01.31.11 — Monday Mascots




Monday, January 31, 2011

Puzzle by Andrea Carla Michaels, edited by Will Shortz

Iconic commercial mascots for various food brands, AUNT JEMIMA (17A. Pancake syrup icon), BETTY CROCKER (23A. Baking icon), JOLLY GREEN GIANT (35A. Frozen vegetable icon), CHEF BOYARDEE (47A. Spaghetti-in-a-can icon) and CAP’N CRUNCH (57A. Breakfast cereal icon) are the interrelated group of this run-of-the-mill Monday crossword.

Other — Amelia BEDELIA, title heroine in children’s books, BRONTE, CALICO, DEBUSSY (26A. French composer Claude), DEFRAY, ENMITY, GI JOES, OFFERS.

Five-letter — AIMEE and ANIME, APPLE, CHEWS, DEITY, E FLAT, HOFFA, HOLES, LANAI, NINER, NO MSG, PLANK, SLING, STAR, YIPES and YORBA.

Short stuff — ACME, ALIT, AND, ANTI, A-OK, BALD, BOLT (61A. Unit of cloth or lightning), BULL, CBS, CLUE, CPAS, “It’s DEJA vu all over again“ (Yogism), EDGE, EDUC, ELLE, EMTS, ETON, ERA, ET AL, GAM, GOGO, HEH, HUES, INNS, I SEE,IT’S A long story“, JAI and JAIL, Dalai LAMA, LIMO, LAUD, MDS, NAT, NEAR, OMIT, OOOH, POUF, RIEN, ROSY, SAS, SHE’S, SITS, SKEE, SLAM, SNIP, SSTS, UNIT, WEAR.

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Puzzle available on the internet at
THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.
Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. David’s weapon against Goliath; 6. Nose (out); 10. I.R.S. experts, you hope; 14. Hawaiian veranda; 15. Proximate; 16. Came to earth; 20. E.R. V.I.P.’s; 21. Fail to mention; 22. San Francisco footballer, for short; 29. “Stretch” car, in brief; 30. Abbr. at the end of a list; 31. Color tones; ___ alai; 40. Furthermore …; 41. “Color me impressed!”; 42. Responds to a dog command; 43. A.A. and A.A.A.; 51. Labor leader Jimmy who mysteriously disappeared; 52. Hairdo for Snooki of “Jersey Shore”; 53. Carrier to Oslo; 56. French “her”; 60. Have on, as clothes; 62 Japanese cartoon style; 63. Concordes, briefly; 64. ___-Ball (game with scores up to 100); 65. “Eek!”. DOWN: 1. Grand ___ (baseball or bridge feat); 2. Heap praise on; 4. “King” Cole’s first name; 5. Action figures with dog tags; 6. Bad blood; 7. Jupiter or Zeus; 8. Pinup’s leg; 9. ___ of Good Feelings; 10. Tricolor cat; 11. Pirates may make someone walk it; 12. Old time evangelist ___ Semple McPherson; 13. Ringo on drums; 18. Ones dispatch by 911 calls; 22. Chinese menu assurance; 23. Bronze animal in New York’s financial district; 24. Colonel Mustard’s game; 25. Nothing: Fr.; 27. School on the Thames; 28. Having no need for a comb; 31. “Beavis and Butthead” laugh; 32. Prison; 33. Voting no; 36. ___ Linda, Calif. (Nixon’s birthplace); 37. Kind of dancer at a discotheque; 38. Pink, as cheeks; 39. “Ah, yes”; 43. Things potential homebuyers put in; 44. “Jane Eyre” writer; 45. No Child Left Behind dept.; 46. Bear part of, as costs; 47. Scolds, with “out”; 48. Targets of golf greens; 49. D sharp equivalent; 50. Beatles’ record company; 53. Use tiny scissors; 54. Wile E. Coyote’s go-to-company; 58. “___ Gotta Have It” (Spike Lee film); 57. “Survivor” network; 58. Thumbs-up response; 59. Prefix with lateral.

01.30.11 — Lyrics — the Acrostic


Stephen Sondheim by Al Hirschfeld

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January 30, 2011

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon, edited by Will Shortz

This Sunday’s acrostic draws a quotation from “Finishing the Hat: Collected Lyrics with Attendant Comments, Principles, Heresies, Grudges, Whines and Anecdotes” by Stephen Sondheim, a compendium of the lyrics from his first musical, Saturday Night (1954), to Merrily We Roll Along (1981), along with his commentaries and observations.

The quotation: THERE ARE PLENTY OF FRESH RHYMES STILL TO BE FOUND THE PROBLEM IS ONE OF APPROPRIATENESS THE SITUATION HAS TO JUSTIFY THE RHYME I ONCE RHYMED LET PAPA SIT WITH OPPOSITE BECAUSE I HAD A SCENE INVOLVING A DINNER TABLE

The author’s name and the title of the work: SONDHEIM FINISHING THE HAT

The defined words:

A. Edna Ferber’s Cotton Blossom, for one, SHOWBOAT
B. In the style of the fabled “fat lady”, OPERATIC
C. Comic play with many openings and closings (2 wds.), NOISES OFF
D. Like Scotch eggs and hush puppies (hyph.), DEEP FRIED
E. W.S. Gilbert’s pair for “a lot o’ news”, HYPOTENUSE
F. Olympian whose goal is touching, EPEEIST
G. Pitched with accuracy (2 wds.), IN TUNE
H. 1920’s moaner billed as “Mother of the Blues” (2 wds.), MA RAINEY
I. Type of which Betty Boop was a caricature, FLAPPER
J. Proportioned like a determined climber of song (hyph.), ITSY BITSY
K. Epitome of condensation, NUTSHELL
L. Keep playing with no regard for the score, IMPROVISE
M. Be the wrong kind of booster, SHOPLIFT
N. Really big pan? (2 wds.), HATCHET JOB
O. Components of any eight-eight, IVORIES
P. Someone just starting to learn the ropes, NEOPHYTE
Q. Lender of theatrical dazzle, GLITTER
R. Lovett’s culinary co-conspirator, TODD
S. Something that may fall in a dramatic moment, HUSH
T. Admission; delight, ENTRANCE
U. Surname of the pop musician Beck, HANSEN
V. Country band that recorded “Mountain Music”, ALABAMA
W. Satirist who paired “try an’ hide” with “cyanide” (2 wds.), TOM LEHRER

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01.30.11 — The Year of the Rabbit




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Sunday, January 30, 2011

CIRCLE OF LIFE, Puzzle by Kevin G. Der and Jessica A. Hui, edited by Will Shortz

CHINESE ZODIAC (41D. Collection of animals featured in this puzzle), TWELVE-YEAR CYCLE (77A. What the 41-Down has), along with twelve squares arranged in a circle containing the names of animals representing the Chinese zodiac, e.g., monkey, rooster, dog, pig, rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse and ram, constitutes the main feature of this clever and timely Sunday crossword.  However, the puzzle is oversized and contains more than a fair share of fragmentation, abbreviations, partials and general short stuff.  Oh well... happy New Year!

Across — 1. Rum, vodka and orange juice drink, BRASS [MONKEY]; 7. “Little” barnyard bird with an alliterative name in a classic Willie Dixon blues song, RED [ROOSTER]; 11. “Let me think …”, HMM; 14. Costume party accessory, WIG; 127. Pope after Marinus I, ADRIAN III; 20. Trying, VEXATIOUS; 22. Turner of records, IKE; 23. Felt like forever, DRAGGED ON; 24. Interludes, ENTR’ ACTES; 25. Cultural grp., NEA; 26. Viewable, to a camera operator, INF[RAM]E; 27. Author Marsh, NGAIO; 29. EarthLink and others, ISPS; 30. Result of turning the corner?, [DOG] EAR; 31. Became annoyed, GOT SORE; 34. New England’s Cape ANN; 35. Roman 1,150, MCL; 37. Detached, ALOOF; 39. Public person?, NOTARY; 41. Pillow talk?, COOS; 42. Cage in Hollywood, NICOLAS; 45 Fellowship foes, ORCS; 49. So-called “Heart of Texas”, WACO; 50. Eschew, SHUN; 51. “See you then!”, IT’S A DATE; 52. Famous fiddler, NERO; 53. Words to a traitor, ET TU; 54. Steering system parts, TIE RODS; 56. “ESTA bien” (Spanish for “It’s good”); 57. Bit of a muscle car’s muscle, [HORSE]POWER; 59. INJUN Joe, “Tom Sawyer” character; 61. Do-do connector, AS I; 62. Looney Tunes character with a snout, PORKY [PIG]; 64. Fashionista’s concern, BRAND; 65. Abide, ENDURE; 66. Surprise visitors, DROP-INS; 68. British isle, AIT; 69. Suffix with torrent, IAL; 71. Driller’s letters, DDS; 72. Poker declaration, I CALL; 73. Pound sound, GRR; 767. Top-rated show of 2002-05, CSI; 77. What the 41-Down has, TWELVE-YEAR CYCLE; 82. Pooh’s young pal, ROO; 83. Mauna KEA; 84. Land of Ephesians, IONIA; 85. When doubled, first name in old Hollywood, ZSA; 86. Spanish “that”, ESA; 87. ABO system (way of classifying blood); 88. Most divine, HOLIEST; 90. Rattletrap, OLD CAR; 93. Cobra product, VENOM; 95. Cobra products [SNAKE] SKINS; 98. Ariz. Neighbor, NEV; 99. Swingers in a saloon, DOORS; 100. Person who likes the blues?, DEMOC[RAT]; 101. Mottled, PIED; 102. Soldier’s meal container, MESS TIN; 104. Very, OH SO; 106. Palliative plant, ALOE; 107. Winter Olympics performance since 1976, ICE DANCE; 110. Den HAAG, Nederland; 111. Ubangi tributary, UELE; 112. Phalanx’s weaknesses, GAPS; 113. Thinned out, TAPERED; 114. Driller’ s letters, ROTC; 115. Facing, with “from”, ACROSS; 117. Halved, IN TWO; 118. Be shy, OWE; 119. “What?!”, HUH; 120. Serves, WAITS ON; 125. King Arthur’s family name, PEN[DRAGON]; 127. Make out, in York, SNOG; 129. Old saw, MAXIM; 131. With craft F[OX]ILY; 132. Getup, RIG; 133. Italian liqueurs, AMARETTOS; 136. Strip in a darkroom, NEGATIVES; 139. “The Lovely Bones” composer, 2009, ENO; 140. Topic at an owners/players meeting, SALARY CAP; 141. Heyday, GOLDEN AGE; 142. Source of enlightenment, ZEN; 143. Terminal, END; 144. 1960 Updike novel [RABBIT] RUN; 145. Four-time Masters winner, [TIGER] WOODS.

Down — 1. Two-letter combinations, BIG[RAM]S; 2. Continue, as an uncontrolled fire, RAGE ON; 3. Most common draw in Scrabble, AN A; 4. Comic Caesar, SID; 5. Prior in “The Da Vinci Code”, SION; 6. Tomfoolery, [MONKEY]ING AROUND; 7. City NNE of Tahoe, RENO; 8. Bus. Line, EXT; 9. Patriotic women’s org., DAR; 10. Wakes thrown up behind speedboats, [ROOSTER] TAILS; 11. Revealing 1970s wear, HOTPANTS; 12. Cereal mixes, MUESLIS; 13. Ed.’s work pile, MSS; 14. Portable red or white holder, WINE FLASK; 15. Low-priced furniture source, IKEA; 16. Tent or sleeping bag, e.g., GEAR; 17. Take A DIG at (insult); 18. 1962 action film set in Jamaica, DR NO; 19. Finnish transport?, RAFT; 20. Mark in marble, VEIN; 21. Suffix with rhythm, ICS; 28. Whichever, ANY; 30. Samaritans, [DOG]OODERS; 32. Galley figure, ROWER; 33. State in French, ETAT; 35. Peeved pout, MOUE; 36. Hotelier Hilton, CONRAD; 38. South American tuber, OCA; 40. Be part of, as a film, ACT IN; 41. Collection of animals featured in this puzzle, CHINESE ZODIAC; 43. Lawyer: Abbr., ATTY; 44. Fat underwater creature, SEA[PIG]; 45. Like a Mountie, ON [HORSE]BACK; 46. Musical echo, REPRISE; 47. Dalmatian’s home, CROATIA; 48. Like wild oats, SOWN; 51. Dumbness, IDIOCY; 55. Foppish courtier in “Hamlet”, OSRIC; 58. It may be limited or late, EDITION; 60. Revelation comes after it, JUDE; 62. Doctor’s orders, PILLS; 63. Away for a while, ON LEAVE; 65. 1985 John Malkovich drama, ELENI; 67. Reggie Miller, for one, PACER; 70. People leaving the company?, AWOLS; 73. Breakfast in a bar, GRANOLA; 74. High-tech officer in film, ROBOCOP; 75. Hotel figures, ROOM [RAT]ES; 78. Mortgage holder, e.g., LIENEE; 79. Florist’s supply, VASES; 80. Comparable in reach, AS LONG; 81. “Hair” co-writer James RADO; 88. See 91-Down, HIDDEN [DRAGON]; 89. Pilot program?, TV SHOW; 91. With 88-Down, 2000 Ang Lee film, CROUCHING [TIGER]; 92. One of the tribes of Israel, ASHER; 94. Online publication, for short, E-MAG; 95. Place where a person may be bitten, [SNAKE]PIT; 96. Director Vittorio De SICA; 97. Sticking with it, KEEPING ON; 100. DOES A number on (mentally abuses),; 102. Noted Ronald MCDONALD; 103. London tourist stop, TATE; 105. Dull, SLOW; 108. Works at a museum, ART; 109. Blitzer, e.g., NEWSMAN; 114. Much-wanted toon in Toontown, ROGER [RABBIT]; 115. Dumas’s “La Dame AUX Camelias”; 118. Combed (through), SIFTED; 119. Lock plate, HASP; 121. Cobra products, T[OX]INS; 122. Hindu deity, SIVA; 123. Designer Cassini, OLEG; 124.Nasdaq alternative, NYSE; 125. W. or J.F.K., PREZ; 128. A, to Zimmermann, EINE; 128. 60 minuti, ORA; 129. Grouse, MOAN; 130. MEOW Mix; 133. Enzyme ending, ASE; 134. Norse war god, TYR; 135. The Horned Frogs, for short, TCU; 137. Mop & GLO; 138. Something about nothing?, ADO.

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01.29.11 — The Saturday Crossword


 
Vallisneria is a genus of freshwater aquatic plant,
commonly called eelgrass, tape grass or vallis.

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Saturday, January 29, 2011

Puzzle by Ned White, edited by Will Shortz

Nothing much to say about this Saturday crossword, well... the usual — the solving experience probably depends upon one’s interpretation of some fairly vague clues and the knowledge (or the lack) of some very insignificant results.

Across — 1. Eric SCHMIDT, Google C.E.O. beginning in 2001; 8. Period between Shaban and Shawwal, RAMADAN; 15. “It doesn’t matter … anyone’s fine”, WHOEVER; 16. Home of Nascar’s longest oval, ALABAMA; 17. It may be free or attached, EAR LOBE; 18. Title for Columbus, in the Indies, VICEROY; 19. Start of some picture books, A IS; 20. They can make people break up, RIB TICKLERS; 22. More than un peu, TRES; 24. Rags, TEASES; 25. Firth class?, SCOTS; 27. Soapmaking compound, chemically, KOH; 28. Make clean … or dirty, DUST; 32. Expect that one will, HOPE TO; 34. Something handed down, SENTENCE; 37. Turn into a chestnut, OVERUSE; 39. Keeps cruising, SAILS ON; 40. Present day figure in Paris?, PÈRE NOEL; 42. Cheap cigar, in slang, EL ROPO; 43. They have maridos: Abbr., SRAS; 44. Glass part, LIP; 46. One kneeling at work, TILER; 47. More than ruffles, ANGERS; 50. Sheep genus, OVIS; 51. A runner who loses may still win it, POPULAR VOTE; 56. With 36-Down, cocked, AT A; 57. Works with steam?, EROTICA; 58. Smallish ballpark, in slang, BANDBOX; 60. Clues from 7-Down, ANSWERS; 61. Lazuline, SKY BLUE; 62. Camphor and such, KETONES; 63. Aids in preparing spots?, TEA SETS.

Down — 1. Much of New York’s Garment District, once, SWEATSHOPS; 2. Upscale wedding reception amenity, CHAIR COVER; 3. Wild West show?, HORSE OPERA; 4. TV diner employer of 9-Down, MEL; 5. English poet-composer Gurney, IVOR; 6. Checkout choice, DEBIT; 7. TV host with a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame, TREBEK; 8. Sends, RAVISHES; 9. See 4-Down, ALICE; 10. Some big trucks, MACKS; 11. He had righteous blood, per Matthew 23:35, ABEL; 12. Say “You can’t do that!” to, say, DARE; 13. The love of Juan’s life?, AMOR; 14. Passage blockers, NAYS; 21. County with the resort town Red River, TAOS; 23. Volume measures, STERES; 26. Floor, STUN; 28. Texas city near the Coahulla border, DEL RIO; 29. Like the equation “x = x + 1”, UNSOLVABLE; 30. Case the joint, SCOPE IT OUT; 31. Staples of jazz music, TENOR SAXES; 33. Big creature in un zoológico, OSO; 35. Aye’s counterpart, NAE; 36. See 56-Across, TILT; 38. Freshwater plant also called wild celery, EEL GRASS; 41. Actor Schreiber, LIEV; 45. Emmy-winning reality show host of 2008, ‘09 and ‘10, PROBST; 47. Not from around here, ALIEN; 48. Inlay option, NACRE; 49. Driven supporter, STAKE; 51. Trough’s opposite, PEAK; 52. D-Day invasion river, ORNE; 53. A Webmaster may approve it, POST; 54. Aircraft in 1960 headlines, U-TWO; 55. Mononymous four-time Grammy winner, ENYA; 59. Volume measures: Abbr., DBS.

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01.28.11 — TEMPEST


Christ In The Storm On The Sea Of Galilee, 1633, Rembrandt Van Rijn

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Friday, January, 28, 2011

Puzzle by Kevin G. Der, edited by Will Shortz

Vague clues clashing against the results, results in this tempest-in-a-teapot last-Friday-in-January crossword.

Across — 1. Run in two places at once, SIMULCAST; 10. Savannah growth, COPSE; 15. Nut’s suggestion, CRAZY IDEA; 16. Home of Creighton University, OMAHA; 17. Station finder, RADIO DIAL; 18. Iron Age people, MEDES; 19. Mythical mortal who helped raise Dionysus, INO; 20. Aye’s opposite, poetically, NE'ER; 21. Used the same name, WENT BY; 22. See 49-Down; 24. Out of top form, RUSTY; 26. 1925 Literature Nobelist, SHAW; 27. Cartoon series, PANELS; 29. Middle of summer?, EMS; 31. Frog-eating bird, ANI; 32. Tangle, SNAFU; 33. Temperature, e.g., VITAL SIGN; 36. Herpetologist’s supply, ANTI-VENOM; 38. Some island dwellers, CASTAWAYS; 41. French for “clog”, SABOT; 45. Washington Irving hero, informally, RIP; 46. Father, e.g.: Abbr., REL; 47. Vigil locale, SHRINE; 48. What some veterans recall, IRAQ; 50. Japanese brew, ASAHI; 53. Burst, TEEM; 54. X’d, STRUCK; 56, More than surprise, DAZE; 58. What you may do when you’re beat, NAP; 59. Sunbathing spot, PATIO; 60. Bob Fosse specialty, JAZZ DANCE; 62. Not rounded, EXACT; 63. Minor restrictions, AGE LIMITS; 64. Two-bit, DINKY; 65. Dead duck’s cry, WE’RE TOAST.

Down — 1. Doesn’t blow dough, SCRIMPS; 2. Like much oil, IRANIAN; 3. One often seen with her child, MADONNA; 4. Magazine holder, UZI; 5. Lord LYON (overseer of Scottish heraldry); 6. Press releases?, CIDERS; 7. Literally, “to God”, ADIEU; 8. Brands … or carrier of brands, SEARS; 9. TAL vez (Mexican “Maybe”); 10. Take place, COME; 11. Forecaster’s concerns, OMENS; 12. Dish topped with crushed peanuts, PAD THAI; 13. Ball of wax, SHEBANG; 14. Romp, EASY WIN; 21. Longtime Rolling Stones bassist, WYMAN; 23. Trim, in a way, DEFAT; 25. Parisian thinkers?, TETES; 28. Like the Bay of Rainbows, LUNAR; 30. Washing machine sound, SLOSH; 33. Glasses for a scientist, VIALS; 34. It creeps up, IVY; 35. Upper-class?, SMART; 37. Small change, TWEAK; 38. Like rice in some cereal treats, CRISPED; 39. On demand flier, AIR TAXI; 40. One of 300 at Thermopylae, SPARTAN; 42. Stretches between Ryder Cups, BIENNIA; 43. Plays without a break, ONE ACTS; 44. Nautical danger, TEMPEST; 47. Thing often heard in short order?, SIZZLE; 49. With 22-Across, genius’s asset, QUICK; 51. It may become a cliché, ADAGE; 52. “Animal House” figure, HAZER; 55. President after Auriol, COTY; 57. Better papers?, EDIT; 60. Hook connection point, JAW; 61. “Just A MO” (“Hold on”).

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01.27.11 — HO-HUM


The Sleeping Gypsy (La Bohémienne endormie) by Henri Rousseau, 1897

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Thursday, January 27, 2011

Puzzle by Patrick Blindauer, edited by Will Shortz

This Thursday crossword utilizes the aural similarity of J and CH, exchanging same in four two-word phrases — DIRTY CHOKE (17A. Mean, illegal wrestling hold?), ORTHODOX CHEW (34A. Standard tobacco wad?), COURT CHESTER (43A. Woo President Arthur?) and BROAD CHUMP (63A. Fat fool?). Clever or amusing? HO HUM (36D. Yawn-inducing).

Other — BAY AREA (60A. Noted earthquake locale), FLOWERS (25D. Blooms), IN TENTHS (11D. How metric units are divided), ROUSSEAU (39D. “The Sleeping Gypsy” painter), STARCHES (12D. Stiffens, in a way), STREAKY (20A. Like poorly cleaned glasses), TUNA MELT (40D. Lunch counter order).

Mid-size — ATHOS, AUDIS, BADLY, ENCYC, ETHYL, JACKO, JERRY and PERRY, KAPOW, KATIE, LYNCH, MIDST, MSNBC, NBAER, OSAKA, PERUSE, RAKER, RISKY, SEEMTO, “Yes SIREE!”, SMART, SOLFA (24A. Musical syllable singing system), STEEL, UNITED, YASIR, YOWIE.

Short stuff — AHEM, ALEX, CERA, DEMI, EEK, ELY, ESSE, ESTO, ETTE, HOWE, HUN, INIT and INTL, Hip-hop’s LUPE Fiasco, MALL, MEET, MEOW, MMM, MOOR, MUSE and MUTE, NAPS, OCHO, OER, ORTO, POET, RHO, RISE, RHO, ROK, RTE, SOUR, STAY, TEE, THO, TYCO, YSER.

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Puzzle available on the internet at
THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.
Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Deliberate; 5. Rice wit three rings; 10. Prepare to sing an anthem; 14. Not out of the running; 15. One of a literary trio; 16. Part of I.M.F.: Abbr.; 19. Dog command; 21. One with a yard stick?; 23. Certain pipe joint; 27. “Dune” director; 29. Moore in entertainment news; 33. Granting that, briefly; 38. “___ take arms against …”; 41. “That really hurts!”; 42. In ___ (actual); 46. Pillager, maybe; 47. Go bad; 48. Piles; 51. Where Panasonic and Sanyo are headquartered; 53. It’s billed as “The Place for Politics”; 56. Clichéd cry; 58. Stylish; 62. Satisfy; 66. Landlocked land of Africa; 67. Coke is used for this; 58. “Salus populi suprema lex ___” (Missouri’s motto); 69. Speechless; 70. Clinton defense secretary William; 71. Copy cats. — DOWN: 1. Thick; 2. One way to stand; 4. Kitchen extension?; 5. Onetime tabloid nickname; 6. Kind of alcohol; 7. Euripides character?; 8. Seoul soldier; 9. River that begins in Nord; 10. Perilous; 13. Screen swinger Ron; 18. P.L.O.’s Arafat; 22. “Family Ties” son; 26. Q5 and Q7; 28. N.H.L. star nicknamed “Mr. Hockey”; 30. El Cid foe; 32. One with stressing work?; 35. Tickle Me Elmo manufacturer; 37. Michael of “Superbad”; 38. ___ Rios (Jamaican resort); 44. Bolshevik target; 45. Multivolume ref., usually; 49. Leaf through; 50. Appear that way; 52. ___ Bell, witch who was a fellow student of Harry Potter at Hogwarts; 54. Celt or Cav; 55. In the worst way; 57. [Bam!]; 59. Shortening used in recipes; 61. “Don’t you forget about me”; 62. “Yum!”; 64. U.S.P.S. abbr.; 65. Contraction that sounds like a conjunction.

01.26.11 — Close...



Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Puzzle by David Murchie, edited by Will Shortz

NEAR / MISS (1A. With 65-Across, the starts of 20-, 26-, 43- and 51-Across taken together), e.g., CLOSE, BUT NO CIGAR, found at the starts of CLOSE ENCOUNTERS (20A. Alien abductions, e.g.), BUT, SERIOUSLY (26A. “All kidding aside ..”), NO SOLICITING 43A. Unwelcome sign for a sales rep) and CIGAR AFICIONADO (51A. Magazine opposed to the Cuban trade embargo) are the interrelated group of this tenebrous Wednesday crossword.

Other — ACCENTS (5D. Dialect coaches teach them), BORNEO (9D. World’s third-largest island), CHANTS, LARYNX (44D. Adam’s apple site), LIAISES (42D. Is a go-between), LONGER, PACIFIST (38D. Conscientious objector), SALADS, TACK ON, UNION REP (8D. Shop steward, briefly).

Five-letter — ANTON, ARROW, BASSO, BENCH, BONES, DALAI Lama, DETOX, DINGE, DON HO, EBOLA, EDITS, ELENI, ERASE, ETUDE, HOARY, NATCH, OMAHA, RIPEN, HOARY, USING.

Short stuff — AAH, ABRA, ACLU, ALI, ALPS, ARLO and AROO, CANI, CHAD, CHER, CHIN, DEB, EMIT, FAN, FILA, GATT, HANS and TANS, HAW, INKS, INLA, IONE, LAPS, LES, LINC, LUGE, NAPE, NNE, NORM, OLIN, PEP, RATE and RATS, SEAN, SLOE, SONG, SOUS-chef, TORT, TNT, UNIS, YSER.



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Puzzle available on the internet at
THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.
;">Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Scopes Trial org.; 9. Place for scrubs; 14. Start of an incantation; 15. “Double” facial feature; 16. Normandy beach; 17. Assault or battery; 18. “Please?”; 19. React to mold, perhaps; 23. Command to a plow horse; 24. It’s fairly insensitive to shock, fortunately; 25. Houston-to-K.C. direction; 32. Menu heading; 35. “Au Revoir, ___ Enfants” (1987 film); 37. Backspace through; 38. Get-up-and-go; 39. Ringe around the collar, say; 40. Chamonix setting; 41. Season box holder, e.g.; 42. Like a par 5 hole vis-à-vis a par 3; 46. “Aladdin” prince; 47. “Open wide” sound; 48. Center of a ball?; 57. Old and gray; 58. Signs, as a contract; 59. Lena of “Chocolat”; 60. Composer Bruckner; 61. Astringent fruit; 62. Word with cut or exchange; 63. Dry out, informally; 64. Salon acquisitions. — DOWN: 1. “Why, of course!”; 2. Jungle menace; 3. You might wait for it at a stoplight; 4. “Fiddlesticks!”; 6. Monastery music; 7. “The Mod Squad” role; 10. Release; 11. Mane area; 12. Mother of Chaz Bono; 13. Brinker of children’s lit; 21. Exercise on the keys; 22. Aussie colleges; 26. Low man at the Met; 27. Nicholas Gage best seller; 28. On drugs; 29. Something to break into;30. Race in a chute; 31. River in a 1914 battle; 32. Rapper Combs a k a Diddy; 33. Alice’s chronicler; 34. Swimmers do them; 39. “Tiny Bubbles” singer; 41. Adidas competitor; 45. Add later; 49. Magazine jobs; 50. Dice, slangily; 51. 2000 election scrap; 52. Skye of “Say Anything …”; 53. Intl. commerce pact replaced by the W.T.O.; 54. Suffix with buck; 55."To Live and Die ___"; 56. What’s expected.

01.25.11 — Palindromania II



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Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Puzzle by Randall J. Hartman, edited by Will Shortz

A palindrome is a word, phrase, number or other sequence of units that can be read the same way in either direction (the adjustment of punctuation and spaces between words is generally permitted). The word "palindrome" was coined from Greek roots palin (πάλιν; "again") and dromos (δρóμος; "way, direction") by English writer Ben Jonson in the 17th century. Wikipedia

Four fifteen-letter palindromes that begin with city names are the main feature of this Tuesday crossword — SEVILLE EEL LIVES (17A. Spanish moray still exists), WARSAW NUN WAS RAW (26A. Polish sister showed her inexperience), RENO ROCK CORONER (43A. Silver State boogie band autopsy) and BOSTON DID NOT SOB (56A. Red Sox fans mourned tearlessly).

Other — ALIVE and AWAKE, ARES and ILIAD (12D. God in the 49-Across; 49A. Tale of Achilles), DROP OFF / MALLRAT (42D. Leave, as kids at school; 5D. Teen loiterer, possibly), SIC ‘EM (1A. Command to a Doberman), THE FAN (6D. Creepy 1981 Lauren Bacall film), UMIAK (29D. Eskimo boat).

Et cetera — ANISE, AWAIT, CINDER, CLINGS, CREDO, DRIVE, FATAL, FRAME, LANAI (19D. Maui neighbor), OCALA, RABIN, RAMEN, SHIPS, WAGER and WATER.

Short stuff — ABIT, ABLE, ALA and ARA and AREA, ARON and ORAN, ASIS, ATE, BASE, CAVE, CHIA, CRAB, DEER and DOE, ELI, GAMS, GEL, HICK, HIRER, IBIS, ICET, IDLE and ISLE, IRON, LARA, LODE, LOEW, LOFT, MINI, NOD, OOZE, OWNS, PRE, RAVI (11A. Jazz saxophonist Coltrane), REEK, ROAM, SEES, SHOE, SIZE, SNAP and SNIP, SONG (24A. “Both Sides Now,” for one), SOSA, TAR, TVPG, VIET.

Palindromes got a little workout in the NY Times Crossword of January 4th, accompanied in this blog on that occasion by "Weird Al" Yankovic.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

Remaining clues — 6. “American Idol” rating; 10. Crotchety sort; 14. Sunshine State city; 15. Place on the payroll; 16. “60 Minutes” correspondent Logan; 20. Broke bread; 21. Art gallery site, possibly; 22. Biscotti flavoring; 23. Wall-to-wall measure; 33. Watch for; 34. Bar opening?; 35. ___ carte; 36. W.W. II pinup features; 37. Fleet members; 39. Not much; 40. Barely manage, with “out”; 41. “Pet” that’s a plant; 42. Auto gear; 47. Stink to high heaven; 48. It’s pumped; 52. Pic; 53. Parseghian of the Fighting Irish; 60. On break, say; 61. Seep; 62. Deadly; 63. Gets the picture; 64. White-tailed ___; 65. Picture holder. — DOWN: 1. Member of the 600 home run club; 2. “Rhyme Pays” rapper; 3. Bat mobile “garage”; 4. Super Bowl-winning Manning; 5. Teen loiterer, possibly; 7. ___ Cong; 8. Start to fix?; 9. Salon stuff; 10. Holds tight; 13. Corner of a diamond; 18. MGM mogul Marcus; 23. Antique shop tag; 24. Sassy sort; 25. Has control over; 26. “Friendly” action; 27. Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed; 28. Japanese noodle dish; 30. Israeli P.M. after Shamir; 31. Having a pulse; 32. Firefighting aid; 37. Wingtip or wedge; 38. Country bumpkin; 39. Elvis ___ Presley; 41. Doctrine; 44. Gives a speech; 45. Fireplace remnant; 46. Algerian port; 49. Sacred bird of ancient Egypt; 50. Gold streak; 51. Manhattan, for one; 52. Clothing tag information; 53. Terrier in “The Thin Man”; 54. Travel aimlessly; 55. Up to the task; 57. Go-ahead sign; 58. Female 64-Across; 59. La Brea goop.



01.24.11 — Sweet Monday



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Monday, January 24, 2011

Puzzle by Fred Piscop, edited by Will Shortz

JAR, with a clue to JAM, MARMALADE, PRESERVES and JELLY comprises the interrelated group of this sweet Monday crossword, e.g., JAM SESSION (17A. Informal gathering of musicians), LADY MARMALADE (26A. 1975 #1 hit for LaBelle), GAME PRESERVES (41A. Outdoor homes for endangered species, perhaps) and JELLYSTONE (54A. Park that’s home to Yogi Bear).

Other — ALTO crossing ALITO and ANTE crossing ANTS, ÉLYSÉE (42D. French president's palace), LUXEMBOURG (26D. Country wedged between France, Belgium and Germany), MACADAMIAS (11D. Nuts grown in Hawaii), MAHLER (27D. Gustav who composed “The Song of the Earth”), OR ELSE, RELY ON, ROSARY, SNIVEL (10D. Whine tearfully).

Five-letter — “Looks AREN’T everything“, ARIES, BLUER, CHILI (36A. Dish rated in alarms), ERASE, EVADE, EVILS (40D. Things released from Pandora’s box), FLOYD (46A. “Pretty Boy” of crime), OOHED, OUTIE, RIPON (61A. Wisconsin college or its city), ROOMY, SALES, SHUTE (31A. “On the Beach” author Nevil), TV ADS.


Allegory of Vanity (Pandora) by Nicolas Régnier, c. 1626,
showing a jar, not a box.

Short stuff — AXE, CARE, CLIP, DESK, DONS (29D. Mafia bigwigs), EDGE, EIN, ELI and ELS, EPEE, FILE and FIRE, FUJI, GADS, HEXA, ICED, IOUS, IQS, IRAQ, LOUD, LURE, “O Sole MIO, MOP, NAPA, OMNI, OPED, OTIS, OUST, PEEK, RAMS, SMOG, SPUD, STAG, TAD, TEXT, THAT reminds me …”, URAL, VATS, WAR, WATT, WINE, WREN, YEN, ZAP, ZONE.

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Puzzle available on the internet at
THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.
Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Order after “Ready … aim …”; 5. Not cramped at all; 10. Urban pollution; 14. Russia’s ___ Mountains; 15. Protruding navel; 16. California Valley known for 37-Across; 19. Stuck in the freezer; 20. Mensa members’ stats; 21. 37-Across vessels; 22. 30-second spots, e.g.; 23. One of the W’s in W.W. I; 24. Expressed wonder; 34. Floor cleaner; 35. Send a message via cell phone; 37. Cabernet or merlot; 38. Lumberjack’s tool; 39. Red tag events; 40. Clear from memory; 44. More sad; 45. “Ich bin ___ Berliner”; 48. Match a bet, in poker; 50. Hit with a stun gun; 53. Papers in poker pots; 57. Entice; 58. Samuel of the Supreme Court; 59. Initial poker stake; 60. Beat, barely; 62. Cubicle fixture. — DOWN: 1. Volcano viewable from Tokyo; 2. Operation Desert Storm setting; 3. Ewes’ mates; 4. Chicago trains; 5. Nun’s beads; 6. Remove from power; 7. Elevator pioneer Elisha; 9. Money in Tokyo; 12. Newspaper opinion piece; 13. Gallivants, with “about”; 18. Give the slip to; 23. Light bulb unit; 24. Ultimatum words; 25. All: Prefix; 28. Astrological sign of spring; 30. Olympian’s blade; 31. For men only; 32. One more than penta-; 36. Give a darn; 37. Small songbird; 39. Potato, informally; 43. Have confidence in; 46. Blacksmith’s tool; 47. Deafening; 48. Tie fastener; 49. Kind of sax; 50. The “Z” in DMZ; 51. Aardvark’s diet; 52. Not wait until December 25, say; 54. Where you might find the thematic parts of 17-, 26-, 41- and 54-Across; 55. ___ Lilly and Company; 56. Tiny bit.

01.23.11 — Cryptic Crossword



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Sunday, January 23, 2011

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon, edited by Will Shortz

A fairly friendly cryptic crossword for this Sunday’s second puzzle. Go ahead, take the plunge!

Across — 1. I.R.S. agents wildly making claims (9), ASSERTING, anagram of irs agents; 6. Gets ready to shoot birds in a barnyard (5), COCKS, pun; 9. Dangerous agent added to Italian city lawyer’s retinue (9, 6), ANDROMEDA STRAIN, and Rome DA’s train; 10. Mother was introduced to one of today’s leading playwrights (5), MAMET, ma met Mamet; 11. Board openings in no way complete things for auditors (9), KNOTHOLES, sort of pun, K not holes; 12. Young lady holding unoriginal ceremonies near the end (4, 5), LAST RITES, read trite within lass; 14. Food common at dinner or after one (5), PASTA; 15. The first person in diplomacy silently understood (5), TACIT, I within tact; 17. Sort of stem from “Cheers” conversation (9), ROOTSTALK, pun; 19. Skip around tavern yard and barely get wet? (6-3), SKINNY DIP, skip around inn and yd; 21. Shankar’s ending a blast with Indian music (5), RAGAS, r and a gas; 23. Note: credit card’s wrong, and you were right (1, 5, 9), I STAND CORRECTED, anagram of note credit card’s; 24. Bulletin board items required payment for speakers (5), TACKS, pun; 25. Parent led travels for a distant world (3, 6), RED PLANET, anagram of parent led.

Down — 1. Spook with a large tentacle (5), ALARM, alarm with an arm; 2. Stomach acidosis strangely mixing pain and pleasure (15), SADO-MASOCHISTIC, anagram of stomach acidosis; 3. Bird list contain nothing, ROOSTER, Zero within roster; 4. Improve the condition of creakiest athlete (3-6), ICE-SKATER, anagram of creakiest; 5. Nicaragua now carries Peruvian fertilizer (5), GUANO, guano within Nicaragua now; 6. Heard of tomato sauce? Join the rest of us (5, 2), CATCH UP, pun; 7. Actor who portrayed Henry VIII’s show of mirth in dance (7, 8), CHARLES LAUGHTON, laugh within Charleston; 8. Principal of school and head of staff listen for dangerous fish (4, 5), SANDSHARK, S and S hark; 12. Tough job assignment: unfortunately, that’s life (4, 5), LATE SHIFT, anagram of that’s life; 13. One of today’s leading playwrights reportedly blocked at the opening (9), STOPPERED, homophone of Stoppard; 16. People renting properties with a number of bugs (7), TENANTS, tenants and ten ants; 18. New ruler as strange as something in a dream (7), SURREAL, anagram of ruler as; 20. Delaware company restricted room furnishings (5), DÉCOR, abbreviations of Delaware, company and restricted; 22. Expressing regret in response to an Egyptian president (5), SADAT, well, just sad at.

Jump!



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Puzzle available on the internet at