Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Puzzle by Peter A. Collins, edited by Will Shortz
THERATPACK (56A. Group with members hidden in 17-, 24- and 46-Across) along with PAIDAVISIT (17A. Stopped by), SMARTINVESTOR (24A. Market-savvy sort) and PUTSINATRANCE (46A. Hypnotizes) are this Wednesday’s interrelated entries. There are various explanations of the origin of the name Rat Pack, one of which is that it may refer to the belief that an established pack of rats will belligerently reject an outsider who tries to join them -- sounds familiar…
The original Rat Pack included Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, along with Judy Garland, Errol Flynn, Mickey Rooney, Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant and the young Frank Sinatra -- read more HERE. Then, of course, there’s The Brat Pack, no connection, known to mall rats pouring through supermarket publications.
Other people in the puzzle include ALI (8D. Thrilla in Manila participant); AMY (28A. Grammy winner Winehouse); ANG (51A. Director Lee); ARABS (41A. Most Yemenis); ARLO (15A. Janis’s comics husband); BEN (21A. Federal Reserve chief Bernanke); DRS (52A. “M*A*S*H” figs.); 38D. Lamont CRANSTON, a k a The Shadow; ELO (58D. Brian of Roxy Music); MARY (25D. Miraculous Medal figure); MOIRA (30A. Kelly of “One Tree Hill”); OPAL (2D. Good name for a gemologist?); TALESE (10D. “Honor Thy Father” author); WILDE (42A. Dorian Gray’s creator).
ITSABET (26D. “You’re on!”); heads the conversation of this puzzle which includes 12D. “Give ITAGO!” (Try!”); 41D. “Put ALID on it!”; TGIF (10A. Happy hour shout); 62A. “ITMAY come to that”; AND (35D. “Your point being …?); IMNOTHERE (32D. Call to someone answering a phone, maybe).
A MAP (30D. Tourist’s aid) is provided for the geographical entries of ALABAMA (5D. Auburn’s home); CANA (45D. Biblical wedding site); ELM (20A. Freddy Krueger’s street); SKYE (54D. Hebrides isle); CLARE (38D. Shannon Airport’s county).
The count-down -- nine letters, GREATSEAL (11D. Something the U.S. government keeps an eye on); eight letters, MOTIVATE (9D. Light a fire under); seven letters, WINGTIP (42D. Dressy shoe); six letters, APHIDS (50A. Snacks for ladybugs); BSIDES (44D. Backs of hit singles); ICEAGE (22A. When mastodons disappeared); OBLATE (43A. Flattened at the poles); TEASES (29A. Rides).
Five-letter -- APRIL (14A. Patriots’ Day time); BRIMS (3D. Fezzes’ lack); COBRA (1A. Enemy of a mongoose); EDAMS (49D. Dutch treats); FAINT (6D. Plotz); FINER (13D. More pure); NEARS (27D. Zeroes in on); PASSE (65A. So yesterday); PATIO (46D. Chaise spot); 33. Oro y PLATA (motto of Montana); PSATS (33A. Some H.S. exams); 48D. RARIN to go; UPENN (47D. An ivy, briefly).
Three- and four-letter -- ALI, ARMY, ARTI, CAPE, CESS, CIN, DRS, EAR, ELM, FOAM, HMO, INRE, NOON, OMNI, ONES, ORE and ORS, PEN, PTA, RCAS, RID, RYE, LEAN, TEED, VERY, ZANY and ZINC.
That’s it for the outsiders’ look at the inside jokers --- THE RAT PACK!
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For today’s cartoon, 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: 6. Cushion material, 10. Happy hour shout, 16. Intro studio class, 19. Low in fat, 34. Musical gift, 37. Mule team?, 39. Wild and crazy, 40. Write, 45. The Bengals, on scoreboards, 55. Sore, with “off”, 60. Memo starter; 61. Bygone Dodge, 63. Vending machine input, 64. High time? Down: 1. Corrida wear, 4. Clear (of), 7. They may be near I.C.U.’s, 18. VHF part, 23. Lead-in to pipe or pit, 31. It may be picked, 36. Deli option, 39. ___ oxide, 53. Some HDTVs, 57. M.D. group, 59. Bake sale org.
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