07.24.08 -- Enough

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Puzzle by Matt Ginsberg, edited by Will Shortz

ONCEISNOTENOUGH (35A. Jacqueline Susann novel, and the problem with some of the answers in this puzzle) is a fair enough entry/clue for DUMBULLETS (17A. Hollow-point projectiles); WINSITUATION (22A. Mutually beneficial interaction); CHIRODRIGUEZ (45A. Puerto Rican-born P.G.A. star); and RAINGOAWAY (56A. Child’s fair-weather wish).

This is a puzzle that could have one stuttering and stumbling. Personally, I’ve never heard of Chi Chi Rodriguez, always thought one “rain“ in “Rain, go away” was sufficient, opted for “bee” and then “tam” (what the heck are those) bullets, and had no idea what kind of a “blank” situation was being requested.

Nonetheless, the remainder of the entries sort of IRONEDOUT (30A. Reconciled) the CHASM (45D. Wide divide) and like 37D. “You IDIOT!” (cry while hitting oneself on the head), what seemed an ETERNITY (36D. Forever) came to an end upon discovering the non-existent DUMDUM, WINWIN, CHICHI and RAINRAIN, along with the existent MYMY (61A. “Really!”) and LULUS (6D. Beauts).

WELLTODO (10D. Rich) and DIRTPOOR (51A. Impoverished) belong in the same puzzle together. I don’t think I’d use POSTDATES (39A. Follows temporarily) in the manner of its clue. THE (40A. Order at a French restaurant) has to be the oddest definition of an English language article that one could conceive for a crossword. Followed by EINE (41A. Berlin article), it seems even more absurd.

The EMPORIUM (20A. Bazaar) of entries and their clues include the near anagrams of FELINE (5D. Like a leopard) and ELFIN (21A. Pixie-esque), the latter of which seems to have lost its E to CROSSE (25A. Roughly triangular racket). The entries of OXBOWS (4D. River bends) and PURGES (42D. Mass dismissals) reminded me of the Henry Fonda film. The clue for EZPASS (44D. New York bridge toll option) -- well, it’s still a toll.

FLESH (5A. Blood’s partner) heads the five-letter entries which include the elaborately clued EULER (15A. Originator of the equation e to the power (pi *I) + 1 = 0); HASNT (50A. Lacks, briefly); ATONE (59A. Agreeing [with]); EMMYS (62A. Annual awards presented in Los Angeles); ELEMI (7D. Incense resin); OLAFI (11D. Norwegian king who converted the Vikings to Christianity); RADIO (12D. Portion of an advertising budget); FLYNN (13D. One of the Mudville players on base when the mighty Casey struck out); TOOTS (23D. Tugboat warnings); INTER (30D. Lay to rest); HALEY (46D. See 14-Across) which is ALEX (14A. With 46-Down, writer of “The Autobiography of Malcolm X”); ISLAM (47D. Its symbol is a crescent moon); IDIOM (48D. Go for broke, e.g.); 49D. GINNY Weasley of Harry Potter books.

Little stuff: ALLI, ALUM, ATM, CHOP, ELAL, “HER Majesty“ (last track on “Abbey Road“, HRS, KEMP, LADY, LETO, MADE, MAKO, OARS, ORCS, OTTO, OUTA, OWIE, RAE, RENO, ROE, RYES, SAND, SEAT, SESS, SET, SIRE, SESS, SET, UGHS, URIS, UTNE, WORF.

All in all, a puzzle that’s pleasant enough to PLEASE (42A. Delight)!

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Search information -- Across: 1. Warm-blooded shark; 10. Klingon on “Star Trek: T.N.G.:; 16. Airline that doesn’t fly on Saturday; 28. Chemistry Nobelist Hahn, who co-discovered nuclear fission; 56. “___ Want for Christmas”; 58. Usher’s offer; 60. “Your Majesty”; 63. Legis. Meeting. Down: 1. Synthetic; 2. Fund-raising target, briefly; 3. Dole-s 1996 running mate; 8. Volleyball action before a spike; 9. 9a.m. and 5 p.m.; 18. “Trinity” author; 24. ___ Reader; 25. Dice, say; 26. Slots spot; 27. “The Lord of the Rings” army; 32. “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right ___ My Hair”; 33. Oral grimaces; 34. What you used to be; 38. Levee material; 43. Duke Atreides in “Dune”; 52. Toddler’s cry of pain; 53. They’re found in banks; 53. They’re found in banks; 54. Bar stock; 56. Charlotte of “The Facts of Life”; 57. Cash cache.

07.23.08 -- Alas, no ZSAZSA!

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Puzzle by Henry Quillen, edited by Will Shortz

Interrelated entries in this Wednesday wonder are contained in a whirling pattern of faint circles in the diagram meeting at the center of the grid with ATOZTOA crossing ARIZONA, anchoring two arms of A to Z and Z to A entries.

Diagonally from upper left to down right are a string of entries in the circles, alternating entries that start with Z first and end with A last with entries that start with A first and end with Z last and exchanging order in the center of the puzzle -- ZIMA (1A. Coors product), ARROZ (4D. Ingrediente en paella), ZESTA (23A. Keebler cracker brand), ARIZONA (24D. Flagstaff‘s place), ADBIZ (52A. Madison Ave. trade), ZEENA (53D. Ethan Frome’s wife) and ANTZ (70A. Animated film hit of 1998).

Again, diagonally, this time from lower left to upper right are the second string of entries in circles, alternating with entries that this time start with A first and end with Z last with entries that start with Z first and end with A last, and again exchanging order in the center of the puzzle -- ARNAZ (58A. Ball’s comic partner), ALCATRAZ (39D. The Rock), ATOZTOA (39A. Theme of this puzzle), 9D. Cubic ZIRCONIA (gem) and ZAPPA (9A. Frank in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame).

That still leaves plenty of room for GOURMANDS (17A. Lovers of fine fare) and 63A. Queen HENRIETTA Maria, mother of England’s Charles II and James II, along with a BRASSHAT (5D. Military bigwig) who may have WENTTOPOT (6D. Deteriorated), and the STRIDENCE (36D. Harsh quality) of an OILBARON (40D. Getty or Rockefeller).

BWAY (5A. N.Y.C. theater area) and the world of showbiz are represented by MYWAY (33D. Ol’ Blue Eyes classic), the teams of MEARA (65A. Stiller’s comic partner) and ARNAZ (68A. Ball’s comic partner), the aforementioned ZAPPA, a SOLOIST (20A. Recital player), along with a smattering of other personages -- RENE (15A. Surrealist Magritte), ITOO (2D. Langston Hughes poem), TORI (44A. Famous Amos), EOS (25A. Aurora’s Greek counterpart), a BOT (26A. Sci-fi sidekick, maybe), NARZ (61D. Onetime “Concentration” host Jack), SHOR (29A. Restaurateur Toots), someone with an ANONYM (30A. Assumed name), ACHESON (10D. Truman’s last secretary of state), EDW (41A. One of eight Eng. Kings), NILS (48A. Guitarist Lofgren), 18D. Architect Ludwig MIES van der Rohe, BABYM (26D. Child in a 1980s custody case), a DAMA (54D. Lady of Spain), 64D. Schubert’s “The ERL-King", and MUNICH brings to mind (46A. Birthplace of Richard Strauss), "Thus Spoke Zarathustra."

Conversational entries are headlined by 8A. Sammy Davis Jr.s “YESI Can” and includes ICHAT (16A. Apple instant-messaging program), AHH (34A. “That feels great”), 42A. “YOULL regret it!”, SAY (50A. “For example …“, NAE (51A. Highlands refusal), 62A. “Be ADEAR and …”, 67A.“NEAR as I can tell …”; OHYOU (27D. “What a kidder!”), YADDA (32D. When said three times, “et cetera”), SISI (49D. “Of course, señor!”) and 60D. “Let’s leave ITAT that!”

DELETES (54A. Redlines), EASESIN (58A. Begins slowly), INCENSE (21A. Madden, and how) and LINEARA (43D. Ancient Cretan writing system) complete the group of long entries.

The short fill -- AND, APIS, ARCO, ATEE, BYE, EDER, GLEN, HEE, INLAY, ITAR, LEAN, MAUL, NAE and NEA, NLERS, PANS, PHON, RHONE, RDA, STEN, THEUN (28D. N.Y.C. country club?), and ZIGS.

Alas, no ZSAZSA!

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Search information -- Across: 14. ___-Tass news agency; River flowing into and out of Lake Geneva; 35. Honeybee genus; 37. Bit of dental work, 38. Free pass, of sorts;66. Sacramento’s ___ Arena; 69. Secluded area. Down: 1. Goes this way before that; 3. Rough up; 7. What’s more; 11. Unit of loudness; 12. Producers’ fears; 13. Faultlessly, after “to”; 22. Three R’s org.; 31. Cubs, but not Bears, for short; 47. Part of a bray; 55. German river to the Fulda; 56. Show preference; 57. Layered haircut; 59. 9-mm. gun of W.W. II.

07.22.08 -- N is for...

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Puzzle by Lynn Lempel, edited by Will Shortz

A very popular crossword gimmick is to insert an extra letter into several entries resulting in a second and goofy meaning, clued to suit the result, usually with a question mark.

In today‘s puzzle, removing the letter N from the interrelated entries of SNACKRACE (18A. Competitive noshers’ event?), SNORELOSER (23A. One cured of a sleep disorder?), SNIDELINE (35A. Sarcastic comment?), TURKEYSNUB (48A. Brushoff from the Ottomans?) and BABYSNITS (53A. Terrible-twos tantrums?) provides the more familiar sack race, sore loser, sideline (or snide lie), turkey sub and baby-sits.

Recent examples of the genre -- ID, 05.27.08; RT, 05.14.08; RR, 03.16.08; L on 12.16.07, and L again on 11.18.07. And now, on to the main bulk of today’s puzzle.

The odd-looking SISENOR (25D. Acapulco agreement) presides in the center of the puzzle, one among the seven seven-letter entries which include ETHANOL (2D. Biofuel option); ORATORY (3D. Speaker’s art); PLIABLE (39D. Easily bent); PRUDENT (42D. Sensible); RENEGES (41D. Goes back [on]); and SCALPED (11D. Like some tickets and Western pioneers).

CLERIC (21D. Church official) leads the six-letter entries of ASTUTE (46D. Discerning), DEEDED (34A. Transferred, as property); DIADEM (34D. Headgear fit for a queen); ENAMEL (8D. Tooth protector); LUCITE (45D. Clear plastic); RUSHEE (19D. Fraternity recruit); SLEAZY (35D. Disreputable); WINTRY (4D. Cold and raw); and ZIPLOC (37A. Glad rival in the kitchen).

Theda Bara, publicity still ca. 1916-17

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THEDA (6A. Film vixen Bara) and THETA (31A. Letter between eta and iota), along with the Shortzesque-clued TENSE (48D. On edge) and TESTY (64A. On edge), headline the five-letter entries of ATRIA (14A. Central courtyards) and ATTIC (20A. Room under the roof); ASTER (60A. Daisylike bloom); AUGER (57A. Hole-marking tool); 50A. AZTEC Empire, conquered by Cortes; CHANT (17A. “2, 4, 6, 8 -- who do we appreciate?,” e.g.); DÉCOR (9D. Remodeler’s planning); DUNES (15A. Sahara sights); ELLEN (44A. Newspaper columnist Goodman); MEOWS (1A. Requests for a saucer of milk, maybe); METED (52A. Doled (out); MOSUL (22A. Iraq’s second-largest city); REEDS (63A. Bassoonists’ buys); SATIE (5D. French composer Erik); STENO (61A. Low-tech office recorder); and YEAST (49D. Moonshine ingredient).

The fill: AERO, ARC, ATE, AWE, BOW, CRY, DYE, ELIA, EVIL, HUN, ILL, INON, IRIS, LEAK, LOAD, MAC, MAD, MOB, NEAT, OVID, OWL, RPM, ROY, SAD, SLY, SPAM, SRS, STS, TDS, TED, TENT, TORY, TSAR, WEE and ZEE.

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Search information -- Across: 11. Woebegone; 16. Blubber; 26. Spam; 29. British Conservative; 30. Demonic; 32. Like some winks; 33. Pupil surrounder; 40. Shipshape; 41. LP speed; 45. Cargo; 46. Nautical leader?; 47. Kazan of Hollywood; 59. Round-faced flyer; 62. Pint-size. Down: 1. Apple on a desk; 6. Super Bowl stat; 7. Attila the ___; 10. Seeks assistance; 12. Rocket’s path; 13. Artificial color; 23. Parts of P.O. labels; 27. Wolfed down; 28. Loony; 31. Sherpa shelter; 33. Informed about; 36. Tap mishap; 37. Last of 26; 38. Indisposed; 43. Gangster group; 51. Romanov ruler; 53. What a violinist may take on stage in two different senses; 54. Amaze; 55. Brother of Jack and Bobby; 56. Most univ. applicants; 58. Pop artist Lichtenstein.

07.21.08 -- ...and God Created Woman

Jeannette MacDonald, The Merry Widow, 1934

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Monday, July 21, 2008

Puzzle by Gilbert H. Ludwig, edited by Will Shortz

As light as a feather, this Monday crossword could almost make one forget it’s a back-to-work day, but then so many of us may be on vacation we’ll not even come across this delightful puzzle, a no-nonsense, exotic little paean to the fair sex.

THEGAYDIVORCEE (20A. 1934 title role for Ginger Rogers), THEMERRYWIDOW (35A. 1934 title role for Jeanette MacDonald) and THEHAPPYHOOKER (51A. 1975 Title role for Lynn Redgrave) constitute a teasing triumvirate of interrelated entries. The ladies also flourish in this crossword with the inclusion of ESTHER (2D. Purim heroine), EVA (25A. With 56-Across, Saint of Hollywood) MARIE (56A. See 25-Across), ODAY (5D. Jazzy Anita), 63A. Writer Zora NEALE Hurston, 15A. Journalist ADELA Rogers St. Johns, all joining in on the metaphorical PEALS (9A. Sounds of bells or laughter) of the divorcee, the widow and the hooker.

Left in near COMAS (4A. Unconscious states) from the feminine SALVOS (8A. Series of shots, as from warships) are the likes of CAESAR (39A. Emperor killed on the Ides of March), EDGAR(16A. Whodunit award), TURKS (19A. Denizens of 45-Down) of ANKARA (45D. Capital ESE of Istanbul) and LORRE (50D. Peter of “M”). Inhumanly ALONE (59A. Uniquely) are the HORTON (47D. Dr. Seuss elephant) and OSCAR (60A. “Sesame Street” grouch). ALAS (41A. “Darn,” more formally)! Ah well, 32A. “That’s one small step for AMAN …”

TALLTALE (35D. Sailor’s yarn), AGREEDTO (11D. Accepted, as terms), LAKEVIEW (12D. Placid vacation vista) and 36D. Charles de Gaulle : Paris :: HEATHROW, are the eight-letter entries. Seven-letter entries are OUTSWIM (22D. Defeat by a stroke?) and AMERICA (28D. Song that begins “My country, ‘tis of thee”).

Five- and six-letter entries include 18A. “This is only ATEST”; BANAL (18A. Like “Have a nice day”); BODEGA (3D. Barrio grocery); CABAL (4D. Plotters’ plot); ENROL (30D. Sign up); ISLAM (42A. Imam’s faith); LEGAL (23A. 8 ½” x 14” paper size); LENTO (50A. Slow, in music); 9D. Lab’s PETRI dish; RUSTLE (1D. What leaves do in the wind); SEWER (62A. Stinky stream); SHEER (49D. Like pantyhose); SLATES (33A. Candidate lists); STEPIN (46D. Enter); and, quite timely, SIPHON (43D. Drain furtively, maybe) when paired with GAS (21A. Phase hotter than liquid).

Little stuff -- ACS, ALAI, AMA, ANN, APT, BLT, CAB, CASH, CEO, EDUC, EINE, ERAS, ESS, FDIC, HEAL, LIT, MEND, OMIT, OUI, POSE, REB, RIO, SCI, SRS, STD, TAR, USO, YMA & YMCA, and finally, 56D. “No MAS!” (“Stop!,” in Spanish).

Sure God created man before woman. But then you always make a rough draft before the final masterpiece. ~ Author Unknown

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07.20.08 -- Cryptology -- the Acrostic

Sunday, July 20, 2008

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

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This Sunday’s acrostic features a rather innocuous quotation from Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon.

Not having read the work, nor able to find the full quotation without purchasing the book, I’ll resort to the following quotation from Amazon:

“Cryptonomicon is huge... gargantuan... massive, not just in size (a hefty 918 pages including appendices) but in scope and appeal… Cryptonomicon zooms all over the world, careening conspiratorially back and forth between two time periods--World War II and the present. Our 1940s heroes are the brilliant mathematician Lawrence Waterhouse, cryptanalyst extraordinaire, and gung ho, morphine-addicted marine Bobby Shaftoe. They're part of Detachment 2702, an Allied group trying to break Axis communication codes while simultaneously preventing the enemy from figuring out that their codes have been broken. Their job boils down to layer upon layer of deception. Dr. Alan Turing is also a member of 2702, and he explains the unit's strange workings to Waterhouse. ‘When we want to sink a convoy, we send out an observation plane first.... Of course, to observe is not its real duty--we already know exactly where the convoy is. Its real duty is to be observed.... Then, when we come round and sink them, the Germans will not find it suspicious.’”

The quotation of the acrostic: THERE WAS A TIME WHEN PLACES LIKE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE EXISTED TO TRAIN MINISTERS AND THEIR JOB WAS TO SAY SOMETHING THOUGHT-PROVOKING SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK THEY WERE THE RETAIL OUTLETS OF THE PROFESSION OF PHILOSOPHY

The author-line of the acrostic: STEPHENSONCRYPTONOMICON

The defined words: A. One way to reach a conclusion, SYLLOGISM; B. Everything (2 wds.), THEWORKS; C. Composer of “Three Pieces in the Shape of a Pear” (2 wds.), ERIKSATIE (click here for Janne Mertanen plays Erik Satie's Gnosienne n.3); D. Classic slapstick comedy scene (2 wds.), PIEFIGHT; E. Mental midget (hyph.), HALFWIT; F. One who has untied a knot (hyph.), EXHUSBAND; G. The land down under, NETHERWORD; H. What ballplayers hit after games, SHOWERS; I. Collapsible item invented by Antoine Gibus (2 wds.), OPERAHAT; J. “Dryad of the trees,” to Keats, NIGHTINGALE; K. Writers’ blocks?, CHAPTERS; L. Changer of stations, REMOTE; M. Annual, YEARBOOK; N. The opposite of verbose, PITHY, along with its’ Shortzesque mate, O. The opposite of verbose, TERSE; P. Affected by too many catches, OVERFISHED; Q. Connection, link, tie, NEXUS; R. Cushioned furniture for one’s dogs, OTTOMAN; S. River and city of Saskatchewan (2 wds.), MOOSEJAW; T. What a think tank is meant to do, IDEATE; U. Last-minute reluctance or timidity (2 wds.), COLDFEET; V. One like Micawber of Pangloss, OPTIMIST; W. 1940 novel about Bigger Thomas’s travails (2 wds.), NATIVESON.

"Cryptonomicon is vintage Stephenson from start to finish: short on plot, but long on detail so precise it's exhausting. Every page has a math problem, a quotable in-joke, an amazing idea, or a bit of sharp prose. Cryptonomicon is also packed with truly weird characters, funky tech, and crypto--all the crypto you'll ever need, in fact, not to mention all the computer jargon of the moment. A word to the wise: if you read this book in one sitting, you may die of information overload (and starvation)." --Therese Littleton --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title -- Amazon.com

I’ll take her word for it!

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07.20.08 -- Across the Board

Sunday, July 20, 2008

ACROSS THE BOARD, Puzzle by Barry C. Silk, edited by Will Shortz

KNIGHT, KING, ROOK, PAWN, BISHOP, QUEEN and CHESS are to be found in the circles of the across entries of GUYFAWKESNIGHT (22. November 5, in Britain); ROCKYMOUNTAINBIGHORN (29. Wild sheep of the western United States); SIRANTHONYHOPKINS (44. Best Actor of 1991); PROFESSIONALWRESTLING (59. It’s quite different from the high-school variety); PUBLISHINGCOMPANY (77. Viking, for one); QUARTERMASTERGENERAL (91. Army supply officer); and CHINESEMUSTARD (102. Egg roll topping, perhaps).

The Seventh Seal, 1971

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Other across: 1. Demanded without reason, SAIDSO; 7. Leader of Lesbos?, LAMBDA; 13. Unlikely attenders of R-rated films, PRUDES; 19. Honor, ACCEPT; 20. Injustice, RAWDEAL; 21. Feel remorse for, REPENT; 25. Thin as ARAIL; 26. Depression, GLOOM; 28. Humans last lived there in 2000, MIR; 36. Mocks, JAPES; 37. “La Gioconda” mezzo-soprano, LAURA; 38. Flies over the Equator, TSETSES; 39. Salt Lake City player, UTE; 40. Annual Sunday event, with “the”, OSCARS; 43. Breezes (through), SAILS; 49. Treat like a hero, maybe, MOB; 52. In direct opposition, TOETOTOE; 53.Gaudy jewelry, in slang, BLING; 54. Broad, DAME; 55, Alphabet quartet, MNOP; 56. Trail to follow, SPOOR; 58. Ring figure; BOXER; 66. Transfix, RIVET; 67. Eurasian ducks, SMEWS; 68. Climactic scene in “Hamlet”, DUEL; 69. Parrying weapon, EPEE; 70. Blackmore’s Lorna, DOONE; 72. City 70 miles SSW of Toledo, LIMAOHIO; 76. ZEN state; 81. La Scala cheer, BRAVA; 83. Events registered by seismometers, in brief, ATESTS; 83. Resident: Suffix, ITE; 84. Foamcore component, STYRENE; 87. “Doctor Zhivago” role, PASHA; 89. Deserving a lower insurance premium, SAFER; 96. Spigoted vessel, URN; 97. Italie et Allemagne, ETATS; 98. Single-handedly, ALONE; 99. Equitable way to return a favor, INKIND; 109. Thatched, REEDED; 110. Perfume ingredient, ROSOIL; 111. Mrs. Woody Allen, SOONYI; 112. It may be bilateral, TREATY; 113. Belgian city with an 1854 manifesto, OSTEND; 114. Like shorelines, often, ERODED.

Down: 1. Lose strength, SAG; 2. Prefix with pressure, ACU; 3. Standoffish, ICY; 4. Give bad marks, DEFACE; 5. Signs of a bad outlet, SPARKS; 6. “Venice Preserved” dramatist Thomas, OTWAY; 7. Part of U.N.L.V., LAS; 8. Natural bristle, AWN; 9. Year that Michelangelo began work on “David”, MDI; 10. One desiring change, BEGGAR; 11. National flower of Mexico, DAHLIA; 12. Illinois city, site of the last Lincoln-Douglas debate, ALTON; 13. Favorable, PROMISING; 14. TV pooch, REN; 15. FedEx rival, UPS; 16. Moon of Mars, DEIMOS; 17. Unabridged, ENTIRE; 18. Rudder locations, STERNS; 23. Kipling novel, KIM; 27. Procure, OBTAIN; 29. Batting average, e.g.; RATIO; 30. OPERE citato; 31. ULAN Bator; 32. Quaint “not”, NARY; 33. Caboose, TUSH; 34. Some deodorants, GELS; 35. Abbr. after Cleveland or Brooklyn, HTS; 38. Fair, JUST; 40. Four Holy Roman emperors, OTTOS; 41. Bazaar units, SHOPS; 42. Iowa college, COE; 43. Go rapidly, SKIRR; 45. Charge for cash, ATMFEE; 46. Large chamber group, NONET; 47. Ancient Greek coins, OBOLS; 48. Pickup attachment, PLOW; 49. Start of something big?, MAXI; 50. Shooting star, maybe, OMEN; 51. Mad magazine cartoonist Dave, BERG; 54. Spoonful, say, DOLLOP; 56. Bygone blades, SNEES; 57. Kitten mitten, PAW; 58. Second string, BTEAM; 59. Bossman or bosswoman, PREZ; 60. Stinky, as gym clothes, RIPE; 61. Pizza place, OVEN; 62. Capri, e.g., to a Capriote, ISOLA; 63. Magazine founded by Bob Guccione, OMNI; 64. EDICT of Nantes, 1598; 65. “Super Dupere SUMOS” (anime series); 70. “Forty Miles of Bad Road” guitarist, DUANEEDDY; 71. Flip over, OBVERT; 72. Some offensive linemen: Abbr., LGS; 73. Port near Nazareth, HAIFA; 74. Purveyor of chips, INTEL; 75. Open court hearing, OYER; 77. PRET-à-porter; 78. “And HAST thou slain the Jabberwock?”: Carroll; 70. Spillane’s “ITHE Jury”; 80. Within striking distance, NEAR; 81. “It’s c-c-c-cold!”, BRR; 84. Pipsqueak, SQUIRT; 85. Word with page or wood, TURNER; 86. YANKEE Stadium, opened in 1923; 87. Feeling evoked in drama, PATHOS; 88. Basketball datum, ASSIST; 89. Security system component, SENSOR; 90. Playground retort, ARETOO; 92. Prefix with economics, MACRO; 93. Celtic speaker, GAEL; 94. ELM beetle; 95. “Don’t even bother”, NOUSE; 100. Sun Valley locale: Abbr.; IDA; 101. Invoice amount, NET; 103. Once known as, NEE; 104. Untold millennia, EON; 105. Half brother of Tom Sawyer, SID; 106. Moreover, AND; 107. Manhattan part, RYE; 108. Impersonated, DID.

Checkmate!

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07.19.08 -- You Can't Win 'Em All!

Napoleon at Waterloo by Howard David Johnson

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Saturday, July 19, 2008

Puzzle by Todd McClary, edited by Will Shortz

How many times has a solver snapped a writing instrument in half, ripped the puzzle from its moorings, crumpled it into a ball, declaiming YOUCANTWINEMALL (8D. Words of consolation), having METONESWATERLOO (36A. Suffered defeat). Well, these two entries share their W in the center of the attractive spinning windmill grid, and let’s just call that W a win!

If a crossword can BLOWAWAY (1A. Thrill) a solver in more ways than one, then this little Saturday stumper with its SINISTER (39A. Menacing) clues and entries is not one for an IDLER (18A. Shiftless sort). Plenty of consternating consonants, ODD (10D. Eyebrow-raising) double-vowels and little LATITUDE (62A. Navigation figure) for unseaworthy sorts.

What starts with MSP or what has a double A in its center? Why, MSPACMAN (36A. Arcade star of the ‘80s) and CANAANITE (56A. Language group including Hebrew), of course! What leads off with TST or BBG -- TSTOPS (24D. Braking maneuvers for skaters) and BBGUN (1D. Plinking weapon). Plinking? Would you like to see both NAST (52D. Creator of 1867’s “Grand Caricaturama”) and NASTY (23A. Foul) in the same puzzle -- well, here you have it!

Food? ATEDINNER (33D. Took evening courses?); OSSOBUCO (34D. Trattoria offering); PARMESAN (15D. Kraft offering in a can); OKRAS (3D. Five-sided pods); and PIE (29D. Tin contents).

People? MARTHA (31D. First name in homemaking hints); PETERNERO (32D. Pianist leader of the Philly Pops); GARGANTUA (17A. Hero/giant created by Rabelais); UNA (19A. Merkel of moviedom); the PATRIOTS (32A. National champions in 2002, 2004 and 2005); an unidentified MALE (31A. Selective service registrant); MAGOG (35A. Grandson of Noah); JON (41A. Operatic tenor Vickers); ARI (43A. Maria’s love in 1996 Tony-winning play “Master Class”); TRUMAN (51A. Marshall Plan signer); ANA (5D. Actress Ortiz of “Ugly Betty”); a TIA (37D. Woman at a reunion); and 45D. Joe RANDA, ex-Royals third baseman known as the Joker.

Add in five more long entries just for variety -- BALDEAGLE (11D. Quarter image); BIKINITOP (14A. Cause of some tan lines), OLDSMOKEY (60A. Snowy locale of song); OPENFLOOR (12D. Debate format) and unfamiliar to me -- STRATEGO (13D. Game with 40 pieces per side) -- how do these games, fads and manias come and go without my every hearing about them until they’re fodder for a crossword?

However, a large group of five-letter entries are this puzzle’s real glue -- ADAPT (16A. Avoid extinction, say); ATTAR (7D. Rosa damascena product); DACRON (20A. Wrinkle-resistant fabric); LIANA (2D. Jungle obstacle); GAINS (9D. Results of bull markets); GOBOS (9A. Recording studio sound shields); HAIKU (47D. One-stanza poem); MENSA (54A. Its logo features a globe on a table); MESSY (35D. Poorly organized); NORTH (61A. Pole position?); OUTED (48D. Exposed); OXEYE (49D. Common daisy); RAMPS (26A. Some pinball targets); SABER (44A. Olympic blade); STASH (44D. Drug store?); STEPS (38A. Way up or way down); YAHOO (46A. Owner of the Flickr Web site); and YARNS (25D. Lies along the waterfront?) -- “Lies along the waterfront?” What?

Finally, fill stuff: AMI, ASH, AUX, CNN, DNA, EFT, JAR, JON, NET and NOT, OPT, PEDS, SAP and SAT, WIG and WIND (Make tired).

Waterloo? -- able was I ere I saw Elba!

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