11.28.11 — In the Eye Of the Beholder

La Belle et La Bête, 1946, Jean Cocteau

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Monday, November 28, 2011

Puzzle by Andrea Carla Michaels / Edited by Will Shortz

PRETTY BOY FLOYD (20A. Notorious 1920s-’30s bank robber), UGLY BETTY (33A. America Ferrera’s Emmy-winning role); PLAIN JANE (44A. Hardly a beauty queen), and GORGEOUS GEORGE (54A. 1940s-’50s wrestler with golden locks) constitute the interrelated group of this attractive Monday crossword.

Other — ABILENE (10D. Kansas town on the Chisholm Trail), GALUMPH (25D. Walk clumsily), HOFFMAN (9D. Dustin of “Rain Man”), IMAGINE (42D. John Lennon song with the refrain “You may say I’m a dreamer …”, ISOTOPES (5D. Springfield’s minor-league team on “The Simpsons”), JEERING (46D. Making catcalls), PILSENER (39D. Light-colored beer or the glass it comes in), SECEDED (43D. Left the Union), SLOE GIN fizz, WISE GUY (4D. Smart aleck).

Mid-size — ACELA, AGREE, “… old woman who lived in A SHOE“, ARABS, AVOID, BREED, CANOE, FICHE, GUESS, GULAG, HAD AT, IRANI, LLAMA, LUSTY, NEURO, NO MEN, OBESE, RANG IN, RE-UNE, SEAMEN, SEE ME (24A. Terse note from the boss), SEMIS, STEEP.

Short stuff — AMOS, ASHY, DECO, DID I, EIRE, ERA, FDA, FLOW, GARB, GINA, GOO, GREW, GWEN, HTTP, IMAC, IRIS, LAM, LIMP, MANY, NERO, NOHO, ODOR, Put ON AN act, OVER, ROUE, SARA, The Beatles’ “SHE Loves You“, SHIN, SON, TEED, TEL, TOMB, TONE, YER and YEAR and YEAS.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Move like water; 5. Apple computer; 9. Attacked, as a challenge; 14. “What ___ do to deserve this?”; 15. ___ Lee cakes; 16. Fatter than fat; 17. “Famous” cookie name; 19. Piece of microfilm; 23. Sticky stuff; 29. Prepared to give a “Jeopardy!” response; 36. Brain surgeon’s prefix; 37. Big Band ___ (1930s-’40s); 38. Almost straight up and down, as a cliff; 40. Fugitive’s flight; 41 Big rigs; 47. Naval workers; 50. Fast train to New York City; 60. Shun; 61 Much-kicked body part; 62 Middle of the eye; 64. Attend homecoming, say; 65. Bell sound; 66. Crime solver Wolfe of fiction; 67. Lhasa apso or Labrador; 68. Sophomore or junior; 69. Dancer Verdon. — DOWN: 1. Rx watchdog org.; 2. Like Dali’s watches; 3. Fragrance; 6. Lots of; 7. Bedouins, e.g.; 8. Birchbark boat; 12. Like fireplace grates; 13. Nettled, with “off”; 21. ___ of the Unknowns; 2. “Aw, quit ___ bellyaching’!”; 25. Twenty questions attempt; 26. Shake on it; 27. Andes animal; 28. URL starter; 30. Solzhenitsyn’s “The ___ Archipelago”; 31. Tehran native; 32. All-female group’s policy; 34. Business card abbr.; 35. Approving votes; 45. N.Y.C. area near the Village; 48. Recent: Prefix; 51. Hot blooded; 54. Apparel; 55. Above; 56. Don Juan type; 57. Actress Lollobrigida; 58. Got longer, like Pinocchio’s nose; 59. The Emerald Isle; 63. Charlie Sheen, to Martin.

11.27.11 — YIN/YANG

Sunday, November 27, 2011

YIN/YANG, Puzzle by Jeff Chen / Edited by Will Shortz

With a grid resembling the symbol for yin and yang, this Sunday crossword is essentially two completely separate puzzles, rife with cul-de-sacs, divided right and left, ostensibly representing yin and yang, along with ten supportive entries:

On the right for yin, dark, night, moon, winter, cold:

AFRAID OF THE DARK (16D. Suffering from nyctophobia)
ROUGH NIGHT (45D. Question asked to one with a hangover)
HONEYMOON (43D. Time in Hawaii, maybe)
OLD MAN WINTER (102A. He might put chills up your spine)
CAUGHT A COLD (116A. Started sneezing and sniffling, say)

On the left for yang, light, day, sun, summer, hot:

LIGHT AS A FEATHER (42D. Weighing hardly anything)
DAYDREAMER (37D. Walter Mitty, e.g.)
SUN YAT-SEN (48D. Kuomintang co-founder)
SUMMER BREEZE (31A. Something to enjoy on the beach)
HOT AND HEAVY (24A Full of strong feelings)

Other — There are a few more "Asiatic answers": AHI (93D. Yellowfin tuna), FU MANCHU (40D. Master criminal of books and film), HONSHU (95D. Island south of Tsugaru Strait), RAMA (15A. Name of nine Thai kings), Moo SHU pork and TSUNAMIS (87D. Ring of Fire perils).

Mid-size — AMELIA, ARCHIE, A TERRE (18D. On the ground, in ballet), COASTAL, CONSULS, DNA TEST, EN MASSE, FOR SHAME, INSTATES, LANCIA, MIGUEL, MOROSE, MOTHERS, NEEDLE, ON THE NOSE (110. Perfectly), ORAL EXAM, OVEN MITT, RAY GUN, ROUSSEAU (15D. “The Social Contract“ philosopher), SAHARA, SCOOTS, SENATE, SET PIECE, SHERYL (94A. Crow with a powerful voice), SHOO-IN, STEGOSAUR (29A. Fearsome creature with plates on its back), SUDSIER, SWEDES, TONNES, USENET.

Five-letter — ABNER, AHOYS, Coeur d’ALENE, Rice-ARONI, ASK ME, ASTON, BOYLE, CARLA, DONNA, DORKS, DRABS, ELIHU (2D. Root of politics), ELVES, ENOLA, ERNIE, ERROR, FILTH, H BOMB, HOMER, INIGO, INTER, ISLAM, LEMON, LOANS, MADAM, MCCOO, NEALE, NILLA, RIYAL, RYANS, SENSE, SHINE, SOSAS, TWIRL (107D. Pirouette).

Short stuff — AAHS, ANI, ARS, ATE and ATH, AXE, AWRY, BYTE, CTA, DAZE, Opus DEI, DEMO, EGGO, ELP and ESP, ENA, ENDS, ERIN, ETH, FOB, GAP, Mata HARI, HAT, HEH and HES, HON, IDO, IRON, ITA, KHAN, MIRA, MOAT, MSG, NAT, NEHI, “What OF IT?”, OLAV, ODES and ONES, OSHA, PEA and PEU, RIDE, SAO, SLAT, SLRS, SONG, STDS, SUIT, SURE, TEN, THEM, TRAC, TRE (62A. Amount past due?), UFOS, UNIT, USAF, “YOU’D Be Surprised”.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Test-drive; 5. Scintillate; 10. Who wrote “By their own follies they perished, the fools”; 19. Name of five Norwegian kings; 20. Dogpatch yokel; 21. Name on a B-29; 23. Priates of the Caribbean, e.g.; 26. Instinctive desire; 27. Villainous role for Montalban; 28. Bedelia of children’s literature; 34. More foamy; 35. “Let’s make ___ true Daily Double, Alex”; 36. Two on a line; 39. Razz; 40. Sleaze; 43. Mata ___ (spy); 47. Contented sighs; 49. Start of many Portuguese place names; 50. Family ___; 51. Gloomy; 53. Irving Berlin’s “___ Be Surprised”; 55. Area 51 holdings, supposedly; 58. Flavor enhancer; 59. Representatives in a foreign country. 60. Italian woman; 63. N.C.A.A. part: Abbr.; 64. Absorbed, in a way; 65. Breach; 66. Qatari bank note; 67. It has a crown; 68. Turner who led a rebellion; 69. Musician’s asset; 71. Where the vice president presides; 72. Grp. With the 1973 gold album “Brain Salad Surgery”; 73. Windy City rail inits.; 74. Dud; 75. Green hue; 76. Perfection, for some; 78. Ams, but not dams; 80. All together; 82. Dismiss; 83. Abbr. on a B-52; 85. Dance partner?; 86. Early online forum; 87. Gillette brand name; 88. Gift in “The Gift of the Magi”; 90. Classic soft drink brand; 92. Land o’ blarney; 93. Words on an information desk; 97. Guidelines: Abbr.; 100. Seaside; 113. Edith’s cranky husband; 114. Not straight; 115. Dept. of Labor arm; 118. Sorvino of “Mighty Aphrodite”; 119. Opponents of us; 120. Architect Jones; 121. Singer Susan with the 2009 #1 album “I Dreamed a Dream”; 122. Wood alternative; 123. “No problem!”; 124 Fancy car starter?; 125. Family of Slammin’ Sammy; 126. Some shooters, for short. — DOWN: 1. Uncool set; 3. Lady’s address; 4. Digit protector; 5. Bygone Las Vegas hotel/casino with a roller coaster; 6. Certain W.M.D.; 7. Lay to rest; 8. Writer Zora ___ Hurston; 9. Singer Tennessee ___ Ford; 10. Sly laugh sound; 11. Low dice roll; 12. Castle guard; 13. Some cobblers of lore; 14. Sci-fi zapper; 17. Author Cervantes; 25. Flabbergast; 30. Some of Keats’s feats; 32. Neighbor of Sudan: Abbr.; 33. “Bambi” character; 38. Lock; 41. Establishes; 44. MGM motto starter; 46. Malcolm X adopted it; 51. Is protective of; 52. Particularly: Abbr.; 54. “CSI” procedure; 56. Grilling procedure; 57. Bit of stage scenery; 59. “Cheers” waitress; 61. Coer d’___, Idaho; 70. British weights; 71. One of a standard group of five; 75. Little bit of French?; 81. Singer DiFranco; 84. “Bad!”; 89. Eight bits; 91. It may precede a kiss; 94. Skedaddles; 96. Italian automaker since 1906; 98. Adirondack chair element; 99. Hosts of the 1912 Olympics; 101. Some shark products; 103. Bits; 104. Marilyn who hosted 1980s TV’s “Sold Gold”; 105. Mates’ cries; 106. Nabisco brand; 108. Boot, in baseball, e.g.; 109. “___ Hope”; 111. Corporate bigwig; 112. Frozen food brand; 117. Sweetie.

11.26.11 — Saturday Soup

Bouillabaisse, photo by Sean Davis

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Saturday, November 26, 2011

Puzzle by Brad Wilber / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. What might unfold when you have guests, CHAIRBED; 9. Area, SPHERE; 15. Target of criticism in Vincent Bugliosi’s 1996 book “Outrage”, LANCE ITO; 16. Singer of the #1 country hit “Forever and Ever, Amen”, TRAVIS; 17. Sambuca flavorers, ANISEEDS; 18. Two of the three gifts of the Magi, RESINS; 19. “The Mod Squad” studio MGM; 20. Some discount beneficiaries: SRS; 21. Swarm, BESIEGE; 22. Traffic jam din, BLARES; 24. Burmese, e.g., BREED; 25. They’re filled before shooting, ROLES; 26. Unlikely hoarder, NEATNIK; 28. Rich, in slang, OOFY; 29. 18^th-century London political/literary establishment, KIT-CAT CLUB; 32. Airport inits., TSA; 33. Big nothings, CIPHERS; 34. Suffix in the world of collectibles, ANA; 35. “Whipped Cream & Other Delights”, HERB ALPERT; 37. Answer that’s an example of itself, ABBR.; 38. Ghosts often work on them, MEMOIRS; 39. Rural call, BLEAT; 40. Teegarden of TV’s “Friday Night Lights”, AIMEE; 41. Company that introduced Dramamine, SEARLE; 42. Brickyard legend, AL UNSER; 45. Half-CAF (coffee order);46. Natl. Blood Donor Month, JAN; 47. Bouillabaisse fish, TURBOT; 48. Plane for a space cadet?, LA LA LAND; 50A. Reduced, ON SALE; 51. Show a milky shimmer, OPALESCE; 52. Under quota, say, MEAGER; 53. Purveyor of some sour grapes?, BAD LOSER.

Down — 1. Bouillabaisse base, sometimes, CLAM BROTH; 2. Not stress out, HANG LOOSE; 3. Napoleon is a commander in it, ANIMAL FARM; 4. Suffix with 42-Down; 5. Candy brand, REESES; 6. Stands for viewings, BIERS; 7. Some itinerary data, briefly, ETDS; 8. Heading for the first of two columns, DOS; 9. Works vulnerable to rain; STREET ART; 10. Group sitting under a tree, PRESENTS; 11. Like some Jewish dynasties, HASIDIC; 12. One of the Wilcoxes in “Howard’s End”, EVIE; 13. Nuptial need, RING; 14. Ab ESSE (absent: Lat.); 21. Shots, e.g., BRACERS; 23. Wearer of una corona, REY; 24. Invitation exhortation, BE THERE; 26. Like winter, vis-à-vis fall, NIPPIER; 27. Trick-taking game, KLABBERJASS; 29. One of about five in a league, KILOMETER; 30. Derange, UNBALANCE; 31. One making the rounds, BARTENDER; 33. Knickers go-with, CAMISOLE; 36. Ashtray base, perhaps, BEAN BAG; 37. Resembling, ALA; 39. Happen to, BEFALL; 41. Mélange, SALAD; 42. Small building block, ATOM; 43. Figure in plane geometry, LUNE; 44. Bear aloft?, URSA; 45. Bullfighting cloak, CAPA; 48. Tactic against a net rusher, LOB; 49. Fender of Fender guitars, LEO.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

11.25.11 — Leftovers

Friday, November 25, 2011

Puzzle by Joe Krozel / Edited by Will Shortz

Six 15-letter answers constitute the main feature of this scrappy Friday crossword:

TAILGATE PARTIES (16A. Lots of stadiums have them)
SARASOTA FLORIDA (29A. Baltimore Orioles’ spring training site)
USED CAR SALESMAN (38A. His inventory has gone many miles)
PENTATONIC SCALE (39A. “Amazing Grace” melody basis)
STARS IN ONES EYES (40A. Naïve optimism)
GO HEAD OVER HEELS (57A. Get smitten hard)

Other — AVON LADIES (62A. Workers associated with ding-dongs), BAR SCENE (25D. Backdrop for many singles matches?), DEAD TREE (22D. Hard-copy), CALL CENTERS (24D. Where “operators are standing by”), GLASS CASE (17D. Bell jar relative), GOES SOUTH (28D. Declines), NEWS BREAK (64A. Reason to “interrupt this program”), TAKES NOTE (5A. Observes, with “of”), WATER LEVEL (15A. It might tax a levee), WAXY COATING (15D. Cerecloth feature).

Five-letter — ABOVE, ATE IN, ELSES, ERODE, GRIND, KEPIS, LXII, NO HOW, NOVIA, OVINE, PAGAN, ROGET, SUE ME, TEENS.

Short stuff — ABO, AFTS, AGA, ALGA, ALB and ALL, AMOS, ANES, At A SET time, AS NO other, BESS, DALE, DAR and EAR, D-DAY, EEN, ENS (58D. Napkin edges?), ERA, ESC, FAIN, FURL, GEEK, GEN, I MAY, “That IS SO you!”, LUAU, NET, NON, NNE, NSC, PANE, PLOP, RENA, REPO, SLR, SUN, SUPS, TATI, TRON, TUES, UPI.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Mussel morsel; 14. Roll up; 18. Something soaked up; 19. Super Bowl of 2029; 20. Hoboken-to-Fort Lee dir.; 21. When to bein an operation; 23. Grp. Advising the president; 25. 1940s-’50sw White House name; 26. Way out: Abbr.; 27. Topkapi title; 41. Time of day, briefly; 42. Start to stick?; 43. 17-Down part; 45. Campaign manager: Abbr.; 51. Blood-typing syst.; 52. Subject of the 2007 biography subtitled “The Man Who Became a Book”; 54. Old wiring org.; 63. “Chicago” husband ___ Hart; 65. It happens by default. — DOWN: 1. Times of day, briefly; 2. Island do; 3. Tedious work; 4. See 44-Down; 5. Star of “Mon Oncle”; 6. Didn’t take out?; 7. French military wear; 8. Tudor ___; 9. Canonflex, e.g.; 10. Take in; 11. Like a wool supplier; 12. Period of rapid growth; 13. No one ___ business; 29. Takes evening courses?; 30. At ___ time (prearranged); 31. Sofer of soaps; 32. Beta follower; 33. ___ other (uniquely); 34. Gladly, old-style; 35. Wishy-washy response; 36. Land in a depression; 37. Hydrocarbon endings; 43. Like some rites; 44. With 4-Down, first and foremost; 45. “Ain’t gonna happen!”; 47. Opposite of build up; 48. Girlfriend, in Granada; 50. Dismissive retort; 53. Circus performer; 55. Sound associated with ripples; 59. Adriatic repub.; 60. “God, home and country” org.; 61. Place to put a plug.

11.24.11 — NO GO

  

Still Life with Turkey Pie, 1627, Pieter Claesz, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

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Thursday, November 24, 2011 — Thanksgiving Day

Puzzle by Sharon Delorme / Edited by Will Shortz

NO GO (65A. Canceled … or a hint to answering 17-, 27-, 34-, 45- and 57-Across), FOR THE GOLD (17A. Try to win), BY THE BOOK (27A. Not vary from proper proedure), WITH THE FLOW (34A Follow everyone else), TO THE DOGS (45A. Deteriorate) and OVER THE TOP (57A. Take things way too far) constitute the interrelated group of this tryptophanic Thursday crossword.

Other — ARLENES (11D. TV’s Francis and others), BED REST (12D. Standard means of recovery from an illness), GROOVES (39D. Musical cuts?), HOOSEGOW (10D. Pokey), OLD SCORE (37D. Something to settle), POTHOOK (24D. S-shaped holder), RE-ENACT (19A. Put on again), SHANGHAI (4D. Abduct), SPECTRE (55A. Dr. No’s org.), UP CLOSE (38D. Practically in one‘s face), WHO’S NEXT (34D. Waiting room query).

Mid-size — ALIAS, ALIGN, ANENT, ASGARD (9D. Heavenly home of the Norse gods), BLOTTO (5D. Wasted), COSMO, EDGES, ERASER, GIRLIE, G-SUIT, IGORS, IRENE, I SEE IT, LIEGE, LONERS, OMERTA (43D. Italian code of silence), OUTLAW, PROOF, RARELY, SCARAB (1. Ancient Egyptian talisman), STEALS, TESORO.

Short stuff — AFC, AHAB, AIR (6D. Transportation mode), ANO, AREA, BABA, BAT, BOHR, CASH, EFGH, EGO, EKE, ERIE, ESTA, EWES, FORT, GIL, OLLA, OST, PPS, RAIL (63A. Transportation mode), ROO, SEXT, SHIN, SKEE, SORE, SRIS, TEE time, TOG, TOTE, TPS, UGH.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Titles of respect; 5. Rum-laced cake; 9. Fictional character who declares “Sleep? … I do not sleep, I die”; 13. Bills, e.g.; 14. It may be assumed; 15. Feeling stood-up, say; 16. Real estate figure; 21. Draftsman’s need; 22. True; 23. Pranks, in a way, informally; 26. Mrs. Forsyte in “The Forsyte Saga”; 29. Parts causing paper cuts, say; 30. Period with a tilde?; 33. German direction; 38. “That’s revolting!”; 40. Piglet’s pal; 41. Gerard of “Buck Rogers in the 25^th Century”; 42. Prosecutor’s burden; 50. Vodka drink, informally; 51. Scrape (out); 52. Jet pilot’s wear; 53. Anchorites; 60. Cantina vessel; 61. Send private messages?; 62. Stravinsky and Sikorsky; 64. Juanita’s “this”; 66. Much of a flock. — DOWN: 2. Almost never; 3. Searcher’s cry; 7. Be in a lineup; 8. Queens stadium name; 14. Chargers’ org.; 18. Tribe that lent its name to a canal; 20. In regard to; 28. Nobelist Niels; 32. Alphabet quartet; 35. Carryall; 36. Feudal lord; 44. Old West trading post; 46. Gems, precious metals, etc., in Spain; 47. Billy the Kid or Jesse James; 48. Hardly like a he-man; 49. Moves furtively; 54. Soccer injury site; 56. Letter addendum, for short; 58. I, in old Rome; 59. Enclothe.

11.23.11 — A Variety of Gardens

 

Hanging Gardens of Babylon by babilku7 on imageshack

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Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Puzzle by Ian Livengood / Edited by Will Shortz

GARDEN VARIETY (55A. Ordinary … or what the beginning of the answer to each starred clue is?), ROCK THE CASBAH (20A. *1982 hit by the Clash), ROSE BOWL (*1994 World Cup final site), TEA LEAF (37A. *Fortuneteller’s bit) and BEER PONG (45A. *Popular drinking game) constitute the interrelated group of this lively Wednesday crossword, e.g., rock garden, rose garden, tea garden and beer garden.

Other — ADORABLE (38D. Eliciting an “aww,” maybe), AREA RUG (51A. Trapdoor concealer), CARAMBA (10D. South-of-the-border cry), COME AGAIN (32D. “Huh?”), EMPEROR / NERO (23A. 64-Across, for one; 64A. Colossal statue outside ancient Rome’s Colosseum), HIGH TONED (11D. Pretentious), ORLANDO (42D. Florida getaway locale), SAWHORSE (5D. Carpenter’s aid).

Mid-size — ACHED, AIMEE, AMEBAE, Taken for A RIDE, ASKEW, AVRIL, ERGOT (19A. Grain disease), FOYER, GYROS, HONDO, I AM TOO, IDIOM, MAINE, NAACP, OLOGY, OWNER, PERKED, RELOG, REYES, “SACRE bleu!”, SAID NO, SEALED, SMOKEY, STABS, SWANK, SYNOD, TREAT, USHER, UTERO.

Short stuff— ADAM, AMMO and ANNO, ANIL, ASHE, BARB, CHIC, CIAO, DET, DRY, DYER, EBAY, EEG, ENO, HERA (8D. Goddess whose name is an anagram of her mother’s), KAHN, NANA, ODD, OSOS, OWEN, OYS, SAC and SAS and SIS and SINS, SUCH, TIO, WHIR, WRY, YALE, “YER durn tootin‘!”.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Some confessions; 5. Quite; 9. Yearned (for); 14. Economist Smith; 15. Arthur who often raised a racket; 16. Home to Bates College; 17. “Later”; 18. Fan sound; 24. “You are not!” retort; 30. Cul-de-___; 35. Part of A.D.; 36. Spanish uncle; 40. M.D.’s reading; 41. Stuff to be loaded; 43. 1953 John Wayne film; 44. Teetotaling; 48. Sounds of woe; 50. Shut up; 58. Ritzy; 60. Cutting put-down; 61. Salon employee; 63. Blue shade; 65. Church council; 66. Big name in locks; 67. Bogotá bears. — DOWN: 2. Cut to the chase, say; 3. Org. co-founded by W.E.B. Du Bois; 4. Bear with a hat; 6. Program distributor; 7. All the rage; 9. Single-celled creatures; 12. Record producer Brian; 13. Ford Field team, on scoreboards; 21. Pick up the tab; 22. Family nickname; 25. One of the capitalist class; 26. Science; 28. Register anew; 29. ___ Glendower, last Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales; 30. Attempts; 31. Singer Mann; 34. France’s Dominique Strauss-___; 39. Room with a closet, often; 46. Sat (up); 47. Roulette bet; 49. Declined; 51. Singer Lavigne; 52. Spanish kings; 53. In ___ (unborn); 54. Sidewalk vendors’ offerings; 56. Parent company of Shopping.com; 57. Grandma; 58. An original member of the Star Alliance; 59. Twisted.

11.22.11 — Subjectively Yours

An Apple for My Teacher, Image Credit-Betzi Stein

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Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Puzzle by Victor Fleming / Edited by Will Shortz

In this Tuesday crossword the subject pronouns WE, I, THEY, HE, YOU, SHE and IT constitute the interrelated group as found in WE MADE IT (17A. Shout upon reaching a destination), I CAN DREAM (26A. “Wouldn’t that be nice”), THEY SAY (38A. Intro to many an adage), HE GOT GAME (50A. 1998 Spike Lee joint), YOU AGAIN (63A. “Well, look who’s back!”), SHE-DEVILS (11D. Wicked women) and IT FIGURES (34D. “Just my luck”).

Other — ADMIRAL, APOSTLE, ASSESS, FUELED, I CHING and ITCHES, JOIN IN, KENOBI, MARTHA, NEW AGE, OLD HAT (16A. Been-there-done-that), REMEDY, RESAVES, SNIPING, SPASMS.

Five-letter — ABC TV, AERIE, ATTIC, BOWIE, CIVIC, CLONE, EDGAR, ELECT, GOOSE, MAYOR, O’NEAL, O RING, PARES, POMME (3D. French apple), SOAPY, SPICE, YENTA (55D. Dirt spreader).

Short stuff — ADS, AID, ALES, A LOT, AUS, AYE, BAD, BAJA, BLT, BOP, BUSH, DUET, IAMB, IDE, KERR, LEW, “Don’t gimme no LIP!”, LIRR, LYE, MAD, MFA, MSRP, NOPE, OBEY, ONO, PCT, RAND, RITE, SNIP, SOR, STY, RAND, RITE, TWIN and TWIT, UOFA, USC, YEA.

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THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Some jazz; 4. Opposite of alta; 8. Involuntary jerks; 14. Singer with a negative-sounding name; 15. Bunches; 19. Fix; 20. Foot of verse; 21. Salon sound; 23. Give a hand; 24. Vote in; 30. Exact look-alike; 32. Backs up another time, as computer data; 33 Kind of duty or center; 35. Basketball’s Alcindor; 36. Line to Penn Sta.; 37. Sandwich shop staple, in brief; 38. Intro to many an adage; 42. Fayetteville campus, briefly; 44. Suffix with brom-’ 45. “Duck, duck” follower; 47. Taking potshots (at); 49. “The King and I” actress; 52. When doubled, displaying affection, informally; 56. Trojan’s sch.; 57. South African money; 59. “Can’t help ya!”; 60. Popular daytime talk show; 65. Powered; 66. Follow; 67. Election Day no.; 68. Size up; 69. Baby naming, e.g.; 70. “___, though I walk …”. — DOWN: David who sang “Let’s Dance”; 2. Either “Paper Moon co-star; 4. Scolding word to a dog; 5. Drinks for Chaucer’s Miller; 6. Add one’s voice to others; 7. Dusty room, often; 8. Frat. Counterpart; 9. Files a complaint, say; 10. Four- or five-star officers; 12. Foaming at the mouth; 13. Pig’s place; 18. “Dancing With the Stars” airer; 22. Whittles (down); 25. Knucklehead; 27. Like Enya’s music; 28. Where eagles dare?; 29. Sticker inits.; 31. Ancient Chinese divination book; 33. Exact look-alike; 35. Caustic substance; 37. Outback; 39. “J. ___,” 2011 film; 40. Part of N.Y.S.E.; 43. One of 12 in the New Testament; 46. Circular gasket; 48. Yens; 49. Obi-Wan ___; 51. One called “hyzone”; 53. Covered with suds; 54. Flavor enhancer; 58. Piece played by a pair; 60. Painter’s deg.; 61. Switz. Neighbor; 62. Side jobs for actors; 64. Agreement with the captain.

11.21.11 — Eye Tunes

Monday, November 21, 2011

Puzzle by Peter A. Collins / Edited by Will Shortz

iTUNES (67A. Where to find the songs in this grid … or an appropriate title for this puzzle?), BEHIND / BLUE / EYES (1A. With 10- and 65-Across, 1971 hit by the Who), BROWN-EYED GIRL (28A. 1967 hit by Van Morrison) and GREEN-EYED LADY (44A. 1970 hit by Sugarloaf) constitutes the interrelated group of this fine Monday crossword.

Other — AREA RUG (48A. Floor cover that doesn’t reach the walls), CAREENS (27A. Turns at high speed), CD PLAYER (27D. Phonograph successor), LOTTE LENYA (11D. Actress married to Kurt Weill), ORANGE TREE (30D. Part of a Florida orchard), REUNITE (42D. What the Beatles never did), TEA BAGS (9D. Packets from Twinings of London, e.g.), VOYAGING (22D. Taking a long trip at sea).

Mid-size — ABASE, ADAGIO, APNEA, BATMAN (51A. Who said “The joke‘s on you, Riddler!”), BIGOTS, BOY TOY (23A. Older woman‘s plaything, in slang), BRAYER, DOSAGE, ELATE, ESPYS, ET ALIA, INANE, IN ON IT, ITUNES, LAYER, LOYOLA, RAINY, RAMSES (45D. One of 11 Egyptian pharaohs), RERAN, UNION.

Short stuff — ACE, AIRS, ALDA, “I cannot tell A LIE“, ALPS, ANNE, “Take A TIP from me!”, Pennsylvania AVE, BABE, BAR, BONN, BRIT, EDIT, ELY, ENG, ERA, ETS and ETAS, FOXY, FRA, GAL, GARY (36D. Indiana city on Lake Michigan), HAGS, ICE, “Can I GO now?”, IMO, MEL, NEA, NEED, NIT, ONT, “… OR I quit!“, PALS, RATS, RENO, RITA, RONS, SAGO palm, SNEE, SWAN, TEX-Mex, TON, YOU, ZANE, ZIT.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 7. Bit of acne, slangily; 14. Slowly, on a musical score; 15. Pitching whiz; 16. Hollywood’s Howard and Perlman; 17. Haters; 18. Teachers’ org.; 20. SAT org.; 21. Pennsylvania ___ (White House locale: Abbr.); 32. Broadcast again; 33. Peaks for yodelers; 34. Where London is: Abbr.; 37. Ridiculous; 38. Guy’s date; 39. Sleep problem; 41. Boatload; 42. Funnywoman Rudner; 43. Stratum; 50. Greek H’s; 52. ___ diavolo (spicy sauce); 53. Legal profession; 56. Snobs put them on; 57. “I would say …,” in text messages; 59. Chicago university; 62. Old dagger; 64. Part of the conspiracy; 66. Cathedral town near Cambridge. — 1. Jesus in the manger, e.g.; 2. Change, as text; 3. Crones; 5. Annual coll. Hoops contest; 6. Medicine amount; 7. Western writer Grey; 8. Winter sculpture medium; 10. Donkey, often; 12. The “U” of U.S.S.R.; 13. TV sports awards; 25. Pond swimmer; 26. One of two wives of Henry VIII; 28. London native, informally; 29. Gambling mecca; 31. Delight; 35. Scholarship basis; 39. “M*A*S*H” star; 40. Buddies; 46. Historical stretch; 47. Latin list ender; 48. Humiliate; 49. Puddle-producing; 52. Clever; 53. Capital of West Germany; 55. “Darn!”; 58. Funnyman Brooks; 60. Province next to Que.; 61. Whom Uncle Sam wants.

11.20.11 — Food in Medieval Times — the Acrostic

Swans and Peacocks by Melchior d'Hondecoeter

PECOK ROSTED

Take a Pecok, breke his necke, and

kutte his throte, And fle him, the skyn

and the ffethurs togidre, and the hede

still to the skyn of the nekke, And kepe

the skyn and the ffethurs hole togiders;

drawe him as an hen, And kepe the bone

to the necke hole, and roste him, And set

the bone of the necke aboue the broche,

as he was wonte to sitte a-lyve, And

abowe the legges to the body, as he

was wonte to sitte a-lyve; And whan

he is rosted ynowe, take him of, And

lete him kele; And then wynde the skyn

wit the fethurs and the taile abought

the body, And serue him forthe as he

were a-live; or elle pull him dry, And

roste him, and serue him as thou

doest a henne.

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Sunday, November 20, 2011

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Edited by Will Shortz

This Sunday’s delicious acrostic draws a quotation from Food in Medieval Times by Melitta Weiss Adamson.

The quotation: WHAT STANDS OUT IS… THE… THEATRICS, PEACOCKS, SWANS, AND PHEASANTS COOKED, … REDRESSED IN THEIR PLUMAGE AND MADE TO BREATHE FIRE, PIES FILLED WITH LIVE BIRDS… . PLAYING WITH FOOD, FAR FROM BEING DISCOURAGED, WAS ELEVATED TO AN ART… .

The author’s name and the title of the work: ADAMSON FOOD IN MEDIEVAL TIMES

The defined words:
A. Courses for beginners?, ANTIPASTI
B. Duty from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at sea, DOGWATCH
C. Curry flavoring also called “stinking gum”, ASAFETIDA
D. Relative of Jonathan and Granny Smith, MCINTOSH
E. Gobble or guzzle greedily, SNARF
F. Musician known for a tragic about-face, ORPHEUS
G. Pumpkin, pecan and turkey source (2 wds.), NEW WORLD
H. Have ants in one’s pants, FIDGET
I. Satisfied, and then some, OVERFED
J. How some beer is served (2 wds.), ON DRAFT
K. Bit of scullery equipment, DISHPAN
L. Baby; drink; humor, INDULGE
M. Tried to stop some growling?, NOSHED
N. Private dining area? (2 wds.), MESS HALL
O. Fit for the dinner table, EDIBLE
P. Unenlightened time (2 wds.), DARK AGES
Q. Kind of coffee or linen, IRISH
R. State of one possessed, ECSTASY
S. Cosmopolitan constituent, VODKA
T. Preprandial drive, APPETITE
U. Liquid offering to the gods, LIBATION
V. Fishmongering or butchery, e.g., TRADE
W. Frigorific fluid (2 wds.), ICE WATER
X. Feature with milk, possibly, MUSTACHE
Y. Pitcher with a big mouth, EWER
Z. Refreshing finale for a meal, SORBET

The full paragraph of the quotation: When we look at the way food was prepared in the later Middle Ages, what stands out is a predilection for color, spices, shapes, fine texture, a sweet-and-sour taste, and drama, lots of drama. If medieval cooks had had access to our modern food processors, they would have had a field day. Instead, kitchen staff spent hours and hours pounding ingredients in a mortar, or straining them through a sieve cloth to achieve the desired fineness that allowed for the perfect coloring or shaping of a dish. Spices, the more exotic and costly the better, were used extensively, both for their taste and their colors, and so were sugar and almonds, the two main ingredients in marzipan, a sweet-meat already popular in medieval time. To counteract the sweetness of a dish, wine, vinegar, or that tart juice of unripe fruits known as “verjuice” were frequently added. This seems to suggest that sweet-and-sour was the preferred taste in food. And then there were the food theatrics, peacocks, swans, and pheasants cooked and redressed in their plumage and made to breathe fire, pies filled with live birds, or a boar’s head colored in green and gold, to name just a few. Playing with food, far from being discouraged, was elevated to an art in aristocratic circles. So popular were these surprise dishes, they even had their own set place in the sequence of a fancy meal: after the fruits, potages and roasts, and before dessert, cheese, and breath mints in France, for example. ~ Conclusion of Food in Medieval Times

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Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

11.20.11 — COUNTDOWN

Beyoncé - a frame from the video Countdown

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Sunday, November 20, 2011

FIGURE IT OUT, Puzzle by Trip Payne / Edited by Will Shortz

This won’t spoil anything — COUNTDOWN is the end result of this tedious Sunday crossword, clued by PUT NINE LETTERS IN ORDER (63A. How to get this puzzle’s final word) — why? — The solver will be hard-pressed to bother with the afterthought, boldly and almost rudely commanded by the title of the crossword (FIGURE IT OUT), headed by the note: “In some squares of this crossword (as indicated by slashes), the Across and Down answers do not actually cross. Write both parts in the squares. Then use the central Across answer to interpret them properly to spell an appropriate final word.” If that is not enough to qualify as tedium, in the online version of this puzzle it is noted that the slashes are replaced by circles, and the program will accept either one of the answers that goes in that square, but not both (because of electronic restrictions). Figure it out? Count me out!

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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. ___ World Tour (sports circuit); 4. Stew; 8. Comedian Nora; 12. School hall feature; 18. Rank in kendo; 19. Article’s start, to a journalist; 20. Former New York governor Cuomo; 21. Like some moving estimates; 22. Justice Fortas; 23. Computer animation option; 25. Some harvesters; 26. Calculator symbol; 28. The “B” of B&N; 29. Lincoln ___ (L.A. neighborhood); 31. “___ You Glad You’re You?”; 32. Fill-in; 33. Teeing off; 34. Mountain in Deuteronomy; 36. X-ray units; 37. Settee settings; 39. Gourmet’s treat; 41. Paid, with “up”; 42. Within the grace period?; 45. Thuggish sorts; 49. Armored truck company; 50. Is persistent at an auction; 51. Alternately; 52. Ill-gotten gains; 53 Signs; 54. Dieter’s unit: Abbr.; 55. The Great Commoner; 56. Front of a coin: Abbr.; 59. Aunt ___ (“Star Wars” character); 60. Lead-in to 1812 or attrition; 62. Stat that may be “adjusted”; 63. How to get this puzzle’s final word; 69. Suffix with malt; 70. You can believe it; 71. Way off; 72. Furthermore; 73. Burned out; 75. You go by one in Québec; 76. Strike down; 77. Season Pass offered; 81. Some ninths; 83. Rattlesnake, at times; 84. Singer Morissette; 86. 2011 International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee; 87. Bob Marley’s group, with “the”; 88. Vodka source; 89. Not ethereal; 91. County northwest of San Francisco; 92. Traumatize; 95. Men in the middle of the peerage; 96. Takes a bit off; 99. La Città Eterna; 101. Trojan War figure; 103. “I’d never have suspected!”; 104. Veep before Spiro; 105. Gurus’ titles; 106. Oscar winner for “Cocoon,” 1985; 108. “My sources say no” source; 111. Years, to Yves; 113. Like some accents; 114. Item to thrust; 115. “Details forthcoming”: Abbr.; 116. Pants; 117. Prudential Center team; 118. - 119. “___ questions?” — DOWN: Make fit; 2. Dinner date request; 3. Zithromax treats it; 4. Sitcom waitress; 5. Cardinals; 6. Awards with a “Best Fact Crime” category; 7. Will’s ex-wife on “Glee”; 8. Morse bits; 9. Swiss canton; 10. Seasonal saint; 11. Hole in the head; 12. Cap; 13. Fit to be called up; 14. Fruit-flavored soft drink; 15. Emperor Taejo united it; 16. Correct; 17. Is quiet; 20. Video file format; 24. “Dear ___ Landers”; 27. Watching without being watched; 30. Jiffy; 34. Minds; 35. Sci-fi series set in the 23^rd century; 38. “Yikes!”; 39. It was first broken in 1954; 40. Monitor inits.; 41. “Independent Lens” network; 42. Puzzler; 43. Come back from adjournment; 44. “Awake in the Dark” author; 46. Wasn’t lackadaisical; 47. ___ nous; 48. Chi Cygni, for one; 51. Italian province or seaport; 54. Desk chair features; 57. Short while; 58. One step up from a four-cylinder; 60. King, for example; 61. Rock’s ___ Fighters; 63. Politicians’ supporters, sometimes; 64. Incorporating; 65. Singer Marie; 66. Grandson of Adam; 67. Send away; 68. Certain muscles; 74. Oscar-nominated sci-fi film of 2009; 76. Besmirches; 78. Ladylove; 79. Thiamine; 80. Spanish bear; 82. Intel interpreter, for short; 83. TV award discontinued in 1997; 84. Ardent adherents; 85. Actor Chaney; 87. Electrical worker; 90. Conversation stopper; 91. Over-the-shoulder garment; 92. Sends millions of unwanted messages, say; 93. Animal crackers animal; 94. Georgia Dome, e.g.; 96. Color whose name is French for “flea”; 97. Blood type system; 98. Rise up; 100. Appraise; 102. Most-quoted author in the O.E.D.: Abbr.; 104. #1’s, e.g.; 107. Chicago trains; 109. Kind of course; 110. CBS’s Moonves.