01.31.12 — Mélange

Tuareg Nomads with Camels in Sand Dunes of Sahara Desert, Arakou by Johnny Haglund

————————

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Puzzle by Doug Peterson / Edited by Will Shortz

DAILY JUMBLE (17A. Newspaper puzzle with anagrams), IPOD SHUFFLE (28A. MP3 player that weights less than an ounce), MAD SCRAMBLE (47A. Frenzied rush) and LEMONADE MIX (63A. Tart powdered drink preparation) constitute the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword.

Other — APRIL FOOL (11D. Victim of a springtime hoax), AVERAGE (60A. Just O.K.), PLACATE (39A. Appease), SAND DUNES (35D. Windblown formations), SIDE ONE (41A. Album’s first half), UNCLASP (20A. End a hug).

Mid-size — ACTS UP and ADD UP, AGREES, ARENA, BEANED, CAMEL (54A. Caravan beast), CHILIS, DIETED, DOUBLE, EVICT, GALLO, GIRLIE, GO UP TO, HEIGL, I GIVE, ISABEL, PETER, PIANO, Chaim POTOK, RIFLER, SEE YOU, SESAME, STRIDE, SYRIAN, TACIT, TAUPIN, TEXAS, YAKIMA.

Short stuff — ADJS, AGO AIN’T, ALES, Take down A PEG, ASKS, ATE, AUTO, CUE, DIVA, DUH, EBB, EDU, ELIA, ELLS, EMU, EPEE, EVAC, EVE, GOYA, LONI, LOOP, MAR, NEXT, NEVA, OBI, OIL, OXEN, POX, RUM and RUN, RYE, SPAM, TEA, TRAY, UKE, VALE, YOS.

————————

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Take down ___ (humble); 5. Finds common ground; 11. In days past; 14. La Scala headliner; 15. Spitting image; 16. Chicken ___; 19. Sourdough alternative; 21. Neighbor of an Iraqi; 23. “The Chosen” author Chaim; 24. Genteel gathering; 27. Source of the Beverly Hillbillies’ wealth; 33. Seed on a bun; 37. Island instrument, briefly; 38. Stunt plane maneuver; 43. Ungrammatical contraction; 44. Lead-in to a big day; 46. Kind of magazine; 50. “I shoulda known that!”; 51. Snooker stick; 52. Unvoiced; 57. Elton John collaborator Bernie; 60. Just O.K.; 62. Appear in print; 66. Filled up on; 67. Chilean novelist Allende; 68. River through St. Petersburg; 69. Informal greetings; 70. Take big steps; 71. Pub offerings. — DOWN: 1. Seem logical; 2. Alicia Keys’s instrument; 3. Boot out; 4. Vintner Ernest or Julio; 5. Sm., med. And lg., e.g.; 6. Approach; 7. ___ and Coke; 8. Flow’s partner; 9. Corner shapes; 10. “So long!”; 12. “The Naked Maja” painter; 13. Plow-pulling pair; 18. City southeast of Seattle; 22. Ransacker; 25. University URL ender; 26. Makes inquiries; 29. Noted pumpkin eater; 30. Katherine of “Knocked Up”; 31. Actress Anderson; 32. Sport with lunges; 33. Unsolicited e-mail; 34. “Viva Zapata!” director Kazan; 36. Is a brat; 40. Removal from harm’s way, for short; 42. Followed a downsizing plan?; 45. Ostrich look-alike; 48. Spicy cook-off dishes; 49. Conked with a pitch; 53. Madison Square Garden, e.g.; 54. Caravan beast; 55. “Enough!”; 56. State with a panhandle; 57. Highchair feature; 58. Prius, for one; 59. Digs in twigs; 61. Low-lying region; 65. Scuff, e.g.; 65. Geisha’s sash.

01.30.12 — NEST

Monday, January 30, 2012

Puzzle by Francesco Trogu / Edited by Will Shortz

NEST (66A. Where 38-Across lay 1-Across … or a word hidden in 20-, 27-, 44- and 51-Across), BIRDS (38A. Layers of 1-Across), EGGS (1A. Chicks hatch from them), along with ONE-STAR HOTELS (20A. Not-so fancy places to stay), OLD-LINE STATE (27A. Maryland’s nickname), I TUNES TOP TEN (44A. Big Apple list) and BONE STRUCTURE (51A. Osteoporosis threatens it), constitute the interrelated group of this comfortable Monday crossword.

Other — BATTLE AXE (34D. Old weapon in hand-to-hand combat), GAG ORDER (3D. Judges’ decrees to keep information from the public), IRENES, NESTLE (6D. Food giant whose brands include Gerber and Groobers), SEASON, SETTLE, SOCCER, TATERS.

Five-letter — ANIME, ASSET, CELLO, COSTA Rica, EERIE, ENTER, FORAY, HENCE, ISLES, MOORS, PLIES, SNEER, SNUBS, SPEND, SPREE, TITLE, ULNAS.

Short stuff — ACES, ADS, ALSO, ALOE, ASS, ATMS, AXLE, BEND, BIER, BIS, BLU, CUR, DYES, ELEC, ELM, EMIR, ERIN, FARM, GEE, HASP, HIP, ION, LEAP, LET and NET, LSD, MEGA Millions, MOL, NAME, OAF, OATS, PADS, RENO, RLS, RYAN, SETH, SPAN, SPCA, TAD, TART, THEM, TILE, TOFU, UNTO, URSA Major, YARN.

————————

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 5. Social slights; 10. Org. that shelters dogs and cats; 14. Jump; 15. Spooky; 16. The “E” of G.E.: Abbr.; 18. Liability’s opposite; 19. Mah-jongg piece; 23. Scoundrel; 25. Collection of atoms: Abbr.; 26. In addition; 32. Contemptuous smile; 33. Small notebooks; 34. Ones not entirely gay or straight; 37. Tasting like unripe applies; 40. Lock fastener; 41. Beast of burden; 42. Soothing juice; 43. Info in a library search request; 47. Old MacDonald’s place; 49. Lout; 50. ‘60s “acid”; 51. Osteoporosis threatens it; 56. Leprechaun land; 57. Therefore; 58. Knitter’s ball; 61. Identify; 62. Go in; 63. Wheel turner; 64. Goes from blonde to brunette, say; 65. Heaths. — down: 1. Dutch ___ disease; 2. Word said while scratching one’s head; 4. Length; 5. Spring or fall; 8. Coffin holder; 9. Rogen of “Superbad”; 10. Colorize; 11. Layers of wood; 12. Rostropovich’s instrument; 13. Untouchable tennis serves; 21. Ruler of Kuwait; 22. Cheerios are made with them; 24. Wrist/elbow connectors; 28. Tennis umpire’s cry; 29. Shopper’s wild outing; 30. Small amount; 31. Episode interruptions; 35. Spots in the Caribbean; 36. Buy things; 38. ___-ray Disc; 39. Charged particle; 40. Cry said twice before “hooray!”; 42. $20 bill dispensers; 43. Bean curd; 44. Actresses Worth and Dunne; 45. World Cup sport; 46. Spuds; 47. Raid; 48. Japanese cartoons; 51. Show flexibility; 52. “It’s us against ___”; 53. City near Lake Tahoe; 54. “For ___ us a child is born …”; 55. Actor Gosling; 59. “Kidnapped” monogram; 60. Badminton feature.

01.29.12 — Networking Event

Sunday, January 29, 2012

NETWORKING EVENT, Puzzle by Ian Livengood

Edited by Will Shortz

Eight network television channels are part of as many answers in this Sunday crossword:

SPIKE HEELS (22A. Fancy footwear at a TV station?)
EMARKETING (24A. Advertising department at a TV station?)
ENCORE PRESENTATION (36A. Slide show at a TV station?)
ION EXCHANGE (56A. Q&A at a TV station?)
HISTORY BUFF (72A Expert at a TV station?)
LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP (86A Enrollment at a TV station?)
FOX HUNTERS (104A. Recruiters at a TV station?)
OXYGEN TANK (106A. Fish holder at a TV station?)

Other — ATOMISTS (49D. Leucippus and Democritus, philosophically), BASS TUBA (69A. Instrument with a big bell), CHAIRLIFT (55D. It brings up many ticket holders), CHOP CHOP (58A. Lickety-split), DISCO STU (8D. “The Simpsons” character with platform shoes), LAMP POST (79D. One of a secretive trio), LIE ACROSS (35D. Blanket), PAINT BRUSH (53D. Oil producer?), SAND DUNE (44D. Sahara feature), TOOTHPASTE (32D. Canine protector).

Mid-size — ABOUND, ADHERE, AGHAST, BAR TAB, BORDEN, CAME BY, CORALS, EMERGE, HECATE, ICEMEN, I NEVER, IRON-ON, KRISTI, LEANER, LIONEL, LIPTON, MANSES, MAYANS, MIST UP, MOATED, MR HYDE, OH SNAP, PEEKED, PEYTON Place, PIRATE, RAIDER, SENIOR, SESAME, SHADER, UNIVAC.

Five-letter — AT PAR, AWFUL, BAGEL, BREAM, EDIFY, ERODE, GROKS, HEXED, I’M OFF, INANE, IRATE, JUDEA, LOONY, MANIA, MIKAN, MOUNT, NOOSE, ORION, “PAPA’S Got a Brand New Bag”, REELS, RINSE, ROWER, SEDER, SINAI, SUNNI Islam, TRANS, WREST.

Short stuff — ABAS, ACTE, AIM, ALOU, A-ONE, ARAB, ARPS, ATV, BAA and BAD, BETA decay, BIER, BIG D, B’NAI, BOAT, COE, CTRS, CYTO, DON, EEK and ELK, EINE, EMUS (60A. Green-egg layers), ETS, GAL, HAUS, HEAP, HONE, IOC, JARS, KHAN, LASH, LSD, LUST, MARV, NARY a scratch, Super NES, NIP, NOME, OGEE and OGRE, ORB, OTOE, OTRA, PARE, PEER, PEND, RAH, RIA, RICE, SIFT, SLUE, SRTA, SUP, TOON, TOP, TREE, TWIX, UKE, URGE, Gen XER, YALU, YOKE.

————————

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Swivel on an axis; 5. Cowboys’ home, familiarly; 9. Laughable; 14. Marble, e.g.; 17. One in Germany; 18. Locale of St. Catherine’s Monastery, said to be the world’s oldest working monastery; 19. Sources of many beads; 21. Narrow inlet; 26. Rugged transport, for short; 27. ___ Levy, four-time Super Bowl coach for Buffalo; 28. Visited; 30. Western loop; 31. Like some fortresses; 33. Lose ground?; 35. Classic toy company whose name is its founder’s middle name; 41. “Puss in Boots” villain; 42. “Barbarella” extras, for short; 43. Person making waves?; 44. “How ya doin’, bro?”; 47. Livid; 50. River to Korea Bay; 52. Insanity; 53. Shave; 54. Court recitation; 55. Midpoints: Abbr.; 61. Ruthless corporate type; 62. Noted calendar makers; 62. Underworld leader; 64. Overflow; 66. Skater Yamaguchi; 69. Sort (out); 75. Cookie holders; 76. Beginning of some temple names; 77. Opéra part; 78. Cockamamie; 79. Carnal craving; 80. European freshwater fish; 82. George nicknamed Mr. Basketball; 83. “Tsk! Tsk!”; 84. Baseball family surname; 92. Shocked; 95. How some stocks are bought; 96. Hold fast; 97. Seize; 98. Playful response to a good insult; 101. You might rub a knife across it; 103. Country singer David Allan ___, writer of “Take This Job and Shove It”; 109. It’s picked in the Pacific; 110. One taking the gold?; 111. Meal with wine; 112. Missouri relatives; 113. It was dropped at Woodstock; 114. “___ Got a Brand New Bag” (1965 James Brown hit); 115. Orange or olive; 116. Await decision. — DOWN: 1. Opening word?; 2. Tea merchant Sir Thomas; 3. Early computer; 4. Shout in a strip; 5. Drink served with Brezein; 6. “What chutzpah!”; 7. Miss at a hoedown; 9. Old block deliverers; 10. Gold rush town of 1899; 11. Graceful horse; 13. Utah’s state animal; 14. Mythical figure blinded by Oenopion; 15. Do a certain dish duty 16. Zero, in slang; 18. Beach umbrella, e.g.; 20. Student involved in a prank, maybe; 23. Appear on the scene; 25. SpongeBob, e.g.; 29. Sugary quaffs; 34. Fishing gear; 39. Primo; 40. Product from Mars; 45. Push; 46. One of a group of 12, say; 47. World org. based in Lausanne, Switzerland; 48. Bowl call; 51. Some Dadaist works; 52. Go up; 56. “Ta-ta!”; 57. Place to live in Germany; 59. Prefix with -plasm; 60. Give lessons; 64. Sheiks’ garments; 65. Sidecars might go on it; 66. “Star Trek II” villain; 67. Houston university; 70. Meadow call; 71. “Ready!” follower; 73. Joiner of a team; 74. Gravy holder; 75. Home of ancient Bethlehem; 79. One of a secretive trio; 80. Dairy brand; 82. Get foggy; 85. One-point score, of a sort; 86. It might be batted at a knockout; 87. Clerics’ homes; 88. Half of a title role for John Barrymore or Spencer Tracy; 89. Goddess associated with witchcraft; 90. Like some T-shirt designs; 91. Didn’t wait until Christmas, say; 92. Terrible; 93. Savvies; 94. Entranced; 98. Other, in Oviedo; 99. Crate; 100. Lassie of Arg.; 102. S-shaped molding; 105. Quick drink; 109. Outdo.

01.29.12 — Curiouser and Curiouser! — the Acrostic

Flamingo Croquet by Anne Bachelier 

————————

Sunday, January 29, 2012

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Edited by Will Shortz

This Sunday’s delightful acrostic draws a quotation from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

When it was released Alice in Wonderland received little attention; the book failed to be named in an 1888 poll of the most popular children’s stories. Generally it received poor reviews with reviewers giving more credit to Tenniel's illustrations than to Carroll’s story. At the release of Through the Looking-Glass, the first Alice tale gained in popularity and by the end of the 19th century Sir Walter Besant wrote that Alice in Wonderland "was a book of that extremely rare kind which will belong to all the generations to come until the language becomes obsolete". ~ Wikipedia

The quotation: …SHE HAD NEVER SEEN SUCH A CURIOUS CROQUET-GROUND…; IT WAS ALL RIDGES AND FURROWS; THE BALLS WERE LIVE HEDGEHOGS, THE MALLETS LIVE FLAMINGOES, AND… SOLDIERS HAD TO DOUBLE THEMSELVES UP… ON HANDS AND FEET, TO MAKE THE ARCHES.

The author’s name and the title of the work: CARROLL ALICE IN WONDERLAND

Jessie Willcox Smith's illustration of Alice surrounded by the characters of Wonderland. (1923)

The defined words:

A. English county home to the River Dee, CHESHIRE

B. Like a pen name, ASSUMED

C. "Why is a raven like a writing-desk?,” e.g., RIDDLE

D. Knockabout behavior (2 wds.), ROUGH STUFF

E. Sort of bellowed and whistled, with a kind of sneeze in the middle, OUTGRABE

F. Site of ongoing crypto zoological inquiry (2 wds.), LOCH NESS

G. Actor Charles who said “I have a face that would stop a sundial”, LAUGHTON

H. Going new places, seeing new things, etc., ADVENTURES

I. Spot-checking rule? (2 wds.), LEASH LAW

J. Measurer of sharpness (2 wds.), IQ TEST

K. Eight-by-eight setting, CHESSBOARD

L. “But four young Oysters hurried up, / All EAGER for the treat” (“The Walrus and the Carpenter”)

M. Tale in which Sir Wilfred weds Rowena, “IVANHOE”

N. Refuse to be found after Christmas?, NEEDLES

O. Car, in slang, WHEELS
P. Resembling a celebrated wall-sitter, OVIFORM
Q. Confection that may be crunchy, NOUGAT
R. Antagonist of the Queen of Hearts, DUCHESS
S. Taken to a higher plane, ELEVATED
T. 1950 Crime film with shifting points of view, “RASHOMON”
U. Surname of the girl who inspired the subject of this puzzle, LIDDELL
V. After a long wait (2 wds.), AT LAST
W. Benvolio, to Lord Montague, NEPHEW
X. Label on the neck of a potable’s bottle (2 wds.), “DRINK ME”

————————

The complete paragraph of the quotation and the paragraph following: `Get to your places!' shouted the Queen in a voice of thunder, and people began running about in all directions, tumbling up against each other; however, they got settled down in a minute or two, and the game began. Alice thought she had never seen such a curious croquet-ground in her life; it was all ridges and furrows; the balls were live hedgehogs, the mallets live flamingoes, and the soldiers had to double themselves up and to stand on their hands and feet, to make the arches.

The chief difficulty Alice found at first was in managing her flamingo: she succeeded in getting its body tucked away, comfortably enough, under her arm, with its legs hanging down, but generally, just as she had got its neck nicely straightened out, and was going to give the hedgehog a blow with its head, it would twist itself round and look up in her face, with such a puzzled expression that she could not help bursting out laughing: and when she had got its head down, and was going to begin again, it was very provoking to find that the hedgehog had unrolled itself, and was in the act of crawling away: besides all this, there was generally a ridge or furrow in the way wherever she wanted to send the hedgehog to, and, as the doubled-up soldiers were always getting up and walking off to other parts of the ground, Alice soon came to the conclusion that it was a very difficult game indeed. ~ Alice in Wonderland, Chapter IV. The Queen's Croquet-Ground.

————————

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

　

01.28.12 — Impact Attenuator

Impact Attenuators, Fitch barriers / barrels —
an installation in Canada, image à la DUI

————————

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Puzzle by Barry C. Silk / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. Concern for a dermatologist, LUMP; 5. They often come with eggs, HASH BROWNS; 15. Catalan article, UNES; 16. What cuts power in half?, SQUARE ROOT; 17. Sheila’s welcome, G’DAY; 18. Opposite of “dissuaded from”, TALKED INTO; 19. Coulee, GULCH; 21. Messed up, BLEW; 22. Roster curtailer, ET AL; 23. Product of some decay, ALPHA RAY; 25. Non-Hollywood, say, INDIE; 26. Bit of wet-weather wear, GALOSH; 27. Packed things, PISTOLS; 29. Touchdown letters, ETA; 30. Something stuck in a freezer?, POPSICLE; 33. Five in the ninth inning?, ENS; 35. Step, NOTCH; 36. Prefix with 11-Down, DIS; 39. Signs near a teller’s window, maybe, ENDORSES; 42. Some proctors, briefly, TAS; 44. Of the essence, CRUCIAL; 47. Silverwing flier, CESSNA; 49. Prepare to send some mail, LOG ON; 50. Route through a park, maybe, BIKE PATH; 52. The toe of a boot?, OMAN; 53. Schnapps choice, PEAR; 55. Declamation stations, PODIA; 56. Many a crash cushion at a construction zone, SAND BARREL; 59. Get 44-Down, NEAR; 60. Affection, ENDEARMENT; 61. Bananas, GAGA; 62. Civil engineering vehicle, ROAD GRADER; 63. School in the Piedmont region, ELON.

Down — 1. It’s checked before taking off, LUGGAGE; 2. Ripple, UNDULATE; 3. Dieter’s design, MEAL PLAN; 4. Like many horror flick characters, PSYCHO; 5. One of the subjects of the best-selling ‘02 book “The Conquerors”, HST; 6. King Hussein Airport locale, AQABA; 7. Disgrace, SULLY; 8. Cod relative, HAKE; 9. Java, for one, BREW; 10. Like the Phillies’ caps, RED; 11. Word with career or goal, ORIENTED; 12. Falls short, WON’T DO; 13. Manx trait, NO TAIL; 14. Some ermines, STOLES; 20. Securing device, HASP; 24. Her help was solicited in a hit song, RHONDA; 25. P.R., e.g., ISL; 27. P.R. releases, PICS; 28. Passing comment at a poker table, I CHECK; 31. Shared funds, POOL; 32. Symphonic score abbr., STR; 34. Backed up, SECONDED; 37. “Sold!”, IT’S A DEAL; 38. Universidad de las Américas site, SANTIAGO; 40. “Children of the Albatross” novelist, NIN; 41. Osmose, SEEP; 43. Like much of Niger, SAHARAN; 44. Not so remote, CLOSER; 45. Swiss alternative, ROMANO; 46. Big coffee exporter, UGANDA; 48. Quick and thorough learner, SPONGE; 50. Like some canine teeth, BARED; 51. Daughter of Zeus and Themis, IRENE; 53. “The Incredibles” family name, PARR; 54. Aretha’s Grammy-nominated sister, ERMA; 57. Bit of 1-Down, BAG; 58. Photocopier abbr., LTR.

————————

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

01.27.12 — BOX

Pandora Opening the Golden Box, 1903, John William Waterhouse

————————

Friday, January 27, 2012

Puzzle by Joe Krozel / Edited by Will Shortz

BOX (36A. Enclosure .. and an alphabetical listing of letters not appearing elsewhere in this puzzle’s answer) enclosed in a box of black squares constitutes the main feature of this sly holoalphabetical Friday crossword.

Other — ANIMAL FARM (57A. “1984” shelfmate), DEEP SEA DIVER (40A. One swimming with flippers), IN RANGE (49A. Accessible for shooting), JUST MY LUCK (21A. “Figures I’d have this problem!“), LECTURE HALLS (25A. Education dissemination locations), MARCEAU (23A. French expert in body language?), MUSCLE IN (23D. Lay claim forcibly), QUIZMASTER (17A. One asking questions he already knows the answers to), TRIANGULAR (50A. Like pool racks), YULETIDE (22D. Stocking-up time?).

Mid-size — AGARS, DERMAL, DINAR, DREGS, EDSEL, EMMAS, ENAMEL, ENGAGE, ERASE, EWERS, ICE TEA, “I MET A Girl”, I’M SURE, KITSCH, MANIC, MENUS, PATCH, PRUNED, Q-TIPS, SALINE, SAT UP, SAUDI, SPIKY, SWAMI, TALIA, TRIED.

Short stuff — ADZE, AFAR and AJAR, AGRA, ALDA, AMPS, ANTI, ASTA, CANS, DRUG, EDEL, EGAD, ELEV (32A. Highness: Abbr.), ESQS, GENE, I KID, LAME and LATE, LSD, MAUI, MICE, MUIR, PSAT, QED, REAP, RITE, SAAR, SERA, SHY, SIM, SIRE (20A. Highness), UMPS, URAL.

————————

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Actress Stone and others; 6. “Just playin’ with ya”; 10. Base characters?; 14. Meccan, e.g.; 15. Ones sitting on pads; 16. Cut off one’s ears?; 19. Cousin of contra-; 24. Draw back; 30. Solidfying agents; 31. Vase lookalikes; 35. Bouncing off the walls; 37. Sylvester’s “Rocky” co-star; 38. A Ford; 39. “___ Girl” (“Bells Are Ringing” tune); 46. Logical ending; 52. Host of PBS’s “Scientific American Frontiers”; 56. Baseball All-Star Kinsler and others; 59. Ordeal for jrs.; 60. Part of some pools; 51. Rose partially; 62. Clinic shipments; 63. Henry James biographer; 64. Lease desirable parts. — DOWN: 1. A.B.A. members’ titles; 2. Wailuku’s county; 3. California’s ___ Woods; 4. Wood shop shaper; 5. “Scrooge” star, 1951; 6. “Likely story”; 7. Lawn flamingos and such; 8. Pop alternative; 9. With 12-Down, lidocaine delivery option; 10. Risk board territory; 11. Stack at IHOP, say, 12. See 9-Down; 13. Like some punk hairstyles; 18. Cracked open; 25. Weak; 26 Quaint euphemism; 27. Film holders; 28. True companion?; 29. Pundit; 33. Mass action; 34. Mosel tributary; 41. Begin a conversation with; 42. Cut back; 43. Contact liquid; 44. Nail topper; 45. Home to a much-visited tomb; 46. Sticks in a makeup bag; 47. Sweep the board?; 48. Mosul money; 51. The Charleses’ pet; 52. Not close; 53. Like fashionable partygoers?; 54. It may knock you out; 55. Concert pieces; 58. 54-Down for a trip.

01.26.12 — You Can Leave Your Hat On

You'll find him in the lower level of Silk Nightclub every Saturday starting at midnight.

————————

Thursday, January 26, 2012 — Australia Day

Puzzle by Alan Arbesfeld / Edited by Will Shortz

Adding ST to five common phrases (ALL FOR ONE, TEXAS RANGERS, JACK THE RIPPER, RIKER’S ISLAND and ILL-AT-EASE) resulting in five odd ones, constitutes the interrelated group of this lightly-clad Thursday crossword.

• STALL FOR ONE (17A. Private quarters in a stable?)
• TEXAS STRANGERS (23A. Dallas tourists, perhaps?)
• JACK THE STRIPPER (37A. Name for a bachelorette party performer?)
• STRIKER’S ISLAND (49A. Vacation spot for some who stop working?)
• STILL AT EASE (60A. Not saluting for quite some time?)

Other — ADAPTS, AGASP and AROAR, ARRET, AT DAWN, BEAT IT, DELUXE, DIVER, DOOMS, DOSES, HAGUE, IN LOW and IN THERAPY (1D. Getting help of a sort), KATIE, LORRIE, MADE UP, NEATO, NEVER MIND (32D. “Forget it!), OSCAR (41A. Announcement that comes from an envelope), OCCURRING (30D. Going on), ODEON, PINS ON, PROTRACTS (8D. Extends), SALSA, SLAMS, SPREE, TIN EAR, TSARS, TUBER, U TUBE (44A. Horseshoe-shaped lab item).

Short stuff — AHEM, AIDE, ALF, A LOT and A MAN, ANN, BAM, BSA, CASH, CHAD, CNBC, EDU, EEN, ERG, HAS, IDS, LEAD, METE, NEST, NIL, NOT I, OHO and OJO, POST, PURE, RBI, REBS, RED, SEE, SPA, SRS, SUCH, TRUK (39D. W.W. II Pacific battle site), TVA, VASE, UTES, YDS.

————————

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Africa’s Lake ___, body of water in four countries; 5. Changes, in a way; 11. Fingers; 14. Many a staffer; 15. Moore who wrote “A Gate at the Stairs”; 16. Goose egg; 19. New Deal inits.; 20. Court site, with “The”; 21. Dole; 22. “Could we get started, please …”; 28. “Looky here!”; 31. What may give you the business?; 34. Old line in Russia; 43. Meas. of ground gained or lost; 46. What may come from a sock?; 55. Utter; “I’m ___” (Bo Diddley song); 57. Classic theater; 59. Result of bringing someone home, for short; 62 Velvet finish?; 63. Attaches, in a way; 64 Pac-12 team; 65. Bit of work; 66. Very early; 67. Mail. — DOWN: 12. Certain incentive; 2. Try to punch; 3. Saw; 4. Top-of-the-line; 5. 1980s sitcom filmed with a puppet; 6. Renders hopeless; 7. Stop over in Paris?; 9. Musical liability; 10. Date; 12. One going under; 13. Really bad-mouths; 18. Alchemy material; 22. Clearly stunned; 24. Word before or after “as”; 25. “Don’t look at me!”; 28. Facial feature for Felipe; 29. Harbors; 33. Big inits. In camping; 35. Embarrassed; 36. Alums-to-be: Abbr.; 38. Actress Holmes; 40. Civil War fighters; 45. “Take a hike!”; 47. Plenty; 48. Reconciled; 49. Tear; 50. Yam, e.g.; 51. It’s often made with peppers and onions; 52. Like trucks going up or down a steep hill; 53. “Swell!”; 54. Doctor’s orders; 58. Fit (in); 60. Kind of treatment; 61. Cape ___.

01.25.12 — Tree Rings

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Puzzle by Gareth Bain / Will Shortz

TREE RINGS (38A. Indicators of age … and a hint to this puzzle’s theme), along with four three-letter tree names, ELM, ASH, YEW and FIR, crammed into four squares and within circles akin to tree rings, constitutes the interrelated group of this Wednesday crossword.

• GOSP[EL M]USIC (17A. What the annual Dove Awards are awarded for) with [ELM]ER (18D. Name for a bull
• COLD [AS H]ELL (21A. Like winter in Siberia) with WAB[ASH] (10D. Indiana river)
• E[YE W]ITNESS (56A. One at a crime scene) with KAN[YE W]EST (40D. “Gold Digger” rapper)
• [FIR]ST AID KIT (62A. Place for iodine) with MIS[FIR]ES (48D. Rifle problems)

Other — AMENABLE (33A. Open to suggestion), AMOEBAE (11D. Sights on slides), BECOME (8D. Look good on), BEEGEE (35D. Any of the “Stayin’ Alive” singers), IN STORE (3D. Yet to come), I RECKON (43D. “Suppose so”), LUPINE (22D. Wolfish), MILLARD (12D. President Fillmore), NOSHING (4D. Having chips, say), RUN INTO (41D. Chance upon), SNEEZING (42A. Inviting a blessing?), WOOSNAM (2D. Ian who won the 1991 Masters).

Five-letter — ANTED, BLURB, DALIS, EBOLA, ESTER, GENRE, HAMID (15A. Afghanistan‘s Karzai), I LIED, KREME, LIEGE, LISZT, POACH, SHEDS SNERT, SPADE, SNERT,TERSE (31D. Like telegrams, typically).

Short stuff — ADIA, ANGE, ARM, BAI Ling, BLOB, EGAD, ESS, GAPE, GMEN, GUS, HOI polloi, INN, IN NO uncertain terms, IONA and IONS, ISLE, LAS and LARS, LATE, LAUD, LGE, MUS, OSH, OTIC, RBI, SARA, SEI, SIG, SSGT, STEP, STYE, SWAM, SWIG, TAY, TOOT, TREO, Drop TROU, Mao TSE-tung, UNO, Team USA.

————————

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Gulp from a flask; 5. Classic sci-fi terror, with “the”; 9. Began a triathlon; 13. College in New Rochelle, N.Y.; 14. Running behind; 19. “The Hot Zone” virus; 20. Source of T-bones; 23. Game with Skip and Reverse cards; 24. Baseball card fig.; 26. Followers of lambdas; 27. “The Crow” actress ___ Ling; 28. Song title for both Fleetwood Mac and Starship; 30. Kind of aerobics; 32. Phyllis’s never-seen TV husband; 36. Coming-clean words; 40. Sweet filling, in commercial names; 46. Sing a paean to; 47. Pursuers of the Sopranos, for short; 49. Drop ___ (start to disrobe); 50. “Newhart” setting; 51. Tre + tre; 52. City of Kyrgyzstan; 55. Tricky turn; 59. Take illegally; 61. Noir or comedy; 65. Perfumer’s compound; 66. “Horrors!”; 67. Accelerator particles; 68. Drunken spree; 69. Staph-caused irritation; 70. Cherub at Notre Dame. — DOWN: 1. Autograph: Abbr.; 4. Act starstruck, say; ; 5. Words on a jacket; 6. Chorus syllables; 7. Ear-related; 9. Gets rid of; 10. Indiana river; 16. “The Persistence of Memory” and others; 25. Trinidad or Tobago; 29. Chipped in; 32. “Hungarian Rhapsodies” composer; 34. Part of a slot machine; 37. Apparel abbr.; 45. NASA’s Grissom; 46. Feudal subject; 51. Dog in the funnies; 53. Classic Bogart role; 57. Palm smartphone; 58. Army NCO; 60. 1998 Sarah McLachlan hit; 63. Scotland’s Firth of ___.

01.24.12 — D, A/E/I/O/U/Y, E

King Cobra eating another snake, taylorlifescience

————————

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Puzzle by Alex Boisvert / Edited by Will Shortz

DAE, DEE, DIE, DOE, DUE and DYE found in DANIEL DAE KIM, TWEEDLEDEE, DIE-CAST CARS, MEET JOHN DOE, DUE PROCESS and TIE-DYE SHIRTS constitute the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword.

D, A/E/I/O/U/Y, E from the Light-writing alphabet by Nir Tober.

Other — ACERBIC, AIR COOL, CADDIE, COBRAS (24A. “King” serpents), DROOLS, ELEGIST, GLOSSY, I MEANT, MISSES, REPENT, STARVE.

Five-letter — ABIDE, BANES, CASTE, CHIME, DIORS, St. ELMO’S fire, EXILE, GO APE, OPRAH, ORTHO, RATER, REINA, ROKER, SLEEP, URALS, VOILA.

Short stuff — AHOY, ALE and ALL, ARAB, AREA, ATE, AXLE, BEAR, BOSC, CAD, CIA, CRAM, CUBA, DST and EST, DUH, EAST, EEL and EEN and EES, HERO, HOLE (27D. Darned thing), ICE T, IMHO, ISLE, IVY, JET, MANO, MAUI, NAHS, OUT, REAP, RELO, REO, ROSY, SAX (65A. Instrument for Clarence Clemons), SEXY, SID, SORE, STAR, TRA and TRY, VIEW, YALE, YIN.

————————

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Brown, Penn or Harvard; 4. Locale of Guantánamo Bay; 8. Go without food; 14. “The Good Shepherd” org.; 15. Omani or Yemeni; 16. Use a fan on; 17. It twists underwater; 18. He played Jin-Soo Kwon on “Lost”; 20. “Through the Looking-Glass” character; 22. Move, in real-estate ads; 23. Swings that result in strikes; 26. Doorbell sound; 29. Site of Haleakala National Park; 30. Pinkish; 31. Some collectible toys; 38. Everything; 39. “That is to say …”; 40. ___ Speedwagon; 41. 1941 Frank Capra film; 44. Animal that can stand upright; 45. One who saves the day; 46. Lose it; 47. Puts back to zero, say; 50. Displays appetite, in a way; 54. Wheels’ connector; 55. Cornerstone of the American legal system; 59. Some hippie wear; 62. Had a bite; 63. Writer of sad poems; 64. Slangy turndowns; 65. Instrument for Clarence Clemons; 66. Show contrition; 67. “Hey, sailor!”; 68. Give a go. — DOWN: 1. “Cop Killer” singer who went o n to play a cop on TV; 2. Outlook; 3. Alma mater for Bill and Hillary Clinton; 4. Golfer’s assistant; 5. They divide Europe and Asia; 6. Bugaboos; 7. Endure; 8. Caesar of comedy; 9. ___-la-la; 10. Biting; 11. Al of “Today”; 12. “There you have it!”; 16 Drink sometimes indicated in comics by “XXX”; 19. Some tech grads; 21. TV award; 24. Social class; 25. Unsafe?; 26. Stay up all night before a test, say; 28. ___ of Man; 29. José ’s hand; 31. Some expensive dresses; 32. Modest “Methinks,” online; 33. Poetic time after dusk; 34. Heel; 35. ½ base x height, for a triangle; 36. Gather in the field; 37. Peeved; 42. U2 guitarist; 43. 767, e.g.; 44. Pear type; 46. Photo finish?; 47. Olympics judge, e.g.; 48. Punishment for Napoleon; 49. Catch 40 winks; 50. “Well, obviously!”; 51. Madrid’s ___ Sofia Museum; 52. Noted talk show retiree of 2011; 53. Straight: Prefix; 55. Mar.-to-Nov. hours; 56. Sunup direction; 57. Play the lead role; 58. Alluring; 60. Yang’s counterpart; 61. Superlative suffix.