03.09.11 — Go fly a...

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Puzzle by Peter A. Collins, edited by Will Shortz

BLOWIN’ IN THE WIND (38A. Bob Dylan song … or a hint to the object found by connecting the four circled letters in a diamond), K, I, T and E, along with FLYING HIGH (17A. On cloud nine), TAILING OFF (59A. Waning … or a hint to what is found by circling all the T’s in the completed puzzle) comprise the interrelated group of this ingenious Wednesday crossword.

Other — COBALT (51A. Discontinued Chevrolet model), DRIEST (29D. Least sweet, as wine), EIDERS (21A. Commercially prized ducks), ERRAND (35A. Picking up the dry cleaning, say), EVEN PAR (54A. Something that may be shot on a golf course0, GARNETS (24D. January birthstones), HYATTS (25D. Some hotels), MASSAGE (20A. Kind removal), ISSEL and NBAERS (39D. Hall-of-Fame hoopster Dan; 45D. 39-Down and others for short), NOISE LAW (4D. Anti-honking ordinance, e.g.), SLEETS (42A. Creates slippery conditions, in a way), SLID IN (9D. Reached base horizontally), WAKING UP (40D. Rousing).

Five-letter — ACMES, AKIRA (47A. Director Kurosawa), AVIAN flue, BEATS, CANER, DEANS, ELLIE, ENOCH, GHALI, HEDDA, ILE DE France, ILONA, LEILA, LOBED, ORIBI, SAGGY, YORBA Linda, Calif.

Short stuff — ABED, ABLE and ELBA, ACHE, AFEW, AGER, AMEN, AMFM, AMI, AMYS, AOL, ASAN, ATTY, BLUR, CASH, CMI, DAY, EIN, ELY, ENL, HERS, IRE, IVES, KEG, LEAN, LOGE and LOVE, MEMO, MESS, NALA, NHS, OBOE, OLLA, PEWS, POSE, RAE, RFDS, SACK, SELA, SHEA, SLAM, SOUR, STS, USED.

“Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country.”

 ~ Anais Nin

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. “___ alternative …” 5. Tackle, in a way; 9. Poetry fest; 13. It might have the heading “Re:”; 14. Crowning points; 16. Theater section; 19. Burl of stage and song; 23. Cathedral city of England; 24. Boutros Boutros-___ (former U.N. chief); 26. Role in Bizet’s “The Pearl Fishers”; 29. It breaks in the morning; 30. Great-grandfather of Noah; 34. Large crock; 37. “Norma ___”; 41. German’s one; 43. Not up; 44. Auburn heads; 46. Bourbon and others: Abbr.; 48. Tops; 58. Proficient; 62. Causing the lips to pucker; 64. Not new; 65. The lady’s; 66. Tilt; 67. Flock’s locale. — DOWN: 1. Like most car radios; 2. Ward of “Sisters: 3. Writers Lowell and Tan; 5. Droopy; 6. Nagging pain; 7. Roman 901; 8. ID-requiring purchase; 10. Sonnet subject; 11. Worrying, for one; 12. Meddle (with); 15. 2000 World Series locale; 18. Queen in “The Lion King”; 27. “Dallas” matriarch; 28. Massey of old movies; 31. African antelope; 32. Rattan worker; 33. Gossipy Hopper; 35. Photo lab abbr.; 36. Selective high-school org.; 47. “You got that right!”; 49. Lincoln, e.g., before he was pres.; 51. Credit’s counterpart; 52. Letter before Peter in an old phonetic alphabet; 53. Photo mishap; 54. Island whose name is another word in the puzzle spelled backward; 55. What people often do for pictures; 56. Two or three; 57. Country addresses: Abbr.; 60. Popular I.S.P.; 61. Anger.

03.08.11 — Halved

Crossing of the Red Sea, 1481-82, Cosimo Rosselli

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Tuesday, March 8, 2011 — International Women's Day

Puzzle by Paul Hunsberger edited by Will Shortz

WEST (69A. The half of the keyboard on which all of this puzzle’s answers can be typed) clues that in this tidy Tuesday crossword the grid contains all the letters and only the letters that are touchtyped using the left hand.

Other — CABARET (52A. Dinner-and-a-show venue), CASSAVAS (27A. Tapioca-yielding plants), DRAGSTER (50A. Racer on a strip), EXACERBATE (66A. Make worse), STARGAZER (30D. Astronomers … or daydreamers), STEWARDESS (10D. Old TWA hiree), TATE and TATER and TATTER, TREAD WATER (17A. Neither sink nor swim) and TREATER (25A. Tab grabber).

Six-letter — A TASTE (42D. Just one little bite), AVERSE (20A. Strongly disinclined), GEARED (51D. Got ready, with “up”), RED SEA (5D. It was parted in Exodus), RESEWS (49D. Stitches over), SARTRE (9D. “No Exit” playwright), TATTER 60A. Rip to shreds) and WEAVES (18D. Boxers‘ moves).

Five — ADAGE, ADDED, ARRET, ASFAR, BABAR, CARAT, CBERS, DRESS, DWARF, EATAT, QBERT (8D. Cube-hopping character in a 1980s arcade game), RATES, SATED, SERGE, SETSA, TATER and TAXER, TSARS.

Short stuff — AGAR, ARAT and ERAT, ART, ARAW, ASTA, BBQS, BETA, BRA and BRAZ, CARD, CAST, CTA, DEER, DRAT, EAR and ERR, ERA and ERAT and ETAT and ETAS, EDGE, ERBE and ERDE, FER, FREE, GER, RAGA, REAR, REBA, RETS, SAGA and SAGE, SCAT, SEAT, SERV, SRTA, SSE, STRS, TADA, TATE (Modern (London gallery), TBAR, WAGE.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. “I trust him about ___ …” (start of a leery person’s statement); 6. Patio cookouts, for short; 10. “Get outta here!”; 14. Twilled fabric; 15. Country’s McEntire; 16. And … there you have it!”; 19. Quod ___ demonstrandum; 21. SoHo loft output; 22. Hourly pay; 23. Musician’s asset; 32. Miscalculate; 33. “I smell ___!”; 34. Coup d’___; 36. Thrown in; 40. Mumbai music; 41. ___ good example (shows the proper way); 43. Out planet, to a Berliner; 44. One of a Disney septet; 46. Do an usher’s job; 47. Herb used in sausages; 48. Lang. in which 43-Across is a word; 56. U-turn from NNW; 57. Arg. Neighbor; 58. Squid’s ink holder; 65. Kathryn of “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”; 68. Keister; 70. Trouble no end; 71. Cellos, violas, etc.: Abbr.; 72. Sp. Miss; 73. Promgoer’s buy. — DOWN: 1. Nick Charles’s dog; 2. I.R.S. part: Abbr.; 3. For the taking; 4. Petri dish gel; 6. Garment with underwires; 7. Test software release; 11. Gemologist’s weight; 12. “Time is money,” e.g.; 13. Source of fries, slangily; 24. $25/hour and the like); 26. Mesozoic ___; 27. Check for ID, as at a bar; 28. Got ___ deal (was rooked), 29. Epic tale; 31. Filled beyond full; 35. Pre-1917 autocrats; 37. “Fiddlesticks!”; 38. Nose out; 39. Animal on XING signs; 45. In favor of, in dialect; 52. People with handles; 53. Quebec traffic sign; 54. Kid-lit elephant; 55. Duty imposer; 59. Playbill listing; 61. Way up a slope; 63. Airport guesses, for short; 64. Soaks, as flax; 67. El-overseeing org.

03.07.11 — Questions?

Oakland is overtaken by giant cartoon question marks

photo by Greg aka Easy Pickle

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Monday, March 7, 2011

Puzzle by Mike Torch, edited by Will Shortz

This musing Monday crossword poses four questions of note — SHOULD I STAY / OR SHOULD I GO (17A. With 61-Across, 1982 question from the Clash), DOES SHE OR / DOESN’T SHE (23A. With 54-Across, old advertising question from Clairol), TO BE OR NOT TO BE (37A. Soliloquy question from Hamlet) and DEAL OR / NO DEAL (12D. With 46-Down, question from a 2000s game show).

Other — ABSORB, BASSLINE (40D. Low instrumental part of a tune), EDIBLE, FEIGNS, FREE OF, OPT FOR, IBERIA, REBORN, SAO PEDRO (3D. Heavenly gatekeeper, in Portugal), SWEEPS, OWING TO (25D. Because of), RIFFLE, SO I SEE.

Five-letter — AFAST, AGATE, ARENT, BAIUL, BOERS, EATER, DELTS, ENTRE nous, ETUIS, ICAME, LEWIS, LIRAS, LONER, MUSED (1A. Pondered), NILLA, OUIJA, PITAS, SAGAS, SAYIT, SLOES, SPRIG, STERN, TROOP, TUDOR.

Short stuff — AJAR, ALS and AUS, DAHL, DEL, END, ERAT, ERRS, ESTH, ESAU, GEN, GIT, HER, IAN, MAS, MTA, ODS, ONIT, ORE and ORT, PEW, REG, RICO, RIND, SAT, SEP, STE and STU, TAE and TUE, UGH.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 6. Long-winded stories; 11. Some E.R. cases; 14. Playing marble; 15. Kind of board for a séance; 16. Church bench; 19. ___ Bo (exercise system); 20. Breads with pockets; 21. Leaf (through); 27. Boy Scout group; 28. Finale; 29. Huey ___ and the News; 31. Slips up; 32. Turkish money; 35. Start of Caesar’s boast, 42. Bit of parsley; 43. Pull ___ one on (hoodwink); 45. Facts and figures, for short; 51. Disco guy on “The Simpsons”; 52. Afrikaners; 57. Safe to consume; 59. Oksana ___, 1994 gold-medal skater; 60. Lower-priced gas option: Abbr.; 66. Writer Fleming; 67. Diner; 68. Recluse; 69. Capp and Gore; 70. Back of a boat; 71. “You ___ kidding!”. — DOWN: 1. Postgrad degs.; 2. “Ick!”; 4. Needle and thread holders; 5. Shoulder muscles, briefly; 6. “Ah yes”; 7. Vienna’s land: Abbr.; 8. “Scram!”; 9. Barely open; 10. “Tell me!”; 11. Select; 13. Goes 4-0 in the Series, e.g.; 18. Roald who created Willy Wonka; 22. Without; 23. The first State: Abbr.; 24. “Don’t bet ___!”; 25. Because of; 26. Puerto ___; 30. Was in session; 33. Soak up; 34. Labor Day’s mo.; 36. Big Apple mass transit inits.; 36. Miner’s load; 39. Outside of a watermelon; 41. Book before Job: Abbr.; 44. Wed. preceder; 45. Portugal’s peninsula; 47. Fakes, as an injury; 49. Having new energy; 50. Isaac’s eldest; 53. Tart fruits; 55. Nabisco wafer; 56. Henry VIII’s house; 58. The “E” in Q.E.D.; 62. Fr. Holy woman; 63. The other woman; 64. ___-X; 65. Table scrap.

Marching Bands

The United States Army Band marching in the funeral procession for General George S. Patton Jr., whose services were held in Heidelberg before his burial in Luxembourg, December 1945

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Marching Bands, 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 March, the title of this well-tuned crossword is Marching Bands, featuring thirty-something clues containing band.

Across — 1. Marching band instrument, FIFE; 12. Allan-ADALE (one of Robin Hood’s “merry band”); 15. Travel, like a band, TOUR; 26. Arnaz, who played bandleader Ricky Ricardo, DESI; 29. The United States ARMY Band (“Pershing’s Own”); 32. Band of schemers, CABAL; 40. “Sgt. PEPPERS’ Lonely Hearts Club Band” ; 46. Encircle with a band, GIRD; 54. “Back in Black” band, ACDC; 57. “HAIL to the Chief” (Marine Band song); 64. Band of thieves’ take, LOOT; 67. Bandy words, SPAR; 68. Clark of “American Bandstand”, DICK; 69. Bandleader’s command, HIT IT; 71. SEA-Band (motion sickness relief brand).

Down — 3. Furbys and Silly Bandz, FADS; 4. Stretchy, as a waistband, ELASTIC; 5. Small band, TRIO; 6. Wedding band alternative, DEEJAY; 7. Barbershop band, STROP; 8. Like a Band-aid solution, STOP-GAP; 9. Go SOLO (leave the band); 11. Cigar band collection holder, TRAY; 13. Big Band and Victorian, for two, ERAS; 26. Record DEALS (unsigned bands’ hopes); 28. Org. that disbanded in 1977, SEATO; 38. Band of scouts, TROOP; 44. Prisms’ color bands, SPECTRA; 46. Rock band follower, GROUPIE; 48. Rock band helper, ROADIE; 55. Security force at some rock band concerts, COPS; 61. Bandleader Puente, TITO; 63. Bands’ gig units, SETS.

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03.06.11 — Memory — the Acrostic

The Gate of Memory, 1857, Dante Gabriel Rossetti

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Sunday, March 6, 2011

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

This Sunday’s challenging acrostic draws a quotation from Vladimir Nabokov’s “Strong Opinions”

Strong Opinions - a collection of Nabokov's articles, interviews, letters to editors, and fugitive book reviews - is a marvel of malicious glee, deft phrases, and iconoclastic absurdities. His literary judgments, in particular, are deliciously haywire, as if a lunatic had been reading too much of Oscar Wilde. ~ amazon.com

The quotation: I AM AN ARDEN MEMOIRIST WITH A ROTTEN MEMORY … . WITH ABSOLUTE LUCIDITY I RECALL LANDSCAPES, GESTURES, INTONATIONS, BUT NAMES AND NUMBERS TOPPLE INTO OBLIVION WITH ABSURD ABANDON LIKE LITTLE BLIND MEN IN FILE FROM A PIER.

The author’s name and the title of the work: NAVOKOV, STRONG OPINIONS

The defined words:

A. Intense homesickness or longing for the past, NOSTOMANIA
B. Synthetic organism in a human guise, ANDROID
C. Hector, bully, intimidate, BROWBEAT
D. Nighmarishly oppressive, as in dystopia, ORWELLIAN
E. Fuzzy brown edible export of New Zealand, KIWIFRUIT
F. Top painters, especially of pre-1800 Europe (2 wds.), OLD MASTERS
G. Knowers of the proverbial ropes, VETERANS
H. Miss, in Aussie slang, SHEILA
I. Situation that’s bound to get volatile (2 wds.), TIME BOMB
J. Portraitist of the 1600s based in Antwerp, RUBENS
K. Investigator and resolver of complaints, OMBUDSMAN
L. Expert on plants and animals, NATURALIST
M. Material for curling stones, GRANITE
N. As far from ignorant as you can get, OMNISCIENT
O. Germ fighter whose name is based on the Latin for “paintbrush”, PENICILLIN
P. Made a fool by the power of love, INFATUATED
Q. Sort of people who tend to have titles, NOBILITY
R. Bold, brash, cheeky, saucy, IMPUDENT
S. Marked with eyespots, as a peacock’s tail, OCELLATED
T. Man obsessed with a Lolita, NYMPHOLEPT
U. Go as some of the apodal go, SLITHER

The full paragraph of the quotation in answer to “Do you keep a journal or seek documentary reminders?” — I am an ardent memoirist with a rotten memory; a drowsy king’s absentminded remembrancer. With absolute lucidity I recall landscapes, gestures, intonations, a million sensuous details, but names and numbers topple into oblivion with absurd abandon like little blind men in file from a pier.

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03.06.11 — Any ED'll Do

 

Ed Westwick

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Sunday, March 6, 2011

FOR YOUR EDIFICATION,
Puzzle by David Levinson Wilk, edited by Will Shortz

Phrases beginning with a past participle ending in "-ED" being rethought as verb phrases involving eight fairly-well known personalities named "ED" in the clues, constitutes the interrelated group of this clever Sunday crossword. The eight “ED”s are not really relevant to the resulting entries; so while it’s nice to have eight different EDs, one would do.

WANT ED DEAD OR ALIVE (23A. Be willing to apprehend Mr. Bradley at any cost?)

BURN ED AT THE STAKE (31A. Punish Mr. Harris in a medieval way?)

HOOK ED ON PHONICS 43A. Get Mr. Koch addicted to a modern reading method?)

BLESS ED EVENT (66A. Preside over Mr. O’Neill’s baptism?)

CRACK ED JOKES (75A. Do Mr. Sullivan’s stand-up material?)

GROUND ED FOR LIFE (93A. Prohibit Mr. McMahon from ever socializing again?)

TOUCH ED IN THE HEAD (103. Perform brain surgery of Mr. Begley?)

DRESS ED TO THE NINES (116A. Put Mr. Meese in an Armani suit?)

Other — AIR CANADA (10A. Star Alliance member), ALA MODE, ALOHA OE (91D. Elvis sings it in “Blue Hawaii”), ASPIRATION (79D. Hope), COAGULATE (1A. Thicken), DEBRIEF, EMERSION, FAT CELL (90D. Adipocyte), FOOTNOTES (127A. Where the stars might be pointing?), GETS CLOSER (4D. Approaches), Brooklyn HEIGHTS, IGUANAS (92D. Household pets that need ultraviolet light in the cages), IT’S ON ME, NESTLE’S (129A. Brand name that used to be spelled out in commercials), MICHAEL (17D. One of the Jackson 5), OBSESSION (20A. 1994 biography of Calvin Klein), ORDEALS, PNC PARK (10A. Pirates home), ROSALIE (21A. 1937 Cole Porter tune), SIDE-STEP, UNBAKED, YES WE DO (19D. One side’s retort to “No, you don’t!”).

Mid-size — AIM FOR, ALE KEG, A MESS, ASNER and SANTA (3D. 109-Down portrayer in 2003‘s “Elf“), ATTACK, Singer CHAKA Khan, COWAN, ELLAS, ESSAI, ETAPE, EVOKE, “GET ‘EM while they‘re hot!”, HADES, HAD IN, KEEPS, LIENEE, LINENS, MALTA, “What A MESS!“’ NORMA, NOT ON, PETCO, PROUD, OBAMA, OP EDS, PSHAW, SO I SEE, SPEED (110D. 1994 action flick with the tagline “Get ready for rush hour!”), STRATI, TERSE, TESSA, THEME, TIDAL, TSETSE (49D. “Mogambo” threat).

Short stuff — ADAH, AID, ALDO, ALGA, ALI (14D. Noted Cosell interviewee), ARIA, ARME, ASST, ATAN, BAN, BEE (31D. Apiphobiac‘s fear), CBS and CSA, DDE, DEED, DUM, EASE, EAN and EAT, EGER (65A. Hungarian city known for its thermal baths), ELI, EMT, ENA and ENNA, ESPN, ESS, ETC, FAIT, FIE, HALE, HAM, HIC, HOR, IKES, INE, JETE, KENO, LES, Mauna LOA, LSD, MUY, NARC, NENA, NOSE, OBI, OFA, OGRE, OMA, ONE D, PAL, PETA and PTAS, REBS, RED and REED, REO, RFD, RIV, ROLO, RTE, SAKI, SNL, SOT, TAN, TBAR, THA, TIO, TOE, TRI, UND, USES, USN.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 17. Venezuelan’s “very”; 22. Serpent’s tail?; 25. Original “I Love Lucy” airer; 27. Doo-wop syllable; 28. “Oh, baloney!”; 29. One awaiting a shipment, maybe; 39. Person with a mortgage, e.g.; 41. Menotti’s “Lullaby,” for one; 42. Epitome of thinness; 48. Fashion’s Gucci; 49. To the point; 50. “Pictures ___ Exhibition”; 51. Down a submarine, say; 53. Evade; 57. Barrel in a bar; 61. Kind of wave; 69. ___ Long, Union general in the Civil War; 70. “___ Carter III<“ best selling album of 2008; 71. Smallest member of the European Union; 72. Idle; 73. Criminalize; 74. Letters on Ozzie Smith’s cap; 79. French weapon; 80. Montaigne work; 82. “That seems to be the case”; 83. Act of coming out; 85. Madre’s hermano; 87. Fur fighters?; 89. Opinion pieces; 90. Made in France?; 100. Pool organism; 101. 12-Down soldiers, for short; 102. Set as a goal; 108. Mgr.’s aide; 113. Virginia ___; 114. Military march; 115. Suffix with Ecuador or Euclid; 126. Treater’s phrase; 128. Longtime 25-Across president Moonves. — DOWN: 1. Lee of NBC News; 2. U.S. president whose mother’s first name was Stanley; 3. 109-Down portrayer in 2003’s “Elf”; 4. Approaches; 5. Purposes; 6. “Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out” subject; 7. Give a leg up; 8. Part of Italy where Cape Spartivento is; 9. Disney doe; 10. Haughty; 11. “The Divorcee” actress Shearer; 12. Civil War org.; 13. Bud; 15. Colorado, e.g.: Abbr.; 16. Doesn’t give up; 18. Not yet in the oven; 24. R.M.N. served under him; 29. Some clouds; 32. Grand Forks sch.; 33. Auto last made in 1936; 34. “99 Luftballons” singer, 1984; 35. Noted John Boehner feature; 36. Prefix with Cities; 37. Souse’s sound; 38. Sip (into); 40. Mike and ___ (some jellybeans, informally); 44. Trying experiences; 45. Mom-and-pop grps.; 46. Fit; 47. Linear; 52. Fax cover sheet abbr.; 54. Transport on a slope; 55. Greece, to Greeks; 56. Retailer with a cat and dog in its logo; 58. Numbers game; 59. Call up; 62. Interrogate, in a way; 63. Dessert menu phrase; 64. Sheets and such; 67. “Esmé” writer; 68. Beak or beat; 71. Early 12th-century year; 76. Sister company of ABC; 77. Title; 78. Ballet leap; 79. Hope; 81. Take the offensive; 84. Caramel-filled treat; 86. Figure in Tom Thumb tales; 88. Wife of Esau; 94. Buttons on the big screen; 96. Geisha’s accessory; 96. “Top Gun” org.; 97. Disgusted cry; 98. Medical suffix; 99. “Mayberry ___”; 104. Welcomed, as a guest at the door; 105. Motif; 106. Epitome of hotness; 107. 911 responder; 109. See 3-Down; 111. “The Constant Gardener” heroine; 114. Sicilian city; 117. Way to go: Abbr.; 118. Un-P.C. suffix; 119. Souse; 120. TV show filmed at 30 Rock; 121. ___ sort; 122. You: Fr.; 123. Not vert.; 124. And the rest: Abbr.

03.05.11 — Ourang-Outang, et al

Ourang-Outang,

The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe, 1841,

illustration by Tatsuya Morino

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Saturday, March 5, 2011

Puzzle by Randolph Ross, edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. Drawing room gathering, ART CLASS; 9. Yankee star who batted left and threw right, MARIS; 14. Went off on, RAILED AT; 15. Channel between mainland England the Isle o Wight, with “the”, SOLENT; 16. Place to stretch one’s legs, KNEE HOLE; 17. Leg supports, TIBIAE; 18. It has two bridges in India, SITAR; 19. Homeostatic, IN BALANCE; 21. Head-tail connection, NOR; 22. Fathers, in the Bible, BEGETS; 23. Jack-a-dandy, FOP; 24. More often than not, AS A RULE; 26. Neil Diamond’s “September MORN”; 27. It may be pulled on a field, HAMSTRING; 30. Abided, BORNE; 31. Missing links, so to speak, APEMEN; 32. Euphemizes, MINCES; 33. Figure in the high 60s, D-PLUS; 34. Things rolled over by cars, ODOMETERS; 37. “A LAD of life, an imp of fame; / Of parents good …”: “Henry V”; 38. Like many an unsuccessful politician, ONE-TERM; 39. It’s perfect, TEN; 40. Secret places, CRYPTS; 41. Title in Topkapi, AGA; 44. Capital served by Faleolo International Airport, APIA SAMOA; 46. “A transient madness,” per Horace, WRATH; 48. Audits, with “on”, SITS IN; 49. Term of endearment, SWEET PEA; 51. Getting ready, with “up”, TEEING; 52. Subway line, EAT FRESH; 53. Piece of schoolwork, ESSAY; 54. See 40-Down, DNA TESTS.

Down — 1. They’re open on Saturdays, ARKS; 2. Took to the clink, RAN IN; 3. Hook up with, TIE TO; 4. Poorly explained, CLEAR AS MUD; 5. Specialty oven, LEHR; 6. Upset, ADO; 7. Real-life opera composer who’s a title character in a Rimsky-Korsakov opera, SALIERI; 8. Arm of the British military, STEN GUN; 9. Churns, MOILS; 10. “Valentine’s Day” co-star, 2010, ALBA; 11. Buttress, REINFORCE; 12. Trapped, IN A CORNER; 13. Slope, STEEPNESS; 15. Only one bears the name of a U.S. president, STATE; 20. E.U. member, BELG; 22. Place for a dance, BARN; 25. Images on windows of une cathédrale: Abbr., STES; 26. Area where Dali, Monet, Picasso and van Gogh all painted, MONTMARTRE; 27. Sipped, HAD A TASTE; 28. McDonald’s offerings, APPLE PIES; 29. Black gemstones, MELANITES; 230. Stand at a ceremony, BIER; 32. Hugo’s Thénardier and others: Abbr., MMES; 34. Word: Suffix, ONYM; 35. Toppled, DEPOSED; 36. Senator supporter, OTTAWAN; 38. Rue Morgue murderer, ORANG; 40. Hit TV series featuring 54-Across, CSI NY; 42. Goggles, GAPES; 43. Mushroom grower, for short?, A-TEST; 45. Land shared by Iraq and Iran, ASIA; 46. Tapestry thread, WEFT; 47. Lots of laughs, HAHS; 50. Touchdown stat, ETA.

CAUGHT - In the Bois de Boulogne, early in the morning of the - inst., (the morning of the murder,) a very large, tawny Ourang-Outang of the Bornese species. The owner, (who is ascertained to be a sailor, belonging to a Maltese vessel,) may have the animal again, upon identifying it satisfactorily, and paying a few charges arising from its capture and keeping. Call at No. ---- , Rue ----, Faubourg St. Germain - au troisiême.
~ Edgar Allan Poe, The Murders in the Rue Morgue

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03.04.11 — Stunt

Mickey Mouse in wizard hat from the 1941 film Fantasia

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Friday, March 4, 2011

Puzzle by Joe Krozel, edited by Will Shortz

Stunts in crosswords are quite different than gimmicks, or whatever — stunts please few and gimmicks amuse many. Read Wordplay. Or this. Both get the puzzle days ahead of all the rest of us. They’re in the business… In any event, this pleasing Friday crossword features the stunt of two sets of four 15-letter across entries with an unfortunate, scattered stingy passageway between the two sets:

SALES AGREEMENTS (1. Certain contracts)
I DON’T FEEL LIKE IT (16. Procrastinator’s comment)
PITCAIRN’S ISLAND (17. Last of Nordhoff and Hall’s “Bounty Trilogy”)
SATELLITE STATES (18. East Germany and such)

AFRICAN-AMERICAN (46. Term popularized by Jesse Jackson)
A LOT ON ONE’S PLATE (55. Much that has to get done)
HAMILTON ONTARIO (56. City on the Niagara Escarpment)
STAND ON ONE’S TOES (57. Strain to see, in a way)

Other across — ERASE, LED TO, OLDEN, WINE GLASS (39A. Port terminal?), WIZARD HAT (23A. What may be put on before spelling?), XEROX.

Down — ADD IN, Have A FILE on, Lhasa APSOS, CELLI (21. They‘re straddled in pits), EDIT IN, EKLAND (12D. Bond girl player in “The Man With the Golden Gun”), ELISHA (10D. Wonder-working biblical figure), ENCEINTE (4D. Pregnant), EXCERPTS, GO COLD (41. Lose momentum), HEARN, IVIES, LEAN TO, MESNE, MISTER, RETAIL AT, STALLION (5D. Casanova), WANDA, Z AXIS.

Short stuff — AAHS, ADIA, ANNO, Play to A TIE, AVA, CANI, CARO, CTNS, DEI and DOE, ELI, ELSE, EPH, FLAT, GERI, HEN (20A. Source of collectible deposits), ILE, LOEW, LOTT, MEA, “Turnin ME ON", NEAT, NEOS, NIX, NOON (49D. Hand-passing time), RENT, ROMA, SIPS, STDS, “THE X Factor“, TINE.

For angst, go HERE.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 19. Infant follower?; 21. “Please?”; 29. Prefaced; 30. One of Frank’s four wives; 31. Book before Phil.; 32. ___ times; 33. Turn down; 34. Get off the mark?; 36. Philanthropist/art collector ___ Broad; 37. “Fabien ___ Franchi” (Oscar Wilde poem); 38. ColorQube maker; 43. They may hold many pks.; 44. Unknown name; 45. Latin pronoun. — DOWN: 1. Uses a 39-Across; 2. #3 hit from the 1997 album “Surfacing”; 3. He followed Dole in the Senate; 6. Have ___ on (track the activities of); 7. “The Facts of Life” actress Jewell; 8. It may be stabilized; 9. Further; 11. Buddy; 13. Smart; 14. Point of eating?; 15. Regular things: Abbr.; 22. Contribute; 23. Film fish; 24. Brown’s group; 25. Depth finder?; 26. “La Cage aux Folles” Tony winner; Lhasa ___ (supposed good luck bringers); 28. “___ Factor” (TV talent show); 29. MGM co-founder; 34. Clips; 35. Go for; 40. Make part of the manuscript; 42. Rough roof; 45. Intervening, in law; 46. Music to masseurs’ ears; 47 Needing to get keyed up?; 48. See 52-Down; 50. A dozen mesi; 51. “Turnin ___” (2009 Keri Hilson hit); 52. One loved in 48-Down; 54. Traditionalists’ opposite, briefly.

03.03.11 — Two Presidents

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Puzzle by David J. Kahn, edited by Will Shortz

Either of the two presidents who also served as a 17-Across from 62-Across, cluing ANDREW JACKSON or ANDREW JOHNSON (39-Across), e.g., ACK and/or OHN in three squares, along with U S SENATOR (17A.) and TENNESSEE (62A.) are the interrelated entries of this Thursday crossword. The three matching downs are CANE or CAKE (33. It’s rich in sugar), COOK or HOOK (41. Captain James of the high seas) and Cotton BALLS or BOLLS.

Other — ABOUND IN (39D. Overflow with), ALBANIAN (12D. Language known to native speakers as “gjuho shqipe”), GERONIMO (11D. Real-life character in the 1950 western “Broken Arrow”), GO IT ALONE (14A. Act independently), NBA TEAMS (40D. Timberwolves and the like), ROYALTIES (67A. Publisher’s department).

Mid-size — ACREAGE, APLOMB, ATTEST, COARSE, IGUANA (1D. Creature with a dewlap), KISSES, LOSSES, MCMIII, OYSTER (24A. Food sometimes eaten with a small fork), RANEE, RED SKY, SOLOED, TASTE IT, THESIS, TOM JOAD (27D. 1940 Henry Fonda role).

Five-letter — ABBIE, ADAIR, ADELA, AIMAT, ANTED, ASSET, CANTO, CAROM (4A. Kind of shot), ENSOR (68A. “The Scandalized Masks“ painter), EXTRA, GIMME (66A. Shot that‘s hard to miss), IDENT, MERGE, MISDO, NADIR, NAGAT, SNOWS, VERBS (18A. Come and go, e.g.), YIELD.

Short stuff — ADE, ALA and ALO, ARM (21D. Target of many a shot), ASSN, BOX, BRER, DST, ENE, EON, ERO, GAY, HAT (55A. Jipijapa, e.g.), ILK, IMO, NAE and NEE and NNE, NAVY, NYT, OAT, ONO, OTRA, PRES, ROT and RUT, SST, TEE (15D. Kind of shot), UNO, YULE.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Class; 9. Plague; 16. ___ Quested, “A Passage to India” woman; 19. Boon; 20. High-spirited; 22. Bagel flavor; 23. Formerly; 28. Mobile-to-Huntsville dir.; 29. League: Abbr.; 31. Introduction to a Spanish count?; 32. Year the first Tour de France was held; 35. Coolness; 38. Try to hit; 42. Wife in O’Neill’s “Desire Under the Elms”; 43. Performed a cadenza, e.g.; 44. Sandpaperish; 46. Santo Domingo greeting; 47. Other, to Orozco; 51. Cart track, e.g.; 52. Subject of a sailor’s weather maxim; 56. Chemical suffix; 57. Expensive seating area; 58. Passport, e.g.: Abbr.; 60. Gilbert ___, author of “A Void,” a 290-page novel without the letter E; 69. Kicked in; 70. Bygone flier. DOWN: 2. The “5” in “6-5,” e.g.; 3. Things wrapped in foil; 4. “Don Juan” division; 5. Reminiscent of; 6. Break down; 7. “Starpeace” recorder, 1985; 8. Conflate; 9. School whose 1910 football team went undefeated and unscored upon; 10. Drink suffix; 13. Have victory within one’s grasp; 25. Winter time; 26. Some blankets; 30. Rock bottom; 34. Botch; 36. Certain tense: Abbr.; 39. Overflow with; 42. Land; 45. Ranch closing?; 48. Argument; 49. Bollywood queens; 50. Warrant, with “to”; 53. One in a mob scene?; 54. Produce; 57. ___ Fox; 59. It starts in March: Abbr.; 61. Start of many a blog comment; 63. Long time; 64. Big Apple read: Abbr.; 65. Macduff rebuff.

03.02.11 — Taglines

Leonardo DiCaprio in the film of "Titanic"

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Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Puzzle by David Poole, edited by Will Shortz

In this Wednesday crossword, “An Affair to Remember,” “a comedy of errors,” “I see dead people,” and “Look Back in Anger” become A FARE TO REMEMBER (17A. “Taxi Driver” tagline), A COMEDY OF ERAS (25A. “Back to the Future” tagline), ICY DEAD PEOPLE (42A. “Titanic” tagline) and LUKE BACK IN ANGER (56A. “Return of the Jedi” tagline?).

Mid-size — AARON, ADLIB, ALIBI, AREAS, ATOLL, CALVE, CIVIC, COMMA, EARNED, EATME, EULER, HUMMER, OLIVE, OSAKA, OUTAGE, PARSE, PRAISE, SAUDI, SNORED, SOLVE, SWARM, UMASS, UMPED, UNFED, YIELD, YODELS.

Short stuff — ABBA, ADM, AFL, AFRO, APU, AURA, AXED and AXEL, BASS, CFOS, CINQ, CLE, CREE, ELIA, ERRS, HALE, IRAQ, IVOR, JIVE, KEEN, LEE, MER, MOVE, MTGE, NAE, NCAA, NEC, NORM, OBI, OJO, OLD, OREL, ORFF, OVA, RAMS, REA and REAL, REIN, SCAM, SLOB, TON, UBI, UGLI, UBER, UKES, WKRP, ZAPS, ZOLA.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Only patron on “Cheers” to appear in all 275 episodes; 5. Honshu metropolis; 10. Sound; 14. Manitoba native; 15. Needing nourishment; 16. Over, in Oberammergau; 20. Org. in a 1955 merger; 21. Super Bowl XLV M.V.P. Rodgers; 22. The Minutemen of the 2-Down; 23. Buy-now-pay-later arrangement: Abbr.; 24. Cavaliers, on scoreboards; 31. Tapenade ingredient; 32. Actor/composer Novello; 33. Truckload; 35. Cat’s tongue; 36. Balliwicks; 38. Dreyfus defender; 39. Band of geishas?; 40. Lipinski leap; 41. Have a cow; 46. Archaic; 47. Bumps hard; 48. Like the Aramco oil company; 51. Teem; 53. Geller with a spoon-bending act; 59. Pitcher-turned-sportscaster Hershiser; 60. Grammatically dissect; 61. Marlon’s “On the Waterfront” director; 62. Striped swimmer; 63. Worked at home?; 64. Dix halved. — DOWN: 1. March Madness org.; 2. “Carmina Burana” composer; 3. Down-to-earth; 4. Cousteau’s milieu; 5. Power failure; 6. Sawed logs, so to speak; 7. Big do; 8. Gung-ho; 9. Naval V.I.P.: Abbr.; 10. G.M. brand discontinued in 2010; 11. “Dancing Queen” group; 12. Dregs; 13. Slips up; 18. Inscription on a Wonderland cake; 19. Swiss who pioneered in graph theory; 23. Bxe5 or 0-0-0, in chess; 24. Corp. money execs; 25. What an accused perpetrator needs; 26. Palindromic car name; 27. Triangular traffic sign; 28. They travel down fallopian tubes; 29. Bikini, for one; 30. Figure out; 31. Spanish eye; 34. “No way, laddie!”; 36. Fired; 37. “Michael Collins” actor; 38. Microwaves; 40. Ignore the cue cards, say; 41. Short stop?; 43. Mountain airs; 44. Purpose of an ode; 45. Like most runs, in baseball; 48. Person who uses a sleeve for a napkin, say; 49. Je ne sais quoi; 50. Strings at luaus; 51. E-mail from a Nigerian price, probably; 52. Cincinnati sitcom station; 53. Aptly named fruit; 54. It may hold your horses; 55. Mesopotamia, today; 57. Kwik-E-Mart owner on “The Simpsons”; 58. I.B.M. competitor.

03.01.11 — TEA

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Puzzle by C. W. Stewart, edited by Will Shortz

SPOT OF TEA (4 p.m. British refreshment … or what can be found in 18-, 25-, 47- and 58-Across and 3-Down?), ACUTE ANGLE (18A. It measures less than 90°), VOTE AGAINST (25A. Say “nay” to); LATE ARRIVAL (47A. One who was detained, maybe), RABBIT EARS (58A. Old TV antenna) and WASTE AWAY (3D. Shrivel to nothing) are the interrelated group of this pleasant Tuesday crossword.

Other — DESIRE (29D. Tennessee Williams “streetcar”), EVER SO, HAVING, IDEATE (27D. Cook up, so to speak), LOCATE, LOW END, NET SALES (8D. Income statement figure), PUT ONS, QUARRELS (39D. Heated exchanges), SHAMAN (9D. Tribal healer).

Five-letter — “Can’t talk now … I’m expecting A CALL“, ADELE (28A. Fred‘s dancing sister), ALIEN, AMUSE, ARGON, ASSAM (22A. Silk-producing region of India), AVAST, BELTS, BERET, CAPER, CURRLS, DELIS, EAGER, EGRET, EMAIL, EVENT, HAREM, ISAAC, ISLES, LIRAS, MANTA, SAFES, SCADS, SLANG, SMELT, TIBIA, TITHE, VERSE.

Short stuff — ALE, AMAH, BEN, BUS (42A. Greyhound, e.g.), CAN, “ICI on parle français“, “IT’LL be a cold day in …”, LAM, LASE, LEND, MAY I (“Please“), METE, MEWS, NASA, OBI, OIL, OLD, OVA, PEN and PER, PGA and PTA, PLAN, PTS and QTS (Milk amts.), RHEA, SASS, SCOW, SEW, SHAH, TOME, YRS.

Our trouble is that we drink too much tea.
I see in this the slow revenge of the Orient,
which has diverted the Yellow River down our throats.
~ J. B. Priestley
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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Kitty cries; 5. Architect’s handiwork; 9. Lots and lots; 14. Indian housemaid; 15. Hefty volume; 18. Women’s area in a palace; 17. LEM maker; 20. Church’s percentage; 23. Jed Clampett’s find on “The Beverly Hillbillies”; 24. Stein filler; 30. Act the pawnbroker; 31. Cheapest in a line; 33. Part of r.p.m.; 34. Lay eyes on; 40. Tartar sauce morsel; 41. “Please?”; 43. Hoaxes; 44. Cousin of an emu; 46. Plumed wader; 51. Kimono accessory; 55. Feature of many a greeting card; 56. Keepers of jewels; 62. Little green man?; 63. Do some high-tech surgery on; 64. Allot, with “out”; 65. Some teen talk; 66. Garbage hauler; 67. Mouth off to. — DOWN: 1. Powerful ray; 2. iPhone capability; 4. Deposed Iranian ruler; 5. Bake sale org.; 6. Track down; 7. Tickle pink; 10. Pokey; 11. Most common inert gas in the atmosphere; 12. Places to get Reubens; 13. Remove impurities from; 19. Raring to go; 21. Part of a meet; 26. Long in the tooth; 27. Cook up, so to speak; 31. Skedaddle; 32. Lab eggs; 36. International writers’ org. with appropriate initials; 37. Soph. and jr.; 40. Biceps-strengthening exercises; 42. Special Forces cap; 43. Masters org.; 45. In possession of; 46. To a great extent; 47. Turkish money; 49. Neighbor of the fibula; 50. Hayes or Newton; 52. Sings out loudly; 53. Cays; 57. Aligns the crosshairs; 59. Gridder Roethlisberger; 60. Use a Singer.