Puzzle by Tim Wescott, edited by Will Shortz The internet address letters HTTP, NET, COM, EDU and GOV are found within the 15-letter entries of:
HAVEABONETO PICK(17A. Feel like quarreling about something);
TOTALCOMMITMENT (23A. No halfway effort);
TRUMPEDUPCHARGE (49A. Basis of a false arrest, perhaps);
PLAYINGOVERTIME (61A. Going past the fourth quarter, say).
WWW (40A. Letters after two slashes) is in the dead center of this final crossword puzzle of the year of 2008, which is reviewed in cartoons, along with 2009 -- click HERE.
All the internet address letters are in circles in the electronic version, while in the newspaper, HTTP is in shaded squares, the WWW in unshaded, and the remainder contained in circled squares within the four 15-letter entries. The newspaper version, with the aforementioned variation in squares, gives the interrelated entries clarity and looks great.
Eight six-letter entries follow -- ABBACY(5D. Monastic jurisdiction);ATLAST(18D. “Finally!”); DASHER (41D. One of a seasonal octet); OMERTA (20A. Gangster’s code of silence); RECOUP (60A. Gain back); SCREWY (48D. Off the wall); SKORTS (9D. Women’s hybrid clothing); SPRITE (46D. “Obey your thirst!” sloganeer, once).The bulk of the crossword is comprised of five-letter answers -- ACTED(54D. Did one’s part?); ADEPT (44A. Skilled); ALERT (39A. “Heads up!,” e.g.); 4. “It’s the end of ANERA”;ARISE (11D. Greet the day); 1D. Give ASHOT in the arm;CREAM (31D. Alfredo sauce ingredient); DECAF (41A. Grounds for a good night’s sleep?); DEGAS (52D. “At the Milliner’s” painter); EPEES (57D. They’re guarded at the Olympics); GUMBO (56D. Okra stew); ITSME (67A. Informal reply to “Who’s there?”); KOREA (16A. Divided Asian land);LIEON(43D. Use as a bed); MUTED (25D. No longer bright, as colors); 8D. ONEPM (8D. Common lunch hr.); ONTWO (24D. When a football may be hiked); OWNUP (34D. Confess); 7D. PANAM games; PILOT (64A. Altimeter user); RECON (12D. A little advance work); RELIT (50D. Activated again, as a burner); REVET (3D. Support with stone as an embankment); ROILS (55D. Agitates); SCARY (9A. Alarming);SPECS(28A. Writer’s guidelines);TAILS (19D. Call after a toss); TEAMO (2D. “I love you,” in Spanish); TIPPI (49D. Hedren of Hitchcock’s “The Birds”); URALS (51D. Range extending south from the Kara Sea); USONE (53D. Auto route from Me. To Fla.); YAKUT (13D. Native of NE Siberia).
Four-letter -- ALPO, ANEW, APAR, ATRA, BEAN, DSOS, DYKE, ELBE, LOON, ROES, SEEN, SEXY, TACO, TIOS.
Three-letter -- ACE, ASI, AYN, CAP and COP, EEK, IER, IWO, LEO, LSU, OFT, PLY, SAD, SOU, USS, VEX, YOM.
Two, one....Happy New Year!-----------------
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Xword search information -- Across: 1. Gillette razor; 5. Meat-in-a-can brand; 14. In view; 15. Noggin; 21. On ___ with (even with); 22. ___ ‘wester; 26. Rand who wrote “Atlas Shrugged”; 27. Sch. Where Shaquille O’Neal played basketball; 32. Spanish uncles; 35. Mexican restaurant offering; 42. Dick Van ___; 43. Addlebrain; 45. “ASI see it …”; 47. Enterprise inits.; 58. Suffix with hotel; 59. Richard and Jane in court; 65. Again; 66. Hamburg’s river; 68. Like the Beatles’ Sadie; 69. U.K. military medals. Down: 6. “Bus 9 to Paradise” author Buscaglia; 10. Steal, slangily; 28. “___ but true”; 29. Use diligently; 30. “A cockroach!”; 33. “Sands of ___ Jima”; 36. Dead man’s hand card; 37. Gown’s partner; 38. “How ___ Has the Banshee Cried” (Thomas Moore poem); 62. ___ Kippur; 63. Annoy.
------------------ 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.
-----------------Monday, December 29, 2008
Puzzle by Kevin Donovan, edited by Will Shortz
RUN(54D. Something 18-, 26-, 42- or 51-Across might have),RUMMY HAND(18A. It might include a 10-, jack, queen and king of hearts),BASEBALL GAME(26A. Yankees/Red Sox matchup, e.g.);BROADWAY PLAY(42A. Candidate for a Tony) and PANTYHOSE(51A. L’eggs product) are the interrelated entries of this mid-season Monday crossword.
HIE(52D. Hightail it, old-style) leads off the rundown of activity and angst -- ACHE(38A. Want badly, with “for”);BIG TOE (25A. Something often stubbed); EXISTS (29A. Has being); FEIGN (1A. Make believe); GLUMMEST (4D. Most morose);HYPED UP (41D. Much ballyhooed); IRK (57A. Annoy); NO DOUBT (5D. “Absolutely”); REPHRASE (36D. Say another way); SLY (56D. Wily); USED (50D. Played for a sap).People in the puzzle -- AARON(15A. Alphabetically first name in the Bible);ANDIE (13D. Actress MacDowell); BART (42D. TV character who says “Don’t have a cow, man!”); BUTLER (49A. Who often “did it” in a whodunit); CARELL (6D. Steve of “The Office”); CLARA (6A. Barton who founded the American Red Cross); PUNKS (46D. Petty gangsters); RON (16D. Harry Potter’s best friend), who led off Sunday’s crossword with the clue being Harry’s pal at Hogwarts; 23A. “Pulp Fiction” co-star SAMUEL L. Jackson; TESLA (31D. Inventor Nikola) and his IDEAS(32D. Inventors have them) -- Wordplay refers us to this TESLA;TONTO (12D. Kemo Sabe’s companion); UHURA (48A. “Star Trek” lieutenant).ANY TIME(10D. “Whenever”) and ARRAYED (38D. In formation) introduce the mid-sized entries -- ALPHAS (47A. Dominant dogs);ASIAN (24D. Like half of Istanbul); CELLO (14A. Yo-Yo Ma’s instrument); CLOUD (17A. Rain source);DARTS (53A. Game with a bull’s-eye); DEEDS (61A. Monopoly cards);EIDER (58A. Duck that’ll get you down?); LACED (27D. Tied up, as skates); MOPEDS (20A. Speedy two-wheelers); OHARE (45D. Chicago air hub); PENNY (62A. 1 cent);POP ART (44A. Andy Warhol genre); 11D. Military aircraft engine makerPRATT & Whitney; PUPIL (44D. Tutee); 23D. Anglo-SAXON; THESES (40A. 95 things posted by Martin Luther); 22A. TUTTI-frutti; 59A. “I’ll have the USUAL”;WATERS (43D. Tends, as plants).
Short stuff -- ACT (35A. Series of scenes); AHA (35D. “Now I understand!”); 37A. Massachusetts’ Cape ANN; ARMS (8D. An octopus has eight); BAN (25D. Prohibition); BETA (26D. Commercial prefix with -max or -cam); BODE (49D. Portend); 9D. CD-ROM; COT (39D. Barracks bed); EEL (2D. Snakelike fish);FCC(1D. Radio monitoring org.); GOT (28D. Understood); HUGE (19D. Enormous);ILO (3D. U.N. agcy. Awarded the 1969 Nobel Peace Prize); LAUD (7D. Extol); 60A. LES Etats-Unis; NOSY (33D. Snoopy); PEAS (21D. Pod contents); PTA (11A. School grp.); REDO (36A. Make over); TALL (40D. Like an N.B.A. center); TAN (55D. Sunbathe); TIN (31A. Sn, chemically speaking);TO A T (34A. On the nose).S‘long, gotta verb-not-noun run!
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Sunday, December 28, 2008
GOING AROUND IN CIRCLES, Puzzle by Patrick Berry, edited by Will Shortz
ORBITS, and its clue -- 7A. What this puzzle’s eight concentric rings (uncircled and circled) represent -- is the simple explanation for a very complex-looking layout. Is it worth it? Well, it really depends upon one’s propensity for amusement with the impossibility of square orbits comprised of all those circles (electronic version) or shaded squares (dead-tree version), uh, well, perhaps a square orbit is just fine… the world was once flat!
Actually, this is a rather flat crossword for a solver, best worked with total disregard for its gimmick -- those circles (or shaded squares) are of little help in the solution and exist but to define the orbit of a PLANET(124A. One of these can be found reading counterclockwise somewhere in each concentric ring). SUN(70A. Appropriate center for this puzzle) is as is stated the center entry of the crossword, incongruously crossed by GOUDA(60D. Semisoft cheese from Holland).After one has completed the crossword, there is the task of finding a planet "in each concentric ring” -- innermost to outermost in order. Curiosity alone and duty to blog caused me to ferret out each and every one with less and less amusement upon each revelation. I see no reason to list the planets -- that very well could alienate any reader who has at least mastered the likes of say, the alphabet.
ASK FOR THE MOON(5D. Make impossible demands) provides a satellite entry next to our planet, and very close to MERCURY. Oh, damn, there I did it -- well, it’s too late now -- VENUS, EARTH, MARS, JUPITER, SATURN, URANUS and NEPTUNE. Wait!, there’s PLUTO bent out of shape in the lower left corner inside Neptune’s orbit, which, in fact, happens in the life-size version of the solar system.
The bulk of the entries are slaves to the gimmick, but some are from another… uh, planet.
Across: 1. Harry’s pal at Hogwarts; 4. Hit 2004 film with many sequels; 13. Wooden peg; 18. Pressed for time; 20. 1968 N.B.A. All-Star Dick; 22. IRENE Adler of Conan Doyle’s “A Scandal in Bohemia”; 23. Georgia’s Fort PULASKI, site of an 1882 surrender; 24. Malevolent look; 25. Rubber gasket; 26. Gratis; 27. Lincoln Town Car, for one; 28. Patriots’ Day mo.; 30. Big ox; 31. Prefix with political; 32. BELLY dance; 33. Six-Day War combatants; 35. Entrance; 38. Actress RAE Dawn Chong; 40. “Nascar Now” channel; 42. Medevac worker; 43. Way to go; 44. Dog biscuits and such; 47. Formulator of the Three Principles of the People; 52. Gopher-wood construction; 53. Submarine egress; 54. Ruination; 55. Infra’s opposite; 56. King famous for frightening people; 59. Like some campaign ads; 62. Pomeranian’s bark; 63 Sic PASSIM (bibliographical term); 64. Elementary particle; 65. Actress / model Connie; 68. On land; 70. Appropriate center for this puzzle; 71. Frozen food company; 72. Exterior decorator?; 74. Beautify; 76. Let one’s anger show; 79. E-mail address ender; 80. Treasure sought in “Titanic”; 82. Heavy metal band?; 83. Stuck in the mud; 86. Storm; 87. No longer working; 89. Cuff feature; 90. Satisfies as baser instincts; 92. Husband, in Hidalgo; 93. “RENO 911” (comedy series); 94. Fed. Purchasing org.; 95. Long-range weapon, briefly; 97. According to; 98. The Auld Sod; 99. Childhood skin affliction; 103. Goes around; 106. Where a pin may be made; 108. Greenwich Village campus, for short; 109. Poorly; 110. Volkswagen model; 111. BBC panel show regular Phill; 115. Brand of basketball; 117. Something it’s not always wise to share; 119. Generally; 120. Grace POOLE (“Jane Eyre” character); 121. 1960 Bobby Rydell hit; 122. Electricians; 123. Ready to play, you might say; 125. Behave, 126. Go down.Down: 1. Philbin’s “Live” co-host; 2. Responsibility; 3. Simba’s mate in “The Lion King”; 4. The Everly Brothers “Wake Up Little SUSIE”; 6. Little bit; 7. Scale-busting; 8. “Gaspard de la Nuit” composer; 9. Tack room items; 10. Veneer patterns; 11. First-time driver, often; 12. Porker’s pen; 13. Museum displays; 14. Yossarian’s tentmate in “Catch-22”; 15. “Mack the Knife” songwriter; 16. Lassitude; 17. Pantyhose brand; 19. Worn out; 21. Bigelow beverages; 29. Rodent, to a raptor; 32. Red food dye source; 33. All together; 34. Roman rebuke; 35. Comprehend; 36. Trunk in your trunk; 37. Plays; 39. Ireland’s ARAN Islands; 41. Exam for H.S. jrs.; 45. Rein-A treats it; 46. Region near Mount Olympus; 48. “In a pig’s eye!”; 49. Controversial 1987 expose by ex-M15 agent Peter Wright; 50. Cartman’s first name on “South Park”; 51. Bay Area county; 54. Oatcakes popular in Scotland; 57. Discreet attention-getter; 58. Exclamation in “The Farmer in the Dell”; 61. Tunes that might make you want to get out on the floor?; 64. Romeo’s reckless friend; 66. Legal claim on property; 67. Writer Ferber; 69. Hull scrapers; 72. Desk-borrowing worker; 73. Top 10 hit for Sarah McLachian; 75. Harvest; 77. Nicholas Gage memoir; 78. Possessor?; 81. Ray a k a the Hamburger King; 82. Poet’s inspiration; 84. Sharpness; 86. Preordained; 88. Bursts open; 91. Pedestrian safety feature; 92. What Mr. Spock suppressed; 93. Leave one’s post, possibly; 96. Lee with the 1960 #1 hit ”I’m Sorry”; 99. Bungling; 100. “Skip to MYLOU”; 101. Hoax; 102. GLOW stick (trick-or-treater’s accessory); 101. Make up (for); 105. Painter of a Zola portrait; 107. In different places; 110. Jack’s partner in rhyme; 111. Cloak-wearing “Star Wars” race; 112. Rolaids rival; 113. Big-screen beekeeper; 114. Propelled; 116. OLE Miss; 118. Domino dot.
All in all, this is a crossword with many twists and turns, bright spots and black holes, but it makes it into orbit and out of this world -- it may take a while, but after all, getting there is half the fun!
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----------------- Saturday, December 27, 2008 Puzzle by Karen M. Tracey, edited by Will Shortz Clue-wise, this is a Saharan crossword puzzle! A dozen 10-letter entries are the main feature -- ADIOS AMIGO(55A. Parting words);BOTTOM LINE (11D. Net);DONKEY KONG (20A. Centipede alternative); INHIBITION (26D. Constraint);I SUSPECT SO (17A. “Seems likely”);JACK HORNER (6D. “Good boy”);LATIN LOVER(48A. Rudolph Valentino type); OBSESSIONS (29D. Hard drives?);PAAVO NURMI (27D. Track gold medalist in three 1920s Olympics); PRIVILEGES (38A. They’re not enjoyed by everyone);TIME FACTOR (10D. It comes into play when there’s a deadline);TREBLE CLEF (32A. Staff opening).Mid-size entries -- 7D.ANTOINELavoisier, the Father of Modern Chemistry;BOOKREST (41A. Literary supporter?); EYESTALK (18D. Piece of lobster or shrimp?); GENTIAN (39D. Deep-blue alpine flower); GLISTENS (30D. Is scintillating);SAHARAN (35A. Like some climates); 37A. SISTINE Madonna”; SONOGRAM (28A. Inside shot?). Five-letter -- AFORE(23A. Previously, old-style); ALOES (14A. Fleshy-leaved flora); ANGER (12D. Heat); ASPEN (5D. Resort on the Roaring Fork River); ATARI (44D. Centipede producer); PANDA (1A. Dweller in the Chinese highlands); POBOX (58A. Letter getter); POESY (61A. Verse); REESE (13D. Eponymous candy man); TAINT (43A. Opposite of purify); TENPM (43D. Evening news hr.). Four-letter -- ADEE, ALSO(2D. Further),ANON (15A. Not just yet), ARES, BOSN, DEAN, DESK, EGOS, ENZO, ETES and ETTU, FEES, HOAR, IONA and IONE, JABS (6A. Rights, e.g.),LADY, MINI, MTGE, NAIR, NEHI, NOUN(3D. Object, e.g.), NSEC, ONZE, OMOO, PAID, PROM, REOS, RIOT, ROXY, SNOG, TBAR, VIBE, WHIP, and WISP, YENS(60D. Pines), a suitable clue for YEWS. No breeze today! ----------------- For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.Click on image to enlarge.Puzzle available on the internet atTHE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games
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Xword search information -- Across: 10. Easy way to the top; 16. Glaucus’s love in “The Last Days of Pompeii”; 19. Monthly pymt. For some; 21. Are, in Arles; 22. Pop that’s over 80 years old; 2. Party leader; 31. Setting of St. Columba’s missionary work; 40. One less than une douzaine; 42. Some old fire trucks; 45. Minute part of a minute: Abbr.; 47. Dramatic rebuke; 54. Hair removal option; 56. Where a king may be crowned; 57. Class-conscious figure?; 59. Pint-size. Down: 1. Office stamp; 4. You may work hard at this; 8. Anchorman, briefly?; 9. Be amorous with, in Britain; 23. Half brother of Hercules; 24. Bit of shock?; 25. Look of aged whitening; 33. Tenor role in “La Gioconda”; 34. Schedule listings; 36. Laugh-a-minute sort; 48. Animated film pooch; 49. “Song of the South” song syllables; 50. Tale of the South Seas; 51. Vague sense; 52. Massage targets?; 53. ___ Music.
Titania,1897 -- Frederick Howard Michael----------------- Friday, December 25, 2008 Puzzle by Brendan Emmett Quigley, edited by Will Shortz This Friday crossword features non-words and/or multiple consonants -- XOXOXOXO (3D. Love letters?), XIII (26A. Chapter 13?); XAMOUNT (26D. An unknown quantity); TSTRAP (7D. Sandal variety); TVCAMERA (8D. An anchor often faces it); ETSEQ (51A. Reference book), along with a good dose of double-wording -- CRATEUP (18A. Prepare to ship); FITIN (41A. Conform); KEPTIN (14D. Didn’t strike); NEXTUP (31A. At the head of the line); ONEINTEN (2D. Pretty poor chances); ONEUP (49A. Best); SAIDIDO (58A. Got hitched);SETOFFS (24D. Counterbalances). Music and entertainment… ALLOFME(37A. Song standard with the lyric “Can’t you see I’m no good without you?”); ATRAIN (45D. Title transport in a 1941 song); BALOO (30D. “The Jungle Book” bear); EADIE (51D. Title lady in a 1933 song); FREEJAZZ (38D. Bop alternative); INX (23A. “Listen Like Thieves” band); JAFFE (44A. Rona who wrote “Mazes and Monsters”); SEXPERT (17A. Dr. Ruth, e.g.); SIRPAUL (20A. Pop superstar’s informal name since 1997);SUZIE (28D. Wong of book and film); THEMASK (8A. Comic book series that spawned films in 1994 and 2005); VOLANTE (16A. Lightly and quickly, in music); and why is TITANIA(62A. Uranus’s largest moon) no longer clued via Shakespeare?
Daily doubles… SNORTED(64A. Responded contemptuously) and SNOOZED(3A. Had a 33-Across, say) make a nice pair -- oh, DREAM(33A. It’s unreal) is the cross reference, perhaps one had at FOURAM(43A. End of a middle watch). Another pair is QUART(52D. Two 55-Downs) and PINT(55D. Half a 52-Down). Also ANOINTS(15A. Gives last rites to, e.g.) with another definition, and EMPOWERS (40D. Delegates). Phonetically, OTIS(50A. A leading manufacturer of cars) and OTOES (27A. Missouri relatives) seem a pair. Location, location, location… MAUNAKEA (39D. Literally, “white mountain”) and PARAMUS(55A. New Jersey shopping mall) make for exceptional geographic diversity -- DIRTROAD(36D. Way out in the country), would that also be a “way in” or is it just “far out?” BOXSEAT (1A. Where to get a good view of a hit and run) or BASTIONS (1D. Strong defenses) could be from where to watch JOUSTS(44D. Old tournament events). Leftovers… BACON(30A. Strips on a table), along with ANEMIC(12D. Weak);ATRIP (6D. Just off the bottom, nautically);BRONZER (63A. Alternative to a tanning booth); DEMOBS (48D. Retires from the R.A.F.); HORUS (9D. Falcon-headed god); PALMS (25A. They may be greased); STUDIO (13D. Small pad); and the short stuff -- CNN, DAR, ELAL, ELF, ENES, JAW, MAT, MDT, NASA, PET, PLOD, POE, RAD, SIP, STOA, TENO, TIO, URN(54A. Funeral home item). FINITO(46D. Done, slangily). ----------------- For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.Click on image to enlarge.Puzzle available on the internet atTHE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games
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Xword search information -- Across: 19. Member of la familia extensa; 22. Wyo. Is on it in the summer; 29. One of the Baltimore Ravens’ mascots; 47. Far out; 53. Sinew: Prefix; 57. Be windy. Down: 4. Nurse; 5. Hydrocarbon endings; 10. Company whose slogan is “Home away from home”; 11. Purchase at a home store; 21. Move slowly; 32. Kind of rock; 34. Mischievous tyke; 42. Pioneer’s org.; 59. Women’s org. with the motto “God, home and country”; 61. “House Call” airer.
Thursday, December 25, 2008 Puzzle by Eric Tentarelli, edited by Will Shortz Three 15-letter entries utilizing the names of nine National Football League teams for three questionable clues are the main feature of this crossword -- BROWN BRONCO COLT(20A. Chestnut-colored mustang offspring?);CHIEF TEXAN SAINT(38A. Main dedicatee of an Austin cathedral?);GIANT COWBOY BILL(55A. Hefty invoice for boots and spurs?). Other long entries include ALAN ALDA(8D. Star of Broadway’s “QED,” 2001-01); AUTOBAHN (41D. Famously fast route); CLASSICAL (18A. Section in a record store); ECOTOURS (40D. Trips through rain forests, maybe);NOT SO SURE (62A. On the fence);SLOWPOKE (4D. Snail). Six-letter entries -- ALBEDO(48D. Light ratio in astronomy); ALICES (10D. Walker, Cooper and others); KANSAS (46D. Home of Fort Scott National Historic Site); SACRUM (6D. Pelvic bone); SCREEN (19D. Present for viewing … or prevent from being viewed); TUNICS (39D. Prefix with romantic). Five-letter -- AARON(17A. Sorkin who created “The West Wing”); AGNEW (34D. Predecessor of Ford); ALERO (16A. Bygone Olds); AMPLE (27A. Like the space around a first-class seat, say); 26D. CAIRN terrier; CAIRO (30D. The City of a Thousand Minarets); CLASP (1D. Choker component); GYROS (54D. Spinners); LOCHS (24D. Ness and Tay); 9A. MADAM secretary; MASON (9D. Brick placer); METES (32D. Doles out); 47A. David NOLAN, founder of the Libertarian Party; OHARA (66A. Last name of Kipling’s Kim); OSAKA (33A. Pitcher Hideo Nomo’s birthplace); OSHEA (25D. Dublin-born film star Milo);PENNE (5D. Pasta salad ingredient);PIXEL (28D Dot); PUREE (44A. Food processor setting); RADIO (63A. Dashboard item); RIFLE (14A. Rummage);SASSY (67A. Fresh);SNEAD (69A. Masters champ of 1949, 1952 and 1954);STONY(52D. Like some silences);UNMAN (64A. Emasculate). Short stuff -- AFL, AFRO, AGE, AIL, ARAL, ARNE, ASIT, ASP, ATMS, BRA, CRAB, DECO, GNUS, HER, IDEA and IDAE, IONA, KILO, LIAR and LIRA, LEGO, LOAD, LOCO, LUCE, MOLT, NEO, PERU, RED, SANK, SCAM, SNO, TOWS, WREN(58D. Cousin of a treecreeper). ------------------- For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
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Xword search information -- Across: 6. Music pioneered by Byron Lee and the Dragonaires; 15. Suffer; 22. Its coat of arms includes a vicuna; 23 “Rule Britannia” composer Thomas; 24. Nuts; 29. Con; 35. “No ___” (“Beats me”); 37. Ripen; 42. “Talk to ___,” Pedro Almodovar film; 43. Time-honored name?; 45. Torpedoed; 50. A.A.A. jobs; 51. ___ were; 53. Brick maker; 65. Embarrassed, perhaps; 68. ___ Balls (snack cakes). Down: 1. Grouch; 2. Epithet that’s an anagram of 60-Down; 3. Big do; 7. Overseas shipping unit; 11. Art ___; 12. Asia’s ___ Sea; 13. Shed; 21. Bust holder; 34. Org. founded by Samuel Gompers; 36. Saharan viper; 49. Prefix with romantic; 55. Prey for lions; 56. College in New Rochelle, N.Y.; 57. Mall conveniences; 59. Family name suffix in taxonomy; 60. Money that’s an anagram of 2-Down; 61. Dishwasherful.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Puzzle by Warren Biro, edited by Will Shortz
PLUGS(40A. Power connectors or a way to describe 17-, 22-, 55-, and 61-Across);TV ADVERTISEMENT (17A. Show interrupter);TOBACCO CHEW (22A. Copenhagen wad);BATH STOPPER (55A. Old-fashioned tub feature); HAIR REPLACEMENT (61A. Expensive alternative to a toupee) are the interrelated entries of this Wednesday crossword.
Other long entries -- BEDSPREAD(35D. Top layer, in a way) and HEADBANDS (3D. Tennis accessories); IGUESSSO (21A. “Sure, why not”); PERSONAE (58A. Play characters).Mid-size -- APEMEN(51D. “2001” extras);AVATARS(27A. Images representing Internet users); ENMASSE (50A. How crowds move); FREEWAY (9D. It lets you go without charges); LABORED (44D. Strained); NODSAT (4D. Signals, as to an auctioneer).Five-letter -- ADDER(37D. Abacus user); 33D. “AGNES of God,” Jane Fonda film; APHIS (52D. Sap sucker); ATEST (11D. Historic 1940s event, for short);ATTIC (7D. Heirloom locale); BLASÉ (36D. Unconcerned); EDSEL (43A. Dearborn debut of 1958);ERNES (45A. Coastal fliers); ESTOP (13D. Prevent, legally); FRAME (9A. Bowling unit); HELGA (57D. Hägar the Horrible’s wife); IRATE (66A. Furious); LEIGH (8d. Vivien of film);LOOFA (31A. Shower sponge);MEARA (53D. Stiller’s comedy partner); MENSA (12D. Group of brains); 25D. “OSOLE Mio”; OVOID (23D. Roundish);SALAD (69A. Soup alternative); SMOKE (46D. Feature of many a 1970s rock concert); 16A. Last RITES; TAPAS (56D. Spanish appetizers); 22D. “There’s no accounting for TASTE”; TRIAL (54D. “Perry Mason” climax); VOCAL (18D. Speaking one’s mind); YABBA (34A. Start of a Fred Flintstone cry).DATE (15A. December 25, e.g.), the sole nod to the Holiday Season leads the four-letter entries -- AGRO (67A. Farming prefix); CROP (24D. Jockey’s whip); EARS (68A. They pop on planes); IDEO (14A. Prefix with -gram or -graph);NDAK (71A. State whose tallest bldg. has only 19 floors), but with the tallest man-made structure,THIS, until THIS; 5A. Fire OPAL; RIMS (10D. Basketball hoops); SAAB (70A. Car company that originated as an airplane manufacturer); SENT (41D. Radioed, e.g.); SRTA (59D. Mex. miss); SUEZ (19D. 1956-57 crisis site); TIDE (38A. Mariner’s datum); WANE (49D. Ebb); WELD (42A. Tuesday in Hollywood);ZAHN(1A. Newswoman Paula).Three-letter -- the setting SON(30A. George W., to George H. W.), heads to the exit along with ADV (2D. Purely or simply: Abbr.),AMT, ARA, COB, DAD-blamed, EEL, FUR, KER-plunk,LAW, NRA, ODE, PAR and PAW, finishing up with TAP and ZAP! and ZIT -- and just for Christmas --TSK (65A. “’Tis a pity”).
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Click on image to enlarge.Puzzle available on the internet atTHE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games
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Tuesday, December 23, 2008 Puzzle by Joe Krozel, edited by Will Shortz Fantastic! What to say? Quibble, I’ll not! Well, except to say I didn’t see the overall picture until the solution was complete, so I sort of picked and puzzled at it -- "coming to" late, utilizing the gimmick only as a help in solving with AMO and DIM (matching OMA and MID) -- I had OSA and DIS. Additionally, EDILE and NIM (matching ELIDE and MIN), I had never heard of either, so the reverse entries dictated the vowel needed. I grumbled throughout, scowling frequently at the fragmentation and only noticed one reverse in the process, NOV and VON. I think a more leisurely solve would have made the experience a really great one! This crossword is a classic!!! ------------------ Click on image to enlarge.Puzzle available on the internet atTHE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games
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Xword search information -- Across: 1. A Turner; 4. Plopped (down); 7. Critic, at times; 12. Seine sight; 13. Oklahoma city; 15. “Boom” preceder, in song; 16. Unit of cell phone usage: Abbr; 17. Actress Conn; 18. Snare again; 19. The Wizard of Menlo Park; 21. Start of a Latin 101 conjugation; 23. Liquid meas.; 24. Staff again; 25. Show utter disrespect for; 28. Went smoothly; 30. Three trios; 34. City of 100,000+ or the lake it’s on; 37. Patriotic org.; 38. Thin layer; 39. Parisian possessive; 40. Thanksgiving time: Abbr.; 41. Rocket scientist Werner ___ Braun; 42. Firm up; 43. One with absolutely no manners; 45. “Awesome!”; 46. Limerick land; 47. Part of some joints; 48. Screenwriter Ephron and others; 50. Policy of many hotel shuttles; 52. Title giver; 56. Engine additive; 59. Medical suffix; 60. Main course only; 61. Moses vis-à-vis the Red Sea; 64. “Look what ___!”; 66. Game with matchsticks; 67. Biblical landing site; 68. Eat by candlelight, say; 69. Whitney after whom Whitneyville, Conn., is named; 70. Pave over; 71. Univ. aides; 72. Badge flasher: Abbr. Down: 1. Stove feature; 2. Skip over; 3. Shade of blue; 4. Arizona locale famous for its red rocks; 5. Have ___ with (know well); 6. Prescription abbr.; 7. “Norma ___”; 8. Technique; 9. Rain check?; 10. Part of Q.E.D.; 11. Criticizes; 14. It’s a wrap; 15. Easy pace; 20. MS. Enclosure; 22. Season opener?; 25. Balkan native; 28. ___ even keel; 27. Monique ou Dominique; 29. Object of many screams; 31. Not final, at law; 32. Cabinet dept.; 33. Gallery on the Thames; 34. Coup d’___; 35. Descartes who thought “I think …”; 36. Hasn’t left; 38. City in California or New Jersey; 40. iPod type; 41. Actor Kilmer and others; 44. “___ Dieu!”; 45. Made good on, as a loan; 46. Those, in Madrid; 48. Unfavorable; 49. Battery poles; 51. Libel, e.g.; 53. Dug; 54. Ancient Roman magistrate; 55. “Please ___” (invoice request); 56. Fight, but not all-out; 57. Weight allowance; 58. Backside, slangily; 60. Jazz singer Simone; 62. La preceder; 63. Ring setting; 65. Dah’s counterpart.
Visualization of the various routes through a portion of the Internet. ----------------- Wednesday, December 31, 2008
The bulk of the crossword is comprised of five-letter answers -- ACTED (54D. Did one’s part?); ADEPT (44A. Skilled); ALERT (39A. “Heads up!,” e.g.); 4. “It’s the end of ANERA”; ARISE (11D. Greet the day); 1D. Give ASHOT in the arm; CREAM (31D. Alfredo sauce ingredient); DECAF (41A. Grounds for a good night’s sleep?); DEGAS (52D. “At the Milliner’s” painter); EPEES (57D. They’re guarded at the Olympics); GUMBO (56D. Okra stew); ITSME (67A. Informal reply to “Who’s there?”); KOREA (16A. Divided Asian land); LIEON (43D. Use as a bed); MUTED (25D. No longer bright, as colors); 8D. ONEPM (8D. Common lunch hr.); ONTWO (24D. When a football may be hiked); OWNUP (34D. Confess); 7D. PANAM games; PILOT (64A. Altimeter user); RECON (12D. A little advance work); RELIT (50D. Activated again, as a burner); REVET (3D. Support with stone as an embankment); ROILS (55D. Agitates); SCARY (9A. Alarming); SPECS (28A. Writer’s guidelines); TAILS (19D. Call after a toss); TEAMO (2D. “I love you,” in Spanish); TIPPI (49D. Hedren of Hitchcock’s “The Birds”); URALS (51D. Range extending south from the Kara Sea); USONE (53D. Auto route from Me. To Fla.); YAKUT (13D. Native of NE Siberia).
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