Sunday, February 17, 2008
POLITICAL LEADERS, Puzzle by Henry Hook, edited by Will Shortz
Ten presidents, ADAMS, BUSH, CARTER, HARRISON, HAYES, MONROE, PIERCE, TAFT, TAYLOR, and WILSON are the “political leader” half of partial-entry anagrams in today’s crossword -- no greatness here! In any event, a topical puzzle for President’s Day.
SCRAMBLED (19A. With 105-Across, what the answer to each starred clue starts with) PRESIDENT (105A. See 19-Across) and the inter-related across entries of ONEMORETIME (21. *Again); SAYHEYKID (23. *Baseball’s Willie Mays, with “the”); HUSBANDTOBE (24. *Fiancé); DAMASCUSSTEEL (53. *Metal used for swords); FATTEDCALF (58. *Symbol of rejoicing for someone’s long-awaited return); TERRACOTTA (61. *Brownish-orange); PRICEEARNINGS (68. *Kind of ratio); SLOWINGDOWN (100. *Decelerating); ROYALTIES (102. *Composer’s due); RAINORSHINE (104. *Whatever happens) are their hiding places -- most of them needing one! Especially this one HERE!
Well, it is an election year!
Other Across: 1. Words “beautifully marked in currants” in “Alice in Wonderland”; 6. Common ERA; 9. Make an example of; 13. Destination in Genesis 8; 25. Glycerides, e.g.; 26. Football Hall-of-Famer Ernie; 28. Home of Faa’s International Airport; 29. Lie; 30. Jury pool; 31. Watch-crystal holder; 32. Villain; 33. Ring results, briefly; 34. Bigwig; 38. “Awesome!”; 41. Next-to-last round; 42. Little of France?; 43. St. Louis, e.g.; 44. Brawl motivator; 45. Crunch’s title; 46. Rod holders; 50. Photocopier choice; 51. Hollow-point ammo; 55. Stage awards; 56. Butlers and maids; 57. Be about to fall; 65. Lady-in-waiting in “Othello”; 66. Lovers of expensive furs may put them on; 67. West Coast wine city; 72. Divine; 74. New York’s LUNT-Fontanne Theater; 75. Supermarket lines? 77. Hoop grp.; 78. Alma mater for Neil Armstrong and Pat Nixon: Abbr.; 769. Close of day, to poets; 80. Gutter locale; 81. Thomas Mann’s “Der TOD in Venedig”; 82. Attempts; 85. With 20-Down, airshow activities; 86. Jim who wrote “Ball Four”; 88. Indy champ Bobby; 90. Dentist’s concern; 91. COIGN of vantage (good position for viewing); 96. Split; 98. Split; 99. Like wiping one’s dirty mouth on one’s sleeve; 106. Cantankerous; 107. Not including; 108. Inexact fig.; 109. Magazine holders.
Down: 1. Mississippi quartet; 2. ACAST of thousands; 3. “TRYTO Remember”; 4. “Real Time” moderator; 5. Tip reducer?; 6. Variety of leather; 7. Exercised power over; 8. All the parts of a column except the bottom; 9. Stick; 10. Accustom; 11. Actress Harper; 12. Diplomats’ place: Abbr.; 13. Ball handler?; 14. “Not I!” hearer; 15. Titular Verdi role; 16. Laugh-a-minute; 17. Both: Prefix; 18. Curling goal; 20. See 85-Across; 22. Author of the Oprah’s Book Club selection “We Were the Mulvaneys”; 27. I’s opposite on a clock; 30. Improvises; 31. Bar personnel; 32. Light from a headlight; 33. Rears; 35. Cracker topper; 36. What 35-Down may do; 37. Jessica of “7th Heaven”; 38. Done with; 39. Tourist mecca near Venezuela; 40. Relinquish; 41. Passing remark?; 42. Sch. Fair organizer; 46. Schumacher of auto racing; 47. The “E” in H.R.E.: Abbr.; 48. Violinist Mischa; 49. This, in Havana; 50. Cox’s call; 52. Spot; 53. Manhattan street leading to the Williamsburg Bridge; 54. Guarantees; 56. Sensory receptor in the ear; 59. “Mon DIEU!”; 60. Loud, abrupt sound; 61. Dog of old comics; 62. Denier’s reply; 63. Aerobics technique; 64. Winning; 66. +; 68. +; 69. Impair through inactivity; 70. Atahualpa, e.g.; 71. It may be + or -; 72. Act of kindness; 73. Soothsayer’s subject; 76. “Death in the Afternoon” figures; 80. Muse of music; 83. Creator of “Hagar the Horrible”; 84. Hero; 85. Part of many a Halloween outfit; 86. Noble partner; 87. Fictional TV planet; 89. HENRY Fleming, central character in “The Red Badge of Courage”; 90. Dots on a map; 91. Home of 67-Across: Abbr.; 92. Top; 93. Not so friendly; 94. Capital of East Flanders; 95. Fits (inside); 96. Reed instrument: Abbr.; 97. Pork cut; 98. Liver in Lyon; 99. Braggadocio; 100. “No seats left”; 101. FedEx competitor; 103. Still.
Two Shortzesque clues in one puzzle! -- CLOVEN (96A. Split) with FORKED (98A. Split), and AHEAD (64D. +) with PLUS (68D. +), along with a few good sports and entertainment clues with their answers is all it took to keep me happy -- I'm easy! The first entry, EATME, was the easiest -- after that, I had to run a circle around the center, just couldn't see I'd had a B instead of a C for HAIRCELL and UPCCODE. Also, I cross the Williamsburg Bridge a dozen times a year and couldn't come up with DELANCEY. Now I know!
Linda of Madness...Crossword and Otherwise covers the rest of the puzzle in her delightful write-up. Hope one and all have a good day off for President's Day -- I'll end it here before I start beating around the Bush!
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