at home enjoying my non-life.
In one of those malapop moments, I spent a few extra seconds wondering why (17A Singing pair) VOCAL CHORDS wouldn't fit when I needed CORDS. Then this CHOIR came up later. Feel free to speculate on the metaphysical ramifications in the comments. Dad's not home. But three-and-out. I mean it.

Speaking of bass lines,

please tip your host. If Rex can't maintain his Cal-Ripkin-like consistency (summer travels notwithstanding), we might all be subject to amateur commentary like this weekend's every day. Donations link at upper right on this page. Just sayin.

Signed, treedweller, on behalf of
Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld