07.18.10 — Critical Periods



Sunday, July 18, 2010

CRITICAL PERIODS, Puzzle by Robert W. Harris, edited by Will Shortz

The phrases of accepted usage, the unemployed, Pittsburgh Pirate, bilateral accord, excessive tariffs, strange ordeal and common laborer, given punctuation to read as ACCEPTED U. S. AGE (23A. 234, as f July 4, 2010?), THE U. N. EMPLOYED (32A. Workers in a global peace organization?), PITTSBURGH P. I. RATE (47A. What gumshoes charge in the City of Bridges?), BILATERAL A. C. CORD (62A. Symmetrical power conductor for appliances?), EXCESSIVE T. A. RIFFS (83A. Too much guitar work by a professor’s helper?), STRANGE O. R. DEAL (94A. “Pay in cash and your second surgery is half-price”?) and COMMON L. A. BORER (108. Typical termite in a California city?), are the interrelated group of this Sunday crossword.

Other across — 1. Ready for publication, EDITED; 7. Flag, COLORS; 19. Full chromosome set, GENOME; 20. Pairs’ debarking point, ARARAT; 21. Joy, ELATION; 25. Cash in the music business, ROSANNE; 30. WARNER Bros.; 35. Hard look?, SQUINT; 38. Pass off as genuine, FOIST; 40. Unconventional OUTRE; 42. Come under criticism, TAKE FLAK; 54. Some court evidence, TAPES; 55. Signs of spoilage, ODORS; 56. Group following a star?, POSSE; 61. Not stay long for shots?, BAR HOP; 67. Hole, CAVITY; 76. Nimble, AGILE; 77. Any singer of “Hotel California”, EAGLE; 79. “Stop!”:, AVAST; 86. Like some English muffins, PRE-SPLIT; 89. Best, ELITE; 91. “The Addams Family” co-star, ASTIN; 93. Most easily sunburned, maybe, PALEST; 100. Nuevo Laredo store, TIENDA; 106. Second, INSTANT; 112. Inactive state, LATENCY; 113. Using fraudulently altered checks, KITING; 114. Sharpie alternatives, FLAIRS; 117. Pack rat, STORER; 118. “Opening” word, SESAME.

Down — 5. What many older parents face, EMPTY NEST; 6. Locking lever, DETENT; 10. Elocutes, ORATES; 11. Seasoned stew, RAGOUT; 12. Harsh, STERN; 14. Dawdler, SLOWPOKE; 15. Explorer who claimed Louisiana for France, LASALLE; 16. Thin-toned, TINNY; 17. Recipient, DONEE; 18. Bergen’s foil, SNERD; 29. Peach NECTAR; 32. Grillers’ grabbers TONGS; 34. Things that drawbridges bridge, MOATS; 35. Absorb, SOP UP; 36. Headquarters of the Union of South American Nations, QUITO; 37. Speak, UTTER; 38. “Hansel and Gretel” setting, FOREST; 41. CNN’s Sanjay GUPTA; 43. Northern inlets, FJORDS; 48. Not well, BADLY; 49. Thick soups, POTAGES; 50. Miley Cyrus and Lady Gaga, e.g., IDOLS; 58. Some short-term investments, briefly, T-BILLS; 60. Seed coverings, ARILS; 61. BOSSA nova; 65. Site of some paintings, CAVERN; 66. Informal exchanges, CHATS; 73. 1967 Dionne Warwick hit, ALFIE; 74. Some constructions on “Survivor”, RAFTS; 75. Certain detail, INSET; 77. Bobby Fischer, once, EXILE; 78. Words before “kindness” and “the Apostles”, ACTS OF; 79. Be of use, AVAIL; 80. Like diabetes, TREATABLE; 83. Refinement, ELEGANCE; 87. Cross or star, often, PENDANT; 91. Dexterous, ADROIT; 92. Apparently do, SEEM TO; 93. Rice dishes;, PILAFS; 94. Steps that a farmer might take, STILE; 95. Brown and Turner, TINAS; 96. “The defense RESTS”; 98. Prepares to play pool, say, RACKS.

Short stuff — AGAR, AHS, AITS, ALL, APE, APSO, ARIA, ATOM, CAPP, COOL, DECO, DER, DIGS, DIRT, DOA, DSL, DTS, DYNE, EDGE, EELS, EGAD, ELLA, ENE, ENGR, ERSE, ESS, FARE, GONG, HIGH, ILLS, INCA, IOTA, ITE, JAPE, KEEP, LAN and LAS and LASH, MIR, OARS and OAS, ONE (110D. Low digit), ORU, PALL, PAR, PERM, PORT, ROMA, SARI, TARO, TDS, TEE, TENS, TORN, TOE (4D. Low digit), TYE, UTE, VILE.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 13. Certain Internet connection: Abbr.; 18. Things refs raise their arms for; 26. 1950 noir film; 27. Perfect specimens; 28. Divided; 31. Unit of force; 39. Hip; 41. Remove from a talent show, maybe; 53. Native Coloradan; 57. Left at sea; 59. Drinker’s problem, for short; 60. Word that comes from the Greek for “indivisible”; 70. Makes holes; 71. Sounds of understanding; 72. Wrapped garment; 81. Grp. Of connected Pcs; 82. What’s borne at a funeral; 88. Scullers needs; 90. Aquatic shockers; 93. Most easily sunburned, maybe; 99. Small islands; 101. Get along; 102. Singer Fitzgerald; 103. Galoot; 115. Preceder of 116-Across; 116. Follower of 115-Across. DOWN: 1. “Good grief!”; 2. Art ___; 3. Quechua speaker; 7. Rogues; 8. Tulsa sch. 9. ___ Cruces; 13. “___ Fuehrer’s Face” (1942 Disney short); 22. Poit ingredient; 24. General dir. Of Sal Paradise’s return trip in “On the Road”; 31. Gossip; 33. On dope; 44. Any tail in a cat-o’-nine-tails; 45. Lhasa ___; 46. Not spoil; 51. Tomato type; 56. Hole number; 63. Adherent: Suffix; 64. Advantage; 67. L’il Abner creator; 68. Food thickener; 69. Loathsome; 84. Tiny bit; 85. Woes; 97. Stake; 99. Tie indicator; 102. Many an M.I.T. grad; 103. “Che gelida manina,” e.g.; 104. Salon option; 106. Celtic tongue; 107. Nautical rope; 109. Novy ___, Russian literary magazine; 111. International grp. since 1948.

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