Post Office Department's Dead Letter Office
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Thursday, December 13, 2007
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Puzzle by John Farmer, edited by Will Shortz
The clue for 20A CITYSTATEANDZIP, 39A EMAILDOMAINNAME, and 55A GODBLESSAMERICA is “End of some addresses”.
Crafty pitfalls: AGAZE (48D Riveted), not AGAPE; EELY (38D Slithery), not OILY; LAID (18A Set down), not LAND; IBAR (28D Construction beam), not another BAR; TMEN (37D Feds), not GMEN; and stuff like OESTE (35A Setting for the setting of el sol); IVIE (58D Jazz singer Anderson); KATIE (12D Douglas or Smith of the W.N.B.A.); and from far out in left field, TALL (62A Unbelievable).
Long entries, SUBPOENA (32A One way to get a witness), MINSTREL (43A) Renaissance Faire entertainer); JALAPENO (6D Chipotle, e.g.); and AIRBALLS (40D Hoops bloopers), seemed to just fall into their squares by themselves.
Stuff that would not, however -- SPAMS (1A Solicits in bulk); JAGS (6A Flings); ARKS (10A Commodious craft); PETAL (14A Detail in a Georgia O’Keeffe painting); SPIDERS (44A Some widows); RIVAL (63A Adversary) (it was an ENEMY for a while); TBIRD (66A Auto in a Beach Boys song); and what the hell is TEES (68A Curling targets)?
“Timecop” star Van DAMME (30D) occupies the center of the puzzle, crossing 39A's middle M, where MAX (clued as 34D Mel Gibson’s “mad” role) held sway yesterday -- birds of a feather. Other names popping up are SEDAKA (9D “Oh! Carol” singer 1959); GRIESE (8D The Dolphins retired his #12); SARA (36D “CSI” woman); DESADE (46D “Justine” novelist); ADLAI (50D Runner-up to Ike); CARY (59 Grant for a filmmaker?); ALDA (60D Plimpton portrayer in “Paper Lion”); ERICA (17A “Lincoln Heights” actress Hubbard); ETTA (19A James who sang the ballad “At Last”); and Jacopo PERI, composer of the earliest surviving opera (2D) (like that we need to know?) -- INSUM (41D “To wrap up…”), some TRIBE (54D Kith and kin).
Conversational stuff: “ACAT in gloves catches no mice” (7D); IGETIT (45D Exclamation at an epiphany); NERTS (53D “Darn!”); the Shortzesque twin-clued entries of CIAO (16A “Gotta run!”); and SEEYA (69A “Gotta run!”).
Remainders: Across: 15. Plat book unit; 23. It may go in a lock; 24. Shade of blue; 25. “Getting to YES” (best seller about negotiating); 26. Zogby poll partner; 29. Gave another hand; 42. Rolled the dice; 47. “ANY Wednesday” (Jane Fonda film); 48. ABA Journal (legal periodical); 51. It’s “just a number”; 52. Small hit; 61. Device for rotating one’s tires?’; 64. Fire; 65. Darling; 66. Auto in a Beach Boys song; 67. Exchange words?
Down: 1. SPEC sheet; 3. Squabbling; 4. “Miracle on 34th Street” name; 5. Engage in a bit of swordplay; 10. Provided unbeatable service?; 11. Swank; 13. Afternoon fare; 21. Timeworn; 22. Hose; 26. Not mint; 27. Powerful feline; 31. Item packed by a mountain climber; 33. Baker’s dozen, maybe; 34. One singing “Those Were the Days”?; 49. Like a sidebar; 56. Prizefighting prize; 57. Blackthorn fruit.
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