05.31.11 — Twenty-One II

21 Club in New York City by David Shankbone

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Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Puzzle by Nina Rulon-Miller / Edited by Will Shortz

TWENTY-ONE (65A. Number associated with 17-, 25-, 41- and 51-Across), BLACK JACK (17A. Something to play at a casino), SPOTS ON A DIE (25A. Pips);, FIFTIES GAME SHOW (41A. Jack Barry once hosted a rigged one), NEW YORK CLUB (51A. Place for Manhattanites to drink and dance) are the interrelated entries of this Tuesday crossword. “Twenty-One” was recently a crossword group in February of this year, HERE.

Other — “We are not AMUSED”: Queen Victoria; ARTERY (30D. Main line), IDIOT BOX (42D. Boob tube), JAPANESE (9D. Like most sumo wrestlers), THAT’S LIFE (3D. “Win some, lose some”), THREEFOLD (38D. Like a $6 return on a $2 bet).

Five-letter — ABBOT, ANODE, ARENA, CELEB, Nicene CREED, COWER, ENNUI, EPEES, ESSEX, FATAL, GENII, GRETE, INFER, JEWEL, KITED, LASED LATTE, NACHT and NACRE, ODIST, OTTOI, PRINT, RETRO, SOLTI, Kama SUTRA, TYKES, WEIRD, WELTS.

Short stuff — AIR, APE, ARCO, ASTA, AWE, BOHR, BRAY, BRR, DRAT, EDIE, EERO, EGO, ERA and ERE and ERE and ERNE, HERA, IRA, KISS, LIEF, MENU, NOTE, NYSE, OBIT, PAIR, PBJ, PELE, PFC, PINT, RIB, RON and ROT and RUT, TEM, TIS, TOTE, TRIO, SLIT.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Nick and Nora’s terrier; 5. Blood donation unit; 9. Tiara inset; 14. Nobelist Niels; 15. Jackass’s sound; 16. Skybox site; 19. Word-processing command; 20. Holy Roman emperor dubbed “the Great”; 21. Wife of Zeus; 23. Same old same old, as at work; 24. “Tain’t” retort; 29. Performed microsurgery on, perhaps; 31. President pro ___; 32. Two twos, say; 34. Willing, old-style; 45. Carryall; 46. Predatory seabird; 47. Barbecue item; 49. Jumper cable connection; 58. Soufflé ingredient; 59. Tailless simian; 60. The Magi, e.g.; 61. Get by logic; 63. Paparazzo’s target, briefly; 68. So old it’s new again; 69. Architect Saarinen; 70. Revealing skirt feature; 71. British earldom; 72. “Phooey!”; 73. Falco of “Nurse Jackie”. — DOWN: 1. Monk’s superior; 2. Conductor Sir Georg; 4. Western U.S. oil gaitn; 5. Brown-bagger’s sandwich, for short; 6. Often rolled-over investment, for short; 7. After-dark time in Germany; 8. Rug rats; 10. Miss a cue, say; 11. Off-the-wall; 12. The blahs; 13. Coffee shop order; 18. X, on a greeting card; 22. “Baloney!”; 26. Brazilian soccer hero; 27. Keats or Wordsworth; U.S.M.C. enlistee; 33. Hang on a clothesline; 35. Freudian concept; 36. Causing ruin; 39. Potter pal Weasley; 40. Leave dumbstruck; 43. It might end with “Beverages”; 48. “It’s c-c-cold!”; 50. Article often bordered in black; 51. Mother-of-pearl; 52. Blunted blades; 53. Evidence of a caning; 54. Passed illegally, as a check; 55. Shrink in fear; 57. Wish granters; 58. Late marathoner Waitz; 62. Big Board initials; 64. Bard’s “before”; 66. NOW political cause, once; 67. “Just kidding!”.

05.30.11 — Break a LEG

Monday, May 30, 2011 — Memorial Day

Puzzle by Michael Barnhart / Edited by Will Shortz

BREAK A LEG (63A. “Good luck!” … and a hint to 17-, 25-, 39- and 51-Across), TILE GROUT (17A. Bonding material for bathroom floors), JUNGLE GYM (25A. Playground fixture), CHARITABLE GIFTS (39A. Donations) and STAPLE GUN (51A. Upholsterer’s tool) constitute the interrelated group of this Monday crossword, e.g., four answers have the letters L-E-G “broken” within a familiar phrase.

Other — AFTERGLOW (36D. Sunset remnant), INFLUXES (41D. Streams of arrivals), ISUZU and JAPAN (7D. Maker of the Rodeo and Trooper; 25D. Where 7-Down is based), LA BAMBA (27A. 1959 Spanish-language Top 40 hit), POLAR BEAR (3D. Arctic animal), SEDANS (50D. Many four-doors), STERNA (4D. Breastbones), TATTLING (9D. Being a snitch), WEASELS (48A. Animals not to be trusted?).

Five-letter — ANDIE, ARISE, ASYET, CLOWN, DODGY (59A. Not to be believed), EARLY, FEDEX, GIBED, KAREN, LATEN, LETBY, LYING, NAACP, SOFAS, SPECS, STEAM, TILLS, TRITE, TWERP, UVRAY.

Short stuff — AFT, AGE, AGHA (28D. Turkish title), A LOT, AMOK, “Wanna BET?”, BOIL, BURY, CTRL, DAYS and DYES, “EASY does it“, ELIE, ENE, EPIC, ESAI, ESC and ESE, GIG, GLAM, “May I BE service?”, ISR, LACK, Mal de MER, NBA, NEON, NOTI, ORO, OWN, PSIS, RAT, REAP and REPS, Messenger RNA, SGT, SWIG, TEN, TIS, TRI, UNIV, URSA, YETI, ZEST.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. House members, for short; 5. Seethe; 9. Works the field; 14. Loads; 15 ___ Major (constellation); 16. To date; 19. Overused, as a saying; 20. Premature; 21. Piquancy; 23 Hoops grp.; 30. “___ the season to be jolly”; 31. Get on in years; 32. “Beowulf,” e.g.; 35. Civil rights grp.; 43. One of the Carpenters, in 1970s pop; 44. Gas in advertising signs; 45. Prefix with cycle; 46. Toward the back of a boat; 57. Hold the deed to; 58. Place to get an M.A. or Ph.D.; 61. UPS rival; 66. Get up; 66. “The Little Red Hen” response; 69. Glasses, informally; 70. Indigo and others; 71. Giant gulp, as from a bottle. — DOWN: 1. Snitch; 2. “Night” author Wiesel; 5. Lay in a grave; 6. Spanish gold; 8. Approach dark; 10. Tel Aviv’s home: Abbr.; 11. Bearing false witness; 12. Allow to pass; 134. Good thing to build up or blow off; 18. Glitz; 22. The Beatles’ ___ Pepper; 26. Actor Morales; 27. Be deficient in; 34. Entertainer at a kid’s birthday party; 37. Bottom-row PC key; 38. Pitchfork-shaped letters; 40. Harvest; 42. U-turn from WSW; 47. Two hours before noon; 49. One way to run; 51. Davenports; 52. Pipsqueak; 53. Actress MacDowell; 54. Mocked; 55. Bit of light that’s harmful to the skin; 59. Calendar units; 60. Himalayan beast; 62. Top-row PC key; 64. Suffix with Canton; 65. Band booking.

05.29.11 — H / H — the Diagramless

The legendary house where the 1960 Alfred Hitchcock movie "Psycho" was filmed.

Tourists still flock to see the house on the Universal Studios lot in Hollywood.

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Sunday, May 29, 2011

DIAGRAMLESS Crossword by Patrick Blindauer /
Edited by Will Shortz

Look for that big blank H in the center of the completed puzzle!

HAMMER HOME (16A. Drive in, as a point), HEAD OVER HEELS (29A. Topsy-turvy), HAS THE HOTS FOR (51A. Is wild about), HIS AND HERS (67A. Towel words), HAUNTED HOUSE (12D. Amusement park feature), HEART TO HEART (25D. Meaningful chat) constitute the interrelated group of this Sunday diagramless crossword.

Other Across — 1. Conditional words, IFS; 4. Successor to J.F.K., LBJ; 7. Film hero with a sword, ZORRO; 12. HAUT monde (high society); 13. Parched, ARID; 15. “Love Story” co-star, O’NEAL; 18. Gently jab, NUDGE; 19. Computer accessory, MOUSEPAD; 20. Places for paperweights, DESKS; 22. Part of A.D., ANNO; 23. Like some colors, PRIMARY; 25. Five-star general Arnold HAP; 28. “Bosh!”, ROT; 32. Garbo of “The Kiss”, GRETA; 34. Ayatollah ALI Khamenei; 35. Un-P.C. purchases?, IMACS; 36. Buzzes, e.g., DOS; 37. N.Y.C.’s Washington HTS; 38. Politico Ross PEROT; 39. SHIH Tzu; 40. Sp. Miss, SRTA; 41. Garlicky sauce, AIOLI; 42. Abbr. in a personal ad SWF; 45 Trade for tat, TIT; 46. What a crossword maker writes last, CLUES; 47. “Bali HA'I”; 48. Run to a chapel, say, ELOPE; 56. It may be smoked, HAM; 57. Back to Brooklyn?, ESE; 58. “To continue …”, NOW THEN; 59. Actress Garr, TERI; 60. “Darn it!”, SHOOT; 62. You might step outside for it, FRESH AIR; 64. “Pearly Shells” singer, DON HO; 69. Being pulled, IN TOW; 70. Part of A.A.A.: Abbr., AMER; 71. Present, GIFT; 72. Word before and after “to”, ASHES; 73. Dutch ELM disease; 74. “Mangia!”, EAT.

Down — 1. “You are not!” retort, I AM SO; 2. Smolder, FUME; 3. Treeless plain, STEPPE; 4. Hoity-toity, LA DI DAH; 5. Sis’s sib, BRO; 6. “Garfield” creator, JIM DAVIS; 7. Pass (out), ZONK; 8. Burden, ONUS; 9. Part of Roy G. Biv, RED; 10. Scott Joplin piece, RAG; 11. “Hurrah!”, OLE; 14. Combine company, DEERE; 16. Middle word of West Point’s motto, HONOR; 17. RARA avis; 19. Actress Helgenberger, MARG; 21. Land under Saladin’s command, once: Abbr., SYR; 24. Shed, MOLT; 27. Scalper’s whisper, PSST; 29. It may be smoked, HAM; 30. Cool cat, HIPSTER; 31. “Bam!” man Lagasse, EMERIL; 33. “Throne”, TOILET; 39. “SILAS Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe”; 41. It’s a pain, ACHE; 42. Cinemax competitor, SHOWTIME; 43. James who worked under pressure?, WATT; 44. Aquaculture facility, FISH FARM; 49. The City of Light, PARIS; 52. Brian once known for art rock, ENO; 53. Big to-do, HOO HA; 54. Many an office plant, FERN; 55. Touchy, ON EDGE; 59. Jean Valjean’s crime in “Les Misérables”, THEFT; 60. Flat, e.g., SHOE; 61. “HOW’S business?”; 63. LeBeouf of “Constantine”, SHIA; 64. Division of una semana, DIA; 65. Turn-ONS (arousers); 66. NTH degree; 68. Somme salt, SEL.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

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05.29.11 — Every Wall Is A Door

Ralph Waldo Emerson 

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Sunday, May 29, 2011

YOU’LL GET THROUGH THIS,

Puzzle by Jeremy Newton and Tony Orbach

Edited by Will Shortz

Sixteen irritating miniature crossword puzzles linked by fifteen imaginary “doors” constitutes this overly complex Sunday crossword, a tedious and unrewarding solve regardless of it’s imaginative afterthought. There is no joy in solving these sixteen little stingy crosswords with scant relationship to one another. It’s just all stop and start while searching for some thoughtful wordplay, being abandoned to a look-what-we-did game of hopscotch nonsense. Clever, yes. Fun, no!  Links to gushing praise from The Club — The Times, the Fiend and Rex.  Patrick Merrell’s diagram, HERE.

“Every wall is a door” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson.

More Emerson quotes, HERE.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

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Clues across — 1. Herbert Hoover and Richard Nixon, e.g.; 8. Go canvassing, say; 12. Partner of whistles; 17. Cop squad in “Monk”: Abbr.; 21. Surround; 22. “Dies ___”; 23. How olives may be packed; 24. “Can’t argue there”; 25. Done for, finito, kaput; 26. Execute perfectly; 27. Auto security feature; 28. Canal part; 29. Knock off; 30. Demander of special treatment; 31. Suffix with exist; 32. Univ., e.g.; 35. Firmed up; 36. Course after trig; 40. Singe Redding; 41. Is for you?; 42. Pull in; 46. Back on the ranch?; 47. Backwoods; 48. Drag wrap; 49. Elands, to lions; 50. Muse for Whitman; 51. Sen. McCain’s alma mater; 55. Superlative suffix; 56. “Hells Bells” band; 57. Some fun in the sun; 60. Petty manipulations; 61. Spring (from); 62. Parade paths: Abbr.; 64. W.W. II beach craft; 65. ___-Magnon; 66. Author R. L. ___; 67. Hot; 68. Mashed, e.g.; 69. Dazed and confused; 71. Cornerstone abbr.; 72. What Sgts. Turn in at HQ’s; 73. Shrub used in dyeing; 74. Some Nissan cars; 76. Teaser on party fliers; 76. Cherish; 77. Light reflector; 82. Diminish; 86. Show a bit of courtesy (for); 88. Unwrap; 89. Runs (around), informally; 93. Nothin’; 97. Under debate; 98. Quite a tale; 99. Bajillions; 100. Turn away; 102. Java; 103. Mine blower; 104. Creator of Genesis; 105. Surfeit; 108. Secretary of state under Carter; 107. One of TV’s Clampets; 108. Suffix with senior; 110. Pref-sneeze sounds; 111. Moolah; 112. Parting of the Pacific?; 113. It may be touch-screen; 114. Diamond stat; 115. Hilton or Westin welcomer; 116. “Holy mackerel!”; 119. Cusp; 120. Bajillion; 121. Rich pad; 125. Linear, for short; 126. I love, to Luis; 127. Assn.; 128. Funny Caroline; 129. Sticks up; 131. Off the shore; 135. Opening letters; 136. Conductor in a white turtleneck; 141. Burrowing arthropods; 142. Classic Alfa Romeo roadsters; 146. Chrysler 300, e.g.; 147. Chair toted on poles; 148. It rarely has more than one part; 149. Walloped; 150. It rolls on a Rolls; 151. “I’m outta here!!”; 152. Compatriot; 153. [See blurb]. — Clues down — 1. Argument ender; 2. A, in Amiens; 3. Actress Gardner; 4. “The original sneaker” sloganeer; 5. Carrier to Ben-Gurion; 6. Parks in a bus; 7. Neuter; 8. Brie exterior; 9. Hold ‘em declaration; 10. Less sophisticated; 11. Treat in Torino; 12. Repeating heart monitor sound; 13. Musician Brian; 14. Fan setting; 15. Rewrite history, in a way; 16. Photog’s choice; 17. Fifth-century pope; 18. UPS drop-off site, often; 19. Emilio of fashion; 20. Hockey fake-outs; 32. Portable cutter; 33. Italian appetizer, literally “little toasts”; 34. All-weather resort amenity; 36. Run, as an exhibit; 37. Literary duelist; 38. Unexpressed; 39. Hush-hush powwow; 42. UV index monitor; 43. Light in a floodlight; 44. Macy’s logo feature; 45. One in a line at J.F.K. or LaGuardia; 47. Rules, quickly; 51. Country that disappeared in ‘91; 52. How-to unit; 53 Seinfeld vis-à-vis Kramer; 54. Author Tan and others; 57. Noel starter; 58. ___ Minor; 59. Cast; 63. Actress Ward; 70. Gossipy Smith; 77. Practiced actively; 78. Some of them are turnoffs: Abbr.; 79. “We’ve waited long enough!”; 80. Pushed (aside); 81. Satisfying; 82. Headaches; 83. Do, by all accounts; 84. Touch; 85. Keeping under glass, e.g.; 86. Muslim trek; 87. Missouri River native; 89. Involuntary extension of troop tours; 90. Pueblo vessel; 91. Its winner beats the loser with a stick; 92 Lid problem; 93. Bygone missile with a tribal name; 94. Literary paradise; 95. Mark; 96. Colosseum entrance, e.g.; 101. Blue-green; 109. Go after; 116. Daily talk show beginning in 2005; 117. Unprincipled; 118. Harsh pronouncement from a judge; 121. Pub order; 122. “Whoopee!”; 123. Happen again; 124. Nino producer; 130. Nimble; 131. Tennis’s Arthur; 132. Filtered stuff; 133. Home to the sport of hurling; 134. P.O. box, e.g.; 136. Pre-C.I.A. grp.; 137. Capital of Zaire?; 138. Suffix on fruit names; 139. Exceptionally; 140. Santa ___; 143. Apathetic reactions; 144. Hit 2011 animated film; 145. Place to buy tkts.

05.28.11 — It's A Secret

Le Secret, c. 1876 William Bouguereau

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Saturday, May 28, 2011

Puzzle by David Quarfoot / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. “Shhhh!” follower, IT’S A SECRET; 11. Counterpart of Selene, LUNA; 15. Hit video game series featuring “Hammer-ons”, GUITAR HERO; 16. Folder, e.g., ICON; 17. Where many songs are heard, ON THE RADIO; 18. “The Eighth Wonder of the World,” informally, KONG; 19. Advancement aid, TAB; 20. Dwellers in the Southern Carpathians, SERBS; 21. Place of uncertainty, FENCE; 22. “Hang on A SEC!”; 24. Joanne of “Red River”, DRU; 25. Longtime Disney name, EISNER; 26. Pinched, perhaps, NASAL; 28. Master, OLD PRO; 30. Some Dior designs, A-LINES; 32. Some ectoparasites, LICE; 33. Educational grp., PTA; 36. Capitalized on something, MADE HAY; 38. Breakfast offering, POP TART; 40. Central Dutch city, EDE; 41. Direction at sea, ALEE; 43. Common purse item, TISSUE; 44. Belabor, OVERDO; 46. Stunned, in a way, TASED; 47. Wriggle, SQUIRM; 50. C ration replacer, MRE; 52. Bank offering, informally, REFI; 53. Diaphanous material, TULLE; 54. Latin lover’s words, TE AMO; 56. Steely one?, DAN; 57. Campus org., ROTC; 58. Political leader who patented a system to alter the buoyancy of steamboats, ABE LINCOLN; 60. Cutting-edge brand, ATRA; 61. Optical tool for a computer user, LASER MOUSE; 62. Slowly withdraw, WEAN; 63. Continue, in a way, PRESS ENTER.

Down — 1. 1973 Jim Croce album, I GOT A NAME; 2. Deli option, TUNA SALAD; 3. Neighbor in the bleachers, say, SIT BESIDE; 4. School dept., ATH; 5. Requests from an ed., SAES; 6. Slipped, ERRED; 7. Cousin of a vaquero, CHARRO; 8. Drink containing taurine, RED BULL; 9. Largest dwarf planet in the solar system, ERIS; 10. Extremely, TOO; 11. Thus, LIKE SO; 12. East Coast b-ball powerhouse, U CONN; 13. Present, NONCE; 14. Inflame, ANGER; 21. Camping cooking option, FIRE PIT; 23. Support staff, CANE; 25. Home to a famous geodesic sphere, EPCOT; 27. City on the Seine, LE HAVRE; 29. Chew, DIP; 31. Western capital, SALEM; 33. Dead to the world, PASSED OUT; 34. Like some questions, TRUE FALSE; 35. Took a night course?, ATE DINNER; 37. Slangy possessive, YER; 39. Michael, e.g., TSAR; 42. Issuer of a 1986 report on pornography, ED MEESE; 44. “The Wizard of Oz” prop, OIL CAN; 45. Mass attire, ORALES; 47. “The Wizard of Oz” costume, STRAW; 48. Stock QUOTE; 49. Extremely, ULTRA; 51. Eastern leaders, EMIRS; 54. Funicular alternative, T-BAR; 55. Janis Joplin’s “Down ON ME”; 58. Ostspitze, e.g., ALP; 59. One found in a pen, CON.

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Puzzle availabe on the internet at

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05.27.11 — Wooer's Surprise

　

Friday, May 27, 2011

Puzzle by Ashton Anderson / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. Seething, ABOIL; 6. The Panthers of the N.C.A.A., PITT; 10. Decision-prompting request, RSVP; 14. “Doctor Zhivago” producer, PONTI; 15. Drama halls, ODEA; 16. Electric weapon, EPEE; 17. Glance, SNEAK A PEEK; 19. Charity allotment, DOLE; 20. Never wrapping up, ENDLESS; 21. Remove forcefully, TEAR OUT; 23. Still contending, IN IT; 24. “My treat”, IT’S ON ME; 25. Fundamentalist group, AL-QAEDA; 28. “With Reagan” writer, MEESE; 29. Fail, GO UNDER; 30. Pierced, ENTERED; 33. Where you may be on a French map, ICI; 34. Meiji prime minister, ITO; 35. “Impossible”, NO CAN DO; 40. Looks like it does, SEEMS TO; 44. Name on some underwear, KLEIN; 45. Peak, MAXIMUM; 46. It exceeds the sum of its parts, GESTALT; 48. Explanatory words, AS IN; 49. Good enough, UP TO PAR; 50. Bar fixture, REGULAR; 54. Currency dropped during the French Revolution, ECUS; 55. Scorned kid brother, maybe, TATTLETALE; 57. Fizz ingredient, SODA; 58. Naturalist’s subj., ECOL; 59. Player of a stoic crew member, NIMOY; 60. Gods swear by it, STYX; 61. Inits. On some underwear, DKNY; 62. Heard trial evidence, TAPES.

Down — 1. Religious recession?, APSE; 2. Bygone European capital, BONN; 3. Linear, ONE D; 4. Like “Cinema Paradiso”, ITALIAN; 5. Analogized, LIKENED; 6. Prince, e.g., POP STAR; 7. Periodic table suffix, IDE; 8. When a foursome starts, TEE TIME; 9. Rest, TAKE TEN; 10. Wooer’s surprise, RED ROSE; 11. Trump the jack, e.g., SPOONERISM; 12. Soft palate, VELUM; 13. Most successful U.S. black golfer before Woods, PEETE; 18. Obiter dictum, ASIDE; 22. Play A SET (do some tennis); 25. Hostile to, in the hills, AGIN; 26. Gonzo, LOCO; 27. Fast learner, QUICK STUDY; 31. Senate censure, ET TU; 32. Make a goner, DOOM; 36. Instrument for Cannnonball Adderley, ALTO SAX; 37. Opposite of spring, tidewise, NEAP; 38. Like some pupils, DILATED; 39. Following the schedule, ON TRACK; 40. With style, SMARTLY; 41. One may hold a drawing, EASEL; 42. Pressing, EXIGENT; 43. Triviality, MINUTIA; 46. “GUESS again!”; 47. Future World setting, EPCOT; 51. Lighting director?, LAMP; 52. Natural soother, ALOE; 53. Curious George’s creators, REYS; 56. Large load, TON.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

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05.26.11 — XY and XX

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Puzzle by Ashish Vengsarkar / Edited by Will Shortz

XY AND XX, XYPANIC HERITAGE, TRUST ME ON TXY, XXHEYS KISSES and THE WRIGHT BROTXX constitute the interrelated group of tXY TXXday crossword.

Other — ANACONDA (14A. King of wrap?), SHERWIN (42D. Williams’s paint partner), TALL TALE (65A. Yarn), TITANIC (10D. Really big), TSUNAMI (24D. Seaquake sequel) and WISE / LATINA (28A. With 8-Across, Sonia Sotomayor, self-professedly).

Mid-size — ACRES, AMINO and AMIDOL, ANSAE (54A. Looped vase handles), ARGUE, Often AS NOT, CARTE, DO LIKE, EARLS, EDGES, EXTRA, ICEBOX, LARUE, NAGEL, OBESE, SAGAN (23D. Astronomy figure), SHEESH, SONAR, SPIES and SPINES, TARIFF, WACO TX, XTERRA, YES SIR, YORKE.

Short stuff — “ACH du lieber!”, AFAR, ALE and AXE and AXL and AXLE, BLT, CAPT, CDC, CEE, ELI and ELM, EXED, FRI, HAH and HAS, HOP, HTS, “I ATE it up and spit it out (“My Way” lyric), IDA, IRS, KEG, LUNA moth, MER (46A. Nice view), NOG, ONYX, RED, ROPE, SAXE, SGTS, SOC, STAR (55D. Astronomy figure), "SUCH is life”, TAG, TDS, TOSH, UHRY, UNI, XERS.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Coll. Major; 17. It’s celebrated for 30 days each year beginning September 15; 21. “Take my word for it”; 31. Is down with; 34. Stickle; 36. There are 843 of these in Central park: 37. 2.0; 38. Matching towel set … with a hint to this puzzle’s theme; 40. Much Apr. mail is addressed to it; 41. Really big; 43. Conrad of old films; 44. It might be casual: Abbr.; 45. Weekly Comedy Central host; 47. Miles off; 48. Foiled bites?; 53. Part of a bell tower; 58. Newsmakers of 1903; 64. Imitate; 65. Yarn; 66. Features of hedgehogs; 67. Company leaders: Abbr.; 68. Barolo or Marsala. — DOWN: 1 ___-Altenburg (former German duchy); 2. Black; 3. Cook, e.g.: Abbr.; 4. School locator?; 5. Cycle starter; 6. SARS monitor, for short; 7. “Fat chance!”; 8. Lash of westerns; 9. Part of PABA; 10. Really big; 11. Moscow’s home: Abbr.; 12. Yule quaff; 13. Sierra Nevada, for one; 15. Bistro offering; 18. Slippery ___; 22. Alfred who wrote “Driving Miss Daisy”; 25. Duty; 26. Nissan S.U.V.; 27. Private aye?; 28. Baylor U. locale; 29. Cooler; 30. “Oh, man”; 34. Can; 35. Lips; 36. ___ Rose; 39. Gen ___ (thirtysomethings); 449. Radiohead front man Thom; 50. Fears of some paranoiacs; 51. Powder site; 52. Court figures; 56. Turning point; 57. Deleted; 58. Parts of bowls, for short; 59. Quaint school event; 60. “The Book of ___”; 61. Seaside ___, N.J.; 62. Handle; 63. Luncheonette order.

05.25.11 — Circled Letters

John Milton pictured above in a painting likely dating

to the late 1630s, in Christ’s College, Cambridge

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Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Puzzle by Jeff Dubner / Edited by Will Shortz

Hmmph!

Circled letters, ABBA, ABBA, CDE, CDE, along with ITALIAN SONNET (2D. With 49-Down, its form follows the pattern of the circled letters) constitutes the interrelated group of this Wednesday crossword. The circled letters are found within CABBAGE PATCH KID (17A. Adoptable doll of the ‘80s), SABBATH BLESSING (27A. Friday night ritual, in Judaism), EN BANC DECISIONS (45A. Some Court of Appeals work) and MANIC DEPRESSION (57A. “An Unquiet Mind” subject”).

Yeah, that’s it!

Other — ABSENTS, ANTIOCH (44D. Ancient capital of Syria), COMPING, CYCLES, DIDN’T GO, IN A DAZE, LETS AT (26A. Sics on), LABAMBA, MAKES IT, NEOCONS, OHIOANS, OSCARS, PASSEL (50A. Whole lot), REPOMAN (38D. Car tower, maybe), RIMINI (23A. Adriatic seaport), RUDDIGORE (34A. Gilbert and Sullivan’s follow-up to “The Mikado”), SEEM TO.

Five-letter — AFLAC, BRINE, HI DAD, LIE ON, Boolean LOGIC, LOONEY, NIGHT, NOSED, ODE TO, OIL UP, OUNCE, OUTIE, STARE.

Short stuff — AHI, ALA, ALES, ANT, ASSN, ASTI, AZT, CANI, DCCL, DRED, DUO, ERIE, FOPS, GAIT, HITS, IBAR, IRON, ISEE, LENO, LOAN, METS, MOD and MODE, NAAN and NANU, NES, OPIE, ORCA, PEA, PIN, RIA, ROSE, SON, SUI generis, TSO, URB.

An example of the Italian rhyming scheme:

When I consider how my light is spent

Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,

And that one talent which is death to hide,

Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent

To serve therewith my Maker, and present

My true account, lest he returning chide;

"Doth God exact day-labor, light denied?"

I fondly ask; but Patience to prevent

That murmur, soon replies, "God doth not need

Either man's work or his own gifts; who best

Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state

Is Kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed

And post o'er land and ocean without rest;

They also serve who only stand and wait."

On His Blindness by John Milton

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Prepare for a bodybuilding competition; 6. Company with a spokes duck; 11. Like Carnaby Street fashions; 14. Prefight psych job; 15. Bats; 16. Yellowfin tuna; 20. Taking after; 21. Part of N.A.A.C.P.: Abbr.; 22. Rest atop; 23. Adriatic seaport; 31. Bread from a tandoor; 32. A monopoly token; 33. General on Chinese menus; 38. Narrow inlet; 41. Tot’s plea; 42. Predator of seals; 50. Whole lot; 51. Appear that way; 52. Start of a number of Keats titles; 53. How it’s done; 56. Corsage part; 57. “An Unquiet Mind” subject; 61. Drug taken in “Rent”; 62. Certain navel; 63. Gold measure; 64. Duck Hunt gaming console, briefly; 65. Searched (around); 66. Dracula’s time. DOWN: 1. Annual Kodak Theatre events, with “the”; 3. Biopic about Richie Valens; 4. Metro area; 5. Stew morsel; 6. Publican’s stock; 7. Dandies; 8. Shylock’s offering; 9. Cookout pest; 10. Spring/summer/fall/winter and others; 11. Reach the big time; 12. Buckeyes; 13. Stayed put; 18. Trot or canteer; 19. Top 10, e.g.; 24. Support beam; 25. When repeated, Mork’s sign-off; 26. TV monologist; 28. Gridder’s on-air greeting, maybe; 29. Pickler’s need; 35. Three-quarters of M; 36. Got promoted; 37. Canal of song; 39. Out to lunch; 40. Removes (oneself); 43. Giving for free; 46. Source of bubbly; 47. Ex-lib, perhaps; 48. “So it is”; 53. Willie Mays’s last team; 54. Andy’s TV son; 55. Scott in 1857 news; 58. Tango team; 59. Holy Trinity part.

05.24.11 — Choices

The chicken or the egg causality dilemma is commonly stated as "which came first, the chicken or the egg?" To ancient philosophers, the question about the first chicken or egg also evoked the questions of how life and the universe in general began. ~ Wikipedia

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Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Puzzle by Michael Blake and Andrea Carla Michaels / Edited by Will Shortz

Five “partners” constitute the main group of this choice Tuesday crossword:

KISS AND SHOW (17A. Tell partners?)
DRY AND MIGHTY (24A. High partners?)
PREJUDICE AND JOY (38A. Pride partners?)
TOUCH AND STOP (49A. Go partners?)
RISE AND SPIT (60A. Shine partners?)

Other — AYES and NAY (37D. Yes votes; 18D. No vote), DARES and ARE YOU NUTS (26D. Motivations for some bungee jumps; 30D. Question after some 26-Down), HIT ON and PAW AT (33D. Makes a pass at; 1A. Handle roughly), HATCHET JOB (11D. Malicious attack), SEWN IN (10D. Like jacket linings, usually), THERMO (47D. Dynamic beginning?), XOXOX and YOURS (70A and 6A. Complimentary close).

Five-letter — AINGE, ALGAE, DEERE, ENEMY, ERODE, I CAME, MOURN, NECRO, OLLIE, OLSON, ON RED, OP ART, ORTHO, Nitrous OXIDE, POBOY, ROBES, STAND, TUFTS, ULNAE, YADDA.

Short stuff — ADO and APO, ADS and ALS, APEX, AXIS, AYES, CORA, DEX, DMAJ, DOHA, DROP, ECO, EGG (23D. “Which came first?” choice), ESP, ETA, FLU, HERR, HOP, IMPS, ION, LIMO, MIRA, NERO, OTOS, POKE, RAO and RCA, RENU, RODE, SAY, SES, SNO, STYX, SUR, TAB and TAN, TEA, TIT, TRA-la-la, UGH, WISP.

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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: 11. Possible cause of a baseball fielder’s error; 15. Seaweed, e.g.; 16. Letters on letters to soldiers; 19. Indent key; 20. Clairvoyance, briefly; 21. Brouhaha; 22. Dead: Prefix; 28. Beginning of Caesar’s boast; 31. Danny of the Celtics; 32. Gangster Bugs; 33. Munster Mr.; 42. Chance to speak; 43. Chief Whitehorse and tribesmen; 44. Eat away at; 45. Straight: Prefix; 48. Judges’ wear; 54. Arm bones; 55. Second letter after epsilon; 56. Artist Hirschfeld and namesakes; 59. Grippe; 65. Lead-in for mouse or willow; 66. Bewail; 67. Foe; 68. Its: Fr.; 69. When a right may be permitted. — DOWN: 1. Jab; 2. Something to reflect on?; 3. Faint cloud; 4. TiVo users may skip them; 5. Quaint get-together; 6. When said three times, et cetera; 7. TV announcer Johnny; 8. “Yuck!”; 9. Raja ___, “The Serpent and the Rope” novelist; 12. Pictures that may make you dizzy; 13. Hero of New Orleans; 24. Key with two sharps: Abbr.; 25. Contact lens care brand; 27. Sorvino of “Mighty Aphrode”; 28. Little troublemakers; 29. Julius Dithers’s wife in “Blondie”; 34. Environmental prefix; 36. Was conveyed; 39. Qatari capital; 40. Pianist Peter; 41. Plummet; 46. “His Master’s Voice” label; 47. Dynamic beginning?; 49. University in Medford, Mass.; 50. Friend of Kukla; 51. Caterpillar rival; 52. Prepare to sing the national anthem; 53. Whip but good; 56. Acme; 57. It might roll up to a red carpet; 58. “Come Sail Away” band, 1977; 61. Charged particle; 62. Big __, Calif.; 63. Jazz saxophonist Gordon, familiarly; 64. ___-Caps (movie snacks).

05.23.11 — Lucky Monday

Looking up at the Blarney Stone, Ireland

　

Luck or fortuity is good or bad fortune in life caused by accident or chance, and attributed by some to reasons of faith or superstition, which happens beyond a person's control. ~ Wikipedia

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Monday, May 23, 2011

Puzzle by Steve Salitan / Edited by Will Shortz

GOOD / LUCK (28D. With 37-Down, what 17-, 24-, 47- and 58-Across are all said to bring), NUMBER SEVEN (17A. Mickey Mantle wore it), SHOOTING STAR (24A. One who’s an overnight success), BLARNEY STONE (47A. Much-kissed rock) and RABBIT’S FOOT (58A. Common key chain adornment) are the interrelated group of this welcome Monday crossword.

Other — GAMUTS (28A. Full ranges), FINAGLE (10D. Achieve through trickery), MASS MARKET (30D. Not a niche audience), MINERAL (42D. 20 Questions category), POINT COUNT (11D. Bridge hand assessment), TAKES FOR (40D. Supposes to be), TO BE SURE (4D. “No doubt”), TSK TSK (46A. “For shame!”).

Five-letter — AGILE, APNEA, AT SEA (12D. Bamboozled), BEAME, BLITZ, BOGEY, CREST, ELIOT, G CLEF, GISMO (6D. Thingamajig), HOW-TO, IONIC, IRANI, IRATE, LANAI, LARGE, LATTE, LOBES, MAGEE (42A. Irish-born Tony winner Patrick), MAIZE, MANIC, MOLAR (13D. Back biter?), OMARS, RELIC, SABLE, TRASH, TRIES.

Short stuff — Long, long AGO, ALUM, AMID, ARR, BIB, DDS, ENE and ETE and EWE, ETCH, HAZE, Shaker HTS., O, IMS, INK, ISL (19A. Crete or Curaçao: Abbr.), IT IS (36D. “Really?”), LAV, LENS, LOIS, MSN, NEMO, OIL, OISE (38A. Seine tributary), OONA, OTO, PAM, PSI, RIOS (18D. Amazon and Orinoco, to natives), SIT, SMEE, SOLE, RIOS, TAE, TIME, TORT, TUTU, ZIT.

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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. Foamy coffee order; 6. Treble sign; 11. Popular cooking spray; 14. Ness of “The Untouchables”; 15. Tehran native; 16. Plains tribe; 20. “Peter Pan” pirate; 21. Online chat components, for short; 22. Sleeper’s breathing problem; 31. Archaeological find; 32. Actor Sharif and others; 33. Former New York mayor Abe; 35. Petroleum; 39. Do-it-yourselfer’s genre; 40. Black Swan” attire; 41. Cavity filler’s deg.; 43. Frenzied; 44. Indian corn; 51. The “L” in XXL; 52. Airport monitor abbr.; 53. Only; 57. Common breast-pocket stain; 62. ___ Bo (exercise system); 63. Able to dance a jig, say; 64. Kind of column; 65. Spot concealed by makeup, maybe; 66. Ear features; 67. Garbage. — DOWN: 1. Microscope part; 2. ‘10 grad now, e.g.; 3. A metronome keeps it; 5. Summer on the Seine; 7. Peak of a wave; 8. John; 9. Reverse of WSW; 23. Pitchfork-shaped letter; 26. Really ticked; 27. Paxar’s “Finding ___”; 29. Surrounded by; 33. One over par; 34. Ram’s mate; 39. Smog, e.g.; 43. AOL alternative; 45. Country sharing a long border with Chile: Abbr.; 46. Civil wrong; 47. Sudden charge in football; 48. Hawaiian veranda; 49. Valuable fur; 50. Hears, as a case; 54. Mrs. Chaplin; 55. Clark’s gal in “Superman”; 56. Make an impression?; 60. Baby’s dinner wear; 61. Command to Fido.