03.18.12 — Rear-End Collisions




Sunday, March 18, 2012

REAR-END COLLISIONS, Puzzle by Mike Nothnagel and Byron Walden
Edited by Will Shortz

Twelve across answers ending with multiple double-letter squares constitutes the interrelated group of this overcomplicated Sunday crossword:

  • 15-Across. Burro, e.g., PACK[AN][IM][AL]; corresponding downs — 19D. [AN]NS; 20D. [I’M] IT; 21. AL[TO]
  • 26A. When the pressure’s on, CRUNCH[TI][ME]; 13D. RA[TI]O; 14D. AR[ME]
  • 45A. Big media event, PRESS[CO][NF][ER][EN][CE]; 35D. I[NF]O; 36D. T[ER]KEL; 28D. S[EN]ECA; 40D. I[CE]S UP; 58D. [PL]EAS
  • 53A. Widely popular shows, say, CROWD-[PL][EA][SE][RS]; 8D. THREADE[RS]; 33D. REH[EA]RSES; 43D. NO[SE]S; 64D. [PL]INK
  • 55A. Bunting is part of it, SQUEEZE [PL][AY]; 45D.[CO]P[AY]; 58D. [PL]EAS
  • 71A. Some morning fund-raisers, PANCAKE [BR][EA][KF][AS][TS]; 35D. CUTS CL[AS]S; 44D. PEQUO[TS]; 61D. AS[K F]OR; 69D. T[EA]MED; 72D [BR]UXISM
  • 88A. Late rallies, CLUTCH [PE][RF][OR][MA][NC][ES]’ 63D. STAT[OR]S; 70D. NEA[R F]ATAL; 75D. RE[MA][P; 76D. CI[NC]O; 77D. H T[ES]T; [PE]N UP
  • 99A. Car safety feature, CRUMPLE [ZO][NE]; 80D. ALPI[NE] SKI; 86D. CAL[ZO]NE
  • 101A. Data storage device, COMPACT [DI][SC]; 104. [DI]LLINGER; 105. [SC]ALE
  • 111A. Mexican cooking ingredients called “flores de calabaza” in Spanish, SQUASH [BL][OS][SO][MS]; 96. SLA[MS]; 100. PE[SO]S; 113 [BL]UE PE[NS]; 114. [OS]IS
  • 135A. Diamond alternative, PINCH [RU][NN][ER]; 101. CT SCA[NN]ER; 116. ENT[RU]ST; 129D. N[ER]DY
  • 142A. Occasions to try out riffs, JAM [SE][SS][IO][NS]; 111. HORAT[IO]; 112. [BL]UE PEN; 104. AMA[SS]; 134. DU[SE]

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Spanish girls; 7. Label for unmentionables; 22. Lower; 23. Like some collisions; 24. “For real!”; 28. Hero of an old Scottish ballad; 27. Avails oneself of; 28. Face-offs; 29. Bottom line?; 30. Yoo follower; 31. Heart; 32. Godzilla, e.g.; 34. Epitome of simplicity; 38. One of the “Desperate Housewives”; 37. Formal/informal reply to “Who’s there?”; 41. Daredevil Knievel; 42. Lampoons; 47. Hike the price of, perhaps; 49. Cultivate, in a way; 59. Four front?; 52. Snoops (around); 59. Old French coin; 60. Beknighted souls?; 61. Roy of country music; 62. Draft pick?; 63. An affront; 64. Sources of pollen gains; 68. Letter-shaped opening in some pistons; 69. Diaper wearer; 72. “The Closer” airer; 74. “___ me!”;78. Last place you’ll see a bachelor; 79. Jumbo combatants; 80. Meyerbeer output; 82. Suffered a financial setback, slangily; 83. Irk; 85. Gen ___; 88. It involves a trip to the underworld; 90. Stares slack jawed; 91. Stuck; 92. Al dente, say; 95. It’s not liquid; 96. It’s not liquid; 97. Blue material; 98. Dander; 106. Was manic; 108. Pulls down; 109. Decalogue possessive; 110. Boxer Ali; 115. Barely gets; 118. ___ rat; 119. Echelon; 120. Arles affirmative; 12. Murder ___; 122. Special delivery; 124. Half brother of Athena; 125. 1950 film in which Frank Bigelow investigates his own murder; 128. Hawaiian souvenir?:; 130. Kofi of the U.N.; 31. Drier ‘s aid; 137. First estate; 139. Puts into motion; 140. Rah-rah; 141. Crossed the tarmac; Occasions to try out riffs; 143. Peeping Tom’s home; 144 Raga instruments. — DOWN: 1. OK setting in the summer; 2. Go (to); 3. Protected against; 4. Clambake dish; 5. Skewed; 6. Picks up; 7. Impress clearly; 8. Sewing machine parts; 9. Orts; 10. Poetic period; 11. High-___; 12. Letter after delta; 13. Tangent, e.g.; 14. French weapon; 15. Feels for; 16. Entertains; 17. Diploma, e.g.: Abbr.; 18. Neighbor of Moo.; 19. Manchester’s St. ___ Church; 20. “Nobody else is coming”; 21. Choir voice; 3. E.T.S. offering; 32. Former Ford offering, for short; 33. Runs through; 35. Doesn’t get taught a lesson?; 36. Aberdeen Hillside; 37. Dirt; 38. Storytelling Studs; 39. New York lake; 40. Freezes over; 45. They might be held at a sewage plant; 44. Members of a Connecticut tribe; 45. Aisle or window, e.g.: Abbr.; 46. Part of a medical bill; 46. Pharmaceutical company that developed Metamucil and Dramamine; 51. Clump of grass; 54. Toy piano sound; 56. Remedy for acid reflux; 57. Seasonal helper; 56. Petitions; 61. Request; 63. Unmoving machine parts; 64. Cross; 65. 88-Across, for one; 66. Part of a.m.; 67. Scottish inventor and road builder John Loudon ___; 69. Hooked (up); 69. J.F.K., e.g.; 70. Very serious, as an accident; 72. Habitual teeth grinding; 73. Aligned; 75. Change, as keyboard keys; 76. Dos + tres; 77. Newsworthy 1950s trial, informally; 80. Item of winter sports equipment; 81. Climb, as a rope; 84. Road designer, e.g.: Abbr.; 86. Italian turnover; 87. Confine; 89. Water in the Oise; 90. Attendee; 92. Primarily; 90. Syrian’s neighbor; 94. “Side by Side by Sondheim,” e.g.; 96. Poetry contests; 97. Area near Little Italy; 99. Bank offerings, in brief; 100. Change in Mexico; 101. It can help you get inside someone’s head; 102. Followed; 103. Jamaican coffee liqueur; 104. Bonnie and Clyde contemporary; 105. Item at a bakery; 107. Corn unit; 112. Hamlet confident; 113. Many Bics; 114. Medical suffix; 115. Put in someone’s car; 117. Political writings; 123 Zhou ___; 124. Collect; 125. Cartoon character voiced by Mel Blanc; 126. Airing; 127. Yearn (for); 129. Unhip; 131. Rule that ended in 1947; 132. South American tuber; 133 Bills are in it: Abbr.; 134. Italian actress Eleanore; 135. Bencher’s target; 136. Barbarian; 138. Gridiron figs.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sunday puzzle was very very un satisfying. Too many gimmicky clues and a theme which was to obscure to unwrap.

Anonymous said...

"climb, as a rope" should be "shinny" not "shimmy".

Koedel said...

I thought this was a really poorly designed puzzle. They could have at least indicated which were the theme clues. I like a challenge, but this was ridiculous.

Anonymous said...

I agree. First time in 10 years I was unable to finish a NYT puzzle. When I finally gave up and looked at the answers, 'ridiculous' was the word that came to my mind, also.

Anonymous said...

This is the worst puzzle of the decade. Surprized Will called his work an 'edit'. Wonder what it looked like before !