11.30.11 — One

Le Chef de l'Hôtel Chatham, Paris, by William Orpen, 1921

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Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Puzzle Rolf Hamburger / Edited by Will Shortz

ONE (72A. Addition to 18-, 23-, 40-, 54- and 60-Across), MOONED SQUAD (18A. Team on the receiving end of a prank?), MONEY WORD (23A. “E,” “pluribus” or “Unum”?), STONE AGE COACH (40A. Athletic trainer for Neanderthals?), LA RAMONES (54A. West Coast punk rock group?) and GONE IN RUMMY (60A. Entered pie-eyed?) constitutes the interrelated group of this Wednesday crossword.

Other — ANGELO (49D. Dundee who trained Ali), APLOMB, ARCANA, ATONAL, BEDEVIL, BOWERY, CAN TOO, ELOISE, Denmark’s FAEROE Islands, INSTANT, JET LAG, NELSON, RACISM, RERUNS, SEE YOU, THE END, TAOISM, TSETSE (51D. Sleeping sickness transmitter), WIDEST, YVONNE.

Five-letter — ADIEU, ADULT, AMAIN, CLOUD (56A. Kind of computing using remote servers), LUNAR, SCENE, TOQUE (10D. Chef‘s topper), YODEL.

Short stuff — ADO, AFT, ASA, AXE, CHIC, DYES, ECHO, EDDY, ELSE, EMIR, EST and ETS, GAB, GED, GOAL, GUM, HUSH, JEDI, Running LATE, LGA, LEE, LIAR, LIU, LOS, MAR, MTA, NOW, OGLE, OHM, OLEA, ONLY, ORES, ORO and OTO, PAH, RAD, SEXY, SLUR, TRAP, TREE, URDU, YAT, YEP.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Time in some want ads; 4. Shutout spoiler; 8. Globetrotter’s woe; 14. Tuba sound; 15. Language of Pakistan; 16. Plaza Hotel moppet; 17. Washington and ___ University; 20. Seams’ contents; 22. “Arrivederci”; 27. Comeback?; 31. Bother no end; 32. China’s Sun ___-sen; 35. “Come again?”; 36. Call that might result in a 27-Across; 38. Much bigotry; 43. Some summer fare; 44. At full tilt; 45. Send packing; 46. SAT company; 48. Like Cup-a-Soup; 52. Items in many lists of ingredients; 59. Wolf’s look; 66. Guinness Book suffix; 67. Not in any key; 69. Start of some California place names; 70. Stereotypical bum’s place; 71. Police setup. — DOWN: 1. Self-assurance; 3. “Period!”; 4. Candy store purchase; 5. “___ y plata”; 6. Stir; 7. Kind of eclipse; 8. Yoda, notably; 9. Choice word; 11. Imprisoned Peace Nobelist ___ Xiaobo; 12. Simile center; 13. Goal for some H.S. dropouts; 19. Whitewater phenomenon; 21. “Later!”; 24. De Carlo of “The Munsters”; 25. Most inclusive; 26. Olive genus; 28. In vogue; 29. “Shut your mouth!”; 30. Its symbol is omega; 33. Things understood by few; 34. Eastern belief; 37. Letters on some N.Y.C. baggage tags; 39. Playground retort; 40. Like a proverbial 10; 41. Arborist’s study; 42. Oil-rich ruler, perhaps; 43. “Way cool!”; 47. Say “Offisher, I am completely shober,” e.g.; 50. Gov. Rockefeller; 53. Public spectacle; 55. X-rated; 57. When doubled, a 1997 Jim Carrey movie; 58. Just; 60. Chew the rag; 61. Ear: Prefix; 62. Diva’s demand; 63. Nick, say; 64. Overseer of N.Y.C. bridges; 65. “I reckon so”.

11.29.11 — Money

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Puzzle by Aimee Lucido / Edited by Will Shortz

MONEY MONEY MONEY (1976 Abba song … or a hint to the starts of 17-, 23-, 38- and 50-Across), SCRATCH AND SNIFF (17A. Like some stickers), GREEN GOBLIN (23A. Enemy of Spider-Man), BREAD CRUMB TRAIL (38A Navigation aid for Hansel and Gretel) and BACON NUMBER (50A. Degrees of separation in a Hollywood parlor game) constitute the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword.

Other — CUNEIFORM (10D. Writing with wedges and such), DURESS (47D. Compulsion by threat), IPHONE (6D. “There’s an app for that” device), LABYRINTH (35D. Feature of the ancient palace of Minos at Knossos), ON THE / SET (14A. With 5-Down, where “Quiet!“ is often yelled), PANDA BEAR (32D. Chinese zoo attraction), oh let's see it again!, STRAGGLER (3D. One finishing a marathon in eight hours, say).

Five-letter — ADOBE, APT TO, AVIAN, BONER (50D. Screwup), CHAIR, CLANG, Mea CULPA, DISCS, ELOPE, NANNY, OMBRE (44A. Card game of Spanish origin), REHAB, TEASE.

Short stuff — ACEY, AMOK, ARM (55A. Branch), AURA, AYE, BOMB, BYOB, CARS, CATO, CHER, DATA, DEM, DEYS, DIRE, DONE, DOST, EEN, EGAD, EMMY, GRE, HEM, HON, HUE, ICES, INCH, KERR, LIMB (56A. Branch), MAR, META, MOD, OLDS, ONE A, OREM, OWE and OWNS, PLEA, REFS, ROOF, RYAN, SAD, SAFE, SLEW, ST LO, TAG, TCBY, THAI, UVEA, YARN, YEW.

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THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. LPs and 45s; 6. Cools, as drinks; 10. Traffic components; 15. “Not guilty,” e.g.; 16. Eye part; 20. Spicy cuisine; 21. Sweetie; 22. Make fun of; 27. Identify in a Facebook photo; 29. Source of stress for a coll. Senior; 30. Where shingles go; 33. Pants part; 34. Cutlass or Delta 88; 42. Tale; 43. Thumbs-up vote; 45. Almanac contents; 47. Not Rep. or Ind.; 49. Wood in archery bows; 53. Building made of bricks; 63. Prime draft status; 64. Possesses; 65. Probably will, after “is; 66. Deborah of “The King and I”; 67. Bygone Tunisian V.I.P.’s; 68. “Get clean” program. — 1. “O mighty Caesar! ___ thou lie so low?”: Shak.; 2. Move slowly; 4. Leader of a meeting; 7. Trolley sound; 8. Day’s end, to a poet; 9. Downcast; 11. Birdlike; 12. Ones dressed in stripes, for short; 13. Secure; 18. Often-impersonated diva; 19. Normandy battle site; 24 “Gosh almighty!”; 25. Utah city; 26. Crash and burn; 27. Franchise offering “soft serve” and “hand scooped”; 28. Subtle glow; 33. Color; 36. Urgent; 37. Large amount; 39. Ancient Roman censor; 40. Actress Meg; 41. Tut’s resting place; 46. ___-deucy (backgammon variety); 48. TV award; 51. Mrs. Doubtfire, e.g.; 52. Run to Las Vegas, perhaps; 53. Crazedly; 54. Finished; 57. Self-referential, in modern lingo; 58. Like many restaurants without a liquor lic.; 60. Like some ‘60s fashion; 61. Run a tab; 62. Disfigure.

11.28.11 — In the Eye Of the Beholder

La Belle et La Bête, 1946, Jean Cocteau

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Monday, November 28, 2011

Puzzle by Andrea Carla Michaels / Edited by Will Shortz

PRETTY BOY FLOYD (20A. Notorious 1920s-’30s bank robber), UGLY BETTY (33A. America Ferrera’s Emmy-winning role); PLAIN JANE (44A. Hardly a beauty queen), and GORGEOUS GEORGE (54A. 1940s-’50s wrestler with golden locks) constitute the interrelated group of this attractive Monday crossword.

Other — ABILENE (10D. Kansas town on the Chisholm Trail), GALUMPH (25D. Walk clumsily), HOFFMAN (9D. Dustin of “Rain Man”), IMAGINE (42D. John Lennon song with the refrain “You may say I’m a dreamer …”, ISOTOPES (5D. Springfield’s minor-league team on “The Simpsons”), JEERING (46D. Making catcalls), PILSENER (39D. Light-colored beer or the glass it comes in), SECEDED (43D. Left the Union), SLOE GIN fizz, WISE GUY (4D. Smart aleck).

Mid-size — ACELA, AGREE, “… old woman who lived in A SHOE“, ARABS, AVOID, BREED, CANOE, FICHE, GUESS, GULAG, HAD AT, IRANI, LLAMA, LUSTY, NEURO, NO MEN, OBESE, RANG IN, RE-UNE, SEAMEN, SEE ME (24A. Terse note from the boss), SEMIS, STEEP.

Short stuff — AMOS, ASHY, DECO, DID I, EIRE, ERA, FDA, FLOW, GARB, GINA, GOO, GREW, GWEN, HTTP, IMAC, IRIS, LAM, LIMP, MANY, NERO, NOHO, ODOR, Put ON AN act, OVER, ROUE, SARA, The Beatles’ “SHE Loves You“, SHIN, SON, TEED, TEL, TOMB, TONE, YER and YEAR and YEAS.

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THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Move like water; 5. Apple computer; 9. Attacked, as a challenge; 14. “What ___ do to deserve this?”; 15. ___ Lee cakes; 16. Fatter than fat; 17. “Famous” cookie name; 19. Piece of microfilm; 23. Sticky stuff; 29. Prepared to give a “Jeopardy!” response; 36. Brain surgeon’s prefix; 37. Big Band ___ (1930s-’40s); 38. Almost straight up and down, as a cliff; 40. Fugitive’s flight; 41 Big rigs; 47. Naval workers; 50. Fast train to New York City; 60. Shun; 61 Much-kicked body part; 62 Middle of the eye; 64. Attend homecoming, say; 65. Bell sound; 66. Crime solver Wolfe of fiction; 67. Lhasa apso or Labrador; 68. Sophomore or junior; 69. Dancer Verdon. — DOWN: 1. Rx watchdog org.; 2. Like Dali’s watches; 3. Fragrance; 6. Lots of; 7. Bedouins, e.g.; 8. Birchbark boat; 12. Like fireplace grates; 13. Nettled, with “off”; 21. ___ of the Unknowns; 2. “Aw, quit ___ bellyaching’!”; 25. Twenty questions attempt; 26. Shake on it; 27. Andes animal; 28. URL starter; 30. Solzhenitsyn’s “The ___ Archipelago”; 31. Tehran native; 32. All-female group’s policy; 34. Business card abbr.; 35. Approving votes; 45. N.Y.C. area near the Village; 48. Recent: Prefix; 51. Hot blooded; 54. Apparel; 55. Above; 56. Don Juan type; 57. Actress Lollobrigida; 58. Got longer, like Pinocchio’s nose; 59. The Emerald Isle; 63. Charlie Sheen, to Martin.

11.27.11 — YIN/YANG

Sunday, November 27, 2011

YIN/YANG, Puzzle by Jeff Chen / Edited by Will Shortz

With a grid resembling the symbol for yin and yang, this Sunday crossword is essentially two completely separate puzzles, rife with cul-de-sacs, divided right and left, ostensibly representing yin and yang, along with ten supportive entries:

On the right for yin, dark, night, moon, winter, cold:

AFRAID OF THE DARK (16D. Suffering from nyctophobia)
ROUGH NIGHT (45D. Question asked to one with a hangover)
HONEYMOON (43D. Time in Hawaii, maybe)
OLD MAN WINTER (102A. He might put chills up your spine)
CAUGHT A COLD (116A. Started sneezing and sniffling, say)

On the left for yang, light, day, sun, summer, hot:

LIGHT AS A FEATHER (42D. Weighing hardly anything)
DAYDREAMER (37D. Walter Mitty, e.g.)
SUN YAT-SEN (48D. Kuomintang co-founder)
SUMMER BREEZE (31A. Something to enjoy on the beach)
HOT AND HEAVY (24A Full of strong feelings)

Other — There are a few more "Asiatic answers": AHI (93D. Yellowfin tuna), FU MANCHU (40D. Master criminal of books and film), HONSHU (95D. Island south of Tsugaru Strait), RAMA (15A. Name of nine Thai kings), Moo SHU pork and TSUNAMIS (87D. Ring of Fire perils).

Mid-size — AMELIA, ARCHIE, A TERRE (18D. On the ground, in ballet), COASTAL, CONSULS, DNA TEST, EN MASSE, FOR SHAME, INSTATES, LANCIA, MIGUEL, MOROSE, MOTHERS, NEEDLE, ON THE NOSE (110. Perfectly), ORAL EXAM, OVEN MITT, RAY GUN, ROUSSEAU (15D. “The Social Contract“ philosopher), SAHARA, SCOOTS, SENATE, SET PIECE, SHERYL (94A. Crow with a powerful voice), SHOO-IN, STEGOSAUR (29A. Fearsome creature with plates on its back), SUDSIER, SWEDES, TONNES, USENET.

Five-letter — ABNER, AHOYS, Coeur d’ALENE, Rice-ARONI, ASK ME, ASTON, BOYLE, CARLA, DONNA, DORKS, DRABS, ELIHU (2D. Root of politics), ELVES, ENOLA, ERNIE, ERROR, FILTH, H BOMB, HOMER, INIGO, INTER, ISLAM, LEMON, LOANS, MADAM, MCCOO, NEALE, NILLA, RIYAL, RYANS, SENSE, SHINE, SOSAS, TWIRL (107D. Pirouette).

Short stuff — AAHS, ANI, ARS, ATE and ATH, AXE, AWRY, BYTE, CTA, DAZE, Opus DEI, DEMO, EGGO, ELP and ESP, ENA, ENDS, ERIN, ETH, FOB, GAP, Mata HARI, HAT, HEH and HES, HON, IDO, IRON, ITA, KHAN, MIRA, MOAT, MSG, NAT, NEHI, “What OF IT?”, OLAV, ODES and ONES, OSHA, PEA and PEU, RIDE, SAO, SLAT, SLRS, SONG, STDS, SUIT, SURE, TEN, THEM, TRAC, TRE (62A. Amount past due?), UFOS, UNIT, USAF, “YOU’D Be Surprised”.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Test-drive; 5. Scintillate; 10. Who wrote “By their own follies they perished, the fools”; 19. Name of five Norwegian kings; 20. Dogpatch yokel; 21. Name on a B-29; 23. Priates of the Caribbean, e.g.; 26. Instinctive desire; 27. Villainous role for Montalban; 28. Bedelia of children’s literature; 34. More foamy; 35. “Let’s make ___ true Daily Double, Alex”; 36. Two on a line; 39. Razz; 40. Sleaze; 43. Mata ___ (spy); 47. Contented sighs; 49. Start of many Portuguese place names; 50. Family ___; 51. Gloomy; 53. Irving Berlin’s “___ Be Surprised”; 55. Area 51 holdings, supposedly; 58. Flavor enhancer; 59. Representatives in a foreign country. 60. Italian woman; 63. N.C.A.A. part: Abbr.; 64. Absorbed, in a way; 65. Breach; 66. Qatari bank note; 67. It has a crown; 68. Turner who led a rebellion; 69. Musician’s asset; 71. Where the vice president presides; 72. Grp. With the 1973 gold album “Brain Salad Surgery”; 73. Windy City rail inits.; 74. Dud; 75. Green hue; 76. Perfection, for some; 78. Ams, but not dams; 80. All together; 82. Dismiss; 83. Abbr. on a B-52; 85. Dance partner?; 86. Early online forum; 87. Gillette brand name; 88. Gift in “The Gift of the Magi”; 90. Classic soft drink brand; 92. Land o’ blarney; 93. Words on an information desk; 97. Guidelines: Abbr.; 100. Seaside; 113. Edith’s cranky husband; 114. Not straight; 115. Dept. of Labor arm; 118. Sorvino of “Mighty Aphrodite”; 119. Opponents of us; 120. Architect Jones; 121. Singer Susan with the 2009 #1 album “I Dreamed a Dream”; 122. Wood alternative; 123. “No problem!”; 124 Fancy car starter?; 125. Family of Slammin’ Sammy; 126. Some shooters, for short. — DOWN: 1. Uncool set; 3. Lady’s address; 4. Digit protector; 5. Bygone Las Vegas hotel/casino with a roller coaster; 6. Certain W.M.D.; 7. Lay to rest; 8. Writer Zora ___ Hurston; 9. Singer Tennessee ___ Ford; 10. Sly laugh sound; 11. Low dice roll; 12. Castle guard; 13. Some cobblers of lore; 14. Sci-fi zapper; 17. Author Cervantes; 25. Flabbergast; 30. Some of Keats’s feats; 32. Neighbor of Sudan: Abbr.; 33. “Bambi” character; 38. Lock; 41. Establishes; 44. MGM motto starter; 46. Malcolm X adopted it; 51. Is protective of; 52. Particularly: Abbr.; 54. “CSI” procedure; 56. Grilling procedure; 57. Bit of stage scenery; 59. “Cheers” waitress; 61. Coer d’___, Idaho; 70. British weights; 71. One of a standard group of five; 75. Little bit of French?; 81. Singer DiFranco; 84. “Bad!”; 89. Eight bits; 91. It may precede a kiss; 94. Skedaddles; 96. Italian automaker since 1906; 98. Adirondack chair element; 99. Hosts of the 1912 Olympics; 101. Some shark products; 103. Bits; 104. Marilyn who hosted 1980s TV’s “Sold Gold”; 105. Mates’ cries; 106. Nabisco brand; 108. Boot, in baseball, e.g.; 109. “___ Hope”; 111. Corporate bigwig; 112. Frozen food brand; 117. Sweetie.

11.26.11 — Saturday Soup

Bouillabaisse, photo by Sean Davis

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Saturday, November 26, 2011

Puzzle by Brad Wilber / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. What might unfold when you have guests, CHAIRBED; 9. Area, SPHERE; 15. Target of criticism in Vincent Bugliosi’s 1996 book “Outrage”, LANCE ITO; 16. Singer of the #1 country hit “Forever and Ever, Amen”, TRAVIS; 17. Sambuca flavorers, ANISEEDS; 18. Two of the three gifts of the Magi, RESINS; 19. “The Mod Squad” studio MGM; 20. Some discount beneficiaries: SRS; 21. Swarm, BESIEGE; 22. Traffic jam din, BLARES; 24. Burmese, e.g., BREED; 25. They’re filled before shooting, ROLES; 26. Unlikely hoarder, NEATNIK; 28. Rich, in slang, OOFY; 29. 18^th-century London political/literary establishment, KIT-CAT CLUB; 32. Airport inits., TSA; 33. Big nothings, CIPHERS; 34. Suffix in the world of collectibles, ANA; 35. “Whipped Cream & Other Delights”, HERB ALPERT; 37. Answer that’s an example of itself, ABBR.; 38. Ghosts often work on them, MEMOIRS; 39. Rural call, BLEAT; 40. Teegarden of TV’s “Friday Night Lights”, AIMEE; 41. Company that introduced Dramamine, SEARLE; 42. Brickyard legend, AL UNSER; 45. Half-CAF (coffee order);46. Natl. Blood Donor Month, JAN; 47. Bouillabaisse fish, TURBOT; 48. Plane for a space cadet?, LA LA LAND; 50A. Reduced, ON SALE; 51. Show a milky shimmer, OPALESCE; 52. Under quota, say, MEAGER; 53. Purveyor of some sour grapes?, BAD LOSER.

Down — 1. Bouillabaisse base, sometimes, CLAM BROTH; 2. Not stress out, HANG LOOSE; 3. Napoleon is a commander in it, ANIMAL FARM; 4. Suffix with 42-Down; 5. Candy brand, REESES; 6. Stands for viewings, BIERS; 7. Some itinerary data, briefly, ETDS; 8. Heading for the first of two columns, DOS; 9. Works vulnerable to rain; STREET ART; 10. Group sitting under a tree, PRESENTS; 11. Like some Jewish dynasties, HASIDIC; 12. One of the Wilcoxes in “Howard’s End”, EVIE; 13. Nuptial need, RING; 14. Ab ESSE (absent: Lat.); 21. Shots, e.g., BRACERS; 23. Wearer of una corona, REY; 24. Invitation exhortation, BE THERE; 26. Like winter, vis-à-vis fall, NIPPIER; 27. Trick-taking game, KLABBERJASS; 29. One of about five in a league, KILOMETER; 30. Derange, UNBALANCE; 31. One making the rounds, BARTENDER; 33. Knickers go-with, CAMISOLE; 36. Ashtray base, perhaps, BEAN BAG; 37. Resembling, ALA; 39. Happen to, BEFALL; 41. Mélange, SALAD; 42. Small building block, ATOM; 43. Figure in plane geometry, LUNE; 44. Bear aloft?, URSA; 45. Bullfighting cloak, CAPA; 48. Tactic against a net rusher, LOB; 49. Fender of Fender guitars, LEO.

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THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

11.25.11 — Leftovers

Friday, November 25, 2011

Puzzle by Joe Krozel / Edited by Will Shortz

Six 15-letter answers constitute the main feature of this scrappy Friday crossword:

TAILGATE PARTIES (16A. Lots of stadiums have them)
SARASOTA FLORIDA (29A. Baltimore Orioles’ spring training site)
USED CAR SALESMAN (38A. His inventory has gone many miles)
PENTATONIC SCALE (39A. “Amazing Grace” melody basis)
STARS IN ONES EYES (40A. Naïve optimism)
GO HEAD OVER HEELS (57A. Get smitten hard)

Other — AVON LADIES (62A. Workers associated with ding-dongs), BAR SCENE (25D. Backdrop for many singles matches?), DEAD TREE (22D. Hard-copy), CALL CENTERS (24D. Where “operators are standing by”), GLASS CASE (17D. Bell jar relative), GOES SOUTH (28D. Declines), NEWS BREAK (64A. Reason to “interrupt this program”), TAKES NOTE (5A. Observes, with “of”), WATER LEVEL (15A. It might tax a levee), WAXY COATING (15D. Cerecloth feature).

Five-letter — ABOVE, ATE IN, ELSES, ERODE, GRIND, KEPIS, LXII, NO HOW, NOVIA, OVINE, PAGAN, ROGET, SUE ME, TEENS.

Short stuff — ABO, AFTS, AGA, ALGA, ALB and ALL, AMOS, ANES, At A SET time, AS NO other, BESS, DALE, DAR and EAR, D-DAY, EEN, ENS (58D. Napkin edges?), ERA, ESC, FAIN, FURL, GEEK, GEN, I MAY, “That IS SO you!”, LUAU, NET, NON, NNE, NSC, PANE, PLOP, RENA, REPO, SLR, SUN, SUPS, TATI, TRON, TUES, UPI.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Mussel morsel; 14. Roll up; 18. Something soaked up; 19. Super Bowl of 2029; 20. Hoboken-to-Fort Lee dir.; 21. When to bein an operation; 23. Grp. Advising the president; 25. 1940s-’50sw White House name; 26. Way out: Abbr.; 27. Topkapi title; 41. Time of day, briefly; 42. Start to stick?; 43. 17-Down part; 45. Campaign manager: Abbr.; 51. Blood-typing syst.; 52. Subject of the 2007 biography subtitled “The Man Who Became a Book”; 54. Old wiring org.; 63. “Chicago” husband ___ Hart; 65. It happens by default. — DOWN: 1. Times of day, briefly; 2. Island do; 3. Tedious work; 4. See 44-Down; 5. Star of “Mon Oncle”; 6. Didn’t take out?; 7. French military wear; 8. Tudor ___; 9. Canonflex, e.g.; 10. Take in; 11. Like a wool supplier; 12. Period of rapid growth; 13. No one ___ business; 29. Takes evening courses?; 30. At ___ time (prearranged); 31. Sofer of soaps; 32. Beta follower; 33. ___ other (uniquely); 34. Gladly, old-style; 35. Wishy-washy response; 36. Land in a depression; 37. Hydrocarbon endings; 43. Like some rites; 44. With 4-Down, first and foremost; 45. “Ain’t gonna happen!”; 47. Opposite of build up; 48. Girlfriend, in Granada; 50. Dismissive retort; 53. Circus performer; 55. Sound associated with ripples; 59. Adriatic repub.; 60. “God, home and country” org.; 61. Place to put a plug.

11.24.11 — NO GO

  

Still Life with Turkey Pie, 1627, Pieter Claesz, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

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Thursday, November 24, 2011 — Thanksgiving Day

Puzzle by Sharon Delorme / Edited by Will Shortz

NO GO (65A. Canceled … or a hint to answering 17-, 27-, 34-, 45- and 57-Across), FOR THE GOLD (17A. Try to win), BY THE BOOK (27A. Not vary from proper proedure), WITH THE FLOW (34A Follow everyone else), TO THE DOGS (45A. Deteriorate) and OVER THE TOP (57A. Take things way too far) constitute the interrelated group of this tryptophanic Thursday crossword.

Other — ARLENES (11D. TV’s Francis and others), BED REST (12D. Standard means of recovery from an illness), GROOVES (39D. Musical cuts?), HOOSEGOW (10D. Pokey), OLD SCORE (37D. Something to settle), POTHOOK (24D. S-shaped holder), RE-ENACT (19A. Put on again), SHANGHAI (4D. Abduct), SPECTRE (55A. Dr. No’s org.), UP CLOSE (38D. Practically in one‘s face), WHO’S NEXT (34D. Waiting room query).

Mid-size — ALIAS, ALIGN, ANENT, ASGARD (9D. Heavenly home of the Norse gods), BLOTTO (5D. Wasted), COSMO, EDGES, ERASER, GIRLIE, G-SUIT, IGORS, IRENE, I SEE IT, LIEGE, LONERS, OMERTA (43D. Italian code of silence), OUTLAW, PROOF, RARELY, SCARAB (1. Ancient Egyptian talisman), STEALS, TESORO.

Short stuff — AFC, AHAB, AIR (6D. Transportation mode), ANO, AREA, BABA, BAT, BOHR, CASH, EFGH, EGO, EKE, ERIE, ESTA, EWES, FORT, GIL, OLLA, OST, PPS, RAIL (63A. Transportation mode), ROO, SEXT, SHIN, SKEE, SORE, SRIS, TEE time, TOG, TOTE, TPS, UGH.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Titles of respect; 5. Rum-laced cake; 9. Fictional character who declares “Sleep? … I do not sleep, I die”; 13. Bills, e.g.; 14. It may be assumed; 15. Feeling stood-up, say; 16. Real estate figure; 21. Draftsman’s need; 22. True; 23. Pranks, in a way, informally; 26. Mrs. Forsyte in “The Forsyte Saga”; 29. Parts causing paper cuts, say; 30. Period with a tilde?; 33. German direction; 38. “That’s revolting!”; 40. Piglet’s pal; 41. Gerard of “Buck Rogers in the 25^th Century”; 42. Prosecutor’s burden; 50. Vodka drink, informally; 51. Scrape (out); 52. Jet pilot’s wear; 53. Anchorites; 60. Cantina vessel; 61. Send private messages?; 62. Stravinsky and Sikorsky; 64. Juanita’s “this”; 66. Much of a flock. — DOWN: 2. Almost never; 3. Searcher’s cry; 7. Be in a lineup; 8. Queens stadium name; 14. Chargers’ org.; 18. Tribe that lent its name to a canal; 20. In regard to; 28. Nobelist Niels; 32. Alphabet quartet; 35. Carryall; 36. Feudal lord; 44. Old West trading post; 46. Gems, precious metals, etc., in Spain; 47. Billy the Kid or Jesse James; 48. Hardly like a he-man; 49. Moves furtively; 54. Soccer injury site; 56. Letter addendum, for short; 58. I, in old Rome; 59. Enclothe.

11.23.11 — A Variety of Gardens

 

Hanging Gardens of Babylon by babilku7 on imageshack

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Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Puzzle by Ian Livengood / Edited by Will Shortz

GARDEN VARIETY (55A. Ordinary … or what the beginning of the answer to each starred clue is?), ROCK THE CASBAH (20A. *1982 hit by the Clash), ROSE BOWL (*1994 World Cup final site), TEA LEAF (37A. *Fortuneteller’s bit) and BEER PONG (45A. *Popular drinking game) constitute the interrelated group of this lively Wednesday crossword, e.g., rock garden, rose garden, tea garden and beer garden.

Other — ADORABLE (38D. Eliciting an “aww,” maybe), AREA RUG (51A. Trapdoor concealer), CARAMBA (10D. South-of-the-border cry), COME AGAIN (32D. “Huh?”), EMPEROR / NERO (23A. 64-Across, for one; 64A. Colossal statue outside ancient Rome’s Colosseum), HIGH TONED (11D. Pretentious), ORLANDO (42D. Florida getaway locale), SAWHORSE (5D. Carpenter’s aid).

Mid-size — ACHED, AIMEE, AMEBAE, Taken for A RIDE, ASKEW, AVRIL, ERGOT (19A. Grain disease), FOYER, GYROS, HONDO, I AM TOO, IDIOM, MAINE, NAACP, OLOGY, OWNER, PERKED, RELOG, REYES, “SACRE bleu!”, SAID NO, SEALED, SMOKEY, STABS, SWANK, SYNOD, TREAT, USHER, UTERO.

Short stuff— ADAM, AMMO and ANNO, ANIL, ASHE, BARB, CHIC, CIAO, DET, DRY, DYER, EBAY, EEG, ENO, HERA (8D. Goddess whose name is an anagram of her mother’s), KAHN, NANA, ODD, OSOS, OWEN, OYS, SAC and SAS and SIS and SINS, SUCH, TIO, WHIR, WRY, YALE, “YER durn tootin‘!”.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Some confessions; 5. Quite; 9. Yearned (for); 14. Economist Smith; 15. Arthur who often raised a racket; 16. Home to Bates College; 17. “Later”; 18. Fan sound; 24. “You are not!” retort; 30. Cul-de-___; 35. Part of A.D.; 36. Spanish uncle; 40. M.D.’s reading; 41. Stuff to be loaded; 43. 1953 John Wayne film; 44. Teetotaling; 48. Sounds of woe; 50. Shut up; 58. Ritzy; 60. Cutting put-down; 61. Salon employee; 63. Blue shade; 65. Church council; 66. Big name in locks; 67. Bogotá bears. — DOWN: 2. Cut to the chase, say; 3. Org. co-founded by W.E.B. Du Bois; 4. Bear with a hat; 6. Program distributor; 7. All the rage; 9. Single-celled creatures; 12. Record producer Brian; 13. Ford Field team, on scoreboards; 21. Pick up the tab; 22. Family nickname; 25. One of the capitalist class; 26. Science; 28. Register anew; 29. ___ Glendower, last Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales; 30. Attempts; 31. Singer Mann; 34. France’s Dominique Strauss-___; 39. Room with a closet, often; 46. Sat (up); 47. Roulette bet; 49. Declined; 51. Singer Lavigne; 52. Spanish kings; 53. In ___ (unborn); 54. Sidewalk vendors’ offerings; 56. Parent company of Shopping.com; 57. Grandma; 58. An original member of the Star Alliance; 59. Twisted.

11.22.11 — Subjectively Yours

An Apple for My Teacher, Image Credit-Betzi Stein

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Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Puzzle by Victor Fleming / Edited by Will Shortz

In this Tuesday crossword the subject pronouns WE, I, THEY, HE, YOU, SHE and IT constitute the interrelated group as found in WE MADE IT (17A. Shout upon reaching a destination), I CAN DREAM (26A. “Wouldn’t that be nice”), THEY SAY (38A. Intro to many an adage), HE GOT GAME (50A. 1998 Spike Lee joint), YOU AGAIN (63A. “Well, look who’s back!”), SHE-DEVILS (11D. Wicked women) and IT FIGURES (34D. “Just my luck”).

Other — ADMIRAL, APOSTLE, ASSESS, FUELED, I CHING and ITCHES, JOIN IN, KENOBI, MARTHA, NEW AGE, OLD HAT (16A. Been-there-done-that), REMEDY, RESAVES, SNIPING, SPASMS.

Five-letter — ABC TV, AERIE, ATTIC, BOWIE, CIVIC, CLONE, EDGAR, ELECT, GOOSE, MAYOR, O’NEAL, O RING, PARES, POMME (3D. French apple), SOAPY, SPICE, YENTA (55D. Dirt spreader).

Short stuff — ADS, AID, ALES, A LOT, AUS, AYE, BAD, BAJA, BLT, BOP, BUSH, DUET, IAMB, IDE, KERR, LEW, “Don’t gimme no LIP!”, LIRR, LYE, MAD, MFA, MSRP, NOPE, OBEY, ONO, PCT, RAND, RITE, SNIP, SOR, STY, RAND, RITE, TWIN and TWIT, UOFA, USC, YEA.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Some jazz; 4. Opposite of alta; 8. Involuntary jerks; 14. Singer with a negative-sounding name; 15. Bunches; 19. Fix; 20. Foot of verse; 21. Salon sound; 23. Give a hand; 24. Vote in; 30. Exact look-alike; 32. Backs up another time, as computer data; 33 Kind of duty or center; 35. Basketball’s Alcindor; 36. Line to Penn Sta.; 37. Sandwich shop staple, in brief; 38. Intro to many an adage; 42. Fayetteville campus, briefly; 44. Suffix with brom-’ 45. “Duck, duck” follower; 47. Taking potshots (at); 49. “The King and I” actress; 52. When doubled, displaying affection, informally; 56. Trojan’s sch.; 57. South African money; 59. “Can’t help ya!”; 60. Popular daytime talk show; 65. Powered; 66. Follow; 67. Election Day no.; 68. Size up; 69. Baby naming, e.g.; 70. “___, though I walk …”. — DOWN: David who sang “Let’s Dance”; 2. Either “Paper Moon co-star; 4. Scolding word to a dog; 5. Drinks for Chaucer’s Miller; 6. Add one’s voice to others; 7. Dusty room, often; 8. Frat. Counterpart; 9. Files a complaint, say; 10. Four- or five-star officers; 12. Foaming at the mouth; 13. Pig’s place; 18. “Dancing With the Stars” airer; 22. Whittles (down); 25. Knucklehead; 27. Like Enya’s music; 28. Where eagles dare?; 29. Sticker inits.; 31. Ancient Chinese divination book; 33. Exact look-alike; 35. Caustic substance; 37. Outback; 39. “J. ___,” 2011 film; 40. Part of N.Y.S.E.; 43. One of 12 in the New Testament; 46. Circular gasket; 48. Yens; 49. Obi-Wan ___; 51. One called “hyzone”; 53. Covered with suds; 54. Flavor enhancer; 58. Piece played by a pair; 60. Painter’s deg.; 61. Switz. Neighbor; 62. Side jobs for actors; 64. Agreement with the captain.

11.21.11 — Eye Tunes

Monday, November 21, 2011

Puzzle by Peter A. Collins / Edited by Will Shortz

iTUNES (67A. Where to find the songs in this grid … or an appropriate title for this puzzle?), BEHIND / BLUE / EYES (1A. With 10- and 65-Across, 1971 hit by the Who), BROWN-EYED GIRL (28A. 1967 hit by Van Morrison) and GREEN-EYED LADY (44A. 1970 hit by Sugarloaf) constitutes the interrelated group of this fine Monday crossword.

Other — AREA RUG (48A. Floor cover that doesn’t reach the walls), CAREENS (27A. Turns at high speed), CD PLAYER (27D. Phonograph successor), LOTTE LENYA (11D. Actress married to Kurt Weill), ORANGE TREE (30D. Part of a Florida orchard), REUNITE (42D. What the Beatles never did), TEA BAGS (9D. Packets from Twinings of London, e.g.), VOYAGING (22D. Taking a long trip at sea).

Mid-size — ABASE, ADAGIO, APNEA, BATMAN (51A. Who said “The joke‘s on you, Riddler!”), BIGOTS, BOY TOY (23A. Older woman‘s plaything, in slang), BRAYER, DOSAGE, ELATE, ESPYS, ET ALIA, INANE, IN ON IT, ITUNES, LAYER, LOYOLA, RAINY, RAMSES (45D. One of 11 Egyptian pharaohs), RERAN, UNION.

Short stuff — ACE, AIRS, ALDA, “I cannot tell A LIE“, ALPS, ANNE, “Take A TIP from me!”, Pennsylvania AVE, BABE, BAR, BONN, BRIT, EDIT, ELY, ENG, ERA, ETS and ETAS, FOXY, FRA, GAL, GARY (36D. Indiana city on Lake Michigan), HAGS, ICE, “Can I GO now?”, IMO, MEL, NEA, NEED, NIT, ONT, “… OR I quit!“, PALS, RATS, RENO, RITA, RONS, SAGO palm, SNEE, SWAN, TEX-Mex, TON, YOU, ZANE, ZIT.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 7. Bit of acne, slangily; 14. Slowly, on a musical score; 15. Pitching whiz; 16. Hollywood’s Howard and Perlman; 17. Haters; 18. Teachers’ org.; 20. SAT org.; 21. Pennsylvania ___ (White House locale: Abbr.); 32. Broadcast again; 33. Peaks for yodelers; 34. Where London is: Abbr.; 37. Ridiculous; 38. Guy’s date; 39. Sleep problem; 41. Boatload; 42. Funnywoman Rudner; 43. Stratum; 50. Greek H’s; 52. ___ diavolo (spicy sauce); 53. Legal profession; 56. Snobs put them on; 57. “I would say …,” in text messages; 59. Chicago university; 62. Old dagger; 64. Part of the conspiracy; 66. Cathedral town near Cambridge. — 1. Jesus in the manger, e.g.; 2. Change, as text; 3. Crones; 5. Annual coll. Hoops contest; 6. Medicine amount; 7. Western writer Grey; 8. Winter sculpture medium; 10. Donkey, often; 12. The “U” of U.S.S.R.; 13. TV sports awards; 25. Pond swimmer; 26. One of two wives of Henry VIII; 28. London native, informally; 29. Gambling mecca; 31. Delight; 35. Scholarship basis; 39. “M*A*S*H” star; 40. Buddies; 46. Historical stretch; 47. Latin list ender; 48. Humiliate; 49. Puddle-producing; 52. Clever; 53. Capital of West Germany; 55. “Darn!”; 58. Funnyman Brooks; 60. Province next to Que.; 61. Whom Uncle Sam wants.