Watch Your Step!
Illustrated above: 54A JONATHANSWIFT (Gulliver's creator) and 36A RELIGIOUSFAST (Ramadan observance)
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
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!
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!”).
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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.
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