07.07.09 -- Coming Soon!

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Puzzle by Lynn Lempel, edited by Will Shortz

JOE SATURDAY (17A. Late-arriving TV detective?), FREDRIC APRIL (28A Late-arriving actor of old?), DORIS EVENING (44A. Late-arriving singer/actress of old?) and DONNA AUTUMN (59A. Late-arriving disco singer?) are the interrelated entries of this Tuesday crossword.

BRYLCREEM (10D. “A little dab’ll do ya” brand) and TAX RELIEF (34D. Government’s gift to I.R.S. filers) are the other long entries followed by five of seven letters -- ACROBAT (20A. Nimble circus performer), ETRURIA (56A. Region of pre-Roman Italy), GRENDEL (25D. Monster defeated by Beowulf), PSANDQS (42D. Manners) and SOYBEAN (9D. Protein-rich legume).

Six-letter entries -- FLUTED (5D. Having decorative grooves); LABORS (14D. Feats for Hercules); NLEAST (46D. Atlanta Braves’ div.); TALENT (53A. Knack); UNTRUE (43D. Erroneous).

Five-letter -- AIMED (51D. Got ready to shoot); ALLOT (49A. Parcel out); 38A. Former U.N. head Kofi ANNAN; ANVIL (13A. It takes a hammering); 3D. New York’s AVERY Fisher Hall; 50D. “Et tu, BRUTE?”; EATEN (64A. Down the hatch); 2D. Tennyson title hero ENOCH Arden; FELLS (5A. Cuts down); LASSO (15A. Roundup rope); NANNY (52D. Kids’ caretaker); NOTES (32A. Classroom jottings); OMEGA (24A. Alpha’s counterpart); QUIPS (63A. Many Conan O’Brien lines); RAJAS (1D. Indian royalty); START (66A. Word next to an arrow in a maze); TBILLS (21A. Short-term govt. securities); UNMET (43A. Like some needs).

Short stuff -- AGE, AIDA, ALGA, AMPS, BAN, BRA, CEN, EAR, EDEN and EDU, EELS and ELAN, ELI, ENG, ERA, ESC, FEN, HEDY, IDLE, IOTA, IRE, ISP, LSD, LSAT and LUST, MISO, NERD, NIA, NOVA, NPR, OLEO, PLOD, RAF, RAIL, RAM and REAM, REX, SHY, TAME, TEAR, TOUT, UTAH, YIP.

That‘s all for this WEDNESDAY!

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Remaining clues -- Across: 1. 500 sheets; 10. Panty raid prize; 16. It might make a ewe turn; 19. Puppy’s bark; 27. Lesser-used PC key; 35. Home for Adam and Eve; 36. Campus e-mail letters?; 41. Harrison of “My Fair Lady”; 42. Work monotonously; 48. ___ of Good Feelings; 50. Blackball; 58. ___ Lilly & Co.; 62. “Act your ___!”; 65. U.K. fliers; 67. Screen star Lamarr. Down: 4. Kind of soup at a Japanese restaurant; 6. Obstacle for a barber; 7. Source of a hippie’s high; 8. Exam for A.B.A.-approved schools; 11. Complain bitterly; 12. Concert blasters; 18. Docile; 22. AOL, for one; 26. Slave entombed with Radames; 28. Swamp; 29. 100 years: Abbr.; 30. Just loafing; 31. The hots; 32. Jock’s counterpart; 33. Margarine; 38. Drink from a stein; 39. Star of changing brightness; 40. Official lang. of Guyana; 45. Fury; 47. Tiny bit; 53. Shred; 54. Sea lettuce, e.g.; 55. Talk up; 57. One of the Four Corners states; 60. Actress Peeples; 61. “Car Talk” airer.

The Boys of Summer

The Swimming Hole at Falling Creek Camp near the town of Tuxedo in Western North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains

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The Boys of Summer, Puzzle by Fred Piscop, edited by Will Shortz

If you subscribe to The New York Times on-line Premium Crosswords, you are probably familiar with the monthly puzzle. For the month of July, the title of the crossword is The Boys of Summer and features "boys" in nearly three dozen clues in this very sunny puzzle.

Across: 1. Santa CLAUS (bringer of gifts to boys and girls); 6. The Beach Boys’ “Barbara ANN”; 9. Kinks song with the lyrics “girls will be boys and boys will be girls”; 13. “Elvira” band The Oak RIDGE Boys; 17. City near Boys Town, Neb.; 18. “Kiss the Boys Goodbye” playwright Clare Boothe LUCE; 23. Girl dog played by boys on TV; 38. TALL boys (bottles of beer); 52. The VIENNA Boys’ Choir; 61. Palmer of “The Boys From Brazil”; 63. TORI Amos, singer with the album “Boys for Pele”; 64. It may read “Boys” on a lavatory door; 67. Rock’s LOS Lonely Boys.

Down: 3. Yauch or Horovitz of the Beastie Boys; 5. The Four SEASONS (group portrayed in “Jersey Boys”); 6. Ethan ALLEN of the Green Mountain Boys; 7. “Boys” or “girls,” in grammer; 9. Young boys; 11. “The Boys From Brazil” author Ira LEVIN; 15. Thin Lizzy’s “The Boys ARE Back in Town”; 25. Bette of “For the Boys”; 26. COREY Feldman of “The Lost Boys”; 29. Huntz HALL of the Bowery Boys; 30. “The Boys of Summer writer Kahn; 31. Sam of Broadway’s “The Sunshine Boys”; 36. “The Sunshine Boys” has two; 37. Leoni of “Bad Boys” (1995); 39. Highboys of lowboys; 43. Esai of “Bad Boys” (1983); 46. Louisa May Alcott’s “JO’S Boys”; 51. “The Sunshine Boys” star George; 53. “Where the Boys Are” composer Sedaka; 55. “Rally ‘Round the FLAG, Boys!” (Paul Newman movie); 57. “Boys WILL be boys”.

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07.06.09 -- Categorically Speaking

The Apotheosis of Washington

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Monday, July 6, 2009

Puzzle by Fred Piscop, edited by Will Shortz

LIBERAL BENEFITS (17A. Company-paid medical and dental coverage college tuition, etc.), MODERATE DRINKER (37A. A sot he’s not) and CONSERVATIVE TIE (59A. Bit of attire for a business interview, maybe) are the interrelated entries of this congenial Monday crossword.

People in the Puzzle -- 62D. Critic ADA Louise Huxtable; AIDA (64A. A Slave to opera?); an ARB (7D. Wall St. whiz) and an AIDE (18D. Capitol Hill helper); 33A. Poet EDNA St. Vincent Millay; EMMA (10A. Actress Thompson of “Howards End”); EVAN (54D. Politico Bayh); FOES (15A. The North and the South, in the Civil War); MEL’S (1D. Diner on “Alice”); MIMI (46D. Actress Rogers who was once married to Tom Cruise); NERO (5D. Wolfe of whodunits); NIECE (30A. Dorothy, to Em); 60D. RAS Tafari (Haile Selassie); REBA (55D. McEntire of country music); a SIMP (25D. Nincompoop); WALDO (6D. Hard-to find guy in children’s books); 6A. WALT Disney Pictures).

Actions -- AVERT (52A. Ward off); EFFUSE (10D. Pour forth); ERR (29D. Blow it); GUILE (43A. Artful deception); INDENTS (23D. Hits the tab key, say); LIE (8D. Tell a whopper); LUBE (3D. Garage job, for short); METES (12D. Apportions, with “out”); NAMED (68A. Identified); PARSES (44D. Breaks down grammatically); 35D. PELL-mell; PUREE (21A. Reduce to mush); RETAG (51D. Put a new price on); SNAG (67A. Hosiery spoiler); TAN (9D. Get some sun); WEAR (24D. Grow tiresome).

Aspects -- ABOVE (65A. Superior to); EMERALD (53A. Ireland’s hue); FREE (36D. Gratis); ICIER (32A. Not so congenial); LITE (45D. Lo-fat); LIVE (57D. Not prerecorded); MOHAIR (47A. Angora goat’s fleece); MOIRE (11D. Wavy pattern on fabric); MOTTLE (46A. Pattern on a pinto horse); OVOID (48D. Egg-shaped); TIDY (27D. Neat); WISEST (24A. Most like Solomon).

Assertions -- 22A. “DO I look like a mind reader?”; 42A. “This will GO NO further!”; 39A. Here WE GO again”; HENCE (49D. “It follows that …”).

Miscellaneous -- AGAR, ARIA, ATOM, DEED, ECOL, EPIC, ETON, INDO, MELON (1A. Fruit often cut into balls); ODER and ODES, PLANT (44A. Factory); PLY, RICE, SKIT (34D. Burlesque bit), SPF and SRI, STEROID (20A. Controversial substance in baseball news); TEE, VIN and EXIT (2D. Emergency door sign)…

Have a good week!

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07.05.09 -- Baghdad Sketches -- the Acrostic

Sunday, July 5, 2009

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

Good news for aficionados of the acrostic -- the New York Times Magazine has reinstated the puzzle this Sunday.

Today’s fine acrostic draws a quotation from Freya Stark’s “Baghdad Sketches”, an account of a four-year sojourn in Iraq and Iran in the 1930s, the first of Dame Freya Stark's many travel books. A fine quotation for the vacationer of this summer, supported by defined words relating to the subject of aestivation.

The quotation: THE TOURIST TRAVELS LIKE A SNAIL IN HIS SHELL AND STANDS ON HIS OWN PERAMBULATING DOORSTEP TO LOOK AT THE CONTINENTS BUT IF YOU SALLY FORTH WITH A LEISURELY AND BLANK MIND THERE IS NO KNOWING WHAT MAY HAPPEN TO YOU

The author’s name and the title of the work: FREYA STARK BAGHDAD SKETCHES

The defined words: A. Flight to another world?, FANTASY; B. Flow below Avignon’s bridge, RHONE; C. Picture without a camera, ENVISION; D. Two-masted fore-and-aft-rigged vessel, YAWL; E. On the opposite side of the globe, ANTIPODAL; F. Deviation from the itinerary (2 wds.), SIDE TRIP; G. Modern capital near ancient Carthage, TUNIS; H. Konrad Adenauer presided over its opening ceremonies in 1932, AUTOBAHN; I. Home away from home, perhaps, RENTAL; J. Account of a 101-day journey (hyph.), KON-TIKI; K. Gift acquired at an Irish castle?, BLARNEY; L. Museum of art and archaeology at Oxford University, ASHMOLEAN; M. Move about cumbersomely, GALUMPH; N. Car used in Kerouac’s “On the Road”, HUDSON; O. Where “folks are crooning songs soft and low,” per Satchmo (2 wds.), DOWN SOUTH; P. At the masthead or higher rigging, ALOFT; Q. Wildly enthusiastic piece of writing, DITHYRAMB; R. Wander on foot, promenade, STROLL; S. Apollo 14 command module (2 wds.), KITTY HAWK; T Affliction of the world-weary, ENNUI; U. Microblogging service, TWITTER; V. Instrument panel, CONSOLE; W Booking for a frugal wayfarer, HOSTEL; X. In ancient Greece, what gave Eros a start?, EPSILON; Y. Make use of a guidebook, SIGHTSEE.

The full paragraph of the quotation (from the chapter In the Moslem Quarter): To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world. You are surrounded by adventure. You have no idea of what is in store for you, but you will, if you are wise and know the art of travel, let yourself go on the stream of the unknown and accept whatever comes in the spirit in which the gods may offer it. For this reason your customary thoughts, all except the rarest of your friends, even most of your luggage--everything, in fact, which belongs to your everyday life, is merely a hindrance. The tourist travels in his own atmosphere like a snail in his shell and stands, as it were, on his own perambulating doorstep to look at the continents of the world. But if you discard all this, and sally forth with a leisurely and a blank mind, there is no knowing what may not happen to you.

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07.05.09 -- M, no -- P.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

M N O P, Puzzle by Tony Orbach and Amy Reynaldo, edited by Will Shortz

Substituting the letter P for the letter M (M, no -- P. Get it? -- wink, wink…) of nine common phrases resulting in new corny phrases constitutes the interrelated across entries of this Sunday crossword. Smell the roses becomes SPELL THE ROSES (23. Give Axl and Pete a break?); mortal danger, PORTAL DANGER (33. Tripping over a threshold, perhaps?); The Mod Squad, THE POD SQUAD (45. Pea farmers?); boiling mad, BOILING PAD (51. Summer apartment with no air-conditioning?); full metal jacket, FULL PETAL JACKET (69. Floral Technicolor dreamcoat?); stud muffin, STUD PUFFIN (91. Strutting bird on an ice floe?); New York Mets, NEW YORK PETS (94. Residents at a Manhattan A.S.P.C.A.?); man-about-town, PAN ABOUT TOWN (105. Move a movie camera around a community?); mass confusion, PASS CONFUSION (122. Explanation for an interception?) -- all adding up to just one more substitute-a-letter crossword with question-marked clues to justify the switch, -- today it’s the letter P instead of M.

The remainder of the crossword is a plodding and thankless solving chore rather than an exercise in any chamber of amusement, with entry/clues rife with attitude and cuteness. What would one expect, however, on a day after a national celebration -- well, it appears a hangover and leftovers!

Remaining across: 1. Wind source, GASBAG; 7. Escalates, AMPSUP; 13. Watercolor technique, GOUACHE; 20. Annual event held at the Kodak Theater, with “the”, OSCARS; 21. Hero known for his nose, CYRANO; 22. Intertwined, ENLACED; 25. Like the Twenties, ROARING; 26. Language that gave us “pajamas”, HINDI; 27. Saroyan’s “My Name is ARAM”; 28. Elton John/Tim Rice musical, AIDA; 30. A bit more than never, ONCE; 31. CAESARS Palace; 37. Bubbly place?, ASTI; 38. Carries, e.g., STAT; 39. BlackBerry and others, for short, PDAS; 40. Footwear that’s hard to run in, CLOG; 43. Art school subj., ANAT; 54. Home of the Blues: Abbr., STL; 55. Powerful engine, TURBO; 56. Barkin of “Sea of Love”, ELLEN; 57. English author Blyton, ENID; 58. Co. bigwigs, CEOS; 62. “IS IT true?”; 63. Solar RAY; 64. Swindler, FLEECER; 67. Went long, RAN LATE; 73. Madrid newspaper, EL MUNDO; 76. This-and-that preparation, GOULASH; 77. Island near Naxos, IOS; 80. Certain grains, RYES; 81. Sets (on), SICS; 84. Fourier series function, SINE; 85. Lively sonata movement, RONDO; 87. Pauline Kael’s “I LOST It at the Movies”; 89. Blow away, AWE; 98. Yours, in Giverny, ATOI; 99. Nemeses, FOES; 100. Actor Ventimiglia of “Heroes”, MILO; 101. DC Comics super heroine, ISIS; 103. Genetic molecules, RNAS; 110. Some casino staff, DEALERS; 113. Little or Short, APER; 114. Greenish-blue, TEAL; 115. Interlaken’s river, AARE; 117. Emmy-winning co-star of “Chicago Hope”, LAHTI; 119. “Symphonie Fantastique” composer, BERLIOZ; 125. One of the Andrews Sisters, LAVERNE; 126. Early anesthetics, ETHERS; 127. Like some Swift writing, IRONIC; 128. Electra’s brother, ORESTES; 129. Twos, DEUCES; 130. SENECA Falls, N.Y.

Down: “Yipe!”, GOSH; 2. Jellied dish, ASPIC; 3. Extended operatic solo, SCENA; 4. Quarter back, BALD EAGLE; 5. Onetime HBO sitcom, ARLISS; 6. Prime meridian std., GST; 7. Deliverers of the unreturnable, ACERS; 8. Hess who was a dame, MYRA; 9. Cue, PROMPT; 10. Airline to Stockholm, SAS; 11. Digs up, UNEARTHS; 12. Propose, POSIT; 13. Mustachioed TV muckraker, GERALDO; 14. Plastic ONO Band; 15. Suffix with form, ULA; 16. Perennial N.L. leader of old, AARON; 17. Sharing a memo with CCING; 18. For this reason, HENCE; 19. Lawn gadget, EDGER; 24. 1980s street artist Keith HARING; 29. Spot, DAPPLE; 32. AT AN impasse; 34. Dobbin’s nibble, OAT; 35. “Dear old” guy, DAD; 36. ASST mgr.; 38. Batting coach’s concern, STANCE; 40. One with a handle, CBER; 41. “Damn Yankees” vamp, LOLA; 42. Too suave, OILY; 44. Without A PEEP (quietly); 46. Series finale?, ETC; 47. What a bee produces, QUILT; 48. “Superman II” villainess, URSA; 49. Some, A BIT; 50. Favor cloyingly, with “on”, DOTE; 52. Just for laughs, IN FUN; 53. Many a New Year’s resolution, DIET; 58. Pulls, DRAGS; 50. 1977 thriller co-starring Bo Derek, ORCA; 61. “The Odd Couple” director, SAKS; 65. Some legal scholars, for short, LLDS; 66. “The Time Machine” race, ELOI; 68. Co-founder of the Nonaligned Movement, NEHRU; 69. Fastidious, FUSSY; 70. Lane in Metropolis, LOIS; 71. Postrevolutionary councils, JUNTAS; 72. Language akin to Yupik, ALEUT; 73. A Walton, ERIN; 74. Singer Lovett, LYLE; 75. “What’s New Pussycat?” response?, MEOW; 77. Poop, INFO; 78. Comics canine, ODIE; 79. End of some firm names, SONS; 82. 2005 Hoffman title role, CAPOTE; 83. Winter Olympics powerhouse: Abbr., SWE; 86. Summer at a ski resort, e.g., OFF SEASON; 88. Taj Mahal, e.g., TOMB; 90. Bleach, ETIOLATE; 92. One of the original Mouseketeers, DOREEN; 93. PINA cloth (lingerie fabric); 96. 1983 Duran Duran hit, RIO; 96. China shop personae non gratae, KLUTZES; 97. Orlando-to-Ft. Myers dir., SSW; 102. Shortly, IN A SEC; 104. Attraction, ALLURE; 105. Literature Nobelist Neruda, PABLO; 106. “ … in A PEAR tree”; 107. Audacity, NERVE; 108. Bizet suite “The Girl From ARLES”; 109. Attached, in a way, TAPED; 110. Chaff, DROSS; 111. River straddled by Basel, Switzerland, RHINE; 112. Impassive, STOIC; 118. Homeland plot?, ACRE; 118. Cuzco inhabitant, INCA; 120. N.Y.C. subway line, IRT; 121. A wee hour, ONE; 123. Moo SHU pork; 124. Hi-FIS.

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07.04.09 -- Independence Day

Saturday, July 4, 2009, Independence Day

Puzzle by Peter A. Collins and Joe Krozel, edited by Will Shortz

INDEPENDENCE DAY (7D. Highest-grossing film of 1996), THE UNITED STATES (20A. Fastest ocean liner ever in a transatlantic crossing [3 days, 12 hours, 12 minutes]), STARS AND STRIPES (34A. Private reading?) and RED WHITE AND BLUE (54A. Patriotic display) are the interrelated entries of this Fourth of July crossword puzzle. God bless America!

After that wonderful burst of puzzledom patriotics, we’re down to business as usual with ROD STEIGER (58A. Oscar-winning portrayer of Police Chief Bill Gillespie, 1967) in a ROCK GARDEN (17A. Landscaper’s project) as the next longest entries, followed by eight of eight letters -- AIREDALE (36D. Dog originally bred to hunt otters); 12D. Double ENTENDRE; SACK RACE (34D. It may make people jump to a conclusion), that's a great clue, LOL!; TOASTERS (13D. Maid of honor and best man, e.g.); TRAVELED (35D. Broke a court rule); WAITED UP (11D. Didn’t retire, maybe).

Six-letter entries -- CALGON (46D. Bath beads maker); ELOHIM (2D. Old Testament God); NORTON (6D. 1973 Ali jaw-breaker); GNARLS (18D. Twists); KVETCH (49A. Bellyache); RECEDE (3D. Peter out); RESIDE (38D. Live); SARTRE (1D. He wrote “Life has no meaning the moment you lose the illusion of being eternal”); SHASTA (44D. California county); STEREO (48D. Disc holder); TALENT (24A. Showbiz bookings); TRUEST (47D. Like best friends).

Five -- ANNAL (10D. Record for the record books); ANTES (52D. They’re placed in the center of a table); EMEER (25A. Big man in Oman); ELATE (60A. Send); EMAIL (5D. Send, in a way); ENIAC (5A. 1946’s “Giant Brain”); MONGO (15A. Planet ruled by Ming the Merciless in “Flash Gordon”); NEW AT (27A. Inexperienced with); SECTS (45A. Branches); 63A. SLY AS a fox; SPANS (43A. Bank structures?); TWILL (50D. Gabardine, e.g.).

Short stuff -- AGED, ALAI, ALEA, ALOP, ALS, ARIS, ART, A WET, BAKU, BIDE, CAR, CELL, CHAI, DDE, DOSE, EARS, EDEL, ENTO, NAN and NANO, NITA, NRA, PILE, PRE, PURR, RID, SCH, SEL, SERB, TAT, TOLL, WAS.

Happy Fourth of July!

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We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

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Remaining clues -- Across: 1. Landlocked European; 10. “Séance on ___ Afternoon” (1964 suspense thriller); 14. Greek goddess Athena ___; 16. Second start?; 19. 1920s leading lady ___ Naldi; 22. Free; 23. Catawampus; 29. Old White House monogram; 30. Baseball’s Dark and Downing; 32. Asian flatbread; 33. Copy cats?; 39. Greek war god, to Greeks; 40. Season opener?; 41. French seasoning; 42. Word with part of port; 51. Non-coffee order at Starbucks; 53. Busts in a museum, e.g.; 57. Trans ___ (Kyrgyz/Tajik border range); 59. Block division; 61. Spoonful, say; 62. Henry James biographer Leon; 64. Prefix with -zoic. Down: 4. Azerbaijan’s capital; 8. Like some ports; 21. Parlor pic; 26. Hearing things; 28. Performed the role of; 33. It may be down; 37. PAC for those who pack?; 43. Prep, e.g.: Abbr.; 55. Single stroke; 56. Remain.

07.03.09 -- Time Warp

Friday, July 3, 2009

Puzzle by Kevin G. Der, edited by Will Shortz

In this Friday crossword, “In one era and out the other” phenomenon is a TIME WARP, which opens the crossword at 1A, whereupon getting to the last entry, REAL EASY (63A. Like duck soup), it is not. Skewed clues render this puzzle an absurd exercise in HOOPLA (18A. Smoke and mirrors) somewhere between CANNY (51D. Sharp) and OBTUSE (45D. Not sharp). These are clues?! -- HULA SKIRT (13D. Grassy bottom); MILK MAID (24D. Girl with considerable pull?); STAGE SETS (14D. Things to get a grip on?); TAX EVADER (31D. One cooking a return); WAXWORK (35A. One might stand in a chamber of horrors) -- oh, these weekend OLIOS (50D. Gallimaufries)!

More opaque and/or de facto are the clues for the remaining longer entries -- COQ AU VIN (58A. Certain fricassee); EMULSION (61A. Hollandaise, e.g.); ENTICER (41D. Decoy); EXTREMITY (32D. Arm or leg); LEGAL AGE (21D. 21, maybe); LOST ART (37A. Calligraphy, some say); O SOLE MIO (15A. Basis of Tony Martin’s “There’s No Tomorrow”); POTIONS (8D. Hogwarts class taught by Severus Snape); SAILBOAT (17A. Cutter, e.g.); SWAZILAND (30D. Its flag includes a shield and two spears); TOP DOLLAR (12D. An exorbitant amount).

Six-letter entries -- ADIEUX (56A. Cheerios, abroad); ANGELO (44A. Muhammad Ali corner man Dundee); ATTILA (54A. Historical figure on whom a Verdi opera is based); CARESS (19A. Show of affection); DRYADS (62A. Tree dwellers); ELLERY (4D. Queen who wrote popular novels); KEITHS (9A. Pianist Jarrett and others); NETTLE (60A. Rub the wrong way); OPT OUT (16A. Decline); YAWING (26A. Off course, in a way).

Five -- ALLIE (34A. Half a 1980s TV duo); 27D. “A SONG for You” (1975 Temptations album); 39A. “Joy to the World” penner Hoyt AXTON; BASEL (29D. City where Erasmus taught); BILKS (29A. Hornswoggles); ISAAC (2D. Half brother of Midian, in the Bible); KOHLS (9D. Target competitor); LIVIA (49D. Octavian’s wife); LUXES (47D. Meter-candles); MEADE (40A. Army of the Potomac commander); MOIRE (3D. Waves on garments); SALSA (33A. Hot stuff); TOSCA (1D. Opera singer in an opera); ZERO G (43A. What you may experience when going around the world?).

Short stuff -- ACER, AMOS, AQUA, AULD, BLOC, DAG, EPOS, ETA, ILLS, ITO, IVES, JILT, JOSE, LAM, LITE, MOES, ODE and OME, RIA, RTS, STE, WAR, WEBS, WOOS, TALL (55D. Like Magic?).

The term time warp is commonly used in science fiction. It sometimes refer to Einstein's theory that time and space form a continuum which bends, folds or warps from the observer's point of view, relative to such factors as movement or gravitation, but are also used in reference to more fantastic notions of discontinuities or other irregularities in space/time not based on real-world science.

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Remaining clues -- Across: 20. Subject of therapy; 22. First name among U.N. secretaries-general; 23. One who has a quick point to make?; 24. Where Duff Beer is sold, on TV; 25. Outfielder Guillen; 30. Office bldg. division; 42. They may get waived: Abbr.; 46. “The Unanswered Question” composer, 1908; 47. Alternative to Genuine Draft; 48. ___ Quebecois (political party); 52. Beat it; 53. Its logo is four interlocking rings. Down: 5. ABC, Fox, etc., in Variety; 6. Half a 1950s TV duo; 7. Coastal feature; 10. Apolionius of Rhodes’ “Argonautica,” e.g.; 11. First woman to land a triple axel in a major competition; 25. Dump without warning; 28. Campaign setting; 36. Tries to get; 38. Lines that lift up; 53. Holiday tune title starter; 54. Shade close to beryl; 57. Flight projection, briefly; 59. “___! What fray was here?”: Romeo.

07.02.09 -- Rose is a rose, etc...

Portrait of Gertrude Stein, Pablo Picasso, 1906, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. When someone commented that Stein didn't look like her portrait, Picasso replied, "She will".

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Thursday, July 2, 2009

Puzzle by Elizabeth C. Gorski, edited by Will Shortz

GERTRUDE STEIN (20A. Pittsburgh-born poet who was the subject of a Picasso portrait) supplies this Thursday crossword with a FLORAL DISPLAY (50A. Colorful decoration hinted at by 34-Across) with the entry of ROSE IS A ROSE IS A ROSE IS A ROSE (34A. Famous quote by 20-Across). The sentence "Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose." was written by Stein as part of the 1913 poem Sacred Emily in which the first "Rose" is the name of a person, later using variations on the sentence in other writings with the resulting "A rose is a rose is a rose", regarded as meaning "things are what they are."

A crossword in the Times last year featured a dozen roses -- HERE. The corresponding down entries of today’s puzzle containing squares with the glyph of a ROSE are [ROSE] RED (34. Snow White’s sister); MO[ROSE] (27. Gloomy); [ROSE] UP (37. Was revolting) and AMB[ROSE] (24. Writer Bierce).

For a real twist, LEMON TARTS (18A. Tangy teatime treats) and SHOE FETISH (55A. Carrie Bradshaw had one in “Sex and the City”) are the next longer entries, followed by four of eight letters each, CORNELIA (11D. Wife of Julius Caesar), DRAINERS (10D. Sink accessories); I’M NO FOOL (35D. “Don’t play me for a dummy”) and SETTLE IN (36D. Get comfy).

Six-letter entries -- AENEAS (23A. Virgil hero); BISONS (33D. Buffalo’s Triple-A baseball team); DO RE MI (41D. Cabbage); EEYORE (46D. Character in “Piglet’s Big Movie,” 2003); I DO TOO (47A. “Likewise”); IN A LIE (45D. Embarrassing way to be caught); IN DEEP (2D. Seriously committed); LIEGES (1D. Subjects studied by medieval scholars?); POLISH (44D. Like Chopin); POT PIE (42A. Baked comfort food); REAGAN (21D. Subject of the 1999 best seller “Dutch”); SCURRY (3D. Rush); SPYCAM (26A. Surveillance device); SYNTAX (9D. Twisted this clue’s is); TACTIC (4D. Part of a war plan); TOP HAT (43D. Tails partner).

Five -- BRIBE (33A. Payola, e.g.); CAMUS (39A. Who wrote “Can one be a saint if God does not exist?”); EERIE (22A. Like some coincidences); GO BAD (3A. Spoil); ID EST (62A. That is); LOTUS (5A. Flower in Chinese embroidery); 59A. “MARCI X” (2003 Lisa Kudrow film); 49A. “NO ONE will ever guess!”; PR MEN (38A. Spinners?); UNIFY (15A. Fuse); WAS AT (28D. Attended).

Short stuff -- ADAM, AMOI, ASIR, ATAD, BICS, CUT, DCCI and DSCS, DST, EDUC, ELMS, HMO, IHIT, INCA, ITS, KOLN, LIRE, LIST, LULU, ONED, OOF, PSI, ROUT, SAK, SENT, SSE, TEE and THEE, TIME, UFOS, WAX.

Ah yes... a rose is a rose is a rose is a rose!

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For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

If you subscribe to home delivery of The New York Times you are eligible to access the daily crossword via The New York Times - Times Reader, without additional charge, as part of your home delivery.

Remaining clues -- Across: 1. Not stay fully upright; 10. Year the Chinese poet Li Po was born; 14. People conquered by the Spanish; 17. Cabinet dept.; 28. Denture maker’s need; 30. Raw materials for shipbuilding; 40. Let fly; 4. “Spring ahead” hrs.; 57. Kind of poker; 58. Mine, to Manet; 60. Province of Saudi Arabia; 61. German cathedral city; 63. “America” pronoun. Down: 5. Berg opera; 6. Linear; 7. It may be on your side; 12. Rib or short loin; 13. “___ alive!”; 19. Informal top; 29. Smith of note; 32. Inexpensive pens; 48. Response to a stomach punch; 51. Slightly; 52. Money replaced by the euro; 53. Mil. awards; 54. “___ the jackpot!”; 55. Bag, in brand names; 56. Med. group.

07.01.09 -- MICHAEL JACKSON

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Puzzle by David J. Kahn, edited by Will Shortz

In an excellent wordplay tribute to MICHAEL JACKSON (10D. With 25-Down, this puzzle’s honoree), today’s crossword gives itself over completely to the KING OF POP (47A. Nickname for 10-/25-Down). For those demanding symmetry in crosswords, it can be had with the inclusion of DIS (31D. Bad-mouth) and BYE (69A. “Farewell”) as inferences, aplenty of both in the current news. MOONWALKING (3D. Classic part of a 10-/25-Down stage act) and a FALSETTO (67A. Vocal style of 10-/25-Down, at times) were only part of a much bigger act.

THRILLER (15A. 1982 blockbuster by 10-/25-Down) headlines a selection of the artist’s works which include DANGEROUS (32A. 1991 hit album by 10-/25-Down), GONE TOO SOON (27D. Song on 32-Across), FOREVER (44D. With 10-Down, 1975 album by 10-/25-Down), and fragments of 40A. “Don’t you ASK ME for no favors” (42-Down lyric on 32-Across), SHE (11A. First word of 10-/25-Down’s “Billie Jean”) and JAM (42D. First song on 32-Across) -- LIONEL (14A. Richie who wrote “We Are the World” with 10-/25-Down) and MOTOWN (68A. First record label of 10-/25-Down) complete the visual balance of the crossword.

The remaining entries are comprised of two eight-letter entries, ALOE VERA (59A. Skin cream ingredient) and SINCERER (18A. More honest); followed by six of seven-letters -- HUNTERS (28D. Bird dogs, say); NEDICKS (22D. Old fast-food chain); OVERLIE (23D. Be positioned above); PALMTOP (46D. Handheld device) REACHES (5D. Gets to); TSETSES (29D. Flies over Africa?).

Six-letters -- ATCOST (64A. Less than wholesale); DELISH (35A. “Yum!”); ELMIRA (1A. City SW of Syracuse); SNOCAP (17A. Moviegoer’s chocolate bite); SPATES (45A. Deluges); SPINET (71A. Small piano).

Five -- ALPHA (6D. Greek leader?); AMORE (50A. Romeo’s love?); AUGHT (26A. Zero) sharing it‘s clue with NULL (52A. Zero); EVADE (30A. Give the slip to); GAPES (48D. Goggles); LEMUR (16D. Ring-tailed primate); LOAMS (53D. Rich soils); NACHO (19A. Kind of cheese); NO MAS (57A. Juan’s uncle?); 51A. Popeye creator Elzie SEGAR.

Short stuff -- ACTI, AFB, AOK, CLI and CHI, COOL, ELS, ERR, FLOS, GOES, HADJ, HALF, HEE, INCA, IRKS, JETT, LAY (60D. Minstrel’s song), LIN, NNE, NOM and NOW, ODD and OSS, OHM, OLE, PEP, PETE, PUN, REEK, RTE, SCAM, SLR, SOP, STS, SWE, TNT.

This timely crossword can itself be called a THRILLER!

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For today’s cartoons, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

If you subscribe to home delivery of The New York Times you are eligible to access the daily crossword via The New York Times - Times Reader, without additional charge, as part of your home delivery.

Remaining clues -- Across: 7. Ripoff; 21. Its symbol is omega; 22. Right away; 24. Trek to Mecca; 37. Air-conditioned; 38. Dir. From Gary, Ind., to Sault Ste. Marie; 39. Grates on; 42. Joan of rock; 43. Middle of the second century; 44. Ziegfeld and others; 54. Old spy grp.; 55. Vitality; 70. Stink up the joint. Down: 1. Some urban rails; 2. Writer ___ Yutang; 4. Atahualpa, for one; 7. City grid: Abbr.; 8. ___-Town; 9. River under the Ponte Vecchio; 11. Certain camera, for short; 12. Laugh syllable; 13. Miss the mark; 20. Quirky; 33. Jean Valjean, e.g.; 34. Takes off; 36. Either 50 of 50/50; 41. Appeasement; 49. Bit of wordplay; 56. Rose family member; 58. Play starter; 59. Vance in Okla., e.g.; 61. Arena cry; 62. Itinerary part: Abbr.; 63. Just dandy; 65. Riksdag locale: Abbr.; 66. Cable channel with the slogan “We Know Drama”.

06.30.09 -- How Now Brown Cow

How Now Brown Cow?, Heidi Malott

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Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Puzzle by Steve Dobis, edited by Will Shortz

HOW GOES IT (17A. *Informal Greeting), NOW AND AGAIN (30A. *At times), BROWN BAGGER (47A. *One not using the company cafeteria, maybe), COW PALACE (64A. *Bay Area concert venue) and ELOCUTION PHRASE (40A. Exercise in pronunciation … like the first words of the answers to the starred clues) -- HOW NOW BROWN COW.

Other -- ABACUS (49D. Device you can count on); BIRDBATH (9D. Small pool site in a yard); INTERN (8D. Worker for free often); JEERS AT (55A. Mocks); LENDING (21A. Credit union’s activity); UNNERVES (41D. Rattles).

Five-letter entries -- ACERB (27D. Sharp-tongued); AMOCO (29D. BP gas brand); AMONG (31D. In the midst of); ANNEX (20A. New wing); AWARE (33D. Clued in); BANKS (9A. Places of interest?); EGGED (4D. Prodded, with “on”); HALER (28D. More vigorous); INSERT (34D. Boxed-off map section); I QUIT (“Take this job and shove it!”); IRATE (67A. More than sore); JIBED (59A. Were in accord); LILAC (54D. Pale shade of violet); NYETS (35D. Kremlin denials); RECON (44A. Scout’s mission, for short); RUNNY (19A. Like undercooked eggs); TAWNY (39A. Lion-colored); WEB TV (63A. PC-less Internet hookup, once); ZINES (70A. Fan mags).

Short stuff -- ACHE, AGHA and AHA, AIDE, AQUI, BACH, BBS, BRET, CAMS, CHOP, COLT, DEEP, DECK, DOWN, EBAN, EBB, ECHO, ETS, ETTE, FIJI, FOE, GARB, GROG, IRON, IRS, JAIL, JERI, KING, KWAI, LAM, NOD, NOGO, NOR, NUNN, OPAL, ORAN, PREP, PTA, ROB, SEGA, STY, UNIT, WIG and WIZ.

How now, brown cow?

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For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

If you subscribe to home delivery of The New York Times you are eligible to access the daily crossword via The New York Times - Times Reader, without additional charge, as part of your home delivery.

Remaining clues -- Across: 1. Senate page, e.g.; 5. Island neighbor of Tonga and Tuvalu; 14. Sea dog’s libation; 15. North African port; 23. It may be stacked or cut; 26. Knock over, so to speak; 27. “Eureka!”; 36. PC video gear for short; 38. Take it on the ___; 39. Lion-colored; 45. Hide-hair link; 46. One of TV’s Mavericks; 51. U.F.O. crew; 52. Fall back; 53. Stone for many Libras; 68. Newton or oh; 69. Liniment target; 71. Sonic the Hedgehog’s company; 72. Black belt’s blow. Down: 1. Ottoman Empire V.I.P.; 2. Hotel room amenity; 3. Elevator direction half the time; 5. “Friend or ___?”; 6. Org. with a code; 7. One corner of a Monopoly board; 10. Here, in Honduras; 11. Former Georgia senator Sam; 12. Piece moved in castling; 13. Pig’s home; 18. Plow team; 22. Affirmative action; 24. Revolver inventor; 25. “The Bridge on the River ___”; 32. Clothing; 37. Garbage hauler; 42. Scrapped, as a mission; 43. Get ready for an exam; 48. Small ammo; 50. Big Indian; 56. Israel’s Abba; 57. Suffix with kitchen or room; 58. TV color adjustment; 60. “Goldberg Variations” composer; 61. Tunnel effect; 62 Hard to fathom; 63. 1978 Diana Ross musical with “The”; 65. Halloween wear; 66. Education-conscious org.