29D. JINNI (Bottled spirit) -- illustration from Disney's "Aladdin"
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Thursday, January 3, 2008
Puzzle by Henry Hook, edited by Will Shortz
The author of today’s puzzle, Henry Hook, is a sort of JINNI (29D. Bottled spirit). He’ll do what he needs to when it needs to be done -- I’m sure if his lamp gets rubbed a little now and then, he’ll pop out ready to grant a few wishes -- rub the wrong way, he’s staying home in Boston!
The Henry Hook crossword this Thursday is a beauty -- well, all his crosswords are, it’s probably just me that gets rubbed the wrong way -- but, he does have a way with words!
MORTONSALTGIRL (16A. Ad icon since 1914); PENGUIN (37A. Oswald Cobblepot’s nom de crime); MARYPOPPINS (11D. Caretaker for the Banks household); and CHAMBERLAIN (24D. Churchill predecessor) are the inter-related entries along with CARRY UMBRELLAS (56A. What 16- and 37-Across and 11- and 24-Down were all known to do).
Fine and dandy -- where did I get hooked today? Count JINNI for sure, along with the entire central portion of the puzzle and it’s nasty clever clues -- 34A. It could easily go up -- FIRETRAP; 29A. One may hold the mayo -- JAR (I had BLT); REUSE, 31D. Do something else with -- (I had WTF); and, unfamiliarity with Oswald Cobblepot. Anyone who says they know everything is a puerile prevaricator -- in today’s middle section, I knew nothing -- not even ARGON, or rather it’s definition -- 30D. Element whose name roughly means “lazy”.
I’ll not take you down the memory lane of the solution process -- I find it tedious to read of those trials and tribulations -- there’s so much more to doing a crossword puzzle than grasping a pen and gasping for breath while gaping at the clock! If those folk eat or drive the same way they do crosswords -- I’ll be left at the table alone and very gladly walk home!
TEEPEE (25A. Crow’s nest?) -- how do we spell this?; BLUENOSE (41A. Prig) -- must be a New England expression; REACTS (45D. Isn’t stoic) -- I wrote in SWEATS, I was in the sauna; PETSHOP (4D. Place to pick up a puppy) -- reminded me of a song; SPLEEN (12D. Ill will) -- seemed very Shakespearean; TOUSLES (43D. Dishevels) -- just wouldn’t come into focus; ANXIOUS (52A. Impatient) -- I’m not; XMAS (54A. Opening day?) -- hard clue, especially for someone who doesn’t get presents.
Other middle-sized entries -- SHIATSU (19A. Acupressure technique); ANNIE (5D) and ARCHIE (22A. Regular at Kelsey’s Bar, on TV); ATONE (32A. Mend); GREER (44A. “The Female Eunuch” author); MONET (47A. Cezanne colleague); BERGEN (48A. Recipient of a 1937 wooden Oscar); HOUSES (50A. Contains); HORSE (50D. Silver, for one) and WAHOO (28A. Rebel yell).
ROUE and MOUE (13A. Pleasure seeker; and 47D. Grimace), along with the Shortzesque twin-clued ARM and LEG (1D and 42D. Half a huge cost?) lead the clever four-letter parade of entries which are fresh or freshly clued -- ALEE, ALMS, APSE, ASAP, ATOP, AWAY, DAIS (63A. Roast setting), EARN, EAST, EELS, ESSE, IBIS, NICE, OHIO, PISA, PURE, RASA (23D. Tabula description), REAP, SCAT (7D. Ignore the lyrics?), SNAG, SOSA, TILE, TINE, and WETS.
Even the three-letter entries are a treat -- ARG, ASS, ETA, FEE, GBS, INE, JAR, LAO, LEI, OUR, PAW, REG, RNA, SAL, STA, TIE, TOO, TUT, WEE, YAM, and YEW.
Remember -- getting there is half the fun!
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