02.07.12 — Vanity

All Is Vanity, 1892

————————

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Puzzle by Mike Buckley / Edited by Will Shortz

VANITY (50D. Unappealing personal trait … or a word that can precede the start of 17-, 28-, 46- or 60-Across), MIRROR OF THE MIND (17A. Imagination, metaphorically), CASEWORKER (28A Investigator of family problems, say), PLATE GLASS (46A. It’s seen in shop windows) and FAIR-HAIRED CHILD (60A. One who’s favorably looked upon) constitute the interrelated group of this fine Tuesday crossword.

Other — ALABAMA (54A. Yellowhammer State), ALL-STAR (23A. Featuring top players), ESTONIA (12D. Its internet addresses end in .ee), who knew?, GALAXIES (39D. Andromeda and others), IN A TRICE (38D. Very quickly), INTEREST (8D. Hobby), SILENT H (33D. Start of every hour?), THIN SKIN (11D. What an easily offended person has).

Mid-size — AMON-RA (6D. King of gods, in Egyptian myth),  BOGUS (1A. “That‘s lame, dude“), BUM RAP, CAMDEN, EMILIO, GIRDLE, HAITI, HOMIER, IF NOT, ISLED, ORIOLE, RATES, REACH, RENEE, SABERS, SAUNA (29D. Finnish hot spot), SHORT, SPY ON, TONGA (53A. Monarchy in the South Pacific), TOTIE (65A. Funny Fields), TOURED, URIAH Heep, XEBEC (57A. Three-masted sailing ship).

Short stuff — AIL, AKA, ASIA Minor, ASH, ASKS, ASSN, AWS, AVEC, BANE, BRUT, EGG and EGO, EIN, ERIK, FLAB, FOR, GUT, HEP and HOP, HTTP, IAL, “Here I GO Again“, ISH, KEIR, MANS, NIM, OHIO, ONCE, PEEK, POD and ROD, REED, ROT, SAFE, SING and TING, SKIT, UAR.

————————

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 10. Letters starting an address; 15. Staffs; 16. Indiana’s smallest county or the river it touches; 20. Part of a nuclear reactor; 21. Zellweger of “Miss Potter”; 22. Perform on “Glee,” perhaps; 23. Featuring top players; 25. Gets special attention; 27. Sneaks a look; 32. Suffix with fool; 34. League: Abbr.; 35. “Here ___ Again” (1987 #1 hit); 36. Hispaniola’s western half; 39. Remove the insides from; 40. Alternatively; 42. Article in Austria; 43. Like the food Jack Sprat eats; 45. Suffix with confident; 49. Opposite of sans; 56. Very dry, as Champagne; 59. Subtraction game; 63. Fairy tale start; 64. Dullea of “2001: A Space Odyssey”; 66. Harmonica part; 67. Quotes, as a price; 68. Observe secretly. — DOWN: 1. Trumped-up charge; 2. Orange-and-black bird; 3. Waist reduction aid; 4. Nasser’s fed.; 5. There has been one with every Pixar film since 1998; 7. Burglary target; 9. Pompeii’s downfall?; 10. More comfy; 12. High tone?; 13. Peas’ keeper?; 18. Be rude at the dinner table in a way; 24. Theater playlet; 26 Sympathetic syllables; 30. One of a Freudian trio; 31. Balderdash; 36. Up on things, in the ‘40s; 37. Not feel so good; 39. Andromeda and others; 41. Spare tire material; 44. Humpty Dumpty, e.g.; 45. Marooned, in a way; 47. Took the show on the road; 48. Duelers’ swords; 51. Estevez of “The Breakfast Club”; 51. City across the Delaware River from Philadelphia; 55. Bank nos.; 56. Source of ruin; 58. Composer Satie; 60. Supporting; 61. Alias letters; 62. Move like a bunny.