07.31.12 — Collisions

Vintage Photo of a Car and Cow Collision

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Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Puzzle by Michael Sharp / Edited by Will Shortz

COLLISIONS (64A. Causes of some rear-end damage, as represented by the rear ends of 18-, 22-, 38 and 58-Across), HARVEY DENT (18A. Gotham district attorney who becomes Batman’s nemesis Two-Face), SAINT NICK (22A. Central figure in a Clement C. Moore poem), CHICKEN SCRATCH (38A. Barely legible handwriting) and RING-A-DING (58A. Having razzle-dazzle, to a Rat Packer) constitute the interrelated group of this bang-up Tuesday crossword.

Other — ANATOMIC (2D. Structural), CAR CRASH (3D. Cause for emergency vehicles or a tow truck), CHURN OUT (41D. Produce in large quantities), COMPADRE and PAL (39D. Amigo; 54A. Amigo), HUNG ONTO (42D. Kept), VICTROLA (10D. Early phonograph).

Mid-size — ANACIN, BARK AT, COIN-OP, COSINE, DOCENT, ENLARGE, GONDOLA (43A. Venetian transport), HENRY I (48D. English king said to have died from eating a “surfeit of lampreys“), INDICT, NOISILY, SCRIMS, SKY-LIT, WORSHIP.

Five — AISLE, ANIME, CESAR Millan, DUNNO, ELVES, ISAAC Hayes, “I’M ON A roll!”, “The Lady IN RED”, I TINA, KENYA, KNEAD, LICIT, Jamie MOYER, NADIR, NO-NOS, PATIO, PINED, SCARE, Sans-SERIF, SPIKE Lee, STOMP, TEMPT, T CELL, VOCAB.

Short stuff — AMA, ANAL, COE and DOE, CYTE, EHUD Barak, ELHI, ETON, FLUS, GEEK, GIST, GLAM, LAP, MUTE, MYNA, NIA Vardalos, NOSE, OAR, OMEN, ONES, RACE, RAH, SEN, TED, TIGE, UNO, WAG.

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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: 1. 10k, E.G.; 5. Walk heavily; 10. Words, words, words: Abbr.; 15. Uptight, informally; 16. Birthplace of Obama’s father; 20. ___ Millan, TV’s “dog whisperer”; 21. Immune system agent; 24. Adore; 26. Propeller for a 43-Across; 27. Vardalos of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”; 28. Org. for docs; 29. Turner memoir; 32. Museum guide; 34. Central part of an argument; 36. How some chew gum or talk on cellphones; 44. Former Israeli P.M. Barak; 46. Plot; 49. Sans-___ (kind of typeface); 52. Game with 108 cards; 53. Runner Sebastian; 56. Blow up; 62. Slangy expression of ignorance; 67. Jamie ___, oldest pitcher in major-league history to win a game; 68. “Shaft” composer Hayes; 69. Remote button; 70. Director Lee; 71. Lure; 72. School for English prices. — DOWN: 1. Cheerleader’s cry; 4. North Pole workers; 5. Like atria; 6. Hit 2012 film with a talking stuffed bear; 7. Small bills; 8. Mimicking bird; 9. Place to sunbathe or barbecue; 11. Eclipse, to some; 12. Trig function; 13. Pain relief brand; 14. Threaten, dog-style; 19. Geared to 1^st-12^th grades; 23. Low point; 24. Joker; 25. Yearned (for); 30. Taboos; 31. Airplane seating option; 33. Suffix with spermato-; 35. Buster Brown’s dog; 37. Fright; 40. Work, as dough; 45. Anonymous John; 46. Theater drops; 47. Like arcade games; 50. Bring charges against; 51. Seasonal threats; 55. Legally allowed; 57. Japanese cartoon art; 59. Computer whiz; 60. Prominent part of a Groucho disguise; 61. Razzle-dazzle; 65. Drink like a cat; 66. Obama, Biden or McCain (but not Palin), in 2008: Abbr.