02.18.11 — Friday Flash

Albino Peacock by Darren Stone, Pixdaus

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Friday, February 18, 2011

Puzzle by Patrick Berry, edited by Will Shortz

With its black squares dividing it into five small puzzles, this evasively-clued, flamboyant Friday crossword is a stop-and-go affair best suited for the most patient of solvers.

Across — 1. Crossbar supporter, GOAL POST; 9. 2009 “Survivor” setting, SAMOA; 14. Attempt, HAVE A GO AT; 16. Like wearing socks on your hands, INANE; 17. “Be that as it may …”, AT ANY RATE; 18. Four-time presidential candidate, NADER; 19. “Isn’t that so?,” to Rousseau, N'EST-ÇE PAS; 20. Roman leader?, GRECO; 21. Sci-fi beeper, ARTOO; 22. Old doctor’s supply, LEECHES; 24. Milquetoast of old comics, CASPAR; 28. Stop order, HALT; 29. Return a letter, say, BACKSPACE; 32. Venezuela’s ISLA Margarita; 33. 2008 greatest hits album that includes the song “Proud Mary”, TINA; 34. Palindromic name high on the Forbes billionaires list, SOROS; 35. Indicator of second thoughts, STET; 36. Statement of resignation, ALAS; 37. Peevish, IRRITATED; 39. Knife injury, GASH; 40. Touch screen toucher, STYLUS; 41. Certifies, ATTESTS; 43. They support TV viewers, SOFAS; 48. Take temporarily, LEASE; 49. Creator of strange worlds, FANTASIST; 53. Unseen “Mork & Mindy” character, ORSON; 54. Totals, AMOUNTS TO; 55. Common praenomen among Roman emperors, GAIUS; 56. Bright school member, NEON TETRA; 57. Blank SLATE; 58. Considers beneath one’s notice, SNEERS AT.

Down — 1. African soccer powerhouse popularly known as the Black Stars, GHANA; 2. Gun show?, OATER; 3. Stop order?, AVAST; 4. Slow than adagio, LENTO; 5. Bird in a Sean O’Casey title, PAYCOCK; 6. Baddie in Perrault’s tales, OGRE; 7. It may be found in a dish, SOAP; 8. “Toodles”, TATA; 9. Expose to flame, SINGE; 10. Disorderly sort?, ANARCHIST; 11. Got a move on, MADE HASTE; 12. Like early life, ONE-CELLED; 13. Balloon, e.g., AEROSTAT; 15. Early radio transmitter, TESLA COIL; 23. 1974 Billboard hit with Spanish lyrics, ERES TU; 25. Run interference for, e.g., ASSIST; 26. Game animal?, SPORTS FAN; 27. Evasive answer, PARRY; 29. Involving both sides, BILATERAL; 30. 1997 animated film set in Russia, ANASTASIA; 31. Quits gambling, CASHES OUT; 33. More than a quarter of native Filipinos, ethnically, TAGALOGS; 38. “The Mambo Kings” co-star, ASSANTE; 42. Somehow know, SENSE; 44. Mixer maker, OSTER; 45. Handmade things?, FISTS; 46. Word in Kansas’ motto, ASTRA; 47. Fur source, STOAT; 50. AMES Research Center (NASA lab in Silicon Valley); 51. It comes before one, NOON; 52. Make less sharp, maybe, TUNE.

I'll put some o' the gorgeous feathers out o' your tail!

 ~ Juno and the Paycock

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Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.