11.30.14 — That's Disgusting — the Acrostic

A lobster in the sand on a beach…

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Sunday, November 30, 2014

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Edited by Will Shortz

This Sunday’s informative and somewhat humorous acrostic draws a quotation from “That’s Disgusting: Unraveling the Mysteries of Repulsion” by Rachel Herz.

Why do we watch horror movies? What is the best way to persuade someone to quit smoking? Why are we more likely to buy a given item if an attractive person has just touched it? And what on earth is the appeal of competitive eating?

Combining lucid scientific explanations and fascinating research with a healthy dose of humor, That’s Disgusting illuminates issues that are central to our lives: love, hate, fear, empathy, prejudice, humor, and happiness. ~ Amazon.com

The quotation:  LOBSTERS… WERE CONSIDERED AQUATIC VERMIN… BY EUROPEAN COLONISTS.  THIS SEA PESTILENCE, WHICH LITTERED THE SHORES OF NEW ENGLAND, WAS USED AS FISH BAIT AND FERTILIZER… .  EXCESSIVE SERVING OF THIS "JUNK" FOOD LED SLAVES… TO REBEL.

The author’s name and the title of the work:  RACHEL HERZ, “THAT’S DISGUSTING”

A. Action without conscious intent, REFLEX
B. Free from germs, ASEPTIC
C. Drink choice for Hannibal Lecter, CHIANTI
D. Mix it up verbally (2 wds.), HAVE WORDS
E. Toss, as a player, EJECT
F. Scum of the earth, slime ball, LOWLIFE
G. He described life as “solitary, poor, rusty, brutish and short!”, HOBBES
H. What a haruspex reads to foretell the future, ENTRAILS
.I. Suffused with a distinctive smell, REDOLENT
J. Minced oath like “Sblood!”, ZOUNDS
K. Backdrop for “West Side Story” or “Rent”, TENEMENTS
L. Shockingly grim and ghastly, HORRIFIC
M. Unfavorably disposed, loath, AVERSE
N. Incense burner swung in church, THURIBLE
O. “For Esme — With Love and SQUALOR” (Salinger story)
P. Prophesy; excellent, informally, DIVINE
Q. Overrun, as with bugs, INFESTED
R. Target for some muckraking, SWEATSHOP
S. What makes hair or quills stand on end, GOOSEFLESH
T. Get ready for bed or a sauna, UNDRESS
U. Plates exercise, done prone, with rocking (2 wds.), SWAN DIVE
V. Period when pterosaurs first appeared, TRIASSIC
W. Awful, nasty, repulsive, ICKY
X. Sky-high, like seats far from the action, NOSEBLEED
Y. Boolean logic devices, GATES

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11.30.14 — Zap!

Sunday, November 30, 2014

“Zap!” — Puzzle by Matt Ginsberg

Edited by Will Shortz

In this Sunday crossword, AD  (in a single square) has been humorously "zapped" from familiar phrases, like fast-forwarding while watching television — clues reference the imagined AD-less phrases.

BRO[AD]-MINDED (19A: Focused on one's fellow fraternity members?)
IRISH BALL[AD] (24A: Dublin dance?)
CHANGE OF [AD]DRESS (36A: What Clark Kent needs to become Superman?)
ON THE SH[AD]Y SIDE (45A: Somewhat bashful?)
FIVE O'CLOCK SH[AD]OW (63A: Local afternoon newscast?)
[AD]OPTION AGENCY (83A: Business offering the right to buy and sell securities?)
FOLLOW THE LE[AD]ER (93A: How to find what a creep is looking at?)
L[AD]IES FIRST (109A: Says "I didn't do it!" before fessing up?)
LEGAL [AD]VICE (115A: Cigarettes or booze?)

Other — ANNOUNCERS (23A. Workers in booths), BARDED (25D. Armored, as a horse), BE LIKE THAT (16D. “Well, fine“), DO NOT ENTER (3D. “Wrong way“), EDESSA (95D. Ancient Macedonian capital), ELUCIDATES (111A. Clarifies), LINTEL (96D. Stonehenge feature), MERINOS (56A. Fine wool sources), OOCYTES (71A. Eggs-to-be), RED SHOE (49A. Article of papal attire), ROYAL PAINS (69D. Major annoyances), TONY MARTIN (72D. Singer whose “I Get Ideas” was on the charts for 30 weeks), WARM TO (97A. Become fond of), ZLOTYS (61A. Polish capital).

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11.29.14 — The Saturday Crossword

Strawberry Fields by Nora Meyer

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Saturday, November 29, 2014

Puzzle by Elizabeth C. Gorski / Edited by Will Shortz

Three 15-letter answers are the main feature of this perfectly agreeable Saturday crossword:

THREE-LETTER WORD (32A. Something not found in this puzzle’s answer)
I CAN’T SLEEP A WINK (4D. Insomniac’s lament)
WEEKEND WARRIORS (11D. They play hard on Saturday and Sunday)

Other across — 1. Likes a lot, ADMIRES; 8. It’s not to be believed, HOGWASH; 15. Ones clearing for takeoff?, DEICERS; 16. O.K., AGREE TO; 17.Like one of Brunel’s two main languages, MALAYAN; 18. Less experienced, GREENER; 19. It might give you a headache, ILLNESS; 20. Hunting party?, SEEKERS: 21. Boobs, TWITS; 22. Continental Congress delegate from Connecticut, DEANE; 23. Quads, e.g., SIBS; 24. Onetime host of CBS’s “The Morning Show”, PAAR; 28. “IN SO doing …”; 29. Alternative to quotes: Abbr., ITAL; 30. Cry at a revival, I’M SAVED; 37. She played Wallis Simpson in “The King’s Speech”, EVE BEST; 38. But, in Bonn, ABER; 39. Be a Debbie Downer, MOPE; 41. “King AROO” of old comics; 42. Height of fashion, RAGE; 43. Boxer who won 1980’s Brawl in Montreal, DURAN; 44. Grammy-nominated Franklin and others, ERMAS; 45. Giant with a big trunk, REDWOOD; 48. Flunkies, MENIALS; 50. “Let me repeat: Forget it!”, I SAID NO; 51. Historic residential hotel in Manhattan, ANSONIA; 52. Part of a 14-Down’s harness; blinder; 53. Putting away, STORING; 54. Registers, SINKS IN; 55. Spray on a dress, CORSAGE.

Down — 1. Comes clean, ADMITS IT; 2. Handle, DEAL WITH; 3. Small unit of atmospheric pressure, MILLIBAR; 5. Kings of Léon, REYES; 6. Noteworthy times, ERAS; 7. Payroll dept. info, SSNS; 8. Fairy tale figures, HAGS; 9. Fairy tale figure, OGRE; 10. Less likely to give, GREEDIER; 12. Principal lieutenant of Hector in the “Iliad”, AENEAS; 13. Portable heater, STERNO; 14. You can be on it, HORSE; 24. Mount, with “up”, PILE; 25. Formless life form, AMEBA; 26. Bloom in Robert Frost’s “A Late Walk”, ASTER; 27. Nickname in the Best Picture of 1969, RATSO; 31. Block from the White House, VETO; 33. They’re 50-50, EVEN ODDS; 34. Enthusiasm shown during a 2008 race, OBAMANIA; 35. Wining and dining, REGALING; 36. Olympic sport that includes passades and pirouettes, DRESSAGE; 39. Food whose name means “little purée”, MUESLI; 40. Transition to fatherhood, ORDAIN; 43. Tiny amounts, DRIBS; 44. “Masks Confronting Death” painter, 1888, ENSOR; 46. No ONE I think is in my tree” (Strawberry Fields Forever” lyric); 47. Michael DORN who played Worf on “Star Trek: The Next Generation”; 48. Like Italian “bead,” e.g.: Abbr., MASC; 49. Inside opening, ENTO.

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11.28.14 — Sale

Friday, November 28, 2014

Puzzle by Tracy Gray / Edited by Will Shortz

BLACK FRIDAY (56A. Time of annual madness … or a hint to four squares in this puzzle), and the four squares reading "SALE" constitutes the interrelated group of this Friday crossword:

JERU[SALE]M CROSS with [SALE]RNO (17A. Christian symbol used during the Crusades; 18D. Italian port on the Tyrrhenian Sea)
SPRING[S ALE]AK with NEW[S ALE]RT (10d. Cracks, as piping; 34A. Many an informative tweet)
RO[SALE]E PARKS with [SALE]MS LOT (30D. Mother of the Freedom Movement, to friends; 39A. Early Stephen King thriller)
ADAM[S ALE] with E[SALE] (50D. Water; 64A. Big Sur institute)

Other — ADMISSION (31D. What a ticket is good for), ASCETIC (52A. St. Francis of Assisi, for one), BARDOT (44A. “ … And God Created Woman” actress), CAPE COD (36A. New England architectural style), EILAT (43A. Gulf of Aqaba resort city), ERIC CARLE (11D. “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” author); HOT LICK (21A. Bit of electric guitar play), ROBOTS (63A. Some NASA designs), TEA KETTLE (12D. It whistles while it works), TESLA COIL (32D. Electrical transformer).

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11.27.14 — Thanksgiving

Thursday, November 27, 2014 — Thanksgiving 

Puzzle by Stanley Newman / Edited by Will Shortz

MUCHAS GRACIAS, MERCI BEAUCOUP and GRAZIE MILLE, all clued as “Thanksgiving phrase,” constitutes the main feature of this Thursday crossword.

Other — BUZZ (25A. [Wrong]), HOARSE 30A. Having roared too much, say), JUDGE JUDY (31A. Highest-paid TV star of 2014, by far), OAXACA (13A. State south of Veracruz), POMELOS (1D. Big citrus fruits), POTOMAC (34D. It meets the Shenandoah at Harper’s Ferry), PRESTO (14A. Upwards of 170 beats per minute), RETORT (42D. Counter with a sharp edge), SCYLLA (47A. Monster in the “Odyssey”), SERAPES (38D. Clothing items with fringes), SPOUSE (33A. Half of some partnerships), SPRITZ (7D. Bit of perfume).

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11.26.14 — WarGames

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Puzzle by Michael S. Maurer / Edited by Will Shortz

WARGAMES (1983 sci-fi drama … or a possible title for this puzzle), MASH UNIT (17A. Potato?), SHORE LEAVE (24A. Ebb tide?), PRESENT ARMS (34A. Inoculation order?) and FIRING LINE (49A. “Clean out your desk!”?) constitute the interrelated group of this Wednesday crossword.

Other — ANAGRAMS (62A. Letterman’s favorite activity?), BIREME (43D. Old Galley), FRUIT (30A. Most of the symbols on a traditional slot machine), LAVALIERES (9D. Some microphones), LISTEN UP (3D. “Pay attention!“), SLITHY (6D. Like the toves in “jabberwocky”), SPITBALL (14A. Wet missile), STEP INSIDE (27D. Words of welcome), TABITHA (19A. “Bewitched” spinoff).

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11.25.14 — Yankee Clipper

Joe DiMaggio, photograph by Charles Conlon

Joseph Paul "Joe"DiMaggio (November 25, 1914 – March 8, 1999), born Giuseppe Paolo DiMaggio, nicknamed "Joltin' Joe" and "The Yankee Clipper", was an American Major League Baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career for the New York Yankees. He is perhaps best known for his 56-game hitting streak (May 15 – July 16, 1941), a record that still stands. ~ Wikipedia

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Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Puzzle by Jeffrey Wechsler / Edited by Will Shortz

JOE DIMAGGIO (62A. American athlete born 11/25/1914), CENTER FIELD (17A. Position of 62-Across), HITTING STREAK (24A. With 27-Across, record-setting achievement of 62-Across), FIFTY-SIX GAMES (38A. Duration of 62-Across’s 24-/17-Across) and YANKEE CLIPPER  (52A. With 54-Across, moniker of 62-Across) constitutes the interrelated group of this fine Tuesday tribute crossword on DiMaggio‘s 100th birthday.

Other — ACETIC Acid; ON HIATUS (12D. Temporarily not airing, as a TV show); ROOST and ROOTS; SCRIPT and STAGE; SHOCKER and SUSPENSE (1D. The shower scene in “Psycho,”, e.g.; 11D. Mood suffusing “Psycho”); TYPEE (34D. Melville’s first book).

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11.24.14 — ROFL

Calvin & Hobbes 

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Monday, November 24, 2014

Puzzle by Robert Seminara / Edited by Will Shortz

ROFL (36A. Texter’s expresson spelled out by the starts of 18-, 28-, 46- and 59-Across), ROLLING PINS (18A. Items for flattening dough), ON THE DOWN LOW (28A. Secretly), FLOOR MIRRORS (46A. Some dressing room conveniences) and LAUGHING GAS (59A. Nitrous oxide) constitute the interrelated group of this Monday crossword.

Other —AROUSES (44D. Shakes from a slumber), BED SORES (24D. Long-term hospital patient’s problem), ILL FAME (20A. Bad reputation), LUCRE and MOOLA (55D. “Filthy” riches; 32D. Cold hard cash), PROMPTLY (5D. Right away), SCOTLAND (40D. Site of a 2014 vote for independence).

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11.23.14 — Surround Sound

The Confusion of Tongues, 1865, Paul Gustave Doré 

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Sunday, November 23, 2014

“Surround Sound” Puzzle by Patrick Berry 

Edited by Will Shortz

Seven phrases with similar sounding words within each phrase constitutes the interrelated group of this Sunday crossword:

RANDOM MEMORANDUM (23A. Office missive sent out arbitrarily?)
GRANITE POMEGRANATE (30A. Stone fruit?)
LUNAR BALLOONER (48A. Aeronaut who’s headed for the moon?)
ROTC PAPARAZZI (66A. Photographers who stalk future lieutenants?)
PEWTER COMPUTER (84A. Desktop machine made of malleable metal?)
MENTIONS DIMENSIONS (101A. Provides some idea of an object’s size?)
COLLIE MELANCHOLY (113A. Lassie’s affliction after failing to rescue Timmy?)

Other — ALPO (1A. Canned food you don’t eat), ASUNCION (37D. South American capital), BABEL (29A. What Gustave Dore’s “The Confusion of Tongues” depicts), EVIL EYE (17D. Glare), HERESY (24A. Excommunication provocation), KRUEGER (12D. Last name in horror), LOLLY (72A. One getting a licking, informally?), MALAWI (62D. Nyasaland, today), TENTACLE (38D. Arm of the sea), WHALER (74A. The Pequod, e.g.), WOMAN (14D. George Eliot, but not Marilyn Manson). 

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11.22.14 — The Saturday Crossword

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Puzzle by David Steinberg / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. Dated agreement?, FO’ SHIZZLE; 10. Cognizes, KNOWS; 15. Comment to an unapologetic burper, say, EXCUSE YOU; 16. Cosmetics dye, EOSIN; 17. Hawk, WARMONGER; 18. Q preceder, SUSIE; 19. Fashion designer ELIE Saab; 20. Mexican couple, DOS; 21. Something locked in a cell?, GENOME; 22. Neuralgia : nerve :: costalgia : RIB; 23. Lightly towels off, PATS DRY; 25. Dickens pseudonym, BOZ; 26. Woman’s name that sounds like a repeated letter, CECE; 28. First name in design, EERO; 29. Turn off, maybe, MUTE; 30. School basics, facetiously, RRR; 32. Succeeded, REPLACED; 34. Donnybrook, FRACAS; 37. Moon named after the Green personification of terror, DEIMOS; 38. SALT signer, BREZHNEV; 40. Adèle, for one: Abbr., STE; 41. Page, e.g., AIDE; 42. Juice name starter, CRAN; 44. Letters at the top of a page, HTTP; 47. Brick, for example, RED; 48. Fictional locale of a John Wayne western, RIO LOBO; 50. Eagle’s place: Abbr., AFB; 52. Attacked verbally, SNIPED; 54. Something most Americans won’t take, for short, ESL; 55. Destiny’s Child, e.g., TRIO; 56. Olympian Moses, EDWIN; 57. iPhone competitor, DROID RAZR; 59. Uniform, ALIKE; 60. Where El Nuevo Herald is read, MIAMI AREA; 61. Classic sea adventure of 1846, TYPEE; 63. Straight man of old comedy, ZEPPO MARX.

Down — 1. “The FEWER the words, the better the prayer”: Martin Luther; 2. OXALIC add (bleach ingredient); 3. Old record keeper, SCRIBE; 4. “An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding” philosopher, HUME; 5. Film speed letters, ISO; 6. Castle town n a 1937 film, ZENDA; 7. Start of something big?, ZYGOTE; 8. “Hoop-Dee-Doo” lyricist, LOESSER; 9. USD alternative, EUR; 10. Writer n “The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, KESEY; 11. A follower?, NOUN; 12. Slow-cooked Italian dish, OSSO BUCO; 13. Handy things, WIIMOTES; 14. Exhibited stemutation, SNEEZED; 21. Feels (for), GROPES; 23. Lake catch, PERCH; 24. Stowe antislavery novel, DRED; 27. It’s temporarily hot, CRAZE; 29. David MAMET who wrote the screenplay for “The Verdict”; 31. Bad, and then some, RANCID; 33. Art purchase, LITHO; 34. Warm, FRIENDLY; 35. Grocery product with a multiply misspelled name, REDDI-WIP; 36. Hematology prefix, SERO; 38. Stool, typically, BAR SEAT; 39. Jarrett of the Obama White House, VALERIE; 43. “Ain’t happening!”, NO SOAP; 45. “Boom” preceder, TA-RA-RA; 45. Lipitor maker, PFIZER; 48. RENEE Taylor of “The Nanny”; 49. String bean’s opposite, BLIMP; 51. Product once pitched by Ronald Reagan, BORAX; 53. Lake catch, PIKE; 55. Disneyland sight, TRAM; 57. Part of a certain cease-fire agreement, for short, DMZ; 58. Roman divinity, DIO.

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11.21.14 — A to Z

Alphabet photography 

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Friday, November 21, 2014

Puzzle by Kevin Christian / Edited by Will Shortz

The representation of the entire alphabet is the main feature of this Friday crossword. 

Across — 1. Having a big itch, JONESING; 9. Giant jet, AIRBUS; 15, EMOTICON; 16. “Swann’s Way” novelist, PROUST; 17. Marinara, e.g., RED SAUCE; 18. When to put all you eggs in one basket?, EASTER; 19. Late legend in countdowns, KASEM; 20. Bell part, LIP; 22. Fertiliser ingredient, NITRE; 23. Neighbor of 10-Down, IRAQ; 24. Underlying, BASAL; 26. “Country Girl” memoirist O’Brien, EDNA; 27. Capital player, briefly, NAT; 28. Fire, PASSION; 30. Soy, north of Mexico, I AM; 31. Elves, in poetry, FAYS; 32. Heat loss, maybe?, NBA GAME; 34. Home of minor-league baseball’s Brewers, HELENA; 37. Like lizards and lizardfish, SCALED; 38. Tennis since 1968, OPEN ERA; 40. “Give this A TRY”; 41. It can be dry or sparkling, WIT; 42. Title woman of a 1977 Neil Diamond hit, DESIREE; 44. Org. of sisters, SOR; 47. Bit of design info, SPEC; 49. Not still, ASTIR; 50. Where a ducktail tapers, NAPE; 51. Paroxysm, THROE; 53. Looney Tunes devil, for short, TAZ; 54. Ceilings, informally, MAXES; 55. Refuse to leave alone, HARASS; 57. Farmers’ market frequenter, maybe, LOCAVORE; 59. Novelist Shreve and others, ANITAS; 60. Hoosier, INDIANAN: 61. Key figure?, TYPIST; 62. Spark, CATALYST.

Down — 1. Close-fitting, sleeveless jacket, JERKIN; 2. 1998 Masters champ Mark O’MEARA; 3. Acknowledges without a sound, NODS AT; 4. Footnote abr., ET SEQ; 5. Neighbor of Indiana and China in Risk, SIAM; 6. Post-O.R. stop, maybe, ICU; 7. What a boor has, NO CLASS; 8. Rock with colored bands, GNEISS; 9. Boor, APE; 10. Neighbor of 23-Across, IRAN; 11. Good name for an optimist?, ROSIE; 12. Call from the rear?, BUTT-DIAL; 13. Avatar accompanier, USER NAME; 14. Like music on Pandora Radio, STREAMED; 21. Hassle, PAIN; 24. Giants’ environs, BAY AREA; 25. Source of the delicacy tomalley, LOBSTER; 28. Like man mirrors, PANED; 29. Nautilus shell feature, NACRE; 31. Home for a sedge wren, FEN; 33. Like the out crowd?, GAY; 34. “Come again?”, HOW’S THAT; 35. Moment when the fog lifts, EPIPHANY; 36. “Go for it!”, LET ‘ER RIP; 40. Major copper exporter, ARIZONA; 43. Slanted, ITALIC; 44. State bordering Poland, SAXONY; 45. Unlikely fare for philistines, OPERAS; 46. Mind a lot, RESENT; 48. Kinkajou’s kin, COATI; 50. Like some forces, NAVAL; 52. Those, in Toledo, ESAS; 54. Hermes’ mother, MAIA; 56. Boomer for nearly 35 yrs., SST; 58. Setting for many card games, CDT.

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11.20.14 — Z

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Puzzle by Timothy Polin / Edited by Will Shortz

ZORRO (44D. Subject of this puzzle), DON DIEGO / DE LA VEGA (5D. With 37-Down, real name of 44-Down), THE CURSE OF / CAPISTRANO (4D. With 29-Down, first story to feature 44-Down [1919]), and a note to the crossword, “After completing the puzzle, connect nine appropriate letters in order to discover an image associated with 44-Down,”  constitute the main feature of this Thursday crossword.

Other — AVARICE (50A. “The spur of industry,“ per David Hume), BENZINE (24D. Petroleum ether), CAIN (29A. Initial offer?), DEICIDE (20A. What Set committed when he slew Osiris), I’M COLD (8A. “Brr-r-r!”), KERF (42A. Slit made with a saw), LEONINE (28D. Having a sense of pride?), LIZARD (54A. Skink, e.g.), M AND M’S (43d. Little green ones come from Mars), MINDLESSLY (43A. How zombies act), NEWS AGENT (33A. British paper vendor), NINE-SIDED (40A. Like Baha’i houses of worship), SNORKELERS (25A. They’re hooked up to breathing tubes).

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11.19.14 — No — Two Ways About It

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Puzzle by Jacob Stulberg / Edited by Will Shortz

THERE’S NO TWO / WAYS ABOUT IT (18A. With 64-Across, words of certainty … or a hint to 23-, 40- and 56-Across), along with three answers beginning with NO and ending with ON, e.g., NORA EPHRON (23A. “Silkwood“ screenwriter), NON-PRESCRIPTION (40A. Like Advil vis-à-vis Vicodin) and NOMINATION (58A. Convention outcome) constitutes the interrelated group of this Wednesday crossword.

Other — CALIPH (21D. Self-proclaimed leader of ISIS, e.g.), ELYSE (54D. “Family Ties” mother), EMIGRANT (22A. One headed for Ellis Island, say), HOT TEA (4D. Cold sufferer’s drink), KOMODO dragon (huge lizard), MAURA Tierney of “ER”, OKLAHOMA (61A. Where the Joads were driven from), PRIE-dieu, TNT (30D. Discharge letters?), UKASE (53D. Czar’s edict).

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11.18.14 — Power

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Puzzle by Jacob McDermott / Edited by Will Shortz

POWER COUPLE (36A. Beyoncé and Jay-Z, e.g. … or a hint to 17-, 30-, 44- and 61-Across) and four answers where both words can use POWER, constitutes the interrelated group of this bright Tuesday crossword:

SUPERSTAR (17A. Luminary among luminaries), e.g., superpower and star power
FULL STEAM (30A. Flat out), full power and steam power
HIGH HORSE (44A. Snooty attitude), high power and horsepower
MUSCLEMAN (61A. Bodybuilder, for one), muscle power and manpower

Other — CLAM UP (49D. Stop talking), IT’S EASY (52A. Accidentally say), KIGALI (50D. Capital of Rwanda), KOOKS (58A. Wackos), LET OFF and LET SLIP (6D. Excuse from responsibility; 53A. Accidentally say), NOUGAT (10D. Candy bar filling), NAUSEA (2D. Feeling after a roller coaster ride), PISTOL (38D. Energetic sort), SNARK (9A. Sarcasm), SOCKS (48A. Low pair?), SPANKS (51D. Hits bottom?), UNCAS (31D. Last of the Mohicans in “The Last of the Mohicans”).

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