02.10.11 — Ladder

Jacob's Ladder, 1973, Marc Chagall

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Thursday, February 10, 2011

Puzzle by Derek Bowman, edited by Will Shortz

A short word ladder of proper names is the main feature of this Thursday crossword — DONNA KARAN (16A. Big name in women’s fashion), ELENA KAGAN (20A. Supreme Court justice who was formerly a U.S solicitor general), CARL SAGAN (31A. Host of an Emmy-winning PBS series), KATEY SAGAL (47A. Star of TV’s “8 Simple Rules”) and ERICH SEGAL (52A. Author who co-wrote the screenplay for the Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine”).

Other — AD SALES, AMIABLY, ASTAIRE (11D. He said “I just put my feet in the air and move them around”), CHINESE, EMACIATE, GRIPPERS, INERTIA, JERKIER, KEPT AT IT (21D. Persevered), MADEIRA, MAIGRET, MENTEES, O‘CONNER, RAGTIME, SERRANO (40D. Red hot chili pepper), SETTERS, STEIGER, ‘TIS A PITY (23D. “Tsk!”).

Mid-size — ARSIS (28A. Accented part of a poetic foot), CHESS, FACILE, FEINT, GESTE, IT’S WAR, MERRIE Melodies, NETTLE, NORDIC, PEATS, PELHAM, PITTED, RE-EDIT, RIGHTS, SACRO, SALOME, SIRRAH, Teatro alla SCALA, SCARP, TAKE IT, TESSA.

Short stuff — ACE (Buddy), ALAN, ARIA, CITI, ELMS, ENE, ENTO, FLAT, GIRL, IBIS, IFA, JAR, LIRA, MAC (Buddy), MOM, RIAS, ROS, RYE, SASH, SHE, TEE, WIRE.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. “Mr. ___” (1983 film); 4. “Them’s fightin’ words!”; 14. Easy; 15. Glazier’s frame; 18. New York’s ___ Field; 19. Inner: Prefix; 22. Reason to keep moving; 25. Make a long story even shorter?; 26. Tongs, e.g.; 29. Bluff; 30. Bit of gym wear; 34. Bump; 37. Fuel sources; 38. 2010 Olympic ice dancing gold medalist ___ Virtue; 44. Like some prunes and faces; 45. Subjects of the first 10 Amendments; 46. Volleyball players, at times; 50. Turkish coin; 51. Sacred symbol of ancient Egypt; 54. Part of the New Haven landscape; 55. Shakespearean term of address; 56. Detroit-to-Toronto dir.; 57. New York city where Ogden Nash was born; 58. One-act Strauss opera; 59. Children’s writer Asquith. — DOWN: 1. European wine; 2. Patricia who wrote “Woe Is I”; 3. Students with personal guides; 4. “___ Man Answers” (1962 Bobby Darin/Sandra Dee film); 5. Stand the heat; 7. Send, in a way; 8. Cumming of “Nicholas Nickleby”; 9. Changing of labels; 10. Georges Simenon detective Jules; 12. Something full of interesting characters?; 15. Line of cliffs; 17. Like most Icelanders; 26. Brave deed of yore; 27. Formations at the mouths of some streams; 29. Motorist’s woe; 32. Give another look; 33. Sting source; 34. Less smooth; 35. With cordiality; 36. “The Entertainer” musical genre; 39. Oscar-winning actor who played Napoleon, Mussolini and W.C. Fields; 41. Magazine department; 43. Benjamin Franklin’s “The Morals of ___”; 44. “The Taking of ___ One Two Three”; 46. Prefix with iliac; 48. A cabaletta is a short one; 49. See 53-Down; 53. Pronoun for a 59-Down.

02.09.11 — Skip Jack

Skipjack Tuna © Norbert Wu

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Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Puzzle by Victor Barocas, edited by Will Shortz

SKIP JACK (46. Certain tuna … or what this puzzle’s 10 starred clues do) and the ten clues (with “jack“), Cracker Jack feature, Union Jack, jack-knife, flapjack, Jack Daniels, natterjack, jack necessitator, Blackjack and Monterey Jack, cluing TOY SURPRISE, FLAG, SEMI, GRIDDLE CAKE, TENNESSEE, TOAD, FLAT TIRE, TWENTY ONE and BRIE, along with CAPITAL J (22D. *Start of the name) comprise the interrelated group of this Wednesday crossword.

Other — BUDGET, BURTON, ETRADE (60A. Nasdaq company with an asterisk in its name). e.g., E*TRADE, HALF DEAD (23A. How a hangover sufferer might feel), OMNIBUS, ONE ARM, SIMPSON, STAPLE, UDDERS.

Five-letter — ACNED, ALOHA, ATTAR, AWARE, BAYED, CATCH, COKES, DETER, ERRED, GESSO, GUPTA, KIDDY, KNELT, NEWTS, ROYAL, SEDAN, Bethlehem STEEL, TAE BO, TEENY, VILLE, WEILL (53A. “The Threepenny Opera“ composer).

Short stuff — ACRE, AHOY, ALOE, ANNO, BIG, BEST, BRAE and BRIE, CARY, CHA, COB, EAR, ECO, EYE, FEES, ION, LAM, LED, NEET, “There IS NO ‘I’ in ‘team’”, NOLO contendere, NRA, ONE B, OREL, RHO, RTE, SARI, SOS, STIR, SUE, TAT, TEEM, TRUE, WIRE, WON, VAL, YES.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Grant for a movie?; 5. Painter’s preparation; 10. Make lace; 13. Succulent plant; 14. Richard nominated for seven Oscars; 15. Writer Umberto; 16. *Cracker feature; 18. 1930s org. with a blue eagle log; 19. When repeated, a dance; 20. Discourage; 21. Pimply; 25. Scottish hillside; 26. Was in charge; 27. Springfield family name; 30. Essential oil; 33. *Union, e.g.; 36. Some salamanders; 37. Otologist’s focus; 39. Onetime hair-removal name; 40. *It’s bad when it knifes; 41. Much-advertised exercise program; 42. Containing many items, as a bill; 44. Actor Kilmer; 45. “That is correct”; 51. Emulated a wolf; 54. Got the gold; 55. Fraternity letter; 56. *Flap; 59. Na+, e.g.; 61. Pitcher Hershiser; 62. Image on the back of a dollar bill; 63. Wee; 64. Optimal.  — DOWN: 1. Cry after “Here!”; 2. It may accompany waves on a Hawaiian beach; 3. Palace-related; 4. Word of affirmation; 5. CNN’s “Sanjay ___ MD”; 6. Was off base; 7. Make a mistake preparing James Bond’s martini; 8. “Sending out an ___” (repeated Police lyric); 9. Physical feature of Britain’s Lord Nelson; 10. *Daniel’s home; 11. One of a thousand in a Jane Smiley title; 12. *Natter, e.g.; 14. Dalmatian or Pomeranian; 17. Cow features; 24. *Necessitator; 25. 1988 Tom Hanks film; 27. Bollywood costume; 28. First-class aisle seat on most planes; 30. Start of many dates; 31. Abound; 32. *Black; 33. Airfare add-ons; 34. Flight; 38. Rice, for many; 40. Go a-courting?; 43. Bad thing to be over; 44. Suffix in many place names; 46. Four-door, often; 47. Kind of pool or ride; 48. Alert; 49. Drinks in red-and-white cans; 50. Genuflected; 51. *Distant relative of Monterey; 52. Seafarer’s greeting; 53. Finish line marker; 57. 66, e.g.: Abbr.; 58. Male swan.

02.08.11 — State of Mind

Pandora, 1869, Dante Gabriel Rossetti

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Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Puzzle by Robert W. Harris, edited by Will Shortz

MISS MANNERS (16A. Proper way to behave in Biloxi?), ORE ASSAY (23A. Evaluation in Eugene?), WASH RAG (32A. Syncopated piano piece for Seattle residents?), ILL WINDS (45A. Chicago balloonists’ needs?) and MASS TRANSIT (52A. Commuter trains in Boston?) are the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword.

Other — ABREAST, ANIMATE, ANSWERS, ARSENIC, DRAGS ON, ENLISTS, OLD-TIME, ORPHEUS (23D. The father of songs, according to Pindar), PANDORA (13D. First woman, in Greek myth), PURSUE and PERUSAL, RAIDERS, RELABEL, TIE-DYES.

Mid-size — AKITAS, ARENA, DELANO (19A. Part of F.D.R.), DENIED, DIONNE (44D. Singer Warwick), GASPED, KENTS, LESLIE (4D. Howard of “Gone With the Wind“), MAITRE d’, NURSES, OGRES, PEONS, REPROS, SET OUT, SEUSS, SNEAKY, STAGED, 30A Austria’s TRAPP Family Singers, WEIRDO.

Short stuff — ABS, ADE and ARE and ARM, ARAL Sea (shrinking body of water), ASHE, 9A. Kern and Hammerstein’s “Can’t Help Lovin’ DAT Man”, DEE, DELI, ELEM, ELS, ERIE, ETA and ESTA, ESC, HOSE, "IRMA la Douce”, JUAN, JUNO, KGS, MAE, NAME, NENE (42A. Member of the familia), Eye of NEWT (witch’s item), POT, RARE, RBI, SIS (53D. Member of the family, for short), STAR, STE-Julie, Que., TEM and TET, TIO (41D. Member of the familia), TWA, URN, YSER.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 5. Argentine strongman Perón; 12. Like no-hitters; 13. The Boilermakers of the N.C.A.A.; 15. Slugger’s stat; 18. “My lips ___ sealed”; 20. Put on, as plays; 22. Said no to; 25. Lake named for an Indian tribe; 26. Fiends; 28. Where runs may be made; 29. “Get out” key: Abbr.; 31. Lorillard company smokes; 34. Political convention locale; 38. Menial sorts; 39. What the best hand may get you; 43. Dr. of children’s books; 44. “Take a number” place; 47. Freak; 50. Get started; 51. Six-pack set; 56. Vietnamese New Year; 57. Japanese dogs; 58. Identify; 59. Ernie of the P.G.A.; 60. Northern French river; 61. Kind of sch. — DOWN: 1. Something a push-up exercises; 2. Paul Revere’s bandmates in 1960s-’70s music; 3. Once-common pesticide component; 5. 2007 Ellen Page title role; 6. Gravesite sight; 7. Commercial suffix with Power; 8. Clinic staff; 9. Never seems to end; 10. Side by side; 11. Adds color to, in a way; 14. This: Sp.; 17. West with the autobiography “Goodness Had Nothing to Do With It”; 21. Arthur in the International Tennis Hall of Fame; 22. Poor mark; 24. Not originals; 27. Said in horror, say; 30. “You’re going to like us. ___” (1980s slogan); 31. Metric weights: Abbr.; 33. Key’s contents; 34. Put into cartoon form; 35. Put a new tag on; 36. Joins up; 39. Careful reading; 40. Kind of religion, in song; 43. Underhanded; 48. Pilot’s datum: Abbr.; 50. Sirius, e.g.; 55. Pro ___.

National Bird-Feeding Month

Bird Feeder by Nancy Loughlin

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National Bird-Feeding Month, 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 bonus puzzle. For the month of February, the title of this fine crossword is National Bird-Feeding Month featuring thirty-something clues containing bird.

Across — 1. Bird’s home, NEST; 8. Bird FARM (aircraft carrier, slangily); 14. “Bird on a WIRE” (1990 Mel Gibson movie; 15. Guitarist Clapton, who was a member of the Yardbirds, ERIC; 16. “It’s a bird! It’s a PLANE! It’s …”; 26. “Bird in a Gilded CAGE”; 32. Bird’s roost, PERCH; 37. “Aura LEE” (old song with the lyrics “as the blackbird in the spring …”); 40. Firebird automaker, PONTIAC; 42. Jailbird, CON; 52. Blue Bird ALL American (School bus model); 65. “FREE Bird” (Lynyrd Skynrd tune); Author A.A., who wrote “a fly can’t bird, but a bird can fly”, MILNE; 68. Bird whose name is a color, TEAL.

Down — 4. Scarlet bird, TANAGER; 5. Flightless bird of New Zealand, KIWI; 6. Bird on a Baltimore baseball cap, ORIOLE; 8. “Birds of a FEATHER …”; 13. Whirlybird, for short, HELO; 23. Bird of prey’s gripper, TALON; 27. Home to a bird of prey, AERIE; 28. Like the extinct elephant bird, GIANT; 30. Bird that lays commercially sold eggs, HEN; 38. “Peter and the Wolf” bird, SASHA; 44. Baby Mixed Beans and CARROTS (Birds Eye offering); 46. Larry Bird’s team, CELTICS; 48. “Stormy” bird, PETREL; 51. Five golden rings, four calling birds, etc., GIFTS; 54. Rara AVIS (rare bird); 56. “The Birds” screenwriter Hunter, EVAN; 58. Rural bird-feeder raider, perhaps, BEAR; 63. Fork-tailed seabird, TERN.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

02.07.11 — Sunrise

Monday, February 7, 2011

Puzzle by Lynn Lempel, edited by Will Shortz

It’s DAYBREAK (39D. Sunrise) — Stir, wake, roll over, stretch and get up and go! — found in STIR FRYING (18A. Cooking in a wok, e.g.), WAKE FOREST (24A. University in Winston-Salem, N.C.), ROLLOVER A CD (37A. Reinvest some funds), STRETCH BRA (51A. It offers flexible support for women) and GET UP AND GO (58A. Pep) are the interrelated group of this nifty back-to-work Monday crossword.

Other — ATTACKS, CHALKIER (3D. More like messy blackboards), ESTUARY, EXPERT, FOR ONCE, GAUGES, LIBRARY, NECTAR (46D. Drink of the gods), ORNATE, POST-WAR, SWATTED, TAILOR and the triumverate of  FARM, STY and PIGPEN (9D. Old MacDonald’s place; 10D. 9-Down enclosure; 13D. Perpetually dirty kid in “Peanuts”).

Five-letter — AERIE, ARISE (7D. Come to pass), ATARI, CRYPT, DISCO (27D. Dance to Donna Summer's "Last Dance," e.g.), ERASE, F-STOP, GENIE, Actress HALLE Berry, KATIE, ORAL B, PERKS, RADIO, ROTOR, SIREN, SOLID, STRAD, TAROT, TINTS, TULIP.

Short stuff — APED and AXED, ARI and ARIA, BORE (15A. Snoozefest), CBS, CHAP, CRO-Magnon man, DOTE, EKED, FIT, GNU, HOT, IPO, LACE, LAP of luxury, LENT, LIE, OAFS, OCT, OSHA, OYL, PECK, PFC, RYES, SKA and SRA, SKIM, Aretha Franklin, the Queen of SOUL, STAT, TINY, TVA, USA, YOW (“Holy smokes!”).

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Watched the following on TCM Sunday night… oh, and there was football!

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Quantity picked by Peter Piper; 5. Fellow; 9. Camera lens setting; 14. Worker protection agcy.; 16. Pioneering video game company; 17. Rushing yards or turnovers, for short; 22. Glance through quickly; 27. Act like a grandma; 287. “Exodus” hero; 30. Ambulance sound; 31. Seedy loaves; 33. Blitzkriegs; 40. Place where borrowing is encouraged; 41. Clodhoppers; 44. “Three wishes” granter; 47. N.Y.S.E. debut; 50. Pink-slipped; 55. Lines scanned by a supermarket scanner, in brief; 56. Met melody; 57. Set of fortunetelling cards; 62. Period after Mardi Gras; 63. Undo, as writing; 64. Wee; 65. Doily material; 66. Treasured violin, for short; 68. Barely got, with “out”. — DOWN: 1. Like the period after 1945; 2. Wide part of a river where it meets the sea; 4. Newswoman Couric; 5. 4-Down’s network; 6. Sizzling; 8. Employee benefits; 11. Worker who has people in stitches?; 12. Elaborately decorated; 19. In good physical shape; 21. Many a G.I.; 25. Toothbrush brand; 26. Helicopter topper; 27. Dance to Donna Summer’s “Last Dance,” e.g.; 30. Jamaican music; 32. Sphere or cube; 34. Fed. Electricity provider since 1933; 35. Eagle’s home; 36. Burial chamber; 38. Perjure oneself; 42. As a total departure from the norm; 43. Tried to kill, as a fly; 44. Rain-measuring devices; 45. Know-nothing’s opposite; 48. Columbus Day mo.; 51. Madrid Mrs.; 52. Shadings; 53. Transistor, e.g.; 56. Parodied; 59. Miss Teen ___ (beauty pageant); 60. Bearded African animal; 61. Olive ___ (Popeye’s sweetie).

02.06.11 — High School Reunion

The Bad Doctors, 1892, James Ensor

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Sunday, February 6, 2011

HIGH SCHOOL REUNION, Puzzle by David J. Kahn, edited by Will Shortz

This Sunday’s crossword features an anecdote of unknown origin with a humorous and thoughtful punch line. The combined clues and “answers” produces the following:

A woman went TO SEE A NEW DOCTOR. In his office, she noticed a DIPLOMA ON THE WALL. She remembered having a high-school crush on a handsome, dark-haired boy with THE SAME NAME. However, this man was balding, gray-haired and JUST AVERAGE-LOOKING. She thought he was much too old to have been her CLASSMATE.  Nevertheless, she asked him if he had attended her high school, and after he said yes, she asked WHEN DID YOU GRADUATE? He answered “In 1971. But WHY DO YOU ASK? The woman exclaimed “YOU WERE IN MY CLASS!” He looked at her closely, then asked “WHAT DID YOU TEACH?”

Other — ALTERED, ARRESTEE (123A. One wearing cuffs), CHAMOIS, COLLATE, DENYING, DEPLETE, ENTICES, INDICES, IN STORE, LANSING, LEAN MEAT, NEW YORK (75D. Rome‘s home), ONE CASE, PASSION (3D. 1994 Sondheim musical), PEONAGE, SOOTHES, STOW-AWAY, TY MURRAY, VENEERS.

Mid-size — AMOCO, AMOUNT, AT ONCE, AUGURS, BERRA, COCOA, DE NOVO, DISKS, EASY AS, EATS UP, ELYSE, Expressionist artist James ENSOR, ENTER, ETUDE, IN-LAW, ISHAM, INTRO, LAURA, L L BEAN, MATSU, NAG AT, NEATO, NOOSE, OSAGES, PLOYS, RACIST, RADNOR, REWED, SAINTS, SCRIPT (102D. Cruise lines?), SCORN, SEATED, SPLIT, STEPPE, TRACK, WARTS, WORRY, YEATS.

Short stuff — AAH, AGA Khan, AGES, AGUA, AIM, “ALL’S well!”, ALTO, AMER, APES, APP, ARAL, ATO, AYES, BYE, CLAW, DADS, DELE, DRU, DUN, DYS, EDIT, EEL, EGO and EMO and ESO, ERN and ERR, ESS, GAGA, HAL (43D. Space movie villain), IAN, IRA, JELL, KEY, LEA, LEES, LIME, MUON, NAS and NOS, NEE, NIL, ONO, ORR, RACK, RAIN, RAT, REST, SEA, SENT, SLED, SNUB, SOO Canals, SPIN, SRS, STET, TER, TOTE, TUGS, TUNA, UNI, URAL, URN, VISA, WEA, WIE, WILE, YET.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Many a download; 8. Certain bias; 14. Some storage places; 19. Emu, e.g., to a chef; 21. This second; 22. Put down; 25. Tricks; 27. Suffer vertigo; 28. Fast-skating #4; 29. Scratch; 30. Cause of delay; 36. A superstar might have a big one; 37. Thin overlays; 38. No-goodnik; 39. Michelle on a fairway; 40. Not allowing; 47. What’s that, José?; 51. BP gas brand; 52. Voting side; 59. North end?; 60. Plains tribe; 61. Had room for; 65. Michelle’s predecessor; 73. Debussy piece; 74. Lands’ End rival; 76. Bodes; 78. Zero; 86. Carry; 89. Stew; 90. “One Mic” rapper; 91. Actor McKellen; 95. The Dow and the Nikkei 225; 98. Object; 100. Turndowns; 101. Go-aheads; 105. 1969 newlywed in the news; 111. Chorus girl; 112. Spice holder; 113. See 48-Down; 114. Breather; 115. Divorce; 116. Hall-of-Famer with 10 World Series rings; 121. “The Second Coming” poet; 122. Thoroughly enjoys; 124. “Family Ties” mom; 125. Check line; 126. Shipped; 127. Feminine suffix. — DOWN: 1. Not the way it was; 2. Some servitude; 4. From the States: Abbr.; 5. ___ Michele of “Glee”; 6. Midwest capital; 7. Plain; 8. TV Guide’s Pennsylvania headquarters; 9. From ___ Z; 10. Brown shade; 11. Emcee’s words; 12. Disdain; 13. 13-Across, in France; 14. Exhaust; 15. Father of the bride, say; 16. One who goes free?; 17. With 34-Down, kind of pie; 18. Yearbook div.; 20. Superbright; 24.Trick; 29. Soft leather; 31. From the top; 32. Phoenix hrs.; 33. Tail; 34. See 17-Down; 35. Some jeans; 37. Big name in plastic; 41. Still; 44. Rock genre; 46. Bother a lot; 48. With 113-Across, landlocked waters; 49. Blown away; 50. Mellows; 53. Come together; 54. Russian/ Kazakh river; 55. Brush-off; 56. Laptop key; 57. Time piece?; 58. At birth; 62. Sushi fish; 63. Take out, maybe; 64. Take out; 66. Say “I do” again; 67. Spa reaction; 69. Unstable particle; 70. Rio contents; 71. Canal boats; 72. Mess up; 77. Symbols of piety; 80. Hanging piece; 81. Joanne of “The Pride of St. Louis”; 82. Org. in “The Crying Game”; 83. Bad: Prefix; 84. Pops; 85. Valve opening?; 86 Bob ___, 1986 P.G.A. Player of the Year; 87. One of the Three Rivers; 88. Nine-time world champion rodeo cowboy; 93. 24 bottles of beer; 94. Mary ___ cosmetics; 95. Coming up; 96. Sort; 97. Attracts by design; 98. Palliates; 103. Runner’s place; 104. Snap courses; 107. ___ and all; 108. Bandleader Jones of the 1920s- ’30s; 109. “Cool!”; 110. Island near Quemoy; 111. Goons; 115. Opposite of 64-Down; 118. “TTYL”; 117. Reef denizen; 118. “Are ___ pair?” (“Send in the Clowns” lyric); 119. Bug for payment; 120. Table server.

02.05.11 — Dreamsville

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Puzzle by Mark Diehl, edited by Will Shortz

CEMENT SHOES (9D. Things that may be worn by someone sleeping with the fishes) and DREAMSVILLE (24D. Ohio town where “there’s a happiness” in an old Glen Miller song) provide the main contrast in this typically tough Saturday crossword.

An octet of ten-letter entries are more helter skelter — AIR CREWMEN (15A. Some Navy personnel), ALMOST DONE (62A. “I’ll be finished in a minute”), CRISPY TACO (1A. Food that makes a crunch), GLISSANDOS (58A. Dramatic piano effects), SCROLLED UP (4D. Moved to the top, perhaps), SPARE ROOMS (17A. Potential offices), TEA DRESSES (64A. Cocktail attire), WITHSTANDS (30D. Holds off).

Other — EMANATE, HOKEYNESS (31A. Corn-filled state), KEEP STEP, KIA OPTIMA (33D. Korean-made sedan since 2001), LEER AT, MATH QUIZ (53A. Operations are performed in it); MODERN ERA (13D. Nowadays, with “the”), MOOREHEAD (42A. Actress who played Endora on TV’s “Bewitched”), ONE SEASON (32D. Run of TV’s “My So-Called Life”), PRESLEY (5D. A boulevard in Memphis is named for him), SPATULA (49A. Icing tool), SPELLED, STEAMS, THAT’S A LIE (12D. “Not so!”).

The rest of it — ACTS, AMOK, ASCOT, ASIA, ASSES, ATMS, ATV, AUTOS, BEAUS, CASAS, CHOW, COMS, DWAN, ENID, EENY, HASP, HEB, IRATE, KNAP, LEONE, NAPES, NTH, ONSET, PHDS, RIPUP, SEPT, SHAQ, SILEX, SMACK (46. X), SOD, SOPH, SRS and SSR, SWAPS, TIRE, TRAP, TUG AT (48D. Draw a little at a time?), TWO, UPDOS, XED (35D. Struck), UPDOS, YACHT, YER, ZIMA.

Won’t you come with me to Dreamsville, Ohio

There’s no better place to dream

There’s a winding lane that leads you

Down to a stream

When the moon comes up in Dreamsville, Ohio

And it lights the town below

Then you know the sweetest moments you’ll ever know...

You’ll find a kissing rock that stands beside a wishing well

But you must seal every wish with a kiss

Or you’ll break the spell

There’s a happiness in Dreamsville, Ohio

Even money couldn’t buy

All that’s missing down in Dreamsville

Is you and I...

There’s a happiness in Dreamsville

Even money couldn’t buy

All that’s missing down in Dreamsville

Is you and I!

 

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 11. Means to ease withdrawals; 16. Eats; 18. Cry with a swelled chest; 19. Things sometimes seen on shoulders; 20. Stay current (with); 22. Took the place of; 25. Final; 26. Future alums: Abbr.; 27. Not just check out; 29. Allan who directed “Sands of Iwo Jima”; 34. Mineral in the form of quartz or flint; 36. South-central U.S. city named for a woman in English literature; 37. Common St. Tropez sight; 39. Jade; 40. About half of all dates; 44. New varsity team member, maybe: Abbr.; 45. Provokes; 46. ___ 21, Intl. Day of Peace; 47. 4x4, e.g.; 56. Barb ers shave them; 57. Band whose self-titled 1982 album was #1 for nine weeks; 61. Dot-___; 63. Sack starter. — DOWN: 1. They can be made with adobes; 2. Shred; 3. Provoked; 6. Saw attachment?; 7. Company quota; 8. Confusedly; 10. Earliest stage; 11. Book that begins in Jerusalem; 14. Pulls the switch?; 21. Many academics, for short; 23. Choice word?; 28. Red wear for Speedy Gonzales; 31. N.T. book; 38. Piehole; 41. Nickname for a noted L.S.U. grad; 43. Issue; 50. Common prom coifs; 51. West African currency; 52. Zebra kin; 54. Door fixture; 55. Alcopop brand; 59. The Old ___; 60. Old atlas letters.

02.04.11 — Cold Response?

Infrared satellite image of the "Groundhog Day Storm" of 2011, taken at 8 pm EST February 1, 2011 — National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Goddard Space Flight Center

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Friday, February 4, 2011

Puzzle by Ashton Anderson, edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. Unbeatable mark, A-PLUS; 6. Ne plus ultra, ACME; 10. “Squawk Box” airer, CNBC; 14. Ship out, HIT THE ROAD; 16. Ring event after exchanging rings, HORA; 17. Affectionate utterance, ENDEARMENT; 18. Sharing, IN ON; 19. Sustenance for a fatigued person?, MESS; 20. Name in old German duchies, SAXE; 21. Like many Scandinavians, BLOND; 22. Event at which reporters rub elbows?, MEDIA FRENZY; 24. One in an affair, FLAME; 28. Still no more, ASTIR; 29. Parisian possessive, SES; 30. Like “10,” but not “9”, RATED R; 32. Puncher’s nickname, TEX; 33. Life VEST; 34. Boss’s address?, E STREET; 36. Chance to meet, RUN INTO; 38. “Fusses” is a form of it, ÊTRE; 39. It’s not a very big story, FIB; 41. Heavenly radio source, PULSAR; 42. Like a Scottish young ‘un, SMA; 43. Asteroid belt orbiter, CERES; 45. Harvester maker, DEERE; 46. Potentially paintable, PICTURESQUE; 49. Encrypt?, INTER; 50. Stagger, STUN; 51. Sister co. of Applebee’s, IHOP; 55. Impoverish, RUIN; 56. E-tail detail, DOMAIN NAME; 58. Poem referencing “the darker brother”, I TOO; 59. Modicum, SMATTERING; 60. Volunteer’s place: Abbr., TENN; 61. It may change your perspective, LENS; 62. Backing, AEGIS.

Down — 1. Tap-on-the shoulder alternative, AHEM; 2. Paneling material, PINE; 3. Old Fords, LTDS; 4. Mountain West team, UTES; 5. Oldies syllable, SHA; 6. It may include destroyers, ARMADA; 7. Nice thing to do peacefully, CO-EXIST; 8. Beast to beware, MANEATER; 9. It starts in Mar. in D.C., EDT; 10. Its flag is red, white and blue, CHILE; 11. Plain and simple, NO NONSENSE; 12. Award won by Henry Fonda, BRONZE STAR; 13. Where suckers lure people?, CANDY STORE; 15. Relative of Manx, ERSE; 21. Cold response?, BRR; 22. Member of an extensive empire of the seventh century B.C., MEDE; 23. Play matchmaker for, FIX UP; 24. Maker of one’s own rules, FREE SPIRIT; 25. Under-the-wire, LAST MINUTE; 26. Chemistry, ATTRACTION; 27. Slight, MERE; 31. Direct, REFER; 33. Noxious, TIRESOME; 35. Like a nudnik, VILE; 37. As one entered the world, NUDE; 40. Keeper of the rings, BEST MAN; 43. Many a stray, CUR; 44. Leg-building set, SQUATS; 47. Joint part, TENON; 48. Knot, say, UNIT; 51. Dictator’s start, IN RE; 52. Watergate-era White House chief of staff, HAIG; 53. Westin alternative, OMNI; 54. Ringtoss equipment, PEGS; 56. Connection letters, DSL; 57. Grant grp., NEA.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

02.03.11 — Missing

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Puzzle by Matt Ginsberg, edited by Will Shortz

IF A CLUE / IS MISSING USE THE / NEXT ONE (23A., 38A., 49A. Advice for solving this puzzle) clues in the interrelated group of this Thursday crossword:

RAKES and MOWS (1A., 6A. Does yard work)
ICEE and POOL (15A., 16A. Summer cooler)
BORNE and LATE (17A., 18A. Held up)
EDIT and INDENT (41A., 42A., Set right)
SCOOT and TEAR (53A., 56A. Go quickly)
IDEA and WANT (59A., 62A. Fancy)
SEND and SLAY (65A., 66A. Dispatch)
APERTURE and A-ONE (10D., 11D. Crack)
STATUS and NASTY (47D., 49D. Rank)

Other — BURNSIAN (21D. Like the poem “Tam o’ Shanter”), EUNUCH (4D. Harem guard, typically), FLAUNTER (26D. Exhibitionist), 35A. Business TV newsman Ron INSANA; IT’S SO SAD (39D. “A pity”), POLLUTES (28A. Fouls), RAT’S TAIL (44A. 1980s hairstyle with a long strand in the back), SINISTRAL (36D. Left-handed), WET SPONGE (8D. Dish-washing aid).

Five-letter — ADOLF (2D. First name in W.W. II infamy), ADOUT (14A. Deuce follower), ARETE (22A. Excellence as a virtue, to ancient Greeks), ATE IT (61A. Failed spectacularly), CURSE (64A. #@&%!, e.g.), ENTER and ESTER, KOREA, Minnesota lake MILLE Lacs, NOISE, OVERT, P AND L (28D. C.F.O.‘s concern), RABBI.

Short stuff — AARE, ACE, AVON, BLEU, BLTS, CODE, ECHO, ELSE, EMIT, ENOS, ETNA, HER, LATE, LEIS, O’CAT, OWEN, OWS, PFFT, ROCK, ROOT, SKEW, SOW, SRIS, SUNS, STE, STYX, TIER, TOTS, TUE and TUT, TYS, USDA.

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THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 10. Longest river entirely in Switzerland; 19. Slaughter who dashed home to win the 1946 World Series; 20. Kind of cheese; 21. Food orders sometimes prepared in toaster ovens; 25. Kaput; 27. “Just Say I Love ___” (hit of 1950); 32. There is a “super” one every four yrs.; 37. Roll’s partner; 43. Broadcast; 46. Baseball’s Cobb and others; 48. Goes for the bronze?; 58. Earl of ___ (Sir Anthony Eden); 67. Perfume ingredient. — DOWN: 1. Official traditionally seen in a black hat; 3. Service site for some veterans; 5. Marie or Jeanne: Abbr.; 7. One ___ (baseball variant); 9. Call … or call on; 12. Source; 13. In addition; 22. Org. for Joe Namath; 24. Hawaiian handouts; 29. Bambini; 30. Return to sender?; 31. Twist; 32. Cake part; 33. “Choice” agcy.; 34. Discharge; 40. Frightful river to cross; 45. King who gained international prominence in 1922; 50. Unmistakable; 51. Static; 52. Break in, say; 53. Eastern holy men’s titles; 54. Do programming work; 55. Wilson of “Shanghai Noon”; 57. Volcano whose eruption was described by Virgil; 60. Band-Aid removal comments; 61. Von Richthofen, for one.

02.02.11 — Letter Drop

Wednesday, February 2, 2011 — Ground Hog Day

Puzzle by Peter A. Collins, edited by Will Shortz

LETTER / DROP (47D. With 9-Across, post office mail slot …); dropping A, E, I, O and U from the second of five doubled words (e.g., ASHES, ESTATE, ISLANDER, ORANGE and USING) resulting in clue/answer sentences, constitutes the interrelated group of this Wednesday crossword.

• “After the maid cleans out the ASHES, SHE’S going to polish the fireplace doors”
• “The note accompanying the ESTATE STATES that all money should go to charity”
• “The reporter heard the New York ISLANDER SLANDER his coach”
• “At the organic market, the price of ORANGE RANGES from moderate to ridiculous”
• “The teacher found that USING SING-a-longs helped her pupils remember their ABCs”

Other — ARETE, ASSESS, AT EASE, BAR TAB (20A. Zombies might be on it), BEALL, BETIDE, EGOIST, EGRETS (34. Long-legged waders), ELMER’S, LICORICE (38D. Center of Good & Plenty candy), LOBBER (1D. Tennis player, at times), OGLERS, OTTIS, REHASHED (10D. Went over again), SMOLTS, SNORES, STARTS, STILLE, SUNRISE (26D. Stirring time?), TILT AT, UNHATS.

The rest of it — AHIT, ALER, ALG, AMA and AMAH, ANT, ASAP, BLUE, BRA, DRS, EARN, EDEMA, ESSE, GAB, GTS, "HERE’S to you!”, IAMB, ISM and ITE (31-, 36-Down. Suffix with magnet), “ISN’T that cute?!”, JAR, JUTS, LAS and LAST and SLAT, LOO (55A. John, to Paul, George or Ringo), MACE, NNE, NOD, NOSIR, OPEN, PSST, RAND, REPS, REST and RTES, SAGE, SASS, SAT and STA, SIGN, SIR, SNL, SOLA, SPED, SSRS, TACO, TAUS.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Remain; 5. Feeling down; 13. ___ Anderson, Super Bowl XXV M.V.P.; 15. Kentucky senator Paul; 16. 15-Across and allies: Abbr.; 17. Start of an old Army recruiting line; 22. Org. for 9-Down; 23. Caste member; 28. Relax; 29. Sorority letters; 30. Take ___ (lose one); 33. Accept a contract; 41. “___ Nacht” (Christmas carol); 42. One-quarter of “Whose woods these are I think I know”; 43 Club for knights; 44. Latin 101 verb; 45. Alone, on the stage; 53. Penny collector; 56. Young salmon; 61. Rocky ridge; 62. Tex-Mex fare; 65. Whizzed; 66. Hwys.; 67. Lith. And Lat., once. — DOWN: 2. Loose; 3. Turns over, as an engine; 4. Fight with; 5. Part of a two-piece suit?; 6. ___ Cruces; 7. Doffs one’s lid; 8. Plant swelling; 9. Members of the 22-Across; 11. Welcoming customers; 12. “Hey there!”; 14. Blind component; 19. Rode the pine; 21. Happen; 25. Graybearded sort; 27. Make; 32. Old Dungeons & Dragons co.; 33. Weekly NBC staple, for short; 34. Glue brand; 35. Flap one’s gums; 37. End of the line, say: Abbr.; 39. Tiger, e.g., informally; 40. Lip; 44. Self-promoter; 45. Sounds from barracks, maybe; 46. Lascivious lookers; 47. With 9-Across, post office mail slot … or a hint to this puzzle’s theme); 48. Evaluate; 50. Class with many functions: Abbr.; 51. Response to a general question?; 52. Asian nanny; 53. Sticks (out); 54. P.D.Q.; 58. Bobblehead movement; 59. Houston-to-Chicago dir.; 60. Some muscle cars.

02.01.11 — Mixed Media

Girl & Octopus mixed media art painting on wood by Tamara LaPorte

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Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Puzzle by Ron and Nancy Byron, edited by Will Shortz

MIXED MEDIA (61A. Artwork using both paint and collage, e.g. … and a hint to this puzzle’s circled letters), MINUTE MAID (17A. Big name in orange juice), HOPE DIAMOND (25A. Large gem in the Smithsonian), BEDSIDE MANNER (37A. Kindly doctor’s asset) and A DIME A DOZEN (52A. Common) are the interrelated group of this delightful Tuesday crossword.

Other — AARON'S rod (tall-stemmed plant), ALTIMA (10D. Nissan model), AZTECS (50D. Worshipers of Quetzalcoatl), BEARDS, G-SEVEN (43A. Pre-Russia intl. economic coalition), ERNESTO (26D. Che Guevara’s real first name), EVENED UP (40D. Tied, as a score), HANDMADE (3D. Individually crafted), JAILER (21A. Prison “screw“), MILLET (47D. French artist who painted “The Gleaners”), NAPLES, O’DOUL’S (46D. Nonalcoholic bear brand), OLD SOD (32A. Motherland, affectionately), OSAGES, POLISH (57A. Like kielbasa and pierogi), REMAPS, SMILES, TOULON (11D. French port near Marseille), UNBENT.

Five-letter — AMHED (53D. “Arabian Nights“ prince), ARUBA, DACCA, HADJI and IRAQI (9D. Pilgrim to Mecca; 14A. Basra native), NOMAR, NOMSG, PSHAW (1A. “Horsefeathers!”), RANTS, T-NOTE, WITCH.

Short stuff — AAR, ABM, ADO, AQUA, ATUB and TUBA, AXES, BULB, CMI, DADS, DEED, DIX, DOOM, DUAL, ECO, ELEC and ELEE, END, ERMA, ETA, IBE, ILA and IRA, LAG, LONE, LSD, LULL, NEW, NOH, NOLO, NTH, PIM, REPO, RICH, SRI and SRO, SSTS, TERI, WEPT, XED.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 6. High in calories; 10. “… three men in ___”; 15. Witty Bombeck; 16. Situated by itself; 19. Sousaphone, e.g.; 20. Bangladesh’s capital, old-style; 23. Rocket interceptor, for short; 28. Like a Jekyll/Hyde personality; 30. Sign at a sellout; 31. Tirades; 35. ___ contendere; 42 Gives the heave-ho; 45. Chinese menu phrase; 49. Second letter after epsilon; 51. “Jesus ___” (shortest Bible verse); 56. Japanese theater; 58. Govt. security; 60. Pause in the action; 66. Gen. Robert ___; 67. A util.; 68. Resort isle near Venezuela; 69. Fleet fleet, once, in brief; 70. Big name in root beer; 71. More red, as a tomato. — DOWN: 1. Milne’s absent-minded “Mr.”; 2. ___ Lanka; 4. Watery hue; 5. Halloween broom-rider; 6. Changes the boundaries of; 7. Glass or Gershwin; 8. 901, in old Rome; 12. Straight; 13. Goat features; 18. “Green” prefix; 23. Foofaraw; 24. Tulip or lily planting; 27. Tragic end; 29. Timothy Leary’s turn-on; 33. Plains Indians; 34. Twice cinq; 36. Fall behind; 38. Homeowner’s paper; 39. Still in the crate; 41. Defaulter’s loss, informally; 44. To the ___ degree; 45. City near Mt. Vesuvius; 48. Says “Cheese!”; 54. Pull the plug on; 55. Baseball’s Garciaparra; 59. Actress Garr or Hatcher; 62. Dockworkers’ org.; 63. Marked, as a ballot; 64. “May ___ excused?; 65. Berne’s river.