07.31.12 — Collisions

Vintage Photo of a Car and Cow Collision

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Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Puzzle by Michael Sharp / Edited by Will Shortz

COLLISIONS (64A. Causes of some rear-end damage, as represented by the rear ends of 18-, 22-, 38 and 58-Across), HARVEY DENT (18A. Gotham district attorney who becomes Batman’s nemesis Two-Face), SAINT NICK (22A. Central figure in a Clement C. Moore poem), CHICKEN SCRATCH (38A. Barely legible handwriting) and RING-A-DING (58A. Having razzle-dazzle, to a Rat Packer) constitute the interrelated group of this bang-up Tuesday crossword.

Other — ANATOMIC (2D. Structural), CAR CRASH (3D. Cause for emergency vehicles or a tow truck), CHURN OUT (41D. Produce in large quantities), COMPADRE and PAL (39D. Amigo; 54A. Amigo), HUNG ONTO (42D. Kept), VICTROLA (10D. Early phonograph).

Mid-size — ANACIN, BARK AT, COIN-OP, COSINE, DOCENT, ENLARGE, GONDOLA (43A. Venetian transport), HENRY I (48D. English king said to have died from eating a “surfeit of lampreys“), INDICT, NOISILY, SCRIMS, SKY-LIT, WORSHIP.

Five — AISLE, ANIME, CESAR Millan, DUNNO, ELVES, ISAAC Hayes, “I’M ON A roll!”, “The Lady IN RED”, I TINA, KENYA, KNEAD, LICIT, Jamie MOYER, NADIR, NO-NOS, PATIO, PINED, SCARE, Sans-SERIF, SPIKE Lee, STOMP, TEMPT, T CELL, VOCAB.

Short stuff — AMA, ANAL, COE and DOE, CYTE, EHUD Barak, ELHI, ETON, FLUS, GEEK, GIST, GLAM, LAP, MUTE, MYNA, NIA Vardalos, NOSE, OAR, OMEN, ONES, RACE, RAH, SEN, TED, TIGE, UNO, WAG.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. 10k, E.G.; 5. Walk heavily; 10. Words, words, words: Abbr.; 15. Uptight, informally; 16. Birthplace of Obama’s father; 20. ___ Millan, TV’s “dog whisperer”; 21. Immune system agent; 24. Adore; 26. Propeller for a 43-Across; 27. Vardalos of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”; 28. Org. for docs; 29. Turner memoir; 32. Museum guide; 34. Central part of an argument; 36. How some chew gum or talk on cellphones; 44. Former Israeli P.M. Barak; 46. Plot; 49. Sans-___ (kind of typeface); 52. Game with 108 cards; 53. Runner Sebastian; 56. Blow up; 62. Slangy expression of ignorance; 67. Jamie ___, oldest pitcher in major-league history to win a game; 68. “Shaft” composer Hayes; 69. Remote button; 70. Director Lee; 71. Lure; 72. School for English prices. — DOWN: 1. Cheerleader’s cry; 4. North Pole workers; 5. Like atria; 6. Hit 2012 film with a talking stuffed bear; 7. Small bills; 8. Mimicking bird; 9. Place to sunbathe or barbecue; 11. Eclipse, to some; 12. Trig function; 13. Pain relief brand; 14. Threaten, dog-style; 19. Geared to 1^st-12^th grades; 23. Low point; 24. Joker; 25. Yearned (for); 30. Taboos; 31. Airplane seating option; 33. Suffix with spermato-; 35. Buster Brown’s dog; 37. Fright; 40. Work, as dough; 45. Anonymous John; 46. Theater drops; 47. Like arcade games; 50. Bring charges against; 51. Seasonal threats; 55. Legally allowed; 57. Japanese cartoon art; 59. Computer whiz; 60. Prominent part of a Groucho disguise; 61. Razzle-dazzle; 65. Drink like a cat; 66. Obama, Biden or McCain (but not Palin), in 2008: Abbr.

07.30.12 — The Dark Knight

Monday, July 30, 2012

Puzzle by Rosemarie Dolan and Christopher Geach

Edited by Will Shortz

BATMAN (42D. Comics debut of 1939), DARK KNIGHT, CAPED CRUSADER, BRUCE WAYNE and GOTHAM constitute the interrelated group of this very dark Monday crossword.

Other — ACT III, CAROLINA, DULCET, ELIDES, EVIL-EYED (37D. Glaring malevolently), FALL OVER, ICE AGE, IN A PANIC, ISLETS, LENTIL, MANILA, ORACLE, PONIED, POSEIDON (20A. Greek god of the ocean), RETURNED, STAIRS.

Five — ALERT, BERET, ELSIE the Cow, “War IS NOT the answer“, LAURA, MANIA, MARIO, MATCH, OLIOS, PERCH, RIGOR, SAGAN, STATS, TEASE.

Short stuff — ADDS, AERO, AGRO, Santa ANAS, ASKS, BBS and BIS, COHN, CRY, DELI, DIS, EPA, ESS, EVEN, FRET, GNAT, HST, “Am I TO blame?”, KENT State, LEM, LUG, LUST, MAD, MAIN, MARS, MAIN, MR T, “NE’ER the twain shall meet”, NEST, NINE, NOG, ODE, PAL, PUN, SLOG, SLY, STOW, TAN and TAU, TDS, UNI, “VA-VA-Voom!“, VEES.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Translucent mineral in sheets; 5. Telephone wire, for a bird; 10. Trudge; 14. Santa ___ (hot desert winds); 15. Hodgepodges; 16. Prefix with plane; 17. Alternative name for 42-Down; 19. Buzzing annoyance; 21. Go together perfectly; 22. Buddy; 24. Capital of the Philippines; 25. Prefix with lateral; 26. QBs pass for them; 27. Treat, as leather; 28. Moon landing vehicle, for short; 29. Upside-down six; 31. Mustachioed plumber of Nintendo games; 33. Alternative name for 42-Down; 39. Having pricked ears; 40. Like 2, 4, 6, 8, etc.; 42. Twice, in music; 45. Foxlike; 46. Insult, slangily; 50. Middle part of a Shakespearean play; 52. What an aphrodisiac may produce; 53. Schlep; 54. Call playful names, say; 55. Topple; 57. Central; 58. Alternative name for 42-Down; 60. Farming prefix; 61. Green military cap; 62. Geese flying formations; 63. Robin’s haven; 64. Numerical data; 65. Opposite of subtracts. — DOWN: 1. “What, me worry?” magazine; 2. Hysterical; 3. Area between Georgia and Virginia; 4. Questions; 5. Paid (up); 6. Says “o’er” for “over,” e.g.; 7. Severity; 8. Lawyer Roy of the McCarthy hearings; 9. F.D.R.’s successor; 10. Carl who hosted “Cosmos”; 11. Protein-rich vegetarian soup; 12. Future revealer; 13. Hometown of 42-Down; 18. ___ State (Ohio university); 21. Craze; 22. So-called “lowest form of humor”; 24. Fourth rock from the sun; 27. Letter after sigma; 30. Eco-friendly org.; 31. Actor with the catchphrase “I pity the fool!”; 32. Poem of praise; 34. ___ the Cow (mascot); 35. Store where you might take a number; 36. Weep; 38. Didn’t keep, as a gift; 41. Eggy Christmas drink; 43. Big freeze; 44. Flight between floors; 46. Melodious; 47. Keys; 48. Stash; 52. First lady before Michelle; 55. Worry; 58. Air gun ammo; 59. Road curve.

07.29.12 — Around the World in 72 Days — the Acrostic

Around the World in Seventy-Two Days board game

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Sunday, July 29, 2012

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Edited by Will Shortz

This Sunday’s acrostic draws a quotation from Around the World in Seventy-Two Days by Nellie Bly.

In the late 1800s, New York journalist Elizabeth Cochrane Seaman made a name for herself as daredevil reporter "Nellie Bly," posing as a patient to expose horrendous conditions in mental hospitals, crusading for the rights of women and the poor, and becoming a global celebrity with an around-the-world trip that saw her beat Jules Verne's fictional schedule. ~ Amazon.com

The quotation: I FOUND THE ROADS IN THE SAME STATE OF PERFECTION IN ALMOST ALL THE EASTERN PORTS AT WHICH I STOPPED. I COULD NOT DECIDE… WHETHER THE SMOOTHNESS OF THE ROAD WAS DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF… NEW YORK STREET COMMISSIONERS.

The author’s name and the title of the work: NELLIE BLY, AROUND THE WORLD

The defined words:

A. Chuck Berry song that repeatedly asks, “Honey, is that you?, NADINE

B. Image maker cited in 2012 politics (3 wds.), ETCH A SKETCH

C. Logical in a straightforward way, LINEAR

D. Nocturnal display each autumn, LEONIDS

E. Forward, as an exhibitionist, IMMODEST

F. Repletion’s opposite, EMPTINESS

G. Member of London’s Yeomen Wanders, BEEFEATER

H. Some unfinished business (2 wds.), LOOSE ENDS

I. Command from one who’s wary… or polite (2 wds.), YOU FIRST

J. Like drinking tea with your pinkie extended, maybe, AFFECTED

K. Item common on coffee tables, REMOTE

L. Kia’s counterpart of Hyundai’s Sonata, OPTIMA

M. Lacking social polish, UNCOUTH

N. Cramped; prejudiced, NARROW

O. Stroke that’s facilitated by “soft hands” (2 wds.), DROP SHOT

P. Bulletins of the last decade, TWEETS

Q. Practical joke that can leave one hopping mad?, HOTFOOT

R. Gaseous hydrocarbon, ETHANE

S. Group of prominent people (2 wds.), WHO’S WHO

T. Descriptive of a small town (hyph.), ONE-HORSE

U. Don’t take lying down, RESIST

V. Extremely desperate (hyph.), LAST-DITCH

W. Speed; off, DISPATCH

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The full paragraph of the quotation:  I have spoken about the perfect roads in Ceylon. I found the roads in the same state of perfection in almost all the Eastern ports at which I stopped. I could not decide, to my own satisfaction, whether the smoothness of the road was due to the entire and blessed absence of beer wagons, or to the absence of the New York street commissioners. ~ Chapter IX. Delayed Five Days, Around the World in Seventy-Two Days.

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07.29.12 — The Fare at World Fairs

Chicago World's Fair - Thomas Moran

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Sunday, July 29, 2012

DEBUT PROMOS AT THE WORLD’S FAIR

Puzzle by Kevin G. Der / Edited by Will Shortz

Eleven world fair debuts clued by their promos constitutes the interrelated group of this fine and fairly fresh Sunday crossword:

• X-RAY MACHINE - 23A. “Get an inside look at our booth” (Buffalo, 1901)
• TELEPHONE - 23A. “Get an inside look at our booth” (Philadelphia, 1876)
• TOUCHSCREEN - 41A. “You’ve gotta get your hands of this” (Knoxville, 1982)
• TYPEWRITER - 44A. Puts the keys of the future at your fingertips” (Philadelphia, 1876)
• HEINZ KETCHUP - “Bring your dogs to our booth” (Philadelphia, 1876)
• HUMANOID ROBOT - 69A. “The fair’s toughest man alive” (New York City, 1939)
• ICE CREAM CONE - “Get the scoop on our new hand-held offering” (St. Louis, 1904)
• WALL OUTLET - “Fairgoers may be in for a shock (St. Louis, 1904)
• FERRIS WHEEL - 97A. “Starting a giant revolution at the fairgrounds” (Chicago, 1893)
• ESCALATOR - “Getting fairgoers moving on the right track” (Paris, 1900)
• IMAX THEATER - “Now showing our big vision of the future” (Osaka, 1970)

Exposition Universelle of 1900

Other — AMATEUR, ASTORIA, HATE MAIL, ISOLATE, OLE MISS, ON A LARK, ONE SHOT, OPERA GOER (37D. Met somebody?), SHARK TALE (54D. 2004 Will Smith animated film), SPIRITED, STIR IT UP, WAR MEDAL.

Six-letter — AGORAE, AMUSES, Grand BAHAMA, BATTLE, BEDLAM, DELIST, DISARM, EGERIA (100D. Female counselor), EMILIO Pucci, ENESCO (98D. “Romanian Rhapsodies“ composer), FAKE IT, GATEAU, GOOSES, I’M LATE, ITALIA, KENNEL, LILIED, MAGPIE, MANAGE, MAN RAY (30A. Early 20^th-century Modernist), ON SALE, OSMIUM (114A. Densest natural element), PREY ON, RANCOR, REFUEL, SEE FIT.

Five — “Have A NICE day“, ASYLA, AT TWO, AUDIT, Van DAMME of “Timecop“, DOUSE, EBOLI (61D. Mezzo-soprano in “Don Carlos“), EINER, ETHER, EVIAN, GLIDE, HE SHE, IRINA Slutskaya, LIARS, MACAW, NIGEL Bruce, PATCH, SCOUR, TATAR, TEENS, UNITS, USE ME, WHELK (33D. Sea snail) .

Short stuff — ACE, AGAR, AGIN, AGO, AIX, Santa ANA, ANIL, ASIA, ASPS, AVG, BOXY, Sammy CAHN, CAMP, CHEZ, EEL, ELD, ELMS, ENYA, ESS, EWW (“Gross!”), FATE, GOO, GO TO, IAMS, Pop ICON, IDA, IMAM, LYRA, MACE, MEGA (“Big“ prefix), MESH, NANO (“Small” prefix), NERO, ODOM Lamar, ONE L, OREL, OTIS Williams, PEEL, PETS, PIED Piper, PUMA, RAGE, RAH and RAM, REQ, RIFT, SADA Thompson, SARI, SHAQ Daddy, SLO, SPAM, STOW, TAN, TAXI, TEEM, TIL, TORO, UGH (“Gross!”), UNO, UTAH / UTES (115D. With 84-Down, a Pac-12 team), VEE, Viva VOCE, WHAT, WIT, XLI.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. One of six World Cup qualifying zones; 54. Tickles; 11. Visit; 15. Summer getaway; 19. Pedigree alternative; 20. Relative of a crow; 21. Shade darker than azure; 22. Gelatine substitute; 27. White Rabbit’s song in “Alice in Wonderland”; 28. Do a pit job; 31. Whiz; 32. Two-time world figure skating champ Slutskaya; 33. Card; 34. Back; 35. Thruway warning; 38. Double-check, in a way; 47. Inclusive pronoun; 48. Russian city and oblast; 49. Thompson of “Family”; 50. Day spa treatment; 52. Ones with natural curls?; 56. Veteran’s award; 63. Queens neighborhood; 65. Dove’s sign; 67.Transcript meas.; 73. Run into; 74. Energizes; 76. Ore. neighbor; 77. Just for giggles; 83. Bob Marley tune made popular by Johnny Nash; 86. “Quo Vadis” role; 87. Swarm; 88. Incredulous reply; 90. It’s unavoidable; 91. Battalions, e.g.; 103. Winter reading, say; 104. Pothook shape; 106. Muck; 107. Fly without power; 109. One that’s hard to get ahold of?; 111. It may receive a few pointers; 113. Hullabaloo; 123. Continue after landing; 124. Designer Pucci; 125. Source of the Hulk’s power; 126. Bull run participant?; 127. “Shepherd Moons” Grammy winner; 128. Remove from the stock exchange; 129. ___ Daddy (N.B.A. nickname). — DOWN: 1. City where Cézanne was born; 2. Bengalese wrap; 3. Sermon leader; 4. Retreats; 5. Like hams; 6. Eggnog ingredient; 8. Full of life; 9. Mussorgsky’s “Bilder ___ Ausstellung”; 10. Judge to be suitable; 11. Bistro dessert; 12. First-year law student; 13. ‘Fore; 14. Faulkner’s alma mater; 15. “High Hopes” lyricist Sammy; 16. Greek squares; 17. Pull through; 18. Hunt for food; 24. Colorful parrot; 26. Small garden; 29. Game with Wild cards; 35. Lay away; 38. Neighbor of Draco and Hercules; 39. Sweet-talk, say; 40. Frenze’s place; 42. Part of many a bistro’s name; 43. Tennis player’s asset; 45. Group in many a park; 46. Small energy boost?; 51. Part of summer in Santiago; 54. Deer hunter; 55. Online deluge; 57. Aristotle’s “fifth element”; 58. Extinguish; 60. Fiji alternative; 62. Onetime subject of the Mongols; 57. Fightin’; 70. Lamar of the N.B.A.; 71. Ready to move; 72. Fight; 75. Pore over; 78. Divide; 80. When some lunches end; 81. Go well together; 86. Some allergy sources; 89. Nastygrams; 92. Actor Bruce; 93. Sequester; 95. Single-issue publication; 96. 1972 Bill Withers hit; 97. Act like an expert without being one; 99. Bad blood; 101. Antiquity, once; 102. Like some ponds; 110. Ones with fictional accounts; 113. Far from aerodynamic; 114. Williams of the Temptations; 118. Beach souvenir?; 120. Year Claudius I become emperor; 121. Course list abbr.

07.28.12 — All Over the Place

© Google Earth

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Saturday, July 28, 2012

Puzzle by Victor Fleming and Sam Ezersky

Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. Part of a certain log, STARDATE; 9. Appliance maker that produced the first microwave oven for household use (1955), TAPPAN; 15. Give lots of work … or criticism, PILE IT ON; 16. In, AT HOME; 17. Dashing through the snow?, IDITAROD; 18. Landmark also known as Kissavos, MT OSSA; 19. Thick, FAT; 20. Defiant retort, MAKE ME; 22. Mustang option, T-TOP; 23. Beat, FLOG; 25. Like a game ending in double overtime, say, HARD-WON; 27. “Copper Canyon” and Coroner Creek”, OATERS; 30. Discompose, ABASH; 33. They may be empty in a vending machine, CALORIES; 36. Journal keeper of fiction, CRUSOE; 37. Straight, ALIGNED; 38. Certain seal, SEA CALF; 39. Listing agent’s principal, SELLER; 40. Genre of Lauren Weinberger’s “The Devil Wears Prada”, CHICK LIT; 41. So far, AS YET; 42. Actress Sobieski, LEELEE; 43. Aids for home parties, WET BARS; 45. Draw, in a way, TOKE; 49. Federal org. with compliance officers, OSHA; 51. Like Jesus on the Shroud of Turin, many believe, IMAGED; 54. BEL esprit; 55. Capital of Iran’s Fars province, SHIRAZ; 57. Faithful practice, MONOGAMY; 59. Peewee, LITTLE; 60. How hair might fall out, IN CLUMPS; 61. Almost perfect, as a game, ONE HIT; 62. Pen pal?, CELLMATE.

Down — 1. Neaten (up), SPIFF; 2. Start of a big wave?, TIDAL; 3. O’Connor’s successor, ALITO; 4. No longer serving: Abbr., RET; 5. Geometry meas., DIAM; 6. ATRA Plus (pharmacy purchase); 7. Really listened, TOOK HEED; 8. Charms, ENDEARS; 9. Under control, TAMED; 10. Bygone N.Y.S.E. ticker symbol, ATT; 11. Picture-hosting Web site, PHOTOBUCKET; 12. Kind of drip, POST-NASAL; 13. “Are not!” elicitor, AM SO; 14. Spring’s counterpart, NEAP; 21. Title box choice, MRS; 24. Reference program launched in 2005, GOOGLE EARTH; 26. Top gun, WAR ACE; 28. Actor Will of “Up All Night”, ARNETT; 29. Second-TIER; 31. Cadenzas, e.g., SOLI; 32. Weight, HEFT; 33. Sight along una calle, CASA; 34. They may be pint-size with big heads, ALES; 35. 100% pure, LILY WHITE; 36. Put a cover on, CEIL; 38. 1976 Hall & Oates hit, SHE’S GONE; 40. Like many cookie jars, CERAMIC; 42. Flight, LAM; 44. “Les Pêcheurs de Perles” composer, BIZET; 46. Start to care?, OBAMA; 47. Combed, as hair, KEMPT; 48. ELYSE Knox, co-star of Lon Chaney in “The Mummy’s Tomb”; 49. Olympics locale where the first figure-skating triple jump was landed, OSLO; 50. It’s just over a foot, SHIN; 52. Check within, say?: Abbr., ENCL; 53. Sweetums, DOLL; 56. Fourth caliph in Sunni Islam, ALI; 58. Jam (up), GUM.

　

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07.27.12 — The Friday Crossword

Procyon lotor

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Friday, July 27, 2012

Puzzle by Joe Krozel / Edited by Will Shortz

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

A PASSAGE TO INDIA (15A. 1984 film based on the 1924 novel)
DISPUTED BORDERS (17A. Causes for some wars)
ACTS INDIFFERENT (44A. Pretends not to care)
YALTA CONFERENCE (47A. 1945 event)
EPISTEMOLOGICAL (2D. Like questions of what is knowable)
PASTORAL EPISTLE (3D. 1 or 2 Timothy)
ADELAIDE’S LAMENT (12D. “Guys and Dolls” song)
TIRE MAINTENANCE (13D. Some basic car care)

Other — ATONEMENTS, CENTER LANE, CHOSEN FEW (29D. Elite), DATA MINES (6D. Finds customers from social media, perhaps) , EASE INTO, EMOTED, GERENTS (16D. Rulers or managers), LACERATE, LED INTO, MAP ONTO, PHONE NO, PONTIFF (31D. Wearer of the triennium crown), SENDING, SIDEWAYS, SLEETING, SOLATES (30A. Undergoes liquefaction, as a gel), SOONEST.

Mid-size — ARIANE (19A. French-built rocket), AT BATS, The CENCI, COONS (9D. Woodsy scavengers), CREDIT, CSPAN, DEAD ON, DENSE, DOPED, DietICIAN, IRONER, LEAD IN, LORES, MINTS, PADUAN, PANES, PEPCID, SCENE, TENTED, WASTED.

Short stuff — EGIS, EIRE, ERA, ISU, LEE and LET, LIAT, NER Tamid, OMAN, RND, SAMI (23A. Laplanders), STE, USTA, WIS.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Line of acid reflux medications; 7 Gash; 18. Court org.; 20. Downwind; 21. Some religious experiences; 24. ___ Tamid (synagogue lamp); 25. Items often found near the cash register; 26. Suffix with diet; 27. Mark atop, as graph points; 29. Money for nothing?; 31. It may have an ext.; 32. Actresses Graff and Kristen; 33. Next; 34. Like some rule-breaking Olympians; 35. Not getting it; 36. Leave; 38. Guidance; 39. What’s between fast and slow?; 41. Great Lakes state: Abbr.; 42. Segue; 43. Country whose name sounds like a Jamaican exclamation; 48. Shooting pellets?; 49. Completely gone. — DOWN: 1. Katherina or Bianca, in “The Taming of the Shrew”; 4. Where to hear hearings; 5. Sch. In Ames; 7. Preceded; 8. Baseball stat; 10. Its national anthem is “Amhrán na bhFiann”; 11. Boxing seg.; 14. Take on gradually; 22. Didn’t hide one’s feelings, to say the least; 23. Bad thing to make at a restaurant; 26. One working on a board; 28. Tiffany features; 30. Askance; 33. Spoofing, with “up”; 35. Absolutely perfect; 37. Like campers at night, typically; 39. “The ___: A Tragedy in Five Acts: (Shelley work); 40. Unlike HDTV screens; 42. “South Pacific” girl; 45. Relig. Title; 46. Christian ___.

07.26.12 — Double U, Single W

Letter W by Leo Reynolds 

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Thursday, July 26, 2012

Puzzle by Joel Fagliano / Edited by Will Shortz

Double U across and single W down in eight squares constitutes the main feature of this Thursday crossword.

• EQUUS (15A. 1975 Tony winner for Best Play) with TWERPS (3D. Jerks)
• ON A CONTINUUM (19A. Situated somewhere between two extremes) with DOWNLOAD (13D. Many a modern purchase)
• IN PERPETUUM (24A. Forever) with WYLE (26D. Noah of “ER”)
• DO YOU UNDERSTAND (39A. “Capeesh?”) with SWIT (35D. “M*A*S*H” Emmy winner)
• IGNIS FATUUS (57A. Will-o’-wisp) with SWARMS (54D. Has a hive mentality?)
• VACUUM SEALED (64A. Like some bags of food) with ALL WET (48D. Totally wrong)
• MUU MUU (70A. Colorful dress) with OTTAWA (53D. River to the St. Lawrence) and SPEWS (59D. Expels forcibly)

Other — AQUINO, BALLS, DATABASE, ED NORTON (12D. Best pal in a 1950s sitcom), FERMI, IN A LIE, I ROBOT, NAMING, OUT-PACES, REHIRE, SAY OK, SEDGE, SHASTA, SIC ON, SILENT, STAFFS, ST PETE, THAIS, TROOP, TV SPOT, VENUES, VOICES.

Short stuff — AGRA, ALES, AMP, ARM, ATTA, DRAG, EAT, ELLY, ELM, ESS, FATE, FROS, HARE, HMM, IOUS, I SEE, KISS, LBS, LOIS, MIR, MOOR, NEHI, NEST, OAF, ODOR, ORO, OSLO, PIC, RUES, SAG, SPF, STOP, TAM and TIM, TAP and TAU, TENS, TIER, VEDA, VIN.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. White-robed figure of Greek mythology; 5. Many an ad buy; 11. Hindu scripture; 16. Bring back on; 17. Target of some sprays; 18. Ones coming from the Arc de Triomphe?; 21. It orbited Earth 86,331 times; 22. Brief promises?; 23. Urge to attack; 28. European blackbirds; 30. Home of Literature Nobelist Sigrid Undset; 31. Give approval; 33. Station; 34. 73-Across units: Abbr.; 36. “Family Guy” wife; 38. Goofus; 44. Torque symbol; 45. Echelon; 46. Plastic surgeon’s concern; 47. Lead-in to boy; 49. 1894 opera set in Alexandria; 52. Jackson 5 features, slangily; 55. Gymnasium floor choice; 60. Lottery picks; 62. They may be drawn from a 63-Across; 67. Tea party attendee in “Alice in Wonderland”; 68. “Ah, yes”; 69. Ceremony for a newborn; 71. Hideout; 72. Rays’ home, informally; 73. Figure in Newton’s second law. — DOWN: 1. Unit of length that’s roughly the diameter of a proton; 2. Time’s 1986 Woman of the Year; 4. Poet’s ending?; 5. Go together as a group; 6. Music halls, e.g.; 7. California county; 8. Shot; 9. “El Tiempo es ___” (Spanish proverb); 10. Beauty marks?; 11. Bass and soprano; 13. Many a modern purchase; 14. Gulf of Finland vis-à-vis the Baltic Sea; 20. QB Tebow; 22. Pioneering 1950 Isaac Asimov book; 25. ___ May Clampett of 1960s TV; 26. Noah of “ER”; 27. Heath; 29. Lotion letters; 32. Meet face-to-face?; 37. Mans; 39. Researcher’s electronic tool; 40. Surpasses; 41. “M*A*S*H” drink; 42. Bummer; 43. Locale in “Slumdog Millionaire”; 44. Top for one who says “Top o’ the morning”?; 48. Totally wrong; 50. How Perry Mason often caught the guilty; 51. Not providing any hints, say; 56. American ___; 58. Water chestnut, e.g.; 61. Identity theft targets: Abbr.; 64. Sportscaster Scully; 65. Parent’s order; 66. Stage item; 67. “I wonder …”.

07.25.12 — Letters and Words

Donkey standing on a beach staring at the trash

left behind by the ocean waves like signals of a close future.

Location:  Moñitos, Colombia

Photo and caption by Daniela Londono, National Geographic

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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Puzzle by Daniel Raymon / Edited by Will Shortz

Four 15-letter made-up phrases of THREE (8A. With 68- or 69-Across, what 16-, 32-, 42- and 60-Across each consists of) WORDS (68-Across) containing only THREE different LETTERS (69-Across) constitutes the interrelated group of this devishly clever Wednesday crossword.

ASSES ASSESS SEAS (16A. Fools evaluate bodies of water?)
LESSEE SELLS EELS (32A. Renter finds a buyer for fish?)
SESTET SETS TESTS (42A. Musical combo designs experiments?)
REDDER DEER ERRED (60A. More embarrassed forest creature screwed up?)

Other — ABDOMEN, ARIETTA, DEBEERS (14A. Big name in diamonds), EVACUEE, RUNS OUT, SARA RUE, SURVIVE.

Mid-size — “Don’t try to be A HERO”, ALLOY, BERETS, CURST, ELSIE, ENTER, ERATO, ERSATZ, ESHKOL (15D. Ben-Gurion successor), ESSAY, IRENE, JULES, LATTE, LISTS, LOTTO, NADIR, OVERT, PESOS, REELS, SHAVER, STRAW, SYSTS, T-SHIRT, UPDIKE.

Short stuff — ABU Dhabi, AIDA, ALTA, Smart AS A whip, BEE, BENT, BUS, CEOS, DECI, DRS and DTS, ERL, ETS, EUR, EVE, “HE’S A Rebel”, HTS, “ICH bin ein Berliner“, IDED, III, ITT, JILT, MISO, NES, ORT, OVA, ROC and ROE, SAN, SETH, SID, SOY milk, TAZ (46A. Cartoon “devil,” for short), TBS, TELE, THAI, URI, VIE.

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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. Insect segment; 13. Get by; 18. Flier of legend; 20. Opposite of Baja; 21. Dump, so to speak; 24. “Rabbit, Run” writer; 28. Ocean State sch.; 29. Competition of sorts; 30. Scrap for Fido; 39. Sign up; 40. Oospheres, say; 41. Amalgam, e.g.; 47. Hairy sitcom cousin; 48. Puccini’s Cio-Cio-___; 51. Barber, at times; 54. Figs. In company reports; 55. “Prik khing” cuisine; 57. “Superman ___”; 66. Short operatic piece; 67. Is exhausted. — DOWN: 2. Tour ride; 3. Hosp. figures; 4. In-your-face; 5. Bowlful at a Japanese restaurant; 6. Runner from a bomb scare, e.g.; 7. Super Mario Bros. letters; 8. “Lopez Tonight” channel; 9. The crystals’ “___ Rebel”; 10. Moves like a tosspot; 11. Lyre-holding Muse; 12. Nora Ephron work; 14. Metric system prefix; 23. Isn’t upright; 25. Change in Chile; 26. Like chicory vis-à-vis coffee; 29. Guardian Angels’ toppers; 31. Intro to marketing?; 33. MacFarlane of “Ted”; 34. Palindromic time; 35. It might be served with a cinnamon stick; 36. Girl’s name that sounds like two letters of the alphabet; 37. There’s a drawing of it on TV; 38. Ways of operating: Abbr.; 43. Gymwear item; 44. “Less Than Perfect” actress, 2002-08; 48. What a sucker may have; 50. Rock bottom; 52. Opera that premiered in Cairo; 53. Go (for); 54. Subjected to a hex; 56. Carded at a club, say; 59. Wacky, as humor; 61. “V” visitors, briefly; 62. Schubert’s “The ___ King”; 63. ___ v. Wade; 64. Home of Ukr.; 65. Tosspot’s affliction.

07.24.12 — B and B, Etc.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Puzzle by Andrew Marc Greene / Edited by Will Shortz

Five phrases of two words each both beginning with the letter B followed by the vowels A, E, I, O and U in sequence constitute the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword: BANK BALANCE (18A. A.T.M. printout), BEER BELLY (32A. Joe Six-Pack’s overhang), BIG BIRD (41A. Yellow “Sesame Street” character), BOOM BOXES (48A. Portable sources of music) and BURNING BUSH (63A. It appeared before Moses on Mount Horeb).

Other — AMMONIA (45D. Strong-smelling cleaning ingredient), CATHODE (61A. Galvanic cell component), CRASHER (10D. Uninvited partygoer), DERBIES (25D. Headgear for Laurel and Hardy), INSECURE (42D. Lacking confidence), MATISSE (20A. “La Danse” painter Henri), MONEY BAG (6D. Container in an armored car).

Mid-size — ABASH, AIRMEN, ARCHER, ASIAGO, BAOBAB and NABOB, BEETLE, BIDEN, DURANT, EASES, ESPIED, FORMAT, HABIB, “I NEED a vacation!”, NOMADS, ODDITY, QATAR, QUOTER, RETAIN.

Short stuff — “Peek-ABOO!”, Forever and A DAY, Golden AGER, ALEE, AREA, ATOI, ATL, BAT, BEN, BOK Choy, BREE, BYE, DASH, ELMS, ENC, ENDS, FAQ, HAN Solo, HEAL, HYDE Park, IRAQ, I SEE, JABS, JAMB, LYNX, MEOW, OSU and USO, OVEN, RARE, RIO, RPM, RTE, RYES, SADE, SEX, SWIM, TEST, “Not THAT!”, TINO, URBS, UMA, VIED, Ped XING.

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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. Web site help section, for short; 4. Doorframe part; 8. William Tell, for one; 14. Mich. rival in the Big Ten; 16. Historian Will or Ariel; 17. Ipanema’s city, for short; 22. Some loaves; 23. Golden ___ (senior); 24. ___ Park (F.D.R.’s home); 26. Get well; 30. Scroll in the ark; 35. Persian Gulf state; 37. War heroes from Tuskegee, e.g.; 38. Actress Thurman; 43. Driver’s license datum; 44. Hang on to; 50. Big wheel; 54. Do the crawl, say; 55. “Now it makes sense!”; 57. Marat’s counterpart in a Peter Weiss title; 58. Word before rack or mitt; 67. Fell for a come-on, say; 68. Caught sight of; 69. One-half base x height, for a triangle; 70. Peach State capital: Abbr.; 71. Ones without permanent addresses; 72. Lab job; 73. Bit of scheduling luck at a tournament. — DOWN: 1. Adjust te margins of, for example; 2. Hard Italian cheese; 3. One reciting others’ lines; 4. Verbal zingers; 5. Make red-faced; 7. ___ choy (Chinese cabbage); 9. Announce a decision; 10. Uninvited partygoer; 11. ___ Solo of “Star Wars”; 12. Britannica, for one: Abbr.; 13. Road map abbr.; 19. “Desperate Housewives” role; 21. One side in a 1980s war; 27. O’Neill title trees; 28. Sheltered, at sea; 29. Wildcat with tufted ears; 31. Diplomat Philip; 33. “Still mooing,” as burgers go; 34. Ex-senator known as “Amtrak Joe”; 36. Ex-Yankee Martinez; 38. Cities, informally; 39. Feline’s “feed me”; 40. Yours, in Ypres; 42. Lacking confidence; 47. Imprecise recipe amount; 51. Thick-trunked African tree; 52. Item fit for “Ripley’s Believe It or Not!”; 53. Classic VW; 56. Makes more bearable; 59. Went head to head; 60. Means justifier, for some; 63. Stiller of film; 64. G.I. entertainers; 65. Letters after 33 or 45; 66. Echolocation-using mammal.

07.23.12 — The Invisible Man

The Invisible Man, ctrlaltd1337, newgrounds.com

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Monday, July 23, 2012

Puzzle by Lynn Lempel / Edited by Will Shortz

THE INVISIBLE MAN (38A. H. G. Wells novel … with a hint to this puzzle’s circled words), along with the circled words, GENT, CHAP, FELLA and DUDE, constitute the interrelated group of this friendly Monday crossword, e.g., OXYGEN TANK (17A. Equipment to help a patient breathe), SUCH A PITY (25A. “Sorry to hear that”), FELL APART (49A. Went to pieces) and HINDU DEITY (671A. Vishnu or Shiva).

Other — ACCEPT, ALLEGE, ARTIST, EASE IN, HUBBLE (27D. Telescope serviced by astronauts)  LACKED, SORTIE, STODGY, RED PLANET (33D. Mars, with “the”), REVAMP, WORRISOME (11D. Troubling).

Five-letter — ABIDE, ALOHA State, AREAS, “It’s A SIGN of the times”, “DEWEY Defeats Truman“, ECOLE, ERNIE, EVENT, F STOP, HASTE, HUNTS, KEATS (52A. “Beauty is truth, truth beauty“ poet), PALMS, PIXAR, RAN IN, SAY SO, SCALP, SNAFU, STYLE, TONYS, TOTEM, VERNE (22A. Jules who wrote “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea”).

Captain Nemo bids the sun to go down over Antarctica, after claiming the South Pole in his name, in Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

Short stuff — ACT I, ALL, ANY, A-ONE, APSE, “AS IF I care“, AWED, BOA, CERT, CHAI, COVE, CREW, DAB, DSL, EEG and EEK, EON, ETTE, HAL and HAT, HENS, ILSA, ISO, LAP, Miller LITE, NEMO (69A. Captain in “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea“), NUNS, ODES, OHO, OLEG, OVA, PETE, POD, SECT, STP, TIN, TONE, VAL and VAN.

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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. Rounded cathedral feature; 5. Undue speed; 10. Bowled over; 14. Miller ___ (low-calorie beer); 15. Banks in the Baseball Hall of Fame; 16. Sheltered bay; 19. Regatta group; 20. Prince who became Henry V; 23. Floor measurements; 28. Breath mint in a roll, informally; 30. Events with baying hounds; 31. Foray; 34. Small bit, as of cream; 35. Lab eggs; 42. Pea holder; 43. Completely; 44. In recent days; 45. Trees that sway in a hurricane; 48. Religious offshoot; 49. Went to pieces; 56. Resell unfairly, as tickets; 57. First-rate; 59. Flapper’s neckwear; 60. Musical sound; 64. Fashion designer Cassini; 66. Some poems from 52-Across; 67. Tennis’s Sampras; 68. Broadway honors. — DOWN: 1. ___ State (Hawaii’s nickname); 2. Film studio behind “Roy Story” and “Up”; 3. Fashion; 4 Brain wave readout, for short; 5. “Cluck, cluck” makers; 6. Monet or Manet; 7. Megamistake; 8. Sn, to a chemist; 9. Mouse spotter’s cry; 10. Say yes to; 11. Troubling; 12. Datebook notation; 13. “___ Defeats Truman” (famous 1948 headline); 18. Enter slowly and carefully, as a parking spot; 22. Many an airport shuttle; 24. Play opener; 26. Spiced tea; 29. Change significantly; 31. Big inits. In fuel additives; 32. “Well, whaddya know!”; 34. Web access inits.; 34. Web access inits.; 36. Kilmer of “The Doors”; 37. One or more; 39. Rick’s beloved in “Casablanca”; 40. Was without; 41. Suffix with major; 46. Declare to be true; 47. Swimming unit; 48. Hardly hip; 49. Camera lens setting; 50. Place to learn in Lille; 51. Carted off to jail; 53. Tolerate; 54. Emblem carved on a pole; 55. Permission; 58. Convent residents; 61. Place for a rabbit in a magic act; 62. Equal: Prefix; 63. Immeasurably long time.