12.06.11 — Like...

The prehistoric-looking gar is a voracious predator with a mouthful of sharp teeth. They usually drift motionless near the surface waiting for smaller fish to swim by. ~ National Geographic Society

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Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Puzzle by Steve E. Atwood / Edited by Will Shortz

FLOURISH (18A. Be healthy, like a type of meal?), VANISH (20A. Disappear, like a moving vehicle?), GARISH (24A. Obtrusively bright, like a needlefish?), CHERISH (39A. Love,, like a popular singer?), POLISH (49A. Touch up, like a candidate for office?), PUNISH (56A. Hurt, like a groan-inducing joke?), BRANDISH (60A. Wave menacingly, like a red-hot iron?), LAVISH (4D. Extravagant, like a W.C.?) and FINISH (48D. Do away with, like a 1950s car feature?) constitute the interrelated group of this likeable Tuesday crossword.

Other — AURORAS (10D. Northern and southern lights), Rosh HASHANAH, ORIENTS (43D. Points in the right direction), SCOOPERS (40D. Aids for dog-walkers).

Mid-size — ASIAGO, ASPEN, BUM RAP, CARMEL, Magna CARTER, CASABA (14A. Fruit named after a town in Turkey), Fond DU LAC, EARPS, ELISHA, FILCH, HENNER, IMPURE, NASTY, OBESE, RAMOS, RASHER, RAREFY, SCHEME, SHILOH (1A. 1862 battle site), SIESTA, SPONGY, STRIP, TAILED, THRILL, TONTO, TROVES, TYPE O.

Short stuff — AGER, AHH and ASH, AMIE, ANT and AUNT, ASIA, ASP, BACH, BAM, CCS, DAFT, DODI, DOS, FEAR, HARA and HARE, INS, “IS HE Dead?”, “The Heat IS ON“, LIE, LSD, METS, MIR, OSLO,PSIS, RTE and RUE, SAD, SCTV, SEAR, SHED and SHEM, SRI, URNS, USN, UTA.

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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: 7. “Fros, e.g.; 10. The “A” in SEATO; 15. Menace in “Raiders of the Lost Ark”; 16. Holders of some dry bouquets; 17. Valuable discoveries; 21. Who said “You are alone now. Last man. You are lone ranger”; 22. Burn on the outside; 28. “Gödel, Escher, ___” (Douglas Hofstadter book); 31. Raunchy; 34. Familiar femme; 35. “The Star-Spangled Banner” land; 37. Colorado resort; 38. Cosmonaut’s destination, once; 41. Annapolis inits.; 42. Actress Sarah of “Parenthood”; 44. Steal; 45. Hwy.; Golden ___; 47. Most common blood designation; 48. Phobia; 51. ___ al-Fayed (friend of Diana); 53. Wyatt and Virgil or the Wild West; 63. Elevator pioneer Otis; 64. ___ May, surrogate mother for Spider-Man; 65. Golfer’s concern; 66. Bacon amount; 67. Citi Field team; 68. What the “turn on” part refers to in “Tune in, turn on, drop out”; 69. Plan. — DOWN: 1. Onetime “S.N.L.”-type show; 2. ___-kiri; 5. Fat; 7. Nutty; 8. Christiania, today; 9. Soft and absorbent; 11. ___ Lankan; 12. Maze accesses; 13. Cigar tip; 19. Actress Hagen; 23. Make more refined; 25. Adulterated; 26. Sleep en la tarde; 27. Marilu of “Taxi”; 28. Unjustified accusation; 29. Italian cheese; 30. California town where Clint Eastwood was may; 32. Unclothe; 33. Followed; 36. Includes in an e-mailing; 37. “Feels so good!”; 47. Excitation; 50. Down; 54. Pitchfork-shaped letters; 55. Molt; 57. “___ Dead?” (Mark Twain play); 58. A son of Noah; 59. Big-eared hopper; 60. Kapow!; 61. Regret; 62. Cupboard crawler.