The WitchHead Nebula
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Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Puzzle by Chuck Hamilton, edited by Will Shortz
DOUBLE (65A. It can precede the first words of 17-, 28-, 35-, 47- and 61-Across) is the tie-in for the inter-related entries of TIMETRAVEL (17A. “Back to the Future” subject); TEAMSPIRIT (28A. Fans often have it); FAULTLINE (35A. Earthquake site); SPACECADET (47A. Flaky sort); and MAJORCHORD (61A. C-E-G triad, e.g.).
A fine gathering for tonight's LUNAR ECLIPSE.
Not a lot of trouble here -- the clues are reasonable, the entries are sensible. A few nice pairings, ADORERS crosses TEAMSPIRIT; we've both TAHITI and Mauna LOA; NAZIS and NATO share an N; ADROIT and ABLE are side-by-side; and the clues Enters helter-skelter (12D.) and Not helter-skelter (45D.). GORE is not a Noble Prize winner; CAROLS is above ORALS; ESTATES is the opener; RESIDES is the closer of the puzzle and in between there's a flash or lash of Opus DEI.
Across: 1. Cause of a skin rash; 7. Rug, so to speak; 10. Bugle tune; 14. Quenched; 15. Very close friend, in slang; 16. Miner’s entry; 19. Guadalajara greeting; 20. Police dispatch, for short; 21. Hare Krishnas’ wear; 22. TV station, e.g.; 23. Eastern way; 24. Old master’s work; 25. Best suited; 26. Marine raptor; 31. Moonshiner’s setup; 33. Give a ticket; 34. SNO-cone; 39. Medium’s claim; 42. Fraternal org.; 43. Interior designer’s focus; 51. Horror film staple; 52. Parts of a Christmas Eve service; 53. Court org.; 55. Hwys.; 56. Some doctoral exams; 57. Simon Wiesenthal’s quarry; 59. Opus DEI (“The Da Vinci Code” group); 60. Defaulter’s loss; 63. Some Feds; 64. ATA disadvantage; 66. What matches are made of; 67. It may leave marks; 68. Doesn’t stick to the straight and narrow.
Down: 1. Homes with electronic gates, maybe; 2. Some newsletter pictures; 3. Machine on a skating rink; 4. Barely make, with “out”; 5. Way around Paris; 6. Far from klutzy; 7. Hi sign?; 8. Sews up; 9. Styling aid; 10. “Omoo” island; 11. Devoted fans; 12 Enters helter-skelter; 13. Opening of; 18. Having the right stuff; 22. Stick on; 25. Italian wine city; 27. 2003 Will Ferrell title role; 29. Made a scene?; 30. Army, navy and air force: Abbr.; 32. Prada and Fendi; 36. Food pkg. markings; 37. Mauna LOA; 38. Brain scan letters; 39. Offerers of arms; 40. “Puh-lease!”; 41. Defensive wall; 44. Spanish capital under the Moors; 45. Not helter-skelter; 46. Lives; 48. Parts of analogies; 49. Automaker Ferrari; 50. Alternatives to “Vettes; 54. Race site since 1711; 57. Brussels-based org.; 58. It’s “stronger than dirt”; 61. War-room fixture; 62. “Ben-HUR”.
Of course, there’s 007, DoubleMint, double talk, Double Dutch, double duty, double doubles, etc., and for double or nothing, Donald’s Double Trouble!
. View -- Eclipse
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