03.23.13 — Saturday in the Sonoran

 

Sonoran Desert in Arizona

 

————————

 

Saturday, March 23, 2013

 

Puzzle by David Steinberg / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. “Another Cinderella Story” co-star, 2008, SELENA GOMEZ; 12. Focus of middle management?, ABS; 15. Creator of the heroine Catherine Earnshaw, EMILY BRONTË; 16. It’s bisected by the Reuss River, URI; 17. City in the 42-Down Desert, MESA ARIZONA; 18. Caesar’s thing, RES; 19. N.Y.C. line to the Bronx, IRT; 20. Race space, LANE; 21. Name on a London hall, ALBERT; 23. Poseidon’s trident?, PSI; 24. Channel with the tagline “Story matters here”, AMC; 25. 10^th-century European king, OLAF I; 26. First name in gossip, RONA; 28. Like some issues, HOT BUTTON; 32. Like saved hockey shots, ON GOAL; 35. Gets along, DOES; 36. English Channel feeder, EXE; 37. Advice-disdaining sort, KNOW-IT-ALL; 40. Mismatched pair?, EMS; 43. Bearers of bright red arils, YEWS; 44. They’re shortsighted, MYOPES; 48. See, GO OUT WITH; 51. Neighbor of Eure-et-Loir, ORNE; 52. Broadway’s “Never GONNA Dance”; 53. Shogunate capital, EDO; 56. Stuff like that”, ETC; 57. One of reality TV’s “Gidettes”, SNOOKI; 59. Means of enforcing compliance, WRIT; 60. Asian winter celebration, APR; 62. Two-time Triple Crown winner, EDDIE ARCARO; 65. Operation Cyclone org., CIA; 66. Epitome of dedication, in modern usage, REAL TROOPER; 67. Either of two cousin Udalls: Abbr., SEN; 68. They’re suitable to be transplanted to another bed, SEED OYSTERS.

 

Down — 1. Not quite minor-league, SEMI-PRO; 2. “The American Scholar” speech giver, EMERSON; 3. TV Guide datum, LISTING; 4. She, in Rio, ELA; 5. Spiral-horned antelope, NYALA; 6. Norm ABRAM of “This Old House”; 7. Mean sort, GRINCH; 8. Slow flow, OOZE; 9. 6 string, MNO; 10. View from Blancavilla, ETNA; 11. With fire, ZEALOUSLY; 12. Golden, AUREATE; 13. “Song of the South” villain, BR’ER FOX; 14. Raphael’s “SISTINE Madonna”; 22. It’s often a double-decker, BLT; 27. Swell, AOK; 29. Elevator of literature?, ODIST; 30. Add (up), TOT; 31. Look elated, BEAM; 33. Challenging question, ANY TAKERS; 34. 1920-24 owner of Metro Pictures, LOEW; 38. What the U.S. joined in Apr. 1917, WWI; 39. Bath can, LOO: 40. Where future web developers develop?, EGG SACS; 41. Dessert that’s out of this world?, MOON PIE; 42. SONORAN Desert (area with saguaros); 45. Test-record, maybe, PRE-TAPE; 46. Typist, at times, ENTERER; 47. Divisions of geometry, SECTORS; 49. Game with 59-Down cards, UNO; 50. Regarding this point, HERETO; 54. Frank account, DIARY; 55. Not estos or esos, OTROS; 58. Pensée product, IDEE; 59. See 49-Down, WILD; 63. “Hawaii Five-O’ co-star Daniel DAE Kim; 64. Trig function, COT.

————————

 

 

 

 

Click on image to enlarge,

or Right click and select “Open Link in New Window".

 

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

03.22.13 — A Sliver of the Moon

 

 

“Cheap little rhymes

A cheap little tune

Are sometimes as dangerous

As a sliver of the moon."

~ Langston Hughes

 

————————

 

Friday, March 22, 2013

 

Puzzle by Tim Croce / Edited by Will Shortz

Six 15-letter entries constitute the main feature of this entertaining Friday crossword:

CHOOSE ONE’S WORDS (1A. Speak carefully)
ROCKET TO THE MOON (16A. One of Disneyland’s original attractions)
E-MAIL DOMAIN NAME (17A. Part of a modern address)
EDITORIAL STANCE (52A. Slant in print)
ORNAMENTAL TREES (55A. Topiary figures)
SAID ONE’S PRAYERS (56A. Hoped for a miracle, maybe)

Phèdre, 1880. Alexandre Cabanel

 

Of other interest — ELISSA Landi, ETA MESON (9D. Electrically neutral subatomic particle), LOCH NESS (29A. Urquhart Castle is on it), MOIRE (28D. Silk selection), OCARINA (3D. Instrument whose name means “little goose”), OTOMIS (7D. Mexican Indians), PHAEDRA (35D. Daughter of King Minos), ROANOKE (13D. The Star City of the South), ROSSINI (36D. “La Cenerentola” composer), SOIGNEE (39D. Elegantly attired), THOR’S Hammer (Mjolnir), THROATS (37D. Distinctive parts of some hummingbirds), VARIG (22D. Flier to Rio).

————————

 

 

Click on image to enlarge,

or Right click and select “Open Link in New Window".

 

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 18. Bloom who played Mary in “The Last Temptation of Christ”; 19. Communicated without saying anything; 20. “Not in eine Million Jahre!”; 21. “Gotcha”; 22. Forest climbers; 23. “Hey-y-y-y!” sayer of sitcom Dom, with “the”; 24. The Big Red Machine, on scoreboards; 25. Maisons, across the Pyrenees; 26. Alternative to gunpowder; 27. Charm; 31. One often duped: Abbr.; 33. Reason for denying entry maybe; 34. Attach as a cat might; 38. Actress Landi of “The Count of Monte Cristo,” 1934; 43. Gets something off one’s back, say; 45. Long, for short: Abbr.; 46. Quiet; 47. Swamp birds; 487. Like some statues and book spines; 49. Lo-___; 50. Front-page New York Times addition of 1997; 51 Hoops Hall-of-Famer Baylor. — DOWN: 1. Ice climbing hazard; 2 Bore down (on); 4. Clearing; 5. Actress Ward; 6. Wheels-up announcement, briefly; 8. Like some fees; 10. Starts suddenly; 11. Go along, as one’s way; 12. Every, in an Rx; 14. It carries out many orders; 15. Has a cold reaction?; 23. Big name in handbags; 25. Podiatric problems; 26. N.L. East team, informally; 30. Future alumnae, quaintly; 32. Substance used in fillings?; 34. Rock collections may sit beside them; 40. Certain telecom technician; 41. Suitability; 44. It’s turned down for extra warmth; 47. Existentialist Kierkegaard; 48. Blazingly bright; 50. “Till the End of Time” singer; 51. “___, Red-Hot & Live” (1982 blues album); 53. Jot; 54. Digital ___ (high-tech shooter).
 

03.21.13 — Stir FRIES

  

 

Stir frying (爆 bào) in the wok

 

————————

 

Thursday, March 21, 2013

 

Puzzle by Jeff Chen / Edited by Will Shortz

 

STIR FRIES (59A. Wok dishes), along with SERIF, FIRES, REFIS and FRISE found in SANS SERIF (17A. Undecorated type?), FOREST FIRES (24A. Subjects of some park sign warnings), MORTGAGE REFIS (34A. Some homeowner transactions when interest rates fall, informally) and BICHON FRISÉ (51A. Certain lap dog), constitute the interrelated group of this Thursday crossword.

 

Other — ASSAILS, CD CASES, CHAT ROOM, HIGH FIVE, I PROMISE, NINTENDO (3D. Company whose name roughly means “leave luck to heaven“), SEAT BELT, TENOR SAX (35D. John Coltrane played it).

 

Mid-size — ABUTS, ALEVE, ASAHI (10D. Japanese beer brand), AURORA, FLEXOR, Clark GABLE, GRUNT, HUMOR, Chris ISAAK, KELSO, Kevin KLINE, LIBIDO, NINE AM, OH HELL, OSIRIS (48D. Underworld boss?), OTHER, SABERS, Western SAMOA, SCHEMA, RATED, TALLER, TEEMS, TERSE, UNHURT.

 

Short stuff — ABIE, ACNE, ADOS, AGE, AHI, ANS, ART, “AS IF to say …”, ATTN, ATTN, Kobe BEEF, BETS, EFS, ELF, ENS, Classical ERA, FAKE, HAST, ISLE, IRE, LOB and LON, LULL, Richard MARX, MBA, Rapa NUI, OTC, PEDI, RAD, RIS, SAFE and SALE, SHIN, SODA, SPEC, SPA, SRO.

————————

 

 

 

 

Click on image to enlarge,

or Right click and select “Open Link in New Window".

 

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Side effect of steroid use; 5. Handoff that isn’t; 9. Biblical verb; 13. Climb using all four limbs; 14. Break; 15. Rocker Chris; 19. Butler player of note; 20. Case studier: Abbr.; 21. One acting on impulse?; 22. “Crud!; 23. Furor; 26. First name in horror; 28. Yellowfin tuna, on menus; 29. Packed letters?; 30. Part of a fast-food combo; 32. Commercial name for naproxen; 40. Elliptical, in a way; 41. An article may be written on it; 43. Y or N, maybe; 46. Rapa ___ (Easter Island); 47. Highball?; 50. Wicked!”; 54. Like 32-Across, for short; 55. Sound; 56. Rose’s guy, on Broadway; 57. Exec’s degree; 58. Abounds; 61. Western ___; 62. 59-Down treatment, informally; 63. Castaway’s locale; 64. Richard with the 1989 #1 hit “Right Here Waiting”; 65. Big rushes; 66. Lays it on the line? — DOWN: 2. Sets upon; 2. Cyberspace space; 4. “Star Trek” extra: Abbr.; 5. Bending muscle; 6. Night light; 7. Oscar winner for “A Fish Called Wanda”; 8. Seasonal mall figure; 9. Slap up?; 11. Cavalry sidearms; 12. Like LeBron James vis-à-vis Kobe Bryant; 16. Kutcher’s character on “That ‘70s Shows”; 18. Jewel box?; 22. Census form option; 25. Point of ___; 31. It may be fine; 32. Census datum; 33. Bad marks; 36. McJob holder; 38. “You have my word!”; 39. Airplane light icon; 42. Jewel boxes; 43. Borders; 44. When many clocks are punched; 45. Conceptual framework; 47. A wolf has a strong one; 52. Bookstore section; 53. Deserved; 59. See 62-Across; 60. Barbecue offering.
 

03.20.13 — Alphabet Quartet

 

Spring Equinox at Stonehenge photo by Josh Gurner

 

An equinox occurs twice a year (around 20 March and 22 September), when the tilt of the Earth's axis is inclined neither away from nor towards the Sun, the center of the Sun being in the same plane as the Earth's equator. The term equinox can also be used in a broader sense, meaning the date when such a passage happens. The name "equinox" is derived from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night), because around the equinox, night and day are about equal length. ~ Wikipedia

 

————————

 

Wednesday, March 20, 2013 — Equinox

 

Puzzle by Raymond C. Young / Edited by Will Shortz

FOUR (25A. Minimum number of times each letter of the alphabet appears in this puzzle’s solution) appears to be the raison d'être of this Wednesday crossword.

————————

 

 

 

 

Click on image to enlarge,

or Right click and select “Open Link in New Window".

 

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Leave at the altar; 5. “___ Stop the Rain” (1970 hit); 10. “II” movies: Abbr.; 14. “Whoops!”; 15. Ganja smoker; 16. Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day org.; 17. Canseco who wrote “Juiced”; 18. Sweepstakes mail-in; 19. Twix units; 20. Paper view?; 22. Step on, as a bug; 24. Fun house cries; 26. Tequila sources; 29. Upside-down-sleeping animal; 32. Candlelight event, perhaps; 33. Softens, as tone; 34. Hard-to-comb hair; 36. Dove soap shape; 37. Bandleader Kay; 38. Foreign Legion hat; 39. Pince-___; 40. Harsh cries; 41. Add to a film, as music; 42. Women with esposos; 44. Lee Ann who sang “I Hope You Dance”; 45. Likely to break out into fighting; 46. Half of dix; 47. Rihanna’s record label; 50. Yellow blooms; 54. Sch. That publishes the Daily Bruin; 55. Draw ___ on (aim at); 57. Having a tiff; 58. Looney Tunes animator ___ Freleng; 59. Way to get from point A to point B; 60. Tea brand owned by Starbucks; 61. Mess around (with); 62. Super Bowl played in 2005; 63. Picnic side dish. — DOWN: 1. Skater Starbuck; 2. Breakfast restaurant chain; 3. Mislay; 4. One to speak of?; 5. Creates, as havoc; 6. Pends; 7. Bone: Prefix; 8. Printer tray size: Abbr.; 9. Stops for a while in the course of a journey; 10. Many a commuter’s home; 11. Morales of “Jericho”; 12. N.F.L. divs.; 13. Cummerbund, e.g.; 21. Banana waste; 23. “Jeopardy!” response: Abbr.; 25. Clotho and sisters; 26. ___ lady (doorbell ringer); 27. “What ___?”; 28. Goggle-eyed; 29. Zodiac borders; 30. Amorphous creature; 31. Debate basis; 3. Sinatra standard; 35. Birth announcement color; 37. He wrote “Capital is dead labor”; 38. Orange fruits; 40. Posture-improving exercises; 41. Rum named for a Spanish literary hero; 43. Genre pioneered by Miles Davis; 44. Popular glass cleaner; 46. Cousin of a raccoon; 47. Keister; 48. Pantyhose shade; 49. Move like a hummingbird; 50. ___ d’esprit (witticisms); 51. Slanty type: Abbr.; 52. Co-star of Joel in “Cabaret”; 53. Pack in the overhead bin, say; 56. Be a pugilist.
 

03.19.13 — Contemporánea

 

Pintura contemporánea

 

————————

 

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

 

Puzzle by Mike Buckley / Edited by Will Shortz

PARTY ON (40A. Repeated “Wayne’s World” cry … or a hint to each half of 17-, 26-, 51- and 63-Across), AFTER DINNER (17A. Kind of mint), HEN HOUSE (26A. Chicken coop), GREEN TEA (51A. Traditional Chinese beverage) and OFFICE BLOCK (63A. Multiple-company building, to Brits) constitute the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword, rife with contemporánea. I‘ve never seen “Wayne‘s World“ nor any episode of “The Simpsons“ which persistently crops up in disposable crosswords.

 

Other — AVEENO, BARBRA Streisand, CANAL ZONE (36D. Former U.S. territory), DAY SPA, ED WYNN, ESPRIT, GERSHWIN, LITHESOME (3D. Like ballerinas), NUT CAKE, Hors d’ OEUVRE, PHANTOMS (40D. Ghostly figures), PHRASE, “ I can RELATE, STEFAN Edberg, TIMBER, USS WASP.

 

Five-letter — AD LIB, ALEPH, AMIGO, BUTTE, DINAH, “EENIE Meenie“, ELEGY, GRABS, ID TAG, ITCHY, LEICA, MARGE, (67A. One of the Simpsons), NEHRU jacket, OASIS, REBEL, REEDS, SIEVE, SNOOD.

 

Short stuff — AAA, ABE, ACED and ACID, ACNE, ALAN (1D. Simpson of the Simpson-Bowles commission); Eric BANA, BEG, DEFT, DOWN, EAU, ECO, ENCL, “Just you wait ’ENRY ‘iggins …”, ETC, FRO, HICK, HST, ICE, “Love IS IN the Air“, LASS, Peggy LEE, LOOT, MARM, NOB, NTH, NWT, PLEA, PONT, PHEW, SLY, SOIL, TEN, ULNA, VIOL, XKES, YALE, ZAX.

————————

 

 

 

 

Click on image to enlarge,

or Right click and select “Open Link in New Window".

 

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Wing it; 6. It may dangle from a dog collar; 11. San Francisco’s ___ Hill; 14. Pioneer in 35mm cameras; 15. Food strainer; 16. It flows in the Seine; 19. Electee of ‘48; 20. Indeterminate ordinal; 21. Eric who played the villain in 2009’s “Star Trek”; 22. Lively wit; 28. It’s known s the Ship with the Mighty Stinger; 31. Heading for half of crossword clues; 32. Plunder; 33. So that’s done!”; 35. How mosquitoes can leave you; 39. Game with matchsticks; 42. Letters on a motel sign; 43. First Hebrew letter; 45. Oxy 10 target; 46. Env. Within an env., perhaps; 47. Highland girl; 40. Baked desert with a little crunch; 51. Traditional Chinese beverage; 55. Instrument played with a bow; 57. Old schoolmistress; 59. Unyielding Dr. Seuss character; 62. “Honest” prez; 66. Implore; 68. “___ Meenie: (2010 hit); 69. Done with a wink; 70. Hair net; 71. Oboes and saxes. — DOWN: 2. Adroit; 4. Motel machine sign; 5. Singer Streisand; 7. Someone who’s “in the kitchen” in “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad”; 8. Easty-to multiply number; 9. Skin-care brand; 10. “They All Laughed” composer; 12. Camel’s rest stop; 13. Montana mining city; 18. Locale for some brief R&R; 23. France’s ___ d’Avignon; 25. It’s above Alta. and Sask.; 27. Comic who sang “I Love to Laugh” in “Mary Poppins”; 28. Radius neighbor; 29. Earth; 30. “Wheel of Fortune” category; 34. List shortened;: Abr.; 37. Break into, as a computer; 38. New Haven school; 44. “Have mercy!,” e.g.; 46. Earth Day prefix; 48. Tennis’s Edberg; 50. Cry in a forest; 51. Snaps up; 52. Maverick; 53. Words of passing interest?; 54. Compañero; 58. Served a ball past; 60. Nitric ___; 61. Vintage Jags; 64. Frizzy do, informally; 65. Peggy of “Lady and the Tramp”.
 

03.18.13 — Le Système International D'Unités

 

The standard wooden ruler in which inches mingle freely with centimeters says a lot about the state of the U.S. measuring system. ~ Jupiter Images/liquidlibrary/Thinkstock

The International System of Units (abbreviated SI from French: Le Système international d'unités) is the modern form of the metric system. ~ Wikipedia

————————

Monday, March 18, 2013

Puzzle by Daniel Landman / Edited by Will Shortz

SI UNITS (38A. Basic physical measures … or a hint to 17-, 27-, 48- and 63-Across), SEMINOLE INDIANS, STATEN ISLANDER, SECRET IDENTIFY and SPLIT INFINITIVE constitutes the loosely interrelated group of this Monday crossword.

Despite America's long history with SI units, measuring remains a mess in the States. A football field traffics in yards while most footraces prefer meters. Mechanics measure the power of an automobile engine in horsepower (foot-pounds per second), but express the same engine's displacement in liters. Air pressure is denoted in all sorts of ways: pounds per square inch (or psi) for tire pressure, inches of mercury for surface atmospheric pressure and millibars for air pressure aloft. ~ William Harris, How Stuff Works

————————

Click on image to enlarge,

or Right click and select “Open Link in New Window".

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.
 

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Book after Jonah; 6. Droops; 10. Floating arctic mass; 14. Spitting ___; 15. Opposites of departures: Abbr.; 16. Lens holders; 17. Native Floridians; 20. Leave in, to a proofreader; 21. Sir’s counterpart; 22. Creepy; 23. “Uh, excuse me”; 25. Open ___ of worms; 27. Denizen of the least populous New York City borough; 33. Tendon; 34. Relatives of egos; 35. Fleecing; 37. ___-la-la; 42. “Cat ___ Hot Tin roof”; 43. 18-wheeler;45. An A student has a high one, for short; 46. The Great Lion in “The Chronicles o Narnia”; 48. Clark Kent vis-à-vis Superman; 52. Shade akin to beige; 53. Casablanca” heroine; 54. Take unrightfully; 57. Latvia’s capital; 59. Winnebago driver, informally; 63. Stickler’s grammatical no-no; 66. Sean of “Milk”; 67. Southpaw’s side; 68. Board game insert; 69. Love letter abbr.; 70. Häagen-Dazs competitor; 71. Laid out, as cash. — DOWN: 1. Start of a pageant winner’s title; 2. “How ___ Your Mother”; 3. Showed up; 4. Rile up; 5. Rooster’s partner; 6. Deli meat; 7. Zone; 8. Ruling house of Monaco; 9. Taxpayer’s ID; 10. Sitcom with the them song “I’ll Be There for You”; 11. Word repeated before “pants on fire”; 12. Prefix with present; 13. To be, to Brutus; 18. Portent; 19. Academic overseer; 24. Chops; 26. Players in a play; 27. Booming jets of old, in brief; 28. Michelins or Goodyears; 29. “What’s in ___?:; 30. The Bible’s Mount ___; 31. Troublesome food bacteria; 32. Charged; 36. Word repeated before “moons ago”; 39. Disney chief Bob; 40. Like a snob’s nose; 41. Without: Fr.; 44. Place to see a Zanboni; 47. Fledgling business; 49. Proof of purchase: Abbr.; 50. 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.; 51. Pizazz; 54. Org. with stamps; 55. Emit, as lava; 56. Arm bone; 58. Not definite; 60. Revolting; 61. Like 2, 4, 6, 8, etc.; 62. Lie down for a while; 64. ___ de France; 65. Agcy. That gets a flood of mail in April.
 

03.17.13 — Tennis

 

 

Sunday, March 17, 2013 — Saint Patrick’s Day

 

ANY PUN FOR TENNIS?, Puzzle by J. R. Leopold

Edited by Will Shortz

Nine puns on tennis are the main feature of this Sunday crossword:

NETWORKING EVENT (23A. Tennis clinic focusing on drop shot skills?)
SPIN DOCTOR (38A. Coaches who help you use your wrist in shots?)
COURT JESTERS (49A. Tennis players who clown around?)
BACKHANDED COMPLIMENTS (67A. “For a righty, you hit the ball pretty well on your left side,” and others?)
FAULT FINDING (88A. Line judge’s mission?)
LOVE HANDLES (96A. “Nothing and “aught”?)
RETURN OF THE JEDI (116A. Luke Skywalker’s volley?)
ALLEY OOPS (17D. Mistakenly hitting into the doubles area during a singles match?)
SERVE TIME (78D. Start of a tennis game?)

————————

 

 

 

 

Click on image to enlarge,

or Right click and select “Open Link in New Window".

 

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Polite response to “Thank you”; 98. Classic verse that begins “Ah, broken is the golden bowl!”; 15. Kafka or Liszt; 20. Written justification; 21. Part of a doubleheader; 22. Esther of “Good times”; 25. More competent; 25. Haunted house sound; 27. “It’s a Wonderful Life” cabdriver; 28. Meter reader?; 30. Architect Saarinen; 31. “Don’t get all worked up!”; 32. Young actor Smith; 33. Cutter; 34. Churchill, e.g.; 36. Pigs; 42. Ed.’s pile; 45. Spiny ___; 46. Fleece; 48. Chooses not to participate; 52. “One can only ___ much”; 53. BlackBerry, e.g., in brief; 54. Having freedom of tempo; 55. Illumination unit; 56. Year that “Shrek” and “A Beautiful Mind” came out; 58. Putter (along); 60. “The fix ___”; 61. “Haven’t the foggiest”; 64. Photo developing compound; 73. Allay; 74. Destroy; 76. In ___ form; 76. Source of the line “They have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind”; 79. Part of R.R.: Abbr.; 81. “___ in cat”; 82. You might set one out for a cat; 84. Due follower; 85. Part of R.S.V.P.; 91. Commercial law firm specialty; 93. Canadian natives; 94. Mastery; 95. “Alexander’s Feast,” e.g.; 98. Part of R.S.V.P.; 100. Captain Hook’s alma mater; 101. Ready follower?; 102. Bit of voodoo; 104. Tech release of 2010; 108. Mex. Miss; 110. Of two minds; 112. Author of a 1719 literary sensation; 113. Transamerica Pyramid feature; 114. Planchette holder; 119. Hit single-player game of the 1980s; 120. Goes over the top, in a way; 121. Does again; 122. It fall s between 3760 and 3761 on the Jewish calendar; 123 Housekeeping; 124. Broad-minded. — DOWN: 1. Vice president John ___ Garner; 2. Setting for a 1935 Marx Brothers comedy; 3. Public radio offerings; 4. Ever; 5. Swiped; 6. Cabinet dept.; 7. Pleasant; 8. Scottish landowners; 9. Modern kind of name; 10. Lightish blade; 11. Home of the Shoshone Mtns.; 12. It’s higher than an ace; 13. Celebrity; 14. Art Deco master; 15. Monk’s title; 16. Barbie’s last name; 18. Pirate, e.g., for short; 19. One goes after it; 24. Biloxi-to-Birmingham dir.; 29. Sporty car features; 32. Middle brother in a 2000s pop trio; 33. Jerk; 35. Epithet for Nadya Suleman; 37. Riga resident; 38. Spanish irregular verb; 39. Ski-___; 40. Like some awakenings; 41. Neither raise nor fold; 42. Sloppy fast-food sandwich; 43. “Semper Fidelis” composer; 44. ___ Bay, former U.S. base in the Philippines; 46. Eliza Doolittle, for one; 47. Subjected to voodoo; 50. Vex; 51. White Castle offerings; 52. Barely remembered days of old; 57. Zoo department; 57. Zoo department; 59. Batting champ John; 62. Turn-___; 63. Start to puncture?; 65. Kind; 66. Part of a requiem Mass; 68. Anchor-hoisting cry; 69. As expected; 70. “Singin’ in the Rain” composer ___ Herb Brown; 71. Way things are going; 72. Durable fabric; 76. Abbr. after a period; 77. Crumbly snack; 80. Either Zimbalist; 83. Con; 86. Praying figure; 87. “Top Gun” org.; 89. D.D.E. opponent; 90. Frankie Valli sang in it; 92. 1958 hit with the line “Yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip”; 93. Jefferson’s vice president; 97. Response to “I bet you won’t”; 98. It can be gross; 99. Container on a counter, maybe; 102. Perfume; 103. Mysterious blip; 105. Michelangelo masterpiece; 106. Eve of old TV; 107. One who does not believe in miracles; 108. Not bad; 109. Destroy; 111. City near Provo; 112. Bit of residue; 113. Dry; 115. Mandela’s org.; 117. Three-time Tony winner Hagen; 118. Daughter of Loki.
 

03.16.13 — What Hath...

 

Artist's portrayal of Morse sending the first telegraph message.

 

 

On May 24, 1844, Samuel Morse sends the telegraph message "What hath God wrought?" from the Supreme Court chamber in the Capitol in Washington, D.C., to the B & O Railroad Depot in Baltimore, Maryland.

 

————————

 

Saturday, March 16, 2013

 

Puzzle by Julian Lim / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. Increases the intensity, STEPS IT UP; 10. High-hatter’s wear, TOQUE; 15. Totally plugged-in, WELL AWARE; 16. Bury, INURN; 17. Sheepskin source, ALMA MATER; 18. Spirit, in Stuttgart, GEIST; 19. Maximum, nonstandard, MOSTEST; 20. Sprites are similar to them, FRESCAS; 22. :, at times, IS TO; 23. "The Ground Beneath HER Feet” (U2 song); 25. Go a long way, TREK; 26. Rapper with the 202 #1 hit “Always on Time”, J A RULE; 28. 1972 treaty subjects, briefly, ABMS; 31. Like many ventilation systems, DUCTED; 35. Dress-to-impress attire, BEST SUIT; 37. Singer Carmen MCRAE; 38. Fukuda’s predecessor as Japan’s P.M., ABE; 39. Italian game akin to pétanque, BOCCI; 40. Football Hall-of-Famer who became a Minnesota Supreme Court justice, ALAN PAGE; 42. Thirst, HANKER; 43. Genre for 37-Across; 44. Ice cream or pizza follower, PARLOR; 46. Won’t shut up, YAKS; 48. Comment while putting something away, YUM; 49. Yuri’s beloved, in literature, LARA; 53. More prone to bellyaches, WHINIER; 56. Growled at, say, MENACED; 58. Welcomes to one’s house, HAD IN; 59. One may be represented by stars, EXPLETIVE; 61. Plagued, ATEAT; 62. Became fair, CLEARED UP; 63. Shakespeare’s Ross, e.g., THANE; 64. Gift for a TV buff, DVD BOX SET.

 

Down — Studier of sutras, SWAMI; 2. Final aim, to a philosopher, TELOS; 3. Title site of six films: Abbr., ELM ST; 4. He wrote “No human thing is of serious importance”, PLATO; 5. Old story intro?, SAME; 6. Gull’s cry, I WAS HAD; 7. Rip up, TATTER; 8. Strict follower?, URE; 9. Stamp feature, in philately lingo, PERF; 10. Fierce sort, TIGER; 11. What a 64-Across may comprise, ONE SEASON; 12. What a day trader tries to turn, QUICK BUCK; 13. Supervillain from Krypton, URSA; 14. M.D.’s with tiny flashlights, ENTS; 21. Travel plans: Abbr., RTES; 24. Like 49-Down, RUBBERY; 26. Major mode of transportation?, JEEP; 27. Pace of “Pushing Daisies”, LEE; 29. Many sit on pads, MICE; 30. Start moving, STIR; 31. Baroque “key of glory”: Abbr., D MAJ; 32. Carol Burnett’s 17-Across, UCLA; 33. It’s unlikely to work, CRAZY IDEA; 34. Like Jane Goodall’s study site, TANZANIAN; 36. Means of reaching a peak level?, T BAR; 38. “Lord,” in Turkish, AGA; 41. View from a pew, APSE; 42. Where one may have personal reactions, HOME LAB; 45. Put up with, LUMPED; 47. Role for both Burton and Amos in a 1977 miniseries, KINTE; 49. Stuff in a swim cap, LATEX; 50. They’re not basic things, ACIDS; 51. Noël Coward’s “Sigh No More,” e.g., REVUE; 52. Ace, ADEPT; 53. With 54-Down, start of a historic telegraph message, WHAT; 54. See 53-Down, HATH; 55. Invoice abbr., RECD; 57. Tutee of Seneca, NERO; 60. Year in Claudius’s reign, XLV.

————————

 

 

 

Click on image to enlarge,

or Right click and select “Open Link in New Window".

 

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

03.15.13 — Jazzzzzzz.....

Icarus — Jazz (1947) is an artist's book of about one hundred prints based on paper cutouts by Henri Matisse. Matisse was in his seventies and in poor health when he began this project; he could no longer draw or paint easily with a pencil or brush. He used scissors to cut out simple forms from brightly colored paper painted to his specifications with gouache, then arranged them on another sheet of gouache-painted paper. ~ Wikipedia

————————

Friday, March 15, 2013

Puzzle by Joe Krozel / Edited by Will Shortz

Eight fifteen-letter entries constitute the main feature of this friendly Friday crossword: 

 

• LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME (15A. Doris Day film with the song “Ten Cents a Dance”)
• AVERAGE AMERICAN (17A. Peoria resident’s representation)
• STOOD ON ONE’S TOES (44A. Tried to reach higher)
• CONNIVES AGAINST (46A. Secretly plots to harm)
• GOVERNOR CLINTON (2D. 1991 entrant for the Democratic presidential nomination)
• OVER ESTIMATIONS (3D. Unduly high appraisals)
• RECAPITULATIONS (12D. Rundowns)
• IMAGINATIVENESS (13D. What prosaic minds lack).

 

Other — ALCOVE, CELESTE, EGOTIST, ELASTIN, EVIL OMEN, GROANER (32D. “Does the name Quasimodo ring a bell?,” e.g.), INIMICAL, INSANER, INSTANTS, MATISSE (48A. “Jazz“ artist), MENISCI (31D. Crescent-shaped bodies), MULETAS (28A. Matadors red capes), NOT WITH, ON MERIT, PART II, PINE NUT, PUEBLO, SEGMENTS, TEN ONES, “The Man Who Fell TO EARTH“.

Mid-size — AREAS, BID IN, BLOBS, FAMINE, FUNKS, GUNKY, HAITI, HALEY, HERDS, HOP IN, MANOR, MCMII, MINAS Gerais, OLMOS, RANDS, RATEL (40A. Honey badger). RESAT, RIOTS, SERINE, “TWO IN the bush …”.

Short stuff — ELAN, “I’M A Rocker”, LAGO, LIC, MAR, MONA, NAM, NEER, NIT, PAVE, SEGA and SERA and TERA, TRE corde.

————————

Click on image to enlarge,

or Right click and select “Open Link in New Window".

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. One looking out for #1; 8. Fair wa to be judged; 18. They often pass through needles; 19. Place for a butler; 20. Spanish body of water; 21. ___ corde (piano pedaling direction); 22. Rounded-up numbers?; 23. Driver’s invitation; 24. Flashes; 26. What a biblical black horseman symbolizes; 27. Opposed to; 29. People might leave them in tears; 30. Often-toasted seed; 31. Year “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” was published; 32. Like many sluggish drains; 33. Govt. issuance; 35. Life; 36. Spheres; 37. Cobble, e.g.; 38. Small grouse; 39. Things in lava lamps; 41. Hostile; 43. Amino acid in proteins; 47. More mad. — DOWN: 1. Pliable protein; 4. Lead-in to flops; 5. Springsteen’s “___ Rocker”; 6. Divisions; 7. How David Bowie’s character fell, in a 1976 sci-fi film; 8. “Miami Vice” Emmy winner; 9. Aye’s opposite, in verse; 0. Scratch; 11. It’s not a good sign; 12. Rundowns; 14. Exchange for a Hamilton; 16. Politician Paul and others; 22. Big exporter of mangoes; 23. Comets’ head; 26. Blue states; 28. ___ Gerais (Brazilian state); 30. Some brick buildings; 31. Crescent-shaped bodies; 34. Big name in frozen pizza; 36. What a Pullman kitchen is built into; 37. Work after the first?; 39. Act to retain one’s property at auction; 40. Convened anew; 42. “First name” in the Louvre; 43. Zaxxon maker; 46. ‘60s service site.
 

03.14.13 — Residue

 

 

Thursday, March 14, 2013 — Pi Day

 

Puzzle by Mike Buckley / Edited by Will Shortz

 

CREATIVITY / IS THE RESIDUE OF / WASTED TIME (18A. Beginning of a quote by 3-/31-Down on which Stephen Colbert commented “I hope teenagers aren’t watching this right now”), a quotation from ALBERT EINSTEIN (3D and 31D), on his birthday, constitutes the main feature of this Thursday crossword.

 

Other — AGREED TO, INK SPOTS (33D. 1940s quartet with the #1 hit “Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall,” with “the”), MEAT LOAF (11D. Player of Eddie in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”), PRIMROSE (9D. Flower from which an oil is derived), SCISSORS, SENORITA,TRI-COLOR.

 

Mid-size — CAMARO, DATED (36D. Went out with), DHOTI (30D. Indian attire), DROWSE, EARTHS (22A. Cerium and samarium are rare ones), ELIJAH Wood, KNITS, LASSO, LAUREL, LIBRAS, OSSIE Davis, PLEAT, RHODO, SOCIAL, SPACED, SPINAL, STABS, SWEPT, TESLAS (47A Some electric cars), THERE, U-HAUL, USER ID, YENTL.

 

Short stuff — ABBE, AJAR, ASTA, BARI, CAPN, DST, ECU, ESSO, HOPI, MET, MIRA Sorvino, NERO, OILS, OLE, PILL, PRO, SAHL (51A. Comic who said “A conservative is someone who believes in reform. But not now”), SARA and SARI (55A. Indian attire), SAW (40D. Went out with), SHOD, SHUN, SHY, SLAP and SLAV, SLOE, SPA and SPAM, SUM, TEST, TRUE, T-TOP, URGE, YAR.

 

————————

 

 

 

 

Click on image to enlarge,

or Right click and select “Open Link in New Window".

 

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Bass technique; 5. Short; 8. ___ folder; 12. Hard-to-tolerate sort; 13. Allegheny plum, e.g.; 14. Prevail upon; 15. French cleric; 16. Superior of a bos’n; 17. Actress Sorvino; 21. Fulfilled; 23. Classic prize; 25. It starts in March: Abbr.; 26. It, in Italy; 29. Showy bloom, to flower enthusiasts; 30. Be half-asleep; 32. Terrier on the silver screen. 33. Middle of the quote; 37. 2009 “Star Trek” villain; 38. Vertebral; 39. Unties after a break; 41. Assay, say; 42. Old French coin; 45. Like some media; 49. Golf club V.I.P.; 50. End of the quote; 53. Works at the National Gallery; 56. Open a tad; 57. Roof with removable panels; 58. “… ___ the furious Bandersnatch!”: Carroll; 59. Italian port; 60. “___ Smile” (1976 top 5 hit); 61. ___ Miss; 62. Like plow horses. — DOWN: 1. L i k e t h i s; 2. Patient, cheerful sorts, it’s said; 3. See 18-Across; 4. Kilt feature; 5. John Paul II, for one; 6. Pueblo people; 7. 1983 title role for Barbra Streisand; 8. Tally; 9. Flower from which an oil is derived; 10. Accepted; 13. One of three choices in a kids’ game; 19. Consoling word that bears repeating?; 20. Quick to the helm; 24. Truck renter; 27 Went 4-0, say; 28. Actor Davis; 30. Indian attire; 31. See 18-Across; 34. Eligible one in El Salvador; 35. French flag; 42. Wood in Tolkien films; 43. Sporty Chevy; 44. Log-in need; 46. Stockholder on a ranch?; 48. Wild guesses; 52. Exact; 54. Day ___.