06.25.08 -- REAL LOCATION

Naiads Pool -- Anonymous engraver after a picture by Herbert James Draper

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Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Puzzle by Rob Cook, edited by Will Shortz

What would crossword puzzles do without NAIADS (8D. Nymphs of myth) and ALIENS (20A. 1986 sci-fi sequel)? Or for that matter quite a few of this puzzle’s old standards -- ah, those lovely vowels in their strange arrangement -- RERAN (47D. Played over) as often as the refrain from “Old MacDonald’s Farm” -- EIEIO!

Today, reallocation , or the real location, or just plain “parse this” is the device of the inter-related entries, indicated solely by the individual clues -- REST ORATION (17A. Talk in one’s sleep?); RED ACTION (24A. Building the Berlin Wall?); REIN HABIT (34A. Equestrian addiction?); REAR RANGE (46A. Back burner?); and READ MISSION (54A. Literacy campaign?). Without the space, of course, the two words become one. Cool! ...and here are the supporting entries:

Seven-letter -- ABSENCE (42D. Report card notation); AIRDUCT (36D. Ventilation system part); CASINOS (3D. Houses of cards?); ERUDITE (40D. Well-versed); ETCHING (25D. Dürer work); ETHANOL (13D. It gives punch to punch); FORAGES (1A. Seeks food); MADEIRA (11D. Dessert wine); OMELETS (2A. Chefs flip them); ONAROLL (12D. Hot, in Vegas); PURLOIN (41D. Make off with); SCARILY (38D. In an alarming way); SNEEZER (37D. Blessing receiver).

Six-letter -- ALLIED (58A. United by treaty); ASSORT (36A. Put into piles); AVIARY (15A. Building with lots of wings); COGNAC (5A. Snifter filler); GODSON (45D. Barry Bonds, to Willie Mays); INTERN (4D. Often-unpaid worker); NEEDLE (61A. Eye site); ONCALL (32A. Ready at any time); ONSALE (44D. Marked down); SADDLE (52A. Get ready to ride, with “up”).

Five-letter -- ADELE (48D. Dancer with Fred); AROMA (9D. Coffee lure); CYNIC (10D. Ambrose Bierce, notably); GENRE (23A. Funk or punk); SOURS (49A. Goes bad).

Four-letter -- ABLE (35D. Fully fit); ARLO (29A. Janis’s hubby in the funnies); 5D. Bumper CARS; ETON (27A. School of William and Harry); FOCI (1A. Meeting points); GRUB (45A. Chuck wagon load); IBEX (39A. Long-horned goat); INCA (43A. Atahualpa’s people); NENE (62A. Protected state bird); OBEY (32D. Passé wedding vow verb); OMAN (14A. Neighbor of Yemen); ONLY (44A. Word before a discounted price); OTIC (59A. Suffix with hypn-); RAIN (24D. Reason for a makeup game); ROAR (34D. MGM sound effect); SATS (28A. Exams with three sects.); SIDE (52D. Flank); SPIT (28D. Rod at a roast); TACT (26D. Mediator‘s skill).

Three-letter: AMI, ANT, CEL, DAH, DER, DID, EDS, EER, EPA, ERA, GIT, MEL, MOE, NIX, OVA, SAS, SSS, TRY, UZI.

…and finally, a rest-in-piece oration by GEORGE.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

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