09.24.08 -- Humming

Humming Bird - Karin Kuhlmann

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Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Puzzle by Lynn Lempel, edited by Will Shortz

HUMMINGBIRD (17A. One of the “dumbest dumb animals,“ according to 60-Across), ITSREALLYTIMEHE (27A. Start of the reason the 17-Across is one of the “dumbest dumb animals”) LEARNEDTHEWORDS (46A. End of the reason) and GEORGEBURNS (60A. See 17-Across) constitute this crossword’s interrelated entries. While there are plenty of quotes attributed to Burns, I ran out of patience in a search to find today‘s; however, there are many cartoons in reference to same (see link at end of commentary).

Other long entries are HOLYTERROR (11D. Imp plus); SIRGALAHAD (29D. “Le Morte d’Arthur”); BUMMERS (4D. Lousy breaks); and FORSURE (45D. Definitely).

Six-letter -- ORIOLE (5D. Orange-and-black flier) and AVIARY (8D. Home for a 5-Down, maybe); DAYONE (48D. The beginning); ENDEAR (47D. Make lovable); MARMOT (9D. Rockies rodent); NAMATH (18D. M.V.P. of Super Bowl III); SLEEVE (39D. Elbow locale); WEEBIT (49D. Tad).

Five-letter -- ALAMO (6A. Battle to remember, with “the”); AMOUR (14A. Frequent Jacques Brel song subject); BARED (35A. Shown in full); BIMBO (1A. Empty-headed sort); EDGAR (41A. Award for Best Novel won three times by Dick Francis); EDGES (32D. Outer reaches); HEADS (37A. Chairs); HEARD (31D. Found out); IMPEL (27D. Force); IRATE (65A. Steaming); LIANA (50A. Tropical vine); MANIA (64A. Craze); NAVAL (15A. Like the Battle of Trafalgar); ROBOT (25A. Unpaid factory worker); SAMOA (20A. Polynesian land); TEPEE (68A. Conical home); TRADE (28D. Vocation); TREKS (67A. Wilderness walks); VESTA (56A. Goddess of home and family).

Three- and four-letter -- ANG, ANTE, BAH, BIB, DAHL, DYE, ELMS, ERIK, FORE, GAS, GMT, HOW, IMUS, JOAD, JOWL, LABS, LEER, LID, LSD, MOMA and ROMA, MRIS, ODE and ODIE, OLD, OOH and OOPS, PAL and PAR, RAG, RYES, SAM, SEE, SLOE and TOE, TRAP, WEDS, WPA.

Off-topic, Googling George Burns, I came across THIS!

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For today’s cartoons, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

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Xword search information -- Across: 11. “And ___!”; 16. Work by Gray or Spenser; 19. Eye protector; 21. Walton who founded Wal-Mart; 22. Some Jim Beam quaffs; 23. Classic Main Street liners; 33. Pics for docs; 34. Corn locale; 36. Course number; 40. Car wash item; 51. Unpleasant look; 52. “The Grapes of Wrath” surname; 54. Easter egg brightener; 59. “Golly!”; 63. F.D.R. employment initiative; 66. Trip provider? Down: 1. “Humph!”; 2. ___ in the Morning”; 3. Guggenheim alternative in N.Y.C.; 6. Taiwanese-born director Lee; 7. Where many cultures thrive; 10. Out of vogue; 12. Jon’s comics canine; 13. Ends an engagement; 22 Home of the Galleria Borghese; 24. Gin flavoring; 26. Something to drool over?; 38. “Fantastic Mr. Fox” author; 42. Perennially parched; 43. Protein-producing substance; 52. Bloodhound feature; 53. Bungler’s cry; 55. “CHiPs” actor Estrada; 57. Decoy; 58. Start to date?; 60. Clock setting at 0 degrees longitude: Abbr.; 61. Fuel on the range; 62. Witness.