08.25.09 -- Mixing It Up

1907 Stanley Steamer

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Tuesday, August 25, 2009 -- post number 1,000!

Puzzle by Bob Johnson, edited by Will Shortz

HYBRID VEHICLES (56A. Cars suggested by 20-, 26- and 48-Across?), SUBURBAN MALIBU (20A. Residential area of California [think Chevy]); MUSTANG ESCAPE (26A. Start of a stampede, maybe [think Ford]) and ACCORD ELEMENT (48A. Part of a peace treaty [think Honda]) are the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword.

MOBILE HOME (11D. It might have a “wide load” sign) and SUNDAY BEST (28D. Going-to-church clothes) are the other long entries, followed by two of seven letters -- INSULAR (5D. Isolated, as a people) and SEA COWS (46D. Dugongs or manatees).

Six-letter -- CHINOS (8D. Casual slacks); COMBAT (4D. Front-line action); MULLAH (51D. Islamic leader); OODLES (49D. Lots and lots); REVIVE (50D. Bring back, as a fashion); TARMAC (9D. Takeoff or touchdown site).

Five -- ABACI (1A. Early calculators); ALIBI (12D. It’s good when airtight); EL CID (30D. Conqueror of Valencia, 1094); INDIA (43A. Locale of many outsourced jobs); 53D. “KYRIE eleison” (“Lord, have mercy”); MACON (14A. Georgia Music Hall of Fame city); NOT UP (13D. Still in bed); OLLIE (64A. Colonel North, informally); PALMS (17A. Conceals, as a card; RAN AT (21D. Charged); ROHAN (34A. Realm of Tolkien’s Middle-earth); SHAKE (71A. Soda shop order); SHARP (52D. Quick-witted); SOLTI (41D. Sir Georg of the Chicago Symphony); TACOS (39A. Sonora snacks); WALLY (68A. The Beav’s big brother).

Lots of short stuff -- ABIT, ACLU, ACTI, AFAR, AKIN, ALA, AMP and APU, AREA, ASEA, BAAS, ELLA, ERIC, EVIL, EYE, GIA, HALT, HINT, IDOS, LIP, LIRA, MAHI, MEIR, MIX (47A. Be sociable), NEXT, OAF, ODE, OMAN, OPAL, OSHA, PETE, POKE, POLO, POP, RAIL, RISK, RAKE, SECT, SILK, SKY, TACT and TIC, TAU and TOE, TOMB, UPIN.

…and then there‘s the carbon hybrid human auto -- HERE!

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Remaining clues -- Across: 6. What it takes not to say “I see you’ve put on a little weight”; 10. Arabian Peninsula land; 15. Workplace watchdog org.; 16. Fashion line named for a sport; 18. Golda of Israel; 19. Just slightly; 23. In the style of; 24. Clumsy sort; 25. Fresh talk; 32. “The Simpsons” storekeeper; 33. Commuter’s option; 37. Subtle flavor; 42. Elbow; 45. Altar exchange; 52. Blue shade; 54. Tot’s “piggy”; 55. Letter-shaped cross; 62. Surface figure; 63. Trevi Fountain throw-in, once; 66. Put on the line; 67. Dr. ___ (Mike Myers character); 69. Rose who surpassed Cobb; 70. Religious offshoot. Down: 1. Roadie’s load; 2. Meadow calls; 3. Rights org.; 6. Mummy’s locale; 7. On a cruise; 10. Gem mined in Australia; 22. At a distance; 26. Hawaiian fish, on menus; 27. ___ arms (indignant); 29. Actress ___ Scala; 31. Much Top 40 music; 35. Closely related; 36. Barbershop call; 38. Quirky habit; 40. “___ to Billie Joe” (1967 #1 hit); 44. Play opener; 57. Do some yard work; 58. Idle o “Life o Brian”; 59. Sentry’s order; 60. Jazz’s Fitzgerald; 61. Symbol of smoothness; 65. Check out.