07.17.09

Slippery When Wet

Friday, July 17, 2009

Puzzle by Doug Peterson and Barry C. Silk, edited by Will Shortz

There’s a lot of variety in this breeze of a puzzle, including the got-it-from-WET entry of SLIPPERY WHEN WET (36A. Highway caution) and the something-I-knew KENTUCKY COLONEL (8D. Honorary title bestowed on Bill Clinton, Muhammad Ali and Mae West), the two 15-letter entries sharing their Y in the center of this Friday crossword of a fist-full of long entries.

A few Friday links -- COLD HARBOR (24D. Site of Robert E. Lee’s last victory); CORPULENT (17A. Having a lot to lose?); REPOTS (32D. Does a nursery job); ARIEL (16A. Moon of Uranus); HALLE (6D. Berry with juicy parts?); COME / ONTO (24 With 54-Down, approach with a line).

Have a good weekend!

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

07.16.09

It Adds Up...

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Puzzle by Elizabeth C. Gorski, edited by Will Shortz

ANAGRAM (35-Across. See 17- and 57-Across), ELEVEN + TWO (17A. 35-Across of 57-Across that equals 12-Down), TWELVE + ONE (57A. 35-Across of 17-Across that equals 12-Down), THIRTEEN (12-D. Either 17- or 57-Across) and IT ADDS UP (33D. Possible title for this puzzle) are the interrelated entries of this Thursday crossword. What a puzzlement!

Thursday links -- DIRIGIBLES (14A. Ships whose rudders don’t touch water); DAMASCUS (53A. Destination of Saul when he had his conversion, in the Bible); LATTICE (42A. Pie crust pattern), ISOLDE (9D. Singer of the Wagner aria “Liebestod”); NON+ED (46D. Puzzled); TILSIT (2D. Swiss cheese); 29A. French novelist Robert MERLE, upon whose work the 1973 thriller “The Day of the Dolphin” is based; YIN (6D. Feminine side).

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

07.15.09

Take It Out!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Puzzle by Joon Pahk, edited by Will Shortz

IT MAY BE TAKEN OUT (38A. Statement about 17-, 24-, 49- and 59-Across), FRUSTRATION (17. Feeling of no fulfillment), MORTGAGE (24. Frequent home acquisition), FAST FOOD (49. Burgers and fries, often) and LIBRARY BOOK (59. Item that may have a date stamp) are the interrelated entries of this Wednesday crossword.

A few links -- EAST LYME (40D. Town near New London, Conn.), THE / XFILES (43A. With 45-Down, “Trust No One” series), Bill & MELINDA Gates Foundation, MUSTARD (24D. Colonel suspected of murder), MORSE (13D. Robert who won a Tony for “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”).

Oh, go on now, take it out!

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

07.14.09

Bastille Day

La Liberté guidant le peuplem Eugène Delacroix

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 -- Bastille Day

Puzzle by Donna S. Levin, edited by Will Shortz

A TALE OF TWO CITIES (18A. Dickens novel with the 56-Across as its backdrop), LET THEM EAT CAKE (27A. Declaration attributed to Marie Antoinette just before the 56-Across), LA MARSEILLAISE (43A. Song of the 56-Across) and FRENCH REVOLUTION (56A. Event that began in 1789) are the interrelated entries of this Bastille Day crossword.

A few links -- STAR DUST (39D. Hoagy Carmichael classic); DELPHI (25D. Oracle site); WALRUS (33A. Oyster eater in a Lewis Carroll verse); CRIME (1A. Partner of punishment); and the IRAQ WAR.

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

07.13.09

Counting Sheep

Monday, July 13, 2009

Puzzle by C. W. Stewart, edited by Will Shortz

ALL TUCKED IN (59-Across. Comfily ready to sleep … or a hint to 17-, 24-, 37- and 47-Across), MANUALLABOR (17. Ditch digging, e.g.), PERSONALLOAN (24. Money borrowed from a friend, e.g.), SPIRITUALLEADER (37. The Dalai Lama, e.g.) and DIAGONALLINE (47. Slash symbol, e.g.) are the interrelated entries of this Monday crossword. Incidentally, there’s also ALLOT (50-Down. Mete out) tucked in between 47- and 59-Across, sans the e.g. Hey, hey, there’s no counting sheep on a Monday morning!

A few links -- ANNE and PARR (40D. First name of Henry VIII’s second, 24D. Last name of Henry VIII’s last), HARD LIFE (10D. What a serf led) and IGNORANT (38D. Unaware); 1A. Chicago’s ADLER Planetarium; DRANO (11D. Clog-busting brand); LOUIS (52D. 1930s-‘40s heavyweight champ Joe); EGG and EGO, and ZINC (45D. Next-to-last element alphabetically).

Y'all have a good week!
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For today’s cartoons, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

For the complete post, go HERE.

07.12.09

H I S T O R Y

Discussing The Divine Comedy With Dante, 2006, Dai Dudu, Li Tiezi, Zhang An

Sunday, July 12, 2009

LINKS TO THE PAST, Puzzle by Alan Arbesfeld, edited by Will Shortz

H I S T O R Y results from the headlined note of this crossword, “When this puzzle is done, interpret the answers to the seven starred clues literally, in order from top to bottom” -- the middle of the word NOWHERE holds an H in the entry of MIDDLE OF NOWHERE (23. *Boondocks); the center of the word MEDICAL is an I; the lead letter of SPIRITUAL, S; the beginning of TIME, T; the second letter of command, O; the end letter of DECEMBER, R; the closing one of BROADWAY, Y. The clues are straightforward -- MEDICAL CENTER (34. *Ambulance destination); SPIRITUAL LEADER (50. *Imam or priest); BEGINNING OF TIME (69. *When the heavens and earth were created); SECOND IN COMMAND (87. *Deputy); END OF DECEMBER (103. *Week after Christmas); BROADWAY CLOSING (118. *Lights out in New York City.

And that’s the way it is...!

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

07.11.09

Hodgepodge

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Puzzle by Karen M. Tracey, edited by Will Shortz

This one’s all over the place…

Heard of, but never seen JOHN LARROQUETTE (36A. Winner of four consecutive Emmys for his sitcom role as a prosecutor), the star of this Saturday stumper -- don’t watch enough television? CAPTAIN AHAB (5D. To whom Stubb and Flask answered, in literature) gets his rank in today‘s puzzle. KATE SPADE (17A. Big name in bags) shares bags and her last name with Jack Spade. DEAR SANTA (35D. Words followed by a wish list) is out of season in July, but all‘s fair in the world of crosswords.

A few more links -- HANAUMA BAY (39A. Snorkeling spot near Honolulu), ARHAT (16A. Nirvana attainer), XHOSA (54A. Zulu relative); CACAO (21A. Major Côte d'Ivoire export); IN HER SHOES (27D. Jennifer Weiner best seller made into a 2005 film), SUSQUEHANNA (24D. Three Mile Island is in it); MAI TAIS (25A. They’re often garnished with orchids); SORBET (43A. Refresher between courses); ARDEN (7D. Shakespeare’s mother’s maiden name); MAJAS (25D. Goya subjects).

That’s all folks!

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

For the complete post, go HERE.