04.30.11 — A Cowboy May Have a Big One

Zane Grey and The Mittens of Monument Valley

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Saturday, April 30, 2011

Puzzle by Frederick J. Healy / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. Frame part, JAMB; 5. Chopping center?, DOJO; 9. Post holder, BLOG; 13. One for whose benefit a legal suit, USEE; 14. Hazzard County deputy, ENOS; 15. Bit of avian anatomy, QUILL; 15. Bit of avian anatomy, BILL; 17. A cowboy may have a big one, BELT BUCKLE; 19. “Unlikely”, I DOUBT IT; 21. Collect copiously, RAKE IN; 22. Cliff dweller’s setting, LEDGE; 23. Gets by, EVADES; 24. “True, alas”, AFRAID SO; 28. Weapon lengthener?, EER; 29. Heat-seeking grp.?, NRA; 30. Wide-eyed, NAÏVE; 32. Cross, ROOD; 35. Some cats, TOMS; 37. Private practice?, DRILL; 39. Sheep genus, OVIS; 41. Ones given latitude?, MAPS; 43. Total messes, STIES; 45. Titus, e.g.: Abbr., EMP; 46. Knock over, ROB; 48. Western master, ZANE GREY; 50. Inn’s end, DANUBE; 53. Dots on 41-Across, TOWNS; 54. “ALICE’S Adventures Under Ground”; 55. Poor, NOT SO HOT; 58. Be completely set, HAVE IT MADE; 60. “Oh, No! It’s DEVO” (1982 rock album); 61. Second in cmd., LIEUT; 62. Partner of 56-Down, ENDS; 63. Player of one of TV’s Sopranos, ILER; 64. Betray irritability, SNAP; 65. Noted elephant designer, NAST; 66. Mr. Piggott’s “Little” niece, EM'LY.

Down — 1. Celebratory, JUBILANT; 2. Save, ASIDE FROM; 3. Soap ingredient?, MELODRAMA; 4. Prized caviar, BELUGA; 5. Creation from plastic?, DEBT; 6. “The ONE I have almost forgot”: Shak.; 7. Kick, JOLT; 8. Toward der Orient, OST; 9. Wrangler, BUCKAROO; 10. See 47-Down, LIKED; 11. Dragon puppet, OLLIE; 12. Gorges, GLENS; 15. Warble, QUAVER; 18. “Desperate Housewives” role, BREE; 20. Summer of Love prelude, BE-IN; 25. Brit’s “guv”, DAD; 26. Patrick Stewart and Alan Cumming, e.g., SIRS; 27. 1990s Disney chief, OVITZ; 31. “Grace Before Meat” pen name, ELIA; 33. Steamroller, OVERWHELM; 34. Bit of pulp, DIME NOVEL; 36. Smarten, SPRUCE UP; 38. Singer Barry, LEN; 40. Read with intelligence, SPY STORY; 42. “That’s life”, SO BE IT; 44. Completists’ goals, SETS; 47. With 10-Down, favored the most, BEST; 49. Perk, GOODIE; 50. “Fantastic Mr. Fox” author and family, DAHLS; 51. Chef Ducasse, ALAIN; 52. Olay alternative, NIVEA; 55. Family nickname, NANA; 56. Partner of 62-Across, ODDS; 57. Try, TEST; 59. Checkers, e.g., MEN.

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04.29.11 — Friday Kerfuffle

Friday, April 29, 2011

Puzzle by David Quarfoot / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. TV star who wrote the novel “A Shore Thing,” informally, SNOOKI; 7. Bass alternative, SAM ADAMS; 15. Diversion also called MathDoku, KEN-KEN; 16. Common economic indicator, TRADE GAP; 17. Start of many a bumper sticker, I HEART; 18. Movie format of old, CINERAMA; 19. Devoutly wish a drought to end, PRAY FOR RAIN; 21. Tell, RAT; 22. Totality, SUM; 23. Civil War side, UNION; 24. Puma, e.g., FELINE; 26. Fellow, CHAP; 30. Its flag features a grizzly bear: Abbr., CALIF; 36. Ancient, AGE OLD; 38. 38. Game in which all pieces have four components, TETRIS; 39. Hotel amenity, SHOWER CAP; 43. Quite a spread, FEAST; 44. Capital near 10-Down, SANA; 45. XANADU 2.0, Bill Gates’s house; 47. Sound, VALID; 48. Green grp.?, PGA; 51. Actress Hagen, UTA; 54. It may be assumed, THE POSITION; 57. Kind of mortgage, SUBPRIME; 59. Eclipse viewing locale?, CAR LOT; 60. Some recessions, EBB TIDES; 61. Indolent, OTIOSE; 62. One making a bust, maybe, DEA AGENT; 63. Got a little dirty, in a way, SEXTED.

Down — 1. Record problems, SKIPS; 2. P.M. who was father of another P.M., NEHRU; 3. What the ringing of two bells might signal on a ship, ONE AM; 4. Sound, OKAY; 5. Tizzy, KERFUFFLE; 6. Utter, INTONE; 7. Popular tropical destination, ST CROIX; 8. Big name in the blogosphere, ARIANNA; 9. Salon job, for short, MANI; 10. Former capital near 44-Across, ADEN; 11. Article abroad, DER; 12. Culture medium, AGAR; 13. With 30-Down, “Dream a Little Dream of Me” singer, MAMA; 14. Scrap, SPAT; 20. Get to, RILE; 25. Health care inits., EMT; 26. Sheep shelter, COTE; 27. Wedding ring?, HORA; 28. Pals around in Paris?, AMIS; 29. Secret indicator, PSST; 30. See 13-Down, CASS; 31. Old Turkish title, AGHA; 32. Provincial capital NW of Madrid, LEON; 33. Where I-80 crosses I-35, IOWA; 35. 2010 coinage meaning “to reject”, REFUDIATE; 37. Bogart’s only horror film title role, 1939, DR X; 40. Troglodytes, CAVEMEN; 41. “Au revoir,” for example, ANAPEST; 42. Alto preceder, PALO; 46. Popular hangouts in the late ‘70s, DISCOS; 48. Stove light, PILOT; 49. Silly sort, GOOSE; 50. Put up, ANTED; 51. Drew on, USED; 52. Hose, e.g., TUBE; 53. Group whose name combines the first letters of its members’ names, ABBA; 54. Palin boy, TRIG; 55. Skin, HIDE; 56. General Mills offering, TRIX; 58. Child support, briefly, PTA.

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04.28.11 — Royal Wedding

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Puzzle by Gary Cee / Edited Shortz

ROYAL WEDDING (20A Event of 4/29/11), PRINCE WILLIAM (30A. Bridegroom of 4/29/11), KATE MIDDLETON (38A. Bride of 4/29/11), and KING AND QUEEN (51A. 30- and 38-Across someday, presumably) constitute the interrelated group of this very fine and topical Thursday crossword.

More — ALTAR (6D. Westminster Abbey feature), GEORGE (26A. Name of six British monarchs), OBE (34A. Honor bestowed by 53-Down), POOL (7A. Feature of the Buckingham Palace grounds), and for kicks, QE II (53D. Grandmother of 30-Across, informally) and WALES (17A. Titular jurisdiction of 30-Across).

Other — ABIGAIL (39D. First name of two first ladies); 45A. “La BAMBA” (traditional Mexican nuptials song); ENDNOTE (44D. Postscript), GONDOLA (10D. Romantic ride for some honeymooners); HARDENS (50A. Gels); IBERIAN Peninsula; LURED IN (43D Baited); MASONIC (5D.Kind of temple); SENEGAL (9D. French-speaking land of 12+ million); WEBINAR (23A. Class conducted online) — oh, and three "throwing" clues Throw for FLING; Throws, HURLS and Throw out, EMANATE.

Mid-size — AMEBA, AUNTIE, BRINK, DOWEL, ENTRY, EURAIL, FORGE, ITALY, MATTE, NERDS, OKAPI (47D. Creature with striped legs), OREIDA, PURIM (1D. March time?), RILED, TBALL,TIBIA, USAIR.

Short stuff— Ages AGO, ALTA, APPS, AUER, BLED, DAAE, DELI, DUAL, ELD, ELIS (64A. 21-Down students), EURE (24D French river or department), GOIN, GUFF, IDYL, LORE, LYS, NAIR, ONES, OSLO, PAW, PERI, PROW, REL, TADA, TAIL, TEN, TOON, UMA, WAR, WEPT, WOMB, YALE (21D. School for 64-Across).

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 6. iPad downloads; 10. Humbug; 14. Minute creature; 15. Tales of the Round Table, e.g.; 16. Home of the Gardermoen airport; 18. Hanna-Barbera creation; 19. Hair-razing stuff; 27. Kind of pass; 28. Lead-in to Little League; 33. Knockout count; 46. Em, for one; 47. Food brand whose name is a combination of two state abbreviations; 50. Gels; 54. Utah winter vacation spot; 55. Violinist Leopold; 56. Bounty holder?; 60. Mythological sprite; 61. Follow; 62. 2006 World Cup champs; 63. Bucolic poem; 64. 21-Down students; 65. Poindexter types. — DOWN: 1. Logo of the Clemson Tigers; 2. Actress Thurman; 3. Father’s subj.; 8. Ferry’s front; 11. Eastern competitor; 13. Smith’s workplace; 22. Place to take a number, maybe; 23. Boohooed; 25. Threshold; 28. It parallels the fibula; 29. Ran past the border; 31. Development site; 32. Not glossy; 36. Penetrate; 37. Tip jar bills; 40. “There!”; 42. “The Phantom of the Opera” heroine Christine ___; 47. Creature with striped legs; 48. Ticked off; 49. Customs may precede it; 52. Like some citizenship; 57. ___ of the Roses; 58. Days gone by, in days gone by; 59. Fleur-de-___.

04.27.11 — For What It's Worth

American Progress, c. 1872 by John Gast,

an allegorical representation of the modernization of the new west.

 Manifest Destiny, Wikipedia

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Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Puzzle by William L. Johnston / Edited by Will Shortz

MANIFEST DESTINY (7D. Expansionist doctrine), CLEAR PRIORITY (20A. Task that stands high on one’s list), EXPLICIT CONTENT (40A. Words on a parental advisory) and PATENT LEATHER (56A. Shiny shoe material) constitute the interrelated group of this vague Wednesday crossword.

Other — COERCE, CUTIE PIE (41D. Adorable one), ENRAPT, HYPERSPACE (30D Four-dimensional realm), NODULE, PLANAR, RAPPER (5D. Lil Wayne, for one), SAXONY, SEETHE, TAG YOUR IT (11D. Playground shout), TEAR INTO (9D. Attack vigorously), USENET.

Five-letter — AWAKE, ELYSE, ENROL, ETHIC, IKNOW, IONIC, ISIAH, NILLA, ONEAL, PENNA, PRIER, REMIT, RICKI, SAYOK.

Short stuff — ABUT, Open A CAN of worms, ADOS, ATOP, BAIL, CREE, CUJO, DEES, DITS, EKCO, ELIS, EMAJ, ENCL, EVIL, EWER, FWIW (24A. Bit of cyberchat shorthand), for what it‘s worth, HUTU, “Dies IRAE“, ITAL, IVAN, IWO, LEIS, LIE, LSAT, NICE, NOEL, OIL and OLE, OLLA, Photo OPS, PLY, PUT, QED, QUAD, RACE, RELO, TRE, TYS, UGLY, UIES, UKE, USDA, USH, ZERO, ZINC (1D. 97.5% of a penny).

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Sum of opposites; 5. Send in, as payment; 10. Surmounting; 14. Tennis great Lendl; 15. Not just stirring; 16. Dump water overboard; 17. Riviera deity; 18. Quaker State: Abbr.; 19. Grotesque; 23. It may be part of a pack; 28. Show people to their seats, informally; 31. First Nations tribe; 33. Little bump; 35. Agree verbally; 37. Exam with a max. score of 180; 43. Winter air; 44. Food stamp?; 45. Basketball Hall-of-Famer Thomas; 46. Mesmerized; 48. Return envelope, e.g.: Abbr.; 50. Quattro preceder; 51. Cobb and others; 52. Turnarounds, slangily; 54. Corrida cry; 62. Campus area; 64. Buttinsky; 65. Brit of Fox News; 66. Kitchenware brand; 67. Column order; 68. Slanted type: Abbr.; 69. Pretty low grades; 70. “Family Ties: mother; 71. Rabid dog in a Stephen King story. — DOWN: 2. Diabolical; 3. Political contest; 4. Center of the N.B.A.; 6. Common still-life subject; 8. “No need to tell me”; 9. Attack vigorously; 10. Touch; 12. Vinaigrette component; 13. Practice, as a trade; 21. Lake of “Hairspray”; 22. Pacific battle site, familiarly; 26. Flat; 27. Do a slow burn; 28. Online newsgroup system; 29. Leipzig’s state; 32. Skull and Bones members; 34. Morse code for “sissies”; 36. Ceramic vessel; 42. Nabisco wafer; 47. Wall Street option; 49. Strong-arm; 53. Register; 55. Set of principles; 57. Commotions; 58. Island rings; 59. Rwandan group; 60. Key of Bach’s second violin concerto: Abbr.; 61. Employee’s move, for short; 62. Letters seen during proofreading?; 63. Island strings.

04.26.11 — NO-BRAINER

Underwater Basket Weaving © 2005 Keith Mackay

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Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Puzzle by Brendan Emmett Quigley / Edited by Will Shortz

EASY A (69A. No-brainer class, an example of which is named by combing the ends of 20-, 36-, 42- and 55-Across), e.g., UNDERWATER BASKET WEAVING, constitutes the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword — KNUCKLE UNDER (20A. Consent reluctantly), TREADS WATER (36A. Is active without making progress of falling behind), BREAD BASKET (42A. Main food-supplying region of a country) and SPELL WEAVING (55A. Wizardry).

Other — BOULDER (5D. Rock that may be hard to roll), DEEP SEA (43D. Kind of diving), ESSENCE (45D. Perfume), JUDE LAW (9D. Dr. Watson player in 2009’s “Sherlock Holmes”), WHO’S NEXT (28A. 1971 rock album with the hit “Won’t Get Fooled Again”), YES AND NO (49A. “Could go either way”).

Mid-size — CYRANO, DOOZY, ELECTS, ELEVEN (26D. On a scale of 1 to 10, what one amp in “This is Spinal Tap“ goes to), HARROW, JESUS, JOINT, LOFTER, NAMELY, NAVAJO, OKEEFE, OVINE, RETARD, SEINE, TANSY (32D. Aster relative), ULCER, UDDER, WOBBLE.

Short stuff — ACLU, AREA, AXEL, BIAS, BRAE, BRED, CAHN, DAT, DEKE, DENS, EAU and EWE, EEL, ERIC, EVA, GATO, HAWK, HOPE, IDO, INGE, IRIS, JAVA, JILT, JOE, LARA, MAJ, NELL, Pince-NEZ, NNE, OAK, ODOR, OSLO, OXEN, PERU, RAZE, REC and REN, SIS, STA, SUNY, TATA, TED, TRY, UGLI, “WE’RE pregnant!”, WHIZ, XENA (31D. Title TV character in a brown, skirted, leather outfit).

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Word on a 2008 Obama poster; 5. Subject for a media ombudsman; 9. Wrist or knee; 14. Jump in a rink; 15. Second word in many limericks; 16. Milk provider; 18. Hybrid citrus fruit; 19. Humdinger; 23. Main character on “How I Met Your Mother”; 24. Fish that twists; 25. ___ room; 33. To be specific; 35. Acorn source; 38. Born’s partner; 40. Opposite of SSW; 41. Programming language that’s also the name of an island; 47. Stimpy’s TV pal; 48. Golf club similar to a nib lick; 51. ___ lamb; 52. Liquid in the 8-Down; 54. Harvard Sq. on Boston’s T, e.g.; 61. Easter figure; 64. “Three Coins in the Fountain” lyricist Sammy; 66. Region; 66. Like a 51-Across; 67. Google executive Schmidt; 68. Leave at the altar; 70. Knock down; 71. Site of the Ibsen Museum. — DOWN: 1. Atlanta cager; 2. The yoke’s on them; 3. Land with chinchillas; 4. Puts in office; 6. Playwright William; 7. Rights org.; 8. See 52-Across: 10. Dumpster emanation; 11. Altar declaration; 13. “Give it a shot”; 21. Canterbury’s county; 22. TV rooms; 25. Slow down; 27. Storied duelist with a large nose; 28. Teeter; 29. Tilling tool; 30. Political activist James known for undercover videos; 34. Army V.I.P.; 37. Hockey feint; 39. Dis’s opposite; 44. Hill near a loch; 46. “Gotta run!”; 50. Indian making a blanket; 53. Bad feeling in one’s gut?; 55. Sch. System with campuses in Albany and 63 other places; 56. Actress ___ Flynn Boyle; 57. Zoom; 58. Eye part; 59. “The Old Curiosity Shop” heroine; 60. Cancún kitty; 61. Vice President Biden; 62. Little ___, who did the Loco-Motion; 63. Family nickname.

04.25.11 — B O S

Barack Hussein Obama, Sr.

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Monday, April 25, 2011

Puzzle by Joon Pahk / Edited by Will Shortz

BOS (72A. Logan Airport luggage letters … and a hint to 17-, 27-, 49- and 64-Across), along with BARBER OF SEVILLE (17A. Rossini opera about Figaro, with “The”), BOX-OFFICE STAR (27A. Hollywood headliner), BARACK OBAMA SR (49A. The father in “Dreams From My Father”) and BLOWING OFF STEAM (64A. Venting) are the interrelated group of this Monday crossword.

Other — AMASSED (47D. Accumulated), ARTURO (42A. Conductor Toscanini), DIVERSE (9D. Multifarious), EATEN and NEATEN (19D. Gobbled up; 35A. Tidy up), JAM IN and RAMMING (67A. Pack very tightly; 43D. Running into head-on), KEGGER, ON SPEC, SPEEDOS (4D. Sleek swimsuits).

Five-letter — ATOMS, BLASÉ, BLURB, DEBIT, ESTEE Lauder, IDAHO, ILOSE, MAGNA Carta, OCEAN, “I'm OUTTA here!”, PUPAE, PUTON, RE-ADD (71A. Sum more?), RECUR, SEATO, SCHWA (60A. Unstressed vowel symbol) , SLANG.

Short stuff — AFTA, Amo, AMAS, amat, ATOP, AUTO, BOLT, ELI, ELAL and ETAL, ETRE, EUR, FAA, FED, FLU, FUR, GIBB, GOO, HERA and HERB, IDO, IRK, ISLE of Wight, LOCO, MUD, NOD, NOSE, OFT, OKRA, ORAL, OURS, PAC, PBJS, PER, RAP and RAW, RCA, ROMA, SMEE, STUD, TEN and TEEN, TOFU, WACO, WEB, WIN.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Liquid tar, e.g.; 4. “From ___ shining … (“America the Beautiful” lyric); 9. Payment with an A.T.M. card; 14. Annoy; 15. Stage, as a play; 16. “You beat me”; 20. Nonchalant; 21 Not quite-mature insects; 22. See 53-Across; 23. Vow just before exchanging rings; 25. To be, in France; 33. Winter malady; 34. Alternative to draw or hold ‘em; 37. Sedan or coupe; 39. Uncooked; 41. Stark raving mad; 45. Queen of Olympus; 48. Dirt after a rain; 52. Hook’s henchman; 53. With 22-Across, longtime West Coast N.C.A.A. conference; 54. The “p” in r.p.m.; 69. Big TV maker. — DOWN: 1. Any of the Bee Gees brothers; 2. Word-of-mouth; 3. Cajun cuisine vegetable; 5. Scandinavia’s continent: Abbr.; 6. Resting on; 7. Vegan protein option; 8. How freelance work is often done; 10. Old Testament priest who taught Samuel; 11. Aptly named sprinter Usain; 13. One who’s not yet a twentysomething; 18. Vitamin whose name could be a bingo call; 24. Frequently, to Frost; 26. “And others,” in a bibliography; 27. Paragraph on a book jacket; 29. Animal’s coat; 30. Boise’s state; 31. Chemical building blocks; 32. Keep happening; 33. Flight watchdog agcy.; 36. Signal agreement; 38. Sharer’s pronoun; 40. ___ browser; 44. Atlantic or Pacific; 46. Emulate Eminem; 50. Traditional frat party; 51. Bank no.; 54. Common lunchbox sandwiches, informally; 55. Israeli carrier; 56. Capital of Italia; 58. Thin margin of victory; 59. Old Spice alternative; 61. Parsley, sage, rosemary or thyme; 62. Texas home of Baylor University; 65. Triumph; 66. U.S. central bank system, with “the”.

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day

Take Your Daughter to Work Day by Jim Clements 

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Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work 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 April, the title of this fine workmanlike crossword is Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, featuring forty-something clues containing the word work in one way or another.

Across — 1. Something to work the kinds out of, HOSE; 14. Network for laptop users, WIFI; 17. Many a DeMille work, EPIC; 18. In a STIR (all worked up); 19. Windows workspace, DESKTOP; 31. Pump IRON (work out with weights); 33. Don’t work very hard, COAST; 34. Line of work; AREA; 35. Ed.’s workload, MSS; 38. Work with acid, ETCH; 42. Where merchant mariners work, SEA; 44. Menial worker, GRUNT; 45. Do KP work, PEEL; 46. “A Clockwork ORANGE”; 52. Life’s work, CAREER; 54. “We Can Work It Out” band, BEATLES; 60. White House worker, AIDE; 64. No longer working: Abbr., RETD; 67. Works at, as a job, DOES.

Down — 1. Donna Summer’s “She Works HARD for the Money”; 2. “The Grapes of Wrath” migrant worker, OKIE; 5. Reward for excellent work, perhaps, TIP; 7. Not work a LICK; 8. Social worker’s load, CASES; 9. Russian workers’ collective, ARTEL; 14. Turned on the waterworks, WEPT; 24. “The MIRACLE Worker” (1962 movie); 27. Make short work of, as a test, ACE; 29. In a rat RACE (doing stressful work, perhaps); 30. Workplace watchdog org., OSHA; 36. Worked like Rumpelstiltskin, SPUN; 37. “Whistle While You Work,” e.g., SONG; 44. Elbow GREASE (hard work); 47. Uncredited work for a star, perhaps, CAMEO; 48. All worked up, IRATE; 51. Former United Steelworkers head I.W. ABEL; 53. Do fall yard work, RAKE; 55. Worker for a day, maybe, TEMP; 57. Vulcan’s workshop was said to be under it, ETNA; 58. Does grounds keeping work, SODS; 61. “IT’S never going to work!”; 62. Busy work mo. For Santa’s elves, DEC.

The 2011 program of Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day will be on Thursday, April 28! Information HERE.

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04.24.11 — Dreaming in Chinese — the Acrostic

Sunday, April 24, 2011

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

This Sunday acrostic draws a quotation from Dreaming in Chinese:  Mandarin Lessons in Life, Love and Lanuage by Deborah Fallows. 

“Any traveler who shudders at the prospect of deciphering Chinese should be armed with a copy of this funny, sympathetic, and demystifying survivor’s tale from the frontlines of learning Mandarin. This elegant tour of the language renders Chinese - and the Chinese people - with humor, tenderness and depth. If only every language book were this good; it conveys the hidden joys of Chinese, not as a language frozen on a page, but as a world alive in the alleys, kitchens and mountain towns of the people who created it.”
 - Evan Osnos, The New Yorker

The quotation:  CHINESE… CHARACTERS ARE NOT BOUND BY SPACE. EACH CHARACTER, EVEN IF IT IS HALF OF A… WORD, IS SEPARATED EQUALLY FROM ITS NEIGHBOR. THERE IS NO TELLING WHERE A WORD BEGINS AND ENDS — ITWOULDBEASIFYOUWEREREADINGTHETEXTTHISWAY. 

The author’s name and the title of the work: D FALLOWS, DREAMING IN CHINESE

The defined words:


A. What can be scared out of you, DAYLIGHTS
B. Cohort of Nym, Pistol and Bardolph, FALSTAFF
C. Take in; sponge up, ABSORB
D. Spanish for “the tar” (2 wds.) LA BREA
E. Home of the University of Kansas, LAWRENCE
F. Starting at every little thing (2 wds.), ON EDGE
G. Rough stuff with a lathery look (2 wds.), WHITEWATER
H. Plumbing fixture fastener, SETSCREW
I. Unit expressing the intensity of a sound wave, DECIBEL
J. Ran through, REHEARSED
K. Lyre player in a nonet, ERATO
L. Deity whose symbol is an owl, ATHENA
M. Part of an engine’s exhaust system, MUFFLER
N. Book of 64 hexagrams (2 wds.), I CHING
O. Mistral or tramontane (2 wds.), NORTH WIND
P. A flat’s equivalent (2 wds.), G SHARP
Q. Goggled-at set (2 wds.), IDIOT BOX
R. Restore order to, NEATEN
S. Stir-fried dish often served with rice (2 wds.), CHOP SUEY
T. Smack in the middle of a drug den, HEROIN
U. Backwards and forwards, down to the last detail (2 wds.), INSIDE OUT
V. Currently, NOWADAYS
W. Not notable for consistency, ERRATIC
X. Like rain-soaked sod underfoot, SQUISHY
Y. Adam or Eve, eventually, EVICTEE


The New York Times review, HERE.

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04.24.11 — Use It or Lose It

The Easter-egg portrait of the Virgin Mary, by Oksana Mas, Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, the giant mosaic weighs 2.5 tons and is made out of 15,000 wooden Easter Eggs.

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Sunday, April 24, 2011 — Easter

USE IT OR LOSE IT

Puzzle by Caleb Madison and J.A.S.A. Crossword Class

Edited by Will Shortz

With or without IT, eight entries constitute the interrelated group of this Easter Sunday crossword.

• BIG APPLE CIRCUITS (23A. Electrical paths in New York City?)
• LOSE ONE’S MOJITO (33A. Spill a Cuban drink?)
• POLITE DANCER (41A. One who says “Beg your pardon” after stepping on your toes?)
• PULPIT FICTION (63A. Preachers’ lies?)
• CENTER OF GRAVY (73A. What a mashed potato serving may have?)
• LEARNER’S PERM (94A. Hairdresser’s first do?)
• CLASH OF THE TANS (102A. Author Amy’s family squabble?)
• SMOKEY AND THE BAND (117A. The Miracles?)

Other — ALI MACGRAW (19A. Steve McQueen’s ex-wife and co-star in “The Getaway”), BOTANIST (86D. Plant manager?), DIES IRAE (16D. Mass part), MOTLEY CRUE (30D. Group with the 6x platinum album “Dr. Feelgood”), RED LABEL (85D. Johnnie Walker variety), SKEETERS (17D. Bitin’ things), SLEEP TIGHT (56D. Bedtime comment), STREET CRED (123A. Homey’s rep).

Mid-size — AS IT IS, AU LAIT, C SHARP (28A. D preceder), EDUARDO, FALAFEL, GAPES AT, GET SORE, GAZEBO, I’M HERE, INURNS, KHAKIS, PEERESS, SCHOLAR, LAUGH-IN, LESHAN, MT FUJI (15D.. Volcano near Aokigahara forest), NONCOM, OBITER dictum, ORACLE, ORBITAL, PARSEC (41D. 3:26 light years), RACCOON, RAN INTO, SALAMI, SIGNETS, SNIPERS.

Five-letter — AKIRA (79D. Director Kurosawa), AMASS and ASSAM, AMUSE, ANITA, ANNAS, ASNER, BIGOT, DAB AT, DEBUG, ELATE, ELECT, ELITE, G STAR (107A. Our sun‘s type), ID TAG, L BARS, LEICA, LINUS (82D. Comics character who said “Big sisters are the crab grass in the lawn of life“), MACAO, MISHA, OASTS, ORATE, OTTO I, RAMBO, RETAG, RODDY, SCARY, SEEST, SWISS, TETES (31A. Deux of these are better than un), TIARA, TIRES, TORIC, ZEBRA.

Short stuff — “It won’t hurt A BIT“, ACRE, ADA and ADO, ALTS, ARC, ARE and ARES, ARI, BCC, BUR, CHOU, CPR, DEA and DEO, DESI, DNA, DRY, EARL, EEK, EGIS, EIS, ERE and ETE, ETC, HAE and HAT, IDIG, IFI, ISO, LAKE (82A. Superior body?), LIEF (87D. Willingly), LYE, MDSE, MOE, NFL, OARS, ODIC, OGLE, OPE, OPTS, OREO, OSIS, PAGE, RAS and SRAS, REAP, RHE, RIAL, SAHL, SHE, SOAP, SOYS, SRO, SSN, STES, TAY, TIDY, TIKI, UMA, VACA (77D. Cow, in Cádiz).

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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: 1. Fix, as a program; 6. Water skimmers; 10. Nickname for Baryshnikov; 15. Gds.; 21. Vogue’s Wintour and others; 22. Kind of torch; 25. They’re always charged; 26. Flap; 27. Poet’s “before”; 29. Divert; 36. Shelter that’s often octagonal; 39. Housing for the homeless: Abbr.; 40. Pit crew’s supply; 47. Mordant Mort; 49. “Exodus” hero; 50. Father of Deimos and Phobos, in myth; 51. Seedcase that inspired Velcro; 52. Scot’s “own”; 53. Noblewoman; 55. Dorm heads, for short; 56. Mmes., in Iberia; 57. Speak on C-Span, say; 60. Burn cause; 61. Gentleman’s partner; 68. Get up?; 69. Subj. of modern mapping; 71. Bust planner, in brief; 72. Sly sort?; 78. “Sock it to me!” show; 80. Unbar, to the Bard; 81. High-end camera; 83. Abbr. unlikely to start of a sentence; 84. Revolutionary?; 88. Continuing plot in a TV series; 89. “___ Did It” (2007 memoir); 90. Cookie first baked in Manhattan’s Chelsea district; 91. “Confiteor ___ omnipotent” (Latin prayer starter); 92. “Understood, man”; 97. Luggage attachment; 99. Cartoon exclamation; 101. One way to serve café; 111. Baker or Loos; 112. Pizza topping; 113. FICA fig.; 115. Prefix with metric; 121. Ball boy?; 122. Like a bagel; 124. Min. stats; 125. Shakespeare’s “spot”; 126. Tofu sources; 127. Spine-tingling. — DOWN: 1. Blot with gauze, say; 2. Pass over; 3. One who sees everything in black and white?; 4. Actress Thurman; 5. Regards in wonderment; 6. Rubberneck; 7. Art, nowadays; 8. Rocky of song; 9. Tell, e.g.; 10. Asian gambling mecca; 11. Stores after cremation; 12. Long-range shooters; 13. Word after high or top; 14. Source of Indian tea; 16. Mass part; 18. ___ for elephant; 20. Red Cross course, briefly; 24. Line score inits.; 32. Backing: Var.; 33. Bent beams; 34. Some flakes; 35. Suffix with psych-; 37. Whistle-blower, in slang; 38. Facebook co-founder Saverin; 42. Sibyl, for one; 43. Writer Eda; 44. Chinese dynasty during the time of Confucius; 45. Marquess’s subordinate; 46. Sow’s counterpart; 48. Prefix with port; 54. Change the price on; 58. Neaten; 59. Season in le soleil?; 62. First German emperor of Italy; 63. Runner; 64. Mideast nosh; 65. Announcement upon arriving; 66. ___ dictum (incidental remark); 67. Sarge, e.g.; 70. CBS’s “The ___ Today”; 74. Audition (for); 75. 100 Iranian dinars; 76. Israeli seaport; 84. Keatsian, e.g.; 90. Chooses; 93. Start to boil over?; 95. Met by chance; 96. Intaglio seals; 98. If nothing changes; 100. Base wear?; 103. They have hops; 104. Choose; 105. Scotland’s Firth of ___; 106. Rake in; 108. Sash go-with; 109. “Rich Man, Poor Man” Emmy winner; 110. Actor McDowall; 113. Jeanne et Julie, e.g.: Abbr.; 114. Any boat; 116. ___ Lovelace, computer programming pioneer; 118. ___ Szyslak of “The Simpsons”; 119. Dull; 120. E-mail add-on.

04.23.11 — Proxima Centauri, Et Cetera

The surface of a fictional planet orbiting Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to our sun. This appeared in "The New Challenge of the Stars". Notable here is the Cassiopeia "W" on the right with an extra star, that star being our own sun.

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Saturday, April 23, 2011

Puzzle by Mike Nothnagel / Edited by Will Shortz

Four fifteen-letter entries are the main feature of this Saturday crossword — DON’T MOVE A MUSCLE (17A. “Freeze!”), IT’S NEVER TOO LATE (55A. Comment to a procrastinator), PROXIMA CENTAURI (14A. Second-closest star to Earth) and STOCKING STUFFER (58A. Little something in Santa’s bag).

Nine-letter — HONEST ABE (3D. President after Ten-Cent Jimmy), LOVECRAFT (31D. “The Call of Cthulhu” writer), ONE SUITER (32D. Small piece of luggage) and PROBOSCIS (2D. Insect feeder).

Mid-size — BRAVES (41A. Team that has won the World Series three times while based in three different cities), CELIAC (16. Relating to the abdominal cavity), DEAD STOP (7D. Abrupt ending), DUST MOP (7A. Dry cleaner), KIBBITZ (34A. Meddle, in a way), MORSELS (59A. Bites), OUT BOXES (42A. Temporary storage for completed work), PISTONS (36A. Things with rings), SCALPS (27A. Way overcharges for), STARES AT (24A. Regards), SUPER G (40D. Olympic event since ‘88), TEATRO (60A. Place to see “Il Trovatore,” e.g.), UP HERE (1A. “Not down there”) and ZOOM LENS (35D. Detail provider).

Five-letter — AMPAS, ANVIL, AVOWS, DIESM, ENERO, ENSOR (46D. Expressionist James), GIBBS, MARIN (53A. It‘s south of Sonoma), MUCHO, OBESE, ORLON, PIERS, SYNCS, TARTS and TASTE and TESTY and TWIST, UNMET, UPDOS, YET TO come.

Short stuff — ALBA and ALFA, ASEA, COG, CUE, DYES, EENY, EKE out a win, EMO (8D. Modern music genre), EONS, ESS, EXTS, MOUE, NLER, OLDE English, OTT, RIME, RPI, SKA (27D. Modern music genre), SLOE, SOS and YOS, SRO, STAX, STU, THOR.

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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 — 18. Off-the-scale?; 20. 2011 title role for Chris Hemsworth; 21. Song in “Mamma Mia!”; 22. Difficulty increaser in diving; 23. Time immemorial; 28. Peon; 30. Relative of a cherry plum; 38. In a shell, maybe; 39. Calls between friends; 44. Turns brown, maybe; 48. Cultural org. with its HQ in Beverly Hills; 49. A shark may carry one; 51. Start of a children’s rhyme; 52. Cubbie, e.g. — DOWN: 1. Updos; 4. Company line?: Abbr.; 5. Extra layer in winter?; 8. Not satisfied; 9. Afro-sporting character on “The Simpsons”; 10. Try; 11. Lotsa; 12. 1950s sweater material; 13. Sides of slips; 15. Says with a hand in the air, perhaps; 22. Inclined to strike out; 25. Terra ___ (pulverized gypsum); 26. Sch. That awarded the first civil engineering degree in the U.S.; 29. Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Joe; 30. Record label for Booker T. & the MG’s; 33. What may come after an heir?; 37. Sign that might mean “Good play!”; 43. Some shells and their contents; 44. View espoused in Thomas Paine’s “The Age of Reason”; 47. Matches; 48. Rural block; 50. What “1” may mean, in Mexico; 53. Sulker’s expression; 54. First in a series of 26; 57. N.H.L. Senators, on scoreboards.