The New York Times Crossword in Gothic: October 2007

10.31.07 -- Hallowe'en!

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

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Puzzle by Ken Stern, edited by Will Shortz

It’s Hallowe’en!

TRICKORTREAT (33D Something said while holding a bag) and HATTRICK (44A Hockey feat);

TRICKSOFTHETRADE (20A Professional secrets) and PRETREATMENTS (4D Stain looseners on washday);

STPATRICK (11D Mid-March honoree) and RETREATS (27A Off-site meetings, maybe);

JEANEKIRKPATRICK (53A U.N. ambassador under Reagan) and PEACETREATIES (39D War enders);

CARDTRICK (49D Entertainment from a magician) and ENTREATY (65A Balance sheet listing) --

-- are entries with two-word squares giving up TRICK or TREAT one way or another!

The New York Times is doing a bang-up job of Halloween and it‘s adjuncts, with yesterday’s Ghost puzzle (yesterday was Ghost Day, a sort of Halloween-een) and on Sunday, the Acrostic was on the topic of All Saint‘s Day, which is November 1st -- the major reason that Halloween exists. An excellent trio of crossword puzzles -- but wait, All Soul‘s Day is November 2nd! Will Will will us a fourth on the 1st or the 2nd? No matter, this puzzle and the previous two are treasures! Thank you!

Tricks: STPAT and RETS (they almost work without the “trick” or “treat”); XAXES (17A Some horizontal lines); OPED (21D Like some columns); QUEENED (28A Promoted, as a pawn); HOAXES (45A Some urban legends) crossed with JINXED (34D Having bad luck, say); CARDTRICK, this wanted to be “MAGIC”; WKRP (6A Johnny Fever’s workplace, in 1970s- ‘80s TV) and MSRP (10A Amt. at a car dealership).

Treats: OPAL (19A Birthstone of someone born on Halloween); MUUMUU (24D Hawaiian dress) and OAHU (63A Honolulu’s home), who can forget a trip to Hawaii? ; DEION (48D Two-sport Sanders), a cool name; WOLFED (6D Gobbled up, with “down”), they‘ll be out tonight!; “Choosy moms choose JIF” (34A); “…ANDA bottle of rum” (55D); RAW (41D Uncooked) and RARE (41A Red in the middle); and last but not least, Red SOX (3D) with Ride the PINE (sit out a baseball game)(39A) -- am I wrong, or does that bring up an image of a World Series celebration interrupted by an A-Rod report?!

Other things in the trick or treat OLIO (15A Mixed bag): Acrosses: 1. Big stingers, 14. Ancient marketplace; 16. Siouan tribe; 18. Carries; 23. Muslim holy man; 26. Amanda of “The Whole Nine Yards” ; 30. Took to court; 32. Went bad; 37. Ham it up; 38. SODA pop; 40. Heros; 42. Large, at Starbucks; 43. Elec. Day, e.g.; 46. Aussie’s neighbor; 47. Like some old stores; 48. Early seventh-century year; 50. Wander; 52. Whirlpool; 58. Shows; 57. Entr’ ACTE; 58. Certain flower girl; 62. Focal point; 64. Reese of “touched by an Angel”; 66. Swill; and 67. Balance sheeting listing.

Nothing too SATIRICAL (38D Like The Onion) that would be an IQTEST (23D Hurdle for Mensa membership) in the downs: 1. Candle material; 2. Turkish title; 5. Lip; 7. Movie for which Jane Fonda won an Oscar; 8. Starboard (nice when the entry and the clue are the same length, e.g., RIGHTSIDE); 9. You might strike one (POSE, again!); 10. Docked; 12. Map lines; 13. New York Cosmos star; 22. Fig or fir (nice clue for a dull entry!); 25. Organism needing oxygen (Hmmm…); 29. Born (you know it's NEE); 31. Can. Neighbor (Doh!); 35. Mean (oops, another trick clue!); 36. Spunky (another same-length entry, FEISTY); 42. Designer Diane VON Furstenberg; 44. Honey site; 45. Rope material; 46. “Sexual Behavior in the Human Male” author; 47. Begin, as a hobby; 51. Brand name in lawn care; 53. Chimpanzee researcher Goodall; 54. “Get Smart” org.; 59. Choices for Chicago commuters; 60. Cavs, on a scoreboard; and 61 Nag (at), yes, EAT!

A wonderful puzzle for Halloween! Trick or Treat!!!

The New York Times Crossword Puzzle solution above is by the author of this blog and does not guarantee accuracy. If you find errors or omissions, you are more than welcome to make note of same in the Comments section of this post -- any corrections found necessary will be executed promptly upon verification.

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THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

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Robert Goulet, Actor, Dies at 73 -- The New York Times

A Tribute HERE.

10.30.07 -- Ghosts!

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

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Puzzle by Gary Steinmehl, edited by Will Shortz

Ghosts are in season! MAKESABOOBOO (57A Misspells, say, as a ghost might at 20-, 28-, 37- and 50-Across?), along with HUMPBACKWAIL (20A Scary sound from the ocean?), BATTLECREAK (28A Scary sound from a war zone?), FARMGROAN (37A Scary sound from a cornfield?), and BELLANDHOWL (50A Scary sound from a steeple?) are the inter-related entries to prove it!

Word-wise, the five entries constitute synonym for an error and four homophones -- read humpback whale, Battle Creek, farm grown, and Bell & Howell -- for a clever play on words, just in time for Halloween. Strangely, I found 57A to be the last entry uncovered, as it is intended to also be a clue for 20A, 28A, 37A, and 50A. Oh well, everyone has their own personal hole in their brain!

The remainder of the puzzle is haunted by entries seven squares or less with ARDEB (40D Egyptian dry measure equal to about five-and-a-half bushels) and BARB (60D Part of a fishhook) having made it difficult to find the BOOBOO!

The countdown to the end -- Seven squares: MACHETE (3D Cane cutter); UNAIDED (11D Helpless?); REPLETE (12D Filled to the gills); EARMARK (42D Tag for a particular purpose); CROATIA (43D Neighbor of Slovenia); and POBOXES (46D Co. addresses, often).

Six: RIPPLE (5D Wavelet); ARABIC (6D Language whose alphabet starts alif, ba, at, tha…); ATONAL (51A Like some music); NOODLE (52D Musically improvise).

Five: RANON (5A Chattered incessantly); IRATE (15A Seeing red); PANIC (18A Opposite of serenity); OLDER (26A Having seniority); ALEUT (34A Kodiak native); RCPTS (45A Sales slips: Abbr.); PROSY (53A Tedious); ELAND (63A African antelope); RURAL (68A Countryish); AMBLE (71A Walk leisurely); FOCAL (10D Kind of point); MALTA (21D Country just south of Sicily); REGAL (30D Fit for a king); SKEET (54D Sport utilizing a clay disk); and the aforementioned impossibly obscure ARDEB .

Four: ESAU, NANA, OTIC, NECK, TUFT, INCH, SERA, ACME, FURY (10A TV horse introduced in 1955 ... or a Plymouth model introduced in 1956), BIAS, ONEA, COCA, CAPP, SECT, HATE, AXLE, ERIE, SKAT, USAF, OAHU, the tricky ALUM (59d Styptic agent), not a grad; and the pesky BARB.

Four & Three: HEEL (69A Boot part) and TOE (55A Boot part) with their Shortzesque twin clues.

Three alone: AAA, ABA, ABC, AGO, ALI, AVE, BOY, BYE, CIO, ELF, ERG, ETE, ERR, HES, LEA, MAL, OAR, SOP, SLY, TOE, TWO, VAL, WOK, YAP.

Two together: RAE (38D Name that’s an anagram of 27-Down) and REA Irvin, classic artist for The New Yorker (27D).

One: Ooooooooooo!!!!

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The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

Puzzle available on the internet at

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10.29.07 -- Double Duty

The Astronomical Clock on the Old Town Hall, Prague

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Monday, October 29, 2007

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Puzzle by Fred Piscop, edited by Will Shortz

It’s Monday, the weekend flew -- we need a special clock for the start of the work-week, one that serves double duty -- showing where did the time go, and what is ahead.

In today’s crossword four entries serve double duty : ...GENE...RATION (17A Allotment of heredity units?) without the space is, of course, GENERATION with no clue. ...FORE...STATION (10D TV channel for golfers?), becomes FORESTATION of the eco type. ...CARBO...NATION (25d Pasta-and-potato-loving country?) is CARBONATION, and the amusing REV...ELATION (56A Preacher’s sky-high feeling?) aptly reads REVELATION. Very simple and simply very cool!

Now about that clock in the picture above -- in a comment this weekend, I was asked what something that I wrote had anything to do with the crossword puzzle at hand -- well, nothing! In this case, it’s just the kind of clock I’d like to answer to on Monday, instead of that mean-looking thing at the office!

The puzzle in less than a minute: People: FANS, ROSA, ASHE, ELIA, REO, RAVI, IRENE, TOJO, AVIS, and LARA. Creatures: PIXIES, SEAHORSE, ASP and APE. Food and intoxicants: OKRA, OREO, PEA, OVO, PANATELA, SANKA, LAGER. Places: TONGA, HAVEN, and EAST. Actions and activities: USE, SEANCES, AROSE, SPIN, WARN, MOTOR, AVOW, SLAY, EVOKE, LIVESALIE, MAJOREDIN, WON, BLOTTO, LITUP, Battle of the SEXES, and REST. Showbiz: SRO, HITS, PIANO, OVER, TIER, OVAL. Technology: NASA, ENG, REACTOR, AERO, TETRA, EPA, SONAR. Finance: PER, LIEN, SPENT, COINS. Objects: REEL, TAMS, MAST. Wiggle room: LEEWAY and LEDGE. Look-a-likes: AWL and AWOL, ETAT and ETAS. Furrowed part of the head: BROW. This puzzle’s range: ATOB.

Time: STONEAGE.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

1. started a cigarette 6. sail supporter 10. rooters 14. left one's seat 15. gumbo vegetable 16. track shape 17. allotment of heredity units? 19. parks who pioneered in civil rights 20. our language: abbr. 21. took the blue ribbon 22. room to maneuver 24. nuclear power apparatus 27. top 10 tunes 28. hole-punching tool 29. slender cigar 33. prefix with -hedron 36. is false to the world 37. get from _____ (progress slightly) 38. battle of the _ (men vs. women) 39. stadium section 40. studied primarily, at college 42. holder of 88 keys 43. caveman's era 44. vintage automotive inits. 45. tennis great arthur 46. mediums' meetings 50. stewed to the gills 53. king kong, e.g. 54. lacto-_____-vegetarian 55. sitarist shankar 56. preacher's sky-high feeling? 60. twistable cookie 61. turn at roulette 62. decaf brand 63. give an alert 64. direction of sunup 65. sticky problem 1. hearty brew 2. jim carrey comedy "me, myself & _____" 3. kingdom east of fiji 4. milk for all its worth5. pay-_-view 6. travel by car 7. closely related (to) 8. sign at a sellout 9. bikini wearers' markings 10. tv channel for golfers? 11. state frankly 12. shuttle-launching org. 13. murder 18. delinquent g.i. 23. greek h's 25. pasta-and-potato-loving country? 26. former rival of pan am 27. safe place 29. mischievous sprite 30. director kazan 31. claim on property 32. prefix with dynamic 33. scots' caps 34. coup d'_____ 35. japanese p.m. during w.w. ii 36. mantel 38. equine-looking fish 41. take a siesta 42. split _ soup 44. fishing line winder 46. paid out 47. nickels and dimes 48. call to mind 49. sunken ship finder 50. furrowed part of the head 51. dr. zhivago's love 52. 1964 dave clark five song "glad all _____" 53. hertz rival 57. mileage rating org. 58. cleopatra's biter 59. eastern "way"

10.28.07 -- Saints Alive! -- the Acrostic

Saints - Painting by Fra Angelico - 1430

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Sunday, October 28, 2007

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

It‘s the end of October, bringing Halloween and the first day of November which is All Saint‘s Day, and this Sunday’s acrostic puzzle quotation is timely.

“…the wonderful thing about saints is that they were human. They lost their tempers, got angry, scolded God, were egotistical or testy or impatient in their turns, made mistakes and regretted them. Still they went on doggedly blundering toward heaven.” -- Phyllis McGinley, “Saint Watching”

There is some alteration to this quote in today’s acrostic, most notably a substitution of the word “hungry” for “angry”, and the usual omissions for the purpose of their use in the acrostic:

The quotation: THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT SAINTS IS THAT THEY WERE HUMAN THEY LOST THEIR TEMPERS GOT HUNGRY SCOLDED GOD WERE EGOTISTICAL OR TESTY MADE MISTAKES AND REGRETTED THEM STILL THEY WENT ON DOGGEDLY BLUNDERING TOWARD HEAVEN

The author's name and the title of the work: PMCGINLEYSAINTWATCHING

The defined words:

POLYMATH (A. Polite term for a know-it-all); MAGGOT (B. Fly larva that’s good at cleaning wounds); CHRISTEN (C. Name ceremoniously); GASLIGHT (D. Classic Ingrid Bergman/Charles Boyer thriller, for which Bergman won an Oscar); INTHEGUTTER (E. Where a dirty mind is said to be [3 wds.]); NETWORKED (F. Cultivated important business relationships); LEMONDE (G. French daily since 1944 [2 wds.]); ETHYLENE (H. Compound used in ripening fruit); YARMOUTH (I. Cape Cod town founded by Pilgrims); SOFABED (J. Piece of furniture with a dual function [2 wds.]); ADVERSE (K. Unfavorable, not at all conducive); ISOTHERMAL (I. Unchanging in temperature); NUGGETS (M. N.B.A. franchise with a snow-capped mountain in its logo); THIRDESTATE (N. Hoi polloi, common folks [2 wds.]); WOODSHED (O. Traditional place of punishment); ATTEND (P. Listen to; wait on); TWITTERY (Q. Inclined to chirp like a bird); CRESTING (R. Decorative roof ridge; reaching the peak); HOLDSWAY (S. Be dominant, rule [2 wds.]); INTERLUDE (T. Between-acts diversion); NEWHEBRIDES (U. Vanuatu’s name before 1980 [2 wds.]); GLUTTONY (V. Epicurean excess)

For those celebrating only the eve of All Saint’s Day, here’s a little bit of Hallow’een!

10.28.07 -- Sorry, Right Number

Billy Mumy, "Long Distance Call" (The Twilight Zone, 1961)

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Sunday, October 28, 2007

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TALKING HEADS -- Puzzle by Ben Tausig, edited by Will Shortz

Eight inter-related entries are featured in this mystifying hodgepodge, drawing upon the "talk" personalities of Al Franken, Bill Maher, Bill O'Reilly, Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh, Phil Donahue, and Don Imus, as follows:

PUNNEDIT (84D. What the puzzlemaker did to the name in each of this puzzle's theme answers?)

FRANKENSENSE (25A. Al's impressions?)

WHYPAYMAHER (27A. "What did Bill do to earn this check anyway?"?)

LIFEOFOREILLY (48A. Bill's biography?)

YOUREGETTINGCOULTER (64A. "And tonight's guest is ...Ann!"?)

DOTHELIMBAUGH (77A. Dance like Rush?)

DONAHUEDARE (104A. Phoning Phil and hanging up immediately?)

IMUSBEOFFNOW (106A. Don's party words?)

A quotation from Ben Tausig, this Sunday's "puzzlemaker" -- "Here is the dirty secret of crosswords: They are made by human beings. We stash our friends’ names in grids, allude to our lives and pull theme ideas from drunken conversations at the bar. The last has actually happened numerous times; I keep a black pen in my pocket and write reminders on my hand. Once, I thought of a puzzle about being underemployed while biking home from my then-job as a barista at a kitschy dessert café in Hell’s Kitchen, New York." -- "The Puzzler Laid Bare" by Ben Tausig, BAY WEEKLY, Volume 15, Issue 13, March 29 - April 4, 2007.

It's little wonder today's puzzle feels like it's from the twilight zone!

The closing lines of "Long Distance Call" from the Twilight Zone -- "A toy telephone, an act of faith, a set of improbable circumstances, all combine to probe a mystery, to fathom a depth, to send a facet of light into a dark after-region—to be believed or disbelieved depending on your frame of reference. A fact or a fantasy, a substance or a shadow, but all of it very much a part...of the Twilight Zone."

I'm all for a good connection -- but in this new day of the cellphone, it becomes difficult to decipher sanity. It seems that in this case, the "puzzlemaker" phoned in the puzzle and fled on his bicycle to other more important things in a world beyond the Twilight Zone!

I understand this mélange of puns -- "pundit", "frankincense", "why pay more?", "life of Riley", ""you're getting colder", "do the limbo", "don't you dare", and "I must be off now", but what? Are we talking to ourselves here? Are we even connected? Flashing through my mind are those advertisements on network television where the caller loses contact and everything just sounds so bad! Or worse yet, the rush hour on the Long Island Railroad where "Honey, I'm home!" has become the tepid "Honey, I'm almost there..."

This is a free call!

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

1. pirate spirits 5. jarhead's rank: abbr. 8. presidential candidate born in hawaii 13. kids may take them to school in boxes 19. authors' list ender 20. corn product 21. japanese apples named for a mountain 22. like bollywood films 23. writer steel 25. al's impressions? 27. "what did bill do to earn this check, anyway?"? 29. unaided perception 30. sum in english 31. protected by law 32. "a la recherche du temps perdu" author 34. 1960 pirates world series hero, familiarly 35. vietnam's _____ dinh diem 36. first name in beauty products 37. natural riser 38. flirt 40. it might make you sick 42. bit 43. capital of lorraine 44. flavorful seed source 46. half of an athletic pair 48. bill's biography? 53. deutsch article 54. flair, e.g. 55. carnatic pieces 56. sequel's sequel 57. lonely trucker, perhaps 59. maestro toscanini 62. have a bawl 63. go postal 64. "and tonight's guest is ... ann!"? 68. old english bard 69. 2007 hall of fame inductee ripken 70. seconded 71. ages and ages 72. lou gehrig's disease: abbr. 73. andrea _____ 75. "_____ time" 76. ger. neighbor 77. dance like rush? 81. excites 85. "just _____!" 86. boring 87. many a fed. holiday 88. when doubled, a robin williams character's catchphrase 89. as a friend, in france 92. set of web pages 93. hawaiian staple vegetables95. _____-x 96. chem. unit 97. rags' opposite 100. juddof"numb3rs" 101. mantel piece 102. like the era of highest sheet music sales 104. phoning phil and hanging up immediately? 106. don's parting words?109. number revealer 110. disconcert 111. spinning 112. "helping doctors help patients" org. 113. singer braxton 114. comes after 115. laughs heartily 116. sunday delivery: abbr. 117. an nco 1. joe louis arena team 2. tony winner for "who's afraid of virginia woolf?" 3. frequent end of an anniversary toast 4. boo-boo 5. a synthetic 6. clooney or rooney 7. like baseball shoes 8. iced 9. power-driven shop tool 10. 1977 double-platinum steely dan album 11. clock div. 12. beginning of a noted political admonition 13. high _____ 14. perturbs 15. carded 16. the silver screen 17. what astrophysics and advanced calculus probably arent 18. reaction to pepper, maybe 24. overhang 26. mer filler 28. snicker syllable 32. red rose 33. triple-header, maybe 37. magazine exec in a robe, familiarly 39. _____ lilly 41. partner of kissed 43. wee 44. be a benefactor 45. ex-yankee hideki 47. "the galloping gourmet" host graham 48. riga resident 49. roman symbol of power 50. sheet material51. yarn spinners 52. litter cry 54. qualifying round, informally 57. pedicab alternative 58. back59. mushroom with an umbrella cap 60. wrestler flair famous for the figure four leglock 61. where angels come from 63. hot 65. word before primaire or secondaire 66. style with dark clothes and heavy eyeliner 67. look like a creep? 68. deplorable 73. pleasing 74. hoffman who once backed a pig for president 76. like human vision 78. cut-up 79. hgts. 80. ajman's home: abbr. 81. "tsk!" 82. arizona state flowers 83. perfect 84. what the puzzlemaker did to the name in each of this puzzle's theme answers? 87. position in a rhythm band 89. see 90-down 90. with 89-down, historic part of nw europe91. some seal hunters 92. rabbi's instrument 93. material for a whitesmith 94. illustrator silverstein98. they may come to une tete 99. a.f.l's partner 100. laughs heartily 103. set before v 104. action figure? 105. some "csi" figs. 107. black pride cut, informally 108. pbs supporter

10.27.07 -- Consequences

A printer's exquisite corpse. Madison, WI: Silver Buckle Press, 1992.
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Saturday, October 27, 2007

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Puzzle by Brendan Emmett Quigley, edited by Will Shortz

EXQUISITECORPSE (39A Classic laugh-inducing parlor game with writing or illustrations), slicing across the center of this crossword puzzle, is as good a way to describe many a crossword as any -- and for certain, this puzzle is exquisite!

Consequences is an old parlor game similar to the surrealist game exquisite corpse or Mad Libs in which players write in turn on a sheet of paper, fold it to conceal part of the writing, and then pass it to the next player for a further contribution.

MARKCUBAN (1. Billionaire sports entrepreneur who heads HDNet) at the top, and TOMATORED (65A What green might ripen into) at the bottom, with the in-between populated by elves, photographers, musicians, a marathon runner, vintners, engineers, college students, Shiites, heavyweight sumo wrestlers, an actress, a playwright, a band, a cook, an author, a film director, and religious fundamentalists hanging out for assembly. Plenty of fodder to play the game!

Dr. Seuss’s “Too Many DAVES” (25A) will need the READINGRAILROAD (32A) as a VEHICLE (21D). If they RSVPD (62), did they ASKTO (48D) be ILLATEASE (13D) ATANYTIME (15A), if so, it’s time to COUNTONESLOSSES (40A) TAKEN (41A) while waiting for GODOT (45D). Enough of FLIPFLOPS (12D) and EXOTICISM (33D), grab your CAMERABAG (17A), it’s time to ORIENTATE (63A) to the SALOONS (26D), so splash on some AQUAVELVA (34D) and SPAN (22A) the AREA (19A) to find what DONTIKNOW (58A). A MACAW (1D) in an AMANA (8D) is NYSYNC (14D), so DIGIN (25D) and solve this mischievous dog (37D AESOP) or EMOTE (50D) to the WINDS (23A) in ANSONIA (29D) or ELORO (45D). ROLLS and ROILY (16A and 18A) (almost an auto), NEGEV and NEV (7D and 20A); HAI and HAILE (28A and 30A); AMATI and ATARI (64A and 2D) are the non-identical twins of the day. Little bits and pieces: CYR, UTA, BIB, ERR, LOOS, REC, DES, SDI, NIM, TEA, FTC, OEN, CIV, AOL, all of which you can DUNK (35D) with the SIGEP (44A) who ACED (52A) while smoking a SALEM (47A) -- why that makes no sense at all!!!

Ah well, I’ll take the consequences!

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

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

1. billionaire sports entrepreneur who heads hdnet 10. like some seasonal helpers 15. within the next few minutes, potentially 16. some piano players 17. case made for a shooter 18. agitated 19. real-estate ad statistic 20. its motto is "all for our country": abbr. 22. go over 23. orchestra section 25. dr. seuss's "too many _____" 27. consumer protection grp. 28. yokohama "yes" 30. marathon runner gebrselassie 32. it served the mid-atlantic until 1976 39. classic laugh-inducing parlor game with writing or illustrations 40. move on after a humiliating defeat 41. claimed 42. vintner's prefix 43. kind of engr. 44. member of a popular college frat 47. parliament rival 52. shot one on 54. name for quantum computer services since 89 55. heavyweights compete in it 56. an overabundance 58. "you said it!" 62. sent regrets, say 63. help get settled 64. priceless instrument 65. what green might ripen into 1. bird remarkable for its longevity 2. breakout maker 3. far eastern bowlful 4. manipulate, in a way 5. france's saint-_-i'ecole 6. she played martha in broadway's "who's afraid of virginia woolf?" 7. one hanging around at red lobster? 8. range option 9. ben-gurion setting 10. stumble 11. "happy birthday" playwright 12. about-faces 13. nervous 14. band with the highest first-week album sales in music history 21. it'll get you somewhere 24. some religious fundamentalists 25. cook's words 26. old settings for many out-of-tune pianos 29. connecticut city on the naugatuck 31. factory seconds: abbr. 32. sport, for short 33. foreignness 34. old spice alternative 35. court stuff 36. bus spec. 37. "the mischievous dog" author 38. _ peres (st. louis suburb) 43. "lady for a day" director, 1933 45. one who's waited upon 46. ecuador's southernmost coastal province 48. provide an invitation for 49. kind of cycle 50. mug, e.g. 51. cut 53. firm part: abbr. 57. arms race plan: abbr. 59. takeaway game 60. hot spot? 61. gridiron datum

10.26.07 -- Déjà vu II

Friday, October 26, 2007

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Puzzle by David Quarfoot, edited by Will Shortz

Using a nearly identical grid as the ones he used for the NYTIMES (64A Crossword source since 1942: Abbr.) on May 5, 2007; May 18, 2007; and with Brendan Emmett Quigley on October 6, 2007, this puzzle's constructor seems to be getting the hang of it. His signature negativism, liberal use of initials, and the inclusion of a minimum of one unpleasant personality, in this case YOKOONO (2D Poem reader at the 2006 Olympics opening ceremony) crossed by TOTO (22A Miss Gulch biter), has at least taken on a bit of humor.

NETFLIX (39D Modern rental option) returns from October 6th, then clued as Blockbuster alternative; sharing its X with NEXTEL (63A Sprint acquisition of 2005) and joining other corporate entries, the previously noted NYTIMES, along with PGATOUR (19A Driving distance is a concern in it); TGI Friday’s (60D); ETICKET (61A Terminal timesaver); and MYSPACE (1A News Corporation-owner Web site that’s one of the 10 most visited sites in the world) -- if that’s not an advertisement, what is?

Initializations, including the above ETICKET, NYTIMES, PGATOUR, and TGIFriday’s, are VCR (46A Taper); KRATION (59A Former field food); SILENTC (11D Center of Connecticut); UCLA (40D Sch. whose colors are “true blue” and gold); and SWF (10D Abbr. in personal ads). Abbreviation -- STDENIS (44D Burial place of many French kings) and MRSLATE (38D Cartoon boss working at a quarry).

Negativity -- MISSTEP (1D Slip); SMITTEN (3D Gaga); INAPILE (12D All thrown together, say); GOSSIP (8A Dirt on a person); SKIPOUT (16A Abscond); ENEMY (26A Hostile); SNIT (25A Pet); TROUNCES (32A Buries); IMNOTYOU (37A “Let me live my own life!”); CREPT (48A Was sluggish?); BELOW (50A Reporting to); ARID (52A Vapid); WORRY (51D Trouble); and HASACOW (54A Flips) (that’s the humorous one).

Clever cluing -- “Cab,” e.g. (15A REDWINE); What the key of D minor has (17A ONEFLAT); Driving distance is a concern in it (19A PGATOUR); Get a handle on? (29A TITLE); Gives a little, say (41A TITHES), even though 10% is not just a “little”; Wedding concern (45A DRESS); Little women (13D PETITES); It’s value is in creasing (62A ORIGAMI); Ones paid to conceive? (37D IDEAMEN); and Not yet 58-Down (55A WAIT) along with See 55-Down (58D ACT). A clue for clue’s sake is He wrote “It’s certain that fine women eat / A crazy salad with their meat” (27D YEATS).

IOMOTHS (14A Yellow fliers with large eyespots); MALAISE (57A Not-so-good feeling); EPITOME (43D Beau ideal); and LOVESET (35D Lopsided court result) are double-take entries, along with the more conversational OMIGOSH (23D “Heavens!”); ROCKON (47D “Way to go, dude!“); HEREIAM (42D Cry upon arriving); and the non-identical twins, ERE and ETE.

Other clues include 18A Sponge; 21A Dermal opening?; 24A Height and such; 28A In advance of; 30A They’re played at the track; 34A Brass; 36A Walled city of the Mideast; 49A Old Testament book: Abbr.; 53A 1980s sitcom title role; 56A Hiver’s opposite; 4D With 20-Down, waffle alternative; 20D See 4-Down (POP TART); 5D Capping; 6D Finishes quickly, in a way; 7D Groundskeeper’s charge; 8D Family group; 9D ODER-Neisse Line; 15D Cheering section; 29D Alb coverer; 33D Meal source; 50D Bernoulli family birthplace; 54D Raise; and 31D Sharp (SLY) -- oh, and 25D 1963 Academy Awards host -- SINATRA.

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THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

10.25.07 -- Trust Me!

Thursday, October 25, 2007

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Puzzle by Susan Harrington Smith, edited by Will Shortz

"To Trust is good; not to trust is better," an "Italian proverb" constitutes five inter-related entries -- ITALIAN (16A With 55-Across, description of 23-, 36- and 44-Across); PROVERB (55A See 16-Across); TOTRUSTISGOOD (23A Beginning of some folk wisdom); NOTTO (36A Folk wisdom, part 2); and TRUSTISBETTER (44A End of the folk wisdom) -- the clues redefining "proverb" as "folk wisdom".

Other quotes: “Thou art not lovelier than LILACS, no" (Millay sonnet start) continues HERE. “IVANT to be alone” (words attributed to Greta Garbo) is properly clued as “attributed” -- for what she really said, HERE (paragraph “Private Life“) -- “I want to be let alone.” (she did, however, speak the line as the aging, suicidal, isolated, fragile, and lonely-for-love Russian ballerina named Grusinskaya in the 1932 film "Grand Hotel" ) -- of course, to ever be quoted correctly is a PIPEDREAM (10A Bit of wishful thinking). More conversation is had with "...LETNO man put asunder" (wedding words) (1D), along with THERE (46D When doubled, comforting words) and PRATTLEON (32D Talk, talk, talk).

Of interest also are the entries of INTAGLIO (8D Incised printing method); DEVILLE (13A Cadillac model); ATROPHY (17A Wither); GILBERTS (27A Pacific islands in W.W. II fighting with “the”); Hugh CAPET, successor to Louis V as king of France (30A); TOREROS (59A Corrida combatants); ANTLER (62A Makeshift hatrack); SIXTH (25A The last Pope Paul, e.g.); DONAT (33A Robert of “The 39 Steps”); NONSTICK (36D Teflon, e.g.); and JONAH (39A Biblical prophet thrown overboard by his shipmates) -- all seen in crosswords from time to time

More acrosses: 7. Make even; 10. Neighbor of Afghanistan: Abbr.; INA jam (14); 15. Word with pick of pack; 19. Atlanta's CNN Center; 20. College square; 22. Playwright Edward and others; 26. Clod buster; 33. Kind of cup; 34. Les poissons swim in it; 35. Charter; 37. Doggone; 38. Nabokov novel; 40. Formal dress shoes; 41. Sane; 43. Norwegian coin; 49. Obliquely; 51. Bishoprics; 52. Old Eur. domain; 53. Cutout to fill in; 57. Additionally; 58. Green: Prefix; 60. Have; 61. Shade of blue.

Downs: 3. Wee, quickly; 4. Exact proper divisor, in math; 5. Part of a contract; 6. French legislature; 7. Spanish aunt; 9. Pendant place; 111. Yearn; 12. Phi Beta Kappa mementos; 13. Webster's, e.g.: Abbr.; 18. Melancholy woodwind; 21. Medicina cardiac stimulant; 24. Syngman RHEE, first president of South Korea; 28. Infield cover; 29. Heavely orbs; 30. Scorch; 31. She dies with Radames; 37. Any Sonny and Cher song; 39. Bumps on a ride; 40. Do some advance organizing; 42. Ayatollah's home; 43. Titania's husband; 45. Dividing membranes; 47. Cause for an erasure; 48. Fighters for Jeff Davis; 49. Regarding; 50. Pack; 54. Powell's co-star in "The Thin Man" ; 56. Speed: Abbr.
Illustrations, left: The Godfather, The Sopranos, Goodfellas

Most frequently seen entry -- ERROR. Least seen -- tie between JOUNCES and ALIQUOT. Interesting clues -- 15A, 25A, 33A, 34A, 49A, 53A, 62A, 3D, 9D, and 48D. Today's couples -- ADA and AIDA, HRE and HIRE, TIA and TIE, LETNO and NOTTO, OBOE and OBERON, LIL and LILACS.

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

Read today's dannmann's NYT crossword puzzle ramblings which includes a great photo of Garbo!

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games