05.21.12 — OH!

The moon slides across the sun, showing a blazing halo of light, during an annular eclipse at a waterfront park in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Monday, May 21, 2012. Millions of Asians watched as a rare "ring of fire" eclipse crossed their skies early Monday. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across the continent. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

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Monday, May 21, 2012

Puzzle by Ian Livengood / Edited by Will Shortz

Five phrases beginning with OH constitutes the interrelated group of this sweet Monday crossword:

OH BY THE WAY (16A. “Incidentally …”)
OH MY GOD (38A “Holy cow!”)
OH FORGET IT (61A. “Never mind”)
OH COME NOW (10D. “Let’s be serious here …”)
OH BROTHER (32D. “You’ve gotta be joking!”)

Other — AUTEUR, ERRORS, GRANITE, MOHAVE, ON STAGE, RAYBANS, RONZONI, SLIM JIM, STROLL, THE HELP, TOO BAD, YO-YO MA.

Five-letter — ACHOO, AGREE, ATARI, AVILA, DENNY McLain, GAFFS, GATOR, IN BOX, LEGAL, LET AT, LO-FAT, PHOTO, SCOTT, STUMP, TAHO, TEXAS, TOWEL, ZEBRA.

Short stuff — ACTS, ASH, CANA, CLOG, DAZE, DUOS and TWOS (30A. Pairs; 44A. Pairs), ECHO, ERO, ETCH, GLEN, GOVT, HULA Hoop, Apatow JUDD, LEGS, LOST, LOLA, LUTZ, LYE, MR T, NEST, NOOK, OARS, OAT and OPT, ODE, PERP, PHD, PRAT, RCA, RHEA, RYES, SARI, SHE and SHH, STAY, STIR, TASE and TASK, UCLA, UNDO, USER, VETO.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Mix with a spoon; 5. Not go; 9. Political science subj.; 13. Biblical water-to-wine locale; 14. Snapshot; 15. Flightless bird of South America; 18. Performs in a play; 19. Response of sympathy; 20. Suffix with ranch; 21. Cozy dining spot; 22. Lone Star State; 23. Beef jerky brand; 25. Egg-hatching spot; 27. Filmmaker with style and total control; 36. 1968 A.L. M.V.P. and Cy Young winner ___ McLain; 37. Cigarette’s end; 40. Dedicated poem; 41. Striped equine; 43. Suspect, in cop lingo; 45. Goofs; 47. Carve into, as a plaque; 49. Performing in a play, say; 52. Following the law; 58. Skating jump; 58. Sony rival; 59. Southwest desert that includes Death Valley; 60. Sound heard in an empty hallway; 63. Secluded valley; 64. Like much diet food, informally; 65. 1970 Kinks hit; 66. Indian woman’s attire; 67. Found’s opposite; 68. Rear end. — DOWN: 1. Sir Walter who wrote “Ivanhoe”; 2. Western lake near Squaw Valley; 3. E-mail folder; 4. Some stylish sunglasses; 5. Pronoun for a ship; 6. Locker room handout; 7. Big name in arcade games; 8. Chinese-American virtuoso cellist; 9. Rock associated with hardness; 11. Presidential rejection; 12. Chore; 14. Deg. For a prof; 17. Zap with a stun gun; 23. A lumberjack might leave one behind; 24. “Knocked Up” director Apatow; 26. Sound heard in a movie theater; 28. Loosen, as laces; 29. Some whiskeys; 30. Flabbergasted state; 31. Consumer; 34. Chemical in drain cleaners; 35. Have a meeting of the minds; 38. Rowers; 39. Withdraw, with “out”; 42. Packaged pasta brand; 44. 2011 Oscar-nominated film about African-American maids; 46. Leisurely walk; 48. Drain cleaner target; 50. Sound heard before “Gesundheit!”; 51. Large fishing hooks; 53. Swamp critter; 54. Walled city in Spain; 55. Allow to attach; 56. Pants fillers; 57. The Bruins of the N.C.A.A.; 59. Muscular actor with a Mohawk; 62. Grain in Cheerios.

05.20.12 — The Other World — the Acrostic

Photo, Penn Manor Library 

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Sunday, May 20, 2012

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Edited by Will Shortz

The quotation for this tough Sunday acrostic is from The Other World: The States and Empires of the Moon by Hercule-Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac.

Hercule-Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac (6 March 1619 – 28 July 1655) was a French dramatist and duelist. He is now best remembered for the works of fiction which have been woven, often very loosely, around his life story, most notably the 1897 play by Edmond Rostand. In these fictional works he is featured with an overly large nose, which people would travel from miles around to see. Portraits suggest that he did have a big nose, though not nearly as large as described in Rostand's play and the subsequent works about him. His work furnished models and ideas for subsequent writers. ~ Wikipedia

In the passage we cite for an acrostic, Cyrano imagines audible books. He describes them as mechanical and miniaturized; people could hang them in their ears and listen to the voices of the narrators. This was in the mid-1600s, remember. We’ve only invented Kindles and iPods in the last few years. Quite amazing, really! ~ Quotation from Notes From Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon on The New York Times Wordplay blog.

The quotation: [Y]OUNG PEOPLE OF [THE MOON] … CAN HAVE THIRTY BOOKS IN THEIR POCKETS OR HANGING ON THE POMMELS OF THEIR SADDLES. THEY … NEED ONLY WIND A SPRING TO HEAR ONE… . I ATTACHED BOOKS TO MY EARS AS PENDANTS AND WENT FOR A WALK IN TOWN.

The author’s name and the title of the work: DE BERGERAC, THE OTHER WORLD

The defined words:

A. Real swordsman fictionalized in Dumas novels, D’ARTAGNAN
B. Conjuring up, EVOKING
C. Fruit that Jules Verne described for the unacquainted, BANANA
D. Harald Bluetooth or Gustave Eiffel, e.g., EPONYM
E. The study of the nose, RHINOLOGY
F. What’s implied by “Three’s a crowd” (2 wds.), "GET LOST!”
G. Consequence of some wooing, ELOPEMENT
H. In the form of a diamond, RHOMBIC
I. Atribute of mot juste, felicity, APTNESS
J. First name of this quote’s author, CYRANO
K. Didn’t work, went viral (2 wds.), TOOK OFF
L. Vintage amateur radio brand, HEATHKIT
M. One whose accounted may be credited, EYEWITNESS
N. Interrogative challenge (2 wds.), “OH YEAH?”
O. Thin slices of pizza or pie, TWELFTHS
P. Xena or Roxane, e.g., HEROINE
Q. With R., author who wrote about J., EDMOND
R. See Q., ROSTAND
S. Étagère, miscellaneous items, WHATNOT
T. Not in favor, OPPOSED
U. Flash Gordon’s ride to the planet Mongo (2 wds.), ROCKET SHIP
V. Native of this quote’s setting, LUNARIAN
W. Negative aspect, DOWNSIDE

The paragraphs of the quotation: When I opened a box, I found inside something made of metal, somewhat like our clocks, full of an endless number of little springs and tiny machines. It was indeed a book, but it was a miraculous one that had no pages or printed letters. It was a book to be read not with eyes but with ears. When anyone wants to read, he winds up the machine with a large number of keys of all kinds. Then he turns the indicator to the chapter he wants to listen to. As though from the mouth of a person or a musical instrument come all the distinct and different sounds that the upper-class Moon-beings use in their language.

When I thought about this marvelous way of making books, I was no longer surprised that the young people of that country know more at the age of sixteen or eighteen than the greybeards of our world. They can read as soon as they can talk and are never at a loss for reading material. In their rooms, on walks, in town, during voyages, on foot or on horseback, they can have thirty books in their pockets or hanging on the pommels of their saddles. They need only wind a spring to hear one or more chapters or a whole book, if they wish. Thus you always have with you all the great men, both living and dead, who speak to you in their own voices.

The gifts occupied me for more than an hour. Finally I attached the books to my ears as pendants and went for a walk in town.

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05.20.12 — Wisecracks

Sunday, May 20, 2012

WISECRACKS, Puzzle by Alan Arbesfeld / Edited by Will Shortz

Ten common phrases stripped of the letter Y subsequently producing uncommon phrases constitutes the interrelated group of this clever Sunday crossword:

• TREAT OF VERSAILLES (23A. Chocolat, say?)
• A STUD IN SCARLET (39A. Macho drag queen?)
• GOOD AND READ (50A. Like literary classics?)
• BEER BELL (54A. Call to the bar?)
• PART ANIMAL (68A. Like a centaur?)
• BILL THE KID (70A. “Don’t let that youngster get off without paying”?)
• FAIR TALE (86A. Unbiased account?)
• LIVER STABLE (89A. Announcement made by a transplant surgeon, perhaps?)
• BRAND ALEXANDER (97A. Stigmatize a “great” king?)
• THE SOUND AND THE FUR (119A. Two reasons to avoid a dog kennel?)

Other — ACID TEST (91D. Conclusive trial), AIRPORTS (87D. Places for gates), EMBODIED (59D. Represented), EXPLODE and GO POSTAL ((94D. Lose it; 18D. Lose it), FABULIST (86D. Aesop, notably), FEATURED (4D. Given prominence), IT ADDS UP (88D. “That makes sense”), O’DONNELL (17A. Former co-host of “The View”), TOLD A LIE (16D. Was duplicitous), TRAVELER (41D. Pilgrim).

Seven-letter — AROUSAL, AS USUAL, BITTERS, CLOTURE (38D. Debate ender), DIMPLES, I SAID NO, LODGERS, MODELED, OKTOBER, ONE BALL (34D. It‘s solid yellow), ONSTAGE, TRUST ME, WHIZ KID.

Six — ALL OUT, DACRON, DERMAL, DETEST, DOGNAP (36D. Take a peke?), LAICAL, ODED ON, REALLY, SCRAPE, SLOGAN, THIRST, TWITTY (100D. Singer of the 1958 #1 hit “It‘s Only Make Believe“).

Five — ABDUL, ADALE, Joss ADDIE, Elaine BENES, CAFES, Alain DELON, DEPOT, EAT ME, HYDRA, LOG IN, RATED, REFRY, SABRA, STARR and STARZ, UMASS, UNDER, TEPID, WOMAN.

Short stuff — ACES, AIT, AGUA, A-ONE, ARES, Not worth A SOU, ATAD and TADA, ATRI, BURN, CATO, CEES, CHEF, CO-ED, DELI, DPS, E FOR effort, EL AL, ELSA, ENES, ETTE, GAEA, GNAR, HETH, HORN, HUNT, IDLE, IKO, ILA, IRS and ISR, LEA, LOP, LYYR, MDLI, NAAN (52D. Tandoor-baked bread), NALA and NASA, NOD and NOG and NOL, NUT, ODO, OEUF, OPT, ORLE, Olive OYL, PART, RED, RHEA, RIV, RUDE, Nolan RYAN, SANS, SEPT, SIM, SODA, SPED, SRAS, STU, SUE, TAM O’shanter, TOG, TRES and TRAS, TSP, UPDO, VEE and VUE.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Course preparer; 5. Close shave; 11. John Lennon song that ends “I love you, yeah, yeah, now and forever”; 16. Deck (out); 19. Tops; 20. Like some church matters; 21. Monster slain by Hercules; 22. Lead-in to meter; 26. Shorten, with “off”; 27. In the limelight; 28. HBO competitor; 29. Emphatic denial; 31. Home to the Minutemen, informally; 33. When repeated, an old New Orleans tune; 35. Word repeated four times in the last line of Shakespeare’s “All the world’s a stage” speech; 36. Polyester fabric; 46. Shield border; 47. Make, as a copy of a CD; 48. Stop on a line; 49. Dockworkers’ org.; 56. Weirdo; 57. Earth goddess; 58. Bobby who sang “Take Good Care of My Baby”; 60. Hall-of-Fame pitcher Joss; 61. Unsurprisingly; 63. Skinny?; 65. Discreet signal; 75. Rural setting; 76. Had way too much of; 78. Words from a con man; 79. Given a number, maybe; 83. Flushed; 84. Baseball’s strikeout king; 86. Go (for); 92. British isle; 93. Allan-___ (figure in the Robin Hood legend); 95. Omelette ingredient; 96. Middling grades; 100. Hankering; 102. Salon selection; 103. Twin killings, on a diamond: Abbr.; 104. Went off course; 106. Part of the inn crowd?; 110. Access requirement, maybe; 114. Old-fashioned ingredient; 118. Big collection agcy.; 122. Apt name for a 1-Across?; 123. Unenthusiastic; 124. Maximum; 125. Bar mixer; 126. Rx amt.; 127. Wonderland message; 128. “Are you kidding me?”; 129. Ocho minus cinco. — DOWN: 1. Roman cesor; 2. Game ender, at times; 3. Chemical endings; 4. Given prominence; 5. “A diamond is forever,” e.g.; 6. Saint-Germain-des-Prés sights; 7. Ohio or Colorado: Abbr.; 8. Some tennis winners; 9. Head line?; 10. Lanchester on the screen; 11. Little genius; 13. Mid 16^th century year; 14. God with a shield; 15. Launch party?; 24. ___-shanter; 25. Of no interest; 30. See 32-Down: Abbr.; 32. Native of 30-Down; 37. Excitement; 40. Do more than threaten, say; 42. Anesthetized; 43. Tore; 44. Like some dorms; 45. Title town of a Longfellow poem; 51. Chihuahua drink; 53. Where heroes are made; 55. Elaine of “Seinfeld”; 59. Represented; 62. Outlaw Belle who is said to have harbored Jesse James; 63. Many a Little League coach; 64. River to the Rhône; 66. When many German skeins are lifted; 67. They get bigger when you smile; 69. Hit the runway; 71. Astronomical distance: Abbr.; 72. Refrain syllables; 73. Easter activity; 74. Abhor; 77. Actor Alain; 80. Barely; 81. “I did it!”; 82. It’s grounded every Saturday; 84. Prepare, as some Mexican-style beans; 90. Saturn S.U.V.; 91. Conclusive trial; 98. Holiday quaff; 100. Singer of the 1958 #1 hit “It’s Only Make Believe”; 101. The first “H” in Hanukkah; 106. Former TV judge; 107. Suffix with cigar; 108. Cousin of an ostrich; 109. Back-to-sch. Time; 111. Growl; 112. Sitting on one’s hands; 113. Simba’s mate; 116. Tactless; 117. Mmes., over the border; 120. Actor Alastair; 121. Cambodia’s Lon ___.

05.19.12 — Never A Winner

Garbo in a publicity still for Susan Lenox (1931)

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Saturday, May 19, 2012

Puzzle by Patrick Berry / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. One with a coat of many colors, CALICO CAT; 10. Asian sea name, ARAL; 14. Girl group with a 1986 #1 hit, BANANARAMA; 15. “Si, mi chiamano MIMI” (Puccini aria); 16. Like telescopes, ASTRONOMIC; 17. The Olympic Australis, e.g., OPAL; 18. Unlocked?, SHORN; 19. 1977 Paul Davis hit that spent 25 weeks in the Top 40, I GO CRAZY; 21. Negligible, TINY; 22. Rubber, GALOSH; 24. Old man, POP; 25. “ANY Time,” 1952 million-selling Eddie Fisher hit; 26. Solitary places, JAILS; 27. IVANA Humpalot, Austin Powers villain; 9. Pro FORMA; 30. City NNE of Toledo, MADRID; 31. Game in which players offer a few words, MAD LIBS; 34. Swingers hit on them at parties, PINATAS; 35. Manila airport name, AQUINO; 36. Like hurricane weather, GUSTY; 37. Punishment, metaphorically, LUMPS; 38. Bill who composed “Gonna Fly Now”, CONTI; 39. Big trap, MAW; 42. CBer’s place, CAB; 43. “Clamshell” computers of old, IBOOKS; 45. Kennedy Center happening, GALA; 46. First, second and third, ORDINALS; 48. Historic D.C. theater, FORDS; 49. Beast fought by Heracles, LION; 50. Donning, as loafers, SLIPPING ON; 53. Gloom, MURK; 54. Chilling, HANGING OUT; 55. Short winter day?, XMAS; 56. They may be heard in a temple, ORGANISTS.

Down — 1. Redeem, CASH IN; 2. Second Triumvirate member, ANTONY; 3. David with a role for himself on TV, LARRY; 4. Muscle IN ON; 5. Junk, CAN; 6. California’s Montaña de ORO State Park; 7. Duchess of Cornwall, CAMILLA; 8. Mates, AMIGOS; 9. Dishes eaten with the hands, TACOS; 10. Topic for Catullus, AMOR; 11. Shred, RIP APART; 12. Rain forest region, AMAZONIA; 13. Resting spots by the water, LILY PADS; 14. “Stop!” overseas, BASTA; 20. Pasta go-with, CHIANTI; 22. Four-time Oscar nominee (never a winner) in the 1930s, GARBO; 23 Motivators, AIMS; 26. Doesn’t merely observe, JOINS IN; 28. Heady time for soldiers, V-DAY; 29. Rapid turnover, FLIP; 30. They’re hard to see through, MISTS; 31. Organization of Afro-American unity founder, MALCOLM X; 32. School house?, AQUARIUM; 33. Comic strip that Chic Young abandoned to create “Blondie”, DUMB DORA; 34. No-goodnik, PUNK; 36. Touching bottom?, GOOSING; 38. Pet peeve?, COLLAR; 39. Herbert Henry Asquith’s socialite wife, MARGOT; 40. ALDOUS Snow, Russell Brand’s character in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “Get Him to the Greek”; 41. “WASN’T That a Time?” (Weavers album); 44. Poet credited with popularizing haiku, BASHO; 45. They may be heard in a temple, GONGS; 47. Signs, INKS; 48. Done, in Dunkirk, FINI; 51. Wanamaker Trophy org., PGA; 52. Jewelry box item, PIN.

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05.18.12 — Remarks

Friday, May 18, 2012

Puzzle by Allan E. Parrish / Edited by Will Shortz

Three anagrammatically-related entries are the main feature of this Friday crossword:  OFFENSIVE REMARK (20A. It may be acknowledged with a slap), COSMO KRAMER (34A. TV’s “hipster doofus”) and PERMANENT MARKER (51A. Bad tool for a toddler to find).

Other — CALORIES (34D. What water lacks), COTERIE, FINANCE, MRS PAUL, PIERCED, SPECTATE, STRANGER, STOP-GAP, TETHERED, YONKERS.

Six-letter — ALKALI, AT MOST, DONUTS, ENCORE, ENRAGE, METEOR, MISFIT, MMM BOP, OMERTA, PARENT, PLEASE, SPEECH, STONED, TIERED, TORSOS, TRIFLE, WIRIER, X GAMES.

Five-letter — ANENT, BRIEF, COLIN, DUKES, MAIZE, MECCA, NEEDS, ONE PM, OTERI, PETCO, ROLEX, SLICE, TIGER.

Short stuff — ARI, ATMS, ENOL, LES, MCAN, MERV, MISE-en-scène, MMII, MOWS, MR ED, NEON, OLEG, REN, ROMP, SARA, SASE, SIDE, SPY, TIO, TRAP and TRIP, TORE, UIE, ZEDS.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS:  1. Ones pressed for cash, briefly; 5. 1997 #1 hit with a nonsense title; 11. Many a bugger; 14. See 63-Across; 15. Code that’s dangerous to break; 16. Hernano de la madre;  18. More like a gymnast’s body; 19. Cartoon character who cries “You eediot!”; 23. Bad stroke; 24. Back, in a way; 25. Having the lead?; 29. Real go-getter; 30. Baker’s dozen, maybe; 33. Reading letters from the end?; 37. Big name in footwear; 39. Wish; 40. Ticker with cachet; 42. Watch it; 47. Temporary; 50. “9 to 5” director Higgins; 55. N.L. West team, on scoreboards; 56. One seen in a shower; 57. Ramirez of Grey’s Anatomy”; 58. It’s often illegal to hang one; 59. Cry for more; 60. 2006-08 heavyweight champion Maskaev; 61. Article in the Louvre?; 62. High; 63. With 14-Across, cruise bonus.  —  DOWN:  1. Tops; 2. Wee bit; 3. Fish out of water; 4. Word chanted at a celebratory party; 5. Routs, with “down”; 6. When the Salt Lake City Olympics took place; 7. Longtime first name in TV talk; 8. Court paper showing one team’s points; 9. Comical Cheri; 10. Adidas vis-à-vis Reebok; 11. Alien; 12. Like some navels; 13. Jon Voight’s New York birthplace; 21. Air and water, e.g.; 22. Yellow shade; 26. Runaway; 27. Organic compound; 28. Scrappers put them up; 31. Sprung thing; 32. Response facilitator: Abbr.; 35. When to get back to work, perhaps; 36. Endpoint of pilgrims’ progress?; 37. Big name in frozen food; 38. Circle; 41. Snowboarders compete in them; 43. Some Rodin pieces; 44. Lye, for one; 45. Like many grandstands; 46. Tee off; 48. Apropos of; 49. Retail giant with the mascots Red Ruff and Blue Mews; 52. Extra-bright; 53. Bolted; 54. He talked only to Wilbur.

05.17.12 — Divorce, Respect and Trouble

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Puzzle by Joe Krozel / Edited by Will Shortz

Three "clueless" entries DIVORCE, RESPECT and TROUBLE, clued by the preceding clues of the entries I INSIST (20A. Response to a polite refusal / [next line] It’s spelled out in a Tammy Wynette hit), ONE BASE (31A. What a walk in the ballpark will get you / [next line] It’s spelled out in an Aretha Franklin hit) and ERNEST (42A. Young partner / [next line] It’s spelled out in a Travis Tritt hit) constitute the interrelated group of this strange Thursday crossword.

Other — ARTUROS, ASSIST ON, ATONERS, BELIEFS, CARAVEL (5A. Niña or Pinta), EGO SURFS, ENTWIST, ESO BESO, E STEET, EXECUTE, GENESIS, GONE APE, HOTNESS, LION CUB, MERIDEN, MINICAM, NEW MATH, NO-TELL motel, O’TOOLES, SIR DUKE, SPEAKER, ST ELMO’S, TALIBAN, TEL-STAR, TRAVAIL, TWO IRON, UGANDAN, USED CAR, WRITE ME.

Remains — AMES, “There‘s A POT of gold …”, “ART I, Steady AS SHE goes”, Te DEUM, EXPO, ETES, GO PRO, HEELS, IASI, I CAN, ITOS, LSTS, MESH, NEST, RACER, RESHOE, RISE, SETTS, SLEETS SORE and SORTA.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Cheap wheels, perhaps; 8. Afghan power; 15. Wigged out; 18. Going-away request; 17. Jazz trumpeter Sandoval and others; 18. Peter and Annette of film; 19. 1960s teaching focus; 24. Looks for oneself, in a way, 32. First satellite to transmit a phone call through space, 1962; 38. Cold showers; 40. Help board a plane, say; 43. Connecticut city on the Quinnipiac River; 47. Hard work; 51. Pull off; 52. It’s not for big shots; 53. Electrical device that may blow; 54. Paul Anka hit with a rhyming title; 55. Salsa quality; 56. Beginning. — DOWN: 1. Like part of Lake Victoria; 2. Not losing well; 3. Interweave; 7. Do some farrier’s work on; 8. Club not seen much nowadays; 9. Class for budding painters; 10. Den member; 11. Midori and Lance; 12. Creed; 13. ___ Straw Poll; 14. Get a home in order; 22. A bit, informally; 23. Gown go-with; 25. Enter the draft, maybe; 26. Matches; 27. Hot Wheels product; 28. Small paving stones; 30. Military transports: Abbr.; 33. It runs by the White House; 34. Mr. Ellington in a 1977 song; 35. Sorry bunch?; 37. Asian land where French is widely spoken; 38. Makes a 43-Down of; 39. Fire starter?; 41. Nog flavorer;43. Netting; 44. Big show; 45. Confident cry; ; 46. Nantes seasons; 48. “All ___!” (court cry); 49. General feeling; 50. Former capital of Romania.

05.16.12 — HINT, HINT

Lacerta, the Lizard was created by the Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius, from the stars between Cygnus and Andromeda. In the first renderings the Lizard looked a lot like a weasel with a long curly tail, but later drawings were modified to portray a lizard.

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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Puzzle by Kevin Adamick / Edited by Will Shortz

Eight repeated-word phrases constitute the interrelated group of this pleasant but so-so Wednesday crossword with double hints a bonus for the solver:

MAHI MAHI (1A. Hawaiian entrée)
AMEN, AMEN (15A. Emphatic call from the flock)
LIAR, LIAR (64A. 1997 Carrey comedy)
SERA SERA (66A. Words after “Que”)
HINT, HINT (13D. Comment made while elbowing someone)
YADA, YADA (14D. “And so on”)
AGAR-AGAR (35D. Petri dish gel)
BORA BORA (36D. South Pacific island)

Other — ABSORBS, CLOISTER, INGEMAR Johansson, INSULATOR (4D. Asbestos, for one), LACERTA (38A. The Lizard constellation), MEMORIALS, ON LOAN TO, RETOOLS, SECRETES, TOASTING.

Mid-size — AD HOC, AMEND, AMOUNT, ANNIE, AROMAS, AREOLA, AVATAR, ESPIES, ET ALIA (16A. And so on), GAMIN, GOERS, GOTHAM, HEALER, HELENE Curtis, HENNA, “HITCHY-Koo”, Loch LOMOND, MARNIE (47D. 1964 Hitchcock thriller), MATZOS, NICOLO Amati, President PRO TEM, RACER, RASCAL, RETAN, SENORA, STRATA, TAMPA, TORERO, TORSO.

Short stuff — ABED, ACER, ALA, AMI (6D. Burgundy bud), ARC, ASHY, AT AN early age, GARB, IRAN, “The Heat IS ON”, “How was I TO know?”, LAR Park Lincoln, MAT, NENE, ONE L, OPIE, ORA pro nobis, PITA, RAVE, RARA, TIA, ZULU.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 17. Honoring at a banquet, say; 15. Scotland’s Loch ___; 19. Natal native; 20. 50^th state’s bird; 22. Kind of sandwich; 23. First-year J.D. student; 24. Street child; 25. Like the area around an erupting volcano; 26. Rock layers; 28. Tennis whiz; 30. One in la familia; 31. One concerned about charges; 33. Alter; 35. Assumes, as costs; 40. Ones on the move; 43. Bow shape; 44. Redheaded boy of 1960s TV; 46. Bouquets; 50. Hard to find in Latin?; 52. Cure again, as leather; 54. All-night party; 55. Sacked out; 57. Modern home of ancient Elam; 58. Batman’s home; 60. Being borrowed by; 63. Pupil surrounder; 65. Spanky or Alfalfa. — DOWN: 1. Seder servings; 2. Check figure; 3. Doctor, ideally; 5. Dojo floor covering; 7. Skin colorer; 8. Former world heavyweight champion Johansson; 9. ___ Curtis, onetime cosmetics giant; 11. Home of MacDill Air Force Base; 21. Violinmaker Amati; 24. Raiment; 27. Many a classical sculpture; 29. Soapbox derby entrant; 32. Glimpses; 34. Some anniversary events; 37. Generates, as fluids; 42. Modernizes, as a factory; 45. First; 48. 2009 James Cameron blockbuster; 49. Madrid madam; 51. Like some committees; 53. Musical with the song “N.Y.C.”; 59. Indicator of how something is done; 61. Actress ___ Park Lincoln.

05.15.12 — Full of Holes

A Piece of Swiss Cheese on Black, photograph by Olga Khorkova

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Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Puzzle by Susan Gelfand / Edited by Will Shortz

FULL OF HOLES (53A. Like 17-, 23-, 33- and 48-Across), SWISS CHEESE (17A. Monte Cristo ingredient), VOODOO DOLL (23A. Spelling aid?), DART BOARD (33A. Pub hub) and GOLF COURSE (48A. Where people are always putting things?) constitute the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword.

Other — EDGED OUT, ESTEFAN, EXPLOIT, IN SPORT, JEEPERS, NEEDLED, ODDBALL, PENDULUM, PERGOLA, SPATULA, TOUSLED, UNSHADE, ZEROING.

Short stuff — AL EAST, ALIGN, CAJUN, CREAK, EOCENE, ESTOPS, GLENS and GLESS, GOES TO, HOW SO, NADIA, REMOP, SPOUT, TENSED, VERDE.

Short stuff — ACE, AHA, ALG, ANI, APE and APT, ARP, COHN, DIET, ECOL, EONS, ETS, FLA, FOCH, GIFT, GTO, HEX, I DO, ION and IOS, LAI, LOO, Club MED, MOAT, MRS and MSS, NRA, OLAF, OMY, PEAL, SAO, “SIC semper tyrannis“, SILO, SOSA, SSE, TAG, TATE and TAUT, UZIS, VAT, VER, WHAM, YOKO.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.


Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. “Kinsman” of Tarzan; 4. Impact sound; 8. Spicy cuisine; 13. A witch might put one on you; 14. Just about forever; 15. Epoch when mammals arose; 16. Klee contemporary; 19. Sharon of “Cagney & Lacey”; 21. Old Saturn model; 22. Scholar’s deg.; 26. Church bells’ sound; 27. Get in a row; 28. Response at the alter; 29. Mesa ___ National Park; 30. Sharon of “Valley of the Dolls”; 32. Tightened up; 38. Legally impedes; 39. Math subj.; 40. Commando weapons; 44. Teakettle feature; 45. Ga. Neighbor; 46. Secluded valleys; 47. Stretched to the max; 50. Those aboard a U.F.O.; 52. Swab the floor again; 57. Aegean island on which Homer is said to be buried; 59. N.Y. Yankees’ division; 60. Castle obstacle; 61 Big D.C. lobby; 62. Gymnast Comaneci; 63. John’s other half; 64. Car that “really drives ‘em wi-i-ild,” in a 1960s song. — DOWN: 1. Inventor’s cry; 2. Vine-covered passageway; 3. Heroic deed; 4. Oil name; 5. “In what way?”; 6. “Gimme ___!” (start of an Illinois cheer); 7. Ed.’s stack; 8. Harry who co-founded Columbia Pictures; 9. Server’s wish; 10. “Golly!”; 11. Expose to light; 12. Ribbed; 15. Green sci.; 18. Storage site; 20. Beat by a nose; 23. Fermenting locale; 24. Nuts, berries, etc., for squirrels; 25. Kook; 26. Tick-tock maker; 29. Part of a chapter: Abbr.; 33. ___ Butterworth; 32. It may put someone out; 34. Likely; 35. Norwegian king; 36. Grammy-winning Gloria; 37. Burger flipper; 38. A bit messy, as the hair; 41. Closing (in on); 42. Playfully; 43. Montreal-to-Boston dir.; 45. Nina of 1940s-’50s films; 46. Attends; 48. Natural talent; 49. Haunted house sound; 51. Slugger Sammy; 54. China’s Chou En-___; 55. “Peg ___ Heart”; 56. Stall in London; 58. ___ Tomé.

05.14.12 — SYNS

Monday, May 14, 2012

Puzzle by John Dunn / Edited by Will Shortz

SYNS (70A. Roget offerings (abbr.) … or, loosely, the first and last words of 20-, 28-, 48- and 58-Across), WATCH THE CLOCK (20A. Impatiently endure passing time), COVER THE SPREAD (28A. Win by enough points, in sports gambling), WASH THE LAUNDRY (48A. Perform a routine household chore) and TURN THE CORNER (56A. Pass through a crisis safely) constitute the interrelated group of this Monday crossword.

Other — ADRIFT, AURORA borealis, BLOW OVER, ETCHERS, HUEVOS (50D. Spanish eggs), MESHES, PRE-EMPT, PRICED, SUCH THAT, TALL ONES, UNDERWAY, WAUSAU (8D. Onetime Wisconsin-based insurance giant).

Five-letter — ANWAR Sadat, CURES, DETER, DRONE, ELLEN DeGeneres, ELOPE, EXAMS, NO-HIT, SARAN, SLUGS, SOAKS, STAND, Ringo STARR, ULNAS, VALID.

Short stuff — ACTS, ADO, ANN, ARIA and ASIA, CELT, “CASE closed!”, CATS, DEBT, DORA, DVD, EAR and EAT, EMU, ENTS, ENYA, EOS, EURO, EVEN, GYRO, ICU, “Time IS AT a premium”, LAIR, “LI’L Abner”, MOE, PAL, RAFT, RDS and RES, ROLE, RUTS, SAD and SAL, SAYS, SIMP, SSTS, TEL, TINA, TOT, T-REX, USER, ZAPS, ZEAL.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Money owed; 5. Lamebrain; 9. Nukes; 13. Good, as a driver’s license; 15. Addict; 16. Replacement for the mark, franc and lira; 17. Pilotless plane; 19. Opera solo; 23. Hoopla; 25. “Have something!”; 26. Outback bird; 27. Hi-___ monitor; 32. Big-jawed dinosaur, for short; 33. Erie Canal mule; 34. No. on a business card; 35. Brand of kitchen wrap; 37. Rug rat; 39. Hits with a fist; 43. One of the Three Stooges; 45. Friend; 47. Grammy winner from County Donegal, Ireland; 52. Dispirited; 53. Post-op area; 55. Line of Canon cameras; 60. Where the Himalayas are; 61. Tied, as a score; 62. Egypt’s Sadat; 65. Craft in which to go down a river, say; 68. Part to play; 67. Get ready to sing the national anthem; 68. Monotonous routines; 69. Concordes, for short. — DOWN: 1. Netflix rental; 2. Big part of a hare; 3. Pass without effect, as a storm; 4. Funny Fey; 5. So; 7. Fits with another, as a gear tooth; 8. Forestall by acting first; 9. Fervor; 11. Having a store tag; 12. Long baths; 14. Hinder; 21. Lions and tigers; 22. Medical successes; 23. Each of Shakespeare’s plays has five; 24. Nickelodeon’s “___ the Explorer”; 29. Tests; 30. Have a nontraditional marriage, in a way; 31. Talk show host DeGeneres; 38. Like a perfect game in baseball; 38. Some brew skis; 40. In progress; 41. Greek sandwich; 42. Utters; 44. Crystal trophy inscribers, e.g.; 46. Where a lion hides; 49. Directionless at sea; 51. Radii neighbors; 52. Ringo who sang “Yellow Submarine”; 57. D.C. team, informally; 58. Hibernian, for one; 59. Tolkien’s talking tree race; 63. The Beach Boys “Barbara ___”; 64. Hwys.

05.13.12 — All Mixed Up

Jumbled letters by *Tal96, deviantart (inverted)

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Sunday, May 13, 2012

ALL MIXED UP, Puzzle by Matt Ginsberg / Edited by Will Shortz

This clever Sunday puzzle is accompanied by the note: In each pair of clues, one is for the answer word, the other for an anagram of the answer. Which is which is for you to discover.

Across — 1. Unalike / Unlike the “h” in honor, DISPARATE; 10. Plantain lily / Curses, HOSTA; 15. Dressed smartly (2 wds.) / Without schooling, UNTUTORED; 16. Half of “The Odd Couple” / Shamu and kin, OSCAR; 17. Without a country / Crass, STATELESS; 19. “Just kidding!” / Lot, TON; 20. Back muscles, informally / in the cellar, LATS; 21. Mushroom stems / Gets back at, say, STIPES; 22. Pickup shtick? / Tax ___, LINE; 23. Token takers / Keys, STILES; 24. Get steamed (2 wds.) / Plant again, RESEED; 27. Motown or Columbia / Whole essence, BE ALL; 28. Mongol invader / Rose oil, ATTAR; 29. Eminence / Drill instructors, typically, SERGEANTS; 33. Darling dog / Indian bread, NAAN; 34. Aloe vera, often / Toil, SLAVE; 35. Milk source / London gallery, TEAT; 36. Undeniable facts / Ancient Hebrew, ISRAELITE; 38. Legal filing / British thread, FIBRE; 39. No-see-ums / Zingy tastes, GNATS; 40. Riskless (hyph.) / Slack off, LOOSEN; 41. Performs together / Waylay, CO-ACTS; 43. Litter’s littlest / Sour, TURN; 44. Frenzies / Souls, MANIAS; 45. Executes / 10 cc, perhaps, DOSE; 46. Court call / Rolodex no., LET; 49. Shackles / Pitcher’s bagful, IRONS; 50. Ohio college (2 wds.) / Camping need (2 wds.), TENT STAKE; 52. Brains / German steel city, SENSE; 53. Passes / Coups, OVERTAKES; 54. Keeps, in a way / Small pavers, STETS; 55. Imbroglio (hyph.) / One with a hand on the tiller, MARE’S NEST.

Down — 1. Pixie ___ / Macho sort, DUST; 2. Absorbed by / Little Red Hen response (2 wds.), INTO; 3. Cartoonist Thomas / Baseball’s Musial, STAN; 4. Place / Ram, in Ramsgate, PUT; 5. Art studio / Amazon, for one (hyph.), ATELIER; 6. Deschain of “The Dark Tower” / Noted traitor, ROLAND; 7. Gourmand / Glacial ridge, ARETE; 8. Hardy girl / Gets, TESS; 9. Of the: Fr. / Mag. Workers, EDS; 10. Most sacred / Enemy, HOSTILE; 11. Part of a waveform / Cecil Rhodes, e.g., OSCILLATION; 12. Gap / Ending with sea or land, SCAPE; 13. Chronicles / Merest, TALES; 14. War god / All ___ , ARES; 21. Put on / Slalom targets, STAGE; 22. Ipswich native (2 wds.) / Rest on (2 wds.), LEAN AGAINST; 23. Chapter’s partner / Court opening, SERVE; 24. Eastern queen / Pour, RANI; 25. Greek H’s / Some socials, ETAS; 26. * / “Dang it!”, STAR; 27. Deranged motel owner / Thrashes, BEATS; 29. Knife cuts / Shopping aids, SLITS; 30. Beaks / Uncle ___, NEBS; 31. Weight allowance / Zip, TARE; 32. On its way / British gun, STEN; 34. Puts (away) / Blind parts, SLATS; 37. Sheathes / Rap sessions?, ENCASES; 38. Aussie beer / Wilderness areas, FORESTS; 40. British brilliance / Consequence, LUSTRE; 41. Addition sign / Scintilla, CARET; 42. Nary a soul (2 wds.) / Down ___ knee (2 wds.), ON ONE; 43. Kind of sax / Printer need, TONER; 44. Girl / Computer game family, with “the”, MISS; 45. Hindu deity / Noted Barry, DEVA; 46. Boating locale / Moolah, LAKE; 47. Search / Squeezes (out), EKES; 48. Check / Hanoi holidays, TEST; 50. Mr. Turkey / Witticism, TOM; 51. Army ___ / Catch some rays, TAN.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

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