10.06.09 -- Connections...

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Puzzle by Matt Ginsberg, edited by Will Shortz

CAMPGROUND (18A. Only common word in the English language with the consecutive letters MPG), HEADQUARTERS (28A. … ADQ …), THANKSGIVING (48A. … KSG …), BLITZKRIEG (62A. … ZKR … ), RASPBERRY (2D. … SPB … ) and CRANKCASE (35D. … NKC … ) are the interrelated group of this interesting-trivia Tuesday crossword.

Other entries of length include CHAINED UP (34D. Fettered); CLOSEST (10D. Narrowly spaced, as the eyes); DETRITUS (38D. Rubble, e.g.); IMMOLATED (3D Burned ceremonially).

Mid-size -- KAYOED (4D. Walloped but good); IMPART (8D. Bestow); NEURON (50D. One of about 100 billion in the human brain); RECEDES (25A. Moves back, as a hairline); SPARE ME (52A “I don’t want to hear about it!”); VIPERS (51D. Snakes).

Five -- AINGE (12D. All-Star Danny who played for the 1980s Celtics); AKIRA (54D. “Seven Samurai” director Kurosawa); BLEED (24A. What colors may do in hot water); CLUED (11D. Aware, with “in”); 16A. Best-selling author Bret Easton ELLIS; ERASE (69A. Rub out); LARUE (66A. Cowboy star Lash who taught Harrison Ford how to use a bullwhip); MSDOS (13D. PC platform released in 1982); OCCAM (9A. Philosopher with a “razor”); POLAR (53D. Arctic or Antarctic); REINK (30D Freshen, as a stamp pad); RYDER (43A. Actress Winona); SABLE (52D. Expensive fur); SPECS (60A. Pair of lenses); SPOOR (20A. Wild animal track); STILT (39A. Circus stick); STINK (55A. Perform really badly) and YECCH (33A. “This tastes horrible!”).

Short stuff -- AAA, AMOK, AOKI, ART, AZT, CRY, DEAL, DOZE, DUOS, ERIK and ERIS, GAS, GLEE, HAIR, HITS, HOAG, IRED, ISMY, LOS, MEAD, NAME, NETS, NOAH, OER, OMNI, ORC and ORCA, OUTS, RAMA and REAM, REQD, RHE, RUSE, SECT, SEGO, SMEE and SPEE, TAGS, THRO, TIRE, ZEE.

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THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

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Remaining clues -- Across:1. Christine’s lover in “The Phantom of the Opera”; 5. Onetime science magazine; 14. “___ Lama Ding Dong,” 1961 hit for the Edsels; 15. Paper purchase; 22. Command to a person holding a deck of cards; ___ lily; 31. Carney of “The Honeymooners”; 32. Catch some Z’s; 37. Really ticked; 42. “Comin’ ___ the Rye”; 45. Captain for 40 days and nights; 47. “___ approved (motel sign); 56. Golfer Isao; 57. Escape clauses, e.g.; 65. Cheese sold in red paraffin; 67. Boat in “Jaws”; 68. Trick; 70. Butterfly catchers’ needs; 71. German admiral Maximilian von ___. Down: 1. Goddess of discord; 5. “The Lord of the Rings” baddie; 6. Lake ___, created by Hoover Dam; 7. ID; 19. Mirth; 21. Necessary: Abbr.; 25. Pairs; 27. What Evita asked Argentina not to do for her; 28. Fur; 29. First anti-AIDS drug; 36. Romance/suspense novelist Tami; 40. The “L” in L.A.; 41. Marks with graffiti; 44. Baseball summary inits.; 46. The middle part of 44-Down; 49. Crazedly; 58. Tucker out; 59. Zen Buddhism, e.g.; 61. Right-hand man for a man with no right hand; 63. Capital of Zambia?; 64. Tankful.