12.30.08 -- I, II, III...

George III in Coronation Robes, Allan Ramsay, 1762
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Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Puzzle by Doug Peterson, edited by Will Shortz
FATHERS AND SONS (52A. Ivan Turgenev novel … and a hint to 20-, 31- and 40-Across); SENIOR DISCOUNT (20A. Incentive aimed at golden agers); JUNIOR MINTS (31A. Chocolate-coated candy); THE THIRD MAN (40A. 1949 Orson Welles film) are this Tuesday puzzle’s interrelated entries, leaving one with the image of a elderly gent at the movies with a box of candy and the Turgenev novel in the event of a need for reading material. Or perhaps that of the 41st and 43rd Presidents of our United States -- and, oh dear world, is there a third? -- I WONDER (42D. “Hmmm … “).
MIXINGIN (4D. Adding, as an ingredient) and ODYSSEUS (38D. He devised the Trojan horse) are the other long entries, followed by HOMEROW (41D. Where touch typists begin); HYANNIS (23A. Massachusetts tourist spot); LINCHPIN (26A. Key element); NONSLIP (48A. Designed to increase traction); REDCENT (9D. Insignificant amount); SCHNOOKS (44A. Easy dupes); and WARRIOR (5D. Samurai, e.g.).
NITWIT (45D. Chowderhead) and TROUGH (10D. Slop container) are of six letters, followed by five-letter entries of AGILE (15A. Light on one’s feet); ARENA (3D. Fight site); EGADS (6D. Antiquated exclamation); HOLEY (2D. Needing darning, maybe); INNIE (50D. Certain navel); LISTS (26D. Most of Santa’s mail); LOTTE (49D. Tony winner Lenya); NANCE (48D. Jack of “Twin Peaks”); ONICE (60A. In readiness); PSALM (51D. Song of David); RABID (18A. Foaming at the mouth); ROUND (57A. Ammo unit); SLASH (1D. Reduce drastically, as prices); WATER (63A. Marathon handout); WEBER (5A. Big name in grills).
Short stuff -- ADO, ALEX, ANON, AOK, BIBI, BLOW, BLT, ELIS and ELS, ERG, ESC, ETNA, FLOE, GPS, GTO, IDEA, INCH, ISM, JAGS, KILT, LOKI and LORI, MEEK, NOON, NOSH and TOSH, OLEO, ONTO, ORCS, OWLS, PALM and PSALM, RAIL, RAND, RONA, SEEM, SHAM, SUIT, TEST, TYKE (10A. Youngster), UNPC, UTIL, WAY, YAWN (11D. Sign of fatigue).
The 41st and 43rd presidents of the United States.
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Xword search information -- Across: 1. Pretense; 14. Actress Petty; 16. Commuter option; 17. Slugger Rodriguez; 19. Nocturnal hunters; 24. Bit of work; 25. Powerful Pontiac; 35. Hubbub; 36. Before too long; 37. Laptop key; 38. Margarine; 39. Modern navigational aid, for short; 46. Thoroughfare; 47. School of thought; 56. Squander; 58. Sicilian hot spot; 59. Norse trickster; 61. Power co.; 62. Clinical study; 64. Seem to be. Down: 7. Nickname of Israel’s Netanyahu; 8. Some Ivy Leaguers; 12. “Braveheart” getup; 13. Overhead RRs; 21. Not duped by; 22. Tolkien brutes; 27. Creep (along); 28. Conceal in the hand; 29. “What’s the big ___?”; 30. Midday; 31. Sporty cars, briefly; 32. Potentially offensive; 33. Light snack; 34. Humbly patient; 40. Nonsense, to a Brit; 43. Cape Town currency; 52. Arctic mass; 53. “Thumbs-up” responses; 54. Barrett or Jaffe; 55. Spades, for example; 56. Diner order, briefly.

2 comments:

NYTAnonimo said...

I was enjoying this puzzle until I saw the Bush father and son picture (and thought of the past 8 years) then clicked on the link for seniors-realized how many discounts my spouse has been missing this past year-LOL! Seriously-thanks for your blog-I appreciate it and the work you put into it-often come here to check my answers, read your comments and check out your links even though I don't post that often.

DONALD said...

NYTAnonimo

Thanks and a Happy New Year!