05.19.09 -- Cock-a-doodle-doo...

The Cockfight, a painting by Frans Snyders
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Tuesday, May 19 , 2009
Puzzle by Damon J. Gulczynski, edited by Will Shortz COCKTAIL (19A. Tom Collins or Rob Roy) gives its’ tail to TAIL PIPE (24A. End of an exhaust system)which pipes a PIPE DREAM (32A. Unrealistic idea) to a DREAM TEAM (45A. 1992 U.S. Olympic hoopsters, with “the”) in a TEAM GAME (51A. Basketball or baseball) ending with a GAMECOCK (58A. Fighting rooster), in a round leading back to the top of the crossword.
What else? EPHEMERAL (33D. Short-lived) and FOOTPRINT (9D. Evidence washed away by the tide) work nicely together… So do ADULT (6D. X-rated) and HOTTIE (8D. Real babe). Also, ECARD (56D. Paperless birthday greeting), EMAIL (52D. Messages that may contain emoticons) with perhaps an electronic curse of EGADS (“Zounds!”).
Other mid-size entries include ARMLET (25D. Decorate band); IMMESH (57A. Tangle in a net: Var.); RAHRAH (48D. Gung-ho); READERS (14D. Blogger’s audience); SELDOM (30D. Only now and then); TATARS (21A. Turkic people); YARDMEN (41D. Landscaper’s crew).
Five-letter -- AMIGA (53D. Old computer); ARDEN (68A. Elizabeth of cosmetics); 10D. China’s Zhou ENLAI; EXULT (17A. Jump for joy); 14A. XM RADIO; REAVE (64A. Take forcibly, old-style); ROOKS (4D. Corner pieces, in chess); SCARP (11D. Bluff formed by a fault); SITON (35A. Hold back, as a news story); SLYLY (40A. In a foxy fashion); TENSE (12D. In need of a rubdown): TINGE (51D. Trace of color); YACHT (43A. Regatta entry).
Short stuff -- ALAS, ALEC, AMAN, AVES, AYR, CABS, CROC, CZAR, DDE, DOSE, ELAL, EPIC, ERE, EURO, FEST, GIGA, HESS, KNEE, LES, MADE, MAXI, NAIR, NEMO, NOPE, OLAN, OMOO, ONCE, OPAL, OREO, REAR, RELO, ROBE, SLO, SNIP, SOD, TIL, TINA, TOES, TOLD, TRA, TUGS, UPSY, UTE, ZERO (2D. Total loser).
That‘s all folks!
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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
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Remaining clues -- Across: 1. Industry honcho; 5. “Do the ___!”; 9. Suffix with beer or fun; 13. Move, in Realtor lingo; 15. In the old days; 16. Lunchbox dessert item; 18. “The Good Earth” heroine; 23. Grass bought in rolls; 26. Beehive State athlete; 29. Guitar pioneer Paul; 31. Paddler’s target; 39. Salon sound; 42. “Uh-uh”; 47. Peseta’s replacement; 49. La-la lead-in; 55. Ike’s monogram; 63. Hair removal brand; 66. Tom Wolfe novel “___ in Full”; 67. Bigger than mega-; 69. After-beach wear; 70. Supersecure airline; 71. Name on toy fuel trucks; 7. Two caplets, say. Down: 1. Swamp menace, for short; 2. Total loser; 3. Guiness or Waugh; 5. Calf-length dress; 7. Up to, in ads; 20. Ratted (on); 22. “Sad to say …”; 26. “___ -daisy!”; 27. Fey of “30 Rock”; 28. Huge in scope; 34. Firth of Clyde town; 36. The “ten” in “hang ten”; 37. Stone for many Libras; 38. Nautilus skipper; 44. Harbor workhorses; 46. Showed up in time for; 59. Birds, collectively; 60. 1847 Melville work; 61. Some urban rides; 62. “Trick” body part; 65. Before, to a bard.

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