Joseph Knecht

    Today Jeffrey Wechsler invites us to step back a bit and look at the starred themers from a distance.  Each is a common word or phrase that when prefixed by the reveal words ( 70A & 71A ) " THE WHOLE " , takes on a whole (or slightly) different meaning: 1A. *Common delivery: PACKAGE .  I use UPS for my package delivery.  But if we're talking about the THE WHOLE PACKAGE , you can't have the GOOD , without some of the BAD ... From the film Before Midnight 8A. *Bagel partner: SCHMEAR .  A schmear is a generous slathering of cream cheese on a bagel . The word itself has Yiddish origins, derived from the root for spread or smear .  But here we're talking about THE WHOLE SCHMEAR , when EVERYTHING is just NOT ENOUGH   ... 21A. *Rolled Mexican dish: ENCHILADA .  Today's Spanish

  hyPe with a Capital "P"   Believe it or not today's constructor Bruce Venzke got his start writing crossword puzzles in the pool halls of Wisconsin.  It's a very interesting story, but I'd better let him tell it, as related in this interview with C.C. back in February of 2011 .  His connections with the Corner run deep. He joins us today to talk about marketing strategies,  ways to PUSH products and services to customers.  The first word in each of Bruce's themers, as well as the reveal, begins with a capital P . 20A . Excel on the mound: PITCH A NO HITTER . A no-hitter is a rare accomplishment for a pitcher or pitching staff—only 314 have been thrown in MLB history since 1876, an average of about two per year.  Three stand outs in this achievement are Nolan Ryan whose 7 no-hitters are the standing world record;  Don Larse