07.11.07

Run on in in on over!



Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Puzzle by Patrick Merrell, edited by Will Shortz

Will Shortz is shuffling the deck this week it seems; however, The New York Times set the rules about the day-of-the-week appearance of any particular puzzle, and has a perfect right to mix it up whenever we solvers get too smug! I think that’s a good thing -- too often, those not in charge of publishing the puzzle insist that the puzzle is supposed to be this, that, and the other thing on such-and-such a day with certain nameable traits, and with a particular degree of ease or difficulty, etc. So, expect the unexpected, at least this week -- hell, it’s a lot more fun!

ASLAN (42A The lion in “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”) shares this crossword with fish, fowl and fellow mammal -- ORCAS (1A SeaWorld attractions), QUAIL (34A California’s state bird), DUN (63A Horse color), TETRA (21A Neon ____[fish]), INOIL (30D How sardines are often packed), and EEYORE (45D Pooh’s mopey pal).

People in the puzzle include RAP (6A 50 Cent piece), IKE (15A Voters liked him twice), OLLIE (16A Stan’s partner in old films), PRADA (Gucci competitor), THEMOB (46A Organized crime), WIELDER (22A Ax user, e.g.), OHARA (59A Fictional Scarlett), PENN (8D William for whom a colony was named), ELI (10D Inventor Whitney), Dr. EVIL of “Austin Powers” films (26D), KOOLAIDMAN (31D Pitcher who says “Oh, yeaahh!”), ABIE (42D Irish Rose’s beau), HATER (61A Fan’s opposite), DAKOTA (43D Some Plains Indians), and BAH (56D Cry from Scrooge).

Many activities WEAVE (9A Constantly change lanes) throughout, related/unrelated, including RIVERRAFTS (6D They run rapids), TABLETENNIS (20A Sport played on the first word of its name), ARENAFOOTBALL (35A Sport played in the first word of its name), ELBOW (17A Poke, in a way), FIELDHOCKEY (51A Sport played on the first word of its name), SOWED (5D Scattered over the earth), (note the “run“ “on” “in” “in” “on” “over“), QBS (34D Some hikers’ targets, for short), POT (39A Poker payoff), CABBED (3D Took a taxi, with “it”), and SCRAP (50D Consign to the junkyard).

VINERIPEN (18A Mature before being picked) and BUBBLEGUM (54A It may get stuck in a movie theater), NEATO (14A “Peachy!”) EDAM (37D Noted cheese town), and INOIL are the oral group, while PSHAW (62A "Shucks!"), BAH, IFEVER, LULU (53D Corker), NEATO, EGAD (52D "Yikes!"), WEAVE, EEN, UHS, BOP, ITSSAFE and ONETWO (1D Boxing combo) GIVE (32A Say "uncle") curt reticence and exclamation, so I won’t even mention TRIKE (29A Tot’s wheels), DRANO (33A Popular clog-buster), RELAID, TILES, WORSE (9D Not as good) RATE (38D Appraise) and DIE (43A Go out, as embers).

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