Rex Ingram (with megaphone)
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Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Puzzle by Kevin Donovan, edited by Will Shortz
THATSAWRAP (62A. Director’s cry … or a statement about 17-Across and 11- and 29-Down), along with FEATHERBOA (17A. Glam rocker’s accessory), CELLOPHANE (11D. Transparent packaging material), and BEEFFAJITA (29D. Taco alternative) are the inter-related entries of this pleasant but familiar crossword puzzle.
AMBER (12D. Color meaning “caution” on 13-Down) and ROADS (13D. See 12-Down) are joined by other loosely linked entries -- MOM (34D. Stereotypical tattoo) and SCAR (10A. Remnant of a tattoo removal, maybe); SMITE (50D. Beat, biblically) and SMASHES (10D. Overhead shots); SPAS (60A. Watering holes) and SPARSE (50A. Like trees on a prairie); ACIDS (5A. Gastric juices, e.g.) and BURP (21A. Pat on the back as a baby); GENTLE (47D. Like caresses) and SNAPAT (9D. Answer in anger).
Beyond that, this puzzle simply UNLOADS crosswordese with seven-letter entries of AEROSAL, ATEAWAY and FATCATS; six-letter ABHORS, DEBTOR, DETECT, SPARSE; five-letter ARISE, ASHEN, BOOZE, BRAVO, CUMIN, CURBS, EMOTE, FEIGN, FORCE, GOFAR, IMBUE, LEVEE, OCTET, POSIT, RATES, STREP; four-letter ACME, AHEM, ALBA, AMMO, ANEW, AREA, AURA, BRAS, CLAN, DIOR, DODO, DRAG, EARN, ETAL, EURO, EXEC, EZRA, GAFF, GOLF, HERO, IRAN, ISIS, LEAR, MEMO, MOJO, NARC, NEWT, OREO, RUES, SEAM, SLED, TITO, TRUE, URIS, YENS and four little three-letter entries (say that three times fast, along with the following!) ACE, AXE, ARE and SEE (63A. “Get it?”), which clue was also the last entry of yesterday‘s puzzle, e.g., GETIT (71A. “Savvy?”) -- O.K., o.k., I got it!
That’s a wrap!
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