09.22.10 — E-I-E-I-O

Old MacDonald‘s Farm 

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Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Puzzle by Peter A. Collins, edited by Will Shortz

OLD MACDONALD (57A. Subject of a children’s song associated with the vowels in the answer to each starred clue), LEIF ERICSSON (20A. *Turn-of-the-millennium explorer), CELINE DION (30A. *1996 Grammy winner for the album “Falling Into You”), PRESIDENT WILSON (38A. *Treaty of Versailles signer), PERIHELION (46A. *Point in a planet’s orbit that’s closest to the sun), along with BAAS and MOOS (8D. and 58D. Sounds heard by 57-Across) are the amusing interrelated entries of this Wednesday crossword  with its four sets of sequential vowels, i.e., E-I-E-I-O.

Other — HIGH ALTAR (35D. Sanctuary fixture), INDONESIA (9D. World’s fourth-most populous country), and an odd pair, LOSING HEART (3D. Becoming discouraged) and RIB SPREADER (26D. Tool used in thoracic surgery), are the remaining long entries.

Mid-size — AMOEBA (2D. It multiples by dividing), Whack-A-MOLE, APNEA, ARLENE, DARNED, DERIDE and DREDD, DIETS, GAUNT, ILENE, INERT, IRATE, IRONER, LADED, LONG I (31D. Second in line?), MALAY (1D. Dweller on an Asian peninsula), MARLIN, NEXUS, OSCARS, REINED, ROSES, STARR (69A. Brenda of comics), SINEW, SOLID (55D. Nonliquid state), STRAD, WEDDED, YESES.

Short stuff — ALEF, APT and ASP, AVER, AXE, BTU, DEB, EEL, EPA, EPIC, ERE, ESS (13D. What‘s extracted from soil to get oil?), HAH, GAS (61D. Nonliquid state), GREG, IBN, INT, ITA, LSD, NALA, NOD, NUN, OER, OVA, PIP, RIA and RIC, RTES, SAS and SOS and SRS, Punk rocker SID Vicious, RIC, TOTO (27D. Kansas canine), King TUT, UNA.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 6. Ballgoer, for short; 9. Steamed; 15. Org. doing atmospheric tests; 16. Meeting point; 17. Gifts for divas; 18. Shoreline indentation; 19. Has only half-servings, maybe; 23. Saudi “son of”; 25. Immobile; 28. Hounds; 34. “Not a chance!”; 36. Kind of place to the left of the decimal point; 37. 1,055 joules: Abbr.; 43. “Give ___ little time”; 44. Pitcher Maddux who won four straight Cy Young Awards; 45. Cleopatra held it close; 50. Attract; 53. Expensive violin, for short; 54. ___ pad; 56. Before, to Byron; 61. Overly thin; 64. Fertility clinic samples; 65. Put on, as cargo; 68. Sleep disorder; 67. “___ the ramparts …” 68. “Mr. Belvedere” actress Graff; 70. Promgoers: Abbr.; 71. Risked. — DOWN: 1. Catch that might be mounted; 4. Beth preceder; 5. Some survey responses; 6. Ridicule; 7. Like some battles; 1. Restricted, with “in”; 11. Tool used by Hansel and Gretel’s father; 21. Singer Ocasek of the Cars; 22. Tendon; 29. Carrier with a hub in Copenhagen; 32. Abbr. on a bank statement; 33. Carmelite, for one; 35. Sanctuary fixture; 38. Any singer with Gladys Knight; 39. Delivery persons’ assignments: Abbr.; 40. Judicial title role for Stallone; 41. Slippery swimmer; 42. It was dropped in the ’60s; 47. Worker whose job always has a new wrinkle?; 48. Hollywood treasures; 49. Silent assent; 51. Francis of “What’s My Line?”; 52. Kind of bliss; 59. Maintain; 60. “The Lion King” role; 62. Likely; 63. Italian article.

09.21.10 — Strokes

British Olympian swimmer Gregor Tait

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Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Puzzle by Adam G. Perl, edited by Will Shortz

STROKES (39A. Pets … or what the starts of 17-, 25-, 50- and 61-Across are all kinds of), BUTTERFLY SHRIMP (17A. Entrée on many a Chinese menu), CRAWL SPACE (25A. Cramped alternative to a basement), BACK ISSUES (50A. Old New Yorkers, e.g.), and BREAST OF CHICKEN (61A. Basic hotel banquet entrée) are the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword.

Other — ASSISI (30D. Franciscans’ home), BEFORE, DECAYING (34A. Rotting), IDENTI-KIT (35A. Facial recognition aid), IRANIANS (43A. Tabriz residents), LITTLE EVA (3D. “The Loco-Motion” singer, 1962), REACTS, STASIS (28D. Equilibrium).

Five-letter — AGREE, ANIMA, APPLE, ASIAN flu, AWAIT, BABAR and BABYS, BILBO, BMOCS, CRETE, Mother EARTH, ERASE, IRENE, ISUZU, LOIRE, MALTA, MIMIC, NOKIA, NONET, OMENS, OPERA, PARTS, REPAY, RESIN, SETAT, UNFIT (53D. Out of shape).

Short stuff — AGRI, AMA, ATON, AZT, BAT, COE, CTS, DIE, DOS, “I could EAT A horse!”, EMIL, ERN, ESTH, “GEE whiz!”, IPO, LACE, Debussy’s “La MER“, NATO, NIN and NIP, OAR, OILS, ONES, ORI and ORY, OSSA, REV, RIA, RNAS, ROCS, RULE, SAP, SEE, SHH, SOOT, TASS, TWA, WEEK, YET.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. “The Hobbit” hero; 6. College V.I.P.’s; 11. Drs.’ org.; 16. Defeat by just a tad; 20. Pioneering anti-AIDS drug; 21. Blackener of Santa’s boots; 22. Oscar winner Jannings; 23. “No shirt, no shoes, no service,” e.g.; 29. Clear the board; 32. Signs to heed; 38. Pastor, for short; 42. It can be cast; 45. “Goodnight” girl of old song; 47. Greek peak; 48. Amber is a fossilized one; 54. Lots; 57. Prefix with cultural; 58. Intl. group with many generals; 60. Big milestone for a young co.; 66. Still; 67. Anticipate; 68. River that drains more than 20% of France; 69. Date; 70. Labor’s partner; 71. Attack. — DOWN: 1. King of the elephants in a children’s book series; 2. Trooper on the highway; 4. Dracula’s altered form; 5. Telephone numbers without letters; 6. Prior to; 7. Island south of Sicily; 8. Suffix with direct; 9. Small change: Abbr.; 10. It may precede “Don’t let anyone hear!”; 11. Inner self; 12. Make like; 13. Beatles record label; 18. Fabled fliers; 19. Settle a debt with; 24. Directional suffix; 26. Sports illustrated span; 27. Feature of many a bodice; 32. “… ___ quit!”; 34. Affairs; 36. Diarist Anaïs; 40. News agency that was the first to report on Sputnik; 41. Genetic materials; 44. Mobile phone giant; 46. Small inlet; 48. Shows shock, e.g.; 49. Book after Neh.; 50. ___ breath ; 51. Concur; 52. Where Minos reigned; 55. Word with grand or soap; 56. Largish musical group; 59. Many works at the Met; 62. Patsy; 63. Eero Saarinen designed its J.F.K. terminal; 64. Viking ship need. 65. Runner Sebastian.

09.20.10 — Apostrophe Ess

Sam Alfano, iGraver

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Monday, September 20, 2010

Puzzle by Bernice Gordon, edited by Will Shortz

Turning four notable names into sentences by the addition of “is” in the form an apostrophe ess (‘s) to the first name, cleverly rendering the last name an adjective and the whole a complete sentence, constitutes the interrelated group of this pleasant Monday crossword — JEAN’S SMART (17A. “Designing Women” actress is intelligent?), CHIC’S YOUNG (50A. “Blondie” cartoonist is not old?), GLENN’S CLOSE (11D. “Fatal Attraction” actress is nearby?) and GRACE’S SLICK (25D. “White Rabbit” singer is smooth?).

Other — DOGGIES (23A. Little pooches), DUNCE CAP (36D. Corner sitter’s headwear), IPSWICH (44A. Capital of Suffolk, England), POSSESS (46A. Hold), RAT FINKS (9D, Squealers), VINTNER (27A. Person producing Bordeaux or Beaujolais).

Six-letter — AERATE (10D. Infuse with carbon dioxide), BASHED, ERRAND, FIANCE, MINCES, POLITE, SIESTA, SOUSES, STANCE, TWINES.

Five — ACCRA (15A. Capital of Ghana), ACMES, AIMÉE (57A. Anouk of le cinéma), ALICE, BASER, DARNS, DELVE, GUTSY, HARTS, IDEAS, IPODS, LEAPT, MISTY, MOORE, MORSE, OREOS, PACER, PEERS, PODIA, SAINT (18D. Superdome player), SANER, VINNY, WATCH, WONKA.

Short stuff — AGAS, AHEM, ASIA, CHI, DICE, DRJ, DROP, ELLA, ERR, GAPE, GAT and GAIT, GLAD, “Anything GOES”, HIE, INCA, KEPT, NIP, OAK, ODIN, OVA, PEN, RAE and RAVE, REIN, SAKS, SCAM, TAUT, TIME, USE, Viva VOCE.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Plunge; 5. More dishonorable; 10. “What ___!” (“That was fun!”); 14. “I loved, loved, loved that!” review; 16. Fitzgerald who sang “A -Tisket A-Tasket!”; 19. Bridle part; 20. “Excuse me …”; 21. Husband-to-be; 28. What a gofer is sent on; 29. Takes little steps; 30. Jumped; 31. Willy with a chocolate factory; 32. The Windy City, for short; 36. Does some mending; 37. Pleased; 38. Suffix with Siam; 39. Daring; 40. Roger who played 007; 41. Batter’s position; 43. It might produce a snore in Sonora; 47. Saying “Please” and “How do you do?,” say; 48. Tense; 49. Chief Norse god; 56. Chop up; 58. Mongols’ home; 59. Fifth Avenue landmark; 60. Lords and ladies; 61. Retained. — DOWN: 1. Nickname of a 6’7” former basketball great; 2. “Norma ___”; 3. Eggs; 4. Cross or Parker; 6. Topmost points; 7. Many an e-mail “click here” offer; 8. Go astray; 12. Girl who went through a looking glass; 13. Less addled; 18. Superdome player; 22. Machu Picchu resident; 23. Look (into); 24. Cookies in a box lunch; 26. Open the mouth wide; 27. “My cousin” in a 1992 film; 29. Man with a code; 31. Keep an eye on; 33. Mates for does; 34. Notions; 39. Trot or canter; 40. Like eyes when you’re getting nostalgic, maybe; 42. Twists and turns, as a tendril; 43. Drunkards; 44. Products for music downloads; 45. Speakers’ places; 46. Nervous person in a hospital waiting room, perhaps; 48. Use a stop clock on; 51. Hurry; 52. “Might” fine home for a squirrel?; 53. “What’s the ___?”; 54. Tuck’s partner; 55. Gangster’s gun.

09.19.10 — Musical Play

music grunge © Freesurf #5643987 fotolia

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Sunday, September 19, 2010

MUSICAL PLAY, Puzzle by Ken G. Der, edited by Will Shortz

Wordplay on classical composer names, punning familiar phrases, comprises the interrelated group of this spiritoso soave Sunday crossword.

• BIZET AS A BEAVER (22A. “Carmen” composer-turned-dam builder?)
• THINK OUTSIDE THE BACHS (29A. Embrace more than just a family of Baroque composers?)
• CHOPIN SPREE (39A. Romantic overindulgence in nocturnes and mazurkas?)
• FLYING OFF THE HANDEL (55A. Singing a “Messiah” piece too quickly?)
• NATIONAL LISZT PARTY (66A. Countrywide music celebration in Hungary?)
• HAYDN GO SEEK (83A. Part of a children’s game with the Father of the Symphony?)
• MY BIG FAT GRIEG WEDDING (93A. Grand nuptials whose only music was “Peer Gynt”?)
• GRASP AT STRAUSS (105A. Try to capture the Waltz King?)

Other — AEOLIAN harp, ANDERSON (82D. News anchor Cooper), APOGEAL (101A. Climactic), AT WORST (73A. If all else fails), DOG RACE (86D. Track event for gamblers), HAIR DYE (30D. It helps you change the locks), HEDGE ROW (80D. It may extned about a yard), JUST ONCE (6D. “Even if it’ll never happen again …“), MARIETTA (81A. Ohio city named for a queen), OVER ICE (28A. Not neat), PRE-TEEN (63D. Many a Little Leaguer), RAREFIES (46A. Distills), REBATES (8D. Taxpayers’ hopes), SHE DEMON (11D. Succubus), STATING (64D. Setting forth), TIDALLY (29D. How current events may happen?).

Six-letter — ALASKA, ALDRIN, CARAFE, EDITOR, ERWINS, GO FAST, INGOTS, LENTEN, LOVE-IN, ODETTA (“”Glory, Glory“ singer), OH DEAR, OLD HAT, TYRANT, VELVET, VOODOO economics, YANKEE.

Five — ABACI, ARCED, ANTES, BOWLS, CELEB, CIERA, EIDER, ELEMI (4D. Aromatic resin), ESSES, Work ETHIC, GAINS, GENES, HIPPO, I’D SAY, I GIVE, and I HEAR, INDRA (14D. Hindu god of thunder), ISAAC, MAEVE (93D. Irish novelist Binchy), PAVED, REACH, RIATA, Missionary Junipero SERRA, YPRES (94D. W.W. I battle site).

Short stuff — ADEN, ADIT, AGUA, AJAR, AKA, ANS, ANTI and ANTZ, APSE, ARAN, ASH, Bide-A-WEE, BAHA Men (“Move It Like This“ group), CASH, CES, Honey Nut CHEX, CIA, COOT, DEN, EAR and EYE, Dame EDNA, ENT, EON, EPA, ERSE, FIN, FLO, GIS, GMT, HAIL, “This IS IT” (Michael Jackson album), HIKE, IOTA, JOB, JUKE, KAZ, LAR, LEAK, LUKE, MAHI, MEOW, MIST, NEIN, France’s NORD-Pas-de-Calais, OBIT, OBLA, ODOR, OFAN, OHHI, OMSK, OPAL, OVAL and OVID, PHI, PILL, PST, REOS, RPI, SAX, SHOE, SUE, SWAY, TAPS, TEA, TINY, Mann’s “Der TOD in Venedig“, UGH, UKES, UPI, VEEP, WEAL, WRY.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Diner fixture, informally; 5. Not stopping the draft, say; 9. Cathedral feature; 13. Once-popular Olds; 18. Producer of a colorful ring tone; 19. It mentions the Prodigal Son; 21. Kind of season; 25. Passé; 26. It hangs around the Amazon; 33. Org. in the “Bourne” series; 34. Union representative?; 35. Hawaiian fish, on some menus; 36. Mine entrance; 38. These, overseas; 49. Some gridiron yardage; 50. Zoo heavyweight; 51. Buzz in a rocket; 52. Oblast bordering Kazakhstan; 60. Sightseer?; 61. Song lead-in to “di” or “da”; 62. Opposing; 63. It’s eight hours off from 49-Down: Abbr.; 76. Fortune; 77. “This isn’t looking good …”; 79. It might start a rumor; 86. Place of corruption; 87. Ja’s opposite; 88. Poet depicted in art alongside the Scythians; 92. Otolaryngology: Abbr.; 102. Cousin of a golden eye; 103. Some old runabouts; 104. Physicist Schroedinger and others; 110. Upscale upholstery; 111. Hint; 112. Geezer; 113. Laguna composition; 114. Twisty turns; 115. Command. — DOWN: 1. It might be found in a plant; 2. Longtime news inits.; 3. Second baseman Matsui, to fans; 5. Purchase of 1867; 7. Alias; 9. Noisy counters; 10. Smoothed over; 12. Pink Mr. Potato Head piece; 13. Gossip topic; 16. It’s measured at arm’s length; 17. Gets in the game, say; 21. Peaceful protest; 23. Peewee; 24. Highland tongue; 28. “Funny meeting you here!”; 31. Strummed instruments, for short; 32. Lager sources; 33. Wine order; 37. Garr of “Tootsie”; 30. Till fill; 40. Bring up; 41. Last thing; 42. It can be popped; 43. Upstate N.Y. school; 44. Spill-fighting grp.; 45. Years on end; 47. Bass part; 48. They’re worth their weight in gold; 49. See 63-Across; 53. Wink ___ eye; 53. 1998 film featuring Princess Bala; 54. Mad person?; 56. Something of yours you’ll never see; 57. Mel’s Diner waitress; 58. Greet loudly; 59. Opposite of a ques.; 65. Monocrat; 67. ___ Islands, group at the mouth of Galway Bay; 69. Publicist’s headache; 70. Choreographer Lubovitch; 71. ___ Beta Kappa; 72. Port SSE of Sana; 73. Contents of some cones; 74. Crumpet’s go-with; 75. Not straight; 81. Persian’s call; 84. Sell quickly; 85. Like the Ford logo; 89. #2; 91. It’s often carried around a gym; 95. Gets the ball rolling?; 96. “Uncle!”; 97. Offspring’s inheritance; 98. One thrown from a horse; 99. “In my opinion …”; 100. Singer of sewing machine fame; 105. Grunts; 107. Cry of distaste; 108. Go after; 109. Big band member, for short.

09.19.10 — Stylish in the Past — Cryptic Crossword

1950s Night Scene Of Chicago's State Street, ClassicStock Rights Managed Photograph 

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Sunday, September 19, 2010

Cryptic Crossword by Emily Cox & Henry Rathvon, edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. Tea Partier cracked, “Go back to your own country” (10), REPATRIATE; 6. Biting a hand holding the first piece of cake (4), ACID; 9. Quiet carpet with raised shoulders (5), SHRUG; 10. Schiavone mixed up pizza toppings (9), ANCHOVIES; 12. Recipient of a tribute to a tailless horse (7), TOASTEE; 13. Pull fish back in a nautical direction (7), LEEWARD; 14. Poet with bad blood type returned Army material (5, 4), OLIVE DRAB; 17. Endlessly shop without buying arches (5), BROWS; 18. Fraternity symbol, sign and map left incomplete (5), SIGMA; 19. Apple computer’s board in conversation with a quantum theory proponent (3, 6), MAX PLANCK; 21. Letter from an admirer with cooler armor (3, 4), FAN MAIL; 22. Football player mom dressed in sheets (7), LINEMAN; 24. New era begins in part of the North Pacific (6, 3), BERING SEA; 25. Pastoral poem not doing much for listeners (5), IDYLL; 26. Opponent of Clinton’s welfare system (4), DOLE; 27. Unsafe terminal riled up (10), ENDANGERED.

Down — 1. Nuts to stir with egg and grains in an Italian style (7), RISOTTO; 2. Temporarily leave a jacket for cold weather (5), PARKA; 3. Reunited what a woman’s financial planner wants? (8, 5), TOGETHER AGAIN; 4. After losing the lead, National Leaguer is furious (5), IRATE; 5. Knock down and punch a fisherman’s companion (6, 3), TACKLEBOX; 7. Stylish in the past, an urban Prairie Stater (9), CHICAGOAN; 8. Square dance figures I inserted between Spanish couples? (2-2-3), DO SI DOS; 11. A bracing novel oddly needing to be straightened (13), OVERBALANCING; 15. Range line shifted, as a rule (2, 7), IN GENERAL; 16. Ron, taking walks, tells stories rather aimlessly (7, 2), RAMBLES ON; 18. Beads of plastic in convertible (4, 3), SOFA BED; 20. Lit class was first (7), KINDLED; 22. Andes native in gorilla mask (5), LLAMA; 23. Might, or a position of power (5), MAYOR.

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09.18.10 — Building Support...

Rome, September 17-18-19 2010, a video installation by Thyra Hilden and Pio Diaz

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Saturday, September 18, 2010

Puzzle by Natan Last, Brown University, ‘12, edited by Will Shortz

This week, from Monday to Saturday, every puzzle was authored by a member of the Puzzling Association of Brown University, surely building support for the future generations of puzzledom. Last, but not least, today’s odd crossword is taut with testosteronic topicality — a toga party at a tutor’s tea for television trivia!

Across — 1. 45, e.g., DISC; 5. Founding member of Public Enemy known for wearing large clocks around his neck, FLAVOR FLAV; 15. “ELLA at Duke’s Place” (1965 jazz album); 16. 2007 satirical best seller subtitled “And So Can You!”, I AM AMERICA; 17. FLOR de Caña (Nicaraguan rum); 18. First British group since the Beatles to have two albums in the U.S. top 10 at the same time, SPICE GIRLS; 19. “That’s a great price!”, SWEET DEAL; 21. Strained, TAUT; 22. MELBA sauce (sugary puree); 23. Run for it, SEAT; 25. Bygone medical ventilator, IRON LUNG; 28. Hikes, TRAMPS; 37. Perfectly, PAT; 33. Bldgs. with community courts, YMCAS; 35. Building support, STRUT; 36. Area worth the most bonus troops in the game Risk, ASIA; 38. Literary captain who says “It’s better to sail with a moody good captain than a laughing bad one”, PELEG; 40. About, AS TO; 41. Solid, STOUT; 43. More solid, SANER; 45. Defunct ministry initials, PTL; 46. Hatted bell ringers, SANTAS; 48. “Relaciones Espirituales” writer, ST TERESA; 5. Fish also called a Jerusalem haddock, OPAH; 52. Site of a noted ancient league, IONIA; 53. Caustic soda, symbolically, NAOH; 56. One may cause your dinner to be spoiled, LATE LUNCH; 59. Out of it, IN LALA LAND; 61. Wet bar, maybe, SOAP; 63. 2009 Lady Gaga hit, BAD ROMANCE; 64. Oread in love with her own voice, ECHO; 65. One of an evil fairy tale duo, STEPSISTER; 66. Three-player game, SKAT.

Down — 1. “Fo’ sho”, DEF; 2 Distresses, ILLS; 3. What some plays are shown in, SLOW MOTION; 4. List quickly?, CAREEN; 5. Alternative to a shake, FIST BUMP; 6. Bachelor party entertainment, LAP DANCES; 7. Date in France?, AMIE; 8. Spanish cows, VACAS; 9. Breakfast dish, OMELET; 10. Pump abbr., REG; 11. 9-Down variety, FRITTATA; 12. Money in the banca, once, LIRA; 13. Org. since 1920 with many staff lawyers, ACLU; 14. Sweeping, VAST; 20. “For Better or for Worse” matriarch, ELLY; 24. “ARS sine scientia nihil est” (Latin motto), translation: "Art is to conceal art" or "The art is in concealing the art"; 25. “Not for me”, I PASS; 26. Certain Afrocentrist, RASTA; 27. Bashes, GALAS; 29. Board game grande dame, MRS PEACOCK; 30. Attempts to sink, PUTTS; 31. Lady Liberty garb, STOLA; 34. Topic in artificial intelligence, SENTIENCE; 37. Variety of zither, AUTOHARP; 39. Age, GET OLDER; 42. Minor hit, TAP; 44. Brand in contact lens care, RENU; 47. Makings of a hero?, SALAMI; 49. Some salon jobs, RINSES; 51. Papa Bear of Chicago football, HALAS; 53. Bills, NIBS; 54. Gut course?: Abbr., ANAT; 55. Adjective for a coach house inn, maybe, OLDE; 57. “TANT pis!” (“Too bad!,” in France); 58. Nelson’s catchphrase on “The Simpsons”, HAHA; 60. LOS Banos, Calif.; 62. Where the chips fall where they may?, POT.

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International Talk Like a Pirate Day

Capture of the Pirate, Blackbeard, a 1718 painting by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris depicting the battle between Blackbeard and Lieutenant Robert Maynard in Ocracoke Bay. After a furious battle, Blackbeard was killed and his head was cut off, eventually being tied to the bowsprit of Maynard's ship, where it hung as proof of the infamous Blackbeard's death. Upon returning to his home port of Hampton, Maynard had Blackbeard's head placed on a stake near the mouth of the Hampton River as a warning to other pirates.

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International Talk Like a Pirate Day,
Puzzle by Fred Piscop, edited by Will Shortz

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 September, the title of this shipshape and seaworthy crossword is “International Talk Like a Pirate Day” featuring almost thirty clues with the word “pirate“, and more than a few pirates in the answers.

Capt. Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard, became feared as he plundered the coasts of the West Indies, North Carolina and Virginia. His hair is woven with flaming fuses to increase his fearsome appearance. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images) — Pirates Who's Who.

International Talk Like a Pirate Day is a parodic holiday created in 1996 by John Baur (Ol' Chumbucket) and Mark Summers (Cap'n Slappy), of Albany, Oregon, who proclaimed September 19 each year as the day when everyone in the world should talk like a pirate. For example, an observer of this holiday would greet friends not with "Hello," but with "Ahoy, matey!" The holiday, and its observance, springs from a romanticized view of the Golden Age of Piracy. The holiday is a major observance in the religion of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. More on Wikipedia, HERE.  For the talk, HERE.

Across — 1. TV network with the reality show “Pirate Master”CBS; 4. Jolly ROGER (pirate flag); 9. Female English pirate Mary READ; 18. SETON Hall University Pirates; 19. “Pirates of the Caribbean” star Johnny DEPP; 21. Pirate’s assent, AYE; 24. Pirate, as software, STEAL; 32. High SEAS (pirate’s domain); 36. Pirates’ uprising, MUTINY; 44. Pirate’s mooring site, COVE; 45. Pirate Francis Drake’s title, SIR; 6. Treasure Island” pirate LONG John Silver; 54. Pgh. Pirates and N.Y. Mets, NLERS; 67. Legendary Pirates slugger Ralph KINER; 73. Pirate’s take, LOOT; 74. Black PEARL (ship in “Pirates of the Caribbean”).

Down — 1. CROW’S-nest (pirate’s lookout spot); 9. Pirate RADIO (unregulated broadcasts); 14. Many modern-day pirates, SOMALIS; 29. Pirate ship, ROVER; 33. EYE patch (stereotypical pirate’s wear); 38. “TERRY and the Pirates” (Milton Caniff comic strip); 44. Pirate’s sword, CUTLASS; 46. Pirate’s punishment unit, LASH; 48. “Treasure Island” pirate BEN Gunn; 53. Pirate’s “Halt!”, AVAST; 55. Flynn who played the pirate Captain Blood, ERROL.

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09.17.10 — BLOOD MOON, Etc.

The hunter's moon—also known as blood moon or sanguine moon—is the first full moon after the harvest moon, which is the full moon nearest the autumnal equinox. The Hunter's Moon is so named because plenty of moonlight is ideal for hunters shooting migrating birds in Northern Europe. — Wikipedia

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Friday, September 17, 2010

Puzzle by Jonah Kagan, Brown University ‘13, edited by Will Shortz

Note: Every crossword this week, from Monday to Saturday,

has been composed by a student at Brown University.

Read more at Wordplay.

A nonet of eclectic long entries are the meat of this spunky Friday crossword which moves quickly once the solver gets past a good many clues from far out in left field — ALLOSAURUSES (29A. Literally, “different lizards”), ARROW KEYS (31D. Certain navigational aids), BLOOD MOON (6D. Autumnal event so called because it helps hunters kill their prey), BLUE MAN GROUP (34A. Colorful stage performers since 1987), COGITO ERGO SUM (32A. Descartes found this truth to be self-evident), HYPERBOLIC (16A. Over the top), NO PROBLEMO (13A. “Easy peasy!”), STAY UP LATE (52A. Put off retirement?), UNREQUITED (49A. Like some love).

Seven- and eight-letter — BLAME ME (34D. “It’s my fault”), CLINIQUE (32D. Company that gets a lot of its money from foundations?), JIU JITSU (10D. Practice with locks and pins?), LOVE POEM (11D. Troubadour’s creation), ORATORS (12D. Ones happy to give you their addresses?), OUT OF USE (33D. Defunct).

Six — DELTAS (22D. Some sorority women), DOCTOR (26A. Photoshop, say), DUGONG (26D. Sea grass grazer), INHALE (1D. Scarf down), LITRES (35A. There are 50 in a keg of Newcastle), TOY BOX (2D. Home for Barbie and Ken, perhaps), NEEDED (39D. Compulsory), OPPOSE (3D. Counter), PORTAL (37D. Door), UPSETS (38D. Reasons to use Pepto-Bismol), WEBBER (4A. Five-time N.B.A. All-Star Chris), YESSES (54A. O.K.’s).

Five — ABOVE, ARRAS (42D. Decoration for Gertrude’s room in “Hamlet”), BELLA (7D. “Twilight“ protagonist), DANTE, EMILY, “Indoors OR OUT?”, PARSE, SLIME.

Short stuff — AGER, AJET, ANO, BARK, BUSY, CUSP, “Wassup, DAWG?”, D-DAY, DIOR, DNA, EBB, EQUI, EXE, FIE (45. “Ptui!”), HAIL, HOPE, IPO and ITO, JLO, LOSS, LSD, MIFF, MUSE, NUVA, OLLA, ONT, PUN, PUPS, QUE, REV, ROCA, SEG and SEM, WORE.

The purity of the unclouded moon

Has flung its atrowy shaft upon the floor.

Seven centuries have passed and it is pure,

The blood of innocence has left no stain.

There, on blood-saturated ground, have stood

Soldier, assassin, executioner.

Whether for daily pittance or in blind fear

Or out of abstract hatred, and shed blood,

But could not cast a single jet thereon.

Odour of blood on the ancestral stair!

And we that have shed none must gather there

And clamour in drunken frenzy for the moon. 

—
Blood and the Moon (III) by William Butler Yeats

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Japan’s Prince Niobium ___; 10. 2001 #1 album with the hit “Love Don’t Cost a Thing”; 15. Christian with many robes?; 17. ___ Ring (birth control brand); 18. Over; 19. Vessel over heat; 20. “Leaving on ___ Plane”; 21. Perfect-record breaker; 22. When all one’s planning is put to the test; 23. Company outing, for short?; 24. River of Devon; 25. Sch. For the preordained?; 36. Home of Polar Bear Prov. Park; 37. One of about 3,000 in Shakespeare’s plays; 43. One might lose it in a crisis; 44. Tee off; 46. Where you might see some initials; 47. Break down, in a way; 48. Prefix with angular; 51. Opine; 53. Spec for a roomy flat?; 55. Subj. in “The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test”. — DOWN: 4. Tediously went (on); 5. Flag; 8. “Bones” actress Deschanel; 9. Jay-Z’s ___-Fella Records; 14. Makes roar; 15. Kind of profiling; 25. Lowlifes; 28. Where two branches of a curve meet, in math; 29. Sun exposure, for one; 37. Door; 38. Reasons to use Pepto-Bismol; 39. Compulsory; 41. Il Poeta; 43. When repeated, exuberant cry; 46. Tied up 47. Litter, maybe; 50. 36-Across neighbor.