01.18.09 -- OBAMA II

Sunday, January 18, 2009
HIGH FIVE, Puzzle by Randolph Ross, edited by Will Shortz
OBAMA last Sunday, OBAMA today!
With the note “The answers to the nine italicized clues all contain five letters in common, reading left to right, not necessarily consecutively”, today’s crossword features nine interrelated across entries containing, as described, a high-five -- O-B-A-M-A!
OLD BLACK MAGIC (23. *“That something” in an Arlen/Mercer tune); GLOBAL CLIMATE (25. *Kyoto Treaty topic); GOLF BALL MARKER (36. *Links accessory); COWBOY HAT MAKER (51. *Stetson, for one); GOD BLESS AMERICA (67. *Berlin production); ROBIN AND MARIAN (89. *1976 Connery/Hepburn film); ROBERT MCNAMARA (98. *Kennedy/Johnson cabinet member); HONOR BLACKMAN (112. *She played the Bond girl in “Goldfinger“); MOBILE ALABAMA (120. *Hank Aaron‘s hometown).
Remaining across: 1. HBO sports sitcom; 7. Not be definite; 12. Was rarin’; 18. Pile; 20. Affectionate refusal; 21. Canoeing challenge; 22. Land in the Barbary Wars; 27. Red ASA beet; 28. Fathers and sons; 29. Discombobulated; 30. He played a gas station attendant on “The Andy Griffith Show”; 33. Radar statistic; 44. Two-syllable shout; 45. A.L. and N.L. traders; 48. Chute opening?; 49. Requirement of license procurement; 5. Long prong; 55. Barbecue item; 56. Baby bouncer; 57. Doctor loved by children; 58. Versatile vehicles, for short; 60. First name in skin care; 61. What one shouldn’t do in a crowded theater; 63. Layer; 64. Ruler units: Abbr.; 66. ‘08 and ‘12; 72. Gambler’s inits.; 75. Bruce or Brenda; 76. “BEA pal”; 77. Doctor with long hours; 81. What cats and rats do; 83. Nonmember of a union: Abbr.; 85. Village Voice awards; 87. Not in the wind; 88. Police sting participant; 92. “Glorioski!”; 93. SOI-disant; 95. Nodder’s comment; 96. Prescribed; 97. “ARS Poetica”; 102. Cannes cup; 104. To a greater extend; 105. Kind of position; 108. Prefix with warrior; 111. Piece of chicken; 123. Without much planning; 124. Exultant cry; 125. Industrialist who encourages strikes?; 126. Holes in shoes; 127. "Grand" range; 128. Big name in razors; 129. Converse competitor.
Downs: 1. Limp as ARAG; 2. Connecticut governor Jodi; 3. Italy’s LAGO di Como; 4. Traditional hangover remedy; 5. War game; 6. Makes a mess of; 7. Baggins portrayer in “The Lord of the Rings”; 8. Old Norse work; 9. What shoppers may go into; 10. Lead provider; 11. Long stretch; 12. Annoying; 13. Ballerina Karsavina; 14. Apr. adviser; 15. Intoxicating feeling; 16. Actress Falco; 17. Mil. Medals; 19. What dragsters and some hearts do; 20. “NOI insist!”; 24. Monthly bill; 26. Slowness; 31. Actress Woodard; 32. Eur. Young ladies; 33. Not smooth; 34. Uniquely; 35. Flight support?; 37. Takes, with “for”; 38. Flights; 39. Italian brother; 40. “Quantum Leap” star Scott; 41. It’s fed at a table; 42. Stage direction; 43. Felipe and Alfonso; 46. What “time is on” in a 1964 Rolling Stones hit; 47. Cold dessert; 52. Lux. Neighbor; 53. Author Jean; 54. Part of a dict. Entry; 55. Joe of several “Lethal Weapon” movies; 59. Angry orations; 62. Det. Axel FOLEY of “Beverly Hills Cop”; 63. Free TV ad, for short; 65. Question after a separation; 68. The Aragon River flowers into it; 69. 1999 war site; 70. Port ERIN, seaside resort on the Isle of Man; 71. Purim time; 72. Hamburger medium-rare, e.g.; 73. What busy folks are on; 74. One way to get to the airport; 78. Walt Disney’s middle name; 79. Converges on; 80. Wound up; 82. PC peripheral; 84. Psychiatrist Berne and others; 85. Ready for service; 86. 1930s ring champ; 90. Belief; 91. Like many files nowadays; 93. Fair places; 94. Last of a series; 99. Arrive on wheels; 100. Bald condition; 101. Andrews in Md.; 103. Basic stuff; 106. Designer Saab; 107. Tucker of country music; 108. Radiate; 109. Programmer’s output; 110. Passing notice 113. Di or da preceder in a Beatles song; 114. Movie whale; 115. Gulf war ally; 116. Bled; 117. Teacher’s advanced deg.; 118. Lead-in to girl or boy; 119. Stack role; 121. Words of commitment; 122. Easy question.
Time for change!
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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

And the Messiah worship goes on!

Anonymous said...

I do the crossword for a little escape from events, including politics. Enough already with the homages to B.O.