07.23.11 — A Dish Best Served Cold

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Puzzle by Tom Heilman / Edited by Will Shortz

A majority of the clues of this Saturday crossword feature double meanings, verb/nouns, obscurities and vague generalities, coupled with more than a few mystery answers, making for a very cold soup.

Across — 1. It’s a blast for some balloonists, JET STREAM; 10. “This is a disaster!”, OH GOD; 15. Asian symbols of wisdom, ELEPHANTS; 16. Like longship sailors, NORSE; 17. A dodger might cook one, TAX RETURN; 18. Begin some revising, ERASE; 19. Maker of life-and-death decisions, briefly, EMT; 20. Provider of a hot spot at a coffee shop?, WIFI; 21. Responded to wisely, SASSED; 22. Alexander’s need, GIN; 23. They may be shared during a show, ARM RESTS; 25. Prohibition, EMBARGO; 29. Offices may require them, OATHS; 30. Town council president, in Canada, REEVE; 31. Big mystery during the summer of 1980, WHO SHOT JR; 35. Dish component, SIDE; 36. Bent to do nothing, SLOTH; 37. String shortened, CAPO; 38. Become known, TRANSPIRE; 40. “Friendly” things, in old ads, SKIES; 41. Composition of many sports courts, ZONES; 42. “A dish best served cold”, REVENGE; 43. A dish best served cold, GAZPACHO; 47. Waterloo marshal, NEY; 48. N.H.L. team and former N.F.L. team, OILERS; 49. Casino action, ROLL; 51. Pec pic, perhaps, TAT; 54. Courier alternative, ARIAL; 55. Bit of décor at Trader Vic’s, TIKI TORCH; 57. Change around the Thames, PENCE; 58. What a ham may use, MORSE CODE; 59. Double-EDGED; 60. Hypnotized, IN A TRANCE.

Down — 1. “Grand” or “petit” dance move, JETÉ; 2. Ancient rival of Assyria, ELAM; 3. Cell composition, TEXT; 4. Silver SPR, Md. (Wash. suburb); 5. It was Obama’s self-professed favorite TV series, THE WIRE; 6. Place on a scale, RATING; 7. Sufficient, informally, ENUF; 8. Two of hearts?, ATRIA; 9. MSN Explorer (Web browser); 10. Here, ON EARTH; 11. Baloney, HORSE HOCKEY; 12. Yard stick?, GRASS STAIN; 13. Native of the central Caucasus, OSSET; 14. What thoughts may become, DEEDS; 21. Ruin … or great success, SMASH; 22. Plagued, GAVE NO PEACE; 24. Pig, at times, ROOTER; 25. Previously archaic?, ERST; 26. She resigned after the Yom Kippur War, MEIR; 27. Much too bright, BEDAZZLING; 28. Giving a hoot?, OWLISH; 32. Biblical mount where Aaron died, HOR; 33. PC image acronym, JPEG; 34. Beau’s buy, ROSE; 36. Design info, SPECS; 39. Like many a fishing line, SNARLED; 40. Relatively sylphlike, SVELTER; 43. Get on base?, ENLIST; 44. Come unglued, GO APE; 45. Hit the waves?, AIRED; 46. Giant in astronomy, ORION; 50. Soup thickener, OKRA; 51. 1982 high-tech film, TRON; 52. Plug possibilities, ACDC; 53. What you used to be?, THEE; 55. “That’s more than I wanted to know,” in brief, TMI; 56. Andean vegetable, OCA.

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07.22.11 — Small Fry Day

W. W. Denslow's depiction of Munchkins,

from the first edition of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

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Friday, July 22, 2011

Puzzle by Todd McClary / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. California river, county or mountain, SHASTA; 7. Vegas Strip hotel, MGM GRAND; 15. Spirits, LIQUOR; 16. Redolent, AROMATIC; 17. “Well, perhaps …”; I GUESS; 18. Business card info, JOB TITLE; 19. Waste of an election?, CHADS; 20. Cuts (down), MOWS; 21. Persuade, SELL; 22. “Look!,” in Latin, ECCE; 23. Manipulate data, SORT; 24. Championship game, FINAL; 25. AHA moment; 26. Peewee, MUNCHKIN; 28. 2003 movie involving Christmas Eve robberies, BAD SANTA; 30. Come back again, RE-ECHO; 34. Depend upon, as a decision, LIE WITH; 35. It’s signaled with a white flag, LAST LAP; 36. Counterfeit, ERSATZ; 37. Peewee, PINT SIZE; 38. Co-writer of Michael Jackson’s posthumous hit “This Is It”, PAUL ANKA; 40. Pizza option, PAN; 41. “Your Precious Love” duet singer Terrell, TAMMI; 44. Charge, ONUS; 45. What you might be rushed to get out of?, DORM; 46. Concerning, IN RE; 47. Colon, e.g., DOTS; 48. LYNDA Bird, daughter of L.B.J.; 49. Natural, LIFE-LIKE; 51. Office attachment, POST IT; 52. It often includes a colon, EMOTICON; 53. Select as a successor, ANOINT; 54. R-rated element, SEX SCENE; 55. Card table error, RENEGE.

Down — 1. Like deli meats, SLICEABLE; 2. Small diner location?, HIGH CHAIR; 3. Pool exhibitions, AQUACADES; 4. It’s blue in an old song, SUEDE; 5. Trash, TOSS; 6. “ARS Grammatica” (classic work on Latin); 7. Island where Rafael Nadal was born, MAJORCA; 8. Development, GROWTH; 9. Packs, MOBS; 10. Setting for BBC reports, in brief, GMT; 11. Movie box set?, RAISINETS; 12. “Tuesday AT TEN” (Count Basie tune); 13. Nabisco brand, NILLA; 14. Big battery type, D CELL; 20. The “1” in ½, e.g.; MONTH; 23. He wrote “All war is deception”, SUN TZU; 24. FIESTA Bowl; 26. Umbrella holder, perhaps, MAI TAI; 27. Family in John Grisham’s “Skipping Christmas”, KRANKS; 29. Bargain hunters’ events, SWAP MEETS; 31. Hassle-free fashion item, CLIP-ON TIE; 32. Gambling, HAZARDING; 33. Filming process for multiple aspect ratios, OPEN MATTE; 37. Procter & Gamble hair-care line, PANTENE; 39. Watch, LOOK ON; 41. Patio pieces, TILES; 42. Style on Japanese screens, ANIME; 43. “Fantastic” figure of children’s lit, MR FOX; 45. James who invented the Dual Cyclone vacuum cleaner, DYSON; 47. Gambling aids, DICE; 48. Single, LONE; 50. D.M.V. issue, LIC; 51. Course objective, PAR.

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07.21.11 — Say Cheese!

Stinky Cheese

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Thursday, July 21, 2011

Puzzle by Michael Sharp / Edited by Will Shortz

Word of the Day: LIMBURGER (47D. One trying to shake a leg, for instance)

Limburger is a cheese that originated in the historical Duchy of Limburg, which is now divided among modern-day Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. The cheese, which is especially known for its pungent odor, was first made in the 19th century. In its first month, the cheese is more firm and crumbly, similar to the texture of feta cheese. After about six weeks, the cheese becomes softer along the edges but is still firm on the inside and can be described as salty and chalky. After two months of its life, it is mostly creamy and much smoother. Once it reaches three months, the cheese produces its notorious smell because the bacterium used to ferment Limburger cheese and many other smear-ripened cheeses[2] is Brevibacterium linens, the same one found on human skin that is partially responsible for body odor. (Wikipedia)

Ouch!, deadly puns with SLICED CHEESE (36A. With 38-Across, deli purchase … or a description of the answer to 17-, 26-, 47- or 55-Across) the result of parsing GORGONZOLA, PROVOLONE, LIMBURGER and MASCARPONE into multi-word phrases and assigning looney question-marked clues, constitutes the interrelated group of this pungent Thursday crossword.

GORGON ZOLA (17A. French writer with snaky hair and a petrifying gaze?)

PRO VOL. ONE (26A. In favor of the first book?: Abbr.)

LIMB URGER (47D. One trying to shake a leg, for instance?)

MA’S CAR PONE (55D. Mom’s special road-trip corn bread?)

I’m a bit distanced from the menu of this crossword as I go no further in cheese than a sharp cheddar! The remaining content of the puzzle provides mixed relief — BEEFS UP (41D. Fortifies), CATBIRDS (37D. Mewing passerines), CORPSE (46D. Zombie, essentially), FOOTRUB (7D. Service that requires no shoes), GET OUT (31D. “Beat it!“), HONCHO (22D. Bigwig), OPULENT (29A. Rich), STEEL TOE (10D. Common work boot feature), TOPLESS (44A. Like some bars and beaches).

Mid-size — BIEBER (65A. “Baby“ singer Justin), with 588,499,519 views on YouTube, HERE, INCITE, JASPER (1A. Traditional March birthstone), much more traditional are aquamarine, bloodstone, jade and/or opal, OPIATE (14A. What might be a knockout?), PAGERS, PREMED, RHEBOK (21A. Antelope of southern Africa), ROSTER, STARVE (9D. Make fast).

Five-letter — AB OVO, ATEAT, COROT (32A. “The Bridge at Narni“ artist), DANKE, EENIE, END IT, ETONS, EXULT, FIBER One, GLOBE, INNER, LEROI, LIE TO, LORAX, MCGEE, OSAKA, OSRIC, RECUR, TELEX, TURBO, UNION, VEERS and VERSA, ZIPPO (18D. Nada).

Short stuff — ALG, “What a good boy AM I!”, APO, BARB (53D. Sharp put-down), CAL, CUKE, CVS, DIP, EMU, ENGR, ERIN, ERR, EXES, FGS, GAL, JOG, NEE, OAT, OLD and OLE, ORES, OTB, REND, RUN, SIR, STD, TEED, TUNA salad.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 7. Three-pointers: Abbr.; 10. Hoop alternative; 15. Meal preceder?; 19. Sportscaster Andrews; 20. Dissolve a relationship; 23. Swerves; 28. Joint custody parties; 30. A to Z, e.g.; 31. Unisphere, e.g.; 39. Troubled; 40. From the start; 43. Food label abbr.; 46. Green gourd, informally; 50. Seuss character who “Speaks for the trees”; 51. Provoke; 54. Mech. Whiz; 60. Put out, with “off”; 61. Australian sprinter; 62. It’s developed during training season; 63. Bried treasures; 64. Swim. — DOWN: 1. Nudge; 2. Receiver of private letters?: Abbr.; 3. ___ Barton, first Triple Crown winner, 1919; 4. Obsolescent communication devices; 5. Short jackets; 6. Tear; 8. Hoedown participant; 11. Engine type; 12. Marriage; 13. Comment preceding “Gern eschewed”; 22. Bigwig; 23. Compact Nissan model; 24. Rejoice; 25. Start of a children’s rhyme; 27. 29-Down, down south; 29. See 27-Down; 33. Come to mind again; 34. City of 2 ½+ million at the mouth of the Yodo River; 35. Fax predecessor; 38. Walgreens competitor; 40. N. African land; 41. Fortifies; 42. Courtier who invites Hamlet to fence with Laertes; 45. Common undergrad course of study; 47. Deceive; 48. Hidden; 49. 1985 N.L. M.V.P. Willie; 50. “Vive” follower; 57. Pony players’ parlor: Abbr.; 58. Formerly, name-wise; 59. Drop the ball.

07.20.11 — Royal Flush

Royal Flush by Eric Yang

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Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Puzzle by Peter A. Collins / Edited by Will Shortz

A note accompanies this winning Wednesday crossword: “When this puzzle is done, you will find that the ends of the answers to the five starred clues, when in the 15-/67-Across, comprise a 1-/71-Across.”   The result is a ROYAL / FLUSH (1A and 71A. [See blurb]), with the ten, jack, queen, king and ace contained within BIG TEN (20A. *Midwest conference), FLAPJACK (22A. * Pancake), THE AFRICAN QUEEN (39A. *1951 Bogart-Hepburn film), ALAN KING (56A. *Billy Crystal’s “Memories of Me” co-star) and AIR ACE (59A. *Shooting star?), and, of course, all in the SAME / SUIT (15A and 67A. [See blurb]).

Other — ADELPHI (25A. Long Island university), ASHANTI (50A. One-named female singer with the 2002 #1 hit “Foolish”), BANK IN, HAJJIS, HISS AT, ORGANISMS (33A. Creatures), SIGOURNEY (44A. Weaver of tales on the big screen), SERAPH, THIRST.

Five-letter — ACNES, ANOUK (51D. Actress Aimée of “La Dolce Vita”), ARENA, BANTU, BB GUN, DESIS, “Kill ‘EM ALL“ (Metallica‘s triple-platinum debut album), GAFFE, LEASH, NADIR, NORIA (40D. Waterwheel), OATES, ORBIT, RABBI, SENNA, SENNA (65A. Medicinal shrub), YEGGS (3D. Safecrackers).

Short stuff — ACTI, AGEE and AGES, AFAR and AJAR, ANTI, “… some kind of A NUT?”, AREA and ARMA, ASA and ASK, BAA and BAL, EGO, ERIN, GERM, HAIR, IER, IMAC, INF, “It IS OF no concern“, “IT’S not my fault“, JEAN, JUNK, Lovers’ LANE, LUCE, MCI, MTS, OTIC, PHI, QUI, RANK, “Keep it REAL“, REIN, RHEO, ROAM, SAME, SEEN, SUIT, TKOS, TONY, URN.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 6. Grows old; 10. “Easy to Be Hard” musical; 14. Boxing locale; 16. First word of the “Aeneid”; 17. Requested gift in “A Christmas Story”; 18. From a distance; 19. Shepherd who co-wrote “A Christmas Story”; 27. Wait; 29. Show disdain for, in a way; 38. A star may have a big one; 44. Suffix with front; 45. Warfare; 49. Limerick’s land; 53. French dance, 62. Kind of mail; 63. Wander; 66. When the nude scene occurs in 10-Across; 68. Hall’s partner in pop music; 69. Dancer’s strap?; 70. Ring results, briefly. — DOWN: 1. One of three people walking into a bar, in jokes; 2. Go around; 6. Simile’s center; 7. Faux pas; 9. One of the highest order of angels; 10. Pilgrims to Mecca; 11. Domain; 12. Computer that once came in Bondi Blue; 13. Captain, for one; 21. Low point; 23. Greek symbol for the golden ratio; 46. Lucy’s husband and son; 27. Sheep’s sound; 28. Like Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8; 30. Spotted; 31. James who co-wrote the script for 39-Across; 32. Playwright’s prize; 33. Ear-related; 34. Prefix with -stat; 35. It might make you sick; 36. Former telecom giant; 37. Bob of “Full House”; 41. “___ transtulit sustinet” (motto of Connecticut); 42. Coffee container; 46. Shoot off the backboard successfully; 47. Pop a question; 52. Mystery writer Marsh; 53. Zulu, e.g.; 54. Dermatologists’ concerns; 55. Dog restraint; 56. Cracked; 57. Time found Henry; 58. Opposed to; 64. Peaks: Abbr.

07.19.11 — K

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Puzzle by Mark Feldman / Edited by Will Shortz

LADY OF THE KNIGHT (17A. Guinevere to Lancelot?), KNIT PICKER (26A. Shopper for woolen goods?), KNICK NAMES (44A. Ewing, DeBusschere and Frazier?) and KNOT FOR EVERYONE (59A. Universal tie?) are the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword.

Other — AGNOSTIC (14A. One who‘s not sure what‘s up?), DIETARY (24A. Like some restrictions), HAS BEENS (32A. “Whatever happened to …?” subjects), HAITIAN, LEVERAGE, RUCTION (46A. Noisy fight), SEDATED, STAR TREK (41A. Sci-fi blockbuster of 2009).

Mid-size — ALLIN, APEMEN, ASIANS, BOSNS (33D. Petty officers, informally), CLOGS, CLOVES, COMET, DESERT, EAGLET (63A. Not-so-big big bird), ELIOT, ENDEAR, ETHER, INFER, ISSUE, JENNER, KHAKI, MAGMA, NETTY, NITRIC, OLDIE, PENCE, RAKED, RELATE, RETOSS, TITLE, ULNAE, UPSET.

Short stuff — AGAR, ARK, ATF, CHA, EDAM, EGO, ELIA, EROS, EVE, FEED, GEL, GOAT, HALE, INDO, INGE, IRS, ISO, “IT’S A girl!”, JAR, KRIS, LAS Palmas, NEST, NINE (36D. Cost in dollars of the world‘s first TV ad in 1941), OTT, PIS, RAN, RED, SESS, TGIF, TOUR, TOYS, TYRA, UPI.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Port-au-Prince native; 8. Tarzan and others; 16. Associate; 19. Greek god with a bow and arrow; 20. Competed in a marathon; 21. Cleanser with the old slogan “Nothing can hold a can to …”; 22. News org.; 31. Flip again, as a coin; 38. Give out; 39. Peanut butter container; 40. Blast from the past; 43. Afghans, e.g.; 52. One way to go when playing poker; 53. Pride; 55. End-of-week cry; 64. Power to influence people or things; 65. Abandon; 66. Out, but not about. — DOWN: 1. Fit; 2. Food thickener; 3. Chinese leader?; 4. Mr. Potato Head and G.I. Joe; 5. Prefix with -meric or -metric; 6. Arm of the Justice Dept.; 7. Kind of acid; 8. Couples retreat?; 9. Pound parts; 10. Writer T.S.; 11. Molten rock; 12. Old anesthetic; 13. Meshlike; 15. When said three times, a dance; 18. Win over; 232. 16^th seed’s bracket win, e.g.; 23. Greek letters; 25. Org. whose Web site has a “Where My Refund?”; 26. One of the angels on “Charlie’s Angels”; 27. Cozy home; 29. See the sights; 30. Uniform shade; 33. Petty officers, informally; 34. Director Kazan; 35. Dutch cheese; 37. Congressional period: Abbr.; 39. Bruce who won the 1976 Olympic decathlon; 42. ___ Pictures (old studio); 43. Rap sheet abbr.; 45. Garlic units; 46. Gathered (in); 47. They parallel radii; 48. Thick-soled shoes; 49. Sir or madam; 50. Figure out (from); 54. Many a drain cleaner nowadays; 55. Banks of daytime TV; 56. Farm animal with horns; 57. “Bus Stop” playwright; 58. Graze (on); 60. Giant Mel; 61. Holiday prelude; 62. Bloodshot.

07.18.11 — CCs

Monday, July 18, 2011

Puzzle by Kevin Donovan / Edited by Will Shortz

FIVE CCS (25D. Small amount of blood serum … or a title for this puzzle), COTTON CLUB (17A. Legendary 1920s-30s Harlem nightspot), CAPE COD (39A. Popular Massachusetts vacation area), COCO CHANEL (61A. Pioneering French designer with her own fragrance), CHEVY CHASE (11D. Comic actor who shares a name wit a Washington suburb) and CARSON CITY (29D. Capital of Nevada) constitute the interrelated group of this fine Monday crossword.

Other — ALKALI (48D. Soluble salt mixture), ASTRAL (50A. Kind of plane or projection), BRITISH, DERIVES, ENSURE, ESKIMO, GASBAG (42A. One who talks, talks, talks), LAUDED, MANORS, MOBILES (10D. Items hanging in cribs), OBTUSE (4D. Slow to catch on), PASHAS (37A. Old Turkish pooh-bahs), REMADE, SCAMPI, STRAFE, SUCTION (53A. Modus operandi of a toilet plunger).

Five-letter — ASPEN, A STEP in the right direction, CAMEO (32D. Traditional Hitchcock appearance in a Hitchcock film), GABLE (5A. Clark of “Gone With the Wind”), GONER (5D. Dead duck), MECCA, O’NEAL (15A. Ryan of “Love Story”), PANGS, RECAP, STORM, TRA LA, U-BOAT.

Short stuff — ABA, AEON, AIDE, ALII, AMP, ANC, ANTS, ARAB, ASAP, ASH, BAYH, BEDS, BEL Paese cheese, CAT, COST, COTE d’Ivoire, ELBE, ELY, INNS, INON, RON, LACE, LAG, LIMO, LOAD, MATS, MCAT, MCS, MEAN, NIP, NOR, OCTA, OLDS, OLE, OHIO, ORT, POT, PUCE, SAAB, SEE, SID, SLAV, TOSS, ULNA.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Promgoers’ car; 10. Exam for future docs; 14. The “A” of UA.E.; 16. Cincinnati’s place; 19. Hospital units; 20. Make certain; 21. Extracts (from); 23. Attach from above; 28. English cathedral town; 27. Dark purple; 30. Caesar of 1950s TV; 31. Birthplace of Muhammad; 34. Lawyers’ org.; 35. Croat or Serb; 38. Neither’s partner; 41. Concern stage item; 45. Envision; 46. What dark clouds may portend; 47. Show hosts, for short; 48. Long, long time; 49. Puppy’s bite; 56. Inuit; 60. Et ___ (and others); 64. Bugs in “A Bug’s Life”; 66. “That’s a ___ off my mind!”; 67. Evan or Birch of Indiana politics; 69. B&B’s. — DOWN: 1. Negligee material; 2. Fe, to scientists; 3. Cushions for tumblers; 6. Org. led by Mandela, once; 8. Sang the praises of; 9. German river to the North Sea; 12. Secretary, e.g.; 13. Fling; 18. Table scrap; 22. Like the film “Arthur” in 2011; 24. “And make it snappy!”; 27. Feelings of hunger; 28. W.W. II ship sinker; 33. Colorado town or tree; 35. Shrimp dish; 36. Fall behind; 37. One calling the kettle black; 40. Price; 43. Like the Union Jack; 47. Homes that may have circular drives; 51. Summary; 52. Baseball bat wood; 53. Swedish auto; 54. Wrist/elbow connector; 55. Eight: Prefix; 57. Closing ___ (surrounding); 58. Like a bully; 59. Cutlass of Super 88 of bygone autodom; 62. Mouse hunter; 63. Bullfight cheer.

07.17.11 — The Information — the Acrostic

Sunday, July 17, 2011

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Edited by Will Shortz

The Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood by James Gleick provides this Sunday acrostic’s quotation.

A review of the book in The New York Times by Geoffrey Nunberg published March 18, 2011 reads: The universe, the 18th-century mathematician and philosopher Jean Le Rond d’Alembert said, “would only be one fact and one great truth for whoever knew how to embrace it from a single point of view.” James Gleick has such a perspective, and signals it in the first word of the title of his new book, “The Information,” using the definite article we usually reserve for totalities like the universe, the ether — and the Internet. Information, he argues, is more than just the contents of our overflowing libraries and Web servers. It is “the blood and the fuel, the vital principle” of the world. Human consciousness, society, life on earth, the cosmos — it’s bits all the way down.  More HERE.

The quotation: A NOTORIOUS EXAMPLE OF A MEME THAT COULD NOT HAVE EMERGED IN PRE-INTERNET CULTURE WAS THE PHRASE JUMPED THE SHARK TO JUMP THE SHARK MEANS TO PASS A PEAK OF QUALITY OR POPULARITY AND BEGIN AN IRREVERSIBLE DECLINE.

The author’s name and the title of the work: JAMES GLEICK THE INFORMATION

The defined words:

A. Current affair taking place at a high level? (2 wds.), JET STREAM
B. The best archer ever, to Hindus, ARJUNA
C. “All the world’s a stage,” e.g., METAPHOR
D. Clinton project kept well-locked (2 wds.), ERIE CANAL
E. "The SELFISH Gene” (influential biology book)
F. Backers of Nader in 200, GREENS
G. In baseball, a “rope”, LINER
H. Division between a period and an age, EPOCH
I. The Dow or the Nikkei 225, INDEX
J. Game in which a “bisque” is an extra shot, CROQUET
K. River through the Cascade Range, KLAMATH
L. Cap intended to cover a tip, THIMBLE
M. Sitcom on which a tough greaser went water-skiing (2 wds.), HAPPY DAYS
N. Prune on the way to a fair copy (2 wds.), EDIT OUT
O. Apple debut of 2001, ITUNES
P. Jr. or III, NAMESAKE
O. It’s often wrapped in a napkin, FLATWARE
R. Height with a view; miss, OVERLOOK
S. Manhandle (2 wds.), ROUGH UP
T. Got engaged, MESHED
U. Without much of a heads-up, ABRUPT
V. Member of a Jutland tribe put down by Rome in 102 B.C., TEUTON
W. Share, as a piece of information, IMPART
X. In theory rather than in practice (2 wds.), ON PAPER
Y. Sudden and unwanted career trajectory, NOSEDIVE

The full paragraph of the quotation: A notorious example of a meme that could not have emerged in pre-Internet culture was the phrase “jumped the shark.” Loopy self-reference characterized every phase of its existence. To jump the shark means to pass a peak of quality or popularity and begin an irreversible decline. The phrase was thought to have been used first in 1985 by a college student named Sean J. Connolly, in reference to an episode of the television series “Happy Days” in which the character Fonzie (Henry Winkler), on water skies, jumps over a shark. The origin of the phrase requires a certain amount of explanation without which it could not have been initially understood. Perhaps for that reason, there is no recorded usage until 1997, when Connolly’s roommate, Jon Hein, registered the domain name jumptheshark.com and created a web site devoted to its promotion. The web site soon featured a list of frequently asked questions.

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07.17.11 — The End Is in Sight

Sunday, July 17, 2011

THE END IS IN SIGHT, Puzzle by Daniel A. Finan

Edited by Will Shortz

Seven familiar phrases that have a letter or letters within that make the same sound as the (missing) last word of the phrase constitutes the interrelated group of this crafty Sunday crossword.

• PLACES TO GO PEOPLE TO [see] (25A. Parting words from the busy type)
• THE PRINCESS AND THE [pea] (36A. Hans Christian Anderson story)
• WITH RELATIVE [ease] (53A. Hardly breaking a sweat)
• THE WHITES OF THEIR [eyes] (66A. End of a command at the Battle of Bunker Hill)
• BEST OF LUCK TO [you] (82A. “Godspeed!”)
• HEALTHY WEALTHY AND [wise] (93A. End of a Benjamin Franklin aphorism)
• WHERE THE WILD THINGS [are] (111A. 2009 fantasy film based on a best-selling book)

Other — ANHEUSER (87D. Big name in brewing), BELL PEPPER (3D. Vegetable on a vine), DITSIEST (103A. Most clueless), ON PATROL (4D. Cruising the beat), PEEP SHOW (86D. Something to watch when there‘s nothing on?), SHEPHERD (8D. Jesus, to Christians), SPEAKS UP (30A. Isn‘t shy with an opinion), TAP DANCERS (74D. Some clickers).

Mid-size — A MINOR, CAMACHO (38D. 1980s lightweight boxing champ), COOL IT, ET VOILA, FADES IN, GAL PAL, GHETTO, GINKGO (120A. Tree with fan-shaped leaves), HARVARD, HASKELL, IN A TREE (77A. Where K-I-S-S-I-N-G happens), JAGUAR (69A. Symbol of strength, to the Maya), KNOW HOW, KRAKEN (65A. Monster of Norse myth), LAKERS, MADRID, MOTOWN, NUNCIO (108A. Papal legate), OCTADS, OLD AGE, Hoi POLLOI, POPPED, SHARON, SHOCKER, “STAYIN Alive”, THE REF, TINGLE, San YSIDRO.

Five-letter — ADDLE, AGAIN, ALPHA, ANEST, ANNAN, ARPEL, ATEAR, ATPAR, BORAT, CHIEF, DALEY, ELIEL, ESSEN, FRISK, GASSY, HIPPO, HIRES, HOSTS, ISAAC (89A. Pianist Albéniz), JIBES, KAUAI, LAUER, “C’est LA VIE“, LIE IN, MARAT, NADIA, NORAD and NORAH, ODILE, OPALS, OWENS, POTOK, SEUSS, THAWS, “Cosi fan TUTTE”, TWEET, UTENN, WEBER.

Short stuff — AFR, AKIN, ALOU (12D. Jesús, for one), ARA, ASIA, BOIL, CAL (84. “Silent“ one), CLAY, DEMI, DOGS, DUET, DUH, EROO, ERR, ETE, FLU, GIPP, HAG, HINT, HUD, ION, “ Dies IRAE“, ITCH, IWIN, JAB, JUNG, Krazy KAT, KID, LETT, LOOK, MAE, MOAN, MWAH, NAT, NIB and NIL, OARS, ODA, OGLE, OHNO, ORYX, OSS, PIK, RAY, SAGO, SEP and SEX, SHOO, SLOG, SSR, STY, TAN and TAR, TELE, TENS, THA, TIDE, TINK, USA and USE, WEED, WERE, WMD, ZEN, ZETA.

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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: 1. Punch; 4. Birthstones whose name starts with the same letter as their month; 9. Senescence; 15. Puzzle; 20. Advantage; 21. “Chasing Pirates” singer Jones; 22. “Stop that!”; 23. Matt in the morning; 24. It means nothing; 28. Whom a guy might hang with when he’s not with the guys; 31. Area in a 1969 Elvis Presley hit; 32. “The Chosen” author Chaim; 34. Cabinet dept. since 1965; 35. Pottery base; 43. Kind of shot; 46. Critter with foot-long teeth; 47. Dipped sticks?; 48. Island known for having “the wettest spot on earth” (450+” of rain per year); 49. French Revolution figure; 51. Adrien of cosmetics; 52. Iraq war subj.; 55. Goldenrod, e.g.; 56. Article for Lil Wayne; 57. Eastern sect; 58. Appears gradually on the screen; 59. One of 15, once: Abbr.; 60. Major upset, say; 62. See 72-Across; 72. With 62-Across, Whoopi’s “Ghost” role; 73. Granter of an honorary degree to George Washington in 1776; 74. Farmer’s ___; 79. Hydroxide, e.g.; 80. C.I.A. forerunner; 81. Palm variety; 86. Water ___ (dental product company); 87. How some stock is purchased; 88. City on the Ruhr; 90. TV part; 91. Gymnast Comaneci; 92. Place with snorts; 96. Bring to a ___; 98. 9/; 99. Pacifist’s protest; 100. The Jackson 5’s first major label; 114. Goof; 115. Former U.N. leader Kofi; 116. Key of the “Odense” Symphony; 117. “Swan Lake” maiden; 118. Arm of a starfish; 119. Has over; 121. Grill brand; 122. Cause for a TV-MA rating. — DOWN: 1. Contemporary of Freud; 2.See 96-Down; 6. Coach Parseghian; 7. Varish resins; 9. Quarterfinal groups, e.g.; 10. “The way I see it …”; 11. See 15-Down; 13. Notre Dame football legend; 14. Time to enjoy le soleil; 15. With 11-Down, leaders; 16. Chicago may before Emanuel; 17. Number with two; 18. Riga resident; 19. Switch ending; 26. Creator of Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose; 27. Watch on the beach, maybe; 29. Like bubble gum and questions; 33. Skills; 35. Main; 36. Détentes; 37. Classic root beer brand; 39. Of the same sort; 40. D.C. baseball; 41. “Ya think?!”; 43. Give a body check; 45. Vols’ school; 49. Where Julio Iglesias was born; 50. Rampaging, after “on”; 53. Had been; 54. They moved from Minnesota to Los Angeles in 1960; 56. 1994 Denis Lear/Kevin Spacey flick; 57. Sorority letter; 60. Stone in Hollywood; 61. Word repeated in “I ___!” I ___!”; 62. Bellyache; 63. Home of the 46-Across: Abbr.; 64. “Ta-da!”; 67. “Buzz off!”; 68. Eddie on “Leave It to Beaver”; 69. Dovetails; 70. Emily Dickinson poem “For Every Bird ___”; 71. Bombastic; 75. Over; 76. Military group headquartered in Colo. Spgs.; 78. Architect Saarinen; 70. Hankering; 83. Today preceder; 90. Modern update; 93. Clue; 95. Little thrill; 96. 2006 comedy title character from western 2-Down; 97. Buck in the Country Music Hall of Fame; 100. [Kiss]; 101. “Yikes!”; 102. Perfect specimens; 103. Half: Prefix; 104. Cry after hitting a jackpot; 105. “Peter Pan” fairy, for short; 106. Struggle (through); 107. Surfer’s concern; 110. Serengeti antelope; 112. Witch; 113. Point of writing?

07.16.11 — Saturday Salmagundi

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Puzzle by Patrick Berry / Edited by Will Shortz

A salmagundi full of interesting content greets the solver of this slyly-clued Saturday crossword.

Across — 1. Mechanisms not meant to be handled, PEDALS; 7. I.B.M. processor type found in Nintendo’s Wii, POWER PC; 14. Cheap T-shirt feature, IRON-ON; 15. Fly on a line, PARASAIL; 16. Chinese tree considered a living fossil, GINKGO; 17. Sponsor of old radio’s “Little Orphan Annie”, OVALTINE; 18. Man-made habitat, SEALAB; 19. Possibly a result of, LINKED TO; 20. A, in the hexadecimal number system, TEN; 21. Coattail riders, HANGERS-ON; 22. One drawn to igloos, SLED; 24. Swinging, say, HINGED; 25. It’s shown to a caller, HOLE CARD; 27. Thus far, TO DATE; 32. Not working, ON LEAVE; 33. Big ox, BRUISER; 34. Its first issue featured Mia Farrow on the cover, PEOPLE; 35. Shakespeare’s collaborator on “The Two Noble Kinsmen”, FLETCHER; 36. One way to fall, IN LOVE; 38. TESS Ocean, Julia Roberts’s “Ocean’s Eleven” role; 39. Like some short-lived romances, SHIPBOARD; 43. Place to wash up, LAV; 44. Follower of St. Francis, MINORITE; 45. Recurring subjects, MOTIFS; 48. Some software purchases, UPGRADES; 49. His statue once graced the Cortile del Belvedere, APOLLO; 50. Unscientific means of getting results, SPOT TEST; 51. Literary character fathered by an incubus, MERLIN; 52. Uncomfortable place to be, HOT SEAT; 53. Bank statement data, ASSETS.

Down — 1. Litter producers, in two different senses, PIGS; 2. Ontario’s Fort ERIE; 3. Famous relief worker?, DONATELLO; 4. Like the water in inflatable kiddie pools, typically, ANKLE DEEP; 5. Wolverine’s alias in “X-Men”, LOGAN; 6. “He who meanly admires mean things,” per Thackeray, SNOB; 7. Covering a lot, PAVING; 8. Target of a mealybug, ORANGE TREE; 9. Clearly didn’t enjoy the show, WALKED OUT; 10. Dimethyl sulfate, for one, ESTER; 11. Busts, RAIDS; 12. Sporting a coat of many colors, PINTO; 13. Political rival of Pericles, CLEON; 15. Where Samuel Goldwyn was born, POLAND; 21. Engage, HIRE; 22. Class of tools?, SHOP; 23. Isolated, LONE; 24. Be completely clueless, HAVE NO IDEA; 26. Ensure an accurate reading of, CALIBRATE; 28. Their word is law, DICTATORS; 29. Home of the Biltmore Estate, ASHEVILLE; 30. Inexpensive pro shop buys, TEES; 31. Makes a bad call, ERRS; 33. Road map abbr., BLVD; 35. Green acres, FOREST; 37. Current, LATEST; 39. Flatten, SMUSH; 40. Gloria in “Madagascar,” e.g., HIPPO; 41. Product of a mold, INGOT; 42. Destinations for some wires, PORTS; 43. Leisurely gaits, LOPES; 45. “Baby MAMA” (2008 comedy); 46. Dart along, FLIT; 47. Pearl S. Buck’s sequel to “The Good Earth”, SONS.

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Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.