09.19.08 -- Yo Ho Yo Ho!

Friday, September 19, 2008

Puzzle by Alex Boisvert, edited by Will Shortz

SHIVERMETIMBERS! (8D. “Well, I’ll be!,” as it might be said on September 19) -- Pirates! Today is September 19th… also known as International TALKLIKEAPIRATE Day! Dust off your parrot… cuz t’day’s yer chance to be impolite and p'rhaps flog a body that’s bent OVERABARREL (53A. At someone’s mercy).

IMOUTOFHERE and SAYONARA (15A and 12D with the Shortzesque clues of “Later!”), PANDORASBOX (1A. Source of troubles) has been unleashed for the occasion on this crossword -- CREDITLINES (17A. Bank offerings) and GASSTATIONS (65A. Shell locations) are putting us in APET (23A. Irritated, after “in’). The SHAKES (38D. D.T.’s), a JAB (46A. Poke), oh ROT (6D. Start to smell, maybe), not ONABET (35A. How some dares are done) UNLESS (27D. Hedge word) some other DUDES (4D. Guys) ATEIT (23D. Wiped out, slangily) -- OKBYME (29D. “That’s fine”)! We’re a long time out t’ sea ’n the nights can be dark ’n cold! …and aboard ship, there’s NOEXIT (3D. Play with the line “Hell is other people”)!

Of the remaining long entries, LAKEONTARIO (49A. One end of the Welland Canal) is the starting point for those who wish to go over the Niagara Falls in a barrel. The other five are ANTEATER (32D. It has a long tongue); LATEPASS (33D. Student excuser); NEPALESE (14D. Like soldiers known as Gurkhas); ONECARAT (13D. 200 milligrams); and TOASTERS (31D. Some diner equipment).

Fives and sixes -- AMRITA (2D. Hindu drink of the gods); ATTYS (37A. Bar tenders?: Abbr.); 9D. BENITO Santiago, 1987 N.L. Rookie of the Year; CAROLS (41D. Doorstep numbers?); COHERE (21D. Stick); NIXES (19A. Turns down); OBRIEN (40D. TV newswoman Soledad); OHARE (28A. W.W II air ace who lent his name to an airport); ONEAM (29D. Wee hour); OPALS (30D. Pendant adornments); OPERAS (30A. Meyerbeer output); PICNIC (1D. Eat out?); SBARRO (39D. Italian restaurant chain); SEEMS (42A. Apparently is); SILLS (38A. Places for dust to collect); STARR (47A. Packers QB whose #15 jersey is retired); TONAL (25A. Like most music); TOPIC (25D. What debaters debate); TRACE (36A. Outline); UTERO (27A. Not yet delivered, after “in”).

Threes and fours -- ABBA, AFL, ANE, ARLO, CAT, COCA, ETA, HMOS, ITIS and OTIS, JAVA, LOG, NBA, OAT, OREM, PEAK, RES, SOC and SON, SRS, STAT, TAPE, VIM, XES, YEP (“Uh-huh!”).

Yo Ho Yo Ho! A Pirate's Life for Me!

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Xword search information -- 12. ___ of God; 16. What the 1939 50,000-word novel “Gadsby” completely lacks; 20. Spirit; 21. ___ leaf; 22. Irritation suffix; 23. Irritated, after “in”; 25. 26. Persian, e.g.; 39. Assn.; 43. Insurance providers, for short; 44. “Super Trouper” group, 1980; 45. Kind of delay; 48. LAX datum; 52. Hi-___; 54. Ones needing career counseling, maybe: Abbr. Down: 5. Revolutionary patriot James7. Union inits. Starting in 1886; 10. City near Provo; 11. Scratches, with “out”; 24. Top; 34. Live folk album of 1968; 44. ___ 2600 (hit product of the 1970s-’80s); 46. Joe; 47. “This instant!”; 49. Record; 50. Bit of chicken feed; 51. Org. with the annual Eddie Gottlieb Trophy.