04.01.12 — Of Course!

Sunday, April 1, 2012

OF COURSE!, Puzzle by Patrick Merrell / Edited by Will Shortz

I have no interest in golf.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS (22A. Golf club repositioning?)
STROKE OF LUCK (40A. Hole in one?)
BYE BYE BIRDIE (49A. Comment after hitting a tee shot)
A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK (69A. Wedge shot from a worn-out practice range platform?)
PUTTER AROUND (90A. Use one club for all 18 holes?)
MISSING LINKS (101A. Course not listed in the guidebooks?)
BACKSEAT DRIVERS (122A. Woods stowed in the rear of a golf cart?)
FORE PLAY (14D. Duffer’s shots?)
CAST IRON (88D. Club thrown in disgust?)

“…if you aim for nothing, you'll hit it every time." ~ Yogi Berra, on golf.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Drop; 5. Diagnostic test, of a sort; 9. Crosswise, when 18-Across; 14. ___ bean; 18. See 9-Across; 19. Augusta National Golf Club, for the Masters; 20. Class, abroad; 21. SST component; 25. “I bet I’ll know it”; 26. Botanical holder; 27. Stock price movement; 28. Yonder; 30. Cloths with repeating patterns; 32. When to get in, briefly; 34. Three-time Best Director in the 1930s; 37. Jennifer of tennis; 44. Take out ___ (get some assistance at a bank); 46. Stance; 47. According to; 48. Shoot two under; 53. Insect named for the Virgin Mary; 56. Multiuse W.W. II vessel; 56. Where tumblers can be found; 57. Brightest star in Orion; 60. “I do”; 61. Ex-Jet Boomer; 64. Pilfer; 66. Uniform: Prefix; 75. Equal; 76. Continental coins; 77. Disappearance of 7/2/1937; 79. Wait to play; 82. 100 kopecks; 84. Like 20% of Israel; 86. Start of an attention-getting call; 96. “That’s ___!”; 96. Topper; 99. Old-time actress Talbot or Naldi; 100. Words to the left of the White House flag on a $20 bill; 104. Ones on a circuit; 107. Untrue; 108. Robert Frost’s middle name; 109. “Now We Are Six” author; 111. Like some columns; 113. Spelling aid?; 115. Newly districted; 119. Fragment; 125. Action Man : U.K. :: ___ : U.S.; 126. Long Island airport site; 127. Legislative excess; 128. Any of seven Danish kings; 129. Revenuer; 130. Loses; 131. Sleighful; 132. Reagan and others. — DOWN: 1. There are 336 dimples on a typical golf ball, for instance; 2. 1970s Wimbledon victor over Connors; 3. Meager; 4. Terrestrial decapod; 5. Aussie chick; 6. “Chill!”; 7. Inits. In bowling lanes; 8. Swell; 9. Operating in either of two ways; 10. Carnival worker; 11. Suffix with Milan; 12. On the line; 13. Protection from bug bites; 15. Whichever; 16. Enthusiasm; 17. Whiz; 21. Attacked from the air; 23. Not fine; 24. Knocked; 29. Prefix with management; 31. ___ center; 33. Shirt; 35. Sport named for a British boarding school; 36. “I haven’t ___”; 37. TV option; 38. Milano of “Charmed”; 39. Like works of Kipling and Browning; 41. Light start?; 42. Director ___ C. Kenton; 45. They might help produce a blowout; 46. Annoy; 50. Secretive couple; 51. Pro ___; 52. Iroquois foes; 54. Cassim’s brother ina classic tale; 58. Investors’ news, briefly; 59. Come together; 62. “Caught you!”; 63. Military title?; 64. Pharynx afflictions; 65. One-word query; 67. Certain 35mm camera; 69. “Lo-o-ovely!”; 70. Second of 12: Abbr.; 71. Suffix with ear or arm; 72. Valued; 73. ___ Lake (one of New York’s Finger Lakes); 74. Swedish coins; 78. Lincoln in-laws; 79. Often-filtered material; 80. Shaw who wrote “Rich Man, Poor Man”; 91`. Location of many organs; 83. Org. with boats; 84. Lawyer: Abbr.; 85. Violate a peace treaty, maybe; 89. Installment; 91. Anonymous: Abbr.; 92. Herbal tea; 93. Early Wagner opera; 94. Quick survey; 97. Like a real-estate deal that doesn’t involve a mortgage; 98. Crusty one; 102. Oui’s opposite; 103. Object of curiosity on the first day of school; 105. Put on the line; 106. Some postal workers; 110. Novelize, e.g.; 112. University of Miami mascot; 114. Egyptian menaces; 115. Nephew of Caligula; 117. Country in a Thomas Moore poem; 118. Mil. Awards; 119. ___ Pepper; 120. That guy; 121. Hit Steely Dan album; 123. The Indians, on sports tickers; 124. As well.

03.31.12 — Tivoli and Trivia

Falls of the Aniene by Christian Wilhelm Ernst Dietrich, c. 1745-50:

a romanticized view of the Temple of Vesta in Tivoli, Italy

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Saturday, March 31, 2012

Puzzle by Scott Atkinson / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. Makeup of some insulating sheets, MICA; 5. Vulcans and others, ALIEN RACES; 15. Sixth-day creation, ADAM; 16. Singer with a black V-shaped collar, MEADOW LARK; 17. Food product for the eco-conscious, DOLPHIN-SAFE TUNA; 19. “That man” in “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair”, EMILE; 20. It’s often shown with hands, TIME; 21. Word for a keeper?, STET; 22. Hands off, REFERS; 24. Approx. camera flash duration, MSEC; 26. Ending with plural, in Plymouth, ISE; 27. Words before before, ON OR; 28. South Vietnam’s NGO Dinh Diem; 30. “Ooh-la-la!”, SO HOT; 32. Across, in odes, O’ER; 33. Seize, old-style, REAVE; 35. Wine shop offering, informally, ZIN; 36. “The Girl I Knew Somewhere” group, with “the”, MONKEES; 38. “My Best Friend’s Girl” group, THE CARS; 42. Harboring cold feelings?, ILL; 43. It’s often in the spotlight, XENON; 45. Left-arrow abbr., REW; 46. Language that gave us “catamaran”, TAMIL; 48. Spotted à la Tweety Bird, TAW; 49. Family, TYPE; 50. Gerrymander, RIG; 51. Like many a teen idol, CUTE; 53. Ray with lines, LIOTTA; 55. National competitor, AVIS; 57. Selling point, MART; 59. Cloudless, in Saint-Cloud, CLAIR; 60. Features of some Amerindian embroidery, PORCUPINE QUILLS; 63. Put in the spotlight, ILLUMINATE; 64. They have balls, FEET; 65. Put through a chop shop, say, DISMANTLED; 66. Brand name used by Jersey, ESSO.

Down — 1. Moved over, say, MADE ROOM; 2. 1781 Mozart premiere, IDOMENEO; 3. Demographic lauded in a 1965 song, CALIFORNIA GIRLS; 4. Not so scanty, AMPLER; 5. Introspective query, AM I; 6. Carnival follower, LENT; 7. Hugo-winning 1994 memoir, I ASIMOV; 8. Wheels from the Netherlands, EDAMS; 9. Pleasing bank statement?, NO FEES;10. “Self-Reliance” essayist’s inits., RWE; 11. Plane figs., ALTS; 12. Fables, often, CAUTIONARY TALES; 13. Knighted diamond magnate Oppenheimer, ERNEST; 14. Spin out on the ice?, SKATE; 18. “HER Twelve Men” (Greer Garson film); 23 Old dagger, SNEE; 29. Beano alternative, GAS X; 31. Minute Maid brand, HIC; 33. Holdover, RELIC; 34. “Vulcan’s chimney”, ETNA; 37. Cityhopper carrier, KLM; 39. Laugh hard, HOWL; 40. Geckos, e.g., REPTILES; 41. Guarantees, SWEARS TO; 44. Not bound by 20-Across, ETERNAL; 48. Temple of Vesta locale, TIVOLI; 47. Group indiscriminately, LUMP IN; 49. Certain toast, TO LIFE; 50. RAPID-fire; 52. Dirty, TAINT; 54. Defib setting, ICU; 56. Dirty film, SCUM; 58. Where le nez is, TETE; 61. She played Cécile in “Dangerous Liaisons”, UMA; 62. Ending letters, QED.

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03.30.12 — The Great Red Spot

The Great Red Spot is a persistent anticyclonic storm, 22° south of Jupiter's equator,

which has lasted for at least 182 years and possibly longer than 347 years. 

The storm is large enough to be visible through Earth-based telescopes.

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Friday, March 30, 2012

Puzzle by Joe Krozel / Edited by Will Shortz

Eight fifteen-letter answers constitute the main feature of this Friday crossword:

NO NEED TO THANK ME (15A. “My pleasure”)
I MEAN IT THIS TIME (17A. Dubious claim after crying wolf)
TRIPLE WORD SCORE (29A. Great red spot?)
RESIDENTIAL AREA (37A. Unlikely place to take one’s business)
IMITATION BUTTER (38a. Promise, e.g.)
BEATS ONE’S BREAST (39A. Weeps and wails)
OPERATION CONDOR (56A. 1991 Jackie Chan film)
LONG-TERM PARKING (60A. Sign words often accompanied by an airplane symbol)

Other — ARRESTEE (62A. One may get printed), ARISES, BALLAD (42A. “Yesterday,” e.g.), ESTHER (61A. Megillah book), INTOXICATE (11D. Put under the table), MAN-TO-MAN (19A. Defense option), OTOE / TRIBE (33D. Plains people; 29D. 33-Down, for one), PECULIAR (52A. Funny), PITTSBURGH (32D. Pirates’ hangout), RINSED, SEWN IN, SLURPS, SYNTAX, TEN / CENT (5D. With 54-Down, kind of store), ZELDAS.

Five — Drop A HINT, ALATE, ANITA, AROMA, ASSEZ, ATONE, DABBA, DOMES, END IT, HEART, ISIAH, LITER (44D. Gas unit), MERGE, NOT MY, ONE A’S, PEASE, RASTA (10D. Dreaded believer?), REMET, SEE TO, SORTA, STEAM, TANKS (48D. Gas units), TREES.

Short stuff — ANTE, CAR, EAP, EMMA, EPOS, ESE, ETHS, IDI, ISTH, LAIR (45D. Pirates‘ hangout), NPR, ORE, OTT, POLE, SEEN, SKIM, TEAS, THAN.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Pet subject; 9. Presents itself; 18. They may be carted around; 20. Enough, to Étienne; 22. Grammar subject; 23. Guam-to-Tahiti dir.; 25. Common canal locale: Abbr.; 40. Old English letters; 41. “The Black Cat” writer’s inits.; 47. Really tick off; 55. Let go to pot? — DOWN: 1. One of the Pointer Sisters; 2. Some vaults; 3. They’re in the first draft; 4. Kind of porridge; 6. First name in 1970s tyranny; 7. Giant among Giants; 8. Words before problem or department; 9. Drop ___ (be suggestive); 12. Not peruse; 13. Actress Watson; 14. Admitted to a doctor’s office; 16 More or less follower; 21. Mrs. F. Scott Fitzgerald and others; 22. Like many monograms on clothing; 24. Arrange for; 26. Rather colloquial?; 27. Much paper, originally; 28. Compassion; 30. Formed another congress; 31. N.B.A. great Thomas; 34. Like many bagged vegetables; 35. Part of a Flintstone’s yell; 36. Consumes impolitely; 43. Winged; 46. Starbucks has one; 49. Get a divorce; 50. Make right; 51. Sign of a narrowing path; 52. John Paul II, e.g.; 53. “Beowulf” or “Gilgamesh”; 57. “Tell Me Mo

re” broadcaster; 58. Runner with a hood; 59. Valuable stuff in a pocket.

03.29.12 — Words and Music

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Puzzle by Milo Beckman / Edited by Will Shortz

DO DO SOL SOL LA LA SOL (41A. With 39-Across, a familiar tune), FA FA MI MI RE RE DO (39A. See 41-Across), along with TWINKLE TWINKLE (16A. Words sung to the beginning of 41-/39-Across) and NOW I KNOW MY ABCS (66A. Words sung to the beginning of 41-/39-Across) constitute the interrelated group of this mellifluous Thursday crossword. The corresponding multiple-letter square down answers — SO[FA], A[FA]R, [MI]ME, LEM[MI]NGS, ISE[RE], STO[RE], HOW[DO], [DO]NUT, [DO]USE, [SOL]DER, MAU[SOL]EUM, IS[LA], A[LA]S, [SOL]AR.

Other — ESTRADA (1D. “CHiPs” co-star, 1977-83), EVINCES, GAUNTLET (72A. Part of a duelist’s uniform), GO TO WAR (48D. Commence hostilities), JEERS AT, SORE EYES (13A. What a welcome sight relieves). TENDS TO, TOWELED, TRIPLEL (3D. Still life feature?).

Mid-size — ADLAI, AWOKE, BLEED, CARSON, CHAOS (8A. Source of Erebus and Gaia, in Greek myth), COIN-OP, COLOUR, DYLANS, EGRET, MUUMUU, OASIS, PECKED, PESTO alla genovese, POLISH, TERMED, USE UP.

Short stuff — Carry-ALL, AND, ASK, ATP, BRYN Mawr, DEEM, DON, EEN, EKCO, HAN, IKE, LOGO, MEOW, NAB, NUDE, OIL, Carry-ONS, ORU, OWL, PESO, RMN, SAS, SEVE, SSE, SSTS, TIN, TOA, TUB, USA, WOE and WOP.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Cigar’s end?; 5. Some CD players; 15. Spring locale; 18. Handle orders (for), briefly; 19. Community near Los Angeles; 22. Smoothness; 27. Judge; 29. Carrier whose main hub is Kastrup airport; 32. Two-time opponent of 69-Down; 34. Middle of the title of many an ode; 36. Copy cats?; 37. Often-chanted letters; 45. D.D.E.’s veep; 47. Sink; 49. Cousin of a bittern; 53. Exhaust; 55. CD follower; 57. Ballesteros of golf; 58. Designated; 60. Place for a butcher and two others; 62. Food container; 63. English complexion; 65. “Do continue …”; 71. Stirred; 73. Run; 74. Tulsa sch.; 75. Capital of Chile. — 2. Dired (off); 4. Bard’s dusk; 5. Bob ___ Greatest Hits” (1967 top 10 album); 6. Makes fun of; 7. Former fliers; 8. Like some washers or arcade games; 9. Solo in space; 10. “Shoot!”; 11. Monet medium; 12. Beijing-to-Shanghai dir.; 14. Big name in kitchenware; 17. Doo-___; 23. Mindless followers; 24. Rhône feeder; 25. Shop; 26. Greeting that might be made with a tip of the hat; 28. Resting place; 30. Resting place; 33. Puerto Rico, e.g.; 35. Come from ___; 38. “Woe is me!”; 40. Handy sort?; 41. It can be dunked; 42. Soak; 43. Electrician’s alloy; 44. Kind of power; 48. Commence hostilities; 50. Push back further; 51. Demonstrates; 52. Takes care of; 54. Ate like a bird; 58. Waikiki wear; 59. Slip on; 64. An apple with a bite out of it, for one; 66. Nail; 67. Pooh pal; 68. Blue state?; 69. Two-time opponent of 32-Across; 70. Org. for Agassi.

03.28.12 — What's in a Name?

Impression, Sunrise, 1872, Claude Monet

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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Puzzle by Joe DiPietro / Edited by Will Shortz

Five familiar phrases clued as if the third word were someone's first name constitutes the interrelated group of this worthy Wednesday crossword.

WORK OF ART (18A. Man’s labor?)
CRACK OF DAWN (23A. Woman’s flippant remark?)
ARTICLES OF FAITH (37A. Woman’s journalism?)
BUNDLE OF JOY (53A. Woman’s package?)
BOARD OF ED (59A. Man’s plank?)

Other — ALL DAY, “Rock the CASBAH“, DOG SLED (25D. Iditarod transport), EX-WIFE (6D. Splitsville resident?), HATRED. ICE AGE, IN A JIFFY and RUSH (40D. Right away; 10A. Hurry it up), MT ARARAT (3D. Highest peak in Turk.), ORIOLE, SCREEN, UNABLE.

Five-letter — AD FEE, “ANNIE Hall“, AREAS, BASIC, BRYCE Canyon, CHARM, COMBS, DE ORO, EQUAL, FODOR, GNOME, “Vive LE ROI!”, LOFTY, ON TAP, ORAL B, Christina RICCI, SIEGE, SPECK, TEASE.

Short stuff — ALGA, AND, ARC, ARNO, AURA, BEAN, BEND, COCA, COD and COT, COIL, EARN, EGGY, ERA, ETC, EYE, FRAY, FUR, GRAD, GRR, GTO, HEED, HEDY Lamarr, INCA, LEE, LUAU, MCQ, OAF, ONE, “OUR Miss Brooks“, OWN, RUHR, SEE, TINO Wallenda, WOOF, XTRA, YAK.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Barbers’ aids; 6. Like some batters; 14. Available for mugs; 15. Added, in commercialese; 16. Pizarro foe; 17. Flirty one; 20. Christina of “Sleepy Hollow”; 22. Barbecue grill; 28. Wrangler rival; 30. Golden, in Mexico; 31. Not stay rigid; 32. Sweet-talk; 35. Garden decoration; 43. NutraSweet rival; 45. Spiral shape; 48. Branches of study; 51. “Is there something more?”; 52 Lob’s path; 56. You’re being attacked while under it; 63. Magazine revenue source; 66. Sea lettuce, e.g.; 67. Something many a celebrity carries in public; 68. Towering; 69. Pay attention to; 70. Skirmish; 71. Utah’s ___ Canyon. — 1. Foldout bed; 2. Telephone key with no letters; 4. Nuts-and-bolts; 5. Tiny bit; 7. Bygone muscle car; 8. [Damn, this is frustrating!]; 9. Talk and talk; 10. In great supply; 11. Powerless; 12. Lint catcher; 13. Enmity; 19. Have; 21. Fish salted for bacalao; 23. Andean stimulant; 24. River to the Rhine; 26. River near the Leaning Tower; 27. Sound from a pound; 31. Conk; 33. Cambodian money; 34. 1974 John Wayne film; 36. Advanced deg. For musicians; 38. Bash on a beach; 39. Make; 40. Right away; 41. One of the Flying Wallendas; 43. Actress Lamarr; 46. American Leaguer since 1954; 47. When mastodons became extinct; 49. Like some amusement park passes; 50. “Told ya!”; 53. Crash site?; 54. Floss band; 55. Big name in travel guides; 57. Sheepskin holder; 60. Dolt; 61. Warm lining; 62. Laundry day brand; 64. And the like: Abbr.; 65. Look over.

03.27.12 — Feathering the Nest

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Puzzle by Todd McClary / Edited by Will Shortz

FEATHER ONE’S NEST (62A. Gather wealth by exploitation .. As hinted at by this puzzle’s circled squares?), along with ROBIN, PLUME, LOON, DOWN, HERON and QUILL in circled letters constitutes the interrelated group of this comfortable Tuesday crossword.

Other — ERUPTIVE (31D Prone to violence), ON THE QT (33D. Privately), NEBRASKA (18D. The Cornhuskers), PROBING QUESTION (17A. Investigate reporter’s specialty), SPANISH DOUBLOON (40A. Bit of pirate booty), TWOFOLD (19D. Double).

Six-letter — ADULTS (8D. They’re not kids anymore), EATING, PEORIA, PRIMUS, ROOMBA (36A. Disc-shaped vacuum cleaner from iRobot), SUBSET, TSK TSK, UNISEX.

Five — AIDED, ATOLL, BOSOX, E-NOTE, GONNA, HEFTY, HIREE, IRENE, PIQUE, PROVO, REBUS, RIATA, SANER, SINEX, SPADE, STALE, TWERP, VAIOS (11D. Sony laptops), VIOLA, XANAX.

Short stuff — AGO, ANNO, ARI, ASPS, ASTA, BLOB, BOWL, CAF, COST, DEUT, DOT, EDS, ENOL, ERIQ, FLAK, HEAP, HQS, ISEE, LEON, MOOS, NLE, “ODS bodkins!”, OSLO, OUST, SAG, SELF, SIGH, SLO, SRI Lanka, STU, SUP, TEX, TNT, TSP, ULM, VPS, WARP, WOVE, YEA.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Insignificant one; 8. One in a black suit; 11. Tie-breaking voters in the Sen.; 14. Not as mad; 15. Gave support; 16. Talent agent Emanuel; 20. Smoke column; 21. Einstein’s birthplace; 22. Used a loom; 23 Group within a group; 25. Fenway Park team, familiarly; 26. Half-___ (coffee order); 30. Lead-in to preservation; 32. City where “Peer Gynt” premiered; 34. Previously; 40. Bit of pirate booty; 43. “Naughty!”; 44. Have dinner; 45. Depressed; 46. Jalopy; 48. Poker legend Ungar; 50. ___ Poke (candy brand); 51. New person on the job; 54. Badly bothering; 57. La Salle of ER”; 58. Separator of syllables in many dictionaries; 59. It takes a bow in an orchestra; 66. It may be used with a plunger; 67. Declaration of Independence signer?; 68. Online memo; 69. Nay’s opposite; 70. Overused; 71. Antianxiety medication. — DOWN: 1. Measure for a batter?: Abbr.; 2. Measure of speed in “Star Trek”; 3. Hydroxyl compound; 4. Puzzle with its pluses and minuses?; 5. First, in Latin; 6. Lack muscle tone, perhaps; 7. Tick off; 9. View to be; 10. Newsroom workers, for short; 12. Home of Brigham Young University; 13. Vicks decongestant brand; 234. Weary reaction; 25. Lava lamp formation; 26 Were priced at; 27. Saharan slitherers; 28. Criticism; 37. “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” sounds; 38. Many a New Year’s Day game; 39. Word usually abbreviated on timelines; 41. “No need to elaborate”; 42. Kick out; 47. Midwest city representing average tastes; 49. Like some hair salons; 51. Sizable; 52. Woman’s name meaning “peace”; 53. Wild West show prop; 55. Coral Sea sight; 56. “We’re Not ___ Take It” (“Tommy” tune); 58. Numbers follower: Abbr.; 60. Defense secretary Panetta; 61. “The Thin Man” canine; 63. Command posts, for short; 64. N.Y. Mets’ div.; 65. Cowhand handle.

03.26.12 — Moving VAN

Yoke of oxen hitched to a moving van of the Ortho Van & Storage Co., Pasadena, Calif.

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Monday, March 26, 2012

Puzzle by Ray Fontenot / Edited by Will Shortz

MOVING / VAN (7A. With 58-Down, vehicle for people on the go? … or a hint to five strategically placed answers in this puzzle), along with VANILLA, IVANHOE, HAVANAN, NIRVANA and CARAVAN constitutes the interrelated group of this workmanlike Monday crossword.

Other — HOODWINK (36D. Snooker), KNOW-IT-ALL (3D Smart aleck, say), LOOK ALIVE (32D. “Don’t just stand there!“), OCTAVIAN (8D. General who became the first emperor of Rome), YOU SAID IT (19D. “Absolutely right!”).

Mid-size — ART DECO, ARRANGE, ATE DIRT, CANADA, DATERS, DO-SI-DO, DURBIN (27A. Singer/actress Deanna of the 1930s-’40s), ECONOMY, FLORAL, I NEVER, LATVIAN, NEW ERA, RAILED, RECITAL, SELDOM, STINKS.

Five-letter — APART, DAKAR (45A. Senegal‘s capital), ELMAN (5D. Violinist Mischa), GALAS, GAPED, Lip GLOSS, INANE, INTEL, ITEMS, NACRE, PETRI dish, RAWER, VASES, VITAL.

Short stuff — ACE, ANI, APE, ATNO, BRAN, COSA Nostra, DAY, DEAR, DDE, ELK and ELL and ELS and ELSA, ENO, EVEN, FED, HAGS, HDTV, IAMS, ILES, ION, IRAN, “IT’S about time!”, LACE, LIAR (29A. Pinocchio, at times), MERC, MRS, NILE, Queen NOOR, OLE, VID, WHAT, YWCA.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Antlered animal; 4. Provided with meals; 13. Alternative to chocolate; 15. Musical performance; 16. Low-cost, as an airplane seat; 17. 1920s-’30s design style; 18. Time of change; 19. Intl. feminine group; 20. Feminine title; 21.Sir Walter Scott novel; 23. Bouquet holders; 31. Complained loudly; 35. 90¡ angle; 36. Native of Cuba’s capital; 38. Cry for a matador; 39. Rarely; 41. Charged particle; 43. Square dance maneuver; 46. Was wide open; 49. State of bliss; 51. King Kong, for one; 52. The second of the five W’s; 54. Roma is its capital; 57. From one of the altics; 59. Suffered an embarrassing defeat; 60. Group artistically, as flowers; 61. Desert procession; 62. Smells to high heaven; 63. Chicago trains; 64. Brian of ambient music. — DOWN: 1. Not odd; 2. Fabric that doesn’t block much light; 4. Bouquet-related; 6. 24 hours; 7. Bygone Ford car, informally; 9. YouTube posting, for short; 10. 10 ___ or less (supermarket checkout sign); 11. Mother-of-pearl; 14. Words often declared after “Well”; 15. Colder and wetter, as weather; 22. RCA or Samsung product; 24. “Wheel of Fortune” purchase; 25. Parts of a French archipelago; 26. Cleopatra’s river; 28. Kellogg’s All-___; 30. Big name in pet food; 33. Lohengrin’s love; 34. Beloved; 37. Jordan’s Queen ___; 40. J.F.K.’s predecessor; 42. Where Hudson Bay is; 44. Nonsensical; 45. Some office stamps; 46. Fancy affairs; 47. Separately; 48. ___ dish (lab holder); 50. Life-sustaining; 53. Long-haired uglies; 55. Persia, now; 56. Zinc’s is 30: Abbr.; 58. See 7-Across; 59. One-spot card.

03.25.12 — Word Fugitives — the Acrostic

The Fugitives, 1849-50, Honoré Daumier

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Sunday, March 25, 2012

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Edited by Will Shortz

“Word Fugitives: In Pursuit of Wanted Words” by Barbara Wallraff is the source for this Sunday's tricky and challenging acrostic mainly due to the quotation's strange linguistic coinages. "Despite the many thousands of dictionary words at our disposal, our language can be dismayingly inadequate. How many times have you searched for a word that means just what you want it to but failed to find anything suitable anywhere? Most of us, it turns out, lead lives rife with experiences, people, and things that have no names.”~ Google eBooks

The quotation: ARE TOUJOURS VU, NEWBIQUITOUS, AND COINCIDENSITY… WORDS? NO, NOT QUITE. THEY ARE THE VERBAL EQUIVALENTS OF… TINKER BELL, WHOSE LITTLE LIGHT WILL BE EXTINGUISHED IF WE DON’T BELIEVE IN HER. THEY ARE WORDS ONLY IF WE USE THEM.

The author’s name and the title of the work: 
WALLRAFF, WORD FUGITIVES

The defined words:

A. Online promo for a TV show, WEBISODE

B. Splitsville settlement, ALIMONY

C. Unsportsmanlike attack (2 wds.), LOW BLOW

D. Emulsifier in cooking sprays, LECITHIN

E. Prompt to pick up, RINGTONE

F. Digital gesture often denoting sarcasm (2 wds.), AIR QUOTES

G. Polishes off, wraps up, FINISHES

H. Do with a crest and short sides, FAUXHAWK

I. Casablanca’s English analogue (2 wds.), WHITE HOUSE

J. Censure or blame, disgrace or shame, OBLOQUY

K. Right-leaning place, since 2000 (2 wds.), RED STATE

L. Arbiter on acceptability of terms, DICTIONARY

M. Soldier of fortune, stalling tactic on the Hill, FILIBUSTER

N. Restore, as a computer file or e-mail, UNDELETE

O. Chowhound, gourmand, trencherman, GLUTTON

P. Neologistic, like “bloject” or “Tebowing”, INVENTED

Q. Follow-up such as “Goldfinger” or “Batman Forever”, THREEQUEL

R. Untamed, roaming free (3 wds.), IN THE WILD

S. Toxic and easily caught, VIRULENT

T. Locus for a fresh meme, it seems, EVERYWHERE

U. Apple-pitching Buddhist (2 wds.), STEVE JOBS

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The full paragraph of the quotation: That particular word fugitive (which you’ll find captured and discussed shortly) is worthy of note, because once you’re aware of it, if you begin rooting around in coined words, you’ll find it popping up maybe not everywhere but certainly hither and yon Essentially the same question is asked by the writer Lia Matera in the book In a Word; Matera suggests we call the experience toujours vu. Another book, Wanted Words 2, asks the question, too, and presents more than a dozen possible answers, including newbiquitious and coincidensity. Are toujous vu, new ubiquitous, and coincidensity really words? No, not quite. They are the verbal equivalents of trees that fall soundlessly if no one is listening. They are Tinker Bell, whose l ittle light will be extinguished if we don’t believe in her. They are words only if we use them. ~ Barbara Wallraff, Word Fugitives

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

03.25.12 — Two-For-One

"Perseus and Andromeda" 1620-1, Pieter Paul Rubens

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Sunday, March 25, 2012

TWO-FOR-ONE SPECIAL, Puzzle by Patrick Berry

Edited by Will Shortz

Ten one-letter-exchange near-anagram two-word phrases constitutes the interrelated group of this fine Sunday crossword.

TRIVIAL TRAVAIL (23A. Ordeal that’s no big deal?)
BARREN BANNER (27A. Large cloth sign with nothing on it?)
MATTEL MALLET (29A. Toy hammer?)
BRITTLE TRIBBLE (50A. Soft yet easily breakable “Star Trek” creatures?)
DOMED MODEM (66A. Hemispherical computer add-on?)
RODEO ORDER (68A. “Ride ‘em, cowboy!,” e.g.?)
SMALLER SLAMMER (79A. Big house that’s not as big?)
ETHANE ATHENA (99A. Goddess of gas?)
CORRAL COLLAR (102A. Get part of one’s shirt under control?)
PURSUES PERSEUS (108A. What the Gorgon Stheno does in Greek myth?)

Other — BANDIED, CORNELIA (64D. Caesar‘s first wife), EMERGES, FLAT RACES (75D. Kentucky Derby and Epsom Oaks, for two), LATRINES, LICENSE, MONDAYS, NBA TEAM (60A. Magic, for instance), NOTORIOUS (19A. Hitchcock thriller set in Brazil), STAMINA, STEAMSHIP (14D. The Andrea Doria, for one), TEA KETTLE (115A. Noisy water heater), UNBOSOM oneself, X RATING.

Six-letter — ALONSO, AMPLER, BEHOLD, DORSAL, DUBS IN, G SHARP, HERETO, IN BULK, INTACT, IN TIME, IRONED, ITALIA, MUSCAT (46A. Gulf of Oman port), NEUTER, ODESSA, ON TAPE, ORATOR, PACINO, PADRES, ASSES, PEELED, RHODES, RILE UP (17. Cheese off), STILTS, VIRTUE (89D. Shaw defined it as “insufficient temptation“).

Five — AIMEE, ARUBA, CADGE, CATES, Venae CAVAE, CHEST, ELROY, GAMUT, GAPED, GIBBS, GNATS, GREEN, GRIME, HERBS, ISLAM (28A. It‘s much followed in North Africa), LEGOS, MOLAR, OATHS, OP ART, OVATE, PIVOT, SLANG, SLOPS, STRAY, TELEX, THESE, TIERS, ULTRA.

Short stuff — ABC, ABLY, AIM, ALL, AND, AOL, APEX, APP, ARI, AS IS, ATE, AXLE, CELT, CHIP, COMA, EER, EKG, ELMO, “Anything ELSE?”, ETC, FLAB, GRE, HAHN, IAGO, IDS, IMAM (51D. Sunni sermonizer), LAD, LEAP, LOB and LOO, LSAT, LURK, MEIR, MTM, NAP, NIA and NIP, OAR, OHO, OKS, ONCE, OPTS, PAD, PLUS, RATS, REAM, ROSA Bud, RUB, SAG, For SALE, SEA, SKYY, TEP, SSR, Drive-THRU, TROT, TUT, YON.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Border-crossing necessities; 4. Black cloud formers; 9. Unresponsive state; 13. A flat equivalent; 21. It’s all downhill from here; 22. Nation bordering Svizzera; 25. Gaze upon; 34. Ending with sex or symbol; 35. Seek redress from; 37. Potential pet; 38. Smartphone buy; 40. Swine’s diet; 42. Full range; 45. “So that’s your game!”; 56. Available; 57. “Save Me” singer Mann; 58. Break in logic; 59. Fire starter?; 63. Refresher; 64. European of the Iron Age; 65. In days gone by; 70. In its current state; 71. “As if that weren’t enough …”; 72. Perpetually, to Pope; 73. What only one Best Picture winner has had; 74. In the distance; 75. Dieter’s target; 76. “The cat’s meow” or “a dog’s life”; 78. “___ Eyes” (1969 hit for the Guess Who); 82. Site of one of the Seven Wonders; 83. Rower’s need; 84. “I hate the Moor” speaker; 86. Young builder’s supply; 87. Point of rotation; 90. Plus; 91. Floors; 92. Casino souvenir; 96. “Entourage” agent Gold; 97. Back stroke?; 106. Poppies, e.g.; 107. Undamaged; 113. Render unproductive?; 114. Dressage gait; 116. Old Soviet naval base site; 117. Vodka brand; 118. “Borrow”; 119. Rubber-stamps. — DOWN: 1. Early enough; 2. At the back; 3. Ones going on a long walk?; 4. Old machinery coating; 5. Actress Vardalos; 6. ___ Mail; 7. “You know better!”; 9. Belarus, once: Abbr.; 9. Venae ___ (large blood vessels); 10. It can make you dizzy; 11. Yom Kippur War politician; 12. Revolutionary device?; 13. Longtime Redskins coach Joe; 15. Chemistry Nobelist Otto; 16. King of Naples in The Tempest”; 18. Baseball team once owned by Ray Kroc; 20. Like kiwi fruit; 24. With proficiency; 28. Pinch; 30. Exam administered four times a yr.; 31. “Lou Grant” production co.; 32. Caribbean resort island; 33. Army heads; 38. Pledge of Allegiance finisher; 39. Like most canned tomatoes; 41. Defensive return; 42. Reacted to shocking news; 43. “Watch your ___!”; 44. Took a few seconds?; 46. Podium personage; 46. They’re not popular in offices; 48. Workhorse’s quality; 49. Phoebe of “Drop Dead Fred”; 52. Communication system of old; 53. Exchanged, as words; 54. Reckless driver’s loss, possibly; 55. Becomes clear; 61. More copious; 62. Wisdom tooth, e.g.; 65. Maker of Bug-B-Gon; 67. Adds, as to a recording; 68. Print shop unit; 69. Salty language; 72. Interrupter of Dagwood’s naps; 76. Old sofa’s problem; 77. Concerned about the environment; 80. Can of Newcastle; 81. Young chap; 82. ___ Bud schoolgirl in “The Mystery of Edwin Drood”; 86. M.A. seeker’s test; 87. Director and star of “Looking for Richard”; 88. Free of creases;90. Disney subsidiary; 92. Holder of plunder; 93. Regarding this matter; 94. How Sam’s Club buys goods; 95. Free tickets; 98. Extremist; 99. George Jetson’s boy; 100. Scrumptious; 101. Outside shot?; 103. Cry often made while snapping the fingers; 104. Elects; 105. Read but never post; 109. “Too many to list” abbr.; 110. Poseidon’s domain; 111. Launch platform; 112. Record with many beats: Abbr.

03.24.12 — There's No Puzzle Like the Saturday Puzzle

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Puzzle by Barry C. Silk / Edited by Will Shortz

There's no puzzle like the Saturday puzzle

Like no puzzle I know

Traveling through crazy clues is so thrilling

Freaking out on maybe-should-be-might

Frowning as you watch the down squares filling

And see the acrosses come to light

There's no people like puzzle people

They snarl when they are low

Even with a turkey that you know will fold

You may be stranded out in the cold

Still you wouldn't trade it for a sack o' gold

Let's go on with the solve.

Let's go on with the solve!

This Saturday crossword features six eleven-letter and six ten-letter answers:

HOT PASTRAMI (1A. Stage Deli staple)
ISAAC ASIMOV (15A. Writer who held 14 honorary doctorates)
PET SEMATARY (17A. Stephen King’s next novel after “Christine”)
MASTERPIECE (49A. Great work)
ETHEL MERMAN (53A. (1951 Tony winner for “Call Me Madam”)
SHOW-ME STATE (55A. It borders the Land of Lincoln)

AB POSITIVE (12D. Like some blood)
NOISEMAKER (13D. One passed out on New Year’s Eve)
EXCITEMENT (14D. What many fans generate)
SALAD GREEN (25D. Choice for a bed made in the kitchen)
ODER NEISSE Line (German/Polish border)
NEW-FANGLED (27D. Novel)

Other — ACETATE, ARIOSI, BASE PATH (33D. Diamond lane), DEAR ME, DESERT, DNA TESTS (38A. They can answer the question “Who‘s your daddy?”), DOES TIME, GENESES, IVY ROSE (11D. 1957 hit for Perry Como), MORAY EEL (10D. Crevice-lurking predator), RESUMES, RETYPES, RIGS UP, SAMOSA, SONATA, SYOSSET (24A. Oyster Bay hamlet).

Five-letter — ADELE, BEZEL (33A. Grooved ring on many a ring), DAZES, RACER, RAVEN (37A. Black scavenger), SAREE, SECTS, SORER, TSARS, WHELM.

Short stuff — “Ev’rybody Wants to Be A CAT”, AMA, ANE, ARF, BALD, BASS, BOX, ESE and ESL, FAR, FEMA, HIPS, IRT and IST, LEWD, MASS, MIKE, NED, OSES, PAS, PIC, RENE, RITE, SHAY, “SHO nuff!”, SSE, STEW, TAM, TATE, TES, TORE, WETS.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 12. Gas ending; 16. Deliver hooks, e.g.; 18. Many a cell product; 19. Quito-to-Lima dir.; 20. Bolted; 21. Melodic passages; 23. Bottom part; 24. Oyster Bay hamlet; 25. “Hammerklavier,” for one; 28. Is in the can; 20. Singer of the 2011 #1 hit “Someone Like You”; 30. Ranee’s wear; 31. Dreadlocks cover; 32. NC-17, maybe; 34. It may be open at a comedy club; 35. Sound that a muzzle muffles; 36. One active in the heat?; 40. Jeroboa’s home; 41. Origins; 42. Volstead Act opponents; 43. Throws together; 44. Two-wheeled carriage; 45. Away’s partner; 48. Accent reduction may be part of it: Abbr.; 52. Computer add-on?; 54. The idiot brother in “Our Idiot Brother”. — DOWN: 1. Disco swingers?; 2. Plural suffix for conditions; 3. Turner Prize institution; 4. Part of une danse; 5. Collectible record; 6. Chutney-dipped appetizer; 7. Pre-Soviet succession; 8. One may provide passage; 9. Health care grp.; 22. Ending for 23-Across; 23. Having nothing to part with?; 24. More likely to go off; 28. Staggers; 30. Mennonites and others; 34. Gravitation consideration; 38. They have job listings; 37. Does over, as a document; 39. French pronoun; 40. Hand wringer’s words; 42. Overpower; 44. Be unsettled; 45. Damage control grp.; 47. Novelist Bazin; 51. N.Y.C. commuting debut of 1904.