08.31.12 — Extras

 

Friday, August 31, 2012

 

Puzzle by Patrick Berry / Edited by Will Shortz

Have at it!

Across — 1. Actress Rachel of “The Notebook”, MCADAMS; 8. Newsman who famously defined news as “something somebody doesn’t want printed”, HEARST; 14. ILLINOIS Avenue (Monopoly property landed on the most); 16. Ascribe, IMPUTE; 17. Big mess, RAT’S NEST; 18. Attractive feature, TURN-ON; 19. Makes copies of, maybe, TRACES; 20. Responsibility, ONUS; 22. Building material for Great Plains settlers, SOD; 23. Decorated one, HERO; 24. Cut short, CROP; 25. 1980s “Meet the Press” host Marvin KALB; 26. Attends to as one might a captured soldier, UNARMS; 29. Hit group?, MAFIA; 30. Something you’d rather not discuss, PRIVATE MATTER; 32. They’re written for two-part harmony, PEACE TREATIES; 33. Amateur geologist’s purchase, GEIGER COUNTER; 34. Lawn care item, EDGER; 35. Course of sewers, for short, HOME EC; 36. Retro candy containers, TINS; 37. Drinks bourbon neat, maybe, SIPS; 38. Ecuador is a member of it, OPEC; 42. Fifth word of the lyrics to “American Pie”, AGO; 43. Mass event, RITE; 44. Land of BEULAH (destination in “The Pilgrim’s Progress”); 46. Play maker?, WRITER; 48. Heat in one’s car, ROAD RAGE; 50. Oxygen-dependent organism, AEROBE; 51. They get canned, SARDINES; 52. He’s inclined to agree, YES-MAN; 53. Pot holder?, TEA CART.

 

Down — 1. Amusement, MIRTH; 2. Saint CLARE of Assisi, co-founder of the Order of Poor Ladies; 3. Missal stand’s place, ALTAR; 4. Puts off, DISCOURAGES; 5. Last monarch of the House of Stuart, ANNE; 6. Hangout for Homer, MOE’S; 7. Family nickname, SIS; 8. Ask for a donation, HIT UP; 9. Winged runners, EMUS; 10. Mo. When the Civil War began, APR; 11. Tries to catch, RUNS AFTER; 12. Crime reporters?, STOOLIES; 13. Take orders, possibly, TEND BAR; 15. “Star Wars” extras, STORM TROOPERS; 21. Small biters, NO-SEE-UMS; 24. Dickensian surname, CRATCHIT; 25. Only person to guest-host “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno”, KATIE COURIC; 27. More upscale, NICER; 28. State, AVER; 29. Like some photo paper, MATTE; 30. Gowns that are rarely worn out, PEIGNOIRS; 31. A Zebra has a short one, MANE; 32. Livestock auction info, PEDIGREE; 33. Vacation spot, GET-AWAY; 37. Fabulous singer, SIREN; 39. Original scheme, PLAN A; 40. Breathless, say, EAGER; 41. One beaten by an ape, CHEST; 43. “REBA #1’s” (2005 country music album); 44. Exposed to the elements, BARE; 45. 13^th-century composition, EDDA; 47. Certain cat, TOM; 49. Small part of a meal, OAT.

 

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

 

08.30.12 — Eggs

 

 

Thursday, August 30, 2012

 

Puzzle by Stu Ockman / Edited by Will Shortz

OOOOOO / OOOOOO (31A. With 37-Across, dairy aisle purchase), FREE RANGE (16A. Popular kind of 31- and 37-Across), EGG CARTON (55A. Holder of 31- and 37-Across), OVER EASY (10D. One way to prepare 31- and 37-Across) and ONE DOZEN (36D. Number of 31- and 37-Across in a 55-Across) constitutes the interrelated group of this Thursday crossword.

 

Other — BONE DRY, CAMILLE Saint-Saëns, CREATORS, DELTOID, DO OR DIE, EARNEST, ELANTRA, EUTERPE (41D. One of the Muses), GESTALT, IDEA MAN, LIBERACE, MANHOOD, MR DEEDS, PANACEA, REUNITED, SMACK DAB, TEE TIME, TORNADO (2D. Home wrecker).

 

Mid-size — Draw A BEAD on, AMARNA (20A. Excavation locale of an ancient Egyptian capital), AT ALL, CEDRIC Diggory, CREPE, FACE IT, Beniamino GIGLI, INTENT, KRONER, MINERS, NATALE, NEATO, PHASER, RONEE, SHEAF.

 

Short stuff — ACES, ADAM, ALF, ARMS, AT IT, AVER, BENT, CAB, DAZE, EADS, ELIS, GAL, LODE, MSG, NES, Das NEUE Testament, OOM, PALL, POOR, PORC, “Je vous en PRIE“, RAL, ROOS, SET for life, SLO, STA, TOSH, ULEE, YDS, “YOO-hoo!”.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Vigorously pursuing something; 5. Huggers; 9. Parisian pig; 13. Vein glory?; 14. Bilgewater; 15. Profess; 19. Christmas in Italia; 22. French composer Saint-Saëns; 23. “Look at the facts!”; 24. First of its kind?; 25. “Marvy!”; 26. Droughty; 30. Real stunner?; 33. Tee sign abbr.; 34. Traffic caution; 38. Gold diggers; 40. He goes to town in a 1936 movie; 46 1997 title role for Peter Fonda; 47. ____ Diggory, young wizard in the Harry Potter books; 49. It’s more than the sum of its parts; 52. Currency pegged to euros; 53. It may be hard to prove in court; 54. Muddlement; 58. Pair in a dead man’s hand; 59. Feeling of gloom; 61. Predilection; 62. Dick Cheney and George W. Bush, for two; 63. Actor George of “CSI”. — DOWN: 1. Big-nosed character of 1980s TV; 3. Visionary; 4. Start of a round; 5. Even a tiny bit; 6. Actress Blakley of “Nashville”; 7. Rangers’ home in N.Y.C.; 8. Stack of papers; 9. Cure-all; 11. Together again; 12. They make things up; 17. “Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-___” (Irish lullaby); 21. What a young buck might want to prove; 22. Object of some whistles; 27. Desperate; 28. Short marsupials?; 30. Less than fair; 32. Pah lead-in; 34. Precisely; 35. Longtime Las Vegas entertainer; 39. Wholehearted; 42. South Korean model; 43. Arm raiser; 48. Brunch item; 49. Tenor Beniamino ___; 50. S.A.S.E.’s, e.g.; 51. Stop: Abbr.; 56. Partner to do-si-do with; 57. Wii forerunner.

 

08.29.12 — Trading Post

 

Young Plains Indian by James Bama

 

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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

 

Puzzle by Tony Orbach / Edited by Will Shortz

The first word of the common phrases slave trade, laptop covers, later on, Plains Indian and flak jacket trade the letters “L“ and “A“, resulting in this Wednesday’s interrelated group — SALVE TRADE (17A. Balm business?), ALP-TOP COVERS (23A. Yodeling tribute band‘s repertoire?), ALTER ON (38A. Words of encouragement to a tailor?), PALIN’S INDIAN (48A. Figure at Sarah’s cigar store?) and FALK JACKET (57A. “Columbo“ trench coat?).

 

Other — ALL OVER, CAVEATS, DISARM, GOOSEFLESH (11D. Bodily reaction to fear), HYATTS, MIRACLE BRA (29D. Push-up garment), NO DOPE, OPTED IN, Learn by OSMOSIS, PANACHE, Tattoo PARLOR, STEREOS, THIRSTY.

 

Five-letter — AMISS, ARDOR, Counselor-AT-LAW, ATONE, CRESC, FAKIR, FRANC, MORAN (22D. Bugs of the underworld), PHILS, PONZI (34D. Kind of scheme), PSATS, SOFTY, TRUER, YMCAS.

 

Short stuff — ADA, AGFA, AHOY, AKIN, ALBS, “… lovely AS A tree“, AXLE, BEVY, BOTH (27D. This and that), BSMT, Margaret CHO, DEN, Cameron DIAZ, EHS, ELO, ENYA, ESL, EVAC, FAT, HEXA, HIVE, HOPE, IRT, JRS, Mauna KEA, Jean-LUC Picard, LEES, LOAM, LOKI, LUC, OLIO (35D. This and that), OTIS, PSIS, READ, REF, ROSY, RRR, SAAB, STAY and SWAY, TAR and TART and TORT, TEA, VEAL.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Rescue op; 5. 100 centimes, once; 10. Belgium-based imaging company; 14. Dodeca- halved; 15. Fiery feeling; 16. Nursery bagful; 19. Mischievous Norse god; 20. Bottom-of-the-barrel stuff; 27. Place for a washer and dryer: Abbr.; 30. Cross one’s fingers; 31. Cal a game; 32. R&B pioneer Johnny; 33. N.Y.C.’s first subway line; 37. Steamrolled stuff; 40. “Evil Woman” grp.; 41. Regency hotels; 43. Place to play video games; 44. Next-to-last Greek letters; 45. Comic Margaret; 46. Cameron who voiced Fiona; 47. Matey’s greeting; 52. Gear with docking stations; 53. “Born from jets” automaker; 56. Mass vestments; 62. Pucker-producing; 63. More faithful; 64. Busy place; 65. Influence; 66. Rec centers; 657. New Ager who sings in Irish Gaelic. — DOWN: 1. Comments accompanying shrugs; 2. Osso buco need; 3. What a drive train connects to; 4. “As is” and others; 5. Marbled meat feature; 6. Grammar school basics, briefly; 7. Decay-fighting org.; 8. A real smarty; 9. Dimin.’s opposite, in music; 10. Here, there and everywhere; 11. Bodily reaction to fear; 12. Hot-coals walkers; 13. Out of kilter; 18. Alien’s subj.; 24. Pop music’s Collins and Spector; 25. Suit material?; 26. Decided to join; 28. Hang around; 36. Looking up; 38. Do penance; 39. Scan, as a U.P.C.; 42. Like under-watered plants; 44. Pizazz; 46. Render harmless; 48. Some H.S. exams; 50. Pushover; 54. Very similar; 55. Group of quail; 58. TV captain Jean___ Picard; 60. Takers of 48-Down: Abbr.; 61. Caddy’s contents.

 

08.28.12 — Heaven and Hell

 

The Great Day of His Wrath (1851-3), John Martin © Tate, London

 

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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

 

Puzzle by Lou Borenstein / Edited by Will Shortz

BELOW is above and ABOVE is below in this toss-up Tuesday crossword corresponding with the exchange of HEAVEN and HELL in four answers: HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN (17A. Opposite of an AC/DC song?), STAIRWAY TO HELL (25A. Opposite of a Led Zeppelin number?), BAT OUT OF HEAVEN (42A. Opposite of a Meat Loaf tune?) and PENNIES FROM HELL (56A. Opposite of a Bing Crosby hit?).

 

Mid-size — ALOOF, AMOCO, ASCAP, ATARI, AT AN END, ATHLETE, AVERT, BASAL metabolism, EDENS, ELIDE, HOARDS, INTERN, LET ON, LUMENS, MEADOW, METRO, NERTS, PSEUDO, SMITE, SNEAD, SUREST, Kama SUTRA, TRACT, UPRISE.

 

Short stuff — AER Lingus, AHAB, AMAH, APSE, ARC, A TO Z, AXE, BAHS, CRO-Magnon, DST, ELLE, EMIR, GAVE, GOT, IPOD Shuffle, LEDA, LEE and LEO, LOEW, LOGO, LYES, MAV, MPAA, NEO, NESS, NISI, OAR, OCHS, Blink OF AN eye, OMEN and OXEN, OSU, OTT, PESO, SAAB, SEAT, SEE, SETS, SLAV, SOS and SROS, STOA, TENS, T-NUT, VHS, WOW.

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Heaven and Hell by Munguia

 

 

 

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Puzzle available on the internet at

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Traditional location of one of this puzzle’s theme words; 6. Musical copyright org.; 11. Came down with; 14. 1998 BP acquisition; 15. “Phooey!”; 16. Can; 20. Sellout signs; 21 Outdated tape format; 22. Light units; 23. Prefix with classical; 24. Mother of Helen, in myth; 32. Most confident; 33. Virginia’s Washington and ___ University; 34. Classic actor ___ G. Carroll; 3. Big arcade name; 36. Plea at sea; 37. Hit hard; 39. Path of a pop-up; 40. From ___ Z; 41. Lea; 46. Movie-rating org.; 47. Baseball’s Mel; 48. Many a young summer employee; 51. Crew member’s handful; 52. Church niche; 56. Opposite of a Bing Crosby hit?; 59. Buckeyes, for short; 60. Golfer Sam; 62. Summer hrs.; 63. Utopias; 64. Traditional location of one of this puzzle’s theme words. — DOWN: 1. Scrooge-like cries; 2. V.I.P. in a robe; 3. An apple for Apple Inc., e.g.; 4. Newspaperman Adolph; 5. “Unbelievable!”; 6. “Be that as it may …”; 7. Complete collections; 9. Olympics competitor; 10. False start?; 11. Buckled; 12. “Olly olly ___ free”; 13. Hamiltons; 18. Stave off; 19. Asian nurse; 23. Not final, in law; 24. Cleaning agents; 26. Chunk of land; 28. Not personally engaged; 29. Slur over; 30. Give an indication (that); 31. MGM founder; 32. Discontinued Swedish car; 38. Old philosophers’ place; 37. Pants part that gets a lot of wear; 38. Dallas cager, for short; 40. Finished; 41. Subway system; 43. Breaking of a mirror, some fear; 44. Revolt; 45. Doesn’t ever throw anything away; 49. Untouchable leader; 50. Letter-shaped fastener; 52. Ishmael’s captain; 53. Currency unit whose symbol is “$”; 54. Pole, for one; 55. Magazine whose name means “she”; 57. “Understand?”; 58. Corp. hiree.

 

08.27.12 — Lou and Company

 

Lou Ferrigno as The Hulk

 

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Monday, August 27, 2012

 

Puzzle by Michael Farabaugh / Edited by Will Shortz

LAY, LEE, LIE, LOW and LOU found in LAY-AWAY PLAN, LEE IACOCCA, LIE DOWN ON THE JOB, LOW-FAT DIET and LOU FERRIGNO (He played the Hulk) constitutes the interrelated group of this Monday crossword.

 

Other — ACOLYTE, AFROS, A TEAM, CASHIER, DEADHEAD, DIVOT, OILIES, EAST SIDE, ECOLI, EEYORE, EFFETE, FASTENS, GERMAN, GRAVEL, ICAHN, IN A SEC, INNATE, LASERS, MIMOSA, MORAY, NAOMI, OCELOT, READ TO, SOARED, TACTIC, TARRED, WOLFED.

 

Short stuff — AFAR, AHA and ATA, ANI and ANTI, BINS, CAM, CASA, COAL, DIAN, DO IN, ELF, ETTE, FLA, GOT, ILO, “Make IT SO“, JOVE, Fleur-de-LIS, MDL, NIT, NON, NUDE, OAST, OMEN and ONME, ONE and ONO, RAPT, RAUL, ROE and ROY, SELA, SHOE, SMEE, SOR, STD, SVEN, Tiny TIM, UNA, WATT, WII, YARD, YSL.

 

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Puzzle available on the internet at

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. 36”; 5. Official language of Austria; Tiny ___, singer of 1968’s “Tip-Toe Thru’ the Tulips With Me”; 14. Oxford or loafer; 15. Entertain, as children at a library; 16. Singer Di-Franco; 17. Purchasing system with payments made over time; 19. Video shooter, for short; 20. Golfer’s gouge; 21. “Make ___” (Picard’s command on “Star Trek” T.N.G.”); 22. Store clerk; 25. Frilly place mats; 28. “Don’t Tread ___” (early flag motto); 29. Former Chrysler C.E.O.; 31. Elite group; 33. Home, in Honduras; 34. Goldbrick; 41. Fidel Castro’s brother; 42. Ruth’s mother-in-law; 43. Healthful food regimen, traditionally; 49. Name that comes from Old Norse for “young man”; 50. Devoted follower; 51. Buckles, as a seat belt; 53. Actress Ward; 54. Frizzy dos; 55. Assistant to Santa; 56. He played the Hulk on 1970s-’80s TV; 62. ___ v. Wade; 63. Present at birth; 64. Bump off; 65. Norm: Abbr.; 66. Flew to great heights; 67. Suffix with cigar. — DOWN: 1. Designer monogram; 2. “Eureka!”; 3. Cowboy Rogers; 4. Fan of Jerry Garcia’s band; 5. Rough road surface; 6. Donkey in “Winnie-the-Pooh”; 7. Engrossed; 8. The year 1550; 9. One step ___ time; 10. “Smoking or ___?”; 11. Ploy; 12. Very soon; 13. Brunch cocktail; 18. Nintendo game console; 21. U.N. workers’ grp.; 22. Fossil fuel; 23. Opposing; 24. Captain Hook’s mate; 25. Primatologist Fossey; 26. Hops kiln; 27. Financier Carl; 30. Food-poisoning bacteria; 32. Kind of eel; 35 What “W” stands for on a light bulb; 36. Like Michelangelo’s “David” or Rodin’s “The Thinker”; 37. Where the United Nations is in Manhattan; 38. Jupiter; 39. Warning sign; 40. Recycling containers; 43. Surgical beams; 44. Spotted wildcat; 45. Devoured, with “down”; 46. Miami’s home: Abbr.; 47. Tired or decadent; 48. Smeared with pitch; 52. Frat.’s counterpart; 54. Miles away; 57. Ssinger Yoko; 58. Acapulco article; 59. Understood; 60. Annual coll. Basketball competition; 61. Pepsi ___.

 

08.26.12 — Take in the State Fair — the Acrostic

 

Sunday, August 26, 2012

 

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Edited by Will Shortz

This Sunday’s acrostic draws a quotation from Take in the State Fair by Garrison Keillor published in National Geographic of July 2009.

The quotation: THE STATE FAIR IS A RITUAL CARNIVAL MARKING THE END OF SUMMER AND GARDENS AND APPLE ORCHARDS AND THE START OF SCHOOL AND ALGEBRA AND THE IMPOSITION OF STRICT RULES AND WHAT WE IN THE NORTH CALL THE LONG DARK TIME

 

The author’s name and the title of the work: KEILLOR, TAKE IN THE STATE FAIR

The defined words:

A. Guys who’ve got mail, KNIGHTS
B. Role played by O’Hara (1939), Lollobrigida (1956) and Hayek (1996), ESMERALDA
C. Those whose motto is “Esto perpetua”, IDAHOANS
D. One taking stock, LOOTER
E. Glass pendant in a chandelier, LUSTER
F. Uncut for many, many years (hyph.), OLD-GROWTH
G. Aussie who won the U.S. Open twice, RAFTER
H. Trouble hitting pitches, TIN EAR
I. Part of many addresses these days (2 wds.), AT SIGN
J. Fife player in comedy, KNOTTS
K. Given extra bells and whistles, ENHANCED
L. Beneath one’s status, as servants’ chores to nobles (2 wds.), INFRA DIG
M. Floating, like lotus leaves, NATANT
N. “It was my thirtieth year to heaven” poet, THOMAS
O. University from which Pete Seeger dropped out, HARVARD
P. Shoe with a sole of rope, ESPADRILLE
Q. Trigger for a sciophobe’s fear, SHADOW
R. Push, drive, propulsion, THRUST
S. Class for axolotls and mudpuppies, AMPHIBIA
T. Project for sandhogs, TUNNEL
U. Having a host on hand, EMCEED
V. Improvement in appearance, FACE-LIFT
W. Closer in a relay race, ANCHOR
X. Body on body event, IMPACT
Y. Hero of an early chanson de geste, ROLAND

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

 

08.26.12 — Put a Lid in It

 

 

Elm wood hand-painted Shanxi hat box, c. 1950

 

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Sunday, August 26, 2012

 

PUT A LID IN IT, Puzzle by Amanda Yesnowitz and Doug Peterson

Edited by Will Shortz

The word HAT in six squares, e.g., [HAT] BOX (110D. Storage item … or one of six in this puzzle?) constitutes the interrelated group of this genteel Sunday crossword.

• LADY C[HAT]TERLEY’S LOVER (25A. Banned book of 1928) with AR[HAT]S (18D. Nirvana achievers)
• HORTON [HAT]CHES THE EGG (43A. Source material for Broadway’s “Seussical”) with [HAT]ARI (45D. (1962 John Wayne film)
• MA[HAT]MA GANDHI (59A. Time’s 1930 Man of the Year) with C[HAT]TY CATHY (53D. Talking doll that debuted in 1960)
• TO CATC[H A T]HIEF (74A. 1955 Grant/Kelly thriller) with I [HAT]E YOU (71D. Mock response to a friend who pulls a practical joke)
• C[HAT]TANOOGA CHOO CHOO (88A. World’s first certified gold record, 1942) with T[HAT]CH (84D. Hut cover)
• ALL’S WELL T[HAT] ENDS WELL (107A. Source of the line “They say miracles are past”) with the aforementioned [HAT] BOX.

Other — ACRIMONY, ACT ONE’S AGE, ASTONISHED, AT A COST, AVONLEA (50A. “Anne of Green Gables town), BENEATH, COAT TREE, FAILURE, FIELD TRIP (31D. Class action?), GROWLED, ITALIANS, IT’S LATE, LEAD-INS, LIE-A-BED, MINI-CAR, MORT SAHL, ON ALERT, TACHYON (75D. Speedy subatomic particle), TAKES TO, TSARINA, the WILLIES.

 

Six-letter — ALTIMA, BIOMES, BRAYED, CARESS, DREAMT, FOLIOS, KAHUNA, KNIGHT, MITRAL, ONESIE, ROTTER, SEA AIR, SHAZAM, SOWETO (98D. Johannesburg area), TIERRA (17A. Land in South America).

 

Five — ABIDE, BLARE, BOOST, BRAVA, CITES, CREEK, DEERE, EL SOL (102D. La estrella mas brillante), GATED, "Well, I’LL BE", Marilyn MCCOO, OCHRE, OMEGA, OTROS, R E LEE, SAABS, SEE YA, SLATY, TENDS, USAIN Bolt.

 

Short stuff — “ABIE Baby“, ACME, “Don’t have A COW, man!”, “Cat on A HOT Tin Roof”, ALFA Romeo, ALTO, AMI and AMIR, AMOK, ATRA, ATTN, AYE (75A. Word that keeps the same meaning if you move its first letter to the end), CFO, CITES, COY, DEED, DUEL, EDD and EDS, EDGE, E-MAG, ERIC, “ESO Beso”, ETC, FAB and FAR, FELL, FEM, Elinor GLYN, GMAC, GROG, IRE, LACE, LET, Mauna LOA, LST, LYNX, MCS, MEGA, MOE, NRC, ODOR, OKLA, “ONLY You”, OOO and OOP, ORAL, OYS, PEER, PFCS, PIAF, PSA, PSIS, RAES, RAW, ROO, SHIH Tzu, SNOB, SOT, SSA, STAY, TALL, TARN, TENDS, John TESH, TNN, TONE, TWO, TVA, UPC, WHY, ZENO (54A. Paradoxical one).

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Common exclamation after “Well”; 6. Some G.I.’s; 10. Like the Beatles; 13. Norah Jones or Cher; 19. Big employer in Moline, Ill.; 20. Bitterness; 2. It’s salty; 23. Storied C.S.A. commander; 24. Onetime Ethiopia colonizers; 28. “___ Baby” (song from “Hair”); 29. Group that’s got your no.?; 30. Hawaiian priest; 31. Gender abbr.; 34. Leans; 36. Bad way to run; 39. It’s madness; 40. Put up with; 42. Mag. Wheels; 48. “___ dreaming?”; 49. Oscar-winning role for Cotillard; 51. End of the line?; 56. Seaman’s swig; 58. Like some communities; 62. Slap-happy sort?; 64. Razor handle?; 67. Japanese model; 68. Bad service result?; 69. Away’s partner; 70. Kind of heart valve; 72. English author Elinor; 76. References; 79. Western climax; 81. Spike; 82. Smokey the Bear spot, e.g., in brief; 83. With repercussions; 86. Sorority letters; 87. Like one saying “Who, little old me?”; 92. A couple of; 95. Adobe shade; 96. Reactor safety org.; 97. Judge’s issuance; 98. Bolt from Jamaica; 100. Kid’s repeated rejoinder; 101. Ecologists’ study; 104. Kanga’s offspring; 106. Fort Sill’s home: Abbr.; 112. “Sing a Song of Watergate” comic; 115. Former General Motors vehicles; 116. Toddler’s wear; 117. Where to park a parka?; 118. Others: Sp.; 119. No-goodnik; 120. Plaqnted; 121. Announcer Hall; 122. Former Mercury; 123. Up. — DOWN: 1. “I really should be going”; 2. Lazybones, maybe; 3. Preambles; 4. Sounded like an ass; 5. “South Park” boy; 6. Look through some blinds, say; 7. Take an ax to; 8. Place to find a crawdad; 9. “Bye”; 10. Bomb; 11. Behave; 12. Shout to a diva; 13. “The Kite Runner” protagonist; 15. Spike, once; 16. Verbal groans; 19. Cooked (up); 21. Any of the French Antilles; 26. Russian royal; 27. ___ Tzu (dog); 32. Nose out; 33. The “M” of MB; 35. It may be said with the wave of a hand; 37. Alley ___; 38. One of the Canterbury pilgrims; 41. Not worthy of; 44. Swiss watch brand; 46. Main $$$ overseer; 47. F.D.R. program; 51. Some online reading; 52. Starbucks size; 55. “___ You” (1955 Platters hit); 57. Org. for vehicle financing, once; 60. It’s relatively easy to find a parking spot for; 61. Title; 63. Spoken; 65. Charlotte and others; 69. Leaves; 70. “Solid Gold” host Marilyn; 73. Blown away; 74. Radio host John; 77. Voice quality; 78. Paul Anka’s “___ Beso”; 80. Series of bars, for short; 86. Lush; 89. Warned someone off, in a way; 90. This above all?; 91. Loving feeling?; 92. Starts liking; 93. Acute uneasiness, with “the”; 94. Watchful; 101. Be on high?; 103. Bluish-gray; 105. What the nose knows; 107. Start of a memo heading; 108. D-Day transport: Abbr.; 109. Mountain lake; 111. Uppity sort; 112. Mike holders; 113. Hugs, in a love letter; 114. Unedited.

 

08.25.12 — Title Character

 

 

Blake Lively as Serena van der Woodsen and Chace Crawford as Nate Archibald in the first episode of the television series, Gossip Girl.

 

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Saturday, August 25, 2012

 

Puzzle by Caleb Madison / Edited by Will Shortz

A wild and crazy streak runs through this hot Saturday crossword.

Across — 1. Modern drag, BUZZKILL; 9. Founding need, METAL; 14. It often has a crust on top, ONION SOUP; 16. Visibly surprised, AGAPE; 17. Point of no return?, TENNIS ACE; 18. Football Hall of Famer Bobby LAYNE; 19. Captain Hook’s alma mater, ETON; 20. “Tropic Thunder” director and co-star, STILLER; 22. Street heaters, GATS; 25. Growth theory subj., ECON; 26. Mex. and Uru. are in it, OAS; 27. “I hate this”, UGH; 28. Teen series whose title character is never seen, GOSSIP GIRL; 32. Query prompted by crying, ARE YOU OK; 34. Turn-of-the-season mos., SEPS; 35. Collusion, CAHOOTS; 36. Doesn’t lie gracefully, SPRAWLS; 39. It set sail from Iolcus, ARGO; 40. Altar adjunct, PRIE DIEU; 41. Sole, ONE OF A KIND; 43. Sole component, FIN; 44. End for end, ING; 45. Met works, OILS; 46. One way to go to a party, STAG; 47. Small parts of floor plans, CLOSETS; 49. Hawks’ old haunt, OMNI; 52. “Such mishegoss!”, OY VEY; 53. Charged, ARRAIGNED; 58. Kind of mentality, SIEGE; 59. With 61-Across, “Nothing new to me!”, BEEN THERE / DONE THAT; 60. They get picked, AFROS.

 

The Argo (ca. 1500-1530), painting by Lorenzo Costa

 

Down — 1. Web crawler, BOT; 2. UNE fois que (as soon as, in Arles); 3. Chard or cab alternative, ZIN; 4. Defenders’ assignments, ZONES; 5. Make some loops, KNIT; 6. Childish comeback, IS SO; 7. Item of interest?, LOAN; 8. Jacquet who directed “March of the Penguins”, LUC; 9. Feigned incapacity, MALINGERED; 10. Even, in Évreux, EGAL; 11. 2009 Grammy winner for “Fearless”, TAYLOR SWIFT; 12. Like some sleep disruptions, APNEAL; 13. Goats’ looks, LEERS; 15. 1990 Best Supporting Actor winner, PESCI; 22. Tex-Mex topping, GUAC; 23. AGRA Fort (World Heritage Site in India); 24. 2009 comedy whose tagline is “Some guys just can’t handle Vegas”; THE HANGOVER; 25. Yupik lang., ESK; 28. Kitten’s look, GOO-GOO EYES; 29. In la-la land, OUT OF IT; 30. Letters from desperate people, SOS; 31. Kind of app, IPAD; 33. Old, YORE; 36. What some gurus are called, SRI; 37. She hailed from the planet Alderaan, LEIA; 38. Like a chorus line, SUNG; 40. Recreation areas: Abbr., PKS; 41. Not unless, ONLY IF; 42. 1942 Preakness winner, ALSAB; 44. Prefix with -hedron, ICOSA; 46. It’s seeing things, SIGHT; 48. Mariposa’s close relative, SEGO; 49. Sandwich often given a twist, OREO; 50. “Ali” director Michael MANN; 51. Time for Variety?, NITE; 54. Old revolutionist, RED; 55. O.T. book, NEH; 56. Word after many presidents’ names, ERA; 57. One taking the lead?: Abbr., DET.

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08.24.12 — The Friday Crossword

 

A replica of Sputnik 1 at the U.S. National Air and Space Museum

 

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Friday, August 24, 2012

 

Puzzle by Mark Diehl / Edited by Will Shortz

A perfectly painless Friday crossword...

Across — 1. Category on Craigslist, GARAGE SALES; 12. Unspoken agreement, TACIT APPROVAL; 14. They’re rarely played nowadays, EIGHT-TRACK TAPES; 16. How rainfall may be measured, PER YEAR; 17. Imbecilic, ASININE; 18. Boston landmark, with “the”, PRU; 19. Needle point?: Abbr., ENE; 20. Some Toyotas, SOLARAS; 25. Subject of the book “Red Moon Rising”, SPUTNIK; 29. Early “cure” for tuberculosis, DESERT CLIMATE; 31. Like Jerusalem’s Dome of the Rock, OCTAGONAL; 32. Puts barricades around, PARTITIONS OFF; 36. “Eureka” and “Excelsior”, MOTTOES; 37. Heaps, PASSELS; 39. Key abbreviation, ALT; 40. CD-ROM; 41. Sulfide-containing group, PYRITES; 46. “Honest to God!”, IT’S TRUE; 50. Microsoft Windows game, SPIDER SOLITAIRE; 52. Openly attack en masse, STORM THE GATES; 53. Home of Sun Bowl Stadium, EL PASO TEXAS.

 

Talos & the Argonauts, Athenian red-figure krater C4th B.C., Jatta Museum, Ruvo

 

Down — 1. Discussion stopper, GAG RULE; 2. Acting up, in a way, ACHY; 3. Diet RITE; 4. Girl/boy intro, ATTA; 5. “Oh, God!” co-star, GARR; 6. It’s got its standards: Abbr., EPA; 7. Org. providing assistance to Afghans and Persians, SPCA; 8. Scroll holders, ARKS; 9. French novelist Pierre LOTI; 10. EVAN Longoria, 2008 A.L. Rookie of the Year, 11. Perspicacious, SAPIENT; 12. Part of a car’s steering system, TIE ROD; 13. Gentle giant of Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men”, LENNIE; 14. Omar in Hollywood, EPPS; 15. Curry, SEEK; 21. Somewhat, after “of”, A SORT; 22. Page one is traditionally one, RECTO; 23. ARTIE Abrams, character on “Glee”; 24. Fantasy sports figures, STATS; 25. One-master, SLOOP; 26. Outer ear, PINNA; 27. Campus near the J.F.K. Library, U MASS; 28. Giant bronze man in Greek myth, TALOS; 30. Big budget item for “Avatar,” briefly, CGI; 32. Sea fan colonists, POLYPS; 33. Reduce through retirement, ATTRITE; 34. Carries back and forth, FERRIES; 35. Prepares for baking, in a way, FLOURS; 36. Google MAPS; 38. Storybook pirate, SMEE; 42. Target of a Fox hunt?, IDOL; 43. One singing “Fight, fight, fight for Maryland!”, TERP; 44. “Aunt” with a 1979 best seller, ERMA; 45. Onetime landers at LAX, SSTS; 46. “Before I LET you go …”; 47. Old comics dog, TIGE; 48. Classic Memphis-based record label, STAX; 49. “I’m history”, TATA; 51. “Got ya!”, OHO.

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08.23.12 — מנא ,מנא, תקל, ופרסין

 

Rembrandt 'Belshazzar's Feast', 1635, Rembrandt

 

According to Daniel 5:1-31, King Belshazzar of Babylon takes sacred golden and silver vessels from the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem by his predecessor Nebuchadnezzar. Using these holy items, the King and his court praise 'the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone'. Immediately, the disembodied fingers of a human hand appear and write on the wall of the royal palace the words "Mene, Mene, Tekel, u-Pharsin." ~ Wikipedia

 

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Thursday, August 23, 2012

 

ZtrohS lliW \ namdleF kraM yb elzzuP

 

Yiddish is written from right to left in Hebrew or Aramaic characters. In this fardrayt and ungershpart Thursday puzzle, six Yiddish words (spelled right to left) appear along with LEARNING YIDDISH (40A. Title on certain language videos … with a hint to entering six answers in this puzzle) as a tie-in — geh vays!:

 
HAPZTUHC (17A. Effrontery)
PELHCS (20A. Lug)
ATNEY (33A. Gossip)
ZTULK (46A. Butterfingers)
ZTIBIK (56A. Offer unwanted advice)
EZOOMHCS (66A. Shoot the breeze)
 

Other — AERATORS (69A. Bubble makers), AGENDA, ALL TOO, ASSESS, BEAT UP, BELIZE, CIMARRON (14A. Edna Ferber novel), EIGHTY, EVEN SO, EVENTS, GEISHA (9D. Woman with many fans?), HIP-HOP (Genre for Q-Tip), INSIDE, KAZOOS (47D. Buzzers), LEGION, NO HELP, PYTHON (26D. Popular programming language), ROADEO (45A. Competition for truckers), SENSEI (25D. Martial arts instructor).

 

Five-letter — Smart ALECS, ARGON (32D. .93% of the earth‘s atmosphere), BEBES (27A. Mères‘ charges), ENROL, ERUPT, HALEY Joel Osment, NAOMI (41D. Biblical woman who changed her name to Mara), OLEIN, SKORT, TIDAL, T-TOPS.

 

Short stuff — ACRE (60D. Israeli port), AHA, AMT, “ANY advice?”, ASAP, ASH, ASSN, ATL, AZO, BEAS, Ski-DOOS, DOT, ECHO, EGG, ELI Roth, ENCL, ESP and ESS, IMPS, INTO, ISN’T, ISP, LAO, “A LIAR should have a good memory”, LIS and LPS, MENE (4A. Biblical word on a wall), MIR, MR T, NIH, OAS, OIL, Walk-ONS, OR SO, PAL (31A. Buddyroo), PSST, REM sleep, SHOW, SSTS, THÉ (65D. Café alternative,WET (72D. Lick, say). 

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 8. Something hidden, perhaps; 16. Multitude; 18. A speedster may do it; 19. About; 22. N.L. East city: Abbr.; 23. Bat wood; 24. AOL, for one; 35. Still; 39. Fails to be; 43. Digging; 44. Cuisine whose staple food is sticky rice; 50. Liquid fat; 51. Gift that’s hard to believe; 52. Kind of card; 54. Slalom path; 58. “Now!”; 62. So very very; 66. Shoot the breeze; 7. Size up; 71. Concordes, e.g. — DOWN: 1. Parrot; 2. “A ___ should have a good memory”: Quintillian; 3. Some World of Warcraft figures; 4. Villain player in “Rocky III”; 5. Go off; 6. Worthless, as an assistant; 7. Abbr. on a business letter; 10. Item in a spoon race; 11. Fed. Research org.; 12. Modern address feature; 15. Kind of dye; 21. ___ Joel Osment of “The Sixth Sense”; 22. Part of A.M.A.: Abbr.; 24. Like some pitched balls; 27. Locale of some Mayan ruins; 28. Caterers’ bookings; 29. Ragged; 30. Sign up; 34. Like some pools; 36. It may be struck in a field; 38. It spent 5,519 days in orbit; 49. Grabs; 53. Sporty car roofs; 55. Article of female tennis attire; 57. Arthur and Benaderet; 58. Qty.; 59. Look pregnant; 61. “Hey you!”; 62. Cry made with a raised index finger; 63. Fleur-de-___; 64. CD predecessors; 67. Alliance created in ‘48.

 

08.22.12 — Sturm und Drang

Odysseus in front of Scylla and Charybdis, 1795, Johann Heinrich Füssli

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Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Puzzle by Peter A. Collins / Edited by Will Shortz

STURM / UND / DRANG (38A. With 40- and 41-Across, 18^th-century literary and musical movement), STORM / AND / STRESS (7D. With 36- and 53-Down translation of 38-/40-/41-Across), JOHANN / GOETHE (45A. With 45-Across, writer associated with 38-/40-/41-Across) and GERMANY (26A. Country associated with 38-/40-/41-Across) constitutes the interrelated group of this very fine, aptly agitating and chaotic Wednesday crossword rife with interesting variety.

Other — DESERT SUN (6D. Palm Springs paper, with “the”), DOG STAR (51A. Sirius), DRAUGHT BOARD (25D. Place for an English king?), GROUND SPEED (42A. Aircraft velocity figure), HEIRESS (48D. Paris Hilton, for one), HERBERT (30A. “Babes in Toyland” composer), IT HAD TO BE YOU (27D. One of Sam’s tunes in “Casablanca”), OSMOSIS (46D. Absorption process), P E RATIO (32A. Wall St. stat), TETRAPODS (8D. Four-footers), WATER RATS (20A. Marsh rodents).

Mid-size — AMAR’E Stoudemire, ASSAD, “… poem lovely as A TREE”, BERRA (31D. “It gets late early out there“ speaker), DAMAGE, Rio DE ORO, ENTERS, GOLEM (17A. Humanoid of Jewish folklore), IDEAL, IMBUE, ISAOS (35A. Golfer Aoki and others), JOINED, LOOFA, MAMET, MARCO Rubio, MARTYR, MONDE, OASES, ORBIT, RESTE, RHOMB, ROXIE Hart (“Chicago” role), TECATE (54D. Mexican beer brand), UNITS.

Short stuff — A FEW, ALAE, ALG, AMOS, ANES, BUS, CHAS Addams, CMD, DIAN Fossey, DIRT, “ERI tu”, ESAI Morales, ETE, HERE, IDS, MAX, MELT, “The Tilled Field“ painter Joan MIRÓ, MOSS, NOON, OEN, OLES, OST, OYER and terminer, PGA, SDS, SOL and SOO and SOT, SONG, TEE, TERI Polo, THAN, UNO.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Either of two Syrian presidents; 6. “Spring forward” inits.; 9. “Oleanna” playwright; 14. Bather’s scrubber; 15. When to observe 6-Across in France; 18. Elbow-bender; 23. Mil. Headquarters; 27. They’re flashed at guards; 30. “Babes in Toyland” composer; 32. Wall St. stat; 34. Wings, in zoology; 37. Comparative word; 50. 90 degrees from Nord; 55. Vintner’s prefix; 56. Permeate; 58. GPS suggestion: Abbr.; 59. What much space junk is in; 61. Time for both hands to be up; 62. Sen. Rubio; 64. “All yours!”; 65. Morales of “Caprica”; 66. Worth a 10; 68. Word before poor or cheap; 69. Remainder, in Rouen; 70. Moor growth; 71. Radical org. of the ‘60s; 72. Camels’ pit stops; 73. Sightseer’s ride. — DOWN: 1. “Solve for x” subj.; 2. The Great Lakes’ ___ Locks; 3. G, in the key of C; 4. Not many; 5. Price to pay, informally; 9. Joan of Arc, notably; 10. Pal of Andy; 11. Peak, slangily; 13. Pipe joint; 21. Actress Polo; 22. Hydrocarbon suffixes; 23. Cartoonist Addams; 24. Go soft; 28. Gorilla expert Fossey; 20. “Yesterday” or “Tomorrow”; 39. Earth, to the French; 41. Rio ___ (African region); 43. South American cardinal?; 44. Links org.; 45. Yoked; 49. Punches in, say; 52. Egg rating; 57. Rod and rad; 60. Equilateral figure; 63. World Cup chants.