07.24.08 -- Enough

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Puzzle by Matt Ginsberg, edited by Will Shortz

ONCEISNOTENOUGH (35A. Jacqueline Susann novel, and the problem with some of the answers in this puzzle) is a fair enough entry/clue for DUMBULLETS (17A. Hollow-point projectiles); WINSITUATION (22A. Mutually beneficial interaction); CHIRODRIGUEZ (45A. Puerto Rican-born P.G.A. star); and RAINGOAWAY (56A. Child’s fair-weather wish).

This is a puzzle that could have one stuttering and stumbling. Personally, I’ve never heard of Chi Chi Rodriguez, always thought one “rain“ in “Rain, go away” was sufficient, opted for “bee” and then “tam” (what the heck are those) bullets, and had no idea what kind of a “blank” situation was being requested.

Nonetheless, the remainder of the entries sort of IRONEDOUT (30A. Reconciled) the CHASM (45D. Wide divide) and like 37D. “You IDIOT!” (cry while hitting oneself on the head), what seemed an ETERNITY (36D. Forever) came to an end upon discovering the non-existent DUMDUM, WINWIN, CHICHI and RAINRAIN, along with the existent MYMY (61A. “Really!”) and LULUS (6D. Beauts).

WELLTODO (10D. Rich) and DIRTPOOR (51A. Impoverished) belong in the same puzzle together. I don’t think I’d use POSTDATES (39A. Follows temporarily) in the manner of its clue. THE (40A. Order at a French restaurant) has to be the oddest definition of an English language article that one could conceive for a crossword. Followed by EINE (41A. Berlin article), it seems even more absurd.

The EMPORIUM (20A. Bazaar) of entries and their clues include the near anagrams of FELINE (5D. Like a leopard) and ELFIN (21A. Pixie-esque), the latter of which seems to have lost its E to CROSSE (25A. Roughly triangular racket). The entries of OXBOWS (4D. River bends) and PURGES (42D. Mass dismissals) reminded me of the Henry Fonda film. The clue for EZPASS (44D. New York bridge toll option) -- well, it’s still a toll.

FLESH (5A. Blood’s partner) heads the five-letter entries which include the elaborately clued EULER (15A. Originator of the equation e to the power (pi *I) + 1 = 0); HASNT (50A. Lacks, briefly); ATONE (59A. Agreeing [with]); EMMYS (62A. Annual awards presented in Los Angeles); ELEMI (7D. Incense resin); OLAFI (11D. Norwegian king who converted the Vikings to Christianity); RADIO (12D. Portion of an advertising budget); FLYNN (13D. One of the Mudville players on base when the mighty Casey struck out); TOOTS (23D. Tugboat warnings); INTER (30D. Lay to rest); HALEY (46D. See 14-Across) which is ALEX (14A. With 46-Down, writer of “The Autobiography of Malcolm X”); ISLAM (47D. Its symbol is a crescent moon); IDIOM (48D. Go for broke, e.g.); 49D. GINNY Weasley of Harry Potter books.

Little stuff: ALLI, ALUM, ATM, CHOP, ELAL, “HER Majesty“ (last track on “Abbey Road“, HRS, KEMP, LADY, LETO, MADE, MAKO, OARS, ORCS, OTTO, OUTA, OWIE, RAE, RENO, ROE, RYES, SAND, SEAT, SESS, SET, SIRE, SESS, SET, UGHS, URIS, UTNE, WORF.

All in all, a puzzle that’s pleasant enough to PLEASE (42A. Delight)!

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Search information -- Across: 1. Warm-blooded shark; 10. Klingon on “Star Trek: T.N.G.:; 16. Airline that doesn’t fly on Saturday; 28. Chemistry Nobelist Hahn, who co-discovered nuclear fission; 56. “___ Want for Christmas”; 58. Usher’s offer; 60. “Your Majesty”; 63. Legis. Meeting. Down: 1. Synthetic; 2. Fund-raising target, briefly; 3. Dole-s 1996 running mate; 8. Volleyball action before a spike; 9. 9a.m. and 5 p.m.; 18. “Trinity” author; 24. ___ Reader; 25. Dice, say; 26. Slots spot; 27. “The Lord of the Rings” army; 32. “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right ___ My Hair”; 33. Oral grimaces; 34. What you used to be; 38. Levee material; 43. Duke Atreides in “Dune”; 52. Toddler’s cry of pain; 53. They’re found in banks; 53. They’re found in banks; 54. Bar stock; 56. Charlotte of “The Facts of Life”; 57. Cash cache.