08.31.07

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Cano, Canon, and Cannons


Illustration: 3D THECRUSADES -- "Celestial Light", Gustave Dore

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Friday, August 31, 2007

Puzzle by Paula Gamache, edited by Will Shortz

Very little in the way of the familiar presents itself in this Friday crossword puzzle. The canon of crosswordese is left far behind as this construction marches with a salvo of cannons to awaken the dusty corners of the solver’s cerebral sensibilities.

Led by THECRUSADES (3D Fights with knights), this is a STORMY (62A Violent) and ECLECTIC (18A Catholic) TOUGH (47A “Deal with it!“) puzzle that registers a sizeable ECHO (41D Come back) on the RICHTER (8D Scale developer).

Pay no attention to this paragraph, it's nothing more than a squirrel running up and down a foul pole being watched by 54,000 souls under a full moon, but having just watched the Yankees HOSE (26D Spray source) the Red Sox 5-0 with two home runs by Robinson Cano, a double RIP (56D Turbulent water stretch) off Curt Schilling’s RIGHTARM (16A Exchange for something you really want?), Chien-Ming Wang pitching a no-hitter into the seventh, broken up by Kevin Youkilis (who doesn’t stay on the base path, unfortunately), a DOOVER (57A Second chance) over the head of Youkilis by Joba Chamberlain, and Tony Francona going into a SNARLY (45D Bad-tempered) SPUTTER (39A Speak explosively in anger), I knew it was going to be difficult not to comment on the Broom in the Bronx!

Meanwhile, back at the puzzle, Paula Gamache could probably pitch a no-hitter! Mixing fast balls like HUGMETIGHT (29D Short, close-fitting jacket), curve balls, ala PRICETAG (7A Shock source, sometimes), knuckle balls, as SOUTHERNCROSS (33A Constellation seen on the flags of Australia, Samoa and Papua New Guinea) and change ups in the form of PIGPENS (40D Dumps) crossing with DIRTPOOR (50A Hard up), her construction is worthy of a Wang or a Schilling!

With ACTFOR (1A Be an agent of) and MAHALO (15A Hawaiian “thank you”) combined for an OPENER (17A Handle, e.g.), our MADAMESPEAKER (38A Parliamentary address) could ORATE (48D Give a stemwinder) daring all and sundry to LAUGHATME (28A 1965 Sonny Bono hit). Will Shortz chimes in with the double-clued CHEESECAKE (10D Skin pics?) and TAT (12D Skin pic?) like a closer with a cutter! Shortzesque To ATEE (30D)!…but let’s get to the ROOT (52D Lexicographic concern) of this puzzle!

In between, GYMSHOES (20A They might just squeak by in a basketball game) prove not to be SNEAKERS; AUTOS (24A Runners with hoods) perplexes; ECLECTIC defined as Catholic defies any thesaurus (go ahead, let me know if you find it anywhere!); DANTES (37A “_____ Peak” [1997 Pierce Brosnan film]) is here no Inferno; and SPOTREMOVER (25D Cleaning product that may be useful after a party) seems to indicate messy guests!

If Cano comes up to bat against this canon of cannons, he’d better hope it’s a repertoire by Mike Mussina, uh, a little slower -- AMORAL (1D Unscrupulous); CAPITA (2D Pantheon heads?); PRESUME (7D Gather); IGLOO (9D One-room house, typically); ETCS (11D Truncation indications: Abbr.), GMC (14D It has pickup lines); AGORAS (23D Ancient meeting places); NDAK (34D Home of Theo. Roosevelt Natl. Park); OTO (58D Tribe visited by Lewis and Clark); CMDR (35D U.S.N. position); HAIR (36D Eyebrow makeup); DOGE (50D Bygone magistrate); and REDELM (44A Tree with double-toothed leaves and durable wood) -- any one of them could bring a swing of PICKETERS (43A Striking figures), and a FAN-(4D Cool, in a way)-out to AHS (64D “I get it” responses) -- but don’t make a BET (55D See, say) or take ODDS (51D) on it!

Celebrities at the game include OLEG (5D Hockey player Tverdovsky); RORY (6D Youngest of the Culkin brothers); ARI (13D Agent Gold on HBO’s “Entourage”); RIC (19A Wrestler Flair); ARNETT (32D Desert Storm reporter); and EAPOE (31A “Berenice” author, briefly), all admitted with no CHARGE (35A Club’s cover).

SHH (25A Sound from a silencer), there’s more -- ATRA (22A Grooming brand introduced in 1977); HESS (27D Amoco alternative); DIESE (42A This, in Thuringen); RRS (46A Regulation targets for Theodore Roosevelt: Abbr.) TMEN (49A Catchers of some ring leaders); ODA (53A Seraglio section); ABROGATE (54A Void); HEIGHTEN (59A Opposite of diminish); and STPETERS (61A Cardinals’ gathering place).

Gamache game over! Do the MATH (21D It has many functions) and DOTELL (60A “Let’s have it”)!

Perfection?! -- worth twice the price of admission!

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

Today’s Video: Squirrel On Yankee Stadium Foul Pole!!!

08.30.07

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Why?

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Puzzle by Victor Fleming and Bruce Venzke, edited by Will Shortz

Today’s puzzle asks who, what, when, where, almost how, but not why -- missing by one (and a half?) the Five Ws, also known as the Five Ws (and one H) or simply the Six Ws.

WHERETHEBOYSARE (17A 1961 Connie Francis Hit); WHENIFALLINLOVE (3D 1952 Doris Day hit that was an even bigger hit for the Lettermen in 1961); WHATINTARNATION (12D “Huh?!”)(Tarnation, in this case, is a colloquial synonym for damnation); and WHONEEDSENEMIES (61A End of a line about “friends”) extend the entire 15 squares top, bottom, left and right of today’s puzzle, while SALCHOW (37A Eponymous rink jump) almost takes care of the How?...but no Why? Why?

Huh?

SINISTER (19A Up to new good) seems to be the operating word for this Thursday thrashing -- EXHUME (15A Dig up); PIRANHAS (16A Vicious sorts); NEUTER (20A Sterile, in a way); LIVEALIE (63A Not be honest about oneself); ONIONS (64A Ingredients in many stews); SNEERSAT (65A Derides); TURNTO (66A Become, as mush); DEEPSET (43D Like some eyes); and DETACHMENT (30D Troop group) join WHATINTARNATION and WHONEEDSENEMIES as forbidding fare.

The positives, EXHILARATE (2D Thrill); ENSURE (11D Protect); ELEVATE (39A Bring up); IRAISE (32A Hold ‘em challenge); ONTHEWAY (7A En route); and PERMITME (58A “Here, I can help you”) are a meager MENU (59D Button on an iPod).

AARE is back from Tuesday‘s puzzle, and close behind are AMES, ASHE, ATL, AWLS, CREE, EELS, EERO, ENID, ENOS, ENDO, EONS, ESSO, DAH, LANE, NAFTA, NEWS, NIB, SEED, SOLD, SPEC, SRI, TEX, TRON, VEAL, WIPE; and YSER

Theatricals, outside of Doris Day, Connie Francis, and The Lettermen, include Debussy’s “Air de LIA” (21A); DANCE (49A Bolero, e.g.,); NEIL Jordan, who wrote “The Crying Game” (45A); NEWMAN (1A Seinfeld’s “sworn enemy”); NIA (50A Long on screen); and VLADIMIR (40D One of the men waiting in “Waiting for Godot”).

Wandering aimlessly about the grid are such entries as NEWS (1D Google heading); MURIATIC acid (old name for hydrochloric acid)(4A); NETTV (6D Web-based service); OPERATE (7D Be in charge of); HAYES (10D First sitting president to visit the West Coast); NISAN (25d Passover month); LIENEE (46D Mortgagor, e.g.); RHIN (56D Nose: Prefix); DELRAY Beach, Fla. (44A); ARLENE (55A Children’s author/photographer Alda); and OXEYE (31D Kind of daisy).

That should cover it, ORNOT (53D Optional phrase)!...but, again --

Why oh why no “why”?!

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

08.29.07

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All Thumbs

Illustration: 19A OWEN (Wilson of "Zoolander")
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Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Puzzle by Jayne and Alex Boisvert, edited by Will Shortz

It appears that most folks, including today’s puzzle celebrity, are all THUMBs when it comes to committing suicide. At times, when it’s done “unintentionally”, it succeeds (e.g., the doctor who performed an appendectomy upon himself, but unfortunately fainted during the procedure). OWEN (19A Wilson of “Zoolander”), thankfully is one of those who was all THUMBs in attempting to do so -- read Owen Wilson Suicide Attempt. Owen Cunningham Wilson (born November 18, 1968) is an Academy Award-nominated actor and writer (for his work on the screenplay of “The Royal Tenenbaums”), but he is best known for his successful comedic roles in Wedding Crashers and as Hansel in Zoolander.

Today’s puzzle gives us no less than four THUMBs in four squares of the puzzle -- e.g., the word THUMB is squeezed into a tiny little box four times. THUMBONESNOSE (20A Expresses scorn); UNDERMYTHUMB (29A 1966 Rolling Stones hit); THUMBTHROUGH (43A Scan); OPPOSABLETHUMB (51A Human hand characteristic); along with their obligatory downs of TOMTHUMB (1D Barnum midget); SORETHUMB (26D It may stick out); THUMBNAIL (33D King of sketch); and THUMBSUP (56D Encouraging sign).

The entries above and below OWEN, e.g., LOON (16A Canadian dollar bird) and WAYS (22A Means’ partner) are, I am sure, purely coincidental. Other than that, the remainder of the puzzle is fairly standard stuff, with a few exceptions -- BORAX (15A 20 Mule Team compound); ARENT (18A Ain’t grammatical?); SCREED (26A Blowhard’s speech); PENAL (41A Prison-related) and PUSS (63A Face, slangily); ELEE again, this time properly clued as 21D Gen. Robert _____; and URIAH (29D Dickens’s _____ Heep) crossing NAIAD (38A Nymph of Greek myth) in dead center of the grid, resulting in the central square containing the letter and/or word “I”.

Longer entries hanging around throughout the puzzle include NEUROSIS (38D Anxiety may be a symptom of it); TRINKETS (4D Tchotchkes); ABASED (5D Brought down); FLOWER (10D Lapel insert); RHYMES (44D Rappers’ skill); AUDIBLES (39D Quarterback’ play changes); and EXTENDED (9D Like some warranties).

Shorter, less-frequently seen entries include SAONE (58A Rhone feeder); PANE and PONE side by side; joining with the oft-seen ODOR, MAGI, TILT, KLEE, NYE, IAN, ORATE, ALLA, ESC, MULTI, ZITI, HER, QUAY and QTIP, IDLE, INNER, SEEDS, SEEP, ECRU, YALTA, MILLE, META, URDU, ZONES, LOGO, IDAS, OREO, RISERS, VANS, IOWA, JOEY, INNS, YEN, NEAL; with pleasant appearances by BORNE (6D Held up); CRUST (27D Pie part); RANCH (28D Dressing choice); GREEN (35A Eco-friendly); and, if one is not all thumbs, REDEAL (45A Start a new hand).

Last, but not least, we have POE (41D Rue Morgue’s creator).

Remind you of anyone?

For whatever AILS (50D Has a fever say) today’s puzzle celebrity -- get well soon!

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Today's video rerun -- A Nightmare of a Crossword

Cartoon? The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

08.28.07

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Elementary!


Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Puzzle by Linda Schechet Tucker, Edited by Will Shortz

Clues to solve today's puzzle with BASILRATHBONE (26A Sherlock Holmes portrayer):


Across: 1. Russian space station; 4. "The Song of ROLAND" old French epic; 10. Spill the beans; 14. Half of dos; 15. Blackboard appurtenance; 16. Like hands after eating potato chips; 17. It's worth listening to; 19. Info in a used car ad; 20. Toll; 21. Conduct a survey; 23. Republic from which Montenegro gained its independence; 25. MAH-jongg; 26. Sherlock Holmes portrayer; 33. Nabokov heroine; 35. "Don't TREAD on me" (slogan of the American Revolution); 36. Where San Diego is: Abbr.; 37. Art DECO; 39. Expensive coat; 41. Cravings; 42. Not silently; 44. Laughing; 46. Drivers' org.; 47. Perfect shape; 50. Building wing; 51. Sale markdown indicator; 54. Variety of rose; 60. Decorative sofa fabric; 61. River of Switzerland; 62. Where the first words of 17-, 26- and 47-Across may be found; 64. It may be in the doghouse; 65. Its alphabet starts with alif; 66. Bard's "before"; 67. Hightail it; 68. Tennessee team; 69. "Help!".

Illustration: The "dancing men" code from "Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon" (1942)

Down: 1. Scents used for perfume; 2. Senseless; 3. English philosopher called "Doctor Mirabilis" ; 4. One who sees it like it is; 5. Fort ORD, former Army post on Monterey Bay; 6. Source of basalt; 7. Purchase stipulation; 8. Place for a crick; 9. Imagined; 10. Cry of glee; 11. Stead; 12. Chester Arthur's middle name; 13. Polar explorer Richard; 18. Isle of exile; 22. Sis-boom-bahs; 24. Snobs put them on; 27. Memorize, as lines; 28. Raging mad; 29. He lost of Dwight; 30. They're controlled by the moon; 31. "Peter Pan" dog; 32. Actress Lanchester, who married Charles Laughton; 33. "Madam, I'm ADAM"; 34. Place to get a Reuben; 38. Catcher of sound waves; 40. ENTR'acte; 43. Mid seventh-century date; 45. Haberdashery items: Var.; 48. Dated; 49. Smell; 52. Old Oldsmobile; 53. They may be dominant; 54. Knife handle; 55. Where Bill and Hillary met; 56. LaBREA Tar Pits; 57. Hatcher or Garr; 58. Part of Q.E.D.; 59. "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" group; 63. Winning cry in a card game.

The solution? Elementary!

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

08.27.07

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I, Robot


Monday, August 27, 2007

Puzzle by Steven Ginzburg, edited by Will Shortz

I, Robot -- Monday, go!

Heading back to work with fellow marching ANTS (68A Tiny critters found twice each in 17-, 38- and 60-Across). In today’s puzzle ANTS (68A) is a clue to find a place in three inter-related entries for the letters, A, N, and T in sequence, spelling ANT, twice -- in ORGANTRANSPLANT (17A Operation for a new liver or kidney); ANTIOXIDANT (38A Beneficial substance in fruits, vegetables and tea); and ROMANTICFANTASY (60A Literary genre popular with women) each have ANT, twice.

Well, that’s it, and I suppose it will need do for this humdrum last Monday in August before it is that Labor Day Monday we say a premature goodbye ANON (66A Shortly) to Summer -- so let's kiss the Monday blues goodbye for a couple of weeks. Today, we are those who are lucky enough to be soldiering with the HERD (1A It’s rounded up in a roundup) whether you drive, risking DENTS (70A Car dings), PEDAL (5A Propel a bicycle) or take a CAB (23D Taxi) to work while the boss is calling FORE (36D Cry after a bad swing), or on a business trip to MAUI (14A Hawaii‘s “Valley Isle“)!

On to the puzzle -- TWOXTWO (27D Four) is an entry I’ve not seen before, and it is neatly placed so the X is in the exact center of the grid, shared by ANTIOXIDANT across. It looks great and should inspire us all to clean up our desk or MANHOLE (12D Street opening for a utility worker), to read our EMAIL (67A Message from a BlackBerry, maybe) from the firm of ENOS, ELI, LEVY and DIAZ that EGGSON (28A Encourages) a FEW (48A Small number) while there is still TIME (57D It heals all wounds, in a saying) -- “AINT it the truth!” (8D).

This is definitely a puzzle for those who work for an honest living with such entries as HMO (1A Insurance grp.), EAR (2A Where a phone is held), PATRON (5D Sponsor), ENRON (6D Company with a spectacular 2001 bankruptcy) AFL (10D C.I.O.’s partner); CLASSACTION (11D Kind of suit), or even such stock-market-tainted whispers as LESSENED (9D Made smaller); REFIT (53D Size again), or INFLATED (39D Puffed up), WIN (32A Take home a trophy); ACME (10A Pinnacle) and ZERO (20A Home [in on]).

It’s also a melodic Monday, with “ANNIE Get Your Gun” (15A); VOICE (44A Alto or soprano); CAROLS (49A Yuletide sons); NOEL (71A Yuletide), GMINOR (29D Key of Saint-Saens’s “Danse macabre”); even TUNERS (31D Radio receiver parts), some with an ORAL (52A Face-to-face test) HUE (24D Shade). Little bits and pieces that are getting left out here -- TSE, NITS, IBAR, NIP, EON, ANO, STE, YSL, and ANY (61A One or more) others you can find.

Good news, there‘s more! Fall fashions of FLAX (16A Linen fiber); LACE (41A Feature of many a wedding dress); an Oriental RUG (3D), a TASSEL (50A Mortarboard addition); or PEG (19D Place to hang one‘s hat). We have refreshments, notably EXTENTS (13D Spreads) of FOIE gras (36D); MALT (34A Beer component) and ICES (37A Decorates, as a cake) so I hope you WONT (26A Refuses to) forget your ANTIOXIDANT which you’ll get from OAT (56A Grain in Cheerios).

For those of you still on vacation , perhaps drifting in a gondola through the CANALS (49D “Streets” of Venice); visiting historic AVALON (40D King Arthur’s burial place); or just being LITERAL (41D Without metaphor), showing off your DNA (7D Reproductive material) while diving for ABALONE (42A Mother-of-pearl source), or up on the beach, reading comic books by STAN Lee of Marvel Comics (59D), a good novel by AUSTEN (30A Jane who wrote “Sense and Sensibility”), or the NEWEST (18D Most recent) ROMANTICFANTASY with multiple BEAUS (35A Swains) and only one SHE (22A That woman), “The Sweetheart of Sigma CHI“ (23A), eliciting a tear from your IRIS (33D Eye part) and a shudder thinking of that ORGANTRANSPLANT in your future revealed through ESP (46D Telepathy, e.g.). Replaceable parts?! Good! Toss 'em aside and march like ANTS (68A) to work with denizens created by ISAACASIMOV (25D “I Robot” author).

…click, click...whirrrrr!

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Today's crossword video: Kyle Nicolas at 4yrs of age

08.26.07

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Head Game



Sunday, August 26, 2007

GETTING AHEAD
Puzzle by M. Greene and Craig Kasper, edited by Will Shortz

Created with words of letters in circles (in fairly proper placement) is a face and/or head -- HAIR, SCALP, BROWS, EAR, EAR, EYE, EYE, NOSE, LIPS, and CHIN. This conceit can be of use in solving if discovered without too much pondering. It is a slim amount of entry assistance, but anything in an arduous crossword such as this, is welcome.

The ten entries that contain the circles -- BOOSTERCHAIR (21A Toddler’s mealtime accessory); FISCALPERIODS (29A Quarters for a business, e.g.); WEBBROWSER (54A Safari, e.g.); BEARTHEBURDEN (53D Be weighed down); BLEEDINGHEART (15D Empathetic one, derisevely); BLARNEYED (64A Persuaded with flattery); HEYERDAHL (66A Noted explorer of Polynesia); NANOSECOND (76A Time in which light travels one foot, approximately); LUNARECLIPSES (100A Astronomical events that occur twice or more a year), and CHINESEBOXES (113 Nested set of containers).

Interesting stuff: An IMAC (7A Product whose 1-Across is a 61-Across) has an APPLE (61A Snack item) as its EMBLEM (1A See 7-Across); 81A. Creatio ex NIHILO (Christian tenet), creation out of nothing; BORAXO (18A Heavy-duty hand soap), MUON (71A Particle created by a cosmic ray); and TATAMI (98A Teahouse floor covering).

Oh No!: OHNO (57A Worrywart’s cry) ONO (79D “Yes, I’m a Witch” musician), not these entries again: EXHALED (20A Showed relief, in a way); RATATAT (24A Battle report?); UGARTE (36A Lorre’s ”Casablanca” role); SANTA (42A Grinch disguise), just appeared in Friday’s puzzle; RAGGED (49A Rough), we had Raggedy Ann yesterday; CRETIN (58A Idiot), leave these poor souls alone; REESE (70A 1940s-50s Dodger who was a 10-time All-Star), sometimes Witherspoon, or with an “s”, the candy.

Nice to see: FREEDOM (117A License); and the seldom-seen entries, LASTORY (4D Steve Martin romantic comedy); ACTIONABLE (19D Worth trying?); KAZOO (14D Skiffle instrument); CYRIL (10D Saint for whom the Russian alphabet is named); ENCIPHERED (67D Secret); and CLUEIN (119A Tell); along with the “head” entries -- BOOSTERCHAIR, FISCALPERIODS, BLEEDINGHEART, BEARTHEBURDEN, WEBBROWSER, BLARNEYEYED, HEYERDAHL, NANOSECOND, LUNARECLIPSES, and CHINESEBOXES.

Other clues of interest are 11A. Posh part of Boston; 19A. Like some upset stomachs; 28A. Danger in a uranium mine; 74A. Comedy show that once featured John Candy and Martin Short; 107A. Filmed over; 121A. Relative of Rover; 5D. Like seven of Sophocles’ 123 plays; 13D. Political asset; 40D. Kerfuffle; 65D. Coin with kanji writing; and 93D. Cry of triumph after “Whew!” -- IMADEIT! That was a kerfuffle with a skiffle!

New to me were AXL Rose (12D); REDPINE (109A Minnesota’s state tree); and Music of Kanye West (97D HIPHOP) -- also, there's lots of fill which I won’t bring up so I won’t put it down, except for NOS and NOT, SES and SESS, PIG and PUB -- you get the idea.

Used a CRAYON (31D Tool for many a homemade Mother’s Day card) to color in the hard-to-see head/face parts in the grid -- but I hesitate to call it a tool!

I’ll stop now, or I’ll start finding more body parts (e.g., NAPES [101D Kittens’ “handles]) in this Sunday crossword puzzle head game and never get on with life!

08.25.07

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Thick Tricks and Trivia



Saturday, August 25, 2007

Puzzle by Myles Callum, edited by Will Shortz

Thick obfuscation, slick tricks and odd-ball trivia constitute the modus operandi of this Saturday stumper.

Could-be-anything clues: THETHINGIS (1A “That may be true, but…”); SOCIALCALL (15A Visit); IWON (18A Exultant cry); AHOOT (26A Tons of fun); IMEANIT (40A No-nonsense cry); ALAMODE (38A Chic); IDIOTS (52A They’re thick); REGALE (54A Feast); HONE (2D Improve); HAHAS (5D Routine responses); NOWYOUKNOW (12D Response to “I had no idea!”); RUBITIN (25D Cry “nyah, nyah!”); CEASEFIRES (27D Engagement breakers?); SMALLTIMER (29D Insignificant sort); ADAY (56D What you may call it when you’re wiped out); and the Shortzesque twin clues for REEDY (51D Like some instruments); and SURG (53D Like some instruments: Abbr.).

Trick clues: ANOTHERDAY (17A When a procrastinator tends to something); RELOAN (19A Advance further?); SEWER (22A Place of refuse), which earlier this week was a reference to tailoring; CASE (27A It’s built for a trial); SERUMS (31A Shot putters’ supplies?); SALEMSLOT (41A King’s second); RAMS (59A Ones going head to head); WINETASTER (14D One concerned with the nose).

Total trivia: 11A “…there are evils ENOW to darken all his goodness”: Shak.; 16A. LORI Lemaris, early love of Superman; 20A Comic ELAYNE Boosler; UMA (33A Player of June in “Henry & June”); BABUSHKAS (36A Russian peasant wear); CLORIS (45A She had brief roles as Phyllis on “Rhoda” and Rhoda on “Dr. Kildare”); UTNEREADER (60A Magazine that hands out annual Independent Press Awards); TSAR (1D Alexis, e.g.); 4D Italian tenor TITO Schipa; ILENES (6D Soap actress Kristen and others); SLYE (10D Roy Rogers’s surname at birth); ORONOMAINE (13D Northeastern city named for a Penobscot chief); LASSES (21D Some of those who “hail the new” in “Deck the Halls”); WEBELOS (23D Arrow of Light earner’s program); ALLANADALE (28A Outlaw band member); GAYE (55D “What’s Going On” singer, 1971); and LENE (57D New Wave singer Lovich).

Biblical: ELIAH (11D Son of Elam whose name means “God the Lord”) and HOSEA (49D God commanded him to marry a harlot). Kid stuff: RAGGEDYANN (65A Little redhead); GOOGLYEYES (67A Puppet glue-ons); ESME (30D Saki story whose title character is a hyena); and TOMCAT (35D Felix, e.g.). Incredibly cheap clue: ELEE (64A Part of a rebel name).

Nice stuff: FATHA (48A Jazz pianist who played with Satchmo); MUM (32D Clammed up); HATE (57D Bete noire); ORE (42D Nugget holder); and ELMST (34A Title locale of five 1980s films: Abbr.).

I suppose there are those who will like the triple layers of 10-letter words in the four corners, while scoffing at that old reliable, ERNS (58D Shore scavengers), at the puzzle's end.

Time to fly!

08.24.07

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Satan & Santa in Season!


Friday, August 24, 2007

Puzzle by Patrick Berry, edited by Will Shortz

Several years ago, my neighbor's children were told at church on Sunday that they could no longer wish for Santa to bring them something at Christmas because SANTA was an anagram for SATAN! Poor things!

Today's T.G.I.F. puzzle includes both SATAN (3D) and SANTA (46D), with a BEASTLY (22D) RAINYSEASON (30A) in between -- a stocking-stuffing colorful witch's brew of words et cetera!

Across:

1. “It’s all here” sloganneer, once; 4. Frisky one; 8. Marie Osmond or Loretta Young; 14. “Elijah” or “The Creation”; 16. Key on a cash register; 17. Drop a few positions, maybe; 18. Overprotect; 19. Maker of Kiwi Teawi; 20. Mystery author Dexter; 21. The Pacific Ocean’s only island kingdom; 22. It was good for Sartre; 23. One and only; 26. They’re staffed with doctors; 30. Bad time for a tropical vacation; 33. Lawyers with many assts.; 34. I.T. firm founded by Ross Perot; 35. Wine used to make zabaglione; 36. Soviet ERA; 37. Member of an extended familia; 38. Country that won the most medals at the 1980 Winter Olympics; 40. Reluctantly accepting; 42. First name in cosmonautics; 43. Major U.S. Spanish-language daily; 44. Rarely written-out Latin phrase; 48. “Wozzeck” composer ALBAN Berg; 50. What stare decisis upholds the validity of; 52. Red line?; 54. Set of guidelines; 55. Mrs. Tony Blair; 56. Put forward; 57. Has trouble sleeping, maybe; 58. ALEC Ramsay (“The Black Stallion” hero); 59. Sorry.



Down:

1. Continue effortlessly; 2. Dog in Disney’s “Cinderella”; 3. “Paradise Lost” character; 4. Ultraloyal employees; 5. Passed on by taletellers; 6. Not full-bodied; 7. Wingtip tip; 8. Feeling no better; 9. “Man is a TOOL-using animal”: Thomas Carlyle; 10. Pass under the basket, maybe; 11. Is clueless; 12. Stout alternative; 13. Drift boat attachment; 15. Highest-grossing film of 1986; 20. Bridesmaid’s accessory; 22. Very disagreeable; 24. Hear; 25. Analytic work; 27. Soul singer who is also a coronated king of Ghana; 28. New rendering; 29.Near the bottom of the drawers?; 30. Take one more shot at; 31. It may be bid; 32. One of the “10 Attic orators”; 39. Tate MODERN (London art gallery); 41. Team that won the first A.F. L. Championship; 45. 1981 Literature Nobelist Canetti; 46. Stocking stuffer; 47. Fabric with the same name as a Scottish river; 49. French district that lent its name to a foodstuff; 50. “Fantastic!”; 51. Ne plus ultra; 52. Work within a company, say; 53. Density symbol, in physics; 54. Material at the basis of “Jurassic Park”.

...and the children? SAD (59A Sorry)!

Illustration:
Thomas Nast's Original 1863 "Santa Claus" Picture
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For today's cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated

Today's crossword video: Elderly Crossword

08.23.07

To go to original post with illustrations and puzzle grid or to leave a Comment, click on TITLE at the beginning of this post’s commentary.

Morpheus Descending


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Thursday, August 23, 2007

Puzzle by Joe Krozel, edited by Will Shortz

A crossword puzzle with 74 entries and 66 clues. The clues appear in a single list, combining Across and Down. Where two answers share a number, the unclued Down answer is a homophone of the corresponding Across answer.

The clues:

1. Obstruction at the entrance to a cave, maybe; 2. Rarely used golf club; 3. Picture on a $50 bill; 4. Drip, say; 5. Seventh-century year; 6. Want ad abbr.; 7. Some needle holders, for short; 8. Like jail cells; 9. Makes like; 10. Connecticut or Colorado: Abbr.; 11. Touch up, as a painting; 12. Country named for its location on the globe; 13. Bring down; 14. Having hit a double; 15. Neuter; 16. For one; 17. Party of the first part and party of the second part, e.g.; 18. Gets going; 19. Weapon in old hand-to-hand fighting; 20. Does some yard work; 21. One famously begins “O Wild West Wind, thou breath of Autumn’s being”; 22. Carcinogenic substance; 23. Victorian ___; 24. Headquartered; 25. Lowers the cuffs on, maybe; 26. Legis. period; 27. Point to; 28. Wood of the Rolling Stones; 29. ____ Nikolaevich, last czarevitch of Russia; 30. Queen of France in Shakespeare’s “Henry V”; 31. Rich Spanish decorations; 32. Big blasts, informally; 33. Duck down; 34. Tailors; 35. Social register listees; 36. Residents: Suffix; 37. Seat at a hootenanny; 38. Place for a guard; 39. Recondite; 40. Shoulder muscle; 41. Tolerates; 42. Logged; 43. Singer who founded Reprise Records; 44. Letter before Peter in old radio lingo; 45. Bygone council; 46. Donations at some clinics; 47. Eseential; 48. “___ for nest”; 49. Accent; 50. NASA subj.; 51. French town; 52. Contents of some shells; 53. Audio equipment pioneer; 54. Wiped out; 55. Verb of which “sum” is a form; 56. Campsite visitor; 57. Job specifications; 58. ___ B. Wells, early civil rights advocate; 59. Individually; 60. Race unit; 61. Blood type letters; 62. Calculator button; 63. Wears down; 64. Work force; 65. Grade again; 66. Pretended to be.

The electronic version detracts quite a bit from the clever gimmick, listing both Across and Down, with a dash (-) after the unclued Down clue to indicate the unclued homophones. The notepad states: “The clues in the print version of this puzzle appear in a single list, combining Across and Down. Where two answers share a number, the unclued Down answer is a homophone of the corresponding Across answer.”

Why the clues could not have been printed as simply 1 through 66 with no distinction between across and down is mysterious -- perhaps the rigid format of the electronic puzzle would not permit this to be done. In any event, I await the newspaper in the driveway to look at the print version.

Ah!, now having arrived double-wrapped in blue under one of my fir trees by the driveway, printed below is the note in question as it appears in the newspaper itself -- cannot print whole puzzle as copyright does not allow same -- only a filled in grid is permitted. Note clue #1.

Sixteen entries share eight clues, all beginning with the letter “B” -- 1 is BOULDER and BOLDER; 8 is BARRED and BARD; 24 is BASED and BASTE; 27 is BODE and BOWED; 37 is BALE and BAIL; 38 is BORDER and BOARDER; 54 is BEAT and BEET; and 56 is BEAR and BARE.

Such an inspired arrangement could render the remainder of the puzzle to be less than VITAL (47); however, VILLE (51); DESEX (15) and ALTERS (25); ECUADOR (12) and EIDER (33); ISABEL (30) and ALEXEI (29); OBSCURE (39) and LEGALESE (17); ONEIRON (2) and ONSECOND (14); ROTATOR (40) and REVSUP (18), DIRK (19) and TAR (22); SODS (20) and SOVIET (45); STRESS (49) and DEPRESS (13); DUTIES (57) and LABORERS (64); ALACARTE (59) all alone, along with USGRANT (3), and the unusual look of the entry POSEDAS (66) ("posed as") give depth and variety in both cluing and entry.

Oh, and there’s ol’ blue eyes too -- SINATRA (45)!


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

Today's video -- A Nightmare of a Crossword

Article: Doug Gordon on August 14th weighs in on the literal downsizing of the NYT

08.22.07

To go to original post with illustrations and puzzle grid or to leave a Comment, click on TITLE at the beginning of this post’s commentary.

Pickup Lines

Illustration: Sophia Bush in The Hitcher (2007)

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Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Puzzle by Patrick Blindauer, edited by Will Shortz

PICKUPLINES (61A Singles bar repertoire (and a hint to 17-, 24-, 36- and 52-Across), along with BOOKEMDANNO (17A McGarrett’s TV catchphrase), NEEDALIFT (24A Question for a hitchhiker), ITSFORYOU (36A Shout from the phone), and LIKEAROCK (52A Chevy truck slogan, once) are the inter-related entries of this inert Wednesday puzzle.

We just conjugated on the subject of pickup lines in The New York Times Crossword Puzzle, Sunday, July 22, 2007, which was titled WORST PICKUP LINES.

Here’s the SUBPLOT (1D Side story). Because I never saw a single episode of Hawaii Five-O, picked up a hitchhiker, shouted from the telephone, drove a Chevy truck, or used a pickup line, I’ll ask AMNESTY (46D General pardon) on grounds of the UNKNOWN (41D Hardly a celebrity) for being less than enthusiastic. If that GOESFAR (12D Succeeds in a big way) well, thanks and DENADA (9D “Gracias” response).

Oh, and TOSSIN (67A Casually add) TSKED (4D Clicked one’s tongue), and INHERE (64A Cry after “Psst!”) into the mix of this stew-of-words-and-phrases of miscellany that feels like it needs to be TIDIED (31D Straightened [up]).

PRORATE (2D Apportion, as costs), ANOINTS (3D Rubs oil on), ARMOIRE (11D Tall wardrobe), REGATTA (13D Yachting event), ALIENEE (40D Property recipient, in law), INTONER (44D Chanter), GUNNER (15A Artillery unit member), ORSINO (48D "Twelfth Night lover), ELNINO (47A Cause of odd weather), MIKADO (5A Nanki-Poo’s father), OPERA (35A Paris Metro station next to a music center), OLEOLE (59A World Cup chant), PRIEST (20A Father figure?), ARARAT (29A Biblical landing spot), COOLEST (45D Least ruffled), SELFISH (39D Me-first) and LEILA (56D Hyams of 1920s- ‘30s films) are the disparate main entries in this out-of-focus melange.

END (49A Wrap up)!

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

Comic crossword video -- "The Puzzling World of Will Shortz" by Alex

08.21.07

To go to original post with illustrations and puzzle grid or to leave a Comment, click on TITLE at the beginning of this post’s commentary.

Bees

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Puzzle by Tom Heilman, edited by Will Shortz

BEES (60A Theme of this puzzle), along with STINGOPERATIONS (17A Police ploys), HONEYIMHOME (30A End-of-day spousal salutation), GIVEMEABUZZ (46A “Call when you get the chance”), and THEAFRICANQUEEN (62A Bogart/Hepburn film) are the inter-related entries of this breezy crossword puzzle.

In a mystery worthy of Agatha Christie, bees are flying off in search of pollen and nectar and simply never returning to their colonies. And nobody knows why. Researchers say the bees are presumably dying in the fields, perhaps becoming exhausted or simply disoriented and eventually falling victim to the cold, recalling the ominous quote attributed to Albert Einstein: "If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years of life left. Among the highest suspect cause of bee disappearance is satellite radio and cell phones -- read the story in The International Herald Tribune HERE. The subject is also reported in The New York Times HERE, and The Minneapolis Star Tribune HERE.

No such concern exists in this Tuesday crossword, just business as usual. The other long entries are CHIPSHOTS (10D Lofted approaches to the green); CASELOADS (36D Social workers’ work); SOREEYES (8D What a welcome sight relieves); and MEATPIES (41D Pastries in “Sweeney Todd”).

Five- and six-square entries include TOPTEN (6DBest-seller list), UPTAKE (48D Mental grasp), CACHE (1A Private stash), OCHER (14A Earthy pigment), DEICE (35A Clear, as a winter windshield), AMUSE (40A Give the giggles) sharing the puzzle’s central ‘U” with EXURB (31D Outlying community), USHER (45A Lead down the aisle), TRIED (67ATook a shot at), HENRI (4D Painter Matisse), IDTAG (27D Holder of a dog’s name and owner info), LEONI (28D Tea of “Spanglish”), KIROV (29D Russian ballet company), OMAHA (32D D-Day beach), METED (33D Apportioned), ENERO (34D First month in Madrid) and SASSY (70A Full of lip).

Old standards abound, including TOSS, CHIC, OBOE, HOOD, TSAR, STYE EPPS, ISLE, EWES, ILK, XED, OMEN, TORA, TATE, ANOS, MER, ADO, LINT, PAIL PROF, PATH, ALBA, WEED, PERK, OWLS, ISEE, COST, ACTS, CHIA, ERG, OBEY, SEA, HOOP, IONS, CDS, OSLO, TEEM, SHE, WIDE, AMEN, UZI, MIFF, TWO, PHEW, REEL, RPI, ACRE, LEIS, ANDY, and ZAHN -- all with fairly clear clues.