Print shop wooden letters by photographer Giuseppe Ceschi
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Monday, February 25, 2008
Puzzle by Randall J. Hartman, edited by Will Shortz
WOOD (55A. Object of the actions suggested by the starts of 17-, 30-, 47- and 66-Across), along with STRIPTEASE (17A. X-rated dance); SANDDOLLAR (30A. Beach find); PRIME MOVER (47A. Initial power source); and PAINTHORSE (66A. Pinto) are the inter-related entries in this Monday back-to-work crossword puzzle. Woodworkers know that (after finding today's little piece of wood off in a corner by itself) the four long entries are in proper order -- strip, sand, prime, paint.
After the wood, a cord or core of words to SORT (73A. Alphabetize, e.g.), almost add up to stairs -- HOLE and OLE, OLEO, OLIO, OREO, REO constituting a nice scattered group -- throw OARS, OVAL, and ONTO into that for good measure. Other matching pieces include EXAM and TEST; a crossing of ATALE and ATARI, ALLAH and ALAS; TOUPEE and TAPOUT; and two inventors, one a KITER (28D. Ben Franklin, famously, in an electrical storm), the other, an ALVA (65A. Thomas Edison’s middle name).
Standing alone are ELIMIDATE (37D. Competitor of "The 5th Wheel," in reality TV) and HOMEALONE (10D. 1990 Macaulay Culkin film). Also on the menu board -- ROTTEN (49D. Spoiled), EGG (42A. Fabergé collectible), CATERS (5D. Supplies, as food for a party) and BOOZE (40A. Rotgut) all of which might call for a little FOAM (13D. Cappuccino head) to sober the MAGPIE (48D. Chatterbox) and the SCAMP (27D. Little rascal) with the PAST (1D. It might be checkered) -- hey, all in all, this is a puzzle with lots of (to use one of today's wordworking terms) MERIT!
Wordwork remaining, Across: 1. Boston orchestra; 5. Seaboard; 10. 30 minutes, in the N.F.L.; 14. Once more; 15. God of the Koran; 16. Mixed bag; 19. Miniature plateau; 20. Top secret?; 21. “That SHE blows!”; 22. Something to cram for; 23. Banjo picker Scruggs; 25. Org. that publishes American Hunter; 27. Some Caribbean music; 36. Referred to; 39. REO Speed wagon (1970s-’80s band); 41. “ATALE of Two Cities”; 43. Acquire, as a debt; 44. MERIT badge, boy scout’s award; 45. Dover’s state: Abbr.; 46. NEHRU jacket, 1960s fashion; 50. One of a D.C. 1200; 51. 401(k) alternative, for short; 52. Oodles; 58. “You’ve GOT Mail”; 61. Lose all one’s money in gambling; 68. Plane assignment; 69. Ryan of “The Beverly Hillbillies”; 70. Julia Robert’s role in “Ocean’s Eleven”; 71. Golfer’s target; 72. Krupp Works city.
The finishing touches Down: 2. Not fooled by; 3. Llama country; 4. Slide, as a credit card through a reader; 6. Cheer for El Cordobes; 7. “Ah, me!”; 8. Part of a girl scout’s uniform; 11. The “A” in A-Rod; 12. Kudrow of Friends; 18. PEA brain (nitwit); 24. “Streets of LAREDO” (classic cowboy song); 26. Bird that comes “bob, bob, bobbin”; 29. Arcade game maker; 31. Israeli desert; 32. Sharp turn on a golf course; 33. Source of Scottish streams; 34. Sky-blue; 35. Twice-seen TV show; 38. Scare off; 53. Scrooge’s cry; 54. Dalmatian markings; 56. Margarine; 57. White House office shape; 59. Crew’s control?; 60. Deadlocks; 62. Cookie with a crème center; 63. Stalingrad’s land, for short; 64. The “T” of S.A.T.; 67. U-turn from SSW.
I’ve been waiting for a crossword reference to laundry, e.g., WASH (55D. Launder) to show this neon sign in Rapid City, South Dakota -- HERE.
…and how can I knot close this out with THEEND (9D. Finis)!
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