Saturday, February 2, 2008
Puzzle by Natan Last, edited Will Shortz
This crossword’s five long entries, ONTOPOFTHEWORLD (7D. Ecstatic); BRINGTOJUSTICE (20A Convict); VENTRILOQUISTS (46A. Seemingly silent types); LOSTONESCOOL (6D Snapped); and JENESAISQUOI (21D. Quality that’s hard to express) have nothing in common but their length, and their short clues. Or should I say Shortz?
Yesterday was fairly much the same as far as I can fathom -- fathomless that is, clue-wise. Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction today will be far more illuminating, shadow or no shadow! I guess I really shouldn’t drag a groundhog into this commentary, but why not? With this kind of crossword, one could discuss almost anything -- let’s see, what justifies bringing up Groundhog Day? Hmmm….ah! 41A. Coup d’OEIL (survey made with a glance)! 
In any event, this is a fun puzzle -- there’s lightness, like RUNFORIT (50A. “She’s gonna blow!”); ZIPPIEST (17A. Having the most pizzazz); NOTIME (11D. A jiffy); JESTER (19A. Cap and bells wearer); and a BEETLE clued as 39D. Zyzzyva, e.g.
Darkness comes in the guise of RANCOR (40D. Malignity); TIRESIAS (34D. Prophet of Thebes, struck blind by Athena when he accidentally saw her bathing); NTEST (27A. Big bang creator); DEAD (43A. No longer under consideration); EERIER (55A. Like haunted houses, compared to ordinary houses) and 37A. “TIS now the very witching time of night”: Hamlet.
People in the puzzle include ADE (1A. “The county Chairman” playwright, 1903), DJS (14A. Spinners, for short), STU (33A. “Rugrats” dad), ABRAM (38A. Norm of “This Old House”), SLOANE (52A. Ferris Bueller’s girlfriend), a DISH (56A. Good-looker), OLEG (5D. Two-time figure-skating Olympic gold medalist Protopopov), PITT (18D. British P.M. when the U.S. Constitution was signed), ARES (26D. Father of Harmonia, 27D. Former Giant Robb NEN, 47D. Oscar-winning French film director RENE Clement, and TRU (51D. Robert Morse Tony-winning role). Oddly, these short entries have long clues while the long entries of the puzzle have short clues.
The remaining eight-, seven- and six-letter entries: DJIBOUTI (2D. Neighbor of Somalia); ESPRESSO (3D. Brewed drink); STARTREK (33D. 1979 film with sequels II to VI); RESTATE (10D. Paraphrase, say); REFEREE (29A. Enforce the rules); RESTSON (32A. Has as a foundation); PADTHAI (36D. Popular dish in an Asian cuisine); PASCHAL (36A. Easter-related); CORNER (8A. Tree); AREOLA (16A. Interstice); ELECTS (12D. Decides); RAREST (13D. Least spotted); ADVISE (38D. Guide); and ITCHES (49A. Burns) -- I make a much larger distinction between itching and burning, but to each his own!
Five-letter -- CAJUN, FIFTH, FIRED, POETS, REINS, RISER. Four-letter -- AMTS, ANON, ELON, LOOT, MARE, MISO, OPEN, ORES, PROM, ROLL, ROLO, ROWS, RUST, UNOS, USED. Three-letter -- ADZ, EAR, KSU, MIO, OTS, and RAM (32D. Butt).
I’ve spent the last several days in hot battle with technology after a wipe-out -- which has doubled my blogging time, and turned my life into one long course on what has happened with computers in the last couple years, one more manual and I’ll explode -- I’m not sure if I want HAL to be in charge, so I have disconnected his higher brain functions. Everything electronic is subject to my wrath -- that to explain why I am wheezing through the spaceship with a wrench and a crazed expression!
Coup d’oeil, indeed!
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Puzzle available on the internet at
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Across: 4. Hershey brand; 15. Southern university whose campus is a botanical garden; 22. Meter readers?; 23. Kind of batting stance; 24. Nos.; 25. Reddish-brown; 26. Al-___; 28. Fifth qtrs.; 31. Italian mine; 42. Part of a moonscape; 44. Tetris objectives; 45. Like clayware; 53. Spoils; 54. Where the utricle is; 57. The Wildcats of the Big 12 Conf. Down: 1. Hoelike cutting tool; 4. Checks; 8. Option for wings; 9. Smeltery input; 22. Even for a king and queen; 30. Gymnastics move; 35. Drew on; 44. Certain softball pitch; 45. Amendment that prevents being subjected to double jeopardy; 48. Article in Hoy.
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