12.22.12 — The Saturday Crossword

 

Eddie Rickenbacker

 

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Saturday, December 22, 2012

 

Puzzle by Tim Croce / Edited by Will Shortz

Eight fifteen-letter entries are the main feature of this Saturday crossword:

STEERING CLEAR OF (1A. Giving a wide berth)
CARBON FOOTPRINT (16A. What an environmentalist wants to reduce)
I STAND CORRECTED (17A. “My mistake”)
AS THE SAYING GOES (22A. “According to old wisdom …”)
EASTERN AIRLINES (41A. Its first C.E.O. was the W.W. I hero Eddie Rickenbacker)
DISASTER SUPPORT (53. FEMA mission)
EXERCISE TRAINER (57A. One whose goal is changing shape?)
NEAREST RELATIVE (58A. Info on a medical history form)

Other — ADORER, BAR EXAM, CORSAIR, DNA TEST, DREADED, GOODLY, ICE RUN, NFC TEAM, REUNITE, RIHANNA, TORE AT.

 

Five-letter — ABIDE, ENATE, EXUDE, GARNI, GHOUL, HEART, NITER, ONE IN, SACRA, SANER, SATES,TREES.

 

Short stuff — ADP, ARCS, ASEA, CARR, DEN, EBAY, ELA, EPEE, ERTE, ESCE, ESTD, FACE, FIXE, FTD, IND, KEYS, LTR, MPAA, ONE D, PREV, RITT, RONI and RONS, SCI, SPIT, SRP, TASK, TDS and TIS, TOO, TRE, URL.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 18. What instrumentalists often change; 19. 7-Down’s goals, briefly; 20. Set up: Abbr.; 21. She, in Lisbon; 34. Something passed on the way to court?; 35. Singer of the 2010 #1 hit “Rude Boy”; 36. Post-winter breakup; 37. Anguished; 38. Like a bugbear; 40. End a split; 43. Big check-printing co.; 44. Not flee; 48. “___ true”; 49. Car ad fig. — DOWN: 1. Med., e.g.; 2. Unpleasant thing to be taken to; 3. “Broadway’s in Fashion” artist; 4. Owner of Bill Me Later; 5. Running back Dayne and others; 6. Birthplace of Rex Stout and Kurt Vonnegut: Abbr.; 7. Bears, e.g.; 8. Substantial; 9. Pirate; 10. It’s often 11 in. long; 11. French-derived word with two accents; 12. Fly balls, e.g.; 13. Hud” director; 14. Going along the line, briefly?; 15. 1-800-SEND ___ (apropos corp. number); 22. Brook; 23. Vertebral column parts; 24. Almonds and pistachios; 25. Afghan province or its capital; 26. Radiate; 27. Less likely to crack; 28. Pyrotechnics compound; 29. One present in spirit?; 30. Adorned, on menus; 31 Odds opener; 32 Maternally related; 33. Is enough for; 39. Common cold case reviver; 40. Comeback; 42. Fan; 44. Set on the Saône?; 45. On deck, say; 46. Lloyd in the College Football Hall of Fame; 47. Ending with fluor-; 49. Trailer-approving grp.; 50. Meat sticker; 51. Pasta ___ (Quaker brand); 52. Before: Abbr.; 53. Place for a trophy case; 54. “___ true”; 55. Surfer’s address; 56. 30% of dieci.

 

12.21.12 — Calendar Daze

 

2013 Go Commando Calendar

 

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Friday, December 21, 2012

 

Puzzle by Zoe Wheeler / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. The 500s, in the Dewey Decimal Classification: Abbr., SCI; 4. Bars, ESTOPS; 10. Secretary of war under Theodore Roosevelt, TAFT; 14. Not be underdressed?, GO COMMANDO; 16. Polish border river, ODRA; 17. Winner of nine 2011 Tonys, THE BOOK OF MORMON; 19. Payoffs, SOPS; 20. Figure in a celebrated 2004 breakup, KEN; 21. Off, ERRING; 22. Stravinsky’s “Le SACRE du Printemps”; 24. Corrodes, EATS INTO; 26. Minimally, AT LEAST; 28. Specialized in fiction, say, LIED; 29. Title girl in a John Cougar #1 hit, DIANE; 30. Female Arabic name meaning “peace”, SALMA; 32. “MRS Fitz,” old comic strip started by Mort Walker; 35. Director Thomas H. INCE of the silent era; 36. Ring with a face attached?, SKYPE; 37. Crossjack, e.g., SAIL; 38. AGE-specific; 39. One-ACTER; 40. “Twin Peaks” actor Jack NANCE; 41. Some hotels, for short, SROS; 42. Hans Christian OERSTED, pioneer of electromagnetism; 44. Everything, THE WORKS; 48. Program blocker, V-CHIP; 49. Antique dealer’s transaction, RESALE; 50. Guadeloupe, par exemple, ILE; 52. Suffix with method, ICAL; 54. American diner favorite, APPLE PIE À LA MODE; 57. 61-Across affliction, STYE; 58. Fad of 2010-11, ANGRY BIRDS; 59. “Bonanza” brother, HOSS; 60. “Who DOESN’T?”; 61. See 57-Across, EYE.

 

2013 Go Commando Calendar 

 

Down — 1. Some officers: Abr., SGTS; 2. Working like Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan, say, CO-HOSTING; 3. F. Scott Fitzgerald short story, with “The” ICE PALACE; 4. Music genre, EMO; 5. Beats decisively, in slang, SMOKERS; 6. Bit of filming, TAKE; 7. Two-ON-ONE; 8. Certain e-mail attachment, PDF; 9. “Whenever”, SOMETIME; 10. R-rated or higher, say, TORRID; 11. Frequenter of Web forums: Abbr., ADMIN; 12. False personality, FRONT; 13. “Romance de Barrio,” e.g., TANGO; 15. X-rated, OBSCENE; 18. By land OR SEA; 23. Singer Corinne Bailey RAE; 25. Gridiron star, ALL PRO; 26. 1998 hit that begins “ADIA, I do believe failed you”; 27. “You shouldn’t have done that”, TSK TSK; 31. Word often uttered with a salute, AYE; 32. Legendary creature similar to the Sphinx, MANTICORE; 33. Certain irrigated cropland, RICE PADDY; 34. Go downhill fast?, SLED; 36. Bridge need, SCORE PAD; 37. Fresh fish dish, SASHIMI; 39. Play A ROLE in; 40. Atomic energy org., NRC; 41. Marshy tracts, SWALES; 43. Crabtree & EVELYN, retailer of body products; 44. Lay waste to, TRASH; 45. Up on, HEP TO; 46. Annual athletes’ awards, ESPYS; 47. Long bout, SIEGE; 51. “LARS and the Real Girl” (2007 Ryan Gosling film); 53. LÈSE-majesté; 55. Sea goddess who saved Odysseus, INO; 56. U.S. dance grp., ABT.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

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12.20.12 — XMAS

 

 

Decorations of Xmas Tree (Ginza, Tokyo, Japan) by t-mizo, flickr

 

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Thursday, December 20, 2012

 

Puzzle by Ian Livengood and J.A.S.A. Crossword Class

Edited by Will Shortz

CHRISTMAS / BONUS (57A. With 63-Across, extra holiday pay … or what’s in 17-, 22-, 34- and 45-Across?), X BOX LUNCH (17A. Gamer’s midday meal?), M NIGHT SHIFT (22A. Working hours for director Shyamalan?), A TRAIN OF THOUGHT (34A. N.Y.C. subway line in one’s imagination?) and S CLASS CLOWN (45A. Bozo in a big Mercedes?) constitute the interrelated group of this Thursday crossword.

 

Other — AU COURANT (14A. Hip), IN REAL TIME (25D. As it happens), SAW and SICKOS (21D. Villains in the “28-Down” films, e.g.), SMOKING GUN (11D. Proof positive), STIMULANT (60A. Upper).

 

Mid-size — AGEIST, Santa ANITA, ARSON, ASIANS, ATARI, CAN’T I, DRUMS, EAT ON, E-NOTE, GAMUT, HEATS, INCOG, LAHTI, NORSE, N TEST, OSRIC, OUT OF, Peppermint PATTIE, RANCHO, TATTED, RAMEN, SCARY, SINEX, SLEDS, SPARS, STASH, TOPIC.

 

Short stuff — Rent-A-COP, ASH and ATH, CIA, CST, CUBS, EFT, ESPY, GOP, Michio ITO, LIMA, LITE, MAXI, MEA, NANU, ODIN, OHMS, OMAN, OPTS, PTS, ROXY, RUIN, SAXE, SONS, SSTS, ST LO, TEAS, TIC, URN, WEE, WHIM, YUL Brynner.

 

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Puzzle available on the internet at

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Hair-raising; 6. Secretive org.; 9. Cause of everything going up?; 16. Range; 18. Quick online message; 19. Spot; 20. Dancer/choreographer Michio; 24. Fourth-largest city in the Americas; 27. Use, as dishes; 28. Nasal spay brand; 29. Restaurant’s after-dinner selection; 31. Red wing?; 38. Atomic; 39. Fishes or cuts bait, say; 40. They take a beating; 41. Centipede creator; 44. Stops in the country; 51. Hearth’s content; 52. End of many company names; 59. Noodle dish; 61. Some hard-to-wrap presents; 62. Starting O, maybe. — DOWN: 1. Old German duchy name; 2. Team supposedly cursed by a billy goat; 4. Classic theater name; 6. Pretty, pretty please?”; 7. Sporting a fake nose and glasses, maybe; 8. Sporting figure: Abbr.; 9. Discriminatory, in a way; 10. Spanish spread; 11. Proof positive; 12. Lacking; 13. Cloud producer, for short; 15. Total; 21. Narc’s discovery; 22. Conservative skirt; 23. Early races; 24. Diet, commercially; 25. As it happens; 26. “Give ___ a buzz”; 29. The weather, commonly; 30. Newt, once; 32. ___ law; 33. Liq. measures; 36. Frigg’s husband; 37. It may fill a niche; 42. Inked up; 43. Japanese or Javanese; 45. Trades one-twos, say; 46. Ear part; 47. “Chicago Hope” Emmy winner; 48. Umpire of Hamlet’s fencing match with Laertes; 49. Impulse; 52. French town in ‘44 news; 53. Gulf land; 54. Part of a sitcom signoff; 55. Big “birds” of old 57. Ill. Hours; 58. Fill-in.
 

12.19.12 — Tomato

 

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

 

Puzzle by Mike Buckley / Edited by Will Shortz

This Wednesday’s crossword features a quotation attributed to Miles Kington, KNOWLEDGE IS / KNOWING A TOMATO / IS A FRUIT / WISDOM IS / NOT PUTTING IT IN / A FRUIT SALAD. More accurately, the quote is “Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing that a tomato doesn't belong in a fruit salad."

 

Other — AT NOON, BLOTTO, EMILIO Estevez, ENJOIN, FELIPE Alou, JANE ROE, JUNIORS, LEER AT, ROSETTE, San SIMEON, SOAR TO, STEREO, STREAMS, TARTAR.

 

Five-letter — AKELA (15A. Scout pack leader), Counselor-AT-LAW, BASSO (10D. Low man on stage), CELEB, DR WHO, ELIOT, INERT, IT’S OK, KEBAB, LIEST, OSAKA, PANDA, STOAT, TEASE, TO FIT, URALS.

 

Short stuff — AKA, ALI, Cape ANN, ATE, CAD, CUT, DAB and LAB, EKG, ELI, END, ESAI Morales, GAT, GEL, GUS and GUT, GEL, HAL, IRON, ITO and ITT, JINN, KIST, LEA, NCIS, NEAR, NEO and NET, NON, OMNI, ORO, PIK, RAE, RIEN, CD-ROM, SIN, SSST, TBS, TIE and TIS, UMA and USA, WII.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Bamboo muncher; 6. Paparazzo’s target; 11. “Very Funny” network; 14. Like radon; 17. Start of a thought by British journalist Miles Kington; 20. Falstaff’s princely friend; 21. Flower-shaped decoration; 23. Thought, part 2; 27. Hardly a win-win situation?; 28. Album track; 29. A Monopoly token; 30. Thought, part 3; 34. Salon supply; 36. Places for mills, once; 37. Some varsity players; 41. “The lowing herd wind slowly o’er the ___: (Thomas Gray line); 42. Thought, part 4; 43. Morales of “Caprica”; 46. One of a deadly seven; 47. Pull down; 48. Thought, part 5; 54. Anonymous one, in court; 55. Ingested; 56. Conquistador’s booty; 57. End of the thought; 63. O.J. Simpson trial judge; 64. “When thou ___ down, thou shalt not be afraid”: Proverbs; 65. Where Sanyo is headquartered; 66. Alternative to “smoking”; 67. Brown ermine; 68. Skewered fare. — DOWN: 1. Water ___, Inc.; 2. New England’s Cape ___; 3. “The Matrix” role; 4. BBC time-traveling series; 6. Insensitive sort; 7. Heart chart, briefly; 8. Eye lustfully; 9. Poet whose work inspired “Cats”; 11. Calculus, familiarly; 12. Pie-eyed; 13. San ___ (Hearst Castle site); 18. Country music’s ___ Young Band; 22. Actor Estevez; 23. Commercial ending for Sun or Star; 24. Warm, so to speak; 25. “JAG” spinoff with Mark Harmon; 26. ___ reaction; 27. Frank McCourt memoir; 31. One of baseball’s Alous; 32. “Norma ___” (Sally Field film); 33. Thurman of “The Avengers”; 34. Gloomy guy?; 35. Wind down; 37. Spirit of Islamic myth; 38. Onetime Dodge; 39. Nanette’s “nothing”; 40. Mach 1 breaker; 42. Super Smash Bros. Brawl console; 43. Prohibit by judicial order; 44. Reach an altitude of; 45. When some do lunch; 46. Den system; 49. Eurasian range; 50. Tailored ___ (customized); 51. Old gang heater; 52. “Things could be worse”; 53. Pick on; 58. G8 member; 59. Cousin of TV’s Gomez; 60. “CSI” setting; 61. Rap sheet entry; 62. Amount of cream.

 

12.18.12 — Double Play

 

 

Two trees, dkell426 

 

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Tuesday, December 18, 2012

 

Puzzle by Adam G. Perl / Edited by Will Shortz

 

DOUBLE PLAY (68A. Diamond feat … and a hint to 17-, 21-, 35-, 47- and 59-Across), FAIRGROUND, DOWNTIME, ROOMMATE, DOUGH BOY and DATE BOOK constitute the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword, e.g., fair play, playground, etc.

 

Other — AROUSE, ATTILA, DMITRI Shostakovich, MID RIB (36D. What a leafstalk leads to), NUTMEG (22D. Tree that’s the source of mace), REDWOOD City, SOLIDS, STOOD IN.

 

Five-letter — AD LIB, AMANA, ANGLE, ANNOY, BLINI, CREST, EAT ME, ETAIL, HAIFA, LET ON, NEEDY, NO ONE, OMNIA, RASTA, SEE ME, SHOES, STASH, TITHE, TREES (75A. Classic poem that begins “I think that I shall never see“), USUAL, XENIA.

 

Short stuff — ACNE, AES, AHS, ALFA Romeo, ALIT, “But is it ART?”, AT IT, AXES, BAHS, Wanna-BES, EROS, ESP, “¿Cómo ESTA?”, EYES, HEN, IF SO, ILYA, IN RE, INTO and ONTO, ION, KURT, LEAH, LIAR, Jean-LUC Godard, MEAT, NETS, NOEL, NOLO, NOR I, OPER, ORBS, OTT, PATH, RIOT, “SAME here“, SCUD, “Keep TABS on, TAN and TAO, TOIL, TSAR, ULEE, YES, “After YOU“.

 

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I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

 

~ Joyce Kilmer

 

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Puzzle available on the internet at

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Washer/dryer brand; 6. Bygone despot; 10. Cans; 14. Not conceal; 15. Adolescent breakout; 16. Sister of Rachel; 17. Place to see a Ferris wheel; 19. Call ___ QUESTION; 20. Fifth-century invader; 21. Period for R&R; 23. Meeting of the minds?; 26. 1950s runner’s inits.; 27. Hold ___ (keep); 31. Give a good whippin’; 33. Super Giant; 35. Dorm assignment; 37. Composer Shostakovich; 41. Some pancakes; 42. Barnyard cackler; 44. Online sales; 45. Pool choice; 47. W.W. I soldier; 50. “All right!”; 52. Distinctive parts of a Boston accent; 55. Electrolysis particle; 57. Filmmaker Jean-___ Godard; 59. You can plan on it; 62. Excite; 67. One who breaks a court oath; 70. In that case; 71. Memo starter; 72. Curt summons; 73. Curmudgeonly cries; 74. Clears; 75. Classic poem that begins “I think that I shall never see”. — 2. Vegetarian’s no-no; 3. Bickering; 4. “Me neither”; 5. Matter of degree; 6. “The ___ of Steve,” 2000 film; 7. Gulf war missile; 8. Bug; 9. ___ City, California locale named for local flora; 10. Came down; 121. City near Dayton; 12. Wonderland cake instruction; 13. Some brake parts; 18. Dreaded one?; 24. What 6-Down means; 27. Spheres; 28. Court plea, briefly; 29. Trouble’s partner; 30. All, to Augustus; 32. Clinging, say; 34. Church offering; 38. Keep ___ on (watch); 39. Uproariously funny sort; 40. The N.H.L.’s Kovalchuk; 43. “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” e.g.; 46. Pinch-hit (for); 48. Norm; 52. Wing it; 53. Israeli port; 54. Secret store; 56. #1 Alicia Keys hit of 2007; 58. Colgate rival; 60. Winged Greek god; 61. Composer Weill; 63. It can be found under TUV; 64. Peter Fonda title role; 68. Potato’s multitude.

 

12.17.12 — Heeere, Kitty Kitty ...!

  

 

Photograph by Michael Nichols

 

A mother Bengal tiger and her cub rest in the tall grass of a meadow. Tiger cubs remain with their mothers for two to three years before dispersing to find their own territory. Tigers are the largest members of the cat family and are renowned for their power and strength. ~ National Geographic

 

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Monday, December 17, 2012

 

Puzzle by Elizabeth A. Long / Edited by Will Shortz

Five felines are featured in this coy and colorful Monday crossword: KITTY HAWK (17A. Wright flight site), TIGER LILY (11D. Perennial whose flowers are typically orange with black dots), CAT SCAN (40A. Hospital diagnostic), "OCTOPUSSY" (64A. James Bond film involving Fabergé egg) and DANDELION (35D: Source of some fluff).

 

Other — BEDROOM, CORNELL, EMERALDS (22D. Green gems), EXTRUDE, GRISTLE, Garrison KEILLER, TAG ALONG, TEXTURE.

 

Mid-size — ACT UP, A-LINE, ALITO, “It’s the end of AN ERA“, BOISE, DAKAR, “The Mystery of EDWIN Drood“, Michael EISNER, HOSES, MELODY, METES, MONGOL, MUKLUK (8D. Eskimo boot), NUMBER, RECUE, RELIVE, RESULT, SANER, SIXTHS, SLYLY, STOOL, TO SEA, URGES, VIOLA.

 

Short stuff — ABU Dhabi, Chicken À LA king, ALEX, ALOE vera, Très BIEN, CAVS, CLI, COOS, “There Is Nothin’ Like a DAME“, DEAF, Per DIEM, DUH, DUNK, EASY, ELIA Kazan, ETNA, FAT, Cumberland GAP, GLEE club, IDLE, ILL, IRAN, JADE (33A. Green gem), JAMB, LED, LISP, NEST, NILE, OAR, OKS, OVER, REDO, REEL, TYRO, URDU, YALE, YEAS.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. “There Is Nothin’ Like a ___” (“South Pacific” song); 5. Per ___ (expense account amount); 9. Misbehave; 14. “Jeopardy!” host Trebek; 15. Pakistani tongue; 16. Idaho’s capital; 19. Impulses; 21. River near the Pyramids;23. Hornets’ home; 24. Outcome; 26. The “N” of PIN; 28. Needing sign language, say; 30. Garrison of “A Prairie Home Companion” 38. Go over in one’s imagination; 42. Was out front; 43. Genghis Khan, for one; 45. Needing hospitalization, say; 46. Beginner; 47. Place to sleep; 49. Barely run the engine; 51. Former Disney head Michael; 53. Wedge fractions in Trivial Pursuit; 57. Cartoon frames; 59. __ club (singing group); 61. Aid for reaching the top shelf, maybe; 62. Samuel on the Supreme Court; 66. String quartet member; 67. Dip, as a doughnut; 68. Film spool; 69. Having a clearer head; 70. Votes that are an anagram of 71-Across; 71. “No sweat!”. — DOWN: 1. Senegal’s capital; 2. Skirt style; 3. Doles (out); 4. Stick out; 5. Dolt’s response; 6. It’s bordered by three countries with “-stan” in their names; 7. Dickens’s “The Mystery of ___ Drood”; 10. Institution in Ithaca, N.Y.; 12. Avails oneself of; 13. Little brother, to an older sibling, say; 18. Schol where the Clintons met; 22. Green gems; 25. Follow behind; 27. “Très ___” (“Very well,” in French); 29. Obese; 31. Atop; 32. Fresh take, informally; 33. Either side of a doorway; 37. Omega preceder; 40. Dove sounds; 41. 151, in old Rome; 44. Hard-to-chew piece of meat; 46. Surface quality; 48. Tune; 50. Favor a “th” sound; 52. Feed the same line; 54. Where navies go; 55. Water carriers; 56. In a wily way; 57. Cleveland b-ball team; 58. Kazan of Hollywood; 60. Sicilian mount; 63. It’s dipped in the water; 65. Allows.

 

12.16.12 — A Christmas Story — the Acrostic

Sunday, December 16, 2012

 

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Edited by Will Shortz

This Sunday’s seasoned acrostic draws a quotation from In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash, the source of A Christmas Story by Jean Shepherd.

 

In God We Trust, Shepherd's wildly witty reunion with his Indiana hometown, disproves the adage "You can never go back." Bending the ear of Flick, his childhood-buddy-turned-bartender, Shepherd recalls passionately his genuine Red Ryder BB gun, confesses adolescent failure in the arms of Junie Jo Prewitt, and relives a story of man against fish that not even Hemingway could rival. From pop art to the World's Fair, Shepherd's subjects speak with a universal irony and are deeply and unabashedly grounded in American Midwestern life, together rendering a wonderfully nostalgic impression of a more innocent era when life was good, fun was clean, and station wagons roamed the earth. ~ amazon.com 

 

The quotation: FAMILIES IN THOSE DAYS SPENT THEIR LIVES EATING CANNED CORN MEAT LOAF PEANUT-BUTTER SANDWICHES OATMEAL RED CABBAGE AND PEAS GREAT MEALS STUCK OUT LIKE ICEBERGS IN THE CARIBBEAN BUYING A TURKEY WAS A STATE OCCASION

 

The author’s name and the title of the work: SHEPHERD, A CHRISTMAS STORY

The defined words:

A. Munchies not always nutritious (2 wds.), SNACK FOOD
B. Occurring during puberty, HEBETIC
C. Annual path of the sun, as seen from Earth, ECLIPTIC
D. Caltech’s home city, PASADENA
E. Author who said, “Write drunk; edit sober”, HEMINGWAY
F. N.F.L. team whose mascot is Swoop, EAGLES
G. Truly sorry for one’s sins, REPENTANT
H. Organized body of searchable information, DATABASE
I. Expanse called “wine-dark” by Homer (2 wds.), AEGEAN SEA
J. Ideal role of life for some monks, CELIBACY
K. Constituents of some matches, HUSBANDS
L. Idol of the MTV sort (2 wds.), ROCK STAR
M. 1921 Ellis Island offering to all new Americans (2 wds.), ICE CREAM
N. Pests first noted in the U.S. in 1998 (2 wds.), STINK BUGS
O. Aid for studying a culture (2 wds.), TEST TUBE
P. Potential cause of a smack, MISTLETOE
Q. Gift in the holiday classic that is the source of this puzzle (2 wds.), AIR RIFLE
R. Pen pals?, SWINE
S. American League pitcher who was the 2007 Cy Young award, SABATHIA
T. Perfectly aligned, TRUE
U. Sponsor of the old “Captain Midnight” radio show, OVALTINE
V. Having a figure like that of Kriss Kringle, ROTUND
W. Comic who said “Take my wife — please”, YOUNGMAN

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Puzzle available on the internet at

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12.16.12 — Hearing Double

 

 

In England, artist Francis Barraud (1856-1924) painted his brother's dog Nipper listening to the horn of an early phonograph during the winter of 1898. Victor Talking Machine Company began using the symbol in 1900, and Nipper joined the RCA family in 1929.

 

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Sunday, December 16, 2012
 

HEARING DOUBLE, Puzzle by Matt Ginsberg / Edited by Will Shortz

In this Sunday crossword, twelve common phrases become uncommon with different spelling and meaning with the same pronunciation, e.g., homophone/heterograph:

WOOD YOU MINED (23A. Souvenir from the Petrified Forest?)
NEED THE DOE (29A. What randy bucks do?)
AYE OF KNUTE (31A. Agreement from the Gipper’s coach?)
MAID OF METTLE (42A. Plucky housekeeper?)
C’EST GOOD KNIGHT (56A. “Well done, Sir Lancelot,” in Franglais?)
KNOT FOR PROPHET (64A. Soothsayer’s shoelace problem?)
HALVE THE RITE (78A. Shorten a bar mitzvah by 50%?)
BYRD OF PRAY (93A. Polar explorer, after getting religion?)
LES IS MOORE (95A. Tagline for the biopic “Dudley” starring bandleader Brown?)
AISLE OF WHITE (101A. Where Macy’s keeps the wedding dresses?)
PROSE AND KHANS (3D. Book about the writing style of the Mongols?)
THREW THE REIGN (54D. Abdicated?)

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Puzzle available on the internet at

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Food that jiggles; 6. “Along ___ spider …”; 11. Gone, but not forgotten; 15. Horizontal: Abbr.; 18. Ticked by; 20. First U.S. screen portrayer of Dr. Fu Manchu; 21. Dangerous outpouring; 22. Overly; 25. Priests, at times; 27. Two-fifths of ‘N Sync?; 28. Actor Edward James ___; 34. Luth. Or Presb.; 35. Force; 36. Crowning touch?; 37. What may is part of; 38. Tolkien trilogy, to fans; 39. Measure of purity; 40. Knobby; 45. Drama set at the Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce ad agency; 47. Nautical direction; 48. Pasta suffix; 49. Inquirers; 50. Words before coming or made; 52 Inclined; 55. Some salmon; 59. Python in “The Jungle Book”; 60. Handel bars?; 61. Wings: Lat.; 62. Lightning ___; 70. Link up with; 72. Pleasure boats; 73. Affair of the heart; 74. Chucklehead; 75. ___ Jima; 76. Stage assistant;77. Outpourings; 83. Decorative pin; 85. Qatari bigwig: Var.; 86. Ones with a lot of pull?; 87. London can; 88. Alpine wind; 91. Literally, itself”; 92. Memo opener; 98. Out at the dentist’s?; 99. Freddy Krueger’s street; 100. Ten Commandments no-no; 105. Wimple wearer; 106. Home to the 90-Down, once; 107. Nasty look; 108. “___it!”; 109. Popular smartphone app; 110. Dog command; 111. Guitarist Duane and others; 112. Makes, as one’s way. — DOWN: 1. What one may break during exercise; 2. André and Mia’s adoptive daughter; 4. Iraq war hazard, briefly; 5. Small, low island; 6. Be at one (with); 7. Former San Francisco mayor; 8. Stately home; 9. K.C.-to-Chicago direction; 109. Postscript: Abbr.; 11. Former attorney general Gonzales; 12. Kind of salad; 13. Steve ___, 1980 Olympic track champion; 14. Stinging rebuke; 15. Was humbled; 16. Like the ring in an eclipse; 17. Leopard spot; 19. Scammed; 24. Bones next to humeri; 26. Tranquilizing; 30. Horatian piece; 32. Balcony cry; 33. Soundboard controls;38. Deliberately delude; 39. Alaska’s ___Peninsula; 41. Walk-___ (non-recruited athletes); 42. It may be rigged; 43. Sacha Baron Cohen persona; 44. Who wrote “A bear, however hard he tries, / Grows tubby without exercise”; 45. Big truck maker; 46. Have ___ (bathe); 50. Willing recipients?; 51. Urgently; 52. Psychology pioneer Alfred; 53. Trick-taking card game; 56. Photoshop command; 57. Locale of a 12/7/1941 attack; 58. Funny Fields; 60. Just begun; 63. Freckles, e.g.; 65. Salad bar supply; 66. Castle component; 67. ___ to go; 68. Drop; 69. One of five Nicholases; 70. Start of a basketball game; 71. Words from Sgt. Friday; 74. U.K. mil. Decoration; 76. Feminist Germaine; 78. Raining hard?; 79. Totally jazzed; 80. Some scriptural passages; 81. 74-Down recipient, e.g.; 82. Fergie, for one; 83. Bygone bookstore chain; 84. Bull session?; 87. Inspector in Elizabeth George mysteries; 89. Obeyed a sentry, say; 90. See 106-Across; 92. “___ Only One” (Melissa Etheridge hit); 93. Cleared the dishes; 94. “Antigonae” composer Carl; 96. Miss America identifier; 97. Allay; 102. Neither Dem. Nor Rep.; 103. Knock over; 104. Charlemagne’s realm: Abbr.

 

12.15.12 — The Saturday Crossword

Thor's Battle Against the Jötnar (1872) by Mårten Eskil Winge

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Saturday, December 15, 2012

Puzzle by Will Nediger / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — Java application?, HALF AND HALF; 12. E-mails a dupe, CCS; 15. Swearing-in figure, INAUGURATOR; 16. Onetime giant in decking, ALI; 17. Raphael, e.g., NINJA TURTLE; 18. It may have no stars, PAN; 19. Film producer DODI Fayed; 20. Birthplace of the phonograph, MENLO PARK; 22. Ruling group, INS; 23. Heads across the pond, WCS; 25. Standing by, ON ICE; 26. Cold front?, CEE; 27. Gran Paradiso, e.g., ALP; 29. Prepares to be discharged, AIMS; 31. It goes over the tongue, SHOELACE; 34. Guitar-spinning group, ZZ TOP; 35. City of a quarter million founded on a ranch site, CHANDLER ARIZONA; 37. HISSY fit; 38. Shred, RIP APART; 39. Prefix with Germanic, INDO; 40. Three-sided carrier, HOD; 41. Peak periods, UPS; 42. Piña colada topping?, TILDE; 44. Web site crasher?, FLY; 48. Specifically, TO BE EXACT; 51. Composer ELIE Siegmeister; 52. Greetings, HIS; 53. Bit of ancient art, CAVE DRAWING; 56. OSO polar (animal del Artico); 57. Singer who founded Righteous Babe Records, ANI DIFRANCO; 58. Victor over H.H.H., RMN; 59. It competed with Mail Boxes Etc., FEDEX KINKOS.
 

Down — 1. Origin of the word, “cheetah”, HINDI; 2 F-, for one, ANION; 3. Secures, LANDS; 4. It blew in 1707, FUJI; 5. Ottoman dignitary, AGA; 6. Real fan, NUT; 7. Makeup of some kits, DRUMS; 8. Storied slacker, HARE; 9. Routing abbr., ATTN; 10. Move with bobbing motion, LOLLOP; 11. Common cooler, FREON; 12. Charge storer, CAPACITOR; 13. Home of Pomona College, CLAREMONT; 14. Settle, SINK; 21. Big squares, PIAZZAS; 23. Overgrown, say, WEEDY; 24. Mobile, CELL; 26. Wii, for one, CONSOLE; 27. Nose-burning, ACRID; 28. One may be taken in faith, LEAP; 30. Facial site, SPA; 31. Its central deity is Amaterasu, SHINTOISM; 32. Claims, HAS DIBS ON; 33. Like sports cars, briefly, AERO; 34. Full of energy, ZIPPY; 35. Eastern energy, CHI; 36. 1980s Argentine president RAUL Alfonsin; 40. Hydrocarbon in gasoline, HEXANE; 43. 1-Across may be added to it, DECAF; 44. Neighbor of McGuire A.F.B., FT DIX; 45. Can, CLINK; 46. A third of quince, CINCO; 47. Toy snappers, LEGOS; 48. Dweller in the hall Bilskimir, THOR; 49. Like a 6-Down, AVID; 50. Turn over, CEDE; 51. Actor EWAN McGregor; 54. N.Y.C.’S RFK Bridge; 55. Talent agent, ARI Emanuel.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

12.14.12 — Easy Does It!

Friday, December 14, 2012

 

Puzzle by Paula Gamache / Edited by Will Shortz

Six eleven-letter-across and six ten-letter-down entries constitute the main feature of this Friday crossword:

• THE BIG SHORT (4A. 2010 best seller by Michael Lewis)
• BEATLEMANIA (16A. Fever that reached America in the mid-1960s)
• SAMUEL ALITO (18A. Nominee who was the subject of a 2006 filibuster attempt)
• EVA LONGORIA (50A. L'Oréal spokeswoman of the 2000s)
• FACE REALITY (54A. Wake up and smell the coffee)
• THE RED ROVER (58A. Sea novel by James Fenimore Cooper)
•  STAND ASIDE (1D. Take no preventive action)
• INDOOR POOL (2D. Amenity in some 30-Down)
• STAR STRUCK (3D. Transported by a big name)
• STRIP MALLS (28D. Chains of chains, often)
• ALICIA KEYS (29D. 2001 Best New Artist Grammy winner)
• MCMANSIONS (30D. They stand out in the neighborhood)

 

Other — ARTERY, DEMISE, DHARMAS (44A. Virtuous behaviors, in Hinduism), DO SHOTS, ELKHOUND (40A. Large hunter with a shaggy gray coat), GEL PACKS (9D. Flexible injury soothers), GOT SORE, HAILER and HALITE (11D. Cubic crystals with perfect cleavage), MAILER, PRINTS, SEEP IN, SMARTLY, TAUTENED, UNCLE SAM.

 

Five-letter — DERIV, EAMES House (Los Angeles landmark of modern architecture), GANEF, KNOPF (25D. Publisher with a borzoi logo), LEICA, PEERS, SMOKY, SONNY, SPREE, TOPPS (35A. Bazooka Joe‘s company), UMPED, WHEES.

 

Short stuff — ADA, ATTY, AYR, BTUS, DEFT, DOC, “Well Did You EVAH?”, GAR, ILE, IOUS, KATT, LEA and LEO, LYN, MACE, NORW, “Go ON IN!”, ORE, PRIM, RES, RITT, SAKI, SEI, SIS, SOLO, SSS, TAOS, TBS, TLC, TNT (15A. Homewrecker?).

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. She often wears hand-me-downs; 17. Org. fighting decay; 19. Major Eur. Oil exporter; 21. Matter found in briefs?; 2. Digital evidence?; 23. Toss down tequila, e.g.; 26. One may service an organ; 27. Relative of John Bull; 31. Carousal; 32. Not clear, in a way; 33. Special handling; 34. They indicate shyness; 36. Stiff; 37. Sleepy co-worker?; 38. Rascal, in slang; 39. Shooter favored by Henri Cartier-Bresson; 42. Percolate; 43. Adept arguer: Abbr.; 45. End; 48. Due tripled; 49. Contemporary of O. Henry; 53. It’s a sign; 55. Political adviser Nofziger; 57. Lottery letters. — DOWN: 4. “Sullivan & Son” airer; 5. Unrestrained; 7. Energy qtys.; 8. Trinité; 10. One way to dress; 13. “Nuts” director, 1987; 14. Ute Peak’s county; 20. Cries on a ride; 24. Bed rock?; 27. Worked on a field; 32. Fella; 35. Took up the slack?; 36. Equals; 38. Became peeved; 39. Low location?; 41. Whom a hack watches out for; 42. Follower of Ali; 44. Dict. Info; 45. Magicianlike; 46. Cole Porter’s “Well, Did You ___?”; 47. Police supply; 48. Unbanded?; 51. Fish with poisonous roe; 52. Scottish port.