08.31.11 — Beach Boys

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Puzzle by Peter A. Collins / Edited by Will Shortz

The Beach Boys are fondly featured in this last-day-of-August-but-so-yesterday wispy Wednesday crossword comprised of an overly-complicated set of interrelated entries.

• IN MY / ROOM (10-Across with 64-Across, 1963 Beach Boys hit)
• CALIFORNIA GIRLS (10-Across, 1965 Beach Boys hit)
• HELP ME / RHONDA (10-Across, with 49-Across, 1965 Beach Boys hit)
• LITTLE SAINT NICK (57-Across, 1963 Beach Boys hit)
• DON’T / WORRY / BABY (7-Down, etc., With 30- and 53-Down, 1964 Beach Boys hit).

Other — ALBANIA, AMORIST, I’M OVER IT (20A. “That doesn‘t bother me anymore“), ICICLED, MANAGERS, PRIVATE, SANCTUM, SLATHERS (9D. Lays on thick).

Mid-size — AKIN TO, ARIAN, BOLERO, BRONTE, EL TORO, FEDORA, LAVISH, MARKER, ORRIN, PLATOS, PLATTE, PROPER, RABAT, RAKER, SODAS, STYNE, TROLL, TWO-ACT, WATER, WORRY.

Short stuff — ABOUT, ADAM, Gulf of ADEN, ALI, ALOU, ARAB, BABY, BOCA, BOHR, CODE, COG, DART, DIAL, DOL, DON’T, ECTO, ELAL, Cómo ESTA!”, GEE, I ATE, IBO, LAPP, LAR, LOCI, MDI, NAY, NOR, ODOR, OHIO, OVI, PINS, POLO, ROOM, SAT, SKEE-Ball, TEC, TKO, TOO, WOE, YES.

————————

 

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Reindeer herder; 5. Sprite, for instance; 14. Lysol target; 156. Fairly tale figure; 15. Do some computer programming; 21. Gumshoe; 27. ___ Retreat (1970s-’80s New York City club); 30. Trouble; 32. Mideast carrier; 33. Fall guy?; 34. 1922 Physics Nobelist; 35. It has feathers and flies; 36. Egg: Prefix; 37. Smitten one; 40. Thrilla in Manila outcome; 41. Wrestling victories; 43. Prefix with -polis; 47. Vote against; 48. Dance accompanied by castanets; 51. Victim in Camus’s “The Stranger,” e.g.; 52. Minor player, so to speak; 53. Rich fabrics; 61. “___ Ben Adhem” (English poem); 62. African capital; 63. “It must’ve been something ___”; 65. “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” composer; 66. Lotion ingredient. — DOWN: 1. Set of points, mathematically; 2 Man with arents; 3. Kind of shirt named for a sport; 4. One following general directions?; 5. Packs away; 6. Sen. Hatch; 8. Thrilla in Manilla winner; 10. Like some eaves in winter; 11. Oslo’s home: Abbr.; 12. Year of Ronsard’s “Odes”; 13. Vote for; 18. Sinatra topper; 19. “You sure got me”; 24. Nebraska river; 25. Surveyor’s stake, typically; 26. Corrida combatant; 276. Polite; 28. Rich; 29. Like; 31. Home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; 34. ___ Raton, Fla.; 38. Ball club V.I.P.’s; 39. Like some plays; 42. Refuse; 45. Neighbor of Montenegro; 48. One of three literary sisters; 50. Capital of the U.S.: Abbr.; 51. Suffix with parliament; 54. Zest alternative; 55. Outer: Prefix; 57. Choreographer Lubovitch; 58. Native Nigerian; 59. Overly; 60. Didn’t get used.

08.30.11 — Ain't She Sweet

 

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Puzzle by Bernice Gordon / Edited by Will Shortz

BARN, BYRN, BORN, BIRN, BERN and BURN found in CLIVE BARNES (18A. Longtime New York theater critic), EDD BYRNES (23A. Actor in 1960s TV’s “77 Sunset Strip”), MILLE BORNES (34A. Popular card game since 1954), DAVID BIRNEY (39A. TV/film/stage actor once married to actress Meredith Baxter), ST BERNARD (53A. Big dog) and FRONT BURNER (59A. Prime cooking spot) constitutes the interrelated group of this sweet Tuesday crossword.

Mid-size — ABRIDGE, ACREAGE, ALCOVE, CAR DOORS, DIAMANTE (37D. Old Mitsubishi model), ELENA and ELLER, I’M DONE (65A. “That’s it for me”), I ASSUME (42A. “It seems evident that …”), LACEY, LANDED, LECTOR, MARIS, MASSEUR, NO ONE, OVERSEE, PARMA (51A. Italian city famous for its cheese), R AND R, RARER, ROAD MAP, SEA WAR, SIRREE, TODDLER, VERMONT (41D. First U.S. state to abolish slavery), WEIRDLY.

Short stuff — ABE and AGE, “AIN’T She Sweet“, AKA, ANN, ART, AUDI, CCI, CNN, COCO, CROP, DIP, DOT, EASE, ELL, ENS, FAN, IBIS, IKEA, RS, “Could IT BE Magic”, MAL and MAW, MOD, NEB and NEE, NOL, NOTE, NOW, ODE, OLEO, ORY, OWEN, PER diem, PIS, RAT, RBI, RDA, REBA, REY, RIO de la Plata, RST, SRI, “Mazel TOV!”, UGLI.

————————

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Hungry mouth; 4. Person assisting a worship service; 10. Jockey’s whip; 14. Lincoln, the Rail-Splitter; 15. Place for a bookcase; 16. Auto company whose name is Latin for “listen”; 17. Title of respect; 20. Emphatic follow-up to yes or no; 22. Corporate dept. that may include labs; 26. Nary a soul; 29. Tropical citrus fruit; 30. Fleischmann’s products; 32. Wilson of “Midnight in Paris”; 33. Spanish king; 37. Speck; 38. Org. issuing many refunds; 45. Informer; 48. International furniture retailer; 49. Facility; 50. Madame Chanel; 56. Yankee great Roger; 58. Came ashore; 63. ___ de mer; 66. Get along in years; 67. Memo; 68. Conflict waged between navies. — DOWN: 1. Rubber man?; 2. Cut; 3. In an odd manner; ___ Davenport, long-running “Doonesbury” character; 5. Aunt ___ of “Oklahoma!”:; 6. Start of the third century; 8. Be in charge of; 9. Singer McEntire; 10. Nowadays they usually have power locks and windows; 11. Decrepit; 12. Pindar creation; 13. Fraternity letters; 19. The Atlantic’s Cape ___; 21. Baseball stat; 24. ___ pros. (court record abbr.); 25. Building extension; 27. Born, in Brittany; 28. Naval officer below lieut.; 31. Annual theater award; 34. Quaintly stylish; 35. Bary Manilow’s “Could ___ Magic”; 36. Suffix with contradict; 39. Fondue feature; 40. Alias; 43. Alphabet trio; 44. Beak; 45. Motorist’s guide; 46. Farmland spread; 47. Real young ‘un; 50. Piers Morgan’s channel; 52. Realm of beauty; 54. Justice Kagan; 55. Less done, as steak; 57. Long-legged wader; 59. Ceiling addition; 61. Nutritional allotment, for short; 62. At once.

08.29.11 — Bagels

Monday, August 29, 2011

Puzzle by Andrea Carla Michaels and Michael Blake

Edited by Will Shortz

BAGEL (62A. Item whose varieties include the endings of 20-, 28- and 46-Across), THE PURPLE ONION (20A. Legendary San Francisco music/comedy club where Lenny Bruce and Woody Allen have performed), OPEN SESAME (28A. Ali Baba’s magic words), FLOOD PLAIN (46A. Bad place to live when the river rises) and THE WHOLE SHMEAR (52A. Everything … or what might cover an everything 62-Across?) constitutes the interrelated group of this Monday crossword.

Other — GRANDSON (10D. Junior’s junior), ONE RUN, PARENT, PROBED, ROOT WORD (39D. The Greek “Khalix” (pebble) for the English “calculus,” e.g.), SAID AH, SLEAZE and SPREES.

Five-letter — ACT IN self defense, ALIBI, ASTRO, DENTS, EMBED, ERICA, EXERT, EXTRA, E-ZINE, LEROY, METAL, NITTI, PAPAL, PIXEL, Q TIPS (1A. You can stick them in your ear), DO NOT!!!,  ROLEX, SHARI, SHELF, SLEPT, SUCRE.

Short stuff — AGIN, AJAR, AMIR, ANTE, “Planet of the APES“, AUTO, BAR and TAR, BEEN, BEVY, CEL, DISC, EMIL, END, ETRE, EVEN, EYED, GLOB, HIS, HUEY, INCH and ITCH, JUMP, KERR, LES, LEVI, LONI, NTH, OTTO, PIT, PUMP, QTS, RENT, ROTE, SISLT, SPAT, TAKE, TOUT, UH OH.

————————

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 10. Soft, thick lump; 14. Sum; 15. Leap; 16. Learning by memorization; 17. Bolivian capital; 18. Mideast leader: Var.; 19. The “a” in a.m.; 23. To the ___ degree; 24. Extremity; 25. Got rid of some tobacco juices, say; 35. Counterpart of hers; 36. Puppeteer Lewis; 37. High-end watchmaker; 38. Bonus; 40. Quarry, e.g.; 41. Amalgamate; 42. Poet/playwright Jones; 45. Tavern; 48. Road surfacing material; 50. Cartoon frame; 60. The “A” in U.A.W.; 61. Group of birds; 64. Deborah of “The King and I”; 65. 50-50; 66. Online-only publication; 67. Sized up visually; 58. 45 or 78; 69. Results of bumps to a bumper. — DOWN: 1. Ice cream amts.; 2. Brazenly promote; 3. “The Seven Year ___”; 4. Mother or father; 5. Caught some Z’s; 6. Not fully shut; 7. The heart, essentially; 8. Actor Jannings who won the first Best Actor Oscar; 9. Wild shopping sessions; 11. Actress Anderson; 12. “Beetle Bailey” bulldog; 13. “___ there, done that”; 21. “This isn’t looking good”; 22. Minimal lead in baseball; 25. Bookcase part; 26. Dot on a computer screen; 27. Houston baseball; 29. Vatican-related; 30. “Fear of Fifty” writer Jong; 31. Capone henchman; 32. What a murder suspect needs; 33. Zinc or zirconium; 34. Apply, as pressure; 36. Got ready for a tongue depressor, say; 44. Ruler part; 47. Examined deeply; 48. Schlock; 51. Fix deeply and tightly; 52. Seize; 53. ___ Lewis and the News; 54. To live, to Lévy; 55. ___ Strauss jeans; 56. After-work times, in classifieds; 57. Harmony; 58. Opposed to, in dialect; 59. Check for a landlady; 53. “___ Misérables”.

08.28.11 — The Meaning of Tingo — the Acrostic

Total Solar eclipse of July 11 2010 -
first total solar eclipse over the giant Moai statues on Easter Island(Copyright © Alexander Krivenyshev, WorldTimeZone.com)

————————
Tingo — “To borrow things from a friend’s house one by one
until there’s nothing left.”— from the language of the people of Rapa Nui (Easter Island).

————————

August 28, 2011

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

This challenging Sunday’s acrostic draws a quotation from “The Meaning of Tingo: And Other Extraordinary Words from Around the World" by Adam Jacot De Boinod.

Nearly any page you open to in The Meaning of Tingo pays hilarious tribute to the inventive genius of the world's peoples. Like Eat, Shoots & Leaves and Schott's Miscellany, with which it shares a quirky British charm and a gift-friendly look and size, The Meaning of Tingo is a UK bestseller that by all rights should become equally popular in the States. ~ Tom Nissley, amazon.com

The quotation: MY INTEREST IN THE QUIRKINESS OF FOREIGN WORDS WAS TRIGGERED WHEN ONE DAY WORKING… FOR THE BBC QUIZ PROGRAMME ‘QI,’ I PICKED UP A WEIGHTY ALBANIAN DICTIONARY TO DISCOVER THAT THEY HAVE… TWENTY-SEVEN WORDS FOR EYEBROWS.

The author’s name and the title of the work: DEBOINOD THE MEANING OF TINGO

The defined words:

A. Something felt on a man's head, DERBY

B. Labor union for theater actors, informally, EQUITY
C. Unglazed white ceramic ware, BISQUE
D. The back of the hand, OPISTHENAR
E. Affront to one’s self-respect, INDIGNITY
F. Ikea employee dress code violation, NECKTIE
G. Left winger of the Washington Capitals, OVECHKIN
H. Mississippi crosser of 1541 (2 wds.), DE SOTO
I. Fare that arrives in a box (2 wds.), TV SHOW
J. Relentless greedy, grasping person, HARPY
K. Like margarine, to a butter lover, ERSATZ
L. In a thick tangle, as hair, MATTED
M. Make deadlier, as an arrowhead, ENVENOM
N. Stratum that’s well connected?, AQUIFER
O. Provision for a rainy day (2 wds.), NEST EGG

P. River that was Kipling’s “road to Mandalay”, IRRAWADDY
Q. Animals fancied by Wodehouse’s Gussie Fink-Nottle, NEWTS
R. Talk signifying nothing, GIBBERISH
S. Clockwork model of the solar system, ORRERY
T. What drivers deliberately attempt to hit, FAIRWAYS
U. Performance so good it challenges other artists, THROWDOWN
V. Like a firehouse on fire, say, IRONIC
W. Second game of a baseball doubleheader, NIGHTCAP

X. Lampyris noctiluca, GLOWWORM
Y. Painter of “Black Cross, New Mexico”, O’KEEFFE

————————

Click on image to enlarge

Puzzle available on the internet at
THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

08.28.11 — Interruption

© Lucila De Avila Castilho | Dreamstime.com

————————

Sunday, August 28, 2011

PARDON “E” INTERRUPTION, Puzzle by Patrick Berry

 Edited by Will Shortz

The addition of an “E” sound to eight familiar phrases constitutes the interrelated group of this Sunday crossword.

• BEER BURIAL POLKA (23. Lively dance performed as a six-pack is being laid to rest?)
• REIGN OF TERRIER (26. Canine king’s regime?)
• BOTANICAL GUARDIANS (41. Eco-warriors?)
• KODIAK MOMENT (56. Encounter with an Alaskan bear?)
• PARTYING GIFT (76. Set of shot glasses for Christmas?)
• LITTLE ORPHEAN ANNIE (89. Sharpshooter Oakley when she was a charming young musician?)
• PARKING METEORS (108. Interstellar valet’s job?)
• MILES PER GALLEON (113. Ship info kept for the Spanish Armada?)

Other — AGAINST, ASCENDS, BARNETT, CITIBANK, CLOSETS, DESDEMONA, ENMITIES, ERASABLE, LECARRE (90D. Smiley‘s creator), LONGEST, MAILMAN, NICKERS, PILING ON, RESONATE, ROBOTIC, STAR CHART, SYRINGES.

Mid-size — ALKENE, AMASS, ARROW, BOISE, CAREY, CUOMO, DODGE, EROICA, Valley FORGE, GEKKO, GERRY, GET UP, IL DUCE, IGLOO, ISLET, KOREA, LEGIT, LEONE, MAGOO, MAMMAL, MAORI, MOTIF, NASTY, NOOGIE, ONLAY, O-RING, OSRIC, Hoi POLLOI, RAIDER, RODMAN, ROREM, SIDLES, SIENNA, SLATES, TELEX, THRASH, TORII, URGED, USAGE, WEIGH.

Short stuff — ABC and ABC, ABUT, ACES, ADD and AND, AGOG, ARID and AROD, AURA, BAMA, BOSH, BRO, CALF, CAPT, CHE and CHEF and CHET, CIG, COHN, CPAS, DAS, DUE, EEL, ELI, FDR, GERE, HIDE, IDOL, ILO, IOTA, KURT, LIED, LOLL, LOX, MAIM, MIL, MOON (110A. Outhouse door symbol), NAST and NEST and NEAT, OHIO, OKAY, OMAN, PAL, PCS, PEAL, RCVR, RIPE, ROAR, ROE and ROO, ROLL, SEAR, SHOE, SLED, TBSP, TNT, VIET, YAM, YENS.

————————

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Director; 6. Stereo syst. Component; 10. Number crunchers, for short; 18. State capital whose name comes from the French for “wooded area”; 19. Mississippi River’s largest tributary; 20. The Hermit Kingdom, once; 21. Lie a lot; 22. Island from which Tiberius rules; 28. Small chain component; 29. Baker of jazz; 30. Dominant theme; 31. West African monetary unit; 32. Ones crunched during crunch time?; 35. Tanned skin; 38. Hostile feelings; 48. Grammatical topic; 49. Earth tone; 50. Smoke; 51. Web address component; 54. Beat soundly; 59. Beneficiary of a 2008 bailout; 63. Expected; 64. Very unpleasant; 65. Red Scare prosecutor Roy; 67. Mr. of old cartoons; 68. 1813-14 vice president; 70. Fan club focus; 71. Stockpile; 73. Hundred Acre Wood young ‘un; 74. Not permanent; 80. A man or a mouse; 83. ___ equivalent (measure of explosive strength); 84. Eggs served raw; 85. W.W. II title; 88. Native New Zealander; 93. Have an emotional impact; 96. “Or ___ what?”; 97. Interject; 98. Canning seal; 99 Paterson’s successor as New York governor; 104. Newborn on a ranch; 107. Sneaky trick; 115. Foo Fighters front man Dave; 117. Golf rarities; 118. Drew on a screen; 119. A.L. M.V.P. in 2005 and 2007, informally; 120. House that won’t catch fire; 121. Old Harper’s Weekly cartoonist; 122. Wheelless vehicle; 123. Desires; 124. Bygone communication. — DOWN: 1. 1970 #1 hit for the Jackson 5; 2. Waterfall sound; 3. Sufficiently aged; 4. “Hamlet” courtier; 5. Consider carefully; 6. Stiffly awkward, as movement; 7. One doing course work; 8. ___ Minh (1940s independence movement); 9. “Miss Julie” composer Ned; 10. Shinto shrine entrance; 11. Filled in; 12. Cook so as to lock in the flavor, say; 13. Comrade; 14. Bogeymen’s hiding places; 16. Compound also called an olefin; 17. Puts on the ballot; 25. Continuing to criticize unnecessarily; 27. Pop name; 32. Border; 33. “What nonsense!”; 34. Plan for the evening?; 36. Start of a Wagner title; 37. Biblical priest at Shiloh; 39. Stable sounds; 40. Hurt badly; 42. Opposing; 43. Snug retreat; 44. “Wall Street” character Gordon ___; 45. ___ Chicago Grill; 46. Far-away connector; 47. Notorious investor; 51. Brabantio’s fair daughter; 52. Not deceived by; 53. “Gotta go,” in chat rooms; 55. “Last Time I Saw ___” (Diana Ross song); 57. Seer’s perception; 58. Blue uniform wearer; 60. All-Star Dick of the 1960s-’70s Knicks; 61. Dumfounded; 62. Knuckle-headed action?; 65. U.S.N. rank; 66. It’s due south of Iran; 68. “C’mon, sleepyhead!”; 69. Starchy staple of Africa; 72. Bloodmobile supply; 76. Tuscaloosa university, for short; 77. Smidgen; 78. Workers’ rights agcy.; 79. W.P.A. initiator; 81. Like the climate of 66-Down; 82. “So I ___”; 86. Evita narrator; 87. Predatory fish; 89. Like the day of the summer solstice; 91. Is caught up in the Rapture, e.g.; 92. “Cool”; 93. Dennis of the court; 94. Orchestral work premiered in 1805; 95. Moves laterally; 100. Tried to convince; 101. “That’s fine”; 102. Thousand thou; 103. Certain dental repair; 105. Aboveboard; 108. Ring; 109. Richard of “Bee Season”; 111. Take turns?; 112. One going on foot?; 114. HP products; 116. Salty fillet.

08.27.11 — TIT for TET

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Puzzle by Ashton Anderson / Edited by Will Shortz

For a Saturday crossword, this is a fair one; but the clues are all wrong.

Across — 1. It may be seen in a 3-Down picture, SEXCAPADE; 10. Times up?, HIGHS; 15. Like bending over backward, ACROBATIC; 16. Lowest deck on a ship, ORLOP; 17. Feign concurrence, PLAY ALONG; 18. Words of consolation, SO AM I; 19. Bit o consolation, PAT; 29. Google rival, BING; 21. Scriveners, PENMEN; 22. Yesterday, to Yvette, HIER; 24. “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.” star, NABORS; 26. Their lines have ties: Abbr., RRS; 27. It’s taken while waiting, ORDER; 29. “Le Roi d’Ys” composer, LALO; 30. Lumpkin, LOUT; 31. Bible supporter, often, PEW; 33. One may be suckered, TENTACLE; 35. Hedonist’s opposite, ASCETIC; 39. Unwanted tail?, STALKER; 40. Black-and-white, SQUAD CAR; 42. W.W. II agcy., OPA; 43. Bottom of the ocean?, HULL; 44. Group sharing a coat of arms, CLAN; 46. Feeds on the farm, maybe, SLOPS; 50. Offensive time?, TET; 51. City that lost its “tallest building” distinction in 2007, TAIPEI; 53. Not apart, in scores, ADUE; 54. Club alternative, REUBEN; 56. ID figures, SSNS; 58. ID issuer, DMV; 58, Match, AGREE; 60. “Let’s roll!”, IT’S GO TIME; 62. Long, YEARN; 63. Very close game, e.g., NAIL-BITER; 64. Bloody Sunday march site, SELMA; 65. Like some skiing and swimming, FREE-STYLE.

Down — 1. “The tenth Muse,” per Plato, SAPPHO; 2. Oblong temptation, ÉCLAIR; 3. Beyond suggestive, X-RATED; 4. Far from forward, COY; 5. Quatrain scheme, ABAB; 6. Author of “America by Heart, PALIN; 7. Missing a key?, ATONAL; 8. Dope, DINGBAT; 9. Lines coming from the heart, briefly?, ECG; 10. Gardeners’ aids, HOSES; 11. One letting of steam, IRON; 12. 1970s music genre, GLAMROCK; 13. What the Faroe Islands were, HOME RULE; 14. Frumpy longer, stereotypically, SPINSTER; 21. “Now!”, PRONTO; 23. Undo, REPEAL; 25. Accented cries, OLES; 28. Out of practice?: Abbr., RETD; 30. Line forgetter’s substitute, LA LA LA; 32. Magick worker, WICCAN; 34. It causes lights to go out, TAPS; 35. Camels’ resting places, ASHTRAYS; 36. Sponge alternative, SQUEEGEE; 37. Kind of awareness, CULTURAL; 38. Title locale in a 1998 Notorious B.I.G. hit, CALI; 41. The Notorious B.I.G., e.,g., RAP STAR; 45. Tabloid nickname, NESSIE; 47. Ripley’s love, ODDITY; 48. Pound, PUMMEL; 49. Very bad, SEVERE; 51. Singer TEENA Marie; 52. Fireplace INGLE; 55. Shoulder, BERM; 57. Displays disconsolation SOBS; 60. Like Beethoven’s Sixth, IN F; 61. Black-throated TIT.

I'm waiting!

————————

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

08.26.11 — Target

Satellite image of Hurricane Irene at 10:30 p.m. 08/25/11

————————

Friday, August 26, 2011

Puzzle by Brendan Emmett Quigley / Edited by Will Shortz

I'm in the direct path of Irene... if you never hear from me again after tomorrow, you'll know why!

Across — 1. Like a snap, REAL EASY; 9. With 46-Down, strike zones, TARGET; 15. Kind of stew, OX TONGUE; 16. Role Enrico Caruso was preparing for when he died, OTELLO; 17. Eye openers?, DILATERS; 18. He said “I never think I have finished a nude until I think I could pinch it”, RENOIR; 19. Glossy scarf fabrics, ALA MODES; 20. Japanese mat, TATAMI; 21. Well and good finish?, NESS; 22. Like Hollywood, CINEMATIC; 24. Landing place, WHARF; 26. Yardbird, CON; 27. “Here’s Johnny!” memoirist, MCMAHON; 31. Line in the sand?, CARAVAN; 35. Give a hand, DEAL IN; 36. Think that just maybe one can, DARE TO; 327. Put down in writing, INDITED; 39. Deep orangish hue, MARS RED; 40. Take in, SEE; 41. One code-named Renegade by the Secret Service, OBAMA; 43. Hundred Years’ War leader, JOAN OF ARC; 46. Colonial group, ANTS; 50. A destroyer may be in one, ARMADA; 51. “Forget I said that”, IGNORE IT; 54. Like pupils that are too small, MIOTIC; 55. Big, purple Hanna-Barbera character, GRAPE APE; 56. Take stock?, INVEST; 57. Go mano a mano, HAVE AT IT; 58. Discharges, EGESTS; 59. Romulus and Remus, to Rhea Silvia, TWIN SONS.

Down — 1. 1956 movie monster, RODAN; 2. What some dictators end up in, EXILE; 3. What may hold a world of information?, ATLAS; 4. Good earth, LOAMS; 5. Inside opening?, ENTO; 6. Like many ports, AGED; 7. “Absolutely!”, SURE CAN; 8. “Absolutely!”, YES SIR; 9. Rich dessert, TORTE; 10. Elite soldiers, A TEAM; 11. Dollar store?, RENT-A-CARS; 12. Show poor sportsmanship, GLOAT OVER; 13. Waste, ELIMINATE; Like Life Savers, TORIC; 23. Cowboys compete in it: Abbr., NFC; 24. Tiny amount, WHIT; 25. Aid in gaining an edge, HONE; 27. Start of the 16^th century, MDI; 28. “1984” activity, CENSORING; 29. Played, MADE A MOVE; 30. Turns off, ALIENATES; 32. Very early 2-Down, ADAM; 33. Hardly seen at the Forum?, RARA; 34. Sign of assent, NOD; 38. E.R. status, DOA; 39. “Goodbye, Columbus” co-star, 1969, MACGRAW; 42. Intelligent, BRIGHT; 43. JAMIE Oliver, a k a the Naked Chief; 44. Certain foot specialist, ODIST; 45. Trivia quiz fodder, FACTS; 46. See 9-Across, AREAS; 47. Ducky, NEATO; 48. Court gimme, TIP IN; 49. Correction corrections, STETS; 52. Language spoken on Pandora, NAVI; 53. Not settled, OPEN.

————————

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

08.25.11 — Food Pyramid

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Puzzle by Patrck Blindauer & Francis Heaney / Edited by Will Shortz

FOOD pyramid, four examples of which are seen in this puzzle, along with SOUR CREAM, COBB SALAD, SNOW CONES and SWEET ROLL in circled letters, constitutes the interrelated group of this Thursday crossword.

Other — BASIC BLACK, CLOBBER, CONESTOGA, CROATIAN, LESS SALT (24D. Dietary dictum for one with hypertension), NEW EDITION, ON A DARE, SCREAMED AT, SHE’S A LADY, SONATINAS, SWISS BANK, TROLLEY CAR.

Mid-size — AMOUR, CISCO, CORKS, DRECK (58A. Shoddy stuff), EASES, EMCEE, EXCEL, FEELS, ICKES, KNOWS, NORAS, OLDIE, PELLE, RAITT, SASSY, SELES, SENSE, SEOUL, SPACE, TANIA.

Short stuff — ALS, AMIS, ANON, ARCS, ASSN, AWAR, BSMT, CERA, CIAO, DAK, DIPL, DOT, EDIE, EDS, EKCO, ELMO, ERA, ESC, EXPO, EYRE, HUG and HUR, KYLE, LOSE, MASC, MOOT, NET, OLIN, OMAN, ROCA, RYAS, SAUL, SEAT, SHOE, SISI, SPIN, SUET, TILE, TRE, TRIO, TSK, WEEP, WRAY, YES.

————————

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. See, say; 10. Real-estate abbr.; 14. French affair; 15. Friend of Zoe and Abby; 16. “Don’t you know there’s ___ on?”; 17. Loudly berated; 19. “ay ___” (1940 hit); 20. Fanny; 21. Lena who played Irina Derevko on “Alias”; 22. Tech company in the Dow Jones Industrial Average; 23. “Signs point to ___” (Magic 8 Ball answer); 24. Go home empty-handed, say; 25. Welding bands?; 26. Lepidopterist’s tool; 27. Whack; 30. Tailors’ allowances; 33. 1970 Tom Jones hit; 35. Has no doubt about; 36. Ben-___; 37. Patty Hearst alias; 38. Pioneer carrier; 40. Harold of the Clinton White House; 41. How many stupid things are done; 42. Abbr. after N. or S.; 43. Backsplash unit; 44. Some talk on political talk shows; 48. PC key; 49. John who starred in Broadway’s original “Carousel”; 51. Break down, in a way; 52. Fair; 53. All at the front?; 54. Conductor’s place; 56. Foreign farewell; 57. Old Testament king; 59. Part of N.C.A.A.: Abbr.; 60. “South Park” boy; 61. Tennis great born in Serbia. — DOWN: 1. Fresh; 2. Compère; 3. Ephron and Roberts; 4. Ingredient in some English pudding; 5. Laundry detergent brand; 6. Has a hunch; 7. “Some Enchanted Evening,” e.g.; 8. Gulf of ___; 9. Flyspeck; 10. Straightforward fashion choice; 11. Site of many clandestine accounts; 12. Gender abbr.; 13. Charlie’s Angels, e.g.; 18. Like some points; 22. Like many a Malkovich; 25. Lou Gehrig’s disease, for short; 26. Reissue; 27. Michael of “Superbad”; 28. Falco of “Nurse Jackie”; 29. Scandinavian rugs; 30. Kitchenware brand; 31. Presently; 32. Light classical pieces; 33. Clog, e.g.; 34. O, symbolically; 39. Otto - cinque; 42. Embassy worker: Abbr.; 44. City whose name sounds like a fish; 45. “___ the Conqueror” (Max von Sydow film); 46. Do well; 47. Zone (out); 48. Blush stoppers; 49. Almond ___ (candy brand); 59. “The Pregnant Widow” author Martin; 51. “King Kong” co-star, 1933; 52. Heroine who says “I resisted all the way: a new thing for me”; 54. Shaming sound; 55. Mad people, e.g.: Abbr.

08.24.11 — AEIOU, Etc.

and sometimes "y", photograph by Jones, flickr

————————

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Puzzle by Kelsey Blakley / Edited by Will Shortz

The addition of the vowels A, E, I, O and U to the front of TROPHY CASE, BONY FISH, SLANDER TRIAL, LIVE BAIT and NIT PICKING to form new phrases clued by questioned-marked clues constitutes the interrelated group of this witty Wednesday crossword, resulting in ATROPHY CASE (17, Physical therapist’s assignment?), EBONY FISH (24A. Blackened seafood?), ISLANDER TRIAL (36A. Castaway’s day in court?), OLIVE BAIT (49A. Lure for Popeye’s sweetie?) and UNIT PICKING (59A. Choosing between pounds and kilos?). AEIOU as a New York Times crossword group was best done December 10, 2008, HERE.

Other — AIR BASES (3D. Homes for drones), ALEUTIAN (38D. Like Unalaska), CARDIAC (32A. Kind of arrest), CREEP IN, LATE and ELATE, LEAN ON ME (39D. 1989 movie featuring principal Joe Clark), MATA HARI (2D. Exotic dancer executed in 1917), ORANGES, X-RAY LAB (1D. Medical dept. room).

Mid-size — AFL CIO, ALAMO, ALCOVE, ALLOT, ANIMA, ANKLE, AOLERS, ARTIST, BANES, DC CAB, DRIFT, ELATE, EVADE, ID TAG, LHASA (23A. The Forbidden City), LITTER, LLAMAS, MAUNA Kea, PORTIA, RADARS, REMAIN, RESIN, SLOBS, TEETHE, UNCLES, USAGES, WANTON, YABBER (20A. Gossip, to an Aussie).

Short stuff — AAS, ACNE, AMI, AND and ANY, ARTE, ATIT, La BREA Tar Pits, EAR, EMT, ENES, FOG, GMAC, “Give IT NO thought!”, LAME, LAV, OLEO, ORE, PAT, Eskimo PIE, RAE and RTE, RAIL, REP, RUHR, SSE and SSR, URU, WINS, XMAS, YEAR.

————————

... as The Caterpillar vowels...

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Holiday time, in ads; 5. Detection devices; 11. One way to stand; 14. Bunk bed feature; 15. Fester and Vanya; 16. Shipment to a smeltery; 19. Postal worker’s circuit: Abbr.; 21. Friend of François; 22. Engaged; 26. Some small power supplies; 27. Facilities, informally; 29. Lift up; 40. Enter slowly; 41. Spread selection; 43. Mete out; 46. It may come in a blanket; 48. Bionic part of the Bionic Woman; 55. After midnight, say; 56. “Go on …”; 57. Maliciously done; 58. CPR pro; 61. Funny Charlotte; 62. Hang back; 63. Uncool; 64. Georgia, once: Abbr.; 65. Customary practices; 66. Hydrocarbon suffixes. — DOWN: 4. Food-stains-on-shirts sorts; 5. River to the Rhine; 6. Whatever amount; 7. 1983 Mr. T comedy; 8. 1836 siege site; 9. Frankincense or myrrh; 10. GPS heading; 11. Wife of Brutus; 13. iTunes search category; 13. Chew on a baby toy, say; 18. Thunder sound; 22. Result of a ‘55 union merger; 24. Dance around; 25. Information for an oenologist; 28. Reason to use Retin-A; 31. Dinette spot; Union ___; 34. Headache for a snow shoveled; 37. Johnson of “Laugh-In”; 42. Good sources of vitamin C; 43. Many I.M. recipients; 44. Wool-yielding pack animals; 45. Runt’s group; 47. Auto financing org., formerly; 50. Causes of ruin; 51. Man’s feminine side; 52. Med-alert bracelet, e.g.; 54. Shackle site; 57. Standings column; 59. Neighbor of Braz.

08.23.11 — Bolt!

　

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Puzzle by Michael Farabaugh / Edited by Will Shortz

SPRINTER USAIN, METAL FASTENER, LIGHTNING UNIT and LEAVE SUDDENLY, all clued as Bolt, constitute the interrelated group of this striking Tuesday crossword.

Other — CANDYMAN (38D. 1972 #1 hit for Sammy Davis Jr., with “The”), DELL / PCS (54D. Big maker of 59-Down; 59D. Office staples, for short) EGGNOG (42D. Drinks that are often ladled), LENA / HORNE (24D. With 13-Down, “Stormy Weather” singer), ON A ROLL (5D. Hot, scoring-wise), WEBSITES (3D. They have homes that many people visit).

Mid-size — ALOOF, AUPAIR (11D. Foreign domestic), COBRA (17A. “Spitting“ snake), CORNEA, ERASE, GRACE, IMEAN, INDEED, INVADE, LESSEE, LOANED, ONEAL, OOMPH, SAWTO, SEINE, SENSE, SLOAN, SLUSH, STONE, TELLY, TRAIN.

Short stuff — AAH, ABIT, AGEE, ALI, AMO and AMOS, ASH (35D. Result of a fire), ASIA, BSIX, CAMP, DXI, ELF, EURO, HEE-haw, HYDE, INF, LATH, LIT (36D. On fire), LOLA, LORE, MODE, NEE and NEG, OBOE, OGLE, ONE, PEER, RIDE, SASH, SIC, SLED, SPAR, STOW, TARP, TCBY, TOO, TREE, TRU, ULNA, URGE, USNA, WELD (65A. Unite under fire?), YETI.

————————

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Handled, as a matter; 6. Sleepaway, e.g.; 10. Wood strip; 14. “Er … um …”; 15. Instrument heard in Sonny & Cher’s “I Got You Babe”; 18. Currency that replaced the drachma; 18. Roller coaster, e.g.; 19. Rigging support; 23. Cousin of Muhammad; 25. Sharer of an exclamation point on a keyboard; 26. Locale of the Île de la Cité; 32. Tatum of “Paper Moon”; 33. The “she” in the lyric “She walked up to me and she asked me to dance”; 34. Window part; 35. Unlikely to hug, say; 37. Frozen dessert franchise; 41. Part of the Old World; 42. Wipe the slate clean; 47. Marble, for one; 49. What “-” may mean: Abbr.; 50. 511, to Caesar; 56. Wrist/elbow connector; 57. Every family has one; 58. Energy; 61. Toy sometimes pulled with a rope; 62. Leer; 63. It’s a blessing; 64. Half of a famous split personality; 66. Smarts. — DOWN: 1. Word to an attack dog; 2. ___, amas, amat …; 4. Protective covering; 5. Hot, scoring-wise; 6. Pupil coverer; 7. Somewhat; 8. Number in statistics; 9. ___ review; 10. Renter; 12. Choo-choo; 21. Like Brahms’s Symphony No. 3; 22. Jimmy Carter’s alma mater: Abbr.; 23. Famous ___ cookies; 28. Sound from a weary person sinking into a hot tub; 29. ___-Kettering Institute; 30. Also; 31. Figure in Santa’s workshop; 37. Play about Capote; 39. Vitamin whose name sounds like a bingo call; 40. Mountain sighting; 41. Writer James; 43. Given for a time; 44. Attach, as across a boundary; 45. “Absolutely!”; 46. Born as; 47. Snow when it’s around 32°F; 48. British boob tube; 52. Store; 53. Persuade; 55. Folk tales and such.

08.22.11 — Directions

Monday, August 22, 2011

Puzzle by Milo Beckman / Edited by Will Shortz

RIGHT TO LIFE (18A. Anti-abortion position), LEFT TO DIE (24A. Abandoned, in a way), STRAIGHT TO VIDEO (39A. Not shown in theaters), UP TO SNUFF (51A. Satisfactory) and DOWN-TO-EARTH (60A. Having no illusions or pretensions) constitute the interrelated group of this fine Monday crossword.

Other — BLADE RUNNER (28D. 1982 Harrison Ford sci-fi film), GET OFF TRACK (3D. Go astray), REC ROOM (46A. Place to play foosball or Ping-Pong), VANILLA (32A. Ice cream flavor that’s a synonym for “boring”).

Mid-size — ASORT, ASTIR, ATRIA, “Casey AT THE Bat”, BOATER, DAFOE, DECREE, EDGED, ELLEN, EMBED, EPILOG, EVITE, FEELIN, FETUS (55D. Baby-to-be), FRAME, GROWL, IRANI and IRENE, LAHTI, O’LEARY (70A. Mrs. With a famous cow), PLACE, REKNOT, SALAMI, SHAMU, ST LEO, TERRA cotta, TOKEN, UPDATE.

Short stuff — ADO, ALF and ELF, ALLY, ATM, BEAR, DODO, DOE and DYE, EDIT, EEL, ELI, EMU, FROG, FUR, HEY, GAG (1A. Handkerchief stuffed in the mouth, e.g.), GTO, INRE, ITT and OTT, KID, LEA and LET, NAT, NETS, OLA and OLD, OLIO, “I’m working ON IT“, “OPEN sesame“, RES, RTE, SAID, SEED, SPA, TAME, TORI, VIES, WHOA, WII.

“I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I've watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die.”  ~ Batty, “Blade Runner”

————————

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 4. “The 59^th Street Bridge Song (___ Groovy)” (1967 hit); 10. Start for a plant; 14. Hwy.; 15. Provide with the latest info; 16. Friend in war; 17. Giant Mel; 20. Cry to a horse that’s the opposite of “Giddyup!”; 22. Allow; 23. Place to get a facial; 27. Incorporate, as a picture in a blog; 31. Kermit, e.g.; 34. Up and about; 36. Announced; 38. Landon who lost to F.D.R. in 1936; 43. Suffix with plug; 44. Not feral; 45. 2000 comedy “Me, Myself & ___”; 49. Wall Street pessimist; 50. Arcade coin; 56. Josh; 58. Meadow; 59. Concerning; 65. Singer ___ King Cole; 66. Little of this and that; 67. Flat; 68. Big Australian bird; 69. Move text around; 71. Lo-___ screen. — DOWN: 1. Canine threat; 4. Wearing this is a PETA peeve; 5. Afterword; 6. Barely beaten; 7. Christine of “Chicago Hope”; 8. Hairy TV cousin; 9. Fishermen cast them; 10. Deli meat; 11. Football’s Manning; 12. Rice Krispies’ Snap, Crackle or Pop; 13. Change from brunette to blonde, say; 21. Heart parts; 25. Doughnuts, topologically speaking; 26. What you might R.S.V.P. to via a computer; 29. Funny DeGeneres; 30. Actor Willem; 33. Hubbub; 34. Of ___ (somewhat); 35. Canonized fifth-century pope; 36. SeaWorld whale; 37. Green machine?; 40. Sporty Pontiac of years past; 41. Competes (for); 42. Tehran native; 47. Tie again, as a necktie; 49. Yachtsman, e.g.; 52. Come in second; 54. Box on a bowling score sheet; 57. Dumb ox; 60. Mother of a fawn; 61. Superannuated; 62. Nintendo console with a remote; 63. Snaky fish; 64. “You there!”