01.18.15 — Changelings

King Kong, 2005 

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Sunday, January 18, 2015

“Changelings” — Puzzle by Joe Krozel / Edited by Will Shortz

Six word ladder sentences comprise the main feature of this Sunday crossword:

HUGE LUGE LUGS LOGS LOTS (27A. Gigantic sled hauls firewood quite a bit)
MAID SAID SAND SANK SINK (34A. Domestic worker claimed shifting beach engulfed basin)
PALE PALS PASS LASS LESS (60A. Friends who have never been to the beach don’t walk by the girl so often)
KIDS KISS MISS MOSS MOST (67A. Children show their affection for model Kate above all others)
LOUD LOUT LOST LAST CAST (92A. Boisterous oaf confused the previous set of actors)
WILT WILL FILL FULL FUEL (100A. Mr. Chamberlain intends to top off his gas tank)

Other — ALMOND (59D. “Sometimes you feel like a nut” nut), “King KONG“, “Rama LAMA Ding Dong” (1961 hit), LOUIS C K (88D. Comedian who said “Every day starts, my eyes open and I reload the program of misery”), MAC USER (90D. Non-PC person), MAYN’T (72D. Quaint contraction), SNERT (119A. Comics canine), STAUBACH (5D. QB who led the Cowboys to victories n Super Bowls VI and XII), TUNG OIL (6D. Varnish ingredient), VISES (52D. Metaphors for serous headaches).

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01.17.15 — The Saturday Crossword

The Book of Kells, (folio 292r), circa 800, 

showing the lavishly decorated text that opens the Gospel of John 

The Book of Kells (Irish: Leabhar Cheanannais) (Dublin, Trinity College Library, MS A. I. (58), sometimes known as the Book of Columba) is an illuminated manuscript Gospel book in Latin, containing the four Gospels of the New Testament together with various prefatory texts and tables. ~ Wikipedia

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Saturday, January 17, 2015

Puzzle by Josh Knapp / Edited by Will Shortz

Of interest — ADULTERY (13D. Ten Commandments subject); ANKH (51A. Figure also called the crux ansata); BIGMOUTH (36D. Blabber); BOSPORUS (12D. Istanbul is on it); BUFFS UP (1A. Polishes); CORIANDER (33D. Cilantro source); DC CAB (10D. 1983 Joel Schumacher film); FORCE MAJEURE (32A. Act of God, e.g., in a contract); JAINISM (60A. Faith that preaches nonviolence to all living beings); KAZAKH (30D. Like one side of the Aral Sea); Book of  KELLS; KOJAK (52D. Noted Greek officer); LIONIZE (38A. Really build up); MUNGO Jerry, band with the 1970 hit “In the Summertime”; RICHTER SCALE (40A. Provider of shock value?); ROK (29A. “M*A*S*H” extra); SIDEBAR (8A. Hearing at a hearing?); SIREN SONG (21D. Lure); Hip-hop’s SYD tha Kyd; TAPIR (46D. Jungle herbivores), THEATER (64A. “The only institution in the world which has been dying for four thousand years,” per John Steinbeck).

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Here's a little SYD tha Kyd

 

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01.16.15 — The Friday Crossword

African Photo Art 

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Friday, January 16, 2015

Puzzle by Michael Wiesenberg / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. ?!, INTERROBANG; 12. Alsatian article, LES; 15. Exit line, SEE YOU LATER; 16. AGA Khan; 17. Good source of beta carotene, SWEET POTATO; 18. Samoan staple, POI; 19. Regulation followers, briefly, OTS; 20. Weight without a load, TARE; 21. Recipe instruction, STIR IN; 23. Blood problem, maybe, FEUD; 24. Obesity superlative, FATTEST; 25. Like tarantella dancers, AWHIRL; 28. Single players, SOLOISTS; 29. Alternatives to buttons, DIALS; 30. Much Scandinavian, PINES; 31. Western leader?, MID; 32. One of the Brontës, ANNE; 33. Drops abruptly, JILTS; 34. About 4.2 millimeters, in printing, PICA; 35. Doc’s suggestion, MED; 36. Pair of elephants?, TUSKS; 37. Occasion for much cheering in ‘45, VE-DAY; 38. Hails, ACCLAIMS; 40. Symbols with supposed magic power, SIGILS; 41. Brand in the grooming aisle, NORELCO; 42. Volatile masses, MOBS; 43. Not beyond one, DOABLE; 44. Beautician, at times, DYER; 45. Wear down, SAP; 46. Capricious, magical figurer, ELF; 49. How many practice religion, OBSERVANTLY; 52. One testing woofers?, VET; 53. It may be found in preserves, NATURE TRAIL; 54. Where many arrests take place, for short, ERS; 55. Hemoglobin carrier, ERYTHROCYTE.

Down — 1. Childish comeback, IS SO: 2. See 4-Down, NEWT: 3. Tour mementos, TEES; 4. Brew ingredient from a 2-Down, EYE; 5. Heels, ROTTERS; 6. Male reality show host in heels, RU PAUL; 7. Words said with the hands pressed together, O LORD; 8. Restrain, as one’s breath, BATE; 9. One-time separator, AT A; 10. Major figure in retail, NET SALES; 11. Picturesque subterranean spaces, GROTTOS; 12. Time for Debussy’s “faune”, L’ APRES MDI; 13. Repeating I?, EGOISTICAL; 14. February 14 and March 17, SAINTS DAYS; 22. “Is IT I?” (question in Matthew and Mark); 23. Take the edge off, FILE; 24. Type types, FONTS; 25. Earliest figures?, ADAM AND EVE; 26. Alcopop alternative, WINE COOLER; 27. Embroiders, e.g., HAND CRAFTS; 28. Derby duds, SILKS; 30. PISMO Beach, Calif.; 33. Place to get a healthful drink, JUICE BAR; 34. Violin quartet, PEGS; 36. Highball, e.g., TALL ONE; 37. Violin effect, VIBRATO; 39. Sidon’s setting: Abbr., LEB; 40. To any extent, poetically, SO EVER; 42. Gift in a Nativity scene, MYRRH; 44. Book after Num., DEUT; 45. Something booked on Travelocity, STAY; 46. Got off, ALIT; 47. Journalist who wrote the 1943 book “Here Is Your War”, PYLE; 50. Many a bachelor pad, STY; 51. Reactor overseer: Abbr., NRC.

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01.15.15 — Balti-more

"Old Baltimore Harbor" by Paul McGehee. Baltimore's Inner Harbor was a busy working waterfront in 1930. The newly completed Baltimore Trust Building (now Maryland National Bank) towered over one of America's most prosperous crossroads of commerce. Graceful white passenger steamers would dock along Light Street, taking on people and produce bound for all points on the Chesapeake Bay. The harbor was alive with the sounds of steam whistles and paddle wheels churning, and with the smell of spices and roasting coffee from McCormick's and other processing plants. It was the twilight era of working sail and steam vessels...a time we shall not see again.  ~ The Paul McGehee Collection 

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Thursday, January 15, 2015

Puzzle by Herre Schouwerwou / Edited by Will Shortz

I COULD HAVE / LOVED NEW YORK/ HAD I NOT LOVED / BALTI-MORE (20A. Beginning of a quote by Ogden Nash, with punctuation included; 27A, 43A and 54A.) constitutes the main feature of this Thursday crossword.

Other — ART TATUM (38D. Nearly blind jazz great), CULTS (1A. Some worship groups), CAN IT (1D. “Not another peep!“), MOON BOOT (37D. Fashionable 1980s item resembling a bit of astronaut’s attire), PIED PIPER (33D. Leading folk figure), SEA-DOG (42D. Popular recreational watercraft), SLEEPOVER (11D. Perfect night for a pillow fight), SLOVENLY (8D. Disheveled, TOMBOY (10D. Girl who challenges stereotypes), TYPESETS (9D. Prepares for printing).

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01.14.15 — Roman Numerals

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Puzzle by Caleb Emmons / Edited by Will Shortz

In  this Wednesday crossword, common  names / phrases are clued as if certain parts were Roman numerals:

LEMONADE MIX (17A: 1,009th juice drink?)
PRINCESS DI (11D: 501st royal daughter?)
IV DRUGS (39A: Four prescriptions?)
XXX RATINGS (30D: 30 consumer reviews?)
XL TEE SHIRTS (61A: 40 concert souvenirs?)

Other — BLONDES (4D. Many Swedish models),  INXS (33A. Band with the 1987 6x platinum album “Kick”), KETTLE (15A. Salvation Army donation), MAXED OUT (28A. At the limit, as a credit card), ON A STICK (47A. How corn dogs are served), SPAWNED (21A. Gave rise to), SQUASH (5A. Court sport).

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01.13.15 — Nickelback

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Puzzle by Michael Blake / Edited by Will Shortz

NICKELBACK (58A. Billboard’s top rock group of 2000-09 …or where to find a 23-Across [before 1939] or 17-Across [today]), along with MONTICELLO (17A. Tourist attraction in Charlottesville, Va.), AMERICAN BISON (23A. Largest wild animal in the United States) and E PLURIBUS UNUM (47A. “Out of many, one”) constitutes the interrelated group of this friendly Tuesday crossword.

Other — AEIOU (33D. Run out of rhythm?), CARIBOU (25D. Image on the reverse of a Canadian quarter), CUE TIP (6D. It’s chalked in a pool hall), GLEE CLUB (41A. School singing group), IRON and URGE (2D. Press; 57A. Press), OSAKAN (45D. Resident of the so-called “Chicago of Japan”), RELEASED (32A. Turned loose), SCRIMMAGE (34D. Practice game, in sports), SINGAPORE (3D. Country in which English and Mandarin are official languages), Ernest TUBB, nicknamed “The Texas Troubadour“..

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01.12.15 — All in All

 The Scream, 1893, Edvard Munch

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Monday, January 12, 2015

Puzzle by Jason Finn / Edited by Will Shortz

Common expressions that represent entirety, all clued with "All ...", constitutes the main feature of this Monday crossword:

STEM TO STERN (17A. All, for a ship’s captain)
CRADLE TO GRAVE (23A. All, for a life insurance agent)
SEA TO SHINING SEA (38A. All, for an anthem writer)
START TO FINISH (52A. All, for a race organizer)
TOP TO BOTTOM (63A. All, for a house cleaner)

Other — AMECHE (67A. Actor Don of “Cocoon”), AZURE (54D. Sky-blue); FETCH (55D. Command to Fido while throwing a ball), IDEATE (8D. Do some brainstorming), I’M IN and NOT I (41D. “You can count on me”; 40D. “Don’t count on me”), NEGEV (12D. Desert of Israel), POOPED (48D. Plumb tuckered out), PSYCHOTIC (36D. Crazed, in a way), THE SCREAM (3D. Edvard Munch masterpiece).

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01.11.15 — We Learn Nothing — the Acrostic

Sunday, January 11, 2015

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emil Cox and Henry Rathvon

Edited by Will Shortz

This Sunday’s fine acrostics draws a humorous quotation from “We Learn Nothing” by Tim Kreider.

In We Learn Nothing, satirical cartoonist Tim Kreider turns his funny, brutally honest eye to the dark truths of the human condition, asking big questions about human-sized problems: What if you survive a brush with death and it doesn’t change you? Why do we fall in love with people we don’t even like? What do you do when a friend becomes obsessed with a political movement and won’t let you ignore it? How do you react when someone you’ve known for years unexpectedly changes genders? Irreverent yet earnest, he shares deeply personal experiences and readily confesses his vices— betraying his addiction to lovesickness, for example, and the gray area that he sees between the bold romantic gesture and the illegal act of stalking. ~ goodreads 

The quotation:  I HAVE NEVER EVEN IDLY THOUGHT FOR A SINGLE PASSING SECOND THAT IT MIGHT MAKE MY LIFE NICER TO HAVE A SMALL RUDE INCONTINENT PERSON FOLLOW ME AROUND SCREAMING AND MAKING ME BUY THEM STUFF FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

The author’s name and title of the work:  TIM KREIDER, WE LEARN NOTHING

The defined words:

A. At a full gallop, as an English fox hunt, TANTIVY
B. “Was feeling” tense, IMPERFECT
C. Material wealth, riches, MAMMON
D. Affinity; family tie, KINSHIP
E. Strong liking; adder of zest, RELISH
F. Guillaume : William :: ETIENNE : Stephen
G. Bold; showing too much skin, IMMODEST
H. Stepped-all-over type, DOORMAT
J. Stat category for an N.F.L. player, RUSHING
K. Thriftless, pound-foolish, WASTEFUL
L. County within a county, ENCLAVE
M. Glowing with a soft radiance, LAMBENT
N. How a mob may move (2 wds.), EN MASSE
O. In the wrong (2 wds.), AT FAULT
P. Invalidate, cancel, annul, REVOKE
Q. Swell, bang-up, awesome, fab, NIFTY
R. Without the bells and whistles (hyph.), NO FRILLS
S. Like many people after Thanksgiving dinner, OVERFED
T. Leaving no stone unturned, THOROUGH
U. What Merriam-Webster calls a “cosmopolitan dipteran”, HOUSEFLY
V. Finger, IDENTIFY
W. Vexed with repeated questions, NAGGED
X. Material often checked, GINGHAM

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01.11.15 — Personal Statements

Sharon Stone, Casino, 1995

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Sunday, January 11, 2015

Personal Statements, Puzzle by Peter A. Collins 
Edited by Will Shortz

Seven last names of well-known people broken up to form first-name  possessives and one or two common words, clued to suit, constitutes the interrelated group of this nifty Sunday crossword:   

• 23A. The makeup affected the appearance of all the cast of "Casino," including SHARON’S TONE, e.g., Sharon Stone.
• 35A. After the 1946 World Series, the dugout was filled with the Cardinals and their happy sounds, including  ENOS’S LAUGHTER, Enos Slaughter  
• 51A. She said that when it comes to '60s teen idols, all you need to know is one thing:  BOBBY’S HER MAN, Bobby Sherman
• 67A. The bartender poured beers for all the action movie stars, including SYLVESTER’S TALL ONE, Sylvester Stallone
• 85A. [The members of the Metropolitan Opera were hit with a host of problems, including BEVERLY’S ILLS, Beverly Sills
• 99A. At Thanksgiving the Indians were impressed with the Pilgrims and their earth-toned platters, especially  MYLES’S TAN DISH, Myles Standish
• 116A. [While trading barbs during the filming of "M*A*S*H," no one was able to match LORETTA’S WIT, Loretta Swit

Other — ABRASIONS (42D. Scrapes); Guilty AS SIN , BREDA (85D. Dutch treaty city); BUBBLY (37D. What toasters often hold); CONNS (65D. Steers, as a ship); COLD WAR (108A. Backdrop for many Bond films); EYE LIFT (82D. Bit of cosmetic surgery); FENLAND (90D. Marshy region); MASAI (20A. People of Kenya); MONOGAMY (15D. Challenge for a playboy); Opa LOCKA, Fla.; OSLO (63D. City in Los Lobos?); PAPA John’s; PEI (71A. I.M. sent to a construction site?); POT USER (58D. High-minded sort?); RHONDA (5D. Title woman in a Beach Boys hit); SEALE (73A. Co-founder of the Black Panthers); SPALL (61A. Break up, as concrete); WHOLE MILK (48D. Half of half-and-half).

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01.10.15 — Saturday Sonata

Moonlight Sonata - Beethoven - Tubaseal Press 

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Saturday, January 10, 2015

Puzzle by Joe Krozel / Edited by Will Shortz

Of interest — ATTENTION GETTER (60A. Big wave, e.g.); CASUALTIES OF WAR (1D. Fighting losses); DIDI CONN (37D. Frenchy portrayer n “Grease”); EARTH SCIENTISTS (3D. Water cycle studiers, e.g.); MOONLIGHT SONATA (10D. Masterpiece designated “quasi una fantasia”); REST ON ONE’S OARS (61A. Takes a breather); REYNOSA (17A. City across the Rio Grande from McAllen, Tex.); ROSIE THE RIVETER (11D. Per a 1942 song, “She’s making history, working for victory”); SAGE HENS (6D. Nevadans); SARONGS (16A. Wraps around an island?); STATION MANAGERS (12D. Radio heads); T C CHEN (29A. Scorer of the first double eagle in U.S. Open history, 1985); THE NERVE and THE MRS (7D. “Such gall!“; 7A. “My old lady”); TRANSACTION DATE (2D. Invoice information), WASHINGTON STATE (57A. Locale of five major U.S. volcanoes).

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01.09.15 — The Friday Crossword

The Great Pyramids

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Friday, January 9, 2015

Puzzle by Patrick Berry / Edited by Will Shortz

Of interest — BALM OF GILEAD (29A. Resin-yielding tree whose name comes from the Bible), CHEOPS (8A. The Great Pyramid was his tomb), ELMORE James, the so-called “King of the Slide Guitar”, FLOTSAM (1A. Refuse on the surface), HALF-VOLLEYED (21D. Made a speedy return),  INEXPERT (17A. Amateurish), MIRROR MIRROR (7D. 1012 film adaptation of “Snow White”), PANIC BAR (32D. Emergency exit feature), SPACE INVADERS31A 1978 arcade classic from Japan), STARTER HOMES (33A. Inaugural addresses?), STATION HOUSES (15D. Law offices?), STORY OF ARC (31D. Thread in a series), ZABARS (45A. Famous Manhattan deli).

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01.08.15 — Half Measure

A half-gill O.E.W.S. double-volute baluster measure, circa 1760 

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Thursday, January 8, 2015

Puzzle by Jacob Stulberg / Edited by Will Shortz

HALF MEASURE (59A. Inadequate effort … or the contents of six squares in this puzzle?), along with the aforementioned six squares containing units of volume progressing in measurement constitutes the main feature of this dry Thursday crossword:

LIVING [PINT][PINT]ERS (17A. Place for a bed and dresser), e.g., LIVING QUARTERS along with RI[P INT]O and TA[P INT]O (6D. Tear asunder; 7D. Use as a resource)

HAROLD [CUP][CUP]ER (33A. 2005 Nobel-winning playwright), e.g., HAROLD PINTER along with HIC[CUP] and [CUP]ID (23D. Minor problem; 35D. Winged god)

RE[GILL][GILL]ERATED (41A. Got well), e.g., RECUPERATED, along with MC[GILL] and [GILL]IAM (32D. Montreal university; 42D. Funny Terry), here's reference to GILL.

Other — CAW and RAVEN (3D. 11-Across maker; 11A. 3-Down sound; ERITREA (4D. African nation with a much-disputed border);  ISLAS Marías (Mexican penal colony), Actress MOIRA Kelly; Nobel-winning novelist IMRE Kertész; George MAHARIS of “Route 66”; TAHINIS (39A. Sesame seed pastes); TENT SHOW (39D. Traveling circus, often).

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01.07.15 — Maze

The Minotaur

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Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Puzzle by Greg Johnson / Edited by Will Shortz

A note accompanies today’s crossword:  When the puzzle is done, the circled letters, reading from top to bottom, will spell something that belongs in the center square. 

MINOTAUR in a single square in the center of the puzzle and spelled out in circled letters, constitutes the main feature of this fine Wednesday crossword:

THESEUS (13A. Maze runner?)
THREAD (15A. Item used by 13-Across to navigate the 22-Across)
LABYRINTH (22A. Home of the [circled letters])
KING MINOS (48A. Ruler of 30-Down)
ESCAPE (63A. Avoid, as the [circled letters])
ARIADNE (64A. Daughter of 48-Across who helped 31-Across)
SWORD (26A. Weapon used to slay the [circled letters])
CRETE (30D. Home of the [circled letters])

Other — ABIDJAN (42D. Third-largest French-speaking city in the world [hint: it’s in Ivory Coast]), CLERKS (28A. Registered workers?), KODAK (48D. Big name in the film industry), LEGOS (41D. They stick together in the playroom), RINSERS (43D. Some salon workers), RRR (20D. Basic of education, colloquially), SHOULDA (17A. Slangy word of regret), UTLEY (21A. Late TV newsman Garrick), YAMMERS (34A. Goes on and on).

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01.06.15 — Deoxyribonucleic Acid

Tuesday, January 6, 2014

Puzzle by Joel Fagliano / Edited by Will Shortz

DNA (62D. Molecule hidden  in 4-, 11-, 23-, 25- and 29-Down) and a sort of DNA strand made of black squares in the center of the grid with blank spaces at the edges constitutes the main feature of this ingenious Tuesday crossword:

TOOTH AND NAIL (4D. Fierce way to fight)
GOOD NATURE (11D. Cheerful disposition)
ISLAND NATION (23D. Comoros or Barbados)
OLD NAVY (25D. Gap subsidiary)
BRAND NAMES (29D. Wilson and Hoover, but not Eisenhower)

Other — BUTTED (46D. Rammed like a ram); CLARICE Starling, “The Silence of the Lambs” protagonist; FERTILE (56A. Like loamy soil); GRAPH (49D. It has axes); MONTY (13D. Hall of fame); POST-DOC (20A. Lab research assistant, maybe); POT LEAF (31D. Image often accompanying the phrase “Legalize it”); REALTOR (54A. House tour giver); WE DID IT (22A. “Hooray for us!”); I DO TOO (66A. “Same here”); YOWIE (12D. “Ouch!”).

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