The Red Protector, known as Jamsran in Mongolia ----------------- Wednesday, January 21, 2009 Puzzle by Fred Piscop, edited by Will Shortz I find it fascinating how a crossword will speak to one solver in an entirely different language than to another -- there are those who wish to rush through the experience as though it were a mere trifle and others who savor same as though it were a truffle, an etymological delicacy oozing from the deep recesses of the constructor’s mind up through the cracks of a solemn surface, turning bloggers into barking dogs!
MONGREL EMPIRE (20A. Genghis Khan’s non-pedigree domain?), CUR CURRICULUM (38A. Non-pedigree essential courses?) and MUTTVILLE NINE (57A. Casey’s non-pedigree team?) are the interrelated entries of this Wednesday crossword, punning the Mongol Empire, curriculum and Mudville Nine, the joyless baseball team of “Casey at the Bat”.
Words from Alphonse or Gaston are AFTER YOU, and ULTIMATE appears to be the name of the Frisbee game involving body contact, those being the only other long entries -- from there, six-letter entries ensue in order: ATOMIC (1D. Like super precise clocks); BANANA (50D. Potassium source); CLARET (10D. Bordeaux wine); CRANIA (3D. Head cases?); DUCKIE (36D. Ernie the Muppet’s rubber toy); LUTIST (34D. Elizabethan ballad player, maybe); ODIOUS (52A. Repugnant); OLIVER (49D. Twist of fiction); ONERUN (25A. Narrowest winning margin in baseball); POLICE (22D. Miranda rights readers); RELICS (21D. Items in some illicit trade); RENOIR (2D. “The Bathers” painter); SPENDS (51D. Goes on a spree); TOUCHE (46D. “You got me!”).
Five-letter -- ALFIE (16A. Jude Law title role); BATON (19A. 4 x 100 meters need); CEDES (5D. Hands over); CRAWL (28A. Rush hour pace); ENACT (61A. Put on the books); EXULT (6D. Jump for joy); KNOBS (48A. You can open with them); LATHE (65A. Bat maker’s tool); PARTY (30D. Kegger, e.g.); PLEAS (54D. Results of some bargains); SABIN (9D. Salk contemporary); SCARF (9A. Winter warmer); SLANT (55D. Apply spin to); STEER (68A. Burgers on the hoof); UTTER (53D. Out-and-out).
Short-stuff -- ARCS, AIL and ALL, ALAN, AMI, AMID and AMO, CELS, CLAD, DUNE, ECO, ELS, ERAS, EST, EXIT, FEN, ICY, IDEA, IDLE, III, IVAN, LAP, LEST, LINE, LON, MATT, NAT and NET, NITE, ONAN, OUT, PAL, PSI, RIO, REC, SING, STEM, STET, TERI, TYNE, UNUM, VIAL, WAR (29D. Cabinet department until 1947). I, myself, step cautiously from puzzle to puzzle. Quo vadis? ------------------ 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 If you subscribe to home delivery of The New York Times you are eligible to access the daily crossword via The New York Times - Times Reader, without additional charge, as part of your home delivery subscription.
Remaining clues -- Across: 1. Electrical bridges; 5. Disney output, once; 14. Polo on TV; 15. Place to pay a roll, perhaps; 17. “___ unrelated note …”; 18. Buggy place?; 23. George ___, longest-reigning English king; 24. Round fig.; 30. Word after pen or gal; 32. Newcastle’s river; 33. Be indisposed; 35. In the thick of; 37. So last year; 42. Monopolist’s portion; 43. Margin marking; 44. Author of “The Island of the Day Before”; 45. “___ Houston” of 1980s TV; 47. Far from welcoming; 54. Letters on tires; 56. Talladega unit; 63. Trial balloon, e.g.; 64. Dr. Pavlov; 66. Pundit Colmes; 67. Be disposed (to); 69. For fear that; 70. Bullpen stats. Down: 4. Be a fink; 7. Singles bar delivery; 8. Pipe part; 12. Ipanema locale; 13. Place for reeds; 26. “One” on a coin; 27. Court divider; 29. Cabinet department until 1947; 31. ___ losing it?”; 38. Decked out; 40. Nonacademic school activities, informally; 41. Chaney of “The Wolf Man”; 42. Latin 101 word; 58. Baby bottle?; 59. On one’s duff; 60. Time on a marquee; 61. Ways around Chi-town; 62. N.L.’er since 2005.
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