01.27.09 -- Ugly as Sin!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Puzzle by Jim Hyres, edited by Will Shortz

MILLE BORNES (17A. Game with “Out of Gas” cards); JASON BOURNE (58A. Robert Ludlum protagonist); FIRSTBORN (11D. Heir to a throne, typically), and WIND-BORNE (33D. Like the dust in a dust storm) are this Tuesday crossword’s interrelated entries.

DEDICATE (38D. Devote wholly) ENERGIES (9D. Vigorous feelings), PULL RANK (4D. Exert one’s superiority) and TANTRUMS (39D. Rugrats’ outbursts) also belong together. Get out the AIR TASER (21A. High-voltage weapon). Another group -- PROWL CAR (53A. Cop’s cruiser), RAG TOPS (49A. Convertibles, informally) and SEDAN (45A. Alternative to a station wagon or convertible). Also, TESTERS (10D. Lab personal) are familiar with a BELL JAR (41D. Sylvia Plath novel with “The”).

People in the puzzle: an AGENT (25A. Word with double or free); ALOU (14A. Baseball’s Moises or Felipe); 26. Furrier John Jacob ASTOR; 61A. Former British P.M. Clement ATTLEE; CAPP (1A. Li’l Abner creator Al); DEMS (31D. G.O.P. rivals); ERIK (37A. Composer Satie); MAGOO (42D. Myopic Mr.); MIZE (62A. Larry who won the 1987 Masters); ORRIN (50D. Sen. Hatch of Utah); RAMIS (27D. Harold of “Ghostbusters”); SONIA (8D. Braga of film); a USER (13D. Tech’s customer); and ZALES (34A. Big name in retail jewelry), along with the eponymous PONZI scheme (51D.) and fringe-human, I ROBOT (28A. Classic Isaac Asimov short-story).

ACT ONE (15A. Play starter) leads off the remaining mid-sized entries followed by ANKLES (20A. Spots for spats), BORROW (56A. Check out of a library, e.g.), DABBED (46D. Applied gently) and YEARNED (23A. Had a yen). Also, RESEED (64A. Start over with, as a lawn) and SODDED (43A. Like newly laid lawns) have a commonality. Sharing their initial letter, TABSET (5D. Typewriter formatting feature) and TEASET (5A. China shop purchase) are separated but by a single letter from being anagrams.

Five-letter -- ALINE (2D. Flared dress); BELIE (47A. Contradict); BENIN (41A. Nation once known as Dahomey); CAMAY (1D. Bar soap brand); DEMOS (38A. Some mailings to record execs); DOWNY (31A. Popular fabric softener); DOZEN (24D. Dunkin’ Donuts order); EASTS (48D. Some bridge seats); 18D. EENSY-weensy; LONER (35D. Asocial sort); MANES (42A. Horses’ locks); POLKA (3D. Oompah band tune); SWEEP (52D. Remove dust bunnies).

Short stuff -- ANO, ATRA, DEW, EAR, ECO, FSU, ITS, MSN, NEE, ODE, OKIE and OKS, ORSO and PESO, RAID, ROLE, RYE and STYE, SNIP and TRIP and 60A. Ugly as SIN.

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Remaining clues -- 11. Seminoles’ sch.; 16. “___ only money!”; 19. Certain whiskey; 36. Gives the thumbs-up; 39. Go sprawling; 40. AOL alternative; 57. Place for a plug; 63. Poem of Sappho. Down: 6. Prefix with system or sphere; 7. Gillette razor; 12. Eyelid woe; 22. “I’ll take that as ___”; 29. Depression-era migrant; 30. Recipe amts.; 32. Guesstimate phrase; 44. Mountain ___ (soda); 53. Colombian cash; 54. Drug bust, e.g.; 59. Bridal bio word.