12.31.10 — MMXI

Father Time Overcome by Love, Hope and Beauty, 1627, Simon Vouet

————————

Friday, December 31, 2010 — New Year's Eve

Puzzle by Caleb Madison, edited by Will Shortz

TIME AFTER TIME (15D. Over and over) and STICK IT TO THE MAN (35A. Be revolting) are the long entries of this end-of-the-year Friday crossword, followed by ten of eight letters — AERONAUT (2D. Blimp navigator, ALOUETTE (38D. “Gentille” one of song), BROMANCE (62A. Relationship in the 2009 film “I Love You, Man”), I’M SO GLAD (17A. Response to great news), J J ABRAMS (1D. Creator of TV’s “Alias”), LAILA ALI (3D. Boxer who wrote “Reach!”), MAPQUEST (37D. Many users follow its directions), NO WAY OUT (39D. Problem for one who’s trapped), P T BARNUM (57A. “The Humbugs of the World” author, 1865) and TEEN IDOL (15A. Poster girl).

Mid-size — AFLAME, ARCHES, ARISEN (16A. Debunked?), ELDEST, ERES TU, HAVE TO, IDLING, JALOPY (1A. One likely to die on the road?), JEANIE (14A. Foster girl), LOSE IT (34D. Freak), OBLATE, ROADIE, SARTRE, SEXTET, S-STARS, STOP BY, TEPEES (40A. Homes within nations), THE WIRE (7A. What something may go down to), TURBOS, WIDGET (28A. Thingamajig), YENTAS, YES I SEE (64A. “Got it”).

Five-letter — ABETS, AITCH (54A. Head start?), ASTIR, I’M HIP, INKER, ITALO, MULAN (31A. Film in which Eddie Murphy voices the dragon Mushu), SAUCE, STOMP, TEMPT.

Short stuff — AAA, ACTA, BOL, DEET (30D. Debugger?), ENO, HARE, HES, ISLA and IPSA,NIS, NNE, ONS (4D. Switch sides?), ORRS, PIES, POW, QUA, RAS, REAP, RNA, SAMI (53D. Language related to Finnish), SIDE, SWAT (24D. Sacrifice fly?), TAU, UEY, WIGS (10D. Freaks (out)), VEX (61D. Really try).

Happy New Year!

————————

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — 18. Big tin exporter: Abbr.; 19. Beat badly; 21. Battle joiner’s choice; 22. Kind of replication; 23. Sticks up for, maybe?; 25. Serbian city where Constantine the Great was born; 26. Org. with towers; 27. Luzón, e.g.; 33. Lit; 41. San Francisco’s Museo ___ Americano; 42. Red giants in the night sky; 45. Procure; 47. Big hit; 48. Cross character; 49. Not dormant; 51. As; 52. Ice legend’s family; 56. It’s often hung illegally); 60. Be coerced; 63. 1974 hit with Spanish lyrics; 65. The Allman Brothers Band, e.g. — DOWN: 5. Some county fair contest entries; 6. Folks getting into dirt; 7. Bait; 8. Bucks, e.g.; 9. Rock’s Brian; 11. Not going anywhere; 12. Carrier of drum cases, maybe; 13. First in line, say; 20. Like M&M’s; 27. Cartoonist, at times; 29. 64-Across, to a cat; 32. Court proceedings; 36. Self, in a Latin phrase; 46. ___ National Park; 50. It may stick to your ribs; 55. Dummy on a greyhound track; 58. Coll. Peer leaders; 59. Uptown’s dir. in N.Y.C.

12.30.10 — Split Incisions

Eel Doodle - from the Lemur Godsmith Archives copy by Haggis Vitae

————————

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Puzzle by Joe Krozel, edited by Will Shortz

Seven answers interrupted by a couple of black squares each constitutes the interrelated group of this thrashing Thursday crossword, with the individual segments capable of qualifying as answers to …some other crossword:

• CHAR / TERM / EMBER (12A. One in on the founding of a company)
• PLAN / TMAN / AGER (20A. Production site chief)
• WIN / ETAS / TER (27A. One getting a bouquet?)
• OPERA / TIN / GROOM (37A. Workplace where there are many openings)
• EAR / THAN / GEL (43A. Song played at the school dance in “Back to the Future”)
• FORT / HERE / CORD (50A. Officially)
• NOTRE / SPAS / SING (59A. Warning to intruders)

What?

Other — ARM LOCKS (36D. Judo maneuvers); ATTACHES (35D. Legal cases?); GO EAST (45A. Enter an Ivy League school, maybe), kidding, right?; MONOTONY (15D. It’s all the same), for sure!; OOLONG (47A. Chinese for “black dragon”); PECANS (7D. Certain pie toppers); RENEWERS (13D. Some passport applicants); STATIN (4D. Cholesterol medication); STEVIE (23A. Wonder of note), TITTER (44D. Nervous laugh).

Five-letter — AMPLE, CALEB, ELVER (62A. Young fish that has migrated from the Sargasso Sea), EVIAN, FRERE, GRANT, HASAT, IMAGO, JAPES, LETME, NONET, NOWIN, ORMAN, PIANO, SHULS.

Short stuff — ABLE, ACOP, APIA, ARNO, ASH, ATCO, AVOW, DIGS, ENOL, EMMA, EMPT, FISC, FOOL, GAEL, JOKE (32D. One may be running over time), KIAS, KWAI, NEER, NNE, NTS, OHS, ORCA, ONTV, ORB, ORNO, OTAY, OUSE, PEAR, RAW, ROME, SLO, TNT, TROP, VISA.

————————

 

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Dull shade; 4. Road caution; 7. Place for a hammer; 17. River of York; 18. Record label of the Beatles’ “Ain’t She Sweet”; 19. Spy sent by Moses into Canaan; 25. Yes ___; 32. Makes fun of; 35. Profess; 36. It flows near the Piazzale Michelangelo; 40. Sorento and Sedona; 41. “Our Gang” approval; 42. Plentiful; 46. Kind of year: Abbr.; 56. Schubert’s “Eine kleine Trauermusik,” e.g.; 57. 1996 Gwyneth Paltrow title role; 58. River in a 1957 hit film; 63. Rubble maker, for short; 64. Some Windows systems. DOWN: 1. Rent-___; 2. Synagogues; 3. Attacks; 5. Helper’s offer; 6. Sea menace; 8. Big bug; 9. Fit; 10. Thomas Moore’s “___ Ask the Hour”; 11. Eye, to poets; 24. Something that’s stamped; 26. Green; 28. Town on Lake Geneva opposite Lausanne, Switzerland; 29. Too: Fr.; 30. Hydroxyl compound; 31. Setting for “Coriolanus”; 33. Headquarters for Polynesian Airlines; 34. Schnapps flavor; 39. Highlander; 41. Song words accompanying “Sherrie” and “Susanna”; 46. Many a French business partner; 47. “The Suze ___ Show”; 48. Kind of situation; 49. Award; 50. Half-wit; 51. Airing; 53. Pre___ (take the place of); 55. Pad; 56. Ft. Myers-to-Orlando dir.

12.29.10 — Tilde We Meet Again...

Mexican Sombrero Siesta Ceramic Tile by Ramos Martinez

————————

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Puzzle by Patrick Merrell, edited by Will Shortz

TILDE (58D. Mark used four times in this puzzle’s solution), PIÑA COLADA with NIÑA (18A. Margarita alternatives; 6D. One of a 15th-century trio), JALAPEÑO PEPPERS with PIÑATA (40A. Salsa verde ingredients; 8D. It requires one who’s blind with a bat) and MAÑANA SEÑOR with PIÑON and AÑOS (63A. Procrastinating words south of the border; 52D. Evergreen with edible nuts; 62D. Yucatán years) constitutes the interrelated group of this poco caliente Wednesday crossword.

Other — AMPHORA, EAST ROOM, EMIGRATE, LAS VEGAS (20A. Spanish for “the meadows”), MARIACHI (61A. Like traditional Mexican music), VESTALS.

Six-letter — AMIGOS (59A. Baja buddies), ASSADS, DAHLIA (22A. Mexican bloom), DO GOOD, E MINOR, ERODES, LAPTOP, ONE EAR, POTION, RENAME, REPEAL, SPASMS, TAIPEI, THIRDS, THREAT.

Five — AHYES, AMAIN, ANASS, ANGLO (43A. Barrio outsider), AVAIL, “La BAMBA“, DENSE, ECONO, LADLE, MESAS (13D. Tijuana tables), OCEAN, OMBRE (36A. Card game of Spanish origin), OMEGA, PABLO (1D. “Tortilla Flat” character).

Short stuff — ACE, AJA, ALG, ANNA, APAT, ASEA, ASTA, BAP, BEA and BEN, BIOL, BLAH and BLAM, ELS, ESP (39D. Gift in “The Gift“), GALA, ISAO and ISTO, KOS, LAVE, MOC, NED, OSE, OYL, PAN, POD, RRS, SLAP, SOP, STAT, STEP, TIKI.

Mañana!

————————

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Jettisoned compartment; 4. Update, in a way; 10. Noise in a comic book gunfight; 14. Expert; 15. Key of “The James Bond Theme”; 16. Bathe; 17. Big ___; 23. Like telemarketing headsets; 24. Bit of a climb; 26. They’re caught in Chicago; 27. What a cheeky one’s cheek might get; 29. Screen role for Skippy the dog; 31. Pit-___; 34. Cook Island carving; 44. At 30° W 30° N, e.g.; 45. Lock part; 46. Goals against, e.g.; 48. “What ___ be done?”; 50. Certain Protestant: Abbr.; 53. Golfer Aoki; 55. Reason for an evacuation; 65. Castor ___ (old comic strip character); 66. Subj. involving cells; 67. Be altruistic; 68. Mustachioed “Simpsons” character; 69. Kournikova of tennis; 70. They might be knee-jerk reactions; 71. Carbohydrate suffix. — DOWN: 2. Jersey Shore county, appropriately; 3. None too swift; 4. Officially annul; 5. Go from home to home?; 7. “With the jawbone of ___ …”; 8. Comfy footwear, briefly; 9. Slowly disappears; 10. Bor-r-ring; 11. Soup kitchen server; 12. Use; 19. One turned off for takeoff; 21. Virgins of ancient Rome; 25. Island capital of 2.6 million; 30. Two-handled vase; 31. 1977 double-platinum album by Steely Dan; 32. Sweeping shot; 33. Medit. Land; 35. Flattens, for short; 37. Arthur of “The Golden Girls”; 38. $200 Monopoly properties: Abbr.; 41. Crone’s concoction; 42. White House ceremony site; 47. Syrian presidential family; 49. Helping for the very hungry, maybe; 51. At full speed; 54. Psi follower; 56. Cheap, in adspeak; 57. “But of course”; 60. Pricey event; 64. Soak (up).

12.28.10 — Valuable Truck?

An overturned semi-truck and other semis are strewn across both sides of Interstate 90 in Erie, Pennsylvania, January 26, 2007

————————

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Puzzle by Robert A. Doll, edited by Will Shortz

MARATHON MINI (20A. Distance runner’s skirt?), MARINE SUB (34A. Military sandwich?), FINE EXTRA (45A. Outstanding crowd scene actor?) and PRECIOUS SEMI (55A. Valuable truck?) are the seemingly interrelated group of this tepid Tuesday crossword.

Other — ARCHIE (30D. Jughead’s buddy), AVIATE, DIARIES (44D. Works of Pepys and others), CANAPE, EATS OUT (46D. Visit’s a diner), FLATTEN (5D. Render pancake-shaped), HALEST, MILERS, SCRAMS, SEEN AT, SEE SAW, SMEARS, STANCES (9D. Batting positions).

Five-letter — AAHED, ARENA, ASIDE, ATARI, FIRST, GOWNS, HADES, LEVEL, MOVIE, NEHRU, NO SIR, OILED, OOMPH, SARAN, SHELF, SMILE, SNARE, SPOON (5A, Dish‘s runaway partner, in rhyme), SPRIG, TESTS, TONES, UTILE.

Short stuff — AMS, ANI, ARM, AVA, CAEN and CAIN, EBAN, ELIS, ENCL, ESE and ETE, EVER, FORT, HERA, IDES, ISE and ISP and IST, LENA, MELT, NTH, OWE, POE, RED, RILE, RPI, SAFE, SGT, SITE, SLAM, SWE, TANS, TEEM, TOT, URI, VIE.

————————

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Bookcase unit; 6. Drill instructor’s rank, often: Abbr.; 9. Animal trap; 14. Tool with a bubble; 15. Poet who created the Ushers; 16. Color variations; 17. Fight card venue; 18. Have payables; 19. Comment to the audience; 23. Catches some rays; 24. Beats it; 28. Chicken, so to speak; 32. Season after printemps; 33. Compete; 37. “Candid Camera” request; 39. Bottom-of-letter abbr.; 40. Clear wrap; 42. Battle of Normandy city; 43. Emitted a contented sigh; 47. Sch. In Troy, N.Y.; 48. Sussex suffix; 50. Most robust; 51. Plaything with a fulcrum; 53. Defense in a snow fight; 55. Valuable truck?; 61. Company behind the game Battlezone; 64. Hurler’s asset; 65. Applied 3-in-One to; 66. Netflix rental; 67. Juno or NetZero, for short; 68. Serving a purpose; 69. Antler sporters; 70. Utmost in degree; 71. Dry runs. — DOWN: 1. Verbal assault; 2. Zeus’ wife; 3. Partner of anon; 4. “Havana” actress Olin; 7. Graduation attire; 10. Boot camp reply; 11. Young Skywalker’s nickname; 12. “Curse you, ___ Baron!”; 13. U-turn from WNW; 21. Where the Styx flows; 22. Believer’s suffix; 25. Take to the sky; 26. Four-lap runners, often; 27. Witnessed in the area of; 28. Slings mud at; 29. Cocktail hour nibble; 31. Stir up; 32. Abba of Israel; 35. Not risky; 36. Mentalist Geller; 38. 1140, in old Rome; 41. India’s longest-serving P.M.; 49. Neighbor of Nor.; 52. Bit of parsley; 53. Leading the pack; 54. Get-up-and-go; 56. Genesis brother; 57. Webmaster’s creation; 58. Yale students; 59. Disappear a la Frosty; 60. Fateful day for Caesar; 61. Pro-___ (some turneys); 62. Huggies wearer; 63. Gardner of “Mogambo”.

12.27.10 — Here's Johnny!

The Johnnys Bench, Cash, Miller, Rivers and Nash

————————

Monday, December 27, 2010

Puzzle by C. W. Stewart, edited by Will Shortz

HERE’S JOHNNY (60A. Classic TV intro … or a hint to the starts of 16-, 22-, 30-, 42- and 47-Across), BENCH WARMER (16A. Second-stringer), CASH PAYMENT (22A. Compensation in bills and coins), MILLER LITE (30A. “Great taste … less filling!” sloganeer), RIVER’S EDGE (42A. 1986 Keanu Reeves film) and NASH RAMBLER (47A. Car in the Playmates’ 1958 hit “Beep Beep”) are the interrelated group of this entertaining Monday crossword.

Other — AROUSE (13A. Stir up), BATMAN (1A. Half of the Dynamic Duo), DEMOTE, EDITOR, MERMEN (24D. Fish-tailed males), MORAYS (9D. Some eels), ORCHID, PLINTH (28D. Base of a column), PRELATE (8D. Church dignitary), REAR-END (42D. Ram into from behind), STOP UP, TENSES (46A. Gets rigid).

Five-letter — AZURE, CREEP (54A. Someone who gives you the willies), EAT IN, EXALT, MERIT, NIPPY, REMAP, Milan opera house La SCALA, SET ON, STALE, SCALA, UMIAK (40A. Eskimo boat), UNDID.

Short stuff — AERO, AIDS, APR, ARCH, AREA, ASH and ASS, ATA, BABS, BEET, CUED, DDT, EKES, ERE and EYRE, INIT, IRV, IZE, JED, KNOT, LEI, LIL, LPS, MUCH (4D. A lot), NEW, ODE and OLDE, ONTO, PRO, PUT, RAGE and RARE, RPM, RTE, SASH, SEE, SMUT, TAX, TEE and TEEN, TINE, TOE, TONS (3D. A lot), TSE, USER, WHIM, WOKE, YEN.

————————

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 7. 33 1/3, e.g., for a record: Abbr.; 10. Envision; 14. Prefix with space; 15. Word after sales of income; 18. One thing ___ time; 19. Window framework; 21. Rapper ___ Wayne; 25. Put a cork in; 29. Mao ___-tung; 38. Loosened, as a 57-Down; 39. Before, poetically; 41. Miss ___ USA; 44. Tip of a boot; 53. Suffix with rational or civil; 55. Opened one’s eyes in the morning; 59. Place; 63. Not con; 64. “What’s ___ for me?”; 65. Magazine manager; 66. Hankering; 67. Banned insecticide, for short; 68. Take down a peg or two. — DOWN: 1. Nickname for Barbara; 2. Environs; 5. ___ Wednesday; 6. Just off the assembly line; 7. Chart again; 10. Like week-old bread; 11. Dine at home; 12. Glorify; 14. Design feature over many a gate; 17. Stupidhead; 22. Prompted; 23. Easter mo., often; 25. Porn; 26. Fork prong; 27. Merrie ___ England; 31. Hawaiian garland; 32. Newspaper columnist Kupcinet; 33. Golf peg; 35. Assists; 36. Fulminate; 37. Barely manages, with “out”; 40. Consumer; 43. ___ 1 (Me.-to-Fla. Highway); 45. Flower often used in a 31-Down; 57. A bit cold; 48. Sky-blue; 49. Place atop; 50. Kind of badge for a Boy Scout; 51. Reddish-purple bit in a salad; 52. Records turning at 33 1/3 7-Across; 55. Capricious desire; 56. “Hold ___ you hat!”; 57. Shoelace problem; 58. Brontë’s “Jane ___”; 61. ___ Bartlet, president on “The West Wing”; 62. Poem of praise.

12.26.10 — Hey, Mister!

Vitruvian Man, c. 1490, Leonardo da Vinci

————————

Sunday, December 26, 2010

HEY MISTER!, Puzzle by Darin McDaniel, edited by Will Shortz

The addition of “MAN” to standard phrases creating a new somewhat amusing phrase constitutes the interrelated group of this standard Sunday crossword:

• I NEED MY SPACE MAN (23A. Loving comment from an astronaut’s wife?)
• BATMAN’S IN THE BELFRY (37A. The Dark Knight rooms with Quasimodo?)
• OPEN DOORMAN POLICY (47A. Hotel’s ask-you-greeter-anything approach?)
• CARTMAN BEFORE THE HORSE (66A. “South Park” character leading a walk around a paddock?)
• TAKE A RAINMAN CHECK (80A. What Dustin Hoffman gets to do often, thanks to royalties?)
• JACKMAN OF ALL TRADES (92A. Actor Hugh involved in every swap shop deal?)
• GOODMAN AS NEWMAN (92A. Actor John playing Wayne Knight’s role on “Seinfeld”?)

The remainder of the crossword contains entries of seven letters or less — AIR ACES, BUREAUS, CASSOCK, COMICAL, ERASURE, IT’S SAFE, KARAOKE, MENS REA (43A. Literally, “guilty mind“), OCTOBER, RAG DOLL, SANTA FE (16A. Onetime home for Georgia O‘Keeffe), SGT YORK, SKY BLUE, TEASELS (15A. Prickly plants), THE POKY, TOE NAIL, UPSTATE, USS WASP (73A. W.W. II carrier praised by Churchill for its ability to “sting twice”).

Six — ABLOOM, ADIDAS, AGLARE, ASKS IN, ASYLUM, ATE OUT, ASYLUM, BOLERO, CATION (25D. Charged particle), FEDORA, HALEST, HAMLET (11D. Whence the phrase “Murder most foul“), MARIAH, MOIETY, SWEDEN.

Five — A CARE, ALEUT, A MUST, ANIME, A NOTE, ASSES, AT SEA, BADLY, BARRE, BELIE, BLAST, CASTS, COMAS, CREED, CUBIC, CUMIN, DOBIE, EPACT (56A. Difference in days between the lunar and solar year), EL REY, E-VITE, EXCEL, FLEET, GEARS, HUSKY, IDIOM, LANAI, LEAPS, MESON (65D. Quark/antiquary particle), NOBLE (110A. Like some gases), Run OFF AT the mouth, PAULO, SKUNK, TENTS, UKASE, UMBRA, VERVE, XENON (2D. Element in strobe lights), YEAHS.

Short stuff — AGE, ALI and ASI, AMPS, AND and END, ATRA, AWLS, BAAS, BIN, BLOB, CHE, COO, CUR and CUT, DAIS, DOT, DYAN, EASY, ECUA, EDO, EPEE, EVEN, FARR, GAB, HULA, HUS, IOTA, LEDA, MAYO, MITT, MOS and MSN, NAE, NOM, O’CAT, OKAY, OLEN and OMEN, OPIE, PEAR, PEN, PJS, POP, PROS and PROW, REBA, RICO, SCAT, SEED, SHOP and STOP, SLUR, SOOT, STAB, SYD, TEE, TUBA, WAKE, YOGI.

The good man is the friend of all living things. ~ Mohandas Gandhi

————————

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Shine; 6. Intensifies, with “up”; 10. High-school class; 14. On the 73-Across, e.g.; 18. Élan; 20. Lampblack; 21. Come to; 22. Shifty ones?; 26. Place from which to watch a Hawaiian sunset; 27. Low tip; 28. Not well; 29. Throws (off); 30. Close; 31. Big brass; 34. Plumber’s fitting; 35. News offices; 41. Chili powder ingredient; 44. “He wore a diamond” in “Copacabana”; 45. Ryan’s “Love Story” co-star; 46. Origin; 53 Popular portal; 54. Swift; 55. Modern pentathlon event; 61. “All clear”; 64. Honoree’s spot; 65. Singer Carey; 71. Patronized a restaurant; 72. One ___ (ball game); 74. Vaults; 75. Aspersion; 76. Brazilian name for six popes; 79. Speak lovingly; 85. Advantages; 89. Scoundrel; 90. Steve McQueen’s first major movie, with “The”; 91. Sled dog; 98. W.W.I hero played by Gary Cooper; 99. Pre-1868 Tokyo; 100. “Don’t strain”; 101. Song on an album; 104. ___ Gillis of 1960s TV; 105. Colloquialism;107. Bar activity; 114. Inhabitant of the Pribilof Islands; 115. Razor brand; 116. Quotable Hall-of-Famer, informally; 117. Excoriate; 18. “Viva ___!”; 119. Pastoral sounds; 120. Sign; 121. Dummkopfs. — DOWN: 1. Modern party summons; 3. Confession of faith; 4. Square; 5. Mother of Helen; 6. Retreat; 7. ___ Eisley, “Star Wars” cantina town; 8. Dad; 9. Attempt; 10. Winter Olympics powerhouse; 12. So-so; 13. Pound; 14. Harshly bright; 17. Expunction; 18. Sinatra’s “Softly, ___ Leave You”; 24. Hand, in slang; 29. Third-degree, in match; 32. Vermont city; 33. Cartoon genre; 35. Contradict; 36. Old-time cartoonist Hoff; 37. Hopper; 38. Plus; 39. Vamoose; 40. Most fit; 41. Funny; 42. Like Rochester, N.Y.; 49. Author Robert ___ Butler; 50. Nectar flavor; 51. 1960s TV boy; 52. Chorus of approvals; 57. Projecting front; 58. The Red Baron and others; 59. Clerical robe; 60. Stir; 62. “Uncle!”; 63. Something that’s not optional; 64. E-mail address component; 67. Slow dances with quick turns; 68. S. American land; 69. Actress Diane of “Numb3rs”; 70. ___ Bowl; 75. Shut out; 76. Tiresomely disagreeable sort; 77. Make ___ of; 78. Planetary shadow; 81. Without ___ (nonchalantly); 82. Flowering; 83. “El ___ vive!” (revolutionary catchphrase); 84. Czech martyr Jan; 85. Comfy bed wear; 86. Ann or Andy; 87. When Canada celebrates Thanksgiving; 88. Azure; 93. Half; 94. Topper for Ol’ Blue Eyes; 95. Nike competitor; 96. Welcomes warmly; 97. Actress Cannon; 101. Results of some accidents; 102. Decree; 103. Backpackers’ gear; 105. Wee bit; 106. Spread for lunch, maybe; 108. First name in country; 109. Woodworking tools; 110. Dundee dissent; 111. Yak; 112. Passeport info; 113. Dating service datum.

12.25.10 — Santa

Newcastle upon Tyne at Christmas photograph by Ian Britton

————————

Saturday, December 25, 2010 — Christmas Day

Puzzle by Stanley Newman, edited by Will Shortz

Santa CATALINA ISLAND, Santa MONICA MOUNTAINS and Santa ANITA RACE TRACK are the interrelated group of this Christmas Day crossword. It is Christmas, isn’t it? Two more duplicate clues are Doctor’s directive for STAT and REST; and Point for DECIMAL and DOT. Hmm…

Other across — 1. “The Twentieth Century” producer, CBS NEWS; 15. Knock noise, RAT-A-TAT; 16. Spring, EMANATE; 17. How some pranks are done, ON A DARE; 18. 1970s “first mother”, LILLIAN; 21. Security Council veto, NON; 22. Makeup of some burgers, SOY; 23. Stunning, DAZING; 28. Put away, DO IN; 30. Get stuck, JAM; 33. Off-white shade, IVORY; 34. Sight from the top of the Leaning Tower, ARNO; 35. Out-and-out, PURE; 39. Isn’t straight, LIES; 40. Certain party, in headlines, DEMS; 41. Members of an ancient empire, INCAS; 42. Golf scorecard abbr., YDS; 43. Part of the planning for many a surprise birthday party, RUSE; 44. Happy cohort?, SNEEZY of Disney fame, but for the best sneeze ever, go HERE; 45. Company with an I.P.O. in both 1992 and 2009, AOL; 56. Stir up, ANIMATE; 57. Schmaltz, TREACLE; 58. Buildings a foundation, say, DONATES; 59. Bridge topic; 60. Lab procedure, DNA TEST; 61. Some game show questions, TOSS-UPS.

Down — 1. Big snapper, informally, CROC; 2. Actor who played the villain in 2009’s “Star Trek”, BANA; 4. Zip, NADA; 5. Endnote abbr., ET AL; 6. Big blender maker, WARING; 7. Old office worker, STENO; 8. Place for a ham, DELI; 9. E.P.A. measurement, EMISSION; 10. Tap, CALL ON; 11. Fine furniture feature, INLAY; 12. Water carrier, MAIN; 13. Slightly, A TAD; 14. Wiseman who directed “Live Free or Die Hard”, LEN; 20. Wife of Perseus, ANDROMEDA; 23. How distant stars shine, DIMLY; 24. Go around, AVOID; 25. Thinks about nothing, with “out”, ZONES; 26. Tennesee’s state flower, IRIS; 27. Former U.S. capital: Abr., NYC; 29. Heavy load, ONUS; 30. Oomph, JUICE; 31. “I Love Lucy” executive producer, ARNAZ; 32. Embarrassing, MESSY; 34. City north of Des Moines, AMES; 35. Stamp sheet, PANE; 37. Fawns over, ADULATES; 38. Corrosion-resistant plating, TIN; 43. Circumvolve, ROTATE; 44. “Perfection under fire” product, STERNO; 45. Imply, AIM AT; 47. Certain chamber piece, OCTET; 48. Uninformative attribution: Abbr., ANON; 49. Granada girl, NINA; 51. Turner and others, TEDS; 52. Chins or jaws, RAPS; 53. Opponent of the Patriot Act, for short, ACLU; 54. Give a hand?, CLAP; 55. They have all the answers, KEYS; 56. Foot up, ADD.

“I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked for my autograph.” ~ Shirley Temple

————————

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

12.24.10 — SILENT NIGHT

Friday, December 24, 2010 — Christmas Eve

Puzzle by Jay Kaskel and Daniel Kantor, edited by Will Shortz

SILENT NIGHT (59A. Song of 1859 … or what the five circled letters represent?) along with the unpronounced silent letters N, I, GH and T lurking in circles within CHURCH HYMNS (18A. Carols, often), MICHAEL CAINE (24A. Scrooge player of film), NAUGHTY OR NICE (38A. Polar opposites?) and CHRISTMAS EVE (51A. Time before the present day?) — are the interrelated group of this wonderful Christmas Eve crossword.

Other — ACCIDENTAL (31D. Chance), EASED IN (48A. Entered cautiously), MAURITANIA (2D. Its capital is Nouakchott), MT SINAI (29A. It has 3,750 “steps of penitence”), MUSIC STAND (3D. Score keeper?), OAK / TREE (57A. With 67-Across, sacred symbol to Zeus), THE RIVIERA (32D. “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” setting).

Mid-size — ADAGE, ARCTAN (4D. Inverse trig function), EROTIC, ESPANA, GAS CAP, GEHRIG (8D. The Iron Horse of baseball), GET AT, HARD C (7D. Head of cattle?), LIE TO, SALTED, SCENE I, SKITS, TIC TAC, TO LET.

Short stuff — ALEC, ANNA, ARCH, ARE, ASH, ASST, AVA, CAMP, CELT, CIA and SPY, CRU, DIR, EACH, EAT and EAU, ENE and ENT, ESO, ETUI, GOGH, GRE, HEE and HEN, HMM, IAN, INSO, IRE, LAW, LONI, LYS (35D. Lily, in Lille), MME, NEA and NEW, NEON, NUS, OHI, OSLO (43A. Cold capital), OUCH, PAT and PAST, RAH, RARA, RIOT, SEED, TEN, USAC, VICI.

————————

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Not an ideal answer to “Do these jeans make me look fat?”; 4. Chief; 8. Something to unscrew on an auto; 14. Feu fighter; 15. Uncommon in ancient Rome; 16. Land of Papá Noel; 17. N N N; 20. Mr. Hilarious; 22. Chair: Abbr.; 23. Nonverbal congratulations; 30. Intimate; 33. Down; 34. Bird, e.g., once; 37. Comment upon receiving a large bill; 42. “___ doing …”; 44. Pique condition?; 46. Saw; 54. Palindromic girl’s name; 58. TV’s Anderson; 64. It’s taken to calm down; 66. It takes place on board a ship at sea in “The Tempest”; 67. See 57-Across; 68. Be a certain way?; 69. Bit of candy; 70. Start of something; 71. Brief subject. — DOWN: 1. Game ___; 5. Exclamation heard 12 times in Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance; 6. Word on a vin bottle; 9. Silvery-gray; 10. 19-Down employee; 11. Rough it, say; 12. Lady whom Don Giovanni tries to seduce; 13. Over; 19. Employer of 10-Downs: Abbr.; 21. “___ don’t know”; 24. Fr. Title; 25. Per; 26. Misinform, maybe; 27. #10 on a table; 28. Seamstress’s aid; 36. Flat sign; 39. Car-racing org.; 40. Van follower; 41. Tramp; 45. Chemical suffix; 47. Blue; 49. Like many winter roads; 50. Peruvian pronoun; 52. Ziering of “90210”; 53. Burlsque bits; 54. Bob Cratchit to Scrooge, e.g.: Abbr.; 55. Part of a boast; 56. Smart ___; 60. Three-in-one M.D.; 61. Class-conscious grp.?; 62. Princeton Review subj.; 63. Part of a snicker; 65. Fresh.

12.23.10 — GHOTI

Trigger Fish Eye photograph by Bill Atherton

————————

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Puzzle by Oliver Hill and Eliza Bagg, edited by Will Shortz

George Bernard Shaw wanted to reform English spelling so that it was more logical. He asked the following question as an example: How do we pronounce the word "ghoti"? His answer was "fish" —the gh = f as in rouGH; the o = i as in wOmen; the ti = sh as in naTIon — a joke, of course, “ghoti” is not even a real word; however, it demonstrated the inconsistency of English spelling.

This Thursday crossword features the resulting odd-looking “quotation” — THE GH FROM ENOUGH (17A. What to use to spell 30-Down, according to George Bernard Shaw, reputedly, Part 1), THE O FROM WOMEN (36A. Part 2), THE TI FROM NATION (57A. Part 3) and GHOTI (30D. “Fish”). Well, I really don’t care for “quote” crosswords.

Other — AMHERST (35D. One of the Five Colleges), BOUTIQUE (11D. Shop), DETROIT (52A. Lion’s home), GLISTEN (18D. Shine), HERE WE GO (37D. Shout at the top of a roller coaster), MELISSA (22A. Notorious 1999 computer virus), PRELUDE (48A. Intro), TORYISM (25A. Conservative philosophy in Britain).

Six-letter — FERRET, ISTHMI (1D. Panama and Suez), DIE OUT (46D. Fade), NOTICE, REMITS, SILENT, STELLA (3D. Designer McCartney), STONED (47D. High), TEHEED (2D. Snickered), WATERY (54A. Like some eyes and soup).

Five — BAGEL, EBONY, EDGES, HELLO, HOHOS, HOMER, KAUAI, LATER, OBOES, OFAGE, OSTEO, SEENO, SNORE, TAROT and TORAH, TRISH, UTILE, ZEBRA, ZONER.

Short stuff — AGAR, ARR and ETD (Flight board abbrs.), ASH, EGGS and EGOS, ELO, FIEF and SERF (43A. Workplace for a 23-Down; 23D. Worker on a 43-Across), HAN, Hi-DEF, IDAS, “IT’S time”, KOS, MAR and MGR, MDI, MRED, NEO, OFF, OOO, QED, REG, SAP, SEAN, SET, TBS, TERR, WIFE, YODA.

————————

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 4. Originator of the phrase “rosy-fingered dawn”; 9. Last picture in an alphabet book; 14. Lay; 15. Adult; 16. Ducks, in “Peter and the Wolf” productions; 20. Shout into a canyon; 21. Still; 25. Conservative philosophy in Britain; 28. Actress Lupino and others; 29. They’re usually white or brown; 31. Letters from a mathematician; 32. Books often read on Saturday; 34. One of the five counties of Hawaii; 40. Beginning of a saying about evil; 44. Goals; 56. Prefix with -pathy; 61. Zero, in slang; 62. Lips; 63. Nod, perhaps; 64. Noisome noise; 65. The Tower, e.g. — DOWN: 4. Alternative to Ring Dings; 5. A little peculiar; 6. Spoil; 7. They may be deal breakers; 8. Opposite of invoices; 9. One fighting urban sprawl, say; 10. Black; 12. Like some gas: Abbr.; 13. Memento from an old flame?; 19. Grp. With the platinum album “Out of the Blue”; 24. Lab gel; 26. Reggae/dancehall artist ___ Paul; 27. Century-starting year; 33. Tic-tac-toe win; 34. Ring results, for short; 36. Abbr. on an old map of the West; 38. Who’ll “talk ‘til his voice is hoarse,” in a 1960s sitcom; 39. Good radio station for a bride?; 40. Simpleton; 43. Find (out); 45. Spot; 46. Fade; 47. High; 49. “Peace out”; 50. Of service; 53. A goner; 55. Jedi with a big forehead; 57. Big inits. On cable; 58. Old Chinese dynasty; 59. Boss: Abbr.; 60. Prefix with conservative.

12.22.10 — All in a Day's Work

Red-tailed Hawk, photo © 2007 Derek Ramsey

————————

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Puzzle by Michael Sharp, edited by Will Shortz 

ALL IN (63A. Poker phrase … or what’s needed to complete the answers to the six starred clues), FAVOR (1A. *Cry at the start of a vote), GOOD TIME (20A. *”Soon enough, my friend”), ONE (36A. *As a package), YOUR HEAD (52A. * Completely imagined), THE FAMILY (11D. *Top-rated TV series of 1971-76) and A DAY’S WORK (32D. *To be expected) are the interrelated group of this Wednesday crossword.

Other — 12D. Madden, INFURIATE; 31D. General played by Fonda (in 1976), Peck (1977) and Olivier (1982), MACARTHUR; 23D. Brand of 45-Down balls, NERF and SPONGY; 41D. U.S.S. Enterprise helmsman, SULU and 55A. Kirk’s foe in a “Star Trek sequel, KHAN.

Six- and seven-letter — ABELARD (26A. French theologian who wrote “Sic et Non“), ARSENIO (46A. Hall of TV fame), DEERES, LARAMIE (29A. Seat of Albany County, Wyo.), LAY DOWN, MARS BAR, OO LA LA (10D. “How lu-u-uxurious!”), PACMAN, PRO RATA, RED TAIL (5D. Common North American hawk), SMALLS, SPRYER, TWINKLE (40D. Glimmer).

Five — AEIOU and AERIE, DETER, FERAL, FROGS, ODEON, OILED, RAIMI (49D. Sam who directed “Drag Me to Hell”), READE, SCALA, SNAFU, TE AMO, TWEEN (51A. Many a Justin Bieber fan), TE AMO, VALOR.

Short stuff — ACA, ALEE and ALTE, ANA, ARF, ARKS, ASHE, ASIA, BONE, BTEN, CADY, CERF, CHER, CNN, EDGY, FINN, FLY (28D. Pass muster), FRO, HEEL, HUD, IAT, INNS, LEFT, LIE (8D. Taradiddle), LUNG, PALM, PLO, PURE, ODED, OENO, OH NO (16A. “This is terrible!”), OTIS, SHOR, SOT, SPA, SUR and SURF, YANG.

————————

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 6. Tree in California; 10. Soulful Redding; 14. Duane ___ (New York City pharmacy chain); 15. Land west of the Pacific; 17. Greased; 18. “Believe” singer, 1999; 19. Liberals, with “the”; 22. Big mess; 24. “Bien ___!”; 25. Former “S.N.L.” comic Gasteyer; 28. Jean Sibelius, for one; 30. Biggie ___ (rapper a k a Notorious B.I.G.); 33. Bennett of “What’s My Line?”; 34. “Am ___ risk?”; 35. Women’s rights pioneer Elizabeth ___ Stanton; 37. Old man: Ger.; 38. Here, in Juárez; 39. Bomber type; 41. More agile; 43. Relinquish, as arms; 45. Move from site to site; 47. Oslo Accords party, for short; 48. One way to sway; 54. Restaurateur Toots; 57. Lofty dwelling; 58. Unadulterated; 59. Alveoli site; 60. “I love you,” in a telenovela; 61. Sacred chests; 62. Tense. DOWN: 1. Aristophanes comedy with “The”; 2. Alphabetic pentad; 3. Bravery; 4. Took too much; 6. Iconic chomper; 7. New York stadium eponym; 9. Classic candy with nougat; 13. Lush; 21. Quaint lodgings; 26. Direction at sea; 27. Block; 30. Where “Otello” premiered, with “La”; 33. MSNBC competitor; 36. Vintner’s prefix; 37. Terrier’s sound; 39. Exemplar of dryness; 42. How some wages are calculated; 44. Popular tractors; 48. Untamed; 50. Classic theater; 52. Masculine side; 53. Cad; 54. Where the robed are rubbed; 56. Movie for which Patricia Neal won Best Actress.