The New York Times Crossword in Gothic

Networking Event

2012-01-28T20:16:00.000-05:00

Sunday, January 29, 2012

NETWORKING EVENT, Puzzle by Ian Livengood

Edited by Will Shortz

Eight network television channels are part of as many answers in this Sunday crossword:

SPIKE HEELS (22A. Fancy footwear at a TV station?)
EMARKETING (24A. Advertising department at a TV station?)
ENCORE PRESENTATION (36A. Slide show at a TV station?)
ION EXCHANGE (56A. Q&A at a TV station?)
HISTORY BUFF (72A Expert at a TV station?)
LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP (86A Enrollment at a TV station?)
FOX HUNTERS (104A. Recruiters at a TV station?)
OXYGEN TANK (106A. Fish holder at a TV station?)

Other — ATOMISTS (49D. Leucippus and Democritus, philosophically), BASS TUBA (69A. Instrument with a big bell), CHAIRLIFT (55D. It brings up many ticket holders), CHOP CHOP (58A. Lickety-split), DISCO STU (8D. “The Simpsons” character with platform shoes), LAMP POST (79D. One of a secretive trio), LIE ACROSS (35D. Blanket), PAINT BRUSH (53D. Oil producer?), SAND DUNE (44D. Sahara feature), TOOTHPASTE (32D. Canine protector).

Mid-size — ABOUND, ADHERE, AGHAST, BAR TAB, BORDEN, CAME BY, CORALS, EMERGE, HECATE, ICEMEN, I NEVER, IRON-ON, KRISTI, LEANER, LIONEL, LIPTON, MANSES, MAYANS, MIST UP, MOATED, MR HYDE, OH SNAP, PEEKED, PEYTON Place, PIRATE, RAIDER, SENIOR, SESAME, SHADER, UNIVAC.

Five-letter — AT PAR, AWFUL, BAGEL, BREAM, EDIFY, ERODE, GROKS, HEXED, I’M OFF, INANE, IRATE, JUDEA, LOONY, MANIA, MIKAN, MOUNT, NOOSE, ORION, “PAPA’S Got a Brand New Bag”, REELS, RINSE, ROWER, SEDER, SINAI, SUNNI Islam, TRANS, WREST.

Short stuff — ABAS, ACTE, AIM, ALOU, A-ONE, ARAB, ARPS, ATV, BAA and BAD, BETA decay, BIER, BIG D, B’NAI, BOAT, COE, CTRS, CYTO, DON, EEK and ELK, EINE, EMUS (60A. Green-egg layers), ETS, GAL, HAUS, HEAP, HONE, IOC, JARS, KHAN, LASH, LSD, LUST, MARV, NARY a scratch, Super NES, NIP, NOME, OGEE and OGRE, ORB, OTOE, OTRA, PARE, PEER, PEND, RAH, RIA, RICE, SIFT, SLUE, SRTA, SUP, TOON, TOP, TREE, TWIX, UKE, URGE, Gen XER, YALU, YOKE.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Swivel on an axis; 5. Cowboys’ home, familiarly; 9. Laughable; 14. Marble, e.g.; 17. One in Germany; 18. Locale of St. Catherine’s Monastery, said to be the world’s oldest working monastery; 19. Sources of many beads; 21. Narrow inlet; 26. Rugged transport, for short; 27. ___ Levy, four-time Super Bowl coach for Buffalo; 28. Visited; 30. Western loop; 31. Like some fortresses; 33. Lose ground?; 35. Classic toy company whose name is its founder’s middle name; 41. “Puss in Boots” villain; 42. “Barbarella” extras, for short; 43. Person making waves?; 44. “How ya doin’, bro?”; 47. Livid; 50. River to Korea Bay; 52. Insanity; 53. Shave; 54. Court recitation; 55. Midpoints: Abbr.; 61. Ruthless corporate type; 62. Noted calendar makers; 62. Underworld leader; 64. Overflow; 66. Skater Yamaguchi; 69. Sort (out); 75. Cookie holders; 76. Beginning of some temple names; 77. Opéra part; 78. Cockamamie; 79. Carnal craving; 80. European freshwater fish; 82. George nicknamed Mr. Basketball; 83. “Tsk! Tsk!”; 84. Baseball family surname; 92. Shocked; 95. How some stocks are bought; 96. Hold fast; 97. Seize; 98. Playful response to a good insult; 101. You might rub a knife across it; 103. Country singer David Allan ___, writer of “Take This Job and Shove It”; 109. It’s picked in the Pacific; 110. One taking the gold?; 111. Meal with wine; 112. Missouri relatives; 113. It was dropped at Woodstock; 114. “___ Got a Brand New Bag” (1965 James Brown hit); 115. Orange or olive; 116. Await decision. — DOWN: 1. Opening word?; 2. Tea merchant Sir Thomas; 3. Early computer; 4. Shout in a strip; 5. Drink served with Brezein; 6. “What chutzpah!”; 7. Miss at a hoedown; 9. Old block deliverers; 10. Gold rush town of 1899; 11. Graceful horse; 13. Utah’s state animal; 14. Mythical figure blinded by Oenopion; 15. Do a certain dish duty 16. Zero, in slang; 18. Beach umbrella, e.g.; 20. Student involved in a prank, maybe; 23. Appear on the scene; 25. SpongeBob, e.g.; 29. Sugary quaffs; 34. Fishing gear; 39. Primo; 40. Product from Mars; 45. Push; 46. One of a group of 12, say; 47. World org. based in Lausanne, Switzerland; 48. Bowl call; 51. Some Dadaist works; 52. Go up; 56. “Ta-ta!”; 57. Place to live in Germany; 59. Prefix with -plasm; 60. Give lessons; 64. Sheiks’ garments; 65. Sidecars might go on it; 66. “Star Trek II” villain; 67. Houston university; 70. Meadow call; 71. “Ready!” follower; 73. Joiner of a team; 74. Gravy holder; 75. Home of ancient Bethlehem; 79. One of a secretive trio; 80. Dairy brand; 82. Get foggy; 85. One-point score, of a sort; 86. It might be batted at a knockout; 87. Clerics’ homes; 88. Half of a title role for John Barrymore or Spencer Tracy; 89. Goddess associated with witchcraft; 90. Like some T-shirt designs; 91. Didn’t wait until Christmas, say; 92. Terrible; 93. Savvies; 94. Entranced; 98. Other, in Oviedo; 99. Crate; 100. Lassie of Arg.; 102. S-shaped molding; 105. Quick drink; 109. Outdo.

Curiouser and Curiouser! — the Acrostic

2012-01-28T15:49:00.003-05:00

Flamingo Croquet by Anne Bachelier

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Sunday, January 29, 2012

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Edited by Will Shortz

This Sunday’s delightful acrostic draws a quotation from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

When it was released Alice in Wonderland received little attention; the book failed to be named in an 1888 poll of the most popular children’s stories. Generally it received poor reviews with reviewers giving more credit to Tenniel's illustrations than to Carroll’s story. At the release of Through the Looking-Glass, the first Alice tale gained in popularity and by the end of the 19th century Sir Walter Besant wrote that Alice in Wonderland "was a book of that extremely rare kind which will belong to all the generations to come until the language becomes obsolete". ~ Wikipedia

The quotation: …SHE HAD NEVER SEEN SUCH A CURIOUS CROQUET-GROUND…; IT WAS ALL RIDGES AND FURROWS; THE BALLS WERE LIVE HEDGEHOGS, THE MALLETS LIVE FLAMINGOES, AND… SOLDIERS HAD TO DOUBLE THEMSELVES UP… ON HANDS AND FEET, TO MAKE THE ARCHES.

The author’s name and the title of the work: CARROLL ALICE IN WONDERLAND

Jessie Willcox Smith's illustration of Alice surrounded by the characters of Wonderland. (1923)

The defined words:

A. English county home to the River Dee, CHESHIRE

B. Like a pen name, ASSUMED

C. "Why is a raven like a writing-desk?,” e.g., RIDDLE

D. Knockabout behavior (2 wds.), ROUGH STUFF

E. Sort of bellowed and whistled, with a kind of sneeze in the middle, OUTGRABE

F. Site of ongoing crypto zoological inquiry (2 wds.), LOCH NESS

G. Actor Charles who said “I have a face that would stop a sundial”, LAUGHTON

H. Going new places, seeing new things, etc., ADVENTURES

I. Spot-checking rule? (2 wds.), LEASH LAW

J. Measurer of sharpness (2 wds.), IQ TEST

K. Eight-by-eight setting, CHESSBOARD

L. “But four young Oysters hurried up, / All EAGER for the treat” (“The Walrus and the Carpenter”)

M. Tale in which Sir Wilfred weds Rowena, “IVANHOE”

N. Refuse to be found after Christmas?, NEEDLES

O. Car, in slang, WHEELS
P. Resembling a celebrated wall-sitter, OVIFORM
Q. Confection that may be crunchy, NOUGAT
R. Antagonist of the Queen of Hearts, DUCHESS
S. Taken to a higher plane, ELEVATED
T. 1950 Crime film with shifting points of view, “RASHOMON”
U. Surname of the girl who inspired the subject of this puzzle, LIDDELL
V. After a long wait (2 wds.), AT LAST
W. Benvolio, to Lord Montague, NEPHEW
X. Label on the neck of a potable’s bottle (2 wds.), “DRINK ME”

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The complete paragraph of the quotation and the paragraph following: `Get to your places!' shouted the Queen in a voice of thunder, and people began running about in all directions, tumbling up against each other; however, they got settled down in a minute or two, and the game began. Alice thought she had never seen such a curious croquet-ground in her life; it was all ridges and furrows; the balls were live hedgehogs, the mallets live flamingoes, and the soldiers had to double themselves up and to stand on their hands and feet, to make the arches.

The chief difficulty Alice found at first was in managing her flamingo: she succeeded in getting its body tucked away, comfortably enough, under her arm, with its legs hanging down, but generally, just as she had got its neck nicely straightened out, and was going to give the hedgehog a blow with its head, it would twist itself round and look up in her face, with such a puzzled expression that she could not help bursting out laughing: and when she had got its head down, and was going to begin again, it was very provoking to find that the hedgehog had unrolled itself, and was in the act of crawling away: besides all this, there was generally a ridge or furrow in the way wherever she wanted to send the hedgehog to, and, as the doubled-up soldiers were always getting up and walking off to other parts of the ground, Alice soon came to the conclusion that it was a very difficult game indeed. ~ Alice in Wonderland, Chapter IV. The Queen's Croquet-Ground.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

01.28.12 — Impact Attenuator

2012-01-28T01:05:00.009-05:00

Impact Attenuators, Fitch barriers / barrels —
an installation in Canada, image à la DUI

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Saturday, January 28, 2012

Puzzle by Barry C. Silk / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. Concern for a dermatologist, LUMP; 5. They often come with eggs, HASH BROWNS; 15. Catalan article, UNES; 16. What cuts power in half?, SQUARE ROOT; 17. Sheila’s welcome, G’DAY; 18. Opposite of “dissuaded from”, TALKED INTO; 19. Coulee, GULCH; 21. Messed up, BLEW; 22. Roster curtailer, ET AL; 23. Product of some decay, ALPHA RAY; 25. Non-Hollywood, say, INDIE; 26. Bit of wet-weather wear, GALOSH; 27. Packed things, PISTOLS; 29. Touchdown letters, ETA; 30. Something stuck in a freezer?, POPSICLE; 33. Five in the ninth inning?, ENS; 35. Step, NOTCH; 36. Prefix with 11-Down, DIS; 39. Signs near a teller’s window, maybe, ENDORSES; 42. Some proctors, briefly, TAS; 44. Of the essence, CRUCIAL; 47. Silverwing flier, CESSNA; 49. Prepare to send some mail, LOG ON; 50. Route through a park, maybe, BIKE PATH; 52. The toe of a boot?, OMAN; 53. Schnapps choice, PEAR; 55. Declamation stations, PODIA; 56. Many a crash cushion at a construction zone, SAND BARREL; 59. Get 44-Down, NEAR; 60. Affection, ENDEARMENT; 61. Bananas, GAGA; 62. Civil engineering vehicle, ROAD GRADER; 63. School in the Piedmont region, ELON.

Down — 1. It’s checked before taking off, LUGGAGE; 2. Ripple, UNDULATE; 3. Dieter’s design, MEAL PLAN; 4. Like many horror flick characters, PSYCHO; 5. One of the subjects of the best-selling ‘02 book “The Conquerors”, HST; 6. King Hussein Airport locale, AQABA; 7. Disgrace, SULLY; 8. Cod relative, HAKE; 9. Java, for one, BREW; 10. Like the Phillies’ caps, RED; 11. Word with career or goal, ORIENTED; 12. Falls short, WON’T DO; 13. Manx trait, NO TAIL; 14. Some ermines, STOLES; 20. Securing device, HASP; 24. Her help was solicited in a hit song, RHONDA; 25. P.R., e.g., ISL; 27. P.R. releases, PICS; 28. Passing comment at a poker table, I CHECK; 31. Shared funds, POOL; 32. Symphonic score abbr., STR; 34. Backed up, SECONDED; 37. “Sold!”, IT’S A DEAL; 38. Universidad de las Américas site, SANTIAGO; 40. “Children of the Albatross” novelist, NIN; 41. Osmose, SEEP; 43. Like much of Niger, SAHARAN; 44. Not so remote, CLOSER; 45. Swiss alternative, ROMANO; 46. Big coffee exporter, UGANDA; 48. Quick and thorough learner, SPONGE; 50. Like some canine teeth, BARED; 51. Daughter of Zeus and Themis, IRENE; 53. “The Incredibles” family name, PARR; 54. Aretha’s Grammy-nominated sister, ERMA; 57. Bit of 1-Down, BAG; 58. Photocopier abbr., LTR.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

01.27.12 — BOX

2012-01-27T07:19:00.003-05:00

Pandora Opening the Golden Box, 1903, John William Waterhouse

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Friday, January 27, 2012

Puzzle by Joe Krozel / Edited by Will Shortz

BOX (36A. Enclosure .. and an alphabetical listing of letters not appearing elsewhere in this puzzle’s answer) enclosed in a box of black squares constitutes the main feature of this sly holoalphabetical Friday crossword.

Other — ANIMAL FARM (57A. “1984” shelfmate), DEEP SEA DIVER (40A. One swimming with flippers), IN RANGE (49A. Accessible for shooting), JUST MY LUCK (21A. “Figures I’d have this problem!“), LECTURE HALLS (25A. Education dissemination locations), MARCEAU (23A. French expert in body language?), MUSCLE IN (23D. Lay claim forcibly), QUIZMASTER (17A. One asking questions he already knows the answers to), TRIANGULAR (50A. Like pool racks), YULETIDE (22D. Stocking-up time?).

Mid-size — AGARS, DERMAL, DINAR, DREGS, EDSEL, EMMAS, ENAMEL, ENGAGE, ERASE, EWERS, ICE TEA, “I MET A Girl”, I’M SURE, KITSCH, MANIC, MENUS, PATCH, PRUNED, Q-TIPS, SALINE, SAT UP, SAUDI, SPIKY, SWAMI, TALIA, TRIED.

Short stuff — ADZE, AFAR and AJAR, AGRA, ALDA, AMPS, ANTI, ASTA, CANS, DRUG, EDEL, EGAD, ELEV (32A. Highness: Abbr.), ESQS, GENE, I KID, LAME and LATE, LSD, MAUI, MICE, MUIR, PSAT, QED, REAP, RITE, SAAR, SERA, SHY, SIM, SIRE (20A. Highness), UMPS, URAL.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Actress Stone and others; 6. “Just playin’ with ya”; 10. Base characters?; 14. Meccan, e.g.; 15. Ones sitting on pads; 16. Cut off one’s ears?; 19. Cousin of contra-; 24. Draw back; 30. Solidfying agents; 31. Vase lookalikes; 35. Bouncing off the walls; 37. Sylvester’s “Rocky” co-star; 38. A Ford; 39. “___ Girl” (“Bells Are Ringing” tune); 46. Logical ending; 52. Host of PBS’s “Scientific American Frontiers”; 56. Baseball All-Star Kinsler and others; 59. Ordeal for jrs.; 60. Part of some pools; 51. Rose partially; 62. Clinic shipments; 63. Henry James biographer; 64. Lease desirable parts. — DOWN: 1. A.B.A. members’ titles; 2. Wailuku’s county; 3. California’s ___ Woods; 4. Wood shop shaper; 5. “Scrooge” star, 1951; 6. “Likely story”; 7. Lawn flamingos and such; 8. Pop alternative; 9. With 12-Down, lidocaine delivery option; 10. Risk board territory; 11. Stack at IHOP, say, 12. See 9-Down; 13. Like some punk hairstyles; 18. Cracked open; 25. Weak; 26 Quaint euphemism; 27. Film holders; 28. True companion?; 29. Pundit; 33. Mass action; 34. Mosel tributary; 41. Begin a conversation with; 42. Cut back; 43. Contact liquid; 44. Nail topper; 45. Home to a much-visited tomb; 46. Sticks in a makeup bag; 47. Sweep the board?; 48. Mosul money; 51. The Charleses’ pet; 52. Not close; 53. Like fashionable partygoers?; 54. It may knock you out; 55. Concert pieces; 58. 54-Down for a trip.

01.26.12 — You Can Leave Your Hat On

2012-01-26T01:35:00.002-05:00

You'll find him in the lower level of Silk Nightclub every Saturday starting at midnight.

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Thursday, January 26, 2012 — Australia Day

Puzzle by Alan Arbesfeld / Edited by Will Shortz

Adding ST to five common phrases (ALL FOR ONE, TEXAS RANGERS, JACK THE RIPPER, RIKER’S ISLAND and ILL-AT-EASE) resulting in five odd ones, constitutes the interrelated group of this lightly-clad Thursday crossword.

STALL FOR ONE (17A. Private quarters in a stable?)
TEXAS STRANGERS (23A. Dallas tourists, perhaps?)
JACK THE STRIPPER (37A. Name for a bachelorette party performer?)
STRIKER’S ISLAND (49A. Vacation spot for some who stop working?)
STILL AT EASE (60A. Not saluting for quite some time?)

Other — ADAPTS, AGASP and AROAR, ARRET, AT DAWN, BEAT IT, DELUXE, DIVER, DOOMS, DOSES, HAGUE, IN LOW and IN THERAPY (1D. Getting help of a sort), KATIE, LORRIE, MADE UP, NEATO, NEVER MIND (32D. “Forget it!), OSCAR (41A. Announcement that comes from an envelope), OCCURRING (30D. Going on), ODEON, PINS ON, PROTRACTS (8D. Extends), SALSA, SLAMS, SPREE, TIN EAR, TSARS, TUBER, U TUBE (44A. Horseshoe-shaped lab item).

Short stuff — AHEM, AIDE, ALF, A LOT and A MAN, ANN, BAM, BSA, CASH, CHAD, CNBC, EDU, EEN, ERG, HAS, IDS, LEAD, METE, NEST, NIL, NOT I, OHO and OJO, POST, PURE, RBI, REBS, RED, SEE, SPA, SRS, SUCH, TRUK (39D. W.W. II Pacific battle site), TVA, VASE, UTES, YDS.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Africa’s Lake ___, body of water in four countries; 5. Changes, in a way; 11. Fingers; 14. Many a staffer; 15. Moore who wrote “A Gate at the Stairs”; 16. Goose egg; 19. New Deal inits.; 20. Court site, with “The”; 21. Dole; 22. “Could we get started, please …”; 28. “Looky here!”; 31. What may give you the business?; 34. Old line in Russia; 43. Meas. of ground gained or lost; 46. What may come from a sock?; 55. Utter; “I’m ___” (Bo Diddley song); 57. Classic theater; 59. Result of bringing someone home, for short; 62 Velvet finish?; 63. Attaches, in a way; 64 Pac-12 team; 65. Bit of work; 66. Very early; 67. Mail. — DOWN: 12. Certain incentive; 2. Try to punch; 3. Saw; 4. Top-of-the-line; 5. 1980s sitcom filmed with a puppet; 6. Renders hopeless; 7. Stop over in Paris?; 9. Musical liability; 10. Date; 12. One going under; 13. Really bad-mouths; 18. Alchemy material; 22. Clearly stunned; 24. Word before or after “as”; 25. “Don’t look at me!”; 28. Facial feature for Felipe; 29. Harbors; 33. Big inits. In camping; 35. Embarrassed; 36. Alums-to-be: Abbr.; 38. Actress Holmes; 40. Civil War fighters; 45. “Take a hike!”; 47. Plenty; 48. Reconciled; 49. Tear; 50. Yam, e.g.; 51. It’s often made with peppers and onions; 52. Like trucks going up or down a steep hill; 53. “Swell!”; 54. Doctor’s orders; 58. Fit (in); 60. Kind of treatment; 61. Cape ___.

01.25.12 — Tree Rings

2012-01-25T00:57:00.004-05:00

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Puzzle by Gareth Bain / Will Shortz

TREE RINGS (38A. Indicators of age … and a hint to this puzzle’s theme), along with four three-letter tree names, ELM, ASH, YEW and FIR, crammed into four squares and within circles akin to tree rings, constitutes the interrelated group of this Wednesday crossword.

GOSP[EL M]USIC (17A. What the annual Dove Awards are awarded for) with [ELM]ER (18D. Name for a bull
COLD [AS H]ELL (21A. Like winter in Siberia) with WAB[ASH] (10D. Indiana river)
E[YE W]ITNESS (56A. One at a crime scene) with KAN[YE W]EST (40D. “Gold Digger” rapper)
[FIR]ST AID KIT (62A. Place for iodine) with MIS[FIR]ES (48D. Rifle problems)

Other — AMENABLE (33A. Open to suggestion), AMOEBAE (11D. Sights on slides), BECOME (8D. Look good on), BEEGEE (35D. Any of the “Stayin’ Alive” singers), IN STORE (3D. Yet to come), I RECKON (43D. “Suppose so”), LUPINE (22D. Wolfish), MILLARD (12D. President Fillmore), NOSHING (4D. Having chips, say), RUN INTO (41D. Chance upon), SNEEZING (42A. Inviting a blessing?), WOOSNAM (2D. Ian who won the 1991 Masters).

Five-letter — ANTED, BLURB, DALIS, EBOLA, ESTER, GENRE, HAMID (15A. Afghanistan‘s Karzai), I LIED, KREME, LIEGE, LISZT, POACH, SHEDS SNERT, SPADE, SNERT,TERSE (31D. Like telegrams, typically).

Short stuff — ADIA, ANGE, ARM, BAI Ling, BLOB, EGAD, ESS, GAPE, GMEN, GUS, HOI polloi, INN, IN NO uncertain terms, IONA and IONS, ISLE, LAS and LARS, LATE, LAUD, LGE, MUS, OSH, OTIC, RBI, SARA, SEI, SIG, SSGT, STEP, STYE, SWAM, SWIG, TAY, TOOT, TREO, Drop TROU, Mao TSE-tung, UNO, Team USA.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Gulp from a flask; 5. Classic sci-fi terror, with “the”; 9. Began a triathlon; 13. College in New Rochelle, N.Y.; 14. Running behind; 19. “The Hot Zone” virus; 20. Source of T-bones; 23. Game with Skip and Reverse cards; 24. Baseball card fig.; 26. Followers of lambdas; 27. “The Crow” actress ___ Ling; 28. Song title for both Fleetwood Mac and Starship; 30. Kind of aerobics; 32. Phyllis’s never-seen TV husband; 36. Coming-clean words; 40. Sweet filling, in commercial names; 46. Sing a paean to; 47. Pursuers of the Sopranos, for short; 49. Drop ___ (start to disrobe); 50. “Newhart” setting; 51. Tre + tre; 52. City of Kyrgyzstan; 55. Tricky turn; 59. Take illegally; 61. Noir or comedy; 65. Perfumer’s compound; 66. “Horrors!”; 67. Accelerator particles; 68. Drunken spree; 69. Staph-caused irritation; 70. Cherub at Notre Dame. — DOWN: 1. Autograph: Abbr.; 4. Act starstruck, say; ; 5. Words on a jacket; 6. Chorus syllables; 7. Ear-related; 9. Gets rid of; 10. Indiana river; 16. “The Persistence of Memory” and others; 25. Trinidad or Tobago; 29. Chipped in; 32. “Hungarian Rhapsodies” composer; 34. Part of a slot machine; 37. Apparel abbr.; 45. NASA’s Grissom; 46. Feudal subject; 51. Dog in the funnies; 53. Classic Bogart role; 57. Palm smartphone; 58. Army NCO; 60. 1998 Sarah McLachlan hit; 63. Scotland’s Firth of ___.

01.24.12 — D, A/E/I/O/U/Y, E

2012-01-24T00:33:00.002-05:00

King Cobra eating another snake, taylorlifescience.pbworks.com

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Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Puzzle by Alex Boisvert / Edited by Will Shortz

DAE, DEE, DIE, DOE, DUE and DYE found in DANIEL DAE KIM, TWEEDLEDEE, DIE-CAST CARS, MEET JOHN DOE, DUE PROCESS and TIE-DYE SHIRTS constitute the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword.

D, A/E/I/O/U/Y, E from the Light-writing alphabet by Nir Tober.

Other — ACERBIC, AIR COOL, CADDIE, COBRAS (24A. “King” serpents), DROOLS, ELEGIST, GLOSSY, I MEANT, MISSES, REPENT, STARVE.

Five-letter — ABIDE, BANES, CASTE, CHIME, DIORS, St. ELMO’S fire, EXILE, GO APE, OPRAH, ORTHO, RATER, REINA, ROKER, SLEEP, URALS, VOILA.

Short stuff — AHOY, ALE and ALL, ARAB, AREA, ATE, AXLE, BEAR, BOSC, CAD, CIA, CRAM, CUBA, DST and EST, DUH, EAST, EEL and EEN and EES, HERO, HOLE (27D. Darned thing), ICE T, IMHO, ISLE, IVY, JET, MANO, MAUI, NAHS, OUT, REAP, RELO, REO, ROSY, SAX (65A. Instrument for Clarence Clemons), SEXY, SID, SORE, STAR, TRA and TRY, VIEW, YALE, YIN.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Brown, Penn or Harvard; 4. Locale of Guantánamo Bay; 8. Go without food; 14. “The Good Shepherd” org.; 15. Omani or Yemeni; 16. Use a fan on; 17. It twists underwater; 18. He played Jin-Soo Kwon on “Lost”; 20. “Through the Looking-Glass” character; 22. Move, in real-estate ads; 23. Swings that result in strikes; 26. Doorbell sound; 29. Site of Haleakala National Park; 30. Pinkish; 31. Some collectible toys; 38. Everything; 39. “That is to say …”; 40. ___ Speedwagon; 41. 1941 Frank Capra film; 44. Animal that can stand upright; 45. One who saves the day; 46. Lose it; 47. Puts back to zero, say; 50. Displays appetite, in a way; 54. Wheels’ connector; 55. Cornerstone of the American legal system; 59. Some hippie wear; 62. Had a bite; 63. Writer of sad poems; 64. Slangy turndowns; 65. Instrument for Clarence Clemons; 66. Show contrition; 67. “Hey, sailor!”; 68. Give a go. — DOWN: 1. “Cop Killer” singer who went o n to play a cop on TV; 2. Outlook; 3. Alma mater for Bill and Hillary Clinton; 4. Golfer’s assistant; 5. They divide Europe and Asia; 6. Bugaboos; 7. Endure; 8. Caesar of comedy; 9. ___-la-la; 10. Biting; 11. Al of “Today”; 12. “There you have it!”; 16 Drink sometimes indicated in comics by “XXX”; 19. Some tech grads; 21. TV award; 24. Social class; 25. Unsafe?; 26. Stay up all night before a test, say; 28. ___ of Man; 29. José ’s hand; 31. Some expensive dresses; 32. Modest “Methinks,” online; 33. Poetic time after dusk; 34. Heel; 35. ½ base x height, for a triangle; 36. Gather in the field; 37. Peeved; 42. U2 guitarist; 43. 767, e.g.; 44. Pear type; 46. Photo finish?; 47. Olympics judge, e.g.; 48. Punishment for Napoleon; 49. Catch 40 winks; 50. “Well, obviously!”; 51. Madrid’s ___ Sofia Museum; 52. Noted talk show retiree of 2011; 53. Straight: Prefix; 55. Mar.-to-Nov. hours; 56. Sunup direction; 57. Play the lead role; 58. Alluring; 60. Yang’s counterpart; 61. Superlative suffix.

01.23.12 — Disorientation

2012-01-22T23:41:00.001-05:00

Peruleous Fights Glaurung, Umar's Dragons

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Monday, January 23, 2012 — Chinese New Year

Puzzle by Sarah Keller / Edited by Will Shortz

TOOTH AND NAIL (20A. Fiercely), FOOT IN MOUTH (35A. Embarrassingly imprudent), CHEEK BY JOWL (42A. Next to one another) and HAND OVER FIST (59A. Fast and in large amounts) constitute the interrelated group of this fine Monday crossword.

Other — AMNIOS (23A. OB/GYNs perform them), CAESAR (48A. Roman leader who m et his fate on the Ideas of March), DIFFER (50D. Be at odds with), DRILLS (55A. Dentists’ tools), KARAOKE (43D. Sing-along at a bar), LENTIL (4D. Popular soup legume), MINICAM (9D. Easily portable movie maker), OATERS (30A. Westerns, in old lingo), TABASCO sauce, WADED IN (45D. Entered up to one’s ankles).

Five-letter — “A ROOM of One’s Own”, ARTIE, ASHEN, AUDIO, BRINK, ELATE, ETHAN, FEUDS, IDAHO, IDEAS, LIE TO, LSATS, MALTA, MIRTH, NO-CAL, NONET, PEONY, RINDS, SLEET, STRAY, UNION, WICCA (32D. Pagan nature religion).

Short stuff — ABE, ACID, ANON, ANT, ARNE, End in A TIE, Pro BONO, Raisin BRAN, DIA, EDIE, ETTA (68A. Blues singer James), ETON, FAA, HINT, “HAD I but known … “, HOLY Bible, HOOF, HST, IDOL, IGOR, “IT’LL cost you”, LAG, LES, LIRR, LOCH Ness monster, LOIN, MAUL, OLAN, RAID and RAIN, REN, ROSY, SEN, In SYNC, TAE and TAJ, TERP, TOE, URL, VIDA Blue, WES.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Manhandle horribly; 5. U. of Maryland athlete; 9. Jollity; 14. “Rule, Britannia” composer; 16. Brainstorms; 17. Cut of meat; 18. Pro ___ (how some law work is done); 19. Composition for nine musicians; 24. In ___ (harmonious); 25. Air safety org.; 32. “Scream” director Craven; 40. Fall behind; 41. Falco of “Nurse Jackie” 47. Member of the upper house: Abbr.; 49. Police action on a gambling ring; 51. “Carpenter” or “harvester” insect; 52. Drizzle, say; 61. Television input jack; 64. Battery fluid; 70. Wife in “The Good Earth”; 71. Having a positive outlook. — DOWN: 1. Mediterranean island county; 2. Woolf’s “___ of One’s Own”; 3. The “U” in E.U.; 6. School on the Thames; 7. Outsides of melons; 8. Spring bloom; 10. Winner of a Fox talent show beginning in 2002; 11. Stimpy’s canine pal; 13. President after F.D.R.; 21. Part of a horse that’s shod; 22. Before long, poetically; 25. Prolonged hostilities; 26. Clarinetist Shaw; 27. Drained of color; 31. Follow of tic-tac; 33. Revolutionary Allen; 34. Frozen 52-Across; 36. Atlantic City casino, with “the”; 37. Stravinsky or Sikorsky; 39. Article in Paris Match; 46. Train line to Penn Sta.; 53. Boise’s state; 54. Like some diet drinks; 56. Be untruthful with; 57. Exams for would-be attys.; 58. Veer off the beaten path; 59. Clue; 60. ___ Blue, 1971 Cy Young Award winner; 61. Lincoln, the Rail-Splitter; 62. WWW address; 63. Day, to Diego.

01.22.12 — Snow White's Employment Agency

2012-01-21T21:10:00.003-05:00

Sunday, January 22, 2012

SNOW WHITE’S EMPLOYMENT AGENCY

Puzzle by Adam Fromm / Edited by Will Shortz

Seven answer/clues featuring the dwarfs of the Disney film of Snow White constitute the interrelated group of this skillful Sunday crossword.

NIGHT WATCHMAN (24A. Bad occupation for Sleepy?)
GOTH MUSICIAN (29A. Bad occupation for Happy?)
FLORAL ARRANGER (57A. Bad occupation for Sneezy?)
MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER (63A. Bad occupation for Grumpy?)
ALGEBRA TEACHER (73A. Bad occupation for Dopey?)
VILLAGE IDIOT (98A. Bad occupation for Doc?)
TV PERSONALITY (110 Bad occupation for Bashful?)

Other — ALAKAZAM (“Voilà“), APACHES, BIGGIES, BULKIEST, CHRONICLE, CORONACH (52D. Funderal song in Scotland), ENZYMES, GO VIRAL (56D. Become a YouTube sensation), HEADACHE, ONE PAIR (88D. Not a great hand for raising), ORATION, OUTSELL, PERCENT, POACHERS, PRODUCT, ROMANOV, SEAHORSE (105A. Hippocampus hippocampus, e.g.), SILICON, SOCIABLE, STRAFED, THE BARD, UNCLE SAM, WALNUTS.

Six-letter — ANALOG (55A. Having hands, maybe), ELAINE, ELITES, LASSOS, LLOYDS, MOMENT, MONICA, NAUSEA (21D. Vertigo symptom), ORIGIN, PAELLA (80A. Spanish dish), PLAQUE, RASTAS, SING OF (27D. Honor like a troubadour), STENTS, STRESS, TALONS, TOW BAR, UNITED.

Five — AMATI, ASCOT, Cave CANEM, CHEEP (95D. [“Give me the worm! Give me the worm!”]), CHEST, CONAN (32A. Hero who debuted in Weird Tales magazine in 1932), EISEN, ELTON, EMOTE, “ETHAN Frome“, HORNS, ILIFE, I’LL GO, I’M HIT and I QUIT, ITALO, KYLES, MAGMA, METER, MINIM, OLIOS, OUTER, PHONO, PLOPS, RELIT and REMIT, RENEW, RITES, SIGMA, STRUG, TESSA, VOLAR (98D. Relating to the palm of the hand), WACKO, WINED.

Short stuff — ADV, AIDA, Jai ALAI, APOD and AROD, Lhasa APSO, ART (111D. “Either plagiarism or revolution,” per Paul Gauguin), ASS, BATH (19D. Subject of dozens of Degas paintings), CAN, CHI, CPA, CRO Magnon, DANG, DDS, DINT, ELS, EMIR, ENTS, ERAS and ETAS, ERS, EVIL, GETS, GRE, LAUD, LEES, MOOG, NADA, NAME, NICE, NIT, RENE, RIPE, SAWS and SEWS, SOAP (30D. Bar that shrinks), SOO Canals, SPR, STEP, SSRS, TAG, TATU, THE, TRA-la-la, WHIG, WICK, WRY, YSER.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Colo. ___, Colo.; 4. 1040 preparer, for short; 7. Heartbeat; 13. Plied with spirits; 18. Shakespeare; 20. National Forensic League skill; 22. Rare violin; 23. Royal house until the early 20th century; 26. One; 27. Head of ancient Sparta?; 28. Hardest to ship, say; 31. Bit of wear for a fop; 33. M.A. hopeful’s ordeal; 34. Like Oscar Wilde’s humor; 37. Ruler in a robe; 41. Touch while running; 42. Home of two M.L.B. teams; 44. Villains in 1939’s “Stagecoach”; 48. Last ___; 50. Ones running away with the game?; 54. Mrs. Robinson’s daughter; 59. More than a quarter of the earth’s crust, by mass; 61. Longtime Yankee nickname; 62. Spot for a flame; 69. 2000 musical with the song “Fortune Favors the Brave”; 70. Diplomatic, say; 71. Some juices; 79. Grippers; 81. Classic figure in a top hat; 83. It needs to be fed frequently; 84. Best in the market; 86. Last word of “Finnegans Wake”; 89. Gives a darn?; 90. Bridge maker’s deg.; 91. Biblical mount; 93. Singer John; 95. Common tattoo spot; Mismashes; 109. Employee of the month award, say; 112. Waldorf salad ingredients; 113. Sports anchor Rich; 114. Attacked ground units, in a way; 115. Honchos; 116. Lands in a puddle, maybe; 117. Accent. — DOWN: 1. Kerri ___, U.S. gymnastics star at the 1996 Olympics; 2. 45 player; 3. Pay up; 5. One going to market; 6. Daily or weekly: Abbr.; 7. “Friends” role; 8. (0,0), on a graph; 9. Eruption sight; 11. A picky person may pick one; 12. Trailer attachment; 13. Bananas; 14. “Somebody shot me!”; 15. Questionnaire blank; 16. Airport postings, for short; 17. Force; 25. Group with the 1995 #1 hit “Waterfalls”; 30. Bar that shrinks; 33. Miss; 34. Like four U.S. presidents; 35. Mathematician Descartes; 36. River to the North Sea; 37. Chapters in history; 38. Half note; 39. Novelist Calvino; 40. Like lanterns at the start of evening; 42. Log; 43. Big bother; 45. Degree of interest?; 47. Fire; 49. Convivial; 53. Cuts; 58. Finally edible; 60. Zip; 64. Duo with the 2003 hit “All the Things She Said”; 65. Levi’s alternative; 68. Actors MacLachlan and Chandler; 67. Serve up some ham?; 68. Extend, in a way; 72. Georgia and Moldova, once: Abbr.; 73. Like two peas in ___; 74. Hail; 75. Is allowed (to); 76. Overhead transports; 77. Tolkien’s tree creatures; 78. Some Jamaicans; 82. “Switched-On Bach” instrument; 85. Snares; 92. Surgical inserts; 93. Aristocracies; 94. Big name in insurance; 96. Hallmark of the Philadelphhia sound; 97. Sounds of hesitation; 99. Apple software bundle that includes GarageBand; 100. Volunteer’s cry; 101. “Shoot!”; 102. Disgruntled worker’s parting cry; 103. External; 104. “The Gondoliers” bride; 105. Ballet bit; 106. Malevolent; 112. Fighters org.

01.21.12 — Hot Stuff

2012-01-21T01:04:00.001-05:00

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Puzzle by Martin Ashwood-Smith / Edited by Will Shortz

Featuring six fifteen-letter answers, obfuscation and misdirection render this if-you-can’t-stand-the-heat-get-out-of-the-kitchen Saturday crossword fit only for the calm and cool solver.

COME INTO THE OPEN (17A. Emerge)
SACAGAWEA DOLLAR (29A. It first circulated in 2000)
PRIME REAL ESTATE (38A. Great parking spot, slangily)
AIRPORT TERMINAL (39A. Gate holder)
SEEDLESS RAISINS (40A. Sultanas, say)
TENDERLOIN STEAK (57A. Slice from beneath the ribs)

Other — AGE OLD (26D. Steeped in tradition), ARE YOU ALONE (14A. Phone query before a private conversation), CAMP DAVID (2D. Roosevelt established it as Shangri-La), COSMIC (28D. Vast), EDITED OUT (19A. Like many obscenities), FEDERATIONS (23D. Big leagues), OCCULITISM (18D. Kabbalah), PYROMANIA (54A. Lighting problem?), STATE SENATE (61A. One of Washington’s houses, e.g.), UNDER ARREST (15D. Oppressed by the heat?).

Five-letter — ALOUD, ANNEX, A PLAN, BAKES (52D. Is oppressed by the heat), COMAS, ELENA, END OF, ERIES, ERODE, FACES, FERNS, KYOTO, LENOS, LOEWE, LOTTO, NEPAL, ONE AM, OTTER, PAL UP, PATON, REMIX, RIATA, TAKEI, ZONED (13D. Like a lot, maybe).

Short stuff — ADS, ALER, AT AN and AT NO, ARIE, CANE, CAR, CIRÉ, CLAD, EATS (33D. Sinks a sub?), ECU, ELO, ESL, EWE, LANI, MSEC, NEZ, NYET, OLAV, ORB, PEE, RELS, REX and SEX, RTE, SOIE, SPAS, TCM, TONI, UNH, WETS (32D. Believers in raising spirits?).

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Fiddlehead sources; 6. Get chummy; 11. Odeur detector; 16. Grp. With the top 10 album “Face the Music”; 20. Supporter of Yoda; 21. Masters focus; 22. Words before story or debate; 24. Wrapped up; 25. Dodgem feature; 27. Euro forerunner; 41. Things often zapped; 42. It shows many B&W pictures; 43. South Georgia’s Prince ___ Harbor; 45. 1960s TV actor whose name looks like a free offer?; 50. Big revolver; 53. “Mickey” singer Basil; 60. Roquefort source; 62. 1976 Rodgers and Harnick musical about Henry VIII; 63. Soft, meshed fabrics; 64. Some are drug-induced. — DOWN: 1. Braves; 2. Lose ground?; 3. D.J.’s creation; 4. Maxim’s denial; 5. Somme silk; 6. “Cry, the Beloved Country” author; 7. One way to pray; 8. Match game?; 9. America East sch.; 10. Epi center?; 11. Seti River setting; 12. Opera’s Obraztsova; 29. Pleasant treatment centers; 30. Oberhausen opera highlight; 31. Highly glazed fabric; 34. Joltin’ Joe, e.g.; 35. “Lift Every Voice” author Guinier; 36. ___ end; 37. Genealogical line: Abbr.; 43. Sleek fur; 44. “The Little Prince” composer; 45. Proposal for business expansion; 47. “But not without ___”: Pope; 48. Golden Pavilion setting; 49. Early New Yorkers; 50. Early hour; 51. Neck tie?; 55. Brief moment, briefly; 56. He’s 2, say; 58. An expat may take it: Abbr.; 59. One taken on a drive: Abbr.

01.20.12 — Mammy's Son

2012-01-20T00:14:00.002-05:00

Friday, January 20, 2012

Puzzle by Patrick Berry / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. Semimonthly tide, NEAP; 5. Mooring post on a ship, BITT; 9. Head nurse on “Scrubs”, CARLA; 14. If you add up the pros and cons, ON BALANCE; 16. Nautical direction, ABEAM; 17. Pitcher of the only no-hitter in World Series history, DON LARSEN; 18. Small truck manufacturer, TONKA; 19. Highly rated 1997 film with the song “Tupelo Honey”, ULEE’S GOLD; 20. Take in, possibly, ALTER; 21. Flogs, HARD SELLS; 22. Like yoga instructors, LITHE; 23. Pink shade, ROSE; 24. Secures every share from, BUYS OUT; 26. Early man?, BOY; 28. Had some inventory problems, RAN SHORT; 28. HOV lane; 30. Berate profanely, SWEAR AT; 33. Court, WOO; 34. What mansions rarely are, ONE STORY; 38. “CNN = Politics” (TV slogan); 37. Inventor given a gold medal by Titanic survivors, MARCONI; 38. “Goodness me!”, GOSH; 41. U.K. Triple Crown racecourse site, EPSOM; 42. Dance trio?, CHA CHA CHA; 47. Suddenly took interest, SAT UP; 48. Motivated, BESTIRRED; 49. Go on, PRATE; 50. Communion place; 51. Abject, UTTER; 52. Colorful Amazon swimmer, NEON TETRA; 53. They’re indispensable, NEEDS; 54. Mrs. Charles Lindbergh, ANNE; 55. “The Lucy-DESI Comedy Hour”.

Down — 1. “Well, of course”, NO DUH; 2. Name on a famous B-29, ENOLA; 3. Mammy’s son, ABNER; 4. Adjective applied to ginger ale, PALE DRY; 5. Things towed along towpaths, BARGES; 6. Expanse beneath an arch?, INSOLE; 7. Certain lymphocyte, TCELL; 8. Words behind a counter, TENDS BAR; 9. Prompter, CATALYST; 10. Get rid of, ABOLISH; 11. Like some store furniture, RENT-TO-OWN; 12. North American home of 30,000 islands, LAKE HURON; 13. Tiramisu ingredient, often, AMARETTO; 15. Frequent photo prop for Will Rogers, LASSO; 25. “UNA furtive lagrima” (Donizetti aria); 26. Bourbon enemy, BONAPARTE; 27. Blow out of proportion, OVERSTATE; 28. Flat fish, RAY; 29. Pleasantly rustic, HOME SPUN; 30. The Village STOMPERS (musical group with the 1963 hit “Washington Square”); 31. Walked away with, WON; 32. Star of Ang Lee’s “Hulk”, ERIC BANA; 35. Looked for a phenomenon, maybe, SCOUTED; 36. Blackened, CHARRED; 38. Leroux who created the Phantom, GASTON; 39. Premium number, OCTANE; 40. What a dickey simulates, SHIRT; 43. Lady of Paris, HELEN; 44. Junk car, CRATE; 45. Some funeral attendees, HEIRS; 46. “We’re Madly for ADLAI” (old campaign song).

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01.19.12 — Maelstrom

2012-01-19T01:14:00.005-05:00

Maelstrom by Salvador Dali

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Thursday, January 19, 2012

Puzzle by Derek Bowman and Sarah Keller / Edited by Will Shortz

TO-DO LIST (66A. Agenda … or, together, what the seven starred clues and their answers constitute?), BROUHAHA (1A. *Rumpus), HOO-HAH (16A. *Excitement), HOOPLA (63A. *Foofaraw), HURLYBURLY (7D. *Hubbub), COMMOTION (10D. *Turmoil), HULLABALOO (30D. *Ruckus), and KERFUFFLE (32D. *Tumult) constitute the interrelated group of this turbulant Thursday crossword.

Other — A HANDFUL, IMMORAL, LOOK-SEE, NO ESCAPE (39D. 1994 Ray Liotta action film), OLD SCORE, PIONEER, ROOF RACK, SIX STORY, TOE NAILS, UNICORN (34A. Figure on Scotland’s coat of arms).

Mid-size — ACROSS, ADDED, Make A FOOL of, AH SIN (9D. Bret Harte/Mark Twain play), ALYSSA, BASALT (1D. Volcanic rock), EMCEED, “Good GRIEF!”, HDTVS, MEL OTT, NORTHS, OAXACA (3D. Southern Mexican state), OTTO II, PEARLS, PLEAD, RHINOS, SETS UP, SMOOTH, STRAFE, TAKEI, TAMEST, YES NO.

Short stuff — Santa ANA, BAH, CAL and CFL, EBAY, HERE, IMF, Hungarian hero IMRE Nagy, KSU, LMN, LOC, NOM de famille, OHO, OMIT, OPT, PIGS, ROC, SAT, SEA, SHE and SHH, SINE, SLYS, TAM and TOM, TEA, TKOS, TSA, Young UNS, VOLS, YMA (44A. Singer Sumac).

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 9. Across; 15. Some; 17. Like the maximum-height New York City apartment building that’s not required to have a fire evacuation plan; 18. Suave; 20. Encyclopedia units: Abbr.; 21. World financial grp.; 22. Footnote abbr.; 23. Stallone and Stone; 24. Bridge seats; 28. Inits. On many uniforms since 2002; 29. “Pfui!”; 31. George of “Star Trek”; 32. The Wildcats of the N.C.A.A.; 36. Innovator; 40. Quick check; 4. Unprincipled; 42. Run after K; 46. Check the box (for); 49. Plays matchmaker for; 51. Web site that includes the heading “Dolls & Bears” 54. Social; 55. Calgary Stampeders’ grp.; 56. Ready for shipping; 57. Bit of Highlands attire; 58. Attach from above; 61. Something to settle; 64. They may be painted in a bathroom; 65. Ran the show. — DOWN: 2. Zoo critters; 5. Many flat-screens; 8. Milano of “Charmed”; 11. Auto attachment; 12. Cry of surprise; 13. Perched; 14. Theater admonishment; 25. Match enders, briefly; 26. “Just take it”; 27. Trig term; 33. Slew; 36. They want the most; 38. Cut out; 45. 1920s-’40s baseball with a retired “4”; 46. Holy Roman emperor who succeeded his father in 973; 47. Cultured ones?; 48. Most likely to eat out of one’s hand, say; 50. Pray; 52. Threw in; 53. Kind of question; ___-goat; 59. Big gobbler; 60. “Arabian Nights” bird; 62. Home of 19-Across: Abbr.

01.18.12 — Spare Tire

2012-01-18T02:12:00.003-05:00

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Puzzle by Chris Handman / Edited by Will Shortz

SPARE TIRE (64A. Trunk item … or what has been put on 18-, 24-, 41- and 53-Across?), TRUST BELT (18A. Monopolist’s clothing accessory?), ICON ARTISTS (24A. Designers for Microsoft Windows?), ROUT OF THIS WORLD (41A. What Martian invaders may be intent on?) and EAT ALL COSTS (53A. What the backer of a failing business may do?) constitute the interrelated group of this durable Wednesday crossword.

Other — I DO I DO (Emphatic assent), NESTEA (25D. Lipton competitor), NO RUSH (62A. “Take your time!“), QUICKSAND (33D. Stuff that can give you a sinking feeling?), SPARSE (21A. Like a poor attendance), THEME PARK (10D. Disney development).

Five-letter — ACHOO, ADAIR, ALIEN, AM TOO, ARRAS, END UP, ENIAC, GET AT, IT’S ME, MINOS, NASAL, NILLA, NO HIT, OILER, OJAYS, ONION, OPENS, OTTER, PONZI, PROOF, REPIN, SELLS, SEUSS, SISSY, STEAL, TANYA, TERRI, TOILE, WILCO.

Short stuff — ANT, AOL, ATM, CAMP, EEE, ELO, ERR (27A. Blow it), ESO and ESP, FAQS, FRA, GTS, IKEA, ILE, IRK, LAD and LAG, MEME, MOBS, OAST, ON ME, PANT, PEWS, PJS, RDA, SETS, SHE, SLAY, SLIP (29A. Blow it), SMEE, SOL, TAI chi, TEST, TIM, ZAC.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Places for flocks; 5. Some sporty cars; 8. Sandbox retort; 13. Pizza topping; 15. Wide shoe spec; 16. Like a perfect game, of a sort; 17. Nabisco wafer; 20. Teen idol Efron; 23. Crewman on the Jolly Roger; 28. “Do Ya” rock grp.; 31. Refs. For Web site newbies; 34. Brewer’s equipment; 38. Oil well firefighter Red ___; 44. Martian, e.g.; 45. Viral phenomenon on the Web; 46. Assemble-it-yourself chain; 47. Sleepaway, e.g.; 49. Young ‘un; 51. Really get to; 60. License prerequisite, often; 66. Moves first; 68. King who had the Labyrinth built; 69. Trail the pack; 70. “Love Train” singers with “the”; 71. Become, eventually; 72. That, in Toledo; 73. Cause to roll in the aisles. — DOWN: 1. Schemer called to mind by the Madoff swindle; 2. Univac I predecessor; 3. Word after “roger,” to a radioer; 4. G, in the key of C; 5. Insinuate; 6. Country singer Clark; 7. Dr. for kids; 8. Tiny colonist; 9. Pitchfork-wielding groups; 11. Gretzky, for may years; 12. Bewhiskered frolicker; 14. Like some French vowels; 19. Where props are seen; 22. Bit of math homework; 26. Beanery side dish; 30. Emphatic assent; 31. Monk’s title; 32. WWW giant; 35. ___ inside (store sign); 36. That ship; 37. “Tiny” boy; 39. ___ de la Cité; 40. Nutritionist’s fig.; 42. Words of generosity; 43. Hawks; 48. Huff and puff; 50. It may elicit a blessing; 51. Words after a knock; 52. Adjust, as a corsage; 54. Upholstery fabric; 55. Polonius’s hiding place; 56. “Hasta ___”; 57. Item at a 95% markdown, say; 58. Country singer Tucker; 59. He-man’s opposite; 61. Drop ___ (moon); 65. Eerie gift; 67. Sleepover attire, for short.

01.17.12 — Van Gogh, Etc.

2012-01-17T06:44:00.002-05:00

Self-portrait with Bandaged Ear, Easel and Japanese Print, January 1889

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Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Puzzle by Elizabeth A. Long / Edited by Will Shortz

VINCENT / VAN GOGH (48A. With 50-Across, Dutch painter represented by this puzzle’s circled letters), along with the circled letters, EYE, EYE, NOSE, MOUTH and EAR, constitute the interrelated group of this wry Tuesday crossword.

Other — ADVISED (10D. Counseled), EYESORE (26A. Not a pretty sight), FRECKLE (4D. Something redheads tend to do), HOOSEGOW (8D. Slammer), NOWADAYS (33A. Currently), OBTRUDES (39A. Sticks out), ONGOING (45D. Not stopping), PROPOSALS (11D. Season-ending events on “The Bachelor”), RACIEST (40D. Most risqué), RAT SNAKES (32D. Rodent-eating reptiles), SOCKEYE (24A. Red salmon), WENT SOLO (37D. Broke off from a group).

Mid-size — AGATES, AFOOT, AFORE, Win by A NOSE, BATHE, BIPED, EATER, ELITE, FLOSSY (43A. Showily stylish), FOLIC, GEESE, HASTY, IDAHO, IN AWE, KOREA (57A. It used to be called the Hermit Kingdom), MEREST, MOTTS, MOUTH, ON AIR, ORDER, SABINE (46A. River on the Texas/Louisiana border), SWEDE, THICK, TOTEM, VETTE (50D. Sting Ray, e.g., informally), VOWEL.

Short stuff — ABA, APES, BAN, BETA, DIN, DRAW, EBB, ETS, EWES, FRA Angelico, “Pardon me, would you have any GREY Poupon?”, HEM, IDES, KEYS, LANK, “LEST we forget“, LET, LYE, MET, MIFF, MAO, NEST, ODOR, RAN, In medias RES, SSE, STY, SUIT, TALE, TONE, UBER, VOTE, WAKE, WOW, YAW, YES and YET.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Tick off; 5. Wash; 10. Mimics; 14. Skunk’s defense; 15. Under way; 16. Attract, as an audience; 17. Dickens wrote one about two cities; 18. They’re frowned upon; 19. What an office seeker seeks; 20. Blockheaded; 23. Human or kangaroo; 28. Cleaning substance; 29. Banded marbles; 30. Most negligible; 36. Sports org. in a 1976 merger; 37. Blow away; 38. Leased; 46. River on the Texas/Louisiana border; 47. Hightailed it; 54. Warning at a station; 56. Cairo-to-Addis Ababa dir.; 58. Evidence of a ship’s passing; 59. Be sassy, with “off”; 61. Fateful day in March; 62. Ovine mothers; 63. Cream of the crop; 64. Wasp’s home; 66. Indian emblem. — DOWN: 1. Applesauce maker; 2. The 43^rd state; 3. Kind of acid in breakfast cereal; 4.Something redheads tend to do; 5. Outlaw; 6. In front of, old-style; 7. Kind of deafness; 9. Flying saucer fliers, for short; 12. “Peter Peter Pumpkin ___”; 13. Writer Stieg Larsson, e.g.; 21. People are always searching for them; 23. Alpha-gamma connector; 25. Still; 27. Go slightly off course; 30. Chinese chairman; 31. Opposite of rise; 34. “You’re calling because …?”; 35. Messy dorm room, say; 37. Broke off from a group; 41. “Deutschland ___ Alles”; 42. What a lot off partiers make; 44. Long and lean; 48. “I’d like to buy a ___, Pat”; 49. Deeply impressed; 50. Sting Ray, e.g., informally; 51. “Large pepperoni with extra cheese,” e.g.; 52. V-formation fliers; 53. Overly quick; 56. Diamonds, e.g.; 59. Shook hands with, say; 60. What a seamstress may take up.

01.16.12 — Words, Words, Words

2012-01-16T00:40:00.006-05:00

Words, Words, Words, Bo Burnham

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Monday, January 16, 2012

Puzzle by Andrea Carla Michaels / Edited by Will Shortz

WORDS, WORDS, WORDS (17A. Hamlet‘s reply to “What do you read, my lord?”); PICKY, PICKY, PICKY (32A. “You‘re too hard to please!”); MONEY, MONEY, MONEY (42A. 1976 Abba hit) and CLANG, CLANG, CLANG (63A. How the trolley went in a 1944 song) are the interrelated group of this agreeable Monday crossword.

Other — EMPEROR, GOOSING, JASMINE / TEA (1A. Kind of 54-Down that‘s flavored with flowers; 54D. Pekoe, e.g.), LANTANA (16A. Flowering shrub common in the South), MASTERY, MIRACLE (44D. Backup singer for Smokey Robinson), OMNIBUS, ONE-A-DAY, SNEERED, STOOGES (69A. Moe, Larry and Curly), TACTILE, WRITTEN.

Mid-size — A FLAT, BARED, DRACO (51D. Northern constellation), ERODE, ESTEES, FACTS, ISLES, OLDER, PILOT, SASSY, SHASTA, SKIER, TANGO (55D. “It takes two“ to do this), UNDER.

Short stuff — Open A CAN of worms, AFRO, Jai ALAI, AMOK, ASEA, CNN, COE and CONE, DIP, DUET, DRY, EGGY, ELSA, ENNA, EPEE, FAD, GIG, GNU, GON, HILO, “Can I GO now?”, IRS, “Believe IT OR Not!”, JEWS, KLEE, KUE, LOLA, MEDS, MSN, NAP, NNW and NOW, ONTO, PAID, REES, RIP, ROI, RUE, “The SKY’S the limit!”, SPAM, SPRY, STY, YAYS, “YEE-haw!”, YOW (“Ouch!”).

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Polonius: What do you read, my lord?

Hamlet: Words, words, words.

Polonius: What is the matter, my lord?

Hamlet: Between who?

Polonius: I mean the matter that you read, my lord.

Hamlet, Act II, Scene II ~ William Shakespeare

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 8. Compilation book; 15. Tiberius or Charlemagne; 20. Musical piece for two; 21. “Cheers” actor Roger; 22. Laughed contemptuously; 25. Desertlike; 26. California peak; 30. Tear; 40. Bearded beast of Africa; 41. “Damn Yankees” seductress; 47. Louis XIV, par exemple; 48. Cosmetician Lauder and others; 49. It’s all the rage; 52. Not oral; 56. Bush do; 58. On a cruise; 59. Fencing sword; 67. Perceptible by touch; 68. Prodding into action; 70. Big name in multivitamins. — DOWN: 1. A majority of Israelis; 2. Frenzied; 3. Nimble for one’s age; 4. Docs prescribe them; 5. Tax org.; 6. This very minute; 7. Wear away, as soil; 8. Like a big brother; 9. Expertise; 10. Opposite of SSE; 12. Exposed; 13. Beneath; 14. Impertinent; 18. Parisian street; 22. Pig’s digs; 23. 40 winks; 24. Quick swim; 26. E-mail that’s sent out by the millions; 27. Largest city on the island of Hawaii; 29. T-bar rider; 31. Aviator; 34. Channel for Anderson Cooper; 35. Letter before ar; 36 Ice cream treat; 37. Swiss artist Paul; 38. Cheers for successes; 46. AOL alternative; 49. Statistics, e.g.; 50. Black key above G; 53. Capri and Wight; 57. Knowledgeable about; 59. “Born Free” lioness; 60. No longer owed; 61. Sicilian city; 62. Like a soufflé; 64. Band’s engagement; 65. Suffix with penta-, hexa-, hepta-, etc.; 66. Iowa college.

01.15.12 — Dust Tracks on a Road — the Acrostic

2012-01-15T06:02:00.008-05:00

Zora Neale Hurston, Florida, 1935,

Alan Lomax, photographer, Library of Congress.

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Sunday, January 15, 2012

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Edited by Will Shortz

This Sunday‘s acrostic draws a quotation from Dust Tracks on a Road: An Autobiography by Zora Neale Hurston.

First published in 1942 at the crest of her popularity, this is Zora Neale Hurston's unrestrained account of her rise from childhood poverty in the rural South to prominence among the leading artists and intellectuals of the Harlem Renaissance. Full of wit and wisdom, and audaciously spirited, "Dust Tracks on a Road" offers a rare, poignant glimpse of the life -- public and private -- of a premier African-American writer, artist, anthropologist and champion of the black heritage."Warm, witty, imaginative, and down-to-earth by turns, this is a rich and winning book by one of our genuine, Grade A, folk writers." ~ The New Yorker

The quotation: ROME, THE ETERNAL CITY, MEANT TWO DIFFERENT THINGS TO MY PARENTS. TO MAMA,… YOU MUST BUILD IT TODAY SO IT COULD LAST THROUGH ETERNITY. TO PAPA,… YOU HA TO LAY SOME BRICKS TODAY AND YOU HAVE THE REST OF ETERNITY TO FINISH IT.

The author’s name an the title of the work: HURSTON, DUST TRACKS ON A ROAD

The defined words:

A. Place affording a panoramic view, HILLTOP
B. Jerky; irregular; erratic, UNSTEADY
C. Old colony of southern Africa, RHODESIA
D. Workplace in a Longfellow poem, SMITHY
E. Goddess of witchcraft equivalent to Hecate, TRIVIA
F. Singer at the 1963 March on Washington, ODETTA
G. “I am not aware that I have deserved any NOTORIETY, and I have no taste for its buzz” (Alfred Nobel)
H. World War II infantry soldier, DOGFACE
I. Diacritic in many a heavy-metal band name, UMLAUT
J. Largest city east of Tokyo and west of Mexico City, SYDNEY
K. Key in using muscle memory (hyph.), TOUCH-TYPE
L. Engine valve that regulates intake, THROTTLE
M. “The wretched REFUSE of your teeming shore” (words on the Statue of Liberty)
N. Subject to interpretation, AMBIGUOUS
O. Valve train component, CAMSHAFT
R. Site of the Ernest Hemingway House (2 wds.), KEY WEST
Q. Fez-wearing club member, SHRINER
R. Field involving a lot of spectacles, OPTOMETRY
S. The longest interstate highway, NINETY
T. Fundamentally, in reality (2 wds.), AT BOTTOM
U. Capital with more than 4,000 mosques, RIYADH
V. Tuffet, pouffe or hassock, OTTOMAN
W. Still viable, as a business, AFLOAT
X. Infantile oral outbreak, DENTITION

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"I have been in Sorrow's kitchen and licked out all the pots.

Then I have stood on the peaky mountain wrapped in rainbows with a harp and a sword in my hands."

~ Zora Neale Hurston

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01.15.12 — Weather Report

2012-01-14T19:38:00.004-05:00

Sunday, January 15, 2012

WEATHER REPORT, Puzzle by Finn Vigeland / Edited by Will Shortz

IT’S RAINING CATS AND DOGS (68-Across - Weather comment represented visually by this puzzle’s circled letters), along with breed names of cats and dogs in circled letters constitutes the interrelated group of this sunless Sunday crossword, e.g., POODLE, PERSIAN, MANX, BOXER, CALICO and BEAGLE found within six descending answers:

PHONOGRAPH NEEDLE (13D. It’s lowered to hear music)
ANTIPERSPIRANT (29D. You probably raise your arm for this)
MASON-DIXON LINE (31D. It’s north of the South)
BRONX BOMBERS (34D. Big Apple team)
CABLE SITCOMS (39D. Shows that can be racier than their network counterparts)
BREAKING THE RULES (41D. Cheating)

Other — ADAMITES (10D. Nudists), CASTLE IN SPAIN (22A. Dream setting), COLD CASE (1A. DNA testing might reopen one), DEUS EX MACHINA (114A. Artificial plot device), DRY ERASE (123A. Like some boards), EARMARKS (120A. Some bills have them), EMOTICON (30A. : D, e.g.), FATIGUES (85D. Battle wear), NOMINATE (100A. Propose), OPERATOR (19A. Person who’s a zero?). PHASER and ZAPS (13A. “Star Trek“ weapon; 9A. Uses a 13-Across on).

Seven-letter — EPITHET, FINAGLE, HARTLEY, LIMEADE, MIRACLE (111A. Subject of a Vatican investigation), PHALANX (21A. Troop group), PREACHY, SORBETS, STOMATA (23D. Leaf pores), TRAM CAR.

Six — ADMIRE, ALBEDO (15D. Light reflection ratio), ALUMNI, DELMAR, DWEEBS, “By GEORGE!”, GOOBER, HONEYS (121A. Dolls), I’M LATE (93D. White Rabbit’s cry), LAUPER, LEGREE, LOAFER, MESMER, NORDIC, OLD BAG, SAINTE (28A. Thérèse de Lisieux, for one), SENSEI and SENSOR, SO I SEE, TORE AT, URBANE.

Five — ABODE, AIRER, AGREE, Kofi ANNAN, CLIME, ENDED, GESTS, GROPE, H-BEAM, KARMA, MADAM, NASTY, SAFES, TEE UP, XYLEM (763D. Plant tissue), ZIP IT (9D. “Shut your trap!”).

Short stuff — ABCS, ACME, ALT, ARM, ATC, “Lemme AT ‘EM“, AXES, CALI, COCA, COS and COSY, DOO, DR T, EBON, EDY, EEG, EGO, ENT, ERN, FAD, FAIR, GAD, GARY, GET, HAR, HEN, HERB, ICE, IDEE, “I GET it”, IMS, INIT, INKS, IPO, I TEN and I TRY, KIM, LEST, LGA, LIRA, LIV, MATE, MEET, MEH (111D. “I can‘t get excited about it“), MELD, MOE, MPAA, NAE, NON, NYPD, OPAL, ORS, OTIS, PEI and PET (103D. Doll), PHIL, PREY, PSI, REI, RIN, RTES, RXS, SAE, SRI, TAE and TAU, TEND, TIM, TKOD, TORT, VASE, WED, WNET.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 20. What will the French think of next?; 24. After-dinner choices; 25. PC key; 26. Some online communications, for short; 27. QB Tebow; 33. Battle-ax; 37. Grp. That coordinates E.T.A. and E.T.D.; 40. Letter-shaped girder; 42. Basis of a lawsuit; 44. Slip-on; 46. Places for rings, maybe; 48. Humble response to praise; 50. Organ repair sites, briefly; 51. Polished; 52. ___ B. Driftwood (“A Night at the Opera” role); 53. Org. that may assess violence levels; 54. PBS flagship station; 55. Part of a pinochle round; 56. Former U.N. secretary general Kofi ___; 58. Get ready to drive; 59. X, y and z; 60. Scot’s not; 61 Ousted from the ring, for short; 62. TV station, e.g.; 64. Cicely or tarragon; 72. Major artery through San Antonio; 74. Hunted; 75. TV tavern keeper; 76. Bud; 78. Feel (for); 80. The Mediterranean has a warm one; 82. Shade of a swan’s bill in a Keats poem; 83. Kindergarten stuff; 84. Gravitate; 85. Not cheating; 86. Many wonks; 88. Scat syllable; 89. One of the Everly Brothers; 90. Fate; 91. Fictional Simon; 92. Estee; 94. Rolling ___ (rich); 96. Kaput; 98. Overseas Mr.; 99. Austrian physician who lent his name to an English word ending in “-ize”; 102. “True Colors” singer, 1986; 104. Roam; 105. Letters on some N.Y.C. luggage; 108. Actress Tyler; 114. Artificial plot device; 118. “The Conqueror,” e.g.; 119. “___ it” (“Understood”); 122. Brit’s teapot cover. — DOWN: 1. Chewed stimulant; 2. Precious girl’s name?; 3. In the event that; 4. 2000 title role for Richard Gere; 5. LL Cool J’s “Going Back to ___”; 7. “That is quite clear”; 8. Directional suffix; 11. Nascar Hall of Fame architect; 12. Part of a security system; 14. Taft’s partner in a 1947 act; 16. R.S.V.P. facilitator: Abbr.; 17. Tolkien creature; 18. Pharmacies fill them, in brief; 21. Fourth letter after 49-Down; 23. Leaf pores; 32. Stock page listings: Abbr.; 35. Side (with); 36. Heroic deeds; 37. ___ Hall (site on many a campus); 38. Attacked; 40. Nest maker; 45. Angry Birds, e.g.; 47. Manipulate to one’s advantage; 49. Fourth letter before 21-Down; 53. Track ___; 54. Prison unit; 57. Security Council veto; 58. Mine transport; 61. ___ kwon do; 63. Put away; 65. Big name in frozen desserts; 67. 72-Across and others: Abbr.; 68. “Cagney & Lacey” org.; 69. Bazooka, e.g.; 70. Yokel; 71. Martial arts master; 76. Lady; 77. Villa, e.g.; 79. Portuguese king; 81. Tart drink; 82. Doc’s reading; 87. Bond; 89. Tediously didactic; 90. North Korean leader or his father; 95. Certain skiing competition; 97. California beach town with a racetrack; 101. Vicious; 106. Player of golf; 107. Climax; 108. The euro replaced it; 109. Signs; 110. One with a neck and a lip; 112. Bit of investors’ news for short; 113. ___ Tin Tin; 115. I, to Tiberius; 116. Struck; 117. Laugh syllable.

01.14.12 — For the Birds

2012-01-14T03:39:00.004-05:00

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Puzzle by Mark Diehl / Edited by Will Shortz

This arduous Saturday crossword should keep the solver fairly well occupied for a bit more time than usual.

Across — 1. Aldrin, Armstrong and Collins, CREWMATES; 10. Large parts of some support systems?, D CUPS; 15. Bit of the magic of Disney, PIXIE DUST; 16. Increased, RAN UP; 17. Start practicing, as bad habits, LAPSE INTO; 18. University next to the Centers for Disease, EMORY; 19. A.B.A. team that signed Moses Malone out of high school, UTAH STARS; 20. Yellow fever carrier, AEDES; 21. “Vexations” composer, SATIE; 22. Cause people to disbelieve, with “on”, CAST DOUBT; 24. Flintstones vitamins maker, BAYER; 25. Pull up stakes, informally, RELO; 26. U.S. United Nations representative, 2005-06, BOLTON; 30. Pfizer brand since 1997, LIPITOR; 32. Dunce-cap-shaped, CONOID; 33. “The Great Santini” author, CONROY; 34. Nutty as can be, IDIOTIC; 36. Kept slightly open artificially, maybe, WEDGED; 37. Storms on the road, GEOS; 38. Spanish uncle?, NO MAS; 40. Anne Brontë’s first novel; AGNES GREY; 42. The U.S.S. Constitution has three, MASTS; 47. Grounation Day celebrant, RASTA; 48. Snack item next to a dip bowl, NACHO CHIP; 50. With lid rattling, say, ABOIL; 51. These days, IN OUR TIME; 52. Waterfall or rapid, SAULT; 53. Feature of many a pizzeria, stone oven, STONE OVEN; 54. Builds up, HYPES; 55. Sticks firmly, HOLDS FAST.

Down — 1. A little above average, C PLUS; 2. Loop taken on a drive?, RIATA; 3. Gertrude Stein or Alice B. Toklas, EXPAT; 4. “WISH I could” (expression of regret); 5. Thornburgh’s predecessor as attorney general, MEESE; 6. Mine entrance, ADIT; 7. Makeshift cat dish, TUNA CAN; 8. Animal that has escaped from its owner, ESTRAY; 9. Fox Business Network show, STOSSEL; 10. Horrible, DREAD; 11. Provider of relief for a finger?, CAMEO RING; 12. Roman count?, UNO DUE TRE; 13. All in the family?, PURE BLOOD; 14. Le Carré specialty, SPY STORY; 23. Flashes, TRICES; 24. Ominous, BODING; 26. Coastal setting of “The Birds”, BODEGA BAY; 27. Bistro offering, ONION SOUP; 28. Bathroom item on a honey-do list, LOOSE TILE; 29. Bit of retribution, TIT; 31. Locust tree feature, POD; 32. Cuban remnant, CIGAR ASH; 35. From Land’s End, e.g., CORNISH; 36. Aces, nowadays, WAY COOL; 39. Will, if intentions bear out, MEAN TO; 41. De-ices, perhaps, SALTS; 42. Rules of conduct, MORES; 43. Lead-in to God or Congress, ACT OF; 44. Trinity member, SHIVA; 45. Post-marathon posts, TIMES; 46. Wiped out, SPENT; 49. “Best friend” from Germany?, HUND.

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01.13.12 — Dangerous Curves

2012-01-13T01:48:00.004-05:00

Dangerous Curves by Marsille, deviantart

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Friday, January 13, 2012

Puzzle by Todd Gross and Doug Peterson / Edited by Will Shortz

Divided into three sections by two heavy bars, this Friday crossword features five fifteen-letter answers:

ANTONIO BANDERAS (15A. Star of 2011’s “Puss in Boots”)
SPRINKLER SYSTEM (17A One shooting out on a golf course)
DANGEROUS CURVES (35A. What twisty arrows warn drivers of)
DOMESTIC ANIMALS (54A. Potential pets)
ELEPHANT TRAINER (57A. Worker whose charges may charge)

Other — ENGENDER (37A. Bring into being), IRENE ADLER (30D. Rachel McAdams’s “Sherlock Holmes” role), LINSEEDS (18A. Oil sources for oil paint), LOVER’S LANE (29D. Couples’ retreat), MANIFOLD (48A. Car exhaust part), STRIPLINGS (3D. Youth), TORA BORA (33A. Onetime Taliban stronghold), UNPLEASANT (2D. Like surprises you’d rather not get).

Mid-size — ALIENS (38A. Hit film directed by James Cameron), Done to A TURN, DON’T ASK, FAULT, HORDE, IN TWO, IS INTO, LETTERS, MUSLIMS (1A. Eaters of halal food), ORCAS, PALISH, PASS ON, STENT, STEREO, SPIDER STYLE, TEENAGE (8A. Like many mall fixtures?).

Short stuff — ACT, ARTY, AS OF, BED (16D. Flat bottom), BRIE, EDYS, ENS, ESME, FIAT, GAEL, IDED, INGE and INRE, INNS, LIP, LOIN, MAS, MIKE, MINK, NATL, NEST, NOLO, OER, OMIT, OSHA, RTS, SAN, SEP, SOLE (7D. Flat bottom), SOS, SRS, TARS, TAS, TERN, TMEN, WEPT (46D. Imitated Niobe).

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 19. Mode; 20. Mo. Containing Constitution Day; 21. Unhealthily light; 25. From; 29. It may be fat after a fight; 32. Digs; 39. Football linemen: Abbr.; 40. Arctic or Antarctic fish-eater; 41. It has left and right channels; 42. Part of S.F.S.U.; 43. How some hearts are broken; 58. Answer that avoids answering; 59. Writer’s field. — DOWN: 1. More, to a señor; 4. Chop source; 5. They have keepers; 6. Big of D.J. equipment; 8. Hold hands?; 9. Nav. Position; 10. Nestlé brand; 11. Partridge family setting; 12. Hanging out in galleries, say; 13. Isle of Man man; 14. “Nine Stories” title girl; 20. Web presence; 22. “Natural Affection” playwright; 23. Surgical aid; 24. Big band; 26. Foundering call; 27. Black-and-white giants; 28. Geologist’s big break?; 31. Choose to refuse; 34. Big wheel at a party?; 36. Beyond, to Browning; 43. Put the finger on; 44. Short plea; 45. Some govt. raiders; 47. Dept. of Labor division; 48. Stole option; 49. Do one’s part?; 50. N.F.C. part: Abbr.; 51. Concerning; 52. Order; 53. Except; 55. Univ. helpers; 56. Some 55-Down: Abbr.

01.12.12 — O Canada

2012-01-12T01:17:00.002-05:00

Northern Lights, Baffin Island in the Canadian territory of Nunavut

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Thursday, January 12, 2012

Puzzle by Gareth Bain / Edited by Will Shortz

CANADIAN PROVINCE (39A. What each of the 10 abbreviations in this puzzle’s answer stands for), along with SK, MB, ON, NB, AB, BC, QC, PE, NL and NS in single squares constitute the interrelated group of this thorny Thursday crossword.

Across — La PLATA (Argentine city); 6. Irksome PE[SK]Y; 10. Blacken, CHAR; 14. Museum piece, RELIC; 15. Name of counties in three states, all crossed by I-90, ERIE; 16. Loosen (up), LI[MB]ER; 18. Amicable, [ON] GOOD TERMS; 20. Abridge, ELIDE; 21. Windhoek-to-Pretoria dir., ESE; 22. “Beloved,” in operas, CARO; 23. Begin energetically, WADE IN; 24. Player of Mark Antony in 1953’s “Julius Caesar”, MARLO[N B]RANDO; 27. Sing, BL[AB]; 30. Epithet for France’s Louis VI, with “the”, FAT; 31. Singer Alan or Anita, O’DAY; 32. Weather line, ISOBAR; 34. Abbr. in classifieds, EOE; 35. Andries Pretorius, e.g., who gave his name to a national capital, BOER; 39. What each of the 10 abbreviations in this puzzle’s answer stands for, CANADIAN PROVINCE; 43. Bloom support, STEM; 44. Jimmy, PRY; 45. Electorate, VOTERS; 46. Gas brand north of the border, ESSO; 48. Pet rate in a 1972 #1 song, BEN; 49. Medium bra, [B-C]UP; 50. Old name of the San Jose Sharks’ arena, COMPA[Q C]ENTER; 55. Kind of push-up, ONE ARM; 56. Muckraker Jacob, RIIS; 58. Clinton’s veep and his father, ALS; 61. Gain knowledge, LEARN; 62. Skateboarding ramp, QUARTER PI[PE]; 65. American Shakers founder, AN[N L]EE; 66. Language that’s written from right to left, URDU; 67. Popular Italian scooter, VESPA; 68. Not natural, DYED; 69. Map magnification, I[NS]ET; 70. Kindle file, E-BOOK.

Down — 1. Like many a sniper, PR[ON]E; 2. Runners, LEGS; 3. Veld flower, ALOE; 4. Uncle José, e.g., TIO; 5. Hybrid, in a way, ACDC; 6. Inspect, PEER AT; 7. Wrongdoing, ERROR; 8. Less than 1%, [SK]IM; 9. “Assuredly”, YES; 10. Author Beverly, CLEARY; 11 “Broom-HILDA”; 12. Much-advertised sleep aid, A[MB]IEN; 13. Fixed up, REDID; 17. Where Harrah’s started RENO; 19. Sushi bar sauce, TAMARI; 23. The L.A. Sparks play in it, W[NB]A; 25. Not all there, LOOPY; 26. Frankfurt an der ODER; 27. They’re flicked, BICS; 28. Exam for future attys., LSAT; 29. Have [A B]ONE to pick; 30. It’ll pass, FAD; 33. “Pow!”, BAM; 34. Subject of the 2005 book “Conspiracy of Fools”, ENRON; 35. Drill part, BIT; 36. Year in the reign of the emperor Augustus, ONE [BC]; 37. Napkin shade, maybe, ECRU; 38. Party in a legal proceeding: Abbr., RESP; 40. Part of St. Paul’s, APSE; 41. No longer bothered by something, OVER IT; 42. Baron VON Richtohofen; 46. Like some runs, EARNED; 47. Small area meas., S[Q C]M; 48. City once divided by the Green Line, BEIRUT; 50. Mixer choice, COLA; 51. Seemingly ceaselessly, ON END; 52. With cruelty, MEA[NL]Y; 53. Gay PAREE; 54. Plumbing, e.g., TRADE; 57. Golf’s Ballesteros, SEVE; 58. Lhasa APSO; 59. Quick weight loss method, for short, LIPO; 60. Command eliciting barking, S[PE]AK; 62. On the QUI vive; 63. Mantelpiece pieces, UR[NS]; 64. Johnny REB.

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01.11.12 — C H

2012-01-11T00:12:00.005-05:00

Alley Cat 1933 by Everett Shinn

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Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Puzzle by Chuck Deodene / Edited by Will Shortz

Adding CH to words ending in AT that are part of familiar phrases resulting in an unfamiliar phrase constitutes the interrelated group of this tame Wednesday crossword.

SWATCH TEAM (17. Fabric store employees?)

PATCH ON THE BACK (23. Repair for a torn pullover?)

GO TO THE MATCH FOR (35. Attend a tennis tournament because one is a fan of?)

BATCH OUT OF HELL (50. Cookies baked by Satan?)

ALLEY CATCH (59. Arrest made on a side street?)

Other — AROMAS, BARACK, COLD CASES (31D. Dead-end investigations), DON’T BE SHY (10D. Advice to an introvert), ETC ETC, FULL STOP (38D. Period), OBOIST, PART II, SLINKY, SPAMALOT (3D. 2005 Broadway hit based on a 1974 film).

Five-letter — CAMPY, EAT AT, EVADE, I MEAN, Sierra LEONE, NYMPH, OPALS, OP ART and OP EDS, ORION, PESKY, SYNCS, TALON, UTLEY.

Short stuff — ANNO Domini, ANS, APSE, ARP, BEL, BUG, CHIC, COCK, CUE, DABS, DOUR, ENC, EPEE, EPIC, GNU, GOO, HRE, ITES, IVS, KIT, LEG, LUC, MAO, NAPA, NFC, NOR I, OCH, OMG, ORAL and OREL, ORCA, OTOE, PAW, PESO, PTA, RAT, RIG, SIS, SITE, TICS, TMAN, TUSH, USOC, YES, YURI.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Semidomed area; 5. Constellation with the star Rigel; 10. Smidgens; 14. Mecca for oenophiles; 15. Like a drag revue; ___-B; 19. ‘Me neither”; 20. “Nixon in China” role; 21. Sculptor Jean; 22. Fed in pursuit of counterfeiters; 27. ___ esprit (witty one); 28. Set of parts awaiting assembly; 29. Bothersome; 30. Org. that oversees American athletes; 32. Gunk; 34. Bro’s sibling; 41. “LaFemme Nikita” director Besson; 42. Serengeti herd member; 43. Vostok 1’s Gagarin; 44. Slanted columns?; 47. Dallas is in it, for short; 49. Kicker; 55. Ocean predator; 56. Back-to-school night grp.; 57. E.M.T. hookups; 58. Mineral suffixes; 64. Online destination; 66. Grumpy; 67. Muscular jerks; 68. Harmonizes, as digital devices; 69. Form of fencing. — DOWN: 1. All of the above, e.g.: Abbr.; 2. Claw holder; 4. Vex; 54. Edinburgh exclamation; 6. Turncoat; 7. “To clarify …”; 8. Eye-0strainign exhibit; 9. Young termite, e.g.; 11. Airborne stimuli; 12. President after George; 13. Toy consisting of 80 feet of wire; 18. One making a wake-up call?; 24. Feat for a soprano; 25. Plains native; 26. Monumental; 27. Flu; 33. Text messager’s “Wow!”; 34. Cram; 36. Heinie; 38. Period; 39. Oka River city; 40. Semi; 44. Wind section player; 45. Trilogy’s midsection; 46. Yadda, yadda, yadda; 48. Fashionable; 51. Milky gems; 52. Five-time All-Star second baseman Chase ___; 53. Avian gripper; 54. Sidestep; 60. S.A.S.E., for one; 61. “Getting to ___” (best-selling business book); 62. What a walk-on awaits; 63. Bygone Eur. realm.

01.10.12 — T P

2012-01-10T00:51:00.002-05:00

Sioux tipi, watercolor by Karl Bodmer, ca. 1833

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Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Puzzle by Gary Cee / Edited by Will Shortz

TEPEE (40A. Indian home … or a hint to nine other answers in this puzzle), THINK PIECE, TACK PIN, THE PIPS, TEAM PLAYER, TENNIS PRO, TEA PARTY, TAR PITS, TOM PETTY and THEME PARK constitute the interrelated group of this tepid Tuesday crossword.

Other — ASHORE, CHOOSE, CONNIE (20A. Francis who sang “Who‘s Sorry Now?”), EMERGE, FAT CAT, LECTER (8D. Hannibal of “The Silence of the Lambs“), LEVENE, PLAY-IN, REPAVE, ROTTEN, SHINER.

Five-letter — Happy as A CLAM, ALTER, AMITY, AMPLE, APSIS, “The results ARE IN!”, BELEM (57A. Brazilian port of 1.4 million), CARLA, INGLE, KINER, LABEL, LARGE, PRIOR, STEPS, SPOKE, TERSE.

Short stuff — ACT, ALE and ALI, ASHE, ANTI and ASTI and ASTR, “Clear the AREA!“, ATE, BAHN, CAPE Canaveral, CLEO, ENYA, FAST, HASH, HEP, HYPE, ITEM, KNEE, LEA, MAP, NSA, OATH, “Just the ONE“, PAR, PEÑA, PTAS, RHO, RING, RPMS, RTE, SARI, SHE, STAB, TEM, THAW, WHYS and wherefores.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Lickety-split; 5. French first lady ___ Bruni-Sarkozy; 10. Spear; 14. ESPN’s Arthur ___ Courage Award; 15. Let out at the waist, e.g.; 16. Major-leaguer Tony or Alejandro; 17. Essay, say; 19. “I do solemnly swear … ,” e.g.; 21. Lapel attachment; 24. Lunched, say; 26. “Glee” actress ___ Michele; 27. Unwordy; 28. King-size; 30. P, to Greeks; 33. Abovementioned; 35. No-good; 37. Space science: Abbr.; 42. Advertising, basically; 43. Select; 45. Fireplace; 47. President pro ___; 48. Cordial relations; 50. Sufficient; 54. Not unusual; 56. American defense org.; 58. Backup group for Gladys Knight; 61. Blacktop again, e.g.; 62 Busy and derby; 63. One not looking for individual glory; 68. Italian wine city; 68. Wedding band; 70. Degrees; 71. Word before deep or high. — DOWN: Nabob; 2. On dry land; 3. Black eye; 4. Coach on the court; 6. Rumble in the Jungle winner; 7. GPS recommendation: Abbr.; 10. Bike wheel radius; 11. Group associated with 2009’s Taxpayer March on Washington; 12. Opposed to; 13. U-___ (Berlin railway); 18. Hall-of-Famer Ralph of the Pirates; 22. ‘63 Liz Taylor role; 24 Skin soother; 25. La Brea fossil preserve; 29. Actor/TV personality Kinnear; 31. Cool, ‘50s-style; 34. Couple in the news; 36. Disneyland, e.g.; 37. Part of a play; 38. “He & ___” (1960s CBS series); 39. Singer with the Heartbreakers; 41. New Age Grammy winner; 44. Hindu wrap; 46. A-C on a filing cabinet, e.g.; 49. Beetle, for one; 51. Opening-round game of the N.C.A.A. basketball tournament; 52. Actor Sam of stage and screen; 53. Come to light; 55. Extreme point in an orbit; 58. De-ice; 59. ___ mark (#); 60. School grps.; 61. Dashboard readings, for short; 64. Porter or stout; 65. Treasure hunter’s aid.

01.09.12 — Of a Feather

2012-01-09T00:04:00.001-05:00

Bald Eagle Flying by Ed Book

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Monday, January 9, 2012

Puzzle by Michael Dewey / Edited by Will Shortz

FLY LIKE AN EAGLE (20A. Soar), SING LIKE A CANARY (38A. Tell everything to the coppers) and WATCH LIKE A HAWK (51A. Carefully guard) constitute the interrelated group of this fine Monday crossword.

Other — BUTANE, DARWIN, FRUGAL, ICICLE (21D. One with a freezing point?), KLEPTO (47D. Thief, in brief), KNOTTY, NARNIA (36D. Fantasy realm of C. S. Lewis), NEOPHYTE (40D. Beginner), SCALAWAG (4D. Rapscallion), WEAKENS (5D. Undermines).

Five-letter — ADAPT, AFTER, ASIAN (26D. Like about 60% of the world‘s population), ATTAR, AXLES, BERET, DISCS, DOZED, ECONO, ERICS, ETHIC, IRISH (39D. Dubliners, e.g.), ISAAC, QATAR (58A. Doha is its capital), RAN TO, REPEL, SCROD, SKEWS, SLYLY, SPAIN (35A. Barcelona’s land), SPECK, TRADE, TULIP (19A. Dutch bloom).

Short stuff — ACES, AEON, ALSO, AM SO, A TO Z, CAT, Tierra DEL Fuego, EDIE, EENY, ENDS, ETON, EXIT, HAAS, INK, ITEM, KRIS, LABS, LANA and LUNA (17D. Actress Turner; 53D. Goddess of the moon), NEWT, OPAL, OPEC, QED, REP, SHH, SKIN, SLIP, SNOB, TALL (11D. Like Dubai’s Burj Khalifa), TORI, TRA-la-la, USS, UTEP, VISA, WACO, WARD, WAVE, WOES, WOLF, YEAR.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Misfortunes; 5. A surfboard rides it; 9. “… lived happily ever ___”; 14. Oil ministers’ grp.; 15. Lighted sign near a stairway; 16. Swap; 18. Too; 23. They’re worth 1 or 11 in blackjack; 25. “On the Origin of Species” author; 28. “Quiet!”; 30. Science class sessions; 34. Nearly sacrificed son of Abraham; 41. Lynx or puma; 42. Rockers Clapton and Burdon; 43. Turn away; 44. Better-than-you type; 46. Tattoo fluid; 47. Gnarled, as a tree trunk; 48. Navy vessel initials; 50. Faux pas; 59. Lone Star State sch.; 60. Number after a © symbol; 61. Money-saving brand prefix; 62. Politico Gingrich; 63. Doughnut shapes, mathematically speaking; 64. Slept lightly; 65. “Are not!” playground retort; 66. Finishes. — DOWN: 1. “The Three Little Pigs” antagonist; 2. October birthstone; 3. “___, meeny, miney, mo”; 6. Car rods; 7. MasterCard rival; 8. James Bond’s school; 9. Fragrance of roses; 10. Penny-pinching; 12. Emmy winner Falco; 13. Member of the House: Abbr.; 22. Moral standard; 25. The chocolate parts of Oreos, e.g.; 27. Totaled, as a bill; 28. Particle; 29. Actor Lukas of “Witness”; 31. Evolve (per 25-Across); 32. French cap; 33. With cunning; 35. Dermatologist’s study; 45. Gas in lighters; 49. Catch of the day, say, in New England; 50. Distorts, as data; 51. Baylor University’s home; 52. The gamut; 54. Thingy; 55. Very long time; 56. Fend (off); 57. Kringle or Kristofferson; 58. Math proof ending.

01.08.12 — Doing Without

2012-01-07T19:44:00.004-05:00

Sad, empty glass - Image from www.sxc.hu

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Sunday, January 8, 2012

DOING WITHOUT, Puzzle by Tony Orbach / Edited by Will Shortz

Nine familiar phrases containing the word WITH become unfamiliar phrases without the WITH in this wry Sunday crossword.

DON’T PLAY MATCHES (24A. “Just do drills for now”?)

KEEP UP THE JONESES (30A. Disturb one’s neighbors at night?)

GREEN ENVY (54A. Duffer’s feeling toward a putting pro?)

DATE DESTINY (54A. Meeting one’s soul mate, perhaps?)

GET THE PROGRAM (67A. Successfully perform a download?)

SEALED A KISS (87A. Applied foil at the Hershey’s factory?)

I’M THE BAND (91A. One man’s declaration to an upset party planner?)

PASS FLYING COLORS (105A. Drive by the United Nations?)

I ONLY WANNA BE YOU (117A. Imposter’s excuse?)

Other — AEROSOL, AVOCADO, CABALLEROS (77D. Men of La Mancha), CERAMIC, CLARICE, COASTER, DULCINEA (47A. Don Quixote‘s love), EPICURE, HARNESS, IONIZE, LAKE POWELL (4D. Glen Canyon reservoir), PATTERNS, RAT TRAP, RENEWAL, REVERSE, SEERESS, SEMINAL, STAINED, STANDEE, STYLIZE, TEAR UP, UKULELE, ZEROES.

Five-letter — ACCRA, ALL IN, AMISH, AORTA, CADET, COLIN, COSMO, CREAM, DEREG, EARLE, EASY A, EAT ME, ELATE, ELUDE, EMDEN, EMILE, ESSES, FLAKE, GRUEL (109D. What Oliver asked for more of), HEAVE, HENCE, HINDI, IDEAL, I GAVE, IRENE, LATEN, MAHER, MANNA (82D. Food in Exodus), MULLS, NEIGH, ONSET, OSAKA, OWENS, QUOTA, RANEE, RENTE, SINUS, SLEDS, SPACE (27D. Go into la-la land, with “out“), STILT, STORK, TALKS, TOGAE, “I’ll have TO SEE“, ULNAR, ZONED (127A. Went into la-la land, with “out“).

Short stuff — ADS, AHA, ALY, ANTI, ARLO, ARN, APT, AQUA, AYES, BUM, CAM, DRIP, EACH, ECCE, EEK, EERY, ELI, END, ENCE, Conseil d’ ETAT, EVA, FEW, FRAT, GASP, GES, HOLI, ISP, ITE and ITER, JCT, KIN, LAW, LEO, MLLE, NICO, NIL, OHED, OIL, OLA, OLDE, ONE A, OPA, PHEN, RENA, ROT and ROTC, SALE, SEAS, SON, STOL, “Auld Lang SYNE“, TAM ‘O shanter, TARE, TILT, UTAH, WCS and WES, YEN and YES, ZAP and ZEE.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. A person can take big strides with this; 6. Hannibal’s foil in “The Silence of the Lambs”; 13. Museum piece; 20. Forum fashions; 21. Glade, e.g.; 22. Hue akin to olive; 23. ___-Itami International Airport; 26. Undo; 28. Back to Brooklyn?; 29. Slaughter; 37. Comic strip “___ and Janis”; 38. Inflation-fighting W.W. II org.; 39. A pop; 40. Former bill; 42. Handful; 44. Table saver; 56. Bogart’s “High Sierra” role; 57. Clive Cussler novel settings; 59. Weight allowance; 60. “Behold,” to Brutus; 61. Represent with a stick figure, say; 63. Words on a Wonderland cake; 65. Nonentities; 71. Who wrote “A true German can’t stand the French, / Yet willing he drinks their wines”; 75. Chamber exit; 76. One who discriminates?; 81. Naysayer; 82. Fr. title; 83.Fen-___ (former weight-loss drug); 86. Grow dark; 93. Sewing aids; 94. Rider on a crowded bus, maybe; 98. “I knew it!”; 97. Relations; 98. Shoppe modifier; 99. Foreign football score; 101. Blue shade; 113. Ponders; 115. Upton Sinclair novel on which “There Will Be Blood” is based; 116. Slum-clearing project, say; 124. “Me, Myself & ___”; 125. Tainted; 126. Part of some Tin Pan Alley music; 128. Take control of; 129. Original; 130. Twisty curves. — DOWN: 1. Bundle bearer; 3. Response to a pledge-drive request; 5. Get a bit misty; 6. Academy enrollee; 7. Constellation whose brightest star is Regulus; 8. Prince Valiant’s eldest; 9. Bunkum; 10. EarthLink, e.g., for short; 11. Actor Firth; 12. Thrill; 13. One may be overhead; 14. “Little” singer of the ’60s; 15. Coll. Elective; 16. Capital city on the Atlantic; 17. Pundit Bill; 18. Model; 19. Vodka drink, informally; 25. “Definitely!; 31. Strong cast; 32. 2010 Emma Stone comedy set in high school; 33. Highway sign abbr.; 34. Was audibly surprised, maybe; 35. Shake; 36. Holiday season event; 41. Loos; 42. Animal house, say; 43. Creepy: Var.; 45. Start; 46. Hovel; 47. Removal of restrictions, informally; 48. Path of Caesar; 49. One-named singer for the Velvet Underground; 50. Suffix with depend; 51. They might have it; 52. Some appliances; 53. Nag’s call; 58. Tarot user, maybe; 62. New York’s Tappan ___ Bridge; 64. Flat: Abbr.; 65. Kill quickly; 65. “South Pacific” hero; 68. Diplomatic efforts; 69. Hindu spring festival; 70. French income; 71. Exclaim breathlessly; 72. Ready for service; 74. Sports contest; 78. 4-Down locale; 79. Actress Sofer; 80. Goal; 84. Language from which “bungalow” and “jungle” come; 85. Saxony seaport; 88. Bad response upon first seeing one’s new haircut; 89. Insomnia cause; 90. Adaptable aircraft; 92. From now on; 95. Khan man?; 100. Take charge?; 101. Drivers of some slow-moving vehicles; 102. Allotment; 103. Kind of nerve; 104. One way to go, betting-wise; 105. Word after an ampersand, maybe; 17. Body cavity; 108. Eccentric; 110. Berlin Olympics star; 111. Rajah’s partner; 112. Malamutes’ burdens; 118. Musician Montgomery; 119. Things that may be 65-Downed; 120. Cadge; 121. Inventor Whitney; 122. Itch; 123. Motor finish?

01.07.12 — It's A Breeze!

2012-01-07T03:06:00.004-05:00

Bord de Mer (Marine: Bateaux de Pêche), c. 1868-72, Jules Dupré

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Saturday, January 7, 2012

Puzzle by Joe Krozel / Edited by Will Shortz

Eight fifteen-letter answers constitute the main feature of this breezy Saturday crossword:

EXTENSION COURSE (15A. Offering for continuing education)
DEAD AS A DOORNAIL (17A. Totally gone)
DIRTY POLITICIAN (44A. Mudslinger, say)
ANSWERED TO NO ONE (47A. Lacked any supervision)
EXERCISE MACHINE (2D. Aid in scaling down?)
STAYED THE COURSE (3D. Hung in there)
ORAL EXAMINATION (12D. Taxing educational hurdle)
ASIATIC ELEPHANT (13D. One traveling around India with a trunk)

Other — BENEFITS, CATBOAT (8A. Craft with one mast and one sail), DEEP RED, DIALECTS, DWAYNES, ESTIMATE, RED TIDE, RESCUED, SONANTS, STEP DAD, TELESIS (14D. Progress by intelligent design), WENT WILD (33A. Lost it).

Mid-size — “A COOL” million, BEARS, BETEL, BIREME (31A. Hellenistic-era galley), CCXII, CEDAR, CERTS, C-NOTES, COCOA, DESEX, DUPRÉ (39D. Barbizon School painter Jules), EHLERS (30A. Longtime “Guiding Light“ actress Beth), ILLIN’ LET ON, MOTHY, ODETTE, OUT OF, SCREW, SECTS, SERACS (29A. Glacial pinnacles), SINEX, SMELLS and SMELT, TACIT, “TRY AS I might …”, VANES, VETOED, WAS OLD (33D. Lacked in freshness).

Short stuff — BUN, CAPA, DID, ECON, ESS, ICER, LAE (20A. Papua New Guinea port), MINN, NEW, OYER, Dien Bien PHU, SETS, TOO, TORN, TWP, UNAS

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It's not always smooth sailing!

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Like many a fairy tale princess; 19. Pretend; 20. Papua New Guinea port; 21. One with a glazed-over expression?; 22. Plant related to pepper; 23. Places for shooting stars; 24. Finished; 25. They’ve been splintered; 26. Boiling point at Roman baths?; 27. Number tossed out; 32. Is offensive, in a way; 35. Left unsaid; 36 Waterwheel parts; 37. Learning the ropes; 38. Depression specialist’s subj.; 39. Fix; 40. Bullfighter’s cloak; 41. Vietnam’s Dien Bien ___; 42. Lacking; 43. Like some uncared-for-closets; 48. Strawberry, for example; 49. Voiced letters. — DOWN: 1. Potential beach closer; 4. It prevents things from becoming 43-Across; 5. Some, in Seville; 6. Southern leader?; 7. Southern and such; 8. Hundreds; 9. “___ Million” (Nathanael West novel); 10. Like some muscles and tendons; 11. Frank’s place; 14. Progress by intelligent design; 16. Proust’s Parisian courtesan; 23. One whose head is turned; 25. Take the lead from?; 26. Roll of candy; 28. Wack, in hip-hop; 29. Blockage-busting brand; 31. Job-hunting consideration; 32. Pop from a different line; 34. Hockey player Roloson and wrestler Johnson; 36. Like pocketed bills; 40. Brown shade; 42. Court hearing; 43. Brooklyn Park setting: Abbr.; 45. Municipal div.; 46. Before-long link.

01.06.12 — R We Who We R?

2012-01-06T02:41:00.002-05:00

Ke$ha from the video We R Who We R

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Friday, January 6, 2012

Puzzle by David Steinberg / Edited by Will Shortz

This sweet Friday crossword is filled with variety and interest, the familiar and unfamiliar, the fair, the unfair and far out — something for every solver.

Across — 1. Company whose jobs are often changing?, JIFFY LUBE; 10. Working group, STAFF; 15. Got to the bottom of, UNRAVELED; 16. It takes a bow at a musical performance, CELLO; 17. 1958 Buddy Holly hit, MAYBE BABY; 18. “Guaranteed relief every time” sloganeer, EX-LAX;19. Historic leader?, PRE; 20. “Dove SONO” (Mozart aria); 21. Thing, ENTITY; 22. Poetic contraction, EER; 23. Kind of strip, NO-PEST; 25. Workers’ org. founded by Samuel Gompers, AFL; 26. Farriers’ tools, RASPS; 29. Letters signifying quality brandy, VSOP; 30. Grant-giving org., NEA; 31. Musical with the song “Written in the Stars”, AIDA; 33. Said “There, there” to, say, SOLACED; 36. It makes the Statue of Liberty green, PATINA; 39. Guarantee, SURETY; 40. Very excited, ATINGLE; 42. The so-called Island of the Gods, BALI; 43. Head for the hills, LAM; 44. One can be tall, TALE; 46. Jerry or Jerry Lee, LEWIS; 50. Seine sight, ILE; 51. Rappers’ covers, DO-RAGS; 53. Sign, INK; 54. Lane on Broadway, NATHAN; 56. Attack, GO AT; 58. Telephone trio, GHI; 59. Against a thing, at law, IN REM; 60. 2010 Ke$ha chart-topper with a creatively spelled five-word title, WE R WHO WE R; 62. Clichéd, STALE; 63. Series of Nintendo games, MARIO KART; 64. Certain 49-Down, MAXIS; 65. Watersheds, DRAINAGES.

Down — 18-footer, maybe, JUMPER; 2. Measured two-dimensionally, IN AREA; 3. Chickens, for dinner, FRYERS; 4. “Marvy!”, FAB; 5. Surrealist Tanguy, YVES; 6. Simon of Duran Duran, LEBON; 7. Russian ballerina Galina ULANOVA; 8. Gets into Monk music, BEBOPS; 9. Eponym of a frozen food, EDY; 10. It may be picked up in the woods, SCENT; 11. Do a driver’s no-no, TEXT; 12. Axis, e.g., ALLIANCE; 13. Condition known medically as pes planus, FLAT FEET; 14. 1967 hit with the lyric “You know you’re a cute little heartbreaker, FOXY LADY; 21. Wife, in Juárez, ESPOSA; 24. Sister of Helios, EOS; 27. Sibling, at times?, PAIN; 28. Sound really good, SING; 32. 007 player, DALTON; 34. Put to sleep, LULL; 35. Auto racer Luyendyk, ARIE; 36. “Refudiate,” e.g., PALINISM; 37. Mythical runner, ATALANTA; 38. 1990s series initially set in the year 2193, TIME TRAX; 41. Place for a plug, EAR; 42. Mild Irish oath, BEGORRA; 45. Nike competitor, LA GEAR; 47. Move to and fro, WIGWAG; 48. Belong, INHERE; 49. Women’s wear, SKIRTS; 51. Women, DAMES; 52. 2005 horror sequel, SAW II; 55. Prefix with port, HELI; 57. Fund-raising suffix, THON; 60. Iraq war subject, briefly, WMD; 61. Olga tributary, OKA.

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01.05.12 — All for One, One for All

2012-01-05T01:58:00.007-05:00

Musketeer, 1870, Jean-Louis Ernest Meissonier

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Thursday, January 5, 2012

Puzzle by Dan Schmiedeler / Edited by Will Shortz

ALL FOR ONE / ONE FOR ALL (34A. With 21-Down, catchphrase that provides a hint to eight answers in this puzzle), along with the switching of ONE and ALL in eight entries constitutes the interrelated group of this vague, turnabout Thursday crossword.

GOODALL / GOOD ONE (14A. “That was funny!”; 59A. Jane who wrote “In the Shadow of Man”)
ENTHRONES / ENTHRALLS (24A. Captivates; 47A. Crowns)
IN STONE / INSTALL (3D. Set up, as software; 41D. Fixed)
T-BONE / T-BALL (4D. Schoolyard game; 49D. Certain steak)

Other — AUNT BEE, CASINGS, DUELLED (2D. Fought à la the Three Musketeers), EURASIA, GALILEE, LESSER OF two evils, MALACHI, OAT SEED, OUTGROW, REASSIGN (36D. Move to a new position), TWEEZES, UNRATED.

Mid-size — AGENTS, ALTON, AMEND, ANGLO (29A. White), ATTIC, BITES, CLOSE, DEBUG, DOUAI (44A. French city near the Belgian border), LASSO, LIVELY, MISSY, NO NO NO (37D. “You‘re doing it completely wrong!”), NORAD, ONSET, SARAH, SLIDES, TOUGH, TV SET, WOODS (61A. It‘s nice to be out of them).

Short stuff — ADO, BOG (51A. Quagmire), EEN, HEN, IDA, IVS, LAIR, LSD, MDI, MILS, MOAB (33D. Kingdom in ancient Jordan), NAH, NHL, NWA, OOF, RAIN, REA, SAAB, SONG, TEL, TIOS, TITO, TOLD, TOO and TOR, TRES, VIDI.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Year in a voyage by Amerigo Vespucci; 4. Business card abbr.; 7. Top of a ladder, maybe; 12. Resident of Mayberry; 17. Results of some cuts; 18. Turkey’s home; 19. ___ B. Parker, Theodore Roosevelt’s 1904 opponent for president; 20. What you might break into; 22. Medical drips; 23. Ending; 27. Biddy; 28. Figure of a Spanish count?; 30. “The ___ of March are come”; 32. Gut reaction?; 33. Grammy winner Elliott; 37. Org. featured in 1983’s “WarGames”; 39. Actor Stephen; 40. Marshal ___, cold war leader; 45. Swedish manufacturer of the 90, 900 and 9000; 46. Early gangsta rap group featuring Dr. Dre; 49. Zenith product; 52. Minuscule lengths; 53. Quick snacks; 54. Like some movie versions; 57. Stupefied; 60. Much of northern Israel; 62. Blues org.; 63. Acid. — 1. Book after Zechariah; 5. Time o’ day; 7. 00s, e.g.; 8. “Deal with it!”; 9. Rocky peak; 10. Suffragist ___ B. Wells; 11. Shells of shells; 13. Spanish uncles; 15. Spirited; 16. It may be thrown in a ring; 25. Picnic spoiler; 26. Opening; 28. Ratted; 31. Singer/songwriter McLachlan; 38. Get too big for; 42. Plucks, in a way; 43. Cereal grain; 45. Some jungle gym exits; 48. Alter; 50. Part of a Caesarean trio; 55 Trouble; 56. As well; 58. “Prob’ly not”.

01.04.12 — Brendan, Brendan!

2012-01-04T01:02:00.002-05:00

Brendan Behan

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Wednesday, January 4, 2011

Puzzle by Brendan Emmett Quigley / Edited by Will Shortz

The quotation I SAW A NOTICE / WHICH SAID / DRINK CANADA / DRY AND I’VE / JUST STARTED (18A. Start of a quip by 44-Across) and BEHAN (44A. Writer Brendan) is the main feature of this Wednesday crossword.

Other — ALIGHTED (38D. Came down), BELUSHI (2D. Only person to have the #1 movie, #1 album and #1-rated late-night TV show all in the same week), ONE DOWN (1D. You are here), OVERUSE (42D. Make a cliché), SALARIED (3D. On the payroll), SIM CARD (26D. Data holder on a cellphone), XEROXES (43D. Some duplicates).

Mid-size — ADORE, BANJOS, BOSSY, DENADA, DOWEL, DUARTE, EDGAR, ENOUGH, HASSLE, IRISES (11D. Van Gogh masterpiece), NEEDLE, NICHES, OGNES, ON ACID, OSRIC, SHEET, SLOMO, SNEEZY (13D. Bashful companion), SPINS, SWITCH, WOVEN.

Short stuff — AMC, AMYS, ANAL-retentive, BRA, CIG, DDT, DES, EAT, ELL and ELM, ESE, FALK, FSIX, IAN, INCA, IRA, JEER and JEEZ, JOAD, LOSE, LOX, MEW,NEA, NIE and NIX, NOS, OBS, OVA, PAT, PIN, PSST, REAL, RIC, ROD, SENT, “That’s all SHE wrote“, TEE, TUX, TWO, ZEDS, ZIT.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Baby docs; 4. Replay view, often; 9. Plays, as records; 14. Org. whose logo features the letter pi with an arrow through it; 15. Like wickerwork; 16. Comic Cheech; 17. Pipe joint; 20. 1980s Salvadoran president; 22. Parliament, e.g., in brief; 24. Courtier who invites Hamlet to duel with Laertes; 25. Key in the middle of the top row; 27. “Oh, c’mon!”; 30. Overly assertive; 31. Nietzsche’s “never!”; 32. Wood used in making some dartboards; 33. $$$ for later years; 39. “___ This, Not That! The No-Diet Weight Loss Solution!”; 40. “Breaking Bad” network; 41. Bagel accompaniment; 51. London jazz duo?; 52. Greenskeeper’s tool; 53. Rejections; 54. Campaign freebie; 55. One of the Beverly Hillbillies; 60. Awards ceremony rental; 61. Watches like a wolf; 62. Holder for a toilet paper roll; 63. Pittsburgh-to-Baltimore dir.; 64. Word with cookie or rap; 65. Flip over; 66. Chemin ___ Dames (W.W. I battle locale). — DOWN: 4. Feature of Dr. Frankenstein’s lab; 5. Come up short; 6. Fertility clinic stock; 7. Cry over spilled milk, perhaps?; 8. Tripping; 9. Urban woe; 10. Bit of butter; 12. Recesses; 19. Invalidate; 21. Detroit rapper ___-A-Che; 25. Peter who played Columbo; 27. “The Ghost of Tom ___” (1995 Bruce Springsteen album); 29. Shipped; 30. It’s held up with a hook; 33. Resident of the ancient city Choquequirao; 35. True; 36. Actor McKellen; 37. AMY’S Kitchen (organic frozen food); 44. Relatives of ukuleles; 45. “All right already!”; 46. Give a hard time; 47. “Gracias” reply; 48. Thing watched while driving through a speed trap; 49. Subj. of the 1948 Nobel in Physiology of Medicine; 51. Small blemish, in slang; 54. “Hey!”; 55. Razz; 57. Pipe joint; 68. 62-Across, e.g.; 59. Duo.

01.03.12 — Tweaking TEAKS

2012-01-03T01:54:00.001-05:00

Portrait of Keats, listening to a nightingale on Hampstead Heath
by Joseph Severn, c.1845

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Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Puzzle by Allan E. Parrish / Edited by Will Shortz

Five anagrams of TEAKS constitutes the interrelated group of this neat Tuesday crossword: TENT STAKE (17A. It goes in the ground at a campground); ROLLER SKATE (24A. Four-wheeled wear); MINUTE STEAK (35A. Tenderized cut of beef); DOUBLE TAKES (47A. “Huh ... what?” reactions); JOHN KEATS (56A. “Ode on a Grecian Urn” poet).

Other — ANISTON (40D. Jennifer of “Friends”), CAROTID artery, CYNICISM (3D. Pessimistic disposition), I ME MINE (2D. George Harrison’s autobiography), KEEP PACE (37D. Not fall behind), “Get back, LORETTA … Go home” (Beatles lyric), NEGLECTS (36D. Doesn’t do), PETITES (38A. Dress shop section), RAT-A-TAT (1D. Machine gun sound), REPASTS (41D. Meals), Ethiopia’s Haile SELASSIE.

Mid-size — ADIDAS, ANISE, ANTIC, ATILT, BARDOT (22A. “… And God Created Woman” actress), BRETTS (22A. Baseball brothers George and Ken), BRINE, CLARK, CUTIES, ELDER, ERNST, EROSE, GIANT, GITMO, ID TAGS, ILENE, KOHL’S, LAILA, MEL OTT (12A. Hitter of 511 career home runs), MOONIE, PRATED, SCAMP, SEXES, SURFAX, TORRES (52A. Baseball brothers Joe and Frank), TRAWL.

Short stuff — AMI and AMYS, BEST, DAHL, ESP, GILT, GTOS, HEAR, HST, “Dies IRAE“, ISAK, JOB, OAK, ORA and ORES, OWE and OWLS, PENS, PIP, PSA, RICH, SCOT, SEE, SHIP, STD, TESH, TIC, UMW.

'Beauty is truth, truth beauty,'—that is all

Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.

~ Keats, Ode on a Grecian Urn

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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. Among the 1%, so to speak; 5. Classic Pontiacs; 9. Playful little one; 14. Grant and Carter; 16. Often-consulted church figure; 19. Muhammad Ali’s boxing daughter; 20. Pal, in Paris; 21. Coal diggers’ org.; 23. Idiosyncrasy; 27. Liqueur flavoring; 29. They’re dug out of the ground; 30. Part of P.S.T.: Abbr.; 31. Former “Entertainment Tonight” co-host; 39. Catch some waves?; 42. Online exchanges, briefly; 45. Expensive coat?; ___ Chaiken, co-creator/writer of “The L Word”; 51. Beaut; 53. ___ pro nobis; 54. Non-revenue-generating ad, for short; 55. Like Robin Williams, typically; 59. 12-Down, for one; 60. Big-eyed birds; 61. Many a wearer of plaid; 62. Male and female; 63. A-number-one; 64. Coops. — DOWN: 4. Fair Deal pres.; 5. U.S. base in Cuba, informally; 6. Large fishing net; 7. State tree of Illinois, Iowa and Maryland; 8. Witness; 10. Fictional reporter Kent; 11. New Balance competitor; 12. Hitter of 511 career home runs; 13. Rambled on and on; 18. “Positively!”; 26. Not even, as a leaf’s edge; 28. Tanker or cutter; 32. Adorable ones; 33. Leaning; 34. Author Roald; 42. Luggage attachments; 43. Unification Church member; 44. Added assessment; 46. Writer Dinesen; 48. Pickling need; 49. Macy’s competitor; 50. ___ & Young, big name in accounting; 56. Offering on Monster.com; 57. Be in debt to; 58. “I know what you’re think” skill.

01.02.12 — Over, Around, Beyond and Under

2012-01-01T23:39:00.001-05:00

The Sense of Sight 1744-47 Philipe Mercier

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Monday, January 2, 2012

Puzzle by Paula Gamache / Edited by Will Shortz

SIGHT UNSEEN (62A. Literal description of something that is 18-, 24-, 40- or 49-Across), OVER THE HILL (18A. Elderly, so to speak), AROUND THE CORNER (24A. Soon to arrive), BEYOND THE HORIZON (40A. Pulitzer-winning 1920 Eugene O’Neill play) and UNDER THE COUNTER (49A. Secret or illegal) constitute the interrelated group of this back-to-work Monday crossword.

Other — OUT OF SEASON (25D. Like melons in spring, e.g.), REMNANTS (42D. Fabric leftovers), SELF-RELIANT (11D. Not needing anyone’s help), SETS UPON (5D. Attacks vigorously).

Five-letter — ADEAR, AMAIN, ANDES, ASKTO, Chili con CARNE, George M. COHAN, DOULA (58A. One providing nonmedical support for a woman in labor), DREAR, DROPS, EATEN, EDGER, EFILE, ELIHU, EMERY, ERITU, ETHER, HIREE, IRISH, LIRAS, LISLE, NIKES, NIVEA, NOHIT, NORSE, OUTRE, REESE, SARIS, SNERD, SNIDE, SPLIT, STROH, STYES, ULTRA.

Short stuff — ABC, AHOY, ANN, ANOS, ASSN, AZT, CALF, CATO, DENT, DSL, EEL and EER, EMIT, EON, IDA, IRS, KYL, LANE, LARA, LASH, LET, LMN, LULU, MEA, PHI, REPO, ROE, Cul-de-SAC, SALE, SEA, SINO, SOT, TKOS, UPS, YEA.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Peaks of Peru; 6. Not nice, as a comment; 11. “Prices slashed” event; 15. One just put on the payroll; 16. Like Odin and Thor; 17. Give off; 20. Mascara coats it; 21. Vote of support; 22. Bollywood wraps; 23. Submit a tax return via computer; 28. FedEx competitor; 29. Bowler’s assignment; 30. Send an invitation for; 33. Remaining 7 and 10 pins in bowling; 36. “___ Croft: Tomb Raider”; 43. Baby bovine; 44. Verdi aria; 45. All gone from one’s plate; 46. ___-Soviet relations; 57. Bygone Italian coins; 61. Some boxing results, for short; 65. “___ Man” (Emilio Estevez film); 66. “Please be __ and help me”; 68. The second “A” in N.C.A.A.: Abbr.; 70. Eyelid inflammations. — DOWN: 1. Cry to a matey; 2. Skin care brand; 3. Gloomy, to a bard; 4. Suffix with puppet; 6. Mortimer voiced by Edgar Bergen; 7. Like a pitcher’s perfect game; 8. Notre Dame’s Fighting ___; 9. Broadband inits.; 10. Reef wriggler; 12. With full force; 13. Smooth cotton fabric; 14. Air up there; 19. Brinker on skates; 23. Forever and a day; 26. Statesman Root; 27. Ancient Rome’s ___ the Elder; 30. Diane Sawyer’s network; 31. Aegean, e.g.; 32. Arizona senator Jon; 33. Old Detroit brewery name; 34. ___ Beta Kappa; 35. Tennis do-over; 37. AIDS treatment drug; 38. ___ v. Wade; 39. ___ Arbor, Mich.; 41. Fender ding; 47. Form 1040 org.; 48. Humdinger; 49. The “U” in UHF; 50. Shoes with swooshes; 51. Plummets; 52. Lawn trimmer; 53. George M. ___, “The Yankee Doodle Boy” composer; 54. Unconventional and then some; 55. Manicurist’s file; 56. Pee Wee of the 1940s-’50s Dodgers; 60. Years in Mexico; 63. Its capital is Boise: Abbr.; 64. Boozehound.

01.01.12 — Supergods — the Acrostic

2012-01-01T17:55:00.002-05:00

Sunday, January 1, 2012

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Edited by Will Shortz

This fine first-of-the-year acrostic draws a quotation from Supergods: What Masked Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants, and a Sun God from Smallville Can Teach Us About Being Human by Grant Morrison.

The first superhero comic ever published, Action Comics no. 1 in 1938, introduced the world to something both unprecedented and timeless: Superman, a caped god for the modern age. In a matter of years, the skies of the imaginary world were filled with strange mutants, aliens, and vigilantes: Batman, Wonder Woman, the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, and the X-Men—the list of names as familiar as our own. In less than a century, they’ve gone from not existing at all to being everywhere we look: on our movie and television screens, in our videogames and dreams. But what are they trying to tell us? ~ Amazon.com

The quotation: IT WAS COMMON FOR … ADVANCED RACES IN PULP ILLUSTRATIONS TO SPORT CAPES, TIGHTS, AND EXTERIOR UNDERPANTS, AS IF FOREMOST AMONG THE NATURAL CONSEQUENCES OF MILLENNIA OF PEACE… WOULD BE A VOGUE FOR KNEE-LENGTH BOOTS ON MEN.

The author’s name and the title of the work: GRANT MORRISON, SUPERGODS

The defined words:

A. The world of organized crime, GANGLAND
B. One whose morals inspire contempt, REPROBATE
C. Like the vowel sounds in “Flash has flat abs”, ASSONANT
D. Earning infamy through sheer wickedness, NEFARIOUS
E. One of Batman’s foes (hyph.), TWO-FACE
F., Type of fellow like Clark Kent, MILQUETOAST
G. Opposite of fame, OBLIVION
H. Manifestation of pure ecstasy, RAPTURE
I. Means of station-to-station transfer, REMOTE
J. How Spider-Man appears (2 wds.), IN COSTUME
K. Where you may hide from storms or robbers (2 wds.), SAFE ROOM
L. Under pressure; present (3 wds.), ON THE SPOT
M. “Well, that explains the mystery” (2wds.), NO WONDER
N. Made more stylish, dressed to the nines (2 wds.), SPIFFIED UP
O. Set free from restraint, UNSHACKLED
P. Kind of race engaged in by Giants, PENNANT
Q. Result of returning waves, ECHO
R. First Top 40 hit for the Police, ROXANNE
S. Water that rises in the Himalayas, GANGES
T. Those who supply uniforms and gear, OUTFITTERS
U. Publisher of the Justice League’s exploits (2 wds.), DC COMICS
V. Hometown of Lana Lang, SMALLVILLE

Growing up with Superman, I accepted his “action suit” as part of the package. It was common for the advanced races in pulp illustrations to sport capes, tights, and exterior underpants, as if foremost among the natural consequences of millennia of peace, progress, and one-world government would be a vogue for knee-length boots on men. For me, the real insight into Superman’s distinctive look arrived much later, when I discovered some photographs of circus strongmen in the 1930s. There among the taut tent guy ropes and painted caravans at the country fair was the familiar, faintly disturbing overpants-belt combo, here worn by men with handlebar mustaches, pumping dumbells in their meaty fists and staring bullishly at the camera. ~ Supergods

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Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

01.01.12 — Addendum

2012-01-01T03:17:00.002-05:00

Don Quixote goes mad from his reading of books of chivalry. Engraving by Gustave Doré.

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Sunday, January 1, 2012 — MMXII

ADDENDUM, Puzzle by Patrick Berry / Edited by Will Shortz

Ten across answers with the “um” sound added to the end of familiar phrases constitutes the interrelated group of this languid leap-year first-of-the-year crossword.

SEE IF I CAROM (18. Pool ball’s “Watch this!” comment?), e.g., see if I care
HYPNOTIC TRANSOM (23. High-mounted window you can’t stop looking at), hypnotic trance
STEM TO STERNUM (32. Part of a watch touching the breastbone?), stem to stern
OFFICE MAXIM (46. “You don’t have to be busy to look busy,” e.g.?), Office Max
SILICON VALIUM (59. Pill that relieves computer-related anxiety?), Silicon Valley
BRUTE FOURSOME (71. Inhuman group of golfers?), brute force
HEAD OF HAREM (81. Sultan’s wife, perhaps?), head of hair
THE LION’S DENIM (99. Jungle king’s jeans and overalls?), the lion’s den
PARTICLE BOREDOM (110. Ennui among quantum physicists?), particle board
PIE A LA MODEM (116. Dessert delivered over the internet?), pie à la mode

Other — ACHE FOR (89A. Desperately want), EURASIA (87A. “1984“ superstate), FORELEG (19. “Praying“ part of a praying mantis), GET-AWAY (39A. Heist planner‘s concern), HOSTESS (38A. She‘s entertaining), POLENTA (44D. Creamy Italian side dish), SIDEARM (84D. Easily drawn gun), XING OUT (51D. Deleting).

Six-letter — ADIEUS, AGATES, ALONSO Quijano (Don Quixote‘s real name), AT BEST, BIASED, BOGART (14D. “The Big Sleep“ co-star, 1946), BUMMER (94A. Bad experience), CHEAPO (90D. Cut-rate), CRUDDY (97D. Badly made), DEPART, ELAYNE, EL NINO, FIENDS, HEATED, HEY JOE, M AND MS, OF YORE, PEERED, RINSES, SKULKS, STAYED, STERNO, STONED, TALONS, TWELVE (37D. Rare craps roll), VETOES, WORSEN.

Five — ABEAM, ACTED, “Come AGAIN?”, ARBOR, BREAK, BUONO, CREDO, DEMME, DORAL, EAT IN, FEMME, FLOOD, FRUIT, GALES, GOLDA, GOLEM (119A. Monster of Jewish folklore), LARUE, MAVEN, MOCKS, MOTOR, OLIVE, OSCAR, POSIT, PRO AM, PSHAW, SALON, SARAN, SEOUL, SHOCK, SHORN, SIT ON, SNARE, SPEND, STOWE, TO-DOS, UNHIP.

Short stuff — ABLE, ACID, AJA, ALI, “ART hath an enemy called Ignorance“, AXE, BLOB, CAP, CBS, CIG and PIG, DXCV, EARN, EAU de vie, EMI, EON, ERA, ESP, ET AL, GEL, IMO, ICE and IVE, IRA, JIM, KONG, LEO, LOL and LOU, MED, MRI, MUMM, NEMO, NOAH, NOR, NYSE, OBI and OUI, OURS, PBJ, PHDS, RACE RAH, RODE, SAG, SEAS, SIN, TARA, TEAL, TRY, ULM, UTE, VEIN, VIA, VOW, YSL.

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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. Many college profs; 5. Food preserver; 10. Sandwich choice, for short; 13. Crosswise to the keel; 21. Arles affirmative; 22. One-time first name in Israeli politics; 26. Steely Dan album featuring “Deacon Blues”; 27. Traveled by bus; 28. Thin blue line?; 29. Resisted a job offer, say; 30. Go downhill; 33. End of many a list; 38. Camper’s canful; 41. Wedding part; 42. Ceiling; 45. Strong winds; 54. Squished bug, e.g.; 56. [I’m so funny!]; 57. Go all to pieces; 58. Antipasto tidbit; 63. High; 64. Bring in; 65. History topic; 66. “I think,” to texters; 68. Empire State Building climber, for short; 69. Holds under the tap; 76. Behaved; 77. 1988 Summer Olympics site; 79. Handbag monogram; 80. “A Love Like ___” (Barbra Streisand album); 82. Sends up; 86. Thank you for waiting; 86. Reed of rock; 96. Late sixth-century year; 102. Looked intently; 104. Knocked on the noggin; 105. Rainy day planner?; 106. Twelve Oaks neighbor; 108. Pac-12 athlete; 109. Restaurant greeter’s option; 114. Go on a shopping spree; 115. Savings plan, briefly; 117. Brouhahas; 118. Cowlick fixer; 120. The Big Board, for short. — DOWN: 1. “What a load of hogwash!”; 2. Jimi Hendrix’s debut single; 3. Set out; 4. Stray from righteousness; 5. Refuse to release; 6. Low-pH compound; 7. Go to the tape?; 8. “___ hath an enemy called Ignorance”: Ben Jonson; 9. Negative conjunction; 10. Conjecture; 11. It’s good in Italy; 12. Pal of Huck Finn; 13. Swirly marbles; 15. Funny Boosler; 16. They’re exchanged in France; 17. Candy eaten in handfuls; 20. Master; 24. Pixar title character; 29. Best-selling author who wrote “I did not write it. God wrote it. I merely did the dictation; 31. Downswing; 32. They’re heavy during storms; 33. Sample; 34. Injury symptom; 36. Reception room in a mansion; 40. Sharp nails; 41. Through; 42. “The Big Bang Theory” network; 43. Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Century; 46. One taking a bow in Japan; 47. Smoothie ingredient; 48. Homme’s partner; 49. Travel by car; 52. “___ got a feeling …”; 53. What’s in an Rx; 55. Leaning; 60. Words to live by; 61. Garden spot; 62. Lash of old westerns; 63. Hides in the shadows; 67. In olden times; 69. When doubled, ardent; 70. Diamonds, to a yegg; 72. Einstein’s birthplace; 73. NATO alphabet vowel; 74. Hosp. diagnostic aid; 75. Ability to identify Zener cards; 77. Lacking a coat, maybe; 82. Fil,, and then some; 83. Big name in Champagne; 87. One of the music industry’s Big Four; 88. Kick out; 89. If everything goes your way; 91. Fierce, as an argument; 92. Weather Channel newsmaker; 93. Wicked ones; 94. About ready to drop; 95. Square; 98. Says no to; 100. Catch; 101. R. J. Reynolds brand; 102. Like three of golf’s four majors; 103. “Philadelphia” director; 106. Greenish blue; 107. Having the knack; 110. Chinese zodiac animal; 111. Smoke; 112. Sort who’s a natural leader, supposedly; 113. Great time.