04.01.11 — You've Got To Be Kidding!


The Appian Way in Rome, photograph by Paolo Cipriani

April Fools' Day is celebrated all around the world on the April 1 of every year. Sometimes referred to as All Fools' Day, April 1 is not a national holiday, but is widely recognized and celebrated as a day where everyone plays all kinds of jokes and foolishness. The day is marked by the commission of good humoured or funny jokes, hoaxes, and other practical jokes of varying sophistication on friends, family members, teachers, neighbors, work associates, etc. ~ Wikipedia

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Friday, April 1, 2011 — April Fools’ Day

Puzzle by Elizabeth A. Long / Edited by Will Shortz


In this humorously psychotic April Fools’ Day crossword, MIDDLE OF THE ROAD (7D. Conventional) divides the grid between the normal ONCOMING TRAFFIC (4D. Passing preventer) on the left and the surreal SENAL DNUOBHTRON (10D. Half of almost any odd-numbered Interstate highway) on the right, e.g., NORTHBOUND LANES, atlas-wise. You’ve got to be kidding!

The other “reversed” down entries — 8. Lincoln, maybe, RAC NWOT (TOWN CAR); 9. Yen for, EVARC (CRAVE); 10. SENAL DNUOBHTRON; 11. Bow, CRA (ARC); 12. Southeastern Conf., USL (LSU); 13. Date, EES (SEE); 26. OCAT Bell (TACO); 27. 2002 Katherine Frank political biography, ARIDNI (INDIRA); 28. Helmsley and others, SANOEL (LEONAS); 29. Some schoolwork, SYASSE (ESSAYS); 40. Twain hero, informally, KCUH (HUCK); 43. Spare items in garages, SNAC SAG (GAS CANS); 52. About, ER NI (IN RE); 54. Love overseas, ROMA (AMOR); 55. Some bread, ATIP (PITA); 56. Gait, PETS (STEP).

Other down, to the left of MIDDLE OF THE ROAD1. Look (over), GAZE; 2. First: Abbr., ORIG; 3. Hammer accompanier, GONG; 4. ONCOMING TRAFFIC; 5. They’re subject to rapid inflation, AIR BAGS; 6. Plenteous, RIFE; 24. IN AN instant; 30. Go around for rounds?, BARHOP; 31. Brand in the frozen food section, OREIDA; 32. Rob on a set, REINER; 39. Everything, A TO Z; 42. It starts “Tell me muse, of the man of many resources”, ODYSSEY; 48. Trunk part, LATCH; 57. Econ. Figure, GNP; 58. Salmon ROE; 59. Org. with a Seal of Acceptance, ADA.

Across — 1. “Get out of here! Fast!”, GO GO; 5. Ready, ARM; 8. Free, RESCUE; 14. Elvis follower, ARON; 15. Article of the Constitution that defines treason, III; 16. Not at all eager, AVERSE; 17. Major Peruvian export, ZINC; 18. Mail letters, in the past, RFD; 19. Lock holders, CANALS; 20. Brand in the frozen food section, EGGO; 21. Place for a spring, BED; 22. Range grp., NRA; 23. Hip-hop singer with the 2008 hit Paper Planes”, MIA; 25. Hardly blue-blooded, LOW-CLASS; 30. Dead, so to speak, BORING; 33. Green: Prefix, ECO; 34. Utility cart, DRAY; 35. Circus sites, ARENAS; 36. OAT bread; 37. English novelist Bawden, NINA; 38. Rule, REIGN; 39. Behind, AFT; 40. Praise, KUDOS; 41. Spill a little?, HINT; 42. Giant #4, OTT; 43. Serving in John Betjeman’s poem “How to Get on in Society”, SCONES; 44. Baltic feeder, ODER; 45. Head-slapper’s cry, DOH; 46. Available, in a way, NUBILE; 47. Disable, PARALYZE; 49. “That’s the spot!”, AHH; 50. Scale notes, FAS; 51. Kind of center, REC; 53. Door without a knob, say, TRAP; 57. Transplants, surgically, GRAFTS; 60. “Grey’s Anatomy” locales, for short, ORS; 61. Repetition, ROTE; 62. “Uh-uh!”, NO DICE; 63. Japan Airlines competitor, ANA; 64. Drop, OMIT; 65. Hunky-dory, PEACHY; 66. Go for, DIG; 67. Refreshers, NAPS.


Seriously?!


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Puzzle available on the internet at


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