The New York Times Crossword in Gothic

12.25.07 -- Christmas

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Puzzle by Nancy Salomon, edited by Will Shortz

Christmas has arrived at The New York Times! The greeting from Nancy Salomon and Will Shortz is given in five languages, once each in French, Danish, Spanish, Italian, and four times in English. Merry Christmas!

JOYEUXNOEL (17A. “Merry Christmas” to the French);

GLAEDELIGJUL (29A. “Merry Christmas” to the Danes);

FELIZNAVIDAD (47A. “Merry Christmas” to Spaniards); and

BUONNATALE (64A. “Merry Christmas” to Italians).
This is a crossword puzzle that has everything -- including LAMPS (26A. Genie holders) just in case you forgot to include something on your Christmas wish list. Here’s what’s under the tree:

Across: 1. Sword handles; 6. Worker’s due; 10. Wood-shaping tool; 14. “One for My Baby” composer Harold; 15. Horse course; 16. One of nine in golf; 19. Antique autos; 20. Tipple; 21. Winter melon; 23. “Atlas Shrugged” author Rand; 24. Shooters grp.; 33. Spar verbally; 36. “I can only DOSO much”; 37. Sch. Named for a televangelist; 38. Life stories on film; 40. Leak fixer; 43. Toss in; 44. Not e’en once: 46. Inspiring sisters; 51. “Lemon Tree” singer Lopez”; 52. Third after delta; 53. “Pow!”; 56. Federer and Nadal; 59. Collected; 62. Hgt.; 66. Two capsules, perhaps; 67. Terrier sounds; 68. Animated ogre; 69. Cold war superpower; 70. Sectional, e.g.; 71. Makeup maker Lauder.

Down: Muslim pilgrim; 2. Kitchen drawer?; 3. Visit from the Blue Angels, maybe; 4. Readying for a drive; 5. Cold-shoulder; 6. Hit the jackpot; 7. Guacamole ingredient; 8. Greek earth goddess; 9. Architects’ annexes; 10. Car safety device; 11. Prized positions; 12. Menagerie; 13. U.S.N.A. grad; 18. TV’s Warrior Princess; 22. Thrilla in Manilla boxer; 25. It had a notable part in Exodus; 27. Blender setting; 28. Pronounces poorly; 30. Waikiki welcome; 31. Lively wit; 32. Chat room chuckle; 33. Sailor’s behind; 34. Bill tack-on; 35. Piety; 39. It has headquarters at N.Y.C.’s Time Warner Center; 41. Thurman of “Dangerous Liaisons”; 42. Spa treatments; 45. Make balanced; 48. “The nerve!”; 49. Benzoyl peroxide target; 50. “Rats!”; 54. Split up; 55. Knock-down-drag-out; 57. Corp. recruits, often; 58. Continental currency; 60. Move gently; 61. Apollo astronaut Slayton; 62. Campus e-mail suffix; 63. Acapulco article; 65. Supersecretive intelligence org.

Hope everything your want for you, your family and friends will be yours today!

Merry Christmas!

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

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12.24.07 -- Ho! Ho! Ho!

Mortimer Snerd

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Monday, December 24, 2007

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Puzzle by Mark Sherwood, edited by Will Shortz

Ho! Ho! Ho! Well ain’t this a nice Christmas Eve crossword puzzle -- it's a REDNECK XMAS!

Check it out, PROFESSOR (34D "Nutty" role for Jerry Lewis), we done got ourselves a PICKUPTRUCK (59A Light hauler), yep, we got one of ‘em; we're BORNTORUN (11D Bruce Springsteen’s first hit), jes’ like Uncle Zeke; a PARTYANIMAL (17A One who’s always up for a good time), yer lookin’ at ‘im; CREDITREPORT (27A Background check for a lender), don’t ask, don’t tell; and we're givin' them RAPPERS (32A Jay-Z and Timbaland) LIFEINPRISON (44A Long, long sentence); then thar's my good friends LOTT (48A Mississippi’s Trent) and 66A Edgar Bergen’s Mortimer SNERD!

'Taint all jes' that tho' -- if ya' follow my LINE (52D Word that can follow the starts of 17-, 27-, 44- and 59-Across), y'all gets a party line, credit line, life line, and a pick-up line. If that ain’ t’ yer likin’, thar’s other thangs we got, I WARNS (65A Issues an advisory) ya’!

I’ll be back fer more, just ya’ wait ‘n see!

Across: 1. Doorframe parts; 6. Chinese-born American architect; 11. Be a pugilist; 14. Bide one’s time for; 15. Manicurists’ concerns; 16. Electrical unit; 19. Coastal inlet; 20. Out of bed; 21. TEL Aviv; 22. In the near future; 23. Prefix with -lithic; 24. DEAN of students; 26. President before D.D.E.; 35. Atop, poetically; 36. REO Speedwagon; 37. Horizontally; 38. Musical transitions; 40. “What was ITO do?”; 41. Bulls, rams and bucks; 43. Goes to; 47. “I know what you’re thinking” claim; 49. BlackBerry, e.g., in brief; 54. Illustration, for short; 55. Husband of Isis; 58. April 15 org.; 61. Sgt., e.g.; 62. Didn’t go out for dinner; 63. Gift recipient; 64. Floppy rabbit feature; 65. Issues an advisory.

Down: 1. Where the Pokemon craze originated; 2. Cognizant (of); 3. Nintendo brother; 4. Kibbles ‘n BITS; 5. Eyelid woe; 6. Holiday INN; 7. Drink that often comes with an umbrella; 8. Olive stuffing; 9. Airline to Ben-Gurion; 10. Nantucket, e.g.: Abbr.; 12. Akron’s home; 13. Marvel mutant superhero; 18. Big name in fairy tales; 22. Egyptian viper; 25. Actor Harris and others; 26. Regarding this point; 27. TV’s “CPO Sharkey”; 28. Send again; 29. Place that often has picnic tables; 30. Hollow-stemmed plant; 31. Flip; 32. Fence part; 33. Play’s start; 39. GEN Xers; 42. Worker with genes or film; 43. Bit of land in a river; 45. Superlative suffix; 46. Brenda Lee’s “ROCK Around the Christmas Tree”; 49. Trim, as branches; 50. Kitchen gizmo; 51. Questioned; 53. Killer whale; 54. Sandwich bread; 56. Norms: Abbr.; 57. Fe, to chemists; 59. Furry foot; 60. Little UNS (tots) (and tonight they’re waiting for Santa)!

That's that! I guess we ought be grateful fer the Brenda Lee song, cause the NYT is playin' Scrooge on Christmas this year, here's the only other reference to the occasion other than in the Business Section -- 'TIS THE SEASON.

And now, the chance for a Christmas Evening crossword puzzle is LOST (52A. Unretrievable), or ain't that supposin' t' be irretrievable?!

Don't know, jes' askin'!

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For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

The New York Times Crossword Puzzle solution above is by the author of this blog and does not guarantee accuracy. If you find errors or omissions, you are more than welcome to make note of same in the Comments section of this post -- any corrections found necessary will be executed promptly upon verification.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

12.23.07 -- Cosmos -- the Acrostic

Sunday, December 23, 2007

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ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox & Henry Rathvon, edited by Will Shortz

A little ham on wry for the Holiday -- the quote:

HOW DID THE COSMOS ORIGINATE HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN AROUND DID IT BEGIN WITH AN EXPLOSION OR BY THE WORD OF GOD IF THE LATTER COULD HE NOT HAVE BEGUN IT TWO WEEKS EARLIER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THE WARMER WEATHER.

The author’s name and the title of the work:

WOODY ALLEN SIDE EFFECTS

Woody Allen, by Al Hirschfeld

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The defined words:

A. Well adapted for travel in water (hyph.), WEBFOOTED; B. Old Testament’s shortest book, OBADIAH; C. Handy items in a hot spot (2 wds.), OVENMITTS; D. In a folksy, old-timey style, as wit or cooking (hyph.), DOWNHOME; E. Great tree at the center of the universe, in Norse mythology, YGGDRASIL; F. Yosemite Park hotel, with an Indian name, that is a National Historic Landmark, AHWAHNEE; G. Member of a great quintet (2 wds.); LAKEEERIE; H. Be forgiving, don’t bother to comment on something (3 wds.), LETITGO; I. Beleaguered housewife in a 1970s sitcom (2 wds.), EDITHBUNKER; J. 1966 Beatles hit from the album “Rubber Soul” (2 wds.), NOWHEREMAN; K. Since 2004, to undermine with smear tactics (hyph.), SWIFTBOAT; L. Song from “Peter Pan” (4 wds.), IWONTGROWUP; M. Faithful listener to radio host Rush Limbaugh, DITTOHEAD; N. One with few reservations, EXTROVERT; O. “No need to elaborate” (2 wds.), ENOUGHSAID; P. Saint’s day celebration, FEAST; Q. Wowed by a linoleum job?, FLOORED; R. Culmination of running, ELECTION; S. Pal; accomplice; group of soldiers, COHORT; T. Rise to a great height, TOWER; U. Kidnap and force into service, SHANGHAI.

Woody Allen at Wikipedia, HERE.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

12.23.07 -- Pfui! Humbug!

Sunday, December 23, 2007

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YULE OUTSOURCING, Puzzle by Adam G. Perl, edited by Will Shortz

The title given this puzzle, “Yule Outsourcing” refers to the inter-related entries compromising a “verse” -- SANTA HAD AN EASY SEASON (23A. Start of a holiday verse), LYING IN HIS BIG RECLINER (48A. Verse, part 2), IF YOU ASK HIM FOR A REASON (78A. Verse, part 3), EVERY TOY IS MADE IN CHINA (108A. End of the verse). That’s it. That’s what we’re getting for the “Holiday” -- somebody’s faux fakakta quote -- pfui!!!

The rest of this crossword is unmercifully lackluster and simple. O.K., I’ll admit, I don’t care to decipher what appears to be an "original" quotation of questionable merit -- but, perhaps we deserve this coal-in-tbe-stocking, all of us crossword aficionados who blog away, nitpicking, pretentiously assuming we could do better, excoriating for a comma here, a period there, slamming the out-of-order, commenting upon a poor little piece of ragged pseudo-literature as though it were some distraught student’s thesis -- this is what Santa Shortz gives us this Sunday as we hope that something better is sent down our chimneys on Christmas Eve. Oh, did I say the dread word, “Christmas” -- Lord (oh, there I go again) help us that we should commemorate the origins of the occasion!

Well, we’ll need to be content to hang our balls and bells on the tree, drape it with lights and tinsel, shopping desperately through today’s offering for something to wrap up and stick under it.

Don’t PANIC (69A “What to do? What to do?” feeling), it’s not a CRISIS (88D Big pickle?), we have REEFER (20A Joint), ASHES (38D Grate-ful?), RADON (95A Dangerous seepage), DEET (46A Insect repellent) and EDIBLES (112a Fruitcake and plum pudding, e.g.) like PECAN (64D Christmas cookie ingredient) UNDER the mistletoe (55A), all of which ISAPTTO (75D Will likely) tickle the ERRATA (1A Literary slips) as you PLOD (64A Lumber) your way through this Christmas PIE (77A).

The entries are generic, but the cluing makes a stab at dressing them up for the Holiday -- e.g., words/entries such as DASH (19D), ALL (108), IND (8D), RENE (3D), RETOLD (62D), STS (58A), REINS (64D), ORIENT (2D), REAR (3D), TEN (47D), et cetera are clued to pass as Seasonal fare -- a simple IQTEST (14A Grade school administration, maybe) will tell you this one will get an ESS (111D) or a DEE (109D)!

More of the same across: 7. Lost; 14. Grade school administration, maybe; 21. Former Acura model; 22. Fashion’s Bartley; 26. Locks; 27. 10%; 28. “ULEES Gold” (1997 film); 29. Suffix with respond; 30. Way overdue to take off?; 32. Former Japanese P.M. Shinzo ABE; 34. “Being and Nothingness” writer; 38. About; 39. Area for a reupholstered; 43. Comment made with a nod; 44. “ASAN alternative …”; 45. “Pay ITNO mind”; 54. Author Deighton; 56. Audibly; 57. Expiate, with “for”; 58. Nicholas and others: Abbr.; 59. Ticks off; 60. Church part; 61. Intrinsically; 62. A.A.A. recommendations: Abbr.; 63. Sandwich shop orders; 66. “The Sandbox” playwright; 70. Brown; 71. Young amphibian; 74. Flora and fauna; 75. Some sorority sisters; 76. Implied; 82. Archer William; 83. Fannie MAES (investing options); 84. Theodemocratic state; 85. Up TONO good; 86. Porters; 88. Popular cuisine; 90. Unemotional type, slangily; 92. Certain soldier; 93. “Little Miss Sunshine” co-star; 94. Mentaist Geller; 95. Dangerous seepage; 99. Decorate gateway in Japan; 101. Classic role played by Gerard Depardieu in “The Man in the Iron Mask”; 111. Jack of “The Apartment”; 113. Tickles; 114. Source of “we three kings”; 115. Puts a new bottom on; 116. Blocks.

Down: 1. Once, old-style; 2. Where the bag of gifts is stowed on a sleigh; 3. Auberjonois of “The Christmas Star”; 4. Times in classifieds; 5. Promo, perhaps; 6. Fictional detective Lupin; 7. “Mamma MIA!”; 8. Home of Christmas Lake Village: Abbr.; 9. RR stop; 10. Of fast times?; 11. Discriminating sort, in a way; 12. Heated; 13. Word repeated in “Now DASH away! DASH away! DASH away … !”; 14. French pronoun; 15. Line former; 16. Green-blue; 17. “Anything ELSE?”; 18. Blue -black berrylike fruit; 19. Whips; 24. F.D.R.’s successor; 25. Longed (for); 30. Studio sign; 31. Uncle BENS; 33. Univ. QB, perhaps; 34. Grammy and Emmy-winning soprano; 35. Until now; 36. Straps in a sleigh; 37. Number of lords a-leaping; 39. Based on ATRUE story; 40. Made a long story short?; 41. Title in Toledo; 42. Difficult period; 44. Big range; 45. Stravinsky and others; 49. Garfield’s assassin; 50. Memo starter; 51. Initiation rite; 52. Kind of artery; 53. French-named city on Galveston Bay; 60. Mideast desert; 62. Like the Christmas story, often; 63. What snow shovels may produce; 64. Christmas cookie ingredient; 65. Cub’s place; 66. Some; 67. Career soldier; 68. Peter of “Everybody Loves Raymond” 69. Elbows; 70. It’s a wrap; 71. EPSOM salts; 72. Singer Apple; 73. Joint part; 76. “Born TORUN”; 79. “Walk Like AMAN”; 80. Part of Captain Cook’s explorations; 81. Had; 87. Rafting area; 89. Out-elbowed?; 90. Pressed; 91. Group; 93. Take for ARIDE; 94. News source, for short; 95. Move, in Realtor-speak; 96. Swear; 97. Moore of “G.I. Jane”; 98. “Coffee, Tea ORME?”; 100. Court hearing; 102. “Take THAT!”; 103. Author Shere; 104. Lulu; 105. Lip; 107. Big bang maker; 108. Word left off the end of the clue at 13-Down; 109. Poor grade; 110. Satisfactory grade, in kindergarten.

Well, you can just go right ahead and tell Santa I’ve been naughty, and I don’t care -- he’s not getting any cookies here! Not for all the tea in China! Pfui! Humbug!

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Read Linda G at Madness...Crossword and Otherwise

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Puzzle available on the internet at

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12.22.07 -- Quadrupuzzle II

Empty Mask, Rene Magritte 1928 -- Words in Images

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Saturday, December 22, 2007

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Puzzle by Harvey Estes, edited by Will Shortz

The construction -- it’s like four yoyos on a single string. Neat trick! Crossword puzzles, linked together in the center by eight letters around a black square have a foreboding appearance -- why? It’s the same as having four small crosswords -- each quadrant must be solved separately. As much use as any letter is from another section, the center might as well be closed completely, causing no angst to the solver. See 12.01.07 -- Quadrupuzzle.

Puzzle 1 (Upper left): 1A. PRESSURE, Lobby say (not asking for your PSI this time); 13A. RELOANED, Made further advances (a suggestive clue?); 15A. IDEALISM, Lofty pursuit (a lot of entries in this puzzle are here due to their common-letter qualifications); 17A MAGRITTE, “The Treachery of Images” painter (that pipe, I don’t get it); 19. SIENESE, Some Tuscans (one less E, the clue could be “Gary of films”); 21. TRADES, Sporting news (more common letters). 1D. PRIM, Perhaps a little too neat; 2D. “His eyes are REDAS fire with weeping”: Shak.; 3D. ELEGIT, Creditor’s writ (if that doesn’t give pause, what will?); 4D. SOARER, One on the way up?; 5D. SALINA, Kansas city; 6D. UNITED, One; 7D. RESTSEASY, Is relaxed; and 8D. EDMEESE, Dick Thornburgh’s predecessor in the cabinet.

So, that’s the picture, lots of A’s, E’s, L’s, R’s, S’s and T’s, all dressed up with clues that seem to be ashamed of their partners -- it repeats for the three remaining mini-puzzles. No J’s, K’s, Q’s, W’s, X’s, or Z’s -- be on all ALERTS, we’re only packing SARDINES in this tin of four six-square crosswords!

Puzzle 2 (Upper right): Across -- 9. Where one can retire young?; 14. Singles player; 16. Really moving, musically; 18. Whipps candy bar maker; 20. Caret indication; 22. French teacher; 23. Gizmo that measures gas properties; 31. Online registration creations. Down -- 9. Worse in quality, slangily; 10. Artist who was a founder of the Pre-Raphaelites; 11. Encrypted?; 12. Stages of space exploration; 16. Upper parts of piano duets.

It’s tempting to do a Dr. Seuss parody on this puzzle -- EDMEESE, REESES, CHEESIER, SIENESE, SEAMAN, ESSENE, ASSESSES, SERASERA, RESTSEASY, et cetera.

Puzzle 3 (Lower left): Across -- 25. Back to back: Fr.; 32. Tony-nominated “Pippin” actress; 34. Watergate judge; 40. Deck figure; 43. Kind of hero; 46. Mushroom producers; 48. Impetuses for some outrageous acts; 50. They, in Sao Paulo. Down -- 25. Opposite of encourage; 26. ORIENTAL shorthair (cat breed); 27. Que follower; 28. Hostilities; 29. Transfers to another vessel, maybe; 30. Long-armed redheads.

I suppose one can admire the ability to pack these entries together in such big chunks -- and with the obtuse clues, it does make for good puzzlement.

Puzzle 4 (Lower right): Across -- 35. San Diego suburb; 41. Puts down; 44. Big herbicide producer; 47. Natural wave catcher; 49. Comparison basis; 51. Eyeballs. Down -- 24. Roadsters; 33. Colorado city on the Rio Grande; 36. Targets of those catching some rays?; 37. Early Palestinian; 38. Museum of archaeology display; 39. Son of Aphrodite; 42. Indication of wonderment; 45. Traffic regs., e.g.

That’s it, and take a look -- only four four-letter entries, PRIM, CRIB, ELAS, and ORDS, with not a single three-letter entry.

I've said it before, I'll probably say it again and again -- “If a puzzle is to puzzle, this puzzle puzzles!”

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For today's cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

12.22.07 -- Solstice

Newgrange Winter Solstice

Tonight (and/or today) brings the Winter Solstice to North America.

The actual moment of the Sun's lowest latitude in the sky is December 22 -- 6:08 am Universal Time (EST: Dec 22, 1:08 am; CST: Dec 22, 12:08 am; MST: Dec 21, 11:08 pm; and PST: Dec 21, 10:08 pm

Welcome Yule!

12.21.07 -- Bah, Humdinger!

Friday, December 21, 2007

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Puzzle by Patrick Berry, edited by Will Shortz

The TGIF of TGIF’s is here! Tell me you’re not going in on Monday, please!

O.K., o.k., we’re all busy, shopping, whatever…we're all anagrammatizing TGIF into GIFT! However, today’s puzzle has nothing to do with the Holidays -- zero, zilch, zounds!

Is one entitled to dislike a puzzle while at the same time doggedly play its cat-and-mouse games with delight? If so, and if you’ve finished up everything at work and at home in preparation for the oncoming you-know-what, then calmly sit down and try this one on for size!

Across: 1. Musical genre that uses a flatted fifth; 6. Violin attachments; 15. It vibrates during snoring; 16. Novel that nobody reads; 17. Three-time U.S. presidential candidate; 18. Net sales?; 19. Multigallon container; 21. Grave mound; 22. Hostage holder; 23. Endearing, as a smile; 24. King’s successor as S.C.L.C. president; 27. Shrink; 28. Member of the 500 Home Run Club; 29. Cannibal of Anglo-Saxon legend; 31. Science made clear”: Cocteau; 32. Stole, slangily; 33. Sweetums; 36. Perseveres; 37. You may need it going in; 38. Union station?; 41. Seven-foot star of 1960s TV; 43. They may raise some people’s spirits; 45. Films that require a lot of shooting?; 46. Sentence ender; 47. Their work stinks; 49. What a lack of evidence of forced entry might indicate; 551. Send to the front?; 53. Unchangeable situation; 54. Van HALEN (“Jump” band); 55. Orthodox Church council; 56. Inception.

Down: 1. Roll; 2. Actress who was the voice of Duchess in “The Aristocats”; 3. The Pearl of the Danube; 4. Sucrose polyester, more familiarly; 5. “Travelin’ Thru” singer; 6. City largely destroyed by the Normandy campaign; 7. Literary pal of Tom; 8. Witness statement; 9. Rain clouds; 10. Worked one’s wiles on; 11. Longtime NBC sports exec; 12. “Man of Constant SORROW” (old folk standard); 13. On the way; 14. Stick on the grill; 20. One of Ferdinand II’s kingdoms; 22. House on a hacienda; 23. One of the Marsalis brothers; 25. “Wild Thing” band, with “the”; 26. 1946 Literature Nobelist; 30. University of North Texas home; 32. Product lines?; 33. Who’s left?; 34. Assessment paid only by those who benefit; 35. Moving vehicles; 36. Without apparent effort; 37. Bonus Army member; 38. Venomous; 39. Cabin addition; 40. Heel bone, e.g.; 42. Bridge declaration; 44. “Politics is the ENEMY of the imagination”: Ian McEwan; 47. Oz visitor; 48. Supine, possibly; 50. Dutch painter Steen; 52. “We Know Drama” sloganeer.

Bah! -- Let's hope Santa doesn't stuff your stocking with this humdinger!

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For everything else, go to XWord Info

Puzzle available on the internet at

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12.20.21 -- In Duplicate...

Thursday, December 20, 2007

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Puzzle by Peter A. Collins, edited by Will Shortz

EVERYENTRYTHATS (17A. Explanation of this puzzle’s theme …) INTHEGRIDHASTHE (25A. …including this… ) SAMEFIRSTLETTER (42A. …still more…) ASTHEENTRYSCLUE (56A. …and, finally, the end of the explanation) -- by the time one gets to the end of the explanation, it’s too late to help in the solution. Oh, well.

Across: 1. DAFT, Ditsy; 5. OVEN, Oast; 9. LOSIN, Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Am I ____"; 14. OLLA, Oviedo stew; 15. NEMO, Nautilus captain; 16. ACHOO, Allergic explosion; 20. SAX, Single-reed instrument; 21. ILES, Isolated French places; 22. AIRWAY, American or Delta route; 23. SPEE, Scharnhorst admiral of W.W. I; 24. ACNE, Adolescent outbreak; 32. DAWES, Director of the budget who became U.S. vice president; 33. NIT, Niggling criticism; 34. REN, Rapper MC ___; 35. ENOS, Enoch's great-great-grandfather; 36. SPITS, Sticks turned over a fire; 38. MOST, More than half; 39. ANA, Anecdotal collection; 40. OAT, One may be rolled; 41. MOUSE, Macintosh accessory; 47. SIRE, "Sovereign"; 48. VASE, Vessel for a florist; 49. BUSTLE, Busyness; 52. ATRA, Alternative to a Trac II; 53. ARM, Appendage; 59. RELET, Rent again; 60. CAAN, Corleone portrayer; 61. ABET, Aid in crime; 62. ODORS, Offensive emanations; 63. ONYX, Ornamental stone; 64. TASS, Transmitter of cold war news.

Down: 1. DOES, Discharges; 2. ALVA, An inventor's middle name; 3. FLEX, Flaunt, say, as muscles; 4. TAR, Tobacco smoke component; 5. ONELEG, On which an arabesque is performed; 6. VENEER, Varnished surface, sometimes; 7. EMTS, Experts at CPR; 8. NOR, Neither's partner; 9. LATINO, Lady from south of the border; 10. OCHRES, Orangish tones; 11. SHAW, "Saint Joan" playwright; 12. IOTA, Insignificant amount; 13. NOSY, Not just casually interested; 18. YIPES, "Yowzer!"; 19. YACHTS, You can see them at marinas; 23. SHES, Sinatra tune "___ Funny That Way"; 24. ADIT, Access for a collier; 25. IDEAS, Inspirations; 26. NANNA, Norse goddess married to Balder; 27. TWOAM, Time to close a bar, maybe; INITS, "I" and "M" in I. M. Pei: Abbr.; 29. TROUT, They chase flies; 30. HESSE, Hermann who wrote "Steppenwolf"; 31. ENTER, Exit's opposite; 36. SOIREE, Shindig of sorts; 37. PARE, Peel; 38. MOTE, Minute bit; 41. MESAS, Monument Valley sights; 43. ESTHER, Espoused of Ahasuerus, in the Bible; 44. FILETS, Fish orders; 45. TVTRAY, Tube watcher's food holder; 46. LARYNX, Language organ; 49. BARO, Beginning for metric; 50. USED, Utilized; 51. STLO, Site of July 1944 fighting; 52. ATAN, Arrive ___ agreement; 53. ALBA, Actress Jessica, 54. RUES, Regrets; 55. METS "Miracle" team of 1969; 57. NCO, No lieutenant yet: Abbr; and 58. Cool CAT.

TATA, "T -t--that's All Folks!"

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For today’s cartoons, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

12.19.07 -- In Conclusion...

The Last Day of Pompeii, 1830-1833 -- Karl Brulloff -- The Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia

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Wednesday, December 19, 2007

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Puzzle by Victor Fleming, edited by Will Shortz

THELAST (36A. What shall be first … or words than can precede 17-, 23-, 52- and 60-Across), MANSTANDING (17A. Guy ready to sing the national anthem?), DAYSOFPOMPEII (23A. Era ended by Vesuvius?), OFTHEMOHICANS (52A. Belonging to a Hudson Valley tribe?), and PICTURESHOW (60A. Museum exhibit?) are this Wednesday crossword’s inter-related entries.

The Last Picture Show is the title of a 1971 film by Peter Bogdanovich;..... The Last of the Mohicans, of course, a novel by James Fenimore Cooper; The Last Days of Pompeii is a novel written by Edward Bulwer Lytton in 1834; and The Last Man Standing is simply endurance, to whatever degree, but I‘ll spare all of us Survivor .

Victor Fleming in the world of crossword puzzles is simply one of the best. He is not to be confused with the late Hollywood Victor Fleming, a director of films, most notably Gone With the Wind, although his crossword constructions are also epics. In an unusual mid-week appearance (you’ll usually encounter him on the tough weekend puzzles), he has created a little masterpiece.

FOOLISH (24D. Daft) slices through THE LAST in dead center like a warning as to the benefits of being so. From there, the puzzle takes flight into many fancies, offering a wide variety of entries and clues just right for a Wednesday puzzle.

The eight-letter TONEDEAF (3D. Unable to hit a pitch?) and NOTSOHOT (39D. Less than wonderful), followed by seven-letter ENSNARL (4D. Tangle up), TENDSTO (44D. Takes care of); ONENESS (20A. Meditation goal), and the lone TENDONS (56A. Sinews) are the longer entries, followed by the six-letter DOGGIE (13D. Little canine), BOGIES (45D. Unidentified planes), DANIEL (11D. Title brother in a 1973 Elton John hit), ADONIS (12D. Mr. Gorgeous), OFLATE (46D Recently), STENOG (47D. Court worker, for short), SITUPS (49D. Gym class exercises), and CENSOR (6D. Bleep out).

Five-letter entries are 1A. “LETEM Eat Cake” (1930s musical); 6A. CELEB (Hollywood type); 14A. ILONA (Massey of old movies); 15A. ENVOY (Embassy figure); 21A. USING (Make the most of); 29A. TROOP (March [through]); 31A. ITALO (Author Calvino); 33A. OLEIC (Kind of acid); 42A. ATARI (Maker of the game Combat); 43A. STONE (Piece in the game go); 48A. ROSSI (Martini’s partner); 55A. GLEEM (Colgate alternative); 65A. TOPUP (Convertible driver’s option); 66A. STORE (Cache); 69A. TOTIE (Funny Fields); 5D. MATEY (Brit’s buddy); 10D. BYGUM (“Dang!“); 53D. EMPTY (Bottle ready to be recycled); 54D. “For every Bird ANEST”: Emily Dickinson; and a bow to the Holiday -- 68A. YULES (Christmases).

Four-letter entries: ACHE, ASST, BEER, BOSC, ELAN, ELSE, EROO, ICER, HARM, LIMO, NORI, OPES, POLA, SPEC, SWEE, and ETNA.

Three-letter, ADO, CPL, DAD, EON, ETO, IAN, IOU, ITS, LVI, NAY (39A. Vote against) and YEA (41D. Vote for), NOG, OAF, OTT, SEG, TUE, and END.

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For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

Across: 27. Cold one, so to speak, 30. “If all ___ fails …”, 45. Pear type, 51. European erupted, 11. Familiar sitcom figure, 16. Stir, 19. Eggy concoction, 35. Churl, 39. Vote against, 59. Janis ___, with the 1975 hit “At Seventeen”, 64. D.D.E.’s purview in W.W. II, 67. Seg -- Down: 1. V.I.P.’s ride, 2. Pizazz, 7. Football lineman, 8. Mid first-century year, 9. Years and years and years, 18. Mgr.’s helper, 22. Project detail, 25. Negri of silent films, 26. Reveals, in verse, 27. Brief life?, 28. J.F.K. guess, 32. Baseball’s Little Giant, “___ a go!”, 37. Detriment, 38. Suffix with smack, 40. Former Texas governor Richards, 41. Vote for, 42. Liniment target, 50. Patisserie employee, 61. Payment pledge, 62. Lance ___ (U.S.M.C. rank), 63. Night that “Happy Days” was on: Abbr.

12.25.07 -- Christmas

12.24.07 -- Ho! Ho! Ho!

12.23.07 -- Cosmos -- the Acrostic

12.23.07 -- Pfui! Humbug!

12.22.07 -- Quadrupuzzle II

12.22.07 -- Solstice

12.21.07 -- Bah, Humdinger!

12.20.21 -- In Duplicate...

12.19.07 -- In Conclusion...

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