03.18.12 — Rear-End Collisions

Sunday, March 18, 2012

REAR-END COLLISIONS, Puzzle by Mike Nothnagel and Byron Walden

Edited by Will Shortz

Twelve across answers ending with multiple double-letter squares constitutes the interrelated group of this overcomplicated Sunday crossword:

• 15-Across. Burro, e.g., PACK[AN][IM][AL]; corresponding downs — 19D. [AN]NS; 20D. [I’M] IT; 21. AL[TO]
• 26A. When the pressure’s on, CRUNCH[TI][ME]; 13D. RA[TI]O; 14D. AR[ME]
• 45A. Big media event, PRESS[CO][NF][ER][EN][CE]; 35D. I[NF]O; 36D. T[ER]KEL; 28D. S[EN]ECA; 40D. I[CE]S UP; 58D. [PL]EAS
• 53A. Widely popular shows, say, CROWD-[PL][EA][SE][RS]; 8D. THREADE[RS]; 33D. REH[EA]RSES; 43D. NO[SE]S; 64D. [PL]INK
• 55A. Bunting is part of it, SQUEEZE [PL][AY]; 45D.[CO]P[AY]; 58D. [PL]EAS
• 71A. Some morning fund-raisers, PANCAKE [BR][EA][KF][AS][TS]; 35D. CUTS CL[AS]S; 44D. PEQUO[TS]; 61D. AS[K F]OR; 69D. T[EA]MED; 72D [BR]UXISM
• 88A. Late rallies, CLUTCH [PE][RF][OR][MA][NC][ES]’ 63D. STAT[OR]S; 70D. NEA[R F]ATAL; 75D. RE[MA][P; 76D. CI[NC]O; 77D. H T[ES]T; [PE]N UP
• 99A. Car safety feature, CRUMPLE [ZO][NE]; 80D. ALPI[NE] SKI; 86D. CAL[ZO]NE
• 101A. Data storage device, COMPACT [DI][SC]; 104. [DI]LLINGER; 105. [SC]ALE
• 111A. Mexican cooking ingredients called “flores de calabaza” in Spanish, SQUASH [BL][OS][SO][MS]; 96. SLA[MS]; 100. PE[SO]S; 113 [BL]UE PE[NS]; 114. [OS]IS
• 135A. Diamond alternative, PINCH [RU][NN][ER]; 101. CT SCA[NN]ER; 116. ENT[RU]ST; 129D. N[ER]DY
• 142A. Occasions to try out riffs, JAM [SE][SS][IO][NS]; 111. HORAT[IO]; 112. [BL]UE PEN; 104. AMA[SS]; 134. DU[SE]

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THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Spanish girls; 7. Label for unmentionables; 22. Lower; 23. Like some collisions; 24. “For real!”; 28. Hero of an old Scottish ballad; 27. Avails oneself of; 28. Face-offs; 29. Bottom line?; 30. Yoo follower; 31. Heart; 32. Godzilla, e.g.; 34. Epitome of simplicity; 38. One of the “Desperate Housewives”; 37. Formal/informal reply to “Who’s there?”; 41. Daredevil Knievel; 42. Lampoons; 47. Hike the price of, perhaps; 49. Cultivate, in a way; 59. Four front?; 52. Snoops (around); 59. Old French coin; 60. Beknighted souls?; 61. Roy of country music; 62. Draft pick?; 63. An affront; 64. Sources of pollen gains; 68. Letter-shaped opening in some pistons; 69. Diaper wearer; 72. “The Closer” airer; 74. “___ me!”;78. Last place you’ll see a bachelor; 79. Jumbo combatants; 80. Meyerbeer output; 82. Suffered a financial setback, slangily; 83. Irk; 85. Gen ___; 88. It involves a trip to the underworld; 90. Stares slack jawed; 91. Stuck; 92. Al dente, say; 95. It’s not liquid; 96. It’s not liquid; 97. Blue material; 98. Dander; 106. Was manic; 108. Pulls down; 109. Decalogue possessive; 110. Boxer Ali; 115. Barely gets; 118. ___ rat; 119. Echelon; 120. Arles affirmative; 12. Murder ___; 122. Special delivery; 124. Half brother of Athena; 125. 1950 film in which Frank Bigelow investigates his own murder; 128. Hawaiian souvenir?:; 130. Kofi of the U.N.; 31. Drier ‘s aid; 137. First estate; 139. Puts into motion; 140. Rah-rah; 141. Crossed the tarmac; Occasions to try out riffs; 143. Peeping Tom’s home; 144 Raga instruments. — DOWN: 1. OK setting in the summer; 2. Go (to); 3. Protected against; 4. Clambake dish; 5. Skewed; 6. Picks up; 7. Impress clearly; 8. Sewing machine parts; 9. Orts; 10. Poetic period; 11. High-___; 12. Letter after delta; 13. Tangent, e.g.; 14. French weapon; 15. Feels for; 16. Entertains; 17. Diploma, e.g.: Abbr.; 18. Neighbor of Moo.; 19. Manchester’s St. ___ Church; 20. “Nobody else is coming”; 21. Choir voice; 3. E.T.S. offering; 32. Former Ford offering, for short; 33. Runs through; 35. Doesn’t get taught a lesson?; 36. Aberdeen Hillside; 37. Dirt; 38. Storytelling Studs; 39. New York lake; 40. Freezes over; 45. They might be held at a sewage plant; 44. Members of a Connecticut tribe; 45. Aisle or window, e.g.: Abbr.; 46. Part of a medical bill; 46. Pharmaceutical company that developed Metamucil and Dramamine; 51. Clump of grass; 54. Toy piano sound; 56. Remedy for acid reflux; 57. Seasonal helper; 56. Petitions; 61. Request; 63. Unmoving machine parts; 64. Cross; 65. 88-Across, for one; 66. Part of a.m.; 67. Scottish inventor and road builder John Loudon ___; 69. Hooked (up); 69. J.F.K., e.g.; 70. Very serious, as an accident; 72. Habitual teeth grinding; 73. Aligned; 75. Change, as keyboard keys; 76. Dos + tres; 77. Newsworthy 1950s trial, informally; 80. Item of winter sports equipment; 81. Climb, as a rope; 84. Road designer, e.g.: Abbr.; 86. Italian turnover; 87. Confine; 89. Water in the Oise; 90. Attendee; 92. Primarily; 90. Syrian’s neighbor; 94. “Side by Side by Sondheim,” e.g.; 96. Poetry contests; 97. Area near Little Italy; 99. Bank offerings, in brief; 100. Change in Mexico; 101. It can help you get inside someone’s head; 102. Followed; 103. Jamaican coffee liqueur; 104. Bonnie and Clyde contemporary; 105. Item at a bakery; 107. Corn unit; 112. Hamlet confident; 113. Many Bics; 114. Medical suffix; 115. Put in someone’s car; 117. Political writings; 123 Zhou ___; 124. Collect; 125. Cartoon character voiced by Mel Blanc; 126. Airing; 127. Yearn (for); 129. Unhip; 131. Rule that ended in 1947; 132. South American tuber; 133 Bills are in it: Abbr.; 134. Italian actress Eleanore; 135. Bencher’s target; 136. Barbarian; 138. Gridiron figs.