01.24.10 -- Abridged Edition

Sunday, January 24, 2010

ABRIDGED EDITION, Puzzle by David Kwong and Kevan Choset, edited by Will Shortz

Sloppy! All kinds of notes accompany this one. Two ALOES in the print version (67A. Botanical balm; 135A. Salve ingredient), crosswords are supposed to use a word but once per puzzle. In the electronic version, 135-Across ALOE has been changed to ULEE (1997 Peter Fonda role); 124-Across NAP (124A. Quick refresher) to TAN (Whup); 124-Down NANAS (Tot tenders) to TUNAS (Skipjack and yellowfin); 126-Down POWER (Motor-driven) to NEWER (More fresh).  However, this crossword can use the extra ALOE!

The electronic version note: “In the print version of this puzzle’s grid, there are dotted vertical lines between the 11th and 12th columns, and between the 18th and 19th columns.” Further, in the print version six complete lines across are shaded, while in the electronic version, they contain circles. Either way, the solver’s time is wasted -- certainly for electronic solvers, as the instruction in 7- and 14-Down cannot be accomplished on the computer. Those solving with the print version may need to tear out the page to execute the instruction, after which an impulse may arise to make further utilization of the dislodged page in a less creative manner.

FOLD PAGE SO A AND B ARE LINED UP IN THE TOP AND BOTTOM ROWS (7A with 14-Down, what to do on the dotted lines to reveal six hidden things that have something in common with this puzzle) is the aforementioned instruction which produces the unclued LAWN CHAIR, ORIGAMI, BED SHEETS, POKER HAND, LAUNDRY and NEWSPAPER -- they fold. One’s appreciation of this gimmick depends upon familiarity with MAD MAGAZINE (83A. Publication founded in 1952 featuring artwork that does the same thing as this puzzle).

A Mad Fold-In consists of a single drawing, with a paragraph of text underneath, and a panel across the top with a question. Each Fold-In also features instructions on how to manipulate the Fold-In, as well as a picture illustrating the procedure. Under the instructions are two arrows labeled "A" and "B". When the paper is folded so that points "A" and "B" are touching, the remaining unobscured text underneath the picture becomes the answer to the question, and the picture itself changes into a fresh image reflecting the new text as the middle 50% of the drawing vanishes. -- Wikipedia

The two ALOEs have plenty of company -- ARLO and ARNOS, ACNE and ARNE, ALPES, ARR, AURA, AMAS, AMI and AMIES, AID,  ALDA, AKELA and ANITA, APT, ASEC and AXE, followed by even more short stuff -- BAIO, BBC, BRR, BTEN, CHI, DECA, DEKE, DODI, EDDY, ENOW, ENSE, ESAI, ESP, ESTA, ETDS, EUR, FONT, HARD, IFS, IGLU, IND and INDO, ISS, LAM, LEIA and LILI, LICE, MAPS, MIB, NAP, NOEL, NONE, OMOO, ONER, ORBS, OSH and OSHA, PCB, POE, PSAT, RAVE, REEL, SALE, SCAG, SENS, SHOE, SLOT, SLR, STEP, SUCH, TAN, TERA, TIED, TINS, TOYS, TRIP, ULEE (formerly ALOE), WITS, XBOX, ZAG and ZEN.

Other -- ADAMANCY (76A. Stubbornness); BEET RED (104A. Visibly very embarrassed); BRAHE (131D. Astronomer who lost part of his nose in a duel); HIDALGO (63A. The Father of Mexican Independence); ICHIRO (149A. Gold Glover Suzuki); I ROBOT (122A. 1950 Asimov classic); LAWN BOWLING (25A. Rolling in the grass?); NEWS CHANNEL (142A. Place for breaking things?); SCHOOL PAPER (144A. Classy publication); SOCIAL CHAIR (27A. Party leadership?); SHOE and TOP HAT (90A and 119D. Monopoly token), SWAN SONG (88A. Bittersweet performance).

Gotta go, this is the abridged edition! 

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. Letter-shaped woodworking vise; 7. Times, e.g.; 11. Inuit word for “house”; 15. Butchers’ offerings; 21. Former New Jersey governor James; 22. “Typee” sequel; 23. Junket; 24. Out; 29. Comic strip “___ and Janis”; 30. Parting locale; 31. “Still …”; 32. Only person to win Emmys for acting, writing and directing; 33. 1992 Robin Williams movie; 34. National Geographic inserts; 35. Mall attraction; 37. Cookie holders; 39. Medium power?; 40. Verandas; 42. Hypotheticals; 43. “___ luego!”; 45. Intersection of the x and y axes; 49. Biologist Stephen Jay ___; 51. Buddhist sect; 52. “Who ___?”; 54. Kind of artery; 55. Cross swords?; 58. Oct. ordeal for jrs.; 58. Zeniths; 61. Lamp locales; 65. It may rain in these; 66. Where a tab goes; 69. “Rule, Britannia” composer; 70. “The Oblong Box” author; 72. Heroin, slangily; 763. TV Guide info; 79. Quick on the uptake; 80. Hinged fasteners; 85. Suisse peaks; 87. ___ Kosh B’Gosh; 90. Run longer than expected; 92. Dance move; 94. Neither Rep. nor Dem.; 95. Headed for overtime; 97. PlayStation alternative; 102. Nudge; 107. Like tennis serves; 108. Shells out; 110. Mystique; 111. Dumas’s Monte Cristo, e.g.; 113. Propelled, in a way; 114. Flight; 115. Musical score abbr.; 116. Lacking skill in; 117. Become depleted; 118. Hanukkah serving; 120. Camera type, briefly; 127 “Joyeaux” time; 128. Trillion: Prefix; 130. Latin 101 word; 131. Bingo call; 137. Electrician’s need; 139. Roman’s country; 141. Five-star review; 146. First name in soul; 147. Morales of “La Bamba”; 148. Adequate, old-style; 150. Narrow waterway; 151. Rink fake-out; 152. A century in Washington: Abbr.; 153. “Roger ___ Book of Film”. DOWN: 1. B, ESSENTIALLY; 2. Mild cigar; 3. Humble; 4. Some early New Yorker cartoons; 5. 1997 Will Smith/ Tommy Lee Jones blockbuster, for short; 6. Have-not; 8. Elision; 9. All alternative; 10. One-piece vestments; 11. What “ipso” means; 12. Orange spots; 13. Woe for Fido; 15. Claws; 16. World Service airer; 17. Labor Dept. watchdog; 18. Football Hall-of-Fame coach Greasy; 19. Writers Bagnold and Blyton; 20. Rein, e.g.; 26. Gradually remove; 28. Like some elephants and all tigers; 38. Come to the rescue; 38. Kind of infection; 40. “I Shot Andy Warhol” star Taylor; 41 The like; 44. Pierre’s girlfriends; 45. Planets, e.g.; 46. Casting requirement; 47. Prefix with Chinese; 48. Valve in some fireplaces; 50. Han’s hon; 51. Veer quickly; 53. Polar feature; 55. Corey of “Stand By Me”; 56. Bamboo lover; 57. Vulgar person; 58. “Just ___!”; 59. Tour de France stage; 60. Some Army NCO’s; 62. Patriotic women’s org.; 64. Trawler; 69. LAX data: Abbr.; 71. Bob Marley classic; 74. Edition: Abbr.; 76. Ham on stage; 77. Coquette; 78. China’s Sun ___- sen; 80. R.N. locales; 81. Put ___ to (end); 82. Tel Aviv coin; 84. “America” singer in “West Side Story”; 86. Eda who wrote “When Your Child Drives You Crazy”; 89. Mental acuity; 91. Fire; 93. Correctional; 96. Prefix with -gon; 99. Brain-busting; 100. Lulu; 101. Small vortex; 103. Jingle writer, maybe; 105. Where to find Lux.; 106. ___ al-Fayed, companion of Princess Diana; 108. Lopsided victory; 112. Part of an Ironman competition; 115. Mowgli’s friend in “The Jungle Book”; 116. Cold response?; 117. Gershwin musical of 1928; 120. Engage in a certain college prank; 121. Nielsen of “The Naked Gun”; 123. Star of “Charles in Charge”; 124. Tot tenders; 125. Like good guards; 126. Motor-driven; 129. Church recesses; 132. Animal with four toes on its front feet and three toes on its back feet); 133. Six-time U.S. Open champ; 134. __ Circus (ancient Roman arena); 136. This, in Madrid; 138. Start of Massachusetts’ motto; 140. This might make you red in the face; 143. X; 145. Tox chemical, for short.