11.05.08 -- Division

Sawing a Woman in Half [Selbit presenting “Sawing a woman in half”]. Gelatin silver photograph, ca. 1930. State Library of Victoria, Australia
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Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Puzzle by Doug Peterson, edited by Will Shortz
The division of the word LONG in three different ways in three entries is the subject of today’s four interrelated entries -- LONGDIVISION (55A. Arithmetic exercise … or what literally occurs in 20-, 33- and 40-Across?); LONESTARFLAG (20A. Sight at the Texas Capitol); LOBSTERFISHING (33A. It’s done in Maine waters); and LANCEARMSTRONG (40A. Athlete with four ESPY awards).
Other long(ish) entries are ASKANT (45A. With suspicion, old-style); ENROUTE (41D. Not there yet); EVICTS (50A. Boots); NOONAN (31A. Political columnist Peggy); SHOTPUT (5D. Event with a 16-pound ball); THEVIEW (43D. Morning TV staple since 1997); TOSSUP (23A. 50-50 Chance) and VIRAGOS (9D. Shrewish sorts).
The mid-size entries provide a good bit of twist and color -- BIJOU (58A. Delicate ornament); CISCO (52D. Pal of Pancho); GOOFF (8D. Explode); ICONS (3D. Larger-than-life figures); ISAID (51D. “To repeat …“); KAZOO (2D. It can create quite a buzz); VJDAY (9A. Truman declaration of 9/2/45); IPODS (16A. Nano and Shuffle); LHASA (33D. Capital with the Potala Palace); MODES (4D. Figures in statistics); OGRES (49D. Fiends of fantasy); OINKS (34D. Porcine sounds); OPART (63A. Dizzying hangings); PANDG (26D. Consumer products giant, briefly); PROMO (30D. Movie trailer, e.g.); REGAL (19A. Majestic); SNIDE (54D. Said with a sneer); STILT (1D. Pink-legged wader); TOTEM (53D. Clan carving); UNION (25D. Grant’s side); ZOWIE (66A. “Awesome!“).
Short stuff: ADA, APER, ASTI, ATON, BOCA, BOZ, BUMP, DEAL, DOG (11D. Goofy, e.g.), DOME, EASE, FAS, FOG (24A. State of confusion), FUSS, HYPO, ICED, IFSO, INGE, IPO and IOU, IZOD, JAW, JPEG, LONI and LORI, MEIR, NODE, OHIO and OHNO, OLAF, OREO, OSHA, RAVI, REFI, ROO, SKIM, SLOW, STAG, TACO, TYRA, YSL.
…and that's the long and the Shortz of it!

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Xword information -- Across: 1. Alternative to whole; 5. Hind’s mate; 14. Crunchy munchie; 15. Dose deliverer; 17. Big name in golf shirts; 18. After-lunch snack; 25. Big inits. In news; 28. Word after speed or baby; 37. One of the Three Rivers; 38. Marker, of sorts; 39. Junction point; 46. Labor Dept. watchdog; 47. Fourth notes; 48. Pal of Piglet; 61. Change of mortgage, informally; 62. European wine region; 64. Peace of mind; 65. On the rocks; 67. Not very busy; 68. Feature of some arenas. Down: 6. Banks of TV talk; 7. Simon Says player; 10. PC image format; 12. Decay-fighting org.; 13. Couturier’s monogram; 21. Sits in (for); 22. Anderson of “WKRP in Cincinnati”; 27. “Picnic” playwright; 29. Prime minister after Eshkol; 32. “It can’t be!”; 35. Delray Beach neighbor, for short; 36. Act the mother hen; 37. Minnesota’s St. ___ College; 42. Gobs and gobs; 44. First name in raga; 66. Loughlin of “90210”; 56. Negotiation deal; 57. “In that case …”; 58. Dickens moniker; 59. N.Y.S.E. event; 60. Vise part.

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