11.22.12 — Initially

 

The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth by Brownscombe

 

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Thursday, November 22, 2012 — Thanksgiving Day

 

Puzzle by Joel Fagliano / Edited by Will Shortz

This Thursday crossword plays with the two initial letters of common phrases as abbreviations, e.g.: L.A., R.A., B.A., B.O. and P.R., changing LADIES MAN to L. A. DIES FIRST (18A. Cackling cry from a mad scientist before unleashing havoc on southern California; RAINCHECK to R.A. IN CHECK (33A. Dorm V.I.P. having to move is king?); BABY BOOMER to B.A. BY BOOMER (39A. Proud academic achievement of football star Esiason); BOONDOCKS to B.O. ON DOCKS (50a. Evidence of longshoremen without antiperspirant?) and PRISON BREAK to P.R. IS ON BREAK (64A. Why the press release has to wait?).

 

Other — ALL CAPS (1D. Indication of excitement in an e-mail), BAD SIGN, BIKE TIRE, COMPARE, CORONADO (8D. Early explorer of the Southwest), ENPLANE, FELINES, HERALDED, HUSKIES, ILIESCU (13D. Two-time president of Romania), MEAT PIE, NBA STAR, NEATENS, ROBERTS, STICKER, UNCLE LEO (24D. “Seinfeld“ character with the catchphrase “Jerry! Hello!”), VAN DYKE (14D. Vladimir Lenin had one).

 

Mid-size — AMBLE, AMBUSH, APISH, CLOSER, DECENT, DIE OF, E. J. DIONNE, LEAN-TO, NAMED, NL EAST, NOISY, OKAPI (57A. So -called “African unicorn”), PIGLET (31A. Hundred Acre Wood resident), SEE-SAW, SHILOH, SHIVER, SPEEDS, SULKED, SYNCS, TABOO.

 

Short stuff — Dark ARTS, AURA, BIL Keane, CTS. DEA, DUE, FIT, HOPE, HOST, HULA Bowl, IN DC, “The devil IS IN the details“, LONI Anderson, METS, NCR, PRO, REST, RICK, ROO (67D. Hundred Acre Wood resident), RUT, SCUM, SEEP, SHIV (11A. Pen knife?), SPAS, STE and STEW, TARA, TEND, TERI Hatcher, TIVO, TLC, UNI, UPS.

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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. Military tactic; 7. It may be found on a tank; 16. 2008 campaign theme; 17. ___ Bowl (former sporting event); 21. Small change: Abbr.; 22. Show stopper?; 23. Was a sore loser, say; 25. Imitative; 28. Look after; 30. Yelling, say; 33. Dorm V.I.P. having to move his king?; 35. Married mujeres; 37. “You’re on!”; 38. Go a-courting; 42. Big name in A.T.M.’s; 45. Actress Anderson; 46. Some prowlers; 53. Honorable; 54. Easy jaunt; 55. Get through the cracks; 57. So-called “African unicorn”; 58. Hits 100, say; 60. Actress Hatcher; 62. “Toddlers & Tiaras” network; 63. Fictional locale five miles from Jonesboro; 68. Dark ___ Voldemort’s practice in the Harry Potter books); 69. Air; 70. Political commentator E. J. ___; 71. Something to take lying down?; 72. Brood; 73. Sales expert. — DOWN: 2. Pastry in “Sweeney Todd”; 3. It’s not promising; 4. Prefix with valve; 5. Quebec’s Mont-___-Anne; 6. One having an affair; 7. [That’s creepy!]; 9. “Schedule a pickup” co.; 10. 51-Down team; 11. Civil War battle site; 12. Big East team; 19. Something thrown in anger; 26. Nonideal roommate; 27. Announced; 29. Not survive; 32. Don’t; 34. Appointed (to); 36. Matched uyp, as files; 40. 26” rubber band?; 41. “Here’s looking at you, kid” speaker; 42. LeBron James, e.g.; 43. Measure up; 44. Administerer of the oath of office to Obama; 47. Makes nice; 48. Board, in a way; 49. Price holder; 51 10-Down’s div.; 52. Vacillate; 56. Backing; 59. Places to wear robes; 61. Visiting the U.S. Capitol, say; 65. Grind; 66. Cartoonist Keane.