10.31.14 — Immurement

The Cask of Amontillado illustration by Stuart Brooks 

 The Cask of Amontillado … is about the narrator’s deadly revenge on a friend who he believes has insulted him. … the narrative revolves around a person being buried alive—in this case, by immurement. ~ Wikipedia 

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 Friday, October 31, 2014 — Halloween 

 Puzzle by Mary Lou Guizzo and Jeff Chen
Edited by Will Shortz
Across — 1. Boston and Chicago, but not Seattle, ROCK BANDS; 10. Diddly-squat, JACK; 14. Inuit’s transport, WHALE BOAT; 15. Oscar nominee for “Fiddler on he Roof”, TOPOL; 16. Recommended, ADVISABLE; 17. Photoshop effect, SEPIA; 18. Bright lights, NEONS; 19. What naturals have, RAW TALENT; 21. With 24-Across, witchcraft, e.g., DARK; 22. Up, RAISE; 23. Sea-TAC; 24. See 21-Across, ART; 25. Ring of islands?, LEI; 26. Barely clear, in a way, AWEIGH; 29. Expert, COGNOSCENTE; 32. Like Fortunato, in Poe’s “the Cask of Amontillado,” e.g., BURIED ALIVE; 33. “The Cask of Amontillado,” e.g., HORROR STORY; 34. Ease, LOOSEN; 35. Predators in the “Predator” films, for short, ETS; 36. Some I.R.A.’s, CDS; 39. “Be on the lookout” signal, in brief, APB; 40. AMISH country (rustic locale); 43. Gallows TREE; 44. Anthrax cousin, METALLICA; 47. Prey for a dingo, KOALA; 48. Helpful, OF USE 49. Get ready to click, maybe, MOUSE OVER; 51. Ora pro NOBIS; 52 Having human form, INCARNATE; 53. TRES chic; 54. Didn’t kill each other, CO-EXISTED.

Down — 1. Where primatologist Dian Fossey worked, RWANDA; 2. “We’re in trouble now!”, OH DEAR; 3. Gambol, CAVORT; 4. TV colonel, KLINK; 5. 20th-century first lady, BESS; 6. Grp. with suits and cases, ABA; 7. Easy decision, NO BRAINER; 8. Start of an Eastern title, DALAI; 9. Fusses, STEWS 10. Book after Hosea, JOEL; 11. Desire, APPETITE; 12. Introduction to English?, COINAGE; 13. Social gathering, KLATCH; 15. Grp. With a lot of baggage, TSA; 20. British kitchen accessory, TEA CLOTH; 22. Like the words “hoagie” and “kitty-corner”, REGIONAL; 25. Actor with the line “Rick! Rick, help me!”, LORRE; 27. Small dams, WEIRS; 28. “ENVY, like lightning, seeks the highest places”: Livy; 29. Base men?, CURS; 30. Some E.R. cases, ODS; 31. Topping for skewered meat, SATE SAUCE; 32. Idiot box, BOOB TUBE; 33. Desire, HOPE FOR; 34. The son on “Sanford and Son”, LAMONT; 36. Adam’s apple coverer, CRAVAT; 37. X, DELETE; 38. Blackened, SEARED; 41. Parrot, MIMIC; 42. Prefix with -graphic, ICONO; 43. Betty Boop and Bugs Bunny, TOONS; 45. “The way things are …”, AS IS; 46. Tous LES jours (daily: Fr.); 47. Actress KERI Russell of “Felicity”; 50. Adolphe with an instrument named after him, SAX.

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10.30.14 — Cookie


Thursday, October 30, 2014

Puzzle by David Woolf / Edited by Will Shortz

"CHIP" in five squares sporadically placed to indicate chocolate chips in a cookie, along with a vaguely cookie-shaped grid, constitute the main feature of this sweet Thursday crossword:

  • CHOCOLATE [CHIP]  COOKIE, along with [CHIP]PER (56A. Treat represented visually by this puzzle’s answers; 59D. Upbeat)
  • [CHIP]PENDALES DANCERS with [CHIP]PEWA (16A. Entertainers with something to get off their chests; 16D. Tribe of the Upper Midwest)
  • POTATO [CHIP] with [CHIP]MUNK (23A. Wise one?; 26D. Nonhuman singer of a 1958 #1 song)
  • [CHIP] IN with [CHIP]OTLE (29A. Contribute; 29D. Fast-food chain named after a spice)
  • AR[CHIP]ELAGO with [CHIP] SHOTS (42A. The Bahamas, e.g.; 44D. They may be made with pitching wedges)

 Other — ARIZONIAN (32A. John McCain, for one); AVOCET (34D. Long-billed wader); FENNEL (1D. Anise relative); PINEAL (23D. Kind of gland); QUICKER (39D. Like liquor, in an Ogden Nash verse); RAP MUSIC (30A. Focus of The Source magazine); Writer John SCARNE who was an authority on cards; SINUSES (13A. They may be blocked in the winter); SPY CAR (13D. Aston Martin DB5, for 007); VERONIQUE (37A. French woman’s name meaning “bringer of victory”).

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10.29.14 — IT'S In There



Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Puzzle by Elizabeth C. Gorski / Edited by Will Shortz

IT’S IN THERE (54A. Longtime Prego slogan … with a hint to the answers to the five starred clues), FRUIT SALAD (17A. *Chilled appetizer or dessert), HIT SONG (36A. *Billboard listing), QUIT SMOKING (11D. *Kick the habit), PIT STOP (25D. *Time to retire?) and SPLIT SCREEN (24D. *Feature of many a TV interview) constitute the interrelated group of this Wednesday crossword.


 Other — ALIBIS (23D. Excuses, excuses), Frank McCourt’s ANGELA’S Ashes”, AQUA (10a. Shade at the swimming pool), BONGS (48A. Stoners’ purchases, CHEW UP (46A. Ruin, as a dog might shoes), KNEE BENDS (34D. Leg strengtheners), KOSOVO (34A. Its capital is Pristina), OLEO (61A. Yellow sub?), PARADES (50A. Reasons for some street closures), POET (33A. Foot specialist?), REATAS (8D. Rodeo ropes), SESAME OIL (5D. Ingredient in much Asian cooking), TIBETAN (21A. Like one side of Mount Everest).

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10.28.14 — Basketball


Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Puzzle by Andrea Carla Michaels / Edited by Will Shortz

NBA (48A. Org. whose only members with no plural names appear at the ends of 17-, 25-, 41- and 56-Across), ALL THAT JAZZ (17A. Related add-ons, informally), DAYS OF THUNDER (25A. Tom Cruise/Nichole Kidman racing film), OLD BLACK MAGIC (41A. “That” something in an Arlen/Mercer standard) and BEAT THE HEAT (56A. Keep cool in summer) constitutes the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword.

Other — AERIE (39A. Place for a kiddie hawk?), ANSEL ADAMS (26D. Famous Yosemite photographer), ATHENA (44D. Subject of a massive statue n the ancient Parthenon), CATALYST (4D. It makes things happen), DISCOUNTED (25D. Not full price), GLITTERATI (11D. Fashionable celebs), LOANS (32a. Bad things from sharks?), SHTETL (51A. “Fiddler on the Roof” setting), SEMITROPIC (12D. Like the climate of Miami or Rio), TATARS (20A. Golden Horde members), TOGETHER (37D. With it).
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10.27.14 — DVD


Monday, October 27, 2014

Puzzle by Stanley Newman / Edited by Will Shortz

DVD RECORDER (53A. TV hookup option … or what you are by solving this puzzle?), DICK VAN DYKE (21A. Eponymous star of a 1960s sitcom, the only American TV star with his three initials) and DEATH VALLEY DAYS (37A. Long-running western anthology, the only American TV series with its three initials) constitute the interrelated group of this Monday crossword.

Other — BOB EVANS, restaurant chain, JEANNE Shaheen, New Hampshire senator, NERVE CELL (8D. Place for an axon), PAPA JOHNS (32D. Rival of Domino’s), POETS Corner (Westminster Abbey locale), Author Gay TALESE, UNRULY (46D. Hard to control).

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10.26.14 — Winner's Circle

David and Goliath by Caravaggio, circa 1600

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Sunday, October 26, 2014

Puzzle by Caleb Emmons / Edited by Will Shortz

Note:  When this puzzle is completed, the eight circled letters, starting in the upper left and proceeding roughly clockwise, will spell an appropriate word … or a different appropriate word.

C H A M P I O N and D E F E A T E D sharing eight squares, along with eight intersecting pairs of opponents constitutes the interrelated group of this winning Sunday crossword:

 [C/D] HERCULES / HYDRA (21A. Opponent of 3-Down, in Greek myth)
[H/E] HECTOR / ACHILLES (22A. Opponent of 9-Down, in classical literature)
[A/F] ALI / FOREMAN (14A. Opponent of 14-Down, in sports)
[M/E] BATMAN / THE PENGUIN (51A. Opponent of 28-Down, in comics)
[P/A] KASPAROV / DEEP BLUE (101A. Opponent of 86-Down, in games)
[I/T] DAVID / GOLIATH (90A. Opponent of 64-Down, in the Bible)
[O/E] HARE / TORTOISE (96A. Opponent of 78-Down, in fable)
[N/D] KING KONG / GODZILLA (60A. Opponent of 49-Down, in film)

Other — ACID JAZZ (75A. Relative of neo-soul), B VITAMIN (85D. Riboflavin, e.g.), COERCIVELY (54D. By force), CRIMINAL (73A. A case might be made for one), EPSILON (38D. Leader of ancient Ephesus?), SCHLUBS (1A. Boors), SLACKEST (29A. Least taut), STALBANS (116A. English city where the Magna Carta originated), STEAM CAR (47D. Stanley, for one).

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10.25.14 — A Sign of the Times — Tempus Fugit


Saturday, October 25, 2014

Puzzle by Patrick Blindauer / Edited by Will Shortz

Update — All of the Xs from the week of puzzles lined up by the number in their squares equals 20 5 13 16 21 19 6 21 7 9 20, coded alphanumerically to result in T E M P U S   F U G I T (“Time flies”).

If you do the Times crossword on a daily basis you have probably noted the brouhaha surrounding this week of puzzles.  The Times sent out messages to bloggers of the puzzle to not reveal material related to same due to being the final crossword of a metapuzzle "contest" — so, that's over with and done.:

ALPHANUMERIC (18D. Certain character set ... and a hint to translating this week's final answer) and X MARKS THE SPOT (9D. Map phrase ... and a hnt to finding this week's final answer).

 Other — AMENS (19A. Shows of appreciation for services provided?), AND/OR and DRANO (47A. Bit of writing that’s slashed?; 48A. Household brand that‘s an anagram of 47-Across), ASSET (13D. What you will?), ATRIA (32D. Pair of hearts?), BENSON (41D. Half of a cigarette?), I CLAUDIUS (31D. 1977 PBS sensation), I DIDN’T CATCH THAT (36A. “Huh?!”), IN TRANSIT (17A. Coming or going), ION STORMS (54A. Sci-fi disturbances), IRRITATES (31A. Needles), LET’S PARTY (8D. Fraternity house cry), MMXL (5A. 100th anniversary of Disney's "Fantasia"), O’ER and OAR, OATS (29A. Some Arabian food), PIE JUSU (42A. Requiem Mass part), SENSUALLY (38A. How Marilyn Monroe sang "Happy Birthday to President Kennedy), UPDO (57A. It‘s hair-raising), X TINA (9A. Singer Aguilera's nickname).

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10.24.14 — Time Out


Friday, October 24, 2014

Puzzle by Patrick Blindauer / Edited by Will Shortz

What’s to say?
Of interest — ADAM BEDE (3D. Title carpenter of an 1859 novel), AZALEA (44D. Rhododendron relative), GANJA (51D. Pot), GIN JOINTS (61A. Saloons), IT’S A BLAST (63A. “Boy, am I having fun!”), LET IT GO (50A. Stop obsessing), MEETERS (8D. People with signs at airports, e.g.), ORAL EXAMS (1A. Times for speaking one’s mind?), ORG CHART (1D. Diagram showing company positions, briefly), PAMPLONA (37D. Site of an annual encierro), PEONY (60A. Flowering plant named for a Greek god), RED CARPET (15A. Spot for shooting stars), SPIDEY sense, TROUPES (36A. Groups with play dates?), T S ELIOT (34A. “Ash Wednesday” poet), TURN LOOSE (58A. Free), WONTON (45D. Chinese appetizer), X-RATED (21A. Beyond blue), ZIP UP (16A. Finish putting on pants, say).

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10.23.14 — Times Square


Thursday, October 23, 2014

Puzzle by Patrick Blindauer / Edited by Will Shortz
TIME TIME (56A. Where the ball drops on New Year’s Eve … as depicted literally in four places in this puzzle), along with the letters TIME TIME surrounding the lone black squares near each of the four corners of the puzzle constitutes the interrelated group of this Thursday crossword.

Times Square, 1958

Other — ATTEMPTED (3D. Went for), BASE METAL (37D. Lead, e.g.), CITADELS (50A. Holds), DEES (39D. Odd couple?), DMITRI (67A. One of the Brothers Karamazov), EMPANADA (16A. Tabasco turnover), GAMETE (5D. Life starter), HATE MAIL (10D. Letters that are hard to read?), INTIMATES (52A. Bosom buddies), MORTIMER Brewster, “Arsenic and Old Lace” role, OH PLEASE (29A. “Give me a break already!”), OPIATE (70A. Laudanum, e.g.), OVEN MITTS (26A. Range wear?), SASHIMIS (7A. They’re often dipped in wasabis).
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10.22.14 — Face Time


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Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Puzzle by Patrick Blindauer / Edited by Will Shortz

A sort of “face” roughly formed by black squares, FACE  / TIME (32A and 33A. Meeting with someone in person), PEEKABOO, I SEE YOU (17A. Words to a baby) and FOR YOUR EYES ONLY (59A. 007 film of 1981) constitutes the interrelated group of this Wednesday crossword.

Other — CARL ORFF (36D. “Carmna Burana” composer), DIOXIDE and OXYGEN (6D. Compound containing 10-Down; 10D. Element #8); GO ‘PFFT” (1D. Die). KUNG FU and SUMO (18D. A master of this really knows his chops; 56D. Bare-chested sport), LANCELOT (39D. Model of chivalry), ONE-LINER (38D. “I wonder what the word for ‘dots’ looks like in Braille,“ e.g.), POT and SANGRIA (53A. Ballot topic for decriminalization; 42A. Strong punch), SCROLL and UNCURL (37A. Reading for a king’s herald; 34A. Straighten out), SPINACH (14A. Catherine de‘ Medici is said to haven eaten it every day).

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10.21.14 — Time



Tuesday, October 21, 2014

 Puzzle by Patrick Blindauer / Edited by Will Shortz

"TIME" is the clue for three 15-letter across answers, MARATHONERS STAT, PARTNER OF WARNER and WHAT PRISONERS DO, of this Tuesday crossword:

Other — DINOSAUR (5D. Natural history museum display), FRIJOLES (37D. Beans in a burrito), HIGH C (17A. Dramatic note in Verdi’s “Di quella pira”), IRAN (7D. Dry country whose name is an anagram of wet weather), MIGRATOR (3D. Seasonal traveler), NAVY SEAL (38D. Elite fighter), RHINOS (47D. Big chargers in Africa), TOM / SAWYER (36D. With 44-Down, fictional prankster).

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10.20.14 — Puzzle Note for the Week


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10.20.14 — It's Time

Jean Harlow

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Monday, October 20, 2014

Puzzle by Patrick Blindauer / Edited by Will Shortz
SPLIT-SECOND (17A. Instant), MINUTE RICE (26A. Product that competes with Uncle Ben’s), THE WITCHING HOUR (35A. Midnight), DAY TRIPPER (50A. 1965 Beatles hit that begins “Got a good reason for taking the easy way out”) and PASSION WEEK (58A. Time leading up to Easter) constitutes the interrelated group of this Monday crossword.

Other — CORPSE and CRYPTS (49A. What a medical examiner examines; 48D. Underground tombs), DELEGATE (3D. Political conventiongoer), EYE and NYE, HARLOW (38D. Jean of “Bombshell”), OPPONENT (39D. Foe), OPTICAL illusion, SERAPHS (31A. High-ranking angels), TAX TIP (10D. Piece of advice from H and R Block), TEN (70A. Number of years in a decade) and TENN, THAI and THAT.

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10.19.14 — Elephant Company — the Acrostic


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Sunday, October 19, 2014

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon
Edited by Will Shortz



 “The remarkable story of James Howard “Billy” Williams, whose uncanny rapport with the world’s largest land animals transformed hm from a carefree young man into the charismatic war hero known as Elephant Bill.

“Billy Williams came to colonial Burma in 1920, fresh from service in World War I, to a job as a “forest man” for a British teak company.  Mesmerized by the intelligence, character, and even humor of the great animals who hauled logs through the remote jungles, he became a gifted “elephant wallah.”  Increasingly skilled at treating their illnesses and injuries, he also championed more humane treatment for them, even establishing an elephant “school” and “hospital.”  In return, he said, the elephants made him a better man.”  ~ amazon.com 

The quotation:  A TRUNK … ACTS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, AS A HAND, AN ARM, A NOSE, A SNORKEL, A SLEDGEHAMMER, A TRUMPET, AND A HOSE. … WITHOUT CONTAINING A SINGLE BONE, IT IS STRONG ENOUGH TO LIFT HEAVY LOGS, AND SUFFICIENTLY NIMBLE TO PICK UP A COIN.

The author’s name and the title of the work:  VICKI CROKE, “ELEPHANT COMPANY”

 The defined words:

 A. Slide-jiggling effect on a trombone, VIBRATO
B. Assail, as someone’s character, IMPUGN
C. Cloth used by cyclists for padding, CHAMOIS
D. Like Alec Guinness and Paul McCartney, KNIGHTED
E. “Speaking truthfully …” (2 wds.), IN FACT
F. Storage tank sometimes underground, CISTERN
G. Activity of a rummager, ROOTING
H. Spent, needing a refill (3 wds.), OUT OF GAS
I. Old Cretan center of Bronze Age culture, KNOSSOS
J. Subject of the equation  E^2 = (pc)^2 + (m0c^2)^2, ENERGY
K. Coat for a dentist, ENAMEL
L. Be scornful of, as a danger (2 wds.), LAUGH AT
M. Busy; attentive, ENGAGED
N. Animal whose stuffing comes out, PINATA
O. Boyhood hometown of Mark Twain, HANNIBAL
P. Brought into harmony, ATTUNED
Q. Implement in many salons (2 wds.), NAIL FILE
R. Images on Monopoly bills, TRAINS
S. Lke the spears on Kenya’s flag, CROSSED
T. Pursued by a posse, maybe (3 wds.), ON THE LAM
U. Cloying, drippy, mushy, MAWKISH
V. Quickly, PRESTO
W. What’s regarded as an abomination, ANATHEMA
X. Far from a loser (2 wds.), NO SLOUCH
Y. Robin with a 20-year career in the major leagues, YOUNT

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10.19.14 — Why Not?


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Sunday, October 19, 2014

Puzzle by David Phillips / Edited by Will Shortz
Substituting other letters for the letter "Y" in nine common phrases or words and clueing same to justify the result constitutes the main feature of this perplexing Sunday crossword.  The puzzle, incidentally, contains no letter Y.  
IDOLS OF THE KING (24A. Elvis’s heroes?), sounds like “Idylls of the King”
CLEAR THE WEIGH (37A. Embarrassed person’s comment after getting of an electronic scale?), clear the way
SUNDAE BEST (49A. #1 item at Dairy Queen?), Sunday best
SARI STATE (68A. Guijarat or Punjab, dresswise?), sorry state
DEVIL RAISE (85A. Wicked poker bet?), devil rays
GUISE AND DOLLS (94A. Two concerns of a secretive voodoo practicer?), “Guys and Dolls”
NO RIME OR REASON (112A. Lack of logic and a frosty coating?), no rhyme or reason
TRUSTEE SIDEKICK (3D. Subordinate of a board chair?), trusty sidekick
CHAISE REBELLION (46D. “I’ve had enough  of this patio furniture!,” e.g.?), Shays’ Rebellion 

Other — ALBANESE (31D. Soprano Licia, singer at the Met for 26 years), ALE KEG (15D. Bass drum?), BOO HISS (1D. Expression of disapproval), HOT POT (40D. Stew dish known in Thailand as “suki”), INCUBUS (91A. Certain demon), Actress NAOMI Watts, NATALIE Wood in Hollywood, REDDIT (21A. Site claiming to be “the front page of the Internet“), RICK ROLL (83A. Pull a classic Internet prank on), SHARIFS (13A. Arab nobles), SHE-CRAB (42A. Kind of soup in Southern cuisine), SIZZLES (93D. Is hot, hot, hot), TENDRILS (65D. Climbing things?). 

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