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Saturday, March 29, 2008
Puzzle by Mike Nothnagel, edited by Will Shortz
An angry world is reflected in this crossword puzzle with scorn, disease, teargas, steroids, fear, rot, hate mail, hard time, woe and war cry, denial, intimidation, blindness, impairment, worry, rain, fighting words, et cetera, a fitting theme for today's Earth Hour!
SWEATINGBULLETS (34A. Very worried) and BUZZLIGHTYEAR (15D. Cinematic captain of Star Command) cross in the center of this otherwise friendly Saturday puzzle, sharing their G. The four corners of the puzzle are fairly tight, with plenty of staggered spaces between for easy access from one side to another.
Upper left, down: PACECARS (1. Indy sights since 1911); STATELAW (2. Governor’s guide); HARDTIME (3. It’s done in the slammer); AXES (4. Lines on planes); WIE (5. Youngest golfer ever to win a U.S.G.A. adult event [age 13]); SARAH (6. Grandmother of Jacob). Across: PSHAWS (1. Scornful dismissals); ATAXIA (14. Symptom of nervous system impairment); CAREER (16. Sports stats specification); ETDS (18. They’re often moved back in airports: Abbr.); ALITO (26. Associate of Thomas); RAMSESII (30. Son and successor of Seti I).
Upper right, down: TOPEKA (7. Seat of Shawnee County); EST (8. Record finish?); In AWORD (briefly) (9.); RODE (10. Hounded); GRANDE (11. It’s big in Rio); ATTEST (12. Swear); SHEETS (13. It may rain in these). Across: TEARGAS (7. Cause of temporary blindness); BOSWORTH (15. Linebacker Brian banned from the 1987 Orange Bowl for steroid use); UPTODATE (17. Current); RENEE (21. Ally’s roommate on “Ally McBeal”); DST (25. It begins near the end of winter: Abbr.); SETS (29. Mounts in a frame).
Lower left, down: CAVETT (41. Gov. Lester Maddox walked off his show in 1970); ARETOO (42. Reply to someone in denial); WARCRY (43. Fighting words?); BEES (52. Producers of some storage cells); BSTAR (48. Rigel or Spica); EDU (56. Part of many schools’ addresses); REPROS (45. Dupes). Across: CAWS (41. Calls in the field); ARA (47. Neighbor of Telescopium); VERBS (51. Point and click, e.g.); ETCETERA (55. Series finale?); TOREADOR (59. Caped combatant); TOYSRUS (61. Children’s Bargain Town, today).
Lower right, down: RIGGS (49. 1939 Wimbledon winner); LOT (58. Auction offering); LUKE (54. The prodigal son is found in it); EARTOEAR (36. Very wide, in a way); TIESCORE (37. Result of getting even with someone?); SLIPINTO (38. Enter on the sly). Across: HATEMAIL (40. Form of intimidation); “DAREI ask …” (46.); TSP (50. 1/192 qt.); LOCI (54. Places); GLUEON (57. Affix, in a way); GOKART (60. Amusement park vehicle); STEREO (62. Tuner’s place).
Rounding out the center of the crossword -- Across: ADZE (19. It might help you dress in a shop); WHIZKID (23. Small wonder?); GLAM (28. Kind of rock); ROT (39. Claptrap); ARTY (44. Warholian); BREYERS (48. Brand in the freezer section); PEDI (53. Cab opener?). Down: DIGIN (20. Start putting stuff away?); “WOETO him who believes in nothing”: Victor Hugo (23.); IMOUT (24. Words said when one’s hand is shaky?); TSARS (27. Old dynasty members); SELMA (29. 1965 march setting); SITAR (31. It’s heard on the Beatles’ “Rubber Soul”); SLEDS (33. Runners’ locations); BAYED (35. Howled).
A cross crossword for a cross world, across and down -- et cetera... Lights out!
Google users in the United States will notice today that Google has "turned the lights out" on the Google.com homepage as a gesture to raise awareness of a worldwide energy conservation effort called Earth Hour.
On Saturday, March 29, 2008, Earth Hour invites people around the world to turn off their lights for one hour – from 8:00pm to 9:00pm in their local time zone. On this day, cities around the world, including Copenhagen, Chicago, Melbourne, Dubai, and Tel Aviv, will hold events to acknowledge their commitment to energy conservation.
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Donald, Thank you for the Earth Hour heads-up. I was totally oblivious to the 2007 version...too much crosswording I guess. Your sight has the same feel as some of the semi-blacked-out images in the video....
ReplyDeleteIt'll be interesting to see how this year's Earth Hour fared.
ReplyDeleteAbout too much crosswording, that's how I came across Earth Hour, writing the blog and finding Google blacked out! But then, crosswords cover so many subjects, we never know what road they may lead down, or up!
Donald, I found out about Earth Hour the same way...while searching for pictures via Google.
ReplyDeleteI managed to finish the blog before 8:00, but I ended up making our salad by candlelight...quite an experience ; )
linda
ReplyDeleteI guess that black Google screen stopped us in our tracks!