The New York Times Crossword in Gothic: 01.29.11

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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