The New York Times Crossword in Gothic

Nothing

Monday, May 19, 2008

Puzzle by Mike Nothnagel, edited by Will Shortz

"Nothing" is featured today -- VACANTAPARTMENT (16A. Place not generating rent), EMPTYPROMISES (24A. Guarantees that mean nothing), HOLLOW VICTORY (42A. Win that brings little actual gain) and BLANKCARTRIDGES (57A. Contents of guns used in training exercises) are the inter-related entries in this Monday back-to-work crossword puzzle.

Way to start the week, a clean slate with a SYNONYM (5D. Roget's listing) quartet -- vacant, empty, hollow, blank.

Look out though, there’s a dangerous VORTEX (44D. Whirlpool or tornado) of TOPSY-turvy (18D.) doings in this one -- AMPUP (41A. Increase) the PHASER (6D. “Star Trek” weapon), REAIM (30A. Point again, as a gun) for the commute -- there’s HERDS (64A. Groups of buffalo) and a FLOCK (40D. Group watched by Little Bo Peep) all GIDDY (36A. Euphoric) and MAD (28D. Off one’s rocker) and Stubborn as AMULE (15A.) from a weekend of SWAG (8D. Booty) and a SIDECAR (49A. Brandy cocktail) or a few! PSST (6A. “Hey…over here!”) if you’re INKNOTS (19A. Feeling tied up, as a stomach) -- it won’t be ASBAD (46D. Equally awful) as DYS (62A. Bad: Prefix) or dat, but don’t Slip ACOG (blunder) (50A.) -- just heed those OMENS (43D. Black cats and broken mirrors, by tradition) and GOAS (38A. Pretend to be, as at a Halloween party) you are -- AONE (15A. Absolutely the best)!

People in the puzzle include JOEPISCOPO (10D. Portrayer of Frank Sinatra on “Saturday Night Live”), PATCHADAMS (26D. 1998 Robin Williams title role), JIM (10A. PBS newsman Lehrer), “The Cat and the Curmudgeon” author Cleveland AMORY (13A.), HOWE (14A. Inventor Elias), EDIE (53D. Actress McClurg), a GROUPIE (20A. Rock band follower); man’s best friend represented by FIDO (40A. Pal for Spot or Rover) and RIN Tin Tin (58D); a GIANT (61A. New York footballer); Eli LILLY and Company (47D.), the guy from ISPY (34D. 1960s Bill Cosby TV series); GIL (36D. Baseball great Hodges), and an OKIE (60A. Dust Bowl migrant) sitting atop GENX (63A. Baby boomers’ kids, informally).

TOMBS (1A. The pyramids, for pharaohs) opens this crossword containing the remains of sensibly clued acrosses 21. “The first NOEL, the angel did say…”; 23. Worked at, as a trade; 31. Crimped, as hair; 32. Hit CBS drama with two spinoffs; 35. Formal entrance; 39. Without a prescription: Abbr.; 46. Avis competitor; 48. Post-it, e.g.; 52. Warms up again; and 59. Offerings to the poor -- ALMS.

That brave little mongoose Rikki-Tikki-TAVI (1D.) heads the downs which include 2. Neighbor of Yemen; 3. Make fun of; 4. Kellogg’s Raisin BRAN; 7. Soak (up); 9. Ariz., e.g., before 1912; 11. Concave belly button; 12. Rationed (out); 17. Feature of many a sports car; 24. Therefore; 25. Vegetarians avoid it (actually they eschew it!); 27. Common Father’s Day gift; 29. Climbing vine; 33. Suffix with dino-; 37. Words before “You may kiss the bride”; 38. London hrs.; 41. A pair of deuces beats it; 45. Anatomical passage; 51. Clean up leaves, e.g.; 54. Food thickener; 55. Care for, with “to”; and -- what would a Monday puzzle be without it -- SSTS (56D. Fleet that was permanently retired in 2003).

That’s the LOWDOWN (22D. Scuttlebutt) on this one -- a great little nothing!

-------------------

For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

If you subscribe to home delivery of The New York Times you are eligible to access the daily crossword via The New York Times - Times Reader, without additional charge, as part of your home delivery subscription.

05.18.08 -- Wizard

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Click here for LARGE PRINT.

Puzzle by Brendan Emmett Quigley, edited by Will Shortz

With this puzzle's title PINBALL WIZARD as a clue, the inter-related entries of this Sunday crossword are TILTATWINDMILLS (22A. Fight imaginary foes); FLIPPERANDERSON (115A. Former L.A. Ram who holds the N.F.L. record for most receiving yards in a game [336]); BONUSQUESTION (5D. Test extras); ROLLOVERBEETHOVEN (15D. Opening track of “The Beatles’ Second Album”); SPECIALRELATIVITY (30D. Einstein subject); RAMPUPSALES (33D. Push for more business orders); BUMPERCROPS (46D. Good farming results); DRAINBOARDS (39D. Sloping surfaces next to sinks); and JACKPOTJUSTICE (53D. Awarding of huge settlements to plaintiffs, in modern lingo). This is a colorful puzzle conjured up by a real wizard!

Where I dropped the ball:

ADRIEN, I spelled ADRIAN; ANASAZI, I‘m just not up on my ancient pueblo dwellers; AZAN, so now I know; CAVER, an explorer of sorts -- of caves, I knew spelunker; DONHO, I kept insisting on Dan Ho, never saw him in anything, you see; INI, I wanted ONI; LACIE, who knows Alice’s sister’s names, and why?; NUL, I wanted CUL; SALAZAR, I’ve never paid any attention to marathons of any kind; SALTEN, now I know who wrote “Bambi“; SBARRO, there’s one of these Italian chain restaurants in Times Square, never went there, and couldn’t recall it, and why should I?; SIAN, never saw “I, Claudius”, but I did see “Rome”; ZOWIE, I had WOWIE!
My flippers worked perfectly well on such other useless trivia as ABRAM, ANION, ANTBEAR, ARIEL, ASTA, BNAI, CREST, DIAN, DIPSY, EELPOT, EMILY, INRI, IRONON, JARRE, JIVES, NANCE, NOMAD, OLIO, PCLAB, QUA, RUSSO, SFO, TENOR, TROVE, VICEROY, VOLTA.
Extra points, bonus and jackpot, et cetera for the long stuff -- ARRAYED, ASTOOP, CHECKSINTO, DESCEND, DESERTS, ENCLASP, ERNIEFORD, GOAROUND, INSISTENCE, INUNISON, PRICELIST, and REDROSE.
Oh, and I did the multiplication of VII octupled to LVI with the Arabic 7 x 8 -- is that cheating? Or should I know how to multiply using the Roman numerals -- who makes the rules here!

Tilt!

-----------------

For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

Across: 1. Site of campus workstations; 6. Ancient pueblo dwellers; 13. Norm of “This Old House”; 18. Muse with a wreath of myrtle and roses; 19. Together; 20. Tell things?; 21. Bill formerly of the Rolling Stones; 22. Richard ___, 2002 Pulitzer winner for Fiction; 20. ___ B’rith; 27. Sylph in Pope’s “The Rape of the Lock”; 28. Pressure, of a sort; 32. “Sixteen Tons” singer, 1955; 38. Do better than; 37. In the capacity of; 38. X-ray units; 41. Nails; 42. Notch shape; 43. “Would you like to see ___?”; 45. Italian restaurant chain; 47. Game pieces; 48. Some badge holders; 49. “Alice in Wonderland” sister; 50. It’s a laugh; 51. Each; 53. “Lawrence of Arabia” composer Maurice; 54. ___-doodle; 56. Start of the names of some health care plans; 58. Daily grind; 60. Place for a vine; 61. Bent over; 63. How headings are often typed; 65. Surfing spot; 66. Immigrant’s class: Abbr.; 68. “Survivor” setting, often; 69. Blood-typing letters; 70. Fire; 72. Some M.I.T. grads: Abbr.; 73. Buster?; 75. Certain T-shirt design; 77. Sure application spot; 79. Drug-free; 80. National Chili Mo.; 81. Blue shade; 83. “Pearly Shells” singer; 85. Refrain syllables; 86. Loud laugh; 88. Take to Vegas, maybe; 90. Valuable find; 92. Mideast call to prayer; 93. Airport with a BART terminal; 95. Steer; 97. Kids; 98. Kind of score; 99. “Deadwood” figure; 100. Untouched; 101. Meaningless amount; 103. Quick stumbles; 104. Dealer’s handout; 107. Starts, as rehab; 110. Upper ___; 111. Shade PROVIDER; 114. Outplays; 119. Response to “Any volunteers?”; 123. Pretends; 124. “Back door’s open!”; 125. Explorer of sorts; 126. To date; 127. In order; 128. Post with a column. Down: 1. Missal location; 2. “Geronimo!,” e.g.; 3. Escape; 4. Defender company; 6. Electrolysis particle; 7. Match ___ (tie game, in France); 8. Aardvark; 9. ___ Phillips, who played Livia in “I, Claudius”; 10. Old film pooch; 11. “Fan-tastic!”; 12. Suffix in some pasta names; 13. Hosts; 14. To the point; 16. Cobbler’s tool; 17. Eds. Read them; 19. “No problem!”; 20. Oscar-winning Brody; 23. Jack of “Eraserhead”; 25. Good nickname for a cook?; 28. Galley marking; 29. Peripatetic sort; 31. Short-billed rail; 34. House of Lancaster symbol; 35. Jilts; 40. Pacifier; 44. Cheese ___; 48. Klinger portrayer on “M*A*S*H”; 52. ___ pro nobis; 55. Some greetings; 57. Zoologist Fossey; 59. Early anti-Communist; 62. Mix; 64. The Nutmeg State: Abbr.; 66. Hug; 67. Marathoner Alberto; 71. Control: Abbr.; 74. Actor James; 76. Indian tribe encountered by Lewis and Clark; 78. Sign of the cross; 82. “Were that so!”; 84. Plain as day; 87. Excellent debit rating; 89. Rappel down; 91. Edsel driver’s gas choice; 93. “Bambi” author; 94. Monastery figure; 96. Sovereign’s representative; 99. It’s a trap; 102. Approves; 105. Thicket; 106. Faust, e.g.; 108. Old Treasury offering; 109. National of ___; 112. Month in which Moses is said to have been born and died; 113. Aloe ___; 115. Fourth-most populous state, just after N..Y.; 116. French article; 117. Turkish title; 118. Press (for); 120. VII octupled; 121. Many a toothpaste; 122. Suffix with direct.

05.17.08 -- Plain English

Elizabeth I: The Pelican Portrait, c1575, attributed to Nicholas Hilliard.

-----------------

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Puzzle by Mike Nothnagel, edited by Will Shortz

The people who put crossword puzzles together (e.g., the author, or in crosswordese, constructor), along with their blogging intimates (e.g., adoring critics) are fond of the odd word, double-consonant, over-voweled or simply obscure entry, whether it be slang or sonorous academeaology, fakakta abbreviation or partial phrase indicated by blank spaces -- all of this clued by way of fourth definitions from Webster’s or street speak from Timbuktu. Current standard practice has it that the entire lot appear at the end of the week in unison on Saturday, devoid of any inter-related entries or gimmickry. Success in illusory superiority for the author occurs when a solver scans through the entire puzzle once without securing a single entry. This achievement is highly touted in the pedagogically-oriented crossword blogosphere. Semi-precious cybercells are then cavalierly squandered on vaunted assessments of the mutual experience of the aforementioned etymological cat-and-mousiness shared by the puzzlemeister and the supersolver.

Ho hum!

This Saturday’s arcanum is appropriately led by TOWNANDGOWN (24D. Of a university’s relationship with its surroundings) and THEDEADZONE (5D. 1979 novel, 1983 film and 2002-07 TV series), well befitting the SYMPTOMS (7D. Signs) ALLUDEDTO (33D. Intimate). Two 14-letter entries are featured in today’s crossword -- KITEEATINGTREE (22A. Dreaded victimizer of Charlie Brown) and UNREQUITEDLOVE (44A. Torch song subject).

SHTETLS (1A. Places such as Anatevka in “Fiddler on the Roof”); LOUISII (17A. Holy Roman Emperor, 855-75); IOWEYOU (56A. Grateful person’s reply), unless it’s an IOU; HASBEENS (11D. Distant stars?); ILIKEIKE (12D. Motto of a 1950s grass-roots movement) and LIONSDEN (34D. Terrifying thing to be thrown into) all meet the mark -- not to mention NEREUS (43D. Shape-shifting Greek god); NOMAYO (41D. Dieter’s request, perhaps); QATAR (45D. Land of Wahhabis), which is a common entry, but a very uncommon definition.

Remaining seven-letter entries: HERSHEY (14A. Big syrup maker); CHAGALL (15A. Designer of a stained-glass window in the U. N. building); ASATEAM (16A. Together); WALTZES (32A. Moves briskly and easily); JANSSEN (36A. Star of the 1970s detective drama “Harry O”); REDHATS (50A. Cardinals’ wear); BROCADE (53A. Elegant fabric); ATEAWAY (55A. Caused to disappear over time) and TENDONS (58A. Jumper’s cables).

Six-letter: TECHIE (8A. Helper after a crash); SWANKY (31A. Smart); ALISON Hargreaves, first woman to complete a solo climb of Everest, 1995 (37A.); WONDER (57A. Want to know); SHARKS (1D. Swindlers, in slang); HESAID (2D. One of two sides of a story?); TRACTS (3D. Political essays) and AVEDON (42D. Photographer who was the inspiration for “Funny Face“).

Five-letter: THONG (8D. Go-go dancer’s tip holder), who knew?; CLANG (15D. Chuck wagon bell sound), whatever; ALIEN (23D. Not natural), are we running out of definitions for this entry yet?; SATIE (31D. “Relâche” composer); BUGSY (40D. Crime syndicate sobriquet); LACED (46D. Unexpectedly potent); RACED (18A. Shot); ALONG (27A. As a companion); ONEIL (28A. Newsman Roger); SLOAN (39A. “McSorley‘s Bar“ painter); BASIN (40A. Great depression?) and GAMER (49A. World of Warcraft participant, e.g.).

Four-letter: PLAN (19A. Architectural starting point); DIME (30A. Turning point?); PUTA hold on (38A.); AGRA (48A. Site of a much-visited mausoleum); “We’ll give a long cheer for ELIS men” (“Down the field” lyric) (13D.), long way to go for a short entry!; LINE (20D. Prompt delivery); RNAS (25D. They’re stranded in the body); Rimsky-Korsakov’s “The Tale of TSAR Saltan” (35D.), another long way to go!; PAIR (38D. Four and four, say) and CRAW (47D. Holder of bird food?).

Three-letter: BKS (21A. Jacket locales: Abbr.); SDS (26A. Old activist org. revived in 2006); NAN (41A. One of the Bobbsey twins); CDS (47A. Int. generators); LEA (6D. Place for woolgathering?); EAU (9D. Fontaine contents); CGI (10D. Film special effects, for short); LYN St. James, first woman to be named the Indy 500 Rookie of the Year, 1992 (29D.), the full treatment!; WAS (32D. Functioned as); ROE (54D. Main ingredient in taramasalata); HAD (51D. Bamboozled) and finally...

AWE (52D. It’s inspired)!

Now, how about a little plain English?

-----------------

For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

05.16.08 -- NETIZEN

Friday, May 16, 2008

Puzzle by Kevin G. Der, edited by Will Shortz

Well, now -- according to Wikipedia, 60A. Blogger, e.g., "NETIZEN (a portmanteau of Internet and citizen) or cybercitizen is a person actively involved in communities. Netizens use the Internet to engage in activities of extended social groups, such as giving and receiving viewpoints, furnishing information, fostering the Internet as an intellectual and a social resource, and making choices for the self-assembled communities. Generally, a netizen can be any user of the worldwide, unstructured forums of the Internet."

New to me!

LINK (21D. One may be sent in an e-mail) to the Wikipedia reference -- HERE.

Here's a few more:

Across: 1. Steam room alternative; 8. “Yo!”; 15. Dodge; 16. His last novel was “Chloe Marr,” 1956; 17. Cellar’s opposite; 18. Technicolor; 19. See 34-Across; 20. Most clowns; 22. Word of approval; 23. Emerson said intellect annuls it; 25. “The West Wing” actor; 26. Jazzman Saunders; 27. He called the U.S. vice presidency a “most insignificant office”; 29. Marzo to marzo, e.g.; 30. Sculpt; 31. Like some griddles; 33. Read syntactically; 34. With 19-Across, domain of civics, in brief; 35. Multifaceted things; 36. Noisy complaint; 39. Alternative to Friendster or MySpace; 43. Bit; 44. Military grp.; 45. Old sticker; 46. Bank guard?; 47. Places to develop one’s chops?; 49. Bundle of nerves; 50. It can be double-sided; 51. Tasty triangles; 53. Back-of-airline magazine feature; 54. Gather; 56. Water-skiing need; 58. Quiet; 59. Merchant whose customers click; 61. Cause of some blushing.

Down: 1. Elated person after Super Bowl III; 2. Tree of the laurel family; 3. Santiago skipper; 4. Constitution lead-in; 5. Flies; 6. Flies; (Shortzesque!); 7. More than friendliness; 8. Signal, in a way; 9. Some crime scene evidence; 10. Many former senators and governors: Abbr.; 11. Yes or no follower; 12. Assassins; 13. Frazzle; 14. Like many blooms; 24. Typography measure; 26. Chocolate treat; 28. She wrote of Topsy; 30. Transport over sand? ; 32. Nature; 33. Muscle mag topic; 35. Parts of some Bach suites; 36. Crush holder that’s crushable; 37. Visionary; 38. Not neat; 39. Island that Truman wants to go to in “The Truman Show”; 40. Range of some fitness tests; 41. Pump numbers; 42. Big fish, maybe; 44. “The Mickey Mouse Club” regular DOREEN Tracey; 47. Opposite of agitato; 48. Truth from long ago?; 51. She co-starred in “Gangs of New York,” 2002; 52. Dominion; 55. Designer born in Guangzhou, China; 57. Chinese author LIN Yutang.
-----------------

For today's cartoons, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

05.15.08 -- Sunrise, Sunset

Claude Monet (1840-1928) was a leader of the Impressionists—and in fact, the movement was named after one of his paintings, called Impression: Sunrise.

------------------

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Click here for abridged post in LARGE PRINT.

Puzzle by Elizabeth C. Gorski, edited by Will Shortz

SUNRISESUNSET (36A. Classic Broadway show tune, or a hint to the word ladder revealed by the answers to the eight starred clues); along with the across entries of DAWN (1. * Beginning); DARN (18. *”Rats!”); BARN (22. *Makeshift hangar); 33. *BURN center; TURN (41. *Right face, e.g.); TURK (53. *Relative of an Azerbaijani); TUSK (59. *Narwhal feature); DUSK (66. *End), are the inter-related entries of this clever and enjoyable crossword.

Across: 5. Year of Pope Sabinian’s death; 9. Barges; 14. Program of variety acts; 15. Former heavyweight champ Maskaev; 16 Eats at a bar; 17. Major money maker; 19. “ARENT we all!”; 20. If this ISOF any help …”; 21. IPSO jure (by the law itself); 23. Don’ts; 25. Home of novelist Mario Vargas Llosa; 27. Peter who wrote “Underboss”; 29. Going postal; 31. Sight from Lake Victoria; 35. Dead; 40. Taylor of the “The Nanny” and others; 42. Apple picker?; 44. Shimmer; 49. Some particulates; 50. Showed disloyalty; 52. Lobster claw; 55. Calls to 57-Across; 57. They’ve got a lot of pull; 58. Not discounted, say; 60. Nearest major airport to Bush’s Crawford ranch; 61. Attorney with the autobiography “My Life on Trial”; 62. Culturally show; 63. This, to Jorge; 64. Leaves in a salad; 65. Porter GOSS, former C.I.A director.

Down: 1. Mater DOMINI (Mary, in Latin prayers); 2. “Familiar Spirits” author Lurie; 3. Angelina’s “Girl, Interrupted” co-star; 4. Against; 5. Film producer DODI Al-Fayed; 6. Bell parts; 7. The “16” in “3:16”; 8. Cold-shoulder; 9. Stick with a toothpick; 10. Portion of a trick-or-treater’s haul; 11. Fit for use; 12. Follow-up to “Oh, yeah?”; 13. J.F.K. visitor, once; 24. British arms; 26. Roll out; 28. Clinton or Obama: Abbr.; 30. Pretexts; 32. Kind of acid found in oak; 34. After discounts; 36. Heaviest member of the weasel family; 37. Separate; 38. Swiss nationals, historically; 39. Throws out; 40. Apt. compartments; 43. Not homogeneous; 45. Mapped out; 46. Austin school, informally; 47. Chooses (to); 48. Title subject of a 1922 documentary in the National Film Registry; 51. Intro to science?; 54. “Charlie’s Angels” role; 56. “The SKYS the limit!”; 58. “Dirty Sexy Money” airer.

An OLIO of content, like life itself, full of surprises! This is a masterful little puzzle containing the gift of a day with it’s beginning of DAWN, it’s central entry of SUNRISE SUNSET, and DUSK at its very end.

-----------------

For today's cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

05.14.08 -- Linemen

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Click here for LARGE PRINT.

Puzzle by Doug Peterson, edited by Will Shortz

FREQUENTFLIRTER (17A. Singles bar habitué?); PARTYASYOUGO (28A. Do some barhopping?); ALPINESKIRTS (47A. Dirndls?); MARTINCHARACTER (63A. “Wild and crazy guy” on the old “S.N.L.”?) along with RTS (71A. Football linemen, for short, caught in 17-, 28-, 47- and 63-Across?) are this crossword’s inter-related entries -- the idea being, I gather, that omitting the RT in each of the longer entries produces something different, e.g., frequent flier, pay as you go, alpine skis, and main character. This makes a plodding solve, uninteresting and unrewarding -- it must be me, I’m sure. It didn’t help that I kept recalling dreidel instead of dirndl -- and that I never noticed 71A until I began writing this commentary.

There's even less kick in the remainder of the puzzle -- ONEACROSS (3D. This answer intersects it) and OPERASTAR (36D. Callas or Sills) are the two nine-letter entries; CARDROOM (10D. Hold’em venue) and THANATOS (40D. Death personified, in ancient Greece), the eight.

Seven-letter entries include POSTURE (39A. Stooped shoulders, e.g.); GLIMPSE (41A. Quick peek); CATSEYE (7D. Certain marble); and ONAWHIM (45D. For the heck of it). Six-letter, UNDIES (22A. Intimate wear, informally); ALKALI (55A. Lye, e.g.); NYQUIL (24D. Vicks brand); TOGGLE (26A Two-position switch); SEENIN (31D. Tended to by the butler, say); and GLINKA (32D. “A Life for the Tsar” composer).

Five-letter, AKRON, AMAZE, BROOK, CLARE, FIRST, FLEES, IAMBS, LOOPY, MARCO, NOLAN, OUTIE, PAULI, PINUP, QUEEG, SCOTT, SENSE, SHEAF, SUSHI. Four-letter, AHEM, ALOU, ASTO, BANA, CRUZ, ESAU, ICAN, IMAC, LIKE, LUAU, OARS, ORES, PAIN, PEPS, PSST, QUIT, RENT, REST, SPIN, TEXT, WIFE, YEPS. Three-letter, AMA, ANA, APE, AUR, AXE, CIN, CPA, ELO, ESP, ETA, IAN, LAS, MSU, MTS, OFF, WBC, WOO.

-----------------

For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

Across: 1. Send roses, perhaps; 4. Polo name; 9. Pooh-pooh; 14. “Atonement” author McEwan; 15. Harvest bundle; 16. Physics Nobelist Wolfgang; 20. Twin in Genesis; 21. Geog. Feature; 23. The Reds, on a scoreboard; 25. H; 27. Lie down on the job?; 33. “Rockaria!” grp.; 34. Bogart role; 35. Daft; 43. Unagi or tekka maki; 44. Ryan with 5,714 strikeouts; 46. Eerie ability; 50. “Not if ___ help it!”; 53. Santa ___ winds; 54. Internists’ grp.; 57. Pugilists’ org.; 60. In the matter of; 66. Put up with; 67. Tear-out from a Playboy magazine; 68. Rail-splitter’s tool; 69. Pick up on; 70. Flabbergast. Down: 1. The “Judy” of Punch and Judy; 2. Dinghy movers; 4. East Lansing sch.; 5. Call for attention; 6. Monopoly expense; 8. Not working; 9. Washer or dryer action; 11. Nave designation; 12. Takes off; 13. “For starters …”; 18. Cease; 19. Island shindig; 28. Fires (up); 29. Baseball’s Felipe or Moises; 30. Gold: Prefix; 37. Alternative to “Hey!”; 38. Informal assents; 42. Scale syllables; 48. Nuisance; 49. Non-PC purchase; 50. Feet in a meter; 51. St. ___ of Assisi; 52. Goodyear’s home; 56. Take a shine to; 58. Eric of “Munich”; 59. Santa ___, University of California city; 61. ___ message; 62. Sources of nickel, e.g.; 64. Tax season V.I.P.; 65. Zoo attraction.

05.13.08 -- United Artists

Charlie Chaplin, left, and Jackie Coogan appear in a scene from Chaplin's 1921 silent film, "The Kid." As one of Hollywood's legendary figures, Chaplin made his reputation playing the role of "The Tramp" in such classic films as "Gold Rush" and "Modern Times." He was one of the founders of United Artists studios in 1919 which produced some of Hollywood's greatest motion pictures. (AP 100 Photos of the Century, 11/18/1999)
-----------------

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Click here for abridged post in LARGE PRINT.

Puzzle by Caleb Madison, edited by Will Shortz

UNITEDARTISTS (39A. Classic film company … or a description of 17-, 32-, 46- and 65-Across?); BLACKSMITH (17A. Singers Clint + Patti); PETTYCASH (32A. Singers Tom + Johnny); YOUNGLOVE (46A. Singers Neil + Courtney); BROWNSTONE (65A. Singers James + Sly) are the inter-related entries in this Tuesday crossword with the “artists“ all being “singers“ -- Clint Black, Patti Smith, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Courtney Love, James Brown and Sly Stone, none of which it appears ever had any association with United Artists.

United Artists was founded by, from left, Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin and D. W. Griffith.

Seven- and eight-letter entries include ELYSIAN, GETSMART, LITHGOW, MASSEUR, NAUTILUS, ROOSTED. Six-letter entries, ACIDIC, BUMRAP, CLENCH, DILATE, EARWAX, ERASED, NOODLE, RETORT. Five-letter, CIRRI, IDEAL, IDEAS, INTOO, LORCA, OATHS, SEEDS. Four-letter, ARCS, AGOG, ANTS, AZUL, BALD, CEDE, COOS, EDEL, HAIR, ISIS, ITEM, LIKE, NARC, NOSE, OSLO, SARA, SRAS, STOA, TEAL, TOTE, UDON, URNS. Three letter, ABS, ARI, AZO, BAA, BAN, BAR, DIO, EAN, EAT, ELI, EMI, FDA, FYI, GEM, MIT, NON, ODE, ORA, RIO, SAX, SHE, STE, THO, TOR.

Seems both this puzzle and United Artists are on CRUISECONTROL.

-----------------

For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

Click on image to enlarge.
Puzzle available on the internet at
THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games
If you subscribe to home delivery of The New York Times you are eligible to access the daily crossword via The New York Times - Times Reader, without additional charge, as part of your home delivery subscription.

Across: 1. Perfect; 6. Farm sound; 9. Highly excited; 13. Wispy clouds; 14. Ash containers; 16. Let go; 19. Couple in the news; 20. Ache reliever; 21. They may be sown; 23. Fr. Holy woman; 24. It’s jumped in a high jump; 26. As high as you can possibly go; 29. Pulitzer-winning biographer Leon; 35. Where Kofi Annan earned his master’s deg.; 37. Says lovingly; 38. Copacabana Beach locale; 43. Pharmaceutical watchdog grp.; 44. Show subtitled “The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical”; 45. “___ my shorts!”: Bart Simpson; 49. D.E.A. agent; 52. “___ Deep” (1999 Omar Epps film); 53. Suffix with Caesar; 55. Yale student; 57. Midwestern tribe; 60. Perched; 63. Like Yul Brynner, famously; 67. Blue, in Bogota; 68. ___ Lee cakes; 69. Poet Federico Garcia ___; 70. Prominent part of a Groucho disguise; 71. “Wailing” instrument; 72. Vows. Down: 1. Cold war weaponry; 2. Widen, as a pupil; 3. Got rid of marks; 4. Paths of pop-ups; 5. Simile part; 6. Accused’s bad break; 7. Uris hero; 8. “Farm” dwellers; 9. Vinegary; 10. 1960s sitcom with the catchphrase “Sorry about that Chief”; 11. Uplifting poem; 12. Cameo, e.g.; 15. Any ship; 18. 40-Down, e.g.; 22. Heavenly; 25. Cut again, as a turkey; 27. Mother goddess in Egyptian mythology; 28. Howe’er; 30. British record label; 31. John of “3rd Rock From the Sun”; 33. Rocky hill; 34. Bag with handles; 36. Bluish hue; 39. Tempura ___ (Japanese dish); 40. Vessel in “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea”; 41. God, to Galileo; 42. Where to board a train: Abbr.; 43. Post-it note abbr.; 47. Brain, slangily; 48. Q-Tip target; 50. “So’s your old man!,” e.g.; 51. Grip tightly; 54. Sine qua ___; 56. “An invasion of armies can be resisted; an invasion of ___ cannot be resisted”: Hugo; 58. They may be crunched; 59. Lima ladies: Abbr.; 61. Norway’s capital; 62. Ancient Greek walkway; 63. No-smoking ordinance, e.g.; 64. ___ dye; 66. “… ___ mouse?”.

05.12.08 -- Corn Palace

The Corn Palace is a multi-purpose arena/facility located in Mitchell, South Dakota. It is a popular tourist destination, visited by over 500,000 people each year. It consists of a building that is decorated with murals and designs made from corn and other grains.

-----------------

Monday, May 12, 2008

Click here for abridged post in LARGE PRINT.

Puzzle by Randall J. Hartman, edited by Will Shortz

FOURHCLUBS (58A. Youth groups … with a hint to 17-, 28- and 44-Across), HIGHCHURCH (17A. Anglican body), WHICHISWHICH (28A. Question when you can’t tell two things apart), and ROSHHASHANAH (44A. Jewish high holy day) are the inter-related entries of this Monday back-to-work crossword puzzle. There was a crossword with 4-H featured on a Tuesday, January 1, 2008 -- HERE.

SAPPHIRES (11D. September birthstones) and ROASTBEEF (34D. Entrée carved by a chef) are the two other long entries, followed by SHEATHE (25D. Put away, as a sword) and ten six-letter entries, TAHITI (5D. South Seas getaway); ASSUCH (10D. Per se); CACHET (18D. Sign of prestige); PINATA (26D. Something beaten at a party in Mexico); CHAISE longue (29D.); INASEC (39D. “Ill be right there!”); HOOPLA (45D. Fanfare); NICHES (47D. Specialized markets); DETECT (23A. Discover); 25A. Oration); TOUPEE (48A. Top secret?); and ISLAND (49A. The “I” of Canada’s P.E.I.).

Five letter entries include ACHED, ACUTE, ALIAS, ARBOR, BOOST, CARNE, CRIES, DOSES, DUPED, IDEAL, MAINE, NASTY, NOBEL, TAMPA, THREE. Four-letter, ADOS, ALUM, AMIN, ARNE, ASPS, CANT, COAT, DAHL, DEEP, EWES, GELS, HENS, HOBO, HOLY, MITT, OPEL, PLIE, REPO, SALE, SEND, SOFA, TBAR. Three-letter, AAA, ABA, ACE, AIM, ASH, COO, DEW, ENO, ESS, FCC, HUR, LAG, MAP, NTH, OAR, PAC, ROO, URI.

Enough corny Monday crosswordese to decorate a puzzle palace!

-----------------

For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

1. Exiled Ugandan Idi ___; 5. Home of the N.F.L.’s Buccaneers; 10. Nile reptiles; 14. “This ___ be!”; 15. Criminal’s “a k a” name; 16. Post-Christmas store event; 19. “Wheel of Fortune” action; 20. Former Roxy Music member Brian; 21. Point a gun; 22. Hornswoggled; 32. Number of Little Pigs; 35. Egg layers; 36. Kanga’;s kid in “Winnie-the-Pooh”; 37. Shot in the arm; 38. Duracell size; 39. Like a score of 10 of a possible 10; 41. Attys.’ org.; 42. Baseball glove; 43. Not just mean; 53. Shady spot; 55. Excellent service?; 56. Whisper sweet nothings; 57. Profound; 62. Autobahn auto; 63. Chili con ___; 64. Suit to ___; 65. Seat for two or more; 66. Has a bawl; 67. Salon applications. Down: 1. Needed a chiropractor, say; 2. The Pine Tree State; 3. Gold brick; 4. To the ___ degree; 6. Homecoming attendee, for short; 7. Old space station; 8. ___-10 Conference; 9. Louisville Slugger wood; 12. Ballet bend; 13. E-mail command; 22. Morning moisture; 24. Flock females; 27. Letter before tee; 30. Jacket; 31. Fit to be a saint; 32. Skiers’ lift; 33. Tramp; 40. Roald who wrote “James and the Giant Peach”; 42. Treasure seeker’s aid; 46. “Ben-___”; 50. Less than 90 degrees; 51. Prestigious prize awarded every December; 52. Prescribed amounts; 53. Commotions; 54. Seized vehicle; 55. “:Rule, Britannia” composer; 58. Agcy. That can fine TV stations; 59. Crew’s control?; 60. Geller with a psychic act; 61. Fall behind.

05.11.08 -- Into the Rose Garden -- the Acrostic

Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 11, 2008

Click here for LARGE PRINT.

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox & Henry Rathvon, edited by Will Shortz

A beautiful, glorious acrostic celebrating the arrival of Spring and Mother’s Day by the triumvirate of the acrostic, Cox, Rathvon & Shortz -- the mavens of puzzledom!

The Quotation: PREPARING A BED FOR ROSES IS a little LIKE GETTING THE HOUSE READY FOR THE ARRIVAL OF A DIFFICULT OLD LADY, SOME BIDDY WITH ARISTOCRATIC PRETENSIONS AND PERSNICKETY TASTES. The stay is bound to be an ordeal, and YOU WANT to give AS LITTLE CAUSE FOR COMPLAINT AS POSSIBLE.

The author’s name and title of the work: MICHAEL POLLAN, “SECOND NATURE: A Gardener’s Education”

The defined words: A. Drink served in a Champagne flute, MIMOSA; B. Decorate art brought to Japan with Buddhism, IKEBANA; C. “The CRICKETS sang / And set the Sun / And Workmen finished one by one” (Emily Dickinson); D. Advocates of floral potency?, HIPPIES; E. Condition in xeric climes, ARIDITY; F. The 22nd of April (2 wds.), EARTHDAY; G. Remove, as the tops of shrubbery (2 wds.), LOPOFF; H. Ovary + style + stigma, PISTIL; I. Reverse, nullify, OVERTURN; J. “Spring Will Be a Little Late This Year” songwriter, LOESSER; K. Feature of a pergola, LATTICE; L. Source of wood for baseball bats (2 wds.), ASHTREE; M. Tussie-mussie, NOSEGAY; N. End result of petrification, STONE; O. What Brits mean by “aubergine”, EGGPLANT; P. Fell (2 wds.), CUTDOWN; Q. Vanilla plants are one variety of these, ORCHIDS; R. Business patronized by gardeners, NURSERY; S. “… I saw a crowd, / A host, of golden DAFFODILS (Wordsworth); T. Containing element #7, NITRIC; U. Cowlick-sporting, off-key crooner in “Our Gang” shorts; ALFALFA; V. Beside a roaring fireplace, say, TOASTY; W. Deracinated, UPROOTED; X. Natural hip-hop artists?; RABBITS; Y. Flower protected by law in Switzerland, EDELWEISS.

The quotation is also included in the article published in the New York Times Magazine, February 17, 1991 entitled Into the Rose Garden with the notation: Michael Pollan is Executive Editor of Harper’s Magazine. This article is adapted from “Second Nature: A Gardener’s Education,“ which the Atlantic Monthly Press will publish this spring (1991).