08.05.08 -- Mr. Exist

STAR (10A. Dwarf or giant, maybe)

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Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Puzzle by Joon and Caroline Pahk, edited by Will Shortz

ANAGRAMMEDNAMES (62A. What the clues for 17, 27- and 48-Across all contain) is the entry/clue of the four interrelated entries, counting itself, of this Tuesday crossword.

VLADIMIRNABOKOV (17A. Writer who created the character Vivian Darkbloom). In Lolita, Vivian Darkbloom is the female writing partner of Clare Quilty (Humbert’s shadow and double). Quilty is a successful playwright and child pornographer who takes a liking to Lolita from an early age, following Lolita throughout the story and kidnapping her away from Humbert. Lolita confuses Humbert by telling him that Vivian is a man and Clare is a woman. After Quilty’s death, Vivian writes Quilty’s biography. Just for the record, full name: Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov

JIMMORRISON (27A. Singer who nicknamed himself Mr. Mojo Risin’). Who was 'Mr. Mojo'? Mr. Mojo makes his appearance in the song L.A. Woman. The verse in part -- Mr. Mojo Risin' Got to keep on risin' Mr. Mojo Risin'. Mojo is black slang for sexual prowess. The tempo steadily increases in the song, rising if you will a la orgasm. Also known as The Lizard King, also the name of The Doors was Morrison’s idea, inspired by a quote from William Blake -- "If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear as it is, infinite." Full name: James Douglas Morrison

EDWARD GORY (48A. Author/illustrator who used the pseudonym Ogdred Weary) wrote many of his books under pseudonyms that were usually anagrams of his own name represented today by Ogdred Weary. Some of these are Regera Dowdy, Raddory Gewe, Dogear Wryde, E. G. Deadworry, D. Awdrey-Gore, Wardore Edgy and Groeda Weyrd. Full name: Edward St. John Gorey

MISTERX (53A. Unidentified man) is also a pseudonym of sorts with the possibility of its bearer being revealed via anagram as MR. EXIST.

Of course, when it comes to anagrams, then ADZE (1A. Woodworking tool) twists into a DAZE; TESLA (5A. Real-life scientist played by David Bowie in “The Prestige,” 2006) could be LEAST; STAR (10A. Dwarf or giant, maybe), RATS; LIED (14A. Perjured oneself), IDLE; TABS, BATS; REEL, LEER; RIFE, FIRE; STEN, NETS; AXLE, AXEL; LANA, ANAL; ELI, LIE; EDDA, DEAD; MESA, SAME; METES, TEEMS; SADE, ADES; ENE, NEE; MARS, RAMS; HITS…uh, that’s enough!

SIMILAR (25D. Akin) leads off the remaining more-than-five-letter entries which include 9D. Samuel Barber’s “ADAGIO for Strings”; AGONIZE (21A. Suffer); BROKAW (24D. Tom who wrote “The Greatest Generation”); DERATE (49D. Lower the allowed electrical capacity of); and SATIRE (31D. “Saturday Night Live” genre), which neatly crosses SKITS (40A. “Saturday Night Live” bits).

Five-letter entries -- 20. Edgar ALLAN Poe; ASSAY (34D. Analyze, as ore); ATEAM (43A. Mr. T Series, with “The“); BORNE (19D. Carried); ILIAD (15A. Work that begins “Sing, goddess, the wrath of Peleus’ son…”); ELITE (57A. Upper crust); EVANS (37A. Newspaperman Harold); ESTES (70. Adlai’s 1956 running mate); ISITI (28D. Last Supper query); JIHAD (27D. Fanatics wage it); LTGEN (51D. Three-star officer: Abbr.); MEYER (44D. “The Great Gatsby” gambler Wolfsheim); QATAR (32D. Doha’s land); STONE (10D. See 6-Down), which is ELI (6D. With 10-Down, ABC series starring Jonny Lee Miller) and I’ve never heard of Eli Stone or Jonny Lee Miller; TAINT (67A. Besmirch); UNITE (33D. Hook up).

The remainders: ALIA, ALVA, ARCS, ATOZ, COMA, DILL, DIS, DTS, ESTE and ESTES, GLEN, IMAX (59D. Big movie fan’s option?); INIT and INTO, IRE, ISEE, ISITI and ITIS, LAMA, LYE, MALT, MIT, ROVE, SAFE, SIR, TATA, TELL, TIKI, TIM, TITO and VITO, XMAS (56D. Brief holiday?), and ZEAL (3D. Fervor) which anagrams nicely to LAZE.

Nominatim, MISTER X is MR. EXIST, 32A. Sine QUA non -- Solo Dark Blond!

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Search information: Across: 16. Older brother of Michael Jackson; 22. Keep __ on; 26. Spleen; 35. Words said with a nod; 36. Unwakeful state; 39. The 40 of the Top 40; 42. End of an illness?; 45. Inter ___; 46. “Toodles!”; 47. Talk smack about; 51. Caustic cleansing agent; 52. Stagger; 66. Teeming (with); 68. Shake alternative; 69. British gun); 71. Revolutionary car part? Down: 1. Thomas ___ Edison; 2. Salmon garnish; 4. Snorri Sturluson work; 5. Late newsman Russert; 7. Walter Scott title; 11. “Kon- ___”; 12. All-inclusive; 13. Travel the country; 18. Preoccupied with; 23. They may be drawn with compasses; 30. Badlands sight; 38. Don Corleone; 41. Marquis de ___; 50. Narrow valley; 53. Location of Olympus Mons; 54. Still alive; 55. Out’s opposite; 58. One-L person, in an Ogden Nash poem; 60. Distinguish; 61. Direccion from which the sun rises; 63. Cambridge sch.; 64. Suffix with ethyl; 65. The shakes, for short.

08.04.08 -- Happy Birthday

A Mad Tea-Party illustration for Alice in Wonderland by Sir John Tenniel

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Monday, August 4, 2008

Puzzle by Oliver Hill, edited by Will Shortz

I have always been fond of the fact that I share my birthday with Roger Clemens and the late Queen Mother of England. Whenever I encounter an overly egotistical and troublesome prima donna in the profession of theater, I give a stern warning not to “fuss” with me, ‘cause I have the same birthday as Clemens and the Queen Mother (you know, sort of buzzing the batter)!

Reminding one and all that there still is a Roger Clemens, today’s crossword sports the entry of CYYOUNG (39A. Award won by Roger Clemens seven times); along with the less direct entry of MOM (10A. T.L.C. provider), the puzzle’s closest reference to the Queen Mother. Due to my lack of fame or infamy, I hereby claim for myself the entry of 7A. NON de plume.

WEEKLYPLANNERS (19A. Books for jotting down appointments), CATSCANNERS (23A. Hospital imaging devices), POORMANNERS (45A. Burping and slurping in public) and PROTESTBANNERS (53A. Places for antiwar slogans) are the interrelated entries of this Monday back-to-work crossword which starts the puzzle week off fresh and friendly.

Other personages include AMELIA (5D. Earhart who was the first aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic); ARNOLD (47D. Gov. Schwarzenegger); EDITH (31A. Author Wharton); the omnipresent ELI (58D. Priest who raised Samuel); ELLISON (65A. Ralph who wrote “Invisible Man”); an HONORER (17A. One offering kudos); JOE (14D. Quarterback Namath); SGTS (35D. Bilko and Pepper: Abbr.); a SNOB (60D. One looking down on the “little people”); 25D. Marshal TITO, Yugoslavian hero; and TSO (41A. General on Chinese menus).

Animals and musicians are represented by 38D.Rock’s FOO Fighters and ROO(37D. A.A. Milne baby); a GNU (63D. Wildebeest); NALA (57D. “The Lion King” daughter) and NEIL (7D. Young of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young); ORCA (8D. Killer whale); OWLET (44A. Miniature hooter); and PUNK (20D. The Sex Pistols’ genre).

The half-dozen or more seven-letter entries include ASKSOUT (64A. Invites to a movie, say); EARACHE (61A. Case for an otologist); EROSIVE (15A. Like waves on a shore); GOALONG (62A. Say “Sure, why not?”); ICEAXES (18A. Mountain climbers’ tools); IWOJIMA (13A. 1945 battle site wit a flag-raising); and NETSURF (36A. Cruise around the Web). Six-letter entries are MEAGER (46D. Scanty) with just BARYON (6D. Subatomic particle made of three quarks) and the aforementioned lost aviatrix and Austrian.

SPEAK (48D. Command to Fido), along with the leftovers of the five-letter CHUMP, CORKY, ERASE, MESSY, MIXER (10D. The 7-Up in a 7 and 7), OVERT and SPYON, while the happenstance fill of ABU, ADES, AER, ARTY, CENT, clued by ¢, which is no longer on the keyboard, DAB and DRAB, DIRK, ECON, EEC, GONE, IOU, KEEP, KEY, MOEN, MOOD, NNE, ONER, OWOW (2D. “Man, that hurts!”), RDA, REY, ROSA, SANA, SECS, SHUN, STAS, TETE, YOS and YULE round out the order.

Who else has a birthday today? …why Barack Hussein Obama!

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Search information -- Across: 1. Christmas drink; 4. Little bit, as of color; 21. Lendee’s note; 22. Pretentious; 32. Not rot; 33. Hip-hop greetings; 42. Word before ring or swing; 48. Moments, in brief; 52. ___ Lingus; 66. Florida island; 67. Opposite of SSW; 68. Nutritional stat.; 69. ___ Dhabi, Persian Gulf port. Down: 1. Biomedical research org.; 3. All used up; 4. Dagger; 9. Big name in faucets; 11. Conspicuous; 12. Like dorm rooms, often; 24. Juice drinks; 26. Ave. crossers; 27. ___ change; 28. The Common Market: Abbr.; 29. Playa del ___, Calif.; 30. Watch through binoculars, say; 33. Christmas; 34. Lollapalooza; 40. Have the rights to; 43. Lacking color; 49. Wipe out; 50. Like the taste of some bad wine; 51. Subway stops: Abbr.; 54. Supply-and-demand subj.; 55. Ostracize; 56. French bean?; 59. Sub ___ (secretly).

08.03.08 -- Off With Their Heads!

Queen of Hearts: “Off with their heads!” -- Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, Illustration by Sir John Tenniel

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Sunday, August 3, 2008

OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!, Puzzle by Peter A. Collins and Joe Krozel, edited by Will Shortz

On the cutting edge of cunning and clever, this Sunday crossword allows the solver to slice through its meaty material like ripe cheese! By removing the initial letter of “double-word” entries, incomplete sentences are finished off with amusing results.

The interrelated across clues and their entries:

23. “Will the long-winded REVERENDEVEREND his sermon?” -- (reverend / ever end);

32. “The majority of British HISTORYISSTORY policy coming to fruition.” -- (history / is Tory);

48. “I noticed you use the SPOTLESSPOTLESS often than the tarnished one” -- (spotless / potless);

57. “The driver’s crew decided to make the PITSTOPITSTOP priority” -- (pit stop / it’s top);

67. “The parishioners ignored the MANDATEANDDATE meat on Friday” -- (mandate / and ate);

81. “The judges put the names of each FINALISTINALIST for the M.C. to read” -- (finalist / in a list);

94. “As one member of the crew LABOREDABORED co-worker leaned on his shovel” -- (labored / a bored);

110. “You won’t find any SONATINAONATINA Turner album” -- (sonatina / on a Tina).

Here's the real thing...

Judith Beheading Holofernes, Artemisia Gentileschi

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Unrelated entries of length include GHOSTTOWNS (15D. Relics of the Wild West); DISCJOCKEY (68D. Record holder); LANDMASS (6D. Australia, e.g.); DIVEINTO (9D. Take up wholeheartedly); REYNOLDS (24D. English portraitist Sir Joshua); ISAOAOKI (85D. Japanese-born Hall of Fame golfer); TRAVOLTA (72D. “Hairspray” actor); MANTOMAN (107A. Box-and-one alternative); PRETENDS (27A. Puts on); PEDAGOG (92A. Teacher: Var.); UNEATEN (34A. Left over) IMPERILS (82D. Compromises).

The remainder of the crossword contains entries of six letters or less. Of note are the clues for ERRED (65A. Crossed one’s i’s and dotted one’s t’s), a switch that may go unnoticed; 47D. Johnson and Johnson, e.g., VEEPS, not the baby products; 117A. It’s frequently stolen, BASE, the operating word is "frequently"; 69D. About which the Bible says “Consider her ways, and be wise”, ANT, that‘s a very long clue for a very short entry!

Across: 1. Swarm; 5. Lots; 10. 11th-century year; 14. Audibly shocked; 19. Hot rod rod; 20. One of the Four Seasons; 21. German article; 22. Glow; 26. Philosopher Kierkegaard; 28. Power brokers; 29. “Let me tell you…”; 30. Mark, Anthony and others: Abbr.; 31. “Tasty!”; 36. Shoot out; 37. Take care of; 40. Washington State airport; 43. Amaze; 44. One of five Norwegian kings; 51. Promised; 52. Ties a second knot; 53. Habit; 54. Human GENOME Project; 55. Alphabet quartet; 60. “Life ISA beach”; 63. Welcome at the door; 66. Promgoers: Abbr.; 71. Understands; 74. Train head; 75. Work hard; 76. Ultimatum’s end; 80. It might lead to a cloud formation, for short; 86. Pusher catcher, for short; 87. Shoe letters; 88. Retinue of Pan; 89. You-Tube offering; 90. Baloney; 101. Nigerian export; 102. Any ship; 105. Company bought by Chevron in 2005; 106. Dig; 109. Mushroom variety; 112. Wilder and Hackman; 113. Wash. Neighbor; 114. Potato pancake; 115. Race pace; 116. Daisy type; 118. Calm; 119. Tom Joad, e.g.

Down: 1. Bad-weather gear; 2. Apply; 3. Dwellers in Middle-earth; 4. Cross; 5. Park in New York, say; 7. Automotive pioneer; 8. It may come from a barrel; 10. Deserve; 11. Deceive; 12. Central; 13. Like some boxes on ballots; 14. Franciscan home; 16. AIRTO-ground missile; 17. Derisive look; 18. Copper; 25. 1994 and 1997 U.S. Open winner; 29. Green shade; 32. Bucket of bolts; 33. Grove in many an English churchyard; 34. Pure; 35. Your: Fr.; 37. Lat. Or Lith., once; 38. Ursine : bear :: pithecan : APE; 39. Amaze; 41. Al’s is almost 27; 42. Place to hang your hat; 43. Lady ASTOR, first woman to sit in British Parliament; 45. Sacks; 46. Mail for a knight; 49. Kind of sale; 50. “ENTRE Nous” (1983 film); 51. Having all the money one needs; 54. Bible distributor; 56. Milk; 57. Attach, as to a lapel; 58. Cuisine choice; 59. Many a pirate’s appendage; 60. “That is to say …”; 61. Receiver of lists; 62. Tick off; 65. Actress Holmes; 70. Confederate; 73. Baseball bigwig Bud; 77. Top; 78. Beijing-to-Shanghai dir.; 79. Ike’s W.W. II domain; 81. Broadcast signal; 83. Tore; 84. Minister‘s deg.; 87. Daredevil Knievel; 91. Poker call; 93. Deseeded, as cotton; 94. “Hasta LUEGO“; 95. Incorporate into a city; 96. Fess Parker TV role; 97. Greek marketplace; 98. Folk percussion instruments; 99. Old enough; 100. Break down; 102. Smarmy smile; 103. Red River city; 104. Related on the mother‘s side; 107. MATA Hari; 108. Football Hall-of-Famer Graham; 110. Melodramatic response in comics; 111. Jazz cornetist Adderley.

As with anything, including decapitation or crosswords, with or without an eponym or a guillotine, hacking away at words can be a grueling and grisly business -- one can hardly be asked to grin and bear it! This one, however, was a pleasure! What fun!

Off with their heads!

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08.03.08 -- A Writer's Notebook -- the Acrostic

Sunset from top of Cadillac Mountain in Acadia NP, Maine -- by James Fisher Photography

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Sunday, August 3, 2008

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox & Henry Rathvon, edited by Will Shortz

The thoughts, observations, sketches and ideas of W. Somerset Maugham between the years of 1892-1949 is the subject of the work quoted in today’s acrostic.

The quotation: THE PHILOSOPHER IS LIKE A MOUNTAINEER WHO HAS with difficulty CLIMBED A MOUNTAIN FOR THE SAKE OF THE SUNRISE, AND ARRIVING AT THE TOP FINDS ONLY FOG; whereupon he wanders down again. HE MUST BE AN HONEST MAN IF HE DOESNT TELL YOU THAT THE SPECTACLE WAS STUPENDOUS.

The author’s name and title of the work: W. Somerset MAUGHAM WRITERS NOTEBOOK

The defined words: MATINEE (A. Preprandial theatergoing option); ASPHALT (B. Bituminous gunk used in roofing); UPTOWN (C. Chicago entertainment district); GOFORTH (D. Get ready to multiply, in the Bible? [2 wds.]); HINDLEGS (E. Props for rearing animals [2 wds.]); ANTAEUS (F. Giant wrestler crushed by Hercules); MCINTOSH (G. Ancestor of Cortland and Empire apples); AUDIBLE (H. Change given by a quarterback); WHITEFISH (I. Cod, haddock or Pollock); ROCKSTEADY (J. Pre-reggae ska offspring [2 wds.]); INFESTED (K. Teeming, as with sharks or fleas); THAMES (L. River spanned by Waterloo Bridge); EPONYMOUS (M. Like Mae West vis-à-vis life preservers); REFUND (N. Overpayment outcome, often); SALTFLAT (O. Landform conducive to speed [2 wds.]); NEPHRITE (P. Type of jade once thought to cure kidney stones); OMPHALOS (Q. Stone at Delphi thought to mark the center of the earth); TENSION (R. Variable involved in tuning a violin); ELEVEN (S. Number of sides in an undecagon); BEARISH (T. Pessimistic, on Wall Street); OTTOHAHN (U. Collaborator with Lise Meitner on fission [2 wds.]); OUTSHINE (V. Attract more acclaim than); KEROUAC (W. Chronicler of a road trip with Cassady).

No one can write a best seller by trying to. He must write with complete sincerity; the clichés that make you laugh, the hackneyed characters, the well-worn situations, the commonplace story that excites your derision, seem neither hackneyed, well worn nor commonplace to him. . . . The conclusion is obvious: you cannot write anything that will convince unless you are yourself convinced. The best seller sells because he writes with his heart's blood. — W. Somerset Maugham, A Writer's Notebook

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08.02.08 -- EEK!

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Puzzle by Karen M. Tracey, edited by Will Shortz

Having a bit of trouble with Blogger in posting, so I don't know how this will turn out. In any event, today's puzzle contains a great deal of variety, interesting entries and clever clues, this crossword makes for a satisfying Saturday solve. A few eye-catchers:

SCHNOZZLE (14A. Beak) is slang for the human nose, probably an alteration of Yiddish snoyts (snout, muzzle) from the German schnauze.

AZIMUTH (6D. Reading from a surveyor’s compass) is a word derived from the Arabic السمت ('as-sumūt') which means the ways, referring to the ways or directions a person faces.

ZSAZSAGABOR (15D. She opined “Macho does not prove much”) was born was born as Sára Gabor (Zsa is Hungarian for Susan) and is the ex-step-great-grandmother of Paris Hilton.

VIAVENETO (11D. Setting of Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita”) (officially Via Vittorio Veneto) is one of the most famous and expensive streets in Rome, Italy. La Dolce Vita made the street famous in the 1960s and '70s.

EMFORSTER (12D. Creator of Mr. Fielding and Prof. Godbole) Godbole is the ENIGMATIC (31A. Tough to crack) Hindu character in A Passage to India, the story of the Englishwoman Adela Quested, the Indian Dr Aziz, and the question of what did or did not happen between them in the Marabar Caves. Fielding, the English friend of Aziz takes a courageous stance in favor of Aziz during the latter's trial.

LANTANA (38D. Perennial herb with florets sometimes) is a genus of about 150 species of perennial flowering plants, some species are invasive and considered to be noxious weeds.

RAMADAN (20A. It comes between Shaban and Shawwal), derives from an Arabic word for intense heat, scorched ground, and shortness of rations.

Other longer entries include ALTIMETER (54A. It tells you how much you’ve 56-Across [which is RISEN]); ABSTENTIONS (27A. No-votes?); ASTONMARTIN (21D. Ride for 007); GETABADNAME (40A. Lose credibility), NEONTETRA (57A. Common addition to a tank), PROVISION (17A. Condition) and SAGEBRUSH (32D. State flower of Nevada).

Seven-letter entries include AMATORY (39A. Like a Romeo’s adventures); ANISTON (39D. Co-star of “Friends” and “Friends With Money”); ARTISTE (49A. Left Bank frequenter); BOLSTER (26D. Support); DIGITAL (37A. Like most recorded music nowadays); GOBLETS (33A. Some crystal); HASFITS (24D. Rages); MESSIAH (30A. Promised one); PENDING (8D. Undecided).

Six-letter, 41D. Dan DAILEY, 1948 Best Actor nominee for “When My Baby Smiles at Me”, INAFOG (35A. Spaced), NESTEA (36A. Brand with a three-leaf logo), SLOANE (7D. Title role in a Joe Orton play).

The five-letter group -- ABAFT (18A. Fore’s opposite); ACHOO (58A. Possible reaction to dander); ACURA (42D. Legend, e.g.); APTTO (45D. Probably will, after “is”); BIOTA (28D. That’s life); CRIME (16A. It may come in waves); ESPYS (1D. Annual sports awards since 1993); ESSEN (1A. Prussia annexed it in 1802); IBEAM (29D. Structural support); MAVEN (9A. Guru); NETWT (13D. It doesn’t include the packaging: Abbr.); NLERS (46D. D-backs, e.g.); ONAIR (43A. Sending out signals?); SCREE (2D. Cliffside detritus); SHOAT (3D. Piglet); SKOSH (60A. Smidge); TORAH (47D. Numbers place); UTURN (52A. Flip-flop); ZUNIS (25A. Dwellers along a tributary of the Little Colorado River).

Short stuff: AMBS, ANNO, ARB, ASP (6A. Means of execution for favored criminals in antiquity), AYN, BERT, CAR (48A. It contains a dash), EMTS, ENV, MCAN, MID, NOIR (5D. Dark picture), PLO, RANT, REO, SAY, SETH, VOW, YEA.

Favorite: EEK (55D. Reaction upon seeing something squeak by?)!

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08.01.08 -- Honestly!

Friday, August 1, 2008

Puzzle by Patrick Berry, edited by Will Shortz

HONESTABE (52A. 1860 campaign nickname) might have difficulty living up to reputation with such shenanigans in this crossword puzzle as NORWEGIANBLUE (22A. Fictional parrot type featured in Monty Python’s “dead parrot sketch”) and WATERBALLOONS (40A. They often make a splash) which provide a wry humor to this pre-weekend crossword. He might even find himself CHOKINGUP (49A. Having trouble delivering the eulogy, say) at those who are ANTIUNION (17A. Unwilling to get organized).

Working the Times puzzle is often a silent ACAPPELLA (14A. Like singing in a shower). This WARHORSE (54A. Survivor of many battles) solver DUGINTO (9D. Tackled energetically) the clues glaring at the empty squares and ENROUTE (45A. While traveling) found RAFTS (21D. A lot) of which to warble:

SALESREP (1A. Mover of merchandise), not a salesman.

10A. CRIMEAN War (“Charge of the Light Brigade” conflict), 1854 and 1860 too?

HORNET (39A. 1970s American Motors car), not HUDSON, but a Hudson, and SAAB (1D. “Born from jets” company) are today‘s autos.

OPENBAR (44A. Where to find free spirits), wanted something ethereal.

EPITOMES (4D. Archetypes), like WONKS (40D. Eggheaded experts) and the BOORISH (37D. Impolite) OGRE (30D. Big brute).

Shortzesque clues are given to BURRO (37A. Pack animal) and CAMEL (38A. Pack animal?) -- remember Joe Camel?

Lending a bit of class are the ANCIENTS (15D. Plato and Aristotle, e.g.) and the GODLY (18A. Divine).

The omnipresent crossword blemish, ACNE (2D. It might make you red in the face), crosses BEETRED (19A. Showing extreme embarrassment).

CORNSUGAR (29D. Dextrose) could have been corn syrup.

GLUEALL (23D. Elmer’s product) and all these years I thought it was Glues-All.

A few weapons like ABOMBS (10D. W.W. II enders, for short), crossing a UBOAT (16A. Ship sinker); a CARBINE (36D. The M-1, for one) and an EPEE, strangely clued as Sword: Fr.

LEFTS (26A. Some swings in a ring) a clue with some punch!

TURNSONTO (34A. Enter, as a cross street), RUNTO (28A. Reach in total), oh those dang dangling prepositions!

Any kind of thought or RESEARCH (28D. Bookwork, e.g.) ends there -- here are the remains of the day:

Across: 9. Deadens, DAMPS; 24. 7 and 11, PRIMES; 27. Threw a tantrum, RAGED; 29. Inner ear?, COB; 32. “Draft Dodger Rag” singer, OCHS; 33. Athletic schedule list, MEETS; 34. Ordering option, TOGO; 35. Spaying customer?, PET; 36. South-of-the-border homes, CASAS; 48. Lieutenant of Capone, NITTI; 51. Labor activist Silkwood, KAREN; 53. Catch, SNARE.

Down: 5. Drove, SPURRED; 6. Extends, as a lease, RENEWS; 7. Choose not to say?, ELIDE; 8. Mideast grp., PLO; 11. Architect’s starting point, MODEL; 12. Micronesian nation that hosted the 10th season of “Survivor”, PALAU; 13. “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” composer, STYNE; 24. Play thing, PROP; 25. Competition, RACE; 31. Wellington, e.g., BOOT; 33. Tree-dwelling snake, MAMBA; 38. Snapper, of a sort, CENTER; 39. Nose, slangily, HONKER; 41. Dealing with honey makers, APIAN; 42. Prefix with chloride, TETRA; 43. Singer Lewis with the 2008 #1 hit “Bleeding Love”, LEONA; 50. HOW-to.

Entering TUGS instead of TUBS (46D. Slow-moving ships), I wondered for a moment if there ever was an HONEST AGE.

Honestly!

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