01.23.11 — Letter Openers

Found alphabet by Abba Richman.

“A four month project, some letters were easy to find, others much more difficult.”

www.abbarichman.com

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Sunday, January 23, 2011

LETTER OPENERS, Puzzle by Chris A. McGlothlin, edited by Will Shortz

In this clever holoalphabetic Sunday crossword, 95-Down, From A TO Z (how this puzzle goes), along with the title Letter Openers clues the solver to the full alphabet being represented by a “free-standing” letter at the beginning of 26 entries:

A-ONE (28D. *Tops)
B-MOVIE (13D. (Plan 9 From Outer Space,” e.g.)
C-SPAN (125A. *House coverer)
D-DAY (29A. *Setting for “Saving Private Ryan”)
E STREET BAND (26A. *The Boss’s backers)
F-STOP (72D. *It helps one get the picture)
G-MAN (36A. *Ace ___ Stories, old detective pulp magazine)
H-BOMB (12A. *Weapon first tested in ‘52)
iPOD (34A. *Touch, e.g.)
J-LO (88A. *4x platinum album of 2001)
K-TEL (54D. *”As Seen on TV” company)
L-BAR (112A. *Beam with a bend)
M-DASH (52A. *Typography symbol)
‘N SYNC (42D. *Group with the 2000 #1 hit “It’s Gonna Be Me”)
O-RING (17A. *Gasket type)
P. DIDDY (127A. *One of Sean Combs’s aliases)
Q-TIP (83D. *Little swab)
R-VALUE (6A. *Insulation measure)
S-TYPE (73D. *Midsize Jaguar)
T-TOP (100A. *Vette option)
U-HAUL (43D. *Thing that won’t go off without a hitch?)
V-SIX (68A. *It may be under a hood)
W-TWO (94D. *I.R.S. form)
Y CHROMOSOME (116A. *Women just don’t get it)
Z-AXIS (64D. *3-D graph line)

Other — “ARISE, fair sun, and kill the envious moon”: Romeo; BIRD DOGS (16D. Pointers); BENAZIR ((118A. Former Pakistani P.M. Bhutto); BREAMS (90D. Bluegills); CEL (76A. One carrying a toon); CAROLS (98A. Numbers by a door?); IN DRAG (4D. Cross-dressing); LUMP SUM (57A. Payment type); MARCONI (58D. 1909 Physics Nobelist for work in wireless telegraphy); MARIANAS Trench (earth’s deepest depression); MUSIC (52D. Shakespeare’s “food of love”); NO DRAMA (92D. Obama nickname); NUS and ENS (42A. N N N; 45A. N N N); PUSH UP (32D. Exercise one is prone to do); RABBI (6D. Bar mitzvah party); TERNE (111D. Lead/tin alloy); TILDES (22A. They’re found in año after año).

Now‘s as good a time as any to run this again...

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Yo, she was Adrian; 18. Bedridden, say; 19. Debilitates; 24. Oscar snubber of 1972; 25. Frequently pierced place; 28. It may go off the road, briefly; 30. Taxco table; 31. Winds; 32. Nanki-___ of “The Mikado”; 38. Swindle, slangily; 39. One of the Blues Brothers; 46. Stocks up; 49. Slant; 50. Shelled; 53. Pilot’s mileau; 55. Darn; 58. Workplace for a cabin boy; 59. Hot times on the Riviera; 61. 12-Across and the like; 62. Tag sale tag; 63. Opposite of Guerra; 65. ___ Mode, female character in “The Incredibles”; 67. ___ Kadiddlehopper, Red Skelton character; 69. The third one is a shocker; 71. Barks; 74. Numerical prefix; 78. The year 640; 79. “Give it ___!”; 80. Honoree’s place; 84. Small; 85. .___; 89. Maurice of Nixon’s cabinet; 90. King protector; 91. Bottle in the kitchen or bath; 93. When the word “safari”; 96. Coach Parseghian; 97. Going ___; 101. Actress Sofer; 103. Light bulb over one’s tête?; 104. “Awesome!”; 105. Shelter org.; 108. Skewer; 114. Skeletal opening?; 120. Spanish pastry; 122. Last-second bidder on e-Bay; 123. Marathoner’s need; 124. Mountain homes; 126. Like a turkey’s wattle; 128. Steak ___. — DOWN: 1. Tribal heads?; 3. Melodious speaking tones; 5. Author who won a posthumous Pulitzer in 1958; 7. Spreading fast on YouTube; 8. Country singer Jackson and others; 9. Jenny ___ a k a the Swedish Nightingale; 10. Grand Forks sch.; 11. ___ trip; 14. Saturn’s spouse; 15. Flatten, in a way; 20. Inlet; 21. Like some winks; 23. Trig ratio; 27. Bunches; 33. Places where some R.N.’s work; 35. Took the part of; 37. Deli array; 38. Sting’s instrument; 40. Repeated cry in Buster Poindexter’s “Hot Hot Hot”; 41. ___ point; 44. Hit; 46. Mingles (with); 47. They may have keys; 48. Scranton-to-Philadelphia dir.; 51. Like some amusement parks; 57. Vegas opening?; 60. Some drum parts; 66. The Queen of Soul, familiarly; 68. Colorado ski area; 70. Dockworker’s org.; 75. Coax; 77. Harry Shearer’s program on public radio; 78. Kind of income; 79. Beelike; 81. Call letters?; 85. Govt. flu-fighting org.; 86. Mouths; 96. Oil company acronym; 99. Grasping; 102. Town in Umbria; 105. Nose-burning; 106. Bit; 107. Lackluster; 109. Old man; 110. “Um … er …”; 112. Dumbbell abbr.; 113. Call, e.g.; 116. Doctor Zhivago; 117. How many oldies get re-released; 119. Not go straight; 120. Limit; 121. “If only ___ listened …”.

01.22.11 — Woman of the World

The Face on the Bar Room Floor is a painting on the floor of the Teller House Bar in Central City, Colorado, United States. It was painted in 1936 by Herndon Davis.

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Saturday, January 22, 2011

Puzzle by Victor Fleming, edited by Will Shortz

Together, I’LL HAVE THE USUAL (8D. Regular’s request) and WOMAN OF THE WORLD (33A. She’s no naïf) sound like a patron’s plaint to the tender. I’ve a friend who’s denied friends but those of his wife — I can’t help but wonder if she keeps him chained to the bedpost lest he skulk off to watch sports at the local pub…

This stony Saturday crossword holds little help for him with its dry fare — those of eight and nine letters are ART LOVERS, AT THE BELL, AUDIO CLIP, CANTRELL, MAIN THEME, MARGARET, MASS MEDIA, OBEDIENT, SLATERED, STARTLED, STEEL BELT and WATERLOO (33D. Undoing).

Mid-size — ABACK, ADELE, AETNA, AHORA, ALTON, APACHE, ATTIRE, BEEPED, CARAT, ERODE, HIREES, HOFFA, IMACS, INFER, LEROI, LOAMS, MASHER, MELEE, ONEND, ONTIME, OTTOS, PLATTE, RHONE, SHEEDY, SLOTH, SPINE, STEROL, SWIVEL, TERESA, TITLER.

Short stuff — ACEY, AGE, ATOB, DEE and DIA, EBBS, EDGY, ENE and ERE, FIDO, FORT, GLUE, HAND, HORN, ICAN, INKS, LEOS, LIDS, LTR, MAE, ONO, PINT, RDS, RELY, RIA, SNO, SOV, WAWA (29D. Thirsty tot‘s request).

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Papers and such; 10. Many people surf on them; 15. When trading ceases; 16. A point is a division of one; 17. Feature of many tires; 18. Big name in coverage; 19. Firm acceptances?; 20. Blast source; 22. Delivered piece: Abbr.; 23. Develop ruts, say; 24. Bit of aid; 25. With 43-Down, stored Bronx station house; 26. Count; 27. Like Russ., once; 28. Eames lounge chair feature; 30. Gather; 32. “Die Fledermaus” maid; 38. By surprise; 39. What’s now in Mexico?; 40. “In My Own Words” missionary; 42. Suffix with ethyl; 43. Basic travel path; 47. Apt to snap; 48. Stick with it; 50. Chicken’s lack; 51. Cove cousin; 52. 13 religious heads; 53. Gothenburg’s river; 54. One wished long life, overseas; 56. Sound bite in bytes?; 58. With no break; 59. It’s left during a digression; 60. Physics Nobelist Stern and others; 61. Used wastefully. DOWN: 1. Advance man?; 2. Invitation information; 3. Kind of ester; 4. Ally of New York City; 5. Hockey game highlight, for many; 6. Is refluent; 7. Gold finish?; 9. Glenn Miller’s real first name; 10. Declaration of determination; 11. Murray of silents; 12. Gallery fixture?; 13. Singer Blu with the 2001 hit “Hit “Em Up Style (Oops!)”; 14. Taken 38-=Across; 21. They may develop ruts: Abbr.; 24. He was declared dead in absentia in 1982; 25. Spot follower, perhaps; 27. ___ Mountain (Pennsylvania ski resort); 30. Tattooist’s supply; 31. Neighbor of Loire and Ain; 33. Undoing; 34. Like good pointers; 35. Court on the court; 36. ___ -deucey; 37. “___ thou and peace may meet”: Shelley; 41. Get saggy, say; 43. See 25-Across; 44. Name provider; 45. Flight status; 46. Sounded the alarm?; 49. Compost ingredients; 50. Opposite of industry; 52. Tupperware stock; 53. Guiness measure; 55. “Walking on Thin Ice” singer; 57. Division del mes.

01.21.11 — Why?

Friday, January 21, 2011

Puzzle by Pete Mitchell, edited by Will Shortz

I should bite my tongue… I’ve been at this for four years, day-in and day-out, and yes, there are days when I wonder when it will all end. Yes, my dear thousands of daily readers, this is one of them!

Quotes about today’s excellent crossword from The Crossword Club:

Is it me, or is Pete Mitchell trying to tell me something? Mind you, I don’t believe for a second that people are trying to send me messages through their puzzles. Because that would sound deranged, right? ~ Wordplay

Hey! Who put this Saturday puzzle into my Friday? I wasn’t expecting the puzzle to put up such a fight. I don’t usually get mired in so many bogs in a Friday puzzle. ~ Crossword Fiend

This one felt fairly easy, but my time says "normal" or maybe even a shade higher. Nothing stumped me for very long, but I didn't speed through much of it either. ~ Rex Parker

Well, yes, it seems today's constructor, Pete Mitchell, places quality over quantity, as this is his first Times crossword in over two years, and boy, it’s a stumper! O.K., the subject at hand…

Across — 1. Aflac ad figure, facetiously, SPOKESDUCK; 11. Omegas represent them, OHMS; 15. She played Appassionata von Climax in Broadway’s “Li’l Abner”, TINA LOUISE; 16. Janus-faced, DUAL; 17. Chinchillas and boas, e.g., EXOTIC PETS; 18. Words before expert or fool, I’M NO; 19. “The Gene Krupa Story” title role player, MINEO; 20. Pamplona pronoun, ESAS; 21. Bygone N.Y.C. punk club, CBGB; 22. Handles, SEES TO; 24. Literary inits., RLS; 26. Chocolate LAB; 27. Ace pitcher’s reward?, SALE; 30. Epoch when bats first appeared, EOCENE; 32. Starbucks offering, CHAI; 36. Homebuyer’s “bargain”, FIXER-UPPER; 38. Quiche ingredients, oeufs; 40. “AUF Ferienreisen” (Strauss polka); 41. Cool, POISE; 42. Result of a permanent failurer?, BAD HAIR DAY; 45. Basis of growth, SEED; 46. Jockey wear, BRIEFS; 47. Ones concerned with custody, EXES; 49. Put down a can?, SAT; 50. Telecom techies, EES; 52. Profanable, SACRED; 57. “A COW on the Line” (Thomas the Tank Engine story); 59. Residencia, CASA; 62. Bit of a grind, CHORE; 63. Byron poem, LARA; 64. Outrageous, OVER THE TOP; 66. Clarifying words, AS IN; 67. Bad blood, NO LOVE LOST; 68. Totally not happening, DEAD; 69. Make a spectacle of oneself, say, DRAW STARES.

Whoa! Slow down! Time to drag up an old plaint — I guess it’s just me, but I like to think when I do a puzzle… How long does it take to read the clues? How long does it take to enter the letters into their respective boxes, whether tactile or electronic? Let‘s suppose that there is a need to think! With that said, anyone claiming to complete this puzzle in under ten minutes is a either a prevaricator or autistic. Admittedly, there are those of us who “just know” what a word must be by having only one letter or at the most two -- like contestants on game shows who can give the name of a song with but a few notes; however, crossword solvers wheezing for breath as they seek to equate haste with intelligence are possessed, some to the point of desperation, gasping to be first in declaration of a pitifully faux mensa! I just don’t get it! I don’t promote comments on this blog, but go ahead, dispute — there is no argument!

Down — 1. Watch things, STEMS; 2. User of a 58-Down, PIXIE; 3. When a quick snap may happen, ON ONE; 4. Bush and Jackson, KATES; 5. Writer known as Old Possum, and his family, ELIOTS; 6. Lib. Arts major, SOC; 7. Suck in, DUPE; 8. They’re hung across roads, UIES; 9. CSTAR Optics; 10. Laura Bush biographer Ronald, KESSLER; 11. Like some poetry, ODIC; 12. Crow, HUMBLE PIE; 13. Iron’s preceder on the periodic table, MANGANESE; 14. Acted like a baby, in a way, SLOBBERED; 23. Palooka, OAF; 25. Introductory course?, SOUP; 28. Many an interrogee, LIAR; 29. Radiate, EXUDE; 31. Navy-equivalents of S.F.C.’s, CPOS; 32. High-fat dish with greens, COBB SALAD; 33. Sit on the bench, HEAR A CASE; 34. Assembly places, AUDITORIA; 35. “IF HE Should Ever Leave You” (Tom Jones song); 37. High-tech transmission, E-FAX; 39. Trustworthy, SAFE; 43. Motion approval, YES; 44. “That’s what I’m talkin’ about!”, I SECOND; 48. Bag in a trunk, SACHET; 51. Make last, maybe, SAVOR; 53. Crayfish claw, CHELA; 54. Wankel engine part, ROTOR; 55. Jagged, EROSE; 56. Secretaries’ charges: Abbr., DEPTS; 58. Item used by a 2-Down, WAND; 60. One of Swoosie’s co-stars on “Sisters”, SELA; 61. Shoulder-to-shoulder, AROW; 65. They often hang around sports bars, TVS.

It’s the old burning question… Why?

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

01.20.11 — Reflections

 

Computer panel reflections on the helmet of Dave, 2001: A Space Odyssey

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Thursday, January 20, 2011

Puzzle by Michael Shteyman, edited by Will Shortz

SOCIAL SECURITY / ADMINISTRATION (20A. With 54-Across, opposite of 18-Across) and ASS (18A. Fool), ROYAL AIR FORCE (35A. Opposite of 32-Down) and FAR (32D. Much), MISSING IN ACTION (7D. Opposite of 58-Across) and AIM (58D. It may be taken at a gun range), e.g., backward abbreviations of SSA, RAF and MIA,constitutes the interrelated group of this confusing Thursday crossword.

Other — AGORA, ARGO and KRATER (1A. Ancient gathering place; 48A. Ancient Greek vessel; 12D. Bowl for mixing wine and water in ancient Greece), CARL ORFF (38D. “Carmina Burana” composer); DECAF and TASSE (31A. Tea option; 49D. Thé cup, maybe), ENGINEER (39D. Mastermind); GOES OVER (2D. Reviews); MAYO CLINIC (27D. World-famous institution in Rochester, Minn.); OPERA SERIA (10D. Many a Handel work); OSSO BUCO (3D. Veal shank dish in un ristorante); SHUI and VODKA (24A. Chinese for “water”; 9A. Drink whose name means “little water).

Mid-size — ANAIS; APNEA; ATARI; A TREE; ATTYS; BOSON (14A. Subatomic particle); CESTA (17A. Jai alai catcher); CHAFF and GAFFE, DATIVE, DIAL-UP; ERECT; GET AT; GIANT; HEAVES; INFRA; INSET; 36A. Painter Fra Filippo LIPPI; NORMAL; OH DEAR; OP ART; ORION (40A. Odysseus saw him as a shade in the underworld); PLAN A; REFER; REMADE; SADIE; SEANS; THE LIP (49A. Nickname for baseball’s Leo Durocher); VOGUE.

Short stuff — ABC (1D. 2 letters), ADA and AHA, AOL, COB and COD and CODA, DMV, EAR and ERA, FOG, III, I-TEN, KOA, LIE, III, ORC, OVUM, SAKS, SER, SNL, TOE, VISE.

Fifty years ago today...



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Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 6. ID card issuer; 15. “Rocky ___”; 16. Mesmerizing designs; 19. Insinuate; 23. Male swan; 26. Part of a preconception?; 28. It’s breath-taking; 30. To be, to Benicio; 33. Putting one’s foot in one’s mouth, e.g.; 41. Gulliver in Lilliput, e.g.; 43. Mythical monster; 45. First option; 51. End; 53. Fish tale, essentially; 57. Onetime Facebook president Parker and others; 59. Stumped, after “up”; 61. “All the King’s Men” woman; 62. Big camping inits.; 63. Send, as to a specialist; 64. Vertical; 65. NBC fixture since ‘75; 66. Prefix with sound. — DOWN: 4. March org.?; 5. Writer Nin; 6. Obsolescent alternative to broadband; 8. Woodworking class holder; 9. Ostensible backdrop of the 2003 roman à clef “The Devil Wears Prada”; 11. Kind of case; 13. Court figs.; 21. “Oh, I see”; 22. Worthless matter; 23. Cape ___; 29. Ring holder … or receiver?; 34. Flying hazard; 37. Instant messaging pioneer; 42. XXX part; 43. “This can’t be good”; 44. Newly fashioned; 46. Like a body temperature of 98.6°; 47. Org. that rates members of Congress on their liberalism; 50. Feature of many a ring; 52. Centipede maker; 55. Neiman Marcus competitor; 56. L.A.-to-Jacksonville rte.; 60. Time on earth.

01.19.11 — Gee Whiz!

Erté, The Letter G from The Alphabet Suite

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Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Puzzle by Kristian House, edited by Will Shortz

GEE WHIZ (37A. Beaver Cleaver expletive ... or what you might need to be to answer 18-, 23-, 51- and 60-Across?), along with GMAIL ROOM (18A. Part of the house where one might check Google messages?), G-MAN OVERBOARD (23A. Cry for help on an F.B.I. cruise?), G-STRING THEORY (51A. Guess as to how the thong came to exist?) and G-SUIT CASE (60A. Where Neil Armstrong might store his gear?) constitutes the interrelated group of this whizbang Wednesday crossword.

Other — AGLETS, AIRDROP, AMNESIA (47A. Dory‘s affliction in “Finding Nemo“), BESTIAL (43D. Inhuman), BLOODLUST (11D. Rambo‘s drive), CHEERIO (46D. “Toodle-oo!”), LOZENGE, MAGNET (6D. Word with babe or bar), RAIN GAUGE (33D. Meteorologist‘s tool), UNROLLS.

Five-letter — ACT AS, AGREE, AMANA, AMAZE, ARMOR, DRILL, HI MOM (2D. Bleachers sign), IDOLS, JOEYS, LIMOS, NASAL, OLIVE, OVATE (56A. Like a prefall Humpty Dumpty), RELAY, RIVAL, SHALT, SLANG, YELLS.

Short stuff — ABBY, ALDA, ALE, ANO, ARCH, AREA, ARI, AVA, BIOL, BUSH, CFO, DRIB, DRJ, Gen. Robert E LEE, EMIR, ESAI, EXEL, FRAT, GERM, GNAT (27A. Punkie), ILIA, LEA, LIAR, LPGA, MAST, MSN, NONE (20A. Number of trades Jack is a master of), OGRE (56D. “Fee fi fo fum“ sayer), OILS, ONE G and ONE I, OSE, OWN, PUPA, RIGA (64A. Latvia‘s capital), RTE, SATS, SEA (8D. Deep blue), SGT, Mai TAI, Lao TSE, V-SIX, YAMS, ZACH.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Old Testament verb; 6. Locale for a lashing; 10 Ann’s advice-giving sister; 14. Prom rentals; 15. Locale; 16. Hip bones; 17. Leave slack-jawed; 21. Enero through diciembre; 22. Some winners on a Fox talent show; 28. Puts down, as the red carpet; 31. Reach a concord; 34. Carbohydrate suffix; 35. Stage that includes a cocoon; 36. Grazing site; 41. Pepper’s rank: Abbr.; 42. Wee bit; 44. AOL rival; 45. Substitute for; 49. Half of a McDonald’s logo; 58. Pale pub potable; 63. Part of basketball practice; 65. Kegger locale; 66. Coke, to Pepsi; 67. Basketball All-Star Nick Van ___; 68. Lubricates; 69. Kangaroo babies. — DOWN: 1. Some teen talk; 3. Appliance brand; 4. Sore throat soother; 7. Knight’s gear; 10. Certain plane delivery; 12. H.S. science class; 13. Candied dish; 19. Teller of tales; 21. One of Frank’s exes; 24. A thousand bucks; 25. Political family name; 26. “The ___ Love”; 29. Org. for Michelle Wie; 30. Info on college applications; 31. Alan who was born Alphonso D’Abruzzo; 32. Lysol target; 34. Admit, with “up”; 38. Mideast ruler; 39. “NYPD Blue” actor Morales; 40. Actor Galifianakis of “The Hangover”; 48. Leave in; 49. Shoelace tips; 50. U.S. 1, for one: Abbr.; 52. Like Bob Dylan’s voice; 53. Green shade; 54. Bit of electrical work; 55. Hollers; 57. Kind of engine; 61. Corp. V.I.P.; 62. N.L. West team, on scoreboards; 63. Onetime Sixers great.

01.18.11 — I Hear Ya'!

Ultrasound of Embryo at 14 weeks, photo Wikipedia

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Tuesday, January 28, 2011

Puzzle by Gary J. Whitehead, edited by Will Shortz

I HEAR YA’ (36A. “1-Across to 63-Across) along with AMEN to THAT (1. *Sermon closer; 63A. *Take THAT!”) progressing down a word ladder of AMEN, OMEN, OVEN, EVEN, EVES, EYES, DYES, DEES, TEES, TEAS, TEAT, THAT, constitutes the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword.

Other — AS A WHOLE (20A. All things considered), EMERALDS (26A. May birthstones), ENROLLEE (42A. Signer-upper), POSTSEASON (17A. Time for playoffs), SOCKEROO (54A. Huge success), ULTRASOUND (56A. Ob/gyn’s image).

Mid-size — AEDES (33D. Dreaded mosquito), APPAL, ASSESS, AVERT, BRUSH, COAL BIN (47A. Fuel container), Jazz pianist Chick COREA, DEREK, DOLE OUT (41D. Apportion sparingly), EMERY, EVADE, GO-CART, HOLES UP (37D. Hides, as from the cops), IONIA, ISLET, KNAVERY (15D. Cad’s behavior), LESIONS (23A. Tissue injuries), MEALS, MOOSE (2D. Simpleton in “Archie” comics), NITWITS (4D. Simpletons), NOD AT, ODEONS, ODESSA and ODISTS, PAYER, SERTA, SODDY, SPLITS.

Short stuff — AER, ATIT, DESE, DINO, ENES, EPEE, ERSE, EWE and EWER, GOO, LAT, LAZY, LEIA, NEO, NONS, OAKS, PAW, PETE, POLI, SHOD, SRAS, STAT, STYE, TDS, USIA, YAWN, “VIVE le roi!”, ZSA.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 5. *Black cat, supposedly; 9. *Place for a roast); 13. ___ sci (coll. major); 14. Shortstop Jeter; 16. The Flintstones’ pet; 19. *Tied; 24. *Times to call, in ads; 25. Grid states; 30. *Storm centers; 33. Fend off; 34. ___ Lingus; 35. Place for a nail; 38. When doubled, a Gabor; 39. One protected by a collie, maybe; 40. Like golf course greens; 41. *Does some batiking; 44. Melted chocolate, e.g.; 46. *Poor grades; 51. Dairy Queen orders; 58. Plugging away; 59. Tab picker-upper; 60. “Public diplomacy” broadcast org. until 1999. — DOWN: 1. Horrify: Var.; 3. “___ Dream” (“Lohengrin” aria); 5. Greek theaters of old; 6. Fast-disappearing airline amenities; 7. Gaelic tongue; 8. “The Matrix” hero; 9. Black Sea port; 11. Hydrocarbon suffixes; 12. Rouen refusals; 18. Like plow horses; 22. Sealy competitor; 24. Manicurist’s board; 26. Give the slip to; 27. Unlikely to hustle; 28. Brooklynese pronoun; 29. Mmes., across the Pyrenees; 30. Sport with lunges; 31. Act that’s “contagious”; 32. Drink holder; 36. Key; 43. Horace and Sappho; 44. Kiddie’s racer; 45. Homes for squirrels; 48. Dentist’s directive; 49. Ephesus’ region; 50. Tacitly acknowledge; 51. A.S.A.P., in the E.R.; 52. “Our Gang” pooch; 53. Princess played by Carrie Fisher; 54. Ophthalmic swelling; 57. Back muscle, for short.

01.17.11 — Martin Luther King Day

January 17, 2011 — Martin Luther King Day

Puzzle by Elizabeth C. Gorski, edited by Will Shortz

MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY contained within the four entries of MARTIN SHORT (17A. “S.N.L.” alum who co-starred in “Three Amigos!”), LUTHER VANDROSS (26A. His “Dance With My Father” won the 2003 Grammy for Song of the Year), KING TUT EXHIBIT (41A. Traveling show of the 1970s and 2000s that originated in Cairo) and DAY DREAMERS (54A. They’re in la-la-land) constitutes the interrelated group of this fine Martin Luther King Day crossword.

Other — ANNO DOMINI (10D. Latin words before a year), BIRD FOOD (20A. Cheep eats?), EAR MUFFS (49A. Winter headgear), HOT DATES (4D. Sexy movie companions, maybe), STOOD IN (39D. Substituted (for)), SUBSUMED (37D. Embodied), TETRADS (9D. Groups of four), UNION CARDS (27D. Things in the wallets of many laborers).

Mid-size — ACE OF spades, COOTS, DISMAL, DUNNE (40A. Actress Irene), FIFTHS, GIANT, GO SOUR, GUARD, IN INK, LEMON, LUIGI, NINAS (61A. Names hidden in Hirschfeld sketches), ON TOE, PRADO, RELAX, ROOMY, SCANT, TUNES, Sibelius’s “VALSE Triste“, X MARKS.

Short stuff — ACAI (2D. Berry touted as a superfood), ALIS, ANI, From A TO Z, ATTU, AWE, DAMS, EBAY, EDNA, EGO, ENTS, FEMA, FROM, GALA, GOD, “For HE’S a jolly good fellow“, HIRE, IN HD (6D. How many TV shows are now shown), LAMB, LATH, MCA, MISS Piggy, NOB and NOR, NOTE, NRA, ODD and ORR, “Now is the winter of OUR discontent …”, POOH, RIIS, ROUT, RUDE, SAME, SIAM, SONS, SSNS, TERR, TREK, UNIX, WORM, YIN.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Plaster backing; 5. Bigger than big; 10. Wonderment; 13. ___ spades (highest card in a deck); 15. Fully extended, as a ballerina; 16. San Francisco’s ___ Hill; 19. Gun enthusiast’s org.; 21. Spacious; 23. Westernmost of the Aleutians; 24. One of two on a basketball team; 31. Songs; 32. Boxers Muhammad and Laila; 33. Record co. that bought Motown in 1988; 34. Social reformer Jacob; 35. Take it easy; 37. Thailand, once; 38. Sense of self; 39. Heirs, but not heiresses; 45. Old geezers; 47. Madrid museum; 57. Like 1, 3, 5, 7, etc.; 58. Permanently, as writing; 59. Fruit that makes you pucker; 62. Beaver constructions. — DOWN: 1. Baby sheep; 3. Guam or the U.S. Virgin Isls.; 5. Spoil, as milk; 8. Neither’s partner; 11. Fish bait; 12. Cyberauction site; 14. Bottles of liquor; 18. Post-it, e.g.; 22. Canadian-born hockey great; 24. Grand party; 25. Computer operating system developed at Bell Labs; 26. Mario’s video game brother; 29. Barely sufficient; 30. Identical; 31. Voyage with Captain Kirk; 35. Easy win; 36. Tolkien’s tree beings; 37. Embodied; 40. Gloomy; 42. Odin or Osiris; 43. Pirate map features; 47. Winnie-the-___; 48. Disrespectful; 49. ___ St. Vincent Millay; 50. Disaster relief org.; 51. Partner of “to” on a gift tag; 52. Nine-digit govt. Ids; 55. “Gimme ___!” (start of a cheer at Iowa); 56. Yang’s go-with.

Is It Soup Yet?

Edible Letters by Thien Gretchen

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National Soup 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 January, the title of this seasoned crossword is “National Soup Month” featuring thirty-something clues containing “soup“.

Across — 1. Matzo BALL soup; 5. PIG stomach soup (Chinese dish); 8. Johnny Cash’s “Praise the Lord and PASS the Soup”; 14. Soup can flaw, DENT; 15. CLAM chowder (hearty soup); 16. Like pea-soup fog, DENSE; 19. EGG drop soup; 20. “There’s a Chef in My Soup” author Emeril LAGASSE; 24. Soup SETS (matching tureens, crocks, etc.); 25. Super serves, ACES; 27. Flavor in Warhol’s “Campbell’s Soup Can”, TOMATO; 30. Yegg’s “soup”, NITRO; 34. Soup BONE (pitcher’s arm, slangily); 35. Cabbage Soup Diet adherer’s loss: Abbr., LBS; 38. Bird’s-NEST soup; 39. Soup and SALAD (light lunch); 43. “IS IT soup yet?”; 48. Potato and LEEK soup; 52. Peter who starred in “There’s a Girl in My Soup”, SELLERS; 56. MUD soup (concoction with black beans); 68. SHE-crab soup.

Down — 5. Elizabeth of “Tortilla Soup”, PENA; 7. Often-souped-up Pontiac muscle cars, GTO; 10. Comic Soupy SALES; 24. Soup cracker, SALTINE; 26. COLLEGE Inn (soup brand); 28. Beasts whose tails make hearty soup, OXEN; 29. Japanese soup, MISO; 32. Rocker Nugent with the song “Venom Soup”, TED; 34. Leftovers used to make soup, e.g., BASE; 36. Navy BEAN soup; 41. Pepper POT (hearty soup); 48. Soup server, LADLE; 49. “Stone Soup” cartoonist Jan ELIOT; 50. “Goat’s HEAD Soup” (Rolling Stones album); 51. MOCK turtle soup; 55. Soup LINE (place to wait for a free meal); 56. MARX Brothers (“Duck Soup” crew); 63. Stooge with a soup bowl haircut, MOE.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

01.16.11 — The Tipping Point — the Acrostic

Lion Yawn © Francois6 Dreamstime.com 

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Sunday, January 16, 2011

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

This Sunday’s challenging acrostic draws a quotation from The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell.

Gladwell defines a tipping point as "the moment of critical mass, the threshold, the boiling point." The book seeks to explain and describe the "mysterious" sociological changes that mark everyday life. As Gladwell states, "Ideas and products and messages and behaviors spread like viruses do." ~ Wikipedia

The quotation: YAWNING IS INCREDIBLY CONTAGIOUS I MADE SOME OF YOU READING THIS YAWN SIMPLY BY WRITING THE WORD YAWN THE PEOPLE WHO YAWNED WHEN THEY SAW YOU YAWN WERE INFECTED BY THE SIGHT OF YOU YAWNING A SECOND KIND OF CONTAGION

With the edited quote's punctuation: Yawning is incredibly contagious. I made some of you reading this yawn simply by writing the word "yawn." The people who yawned when they saw you yawn... were infected by the sight of you yawning --... a second kind of contagion.

The author’s name and the title of the work: GLADWELL THE TIPPING POINT

A. Protagonist in H. G. Wells’s “The Invisible Man”, GRIFFIN
B. Article drawn by Robin Hood, LONGBOW
C. Protection from prosecution, AMNESTY
D. Routine; for the nonce (hyph.), DAY-TO-DAY
E. Host for certain worms or viruses, WINDOWS
F. Iron Age dweller in what is now Jordan, EDOMITE
G. “Same here”, LIKEWISE
H. Ally McBeal, by trade, LAWYER
I. Snooze-inducing, TEDIOUS
J. Lulu, doozy, crackerjack, HUMDINGER
K. Person who’s superficially attractive (2 wds.), EYE CANDY
L. Like many bushes and problems, THORNY
M. Region once controlled by France, INDOCHINA
N. Mythical beauty persecuted by Venus, PSYCHE
O. Small coin formerly used in Louisiana, PICAYUNE
P. Sport that may involve an auger (2 wds.), ICE FISHING
Q. Fit to print or pass along, NEWSWORTHY
R. Measures of storage capacity, GIGABYTES
S. Noisy ceremony with feasting and costumed dancing, POWWOW
T. Process of development for an individual, ONTOGENY
U. Large-scale data-delivery medium, INFOBAHN
V. Prime minister who attended M.I.T. and Harvard, NETANYAHU
W. Coming and going (hyph.) TWO-WAY

The full paragraph of the quotation: Yawning is incredibly contagious. I made some of you reading this yawn simply by writing the word “yawn.” The people who yawned when they saw you yawn, meanwhile, were infected by the sight of you yawning—which is a second kind of contagion. They might even have yawned if they only heard you yawn, because yawning is also aurally contagious: if you play an audiotape of a yawn to blind people, they’ll yawn too. And finally, if you yawned as you read this, did the thought cross your mind—however unconsciously and fleetingly—that you might be tired? I suspect that for some of you it did, which means that yawns can also be emotionally contagious. Simply by writing the word, I can plant a feeling in your mind. Can the flu virus do that? Contagiousness, in other words, is an unexpected property of all kinds of things, and we have to remember that, if we are to recognize and diagnose epidemic change.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

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01.16.11 — A River Puns Through It

The Yangtze River Passing Through the Wushan,

or "Magic Mountain", Gorge in Szechwan Province, photograph by Dmitri Kessel 

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Sunday, January 16, 2011

A RIVER PUNS THROUGH IT, Puzzle by Joon Pahk, edited by Will Shortz

Eight puns utilizing river names is the main feature of this Sunday crossword.

• MISSOURI LOVES COMPANY (23A. With 24-Across, why a Midwest river has so many tributaries?)
• YANGTZE DOODLE DANDY (35A. Fob who makes idle sketches of a Chinese river?)
• TOMORROW NEVA DIES (48A. “If you don’t meet my demands within 24 hours, I’ll blow up a Russian river”?)
• YALU JACKET (66A. Life vest worn on a Korean border river?)
• ODER EATERS (71A. Piranhas in a Germany border river?)
• YUKON GO HOME AGAIN (92A. Request to an Alaskan river to return to its headwaters?)
• THAMES FIGHTIN WORDS (100A. Aggressive posturing’ on an English river?)
• WE’RE ALL INDUS TOGETHER (120A. With 123-Across, what minor rivers of Pakistan say at their junctions?)

Other — ANTONIO, ASPIRANT, CHOU EN LAI (69D. With 47-Across, onetime Chinese premier), COMRADE (14D. Cold war term of address), DENIALS, HARRISON (20A. Popular Ford), HOGWARTS (86D. School whose motto is Latin for “Never tickle a sleeping dragon“), INTENT ON, KEYDETS (130A. V.M.I. athletes), NIGHT OWL, STELLAR, STUDIOUS, SUAVEST, WE MADE IT.

Mid-size — ACTED, AT SEA, CAROB, DAVIS, DEVILS, DIGS IN, DORIA, EDERLE (126A.Channel crosser Gertrude), EDITS, EXPAT, FOULED, “Buon GIORNO“, GOLGI apparatus (cell organelle), HERDS, INGOT, INSIDE, I RAIL, IRISES, ITALY, MACH I, MALTS, MILANO and MOLINE, NERTS, NOSHED and NOSHOW, OBLADI, OCHRE, ON CALL, OPIUM, OREGON, OSIER, REORG, RESIN, SCENT, SHEET, SIMMS, SKATED, SKOSH, SMALL, SNARF (30A. Devour, with “up” or “down”), more commonly SCARF, SO TOO, TOADY (34D. Lickspittle), UNION, VESTRY, YOWIE.

Short stuff — ACEY and ACHE, ADA, ADDS, AGE, ARAP and TRAP, ARCH, BEE, BRYN Mawr, CREW, DAAE, DASH, DRI, EDY, ENO, ETA, EWER, EXEC, FARR, GLOB, GOAD, GULL, HEN, IDS, IONE, IPSE dixit, IRON, JAR, KIRK, LEV and NEV, LILI, LOO (97A. Can of Cornwall?), META, MISS, MOET, NAME, NERO, NLRS, NOHO, NOOK, OENO, OGLE and ORLE, OMOO, REA, RELO, RIAS, SAM, SCAT, “SEZ you!”, SIRE, SIT A spell, SODA, STOL, STUD, SWIM, TERA, TNT, TORI, URAL, WEAR, YIPE.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Most debonair; 8. Cookie with a geographical name; 14. Chocolate substitute; 19. More than just leaning toward; 21. The Ducks of the N.C.A.A.; 22. Basketmaking material; 26. Big name in bubbly; 27. Attacks dinner; 32. She’s prone to brooding; 33. Exemplary; 42. They’re checked at check-in; 45. Move, in Realtor-ese; 46. Literary title character from the Planet Antiterra; 55. Corner; 56. Not give ___; 57. Start of a Beatles refrain; 58. Pained expression?; 60. Aunt of 1960s TV; 61. “I Shot Andy Warhol” actress Taylor; 62. Fail to notice; 64. Old-timey oath; 76. Speed of sound; 79. One often going by limo; 80. “American Beauty” director Mendes; 83. Corporate shuffling, for short; 85. Stand-up guy?; 90. Workers; 95. Played one’s part; 98. Provoke; 99. Atlanta-based cable inits.; 107. The merchant of Venice; 108. Stephen of “The End of the Affair”; 109. Tad; 113. Bookish; 119. Dull discomfort; 125. Train track beam; 127. Connected, as circuit elements; 128. Fountain orders; 129. Team whose home ice is the Prudential Center. — DOWN: 1. N.F. L. commentator Phil; 2. Labor party?; 3. Adrift, say; 4. Priests’ changing room; 5. U2 collaborator on “Passengers: Original Soundtracks 1”; 6. Hold ’em alternative; 7. Tubes, e.g.; 8. Illinois home of Black Hawk College; 9. With 11-Down, prehistoric period; 10. “My Name is Asher ___”; 11. See 9-Down; 12. Snacked; 13. Reachable by pager; 15. Hopeful; 16. Narrow inlets; 17. Sommelier’s prefix; 20. One who doesn’t retire early; 25. Shield border, in heraldry; 31. Jamie of “M*A*S*H”; 33. Pop; 36. Last Julio-Claudian emperor; 37. Semiliquid lump; 38. California governor who was recalled in 2003; 39. Workers’ rights org.; 40. Christine ___, “The Phantom of the Opera” heroine; 41. “Wow!”; 42. 2006 World Cup champion; 43. Andrea ___, famous shipwreck; 44. Minute; 49. “Confessions of an English ___-Eater”; 50. Pinpoint, say; 51. Works on copy; 52. Actress Skye; 53. It has a big mouth; 54. Father, as a mudder; 59. H as in Hera; 63. “I thought ___!” (“My feeling exactly!”); 65. “Shrek!” author William; 67. Unsettle; 68. ___-deucy; 70. 2009 sci-fi fole for Chris Pine; 72. - ; 73. Hemingway, once; 74. Fly catcher; 75. Whiff; 78. Expensive bar; 80. Silly singing; 81. Main; 82. Prefix with carpal; 87. “Typee” sequel; 88. Rock, in modern lingo; 91. Cry of accomplishment; 93. Neighborhood west of the Bowery; 94. Kicks in; 96. Stonewallers’ statements; 101. Acronym for a small-runway aircraft; 102. Sent to the free-time throw line; 103. Like some jokes and jobs; 104. Van Gogh painting that sold for a record $53.9 million in 1987; 105. Prefix with con; 106. Cut a fine figure?; 110. Earth shade; 111. 0.2% of a ream; 112. Tends, as sheep; 113. 1960s dance, with “the”; 114. Trillion: Prefix; 115. Risk territory east of Ukraine; 116. Rook; 117. Cozy corner; 118. Look badly?; 121. The Silver State: Abbr.; 122. Soft & ___; 124. Ice cream mogul Joseph.