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Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Puzzle by Sarah Keller, edited by Will Shortz
Excuse my paronomasia exercised in the title above -- just wanted to get in the mood. Oh, definition of NEWTONTOADSTOOL -- eft in error on faux flora. No newts is not good newts --more on that later.
"Puns are little 'plays on words' that a certain breed of person loves to spring on you and then look at you in a certain self-satisfied way to indicate that he thinks that you must think that he is by far the cleverest person on Earth now that Benjamin Franklin is dead, when in fact what you are thinking is that if this person ever ends up in a lifeboat, the other passengers will hurl him overboard by the end of the first day even if they have plenty of food and water." -- Dave Barry
Four groans -- CORNELLSANDERS (20A. Polishing machines at an Ithaca campus?); EMORYBOARD (35A. Trustee group at an Atlanta campus?); TULANEROAD (43A. Thoroughfare at a New Orleans campus?); and MARQUETTESHARE (53A. Rental arrangement at a Milwaukee campus?) -- are the inter-related entries of this tepid Tuesday crossword puzzle. I’m not going to explain them, that would be insulting -- I leave you to groan alone!
"Hanging is too good for a man who makes puns; he should be drawn and quoted." -- Fred Allen
Two more long entries, thankfully not puns, slash downwards in the puzzle -- RANACROSS (36D. Discovered by accident) and NOTEPAPER (10D. Stationer’s supply). After that, it’s just a witch’s soupçon of crosswordese.
Seven-letter entries: PULLTAB (5D. Can opener) and NAMETAG (44D. Conventioneer’s wear).
Six-letter: ENACTS (31A. Puts into effect); NAMATH (45A. Broadway Joe); SWEDEN (9D. Volvo’s home); and TOQUES (46D. Close-fitting hats).
Five-letter: More hats, KEPIS (50D. French military hats) -- along with AEIOU (60A. Letters that must be bought on “Wheel of Fortune”); BLESS (66A. Cross over?); CANOE (32D. Paddled vessel); CODAS (39A. Musical closings); DONNE (4D. John who wrote “Love built on beauty, soon as beauty, dies”); EARLS Court (London tube station) (30D.); EMMYS (21D. Outstanding Comedy Series awards); ETAIL (19A. Business on the internet); “IMONA Roll!” (26D.); PARSE (63A. Analyze in English class); PECAN (25D. Pie nut); PHONE (52D. Nokia offering); RENEE (41A. Zellweger of “Chicago”); REPOS (41D. Towed items, sometimes); SEEDS (34D. Tournament favorites); SNEAK (8D. Take furtively); SNORE (9A. Sleep soundly?); SODOM (27A. Sin city); TREAT (33D. One of two choices on Halloween); and WOMBS (16A. Prenatal sites).
1A. TOAD (Its eye may be part of a witch’s brew) upset me, as I‘ve always known the ingredient as an eye of NEWT -- Macbeth (IV, i, 14-15). Not to nitpick, but simply to object. NITS (65A. Lice-to-be) are also in the puzzle, crossed by RATS (58D Piper’s followers) -- near half a witch’s brew!
No NEWT! No magic!
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Puzzle available on the internet at
Across: 5. Daddy-o; 14. Popular cornstarch brand; 15. “___ my word!”; 17. Low-fat, as beef; 18. Not on time; 23. CPR giver; 24. Opposite of throw away; 25. Geometry symbols; 28. Recipient of “G’day”; 38. Peel; 40. Old Michael Jackson ‘do; 42. In a bit; 47. Flip out; 49. Fishing float; 61. Versifier; 62. King of hygiene; 64. Mental flash; 67. Dance’s partner; 68. Let (up). Down: 1. Face powder ingredient; 2. Lunchbox goody; 3. Food thickener; 6. October gem; 7. What Texas hold’em tables hold; 11. Sharif of “Funny Girl”; 12. Baseball stat; 13. Night school subj.; 22. Addiction; 29. Vegetarian’s protein source; 37. A horse of a different color?; 43. No ___ traffic; 53. Repast; 54. Suffix with billion; 55. Fuss; 56. Adolescent; 57. Melody for Dame Nellie Melba; 59. Ultimatum’s ultimate word; 60. N.Y.P.D. alert.
Yes, yes, I know...a newt is a fledgling toad -- but a witches brew is a witches brew and the ingredients must be true!
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