07.23.10 — On Edge

  A sharpened razor's edge is hard to cross —

  The dangers of the path —

  Wise seers proclaim them!

— Katha Upanishad, Chapter III [14]

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Friday, July 23, 2010

Puzzle by John Farmer, edited by Will Shortz

Four 15-letter answers are the main feature of this cutting-edge Friday crossword — DIAMOND JIM BRADY (14A. Gilded Age tycoon with a legendary appetite), ON THE RAZOR’S EDGE (52A. In a precarious position), GRAND INQUISITOR (1D. Christ’s visitor in a tale from “The Brothers Karamazov”) and BLACK SOX SCANDAL (10D. Subject of “Eight Men Out”).

People aplenty in today’s puzzle — ADRIAN (13D. N.F.L. rushing star Peterson); ANISTON (42A. 2002 Emmy winner for lead actress in a comedy); ANN (47A. Barack Obama’s mother); BIERCE (11D. Writer of “Happiness, n. An agreeable sensation arising from contemplating the misery of another”); 11A. Jean BRODIE, 1969 Oscar winning title role for Maggie Smith; ELECTOR (23D. 12th Amendment concern); GRIER (1A. Fearsome Foursome teammate of Jones, Olsen and Lundy); 15D. Frank Zappa rock opera "JOE’S Garage”; LEAPERS (46A. People born on February 29, colloquially); LOM and LON (7D. Actor Herbert of the “Pink Panther” films; 18A. Chaney Sr. or Jr.); NORMAN / ROIS (48A. 58-Across leaders); ORD (20A. Fort named for a Civil War major general); OSMOND (36D. Onetime teen idol who later hosted “Pyramid”); REDLEGS (5D. Ted Kluszewski’s team when he won the 1954 N.L. home run title); RENE (17A. Actor Auberjonois); 43D. “I’m such a SPAZ!“ (klutz’s comment); SPIRO (35D. Two-time running mate of Richard); SRA (56D. Dama’s title: Abbr.); TEUTONS (31A. Whom the Romans defeated at the Battle of Aquae Sextiae, 102 B.C.); YEATS (16D. “Easter, 1916” poet); YENTE (40D. Matchmaker for Tevye’s daughters).

Other — BENIGN, DO-OVER (57A. Mulligan, e.g.), DROSS, E-TAIL, NEURONS, NIAGARA, OO LA LA, PLAN B, POINT AT, REATA, SOUPCON, STEP ONE, STOICAL, STOPS BY, SWEETEN, TAG SALE, WAR ZONE.

Short stuff — ACRE, ALB, CEE, CRUX, EIN, EVA, GAP, I DO, IMS, KIA, NARA, PSI, QUIZ, RET and ROT, ROME, SAT, SCI, SEMI, SHOE, SNIT, SPAZ, ’SUP and TUP (32D. Male sheep).

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 6. Alternative; 12. “That’s ni-i-ice!”; 19. One of about 14,500 in Manhattan; 21. Dulcify; 25. ___ Motors; 26. Grade sch. Class; 27. Shop-at-home method?; 28. Wasn’t off one’s rocker?; 29. Eye, ear and nose; 33. Sporcle.com feature; 34. Nub; 35. Hint; 38. Visits; 41. Scuba tank meas.; 44. First to come?; 45. Exchanges that may come with emoticons, briefly; 50. Interregnum; 51. Pother; 59. Ranch in the 1956 film “Giant”; 60. Growing area of commerce. DOWN: 2. Home of the Arch of Constantine; 3. When repeated, cry often made with a hand up; 4. Brahms’s “___ Deutsches Requiem”; 6. Indicate; 8. Mass apparel; 9. First capital of Japan; 14. What’s discarded; 21. Unmoved; 22. Dangerous place to be; 24. Cell transmitters; 30. “___, bro?”; 37. Metaphor for a flood of tears; 38. It’s a start; 39. Harmless; 49. Brogue, e.g.; 51. Part of a convoy; 53. ___ Air (carrier to Taiwan); 54. Not working: Abbr.; 55. Tripe.

07.22.10 — 3; e.g., omg, etc.

oh, oh, oh myy

oh, oh, oh my, my, my, my, my, my

ooh my gosh

— Omg lyrics by Usher

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Thursday, July 22, 2010

Puzzle by Jeremy Horwitz, edited by Will Shortz

Electronic solvers will read from the Notepad “The center square of this crossword has an across clue of Shortest title of any #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 [Britney Spears, 2009] and a down clue of Length of the eight runners-up to the Across answer, all of which are answers to starred clues in this puzzle” — that extensive note produces the numeral 3 as an answer. Unfortunately, the numbering of the clues from 36 onward for the print and online versions is different — the print version has the number 36 in the center square. It seems the shorter the gimmick, the longer the explanation needed. The following commentary utilizes the numbering of the online version. Onward…

The center answer of 3 clues the three-letter group of ABC (5A. *Jackson 5, 1970), OMG (22A. *Usher feat. will.i.am, 2010), BEN (45A. *Michael Jackson, 1972), WHY (59A. *Frankie Avalon, 1959), BAD (12D. *Michael Jackson, 1987), WAR (32D. *Edwin Starr, 1970), LOW (34D. *Flo Rida feat. T-Pain, 2008) and SOS (54D. *Rihanna, 2006).

Twelve nine-letter entries dominate the crossword — ALABASTER (55A. Gypsum variety used in carvings), CLEOPATRA (51A. Earliest million-dollar movie role), EMOTICONS (31D. They often begin with colons), GUACAMOLE (17A. Salsa partner?), IRENE CARA (29D. “Fame” actress), ISLAMABAD (19A. Capital whose name is Urdu for “place of peace”), MOBILE BAY (30D. 1864 battle site that was the source of the quote “Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!“), MT EVEREST (11D. Subject of the 1997 best seller “Into Thin Air”), ONE O’CLOCK (13A. Time it is when daylight saving time ends), POTENTIAL (57A. What a talent scout looks for), RE-EXAMINE (9D. Check over), UNDIVIDED (10D. United).

Mid-size — ATTIC, AROMAS (35A. Bouquets), BENEATH, BOO BOOS (6D. Faux pas), BOWED TO, C-CLAMP, CEDED, CRUMB (8A. Soupçon), CYCLE, DEBORAH (37A. Book of Judges judge), HAS TO, HONEST, HUBCAP, GREAT, IN USE, KEDGES (15D. Small anchors), LUMET (41A. “Network” director), MELLOW, NASAL, NOPES, ORANT (56A. Worshiping figure), PEALE, SABOT, SAY SO, SET TO, SOCAL, SO HOT (25D. “Smoking!”), SOLIDER, TIME WAS (28A. Nostalgist’s opening words), YENTA (16A. Dirt accumulator?).

Four-letter — ALMA, ARLO, CAMS, CECE, EAVE, EELS, ELIS, LXIV, MIRO (26A. “Harlequin’s Carnival,“ for one), OBEY, OCTO and ORTO, SHAG, SNIT, SPAN, TADS, YIPS and YOGI.

If nothing else, this crossword brilliantly illustrates the oft-found confusion between the newspaper and electronic versions of a crossword with the resultant wrath of crossword bloggers possessing a compulsion to explain the obvious!

oh, oh, oh myy

oh, oh, oh my, my, my, my, my, my

ooh my gosh

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Above, the electronic solution, below the newsprint version with the beauty and simplicity of the grid  numbering and the corresponding clues.

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At left, the electronic version, click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Pups’ complaints; 18. Gave up; 20. Year of the Great Fire of Rome; 21. Unagi sources; 23. Gutter site; 24. Informal denials; 33. More substantial; 36. “I swear!”; 39. Greeted deferentially; 40. Foul mood; 43. Taft and Bush, collegiate; 46. Catch, as flies; 50. Gospel singer Winans; 54. Wooden-soled shoe; 58. Authority; 60. Numerical prefix. DOWN: 1. Hanna-Barbera bear; 2. Occupied; 3. “Positive thinking” exponent; 4. Setting for “The O.C.,” for short; 5. Longest book of the Book of Mormon; 7. Workshop device; 8. Bike; 14. Wheels inside a car; 24. Like the first of May or the end of June?; 27. “For here ___ go?”; 28. Kids; 38. Outer covering for some nuts; 39. Unworthy of; 42. Tone down; 44. Brawl; 46. Stretch over; 48. Lofty story; 49. Word repeated before some relatives’ names; 52. Succumb to mind control; 53. Janis’s comic-strip husband.

07.21.10 — Catastrophe...

Brokenheartless, Ron Gamble 

"It is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all."

 — Alfred Lord Tennyson

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Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Puzzle by Oliver Hill, edited by Will Shortz

It appears that a BROKEN HEART (57A. Lover’s woe … or something found literally, in the 4th, 5th, 8th and 11th rows of this puzzle) is useless both as a state of affairs or a clue in a crossword puzzle at least to the unconcerned individual. CATASTROPHE ART, LEAH EARTHLY, NEATH EAR TENTH and MISHEAR TASK are the aforementioned rows, each containing the broken word of HEART, a “ta da” afterthought to this winsome Wednesday crossword.

Other across — 1. “Impression Sunrise” painter; 6. Gives the thumbs-up; 9. Dreamworks’s first animated film; 13. Site of some rock shows; 14. End of a boast; 16. Pitcher Derek; 17. A heap; 18. Flair; 19. Subject of many Georgia O’Keeffe paintings; 20. Disaster; 23. Skill; 24. Woman’s name meaning “weary” in Hebrew; 25. Of this world; 27. Swelter; 30. Word before and after “for”; 32. Airport info: Abbr.; 33. Maryland athlete, for short; 34. They’re often eaten with applesauce; 38. Bard’s “below”; 40. Place to put a bud; 42. Like J in the alphabet; 43. Flirtatious one; 47. Suffix with Brooklyn; 48. Made tidy, in a way; 50. Bibliographic abbr.; 51. Experience a mondegreen, e.g.; 54. Agenda unit; 56. ALA carte; 62. Brass component; 64. When doubled, popular 1980s-’90s British sitcom; 65. Alexander the Great conquered it ca. 335 B.C.; 66. Appendices with some studies; 67. SAT taker, e.g.; 68. Don; 69. Genesis man; 70. Date; 71. Editors’ marks.

Down — 1. Like bueno but not buena: Abbr.; 2. Filmdom’s Willy, for one; 3. “Cool beans!”; 4. It’s ultimate; 5. French cup; 6. “Psst!”; 7. Metric prefix; 8. Pretty vistas, for short; 9. The Greatest; 10. Singer Jones; 11. Pirouette; 12. Full of spice; 15. Rope for pulling a sail; 21. Lacking spice; 22. Mess-ups; 26. French bean?; 27. French bench; 28. Uh-Oh! OREO (Nabisco product); 29. Where many a veteran has served; 31. Distinct; 33. Information superhighway; 35. Make a sweater, say; 36. “At Last” singer James; 37. Poet/illustrator Silverstein; 39. Rear; 41. Slow alternative to I-95; 44. Rip into; 46. Breadth; 49. Lower class in “1984”; 50. Manage; 51. Protégé, for one; 52. Poem with approximately 16,000 lines; 53. With 45-Across, largest city in California’s wine country; 55. Sends by UPS, say; 58. Painter Paul; 59. Chip or two, maybe; 60. Real knee-slapper; 61. Bronzes; 63. Video shooter, for short.

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07.20.10 — Billy!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Puzzle by Ed Sessa, edited by Will Shortz

BILLY (68A. Name associated with the starts of 17-, 27-, 48- and 64-Across), OCEAN BOTTOM 17A. Davy Jones’s locker), GRAHAM CRACKER (27A. S’more ingredient), CRYSTAL PALACE (48A. Site of London’s Great Exhibition of 1851) and IDOL WORSHIP (64A. Veneration of a cult image) comprise the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword — Billy Ocean (Leslie Sebastian Charles), Billy Graham (William Franklin Graham, Jr.), Billy Crystal (William Edward Crystal) and Billy Idol (William Michael Albert Broad).

Other — ATTACK DOGS (29D. Responders to “Sic ‘em!“), BATMAN, CIDER and DELLA and CINDERELLA (11D. Rags-to-riches heroine), EL PASO, EROTIC, ICKY POO (52A. Yucky, in baby talk), KLATCH, LASSIE, LATINA, NIPPERS (25A. Playful puppies, at times), SOLDER and TOO OLD.

Five-letter — ARDEN, ARBOR, AWAIT, BEARS (13D. Grizzlies, e.g.), GREBE (34A. Loonlike bird), ITALO, LADLE, LOESS, ON RYE, OPERA, PILED, RAISA, ROARS (15A. Dins from dens), SLANG, SMOKY.

Short stuff — ADA and ADO, ALMA, AUTO, BMOC, CAB and CAL, COT, CRO, DSM, EASE, ELLE, GPAS, GYP, IDA, IOTA, IRE, LEG, LOS, MACE, NBA, OAT, ODES, ODOR, ORS, PAT, PEST, PKG, PROW, RAUL, RBS, SALT, SEWS, SLOP, SPYS, SWAN (58D. Trumpeting bird), TAD, TARA, TIDE, WILD, YEN.

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Oh, where have you been,
Billy Boy, Billy Boy?
Oh, where have you been,
Charming Billy?
I have been to seek a wife,
She's the joy of my life,
She's a young thing
And cannot leave her mother.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Like the air in a cigar bar; 6. In heaps; 11. Medallioned vehicle; 14. Soup server’s implement; 16. Ill temper; 19. Hoops org.; 20. Irksome type; 21. Look forward to; 22. Foot problem, perhaps; 23. Motel extra; 32. Frisk, with “down”; 33. “Gone With the Wind” plantation; 37. VW or BMW; 39. “Hold the rocks,” at a bar; 42. ___ mater; 43. “All ___ is metaphor, and all metaphor is poetry”: G. K. Chesterton; 45. Shaker contents; 47. Pop music’s ___ Lobos; 54. Cap-and-crown org.?; 55. Shore washer; 56. Rich soil deposit; 59. Repairs some tears; 63. Big fuss; 66. Turkey piece; 67. ___ Street, Perry Mason’s secretary; 69. Sterile hosp. areas; 70. “As You Like It” forest; 71. Food for birds. DOWN: 1. Barely edible fare; 2. Knight’s club; 3. Keatsian works; 4. Coffee ___ (social gathering); 5. Cash in Kyoto; 6. Ship’s front; 7. Least bit; 8. Monterrey miss, e.g.; 9. Rated X; 10. Mil. Award; 12. Shady area; 18. Dynamic Duo member; 22. Setting for a Marx Brothers farce; 24. Cheerios grain; 26. UPS delivery: Abbr.; 27. Transcript nos.; 28. Brother of Fidel; 30. ___-Magnon; 31. Mrs. Gorbachev; 35. Coll. Football star, e.g.; 36. Life of Riley; 38. One way to eat ham; 40. Low-___ (for dieters); 41. City across the Rio Grande from Ciudad Juárez; 44. Cheat, in 43-Across; 46. Little bit; 49. Electrician’s alloy; 50. Ineligible for kiddie prices, say; 51. Old TV canine; 52. Author Calvino; 53. Fall drink; 57. Magazine title that’s a pronoun; 60. “Price and Prejudice” actress Jennifer; 61. Like jokers, sometimes; 62. 1974 Gould/Sutherland spoof; 64. Mrs. McKinley; 65. N.F.L. ball carriers.

07.19.10 — Môr on Monday

Natalie Dessay as Lucia in the Metropolitan Opera production of Lucia di Lammermoor

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Monday, July 19, 2010

Puzzle by David Blake, edited by Will Shortz

TELL ME MORE (17A. “Yes, go on”), MY CHARIE AMOUR (24A. 1969 Stevie Wonder hit), JAY MOHR (38A. Former host of TV’s “Last Comic Standing”), BENJAMIN MOORE (51A. Big name in paint) and LAMMERMOOR (62A. Location in a Donizetti opera) are the interrelated group of this masterful Monday crossword with variations on môr, and what's more to say, roll over Donizetti — Vitas’ Lucia di Lammermoor!

TAR PIT (8D. La Brea attraction), AMOCO (11D. BP partner) and BAYOU (12A. Louisiana waterway) might well bring to mind the Gulf of Mexico disaster — however, instead of LORAX (15A. Environmentalist in a Dr. Seuss story), here’s Tar Boy!

Other — FIREMAN (45D. What many a young boy wants to grow up to be), HONOREES (40D. Toast recipients), PLETHORA (5D. Great deal), POLEMICAL (3D. Tending to cause an argument), SILLY ME (4D. Words before “And here I thought …”), STEVEDORE (34D. Longshoreman).

More — Charlotte AMALIE, capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands, AND/OR (13D. Compound conjunction), AROAR, BLITZ, CRIMSON (27A. Harvard color), DELTA, EDSEL, EERIE, ENDIVES (49A. Salad greens), ESTOS, EXETER (9D. University attended by J.K. Rowling), ILENE, JAPAN, PRATE, NYMET, OCELOT (20A. Spotted cat), RE-EDIT (57A. Go over again with a blue pencil), RIVALS (48D. Coke and Pepsi, e.g.), SAUER.

Short stuff —ALEC, AMP, ANCY, APAR, APTS, ARNO, “Ali BABA and the 40 Thieves”, BOB, BOYD, CLOD, COO, DOER, EASE, ELOI, FEST, IONA, IRIS, LACE, LEA, LOTS, MAPS (1A. Aids for treasure hunters), MED, METO, MNO, MOCS, NAVY, NEAT, OMAN and OREM, OVA, PRO, RAVE, RCA, ROM, SET, TAJ and TAO, TILE, TRUE, TROT, ZEST.

Prithee, no more!

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 5. Babble on; 14. “The Time Machine” people; 16. Muscat’s country; 19. William ___, Hopalong Cassidy player; 21. Suypers oversee them: Abbr.; 23. Dove’s sound; 29. T on a test; 30. Wedding dress material; 31. Sony rival; 33. Famed ‘50s flop; 37. Eggs in labs; 41. The way, in philosophy; 42. You’ll love the way we fly” airline, 44. Con’s opposite; 45. Suffix with Oktober; 46. On ___ with (equal to); 55. Meadow; 56. Dark shade of blue; 60. Eye part; 64. Scrabble piece; 65. Actress Graff; 66. Florence’s river; 67. Lemon peel; 68. These: Sp.; 69. Without ice, as a drink. DOWN: 1. “Take ___ your leader”; 2. Baldwin of “30 Rock”), 6. CD-___; 7. Clamoring, 10. ___ for apples; 18. Comfy footwear, for short; 22. Like some Kraut; 25. Suffix with depend; 26. Club ___; 27. Dummkopf; 28. Four-star review; 32. Electric guitar need; 35. Simplicity; 36. Auction groups; 38. Where Mount Fuji is; 39. Utah city; 43. ___ Mahal; 50. No idle person; 51. Fast-moving attack, 52. Hair-raising; 53. Tough as ___; 54. Citi Field player, for short; 58. New Rochelle campus; 59. Horse’s gait; 61. Card game based on matching groups of three; 63. Letters after L.

07.18.10 — Prelude to Science — the Acrostic

The Alchemist’s Experiment takes Fire, 1687, Hendrick Heerschop

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Alchemy is the science of understanding, deconstructing, and reconstructing matter, although it is often seen only as the pursuit of turning common metals into gold. A scientific theory says that if Alchemy is stopped in the process of deconstructing, the object will be destroyed.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

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

This Sunday’s acrostic draws a quotation from “Prelude to Science: An Exploration of Magic and Divination - Astrology, I Ching, The Kabbalah, Magic, Oracles, Tarot“ by Richard Furnald Smith with drawings by Anne Corrough, published in 1975 and now quite rare.  I'm sure it's gathering dust on someone's bookshelf, but just try to Google it and good luck!  What you'll get is what you're reading right now...

The quotation: MOST CHEMISTS ARE TOLERANT EVEN PROUD ABOUT ALCHEMY BUT ASTRONOMERS TAKE A HARD LINE TOWARD ASTROLOGY POSSIBLY CHEMISTS WOULD BE LESS BROADMINDED IF THEY SAW COLUMNS OF ALCHEMICAL ADVICE IN ALL THE DAILY NEWSPAPERS

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

R F SMITH PRELUDE TO SCIENCE

The defined words:

A. Like some Protestantism and Judaism, REFORMED

B. Antennae or tentacles, FEELERS

C. Abstract, precis, aperçu, SYNOPSIS

D. Rich, sweet wine, MUSCATEL

E. Admiration taken overboard, IDOLATRY

F. Bench on which a judge may sit, TRIBUNAL

G. Tool for cutting metal, HACKSAW

H. Heartily consume; save for later (2 wds.), PUT AWAY

I. Gushing with enthusiasm, RHAPSODIC

J. Hearten, give courage to, EMBOLDEN

K. Composition of the Great Pyramid of Giza, LIMESTONE

L. Standing upright, never yielding, UNBOWED

M. Olympic event for men only, DECATHLON

N. Subunit of our biosphere, ECOSYSTEM

O. Try before you buy (hyph.), TEST-DRIVE

P. Delphic stone thought to mark Earth’s center, OMPHALOS

Q. Fill to repletion, SATIATE

R. Fair fare served on a stick (2 wds.), CORN DOG

S. Replacement for Karachi as a world capital, ISLAMABAD

T. Air Force base near Rapid City, ELLSWORTH

U. Striped marsupial that lives on termites, NUMBAT

V. Quixotic obsession, CHIVALRY

W. Biblical prophet who restored a fouled spring by throwing salt into it, ELISHA

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There is one copy of Prelude to Science available at Amazon.com — HERE.


In the meantime...

...and now, back to the puzzle!

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07.18.10 — Critical Periods

Sunday, July 18, 2010

CRITICAL PERIODS, Puzzle by Robert W. Harris, edited by Will Shortz

The phrases of accepted usage, the unemployed, Pittsburgh Pirate, bilateral accord, excessive tariffs, strange ordeal and common laborer, given punctuation to read as ACCEPTED U. S. AGE (23A. 234, as f July 4, 2010?), THE U. N. EMPLOYED (32A. Workers in a global peace organization?), PITTSBURGH P. I. RATE (47A. What gumshoes charge in the City of Bridges?), BILATERAL A. C. CORD (62A. Symmetrical power conductor for appliances?), EXCESSIVE T. A. RIFFS (83A. Too much guitar work by a professor’s helper?), STRANGE O. R. DEAL (94A. “Pay in cash and your second surgery is half-price”?) and COMMON L. A. BORER (108. Typical termite in a California city?), are the interrelated group of this Sunday crossword.

Other across — 1. Ready for publication, EDITED; 7. Flag, COLORS; 19. Full chromosome set, GENOME; 20. Pairs’ debarking point, ARARAT; 21. Joy, ELATION; 25. Cash in the music business, ROSANNE; 30. WARNER Bros.; 35. Hard look?, SQUINT; 38. Pass off as genuine, FOIST; 40. Unconventional OUTRE; 42. Come under criticism, TAKE FLAK; 54. Some court evidence, TAPES; 55. Signs of spoilage, ODORS; 56. Group following a star?, POSSE; 61. Not stay long for shots?, BAR HOP; 67. Hole, CAVITY; 76. Nimble, AGILE; 77. Any singer of “Hotel California”, EAGLE; 79. “Stop!”:, AVAST; 86. Like some English muffins, PRE-SPLIT; 89. Best, ELITE; 91. “The Addams Family” co-star, ASTIN; 93. Most easily sunburned, maybe, PALEST; 100. Nuevo Laredo store, TIENDA; 106. Second, INSTANT; 112. Inactive state, LATENCY; 113. Using fraudulently altered checks, KITING; 114. Sharpie alternatives, FLAIRS; 117. Pack rat, STORER; 118. “Opening” word, SESAME.

Down — 5. What many older parents face, EMPTY NEST; 6. Locking lever, DETENT; 10. Elocutes, ORATES; 11. Seasoned stew, RAGOUT; 12. Harsh, STERN; 14. Dawdler, SLOWPOKE; 15. Explorer who claimed Louisiana for France, LASALLE; 16. Thin-toned, TINNY; 17. Recipient, DONEE; 18. Bergen’s foil, SNERD; 29. Peach NECTAR; 32. Grillers’ grabbers TONGS; 34. Things that drawbridges bridge, MOATS; 35. Absorb, SOP UP; 36. Headquarters of the Union of South American Nations, QUITO; 37. Speak, UTTER; 38. “Hansel and Gretel” setting, FOREST; 41. CNN’s Sanjay GUPTA; 43. Northern inlets, FJORDS; 48. Not well, BADLY; 49. Thick soups, POTAGES; 50. Miley Cyrus and Lady Gaga, e.g., IDOLS; 58. Some short-term investments, briefly, T-BILLS; 60. Seed coverings, ARILS; 61. BOSSA nova; 65. Site of some paintings, CAVERN; 66. Informal exchanges, CHATS; 73. 1967 Dionne Warwick hit, ALFIE; 74. Some constructions on “Survivor”, RAFTS; 75. Certain detail, INSET; 77. Bobby Fischer, once, EXILE; 78. Words before “kindness” and “the Apostles”, ACTS OF; 79. Be of use, AVAIL; 80. Like diabetes, TREATABLE; 83. Refinement, ELEGANCE; 87. Cross or star, often, PENDANT; 91. Dexterous, ADROIT; 92. Apparently do, SEEM TO; 93. Rice dishes;, PILAFS; 94. Steps that a farmer might take, STILE; 95. Brown and Turner, TINAS; 96. “The defense RESTS”; 98. Prepares to play pool, say, RACKS.

Short stuff — AGAR, AHS, AITS, ALL, APE, APSO, ARIA, ATOM, CAPP, COOL, DECO, DER, DIGS, DIRT, DOA, DSL, DTS, DYNE, EDGE, EELS, EGAD, ELLA, ENE, ENGR, ERSE, ESS, FARE, GONG, HIGH, ILLS, INCA, IOTA, ITE, JAPE, KEEP, LAN and LAS and LASH, MIR, OARS and OAS, ONE (110D. Low digit), ORU, PALL, PAR, PERM, PORT, ROMA, SARI, TARO, TDS, TEE, TENS, TORN, TOE (4D. Low digit), TYE, UTE, VILE.

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THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 13. Certain Internet connection: Abbr.; 18. Things refs raise their arms for; 26. 1950 noir film; 27. Perfect specimens; 28. Divided; 31. Unit of force; 39. Hip; 41. Remove from a talent show, maybe; 53. Native Coloradan; 57. Left at sea; 59. Drinker’s problem, for short; 60. Word that comes from the Greek for “indivisible”; 70. Makes holes; 71. Sounds of understanding; 72. Wrapped garment; 81. Grp. Of connected Pcs; 82. What’s borne at a funeral; 88. Scullers needs; 90. Aquatic shockers; 93. Most easily sunburned, maybe; 99. Small islands; 101. Get along; 102. Singer Fitzgerald; 103. Galoot; 115. Preceder of 116-Across; 116. Follower of 115-Across. DOWN: 1. “Good grief!”; 2. Art ___; 3. Quechua speaker; 7. Rogues; 8. Tulsa sch. 9. ___ Cruces; 13. “___ Fuehrer’s Face” (1942 Disney short); 22. Poit ingredient; 24. General dir. Of Sal Paradise’s return trip in “On the Road”; 31. Gossip; 33. On dope; 44. Any tail in a cat-o’-nine-tails; 45. Lhasa ___; 46. Not spoil; 51. Tomato type; 56. Hole number; 63. Adherent: Suffix; 64. Advantage; 67. L’il Abner creator; 68. Food thickener; 69. Loathsome; 84. Tiny bit; 85. Woes; 97. Stake; 99. Tie indicator; 102. Many an M.I.T. grad; 103. “Che gelida manina,” e.g.; 104. Salon option; 106. Celtic tongue; 107. Nautical rope; 109. Novy ___, Russian literary magazine; 111. International grp. since 1948.

07.17.10 — O'Dark Thirty

Sleep, Salvador Dali, 1937

O’Dark-thirty is aviator speak for those bleak, lonely hours between midnight and 05:00 am. Those hours when your brain is telling your body to rest, relax, sleep.

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Saturday, July 17, 2010

Puzzle by Mark Diehl, edited by Will Shortz

How else can one blog the next day’s crossword but at o’dark thirty? Yes, it is the wee hours of Saturday and it is the Saturday crossword! Nothing more to be said, tough is tough and that’s enough!

Across — 1. Bed bottoms?, PAJAMA PANTS; 12. Letters for a duke, HRH; 15. Bauxite or cryolite, ALUMINUM ORE; 16. Winning lineup, OOO; 17. One whose shots reveal lots, BIKINI MODEL; 18. The Tigers, for short, LSU; 19. Worked on peanuts?, ATE; 20. Tricksters, IMPS; 21. Passes over, ELIDES; 23. Many mgrs. Have them, MBAS; 24. Pointed artwork?, STIPPLE; 25. Concordia University locale, ST PAUL; 28. One of a grand trio, PIANO LEG; 29. Preceder of his name?, WHAT’S; 30. End of a tile game’s name, JONGG; 31. It may be boiled in Bordeaux, EAU; 32. Hydroelectricity providers?, EELS; 33. Pulls a switcheroo on, perhaps, BILKS; 34. One might be caught near a beach, WAVE; 35. Is for more than one?, ARE; 36. Behaves like a loon, DIVES; 37. Attendance count, NOSES; 38. Put right, RESTORED; 40. Really bother, MOLEST; 41. Father of the Blues, W C HANDY (original recording of St. Louis Blues, HERE); 42. Vint CERF, Father of the Internet; 43. Former chocolaty Post cereal, OREO O’S; 44. “Fanny’s First Play” playwright, SHAW; 45. SLO Poke (candy on a stick); 48. Visionary 1921 drama, RUR; 49. Its contents may get strained, TEA CANISTER; 52. One making a scene?: Abbr., DIR; 53. Be shellacked, GET A LICKING; 54. Slob’s environment, STY; 55. Very early morning, in slang, O’DARK THIRTY.

Down — 1. Sunblock ingredient, PABA; 2. Put down, ALIT; 3. Record player, briefly, JUKE; 4. French sweet, AMI; 5. Short coach, MINIBUS; 6. Like some instincts, ANIMAL; 7. Shell collection?, PUMPS; 8. Biblical shepherd, AMOS; 9. Betray inattention, NOD; 10. Nursery IDs, TREE TAGS; 11. One side of traffic, SELLING; 12. Call waiting line?, HOLD PLEASE; 13. Bouquet greenery, ROSE LEAVES; 14. Extra mouth to feed, maybe, HOUSE GUEST; 22. I.B.M. event of 1915, IPO; 23. Gymnastics school supply, MATS; 24. Home Depot display, SINKS; 25. They often fly out during an explosion, SWEAR WORDS; 26. 2003 spy thriller starring Al Pacino and Colin Farrell, THE RECRUIT; 27. Amontillado, e.g., PALE SHERRY; 28. Like some rafts, POLED; 30. Swinging, JIVEY; 33. Feeder filler, BIRD SEED; 34. Grimm villain, WOLF; 36. “Stay”, DO NOT GO; 37. British home of Cow Tower and Dragon Hall, NORWICH; 39. Way of the world?, TAO; 40. Be serious, MEAN IT; 42. Gymnastics school supply, CHALK; 44. Line of combat?, SCAR; 45. Excite, STIR; 46. Period of abstinence, LENT; 47. Period of indulgence, ORGY; 50. AT A price; 51. Runner given the boot?, SKI.

Good night!

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.