12.23.09 -- Black and White and Read All Over







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Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Puzzle by Jonathan Porat, edited by Will Shortz

This schizophrenic Wednesday crossword brings up the question “What’s BLACK and WHITE and RED ALL OVER?”, well, of course, it’s a NEWSPAPER (72A. Answer to an old riddle alluded to by the starts of 17-, 32-, 42- and 64-Across). The 15-letter across entries employed to form the riddle (sans “what is”) are BLACK MAGIC WOMAN (17A. 1970 Santana hit); WHITE HOUSE TAPES (32A. Evidence in the Watergate scandal); RED-BLOODED MALES (42A Macho types); ALL OVER THE PLACE (64A. Varying wildly) -- NEWSPAPER. Holoalphabetic, the across half of the puzzle is a smooth ride compared to the down, which is stop and go riddled with a plethora of abbreviations, interjections and that ilk of ink.

Onward -- ANAHEIM CA (70A. Part of a postal address for Disneyland), AS WE SPEAK (15A. This very moment), JUST TRY ME (1A. “I dare you”) are the next longest entries, followed by those of seven letters -- GROUPIE (26A. Idol worshiper?), LE HAVRE (44D. France’s second-busiest port), ON A WHIM (51A. Impulsively) and SAW TO IT (10D. Took care of business).


The five-letter group dominates the crossword -- 53D. Finnish architect Alvar AALTO; A DASH (22A. Tiny recipe amount); ADOUT (59A. Break point score, perhaps); ANODE (71A. + end); AWAKE (16A. Conscious); BARBQ (28A. Kind of pit, briefly); BOCCE (57D. Ball-rolling game); CARVE (18D. Have turkey-serving duty, say); EENIE (14D. Start of a counting rhyme); EKING (9D. Barely making [out]); HATER (69A. Misanthrope); JAM UP (12D. Become blocked); MORAN (54D. Erin of “Happy Days”); NOLAN (52D. Christopher who directed “The Dark Knight”); OKAPI (13D. Animal with striped legs); OMAHA (51D. 1935 Triple Crown horse); 45D. Nitrous OXIDE; PART B (55A. Medical insurance portion of Medicare); QUADS (30D. Campus areas); SCI FI (50A. Trekkies’ genre); SENAT (20A. It might pass une loi); ST JOE (10A. The Hawks of the Atlantic 10 conference, informally); SWARD (3D. Stretch of grass); TRAMP (56D. Charlie Chaplin persona); USLTA (2D. Org. that used to bring people to court?), that‘s uh… United States Lawn Tennis Association.


Short stuff -- ABT and ART, AIR, BOZO, BTW, DIP, EHS, EVE, HRE and HRH, ITD, JABS, LIA Fáil, Irish coronation stone, MAGE, MFA and MOA, OVA, PEP, POL, ROY, RPM, SAE and SAS, SPEC, STR, TEC and TEX, THAW, TSK, TWO, UNA, UPI, UTNE, VIN, WAR, YEAR and YEAS, WAR, ZAP (40A. Instantly fry).


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Remaining clues -- Across: 19. Orch. Section; 21. Reuters competitor; 31. Burgundy or Chablis; 39. “Without ___, the crudeness of reality would make the world unbearable”: Shaw; 40. Instantly fry; 41. In vitro cells; 49. Lone Star State cowboy; 58. Extinct cousin of the kiwi; 62. Artist Lichtenstein. Down: 1. Pointed criticisms; 4. Sam Spade type; 5. “Uh-uh, bad!”; 6. Tach reading; 7. Votes for; 8. Gandalf, for one; 11. See 32-Down; 23. U.S. dance grp.; 24. It facilitates replying to a MS.; 25. Buckingham Palace letters; 27. Article in El Mundo; 29. Schmo; 32. Card game for 11-Down; 33. Onetime realm of central Eur.; 34. “___ be an honor”; 35. A writer may work on it; 36. Washington pro; 37. Christmas ___; 38. Carrier to Copenhagen; 43. “Oh yea …,” in a text message; 46. Brief swim; 47. Design deg.; 48. Lungful; 60. ___ Reader; 61. Midwinter phenomenon, sometimes; 63. Strangely, it’s shorter than a day on Venus; 65. Orthographer’s ref.; 66. Frequent Canadian interjections; 67. Vim.



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12.22.09 -- Dropping S





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Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Puzzle by Robert A. Doll, edited by Will Shortz

It seems that six entries have lost their S -- HOP STEWARD (17A. Attendant at a ‘50s dance?) derived from shop steward; ELF ESTEEM (22A. Personnel concern for Santa?), self-esteem; PIN DOCTOR (51A. Acupuncturist?), spin doctor; MALL MINDED (57A. Addicted to shopping?), small-minded; PARK PLUGS (10D. Ads aimed at hikers and picnickers?), spark plugs; and LUSH FUNDS (32D. Money for liquor?), slush funds.

Esses in place, the mid-size entries include HAS-BEEN (41A. Washed-up star); KNOLLS (45D. Rounded hills); LOW-KEY (6D. Subdued in manner); MATISSE (5D. Henri who painted “The Dance”); SLIP-UPS (33A. Goofs); UTOPIAN (43D. Ideal, but impractical).


The bulk of this drowsy drop-a-letter Tuesday crossword is composed of five-letter entries -- ADAGE (64A. Item in “Poor Richard’s Almanack”; AKRON (21A. Goodyear’s Ohio headquarters; ANENT (13D. With regard to); ANITA (14A. “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” writer Loos); ANKLE (49D. A spat covers it); BRIDE (37A. One given away by her father, often); CYNDI (53D. Singer Lauper); DENIM (1A. Material for informal jackets or skirts); ERASE (7D. Shake an Etch A Sketch); FLORA (24D. Botanist’s study); IDIOT (50D. Dostoyevsky novel, with “The”); INDUS (54A. Pakistan’s chief river); INURE (11D. Toughen, as to hardship); ISLET (52D. It might have a single coconut tree); IT’S ME (4D. Response to “Who’s there?”); LATCH (23D. Gate fastener); MINKS (20A. Animals famed for their fur) and STOLE (31A. Item made from 20-Across); NINON (67A. Curtain fabric); PLANT (34D. Botanist’s study); SOAPY (55A. All lathered up); SOLON (2D. Athenian lawgiver); SEGNO (35D. Musical repetition mark); USAGE (43A. Grammarian’s concern); WAIFS (48A. Street urchins); WISPS (48D. Cirrus cloud formations).


Short stuff -- ABE and ABEL (63A. The brother in “Am I my brother’s keeper?“) and ADAM (46D. 63-Across’s father), ANON, ASAP, BASS, BEN, DAH and DAN and DEN, ECRU, EGO and ENO and ENTO, ESSE, ETAL, GAR, GLEN, HANA, KAT, LEGO, MAP, MELD, NEER, NIP, NNE, OLD, ORAL, PETS and SETS, PISA, PLOD, REAP, RULE, SAL, SIN, SOY, TIE (30D. Gift in a long, thin box), perhaps hanging from the mantle?

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Remaining clues -- Across: 6. Building block brand; 10. City on the Arno; 15. Like slander, as opposed to libel; 16. Bartlett’s abbr.; 27. Mule of song; 28. Tofu source; 29. List-ending abbr.; 36. Hosiery hue; 39. Secluded valley; 44. Mandlikova of tennis; 45. Crazy ___ of the comics; 47. Miami-to-Boston dir.; 58. Injure, as the knee; 62. Walk wearily; 65. Places for props; 66. Many adoptees. Down: 1. Morse T; 2. Brian of ambient music; 3. Sip from a flask; 8. Needle-nosed fish; 9. Jolly ___ Saint Nick; 18. Inner: Prefix; 21. “Chop-chop!,” on a memo; 22. To be, to Brutus; 25. Pinochle lay-down; 30. Gift in a long, thin box; 33. Break a commandment; 37. Gridder Roethlisberger; 38. Collect, as rewards; 40. Not e’en once; 42. Jazz combo member; 57. Explorer’s aid; 58. Actor Vigoda; 59. Aykroyd of “Ghostbusters”; 60. Swelled head; 61. La-Z-Boy spot.




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12.21.09 -- It's a Mad, Med, Mid, Mod, Mud Monday!



Monday, December 21, 2009 -- Winter Solstice

Puzzle by Sarah Keller, edited by Will Shortz

M + A, E, I, O & U + D forms the interrelated group of this Monday crossword -- MAD MAGAZINE (17A. Humor publication since 1952), MED STUDENTS (25A. Docs-to-be), MID-AIR REFUELING (38A. Tricky operation for extending a plane’s flight), MODEL TRAINS (46A. Lionel products) and MUD-SLINGING (57A. Dirty campaign tactic).

Other entries of length include HEAD-TO-TOE (32A. All-encompassing), PRETTIEST (41A. Causing the most wolf whistles), RESOLES (21D. Fixes, as a shoe) and SPATTER (29D. Splash, as grease).

Six-letter -- AISLES (44A. Brides’ walkways), ARMIES (20A. What generals command), AUNTIE (54A. Mame on Broadway), CHOSEN (28A. Selected), DEAR ME (5D. “Goodness gracious!”) and IS INTO (45D. Really digs).


Five -- 63A. Win by A NOSE; ARNIE (14A. Golfer Palmer, informally; 50D. “Moi, AUSSI” (“Me, too”: Fr.); BOATS (6A. Vessels at marinas); BRAID (6D. Cornrow, e.g.); CAN IT (66A. “That’s enough out of you!”); CHAIR (23D. Committee leader); DOGES (48D. Venetian rules of old); EGEST (37D. Spew out); EXIST (12D. Be); 13D. State on the Rio Grande); HORDE (24D. Mob); INLET (51D. Cove); JASON (11D. Leader of the Argonauts, in myth); MORSE (46D. Samuel with a code); ODIUM (47D. Hatred) incidentally crossing ODOR; ON END (67A. Nonstop) and ON RED (36D. When right turns are often allowed); OOZES (7D. Falls through the cracks?); RADON (49D. Dangerous gas); ROALD (1A. Willy Wonka creator Dahl); ROLES (15A. Parts to play); SCAMP (22D. Rascal); TALIA (64A. Actress Shire of “Rocky”) and TITLE (35D. Bibliographical datum).

Short stuff -- AARP, AFT, AND (3D +), AXE, DATE, EGAN, EES, EDT, EMS, ETRE, GAD, GMEN, HRE, ILE, ITAL, JET, LIMA, MAC, NIN, ORA, ODOR, RAM and RAS, RIG, RITT, ROSA, SCH, SIX, SSE and SUE, TAT, TEN (9D. The number at left + 1), UNA, URDU (26D. Language derived from Hindustani).


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Remaining clues -- Across: 11. Boeing 737, e.g.; 16. Firefighter’s tool; 19. Many a first grader’s age; 21. Parks of civil rights fame; 22. Educ. Institution; 30. Dorm overseers, for short; 31. Seniors’ org.; 42. To be, to Henri; 43. Tit for ___; 52. N.Y.C. summer hrs.; 56. Fix, as a fight; 62. Take to court; 65. Ambulance letters. Down: 1. Computer capacity, for short; 2. “ … man ___ mouse?”; 4. Peru’s largest city; 10. NNW’s opposite; 18. F.B.I. operatives; 27. 7/20/69, for one; 32. Charlemagne’s domain: Abbr.; 33. Some tech grads; 34. Sternward; 39. Venetian’s lang.; 40. Film director Martin; 44. Dead set against; 55. Former New York cardinal Edward; 57. Big ___ (Golden Arches offering); 58. 39-Down article; 59. ___-de-France; 60. Anais ___, “Delta of Venus” author; 61. Travel aimlessly, with “about”.


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12.20.09 --Pigskin -- the Acrostic



Sunday, December 20, 2009

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

Today’s acrostic utilizes a quotation from “Pigskin: The Early Years of Pro Football” by Robert W. Peterson, and is perhaps one of the more difficult solves of an acrostic in some time -- well, that comes from a fan of baseball who starves through the winter awaiting the renewal of spring.


In Pigskin, Robert W. Peterson presents a lively and informative overview of the early years of pro football--from the late 1880s to the beginning of the television era. He describes the colorful beginnings of the pro game and its outstanding teams and profiles some of the most famous players of the era. Peterson also takes us back to the roots of the pro game, showing how professionalism began when some stars for Yale, Harvard, and Princeton took money for their services to alma mater.

An elegy to a time when, for many players, the game was at least as important as the money it brought them, Pigskin takes readers up to the 1958 championship game when the Baltimore Colts beat the New York Giants in overtime. By that time, the great popularity of the game had moved from newspapers and radio to television, and pro football had finally arrived as a major sport.  Oxford University Press

The quotation: IN FOOTBALLS EARLY YEARS VESTS WERE WORN TIGHT-FITTING WITH LEATHER STRAPS SEWN TO THE SHOULDERS LIKE SUITCASE HANDLES TO HELP A RUNNERS TEAMMATES PULL HIM THROUGH THE OPPONENTS LINE A TACTIC PERMITTED BY THE RULES

The author’s name and the title of the work: ROBERT W PETERSON PIGSKIN

The defined words: A. Crag called “Six Grandfathers” by the Lakota, RUSHMORE; B. Be too good for, put to shame, OUTMATCH; C. Clearly unversed in etiquette, BOORISH; D. Narrate creatively, EMBELLISH; E. Cutthroat … like the Red Sox in 1920?, RUTHLESS; E. Having a position of guardian or protector, TUTELARY; G. Wuthering, WINDSWEPT; H. University of Pittsburgh team, PANTHERS; L. Ornamental strap on a uniform, EPAULET; J. Party outside a stadium, TAILGATE; K. Very narrow margin of victory, EYELASH; L. Eponym of a sports journalism award (2 wds.), RED SMITH; M. Instrument used to measure splits, STOPWATCH; n. Passed with no touchdown, OVERFLEW; O. Irritants of the plant world, NETTLES; P. Rooter for one side, zealous supporter, PARTISAN; Q. Catch going the wrong way?, INTERCEPT; R. Fails, as a business (2 wds.), GOES UNDER; S. Like Peter, Paul and Mary?, SAINTLY; T. Vantage point for a nonpaying spectator, KNOTHOLE; U. Predestined, determined by fate (3 wds.), IN THE STARS; Y. Draw on Sunset Strip or Bourbon Street (2 wds.), NIGHT LIFE.

The original quotation: Canvas jacks or vests were worn over team jerseys or sweaters. The jackets, called “smocks,” allegedly for their inventor, L.P. Smock of Princeton, were tight-fitting in the hope that tacklers’ hands would slide off them. But in some cases, their value for that purpose was negated by leather straps that were sewn to the shoulders like suitcase handles. The straps were attached to help a runner’s teammates pull him through the opponents’ line, a tactic that was permitted by the rules.





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12.20.09 -- a little information...



Information booth at Grand Central Station, New York City

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Sunday, December 20, 2009

INSIDE DOPE, Puzzle by Alan Arbesfeld, edited by Will Shortz

INFO -- the title of this crossword, or any Times Sunday crossword, is a clue to the tie-in of the interrelated group. Reading INSIDE DOPE, before, during and after the solve, I drew a complete blank as to the inside dope -- well, its INFO! …well-hidden INFO!

RAIN FOREST (23A. It has a large canopy); PLAIN FOLKS (25A. Average Joes); MCCAIN FOLLOWERS (35A. Republicans in 2008); NAPKIN FOLDING (55A. Busboy’s assignment); REGAIN FOOTING (78A. Stop a trip?); TOP SPIN FOREHAND (96A. Rafael Nadal specialty); BARGAIN FOR (112A. Expect, everything considered); JOIN FORCES (114A. Unite).

Other entries of length: ALL DONE (34A. “Finished!”); EGOCENTRIC (71D. Having I trouble?); HANDSAWS (4D. Shop tools); HELLO AGAIN (16D. “Oh, you’re back”); IDEOLOGY (7D. Communism, for one); LASAGNA (90D. Trattoria offering); OKEY DOKEY (74A. “You bet”); PRIOR TO (61D. Before); REDNECK (39D. Frequent Borat target); REFRAINS (108A. “Fa la la la la la la la la” and others); REHEARSE (88D. Run through); SMOLDER (15D. Barely contain one’s anger; STOVEPIPE (59A. Lincoln trademark); TIED INTO (27A. Connected with); and the two-entry SENATE/SEATS (104A. With 40-Across, some Election day prizes).


Six-letter -- ASKANT, CLAW AT, DALLAS, EKBERG (43A. Mastroianni’s co-star in “La Dolce Vita”), ILL USE, IRON-ON, MASSES, MON AMI, OGDENS, ONE NIL, PAGODA, RAFFLE, SCUBAS, SHORED, SLOANE, SORT OF, STOOLS, TOP ROW, UNTAME.

Five -- ABOIL, AGORA and AROMA, ASK OF, BREST, CAIRO, CHART, CONAN, DAYAN, EATEN, ELROY, ERNIE, FALSE, FIT IN, FLATT, INTER, ISIAH, KRONA, LEADS, LENDL, MEADE, MERLE, MSDOS, ODIST, OLIVE, PATTI, REIMS, RENEE, RETRO, RODEO, SCRUM, SHAWN, SMEAR, SO DO I, STRAD, TIDAL, VENTI, YESED.

Four -- ABIE, AFAR, AIDE, AJAM, ALAI, ALBA, AMIN, ATIE, CHOP, DAIS, DEPT, DIAM, ENTS, GO UP, HOTS, ICON, IMIT, LUNA, NEWT and NYET, NOT I, OEDS, PITY, ROTS, SHAM, SICA, SKIS, SOWN, SPAR, SSNS, STEN, VISA, WAAH, WART.

Three -- AAA and AHA, AES, AGE, ANI, AVI, BRO, DES, HOS, MOO, NEW and NET, OBE, ORR, OXO, PTS, RAE, REX, NET, VET.

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Remaining clues -- Across: Crib cry; 5. N.B.A. Hall-of-Famer Thomas; 10. Like some waves; 15. Pillow cover; 19. Jessica of “Fantastic Four”; 20. Where to go for the big bucks?; 21. Item on a toothpick; 22. La ___, Calif.; 28. Rugby action; 30. Where 7-Eleven is headquartered; 31. Counter view?; 33. Christmas sounds; 41. William ___, longtime editor of The New Yorker; 42. Increase; 45. V.I.P. locale; 46. Six-Day War hero; 48. “Me too”; 50. Battery option; 53. Bruin great; 54. Lab inspector?; 62. One who might be left holding the bag?; 63. Sesame Street resident; 64. Lay to rest; 65. N, E, W and S; 66. Title role for Arnold Schwarzenegger; 69. French seaport; 72. Not orig.; 82. Avenue ___ Champs-Elysees; 83. Charlotte of “Diff’rent Strokes” 84. Big name in kitchen utensils; 85. Boy’s name that means “the king”; 86. Horace, e.g.; 88. Goes to hell; 89. Attack, bear-style; 92. British gun; 93. ___ Vivien, British poet known as the Muse of the Violets; 94. Makeup boo-boo; 103. “Gotcha!”; 105. Wild; 106. Lead-in to phobia; 116. Whitaker’s Oscar-winning role; 117. Army of the Potomac commander during the Civil War; 118. Seething; 119. Put in the ground, in a way; 120. Director Vittorio De ___; 121. Prize for Paganini; 122. Country singer Travis; 123. Tolkien tree creatures. Down: 1. Target of salicylic acid; 2. Jai ___; 3. Title fellow in a 1922 Broadway hit; 5. Like some transfers; 8. In a way; 5. Two-time loser to D.D.E.; 9. Intense attraction, with “the”; 10. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc. on a standard keyboard; 11. Mistreatment; 12. Geom. Measure; 13. Prefix with fauna; 14. Three-time U.S. Open champion; 24. Belong; 26. Like some starts; 29. Dice; 34. Request from; 32D. Everett of “Citizen Kane”; 35. Windows precursor; 36. Patient record; 37. Home of the mask of King Tutankhamen; 38. Old Coney Island’s ___ Park; 44. Library section, for short; 46. State, e.g.: Abbr.; 47. Play to ___ 48. Takes to the hills?; 49. Meteor trailer?; 51. “Wheel of Fortune” request; 52. Obituary datum; 54. 20-ounce coffee size; 56. Page of music; 57. Does Rudolph’s job; 58. 1962 film set partly on Crab Key; 60. Discover alternative; 65 “A woman’s ___ often opens the door to love”: Henry Ward Beecher; 67. Lib. References; 68. Dmitri’s denial; 69. Good pal; 70 Reagan White House dog; 73. Jersey call; 74. Nash and others; 75. Money in Malmo; 76. Put away; 77. Was sycophantic to; 79. Just out; 80. Scruggs’s partner in bluegrass; 81. “Don’t look at me!”; 91. Kitchen draw; 92. Lock horns (with); 93. Back in; 94. Explores with a tank; 95. French term of address; 97. Taoists’ locale; 98. Held (up); 99. Low soccer score; 100. Fund-raising option; 102. Old French coronation city; 106. Miles off; 107. Stuck, after “in”; 109. Che Guevara, e.g.; 110. House speaker between Tom and Dennis; 111. Some employment records: Abbr.; 113. It’s not gross; 115. U.K. award.

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12.19.09 -- In the Vein of Vague



Televangelist Oral Roberts superimposed upon the sculpture of The Praying Hands which greet the viewer at the entrance of Oral Roberts University, The monolithic sculpture, cast from Oral Robert's own hands is the largest bronze sculpture in the world.  The hands clap at midnight!

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Saturday, December 19, 2009 -- Hanukkah 

Puzzle by Tyler Hinman and Byron Walden, edited by Will Shortz

Composed of four essentially separate corner puzzles fused by four 15-letter and two eleven-letter entries to a scattererbrain center, this wandering Saturday crossword goes out of the way to give clues of maximum vagueness, exemplarily the four aforementioned 15-letter entries -- YOU CAN COUNT ON IT (16A “Absolutely”), DOUBLE OCCUPANCY (3D. Split between roommates), LINE OF REASONING (10D. Thread used in briefs) and FINAL RESOLUTION (51A. Very end of a conflict).

ORAL ROBERTS (17D. “The Call” autobiographer) died this week and now resides dead center of this crossword crossing the O of CRIMSON TIDE (33A. Tigers’ rival in the Southeastern Conference). URBAN/DECAY (18A. With 4-Down, “Roger & Me” subject) share the letter A, while RED NOSE and NO SENSE (37D. Item sported to support Britain’s Comic Relief; 55A. What flibbertigibbets make) nearly cross noses; LAY LOW (56A. Stayed in, say) keeps a distance from LAY UPS (1D. Standard buckets); however, sharing an M are AMOROUS AMOEBAS (2D. Loverly?; 13A. Pseudopod formers).


Other seven-letter entries include ARMLOCK (26A. Hold in a ring); AVIATOR (11D. Managed banks?); BE A STAR (36A. Make it); ECSTASY (23D. Transcendent state); NEILSON (34D. Roger who coached eight different N.H.L. teams); NICEISH (39A. Pleasant enough); OCARINA (35D. Light wind); QUI VIVE (15A. Alert); SCHEMES (14D. Emulates Iago); SOAPIER (29A. More melodramatic); TRIM DIE (22D. Casting device); and this crossword’s self-descriptive, UNCLEAR (54A. Opaque).

Six -- BERGER (57A. Sandy who was national security adviser for Bill Clinton); BETTOR (12D. Certain ticket holder); DNA LAB (7A. Site of many tests); EISNER (42D. “The Spirit” creator Will); IREFUL (38D. Boiling over); LADDER (1A. Intraclub competition rankings).

Five -- APIAN (26D. Melliferous, perhaps); AVOWS (9D. Picked things); CAPER (40D. “The Italian Job,“ e.g.); EARLY (45A. Too quickly); ERATO (457A. Figure in Greek myth whose name means “desired”); FINNS (50A. They call themselves Suomalaiset); KNISH (27D. Offering from many a New York street vendor); LITER (46D. About 33.8 fluid ounces); OCTAD (35A. Oxygen atom’s protons, e.g.); 15D. Chili con QUESO (Tex-Mex dish); SNERD (31A. McCarthy cohort); STALL (44D. Foot-drag); SWEAT (20A. Hard work); TEASE (22A. Flirt).

Short stuff -- ART (30D. “Nature concentrated,“ per Balzac), DUN, EBAN, EDT, FUSE, HRE, ICU, LOB, LODI, NITS, OLEO, POLY, PTS, RAPS, RAN and RAW, SOTO, SEE and SUE.


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Remaining clues -- Across: 19. Its leader’s flag featured a black eagle: Abbr.; 21. Cal ___; 24. All-Star Cubs catcher Geovany; 25. Overreact to an accident, maybe; 28. “___ sher!”; 38. Carefully monitored area, for short; 41. “Don’t you ___?”; 43. Criticizes; 46. Italian site of a 1796 Napoleon victory; 49. Small containers: Abbr. Down: 5. Host of PBS’s “Heritage: Civilization and the Jews”; 6. Made the newspaper; 7. Grayish shade; 8. Picked things; 32. August setting in the Capitol bldg.; 48. Muffin stuffin’?; 50. Curent governor; 52. Unprepared; 53. Easy interview question.



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12.18.09 -- Say What?!



Jean-Antoine Watteau's sad commedia dell'arte player of Pierrot, ca 1718–19, traditionally identified as "Gilles" (Louvre)

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Friday, December 18, 2009

Puzzle by Brendan Emmett Quigley, edited by Will Shortz

SAY WHAT (1A. ”Huh?”) leads off this conversational crossword which includes YOU JEST (3A. “C’mon, that can’t be true!”), WELL YES (14D. “Actually, it’s true”) and YOW (61D. “Man, that hurts!”), the CRUX (55D. Gist) of its’ gnarled cluing -- ALL HAIL (18A. Words of acclamation), AMUSE ME (17A. Request for entertainment), ASK OVER (63A. Offer to host) and I’M A LOSER (8D. Second song on “Beatles ‘65”) continue the IDEA (23A. Think piece?) in the guise of a YODELER (44D. Producer of high and outside pitches?) with an ARIETTE (13D. Opera quickie) or a RANT (37A. It may come from a loud speaker) to give the solver a solid shellac, e.g., CREAM, right down to THE WIRE (65A. Gritty TV series set in Baltimore).


Moving right along, TOE JAM (7D. Digital detritus), SCRAPED (38D. Like some elbows and fenders), DESEXED (64A. Now gender-neutral) and SPYWARE (45D. Virus kin) give a jolt to the ride, whether ENROUTE (62A. Neither here nor there?) by FLYBYS (42A. Means of obtaining data about planets), ARMADAS (2D. Forces afloat) or SQUAD CAR (38A. Place for a collared person) -- TGIF!

Proper names and such -- BON JOVI (43D. First hard rock band to score a #1 country hit), COOTE (51D. “My Fair Lady” actor Robert), ENDY (53A. Outfielder Chávez), FAT CAT (48D. Deep-pocketed type), HAJ (19A. 1984 historical novel, with “The”), ISTRIA (31A. Peninsula south of the Gulf of Trieste), 57A. “The JEW of Malta,” Christopher Marlowe play), LA JOLLA (20A. Home to Torrey Pines Golf Course), MOLIERE (16A. “The Imaginary Invalid” playwright), PIERROT (58A. Comic character in whiteface), ULSTERS (40D. Wool coats).


Remaining across:  25. Mini replacements, NANOS; 26. Tiny opening?, ITTY; 27. Shortsighted solution?, LASIK; 29. Periodo de 31 dias, MES; 30. Fed. Bill, T-NOTE; 33. Breaks, RECESSES; 35. The Sun and Mercury are in it: Abbr., WNBA; 46. Picks out, CULLS; 47. Gen. Pershing’s command: Abbr., AEF; 49. Hit to short right, say, BLOOP; 50. Calculated thing, RISK; 54. One in a long line of workers, ANT; 55. Certain pitch, COAL TAR; 60. Marker maker, CRAYOLA.

Down: 1. “Kwanzaa” comes from it, SWAHILI; 4. Birth data: Abbr., WTS; 5. Height enhancer, HEEL; 6. Hindu soul, ATMAN; 9. Drum set?, ROLLS; 10. Indian water holder, OLLA; 11. Biomedical research inits., NIH; 12. Rough housing, LEAN-TOS; 21. Standout, ONER; 24. High passageway between buildings, AIRWALK; 26. Fashionable, IN STYLE; 28. Stripes, KINDS; 30. Like some dumbbells: Abbr., TEN LB; 32. First string?, ABC; 34. Half-CAF (coffee order); 36. Superior, as an investment, AAA RATED; 39. Tonic water ingredient, QUININE; 41. Line holder, REEL; 52. Place for a crane, MARSH; 56. Make a pile in a casino?, RAKE; 59. Eggs sometimes served on toast, ROE.


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Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at


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12.17.09 -- All Aboard!




Thursday, December 17, 2009

Puzzle by Francis Heaney and Patrick Blindauer, edited by Will Shortz

NOAH’S ARK (21A. Craft that’s the subject of this puzzle), FLOOD (31D. Reason for 21-Across) and TWO BY TWO (51A. How the passengers went in 21-Across) are the framework for this crossword's interrelated group, including six ANIMAL (54A. Brute) pairs -- CAT/CAT, DOG/DOG, HORSE/HORSE, LION/LION, MOLE/MOLE and SEAL/SEAL.

As with the clue for ANIMAL, none of the animals are clued as animals -- the cats are clued as a hipster and a tractor make, briefly; the dogs as frank and follow relentlessly; the horses, basketball shooting game and gymnast’s equipment; the lions, Viking foe?, and Louis VIII nickname, with “the”; the moles, spicy sauce and Marilyn’s mark; and the seals as it makes an impression and Navy commando. A lone ADELIE (63A. Penguin from Antarctica) and a third dog, e.g., SCOTTIE (39D. Certain terrier) may not make the boat, along with a hint of additional creatures, OTTER POP (22D. Sweet frozen treat) and 27A. “What A HOOT!” (“So funny!”) -- the latter a self-descriptive of this pleasant crossword.


Other -- ALL OUT (19A. No holds barred); DOOHAN (8D. James of “Star Trek”); FALLEN OVER (28D. Toppled); GAY LIT (45D. Works stocked by a bookstore with a rainbow flag); INHALATION (10D. It fills a chest); DOCTOROW (24D. “Billy Bathgate” novelist, 1989); POSHER (18A. More sumptuously furnished); 59A. Paris’s Rue de RIVOLI; SOON YI (15A. A Previn); SPARE ME (15D. “Puh-leeze!”).

Five-letter -- ACCTS (5D. Sales off. Folders); BAGGY (50D. Loose); 26A. CAFFE Americano; COMMA (26D. “New York, New York” has one); DRIED (8A. Preserved, in a way); EBOLI (48D. Locale in a Carlo Levi best seller); FLOSS (43A It may get food away from a canine); GORDON (45A. Mercury and Gemini astronaut, informally); MERIT (66A. Excellence); NEATO (47A. Old-fashioned “Sweet!”); OFTEN (30A. Customarily); O’HARE (35a. United hub); RENEE (46A. Forename meaning “born again”); 9D. Allen and ROSSI, old comedy duo; STORE (39A. PX, e.g.); TRAIL (25A. Finish behind).

Short stuff -- AHH and OOH, ABA and ABOO, ATE, ATTN, BAA and BAAL, CLEM, DIRK, ELBA, ESSO, EYER, FRAN, FREE, ILLE and ITLL and ITOO, LEES, LIRR, LSD, LYNN, MCII, ODDS, OSLO, PBA, SHY, TCBY, TRAM, ULEE, WIDE.


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






Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at


If you subscribe to home delivery of The New York Times you are eligible to access the daily crossword via The New York Times - Times Reader, without additional charge, as part of your home delivery.
Remaining clues -- Across: 1. Gulf competitor; 5. “What Do You Do With ___ in English?” (“Avenue Q” song); 13. Vat waste; 16. Canaanite deity; 23. Subject of Hofmann’s Potion”; 32. Physical sound; 36. ___ Haskins, 1960s- ‘70s N.B.A. player; 37. “___, sing America”: Langston Hughes; 40. Line to Penn Sta.; 42. Kind of board; 44. Had eggs, e.g.; 42.==9. Group of pin-heads?: Abbr.; 62. National frozen dessert chain; 67. Withdrawn. Down: 1. Hundred Days campaign planning site; 4. ___ City Hall, Nobel ceremony locale; 6. Sound made while being fleeced?; 7. Envelope abbr.; 11. Loupe user, say; 12. Dagger; 20. Title role for a 1997 Oscar nominee; 29. Available; 43. Memorable 1996 hurricane; 51. Vehicle that makes pit stops?; 52. Like some loads; 53. 2:1, e.g.; 55. “___ be all right”; 56. Early 12th-century year; 57. “Peek-___!”; 58. For Better or for Worse” cartoonist Johnston; 61. “That’s gotta hurt!”.



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