09.22.08 -- ZOO

Various scenes of the Cincinnati Zoo, 1878

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Monday, September 22, 2008

Puzzle by Peter A. Collins, edited by Will Shortz

Today’s Autumnal Equinox crossword puzzle treats us to a small menagerie identified by the entries of THE (11A. With 66-Across, where this puzzle’s circled things can all be found) and ZOO (66A. See 11-Across). Within the circles of five entries are five members of the zoo -- CRUISEALONG (21A. Proceed effortlessly); LUGNUTS (38A. Tire irons loosen them); ILLBEAROUND (54A. 1972 hit for the Spinners); NOTASABLE (3D. Less competent); and CAMELATER (34D. Ensued). There’s a second uncircled sable in UNUSABLE (39D. Having no practical application), quite usable for this creature -- Martes zibellina.

ARARAT (27A. Mount on which Noah landed) and SAHARA (24A. African desert) offer alternative environments, the latter best for a camel, the former refuge from the storm. A REBEL (30A. Insurrectionist) RAT (22D. Lab maze runner) is on the loose, along with a COVERT (49A. Hidden from view) ERN (63A. Suffix with north or south), which may or may not SOAR (29A. Fly into the wild blue yonder). An EEL (37A. Conger, for one) is swimming free in the deluge, while the remainder await HOMEPORT (9D. The Titanic’s was Southhampton).

CATCHALL (5D. Multipurpose) heads the few remaining longer entries -- 10D. Michael ANSARA, Cochise player in 1950s TV); MEETUP (48D. Join [with]); SNOWDAYS (40D. Winter “no school” times); TROWEL (52A. Masonry tool).

Five letter entries include 50A. ALERO (50D. Old Olds); APRES-ski; ARTIE (61A. Bandleader Shaw); CANON (15A. Religious doctrine); CRAMS (18. Shoves [in]); ENOLA Gay (W.W. II bomber); HORNS (12D. Centers of steering wheels); MANIC (1A. Wild-eyed and crazy); 7D. “I just met a girl named MARIA” (“West Side Story” lyric); MOTET (17A. Sacred song); NAMES (45A. April, May and June, e.g.); OCCUR (6D. Go down, so to speak); 6A. Mutual of OMAHA; PEALS (67A. Rings, as a church bell); 14A. PLANO (51D. Texas city just north of Dallas); PROPS (26A. Respect that one deserves, in slang); RUERS (53D. Contrite ones); SORES (68A. Tender spots); TBONE (60A. Steak variety); TONAL (52D. Having melody and harmony); TROOP (11D. Scouting group); ULNAR (64A. Related to an arm bone); YIELD (65A. Defer [to]).

The fill: ALEC, AMUR, ANAS and ANON, ARE and AREA, ARR, AVA and AVE, CARB, CON, ECON, EMAG, IGOR, ILE, INEZ, INOR, LORE, MEMO, NAST, NOEL, NEA and NNE, ONA and ORA, OVER, REDS (58D. Cincinnati team), RILE, RIO, ROM, RONA, and SOUL.

Today, on the occasion of the autumnal equinox in the northern hemisphere, the night and day are nearly the same length as the Sun crosses the equator moving southward, and we mark the first day of the season of autumn.

May it bring a cornucopia of good!

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Xword search information -- Across: 16. Bucharest’s home: Abbr.; 19. ___ pro nobis (pray for us: Lat.); 20. “Cat ___ Hot Tin Roof”; 31. “Are you ___ out?”; 33. Subj. that includes monetary policy; 41. Actress Gardner; 42. Guinness who played Obi-Wan Kenobi; 44. Song sung around Christmas; 47. Russia/China border river; 56. Airport info: Abbr.; 59. Teachers’ grp. Down: 1. Office note; 2. Soon, poetically; 4. ___ de France; 8. Santa ___ (hot winds); 13. Online pub.; 23. Oral history; 25. “You ___ So Beautiful”; 27. Sector; 28. Film unit; 29. James Brown’s genre; 31. Hunchbacked assistant of horror films; 32. Opposite SSW; 35. Through with; 36. Political cartoonist Thomas; 43. Low-___ diet; 46. N.Y.C.’s Madison ___; 49. Scam; 54. Mother of Don Juan; 55. Jaffe who wrote “Five Women”; 57. Stir (up); 62. ___ Grande.

09.21.08 -- Y, the Diagramless

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Diagramless Puzzle by Byron Walden, edited by Will Shortz

With imagination, one can make out a Y-shaped pattern in the center of this diagramless puzzle, which supports the entries of DIVINING ROD, TUNING FORKS, ANTIBODY, WISHBONE, GOAL POSTS, SLINGSHOT and, of course, YSHAPED.

Across: 1. Sky blue; 6. Adjust the relative value of, as a currency; 7. *Branch of hydrology?; 13. Turns target; 14. “Me neither”; 15. *Orchestra members’ aids; 19. What candles sometimes signify; 21. Science of the ear; 22. Hearth residue; 25. Plenty; 27. Common complimentary close; 28. “ARLO and Janis (comic strip); 29. First name in the Bible alphabetically; 31. Common U.R.L. ending; 32. Time for a shower; 33. Inflated; 35. See 61-Across; 36. Rubberneck; 37. Common U.R.L. ending; 39. Matterhorn, for one; 40. “Son of Frankenstein” drudge; 42. Start of a Latin 101 conjugation; 43. Fall tool; 44. Competed; 46. Locale for a massage; 47. Gauge with units in cubic feet; 49. 2000 George Clooney film, familiarly; 51. *Resistance fighter?; 52. *Chicken leftover; 53. Guide for the Magi; 54. Whence the Magi; 55. Word that describes the answers to the six asterisked clues; 61. With 35-Across, commits oneself publicly; 62. Audience member with a hidden agenda.

Down: 1. Severe dryness; 2. “ZEN and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance”; 3. News inits. Since 1958; 4. Stimpy’s cartoon pal; 5. Yuletide quaffs; 7. Fruit-bearing palm; 8. Post-O.R. destination; 9. Chianti or Soave; 10. Actor Calhoun of old westerns; 11. Sitcom planet of the 1970s-’80s; 12 Unsettled state; 16. Lunch time; 17. Stick stuff that sticks stuff; 18. Setting in many a western; 19. Certain Gulf Stater; 20. *Ends of some fields; 23. *Dennis the Menace zinger?; 24. Not finally fill, as an employment position; 26. Farm female; 28. Likely; 30. Of very little value; 32 Disparaged; 34. Nosed (around); 35 Defense story; 36. Crazy in love, maybe; 38. With 41-Down, like triple plays in baseball; 39. Swear to; 41. See 38-Down; 43. Singer McEntire; 45. Capital of Qatar; 48. Univ. on the Charles River; 50. “Frank TV” channel; 55. Word that describes the answers to the six asterisked clues; 56. Speedway letters; 57. “Malcolm in the Middle” dad; 58. Wanted poster abbr.; 59. Autograph hound’s need; 60. D. C. winter setting.

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09.21.08 -- It's a Mystery!

Humphrey Bogart as Sam Spade in "The Maltese Falcon"

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Sunday, September 21, 2008

IT’S A MYSTERY, Puzzle by Brendan Emmett Quigley, edited by Will Shortz

This mystery has eight LEAD DETECTIVES (109A. Ones in charge of a case … or a literal hint to the eight other longest answers in this puzzle) to bring about a solution:

DREW UNIVERSITY (23A. School in Madison, N.J.); FISH STORY (33A. Don’t believe it); MAGNUM OPUS (46A. “The Divine Comedy,” for Dante); HAMMER THROW (66A. Track-and-field event); FELL ASLEEP (84A. Dropped off); MASON JARS (98A. Pantry array); QUEEN MOTHER (17D. Beloved figure in England); and SPADE CASINO (65D. Card game played to 61).

That should be plenty!

The clues -- Across: 1. Drapery material; 7. Lumber supplier; 14. Item marked in pounds; 20. City and county of central California; 21. Rushing; 22. Hair color; 25. Cause of worry lines; 26. Poet whose last words were “Of course [God] will forgive me; that’s his business”; 27. “Beau GESTE”; 29. Coup d’OEIL (quick glance); 30. Bank postings; 37. Seward-to-Fairbanks dir.; 38. HUEVOS rancheros; 39. Levelheaded; 40. Raw bar offering; 42. Officer in Alice’s Restaurant; 43. Launches; 45. Classic theater name; 49. 1950s-’70s TV host; 51. Petrol purchase; 54. It’s often punched on a keypad; 55. Reader’s goal; 56. Online reading; 58. Redeem; 59. Wife, informally; 61. Fraternity member; 62. Difficult situation; 63. Sitting with one’s hand on one’s chin, e.g.; 69. Google results; 70. Duds; 72. Record producer who published the diary “A Year With Swollen Appendices”; 73. Appetite whetter; 75. Favored one side or the other; 78. Kon-Tiki material; 78. Turned right; 79. What eds. Read; 82. Get divorced; 83. RARA avis; 84. Dropped off; 87. More spooky; 89. Work site?; 91. German river; 92. Trig. Angle; 94. Salad morsel; 96. “On Language” columnist; 97. Mens REA; 102. Enzyme in some yeasts; 103. There’s one for dance; 105. Prefix with centric; 106. Only U.S. vice president born in Maryland; 107. San Luis OBISPO; 116. Vacation arrangement; 117. Big name in auto parts; 118. French subjects?; 119. Alarm clock button; 120. Psychiatric visit; 121. Major diamond exporter.

Down: 1. Mil. Authority; 2. Laugh start; 3. Suffix with cyan-; 4. City with the world’s first telephone directory (1878); 5. Loyally following; 6. Nuts; 7. Had work looming?; 8. Combined; 9. Blade in sports; 10. The shakes; 11. “The Da Vinci Code” scholar Sir LEIGH Teabing”; 12. Novelist who wrote “The Gravedigger’s Daughter”; 13. No-tell motel visit; 14. Italy’s Reggia di CASERTA (royal palace); 15. Pizza HUT; 16. River that rises in Cantabria; 18. Bearlike; 19. Eve ENSLER, “The Vagina Monologues monologist; 24. Connections; 28. Quaint letter opener; 30. Eating sound; 31. Persian Gulf emirate; 32. Cover many subjects?; 33. Extremely pleasing, in slang; 34. Occupied; 35. Word with smart or mind; 36. Upbraid; 39. Biological dividing wall; 41. Being debated; 43. Kind of fin; 44. Dumped out; 45. Singer Corinne Bailey RAE; 47. Longtime news inits.; 48. Potato choice; 50. Egyptian crosses; 52 Yemeni money; 53 Tolkien creatures; 57. Nobodies; 58. Southern legume; 59. Scoundrels; 60. Window washer’s boo-boo; 62. Unlikely to be Miss America; 63. Ghostlike; 64. Big tournament; 67. China’s Zhou; 68. Loose overcoat; 71. Condense again, as an article; 74. The Mormons, initially; 76. High jump need; 77. Certain photo caption; 79. Broadcasters, e.g.; 80. Predictors; 81. Brief indulgence; 83. “Malcolm in the Middle” boy; 85. Cy Young candidates’ stats; 86. Liberal; 88. Behind; 90. Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy org.; 92. Safeguards; 93. Deli order; 95. Sacred places; 96. Winning hand in blackjack; 99. Stewpots; 100. Certain flower girl; 101. “The Grapes of Wrath” family; 102. T-shirt size: Abbr.; 104. “ESTO perpetua” (Idaho’s motto); 106. Lots; 108. Opposite of Guerra; 110. Paris’s Parc DES Princes; 111. Sixth-century year; 112. Prefix with freak; 113. Letters on a brandy bottle; 114. Marine predator; 115. Org. that has its benefits.

With all those clues and detectives, this one should be an open and shut case!

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09.20.08 -- Quadrupuzzle III

Colour Studies -- Wassily Kandinsky

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September 20, 2008

Puzzle by Joe Krozel, edited by Will Shortz

Today's crossword is essentially four small puzzles which are joined weakly in the center by two four-letter across entries, ANON (25. Soon enough) and NICE (33. “Sweet!”) with a few scattered common letters on the periphery, e.g., E, L, and R. Divided by four big black "hammers", each quadrant must be solved separately in that as much use as any letter is from another section, the center might as well be completely closed. This is the third crossword of this type over the past year -- See

12.01.07 -- Quadrupuzzle with the exact same diagram and 12.22.07 -- Quadrupuzzle II, a variation.

Puzzle 1 (Upper left): Across -- 1. Agreed; 12. Drama queen; 16. “You BETCHA!“; 18. Break by hitting; 20. Apt to turn out badly; 22. Something taken before swinging; 24. Opening and closing facilitator; 26. Loafer attachment. Down -- 1. Founder of the Foundation for Florida’s Future; 2. “That wasn’t a joke!“; 3. Its capital is Gaborone; 4. Artistic impressions?; 5. Bursts open, as legume seedpods; 13. Asian Royal.

Puzzle 2 (Upper right): Across -- 6. “Only bad witches are ugly” speaker; 14. They might be weaving; 17. Asian range, with “the”; 19. Prompts; 21. Trademark relatives; 23. Lame excuse. Down -- 6. Set piece?; 7. Ballerina, often; 8. Inactivity; 9. By; 10. Least exciting; 11. Politico Hutchinson and others; 14. Send from abroad; 15. Blouse coverer.

Puzzle 3 (Lower left): Across -- 37. Bit of regalia; 42. Separator of light and dark; 44. Delivered by a third person, perhaps; 46. It contains the three-fifths clause; 48. Setting one back the most; 50. Ecclesiastical districts. Down -- 25. Heirs, legally; 27. Licenses; 34. It needs to be built up when it’s bad; 37. Like some nights and eyes; 38. Deliver by truck; 39. Lucia’s brother in “Lucia di Lammermoor”; 40. Opposite of turbulent; 44. Refreshing things.

Puzzle 4 (Lower right): Across -- 28. Common household pest; 35. Sports equipment wired for scoring; 41. Mixed with something else; 43. “Les Mains Sales” playwright, 1948; 45. Snow-covered cover-up; 47. It’s typically easier to give than take; 49. Comparatively shrewd; 51. Trivial stuff. Down -- 29. Said while pounding the fist, say; 30. One signing off; 31. It’s free of charge; 32. Apartment adjuncts; 36. Participants in a kids’ game; 41. Singer of the 1991 hit “Wicked Game”.

Go four it!

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09.19.08 -- Yo Ho Yo Ho!

Friday, September 19, 2008

Puzzle by Alex Boisvert, edited by Will Shortz

SHIVERMETIMBERS! (8D. “Well, I’ll be!,” as it might be said on September 19) -- Pirates! Today is September 19th… also known as International TALKLIKEAPIRATE Day! Dust off your parrot… cuz t’day’s yer chance to be impolite and p'rhaps flog a body that’s bent OVERABARREL (53A. At someone’s mercy).

IMOUTOFHERE and SAYONARA (15A and 12D with the Shortzesque clues of “Later!”), PANDORASBOX (1A. Source of troubles) has been unleashed for the occasion on this crossword -- CREDITLINES (17A. Bank offerings) and GASSTATIONS (65A. Shell locations) are putting us in APET (23A. Irritated, after “in’). The SHAKES (38D. D.T.’s), a JAB (46A. Poke), oh ROT (6D. Start to smell, maybe), not ONABET (35A. How some dares are done) UNLESS (27D. Hedge word) some other DUDES (4D. Guys) ATEIT (23D. Wiped out, slangily) -- OKBYME (29D. “That’s fine”)! We’re a long time out t’ sea ’n the nights can be dark ’n cold! …and aboard ship, there’s NOEXIT (3D. Play with the line “Hell is other people”)!

Of the remaining long entries, LAKEONTARIO (49A. One end of the Welland Canal) is the starting point for those who wish to go over the Niagara Falls in a barrel. The other five are ANTEATER (32D. It has a long tongue); LATEPASS (33D. Student excuser); NEPALESE (14D. Like soldiers known as Gurkhas); ONECARAT (13D. 200 milligrams); and TOASTERS (31D. Some diner equipment).

Fives and sixes -- AMRITA (2D. Hindu drink of the gods); ATTYS (37A. Bar tenders?: Abbr.); 9D. BENITO Santiago, 1987 N.L. Rookie of the Year; CAROLS (41D. Doorstep numbers?); COHERE (21D. Stick); NIXES (19A. Turns down); OBRIEN (40D. TV newswoman Soledad); OHARE (28A. W.W II air ace who lent his name to an airport); ONEAM (29D. Wee hour); OPALS (30D. Pendant adornments); OPERAS (30A. Meyerbeer output); PICNIC (1D. Eat out?); SBARRO (39D. Italian restaurant chain); SEEMS (42A. Apparently is); SILLS (38A. Places for dust to collect); STARR (47A. Packers QB whose #15 jersey is retired); TONAL (25A. Like most music); TOPIC (25D. What debaters debate); TRACE (36A. Outline); UTERO (27A. Not yet delivered, after “in”).

Threes and fours -- ABBA, AFL, ANE, ARLO, CAT, COCA, ETA, HMOS, ITIS and OTIS, JAVA, LOG, NBA, OAT, OREM, PEAK, RES, SOC and SON, SRS, STAT, TAPE, VIM, XES, YEP (“Uh-huh!”).

Yo Ho Yo Ho! A Pirate's Life for Me!

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Xword search information -- 12. ___ of God; 16. What the 1939 50,000-word novel “Gadsby” completely lacks; 20. Spirit; 21. ___ leaf; 22. Irritation suffix; 23. Irritated, after “in”; 25. 26. Persian, e.g.; 39. Assn.; 43. Insurance providers, for short; 44. “Super Trouper” group, 1980; 45. Kind of delay; 48. LAX datum; 52. Hi-___; 54. Ones needing career counseling, maybe: Abbr. Down: 5. Revolutionary patriot James7. Union inits. Starting in 1886; 10. City near Provo; 11. Scratches, with “out”; 24. Top; 34. Live folk album of 1968; 44. ___ 2600 (hit product of the 1970s-’80s); 46. Joe; 47. “This instant!”; 49. Record; 50. Bit of chicken feed; 51. Org. with the annual Eddie Gottlieb Trophy.

09.18.08 -- Ups and Downs

The See-Saw by Jean-Honore Fragonard

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Thursday, September 18, 2008

Puzzle by Mike Nothnagel, edited by Will Shortz

Today‘s crossword features [See circles] as the clue for four interrelated across entries, 17. WINDOWSHADE, 21. ELEVATOR, 55. SINEWAVE, and 63. STOCKMARKET. The circled letters going across the center of the grid read ITGOESUPANDDOWN in an appropriate “follow-the-bouncing ball” manner.

Initials play a notable role in the puzzle including GQTYPE (20A. Well-dressed photogenic male); DRJ (16A. Nickname for #6 on the Sixers); SSTAR (50D. Relatively cool red giant); 28D. Deer XING; DNALABS (44D. Test sites), IPOS (45A. CNBC news topics, for short); ETDS (23A. Delays set them back: Abbr.); ETO (19A. D.D.E.’s W.W. II command); KOS (64D. W.B.A. finales).

INEVER (10D. Taken-aback response) heads the talkative entries -- AMTOO (66A. Defensive retort) which sports an entry look-alike electronically verbose 12. ARTOO-Detoo; the admonishing BEGOOD (25A. “No horsing around!”); the imploring LOOKATME (40D. Attention-getting cry); and SEEYA (70A. “I’m outta here!”).

Other entries of six or more entries are ADOPTEE (5D. Oliver Twist, for one); AGENDA (22D. Program); ALCOVE (58A. Recess); PAWSAT (46D. Handles roughly); REPAIR (30D. Garage job); SIDEBARS (9D. Court huddles); SLOVAK (50A. Language that treats “dz” as a single consonant); SQUATS (24D. Occupies an abandoned building); VOTIVE (32D. Like some candles) which reverberates up and down with VOTE (56D. Drop paper in a box, maybe), both of which denote expressing a vow, wish, or desire.

Five-letter: 14A. Thin as AREED; BAIRN (67A. Scottish child); DARIN (44A. “Dream Lover” singer, 1959); DEBRA (1A. Eric’s “Will & Grace” co-star); FARSI (6A. Language from which “divan” is derived); FJORD (13D. Finger of the ocean); ICEIN (15A. Strand, somehow); 31. “How Do ILIVE” (1997 LeAnn Rimes hit); LAPPS (40A. Northern Europeans); LIEBY (51D. Remain inactive); MCRAE (54D. Jazz’s Carmen); ODETO (11D. Start of many dedications); ONCUE (52D. How actors should appear); REDYE (4D Change colors?); TEENS (69A. Majority of a crowd at a Jonas Brothers concert).

The remains: ABU, ACHE, ALTE, ATNO, BENT, DAWG and DAWN, ECON, ENNE, ERIQ, ESQ, ETNA, FIS, INN, LAX, LIAR, NOAM, NOSE (35A. Oenophile‘s interest), OAF, OARS, OKIE, OTRA, RARE, REAL, REGT, ROAM, RYE, SPR, STE, SWIT, TEC, USER, VERY, WEDS.

With a fondness for the many odd-looking combinations of letters in its entries, this puzzle is a bit tricky -- but a puzzle is a puzzle is a puzzle, no matter the ups and downs!

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Xword search information -- Across: 11. Dunderhead; 26. Negligent; 29. A.B.A. member’s title; 30. Burger order; 33. One pointing and clicking; 39. 80, for Hg; 41. Start time for many a military mission; 42. Colonel’s div.; 43. Check box option on a Spanish survey?; 47. Business with a register; 49. Paris’s Basilique ___-Clotilde; 53. Use a cell phone outside one’s calling area; 62. Dick; 65. Egypt’s ___ Simbel historical site; 68. Seedy sort? Down: 1. Family pet in “Hi and Lois”; 2. Former “ER” co-star La Salle; 3. Having one’s heart set (on); 7. Result of overstrain; 8. Concrete; 18. Forms a union; 26. Either of two guests on “To Tell the Truth”; 27. Der ___ (Konrad Adenauer); 34. When flowers bloom: Abbr.; 36. Crew members; 37. “M*A*S*H:” co-star; 38. Feminizing suffix; 48. Linguist Chomsky; 57. Coll. Major; 59. Tex’s neighbor; 60 Especially; 61. It’s about 2 ½ times as high as Vesuvius.

09.17.08 -- Who's Who Is Whose?

"The Man Who Knew Too Much" (1956)

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Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Puzzle by Edward Safran, edited by Will Shortz

Six movie titles clued by actors who play the title character in each constitute the interrelated entries of this Wednesday crossword -- 21A. Sean Connery: “The Man Who WOULDBEKING” (1975); 51A. David Bowie: “The Man Who FELLTOEARTH” (1976); 3D. Boris Karloff: “The Man Who LIVEDAGAIN” (1936); 9D Burt Reynolds: “The Man Who LOVEDWOMEN” (1983); 28d. Lloyd Nolan: “The Man Who WOULDNTDIE” (1942); 30D. Billy Bob Thornton: “The Man Who WASNTTHERE” (2001).

MALES (1A. Some electric plugs) manages to AVOID (56A. Get out of) a human clue, and MOVIE (17A. Typical date activity) is even VAGUER (6D. Not so clear) about any association with the interrelated entries, both ending up in a LIMBO (9A. Neither-here-nor-there state). BIOS (23D. Book jacket blurbs) utilizing an ALIAS (46D. Wanted post info) may be in order.

Other people in the puzzle -- ANWAR (27A. President Sadat); CORTES (45D. Conqueror of Mexico); a DODO (41D. Thickhead); ELI (4D. Gridder Manning); ELS (64A. Ernie on the links); EVAN (52D. Sen. Bayh); HAL (55A. Shakespearean prince); LONI (53D. Anderson of “Stroker Ace”) LOUIS (36D. Vuitton of fashion); MOSES (39A. Climber of Mount Sinai); NESS (32D. Top Untouchable); a PLANT (50D. Carnival shill, e.g.); RAOUL (47D. Holocaust hero Wallenberg); with a nod to ILIKE (10D. With 20-Across, ’50s slogan) IKE (20A. See 10-Down) and FALA (51D. F.D.R. dog) conveniently provided with a DOGTOY (33A. Rubber hamburger, e.g.).

There’s the possibility of a little trouble at the last-letter intersect of ISOLE (7D. Sicilia e Sardegna) and LEETIDE (26A. It flows with the wind) which form a cul de sac, resulting in the knowledge of the name for a tide that runs in the same direction that the wind is blowing, plus the singular and/or plural for island in Italian.

DEADTREE (8D. Like paper vis-à-vis electronic); DESOLATE (35D. Like a moonscape); LENIENCE (38D. Defendant’s hope at sentencing) and SHIELDED (40A. Hid from view) constitute a quartet of serious sounding eight-letter entries.

The remainders are a MIX of the usual and unusual suspects: AWOKE, ANISE, ASE, ATEE, BERN, CANIT, CEDE, CUE, DID, DON DOSE, EAGER, EEN, ENTRE, EXERT, GOA, IWILL, LANAI, LIE, MDVI, MIMIC, NOT, OLAY, OMEGA, ONEG, OTARU, OTHE, VID, OLDEN, RANT, REUNES, ROW, SIREN, SLEW, STEP, VIVRE, WAN (30A. Hardly ruddy).

My favorite “Man Who“ movie? Not in today’s puzzle -- “The Man Who Knew Too Much”.

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Xword search information -- Across: 6. Kid-___ film genre); 14. Volunteer’s words; 15. Enzyme suffix; 16. Bygone; 18. ___ few rounds; 19. Joie de ___; 24. Turn over; 29. Ticket datum; 37. Hokkaido seaport; 38. Golfer’s concern; 42. Attends homecoming, say; 43. Velvet finish?; 44. Put on; 45. “Zip your lip!”; 57. “___ funny!”; 58. The end; 60. Maui veranda; 61. Words on a card; 62. Signal to pull over; 63. Biscotti flavoring; 65. Bring to bear. Down: 1. Chimp, at times, 5. Knocked off; 11. Year of Columbus’s death; 12. It’s on the Aare; 13. NASA force unit, briefly; 22. Oil of ___; 25. ___ nous; 31. Suit to ___; 33. Two caplets, e.g.; 34. “Top ___ morning’!”; 35. Executed; 42. Go ballistic; 49. Raring to go; 54. Cheat, slangily; 59. Be sociable.

09.16.08 -- Fried Turkey

Cajun Fried Turkey

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Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Puzzle by Michael Langwald, edited by Will Shortz

STEAMEDCRAB (17A. Grouch who’s plenty mad?), GRILLEDSHRIMP (27A. Pipsqueak under cross-examination?), ROASTEDPEANUT (48A. Wee lad feted by the Friars?), and FRIEDTURKEY (64A. Burned-out goofball?) are the featured interrelated entries of this Tuesday crossword.

Joining the grouch, the pipsqueak, the wee lad, and the goofball is EVITAPERON (11D. First lady played by Madonna) who seemingly presides over the personages ANDOR (71A. Choice words?) characters in the puzzle including an ICEBREAKER (29D. Party warmer-upper) and a SADSACK (25A. Perennial loser), neither steamed, grilled, roasted or fried.

Others spared such fates are ABNER (39A. Daisy Mae’s man); ALDRIN (51D. Second man to walk on the moon); ARTE (2D. Comic Johnson); a DEB (30D. She’s coming out); an EYER (62D. One making a visual assessment); a GRAD (27D. Mortarboard tosser); IRENE (67A. “Goodnight” girl of song); the IRISH (52D. March marchers); NOLTE (53D. Nick of “Affliction”); PENA (57D. Federico of the Clinton cabinet); a VALET (1A. Car parker) and VANNA (15A. Revealing woman on TV?).

Various activities and expressions -- 22D. Clear ASMUD (hard to understand); DROOL (6A. Show hunger, in a way); DIG (26D. Beatnik’s “Get it?”); EKED (50D. Barely managed with “out”); EUREKA (18D. “That’s it!”); GUESS (34A. 20 Questions turn); HER (69A. Ship’s pronoun); 19A. “IFI were you …“; INERTIA (52A. Resistance to change); LEER (3D. Goat’s look); RACE (7D. Talladega 500, e.g.); ROAM (55A. What nomads do); SIEGE (68A. Assault on Troy, e.g.); SNIT (45A. Agitated state); 36D. “You missed a SPOT!“); TAXIED (50D Proceeded along the tarmac); and USEUP (21A. Exhaust).

The remains of the day -- ALES, ARENA, ATTN, DEBTS, DELE, DRIP, DVDS, EEL, EER, ELS, ENAMEL, ESS, EXPOS, FIR, ILK, LEGO, ODER, ONAPAR and ONRUSH, OTO, RADAR, RIPEST, ROC, ROLE, SAT, SENSE, SIERRA, SITU, SKEE, SLINK, SOFTC, STE, STORM, TAM, TEE, TERM, VAST, VOL and USA (65A. “The Star-Spangled Banner“ land).

END (40A. Wrap up).

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THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

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Xword search information -- Across: Snaky shape; 14. Fight site; 16. TV control abbr.; 20. ___ limits (election issue); 22. Abbr. before a name on an envelope; 23. Always, in poems; 32. Bird in the “Arabian Nights”; 33. ___-Ball (arcade game); 37. Some brews; 42. Coffeemaker style; 43. They’re outstanding; 47. Ear: Prefix; 54. Sushi fish; 56. Shows with pavilions; 59. Takeout sign?; 63. Class; 66. Sault ___ Marie, Mich.; 70. Weather station’s need. Down: 1. Seemingly limitless; 4. Glossy finish; 5. Cap with a pompom; 8. Torrent; 9. Even (with); 10. “Chocolate” dog; 12. The first letter of “circle” (but not the fourth); 24. Loop transports; 28. Cameo, e.g.; 31. Brains; 35. As originally placed, after “in”; 38. Blow hard; 41. Best for picking; 44. Did nothing; 48. Golf ball’s perch; 49. Western mountain chain, with “the”; 58. Baltic feeder; 61. Block brand; 64. Yule tree.