04.16.11 — Silent Saturday

Chaplin vs. Keaton illustration by Damian Blake

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Saturday, April 16, 2011 — Charlie Chaplin’s 122nd Birthday,

Google celebrates Charlie Chaplin’s birthday with an animated doodle, HERE.

Puzzle by Robert H. Wolfe / Edited by Will Shortz

Six 15-letter entries, three across and three down, constitutes the main feature of this sweet Saturday crossword. Wordplay, the house organ of The New York Times, reviewing itself: “A pretty good outing for a Saturday”. The Fiend awards three stars and Rex quoth “…despite the occasional minor clunker, and the relative lack of a challenge, I really enjoyed this one.” I have a friend who was amazed that crossword puzzles are actually reviewed, but then again, some reviews are well... HERE. I won’t say another word!

Across — 1. Statement of resignation, ALAS; 5. Slave-making ants steal them, PUPAE; 10. 507s of the ‘50s, e.g., BMWS; 14. Marketable securities, CASH ASSETS; 16. Only hypothetical, MOOT; 17. “No way!”, THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE; 19. Headgear for medieval soldiers, ARMETS; 20. Foot massager?, POET; 21. Elvis’s “I’VE Lost You”; 22. AT A price; 23. Coverage provider named after a smoker, AETNA; 24. Was up, LED; 25. Inits. Associated with the old theme park Heritage USA, PTL; 26. TiVo or ReplayTV, DVR; 27. Rear’s rear?, ENDER; 29. Part of une phrase, MOT; 30. The Bionic Woman’s first name, JAIME; 32. Ben Jonson title woman, CELIA; 4. “Is this thing on?”, ARE YOU LISTENING; 37. They’re often pickled, OKRAS; 38. Side against, ANTIS; 39. Cell occupant, BEE; 40. Word with face or hand, POKER; 42. Ranch handle, TEX; 43. Educ. Higher-ups?, SRS; 44. Distinction, briefly, DIF; 45. Puerto Rico’s Museum City, PONCE; 47. Org. concerned with the correct approach, FAA; 48. Ruling official, REF; 49. One breaking new ground?, HOER; 50. Kids in Kilmarnock, BAIRNS; 53. “Guilty or not?”, WHAT’S THE VERDICT; 56. Stomach, HACK; 57. 1977 cult film with the tagline “Where your nightmares end …”, ERASERHEAD; 58. Anne Frank’s father, OTTO; 59. Part of a whispering campaign, RUMOR; 60. “The stroke of death IS AS a lover’s pinch”: Cleopatra.

Down — 1. Exitus ACTA probat (the end justifies the means); 2. Player of a big yellow cat, LAHR; 3. Actually, AS A MATTER OF FACT; 4. Where Yiddish was once spoken, SHTETL; 5. Fraternity characters, PSIS; 6. Lance cpl.’s grp., USM; 7. Zingy cupcake filling, PEPPERMINT CREAM; 8. On A TOOT (bingeing); 9. Certain Judean, ESSENE; 10. Performing rights org., BMI; 11. Novel ideas for rural areas?, MOBILE LIBRARIES; 12. 51-Down hoops champs of 1989, WOLVERINES; 13. Part of Paul Revere’s Boston statue, STEED; 15. 1930s film star with notable facial hair, ASTA; 18. Positions, STANCES; 23. 1954 A.L. batting champ Bobby ÁVILA; 25. Buster Keaton trademark, PORK PIE HAT; 25. Family tree abbr., DAU; 28. Remote spot?, DEN; 29. He married He, MAO; 3. Brooklyn’s St. JOSEPH’S College; 31. Name on Intuition perfume boxes, ESTEE; 33. Match.com datum, AGE; 35. Twaddle, YAK; 36. Things shown before shows, informally, TIX; 41. Noisy fan, ROOTER; 43. Didn’t just wave, SAID HI; 44. “Torchwood” was spun off from it, DR WHO; 46. Chief Indian, once, NEHRU; 47. “The Red Skelton Show” regular, FARR; 50. Lone Star, e.g., BEER; 51. See 12-Down, NCAA; 52. Regular set: Abbr., STDS; 54. Decision letters, TKO; 55. Brandy letters, VSO.

Sshhhh!…

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

04.15.11 — But Wait, There's More!

A Winegard HD-7084P 68 element VHF/UHF aerial antenna, Daniel Christensen

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Friday, April 15, 2011

Puzzle by Patrick Berry / Edited by Will Shortz

Seven 15-letter entries are the main feature of this fairly friendly Friday crossword — AFTER DINNER MINT (32A. Complimentary item at restaurants), CREATION SCIENCE (37A. Field of Bible-based study), EASTERN PROMISES (17A. 2007 film featuring a heavily tattooed main character), HERMIONE GRANGER (38A. Hogwarts enrollee), POLICE SERGEANTS (53A. Constables’ superiors), SENSATIONALISTS (7D. Typical tabloid writers), SURGEONS GENERAL (8D. Health V.I.P.’s).

Other — AERIALS (25D. Passé skyline sights), APRICOT, CASCADING (12D. Descending in steps), DECREE, ERASMUS (59A. Who wrote “In the country of the blind the one-eyed man is king”), IRON ORE, LAGOONS, P D JAMES (1A. “The Children of Men” author), PORTICO (23D. Grand entrance), RADIOS, SILICON (8A. More than a quarter of the earth’s crust), SUBPART, TERRA ALBA (34D. Clay used by potters), UNAWARE.

Five-letter — ANTON, DRAIN, “The Outlaw JOSEY Wales”, GRIPS, I WISH (11A. “If only that were true!“), LANES, PESTS, PIETA, PRATE, RONCO (46D. “But wait, there’s more!” company).

Short stuff — ACHE, Long AGO, AHA, AJAR, ALE, ANTS, ANY, APSE, BAIO, BEAM, BOAT, BONE, CAM, CSA, DOS, EELS, EER, ERG, FREE, GPA, INON, Carte du JOUR, LAM, MENS, MOE, NEST, NNE, ODE, ONCE a day, OREO, PERU, PILE, PIT, RAP, SCOT, “It’s a SIGN“, STER, TIES.

But wait, there’s more!

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Puzzle available on the internet at

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 15. Resource of western Australia; 16. Out of the loop; 19. Affectionate feelings; 21. Native of Ayr; 22. At least one; 23. Gab; 25. Idea person’s cry; 26. Origami design; 27. “Wordsworth’s “Intimations of Immortality,” e.g.; 29. Early Windows underpinning; 39. Always used by Longfellow?; 40. Grp. Represented by the Southern Cross; 41. Deep shockers; 44. Two of these are needed to pass; 46. Speak on the record?; 49. Openable with a gentle push, say; 51. Quite a tidy sum; 52. Matter of contention; 57. Fraction of a fraction; 58. Kind of jam in a sacher torte; 60. Calm swimming spots. — DOWN: 1. Only work of art that Michelangelo signed; 2. Exhaust; 4. Queen and her servants, maybe; 5. Bully in “Calvin and Hobbes”; 6. Be off; 9. A party to; 10. Skip town; 13. Modern ice cream flavor; 14. It might hold a few swallows; 18. Mine; 24. Squad car necessities; 26. Cantilever, e.g.; 28. Dictate; 31. Song ending; 32. Longing; 33. Available; 35. Cincinnati-to-Dayton dir.; 36. Department store department; 43. Film set workers; 45. Barley product; 47. Composer Bruckner; 48. Spray targets; 49. Place to pray; 51. Where the 2003 true-life film “Touching the Void” is set; 52. Actor Scott; 54. Surveillance tool, briefly; 55. Univ. application datum; 56. One-tenth of a microjoule.

04.14.11 — Umbrellas

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Puzzle by Pete Muller / Edited by Will Shortz

UMBRELLA spelled out in circled letters arranged as a connect-the-dot “umbrella”, TRAVELER’S LOGO, SHADE PROVIDER, GENE KELLY PROP and HIT FOR RIHANNA constitutes the interrelated group of this fine Thursday crossword. The clues for the four entries are [    ]. The crossword is accompanied by the note: Four answers in this puzzle are missing the same eight-letter clue—a single word that can be spelled from the eight circled letters. When the puzzle is done, connect the circled letters in order with a line, and you will get an outline of the object the word names.

Other — A TASTE (10D. Just enough to whet one’s appetite), ATONES, BY A NOSE (43D. Barely), DAY-TO-DAY, DRIVER, ELOPED and GO FREE (45D. Said “I do” without the to-do; 44D. Get unhitched), IT’S ON ME, LEAD-INS, LLANOS (46D. Grassy plains), PARLOR, REEL IN, STERNER, TAP DANCE (40D. Temple performance), UNSOLD.

Five-letter — ANTED, APISH, ARIEL, BANTU (43A. Language from which “gumbo“ comes), EERIE, ELTON, HALOS, HENRI (34D. Painter Matisse), ILION (12D. Classical name of Troy), IPODS, ISLAM, LAMAR, MY EYE (18A. “No way!”), NISAN, O’NEAL, ORECK, RADON, R AND R, RANEE, REUPS, SADAT, SAMMS, SCALE, SIEGE, STUNT double, TALIA, THARP (25D. “Movin‘ Out“ choreographer), UHURA, USURP, Ravel’s “La VALSE“.

Short stuff — AERO, ALI, AMP, ARCS, ARMY, DILL, DVDS, EAR, EBON, ERE, HER, HORN, I BET (54A. “Yeah, sure”), IDI, ILLE, ISM, LEE and LEN, MPS, MTNS, ODE, PAY now, RADO (33A. Pricey Swiss watch brand), RAIN (16A. Reason for a delay, perhaps), REAM, SNEE, TELE, VALE (7D. A river might run through it).

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Devices seen around docks; 6. Output of some pirates; 10. Imitative; 15. 1978 Nobel Prize sharer; 17. Shire of “The Godfather”; 19. “Winnie ___ Pu”; 20. One of the Durants who wrote “The Story of Civilization”; 21. [ ]; 24. “Put you wallet away, I’ve got this one”; 27. Makes up (for); 28. [ ]; 32. Politico Alexander; 34. ___ Majesty; 37. Legion; 38. Bring onto a boat, say; 40. Commercial prefix with dyne; 41. U.K. election winners; 42. Some trajectories; 44. [ ]; 48. Still on the shelf; 51. Introductions; 52. [ ]; 56. Grab; 57. Black as night; 58. Either co-star of “Paper Moon”; 62. Queen’s title; 63. Saab model; 64. Common bathroom sight; 65. Threw in one’s two cents, say; 66. Where chamois and snow leopards live: Abbr.; 67. Beyond unusual. — DOWN: 1. Creed; 3. Literary tribute; 6. Golf bag item; 8. Gravlax ingredient; 9. Old blade; 11. Pizza place; 13. Tactic for Napoleon; 14. Nickname for the Anaheim Angels; 22. Increase, with “up”; 23. Concern for many a homeowner; 24. Wahhabi’s belief; 26. Soap star Emma; 29. David of informercials; 31. Dictator Amin; 35. John in England; 36. Returns to service; 38. Service break; 39. ‘Fore; 47. Author Deighton; 48. “Star Trek” role; 49. Passover month; 53. Berate, with “out”; 55. Part of Africa; 59. Attention; 60. Clay, transformed; 61. Spike in a director’s chair.

04.13.11 — INTEGRA, Etc.

Tangier, Morocco

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Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Puzzle by Elizabeth C. Gorski / Edited by Will Shortz

INTEGRA (36A. Bygone Acura that’s involved in a crackup at 17-, 23-, 45- and 55-Across?), along with anagrams GRANITE, TANGIER, TEARING and INGRATE constitute the interrelated group of this Wednesday crossword — the four across entries containing the anagrams are RED GRANITE (17. Wisconsin’s state rock), TANGIER MOROCCO (23. City of the Strait of Gibraltar), TEARING US APART (45. 1987 duet by Eric Clapton and Tina Turner) and YOU INGRATE (55. Rebuke to a thankless wretch).

Other — DEAR SANTA (39A. Line that goes to the North Pole?), HAD AN IDEA (3D. Suspected), IACOCCA (10D. 1984 best-selling business), OPERA ROLE (2D. Tristan or Isolde), PEA SALADS (32D. Vegan side dishes), PRIORATES (33D. Monastic offices), RANG UP (44D. Called, as Buckingham Palace), R RATING (40D. Nudity might lead to this), SLAP HAPPY (29A. Punch-drunk), STRAIT (5D. Naval route).

Five-letter — ARDO, ARESO, ASTON Martin, AXIOM, BOING, BOTHA, COHOS, COROT (1D. “Woman With a Pearl“ painter), DANTE, ENRON, GSUIT, ISERE, MIMIC, NAOMI, OPART, ORONO, PASSE, RANDR, RIOTS, TAEBO, THERE, UNDER, UTILE.

Short stuff — AGA, AIRE, ALE, ARES, ASON, AXIS, CMON, DAD, DAIS, DEP, DJED, DONG, DODO, EBON, EMIL, ERE and ESE, ETC, FENG shui, GOO, IMOF, JERI, “Well, LAH-di- dah!”, LET, NAVI, NITE, ORA and ORG, RAVE, REPR, REV, RNA, STN, YEN and YES.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Pacific salmon; 6. High praise; 10. “___ the opinion that …”; 14. Cultural phenomenon of the ‘60s; 15. Something to reflect on?; 16. Suffix with trillion; 19. “Shake a leg!”; 20. 60 minutes, in Siena; 21. Passion; 22. Spring sound; 26. Comedy club standouts; 27. Abbr. sometimes written twice in a row; 28. Nitwit; 35. McSorley’s order; 38. Previous to, in verse; 41. Talking point?; 42. Increase, with “up”; 43. “You ___ right!”; 51. “Il Convivio” writer; 54. Actress Ryan of “Boston Public”; 57. Ink-colored, in Shakespeare; 58. Jannings of “The Last Command”; 59. Anesthetized; 60. Doorbell sound; 61. Evening, in ads; 62. So last year. — DOWN: 5. Modern address ending; 6. Vacation time, for short; 7. Truism; 8. In ___ fertilization; 9. Tip of a tongue?; 11. Make like; 12. Maine college town; 18. One of the Twelve Olympians; 22. 1980s South African president; 24. Melted ice cream, e.g.; 25. Second ed.; 28. #1 ___ (gift T-shirt slogan); 29. Subway stop: Abbr.; 30. Abate, with “up”; 31. Turkish title; 34. “Absolutely!”; 36. Val d’ ___ (French ski resort); 37. Humanoid race in “Avatar”; 41. Bank statement abbr.; 43. “Unto us ___ is given”; 45. Formerly much-ballyhooed fitness program; 46. Collapsed company of 2001; 47. Watts of “The Ring”; 48. Astronaut’s wear; 49. Of service; 50. “All done!”; 51. Played records at a party; 55. Kobe cash; 56. Genetic messenger.

04.12.11 — Far Out

Adam and Eve in Paradise, P. P. Rubens and J. Brueghel

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Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Puzzle by Barry C. Silk / Edited by Will Shortz

SAL PARADISE (18A. Protagonist in Kerouac’s “On the Road”), MY BLUE HEAVEN (27A. 1956 Fats Domino hit), MOUNT NIRVANA (42A. Highest peak in the Northwest) and BARBARA EDEN (54A. “I Dream of Jeannie” star) are the interrelated group of this perfectly pleasant Tuesday crossword.

Other — BURL IVES (9D. “A Holly Jolly Christmas” singer), JAMES BOND (3D. Aston Martin-driving agent), MIDWEST (26A. Corn Belt’s locale), PATENTS (45A. Edison’s 1,000+), PLUTARCH (36D. “Parallel Lives” author), SUB-ATOMIC (32D. Like a quark).

Mid-size — AIDES, ANAIS, ANEMIA, AVOID, BUSES, CARERS, CRADLE, DEBAR, ERES TU (15A. 1974 top 10 hit for Mocedades), EXIST, GO DOWN, HAVANA, INTERN, IONIA, LEVEL, LIONEL, MEMBER, NO IDEA, ONSET, OVINE, PABST, PLIES, R CRUMB (4A. Fritz the Cat‘s creator), RELISH, SAILS, SMELT, TERRA, VALID.

Short stuff — AAA and AMA, AMOI, CST, DIS and DRS, EZRA, FAQS, GOBS, ILES, IQS, IUD, KIEV, LEND, LENS, LOFT, LSD, LUTZ, MAE and MAJ, MAKE, MALL, MARK, MERV, MIT, MTA, NSA, OVUM, RES, CD-ROM, SIRE, SSE, STAN, TEST, TSAR, USPS, XKES, YVES.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Capt.’s superior; 10. Seamen, slangily; 14. Org. for 41-Down; 16. Fertility clinic cell; 20. Ukraine’s capital; 22. Speak ill of, in slang; 23. Big name in toy trains; 24. Leaves port; 30. Steer clear of; 31. Classic Jaguars; 32. Seattle-to-L.A. dir.; 35. Extend credit; 36. Carries on, as a trade; 38. Skater’s jump; 39. “Dropped” drug; 40. Dots in la mer; 41. Exclude; 48. Get-go; 49. Iron deficiency problem; 50. Cambridge sch.; 51. Place for a choir; 57. Fannie ___; 58. Part of a horse’s bloodline; 59. Concerned ones; 60. Mensa members’ stats; 61. Pre-communist autocrat; 62. Hard-to-get cigar; 63. Winter Chicago hrs. — DOWN: 1. Con man’s target; 2. Mine, in Montreal; 4. Thing, in legalese; 5 Nursery furniture; 6. Burger topper; 7. Inits. On a mail truck; 10. Plummet; 11. Like a sheep; 12. Greyhounds, e.g.; 13. Process, as ore; 19. Gofers; 21. Still in effect; 25. Birth control option, briefly; 26. Whip up; 27. Shopaholic’s mecca; 28. Saint Laurent of fashion; 29. Live and breathe; 33. ___ the Man (Cardinal nickname); 34. Rock’s Better Than ___; 37. Monocle, e.g.; 38. Like a pool table, ideally; 40. Aegean Sea region; 41. O.R. personnel; 42. Dues payer; 43. “Beats me!”; 44. Future 14-Across participant, perhaps; 45. Blue Ribbon brewer; 46. Diarist Nin; 47. Land at an Italian airport?; 50. First name in old TV talk; 52. Online help features, briefly; 53. Dry run; 55. Small battery size; 56. Supersecret org.

04.11.11 — Malevolent Monday

Ricardo Montalbán as Khan, Heath Ledger as The Joker, Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter, Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort, George Zucco as Moriarty, and Jeremy Irons as Scar

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Monday, April 11, 2011

Puzzle by Ian Livengood / Edited by Will Shortz

Seven villains, one for each day of the coming week, constitute the interrelated group of this smashing Monday crossword — KHAN (8. “Star Trek” villain), THE JOKER (15. “Batman” villain), LEX LUTHOR (19. “Superman” villain), HANNIBAL LECTER (36. “The Silence of the Lambs” villain), VOLDEMORT (51. Harry Potter villain), MORIARTY (58. Sherlock Holmes villain) and SCAR (63. “The Lion King” villain).

Other — CAMERA, EXTRA LARGE (28D. Jumbo), JOPLIN (16D. Janis with the 1971 #1 hit “Me and Bobby McGee”), KIDDER (43D. One joshing around), KLATCH (8D. Social gathering with coffee), SHED and STRIP (31D. Get out of, as clothing; 48D. Get out of clothing), SPELLS, STEPPE (21A. Siberian plain), THEME SONGS (3D. “I’ll Be There for You” for “Friends,” and others).

Five-letter — ALLOT, ANKLE, Give it A SHOT!” (“Try!”), B TEAM, IPADS, LEGAL, LITER, LSATS, MAGMA, PARSE, PATHS, PEP UP, PERES, POLIO, SLIME, SLYER, SPOIL (31A. Ruin, as the end of a movie).

Short stuff — AMMO, ASH, DESK, EGG and ERR, EST and ETC, GEE (62A. “Well, whaddaya know!”), HELM, HIGH and mighty, HOMO sapiens, ICEE, IMA and UMA, INCA, KEPT, LAG, LARA, LIES, MAIM, MARX, MESS, “O Sole MIO”, MIRE, NEAR, OMSK (54D. Siberian city), OPEC, OTTO, PAGE, PAT, RAIL, ROPE, SLAP, SLO-mo, SMUT, VIPS, XII (35A. Twelve on a sundial).

And therefore since I cannot prove a lover

To entertain these fair well-spoken days,

I am determined to prove a villain

And hate the idle pleasures of these days.

~ Richard III

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Puzzle available on the internet at

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Single serving of butter; 4. Seriously hurt; 12. Cigarette’s end; 13. Ancient Peruvian; 14. Gooey stuff; 17. Volcanic rock material; 23. Yadda, yadda, yadda: Abbr.; 25. Fall behind; 27. Command post on a ship; 33. Action to a newborn baby’s bottom; 39. Easter ___; 40. Germany’s ___ von Bismarck; 41. Dissect grammatically; 42. Piece of office furniture; 44. Approximate no.; 45. Thurman of Hollywood; 46. John Denver’s “Thank God ___ Country Boy”; 48. Says ”D-O-G” or “C-A-T,” e.g.; 56. Half a train track; 57. Apple tablet computers; 60. French fathers; 61. Roulette action; 64. Held on to; 65. Goof. — DOWN: 1. Trails; 5. Important joint for a field goal kicker; 6. Frozen drink brand; 7. Karl with a manifesto; 10. Shells and bullets; 11. Close to; 14. Porn; 20. 8 ½” x 14” paper size; 22. Salk vaccine target; 25. Exams for aspiring attorneys: Abbr.; 26. Apportion; 29. “That’s all false, and you know it!”; 30. Bog; 32. Summon via a P.A. system, e.g.; 34. Invigorate; 37. Second-string players; 38. Nikon product; 47. Pigsty; 49. Soda bottle unit; 50. More crafty; 51. Bigwigs; 52. Intl. oil group; 53. “___ Croft: Tomb Raider”; 55. Lariat material; 59. QB’s mistake: Abbr.

04.10.11 — The Living Dead — the Acrostic

The Hamburg Hydra, from the Thesaurus of Albertus Seba. A stuffed hydra owned by the mayor of Hamburg; in 1735 it was examined by Carl Linnaeus and determined to be a combination of weasels and snake skins

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Sunday, April 10, 2011

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon / Edited by Will Shortz

This Sunday’s marvelous, slightly macabre acrostic draws a quotation from Still Life: Adventures in Taxidermy by Melissa Milgrom.

For many, taxidermy summons images of wildlife frozen in menacing poses, teeth bared in an eternal rictus; or maybe it's the lamented family cat, forever curled in purr-less slumber. With Still Life, Melissa Milgrom peels the skin back on Norman Bates's favorite pastime, dutifully tracking taxidermy from its 19th-century heyday… she moves through an underworld of auctions, artisans, scientists, and the ultra competitive… ultimately trying a queasy hand at squirrel-stuffing herself. … an entertaining and illuminating adventure. ~ Jon Foro, Amazon.com Review

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The quotation:  THE LOBBY… WAS A VERITABLE NOAH’S ARK ON LUGGAGE CARTS. A TAXIDERMIST FROM NEBRASKA CARTED A PRAIRIE CHICKEN AND A MINK… . COUGARS, GECKOS,… MARMOTS,… AND… TURTLES WERE ALL BEING WHEELED THIS WAY AND THAT… IN THE… CONVENTION HOTEL… .

The author’s name and the title of the work: MELISSA MILGROM, STILL LIFE

The defined words:

A. Plant whose root is used in magic rituals, MANDRAKE
B. Display stand for curious, whatnot, ETAGERRE
C. Shari Lewis’s ovine sock puppet (2 wds.), LAMB CHOP
D. Film with talking smilodons and sloths (2 wds.), ICE AGE
E. Scalpel wielder, slangily, SAWBONES

F. Venue for Barnum’s Fiji Mermaid, e.g., SIDESHOW

G. Fur from young lambs named for a Russian city, ASTRAKHAN
H. Fish often spanning 20 feet or more (2 wds.), MANTA RAY
I. Given tangible form, embodied, INCARNATE
J. Like a deer’s head, colorwise (2 wds.), LIGHT BROWN

K. Process whereby scores are given, GRADING

L. Phoenix event occurring every 500 years or so, REBIRTH
M. Davy Crockett’s rifle (2 wds.), OLD BETSY
N. Like the range of many green parakeets and Gila monsters, MEXICAN
O. Reconnected, as in surgery, SUTURED
P. Size up the situation (2 wds.), TAKE STOCK
Q. Wolf down, get a whiff, INHALE
R. One soon to be supplanted (2 wds.), LAME DUCK
S. Biblical sea monster, LEVIATHAN
T. Not seen in quite a while (hyph.), LONG-LOST
U. Via an artificial environment outside a living organism (2 wds.), IN VITRO
V. Distinctive features of the primitive reptilian archaeopteryx, FEATHERS
W. Admit to being wrong (2 wds.), EAT CROW

The New York Times, Books of The Times review by Dwight Garner titled Beady Eyes That Just Can’t Help It, published March 9, 2010, HERE.

The full paragraph of the quotation: The lobby of the Crowne Plaza was a veritable Noah’s ark on luggage carts. A taxidermist from Nebraska carted a prairie chicken and a mink; a competitor from Pittsburgh had a black squirrel and a freeze-dried snowshoe hare. Green sandpipers, cougars, geckos, a Bengal tiger, brant geese, chum salmon, marmots, rattlesnakes, and snapping turtles were all being wheeled this way and that in the eccentric migration. The bellhops stood by and watched. They had nothing to do, really, because only a slacker would hand over a mount that he had been preserving for a year or more to the untrained hotel staff.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

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04.10.11 — ALL-PRO

Thumbs Up Man by Clayton Kashuba 

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Sunday, April 10, 2011

ALL-PRO, Puzzle by Paula Gamache / Edited by Will Shortz

The title of this playful Sunday crossword misleadingly hints at sports, but PRO here is a synonym for FOR, and by placing FOR before GO, BID, GIVE, AGE, GET, BEAR and TUNE, with the resulting interrelated group all for turning familiar phrases into unusual ones — FORGO COLD TURKEY (23A. Skip Thanksgiving leftovers?), DO ONE’S FORBIDDING (30A. Say “No,” “Never” and “Uh-uh”?), FORGIVE US THIS DAY (47A. Plea for immediate absolution?), FORAGE APPROPRIATE (63A. Like food that’s acceptable to cattle?), PLAY HARD TO FORGET (79A. Memorable theatrical performance?), GRIN AND FORBEAR IT (93A. Abstain happily?) and CARRIES A FORTUNE (108A. Is well-endowed?).

Other — ALL AT SEA (43A. Hopelessly lost), ARISTIDE (21A. Haiti‘s first democratically elected president), ASSERTED, BACKSTAB, EDGED OUT, IRON FENCE (40D. Typical cemetery enclosure), LORGNETTE (26A. Operagoer‘s accessory), NEAR-FATAL (104A. Life-threatening), SET DESIGN, THESSALY (115A. Region conquered by Philip II of Macedon), UTTER ROT (57D. Baloney and then some).

Mid-size — ALEUTS, ARCADIA, COARSE, CRATERS, Haitian CREOLE, DENIZEN (84D. Bear vis-à-vis the woods, e.g.), ELLESSE (70A. Italian sportswear name), FRERES (90D. Bordeaux brothers), GONDOLA (58A. Chairlift alternative), LEVITT (102A. Steven who co-wrote “Freakonomics“), MASHES, PAT DRY, PEEDEE (113A. Dammed river in North Carolina), PERIDOT (16D. Green gemstone), SAIL ON, SECEDE, STEEDS, STRAFE, STROPS, TIK TOK (12D. 2010 chart-topper for Ke$ha).

Five-letter — ABIDE, ADEER, ADREP, AMAZE, ANSEL, APERS, ARDEN, AROOM, BALTO (7D. Sled dog with a statue in New York’s Central Park), BELAY, BEY, BLAND, BUTTE, CHOSE, CROCI (25A. Early spring bloomers), DINER, EBOLI, ECLAT, ELUDE and ETUDE, EPOCH, FLASH, FLEES, GLADS, INURE, IVANA, LANED, MCFLY, MINTS, MONDO, PILAF (62D. Kebab go-with), POINT, READY, REBEL, RECON, REMIT, SERRA, SILLY, SLING, STANS, VILAS (48D. Tennis’s 1977 U.S. Open champ).

Short stuff — ACEY-deucy, AFOG, AHOY, AMPS, ASS, ATE and ATEE, ATOB, BAAL, BLOC, BOBO, CAST, CFOS, CUP, ELEE, ELIO, ELON, EMAG, ENC, ENTR ‘acte, ERIN, “ESTO dignus” (Latin motto); ETA, FRET, HOGG, IDO, IMPS, IONA, IRA, LAE and LEI, LIVE, LPS, NARY, OBOE and OTOE, OMS, ORTS, OTT, La Môme PIAF (The Little Sparrow), PSST, PVC, REEK, RENO, RIPS, Mateus ROSE, SADO-masochism, TOOT, YMA.

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Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Reduces to pulp; 7. Betray, in a way; 15. They’re unoriginal; 22. Iconoclast; 25. Early spring bloomers; 27. Broke bread; 28. Longfellow’s words before “O Ship of State!”; 29. Singer Sumac; 34. Robert ___ (Mary Custis); 36. Make a big stink; 37. Chacon of the 1960s Mets; 38. Put up with; 41. One may be original; 52. Abbr. on a cover letter; 53. Wind in front of a stage; 54. Kin of fairies; 55. Not; 56. Crested ___, Colo.; 60. Shake; 62. Blot with a paper towel, maybe; 67. Inuit relatives; 69. Checked, say; 73. They come with turndown service; 74. Soviet ___; 75. Burial site of early Scottish kings; 77. Rents; 78. Pipe material, for short; 83. Shell, e.g.; 86. Warning from a driver; 87. Extremely, in 1970s slang; 88. Joyce’s land; 89. Bottom-line bigwigs, in brief; 91. Head-turning sound; 99. Fairy; 103. New Guinea port; 107. Blow away; 111. One giving an order; 112. Declared; 114. Maurice of Nixon’s cabinet; 118. Mounts. — DOWN: 1. “Back to the Future” family name; 2. “Get ___!”; 3. California missions founder Junipero ___; 4. Scottish poet James known as “The Ettrick Shepherd”; 5. Southern university that shares its name with a biblical judge; 6. Form a splinter group; 8. Elizabeth in the cosmetics department; 9. Abbr. following op. and loc.; 10. The Wildcats of the Big 12 Conf.; 11. Attack from the air; 13. Like ___ in the headlights; 14. Old Ottoman governor; 15. Rural setting, in poetry; 17. Place in a Carlo Levi memoir; 18. Scout’s mission; 19. David’s weapon; 24. Western tribe; 28. Preposterous; 31. Once, a long time ago; 32. “Family Guy” creator MacFarlane; 34. Barely beat; 35. Oahu offering; 38. In ___ (confused); 39. Mr. Burns’s teddy bear on “The Simpsons”; 41. Driver’s target; 42. Balloonhead; 43. Seller of space or time, for short; 44. Showy craft?; 49. Salon, e.g., informally; 50. Accustom; 56. False deity; 59. Dinner scraps; 60. Memorable time; 61. Vintage platters; 64. Bravura; 65. Cry to a mate; 66. City east of the Sierra Nevada; 67. Concern stack; 68. Unexploded; 71. Made haste; 74. Sans pizazz; 75. Chapel line; 76. Giant of old; 79. Gist; 80. Basic first step; 82. Chant syllables; 85. Fails miserably; 89. Like a hair shirt; 92. Sharpening devices; 93. Sword lilies, for short; 94. Send, as a check; 95. Trump who wrote “The Best Is Yet to Come”; 96. Instant; 97. Lensman Adams; 98. Good to go; 99. Dexterity exercise; 100. Like an interstate; 101. Jumps bail, say; 105. Say “What to do? What to do?,” e.g.; 108. To ___ (precisely); 108. Siamese, e.g.; 109. Filing org.; 110. H.

04.09.11 — What You See ...

Crystal Ball, Phantasy World

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Saturday, April 9, 2011

Puzzle by Scott Atkinson / Edited by Will Shortz

A crystal ball and a mojito make this an ideal Saturday crossword — the solver could use both!

Across — 1. Network since 1998, BBC AMERICA; 11. A bummer for bums, WORK; 15. Like feats of Clay?, ORATORICAL; 16. Shakespeare’s “temple-haunting martlet” is a good one, OMEN; 17. Unclaimed stretch, NO MAN’S LAND; 18. Champion cyclist Leipheimer, LEVI; 19. Suffix with 43-Across, ITE; 20. View from Presque Isle, ERIE; 21. Be like a bee, FLIT; 22. Beats badly, THUMPS; 26. “The Man Who Knew Too Much” co-star, EDNA BEST; 28. Seattle sea hawks, OSPREYS; 30. 1979 negotiation, SALT II; 31. Beachgoer’s protection, SUN HAT; 34. Drop a line to?, HIT ON; 35. Protruding rock, SCAR; 38. “War With the Newts” novelist, 1936, CAPEK; 40. Singer/songwriter Vienna TENG; 41. Items often done in gold leaf, HALOS; 43. What a crystal ball gazer sees, QUARTZ; 45. Source of “coffee” and “cotton”, ARABIC; 47. With reckless abandon, LIKE MAD; 51. Security office array, MONITORS; 54. Took pains, STROVE; 55. Not be haphazard, PLAN; 56. Be stuck (on), DOTE; 58. “JOS Boys” (1886 sequel); 59. Mr. Universe contestants’ needs, OILS; 60. Cooler in the summer, ITALIAN ICE; 64. Japanese folk music with a swing feel, ONDO; 65. Really lousy idea, NON-STARTER; 66. Roger’s predecessor as 007, SEAN; 67. “Holy mackerel!”, GREAT SCOTT.

Down — 1. Mackerel family member, BONITO; 2. Matzo balls soak them up, BROTHS; 3. Was mentioned, CAME UP; 4. Loss leader?, ATA; 5. When “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” aired: Abbr., MON; 6D. Defib settings, ERS; 7. Nettle, RILE; 8. Supporting statement, I CARE; 9. Jackal, e.g., CANID; 10. “The Courtship of Miles Standish” couple, ALDENS; 11. Emmy-winning U.S. journalist born in Germany, WOLF BLITZER; 12. It often includes ham, OMELETTE; 13. Editor’s request, REVISION; 14. Madame Defarge’s sinister craft, KNITTING; 23. “Here’s to you” recipient, MRS ROBINSON; 24. It means little in Lisette, PEU; 25. Short agreement?, SYNC; 27. “That’s nice”, AAH; 29. Center in size 22 shoes, SHAQ; 32. “The APU Trilogy” (1955-59 film series); 33. Relative of turquoise, TEAL; 35. Some body enhancers, SHAMPOOS; 36. Camelot girl, CAROLINE; 37. “The Aviator” Oscar nominee, ALAN ALDA; 39. TV “angel” Munroe, KRIS; 42. Portraitist’s request, SIT; 44. It gets you in the house: Abbr., TKT; 46. DNA’s function, CODING; 48. Highball with white rum, MOJITO; 49. Pied wader, AVOCET; 50. Prickly pear’s place, DESERT; 52. Apache topper, ROTOR; 53. STANE Street (road from London Bridge to Chichester); 57. Supermodel Benitez, ELSA; 61. TV’s Cousin ITT; 62. Some remote power sources, AAS; 63. Org. concerned with radiation, NRC.

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Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.