04.22.12 — Letting Go

Sunday, April 22, 2012 — Earth Day

LETTING GO OF, Puzzle by Paula Gamache and Ed Stein

Edited by Will Shortz

Elimination of the preposition “of” in common phrases resulting in nine uncommon ones with question-mark clues constitutes the interrelated group of this friendly-enough Sunday crossword.

BATTLE THE BULGE (23A. (Diet?)
LAND PLENTY (31A. Be very successful at fishing?)
BOOK THE DEAD (37A. Do a clerk’s work at a morgue?)
CAST THOUSANDS (50A. Throw large bank notes around?)
MILK HUMAN KINDNESS (67A. Take advantage of good Samaritans?)
DOCTOR LETTERS (86A. Forge some personal notes?)
BEST FRIENDS (94A. Outdo one’s buddies?
POUND FLESH (103A. Be a sadistic masseuse?)
ORDER THE GARTER (118A. Send for a special bridal accessory?)

Other — ARACHNE (1A. Spiderwoman?), BEDPOST, EARTH SHOES (39D. Faddish 1970s footwear), ESKIMO DOGS (44D. They‘re mushed), FOOTAGE, HONOREE, OMICRON, REEBOKS, RESIDES, SINGERS.

Six-letter — AA BOND, ACTION, ADAGIO (101D. Slowly), ADOBES, AGE GAP, AMOEBA, ASST DA, BEFITS, ENMESH, ESTEEM, ETHANE, EXCEED, F STOPS, GOOGLE, HAR HAR, IF THEN, LOCALE, NARROW, NEEDLE, ON DECK, ROXANA, RUN FOR, SOCIAL, SOIREE, SPRITE, TARTAR, TWO ACT, UNDULY.

Five — ABFAB, ADORE, Chile de ARBOL, ASTON-Martin, AT BAY, AUNTS, BIDET, BRONC, CITED, CLEAR (98A. Cloudless), DIONE, DONEN, ESTER, GENTS, HANKS, HORSE, INFER, IN ICE, LARGO (104D. Slowly), LEMAT, NOTRE Dame, OLETA, PEREC, REATA, RONCO, SHORT, STERE, T TEST, UPSET, UTERO.

Short stuff — ADO, AFB, AHEM, ANAT, ANG and ANN, ARS, “AS I mentioned …”, ASTO, BAN, BTU, BYOB, COS, DANL, DEA, EARN, ECRU, EGAN, END, EYRE, FAIR (75A. Cloudless), FAST, GAIN, GAS and GARS, HALO, HDL, HEE and HEF, HOSP, I BET, IDIO, LOAD, LUKE, LUSH, MOOD, NEE, NOUN, ON CD, ORCA, OTOE, OUCH, PALS, RHUM, RTE, SARI, SHE’S, SIE, SMA, SOY, STP, TAUS, TERA, TURF, UCLA.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 8. Phony laugh; 14. Possible barrier to romance; 20. Dwells; 21. Natural gas component; 22. Wife of Alexander the Great; 25. Tea, e.g.,; 26. Plains Indian; 27. Part of the Dept. of Justice; 28. Wee creature; 30. Sign on a British restroom door; 34. Site; 38. Actor Paul of “American Graffiti”; 42. Unborn, after “in”; 46. Cardinal from New York; 48. Prussian pronoun; 49. Something further?; 55. O; 58. It begins “Forasmuch as many have taken in hand …”; 59. What sisters often are; 60. Net; 64. How albums may be stored; 55. Beige; 66. Conditional construct in programmed; 72. Desert homes; 74. Amount in the back of a pickup, e.g.; 76. Bunny man, for short; 79. Bathroom fixture; 80. Abbr. in many a party invitation; 81. It may be broken on a ranch; 83. Kind of bean; 84. It may be raw; 89. Director Lee; 90. Edwards of Andrews: Abbr.; 92. Whatchamacallit?; 93. Breaking sports news, maybe; 102. #2 in a prosecutor’s off.; 108. Without enough money; 111. Coca-Cola brand; 114. Wee, to a Scot; 115. Anent; 116. Dr. Seuss title character; 121. Breakout; 122. Swank do; 123A. Chorus, e.g.; 124. Thin in supply; 126. Like many a Broadway play; 126. One getting roasted or toasted. — DOWN: 1. Chile de ___ (hot pepper); 2. Lariat; 3. ___ Martin, British sports car; 4. Given a ticket; 5. “Good” cholesterol, for short; 6. Razz; 7. Regard; 8. ___-haw; 9. Held off; 10. Baba au ___; 11. Overhead light?; 12. Ali trainer Dundee; 13. Some sports footwear; 14. Word in the MGM logo; 15. Owner of You Tube; 16. Go over; 17. Put on weight; 18. Cadaver study: Abbr.; 19. Mates; 24. Tennis champ Mandikova; 29. Director’s “start”; 32. Garden ___; 33. Statistic method for checking means; 35. “Excuse me”; 37. Heavy-handed measure; 38. Next at bat; 40. Eat up, so to speak; 41. Film director Stanley; 42. Where Bertrand Russell taught philosophy, for short; 43. Some crosses; 45. Itinerary abbr.; 47. Many an anesthetic; 51. Oscar winner Tom; 52. Response to a shot, maybe; 53. Too much; 54. Gandhi garment; 56. Figure out; 57. Foldable furniture; 61. Seek election to; 64. Adams with the 1991 hit “Get Here”; 65. Windup; 66. One way to be trapped during winter; 68. “Yeah, sure”; 69. It may be set with candlelight; 70. Relatively safe investment; 71. Frontiersman Boone, informally; 72. Award-winning British sitcom, to fans; 73. Moon of Saturn; 77. Bronte heroine; 78. Unfading; 80. Is suitable for; 81. HAC measure; 82. Veg-O-Matic maker; 83. 500 initials; 85. Needlefish; 87. Abbr. in trig; 88. Gang land; 91. It helps support a canopy; 96. ___ sauce; 96. Camera settings; 97. Like some minds and margins; 99. Sot; 100. Tangle up; 103. Georges who wrote “Life: A User’s Manual”; 105. Animal or vegetable fat, e.g.; 106. Volume unit; 107. Play (around); 108. Steve Perry hit “___ Mine”; 109. O.R. or E.R. site; 110. Ocean menace; 112. Peculiar: Prefix; 113. Trillion: Prefix; 117. Born as; 119. Vietnamese holiday; 120. Mrs. Romney.

04.21.12 — The Saturday Crossword

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Puzzle by Barry C. Silk / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. Pettifog, SQUABBLE; 9. Home of Texas A&M International University, LAREDO; 15. Reprimander of Miss Gulch, AUTIE EM; 16. Flew united?, ELOPED; 17. Not covered anywhere, NAKED AS A JAYBIRD; 19. One in a powerful house, DYNAST; 20. “Cats” Tony Winner Trevor NUNN; 21. Pop sharer, SIS; 22. Legions, A LOT; 23. Heartless sort, BEAST; 25. Like many suites, POSH; 26. Reason for a replay, LET; 27. “Join me?”, WANT TO; 28. Prefix with -matic, IDIO; 29. Nautilus shell liners, NACRES; 30. “All Day Strong. All Day Long” sloganeer, ALEVE; 31. Pole dance?, MAZURKA; 34. Their scales aid in location, ATLASES; 36. “Do I DARE?”; 37. Remove with leverage, PRY OFF; 39. Grp. On the floor, SENS; 40. The health-conscious often take them, STAIRS; 41. Bug about bills, DUN; 44. Olden dagger, SNEE; 45. Uncommon delivery, QUINT; 46. Manager, briefly, SUPE; 47. Finishing touch on a diamond?, TAG; 48. Dermatologist’s concern, BURN; 49. Affects radically, UPENDS; 51. Events marked by large streamers, AURORAE BOREALIS; 54. Was a real stinker, REEKED; 55. Pass, OVERTAKE; 56. Meetings kept under wraps, TRYSTS; 57. Utterly unpredictable, WIDE OPEN.

Down — 1. It’s barely about a foot, SANDAL; 2. Deliverer of the 1992 “Murphy Brown speech”, QUAYLE; 3. Relax during a massage, as a muscle, UNKNOT; 4. Bothered, ATE AT; 5. Offers for lots, BIDS; 6. Drive away, BEAT BACK; 7. Brown with the Band of Renown, LES; 8. Spring, EMANATE; 9. Bit of rough housing, LEAN-TO; 10. Kirk who played the first big-screen Superman, ALYN; 11. Mug, say, ROB; 12. Program developments, EPISODES; 13. Like raspberries, DERISIVE; 14. They’re unmatched in footwear, odd shoes; 18. “Hey, it’s something to consider”, JUST SAYIN’; 24. Transport, ENRAPTURE; 25. Bed for some kebabs, PILAF; 27. Tin finish?, WARE; 29. Worker with vital information?, NURSE; 30. Film composer Clausen and others, ALFS; 31. Get off on the wrong foot, MIS-START; 32. Erhard succeeded him in 1963, ADENAUER; 33. “The Vanishing American” novelist, 1925, ZANE GREY; 35. Taking great pains, TORTURED; 38. Shower surprise, RAINBOW; 40. Some quiet riots, SQUADS; 41. “André” playwright William, DUNLAP; 42. 1982 and 1991 Pulitzer winner for fiction, UPDIKE; 43. Ford’s press secretary, NESSEN; 46. Defense grp. Formed in 1954, SEATO; 48. Four-time Gold Glove Award winner Boone, BRET; 50. Man in la famille, PERE; 52. Agreements, OKS; 53. Duct lead-in, OVI.

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04.20.12 — Herding Cats

Lion tamer in cage with two lions, a lioness, and two tigers, circa 1873, Library of Congress

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Friday, April 20, 2012

Puzzle by Mike Nothnagel / Edited by Will Shortz

With distant clues for dull answers, this Friday crossword may not be a pleasant experience for many a solver.

Across — 1. One with a famous opening act?, ALI BABA; 8. Invite out for, ASK TO; 13. They get the scoop at work, SODA JERK; 16. Run, BLEED; 17. Trying to win a radio contest, say, CALLING IN; 18. Figure in a doctor’s office, CO-PAY; 19. Light breakfast, ONE EGG; 20. Liberal opening?, NEO; 22. Notes come out of them, ATMS; 23. Old game co. that made D&D; TSR; 24. Tree with catkins, ALDER; 26. Temporary retirements?, NAPS; 27. Intrepidity, VALOR; 29. “The Sorrows of Young Werther” author, GOETHE; 31. Runs out of energy, DIES; 33. Fix up, REHAB; 35. “Holy cow!”, BOY; 36. Frustratingly difficult, LIKE HERDING CATS; 39. Suffix with Caesar, EAN; 40. Excrete, EGEST; 41. Swing wildly, YOYO; 42. 11-Down, usually, GLOSSY; 44. Argument, POINT; 46. Part of the intro to a piece of “Champagne Music”, A TWO; 47. Area in front of a basketball net, informally, PAINT; 49. SHE-bear; 52. Allocation of some pork spending?, LOIN; 63. A.L. East squad, on scoreboards, TOR; 54. Quickly mount, LEAP ON; 57. Bit of funny business, ANTIC; 59. Fools around, KILLS TIME; 61. Advertiser with a computer-generated mascot, GEICO; 62. Game that gave rise to the expression “ace in the hole”, STUD POKER; 63. Thomas Cromwell’s earldom, ESSEX; 64. Positive or negative, NON-ZERO.

Down — 1. Fred has one in “Scooby-Doo” cartoons, ASCOT; 2. Assistance for short people?, LOANS; 3. Thumb twiddler, IDLER; 4. Roll in a field, BALE; 5. Do A JIG (celebrate, sort of); 6. Player losing to the 49ers in Super Bowl XVI or XXIII, BENGAL; 7. Intl. soccer powerhouse, ARG; 8. Original airer of “The Jetsons”, ABC; 9. SLOANE Crosley, author of the 2008 best seller “I Was Told There’d Be Cake”; 10. Held back, KEPT AT BAY; 11. Item in a trophy case, TEAM PHOTO; 12. Cross-country trips, perhaps, ODYSSEYS; 14. Soul mate, KINDRED SPIRIT; 15. N.F.L. All-Pro player Chris SNEE; 21. What a fugue may be written for, ORGAN; 25. “Passage to Marseille” actor, 1944, LORRE; 27. Valve opening?, VEE; 28. Some flakes, ASHES; 30. Specialty doc, OB GYN; 31. Connection indicators, DIAL TONES; 32. “You’re telling me!”, I KNOW IT IS; 34. Discover, as a solution, HIT ON; 36. 21, often, LEGAL AGE; 37. 2011 revolution locale, EGYPT; 38. Item in a tent, maybe, COT; 43. “Ooh-la-la!”, SO NICE; 45. “Better than nothing”, IT’LL DO; 48. Informal approvals, A-OKS; 49. Shoot up, SPIKE; 50. “Breezing Up (A Fair Wind): artist, 1876, HOMER; 51. When to celebrate el Dia de los Reyes, ENERO; 55. “Outside the Lines” airer, ESPN; 56. Comprehensive, A TO Z; 58. Boat navigator, informally, COX; 60. “LUN Yu” (collection also known as “The Analects of Confucius”).

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04.19.12 — Outside Rs

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Puzzle by Sean Dobbin / Edited by Will Shortz

OUTSIDERS (35A. Nonmembers … or what 4-, 7- and 10-Down lack?), OCK AND ROLL SINGE (4D. Checker or Domino), ESIGNATION LETTE (7D. It may include two weeks’ notice) and ELIGIOUS REFORME (10D. John Calvin, e.g.) constitute the interrelated group of this Thursday crossword.

Other — ALIASES, ANTOINE (40D. Fats Domino’s real first name), CASSAVA (1D. Tapioca source), DRESSES, DURABLY, EDITION, IN ERROR, NAILED UP (48A. Like horseshoes on barn doors), NITPICKS (26A. Carps), OPEN SEA, SELECTS, TEST KIT, VENDETTA (28A. Blood feud), VASTEST.

Mid-size — ANN LEE, ASANTE (24A. “Thank you,“ in Swahili), BOOTIE, COTAN, EASING, GWENS, HASTO, I KNOW, IN TOW, IS IT I, NOTRE, OUSTS, PENANT, PREOP, POINT B, SAFIRE (52A. He once wrote “Last but not least, avoid clichés like the plague), SANA’A (20A. World capital at 7,200+ feet elevation), VIALS.

Short stuff — ALEC, ASTR, ATE, AUTO, CAPO, EGON, ENYA, ERIN and ERIS, ESTD, ETAT, GETS, HOER, ILSE, LAC Neuchâtel, LEER, MOLE, ODEA, PHI, POOR (27D. Ones protected by a safety net, with “the”), RASE, REDO, RIBS,SINK, SKEW, SONG, TREE, TROI, TUSH, USES, WES, WORN.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. It can change one’s tune; 5. Before the procedure, informally; 10. Abbr. on many a cornerstone; 14. ___ Treveyan, villain in the James Bond film “GoldenEye”; 15. Must; 16. Wolf whistle accompanier, maybe; 17. Put in the hole; 18. Question asked in Matthew 26:22; 19. Actress Steppat of “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”; 22. Certain Ghostbuster; 23. Groks; 30. One of a pair of items often given at a baby shower; 31. Stellar start?; 32. “Das ___” (Volkswagen slogan); 34. Shows the door; 38. Pharmacy stock; 41. Part of a landscaping team; 42. Makeover; 46. Old Shaker leader; 48. Like horseshoes on barn doors; 50. Embarks; 53. “Star Trek: T.N.G.” role; 54. Slant; 56. Trig function; 57. Blarney source; 58. Following behind; 60. Barbecue fare; 61. It may be broken into on Broadway; 62. Jean-Luc Godard film “___ Musique”; 63. Spymaster’s worry; 64. Put in a difficult spot; 65. Music’s Stefani and others; 66. Recording artist made famous by the BBC series “The Celts”. — DOWN: 1. Tapioca source; 2.Ellery Queen and others; 3. It’s decided in the fall; 5. Fraternity character; 6. Destroy, in Devon; 8. 10^th-century Holy Roman emperor; 9. End of many trips; 11. Superior things; 12. Drug or DNA home-use set; 13. Does a morning routine; 21. Corroded; 25. Floride, par exemple; 29. Bottom; 33. Ancient concert halls; 36. Gets high, say; 37. Dwarf planet beyond Pluto; 38. Most widespread; 39. Mistakenly; 43. Dictionary specification; 44. So as to last; 45. It’s far from shore; 47. Providing relief for; 51. “You don’t have to tell me”; 55. Old-looking; 59. Montgomery of Jazz.

04.18.12 — Dancing Squares

Square Dance by Amanda Hone

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Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Puzzle by Steven Riley / Edited by Will Shortz

SQUARE DANCE (38A. Hoedown activity … or what each group of circled letters is?), e.g., FANDANGO, HULA, BOOGALOO, HABANERA, HORA and MACARENA constitute the interrelated group of this Wednesday crossword.

Across — 1. Brubeck of jazz, DAVE; 5. Newscaster Connie, CHUNG; 10. Gumbo need, OKRA;14. iPad owner’s subscription, EMAG; 15. Hes, MALES; 16. Take seriously, HEED; 17. Canine on a feline, FANG; 18. Get the better of, ONE-UP; 19, Victim of Pizarro, INCA; 20. Makes a father of, ORDAINS; 22. As well, TO BOOT; 24. Growls like a dog, GNARS; 25. Have a loan from OWE TO; 27. Actress Scala, GIA; 29. Pitcher Maglie who was out dueled in Don Larsen’s 1956 perfect game, SAL; 30. Forearm bone-related, ULNAR;32. Five Norse kings, OLAFS;34. Kind of dye, AZO; 35. “DER Fuehrer’s Face”; 37. AMYL nitrite (angina treatment); 41. Steady guy, BEAU; 43. Carnaby Street type of the ’60s, MOD; 44. Saldana of “Avatar”, ZOE; 45. Rash-causing shrub, SUMAC; 47. Gaynor of “South Pacific”, MITZI; 49. CBS series set in Vegas, CSI; 52. Constellation with the Stingray Nebula, ARA;53. Microwave brand, AMANA; 55. Place to dry out, REHAB; 57. Margin in a baseball squeaker, ONE RUN; 59. Japanese flower-arranging art, IKEBANA; 61. Declines, with “out”, OPTS; 62. Sir or madam, TITLE; 64. O-REN Ishii (“Kill Bill” character); 65. Hostess snack cake, HOHO; 66. S.U.V. named for a lake, TAHOE; 67. Leave in the dust, LOSE; 68. Places for baths, SPAS; 69. Traffic problem, SNARL; 70. Hit 1998 animated movie, ANTZ.

Down — 1. Clears, as a windshield, DEFOGS; 2. Cuneiform discovery site, AMANA; 3. Graffiti artist, perhaps, VANDAL; 4. See 38-Down, EGGAR; 5. “Let’s go!”, C’MON; 6. Boy band with the hit “MMMBop”, HANSON; 7. Suffix with glob, ULE; 8. Fixed by a vet, NEUTERED; 9. Subject of a 1982 best seller on sexuality, G-SPOT; 10. State with a large Amish population, OHIO; 11. Casino attraction with a “bubble”, KENO GAME; 12. Make right, RECTIFY; 13. Toothpaste letters, ADA; 21. Onetime Trooper and Rodeo maker, ISUZU; 23. “You suck!”, BOO; 26. Attacked energetically, WADED IN; 28. Words for the deaf: Abbr., ASL; 31. Rich soil, LOAM; 33. Spike, as punch, LACE; 34. Pastel hue, AQUA; 36. Give a Bronx cheer, RAZZ; 38. With 4-Down, “The Collector” co-star, SAMANTHA; 39. Like surnames ending in -escu, ROMANIAN; 40. Bête NOIRE; 41. “Be Prepared” org., BSA; 42. Abba’s music genre, EUROPOP; 46. Part of a Lionel set, CAR; 48. Either of two characters in “The Emperor’s New Clothes”, TAILOR; 49. Styx ferryman, CHARON; 50. Least likely to lose it, SANEST; 51. Big guitar brand, IBANEZ; 54. Pups without papers, MUTTS; 56. “The Hot Zone” virus, EBOLA; 58. Those, in Tijuana, ESOS; 60. Boat’s backbone, KEEL; 61. 17 of them are sung before “my gosh” in a 2010 #1 Usher hit, OHS; 63. Everyday article in rap titles, THA.

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04.17.12 — Arrow

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Puzzle by Milo Beckman / Edited by Will Shortz

ARROW (found in circled letters), along with YOU ARE HERE, USE OTHER DOOR, I’M WITH STUPID and THIS SIDE UP (all clued as [See note]) constitute the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword, headed by the note “The circled letters in this puzzle, when read in the correct order, spell the name of a shape. The four unclued answers are common three-word phrases usually accompanied by this shape.”

Other — ADAGIO, ART ROONEY (21A. Founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers), CHIP AWAY (39D. Ruin bit by bit, with “at“), ERRORS, ILL AT EASE (55A. Uncomfortable), STEREO, SUPPER, TOMORROW (10D. Day when procrastination ends, supposedly), USED TO, WRETCH.

Five-letter — AMINO, ATTYS, CADET, Peace CORPS, DINER, DITCH, ENAMI (29D. As a friend, to François), HYENA, IHOPS, MACAU, Pair of PANTS, PLATH, RAN AT, RENTS, RETRO, SEDGE, SIGMA, SINAI, Pair of SOCKS, SUSHI, ULNAS, UTERI.

Short stuff — ABED, AHOY, ASHY, BLOC, CHOP, EGOS, ESPN, FEUD, HAHA, HES, ICE, IMET, INS, KIWI, MATA Hari, MINT, OBOE, ODER, OMEN and OPEN, OMIT, OROS, OWE, PERT, SASH, SAYS, SHIP (24D. The Titanic, e.g.), SIRE, SOFA, SPED, SSA, SULU, RUG, RULE, TADA, TALE, TEAM, URBS, WHIP.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Furniture on which a guest might sleep; 5. Some 24-hr. breakfast places; 10. Magician’s word; 14. Resting at night; 15. Military academy enrollee; 16. Leave out; 19. Toothpaste flavor; 20. Marsh plant; 23. Powerful connections; 25. Goofs; 32. Oriental, e.g.; 33. Mount in Exodus; 38. Group of voters; 42. Lash; 43. Food often eaten with chopsticks; 45. Asian gambling mecca; 47. Have bills; 51. Many a campaign event; 54. “For ___ a jolly …”; 59. Back in style; 63 Chew (on); 68. Poe writing; 69. Like volcanic fallout; 70. “Laughing” creature; 71. Black cat, to some. — DOWN: 1. “___ who?”; 2. Double-reeded instrument; 3. Long-term hostility; 4. A little faster than largo; 5. Word repeated before “Baby” in a hip-hop title; 6. “Very funny”; 7. River separating Germany and Poland; 8. Flippantly cocky; 9. Dual-track, in a way; 11. ___ acid (protein builder); 12. Eatery; 13. Lawyers: Abbr.; 18. Is a tenant; 22. Some medals for Spanish athletes; 26. City, to Cicero; 27. Original “Star Trek” helmsman; 28. They may need boosting; 30. Assaulted, in a way; 31. Leave behind, informally; 35. Cut of meat; 36. New Zealander; 37. Tore; 39. Ruin bit by bit, with “at”; 41 Pageant wrap; 44. TV’s “How ___ Your Mother”; 46. Wombs; 49. Sad sort; 50. Familiar with; 51. Summation symbol in math; 52. They’re below elbows; 53. “The Colossus and Other Poems” poet; 56. Sailor’s call; 57. Beget; 58. Presenter of many game shows?; 60. Jets or Nets; 61. Reign; 63. “Yes, we’re ___”; 65. Govt. insurer of seniors.

04.16.12 — Out of Sorts

Monday, April 16, 2012

Puzzle by Lynn Lempel / Edited by Will Shortz

Idiomatic food descriptions of sorts of people constitute the interrelated group of this Monday crossword:

STUD MUFFIN (17A. Sexy sort)
BIG ENCHILADA (23A. Influential sort)
GOOD EGG (39A. Amiable sort)
HUMAN PRETZEL (50A. Supple sort)
SWEETIE PIE (59A. Precious sort)

Other — ENGAGEMENT (2D. Usual wedding precursor), MARGINALIA (1D. Reader’s notes alongside the text), ORANGE RIND (31D. Common marmalade ingredient), Z AS IN ZEBRA (30D. Spelling clarification that Aziz might use twice).

Mid-size — AGATE, Order of the British EMPIRE, HELOT, HINDU, LEERY, LEG UP, MATZOH, NATURE, NEEDLE, NEPAL, NIECES, NOMAAM, OOLALA, PARLOR, PITEOUS, SAUDI, STRIPE, TESTEES, URGING, WEARY.

Short stuff — ABS, ADD and ADO, ARE and ATE, ASH and ASH, ASPS, BOA constrictor, CAFÉ, CLEO, Deputy DAWG, DEA and DEL, DUH, EDT, EEK, ELAL, ELF and ELI and ELIE, END, GARR, GEL, GURU, HERR, HYPE, IDO, IOU, JAMS, JOHN, LOT, LYES, MANE, MET, MOAB, OBIE, OLE, ORGS, PINE, PRE, SAD and SAP, SANK, SOT, SWAT, TOGA, TOP, URNS.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Yankee’s crosstown rival; 4. Burro; 7. Aunts’ little girls; 13. Lion’s locks; 15. “So fancy!”; 16. Assns.; 19. Playing marble; 21. Grp. That raids grow houses; 22. Cry of surprise; 28. Compass pointer; 29. Bread eaten during Passover; 33. Photocopier malfunctions; 34. Israeli carrier; 37. Tired; 38. Cry to a matador; 41 Tree juice; 42. Gandhi, e.g., religiously; 44. “Gladiator” garment; 45. Yearn (for); 46. Word after “force of” or “freak of”; 48. Encouragement; 54. Cigar residue; 57. Opposite of post; 58. Rather distrustful; 64. New York theater award; 65 Place for pizza or ice cream; 66. Put two and two together, say; 67. Caterer’s coffee containers; 68. Feature on a skunk’s back; 69. Parcel of property; 70. Feeling blue. — DOWN: 3. Exam takers; 4. Stomach muscles, for short; 5. Drunkard; 6. Riyadh native; 7. Polite refusal to a lady; 8. Debtor’s letters; 9. Worker in Santa’s workshop; 10. Bistro; 11. Nobelist Wiesel; 12. Plummeted; 13. Biblical kingdom east of the Dead Sea; 18. Dover’s state: Abbr.; 20. Finish; 24. Royal role for Liz Taylor; 25. Serf; 26. Cartoondom’s Deputy ___; 27. Chowed down; 32. Ballyhoo; 33. Adams, Tyler or Kennedy; 35. Hullabaloo; 36. Advantage; 39. Spiritual teacher of a 42-Across; 40. Teri of “Tootsie”; 43. “That’s obvious, stupid!”; 45. Pathetic; 49. Hairspray alternative; 51. “Diamonds ___ Forever”; 52. Country with Mount Everest on its border; 53. Caustic cleaners; 54. Venomous wipers; 55. Whack, as a fly; 58. Frau’s spouse; 60. Peyton’s brother on the gridiron; 63. Lid; 62. Repeated words shouted after “Who wants …?”; 63. Summer hrs. in D.C.

04.15.12 — R and R — the Diagramless

Romulus, Remus and Their Nursemaid by Jacques Laurent Agasse

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Sunday, April 15, 2012

DIAGRAMLESS, Puzzle by Paula Gamache / Edited by Will Shortz

R AND R (50A. Time off … ), ROUND AND ROUND, RACK AND RUIN, ROMULUS AND REMUS, RANT AND RAVE, ROUGH AND READY constitute the interrelated group of this Sunday diagramless.

Across, beginning in the fourth square — 1. Fair, EXPO; 5. Like toned abs, TAUT; 9. Suffix with million or billion, AIRE; 10. Shrek or Princess Fiona, OGRE; 11. Refrain syllable, TRA; 14. In circular fashion, ROUND AND ROUND; 19. Roadside bomb, for short, IED; 20. Sun-dried brick, ADOBE; 21. Scintillas, IOTAS; 22. Alarm setter’s toggle, AMPM; 23. Home of Rousseau’s “The Sleeping Gypsy”, MOMA; 24. Cpl.’s inferior, PVT; 25. Virgo follower, LIBRA; 26. They play for pay, PROS; 27. Complete destruction, RACK AND RUIN; 31. Community values, ETHOS; 34. Hooded jackets, ANORAKS; 35. Ad HOC; 36. Dice, e.g., CHOP; 37. GPS display: Abbr., RTE; 38. Sons of Mars, ROMULUS AND REMUS; 43. ORA pro nobis; 44. Bit of rain, DROP; 45. Bit with an electrical charge, ION; 46. French chanteuse Mireille, MATHIEU; 48. Neighbor of a Kazakh, UZBEK; 50. Complain vociferously, RANT AND RAVE; 52. Chair piece, SLAT; 56. Broadway backer, ANGEL; 57. Java, MUD; 58. Roll on a runway, TAXI; 59. December air, NOEL; 60. Toasting word, SKOAL; 63. Prepared to do battle, ARMED; 64. TiVo, for one, DVR; 65. Crude but effective, ROUGH AND READY; 58. Flat fish, RAY; 69. Fling, HURL; 70. Explore the Grand Canyon, say, HIKE; 71. Shoppe description, OLDE; 7. For fear that, LEST.

Down — 1. Hardcore supporters, FAN BASE; 2. Lieutenant, AIDE; 3. Public radio’s Glass, IRA; 4. Cartoon canine, REN; 5. Warning from a driver, TOOT; 9. Water, in Oaxaca, AGUA; 7. Cemetery vessels, URNS; 8. Sen. Kennedy, TED; 11. Faraway place, figuratively, TIMBUKTU; 12. Musical echoes, REPRISES; 13. Saatchi & Saatchi exec, say, ADMAN; 14. Part of a skate park, RAMP; 15. Sign of rot, ODOR; 16. Man of Milano, UOMO; 17. High-maintenance stars, DIVAS; 18. Drilling org., ROTC; 22. Military branch with wings?, AIR ARM; 24. Obtained, PROCURED; 25. President, e.g.: Abbr., LDR; 28. “Blazing Saddles” co-star Madeline KAHN; 29. Coated, in a way, as metal, ANODIZED; 30. “Don’t mention it”, NO PROB; 32. When Thanksgiving falls: Abbr., THU; 33. Constrain, HOLD IN; 36. Spending limit, CAP; 38. Bond girl Tatiana ROMANOVA; 39. Greenhouse for citrus fruit, ORANGERY; 40. Barbie owner, MATTEL; 41. Lip-puckering, SOUR; 42. Dallas-to-Memphis dir., ENE; 47. Henry, to Shakespeare, HAL; 48. Soft palate appendage, UVULA; 49. Washington lobbyists’ location, K STREET; 50. Time off … or a hint to this puzzle’s theme, R AND R; 51. Asian household helper, AMAH; 53. Tibetan monk, LAMA; 54. Given the boot, AXED; 55. Straighten (up), TIDY; 60. Heart’s partner, SOUL; 61. Many a northern Iraqi, KURD; 62. Check out, in a way, OGLE; 63. Torah holders, ARKS; 65. Pi’s follower, RHO; 66. Kings’ org., NHL; 67. Check out, so to speak, DIE.

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04.15.12 — GRID IRON

Titanic bow SW 1988 National Geographic

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Sunday, April 15, 2012

GRID IRON, Puzzle by Kevin G. Der / Edited by Will Shortz

One-hundred years ago, the British passenger liner, the RMS TITANIC (55D. [See blurb]), sank in the North Atlantic at 2:20 a.m., two and a half hours after hitting an ICEBERG (60D. Cause of 56-Down‘s demise).

Titanic is a 1997 American film, a fictionalized account of the sinking of the RMS Titanic, starring Leonardo DICAPRIO (128A. “56-Down” co-star) and Kate WINSLET (125A. “56-Down” co-star) as members of different social classes who fall in love aboard the ship during its ill-fated maiden voyage.

This Sunday’s creative and sometimes riveting crossword covers a lot of ground. The visual result of the complex, commemorative puzzle is succinctly illustrated by Patrick Merrell, HERE.

The electronic version utilizes circles for the “smokestacks” while the deadwood version features gray squares. The note accompanying the crossword heads the page and is clearly meant to be read, as is the notepad in the electronic version. Those trying to speed through this crossword may hit upon a very cold experience.

The Note: When this puzzle is finished, 12 special squares, along with the special [and/or] circled squares, will create an image of 56-Down. The 12 squares corresponding to the "reflection" of the special squares, when read clockwise from top left, will spell an alternative name for 56-Down (e.g., SHIP OF DREAMS).

While the framework of Titanic was of steel and the hull of iron, thousands of the rivets were of sub-standard wrought-iron which failed upon the collision, thus the title of this puzzle, “GRID IRON“. Article on the rivets, HERE.

The Sinking of the Titanic Drawn by Henry Reuterdahl from Wireless Description.

Other interrelated answers: SOUTHAMPTON (29A. Where 56-Down embarked), I’M THE KING OF THE WORLD (33A. Iconic line shouted in “56-Down“), MY HEART / WILL GO ON (35- & 37-Down. #1 song from “56-Down“), ELEVEN ACADEMY AWARDS (141A. Record-tying achievement for “56 Down”) and LUXURY LINER (152A. 56-Down, e.g.).

The subject of the Titanic most recently appeared as a New York Times crossword titled "100 Years Ago," Sunday, March 11, 2012, HERE.

The remainder of today's crossword is composed of this-and-that and bits and pieces — full steam ahead!

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Plushlike; 5. Anjou relatives; 10. “Love Train” singers, with “the”; 15. Brit. Decorations; 19. Low men?; 24. Peace Nobelist Root; 26. Without problems; 27. Holiday decoration; 24. Stress reliever; 32. Actress Téa; 39. Martini go-with?; 40. Bit of chiding; 41. Shiva’s wife; 42. Cat genus; 45. Italian holiday; 45. Sinn ___; 47. Easter ___; 50. Forest specimens; 52. “Be my guest”; 58. Silence indicator; 59. Cool” amount; 62. In ___ place; 64. Rafael, to friends; 66. Trims, say; 68. Jefferson or Madison; 69. Rest on; 71. High clouds; 73. Mess of a mess; 75. Auto-___; 76. Footstool; 78. Georgia O’Keeffe Museum site; 80. Slowpokes’ fines; 62. Filled, as an office; 83. Coup d’___; 84. Builder of a 2x2 vessel?; 85. Blue Ribbon maker; 86. Hosp. scan; 87. Winner of a 1970s’’80s war; 90. Singer Jones; 92. Literally, “my Lord”; 94. Amount before overtime; 96. Shake; 100. Tried to win; 102. Major operation?; 104. To this moment; 108. Fads; 108. Run together in a way; 109. Tater; 110. Toddlers’ coddlers; 112. Third string; 113. Once more: Abbr.; 114. It’s not basic; 116. Dict. Info; 117. Tabula ___; 119. Yorkshire river; 121. Flags; 123. Clear (of); 124. Triumphant end?; 132. “King Lear” role; 133. Pittance; 138. Protection around the world?; 139. Some buggy drivers; 149. Said yea or nay; 150. Bank support?; 151. Spirit; 153. Pulitzer-winning critic Richard; 154. It’s hard to get across; 155. Palm products; 156. Flight data: Abbr.; 157. Some salads. — DOWN: 1. Look; 2. Oil producer; 3. Implement with a spatulalike blade; 4. Where dawn arises; 5. Latvian, e.g.; 6. Cry to a matador; 7. Brake; 8. They carry needles; 9. Omelet holders; 10. Aware of; 11. Dear person?; 12. Exist; 13. Jabber; 14. Stuffed ___; 15. Ski ___; 16. Muslim mystic; 17. Slugger Mel; 18. “Zip it!; 19. Autobahn sights; 20. Pig in ___; 21. Orchestra grp.; 22. Roman sun god; 23. Like Beethoven’s Second; 25. Caspian feeder; 27. “Top Gun” jets; 28. Funnyman Philips; 29. Ban-Ki-moon and others: Abbr.; 30. Insurance giant; 34. Professor Chomsky; 38. Widespread; 38. Invention; 43. Parts of yards; 44. Small-runway aircraft, briefly; 45. Is alarmed; 46. “It ___” (answer to “Who’s there?”); 48. Tennis’s Steffi; 49. Bad slip; 50. Stable supply; 51. Nutritional stat; 53. Saverin who co-founded Facebook; 54. Shield bearer, typically; 55. Small flute; 57. Frozen; 58. Many a Wi-Fi hotspot; 61. About a month, for a fruit fly; 63.Rotted; 65. Bad blood; 67. Devote; 69. Supercilious one; 70. Wild banana; 72. Mark up, say; 74. Conrad ___, early matinee idol; 77. Chiwere speaker; 79. Furthermore; 81. Prof’s helpers; 82. Harden; 87. Golfs, e.g., briefly;88. Emulate a frog; 89. Unpleasant thing to hit; 91. Rival suitor’s expletive; 92. “Shalom ___” (Hebrew greeting); 93. Martinique, e.g.; 94. One with a terrible opening; 95. Oenologist’s concern; 97. How it’s done; 98. Slanted column?; 99. Interference detector?; 101. Voice of Carl in Piuxar’s “Up”; 103. Acts the middleman; 103. Dundee denial; 107. Discovery Channel subj.; 110. Ginnie ___; 111. Mrs. Abroad; 113. “Gimme ___”; 115. “In my view …”; 118. Zero-emissions vehicle; 120. Athlete’s pointer?; 122. Scottish hillsides; 124. Cower; 125. Didn’t go straight; 125. Polo competitor; 127. Bottled mineral; 128. Palais Garnier star; 129. “Kidnapped” inits.; 130. Suffix with luck; 131. “Now you speak”; 133. Hoedown attendee; 134. Together, in music; 135. Cashier’s cry; 137. Late-night fliers; 140. Word of indifference; 142. Suffix with alk-; 143. Barracks V.I.P.; 144. Setting for some wrestling; 148. “___ truly” (abbreviated sign-off); 146. Biological chain; 147. It appears overnight; 148. Grads-to-be: Abbr.

04.14.12 — The Saturday Crossword

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Puzzle by Mark Diehl / edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. Skirt raisers?, UPDRAFTS; 9. Toward the tip, APICAL; 15. Equivalent o “ibidem”, SEE ABOVE; 16. POCONO 400 (Pennsylvania Nascar event); 17. They’re often swiped at stores, ATM CARDS; 18. Parnassian, POETIC; 19. Stereotypical bouncers, BRUISERS; 20. Do some post-harvesting work, THRESH; 21. Marion LORNE, Emmy-winning actress on “Bewitched”; 22. A hand, AID; 24. Singer in the “Odyssey”, SIREN; 25. “What ELSE?”; 26. Subject for Enrico Caruso, AMORE; 28. Kiss hit “Rock and Roll All NITE”; 29. Western wear JEAN JACKETS; 31. Cousin of bridge, SPADES; 35. Discards, TOSSES; 36. 2001 presidential biography by Edmund Morris, THEODORE REX; 40. Pull down, EARN; 41. Michael who sang “I’m a lumberjack and I’m O.K.”, PALIN; 42. Rudimentary run, ABCS; 46. Puts on a graph, say, PLOTS; 48. Zero-deg. Setting, GMT; 49. Source of a feather in one’s cap?, EGRET; 50. Symbol of power, FASCES; 52. TV hotline, BAT PHONE; 54. Captured for posterity, maybe, ON TAPE; 55. Spanish port, ALICANTE; 56. Classic Lorre role, UGARTE; 57. Jabbed back, RIPOSTED; 58. Like classic stories, REREAD; 59. Macramé creators, KNOTTERS.

The Siren, by John William Waterhouse (circa 1900), depicted as a fish-chimera.

Down — 1. Helpful, USABLE; 2. Lorry supply, PETROL; 3. Shows reservations, DEMURS; 4. Molière contemporary, RACINE; 5. Put to shame, ABASE; 6. “Heads up!”, FORE; 7. Many an HBO show, TV DRAMA; 8. Shrink time, say, SESSION; 9. 8-Down, e.g.: Abbr., APPT; 10. Some toy bears, informally, POOHS; 11. They have two goals, ICE RINKS; 12. Sets of friends, COTERIES; 13. Liqueur sweetened with syrup, ANISETTE; 14. Locale in a much-studied 1934 photo, LOCH NESS; 23. 11970s-’80s N.B.A. nickname, DR J; 26. Classical subject of a Velázquez painting in the Prado, AESOP; 27. Gone from a plate, EATEN; 29. “The Beverly Hillbillies” role, JED; 30. 1920 Democratic presidential nominee, COX; 31. “Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves,” in Alcoholics Anonymous, STEP FOUR; 32. Digital bone, PHALANGE; 33. 1980s-’90s Ford model, AEROSTAR; 34. “Whatever”, DON’T CARE; 37. Catchy tune, RAG; 38. Medicinal tea source, ELM BARK; 39. Narcolepsy drug, RITALIN; 42. Totally shaken, AGHAST; 42.3. Family name in English literature, BRONTË; 44. See 49-Down, CENTER; 45. Strong mounts, STEEDS; 47. Walls of the heart, SEPTA; 49. With 44-Down, it had its grand opening on 10//1/1982, EPCOT; 51. Ranked player, SEED; 53. TIP O’ the hat.

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