12.31.12 — Finger Food

 

 

Monday, December 31, 2012

 

Puzzle by Jeffrey Harris / Edited by Will Shortz

 

FINGER FOODS (60A. 17-, 30- and 45-Across, literally and figuratively), GINGER SNAPS (17A. Crisp, spicy cookies), TOAST POINTS (30A. Triangular pieces of browned bread) and CHEESE CURLS (45A. Orange snacks) constitute the interrelated group of this last-day-of-the-year Monday crossword.

 

Other — ACT ONE, BEVELS, BORNEO, CHIANTI (35A. Hannibal Lecter’s choice o f wine), CREEPY, Gloria ESTEFAN, HOARSE, GET SET, GRAVEN IMAGE (11D. Carved idol), Ralph LAUREN, NELSON Mandela, OLIVIA Newton-John, POP ART, Vidal SASSOON, SAUCERS, SMELLS, TACTIC, TEE TIME, THAT TEARS IT (25D. “I can’t take it anymore”), TILERS.

 

Short stuff — AAA, Muhammad ALI, ALOE, AMPS, ANTS, APE, AT ALL, ASH, ATE, CLODS, DICE, DNA, DUNK, EAR, EAST, EDIE Falco, ELS and ERS, EGOS and ENOS and ENO, ERS, ESPN, EVAN, Lady GAGA, GIG, GPA and GPS, HAG, HAIR, IAN, INTL, ION, LIP, OUT, OVERT, PAIR, PAL, PSI, REGIS Philbin, REST, ROAST, ROM, SAGS, SEES, SHAMU, SKY, STAY, SURF, URL, VAL Kilmer, VINE, “La Dolce VITA” YET.

 

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Barbershop floor sweepings; 5. Cuts at an angle, as a mirror; 11. Car navigation aid, for short; 14. Balm ingredient; 15. “Grease” co-star Newton-John; 16. CD-___; 19. Orangutan, e.g.; 20. Scottish form of “John”; 21. First son of Seth; 22. Kilmer of Hollywood; 23. Prepares oneself; 27. In the open; 29. Bit of fireplace residue; 34. Student transcript fig.; 36. “Marching” insects; 38. Even the slightest bit; 39. Sound boosters; 42. Golf reservation; 44. Towing org.; 49. Band’s booking; 50. Friars Club event; 51. U.F.O. shapes, traditionally; 53. Prominent part of a basset hound; 54. Falco of “The Sopranos”; 58. Web address, for short; 59. Ambulance destinations, in brief; 65. Letter before omega; 68. Start of a play; 67. Make a show-offy basket; 68. “On the other hand ….”; 69. Nobel laureate Mandela; 70 Remain. — DOWN: 1. Witch; 3. Charged particle; 4. TV’s Philbin; 5. East Indies island famous for its 19-Acrosses; 6. Pro golfer Ernie; 7. Ivy growth; 8. Welsh form of “John”; 9. Surgery that takes weight off, informally; 10. Vidal ___ (shampoo brand); 12. Genre for Andy Warhol; 13. Processes, as one; 18. Toward the rising sun; 23. Lady ___ (pop diva); 24. Provider of N.F.L. coverage; 26. Strategic maneuver; 31. SeaWorld whale; 32. Bathroom floor workers; 33. Amigo; 37. Observes; 38. Had a meal; 40. Low poker holding; 41. Droops; 43. Gloria of Miami Sound Machine; 45. Goosebump-producing; 46. Like some voices after shouting; 47. Fashion icon Ralph; 48. Ride the waves on a board; 52. Ddirt clumps; 55. They’re rolled in craps; 56. Worldwide: Abbr.; 57. Swelled heads; 61. Recod producer Brian; 62. Not at home; 63. Genetic stuff; 64. Where clouds are.
 

12.30.12 — La Bella Lingua — the Acrostic

Rialto Bridge, Venice, Italy

 

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Sunday, December 30, 2012

 

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Edited by Will Shortz

This Sunday’s challenging acrostic draws a quotation from La Bella Lingua, My Love Affair with Italian, the World’s Most Enchanting Language by Dianne Hales.

 

“Italians say that someone who acquires a new language ‘possesses’ it. In my case, Italian possesses me. With Italian racing like blood through my veins, I do indeed see with different eyes, hear with different ears, and drink in the world with all my senses…”

 

A celebration of the language and culture of Italy, La Bella Lingua is the story of how a language shaped a nation, told against the backdrop of one woman’s personal quest to speak fluent Italian. ~ Book description in part, amazon.com 

 

The quotation: IN WORKSHOPS I PADDLED THROUGH ITALIANS TREACHEROUS TENSES I STRUGGLED TO CORRAL ITS IMPISH PRONOUNS WHICH FLIT FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK OF SENTENCES DISAPPEAR ENTIRELY OR LATCH ON TO VERBS LIKE FLEAS ON A CATS EAR

 

The author’s name and the title of the work: DIANNE HALES LA BELLA LINGUA

The defined words:

A. “Sh” or “wr,” in phonetics, DIGRAPH
B. Venus, to the Babylonians, ISHTAR
C. Voice recital performance (2 wds.), ART SONG
D. Appointing your grandmother to office for the good of the party, per Ambrose Bierce, NEPOTISM
E. “Jefferson in Paris” star (2 wds.), NICK NOLTE
F. ESPRIT de l’escalier (retort thought of too late)
G. Minim on a staff, two crotchets in length (2 wds.), HALF NOTE
H. Attorney general after Reno, ASHCROFT
I. Top-grossing film of 1970, written by a Yale classics professor (2 wds.), LOVE STORY
J. Famous photo taken by an Apollo astronaut, EARTHRISE
K. Landing area for long jumpers (2 wds.), SAND PIT
L. Network targeting women, LIFETIME
M. If all the pieces fall into place (2 wds.), AT BEST
N. Leonardo da Vinci or Ludwig van Beethoven, e.g., BACHELOR
O. Subdivisions of a geological period, EPOCHS
P. Anticipate; try to find (2 wds.), LOOK FOR
Q. Tool used to make small incisions, LANCET
R. Snow boots for walking, to the French (hyph.), ÀPRES-SKI
S. El Dorado or Shangri-La, e.g. (2 wds.), LOST WORLD
T. Shimmer with different colors, IRIDESCE
U. Brenda Starr or Lois Lane sort, NEWSHOUND
V. Entertainer in a hanamachi, GEISHA
W. Libel or slander, by definition, UNTRUTH
X. When Juliet drinks the portion (2 wds.), ACT FOUR

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The full paragraph of the quotation: At the ItaLingua Institute, a warm and welcoming pezzo d’Italia (piece of Italy) in the Bay Area, I took seminars on opera, art, manners, poetry, architecture, wine, and cinema. In grammar workshops with its native-born teachers, I paddled through Italian’s treacherous tenses, trying to navigate the confounding conditional and the the slippery subjunctive. With even greater effort I struggled to corral its impish pronouns, which flit from the front to the back of sentences, disappear entirely, or latch on to verbs like fleas to a cat’s ear. ~ La Bella Lingua

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12.30.12 — Plus Ten

 

Sunday, December 30, 2012

 

PLUS TEN, Puzzle by Steve Savoy / Edited by Will Shortz

Ten familiar phrases changed to odd new phrases with the addition of IO (10) within the phrase constitutes the interrelated group of this Sunday crossword:

CLASSIFIED ADIOS (22A. Sign-off for Spanish spies?)
WINE AND IODINE (34A. Two bottled liquids kept in a cabinet?)
DIORAMA QUEEN (47A. Champion model maker at the county fair?)
WILD CARDIO (65A. Wacky exercise regimen?)
PACK RATIOS (68A. 20 cigarettes per unit and 10 units per carton, e.g.?)
STUDIO MUFFIN (82A. Green room breakfast item?)
STUMP ORATORIO (93A. Musical composition about a lumberjack’s seat?)
CURIO RENT EVENTS (113A. Try-before-you-buy opportunities at knickknack stores?)
OFF THE CHARIOTS (15D. Like Ben-Hur and company when not racing?)
COOLIO CUSTOMER (46D. “Gangsta’s Paradise” buyer?)

 

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Working hours; 7. Bit of a trickle; 11. Rental car add-on; 14. Series of rounds; 18. Unlikely to surprise; 19. Megan of “Will & Grace”; 21. High; 24. Wee; 25. Suffix with human; 26. Peyton Manning’s former teammates; 27. Chuck of NBC News; 28. Grub around; 29. Zero-calorie cooler; 31. Parched; 32. Scale; 33. Hosen material; 37. Language that is mostly monosyllabic; 39. Lifeguard’s skill, for short; 40. Suffix with direct; 41. Some red spots; 44. Early education; 53. Know-___; 54. Drain cleaner, chemically; 55. Early seventh-century year; 56. Singer Falana and others; 57. Ellipsoidal; 59. Handel’s “___ e Leandro”; 60. At full speed; 62. Blather; 63. Movies often with shootouts; 71. World capital that’s home to Zog I Boulevard; 72. Volatile stuff; 74. Lions’ din; 75. “Well, looky there!”; 76. Sweet-talked, maybe; 77. Have one’s cake and eat ___; 79. Hoppy pub quaff; 80. Covering; 81. Forbes competitor; 82. Green room breakfast items?; 86. Onetime high fliers; 87. God holding a thunderbolt; 89 Expert finish?; 90. From ___ Z; 91. Tiny chastisement; 99. Home territories; 100. Division of biology; 105. Paperback publisher since 1941; 106. Siege weapon; 108. Swore; 109. Wally of cookie fame; 110. Stunner; 111. Its employees might have jumper cables: Abbr.; 112. Shortstop Garciaparra; 116. Golfer Norman and others; 117. Fabricates; 118. Part of an applause-o-meter; 119. Brontë heroine; 120. Sonny; 121. El ___; 122. Analyzes, in a way. — DOWN: 1. Straighten out; 2. Some baton wielders; 3. Like stocks; 4. Modern communications, for short; 5. Purse item; 6. “Silas Marner” author; 7. Mendeleev who created the periodic table; 8. Regrets; 9. Timeworn; 10. Heavy-duty protection; 11. Went smoothly; 12. Go laboriously; 13. The “S” of OS: Abbr.; 14. Eponymous Italian city; 16. Handy; 17. Jazz pianist McCoy ___; 20. Prettify; 221. Pope Agatho’s successor; 23. Whizzed; 28. Fix the coloring of, say; 30. Cymric; 31. Petal pusher?; 32. Dragged (on); 3. A.T.M. maker; 36. Alternatives to chips, say; 38. One out?; 42. Poor; 43. One having a little lamb; 44. Over; 45. Figaro in “The Barber of Seville,” e.g.; 48. Empathetic response; 49. “Time, the devourer of all things” writer; 50. Skewed to one side; 51. It juts into the Persian Gulf; 52. Less; 58. Examine carefully; 60. Insts. Of learning; 61. Capone henchman; 63. Elusive African animal; 64. Unmitigated; 66. Dr. ___; 67. “I’m ___ you!”; 69. Do; 70. Pacifiers; 73. Grilled cheese sandwich go-with; 76. “Don’t Nobody Bring Me No Bad News” musical, with The”; 77. Logical start?; 78. ___ a limb; 80. Invite to the penthouse suite, say; 83. Retiring; 84. Mail letters; 85. Pro; 88. Hold stuff; 92. Goes without nourishment; 94. Detox patients; 95. Gunner’s tool; 96. Skirt; 97. “Just watch me!”; 98. Hops dryer; 100. Bantu language; 101. One way to deny something; 102. Equilibria; 103. Skin disorder; 104. White shade; 107. Singer ___ Marie; 109. Glow; 110. Morse dashes; 113. Mil. Team leader; 114. Panasonic competitor; 115. Certain util. workers.
 

12.29.12 — The Saturday Crossword

 

 

Idylls of the King, Flight of the Companions, illustration by Gustav Dore

 

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Saturday, December 29, 2012

 

Puzzle by Joe Krozel / Edited by Will Shortz

Six fifteen-letter entries are featured in this asymmetrical Saturday crossword:

PTOLEMAIC SYSEM (17A. Bygone theory of astronomy)
VANESSA WILLIAMS (33A. “Ugly Betty” actress)
ELECTED OFFICIAL (39A. Governor, e.g.)
NARRATIVE POETRY (40A. “Idylls of the King,” stylistically)
A TEENAGER IN LOVE (41A. 1959 doo-wop classic)
LIECHTENSTEINER (42A. Alpine native)

Other — HORSE MANURE (50A. Balderdash), REPULSER (22A. Hideous one), SECRECIES (28D. Concealments), SELF-PITIERS (25D. Woe is me!” types), S’MARVELOUS (32D. Elided phrase in a Gershwin song), SERVICE LIST (19D. Ones to whom an organization’s messages are sent), STANHOPE (34D. One-seat carriages), WAIT ONE SEC (31D. “I’ll be right with you”).

 

Mid-size — GALATIA, GENERAL, LEIFERS, ONE REED, REPULSER (22A. Hideous one), RESTS ON, SUCCESS, UNWOVEN.

 

Five-letter — ADIGE, BEERS, CHINA, ISSEL, MAYBE, SCALP (6D. It has thousands of roots), SCRAM, SET AT, SLYER, “TO ERR is human …”, TRITT (1A. Urban contemporary), VENAL, VIREO (14A. Olive-colored bird).

 

Short stuff — ABA, ADIO, ALE, ANS, ANTE, ARMS, BOER, CHI, CSA, EACH, EMUS, EPEE, EUR, GOS, HAY, IRON, MAE, NCO, NEE, NOR, NRA, OLD, RES, RIC-A-Che, RITE, RUED, SHOD, TELE, TVPG, VWS, YDS.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 6. “Git!”; 1. Sports org. of 1967-76; 15. World powerhouse in table tennis; 16. Word of logic; 20. Blanket; 21. Round parts; 26. Get-___ (starts); 29. Obituary word; 30. Bugs; 43. “Grazie ___!” (Italian for “Thank God!”); 44. Basketball Hall-of-Famer Dan; 45. Thrust item; 48. Uses for a base; 54. E.E.C. part: Abbr.; 55. It may be bitter; 56. “I did it!”; 57. Grp. In gray; 58. Gridiron distance: Abbr.; 59. Sorting boots, say. — DOWN: 1. Tube rating; 2. It may be performed by people in robes; 3. Unyielding; 4. Part of 1-Down; 7. Half of a classic religious symbol; 8. ___-A-Che (rapper); 9. Response: Abbr.; 10. Wishy-washy reply; 11. Deal preceder; 12. Participant in an 1899 conflict; 13. ___ deal; 18. Risqué West; 19. Ones to whom an organization’s messages are sent; 23. Frayed, perhaps; 24. Funny Carol and family; 26. Land visited by Paul in the New Testament; 27. Clarinet need; 33. Easily corrupted; 35. Assailed; 36. Verona’s river; 37. They have their pride; 38. More crafty; 46. Certain bird herd; 47. Par; 48. Wished otherwise; 49. Supporter of the Heller decision, 2008: Abbr.; 50. Allergy source; 51. Played out; 52. Abbr. after a telephone no. 53. One with two or three stripes: Abbr.
 

12.28.12 — The Tell-Tale Puzzle

 

 

“The Tell-Tale Heart” Illustration by Harry Clarke, 1919

 

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Friday, December 28, 2012

 

Puzzle by Ashton Anderson / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. Opinion add-on, JUST SAYIN‘; 10. It can go from liquid to frozen, ASSET; 15. Taqueria treat, ENCHILADA; 16. Critter with humanlike fingerprints, KOALA; 17. Natalie Portman’s birthplace, JERUSALEM; 18. It gets a chick’s attention, CLUCK; 19. Where R.F.K. and his brother Teddy went to law school, UVA; 20. 10/15, e.g., IDES; 22. Really long, ACHE; 23. Trendsetting, NEW WAVE; 27. Steps on a scale, DEGREES; 29. Intertangle, ENLACE; 30. Sabre ou pistolet, ARME; 31. Square for a roll, PAT; 32. With 46-Down, a bit below so-so, NOT; 33. Flipping out, GOING APE; 35. Opening pitch, SPIEL; 38. Many an ascot wearer, FOP; 39. It’s a gas, XENON; 40. One coming from Mars?, CANDY BAR; 42. Apt rhyme for 26-Down, PET; 43. Letters for a princess, HRH; 44. Cry that’s often sung, TADA; 45. Complimentary, GRATIS; 49. Unworldliness, NAIVETE; 51. Flimflam, FAST ONE; 52. “ … AND I can’t get up!”; 53. “A failure of imagination,” per Graham Greene, HATE; 55. Part of 10/15: Abbr., OCT; 56. Factor in a beauty contest, POISE; 58. Wowed basketball announcer’s cry, WHAT A SHOT; 62. Old car with ignition trouble?, PINTO; 63. Spitfire landing locale, AERODROME; 64. “Pale Blue Dot” author, SAGAN; 65. Snide reply to being given a chore, YES MASTER.

 

Down — 1. Dull, JEJUNE; 2. Like bars that are often near horses, UNEVEN; 3. Impenetrable script, SCRAWL; 4. Night to watch “The Office”: Abbr., THU; 5. Family moniker, SIS; 6. Like, A LA; 7. Clinton, Bush or Cheney, YALIE; 8. Like many perps in lineups, IDED; 9. Try to impress by association, NAME-DROP; 10. Dog show org., AKC; 11. Like panels on some racecars, SOLAR; 12. It’s handled on the range, SAUCEPAN; 13. Tightwad, EL CHEAPO; 14. Chills briefly, TAKES TEN; 21. Pro beginner?, SEMI; 24. Dropped off, WANED; 25. Assistant, ACOLYTE; 26. Cur curer, VET; 28. Most Atari-playing kids, GEN-XERS; 30. Ancient meeting place, AGORA; 34. Intimate, GET AT; 35. Brandy alternative, SCHNAPPS; 36. Theme of “The Tell-Tale Heart”, PARANOIA; 37. Holed up, IN HIDING; 38. Hard-to-block jumper, in hoops, FADEAWAY; 41. Smallish room, BATH; 42. Grp. Interested in long drives, PGA; 46. See 32-Across, TOO HOT; 47. Form 1040 info, INCOME; 48. Certain volleyball player, SETTER; 50. Prospect, VISTA; 51. Quaker makers?, FEARS; 54. Quaker pronoun, THEE; 57. Long time, EON; 59. Twain boy, TOM; 60. Listerine bottle abbr., ADA; 61. Educ. Higher-ups?, SRS.

 

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12.27.12 — Partially

 

 

Partial solar eclipse, Tim Ebbs

 

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Thursday, December 27, 2012

 

Puzzle by Julian Lim / Edited by Will Shortz

 

HALF NELSON (17A. SON), PIECE OF WRITING (26A. TIN), PARTIAL ECLIPSE (42A. LIP) and SEMI FINALS (55A. FIN) constitute the interrelated group of this languid Thursday crossword.

 

Other — ASPIRATE (32D. Say “hey,” say), AVENUE Q (5D. Hit Broadway musical with the song “I’m Not Wearing Underwear Today”), HAND AXE, HARD CORE, I REALIZE, PLAY FOR, SAARINEN, SPAMALOT, SQUEEGEE, WOODCUT.

 

Mid-size — AMARE, ATE IT, BOOYA, CHOICE, CISCO Systems, EASY A, Rear-ENDER, EX-ALLY, FROZE, I’M DONE, INKER, KISMET, NECCO, ON A HOP, Hoi POLLOI, PSHAW, RACKS, SAFARI, SINAI, TOKENS, TOLD TO, VOLVO.

 

Short stuff — AHL, ALOE, AMID, ARI, ARI, BEIN, BINS, BROZ, DELE, Aéroport d’ ETES, FAA, HIYA, IRAQ, IVOR Novello, French KISS, LOQ, NENE, NOH, OMSK, ORLY, POL and POX, POPS, PSY, Carly RAE Jepsen, RAID, SCI, SNOW, SPA, SWF, TON, TORN, WAX, ZEE.

 

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For no special reason …

 

 

 

 

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. One of the folks; 5. Bit the bullet, say; 14. Shovelers target; 15. XC60, XC70 or XC90; 16. “The Hurt Locker” setting; 19. Junior of the N.F.L. 20. U.S./Canadian sporting grp. Since 1936; 22. To love, to Livy; 23. Output from an old printer; 25. 2001 French film nominated for five Academy Awards; 29. Latin abbr. meaning “he speaks”; 30. Bust; 31. #26 of 26; 32. Subject of four Sports Illustrated covers between 1966 and 1993; 35. Chicken ___; 36. Rare goose; 37. Balneotherapy locale; 38. Tito’s surname; 40. Rapper behind the 2012 “Gangnam Style” You Tube sensation; 47. “That’s it for me”; 48. Stone Age artifact; 50. Oenophile’s installation; 51. “Hell, yeah!”; 53. Transportation Dept. agency; 54. An emollient; 57. Of two minds; 58. ___ Systems (computer networking company); 60. Quarters in Québec?; 61. One working on some panels; 62. “Wassup”. — DOWN: 1. “Fie!”; 2. How some balls are fielded; 4. Personal ad abbr.; 6. Shared with, as a story; 7. If not; 8. “The Dancing Years” composer Novello; 9. Heap; 10. What’s in the stars; 11. “It’s clear to me …”; 12. Designer of the Tulip chair; 13. Tool with a blade; 18. Clark Bar company; 22. In; 24. Edit out; 25. Male name that spells another male name backward; 27. Was paralyzed with fear, say; 28. Ski shop supply; 34. Dedicated; 35. Professional runner; 36. Org. in 1997’s “Cop Land”; 38. Mail room sights; 39. Singer Carly ___ Jepsen; 40. Represent, in sports; 41. Area of decades-long conflict; 43. Some board game equipment; 44. Prime; 45. Theodore Roosevelt was on one in 1909; 46. Friend no more; 49. Course with no homework, say; 51. Hippie celebration; 52. City west of Novosibirsk; 55. College dept.; 56. Japanese drama.
 

12.26.12 — It's All About ME ...!

 

 

me me Dreaming (with a little help from my friends) by Richard Bell

 

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Wednesday, December 26, 2012

 

Puzzle by Dan Schoenholz / Edited by Will Shortz

 

ME ME ME ME ME (35A. Egocentric person’s mantra) in five squares crossing [ME]ADE, A[ME]NDS, MI[ME]OS, CAR[ME]N and PRI[ME], along with ME in eight additional squares constitutes the interrelated group of this bright Wednesday crossword:

 

• [ME]XICAN [ME]AL (4D. Chile relleno, e.g.) with ANI[ME] (1A. Some cartoons) and BIO[ME] (31a. Ecological communities)
• JA[ME]S CA[ME]RON (18A. Best Director of 1997) with AI[ME]E (7D. Actress Anouk) and CA[ME]L (10D. Caravan transport)
• [ME]DIAN INCO[ME] (56A. Statistic from the Bureau of Labor) with AIL[ME]NT (43D. Flu, e.g.) and HEL[ME]TS (47D. Batters toppers)
• RHY[ME] SCHE[ME] (33D. ABAB, for one) with HO[ME] RUN (47A. Round-tripper) and [ME]ENY (65A. Choosing-up-sides word)

 

Other — AIRIER, ANECDOTE, ARROYO (11D. Often-dry stream), CAJOLE, EMMYS and LUCCI (64A. Awards at which 51-Across was finally a winner in 1999; 51A. Soap star Susan), HONEST, INTERIOR, IRRITATE, LEAN ON, LOUDER, LUCITE, SELECTED, SLOVEN, TWINGE.

 

Five-letter — AGREE, ASIDE, “CLAIR de Lune”, COUNT, EOSIN (41D. Rose-red dye), GLOVE, LSATS, MYRNA Loy of “The Thin Man”, PEONY, PEPSI, RAILS (23A. Touts’ hangouts).

 

Short stuff — ALL, AGRA (1D. Pearl Mosque city), ARLO, CASH and CASK, CPR, DIGS, DKNY, ECON and ETON, GEN X, GNU, HACK, HAN, HIGH, ICE, IDS, IOU, MARE (29A. Dark area on the moon), NEON, NETS, NOM, ODDS, ONT, REC center, ROTI de boeuf, SCUM, SERA, TBS, TREK, Michelle WIE, YES (26A. “Thumbs up!”).

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 10. Bills, e.g.; 14. Boomers’ babies; 16. Out of the way; 16. Folkie who chronicled Alice; 20. Speech opener, often; 22. Michael Jackson wore one; 24. E.R. administration; 27. Sudden pain; 30. Windsor’s prov.; 32. Not so stuffy; 34. Hospital fluids; 43. Winner’s take, sometimes; 46. Tip sheet figures; 48. Marker letters; 49. His, to Henri; 50. Cola wars “combatant”; 53. Chose; 59. Untalented writer; 60. Clears after taxes; 61. Have significance; 62. School attended by 007; 63. Difficult journey. — DOWN: 2. Word in the names of some bright colors; 3. Cabinet department; 5. Sweet-talk; 6. Hurdles for future D.A.’s; 8. Bouncers’ requests; 12. Neatnik’s opposite; 13. “No lie!”; 19. Correspond; 21. Archaeological sites; 27. “Cougar Town” network; 28. Golf’s Michelle; 37. Rub the wrong way; 38. Bearded antelope; 39. Qin dynasty follower; 42. Act the gloomy Gus; 44. “Speak up!”; 45. Acrylic sheet material; 50. Indiana’s state flower; 52. Cooper’s handiwork; 53. Lowlife; 54. Business school subj.; 55. Designer label letters; 57. Clinch, as a deal; 58. Pierre du Jacques.
 

12.25.12 — Letters to Santa

 

Santa Claus 1881 illustration by Thomas Nast

 

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Tuesday, December 25, 2012 — Christmas Day

 

Puzzle by Ellen Leuschner and Victor Fleming / Edited by Will Shortz

LETTERS TO SANTA (48A. Certain holiday mail … or what 20-, 25- and 43-Across have in common) along with SANTA in circled letters found in SECRET AGENT MAN (20A. 1966 Johnny Rivers hit), SLAM ON THE BRAKES (25A. Create skid marks, perhaps) and SEASONED VETERAN (43A. One with lots of experience) constitute the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword.

 

Other — ALUMNA, DONE DEAL, FEDORAS, FREEZE, GIN RUMMY (4D. Game with sets and runs), HERMIT crab, INSTANT, POP TART, SAT OUT, SEE-SAWED, SNEERS AT, SORTIES, VOTE IN.

 

Five-letter — ARENA, ARGUE, ELIZA, HONED, KITER, LEVEE, MEETS, “OLIVE the other reindeer“, PALED, PUREE, SHIPS, SO DO I, SOREN Kierkegaard.

 

Short stuff — ANTE, ARIA, ARTE, AYES, DAMS, DEE, DIAN, EDGE and EDIE, ELOI, EMAG, EVEN, EXEC, GREG, GTOS, ILO, IRED, IVEY, LIRA, LODS, NADA, NEMO, NIBS, OAST, ODES, OVEN, PEN (37A. Prison, informally), RAVE, RTES, SAM, SANE, SCAN, SEER, SERA, SNL, STIR (38D. Prison, informally), TANS, TAXI, TRIM (52A. Decorate, as a Christmas tree), ULAN Bator, WARY.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Kinnear of “Little Miss Sunshine”; 5. Turned red, say; 9. Turned white; 14. Streetside shout; 15. Verne captain; 16. “___ the other reindeer” (common mishearing of a Yuletide lyric; 17. Cookie baker; 18. Eye carefully; 19. Turn into mush; 24. Anthropologist Fossey; 3. Malt-drying 17-Across; 34. World workers’ assn.; 35. Judith of “The Devil’s Advocate,” 1977; 36. Early gig for Chase and Belushi, for short; 39. Mentally together; 41. Top right there!”; 46. El Prado works; 47. Lofty verses; 54. “Me, too!”; 55. Visionary sort; 56. Untrusting; 57. Dispute, as a point; 58. Diva’s delivery; 59. Falco of “Nurse Jackie”; 60. Is introduced to; 61. Shades at the beach; 62. Beavers build them. — DOWN: 1. Old muscle cars; 2. Four-star piece, say; 3. Corp. higher-up; 5. Like some coffee and potatoes; 6. Take back, as testimony; 7. “Zine on the Net; 8. Agreement that’s now sure to go forward; 9. Kellogg’s snack since 1964; 10. Bryn Mawr grad, e.g.; 11. Old currency abbreviated “L”; 12. Squared up; 13. Actor Billy __ Williams; 21. Race in an H.G. Wells novel; 22. Ballpoint tips; 25. Armada units; 26. Corps of Engineers project; 27. Where competitions take place; 28. Made sharper; 29. Parkgoer on a windy day, maybe; 30. Doolittle played by Audrey Hepburn; 31. Philosopher Kierkegaard; 36. Shows disdain for; 37. Changed one’s mind again and again; 39. Combat pilots’ missions; 40. Stud fee?; 41. Felt toppers; 42. GPS suggestions: Abbr.; 44. Did not play; 45. Elect; 48. The stuff of legends; 49. Living on the ___; 50. Inoculation fuids; 51. Nothin’; 53. Roll-call calls; 54 Texas patriot Houston.
 

12.24.12 — The Monday Crossword

 

 

Monday, December 24, 2012 — Christmas Eve

 

Puzzle by Michael Sharp / Edited by Will Shortz

STALE COFFEE (17A. Yesterday’s joe), STEEL WOOL (24A. Scouring pad material), STYLE POINTS (35A. Bonus for showing panache), STOLE HOME (47A. What Jackie Robinson did famously, in the first game of the 1955 World Series) and STOOL PIGEON (55A. Informant) constitute the interrelated group of this Monday crossword.

 

Other — AREAS, AT MOST, BEFIT, BY-LINES (31A. Credits over newspaper stories), DAY ONE, DULUTH, EDSELS, ELANDS, ELOPED, The EMPIRE State, ETHELS, EYEING, GATEAU, Not a dry eye in the HOUSE, LASSES, LLANOS, MAI TAI, MEOWS, NESTEA and NOSTRA, PATENTS (42A. Protections for inventors), PSALMS, SALOON, SILAS Marner, SPAMBOTS (3D. Automated in-box cloggers), STRIDENT (37D. Loudly critical), TIP-TOE, TOP GUN, TWISTS, “What happens in VEGAS …”.

 

Short stuff — ADA, Rite AID, AMPS, AMT, AGE and APE and AVE, BOAT, DDT, EAVE, EBRO, “ …ERE I saw Elba“, ESSO, FGS, I DO, JABS, JIG, LES, LOG, LPS, MSU, NSA, OAF and OAK, OAST, ODE, OPEN, PILE, RUG, SECT, STE and STN and STY, TEE, THAW, THU, TOTE, VIBE, YUKS (64A. Big laughs).

 

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Irish girls; 7. Yacht, e.g.; 11. Thérèse, for one: Abbr.; 14. The ___ State (New York); 15. Roof extension; 16. Rite ___ (drugstore); 19. 33 1/3 r.p.m. discs; 20. Cocktail with an umbrella; 21. Popular PBS pledge drive giveaway; 22. Quick punches; 28. Enthusiastic response to “Who wants cookies?”; 29. Banned insecticide; 32. Cake: Fr.; 34. Regions; 39. Cosa ___; 45. They’re worth half of TDs; 46. Floor cover; 49. Feeling, slangily; 50. Concert stage equipment; 51. Had an in-flight wedding?; 54. Captain’s journal; 60. East Lansing sch.; 61. Unfreeze; 62. Savanna grazers; 63. RR stop; 65. Snapple rival. — DOWN: 1. “___ Misérables”; 2. Tsp. or tbsp.; 6. Splinter group; 7. Prove suitable for; 8. Galoot; 9. “___ Maria”; 10. Golf ball raiser; 11. Swinging-door establishment; 12. Walk very, very quietly; 13. 1950s Ford duds; 18. Brewing oven; 21. Dances à la Chubby Checker, say; 22. Lively Irish dance; 23. Nabokov novel; 25. Spain’s longest river; 26. Scrutinizing; 27. South American plains; 29. The beginning; 30. Minnesota city that shares a harbor with Superior, Wis.; 33. Barrymore and Kennedy; 34. Galoot; 36. Place to fill up in Canada; 40. Massage; 41. Ice, Iron or Bronze follower; 42. Source of “The Lord is my shepherd …”; 43. No more than; 44. 1986 Tom Cruise blockbuster; 45. Tumbled; 48. Cat calls; 52. Tournament that takes all comers; 53. Heap; 55. Filthy digs; 56. Wed. follower; 57. Acorn bearer; 58. Keats dedicated one to a nightingale; 59. Secretive org.

 

12.23.12 — Side BY Side

 

“Fish Magic” 1925 by Paul Klee

 

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Sunday, December 23, 2012

 

BYWORDS by Joe DiPietro / Edited by Will Shortz

There is a problem with crosswords containing circled afterthoughts — they are largely useless to the solution and frankly, dull — this Sunday's puzzle contains nine sets of circled letters that assume BY in between two side-by-side words: KNEW by HEART, GO by TRAIN, DO by HAND, WIN by A NOSE, ONE by ONE, TWO by FOUR, PLAY by EAR, FINE by ME, SELL by DATE.

 

The remainder of this trudge exists as support, although KLEE (100A. “Fish Magic” painter) is of interest...

 

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES Crossword Puzzles and Games.

The clues — ACROSS: 1. Sewer, at times; 7. Dregs of society; 11. “Im not doing so well”; 15. ___ it up (dress flamboyantly); 19. Sherpa’s tool; 20. Kind of street; 21. Accurse; 22. Grams; 23. Drank quickly; 24. Allocated dollars for digs; 26. &&&; 27. “___ time now”; 28. Smoker’s convenience; 30. Toiling away; 32. Santa’s bootblack?; 34. “___ ever!”; 35. Paisley refusals; 37. Gets up; 38. Density symbol; 40. Anti-apartheid org.; 42. 1970 hit for Neil Diamond; 43. De novo; 44. Lies in the hot sun; 46. Shacks; 48. Marine rescue grp.; 50. Fancified; 52. Really desire, with “over”; 53. Precipitate; 57. House of the speaker?; 58. Writer; 60. Big guns; 61. F = ma formulator; 62. Very wide shoe spec; 63. Text changes; 65. Rocket center, once; 68. ___ admin; 67. “Not doable”; 68. Govt. money guarantor; 69. Its capital is Sydney Abbr.; 70. “O Sole ___”; 71. Just ___ … or “Just ‘___”; 73. Crones; 74. From way back; 77. It’s needed for self-checkout;79. Alternative to broadband; 81. Fixed rate; 82. Capital north of Cyprus; 83. Mat material; 84. Not yet out of the closet?; 86. Attach a handle to; 87. Preceded; 89. Give a rude awakening, say; 90. Flexible, electrically; 92. Derby features; 94. Turn blue, say; 95. Do wrong; 96. Bubbling up; 97. Ruination; 98. Leonard Nimoy’s “___ Not Spock”; 100. “Fish Magic” painter; 103. Rapper who played Brother Sam on “Dexter”; 105. 1996. Olympian noted for performing on an injured ankle; 110. Form letters?; 11l. “No ___” (“Don’t ask me”); 112. Basically; 114.Breaks one’s back; 116. Boston player, for short; 117. Triple Crown winners must lead their league in these; 118. Too-good-to-be-true offer, often; 119. Roman tragedy writer; 120. Florida’s Sanibel, e.g.; 121. Zebra feature; 122. They’re run up; 123. Like some dough. — DOWN: 1. Unhappy king of legend; 2. Prefix with -metrics; 3. Vegas casino; 4 Roseanne’s husband on “Roseanne”; 5. Suit; 6. Made de novo; 7. Certain baby food; 8. So-called “Goddess of Pop”; 9. Samovars; 10. It’s part this, part that; 11. Whom Shelley wept for; 12. “Water Music” composer; 13. Fr. Title; 14. “Watermark” vocalist; 15. Really bugging; 16. Woolly; 17. English royal; 18. Covers up; 25. Street opening; 29. Sports announcers’s scream; 31. Lost-parcel inquiries; 33. Newspaper section; 36. It’s almost nothing; 39. Prefix with -porosis; 41. Took turns recklessly; 42. Things may be written in it; 44. Cap’n’s mate; 45. Kind of well; 47. Piece for nine; 49. Hockey area in front of the crease; 51. Seemingly forever; 54. Long-running TV show featuring the Hortons and the Bradys; 55. Fishing boats; 56. South American zoo animal; 59. Revolutionary 1960s Chinese youth; 60. Open ___; 64. They’re often behind glass; 67. Prompt; 67. Prompt; 68. Apocryphal; 69. ABC, for one; 70. Wall St. credential; 71. Small boat made of wickerwork; 72. “___ / Had ‘em” (classic two-line poem about fleas); 73. Quibblers split them; 74. The Sun Devils’ sch.; 75. Sci-fi or western; 76. Result of a bang-up job?; 78. One running; 80. Beta carotene and others; 86. Go out; 87. Trick-winning attempt in bridge; 88. ___ beer; 90. Dwellings; 91. TV announcer who broke the news of John Lennon’s murder; 93. Earn hand over fist; 96. Firenze friends; 99. Rumpled; 101. Put up; 102. Lamb specialty; 104. Unwilling to budge; 106. Kick back; 107. People conquered by the Spanish; 108. Wound protector; 109. Much merriment; 113. Heat org.; 115. Got ___ (did great).