12.21.13 — Word-Cross

Word Cross Puzzle by Arthur Wynne

New York Sunday World, December 21, 1903

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Saturday, December 21, 2013

Puzzle by Todd Gross and David Steinberg

Edited by Will Shortz

NEW YORK / SUNDAY WORLD / ARTHUR WYNNE / MCMXIII (6A. With 20-Across, where the first-ever crossword puzzle appeared / Creator of the first crossword / 59A. Year in which the first crossword appeared, on December 21) constitute the interrelated group of this 100th anniversary of the crossword puzzle, featuring a shaded area resembling the diamond shape of that first crossword.

Other — AMIDALA (22D. “Star Wars” queen and senator); Had A COW (flipped), DALAI LAMA (58A. 1989 Peace Nobelist), DEWCLAW (23D. Canine vestigial structure); EL GALLO (7D. Jerry Orbach role in “The Fantasticks”); ESSENTIAL (31D. Like many nutrients); FUNGICIDE (16A. Jojoba oil is a natural one), GREENLAND (3D. Noted geographical misnomer), KREWE (12D. Mardi Gras group); LORELEI (37. Rock singer?), SOLEMNER (14A. Less light?).

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Remaining clues — ACROSS:  1. Girl’s name in #1 1973 and 1974 song titles; 13. Reserved parking; 15. Form of many a birthday cake; 17. Lead-in to now; 18. Home of MacDill Air Force Base; 24. Legal attachment?; 25. Light unit; 26. Acclaim for picadors; 28. Certain sultan’s subjects; 30. They’re not team players; 34. Lab dept.; 35. La ___ (California resort and spa); 38. Extended trial; 38. Not for the general public; 39. Morlocks’ enemy; 41. Saxony, e.g.; 42. Shot,; 49. Kingdom vanquished by Hammurabi; 51. Actor Tom of “The Seven Year Itch”; 52. Ranch sobriquet; 53. 1989 Peace Nobelist; 55. Aviary sound; 57. To a fault; 58. Fruit whose name comes from Arawak; 60. Firth, e.g.  DOWN — 1. Where vaults can be seen; 2. Jacket style; 3. Noted geographical misnomer; 4. “South Park” boy; 5. Basic Latin verb; 6. Hobbyist, e.g.; 8D. Early Chinese dynasty; 9. Neighborhood org. since 1844; 10. Chilling; 11. Mulligans, e.g.; 14. Big sport overseas?; 16. Babe in the woods; 18. Sailors’ chains; 21. Cit of the Firth of Tay; 27. High-hatting; 28. Cortes’s quest; 29. Graffiti, say; 31.2. 1, for one: Abbr.; 33. Poor, as an excuse; 38. Key never used by itself; 40. Formal confession; 41. Toni Morrison novel; 42. Obscure; 43. Like some vin; 44. R. J. Reynolds brand; 46. Borders; 47. Brass; 48. Hemingway, notably; 50. T. J. ___; 54. “Vous etes ___”; 55. Staple of sci-fi filmmaking; 56. Ostrogoth enemy.

12.20.13 — The Friday Crossword

Phobos and Mars, image made with Celestia © Guillermo Abramson 

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Friday, December 20, 2013

Puzzle by Ian Livengood / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. Locale that often includes a wet bar and large-screen TV, MAN CAVE; 8. Picture with a number, MUG SHOT; 15. Where it never gets above zero degrees?, EQUATOR; 16. One going around the bases?, USO TOUR; 17. Ends of some films, SUNSETS; 18. Warm-up?, DÉTENTE; 19. Greasy spoon order, HASH; 20. Where a bud hangs out, EAR; 22. Successfully lure, ROPE IN; 23. Kind of figure, CARTOON; 26. Highlighted, say, DYED; 27. Toss, SCRAP; 30. Mexican revolutionary of 1910, ZAPATA; 32. Moon of Mars, PHOBOS; 24. Draft pick?, SAM ADAMS; 38. Electric EEL; 39. Jacket option, LEATHER; 41. “NOT bad!”; 42. Much of the Plains States, CROPLAND; 44. Palliate, SOOTHE; 46. Staple of the house in “The Real World”, HOT TUB; 48. Still, INERT; 49. “VAYA con Dios”; 52. Transport for Miss Gulch, in “The Wizard of Oz”, BICYCLE; 54. What a chair needs, AGENDA; 56. Hawaiian for “white”, KEA; 57. PC whiz, TECH; 61. Controversial 1715 measure of Parliament, RIOT ACT; 63. Touch-type?, BRAILLE; 65. Infomercial testimonial, IT WORKS; 66. Reply to a schoolmistress, YES MA’AM; 67. It clears the air, GAS MASK; 68. “The Hangover” co-star, ED HELMS.

Apollo Belvedere - Roman copy after a Greek bronze original of 330-320 BC attributed to Leochares.  Found in the late 15th century.  
Vatican Museum.

Down — 1. Go well (with), MESH; 2. Soft shade, AQUA; 3. “The Sound of Music” chorus, NUNS; 4. TV game show on the “Discovery Channel, 2005-12, CASH CAB; 5. Loved, with “up”, ATE; 6. Person behind a curtain, maybe, VOTER; 7. Unreal, ERSATZ; 8. Joe, MUD; 9. Handles online, USER NAMES; 10. Attend, GO TO; 11. Edward Murdstone to David Copperfield, STEPDAD; 12. Sugar, HONEY; 13. Certain belly button, OUTIE; 14. What polling may reveal, TREND; 24. APOLLO Belvedere (classic sculpture in the Vatican); 25. Great white shark prey, OPAH; 27. Particular, informally, SPEC; 28. “Clueless” protagonist, CHER; 29. Hershey candy, ROLO; 31. Distilled pine product, TAR OIL; 33. Places to find in-flight magazines, SEAT BACKS; 35. Advance on a table, ANTE; 36. Actor Jay MOHR of “Jerry Maguire”; 37. Leave in, STET; 40. Lock opener?, ANTI; 43. Unreal, PHANTOM; 46. Former, ONE TIME; 47. “So long”, BYE BYE; 49. South American carrier founded in 1927, VARIG; 50. Heartburn, AGITA; 51. Cries of pain, YEOWS; 53. Nursed, with “for”, CARED; 55. DARA Torres, four-time Olympic swimming gold medalist; 58. Company that follows Shin Bet security procedures, EL AL; 59. Tight-lipped sort, CLAM; 60. Border lines?, HEMS; 62. “Bad!”, TSK; 64. Popular wood for wood chips, ASH.

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12.19.13 — Oil and Water

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Puzzle by George Barany and Michael Shteyman

Edited by Will Shortz

Three squares containing the word OIL and three containing WATER, along with a rippled group of across separation lines in the center of the puzzle, accompanied by the entry LIKE WATER AND OIL (36A. Incompatible) as the dividing line for ten doubled-up entries, constitutes the interrelated group of this Thursday crossword.  The OIL and WATER group:

• REC[OIL]S (4D. Jumps back) with TIN F[OIL] (20A. Food wrap)
• ET V[OIL]A (10D. Cry at an unveiling) with [OIL] LAMP (22A. Light for Aladdin)
• BR[OIL]ER (34A. Chicken for dinner) with T[OIL]ET [WATER] (31D. Lightly scented perfume) and HOT [WATER] BAG (43A. Soother of an aching joint)
• ICE [WATER] (50D. “L’chaim,” literally) with SEA [WATER] (62A. Brine)
• LOW [WATER] (52D. Ideal condition in which to ford a stream) with [WATER] SKI (64A. Wakeboard relative)

There are ten divided entries separated by LIKE WATER AND OIL, mixed with no relation to each other, a bit like water and oil.  The bottom half of this puzzle is numbered differently in the print and electronic versions (this post follows the electronic numbering):

• CAPTAIN America / LAST PASS (1D. / 36D. Final maneuver)
• ARTICLE I / WHEELIE (2D. It gives Congress the power to declare war / Cyclist’s stunt)
• TRANCES / KEY ARENA (3D. Séance phenomena / Seattle Center Coliseum, since 1995)
• BANANAS / OUTLINES (11D. Fruit or nuts / Silhouettes)
• CLEMENT I / RAT FINK (12D. Fourth pope / Snitch)
• DEEP RED / LIBRETTI (13D. Crimson / Opera texts)
• TUBA / TODDLER (25D. Big band member / Wee one)
• SLR / TATE (26D. Camera type, briefly / London gallery)
• TRE / RIBS (27D. Numero di R’s in “arrivederci” / Razzes)
• RARA avis / MAITRE D’ (28D. Two- or four-seater, maybe)

Other — COLOR TV (18A. Living room fixture since the ‘50s), EXED OUT (15A. Canceled), Rio NEGRO (Amazon feeder), ROMANCE (4A. Woo), WAHOO (37D. Rebel yell).

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12.18.13 — Away With Words

Jérôme Murat, the Living Statue 

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Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Puzzle by Ed Sessa / Edited by Will Shortz

AWARD OF THE STATE (17A. Plaque from a governor?), AWAY WITH WORDS (36A. Mime’s motto?) and ALIGHT IN THE DARK (59A. Arrive via a red-eye?) constitute the interrelated group of this tersely smooth Thursday crossword.

Other — Composer AARON Copland, ATTN and ATTU, BOATEL (11D. Floating accommodations), Carrie BRADSHAW on “Sex and the City”, DRESSAGE (39D. Equestrian training), ESCAPE PLAN (30A. It’s tested in a fire drill), EYELASH (34D. Narrowest of margins), I SMELL A RAT (44A. “Something is rotten in Denmark”), IRE, IRAE and IRAS, SHOE BOX (19D. Baseball card collection holder, maybe), XEROX (42A. Certain dupe).

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12.17.13 — NBA

Basketball, Paulo Jimenez 

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Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Puzzle by Paula Gamache / Edited by Will Shortz

NBA (54A. Org. found in the answer to each asterisked clue), along with TIN BADGE, KEVIN BACON, ONION BAGEL, GREEN BAY, SUN BATH, WIN BACK, PINBALL and OPEN BAR constitutes the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword:

TIN BADGE (17A. *Sheriff’s insignia, in old westerns)
KEVIN BACON (29A. *Actor named in a “Six Degrees” game)
ONION BAGEL (46A. *Tangy breakfast item)
GREEN BAY (59A. *Packers’ hometown)
SUNBATH (3D. *Tanning method)
WIN BACK (11D. *Recover, as lost love)
PINBALL (40D. *Tommy’s game in the Who’s rock opera “Tommy”)
OPEN BAR (44D. *Feature of many a charity gala)

Other — Jennifer ANISTON of “Friends”, BIG IDEA (6D. Grandiose proposal), “Seinfeld” ex-girlfriend ELAINE, Author HENRY James, KOALAS (57A. Supercute marsupials), NIGEL Bruce who played Dr. Watson, ONE NOTE (39D. Lacking in variety), RAIN HAT (2D. Galoshes go-with), SCENE V (7D. Part of many a Shakespearean act), Singer BARBRA Streisand, SPIT ON (37D. Show disdain for, in a way), TONNAGE (45D. Ship’s carrying capacity).

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12.16.13 — Farewell

The Farewell, Philip Lodewijk Jacob Frederik Sadée

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Monday, December 16, 2013

Puzzle by Greg Johnson / Edited by Will Shortz

GOODBYE (34A. This puzzle’s theme), ARRIVEDERCI (11D. “Godspeed, Bruno!“), CIAO (6A. “Gotta go!”), DO SVIDANIYA (24D. “Farewell, Vladimir!”), HASTA LUEGO (50A. “Adios, amigo!”) and TA-TA (58A. “Cheerio!”) constitute the interrelated group of this Monday crossword.

Other — AC DUCTS (22A. They connect cooling units to rooms, in brief), ANTLER (42D. Weapon for a reindeer), ESPOUSE (39D. Advocate), I’M YOURS (4D. Candy heart sentiment), SÉANCE (5D. Event that might involve a Ouija board), SINGLET (38D. Wrestler’s wear), TEN PINS (45A. Bowling game), YOU LOSE (10D. Poor sport’s taunt).

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12.15.13 — A Musical Memoir — the Acrostic

Sunday, December 15, 2013

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Edited by Will Shortz

This Sunday’s pleasant acrostic draws a quotation from Simple Dreams: A Musical Memoir by Linda Ronstadt.

Ronstadt’s memoir is remarkable but not for reasons that readers might think; it is remarkable because of its very ordinariness. There are no tales of parental cruelty or substance abuse. She is lucky that her life has been exceedingly normal, or as normal as it can be for someone as talented and famous as she is, having sold more than a million records. Retired from performing since 2009, Ronstadt now looks back fondly to her childhood in Arizona—her Mexican heritage comes from her father’s side—and shares anecdotes about life on the road, including her first gigs at area coffeehouses and her decision when still a teenager to move by herself to Los Angeles because that was “where the music was.” She writes about her work with the folk-rock band the Stone Poneys, becoming a solo act, exploring the Great American Songbook, recording traditional Mexican folk songs with Rubén Fuentes, and her famous musical friendships, including those with Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris. Ronstadt’s fans will love this refreshingly nice and gracious musical memoir. ~ June Sawyers, amazon.com

The quotation:  WHEN I BEND MY EAR TO A SINGER’S PERFORMANCE, I OFTEN TRY TO TRACK WHO …  INFLUENCED HIM OR HER.   FOR INSTANCE, I CAN HEAR NAT KING COLE IN EARLY RAY CHARLES, LEFTY FRIZZELL IN EARLY MERLE HAGGARD, … FATS DOMINO IN RANDY NEWMAN.

The author’s name and the title of the work:  LINDA RONSTADT, SIMPLE DREAMS

The defined words:

A. Tedious list, series of alternating invocations and responses in church, LITANY
B. A teetotaler being named Boozer, say, IRONY
C. Riddle that shaped music?, NELSON
D. Bloom used medicinally by Aztecs, DAHLIA
E. Bubble-blowing crooner of “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” in a 1937 “Our Gang” episode, ALFALFA
F. Guy who directed “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels”, RITCHIE
G. Too high or low, pitch wise (hyph.), OFF-KEY
H. Feat associated with batteries (hyph.), NO-HITTER
I. One pursuing an uninhibited lifestyle, SWINGER
J. Sound simulated by timpani, THUNDER
K. Players of five notes in a 1977 Spielberg film, ALIENS
L. Oversupply’s opposite, DEARTH
M. Imbued with pitch, TARRED
N. Group inspired by the doo-wop hit “Get a Job” (3 wds.), SHA NA NA
O. Troops for seizing and holding ground, INFANTRY
P. Imitation that’s not flattering, MOCKERY
Q. Port once plagued by corsairs, PENZANCE
R. Drop delivering some relief, LOZENGE
S. Role in ice hockey or the Mafia, ENFORCER
T. Rural and folksy, as cooking or music (hyph.), DOWN-HOME
U. Chorus lines, REFRAIN
V. Use for Chopin’s “Minute Waltz,” per Victor Borge (2 wds.), EGG TIMER
W. Ascap but not BMI, for example, ACRONYM
X. Parakeet’s skill, MIMICRY
Y. Ding-dong, SCREWBALL

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The full paragraph of the quotation:  When I bend my ear to a singer’s performance, I often try to track who it was that influenced him or her.  For instance, I can hear Nat “King” Cole in early Ray Charles, Lefty Frizzell in early Merle Haggard, Rosa Ponselle in Maria Callas, Fats Domino in Randy Newman.  In a recent duet with Tony Bennett, the late Amy Winehouse was channeling Dinah Washington and Billie Holiday to great effect, yet she still sounded like AmyWinehouse. ~ Simple Dreams: A Musical Memoir by Linda Ronstadt

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12.15.13 — CUT

Sunday, December 15, 2013

A Cut Above the Rest, Puzzle by Jeff Chen / Edited by Will Shortz

In this clever Sunday crossword, the word CUT formed by the letters C, U and T in multiple squares at the top of the puzzle (1A. Oceans, CCCCC; 1D. Grab, CCCCC, 31A. Espies, CCCCC; e.g., SEAS, SEIZE and SEES; 8D. Farm females, UUUUU; 11D. Trees with poisonous seeds, UUUUU; 33A. Profit from, UUUUU; e.g., EWES, YEWS and USE; 14A. Razz, TTTTT; 16D. Aids for long drives, TTTTT, e.g., TEASE and TEES, clues six down answers identically as [See above]; 36D. PIECE OF THE ACTION, 42D. KICKED OFF THE TEAM, 71D. PLAYED HOOKY, 75D. SNIDE REMARK, 80D. ALBUM TRACK and 81D. EDITED DOWN.

Other — ALTRUISM (10D. Charitable giving, e.g.), BIONIC LEG (57A. “Six Million Dollar Man” feature), HOUSE RULE (28A. Game twist), JAUNTIER (43A. More rakish), SIRI (95D. Her name is Norwegian for “beautiful woman who leads you to victory”), UNICYCLE (47A. Clown prop).

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12.14.13 — Commando

Barthélémy Charles, Comte de Dreux-Nancré, 1797, Martin Drolling 

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Saturday, December 14, 2013

Puzzle by Martin Ashwood-Smith / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. 2015 Toronto event, PAN AM GAMES; 11. Office staples, PCS; 14. Slide, DETERIORATE; 15. Protagonist in David Foster Wallace’s “Infinite Jest”, HAL; 18. “Corpus Christi” playwright, TERRENCE MCNALLY; 18. Ones united in France?, ETATS; 19. Manufacturer of boxy cars, OTIS; 20. Treasure, LOVE; 21. Loose end?, NESS; 22. “Return to Never Land” role”, SMEE; 23. Darkroom chemical solution, FIXER; 2. Pickle, JAM; 25. Big gun, VIP; 26. U.S. city that’s almost as large in area as Delaware, ANCHORAGE ALASKA; 35. Pat of a French cabinet, FOREIGN MINISTER; 36. Jumbo, e.g., TRAINED ELEPHANT; 37. Shpilkes, ANTS IN ONE’S PANTS; 38. Certain shell contents, TNT; 39. Joan Sebastian’s ESO y Más”; 40. Pull out all the stops, GO BIG; 43. Miracle site, CANA; 45. Latin primer word, AMAT; 49. Hip to, UP ON; 50. Enterprise Klingon, WORF; 51. Close call, SCARE; 52. Forrest Tucker’s “F Troop” role, SERGEANT O’ROURKE; 55 X-TRA large; 56. What solidifies things in the end?, RIGOR MORTIS; 57. Member of the E Street Band, SAX; 58. Bit of forensic evidence, BLOOD STAIN.

Spanish Dancer c. 1879–82, John Singer Sargent

Down — 1. Golfer PEETE Calvin; 2. Quattro relatives, ATRAS; 3. Quaint complaint, NERTS; 4. Husband of Otrera, ARES; 5. TV ad unit: Abbr., MIN; 8. Not cover one’s butt?, GO COMMANDO; 7. Formation from glaciation, ARETE; 8. Former first lady, MAMIE; 9. List-ending abbrs., ETCS; 10. When repeated, a breath freshener, SEN; 11. Jacob’s-ladder, for one, PHLOX; 12. Make a little lower?, CALVE; 13. More artful, SLYER; 14. Tank gun first produced by the Soviets in W.W. II, D-TEN; 17. Ottoman ruler nicknamed “The Lion, ALI PASHA; 22. 19th-/20th-century U.S. portraitist, SARGENT; 23. FILIPPO Brunelleschi, Italian Renaissance architect who developed linear perspective; 24. Coupling, JOINING; 25. 1958 41-Down by Samuel Barber, VANESSA; 26. Mennen line, AFTA; 27. Scandinavian goddess of fate, NORN; 28. Suffix with Pluto-, CRAT; 29. “Ocean’s Eleven” activity, HEISTING; 30. Cagney classic of 1935, G-MEN; 31. Big name in modeling agencies, EILEEN FORD; 32. “South Park” boy, STAN; 33. The Garden of England, KENT; 34. Song and dance, ARTS; 40. Flag wavers?, GUSTS; 41. 25-Down, for one, OPERA; 42. Common cleanser, BORAX; 43. Neighbor of Gabon, CONGO; 44. Holder of Leia’s secret, ARTOO; 45. Legend maker, ACURA; 46. Cuban revolutionary Jose MARTI; 47. “Little Miss Sunshine” co-star, ARKIN; 48. Souvenir buys, TEES; 50. Keen, WAIL; 51. Flue problem, SOOT; 53. Literary inits., ERB; 54. Real-estate listing abbr., RMS.

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12.13.13 — Toccata, etc.

After Dark in Joshua Tree National Park, photo by Scott Stulberg

The name Joshua tree was given by a group of  Mormon settlers who crossed the Mojave Desert in the mid-19th century. The tree's unique shape reminded them of a Biblical story in which Joshua reaches his hands up to the sky in prayer.  ~ Wikipedia

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Friday, December 13, 2013

Puzzle by Gary Cee / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. Kid in shorts with a cowlick, ALFALFA; 8. Soft soap relative, SNOW JOB; 15. Twisting, TORSION; 18. Industrial production unit, MAN-HOUR; 17. What black licorice or blue cheese is, for many, AN ACQUIRED TASTE; 19. What a parade may necessitate, DETOUR; 20. Goulash, OLIO; 21. Give the ax, HEW; 22. Organ showpiece, TOCCATA; 24. Things that are put on … or don’t go off, DUDS; 25. Sound of a belt, BAM; 28. Agitates, ROILS; 29. “Stand and fight” grp., NRA; 30. Like agateware and graniteware, ENAMELED; 32. One might be made for the shower, BOOTEE; 35. Goosed, EGGED ON; 36. Consolation prize recipient, ALSO RAN; 37. Novel followed up by “The Boyhood of Christ”, BEN-HUR; 38. Out to lunch, CLUELESS; 39. Need for muscle contraction, briefly, ATP; 40. Person who may work a lot, VALET; 41. One having a ball?, EYE; 42. Like a Madrilenian millionairess, RICA; 44. Apex, VERY TOP; 48. Geology topic, ERA; 47. Plot element?, ACRE; 48. Singular publication, ONE-OFF; 52. Line near the end of an infomercial, HERE’S HOW TO ORDER; 55. Get limited access?, ENTRAIN; 58. Finish line?, IT’S DONE; 57. Rural parents, MA AND PA; 58. Sexual desire, euphemistically, THE URGE.

Ange est saint Michel

Down — 1. Not much, A TAD; 2. Singular, LONE; 3. Rushing home?, FRAT; 4. Bit of chichi wear, ASCOT; 5. Smashed LIQUORED UP; 6. Like a common printing process, FOUR-COLOR; 7. The Skywalker boy, for short, ANI; 8. Processes ore, SMELTS; 9. Tennis star NADIA Petrova; 10. Not suckered by, ONTO; 11. Inquiry made while half awake, maybe, WHA’?’ 12. Mojave Desert sight, JOSHUA TREE; 13. Like some celebrities blogged about by Perez Hilton, OUTED; 14. Inn inventory, BREWS; 18. Chemistry Nobelist ROALD Hoffmann; 23. Hernando’s hundred, CIEN; 24. Go gaga (over), DROOL; 25. English channel’s nickname, with “the”, BEEB; 26. Being with une auréole, ANGE; 27. King John sealed it, MAGNA CARTA; 29. Direct, as a confrontation NOSE-TO-NOSE; 31. Israel Philharmonic maestro, MEHTA; 32. Technology standard named for a Danish king, BLUETOOTH; 33. “Calm down now …“, EASY; 34. Massachusetts motto opener, ENSE; 35 Hitch horses, ALLY; 38. All-Star 18 consecutive times from 1967 to 1984, CAREW; 40. “Where we lay our scene,” in Shakespeare, VERONA; 42. Take up one more time, say, REHEM; 43. IRENA Sendler, heroine of W.W. II’s Polish Underground; 44. Blocker working with a receiver, V-CHIP; 45. Out of sight, PERDU; 47. “Like A SAD Song” (John Denver hit); 49. With 51-Down, unscented, ODOR; 50. Wind, in Chinese, FENG; 51. See 49-Down, FREE; 53. Midwest attachment?, ERN; 54. Bearded TIT (reedling).

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