10.31.10 — Secrets — the Cryptic Crossword

Human Bones received from unmarked grave in Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada, October 30, 1956

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Sunday, October 31, 2010

Cryptic Crossword by Richard Silvestri, edited by Will Shortz

This excessively cryptic crossword is appropriately published on Halloween, a time when many secrets are boldly worn upon the face of the owner. For the torment and turmoil of fellow solvers, read Wordplay, The Crossword Blog of The New York Times.

Across — 1. Facing beast from the East (6), LAMINA; 4. Hippie confused ring with halo (8), LONG-HAIR; 10. Cracked earthwork got older (7) DAMAGED; 11. Loudly closing top (7), CEILING; 12. Specs for one embracing the old girls (10), EYEGLASSES; 15. Obligation to take ship heading west for fur (7), MUSKRAT; 17. Work surrounding English/North American clipping (7), TOE NAIL; 19. Saw straight? (7), NOTICED; 21. Endlessly seeking something for pain (7) ASPIRIN; 23. Over 8/13 of the alphabet (4), ATOP; 24. What a surprise! Grave contains origin of terrible secret (10), MYSTERIOUS; 27. Outstanding sandwich and fruit (7), SUBLIME; 28. Get rid of new concoction of oil and pastry (7), CANNOLI; 29. Tear apart certain prize (8), TREASURE; 30. One who rents the French spot (6), LESSEE.

Down — 1. Dotty, Sam, Daniel, Romeo (6, 3), LADIES MAN; 2. Recalls all but the first two people in the club (7), MEMBERS; 3. British actor feigned being cruel (5, 5), NIGEL BRUCE; 5. Gold box right above a section of the theater (9), ORCHESTRA; 6. Get ace in card game (4), GAIN; 7. State song describes unfinished area (7), ARIZONA; 8. Hoisted beer fit for a king (4), REGAL; 9. Time of the month that is timeless (4), IDES; 14. Nation’s cause: painting North Carolina house at last (10), TEMPERANCE; 16. Cross current to carry stuffed toy (5, 4), TEDDY BEAR; 18. Liberal adds ine in new presentation for a big victory (9), LANDSLIDE; 20. Bother beginning to transfer Russian money (7), TROUBLE; 22. Brazilian city, to American, is wild (7), RIOTOUS; 23. Valuable hound loses head (5), ASSET; 25. The way to eat cold Mexican food (4), TACO; 26. Rabbi assuredly conceals partisan point of view (4), BIAS.

We dance round in a ring and suppose,
but the secret sits in the middle and knows.

~ Robert Frost

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

10.31.10 — Vampire!

Vampire Bat photo by Barry Mansell/naturepl.com — NewScientist 

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Sunday, October 31, 2010 — Halloween

FANGS FOR THE MEMORY, Puzzle by Elizabeth C. Gorski, edited by Will Shortz

A puzzle-size BAT (84A. [See instructions]) is the end result of the Sunday crossword note: When this puzzle is completed, connect the circled letters in alphabetical order from A to R to show the outline of an 84-Across.  BOO (89A. Halloween cry)!

The ghastly and ghostly in this Gorski masterpiece include seven vampire films clued by date and portrayer of the infamous bloodsucking undead — NOSFERATU (23A. 1922 Max Schreck film), VAMPIRE IN BROOKLYN (1955 Eddie Murphy film), DRACULA (1931 Bela Lugosi film), LOVE AT FIRST BITE (97A. 1979 George Hamilton film), NEAR DARK (1987 Adrian Pasdar film), TWILIGHT (117A. 2008 Robert Pattinson film), BLOOD TIES (1986 Brad Davis film).

Other — ABSORBS (6D. Sucks up), BANANA SHAKE (4D. Fruit-based fountain treat), EASY AS PIE (120A. “Piece of cake!”), ELAINE’S (10D. Noted New York eatery), ENAMELED (87A. Like some fondue pots), FEASTERS (55A. Saturnalia participants), FLOOD LINE (26A. High-water mark), GUERILLA (91D. Kind of warfare), IMBECILIC (17A. Doltish), MALL RATS (88D. Shopping center regulars), OBLIGATE (90A. Compel), ROCOCO STYLE (12D. What Chippendale furniture was made in), SILVER STAR (35D. Medal of valor), TEASHOP (50A. Cozy place?), THE NATURAL (41D. Bernard Malamud’s first novel), TRISTAN (44A. Lover of Isolde), VALHALLA (52A. Wagnerian opera setting) .

Mid-size — ADAGE, AGAIN, AMINO, ATEON, BLINI, BREAD, CARATS, CLARA, CLONE, DANES, DEFOE, ELIOT, EOCENE, EQUAL, EXIST (127A. Walk the earth), FORYOU, GIRLS, GRAPES, ICARE, ILIAD, INUSE, ITLLDO, ITNOW, KEBAB, LANAI, LODGE, MSNBC, MYEYE, NOMAS, PAINE, PEAHEN, PINATA, RETIE, ROREM, RUNSTO, SCALPS, SEATS, SNEAKS, SOLUS, STATS, TALCED, TELEX, THROE, TITAN, ULNAE, UNLIT (37D. Like the inside of a coffin).

Short stuff — AABB, ABOU, ACED, ACS, ADIA, AGRA, ANN, ARE, AROD, ASL, CDI, CIAO, CUE, CURB, DAB, DEES, DNA, EARP, EEL, ERA, EWAN, FORA, GEEK, ICI, INF, ISM, KALB, KEA, LAPP, LEEJ, LOOT, MEAT, MESA, MINE, MOA, MSS, MTV, NAYA, NES, NUIT (3D. When French ghouls come out?), OPS, OTTO, OURS, PET, PIU, PTS, RAH, RAJI, REBA, RIN, RULE, SAL, SERA (92A. When Italian ghouls come out?), SIC, SOO, SNO, SQMI, STOA, TAM, TIER, TOR, ULAN, UNA, UNTO, URNS (62A. Some gravesite decorations), VOA, WESS, YIP.

'Tis now the very witching time of night,

When churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out

Contagion to this world: now could I drink hot blood…

~ Hamlet, William Shakespeare

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Puzzle available on the internet at
THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Home of “Hardball”; 6. “Love is blind,” e.g.; 11. Moolah; 16. Even; 21. Odd Fellows’ meeting place; 22. Kind of acid; 24. Words of empathy; 25. Heavyweight; 27. “Enough, Jorge!”; 28. Super ___ (old game console); 30. It might come after you; 31. ___ Balls (Hostess snack food); 32. As written; 33. Tijuana table; 36. Parking spot; 38. Actor McGregor; 40. “Beetle Bailey” dog; 46. Oodles; 54. Crime scene matter; 59. Tech whiz; 61. Athenian porch; 63. Arctic herder; 66. Composer Ned; 72. Fix, as laces; 73. Coolers, for short; 74. System o beliefs; 77. “The Rights of Man” writer; 78. Mauna ___; 80. Argentine article; 81. Furry adoptee; 82. Water brand; 85. Cobb of “12 Angry Men”; 86. A bit of cheer?; 93. Poodle’s greeting; 95. Bygone flightless bird; 96. ___ Bator; 105. “Fine”; 108. Stage direction that means” alone”; 109. Ring figures; 116. ___ Tin Tin; 119. Bones also called cubiti; 123. Pianist/composer Schumann; 124. Tandem twosome; 128. “___ Ben Adhem”; 129. Belonging to you and me; 130. Many visitors to Legoland. DOWN: 1. Coconut filler; 2. Acreage fig.; 5. Makes a copy of; 7. Crusoe’s creator; 8. Breezed through; 9. Grade school door sign; 11. Russian pancakes; 13. Cheese ball?; 14. “Slumdog Millionaire” locale; 15. Subpar grades; 17. Gershwin’s “Concerto ___”; 18. Canine cousin; 19. “Do ___!” (“Stop procrastinating!”); 20. Maestro’s sign; 29. Skull caps?; 32. Sly sorts; 33. “Jersey Shore” airer; 34. All alternative; 39. Used, as a dinner tray; 42. Rocky pinnacle; 43. Saturn’s wife; 45. Souvenir from Scotland; 47. Early fifth-century year; 48. “Slander” author Coulter; 49. Bit of Vaseline; 51. Communication syst.; 53. Longtime Yankee nickname; 55. Roman squares; 57. O.K. Corral figure; 58. Exclude with “out”; 59. Bunch at a grocery store; 60. Epoch in which mammals arose; 64. One getting hit on at a party?; 65. Female fowl; 67. Selfish person’s cry before and after “all”; 69. Common rhyme scheme; 70. “Later!”: 71. Biblical preposition; 72. N.F.L. defensive lineman B.J. ___; 75. ___ soda; 76. “… And I’m the queen of England!”; 78. Serving on a stick; 79. Sushi bar order; 83. Sarah McLachlan hit; 85. It may be hidden at a hideout; 94. Units of cream: Abbr.; 95. Slush pile contents: Abbr.; 98. Least typical; 99. Cold war broadcasting inits.; 100. Gift giver’s words; 101. Epic translated by Alexander Pope; 102. Reaches altogether; 103. “Vous êtes ___” 104. Sprinkled with baby powder; 105. Like a locked lavatory; 106. Old-style fax; 107. Hawaiian veranda; 110. Q question shouted in exasperation; 111. Spasm; 112. Some of the fine print on sports pages; 114. 1988 #1 country album; 115. Newsman Marvin; 117. Layer; 118. Jazz saxophonist/flutist Frank; 121. Ontario’s ___ Canals; 122 “A ___ tardi” (“See you later,” in Italy.

10.30.10 — The Last Saturday in October Crossword Puzzle

1903 photochrome of a Ojibwa Indian named “Arrowmaker.”

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Saturday, October 30, 2010

Puzzle by Barry C. Silk, edited by Will Shortz

I read that this smooth-as-silk crossword has been subjected to cross-examination by speed-solvers, so I’ll keep it simple:

Across — 1. Treaty of Fort McIntosh signer, 1785, CHIPPEWA; 9. Taste test need, PALATE; 15. Can’t do without, REQUIRES; 16. William Herschel discovery of 1787, OBERON; 17. Comment while hemming, I SUPPOSE; 18. Has an impressive address, ORATES; 19. Local listings, STOPS; 20. Coin collector’s classification, EXTRA FINE; 22. De Gaulle’s predecessor, COTY; 23. Part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, ARUBA; 24. Contrivance for taking people for a ride, SCAM; 25. 440 yards, for many runners, ONE LAP; 27. They often want to settle: Abbr., ATTS; 29. Ad conclusion?, LIB; 30. “What’s New, Pussycat?” co-star, 1965, O’TOOLE; 32. Antigen attacker, T-CELL; 34. Least likely to turn tail, BRAVEST; 37. Automobil site, STRASSE; 39. Bethlehem’s region, JUDEA; 40. Pump alternative, T-STRAP; 42. Subway inspection org., TSA; 43. Empathic counselor of sci-fi, TROI; 45. Has a loan from, OWES TO; 54. Monomaniacal, OBSESSIVE; 56. Group 13 member, in chemistry, BORON; 57. Mistreating, MEAN TO; 58. Common salad ingredient, ESCAROLE; 60. Confederate, ALLIED; 61. Eponym of an Australian Open arena, ROD LAVER; 62. Surgeons’ insertions, STENTS; 63. Deliverers of product lines?, SPIELERS.

Down — Big name in oil, CRISCO; 2. El Cid player, HESTON; 3. Lead-in to someone else’s words, after “and”, I QUOTE; 4. What a crush might be, PUPPY LOVE; 5. Marks in a casino, PIPS; 6. Leandro’s partner, ERO; 7. River to the North Sea, WESER; 8. Kind of reproduction, ASEXUAL; 9. Not skilled in, POOR AT; 10. Magician’s opening, ABRA; 11. Browses (through), LEAFS; 12. They’re in rags, ARTICLES; 13. They may be treated in a spa, TOE NAILS; 14. Pieces together?, ENSEMBLE; 21. American Lung Assn. recommendation, TB TEST; 23. Blood drive spec., A POS; 26. Distressed, ATEAT; 218. One stuck in a float, STRAW; 31. Holy Roman emperor, 973-83, OTTO II; 33. Florida city on the Caloosahatchee, CAPE CORAL; 34. Singer with the 1966 hit “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”, B J THOMAS; 35. Area with aging factories, RUST BELT; 36. Water, ADAM’S ALE; 38. Compete in the Breeders Crown, TROT; 41. Some Olympians get them, SILVERS; 44. Covers over, in a way, RESODS; 46. Freed from guilt, SHROVE; 47. Stonemason’s chisel, TOOLER; 48. They have rights, OWNERS; 50. Comintern creator, LENIN; 52. “The Frogs Who Desired a King” author, AESOP; 55. Editorial reconsideration, STET; 56. “Oklahoma!” set piece, BALE; 59. Year the Visigoths invaded Italy, CDI.

Wordplay has an interview of interest, HERE.

Take time for all things: great haste makes great waste.

~ Benjamin Franklin.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

10.29.10 — Pallid, Chill and Drear!

Friday, October 29, 2010

Puzzle by Barry Boone, edited by Will Shortz

November is nigh! This last weekday puzzle of October begins the chill.  After the short stuff, e.g., ACRO, AMO, ANT and APT, BLT, “Sk8ter BOI“, CCUP, DELE, EDO and EGO, ELBA, ENT, IDA, ILS, ION, OCA, ORLE, PLS, TBAR and ZEN, there’s really not a lot going for this dreary crossword — the remains:

Across — 1. Fixes, as some fairways, RESODS; 7. Charm the pants off, BEDAZZLE; 15. Missile that sank a British destroyer in the Falklands War, EXOCET; 16. Words before many a foolish act, I DARE YOU; 17. “I’m not listening …”, LA LA LA; 18. April shower?, CALENDAR; 20. Causes of breakdowns, ENZYMES; 25. Far from a sure thing, DICEY; 27. Ancient empire builders, INCAS; 30. Bit of wishful thinking, I HOPE; 31. Company at the forefront of the dot-com boom, NETSCAPE; 34. Like brutal tactics, GESTAPO; 35. Not so tenuous, SOLIDER; 40. Make purr, as an engine, FINE TUNE; 41. Poisonous mushroom producer, briefly?, H-TEST; 45. Star in the Swan constellation, DENEB; 47. It’s worn while driving, TREAD; 51. Locale for an Olivier Award winner, THEATRE; 54. 1980 Maxwell Smart film, with “The” NUDE BOMB; 56. Extract, ELICIT; 58. Clearing, OPEN AREA; 59. Really lit, ABLAZE; 60. “Hang in there!”, BE STRONG; 61. Copied a capo, RASPED.

Down — 1. In a hammock, say; 2. Many a patient, EXAMINEE; 3. Ones with the motto “One for the road”?, SOLO ACTS; 6 and 7. Common sight outside a school building, BICYCLE STAND; 8. Mingo player of 1960s TV, ED AMES; 9. Sawyer’s successor in Chicago, DALEY; 12. Style associated with washboards, ZYDECO; 13. Stuff, LOAD UP; 14. It covers 2% of the earth’s surface, EUROPE; 21. Lighter option, ZIPPO; 24. The court’s Bucharest Buffoon, NASTASE; 26. Latte alternative, CHAI TEA; 28. Opposite of ample, SCANT; 30. Wasn’t employed, IDLED; 35. Join, as a table, SIT IN; 36. Quaint humiliator, DUNCE CAP; 37. Pep up, ENERGIZE; 38. Responded to a crash, maybe, REBOOTED; 40. No posh hotel, FLEABAG; 41. Hang (with), HOBNOB; 42. 51-Across (THEATRE) unit, TROUPE; 43. Uses shortening on?, ELIDES; 44. State surrounded by Lower Saxony, BREMEN; 47. Complete, informally, THORO; 48. “How pallid, chill and DREAR!”: Keats.

　

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Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at
THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — 19. I love the classic way?; 22. Old Asian capital; 23. Capital of Shaanxi province; 26. Lingerie shop specification; 29. Abbr. of politeness; 33. Home of Lewis-Clark State Coll.; 39. One with a small nest egg?; 44. Club cousin; 46. Shield border; 49. Top: Prefix; 50. “Sk8er ___” (2002 top 10 hit). DOWN: 4. Andean tuber; 10. Longtime enemy of Wonder Woman; 11. Discipline symbolized by a painted circle; 32. Quick to get things; 33. Plasma bit; 51. Alternative to a carpet lift; 52. Part of the Tuscan Archipelago; 55. Apnea diagnoser, briefly; 57. They, in Calais.

10.28.10 — BOO!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Puzzle by David J. Kahn, edited by Will Shortz

WHAT IS A / GHOST’S FAVORITE / DESSERT and BOOBERRY PIE AND / I SCREAM (17A. With 27- and 35-Across, a Halloween riddle; 43A. With 60-Across, the answer to the riddle) are the interrelated group of this humorous pre-Halloween Thursday crossword.

Other across — 7. George Washington and others, BRIDGES; 14. 16. “The poison of life,” per Brontë’s Rochester, REMORSE; 19. Set apart, ISOLATE; 20. Online store option, REORDER; 23. Bar at the bar, ESTOP; 25. Poet’s Muse, ERATO; 33. Prefix with comic, SERIO; 41. Bottle spirit, GENIE; 48. Soft drink brand, FANTA; 49. Fresh, SAUCY; 54. Sniffler’s supply, KLEENEX; 58. Bibliophile’s concern, EDITION; 61. Dovetail with, FIT INTO; 64. Yankee manager who wore #37, STENGEL.

Down — 4. In the center of, AMIDST; 5. Math groups, COSETS; 6. Be told about, HEAR OF; 9. “That issue is in the past”, I’M OVER IT; 11. Reach for rudely, GRAB AT; 12. What you will, ESTATE; 13. Mind, SEE TO; 18. Lock, TRESS; 24. QBs, often, PASSERS; 35. Pre-election activity, DEBATING; 42. Debbie who won three swimming gold medals at the 1968 Olympics, MEYER; 43. Picaroon, BANDIT; 44. Like some job training, ON-SITE; 45. Washington city, river or tribe, YAKIMA; 46. Nurses take these, PULSES; 47. Top-of-the-world topper, ICE CAP, 48. Feudal domains, FIEFS.

Short stuff — ASH crossing ASHE and AVE crossing EAVE, ASP, BAT, BRIM, CHAO, DOL, EELS, ENE and EYE, ENOL, GEE (27D. “Whaddaya know!“), GOT, HEY (28D. “Whaddaya know!“), INS, MAC and MEA and MIA and MOE, MAWR, MIX and MINE, MTV, NEAT, OLE, ORR, REST, RIO, ROTE, SERIO, SIR, TEN and TIN, TRE, VEE, XED, X-MEN.

What type of music do ghosts prefer?, SPIRITUALS

What do you call the ghost of a door-to-door salesman?, A DEAD RINGER

When do ghosts usually appear?, JUST BEFORE SOMEONE SCREAMS

What’s a ghost’s favorite breakfast?, GHOST TOASTIES WITH BOOBERRIES

Why are so few ghosts arrested?, IT’S HARD TO PIN ANYTHING ON THEM

What’s a haunted chicken?, A POULTRY-GEIST

What do you call a ghost in a torn sheet?, A HOLY TEARER

What did the little ghost have in his rock collection?, TOMBSTONES

What did the mother ghost say to the baby ghost?, DON’T SPOOK UNTIL YOU’RE SPOOKEN TO

One more?

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Click a second time to further enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Bucko; 4. Berlin cry; 14. Burning issue; 15. ___ Greene, “The Godfather” gangster; 21. “Punk‘d“ cable channel; 22. Club for swingers; 32. Coral reef dwellers; 34. Check out; 38. Be sociable; 42. Go for the gold?; 50. Seat holders; 51. Italian TV channel; 62. “Tell ___ story”; 63. New York or Wisconsin, in D.C.; 65. African menace; 66. Base ___. — DOWN: 1. Bryn ___ College; 2. “Off the court” autobiographer; 3. Elaine ___< George W. Bush’s only labor secretary; 7. Spilling point; 8. Staff symbol; 10. Capital of the U.S.?; 26. Kia model; 29. Ring cry; 30. Sign of a winner; 32. Bomber pilot in “Catch-22”; 36. Chemical suffix; 37. “My dear fellow”; 38. War stat; 39. Barnard’s ___ locale in “Great Expectations: 40. Crossed (out); 41. Understood; 52. Learning method; 53. Hydroxyl compound; 55. In order; 56. Projecting edge; 57. 2000 Hugh Jackman movie; 59. Component of bronze.

10.27.10 — Dracula

Count Dracula as portrayed by Béla Lugosi in 1931's Dracula 

Count Dracula is a fictional character, the titular antagonist of Bram Stoker's 1897 Gothic horror novel Dracula and archetypal vampire. Some aspects of his character may have been inspired by the 15th century Romanian general and Wallachian Prince Vlad III the Impaler. In the United States, the character entered the public domain in 1899 and consequently appears frequently in all manner of popular culture, from films to animated media to breakfast cereals. ~ Wikipedia

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Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Puzzle by Jay Kaskel, edited by Will Shortz

COUNT DRACULA, along with BITES, BLOOD, NECK, BAT, contained within REALITY BITES (20A. Comment on life by 52-Across?), BLOOD BANK (28A. Deposit and withdrawal site for 52-Across?), PAIN IN THE NECK (35A. Result of an encounter with 52-Across) and BAT MOBILE (43A. Crib plaything for a young 52-Across?) are the interrelated group of this wicked Wednesday crossword. A support group includes ATHROB (1D. Like the heart during a horror movie), GORIER (34A Displaying more violence), HEROINE (49A. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, e.g.) and LEGEND (56A. Vampire story, e.g.).

Other — INNOCENT (37D. Having clean hands), LOITERS (24A. Hangs around), NATIONAL (38D. Like some parks), PET STORE (10D. Spot to pick up spot), POSEIDON (9D. Ill-fated ship of film).

Makes less than a killing, six letters?, DOES O.K.  Mid-size entries include ADONAI (61A. Hebrew name for God), DOPEY, ERASED, ESTATE, GELATO, I GUESS, IN KIND, KIDNAP, LOLITA, NO DEAL, NUDIE, NUTRA, OATEN, ODE TO, OPPOSE, ORANGE, PLANT, RIGOR, TOOTLE.

Short stuff — ADAR, ADIN, ANG, AON, BEN, BIC, BLIP, D-DAY, DRAB (7D. Void of any va-va-voom), EDO, EIS, EKE, GERM, GOO, HDL, HUT, ILK, IZOD, KOLA, KPH, LAT, LEO and LOU, NOIR (15A. Film style), OILY, OSA, PILE, RINK, RUR, SAD, SOT, STE, SYR, TAFT, TOE (14A. Little dipper?), TYKE, ZOOT.

I heard dogs howling. And when the dream came, it seemed the whole room was filled with mist. It was so thick, I could just see the lamp by the bed, a tiny spark in the fog. And then I saw two red eyes glaring at me. And a white livid face came down out of the mist. It came closer and closer. I felt its breath on my face and then its lips... oh! ~ Mina Seward, Dracula

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Puzzle available on the internet at THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Director Lee; 4. Big name in sport shirts; 8. Dispute; 17. Cholesterol abbr.; 18. Nut with caffeine; 19. Grand grounds; 23. Like some straaw; 33. Musical Reed; 40. Seize for ransom; 41. Capek play; 42. Mole, e.g.; 52. See 20-, 28-, 35- and 43-Across; 59. Deuce follower; 60. Frozen water, to Wilhelm; ___-Foy, Que.; 64. Pied Piper’s sound; 65. Nipper; 66. Down. — DOWN: 2. “Sorry, Charlie”; 3. Frozen treat; 4. Way to pay someone back; 5. ___-suiter; 6. Like mechanics’ hands; 8. Poem title start; 11. Spanish she-bear; 12. Bar fixture, maybe; 13. Squeeze (out); 21. Fierce sort, astrologically; 22. Sort; 25. Awesome, in slang; 26. Stink; 27. Neighbor of Turk.; 29. Tiny bump on a graph; 30. ___ Center (Chicago skyscraper); 31. Commercial lead-in to Sweet; 34. “Cootie”; 35. Carpet feature; 36. Month before Nisan; 39. QB’s utterance; 40. Speed meas. in Europe; 43. Big ___; 44. Popsicle choice; 45. Pen with a cap; 46. “Um … O.K.”; 47. 1955 novel that was made into 1962 and 1997 films; 48. Obliterated; 50. Racy film; 53. 1920s chief justice; 54. Subject of the book “Six Armies in Normandy”; 55. N.H.L. venue; 58. No. on a map; 57. Tokyo, once; 58. Melted chocolate, e.g.

10.27.10 — Navy Day

Navy Day, 1945, ships on the Hudson River, New York

In the United States, the Navy League of the United States organized the first Navy Day in 1922, holding it on October 27 because it was the birthday of the Navy-supporting President Theodore Roosevelt. Although meeting with mixed reviews the first year, in 1923 over 50 major cities participated, and the United States Navy sent a number of its ships to various port cities for the occasion. The 1945 Navy Day was an especially large celebration, with President Harry S. Truman reviewing the fleet in New York Harbor.

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Navy Day, Puzzle by Fred Piscop, edited by Will Shortz

If you subscribe to The New York Times on-line Premium Crosswords, you are probably familiar with the monthly bonus puzzle. For the month of October, the title of this shipshape and seaworthy crossword is “Navy Day” featuring three dozen clues containing the word “navy“.

Across — 1. Elite Navy diver, SEAL; 12. World War II-era U.S. Navy woman, WAVE; 15. Color of a navy bean, WHITE; 20. The VILLAGE People (pop group with the song “In the Navy”); 22. Naval R.O.T.C. grad’s rank, ENS; 23. Department of the Navy Code of ETHICS (principles of conduct); 30. Every naval ship gets one when christened, NAME; 3. Naval lockup, BRIG; 41. Pacific island with a U.S. naval base, GUAM; 43. Pea COAT (naval outerwear); 52. Naval pronoun, SHE; 55. European nation with no navy, ANDORRA; 60. George H.W. Bush was one, in the Navy, PILOT; 66. Navy food, MESS.

Down — 1. Naval mop wielder, SWAB; 3. Naval “Stop!”, AVAST; 5. Navy Shore Patrol, e.g., POLICE; 6. Navy truants, AWOLS; 9. Underwater naval explosive, MINE; 15. Woman sailor, in British naval slang, WREN; 21. U.S. naval base in Cuba, informally, GITMO; 24. HEISMAN Trophy (award won by Navy quarterback Roger Staubach); 26. “ANCHORS Aweigh” (Navy theme song); 28. A 1-Down mops these on naval vessels, DECKS; 29. Lake ERIE (Oliver Hazard Perry naval victory site); 32. Captain’s MAST (naval disciplinary hearing); 34. Navy BLUE (deep shade); 35. REAR admiral (naval rank); 36. Navy mascot, GOAT; 39. Rear, in the Navy, STERN; 46. President Jimmy, a Naval Academy graduate, CARTER; 49. French naval base city, BREST; 51. Navy Band leader John Philip SOUSA; 52. German naval officer Graf von SPEE; 59. Crow’s NEST (naval lookout spot); 63. Naval ship, to a captain, e.g.: Abbr., CMD.

I enlisted when I was a boy. The Navy looked after me like my mother. It fed me, took care of me and gave me wonderful opportunities. ~ Tony Curtis

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Puzzle available on the internet at THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

10.26.10 — Politics As Unusual

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Puzzle by Chris Handman, edited by Will Shortz

RALLY TO RESTORE SANITY and STEWART, along with MARCH TO KEEP FEAR ALIVE and COLBERT, with PAPA/BEAR and EMMY, constitute the interrelated group of this topical Tuesday crossword.

The Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear is a demonstration planned for October 30, 2010, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to be led by Jon Stewart and an in-character Stephen Colbert. It is a merging of two previously, separately scheduled events: Stewart's Rally to Restore Sanity and Colbert's own satirical counterpart, the March to Keep Fear Alive.

Billed as "a rally for the people who've been too busy to go to rallies", its stated purpose is to provide a venue for attendees to be heard above what Stewart describes as the more vocal and extreme 15–20 percent of Americans who "control the conversation" of United States politics, such as the Tea Party movement and the anti-war movement that opposed the presidential administration of George W. Bush. News reports have cast the rally as a satirical response to Glenn Beck's Restoring Honor rally and the "Reclaim the Dream" counter-rally. More, HERE.

Other — AIRBALL (7D. Complete miss in basketball), ANATHEMA (48A. Object of loathing), LADY LUCK (28A. Gambler’s best friend?), TAG TEAM (46D. Wrestling duo).

Rehem, say… five letters?, ALTER — other mid size: AT STUD, AVOID and AVOIR, BRILLO, CHITA, ELAPSE, HOVER, IT’S ME, LASSO, LIES TO, LORRE, RETRO, ROARK, STORM, TAILS, TOO FAR, TRADES, TREMOR.

Short stuff… you got it today — AAR, AKIN, ALEG, ALTA, ALUM, ANNA, ANTE, AREA and ARIA, ARMY, ARTE, BANA, BET and BENT, BORN, CERA, EMB and OMB, EMMA and EMMY, ENID, FEM, HAZE, IHOP, KATY, LAW and LAY, NBA and NCAA, NEAT, OAF, PERK, POE, PROM, RATE and RATS and RAYS, RIOT, SEAR, SIRS, STAB, TORE, TWO, URAL, WARY, YDS.

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Look at the tyranny of party -- at what is called party allegiance, party loyalty -- a snare invented by designing men for selfish purposes -- and which turns voters into chattles, slaves, rabbits, and all the while their masters, and they themselves are shouting rubbish about liberty, independence, freedom of opinion, freedom of speech, honestly unconscious of the fantastic contradiction; and forgetting or ignoring that their fathers and the churches shouted the same blasphemies a generation earlier when they were closing their doors against the hunted slave, beating his handful of humane defenders with Bible texts and billies, and pocketing the insults and licking the shoes of his Southern master.

~ "The Character of Man," Mark Twain's Autobiography 

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Puzzle available on the internet at THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. With 17-Across, event of 10/30/10; 6. With 10-Across sobriquet for Bill O’Reilly used by 39-Across; 10. See 6-Across; 14. Duck, as a question; 15. Real comedian; 16. Tolstoy’s Karenina; 17. See 1-Across; 20. Knights; 21. White House fiscal grp.; 22. Deals in a fantasy league; 23. Fashionably old; 25. Reuniongoer; 27. Buffoon; 28. Gambler’s best friend?; 33. Wizards’ and Celtics’ org.; 36. Winner when heads loses; 38. Pi r squared, for a circle; 39. Organizer of the 54-/65-Across; 41. Organizer of the 1-/17-Across; 44. Uffizi display; 45. Tempest; 47. Troubadour’s song; 48. Object of loathing; 51. Envoy’s bldg.; 53. “Shake ___!”; 54. With 65-Across, event of 10/30/10; 57. Song part; 61. Duo; 63. Breakfast place that’s often open 24 hrs.; 65. See 54-Across; 68. “Caro nome,” e.g.; 69. Cook in a way, as tuna or beef tenderloin; 71. Not straight; 72. Award won for 39- and 41-Across’s programs; 73 “The Fountainhead” hero. DOWN: 1. “Darn it!”; 2. To have, to Henri; 3. Peter of Casablanca:; 4. Deceives; 5. They are 3 ft. long; 6. Annual coronation site; 8. “The Tell-Tale Heart” writer; 9. Offered for breeding; 10. Eric who played the Hulk in 2003; 11. An OK city; 12. Throw in a few chips, say; 13. Tampa Bay team; 18. How a practical joke or a subway train may be taken; 19. “Be All You Can Be group”; 24. 2.5%/year interest, e.g.; 26. Rodeo rope; 29. Supreme Court’s sphere; 30. ___ Mountains, Europe/Asia separator; 31. Michael of “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World”; 32. 1918 song girl whose name was sung with a stutter; 33. Final Four inits.; 34. Brought into the world; 35. Utah ski resort; 37. Informal reply to “Who’s there?”; 40. Wager; 42. 2 or 3 on the Richter scale, maybe; 43. Jane Austen meddler; 46. Wrestling duo; 49. Smog, e.g.; 50. Go by, as time; 52. S.O.S. alternative; 55. Tony-winning Rivera; 56. Act like an overly protective parent; 57. Pierce; 58. Ripped; 59. Comparable (to); 60. Tidy; 62. Cautious; 64. Employee discount, e.g.; 66. Opposite of masc.; 67. Swiss river.

10.25.10 — With a Bang!

Monday, October 25, 2010

Puzzle by Jonah Kagan, edited by Will Shortz

STARTS WITH A BANG (39A. Has an exciting opening number say … or what the answer to each starred clue does?), BOOMERANG (17A. *Toy that’s thrown), POWDERKEG (64A. *Situation set to explode), WHAMMY BAR (11D. *Guitar accessory that adds vibrato) and BAMBOOZLE (35D. *Hoodwink) are the interrelated group of this knock-out Monday crossword — boom, pow, wham, bam! 

Other — ALOE and BALM (14A. 1-Across ingredient; 1A. Healing ointment), BAD KARMA (9D. Comeuppance for evil actions, supposedly), HOT TODDY (42D. Warm bedtime beverage), MARTIANS (5D. Invaders in an H.G. Wells story), STAR-LIT (24A. Like a clear night sky), STRANGE (53A. Bizarre), TRESPASS (41D. Ignore a property owner’s signs, perhaps).

Mid-size — AD HOC, ALOFT, ARMOR, BABES, BOWIE (9A. David who sang “Space Oddity”), COENS (69A. Directors Ethan and Joel), DEATH (19A. Point of no return?), EDGES, EFFORT, EIGHT, ETTAS, HAIRDO, “GUESS who?!“, ISLES, LATCH, LOOFA (3D. Bath sponge), MABEL (38A. Silents star Normand), 4D. Dali’s “The Persistence of MEMORY”, NEPAL, NOKIA, OLSEN, OUI OUI (61A. “Certainly, madame!“), PIZZA, PRAY TO (30A. Seek divine help from), RABIES, SPASM, SPIEL, TRAWL, YEARS.

Short stuff — AMID, APP, ATRA, AVA (6D. Gardner of film), AVID, CRUE, DISH (68A. One who ran away with the spoon, in a nursery rhyme), ECHO, EMO (57A. Angsty music genre), EPIC, ERLE (18D. Gardner of mystery), IOTA, LAZY, LETO, MAO, MATE, MISO, NAPE, OAST, ODE, OLGA, PEER, RDA, ROIL, ROMA, SAAB (27D. Sad-sounding car company?), SEE, TAB, TEAK, TEND, TINT, TSAR, WIZ, ZEN.

This is the way the world ends

This is the way the world ends

This is the way the world ends

Not with a bang but a whimper.
~ T. S. Eliot, The Hollow Men, 1925

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Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 5. Partner; 15. Enthusiastic; 16. Like some on-the-spot wireless networks; 20. What an E may stand for; 21. Deck wood; 23. China’s ___ Zedong; 26. Tic; 28. 1492, 1776, 2001, etc.; 33. Indent key; 36. Back of the neck; 43. Knight’s attire; 44. Actor Jared; 45. Fig. on a vitamin bottle; 46. Possible result of an animal bite; 48. Door fastener; 51. Jimmy of the Daily Planet; 59. Look searchingly; 62. Domino’s offering; 67. In the thick of; 70. Slothful; 71. Kiln for hops. DOWN: 1. Toyland visitors; 2. Overhead; 7. Windshield glare reducer; 8. A hexagon has six of them; 10. Laudatory poem; 12. Itsy-bitsy bit; 13. Canyon sound effect; 22. Download for an iPhone; 25. Fish with a net; 29. Sales pitch; 31. Be inclined (to); 32. ___ Korbut, 1972 Soviet gymnastics star; 33. Old Russian autocrat; 34. Gillette razor; 37. Singers James and Jones; 40. Agitate; 47. Visualize; 49. Rock’s Motley ___; 50. Bob or beehive; 52. Country with Sherpas; 54. Finnish cell phone giant; 56. Number in an octet; 57. “Ben-Hur,” for one; 58. Soup with sushi; 60. Italia’s capital; 63. Buddhist sect; 65. Brainiac.