09.20.11 — Vacation Expenses

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Puzzle by Daniel Raymon / Edited by Will Shortz

RENT-A-CARS (63A. Some vacation expenses … or a hint to the starts of 17-, 23-, 38- and 54-Across), BUDGET  CUT (17A. Way to reduce spending), NATIONAL ANTHEMS (23A. Pre-sporting-event songs), DOLLAR DIPLOMACY (38A. President Taft’s foreign policy) and ENTERPRISE ZONES (54A. Areas targeted for economic revitalization) constitute the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword.

Other — AIRER, AKIRA, ANTON, ASKS IN, CABANA, CORNELIA (11D. First wife of Julius Caesar), ENLACE, ERODE , EXTOL, GRUMPY, IN HALF, IS ONTO, LEANT, LEFT WING, LOUIS XI (25D. 15^th-century French king nicknamed “the Prudent“), LUCAS, NEAR TO, PAC-MAN, PLURAL, REARS, SIGNS, SONAR, UPDATE, URIAHS.

Short stuff — AARP, ACTI, ADE, ALEC, ALPE, ALT and ALTO, APIA, ARA, ASS, AVE, CAP, COM, CPUS, DADE, DEAR, DEFT, DUES, ECO and ELO, EGG, FLO, FOOL, GAD, ICU, IN AN instant, IRA, JENA, KOI, “Mighty LAK’ a Rose“, LOL, MARC, MAXI, MOJO, NACL, NOAH, OVEN, OXO, PEON, RAF, SEG and SER, SLAW and SWAY, URAL, WHEY, ZOA.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. PC hearts; 5. Capital ENE of Fiji; 9. “Star Wars” director George; 14. Mont Blanc, par exemple; 15. Table salt, chemically; 16. Chip away; 19. Broadcaster; 20. Coach Parseghian; 21. URL ending; 29. Baldwin of “30 Rock”; 30. Genesis mariner; 31. Deli side; 32. Faberge collectible; 35. River to the Caspian; 37. Author Levin; 43. N.Y.C.’s Park or Lex; 44. Union collections; 45. “Alice” spinoff; 46. Nimble-fingered; 48. Long skirt; 50. Malone of “Into the Wild”; 58. Part of Miss Muffet’s meal; 59. Kitchen gadget brand; 61. Director Kurosawa; 66. Echolocation acronym; 67. Kind of sax; 68. Play opener; 69. Speaks silently; 70. One pitied by Mr. T; 71. McJob doer. — DOWN: 1. Poolside enclosure; 2. Mice or men; 3. “This just in ..” announcement; 4. Line part: Abbr.; 5. Composer Bruckner; 6. Game with four “ghosts”; 7. Post-O.R. stop; 8. PC key near the space bar; 9. Was biased; 10. Heep and others; 12. Suffix with block or cannon; 13. Sun. speech; 18. Prefix with friendly; 22. Divided 50/50; 24. Reykjavik’s land: Abbr.; 26. Senior’s org.; 27. Painter Chagall; 28. Have influence on; 33. Wander, with “about”; 34. In a mood to complain; 36. Follower of a chat room joke; 38. Miami-___ County; 39. Place for a roast; 40. More than liberal; 41. Very expensive; 42. Voodoo charm; 47. Persian Gulf capital; 49. Sees through, in a way; 51. Intertwine; 52. On the verge of; 53. Invites to enter one’s home; 55. Brings up; 56. Heap kudos on; 57. Suffix meaning “animals”; 61. Balaam’s beast; 62. Fish in backyard pools; 63. U.K. fliers; 64. “Xanadu” rock grp.; 65. Salary ceiling.

09.19.11 — ARRR!

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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Monday, September 19, 2011 — International Talk Like a Pirate Day

Puzzle by Julian Lim / Edited by Will Shortz

TALK LIKE A / PIRATE DAY (27A. With 44-Across, annual celebration on 9/19), DAVY JONES LOCKER (17A. Where plank-walkers end up on 27-/44-Across), SHIVER ME TIMBERS (57A. “I don’t believe it!,“ on 27-/44-Across), ARRR (1A. Common interjection on 27-/44-Across), AHOY (65A. Hello, on 27-/44-Across), AVAST (25A. “Hold it!,” on 27-/44-Across) and BOOTY (46A. Treasure on 27-/44-Across) constitute the interrelated group of this merry Monday crossword.

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.

Other — BASSOON (36A. Deep-toned woodwind), CLOSE IN ON (5D. Get near to), LOSE NO TIME (29D. Take immediate steps), MEDALLION (34D. Award hung on a chain or ribbon), OVERSEE (7D. Be a foreman of), PENGUIN (38A. Bird in a “tuxedo”), PINK EYE (41D. Ocular inflammation also known as conjunctivitis), POKE AROUND (10D. Do some investigating).

Mid-size — ANKLE, BASIN, DEMON (40A. Malevolent spirit), IRISES, KISMET (30D. Destiny), LAA-LAA (52A. Playmate of Tinky Winky, Dipsy and Po), “It’s the LEAST I can do“, LOVES, Gog and MAGOG, OCHRE, OMAHAN, OOCYTE (37D. Immature egg cell), PACMAN, PESETA, POEMS, SAY SO, STRUT, VEGGIE.

Short stuff — ABBA, ACT, AKIN, “I’ve fallen .. AND I can‘t get up!”, APPS, ARC and ARCO, ASHY, ATAD, ATOI, BACH, CROP, EMU, GIGA, HER, INGA, “IRMA la Douce“, IRS, JELL, LEAH, NAY (39D. Aye‘s opposite), NEC, NEET, NEON, NIE, NOAH, PAD, PARK, RAVI, REAM, RHYS, ROAR, RON, ROOT, SLAT, TAB, TEAM, TICK, TSO, VAT.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 5. Corn, wheat or soybeans; 9. Mobile downloadable; 13. Ark builder; 14. Amours; 16. Underground part of a plant; 20. Often-purple flowers; 21. 500 sheets; 22. Big bird Down Under; 31. That woman; 32. Yours, in Tours; 33. Never, in Nuremberg; 34. Gog and ___ (enemies of God, in Revelation); 36. Deep-toned woodwind; 41. Cushion; 42. Actress Swenson of “Benson”; 43. Asian electronics giant; 48. Sometimes-sprained joint; 49. Pretend; 50. Watch sound; 61. Ultimate authority; 62. “The Art of Fugue” composer; 63. Onetime competitor of Nair; 64. Glowing gas. — DOWN: 2. Surf sound; 3. Sitar player Shankar; 4. John ___-Davies of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy; 6. Harry Potter’s best friend; 8. Onetime money in Spain; 9. Curve; 11. Sonnets and haikus; 12. Peacock’s walk; 15. 1970s radical org.; 18. Set, as mousse; 19. Resident of Nebraska’s largest city; 24. Related (to); 26. ___ burger (meatless dish); 27. Key on the far left of a keyboard; 28. Not much; 35. Prefix with byte; 38. The “P” or PRNDL; 44. Dot-chomping character in a classic arcade game; 45. What there’s no “I” in; 46. Place to wash up; 47. Autumn hue; 51. 1040 org.; 53. “Mamma Mia” GROUP; 54. Jacob’s first wife; 55. California-based oil giant; 56. Like a used barbecue pit; 58. Winery container; 59. General on a Chinese menu.

09.18.11 — Don't ...!

Sunday, September 18, 2011

DON’T!, Puzzle by Josh Knapp / Edited by Will Shortz

Doing this commanding Sunday crossword definitely requires knowing one’s “Don’t”s!, e.g.:

Don’t … PLAY WITH MATCHES (23-Across)
Don’t … MESS WITH TEXAS (38-A)
Don’t … BELIEVE THE HYPE (52-A)
Don’t … QUIT YOUR DAY JOB (73-A)
Don’t … QUOTE ME ON THIS (88-A)
Don’t … TALK TO STRANGERS (103-A)
Don’t … MOVE A MUSCLE (16-Down)
Don’t … HAVE A COW, MAN (62-D)

Other — ABHORS, ADVERB (99A. Now or never), AMATEUR, BEACH BALL and SEAL (3D. One may be seen on a 28-Across‘s nose), BON MOTS, CASSIO, CEDARS, CLASSIC, CLAW AT, DA GAMA, DOORSTEP, DYSLEXIA, ESAU and JACOB (31- and 109-Across, Biblical Twin), FIRE-LIT, GET REAL, GHETTO, GIVENS, HADRON, HOTWIRE (93A. Start without permission?), IN CASH, JELLY BEAN (75D. Element in a guessing contest), LACTAID, LORISES (33A. Bug-eyed primates), MADE A DENT (38D. Got started), OMIGOSH, OWN GOAL, PORTRAITS (51D. Gilbert Stuart works).

Five-letter — AGENT, ALERO, APART, ARGUE, ARYAN, BENDS, CABAL, CESAR, COMET, DIVAN (26A. Ottoman relative), DUANE, ELOPE, EL PAIS, FAVRE, GEODE, GINNY, HOIST, HUMOR, IRENE (81A. Hurricane of 2011), ISLET, I WISH, LEAVE, MOCK UP, NEW AT, OILED, OLLIE and OLIVE, ON ICE, ORANG, OVERT, PASTE, PATIOS, QUITE, QWERTY, RAISE, RUBLE, SENAT, SILVA, STALIN (86A. Famous Georgian born in 1879), TEETH, THORN, TIRED, TOMCAT (56A. Skirt chaser), TROPE, VIRUS, WHETS.

Short stuff — ABEL, ALB and ALL, ASC and ASI, AYES, CAP, CIS, DAHL, DOH, DRAM, DUBS, EDO, ENDS, EPA, ETAL, HAG, ICH, “Look what I DID!”, ITEM, “I’VE had it!”, JOHN, LCD, LORE, LOWS, MAG, MOAT, NAVY, NBA, PARC, PIMP, PIU (64A. More, in scores), POUT, RASP, REM, RNA, ROIL, RTE, SAME, SCAM, SEEN, SET, SHE, SLAM, SODA, SOIL, “SUCH is life ..”, SUIT, TEN and TENT, THEO, TYRA, UPI, WEIR.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Group working on a plot; 6. Seurat painted in one; 14. One of Santa’s team; 19. Old olds; 21. Alma mater of football great Roger Staubach; 22. Opt for the window instead of the aisle?; 27. Lover of Bianca in “Othello”; 29. Please to the unwelcome; 31. Loo; 35. “Dream on”; 37. Priestly robe; 40. Us, e.g.; 42. Attack like a bear; 44. First person in Germany?; 45. Stir up; 47. Like some wrestlers’ bodies; 48. “___ for Cookie” (“Sesame Street” song); 50. It’s not good when it’s flat; 51. Word processing command; 57. Good news for a worker; 58. It’s passed down through the ages; 59. Like some old-fashioned studies; 60. Homeric cry?; 63. Apothecary weight; 65. Bass in a barbershop quartet, e.g.; 66. Old Tokyo; 67. Do-it-yourselfer; 69. Filing aid; 70. Open; 72. Established facts; 78. Person with a code name, maybe; 79. Puts words in the mouth of?; 80. A trucker may have one: Abbr.; 82. Advanced sandcastle feature; 83. Target of some pH tests; 84. Org. for some guards; 87. Camera operator’s org.; 92. 30, for 1/5 and 1/6, e.g.: Abbr.; 95. Possible result of a defensive error in soccer; 96. Rogers on a ship; 97. Sharpens; 98. E-mail from a Nigerian prince, usually; 101. Indulge; 108. Distanced; 110. Filmmaker van Gogh; 111. One of the Allman Brothers; 112. Harry Potter’s girlfriend; 113. Trick out, as a car; 114. In view; 115. Palais du Luxembourg body. — DOWN: 1. Trade’s partner; 2. ___-American; 4. Indo-European; 5. Stats on weather reports; 6. Sunbathing sites; 7. Can’t stand; 8. “Automatic for the People” group; 9. iPod type; 10. Liquid, say; 11. “Matilda” author; 13. Poor character analysis?; 14. Building material for Solomon’s Temple; 15. Shade of green; 17. UV index monitor, for short; 18. Total hottie; 24. Shipwreck spot, maybe; 25. Ones with crowns; 30. End of a series: Abbr.; 32. Basic skateboarding trick; 34. “If only!”; 35. It has a crystal inside; 36. Brand for people with milk sugar intolerance; 39. Figure of speech; 41. Not the ritziest area of town; 43. Small dam; 46. “Ditto”; 48. France’s equivalent to an Oscar; 49. Two who smooch, say; 50. Mawkish; 53. Hacking tool; 54. Spanish newspaper whose name means “The Country”; 55. Bring up; 56. Done in; 59. Packer of old; 60 He was named viceroy of Portuguese India in 1524; 61. “Heavens!”; 65. Look down; 68. A big flap may be made about this; 69. Possible change in Russia; 71. Banks on a runway; 73. Briton’s rejoinder; 74. Long-armed simian, for short; 76. Chilling, say; 77. Concern when coming up, with “the”; 79. Archetypal abandonment site; 83. Corporate type; 84. Inexperienced with; 85. Witticisms; 86. Anibal Cavaco ___, Portuguese president beginning in 2006; 88. Kind of keyboard; 89. Model used for study or testing; 90. Without flaw; 91. Large ___ Collider (CERN particle accelerator); 94. Bramble feature; 98. Lock horns (with); 98. Dis; 100. Some linemen; 101. Definitely not a hottie; 102. Reuters alternative; “Just ___ suspected!”; 105. “What ___ said”; 106. Uracil’s place; 107. Volleyball action.

09.17.11 — Down to Earth

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Puzzle by Peter A. Collins / Edited by Will Shortz

Four 15-letter across answers are featured in this down-to-earth Saturday crossword — ALIEN ABDUCTIONS (14A. Cause for some spatial relationships) with EERIE at 41-Across, VOLKSWAGEN JETTA (17A. Debut at the 1979 Frankfurt Auto Show), PAID A STEEP PRICE (57A. Suffered serious consequences) and INVESTMENT TEAMS (60A. Groups aiming for good returns).

Two ten-letter answers, TILE SETTER (3D. One spending a long time in the bathroom?) and TORRENTIAL (29D. Coming down hard), are next in length, followed by ten of seven letters — the redundant acronym phrase CNN NEWS (16D. It’s shown on TV monitors at many airports), CUTLASS, EXEMPTS, FERRULE (42A. Tool handle strengthener), FULLEST, INSECTS (5D. What swallows swallow), RE-ENTER, SCENTED, SEX CELL (44A. Member of a very early union?), ST JUDES (9D. Memphis hospital, familiarly).

Mid-size — AGERS, ATLAS, AWAKE, AWHILE, CASTE, CLAWS, CURSE, DC AREA, EDGER, ERUPT, ETAIL, Sarte’s “Les Jeux Sont FAITS”, HATES, NUDIST (20A. One with nothing to hide), ORATES, PATTI, RAIDER, RONDO, ROWEL (31D. Spur part), SHEAF, SOLES, SPEED, STRAP and TIED ON.

Short stuff — ACME, A LOT, ANTS (12D. Some marching bands), APIA, ATE and ETE, DECI, DRAW, DUE, EASE, ESTS, HIVE, IDS, LENS, LIS (34D. Tulipe relative), MBAS, MED student, MESS, ONES, OTO, PAVE, PLUM, PSAT, REIN, REO (59D. Locomobile competitor), ROTI (11D. Indian flatbread), SOCK, TAM, TEK, TMI (58D. “I think you overshared,” briefly), WANG.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Singer/songwriter Scialfa; 9. Banjo accessory; 18. It can heat up Roquefort; 19. Smooth; 21. Wallop; 23. Last movement of a sonata; 25. Like bath beads, typically; 28. Show one’s stamped hand, perhaps; 32. Can’t take a bit; 33. Bear essentials?; 35. Relatives of the Iowa; 36. They’re in the vicinity: Abbr.; 38. Box office need; 39. Got things down; 40. Damn; 46. Titan after whom one of the oceans is named; 48. Silver checker; 49. Some time; 52. Choice job; 54. Lid around a loch; 61. Smoking and heavy drinking; 62. Security demands; 63. They go with uppers. — DOWN: 1. Surface; 2. Over and over; 4. Drug in a sci-fi novel series; 6. Suits often hold them; 7. Landscaping aid; 8. Like some balances; 10. Like sashes; 12. Some marching bands; 13. Math is part of it: Abbr.; 15. Benefiting from Vivarin; 22. Tips, often; 24. Is a spellbinder; 25. Bundle of a sort; 26. 51-Down division; 27. Alexandria is in it; 30. Net sales; 37. Maximum; 38. Numerical prefix; 40. Pirate’s appurtenance; 41. Grandfathers, e.g.; 43. Speakeasy scourge; 45. Blow; 47. “The primary factor in a successful attack,” per Lord Mountbatten; 49. Capital near Faleolo International Airport; 50. “The Joy Luck Club” director, 1993; 51. Busy place; 53. Magnifier; 55. Lofty place; 56. Hoarder’s problem.

09.16.11 — The Friday Crossword

Friday, September 16, 2011

Puzzle by Joe DiPietro / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. Reduce to bare bones, STRIP DOWN; 10. “Hey you!”, PSSST; 15. 1990 Clint Eastwood cop film, THE ROOKIE; 16. Studio sign, ON AIR; 17. Likely to take chances, RISK PRONE; 18. Figure on a bridge score sheet, TALLY; 19. Money competitor, INC; 20. Was up to date, with “out”?, ASKED; 21. They may work for both sides, SPIES; 22. Pitlik who directed “Barney Miller” and “Mr. Belvedere”, NOAM; 24. Toledo-to-Columbus dir., SSE; 26. Shut (up), PENT; 27. Reaction of thirsty people, GULPING; 31. Firm, AL DENTE; 33. Wallace who wrote “Angle of Repose”, STEGNER; 34. Stolen, PIRATED; 35. Old “One mission. Yours.” sloganeer, TWA; 36. Miss USA; 37. Worse than awful, HEINOUS; 41. Blowout, SHINDIG; 46. Small night creatures, ELF OWLS; 47. Reckless smuggler of sci-fi, HAN SOLO; 48. Area close to a hockey net, SLOT; 49. Abbr. before “Co.” in some company names, MFG; 51. Suffer from the heat, WILT; 52. Having less coverage, BARER; 54. Go down again, so to speak, RECUR; 58. Frost relative, DEW; 59. “Get A MOVE on!”; 60. “Generally speaking ..”, ON AVERAGE; 62. Hit the bottom of?, CANED; 63. Spread quickly over the Internet, GONE VIRAL; 64. Laments, KEENS; 65. Put one’s feet up in neighborly fashion, SAT A SPELL.

Down — 1. Series, STRINGS; 2. Become sparse, THIN OUT; 3. Change one’s image, in a way, RESCALE; 4. Needle, IRK; 5. POP A wheelie; 6. Actress Diana DORS; 7. “Enough already … relax!”, OK OK; 8. Blushes, say, WINES; 9. Has trouble getting started, NEEDS A PUSH; 10. Piles of chips, say, POTS; 11. Stir-fry vegetable, SNAP PEA; 12. Pronounced, SALIENT; 13. Matte finish?, SILENT E; 14. Met on the down-low, TRYSTED; 23. Certain meas. of economy, MPG; 25. Kings prophet, ELISHA; 28. Getting dragged along, IN TOW; 29. Minnesota home of Martin Luther, NEW ULM; 30. Semiterrestrial bug-catchers, GRASS FROGS; 32. Sap; DRAIN; 37. Alice Cooper’s appropriately titled theme song for “Friday the 13^th Part VI”, HE’S BACK; 38. Morse who sang “Cow-Cow Boogie”, ELLA MAE; 39. “From my perspective …”, I FOR ONE; 40. Much less than that, NOT EVEN; 42. Australian state: Abbr., NSW; 43. “Is it worth the chance?”, DO I DARE; 44. Criminal, ILLEGAL; 45. Recovered, GOT WELL; 50. Explorer John Cabot’s birthplace, GENOA; 53. Some M&M’s, REDS; 55. “Im busy then”, CAN’T; 56. Eye part, UVEA; 57. Powers (up), REVS; 61. Big swing, RIP.

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09.15.11 — The Corner House

Corner House by Joan Sicignano

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Thursday, September 15, 2011

Puzzle by Samuel A. Donaldson / Edited by Will Shortz

CORNER LOT (35A. Prominent location to build on, as suggested by this puzzle?), along with the word HOUSE in a single square in the each of the four corners of the crossword constitutes the interrelated group of this well-constructed Thursday crossword.

• [HOUSE] ARREST (1A. It’s better than prison) and [HOUSE] BROKEN (1D. Always going outside?)
• ANIMAL [HOUSE] (8A. #1 on Bravo’s all-time “100 Funniest Movies” list) and [HOUSE] SITTER (14D. Vacationer’s help)
• CLEANS [HOUSE] (37D. Gets rid of everybody, say) and [HOUSE]KEEPER (62A. Help)
• COFFEE[HOUSE] (43D. Place where people work for beans?) and SCHOOL[HOUSE] (63A. Place of learning)

Other — CUL-DE-SAC (40A. You can’t go through with it), NON-UNION (32A. Lacking bargaining power, maybe), RUNAWAYS (36D. Missing persons), THE ONION (7D. Publication with a 1997 headline “Drug Use Down Among Uncool Kids”).

Seven-letter — AIR MAIL, ALUMNAE, ARECIBO Observatory, home of the world’s largest single-aperture radio telescope, AYN RAND, BREADTH, CHIANTI, LETS LIE, NOT THAT, OUTLOOK, RESTS ON and RESTORE, RIB EYES, SAUCERS, SCEPTRE, SEE INTO, SENECAS (26D. Six Nations tribe), SORIANO (60A. Seven-time major-league All-Star Alfonso), WRITE-IN, YACHTIE (61A. Sailing enthusiast, informally).

Five and six — ABIDER, ABODE (31D. Place to live), ANSEL (25A. Adams behind a lens), ARCHER, ARNIE, BASAL (48A. Kind of cell in biology), BEANE (48D. Baseball general manager Billy), CANTOR, COSETS (37A. Mathematical subgroups), E-BOAT (28A. W.W. II attacker), EIEIO, LILAC, LUCRE, NIHIL, STRIA, T-NOTE.

Short stuff — ALL and ALP, CAN and CEN, CHAP, EDOM, ETES, HID, IBID, IER, IMF, IRS, KISS, MEA, MHO and MIO, NERF, OCT, RAT and RST, SUCH, TIE, WALT, WISC.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 15. Latitude; 16. They may be grilled; 17. Give back; 18. Italian red; 19. Country Music Mo.; 20. Mine, in Milan; 21. Squirreled away; 22. Alphabet trio; 23. X; 27. Good call letters for Radio Disney?; 30. Suffix with hotel; 31. Emmy-nominated sitcom of the early 1970s; 34. Waiter; 44. Dough; 45. Rear; 46. Farm letters?; 47. When the French toast?; 50. Big name in balls; 51. One on either side of the St. Gotthard Pass; 52. 1900s, e.g.: Abbr.; 53. Where the Ringling Brothers circus began: Abbr.; 55. Org. employing Ethan Hunt in film; 56. “Anything but!”; 58. Mount Holyoke graduates, e.g. — DOWN: 3. Has as a base; 4. Subject of many lab tests; 5. Biblical kingdom; 6. Tiny groove; 8. Zodiac symbol; 9. Nothing; 10. Scholar’s reference abbr.; 11. Start of a confession; 12. Who wrote “Wealth is the product of man’s capacity to think”; 13. Leaves alone; 24. Big eyes, metaphorically; 27. Kind of candidate who’s rarely successful; 29. It matures in 1 to 10 yrs.; 33. Org. supported by the 16^th Amendment; 34. End of some scores; 36. Missing persons; 38. Forecast; 39. Royal rod, in Britain; 41. Investigate; 42. Speedy delivery; 45. Hymn leader; 49. Lavender; 52. Fellow; 54. To so high a degree; 57. Wed; 59. Conductance unit.

09.14.11 — VS

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Puzzle by Jeff Chen / Edited by Will Shortz

SPY (vs.) SPY (1A. Foe of 71-Across in Mad magazine; 71A. Foe of 1-Across in Mad magazine), along with VS contained in four answers, NATURE VS NURTURE, MAN VS WILD, RENT VS BUY and ALIEN VS PREDATOR, constitutes the interrelated group of this wonderful Wednesday crossword.

Other — DIES DOWN, DR EVIL (48D. Austin Powers foe), HERALD, KNIVES, RELOADED (21A. Like guns and dump trucks, over and over), SAVAGE (30A. Brute), SKULKS (8D. Moves furtively), STRATEGY (41D. Generalship), TERESA (60A. Saint of Ávila), WOOKIEES (55A. Chewbacca and kin).

Five-letter — ARABS, BONES (7D. Our 206), DAUBS, ELFIN and ELVER, ENTER, ESPYS, GAMUT, HASTE, INCOG, ITSOK, LARAS, LOAMY, NEVIS (40A. Neighbor of St. Kitts), REUPS, ROYAL, SLIER, SMASH, STEVE, VANED, YESNO.

Short stuff — ALES, ARMY, ASTI, ATV, BAUM, DRAB, EHUD, ETAS, FRY, HAND, IHOP, KENO, OLEO, OINK, PEWS, PITA, PLAN, POLE, RARA avis, ROM, SANK, SHE, SKY, SOUP, SPED, SPCA, STS, SUDS and SUVS, TAMP, USSR, VATS, VENN, VIVA, WAVY, WORE, YETI, YOKO.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 4. Slaps on; 9. Mass seating; 13. Some round components; 15. “There, there”; 16. Stack server; 17. Genetics-or-environment debate; 20. Utensil drawer compartment; 22. Brewskis; 24. Shade of blue; 25. “And ___ Was,” 1985 Talking Heads song; 28. Decathlete’s implement; 35. Discovery Channel survival show; 38. “___ Theme” (1965 soundtrack tune); 39. Piedmont wine town; 40. Neighbor of St. Kits; 42. Pack down; 43. Wozniak or Jobs; 45. Home-seeker’s decision; 47. Usher in; 50. Bourbon and Beale: Abbr.; 51. Get too much sun; 53. Standing O, say; 64. 2004 movie featuring a lash of sci-fi species; 66. ___ diagram (logic illustration); 67. Wearing a disguise, informally; 68. Oz creator; 69. John Lennon’s “Dear ___”; 70. Like some rich soil. — DOWN: 1. Went under; 2. ___ B; 3. Hairy legend; 5. Off-roader, for short; 6. “Evil empire” initials; 9. Falafel holder; 10. Israel’s Olmert; 11. Sported; 12. Rushed; 14. Some 4WD rides; 18. Opts not to be discharged; 19. Word before pain or treatment; 23. More cagey; 25. Chart-topper; 26. Rush; 27. Reply to a knock; 29. Young migratory fish; 31. Brewery lineup; 32. Many Semites; 33. Full range; 34. Cable TV sports awards; 36. South-of-the-border cheer starter; 37. Washington of jazz; 44. Pixieish; 46. Like a windmill; 52. Kind of question on a survey; 54. Ho-hum; 55. Like moiré patterns; 56. Land O’Lakes product; 57. “Old MacDonald” sound; 58. Popular bar game; 59. Adoption advocacy org.; 61. Itinerary data, briefly; 62. Alternative to salad; 63. Camp group; 65. CD-___.

09.13.11 — Con Game

Tatum and Ryan O’Neal in “Paper Moon” 1973. 

During the Great Depression, a con man finds himself saddled with a young girl who may or may not be his daughter, and the two forge an unlikely partnership.

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Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Puzzle by Patrick McIntyre / Edited by Will Shortz

CON GAME (37A. Scam … or an apt title for this puzzle?), SAMMY CAHN (14A. “High Hopes” lyricist), CHAKA KHAN (20A. Singer with the #1 R&B hit “I Feel for You”), JAMES CAAN (52A He was Sonny to Marlon Brando’s Vito) and BILLY CONN (62A. Boxer who almost upset Joe Louis in 1941) constitutes the interrelated group of this tidy Tuesday crossword.

Other — ADMISSION (17A. Guilty plea, say), ARIA and ERI TU (54D. Operatic highlight; 58A. 54-Down by Verdi), BADMINTON (2D. Sport with a birdie), EXIT SIGNS (34D. Illuminated notices above theater doors), FREE RANGE (59A. Allowed to wander, as a chicken), GREETER (41D. Welcomer at Walmart, e.g.), IMMEDIATE (3D. Having no delay), MONSIGNOR (33D. Priest’s honorific), PRO KEDS (10D. Sneakers brand sported by Abdul-Jabbar).

Mid-size — ALGID (56A. Chilly), ANGLE, ANISE, ASSTS, EJECT, EPSOM Downs, ESSENE (48A. Dead Sea Scrolls ascetic) , ETHANE, HOME EC, HOSTA, KOKOMO, MASKED, MEANS, Economist MILTON Friedman, MINIS, OCTAL, O’NEALS (23A. “Paper Moon” father and daughter), REESES Pieces, SARAH and SASHA, SHINTO (30A. Japan’s “way of the gods” religion), SMELL and SMITE and SMILES, STATS, TRACE.

Short stuff — AFBS, ARY, AUTO, CATER, CCS, CLUE, DENT, ELK, ENA and ENNA, ERST, ESC, IBIS, IDE, “A miss IS AS good …”, LAIC, NELL, NIK, “O IS for Outlaw”, O NEG, OXO, SALK, SMEW, THERE, TOT, UH OH, UTA, YSL.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Nile bird; 5. A ditz hasn’t one; 16. Slightest amount; 18. Lilylike garden plant; 19. It might make the nose wrinkle; 22. Suffix with ox- or sulf-; 24. Biscotti flavor; 26. Like Batman, the Long Ranger, etc.; 36. Pre-K child; 40. Certain blood type, for short; 43. Suffix with no-good; 46. Aides: Abbr.; 51. Grafton’s “___ for Outlaw”; 61. Handle the fixing’s for a party, say; 63. “I’m done!”; 64. Jonas who developed a polio vaccine; 65. Formerly, once. — DOWN: 4. Says “Cheese!”; 5. Hypo meas.; 6. Nonclerical; 7. “Looks like I goofed”; 8. City of central Sicily; 9. Gaseous hydrocarbon; 11. The younger Obama girl; 12. Of base 8; 13. Intends; 15. Fashion monogram; 21. Indiana University campus site; 24. Grand Theft ___; 25 Upper-left key; 26. Cooper cars; 27. Protractor measure; 28. Field goal percentages and such; 31. Class for cooking, sewing, etc.; 35. Stir-fry vessels; 38. Bambi’s aunt; 45. Make certain; 47. Give comfort to; 48. Give the heave-ho; 49. Politico Palin; 50. Strike down; 53. Place for B-2s and B-52s: Abbr.; 55. Dudley Do-Right’s heartthrob; 58. Mission conclusion?; 57. Car ding; 60. Yellowstone beast.

09.12.11 — Good Dog

Good Dog by Joel Beckwith 

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Monday, September 12, 2011

Puzzle by Keith Talon / Edited by Will Shortz

GOOD / DOG (57D. With 65-Across, comment that might be heard after the start of 17-, 28-, 45- or 59-Across), ROLL OVER MINUTES (17A. Unused parts of a cell phone plan), SIT-DOWN DINNER (28A. Formal meal at a table), COME HERE OFTEN (45A. Question that’s a classic pickup line) and STAY OF EXECUTION (59A. Death row inmate’s hope) constitute the interrelated group of this friendly Monday crossword — oh, and throw in PAW (1A. One of the “hands” in the command “shake hands”).

Other — AARONS (44A. Hammerin’ Hank and others), ATROPHY (24D. Wither), DEMORNAY (8D. Actress Rebecca), DIRE NEED (38D. Exigency), dreamt (40d. Had visions during sleep), ELAYNE (45D. Comic Boosler), ENCORE (33A. “One more time!“), GLUTEN (10D. Substance in wheat flour), American LEGION (veterans' group), OBSESS (47D. Keep thinking about with “on”), OTELLO (6D. Verdi opera), VITIATE (27D. Impair the quality of).

Five-letter — ALOES, DOSES, EPSON, FLOOD, IDTAG, IGIVE, IPODS, Caffé LATTE, NOTON, PORNO, SAUNA, SCRAM, SERIF, THIEF (66A. Person who uses the “five-finger discount“), WORSE.

Short stuff — ADE, AFR, AHA, “AHOY, matey!“, AIDA (56D. Verdi opera), BREA, COE, EPIC, ESSE, EVAN, EXPO, FLO, GAOL, IAN and INA, INES, INGE, IOTA, LAV, LOOP, LYRE, MAGI, MAUI, NONO, OAF OAST, OTRO, OVA, PART, PRY, PSIS and PSST, PUMA, RAGS, ROVE, TASE, TYKE, UNS, UTAH, VEES, WALK.

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Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 4. Result of a burst dike; 9. “O.K., O.K. … tell me!”; 14. “So that’s it!”; 16. Healing plants; 20. Youngster; 21. Encircle; 22. Stun, as with a police gun; 23. British lockup; 26. Wander; 33. “One more time!”; 35. Hops kiln; 36. Lab eggs; 37. X-rated flick; 38. Arid; 39. What a soldier wears that has a serial no.; 41. Any port ___ storm; 42. Letters before omegas; 48. Instrument for a Muse; 49. La ___ Tar Pits; 50. Mountain lion; 53. Chemical suffixes; 55. Three Wise Men; 63. Finnish bath; 64. Big name in printers; 65. See 57-Down; 67. Medicinal amounts; 68. Juice suffix. — DOWN: 1. Segment; 3. Send to base on balls; 4. Pop music’s ___ & Eddie; 5. Restroom, informally; 6. Verdi opera; 7. Other: Sp.; 9. Novelist Fleming; 11. Minuscule amount; 12. Flying geese formations; 13. To be, in old Rome; 19. Apple devices with earbuds; 25. “___ to a Nightingale”; 28. “Git!”; 29. Less favorable; 30. Off; 31. 2007y film “___ Almighty”; 32. ___-to-riches; 33. Heroic tale; 34. It’s prohibited; 38. Exigency; 43. Letter flourish; 44. Where Nigeria is: Abbr.; 50. Whispered attention-getter; 51. Salt Lake City’s state; 52. Hawaiian island; 54. Int’l fair; 58. Playwright William; 60. Clumsy sort; 61. Iowa college; 62. Young ___ (kids).

09.11.11 — A Border Passage — the Acrostic

Sunday, September 11, 2011

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Edited by Will Shortz

This Sunday’s acrostic draws a quotation from A Border Passage: From Cairo to America — A Woman's Journey by Leila Ahmed.

A Border Passage is not a typical autobiography. It has many elements of an autobiography, but it is also a book of well reasoned essays on some of the most difficult aspects of the history of Egypt and its culture. Essays on Islam, imperialism and on the identity and language of Egypt.

Leila Ahmed recount of her childhood and upbringing in Cairo and Alexandria is beautifully written. Her complex relationship with and her views of her mother are an important theme in the first half of the book. Her analysis of the social impact of the colonial and post colonial on her own family and the events that surrounded her is particularly insightful. ~ amazon.com 

The quotation: IN THE POETRY OF… SUFISM, THE SONG OF THE REED IS THE METAPHOR FOR OUR HUMAN CONDITION… CUT FROM ITS BED AND FASHIONED INTO A PIPE, THE REED FOREVER LAMENTS THE LIVING EARTH THAT IT ONCE KNEW, CRYING OUT… ITS ACHE… AND LOSS.

The author’s name and the title of the work: LEILA AHMED, A BORDER PASSAGE

The defined words:

A. Case for a small memento, LOCKET
B. Tenor in the tuba family, EUPHONIUM
C. Get without fully understanding, INTUIT
D. Spiritual energy, élan vital (2 wds.), LIFE FORCE
E. Wooded battleground of World War I, ARGONNE
F. John Buchan’s “man who has no invisible means of support”, ATHEIST
G. Wi-Fi access point; place of conflict (2 wds.), HOT SPOT
H. One afflicted with logorrhea, MOTORMOUTH
I. The Furies, to ancient Greeks, ERINYES
J. Dog bred to hunt badgers, DACHSHUND
K. Calcium-rich form of feldspar, ANORTHITE
L. Washington-area headquarters of Lockheed Martin, BETHESDA
M. Prompt, punctual (2 wds.), ON TIME
N. Page, as through a flipbook, RIFFLE
O. Tending to spoil?, DOTING
P. Warm-blooded creature, ENDOTHERM
Q. Winners of Super Bowl XXXV in 2001, RAVENS
R. Program that explored the outer planets, PIONEER
S. Lima and Bangkok, or Seville and Auckland, more or less, ANTIPODES
T. Untrustworthy, devious, SHIFTY
U. Accessory brand introduced in Zurich in 1983, SWATCH
V. Where Humphrey Bogart went to private school, ANDOVER
W. Lighting technician, in Hollywood, GAFFER
X. Spinoza’s magnum opus, "ETHICS”

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Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.