02.12.09 -- Bi-Bicentennial

Abraham Lincoln, Charles Darwin's statue, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, the Lincoln Memorial, Charles R. Darwin, NY Times puzzle entries -- collage by Donald

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Thursday, February 12, 2009

Puzzle by Gary & Stephen Kennedy, edited by Will Shortz

Two hundred years ago on February 12, 1809, who knew?! ABRAHAM LINCOLN (47A. Notable born 2/12/1809) and CHARLES R DARWIN (28A. Notable born 2/12/1809), REPUBLICAN PARTY (61A. 47-Across led it) and ORIGIN OF SPECIES (17A. Influential work by 28-Across) are the interrelated entries of this February 12, 2009 crossword puzzle. Lincoln and Darwin were born and lived an ocean apart with entirely different careers, but they were both liberators, each in his own way. This timely crossword is an imaginative homage in miniature to two giants of history.

Other people in the puzzle LENIN (20A. Bygone leader with a goatee), another Abraham, BEAME (35A. 1970s Big Apple mayor); NERO (51A. Role played by 52-Across in “The Story of Mankind”); LORRE (52A. See 51-Across); GERE (2D. “Runaway Bride” co-star, 1999); OTIS (11D. Bluesman Rush); ELSA (13D. Old-time gossip queen Maxwell); KERN (25D. “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man” composer); STAHL (29D. “60 Minutes correspondent starting in 1991); ALAN (37D. Singer Jackson with more than 20 #1 country hits); KERI (54D. R&B singer Hilson); and that old crossword regular, ENOS (70A. Genesis grandson). Lost in the shuffle is another bi-centennial birthday, that of Edgar Allan Poe, January 19, 1809.

Two more long entries run down the length of the crossword -- RAIN SHOWER (3D. Drought easer) and WAFFLE IRON (30D. Kitchen appliance). THEABCS (43D. Kindergarten learning) and ZULU (69A. End of a phonetic alphabet) make a nice pair, as do SNEAK (23A. Dastard) and SNACK (38A. Cheese and crackers, maybe). Remaining mid-size entries include ANGINA (4D. Chest pain); BESTIR (8D. Rouse); CHEMLAB (9D. Beaker site, for short); 49D. St. MORITZ, Switzerland; ORNATE (50D. Flowery).

Five-letter entries -- ANISE (58A. Absinthe flavor), the answer is included in the clue; BRONC (65A. What almost always goes for a buck?; CHOKE (9A. Old auto control), or check out this CHOKE; CLIMB (28D. Scale); HOTEL (16A. The Four Seasons, e.g.); IMEAN (31D. “Er … uh …”); INERT (18D. Like neon); SCRAP (45D. Go at it); SITES (68A. Tour stops); SMELT (42A. Great Lakes fish).

Short stuff -- AARE, AFEW, AGRA, AIWA, ALAS, ALFA, AOL, ARAL, AREA, ATOM, AWOL, CNN, COIL, CRAB, ECRU, EYES, FAT, INLA, KEEP, KENO, HOC, HOES, NEWT, NILE, OKS, ORBS, PASA, PLO, RIO, SPOT, STLO, TART, TOLE, TROY, UNE, WEAN and ZULU.

Incidentally, for a neat coincidence of death, go HERE!

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For today’s cartoons, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

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Remaining clues -- Across: 1. “Slumdog Millionaire” locale; 5. Find fault; 14. Move to solid food; 15. Scene of classic flooding; 21. Bit; 22. Health ___; 26. Where to see 20th Century Fox studios; 33. Grp. Founded in Jerusalem; 34. Part of a knave’s loot, in a rhyme; 36. Sony brand; 41. Some; 44. Tills, in a way; 53. Signs off on; 56. Lake Thun’s river; 66. 2004 Brad Pitt film; 67. Tinware art. Down: 1. Object of a hunt, maybe; 5. Atlanta’s ___ Center; 6. “A Rainy Night in ___” (1946 hit); 10. Ad ___; 12. Not go bad; 19. Place for a lily; 24. “___ the day!” (Shakespearean exclamation); 27. Quarter; 32. Slender amphibian; 33. “Que ___?”; 39. Stamp purchase; 40. Numbers game; 48. Salty inland ___ Sea; 55. Descry; 57. Literally, “raw”; 59. 1944 battle site; 60. Checks out; 62. “___ Saison en Enfer”; 63. Comcast alternative; 64. Home of the Stern School of Business: Abbr.