07.03.09 -- Time Warp

Friday, July 3, 2009

Puzzle by Kevin G. Der, edited by Will Shortz

In this Friday crossword, “In one era and out the other” phenomenon is a TIME WARP, which opens the crossword at 1A, whereupon getting to the last entry, REAL EASY (63A. Like duck soup), it is not. Skewed clues render this puzzle an absurd exercise in HOOPLA (18A. Smoke and mirrors) somewhere between CANNY (51D. Sharp) and OBTUSE (45D. Not sharp). These are clues?! -- HULA SKIRT (13D. Grassy bottom); MILK MAID (24D. Girl with considerable pull?); STAGE SETS (14D. Things to get a grip on?); TAX EVADER (31D. One cooking a return); WAXWORK (35A. One might stand in a chamber of horrors) -- oh, these weekend OLIOS (50D. Gallimaufries)!

More opaque and/or de facto are the clues for the remaining longer entries -- COQ AU VIN (58A. Certain fricassee); EMULSION (61A. Hollandaise, e.g.); ENTICER (41D. Decoy); EXTREMITY (32D. Arm or leg); LEGAL AGE (21D. 21, maybe); LOST ART (37A. Calligraphy, some say); O SOLE MIO (15A. Basis of Tony Martin’s “There’s No Tomorrow”); POTIONS (8D. Hogwarts class taught by Severus Snape); SAILBOAT (17A. Cutter, e.g.); SWAZILAND (30D. Its flag includes a shield and two spears); TOP DOLLAR (12D. An exorbitant amount).

Six-letter entries -- ADIEUX (56A. Cheerios, abroad); ANGELO (44A. Muhammad Ali corner man Dundee); ATTILA (54A. Historical figure on whom a Verdi opera is based); CARESS (19A. Show of affection); DRYADS (62A. Tree dwellers); ELLERY (4D. Queen who wrote popular novels); KEITHS (9A. Pianist Jarrett and others); NETTLE (60A. Rub the wrong way); OPT OUT (16A. Decline); YAWING (26A. Off course, in a way).

Five -- ALLIE (34A. Half a 1980s TV duo); 27D. “A SONG for You” (1975 Temptations album); 39A. “Joy to the World” penner Hoyt AXTON; BASEL (29D. City where Erasmus taught); BILKS (29A. Hornswoggles); ISAAC (2D. Half brother of Midian, in the Bible); KOHLS (9D. Target competitor); LIVIA (49D. Octavian’s wife); LUXES (47D. Meter-candles); MEADE (40A. Army of the Potomac commander); MOIRE (3D. Waves on garments); SALSA (33A. Hot stuff); TOSCA (1D. Opera singer in an opera); ZERO G (43A. What you may experience when going around the world?).

Short stuff -- ACER, AMOS, AQUA, AULD, BLOC, DAG, EPOS, ETA, ILLS, ITO, IVES, JILT, JOSE, LAM, LITE, MOES, ODE and OME, RIA, RTS, STE, WAR, WEBS, WOOS, TALL (55D. Like Magic?).

The term time warp is commonly used in science fiction. It sometimes refer to Einstein's theory that time and space form a continuum which bends, folds or warps from the observer's point of view, relative to such factors as movement or gravitation, but are also used in reference to more fantastic notions of discontinuities or other irregularities in space/time not based on real-world science.

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Remaining clues -- Across: 20. Subject of therapy; 22. First name among U.N. secretaries-general; 23. One who has a quick point to make?; 24. Where Duff Beer is sold, on TV; 25. Outfielder Guillen; 30. Office bldg. division; 42. They may get waived: Abbr.; 46. “The Unanswered Question” composer, 1908; 47. Alternative to Genuine Draft; 48. ___ Quebecois (political party); 52. Beat it; 53. Its logo is four interlocking rings. Down: 5. ABC, Fox, etc., in Variety; 6. Half a 1950s TV duo; 7. Coastal feature; 10. Apolionius of Rhodes’ “Argonautica,” e.g.; 11. First woman to land a triple axel in a major competition; 25. Dump without warning; 28. Campaign setting; 36. Tries to get; 38. Lines that lift up; 53. Holiday tune title starter; 54. Shade close to beryl; 57. Flight projection, briefly; 59. “___! What fray was here?”: Romeo.