06.23.10 — Signs on the Dotted Lines

Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint on "Mount Rushmore" in Alfred Hitchcock's "North by Northwest", 1959

-----------------

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Puzzle by Alex Boisvert, edited by Will Shortz

SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE (50A. With 60-Across, ink a contract … or a feature of 17-, 25- and 37-Across), LEO, LIBRA and ARIES contained within LITTLE ONES (17A. Tots), CALIBRATE (25A. Make fine adjustments to) and EVA MARIE SAINT (37A. “On the Waterfront” Oscar winner) constitute the interrelated group of this Wednesday crossword.  Note:  In the print version of today's puzzle, some of the horizontal rules of the grid are not solid all the way across.

Other — ASHES and EXES (5A. Old flames?; 14A. Old flames), DORITOS (43A. Tortilla chip brand), INDIANAN (11D. Hoosier), OCEANIC (32A. Fictional airline on “Lost”), PULSARS (42A. Stars that exhibit the “lighthouse effect), VINTAGE (33A. Wine label datum), VIRGINIA (38D. Birthplace of eight U.S. presidents).

Mid-size — ALLAH, AROUND, AXILLA (2D. Armpit, anatomically), BIMINI (47D. Bahamas getaway), DALLAS (30A. Home of the Stars), EATIN, ENDEAR (49D. Win over), HENNA, HDTVS, ICE SAW (27D. Winter fisherman’s tool), INVEST (44D. Buy gold, e.g.), IRVIN, L’CHAIM (18D. Toast at a bar mitzvah), e.g., "To Life!", LOANER (48D. Temporary wheels), LOGES, RELOAD and RETELL (1D. Time-consuming task for a musketeer; 3D. Pass along, as gossip), SIERRA (10D. Jagged mountain range), SNAP-ON (31D. Attach with a click), STENO, STOIC, TRUST (34D. Target for Teddy Roosevelt), UNION, WOBBLE (46D. Need leveling, perhaps), YESNO.

Short stuff — ABE (22D. Mt. Rushmore neighbor of Teddy), ADS, AIL and ALI, ALVA, “It’s A NO-brainer“, ARI, ASEA, AXE and AXIS, CAIN, DARN, DIY, ECO, EDGE, ELOI, ENE, EST, INON, ISBN, IVY, JAM, JANE, LIRR, LOG and LOL, MAD, MEAT, OLE and ORE, ONEA, RARE (1A. “Still mooing“), RENO, SILO, SOS, TINT, TOY.

-----------------

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

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 — 10. Forage storage; 15. Job made almost obsolete by voice recorders; 16. Privy to; 19. Upper hand; 20. Plaza de toros cry; 21 First murderer; 22. “Entourage” agent Gold; 23. Moor’s deity; 41. Actress Larte of “Heroes”; 53. Shop group; 54. Trellis climber; 55. “Drat!”; 57. “Usual gang of idiots” magazine; 58. One of Spot’s masters; 63. Graph line; 64. Film director Kershner; 65. Fit for duty; 66. Substance; 67. Kind of question; 68. Line to Penn Sta. DOWN: 4. Ballpark fig.; 5 Away from the harbor; 6. Still upper-lip sort; 7. Temporary tattoo dye; 8. St. Louis-to-Cleveland dir.; 9. “Sending out an ___” (much-repeated line in a Police hit); 12. Captain’s journal; 13. Diet-drink calorie count; 24. Menlo Park middle name; 26. Pricey seating areas; 28. Salon job; 29. Prefix with -cide; 35. Feel awful; 37. Morlocks’ victims, in an H.G. Wells story; 39. Roughly; 40. Publisher’s 13-digit ID; 41. Billboard displays; 45. Water pistol or popgun; 51. Sharp products, for short; 52. Opposite of “Take out”; 56. Setting for the movie “Sister Act”; 58. Problem for a copier; 59. Send packing; 60. Handyman’s letters; 61. Miner’s find; 62. “U R funny!”

06.22.10 — GHOST

Rev. Ralph Hardy, a retired clergyman from White Rock, British Columbia, took this now-famous photograph in 1966. He intended merely to photograph the elegant spiral staircase (known as the "Tulip Staircase") in the Queen's House section of the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England. Upon development, however, the photo revealed a shrouded figure climbing the stairs, seeming to hold the railing with both hands. Experts, including some from Kodak, who examined the original negative concluded that it had not been tampered with. It's been said that unexplained figures have been seen on occasion in the vicinity of the staircase, and unexplained footsteps have also been heard.  About.com

-----------------

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Puzzle by Barry C. Silk, edited by Will Shortz

GHOST (36A. Word game … or a word that can precede the starts of 18-, 26-, 43- and 54-Across), TOWN COUNCIL (18A. Governing body of a municipality), SHIP OF FOOLS (26A. 1965 Vivien Leigh movie), BUSTER BROWN (43A. Old comics boy with the dog Tige) and STORYTELLER (54A. Center of attention around a campfire, say) are the interrelated group of this PHAT (34A. Excellent, slangily) Tuesday crossword.

Other — BANDITOS (20A. South-of-the-border outlaws), ELAINE and JERRY (15A. Sitcom pal of 46-Down; 46D. Former boyfriend of 15-Across), LET IN ON (4D. Make privy to, as a secret), OBVERSE (41D. “Heads” side of a coin), PAWN TICKET (3D. Hockshop receipt), PHILOSOPHY (29D. Field of Plato and Aristotle), SIDE DOOR (51A. Delivery entrance, maybe).

Six-letter — ALOTOF, DEPOSE, EMILIO (44D. The Brat Pack’s Estevez), LASSIE (4A. Female TV dog played by males), PAIRED, PEYOTE (62A. Hallucinogen-yielding cactus), RODENT (45D. Porcupine or gopher), SAWOFF. STAINS.

Five — ASHES, CAREW; HARKS, MEHTA (22A. Conductor Zubin), MACON (32A. Georgia home of the Allman Brothers), MOVES; OILER (41A. Strait of Hormuz vessel), 28D. “Are you in OR OUT?”; SMASH, STERN (31D. Howard of satellite radio), TENOF; ZONED.

Short stuff — AIRE, AKA, ARKS and ASKS, BUSY, DO IT (12D. Two-thirds of D.I.Y.), EEO, ETCH, ETE, FLIT, GLUT, HIP, HORA, HOSE, HST, IDEA, INC, JUTE, KERR, LAMB, LIP, LOU, MEW, ODIE, OTOE, PCS, PDA, RAPT, RBI, SELA, SFPD, SINS (7D. Confessional list), SKEE, SLAY, SOBS, STEW, SLAY and SWAY, TSP, UMPS, YET, ZEDS.

-------------------

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

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. Fresh talk; 10. Alphabet enders, to Brits; 14. Letters on a wanted poster; 16. Plains Indians; 17. Kitten call; 23. 12:50 or 1:50; 24. Bay Area law enforcement org.; 27. Pays attention; 29. Gateways or Dells, briefly; 33. Baseball Triple Crown stat; 35 Safe havens; 38. Suffix for the wealthy; 39. ___-Ball (arcade game); 40. Rawls of R&B; 42. “The buck stops here” prez; 46. Rope fiber; 47. Board game turns; 48. Briquette residue, 57. Palm Treo, e.g.; 58. Deborah of “The King and I”; 59. Deck treatments; 60. Often-replaced joint; 61. Swing in the breeze; 63. To this point. DOWN: 1. Souvlaki meat; 2. Swedish home furnishings chain; 5. Many; 6. Remove, as a branch; 8. Abbr. in co. names; 9. Fair-hiring letters; 10. Like most urban land; 11. Impress deeply; 13. Ward of “The Fugitive,” 1993; 19. Stereotypically “blind” officials; 21. Topple from power; 24. Cries out loud; 25. Move like a moth; 26. Box-office hit; 30. Rod with seven batting championships; 34. Like sorted socks; 36. Market surplus; 37. Nozzle site; 43. At it; 48. Queries; 49. Ratatouille or ragout; 50. Bar mitzvah dance; 51. Leave in stitches; 52. Occasionally punted comics canine; 53. Totally absorbed; 55. Dose amt.; 56. Summer on the Seine.

06.21.10 — Summertime

Monday, June 21, 2010 — Solstice

Puzzle by Fred Piscop, edited by Will Shortz

“It ain’t hard!” clues SIMPLE AS ABC, PIECE OF CAKE, CHILD’S PLAY, NO PROBLEM-O and DUCK/SOUP in this it’s-summertime-and-the-living-is-easy Monday crossword.

Other — APPROPOS (39D. Pertinent), 47A. Mama Cass ELLIOT, EMBRACES (9D. Hugs tightly), ESCAPED (10D. Made a getaway), OPPOSE (41A. Be against), POLLUTE (5D. Foul the water, e.g.), RAGLAN (22A. Kind of sleeve named after a British baron) , RAPIDLY (25A. Chop-chop), RECESS (29A. School time when kids aren’t studying), ROBERTA (44A. Singer Flack or Peters), SCOTTISH (36D. Like many tartan wearers), STUFFED (40D. Like a taxidermist’s work), ZENITH (26A. Nadir’s opposite).

Five-letter — ABACK, ACRES, ALAMO, ALBEE, ALONE (30A. Without an escort), AURAL, BOOMS, DREAD, EAGLE, OLDER, OSCAR, READS, RELEE, REXES, SCRAP, SEERS, SELES, SLAVE, SHOTS, TEENY, VERSA, VEXED.

Short stuff — ADE, AMP, AXES, BOA, CAR and CAT, CLIO, DEM, DINS, EACH, EAR, EAVE, ECO, ELIA, FLAP, GIS, HOP, HUE, IRE, LACE, LOSE, NIPS, OKLA, PEA and PEI, RAGE, RAMP, ROW, SASH, SELF, SOLO (43D. Without an escort), SRO, WEED, ZANE.

-----------------

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

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. Leftover bit of cloth; 6. “The Zoo Story” playwright Edward; 11. Manx or Siamese; 14. “Remember the ___!” (cry of 1836); 15. Sounds SSTs made; 16. Color shade; 19. Ill temper; 20. Go like a bunny; 21. Wedding dress material; 31. Irritated; 32. Potpie vegetable; 35 Playful bites; 36. Tennis great Monica; 37. Source of linen; 38. Big beagle feature; 39. Farm tracts; 40. Work like a dog; 48. Autobiographer’s subject); 49. Follow the coxswain’s calls; 52. Sidewalk stand quaff; 56. Not Rep. or Ind.; 57. “The Odd Couple” slob; 58. Bird on a U.S. quarter; 59. B’way sellout sign; 60. Attempts at baskets; 61. Live in fear of. DOWN: 1. Pageant entrant’s wear; 2. Advertising award; 3. Multistory parking garage feature; 4. Guitarist’s accessory, for short; 6. Taken ___ (surprised); 7. Get whipped; 8. Drag queen’s wrap; 12. Hearing-related; 13. Pint-size; 18. To ___ his own; 23. U.S.O. show audience members; 24. Rackets; 25. T. ___ (fearsome dinos); 26. Grey who wrote westerns; 27. Charles Lamb alias; 29. C.S.A. general; 31. Vice ___; 33. Roof overhang; 34. Abruptly dismissed; 36. Like many tartan wearers; 37. Pajamas’ rear opening; 42. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame architect I. M. ___; 44. Uses a Kindle, e.g.; 45. Like a big brother; 46. Tarot card readers, e.g.; 48. Ad-libbing vocal style; 49. Violent 19-Across; 50. State with a panhandle: Abbr.; 51. Whacked plant; 54. ___-friendly; 55. Indy 500 entry.

The Longest Day

Summer setting solstice on a shrine rock at an Anasazi Ruin, photo by J Krebhiel

-----------------

 

When Days Are Long, Puzzle by Fred Piscop, edited by Will Shortz

On or around June 21 each year, the rays of the sun will be perpendicular to the Tropic of Cancer at 23°30' North latitude. This day is the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.

On this day, the earth's "circle of illumination" will be from the Arctic Circle on the far side of the earth (in relation to the sun) to the Antarctic Circle on the near side of the earth.

June 20-21 is start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere but simultaneously the start of winter in the Southern Hemisphere. It's also the longest day of sunlight for places in the Northern Hemisphere and the shortest day for cities south of the equator.  More — Geography About.

If you subscribe to The New York Times on-line Premium Crosswords, you are probably familiar with the monthly bonus puzzle. For the month of June, the title of this warm and friendly crossword is “When Days Are Long” featuring nearly 40 clues with the word “long“.

Across — 1. “Go take a long walk off a short PIER!”; 9. Longtime speaker of the House SAM Rayburn; 12. World’s longest mountain range, ANDES; 17. “Ars longa, VITA brevis”; 24. Long in the TOOTH (old); 28. Sidelong glances, LEERS; 33. Nabokov’s longest novel, ADA; 36. “Long Walk to Freedom” author Nelson MANDELA; 39. Adam of “The Longest Yard”, SANDLER; 44. Weapon with a 90-centimeter-long blade, EPEE; 45. i.e., for long, ID EST; 48. Mr. DEEDS (film character whose first name is Longfellow); 51. Long-plumbed wader, EGRET; 59. Its longest river is the Yangtze, ASIA; 60. “Long TIME, no see!”; 61. Hawaiian “so long”, ALOHA; 65. “LATER, alligator!” (“So long!”); 68. “What TOOK you so long?”

Down — 1. “The Longest Day” singer Anka, PAUL; 2. Long division word, INTO; 3. Make a long story short?, EDIT; 5. Geena of “The Long Kiss Goodnight”, DAVIS; 6. Long letter of the New Testament, EPISTLE; 8. The Beatles’ “The Long and Winding ROAD”; 11. Mao’s Long MARCH; 15. Sonora “so long”, ADIOS; 25. Long hauler, SEMI; 26. 440-yard long path, perhaps; OVAL; 27. Long, flowing locks, MANE; 29. “Piece of cake!”, EASY (this clue doesn't contain "long" but is notable in that it appears as an answer in the June 21 crossword also by Fred Piscop); 30. Long E, in Greek, ETA; 33. “For a long and healthy life” dog food brand, ALPO; 38. Risk growing a long nose, like Pinocchio, LIE; 43. Long-neck clam, STEAMER; 46. Lead-in for long aor now, ERE; 47. Prize for winning the long jump, perhaps, MEDAL; 48. DIANE Chambers (Shelley Long’s “Cheers” role); 49. Long answer on an English test, ESSAY; 52. Long GREEN (moola); 54. Long-STEM roses; 62. Long. crosser, LAT.

-----------------

 

 

 

Click on image to enlarge.

 

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

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.

 

06.20.10 — A. A. Milne — the Acrostic

Alan Alexander ('A.A.') Milne by Howard Coster, 1926, © National Portrait Gallery, London

-----------------

Sunday, June 20, 2010 — Father's Day

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

This acrostic’s quotation is from the A. A. Milne collection of short stories, “A Table Near the Band” published in 1950.

The quotation: YOUR FAMILY LIKE EVERY OTHER HAS A LANGUAGE OF ITS OWN CONSISTING OF UNINTELLIGIBLE CATCH PHRASES FAVORITE BUT NOT GENERALLY KNOWN QUOTATIONS OBSCURE ALLUSIONS AND WELL-TRIED BUT NOT INTRINSICALLY HUMOROUS JOKES

The author’s name and the title of the work: A A MILNE A TABLE NEAR THE BAND

The defined words:

A. Of first importance (2wds), ABOVE ALL

B. Nervously excited, ATWITTER

C. Simpleton, freak, daydreamer, MOONCALF

D. It’s good for a balloonist, bad for an investor, INFLATION

E. Actor buried in the garb of a vampire, LUGOSI

F. Yearly medal for children’s literature, NEWBERY

G. Argument that refutes another argument, in logic, ELENCHUS

H. Finds in flea markets and junk shops, ANTIQUES

I. Great novelist who called Shakespeare “trivial and positively bad”, TOLSTOY

J. What the Beach Boys claimed to get in 1964, AROUND

K. Rider of a penny-farthing or tandem, BICYCLIST

L. Facial trait described lightly? (2 wds.), LANTERN JAW

M. Hungry for what another has, ENVIOUS

N. Discouraging adherence to culinary ware, NONSTICK

O. Study of winemaking (var.), ENOLOGY

P. Telling the future by interpreting omens, AUGURY

Q. Picaresque, ROGUISH

R. Lead down a dangerous path, TEMPT
S. Athletes playing for UConn, HUSKIES

T. Floor above the ground floor, ENTRESOL

U. Greeting from Pooh? (2 wds.), BEAR HUG

V. Emperor beginning in 1989, AKIHITO

W. Basic, sans bells and whistles (hyph.), NO-FRILLS

X. Evidence of a nearby man-eater (2 wds.), DORSAL FIN

-----------------

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

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.

06.20.10 — Publishing Trade

Sunday, June 20, 2010 — Father's Day

PUBLISHING TRADE, Puzzle by Todd Gross and Ashish Vengsarkar, edited by Will Shortz

Anagrams of one word (via the trading of two letters) of well-known published titles resulting in a fictional unpublished title constitutes the interrelated group of this strained Sunday crossword.

• JOHNNY GOT HIS GNU (23A. “Carson’s Successful Safari”? [Dalton Trumbo])
• CLOD MOUNTAIN (32A. “Big Pile of Dirt”? [Charles Frazier])
• THE RAT OF WAR (58A. “Battle Backstabber”? [Sun Tzu])
• A PREFECT SPY (70A. “Secretive Student Monitor”? [John le Carre])
• A FAREWELL TO RAMS (108A. “Football Team Leaves L.A.“? [Ernest Hemingway])
• INFINITE JETS (97A. “Endless Streams?”? [David Foster Wallace])
• THE DA VINCI COED (16D. “Renaissance College Girl”? [Dan Brown])
• LORD OF THE FILES (48D. “Head Secretary”? [William Golding])

Other — A A MILNE (36A. Writer who wrote “A bear, however hard he tries, / Grows tubby without exercise”); BASS CLEF (82A. Low pitch indicator); BIKINI TOP (14D. Two-piece part); BLUE NOSES (75D. Holier-than-thou types); BRIBABLE (45D. Venal); CANADA DRY (20A. “Ale” for the underaged); FRESH AIR (49D. You might step out to get some); HALF PENNY (46A. British coin discontinued in 1984); HONEST ABE (112A. White House nickname); MCGOVERN (6D. Candidate with the slogan “Come home, America”); ORNAMENT (12D. Christmas ball); PINES FOR (80D. Laments the loss of); SOBERED UP (81A. Came down); SILENT C (92A. Letter of indictment?).

Six- and seven-letter — ANOTCH, ASONIA (2D. Tone deafness), ATTILA, CLASSA, CORNEA, DELANO, ELICIT, EMERIL, ENDEAR, FATLESS, LABFEE, LASSOS, NANANA, PAJAMA party, REARED, RESHOD, SANSEI (4D. Grandchild of Japanese immigrants), SCHISM, Hot TAMALE, TINMEN, UNREAL, WISDOM, YVONNE.

Five — ACENT, ALANA and AMANA, AMORE, ASCAR, BATHE, BAYER, BILBO, CORKY, DIALS, EDGED, ERITU, ETTES (91D. Ending with Rock), FABLE, HAGEN, ICHAT, IDEST, IDLES, JEANE, KEENE, LINES, NEHRU (84A. “Toward Freedom“ autobiographer), OLETA, PAOLO, PASSE, REESE, RELAP, TBILL, TOPIC, “Who’s TO SAY?”, TRALA, VESTS.

Short stuff — AAH, ACRE, AHI tuna, ANIS, ANTI and ANTS, ANY, ASEA, ASOF, ASEA, BIER, BLT, BOIL, BOSS, BSC, COL, DIS and DAT, DEE, ELAN, ENDS, ENNA, ERN, ERRS, ETE, EXGI, FAST, GARE, HAN, HYPE, IDLE and ISLE, IRED, IRK and IRV, LEON, LUPE, MAIL, MIND, MISE, MPAA, MUG, NAOH, NOLA, NYU, OLA (110. Ending with Rock), OLOF, OREL, OVO, OXY-10 (acne medication), PRES, REMY, RYA (65A. Scandinavian rug), SEAT, TARP, TEE and TEEN,TMS, VEAL, VICI, VOLS, VSO and WTO.

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

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. Out of fashion; 6. Trailer org.?; 10. C.I. A. director Panetta; 14. Immerse; 19. Leave ___ (be permanently damaging); 22. Applie messaging software; 25. New Hampshire’s ___ State College; 26. Spanish liqueur; 27. Knoxville team, to fans; 28. Ralph Vaughan William’s “___ Symphony”; 29. Care; 30. ___ en place (putting in place: Fr.); 31. Lacto-___; 38. Rad; 39. Vet; 40. Brandy letters; 41. Beyond belief; 43. Whichever; 44. Govt. instrument; 50. Have no input?; 52. Pupil cover; 53. 2006 million-selling Andrea Bocelli album; 54. Presidential middle name; 56. Talk about it; 57. French rail station; 61. German quaff; 64. Some receivers; 65. Scandinavian rug; 66. Deli order; 67. Get to; 68. Port in the eastern Mediterranean; 69. Caustic soda, to a chemist; 73. Swelter; 74. Big lie; 76. Like racehorses, periodically; 77. Soul singer Adams; 78. Verdi opera; 80. Corp. V.I.P.; 85. Not 85-Down; 87. Kicker’s aid; 88. Zip; 90. Main rat in “Ratatouille”; 100. Deg. In biology or physics; 101. Letters; 102. Superstar; 103. Election goal; 104. End of a boast; 105. Central Sicily city; 106. Sits; 111. Brother of Malcolm on “Malcolm in the Middle”; 113. Script; 114. Three-piece parts; 115. Hot; 116. Former Swedish P.M. Palme; 117. ___-Dale (1902 Kentucky Derby winner). DOWN: 3. Division; 5. Coastal flier; 7. Film director Pier ___ Pasolini; 9. Some soldiers; 9. Backrub response; 10. Snares; 11. Just beat; 13. Sch. Where Ross teaches on “Friends”; 15. Not worth ___; 17. Yangtze tributary; 18. Somme sumer; 21. Cockpit features; 24. Batgirl player Craig; 29. Puss; 32. Spreadsheet feature: Abbr.; 34. Key; 35. The Big Easy, briefly; 37. Rapper Fiasco; 38. Company whose logo contains its name crossing itself; 42. Charm; 43. Since; 46. Tom ___, Vito’s adopted son and consigliore in “The Godfather”; 47. Appliance appellation; 50. Lean, as meat; 51. How much you might kick it up?; 52. Like spoiled wine, say; 55. Chemistry class charge; 56. Camping supply; 58. Carefree syllables; 59. Oversell; 60. Sagacity; 62. Verdi aria; 63. Pass again, in a race; 71. Muffs; 77. ESPN’s Hershiser; 78. Start to freeze?; 79. 12-20 filler?; 83. Bring out; 85. Not 85-Across; 86. Corp. logos, e.g.; 89. Start of many a rap moniker; 90. Brought up; 93. “Bam!” blurter; 94. “Hey Jude” sounds; 95. Dealers in metal goods; 96. Minor-league category; 98. To wit; 99. Astrologer Dixon; 100. Fictional hero in search of stolen treasure; 104. Osso buco, basically; 106. Record exec Gotti; 107. Nearly failing; 109. GATT successor.

06.19.10 — Saturday...

Endymion, 1872, George Frederic Watts

In Greek mythology, Endymion was so handsome that Selene asked Zeus to grant him eternal sleep so that he would stay forever young and thus would never leave her.

-----------------

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Puzzle by Samuel A. Donaldson, edited by Will Shortz

Saturday…

Pairs — AS SEEN ON TV and ON SALE NOW (57A. Start of some pitches; 12D. End of some pitches), SEA URCHIN (23D. With 40-Across, meal for a wolf eel) and PORCELAIN URN (30D. Like some 58-Across, 58A. Decorative items).

Other tens — CRAPS TABLE (1A. Place to use a rake), EVIL INTENT (17A. Plans to harm); HOLES IN ONE (55A. Drives directly to the final destination?); HOLY PERSON (15A. Shrine dedicatee); NEEDLENOSE (59A. Kind of pliers); RECONSIDER (19A. Think again); THE NATURAL (51A. Moniker for a ballplayer with a bat named Wonderboy).

Nine — ENTHRALLED (31D. Spellbinds); ODOR EATER (29D. Something good for the sole?); POP-UP MENU (28D. Result of some hovering); VIA VENETO (13D. Café de Paris setting); ENTERED IN (14D. Added to the database); WAIST LINE (11D. It often grows in winter).

Mid-size — ALICE; CHERI; ELEVE; ENTRUSTS (10D. Charges); EUROPE (45A. Poles are found in it), where else?; IRENEE (21A. The “I” of E.I. du Pont), because IRENE was too short; JELLS; JONATHAN (35D. Swift, e.g.); KULIK; LONER; ORONO; PANTS (48D. Fly holders), PEERS AT (43A. Examines closely); POPES (28A. See people); PYLON; REWON; ROUTINE (39D. Humdrum); ROVER; RUNON; RUSTLER (22A. Person getting into one’s head?); SELENE (27A. She loved Endymion); SPINETS (5D. Small organs); TENSER (Less easygoing); THOSE; WEASEL (42D. Pop maker).

Short stuff — ANIN, ARTI, BSED, ELSE and ESEL, ETAL, FIS, ISAT, KTWO, MALA, NEED, NEIL, NOTI, ODON, SAVE, SLOT, TREK, WOVE.

…glad that’s over.

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

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: 11. Twilled, e.g.; 16. Have ___ (be connected); 18. Attends; 20. Closer’s triumph; 24. No mere jaunt; 34. Use excessively, briefly; 35. Takes form; 36. Words said with a look of innocence; 39. Took back; 41. Peak on the Pakistani-Chinese border; 50. ___ fide; 54. Indexing abbr.; 56. QB O’Donnell. DOWN: 1. Precious, in Poitiers; 2. Exploration vehicle; 3. Dennis the Menace’s mom; 4. Traffic guide; 7. Class in which some basic strokes are learned; 8. Teacher’s deg.; 9. One not mixing well; 25. Donkey, in Dusseldorf; 26. Ilia ___, figure skater who won Olympic gold in 1998; 33. 8:00-9:00, say; 38. Hi-___; 44. “___ Magic Changes” (“Grease” song); 46. Yammer; 47. Home of an America East Conference team; 49. Professeur’s concern; 52. Instead; 53. Triage consideration.

06.18.10 — Office Workers’ Letters

Fernand Léger Nudes in the Forest

Tubism is a term coined by the art critic Louis Vauxcelles in 1911 to describe the style of French artist Fernand Léger. Meant as derision, the term was inspired by Léger's idiosyncratic version of Cubism, in which he emphasized cylindrical shapes. The style was developed by Léger in his paintings, such as Nudes in the Forest (1909-10).

-----------------

Friday, June 18, 2010

Puzzle by Karen M. Tracey, edited by Will Shortz

Featured in this TGIF (52D. Office workers’ letters) bone-crunching crossword are two fifteen-letter entries — NAKED AS A JAYBIRD (8D. Like all new deliveries?), in all good modesty, we‘ll settle for Fernand Léger (above); and the I’ve-never-heard-of-before QUICK DRAW MCGRAW (34A. Baba Looey was his deputy), nicely "drawn" in a short Kellogg’s Sugar Smacks commercial on YouTube HERE.

Eight-letter — ALOE VERA (13D. Healing helper); AQUAFINA (15A. Poland Spring rival); BACHELOR (12D. One who’s never asked for a hand?); BEEF STEW (14D. Crockpot concoction); DRAFTEES (61A. Volunteers’ counterparts); FUEL TANK (17A. It’s filled for a flight); ICE SKATE (36D. Devil’s wear?); INNER EAR (7D. Labyrinth); I’VE GOT IT (56A. “Eureka!”); QUINELLA (34D. Track betting option), e.g., a system of betting in which the bettor, in order to win, must pick the first two finishers of a race, but not necessarily in the correct sequence; RETICENT (59A. Opposite of garrulous); UNROLLED (35D. Opened, in a way); WALK OVER (37D. Route); ZEPPELIN (1A. Early 20th-century mode of transportation).

Seven — HEX BOLT (51A. Common metal fastener), RINGLET (26D. Flapper feature); SNEEZES (20A. You may try to stop them from coming), eliciting this link to YouTube with 66,998,918 hits, and the commercial spelling of a SNO CONE (24D. Summer treat).

Six — ADEPTS (60A. Mavens), BAOBAB (9A. Tree that’s home to Rafiki in “The Lion King”), EQUINE (2D. Like some track stars); ERMINE (44D. Regal trim), what‘s regal about a dead animal‘s fur?; GOATEE (43D. It might hide a dimple); HONORÉ (33A. French caricaturist Daumier), LET OUT (58A. Divulge); 54A. Cubs : bears :: crias : LLAMAS; ON SALE (16A. Less steep); PUENTE (3D. Spanish bridge), see also pont and ponte in French and Italian, RAITTS (45D. John of Broadway and his Grammy-winning daughter); ROSCOE (18A. Gangster’s piece), UNCOLA (38A. Longtime drink nickname, with “the”), ZAFTIG (1D. Well-proportioned).

Five — ANKLE (28D. What an espadrille may be tied around); ARDOR; BORER (9D. Uninvited cornfield guest); FILET; FOCAL; GEENA and IRENE; JAMAL; LÉGER (42A. “Tubism” artist); LIANA; OLETA; ONEAS; RESTS; ROYKO (47A. Author of the best seller “Boss: Richard J. Daley of Chicago”).

Short stuff — AMI, AÑOS, CAL (41A. “East of Eden” twin), COX, EAT, EDA, EFTS, ELK, HAUT, HEF, HMM, INTS, MOP, NOSE, OCT, OSS, PAL, REVS, TIN, TORA and ZOT (21D. Sound from the anteater in “B.C.”).

TGIF (52D. Office workers’ letters)!

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

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: 19. Like some plates; 22. Bunny lover; 23. Some exciting plays: Abbr.; 25. Heat; 26. Charges (up); 27. Davis in Hollywood; 29. Not fast; 30. Debone, in a way; 39. Rapper/actor Woolard who starred in “Notorious,” 2009; 40. Chemistry Nobelist Joliot-Curie; 46. Front; 49. Pearl Harbor code word. DOWN: 4. Alter ego; 5. Bog youngsters; 6. Bushrope; 10. Parts of decadas; 11. Covert W.W. II grp.; 30. Middle; 31. Many 61-Across; 32. Soprano Christiane ___-Pierre; 33. A musing sound; 41. Stroking coordinator; 47. Lulls; 48. River that drains the Everglades into Biscayne Bay; 51. Opposite of bas; 55. Grooming challenge; 57. 10, at times: Abbr.

06.17.10 — JOY

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Puzzle by Corey Rubin, edited by Will Shortz

BEETHOVEN’S NINTH (33A. 1824 Vienna premier) with ODE TO [JOY] and [JOY] tucked into five more squares producing BUNDLE OF [JOY] with FOR [JOY]; EN[JOY]ABLE with [JOY]CE; ALMOND [JOY]; [JOY] RIDING with [JOY]STICK; OVER[JOY]ED with NO [JOY]; and [JOY] LUCK CLUB with [JOY]NER constitutes the interrelated group of this Thursday crossword.

Across — 1. Poe poem, with “The”; 6. A lot; 11. Cutesy-POO; 14. Chris with the 1991 hit “Wicked Game”; 15. With 25-Across, an Irving Berlin song; 16. Furthermore; 17. Blue; 18. Hit 2006 film banned in every Arab country except Lebanon; 19. “SHE Bangs” (Ricky Martin hit); 20. Newborn; 22. Concern for an Allied ship; 24. Part of many a job title: Abbr.; 25. See 15-Across; 26. Gratifying; 30. Hershey’s brand; 31. Part of the home computer market; 32. Talk up; 33. 1824 Vienna premiere; 41. Hydrocarbon suffixes; 42. Home of London’s Palace Theatre; 43. Pastime for a car thief, perhaps; 47. Euphoric; 50. Region known as the Valley of the Moon; 51. Èvian and Vichy; 52. Like most music; 53. Best-selling novel of 1989, with “The”; 58. Like Schubert’s Symphony No. 7; 59. Top of a Roman candle?; 61. Sophocles skill; 62. Middling mark; 63. Ding Dong filler; 64. Cézanne contemporary; 65. Elizabethan dramatist Thomas; 66. “HERE’S to you!”; 67. Not just big.

Down — 1. Kind of lettuce; 2. Grandson of Abraham; 3. It extends about a yard; 4. Diane of “Wild at Heart”; 5. 1973 NASA launch; 6. Nucleic acid sugar; 7. Up; 8. One way to jump; 9. Norris Dam agcy.; 10. Relief pitchers prior to closers; 11. El PASOAN (certain Texan); 12. Present; 13. Work incorporated in 33-Across … or a description of this puzzle?; 21. Nigh sch. course; 23. Life, in brief; 25. Swiss ALPS; 26. Attaché’s place: Abbr.; 27. Aye’s opposite; 28. “Dubliners” author; 29. Hrs. in Puerto Rico; 30. Writer Rand; 32. Jack and billy; 34. Eponymous doctor with a maneuver; 35. Tony-nominated choreographer White; 36. Part of a food pyramid, briefly; 37. Neighbor of Jordan: Abbr.; 38. What there was in Mudville; 39. French beverage; 40. Container on a pole; 43. Gamer’s device; 44. TV’s Andy; 45. Short of resources; 46. DO A favor; 47. Works; 48. Dust collector, for short; 49. Certain sled driver; 51. Lowlifes; 53. Al Joyner, 1984 Olympic gold medalist in the triple jump; 54. Zodiac creature; 55. Solo; 56. Quelques-UNES (some: Fr.); 57. Part of a gig; 60. Hurdle for some srs.

------------------

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

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.