The New York Times Crossword in Gothic

07.08.07 -- Possessions

Sunday, July 8, 2007

Acrostic by Emily Cox & Henry Rathvon, edited by Will Shortz

This was, for me at least, a tough one; but the quotation is well worth the the solve. It is always a pleasure to find such a highly amusing truth! Agnes Repllier is not only quite the wit, but a voice from the past who speaks yet today!

The quotation:

THE PLEASURE OF POSSESSION WHETHER WE POSSESS TRINKETS OR OFFSPRING OR BOOKS OR PRINTS OR CHESSMEN OR POSTAGE STAMPS LIES IN SHOWING THESE THINGS TO FRIENDS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING NO IMMMEDIATE URGE TO LOOK AT THEM
The author’s name and title of the work:

REPPLIERTIMESANDTENDENCIES
The defined words:

A. RUBIES (Gems used in lasers of a certain hue); B. EXMOOR (Park in SW England with dramatic sea cliffs); C. PLASTIC (Alternative to cash or check); D. PATHOS (Chaplinesque quality); E. LOSEHOPE (Give in to pessimism [2 wds.]); F. IGNITE (Hold a candle to?); G. ESPOSITO (Name of two brothers in the Hockey Hall of Fame); H. REWORK (Shape into a new version); I. TIGHTS (Garb for the Merry Men); J. ISSUEFORTH (Emanate, come out [2 wds.]); K. MORMON (Sen. Harry Reid or Sen. Orrin Hatch, e.g.); L. EGRESS (Way out; departure); M. STINGER (Cocktail of brandy and crème de menthe); N. AFRESH (From the top); O. NEWPORTNEWS (James River city known for its shipyards [2 wds.]); P. DEPTHS (Parts explored by bathysphere); Q. TAKETO (Develop as a habit; go for [2 wds.]); R. ESKIMO (Inhabitant of the circumpolar region); S. NOSHING (Between-meals gastronomic activity); T. DOWAGER (Qualifier for a queen or empress); U. EPHRON (Notable family name in screenwriting); V. NOSINESS (Curiousity, when taken too far); W. CHISEL (Tool for a shyster?); X. INSTEP (Place for an arch); Y. EFFORT (Application of force against inertia, in physics); Z. SANREMO (Tourist town on the Italian Riviera [2 wds.]);

This acrostic’s defined words, as you can see, are eclectic and wholly unrelated one unto the other or to the quotation itself -- just as well, as the quotation speaks of the variety of possessions -- although none of the defined words have a relationship to the quotation.

A tough solve, but a very satisfying result -- and so true!

------------------

The New York Times Crossword Puzzle solution above is by the author of this blog and does not guarantee accuracy. If you find errors or omissions, you are more than welcome to make note of same in the Comments section of this post -- any corrections found necessary will be executed promptly upon verification.
Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

If you subscribe to home delivery of The New York Times you are eligible to access the daily crossword via The New York Times - Times Reader, without additional charge, as part of your home delivery subscription.

07.08.07 -- Blue

68A THENAUGHTYPROFESSOR (Remake about a lecherous instructor?) -- Illustration: Poster for "The Blue Angel" starring Emil Jannings as Professor Unrath and Marlene Dietrich as Lola Lola, directed by Josef von Sternberg, 1931

------------------

Sunday, July 8, 2007

"R-RATED FILM REMAKES" -- Puzzle by Elayne Cantor and Nancy Salomon, edited by Will Shortz

The seven wordplay entries relating to the title of this puzzle are:

LUSTINAMERICA (23A Remake about a red, white and blue libido?)

SINNININTHERAIN (32A Remake about impiety during a storm?)

RISQUEBUSINESS (51A Remake about a strip club?)

THENAUGHTYPROFESSOR (68A Remake about a lecherous instructor?)

BROADCASTNUDES (88A Remake about a TV station/F.C.C. controversy?)

SAINTMISBEHAVIN (106A Remake about a holy person's slip?)

THEBAWDYGUARD (119A Remake about a ribald watchman?)

The paronomasia here suffers a bit from paramnesia -- these punned movie titles confuse fact with fantasy. If memory serves me right, several of the original titles were R-rated, and the best of the seven, THE NAUGHTY PROFESSOR (think Jerry Lewis in "The Nutty Professor" or its remake with Eddie Murphy) could be taken as a remake of "The Blue Angel" with the naughty professor played by Emil Jannings, the central character of the film who lusts after and meets his downfall at the hands of Lola Lola played by Marlene Dietrich.

The other six punned titles "Lost in America", "Singin' in the Rain", "Risky Business", "Broadcast News", "Ain't Misbehavin'" (several films share this title) and "The Body Guard" had their own R-rated moments. That aside, I’m a pushover for a show-biz puzzle, so I ate this one up! This Sunday cinema septette achieves its punnery with minimum effort, one or two letters at most -- and the results are amusing in a Victorianesque way.

Jerry Lewis as "The Nutty Professor" , 1963

Other characters waiting in the wings for their remakes are THEASP (21A Daddy Warbucks’s henchman), ARF (44A Pound sound) (could that be Sandy?), ROCCO (30A Boxer Marciano’s given name), AHERNE (8D Actor Brian of “Juarez,” 1939), GODOT (79D Beckett’s no-show), SPOCK (106D Logical Mr.), and ALBEE (109D “Seascape” playwright). SHORELEAVE (59A Liberty) reminds one of “On the Town” (pun that!), ironically being crossed down with OBEYED (47D Observed), while the rest of the gang goes wild with emotions with IDONTCARE (85D “Whatever you want”), HALLUCINATE (69D Sense the unreal), CATERTO (124A Pamper), ORNERY (125A Difficult), LOSTCAUSE (3D It’s not worth pursuing), and other assorted states of being.

Taken a little back by the reference to the Order of the Garter, HONI soit qui mal y pense (45A) and Rodrigo DIAZ de Vivar (El Cid) (74A), and intrigued by GEIGER (104D Counter creator) who shares his name in homonym with H. R. Giger, the artist, who seems to be missing a few works of art at the present time. So he’s "counting" too!

It’s not every day one can use DOMOARIGATO (17D Japanese “thank you very much”) so I’ll use it here ATTHEEND (89D Where a whodunit is solved) of this faux equivoque of PUNS (112A Wits' bits) -- a very delightful Sunday puzzle!

Puzzle available on the internet at:

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

07.07.07 -- The Missing Link

Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone.

-----------------

Saturday, July 7, 2007

Click here for LARGE PRINT.

Puzzle by Todd McClary, edited by Will Shortz

HELLOHELLO (15A Enthusiastic welcome) -- as you may have noticed, this blog was on the blink, but malfunction STEPSASIDE (14A Relinquishes control) and the blog is back, ORSO (62A "...maybe more, maybe less") it looks!

The acrosses:

1. Magellan, e.g. -- neither Ferdinand or Portugeuse

11. Three-time Gold Glove winner AMOS Otis.
16. Undergo ecdysis -- brought to mind a stripper.

17. Imparts artfully -- not in the crossword world!

18. “Put your wallet away” -- on second thought…

19 Word with age or weight -- super-big and very old?

20. Surveillance setup -- do you have yours?

22. Bricklike -- could be a lot of things.

25. Idolized artist in Ouida’s “A Dog of Flanders” -- easy to see why!

26. Bad combustion -- tricky.

29. Sorority letters -- the rarer of the group.

31. Shatt al Arab port -- o…..k….

31. Put away -- again, anything.

33. Many a Degas portrait -- almost all of them!

35. Skipper, to Barbie -- I don’t get this one at all.

36. La Grande Jatte, e.g. -- happenstance fill.

37. Zolaesque imputation -- haven’t seen this entry in years!

38. Duct opening -- more fill.

39. Outboard motor Inventor Evinrude -- long way to go for OLE!

40. Release a bulletin -- oh, take out the pin!

41. TV role for Bamboo Harvester -- knew that horse had a name!

42. Attack -- you know this one, could be “seige” “set at”, “set on”, etc.

44. Basketball court’s three-point line, e.g.. -- another long way to go.

45. Rumble in the Jungle setting -- that’s how it was billed, great image!

46. Whizzes -- well…o.k.

48. One who’s more than attentive -- could be “ogler”, etc.

50. Its flag depicts a plow, shovel and pick -- yep!

52. Contend [with] in the country -- ever RASSLE with a puzzle?

56. St. ____ [Cornwall resort town] -- one more way to clue IVES.

57. Doctor, at times -- first off, is doctor a verb or noun?

60. Frobe who played Goldfinger -- all solver’s know this one!

61. Cosmopolitan alternative -- unusual to see the full name.

63. Supporters of roads -- well, it depends on the road, now doesn’t it.

The downs:

1. Some Muslims -- no comment

2. Shut (up) -- as in enclosed

3. Dictionary word before a variant spelling -- long way to go

4. Mount -- noun or verb?

5. Eternal -- if the constructor needs an beginning “I”, it’s a column

6. Toss -- see 24

7. “V for Vendetta” actor, 2006 -- keeping track of Stephen

8. ___-Tab (PC window-switching shortcut) -- long way to go

9. Gained popular acceptance -- from left field

10. Quaint note opener -- think Sidney Poitier

11. Simple life? -- nice way to clue an old standard

12. Casa dei Bambini school founder -- some 100 years ago

13. Show tune sung by a stevedore named Joe -- a favorite!

21. Tula moolah -- nice rhyme

23. Track wager -- I wanted “exacto”, but no!

24. Toss -- double-clued, see 6, very Shortzesque

26. Words to leave by -- saving this for the end of the commentary

27. Did a dog trick -- love when they do that

28. Aids in closing deals -- the more the merrier! 30. Lath cover -- what else?

33. It may lack stars -- could half a half a star

34. Northwest Terr. native -- fill, just fill

37. Pre-election group -- did not know that was a bona fide definition

41. Zabaglione ingredient -- food, glorious food!

43. Decides one will -- seen this often.

45. Hound -- it’s a noun!

47. Sassers -- Ooooo! Like this one!

49. Result of a handshake, maybe -- Maybe.

51. Pick ___ (pettifog) -- ready when you are!

53. Record label for Sam and Dave and Booker T. & the MG's

54. Sourdough’s dream -- gold!

55. Period pieces? -- you know this one!

58. ___ crusade -- fill.

59. Dude -- fill, but cool, man!

ADIOSAMIGO (26D Words to leave by)!
-----------------
Read Linda G's analysis of the construction of this puzzle at Madness...Crossword and Otherwise

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

07.06.07 -- Vacuum

Friday, July 6, 2007

Click here for LARGE PRINT.

Puzzle by Pete Mitchell, edited by Will Shortz

GODSAVETHEQUEEN (17A Basis of "America") and its 15-letter mate, MAKEANEXAMPLEOF (55A Punish publicly, perhaps) dominate this crossword puzzle as sure as an egomaniacal crossword puzzle competitor in a bitch fit!

A SMOLDERED (61A Felt suppressed rage) RADIOTUBE (59A Place for a vacuum) sizzles in the lower right corner of the grid, while ABEVIGODA (1A Actor whom People magazine erroneously declared dead in 1982) sits atop NINELIVES (15A Persian's gift) in the upper left corner to lead the solver through a maze of booby traps and false clues smothered with enigma. Any one claiming to solve this puzzle in under five minutes is a either a damn liar who needs to get a life, or at least seek analysis!

Time yourself. How long does it take to read the clues? How long does it take to enter the letters into their respective boxes, whether tactile or electronic? That means you have no thinking time, doesn’t it?

These cues, at least, would give pause -- LIRAS (22A Turkey dough?), ACE (27A Crack), DAUB (11D Plaster) with TIEONEON (12D Get plastered), GENEFLOW (14D Result of a cross-fertilization within a population), BAREXAM (39D Something taken before practicing), STROBE (43D Light up at a dance?), and MISERS (41D Dough must be squeezed out of them). Not to mention such ne’er-seen-’afore fare as EMIL clued as (53D Graphic artist Nolde), ISERE clued as (54A Val d’___ [French ski resort]), and OTRA clued as (54A “La ___,” 1946 Dolores del Rio film).

Admittedly, there are those of us who “just know” what some word must be by having only one letter or at the most two -- just like the contestants on game shows who can give you the name of a song with only one note -- who clued them in? Crossword puzzle solvers wearing Speedos and gasping for breath as they seek to equate haste with intelligence are demoniacally possessed, some to the point of desperation -- snuggling up to every opportunity to declare their faux mensa. It’s a society in a vacuum!

The downs up right are TIEONEON, AVERSETO (13D Not at all fond of) and GENEFLOW; and down left COSTUMES (34d Film studio department), ARMINARM (35D How some people walk) and PIANOKEY (36D Hammer activator) -- that last one is duplicitous!

MORA (33D Melvin of the Orioles) and MRMOTO (33A The last novel featuring him was “Stopover: Tokyo”) share initial M, LOOIE (28A Military V.I.P.), freaky -- who gets an official communication addressed to LOOIE so-and-so? ORINGS (38A Annular seals), IDTAG (10A Aid in retriever retrieval?), ASL, NSF, ILA are today’s initial entries.

ERROL (20A Filmmaker Morris), along with TORME (24A “The Christmas Song” co-writer) (Really? Wow!), SPIRO (46A He served between Hubert and Gerald), SMYTH (60A Rocker Patty who married John McEnroe), KNUTE (48A First name in college football coaching), join the ever-present NOLTE (49A “Affliction” star, 1998), ABEVIGODA, and others as today’s puzzle people.

I guess it’s just me, but I like to think when I do a puzzle -- this one, incidentally, is a SMASH (40A Sensation)!

For further esoterica read Michael and Amy.

-----------------

For today‘s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

07.05.07 -- TB or not TB

Thursday, July 5, 2007

Click here for LARGE PRINT.

Puzzle by Elizabeth C. Gorski, edited by Will Shortz

-----------------

Featured are six inter-related entries and their clues:

TBS (45A Cable channel… with a hint to the answers to the five starred clues)

TBALLEQUIPMENT (20A “*Undersized bats and gloves, e.g.)

TBONE (30A *Chophouse order)

TBOONEPICKENS (37A *Founder of Mesa Petroleum)

TBARS (42A *Alternatives to rope tows)

TBILISIGEORGIA (55A *Caucasus capital)

Not included in this list of TB's are (1) T-Bird which was in yesterday's puzzle, and (2) my brother's initials.

The T and B are not of much help in solving the puzzle -- one needs to have nearly completed the puzzle in order to know what kind of “hint” the clue for 45A might be -- and the pay-off is minimal and dull.

TBILISIGEORGIA (55A *Caucasus capital)

This puzzle feels lifeless after a rip-roaring holiday demolished the usual calm of mid-week, and frankly, it’s hard to care about. Solving this crossword felt like a chore -- not as bad as taking out the garbage or raking the yard, but a bit like cleaning up after the cook-out in the backyard -- it had to be done!

Leftovers from the holiday include KABOB (62A Serving from a grill), OTIS (1A Revolutionary James ____, famous for saying “Taxation without representation is tyranny”). The longer entries include GAMEPLANS (5D Strategies); SCRAPESBY (35D Makes a very modest living); TWINBORN (10D Like Romulus and Remus); MUSTANGS (11D Southern Methodist team, with “the”); TUBETOPS (37D Stretchy attire); BRAMBLES (38D Hiking hazards); and ODETTA (1D “Gonna Let it Shine” singer).

------------------

Read Linda G at Madness...Crossword and Otherwise

...then do Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle

For today's cartoons, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

07.04.07 -- July 4, 2007

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

Click here for LARGE PRINT.

Puzzle by Patrick Blindauer, edited by Will Shortz

HAPPYBIRTHDAY (35A July 4th message to America)!

A MAGICAL (25D Enchanting) crossword puzzle full of fireworks, a little riot of eclecticism -- guaranteed to displease those who pigeon-hole puzzles by days of the week and genre.

Yes! all of that and a surprise ending! Like words and letters instead of fire and gunpowder, a gimmick provides holiday fun; however, it's only after it's been solved. At that point, one is to follow the directions in a note attached which reads: "When this puzzle has been completed, shade in the letters of 35-Across everywhere they appear in the grid, revealing three letters and three lines." -- spelling out "USA".

I was reminded of coloring books from my childhood. Yes, you're correct -- I actually did it with crayons! So after you've done your part of the puzzle (the solution), hand it over to the kids and let them have at it! Incidentally, one would almost think the original intent was to have circles around the letters instead of coloring in the squares -- that way DIRTYHARRY with his RATATATTAT could spell out HAPPYBIRTHDAY USA in bulletholes! I'm sure the kids can manage that -- with or without a hole-punch!

Due to the foregoing, the entries are slaves to the gimmick and this puzzle follows no rules, becoming an explosion of illogical, juxtaposed and alliterative sparklers and possessing a healthy DOSAGE (45D Medicinal amount) with RATATATTAT (18A Knocking sound), ROTO (64A ____-Rooter), ERRATA (47D Mistakes) and RATS (37D “Phooey!“); SMOKE (24A Fire sign?) and KOOLS (50A Mentholated cigarettes); LINA (13A Wertmuller who directed “Seven Beauties”) and LENA (26D Horne who sang “Stormy Weather”); UNO (28D 3 - 2, en espanol) and ONEUP (21D Early Ping-Pong score); OOZY (27D Like mud) and OKEY (43D ____-dokey); ULEES (14A “_____Gold”) and UFOS (16A Sky lights?); DIRTYHARRY (55A Memorable title film role of 1971) and EVEL (61A Risk-taking Knievel); CASES (41A Buys for brew lovers) and CLOSES (1D Shutters); STOKE (15D Tend the hearth) and STARE (51A Gawk [at]); OLA and OLE; LOA and LOU; SST and SLS; SEMS and REMS; ESOS and ENZO: FEW and FURL; ESTATES ONDATES; SECS and EONS, DEAN and DEN; EATIN and EGGON; with FONZ and a TBIRD.

HELL (35D), it’s CUTE (9D Adorable), what’s not to LOVE (22A All you need, in a Beatles song) -- bring on the BBQ and the TNT!

Have a great Fourth of July!

-----------------

For today's cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

07.03.07 -- Watch Your Step!

Illustrated above: 54A JONATHANSWIFT (Gulliver's creator) and 36A RELIGIOUSFAST (Ramadan observance)

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Click here for LARGE PRINT.

Puzzle by Norma Johnson, edited by Will Shortz

How this puzzle ached for the frequently-seen ASAP! Three inter-related entries provide the reason -- CUTTOTHEQUICK (20A Deeply hurt), RELIGIOUSFAST (36A Ramadan observance), and JONATHANSWIFT (54A Gulliver's creator). Joined by the loosely associated entries WENT (65A Took a turn), DARTS (61A Game played on a wall), SNAPAT (41A Be testy with), SITUPS (27A Abs strengtheners), STIR (19A Mix up), SIDETRIP (39D Excursion diversion), FARE (58D MetroCard cost), TOW (48D Wrecker's job), GAD (38D ____about [rove]), and OHSTOP (5D "Come on, that's enough!"), this puzzle has a sense of movement, whether quick, fast, swift, etc. or at a complete stand-still. I solved it PDQ!

Illustration above: CUTTOTHEQUICK (20A Deeply hurt)

TABOO (1A It’s a no-no) above ALLAH (14A Shia’s deity) reminds one not to show any representation of the Creator, while GAME (6A Up for it) preceding BAIT (10A Hook attachment), threaten OPAHS (17A Colorful food fish), SHE (63D ___-crab soup), ELK (23A Benevolent fellow), LION (42A Pride member), and many a PAIR (33A Ark complement), creating havoc in EDEN (47A Genesis garden).

JEST (18A Kid around), ANTICS (11D Class clown’s doings), and INJOKE (44D Bit of humor most people can’t get) will cause some to GROAN (29D Wordless “Ouch!”). The CASTE (51D Social stratum) may require BLACKTIE (3D Semiformal) attire for its GALA (29A Big bash), while puzzle people TERKEL (13D Pulitzer winner Studs), GIJOE (6D Doll for boys), BOSUN (10D Petty officer), ERTE (9D Art Deco notable), UNCLE (26A Quitter’s cry), HAWN (55D Goldie of “Laugh-In”), IRISH (66A Like leprechauns), TSE (62D “The Waste Land” monogram), and IMP (44A Little terror) scurry and dance about the grid from TABOO to TEPEE (69A Conical dwelling) to the sounds of LOS (31a Rock’s ____ Lobos).

IDIDIT (49D “Finally finished!”).

---------------

One final note: That oft-seen puzzle word ARIA (60A Met solo) appears above WENT upon the day that Beverly Sills has passed away. Her Farewell Performance of "Tell Me Why" and link toThe New York Times obituary HERE.

Hailed as "America's Queen of Opera," Beverly Sills had a career that spanned four decades, delighting millions of opera lovers through her performances on stage, recordings and broadcasts. Her farewell to her enduring public on October 27, 1980, at the gala at New York City Opera, ended with her own special lyrics for her well-known encore number, "Tell Me Why" (Portuguese Folk Song). Those lyrics say it all now as her fans bid her a final goodbye:

Time has come for me to leave you.

Tis the moment for goodbye.

Ah my sweet, we have to part now.

Please brush your tears from those dear eyes.

We have shared so much together.

Tis not the end but a new start.

Ah, my dear, I'll always love you.

You'll be forever in my heart.

Ah, my dear, I'll always love you.

You'll be forever in my heart.

------------------

For today's cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

07.02.07 -- Hand 'n Hand

American Folk Art Painting Landscape by Edward Hicks - Residence of Thomas Hillborn 1847

-----------------

Monday, July 2, 2007

Click here for LARGE PRINT.

Puzzle by Peter A. Collins, edited by Will Shortz

Five inter-related entries -- BEFOREHAND (58A Earlier ... or a hint to the words circled in 17-, 21-, 37- and 51-Across), along with STUCCOWALL (17A Masonry work that may be smoothed with a trowel); STIFFARMING (21A Shoving away, football-style); WORSECONDITIONS (37A More rain and less light, e.g., to a pilot); and TIMESTABLES (51A Some memorization in arithmetic class) -- which results in the visualization of "cowhand", "farmhand", "secondhand", and "stable hand" (not to be confused with "stableboy" or "stableman"). The circles are faint and hard to see, but can be discerned by clicking to enlarge the image of the completed puzzle.

I am all for entertaining the possibility of a "stablehand" if for no other reason than it makes such a rounded rural grouping of inter-related entries on a Monday, when so many of us trudge back to the urban settings of highways and highrises. This is a perfect Monday puzzle with which only a curmudgeon would quibble!

from the Cahoon Museum of American Art

Two Shortzesque-clued entries, COOP (28A Hen's place) and ROOST (22D Hen's place), along with CATS (43A Tabbies), SIRE (27D Father), WIS (18D State known for its cheese: Abbr.), POTS (32D Flower holders), and somehow FAIR (54D Light-skinned) (I'm thinking of the county fair!) all add to the rural setting.

Good old standard puzzle-people names are everywhere -- CHE (7A Revolutionary Guevara), HAL (15A Actor Holbrook), LANA (16A Turner of Hollywood), FOSSE (23A Director Bob who won a Tony, Oscar and Emmy all in the same year), JASON (25A Quester for the Golden Fleece), ELIA (57A Director Kazan), ARA (61A Coach Parseghian), ELLA (9D Singer Fitzgerald), ODIN (29D Chief Norse god), RAMIS (11D Harold who directed "Groundhog Day"), and ANNE (55D Actress Heche). New to me is ABFAB (48D Popular BBC import, for short).

"It's a sin to tell ALIE" (30A), Ill-GOTTEN gains (41A), Sault STE Marie (40A), COSA Nostra (1D) and SLO-mo replay (49D) are the fill-in-the-blank clues. On the road, there's SPEEDS (31A Goes 80, say), RIDE (42A Hitchhiker's need), FAA (54A Airport overseer: Abbr.) and, of course, the aforementioned WORSECONDITIONS, with the thought of STOP anagrammed to POTS anagrammed to SPOTS, minus the "S", while sharing full anagrams of each other are ELIA and ALIE.

JAWS (25D 1975 thriller that took a big bite at the box office) and ADES (56D Citrus coolers) anticipate July 4th and the beach, where there may be a FAIR for all to RIDE -- with that, EGADS, this OMITS IRON and CREASE and OUSTS me right out of here, so I'll CLAMUP, WILCO (46D Radio word after "Roger"), uh, "will comply", and say AMEN (19A Grace finisher) to this Monday gem!

Oh, below is the RIDE at the FAIR I promised!

Tilt-A-Whirl Ride, Mastic Fair, Long Island, June 23, 2007
-----------------
For today's cartoons, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

07.01.07 -- Diamond

Sunday, July 1, 2007 -- posted June 30, 2007 -- for post click HERE.

07.08.07 -- Possessions

07.08.07 -- Blue

07.07.07 -- The Missing Link

07.06.07 -- Vacuum

07.05.07 -- TB or not TB

07.04.07 -- July 4, 2007

07.03.07 -- Watch Your Step!

07.02.07 -- Hand 'n Hand

07.01.07 -- Diamond

LInk for this Blog (and today's post):

BLOG ARCHIVE

DONALD

Crossword Links

Will Shortz

Fellowship of Gothic:

MACABRE LINKS

WORD LINKS