BOX

Pandora Opening the Golden Box, 1903, John William Waterhouse

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Friday, January 27, 2012

Puzzle by Joe Krozel / Edited by Will Shortz

BOX (36A. Enclosure .. and an alphabetical listing of letters not appearing elsewhere in this puzzle’s answer) enclosed in a box of black squares constitutes the main feature of this sly holoalphabetical Friday crossword.

Other — ANIMAL FARM (57A. “1984” shelfmate), DEEP SEA DIVER (40A. One swimming with flippers), IN RANGE (49A. Accessible for shooting), JUST MY LUCK (21A. “Figures I’d have this problem!“), LECTURE HALLS (25A. Education dissemination locations), MARCEAU (23A. French expert in body language?), MUSCLE IN (23D. Lay claim forcibly), QUIZMASTER (17A. One asking questions he already knows the answers to), TRIANGULAR (50A. Like pool racks), YULETIDE (22D. Stocking-up time?).

Mid-size — AGARS, DERMAL, DINAR, DREGS, EDSEL, EMMAS, ENAMEL, ENGAGE, ERASE, EWERS, ICE TEA, “I MET A Girl”, I’M SURE, KITSCH, MANIC, MENUS, PATCH, PRUNED, Q-TIPS, SALINE, SAT UP, SAUDI, SPIKY, SWAMI, TALIA, TRIED.

Short stuff — ADZE, AFAR and AJAR, AGRA, ALDA, AMPS, ANTI, ASTA, CANS, DRUG, EDEL, EGAD, ELEV (32A. Highness: Abbr.), ESQS, GENE, I KID, LAME and LATE, LSD, MAUI, MICE, MUIR, PSAT, QED, REAP, RITE, SAAR, SERA, SHY, SIM, SIRE (20A. Highness), UMPS, URAL.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Actress Stone and others; 6. “Just playin’ with ya”; 10. Base characters?; 14. Meccan, e.g.; 15. Ones sitting on pads; 16. Cut off one’s ears?; 19. Cousin of contra-; 24. Draw back; 30. Solidfying agents; 31. Vase lookalikes; 35. Bouncing off the walls; 37. Sylvester’s “Rocky” co-star; 38. A Ford; 39. “___ Girl” (“Bells Are Ringing” tune); 46. Logical ending; 52. Host of PBS’s “Scientific American Frontiers”; 56. Baseball All-Star Kinsler and others; 59. Ordeal for jrs.; 60. Part of some pools; 51. Rose partially; 62. Clinic shipments; 63. Henry James biographer; 64. Lease desirable parts. — DOWN: 1. A.B.A. members’ titles; 2. Wailuku’s county; 3. California’s ___ Woods; 4. Wood shop shaper; 5. “Scrooge” star, 1951; 6. “Likely story”; 7. Lawn flamingos and such; 8. Pop alternative; 9. With 12-Down, lidocaine delivery option; 10. Risk board territory; 11. Stack at IHOP, say, 12. See 9-Down; 13. Like some punk hairstyles; 18. Cracked open; 25. Weak; 26 Quaint euphemism; 27. Film holders; 28. True companion?; 29. Pundit; 33. Mass action; 34. Mosel tributary; 41. Begin a conversation with; 42. Cut back; 43. Contact liquid; 44. Nail topper; 45. Home to a much-visited tomb; 46. Sticks in a makeup bag; 47. Sweep the board?; 48. Mosul money; 51. The Charleses’ pet; 52. Not close; 53. Like fashionable partygoers?; 54. It may knock you out; 55. Concert pieces; 58. 54-Down for a trip.

01.26.12 — You Can Leave Your Hat On

You'll find him in the lower level of Silk Nightclub every Saturday starting at midnight.

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Thursday, January 26, 2012 — Australia Day

Puzzle by Alan Arbesfeld / Edited by Will Shortz

Adding ST to five common phrases (ALL FOR ONE, TEXAS RANGERS, JACK THE RIPPER, RIKER’S ISLAND and ILL-AT-EASE) resulting in five odd ones, constitutes the interrelated group of this lightly-clad Thursday crossword.

• STALL FOR ONE (17A. Private quarters in a stable?)
• TEXAS STRANGERS (23A. Dallas tourists, perhaps?)
• JACK THE STRIPPER (37A. Name for a bachelorette party performer?)
• STRIKER’S ISLAND (49A. Vacation spot for some who stop working?)
• STILL AT EASE (60A. Not saluting for quite some time?)

Other — ADAPTS, AGASP and AROAR, ARRET, AT DAWN, BEAT IT, DELUXE, DIVER, DOOMS, DOSES, HAGUE, IN LOW and IN THERAPY (1D. Getting help of a sort), KATIE, LORRIE, MADE UP, NEATO, NEVER MIND (32D. “Forget it!), OSCAR (41A. Announcement that comes from an envelope), OCCURRING (30D. Going on), ODEON, PINS ON, PROTRACTS (8D. Extends), SALSA, SLAMS, SPREE, TIN EAR, TSARS, TUBER, U TUBE (44A. Horseshoe-shaped lab item).

Short stuff — AHEM, AIDE, ALF, A LOT and A MAN, ANN, BAM, BSA, CASH, CHAD, CNBC, EDU, EEN, ERG, HAS, IDS, LEAD, METE, NEST, NIL, NOT I, OHO and OJO, POST, PURE, RBI, REBS, RED, SEE, SPA, SRS, SUCH, TRUK (39D. W.W. II Pacific battle site), TVA, VASE, UTES, YDS.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Africa’s Lake ___, body of water in four countries; 5. Changes, in a way; 11. Fingers; 14. Many a staffer; 15. Moore who wrote “A Gate at the Stairs”; 16. Goose egg; 19. New Deal inits.; 20. Court site, with “The”; 21. Dole; 22. “Could we get started, please …”; 28. “Looky here!”; 31. What may give you the business?; 34. Old line in Russia; 43. Meas. of ground gained or lost; 46. What may come from a sock?; 55. Utter; “I’m ___” (Bo Diddley song); 57. Classic theater; 59. Result of bringing someone home, for short; 62 Velvet finish?; 63. Attaches, in a way; 64 Pac-12 team; 65. Bit of work; 66. Very early; 67. Mail. — DOWN: 12. Certain incentive; 2. Try to punch; 3. Saw; 4. Top-of-the-line; 5. 1980s sitcom filmed with a puppet; 6. Renders hopeless; 7. Stop over in Paris?; 9. Musical liability; 10. Date; 12. One going under; 13. Really bad-mouths; 18. Alchemy material; 22. Clearly stunned; 24. Word before or after “as”; 25. “Don’t look at me!”; 28. Facial feature for Felipe; 29. Harbors; 33. Big inits. In camping; 35. Embarrassed; 36. Alums-to-be: Abbr.; 38. Actress Holmes; 40. Civil War fighters; 45. “Take a hike!”; 47. Plenty; 48. Reconciled; 49. Tear; 50. Yam, e.g.; 51. It’s often made with peppers and onions; 52. Like trucks going up or down a steep hill; 53. “Swell!”; 54. Doctor’s orders; 58. Fit (in); 60. Kind of treatment; 61. Cape ___.

01.25.12 — Tree Rings

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Puzzle by Gareth Bain / Will Shortz

TREE RINGS (38A. Indicators of age … and a hint to this puzzle’s theme), along with four three-letter tree names, ELM, ASH, YEW and FIR, crammed into four squares and within circles akin to tree rings, constitutes the interrelated group of this Wednesday crossword.

• GOSP[EL M]USIC (17A. What the annual Dove Awards are awarded for) with [ELM]ER (18D. Name for a bull
• COLD [AS H]ELL (21A. Like winter in Siberia) with WAB[ASH] (10D. Indiana river)
• E[YE W]ITNESS (56A. One at a crime scene) with KAN[YE W]EST (40D. “Gold Digger” rapper)
• [FIR]ST AID KIT (62A. Place for iodine) with MIS[FIR]ES (48D. Rifle problems)

Other — AMENABLE (33A. Open to suggestion), AMOEBAE (11D. Sights on slides), BECOME (8D. Look good on), BEEGEE (35D. Any of the “Stayin’ Alive” singers), IN STORE (3D. Yet to come), I RECKON (43D. “Suppose so”), LUPINE (22D. Wolfish), MILLARD (12D. President Fillmore), NOSHING (4D. Having chips, say), RUN INTO (41D. Chance upon), SNEEZING (42A. Inviting a blessing?), WOOSNAM (2D. Ian who won the 1991 Masters).

Five-letter — ANTED, BLURB, DALIS, EBOLA, ESTER, GENRE, HAMID (15A. Afghanistan‘s Karzai), I LIED, KREME, LIEGE, LISZT, POACH, SHEDS SNERT, SPADE, SNERT,TERSE (31D. Like telegrams, typically).

Short stuff — ADIA, ANGE, ARM, BAI Ling, BLOB, EGAD, ESS, GAPE, GMEN, GUS, HOI polloi, INN, IN NO uncertain terms, IONA and IONS, ISLE, LAS and LARS, LATE, LAUD, LGE, MUS, OSH, OTIC, RBI, SARA, SEI, SIG, SSGT, STEP, STYE, SWAM, SWIG, TAY, TOOT, TREO, Drop TROU, Mao TSE-tung, UNO, Team USA.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Gulp from a flask; 5. Classic sci-fi terror, with “the”; 9. Began a triathlon; 13. College in New Rochelle, N.Y.; 14. Running behind; 19. “The Hot Zone” virus; 20. Source of T-bones; 23. Game with Skip and Reverse cards; 24. Baseball card fig.; 26. Followers of lambdas; 27. “The Crow” actress ___ Ling; 28. Song title for both Fleetwood Mac and Starship; 30. Kind of aerobics; 32. Phyllis’s never-seen TV husband; 36. Coming-clean words; 40. Sweet filling, in commercial names; 46. Sing a paean to; 47. Pursuers of the Sopranos, for short; 49. Drop ___ (start to disrobe); 50. “Newhart” setting; 51. Tre + tre; 52. City of Kyrgyzstan; 55. Tricky turn; 59. Take illegally; 61. Noir or comedy; 65. Perfumer’s compound; 66. “Horrors!”; 67. Accelerator particles; 68. Drunken spree; 69. Staph-caused irritation; 70. Cherub at Notre Dame. — DOWN: 1. Autograph: Abbr.; 4. Act starstruck, say; ; 5. Words on a jacket; 6. Chorus syllables; 7. Ear-related; 9. Gets rid of; 10. Indiana river; 16. “The Persistence of Memory” and others; 25. Trinidad or Tobago; 29. Chipped in; 32. “Hungarian Rhapsodies” composer; 34. Part of a slot machine; 37. Apparel abbr.; 45. NASA’s Grissom; 46. Feudal subject; 51. Dog in the funnies; 53. Classic Bogart role; 57. Palm smartphone; 58. Army NCO; 60. 1998 Sarah McLachlan hit; 63. Scotland’s Firth of ___.

01.24.12 — D, A/E/I/O/U/Y, E

King Cobra eating another snake, taylorlifescience.pbworks.com

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Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Puzzle by Alex Boisvert / Edited by Will Shortz

DAE, DEE, DIE, DOE, DUE and DYE found in DANIEL DAE KIM, TWEEDLEDEE, DIE-CAST CARS, MEET JOHN DOE, DUE PROCESS and TIE-DYE SHIRTS constitute the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword.

D, A/E/I/O/U/Y, E from the Light-writing alphabet by Nir Tober.

Other — ACERBIC, AIR COOL, CADDIE, COBRAS (24A. “King” serpents), DROOLS, ELEGIST, GLOSSY, I MEANT, MISSES, REPENT, STARVE.

Five-letter — ABIDE, BANES, CASTE, CHIME, DIORS, St. ELMO’S fire, EXILE, GO APE, OPRAH, ORTHO, RATER, REINA, ROKER, SLEEP, URALS, VOILA.

Short stuff — AHOY, ALE and ALL, ARAB, AREA, ATE, AXLE, BEAR, BOSC, CAD, CIA, CRAM, CUBA, DST and EST, DUH, EAST, EEL and EEN and EES, HERO, HOLE (27D. Darned thing), ICE T, IMHO, ISLE, IVY, JET, MANO, MAUI, NAHS, OUT, REAP, RELO, REO, ROSY, SAX (65A. Instrument for Clarence Clemons), SEXY, SID, SORE, STAR, TRA and TRY, VIEW, YALE, YIN.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Brown, Penn or Harvard; 4. Locale of Guantánamo Bay; 8. Go without food; 14. “The Good Shepherd” org.; 15. Omani or Yemeni; 16. Use a fan on; 17. It twists underwater; 18. He played Jin-Soo Kwon on “Lost”; 20. “Through the Looking-Glass” character; 22. Move, in real-estate ads; 23. Swings that result in strikes; 26. Doorbell sound; 29. Site of Haleakala National Park; 30. Pinkish; 31. Some collectible toys; 38. Everything; 39. “That is to say …”; 40. ___ Speedwagon; 41. 1941 Frank Capra film; 44. Animal that can stand upright; 45. One who saves the day; 46. Lose it; 47. Puts back to zero, say; 50. Displays appetite, in a way; 54. Wheels’ connector; 55. Cornerstone of the American legal system; 59. Some hippie wear; 62. Had a bite; 63. Writer of sad poems; 64. Slangy turndowns; 65. Instrument for Clarence Clemons; 66. Show contrition; 67. “Hey, sailor!”; 68. Give a go. — DOWN: 1. “Cop Killer” singer who went o n to play a cop on TV; 2. Outlook; 3. Alma mater for Bill and Hillary Clinton; 4. Golfer’s assistant; 5. They divide Europe and Asia; 6. Bugaboos; 7. Endure; 8. Caesar of comedy; 9. ___-la-la; 10. Biting; 11. Al of “Today”; 12. “There you have it!”; 16 Drink sometimes indicated in comics by “XXX”; 19. Some tech grads; 21. TV award; 24. Social class; 25. Unsafe?; 26. Stay up all night before a test, say; 28. ___ of Man; 29. José ’s hand; 31. Some expensive dresses; 32. Modest “Methinks,” online; 33. Poetic time after dusk; 34. Heel; 35. ½ base x height, for a triangle; 36. Gather in the field; 37. Peeved; 42. U2 guitarist; 43. 767, e.g.; 44. Pear type; 46. Photo finish?; 47. Olympics judge, e.g.; 48. Punishment for Napoleon; 49. Catch 40 winks; 50. “Well, obviously!”; 51. Madrid’s ___ Sofia Museum; 52. Noted talk show retiree of 2011; 53. Straight: Prefix; 55. Mar.-to-Nov. hours; 56. Sunup direction; 57. Play the lead role; 58. Alluring; 60. Yang’s counterpart; 61. Superlative suffix.

01.23.12 — Disorientation

Peruleous Fights Glaurung, Umar's Dragons

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Monday, January 23, 2012 — Chinese New Year

Puzzle by Sarah Keller / Edited by Will Shortz

TOOTH AND NAIL (20A. Fiercely), FOOT IN MOUTH (35A. Embarrassingly imprudent), CHEEK BY JOWL (42A. Next to one another) and HAND OVER FIST (59A. Fast and in large amounts) constitute the interrelated group of this fine Monday crossword.

Other — AMNIOS (23A. OB/GYNs perform them), CAESAR (48A. Roman leader who m et his fate on the Ideas of March), DIFFER (50D. Be at odds with), DRILLS (55A. Dentists’ tools), KARAOKE (43D. Sing-along at a bar), LENTIL (4D. Popular soup legume), MINICAM (9D. Easily portable movie maker), OATERS (30A. Westerns, in old lingo), TABASCO sauce, WADED IN (45D. Entered up to one’s ankles).

Five-letter — “A ROOM of One’s Own”, ARTIE, ASHEN, AUDIO, BRINK, ELATE, ETHAN, FEUDS, IDAHO, IDEAS, LIE TO, LSATS, MALTA, MIRTH, NO-CAL, NONET, PEONY, RINDS, SLEET, STRAY, UNION, WICCA (32D. Pagan nature religion).

Short stuff — ABE, ACID, ANON, ANT, ARNE, End in A TIE, Pro BONO, Raisin BRAN, DIA, EDIE, ETTA (68A. Blues singer James), ETON, FAA, HINT, “HAD I but known … “, HOLY Bible, HOOF, HST, IDOL, IGOR, “IT’LL cost you”, LAG, LES, LIRR, LOCH Ness monster, LOIN, MAUL, OLAN, RAID and RAIN, REN, ROSY, SEN, In SYNC, TAE and TAJ, TERP, TOE, URL, VIDA Blue, WES.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Manhandle horribly; 5. U. of Maryland athlete; 9. Jollity; 14. “Rule, Britannia” composer; 16. Brainstorms; 17. Cut of meat; 18. Pro ___ (how some law work is done); 19. Composition for nine musicians; 24. In ___ (harmonious); 25. Air safety org.; 32. “Scream” director Craven; 40. Fall behind; 41. Falco of “Nurse Jackie” 47. Member of the upper house: Abbr.; 49. Police action on a gambling ring; 51. “Carpenter” or “harvester” insect; 52. Drizzle, say; 61. Television input jack; 64. Battery fluid; 70. Wife in “The Good Earth”; 71. Having a positive outlook. — DOWN: 1. Mediterranean island county; 2. Woolf’s “___ of One’s Own”; 3. The “U” in E.U.; 6. School on the Thames; 7. Outsides of melons; 8. Spring bloom; 10. Winner of a Fox talent show beginning in 2002; 11. Stimpy’s canine pal; 13. President after F.D.R.; 21. Part of a horse that’s shod; 22. Before long, poetically; 25. Prolonged hostilities; 26. Clarinetist Shaw; 27. Drained of color; 31. Follow of tic-tac; 33. Revolutionary Allen; 34. Frozen 52-Across; 36. Atlantic City casino, with “the”; 37. Stravinsky or Sikorsky; 39. Article in Paris Match; 46. Train line to Penn Sta.; 53. Boise’s state; 54. Like some diet drinks; 56. Be untruthful with; 57. Exams for would-be attys.; 58. Veer off the beaten path; 59. Clue; 60. ___ Blue, 1971 Cy Young Award winner; 61. Lincoln, the Rail-Splitter; 62. WWW address; 63. Day, to Diego.

01.22.12 — Snow White's Employment Agency

Sunday, January 22, 2012

SNOW WHITE’S EMPLOYMENT AGENCY

Puzzle by Adam Fromm / Edited by Will Shortz

Seven answer/clues featuring the dwarfs of the Disney film of Snow White constitute the interrelated group of this skillful Sunday crossword.

NIGHT WATCHMAN (24A. Bad occupation for Sleepy?)
GOTH MUSICIAN (29A. Bad occupation for Happy?)
FLORAL ARRANGER (57A. Bad occupation for Sneezy?)
MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER (63A. Bad occupation for Grumpy?)
ALGEBRA TEACHER (73A. Bad occupation for Dopey?)
VILLAGE IDIOT (98A. Bad occupation for Doc?)
TV PERSONALITY (110 Bad occupation for Bashful?)

Other — ALAKAZAM (“Voilà“), APACHES, BIGGIES, BULKIEST, CHRONICLE, CORONACH (52D. Funderal song in Scotland), ENZYMES, GO VIRAL (56D. Become a YouTube sensation), HEADACHE, ONE PAIR (88D. Not a great hand for raising), ORATION, OUTSELL, PERCENT, POACHERS, PRODUCT, ROMANOV, SEAHORSE (105A. Hippocampus hippocampus, e.g.), SILICON, SOCIABLE, STRAFED, THE BARD, UNCLE SAM, WALNUTS.

Six-letter — ANALOG (55A. Having hands, maybe), ELAINE, ELITES, LASSOS, LLOYDS, MOMENT, MONICA, NAUSEA (21D. Vertigo symptom), ORIGIN, PAELLA (80A. Spanish dish), PLAQUE, RASTAS, SING OF (27D. Honor like a troubadour), STENTS, STRESS, TALONS, TOW BAR, UNITED.

Five — AMATI, ASCOT, Cave CANEM, CHEEP (95D. [“Give me the worm! Give me the worm!”]), CHEST, CONAN (32A. Hero who debuted in Weird Tales magazine in 1932), EISEN, ELTON, EMOTE, “ETHAN Frome“, HORNS, ILIFE, I’LL GO, I’M HIT and  I QUIT, ITALO, KYLES, MAGMA, METER, MINIM, OLIOS, OUTER, PHONO, PLOPS, RELIT and REMIT, RENEW, RITES, SIGMA, STRUG, TESSA, VOLAR (98D. Relating to the palm of the hand), WACKO, WINED.

Short stuff — ADV, AIDA, Jai ALAI, APOD and AROD, Lhasa APSO, ART (111D. “Either plagiarism or revolution,” per Paul Gauguin), ASS, BATH (19D. Subject of dozens of Degas paintings), CAN, CHI, CPA, CRO Magnon, DANG, DDS, DINT, ELS, EMIR, ENTS, ERAS and ETAS, ERS, EVIL, GETS, GRE, LAUD, LEES, MOOG, NADA, NAME, NICE, NIT, RENE, RIPE, SAWS and SEWS, SOAP (30D. Bar that shrinks), SOO Canals, SPR, STEP, SSRS, TAG, TATU, THE, TRA-la-la, WHIG, WICK, WRY, YSER.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Colo. ___, Colo.; 4. 1040 preparer, for short; 7. Heartbeat; 13. Plied with spirits; 18. Shakespeare; 20. National Forensic League skill; 22. Rare violin; 23. Royal house until the early 20th century; 26. One; 27. Head of ancient Sparta?; 28. Hardest to ship, say; 31. Bit of wear for a fop; 33. M.A. hopeful’s ordeal; 34. Like Oscar Wilde’s humor; 37. Ruler in a robe; 41. Touch while running; 42. Home of two M.L.B. teams; 44. Villains in 1939’s “Stagecoach”; 48. Last ___; 50. Ones running away with the game?; 54. Mrs. Robinson’s daughter; 59. More than a quarter of the earth’s crust, by mass; 61. Longtime Yankee nickname; 62. Spot for a flame; 69. 2000 musical with the song “Fortune Favors the Brave”; 70. Diplomatic, say; 71. Some juices; 79. Grippers; 81. Classic figure in a top hat; 83. It needs to be fed frequently; 84. Best in the market; 86. Last word of “Finnegans Wake”; 89. Gives a darn?; 90. Bridge maker’s deg.; 91. Biblical mount; 93. Singer John; 95. Common tattoo spot; Mismashes; 109. Employee of the month award, say; 112. Waldorf salad ingredients; 113. Sports anchor Rich; 114. Attacked ground units, in a way; 115. Honchos; 116. Lands in a puddle, maybe; 117. Accent. — DOWN: 1. Kerri ___, U.S. gymnastics star at the 1996 Olympics; 2. 45 player; 3. Pay up; 5. One going to market; 6. Daily or weekly: Abbr.; 7. “Friends” role; 8. (0,0), on a graph; 9. Eruption sight; 11. A picky person may pick one; 12. Trailer attachment; 13. Bananas; 14. “Somebody shot me!”; 15. Questionnaire blank; 16. Airport postings, for short; 17. Force; 25. Group with the 1995 #1 hit “Waterfalls”; 30. Bar that shrinks; 33. Miss; 34. Like four U.S. presidents; 35. Mathematician Descartes; 36. River to the North Sea; 37. Chapters in history; 38. Half note; 39. Novelist Calvino; 40. Like lanterns at the start of evening; 42. Log; 43. Big bother; 45. Degree of interest?; 47. Fire; 49. Convivial; 53. Cuts; 58. Finally edible; 60. Zip; 64. Duo with the 2003 hit “All the Things She Said”; 65. Levi’s alternative; 68. Actors MacLachlan and Chandler; 67. Serve up some ham?; 68. Extend, in a way; 72. Georgia and Moldova, once: Abbr.; 73. Like two peas in ___; 74. Hail; 75. Is allowed (to); 76. Overhead transports; 77. Tolkien’s tree creatures; 78. Some Jamaicans; 82. “Switched-On Bach” instrument; 85. Snares; 92. Surgical inserts; 93. Aristocracies; 94. Big name in insurance; 96. Hallmark of the Philadelphhia sound; 97. Sounds of hesitation; 99. Apple software bundle that includes GarageBand; 100. Volunteer’s cry; 101. “Shoot!”; 102. Disgruntled worker’s parting cry; 103. External; 104. “The Gondoliers” bride; 105. Ballet bit; 106. Malevolent; 112. Fighters org.

01.21.12 — Hot Stuff

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Puzzle by Martin Ashwood-Smith / Edited by Will Shortz

Featuring six fifteen-letter answers, obfuscation and misdirection render this if-you-can’t-stand-the-heat-get-out-of-the-kitchen Saturday crossword fit only for the calm and cool solver.

COME INTO THE OPEN (17A. Emerge)
SACAGAWEA DOLLAR (29A. It first circulated in 2000)
PRIME REAL ESTATE (38A. Great parking spot, slangily)
AIRPORT TERMINAL (39A. Gate holder)
SEEDLESS RAISINS (40A. Sultanas, say)
TENDERLOIN STEAK (57A. Slice from beneath the ribs)

Other — AGE OLD (26D. Steeped in tradition), ARE YOU ALONE (14A. Phone query before a private conversation), CAMP DAVID (2D. Roosevelt established it as Shangri-La), COSMIC (28D. Vast), EDITED OUT (19A. Like many obscenities), FEDERATIONS (23D. Big leagues), OCCULITISM (18D. Kabbalah), PYROMANIA (54A. Lighting problem?), STATE SENATE (61A. One of Washington’s houses, e.g.), UNDER ARREST (15D. Oppressed by the heat?).

Five-letter — ALOUD, ANNEX, A PLAN, BAKES (52D. Is oppressed by the heat), COMAS, ELENA, END OF, ERIES, ERODE, FACES, FERNS, KYOTO, LENOS, LOEWE, LOTTO, NEPAL, ONE AM, OTTER, PAL UP, PATON, REMIX, RIATA, TAKEI, ZONED (13D. Like a lot, maybe).

Short stuff — ADS, ALER, AT AN and AT NO, ARIE, CANE, CAR, CIRÉ, CLAD, EATS (33D. Sinks a sub?), ECU, ELO, ESL, EWE, LANI, MSEC, NEZ, NYET, OLAV, ORB, PEE, RELS, REX and SEX, RTE, SOIE, SPAS, TCM, TONI, UNH, WETS (32D. Believers in raising spirits?).

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Fiddlehead sources; 6. Get chummy; 11. Odeur detector; 16. Grp. With the top 10 album “Face the Music”; 20. Supporter of Yoda; 21. Masters focus; 22. Words before story or debate; 24. Wrapped up; 25. Dodgem feature; 27. Euro forerunner; 41. Things often zapped; 42. It shows many B&W pictures; 43. South Georgia’s Prince ___ Harbor; 45. 1960s TV actor whose name looks like a free offer?; 50. Big revolver; 53. “Mickey” singer Basil; 60. Roquefort source; 62. 1976 Rodgers and Harnick musical about Henry VIII; 63. Soft, meshed fabrics; 64. Some are drug-induced. — DOWN: 1. Braves; 2. Lose ground?; 3. D.J.’s creation; 4. Maxim’s denial; 5. Somme silk; 6. “Cry, the Beloved Country” author; 7. One way to pray; 8. Match game?; 9. America East sch.; 10. Epi center?; 11. Seti River setting; 12. Opera’s Obraztsova; 29. Pleasant treatment centers; 30. Oberhausen opera highlight; 31. Highly glazed fabric; 34. Joltin’ Joe, e.g.; 35. “Lift Every Voice” author Guinier; 36. ___ end; 37. Genealogical line: Abbr.; 43. Sleek fur; 44. “The Little Prince” composer; 45. Proposal for business expansion; 47. “But not without ___”: Pope; 48. Golden Pavilion setting; 49. Early New Yorkers; 50. Early hour; 51. Neck tie?; 55. Brief moment, briefly; 56. He’s 2, say; 58. An expat may take it: Abbr.; 59. One taken on a drive: Abbr.

01.20.12 — Mammy's Son

Friday, January 20, 2012

Puzzle by Patrick Berry / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. Semimonthly tide, NEAP; 5. Mooring post on a ship, BITT; 9. Head nurse on “Scrubs”, CARLA; 14. If you add up the pros and cons, ON BALANCE; 16. Nautical direction, ABEAM; 17. Pitcher of the only no-hitter in World Series history, DON LARSEN; 18. Small truck manufacturer, TONKA; 19. Highly rated 1997 film with the song “Tupelo Honey”, ULEE’S GOLD; 20. Take in, possibly, ALTER; 21. Flogs, HARD SELLS; 22. Like yoga instructors, LITHE; 23. Pink shade, ROSE; 24. Secures every share from, BUYS OUT; 26. Early man?, BOY; 28. Had some inventory problems, RAN SHORT; 28. HOV lane; 30. Berate profanely, SWEAR AT; 33. Court, WOO; 34. What mansions rarely are, ONE STORY; 38. “CNN = Politics” (TV slogan); 37. Inventor given a gold medal by Titanic survivors, MARCONI; 38. “Goodness me!”, GOSH; 41. U.K. Triple Crown racecourse site, EPSOM; 42. Dance trio?, CHA CHA CHA; 47. Suddenly took interest, SAT UP; 48. Motivated, BESTIRRED; 49. Go on, PRATE; 50. Communion place; 51. Abject, UTTER; 52. Colorful Amazon swimmer, NEON TETRA; 53. They’re indispensable, NEEDS; 54. Mrs. Charles Lindbergh, ANNE; 55. “The Lucy-DESI Comedy Hour”.

Down — 1. “Well, of course”, NO DUH; 2. Name on a famous B-29, ENOLA; 3. Mammy’s son, ABNER; 4. Adjective applied to ginger ale, PALE DRY; 5. Things towed along towpaths, BARGES; 6. Expanse beneath an arch?, INSOLE; 7. Certain lymphocyte, TCELL; 8. Words behind a counter, TENDS BAR; 9. Prompter, CATALYST; 10. Get rid of, ABOLISH; 11. Like some store furniture, RENT-TO-OWN; 12. North American home of 30,000 islands, LAKE HURON; 13. Tiramisu ingredient, often, AMARETTO; 15. Frequent photo prop for Will Rogers, LASSO; 25. “UNA furtive lagrima” (Donizetti aria); 26. Bourbon enemy, BONAPARTE; 27. Blow out of proportion, OVERSTATE; 28. Flat fish, RAY; 29. Pleasantly rustic, HOME SPUN; 30. The Village STOMPERS (musical group with the 1963 hit “Washington Square”); 31. Walked away with, WON; 32. Star of Ang Lee’s “Hulk”, ERIC BANA; 35. Looked for a phenomenon, maybe, SCOUTED; 36. Blackened, CHARRED; 38. Leroux who created the Phantom, GASTON; 39. Premium number, OCTANE; 40. What a dickey simulates, SHIRT; 43. Lady of Paris, HELEN; 44. Junk car, CRATE; 45. Some funeral attendees, HEIRS; 46. “We’re Madly for ADLAI” (old campaign song).

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.